News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. , , , , . You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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. Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, based in Countryside, Illinois, and with members in Lake County, recently endorsed Lake Circuit Court Judge George C. Paras for re-election. Marissa McDermott, wife of Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, and Carrie Castro, a Merrillville attorney, are challenging Paras in the May 3 Democratic primary. Edward Maher, communications director for the union's local, claims in a written statement about the endorsement, "At a recent fundraiser, Mayor McDermott approached one of our staff members and made statements threatening the availability of work for operating engineers in Hammond. It was truly unacceptable for an elected official to use the power vested in him by the voters to threaten working families over a personal agenda aimed at consolidating political power within his own family." Mayor McDermott denies threatening the union. "It would be against federal law if I said such a thing. Its the kind of thing I could go to jail for. I value my freedom and law license." He said he knows the union is located in Merrillville and that his wife tried to speak to members about supporting her. "They would not even let her come in. That is all I really know about this. The whole thing seems a little sketchy." Manufacturing myths Presidential candidates claims that Americas manufacturing industry is in dire straits aren't supported by the data, according to Ball State Universitys Michael Hicks, an economics professor. They are peddling untruths, said Hicks, director of Ball State Universitys Center for Business and Economic Research. During recent visits to Indiana for the primaries, these candidates claim that Indiana is suffering, but the state had a record year for manufacturings value of goods produced in both 2014 and 2015. They also claim that bad policies are causing manufacturers to send jobs overseas or to Mexico, he said. However, research shows that increasing productivity accounts for 88 percent of job losses in manufacturing. Hicks issued a recent study, The Myth and the Reality of Manufacturing in America, that looked at how the nations manufacturing sectors have recovered from the Great Recession. Survey says ... With foreign trade and manufacturing big issues in this year's presidential race and Indiana is a big manufacturing state it's worth a look at public opinion on those issues. Gallup says more than four in 10 Americans say they don't know enough to offer an opinion on whether the U.S. should end its participation in existing free trade deals. But among Americans who do have an opinion, they're evenly split, with 28 percent in favor of withdrawing from trade treaties and the same percentage against it. That 40 percent takes up a big chunk of public opinion on foreign trade. Club for Growth's opinion You don't see many television commercials on Northwest Indiana stations, but that didn't stop Club for Growth Action for touting a new ad on "statewide" television. Ted Cruz has a strong and consistent record of fighting to repeal Obamacare, said Club for Growth Action president David McIntosh. Thats why guys like John Boehner dont like Ted. Donald Trump is your guy if you want someone who only talks about fighting but actually supports government-run health care. Meltin' indifference Eddie Melton, Democratic candidate in Indiana State Senate District 3, will host a Get out the Vote Rally from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Rubens Restaurant, 2230 Ripley St. in Lake Station. That's the restaurant that has a giant fiberglass hobo in front. Young love Henry County Council President is among those endorsing U.S. Rep. Todd Young for Senate. Young, a Republican, is running against Marlin Stutzman on Tuesday. Good news for Jim Biggs Porter County Commissioner Jeff Good endorsed fellow Republican Jim Biggs for commissioner. They're in different districts center for Good, north for Biggs. Publicity about privacy The Liberty Straight Up group, based in St. John, is meeting tonight in Crown Point to discuss cyber privacy. The event will be in the Crown Brewery/Carriage Court's upstairs banquet room, 211 S. East St., Crown Point. Seating begins at 6:30 Ethics signatories The Shared Ethics Advisory Commission shared something else -- the list of candidates who signed the commission's ethics pledge. Those names will be published in The Times and at nwi.com. Clinton in Gary DOUG ROSS: Roll out welcome mat to influential visitors Sometimes it takes visiting elsewhere to get a fresh perspective on Northwest Indiana. And s Former President Bill Clinton will be at 504 Broadway in Gary on Saturday. I ran into Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg there last year during a tour of the building. Centier Bank has a branch there now, bringing a bank back to the former Gary National Bank building. Ballroom or bawl room? Senate candidate Todd Young's supporters are gathering Tuesday evening at the Victory Ballroom at the Hilton Indianapolis Hotel & Suites to watch the election returns. We'll see that night whether the ballroom lives up to its name. Can't fix stupid This campaign flyer in support of Portage City Councilman John Cannon's bid for the Republican nomination for Porter County commissioner, north district, accuses Porter County officials of being stupid. I guess Cannon didn't subscribe to the #CivilityCounts philosophy. I tried phoning Cannon repeatedly, using the number he provided to The Times in his candidate survey response, but no luck. I checked the information from the voter registration folks at Porter County, and it was the same number. Hispanic endorsement The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce endorsed Ohio Gov. John Kasich this week. Remember Kasich? He's the presidential candidate who yielded Indiana to Sen. Ted Cruz in their deal to try to defeat Donald Trump. Lukewarm endorsement Indiana Gov. Mike Pence finally endorsed Ted Cruz on Friday, just a few days before the election and after more than 100,000 Republicans have already voted. In his endorsement, Pence offered praise for Donald Trump, too. Apparently sitting on the fence finally became uncomfortable, but not a big enough pain to offer a warm endorsement of Cruz. Could this put Pence in the running for a federal government position if either Cruz or Trump is elected president and Pence loses his re-election bid? Pence is in a tight battle with Democrat John Gregg. Mayoral support Several Democratic mayors of big Indiana cities have endorsed Hillary Clinton, including South Bend's Peter Buttigieg, Gary's Karen Freeman-Wilson, Indianapolis' Joe Hogsett, Hammond's Thomas McDermott Jr., Lafayette's Tony Roswarski, Kokomo's Greg Goodnight and Fort Wayne's Tom Henry. Libertarian slate You read my Wednesday column, I hope, in which I said Karl Tatgenhorst of Liberty Township is the Libertarian Party's candidate for lieutenant governor, the running mat for gubernatorial candidate Rex Bell, who was also chosen last weekend. DOUG ROSS: Porter County man running for lieutenant governor Karl Tatgenhorst sounded nervous when I spoke with him Monday afternoon, and for good reason Soon after that column was published, the Libertarian Party of Indiana released the full list of candidates slated at the party's convention in Indianapolis. State Chair Joe Hauptmann said the party hopes to find more candidates for federal races before the state's late June deadline. Candidates nominated in convention include a few local folks. Governor: Rex Bell Lt. Governor: Karl Tatgenhorst U.S. Senate: Lucy Brenton U.S. House District 1: Donna Dunn U.S. House District 4: Steven Mayoras U.S. House District 6: Rich Turvey U.S. House District 7: Drew Thompson U.S. House District 8: Andrew Horning U.S. House District 9: Russell Brooksbank Indiana Senate District 10: Gerard Arthus Indiana Senate District 20: Donald Rainwater Indiana Senate District 30: Zach Roberts Indiana Senate District 32: Shane Zoellner Indiana House District 7: James Gillen Indiana House District 21: Ethan Legg Indiana House District 24: Erol Ali Cetinok Indiana House District 25: Franklyn Voorhies Indiana House District 33: Zeb Sutton Indiana House District 53: Rick Brown Indiana House District 65: Duncan Adams Indiana House District 71: Thomas Keister Indiana House District 86: Ethan Owens Indiana House District 90: Douglas McNaughton Final words of wisdom Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson is offering some reminders to voters before they head to the polls. You cannot bring election materials inside a polling location. (But you can take a newspaper page with endorsements or your own list of who to vote for.) You cannot wear items into a polling location supporting or opposing a candidate or issue. You cannot comment on another voters support of a candidate or issue inside of a polling location. You are required to bring a photo ID. You have to choose either a Democrat or Republican ballot, whichever you want on Tuesday. I also encourage all voters to research the candidates on their ballot before going to the polls, Lawson said. There's a lot of information at nwi.com/politics, plus you can go to Indianavoters.com or the Indiana Voters app. If citizens have issues on Election Day, they can contact the Secretary of States office. To file a complaint with the Secretary of States office regarding polling place accessibility or concerns regarding possible fraudulent activities, call (866) IN1-VOTE. Staff will be on hand 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central time on Election Day. If you'd rather go online, the Indiana Voter Fraud and Accessibility Grievance affidavit form is at www.in.gov/sos/elections/2653.htm. Those who submit this form are advised to have it notarized in order to assist investigators and prosecutors, before filing it with the Secretary of States office. Purdue University Northwest's new national steel consortium is going to come up with ideas and innovations that could help make the beleaguered domestic steel industry more competitive. The Center for Innovation through Visualization and Innovation has teamed up with steelmakers, including ArcelorMittal and U.S. Steel, and major suppliers, like Praxair and NIPSCO, to form the research consortium, which is based out of Purdue's Hammond campus. Founding Director Chenn Zhou and a panel of consortium members told the Lakeshore Chamber on Thursday at Dynasty Banquets in Hammond how the Steel Manufacturing Simulation and Visualization Consortium would help the industry, such as by tackling projects that would make it more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. "It's been over a century since the great steel mills were built here, and they probably reached their peak in 1978, when they employed 70,000 people," said Don Babcock, NIPSCO's director of economic development. "We still make 20 to 25 percent of the nation's best steel. But we all recognize the industry is under assault internationally. They want to eat our lunch. We have to do everything we can to maintain this phenomenal business and industry." Steel remains strong in Northwest Indiana, which has three large integrated mills, more than anywhere else in the United States, said Kelly Dallas, a prinicipal engineer with ArcelorMittal USA who was a chairperson for the Association for Iron and Steel Technology Midwest Chapter. The Region is close to rail lines that bring in steelmaking inputs, population centers that consume the finished steel, and perhaps most importantly the iron ore that's shipped down from Minnesota across the Great Lakes to fuel the blast furnaces. Northwest Indiana's steel industry however has been struggling of late after a record surge of imports and wave after wave of layoffs. It supports many other companies such as NIPSCO since the mills consume so much power and Praxair, an industrial gas supplier that owes about 75 percent of its business in Northwest Indiana to the steel industry, said Mitch Day, Praxair strategic account director. "What if the steel industry disappeared tomorrow," Day said. "We'd be affected." Babcock estimates Northwest Indiana would suffer at least a $2 billion blow if the mills were to close. "That's why we have to ensure it's as sustainable and viable as it possibly can be," he said. David White, ArcelorMittal USA director of process research, said the consortium could help the steel industry move forward in directions it's headed in, such as to burn natural gas instead of coke to make iron and to have more continuous operating in finishing. Steel coil likely will be rolled, heat-treated and finished in other ways while on the same line, instead of through separate processes, he said. "It's true we're competitors, and we're not going to exchange product secrets or recipes or things like that," he said. "But there are issues that are common to us all, like safety, energy efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint, that would benefit everybody." Day said it's necessary to make strategic investments in making the steel industry more efficient and competitive because suppliers benefit when it does well. "This is the next chapter in the evolution of the steel industry," he said. "We've investing $80 million in an expansion of our facility at Burns Harbor. We expect steel will be here for the next 100 years." HAMMOND An alleged member of the Latin King street gangs went to the now-shuttered Estrellas Bar in August 2014 with the intention of burning it down, according to court records. When it appeared the bar was too busy the night of Aug. 14, 2014, Nicholas Cali Baez instead opened fire at the business that was located in the 4700 block of Hohman Avenue in Hammond, according to an indictment. Raudel Contreras Jr., 26, of Hammond, was wounded in the shooting and later died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He was the only person hit in the gunfire. Baez, 22, of Hammond, was indicted Friday in U.S. District Court on federal charges of aiding and abetting and of using a firearm that caused the death of a person during and in relation to a drug conspiracy. The indictment comes a day after Baez, a Latin King since 2010, allegedly admitted to federal agents his role in Contreras homicide. Baez said he was put in charge of dealing with Estrellas Bar after meeting with other Latin King members at an East Chicago home, according to the indictment. The Latin Kings were angry the bar owner days before had allowed members of the Latin Dragons, a rival gang, to stay at the business. He and another unidentified Latin King were instructed to burn the bar down on Aug. 14, 2014, according to court records. After going to the bar, they returned to an SUV and told a Latin King that the bar was too busy. The person inside the SUV then handed them a gun and told them to do something. Baez tied a shirt around his face, ran around the bar toward the front door and fired five shots into the business, the indictment states. While listening to a police scanner phone app, they learned someone was killed in the shooting. The next month, the bar had two suspected arson fires within a 24-hour period. Hammond officials demolished the building after the second blaze, because it was deemed a public safety hazard. The bar owners previously denied to The Times that gang activity was happening at their business. The charges against Baez is the latest federal indictment targeting the Latin Kings street gang in Northwest Indiana. In December, 17 gang members and their associates were indicted in U.S. District court. The gang had chapters in Hammond, East Chicago and Garys Black Oak section. Baez was part of the 148th Street faction. GARY Police are looking for a Gary man accused of shooting at officers Tuesday night while they were serving another man with several felony warrants. The Gary SWAT team found Kevin S. Brown Jr., 28, of Gary, hiding under a vehicle and took him into custody, but he later escaped from a police car with handcuffs on and ran off, police said. Officers used a K-9 to track Brown, but he was not located. The Multi-Agency Gang Unit was at the Lakeshore Dunes Apartments to arrest Damond Gregory, 27, of Chicago, on the warrants, police Lt. Dawn Westerfield said. Officers watched Gregory and Brown walk out of a building about 9 p.m. in the 5800 block of Kennedy Terrace and get into a vehicle. As officers approached and identified themselves as police, Brown got out of the passenger side and immediately opened fire, Westerfield said. Officers returned fire and retreated for cover. No one was wounded in the shooting, she said. Police saw Gregory run back into the building and up a staircase, which was visible through the windows. The Gary Police Department SWAT team responded and persuaded Gregory to exit the building and surrender after a brief standoff, she said. Brown escaped from the police car while officers were negotiating with Gregory, Westerfield said. It remained unclear Thursday why Brown shot at police, she said. Brown is 6 feet tall and 165 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark, patterned hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and gym shoes. Hes known to frequent the Aetna and Glen Ryan neighborhoods of Gary and the Lakeshore Dunes Apartments in the citys Miller section, police said. Police cautioned residents not to approach Brown, who should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call MAG Unit supervisor Lt. Jack Hamady at (219) 742-7427 or Sgt. William Fazekas, of the Violent Crimes Division, at (219) 881-1210. To remain anonymous, call (866) CRIME-GP. CROWN POINT A man who already has been convicted in a murder-for-hire case from Porter County was assigned a new public defender to represent him in a separate pending murder case in Lake County. Dontaye Singletary appeared Thursday in front of Judge Pro Tem Thomas Vanes. Public defense attorney Samuel Vazanellis entered his appearance as Singletarys new attorney. Vazanellis told Vanes he has to review the case and asked for a status hearing to be set for May 26. Singletary did not say anything during the hearing. Vazanellis is the third public defense attorney to represent Singletary. He was previously represented by defense attorney Alexander Woloshansky. Earlier this month, Woloshansky told the court communication between him and Singletary had broken down, which lead him to ask the public defenders conflicts division to assign a new attorney. Singletary, 24, is one of six people charged in the Aug. 16, 2010, homicide of Franklin Simmons, 61. Simmons was shot 10 times during a robbery at his Gary home, which was known as a lottery house where people visited to gamble. Prosecutors filed charges against the group in May 2013. Charges in the murder are also still pending against Jamell J. Brooks, Antoine J. Gates, Robert E. Johnson III, Rashaad D. McNair and Diana M. Veal. Singletary already faces 65 years in prison after a Porter County jury found him guilty of shooting to death Carl Griffith Sr., 72, on Nov. 1, 2012, shortly after Griffith returned to his Portage home. Police believe he was hired to carry out the homicide.The Court of Appeals has upheld Singletarys conviction. The Indiana Supreme Court in March unanimously refused to hear an appeal for the conviction. PORTAGE A Valparaiso woman was arrested Thursday afternoon after fleeing the scene of a crash that sent her two passengers to the hospital. Natacha Hurley, 29, was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving. Police responded to the area of U.S. 20 and Willowcreek Road about 4:30 p.m. Thursday to find a 1998 Ford Taurus heavily damaged after striking a NIPSCO pole. Live electrical wires from the downed pole were blocking all lanes of travel on U.S. 20. A 24-year-old Boone Township woman had to be extricated from the car. She suffered a severe chest contusion and was intubated. She was transported to St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. Her condition was unknown. A second passenger, a 32-year-old Demotte man, was found outside the car, but had suffered lacerations to his face. He was transported to Methodist Hospital Northlake in Gary and was treated and released. Hurley was identified as the driver of the car and had allegedly fled following the crash. Police deployed a K9 unit to track Hurley and found her about an hour later hiding under a tree in a wooded area near the 5900 block of Carlson Avenue. Hurley was transported to Portage Hospital for treatment of lacerations on her arms and face. Following treatment, she was transported to Porter County Jail. GARY Anna Rominger, dean of the business school at Indiana University Northwest, on Thursday became one of the few women in Indiana to be named a Sagamore of the Wabash. State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, presented the award on behalf of Gov. Mike Pence. It was Olthoffs first time to give out a Sagamore. Great character surpasses great accomplishments, Olthoff said. Dr. Anna Rominger has both. Rominger has a long list of achievements, including serving as dean of IUNs School of Business and Economics for 16 years. Under her leadership, the school was awarded international accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a distinction only 5 percent of business schools worldwide have achieved. She has been active in numerous community organizations, including the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission, the Indiana Ballet Theatre, the Lake County Advancement Committee and more. You practice yoga in the morning and ballroom dancing with Joe in the evening, Mark McPhail, executive vice chancellor at IUN, told Rominger Thursday. Romingers husband, Joe Lisak, had been planning the event since before Christmas. INDIANAPOLIS Gov. Mike Pence announced Friday that he will be voting for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in Indiana's Republican presidential primary Tuesday. But Pence held back from calling on all Hoosier Republicans to also support Cruz and seemingly went out of his way to avoid alienating the GOP front-runner, Donald Trump. "I'm not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz," Pence said on Indianapolis' WIBC-FM radio. "I see Ted Cruz as a principled conservative who has dedicated his career to advocating the (Ronald) Reagan agenda and I'm pleased to support him." At the same time, Pence commended Trump for giving voice "to the frustration of millions of working Americans with the lack of progress in Washington, D.C." "Donald Trump has taken a strong stand for Hoosier jobs when we saw jobs at the Carrier company abruptly announce they'd be leaving Indiana, not for another state but for Mexico," Pence said. "I'm grateful for his voice in the national debate." Pence's refusal to make a full-throated Cruz endorsement likely won't do much to improve the status of the Texas senator in Indiana. In addition, more than 110,000 Republicans already have cast their ballots, according to the secretary of state. An April 27-28 American Research Group poll of 400 likely Indiana Republican voters found Trump is favored by 41 percent, Cruz stands at 32 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who isn't campaigning in the state, is the choice of 21 percent. The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 5 percent. In making his announcement, Pence seemed intent on preventing blowback from Trump supporters and perhaps not getting slapped with a derisive nickname from the former Gary casino owner by pledging "I'm going to work my heart out" for the GOP nominee. "I just encourage every Hoosier to examine all these candidates as I have, listen carefully to all of their positions, make their decision, exercise their right to vote this coming Tuesday, if not before," Pence said. "At the end of the day, I'm very confident that our party is going to come together around our nominee whoever that might be and we're going to deliver a great victory for all the people of the United States this fall." It's not yet known what impact Pence's support for Cruz will have on his own lackluster standing among Hoosiers. A recent poll found just 49 percent of Indiana voters want Pence to be re-elected in November. Pence now is tied to Cruz's positions in favor of restricting transgender bathroom use and further limiting abortion rights, which polls show are unpopular with a majority of Hoosiers, including many Republicans. Moreover, Cruz consistently has promised to "repeal every word of Obamacare," which would terminate Pence's Healthy Indiana Plan and take health coverage away from some 400,000 Hoosiers. Cruz has pulled out all the stops this week in trying to win the lion's share of Indiana's 57 GOP convention delegates, even going so far as to name former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as his choice for vice president. His goal is to prevent Trump from claiming the Republican presidential nomination on the first ballot at the July 18-21 national convention in the hope that delegates will choose Cruz on a subsequent ballot. SCHERERVILLE Ronda Payne, CEO of Midwest Elite Preparatory Academy Inc., wants to offer high school students enrolled at the Christian-based non-sectarian academic institution the opportunity to learn a trade as well as a high school diploma. On Monday, the Schererville Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously in favor of allowing the academy to add a school of cosmetology to one end of the current campus at 5261 Fountain Drive. Payne told the BZA that students who enroll in the cosmetology school will learn hair styling, braiding, barbering and nail technology. They also will earn an associate degree in cosmetology as part of the schools dual credit partnership with Vincennes University. Up to 20 students would be enrolled. The Indiana Department of Education requires that high school students have the option of earning a technical diploma or Core 40 honors diploma, she said. The school of cosmetology wouldnt require structural changes, Payne said. Four shampoo bowls would need to be added. Eventually the cosmetology school would be open for general public clients allowing students to practice their skills, she told the BZA. The cosmetology school would operate only during regular school hours with no Saturday or Sunday classes. They will be able to sit for the state board and we will help them with career placement, Payne said. During the discussion prior to the vote, BZA member Bill Jarvis cautioned that the odors from hair dying and nail work can travel to areas of the building where other students are and recommended an air filtration system be installed. Payne said the architect will draw up the plans once all the necessary approvals are granted. The BZAs favorable recommendation now goes to the Schererville Town Council for further action. CROWN POINT Lake County residents can text their 9-1-1 emergency messages beginning Monday. Lake County E-911 director Brian Hitchcock said the new service will serve those who have a hearing or speech impediment or are in such danger they dont want to be overheard making a 911 voice call. When it comes to 911 we always prefer the voice call, Hitchcock said, explaining it is the quickest way for callers to communicate their location and emergency to police and fire dispatchers. But if somebody broke into your house and you are hiding in your closet, you can text. The service will be available throughout Lake County, including Cedar Lake and Schererville, which doesnt have a direct link to the rest of the countys E-911 system. Hitchcock said any text message from those towns will be transferred to the Southcom dispatch center for those towns. Hitchcock invited The Times to test the new system Thursday afternoon. A cellphone 911 text reached the E-911 dispatch center in Crown Point after a few seconds. A dispatcher sent a response text seconds later asking to confirm the cellphones number. Hitchcock said the county also is adding a translation service for nearly 200 languages, including Croatian, Greek, Polish, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Greek and Macedonian through Voiance Language Services of Tuscon, Arizona. Hitchcock said he wants to enlist the Indiana Statewide 911 Board in fighting cellphone service providers making it difficult for the county to locate emergency cell phone calls, which make up a majority of the 750 calls for help they receive daily from the public. Although the countys state-of-the-art communications gear automatically identifies the addresses of traditional landlines, some cellphone service providers dont comply with global positional standards, and gaps in the countys geographic database can force dispatchers to guess a callers location over a wide area around a cell tower. Jenny Diaz called 911 last month to report suspicious activity in her East Chicago neighborhood, as reported by The Times, but was shocked when she heard on the other end of the line an automated message listing different numbers to call, rather than hearing a live dispatchers voice. Hitchcock said Thursday he and Diaz investigated the problem and found her carrier erroneously directed the 911 call to the county sheriffs now unused dispatch room instead of the new E-911 center. Hitchcock said about 30 percent of the cellphone calls result in such address failures. He is collecting the data from those failures and submitting them to the Indiana Statewide 911 Board. He wants the state to demand the FCC enforce its global positioning rules on those carriers. HAMMOND More than 70 child-size chairs were auctioned off Thursday to raise money to help prevent child abuse at the Chairish the Children event at the Indiana Welcome Center. The annual event has raised more than $7,000 since 2011. The decorated chairs, presented by Prevent Child Abuse Lake County represent what it means to cherish children. This years exhibit included categories for middle school students, high school students and adult organizations that work with children. The top three schools in both the middle and high school judging won a cash prize to assist with their art departments. PCALC is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect. PCALC is affiliated with Prevent Child Abuse Indiana and provides education to schools and organizations on Shaken Infant Syndrome, along with distributing hospital packets to new mothers in local hospitals. For more information, visit www.pcalc.org or email pcalc@hotmail.com. CROWN POINT After rearing three children and retiring from a local steel mill, Jeanette Fleming started to settle into life as an empty-nester. Her daughter, who previously worked at Campagna Academy, would share stories about her job that made Fleming, 63, want to do more to help youth. On top of that, she started to wonder what was going on with the younger generation, especially young black men, while watching news about on-going violence. I cant save the world, but maybe I can save a couple young men, she said. And those young men can save a couple of young men. Fleming is one of the hundreds of foster parents expected to attend Saturdays sixth annual Foster Care Conference coordinated by Campagna Academy. The conference is meant to provide resources for foster parents along with an opportunity to meet other foster parents. The conference comes in anticipation of Foster Care Month, which is celebrated throughout May. The event starts at 8 a.m. at Patrician Banquet Center located at 410 U.S. 30 in Schererville. Beth Szamatowicz, director of public relations and volunteer services for Campagna Academy, said the conference is open to all foster parents throughout Northwest Indiana. The day will include workshops about the effects of children witnessing domestic abuse, nurturing children with special needs and resources for foster parents. Mary Beth Bonaventura, director of Indiana Department of Child Services, and Lake County Juvenile Judge Thomas Stefaniak are expected to speak at the conference. Dawn Andriese, 43, of Crown Point, has been a foster parent for two and a half years and has attended the conference in the past. She likes meeting the other foster parents and hearing about how theyve approached various scenarios as foster parents. After learning she couldnt have children of her own, Andriese said she decided to go through the process of becoming a certified foster parent. If I couldnt be a mother, then I need to be a part-time mom to help another child, to give them something that they should have, she said. Becoming a foster parent has changed how she lives. Andriese said it was an adjustment keeping up with the various court hearings and appointments for the children. In addition, anyone who watches the children has to go through a background check. Andriese said some days can be bad, but others days include her helping the children reach milestones. She said the children she has fostered along with Campagna Academy helped her after her husband unexpectedly died. Fleming said taking care of two teens since January has given her a new sense of purpose in her post-retirement life. These guys are basically on lockdown until someone saves them, and shows them that someone cares. Thats pretty much what they need, someone to show they wont throw them out because they made a mistake, Fleming said. I cant save the world, but maybe I can save a couple young men. And those young men can save a couple of young men. Jeanette Fleming HAMMOND A Hammond police officer jumped into the water Thursday night, saving an Illinois woman from drowning when her car sank into the water off the roadway west of 136th Street and Sheffield Avenue on 136th Street. Lt. Richard Hoyda said an unknown man called to the Lake County Central Dispatch about 9:23p.m. and reported that a vehicle was sinking into the water just off 136th Street. The first officer to arrive on scene was Russell Moore. He said the 911 caller standing on top of a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu saying that someone was still inside of the vehicle, Hoyda said. Officer Moore quickly removed several items of his police gear and jumped into the water. He was then able to smash out the drivers side vehicle window as the vehicle continued to sink deeper into the water. Officer Moore then pulled an adult female from Glenwood, Illinois, out of the drivers side window and brought her to safety, Hoyda said. He said the woman refused medical treatment at the scene. Hoyda said the Hammond Fire Department personnel also responded, and sent two divers into the water to make sure no one else was inside the vehicle. No one else was located, authorities said. Police said the vehicle was then towed from its submerged condition.Hammond police Chief John Doughty commended Moore for his heroic efforts in saving the woman who was trapped inside of her vehicle. CROWN POINT On Monday, the City Council is expected to introduce a measure adopting a wheel tax that could bolster the city's road budget by about $1.6 million a year and make it eligible to receive an additional $500,000 in state matching funds. The council's ordinance committee endorsed the tax earlier this month calling for a $25 annual fee for vehicles up to 11,000 pounds and $40 for large vehicles. Mayor David Uran told the committee, if the county also approved a wheel tax, Crown Point residents would not have to pay both. The city currently budgets about $570,000 a year in state gas tax revenue and property taxes to care for the roads and has supplemented that with funds from the city's Redevelopment Commission for projects within the tax increment financing districts. With 138 miles of roads, Crown Point is falling woefully behind on the maintenance of existing roads when the average life span for an asphalt road is 15 to 20 years tops and the current budget covers work on one or two miles of road a year. State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, who sponsored the legislation to give communities with a population over 10,000 the power to adopt the wheel tax, said the law would not exclude city residents from having to pay the county tax as well. Soliday said several communities in Lake and Porter counties are considering the tax, but he didn't think either county is considering the tax at this point. "We asked what tools the communities wanted and this was the one they chose," Soliday said. "We decided to try this for communities with 10,000 population and over and see what happens. If we end up with them doubling up on the tax and it is a problem, we will deal with it. "Many cities are on a 50- to 80-year repaving cycle. The Legislature's attitude is they are not going to raise all the taxes and have the locals spend it. There needs to be accountability at the local level. What we tried to do was make the law restrictive on what they can spend the money for." To qualify for the state matching grants, funded by the state's budget surplus, communities have to create an asset management plan for the roads that takes care of more than just resurfacing, Soliday said. "If you just pave the top, it just gets worse. The federal government was going to mandate an asset management plan, so we agreed to give the locals the power to tax if they have the plan. They can use Rainy Day Funds, the local option income tax or the wheel tax as their share of the local match for roads and bridges." Uran agreed it's unlikely Lake County will adopt a wheel tax saying, "The Indiana wheel tax law has been in place since 1980, and the county has never enacted it onto Lake County residents. "If they do, we would revisit our legislation, if it is passed by the council, so our residents are not double taxed for our local roads." "Is there a safety plan in place? We want to know our kids are going to be safe when they go back to the schools. They're not reaching out to us. I've tried to reach out and they're not returning my calls." VALPARAISO The city was awarded $25,000 at the Americas Best Communities Summit on Wednesday to pursue several initiatives included in its community revitalization plan. Eight communities advancing to the final round were awarded $100,000 for their plans and will compete for up to $3 million in grand prize money. While Valparaiso did not advance into the finals, the team will return home with new funding to continue implementing its plan for a downtown arts district. The announcement came during a semifinalist summit in Durham, North Carolina, where Mayor Jon Costas, Planning Director Tyler Kent and Jessica Corral, art teacher at Flint Lake Elementary, pitched Valparaisos plan. We were certainty disappointed we werent selected to advance in the competition, Costas said. We were really happy with how our presentation went. But we were glad to be part of the competition because they were very gracious awarding $25,000 to the cities that werent selected and well of course use that money to further a really exciting part of our downtown. Costas said the citys plans for the arts district was not dependent upon the competition. In the competitions quarterfinal round, 50 communities from the pool of over 350 participants were awarded $50,000 in seed money to develop a Community Revitalization Plan and each was paired with a major corporation that served as a strategic adviser as part of the competitions Adopt-a-Community Program. From this class of 50 quarterfinalists, the 15 with the best plans were named semifinalists this past January. THE PINES Work to clean up 13 sites here contaminated with arsenic, thallium and lead will begin this spring, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials announced Thursday. The EPA announced an enforceable agreement was reached with Northern Indiana Public Service Co. to clean up contaminated soil at 12 residential properties and one municipal property near The Pines. According to the EPA, NIPSCO will hire a contractor to conduct the cleanup and will pay all cleanup costs. Officials on Thursday did not immediately have a cost estimate for the project. The issue of contamination came to light in May 2002 when the Indiana Department of Environmental Management tested drinking water wells in The Pines and found high levels of the metals boron and molybdenum. The metals in the groundwater appeared to come from coal combustion by-products, or CCBs, composed primarily of fly ash that was disposed of in a nearby landfill called Yard 520, according to the EPA. The ash had been used as fill in residential yards as well as road projects. CCBs are the result of burning coal to generate electricity. In 2003 and 2004, NIPSCO, Brown, Inc., Ddalt Corp., and Bulk Transport, the companies determined to be responsible for the contamination, agreed to provide municipal water to about 270 homes in and near the Town of Pines, according to the EPA. Jacob Hassan, on-scene coordinator for the EPA, said mini excavators will primarily be used to remove soil that has been identified as contaminated in residents yards and at the Town Hall. Hassan said plans call for 3 feet of soil to be removed. An orange filter fabric will be placed in the affected area and clean topsoil will be brought in to restore residents properties. The contaminated soil will be taken to EPA-approved landfills. Hassan said local residents should expect to see a lot of truck traffic when work begins. NIPSCO spokesman Nick Meyer said the company has been in contact with affected property owners for more than a year. Its a a great step forward not only for property owners affected but also the entire Town of Pines as a whole as we move forward with this clean up activity, Meyer said. Meyer said now that the agreement is in place, work can begin this spring. He said they hope to have the work completed by the end of the year. Meyer said every effort will be made to keep disruptions to residents lives to a minimum, but a number of residents may need to find other living arrangements for a couple of weeks. But the goal is to remove affected soil and replace it, and get their lives back to normal. CROWN POINT | According to Islamic scripture, the Prophet Muhammad was an avid eater of dates. "A house without dates has no food," he said of the fruits known for their nutritional benefits. Avicenna Academy, an Islamic school in Crown Point, passed out bags of dates to students Tuesday, a day in which teachers tried to connect the Muslim faith to healthy living. The students started the morning by running or walking four laps around the parking lot. Then teachers then had the kids walk past a table of junk food "Just pretend it's not there," one of the adults said to a spread of fruits and vegetables. Then a local physician's assistant talked to the children about how to lead a healthy life. On the way back to class, the teachers gave each of the students dates to eat. "They have a lot of vitamins and minerals in them that our bodies need," Islamic teacher Sahar Hamad noted. "Dates are mentioned in the Quran, I think, 56 times." "On Ramadan, we break our fast with dates," said Nuha Rifai, director of development at the school. The Muslim holy book also espouses the benefits of drinking water and eating olives, olive oil and honey, among other foods. "I didn't know dates were that healthy," said Maliha Zaidi, 14, an eighth-grader from Crown Point. She and her classmate Manar Abuzer, 13, noted that they stay healthy by eating their mothers' cooking, which is full of vegetables and rice. Hillary Clinton spoke at a different kind of fundraiser Friday, appearing in Manhattan to help the Eagle Academy, a consortium of five public schools. But as NY1's Vivian Lee explains, her appearance also had a political component. Hillary Clinton beamed as students of the Eagle Academy recited, as they do every day in school, the poem "Invictus." Nelson Mandela famously recited the poem while imprisoned in South Africa, finding inspiration in its message of confronting and overcoming adversity. Clinton said that message is relevant to students at Eagle Academy, a school she is said to have long championed. "I want to see Eagle Academies spread across America," the Democratic presidential candidate said Friday. Clinton headlined a fundraiser for the academy, which is a network of five all-boys schools. The appearance helped her to showcase, as a presidential candidate, her support of an education reform model showing promise. The academy schools are public, and the teachers are unionized, but private money helps to pay for longer school days and more intensive instruction. Most of the students are black and poor, and the graduation rate is 83 percent. Clinton was also said to have supported the academy's creation, during her time in the Senate. "It was controversial. It's an all-boys public high school," said David Banks, a founding member of the academy. "She also helped to sponsor legislation which said that you can do single-gender schools." "We need to break down all the barriers that keep young people from reaching their full potential, and build ladders of opportunity," Clinton said. "And this is one of the best ladders I know of." The first Eagle Academy opened in the Bronx in 2004. Clinton then spoke to that graduating class in 2008, right after attending the Democratic Convention that nominated then-Senator Barack Obama as a presidential candidate. Clinton's appearance at that graduation, coupled with her presence Friday, has won her loyalty in this school community. "It's definitely not a campaign stop," school consultant Rosemarie Rizzo-Tolk said. "I think Hillary loves the school and really is behind the boys, knowing the overwhelming obstacles that boys have in education today, and I think that it is her heart that is speaking." Obstacles the students feel they're on their way to beating: "Being at this school, they give us a whole variety of opportunities," eighth grader Donte Jones said. "I've been accepted into ten different colleges," senior Jamal Trotman said to applause from the crowd at the fundraiser. Authorities are investigating after they say a suspicious powder was found at Trump Tower. Officials say the call came in shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday. Police say the suspicious powder was found in a letter addressed to Donald Trump's campaign office in Midtown, but they wouldn't say where specifically the powder was found in the building. Police say the building was deemed safe at around 10:45 p.m. Thursday. According to the NYPD, six people encountered the substance, and three people were evaluated at the location. Investigators say the substance is not hazardous and is being evaluated by the Health Department. They have not indicated what the powder is yet. Trump was not in the building at the time. Back in March, an envelope with a non-hazardous white powder and threatening letter was sent to the apartment of Trump's son Eric. Is there more freedom to write a show for Netflix? Janice, Nashville Obviously content-wise, you could do almost anything. But we had written a show about a woman who was in many ways childlike and inexperienced, and it didnt make a ton of sense to change what was working, or for that character to suddenly start swearing and having people take their pants off. I think in one of the fake American Songbook songs Titus sings, there is an s-word. I think that was the only time we said a word that you couldnt say on broadcast. One of the things you run up against in broadcast are not standards issues, but sales issues. We tend to write a lot of jokes and we did on 30 Rock as well that reference brands and people in the real world, and that can be a conflict in the broadcast business model. Its nice not to have to deal with that in streaming. Were there any jokes you had to spike at 30 Rock that you still regret? What I remember are the ones we got away with. At one point we mentioned that Jack Donaghy and his ex-wife co-owned an Arbys franchise, and there was a little pushback on that. Then wed push back against these poor people who are just trying to protect their client relations. Its gotta be Arbys! It sounds funnier! We wore them down. Which are your favorite characters to write for? Allison, Austin, Tex. I always get a lot of joy out of giving lots of jokes to a guest star the manager of the theater, or the doctor. I like the feeling of Oh, these people arent just there to move the story along; theyre their own weirdos. Thats partly what leads to these overstuffed, five-jokes-a-page things, but I never like the traditional way, when the person comes in, gives the information and raises an eyebrow at your characters jokes. I like these incidental characters that youve never seen before to live in a consistent world with your other characters. 30 Rock had that same fast-paced, silly-sharp style of comedy. Where did that approach come from? Tina and I once tried to answer that question for ourselves. We determined that we like well-intentioned people who think they have solutions to everything but are, like most people, wrong. Titus, Kimmy, Jacqueline and Lillian all have different visions of what they think the world should be, which are all centered around themselves. So you get that conflict, and when you have characters with strong points of view and strong beliefs, these well-intentioned dummies, they talk a lot. So we end up with these characters who are constantly jabbering at each other, and you look at it and say, This is boring how do we make it funny? And then it gets jam-packed with jokes. In todays fiercely competitive automotive world, simply getting a buyers attention is tough. 6 years ago, Hyundai figured a 10-year warranty wasnt enough and adapted daring design, the Elantra getting the swoopiest lines of the bunch. The gamble now? Toning those curves down. Meet the new more mature 2017 model. (ON CAMERA) Now, of course youre going to cross-shop because intelligent people always do. That means youre probably looking at Civic, Cruze, Corolla, Focus, Mazda3, Focus, Sentra. So many cars in this segment. And many have grown up. Like Corolla and Civic, the E.P.A. classifies Elantras cabin volume as a midsize, about as large as a BMW 3 Series. Materials look and feel good in class, dont (SOUND UP) expect soft materials everywhere. This Limited model, thatll set you back $27,710, has stuff found only on luxury cars 10 years ago including blind spot warning and adaptive cruise control. (ON CAMERA) Also, this Elantra is equipped with an auto braking system that detects pedestrians. Some of you have written to ask why I dont demonstrate it. Ill invite you to come stand in front of it, right after you sign these release forms. (SOUND UP) As for driving dynamics (ON CAMERA) Hyundai engineers have done an awful lot to improve the ride quality. Its very comfortable. Not sporty like Mazda3 or maybe Honda Civic but nicely done. Body movements are well controlled. The outgoing cars steering rack was the very inspiration for Novocain, this one offers feedback. Heres what makes it go, a 147 horsepower 2-liter four-cylinder (SOUND UP) connecting it to the front wheels is a 6-speed gearbox with a manual mode, just not up on the steering wheel. Set the steering weight and throttle response to suit your mood. Eager to hit 60 miles an hour? (SOUND UP) thatll take about 8 seconds. Brisk at best. (ON CAMERA) In the outgoing generation, if I were talking to you about road noise, or anything else, I would have to talk like this. The new generation is much quieter. Half the structure is stamped out of high-strength steel. Some 390 feet of adhesive stiffens it further. Yes, folks its glued and welded. Thats a good thing. (ON CAMERA) For better fuel efficiency, a lot of modern transmissions are reluctant to kick down into a lower gear, Elantra? Happy to do it. In a week of driving, I averaged about 32 miles from each gallon of gas. Its worth noting that visibility is decent and that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available. Also the lane keep assist system is well executed . (ON CAMERA) Memory seats, nice So, are, lots of, storage cubbies. The sun visors are well thought out. And Elantra is available with a proximity trunk release that open automatically (SOUND UP) if you stand next to it for a few seconds (ON CAMERA) Space is not an issue back here, two adults will be perfectly comfortable. Three will be okay, if theyre skinny. Haul car seats in and out often? Wide opening doors cooperate. Not sure why Hyundai couldnt put a pocket on the drivers chair, or throw in a power port. (ON CAMERA) I recently tested the new Honda Civic that easily holds six packs of this stuff.... You can practically cut the suspense with a knife cant you? Yes the seats do this. Yes there is a spare. And yes, the trunk is very large, in my practical real world test it matches the Honda at 6 packs when the hinge arms do not pinch the cargo. These crisp lines appear more elegant and upscale than the outgoing car, something the larger Sonata didnt pull off quite as well. It may be less emotional to the eye now but the new Elantras comfort and refinement is worth a shoppers attention in this crowded segement. Jenny Diski, a British writer who channeled the turmoil of her early years, which included suicide attempts and confinement in mental hospitals, into a stream of richly observed and mordant novels, memoirs and essays, died on Thursday at her home in Cambridge, England. She was 68. The cause was a lung tumor and pulmonary fibrosis, her agent, Peter Straus, said. Ms. Diski got off to a late start as a writer. She was almost 40 when she published her first novel, Nothing Natural, about a single mother embroiled in a sadomasochistic relationship that leads to a mental breakdown. Its steely, unblinking account of sexual degradation and psychic disintegration impressed those who were not appalled by its sexual politics. The Washington Posts review carried the headline A Sad Day for Feminism. Ms. Diski went on to explore madness, depression and isolation in nearly a dozen novels and a series of memoirs; some of them, like Skating to Antarctica (1997) and Stranger on a Train: Daydreaming and Smoking Around America With Interruptions (2002), masqueraded as travel books. She contributed more than 100 essays to The London Review of Books. Many were collected in Dont (1998) and A View From the Bed (2003). I believe we have to make sense of the world we live in; we have to know its boundaries, how to control it, she told The Guardian of London in 1987, discussing Rainforest, her second novel. And when we cannot do this, I believe it leads to chaos, the essence of which is unorganized emptiness, and that is quite terrifying. Robert E. Linton, a prominent Wall Street executive who led the swashbuckling investment bank Drexel Burnham Lambert in the years before it imploded in scandal but who was largely untainted himself, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. He was 90. The cause was heart failure, his son Jeffrey said. During his tenure atop Drexel in the early 1980s, Mr. Linton oversaw the firms rapid expansion into one of the nations biggest and most profitable investment banks. At its height, Drexel pioneered the junk bond industry and came to symbolize the 1980s greed is good mentality on Wall Street, inspiring movies and books that detailed the risk-taking of that era. Eventually, however, the federal authorities suspected that something worse than greed was afoot. In 1989, prosecutors filed six felony counts of mail and securities fraud against the firm, which pleaded guilty and later dissolved. Michael R. Milken, the Junk Bond King and a central figure in the case, also admitted to crimes, providing the capstone to what was then the largest criminal prosecution in Wall Street history. Although Mr. Linton was a board member during much of that period, he was no longer C.E.O. And Mr. Linton, who was never accused of wrongdoing in the case, had previously denounced some of Wall Streets excesses. Unbeknownst to the world at large, not only does The Times have an ideal customer (young, white, wealthy), but also an ideal staffer (young, white, unencumbered with a family) to draw that purported ideal customer, the lawsuit says. The suit also contends that the plaintiffs have experienced discrimination, and were retaliated against, when they complained about such discrimination. In the suit, which was filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, the women say that, when she joined The Times in 2013, Meredith Levien, now the companys executive vice president and chief revenue officer, made it very clear that she was looking for a very particular work force, one that was filled with fresh faces, i.e., younger employees without families, and who were white. The suit also contends that Ms. Levien made references to the need for employees to be people who look like the people we are selling to and even going so far as to say this isnt what our sales team should look like. In a statement, Eileen Murphy, The Timess spokeswoman, said: This lawsuit contains a series of recycled, scurrilous and unjustified attacks on both Mark Thompson and Meredith Levien. It also completely distorts the realities of the work environment at The New York Times. We strongly disagree with any claim that The Times, Mr. Thompson or Ms. Levien have discriminated against any individual or group of employees. Douglas H. Wigdor, a lawyer for the women, said in a statement: It is astonishing that a news organization that regularly promotes liberal social viewpoints could have a double standard when it comes to blatantly discriminating and retaliating against its own hard-working and dedicated employees. Tyler Hicks, a staff photographer for The New York Times, joined PBS NewsHour to discuss his recent Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography for capturing the resolve of refugees, the perils of their journeys and the struggle of host countries to take them in: This was a really interesting story because theres a small amount of space for all these refugees arriving along the shores of Lesbos. You had tens of thousands of people flooding into this space thats just a couple of miles long. ... This [photo] was unusual because it was just before dark and there were no other boats coming. This one last boat came in and there was no one there to receive them, no help for them. ... I really felt it was important to capture that moment. Elisabeth Bumiller, The Timess Washington bureau chief, joined MSNBCs Morning Joe to discuss Hillary Clintons foreign policy stances as depicted in The New York Times Magazine cover story How Hillary Clinton Became a Hawk: Hillarys worldview is one of American exceptionalism, as Mark [Landler] talks about ... which is that there is a role for the American military in certain areas for intervention. For example, the debate whether to send more troops to Afghanistan in 2009: She sided with the defense secretary Bob Gates to send 40,000 troops. That was a high number. ... The number ended up being 30,000, but she supported Gates the whole way. Stephanie Strom, a reporter for The Times, joined WRKO Radios Financial Exchange to discuss the news that Chobani, the yogurt maker, will be giving its employees shares worth up to 10 percent of the company when it goes public or is sold: [The delegation of shares is] primarily on tenure. It probably has something to do with job responsibility as well, but there are a variety of things that go into the mix. ... Its a big enough company that it could do an I.P.O. it doesnt have to be bought by another big food company. But big food companies have kicked the tires. Ashley Parker, a political correspondent for The Times, joined Fox News Channels Shepard Smith Reporting to discuss Donald J. Trumps message to voters shifting toward a general election tone: We are just one-third of the way through 2016, and we have already been so overwhelmed by the loss of musical heroes that it feels impossible to make room for more grief. But Les Waas, who died on April 19 at age 94, deserves a page in our Book of Lamentations. You may not have heard of Waas, but youve heard his music. He was the Philadelphia adman and prolific composer of jingles who in 1960 came up with the theme song for Mister Softee that deceptively gentle singsong melody, rendered in tinkling music-box bells, that has blasted from the roof-mounted P.A. systems of Mister Softee ice cream trucks for decades. The song was originally a jingle, music and words, written for radio and television spots, with a lyric celebrating the deliciousness of Mister Softees desserts and the convenience of a mobile ice cream parlor: The creamiest, dreamiest soft ice cream You get from Mister Softee For a refreshing delight supreme Look for Mister Softee My milkshakes and my sundaes and my cones Are such a treat Listen for my store on wheels Ding-a-ling down the street The creamiest, dreamiest soft ice cream You get from Mister Softee For a refreshing delight supreme Look for Mister Softee S-O-F-T-double-E Mister Softee! As poetry, it aint much. The chiming tune, though, is irrefutable. A chorus, a bridge, another chorus, and a brief coda Waass jingle hews to the form of a pop song, which, of course, it is. The music is indelibly associated with New York City, where Mister Softee runs its largest fleet. But the companys trucks have spread the song far and wide, to 15 other states and to China, where Mister Softee began operating in 2007. Its a global hit. Its an unusual kind of hit too. Its a creation of the crassest commercial intent, an advertisement. But the melody, which steps through a string of sprightly notes as if guided by some faultless celestial logic, gives the song the feel of a folk artifact, a thing thats as old as the hills. Consider the soundtrack of Mister Softees ice cream truck competitors, a repertoire of nursery-rhyme ditties, public-domain classics, 19th- and early-20th century standards: Pop Goes the Weasel, Do Your Ears Hang Low? Home on the Range, Turkey in the Straw, Camptown Races, The Entertainer. When Waas sat down to write a jingle more than half a century ago, did he know that he was going toe to toe with Stephen Foster and Scott Joplin and some of the most beloved tunes in the Anglo-American songbook, and that he would beat them all? For centuries, city life has been defined by hubbub town criers and curbside hawkers and mischief-making callithumpian marching bands. These days, though, much of that noise has been hushed up, legislated and gentrified away. Technology has made music more ubiquitous than ever, but our listening has been privatized; boomboxes have given way to pocket-size devices, whose playlists we absorb through noise-canceling headphones. Ice cream trucks are vestiges of the lost, louder city, a throwback to New Yorks early days, when a town run on boisterous commerce was just revving up. You can hear an echo of Mister Softees ancestors by paging through Cries of New York (1808), an anthology of the shouted sales pitches of street vendors: fruit peddlers, knife grinders, chimney sweeps, sand merchants. (Heres white sand/Choice sand/Here your lily white s-a-n-d/Heres your Rock-a-way Beach s-a-n-d.) Today the loudest sound we hear in New York is traffic, a permanent background roar, punctuated by the screams of police, fire and ambulance sirens. The Mister Softee jingle is different kind of siren, a siren call a beckoning faraway tune, getting closer by the second, telling us that a white boat on wheels will soon hove into view, bringing refreshing delights supreme. In 2004, Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to ban the Mister Softee song, part of his effort to turn the city into a more tranquil yuppie idyll. But the effort was shouted down: New Yorkers didnt want to let go of this reminder of an older, wilder, more raffish town. Bill de Blasio, currently in the Pigpen phase of his mayoralty, with clouds hovering everywhere he goes, did not lay the pipes that carry unlimited cash to candidates for the State Legislature. Those pipes party committees that can accept far more money than individual candidates, and then freely pass along the money to the campaigns have been used in virtually every competitive legislative race this century. Nevertheless, a recently appointed state election official has called on prosecutors to investigate Mr. de Blasio and his allies in the 2014 legislative campaigns for availing themselves of the pipes. The official, Risa S. Sugarman, the chief enforcement counsel for the Board of Elections, asserted in a report that she had found willful and flagrant violations of laws limiting campaign money for candidates. The de Blasio group solicited money for Democratic candidates they thought had a chance of winning election to the State Senate in 2014. The candidates could accept donations of as much as $10,300, but party committees in their counties, and at the state level, could receive about 10 times that. I called for the resignation of the FEMA director, and I call for it again today not because I want a scalp but because there has to be accountability, said Mr. MacArthur, whose district includes parts of Burlington and Ocean Counties. There has to be. Somebody has to answer for this. Image Representative Tom MacArthur of New Jersey in 2014. Mr. MacArthur has alleged that thousands were wrongfully denied flood insurance payouts after Hurricane Sandy. Credit... Mel Evans/Associated Press Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for FEMA, said it had absolutely no incentive to shortchange policyholders. He said the agency was working to make things right and overhaul the program. The bottom line is that these survivors have been through too much already, and the last thing they need more than three years after Sandy is to deal with being underpaid by their insurance company, he said in a statement. Survivors always come first, and that is why weve set up an unprecedented process to review these claims and pay out every penny owed to policyholders under their policies. Over $50 million had gone to policyholders, he added, and were working as quickly as possible literally in shifts to continue to make things right. The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing last June on the oversight of Hurricane Sandy flood insurance claims. Mr. MacArthur said members of the committee he had spoken with were open to the possibility of new hearings. Gert Sofman, 59, of Highlands, N.J., who was among the victims at the news conference on Thursday, said she had been largely denied government assistance rebuilding the organic snack shop she ran with her daughter on the grounds that her business had not made enough money to meet their requirements because it had been open for only three months. On top of that, Ms. Sofman said she also lost her house, leaving behind an empty lot which she had to continue to pay thousands of dollars to insure. The House Armed Services Committee approved a version of the 2017 defense spending bill on Thursday that would leave thousands of Afghan interpreters who worked for the American government in Afghanistan in the lurch. More than 10,000 applicants, many of whom submitted petitions years ago and are now under threat in their country, are waiting for visas to get to the United States. However, the State Department can approve only about 4,000 applications, given the number of visas currently authorized by Congress. The committees bill provides no additional visas and imposes unreasonable eligibility criteria for applications made after next month. Under the bill, only interpreters who worked with military personnel in the field would be eligible for resettlement. That is senseless, since many interpreters who worked on military bases or in government offices are in similar danger. The visa program, which has long enjoyed bipartisan support, has become a target of lawmakers who want to limit immigration to the United States, including Representative Bob Goodlatte, Republican of Virginia, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Donald Trump now looks set to be the Republican presidential nominee. So for those of us appalled by this prospect what are we supposed to do? Well, not what the leaders of the Republican Party are doing. Theyre going down meekly and hoping for a quiet convention. They seem blithely unaware that this is a Joe McCarthy moment. People will be judged by where they stood at this time. Those who walked with Trump will be tainted forever after for the degradation of standards and the general election slaughter. The better course for all of us Republican, Democrat and independent is to step back and take the long view, and to begin building for that. This election not only the Trump phenomenon but the rise of Bernie Sanders, also has reminded us how much pain there is in this country. According to a Pew Research poll, 75 percent of Trump voters say that life has gotten worse for people like them over the last half century. This declinism intertwines with other horrible social statistics. The suicide rate has surged to a 30-year high a sure sign of rampant social isolation. A record number of Americans believe the American dream is out of reach. And for millennials, social trust is at historic lows. He descended from the sky last Sunday in a helicopter that could have come from heaven, landing outside a hangar in Hagerstown, Md. He would talk for little more than an hour, mostly about himself, how he is a smart guy and I look really good and I equal love. To chants of build the wall! he said he would talk about jobs for a second, then were getting the hell out of here. He made good on both promises. He closed with a vow that no more jobs would leave Maryland, and then Donald J. Trump disappeared back into the sky. As he spoke, jobs were leaving Maryland. Credit card processors, which had found a home in a place where people used to make pipe organs and leather car seats, were consolidating, as they put it. The biggest company, First Data Corporation, had let people go at their big office at the edge of Hagerstown. But these jobs were not going to Mexico. And they were not leaving because dirt-cheap operations in China could track credit cards any better than the people of Hagerstown. They left because the company wanted to upgrade the talent and skill sets available to us, as it said in a news release. Where would that be? Possibly somewhere in the New York metro area, the company announced in another of its disruptive moves. Essentially, the jobs were following Trump to New York. Others were disappearing. No wall could prevent that. FRONT PAGE An article on Tuesday about the inability of the United States and Iran to work together to promote unity in Iraq even though both want to defeat the Islamic State there misidentified the country that backs the Badr Organization, which resists calls to let humanitarian aid into Falluja, an ISIS-held city under siege by the Iraqi Army. That country is Iran, not Iraq. A picture caption with the article misidentified the weapon being fired by Shiite fighters outside Falluja. It is a recoilless rifle, not a rocket. NEW YORK An article on Wednesday about the sentencing of Alhassane Ould Mohamed, who pleaded guilty last month to murdering William Bultemeier, a Defense Department attache assigned to the United States Embassy in Niger in 2000, referred incorrectly to Danni Bultemeier, who addressed the court. She is the second youngest daughter of Mr. Bultemeier, not, as stated in court, the youngest. BUSINESS DAY An article on Wednesday about the freeing from jail of Andre Esteves, former chief of BTG Pactual, misstated his history with the bank in some copies. As chief executive, he built the bank into a giant, but he did not found it. A correction in this space on Wednesday for an article about a donation to the University of California, San Francisco from the former Citigroup chairman Sanford I. Weill and his wife misstated her given name. As the article correctly noted, she is Joan, not Jane. What crafted these crisscrossing lines in the Caspian Sea? Its a question that had Norman Kuring scratching his head earlier this month when he first saw this satellite image of the shallow waters surrounding the Tyuleniy Archipelago. Mr. Kuring, an oceanographer for NASA, often examines images taken by the agencys Landsat 8 satellite, which orbits some 440 miles above Earth. But he had never before seen what looks like underwater scars stretching for miles across the green and blue seafloor. I had no idea what they were, he said. I thought maybe they were marks of trawlers which sometimes disturb the bottom. At its best, punk rock relies on an admixture of velocity, attitude and volume which is exactly what made last nights Deaf Club event a smash success. The show, held at the Knockdown Center in Maspeth, Queens, a former door factory turned interdisciplinary arts space, was curated by the Los Angeles-based artist Alison ODaniel who, herself, is hard of hearing. The event was a live extension of ODaniels The Tuba Thieves (currently a part of her Room Tone exhibition) a film that explores the events surrounding an unlikely series of tuba thefts in Los Angeles schools. One portion, however, also recreates a performance in the Deaf Club, a now-defunct social club for San Franciscos deaf community that hosted punk shows in 1979. As the story goes, Robert Hanrahan, the manager for the punk band the Offs, was walking by it, saw a sign reading The Deaf Club and thought it was a cool, unexpected name for a concert venue. After realizing his mistake, he asked if his band could play a message he originally wrote on a napkin. Im not a punk historian, said ODaniel. My interest comes more from the deaf community. Its the meeting of two totally disenfranchised communities its really beautiful. Eventually, bands including Dead Kennedys and Pink Section would record albums at the venue, forever sanctifying it in punk lore. (A core irony of the story, and also fittingly punk, was that the shows eventually came to a halt because of noise complaints.) But the goal of last nights event wasnt an attempt to dispel hearing peoples outmoded assumption that the deaf world doesnt (or cant) appreciate music though that notion seemed ready to explode along with the tower of amps but rather, to create an environment where people of all ages and backgrounds could revel in the power of punk and performance art. Among the performers, many of whom helped with the making of ODaniels film, were three bands and four American Sign Language storytellers, each of whom approached the night with their own interpretation of the Deaf Club theme. Wall, a Brooklyn four-piece, brought No Wave clamor and cutting politics to the stage, while Future Punx arrived with fog machines and New Wave synths in tow. Also appearing was a band with a name unpublishable in this publication which only serves to solidify its street cred. (The frontman, Paddy Mulloy, played an M.C. in ODaniels film.) For his bookshop and website One Grand Books, the editor Aaron Hicklin asked people to name the 10 books theyd take with them if they were marooned on a desert island. The next in the series is the actor, director and writer Alan Cumming, who shares his list exclusively with T. (From May 1-22, One Grand will host a pop-up shop at Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.) The Trick Is To Keep Breathing, Janice Galloway This is like a Scottish Catcher in the Rye. You actually feel youre inside this womans head, it is that visceral. And having experienced a downward spiral myself, I so admire her accuracy in every detail. The Passion, Jeanette Winterson Again, its all about the visceral! She understands yearning like no one else. And also, I love a good historic European romp. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Robert L. Dear Jr. thought the feds had been after him for 20 years, cutting holes in his clothes and planting a listening device in his pickup truck. He believed President Obama was the Antichrist, and that the Planned Parenthood center he admitted firing on in November was the most evil place in the world. Those delusions and Mr. Dears mental state were detailed in a courtroom here on Thursday as lawyers heard testimony about whether Mr. Dear was mentally competent to stand trial for killing three people and wounding nine. Two state psychologists who examined him this winter testified that they believed he was not. The decision rests with the district judge overseeing the case, Gilbert Martinez. He did not make a ruling on Thursday, and after a day of testimony, carried the hearing over until May 10. Jackie Grimmett, one of two state psychologists who examined Mr. Dear this winter, said he suffered from widespread and long-running delusions that shaped his view of reality. He believed the F.B.I. had been pursuing him for years, and believed that the judge and his defense lawyers were part of a conspiracy to silence him. WASHINGTON For years, students and faculty at George Mason University paid little attention as Charles G. Koch and other conservatives helped transform their once sleepy commuter school in the suburbs of the nations capital into a leading producer of free-market scholarship. The effort, after all, was focused on a few specific departments like economics and law and attracted little attention outside conservative circles. But the announcement last month that George Mason would rename its law school in honor of Justice Antonin Scalia, the longtime voice of the Supreme Courts conservative wing who died in February, abruptly ended that indifference. The name change and that it was tied to a $30 million combined gift from the Charles Koch Foundation and an anonymous conservative donor focused attention for the first time in a serious way on whether the administration and trustees at George Mason had allowed Virginias largest public university to become an ideological outpost. The university administration insists that the answer is no. But a drumbeat of public letters, social media posts and campus debates expressing concerns about the gift suggests a vocal group of faculty, students and state legislators are not convinced. NEW ENGLAND Massachusetts: Bulgers Companion Gets Longer Term The longtime girlfriend of the Boston gangster James Whitey Bulger was sentenced on Thursday to an additional 21 months in prison for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating whether other people had helped him while he was a fugitive. The woman, Catherine Greig, 65, was already serving an eight-year sentence for helping Mr. Bulger while he was a fugitive. She spent 16 years on the run with him before they were captured in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2011. Prosecutors said Ms. Greig refused to answer questions before the grand jury even after she was given immunity and was ordered to testify. Mr. Bulger, 86, is serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2013 for playing a role in 11 murders. (AP) MIDWEST Illinois: Hastert Accuser May Remain Unnamed One day after a man publicly revealed that he was victimized by Dennis Hastert, a judge ruled Thursday that another victim did not have to reveal his name in a lawsuit that contends the former House Speaker has not paid all the money promised in exchange for his silence. But Kendall County Judge Robert Pilmer did not rule out requiring the man, known in federal court documents as Individual A, to be identified in the future. Judge Pilmer also wants the lawsuit refiled, under seal, with the mans name on it. Mr. Hastert received a 15-month prison term Wednesday in the hush-money case. (AP) SOUTH Louisiana: Bill to Curb Abortion Advances to Senate The State House voted 83 to 0 on Thursday to prohibit a commonly used second-trimester abortion procedure called dilation and evacuation. The procedure would be allowed only if necessary to prevent serious health risk to the mother. Similar laws have been passed in four other states, with anti-abortion activists describing the procedures as dismemberment abortions. State courts have blocked laws in Kansas and Oklahoma. Supporters of the ban describe the abortion method as torturous and barbaric. Opponents say that description is not medically accurate. They say the bill would criminalize the safest method of second-trimester abortion. The Senate considers it next. (AP) With the nation on the verge of a presidential election between the first woman to lead a major party and an opponent accused of misogyny, Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump are digging in for a fight in which he is likely to attack her precisely because she is a woman. Mr. Trump, the Republican favorite, has already proved willing to attack Mrs. Clinton in ways that many women find sexist and that her supporters consider out of bounds. This week alone, he accused her of playing the womans card to get where she is, saying, If Hillary Clinton were a man, I dont think shed get 5 percent of the vote. He questioned her strength and stamina, and he mocked her for shouting. Also this year, he attacked Mrs. Clinton as the enabling political spouse of a former president who Mr. Trump said had abused women. WASHINGTON As President Obama eases into the stocktaking stretch of his presidency, he has begun to unburden himself to select journalists. But the presidents tone is less reflective than frustrated that the American public does not see his achievements the way he does. In two recent interviews, with The New York Times Magazine on his economic legacy and with The Atlantic on his foreign policy legacy, Mr. Obama expressed a common sentiment: He had achieved big things and avoided even bigger mistakes, and yet most people just shrug. In both cases, Mr. Obama suggested that the problem was not him, but one of perception. If you ask the average person on the streets, Have deficits gone up or down under Obama? probably 70 percent would say theyve gone up, the president told The Times Magazine. (In fact, deficits have declined.) Not bombing Syria in 2013 was the right decision, Mr. Obama said, but one that played badly with the public because it defied foreign policy orthodoxy. In the midst of an international challenge like Syria, he told the Atlantic correspondent Jeffrey Goldberg, you get judged harshly if you dont follow the playbook, even if there are good reasons why it does not apply. WASHINGTON For most journalists who cover the White House regularly, the chance to question President Obama comes rarely, and the opportunity for a one-on-one interview with him almost never. Not so for a group of college journalists visiting the White House on Thursday, who were treated to a surprise presidential news conference in the White House briefing room. One of them even scored a tentative date to interview Mr. Obama on his campus next month. I heard there were some hotshot journalists here, Mr. Obama told the students, striding to the podium to interrupt a scheduled question-and-answer session by his press secretary, Josh Earnest. Josh was speaking for me, and I wanted to make sure he was getting it right. The president proceeded, over the next 40 minutes, to take a wide range of questions from the students, who were attending the first White House College Reporter Day, on issues like immigration, the water crisis in Flint, Mich., Syrian refugees, civic engagement and his proudest achievements. Willie L. Williams, the first African-American to lead the police forces in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, cities in which hostilities between the police and black citizens had recently flared into violence, died on Tuesday at his home in Fayetteville, Ga. He was 72. The cause was pancreatic cancer, said his sister-in-law Patricia Odoms. Mr. Williams was a 28-year veteran of the Philadelphia force when he was named commissioner in 1988, three years after a house owned by a black militant group known as Move was bombed by the police, resulting in 11 deaths and leaving the neighborhood in ruins. The police force there had been known for corruption scandals and a history of brutality. Mr. Williamss tenure of three and a half years in Philadelphia was marked by relative peace. Embracing the concept of community policing, he was credited with hiring and promoting more women and minority group members and with restructuring the police department to add mini-stations and foot patrols. A man of measured temperament, he was held in general esteem in Philadelphia neighborhoods where there was history of mutual disrespect among residents and the police. But he was lured away to Los Angeles at more than twice his Philadelphia salary in April 1992. GUATEMALA CITY Hundreds of rescuers picked through a Guatemalan garbage dump on Thursday looking for bodies or possible survivors a day after a large slope of trash collapsed, killing at least four people. The National Civil Police reported that 18 people might still be missing, while Guatemalas national disaster response agency put the figure at five. Dozens of people seeking loved ones who were unaccounted for gathered at the dump in the capital, Guatemala City. Marta Julia Davila, 21, said her 60-year-old grandfather, Hugo Leonel Perez Alonzo, worked as a guajero, or garbage picker, looking for recyclable materials. Mr. Perezs family had not seen him since before the collapse, and workers reported that he was last spotted sitting in the area where it happened, Ms. Davila added. UNITED NATIONS Nearly 10,000 people have been killed and more than 20,000 wounded since the Ukraine conflict began in April 2014, a top United Nations official said Thursday. The official, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the assistant secretary general for political affairs, told the Security Council that the total number of casualties was now 30,729, with 9,333 people killed and 21,396 wounded. Mr. Zerihoun said the most recent casualties occurred Wednesday when shelling killed at least four civilians and wounded at least eight people in Olenivka, near the city of Donetsk. He said that fighting had escalated in recent weeks to levels not seen since August 2014, when it was at its most intense, and he called on all parties to cease hostilities. WASHINGTON President Obama has proposed granting Israel the largest package of military aid ever provided by the United States to another nation, but he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remain deeply at odds over a figure for the assistance despite months of negotiations. American officials have balked as their Israeli counterparts insisted on more generous terms for a new 10-year military aid package that could top $40 billion. The divide, which could have broad national security implications for both the United States and Israel, is exacerbated by the pent-up animosity between Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu, which has been stoked by their radically divergent views of the nuclear deal with Iran. Theres a unique place of pique for the Israelis in certain places in the administration, and I think that hovers around this negotiation, said Robert Satloff, the executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Its one of the reasons its taken so long to reach a decision. Powerful political forces are also at work. While Mr. Obama would like to burnish his legacy with an unprecedented military aid pact with Israel, some observers in the United States and Israel believe that Mr. Netanyahu is calculating that he can reach a more advantageous deal with a future president. Iran escalated its invective against the United States on Thursday over the court-ordered use of nearly $2 billion in seized Iranian central bank assets to compensate American victims of terrorist attacks overseas, calling the action an outrageous robbery and threatening unspecified retaliation. The criticism of the United States, in a letter by Irans foreign minister to the secretary general of the United Nations, was among the most strident yet in a steadily increasing display of anger from Iran over American use of the assets, validated in an April 20 decision by the Supreme Court. The decision concerned compensation claims by more than 1,000 Americans survivors and relatives of people killed in attacks that the American authorities have attributed to Iranian operatives despite Irans denials of responsibility. The attacks include the 1983 truck bombing of a Marine base in Beirut, Lebanon, and a 1996 truck bombing in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Iran had previously called the Supreme Court decision a form of theft and had suggested it might sue the United States in the International Court of Justice to block the ruling from taking effect. But Thursday appeared to be the first time Iran suggested it might be planning a reciprocal response. When Juwan Stallings visited the Brooklyn Museum last weekend, he wanted more information about the subject of an oil portrait by Henri Fantin-Latour in the museums newly refurbished European galleries. Mr. Stallings, 19, looked intently, snapped a photo and then typed rapidly on his phone. Within seconds, he had an answer in the form of a text message. Hi there! thats Madame Leon Maitre, it read, continuing, I love comparing her to some of the other portraits of women on that wall the others really confront the visitor, while Madame Leon Maitre looks demure and quiet. Mr. Stallings wasnt texting with a friend. The answer came from a museum employee two floors down, one of six full-time staff members dedicated to engaging with visitors through the museums smartphone app, ASK Brooklyn Museum. SAN FRANCISCO Inside the newly expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, one of the most startling sights is the absence of works on the towering walls flanking the main zigzagging staircase. The blank walls are awaiting the arrival of a pair of paintings next year by Julie Mehretu, the Ethiopian-born, New York-based artist. Shes working on the commission, said Gary Garrels, a senior curator, climbing stairs with the ease of someone who has given many museum tours. The paintings are so large that she has to use an old church in Harlem as her studio. When the museum officially reopens on May 14, after a three-year closing, a $305 million addition by the architecture firm Snohetta and a campaign that elicited some 3,000 works of art from donors, it will have bragging rights on many fronts. Spanning a full city block at its widest, with a dynamic white structure that resembles a cruise ship, the museum will be the largest in the Bay Area. It will have more exhibition space dedicated to photography than the Getty in Los Angeles, and more gallery space than the current Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan. In The Goldfinch, Donna Tartts 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the antique-dealer narrator, Theo Decker, reflects on the taste of affluent widows in New York. Back in the 1970s, he notes, they had bought new smoked-glass and chromed-steel furniture through their decorators for the price of good Queen Anne. Unfortunately, it did not hold its value, says Mr. Decker, who has the task of telling them, reluctantly, that it could not be resold at even half what theyd bought it for. In fact those widows might have made a smarter choice than Mr. Decker thought. Queen Anne, along with most all antique English furniture, has proved to be a less lucrative investment than 20th-century design. Sales of modern and contemporary furnishings at Phillips, which holds the biggest-grossing regular auctions in this sector, rose to $33.1 million in 2015, more than double the $16.4 million from equivalent sales in 2010, the company said this past week. By contrast, British auction houses are scaling back or radically rebranding their sales of antique furniture, once a staple of connoisseurial collecting. President Tran Dai Quang presents gifts to the former volunteers (Photo: VNA) Meeting the liaison board for the former volunteer soldiers and military experts in Laos, in Hanoi on April 28th, he stressed that the two neighbors relations have been nurtured by the sacrifice of many generations, including the former volunteers. The Vietnamese and Lao leaders are resolved to intensify bilateral ties and have agreed to strengthen educating the young about the significance of that relationship, he noted. The President also praised the former soldiers and experts current efforts to build the grassroots political system, in crime prevention, and imparting sound traditions to young people. At the meeting, the liaison board reported that Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts were present in Laos from 1949 and finished their tasks in 1987. More than 500,000 soldiers went to Laos to assist the local army and people during the wars against the foreign colonialists and imperialists to gain their independence. About 40,000 of them laid down their lives in the country. The Lao Party and State have bestowed nearly 10,000 orders and medals of different types upon the former soldiers and specialists. Many volunteer military units have also been presented with the title Hero of the Peoples Armed Forces by the Vietnamese Party and State. At present, the liaison board has affiliates in 32 provinces and cities across Vietnam involving about 75,000 former volunteers. It said, over the past years, the board has applied itself to educating young people in Vietnam and Laos about the countries friendship, searching for the remains of the volunteers sacrificed in Laos, and supporting the veterans and their children./. Voce has started a proxy fight at an Arlington, Va., investment bank that used to be called Friedman, Billings, Ramsey. In the last year or so, Voce has built up a 5.3 percent stake in what is now called FBR & Company. The proxy battle aims to oust three of its directors and install Mr. Plants; Jarl Berntzen, another former Goldman Sachs banker; and Michael J. McConnell, a former managing director at Shamrock Capital Advisors $1 billion activist fund and a former banker at Kidder, Peabody. FBRs annual meeting, while not yet scheduled, has traditionally been in late May. FBR was once a big success, but its glory days seemed to have faded with the departure over time of its three founders. The company has a market value of around $140 million. But it also has cash on its balance sheet of $70 million, plus private equity and hedge fund investments that it values at another $90 million or so, leading Mr. Plants to conclude that the market is valuing the companys banking business at close to zero. In a 67-page presentation, he says the company is worth less today than when the current management team took over in January 2009. Voce is FBRs third-largest investor, behind NWQ Investment Management and the Robeco Groups Boston Partners. (Management owns about 15 percent of FBR on a fully diluted basis.) Mr. Plants has met with the company more than 10 times in the last year to try to understand its strategy. But after months of trying to persuade FBRs management to return to the companys highly profitable roots as the leading underwriter of arcane privately placed securities that big institutional investors can trade among themselves, Mr. Plants has gotten nowhere. This month, he decided to take his campaign public. With some hyperbole, Mr. Plants says FBR is a Tiffany brand that has lost its way but can still be saved. A spokesman for FBR declined to comment. Mr. Plants directs much of his frustration as a shareholder toward Richard J. Hendrix, FBRs chief executive. Mr. Plants says that from the outset of Mr. Hendrixs tenure, he has not been content with running a boutique investment bank. Instead, he has tried to mimic other investment banks like the former Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette, which was bought by Credit Suisse in 2000, or Jefferies, a subsidiary of the Leucadia National Corporation, Mr. Plants says. LONDON Anheuser-Busch InBev said on Friday that it had offered to sell the Central and Eastern European operations of SABMiller in order to win approval from European regulators for their more than $100 billion merger. The combination of SABMiller and Anheuser-Busch would create a beer industry giant that would account for about 30 percent of global beer sales. Anheuser-Busch has entered into a number of agreements to sell a variety of assets from the combined company as it seeks to ease regulatory concerns about the deal. This month, it accepted an offer by Asahi Group Holdings of Japan to buy the beer brands Grolsch, Meantime and Peroni, as well as some of SABMillers European operations, for 2.55 billion euros, or about $2.9 billion. On Friday, Anheuser-Busch said that it had offered to sell SABMillers assets in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia as part of a package of divestments as it seeks approval from the European Commission. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has shut down a nascent but necessary effort by trial judges to supervise deferred prosecution agreements. Prosecutors increasingly rely on the agreements, which usually impose monitoring and compliance obligations on businesses accused of financial crimes or corruption, as an alternative to trying to convict the defendant. Under a deferred prosecution agreement, if the problem was, say, sanctions evasion by a bank, a team of compliance officers in and outside the bank would spend a few years to make sure that business with the wrong sort of countries is not missed. If it was bribery, corporate compliance officers would set up a plan to track corporate expenditures better. This minibureaucracy is administered by the prosecutors office, and it often includes a special monitor to oversee the day-to-day work of the project. The defendants own compliance officers are the front line of the enterprise, committing themselves and their company to better oversight, and reporting to the prosecutors or the monitor on their efforts. If the business fails to eliminate the bad conduct, then it is back to court for a criminal prosecution. The islands credit unions represent the nest egg of nearly 1,000,000 Puerto Rican families (one of every four Puerto Ricans) that trust their livelihood and savings in these financial institutions, said the credit unions primary regulator in a statement released last year, when the sector held Government Development Bank debt with a face value of slightly more than $500 million, according to regulatory records. The regulators spokesman did not answer messages Thursday. Historically, the credit unions were required to invest only in very safe assets. But in 2009 their regulators made an exception, allowing them to buy and hold riskier bonds, as long as the bonds were issued by some branch of the Puerto Rican government. The change gave the Government Development Bank a new way to raise money, by selling its bonds to the credit unions. As a result, those institutions wound up with outsize exposure to the bank, which itself was found insolvent last year by Puerto Ricos Commissioner of Financial Institutions. Officials on the island have been seeking a way to protect the credit unions from the banks expected default, but it is not clear what the mechanism would be, or whether it could even be put in place in time. A payment default by the Government Development Bank would add to the list of extreme measures that Puerto Rico has undertaken to stretch its dwindling cash while waiting for Congress to enact its rescue package. It has already removed assets from its workers compensation pool and public pension system to pay bills, taken cash from low-priority bonds to make payments due on high-priority bonds, and extended a highway privatization, giving up future toll revenue in exchange for upfront payments of $115 million. On Monday, holders of roughly $9 billion of bonds issued by the islands Electric Power Authority are scheduled to buy $111 million more in bonds as part of a complicated agreement to keep the power company liquid and preserve a consensual restructuring deal. Those investors must decide by Monday whether handing over $111 million is worth it, under the current confused and deteriorating circumstances. But Puerto Rico has warned that if the new money does not materialize it may sue the creditors. HOUSTON The two mightiest American oil companies dont look so mighty any more. With oil and natural gas prices at record lows and refining profit margins weakening, Exxon Mobil on Friday posted its smallest profit for any quarter since 1999, while Chevron reported a large first-quarter loss of $725 million, in contrast to a gain of $2.6 billion in the period a year earlier. Weak results were expected, given that oil prices plunged to below $30 a barrel during the first quarter a 13-year-low while natural gas prices fell to their lowest level in nearly 17 years. Investors were mixed on the results; Exxon Mobil shares closed about 0.4 percent higher and Chevrons fell 0.2 percent. The oil and gas industry has weathered its most severe crisis since the price collapse in the 1980s. There have been at least 62 oil and gas company bankruptcies over the last year or so, and roughly 120,000 American oil and gas workers nearly one out of four nationwide have lost their jobs. Worldwide, oil companies have debts surpassing half a trillion dollars, which energy experts say will force many to sell assets to meet interest payments. A New York City police officer was convicted on Friday of misdemeanor assault for stomping on the head of a suspect as he lay prone on a Brooklyn street while being arrested. The officer, Joel Edouard, was one of several who arrested the suspect, Jahmi-El Cuffee, on marijuana charges in July 2014 outside of a restaurant in Bedford-Stuyvesant. A cellphone video of the arrest, introduced at Mr. Edouards trial this week, showed him walking away from his partners as they tried to subdue Mr. Cuffee, then returning and, with no apparent provocation, bringing his foot down hard on Mr. Cuffees head. Officer Edouard opted to have a judge, not a jury, decide the case, and Justice Alan D. Marrus of State Supreme Court in Brooklyn said on Friday that Officer Edouard had let down his fellow officers in a difficult situation. During the trial, Marc Fliedner, an assistant district attorney, argued that Officer Edouard, 38, had lost his cool during the episode. The scene unfolded only days after Eric Garner died during an arrest by the police on Staten Island. Officer Edouard, who at one point, before the stomping began, pointed his gun at Mr. Cuffees head as he lay on the ground, had acted out in vengeance and in anger, and sadly, in that moment, he was acting like a criminal, Mr. Fliedner said. Apartments for billionaires were all the rage in Manhattan three years ago when the developer Joseph Chetrit paid $1.1 billion for the granite-sheathed Sony Building at 550 Madison Avenue. Mr. Chetrit hired the star architect Robert A. M. Stern to convert the building, a 37-story office tower between 55th and 56th Streets that was most recently inhabited by Sony, to apartments. An international hotel group said it would build a five-star hotel on eight floors, and Mr. Chetrit filed plans to create a triplex penthouse with a marble staircase and a record $150 million price tag. Now, in the latest example of the slowdown at real estates highest end, Mr. Chetrit signed a deal this week to sell the tower for $1.4 billion to the Olayan Group, which is controlled by a Saudi family, and Chelsfield, which manages its properties. The companies said the building would become, yes, an office building. Mr. Chetrit and his partner, David Bistricer, were under pressure to pay off short-term loans on the property totaling $925 million. They also had trouble obtaining a construction loan as lenders became wary of projects promising oversize prices and profits. To the Editor: Re Aid in Dying in Canada (editorial, April 24): You note that this option can offer the terminally ill a measure of dignity and control. It can also be the best option for the very small number of people who actually take the prescribed medicines. Aid in dying has been legal for 18 years in Oregon. Only about 3 of every 1,000 people who die each year use aid in dying. It results in a peaceful death, usually within half an hour. You assert that there is a need to provide broader access to palliative and hospice care so patients do not choose death because pain relief is unaffordable. But more than 90 percent of those patients who choose aid in dying in Oregon are receiving hospice care. Pain is not a major reason the choice is made (only about 25 percent who choose aid in dying in Oregon cite pain as the reason). There are many other causes of suffering. There is no evidence that the choice is made because pain relief is unaffordable. There is a great need for more palliative and hospice care, but that issue is not connected to aid in dying. To the Editor: Re Daring to Back Clinton (Metropolitan section, April 17), about the isolation felt by Columbia students who support Hillary Clinton: At the age of 12, I canvassed for Senator Barack Obamas 2008 presidential campaign. At the age of 18, I organized several Black Lives Matter protests. And at the age of 20, my peers consider me conservative. Over this time, my political beliefs have remained unchanged. I still support entitlements, loathe mass incarceration, advocate for L.G.B.T.Q. rights, and believe in the governments power to improve lives and create sweeping change. This ideology makes me a Democrat in the vein of Barack Obama, Jed Bartlet (West Wing) and even Mrs. Clinton. But on my college campus, I might as well be Pat Buchanan. At Harvard, admitting that #ImWithHer is nearly tantamount to boasting Make America Great Again. If you havent shared a post from the writer and activist Shaun King, you are not a true liberal here. When defending Mrs. Clinton becomes as unacceptable as bigotry, when her supporters are called privileged, oppressive and stupid, we lose the central feature of our democracy pluralism. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. It was past dark on a February afternoon in 1894 when a keeper at Greenwich Park, just outside London, heard the bang. Rushing toward the spot, he made out the figure of a young man on bent knees, with his abdomen gashed open and his bowels spilling out. The police identified the victim as a Frenchman named Martial Bourdin, with ties to a well-known anarchist club. Clearly, they concluded, hed been on his way to bomb the Greenwich Observatory. It was a highly symbolic target: the Prime Meridian, the longitudinal center of the world. Bourdin did rock the center of the world, just not the way he may have intended: Anarchism in the 1890s touched off the first age of global terrorism, and then as now, migrants and civil liberties paid the price. Today, anarchism seems harmless, almost quaint, something you might associate with ex-hippies, former punks and wild-haired loners scrawling anti-establishment manifestos in cabins off the grid. But in its heyday, anarchism promoted a broadly appealing vision of a free, stateless society. Delegates at the International Anarchist Congress in 1881 adopted the strategy of propaganda by deed in a word, terrorism to achieve it. A single attack could make more propaganda than thousands of pamphlets, said the anarchist philosopher Peter Kropotkin, and anarchists carried out dozens. They committed a string of high-profile assassinations the likes of which seem unimaginable today, killing the U.S. president, the French president, the Spanish prime minister, the king of Italy and the empress of Austria-Hungary in less than a decade. Ambassador Nguyen Ngoc Son speaking at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son reviewed the glorious history of the nation in the long and arduous war of resistance against America, from 1954-1975, with the blood and bone sacrifice of many generations of people and soldiers throughout the country. According to the ambassador, the historic victory of April 30th, 1975 is the result of political, military, and diplomatic struggle of the people of Vietnam under the leadership of the Party. This is also the victory of peace-loving forces and justice worldwide. Vietnam always remembers the solidarity movement and support of international friends for Vietnam in the arduous battle. On this occasion, the Ambassador thanked French friends for their support and valuable help in the struggle for national liberation, as well as in the construction and development of the country of Vietnam. The year of 2016 marks the 41st anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day, and 30 years of the renovation of Vietnam. The renovation cause over the past 30 years has brought great changes to the country in all fields such as socio-economic development, ensuring national defence and security, strengthening diplomatic relations and international integration. Vietnam has become a middle-income country; a partner, an active and responsible member of the region and the international community; independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are guaranteed; while the material and spiritual life of the people is constantly improving. In that context, the 12th National Party Congress held in January 2016 confirmed the continuation of the policy of renovation and determined directions to help Vietnam maintain rapid and sustainable development during the next period. At the ceremony, the historian Alain Ruscio, Director of the Centre for Information and Materials about Modern Vietnam (CID), spoke of the special affection, the support and the solidarity of French friends for Vietnam during the years of the resistance war as well as the period of national construction. Mr. Ruscio also reiterated that Vietnam had to face many difficulties over a long time after the resistance war due to the siege and embargo of the US and Western countries. He appreciated the achievements created by the renovation cause and wished Vietnam to continue the path of renovation to gain higher achievements, worthy of the trust and expectations of international friends./. To the Editor: Re Virginia Felons Get Back Votes (front page, April 23): Several experiences I had running correctional systems convinced me that Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia was right to restore voting rights to those convicted of felonies and that other policy makers should follow suit. When I ran Washingtons juvenile justice agency, some of the youths in our facilities were eligible to vote because they were over 18. We held a mayoral debate in the Oak Hill Youth Center, and the young people, who moderated and asked all the questions, took the process very seriously, discussing the election for weeks before and after. Many voted by absentee ballot in that election. When I was commissioner of New York City probation, people under our supervision were eligible to vote, and we actively encouraged them to do so, providing voter registration materials and instructing probation officers to encourage registration when the deadline was approaching. Both jurisdictions were overwhelmingly Democratic, so this had nothing to do with partisan politics. But the civic engagement of those under our supervision was palpable. Our staff came to see those in their charge as citizens engaged in their civic duty rather than merely criminals to be watched. PRESIDENT OBAMA and his anger translator were having issues. The motorcade was scheduled to leave for last years White House Correspondents Association dinner in less than 20 minutes. We had one chance to rehearse the presidents closing sketch with the translator, Luther, who was played by the comedian Keegan-Michael Key. President Obama had no problem delivering his lines or pretending to go unhinged when talking about climate change deniers. I do actually get mad sometimes, you know, he said. The problem was Luther. Each time Mr. Key, as the anger translator, began a new manic tirade, the president burst out laughing. Already dressed in his tuxedo for the evening, he glanced toward us, his staff, huddled in a corner of the room. Ive got to hold it together, Mr. Obama said. He said it again backstage a few hours later, this time using a comedy term for laughing in the middle of a scene. I have to make sure I dont break. He pulled it off. Like other leaders before him, Mr. Obama has gamely played his part in the annual correspondents dinner the one on Saturday night, his eighth, will feature the comedian Larry Wilmore and the large number of toasts, monologues and other comedic obligations that come with the worlds most powerful gig. With Anna Akhmatova: The Heart Is Not Made of Stone, Eve Wolf, the founder and executive artistic director of the Ensemble for the Romantic Century, moves 180 degrees from her troupes dazzling, phantasmagorical April 2015 work, Jules Verne: From the Earth to the Moon. Which is not to say that the engrossing Akhmatova having a five-day revival at BAM Fisher after its 2012 debut at Symphony Space has any less merit. This show, written by Ms. Wolf and directed by the Ensemble stalwart Donald T. Sanders, is an ode to the Russian poet Akhmatova (1889-1966), whose work was suppressed for decades by the Soviet government but who had a devoted following, not least for remaining in her country despite political upheavals and repression. The set designed, like the costumes, by Ms. Wolfs frequent collaborator Vanessa James presents worlds at odds. At far left is a cluttered desk where almost comical apparatchiks (Robert Ian Mackenzie and Michael Lewis), overseen by a K.G.B. officer (Kate Konigisor), monitor Akhmatova (Ellen McLaughlin). On a rear wall is a framed portrait that gradually morphs from Czar Nicholas II to Stalin to Khrushchev. At far right is a sofa on which Akhmatova lounges in a kind of domestic exile, a Chekhovian model of aristocracy in twilight, in Leningrad. With her is her son, Lev (Tommy Schrider), who is destined for the gulags. And at center is a white grand piano where Ms. Wolf and Max Barros perform, accompanied by other musicians. A narrative highlight of the show, which encompasses the years 1945 to 1965, is Akhmatovas overnight 1945 encounter with the Latvian-born philosopher and political theorist Isaiah Berlin (Jeremy Holm), visiting from Britain. He quotes her work, and they drink, talk literature and enjoy an intimate if platonic rapport. It will be years spent enduring Levs confinement and a ban on much of her own work before she will see him again. FONTANA, Calif. In the days after the December terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif., when pictures of the hijab-wearing suspect filled television screens and newspapers, Zarifeh Shalabis mother and aunts stayed at home. With their home just a few miles from the scene of the attack that left 14 dead, they worried about an anti-Muslim backlash. When they went shopping, Zarifeh, 17, said, other mothers pulled their children away when they saw the women wearing head scarves. We were more afraid that someone was going to hurt us, Zarifeh said. But this month, Zarifeh received the ultimate symbol of teenage acceptance: She was crowned prom queen after her non-Muslim friends campaigned for her by wearing hijabs in solidarity. We saw it as a chance to do something good, to represent something good, said a friend, Sarahi Sanchez, who like Zarifeh is one of a few dozen peer mentors at Summit High School. This was a way to prove we dont have problems with bullying or racism. While Elizabethtown is the only college to confer a bachelors degree in the field, 16 others around the nation have started minors, certificate programs or course sequences in interfaith or interreligious studies, according to Interfaith Youth Core, a national group promoting the trend. For undergraduates, the potential career paths range from social-justice nonprofit organizations to international business. In addition, many theological seminaries offer masters degrees involving interfaith ministry or chaplaincy. Eight Elizabethtown students signed up for the major in the first year, and 750 students have taken at least one related to on the subject. For Mr. Spearman, who had lived entirely within one faith tradition, classes have been augmented by excursions to a Passover Seder, a Catholic Mass on Easter and the Friday Prayer service at a mosque. Id always been to one church, and all of a sudden, Im experiencing all these religions, said Mr. Spearman, 18, who is from Stafford, Va. Id never really understood the concept of religious pluralism. I didnt seriously understand how you can appreciate other religions at the same time. For faculty and administrators, the program extends far beyond mutual tolerance and the appreciation of difference. The stakes were definitely raised after 9/11, said the Rev. Tracy W. Sadd, the college chaplain and lead instructor in the interfaith major. Whats called for now is interfaith peacemaking. Every single one of us who is an American citizen has an obligation to do what we can in the place where we are. Theres no technique political, military or otherwise thats going to fix this. We need leadership to help people with the deep work. And we all need to be part of it. Admirable as such sentiments are, the place of interfaith study in higher education remains contested. Many professors of religious studies bridle at the new fields orientation toward real-world application rather than pure scholarship. There is also concern among some members of the American Academy of Religion that professors of interfaith studies hold a positive view of religion in society rather than approaching it with critical, skeptical detachment. The United States Navy is loosening its rules governing tattoos effective Saturday in response to their growing popularity among young people and to remove a potential barrier for desired recruits. Under the new rules, there will be no limit to the size or number of tattoos sailors can have below the elbow and the knee. Previous rules restricted the sizes of tattoos on arms and legs. And for the first time, sailors can have a neck tattoo, although it cannot be longer than an inch in any direction. We just got to the point where we realized we needed to be honest with ourselves and put something in place that was going to reflect the realities of our country and the needs of our Navy, Mike D. Stevens, master chief petty officer of the Navy, told The Navy Times. We need to make sure that were not missing any opportunities to recruit and retain the best and the brightest because of our policies. Outraged activists and prosecutors in Oklahoma called for changes to a state law on forced oral sex after a court rejected the prosecution of a teenage boy in Tulsa because his 16-year-old accuser had been intoxicated to the point of unconsciousness. Forcible sodomy cannot occur where a victim is so intoxicated as to be completely unconscious at the time of the sexual act of oral copulation, the Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in the case. We will not, in order to justify prosecution of a person for an offense, enlarge a statute beyond the fair meaning of its language, it said. Advocates for rape victims said the decision by the appeals court was not all that surprising given the patchwork inconsistency of state-by-state sexual assault laws that leave legal gray areas. But other experts said the ruling should jolt other states into examining their own laws. The forces in our politics are pushing things to the extreme, said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, who stood with several of his colleagues on Thursday to deride Republicans over their own to-do list of legislation and confirmations left waiting. The old forces that once brought things together are now pulling them apart. On both sides, but much more on their side. How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause. Learn more about our process. It has not always been this way. President Harry S. Trumans National Security Act of 1947 was forged with a Republican-led Congress before the brutal campaign of 1948. Ronald Reagan achieved major Social Security amendments and a rewrite of the tax code in 1986. Bill Clinton reached a landmark agreement with a Republican-led Congress to dismantle the New Deal-era federal welfare program in 1996, his re-election year. There was partisanship but always more possibilities for deals since factions in each party had incentives for working across the aisle, said Julian E. Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton. That has changed. He added: The entire political process in the current age especially with the 24-hour media in my mind makes legislative negotiation almost impossible. Deals are reported before legislators even know about them, which gives activists and interest groups time to mobilize and kill them. It may not help that the last end-of-a-term spark of bipartisanship, under George W. Bush during a financial crisis, produced the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, the Wall Street bank bailout that proved to be a political disaster and helped beget the Tea Party and the deepening partisan divide. Some things are simply more complicated than they appear, or than partisan talking points capture. For instance, Democrats this week twice filibustered a basic energy and water appropriations bill one that was chosen because it seemed so easy to pass because of an amendment, offered by Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, that would bar the United States from purchasing water used in producing nuclear energy and nuclear weapons from Iran. Democrats argued that the amendment was a poison pill that would trigger a White House veto. True. But they did not say that the reason it would have triggered that veto was that the bill most likely would have passed, with the help of Democrats wary of Iran. INDIANAPOLIS As Senator Ted Cruz of Texas seeks every possible edge to stop Donald J. Trump, he has seized on a once-obscure issue with a proven power to inflame conservatives: letting transgender women use womens bathrooms. Mr. Cruz mentions it constantly in Indiana, a state with many social conservatives that is all but a last stand for him in his fight to deprive Mr. Trump of the Republican presidential nomination. With polls showing a narrower lead for Mr. Trump in Indiana than in the five Eastern states that he swept on Tuesday, the Cruz campaigns private polling indicates that the bathroom issue has the power to help close the gap. Moreover, it is fresh in Indiana voters minds because of high-profile battles in the state in recent years over gay rights. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both agree that grown men should be allowed to use the little girls restroom, Mr. Cruz said on Tuesday night as a crowd in Knightstown, Ind., booed heartily. He made the remarks after coming before the crowd with his two daughters, 7 and 5, who wore matching pink dresses. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday left in place a strict voter identification law in Texas, while leaving open the possibility that it would intercede if the appeals court considering a challenge to the law did not act promptly. The court recognizes the time constraints the parties confront in light of the scheduled elections in November 2016, the Supreme Courts brief, unsigned order said, adding that an aggrieved party may seek interim relief from this court by filing an appropriate application if the appeals court did not act by July 20. The Texas law, enacted in 2011, requires voters seeking to cast their ballots at the polls to present photo identification like a Texas drivers or gun license, a military ID or a passport. In a 2014 dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the law replaced the previously existing voter identification requirements with the strictest regime in the country. Federal courts have repeatedly ruled that the law is racially discriminatory. But the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in New Orleans, has never lifted a 2014 stay of a trial court ruling striking down the law. The stay remained in place after a unanimous three-judge panel of the court last year ruled against the law, though on narrower grounds than the trial court ruling. A music performance at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mozambique Nguyen Van Trung reviewed the glorious history of the nation with the Great Spring Victory 1975, the great historical significance of the Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day - pride of Vietnamese people and of nations struggling for independence and peace in the world, including Mozambican friends. The daring, creativity and will to fight and win, beyond all difficulties and hardships, are valuable lessons drawn from the victory on April 30, 1975 and they still have intact values in the construction and protection of the nation today. On this occasion, the Ambassador also shared the current concerns of Mozambican friends about increasing conflict and violence and expressed his desire to soon return to the path of dialogue and settle disagreements so that people can live in peace and stability to concentrate on economic development. The Ambassador thanked Mozambican employees working for Movitel and those cooperating with Vietnamese businesses for the cooperation relations between the two countries. He also praised the cooperation spirit between Vietnam and Mozambique employees beyond the difficulties of the situation and cultural differences, mutual assistance, for the mutual benefit of both parties. At the ceremony, the Vietnamese community and Mozambican friends together sang songs praising peace, national unification, prosperity and happiness. Mozambican friends also contemplated the beauty of Vietnam through a documentary film about innovated country, a photo exhibition of Vietnams landscapes and enjoyed some unique dishes of the people of Vietnam./. BURLINGAME, Calif. Furious protests erupted outside the California Republican Party convention on Friday as Donald J. Trump was set to address conservative activists in one of the most progressive regions of the country. The rowdy scene followed violence outside a rally that Mr. Trump held in Costa Mesa on Thursday evening when protesters bloodied several of Mr. Trumps supporters. The eruptions were the worst since last month when Mr. Trump canceled an event in Chicago after protesters flooded the streets, with the latest round coming as he closes in on securing the Republican Partys presidential nomination. In Burlingame, just outside San Francisco, a diverse crowd of protesters gathered outside the Hyatt Regency, the site of the state convention, to brandish signs and chant slogans like racist, sexist, dump the Trump. A large contingent of law enforcement officials, wielding batons and wearing helmets with face shields, stood guard. A number of protesters sat on the pavement and formed a human chain to stretch across the street by the hotel. Barricades were set up to keep the crowds back. At one point, a group of protesters rushed the hotel entrance; the police hurried to corral them and restore order. RINDGE, N.H. Amber Jackson remembers the moment she learned that both her majors dance and math had been cut from the program at Franklin Pierce University. She immediately called her mother, whose reaction was: They can do that? They could. After years of financial crisis, Franklin Pierce, like dozens of other small colleges nationwide, is struggling to survive. It faces huge debt, a junk bond credit rating and an uncertain future. It has even resorted to creative image-buffing, like hanging a banner on a derelict building here saying, Future Home of the Franklin Pierce Science Center, though there is no money for a science center yet. This year, there is a glimmer of hope. Applications were up 79 percent, an unlikely side effect of the universitys decision to revive a political polling operation in a hot election year. But as Andrew H. Card Jr., who took over as university president about 15 months ago, said, One year does not a trend make. Still, he said, I breathed a sigh of relief. In the last few years, small liberal arts colleges have been under financial siege, forced to re-examine their missions and justify their existence. Even several established and respected ones Bard College, Yeshiva University, Mills College and Morehouse College, among others have received negative financial ratings. BEIJING American leaders and interest groups have sharply criticized a new law in China aimed at controlling and limiting the work of foreign nongovernmental organizations in the country, saying it will lead to the deterioration of ties between the Chinese and people from abroad. The statements critical of the law, which was passed on Thursday, reflected disappointment that China did not make more changes to previously released drafts, despite the outcry from foreign groups and governments that harsh wording in those versions provoked. More than 7,000 foreign nongovernmental groups operate in China, according to the state news media. The United States is deeply concerned that Chinas new law on the management of foreign NGO activities will further narrow space for civil society in China and constrain contact between individuals and organizations in the United States and China, the White House said in a statement on Thursday. Recognizing that a vibrant civil society is a cornerstone of stability and prosperity, the administration has expressed strong support at every level for the role of civil society in China, it added. We urge China to respect the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders, journalists, business groups, development professionals, and all others who make up civil society, including by protecting the ability of foreign NGOs to operate in China. The Indian Constitution forbids discrimination, so women have generally received support in the courts. But they have faced tough resistance from traditional male hierarchies in translating those victories into actual rights. That is where Ms. Desai comes in. She is hard to pigeonhole. Her traditional Hindu background confuses some longtime feminists who support her campaign but cannot figure out her motivations. Vidya Bal, 80, a feminist and atheist who for decades has run a group fighting violence against women, said she had met Ms. Desai and found her to be a dashing and bold lady. But she said she also found that they did not share the same intellectual understanding of womens issues. Ms. Desai was raised in Pune, a bustling satellite city a three-hour drive from Mumbai. She said her father left home for an ashram when she was a toddler, and her mother had to raise her and two siblings by herself. Even as she studied home science in college, a traditional subject to prepare girls for life as housewives, Ms. Desai was drifting into social activism, fighting with local authorities to ensure that slum dwellers in her area received the government benefits to which they were entitled. Before long, she became a leader in an anticorruption protest against a local bank, and in 2010, she formed an organization called the Bhumata Brigade, or Mother Earth Brigade, to take on a range of issues. Along the way, she married a businessman, and she now has a 7-year-old son, whose photograph she shows off on her smartphone. Ms. Desai says she stood out from a young age. I was always aggressive, she said in an interview last week, as she ate a breakfast of poha, or puffed rice, at a government guesthouse near a temple she had just successfully stormed. Her late mother was that way, too, Ms. Desai said, recalling that her mother had frequently defended her as a child when people came by to complain that she had beaten up other children on the playground. SEOUL, South Korea An American who has been held in North Korea since October was sentenced to 10 years of hard labor on Friday for spying and other offenses, news agencies reported from Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. The man, Kim Dong-chul, is the latest United States citizen to receive a harsh sentence in North Korea, which has often used Americans held there as leverage in dealing with Washington. His sentencing came a month and a half after North Korea sentenced an American college student, Otto F. Warmbier, to 15 years of hard labor for trying to steal a political banner from his hotel in Pyongyang. Mr. Kims sentence was handed down by North Koreas Supreme Court, meaning that it is final and cannot be appealed. The verdict was reported by Chinas state-run Xinhua news agency and the Japanese news service Kyodo. The State Department has not explicitly confirmed Mr. Kims detention in North Korea, saying that discussing such cases publicly does not help its efforts to free Americans held in the North. But the North has released a copy of Mr. Kims American passport, and officials in South Korea said Mr. Kim was a Korean-born American citizen. An Iranian refugee who set fire to himself to protest Australias policies toward people who try to reach its shores by sea died on Friday. The man, who was 23, was airlifted from the small island nation of Nauru to a hospital in Brisbane, Australia, where he tragically died today from his injuries, Australias Department of Immigration and Border Protection said in a statement. The mans name was not released, but Australian news reports have referred to him as Omid. Australia-bound migrants who are intercepted at sea are detained in Nauru or Papua New Guinea, often for extended periods, under agreements Australia has with those countries. On Wednesday, officials from the United Nations refugee agency were visiting Nauru, where 450 men, women and children were being held, when the man set himself on fire there. This is how tired we are, the man said before igniting the fire, according to witnesses quoted in news reports. This action will prove how exhausted we are. I cannot take it anymore. OSLO A helicopter carrying 13 people from an oil field in the North Sea to the city of Bergen crashed on Friday off the Norwegian coast, and there were no signs of survivors. Eleven passengers and two pilots identified as 11 Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian were en route from the Gullfaks B oil platform of the Norwegian energy company Statoil, the company and Norwegian authorities said. The cause of the crash was unclear. A search on land and at sea recovered 11 bodies, according to the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Center, which was conducting the rescue operation with assistance from Statoil. The center said on Twitter that the two other passengers were also presumed dead, and that the rescue operation had been halted. Television footage showed thick smoke rising from the island of Turoy, northwest of Bergen, on Norways southwest coast. A rescue boat and other small vessels could also be seen. George Langeland, who lives in Turoy, said he saw the helicopter explode and fall from the sky from the terrace of his home. It was a large explosion, he said by telephone from the island. I dont know better how to describe it. Mr. Langeland added that he saw the rotor break off the helicopter. Part of the helicopters hull was under water, about 65 feet from the shore, with debris scattered around it, according to members of the rescue team. Rescue coordinators told journalists that a flight ban, including for drones, had been imposed for three nautical miles around the site of the crash, and a Statoil spokesman said the company had grounded all helicopters like the one that crashed a Eurocopter EC225, known as the Super Puma. Statoil also said in a statement that production aboard the Gullfaks B platform had been temporarily halted.. Later Friday, the Norwegian aviation authority issued a temporary flight ban for all Super Puma helicopters in its jurisdiction. The same type of helicopter crashed in Norway in 1997, killing 12 people, the last fatal crash the countrys oil industry suffered, according to Henrik Fjeldsbo, a union officer and adviser to the Department for Health and Security in the Energy Industry, a trade union for offshore oil workers. Mr. Fjeldsbo said in a telephone interview Friday that the union would call for an investigation into the crash and that all Super Puma helicopters should be grounded until its cause is determined. In 2013, a helicopter of the same make carrying workers for Total from another North Sea oil platform, and also operated by CHC, crashed short of the runway in the Shetland Islands, in Scotland, killing four people. Relatives of people onboard the helicopter that crashed on Friday were told to contact Statoil or the local authorities. PARIS There are denunciations of speciesism, of multinational corporations, capitalism, G.M.O.s, the police and nuclear power. There are pleas for Julian Assange and African workers. There are drumming, guitar playing, free soup and 20-somethings swigging beer. A jolly ragged man, unsteady on his feet, takes the microphone to denounce words, words, words. Another announces, mysteriously, Weve got to be on the side of the dominated! This is Frances newest political movement, open every night to the public on a main square in Paris, the Place de la Republique, which has been transformed into a giant outdoor sit-in recalling the demonstrations of May 1968 in multicultural form. The plaza has been packed with young people every night for nearly a month, venting their anger at just about everything. The news media here cannot seem to get enough of the movement, which calls itself Nuit Debout or Night, Standing Up a phrase some in the movement say is inspired by the 16th-century writer Etienne de La Boeties line, They are only tall because we are on our knees. Others say it comes from the Internationale, the hymn of the 19th-century revolutionary left. VATICAN CITY Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. came to this tiny city-state to talk about two of his deepest passions: his Roman Catholic faith and curing cancer. At the Third International Regenerative Medicine Conference at the Vatican, Mr. Biden spoke about the urgent need to come up with new cures for cancer, a subject that has come to define his final year in office. The conference is intended to highlight the extraordinary research advances being made with adult stem cells while largely sidestepping the issue of research using fetal tissue or embryonic stem cells. Most importantly, we want everyone to understand that no one has to choose between science and faith, Dr. Robin Smith, president of the Stem for Life Foundation and one of the organizers of the three-day conference, said in a welcoming speech Tuesday. US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Lassen, one of the vessels conducitng soperations in the East Sea (Photo: Kyodo/VNA) A number of Republican parliamentarians said such "freedom of navigation" operations cruising within 12 nautical miles of the manmade islands built by China should become routine. According to Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, such operations should be conducted weekly or monthly. Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado said sending US ships into the area every three months "is simply insufficient to send a strong message to China." Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey said that China is "dominating" the region and advocated a tougher US stance. Speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said such operations will take place regularly. He shared Sen. Marco Rubio of Floridas view that China's objective was control of the entire South China Sea. Blinken said China was alienating its neighbors and risked "conflict, instability and isolation' unless it changed its approach and clarified its claims in accordance with international law. In the face of Chinas illegal acts in the East Sea, Vietnamese Foreign Ministrys spokesperson Le Hai Binh has repeatedly stated that China has seriously violated Vietnams sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago when it continues to reclaim, expand, build and change the status quo of islands in Hoang Sa as well as to organise tours to the archipelago in defiance of the concern of Vietnam and the international community. Those acts not only run counter to the common perceptions reached by high-ranking leaders of the two countries, violate the Vietnam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related matters and cause negative impacts on the bilateral relationship, but also go against international law and the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed in 2002 between the ASEAN and China, and create tensions in the East Sea, the spokesperson said. While asserting Vietnams indisputable sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Le Hai Binh stressed that Vietnam strongly protests all the aforementioned acts of China and demand that China immediately end those acts and never repeat them. China must respect Vietnams sovereignty and international law, and take practical actions to contribute to developing the Vietnam-China friendly and cooperative ties as well as to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, he said. The spokesperson also called for all countries inside and outside the region to contribute to maintaining and enhancing peace and stability as well as security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in these waters on the basis of strict adherence to international law./. HALHOUL, West Bank Sharing a cell inside an Israeli prison, the Palestinian girls would toss baskets and play a game they called shuffle ball. There were academic classes in the afternoon, and sometimes an Arab-Israeli prisoner known as Auntie Lina would braid their hair. In the evenings, Dima al-Wawi, a 12-year-old arrested in February with a knife at the entrance to an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, would sing Palestinian nationalist anthems with Istabraq Noor, 14, who was accused of trying to sneak into a different settlement to attack Jewish residents in October. Mom, I didnt even cry once! Dima boasted upon being released on Sunday after serving about half of her four-and-a-half-month sentence. Not even for us? asked her mother, Sabha, 47. Only under the covers, she replied. At night. There were a dozen such girls with similar cases in Israeli custody before Dimas release, up from one in September part of a surge in Palestinian minors incarcerated during a wave of violence that has killed about 30 Israelis in the last seven months. Assaf Liberati, a spokesman for the prison service, said the number of Palestinian prisoners under 18 more than doubled, to 430 from 170 before the stabbings, shootings and vehicular attacks began on Oct. 1. Of them, 103 were 16 or younger, up from 32. NEW HAVEN After a decade of planning, eight years of renovation and a 16-month closure, the Yale Center for British Art one of the half-dozen or so masterpieces designed by the Philadelphia architect Louis Kahn during the last 15 years of his life reopens to the public on May 11. And for those who have loved this award-winning museum since it first opened in 1977, showcasing Paul Mellons superb collection of British art, the good news is that you can barely see the difference. Much of the woodwork has been refinished to give it renewed warmth. The aging fabric that covered the exhibition walls has been exchanged for new white Belgian linen. Nearly invisible sprinkler lines have been applied to the crossbeams of the roof, and synthetic carpeting, added during an earlier remodel, has been replaced by undyed wool carpets in the color and texture specified by Kahn. The masters voice also remains audible in other ways. In converting the Long Gallery on the fourth floor from a series of blocked-off units to a single gorgeous stretch of salon-style exhibition space, the renovating architects were following one of Kahns original working drawings. And when it came time to remodel the pogos those movable walls inside the galleries the architects found a drawing from February 1974, just a month before Kahn died, where it was clear he intended the pogos to be lifted off the ground so they appeared to float. If youre not an idiot and you just look, the building tells you what to do with it, said Jock Reynolds, director of the Yale University Art Gallery, a 1953 Kahn building across the street that went through its own renovation process about a decade ago. Seven new paperbacks to check out this week. THE BATTLE OF VERSAILLES: The Night American Fashion Stumbled Into the Spotlight and Made History, by Robin Givhan. (Flatiron, $17.99.) In 1973, to raise the necessary funds for the French government to renovate Versailles, five French and five American designers competed in a runway show at the palace. The Americans including Bill Blass, Anne Klein and Oscar de la Renta handily outshone their French counterparts, and Givhan, The Washington Posts Pulitzer-winning fashion critic, explores the ramifications of their conquest in absorbing detail. THE POSER, by Jacob Rubin. (Penguin, $16.) Giovanni Bernini, the narrator of this debut novel, is a skilled impressionist who can seamlessly assume the identities of the people around him. His story, which our reviewer, Kevin Brockmeier, said exists just this side of the border separating our reality from a much odder one, is divided into sections for the three principal characters Giovanni mimics over the course of this tale: his employer, his psychiatrist and his manager. THE JOB: True Tales From the Life of a New York City Cop, by Steve Osborne. (Anchor, $15.) After a 20-year career with the police, Osborne has collected a trove of anecdotes ranging from the absurd to the heartbreaking. His material, paired with what our reviewer, Sarah L. Courteau, called a macabre sense of humor people in adrenaline-jacked jobs often develop, makes for engaging reading, whether hes describing his rookie missteps or solemn 9/11 memories. PARIS RED, by Maureen Gibbon. (Norton, $15.95.) The heroine of Gibbons novel is 17-year-old Victorine Meurent, the real-life muse (and mistress) to Edouard Manet. While sustaining his creativity, Victorine nurtures her own artistic ambition. The novel traces her development into a painter in her own right, and lends a voice to a woman who has been seen chiefly through one mans perspective. The Brazen Age not only tells stories but also channels voices. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edmund Wilson, Alfred Kazin and Albert Parry weigh in often. In his own prose Reid sounds like Wilson and Kazin, sharing their capacious curiosity and emulating their stylistic momentum, epigrammatic solemnity and wryness. The prince had thrown in with the paupers, Reid writes of Roosevelts electoral success. The famous curving horseshoe of boxes at the old Metropolitan Opera House enabled old money to contemplate itself. To say that the movie palaces of the Jazz Age constitute the grandest spaces devoted to popular recreation since the baths of Caracalla and Domitian is to pay homage to Wilsons erudition anachronistic and charming in 2016. Reid calls his text an interpretive historical essay, mostly along old-fashioned literary and political lines, and so it is. Scores of minor witnesses intermingle with the main ones. Reid, who lives in Berkeley and has previously edited two books about California, becomes a historian of New Yorks historians, a literary commentators literary commentator, a gossips gossip. He is willing to sacrifice the force of a point to include contradictory eloquence. Sensibility, not argument, organizes many sections. Readers who live for iron theses should probably dip a toe in and see. But in our current marketplace of ideas, where pivotal singularities sell books the one event, disease or invention that reputedly changed everything forever this wide-ranging intensity, free from inflated claims, is refreshing. So too is a little hagiography. These days, progressive scholars tend to demote the old guard, either to make room for excluded voices or to take the wind out of human sails in general. The running line is that systems and networks, social classes and societal configurations, determine and shape history more than we like to admit, and that underdogs are our last best hope against them. But Reid assumes that people of note act in history, and matter. His embrace of lore is unabashed. For the thousandth time Hemingway tears wide his shirt to display a manly tuft to Max Eastman before punching him in the face. Yet Reid is an equal-opportunity storyteller and a citizen of the 21st century. So W.H. Auden exasperates Edmund Wilson by insisting that Eisenhower was gay, and that he rather fancied him. And the wives of German intellectuals in exile, invisible to a more sexist age, receive attention and sympathy, having to become, under hard circumstances, housemaids, factory workers, babysitters, laboring in the needle trade, and hawking encyclopedias and baked goods. Social history can include heroes without devolving to reactionary apologetics. What, beyond striking vignettes and delectable anecdotes, is The Brazen Age about? Reid fully states his argument only once the narrative has gained the rhetorical force of living actuality. He suggests there is a lot to be gleaned from a historical moment so essentially uncertain. In a brief series of counterfactual paragraphs, Reid teases out, from the evidence of his panorama, alternatives that never came to pass. These include a stronger New Deal (a full-fledged social democracy) under Henry Wallace, reasonable engagement with the Soviets, an Interstate System less destructive to American cities, a copacetic vision for public housing and federal funding for writers in short, a United States modeled on Northern European lines, never apocalyptically obsessed with Moscow. A vast array of social and political possibilities exploded from the five boroughs between the 1890s and the late 30s. It narrowed during the war years and collapsed after 1950. The Brazen Age understates this familiar truth, but its myriad dramatizations save the truth from having to be stated much at all. Did the course of events in the United States, starting in the late 40s, have to run as it ran? Even a year ago, before the rise of a social democratic candidate for president, the question would have sounded fanciful and moribund. Now it sounds merely fanciful. Perhaps, down the road, it will sound nothing worse than optimistic, although dont get your hopes up. In any case, the confusion of this campaign year lends particular interest to Reids history. People living in a time so clearly in search of a thesis should enjoy reading about another such time. Yet the expiration date for such interest will probably be long in coming, and The Brazen Age is bigger than the moment that gives it tang. This is great news for the self-identified monotaskers out there. Jon Pack, a 42-year-old photographer in Brooklyn, was happy to hear that his single-minded manner might be undergoing a rebrand. When I was looking for jobs and interviewing, theyd always want me to say, Im a great multitasker, he said. And I wouldnt. My inability to multitask was seen as a negative. Now I can just say, I am a monotasker. I am someone who works best when I focus on one thing at a time. And the way we work can have effects that kick in long after we clock out. As much as people would like to believe otherwise, humans have finite neural resources that are depleted every time we switch between tasks, which, especially for those who work online, Ms. Zomorodi said, can happen upward of 400 times a day, according to a 2016 University of California, Irvine study. Thats why you feel tired at the end of the day, she said. Youve used them all up. The term brain dead suddenly takes on a whole new meaning. A good sign youve task-switched yourself into a stupor: mindlessly scrolling Facebook at the end of the night or, as in Ms. Zomorodis case, looking at couches on Pinterest. I just stuff my brain full of them because I cant manage to do anything else, she said. The sad thing is that I dont get any closer to deciding which one I like. But monotasking can also make work itself more enjoyable. I can multitask and do, of course; its kind of essential but I prefer to do one thing at a time, Hayley Phelan, a 28-year-old writer, wrote in an email. If I keep looking at my phone or my inbox or various websites, working feels a lot more tortuous. When Im focused and making progress, work is actually pleasurable. Ms. Phelan isnt imagining things. Almost any experience is improved by paying full attention to it, Ms. McGonigal said. Attention is one way your brain decides, Is this interesting? Is this worthwhile? Is this fun? Its the reason television shows we tweet through feel tiresome and books we pick up and put down and pick up again never seem to end. The more we allow ourselves to be distracted from a particular activity, the more we feel the need to be distracted. Paying attention pays dividends. Yo-Yo Ma: West Side Story Three summers ago, they showed [it] at Tanglewood [the Boston Symphony Orchestras summer home] with David Newman conducting the orchestra synced to the film. It was absolutely exhilarating. Tanglewood was a place where [the films composer Leonard] Bernstein spent so many summers, and seeing the film on the grounds with musicians who probably played under him, and hearing it in the shed alongside 5,000 people, was incredibly moving. As for Jaws, I love those two notes! I can play them in a number of different ways, always slightly varying speeds. Yo-Yo Ma, cellist and star of The Music of Strangers (June 10) Image Credit... Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Jorma Taccone, Top Secret Top Secret! I saw it when I was 11 or 12, and I remember thinking that I couldnt believe adults were allowed to be that stupid and wonderful. When youre 14, thats the prime of liking things correctly, before you learn how to judge them or adjust the way that you laugh at comedy. And that is what I would like to retain for my life. Theres nothing as pure as that. Jorma Taccone, co-director and star, PopStar: Never Stop Never Stopping (June 3) Muskrats are equally at home in freshwater ponds or brackish bays, swimming their way through at least four of New York Citys five boroughs. Though I have never seen one in Manhattan, Id be surprised if a muskrat hadnt shown up in Inwood or perhaps even Central Park. Muskrats are frequently mistaken for beavers, and although both are rodents, they are not closely related. They share a preference for wetland habitats and their swimming styles are similar, but muskrats are considerably smaller. When a muskrat climbs out of the water to reveal its tapering, almost hairless tail, the confusion devolves into yet another mistaken identity. Stories about enormous water rats abound wherever the lives of the citys humans and its muskrats intersect. Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are actually more closely related to voles and lemmings than to either beavers or the Norway rats that haunt the alleys and subways of New York. They feed primarily on wetland vegetation, such as cattails and water lilies, and are also enthusiastic nibblers of newly emerging stems of phragmites, the tall plumed grasses that often invade the citys wetlands. Muskrats will also feed on small fish, snails and the occasional bird egg. In turn, they are the targets of many predators. Minks, though smaller than muskrats, prey upon even healthy adults, harassing them tirelessly until they are weakened enough to kill. Red foxes and snapping turtles hunt for muskrats in ponds and woodland edges. But within the city, busy roadways are undoubtedly the greatest threats to inexperienced young animals. New York City is bursting with tours, of landmarks and neighborhoods and less predictable destinations, historical or gastronomical or criminal. Then there is Timothy Levitchs tour of the great living landmark that shows up five days a week. This would be rush hour at Grand Central Terminal, as described by Mr. Levitch, 45, who has attracted a cult following over the years for his beat-poetry style of leading tours. Bebop tourism, he calls it. His solos are free-flowing verbal improvisations built on standards of Manhattan history and architecture. These days, Mr. Levitch, widely known as Speed, increasingly riffs on the humanity of the city itself, often in angular, funny soliloquies that use his command of the citys history as mere guideposts. A new study complicates things further. In this research, which appeared this year in Psychological Science, a team led by the neuroscientist B.J. Casey (and including several of us) looked at the impact of emotional arousal on impulse control in three age groups: juveniles between 13 and 17, young adults between 18 and 21, and adults ages 22 to 25. The participants were presented with a rapid series of calm, fearful and happy faces and instructed to press a button when one type of face was shown, but to resist doing so when it was one of the other types. During the experiment, the participants emotional state was manipulated from time to time by leading them to expect that at any moment they might experience something positive (winning a prize), something negative (hearing a loud noise), or neither. The study found that when young adults were negatively aroused (anticipating the noise), they made as many mistakes as juveniles, and significantly more than the somewhat older adults. But under conditions of either low or positive arousal (anticipating the prize), the young adults performed as well as their older counterparts, and significantly better than the juveniles. Are people in their early 20s more like teenagers or more like adults? According to this research: It depends. The proposal to expand the jurisdiction of the juvenile system to age 21, in addition to being based on ambiguous science, would also create two potentially serious policy problems. First, just as the adult correctional system is ill equipped to respond to the needs of adolescents, the juvenile justice system is poorly positioned to handle young adults. It is hard to imagine a juvenile facility that could appropriately house 20-year-olds and 14-year-olds, or a juvenile justice staff whose training would allow it to work effectively with young adults. And because a disproportionate number of serious violent crimes are committed by individuals between 17 and 21, the juvenile system would be overwhelmed by the number of young adults it would need to process, and its rehabilitative purpose could be seriously undermined. Second, the juvenile justice system interacts with several other health and child welfare systems. Those agencies have created relatively separate systems for serving children and adults, in part because of important differences between these two ages. For example, some mental illnesses arise only in young adulthood, and professionals have long specialized in providing services either to children and adolescents or to adults. Creating a juvenile justice system that works well for both adolescents and young adults would require significant (and costly) restructuring of many other agencies. Changes in the ways in which we treat young adult offenders are long overdue. This group has its own distinctive educational and mental health needs. But thats an argument for treating them as a special category of offenders in the adult justice system, not raising the juvenile jurisdictional age. In the long run, this may better serve the interests of young adults and juveniles alike. The proposal is avidly supported by Angangueos local government and most of its residents, who would benefit most directly from the low-wage jobs the mine would bring at first a few hundred jobs, and ultimately perhaps several thousand. Elsewhere in the region, however, many are wary. Silvestre Chavez Sanchez, the elected leader of another community near the monarch reserve, told me, We know that no mining project in Mexico has ever brought lasting development for local people, but has always had problems associated with natural resource destruction. Grupo Mexicos track record is not encouraging. In 2014, a huge copper mine it operates in the northern state of Sonora was the site of one of the worst environmental disasters in Mexican history. About 10 million gallons of toxic copper sulfate acid breached a dam at the mine and spilled into two rivers that supply water to more than 24,000 people. In Angangueo, Grupo Mexico wants to process up to 1,200 tons of ore daily, and says it will do so in an environmentally sensitive way, said Maria Isabel Ramirez, a geographer who studies monarchs at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Morelia. But the company has been frustratingly vague on some key issues, including how much water and acid will be needed to extract copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold from all that ore, and where the resulting waste will be dumped. Nor has Grupo Mexico fully explained where and how it plans to expand the old tunnel network that snakes beneath nearby mountains the same mountains where monarchs roost every winter. Ms. Ramirez worries that the huge volumes of water used by the mine will dry up mountain springs and threaten the viability of the oyamel fir trees where the butterflies roost. We have many concerns about it, she said, noting that the firs are already stressed by climate change and illegal logging, which persists despite years of efforts to stop it. You might think that the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, which operates an active program within the reserve, would be leading the opposition. But the organization, which actively seeks corporate contributions, has been quiet so far, though the W.W.F.s chief local representative gave me a blunt assessment. My professional and personal position, W.W.F. aside, is that opening up the mine could have terrible implications ecologically and economically, said Eduardo Rendon-Salinas, who heads W.W.F.-Mexicos Monarch Butterfly Program. The W.W.F. and other nonprofits, with some support from the Mexican government, are trying to develop alternate economic models for the region based on ecotourism, sustainable farming and logging, and native crafts, but funding has been limited and progress slow in a region where poverty is all but inescapable. The mine proposal, by contrast, offers a faster route but to where, exactly? As Mr. Martinez told me: It will provide work for a small group of people, but the cost may not be worth the benefit. We feel strongly that something like this may be catastrophic for the reserve. In Angangueo, memories are still fresh from the last catastrophe: the floods of 2010, when three days of heavy rain and hail produced mud slides and caused the local river to overrun its banks. After hours of gradual flooding, something suddenly gave way no one is sure what and sent a wall of water hurtling down the towns main street. At least 30 people were killed, and hundreds were left homeless. Some locals blamed the honeycomb of mine tunnels above the town, but an official investigation absolved the mine and blamed the heavy rain just another calamity for a community that has endured so much for so long. There may be no better spot to consider how place names come and go than the Avenue of the Americas in the West 20s and 30s. Since the 19th century, parts of the area have been known as New Yorks Tenderloin, Tin Pan Alley and, most recently, the flower district, for all the roses and ranunculus plants sold there. But the neighborhood has gradually shed that name, too, with help from the real estate industry, naturally. Now, some blocks are branded NoMad, for North of Madison Square Park, and buildings like the Noma, a new 55-unit condominium from Alchemy Properties, seem to have embraced the trendy moniker, even if others arent so easily won over. NoMad is still new give it another 20 years, said Michael Nikolis, an owner of Bills Flower Market, which has been in the same four-story brick tenement-style building, on Avenue of the Americas at West 28th Street, since it opened in 1936. Elizabeth Gilbert has written several best-selling books of fiction and nonfiction, but she is best known for Eat, Pray, Love, her 2006 memoir of travel and personal discovery in Italy, Indonesia and India. To celebrate the books 10th anniversary, Riverhead Books has published Eat, Pray, Love Made Me Do It, a collection of 47 essays written by people inspired by the book. Following are edited excerpts from a conversation with Ms. Gilbert. Q. Which elements of travel seem to resonate most with people you encounter? A. The theme I see again and again when people talk about their travels or travel dreams is that, unless its just a holiday, it is a combination of the desire to run away matched with a yearning to discover something out there, like a running toward. Im fascinated by which impulses drive people. One writer in Eat, Pray, Love Made Me Do It realized a teenage dream to visit Dublin after a broken engagement, the travel version of seeking out a youthful romance. Is this a good idea? Sometimes that more innocent and true version of yourself gets pushed aside in adulthood, and travel can be an important way to revisit that part of yourself you left behind. It could even be the best part of yourself. Economists are good at measuring the past but inconsistent at forecasting future events, particularly recessions. Thats because recessions arent caused merely by concrete changes in the markets. Beliefs and stories passed on by thousands of individuals are important factors, maybe even the main ones, in determining big shifts in the economy. That is likely to be the case again, whenever we next endure a global recession. Worries that a big downturn might be imminent seem to have abated, but they still abound. In April, for example, the International Monetary Fund reported in its World Economic Outlook that while very modest growth is likely this year, the world economy was in a fragile conjuncture. It is therefore worth asking what actually sets off a real global recession. Most discussions focus on leading indicators statistics about economic variables that have preceded recessions. While these kinds of correlations can sometimes be useful in forecasting, they provide little understanding of why major changes are taking place. Leading indicators dont usually address ultimate causes, nor do econometric models that try to predict events. In fact, its instructive to remember that global recessions have usually begun suddenly and been a real surprise to most people. As I have argued in this column and with George A. Akerlof in Animal Spirits (Princeton 2009), such events can largely be ascribed ultimately to contagious stories of wide significance. Basically, global recessions tend to begin when newly popular narratives reduce individuals motivation to spend money. Psychology matters a great deal. Educational attainment in each school district in the U.S. Each circle represents one school district. Larger circles represent districts with more students. Weve long known of the persistent and troublesome academic gap between white students and their black and Hispanic peers in public schools. Weve long understood the primary reason, too: A higher proportion of black and Hispanic children come from poor families. A new analysis of reading and math test score data from across the country confirms just how much socioeconomic conditions matter. Children in the school districts with the highest concentrations of poverty score an average of more than four grade levels below children in the richest districts. (Reliable estimates were not available for Asian-Americans.) Even more sobering, the analysis shows that the largest gaps between white children and their minority classmates emerge in some of the wealthiest communities, such as Berkeley, Calif.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Evanston, Ill. The study, by Sean F. Reardon, Demetra Kalogrides and Kenneth Shores of Stanford, also reveals large academic gaps in places like Atlanta, which has a high level of segregation in the public schools. There are large gaps between white children and their black and Hispanic classmates. The gaps are largest in places with large economic disparities. White students Hispanic Black Chart shows districts with at least 100 white, 100 black and 100 Hispanic students per grade. Reliable estimates are not available for Asian-Americans. Why racial achievement gaps were so pronounced in affluent school districts is a puzzling question raised by the data. Part of the answer might be that in such communities, students and parents from wealthier families are constantly competing for ever more academic success. As parents hire tutors, enroll their children in robotics classes and push them to solve obscure math problems, those children keep pulling away from those who cant afford the enrichment. Our high-end students who are coming in are scoring off the charts, said Jeff Nash, executive director of community relations for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. The school system is near the flagship campus of the University of North Carolina, and 30 percent of students in the schools qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, below the national average. The wealthier students tend to come from families where, lets face it, both the parents are Ph.D.s, and that kid, no matter what happens in the school, is pressured from kindergarten to succeed, Mr. Nash said. So even though our minority students are outscoring minority students in other districts near us, there is still a bigger gap here because of that. By contrast, the communities with narrow achievement gaps tend to be those in which there are very few black or Hispanic children, or places like Detroit or Buffalo, where all students are so poor that minorities and whites perform equally badly on standardized tests. The data was not uniformly grim. A few poor districts like Bremen City, Ga. and Union City, N.J. posted higher-than-average scores. They suggest the possibility that strong schools could help children from low-income families succeed. There are some outliers, and trying to figure out whats making them more successful is worth looking at, said Mr. Reardon, a professor of education and lead author of the analysis. The new analysis surveys data from about 200 million standardized math and reading tests given to third through eighth graders in every state between 2009 and 2012. Although different states administer different exams, Mr. Reardon and his team were able to compare the state results with scores on federal tests known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress in order to develop a consistent scale by which to compare districts. Mr. Reardon said the analysis should not be used to rank districts or schools. Test scores reflect not just the quality of schools or their teachers, but all kinds of other factors in childrens lives, including their home environment; whether they attended a good preschool; traumas they have experienced; and whether their parents read to them at night or hire tutors. What emerges clearly in the data is the extent to which race and class are inextricably linked, and how that connection is exacerbated in school settings. Not only are black and Hispanic children more likely to grow up in poor families, but middle-class black and Hispanic children are also much more likely than poor white children to live in neighborhoods and attend schools with high concentrations of poor students. If a school is in a neighborhood that is highly segregated serving students of color and under-resourced, that is going to have a devastating impact on those who are experiencing a crisis, said Thena Robinson Mock, project director of the Ending the Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track program sponsored by the Advancement Project, a civil rights group. But the others who may not be suffering that crisis at home are also going to suffer from not having enough resources or high-quality teachers. So it will impact the entire school community if those factors are at play. Even in districts where white students and their minority classmates had similar socioeconomic backgrounds, academic gaps persisted. White students Hispanic Black Here, we're showing only districts where black and white students or Hispanic and white students came from similar backgrounds. In some communities where both blacks and whites or Hispanics and whites came from similar socioeconomic backgrounds, academic gaps persisted. Mr. Reardon said that educators in these schools may subliminally or consciously in some cases track white students into gifted courses while assigning black and Hispanic students to less rigorous courses. Others who examined the data said it raised as many questions as it answered. This data is giving us a magnifying glass into places that have the same socioeconomic gaps but different achievement patterns, said Rucker C. Johnson, associate professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley. So we need to use that magnifying glass to figure out what the constellation of other factors are that affect academics. In one school district that appears to have beaten the odds, Union City, N.J., students consistently performed about a third of a grade level above the national average on math and reading tests even though the median family income is just $37,000 and only 18 percent of parents have a bachelors degree. About 95 percent of the students are Hispanic, and the vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Silvia Abbato, the districts superintendent, said she could not pinpoint any one action that had led to the better scores. She noted that the district uses federal funds to help pay for teachers to obtain graduate certifications as literacy specialists, and it sponsors biweekly parent nights with advice on homework help for children, nutrition and immigration status. The district regularly revamps the curriculum and uses quick online tests to gauge where students need more help or whether teachers need to modify their approaches. Its not something you can do overnight, Ms. Abbato said. We have been taking incremental steps everywhere. Auburn University and the Alabama Community College System are teaming up to strengthen and expand opportunities for aviation training for Alabama's two- and four-year college students in an effort to bolster economic opportunities for the state. On Thursday at the Auburn University Regional Airport, Auburn University President Dr. Jay Gogue signed a memorandum of understanding with Mark Heinrich, chancellor for the Alabama Community College System, solidifying the partnership that officials say will be beneficial for students at both the community colleges and Auburn University. Auburn doesnt enter into a lot of partnerships with a lot of different groups, Gogue said This is very unique and very special for us. We enter into partnerships with people that we have a lot of trust in. This is a relationship between two parties in which there is trust. The partnership will focus on aerospace engineering and aviation-related degree programs, flight education training, unmanned aircraft systems, certification and licensing programs and technical training including airframe technology, avionics technology and power plant technology. Three of the Alabama Community College Systems 27 schools have aviation programs, including Faulkner State Community College, Snead State Community College and Enterprise State Community College. Heinrich commented on one of the ways the partnership will be an improvement, saying that it will facilitate the transfer process for students going from two-year programs to Auburn University. We are talking and were working to remove any obstacles right now in the way of students, and most of those obstacles were just not aware of neither of us were aware of, Heinrich said. So were looking at certain classes and how classes transfer and when is it an appropriate time for a student to move on, and thats just making a huge difference. In many cases, students dont have a lot of extra money, and if they have to repeat two or three classes, thats enough to put them under. And so were able to eliminate those extra expenses, and thats very exciting and very much appreciated. Heinrich said that according to reports, Alabama has 400 aviation and aerospace industries that employ more than 83,000 people, and that number is growing. So its not difficult to see why aviation and aerospace is a priority industry for Alabama and why both Auburn University and the Alabama Community College System are aggressively educating and training the states aviation work force, Heinrich said. Airport and Aviation Center Director Dr. Bill Hutto said the goals of Auburns aviation center include outreach, industry training, economic development and strengthening the universitys aviation programs all of which, he says, will be aided by the new partnership. The Alabama Community College System has done an outstanding job over the years of preparing students on the technical side in the field of aviation, and what we want to be able to do is to share in their knowledge and also make it easier for the students who come out of the two-year system to be able to move over and finish their four-year degree at Auburn University and then look for other ways that we can partner in outreach and economic development opportunities, Hutto said. Hutto added that in addition to community college students benefiting from the universitys opportunities, Auburn University students will be exposed to opportunities offered by the two-year system. For example, we may have some university students who want to do dual enrollment looking at becoming an airplane mechanic, for example, Hutto said. Unmanned aircraft systems. There are going to be about 2.7 million of them estimated flying for commercial purposes by 2020. These systems need to be repaired. So as we moved toward increasing our training opportunities at Auburn University for unmanned aircraft systems, we can also partner with the two-year system as an example to train on how you work a technical site. Hutto and other officials said that the partnership was formed with the best interest of students in mind. I think the overall impact is, we can define paths for students coming out of high school, Hutto said. I have a son that went through the two-year system here locally and then went to Auburn University, and what we can do with aviation now is we can do the same kind of thing. We can show them coming out of high school, you can go to a two-year college. You meet these requirements and just matriculate straight into Auburn University and finish your four-year degree here. And so we want to make that pathway easier. Just days after it was announced that Will Ferrell would produce and star in a comedy about former President Ronald Reagans struggle with Alzheimers disease, the actor has now bailed on the project. The REAGAN script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered. While it is by no means an Alzheimers comedy, as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project, a rep for Ferrell said in a statement obtained Friday by the Daily News. After news reports surfaced Wednesday that Ferrell would be taking part in the film, he was greeted by outrage from the late presidents family and supporters. Reagans daughter, Patti Davis, was among those who denounced the project. I saw the news bulletin as did everyone that you intend to portray my father in the throes of Alzheimers for a comedy that you are also producing. Perhaps you have managed to retain some ignorance about Alzheimers and other versions of dementia. Perhaps if you knew more, you would not find the subject humorous, Davis wrote in an open letter to Ferrell on her website. Alzheimers is the ultimate pirate, pillaging a persons life and leaving an empty landscape behind Perhaps for your comedy you would like to visit some dementia facilities. I have I didnt find anything comedic there, and my hope would be that if youre a decent human being, you wouldnt either. The former California governors son, Michael Reagan, also said he was disappointed by the project. #Alzheimers is not a comedy to the 5 million people who are suffering with the disease, it first robs you of your mind and then it kills you, Reagan tweeted Thursday. #Alzheimers is not a comedy to the 5 million people who are suffering with the decease,it first robs you of your mind and then it kills you Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) April 29, 2016 http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js According to published reports, the script for the film centers around the start of the then-presidents second term as he begins to show signs of dementia and staffers try to convince him that he is an actor playing the commander-in-chief in a movie. The Alzheimers Association said the disease is no laughing matter. The Alzheimers Association is appalled that anyone would plan to develop a film that satirizes an individual living with Alzheimers or another dementia, the association said in a statement. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease, and their 15 million family caregivers provide support every day. This disease is not a joke. In addition to its devastating impact, it is fatal. The Alzheimers Association will rally against anyone who marginalizes the devastating and deadly impact of Alzheimers disease. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, which runs the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, echoed the association on its Facebook page. Anyone supporting the idea of such a movie ought to first familiarize themselves with the remarkable pain and anguish that families afflicted with Alzheimers are visited with every day, the foundation said. Staff writer Bob Strauss contributed to this report. WASHINGTON Mistakes by the crew flying an AC-130 gunship, compounded by equipment and procedural failures, led to the devastating attack on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan last year, the Defense Department announced Friday, and 16 U.S. military personnel, including a general officer, have been punished for their roles in the strike. The punishments for the Oct. 3 attack, which killed 42 people, will be administrative actions only, and none of those being disciplined will face criminal charges because the attack was determined to be unintentional. The punishments include suspension and removal from command as well as letters of reprimand, which can seriously damage or end a career. The new top officer of the militarys Central Command, Gen. Joseph L. Votel, made the announcement during a Pentagon news conference. He said the military had conducted a thorough investigation, which was painstaking in seeking an accurate account of what had occurred. Its conclusion is that neither the crew members of the gunship who fired on the hospital in the northern city of Kunduz nor the Special Forces on the ground who were directing the strike knew they were striking a medical facility and that the attack on the hospital was a result of human errors compounded by process and equipment failures, he said. This was an extraordinarily intense combat situation, Votel told reporters. The troops on the ground, he added, were doing a variety of actions at the same time: They were trying to support their Afghan partners, they were trying to execute resupply operations, and they were trying to protect themselves. But Votel was clear on one point: The hospital was a protected facility that was at no time being used by active Taliban fighters, though some wounded insurgents had been treated there. His statement directly contradicted the claim by many senior Afghan officials that the hospital was being used by Taliban fighters and was therefore a legitimate target. Still, the release of the investigations findings and the announcement of the disciplinary measures, some of which were first leaked by defense officials last month, were unlikely to satisfy Doctors Without Borders and other human rights groups, many of which have said the attack may have constituted a war crime and called for an independent criminal investigation. After the announcement, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the French name of Doctors Without Borders, reiterated its calls for an independent investigation, saying in a statement that it cannot be satisfied solely with a military investigation. Todays briefing amounts to an admission of an uncontrolled military operation in a densely populated urban area, during which U.S. forces failed to follow the basic laws of war, said Meinie Nicolai, the groups president. It is incomprehensible that, under the circumstances described by the U.S., the attack was not called off. John Sifton, the Asia policy director of Human Rights Watch, disputed Votels assertion that the airstrike did not constitute a war crime because it was the unintentional result of mistakes and equipment failures, not an intentional attack. The failure to bring any criminal charges was, simply put, inexplicable, Sifton said. Gen. Joseph Votels assertion that a war crime must be deliberate, or intentional, is flatly wrong. Sifton added. He said that there are legal precedents for war crimes prosecutions based on acts that were committed with recklessness, and that recklessness or negligence do not necessarily absolve someone of criminal responsibility under the U.S. military code. The Afghan government said that it had seen the report and that it welcomed the decision to discipline U.S. troops. But Dawa Khan Meenapal, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, declined to elaborate when asked if the Afghan government had reversed its conclusion that the hospital was being used by the Taliban fighters. The broad outlines of what took place in Kunduz, which days earlier had been overrun by Taliban fighters, were established in the weeks and months after the attack: A U.S. AC-130 gunship, responding to a call for support from Afghan commandos who said they were under fire, mistook the hospital for the intended target a building in the city being used as a base by the Taliban and unleashed sustained and repeated barrages from its heavy guns on the medical facility, despite frantic calls from Doctors Without Borders to military commanders. Fridays announcement and the release of the report by investigators, which runs more than 3,000 pages, provided the most detailed accounting of the U.S. version of events to date. The chain of problems began before the AC-130 even left the ground, when an unrelated emergency call for air support forced the aircraft to take off 69 minutes ahead of schedule, the report said. There was no time to fully brief the crew, and a database that would have allowed them to properly identify the hospital as a protected building had not been uploaded to the aircrafts computers. Once the AC-130 was airborne, a satellite radio on board failed, cutting off the aircrafts data link and the ability to upload the database and other vital information, Votel said. After the hulking gunship arrived in the skies above Kunduz, insurgents fired a missile at it, forcing it to retreat to a safe position miles from the intended target, the local headquarters of Afghanistans main spy agency, the National Directorate of Security, which had been taken over by the Taliban. This was no simple evasive maneuver for the gunship. The AC-130 moves slowly, and it is designed to circle above its target in one- to two-mile loops so it can bring to bear a frightening array of weaponry mounted on one side of the aircraft, including a 105-millimeter howitzer. The targeting instruments aboard the gunship are typically calibrated to pinpoint targets at relatively short distances. The report said that the need to briefly move miles out to avoid ground fire resulted in the crews being unable to find the target after it returned to its original position and prepared to commence its attack. When the crew entered the coordinates of the target provided by Afghan forces which were correct the gunships systems instead directed the aircraft to an empty field, the report said. The field was obviously not the target. The crew members only option was to rely on their own eyes. Working off a description of the building being used by the Taliban that was passed by Afghan forces through U.S. Special Forces on the ground, the crew ended up training the gunships weapons on the Doctors Without Borders hospital, which was about 400 meters (1,300 feet) from the correct target. At one point, a crew member, identified in the report as the TV sensor operator, actually spotted the correct target and said it fit the description that was relayed by Afghan forces. But after several attempts to clarify which building should be struck, the aircraft attacked the hospital. The attack commenced at 2:08 a.m., and Votel said that the gunship used all its weapons, including the howitzer, decimating the hospital. It took only 11 minutes for Doctors Without Borders to contact several U.S. government representatives and tell them the hospital was under attack, the report said. But, the report said, it was initially unclear who exactly was firing on the hospital. It was not until 2:38 a.m. that the Special Forces commander on the ground realized the AC-130 was attacking the hospital and called off the attack, the report said. The timeline conflicts with accounts by witnesses, who said the attack lasted more than an hour. Investigators concluded that steps taken by several U.S. service members during the attack were inadequate, and they identified 16 people whose conduct warranted disciplinary action. Twelve were punished by Gen. John F. Campbell, the commander of the U.S.-led coalition at the time of the attack, and four others were disciplined by Votel, who at the time was the commander of U.S. Special Operations command. Votel said Friday that the 16 service members were not being identified for privacy reasons and because some were still serving in sensitive deployments overseas. NEWPORT BEACH A Westminster woman has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit, charging that female inmates in Newport Beachs city jail can undergo a longer booking process than men. Connie Barraclough, 52, said she was driving home on April 4, 2015, when she was arrested in Newport Beach on suspicion of driving under the influence. Instead of being booking into the Newport Beach city jail, Barraclough said she was told there were no female jail staffers on hand, and she would have to be transported to the Central Jail Complex for booking. Barraclough said she underwent an unnecessarily long booking process and was held for 12 hours in the county jail. I just could not believe what I had to go through, the whole experience was upsetting and very unfair, Barraclough said in an interview. The suit, field last week in United States District Court in Santa Ana, names the city of Newport Beach and Orange County. The suit is seeking class-action status. Her lawyer, Los Angeles civil rights attorney V. James DeSimone, said Barracloughs treatment shows that women at the Newport Beach city jail go through an unreasonable and excessive booking process compared to men. DeSimone said Newport Beach is violating the law by not having a female jailer available at all times. (Barraclough) made a mistake and she dealt with that mistake but it shouldnt involve punishment thats disproportionate to what men get for the same crime, he said. Newport Beach Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said she was unable to comment on the lawsuit or Barracloughs arrest, citing a city policy not to discuss ongoing litigation. Manzella said the department does have female jailers. If neither a female jailer nor a trained female staffer is available, Manzella said the department can transport female inmates to the county jail. Like with the majority of local city police departments, Newport Beachs jail is essentially a holding facility and not meant to hold suspects for the long term. Barraclough said she was driving home to Westminster and got off on the wrong exit in Newport Beach at about 4 a.m., where she was pulled over by an officer who said she was swerving. Barraclough said she was searched by a female officer and then brought into the Newport Beach jail. Barraclough said she was transported in a police car to the Orange County jail and told she would be out in a few hours. Instead she was in the county jail from about 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., she said. She said she wasnt allowed a phone call and her daughters in San Diego had no idea where she was. Had she been allowed to stay in Newport Beach, she would have been booked and released in half the time, DeSimone said. They had all the discretion in the world to do the right thing and to process her through Newport Beach so she would get out that morning, and instead theyre discriminating against females by sending them to jail for an extra 12 hours in Orange County theres just no reason for that, he said. Barraclough ended up pleading guilty and completed a three-month educational course on the dangers of drunk driving. She admitted she made a mistake, but said she believes how she was treated wasnt proper. I want to reach out, because I dont want any other women or anybody to have to go through this, she said. Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com HELENA, Mont. Former Montana Sen. Conrad Burns, a former cattle auctioneer whose folksy demeanor and political acumen earned him three terms and the bitter disdain of his opponents, died Thursday. He was 81. Burns died of natural causes at his home in Billings, Montana Republican Party Executive Director Jeff Essmann said. He was a colorful figure who loved people, politics and to serve, Essmann said. He brought a common-man, common-sense approach to his work in the Senate and returned to his home in Billings when his work was done. As a Republican senator, Burns used his influence on the powerful Appropriations committee to set the course on energy development and public lands management across the rural West. But he was ousted from office in 2006 under the specter of scandal after developing close ties to super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was later jailed for conspiracy and fraud. No charges were ever filed against Burns, who dismissed criticism over the affairs as old political hooey. After working as a livestock auctioneer, Burns in 1975 moved into broadcast radio, founding four stations known as the Northern Ag Network. The network eventually grew to serve 31 radio and TV stations across Montana and Wyoming, offering agricultural news to rural areas. He sold the network in 1985 and capitalizing on his name recognition made his first foray into politics a year later, when he was elected commissioner for Yellowstone County in south-central Montana. Before his first term was completed, Burns took on incumbent U.S. Sen. John Melcher, a two-term Democrat described by Burns opponent as a liberal who is soft on drugs, soft on defense and very high on social programs. At the age of 53, he won election to the Senate by a 3-percentage-point margin. He rose to be one of the most influential positions in Washington with his seat on the Appropriations committee, serving as chairman of the Interior Subcommittee. Burns became a strong advocate for increased domestic energy production and expanded development of natural resources. But even before his first term was over, Burns loose-talking ways once credited with earning him favor among Montanas rural electorate landed him in trouble. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the senator invited a group of lobbyists to a slave auction and later used a racial slur for blacks when relating a conversation he had with a Montana rancher. The resulting furor had little impact on his 1994 campaign, which he won in a landslide. During the 2000 campaign, the controversy around Montanas backslapping senator nearly caught up with him. He prevailed by only a thin margin over rancher Brian Schweitzer, who went on to become governor four years later. By the end of his third term, however, Burns had been affixed with the same Washington-insider label that he had used successfully against Melcher. His close ties to lobbyist Abramoff lent credence to the accusation, and his bid for a fourth term came up about 3,000 votes short against the president of the Montana Senate, Democrat Jon Tester. Burns had long cultivated a reputation as being a plain talker, but by the time he left office, his incautious remarks had become legendary. The press catalogued derogatory comments directed at women, Arabs and even out-of-state firefighters who had come to Montana to battle a 2006 blaze near his hometown of Billings. He had that fresh approach of just saying what he thought and not being very political, said Taylor Brown, a friend and fellow Republican who bought the Northern Ag Network from him. That was probably his biggest weakness in the end. He just said what he thought. After leaving office, Burns went to work for his former chief of staff in a Washington lobbying firm, Gage Business Consulting. But the Abramoff scandal followed him, and he eventually gave away $150,000 in contributions from the lobbyist, his clients and friends. After the U.S. Justice Department launched a probe of Burns ties to the affair, he said he made nearly 10 years of records from his Senate office available to the government for review, including all electronic records. When the investigation was dropped in 2008 with no charges filed, he said he had never been interviewed as part of the investigation. He credited his thick hide and clear conscience for helping him withstand the public scrutiny. Theres a hundred lobbyists who walk through that door every week, Burns said in 2006. If you dont have a deep-seated philosophy then you might find yourself getting lost. I vote my philosophy first. Born in 1935 in Davies County, Mo., Burns studied agriculture at the University of Missouri for two years before joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1955. He first came to Montana as a regional salesman for Polled Hereford World magazine, and later settled in Billings to become the manager of a regional livestock expo in 1968. SANTA ANA A jury has convicted a 66-year-old homeless man of fatally stabbing to death another transient who stole $100 from him. Lee Roy Castellano a potential third-striker faces up to 25 years to life in prison after being convicted on Thursday of second-degree murder. The body of Steven Jolly, 59, was found in a van he used for shelter in the parking lot of an automotive business in the 1100 block of West Struck Avenue in Orange. According to court records, several months prior to the fatal stabbing, Jolly had accepted $100 from Castellano as part of a down payment on a truck he claimed to own. Jolly did not actually own the truck, prosecutors said, and refused to give Castellano his money back. Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com SANTA ANA A local band teacher was declared brain dead Friday morning, a week after he was struck by a car in a major street while heading out for an early-morning meal, and his family said they will donate his organs to help others live. The family of Chris Chavez, 26, of Santa Ana, and police are offering $20,000 to the person who can identify the woman who fled the scene. On April 20, Chavez was crossing South Bristol Street near Central Avenue around 2:15 a.m. in a crosswalk, with the right of way, on his way to eat at a Dennys restaurant. He goes there all the time, his sister, Rachel Chavez, 21, said after the crash. Hes a night owl, so its not that unusual for him to be out at that time going to get something to eat. The family has chose to donate Chriss organs to reflect the way he lived, his father, Ralph Chavez, said. Chris loved to help people, Ralph Chavez said. This is so Chris will keep on living. A Latino or Filipino woman, between 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-4, was driving a black, four-door BMW possibly a 500 series with paper plates before she ran a red light at Central Avenue and hit Chavez. She initially stopped, got out of the car and went to Chavez, but then left. She has not been found, although police believe the car had major front-end and windshield damage. On Friday, Santa Ana city and police officials offered a $10,000 reward to the person who helps police find the driver, and the family has pledged an additional $10,000. This case is significant enough that we wanted to offer a reward, Santa Ana police Chief Carlos Rojas said at a press conference Friday, with many of Chavezs family and friends standing in support behind him. My plea is to the driver to turn herself in. Chavez, who graduated from Saddleback High School in 2008, was a drum line instructor at the Santa Ana school while he studied to be a emergency medical technician at Orange Coast College. About 100 attended a Friday afternoon remembrance ceremony at the school. Jessica Aguirre, 26, of Santa Ana, was friends with Chavez while they were students at Saddleback. After the ceremony, she remembered Chavez teaching her to play the snare drum in a beginner band class when they were seniors. He made me play during a back to school night, and I had no idea what I was doing, she said. At the end, he smiled and said, You did great even though I sucked. Chavez has been on life support since the crash because of serious brain swelling and a series of strokes. The strokes took over his brain, Ralph Chavez said. Unfortunately, this morning they ran one more test. The tested his brain to see if it had function. Unfortunately, he did not pass the test. He was pronounced brain dead around 10 a.m. Friday. He will be kept on life support until tests are completed to determine which organs can be donated, Rachel Chavez said. Chris loved helping anybody and everybody, Ralph Chavez said. If he could continue to help anybody, he would want that. Thats why hell be a donor. A vigil was planned for Friday evening at the site where Chris was struck. Anyone with information was asked to call Santa Ana police Cpl. Matt Wharton at 714-245-8209. Anonymous tips can be provided to the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or aduranty@ocregister.com The Orange County Superior Courts Central Justice Center in Santa Ana hosted the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews of their employees, who took part in a mock trial Thursday. The children got a taste of law with a kid-friendly twist while deciding the case of The State of California versus Luke Skywalker. Children attorneys and defenders played parts and read from scripts to sway the jury on whether or not Skywalker was guilty of destroying the Death Star. The mock trial was part of Bring Your Child To Work Day. Click through the slideshow to see moments from their day and what their verdict was. MISSION VIEJO The City Council shot down a proposal to let voters decide in November whether to ban council members from running again after serving 12 years. Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht proposed the idea for discussion at Tuesday nights meeting. She asked that a measure putting a lifetime ban on termed-out council members be included in the upcoming general election ballot. The current ordinance limits council members to three consecutive four-year terms, but allows them to run for office again after sitting out one year. Schlicht said the lifetime ban would bring diversity to the council. The council voted 4-1 against the proposal, with Schlicht voting yes. Schlichts colleagues questioned her motive and the timing. Schlicht is up for reelection in November and could face Trish Kelley, who was termed out in 2014 and plans to run for council again. Its a very common practice among politicians to try to put either very popular or very divisive issues on a ballot when, guess what, their name happens to be on the same ballot, Mayor Frank Ury said. I really dont enjoy getting in those kind of political games. Ury added that the council should avoid putting a measure on a ballot unless its an unsatisfied need in the city the council cant handle. No resident has complained to him about the citys term limits, he said. Kelley and John Paul Ledesma are the only council members in Mission Viejo history to have served 12 years (Ury will join them when he terms out at the end of this year). Kelley would be the first termed-out council member to rerun for office. Schlicht denied her proposal was politically motivated. If Kelley gets elected in November, she would be able to serve on the council even if the measure passes at the same time, Schlicht said. I dont know what the fear is to allow the voters to decide if they want a lifetime ban, Schlicht said. Kelley said Thursday she doesnt think the ballot measure would have affected her chance of winning in the election. I respect any decision that the voters make, she said. When people look at my record they can make an informed decision. Councilman Ed Sachs said it should be up to voters to decide who should serve on the council, not the government. He pointed out that in the 2014 election, voters ousted two incumbents and installed three new council members, including himself. Adding a measure to the November ballot would cost the city $20,000 to $30,000, City Clerk Karen Hamman said. Contact the writer: 949-445-6397 or tshimura@ocregister.com A federal judge in Florida dismissed a lawsuit that claimed Walt Disney World violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it changed its original policy on accommodating guests with disabilities. U.S. District Judge Anne Conway ruled Thursday that Disney provided the plaintiff, a family with a child who has autism, with individual accommodations that met their needs and afforded them the same or better experience as other guests. Plaintiff was given an opportunity to experience Magic Kingdom in a similar manner as guests that do not need accommodations, Conway wrote in her ruling. The ruling is a big win for Disney which is battling more than 30 similar federal lawsuits in Orlando filed by families with children with autism or other disabilities against Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Conway has ruled that each familys circumstances are different. A separate lawsuit from a collection of families is pending in Los Angeles federal court. The suits claim some visitors with autism are unable to wait in line without having meltdowns. Thursdays ruling was the first in all of these cases. The order is unsound, and we are evaluating our options and next steps, said the plaintiffs Tampa-based attorney Andy Dogali, who is representing clients in at least some of the other cases. The lawsuits stems from Disneys current policy regarding how it accommodates disabled visitors at the parks. Under Disneys former policy, visitors with disabilities received a pass allowing them front-of-the-line access on most rides with their guests. But Disney found some visitors abusing the policy guests would hire disabled patrons as tour guides so they could skip the lines for some rides. Also, there were reports of disabled patrons selling their passes. So beginning in October 2013, disabled guests must have their pictures taken to receive a Disability Access Service card that allows them and up to five guests an assigned time to board a ride. Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests, and we fully comply with all (American with Disabilities Act) requirements, said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland spokeswoman. Conway ruled that Disney can recover its legal costs from the plaintiff. Contact the writer: 714-796-2433 or jpimentel@ocregister.com or follow on Twitter @OCDisney SAN FRANCISCO California officials say they will seek more than $90 million in firefighting costs from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. after finding that a deadly 2015 fire was sparked by a tree that came into contact with a power line. The amount is the largest recovery sought by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which released a report Thursday detailing the cause of the fire that scorched remote Calaveras and Amador counties, about 125 miles east of San Francisco. The blaze that started Sept. 9 burned for three weeks, killing two people and destroying more than 900 structures, including about 550 homes. The 110-square-mile fire caused an estimated $300 million in insured losses and is the seventh-most destructive wildfire in state history. Cal Fire said the states largest utility and its contractors failed to provide proper maintenance after removing two gray pine trees from a stand in January 2015, exposing a weaker, skinnier interior tree. The 44-foot-tall gray pine tree grew taller, seeking the sun, but it eventually slumped into a power line, according to the report. The finding did not surprise Steve Campora, a Sacramento attorney who represents roughly 900 people suing San Francisco-based PG&E for fire-related losses. He said about 17 law firms throughout the state are representing about 1,800 people whose claims include loss of enjoyment of land and loss of treasured collections, including a telephone collection. One family has been on the property since 1862, and it burned. Luckily, the family home survived, but it burned 900 acres, he said. In a statement, a PG&E spokesman said the company was reviewing Thursdays report. We cooperated fully with Cal Fire in its investigation on the source of the ignition for the Butte fire. We are committed to doing the right thing for our customers and will respond in the normal legal process, Matt Nauman said. This is not the largest amount sought or recouped by an agency for wildfire costs. The U.S. Attorneys office that covers the eastern district of California collected $102 million from Union Pacific Railroad in 2008 for a wildfire that torched Plumas and Lassen counties in 2000. The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors issued a statement Thursday saying it would seek hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation from the utility. The board said it will also ask the California Public Utilities Commission, which oversees the company, for an investigation and penalties. Public Utilities Commission Chairman Michael Picker said last year that the utility continued to rack up accidents, some of them fatal, and questioned whether PG&E lacked a culture of safety that made the utilitys leadership accountable. In 2010, a natural gas pipeline explosion rocked San Bruno, a suburb of San Francisco, killing eight people and destroying more than three dozen homes. The explosion resulted in a record $1.6 billion state penalty against the company. Cal Fire has spent $400 million this fiscal year battling wildfires. Until Thursday, the agencys largest civil recovery effort was for a pair of 2007 wildfires in San Diego County, Cal Fire spokeswoman Janet Upton said. The state sought to recover $25.5 million and settled for just over $22 million. SACRAMENTO The board that oversees Californias high-speed rail project has approved the latest $64 billion business plan calling for trains to run from the Central Valley to the San Jose area starting in 2025. Board members approved the plan Thursday after delaying the vote by a week. Rail officials have pitched a $21 billion first segment between Merced and San Jose as the only way to ensure a useable segment gets built with the existing funding. Previous business plans had called for the bullet train to head first to the San Fernando Valley. Support for the project has waned since voters approved high-speed rail in 2008. Chairman Dan Richard says although San Jose may get the first trains, Los Angeles County and Anaheim will see the first big spending. SACRAMENTO Californias state Assembly is advancing legislation to extend the closure of a gas storage facility after it spewed massive amounts of natural gas for nearly four months. Lawmakers sent a bill to the state Senate on Thursday with a 67-1 vote as thousands of Los Angeles-area residents wait to return to their homes. SB380 by Democratic Sen. Fran Pavley responds to the leak of climate-changing methane at the Aliso Canyon facility. It continues Gov. Jerry Browns January moratorium on injecting natural gas into the Southern California Gas Co. underground site. It requires state regulators to complete a safety review and decide if one of the nations largest natural gas storage fields should be eliminated. Opponents fear that limiting the major natural gas supplier for Southern California could lead to power outages. BEIJING China took a major step Thursday in President Xi Jinpings drive to impose greater control and limit Western influences on Chinese society, as it enacted a law restricting the work of foreign organizations and their local partners, mainly through police supervision. More than 7,000 foreign nongovernmental groups will be affected, according to state news reports. Foreign groups working across Chinese civil society on issues including the environment, philanthropy and cultural exchanges, and possibly even in education and business will now have to find an official Chinese sponsor and must register with the police. This also applies to groups from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Organizations that do not receive official approval will be forced to stop operating in the country. Many groups will probably curtail or eliminate programs deemed politically sensitive in order to remain. Groups that may have a hard time getting approval include those promoting workers rights, ethnic equality and religious freedoms. The new law is the latest in a series of actions taken by Xi against the kind of Western influences and ideas that he and other leaders view as a threat to the survival of the Communist Party, such as an independent judiciary and media. On Thursday, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, which puts an official stamp on the policies of the Chinese Communist Party, said the measure had passed after a review of the third draft that began on Monday. It goes into effect Jan. 1. The most draconian aspect of the earlier drafts remained, despite widespread outcry from foreign groups and governments. It requires that foreign nongovernmental organizations register with the Ministry of Public Security and allow the police to scrutinize all aspects of their operations, including finances, at any time. In China, where the domestic security apparatus has enormous power, the police could do that anyway, but foreign groups fear that the police will monitor their activities with much greater vigor given this newly formalized authority. The law states that any employee of such a group can be interrogated at any time. In addition, such groups must find an official Chinese partner organization. The law does not define what kinds of Chinese groups will be approved partners, and it is unclear how that determination will be made and by whom. Foreign groups fear that Chinese organizations will not want to take the risk. At least 30 ethnic Fulani herdsman were killed by Boko Haram militants in northern Nigerian last weekend when they raided the village of Alau in Borno state. One of the herdsmen escaped and confirmed to us that he is the only survivor, Amadu Kusuri, the northeast coordinator of the Fulani Miyetti Allah Association, said Thursday. The Islamist insurgents also kidnapped women and children and stole livestock in the attack on April 24, Babangida Ali, the brother of one of those killed in Alau, said by phone. While Nigeria says its making progress in the battle against Boko Haram, which has waged a violent seven-year campaign to impose its version of Islamic law on Africas most populous nation, the group continues to carry out massacres in remote areas and suicide bombings in towns and cities. WASHINGTON About 16 U.S. military personnel, including a two-star general, have been disciplined for mistakes that led to the bombing of a civilian hospital in Afghanistan last year that killed 42 people, a senior U.S. official said Thursday. According to officials, no criminal charges were filed and the service members received administrative punishments in connection with the U.S. airstrike in the northern city of Kunduz. A number of those punished are U.S. special operations forces. And while none was sent to court-martial, in many cases a nonjudicial punishment, such as a letter of reprimand or suspension, can effectively end a military career. The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, so spoke on condition of anonymity. The Pentagon is expected to release the full report on the investigation on Friday, including details about what exactly happened and how the mistakes were made. Last month, The Associated Press reported that more than a dozen U.S. military personnel had been disciplined in connection with the bombing, and that they were all largely administrative. The hospital, run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders in 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 has called the attack relentless and brutal. Last November, the U.S. military said the crew of the AC-130, 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. Officials have said the accident was caused by human error, and that many chances to avert the incident were missed. A separate U.S. report on the incident, obtained last fall by the AP, 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. The attack came 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. SAN JOSE Two California brothers were arrested Thursday in connection with the shooting deaths of their parents, who were popular fixtures at their mosque for three decades and had helped relatives emigrate from their native Bangladesh. Hasib Bin Golam Rabbi, 22, and his 17-year-old brother were taken into custody days after their parents were found slain Sunday in their San Jose home on a quiet cul de sac. Police didnt release the teens name because of his age. Word of the deaths of Shamima and Golam Rabbi and the arrest of their sons sent shock waves through the close-knit Muslims who worship at nearby Evergreen Islamic Center. Everybody is praying that its somebody else who did this and not the kids, said Abdul Jaka, a co-founder of the mosque where the couple worshipped and attended holiday celebrations and other events. They were a nice family. The victims nephew Golam Mustakim and his family emigrated from Bangladesh in 2000 and initially stayed with the Rabbis in their four-bedroom home. A memorial of roses and prayer candles was created outside the home of the victims. This is one of those tragedies nobody ever wants to be in, mosque spokesman Faisal Yazadi said. All we can do is pray. Relatives discovered the bodies, and it was not clear how long the couple had been dead, police spokesman Sgt. Enrique Garcia said. No further details were released. It was not immediately clear if the suspects have attorneys. They were being held without bail. The older son is expected to be in court on Friday. An appearance date for the teen was not immediately available. PYONGYANG, North Korea North Korea on Friday sentenced a U.S. citizen of Korean heritage to 10 years in prison after convicting him of espionage and subversion, the second American it has put behind bars this year. Kim Dong Chul had been detained in the North on suspicion of engaging in spying and stealing state secrets. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor after a brief trial in Pyongyang. North Koreas Supreme Court found Kim guilty of crimes and espionage and subversion of under Articles 60 and 64 of the Norths criminal code. Further details were not immediately available. When he was paraded before the media in Pyongyang last month, Kim said he had collaborated with and spied for South Korean intelligence authorities in a plot to bring down the Norths leadership and had tried to spread religion among North Koreans before his arrest in the city of Rason last October. South Koreas National Intelligence Service, the countrys main spy agency, has said Kims case wasnt related to the organization in any way. Kims sentencing comes on the heels of a 15-year sentence handed down on Otto Warmbier, an American university student who the North says was engaged in anti-state activities while visiting the country as a tourist earlier this year. 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 entire Korean Peninsula. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt they later said were coerced. Most of those who are sentenced to long prison terms are released before serving their full time. 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 Koreas border from China illegally. It took a visit in November 2014 by U.S. spy chief James Clapper to bring home Mathew Miller, also arrested after entering the country as a tourist, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012. Jeffrey Fowle, a U.S. tourist 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. With the headlines Thursday announcing just a 0.5 percent annual growth rate for the U.S. economy in the first quarter, a couple hours later Cal State Fullertons midyear update to its economic forecast came just in time. This is not something to celebrate, said Anil Puri, dean of the schools Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, before about 200 local community and business leaders at the Irvine Marriott. But he said it actually was higher than the 0.2 to 0.3 percent growth economists had expected. He said U.S. growth will be an uninspiring 1.9 percent for all this year and 2.4 percent in 2017. If that projection holds, President Obama will be the first chief executive in American history never to enjoy 3 percent or higher growth for at least one year. On the positive side, Mr. Puri said, the recovery now is almost seven years old, the fourth longest in history. Jobs have been growing at an impressive rate. And all indicators are the job market will continue to improve, tightening the market for workers and driving up wages. Added Associate Professor Mira Farka, This recession has worked hard to be mediocre. A major trend is the number of prime age workers, those aged 25 to 54, dropping 2 million from before the recession. Thats actually quite a loss of human capital, she said. Fortunately, Orange Countys economy is rising above mediocre. It has more than made up for the 185,000 jobs lost during the recession, with 222,100 new ones created since 2010. Construction in particular is riveting growth, with 12,067 jobs created in the first quarter compared to the year before. Building permits soared to 11,900 in 2015 from 2,200 in 2009. But housing price increases are expected to cool a bit, increasing 4.6 this year compared to a sizzling 19 percent in 2013. O.C. unemployment will drop below the current 4 percent. In a year or two, businesses will be complaining about finding qualified people, Mr. Puri said. With the sting of the recession still fresh, thats a problem thats good to have. TORONTO Ontario police say they have arrested 80 people as part of a sweeping investigation into internet child pornography in the province. Ontario Provincial Police said Thursday the investigation involved 274 charges against 80 people, including one youth. Charges include sexual assault, possession of child pornography, making child pornography, distributing child pornography and accessing child pornography. Police say 20 victims have been identified. Police said Thursday they also secured the safety of nine people working in the sex trade as minors or against their will. They worked with several security agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to make the arrests. The provincial police say no arrests were made in the U.S. Last Mondays U.S. Senate debate clearly displayed some of the differences in the candidates. Democratic Attorney General Kamala Harris was composed and stately. Loretta Sanchez, D-Orange, was spontaneous and at times bordering on giddy. Republican Tom Del Beccaro was the most conservative, Republican Duf Sundheim was a GOP moderate and Republican Ron Unz was all over the map, as you might expect from Republican who favors Bernie Sanders for president. Asked about her reputation for being overly cautious, Harris was ready with a catchy but unrevealing response. Fearless, yes. Reckless, no. Sanchez offered the easiest target for critics, given past controversies including her imitation of a native America war whoop. But while some pundits gave the nod to Harris as the debate winner, veteran Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters called it for Sanchez because nothing happened that would threaten her No. 2 position. In other words, Sanchez remains poised to advance to the November election and focus her battle more sharply against frontrunner Harris after the primary. Time can treat Sanchez well. For instance, shes managed to positively recast some losing House votes that subsequently gained public favor including opposition to the Iraq war, the Patriot Act and the Wall Street bailout. Sanchez didnt go after Harris during the debate or in an interview with me afterward, although I gave her the opportunity to critique her fellow candidates specifically. She did have some thoughts, though, on the event in general. I think the questions were pretty fluffy, without a lot of specifics, she said, sounding eager for a forum involving issues such as foreign policy and military affairs, which could play to her nearly 20 years of experience on Capitol Hill. We wont have to wait long to see if she gets that opportunity. The second debate of the primary is 7 p.m. May 10 in San Diego, streaming on KPBS.org. Quick change Three of the candidates running for the central OC seat being vacated by Sanchez were Democrats until just before they entered the race. The candidacies of the three Louie Contreras, Rodolfo Rudy Gaona and Nancy Trinidad Marin could help two of the Democratic candidates, Joe Dunn and Bao Nguyen, make the November runoff election, as I detailed in last weeks column. One reason is because Contreras and Gaona, who are now Republicans, increase the GOP field to four, diluting the GOP vote and making it easier for Democrats to advance past the primary. The other is because all three have Latino surnames, which could take a few votes from Democrat Lou Correa, who many believe is the early frontrunner. If Contreras, Gaona and Marin all ran as Democrats, it would dilute the Democratic vote and make it easier for a Republican to advance out of the eight-person field. The three are the only candidates not to open federal campaign accounts. None of the three attended a candidates forum earlier this month and their lack of campaign activity led organizers of a Wednesday May 4 forum, the Orange County Public Affairs Association, to cross them off the invitation list. Contreras and Gaona both changed their registration in November and took out papers to run in January. Both say the GOP more closely reflects their current values. Both say they oppose most abortion rights and are wary of increasing gun control laws. Marin changed her registration to no party preference on Jan. 6, the same day she took out candidacy papers. She did not respond to inquiries as to why she changed from being a Democrat. The campaigns of Dunn and Nguyen have said they had nothing to do with recruiting any of the three. Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com After passage of the states $15 minimum wage, state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, triumphantly claimed that the policy would lift up 2.2 million minimum wage workers. Its a questionable claim on the senators part, given the overwhelming evidence that many of these 2.2 million workers will lose hours or their jobs as a consequence of the policy. But the senators argument that a $15 minimum wage will help lift up the states poor faces a more fundamental problem: A majority of Californians in poverty dont work. My organization used data from the Census Bureaus Current Population Survey to study the working age population 18 to 64-year-olds living in poverty in each state. The analysis finds that, in 41 states and the District of Colombia, at least half of adults living in poverty are not employed. In California, just over 60 percent of individuals in poverty dont have a job, and thus wont be affected by the raise. (The best evidence suggests that this unprecedented wage hike will add many of those presently working to the ranks of the unemployed.) Economists from American and Cornell University cast a spotlight on this targeting problem in a 2010 study examining the 28 states that raised their minimum wages between 2003 and 2007. Contrary to policymakers expectations, the authors found that these states saw no associated net reduction in poverty from the policy. They pointed to the large percentage of the poor who dont work as one explanation. (Another explanation is that the gain for those who get raises is offset by those who lose all of their income.) So is a $15 wage that at best can only reach 40 percent of the working-age poor the best way to address poverty in the Golden State? Economists dont think so. A recent survey conducted by the University of New Hampshire found that only 5 percent of economists believe a $15 minimum wage would be a very efficient means to reduce poverty. By contrast, nearly three-quarters of these same economists believe that the Earned Income Tax Credit is a very efficient way to address the income needs of poor families. By targeting employees through the tax code, the EITC is able to boost the incomes of low-wage workers without putting their jobs at risk. And because eligibility for these credits is dependent on earned income, it can boost employment by creating an incentive to return to the workforce. For instance, research from the University of Georgia finds that a 10 percent increase in a states EITC supplement is associated with a 1.0 to 1.5 percent increase in employment for single mothers. This likely isnt news to California legislators. According to data from the Internal Revenue Service, 3.1 million Californians already benefit from the credit, to the tune of $7.4 billion. The state recently launched its own state-specific credit that has furthered the EITCs reach. According to CalEITC4Me, a statewide campaign to raise awareness for the policy, the credit was expected to boost income for an estimated 600,000 families in the state this tax season. Of course, an expanded EITC doesnt satiate labor unions. They are more interested in raising minimum wage rates to benefit members who are directly affected by these laws, or have contract escalators tied to them. Unions have historically not cared much for those who get hurt if they arent paying dues. But if the best anti-poverty program really is a job, it does Californias poor no good when legislators put that job further out of reach with a $15 starter wage requirement. Michael Saltsman is research director at the Employment Policies Institute. An Irvine medical software company could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in state tax incentives in the wake of its announcement Wednesday that it will lay off 150 people or 6 percent of its workforce. Five months ago, Quality Systems Inc. was awarded $400,000 in tax credits by Gov. Jerry Browns economic development office for a pledge to invest $3.2 million and hire 385 new employees in Irvine and Costa Mesa over five years. Under the contract with California Competes, the program in the governors GO-Biz office, the company must meet annual milestones to earn an $80,000 credit in each of the five years. Mark Davis, executive vice-president for corporate development at Quality Systems, said less than half of the planned layoffs are in California. If the company fails to create 85 California jobs in fiscal 2016 its first milestone, then we wont take the credit when we do our tax return in January 2017, he added. However, he noted that Quality Systems bought HealthFusion, a San Diego company, last year and we are hiring people there. So we will do the calculation. Were not sure we wont meet that credit. In a press release Rusty Frantz, president and chief executive, said Quality Systems restructuring will eliminate its business units in favor of a streamlined, functional-based organizational structure. It will remove silos andmake the organization more nimble, he added. The company expects 2016 revenues of about $493 million. Revenue in 2015 was $490.2 million. California Competes awards $200 million a year in tax credits to California businesses. The jobs they create must last for three years. Daniel Tahara, a spokesman for the state Franchise Tax Board, said the agency will perform a review to ensure a business was in compliance in each year of the credit agreement. However, Madeline Janis, an attorney who serves on the California Competes committee which awards the credits, noted the programs success depends on the honesty of the company. The expectation is that the Franchise Board will make sure the jobs are created. But you can see how things could fall through the cracks very easily. We have no idea what kind of accountability is taking place. Anyone is free to report problems to the governors office. Hopefully they will be taken seriously. Contact the writer: mroosevelt@ocregister.com; on Twitter @MargotRoosevelt COSTA MESA Hours before Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump was scheduled to make the first stop on his California campaign, large crowds of supporters and protesters were already gathering at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Trump fans were waving American flags and chanting USA, with signs that read Patriotically Correct and Black Christian women love Trump. The pro-Trump group was largely quiet awaiting the opening of the venue. As of 4 p.m., hours before the candidate was schedule to speak, there were few visible signs of anti-Trump protesters. Dawn Mayo stood on a concrete planter box in front of the fairgrounds Pacific Amphitheater, surrounded by Trump supporters. She waved an American flag in one hand and a blue Make America great again hat in the other as she tried to lead the crowd in a Go Trump! chant that quickly died out. Ill get them excited, give me time, said Mayo, 49, who grew up in New York and drove from San Diego on Thursday afternoon to attend the rally. I love Trump. I want the energy to be up and people to be as excited as I am. Wayne Dickey, 63, bearded and smoking a cigarette, held a small sign that said Santa For Trump. Hes a businessman and a billionaire, said Dickey of La Palma. He doesnt need a job. He is giving back to America what America has given him. One of the first anti-Trump protesters at the rally was Veronica Holley, 20, of Irvine. She held a cardboard sign that read Make America Fascist Again. Holly, a U.S. citizen of Hispanic heritage, said she is angered by Trumps stance on immigration. I dont like him saying my parents are bad people, she said. He has no foreign policy. Trumps campaign announced the rally midday Wednesday, with free tickets available at donaldjtrump.com. Tickets were still available Thursday afternoon for a spot at the amphitheater, which holds 8,200 people. Trumps choice of Orange County for his first major California event of the year is no surprise. While the countys increasing ethnic diversity has contributed to Republican voter registration recently slipping below 40 percent, the GOP still has an 8-point advantage over Democrats and continues its longstanding national reputation as a Republican powerhouse. Its many wealthy donors also make it a national fundraising hub for GOP candidates. The stop in California indicates Trump has turned his attention to the state that could prove the most crucial yet in his drive to be the Republican standard bearer. The 1,237 delegates Trump needs to secure the nomination in advance of the July convention is within reach. Californias 172 delegates the most of any state could determine whether he reaches that benchmark or must continue the battle at the convention. While Election Day is June 7, there is a more immediate urgency to connect with the states voters because mail ballots begin going out in 11 days. If he falls short of the 1,237 majority, it would allow convention voting to proceed past the first ballot and delegates no longer would be obliged to back their original candidate. Some Republicans, including candidates Ted Cruz and John Kasich, are hoping for that scenario and the possibility that it will allow someone other than the controversial billionaire becoming the nominee. Knowing the importance of the California primary to Trumps campaign, the Democratic Party of Orange County and Orange County Young Democrats called on backers to demonstrate at Thursdays rally with this Facebook post: We in Orange County do not agree with his bigoted and misogynistic ways and we will not stand quietly as he brings these views into our county! The party asked that attendees protest peacefully, which so far seems to be the case. As Mayo led her impromptu chants, a Trump action figure rested on her shoulder. She said shes known of Trump since she was 10 years old. I know hell do what he says, Mayo said. Without him, I lose all faith. Some supporters and protesters clashed outside Donald Trumps rally Thursday afternoon as they waited to enter the amphitheater at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, where the Republican presidential frontrunner is scheduled to speak later in the evening. We dont want you here, part of the crowd chanted at a Latino-American man, Juan Rodriguez, who was wearing an anti-Trump shirt. The 20-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter said he came to the rally to exercise his First Amendment rights. He was met with chants of build that wall, referencing Trumps call to build a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico to keep out immigrants. Thats racism, responded Rodriguez, a Santa Ana resident. He and a friend then waved a Mexican flag as they were encircled by Trump supporters many shouting expletives at them. A young man in a suit and a red hat, carrying a flag, crept into the scrum and went toe-to-toe with Rodriguez. They screamed profanities at each other. We want a wall to protect ourselves, the man in the hat said. Trump wont make anything better, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez walked away. The crowd dispersed. The rally is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., marking Trumps first campaign stop in California. Police in riot gear worked to separate a growing crowd of Donald Trump protesters from supporters still trying to get into the packed Pacific Amphitheatre minutes before the Republican presidential candidate was scheduled to make his first primary campaign speech in California. About three dozen anti-Trump demonstrators marched toward Trump supporters waiting in line at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Sheriffs deputies acted quickly as both sides shouted slurs and profanity creating a barrier between the sides with officers on horseback. Roughly a dozen backup deputies were called in to further separate the two sides as the anti-Trump contingent appeared to steadily walk forward and push back the horses. Those on the pro-Trump side were told to stand on the sidewalk. It was scary, Chelsea Rogers, 25, a Costa Mesa cosmetologist who came to the rally with her 16-year-old brother and who supports Trump. If it gets any crazier, I dont know what the police will do. On the anti-Trump side, Katrina Mendoza, 22, an Orange Coast college student, quickly walked away from the crowds as her friends urged her not to go back to the protest. A lady tried to hit me, Mendoza said. She called me disgusting and told me to go back to my country. But I was born here. The atmosphere outside became increasingly tense as both sides continued shouting obscenities, with hundreds of protesters cordoned off in a portion of the parking lot. Inside the amphitheater, the atmosphere more closely resembled a rock concert, with a huge American flag hanging behind the speakers podium and Elton John music blasting from loudspeakers. The theater was about 85 percent full near the 7 p.m. scheduled start time, with more people still trying to get in as the crowd got ready for Trump to take the stage. As of 7:30, Trump still had not spoken. Mr. Trump is not going to do this by himself,said Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beall, warming up the crowd. We are an Army. Together, we can do anything. He continued, Is America worth fighting for? The crowd cheered. Is Donald Trump the one whos going to squash Hillary Clinton in a landslide? The crowd cheered louder. An announcer over the loudspeaker instructed protesters to stay outside in a designated area. And he told Trump supporters they should not touch protesters. Secret Service agents escorted one man out as he filmed the crowd with a hand-held camera. It wasnt clear what triggered his removal. Agents took a T-shirt deriding Trump with an expletive from another man. Meanwhile, many people in the crowd were talking politics amongst themselves. David Rose, 58, of Cypress, a lifelong Republican, said Trump represents average Americans and has the business acumen to run the country. Hes independent, not beholden to special interest and has had success running large organizations, Rose said. There appeared to be few Trump protesters inside the arena. But one, Gerardo Ramirez, 20, of Santa Ana said he hates Trump. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump brought his rousing message of political indignation to a full house at Costa Mesas 8,000-seat Pacific Amphitheatre on Thursday and was celebrated by the vocal crowd for providing an alternative to the status quo. Within minutes of taking the stage to kick off his California campaign, Trump had the crowd on its feet chanting, Build that wall. Your crime numbers, theyre going through the roof, and we cant have it anymore, Trump told the packed venue at the OC Fair & Event Center. Were going to get our country back to a balance. Outside, sheriffs deputies on horseback and in riot gear had to separate pro- and anti-Trump groups who shouted profanities at each other and nearly came to blows, with one side chanting Dump Trump as the other shouted, Go back to Mexico. After the rally ended, demonstrators jumped on a Costa Mesa police car, breaking out the windows and attempting to turn it over, as hundreds of people blocked the streets. The tensions may be an early sign of whats ahead for California in the weeks leading up to the June 7 primary, as Trump shifts his attention to the state that could prove the most crucial yet in his drive to be the Republican standard bearer. No state has suffered more from open borders than the state of California, Trump told the crowd. Trumps choice of Orange County for his first major California event of the year is no surprise. While the countys increasing ethnic diversity has contributed to Republican voter registration recently slipping below 40 percent, the GOP still has an 8-point advantage over Democrats, and the county continues its longstanding national reputation as a Republican powerhouse. The countys many wealthy donors also make it a national fundraising hub for GOP candidates. Hours before the rally began, large crowds of flag-waving supporters and scattered sign-carrying protesters gathered at the fairgrounds. Dawn Mayo stood on a concrete planter box in front of the fairgrounds Pacific Amphitheatre, surrounded by Trump supporters. She waved a blue Make America great again hat in her hand as she tried to lead the crowd in a Go Trump! chant that quickly died out. Ill get them excited. Give me time, said Mayo, 49, who grew up in New York and drove from San Diego on Thursday afternoon to attend the rally. I love Trump. I want the energy to be up and people to be as excited as I am. A first clash came around 4:30 p.m. We dont want you here, part of the crowd chanted at Juan Rodriguez, who wore an anti-Trump shirt and waved a Mexican flag. The 20-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter said he came to the rally to exercise his First Amendment rights. A young man in a suit and a red hat, carrying a flag, crept into the scrum and went toe to toe with Rodriguez. They screamed profanities at each other. We want a wall to protect ourselves, the man in the hat said. Trump wont make anything better, Rodriguez responded. The atmosphere outside became increasingly tense as the rallys scheduled start time approached. About three dozen protesters marched toward Trump supporters waiting in line to get in. Sheriffs deputies acted quickly as both sides shouted slurs and profanity creating a barrier between the two sides. Some officers were on horseback. Those on the pro-Trump side were told to stand on the sidewalk. It was scary, said Chelsea Rogers, 25, a Costa Mesa cosmetologist who came to the rally with her 16-year-old brother and who supports Trump. If it gets any crazier, I dont know what the police will do. On the anti-Trump side, Katrina Mendoza, 22, an Orange Coast College student, quickly walked away from the crowds as her friends urged her not to go back to the protest. A lady tried to hit me, Mendoza said. She called me disgusting and told me to go back to my country. But I was born here. Both sides continued shouting obscenities, with hundreds of protesters cordoned off in a portion of the parking lot. Inside the amphitheater, the atmosphere more closely resembled a rock concert, with Elton John music blasting from loudspeakers as the crowd got ready for Trump to take the stage. Mr. Trump is not going to do this by himself. We are an army. Together, we can do anything, said Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beall, warming up the crowd. An announcer over the loudspeaker instructed protesters to stay outside in a designated area. And he told Trump supporters they should not touch protesters. Secret Service agents escorted one man out as he filmed the crowd with a hand-held camera. It wasnt clear what triggered his removal. Agents also took a T-shirt deriding Trump with an expletive from another man. Meanwhile, many people in the crowd were talking politics amongst themselves. David Rose, 58, of Cypress, a lifelong Republican, said Trump represents average Americans and has the business acumen to run the country. Hes independent, not beholden to special interests and has had success running large organizations, Rose said. There appeared to be few Trump protesters inside the arena Thursday evening. But one, Gerardo Ramirez, 20, of Santa Ana said he hates Trump. The Costa Mesa rally came two days after the Anaheim City Council declined to approve, on a 3-2 vote, a proposed resolution condemning Trumps divisive rhetoric in the presidential race. The council meeting was preceded by a clash outside between an estimated 50 pro- and anti-Trump demonstrators. Five people were pepper-sprayed. Janet West, 62, of Long Beach was there to support Trump and knew one of the people hit by spray. We had dinner after and his eyes were all red, West said. It was awful. But West didnt let that stop her from getting to Thursdays rally five hours before it started along with fellow members of the activist group We the People Rising. You never think youll meet the future president of the United States, West said. While Texas senator Ted Cruz began laying the groundwork for his campaign months earlier, Trump remains the strong leader, favored by 46 percent of likely voters, according to Real Clear Politics aggregation of recent polls. Cruz is at 28 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich polls at 18 percent. The 1,237 delegates Trump needs to secure the nomination in advance of the July convention is within reach. Californias 172 delegates the most of any state could determine whether he reaches that benchmark or must continue the battle at the convention. Though Election Day is June 7, there is a more immediate urgency to connect with the states voters because mail ballots begin going out in 11 days. If Trump falls short of the 1,237 majority, it would allow convention voting to proceed past the first ballot, and delegates no longer would be obliged to back their original candidate. Some Republicans, including Cruz and Kasich, are hoping for that scenario and the possibility that it will allow someone other than the controversial billionaire to become the nominee. On Thursday night, Trump returned to familiar themes: closing the borders; bringing back American jobs; protecting the Second Amendment; and loosening restrictions on the U.S. military that he said put the nation at risk. The speech was short on policy specifics and long on emphasizing his campaign successes so far, talking at one point about the strategy of Cruz and Kasich working against him. We are on the verge of doing something unprecedented, he said. They used to call it the silent majority. This is the noisy majority. Were not going to take it. Amid the contentiousness outside, Jesseca Mendoza-Amin, who lives down the street from the fairgrounds, found a ray of hope. Shes Latino, her husband is a Muslim who emigrated from Egypt when he was 4, and she doesnt support Trump. Initially, she said, she was scared to go near the rally. But you know what? I had some great conversations, said Mendoza-Amin, 34. Holding a sign that said, We will pray for you, she stood next to a man waving an LGBT rainbow flag. The rhetoric hits home for me, she said. This isnt the world I want my girls to grow up in, she added, explaining she has three daughters in high school. But Mendoza-Amin said faith in humanity was buoyed by the generally polite attitudes of those who spoke to her. Theyre voting for Trump and Im not, but we could converse, Mendoza-Amin said. I even hugged a guy. It gives me hope. Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com PROVO, Utah Before she could move into the dorms at Brigham Young University or sign up for freshman classes, Brooke first had to sign the colleges Honor Code. Part moral compass and part contract, the Honor Code is a cornerstone of life for the nearly 30,000 students at the Mormon-run university. It points students, faculty and staff members toward moral virtues encompassed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, prizing chastity, honesty and virtue. It requires modest dress on campus, discourages consensual sex outside of marriage and, among other things, prohibits drinking, drug use, same-sex intimacy and indecency, as well as sexual misconduct. But after Brooke, 20, told the university that she had been raped by a fellow student at his apartment in February 2014, she said the Honor Code became a tool to punish her. She had taken LSD that night, and also told the university about an earlier sexual encounter with the same student that she said had been coerced. Four months after reporting the assault, she received a letter from the associate dean of students. You are being suspended from Brigham Young University because of your violation of the Honor Code including continued illegal drug use and consensual sex, effective immediately, the letter read. In the past few weeks, Brooke and a handful of other female students have come forward, first at a rape-awareness conference and then in The Salt Lake Tribune, to say that after they made complaints of sexual abuse they had faced Honor Code investigations into whether they drank alcohol, took drugs or had consensual sex. They treated me in such an un-Christlike way, like I was some sinner, said Brooke, who agreed to be identified by her first name. There was no forgiveness and mercy. Their accounts have brought a national debate over colleges disparate treatment of women who have reported sexual assaults crashing onto this faith-driven campus, where Mormon students gather from around the globe, skirts must fall to the knee and beards are outlawed. The womens complaints have focused attention on how the university deals with such cases as it also seeks to uphold a moral code that lies at the heart of its identity. Brigham Youngs policy on sexual misconduct urges students to come forward even if they have broken school policies. The university says that it investigates sexual assault complaints fully, but that it also has an obligation to pursue misconduct under the Honor Code. According to the sexual misconduct policy, violations of its code discouraging consensual sex are not exempt from scrutiny. Brigham Young University cares deeply about the safety of our students, Carri Jenkins, a university spokeswoman, wrote in an email. When a student reports a sexual assault, our primary focus is on the well-being of the victim. Sometimes, though, facts come to light that a victim has engaged in prior Honor Code violations, she said. While the recent complaints about Brigham Young have come from female students, the university says that all students both men and women are required to follow the Honor Code at all times, whether on or off campus. Any potential violation that comes to the universitys attention could be investigated, it said. In the wake of the students complaints, the university announced last week that it would review how it handled reports of sexual assaults. The university said it could not discuss specific cases, citing federal privacy laws. Brooke said the university told her it was investigating her claim of sexual assault, but she left the university after her suspension. She said she never pressed criminal charges, though she had been interviewed by the police after fleeing the scene, according to a police report. Some experts in law and gender issues on college campuses said Brigham Youngs approach was troubling. The cases set off a torrent of online criticism, as well as a protest on campus this month. The experts said the fear of being investigated, suspended or losing a scholarship could keep students from reporting sexual assaults to the university, potentially letting perpetrators escape campus discipline. Youre creating a systemic unwillingness or barrier for victims to come forward and access the resources of the university for fear that theyre going to be punished, said Brett A. Sokolow, executive director of the Association of Title IX Administrators, named for the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. Many other colleges, secular and religious, have amnesty clauses that protect victims who might worry about getting in trouble for infractions surrounding their attack, like taking drugs or drinking in a dorm room. Last year, Maryland passed a law protecting students who report or witness sexual assaults from being cited for violating drug and alcohol rules. All schools, including BYU, know that alcohol and drugs are often involved in sexual violence, said Adele P. Kimmel, a senior lawyer at Public Justice, a nonprofit that advocates social-justice issues. If youre a school that wants to send a message to students that youre serious about preventing sexual violence, you should have an amnesty policy. Madi Barney said she was so worried about facing Honor Code sanctions at Brigham Young that she waited four days in September before she went to the Provo police to report that she had been raped in her off-campus apartment by a man she knew, who was not a student. I just remember sobbing and telling the police officer I couldnt go forward because BYU was going to kick me out, said Barney, 20, who agreed to have her full name published. But Barneys police report made its way into the universitys hands anyway, after Nasiru Seidu, the man charged with assaulting her, gave it to an acquaintance who worked as a Utah County sheriffs deputy, according to court records. The deputy, Edwin Randolph, passed it to the college. Seidu and Randolph were charged with witness retaliation; the charges were later dropped. Seidu is still awaiting trial on the sexual assault allegations; as of Tuesday, a trial had not yet been set. The university later contacted Barney to say it wanted to meet with her to investigate other alleged Honor Code violations. Last month, the universitys general counsel, Stephen Craig, emailed Barneys lawyer to say that while BYU had not sought the police report, it was nevertheless under an obligation to itself and to its students to investigate credible reports of Honor Code violation. I understand that this is disappointing to you and to Madison, Craig wrote to the lawyer. The university nonetheless enforces its Honor Code. All students, when enrolling in the university, agree to moral standards of conduct, and agree that the standard is a condition for remaining at the university. The university asked her to cooperate with the Honor Code investigation. Barney, however, said she could not talk about the attack outside a courtroom while the criminal case was still open. On March 4, Brigham Youngs lawyer wrote to say that Barney could finish the semester, but that the university would block her from enrolling in any more classes until the Honor Code issues are resolved. Barney took her final exam at Brigham Young this month, and has decided she does not want to return. After being booted from the Tribecca Film Festival in New York City, Vaxxed: From Cover-up to Catastrophe, a movie about a purported cover-up of a government study on the safety of the measles vaccine, opens Friday in Orange County. Regency South Coast Village in Santa Ana will show the documentary for at least a one-week run. An evening screening Friday has already sold out. Andrew Wakefield, a former doctor from Britain who has set out to prove theres a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, or MMR, and autism a theory that is widely disputed co-wrote and directed the movie. He also appears frequently on screen. The one-time gastroenterologist raised money for the movie a year ago at an event in Dana Point hosted by a local moms group. In 2010, Wakefield was banned from practicing medicine in his native Britain. The General Medical Council there said he acted in a way that was dishonest, misleading and irresponsible while carrying out research into a possible link between the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, bowel disease and autism, according to The Telegraph. The films distributor, Cinema Libre, has presented the movie as not being anti-vaccine. The movie is not anti-vaccine and neither is Dr. Wakefield. How can someone who advocates for giving the MMR vaccine at 3 years of age or to have it split into three different vaccines be considered anti-vaccine? But unfortunately we live in a time where scandal is valued more than the truth. That is what this film is fighting for: the right to know, said Richard Castro, the films head of distribution. Vaxxed was scheduled to premier at Robert De Niros Tribeca Film Festival earlier this month, but was pulled from the schedule. De Niro said that after reviewing the film with the scientific community, he no longer believed the movie contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for. When Wakefield fundraised in Orange County last spring, he was welcomed by hundreds of parents. They said he is working in their childrens best interests to find and present information that mainstream science and media, the government, and the pharmaceutical industry do not. Vaxxed is also playing in Santa Monica, Pasadena and San Diego. Contact the writer: jchandler@ocregister.com and @jennakchandler on Twitter A museum and a cemetery. Both would honor the service and sacrifices of so many men and women who have given their lives in defense of our democracy. Both would be located on hallowed ground, land that is part of Orange Countys rich military history. Both would offer a space where families and children can remember those who have fallen and reflect on the price of the freedom we all enjoy. One of those projects, the Heroes Hall museum at the Orange County Fairgrounds, cleared some major hurdles this month. The other, a veterans cemetery in Irvine, continues to face roadblocks. These two projects, their trajectory and support, offer a lesson in how interests that regularly pay lip service to supporting veterans can repeatedly turn their backs on these heroes when it really matters. On one path are plans to build a cemetery at the Great Park in Irvine, which was formerly the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The space is public and its open. And the nearest veterans cemetery is hours away in congested traffic. So years ago, veterans groups teamed up with then-Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva and some elected officials in Irvine to advance the obvious a cemetery at the Great Park where Orange County can bury its heroes. Although the process is moving forward slowly and painfully, it has become a glaring example of the ongoing battle that has existed between veterans and developers in Orange County. The value of land in our communities is so high that developers have historically placed the value of land over the value of the sacrifices and lives of veterans. In this case, just last week, the Irvine City Council had to stave off a developer-driven proposal to change the location of the veterans cemetery. Why? Because of developer fears that its location could hurt nearby home sales to a number of Chinese buyers, concerned with the feng shui of living near a cemetery. So instead of standing together to advance the project on the original site, veterans who already fought for our freedoms overseas were left to fight again at home for a final resting place. To its credit, the Irvine City Council doubled down on its plans with an allocation of $100,000 to continue advancing the Great Park location. But no matter where the cemetery is ultimately built, there is a long road ahead one that will unfortunately pit profit against our obligation to veterans each step of the way. Nearby in Costa Mesa this week there was a different story. Those who have fought developers for years about where to build a veterans museum in Orange County saw that dream move another step closer to reality. On Monday, a former cadet barracks was moved to its permanent location on what once was the Santa Ana Army Base. By this time next year, an interactive museum will already be open to the public. Heroes Hall will offer opportunities for veterans, families and more than 100,000 school children each year to learn about our countys military history and reflect on our freedoms. The difference: The Orange County Fair Board demonstrated through every vote that they put veterans first. They gathered support from elected officials throughout Orange County. But even when politics or developer deals could have hijacked the plans, they remained steadfast in their determination to do more than just pay lip service to our nations heroes. Their actions are an inspiration and an example of the difference between saying you support veterans and actually taking action to honor them. Lets hope those involved in the debate about where to establish a veterans cemetery in Irvine follow the lead of the Orange County Fair Board. Jennifer Muir is general manager, Orange County Employees Association. Tuesday is the day this week when it would be convenient to be two people, if youre a classical music fan. In recent years, Yuja Wang, still not yet 30 years old, has emerged as the most exciting as well as the most satisfyingly communicative of a wave of Chinese pianists. Her blistering technique, capable of feats of astonishing agility and power, is ultimately put in service of genuine musical thought and expression, never mere virtuosity. As such, her interpretations of a wide range of repertoire, from Mozart to Stravinsky, come across as not only on target, but freshly felt and energized. Match those qualities with a quirky fashion sense and a charismatic stage presence and youve got the complete package. For her first solo recital at the Soka Performing Arts Center (Tuesday at 8 p.m.) shell perform a meaty program that includes the Ballades, Op. 10, Nos. 1 and 2 by Johannes Brahms, the echt-Romantic suite Kreisleriana by Robert Schumann and the mammoth and magnificent Sonata No. 29, Hammerklavier, by Ludwig van Beethoven. At the very same moment, over at Segerstrom Concert Hall, the New York Philharmonic will perform. Having recently announced that he will step down as music director of the orchestra next year, conductor Alan Gilbert brings his famed ensemble to Orange County for the last time. The 49-year-old musician whose parents were members of the group is credited with re-invigorating and updating its repertoire, with an emphasis on sometimes thorny contemporary music. His performances of works in the standard canon have gotten mixed reviews, even while the Philharmonic remains among the worlds greatest orchestras. So it is a little surprising to see how conservative the program will be here: Two works by Brahms (the Tragic Overture and the Symphony No. 2) will sandwich the late Cello Concerto by Schumann, with the orchestras principal, Carter Brey, as soloist. The violinist Midori visits the Pacific Symphony this weekend to perform Erich Wolfgang Korngolds lush Violin Concerto, based on themes from his movie scores. The respected British conductor Bramwell Tovey, a regular guest at the Hollywood Bowl, is on the podium and closes the program with Holsts The Planets. The French pianist and Los Feliz resident Jean-Yves Thibaudet makes one of his frequent appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, this time performing a chestnut, Griegs Piano Concerto. In his debut with the orchestra, the young Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa leads performances of Mussorgskys Night on Bald Mountain and Janaceks Taras Bulba. The Fullerton Friends of Music hosts the Adaskin String Trio on Sunday afternoon. The Canadian ensemble will perform music by Beethoven and Alexis Roland-Manuel, and with guest oboist Tom Gallant, music by Mozart and Elgar. The concert is free. Also Sunday afternoon, on the Pacific Symphonys Pedals and Pipes Organ Series, silent movie organist Dennis James arrives to accompany a screening of the The Mark of Zorro starring Douglas Fairbanks. In your Jeep Creep questions, please list your first and last names, your hometown, and your state/province/country, so that we can publish that information here. If you dont provide this information, we may not be able to publish your question and answer. Dont forget to be as complete as possible with the description of your Jeep and its problems, too. Send your Jeep questions to [email protected], Attn: Jeep Creep. More Jeep Creep Q&As March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 Jeep recall from NHTSA this month 16V-168Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles manufactured December 9, 2015, to January 14, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the left front brake caliper may crack due to being made from an incorrect material. A cracked brake caliper may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front left brake caliper and depending on its casting date, replace it, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-8531403. Chryslers number for this recall is S16. Comanche Concept I love it, as long as they make it as a two-door as shown. I am so sick and tired of four-door trucks and SUVs I could puke. I grew up in a two-door world, and dont want a taxicab for either a toy or personal transportation. This is something I would buy depending on how they price it. I drive a 1993 Chevy S10 two-door shortbed 4x4, and just keep fixing it because there is nothing out there I want new. Jerry Hammons Comment from story: Comanche Concept Makes the Jeep Renegade Into a Truck Cherokee Clunking I have a question about my 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee 6-cylinder four-wheel drive. When I engage it to four part-time and try to go up a small hill or try to make a sharp turn I hear a clunking noise coming from underneath. Someone told me it could be my CV axles. I replaced both of them and I am still having a problem with the clunking noise. I just wanted to know if it is the transfer case and what gear could be causing this? Zachery Gooch Martins Ferry, Ohio Zach, this vehicle has a failure-prone front driveshaft at the constant-velocity joint at the transfer case yoke. Pull the front driveshaft off the rig and drive it again. If there is no clunking noise, have the driveshaft inspected and repaired. If the Cherokee is lifted, the front driveshaft is even more likely to have problems. If it is not the driveshaft, itll be internal in the transfer case. Youll need to have the T-case rebuilt. Bogged-Down XJ I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Classic 4.0 liter two-wheel drive. When I go to accelerate the car bogs down. Any ideas why? Also, the blower motor for the heat or A/C no longer works. Both fuses were checked and appear to be fine. Matt Michaels Baltimore, Maryland Matt, your blowers problems are one of two: Either the motor itself has gone bad and needs to be replaced or the wiring has become disconnected. To test, run temporaryor jumperwires directly from both sides of the battery to the blowers electrical plug. Youll need both power and ground. If it works, its the wiring. If it doesnt work, its the motor. On your bogging engine, you have to make sure the ignition timing is correctdo a complete tune-up. If that doesnt take care of the bogging, you have to make sure you have an unrestricted air and fuel flow. Your best bet on this is to buy a good shop manual with an extensive troubleshooting section. The manual will walk you through all the steps needed to track down the trouble. Bad Switch The fan for my heat-A/C does not work all of the time. The highest setting doesnt work at all. Barbara Mitchum Newport, RI You need a new switch. If you dont feel comfortable doing the work yourself, youll have to take it to a dealer or an off-road shop. Click, Click, Clank! I have a 95 Jeep Wrangler (with a 4-cyl). When I try to start it, it will make a clicking noise and then the fuel pump will kick on and the Jeep will start. I have changed the fuel pump and filter and replaced some of the sensors in the ECU box. I have been reading your site for a while and starting to wonder if it was the crankshaft position sensor? Please help me. It is taking longer for the Jeep to make the clicking noise, and it is making the noise longer. I drive it to work every day about 20 miles. What do you think it could be? I have not noticed the lights going dim when I try to start it, the engine turns over when I try to start it, but it just wont start until it goes through its cycle (as I call it). It makes me feel like I am almost trying to start a diesel truck some days. Steven Rivers Austin, TX Test the fuel pump circuit with a fused jumper wire in place of the fuel pump relay. Check for battery voltage at the relay connections if the fuel pump does not turn on. Then check for voltage at the tank wiring harness. If the pump does run, then check the fuel pressure at the injector rail test port with a pressure gauge. Does the vehicle have any sort of old or new antitheft system on it? That could be causing the clicking sound then the starting problem. Rust Bucket Repair My 97 Wrangler has nearly 20 years of New England rust underneath. Ive tried to keep the salt hosed off as much as I could but winters up here in the northeast being what they are, salt still collected in the nooks and crannies of the fenders and floorboards. It isnt bad enough to need a new body and all the work that goes with that, but I still want to do something. Last spring I saw a spray can that contained paint that claimed to chemically change rust to primer paint. Can you tell me its name? I want to convert the rust and then have the Jeep undercoated. Colin Mackey Manchester, NH CRP Automotive just began offering its new Fertan Rust Remover as a quick and cost-effective solution for rust on all types of metals. It is a water-based, non-toxic, and non-flammable rust treatment that quickly dissolves rust from all types of metals and leaves a clean metal surface ready for a protective coating application. The solution washes away easily with water. CRP Automotive also offers Fertan Rust Converter, a non-toxic product that converts loose rust to a powder that can be easily washed away, leaving a stable, inert surface that is safe from further rusting and can be painted. For more information, visit www.fertan.com. YJ Dash Problems Hi there, I finally got the right Jeep but then the dash quit working! Its a 94 Wrangler. Fuses are good. It runs great, power through the fuse, heater fan is off and the entire dash including the speedometer too. I will check the ground straps. Any ideas out there? Hawkowl DeYoung Problems like this can be really hard to diagnose, especially without seeing the vehicle first-hand. OK, you've checked all the grounds. But have you? There should be a ground between the body and the frame, and between the engine and the frame. This is where people really screw up by not using a large-enough ground wire. I believe that both of these places should have a ground the same size as what you're using for the battery cables, and they must be making a good contact. Be sure there is a good clean connection between the steering column and the dash, as this is the ground for the ignition switch. My guess is that you're not getting a good current flow from the battery to the ignition switch. A big clue to the problem is the fact that the electric fuel pump is not working. So, the first thing to check is whether there is power to the ignition switch. Seems to me the easiest way to find this out is if the signal lights and heater work with the key in the "on" position. Next step would be to check the voltage at the wire that activates the solenoid when the key is turned to and held at the "start" position. There shouldn't be more than about a 0.5-volt drop between the end of this wire and the voltage measured at the battery. If there is no current here, then I would unplug the connector at the steering column and check the voltage there. Still no voltage? Then you have a bad ignition switch. I suggest that you consult a factory service manual on the proper way to replace this switch. So what it all comes down to is that you spend some time with a test light and voltmeter. Lift for Cherokee I have a 1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo. It is bone stock as of now but I bought it with the intent of making it an off-road vehicle. This will be my first build of this kind, and I will be doing all the work myself. I am fairly handy as I am an aerospace mechanic. I am planning on putting a lift on the Jeep in the near future. I have narrowed it down to two kits. First one is the 4.5-inch X-flex by Rough Country. The other is the 6.5-inch long arm kit by Rough Country. Since there does not seem to be a company out there willing to use my Jeep to showcase their products, these kits were picked because they seem to be the best bang for the buck. I would like to know the pros and cons of each kit and why I should or should not use one or the other. The Jeep will be used on road about 50% of the time. Most of the off-roading will be light and include sand, rock and dirt mostly. Not really into mud. Lastly, if you know of a company that is willing to give me parts for my Jeep in exchange for advertisement on my Jeep then let me know. Let me ask you another question: How do you feel about using Rhino Lining as an outside coating on the Jeep instead of just a primer? Any concerns about weight or anything? Aron Call Chandler, AZ Im glad to see another Arizona wheeler coming along. When youre finished with your XJ youll have to come up to cool Kingman and wheel around some of our canyons. Several years ago, we started building an XJ that we nicknamed Master Kee. Check out that story here for one of the first installments. Perhaps the series will answer several of your questions and/or give you some more ideas. You asked me to advise you about a 4.5- or 6.5-inch lift. While a long-arm kit, in my opinion, is superior to a short-arm kit, since you said youll be playing in sand, Id recommend going with the shorter lift. In sand the higher lift would make the XJ more susceptible to turning turtle and rolling on a side hill. Plus, using it as your daily driver would soon make the higher lift seem to be more inconvenient getting in and out of the Jeep. The main reason for the higher lift is ground clearance while negotiating boulder-strewn canyons. If thats not going to be your preferred playground, stick with the shorter lift kit. I once lined the inside of a Scrambler with Rhino Lining and had my Budget Camp Trailer also Rhino Lined. Itll definitely protect the underside of your Jeep. Just make sure that all your changes have been incorporated beneath your Jeep before the Rhino Lining covers it. Its very difficult to remove when you wish to change something. In your Jeep Creep questions, please list your first and last names, your hometown, and your state/province/country, so that we can publish that information here. If you dont provide this information, we may not be able to publish your question and answer. Dont forget to be as complete as possible with the description of your Jeep and its problems, too. For some reason the questions have fallen off, and I know we havent answered all your Jeep technical questions. There are no dumb questions; only unasked questions. Send them in and try to stump us.Jim Brightly As usual, each month, Im shouting out a huge THANK YOU to Paul Schupp at Rock Lizard 4x4 in Kingman, Arizona, for his invaluable assistance in answering many of the Jeep Creep questions. Fallen weather Airman honored Members of the 557th Weather Wing gathered for a remembrance ceremony in honor of Capt. Nathan Nylander, a fallen weather Airman, April 27. Nylander was a weather officer with the 25th Operational Weather Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., who was killed in Afghanistan along with eight others during a shooting at Kabul International Airport on April 27, 2011. Nylander's 25th OWS commander emceed the event and took a moment to speak about the captain. "We talk about the term Airman, it is not just a word and it's not just given out freely, it is something you earn every day," said U.S. Air Force Col. Donald Shannon, 2nd Weather Group commander. "Nathan earned that term. When he gave the ultimate sacrifice, he solidified his name as Airman in our history." Deployed as an advisor to NATO on that fateful day, Nylander was in a nearby conference room when he heard shots being fired. He quickly proceeded into the hallway where he and another officer shot at an Afghan Air Force officer who had just opened fire on U.S. military members and civilians. Believing the attacker was incapacitated, Nylander began helping the wounded. When the gunman opened fire again, the captain shot at the attacker and was wounded, ultimately losing his life. "He personified everything we would like people to believe we are as Airmen," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Gerlach, 557th WW superintendent of standards and event coordinator. "[He exhibited] bravery and selflessness." Hopefully the service members who attended the ceremony took away pride in serving their nation, doing all that they can to make the mission happen and the necessity to take care of others, added Gerlach. These are the things Capt. Nylander believed in and instilled in the Airmen under him. "What I would like everyone to do, as we reflect on the words, actions and gallantry that was displayed by Capt. Nylander, is not only remember what he did and his selfless actions and the training and reaction he chose to take, but also his family," Carle said. Nylander was survived by his wife and two kids. They spent the fifth year anniversary of his passing with other families affected by the same incident at the Air Advisor Memorial on Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "Even though they couldn't be here, I know that the fact that we are doing this means a tremendous amount," Carle said. For his sacrifice five years ago, Nylander was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest award for combat valor. And thanks to the efforts of his fellow Air Force Weather Airmen, his memory will not be forgotten. Select personnel from 15 Air National Guard Engineering and Installation organizations are either in place or will soon arrive at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Before the next three years have passed, they will have installed more than 600 miles of cabling in support of the U.S. Strategic Command Command and Control facility construction project. In September 2012, site preparation began for the $1.2 billion mega project. Planners discovered early on that using private contractors to perform E&I functions would be an expensive endeavor. Civilian contractors would require costly security escorts at all times, and expenses would soar even higher if around-the-clock work was required. After careful analysis, Clyde Aune of the USSTRATCOM Program Management Office proposed enlisting the aid of U.S. Air Force National Guard E&I community to perform the work. He argued, Utilizing military installers with security clearances eliminates the need for expensive security escorts required with civilian contractors. It also enables around-the-clock work and on-the-fly changes without significant contract modifications. That sort of flexibility is priceless. USSTRATCOM leadership agreed and adopted Aunes plan. E&I members from Mississippi, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Minnesota are already proving their value to the project. They have thus far completed the connection of 86 underground communications maintenance manholes across Offutt, and have installed fiber optic cabling, pull-boxes, and patch panels in each of USSTRATCOMs 20 General Officer housing locations. And its not just USSTRATCOM that is benefitting from this partnership. According to U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Tim Day of the E&I team, This has been a great opportunity to hone our wartime skills in an operational environment. We dont normally get a chance for this type of collaboration outside the theatre. The benefits to the E&I community have been incredible. Today, the team is engineering and installing premise wiring in the C2 facility itself. Once this work is complete, the facility will have a redundant, secure fiber and copper information technology systems backbone. This will not only enhance the Commands nuclear deterrence capabilities, but will provide a modern enterprise network capable of supporting 16 other presidentially assigned missions and tasks. USSTRATCOM will also be able to provide reliable retransmission capabilities to U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command and other strategic forces. USSTRATCOM conservatively estimates that the Air National Guard E&I team will save the Command $40 to $60 million in cost avoidance by the time the project is complete. When totaled, the length of cabling installed will be long enough to stretch from Omaha to Dallas. But most importantly, the teams hard work and dedication will ensure that America has a strong, credible nuclear deterrent for decades to come. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... What should we make of the galactic scale of Berkshire Hathaway today? Huge corporations have over the years appalled some average Americans, as well as some prominent ones, from Woodrow Wilson and Louis Brandeis to Bernie Sanders. Financial institutions seen as too big to fail are the latest to be regarded with suspicion. President Wilson stressed that employee individuality is lost in large corporations, lost to organizational mission especially for companies that grow by acquisition rather than by their own virtue. Employee morale may suffer when workers see themselves as pawns of an empire, not human members of a team. Justice Brandeis warned against corporate agglomerations as a threat to social welfare, to the spirit of the nation. It goes all the way to the top: When one company acquires another, the bought-out CEO almost always surrenders the role of ship captain for a mere seat in the enlisted crews mess. Todays critics claim corporate giants transfer wealth from the workforce to the C-suite. The flow appears in mushrooming executive compensation, often paid in part with stock that rises in value with more regard to size than performance. As Sen. Sanders views it, all of this alienates people on different sides of the equation. Worse, say some, large corporations wield political power proportional to scale, contradicting democratic values. On the surface, Berkshire Hathaway might seem an easy target for such rebuke. It is among Americas largest corporations by any measure, whether assets, capital or employees. If Berkshire were a country, and its revenue its gross domestic product, it would rank among the top 50 world economies, rivaling Ireland, Kuwait and New Zealand. Much of its recent growth is due to an energetic acquisition program. It has acquired nine wholly owned subsidiaries that, if standing alone, would be Fortune 500 companies. But Berkshire has some unique corporate cultural traits, starting with its practice of autonomy. Neither Warren Buffett, Berkshires chairman and CEO, nor any other headquarters executive, runs Berkshires operating companies. And there is virtually no central administration. Rather, all operating and administrative decisions are in the hands of each subsidiary CEO more than 60 of them and counting. In a Berkshire acquisition, incumbent CEOs remain captain of their own ship; there is no bureaucratic crew to join. Theres even a book devoted to the phenomenon: The Warren Buffett CEO: Secrets from the Berkshire Hathaway Managers, by Robert Miles. The CEOs report that this autonomy and trust stimulates them to a spirit of stewardship. As Bruce Whitman, CEO of FlightSafety International, told me, Warrens faith and trust makes me act even more responsibly with Berkshires money than with my own. While Berkshire executives are highly paid, compensation is not as lavish as with peers at other public companies. Pay is explicitly tied to performance metrics under their control, in cash, not stock. In addition, Buffetts own pay is trivial compared with other American chief executives. If critics perceive Berkshire to exercise outsize political influence, there is scant evidence. Through 2004, Berkshire spent little on lobbying, perhaps $300,000 in a typical year, while behemoths like Boeing, General Electric and Verizon doled out closer to $10 million. Since then, as Berkshires energy business quadrupled and it acquired BNSF Railway, lobbying by those two regulated units raised yearly lobbying expenses to some $6 million. That figure is still a fraction of what like-sized companies spend. Berkshire is no political patsy Buffett is a close confidant of many powerful appointees and elected officials. Still, the company pays out comparatively modest disbursements in the political sphere. Too big to fail By 2008, some financial institutions had grown so large and important that the prospect of their failure compelled extraordinary government intervention. Aside from buying equity stakes via the Troubled Asset Relief Program, during 2008 authorities seized control of companies such as Berkshire insurance rival AIG and one-time Berkshire holding Freddie Mac. They arranged sales of others such as Countrywide and Wachovia, and intervened across the sector, allowing the collapse of Lehman Brothers while propping up others. All such institutions are now stringently regulated under the Dodd-Frank Act to maintain minimum asset levels and caps on debt. In addition to large banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo (both Berkshire holdings), authorities named large insurance companies such as AIG and Prudential to be systematically significant financial institutions, or SIFIs, subject to considerable regulation and oversight. Other candidates have resisted the SIFI designation and associated regulation, MetLife by a lawsuit challenging the governments label. Skeptics suggested designating Berkshire as a SIFI, even resulting in a formal inquiry by the Bank of England to U.S. authorities about why it was omitted. There are several reasons: In the 2008 crisis, many financial institutions and other corporations hemorrhaged capital. Berkshire, however, commanded an abundant supply. In the 25 days following Lehmans bankruptcy, Berkshire invested $15.6 billion in the financial sector and beyond. Self-reliance and thrift explain why Berkshire avoided the vices that broke others. It generates capital internally rather than borrowing it and deploys that capital to acquire quality stocks and companies to build asset strength. Such practices save interest costs as well as the risks of catastrophe from excessive leverage. Because SIFI status mandates holding more assets and less debt, Berkshire stands alone among sizable public companies as being absolutely exempt from requiring such oversight. Finally, in contrast to firms like AIG and Wells Fargo, whose operations remain primarily financial, Berkshires insurance and finance businesses, once central pistons, have become less central as Berkshire has diversified. And that takes us to the bad reputation of conglomerates. After all, Berkshires evolution from an insurance-driven investment vehicle to a galactic industrial conglomerate reached its pivot point around 1990 just when the conglomerate form of business organization came under scathing criticism. Conglomerates In the 1960s and 1970s, the conglomerate form flourished in corporate America, in part due to enactment in 1950 of the Celler-Kefauver Act. It discouraged mergers among rivals, stimulating consolidations of unrelated businesses. Massive companies were built through numerous diverse acquisitions by powerful chief executives. One prominent example is ITT, which, under the leadership of Harold Geneen and later Rand Araskog, included 350 different companies, including baking, car rentals, hotels and insurance. Another is Teledyne, Henry Singletons assembly of 100 businesses encompassing acoustic speakers, aeronautics, banking, computers, engines and insurance. By 1980, many Fortune 500 companies were conglomerates. Rationales included exploiting diversification, scale, synergies and managerial acumen. But critics mainly saw indulgent empire-building. Many of these businesses struggled, incurring significant losses for sustained periods, misallocating capital internally, or otherwise proving difficult to manage. All bought and sold business units as if they were commodities rather than unique human creations. Under pressure from hostile corporate takeover artists seeking to maximize shareholder value, the conglomerate model began to unravel. By 1990 it was over, widely viewed as a systemic mistake. During this period, however, Berkshire tacked against the anti-conglomerate winds. From the late 1960s through the 1980s, Berkshire was primarily in the insurance business, invested mostly in marketable securities, along with a smattering of small subsidiaries. During the 1990s, with accelerating alacrity since, it evolved into a conglomerate now more sprawling than ITT, Teledyne or any other 1980s colossus, such as Beatrice, Litton or Textron. And its performance is peerless. One broad reason for this success is that Berkshire recognized and avoided the common pitfalls. Buffett, as chief executive, is the opposite of a micromanager; Berkshires decentralization and principle of managerial autonomy enables managerial focus, whether MiTek on roof trusses or Brooks on running shoes. In addition, Buffetts business acumen made Berkshires practice of diversification valuable to investors, and Berkshires internal capital allocation among subsidiaries say using candy and carpet profits to buy jet aircraft saved considerable transaction costs and taxes. Berkshire established a culture and reputation committed not only to self-reliance and managerial autonomy but to permanence: keeping its subsidiaries forever, a novelty in an era when businesses were so readily traded. Sellers of businesses value such intangibles so greatly that Berkshire obtains discounts to intrinsic worth 20 percent in the case of R.C. Willey Home Furnishings. So Berkshire recovers acquisition outlays faster than rivals, amplifying returns from prosperous operations and adding a cushion to absorb losses of those that may wobble, from the Buffalo News to the Pampered Chef. It is easy to see Berkshire as a model of leadership that built a galactic organization formed of units that are often very small. As a Berkshire senior executive, Ajit Jain, once told me, Berkshire Hathaway is not a supermarket but a collection of corner grocery stores. Buffett and his partner, Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, have repeatedly stressed that Berkshires size is incidental. As early as 1982, Buffett stressed in an annual shareholders letter, We will not equate corporate size with owner-wealth. At a 1996 symposium I organized, Munger expressed his socioeconomic aversion to vast concentrations of corporate power when addressing issues from merger activity to income taxation. For these two Berkshire builders, it is as if Berkshires size is accidental, certainly more consequence than quest. Of course, ones greatest strengths are often ones greatest weaknesses, and the same can be said of the Berkshire model. Its valuable cultural traits self-reliance, autonomy, decentralization and thrift all promote entrepreneurial executives and workforces at low cost but risk error from independence, wayward souls and periodic reputational damage. But size is not the problem at Berkshire. Its only real cost might be as an anchor against sustained outsized returns on capital. Buffett has been ruing that for decades, as far back as 1994, warning: A fat wallet is the enemy of superior investment results. And Berkshire now has a net worth of $11.9 billion compared to about $22 million when Charlie and I began to manage the company. Times have changed. Besides investing far more than its 1994 net worth in 25 days in late 2008, Berkshires annual gain in net worth exceeded that level in seven of the past 10 years. Todays net worth is $260 billion, more than 20 times the 1994 level. Berkshires corporate culture has enormous value that is invariant to size. It is a company that even Brandeis and Wilson might have loved. Lawrence Cunningham, a professor at George Washington University, has written extensively on Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett. He organized a 1996 symposium that resulted in The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America, which arranges and introduces Buffetts shareholder letters by themes. He just released an annotated 20th anniversary edition of the symposium transcript co-published by Harriman House. Berkshire Hathaway may be live-streaming its annual shareholders meeting this year, but it isnt taking the virtual experience as far as some companies. At some firms and the number is growing shareholders can watch a meeting only online. No in-person attendance. They also can vote their shares and put company directors on the spot with pointed questions all online. These new virtual annual meetings sound useful for shareholders, but critics say that depends. They say some virtual setups expand participation, while others keep shareholders in the dark. Some companies, like Omahas TD Ameritrade, use the technology to give shareholders the best of both worlds, said Amy Borrus, deputy director of the Council for Institutional Investors. The Omaha online brokerage firm sets up a virtual online meeting room with live video, on top of holding a real, in-person meeting. We look at it as an opportunity to broaden our audience, said Kim Hillyer, TD Ameritrade spokeswoman. Other companies, such as SeaWorld, Hewlett-Packard and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, have stopped holding in-person events altogether. They make their meetings accessible only online, some using only audio and not video. With that setup, Borrus said, shareholders cant see how management is reacting to criticism, or whether the company is ignoring some audience questions. You could miss out on telling moments, she said. It is not too much to ask that companies once a year provide a physical venue where shareholders can engage directors in person. New York firm Broadridge Financial Solutions expects to play host to more than 200 virtual shareholders meetings in 2016, including TD Ameritrades February gathering. Thats up from four in 2009. Last year more than two-thirds of its virtual meeting clients did not host an in-person meeting, a trend that appears to be growing, said Cathy Conlon, Broadridge vice president for strategy and business development. Broadridge is a technology firm focused on investor communications. Conlon defended virtual meetings as making meetings more accessible. Not everyone can go to a physical meeting, either, she said. This, in my opinion, has more capabilities to get people in. Both Borrus and Conlon said they hear, anecdotally, from companies that in-person meeting attendance is declining. Stock in U.S. companies is increasingly held by financial institutions, not individuals, as investors choose mutual funds over specific equities. That means there are fewer people with a direct interest in a companys prospects and fewer interested in shaking hands with the chairman or watching a year-in-review slideshow. Two-thirds of corporations that responded to a 2012 survey from the National Investor Relations Institute said fewer than 50 people come to their annual meetings and that attendance was stagnant. Companies reported that the annual meeting attracts little shareholder or public attention, the survey found. Would Berkshire go the virtual-only route? Not likely, at least as long as Warren Buffetts influence is felt. Hes the rare executive who relishes the chance to answer questions from a live audience of thousands. Promoting the new live stream, he also said its important shareholders worldwide can see for themselves that he and his elderly vice chairman, Charlie Munger, havent drifted off into la-la land. Shareholders shouldnt have to come to Omaha to do that, he said. But at least for now, they still can. SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS Other prominent companies meetings range from star-studded to sedate Walmart Walmarts pep rally of an annual meeting, which drew 14,000 to the University of Arkansas Bud Walton Arena in 2015, boasts more star power than Berkshires. Celebrities at the meeting last summer included Reese Witherspoon, who appeared in person and in a video skit, along with Ricky Martin, Rod Stewart and Mariah Carey, who promoted her fragrance, MarketWatch reported. ConAgra Foods ConAgras annual meetings in September in Omaha have been sedate affairs that typically attracted about 100 people and lasted less than two hours, including a video recap of the year, comments from the chairman and the chief executive, and questions from shareholders. That could change with this years annual meeting, which probably will take place after the company relocates its headquarters to Chicago. Apple Apple, which attracts long lines for its products and international attention for its product-reveal press conferences, has a relatively sedate meeting. Forbes reported that its 2015 meeting lasted little more than an hour and drew a few hundred people. Cabelas The outdoor outfitters meeting in Sidney, Nebraska, last year drew hundreds of employees and shareholders, nearly filling the Sidney High School auditorium. Citing a message of thrift, the company has downsized its meeting: in 2012, it blocked off city streets for an outdoor festival, with more than 1,000 people enjoying live music, food and outdoor demonstrations, celebrity appearances and more. Starbucks Starbucks 2016 meeting opened with a performance by Chinese drummers and concluded with one from Alicia Keys. In between, a crowd of about 2,800 shareholders heard a business meeting as well as Chief Executive Howard Schultzs thoughts on the role of a for-profit company in a country beset by dysfunction and polarization, Starbucks said in a recap. McDonalds McDonalds took the unusual step in 2015 of barring journalists from attending its meeting in person, forcing reporters to follow the meeting via webcast as thousands of McDonalds employees outside the companys Oak Brook, Illinois, headquarters protested what they said were low wages. The Omaha World-Herald is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Contact the writer: 402-444-1336, barbara.soderlin@owh.com * * * * * Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting: Schedule of events *Credentials required FRIDAY *Noon-5 p.m.: Shareholder shopping, CenturyLink Center 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: Shareholder service kiosk SATURDAY *Annual meeting, CenturyLink Center 7 a.m.: Doors open 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Shareholder service kiosk 7:15 a.m.: Sign up to challenge Warren Buffetts newspaper-tossing skill 7:45 a.m.: Buffett tosses papers, tours exhibit hall 8:30 a.m.: Company movie 9:30 a.m.: Q&A session with Buffett and Charlie Munger Noon: Lunch break 1 p.m.: Q&A resumes 3:30 p.m.: Short recess 3:45 p.m.: Formal business meeting 4:15 p.m.: Meeting adjourns 4:30 p.m.: Exhibit booths close 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Nebraska Furniture Mart cookout SUNDAY 8 a.m.: Berkshire Hathaway Invest in Yourself 5K; registration closes at 9:59 p.m. CST today at www.investinyourself5k.com. 9 a.m.: *Borsheims shopping day; 1 p.m. brunch 1 p.m.-10 p.m.: *Gorats Steakhouse, private shareholder dinner, pre-reserved OTHER EVENTS University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration (Advance registration and payment required) Genius of Warren Buffett course, Monday-Wednesday Philanthropy Summit, Thursday (benefits Girls Inc.) Value Investor Conference, Thursday-Friday GuruFocus Value Conference, Doubletree Hotel, Thursday-Friday CFA Society of Nebraska value investing dinner, 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Omaha Marriott. Speakers: Steven Lipper, principal and portfolio manager, and Steven McBoyle, portfolio manager for Royce & Associates on small-cap investing. Free Value Investing conference with book signing, reception and panel discussion, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Friday at Creighton Universitys Heider College of Business Administration, 602 N. 20th St. Panelists are Pat Brennan, Lawrence Cunningham, Tom Digenan, Bruce Greenwald, Peter Heckmann, Robert Johnson and John Maginn. *SHOPPING DISCOUNT PERIODS Borsheims: Monday through May 7 SEATTLE (AP) States and cities whose lawmakers proudly passed living wage laws are finding it difficult to make sure employers are paying their workers accordingly. Seattle, San Francisco and the states of Oregon, California and New York are phasing in minimum-wage increases that will grow to $15 an hour or more. Evidence of compliance is plain to see in the hours-worked total on most pay stubs. But state and federal laws dont require employers to routinely provide this crucial detail to the government. Without the data, wage enforcers who are empowered to investigate generally wait until a worker complains. And many workers fear theyll be fired if they speak up. Its pretty shocking how common the violations are, said Donna Levitt, director of the labor enforcement office in San Francisco, which began ramping up to $15 an hour last year. Her office has recovered more than $10 million in back wages since 2004. The new laws are meaningless without proactive enforcement, labor advocates say, citing research that finds roughly one in four businesses nationwide already cheats its workers out of minimum wages. Its just so pervasive and so rampant, said Haeyoung Yoon of the National Employment Law Project. Her group advocates higher fines, to give employers more incentive to follow the laws, plus tougher enforcement nationwide. Theres just not enough boots on the ground to wipe it out, because the problem is so enormous, Yoon said. Without a proactive approach, officials arent even sure how many violators are out there. We often get the question: Whats the compliance rate? Levitt said. We have no idea. Enforcement is expensive, but some officials and advocates envision recovering the cost through higher fines. Catching violators is considered important because long-run compliance depends on businesses being able to know that if they obey the law, their rivals wont be undercutting them by underpaying workers. Some employers simply ignore or misunderstand the minimum-wage laws. Others deliberately underestimate the hours their employees work, or require them to work unpaid. Tiny SeaTac, Washington, has in effect outsourced enforcement to the courts since it became the nations first city to require wages of $15 an hour or more in 2014. More than a dozen class actions were filed this year on behalf of workers in and around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Attorney Duncan Turner estimates the total owed to them in back wages, overtime, related benefits and potential penalties could be $62.5 million. We want to see justice for all of the workers, he said. In Seattle and San Francisco, most violators have come to the cities attention through employee complaints. Investigators then examine pay records for all employees at the business, to protect the complainants identity and because they assume the problem affects more than one worker, said Dylan Orr, director of Seattles labor standards office. In the past year alone, Seattle has investigated 106 businesses and completed cases against 23 others, requiring fines and payment of back wages totaling more than $172,000. The firms ranged from restaurants to retail stores to large cleaning-services companies. Many werent aware of the wage laws details, but others were simply taking advantage of their employees, many of whom are immigrant workers, Orr said. San Francisco has examined 40 complaints during the same time period a much smaller caseload in a city with more businesses. Officials suspect thats because San Francisco has long had its own minimum-wage requirements. Authorities are moving to a more proactive enforcement posture in some places. Seattle is adding five investigators to its enforcement team and looking at ways to find violators before employees turn them in. Oregon lawmakers have allocated money for three investigators, who probably will focus on any industry showing a pattern of wage violations, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian said. The enforcement of Californias new wage law, meanwhile, falls under an existing state law authorizing proactive investigations of industries with a history of breaking labor laws. New Yorks Labor Department plans to wait for workers to turn in their employers. Some worry that such passive approaches wont reach all workers. Its hard to stand up to someone who has power against you, said Nicole Keenan, who directs the Fair Work Center, a Seattle nonprofit hired to educate people about the new wage requirements. When we give a presentation, about half the people in the room say their rights have been violated. As thousands of people lined up outside Omahas CenturyLink Center on Friday for the Berkshire Hathaway shopping extravaganza, the Hilton Hotel lobby across the street was abuzz with shareholders checking in for the weekend. About half arrived Thursday and the rest Friday, said Ibeth Villa, a front desk agent at the hotel. Many shareholders had special requests, whether it was flowers in the room or gift bags a little bit of everything, she said. Its all-hands-on-deck for the weekend. Even the sales department pitches in with housekeeping. Nancy Del Grosso and Nellie Russo-Rados, finance professionals from Cincinnati, sipped mimosas in the lobby while taking in the start of their first Berkshire experience. Were excited for the Q&A and Warrens pearls of wisdom, Del Grosso said of Berkshire Chairman and Chief Executive Warren Buffett. The pair, staying in Council Bluffs, planned to enjoy massages later Friday and dinner in the Old Market. Shopping was on the agenda as well. Were going to buy some Brooks shoes and do the 5K Sunday, Russo-Rados said of the Berkshire-owned running shoe brand, which had a booth set up inside the CenturyLink alongside other Berkshire brands Fruit of the Loom and Justin Boots among them. Omahans Paul and Patti Ackermann, shareholders for about 15 years, came down to the CenturyLink to see what all the fuss was about. Why havent they made the Berkshire trek before? Because we live here, said Paul Ackermann. When youre from France, you dont go see the Eiffel Tower. ***** ***** Other highlights of the day: Shopping Dale Peterson of Kearney showed up at 9:30 a.m. and was first in line at the CenturyLink to see what kind of deals Berkshire companies had to offer. The shopping midway opened at noon. It was his first time in Omaha for the meeting. We just followed the crowds, and it led us right here, Peterson said. The first thing he was going to buy? Ice cream. And maybe some running shoes. The extra day for shopping will make the meeting more enjoyable for Paul and Bonnie Gordon, they said. They were right behind Dale Peterson in line, and arrived about 10 a.m. This year was the second the convention hall opened a day before the annual meeting to offer special deals to shareholders on Berkshire-owned products. The couple said they traveled to Omaha from Milwaukee despite the option of seeing Buffett and Vice Chairman Charlie Mungers Q&A on a Web live stream, because its a different experience in the flesh. We want to see Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett live, Bonnie Gordon said. More shopping Pampered Chef, Fruit of the Loom and Borsheims were among the most popular vendors Friday at the CenturyLink Center, judging by the crowds surrounding their booths. I was one of the 7 million women in line at Pampered Chef, said Clara McCall of Glencoe, Illinois. She picked up a set of Ginsu knives, a bedazzled Geico shirt and a few bags of merch from Fruit of the Loom. She and her husband, Chuck, have been coming to Omaha for the meeting for about 15 years. Everybody is so happy. Its such a wonderful atmosphere, she said. Kara Cermak of Hastings picked up utensils, pans, a vegetable shredder and more from Pampered Chef. When theyre selling a $135 pan for $75, you gotta go for it, she said. She came with family members who are shareholders, including Dolynn DeWitt of Omaha. DeWitt planned to catch the meeting online today. Definitely shopping is the main event, DeWitt said. And more shopping Dan and Jan Ericson drove up from Lincoln on Friday to just do some shopping. Thats a change from the last few years when they would book a hotel in Council Bluffs for one or two nights to both shop and hear Buffetts Q&A on Saturday. This year the couple plans to go home and watch the live stream from the comfort of their Lincoln home. The couple were among the thousands of shareholders waiting in line for the doors to open at noon Friday. What? Theres a live stream? John and Marilyn Doyle of St. Louis, Missouri drove nearly eight hours to attend their first Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting, arriving in Omaha about 8 p.m. on Thursday. Friday morning, they waited in line for the doors to open to the shopping midway, chatting with other shareholders. It was only then they learned that Buffetts Q&A would be live-streamed on Yahoos website today. We didnt know until just now! Marilyn Doyle said. But even if they had known, Doyle said, it would not have stopped them from attending their first shareholders meeting. Weve always wanted to come she said. And next year live stream or not Doyle said theyll probably be back: Our son-in-law wants to go next year, she said. Keep it casual except for Mr. Peanut It was casual Friday at Berkshires vendor hall. T-shirts under sport coats, running jackets, baseball caps and puffer coats were standard garb. Only a smattering of attendees, including Buffett, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Mr. Peanut the mascot for Planters, a brand of Kraft Heinz Co. sported suits and ties. Jet set Berkshire weekend is the busiest time of year at the Omaha airport, said Steve McCoy, manager of airline affairs, and this year is no exception. Traffic this year looks flat compared to 2015, with flight capacity up 0.8 percent. The actual number of passengers flying in and out wont be known until later. Airlines typically increase the size of planes into Omaha for the weekend, McCoy said, pointing out a Delta 757. He said it holds 220 passengers, up from 150 on a typical Delta flight here. Friday afternoon, passengers rushed from planes to pick up their baggage and head out to a line of waiting taxis. The airport set free hot chocolate and coffee on the curb. John Davis, operations manager for Happy Cab, pointed people to waiting cabs. He said traffic appeared to be a little lighter than in 2015 the 50th anniversary of Berkshire with Buffett at the helm but was in line with a normal year. Planes are coming in pretty full, he said. Some travelers shifted their plans and flew in earlier to get here in time for the second annual Friday afternoon shopping event. Several airport personnel said traffic picked up Thursday this year compared to previous years, including Avis sales associate Josh Tyson. Travelers this year seemed to be reserving lower-end cars compared to last year. They go by Warrens rules of being frugal, he said. (Private) jet set Traffic was a somewhat different story on the private-plane side of the airport. The number of flights in and out of the Signature Flight Support base is expected to be down about 15 percent this year, area director Mark Costa said. Last year was probably our high-water mark, he said. At the other fixed-base operator, TACAir, reservation numbers were lower than last year, although that doesnt always indicate fewer travelers will show up, General Manager Mike Wilwerding said. Still, things were hopping for the operators. A flight monitor showed a Learjet coming in from San Jose; a Cessna on its way from Orange County, California; and a Falcon inbound from New York. The screen showed a total of 55 commercial and private plans inbound at 3 p.m. Signature brings in 18 employees from other cities to help out its crew of about 40 Omaha workers. The team makes sure 4,000 pounds of ice and 3,000 cookies are ready for customers, and that rental cars are lined up and ready to go. Private-jet travelers do not like to wait in line, Costa said. What we do is preserve for them the ultimate un-renewable resource, which is time, he said. See it in person They could have stayed home and watched a live stream, but travelers to Omaha said it wouldnt be the same. Peter Herzog, an independent financial adviser from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, made his fourth consecutive trip to Omaha for the meeting. Its part of the fun of it all watching it live in the convention center. He planned to meet a friend from Boston, shop for Berkshire gifts for his wife and children, and enjoy the Warren-and-Charlie banter live. There are only a few shareholder events like this one, he said. This will be the first Berkshire meeting for Michael Ng of Edmonton, Alberta, a science teacher who traveled with his mother. The meeting was on his bucket list, he said. Im just looking forward to seeing what the convention is like, he said. I want to be in that experience. Steven Q. Zhang, head of Youhe Invest LLC, in New York City, said he arrived early to beat the rush and enjoy the city. I love Omaha, said Zhang, who was relaxing with other shareholders Friday morning at the Hilton across the street from the CenturyLink. While the live-streaming option may be convenient, particularly for those who in China, being present at the meeting makes it real, Zhang said. Live-stream viewers can opt to listen in English or Mandarin, according to Yahoo! Finance. ***** ***** Red-carpet treatment Omaha hotels Friday put out the red carpet or in some cases, the sangria, the chocolate-covered strawberries and the bags filled with freebies for the Berkshire faithful making their annual pilgrimage. Tim Darby, general manager of the downtown Magnolia Hotel, said the most out-of-the-ordinary item he was stocking this year was umbrellas. He expects to hand out plenty as guests venture out Saturday. Otherwise, Darby said, this year started out similar to most: shareholders arriving as early as Wednesday but the bulk checking in Friday evening, welcomed by complimentary carved tenderloin, oysters, shrimp and champagne. Kayla Jones, director of sales at Midtown Crossings Element by Westin, said her guests this year were greeted by bags of goodies that contained munchies and free or discounted items from a dozen neighboring merchants. Those who checked in Friday afternoon at the Element also were met with sangria, fruit and cheese and chocolate Sees Candies. At downtowns Hotel Deco XV, travelers were treated to a pop-up cocktail station in the lobby that offered special concoctions from the Wicked Rabbit lounge. Among Omahas Friday arrivals was Mark Saussy of Thomasville, Georgia, who was staying at the Magnolia with 10 investor buddies. Snacking on a strawberry, Saussy said he thought just for a second about not making the trip hes made every year for the past 15. But he said that watching it in a streamed version was simply not as appetizing. As much as the meeting is the people around you, the like-minded friends weve made over the years, he said. Tune in to Omaha.com/Berkshire for live coverage and analysis on Saturday. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns the Omaha World-Herald. By Paige Yowell, Janice Podsada, Cindy Gonzalez and Barbara Soderlin / World-Herald staff writers NORFOLK, Neb. A groundbreaking ceremony this week for Norfolks new OCT Pipe manufacturing plant included an added dose of good news for the community: The project will create more jobs than first thought. Charley Havens, owner and chief executive officer of OCT Pipe, announced at the Thursday ceremony that his company will create 300 jobs in Norfolk about 120 more than previously announced and have an estimated $25 million annual payroll. The plant to be built by Ayars & Ayars of Lincoln will be about 1.2 million square feet. It represents the largest single construction project in the United States this year. Havens estimated that the OCT plant will use about 350,000 tons of steel per year supplied by Norfolks Nucor Steel once fully operational. Ive been to rodeos, barbecues and hog-calling contests, but folks, this is great, Havens said of the celebration welcoming his company to Norfolk. Dirk Petersen, Nucor vice president and general manager, told a crowd of more than 200 near the site of the new plant in northeast Norfolk that teamwork and forward thinking not only brought OCT to Norfolk, but also helped to pass Legislative Bill 960, which will accelerate the completion of unfinished expressways. John Ferriola, CEO and president of Nucor Corp. in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a former vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel, praised the most recent infrastructure efforts in the city, including the passage of LB 960, the Transportation Innovation Act. You cannot have a great economy without a great infrastructure, Ferriola said. Norfolk has been one of the few cities he has visited that has made a concentrated effort to build for today and for the future, he said. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said that besides hundreds of jobs being created, hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent in the manufacturing process. Manufacturing currently makes up about 13 percent of the overall state economy, he said. We cant be a healthy state if were only growing Omaha and Lincoln. We have to grow the whole state. We live in a region where excellence is the expectation; where outstanding companies and individuals across all sectors thrive on innovating, elevating and inspiring. Uncomfortable with the status quo, companies here are demonstrating leadership by modeling best practices and routinely pushing the bounds of what is possible, whether they're transforming the local landscape, the lives of others, or their own standard operating procedures. At DLR Group, team work, proactive communication and vision are translating into global success. At QLI, protecting company culture is paramount in recognizing "the undeniable relationship between employee engagement and the delivery of exceptional services." At NEI Global Relocation, leadership means instilling a positive culture of personal achievement: hire the right people, give them the tools they need to make a difference and watch them do it. On May 10, the Greater Omaha Chamber will celebrate DLR Group, QLI, NEI Global Relocation and 17 other emulation-worthy brands with Business Excellence Awards. Regardless of size, all have commonalities in how they approach and inspire excellence. They are mindful and collaborative, and strategic in identifying directions for positive change. They ignore traditional models and forge new paths. They empower others, cultivating confidence in their employees to achieve their highest potential. Together, these companies send a message to the world that Greater Omaha is a community refusing to coast. Join the chorus by answering the call to impact and inspiring your own brand of excellence. Learn more at www.OmahaChamber.org/ExcellenceAwards. One of the easiest ways to get rich in the past 51 years, longtime Berkshire Hathaway shareholders say, has been to leave it to Warren. As in Buffett, chairman and chief executive of the Omaha-based conglomerate, who has led the company to beat the Standard & Poors 500 stock index on a compound basis over that period by almost 2-to-1. But will it still be true in another 51 years? (Buffett is 85.) Or even in five more years, as the companys enviable returns become harder and harder to replicate? As for the historical numbers, they tell the tale of wealth that starts dynasties: Berkshires book value Buffetts preferred benchmark has compounded by 19 percent over the 51 years since Buffett bought a struggling Massachusetts textile mill and began doing business as head man at a publicly traded company that later branched into insurance, retailing, heavy industry and most everything else related to mankinds needs and wants. As for the share price, it has compounded annually at 21 percent over the 51 years. Over the same time period, the Standard & Poors 500 index had an annual compound gain of about 10 percent, dividends included. In dollar terms, $1,000 put with Berkshire Hathaway 51 years ago is now worth $15.3 million. The same amount invested in the S&P 500 would be worth $112,341. (Values were calculated using the compounded annual gain of 20.8 percent from 1965-2015 for per-share market value of Berkshire, and the compounded annual gain of 9.7 percent from 1965-2015 in the S&P 500, with dividends included.) David Kass, a Berkshire shareholder, researcher and business professor at the University of Maryland, says that from 1965 through 1998, Berkshires book value compounded at an average annual rate of 25 percent, versus 13 percent for the S&P 500, dividends included. The growth rate, however, dimmed to 9 percent from 1999 through 2015, versus 7 percent for the S&P 500, with dividends included. Worse, between 2009 and 2015, Berkshire has underperformed the S&P 500, with an average annual compounded return of 12 percent versus 15 percent for the index. Has Buffett lost his touch? Is there some toxic flaw deep in the inner workings at Berkshire? Not really. If anything, Berkshire supporters say, the company is simply a victim of its own size, and expectations should naturally change. The greatest limiting factor to Berkshires rate of growth in per-share book value is its increasing size, Kass said. With total assets of $552 billion at year-end 2015, and ranked fifth in market capitalization in the S&P 500, it is becoming increasingly difficult to move the needle. The companys market capitalization, or shares outstanding multiplied by the share price, is telling: Berkshires market capitalization has increased by almost $300 billion the gross domestic product of Israel in the past 20 years. What was about $40 billion of market cap in 1996 is now about $350 billion. Size is the most important factor that will affect Berkshires ability to replicate gains in intrinsic value over the next several decades, said Ted Bridges, principal at Omahas Bridges Investment Management, which owns Berkshire shares among its $1.8 billion of assets under supervision. Buffett, Bridges says, repeatedly called for caution in annual reports over the years, insisting that 20 percent annual gains are unsustainable and that shareholders should expect gains closer to 10 percent. Future gains will be harder to achieve because the base has become so large, and the pool of acquisition candidates among both public and private companies that move the needle is far smaller, Bridges said. Berkshires recent purchases of whole companies now more important by far than the portfolio of shares in other publicly traded companies such as Coca-Cola and Wells Fargo are informative. Last year, Berkshire made its biggest purchase ever, that of Oregon-based Precision Castparts, a maker of aerospace components found in almost every airplane in the world. (Past whole-company purchases include BNSF Railway, chemical maker Lubrizol and Dilly Bar purveyor Dairy Queen.) Buffett spent about $37 billion for Precision Castparts, when including assumed debt. That purchase, made mostly in cash, was almost 100 times what Berkshire earned in total corporate operating earnings 25 years ago. I dont see Berkshire growing at the same pace as in the past, said Russ Kaplan, a Berkshire shareholder and principal of Omaha wealth adviser Russ Kaplan Investments. The major reason is its huge size, which makes percentage gains harder. George Morgan, a business instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Buffett researcher, says there is another damper on book value increases at Berkshire that few people take into account: the shrinking role of shares in other publicly traded companies. In years past, Morgan said, Berkshires main activity was Buffetts stock-picking. Over the years, he built up a portfolio of blue-chips such as American Express and IBM at prices he considered to be below their true value the basis of his value investing style learned from stock-market guru Benjamin Graham at Columbia University in the early 1950s. Berkshires stocks had a market value at the end of 2015 of $112 billion, or only 20 percent of the companys total assets of $552 billion. But 20 years ago, the portfolio of marketable securities at market value accounted for almost two-thirds of total assets $28 billion of securities on total assets of $43 billion. Why is this important in understanding how it is harder for Berkshire to push up book value? In the early years, much of Berkshires assets were in publicly traded companies and there were times when the holdings were priced at a premium, which artificially pushed up Berkshires book value, Morgan said. That is not the case today because most of the assets are in wholly owned companies. In other words, Morgan said, the shares in other companies Berkshire owns no longer boost book value as before. There is, however, a Berkshire premium when it comes to whole acquisitions, argues Jerry Pettit, an Omaha investment adviser whose Pettit Funds follows a value-investing approach, a standing in the business world that will continue to keep valuable privately held companies such as Ben Bridge Jewelers and Nebraska Furniture Mart eagerly saying yes to Berkshire when it comes time to find a permanent home. As a True Believer, I do believe that Berkshire will continue to outperform the market, particularly while Buffett maintains a hands-on and active role in its investment selections, Pettit said. Its stellar reputation should continue to earn it opportunities to be given offers to buy companies at attractive prices that other less-reputable companies are less likely to receive. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns the Omaha World-Herald. Contact the writer: 402-444-3197, russell.hubbard@owh.com * * * * * Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting: Schedule of events *Credentials required FRIDAY *Noon-5 p.m.: Shareholder shopping, CenturyLink Center 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: Shareholder service kiosk SATURDAY *Annual meeting, CenturyLink Center 7 a.m.: Doors open 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Shareholder service kiosk 7:15 a.m.: Sign up to challenge Warren Buffetts newspaper-tossing skill 7:45 a.m.: Buffett tosses papers, tours exhibit hall 8:30 a.m.: Company movie 9:30 a.m.: Q&A session with Buffett and Charlie Munger Noon: Lunch break 1 p.m.: Q&A resumes 3:30 p.m.: Short recess 3:45 p.m.: Formal business meeting 4:15 p.m.: Meeting adjourns 4:30 p.m.: Exhibit booths close 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.: Nebraska Furniture Mart cookout SUNDAY 8 a.m.: Berkshire Hathaway Invest in Yourself 5K; registration closes at 9:59 p.m. CST today at www.investinyourself5k.com. 9 a.m.: *Borsheims shopping day; 1 p.m. brunch 1 p.m.-10 p.m.: *Gorats Steakhouse, private shareholder dinner, pre-reserved OTHER EVENTS University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Business Administration (Advance registration and payment required) Genius of Warren Buffett course, Monday-Wednesday Philanthropy Summit, Thursday (benefits Girls Inc.) Value Investor Conference, Thursday-Friday GuruFocus Value Conference, Doubletree Hotel, Thursday-Friday CFA Society of Nebraska value investing dinner, 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Omaha Marriott. Speakers: Steven Lipper, principal and portfolio manager, and Steven McBoyle, portfolio manager for Royce & Associates on small-cap investing. Free Value Investing conference with book signing, reception and panel discussion, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Friday at Creighton Universitys Heider College of Business Administration, 602 N. 20th St. Panelists are Pat Brennan, Lawrence Cunningham, Tom Digenan, Bruce Greenwald, Peter Heckmann, Robert Johnson and John Maginn. *SHOPPING DISCOUNT PERIODS Borsheims: Monday through May 7 Nebraska Furniture Mart: Tuesday through May 2 Two Nebraska National Guard soldiers who were participating in a training exercise were injured Wednesday morning when their truck rolled over on an Interstate highway in North Carolina, a Guard spokesman said. The soldiers are from the 734th Transportation Battalion, based in Kearney, said Lt. Col. Kevin Hynes. He said the two, whom he declined to identify, were part of a 34-vehicle convoy that had just left Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point near Wilmington. The convoy was headed for McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma. Hynes didnt have details of the accident. But local news accounts in North Carolina said the 18-wheel truck overturned on an off-ramp as it exited Interstate 140 in Brunswick County at about 7:30 a.m. The 21-year-old driver was taken by helicopter to a hospital after being cut from the wreckage, according to WECT-TV in Wilmington, with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening. An ambulance took the 26-year-old passenger to a hospital with less serious injuries. Hynes said the accident is under investigation. WECT reported the truck was carrying small-arms ammunition and several empty shipping containers. The accident closed I-140 in both directions for several hours. Army National Guard units from five states including the 734th Transportation Battalion are in North Carolina as part of Operation Patriot Bandoleer. During the training mission, Guard units are hauling munitions and equipment from Sunny Point to places around the country. Contact the writer: 402-444-1186, steve.liewer@owh.com WASHINGTON Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, threw her support Thursday behind a proposal to require women to register for the draft. If it comes to taking a vote on that, then I would say that yes, women should sign up for Selective Service, Ernst told reporters. She also said she would like to hear more from the Obama administration about such a move, adding that she hopes the country will never need to use the draft again. Ernst, the first female veteran in the U.S. Senate, retired last year as a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard after 23 years of service. That included a 2003 tour overseas as a company commander. Her unit was responsible for running supply convoys through Kuwait and into southern Iraq. Ernst is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will soon take up a new defense authorization bill. The House Armed Services Committee voted Wednesday night to include the registration requirement for women in its version. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., also a member of the committee, reserved judgment on the proposal. She said she had not had a chance to study it. But another committee member, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told reporters that it just makes sense. I believe that women should register alongside of men if were going to continue to require registration, McCaskill said. I hope we always have an all-volunteer military. I am not looking for a draft nor do I want a draft, but I have a hard time using my common sense figuring out why men should register and women shouldnt. Fremonts Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 397 will hold a ceremony Saturday to honor 14 men who once lived in Dodge County and were killed in the Vietnam War. The Perpetual Living Ceremony will be at noon at the Disabled American Veterans post at 137 N. D St. in Fremont. Guest speakers will be State Auditor Charlie Janssen and Navy Reserve Cmdr. Dan Gross. The ceremony has been held each year since the memorial was dedicated in 1990, said Walt Love, VVA chapter president. Note: It was previously announced that this event would be held at Clemmons Park. The threat of rain caused the event to be moved indoors. Contact the writer: 402-444-1186, steve.liewer@owh.com A case before the U.S. Supreme Court could expand physicians liability under the False Claims Act (FCA). The case of Escobar v. Universal Health Services centers on the theory of implied certification and how that legal test should be used to determine whether a claim for payment is fraudulent. Lawrence M. Kraus The case is an opportunity for the Supreme Court to figure out how far the False Claims Act is going to stretch, said Lawrence M. Kraus, a Boston health law attorney who attended the April 19 oral arguments. On the practical level, it may have an impact as to whether [such] cases get dismissed at an early stage or whether they go into the discovery phase, which can be quite long, unpleasant, and expensive. The Escobar case arises from the death of a patient who was treated at a Lawrence, Mass., mental health clinic operated by Universal Health Services. The patient died from an alleged adverse reaction to medication prescribed for her by clinic staff, according to allegations by her family. The patients father, Julio Escobar, later learned counselors and psychologists involved in his daughters treatment were not licensed, were not properly supervised by a physician, and had lied about their medical credentials, according to court documents. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health found the clinic had violated 14 distinct regulations, including those relating to staff licensure and supervision. As a result of the investigation, the clinic entered into a correction plan with the agency and paid a civil fine. Mr. Escobar and his wife then filed suit under the FCA and the Massachusetts False Claims Act, claiming that Universal had presented false claims to Medicaid by seeking payments for services provided by unlicensed, unsupervised health care providers. Although the reimbursement claims submitted to the government accurately described the services provided and cited the correct charges, the plaintiffs alleged that because the clinics operations violated state requirements to participate in Medicaid, Universal had also violated the FCA. The federal government intervened in the case on behalf of the Escobars. Universal countered that the FCA suit was invalid because a reimbursement claim cannot be false unless its details are untrue or inaccurate. The plaintiffs, however, contend that a claim does not have to include explicit false statements to be fraudulent. Rather, their complaint relies on implied certification, a theory holding that any submission for government payment includes an implicit certification that the health provider has complied with all applicable contract requirements, laws, and regulations that could be a condition of payment. Universal falsely claimed entitlement when it submitted reimbursement requests that did not conform to applicable laws, the plaintiffs argued. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Escobar, and Universal appealed to the Supreme Court. Circuit courts across the country have split on the issue, Mr. Kraus noted. There have been a number of different approaches from appeals courts in the country, he said. This is not a new issue, but one that the Supreme Court found important enough to decide. Why should doctors care about this case? A ruling for the plaintiff could increase the chances that physicians are accused of an FCA violation after submitting a claim for payment, said William W. Horton, a Birmingham, Ala., health law attorney and chair of the American Bar Association Health Law Section. William W. Horton The problem that this raises for health care providers is: There is an enormous web of laws and regulations out there, many of which dont have anything to do with whether a particular service was rendered or not, Mr. Horton said in an interview If you adopt the implied certification theory and take a broad view, than you significantly enhance the scope of claims that could be pursued under the False Claims Act. Mr. Horton provides this example: Take a physician group that has an in-office lab, and assume that for some technical reason, the group doesnt satisfy the Stark Law exception for in-office ancillary services. If a physician in the group refers a Medicare patient to the lab and the group bills Medicare, thats a Stark Law violation because the group didnt meet the Stark exception, even if theres no dispute over whether the patient needed the test or whether the test was done correctly, or whether the Medicare claim accurately reflected the charges, he said. By broadly applying the implied certification theory to this scenario, a case could be made that the practice violated the FCA in submitting the claim because the group was implicitly certifying that the claim did not result from a referral that violated the Stark Law. 6/1334 Weightlifter Achinta Sheuli won Indias third gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. However, it would not have been possible without his brother Alok,, who gave up his own sports career and worked as a labour to support family and Achinta's dream. Weightlifter Achinta Sheuli won Indias third gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. However, it would not have been possible without his brother Alok,, who gave up his own sports career and worked as a labour to... Interlinking rivers in India to avoid Drought and Floods - Part 2 Feature oi-Lisa By Lisa Interlinking of rivers is not a new concept as since centuries kings of various countries have tried to use canals to link rivers and combat floods and droughts effectively in their kingdoms. Some example from the history prove that interlinking rivers has been a successful at certain places whereas, it has failed at times too. Bhojtal in Madhya Pradesh and Dholavira, a settlement off the coast of Gujarat, dating back to the Indus Valley civilization times are examples of successful water management through interlinking of rivers. The failed examples though teach us a valuable lesson that before undertaking such a huge project many points need to be considered else the failed project will results into many negative effects rather than give benefits to the people. Points to be considered before undertaking such a huge project: First of all let us check out the major points that need to be considered before undertaking such an ambitious project: [Interlinking rivers in India to avoid Drought and Floods - Part 1] [Interlinking rivers in India to avoid Drought and Floods - Part 3] 1. Feasibility: A research report was completed and submitted in 2013 about the feasibility of interlinking the rivers of India. The report also suggested how much investment will be required for the same and what will be the economic benefit derived from it. If River Tapi is linked to River Narmada it will mean around 400 km in length can be linked which will mean that 93 MW more electricity will be generated, 91 MCM water for drinking and industrial purpose will be added and irrigation capacity will increase by 169,000 hectares. As against these benefits the cost to link the two rivers as per the year 2003 estimate comes to Rs. 6,016 crore. 2. Environmental impact: While undertaking the ambitious project of interlinking rivers the government will also have to consider the environmental impact of the project as while water is being channelised towards a particular region what if it causes waterlogging or salinisation of area. 3. Displacement of people: Where to settle large number of people who will get displaced due to interlinking of rivers is a one issue that needs great consideration. Also this project will have impact on marine life and thereby make numerous fishermen jobless. The government will have to first figure out how to gainfully employe such fishermen. 4. International issues: Most experts suggest that though initially the interlinking of rivers seems to be an arduous task in the long run it will benefit the country a lot. However, the problem is that there are no set rules that would help a country go for such a project that would definitely affect its neighbouring countries. How to handle the issues raised at an international level will be very complicated and time consuming task. 5. Difference in political views: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former prime minister of India had first suggested the idea of interlinking the rivers so that India can easily solve the problem of drought and flood as both affect the country in a huge way. Former President APJ Abdul Kalam too supported the project of interlinking the rivers as he felt that if in India at a point in time one third population is either affected by flood or drought then why not interlink the rivers and ensure that people are free from both these issues forever. He strongly believed that India should take up the project on mission mode. However, when United Progressive Alliance led by Congress formed government in 2004 it made sure that this mega project of linking 30 rivers died a slow death. Despite Supreme Court seeking response from the UPA government the progress made on it was way too slow. Cons of interlinking the rivers: As it is with any big measure that can be taken to ease problems of people, this solution of interlinking rivers to solve the problems of both floods and droughts has its cons which are listed below: A.C. Kamaraj, member of the Expert Committee on Interlinking of Rivers, points out in his paper that the cost of flood damage during 2005-06 was estimated at Rs. 77,000 crore. Despite this many States are not in favour of the interlinking of rivers, as proposed by the National Water Development Agency, as they fear that their share of water will be taken away. Balakrishna Gowda, Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, strikes a warning note with regards to interlinking of rivers when he says that the country could be heading towards disaster by contemplating such projects. "The vagaries of nature, such as drought, floods, have forced policymakers to take decisions that are not in tune with nature's law", he had said. Mondal in 2004 had opined that the linking of rivers is more problematic for socio-economic-cultural relations of the society. Many experts believe that interlinking of rivers will create environmental problems, ecological imbalance and reduce water table. Interlinking of rivers will cause huge amount of distortion in the existing environment. In order to create canals and reservoirs, there will be mass deforestation. This will have impact on rains and in turn affect the whole cycle of life is what they say. Usually rivers change their course and direction in about 100 years and if this happens after interlinking, then the project will not be feasible for a longer run. Due to interlinking of rivers, there will be decrease in the amount of fresh water entering seas and this will cause a serious threat to the marine life system and will be a major ecological disaster. Due to the creation of Canals and Reservoirs, huge amount of area which is occupied by the people will be submerged leading to displacement of people and government will have to spend more to rehabilitate these people. The amount required for these projects is so huge that government will have to take loans from the foreign sources which would increase the burden on the government and country will fall in a debt trap. Other cons listed by experts are: problems with land requirement and acquisition, construction and maintenance of dams new canals and cross drainage structures, time frame, project cost escalations, etc. Watch out this space for more on interlinking of rivers. Middleman in AgustaWestland deal visited India 300 times citing pilgrimage Feature oi-Vicky By Vicky James Christian Michel who was appointed to manage the Indian media in connection with the AgustaWestland deal had visited India 300 time between 1997 and 2013. However after 2013, he went off the radar and various attempts by the Enforcement Directorate to reach out to him have been in vain. The Enforcement Directorate is on his trail since he is the alleged middleman in the case. He was specifically tasked with managing the media in India and a sum of Rs 330 crore had allegedly been paid to him. 300 visits on a pilgrimage: Michel against whom a non bailable warrant and Interpol Red Corner alert has been issued had visited India 300 times between 1997 and 2013. The information was obtained by the Enforcement Directorate from the immigration. During most of his visits, he has cited pilgrimage as the reason for his visit. The ED has attempted to get in touch with him several times, but he always managed to dodge the agency. He tried putting forth his view through interviews in the media. It was all done with an intention of misguiding the investigations, the ED officer says. We had given him ample opportunities to present his case, but he never made himself available. He completely went off the radar post 2013, ED officials say. An extradition request from the UK has now been made by the Indian government. The ED says Michel has not come forward to put forth his case. He had every opportunity. In fact when his assets comprising a bungalow in Delhi, fixed deposit and a luxury car was attached, he did not contest it either. The ED and the CBI says that he is currently in the UK and the details of his residence has been shared by the authorities. However we are also trying to get his UAE address. The authorities are yet to inform us on this, the officer also pointed out. 'Never invited or met him': Hamid Ansari on row over Pak journalist BJP uses photo to back its claim of Hamid Ansari's connection with Pak journalist VP Hamid Ansari on Muslim Minority Living in Secular Polity Feature oi-Lisa By Lisa The Vice President of India, Mr. M. Hamid Ansari addressed an esteemed gathering at the event of book release of 'Fikr'. The book has been brought out by National Institute of Faith Leadership. Vice President M. Hamid Ansari releases book 'Fikr' brought out by the National Institute of Faith Leadership pic.twitter.com/cTNe1IO5jh Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) April 26, 2016 Mr. Ansari at the book release said that Indian experience of a large Muslim minority living in secular polity having a composite culture could be a model for others to emulate. The Vice President at the book release also said that 'Fikr' is an effort to remove the popular and prejudiced impressions about Islam as a faith and Muslims as a people. Quoting the Algerian-French philosopher Mohammed Arkoun, the Vice President said that it was the challenge of our times to rethink modernity. The Vice President also suggested that thinking minds should look beyond questions of identity and dignity in a defensive mode and explore how both can be furthered in a changing India and a changing world. He also added that this would necessitate sustained and candid interaction with fellow citizens and the actual implementation of the principles of justice, equality and fraternity inscribed in the Preamble of the Constitution and the totality of Fundamental Rights. VP ended his speech by complimenting the National Institute of Faith Leadership in taking forward this initiative and wish that this book will reach its message to a wide audience. Some quotable quotes from Vice President's address: "The book is an effort to remove the popular and prejudiced impressions about Islam as a faith and Muslims as a people." "The National Institute of Faith Leadership has undertaken this, to reiterate traditional values which are of contemporary relevance and reposition them in a secular, plural and national context." "The aim is to celebrate Islam, rooted in its core values and expressing them in their inherent flexibility, progression, reception and interaction." "Many years ago the Algerian-French philosopher Mohammed Arkoun posed the challenge of our times: to rethink modernity so that, 'critical thought, anchored in modernity but criticising modernity itself and contributing to its enrichment through recourse to the Islamic example could open up a new era in social movements." "Some months back, I had occasion to suggest that thinking minds should look beyond questions of identity and dignity in a defensive mode and explore how both can be furthered in a changing India and a changing world." "The Indian experience of a large Muslim minority living in secular polity having a composite culture could even be a model for others to emulate." "I do feel there is a crying need to look at the unexplored or inadequately explored requirements of all segments of the community particularly women, youth, and non-elite sections who together constitute the overwhelming majority who remain trapped in a vicious circle of a culturally defensive posture that hinders self advancement and well being." Water the new oil: Why can't India supply water through pipelines to tackle drought? Feature oi-Shubham By Shubham India is facing a severe drought at the moment and a quarter of its population is undergoing a precarious experience. With little rain touching the parched fields and dams and reservoirs losing their water reserve fast, the authorities are clearly clueless about how to go about it. 330 million people have been hit by droughts; number may go up further But the question is: Why do we have to wait on rain to meet all our requirements even today as it was during the primitive days? It can't be denied that rain water is our biggest scource of water still but why don't we have a viable Plan B to fall back on in years of drought? [Interlinking rivers in India to avoid Drought and Floods] Why think about extensive river-interlinking projects that will invite more trouble A lot is being written and heard about interlinking the rivers of the country so that water crisis can be reduced through distribution of water in all corners but that is too expensive a plan, to say the least. Interlinking of rivers do not just involve economic but also humanitarian and political costs and it can be concluded well before that the project will only invite more problems than solution since there will little consensus on a issue which is debatable. Why don't our policy-makers give a chance to the idea of water transportation through pipelines? Supplying water through pipelines is a tasted method This is not something very new. Two millennia ago, the ancient Romans put into use aqueducts to transport water from higher elevations to lower areas with help of gravity. They were so much important for the Romans that they were called the lifeline of their massive empire. Also in ancient China, pipelines were used to reach water to the imperial palaces and living quarters. In Australia, the 530-kilometre long Godfields Water Supply Scheme was the largest water-supply project of the early 1900s when it was completed. Being a huge continent, Australia has depended on water pipelines extending over huge distances. The United States also has extensive water pipelines to serve its people. Even Libya has succeeded in setting up a pipeline project to supply water from the Great Manmade River to distant cities, including capital Tripoli. The pipeline is over 2,800 kilometres in length. If these countries can make it possible, why can't india-which is blessed with so many rivers and water sources---set up a similar project instead of undertaking a mind-boggling river-interlinking scheme? India has shown a lot of interest on international gas pipelines; why not water pipelines then? The current government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been making extra efforts to see the TAPI gas pipeline become a reality. Talks are also on to start work on the much-delayed India-Bangladesh-Myanmar has pipeline. India and Iran are also considering building an underwater gas pipeline bypassing Pakistan. Besides, India also has a number of oil pipelines within her borders. So, if energy-hungry India is ready to determine all options to transfer natural resources from abroad, why can't it think out a national water pipeline policy? Pipeline supply of water is an answer to myriad challenges With mounting population, over-used rivers, prolonged droughts and damaged ecosystems and possibilities of climate change, ensuring a reliable water supply mechanism is more challenging nowadays. And the answer may lie in the long-distance water-supply pipelines. True, these efforts will also involve costs but at least they will not involve questions of human displacement that can derail the entire goodwill in no time. B P Radhakrishna, the late president of the Geological Society of India, too, had once rued that supplying water through pipelines is not being considered but people are running after enormously expensive ideas like river-interlinking. AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive AgustaWestland: Finmeccanica's junket for journalists back on CBI scanner India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Apr 29: Several journalists are under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the AgustaWestland case. The CBI and the ED plan on questioning these journalists to unearth more clues on the money trail and also their relationship with James Christian Michel who was tasked with handling the media. There are a few journalists on our radar, a CBI official informed. A team was in fact taken on a junket to Italy by Finmeccanica the firm which produces the AgustaWestland chopper. It was a fully paid trip. Further some journalists may have received kickbacks to change the narrative and also hand over information to Michel on what story would be playing out on the deal. Under the radar: The CBI official says that they will question some of these journalists as part of the investigation. There was a group of journalists who were taken to Italy in 2013 on a junket. This was arranged by Michel, the CBI also says. Further there were some who had passed on information on the type of story that would run on the deal and we are looking to question them to find out about their intent. Corruption main issue in AgustaWestland: Defence ministry The journalists who were in touch with Michel will help unearth more information relating to the case. Michel was paid a sum of Rs 330 crore by AgustaWestland to manage the media The CBI had got a red corner notice issued against Michel. We are planning on seeking his extradition, the CBI says. Who is James Christian Michel? Michel was a middleman hired by AgustaWestland. His main job was to keep an eye on the media in India and report the narrative regarding the deal to AgustaWestland. He is an important player in this case, the CBI says. We have some evidence on him which includes the reports he sent out and also the meetings he held with some people in the media, officials also add. What is AgustaWestland chopper scam & how Sonia Gandhi's name got involved in it? An amount of Rs 330 crore was paid to him for managing various services. He received these amounts in part payments at United Kingdom, the British Virgin Islands and also Tunisia. In addition to his links with the media, the CBI has also found that he had several assets (benami) in India. A bungalow in Delhi and a luxury car is what the CBI has found and officials say that he had purchased this in a benami name. We are on the trail to find out more such assets in India, the CBI officer also informed. While his meetings with several persons are under the scanner, the CBI has learnt that it was through his company Global Services FZE all his activities were managed. Through this company he managed to keep an eye on the media reports where this deal was concerned. If there was any negative press on the deal, Michel was meant to fix it, the CBI officials also say. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 29, 2016, 10:11 [IST] AgustaWestland: If Jawans can fly in Indian choppers why not the VVIPs, asks Air Marshal Pandey India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Apr 29: There was a time when the Indian politicians would travel in the India made Ambassador. Today they find the need to upgrade their mode of transport and will not settle for anything less than a fancy foreign made luxury vehicle. The same could be said about the VVIP chopper AgustaWestland. Air Marshal (retd) B K Pandey says that day in and day out jawans and senior officers travel in choppers that are locally made. The VVIPs could also travel in a HAL made chopper. AgustaWestland: 'Moron Indian investigators won't get to us' reveals conversation Why do they need an AgustaWestland? Are they trying to indicate that their lives are more precious than that of our officers and jawans? Was the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper required Not many countries opt for the AgustaWestland chopper as the cost is very high. India needed a platform for VVIPs as they were flying the MI8. We had nothing else and did not want to shift the newly inducted MI17 for VVIPs. When the move started the Indian Airforce said that for VVIPs a new chopper needed to be procured as the MI8 would be phased out says Air Marshal B K Pandey. There is no doubt that the AgustaWestland chopper is very good. However it is extremely expensive and the deal could have been avoided. There was a time when the VVIPs would travel in the Indian made Ambassador. The VVIPs can very well travel in an Indian made chopper too, Pandey also adds. Corruption main issue in AgustaWestland: Defence ministry What is the solution? Air Marshal Pandey argues why the VVIPs could not travel in an Indian made chopper. Day in and day out our officers and jawans fly in choppers made by the HAL. Are you trying to suggest that their lives are not precious enough? "The government could have told the HAL to make a VVIP model of the advance light chopper Dhruv. This is a fairly successful programme. We have invested a humongous sum of money in programmes of HAL. The problem here is that we have no respect for our own products. Trust me HAL would have moved heaven and earth to produce a VVIP chopper. They would have grabbed the opportunity and done a very good job. Moreover it would have been a question of ego too and they could have produced a great product." he said. Further they would have also invited help from abroad and produced a state of the art model which would have not only been India's pride, but also much cheaper than AgustaWestland. The trouble however is that for these politicians it is an ego issue. Just look at the way in which many of these state heads are sourcing imported vehicles are exorbitant costs. Is it is necessary to spend this kind of money? We need to first respecting our own products, Air Marshal Pandey also adds. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 29, 2016, 9:50 [IST] Attari-Wagah border to get tallest national flag, will be seen in Lahore India oi-Jagriti New Delhi, Apr 29: The Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP) is set to be adorned by January next year, as the BSF is planning to put up the largest tricolour at the border. The tallest national flag at 350 feet will be put at the border under BSF's expansion plans for the visitors' gallery at the site of the iconic Retreat ceremony. "The tallest tricolour can be seen both from Lahore as well as Amritsar," Ashok Kumar Yadav, the officiating Inspector General of BSF's Punjab Frontier was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. "At that height, the flag would have to be proportionately sized, therefore it would also be the largest Tricolour. There is an intense atmosphere of patriotism during the Retreat ceremony, and the crowds are highly charged. The flag will serve as a beacon for them," Yadav told. India's biggest tricolour hoisted on Netaji's birth anniversary The flag mast will be installed on platform raised at the border. CCTV cameras will also be installed around it. Currently Jharkhand holds the record of hoisting tallest flag. Defence Minister Manohar Parikar hoisted the largest tricolour - a massive 99X66 feet - on the country's tallest flagpost at 293 feet here to mark Netaji Subhahs Chandra Bose's birth anniversary in state capital Ranchi on January 23. OneIndia News All National Highways in India to have helipads for emergency evacuations Chopper with MP CM on board "disappears" for few minutes India oi-PTI Bhopal, Apr 29: A helicopter carrying Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan "disappeared" for around fifteen minutes today, sending officials in a tizzy before it landed safely in Katni, an official said. "The chopper carrying Chouhan, BJP state chief Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan and state Minister Gyan Singh, which was supposed to land at a school in Katni around 9.45 am, went ahead of the helipad and suddenly disappeared," Katni District Collector Prakash Jangre told PTI over phone. The concerned officials on ground sprung into action. The helicopter returned after some time and landed safely at 10 am, he said. The Chief Minister had gone to pay last respects to former Madhya Pradesh Minister Satyendra Pathak, who passed away yesterday after a prolonged illness. PTI Cong attacks Raje for incurring loss in purchase of helicopter India oi-PTI Jaipur, Apr 28: Congress today hit out at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for incurring an alleged loss of Rs 1.14 crore to the exchequer in the purchase of AgustaWestland helicopter in 2005, a charge refuted by BJP. "The report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has indicted Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for causing a loss of Rs 1.14 crore to the exchequer in the purchase of helicopter. Action against those involved in the irregularities should be initiated," PCC President Sachin Pilot told PTI. He claimed the CAG found "irregularities and lapses" that caused a loss of Rs 1.14 crore to the state exchequer. Reacting to the allegations, BJP state president Ashok Parnami claimed that an expenditure of Rs 1.14 crore was made on chartered flights due to non-availability of pilot for the AgustaWestland helicopter from September, 2005 to January, 2006. Referring to a report of the state Public Accounts Committee 2012-13 which was tabled in the state Assembly when Congress government was in power, Parnami said this expenditure was not "unavoidable" and alleged that the party leaders were levelling baseless allegations. "The helicopter was received by the state government in September 2005 and Air Force Pilot Capt A K Sharma came on deputation to the state in November 2005 for the VIP flying who was trained by the company in Italy for two months. In the absence of the pilot for the helicopter from September 2005, to January, 2006, chartered flights had to be operated (for the CM) which cost Rs 1.14 crore and as per the PAC report, this expenditure was not unavoidable," he said. Parnami said the helicopter developed a technical glitch during flying when the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was on board in November, 2011 and since then, it is grounded. "No maintenance of the helicopter was done. It is grounded like scrap," he said, adding that Congress should have its facts correct before leveling allegations. However, Pilot alleged Parnami was "misleading" people. "He is talking about PAC report but the CAG report which found the irregularities is more prominent," he said. Pilot said BJP was taking up the issue to hide its "failure" on different fronts. "BJP is silent on mining, Vyapam scam and Lalit Modi matter and is trying to mislead people by such issues," he said. PTI Bypolls to seven assembly seats across six states on Nov 3, result on Nov 6 EC showcauses Mamata Banerjee for poll code violation India oi-IANS By Ians English Kolkata, April 14: The Election Commission has showcased West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for violation of the model code of conduct, Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi said here on Thursday, April 14. "It has been brought to our notice that she made a promise of creation of Asansol district and also made certain other utterances, for which the showcause has been issued," Zaidi told the media. The full bench of the Election Commission of India held day-long meetings with police and administration officials and also met delegations from various political parties ahead of the third phase of the state assembly polls scheduled for April 17. IANS IED Blast near Assam Rifles transit camp India oi-PTI Imphal, Apr 28: A medium-intensity IED, planted by unknown persons, exploded today at an isolated place near the transit camp of Assam Rifles at Khuman Lampak here, police said. No casualty or injury was reported due to the explosion which occurred at around 7.25 PM. Security forces have cordoned off the area to carry out investigation, police said. PTI In Kerala violence could escalate ahead of polls, says Intelligence Bureau India oi-Vicky Kerala, Apr 29: With things hotting up ahead of the Kerala assembly elections, an intelligence bureau report of that state has warned about escalation in violence. Kerala has had a bloody history ahead of the elections and almost all political parties indulge in violent means to outdo their opponents. Threats of fights and bombings have been indicated in the intelligence report of the state. Adding to the problem is the discovery of several units across the state where bombs are being prepared. These bombs are hurled at political opponents or are used to scare voters into voting for a particular political party. Areas of concern Nadapuram and Kuttiadi have been identified as problematic regions. Only last Wednesday four persons were injured in bomb related violence in the same region. The investigations into these incidents led to several raids being conducted. The police found bombs and bomb making material in these areas. After the blast most of the homes in which the bombs were being prepared were found abandoned. The materials were sent for forensic examination. The police say that these were high intensity fire crackers and not exactly bombs in the technical sense. The police say that they face this problem every time there is an election. These high intensity fire crackers are produced in large numbers ahead of any election be it big or small. Most of these bombs are designed in a manner to explode while hurled at someone, the police say. There have also been a spate of incidents in which people have died while preparing the bombs. With the intelligence bureau report suggesting an escalation of violence as polling day approaches, the state police especially in the Kannur area have begun extensive combing operations. There are several constituencies that have been marked as a red alert zone. These are constituencies where there are three or more candidates with a pending criminal record. Such areas are highest prone to violence during polling time, the police say. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 29, 2016, 14:34 [IST] Truth has come out, says Sasikala in reaction to OPS's remark before panel Jayalalithaa death probe: TN cabinet to decide on enquiry against Sasikala and others Never interfered in medical treatment of Jayalalithaa: Sasikala denies all allegations levelled by panel Jayalalithaa DA case: SC permits Karnataka to submit breif reply India oi-Vicky New Delhi, Apr 29: The Supreme Court has permitted Special Public Prosecutor, B V Acharya to submit his reply in connection with the J Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case. In its order the court said that it grants liberty to Acharya appearing for Karnataka to file brief notes in the matter. The case has been posted for May 3. The court also took on record the conclusion of arguments by Shekhar Napde appearing for Sasikala Natrajan, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran who were also acquitted by the Karnataka High Court. Karnataka had filed an appeal against the acquittal of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and three others in the disproportionate assets case. During the course of the hearing, Napde submitted a chart of disputed items related to the case to be deleted. Jayalalithaa DA case- Plea challenging appointment of Karnataka SPP adjourned In this regard counsels appearing for the respondents and petitioners had advanced arguments briefly. The court said that these arguments would heard once the hearing in the main matter or appeal is completed. Acharya would appear before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 3 and file his reply. The reply as directed by the Supreme Court would be brief and aim at countering the points made by Jayalalalithaa and others while arguing to uphold the verdict of the High Court. Acharya would demonstrate why the High Court verdict needs to be struck down and the order of the trial court which convicted these persons restored. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 29, 2016, 8:53 [IST] Kerala CM accuses Gov of 'acting as RSS tool' on his order to VCs to resign Kerala CM Oommen Chandy files nomination papers India oi-PTI Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 29: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who is contesting as the Congress-led UDF candidate from Puthupally constituency for 11th time in a row, on Friday filed his nomination papers for the May 16 assembly polls. Chandy, who has represented the constituency 10 consecutive times in the Assembly, is once again trying his luck from Puthupally in the central Travancore district of Kottayam. Kerala polls: V S Achuthanandan vs Cong's V S Joy in Malampuzha Chandy, the face of Congress in Kerala, was accompanied by his son Chandy Oommen, Kottayam MP Jose K Mani and thousands of party and UDF workers. He arrived to file three sets of nomination papers before the Block Development Officer Sreelekha, at Pallikathodu in Puthupally. The Chief Minister, who is making the 11th bid from the constituency, was greeted by 11 children with roses. He offered prayers at the local church and at the graves of his parents before proceeding to file his nomination papers. State Excise Minister K Babu who had faced bribery allegations in the bar scam, and is the Congress-UDF candidate from Tripunithura assembly segment, also filed his papers today, the last date for filing nominations. PTI Amitabh Bachchan reveals he had to get stitches after he cut a vein on his leg Malegaon blast: Lt Col Purohit's plea challeging framing of charges rejected by SC India oi-Vicky New Delhi, April 29: A plea filed by Lt Colonel Purohit challenging the framing of charges against him in connection with the Malegaon blasts case has been rejected by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court directed Purohit to approach the High Court instead. Purohit had moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the charges framed against him by the trial court in connection with the Malegaon blasts case. Purohit is one of the accused in the case. He felt that the framing of the charges against him were unjust and hence needed to be quashed. Purohit had also cited that on April 15 2015 the Supreme Court had struck down the filing of charges under the stringent MCOCA against him. He had told the Supreme Court that he is not a terrorist and had even sought bail. The court had then directed the setting up of a special court to hear the matter. Further, he had also stated that the NIA which is probing the case had not yet filed a chargesheet. The case was seven years old and yet a chargesheet has not been filed, Purohit contended. In the absence of a chargesheet being filed, the case has not moved and this has led to a lot of delay, Purohit contended. In September 2008 a blast in Malegaon, Maharashtra killed several persons and injured many others. Two months later, Purohit and several others were arrested. In 2009 the Maharashtra ATS filed a chargesheet. The case was then handed over to the NIA for investigation. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 29, 2016, 12:04 [IST] This is 21st century, where have we reached in name of religion: SC on hate speeches Single entrance exams for admissions to MBBS, BDS approved India oi-Jagriti New Delhi, Apr 29: The Supreme Court has approved the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses for the academic year 2016-17. Around 6.5 lakh students are likely to appear for the NEET to be held in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to take place on May 1 while second phase of the exam will be held on July 24. The second phase of the exam will be an opportunity for those who have not applied for AIPMT. The combined result would be declared on August 17. Noting that the aim of the Health Ministry is to facilitate and enable the Medical Council of India (MCI) and CBSE to conduct the entrance exams in a manner and time which would not cause "distress" to students, Health Minister J P Nadda said that it has been making efforts in this direction for a long time. "Health Minister J P Nadda has welcomed the order of the Supreme Court in the matter of conducting the entrance examination for admission to MBBS and Post Graduate Medical Courses via NEET this year," an official statement said. UPSC encourages women to apply for civil services exam "It is a milestone judgement," he stated, and added that "despite the challenges to conduct the exam this year the Ministry is geared up to work with the other partners and stakeholders to ensure that the entrance exams are successfully held". OneIndia News (With agency inputs) At least 11 dead in helicopter crash off Norway International oi-PTI Oslo, Apr 29: At least 11 people died today when a helicopter transporting 13 people from a North Sea oil platform crashed off the coast of western Norway, rescue services said. "Eleven people found, none alive. Search continuing for the two others," the Sola rescue centre tweeted around three hours after the crash. The chances of finding the two alive were seen as slim. Sola spokesman Anders Bang Andersen told reporters that emergency crews had "not seen any sign of survivors". The Super Puma chopper went down around midday in the archipelago off the coast of Bergen, Norway's second biggest city, carrying 11 Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian. The helicopter broke into pieces near a small island and parts of the wreck were found scattered on land and at sea. Part of the chopper was resting on the seabed under five to seven metres of water, around 20 metres from land, rescue officials said. Bang Andersen said the chopper had been on its way to Bergen's airport when it crashed with 11 passengers and two crew members on board. It was returning from the Gullfaks B platform, in one of Norway's biggest offshore oil fields, which is operated by state-owned Statoil. Several witnesses described seeing the aircraft spiral downwards, followed by a powerful explosion, and people were seen in the sea. "There was an explosion and a very peculiar engine sound, so I looked out the window. I saw the helicopter falling quickly into the sea. Then I saw a big explosion," an island resident told local daily Bergensavisen. "Pieces (of the helicopter) flew into the air," she said, adding that she saw the rotor detach. The crash was the deadliest helicopter accident in Norway since 1997, when a chopper flying to an offshore oil platform plunged into the sea, killing all 12 on board. "Horrible reports of a helicopter crash," Prime Minister Erna Solberg tweeted. "I'm being continuously briefed on the rescue operations." Live footage shortly after the crash showed leisure boats rushing toward the scene, where thick black smoke was billowing into the sky. The accident took place around noon (1000 GMT), and more than an hour later boats could be seen criss-crossing the water as helicopters hovered overhead. Divers were seen at the site, and ambulances were parked on the shore. On Twitter, police urged people to refrain from using drones in the area. The chopper was an EC225 Super Puma built by Airbus Helicopters and operated by CHC Helikopterservice for Statoil. The oil giant said it had grounded all helicopters of the same model and set up an emergency help centre in Bergen for families of the missing. On August 23, 2013, a Super Puma AS332 L2, an older model of the same helicopter, crashed into the North Sea near the Shetland Islands, killing four. (AFP) India only talking about terrorism: Pak's UN envoy International oi-PTI New York, Apr 29: Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India, but New Delhi has "signalled" it is only interested in talking about terrorism which does not bode well for the prospects of diplomatic progress between the two nations, Islamabad's envoy to the UN has said. Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN ambassador Maleeha Lodhi's remarks came just a day before Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met in New Delhi on April 26 on the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' regional conference. "While Islamabad has repeatedly urged Delhi to resume the broad based, comprehensive peace process, India has yet to agree and has instead signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism. This, she said, does not make the prospects of diplomatic progress too bright," she said. Lodhi addressed students and faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge on April 25 as part of 'South Asia Week' being held at the institution and talked about Pakistan's role in regional stability. According to a press release issued by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN here, Lodhi said that Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India by finding political solutions to outstanding disputes. In their first formal bilateral meeting after the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January, the Foreign Secretaries focused on a range of issues including probe into the attack and Kashmir, which the Pakistani side has asserted was the "core issue". Lodhi said that Pakistans priorities included economic revival, defeating terrorism and elimination of violent extremism in and around Pakistan. Another priority for Pakistan is building regional peace and stability, which required an end to the conflict in Afghanistan, and normalisation of Pakistan-India relations on an equitable and durable basis, she said. On China, Lodhi said the country is a "cornerstone" of Pakistan's foreign policy and Islamabads relationship with Beijing is "strategic, historic, trouble free and pivotal to the country's foreign policy." Lodhi said that the strategic evolution of the Pakistan-China relationship has accorded the bilateral partnership added significance at a time of a "fundamental change in the global balance of power brought about by China's rise as a global economic powerhouse." In recent years, she said bilateral ties with China have broadened and diversified from the traditional focus on defence and military cooperation toward a greater economic and investment orientation. On how Pakistan will balance its relations with China as well as with the US, she said "to those who ascribe a zero-sum nature to Pakistan's relations with China and America, a recall of history would help to invalidate this flawed notion," according to the release. Citing Pakistan's "good relations" with the US and China from the time of the Cold War, she said "Pakistan intends to play the same role in the future and maintain good relations with both even as the two engage in global competition". PTI COVID: New Zealand to reopen its borders in October New Zealand bank note chosen best for 2015; India misses out International oi-Shubham Auckland, April 29: New Zealand's five-dollar currency note featuring a photograph of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first conqueror of Mount Everest, has been adjudged by the International Bank Note Society for 2015. [See the note here] New Zealand's Trans-Tasman neighbours Australia failed to make any mark. The Society is a non-profit educational body which has over 20,000 members in near to 100 countries. It chose the note approved by New Zealand's Reserve Bank as the first among three dozen contestants. The bank notes are assessed on grounds of "artistic merit and/or innovative security features", including use of colour and the contrast. The orange and brown $5 note features a map of the island nation in a polymer window and also various upgraded security features. Besides the late Hillary, the face also shows South Island's Mount Cook and a yellow-eyed penguin, unique to New Zealand, which changes colours. Almost 150 new banknotes were released across the globe last year and the Society narrowed down the nominees to 20 from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. No Indian note finished among the top picks. While New Zealand bagged the top honour, Sweden, Russia, Kazakhstan and Scotland finished as the runners-up. In 2014, Trinidad & Tobago won the first award while Kazakhstan made a hat-trick before that. Oneindia News On PMs guidance how Devbhoomi Uttarakhands Temples will be developed India always views war as last resort, but... : PM Modi to armed forces in Kargil Will Nepal's deposed king Gyanendra meet Modi in India? International oi-IANS By Ians English Kathmandu, April 29: Nepal's deposed king Gyanendra Shah has left for New Delhi amid a political standoff in the Himalayan nation. Some media reports and leaders claimed that he has been invited by the Indian establishment and was going to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others. The stalled political process has not resumed in Nepal, including addressing the demands of Madhes-based political parties, besides there being no headway in implementation of the new constitution and resolving the row over federal boundaries, among others. No statement was made on behalf of Gyanendra's office regarding his India visit and the Indian side, too, has made no remarks. It is not known whether Gyanendra was invited by the Indian establishment or he was making a personal trip to India but his sojourn to India has stirred Nepali politics. A media report said Gyanendra has been invited by the Indian establishment this time and was going to meet Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and influential leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. Those who saw Gyanendra at Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday claimed he was in an upbeat mood while leaving for New Delhi. Gyanendra's visit to India also figured during a meeting of the UCPN (Maoist) Standing Committee here on Friday. "We have heard that he will have high-profile meetings in New Delhi this time," UCPN (Maoist) vice chairman Nayaran Kaji Shrestha told IANS, adding that his party was closely following Gyanendra's moves. The meeting also decided to sit in talks with the ruling CPN-UML, main opposition Nepali Congress, agitating Madhes-based parties and others to seek such common ground for national consensus on reconstruction, ending the political standoff, implementation of the constitution and completing the peace process. "If needed, we have to opt for a new government based on political consensus that can fulfil the key tasks of the nation... we should move on," said Shrestha. IANS A dream, a call and some courage: How a 15-year-old stopped her marriage Bengal election Phase 5: 2011 results in 53 seats going to polls on April 30 Kolkata oi-Shubham Kolkata, April 28: Fifty-three constituencies of the West Bengal Assembly will go to the election on April 30 (Saturday). Assembly Polls 2016 Coverage; Top contests of 2016 polls These constituencies are located in three districts---South 24 Parganas (31), Kolkata (four) and Hooghly (18). [List of 53 seats going to polls on April 30] In the 2011 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 46 of these seats while the Left Front won six and the Congress none. The SUCI had won one. [High-profile candidates of April 30 phase] Here are the details of the election results in these 53 seats in 2011: South 24 Parganas (31 seats) Gosaba [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,80,856; vote percentage: 85.47; winner: Jayanta Naskar of TMC [vote share: 51%]; difference: 10,682 Basanti [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,82,806; vote percentage: 81.24; winner: Subhash Naskar of RSP [vote share: 49.07%]; difference: 6,235 Kultali [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,87,950; vote percentage: 88.99; winner: Ramshankar Haldar of CPI(M) [vote share: 48.60%]; difference:4,813 Patharpratima: 2011 voters number: 1,99,486; vote percentage: 91.31; winner: Samir Kumar Jana of TMC [vote share: 52.39%]; difference: 14,773 Kakdweep: 2011 voters number: 1,80,377; vote percentage: 91.01; winner: Manturam Pakhira of TMC [vote share 51.46%]; difference: 10,503 Sagar: 2011 voters number: 2,03,625; vote percentage: 91.87; winner: Bankimchandra Hajra of TMC [vote share 50.39%]; difference: 8,149 Kulpi: 2011 voters number: 1,64,733; vote percentage: 86.61; winner: Jogranjan Haldar of TMC [vote share 53.75%]; difference: 18,279 Raidighi: 2011 voters number: 2,07,140; vote percentage: 90.46; winner: Debashree Roy of TMC [vote share 49.76%]; difference: 5,553 Mandirbajar [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,81,170; vote percentage: 85.93; winner: Joydeb Haldar of TMC [vote share 53.65%]; difference: 18,641 Joynagar [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,74,871; vote percentage: 82.88; winner: Tarunkanti Naskar of SUCI [vote share 49.38%]; difference: 26,590 Baruipur East [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,89,023; vote percentage: 84.77; winner: Nirmalchandra Mandal of TMC [vote share 52.19%]; difference: 18,479 Canning West [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,77,902; vote percentage: 86.12; winner: Shyamal Mandal of TMC [vote share 54.30%]; difference: 19,614 Canning East: 2011 voters number: 1,73,018; vote percentage: 90.58; winner: Abdur Rezzaq Mollah of CPI(M) [vote share 54.30%]; difference: 21,113 Baruipur West: 2011 voters number: 1,81,548; vote percentage: 84.41; winner: Biman Banerjee of TMC [vote share 57.54%]; difference: 31,888 Magrahat East [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,77,554; vote percentage: 85.27; winner: Namita Saha of TMC [vote share 49,68%]; difference: 8,803 Magrahat West: 2011 voters number: 1,69,056; vote percentage: 83.91; winner: Giyasuddin Mollah of TMC [vote share 47.11%]; difference: 11,970 Diamond Harbour: 2011 voters number: 1,92,505; voter percentage: 85.30; winner: Dipak Kumar Haldar of TMC [vote share 53.37%]; difference: 20,774 Falta: 2011 voters number: 1,82,605; voter percentage: 85.30; winner: Tamonash Ghosh of TMC [vote share 55.61%]; difference: 27,671 Saatgacchia: 2011 voters number: 2,14,998 vote percentage: 85.34; winner: Sonali Guha of TMC [vote share 51.18%]; difference: 18,110 Bishnupur [SC]: 2011 voters number: 2,10,599; vote percentage: 84.47; winner: Dilip Mandal of TMC [vote share 53.92%]; difference: 25,052 Sonarpur South: 2011 voters number: 2,02,819; vote percentage: 83.73; winner: Jiban Mukhopadhyay of TMC [vote share 59.03%]; difference: 37,774 Bhangar: 2011 voters number: 1,87,372; vote percentage: 92.43; winner: Badal Jamadar of CPI(M) [vote share 47.33%]; difference: 5,106 Kasba: 2011 voters number: 2,24,955; vote percentage: 76.39; winner: Ahmed Javed Khan of TMC [vote share 53.81%]; difference: 19,889 Jadavpur: 2011 voters number: 2,53,932; vote percentage: 77.77; winner: Monish Gupta of TMC [vote share 52.65%]; difference: 16,684 Sonarpur North: 2011 voters number: 1,97,639; vote percentage: 82.05; winner: Firdausi Begum of TMC [vote share 55.40%]; difference: 26,024 Tollygunj: 2011 voters number: 2,34,416; vote percentage: 78.03; winner: Arup Bishwas of TMC [vote share 56.17%]; difference: 27,680 Behala East: 2011 voters number: 2,43,394; vote percentage: 79.55; winner: Sovan Chatterjee of TMC [vote share 60.28%]; difference: 48,173 Behala West: 2011 voters number: 2,60,955; vote percentage: 77.83; winner: Partha Chatterjee of TMC [vote share 62.96%]; difference: 59,021 Maheshtala: 2011 voters number: 2,14,985; vote percentage: 81.71; winner: Kasturi Das of TMC [vote share 52.50%]; difference: 24,283 Budge Budge: 2011 voters number: 1,99,778; vote percentage: 83.30; winner: Ashok Kumar Deb of TMC [vote share 60.04%]; difference: 46,489 Metiabruz: 2011 voters number: 1,82,250; vote percentage: 72.62; winner: Mumtaz Begum of TMC [vote share 41.56%]; difference: 6.594 Kolkata (4 seats) Kolkata Port: 2011 voters number: 1,98,300; vote percentage: 66.22; winner: Firhad Babi Hakim of TMC [vote share: 48.64%]; difference:25,033 Bhabanipur: 2011 voters number: 2,12,821; vote percentage: 63.77; winner: Subrata Bakshi of TMC [vote share: 64.77%]; difference:49,936 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee won a by-election from this seat later in 2011 to enter the Assembly as an MLA. Rashbehari: 2011 voters number: 2,00,423; vote percentage: 67.66; winner: Sovandeb Chattapadhyay of TMC [vote share: 65.54%]; difference:49,894 Ballygunge: 2011 voters number: 2,19,835; vote percentage: 66.15; winner: Subrata Mukherjee of TMC [vote share: 60.65%]; difference:41,185 Hooghly (18 seats) Uttarpara: 2011 voters number: 2,17,099; vote percentage: 80.73; winner: Anup Ghoshal of TMC [vote share 59.77%]; difference: 43,193 Srirampore: 2011 voters number: 2,07,798; vote percentage: 73,54; winner: Dr Sudipta Roy of TMC [vote share 45.76%]; difference: 51,691 Champdani: 2011 voters number: 2,09,319; vote percentage: 77.29; winner: Muzaffar Khan of TMC [vote share 57.16%]; difference:36,313 Singur: 2011 voters number: 2,05,596; vote percentage: 85.16; winner: Rabindranath Bhattacharya of TMC [vote share 57.61%]; difference:34,811 Chandernagore: 2011 voters number: 2,00,388; vote percentage: 79.20; winner: Ashok Kumar Sau of TMC [vote share 60.76%]; difference:43,039 Chinsurah: 2011 voters number: 2,63,852; vote percentage: 84.73; winner: Asit Majumdar of TMC [vote share 56.90%]; difference: 44,592 Balagarh [SC]: 2011 voters number: 2,07,853; vote percentage: 88.46; winner: Ashim Kumar Maji of TMC [vote share 52.35%]; difference:21,583 Pandua: 2011 voters number: 2,07,334; vote percentage: 87.72; winner: Amjad Hossain Sheikh of CPI(M) [vote share 46.64%]; difference:397 Saptagram: 2011 voters number: 1,86,882; vote percentage: 85.50; winner: Tapan Dasgupta of TMC [vote share 56.51%]; difference:30,868 Chanditala: 2011 voters number: 2,02,047; vote percentage: 81.52; winner: Swati Khondekar of TMC [vote share 52.46%]; difference:16,920 Jangipara: 2011 voters number: 2,03,460; vote percentage: 84.74; winner: Snehashis Chakraborty of TMC [vote share 50.54%]; difference:13,076 Haripal: 2011 voters number: 2,14,029; vote percentage: 85.40; winner: Becharam Manna of TMC [vote share 53.70%]; difference: 22,073 Dhanekhali [SC]: 2011 voters number: 2,22,562; vote percentage: 88.26; winner: Ashima Patra of TMC [vote share 51.18%]; difference:16,277 Tarakeshwar: 2011 voters number: 1,97,378; vote percentage: 89.21; winner: Rachpal Singh of TMC [vote share 55.10%]; difference:25,472 Purshura: 2011 voters number: 2,14,053; vote percentage: 89.52; winner: Parvez Rahman of TMC [vote share 56.26%]; difference:31,690 Aarambag [SC]: 2011 voters number: 2,03,460; vote percentage: 88.37; winner: Krishnachandra Santra of TMC [vote share 53.37%]; difference:19,563 Goghat [SC]: 2011 voters number: 1,93,452; vote percentage: 91.20; winner: Bishwanath Karak of Forward Bloc [vote share 49.04%]; difference:13,076 Khanakul: 2011 voters number: 2,19,432; vote percentage: 84.03; winner: Iqbal Ahmed of TMC [vote share 55.56%]; difference:27,879 Oneindia News Didi vs Boudi: Biggest battle of Bengal polls 2016 to be held tomorrow Kolkata oi-Shubham Kolkata, April 29: The Assembly election in West Bengal is set to witness its biggest fight tomorrow when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lock horns with former Union minister Deepa Dasmunsi in Bhabanipur. Assembly Polls Coverage 2016; List of 53 seats going to polls on April 30 In short, this battle has been termed as "Didi vs Boudi" since Deepa, wife for ailing heavyweight Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, is popularly called Boudi which means sister-in-law. And Mamata Banerjee, as we all know, is known as Didi (elder sister). [2011 results in 53 seats going to polls on April 30] This is perhaps the first time that Bengal will see such a high-profile contest between two women candidates. Banerjee, however, has contested against women opponents in the past and also lost once to a woman rival---Malini Bhattacharya of the CPI(M)---in 1989. [Top contests: Mamata vs Deppa vs Chandra Bose] That is the only loss that Banerjee has ever faced in an election till date. [Banerjee has lost only 1 election till date] Deepa is not giving up an inch against her powerful opponent This year, Deepa, known to be a staunch critic of Mamata Banerjee, has refused to let go an inch against her powerful opponent. Deepa, who was nominated against Banerjee much later and replaced Congress leader Om Prakash Mishra, has tried to make use of every issue which has added to the ruling TMC's concerns---be it Saradha chit-fund scam and Narada sting operation. Banerjee, who won from this seat in a by-election in 2011 after the TMC came to power, has also tried to give as much time as possible to her own constituency for she has been criss-crossing the state canvassing support for the rest of her party's 293 candidates. [For the first time, Mamata has no CPI(M) rival] She, however, has not covered all eight wards of Kolkata that fall under her constituency while Deepa has covered each of them. Other leaders of TMC were also seen reaching out to the voters in the ansence of Banerjee, which proves that the ruling party is not taking Saturday's fight lightly. [Top issues of Bengal polls 2016] Both Mamata and Deepa are aware of the non-Bengali speaking voters in the constituency; the BJP did well in this segment in 2014 LS election Both the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance are aware of the fact that the BJP did well in this Assembly segment in the 2014 Lok Sabha election owing to a large concentration of non-Bengali speaking population, including Gujaratis, and both have engaged with that section as much as possible to ensure that the third force in the fray, the saffron party, doesn't gain. The BJP has fielded Chandra Kumar Bose, the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in this constituency. Deepa has also visited at least 20,000 houses in the constituency during her campaign. She was also seen meeting and greeting people who go out for morning-walks as well as sitting with supporters of both the Congress and Left, who have reached an electoral-understanding this year. The TMC, however, is confident of their supremo bagging yet another election in style. "Whatever is being said and heard will have little impact on the ground," said one of Banerjee's brother. The Bhabanipur constituency has a total of 2.02 lakh voters. Oneindia News AgustaWestland: 'Moron Indian investigators won't get to us' reveals conversation New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Apr 29: The middlemen in the AgustaWestland deal believed that Indian Investigators were morons and their trail would never be discovered. One of the conversations that has been documented shows two persons- a middle man and a former chief of AgustaWestland speaking about covering their tracks. The conversation that was tapped by the Italian authorities refers to the conversation which says that they were pretty sure that the money trail would not be discovered as Indian investigators are morons. Covering their tracks The details of the conversation which is part of the judicial report in Italy suggests that all payments were made in cash. None of the transactions were wired since it would lead the investigators on to them. The middleman is also heard saying that there was no way that the investigators could track their money trail. The computers were completely wiped out to avoid the money trail. The conversations clearly state that the tracks are being covered and even if the Indian investigators reach up to them they will find nothing. They are morons, the middleman said while referring to the Indian investigators. The middleman Haschke also says that all evidence relating the money trail has been destroyed. None of the payments were wired. All payments were in cash. Even if something leads up to us, there will be no money trail as all evidence has been destroyed, he said. I have cleaned every paper from my office and even replaced my old computer with a new one before cleaning it, he assures. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, April 29, 2016, 8:56 [IST] Kerala assembly polls 2016: CM Oommen Chandy set for smooth sail in Puthuppally Thiruvananthapuram oi-PTI Puthuppally (Ker), Apr 29: Notwithstanding various allegations, including solar scam against him, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy seems to be confident of sailing through comfortably in his home constituency of Puthuppally for the 11th time in a row in the May 16 Assembly polls. 29-year-old Jaik C Thomas (CPI-M), the state president of Students Federation of India who is challenging 73-year-old Chandy, does not seem much of a threat to the senior Congress leader, political observers say. Chandy, Chairman of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), is spearheading the campaign hoping to create history by retaining power in a state where rivals UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF have come to power alternatively in the last three decades. "I am getting full support of the people. We had come to power with a thin majority of two MLAs. There were even talks that the government will not last for 6 months. Today we have completed 5 years and now the talk is about continuation of this government," Chandy told PTI. He said he had received unstinted support from his party and UDF partners. People are going to support UDF for the radical liquor policy which envisages total prohibition in 10 years and various developmental initiatives undertaken during the five-year rule of the UDF government, he said. Listing out the development projects, including Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport, Kannur Airport and Kochi Metro, Chandy said, "People of the state will vote for development rather than the politics of violence pursued by CPI(M) in the state." The UDF victory in three Assembly byelections, Parliament and civic polls, after this government came to power in 2011, clearly showed that people have rejected the various allegations against his government, he said. Chandy, who filed his nomination papers today, immediately left for campaigning in the constituency. A leader, who always draws energy by being in the midst of party workers and people, Chandy was first elected to Assembly from his home segment Puthupally in 1970 when he was a 26-year-old and there has been no looking back ever since. Chandy's pocket borough, Puthupally, in the central Travancore district of Kottayam, is encircled by rivers, paddy fields and hills and is home to many NRIs. Constituted in November 1965, the constituency comprises 8 panchayats -- Akalakunnam, Ayarkunnam, Kooroppada, Manarcad, Meenadom, Pampady and Puthuppally in Kottayam Taluk and Vakathanam Panchayat in Changanassery Taluk. He had won by a margin of 7,288 votes in the 1970 elections against E M George (CPI-M). In 2011, Chandy defeated Suja Susan George of the Marxist party by 33,255 votes and is hoping to improve his margin further this time. A mass leader, Chandy jumped into the political arena as an activist of Kerala Students Union (KSU), Congress's students wing, along with contemporary leaders of that time - A K Antony and Valayar Ravi. Affectionately called "Kunjunju" by his supporters, Chandy prefers to be at his home in Puthupally, especially on Sundays, when people from all walks of life and from different parts of the state flock to meet him with their woes. His "Mass Contact Programme", which has won him praise even from the United Nations, had endeared him among the masses, though the opposition did target him with barbs for undertaking a "panchayat clerk's duties". However, an unfazed Chandy continues to accept petitions from people who approach him. While some want urgent medical assistance or financial assistance for children's education, there are some even who come to him for settling family disputes. His poll managers say that though the LDF continues to attack him with the solar and bar scams and 'tainted' ministers in his cabinet, it is not likely to cut much ice with this electorate. However, Jaick C Thomas is focusing on corruption charges against the UDF government during campaign and his main target is to woo young voters. "I also hope that people in the constituency will vote for a change," he said. BJP has fielded George Kurian from here. PTI Kerala, Tripura CPI(M) deny Rahul-Buddhadeb rally in Bengal any importance Thiruvananthapuram oi-Shubham Thiruvananthapuram, April 29: The CPI(M) in Kerala has given little importance to the joint rally of former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Kolkata on Wednesday (April 27). Assembly Polls 2016 Coverage; List of 53 seats going to polls in Bengal on April 30 The state leaders of both Congress and CPI(M) as well as a section of the media called the rally "historic". "Deshabhimani"---an organ of the Kerala CPI(M)----gave the incident a secondary coverage even as the prime publications of the state gave it much focus. In another Left-dominated state Tripura as well, the CPI(M) did not give much importance to the Rahul-Buddhadeb bonhomie as it found no space in the front page of the state's mouthpiece "Desher Kotha". It can be mentioned here that Tripura's Left Chief Minister Manik Sarkar mocked his own party, the CPI(M), as the "third kid of the goat" to express disappointment over the Left-Congress tie-up in Bengal to topple the Mamata Banerjee government in the state. [Rahul-Buddhadeb joint rally: How conveninetly Congress has forgotten Sainbari massacre] The camp of Kodiari Balkrishnan and Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala is upset with the tie-up and they were openly avoiding the bonhomie between the Left and Congress in Bengal. The refusal to give the development any prominence proves the souther state's CPI(M) is not at all happy with the development in the east. Balkrishnan even said after a rally in Kerala on Thursday that the closeness in Bengal will not affect the CPI(M)'s prospects in Kerala. The camp of the nonagenarian VS Achutanandan, however, has supported the Congress-Left bonhomie in Bengal although according to experts, it is more a strategic move by the veteran leader. The BJP, meanwhile, has used the Rahul-Buddhadeb rally to make its own case stronger and cement its claim on the Ezava vote-bank in Kerala which has traditionally been with the Left. The state leadership of the saffron party has accused the Congress and Left of having an understanding even in Kerala. Kerala will go to polls on May 16 while the final phase of election in Bengal will get over on May 5. The results will be declared on May 19. Oneindia News 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. Occupying 652,864 square kilometers (252,072 sq mi) of land, the country is predominantly mountainous with plains in the north and the southwest, which are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. As of 2021, its population is 40.2 million, composed mostly of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Kabul is the country's largest city and serves as its capital. KDKA CBS 2 Pittsburgh 30 Oct 2020 Its the game of the weekend, maybe the season: the Steelers versus the Ravens, the biggest rivalry in the NFL. But Steeler fans.. Rumble 24 Oct 2022 Kyiv has alleged that the Iranian-made Kamikaze drones have been used by Moscow to shell different Ukrainian cities. Russia has.. Rumble 31 Aug 2022 John Wayne Gacy is one of the most memorable serial killers of the 1970s. Despite appearing like a real life success story from the.. allAfrica.com 24 Oct 2022 [VOA] Geneva -- The United Nations refugee agency says that South Sudanese flood victims are in desperate need of international.. Rumble 10 Aug 2022 Fred Sassy is an American Consumer Advocate and reporter for the Cheyenne news at 9, a local TV station in Cheyenne, Wyoming. On.. Deutsche Welle 22 Oct 2022 A 2018 arrangement aims to ease a longstanding divide between an underground flock loyal to the pope and a state-backed official.. Rumble 29 Aug 2022 Massachusetts Republicans BIG WIN to get whether illegal aliens should or should not have a driver's license ON THE.. "The punishing, relentless, psychological torture that he caused. Thank god that is gone. Now we just have inflation, a.. Rumble 03 Aug 2022 Mondaq 24 Oct 2022 A new legal mechanism to allow for transfers of personal data between the EU and the U.S. is now advancing after an October 7th,.. Rumble 19 Aug 2022 Judge Reinhart who had recused himself from President Trump's Rico case, has said he will unseal part of the affidavit.. Rumble 23 Oct 2022 Learn about Medical Medium Brain Shot Therapy in this live and how it can support you in your healing, both by helping to offer.. The European Union (EU) considers that the increase of duties on the exports of metal scrap from Ukraine would represent a restrictive trade measure, the Delegation of the EU to Ukraine has said. According to a report posted on Thursday on its official Facebook page, the EU has taken note with disappointment the proposed amendments to Article 13 of the Law of Ukraine On external economic activity voted on April 21 in the Verkhovna Rada. "The EU considers that the increase of duties on the exports of metal scrap from Ukraine would represent a trade restrictive measure that contradicts the spirit and the letter of the multilateral and bilateral commitments undertaken by Ukraine," the delegation said. "In particular, under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the European Union, Ukraine commits not to introduce new customs duties on exports, and it commits to dismantling existing ones over a transitional period," the delegation said. "Furthermore, the EU recalls that, under the Memorandum of Understanding on Macro-Financial Assistance signed with the EU on 22 May 2015, Ukraine has committed to refrain from introducing new trade-restricting or trade-distorting measures, in line with its WTO obligations," reads the report. "For this reason, should the law enter into force, it would inevitably raise concerns about Ukraine's international commitments and undermine the confidence of investors as regards the direction of its trade policy," the delegation said. "The EU considers that the use of such trade-restrictive measure is not the correct means to address the problems of competitiveness in the Ukrainian steel-making sector. The EU urges Ukraine to maintain its steady commitment to an open trade regime," the delegation said. The founder of Latiwa Development Foundation, Cathy Amato, has called on government to support schoolgirls on menstrual period by providing pads banks, toilets and water to aid menstrual hygiene. This call was made by Amato while sharing 400 menstrual kits to students of Government Day Secondary School and Ena International School at Kuje in Abuja. Government needs to do more advocacy and awareness programme for the girls and support them with materials that can be of help during their menstrual period, Amato said. Though government is doing some health programmes; it needs to do more and go into the villages. They need to partner with different NGOs, communities and traditional leaders. She also urged parents and teachers to give early education on menstruation hygiene to their children and students when in schools. The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday said it did not arrest Edward Onoja, an aide to Kogi StateGovernor Yahaya Bello. News reports that the DSS said reports that Onoja was picked up by the agency over a planned attack on a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Jibrin Usman, by suspected ex-Niger Delta militants were untrue. The ex-militants were said to have implicated Onoja in the plot, following which he was detained on Friday. Usman, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, is a major contender for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi, ahead of the November 16 election. The DSS in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, P.N. Afunaya, titled, Edward Onoja not arrested by the DSS, says the reports of the arrest were fake and should be disregarded. The service recognises that the media is a strategic partner in nation-building and hopes that cordiality and mutual respectability are maintained in the relationship between them. In this vein, it wishes to advise that stories are verified or authenticated before their publication. The service warns that persons or organisations that falsely use its name will be liable to prosecution. Ukraine's Economic Development and Trade Ministry has said that Moldova's decision to impose quotas on imports of Ukrainian meat and dairy goods and cement is discriminative. "We are disappointed by the decision of Moldova. We had agreed that they would not make any decisions without additional consultations with us. We believe that this is violation of WTO rules, the free trade area with the CIS and this spoils good neighbor relations," Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade and Trade Representative of Ukraine Natalia Mykolska told reporters in Kyiv on Thursday. She said that the issue will be discussed at a meeting of the interagency commission. Director of the trade protection department at the Economic Development and Trade Ministry Olesia Zaluska said that Moldova was to conduct an investigation in line with WTO rules for applying these safeguards measures. Moldova on April 27 introduced safeguard quotas and duties on meat and dairy products and cement of Ukrainian origin. Imports of these goods will be restricted with quotas and duties will be collected from goods imported above the quotas. Imports quotas for Ukrainian milk and cream will be 1,000 tonnes, dairy products kefir, yoghurt and sour cream 1,000 tonnes, butter, ice cream, cheese and cottage cheese 750 tonnes, meat products (sausages, hotdogs and canned meat) 250 tonnes and cement 500 tonnes. The quotas will be provided using "first-come, first-served" principle. The following duties will be imported on all Ukrainian goods imported above the quotas: 10% on milk and cream, 15% - other dairy products, from 15% to 20% plus EUR 500 per tonne on butter and cheese, 15% on meat products and 10% on cement. The duties on imports of milk and milk powder would not apply to local manufacturers. The duties will be in effect until the end of 2016. Russia has organized and deployed in Donbas a 34,000-strong hybrid military force consisting of the regular Russian troops as well as of foreign and local militants, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko said during a speech at UN Security Council session. "The hard security part is showing no signs of positive change. Russia has organized and deployed in Donbas a 34,000-strong hybrid military force consisting of the regular Russian troops as well as of foreign and local militants," said diplomat during the UN session on Thursday evening. He said Russian generals and military officers provided direct command-and-control of this illegal military entity impressively heavily armed. In particular, today terrorists have at least 470 tanks, 870 armoured combat vehicles, 450 tube artillery systems, 190 MLRS (multiple-launch rocket systems), operated by so called 'upset miners'. "This is more than most of NATO members have in their Armed Forces and allegedly was acquired in the local hardware stores. We would highly appreciate if the Russian Federation takes a lead and kindly offer the beloved separatists to safely store their deadly toys on the Russian territory verifiable by the OSCE thus removing another stumbling block on the way of long-awaited peace. Just to show real interest in the Minsk process and bringing closer lifting of the sanctions," Prystaiko stressed. Oluwakemi Soyebo, family members of a 22-year-old lady, are in distress following her sudden disappearance while returning from work, Punch Metro reports. Oluwakemi was said to have gone to her place of work in the Agbara area of Ogun State on June 3, 2019, but has not returned home since. Her colleagues reportedly said Oluwakemi left the office for home at the close of work that day. The mother of the victim, Bukola Soyebo, who spoke with Punch Metro, said she thought that her daughter was with her friend but all her telephone lines had been switched off and efforts to get across to her had proved abortive. She said, My daughter went missing on her way from work; we thought that she was with her friend, whose place she usually slept whenever there was traffic and she could not come home. When such happened, she usually placed a call across to inform us that she would not be coming home because of the traffic and the friend in whose house she slept would speak to us, too. We have searched everywhere; her colleagues confirmed that she only works within the vicinity of where her companys warehouse is in Agbara. Right now, her three telephone lines are unreachable. She added that the matter was reported at the Morogbo Police Station. Bukola, who noted that the family members were becoming apprehensive, urged anyone with useful information on Oluwakemis whereabouts to contact the police. Kyiv ready for elections in some districts of Donbas if better security situation on ground diplomat Ukraine is ready to carry elections in some temporarily-occupied districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but security must first be restored there, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko said delivering a speech at UN Security Council. "Elections. We have prepared all pieces of legislation and are ready to discuss their modalities, as leaders agreed in Minsk. What we need to kickstart the election process under OSCE standards and in conformity with the Ukrainian law, as it was agreed by leaders, is a better security situation on the ground. Let's be reasonable. No security no one will go to hold or monitor the elections," he said during the session on Thursday evening. He mentioned the initiative of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to deploy the police mission in the Donbas. "We believe it would contribute to ensuring a safe and secure environment in Donbas, in particular in the context of local elections," Prystaiko said. "We continue to call upon the international community including the UN and OSCE member States to constructively engage in practical implementation of this initiative," the diplomat added. Sanwo-Olu and Ambode Barely ten days after taking over the number one political seat in Lagos State , the new Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday confessed that he has started losing weight due to the demands of the office, TheNation has reported. The immediate past governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had handed over the state to Sanwo-Olu on the 28th of May, 2019. Sharing his experience so far with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Sanwo-Olu said Well, the experience is real, it got to show that the challenges are real, they are there, its not a tea party. You dont sleep and wake up and the traffic has gone down, you dont sleep and wake up and there is no rain and that youve resolved Apapa gridlock, its real. So its something that has psychologically prepared one for. So the best thing to do is to ensure that you are not about looking for what the other person did but its for Lagosians seeing you do what you said you are going to do for them. You dont do it from the office, you have to do it from the road, you have to do it so that people will see and truly know that you mean business. I dare say that I have lost weight and probably I will lose a little bit more but I think its what the job entails and is to also ensure that you have the right team of people that would also support you. So when as a leader, you show that leadership support, then the message itself will trickle down and trickle down very well and that is why we have to take that very bold idea and youre going to see a lot. he said On the level of progress concerning the Apapa gridlock, Sanwo-Olu said Its a work in progress. If you go to Lagos now, you will see that they have started clearing it. So for us, its not just to do it but to ensure that we sustain it. So sustainability is critical. Its to build a model where its sustainable and we are not also involving the big players we are also discussing with them the shippers council, the shipping lines, NPA, NIMASA and all of them that are stakeholders in the conversations around port utility, we are settling it. We will continue to engage ourselves and come up with a sustained resolution, not just a one off. he added. Asked to speak on regional cooperation to check kidnapping and banditry in the South West, he said Its still work in progress and we have a southwest leader who I am sure has also addressed the press on the matter. I dont want to be at the risk of preempting what that body will do, let us wait for them to come up with a proper action plan at the regional level and lets see what solution it will come with. he said On how the issue of security the state governors discussed with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, relates to Lagos State, he said Security is everybodys businesses but as a governor we also have a major responsibility to ensure that as number one security officer of the state, security of lives and properties is also paramount as the chief executive officer of a state. But beyond the fact that everybody has some responsibilities or the other, just as a father has his kids, a wife is to her children as managing director is to his staff, so the state Governor also is to the entire state. So Its a work in progress for us as a state and for me in particular, its something that I take it very seriously. We are not just to be mouthing it but we make sure that we put resources in place and strategies. Weve been talking about domesticating and pushing part of the initiatives around security trust fund, that weve done. We will continue to engage, and continue to identify. What are the sources, what are the underlining issues that are bringing about it? Are they economic? Is it more than that? So that we will also attack the root cause. It is something that is for us as a government since we are looking for investors. We certainly must continue to be in a position where we can give confidence to all our investors that its a safe haven to come and invest. So for me, its important, its paramount and I thank Mr President for calling us to have this conversation he said. Hollywood stars, Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk, have ended their four years relationship after reportedly being miserable and unhappy together for some time. A few months ago, PageSix had reported that the relationship between Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk was hanging by the thread. They are miserable and unhappy together, a source told Page Six exclusively. They have been for months. He doesnt drink and hes into spirituality. She wants to go out. The couple, who started dating back in 2015 in what was seen as one of the most beautiful relationships in Hollywood, has called it quits after four years together. According to PEOPLE, the couple walked out of the relationship in good terms and have decided to share the custody of their two-year-old daughter, Lea De Seine, who was born in March 2017. Bradley and Irina are both trying to handle this break up in the best way possible. Journalist and television host Savik Shuster in 2008 signed a financial credit agreement with a resident of Cyprus to receive a credit to buy a house in Italy, and a tax inquiry was not performed on the issue, Shuster's lawyer Yaroslav Romanchuk has said. "The financial credit agreement was signed in 2008 between a resident of Cyprus and Savik Shuster, a citizen of Canada. The credit agreement was not registered in the National Bank of Ukraine. The agreement is still in effect. It is not terminated, and limitation of action cannot be applied to it. The debt was not waived. The target of taking the credit funds was to buy a house in Italy," the lawyer said in a statement published on Thursday. Romanchuk said that legal relations between the two individuals were outside Ukraine. The funds to buy the house were arrived to the Shuster's account in Italy and did not come to Ukraine. "The tax inquiry on the issue was not performed. Income tax was not accrued as there was no taxable item," he said. The lawyer said that the criminal case being investigated by the financial investigation department of the main department of the State Fiscal Service in Kyiv was opened under a claim of a lawmaker. The procedural status of Shuster is witness, and he is not suspected of doing anything. Opalesque Industry Update - SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., a provider of financial services software and software-enabled services, has announced that it has been appointed by Nicola Wealth Management (NWM) to provide a range of fund administration services for nearly $4 billion in assets under management (AUM). NWM has grown to be one of Canadas leading independent wealth management firms with close to $4 billion AUM and over 130 employees in four locations across Canada, including Vancouver and Toronto. SS&C will provide NWM with a full range of administration services including fund accounting and investor services. NWM will benefit from SS&Cs expertise and service, while its technology platform will support NWMs 15 funds and 4 limited partnerships. "Working with SS&C will allow us to improve productivity and internal control, commented Michael Taylor, Chief Financial Officer, NWM. Repositioning our fund accounting and transfer agency service requirements with SS&C will reduce operational risk and will allow us to better serve our clients as we continue to grow into the future. We are impressed with SS&Cs large suite of sophisticated technology offerings and its operating platform in Canada and around the world." With more than 400 employees based in five office locations across Canada, SS&C delivers bilingual client support, product development, and localized expertise to more than 370 Canadian investment firms, ranging from CAD $100 million to $250 billion in assets under management. "We are pleased to add NWM to our growing list of Canadian clients, noted Bill Stone, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SS&C Technologies. Canada is a key market for us, and we look forward to helping NWM meet the challenges investment firms face in an increasingly complex regulatory and operational environment. A while back, opednews.com Publisher Rob Kall invited writers to this online magazine to write stories about people and groups who are working for positive changes in their communities. In a world filled with dark, existential news, people would like to read about those who are working diligently to change things. Not only would such stories be refreshing and well received by opednews.com writers and our readers, but such articles could act as catalysts for others to take charge in seeking the betterment of their own communities, Kall posited. Today I offer you a story on one of the world's leading American Indian activists, James Magaska Swan, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. His story is an interesting one indeed, and his insight is synonymous really, with the word "incite" because he is a true activist of the first order. Mr. Swan's personal experiences and biographical sketch may encourage others to work on solving problems in their communities. ********** For Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe member and activist James Magaska Swan, activism started for him when he was just a kid at Indian Heritage High School, a charter school for American Indian youth in Seattle, Wash. "Activism works if you can get people to stand up together," Swan told me in a telephone interview on Sunday, April 24. "People togetherness is important. If I lived in a town with a very bad mayor, if I could get half of the people in that town to force the mayor out of office, that's a lot of power. "That's how we activate. As an activist, you build a fire under the people to get them moving. You get these people together to fight things they don't like," Swan told me. "I went to a high school in Seattle Wash. where you had to be a Native American to go to that school. It was a charter school exclusively for urban Indians. "So in at that school, our history was Native History. That's what we studied. It was very different than other schools. We learned about our culture, traditions and quite a bit about our spirituality there, too. "Some buddies of mine from the Blackfeet Tribe in Browning, Mont. - not the Blackfoot Tribe but the Blackfeet Tribe - who were also enrolled at Indian Heritage High School, and I hung around together back then. We ran across this Leonard Peltier Defense Committee group and we thought it was cool ...Oh, this goes back to around 1976-77....So we started hanging around with older AIM (American Indian Movement) guys, and I introduced my buddies to a Native American musical group called XIT, which is pronounced "Exit". XIT was sort of a pop group, but they were a bit militant and sang songs about Native issues and concerns. And they recorded some tunes about our culture, spirituality and traditions," Swan told this writer. "We got involved with the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and we got about 2,000 signatures on a petition to free Leonard Peltier back in the mid-70's. That was my first experience in any type of activism. Even today, I'm very proud of this feat," Swan told me. "After high school, I went into the Navy and when I got out of the military, well, that takes me to the late 1980's, and really, back to being a civilian activist. After my Navy years, I became involved with Native tribes in Washington state to help the Macaw Tribe win whaling rights to hunt whales -- it's part of their tradition. "It went well, we won. We were also involved with other tribes' fishing rights for fishing in the rivers in Washington state -- such as The Snoqualmie Tribal People and the and Puyallup Tribe of Indians. They have casinos in Washington state. These tribes live on salmon just like my tribe lives on buffalo," Swan said. "It was exciting, I liked it, I was intrigued by it," Swan said of his early days of being a "warrior for the people". James Magaska Swan isn't a fluff and feathers sort of Indian, and although he's a powow fancy dancer, he's also a militant activist. (Image by James Magaska Swan / UWWS) Details DMCA Swan was in the Navy for three years, donning his sailor's uniform right after high school, at age 17. "I got out of the military in 1981. I was in Iran when they took over the American embassy in 1979," he said. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Bernie Sanders at ISU - 1/25/2016 (Image by aj.hanson1) Details DMCA In trying to make this pivot, Trump benefits from decades of Fox-News-fueled lemmings, who have been trained to trust gut level prejudice, over complex analysis. This tendency is further exacerbated by twin trends that ignite the anger that Trump benefits from. The first trend is the very economic inequality that Bernie has emphasized throughout this campaign. Despite coming back from the brink of economic collapse under George W. Bush, today two-income families are less secure than the typical one-income family of the baby-boomers' upbringing. This trend is doubly potent for working class white men, who see themselves as struggling to keep their heads above water, while civil rights and civil liberties campaigns tell them that they've been entitled. Enter Trump's indignant aggression, (e.g., the war on "political correctness") and it's just what the doctor ordered. But while Trump and Sanders might be tapping into the same well of anger, in at least one sense, Trump has a distinct advantage. In addition to the "Fox News effect," Trump benefits from the easy tangibility of the supposed "maker vs. taker" meme, which envisions the undeserving masses seeking to steal from the deserving one percent. All it takes is a story about "anchor babies," or "free stuff" to motivate that line of attack. Sanders' message, on the other hand, requires a more abstract and complex understanding of data. He tries to compensate for this handicap by repeating phrases like "rigged economy" and "transfer of wealth." Unfortunately, to the typical Fox-News-viewing Trump voter, these phrases simply confirm the suspicion that Sanders wants to give out a lot of "free stuff" to the undeserving. A recent study by the Economic Policy Institute tries to break down Sanders' argument in a series of graphs. Using data on wage stagnation, increased productivity, CEO pay, declining union power, and declining benefits, they buttress Sanders' argument that it is the bottom 99%, rather than the top 1%, that have been robbed. Perhaps the most important graph concerns the gap between wages and productivity. According to the researchers, the minimum wage would be $18.00 per hour if it had kept pace with productivity. Sadly, the average voter does not think in terms of graphs; it is much easier to visualize what the supposed typical food stamp recipient may be buying the grocery store, than the value of the labor that the average worker is not being compensated for, but it is just as real. Another source of the transfer of wealth Bernie so often talk about, is the explosion in the difference between CEO pay and worker pay: 'In 1965, these CEOs made 20 times what typical workers made. As of 2013, they make just under 300 times typical workers' pay." The declining power of unions, in concert with the competitive pressure of international trade deals also contributes to increasing inequality, as these researchers note. One area that is not prominently mentioned in the EPI article, however, is the huge change in the tax code since the days of Republican President Eisenhower, when the top marginal tax rate was over 90%! As he should, Sanders often adds to that, 1) the easy evasion of taxes by large multinational corporations; 2) the lack of consequences for Wall Street over the financial meltdown of 2007-2008; 3) the bail out of same by the American taxpayer; and 4) the comparative ease of getting taxpayer funds for dubious invasions, vs. the reluctance to invest in social programs. With Trump looking like the presumptive Republican nominee, and Sanders' chances being reported as dismal by the mainstream media, one wonders if Bernie will have to resort to Perot-style charts and references to "sucking sounds" to match the easy sense of aggrieved entitlement(with all its racial and gender implications) that Trump represents. I hope it doesn't come to that. But before we find ourselves with President Trump, someone needs to tell this angry well of voters that it is not "political correctness" that has stolen their way of life. It is the rather a long series of decisions; as Thom Hartmann likes to say, under Reagan-Bush-Clinton-Bush; that have allowed a few at the top to benefit from the enormously productive labor of the many, while slashing their own contributions to the American economy. (Article changed on April 29, 2016 at 17:30) Militants have opened fire on Ukrainian Armed Forces positions 22 times over the past 24 hours, with more than half of the strikes being conducted at nightfall, the press center of the headquarters of Kyiv's army operation in Donbas said in a report as of 6:00 a.m. on Friday. "They fired 120mm and 82mm mortars, as well as automatic grenade launchers at our checkpoints near Krasnohorivka, and to the south of Avdiyivka from the direction of Donetsk and its outskirts. The enemy use grenade launchers and snipers against Ukrainian soldiers near Maryinka," the press center said on its Facebook account. Ukrainian military positions came under 120mm mortar fire in the vicinity of the Berezove-2 village, near the city of Mariupol. Militants also fired an automatic grenade launcher at Ukrainian army positions near Novotoshkivske, in the Luhansk region. "The adversary has intensified its reconnaissance activity. Several unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the adversary have been seen in the sky over the past 24 hours," the press center said. (Image by NY state) Details DMCA [image selected is the Official Seal of the Attorney General of New York to whom this petition is directed] Comments from Some of the 1422 signers of the Petition for the New York Primary to be Done Over With Safeguards to Prevent Manipulation, Fraud, and Disenfrancisement We will continue to publish the signers' insights as incisive heartfelt expressions of what is right with whatever remains of American Democracy. Pontificating aside, we have a very clear and realistic goal: the Attorney General of New York must ask for a Federal Court Order that the New York Primary be repeated with safeguards in place, to prevent disenfranchisement and egregious fraud by computer manipulations. 1413. Liz Amsden from Los Angeles, CA signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. It's bad enough that most of the supporters of Bernie Sanders were excluded from voting because of New York's arcane primary laws designed to maintain the status quo. But here we have an acknowledged disenfranchisement of thousands and thousands of LEGITIMATE voters. 1384. Mary Wynne from Nederland,, CO signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. Dear Sir, Do this immediately. Save your State of New York from Dishonor!! 1381. Naomi Scott from Thermal, CA signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. Why are you taking Democracy from the people of your State? 1335. Guillermo Echanique from Brooklyn, NY signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. I have totally lost my faith in the Board of Elections and the electoral process. This kind of disenfranchisement of thousands of voters point to the corruption rampant in the system. And we critizice Ukraine, China, Nigeria, and others!!! What a laugh! 1318. DIANA SANCHEZ from Missoula, MT signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. $hillary belongs in the big house & I do not mean the White house. 1235. Elizabeth Gulick from North Hollywood, CA signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. If they can screw people out of voting in New York, they can do it anywhere!!! STAND UP FOR VOTING RIGHTS! 1212. Hood Littlefield from Desert Hot Springs, CA signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. We want to be sure the election was fair and not fixed but that the people got the correct true count of votes for the candidates we highly believe there was some egregious violations and disenfranchisements , voting machine failures and other wrong doings. in the 2016 NY primary. We need to get this done very soon. Thank you, Hood Littlefield 1208. Chandra Bowman from Grand Rapids, MI signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. The horror show that was the New York primary must be addressed. Citizens deserve to have their vote count, not criminally be stricken from the records right before the election. Also, the voting machines need to be looked at. The sheer number of complaints, coupled with our knowledge of how machines have in previous elections been programmed to flip votes, indicates foul play. I sincerely hope arrests are forthcoming. Dismissal from a position is not nearly punishment enough for fraud and illegal spoilage of the democratic process, the cornerstone of American liberty. It is akin to terrorism. 1204. Wendy Miller from San Rafael, CA signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. Our right to vote is our most important responsibility and anything that hampers this right demands full investigation. 1199. Colin Cote from Florida, FL signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. The damage to voters was done before they even began voting. Many people were made to feel that their vote did not matter because the system wqs corrupted. Only a new monitored vote can correct this. 1198. Kyra E. Shair from Champaign, IL signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. when that large a number of voters find themselves unable to vote on election day, because their party affiliation has mysteriously been removed, THERE IS SOMETHING CLEARLY UNUSUAL AND I SHOULD THINK, ILLEGAL GOING ON! 1189. Victoria Bard from Longmont, CO signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. Voter disenfranchisement is getting out of control in this election and it must be stopped. I would hope that New Yorkers would be the ones to finally put your foot down and NOT tolerate it! The people want a fair election, and with a fair election, neither candidate can complain about the results, but when the election is so obviously rigged, no one can EVER trust the one doing the rigging, and if we allow that deceitful person to run our country, then we are doomed to an entire term of deceit. The People want and DEMAND justice! Please give it to US. Respectfully submitted. 1184. Christine Faucher from Manhattan, NY signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. Leaving out registered voters is unacceptable and weakens the strength of any campaign. One shouldn't need to win through subterfuge. If Hillary is truly the strongest candidate, she shouldn't need to resort to such tactics as her merit should stand on its own. This makes me doubt her suitability for the presidency even more. We demand a do-over! 1168. Sheryl Stiles from New Boston, TX signed this petition on Apr 28, 2016. The voter fraud has been offensive. But what is more offensive is the people who are supposed to have integrity looking the other way while voters are disenfranchised. 1153. Elizabeth Hallo from New York, NY signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Every vote must be counted! Too many voters were dropped from the rolls. A new primary is necessary. 1124. Wayne King from Milwaukee, WI signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. While I have no standing in New York to demand an investigation, as an American I believe that without fair, open, and free elections no populous can competently and with confidence elect officials in accordance with Democratic principals. Please investigate to confirm that the rights of New York citizens were not violated. 1104. Mary Webb from Williamsport, OH signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Don't stand by witnessing open destruction of democracy by oligarchy. Literally, the elite Hillary stomping on millions of Americans rights like it's her right. Why support liars, criminals, cheaters? She mimics Bernie in every victory speech. We ignore she insisted on opposite for years, telling us to settle, giving up on women's, everyone's, healthcare, every issue. We pretend that her pandering is genuine as she steals Bernie's decades long held positions. Except us, Bernie's supporters who are shining a light on truth & standing together in a revolution. Absolutely, Bernie isn't giving up & neither are we. There's been cheating shenanigans and/or voter suppression in every state she's allegedly won. We should all be appalled. Bernie won 8 of 9 races & corporate media says he can't win. Hillary wins 5 of 6, literally by suppressing votes & they continue to scream only she can win. Only if we give into dishonesty, only if we give up. 1098. John W Lefavour from Gloucester, MA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. If something isn't done officially to correct the treasonous violations of the democratic party the refusal to do so could be the reason and start of a true revolution in this country. 1073. Linda Zarebski from Eastpointe, MI signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. We have the right to vote and have all our votes counted without voter suppression or election fraud. We will no longer sit back like lambs to the slaughter. Our elected officials need to assure all Americans the right to vote in an uncomprimised and fair election. I and millions like me will continue to fight for that very purpose. 1051. Anita Morgenstern from Hawthorne, CA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. I lived in New York for the majority of my life and this is so completely fraudulent, the way the NY Primary was conducted! 1044. Lynne DeSilva-Johnson from Brooklyn, NY signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. I was stripped from the voter rolls after being registered since 1997, and I'm one of far far too many. Our votes matter. Show us you value democracy. 1007. joel lee from fpo, AE signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. We were cheated. This is America not some third world country. Put this witch in check. This is not who we are as a nation!! 995. Melissa Houle from Sunnyvale, CA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Voting is our right. Clearly, Bernie Sanders speaks to and for millions of Americans. We want our elections kept honest! 976. Karen Ahern from Bainbridge Island, WA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Unless this is done we will consider a Hillary Clinton President won fraudulently and will not cast a vote for her and we will boycott New York. 973. Sandra Sibert from Olalla, WA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Our Democracy was established to be ruled by the voice/vote of its citizens. At present, attempts to dismantle every citizen's rights are so blatant and so disgusting. Stand with and for the citizens, by demanding a full, through and independent investigation immediately! 945. Patricia Erickson from Richmond, CA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. People in Arizona are calling for a revote on June 7....Illinois...and New Yorkers shd be doing the same....it's unbelieveable that THE most popular candidate is losing primaries under our Democratic system! 940. Helen Mosley from Philadelphia, PA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. It will never be enough to fix the problems suffered in the NYC primary by the general because it is possible without those problems NY would have went to Bernie or his delegate count would have been considerably more. 919. Dawn Owens from San Marcos, CA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Hillary's well paid minions are STEALING the election! Now we know where all the money donated to the Clinton Foundation and lost at the State Dept went! 913. Tami Cooley from Levittown, NY signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Not proud to be an American anymore! 912. Osman from Los Angeles, CA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. 911. Melissa Lavabre from Los Angeles, CA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Firing Diane Haslett-Rudiano was a good thing but it still doesn't give a voice to the over 100,000 voters who lost access to the polls because of her. Not to mention the other mishaps. 908. Roland Wayman from Bainbridge, NY signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. This years election could be of out United States. There is no reason, in the year 2016, for nationwide hijacking of the peoples votes. Outrageous. 907. James R Mc Shane from Waterville, IA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. YES ALL STATES SUSPECTED OF VOTE FRAUD SHOULD BE FOUND AND PROSECUTED 906. Elisabeth Buchwalter from Ketchum, ID signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Your first primary was a disgraceful fraudulent sham. It needs to be redone correctly this time. 905. Gale Madyun from Pasadena, CA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. If this nation was any other, this nation would have invaded to spread democracy. Corruption makes this nation the laughing stock of the world. Do something to say it ain't so! 844. J Abbott from Delmar, NY signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. We cannot watch idle while electioneering takes place! If there was electioneering (and it looking like it & a payoff in Brooklyn), it could significantly alter the presidential election! We must have truth!! 811. BJ Anderson from Canoga Park, CA signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Im ashamed of this goverment and this country When candidates running for the PRESIDENCY can cheat people out of VOTING to win .. and nothing is dobe abiut it We are through.... 779. janice jagodzinski from Manlius, NY signed this petition on Apr 27, 2016. Please! Help make Votes count fairly. SO many died & fought for our right to vote in the USA. Please get a federal court order. 751. Maria from _ Cocpa, FL signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. This is not the America that we are. This election has been fixed for one person to win. This is all set up for only one win. Why are WE not being counted, WE are the people and WE want a do over RE VOTE. 718. Karen Turner from East Hampton, NY signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. This is serious negligence, if not a deliberate criminal act. 709. Patrick Archuleta from Santa Fe, NM signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. It's all rigged. Not Fair. Attorney General Schneiderman, this is your finest moment. 637. Nahum Connery Gibson from Federal Way, WA signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. There was blatant failures and even laws broken what kind of organized voting system is this that allows the voters to be wronged and cheated in this way. Power to the people and justice for all! 631. Robert doyle from Westhampton, NY signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. My party was switched from democrat to independent so I was unable to vote. I am disgusted at what happened in New York to me and thousands of others. A truly abhorrent miscarriage of democracy. 576. Andre from New York, NY signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. Voters were purged from the rolls. There needs to be another vote taken. This is outrageous! The system is rigged, corrupt and undemocratic. 554. Dianne Faucher from New York, NY signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. Preventing hundreds of thousand from voting is an unendurable outrage. Please fix this! 534. Amy Bookbinder from Leeds, MA signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. Voting rights are the basis of our democracy. Voter suppression requires full investigation and transparency. The time is now - to hold those responsible accountable with no unfair scapegoating to cover up a serious problem. 517. Lirie kurtaj from Ridgewood, NY signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. I believe New Yorkers have the right to require the state allow a fair and unbiased primary back in Play. We are showing that this is not voter system that allows the people's voice to be heard and to excercise their right to fair and uncorrupted process. 516. gail wilson from acton, MA signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. 515. Avery Nelson from Buffalo, NY signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. You have been asked to do this for the people of New York who voted for you, now you have the "Ball". 490. Helma Hermans from Bay shore, NY signed this petition on Apr 26, 2016. How was my name suddenly no longer on the voting registry? I voted here before - many times! Had to do an affidavit ballot! And I was not the only one! 464. Christina Guice from Springfield, MO signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. This election has been so fraught with disenfranchisement someone needs to set an example for all States and begin the act of 'fixing' our 'broken' system! 452. Trudi Thomas from Surry, ME signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. This does not seem my "America" anymore. What on earth is going on. More shocking every day. Please, correct these horrific dishonest happenings. 442. Dolores Frank from Pueblo, CO signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. I am outraged by the growing voter fraud and manipulations of our electoral process, which has turned into an international disgrace comparable to Third World nations needing UN observers. Correcting the egregious disenfranchisements of hundreds of thousands of voters in the New York Primary can only be achieved by conducting a new one, ordered by a Federal Court. 435. Florence Splitt from Brooklyn, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Voters purged without being notified, having their parties switched without being notified, polls not being open long enough for people to reasonably be able to vote, people showing up and polls staying closed hours after they were supposed to open. Pure voter suppression went on. 419. Mike Lenowsky from Brooklyn, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. I both want this to happen but also wonder if its actually doable. Will NY voters show up again? I'm signing because I do believe Bernie got hosed. Meaning the millions of independent voters who were not allowed to vote on the democrat line were taken away from what would have been a total Bernie win! That's a huge issue that should be addressed along with the rest of this petition. 407. millan from Manhattan, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Yes, I personally experienced voter suppression in Manhattan. 406. Diana ONEILL from LONG BEACH, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. NY voter rights were disgracefully abused on 4-19-16. I wrote to the local (Nassau Co) board regarding the people at my local voting station, who were not on the rolls, or, listed as other than Democrats. There were no affidavit voting forms available, and as the elections monitor said they'd been waiting hours for them that she was "not holding her breath". I also noted that the disenfranchised voters were younger voters who wanted to vote for Sanders. This and the "inadvertant" DNC opening of all voting demographics to BOTH candidates early in the electoral season, alludes to DNC/HRC election fraud. This was not unexpected in NY, after AZ; I received advice to go on my election board site and bring proof of registration with me. I became aware of this nationwide fraud when Bill Clinton went into voting sites all across MA, with the mayor of Boston (who had openly endorsed HR), and held up voting by anyone, while he shut down the streets, and used a megaphone right outside the voting station. THIS IS ALL ON VIDEO AND REPORTED BY AT LEAST 4 BOSTON AREA NEWSPAPERS. This election is criminal. We demand a new vote in NYS. 382. Lisa Carrabis from Blue Point, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Even those of us who were allowed to vote were denied a legitimate outcome because of the blatant election fraud that occurred before and during the April 21st primary 355. Margaret from Merrick, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Everyone regardless of what party they are in should be able to vote in a primary. Very disrespectful that they can not. They have no voting rights. Shameful 336. Karen Special from Annandale, VA signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. As a proud former NYer, I find it outrageous that so many voters were disenfranchised in the primary elections. This needs correcting. NOW. 335. Dan Gorbunow from Minneapolis, MN signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. 334. Brittney Bass from Bellmore, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. It is a part of our civil rights to vote, and for many, this right was taken away from them during the NY 2016 Primary. I believe it is unjust and there needs to be actions taken to make up for this disenfranchisement! 330. Aileen Kane from Yakima, WA signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. It is time we as a society stopped rewarding incompetence and cheating. An election system which lacks integrity is a danger to social order. When the legitimacy of elections is questionable in nation after nation this is soon followed by serious civil unrest, even war. The whole point of having a democracy or a republic and having laws is to have free and peaceful choice as to who decides and governs. We as a society simply cannot have this kind of fiasco in our elections, 327. Arthur Coates from Guilford, VT signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Criminal charges for tampering should also be brought forth. 296. Karen Atkinson from Bolivia, NC signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Hold a new primary! Enough with the illegal activtives promoted by candidtaes! And hold those who are blocking voteing accounatable..now..not 10 years crom now! 274. Janet Littlefair from Welshpool, United Kingdom signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. If America can't show to themselves and the world that voting irregularities can't be sorted out - then it should not be considered a Democracy anymore. 236. Sandra St. Mire from Martville, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. How important is voting to you? To me it's important, it's our freedom and right to vote and that's why I served my country in the U.S. Army. The third-world countries are watching us. 232. Holly Douton from Silver Springs, NV signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. We should make it easier for everyone's voice to be heard rather than making it easier for the unscrupulous to manipulate, intimidate and disenfranchise citizens. Those who commit frauld must be held accountable. 223. Leesha Fagan from Grand Rapids, MI signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. A thorough investigation MUST be conducted in the fiasco that was New York's primary. Why did ever county with over 100,000 registered Democrat voters go to Clinton??? Why did so many people get disenfranchised? 214. Nestor Rodriguez from Yonkers, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. My friends and students were disenfranchised, this should not happen in NY in 2016! 192. Mona Klarman from Mahomet, IL signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. I am sick and tired of the corruption in every state with Hillary and the DNC. 189. Thomas Blecher from Ithaca, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. The Carter Center should be monitoring our elections. We've become a banana republic 151. Cheryl Sikma from Maricopa, AZ signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Please use paper ballots. No machines. 133. Danny Yip from San Francisco, CA signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Please tell Hillary to release the transcript 124. Marc Schauber from Yonkers, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. This time, the balllots should be rewritten without misleading instructions which had the effect of a Sanders supporter unintentionally voting for A HRC delegate 112. Elizabeth Humphrey from Northampton, MA signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. I believe our Democracy no longer exists. This election is just the most recent obvious examples of it's non-existence. This petition is probably pointless since The government of the USA has deteriorated into a corrupt money & war worshipping farce of a Democracy... 89. SuZen from NY, NY signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Besides 126,000 people getting knock off the elections - the primaries should be for all voters not just Democrats. Also to change affilliation one needed to do this by Oct 9, 2015 before the first debate. This seems unconstitutional and we should have a re-vote in NY state!!! 67. Barbara Maltese from Hondo, TX signed this petition on Apr 25, 2016. Even though Mr. Schneiderman is on Hillary Clinton's "leadership council", we hope he does the right thing to serve the people of NY and request a Federal Court Order...or recuse himself from one position or the other. 49. Daniel J. McNamara from Mamaroneck, NY signed this petition on Apr 24, 2016. The voter irregularities on April 19, 2016 are an insult to democracy. Two of my own 12th grade students, who were legally registered Democrats were turned away in New Rochelle because their polling stations did not have their names on the registered voter lists. What happened in Brooklyn was criminal negligence at best. 32. Caroline French from Dover, NH signed this petition on Apr 24, 2016. Needs an outside appraisal and cannot have the person in charge of it be a Hillary delegate. 21. Jo Buechler from Tekamah, NE signed this petition on Apr 24, 2016. This whole election has made America look pathetic. The "power country" that preaches democracy around the world; cannot hold an election that is fair at home. This has been an ugly show for the world. Get it together---do something right! 15. Lois McCarthy from Chestertown, MD signed this petition on Apr 24, 2016. Gee, I wonder why Bernie Sanders didn't win Brooklyn, his home neighborhood, where he attracted 10s of thousands of cheering supporters at rallies just days before. Oh yeah, 126,000 voters were strategically deleted from voting rolls right before the election, that's why! Unbelievable in your face fraud in NYC! 14. Michelle Mark from Constantia, NY signed this petition on Apr 24, 2016. No matter what else is done a full hand count of all paper ballots will be the only way I will accept reported results so far afield from the exit polls. We must have a full hand count of paper ballots! 3. Ricardo Ramirez from Oxnard, CA signed this petition on Apr 24, 2016. As a 20 year vet I did not serve and uphold the constitution to see it usurped by Election Fraud as we see happening in primary after primary! We the people demand open and fair election processes to keep our democracy true to the people! Reprinted from Michael Moore Facebook Finally, after months of us begging you to come to Flint, you've decided to visit next Wednesday. I know this will make many people happy and grateful. But, as one who voted for you twice and was thrilled beyond belief over your election, I'm sorry to tell you your visit is too little too late. You say you're coming to "listen to the people of Flint." Sir, they've been poisoned for two damn years. You've known about it since October. There's nothing to listen to. Unless you're bringing the entire U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dig up and replace the 75,000 lead pipes, plus the Attorney General to arrest Governor Rick Snyder, then this is just another photo-op and half-baked list of new promises we don't need. If you're coming to make one of those "we need to rebuild America's infrastructure" speeches, don't bother. This is NOT an infrastructure problem -- it's a hate crime and mass poisoning of Black and poor people that NEVER would happen if this were Bloomfield Hills or Grosse Pointe or any other white town. It was done in order to give a billion-dollar tax cut to the rich. Every child here now has some form of permanent brain damage. There is NOTHING you can do to reverse that for them. There is no cure. Again, they are Black, they are poor. Do you have a cure for that? Because THAT's the only reason why this has happened. Flint's infrastructure was just fine (or what passes for fine these days in the USA). This poisoning happened because the governor said "Cut services!" -- and so one of the first services he cut was to seal off the clean drinking water pipeline from the Great Lakes and make the poor and the Black of Flint drink dirty water from the drainage ditch you and others call "the Flint River." We haven't called it that for years. I'd drink my own piss before I'd drink out of that sewer. We don't need any more visits from politicians, even one as beloved as you. We don't need any more promises of testing. We don't need any more token digging up of pipes made rancid by the Flint River water that flowed through them (of the 75,000 pipes that need replacing, a total of 39 -- 39!! -- have been dug up and removed since you met with the mayor in the White House back in January). Meanwhile the poisoning continues on daily basis, even with the Lake Huron water that has been restored because it's flowing through lead-damaged pipes with a new chemical that now burns people's skin. So unless you're bringing the U.S. Army with you to save 100,000 of your fellow Americans, and unless you're going to arrest the governor of Michigan who has now killed more Americans than ISIS, you might as well stay home. The riots here, I'm certain, will begin sometime soon. That's what you or I would do if someone was poisoning OUR kids and the government refused to stop it, right? With respect, admiration and profound disappointment, Michael Moore Flint native Michigan resident Obama supporter Now that it's increasingly likely that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will be the two major candidates for president in the general election, voters are once again left without a true anti-war candidate, or even a decisive break from the last decade-and-a-half of disastrous foreign policy. We already know there's barely ever been a military engagement that Clinton didn't like. And Trump confirmed on Wednesday in his "big" foreign policy speech that he will be a chaotic and unpredictable aggressor whose opinion changes with the wind. When Bernie Sanders leaves the race, there will no longer be a credible voice saying that more bombing is not necessarily the answer to solving all the problems in the Middle East, many of which were caused by bombing in the first place. Trump started off his speech on Wednesday by reading from a teleprompter in a rambling and incoherent manner, declaring that Obama has "depleted" our military (false), the Iran deal was the "worst agreement" (why?) and that we don't support Israel, "a force for justice and peace" (absurd) -- hallmark Republican conventional wisdom talking points. He then did say some things that suggested he would not look to immediately start new wars in the Middle East and elsewhere, but it's hard to take anything he says on the subject seriously. He swung wildly from one position to its opposite on multiple occasions, contradicting himself at various times from comments he made years to mere minutes prior. For example, he said that bombing Libya was "a disaster," but he then questioned why we aren't still bombing Libya right now. He claimed that "unlike other candidates for the presidency, war and aggression will not be my first instinct." Yet he's bragged in the recent past about wanting to bring back waterboarding, or "much worse," killing terrorists' entire families, and would not be opposed to using nuclear bombs, even in Europe. He remarked that there's "too much destruction out there -- too many destructive weapons," but just five minutes earlier in the speech, he said the US's nuclear arsenal was in dire need of "renewal." Click Here to Read Whole Article Dolkun Isa Image from Twitter User NewsWorldIN (Image by Twitter User NewsWorldIN) Details DMCA Modi government is facing flak for first issuing and then cancelling visa to two West-based Chinese dissidents, Dolkun Isa and Lu Jinguh, and a Hong Kong-based rights activist Ra Wong. The three were to attend a conference in Dharamshala on democracy and China. US-based 'Initiatives for China' organised the meet with the help of Tibetans who have made Dharmashala their home ever since their spiritual guru Dalai Lama was given refugee during the early years of Indian independence. As any layman knows, arrangements for international conferences are an elaborate affair; often the spade work begins almost a year in advance. The Dharmashala meet (April 30-May 1) was no exception to the rule as invitations were sent out to a number of experts and scholars around the world. This preparation naturally puts the local government -- civil and police authorities -- in the loop. Dolkun Isa's credentials are a matter of public knowledge. He is a leader of World Uyghur Congress (WUC) who lives in Germany. Lu Jinghua is a well-known Tiananmen activist and is based in the US. In so far as Ray Wong is concerned, his karmabhoomi is Hong Kong. There is no secret about his activism. Isa applied for a tourist visa under the electronic travel-authorisation system. So did the two others. All the three were granted the Indian visa without the usual fuss but their visas were cancelled for different reasons. In the case of Isa, the cancellation is attributed to a red-corner Interpol notice. He had "suppressed" this fact, it is claimed. Both Lu Jinghua and Ray Wong, we are told, were ineligible for visa and their applications suffered from 'data inconsistency'. While granting of visa to Dolkun Isa was hailed by strategic and diplomatic community as a snub to China that had gone against Indian interests in the Maulana Masood Azhar case, the visa roll back has been dubbed as acting under Chinese pressure. Most headlines in and outside India read: "Under Chinese pressure, India cancels visa to Uyghur separatist Dolkun Isa". This conclusion appears to be based on Beijing's angry reaction. Pointing out that Interpol had issued a red-corner notice for the arrest of Isa, a spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry said "Bringing him to justice is a due obligation of relevant countries." It is naive to assert that India did not factor in the likely reaction of China to Isa's visa. Equally absurd it is to argue that Delhi is not aware of his activities. Yes, whatever be the official stand of India's interior and foreign offices, Delhi cannot feign ignorance about the red-corner notice that exists for Isa's arrest. Interpol has issued several red-corner notices. Isa's is one of them. Interestingly, it has not come in the way of his activities in Munich where his World Uyghur Congress is based. The WUC is not a new entity. It has been the forum of exiled Uyghur groups like the World Uyghur Youth Congress (WUYC) and East Turkestan National Congress (ETNC) since 2004. Most WUC leaders are not Xinjiang based. They have been living abroad. While its President Rebiya Kadeer lives in the United States, executive President Isa is operating from Germany. The other office bearers are spread over Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Japan, Britain and Sweden. WUC traces Uyghur-separatist movement to suppression of ethnic minority in Xinjiang province after Maoism became the creed of China in the forties. China has branded WUC as a terrorist entity and has been accusing it of fomenting unrest and terrorism in northwest China. It also has been accusing its all-weather friend Pakistan of patronising Uyghur Muslim militants, who, according to Beijing, operate off the Talibanised pockets in northwestern Pakistan that borders Afghanistan. Since China says it has become a victim of Islamist upsurge in Pakistan, it is natural to expect the Communist nation to throw its weight behind India's UN campaign to declare Maulana Masood Azhar a global terrorist. But to Delhi's surprise, Beijing torpedoed the plan. Obviously, this veto was used to please Pakistan for whom Azhar is a non-state actor, and therefore a national asset in its drive to bleed India through attacks like the one staged on Pathankot air base some weeks ago. Azhar had escaped Indian gallows when he was exchanged for passengers on an Indian Airlines flight 814 hijacked by Jaish-e-Muhammad group to Kandahar in Dec 1999. JeM has staged several deadly strikes on India including the attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001. So much so, New Delhi's e-visa to Chinese dissidents makes eminent sense. It sent out a message in plain code that China should not take India lightly and be prepared for a diplomatic standoff that could even see China finding doors closed for business with India which today covers a wide gamut from ordinary pen cells to air conditioners, cellular phones, and energy equipment. India should have done this feat a long while ago particularly when the PLA patrols were regularly standing in the way of laying even a water canal in the Ladakh region. Well, better late than never. (To be continued.) While both Trump and Hillary prance around as the presumptive candidates, Ted Cruz is gobbling up the headlines in a media frenzy that is doing him more harm than good. If Ted is looking to his old friends in Congress to give him the nod, he better not hold his breath. Unless, of course, he wants to use this direct quote from John Boehner in his next campaign ad: "I have never worked with a more miserable son of a b*tch in my life... (he is) Lucifer in the flesh." Way to make friends in high places, Teddy. Well surely he can get some other standard-bearers in the GOP to sing his praises, right? There must be somebody who likes him, somewhere ... The BBC has compiled some sentiments from some of those who know him best: constitution (Image by stefanie says) Details DMCA Which party do you think of when you hear the phrase, "defender of the Constitution"? I would wager that members of both parties would immediately think of the Republican Party, because they are the ones who most loudly proclaim their deep allegiance to our founding document. Yet in recent years, the leaders of the GOP have engaged in an assault on our constitutional system in ways unprecedented in American history: 1) In the torture memos, the George W. Bush administration set a precedent that could enable any future president to shield his or her administration from prosecution for any illegal actions. Just tell your lawyers to draw up a memo declaring a crime to be legal. Such a memo can shield those who commit the illegal action, for they can claim that they relied on the memo. Meanwhile the lawyers who wrote the memo can't be prosecuted because they did nothing but render an opinion. In March, an open letter from 121 Republican "national security leaders" characterized GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump's foreign policy vision as "wildly inconsistent and unmoored in principle," swinging "from isolationism to military adventurism within the space of one sentence." While it's always wise to take proclamations from the people who brought us the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with a grain of salt, in this case they were right -- and Trump himself proved it with his speech before the Center for National Interest on April 27. "America First," says Trump, "will be the major and overriding theme of my administration." Some non-interventionists, especially those of a libertarian bent, cheer the use of that phrase, thinking back to the movement to keep the US out of World War II and even to Thomas Jefferson's proclaimed policy of "peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none." But neither of those remotely resemble Trump's position, to the extent that he has a coherent position at all. Only two sentences after dropping the America First name, he lauds US interventionism in World War II and 45 years of Cold War with the Soviet Union. Later in the speech Trump condemns open trade lanes with other nations, complaining about a "manufacturing trade deficit" and China's "economic assault on America's jobs and wealth" and proposing the most damaging version of international trade war since the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act helped crash the US economy and usher in the Great Depression. So much for commerce and honest friendship. And what about peace? Trump calls for US allies to increase their military spending while claiming that America's own military -- still by far the most expensive and powerful in the history of the world and the single largest line item in the federal budget -- has been "weakened" and must be rebuilt. This is not a proposal that NATO stand up while the US stand downs -- he calls for an escalation, not a drawdown, of military force. Trump supports continued US intervention in the Middle East, including an obligatory tip of the hat to America's "special relationship" with Israel, but he doesn't support "nation-building." In English that means he isn't giving up on having the US armed forces run around the world killing people and breaking things; he's only against trying to put the victim nations back together again afterward. "Wildly inconsistent and unmoored in principle" indeed. But it's a heck of a personal branding escapade. Trump is just a run of the mill -- if visibly unstable and irrational -- hawk trying to pass himself as the peace candidate. And it's working, at least among people who believe me when I tell them the word "gullible" is written on the ceiling. It's not cool to like TPP anymore (Image by atacrossroads.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/outcast-singleness-homosexual-church.jpg) Details DMCA There was a time not so long ago when trade agreements weren't considered a "topic of interest" for the general American public. Occasionally, a reporter would cover the subject, only to continue the "free trade is good" rhetoric. If a person was against a "free trade agreement," that person was considered a protectionist and an outcast. Fast forwarding to April 2016, we can see that the tables have turned and the new outcast is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). TPP has come under fire from all sides. It's not just New Zealand , Malaysia , Japan , Australia , Mexico , Canada , who have held countless protests with hundreds of thousands of people involved, its also our current presidential candidates. GOP candidates Donald Trump and Senator Ted Cruz have publicly denounced the deal calling it "the worst deal for America." Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has criticized the deal since negotiations first began. Not far behind is former Secretary of State Clinton, although she has left herself some wriggle room by criticizing the TPP "in its current form." To add more fuel to the fire, key Congresspersons have stood up against the "status quo" long before it was "cool" to be against the TPP. Representative Tom Reed, (R-NY-23) who sits on Ways and Means Subcommittee declared his position against the TPP . Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), former USTR opposes TPP . Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Representative Bruce Poliquin (R-ME-2), and more. Earlier this month during our D.C. fly-in, I realized just how real this war has become. What once seemed like a futile fight has turned into a David and Goliath fight where middle class America seems to be putting up a real fight against corporate giants. There is still so much that needs to be done. One particular Democratic office mentioned to me, "We voted no for TPA (Trade Promotion Authority) and will most likely vote no for TPP, but we were told that Vice President Joe Biden will be making his rounds to all Democratic offices and push for a yes vote on TPP. How are we supposed to look at our VP and tell him we disagree?" I wanted to respond "BY GROWING A BACK BONE!" But respectfully I nodded, showed him the facts and urged him to keep in mind his constituents who have been ruthlessly hurt by trade agreements in the past. Meanwhile all the uproar against TPP, President Obama visits Europe and speaks in favor of the US-EU equivalent of the TPP, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and said he was confident that the TPP would pass one the primary race was over. During his stay in Europe, protests against TTIP bursted from all over the EU, denouncing TTIP. A recent poll showed that out of 10,000 registered voters, 34 percent of Republican voters oppose the TPP compared to 24 percent who support it. 75 percent of Democratic voters are against it. And 30 percent of independents oppose it in comparison to 22 percent who support it. How much longer can the White House push something that the majority of people don't want? GOP presidential contender Ted Cruz gave irrelevance to the oft quoted line from Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 Vice President pick John Nance Garner who famously said the vice-presidency "is not worth a warm bucket of spit" or some such variance of that. By picking, Carly Fiorina even before he won the GOP nomination, the pick was clearly designed to strengthen his position with the GOP base, among conservative women, and to attain the Holy Grail of a presidential ticket, and that's balance, in this case gender balance. The vice president pick has been a major political, strategic, and yes potentially winning move by presidential contenders since John F. Kennedy picked Lyndon Johnson in 1960 as his running mate. Kennedy was a moderate, wealthy, erudite, Massachusetts senator who needed the southerner Johnson to assure the popular and electoral votes of the South. This election the burden of getting the VP pick right is even more crucial for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, who barring a miracle or gross, naked, and crass back room maneuvering by some in the GOP establishment who still cling tight to the stop Trump fetish, will almost certainly face off in the fall. It doesn't take much to see why both need to pick carefully and right their VP. They both have the highest negatives of any major presidential candidates in recent presidential history. They both are from the same liberal, northeast state, New York. They both have potential gender, Clinton, and unorthodox non-politician issues, Trump. They both have opponents who have rallied legions of voters to harangue, lambaste, demean, and ridicule them that within their party. Many of whom vow that they won't vote for them no matter what. So the big questions are who will both candidates nab for their running mates and what will he or she bring to the ticket that will help seal the deal for one or the other? First there's Clinton. The names that have been bandied about most prominently have been Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Julian Castro, former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown, and Elizabeth Warren and, even, Bernie Sanders. It could well be any of them since they all are seasoned politicians, well-connected, have some name identification, and with the exception of Warren and Sanders bring the much prized geographical balance to the ticket. But it will take more than that. It will take someone with few negatives, and the ability to pull legions of independents to the Clinton banner. They now make up more than forty percent of the general electorate. This is a historic high. http://www.gallup.com/poll/166763/record-high-americans-identify-independents.aspx Hillary is a woman, so it almost guarantees that her pick will be a male. And given the loathing of many of Sanders most rabid backers of Clinton, it will take someone who sees close to eye to eye with Sanders on the issues, or at least someone who won't alienate them further. The resume of that candidate will have to be top flight in every one of those areas. Now there's Trump. He's shown that he has surprising appeal to a lot of the voter demographics that the GOP has traditionally craved, and that's the right side independents, lower income, less educated blue collar workers, and voters ticked off, disgusted, and alienated from deal making, special interest laden, Washington Beltway politicians of both parties. He's going to need every one of their votes to offset the iron-clad backing that Clinton has from African-American, Hispanics, LGBT, and middle income, middle class, college educated white women. Trump has hopelessly alienated all of them. The names that have been bandied about include: Governors Chris Christie, Scott Walker Rubio, Mary Fallin, Susannah Martinez. And even John Kasich Martinez and Fallin make some sense as conservatives, women, and in Martinez case, she's Hispanic, which could make some think that Trump is not the manic anti-immigrant basher that he is. The combative and oft time alienating Christie brings name identification, and campaign stump skills to the ticket, Walker and Rubio bring the regional balance and are favorites of ultra conservatives and evangelicals. Rubio and Kasich carry the imprimatur of the GOP establishment. They are all governors, and there's always an allure with governors because of their supposed prowess with fiscal and administrative management skills. Trump gave one clue when he said that his pick should be a party insider who knows his way around Washington, presumably to balance off while he's busily lambasting that very establishment. http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/24/politics/donald-trump-political-insider-vice-president/index.html The single biggest asset, though, that a VP pick brings to the presidential table is that he or she can turn on more voters than their potential boss can or has turned off no matter what part of the country they hail from, their gender, or their rank in the party. Whoever can accomplish that tricky feat will get the second biggest prize in the presidential derby. That's more important than ever this go round since that pick can make or break Trump or Clinton. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His latest book is From Sanders to Trump: A Guide to the 2016 Presidential Primary Battles (Amazon Kindle) He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on Radio One. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report Saturdays 9:00 AM on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Shuster Live show on April 29 to be broadcasted on Kyiv TV Kyiv administration Shuster Live show of journalist and television host Savik Shuster on April 29 will be broadcasted on the Kyiv city's municipal television station Kyiv TV. The press service of Kyiv City Administration reported on Thursday, referring to Kyiv TV Director Svitlana Kryvoruchko, who said the first broadcast will take place at 20:30 on April 29. "The editorial board and employees of Kyiv TV backed the idea of Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko to broadcast the Shuster Live show on Kyiv TV. I'm sure that this will positively influence the development of television in Ukraine's capital city, " Kryvoruchko said. Shuster hosts his show on his 3S.tv channel. The show has also been broadcast on national television (channels). Global and China Feature phone Market 2016: 2021: Industry Analysis Types, Technology, Application, and Geography Forecast Report http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/global-and-chinese-feature-phone-market-2016-industry.html http://goo.gl/3f6PUk http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/category/daily-necessities.html http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com/ The Global and China Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Industry Starting with a broad overview, the report narrows down to offer an overview of the Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Industry globally as well as with a specific focus on China. By conducting a check of the current status of the Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Industry, the report is able to then delve deeper into the various forces that directly and indirectly impact the Market.Access Full Report With TOC:Given the ever-shifting and ever-evolving nature of the technologies that enable the products and services contributing to the growth of the Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Industry, the report conducts a detailed analysis of the technological trends and developments. This report then moves ahead to focus on the various global and China-based players in the Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Industry. In order to obtain specific information about the Market participants, the report focuses on the following key aspects: Company Profiles, product/services information, contact information, as well as production/revenues.The report then delves deeper by segmenting the global and Chinese Market for Feature phone Market 2016-2021 into sections, based on parameters such as applications, end-users, geographical regions, or product/technology, where applicable. The degree of competition that exists in the Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Industry in the context of both China and the world, is studied in detail.Request For Sample:Table of ContentChapter One Introduction of Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Feature phone Market 2016-20211.2 Development of Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Industry1.3 Status of Feature phone Market 2016-2021 IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Feature phone Market 2016-20212.1 Development of Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Feature phone Market 2016-2021 Manufacturing TechnologyChapter Three Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers3.1 Company A3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Product Information3.1.3 2011-2016 ProductionFor More Under Same Category Reports:MRS Research group provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Prof Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 FREE (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803 FREEEmail: sales@mrsresearchgroup.comWebsite: Tuning for cutting processes 'WB Werkstatt + Betrieb' features article on CERATIZIT Tuning for cutting processes technical article on CERATIZIT in 'WB Werkstatt + Betrieb' http://www.ceratizit.com/products/metal-cutting/ http://www.ceratizit.com/company/news-press/news/detail/news///Tuning_fuer_Zerspanprozesse_Fachbeitrag_ueber_CERATIZIT_in_WB_Werkstatt_Betrieb/ A four-page report, written by Dr. Uwe Schleinkofer, head of R&D at CERATIZIT, covering process design, tool coating and engineering, was published in the technical journal 'WB Werkstatt + Betrieb'.A magazine for the cutting tools sector, 'WB Werkstatt + Betrieb' focuses on information for the technical management, works and production managers in mechanical engineering and vehicle construction as well as all fields of the value added chain of cutting tools.The March 2016 edition features a technical article by Dr. Uwe Schleinkofer from CERATIZIT, who reports on an efficient and reliable cutting process requiring the optimal interaction of tool parameters such as coating and cutting edge geometry. This very complex task can be solved best with a mixture of know-how and competence in the field of testing.Demands are rising in terms of both machining quality and machining efficiency due to rapid innovations in production machining of components and the fast-paced development of work piece materials. However, it has to be accepted that the cutting process depends on so many factors that it is virtually impossible to put a theoretically optimal process into practice.Modern powder metallurgy processes for best granulate propertiesThe main factors influencing the supposedly optimal process are defined by the highly complex interaction of powder, substrate, tool coating, cutting edge geometry, chip groove, tool design and the related process parameters in technical application. In the years from 1998 to 2002 CERATIZIT created the water-spray process for the manufacture of carbide granulate, which was patented and brought to production stage on a large scale. This innovative powder production represented a quantum leap in the manufacturing of carbide granulates for the entire sector.Teamwork for optimal results: substrate and coatingThe composition of the carbide granulates is specially tailored to the applications of the grades produced regarding their toughness, heat resistance and wear resistance. In addition to the mechanical aspects, for example hardness and toughness, the thermally controlled factors like creep values and chemical reactions with the work piece material and the atmosphere are also precisely analysed and taken into consideration when it comes to the structure and micro-structure of the newly developed carbides, cermets and ceramics.The properties of the substrate are not the only ones which are decisive in this context. Instead, it is rather the combination of the substrate properties with the coatings and finishing processes and the tool geometry which are crucial.Efficient tooling technologyThe holistic understanding of the interaction between the tool, the insert and the associated chip groove is the prerequisite for the development of innovative, highly efficient tooling systems.Optimisation of production processes in the cutting tools sectorCompanies which want to stay competitive in the cutting tool industry or improve their own competitiveness must continuously optimise the production processes with regards to powder metallurgy and tool production. At CERATIZIT for this reason both products for standard applications and customised tooling solutions are developed in holistic teams where construction engineers, product engineers and application engineers are involved. The prototypes, their manufacturing processes and application tests contribute decisively to the success of the products and are characterised by considerable customer benefit.For further information about the main influencing factors of the cutting process with examples of possible solutions from the competence brand Cutting Solutions by CERATIZIT (), go to our website: Tuning for cutting processes (Tuning fur Zerspanprozesse) () (German).For over 90 years, CERATIZIT has been a pioneer developing exceptional hard material products for cutting tools and wear protection. The family owned company, headquartered in Mamer, Luxembourg, develops and manufactures highly specialized tungsten carbide cutting tools, inserts and rods. The CERATIZIT GROUP is the market leader in several wear part application areas and develops successful new types of hard metal, cermet and ceramic grades used for instance in the wood and stone working industry.CERATIZIT S.A.101, Route de HolzemLU-8232 MamerLuxembourgT. +352 31 20 85-1F. +352 31 19 11E. info@ceratizit.com Sterilization Container Market 2016 size, share, growth, trends, review, research, industry analysis and forecast http://goo.gl/FxZhyJ http://goo.gl/xlwfUP http://www.qymarketresearch.com/ Market Research Report on Sterilization Container Market 2016 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Sterilization Container worldwide. 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This report "Worldwide Sterilization Container Market 2016" also states import/export, supply and consumption figures and Sterilization Container market cost, price, revenue and Sterilization Container market's gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), as well as other regions can be added in Sterilization Container Market area.Request For Free Report Sample @Then, the report focuses on worldwide Sterilization Container market key players with information such as company profiles with product picture as well as specification.Related information to Sterilization Container market- capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Aslo includes Sterilization Container industry's - Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. 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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 JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Website:Email: sales@qymarketresearch.com Nerdyturtlez.com: A Launching Pad for Freelance Academic Writers http://www.nerdyturtlez.com/ Nerdyturtlez.com invites all with creative and critical bent to write for academic submissions in college and universities. This exclusive portal for freelance academic writers was launched last week with an aim to provide a unique opportunity to all those who have in-depth knowledge in their respective field of study and want to receive monetary compensation for their expertise.Nerdyturtlez.com offers you the exclusive opportunity to earn money while working from the comfort of your home. 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Once you get registered with the website, you can immediately pick a project and start working.Noidasector -6UPIndia Iraq Power Market 2016 Growth, Size, Generation, Outlook to 2025, Investment Trend, Industry Analysis http://goo.gl/6jo2qp Iraq Power Market Outlook to 2030 : Iraq Power provides an detailed overview of Iraq Power scenario.This report on Iraq Power also includes an review of trial numbers as well as their (Iraq Power) average enrollment in uppermost/top countries which are conducted worldwide.Iraq Power report also covers disease clinical trials by country (G7 & E7), sponsor type, region, trial, research, review, Size status as well as end points status.Report Iraq Power also Includes prominent drugs for in-progress trials (Note: based on number of ongoing trials and reviews).Get Sample Copy of Report Here :The report covers detailed analysis and forecast of important market dynamics of Iraq Power industry including market drivers and restraints. It also evaluates future growth & demand opportunities for its stake holders. The report throws light on upstream and downstream markets of Iraq Power industry. The report provides detailed analysis of production price, production capacity, production volume, production value, production cost or profit margin and supply & demand analysis/forecast.Scope of Iraq Power Report:-1. This report includes a snapshot of all over the world clinical trials and reviews landscape on Iraq Power scenario.2. Report on Iraq Power also provides high level data related to the Global clinical research by country (G7 & E7), sponsor type, region, trial, review, size status as well as end points status on Iraq Power scenario3. Report reviews top companies involved in Iraq Power as well as provides e all trials (Trial title, Phase, Research and Status) pertaining to the company on Iraq Power scenario.4. This report provides all the unaccomplished trials on Iraq Power scenario (Withdrawn, Terminated) with reason for unaccomplishment on Iraq Power.About Us:Global 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.Contact Us:Joel JohnDeerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Web: Global Market NewsEmail: shane@GlobalMarketNews.com Brazil Power Market 2016 Size, Trend, Growth, Analysis, Capacity 2025 http://goo.gl/931Dt1 Brazil Power Market Outlook to 2030 : Brazil Power provides an detailed overview of Brazil Power scenario.This report on Brazil Power also includes an review of trial numbers as well as their (Brazil Power) average enrollment in uppermost/top countries which are conducted worldwide.Brazil Power report also covers disease clinical trials by country (G7 & E7), sponsor type, region, trial, research, review, Size status as well as end points status.Report Brazil Power also Includes prominent drugs for in-progress trials (Note: based on number of ongoing trials and reviews).Get Sample Copy of Report Here :The report covers detailed analysis and forecast of important market dynamics of Brazil Power industry including market drivers and restraints. It also evaluates future growth & demand opportunities for its stake holders. The report throws light on upstream and downstream markets of Brazil Power industry. The report provides detailed analysis of production price, production capacity, production volume, production value, production cost or profit margin and supply & demand analysis/forecast.Scope of Brazil Power Report:-1. This report includes a snapshot of all over the world clinical trials and reviews landscape on Brazil Power scenario.2. Report on Brazil Power also provides high level data related to the Global clinical research by country (G7 & E7), sponsor type, region, trial, review, size status as well as end points status on Brazil Power scenario3. Report reviews top companies involved in Brazil Power as well as provides e all trials (Trial title, Phase, Research and Status) pertaining to the company on Brazil Power scenario.4. This report provides all the unaccomplished trials on Brazil Power scenario (Withdrawn, Terminated) with reason for unaccomplishment on Brazil Power.About Us:Global 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.Contact Us:Joel JohnDeerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Web: Global Market NewsEmail: shane@GlobalMarketNews.com Could Cord Blood Banking be the Lifeline for Future Generations? http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=8413 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/latam-cord-blood-banking-services-market.html Transparency Market Research has published a new market report titled, Cord Blood Banking Services Market - LATAM Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023. According to the report, the LATAM cord blood banking services market was valued at US$196.9 mn in 2014 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2015 to 2023 to reach US$445.4 mn by 2023.Get Free Sample Research Report:The report provides with detailed analysis of current and emerging market trends associated with Latin America (LATAM) cord blood banking services, bifurcating them based on type of storage. Over the last two decades, the global stem cell therapeutics industry has experienced impressive growth. The major sources for stem cell banking are storing of peripheral blood and bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood (UCB); wherein UCB is by far considered as the largest component for hematopoietic stem cells. Donated cord blood has become one of the most reliable sources for stem cells over the last decade and is thus considered as a valuable biological resource. Thus, considering the high demand for cord blood and the components derived from such stem cells, there is need for maintaining a substantial cord blood inventory. It has also been reported that most of these cord blood units are sourced from public cord blood banks and it is expected that by 2015, the need for such cord blood units will rise to approximately 10,000 units per year across the globe.The cord blood banking services industry is highly fragmented in nature and is characterized by diverse policies which vary from one country to other in LATAM. At present there is a division between private and public cord blood banking companies in which, private cord blood banks serve only individual families, whereas public banks serve the general population. Private cord blood banks offer cord blood storage (autologous donation) for personal use of donors and their family in consideration of an annual payment. Private cord blood banks promote the concept that though the probability of requiring autologous cord blood is currently less for hematopoietic conditions, its usage in treating non-hematopoietic conditions is more prevalent and is estimated to increase in the future. Majority of private cord blood banks use similar storage technologies as those of public banks. However, the method of collection varies in the sense that private banks send collection kits to patients who in turn hand them over to the obstetrician.Public cord blood banks are constantly seeking accreditation and regulation compliance as they apprehend the risk of surviving in an inadequately regulated industry that supplies clinical products. Public banks are funded by governments, research societies or non-government organizations for offering autologous banking services to the society. However, such banks assume the cost of USD 35,000 to 40,000 per unit to cover the costs of establishment and operation of cord blood inventory. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) ethics committee has also quoted that parents do not need to take on the additional burden of privately storing cord blood units as there are very less chances of the child ever using his or her own cord blood. Instances have also been observed of parents filing lawsuits after realization of the futility of private storage of cord blood when the child was diagnosed with genetic disorders. Considering this, the ACOG encourages obstetricians and gynaecologists to provide their patients with accurate information regarding the advantages and disadvantages of private cord blood banking.The key players in LATAM cord blood banking services market are America Cell Biobank, Inc., Banco de Cordon Umbilical (BCU), CrioCenter, and Redcord S.A. among others.Full Research Report on LATAM Cord Blood Banking Services Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Chile Power Market 2016 Outlook to 2025 Size, Trend, Growth, Analysis 2025 http://goo.gl/MigVrp Chile Power Market Outlook to 2030 : Chile Power provides an detailed overview of Chile Power scenario.This report on Chile Power also includes an review of trial numbers as well as their (Chile Power) average enrollment in uppermost/top countries which are conducted worldwide.Chile Power report also covers disease clinical trials by country (G7 & E7), sponsor type, region, trial, research, review, Size status as well as end points status.Report Chile Power also Includes prominent drugs for in-progress trials (Note: based on number of ongoing trials and reviews).Get Sample Copy of Report Here :The report covers detailed analysis and forecast of important market dynamics of Chile Power industry including market drivers and restraints. It also evaluates future growth & demand opportunities for its stake holders. The report throws light on upstream and downstream markets of Chile Power industry. The report provides detailed analysis of production price, production capacity, production volume, production value, production cost or profit margin and supply & demand analysis/forecast.Scope of Chile Power Report:-1. This report includes a snapshot of all over the world clinical trials and reviews landscape on Chile Power scenario.2. Report on Chile Power also provides high level data related to the Global clinical research by country (G7 & E7), sponsor type, region, trial, review, size status as well as end points status on Chile Power scenario3. Report reviews top companies involved in Chile Power as well as provides e all trials (Trial title, Phase, Research and Status) pertaining to the company on Chile Power scenario.4. This report provides all the unaccomplished trials on Chile Power scenario (Withdrawn, Terminated) with reason for unaccomplishment on Chile Power.About Us:Global Market Firm 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: Global Market FirmEmail: erik@globalmarketfirm.com Thermal Power in Spain Market 2016 Industry Analysis, Size, Outlook to 2025, Trend, Growth, Generation http://goo.gl/XMV15n http://goo.gl/7EedUa Thermal Power in Spain, Market Outlook to 2025, Update 2016 - Capacity, Generation, Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), Investment Trends, Regulations and Company ProfilesSummaryThe report "Thermal Power in Spain Market Outlook" provides in depth analysis on Thermal Power market in Spain with forecasts upto year 2025. This report analyzes the Thermal Power market scenario in Spain (also includes renewable energy, nuclear, conventional thermal and large hydro sources) and includes future outlook upto 2025. The report ( Thermal Power Market in Spain ) highlights installed capacity as well as power generation trends in Spain Thermal Power market from 2001 till year 2025. Spain Thermal Power Market Research Report also provides company snapshots of some of the major Thermal Power market participants.Scope:-The report analyses global renewable power market, global Thermal Power market, Spain power market, Spain renewable power market and Spain Thermal Power market. The scope of the research includes -- Spain Thermal Power market includes a brief introduction on global carbon emissions.Do Enquiry Before Purchasing Here :- Report on global Thermal Power market also provides brief introduction on global primary energy consumption on Thermal Power market scenario.- An review on Spain power market, highlighting installed capacity Thermal Power Market trends, Thermal Power generation trends and installed capacity split by various renewable power sources Thermal Power energy scenario.- Report "Spain Thermal Power market" covered for the historical period 2001-2014 and Thermal Power Market forecast in Spain during period 2015-2025.- Thermal Power Renewable power sources include wind (both onshore and offshore), concentrated solar power (CSP), solar photovoltaic (PV), small hydropower (SHP), biomass, biogas and geothermal.- Overview of the global Thermal Power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity split by major Thermal Power countries in 2014 and key owners information of various regions on Thermal Power market scenario.- Thermal Power Power market scenario in Spain and provides detailed Thermal Power market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal conventional, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with Thermal Power forecasts up to 2025.Get Sample Copy of Report Here :Reasons to buy- The report (Spain Thermal Power market) will enhance your decision making capability time sensitive manner.- Thermal Power Spain Market report will help you to identify key growth as well as investment opportunities in Spain Thermal Power renewable power market.- Facilitate decision-making based on deep historic (2001-2014) and forecast data (upto 2025) for Thermal Power market in Spain.- Thermal Power Spain Market report will help you to position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the Thermal Power industrys growth potential.- Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events.- Identify key partners and business development avenues.- Understand and respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects.About Us:Global Market Firm 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: Global Market FirmEmail: erik@globalmarketfirm.com Food Colors Market to be Driven by Rising Demand for Natural Food Colors Food Colors Market http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/food-colors-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=316 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com A new research report on the global food colors market for been announced by U.S. based market research firm Transparency Market Research. According to the report, titled "Global Food Colors Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Growth, Share and Forecast, 2011 - 2018", the market, which had a net worth of US$1,614.6 million in 2011, will observe modest growth at a CAGR of 4.3% between the years 2012 and 2018.This will allow the market to reach US$2,153.5 million by the year 2018.Europe is expected to appear as the key regional segment for the global food colors market; it will acquire 32.6% of the overall revenue generated by the market by the year 2018. Asia Pacific market will be a tough competition to Europes market.Browse full Food Colors Market report at:Food colors are an important part of the food additives market. Food colors are often used in foods and beverages to impart them a desired shade of color and improve their visual perception. The report anticipates that over 49.6 kilo tons of food colors were used in the global market in 2012. Consumption-wise, the market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 3.8% over the reports forecast.The report presents a holistic view of the current state of food colors market and presents a plausible forecast that is backed by a thorough study of every important vertical of the market. The report states that trends such as health issues concerned with the use of synthetic colors and an obvious shift of consumer preference towards natural products are the key driving forces for global food colors market. Looking at the consumer shift towards natural products, food and beverages manufacturers are weighing on the increased use of natural food colors in their products.Of the chief end-use industries, the food industry accounts for a major share of the global food colors market. In 2011, the use of food colors in the food industry accounted for a nearly one-third portion of the overall volume of food colors produced by the global food colors market.Of the various types of food colors covered by the report: synthetic colors, natural colors, coloring foodstuffs, and natural identical colors, the market for natural food colors is expected to surpass market for other product types, especially that for synthetic food colors.Request a Brochure of this Report :The global food colors market is also benefitting from an increased consumption of frozen and processed food, especially in developing regions of Asia Pacific and Latin America, and novel uses in confectionaries, beers, and baked foods. Although the market has been dominated by synthetic colors, rising global demand for natural ingredients such as lutein, beta carotene, curcumin, and lycopene, is expected to turn out as the dominating trend in the market for the coming few years.The report presents a detailed financial profile of the key businesses operating in the global food color market. Some of these companies include DD Williamson, Roha Dyechem, Sensient Technologies Corporation, San-Ei Gen F.F.I. Inc, Sethness Products, Chr. Hansen, WILD, DSM, Naturex, Fiorio Colori, Phytone, LycoRed, and GNT Group.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactMr.Sudip S90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has proposed that the Ukrainian government study the increase of salaries of judges. Poroshenko also urged business representatives to make recommendations on judicial reform. "Poroshenko urges business representatives to provide feedback on the law on judiciary that will be part of a full reboot of the judicial system to the respective working group," the press service of the head of state reported after a meeting of the Ukrainian president with leaders of Ukrainian business and international companies operating in the country. "Tests are good, but no one will agree to work for UAH 2,000 (per month). Hoping otherwise is pointless. It will only discredit the [judicial] reform," he said. Poroshenko also said that if the judicial reform is carried out, judges who "grew into their chairs will continue to sit in them and no one will remove them." The head of state reminded that two months ago he held a meeting with the participation of top managers of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, SBU head, interior minister and chairman of the High Council of Justice. They discussed the thorough process of recertification of tests for each judge to avoid formalities. He said that the key aspect of the reform involves proposed amendments to the constitution. "Everyone should express their views on the proposed reforms, even if new draft (judicial) reform bills are proposed or conditions are agreed before passing the new law on the judicial system," the president said. He said mothballing existing rules (governing the judiciary) is tantamount to a crime. Global 2G, 3G & 4G Wireless Subscriptions, Spectrum Licensing, Ownership & Infrastructure Contracts Database: 2014 - 2020 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressreleases http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ "The Report Global 2G, 3G & 4G Wireless Subscriptions, Spectrum Licensing, Ownership Infrastructure Contracts Database: 2014 - 2020 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.bizDescriptionCovering over 200 countries and 810 wireless carriers worldwide, the 2G, 3G & 4G Wireless Subscriptions, Spectrum Licensing, Ownership & Infrastructure Contracts Database: 2014 2020 database tracks mobile network subscriptions, penetration, spectrum licensing, mobile infrastructure contracts and network ownership data. The database is delivered as a Microsoft excel file.To View Full Report Click HereTable of ContentMobile Network Subscriptions DatabaseNumber of mobile network subscriptions (2011 2020) by:RegionCountryMobile network operatorAir interface technology*Mobile Penetration DatabasePopulation data (2011 2020) by:RegionCountryMobile penetration % data (2011 2020) by:RegionCountryDownload Sample of this ReportMobile Spectrum Licensing DatabaseOperator Spectrum data by:RegionCountryMobile network operatorAir interface technology*FrequencyBandwidthMobile Network Infrastructure Contracts DatabaseMobile network infrastructure contracts by:RegionCountryMobile network operatorAir interface technology*Infrastructure vendor/supplierContract value ($ Million)Contract dateEquipment typeMobile Network Ownership DatabaseMobile network ownership data by:RegionCountryMobile network operatorParent companyInvestment %StatusAir interface technology is categorized in the following categories:CDMA (1xEV-DO,1xEV-DO Rev A/B, 1xRTT)W-CDMA & HSPAGSMLTETD-SCDMAUS TDMAiDENPHSBrowse all latest Press Releases of Market Research Reportsat:About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports.MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients.We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated researchreports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and typesof companies spanning across various industries.ContactMr. Nachiket90 Sate Street,Suite 700 Albany,NY 12207 USATel: +1-518-621-2074Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Canada Power Market 2016 Growth, Size, Generation, Outlook to 2025, Investment Trend, Industry Analysis http://goo.gl/uqzV30 Canada Power Market Outlook to 2030 : Canada Power provides an detailed overview of Canada Power scenario.This report on Canada Power also includes an review of trial numbers as well as their (Canada Power) average enrollment in uppermost/top countries which are conducted worldwide.Canada Power report also covers disease clinical trials by country (G7 & E7), sponsor type, region, trial, research, review, Size status as well as end points status.Report Canada Power also Includes prominent drugs for in-progress trials (Note: based on number of ongoing trials and reviews).Get Sample Copy of Report Here :The report covers detailed analysis and forecast of important market dynamics of Canada Power industry including market drivers and restraints. It also evaluates future growth & demand opportunities for its stake holders. The report throws light on upstream and downstream markets of Canada Power industry. The report provides detailed analysis of production price, production capacity, production volume, production value, production cost or profit margin and supply & demand analysis/forecast.Scope of Canada Power Report:-1. This report includes a snapshot of all over the world clinical trials and reviews landscape on Canada Power scenario.2. Report on Canada Power also provides high level data related to the Global clinical research by country (G7 & E7), sponsor type, region, trial, review, size status as well as end points status on Canada Power scenario3. Report reviews top companies involved in Canada Power as well as provides e all trials (Trial title, Phase, Research and Status) pertaining to the company on Canada Power scenario.4. This report provides all the unaccomplished trials on Canada Power scenario (Withdrawn, Terminated) with reason for unaccomplishment on Canada Power.About Us:Global Market Firm 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: Global Market FirmEmail: erik@globalmarketfirm.com Big data for Companies and Intellectual Property Professionals www.practiceinsight.io www.practiceinsight.io Practice Insight offers companies and law firms comprehensive big data analysis toolsMunich, 29 April 2016 Big data is omnipresent today. Analysis and evaluation tools help companies in different segments to extract valuable information from the enormous amounts of data, which they can then use for their business strategies and processes. Since its foundation in Australia in 2010, Practice Insight has been offering big data analyses for different business areas. The company has now started operations in Europe with a subsidiary in Munich. With its product Filing Analytics, which is geared towards patent professionals, Practice Insight offers comprehensive, transparent insight into the global patent business, which has not been available in this form before. The company will be presenting Filing Analytics at stand 927 at INTA, the 138th annual meeting of the International Trademark Association, in Orlando.Tools for generating and analysing large amounts of data give companies relevant information, which can be used for faster and fact based decision making. Practice Insight`s Filing Analytics will be available from May 2016 atFiling AnalyticsFiling Analytics comprises a suite of software and data analysis tools for intellectual property professionals. It gives a transparent picture of the complex international patent market. At a glance, users receive a transparent overview of all reciprocal business relationships of the worlds patent law practices, their client lists to identify possible conflicts of interest and the international patent jurisdiction strategies of those clients.About Practice InsightPractice Insight has been at the forefront of Big Data analysis since its foundation by Thomas Haines, Patent Attorney and software engineer, in Australia in 2010. Practice Insights powerful products provide transparency by allowing analysis of big data in a way that has never been possible before. With Filing Analytics corporates and patent firms can extract the data they need in just a few seconds. The reports come in user friendly formats and can be used as they are to make decisions with increased efficiency as well as significant time and cost savings. WiseTime creates unique data sets by capturing accurately the user`s time when working on the PC. This data can be integrated into existing in-house HR- or billing systems to be analysed further.Since the foundation, the Practice Insight team has grown significantly, but the company philosophy of building software that makes peoples lives easier has remained as the central pillar of all their engineering efforts. Practice Insight is headquartered in Subiaco, Australia. The European office is located in Munich and led by Wolfgang Danner. For further information please seeCompany Contact:Practise InsightPirjo NiemiGlobal Head of MarketingPhone: +49 (0)89 8905788-14Email: pirjo.niemi@practiceinsight.ioPress Contact:Strategic PRArno LuchtPhone: +49 (0)89 2424 1693Email: arnol@strategicpr.de Market Trends Of Baby Food Packaging Market Up to 2018 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1153 The Baby Food Packaging Market has trends evolving from the use of plastics for making baby food containers, boxes, and pouches. It has new features like packaging rice puffs, crackers and cereals in boxes of various types such as card sleeve and jumbo packs. Foods like oatmeal infant cereals and dry rice in small quantities are packed in pouches.Baby food traditionally came in glass jars but now packaging has shifted to plastics and other materials for their easy storage and lower cost. Packaging of baby food depends on the type of baby food like dried, prepared, milk formula, and other baby food. Baby food comes in packages such as shaped, semi-liquid, liquid, folding cartons, thin wall containers, metal cans and stand-up pouches. Stand-up pouches have an increasing demand because of their long shelf life.Geographically, the baby food market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of world. Asia Pacific has the highest demand because of growing population of infants in countries like India and other developing countries.Get Free Sample Report :Some of the major drivers for this market are rising demand of stand up pouches, thin wall containers because of their hygienic, safety, light weight, easy to carry and reusable nature. The preservation and long shelf life of these packets is an added advantage. While packaging these products, the plastic has BPA (Bisphenol A) which is harmful for infants and toddlers and so has been banned by the governments of the U.S., Canada, and Europe and this is one of the inhibitors for the growth of this market. Increase in preference for foods packed in microwaveable plastic tubs and pouches by teenagers has increased their demand. Innovations for reducing cost and packaging in biodegradable materials like paper and increased demand from rural areas for baby foods are opportunities for this market.Some of the Major Companies in this market are Bericap India Pvt. Ltd., Essel Propack Limited, Hindustan National Glass & Industries Ltd, ITC Ltd Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division (PSPD), Tata Tinplate Company of India (TCIL),Tetra Pak India Pvt Ltd, Cascades Inc, FPC Flexible Packaging Corp, Celplast Ltd, Hood Packaging Corp, Pretium Packaging LLC, Winpak Ltd, AptarGroup, Inc,Ball Corporation ,Bemis Company, Inc., Rexam Inc, and MeadWestvaco Corporation.About Us :Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207 Worldwide Transducer Industry 2016 Analysis Report Deep Research Reports http://www.deepresearchreports.com/contacts/inquiry.php?name=185137 http://www.deepresearchreports.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=185137 DeepReseachReports.com provides an overview of the research on Global Transducer Industry 2016 Market Research Report published through its high quality database- Buy Now or inquire about this report online.The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Transducer manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.Complete report on Transducer market spreads across 150 pages profiling 10 companies and supported with 277 tables and figures @Key Companies Analysis: - Boeing, Airbus, Cobham Plc, Exelis Inc, Raytheon Co, Lockheed Martin, Thales SA, QinetiQ Group Plc, Finmeccanica and BAE Systems profiles overview.The Global Transducer Industry provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Transducer market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.Place a Direct Purchase on this Report @Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.The Global Transducer Industry focuses on global major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Transducer industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered. With the tables and figures the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Major Points Covered in Table of Contents:1 Industry Overview2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Transducer3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis4 Production Analysis of Transducer by Regions, Technology, and Applications5 Sales and Revenue Analysis of Transducer by Regions6 Analyses of Transducer Production, Supply, Sales and Market Status 2010-20167 Analysis of Transducer industry Key Manufacturers8 Price and Gross Margin Analysis9 Marketing Traders or Distributor Analysis of Transducer10 Development Trend of Transducer industry2016-202111 Industry Chain Suppliers of Transducer with Contact Information12 New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Transducer13 Conclusion of the Global Transducer industry 2016 Market Research ReportList of Tables and FiguresDeep Research Reports is digital databank of syndicated market reports for worldwide and China businesses. deepresearchreports.com offers market research reports to businesses, entities and organizations with an objective of assisting them in their decision making process. Our collection of 500,000+ industry & nation research reports shields 5000+ micro markets. We provide 24X7 available, online and offline support to our clients.Ritesh TiwariUNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZMagarpatta city, Hadapsar,Pune, Maharashtra 411013, IndiaTel: +1-888-391-5441sales@deepresearchreports.com Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Industry 2015 Global Market Trends, Growth and 2019 Forecast Report http://www.9dresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/isopropyl-acid-phosphate-monoisopropyl-diisopropyl-market-2015-global.html http://www.9dresearchgroup.com/report/55410/request-sample Global Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Industry 2015 Market Research Report was a professional and depth research report on Global Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl industry that you would know the world's major regional market conditions of Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl industry, the main region including North American, Europe and Asia etc, and the main country including United States ,Germany ,Japan and China etc.Get full report with TOC @The report firstly introduced Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl basic information including Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl definition, classification, application and industry chain overview; Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl industry policy and plan, Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl product specification, manufacturing process, cost structure etc. Then we deeply analyzed the world's main region market conditions that including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc.In the end, the report introduced Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis and Global Twin-screw Extruder industry.In a word, it was a depth research report on Global Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl industry. And thanks to the support and assistance from Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl industry chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.Download sample report @The report including six parts, the first part mainly introduced the product basic information; the second part mainly analyzed the Asia Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl industry; the third part mainly analyzed the North American Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl industry; the fourth part mainly analyzed the Europe Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl industry; the fifth part mainly analyzed the market entry and investment feasibility; the sixth part was the report conclusion chapter.Table of ContentPart I Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Industry OverviewChapter One Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Industry Overview1.1 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Definition1.2 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Classification Analysis1.2.1 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Main Classification Analysis1.2.2 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Main Classification Share Analysis1.3 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Application Analysis1.3.1 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Main Application Analysis1.3.2 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Main Application Share Analysis1.4 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Industry Chain Structure Analysis1.5 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Industry Development Overview1.5.1 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Product History Development Overview1.5.1 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Product Market Development Overview1.6 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.1 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Global Import Market Analysis1.6.2 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Global Export Market Analysis1.6.3 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Global Main Region Market Analysis1.6.4 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.5 Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Global Market Development Trend AnalysisChapter Two Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis2.1.1 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis2.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Market Analysis2.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Market Trend2.2 Down Stream Market Analysis2.1.1 Down Stream Market Analysis2.2.2 Down Stream Demand Analysis2.2.3 Down Stream Market Trend AnalysisPart II Asia Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Industry (The Report Company Including the Below Listed But Not All)Chapter Three Asia Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Market Analysis3.1 Asia Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Product Development History3.2 Asia Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Process Development History3.3 Asia Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Industry Policy and Plan Analysis3.4 Asia Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Competitive Landscape Analysis3.5 Asia Isopropyl Acid Phosphate Monoisopropyl Diisopropyl Market Development TrendChem Gadgets 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. 1-855-465-4651 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Industry 2016 Global Market Growth, Size and 2020 Forecast Report http://www.9dresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/high-frequency-infrared-carbon-sulfur-analyzer-market-2016.html http://www.9dresearchgroup.com/report/55084/request-sample 2016 Global High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Industry Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions of the High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer industry, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia) and the main countries (United States, Germany, Japan and China).Browse full report with TOC @The report firstly introduced the High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer basics: definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain overview; industry policies and plans; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.The report includes six parts, dealing with: 1.) basic information; 2.) the Asia High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer industry; 3.) the North American High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer industry; 4.) the European High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer industry; 5.) market entry and investment feasibility; and 6.) the report conclusion.Download sample report @Table of ContentPart I High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Industry OverviewChapter One High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Industry Overview1.1 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Definition1.2 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Classification Analysis1.2.1 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Main Classification Analysis1.2.2 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Main Classification Share Analysis1.3 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Application Analysis1.3.1 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Main Application Analysis1.3.2 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Main Application Share Analysis1.4 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Industry Chain Structure Analysis1.5 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Industry Development Overview1.5.1 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Product History Development Overview1.5.1 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Product Market Development Overview1.6 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.1 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Global Import Market Analysis1.6.2 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Global Export Market Analysis1.6.3 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Global Main Region Market Analysis1.6.4 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.5 High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Global Market Development Trend AnalysisChapter Two High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis2.1.1 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis2.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Market Analysis2.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Market Trend2.2 Down Stream Market Analysis2.1.1 Down Stream Market Analysis2.2.2 Down Stream Demand Analysis2.2.3 Down Stream Market Trend AnalysisPart II Asia High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Industry (The Report Company Including the Below Listed But Not All)Chapter Three Asia High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Market Analysis3.1 Asia High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Product Development History3.2 Asia High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Process Development History3.3 Asia High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Industry Policy and Plan Analysis3.4 Asia High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Competitive Landscape Analysis3.5 Asia High Frequency Infrared Carbon Sulfur Analyzer Market Development TrendChem Gadgets 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. 1-855-465-4651 Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve Market : Industry Size, Growth, Share and Forecast To 2022 Brisk Insights http://www.briskinsights.com/report/zeolite-molecular-sieve-market http://www.briskinsights.com/category/chemical-and-material-industry http://www.briskinsights.com/ According to a recently published report, the Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve Market is expected to grow at the CAGR of 4.14% during 2015-2022 and it estimated to be $4.32 billion by 2022. The Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve market is segmented on the basis of: by industry applications and by geography. The report on Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve Market forecast 2015-2022 provides detailed overview and predictive analysis of the market.The Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve market is projected to grow due to increasing outputs of refineries and rising demand for adsorbents worldwide research. The global market of zeolite molecular sieve is expected to grow on account of several factors like increasing demand in manufacturing detergent and catalysts. In addition to that, it is also extensively used as an absorbent on account of its sieve-like structure. Rising demand for detergents on account of rising hygiene awareness among consumers is expected to drive demand as a builder in liquid and powder detergents. In addition, expansion of oil & gas industries coupled with growing demand for catalysts that provide higher yield is expected to augment zeolite molecular sieve market over the forecasted period. However, presence of enzymes, metals and other chemical compounds as substitute of zeolite catalysts is expected to hamper market growth of Zeolite Molecular Sieve.Browse Full Report with Toc :Segment wise, the detergents market is the largest segment of zeolite molecular sieve market presently among application segment, due to extensive use of it as binders in detergents and Catalysts segment is anticipated to be the fastest growing segment within the global zeolite molecular sieve industry due to the expansion of oil & gas industries. Geographically, Europe dominates the Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve Market and it is expected to continue dominate the market over forecasted period followed by Asia-Pacific that is expected to witness the fastest growth within the industry over the forecast period due to rising demand for detergents and catalysts. Rising focus on environmental protection by numerous regional governments has resulted in a growing utilization of zeolites for water purification and purifying gas streams in region.The significant players in the Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve Market include Tosoh Corporation, Arkema Group, BASF SE, UOP, Dalian Haixin Chemical Industrial Co, Grace Catalysts Technologies, Zeox Corporation, Chemiewerk Bad Kostritz, Tricat Group, UOP LLC, and Union Showa K K etc.Browse here for all category Reports :Scope of the report1. Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve market by application 2012-2022 ($ BILLION)1.1. Detergents1.2. Catalysts1.3. Others2. Global Zeolite Molecular Sieve market regional outlook 2012-2022 ($ BILLION)2.1. North America2.2. Europe2.3. Asia Pacific2.4. Middle East & Africa2.5. Central & South America3. Competitive Landscape3.1. Arkema Group3.2. BASF SE3.3. Chemiewerk Bad Kostritz3.4. Interra Global Corporation3.5. Grace Catalysts Technologies3.6. Tosoh Corporation3.7. UOP LLC3.8. Zeochem AG3.9. KNT Group3.10. Tricat Group3.11. Anhui Mingmei MinChem Co., Ltd3.12. Zeox Corporation3.13. Dalian Haixin Chemical Industrial Co3.14. Union Showa K.K. (USKK)3.15. Yingkou Zhongbao Molecular Sieve Co., Ltd.Contact Us :Jennifer SmithOffice 1094109 Vernon HouseFriar LaneNottinghamNG1 6DQUnited KingdomPhone : +448081890034 (UK)Email : sales@briskinsights.comWebsite :About Us :Brisk Insights is a global market research firm. Our insightful analysis is focused on developed and emerging markets. We identify trends and forecast markets with a view to aid businesses identify market opportunities optimize strategies.Working in a highly dynamic and multi-dimensional business makes decision making complex. Effective business decisions are a result of the synthesis of market information. Our Research and data analysis is an efficient and cost-effective way of providing robust market analysis and can yield highly valuable intelligence relating to consumers, competitors and markets.Office 1094109 Vernon HouseFriar LaneNottingham Lissamine Rhodamine B Industry 2016 Global Market Growth, Size and 2020 Forecast Report http://www.9dresearchgroup.com/market-analysis/lissamine-rhodamine-b-market-2016-global-industry-size.html http://www.9dresearchgroup.com/report/54685/request-sample Global Lissamine Rhodamine B Industry 2016 Market Research Report was a professional and depth research report on Global Lissamine Rhodamine B industry that you would know the world's major regional market conditions of Lissamine Rhodamine B industry, the main region including North American, Europe and Asia etc, and the main country including United States ,Germany ,Japan and China etc.Read Complete Report with TOC @The report firstly introduced Lissamine Rhodamine B basic information including Lissamine Rhodamine B definition, classification, application and industry chain overview; Lissamine Rhodamine B industry policy and plan, Lissamine Rhodamine B product specification, manufacturing process, cost structure etc. Then we deeply analyzed the world's main region market conditions that including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc.In the end, the report introduced Lissamine Rhodamine B new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis and Global Twin-screw Extruder industry.In a word, it was a depth research report on Global Lissamine Rhodamine B industry. And thanks to the support and assistance from Lissamine Rhodamine B industry chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.Download Sample Report @The report including six parts, the first part mainly introduced the product basic information; the second part mainly analyzed the Asia Lissamine Rhodamine B industry; the third part mainly analyzed the North American Lissamine Rhodamine B industry; the fourth part mainly analyzed the Europe Lissamine Rhodamine B industry; the fifth part mainly analyzed the market entry and investment feasibility; the sixth part was the report conclusion chapter.Table of ContentPart I Lissamine Rhodamine B Industry OverviewChapter One Lissamine Rhodamine B Industry Overview1.1 Lissamine Rhodamine B Definition1.2 Lissamine Rhodamine B Classification Analysis1.2.1 Lissamine Rhodamine B Main Classification Analysis1.2.2 Lissamine Rhodamine B Main Classification Share Analysis1.3 Lissamine Rhodamine B Application Analysis1.3.1 Lissamine Rhodamine B Main Application Analysis1.3.2 Lissamine Rhodamine B Main Application Share Analysis1.4 Lissamine Rhodamine B Industry Chain Structure Analysis1.5 Lissamine Rhodamine B Industry Development Overview1.5.1 Lissamine Rhodamine B Product History Development Overview1.5.1 Lissamine Rhodamine B Product Market Development Overview1.6 Lissamine Rhodamine B Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.1 Lissamine Rhodamine B Global Import Market Analysis1.6.2 Lissamine Rhodamine B Global Export Market Analysis1.6.3 Lissamine Rhodamine B Global Main Region Market Analysis1.6.4 Lissamine Rhodamine B Global Market Comparison Analysis1.6.5 Lissamine Rhodamine B Global Market Development Trend AnalysisChapter Two Lissamine Rhodamine B Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis2.1.1 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis2.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Market Analysis2.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Market Trend2.2 Down Stream Market Analysis2.1.1 Down Stream Market Analysis2.2.2 Down Stream Demand Analysis2.2.3 Down Stream Market Trend AnalysisPart II Asia Lissamine Rhodamine B Industry (The Report Company Including the Below Listed But Not All)Chapter Three Asia Lissamine Rhodamine B Market Analysis3.1 Asia Lissamine Rhodamine B Product Development History3.2 Asia Lissamine Rhodamine B Process Development History3.3 Asia Lissamine Rhodamine B Industry Policy and Plan Analysis3.4 Asia Lissamine Rhodamine B Competitive Landscape Analysis3.5 Asia Lissamine Rhodamine B Market Development TrendChem Gadgets 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. 1-855-465-4651 3D Printing Materials Gains from Growing Consumer Preference for Products with Attractive Packaging http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=3605 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/3d-printing-materials-market.html The global 3D printing materials market has been witnessing a substantial rise over the past few years. The rapid rise in the demand for 3D printing, propelled by the shifting interest of consumers toward products with attractive packaging, has boosted the 3D printing materials market significantly in the recent times.A research report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR) states that in 2013, the worldwide market for 3D printing materials stood at US$450 mn. Experts project this market to rise at a CAGR of 18.0% during the period from 2014 to 2020 and attain a value of US$1.4 bn by the end of 2020.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical insights :Asia Pacific 3D Printing Materials Market to Exhibit Fastest Growth in Coming YearsIn 2013, North America emerged as the largest regional market for 3D printing materials across the world with a share of more than 37% in the overall demand reported for these materials. However, in the coming years, Asia Pacific is likely to experience the fastest growth among all the regional markets for 3D printing materials on account of the rising uptake of 3D printing technology in various Asian economies such as China and Japan.In terms of volume, Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific are expected to exhibit significant growth over the next few years. However, the market in the Rest of the World is anticipated to experience sluggish growth in the nearing future, owing to the limited scope of 3D printing technology in this region.Plastics Enjoy Highest Demand in Global 3D Printing Materials MarketMetals, ceramics, plastics, lay wood and wax are the main materials used for 3D printing in the global arena. In 2013, the demand for plastics was the highest among these materials. The segment occupied a share of 48% in the overall demand reported for 3D printing materials that year.The increasing demand for plastics for the 3D printing of electronics and other products is likely to maintain this trend in the near future. The flexibility and the durability, plastics provide, are the key factors behind its soaring demand in 3D printing.Browse the full 3D Printing Materials Market Report At :The industrial, aerospace, education, architecture, automotive, electronics and consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and military sectors are the prime application areas for 3D printing materials market. Here is a snapshot of the demand scenario for 3D printing materials in various segments.The electronics and consumer goods segment exhibited the highest demand for 3D printing materials in 2013 with a share of 23% while the automotive segment occupied the second position.During the period from 2014 to 2020, the demand for 3D printing materials in the electronics and consumer goods segment is likely to rise at a CAGR of 17.0%.Other application segments are also projected to report a significant demand for 3D printing materials over the next few years.Some of the major producers of 3D printing materials in the global market are Voxeljet AG, SLM Solutions GmbH, Stratasys Ltd., Optomec, ExOne GmbH, Solidscape Inc., EOS - Electro Optical Systems, Arcam AB, Concept Laser GmbH, and 3D Systems Inc.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700New York U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Samantha Power has urged to liberate UN staff member, who earlier was captured by separatists in Donbas. "We also note the great work done by UN staff, again at significant personal risk, as evidenced by the detention of a UN staff member by Russian-backed separatists since April 8th a staff member who should be released immediately and unconditionally," she said during a UN Security Council session on Thursday evening. According to the U.S. diplomat, all members of the Council recognize the critically important work OSCE teams are carrying out in the field, often at significant personal risk, as illustrated by the recent attacks on OSCE monitors. Previously the United Nations has called for the immediate release of its staff member, who was captured by militants in Donetsk on April 8. "The United Nations is deeply concerned about the fact that one of its staff members is being held captive in Donetsk. The UN has mobilized all channels to ensure his immediate and unconditional release," the UN press service said in a statement issued on Wednesday. According to the information available to the organization, its staff member is being treated well. The UN appeals to all parties, including the media, to respect the staff member and his family in this sensitive phase of the discussion around his release," the statement reads. Beef Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth To 2020 by Grand View Research, Inc. http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/beef-market-analysis http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/beef-market-analysis http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/ready-to-eat-processed-and-frozen-foods www.grandviewresearch.com The global Beef market is expected to reach USD 2,151 billion by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Beef is the third largest consumed meat globally, with growing consumer preference towards meat as source of protein expected to drive demand for beef over the forecast period. In addition, growing disposable income in emerging markets has resulted in increased consumption of beef in comparison to pork and poultry. In addition, the market is expected to witness significant growth owing to food safety issues such as chemical residue and pathogen detection in other meat products.Browse full research report on Global Beef Market:Ground beef were the largest consumed product, with demand exceeding 29,500 kilo tons in 2013. Popularity of ground beef comes from its use in hamburgers and meat balls. Beef steaks are expected to be the fastest growing segment due to increased preference for high quality beef, particularly in North America. The segment is expected to witness growth at an estimated CAGR of 1.24% from 2014 to 2020.Read detailed report or request for sample of this research report:Further key findings from the study suggest: The global beef demand was 67,421 kilo tons in 2012 and is expected to reach 72,931 kilo tons by 202, growing at a CAGR of 1.15% from 2014 to 2020 Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest regional market for beef with revenue exceeding USD 580 billion in 2013. Growing disposable income of China coupled with high preference towards red meat is expected to be a key driver for the market over the forecast period. North America was a significant contributor to beef demand with consumption in excess of 12,000 kilo tons in 2013. The RoW market is predominantly driven by growing demand in countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Chile. Increasing demand for halal beef in predominantly Islamic nations in Middle East and Africa is expected to be a key factor having a positive impact on the market over the forecast period. The demand for Kosher beef is expected to increase in North America owing to consumer preference towards safe quality and healthier beef. The global market was moderately consolidated with the top four companies accounting for over 70% of the market in 2013. The key companies in the market include Tyson Foods, JBS, National Beef Company and Cargill Meat Solutions.Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research:For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the Global Beef market on the basis of grade, product and region: Beef Grade Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Billion, 2012 - 2020) Kosher Halal Others Beef Product Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Billion, 2012 - 2020) Ground beef Steaks Cubed beef Beef Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Billion, 2012 - 2020) North America Europe Asia Pacific RoWGrand 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: Body Fat Measurement Market : Global Industry Size, Growth, Share and Forecast 2016-2022 - Brisk Insights http://www.briskinsights.com/report/global-body-fat-measurement-market-forecast-2015-2022 http://www.briskinsights.com/category/healthcare-market http://www.briskinsights.com/ According to a recently published report, the Global Body Fat Measurement Market is expected to grow at the CAGR of 9% during 2015-2022 and it estimated to be $700.3 million by 2022. The global Body Fat Measurement market is segmented on the basis of type and geography. The report on global Body Fat Measurement market forecast 2015-2022 provides detailed overview and predictive analysis of the market.The body fat measurement have different methods for body composition analysis globally. Body fat measurement is also known as impedance meters which are used for accurate assessment of body fat. It also identifies health risk because of high or low amounts of body fat. The device also helps in assessing effectiveness of nutrition and exercise in particular age. Common fitness test in health clubs and gyms are considered as body fat measurement. The devices used for body fat measurement are designed to measure the flow at different depths. According to the age and gender the body aft percentage varies.Browse Full Report with Toc :North America, Europe, APAC and ROW are the major regions estimated for body fat measurement market. North America is the largest market for the body fat measurement market. It is expected that due to technological innovation in healthcare in North America it will dominate the body fat measurement global market over the forecasted period. Due to large population of obese in North America the market growth of body fat measurement is high in the region. Techniques used to body fat measurement are: Bioimpedance Analyzers, Calipers, Hydrostatic Weighing, Air Displacement Plethysmography, DEXA and others.The key players in the global Body Fat Measurement market include Beurer GmbH, Omron Global Healthcare Business, Jawon Medical Co. Ltd., Tanita Corporation, GE Healthcare, Inbody Co. Ltd., LAccessorio Nucleare S.r.l. (lcan), Hologic Inc., The Diagnostic Medical Systems (DMS) Group, COSMED S.r.l., AccuFitness LLC., Exertec And so on. Innovation is the key strategy adopted in the Body Fat Measurement market.Browse here for all category Reports :Scope of the report1. Global body fat measurement market by type 2012-2022 ($ billion)1.1. Bioimpedance Analyzers1.2. Calipers1.3. Hydrostatic Weighing1.4. Air Displacement Plethysmography1.5. DEXA1.6. Other techniques2. Global body fat measurement industry, regional outlook 2012-2022 ($ billion)2.1. North America2.2. Europe2.3. Asia Pacific2.4. Middle East & Africa2.5. Central & South AmericaContact Us :Jennifer SmithOffice 1094109 Vernon HouseFriar LaneNottinghamNG1 6DQUnited KingdomPhone : +448081890034 (UK)Email : sales@briskinsights.comWebsite :About Us :Brisk Insights is a global market research firm. Our insightful analysis is focused on developed and emerging markets. We identify trends and forecast markets with a view to aid businesses identify market opportunities optimize strategies.Working in a highly dynamic and multi-dimensional business makes decision making complex. Effective business decisions are a result of the synthesis of market information. Our Research and data analysis is an efficient and cost-effective way of providing robust market analysis and can yield highly valuable intelligence relating to consumers, competitors and markets.Office 1094109 Vernon HouseFriar LaneNottingham Global Baby Safety Products Market 2016 - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2021 Baby Safety Products http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-baby-safety-products-market-professional-survey-report-54735 http://goo.gl/aa26lY Global Baby Safety Products Industry 2016 Market Analysis Survey Research Growth and Forecast ReportThe report provides a basic overview of Baby Safety Products industry including definitions, applications and industry chain structure. Global market analysis and Chinese domestic market analysis are provided with a focus on history, developments, trends and competitive landscape of the market. A comparison between the international and Chinese situation is also offered.Global Baby Safety Products Industry Research Report 2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share analysis, import and export consumption and price cost production value gross margins are discussed.A key feature of this report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the international and Chinese Baby Safety Products industry. Development proposals and the feasibility of new investments are also analyzed. Companies and individuals interested in the structure and value of the Baby Safety Products industry should consult this report for guidance and direction.Browse Full Report with TOC @Table of ContentsChapter One Baby Safety Products Industry Overview1.1 Baby Safety Products Definition(Product Picture and Specifications)1.2 Baby Safety Products Classification and Application1.3 Baby Safety Products Industry Chain Structure1.4 Baby Safety Products Industry Overview1.5 Baby Safety Products Industry History1.6 Baby Safety Products Industry Competitive Landscape1.7 Baby Safety Products Industry International and Global Development ComparisonGet Free Sample @About Us:MarketResearchStore.com 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 JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803 Hydropower Market Outlook and Forecast up to 2020: Grand View Research, Inc. http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/hydropower-industry http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/hydropower-industry/request http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/renewable-energy www.grandviewresearch.com www.dniamericas.org www.divog.org www.legalworkshop.org The global installed capacity for hydropower is expected to reach 1,524 GW by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Cost advantages of hydropower based electricity generation and the substitution of fossil fuel based power production in an attempt to reduce carbon emission is expected to drive market demand. According to the estimates of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the deployment of sustainable hydropower as proposed by this organization will help avoid approximately one billion tones of annual carbon dioxide emission by 2050.Browse full research report on Global Hydropower Market:Rapid rise in demand for renewable energy especially in China, India and Brazil and the construction of key hydropower projects including the installation of 32 turbines and the completion of the third phase of the Three Gorges Dam in China in 2012, will fuel the future growth of this market. Supportive regulatory framework for sustainable energy in the U.S. and European Union is also expected to have a positive impact on market demand. Implementation of favorable government regulations such as the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act and Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs in the U.S. and growing number of funding programs pertaining to the renewable energy sector in developed countries such as Italy and Canada are some of the factors which are expected to present future growth opportunities.Read detailed report or request for sample of this research report:Further Key findings from the study suggest: Industrial applications dominated demand in 2012, accounting for over 40% of the global installed capacity. The global industrial applications market is expected to reach 694.41 GW in installed capacity by 2020. Asia Pacific is expected to be the most dominant regional market by 2020, with China expected to lead hydropower consumption. China is also expected to be the fastest growing market, at an estimated CAGR of 6.2% from 2013 to 2020, to reach an installed capacity of over 400 GW in 2020. The presence of an extensive amount of hydropower projects currently under construction will drive this market. Some of the prominent hydropower projects in China include the Baihetan dam (expected to be completed in 2019), the Wudongde and Xiangjiaba dam (expected to be completed in 2015) and the Xiluodo project. Key players of this market include GE Energy, Andritz AG, China Hydroelectric Corporation, China Three Gorges Corporation, American Hydro Corporation, Alstom Hydro, The Tata Power Company, ABB Ltd and others.Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research:For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global hydropower market on the basis of application and region: Hydropower Application Outlook, Industrial Residential Commercial Hydropower Regional Outlook, North America U.S. Europe UK Spain Germany France Italy Asia Pacific India China Japan RoW BrazilGrand 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:Read our blogs - Global Proteinuria Drug Market 2016 Industry Segmentation, Development, Target Markets, and Figures to 2020 http://www.9dimengroup.com/market-analysis/global-proteinuria-drug-market-2016-industry-growth-size.html http://www.9dimengroup.com/report/57745/request-sample 9Dimen Group presents Global Proteinuria Drug Industry 2016 Market Research Report contains an in-depth analysis, industry segmentation, development, target markets, statistics and figures.2016 Global Proteinuria Drug Industry Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions of the Proteinuria Drug industry, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe and Asia) and the main countries (United States, Germany, Japan and China).Browse Complete Report with TOC @The report firstly introduced the Proteinuria Drug basics: definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain overview; industry policies and plans; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.The report includes six parts, dealing with: 1.) basic information; 2.) the Asia Proteinuria Drug industry; 3.) the North American Proteinuria Drug industry; 4.) the European Proteinuria Drug industry; 5.) market entry and investment feasibility; and 6.) the report conclusion.Request for FREE SAMPLE Report @Table of ContentPart I Proteinuria Drug Industry OverviewChapter One Proteinuria Drug Industry Overview1.1 Proteinuria Drug Definition1.2 Proteinuria Drug Classification Analysis1.2.1 Proteinuria Drug Main Classification Analysis1.2.2 Proteinuria Drug Main Classification Share Analysis1.3 Proteinuria Drug Application Analysis1.3.1 Proteinuria Drug Main Application Analysis1.3.2 Proteinuria Drug Main Application Share Analysis1.4 Proteinuria Drug Industry Chain Structure AnalysisChapter Two Proteinuria Drug Up and Down Stream Industry Analysis2.1 Upstream Raw Materials Analysis2.1.1 Upstream Raw Materials Price Analysis2.1.2 Upstream Raw Materials Market Analysis2.1.3 Upstream Raw Materials Market Trend2.2 Down Stream Market Analysis9Dimen 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 JohnTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@9dimengroup.comWeb: 9Dimen Group Air Purifiers Market Brand Value & Purification Capacity Key Factors for Consumers in GCC http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gc-614 www.carrfouruae.com www.sharafdg.com http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gc-614 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/details/gcc-air-purifiers-market Although considered as a luxury, demand for air purifiers is steadily growing in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to Future Market Insights (FMI) new research report, Air Purifiers Market: GCC Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014-2020. FMI projects the GCC air purifiers market to reach US$ 85.2 Mn by 2020.In a survey conducted by FMI with air purifier manufacturers and distributors/retailers around the world, nearly 80% of respondents indicated that the HEPA technology will expand at an annual growth rate of 5%-10% between 2015 and 2020. The respondents also believed that brand value and purification capacity were the most important features that buyers looked for while purchasing an air purifier.A majority of respondents in FMIs survey on air purifiers market in GCC were of the view that single-point retail outlet accounted for 0%-20% of the total air purifier sales in GCC. Air purifier sales through shopping malls were estimated to be between 41% and 60% by the respondents.According to the respondents, increasing pollution and health-related problems were the key factors fuelling the demand for air purifiers in GCC. A majority of the respondents were of the view that growing per capita income will have a moderate impact on the sales of air purifiers in GCC.The key players in the GCC air purifiers market include Sharp Corporation, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Hitachi Ltd., and Panasonic Corporation.Request Free Report Sample@Sharp Corporation is marketing its air purifiers to consumers in UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar markets. Sharp is using its patented PlasmaCluster Ion Technology and incorporating it in different home appliances, including air purifiers.LG Electronics, in collaboration with Saudi Arabia-based Al-Hassan Ghazi Ibrahim Shaker Co. recently launched a new range of air purifiers with five-stage filtration system. LG air purifiers in UAE are sold through AL Yosuf Electronics. The company has also made its products available on shopping websites, such asandSamsung Electronics operates in GCC through its home appliances sales group, Samsung Gulf Electronics. The business strategy of Samsung is aimed at collaboration and partnering with prominent local players to capture a larger share of the market.Demand for air purifiers is robust in Saudi Arabia and UAE. According to FMIs analysis, these two countries collectively hold a share of over 60% of the GCC air purifiers market in 2014. FMI projects these two countries to account for bulk of the demand for air purifiers during the forecast period.Request For TOC@Saudi Arabia & UAE Account for Bulk of the DemandThe Saudi Arabia air purifiers market, valued at US$ 14.85 Mn in 2014, is anticipated to be worth US$ 41.33 Mn by 2020. The key factors fuelling the demand for air purifiers in Saudi Arabia include focus on medical tourism and increased investment in infrastructure activities.The UAE air purifiers market is expected to be worth US$ 26.10 Mn by 2020. Like Saudi Arabia, UAE is projected to develop its medical infrastructure in a bid to develop non-oil based sectors. Owing to the focus on medical tourism, construction of a number of hospitals is in the pipeline. FMI opines these factors to provide an impetus to the air purifiers market in UAE.3Browse full report, "Air Purifiers Market: GCC Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020" Market Research Report at,The air purifiers market in rest of GCC (Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar) is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 17.79 Mn. According to FMI, the air purifiers market in these countries is still at a nascent stage, and it will take a while before they are adopted on a large scale.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.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018Valley Cottage, NY Global Big Data as a Service Market to Register Explosive 60.90% CAGR between 2016 and 2020 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressrelease/1485 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/700630 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ A new market research report, titled Global Big Data as a Service Market 2016-2020, has been recently added to its huge database of research studies by MarketResearchReports.biz. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the market, focusing on the key driving factors, restraints, product portfolio, major geographical segments, and competitive scenario of the market. As per the research study, the global market for big data as a service is projected to exhibit an exponential 60.90% CAGR between 2016 and 2020.Technological advancements in the IT industry and growing IT consumerization have provided a new platform for several financial applications, such as helping banks collect and consolidate information in order to change their engagement model with users and customers through mobile applications and websites. The growing consumer expectations and increasing prevalence of mobile workforces have forced financial institutions to modify their efforts in order to maintain and improve their next-generation IT-driven models.Nevertheless, several industry verticals are taking constant efforts to act at a fast pace in order to meet the growing expectations of online customers, owing to the presence of legacy infrastructure, fragmented processes, and ingrained businesses. Presently, many financial services are emphasizing on enhancing their traditional data infrastructure and looking after several issues including workforce mobility, risk, multichannel effectiveness, and customer data management. These issues have forced financial institutions to deploy big data as a long-term plan.View Press Release Report at:Increased use of cloud-based predictive analytics is considered as one of the major factors fuelling the growth of the global market for big data as a service. In addition, the increased spending on customer engagements is estimated to augment the growth of the market throughout the forecast period. On the other hand, issues related to data integration are projected to curb the growth of the market in the near future.The global market for big data as a service has been segmented on the basis of application into data platform as a service, analytics as a service, and Hadoop as a service. The analytics as a service segment is further sub-segmented into advisory services and consulting services. Furthermore, on the basis of geography, the market has been divided into EMEA, APAC, and the Americas. The market size, share, and estimated statistics of each segment have been presented in the research study.For Sample Copy, click here:The research study further covers the competitive landscape of the global market for big data as a service, analyzing the major players operating in the market. Detailed profiles, business strategies, SWOT analysis, financial overview, and recent developments of the major players in the market are discussed in the scope of the study. The prominent players in the global market for big data as a service include HP Co., Teradata, SAP SE, SAS Institute Inc., and IBM Corp. Some of the other key vendors mentioned in the research study are Atos, Predixion Software, Hortonworks, Enthought, EMC, Accenture, DataStax, Chartio, Alteryx, Mu Sigma, and MongoDB.MarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA: Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Website:E : sales@marketresearchreports.biz N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) Market will be Worth US$ 985 Million by 2020 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-625 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-625 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/details/global-n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone-market Future Market Insights (FMI), in its recent report titled, N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) Market: Global Industry Analysis & Opportunity Assessment, 2014 - 2020, forecasts that the global N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone market will witness a steady CAGR of 4.7% between 2015 and 2020. NMP accounted for around US$ 660 Mn of the US$ 3.2 trillion generated by the global chemicals market in 2013, and FMI estimates it to reach a valuation of US$ 985 Mn by 2020.N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone, also referred to as N-Methylpyrrolidone, is an organic, colourless, polar aprotic solvent characterised by relatively lower volatility and higher flash point. It is obtained through the process of condensation of gamma butyrolactone and monomethylamine. Owing to such properties, NMP is used across diverse industries in a wide range of end-uses.FMIs latest report analyses the global NMP market in terms of market value (US$ Mn) and volume (000 tonne) by segmenting the market on the basis of applications and regions. The report offers insights and data related to prevalent trends, and impact analysis of the various drivers and restraints in the market. It also provides detailed information and statistics of some of the leading players in the industry in the form of company profiles.Demand from Asia Pacific Anticipated to Fuel the NMP MarketGrowth in the end-use industry is expected to emerge as the primary factor driving growth of the global NMP market during the forecast period. Moreover, growing demand from developing countries across the globe, especially those in Asia Pacific, is expected to fuel growth of the global NMP market between 2015 and 2020. However, NMP has been listed as a developmental and reproductive toxin by regulatory bodies across the globe, particularly in Europe and North America. As such, application of NMP in paints & coatings and industrial cleaners segments is expected to be adversely affected in the near future, especially in markets in Europe and North America. This is likely to result in slower growth rates of the abovementioned segments in the global NMP market over the forecast period.Request Free Report Sample@On the basis of regions, the global NMP market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America. By application, the market has been segmented into electronics, petrochemical processing, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, paints & coatings and industrial cleaners and others.Asia Pacific accounts for highest share in terms of revenue contribution, owing to industrial growth in the region, and this trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. The region is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.5% in terms of market value, thus dominating the global NMP market over the forecast period. However, mature markets such as North America and Europe are slated to witness relatively slower growths in terms of NMP consumption during the forecast period.Request For TOC@On the basis of application, the electronics segment is expected to account for majority as compared to other application-based segments, and will register a steady CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. However, the other major application segments such as petrochemical processing, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals are also expected to register steady year-on-year growth rates during the forecast period.Browse Full: "N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014 - 2020" Market Research Report atThe Key market players covered in the report include BASF SE, Ashland Inc., LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Shandong Qingyun Changxin Chemical Science-Tech Co. Ltd, Hefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co. Ltd, and Zhejiang Realsun Chemical Industry Co., Ltd among others.Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Genital Herpes Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2016-2026" report to their offering.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018Valley Cottage, NY Global Underground Coal Gasification Market to Grow Strongly across India and South Africa due to Presence of Large Coal Deposits http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/underground-coal-gasification-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=4784 A new market research report by Transparency Market Research, titled Underground Coal Gasification Market - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 2023, offers a comprehensive overview of the global underground coal gasification market. The report takes into consideration the various micro- and macro-economic factors impacting the growth of the global underground coal gasification market and projects the valuation of the market by 2023. The overall market has been studied on the basis of technology and regions. The profiles of some of the prominent players in the market have been included in the report.Browse Underground Coal Gasification Market Report with Full TOC at :The production of coal has increased in the past few decades and is expected to surge in the future. Traditional technologies are becoming obsolete for mining coal from the majority of the reserves. Underground coal gasification has emerged as an economic and safe method to convert the unused coal across reserves into syngas that can be utilized to produce power without mining the coal.Environmental regulations, reduced cost of plant installation, lower capital requirement, and the usage of unused coal in deep reserves are some of the primary factors driving the global underground coal gasification method. However, drilling activities and contamination of ground water negatively affect the nearby areas of underground coal gasification sites. The presence of large coal deposits across South Africa and India holds potential for the growth of the market during the forecast period.There are several factors that determine the quality of gas produced such as coal properties, feed conditions, pressure under the coal seam, and the heat and the mass under the coal seam. On the basis of technology, the global underground coal gasification market has been broadly categorized into shaft underground coal gasification method and the shaft-less underground coal gasification method. The shaft underground coal gasification method is the most widely used method across closed coal mines owing to safety and economic reasons. However, recently the shaft-less underground coal gasification method that works on the principle of directional drilling has gained popularity.For further inquiries, click here :The report studies the global underground coal gasification market across five regions: the Middle East and Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Latin America. In Asia Pacific, China has around 30 projects in different phases for underground coal gasification. While Canada and the United States are driving the growth of the market in North America, the U.K. and Russia have significantly contributed towards the growth of the Europe underground coal gasification.The report profiles some of the key players in the global underground coal gasification market such as Sasol Limited, Linc Energy, Cougar Energy Limited, Errgo Exergy Technologies Inc., Eskom Holdings SOC Limited, and Wild Horse Energy. Detailed information about the key players including their financial overview and product portfolio has been included in the report.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Beer Market : Historical, Current and Projected industry size and Recent Industry Trends http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3174 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3174 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Beer is one of the alcoholic beverages containing 4% to 6% alcohol by volume. The main ingredients of beer include water, a starch source (such as malted barley, helps in saccharification and fermentation), a brewers yeast and flavors such as hops. Flavoring such as hops helps in adding bitterness and act as a natural preservative. Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the Asia Pacific region. Growing drinking population in the countries such as India and China is boosting the market for beer in the Asia-Pacific region. By types, Beer market can be segmented into premium, mainstream and economy.Countries such as China have the largest consumption of beer in the Asia Pacific region, followed by Japan. Increasing population and more inclined towards western culture are the major factors for the growth of beer market in the Asia Pacific region. Countries such as India, Singapore and South Korea are the fastest growing market for beer in the Asia-Pacific region.Interested in report: Please follow the below links to meet your requirements;Request for the Report Brochure:Rising disposable income, ever-increasing population, increasing in the number of bars and restaurants, increase in the acceptance of western culture and relaxation in the rules and regulation related to the operation of beer industry are some of the major driving force for beer market. Increasing disposable income among the working class population allows the customer to go out more to restaurants and bars and spend more on beer. In addition, consumers are now willing to pay more for premium segments also. According to the National Bureau of Statistics China, annual per capita disposable income of urban households in China increased from USD 2,271.0 in 2008 to USD 3408.5 in 2012. The overall annual disposable income in India medium household income increased from USD 1,366.2 billion in 2010 to USD 1,587.6 billion in 2013. Quick adoption of western culture has largely influenced the drinking habits in the Asia Pacific region. People living in the west usually have a habit of drinking beer with their meals, at parties and even during meetings. Rising Anti-alcohol campaigns and rising aging population are some of the major restraints for beer market.Request TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report:The major companies operating in the beer market include Anheuser-Busch InBev, Tsingtao Brewery, Beijing Yanjing Brewery, San Miguel Brewery, Asahi Breweries and China Resources Enterprise.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during his visit to Kherson region visited state-run Pallada Plant. He said that the enterprise was among the leaders of world-famous companies-constructors of floating docks. "You show the best qualities of Ukrainian producers. Every Ukrainian should work like that - efficiently and in a timely manner," Poroshenko said, addressing the plant's employees. An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported that in the presence of the Ukrainian president, Director of Pallada Valeriy Maloman and Managing Director of Southey Holdings PTY Ltd Christopher Sparg signed the protocol of technical readiness of the composite reinforced concrete floating dock ordered by this company. Upon completion of the ceremony, the national flag of the South African Republic was hoisted on the dock. "I am sure that our partners will praise the quality of Kherson workers. I am also confident that todays event will become an impetus for intensification of economic contacts between Ukraine and the South African Republic. I have instructed to expand our cooperation with the African continent. You are pioneers at this important market," Poroshenko said. He said that this floating dock is a first new product of this class imported to South Africa. The president expressed hope that Pallada plant will take part in a tender on building floating piers, workshops and barracks for installing wave protection facilities for the domestic fleet. Beer Market : Historical, Current and Projected industry size and Recent Industry Trends http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3207 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3207 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the World. Beer contains 4% to 6% alcohol by volume. The main ingredients of beer include water, a starch source (such as malted barley, helps in saccharification and fermentation), a brewers yeast and flavors such as hops. Flavoring such as hops helps in adding bitterness and act as a natural preservative. Most of the beers are sold in glass bottle and cans. The moderate consumption of beer reduced the risk of cardiac disease, stroke and cognitive decline. In contrast, heavy beer consumption increases the risk of liver diseases. The European communities have been enjoying beer for several thousand years. The beer cultures in the European countries vary remarkably, with different styles of beer and consumption habits and it forms an integral part of the Europes heritage, alimentation and culture. Europe is the second largest beer producer in the world. In 2012, around 390 million hectoliters of beer was produced in the Europe. Europe beer market can be bifurcated into four categories such as premium lager, standard lager, specialty beer and others.Interested in report: Please follow the below links to meet your requirements;Request for the Report Brochure:Europe beer market experienced a steady growth rate over the past few years. Flavor innovations and new target consumer are some of the major driving force for beer market. By adding new flavors in beer, manufacturers tries to attract new drinkers, thus driving the beer market. In the recent year, beer markets are opening up in an effort to target more customers. Now the beer manufacturers are offering verities of beer to target women. This can be a major driving force for beer market. Increasing number of health conscious people and rise in beer excise duty are some of the major restraints for beer market.Request TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report:The major companies operating in the beer market include Scottish & Newcastle, Inbev, Heineken N.V and SABMiller.Key points covered in the reportReport segments the market on the basis of types, application, products, technology, etc (as applicable)The report covers geographic segmentationNorth AmericaEuropeAsiaRoWThe report provides the market size and forecast for the different segments and geographies for the period of 2010 to 2020The report provides company profiles of some of the leading companies operating in the marketThe report also provides porters five forces analysis of the market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Frozen Bakery Market : Size & Forecast 2015 to 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3240 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/3240 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Global frozen bakery market contributes a major portion in sales of food processing market across the globe. Frozen bakery products can be kept fresh for long period. Many frozen bakery products such as frozen breads, frozen pizza crust, frozen pastries, frozen cakes bread, frozen patisserie are high in demand, which boost frozen bakery market across the globe. Among all frozen bakery products, frozen pizza crust contributes the highest share followed by frozen bread and frozen pastries. In western countries, many people prefer to take frozen pizza as part of their daily meal. Frozen bakery market holds around 8% of total frozen food market across the globe.The market is growing towards more diversified operations, which offer sophisticated and healthy products. Due to increase in health conscious level, people prefer food that contains healthy ingredients and keeps the food fresh for long duration of time. Growing demand of these ingredient leads to drive overall frozen bakery market. One of the reasons for the growth of frozen bakery market is due to habit of food on-the-go. In busier life styles, people tend to skip breakfast and grab some frozen food bakery product.Interested in report: Please follow the below links to meet your requirements;Request for the Report Brochure:The market is expected to continue flourishing in developed and developing regions of the world. Increase in trade activities of frozen pizza and frozen bread in Europe, leads to rise in overall growth of frozen bakery market. Europe region contributes the largest market of frozen bakery across the globe. North America is estimated to be second largest market after Europe due to increase in demand for processed food and busy life-styles population. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market for frozen bakery. The growing influence of western culture, rising middle classes with higher disposable income and changing eating habits of consumers are some of the main reason, which drive the Asia Pacific market. The growth of frozen bakery market is expected to be fastest in emerging market of Latin America and Middle East.Request TOC (table of content), Figures and Tables of the Report:Major companies operating in global frozen bakery market include, Lantmannen Unibake, Alpha Baking Company Inc., Associated British Foods Plc, Aryzta AG, Bridgford Foods Corporation, Barilla Holding SPA, Cole's Quality Foods Inc., Cargill Incorporated, Custom Foods Inc., Deiorios Frozen Dough Products, Europastry, Flowers Foods Inc., General Mills Inc., Grupo Bimbo, Kellogg Company, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Premier Foods Plc, Pepperidge Farm, Vandemoortele and Warburtons Bakery.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Social Media Messaging Industry Analysis, Trend, Growth, Shares, Strategy and Worldwide Forecasts 2016 to 2022 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=605125 http://www.researchmoz.us/social-media-messaging-market-shares-strategy-and-forecasts-worldwide-2016-to-2022-report.html http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=605125 Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Social Media Messaging: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 to 2022" to its huge collection of research reports.Social messaging platforms leverage smart phones to deliver an increasingly broad set of lifestyle functions. Social media platforms that have been adept at moving to embrace the mobile revolution in user adoption. The smart phone can do everything. Messaging is the preferred medium of the smart phone.Social media messaging usage is dependent on opening and engaging with the app. Message platforms are the most used apps globally. Social media messaging has transcended simple communication and become a platform for gaming, commerce and payment, media, taxi services and beyond. As these trends play out globally, mobile messaging leaders are evolving into central communication hubs.Social messaging platforms leverage smart phones to deliver an increasingly broad set of lifestyle functions. Tencent (TCEHY) in China owns WeChat. This dominates the messaging market. Chat apps are widely used for shopping in China. They make consumer goods more available. In the U.S, Americans have access to brick-and-mortar shopping options.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Tencent Holdings Ltd provides Internet value-added services, mobile services, online advertising, and e-Commerce transactions services to users in the People's Republic of China. WeChat is used by 500,000 people to connect. WeChat is available for iOS and Android. It supports a group chat conversation. Twitter WeChat broadcast messages mimics a basic function of digital messaging, allowing broadcast of a single message to a group capability.Facebook as a social media platform has benefitted from embracing the mobile revolution in user adoption. The smart phone can do everything. Tablets and cell phones have replaced PCs. Messaging is the preferred medium of the smart phone.KakaoTalk was the number one social media messaging app when measuring the number of sessions. Sessions refers to usage, opening and engaging with the app. Topping the list with 55 sessions, the KakaoTalk app was shown to be used 1.5~7 times more than the other five messaging apps on the top 10 list. These results are significant. Message platforms are the most used apps globally. KakaoTalk is the most frequently visited and heavily replied on app per user, proving its potential to be one of the most influential services among its users.KakaoTalk has already transcended simple communication and become a platform for gaming, commerce and payment, media, taxi services and beyond. As these trends play out globally, mobile messaging leaders are evolving into central communication hubs.Facebook Messenger implements texting via the smartphone data plan. It bypasses the need to pay for each text. Users do not have to pay for every message. Facebook Messenger works with the data plan. Messenger works after the users sign in to Facebook.Social media messaging supports the sharing of information. Social media messaging companies enable marketers to display advertising, and provide development platforms for application developers. Social media messaging companies compete to attract, engage, and retain people who use a digital screen to share information. The aim is to attract and retain marketers, and to attract and retain developers to build compelling mobile and web applications that integrate with products.According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the study, Users of social media messaging platforms are delighted with the effectiveness of texting. It works in real time, but without the interruptions created by a voice call. Building more functionality on the messaging platform will achieve key milestone in telecommunications. The platforms are evolving an e-commerce component.As the e-commerce platforms evolve, the SOA once and only once delivery messaging will become a key aspect of the messaging platforms, providing an opportunity to transform the communications industry by adding a retail component. Social networks provide an intuitive base for communications, people generally want to talk to people they know and to buy things recommended by people they know.Browse Detail Report With TOC @New platform components and new designs are bringing that transformation forward. By furthering the growth of innovation message text users can get better connections to their friends and colleagues. By enhancing the platform and the user experience customer bases are going over one billion, creating the prospect that the entire market will grow rapidly.The worldwide market for social media messaging platforms is $8.6 billion anticipated to reach $27.2 billon by 2022. The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis including user numbers for those generating revenue, and counting separately, the much larger number of users not generating revenue. Segment analysis looks at texting, games, video, and e-commerce revenue, providing users, market value, forecasts, as well as a detailed competitive market shares and analysis of major players success, challenges, and strategies in each segment and sub-segment. The reports cover markets for social media texting platform specialties and sub-specialties.WinterGreen Research is an independent research organization funded by the sale of market research studies all over the world and by the implementation of ROI models that are used to calculate the total cost of ownership of equipment, services, and software. The company has 35 distributors worldwide, including Global Information Info Shop, Market Research.com, Research and Markets, Bloomberg, and Thompson Financial. It conducts its business with integrity.WinterGreen Research is an independent research organization funded by the sale of market research studies all over the world and by the implementation of ROI models that are used to calculate the total cost of ownership of equipment, services, and software. The company has 35 distributors worldwide, including Global Information Info Shop, Market Research.com, Research and Markets, and Thompson Financial. WinterGreen Research is positioned to help customers facing challenges that define the modern enterprises.The increasingly global nature of science, technology and engineering is a reflection of the implementation of the globally integrated enterprise. Customers trust wintergreen research to work alongside them to ensure the success of the participation in a particular market segment.WinterGreen Research supports various market segment programs; provides trusted technical services to the marketing departments. It carries out accurate market share and forecast analysis services for a range of commercial and government customers globally. These are all vital market research support solutions requiring trust and integrity.Browse Detail Report With TOC @Companies ProfiledMarket LeadersBaiduTencent WechatFacebook WhatsappDaum KakaoIBMMarket ParticipantsAppleBaiduBlackberryDaum KakaoFacebookFioranoFiveFujitsuGoogleHikeInternational Business Machines (IBM)KikNaver / LineMicrosoftNetDirectNewcall / NimbuzzOwlerRakutenSnapchatSoftware AGTangoTawkersTencentTencent WeChatTibcoTumblrTwitterYahooYik YakYolodataWeather MessagingKey TopicsTextingText Smart PhoneSocial Media MessagingPremier Mobile Lifestyle PlatformsSocial messaging softwareSocial messaging platformslifestyle support platformTexting softwareVideo textingMobile Is Key Driver of Social MessagingMobile-Feed Based Environment InformationMessaging With Mission Critical SystemsMessage TrendsMessaging E-Commerce CommunicationSOA Governance LifecycleSOAServices Oriented ArchitectureSystems IntegrationCommunication PlatformGame textingVideo PlatformTable of ContentsSocial Messaging Executive Summary 23Social Messaging Market Forces 23Social Media Messaging Market Driving Forces 27Social Media Messaging Vendor E-Commerce Development 33Social Message Features 35Social Messaging Market Shares 36Social Messaging Market Forecasts 381. Social Messaging Description and Market Dynamics 391.1 Addition of Text Messaging To The Social Media Platform 391.1.1 Mobile Is Key Driver of Social Messaging 391.1.2 Seventy-Eight Percent Of People In The U.S. Say Their Phone Is Always With Them 401.1.3 Facebook Battery Drain 401.2 Mobile-Feed Based Environment Information Absorption 411.2.1 People Watch And Absorb Information Differently In A Mobile Environment 421.2.2 Fast Content Retention 421.3 Social Network Texting On Mobile Phones 431.3.1 Studies Supporting Ubiquity of Messaging 431.4 Social Messaging Sales and Operations 441.4.1 Social Messaging Marketing 441.5 Cloud Computing Model 441.5.1 Open Systems 461.5.2 SOA Foundation 471.6 Digital Messaging E-commerce Products 481.7 Getting Ready to Support E-Commerce Social Media Messaging With Mission Critical Systems 491.7.1 Mission Critical Messaging As A Base For Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) 491.7.2 Messaging E-Commerce Communication 521.8 Message Trends 531.9 Mission Critical Messaging Market Dynamics 551.10 SOA Governance Lifecycle 572. Social Messaging Market Shares and Forecasts 612.1 Social Messaging Market Forces 612.1.1 Social Media Messaging Market Driving Forces 652.1.2 Social Media Messaging Vendor E-Commerce Development 712.1.3 Social Message Features 732.2 Social Messaging Market Shares 742.2.1 Facebook Whatsapp 802.2.2 Facebook: WhatsApp 832.2.3 Tencent Holdings / WeChat 852.2.4 Twitter 852.2.5 Alphabets (GOOGL) Google 862.2.6 Google 862.2.7 Baidu Inc ADR 862.2.8 Rakuten 872.2.9 Rakuten / Viper 872.2.10 Twitter Seen Trying Social Commerce 872.2.11 Tango 882.2.12 Line 882.2.13 Kik App Identified As Digital Platform Abused By Criminals, Drug Dealers, Terrorists 892.2.14 Tawkers 902.2.15 KakaoTalk 902.2.16 IBM Social Messaging 902.2.17 Amazon Messaging 912.2.18 Chinese Social Messaging 922.3 Social Messaging Market Forecasts 922.3.1 Social Media Messaging Text Forecasts 972.3.2 Social Media Messaging Video Forecasts 1012.3.3 Social Media Messaging Game Forecasts 1042.3.4 Social Platform Games Using Virtual Reality 1082.3.5 Social Media Messaging E-Commerce Forecasts 1092.3.6 Assistive Collaboration And Productivity Messaging E-Commerce Tools 1112.3.7 Communication Tools Morph Into E-Commerce Platforms 1132.3.8 Twitter Seen Trying Social Media Platform e-Commerce 1132.4 Mission Critical Decoupled Messaging is the Base for E-Commerce 1142.5 Mission Critical Messaging Market Shares 1182.5.1 IBM WebSphere MQ 1202.5.2 Tibco Transport Layer 1222.5.3 .NET MSMQ from Microsoft 1232.6 Mission Critical Messaging Market Forecasts 1242.7 Social Messaging Revenue and Valuation per User 1252.8 Social Messaging Regional Analysis 1262.8.1 United States 1302.8.2 Europe 1302.8.3 China 1302.8.4 Japan 1312.8.5 Korea 1312.8.6 India 1322.8.7 Tailand 1322.8.8 LINE Monthly Active User (MAU) Market Share (Japan, Taiwan,Thailand and Indonesia 1332.8.9 Facebook Regional Positioning 1332.8.10 Facebook WhatsApp Regional Issues 1332.8.11 Facebook Geographical Information 1343. Social Messaging Product Description 1353.1 Facebook Messaging 1353.1.1 Facebook Messenger 1363.1.2 Video Calling in Facebook Messenger 1383.1.3 Facebook Whatsapp 1403.1.4 Facebook Core App WhatsApp 1413.1.5 Facebook WhatsApp Target Markets 1423.1.6 Facebook WhatsApp Advertising Positioning 1433.1.7 WhatsApp View of Advertising 1443.1.8 WhatsApp User Base for Android 1453.1.9 WhatsApp User Base for iPhone 1453.1.10 Facebook Oculus Virtual Reality Technology 1463.1.11 Oculus Rift Experience of Immersion 1463.1.12 Facebook Instagram 1473.1.13 Facebook Instagram Boomerang 1493.1.14 Post to Facebook and Windows Live 1533.2 Tencent / WeChat 1543.2.1 Tencent WeChat Translation 1583.2.2 Tencent Free Messaging & Calling App 1583.2.3 Tencent / WeChat 1593.3 Twitter Chat 1603.3.1 Twitter Eliminates 140-Character Message Limit 1603.3.2 Twitter / Vine 1613.4 Viper 1613.5 Google 1633.5.1 Google Building A New Mobile Messaging App 1653.5.2 Google Hangouts Mobile 1653.5.3 Google Hangouts Gmail 1663.4.4 Google Virtual Reality 1673.6 Microsoft Skype 1673.6.1 Skype Translator 1683.6.2 Skype for Business 1693.6.3 Skype Messaging App GroupMe 1703.7 Baidu 1703.8 Rakuten / Viper 1713.9 Yahoo / Tumblr 1713.9.1 Yahoo / Tumblr / Mobile / Integrated Instant Messaging 1723.9.2 Yahoo Messenger 1733.10 Kik 1733.10.1 Kik Offers Teenagers, and Predators, Anonymity 1743.10.2 Kik App Identified As Digital Platform Abused By Criminals, Drug Dealers, Terrorists 1753.11 Line 1803.11.1 LINE real-time voice and video calls 1813.11.2 Line Out 1833.11.3 Line Pay 1833.12 KakaoTalk 1843.12.1 KakaoTalk Messaging App K-Minute 1853.12.2 KakaoTalk Promotion 1873.12.3 KakaoTalk TV 1883.13 Nimbuzz 1883.14 Tawkers 1893.14.1 Tawkers Share Text Messaging on iPhone 1893.15 NetDirect App 1913.16 Slack 1913.16.1 Slack and Hipchat 1933.17 Kore 1933.18 Yik Yak 1943.19 Snapchat 1953.20 iMessage 1963.21 Confide 1973.21.1 Confide Transport Layer Security 1973.21.2 Confide Ephemeral and Encrypted 1983.22 Wickr 1983.23 Tango 2073.23.1 Tango Teams with Wal-Mart, Alibaba for M-Commerce 2093.24 Blackberry Messanger 2113.25 IBM Social Messaging 2113.25.1 IBM offers SOA Platform Messaging Technology 2123.25.2 IBM Messaging Foundation For SOA Connectivity 2133.25.3 IBM WebSphere Open Systems Foundation for Cloud Computing 2143.25.4 IBM SOA As Mechanism For Defining Business Services 2153.26 Tibco Middleware Messaging 2163.26.1 Tibco Messaging 2173.26.2 Tibco Mission Critical Messaging Solutions 2173.26.3 Tibco Messaging Backbone 2183.27 FioranoMQ 2223.27.1 Fiorano SOA Platform 2243.27.2 Fiorano Enterprise Services Bus (Fiorano ESB) 2253.27.3 Fiorano Pre-Built Services 2263.28 Software AG webMethods Broker 226About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.us Worldwide Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Robots Industry, Analysis, Trend, Shares, Strategy and Forecasts 2016 to 2022 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=524097 http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=524097 http://www.researchmoz.us/hip-and-knee-orthopedic-surgical-robots-market-shares-strategy-and-forecasts-worldwide-2016-to-2022-report.html Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Robots: Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2016 to 2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The 2016 study has 145 pages, 64 tables and figures. Worldwide Hip and Knee Orthopedic surgical robot markets are poised to achieve significant growth. The accuracy provided by the robot is not reproducible by the human surgeon, so ultimately all surgeons will want to perform the orthopedic implants using this technology.Robot assisted medial knee arthroplasty: orthopedic surgical robots are poised to take knee and hip surgery quality far beyond what has previously been available. The quality of knee arthroplasty is improved with robotic capability. All the advantages of surgical robots carry into the Stryker Mako orthopedic reconstruction surgical products.. When the knee and hip surgical robots are used, patients have less bleeding, reduction of post-operative pain, fewer re-admissions to hospital and faster recovery. Robots support high-precision surgery. A clinic in Switzerland, La Source, has reported a reduction in the average days of hospitalization from 10 to 6.Knee and hip surgical robots provide consistent reproducible precision. This capability is so significant for implant surgery that the robots are positioned to become the defacto standard of care for knee and hip surgery within five years. Any one getting a knee or hip replaced will demand attention to quality of life, to maintenance of lifestyle provided by a robot when they have a joint replacement.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @As next generation systems, hip and knee robotic units provide a way to improve traditional orthopedic hip and knee replacement surgery. Total hip replacement surgery has evolved dramatically as advances in technology have brought improved surgical techniques. Surgical robots are a significany [art of that advance.Once, the penetration achieves this 35% level, all orthopedic surgeons will demand that hospitals offer robotic orthopedic surgical capability because the outcomes are more predictable and better. If the hospital does not offer the robot, the surgeon will move to a more modern facility.Knee and Hip Surgical Robots have been impacted by the reduction in insurance payments. Payment reductions have forced hospitals to start acting as businesses. The cost of delivering care has become as much a factor as providing quality care when making decisions about patient improvement in condition. Cost-cutting has been made in the supply chain. Suppliers were examined closely for quality and cost.The number of suppliers is reduced to put pressure on the ones that remain. Those remaining are pressured to improve prices and efficiencies. Hospitals, physicians, and care providers have been financially incentivized to create accountable care organizations (ACOs). Coordinated patient care plans and value-based purchasing were rewarded. The med device buyer shifted from physicians to the ACOs and smart buying groups.Stryker has thrived in this cost efficient environment with a surgical robot that permits faster surgeries, more cost efficient surgeries. In addition, Stryker offers an integrated system. The ability to include a Mako total knee application with Stryker Triathlon total knee system is anticipated to increase market share for Stryker. Stryker market leading Triathlon total knee system is helped in the market by the robot simply by the improved surgical technique possible. Surgical robots are proving themselves in a variety of disciplines, lending credibility to the Stryker robotic initiative.According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the study, Use of the robot with the orthopedic implant represents a key milestone in reconstructive surgery. Robots provide an opportunity to transform orthopedics. By furthering the growth of robotic-arm assisted surgery, patients can get better treatment. By enhancing the surgeon and patient experience is is likely that the entire orthopedics implant market will grow more rapidly than it would otherwise.Stryker uses the Mako to perform partial knee resurfacing and is happy to add robotic capability to total knee resurfacing. Technology is enhancing a wide variety of procedures in many surgical specialties.The aging US population has supported demand, since the occurrence of health issues that require medical devices is higher in the elderly population. Buoyed by strong demand and sales, industry profit margins have increased considerably during the past five years.Make an Enquiry of this report @Hospitals are adopting robotic surgical devices to improve their outcomes numbers. Hospitals are measured on outcomes, robots for surgery, when used by a trained physician are improving outcomes significantly. Hundreds of universities worldwide have research programs in robotics and many are awarding degrees in robotics. These roboticists are increasingly being hired by Global 2000 organizations to link mobile robots (mobile computers) into existing IT systems.Robot-assisted surgery gives the surgeon better control over the surgical instruments and a better view of the surgical site.Hip and knee orthopedic surgical robot device markets at $84 million in 2015 are anticipated to reach $4.6 billion by 2022 as next generation robotic devices, systems, and instruments are introduced to manage surgery.The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis including procedure numbers, units sold, market value, forecasts, as well as a detailed competitive market shares and analysis of major players success, challenges, and strategies in each segment and sub-segment. The reports cover markets for knee and hip robotic orthopedic surgery medical specialties and sub-specialties.WinterGreen Research is an independent research organization funded by the sale of market research studies all over the world and by the implementation of ROI models that are used to calculate the total cost of ownership of equipment, services, and software. The company has 35 distributors worldwide, including Global Information Info Shop, Market Research.com, Research and Markets, Bloomberg, and Thompson Financial. It conducts its business with integrity.WinterGreen Research is an independent research organization funded by the sale of market research studies all over the world and by the implementation of ROI models that are used to calculate the total cost of ownership of equipment, services, and software. The company has 35 distributors worldwide, including Global Information Info Shop, Market Research.com, Research and Markets, and Thompson Financial. WinterGreen Research is positioned to help customers facing challenges that define the modern enterprises. The increasingly global nature of science, technology and engineering is a reflection of the implementation of the globally integrated enterprise. Customers trust wintergreen research to work alongside them to ensure the success of the participation in a particular market segment.WinterGreen Research supports various market segment programs; provides trusted technical services to the marketing departments. It carries out accurate market share and forecast analysis services for a range of commercial and government customers globally. These are all vital market research support solutions requiring trust and integrity.Companies ProfiledMarket LeadersStryker / MakoMarket ParticipantsJohnson & Johnson / DePuy SynthesShenzhen Advanced Institute Spinal Surgical RobotSmith & NephewStryker / MakoTHINK SurgicalWright Medical TechnologyZimmer BiometKey TopicsJoint Surgical RoboticsKnee Surgical RoboticsHip Surgical RoboticsOrthopedic Surgical RoboticsRobotic surgerySmart InstrumentsMedical DevicesHealthcare RoboticsEnabling TechnologyRobotic-Assisted Minimally Invasive SurgeryRobotic Surgical SystemMinimally-Invasive Surgery,Robotic Surgery EquipmentSurgical Robot ApplicationsNext Generation Robotic SurgeryFlexible Robot PlatformMinimally Invasive SurgeryMISBrowse Detail Report With TOC @Table of ContentKnee and Hip Surgical Robots Market Shares and Market Forecasts 13Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Market Driving Forces 13Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Market Shares 16Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Forecasts 191. Knee and Hip Surgical Robots Market Description and Market Dynamics 221.1 Knee and Hip Surgical Robots Reduction In Payments 221.1.1 Med Device Industry 221.1.2 Stryker Positions to Assist Hospital Capital Investment in Knee and Hip Robotics 231.1.3 Stryker Flex Financial Provides Assistance in the Financing Of The Surgical System Purchase 241.2 Knee and Hip Surgery Three Dimension High-Definition Visualization with Robotic Arm 251.3 Osteoporosis Impact On Hip 262. Knee and Hip Surgical Robots Market Shares and Market Forecasts 292.1 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Market Driving Forces 292.2 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Market Shares 322.2.1 Orthopedic Surgical Robot Market Shares, Units and Dollars 372.2.2 Stryker MAKO Platform Expansion 392.3 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Forecasts 402.3.1 Knee and Hip Surgical Robotic Procedures Forecasts 432.3.2 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Unit Analysis 532.3.3 Hip and Knee Orthopedic Surgical Robot Market Segment Forecasts 552.4 Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Regional Analysis 553. Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Products 583.1 Stryker Mako RIO Robotic Arm 583.1.1 Stryker MAKOplasty Robotic Arm Hip Replacement Solution 603.1.2 Stryker MAKOplasty Surgical Robotic Total Hip Arthroplasty 623.1.3 Stryker MAKO Surgical Knee Replacements 683.1.4 Strykers Mako Total Knee Application Receives FDA Clearance 703.2 Stryker Knee and Hip Surgical Robot Products Benefits 723.2.1 Stryker / Mako 734. Knee and Hip Surgery Company Descriptions 774.1 Orthopedic Implant Surgical Companies 774.2 DePuy Synthes / Johnson & Johnson 774.2.1 Depuy Knee Replacement System 784.3 Stryker Knee Replacement System 784.4 Zimmer Biomet 794.5 Smith&Nephew 814.5.1 Smith & Nephew Knee Implant Systems 844.5.2 Smith & Nephew Hip Implant Systems 844.5.3 Smith & Nephew Bearing Surfaces 855. Knee and Hip Surgical Company Descriptions 865.1 Shenzhen Advanced Institute Spinal Surgical Robot 865.2 Smith & Nephew 875.2.1 Smith & Nephew Revenue 885.3 Stryker / MAKO Surgical 905.3.1 Stryker Revenue 905.3.2 Stryker Results Of Operations 935.3.3 Stryker Segment Orthopaedics 965.3.4 Stryker Business Segment Operations 965.3.5 Stryker Revenue 975.3.6 Stryker Hip Recall: $1.4 Billion Settlement 985.3.7 Stryker Regional Revenue Segment 985.3.8 Stryker Robots 995.3.9 Stryker / MAKO Surgical 1045.3.10 Stryker / Mako 1055.4 THINK Surgical 1135.4.1 THINK Surgical TPLAN 3D Planning Workstation 1145.4.2 THINK Surgical TCAT Computer Assisted Tool 1165.4.3 Think Surgical 1185.4.4 Think Surgical Robodoc 1195.5 Wright Medical Technology 1195.5.1 Wright Revenue 1205.5.2 Wright Medical Group NV Revenue 1205.5.3 Wright Medical Group N.V. Revenue for 2015 Third Quarter 1225.5.4 Wright / Tornier 1275.6 Zimmer Biomet 128About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.us Only nine percent of business leaders are doing enough to equip staff for the future The latest Oliver Wight conference, with its theme of Business Transformation and How to Achieve it, exposes that while business leaders recognise people are the key to success, they are not doing enough to prepare their teams for future challenges.A poll of 80 business leaders from nearly 40 European companies, conducted at the Oliver Wight Conference and Class A Awards Dinner, reveals that the biggest challenge for businesses in 2017 will be growth, with 59 percent of delegates choosing this ahead of other issues including competition (14 percent) and, economic slowdown (10 percent).When it came to their own professional challenges for next year, 38 percent of respondents said that recruiting, keeping and developing the best people is their greatest concern. A high figure compared to 21 percent that selected either meeting customer expectations or pressure to achieve short term results in 2017; concerns which might be expected to be highest on their agendas. It suggests that astute business leaders understand the need for a fully-engaged workforce to enable growth.However, in response to how well equipped their people were to meeting the business challenges, only 9 percent of bosses say they were ready for anything, 18 percent say they arent doing enough for them and the remaining 73 percent said somewhat vaguely, they are doing work in some areas. These are worrying figures given their self-proclaimed priority for developing talent.Les Brookes CEO of Oliver Wight says: This is a big concern for organisations. Its a massive contradiction, which has the potential to be hugely damaging for businesses.He continues: One of the biggest issues is that leaders are not committed to transforming their businesses and therefore are not setting ambition high enough; the focus is just on improving processes rather than driving growth in revenues and margin. Its not actually about the level of financial investment required to change, its about the emotional commitment at the top. Sustainable change only happens when commitment moves from the head to the heart, claims Brookes.The survey also reveals that only 6 percent of those surveyed claim that sustainability for their business improvement programmes are set into their induction programmes. You are at your weakest when you take on new people, says Brookes. You have to introduce them to the concepts the minute they start with your organisation, otherwise sustainable improvement is almost certain to fail.The Oliver Wight Conference and Class A Awards Dinner was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Amsterdams Schiphol airport, on the 11th and 12th April. The two-day event included interactive Oliver Wight workshops, networking sessions and inspirational business transformation presentations from adidas Group, Saint-Gobain Weber and Amgen Breda. The Awards after dinner speaker was French Paralympic biathlon gold medalist, Anne Floriet.About Oliver WightAt Oliver Wight, we believe sustainable business improvement can only be delivered by your own people; so, unlike other consultancy firms, we transfer our knowledge to you. Pioneers of Sales and Operations Planning and originators of the fundamentals behind supply chain planning, Oliver Wight professionals are the acknowledged industry thought leaders for Integrated Business Planning (IBP).Integrated Business Planning allows your senior executives to plan and manage the entire organisation over a 24-month horizon, while Oliver Wights extended Supply Chain Planning and Optimization ensures your supply chain is designed and structured to deliver best-in-class customer service with minimal costs. Using the Oliver Wight Maturity Model to pursue our globally recognised Class A standard for best practice will determine a tailored improvement journey for you to develop your organisations processes, and reach and sustain excellent business performance. With a track record of more than 40 years of helping some of the worlds best-known organisations, Oliver Wight will help you define your companys vision for the future and deliver performance and financial results that last.Oliver Wight EAMEThe WillowsThe Steadings Business CentreMaisemoreGloucesterGL2 8EYSteve Lipscombestevel@roninmarketing02037013973 Qliktag Software Rolls Out Complete GDSN MR3 to Consumer SmartLabel Solution Logo http://www.Qliktag.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Qliktag-Software-Inc/468406606622463?ref=hl https://twitter.com/qliktag Newport Beach, 2nd May, 2016 Qliktag Software Inc. who were among the first solution providers to launch a SaaS based platform for brands to deploy the GMA SmartLabel has rolled out an update which will support the upcoming GDSN MR3 (Major Release 3).The company currently offers a complete GDSN to consumer SmartLabelsolution. Brands can import product data from GDSN into Qliktags platform and then instantaneously generate a GMA compliant SmartLabelThe platform also generates QR codes for each product and enables a brand to further layer on additional product level information in a SmartLabelcompliant fashion. With the announcement of the latest update, Qliktags solution will also support the upcoming GDSN Major Release 3 upgrade so brands can leverage existing GDSN data to easily deploy and manage SmartLabels using a single platform from one vendorWe understand one of the challenges brands face while deploying the new GMA SmartLabel is gathering the product data attributes that are displayed within SmartLabel. Our GDSN integration allows brands to use the existing data they have within GDSN and then append any additional attributes that are missing comments Kishore Gara, Director of Product Engineering at Qliktag Software Inc. The Companys platform is currently in use by multiple GS1 member organizations across the world and houses trusted product data for over 1 million products.Not only does our platform make deploying and managing SmartLabels simple, were offering our SmartLabel solution to brands at $1 per product, per month which makes us the most cost effective way to implement SmartLabel, says Mike Briggs, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Qliktag Software. We see the SmartLabel initiative as a key movement in consumer transparency and whether its a small manufacturer with a a couple of products maintained in spreadsheets or a global brand that has its data on GDSN or in a 3rd party PIM solution, you will find our platform simple, flexible and complete, Mike adds.The announcement of the update comes at a time when a number of brands and manufacturers are busy preparing for the upcoming roll-out of GDSN MR3 and are simultaneously evaluating their options to kick-start implementation on the SmartLabel initiative.Qliktag Software Inc. is an innovator of mobile software solutions working towards intuitive technology solution that bridge the gap between brands and buyers fostering stronger relationships and more personalized connections between the two. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, USA, the company has launched Q*Engine a cloud based in-store mobile engagement platform, Q*Aggregator an online B2C product data aggregation platform, Q*App a custom branded white-label in-store app for brands or retailers and other cutting edge mobile solutions that address the changing direction of consumer engagement and marketing in todays world.Website:Facebook:Twitter:4590 MacArthur, Suite 500Newport Beach, CA 9260 Surgical Scalpel Sales market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability also lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market. Additionally, the region-wise segmentation and the trends driving the leading geographical region and the emerging region has been presented in this report. Download Amsterdam, 2 June 2017 Who can still remember the good old CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors, in their beige and bulky glory? With new monitor innovations being launched on an almost monthly basis, it is fairly easy to forget how far we have come since the first displays were developed. Ever since, the monitor market has continuously developed and innovated its products to suit different customer needs and lifestyles For many years the business management process of choice for many organisations has been sales and operations planning (S&OP). Now business improvement specialists, Oliver Wight explain in their new white paper, how S&OP has evolved from its production planning roots into the fully integrated management and supply chain collaboration process it is today, in the form of Integrated Business Planning (IBP). Many companies are missing out on the real benefits of Peskov commenting on reports on Yanukovych's, Azarov's Russian citizenship: I don't think Transparency International has such info Russian President Dmitry Peskov has refrained from commenting on the media reports that there are numerous facts indicating that Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovych and Ukraine's former prime minister Mykola Azarov could have received Russian citizenship. "I can't [comment]. I don't think Transparency International issues Russian citizenship and has information on this matter," Peskov told reporters on Friday. Transparency International previously released a report stating that many facts indicate that Yanukovych and Azarov have been granted Russian citizenship and now enjoy state protection. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said he hopes Russia and Donbas militants will adhere by ceasefire regime in the east of Ukraine, at least during Easter holidays. He guaranteed the ceasefire would be kept by the Armed Forces of Ukraine if that happens. "PP: Today is Holy Friday. This year Easter will be a challenge for Russia in regards to its affiliation with Christian civilization. To pass this test, Russia along with its puppets should unconditionally cease fire, at least during Easter holidays," reads a post on official president's account on Facebook on Friday. MM1avakian.JPG Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian is pictured here in this September 2012 photo. (The Oregonian/OregonLive file photo) Voters would be understandably confused if they thought Brad Avakian was running not for secretary of state, but rather for governor, attorney general or perhaps a new post of progressive superhero. After all, in his bid for the state's second-highest office, Avakian is pledging to protect Oregonians from fraud, add civics classes to the curriculum for Oregon's schools, ensure equal pay for women, champion promising candidates, rally for worthy causes and, while he's at it, combat climate change. Considering his wide-ranging plan, we would not be surprised if Avakian were to trumpet a three-point plan for winning the war on terror as well. It's worth revisiting what the secretary of state does. The person holding the position, which is established in the state Constitution and further defined in Oregon statutes, serves as the state's chief elections officer, state archivist and auditor of public spending. The secretary of state's seven divisions are tasked with impartially and fairly interpreting and applying election law, auditing agencies to improve government efficiency, providing regulatory information to businesses and overseeing other duties in the public interest. The secretary also redraws legislative districts if the state Legislature cannot reach agreement. While the staid functions may not grab headlines, the office performs vital duties that, if done properly, help preserve confidence in state government as a whole. Oregonian editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. are Helen Jung, Erik Lukens, Steve Moss and Len Reed. To respond to this editorial: Post your comment below, submit a , or write a . If you have questions about the opinion section, contact Erik Lukens, editorial and commentary editor, at or 503-221-8142. Unfortunately, the activist job description that Avakian, currently labor commissioner, is selling to voters is fundamentally mismatched with the position that he seeks. That mismatch is further highlighted by the endorsements of organizations that are pushing his candidacy, even though the secretary of state's core functions don't have anything to do with their own missions. Avakian's determination to secure and broadcast support from such groups suggests a campaign strategy based less on how faithfully he'd do the job than on how effectively he'd use it to deliver to the faithful. Consider the way Avakian intends to execute the role of chief elections officer. Avakian told The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board that he would endorse candidates and ballot measures, refraining only during the period that ballots are in the hands of voters. He said his opinion won't influence how he makes elections decisions, such as determining whether a candidate violated an election law or whether to impose a penalty for a campaign finance infraction. Avakian believes that sharing his opinion is more honest than keeping it to himself, adding that Oregonians deserve to know what their elected officials believe. He is ignoring however, that the appearance of bias can be just as insidious to public trust as the actuality of bias in influencing elections decisions. Isn't there enough voter cynicism without giving people legitimate reasons to feel the system is rigged? In fact, when Gov. Kate Brown was secretary of state she did not personally endorse candidates or measures, telling The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board that she "felt it was critically important to maintain the integrity of elections." She wanted to remain "above reproach," noting that she knew firsthand the importance of having faith in the secretary of state because she won her first primary for the House by only seven votes. Another of Avakian's ideas: to use the secretary of state's audit division, which conducts financial and performance evaluations of state programs, to dive into the workings of private companies that receive public contracts. Such audits, he said, could reveal whether private companies are violating wage-and-hour laws or are compensating women inequitably. But the responsibility for investigating wage-and-hour violations and other possible misconduct by companies already belongs to the Bureau of Labor and Industries, the agency that Avakian currently heads as the labor commissioner. There's little need for the secretary of state's office to step in, especially when doing so could take resources away from auditing how state agencies are using public funds, a more critical part of the office's mission. And it's not even clear if the secretary of state's office has the authority that Avakian envisions. He said that if laws need to be changed to allow that, "then we ought to change the law." The problem is that Avakian has already shown he is willing to misuse his power in order to further causes that he believes in. As labor commissioner, he oversaw a discrimination case against a Christian bakery that refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. While he rightfully found that the bakery's owners, Aaron and Melissa Klein, had violated state law prohibiting such discrimination, he didn't stop there. Instead, he declared that the bakery owners had also violated a separate law that prohibits businesses from advertising an intent to discriminate. Among the offending statements was an interview Aaron Klein gave to a reporter in which he recounted the conversation he had with the would-be customer. The mere retelling of what happened was deemed a violation of the state law, a reversal of the common-sense conclusion that Avakian's administrative law judge had made. Avakian's oversized ambitions for the office are worrisome on their own. But he has the full support of several organizations that appear to embrace his concept of an activist-elected official in a position unsuited for such partisan advocacy. Take the support of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC. Michele Stranger Hunter, the organization's executive director, acknowledged that the secretary of state's duties won't translate into action directly relevant to the nonprofit's abortion-rights mission. But the organization still felt it was important to declare that Avakian is "the best candidate to fight for Oregon women as our next secretary of state." As a statewide official, Avakian can champion pro-choice messages, she said, and will promote voting access for women. But the underlying message is that if you support abortion rights, or gay rights or environmental stewardship, then you must support this candidate, regardless of whether the candidate will have any role in shaping abortion rights, gay rights or environmental stewardship policies and regardless of whether the candidate is well qualified to carry out the secretary of state's core responsibilities. It also ignores that Avakian's two challengers in the Democratic primary -- state legislators Richard Devlin and Val Hoyle -- have their own strong progressive records on those same issues. While Devlin has our endorsement, both legislators make a compelling and more responsible case for the office. When choosing a secretary of state, Oregonians should favor the candidate who is best suited to do the job he or she seeks -- not the one who promises to push it in new and ideologically freighted directions for political gain. - The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board SPOKANE, Wash. -- Two Spokane officers fatally shot a man outside a homeless shelter after he approached them with a knife, police said. Police responded to a report of a suicidal man Thursday evening and found a man leaning against a building. The man turned to face officers while holding a knife to his chest, according to news release from Spokane Police Officer Teresa Fuller. Officers tried to talk to the man but he started to approach them with the knife. One of the officers then used a Taser on the man, which was ineffective, and the man continued toward the officers, according to police. Two officers then fired at the man, who was struck by two bullets and died at the scene, police said, despite aid from medics who were staged nearby. A knife was found next to the man's body after the shooting, police said. Some people in the area afterward became confrontational and police called for all available officers to respond. No one was injured as the scene was brought under control, but officers arrested two people. One was arrested for assault on an officer and one for pedestrian interference. Both were booked into Spokane County Jail. David Snyder, who said he was staying at the shelter and saw what happened, told The Spokesman-Review he didn't believe officers needed to shoot the man, but he acknowledged the man was "in a rage" and that "he charged, no doubt." "He wanted them to kill him," Snyder said. "They were trying to make him stand down." Snyder said the man was homeless and staying at the shelter. The medical examiner's office will identify the man and cause of death. Police said the three officers at the scene were wearing body cameras and the footage will be reviewed by investigators. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation with assistance from other eastern Washington agencies. -- The Associated Press With two commissioners hitting term limits, and another running for Portland mayor, an unusual slate of open seats has set up a scramble for the future of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. The exiting commissioners are Jules Bailey, who leaves District 1 after two years for a shot at Portland City Hall, Judy Shiprack, representing District 3, and Diane McKeel, serving in District 4. And that exodus has drawn a crowd of candidates. Among them are some familiar faces to the local political scene. Others are newcomers. District 1 Seven candidates are competing for the District 1 seat, which represents parts of inner east Portland and everything west of the Willamette River. Eric Zimmerman Eric Zimmerman, now working as McKeel's chief of staff, joined the county to work on veterans' issues after he returned from the Iraq War. His priorities, he said, include adding shelter beds, investing in infrastructure, and delivering culturally specific healthcare with special attention to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. He says his inside knowledge and practical approach to the county business set him apart. "Public service has been what I've done my entire life," he said. "That experience and being able to hit the ground running is a tremendous difference." Mel Rader Mel Rader works as executive director of the nonprofit Upstream Public Health, which researches and advocates best practices for addressing health equity, food access and climate change. Upstream was a major backer of Portland's failed water fluoridation push in 2013. Beyond refining strategies for stable housing, Rader wants to emphasize efforts to promote clean air. He said his work on public health policy, one of Multnomah County's largest missions, makes him a "perfect match" for serving as a commissioner. Brian Wilson Brian Wilson, who's running again after losing to Bailey in 2014, is a longtime community volunteer and business owner with experience in construction and finance. That background would be an asset to the board, he said, because he understands complex and expensive projects like the county's plan for a new downtown courthouse. He said the county should help build more homes, affordable for people across the market. He's also concerned with making the county's bridges safe from earthquakes. "I'm going to be one of those rare county commissioners who actually shows up to work," he said. Sharon Meieran Sharon Meieran, who ran for the Oregon House in 2012, said working as an emergency room doctor fuels her passion for the county's work serving people in need. Too many people end up at the hospital in the midst of a mental health crisis, she said, with nowhere else to go. "I care for people on an individual level but also see the system has opportunities for improvement so people don't end up in the E.R.," she said. She sees housing, mental health and criminal justice reform as the county's top three priorities -- and thinks the county can find better ways of linking its work on those issues. Other candidates on the ballot are attorney Marisha Childs, Ken Stokes and Wes Soderback. If none of the candidates emerges with a majority on May 17, the top two finishers will advance to runoff in November. District 4 The county's other contested race is in District 4, which covers parts of East Portland, Gresham, Troutdale and unincorporated East Multnomah County -- areas that increasingly need the social services and health investments central to the county's mission. Lori Stegmann Lori Stegmann, a Gresham city councilor, grew up in Rockwood and still works there as a Farmers Insurance agent. In one of the state's most impoverished areas, she said, she's seen people struggle to meet their basic needs. While advocating for her district, Stegmann said she wants to find long-term funding for affordable housing. "I care deeply and that's why I'm running. I want to see this community rise above the issues we're faced with like poverty and homelessness," she said. "I want to be a voice for east county because east county doesn't always have a big voice." Amanda Schroeder leads her local Veterans Administration union, the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2157. Her experience advocating for veterans would serve her well in representing voters, she said. Amanda Schroeder East County in particular needs more money for projects such as sidewalks, crosswalks and street lights, Schroeder said. She also wants a domestic violence shelter in her part of the county. Her top priorities include public safety, mental health services, and housing. "I just have a heart for service," she said. "I've always had that, and it's really important to me to serve people." District 3 In District 3, which reaches from 82nd Avenue and into Gresham, Rep. Jessica Vega Pederson, D-Portland, is running uncontested. Jessica Vega Pederson After four years working in Salem on social justice and environmental issues, she said, she's excited to stand on the front lines of homelessness, housing affordability and poverty. Vega Pederson said she's passionate about the county's work and she wants to address the region's most critical problems. "I think the county is the right place for me to be to face those," she said. -- Emily E. Smith 503-294-4032; @emilyesmith President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has taken a decision to dismiss Luhansk Regional Military and Civil Administration Chief Heorhiy Tuka and today will introduce a new governor, an informed source has told Interfax-Ukraine. An interlocutor said on Friday the new head of Luhansk regional military and civil administration to be introduced on Friday. The reason for replacing Tuka remains unknown. The reasons behind replacing the Luhansk region's head or the name of his successor are still unknown. Some Ukrainian media outlets have named Petro Poroshenko Bloc MP Yuriy Harbuz, a native of the Luhansk region, among possible candidates for the post. Heorhiy Tuka, head and founder of the People's Rear volunteer group, became head of Luhansk Region Military-Civilian Administration on July 22, 2015, replacing Hennadiy Moskal, who was subsequently appointed to head the Zakarpattia region administration. Ohio Gov. John Kasich brought his message of political moderation to Oregon on Thursday, saying he still believes he is the only Republican left in the presidential race who can beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November. Kasich spoke to more than 300 people gathered for a town-hall-style meeting in Northwest Portland. He blended humor with sometimes lengthy answers to audience questions in describing his arc from small-town kid to presidential contender. His overarching goal, he said, has been to maintain a positive tone in addressing everything from trade policy to issues of religious liberty. "While I recognize we have problems, these problems are pretty easy to fix," Kasich said. "What's gotten in the way is partisanship, politics, vitriol, anger, polarization." Without mentioning Republican rival Donald Trump by name, Kasich added that, "The one thing I refuse to do is take the low road to the White House." Later, Kasich did name Trump, saying the New York businessman has outspent him by a factor of 50-to-1. Still, although Kasich won only about 25 percent of the vote in the recent New York primary, he noted with pride that he had won Trump's stronghold of Manhattan. With the Oregon primary set for May 17, Kasich was asked later about new polling results showing Trump leading in the state, followed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and then himself. "There's a million polls," said Kasich, who was scheduled to fly to Medford for a second Oregon town hall Thursday night. "We'll work as hard as we can, and that's why we're here." He briefly addressed the recent arrangement his campaign made with Cruz's. It's at aimed denying Trump the delegates he needs to win the Republican nomination outright by having Kasich campaign in Oregon and New Mexico, while leaving Cruz free to fend off Trump in Indiana's primary next Tuesday. "What it comes down to is a matter of resources," Kasich said. "It's all about resources and strategy and making sure Hillary Clinton is not president." He repeatedly made the point that other national polls show him as the only Republican candidate able to beat Clinton in a November general election. Kasich also touched often on the theme that his brand of Republicanism, while based on conservative values, is also rooted in moderation. "I remember Ronald Reagan working with Tip O'Neill to solve Social Security," he said. "I want to be someone who talks about the way that things can be." He closed with a bit of the humor he sprinkled throughout his hour-long appearance. "If you didn't like my presentation today," Kasich said, "don't tell anyone. If you do, I need your help." -- Dana Tims dims@oregonian.com 503-294-7647; @DanaTims Robert Lee Huggins is pictured in this 2012 photo. (Portland Police Bureau) Four people are facing murder and kidnapping charges in connection with the killing of a motorcycle gang affiliate who was found dead last summer in Clark County, police said. The people are among six who face charges in the killing of Robert Lee Huggins, 56, whose body was found by loggers July 1, 2015, Portland police said in a news release. They said he was at one point tied to the Gypsy Jokers outlaw motorcycle gang and that "his death is directly linked to that affiliation." Mark Leroy Dencklau, 56; Earl Devearl Fisher Jr., 46; and Tiler Evan Pribbernow, 34 are facing murder, conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree conspiracy to commit kidnapping charges, police said. Police said Malachi Watkins, a 32-year-old who was already in a Washington state prison, will face the same charges. Fisher is also facing a hindering prosecution charge, court records show. Dencklau and Fisher were booked into the Multnomah County Jail late Wednesday, jail records show. Pribbernow was already in the jail on unrelated charges. Two others -- Ronald Charles Thompson, 51, and Kendra Castle, 43 -- were also booked into the Multnomah County Jail late Wednesday. They face hindering prosecution charges. Each of the accused, with the exception of Watkins, was arraigned Thursday. Police confirmed the five who were arraigned are associated through outlaw motorcycle gangs. Police said more people may be arrested in the case, which is under investigation. They ask anyone who has information about the case to contact Detective Jim Lawrence at 503-823-0867 or james.lawrence@portlandoregon.gov, or Detective Rico Beniga at 503-823-0457 or rico.beniga@portlandoregon.gov. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Screen Shot 2016-04-29 at 9.37.33 AM.png Kyle Burford was rushed to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in North Portland after breaking his neck at G6 Airpark in Southeast Portland on Nov. 7, 2015, according to Burford's brother. (Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian/File photo) A 29-year-old man who says he's now paralyzed from the neck down after injuring himself on a trampoline at the G6 Airpark in Southeast Portland filed a $21 million lawsuit Thursday against the airpark. Kyle Burford's lawsuit states that he went to the business on Nov. 7, 2015, "bounced on the trampolines provided at the facility, observed other customers performing complicated jumps and flips, and fell on his neck and back due to the negligence of G6 Airpark as set forth below." Burford, who is a Clackamas County resident, suffered a broken neck, dislocated C6 and C7 vertebrae, organ dysfunction and severe depression, among other injuries, according to the suit. The lawsuit describes the trampolines as "unreasonably dangerous" -- claiming that the business "carelessly and improperly constructed the trampoline areas" because they "were placed closely together, joined by cables, separated by padding, with holes and/or spaces between." The suit also claims Burford wasn't properly instructed or trained on how to use the trampolines and that there weren't enough employees at the trampolines to ensure their safe use. G6 Airpark couldn't be reached for immediate comment Friday. The Portland airpark, at 10414 S.E. Washington St., is next to Mall 205. It has been open for a few years. Documents filed with the Oregon Secretary of State's office says the business was incorporated in late 2012. The company also has an airpark in Vancouver. According to the airpark's website, the trampoline rules state: "No flips, inverts or tricks over the padding." But the rules also appear to acknowledge that customers perform tricks. The rules state: "If you are attempting tricks, you must be on your own trampoline with no one else around you." The website says jumpers are required to sign a waiver. It states in part: "In spite of all known or unknown risks, I freely want myself or my child(ren)/ward(s) to participate in the ACTIVITIES and as such I assume all of the responsibility for injuries including: breaks, sprains, fractures, scrapes, bruises and cuts, dislocations, pinched fingers and serious injuries to the head, back, or neck which can cause paralysis, or even death." The liability waiver likely will be challenged, however, given a December 2014 Oregon Supreme Court opinion that found blanket liability waivers are "unconscionable." The court was ruling specifically on a liability waiver at Mt. Bachelor ski resort, but the ruling was expected to have a widespread impact on other sports-related businesses. "Oregon law protects people like Kyle who must sign waivers to participate in sports," wrote Burford's attorney, Charles F. Mitchell, in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday. "An extreme sports business like G6 should not escape responsibility by requiring patrons to sign these contracts of adhesion." According to a YouCaring.com fundraising page that was written by Burford's brother, Burford's life was forever changed during "just a simple family outing a few months back." "My brother, niece and myself went to G6 airpark (a indoor trampoline park and play place) for what started out as a great evening to only end in tragedy," wrote Jeramy Burford. "My brother Kyle would end up breaking his neck while landing awkwardly on a ...trampoline at the G6 Airpark." At the time of the undated post, Jeramy Burford wrote that his brother was still paralyzed from the chest down and didn't have movement in his arms and legs, but was no longer relying on a ventilator to breathe. As of Friday morning, the fundraising page had generated a little more than $2,000 of the $50,000 goal. The page states that the money was needed to help make the Burford family home wheelchair accessible. Kyle Burford's medical, rehabilitation and therapy costs have reached about $1 million so far, the suit says. In addition to Charles F. Mitchell, Nathan C. Mitchell also is representing Burford. The suit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Read the lawsuit here. -- Aimee Green 503-294-5119 lightbar Portland police responded to Northeast 60th Avenue between Killingsworth and Simpson streets on the report of a shooting on April 28, 2016. (The Oregonian/OregonLive/file) Portland police are investigating a shooting in Northeast Portland's Cully neighborhood. Officers found evidence of gunfire around Northeast 60th Avenue between Killingsworth and Simpson streets Thursday night, Portland police said in a news release. They didn't find any gunshot victims. Officers responded to the area around 9:10 p.m. They haven't determined the circumstances of the shooting. Witnesses told officers they heard multiple gunshots and a car speeding away. Portland police Gang Enforcement Team officers are among those who responded to the scene. Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call the police bureau's non-emergency line at 503-823-3333. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 MINNEAPOLIS -- Investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday. The official said that among the things investigators are looking at is whether a doctor was on a plane that made an emergency landing in Illinois less than a week before Prince died. The law enforcement official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The official said investigators are also looking into what kind of drugs were on the plane and at Prince's house in suburban Minneapolis. The official also confirmed some details that have previously been reported by other media outlets, including TMZ. Prince's plane made an emergency stop in Moline, in western Illinois, on April 15 and he was found unconscious on the plane, the official said. The person said first responders gave Prince a shot of Narcan, which is used in suspected opioid overdoses. The official said the so-called save shot was given when the plane was on the runway in Moline as Prince returned to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta. The official said investigators are looking at whether Prince overdosed on the plane and whether an overdose killed him, and at what kind of drugs were involved. One possibility is the powerful painkiller Percocet or something similar, the official said. Narcan can be used on people even if an overdose isn't confirmed because it wouldn't necessarily be harmful. A second law enforcement official told AP that prescription drugs were discovered at Prince's home when the musician was found dead on April 21. That official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation into Prince's death. The official did not elaborate. An autopsy has been performed, but results aren't expected for three to four weeks. The search warrant for Prince's Paisley Park home and studio -- carried out the day of his death -- was filed Thursday under seal at the request of investigators who said it would hamper their investigation if contents were public. The filing, signed by Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud, also warned that disclosing details in the warrant could cause "the search or related searches to be unsuccessful" and risk injury to innocent people. Kamerud declined to comment Thursday on the reports of drugs found at Paisley Park, and told AP that he strongly disputed reports by several media outlets that investigators had asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help in the case. "We have not asked them for help, or asked them to be a part of the investigation," Kamerud said. "We might contact them to help us, but that hasn't happened. We don't have the medical examiner's report yet. We don't know to what extent pharmaceuticals could be a part of this." Leo Hawkins, a DEA spokesman in Chicago, said he had no comment. Prince's death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn't feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city. Prince was scheduled to perform two shows in St. Louis but canceled them shortly before his death due to health concerns. Longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Amy Forliti and Michael Tarm wrote this report. Tarm reported from Chicago. Tucker reported from Washington, D.C. CHINA-TRAFFIC-NATIONAL HOLIDAYS This long exposure picture shows vehicles on roads during rush hour on the eve of the National Day holidays in Shanghai on September 30, 2014. On a new set of maps, the area is shown as China's mega-city. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images) (JOHANNES EISELE) A new set of maps proves that there's more than one way to look at the world. Parag Khanna, a global strategist and author of the new book "Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization," argues that the world is heading towards integration and away from the typical lines on a map we're used to. Khanna spoke with the Washington Post about his work and what some of his maps show. The Washington Post published 6 maps that make you see the world differently. All from Connectography. http://amzn.to/1WQgwRb Posted by Parag Khanna on Friday, April 29, 2016 Instead of focusing on nation-states and boundaries, maps should organize around mega-cities and lines for shipping routes, broadband cables and railways, Khanna said in the Post article. For example, a map of mega-cities across the world shows density for cities in comparison to nations as a whole. Khanna argued that the map visualizes how the world's economy is more weighted in large cities instead of nations. Another map from the book breaks the United States into seven economic regions with by urban areas and connected by rail. A sliver of land along the Pacific Ocean from Vancouver B.C., to San Diego is show as the "Pacific Coast." East of Portland lies the "Inland West " and then "The Great Plains." Continuing east, four other regions make up the rest of the country. If the country was organized this way, Americans could move around the country easily and get involved with commerce more freely, Khanna told the Washington Post. Other maps featured in Khanna's book show infrastructure such as canals, railroads, gas pipelines and more, and how the world's geography would change if the climate was 4 degrees Celsius warmer. Read more about Khanna's book and see the maps here. --Laura Frazier lfrazier@oregonian.com 503-294-4035 @frazier_laura Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Three Ukrainian troops were wounded in attacks in the area of the anti-territory operation (ATO) in Donbas in the past 24 hours, but no one was killed, Andriy Lysenko, an official with the Ukrainian presidential administration, said. "Fortunately, no Ukrainian troops were killed in action over the past 24 hours, but three were wounded in the Shyrokyne area," Lysenko said at a briefing on Friday. Friday 29 April 2016 11:10am New Zealand is making gains at improving underlying factors affecting the health of Maori children and young people, a new report by the University of Otago-based NZ Child and Youth Epidemiology Service shows. However the report, produced with funding from the Ministry of Health, also documents that much work is still needed to achieve equity in social determinants of health, with Maori (and Pacific) children nearly twice as likely as Pakeha children to grow up in households experiencing significant hardships. The researchers, headed by NZCYES Director Dr Jean Simpson, of the University of Otago, provide a snapshot of progress in addressing many of the determinants of health including child poverty and living standards, housing, early childhood education, tobacco use, alcohol related harm, and childrens exposure to family violence. It also updates a previous report released three years ago in 2012. At the 2013 census there were 233,000 Maori children aged 0-14 years and 127,750 Maori young people aged 15-24 years living in Aotearoa NZ. The progress in this latest report includes: An increasing proportion of Maori new entrants who have participated in early childhood education prior to school entry, up from 83.6per cent in 2001 to 96.3 per cent in 2013. The halving of rates of school suspensions from 18.8 per 1000 Maori students in 2000 to 9.1 per 1000 Maori students in 2013. Increased immunisation rates at all ages under 5 years, with the highest rate (92.1 per cent) observed at 12 months of age. A dramatic fall in tobacco use in young people, with the proportion of Maori Year 10 school students who smoked daily falling from 36.3 per cent for female students and 23.6 per cent for male students in 1999, to 10.1 per cent of female and 6.9 per cent of male students in 2013. Hospitalisation rates of Maori children aged 0-14 years for injuries arising from assault, neglect or maltreatment declined from 40.2 hospitalisations per 100,000 in 200809 to 25.2 hospitalisations per 100,000 in 20122013, whereas non-Maori non-Pacific rates showed little change over that time. Hospitalisation rates for injuries arising from assault, neglect or maltreatment were highest for Maori infants aged under one year. The New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service acting Director, Dr Mavis Duncanson, wants to assist those working in the health sector to consider the roles other agencies play in influencing child and youth health outcomes that are related to these determinants: An inter-agency approach is necessary since addressing the disproportionate burden of avoidable morbidity and mortality experienced by Maori children and young people is a formidable task for the health sector alone. Working jointly with Child Youth and Family and the Police to protect vulnerable children from intentional injury, or with Housing New Zealand and other social housing providers to ensure families can access affordable good quality housing, are examples of tangible starting points. We can see from this that there is a positive story emerging and that the investment is having positive outcomes, but it also highlights ongoing unequal distribution of power, money and resources essential to health. Throughout NZ Maori children and young people (aged 0-24 years) are more likely than non-Maori to live in areas with the highest deprivation scores and lowest school decile ratings. In 2013 21.9 per cent of Maori children and young people compared with 5.5% of non-Maori non-Pacific children and young people lived in areas with the highest deprivation scores on the New Zealand Index of Deprivation. From 2011 to 2013, on average, 34 per cent of Maori children and 16 per cent of European children lived in households experiencing relative poverty (less than 60 per cent of national median income after housing costs). In commenting on the report, Ms Bridget Robson Associate Dean (Maori), University of Otago, Wellington, says; The whole of society gains when all children have equitable access to excellent education, healthy secure housing, safe environments to live, learn and play, and opportunities to fully participate in the economic, social and cultural life of the nation. Ms Robson quoted the whakatauki Te toto o te tangata he kai; te oranga o te tangata he whenua (the lifeblood of a person is derived from food; the livelihood of a people depends on land) to illustrate the importance of wealth as well as income in achieving an inclusive society. Income provides the kai what we need to survive every day. Wealth is with the whenua. With whenua we can feed the people of today and the generations of tomorrow. We can store kai for lean times, grow our pa harakeke, and build our whare to house the people. This wisdom is consistent with the World Health Organization recognition that inequitable outcomes in health status are mostly the result of the conditions in which children are born and grow; conditions shaped largely by the distribution of power, money and resources and collectively known as the social determinants of health. The authors of this report are Jean Simpson, Judith Adams, Glenda Oben, Andrew Wicken and Mavis Duncanson. For further information, contact: Dr Mavis Duncanson Senior Research Fellow University of Otago Tel: 03 479 4522 Email: mavis.duncanson@otago.ac.nz Dr Mele Taumoepeau PhD, Psychology Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Otago Despite the good advice Mele Taumoepeau had received about seeking a high quality supervisor, reality took the decision somewhat out of her hands. Meles preferred supervisors were overseas or busy. And as a mature student who had neither researched this area of psychology before, nor studied at Otago, she had neither the contacts nor knowledge to open the right doors, or know which ones to knock on. Ultimately she was paired up with a new academic in the department, with a similar research interest in childrens social cognition, keen to help her explore how children develop an understanding of their social world. He turned out to be fantastic. But it was luck. All the same, Mele says she didnt rush into the arrangement. I read his CV and the publications hed written. I met him, took away some readings, met him again. I was sussing him out. The most important thing is that you get on, and I wanted to be sure of that. The shift from working life as a speech language therapist to full-time study and parenthood was tricky says Mele. And as two newbies, Mele and her supervisor were in a similar situation, both figuring out the systems at Otago. There was another postgrad in the department who saved me, basically, remembers Mele. She would tell me where to get money for conferences from and how things worked. Mele also acknowledges the support of her husband and friends, as well as the Universitys Pacific Islands Centre. She made the effort to attend as many symposiums and social events as possible, often with my two daughters in tow they came everywhere with me. She came to rely on the University childcare and Kelsey Yaralla Kindergarten, which became like extended families. Towards the end I imported my in-laws from the UK to look after the kids so I could get my thesis finished. PhD study was, says Mele, a juggle. And a somewhat self-indulgent one at that. She was constantly aware that she was being afforded an opportunity to immerse herself in a field of study, and recalls a sense of great responsibility to make the most of it. But, she says, I adored it. It was difficult, and I remember looking at a stack of 30 journal articles in an area Id never studied before and realising I needed to plough through them. But the wonderful thing was, I was allowed to! Lucy Carter Sociology After graduating with honours in Sociology, Lucy Carter started her career as a project coordinator for the Economic and Social Development branch of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu. At Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Lucy (Ngai Tahu/ Kai Tahu) was involved in a wide range of projects including promoting traditional art and helping market authentic pounamu and the produce of local food producers pursuing sustainable practices. "At the core of my projects is the vision of mo tatou, mo ka uri a muri ake nei (for us and our children after us), which is a guiding principle of Ngai Tahu and, in my opinion, is the principle behind a lot of sociology working not only to understand the society we live in but to have a positive impact that may be inherited and looking to a better future," she says. Sociology and the humanities are important subjects because they teach you about ethics, says Lucy. "Social responsibilities are increasingly valuable because they are becoming more and more important for companies now and in the future. Having an understanding of ethics is valuable in the job market." Christchurch-raised Lucy fell in love with Otago when she visited her elder sister at the University. Lucy began studying Law, but it wasnt a good fit, and she moved on to Classics. It was in her third year that she decided that the Sociology papers she had been taking throughout were what she really wanted to do. "It was a great decision. Sociologys the study of the consequences of human behaviour with an emphasis on social organisation and the conflicts that arise when the concept of normality is questioned. "It teaches abstract thinking and problem solving with a strong emphasis on research skills. It teaches you different ways of thinking and to approach issues from a range of perspectives. "In my day to day life I find myself constantly using the variety of skills I learned from my time at Otago." After a couple of years at Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Lucy won a Fulbright Science and Innovation Graduate Award. She recently completed a Master of Arts in Environmental Sociology at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, USA. Lucy's masters' studies focussed on social recovery and hazard mitigation in the event of natural disaster, an important and very relevant subject to someone born and bred in earthquake-hit Christchurch. Lucy is currently a research associate at the Center for Disaster and Risk Analysis (CDRA) at Colorado State University. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is considers several candidates to replace Roman Bezsmertny in a political subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group dealing with the crisis in Donbas, the presidential administration said. "There is no tragedy in Bezsmertny's statement about his withdrawal from the negotiations in the format of the political subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group. We appreciate his highly professional and dedicated work of almost two years," deputy head of the presidential administration Kostiantyn Yeliseyev told Interfax-Ukraine. He recalled that Ukraine has its representative in the political subgroup and it is Volodymyr Horbulin. "Currently, the president is considering several candidates to replace Bezsmertny. The team play of the Ukrainian delegation in Minsk negotiations, which is headed and successfully provided by Leonid Kuchma, will continue," Yeliseyev said. Ex-governor of Luhansk region Heorhiy Tuka has been appointed deputy prime minister for the temporarily occupied territories and internally displaced persons. Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman announced this at a Cabinet meeting on Friday. The decision on this appointment was approved unanimously. As reported, a source earlier told Interfax-Ukraine that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko dismissed Heorhiy Tuka as head of Luhansk Region's Military-Civilian Administration, and the administration's new head will be presented on Friday The reasons behind replacing the Luhansk region's head or the name of his successor are still unknown. Some Ukrainian media outlets have named Petro Poroshenko Bloc MP Yuriy Harbuz, a native of Luhansk region, among possible candidates for the post. BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. (AP) Authorities say a 6-year-old girl who was found unresponsive last week in a pool at a club in suburban Detroit has died. The Detroit News reports police in Beverly Hills say the girl was pulled from the pool the evening of April 22 and died after being treated at a hospital. A group of Native Americans from throughout Michigan, known as Company K, volunteered as sharpshooters during the U.S. Civil War, an official of the Mount Pleasant chapter of a Civil War descendants group said. The Mount Pleasant chapter of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is named the Wa-Bu-No Camp, said David Brant, senior vice commander of the chapter. The Mount Pleasant post is the only one named after a Native American, Brant said Wednesday. He was speaking to a meeting of the Midland chapter of the National Society Daughters of the Union a sister organization at the Midland United Church of Christ. Brant said not much is known about Wa-Bu-No, other than that he was married, had a child and was from Isabella County. Brant added that he didnt know why the chapter, or camp, was named for the man. The chapter has been in existence for 125 years, although its activity has waxed and waned at times, Brant said. Nearly a third of Company K the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters died in the war. Some 15 members were sent to the notorious Confederate prison in Andersonville, Ga., and eight of those men died there. The company saw action at major battles including Spotsylvania and the Battle of the Crater. Members of the group were tested for accuracy by hitting a 5-inch bullseye at a distance of 220 yards. According to Brant, 49 members of the group would have earned the Purple Heart by todays standards, and three members are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. There is a monument to Company K on the grounds of the state capitol in Lansing. Brant also reviewed the history of the Sons of Union Veterans and its predecessor, the Grand Army of the Republic, a Civil War veterans group that at one time wielded considerable political power and drew thousands to commemorative gatherings. The current organization has camps across the country, including 24 in Michigan. Brant said his group has about 30 members, and its activities include helping provide gravestones for Civil War veterans whose markers have faded or have incorrect information. Were just trying to keep the memory alive and honor our patriots, he said. The Midland chapter of Daughters of the Union meets four times a year, said Sandy Zilincik, regent of the chapter which is named for Wilbur Thomas Lanphierd, a Midland County Civil War veteran. The group does community outreach projects such as its current drive to provide a baby shower for military families baby clothing items and toys to be given to military families with newborns. The next meeting of the Midland chapter of Daughters of the Union will be at 12:30 p.m. May 25 at the United Church of Christ. Zilincik said the meeting will include a memorial service for Civil War veterans. The National Society Daughters of the Union was founded in 1912 to honor the memory of those who contributed towards the preservation of the Union during the Civil War and to foster a spirit of patriotism, loyalty and love of country, according to the organizations website, www.nsdu.org. More information about the local Daughters of the Union chapter, which was chartered in 1972, is available from Zilincik, (989) 687-5729. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Eight Dow High Key Club members recently attended the Michigan District Service Leadership Conference. Samantha Damocles, JoAnna Danielsen, Becca Haines, Dani Huey, Chloe King, Carter Musselman, Anna Mylvaganam and Sarah Naumovitz attended with about 400 other students from around the state. The weekend event featured key-note speakers; on-site service projects; Kids Against Hunger meal packaging; talent, speaking and scrapbook competitions; legislative sessions that included caucusing and the election of district officers for next year; a formal banquet; and two dances. The Key Club members attended workshops, officer training sessions and competed for District Awards. The Dow High club received a first place award for its collection of pop tabs throughout the year. Together, members collected 212.6 pounds that was sold as scrap metal and donated to a local childrens hospital. Each year, the clubs bulletin editor assembles an annual scrapbook that chronicles the clubs activities in categories that include service to school, service to community, fundraising, assistance to Kiwanis projects and participation in Key Club International initiatives. The scrapbook competes for an award at the Service Leadership Conference. This year the Dow High Key Club scrapbook won a third place award, under the direction of Damocles. Dow High Key Club President Mylvaganam was recognized as the Outstanding President of the Year for her commitment to service and strong leadership. Both Damocles and Mylvaganam were successful in election to district offices. Damocles now serves as the Michigan District bulletin editor, and Mylvaganam as the Michigan District secretary. The Dow High Key Club was able to attend thanks to the financial support of its sponsoring Kiwanis Club, Kiwassee Kiwanis. The two clubs have maintained a close relationship, and AKtion Club adviser and active Kiwanian Martha Briggs stepped in as a chaperone when their club adviser was unable to attend. For more information, contact adviser Jeff Richards at (989) 923-3827 or richardsjh@midlandps.org or visit www.keyclub.org. For more information on Kiwanis International, contact Bruce Rayce at (989) 837-6447 or orbmrayce@aol.com or visit www.kiwanis.org. Most high school sophomores and juniors spend the month of May wrapping up their spring semester assignments in the classroom. But four Michigan high school students will be studying while sailing for the month of May from Florida to Michigan as the first Sea Scholars in an inaugural BaySail program aboard the Appledore V tall ship. The 2016 Sea Scholars are: Kelly OKeefe, junior, Bullock Creek High; Bay City Westerns junior Noah Schoenherr and sophomore Brody Gibas; and Kirill Velat, junior, Houghton High. The Bay City-based BaySail nonprofit organization has provided educational experiences aboard its tall ships Appledore IV and Appledore V to more than 42,000 students over the last 17 years. BaySail has a strong reputation for offering really good environmental education and sailing training programs in the local area and throughout the Great Lakes, said Shirley Roberts, BaySail executive director. We have sailed in ocean water before, but not with students onboard and not as part of a program. The Sea Scholars program really lets us connect for the students what happens in the Great Lakes with what happens beyond them. Its a truly connected system. Everything flows together. With the unique situation of being onboard a ship, we can provide students interactive opportunities with a wide variety of science, technology and mathematical concepts as well as nautical history and seamanship and more. Theyre going to learn an awful lot in a month. Midland sailor Kelly OKeefe found out about the program on Facebook, and it appealed to her self-described spontaneity and crazy sense of adventure. She has never sailed, but her Mom, Denise OKeefe, described Kelly as an adventurer and outdoor person who loves to kayak and backpack and go hammocking (camping in a hammock). And I am really interested in the sciences, Kelly said. I really love my physics class. I enjoy math. I am taking trig and pre-calc. I am not quite sure what I want to go into yet. With this trip, we get to explore every type of science you can think of. So were hoping this trip will put me on a path, something like biology or environmental conservation. We met with Kellys teachers and had a big family meeting and talked through the goals of the program. The teachers have been fantastic, Denise said. Theyve provided study packets. When she gets back, shell have to do exams. When Kelly and the other students fly to Key West on April 30, they are restricted to one duffel bag each. For me that is kind of hard, Kelly admitted. We have been working on packing for a couple of weeks, because theres a huge packing list, and its hard to get everything to fit. We need just a few shorts, pants, and T-shirts; a rain suit and muck boots; special gloves; sunscreen and a hat. Also a headlamp, waterproof watch, a pillow to roll up really tiny. One thing she will definitely take along is her ukulele, as Kelly loves to play and sing. We cant pack food, Kelly said. Well go to port once a week to get fresh food. And the kids have to take turns making food. So I had to give a list of foods I can make. My list is very simple. I can make any kind of pasta, grilled cheese, quesadillas, and mac and cheese. The students will each have a daily, four-hour watch shift which could occur in the middle of the night. Shipboard educator The shipboard educator will be Beth Christiansen who has 15 years of classroom teaching experience in Midland Public Schools. She has developed the Sea Scholars curriculum with support from Central Michigan Science Mathematics Technology Center. She will also assist students with any independent study or distance learning requirements they may have from their home schools. It was really important to us that each of the participating students had the support of their home schools, Roberts said. They each had to work with their own teachers to make sure they will cover topics that need to be covered and handle homework. Appledore V will sail with a licensed and experienced crew familiar with the voyage route from Florida up the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, up the Hudson River, into the Great Lakes and ultimately to Bay City, where it will remain through the summer and fall. The captain is Noah Waldman. The local participants will fly to Florida on April 30 where they will receive an orientation on the ship. The ship will depart on May 2 with stops at the University of North Carolina Marine Research Center in Beaufort, North Carolina; the New York Harbor School and South Street Seaport Museum in New York City; a transit along the Erie Canal; and a visit to Niagara Falls. They expect to arrive in Bay City around May 30, depending upon weather. To go through the Erie Canal system, they will have to take down the mast and all the rigging and then put it all back up again in Buffalo. Students will participate in an interdisciplinary program to expand their knowledge base and work collaboratively with other students aboard the ship. They will use technology to navigate, communicate, and collect and analyze data while focusing on basic scientific principles, analytical skills, practical abilities and verbal and written communication. Science topics such as astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and meteorology will be the basis of an integrated curriculum including geography, natural history, American history, maritime history and navigation, mathematics, language arts and physics. Advance training The students have already met each other through two advance training sessions. They met at Saginaw Valley State Universitys pool where their ability to swim was tested, and they went through exercises in water rescue training. One kid whos going knows about and has been sailing. He competes in sailing. The rest of us dont know about it. Its like a foreign language when youre on the boat for the first time, Kelly said. We took the Appledore IV out (on Saginaw Bay) this month and learned how to put up all five sails. I dont know if Ill get motion sickness on the trip. I have never been on a boat long enough to know if I get motion sickness or not. Family members were invited to sail on the Appledore IV with the students during their training session. It made us very comfortable that Kelly was going on a boat that was so sturdy, Denise said. The Appledore V is 58 feet long on the deck, and 65 feet long overall counting the spar which sticks out in front. It can accommodate a maximum of 24 passengers. Christiansen will have the students write in journals during the voyage, and they will be in charge of Facebook, Twitter and Vlog posts. These students will learn sailing and navigation skills while participating in a rigorous experiential curriculum, and they will also be ambassadors to their classmates and community members back home, Christiansen said. As Sea Scholars use social media and video communications to share their experiences and educate their classmates about life at sea, the students become teachers. Beth and I reviewed all the applications and interviewed all the students, Roberts said. The four we selected stood out because they seemed to have not only the right interest in furthering science as a course of study or profession later in life, but they also seemed to have the right personality that would not only do well but thrive in this environment. It will be challenging to live in close quarters for a month with people you dont really know. We were looking for young people who could handle the stress of living onboard a ship and contribute something to the team. We believe they all do add something different to the mix. To track progress of the voyage, visit: www.shiptracker.com; or BaySails website: www.baysailbaycity.org. For more information about the Sea Scholars program: (989) 895-5193; or visit the Bay Sail website. YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region is turning 125 years old and plans to celebrate by hosting a 125th Anniversary Celebration on May 4 at 7:30 a.m. at Bay Valley Hotel and Resort. YWCA will present the Lorraine Patterson Award to long-time supporter Brenda Scramlin and announce the launch of the YWCA Circle of Giving Women. Fourth graders from Saint Brigid School will release their classrooms hand-raised Chinook salmon at 2 p.m. Friday at the Tridge. Parents and community members are invited to watch the students as they plant their smolts into their new natal stream as the culmination of this years Department of Natural Resources Salmon in the Classroom Program. This release will add another hands-on component to the Great Lakes, watershed and ecosystem lessons learned throughout the school year. The Leon P. Martuch Chapter of Trout Unlimited sponsored the equipment and other resources for the Saint Brigid School Salmon in the Classroom Program. Salmon in the Classroom is a yearlong natural resources education program in which teachers receive fertilized salmon eggs from a DNR fish hatchery in the fall, hatch them out, feed and raise the fry through spring, and then release the young salmon into a local river. As a bonus, theres an entire resource guide full of activities and the life history of salmon that teachers use to integrate the salmon into their life science curriculum throughout the year. Salmon in the Classroom teaches students about everything from the life history of fish to the importance of the Great Lakes and fishing to Michigans traditions and way of life, said Natalie Elkins, a DNR education specialist who oversees the program for the department. And weve been able to involve thousands of students, teachers and parents with an opportunity to learn more about our local watersheds and natural resources through these efforts, said Steve Wilkowski, president of the Leon P. Martuch Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Elkins said the program ties right back to the kids communities. Students get invested in and excited about their local rivers and streams, knowing that the smolts they released may return to the very same spot in two to three years to spawn, Elkins said. That connection encourages a long-standing appreciation for Michigans natural resources and ecosystem health. The Leon P. Martuch Chapter of Trout Unlimited provided the necessary resources for seven programs in mid-Michigan, and has participated for six years. To be accepted into Salmon in the Classroom, educators must commit to teaching their students about the Great Lakes ecosystem and fisheries management by raising salmon for almost the entire school year. It also requires a commitment on the part of the schools to purchase the necessary equipment including a tank, chiller and other supplies, Elkins said. The cost, about $1,200, can be a hurdle, but Elkins said there are organizations and private donors willing to support schools with the needed funding. Theres also a lot of guidance available. Visit the SIC site at www.Michigan.gov/sic. The Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine has adopted a statement in Minsk on Friday, giving support to all participants in the Minsk process in their determination to secure a full observation of the ceasefire regime in Donbas as soon as the Easter and the May Holidays begin, OSCE Special Envoy Martin Sajdik told reporters. "The Trilateral Contact Group and the representatives of certain areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine are welcoming the determination of all the participants in the Minsk process aiming to secure a full observation of the ceasefire regime with the start of the Easter and May Holidays, as effective from Saturday, April 30, 2016, at 12:00 midnight," the statement says. The Contact Group participants have agreed that respective orders with regard to the full observation of the ceasefire will be communicated to all responsible persons in the fields. It has also been confirmed that appropriate steps will be taken in order to guarantee security for monitors of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Helpless and covered in moulage, numerous Airmen and civilians cried out for rescue across the main base housing area. These volunteers were part of an emergency management exercise held over the course of two days, April 26-27, that simulated the potential aftereffects that could occur if a natural disaster struck Misawa Air Base. "We had a simulated 8.2 magnitude earthquake which forced the reactions of all agencies available to respond," said Lt. Col. Kevin Lord, 35th Fighter Wing inspector general. "This scenario allowed us to practice varying forms of self-aid buddy care and emergency recovery, all in response to a natural disaster." This was a unique opportunity for Misawa to exercise a specific scenario, as opposed to more typical operational readiness exercises which focus on the generation of aircraft and the 35th FW's ability to mobilize and respond quickly to contingency operations. "Throughout the year, Misawa AB is tested on numerous scenarios ranging from simulated mass-casualty accidents, to aircraft crashes," said Lord. "Being prepared for anything is what keeps the 35th FW able to efficiently respond to anything." In particular, this exercise tested the capabilities of emergency responders including support units like the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron and 35th Security Forces Squadron, enabling them to exercise taking control of a potentially dangerous situation and ensuring base safety is maintained. Responding to feigned power outages, downed power lines and even simulated fires, more than 500 35th CES personnel alone were called to action. To enhance Misawa's ability to account for injuries during a natural disaster, simulated or real, the 35th Medical Group has also taken steps to ensure they are able to house a large number of victims. "When patients exceed normal capacity, the expansion bay will be utilized to care for injured patients," said Capt. An Phan, 35th Medical Support Squadron Medical Readiness Flight commander. Because this simulated earthquake was larger than previous ones, a secondary aftershock was simulated during the afternoon of the same day, bringing even more injured personnel into the scenario and the expansion bay. In cases where the 35th MDG expansion bay fills to capacity, Misawa AB also becomes a hub as wounded and injured individuals are air-evacuated to facilities at Yokota AB, Japan, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii. Although this instance was a simulated natural disaster, it isn't the first time Misawa has had to respond an earthquake - in March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami struck the Tohoku-region of Japan, leading Misawa Airmen into action to help their Japanese neighbors. "Similar to what Misawa AB did during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, our main priority is to take care of the base and local community," Lord said. "It only benefits to practice response efforts with the Japanese colleagues we work with." In line with the recent series of earthquakes that have affected the Kumamoto prefecture in the Kyushu-region of Japan, these exercises help to further the ability of U.S. service members stationed in Japan to respond in a supportive role. "Earthquakes are a very real possibility in Japan, so to practice coordination with everyone only helps to strengthen our capabilities and our relationship with the Japanese partners we work with," added Lord. WHEELER ARMY AIR FIELD, Hawaii -- The Soldiers of 2-6th Cavalry Squadron, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, received their AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopters this week from National Guard units across the country. The airframes are being transferred from the National Guard to the active duty Army as part of the Aviation Restructure Initiative in an effort to cut costs in Army Aviation and to fill the mission capability gap left by the retirement of the OH-58D Kiowa Reconnaissance Helicopter. "The apaches will primarily be used as a reconnaissance platform," said Maj. Ian H. Benson, Operations Officer, 2-6th Cavalry Squadron. "However, with the inherent firepower of the aircraft, apaches will serve as a combat multiplier to any supported ground force commander." "The Apache provides greater lethality and accuracy with the increased firepower that it provides," said Maj. Jacob Johnston, Executive Officer, 2-6 Cavalry Squadron. "Additionally, the sensor package on the AH-64D provides greatly enhance optically clarity and subsequently better situational awareness for the aircrews and the ground force commander." The squadron received 24 airframes and will increase its operational abilities by adding eight RQ-7B Shadow v2 unmanned aerial vehicles to compliment the reconnaissance and combat abilities of the Apache. "The Apache is capable of deploying with a single nose mounted 30 mm M230E1 Chain Gun, AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, and Hydra 70 general-purpose unguided 70 mm rockets," said Johnston. "These weapon systems combined with the Target Acquisition Data System and the Fire Control Radar make the Apache an extremely adept fighter." "The Apache increases the lethality and the capability of the squadron to support ground elements within the 25th Infantry Division," said Benson. Planning for the aircraft transfer and replacement of the Kiowa took over a year. As of April 27 however, training for 2-6 Cavalry with their new airframes has commenced. "We train to crew, team, platoon, and troop levels of gunnery proficiency," said Johnston. "We project we will be fully mission capable by summer 2017. However, we expect we will be able to support live fire exercises with supported ground units as early as October 2016." The ability to train on Oahu with infantry Soldier on the ground in live-fire exercises helps to ensure that our Soldiers and the pilots above are capable of working hand in hand in the event of a contingency mission in the Pacific. "We are able to train with the 30mm chain-gun and 70mm rockets here on the island," said Johnston. "This capability will ensure we're ready to fight with a trained and prepared force throughout the Pacific as needed." HONOLULU, Hawaii - - A blanketing hush fell on the audience when the lone U.S. Marine bugler played Last Post, the Australian and New Zealand version of Taps. The ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 25, 2016 served to remind the audience of the impact of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or ANZAC, at the Battle of Gallipoli, where approximately 9,000 Australians and 3,000 New Zealanders made the ultimate sacrifice. The U.S. Marine Corps studied the Battle of Gallipoli extensively, especially the withdrawal from the peninsula, allowing them to develop and enhance their amphibious doctrine during major battles in World War II. The ANZAC spirit emerged after the war back home as a result of the courageous efforts of the ANZAC soldiers, which ultimately consolidated into the modern-day Australian and New Zealand ethos and identity. "Gallipoli marks the first time that people really thought of themselves as New Zealanders and Australians where two nations were forged in the mud and blood of Gallipoli," said Sir Jim McLay, New Zealand Consulate-General. "So it is every year at ANZAC Day where we acknowledge that it was them at Gallipoli who had attributes of bravery, tenacity, practicality, ingenuity, and personal loyalty that helped define our countries." ANZAC Day ceremonies take place all over the world; this was the 44th year the Marine Corps supported the ceremony in Hawaii, honoring the long-lasting friendship between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. This multilateral commemoration compelled the audience to reflect on what it means for military members to sacrifice their lives for something greater than themselves. "It is particularly poignant that we gather here at this beautiful but solemn sad place and too many other places like it around the world where the remains of thousands of heroic souls lie in often unfamiliar foreign soil, but always in the embrace of a grateful nation," said Jeff Robinson, Australian Consulate-General. "Those men and women surrounded in these fields here, those individuals -- ordinary people -- called upon to do the extraordinary: gave their lives, their futures serving a bigger purpose for us." ANZAC Day is about honoring and supporting the legacy and tradition those men and service members from all over who sacrificed their lives passed on to future generations. Members from the Polynesian Cultural Center performed a "Haka," which is an ancestral war chant from the indigenous Maori tribe from New Zealand. The ANZAC story speaks to us of pride and our respective country of who we are as Australians and New Zealanders of a quiet confidence born out of sacrifice, said Brigadier John Boswell, Assistant Chief of Strategic Commitments and Engagements of New Zealand Defence Force. It speaks to us of nations of ordinary people doing extraordinary actions for their friends, and it speaks to us of the horror of war and the need to build peace. Pacific Surface Action Group Departs Pearl Harbor for the Western Pacific By Petty Officer 3rd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Hawaii PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- The Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) following a scheduled port visit en route to the Western Pacific April 27. The PAC SAG is comprised of the embarked staff of Destroyer Squadron 31 (CDS-31), guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111), USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Momsen (DDG 92) and embarked Devil Fish and Warbirds detachments of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49. Adm. Scott Swift, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, addressed the crew of Momsen April 26 to highlight the significance of their mission and explain how their capability will be tested throughout their deployment. The potential options that you can explore as part of this three-ship SAG is very exciting, said Swift, during his visit to Momsen. One of the great benefits the Navy brings to the nation is flexibility, and part of that flexibility is going to be demonstrated as soon as you get underway from Hawaii. Deploying as a PAC SAG allows the three ships to execute a broad range of maritime operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations while under the command and control of U.S. 3rd Fleet. During WWII, the vast majority of 3rd Fleet was forward deployed throughout the Pacific islands in campaigns all the way up to Japan. This deployment is a little bit of returning to your roots; our roots of having 3rd Fleet deploying forward through this PAC SAG, throughout your entire cruise, said Swift. The destroyers are trained and prepared to conduct maritime security operations, which include addressing challenges to international law at sea such as piracy and other illicit activities. The PAC SAG will also operate with regional navies to promote security, stability and prosperity. For more information about Pacific Surface Action Group visit http://www.c3f.navy.mil Q: I am in near-constant pain because of arthritis. My doctor suggested that I try hypnotherapy. My first reaction was that it sounds like hokum, but now I'm wondering if it could help. What do you think? A: Hypnotherapy may in fact help with pain management. These days it is used to treat many mental and physical health problems. I spoke to my colleague Dr. Max Shapiro, a psychologist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. He explained that hypnotherapy is most effective in treating problems that require stronger control over the body's responses. Pain is a good example; insomnia is another. Hypnotherapy turns your attention inward. A hypnotherapist helps you enter a trancelike state. In that state, your attention is highly focused, so you're more responsive to suggestions. With the guidance of a hypnotherapist, you can start to control or alter your thoughts, feelings and physical state. A hypnotic trance empowers you to activate neural circuits that are otherwise inactive. When activated, this circuitry can reduce pain, among other things. Let's consider insomnia. Hypnosis can be very effective in blocking out the distracting chatter that interferes with sleep. A hypnotherapist will first teach a patient how to go into a trance. Once in a trance, the patient will focus on his or her own past experience of falling asleep easily, effortlessly and comfortably. The patient will then be taught to practice going into a trance at bedtime and re-creating those feelings. About half of people who use hypnotherapy for insomnia see improvement after a few sessions. Others require several more sessions. Only about one in 10 people won't find it useful. The success rate for hypnotherapy in treating pain is much more complicated. That may be because the source and nature of pain can vary so widely. Some people experience quick and long-lasting relief; others find it more challenging. Hypnotherapy may be much more effective for some people than for others. In part, a successful outcome depends on how committed you are. In order for hypnotherapy to work, you will need to put the lessons learned at each session into practice at home. If you need an outside voice to help you focus inward, recordings may help to get you into a trance state. Hypnotherapy is typically a complementary therapy. That means it should be part of a broader treatment plan that may include more traditional pain relief techniques and medications, if needed. A physician colleague of mine tried hypnosis after no traditional treatments were able to adequately relieve his pain. The treatment was so successful that he now uses hypnosis in his practice. There's nothing like getting your own suffering relieved to make a believer out of you. NORMAL One of Chicago's most popular restaurant chains is coming to the Twin Cities. Portillo's, which serves Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and other American-style food, will open a location in Normal in 2017, the company announced Thursday. It will be the first downstate location for the chain. "Theres great brand awareness for Portillo's already in Normal and at ISU (Illinois State University), so its just a natural fit, said Nick Scarpino, the company's vice president of marketing and public relations. We get requests from all over the country constantly of where we should open a new Portillo's, and weve gotten many, many requests from people in Bloomington-Normal. Scarpino said the Oak Brook-based company is "looking at a few different locations (in Normal) and dont want to comment at this time. The company hasn't discussed locations or incentives with town leaders, said City Manager Mark Peterson. Portillo's owns and operates all of its locations. The company has restaurants in Chicagoland, Rockford, Arizona, California, Indiana, Florida and Wisconsin. We are very interested in opening other restaurants in Central Illinois, Scarpino said. We are looking at other Central Illinois cities, including Springfield, Champaign and Peoria. The announcement drew accolades on social media. "Love this place! Now I don't have to drive two hours for it!" posted Cyra Buttell, a human resources service specialist at State Farm, to The Pantagraph's Facebook page. NORMAL The Mitsubishi auto plant, land and contents have been sold to a Michigan firm that will take possession on June 1. "We do not know their future plans for the site and equipment," said Dan Irvin, general manager of corporate communications for Mitsubishi Motors North America, referring to Maynards Industries, based in Southfield, Mich. "However, we are aware that they are in discussions with various parties and are reviewing all of their options." No details were given on the purchase agreement. Maynards manages asset auctions and asset valuation projects valued up to half a billion dollars from eight offices in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and China, according to the company's website. Maynards USA Division President Taso Sofikitis was not available for comment on Friday. "This could be a very positive move because clearly (selling plants) is not Mitsubishi's core business," Normal City Manager Mark Peterson said Friday afternoon. "Maynards is highly motivated to try to sell it and recoup their investment. They're very well-connected within the automobile manufacturing industry." Peterson said the town is going to have to talk to Maynards about how we as a community can support their efforts to find a buyer." Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said having someone willing to purchase the plant was positive news. "It doesn't mean we have an employer willing to come in, but there is somebody who obviously thinks the plant is worth purchasing," said Renner. "They can begin to market it so that we can actually get someone in there who will employ people in our local economy." "I remain cautiously optimistic that (Maynards) can find a buyer to sell the plant to as a whole operation," said state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington. "These are difficult times in which to do that, and I am just glad there has been some movement. We will have some potential life for the plant." Local and state officials have been trying for nine months to find a buyer for the Normal plant that ceased production in November and will permanently close May 31. Those efforts include a trip this week by Normal Mayor Chris Koos and Kyle Ham, CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, to Hanover, Germany, site of the 2016 Hanover Messe a five-day annual event billed as "the world's biggest industrial fair," with 6,500 exhibitors and 250,000 visitors. Prior to leaving, Ham said, Our goals are fairly simple: One is to sell McLean County, Bloomington and Normal, talking to companies about the properties and assets we have; the second part focuses particularly on the Mitsubishi property." Mike OGrady, vice president of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, said he did not know how the announcement Friday would affect the officials' trip to Germany. "Short of a few text messages on other issues we have not discussed this one," said O'Grady. He said he does not know what the plant's sale to the auctioneering and liquidation firm means for the facilitys future. "We haven't dealt with them," O'Grady said. "I don't know enough about the company. I don't know anything about what their plans are." He added: "From the little I've heard and what I've tried to catch up on in a short time is it's a well-known company. Hopefully it means an opportunity. United Auto Workers Local 2488 President Rod DeVary, a member of the task force of local and state officials formed immediately after the closure announcement last summer to find a buyer for the plant, said he was surprised by news of the sale. We were kind of hoping it would remain an automotive manufacturing plant, he said. Ukrainian Nadia Savchenko, who has been recently sentenced to 22 years in prison for killing Russian journalists, has filled out, assisted by one of her lawyers, the documents needed to apply for her extradition to Ukraine, Savchenko's lawyer Mark Feygin said. "Today, with the help of my colleague Nikolai Polozov, Nadia filled out the documents that she was served in the remand prison. These are typical extradition documents," Feygin said. Savchenko filled out the biographic data, the consent to serve her sentence in Ukraine, and a number of questionnaires, according to Feygin. Kim Mattson knows how it feels to walk into a store and not see any clothes in her size. Sure, she could buy jewelry but why should she settle? So she opened her own store in Bloomington, called The Middle Sister: A Curvy Boutique. PONTIAC A Cullom woman could receive a new sentence in the 2011 death of her foster daughter if a judge agrees with her lawyer about the unconstitutionality of the law that allowed her to be sent to prison for life. Heather Lamie was sentenced in February 2015 for killing 4-year-old Kianna Rudesill on May 2011. Charges were filed about two years later. In a motion seeking a new sentence, defense lawyer Joshua Rinker argues that a life term was not an available option for Lamie at the time of her sentencing hearing. In a 1999 decision, the Illinois Supreme Court struck down a mandatory life sentence for a person over 17 years old who murders a child under 12 because it violates the single subject rules of the Illinois Constitution. That rule bars lawmakers from blending more than one element in a single provision. The law requiring life for child killers also covered defendants who kill more than one person, a mandate that is still in effect. Rinker noted in his motion that only action by the Illinois legislature would put the age-related provision of the law back on the books. Under the terms of existing sentencing laws, Lamie is eligible for 20 to 60 years on the first-degree murder charge. Lamie's conviction has been upheld by the Fourth District Appellate Court. During her trial, another defense lawyer claimed that the child's injuries were self-inflicted and the girl also suffered from emotional issues. But State's Attorney Seth Uphoff told jurors that Kianna's traumatic head injuries were the result of abuse by her foster mother who also cared for the child's three siblings. NORMAL An electrical fire damaged one room of an Illinois State University water-handling facility Thursday in Normal. Normal firefighters were called at 11:26 a.m. to the South Campus chiller plant on University Street, which chills water for campus buildings. Smoke was visible, but there were no flames. Crews cut power to the building before they were able to get inside and extinguish the fire, said fire officials. There were no injuries. Firefighters left the scene about 1:30 p.m. BLOOMINGTON As many as 465 people may "get better" thanks to 137 earnest, persistent children. "It's not just adults who can help," said Ivan Vazquez, 13, an eighth-grader at St. Mary's School, 603 W. Jackson St. "Kids can make a difference in the world. Even a kid can save a life." Ivan was speaking in the school gymnasium, which was converted on Thursday afternoon and evening to an American Red Cross mobile blood donation center. The event was St. Mary's School's annual blood drive. Red Cross Pint-Size Hero blood drives at elementary schools aren't unusual. But the blood drive at little St. Mary's School with an enrollment of 137 may be the largest, single-day blood drive of 2016 for McLean County. One hundred fifty-five people registered to donate. That's more than the 130 donors at 2015's largest drive the B104 Give the Gift of Life Holiday Blood Drive and is more than four times larger than the average county blood drive, said Steve Stoewer, blood services director for the Red Cross Serving Central Illinois. Last year's annual St. Mary's drive had 126 donors, Stoewer said. Countywide throughout April, 900 units of blood will be donated. "It's cool that just a pint of blood can help three people," Ivan said. That means 465 could be helped by Thursday's drive. "It's amazing when you think about a school this size, with that many people giving blood in one day," Stoewer said. The timing is good because demand for blood from hospitals has increased in recent weeks, he said. The drive coordinator is physical education and health teacher Susan Bassie, who guesses the annual drive began eight years ago. "We knew there was a need," Bassie said. "We are all about service. And it fit hand-in-glove with our curriculum. We teach the kids about the circulatory system." Bassie begins the effort each year by speaking about the drive at a school assembly and then she teaches in P.E. classes why blood is needed. Students are given forms to ask parents, family members, neighbors and St. Mary's parishioners to register to donate. "It's hard for adults to say 'no' to kids," St. Mary's Principal Intern Jamie Hartrich said with a smile after donating blood Thursday. But Bassie also explains to students that some people can't give blood for health reasons. Students are required to return forms to Bassie, even if they have no one signed up. On Thursday, students helped to set up the drive, escorted blood donors to the canteen and served donors homemade soups and cookies made by St. Mary's parents and staff. Afterward, students and parents helped with taking down the equipment. "The involvement of the kids is wonderful," Sharon Hamaker of Normal, a St. Mary's parent, said after giving blood. Ivan, who signed up nine donors, already does community volunteer work. "But this is more of an impact on people's lives," Ivan said. "This can save lives." Kindergarten teacher Adrienne Wilson brought her students to the gym to say "thank you" to blood donors. "I learned that they have to put orange stuff and yellow stuff on their arm before they do it (donate)," explained Serenity Lewis, 6. "I think it's like a medicine for your arm. Then they put it (the needle) in." "They (donors) pump the circle and the blood runs into a line and then goes into a bottle and they give it to people who are sick in the hospital," explained Emir Ortiz, 6. "After they're done, they get food to eat," said Gabrielle Hartrich, 6. "It's making other people get better," Emir said. "You could have a car crash and lose blood, and that's why we're making a blood drive." "If people didn't give blood, people would die," Gabrielle said. "We're learning about community helpers." Cheers ... to the Good Samaritans in Ford County who rescued a dog from near death after it was recently shot and tied to a bridge. The dog, now on his way to recovery, is being treated at the University of Illinois small animal clinic. A related jeers to the person or persons responsible for the heinous act. If you have a pet and no longer can keep it, there are many humane societies and rescue groups available to help find a loving home for unwanted animals. Cheers ... to the Arkansas family that tracked down Rosetta Slagell of Flanagan to return a long-lost World War II dog tag that belonged to her late husband, Gerald "Jerry." Some people would either have kept the tag as an oddity or just thrown it away. Not many would take the time to track down the name on the tag, then find the surviving family member and make arrangements to return it. Cheers ... to Hal Holbrook for providing a wonderfully funny, warm and genuine evening to theater-goers recently at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. Holbrook, 91, has been performing his "Mark Twain Tonight" one-man show for decades and every show is a bit different. We applaud his dedication to his craft and chosen subject, and also the BCPA for providing the opportunity for our community to enjoy his work. Cheers ... to Thad Hughes and Jill Parrent for their honors at a recent 4-H national convention. Hughes won the Youth in Action award for science, technology, engineering and math. Parrent was chosen for the National 4-H Youth Leadership Team. Both young people are from Normal. Hughes is a member of Team Metal Cow and Linden Lead em 4-H clubs. Parrent is a 10-year 4-H member. Cheers ... to Kelley Becker, associate minister of First Christian Church in Bloomington, who recently won the Grabill-Homan Community Peace Prize from the Illinois State University peace and conflict resolution studies program. She is the sixth person honored with the award that recognizes work in peacemaking, leadership, initiative, activism and inspiration. Cheers ... to the Ecology Action Center and the numerous volunteers who spent a recent Saturday cleaning up Sugar Creek not necessarily a pleasant or fun job. Their work restored the area's natural beauty and provided an opportune reminder to reduce, reuse and recycle but don't use the outdoors as a trash heap. Remember ... to talk to your family about organ donations. The gift of life can help more than a dozen people through donations of organs, blood, tissue and skin. A statewide registry is at http://www.lifegoeson.com/; a frequently asked questions section on that site also answers a variety of common queries. The recent Wisconsin prom shooting may be regarded as one of the effects of high school bullying. Students at Antigo High School said that the 18-year-old aggressor was being bullied in school and was a known introvert prior to the incident. Many peers of the Wisconsin gunman said that student bullying may have been the triggering factor behind the shooting. According to one student named Katie Arrowwod, they all knew that Jakob Wagner was bullied. Prom Night Scare CBS News said that during the Antigo High School prom night, Wagner shot two students who were leaving the prom. He had with him a high-powered rifle. He also brought along extra ammunition, all showing the evil intent impelling the student. While Wagner's attempt to kill didn't end up in the death of the victims, Wagner himself died after a police officer fired at him while he was shooting outside the school. The two victims of Wagner sustained injuries which were fortunately not life threatening. Wagner Broke Up With Girlfriend Aside from the student bullying, another angle being looked into is that Wagner recently broke up with a girl he was dating. One possibility is that his pent up emotions about being bullied in school plus his recent breakup ignited the fire that caused the rage. According to the Chicago Tribune, authorities have not yet confirmed whether student bullying was the motive behind the shooting. They also declined to comment on the matter. Mother Says Wagner Not A Monster Lorrie Wagner, the mother of Jakob Wagner, said that her son was not a monster. Such statement was implying that it was high school student bullying that drove her son to open fire outside the Antigo High School. "If anything, I hope it shines light on bullying and how deeply it affects people," said Lorrie. Other students who were Jakob's classmates since middle school said that Jakob was indeed being bullied. Students would gang up on Wagner and would call him names. The Wisconsin prom shooting may be a compelling reason for authorities to start addressing student bullying. Gov. Scott Walker, Republican, said that students must be taught how to resolve issues in a peaceful manner. In cases of divorce or separation, children often fall victims to a common concept that promotes conflict among parents, traumatizing kids in the process. That's why a charitable and educational organization known as the National Parents Organization is promoting shared parenting because it believed that no child should endure the difficulty of choosing between his or her parents after a divorce or separation. Maintaining a strong bond between children and their parents is exceptionally vital to the emotional, mental and physical well-being of kids. In celebration of the National Parental Awareness Day on Monday, April 25, National Parents Organization is calling for a family law reform that will promote shared parenting. "I urge legislators in all states to back shared parenting," National Parents Organization founder and board chair Dr. Ned Holstein said, as per Globe Newswire. "With shared parenting, it is difficult for anyone to turn the child against a parent with whom the child experiences frequent loving care. Shared parenting decreases these tragic cases of parental alienation." Shared Parenting In an acrimonious and winner-take-all custody battle, Holstein explained the courts usually give sole custody to one parent. Due to this, the winning parent has the power to instill negative thoughts to a child's mind against the "non-custodial" parent who often has lesser time to spend with a child. To stop this unavoidable practice, Holstein is urging lawmakers around the country to pass shared parenting laws. But what exactly is shared parenting? Shared parenting is defined as a collaborative arrangement in a child custody in cases of divorce and separation. According to Family Lives, shared parenting means both parents have the right and responsibility of being actively involved in raising a child with love and guidance from them. Shared Parenting Laws Due to the parental alienation, several states including Missouri are contemplating a legislation that promotes shared parenting. The law will reportedly allow children to spend equal time with each parent after a divorce or separation. Aside from Missouri, the states of Minnesota, Utah and South Dakota have also joined the campaign in passing shared parenting laws. With that said, Holstein hopes that someday the nation won't be commemorating the National Parental Alienation Awareness Da. Instead, it would be replaced with National Happy Children Day. Parental Alienation People often hear the term "parental alienation" after a bitter divorce or separation. As defined by Connie Lupichuk of Aspire Too Counseling and Professional Services, parental alienation is the ability of a parent to manipulate or brainwash a child's mind to hate and exclude the other parent from his or her life. "[Parental alienation] is a distinctive family response to divorce in which one parent forms an alliance with the child or children against the other parent through a campaign of hatred and denigration," Lupichuk told the Star Phoenix. Is Parental Alienation A Crime? Meanwhile, child rights activist and Child Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP) president Kumar V. Jahgirdar is urging the central government of India to declare parental alienation as a crime. Jahgirdar is also pushing shared parenting to be made mandatory to protect the rights of the children, Zee News reports. Do you think shared parenting can stop parent alienation? Share your thoughts below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. More and more teen girls are seeking plastic surgery to shorten their labia minora for aesthetic reasons, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). This growing trend of Labiaplasty among teenagers has prompted the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to issue a warning about the uncertainty and dangers of the procedure. The New York Times reports that ASAPS's data showed that 400 American teen girls, aged 18 years old and below, underwent Labiaplasty in 2015. This overall number is 80 percent higher from the 222 girls who opted for plastic surgery on their labia in 2014. The figures appeared small, however, ASAPS's record did not include Labiaplasty procedures performed by gynecologists. The Growing Interest On Labiaplasty Alarmed Gynecologists In response to the growing trend of Labiaplasty among American teen girls, ACOG's Committee on Adolescent Health Care issued a warning to doctors last week. The committee urged doctors to enlighten patients about the procedure, suggest nonsurgical treatment options and test them for a psychiatric disorder. Dr. Julie Strickland, chairperson of ACOG's Committee on Adolescent Health Care, reminded American teen girls that Labiaplasty is a major surgery. She said that this plastic surgery on the labia may result in pain, numbness, scarring and decreased sexual sensation. Strickland also advised American teen girls to wait for their body's complete growth and development before considering Labiaplasty. She added that ACOG even discouraged Labiaplasty among adults because of its possible complications and unproven efficiency. Factors That Drive American Teen Girls To Seek Labiaplasty ACOG disclosed that it does not have exact knowledge why there is a growing interest on Labiaplasty among teenagers. The group, however, cited several factors that may drive American teenagers to undergo plastic surgery on their labia. These include the trend in pubic-hair removal and the awareness of the procedure itself, which is "idealized" online. According to the Slate, teenage boys have been notoriously spreading a myth online that the shape of women's vagina changes depending on the number of men they have sex with. This has made teen girls to question their changing bodies and resort to Labiaplasty to boost their confidence. Would you allow your teenage daughter to undergo Labiaplasty? Share your thoughts below. Crisscrossing lines showed up in a satellite image of the Caspian Sea acquired on April 16, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Earth Observatory. This startling image of the Caspian Sea was captured by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the Landsat 8 satellite. Scientist Stanislav Ogorodov from the Lomonosov Moscow State University told the NASA Earth Observatory secret between the mysterious green lines in the Caspian Sea is ice, Live Science reported. "Undoubtedly, most of these tracks are the result of ice gouging," Ogorodov said. What caused crisscrossing lines seen in this satellite pic of North Caspian Sea? Find out: https://t.co/lnPVn3uU0j pic.twitter.com/zTLoDsmner NASA (@NASA) April 25, 2016 Ice "Hummocks" According to the NASA Earth Observatory, Ogorodov said that the particular part of the Caspian Sea captured through the OLI is very shallow at only around 3 meters deep. In wintertime, the ice that forms in this area of the Caspian Sea is about half a meter thick, which means that most of the ice does not reach the Caspian Sea's floor. Still, the ice that forms on the Caspian Sea has a tendency to be "warm" and thin, resulting in an ice cover that is easily deformed by wind and sea currents. As ice pieces are pushed together, some are forced upward and downward into "hummocks" whose frozen keels may reach the Caspian Sea's floor and scour it as the ice keels move. The Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea spans nearly 750 miles or 1,200 kilometers from north to south, according to Britannica. Its average width is 200 miles or 320 kilometers. It is the world's largest inland body of water. The Caspian Sea is bordered by Kazakhstan in the northeast, Russia in the northwest, Iran in the south, Turkmenistan in the southeast and Azerbaijan in the southwest. It also houses about one-third of the Earth's inland surface water. What can you say about these mysterious looking lines in the Caspian Sea captured via satellite? Write your comments below. Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Ukraine's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group for settling the Donbas crisis, insists on resolving security issues in the area, without which it will be impossible to switch to political matters, Kuchma's press secretary Darka Olifer said. "During a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group, Leonid Kuchma once again aired Ukraine's position: without resolving security issues, it is impossible to switch to addressing political issues, including elections in the part of Donbas that is not under Ukraine's control. There are no conditions for holding them now," Olifer said on Facebook following a Trilateral Contact Group meeting in Minsk on Friday. Free-range parenting became a popular topic for debate when a New York City parent Lenore Skenazy shared her experience in trying the hands-off approach in raising kids. In Skenazy's New York Sun column in 2008, she recounted the time when she allowed her 9-year-old son Izzy to go home on his own from Bloomingdale's in Manhattan, an hour away by subway or bus from their family home. Unfortunately, Skenazy's free-range parenting story became so controversial, dubbing her as "America's Worst Mom." But could free-range parenting be beneficial to children? What Is Free-Range Parenting? Popularized by pediatrician Benjamin Spock, free-range parenting is a parenting approach that encourages children to function independently in proper accordance of their age of development with a rational recognition of realistic personal risk. According to Huffington Post, free-range parenting exists when a child's needs are given in-excess of typical freedoms and privileges. Understanding Free-Range Parenting Free-range parenting is not a new phenomenon but because of the society's assumptions on "good parenting," this concept is often viewed negatively. But despite the criticisms and backlash over free-range parenting, some experts believed that hands-free approach in raising kids does have some advantages. Free-range parenting allows children to test their limits without overprotective parents hovering them. Because of this, they will be able to see what they're really made of, PopSugar notes. Free-range parenting, however, does not mean that parents should leave their children vulnerable in unsafe situations. Experts stress "free-range" parents should continually reconsider the liberties they give their children while taking into account the potential dangers that actually exist in reality instead of relying on secondhand data to make parenting decisions. Is Free-Range Parenting Legal? Ohio Northern University law professor David Pimental admitted that it's quite surprising how walking to school is considered completely unacceptable today. Thus, he's concerned about the legal implications of this kind of parenting approach. "It was kind of a culture shock to discover that children are not capable of getting themselves to the store, getting themselves to school - things like that," Pimental said, as per Live Science. "Parents may face criminal prosecution for child endangerment, or Child Protective Services may intervene. [But] parents are far more afraid that their children will be taken away from them than that they'll be charged with crimes." Free-Range Parenting Systems At Home In Affluent Communities Assistant principal, teen advocate and writer Daniel Patterson of Huffington Post recently explained the unintended consequences of free-range parenting in affluent families. Patterson underscored that this type of free-parenting concept is producing children that are either unable or unwilling to leave the comforts of their homes, where they can have limitless and restriction-less freedom to do everything. This free-range parenting misconception, however, is dangerous to children and has the potential to damage their still-developing adolescent brain. Children are also left unready or unable to cope with their new reality, particularly in school where they are not given full access of what they often thought as their newfound freedom. "Parenting is crazy. It is exhausting. It is hard to say no, and excruciatingly painful to hear I hate you and be emotionally beaten down a hormonal teenager," Patterson wrote. "But more painful will be parenting them at that level for the rest of their lives, devoid of coping skills as they remain ever-grasping to the concept that you, as a parent, owe them anything beyond the roof over their head, the clothes on their back and food on their plate." So, would you try the free-range parenting approach in raising kids? Share your thoughts below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates. Scientology leader David Miscavige has enlisted his lawyers' help against his father, Ronald Miscavige. The latter has written a tell-all book, "Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige and Me" and the scientologist wants the court to block its release. Below are five explosive details about "Ruthless," which hits store shelves May 3: 1. David Miscavige's Dad Brought Him To Scientology As a young asthmatic boy in the 1960s, who would often be bullied, David Miscavige sought solace from Scientology. He mastered many of the teachings faster than any other prodigy and was allowed to facilitate "auditing sessions," also known as counseling, at age 12, per People. "He advanced very rapidly in the Church," David Miscavige's dad said. He took over as leader when L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, died in 1986. After 41 years, Ronald left the group in 2012, per Daily Mail. Leah Remini says she encouraged David Miscavige's father to write a Scientology book: https://t.co/3Go8B2JAOU pic.twitter.com/FEYx5oY4Cb E! News (@enews) April 28, 2016 2. David Miscavige Fought With Tom Cruise Tom Cruise, the most famous Scientology member, fought with David Miscavige in the beginning. This happened when the group was preparing to welcome the Hollywood actor into the fold. However, Cruise came late and didn't have dinner at his own welcoming party, News Corp Australia reports. The two would eventually sort it out and become close like brothers. 3. David Miscavige Treated His Staff Badly While Ronald contends his son was not always ruthless in his youth, he became abusive to his staff as a church leader. He created a punishment room at the Scientology headquarters in California and the staff are not allowed to leave easily the premises. While he keeps a lavish lifestyle, the rest, including loyal church members, are poor. Radar Online reports that no charges in relation to abuse has been lodged against the Scientology leader. 4. David Miscavige Had His Father Tailed By An Investigator David hired Dwayne Powell, a former police, to watch Ronald after he left the fold for fear that he would reveal about the activities of the church to the public. If there was anything suspicious in Ronald's behavior, he would be brought to the Scientology headquarters for intervention. Ron Miscavige claims the Church of Scientology hired private investigators to spy on him: https://t.co/nYsabSSSEE #abc2020 20/20 (@ABC2020) April 28, 2016 5. David Miscavige's Lawyers Claim Ronald Had No Meaningful Relationship With His Son Lawyers sent Silvertail Books, the publisher of "Ruthless," a letter on April 25. "It is clear that the publication of this book has been motivated against the background of an extremely difficult and an unfortunate family history," the lawyers' letter stated, per Tony Ortega, a Scientologist observer. Ronald admits to domestic abuse when his son was younger, but he explains himself in this video below. The full interview will be shown on "20/20" this Friday, April 29: A brief evacuation at the University of Central Florida (UCF) campus happened Tuesday due to reports of a person with a gun. A student immediately called 911 after she saw a Muslim woman at the UCF library who she thought was suspicious. The student who called 911 narrates that she saw a woman wearing a hijab in the library stairway. The woman appeared to look panicked and shaky as she went to a corner and fell to her knees. The caller also mentioned that her friend said the woman seemed to be carrying a weapon or gun because she saw a silver and black hand-held object. However, a separate account from Jessica Armstrong revealed that she saw a woman wearing a hijab very upset and crying in the library. After hearing rumors of a woman with a gun in the library, Armstrong contacted the police to report what she saw emphasizing that she did not see the woman armed in any way. Within 30 minutes, the calls to 911 escalated to stories of hearing shooting inside the UCF library. UCF, the country's second-largest university by enrollment, immediately sent out a campus- wide notice through email, text message and social media warning people about a "Middle Eastern" person possibly with a gun was inside the library. However, the notice did not mention if the suspicious person was a man or a woman. Calls to 911 from students were mostly based on rumors from hearsay or text message, according to Huffington Post. Many students mentioned that most of the rumors started circulating in sororities. After an hour, police cleared the library and did not find any threats to the campus. UCF Police Chief Richard Beary said that no one was injured and all buildings were brought back open. Typically, emergency alerts issued by universities do not mention a person's race, national origin or ethnicity. UCF's alert that there was a possible "Middle Eastern' gunman has promoted plenty of backlash from students. The school's message was dispatched by the University of Central using its emergency alert system to warn people about the incident. Beary explains that the use of "Middle Eastern" was not meant to be insensitive. Mohamed Mohamed, outgoing president of the Muslim Student Association at UCF mentioned that the alert did not even mention if the gunman was a man or a woman. However, the alert was sure that the possible gunman was 'Middle Eastern', according to Orlando Sentinel. It's still a long way to go before Christmas, but the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) is already giving out contracts worth millions of dollars! NASA awarded a total of $243 million in contracts to small business and institutions, which will keep these entities busy for the remainder of the year. USRA And Small Engineering Firms In addition to the $193 million contract NASA awarded to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) in Maryland, NASA also gave $50 million in grants to 300 entities. These comprise of small engineering firms and established research institutions, said Tech Crunch. The grants enjoyed by small businesses and institutions are from competition grants which include the Small Business Technology Transfer program and Small Business Innovation Research program. Out of the 1,278 proposals submitted to NASA, the agency only accepted 399, which NASA saw would give benefit, not only to the agency, but also to non-space every day applications. Host Of Innovative Proposals NASA posted the proposals, which contain a lot of scientific mouthfuls, but nonetheless innovative ideas. Some proposals pertain to robotics and lasers which might find non-space everyday applicability. NASA also received proposed flight control software systems for drones and landers. There are also air-dropped sensors and imaging systems. Reports have it that the proposals NASA received for the Small Business Research category sound more promising and feasible, as compared to the Innovative Advanced Concepts category. One example of a proposal that falls in the Innovative Advanced Concepts category was "repurposing an asteroid into a huge cosmic engine." Whew, that is some serious stuff! Phase I & II Winning proposals in the Small Business Research category will get funding for six months amounting to $125,000 during the Phase I period. If they get to be good at it, they can proceed to Phase II, and this time around, with a bigger funding of $750,000 from NASA. Wondering why USRA gets the bulk $193 million? Well, it does both research and testing. It is one huge organization that helps out with everything NASA-related. Field testing is one, as well as recruitment. With the extensive work it does for NASA, it is no surprise why it receives the bulk of the grants. Dogs from a South Korean meat farm were rescued by a shelter from New Jersey. Through the efforts of the Humane Society International, the dogs that were supposed to be eaten in South Korea were spared. Yahoo News mentioned that 170 dogs landed in a shelter in New Jersey while the other 80 dogs were given to adoptive parents. The dogs were spared as the Korean dog meat farmer decided to shy away from his career in butchering dogs. Dog meat is a stable in most Asian countries while it may seem taboo to the Western world. The dog meat farm owner, Gong In-Young from Wonju, South Korea, was the one who personally asked for help. Andrew Plumbly, the Humane Society campaign manager told the reporters that Gong no longer wants to butcher dogs and decided to have them rescued instead. "In our experience," Plumbly stated. "Many dog-meat farmers are keen to leave this business behind them, and come under increasing pressure from their children to end dog breeding and killing." Consuming dog meat is not unusual for people in the town of Wonju. Each dog is being sold for $200 depending on its size. Though Gong admitted that he never loved the idea of selling dog meat, it is, however, his only way to earn and make a living. Eating dog meat is customary in South Korea, especially during the Bok Nai festival. As the times progressed; however, the younger generation are no longer in favor of consuming dog meat, even if it's for customary purposes. The dogs will undergo several medical testing in before being put up for adoption as per NBC New York. The dog will have to go through physical and emotional screening to ensure that they are in good health. Dog meat consumption is customary in some countries including Nepal, Vietnam and the Philippines. Do you think dog meat should be prohibited? Do let us know your thoughts in regards to "dog meat consumption." The world still has a lot to learn about space and what lies beyond, so any new programs promoting space research is always exciting. Needless to say, people were genuinely thrilled when National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) elected to provide the Science Museum of Minnesota with a whopping $14.5 million to promote new discoveries about space as well as Earth science. According to Star Tribune, NASA's donation is part of a five-year contract that will fund SMM's project called Space and Earth Informal STEM Education. The SEISE project is expected to make use of NASA's resources, making learning about science more fun with interactive exhibits, videos and other related materials. SMM president Alison Rempel Brown has spoken about the contract with NASA, praising the agency for their contributions to the world. "NASA's programs are exciting and critical to our nation's future for space exploration and scientific learning," Brown stated. Science Museum of Minnesota lands big NASA contract https://t.co/td9p5lum45 pic.twitter.com/S4zcbpXLCa Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) April 28, 2016 The SMM president also claimed that the union between NASA and the Science Museum makes complete sense. "The Science Museum is a proven leader at making science concepts inspirational and easy-to-understand through programs and activities," she said. "We are a perfect match." This is no mere boast. The Science Museum of Minnesota has resident exhibits like Dinosaurs and Fossils, The Big Back Yard as well as Science Buzz. In 2015, SMM hosted a special exhibit called Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience, which featured rotating labs designed to emulate the International Space Station Destiny module. SMM is one of several organizations that have worked with NASA in the effort to promote knowledge about space and Earth sciences. NASA has previously funded the University of California, Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science and Space Sciences Laboratory, Arizona State University as well as the Museum of Science in Boston. The first installment of NASA's donation has been given to SMM in January. It will be provided to the museum for the next five years. File photo: DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle China has successfully completed a seventh flight test of its new hypersonic glide vehicle last week in its northern central Shanxi province. The revolutionary glider DF-ZF can travel at speeds between Mach 5 (6,174 km/h) to Mach 10 (12,348 km/h), that is, from five times the speed of sound to ten times. U.S. media expressed their concern over the new test. Reuters, citing Pentagon officials, refers to the test object as nuclear-capable hypersonic missile. US intelligence fears that Beijing may use DF-ZF to "deliver nuclear weapons bypassing even the most complex of missile defense systems", Washington Free Beacon reported. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman first confirmed Chinas hypersonic missile test in March 2015, saying that the missile test was not aimed at any country and was done for scientific research. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Capping off her meteoric rise to the ranks of A-list actresses, Alicia Vikander has landed her first starring role in a big-budget action thriller: shes set to play the iconic British archaeologist/badass Lara Croft in the upcoming MGM/Warner Bros. reboot of the Tomb Raider series. According to numerous sources, Vikander beat out a number of other high-profile actresses, including Daisy Ridley, Saoirse Ronan and Emilia Clarke, for the role of Croft, a character created for the original 1996 video game Tomb Raider and later made famous by Angelina Jolie in the early 2000s film adaptations. Is it a stretch to call those films some of the best game-based movies ever? Not when the bar is as low as it is. Landing the role of Croft is a big step up in scale for Vikander, who has risen to fame on the strength of her performances in lower-budget dramas and thrillers. Last year was particularly vital to her reputation, as she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Danish Girl and probably turned even more heads with her chilling portrayal of the android Ava in Ex Machina, a film that we might already feel comfortable calling a cult classic. The sky appears to be the limit for the 27-year-old Swedish actress right now. Oh Netflix, what would we do without you? Its a little odd to think about, but Netflix has actually been around since 1998, when it first started as a DVD-by-mail service. Remember thinking what a genius idea that was? Its hard to think about life before Netflix streaming and a world where we actually went out and saw movies or, you know, left the house. But, depending on how much money you dont mind spending on your Netflix addiction, a break up might be around the corner. Thats right, its time to come to terms with whats happening next month: Netflix is raising its monthly subscription prices for some customers. Sound familiar? Lets take a look at how Netflixs prices have changed over the years: 2007: The Dark Days Before Unlimited Streaming It wasnt until April 2007 that Netflix began offering streaming services. When they did offer streaming, it was actually a free add-on for the companys traditional rental-DVD subscribers. Yeah, back in the day, streaming was added at no additional charge! There was a stipulation though: you were only given one hour of streaming per dollar spent on your monthly subscription. So, if you were paying for their $16.99 DVD monthly plan, that meant you got about 17 hours of streaming per month. If youre thinking wow I could stream that in one day, youre right, and keep that thought in mind! 2008: Streaming and DVDs for $4.99 In January 2008, Netflix lifted the restriction and offered unlimited streaming to all rental-disc subscriptions. If you were on the cheaper monthly plan for $4.99, which allowed for two DVD rentals per month, you were only allowed two hours of streaming per month. But keep in mind that this is also around the time Hulu and Apple offered video rental services. Also in 2008, Netflix started offering Blu-ray DVD rentals for an additional fee. 2011: The Splitting of DVDs and Streaming Finally, in 2011, Netflix made a big decision and split its subscription services into two different packages: one for streaming, and one for DVD rentals. The price for DVD rentals stayed the same at $7.99, and Netflix offered a new, unlimited monthly streaming package for $7.99. Netflix DVD rental plans ranged from $7.99 to $19.99 a month, which included a one-month free trial and unlimited exchanges. People were upset with this decision because if you wanted to stream and have DVDs mailed to you, you had to pay for both plans. In fact, the company lost hundreds and thousands of more subscribers than it thought it would and its stock price plummeted after the announcement. To put it simply, 2011 was a pretty bad PR year for Netflix. 2014: The Price Hike Finally Came For Some Next month Netflix will raise its monthly price, but only to a specific group of customers. If this price hike feels familiar to you, youre probably having flashbacks to May 2014, when Netflix announced that it would be raising its streaming plan for new customers from $7.99 to $9.99. So, anyone who became a Netflix customer in May 2014 and is currently paying $9.99 will not see a price increase next month. 2016: Goodbye to Grandfathered Customers The price increase affects those customers who had been paying the $7.99 monthly price when the 2014 price hike announcement was made. In case youre confused and dont remember this, Netflix grandfathered in any customer who had been using the service and paying $7.99. But, these are the customersroughly 37% of Netflixs U.S. subscribers, who will be forced to pay $9.99 starting next month. With all that said, Netflix has been fairly shy about raising prices over the years. Aside from the original 2014 raise and the subsequent raise on grandfathered customers, Netflix has overall kept prices down and users happy. However, with the amount of new original content Netflix is putting out, theres no questions that Netflix will do a general price hike soon. Now that were all paying $9.99, I could see Netflix pushing up to $12.99 soon, or perhaps even a multi-tier model with exclusive access to original content on the day of release. Research indicates that while 41 percent of customers claim they are going to cancel their subscription, only 4% actually will. Though it sucks to have to pay more for something youre used to paying less for, I bet if you thought about how much time you actually spend watching Netflix, it still doesnt seem like such a bad deal. Writer/Artist: Robert Sergel Publisher: Secret Acres Release Date: April 5, 2016 This nice, pocket-sized collection of Robert Sergels Ignatz-nominated Eschew comics emerges during a particularly loud month of new comic releases. And thats a shame. Sergels comics are the equivalent of short stories, especially the midcentury type associated with The New Yorker. They dont use many words or obvious emotions. Little happens by most storytelling standards, and the plots meanings and themes are often left to interpretation. But they suggest just enough to allow for some fun analysis in an English class. Other than a general aura of understated malaise, these stories are quite contemporary, although obvious signifiers of the present are rare. A cell phone, laptop and video game system make cameos, but Sergels panels are clean and unclutteredeven by color. Many comics artists work in black and white because its cheaper and easier, but Sergel seems to enjoy its possibilities for careful arrangement within a limited format. His use of a delicate pattern here and there against an exceptionally flat, sparse background calls attention to the design in a subtle way. The few stories that consist only of linework without fills arent as strong as those that feature areas of black and, often, black on black, set off by fine white lines. Entry My Famous Grey Sweatshirt is an exception, utilizing a series of different geometric background elements for visual variety (bricks, board siding, a sidewalk, polygons meant to suggest cold, rounded nested shapes that convey warmth and comfort). Space: An Eschew Collection Interior Art by Robert Sergel Sergels visuals fall in the same school as Nick Drnaso and Chris Ware (simple lines, marginal facial detail), but he shies away from positioning his characters to directly face the reader, a device from talking-head-style documentaries. Instead, his framing concentrates on creative cropping: a close-up of a hand reaching out from water to suggest drowning, a shot of a coaxial cable connected to convey anticipation, a shoelace being stepped on so the protagonist notices his shoes are untied. Often, the narrative revolves around a single character, so this focus on details shows where Segels attention is going, a method of communicating the subjectivity of experience without spelling it out. Form serves function beautifully. The last story in the book, Its an Awesome Thing When the Spirit Leaves the Body, is a departurea tale of finding a lost relative whos also an artist, resembling Bill Griffiths Invisible Ink: My Mothers Love Affair with a Famous Cartoonist. In some ways, its nice to see Sergel developing a more sustained narrative. And while elements of his previous entries still remain, the sparse amount of dialogue guarantees that these pages are less Zen than the ones that precede them. Is it an indicator of greater emotional depth, showing interaction with other people? Perhaps, but its also less well executed than the more solipsistic stories. Regardless, theres plenty to enjoy here, even if you dont want to nerd out on form. Sergel isnt afraid of jokes, and he likes a little absurdism and deadpan humor especially. Space: An Eschew Collection is a quiet book, but it deserves your eyes. Space: An Eschew Collection Interior Art by Robert Sergel Not so long ago, Kittery, Maines southernmost town and its oldest incorporated one (1647), was just a quaint, blue-collar hamlet catering to the Portsmouth Naval Yard workers (which is in Kittery, not neighboring Portsmouth, New Hampshire). Now, its a fast developing foodie hub, centering on the downtown area, known as Kittery Foreside. Were talking about a downtown that takes two minutes to stroll through. Nevertheless, Kitterys center boasts multiple breweries, a whole animal butcher, and a seafood purveyor. There are enough bearded baristas and bartenders on hand to make you think Kittery is a Williamsburg wannabe. But, seriously, Kittery is what Williamsburg would love to be. Linda Clarke is a freelance travel writer whose work has been published in the Boston Globe, New York Daily News, and several other print and online publications. 1 of 9 1. Bob's Clam Hut Bob's Clam Hut has been the place for fried whole belly clams since 1956. The clams are served two ways: the way clam digger and original owner Bob Kraft served themdredged in flour, unseasoned, and cooked in clean oil; and the way long serving cashier Lillian preferreddipped in egg wash and then flour, giving a fluffy coating, but still unseasoned and cooked in clean oil. Either way, no salt and super clean oil results in a sweet clam with an unadulterated sea brine taste. Of course, there's more than just clams. Also, it might be 60 years old, but Bob's moves with the times and supports sustainable fishing with its rotating selection of "under-loved fish," promoting a locally harvested and abundant species, like cusk or hake. After all that salt, Bob's malted chocolate milkshake made with Maine's Rococo ice cream is sweet heaven. Landy Management 2 of 9 2. Robert's Maine Grill Owned by the same company as Bob's, and even though it's younger by 30 years, Robert's Maine Grill is Bobs' big, more sophisticated sibling. It sits across the street from Bob's, and although it's casual, is the place for a grown-up meal, or drinks and bites in the lively bar. While you're sipping you can read the Mainisms above the bar to blend in with the locals and not look like a total outta staytah. Otherwise, eat outside on a deck overlooking Spruce Creek. Food wise, you can't go wrong with steamers marinated and cooked in Maine's Allagash White beer, Moxie and bourbon basted barbecue tenderloin tips, and a raw bar whose inhabitants haven't traveled very far. Landy Management 3 of 9 3. Lil's That Lillian must have been quite something. Not only did Bob's adopt her clam-cooking style, but when owner Michael Landgarten opened this bank-turned-cafe in Wallingford Square, he chose to name it after her. The converted bank's giant Mosler safe is now Vintage Vinyl, a small alcove with old records for sale. Besides excruciatingly tempting pastries, all made in the kitchen downstairs, Lil's offers appetizing salads and sandwiches. Order up a rose latte chai (made with Earl Grey and rose petals), or pair coffee with a glazed cruller, a New England doughnut-style pastry staple. Mainers love 'em. Linda Clarke 4 of 9 4. Black Birch Kitchen and Drinks The Black Birch's addendum of Kitchen and Drinks puts it in line with the dining trend of pairing seasonal, locally inspired comfort food and thoughtfully curated drinks. Chef Jake Smith's midday menu is a grazing-type array that includes salt cod croquettes and lobster mac and cheese. The evening menu includes au courant kale salad and roasted cauliflower, brick cooked chicken with Brussels sprouts, and Black Birch fish and chipsbeer battered haddock with a reasonable version of what passes for chips stateside. Among the fine New England ales is Tributary's oatmeal stout, IPA, brown ale, and pale ale. You'd be remiss not to try at least one. Linda Clarke 5 of 9 5. B.O.K. B.O.K. aka Bill's Original Kitchen opened for lunch and dinner in October 2015, adding a unique "allergen friendly" option to Kittery. Chef and owner Bill Clifford can cook up anything from New England comfort food to hearty Asian classics. But he takes the current food allergy crisis seriously and promises to help those with dairy, gluten, and other allergies enjoy a good meal. Linda Clarke 6 of 9 6. Anju Noodle Bar Sitting pretty in the heart of Kittery, right in Wallingford Square, this hip noodle joint really wouldn't look out of place on any big city street. Window walls allow diners to see and be seen, and it possesses hauteur unusual in Kittery. Anju Noodle Bar is the kind of place to perch and nibble and chat. Broiled eel and coconut escargot are among the more eclectic choices, but you can also order pork buns and shrimp toast. Alongside wine, beer, and cocktails, Anju offers Japanese sakes. Linda Clarke 7 of 9 7. Anneke Jans Anneke Jans considers itself a neighborhood bistro, but it's a posh one, particularly for Kittery. Located by the water in the Foreside, the interior is exquisite thanks to shiny old wood flooring, starched white linens, and floor to ceiling Georgian style windows. The lounge is perfect for pre-dinner drinks or a more relaxed meal. Aside from the seasonal vagaries, chef Lee Frank favors Maine seafood and local produce, and why wouldn't you when the finest is on your doorstep? The fried olivesa simple, but effective nibblehave become a go-to appetizer. Linda Clarke 8 of 9 8. Blind Pig Food & Provisions Blind Pig Food & Provisions is located on Kittery's Badger Island, a small plot of land in the Piscataqua River, right by the Maine/New Hampshire border. Chefs Mike Prete and Matt Greco put their own spin on New England cooking with dishes like dueling chowders, which pairs the creamy New England version with the tomato-y Manhattan one. Enjoy that or anything else outside in the Blind Pig's German style beer garden. Linda Clarke According to a new IDC report, the first quarter seasonality combined with an overall disinterested customer base led to an annual decline of 14.7% in worldwide tablet shipments during the first quarter of 2016 (1Q16). Worldwide shipments of tablets including slate and detachable form factors reached 39.6 million. Slate shipments for the quarter stood at 87.6% while detachables reached 12.4%, a new record. Apple's dominance in the overall tablet market was unsurprising. The latest iPad Pro 9.7" and more enterprise friendly storage options for the slightly older iPad Pro 12.9" are healthy additions to the iPad lineup. The recent price drop on the iPad Air 2 should help sway those who were previously undecided to upgrade their older iPad 2s. IDC expressed their opinion that the future of the iPad market will be largely relegated to replacements of older iPads or PCs rather than net new additions. Yet let it be known that as of January 2015 Apple had sold 250 million iPads. Apple sold another 59 million since then for a total of about 309 million. While we can't say how many of these are new to the iPad's base vs. replacements, it's suffice to say that Apple's iPad base is massive and a problem only other OEMs would die to have. IDC's report further noted that the 'detachables' market experienced triple-digit year-over-year growth on shipments of more than 4.9 million units, an all-time high in the first quarter of a calendar year. Jean Philippe Bouchard, Research Director, Tablets at IDC stated that "The introduction of detachables from traditional smartphone vendors is only beginning and pose a real threat to traditional PC manufacturers. Their understanding of the mobile ecosystem and the volume achieved on their smartphone product lines will allow them to aggressively compete for this new computing segment. Apple's iPad sales fell 18.8% year-over-year with shipments of 10.3 million; Samsung's tablet sales dropped 28.1% with shipments of 6 million; and the funniest stat of all was Amazon growing their tablet business 5,421.7% yet only had sales of 2.2 million. That was because they dropped their table to $50. Even at that price they could only sell 2 million what a joke. Yet the one fact that stands out that's amazing is that with Microsoft having been selling tablets/detachables for years now, they continue to miss the top five vendor list with number five being Huawei selling 2.2 million units. With all of Microsoft's bravado that their Surface Pro 3 was better than a MacBook Air, and that their Surface Book detachable was 2X more powerful than the MacBook Pro, they couldn't get sales to put their oh-so-great tablets/detachables on IDC's top five vendor chart. Now how pathetic is that? And with the iPad Pro only coming to market last year, it was the top selling detachable in Q4 2015. Now how about that for a slap in Microsoft's face? If Microsoft's Surface sales can't crack IDC's top five vendor's list for tablet/detachables next year, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella should pull the plug on their table business or change their marketing away from trying to compare their units to Apple products. Let's make it clear: They had enough time to try to make their marketing message work and it failed miserably. At some point, the joke is just as stale as Microsoft is. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. On April 25 we reported that the DOJ was about to rewrite the search and seizure rules that would expand their reach worldwide and today we learn that the Supreme Court approved a rule change that would let U.S. judges issue search warrants for access to computers located in any jurisdiction despite opposition from civil liberties groups who say it will greatly expand the FBI's hacking authority. U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts transmitted the rules to Congress, which will have until Dec. 1 to reject or modify the changes to the federal rules of criminal procedure. If Congress does not act, the rules would take effect automatically. Magistrate judges normally can order searches only within the jurisdiction of their court, which is typically limited to a few counties. The U.S. Justice Department, which has pushed for the rule change since 2013, has described it as a minor modification needed to modernize the criminal code for the digital age, and has said it would not permit searches or seizures that are not already legal. A Justice Department spokesman said the change was necessary because criminals increasingly use "anonymizing" technologies to conceal their identity online, and remote searches are often the only way to apprehend such suspects. The change does not authorize any new authorities not already permitted by law, the spokesman said. Civil liberties groups contend that the change would vastly expand the Federal Bureau of Investigation's ability to conduct mass hacks on computer networks. They say it also could run afoul of the U.S. Constitution's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. For more on this, read the full Reuters report here. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. In October Patently Apple posted a report titled "Jony Ive & Vogue's Anna Wintour will Co-Host the Met Museum's 2016 Fashion Exhibit on Fashion in an Age of Technology." We noted in the report that the museum's next show would debut in May 2016 titled "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology." Apple's Design Chief Jonathan Ive in collaboration with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and Met Museum Costume Institute Curator Andrew Bolton are designing the event. The event starts next week, in fact Monday, explaining why we haven't heard much from Ive in a while. The Met Gala is the fundraiser for the Costume Institute, a department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Thanks to co-chair Anna Wintour (Vogue's EIC and Conde Nast's artistic director), it has scaled dramatically in recent years, from an industry event to the world's biggest party filled with the most famous celebrities and prominent fashion designers. You could always look back at photos of the 2015 Met Gala here. This year's benefit taking place Monday, May 2nd, is co-chaired by Taylor Swift. There is nobody who would make a better ring bearer: Swift is the face of both Apple Music and Vogue's March 2016 issue. Nothing is an accident. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. North Korea on Thursday released a video in which a pair of parents wept and demanded the South Korea to return their daughter who is one of the 12 waitresses that Pyongyang insists were kidnapped by South Korean agents. The video is published on North Koreas propaganda website Uriminzokkiri. In the video, the parents shed tears, shouted in desperation, and demanded South Korea to return their daughter Gyong-A. "Gyong-A, resist strongly until you return to the bosom of our Marshal (Kim Jong Un)," the father was quoted as saying by AFP. The mother called Geun-Hye the "devil", saying that even if they can revenge by booming the Blue House (South Korea's presidential palace) to pieces, their grief would not be appeased. Titled "Interview with families of kidnapped girls", the video had a serial number one -- an indication that the North will possibly upload similar videos with other parents in the future. Seoul's Unification Ministry said that 13 people- 12 waitresses and one manager from the DPRK working in an overseas restaurant have defected to South Korea on April 8, 2016. South Korean media said this marked the first time that a group of DPRK citizens working at the same overseas restaurant defected to South Korea. A new report from Korea today notes that last quarter's Samsung Display sales marked a weak link in Samsung's overall performance, down 12%. Due to this weak performance Samsung moved quickly today to replace Park Dong-geun with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun to lead the display affiliate. The move was approved by the board. The change had been expected because Samsung is seeking to offset growing weakness in memory chips with the growth in its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) business with Apple. As the conventional LCD market is being commoditized due to the rapid rise of Chinese suppliers, Samsung has been urged to "do something" to maintain its leadership in the display sector. The officials said Apple's plan to use OLEDs on its flagship devices will be a boon for Samsung. "Display results were weak reporting a loss due to LCD oversupply. OLEDs, however, remain very strong with outlook particularly optimistic given the highly anticipated move by Apple," Bernstein Research's managing director Mark C. Newman said in a report to clients. While it's been widely rumored that Apple signed an agreement with Samsung to supply OLEDs for their 2017 iPhone, Samsung refrained from confirming Apple business directly. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Patna: Despite repeated denials by the Bihar police and the kidnapped and subsequently released Gaya doctor Pankaj Gupta and his wife Shubhra Gupta, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi refused to buy into the narrative that the couple was released by their abductors without having to pay them any ransom money. "The police have maintained that the doctor couple was released by their kidnappers under tremendous police pressure but there are plenty of indications that a deal was reached with the abductors in lieu of the release of the Guptas," Modi said at a press meet in Patna on Thursday. The BJP leader, who is leading the charge in alleging Bihar was once again in the grip of criminals after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joined hands with the original architect of the 'Jungle Raj' and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, further said that there were too many contradictions in the police claims and the statements made by Nitish Kumar that raise serious doubts about the actual chain of events that resulted in the release of the Gaya couple after four days in captivity. "This had been the modus operandi of the Lalu government for a very long time. Pay hefty sum in ransom, secure the release, and claim the kidnappers caved in under tremendous police pressure. The information that we have, however, indicate otherwise and we have reason to believe the kidnappers were paid a ransom for the safe release of Dr. Gupta and his wife," Modi said. The former Deputy Chief Minister also dismissed Nitish Kumar's claim that he was personally monitoring the situation to ensure the release of the kidnapping victims. "If that was the case, why did it take the police nearly 12 hours to raid the kidnappers' hideout when the couple had already been released and were on their way to Gaya on a train?" he asked. Modi alleged that the Gaya DIG Pradeep Kumar Srivastava was hurriedly transferred on the day the couple was released after he admitted that their freedom had nothing to do with 'police pressure' as maintained by senior police officials. "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 Asks UN Chief To Intervene To Prevent U.S. Diversion Of Funds 04/29/16 Source: RFE/RL Iran has asked the United Nations to intervene to prevent the United States from diverting $2 billion in frozen funds to victims of terrorism under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. "A wall of mistrust 2 billion dollars tall" cartoon by Ali Romani, Iranian daily Shargh Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on April 28, asking him to convince the United States to stop what he said would be a violation of state immunity. Ban should use his "good offices" to persuade the United States to "adhere to its international obligations," Zarif said. Zarif also asked Ban to help secure the release of Iranian assets frozen in U.S. banks, accusing the United States of "blatant disrespect for state immunity," which could have "catastrophic implications" for UN members. "It is in fact the United States that must pay long overdue reparations to the Iranian people for its persistent hostile policies," Zarif wrote, citing such incidents as the downing of an Iranian civilian airliner in 1988. Tehran's appeal to the UN comes one week after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sought to assure Zarif that he is doing everything he can to help Iran benefit from the lifting of economic sanctions under its nuclear deal with world powers. Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org Could Runoffs Tilt Iran's Balance Of Power? 04/29/16 By Frud Bezhan, RFE/RL Iran's fractious political camps clash on April 29 in runoff votes to finalize the makeup of parliament two months after a split result dealt a blow to hard-liners but failed to produce a majority. There are reasons to watch the voting again this time around, even if the contests make less of an international splash than when reformists and moderates came back in from the political cold in late February. An Iranian man displays his ink-stained finger after casting his ballot for the second round of parliamentary elections. (photo by An Iranian man displays his ink-stained finger after casting his ballot for the second round of parliamentary elections. (photo by Islamic Republic News Agency Nearly one-quarter of Iran's 290 national legislative seats are at stake in the Friday vote, in which President Hassan Rohani and his reformist and moderate allies hope to consolidate their recent gains and minimize the power of the conservatives, who lost dozens of seats in the February 26 elections but still hold most of the cards in a number of other, more powerful institutions. The runoffs won't redefine power in the Islamic republic because the parliament lacks influence on key national issues, which ultimately lie under the control of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Even determining which political camp -- reformists and moderates, independents, or hard-liners and conservatives -- or combination of camps holds a parliamentary majority is difficult because Iran lacks rigid party affiliations and some independent candidates are claimed by more than one bloc. Tilting The Balance? "After an inconclusive first round, the runoff[s] will determine the final balance of power," says Ali Vaez, a senior Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group (ICG). In February, conservatives were credited with winning around 112 seats in the 290-seat parliament, the reformist-moderate camp 90, and independents 29 seats, according to a tally by the Reuters news agency. That showing for the reformist-moderate camp was particularly significant since it has had little representation in the current legislature, which is dominated by conservatives and hard-liners. Reformists and moderates also had to endure election-vetting authorities' exclusion of hundreds of their candidates. Reformists boycotted the last parliamentary elections, in 2012, in response to a government crackdown on the opposition that included mass arrests, allegations of torture, and televised trials after the disputed presidential election in 2009. The last time the reformists and moderates had this much representation in parliament was during reformist President Mohammad Khatami's first term in office, beginning in 1997. Mohammad Reza Aref, the head of the reformists' coalition list in the February vote, campaigning in Arak, central Iran, for reformist candidates. Mohammad Reza Aref, the head of the reformists' coalition list in the February vote, campaigning in Arak, central Iran, for reformist candidates. Sixty-eight seats in small towns scattered around 21 of Iran's 31 provinces are being contested in the April 29 runoffs. Mohammad Reza Aref, a leader of the reformist-moderate camp, has set a target of at least 40 of those seats to secure an upper hand in the next parliament, although observers have lowered expectations. "The reformist-moderate camp has a difficult task ahead," Vaez says. "Turnout, particularly of their constituents, is usually lower in the second round." Hung Parliament Dozens of candidates who have no clear factional affiliation entered the parliament in the first round, and scores more are in runoffs. "These first-time lawmakers usually join one of the political blocs that form after the new parliament convenes," Vaez says. "When that happens in May, their choices could tilt the balance of power." Both the conservative camp and the reformist-moderate camp will look to absorb as many independents as possible to try to create a majority. The success of independents, however, could also prove a pitfall. "The independents could split the legislature by creating pragmatist and conservative blocs of equal weight, thus giving rise to a hung parliament that slows down -- rather than facilitates -- decision making," Vaez says. Multiple Power Centers One unlikely outcome, a decisive majority for the reformist-moderate camp, could strengthen Rohani's hand in his bid to push for mild reform via legislation, along with economic changes, including new laws to encourage foreign investment and the privatization of state industries. Yet parliament lacks influence over Iran's foreign policy and important national issues, with hard-line allies of the supreme leader controlling many key institutions, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC), the Guardians Council, and the powerful judiciary. "The parliament is not going to be a decisive force on its own," says Scott Lucas, an Iran specialist at Birmingham University in Britain and editor of the EA World View website. During Khatami's first four-year term in office, both the legislative and executive branches were in reformist hands, yet their reforms were blocked by the Guardians Council, which supervises elections and interprets Iran's constitution, among other things. Lucas says he expects no decisive victory for any camp in the runoffs. "It's precisely because there won't be a defined majority in parliament that the infighting will continue and you have tension between a whole range of different power centers like the judiciary, intelligence, IRGC, the supreme leader, and the president's office," he says. Women In Record Numbers More than a dozen women are competing in runoffs. Combined with the 14 declared female winners in the February vote, that could translate into 20 or so women in parliament. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the highest number of female legislators has been 14. Here are the 14 women in Iran's new parliament, and we hope more are voted in in April's run-off. pic.twitter.com/0PEmT7RUgc MishaZand (@MishaZand) February 29, 2016 There are only nine female lawmakers in the current legislature, or a little over 3 percent of the total. The female candidates, most of them reformists or independents, could possibly give Rohani more leverage in passing legislation to empower women and loosen the social and political constraints imposed on them by the clerical authorities. Rohani made issues of gender discrimination part of his platform for office, and he appointed several female vice presidents. Frud Bezhan covers Afghanistan and the broader South Asia and Middle East region. Send story tips to bezhanf@rferl.org. Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org U.S. Arrest Awakens Ghosts Of Turkey's Iran-Gold Scandal 04/29/16 By Charles Recknagel, RFE/RL Reza Zarrab is a dual citizen of Turkey and his native Iran. Will his U.S. trial expose facts Turkey's president would rather not be made public? Reports of shoe boxes stuffed with $4.5 million in cash hidden in the home of a Turkish state bank head, plus a money-counting machine in the bedroom of a government minister's son. And allegations that state funds are being used illegally to buy and funnel gold to Iran to help it evade international sanctions over its nuclear program. Welcome back to 2013, when Turkey was rocked by a corruption scandal that implicated some of the closest associates of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Over the next months, the case would mesmerize the public as it mushroomed into a head-on clash between the investigators and Erdogan himself, who would accuse them of being part of a shadowy "state within a state" seeking to tarnish his government. Within a year, dozens of prosecutors and police officials would be removed on executive orders from the case, the investigation would be dropped, and Erdogan would emerge with the image of a far more authoritarian leader than before. Now the corruption scandal that so fascinated Turks three years ago is back in the news, thanks to the arraignment this week in New York of the key suspect in the case -- a Turkish gold trader and socialite who allegedly acted as the intermediary between Turkey and Iran. Arrested last month in Miami, Reza Zarrab pleaded not guilty on April 28 to charges of conspiring with two Iranians to conduct hundreds of millions of dollars in financial transactions to help Tehran obtain gold and hard currency despite U.S. sanctions cutting off Iran's access to global financial systems. According to Turkish investigators in 2013 Zarrab, a dual Turkish and Iranian citizen, was at the heart of a massive corruption scheme that involved payoffs to top Turkish officials. Under the scheme, Turkey legally purchased Iranian oil and gas for Turkish lira -- something permitted under the sanctions regime -- but the lira was then surreptitiously converted to banned bullion, euros, and U.S. dollars in Dubai before being delivered to Tehran by suitcase-toting couriers. The question now is whether Zarrab's case could resonate beyond the United States to reawaken the investigation in Turkey that created such a political crisis for Erdogan. The answer, to be known only over the coming weeks, will do much to provide the measure of how Erdogan, now president, views the role of the judiciary and the role of political opposition in Turkey today. Turkey's Fork In the Road Many political analysts see the Iran-gold scandal as a watershed movement that changed Erdogan into a leader who is increasingly seen as intolerant of opposition and routinely tries to use the branches of government to crush it. "He made sure by making big changes in the judiciary and among the police that all the dossiers [in the investigation] are closed and ever since that moment he has stepped up his fight against what he perceives as forces that want to topple him," says Barcin Yinanc, who reports on politics for Hurriyet Daily News in Istanbul. She says the Iran-gold scandal, in which four government ministers resigned as unidentified sources in the judiciary leaked investigators' findings to the press, convinced Erdogan that parts of Turkey's judicial and police forces were riddled with a network of enemies that had to be crushed by force. Exactly who comprises the network was never directly stated, but Erdogan has used references that make it clear to Turkish listeners he accuses the followers of a once-allied but now archrival Turkish political leader, the influential Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Gulen, who has lived in the United States since 1999 but whose supporters helped to bring Erdogan's Islamist-based AK Party to power in 2002, later split with Erdogan over ideological differences. Some of his teachings directly clash with Erdogan's own, including encouraging interfaith dialogue with Jews and Christians despite the Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader's history of up-and-down relations with Israel. Since the crackdown on the Gulen movement in Turkey, which included shutting down private exam-preparation centers that the movement uses to recruit new members and raise finances, Erdogan has taken an ever-harder line toward political opponents of all stripes. "His intolerance toward dissent is not limited to the sympathizers of the Gulen movement, any kind of dissent is unwelcome by him," Yinanc observes. "The very fact that there are nearly 2,000 legal cases that involve insults to the president shows that he is very intolerant of the tiniest criticism." With the Iran-gold scandal now back in the news, Erdogan may have to brace for new rounds of fire over a scandal that seems to refuse to disappear despite the quashing of the investigation. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of Turkey's main opposition CHP, said when Zarrab was arrested last month that he hoped the U.S. proceedings would shed new light on the complex affair. "I am sure there are many who won't sleep comfortably in their beds tonight," he told a party meeting in parliament on March 22. "They will hang out all the dirty laundry, and this way we will learn the whole truth." Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org Four Iranian Rights Activists Summoned to Appear Together at Appeals Court 04/29/16 Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran Rights activists Omid Alishenas, Atena Daemi, Ali Nouri and Aso Rostami have been summoned to appear together at an Appeals Court in Tehran on July 5, 2016 to appeal the prison sentences they received from a preliminary court. Atena Daemi Alishenass mother, Simin Eyvazzadeh, who told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran about the summons, said she hoped her son would be acquitted. We expect him to be freed because the charges against him are unrelated to his activities, she said. Its enough that hes been in prison for the past 17 months. His life is up in the air. We hope he will be acquitted and released. Simin Eyvazzadeh, mother of Omid Alishenas The Campaign could not independently verify why the activists are being summoned to the Appeals Court at the same time. Alishenas, 33, a civil engineer who is a childrens rights and civil activist, was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization on September 4, 2014 and held at Evin Prison in Tehran. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for assembly and collusion against national security and insulting the supreme leader by Judge Mohammad Moghisseh of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court on January 24, 2015. He was released on 7 billion rials ($230,000 USD) bail on January 18, 2016 while he awaits the result of his appeal. Atena Daemi, 28, a childrens rights activist and death penalty opponent, has been on medical furlough since February 15, 2016 on 5 billion rials ($166,000 USD) bail. Her father, Mohammad Hossein Daemi, has also been summoned to appear at the Appeals Court hearing with the four defendants. The day the agents came to arrest Atena at her parents house, they took the familys TV satellite receiver with them and built a case against her father, an informed source told the Campaign. Mr. Daemi was fined 3 million rials (nearly $100 USD) by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court and now he has to appear at the Appeals Court, added the source. Satellite receivers are illegal in Iran, but it is estimated that nearly three quarters of Iranians have access to them. Police forces routinely enter residential complexes to confiscate and remove satellite dishes and other equipment, and the owners are then prosecuted and fined. Agents of the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization arrested Atena Daemi on October 21, 2014. She was convicted of assembly and collusion against national security, propaganda against the state, insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the supreme leader, and concealing evidence, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison by Judge Mohammad Moghisseh of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court on March 5, 2015. We are hoping for a fair judgment and her freedom, added the source. Atena really hasnt done anything to deserve 14 years in prison. The Campaign has been unable to obtain information about Aso Rostami and Ali Nouri. German firms cite troubles in Iran deals 04/29/16 Source: Press TV German industries on Thursday refreshed complaints that obstacles are still hampering a smooth business with Iran even though the international sanctions that had kept them away from the Iranian market were effectively lifted in January. Anton Boerner, head of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA), has been quoted by Reuters as saying that German businesses at present need the reinstatement of export guarantees, especially while some US sanctions remain in place. "Without any state export guarantees for deals with Iran, nothing will happen on our side," said Boerner. "Because of high penalties German banks had to pay in the past due to sanction violations, all participants are very reluctant," he added. Germany has currently suspended the export guarantees - a form of insurance against default or non payment - for trading with Iran due to the country's outstanding debts. This came only days before the German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who is also Angela Merkel's vice chancellor, visited Tehran to discuss expansion of Iran-Germany trade ties. Indications have been growing lately that international corporations are wary about doing business with Iran in what is seen as a result of a fear of Washington's hefty penalties on companies that are found in violation of US primary sanctions against Iran. US officials have emphasized that they are trying to soothe the concerns of global businesses in doing deals with the Islamic Republic. Officials in Tehran however have in response emphasized that Washington's assurances to businesses that they will face no troubles in their deals with Iran have little effect as investors are still too scared to venture into the Iranian market as a result of the remaining US sanctions. The best 2-in-1 laptop 2022: our picks of the best convertible laptops These are the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now Photos taken on April 27, 2016 show that a restaurant is decorated with 50,000 fake fish hanging on its exterior in Changchun city, northeast Chinas Jilin province. The fish are made of polyurethane material, the same as that used for steering wheels. Although the stunt could be justified in that the signature dishes of the restaurant are fish, some citizens complain that the new decoration is so much less friendly for people with trypophobia. Everyone should understand and have access to a virtual private network, or VPN, because they can go a long way toward protecting your personal information by securing your Internet connection. TorVPN goes even further, offering integrated access to the anonymizing Tor network. But although TorVPN strives to make these tools as available as possible with both free access and flexible pricing, it's hard to set up use and offers a very limited set of features. It's an interesting tool, but not one of the best VPN services. What Is VPN, and What Is Tor? When you connect to the Web through a VPN, your Internet traffic is encrypted and sent through a secure tunnel to the VPN server. To the outside world, your real IP address is hidden, and you appear to have the IP address of your chosen server. Best of all, intercepting and reading your Web traffic is nearly impossible. When used often correctly, VPN can help protect you against attackers, government snoops, and advertisers out for your personal information. If the VPN service offers servers in several countries, you can also use a VPN to access content that is locked by region. For example, you can stream BBC content while living in North America. Unfortunately, some streaming services like Netflix ($0.00 at Apple.com)(Opens in a new window) are getting wise. Tor is a completely different animal. It doesn't encrypt your traffic. Instead, it routes your traffic through a series of volunteer servers called nodes. It's an excellent method for anonymization because no single node has the complete map of your Web traffic. When you're connected to Tor, you can also access some of the hidden websites that make up the Dark Web. Make sure you're using a good antivirus if you do so, however, as the Dark Web can be a dangerous place. Note that there are other ways to connect to the Tor network. While TorVPN throws VPN protection into the mix, you can just as easily get on Tor by using the free, simple, and Firefox-based Tor Browser. Pricing and Features TorVPN says that its core mission is to make VPN technology available to everyone. It's a noble goal, but TorVPN falls short in its pricing, it installation, and even its website, which is a baffling collection of old-timey GeoCities aesthetics and modern layouts. It hurts me to use this website, and the average consumer will probably be scared away because it looks more like a scam site than the place to pay for a legitimate security service. TorVPN proudly touts its free VPN service, and it is worth noting that free services are relatively rare among VPNs. Even more noteworthy is that TorVPN's free version is not ad-supported, as is the free version of Hotspot Shield Elite . But there is a catch. Your free subscription is limited to seven days at a time and 2 GB of total traffic use. Furthermore, the free subscription does not include SSH tunneling, limits you to only one server, and allows only one device at a time. The website also says that your free subscription might be subject to time limits or completely unavailable depending on server load at the time. I've never seen restrictions like these before, even on a free VPN service. TorVPN offers four other paid account plans, with all prices given in British Pounds. The one-month Pro plan costs 1.9 Pounds ($2.73 at the time of this writing) while a one-year Silver plan costs 19.9 Pounds ($28.62). Digital payments automate the currency conversion, but it does make comparison shopping in the U.S. a little harder. There's also a Custom option that lets you define the length of your subscription, the number of devices you'd like to connect simultaneously, how many servers you want access to, and a data cap. The service smartly spits out the fee for your custom plan. It's a great feature, especially if you're traveling or want a disposable VPN account. But buying TorVPN has an additional hiccup: TorVPN only accepts PayPal and Bitcoin. One key feature of VPNs is having a variety of servers to choose from. A nearby server (say, within the same country as you) provides better speeds, and a far-flung one can be used to spoof your location. TorVPN only offers seven servers but with surprisingly good geographic diversity. These are located in Budapest, Sydney, Moscow, Stockholm, Miami, London, and Hong Kong. Although this covers most of the world, TorVPN doesn't have multiple servers in each region. Editors' Choice Winner Private Internet Access ($56.94 for 2-Year Plan + 2-Months Free at Private Internet Access)(Opens in a new window) has thousands of servers available in just about any country you can name. TorVPN primarily uses the OpenVPN protocol, but also includes the antiquated and far less secure PPTP as an option. In addition to VPN, TorVPN offers integration with the Tor network, as I've mentioned. That's a relatively rare feature for VPN services. So far, I've only seen it offered by Editors' Choice Winner NordVPN (Get NordVPN With up to 68% off + 3 Months Free at NordVPN)(Opens in a new window) , which has several special servers like one for double encryption and another for high-speed video. I should note that's much simpler to get on Tor with NordVPN than with TorVPN. Another rarity: TorVPN allows BitTorrent and peer-to-peer file sharing on its servers. Ostensibly, you can do this on any VPN, but you might be violating the company's terms of service. That's not a good idea. TorGuard VPN also provides servers specifically for BitTorrent, along with a host of other features. The low cost and flexible pricing of TorVPN are great, but that doesn't mean it's a good value. For example, TorVPN allows only one device with the free plan and four devices for the highest-tier Gold plan. You can add up to 20 devices with a custom plan, but the price will increase proportionally. Most VPN services offer at least five or six licenses with subscriptions, and for only a few dollars more than TorVPN. TorGuard even offers routers with its software preinstalled, which protects every device on your network. HostWinds VPN ($3.29/Month at HostWinds)(Opens in a new window) provides an unlimited number of licenses, though it has other limitations. The Bitdefender Box ($199.99 at Bitdefender)(Opens in a new window) is a physical product that also offers VPN-like network protection for all your devices, but with more of an antivirus approach. Hands On TorVPN is definitely not for amateurs. Understanding the company's website is already challenging, and setting up the service no less difficult. Instead of providing a stand-alone app, you download the OpenVPN app. Is that all? Goodness, no. You then need to download a specific configuration file for the server you plan on using. If you want to use more than one, you'll need several config files. You then need to copy and paste that file into the correct directory. All of this, including a few other steps, is laid out fairly plainly on TorVPN's website. In truth, it wasn't difficult, but it was far more than any other VPN service has asked of me. And anytime a service requires you to cut and paste files into specific directory, that service has lost the novice or even the average user. In my testing, I used a Dell Latitude E7250 laptop ($399.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) running Windows 8.1. TorVPN says that it supports Linux, OS X, iPhone, and Android. But I could only find download and setup instructions for Windows and Android. If you're on another platform, you might find yourself struggling. Once it's set up, TorVPN is fairly simple to use. You connect via the OpenVPN icon in the system tray, and select your server. The experience is similar to using Private Internet Access, albeit with far fewer options and features. With TorVPN, your connection status, usage, and other vital statistics are displayed on the TorVPN online control panel, which looks significantly better than the company's website. Note that this isn't updated in real time. You have to reload the TorVPN page to see the latest information. VPN Speed Tests Regardless of which VPN service you choose, it will have some impact on your browsing experience. For the most part, it's a negative one. I try to get a sense for that by averaging the results from the online benchmarks Speedof.me(Opens in a new window) and Ookla's Speedtest.net(Opens in a new window), the latter of which is owned by PCMag's publisher Ziff Davis. For this test, I average the benchmarks and then compare them to a baseline measurement. Because network conditions can change quickly, I perform the baseline test immediately after the VPN test. For testing purposes, I select a VPN server in Australia. Ookla's benchmark allows me to select a test server to connect with the VPN server, and I go with Fairbanks, Alaska. This setup allows me to test a truly challenging network arrangement. Speedof.me doesn't allow me to select a test location and instead defaults to the server closest to the IP address provided by the VPN. According to Ookla's results, TorVPN increases latency by 343.3 percent. My best result for this test comes from Hotspot Shield Elite, which only increased latency by 127.1 percent. Ookla also showed that TorVPN reduced download speeds by 32.6 percent and upload speeds by 27.14 percent. These are strong scores, and the smallest impact I've yet seen on upload speed, but PureVPN ($0.99 for 7 Day Trial, then $5.75 Per Month for 1 Year at PureVPN)(Opens in a new window) actually increased download speeds by 166 percent. The results from Speedof.me are less encouraging. This test showed that 1,064.5 percent increase in latency, which is more than double the latency increase I saw when using Hide My Ass VPN ($4.99/Month at Hide My Ass!)(Opens in a new window) on the same test. Speedof.me also indicated a 10.8 percent reduction in download speed and a 10.3 percent reduction in upload speed. Avast SecureLine ($4.99 Per Month at AVAST)(Opens in a new window) performed the best in this test, reducing download speed by a mere 6.9 percent, while PureVPN actually improved upload speed by 4.7 percent. Of course, these numbers are just numbers, and might not make a big difference in your online experience. Latency, for example, is measured in milliseconds, so even a big jump isn't really a huge deal for the average user. I find browsing the Web with TorVPN to actually be quite pleasant. When I visited YouTube, my test video loaded at only 480p, but did so very quickly. I was even able to load and watch 4K videos, albeit very slowly. You'll notice some degradation with TorVPN, but nothing unworkable. And remember, that's while I was connected to a server in Australia. You'll probably have better results if you connect to a closer server. Enter the Labyrinth of Tor Given the relative difficulty in setting up TorVPN, I am surprised at how easy it is to add a Tor connection in testing. Just a few clicks in TorVPN's online interface was all it took. The next time I connected, I was using Tor and VPN. TorVPN works by routing all your Web traffic through the VPN server and then into the Tor network. In this setup, you get the benefits of anonymization from both the VPN and the Tor network, plus the encryption of the VPN. It also allows you to browse hidden Websites such as those that deal in illicit goods or even more dangerous content, like Facebook . People interested in total anonymization, however, should note that this setup allows the VPN provider to see your real IP address. If you wanted to totally hide your IP address, you would need a service that first routes you through Tor before connecting you to a VPN server. Adding Tor to the VPN equation has an additional impact on performance. Unsurprisingly, the latency increased across the board. Ookla showed a 523.5 percent increase in latency, while Speedof.me recorded a 4,364.6 percent increase. The speed tests were much more of a mixed bag. Ookla showed a 15.3 percent reduction in download speeds and a 49.8 percent reduction in upload speed. Speedof.me showed a 35.6 percent download speed reduction and a 30.8 percent reduction in upload speed. Interestingly, using Tor and VPN together still didn't beat the worst scores I've recorded for VPN alone. During my testing I was surprised how well streaming video performed while connected to Tor through a VPN. My YouTube test video loaded at HD, which is a rarity in testing, and streamed smoothly, although page elements on YouTube struggled. Switching to 4K bogged down the stream significantly, but it did load. Actually browsing the Web using this setup was, however, noticeably slower. Stick With the Best TorVPN has two of the rarest features built right in: access to Tor and allowed file sharing. The service's free version is a wonderful way to make these critical tools more easily available. I especially like the flexibility of TorVPN's custom pricing plans, which provide features a la carte. But like so many security tools that are cheap and supposedly simple, TorVPN falls into the trap of inaccessibility. The service is much harder to enable than any other service I've tested. I can't imagine anything less than a super-determined individual using it. And while it's inexpensive, TorVPN offers very few features and heaps on the restrictions, too. If you are looking for a strong and simple VPN service to secure your traffic, consider either of our Editors' Choice winners Private Internet Access or NordVPN, the latter of which also offers Tor integration for VPN. I'll also throw out a mention for Spotflux Premium , since it has an excellent user interface. TorVPN feels like the beginning of a good product, and I hope it grows to meet my expectations. Getting lost in an endless spiral of interesting articles is a hazard of jobs that require you to be online all day. There just isnt enough time to read all that stuff, and take care of that other thingwhats it called? Oh yeah, work. I recently came across a Chrome extension called Readism that can help you know the time youll need to read an article, forum thread, or blog post. Created by students at Columbia University, Readism creates a pop-up with the average reading time required for the article you have open. Readism for Chrome estimates the reading time for online articles. The utility can also give you time estimates for how long it will take you to read specific books. Thats a great little feature to know about with summer just around the corner. If you know how long it will take you to read War and Peace or Moby Dick, maybe, just maybe, you can finally check those tomes off your summer reading list. To get started, download and install Readism from the Chrome Web Store. Once thats done, click on the Readism icon that appears next to the address bar to get started. You dont really have to do anything, but I found that Readism didnt start to work until Id clicked on it. Now, all you have to do is navigate to different webpages and a pop-up will appear in the lower-right corner with the estimated reading time. The Readism extension icon will also show the estimated reading time. If you want to adjust the extensions behavior such as how long the pop-up appears or how it disappears, click on the Readism icon again and select Settings. In my experience, Readism identified articles on mainstream websites without a problem. However, the extension didnt recognize some specialty and lesser known blogs so dont expect it to work for every site you visit. Thats all there is to Readism, but you can go a little further if you wish. Visit readism.io and sign-in with your Google account to take a short reading comprehension test. After reading a paragraph and answering a few multiple choice questions, Readism can customize estimated reading times specifically for you. Readism.io gives you an estimate of time to read a particular book. In my experience, the estimated reading times on the web didnt change after the test, but it may have affected the time estimates for books. On the front page of Readism.io type the title of a book into the search box, click Submit, and youll have a reading time estimate in a few seconds. What I like about Readism is that it lets me think twice before reading that interesting article drawing my attention away from the task at hand. If itll take more than a few minutesshort breaks are a good way to stay freshI just click the Pocket extension for Chrome to save the article to my read-it-later list. Update: This article was updated at 11:08 AM Pacific time on Saturday, April 30, 2016 to clarify that it was students, and not researchers, at Columbia University who created Readism. Amazon showed off its dominance in the public cloud market on Thursday as the capstone to a better than expected quarterly earnings report. Revenue from Amazon Web Services during the first quarter of 2016 was up 64 percent year-over-year, showing the big money thats still out there as companies invest more and more in the public cloud. Amazons cloud platform generated revenue of $2.56 billion, putting it on pace to make $10 billion this year, in line with a letter from CEO Jeff Bezos sent to shareholders earlier this month. Thats big money to go with Amazons massive customer base, which includes names like Netflix, Time Inc., and Intuit. Right now, Amazon is sitting pretty in the public cloud business its the leading player by a large margin, and these revenue numbers show how well its doing. One risk that Amazon Director of Investor Relations Phil Hardin pointed out on a call with financial analysts is that the profit margins for AWS will likely be bumpy going forward as Amazon continues to invest in new infrastructure and other technologies, in addition to lowering costs for its services. The company is also facing tough competition from both its neighbor Microsoft and a variety of other companies, including Google and IBM. Cloud adoption among companies is still in its early days, so Amazon doesnt have a lock on the market just yet. What it does have is a commanding leadership position thats making a lot of money. AWS produced operating income of $604 million, up from $195 million a year earlier. Looking at its business overall, Amazon smashed expectations for how well its first quarter would go, with total revenue of $29.13 billion, up 28 percent, and earnings of $1.07 per share. The earnings number is especially notable, considering that Amazon is known as a company that frequently doesnt turn a profit. (This previous quarter marks the fourth in a row that Amazon posted a profit, however.) Microsoft is tightening control over Cortana. Only its Microsoft Edge browser and Bing search engine will work with searches initiated through Windows 10s digital assistant, the company said Thursday. Microsoft isnt prohibiting third-party browsers like Opera and Chrome from working with Windows 10, and you can still configure the operating system to launch those browsers by default, when, say, a coworker emails you a link to a Web page. But, if you launch a search via Cortana, only Edge and Bing will be used to complete it, Microsoft said in a blog post. Unfortunately, as Windows 10 has grown in adoption and usage, we have seen some software programs circumvent the design of Windows 10 and redirect you to search providers that were not designed to work with Cortana, Ryan Gavin, the general manager of search and Cortana, wrote. The result is a compromised experience that is less reliable and predictable. Microsoft said that the only way it can deliver a personalized, end-to-end search experience is by integrating Cortana, Edge, and Bing. Why this matters: Whether Edge and Bing are the only way that Microsoft can deliver these experiences is open to debatepossibly in front of a judge. (In 1998, Microsoft was sued by the U.S. government, which argued that bundling Windows with the Internet Explorer browser constituted an illegal monopolya claim that looks fairly absurd, given the state of apps and how theyre integrated in operating systems today.) But Microsoft clearly wants to use its services to provide the best experience possible, which is no different than Google displaying directions to a location within its Google Maps app in Android. Itss worth pointing out, though, that Google Now on Tap will pull out contextual information about what youre looking at on your screen whether or not youre using Chrome or another browser. Cortana will automatically unearth deals coupons on shopping websites. The benefit to you Lest consumers begin grumbling, Microsoft also provided several examples of searches that users could perform with Cortanaand that would provide benefits that other browsers couldnt provide. Search for Pizza Hut in the Cortana box and, once youre on the Pizza Hut website in Microsoft Edge, Cortana can show you the closest locations. Search for Bluetooth not working in the Cortana box and Bing serves up a GIF on the results page, describing how to solve the problem. While shopping for a dress in Microsoft Edge, you can perform an image search in Bing and then right-click a dress to Ask Cortana to get you more information on it. A list of stores and prices appears. Search for Best Buy in the Cortana box, click through on the top Web result to bestbuy.com, and Cortana will offer up coupons to save you money. (Make sure you look for the Cortana icon in the address bar.) Granted, other browsers perform some of these same functions: If you search Google for Pizza Hut on Windows 10, the results page will list the closest locations, as well as a one-click link to directions on how to get there. Searching for Bluetooth not working also produces a callout card with directions to fix your problemthough not a video. But Microsoft said that its also working on future scenarios where you might search for tickets to a Rihanna show, for example, and Cortana finds the best tickets and offers to purchase them. Users generally dont like being told what they can and cannot do with Windowsas the perpetual outrage over the forced Windows patch updates and upgrades demonstrates. You tell us: Whats your take on all this? Updated at 11:08 AM on April 29 with additional details. The Supreme Court has adopted amendments to a rule to give judges the authority to issue warrants to remotely search computers whose locations are concealed using technology. The proposed move had been criticized by civil rights groups and companies like Google that said it threatened to undermine the privacy rights and computer security of Internet users. The top court has approved changes to the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure, including Rule 41, which with some exceptions prohibits a federal judge from issuing a search warrant outside of the judges district. The change in the rule was proposed by the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure at the request of the Department of Justice. Remote searches of media or information that have been concealed through technological means may take place anywhere in the world, said Google in a filing to the committee in February last year. It pointed out that a magistrate judge in a court in Texas had denied an application for a Rule 41 warrant to permit U.S. law enforcement agents to hack a computer whose location was unknown, but whose IP address was most recently associated with a country in Southeast Asia. Under the amendments, which comes into effect on Dec. 1 unless Congress passes legislation changing it, a magistrate judge with authority in any district, where activities related to a crime may have occurred, can issue a warrant to use remote access to search computers and other devices and seize or copy electronically stored information located within or outside that district, if the district where the computer or information is located has been concealed through technological means. It provides for a similar warrant in investigations under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which involve protected computers that have been damaged without authorization and are located in five or more districts. This provision could allow investigators to obtain warrants to search a large number of computers in many districts simultaneously, if they are suspected to be part of a botnet or even if they are found to contain some malware or virus, according to critics of the provision. The definition of a damaged computer under the CFAA is very broad and could be interpreted for example to include software infected with unwelcome code, malware or viruses, according to the Google filing. In the wake of the Supreme Court decision, the focus now shifts to Congress. New Americas Open Technology Institute (OTI) has called on legislators to block the changes as they would for the first time explicitly authorize law enforcement to secretly and remotely hack into targeted computers of both suspects and victims alike. Under the proposed rules, the government would now be able to obtain a single warrant to access and search thousands or millions of computers at once; and the vast majority of the affected computers would belong to the victims, not the perpetrators, of a cybercrime, said Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon in a statement on Thursday. Wyden said he planned to introduce legislation shortly to reverse the amendments. U.S. Chief Justice John G. Roberts on Thursday transmitted the amended rules to Congress. A federal judge in Massachusetts recently rejected evidence in a child pornography case that law enforcement obtained after hacking a child porn service on the Tor network, ruling that a judge in Virginia, who issued the warrant, could not authorize the search of property located outside the Eastern District of Virginia. The ruling is likely to give a boost to the FBIs demand for a change to Rule 41. With HP announcing a line of slick-looking Chromebook laptops, Google may be closing the door on the Chromebook Pixelat least for now. As VentureBeat reports, the $999 Chromebook Pixel has gone out of stock at the Google Store, which had been the only place to buy the laptop in the United States. Attempting to purchase this modelwhich comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 32GB of storagebrings up a message saying it is no longer available for sale. For now, the $1,299 Chromebook Pixelwith a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 64GB of storageremains available. Google hasnt said whether this model is getting discontinued, though it seems likely the company isnt producing any more of them. From the outset, Google kept expectations low with the Pixel, an aluminum-clad laptop with a gorgeous 12.85-inch, 2,5601,700 resolution display. While announcing the second-generation Pixel in March 2015, Google told the press that it was mainly aiming at developers and other Chrome OS enthusiasts. In time, Google said the Pixels USB-C ports, battery life enhancements, and improved trackpad performance would trickle down to Chromebooks made by other companies. Indeed, battery life has been a strong point for all Chromebooks, with many offering at least eight hours of runtime. And while laptop makers in general have been slow to adopt USB-C, thats starting to change with new Chromebooks from Lenovo and HP. In any case, the Chromebook Pixel now has something of a successor in HPs new Chromebook 13, which has an all-aluminum chassis, a 32001800 resolution display, dual USB-C ports, and an advertised 11.5-hours of battery life. The Chromebook 13 will be available with a Pentium processor for $500, or Intel Core-M processors ranging from $600 to $1030. The impact on you at home: While its unlikely that many people bought a Chromebook Pixel, Google could reasonably point to the HP Chromebook 13 and say that its mission to encourage better third-party hardware is accomplished. But is this the end of the line for Googles aspirational laptops? Maybe not. Earlier this month, rumors emerged that HP was working on a new Chromebook with a touchscreen and virtual reality support, neither of which are featured in the Chromebook 13. So perhaps Googles isnt so much closing the book as it is turning the page. Employees that need access to certain business data on the go can now build their own app for it using a tool from Microsoft that went into public beta on Friday. The company has announced that its opening up its PowerApps app creation service to the world, after a private beta period that began last year. PowerApps allows line of business employees to take data from a variety of sources and create apps that run on phones and tablets without requiring them to do any coding. Developers time is often constrained, so doing something like creating a mobile expense reporting app might not be a top priority, even if it would save time and money. Applications built with PowerApps, which can run on iOS, Android and the web, can pull data from sources including Dropbox, OneDrive, Dynamics CRM and SharePoint Online. Thats notable, since it shows Microsoft reaching outside its own products to include some that it competes with. Apps built with PowerApps can then be loaded into the PowerApps app on iOS and Android, and accessed on the go. The apps arent full native mobile apps, so companies shouldnt think of it as something that could be used to create a product for consumers or for external use. When users first sign into PowerApps, theyre greeted by a set of sample applications that help show them how to do things like track a budget. Once theyre comfortable with the service, they can download the PowerApps Studio from the Windows Store onto a computer running Windows 10, and build applications with it. They can then make that application available for colleagues to use on their phones, tablets and the web. Businesses that rely on Microsoft Access to build applications should pay particular attention to this launch, since this seems to be something that replaces the app-creation capabilities of Microsofts prosumer database product. PowerAppss capabilities feel similar to some of what Access is capable of, and also extend those powers to mobile devices. Microsoft hasnt said that it plans to replace Access, but giving it major updates and improvements doesnt seem to be one of Microsofts priorities. At the very least, PowerApps should be of interest to Access-reliant organizations because it could do what that application does better, even if Microsoft doesnt choose to replace it wholesale. With PowerApps, Microsoft is playing in a rough and tumble market, which includes Salesforce and SkyGiraffe, a startup that the company funded through its Microsoft Ventures program. The latter has said that it looks forward to competing with Microsoft in this arena. Intels plans to discontinue its Atom chips for phones and some tablets may not have killed the dream of a Microsoft Surface phonejust the piece of it that made it so enticing. In the wake of a restructuring that relegated the PC to just another connected device, Intel confirmed Friday that it has cancelled its upcoming SoFIA and Broxton chips. That leaves Intel with just one Atom chip, Apollo Lake, which it had slated for convertible tablets. Microsoft has never formally commented on its future phone plans, save for a leaked email that suggests that Microsoft is committed to the Windows 10 Mobile platform and phones running ARM processors. But fans of the platform have long hoped for a phone that could run native Win32 legacy apps as well as the new UWP platform that Microsoft has made a central platform of Windows 10. The assumption was that this would require a phone running on an Intel Atom processor. Intels decision eliminates that option. Unless Microsoft has some other trick up its sleeve, the most compelling justification for a Win32-based Surface phone appears to have died. Shawn Morgan / Intel At Mobile World Congress, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich broke out a drone to show the kinds of devices that Intel would eventually base its company upon. Intel gives up on the smartphone Intels decision was first reported by analyst Patrick Moorhead, and confirmed by IDG News Service and PCWorld. Intel told PCWorld that it plans to kill the Broxton Atom platform as well as all the flavors of its SoFIA chips, which combined Atom cores with 3G and LTE modems for smartphones. The company said it will continue to support tablets with a 3G derivative of the SoFIA chip, the older Bay Trail and Cherry Trail, as well as some upcoming Core chips. Microsoft uses a Cherry Trail chip inside of the HoloLens, but its unclear whether or not that will be affected. I didnt get the sense that theyre going to exit the tablet spaceI felt like there was [a message] of more coming soon, Moorhead said. On the phone stuff, I just dont think theyll continue to do that, because, you know, its a business. Intel said recently that it plans to refocus on the data center, the Internet of Things, memory, 5G modems, and connectivity. To so, Intel will lay off 12,000 workers over the next year or so. But some Atoms apparently fell in the wake of a comprehensive program by Venkata Renduchintala, the new president of a newly created Client and Internet of Things (IoT) Businesses and Systems Architecture Group, to examine the viability of products across Intels client businesses. Intel Intel once had plans to retake the smartphone market with an integrated 4G/microprocessor SoC called SoFIA. Those plans are now dead. Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich spoke optimistically about the phone business in 2014, and a year ago appeared prepared to do whatever it was necessary to make phones succeed. Now, Intel has acknowledged its defeat on the phones front and vowed to fight elsewhere. The reality is that if youre going to spend money, you have to take it from somewhere else, Moorhead said. Windows Phone: running out of options So does that mean that the dream of an Intel-based Windows phone is dead? Yes, if theyre not going to go after the smartphone, I dont see how that would be possible, Moorhead said. If Microsoft does remain committed to an X86-compatible Surface phone, it does have some options, however unattractive. Intel recently announced its next-generation Apollo Lake Atom architecture, which Intel positioned as the foundation for, not a phone, but an entry level PC. The Apollo Lake chips will be branded as Atom, Celeron, and Pentium, Intel said. Intel hasnt said exactly how much power the Apollo Lake chip will consume, though its made on the same 14-nm process as the existing Cherry Trail Atom chips. The Atom X7-Z8700 used in the Surface 3 is rated at just 2 watts of power. Does that mean that it (or Apollo Lake) could be squeezed into a phone or phablet running Windows 10 Mobile? Could the Surface 3 be turned into a phone? Intel seems to have left the possibility open. In terms of Cherry Trail, form factor boundaries are increasingly blurring in the mobile computing market, and we no longer look at tablets as a stand-alone segment, an Intel spokeswoman said via email. Our product roadmap reflects that. Analysts, though, say it looks doubtful. I have a hard time visualizing the package that would be compelling: with a phone running a processor that has never been used as a phone before thats running as a fake desktop, Wes Miller, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, said in an interview. And then what are you going to do for battery life? Its very perplexing. That also means that that phone would have to have a discrete modem built in. Kevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research, noted that the SoFIA chip Intel cancelled was its first to have an integrated modem, which would make the phone even larger. Unless AMD can somehow cut the power of its embedded chipsan aging AMD G-series LX still consumes about 5 wattsthe only way to enable Win32 compatibility may be through virtualization. Thats the strategy HPs Elite X3 is reportedly using, though that virtualization is back up through the cloud and back down to the phone. It appears, based on this Windows Central FAQ, that a business will have to tailor this compatibility with HP itself on an app-by-app basis. Melissa Riofrio HPs Elite x3, shown here resting inside its Desk Dock, will ship this summer. Even then, however, its hard to imagine a scenario where a phone that needs to communicate with the cloud to perform virtualization in a faux-desktop environment wouldnt end up sitting next to a computer or thin client that does the same thing, Miller pointed out. So same old, same old? The leaked memo from Microsofts OS chief, Terry Myerson, certainly makes clear that Microsoft is committed to Windows 10 Mobile. (A Microsoft spokeswoman declined to comment on Intels announcement.) Let me be very clear: We are committed to deliver Windows 10 on mobile devices with small screen running ARM processors, Myerson wrote. We are currently in development of our next-generation products and I wanted to reconfirm our commitment to Windows 10 Mobile. Which, of course, is exactly what Microsoft is shipping today: Windows 10 Mobile on ARM processors. But sales are still plunging, and Microsoft is giving its phones away as a result. Rob Schultz Consumers just never fell in love with the Lumia 950, and Microsofts Windows 10 Mobile OS is still hovering at less than 10 percent share of all Windows phones, according to AdDuplex. Slapping a Surface brand on an existing Windows phone wont save Microsofts phone business. Microsoft needs a compelling message that it can uniquely deliver: the tablet that replaces your PC was the tagline that sold the Surface lineup. Its possible that Microsoft has another moonshot in place for its mobile businesswho knows, maybe itll make the Microsoft Band its phone of the future. Stability issues aside, the Surface Book demonstrated that Microsoft can craft innovative hardware using the same components its competitors use. For right now, though, it appears another door has closed on Windows Phone. And thats just not good news for a platform struggling as hard as it is. Additional reporting by Gordon Mah Ung. Updated at 5:02 PM to note that Microsoft uses a Intel Cherry Trail Atom inside the HoloLens, according to an IDG News Service report. Richard Sears, 65, was relatively unknown in China until 2012, when his storyspending his life savings, $300,000, on studying Hanzi (Chinese characters)captured the attention and hearts of many Chinese people. Now, Sears has more than 20,000 followers on the micro blog Sina Weibo, and is called "Uncle Hanzi" in China, where he has become an internet sensation. His etymology website for Chinese characters can trace the origin and evolution of 6,552 of the most common modern Chinese characters. His love affair with the Chinese language started 44 years ago, when he woke up one day in the U.S. city of Boston and decided that he would like to learn Chinese, a language then spoken by approximately one-fifth of the world's population. He bought a ticket to Taiwan to begin his studies. After several years of studying, Sears still found writing Chinese characters incredibly difficult. One piece of advice he received was to learn the evolution of Chinese characters, which might then help him to memorize them. In 1990, he came up with the idea of making the etymological information of Chinese characters available online so people could trace them back to their original form. In 2002, Sears came to China and put his website online, free for anyone who was interested. "People thought I was crazy when I was in the United States, spending all my money and time on the website. But for me, it's just an interest," Sears said in an interview with Chinese media. Years of living in China has turned Uncle Hanzi into Grandpa Hanzi, but one thing that hasnt changed is the love Sears has for Chinese characters. Donald Trump is poised to win 49.7 percent of the statewide vote, along with 133 of Californias 172 Republican delegates, in the June 7 primary, a new analysis shows. The findings released Thursday, April 28 are part of a report from the National University Institute for Policy Research. Using census data and results from four recent state elections, the institute ran a model to project how Trump will fare in Californias primary. The model projects Trump will win 24 of Californias 53 congressional districts. Of the 172 GOP delegates, 159 are awarded, three at a time, by congressional district. If the model proves correct, it would certainly be welcome news for the Trump campaign. Winning 133 delegates might be enough to give Trump the 1,237 delegates to win the Republican presidential nomination outright, or at least get close enough to that figure to emerge as the nominee during the Republican National Convention this July. Support for Trump is strongest in the Inland Empire, northern Los Angeles County and counties south of the Bay Area, the report found. His weakest areas are along the Central Coast, the Central Valley and far northern California counties, according to the report. Pollsters have identified a coalescing of Republican vote behind Trump over the past two weeks, suggesting a greater acceptance of Trump as the party nominee, the reports author, Vince Vasquez, said in a news release. Prior exit polls have also shown that Trump voters dont feel represented or heard in the political process. That would certainly be true in California; Republicans have suffered a string of losses in statewide races over the past 18 years. There are currently no Republicans holding statewide elected office, and Republicans are in the minority in the State Assembly and Senate. Trump has enjoyed strong support from largely non-urban, working class white voters, the report found. An analysis by the New York Times in March found that, among hundreds of demographic and economic variables, electoral support for Trump was highest in areas with large numbers of White residents with no high school diplomas, a large mobile home population, and a large share of old economy jobs (manufacturing, construction, et al.), the reports executive summary read. Over time, primary polling and electoral results have shown that Trumps appeal has expanded beyond this core base, and now includes a broader swath of the Republican electorate. Recent polls show Trump with a lead in California overall and the Inland Empire in particular. What federal authorities are calling a sham marriage between Riverside resident Enrique Marquez and Russian-born Ontario resident Mariya Chernykh flew under their radar for more than a year until the Dec. 2 attack on San Bernardinos Inland Regional Center which left 14 dead and 22 wounded. Its typical for fraudulent marriages to go unnoticed by authorities unless someone brings them to their attention, said immigration attorney Richard Wilner, a partner in the Wilner & OReilly law firm, which has offices in Riverside. If it wasnt for the Dec. 2 attack and subsequent arrest of Marquez attacker Syed Rizwan Farooks ex-neighbor on suspicion of scheming with Farook on a different, derailed attack and purchasing the assault rifle used in the Dec. 2 shooting, they may have gotten away with it. The use of marriage as a vehicle to enable foreign nationals to gain lawful status is not uncommon, said Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in a telephone interview Thursday. Weve had a large number of substantial cases here in Southern California involving marriage fraud. Wilner said scam marriages are so widespread that authorities cant possibly prosecute all of them. I would think the government has to prioritize ones that they prosecute, and this case understandably deserves priority, he said. Chernykh in addition to the fraudulent marriage charge is charged with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents, perjury and two counts of false statements to federal agents. All together, she faces a possible prison sentence of 30 years. Rizwan Farooks brother Raheel and his wife Tatiana Chernykhs sister took part in the conspiracy by witnessing the Marquez-Chernykh wedding, federal authorities said. They also took staged family pictures of Marquez and Chernykh, establishing a joint checking account for Marquez and Chernykh, and creating a back-dated lease for Marquez and Chernykh to create the illusion that they shared a marital residence with Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook, the U. S. Attorneys office said. Its difficult to describe a typical marriage fraud case, because all of them are different and all of them are complicated, Wilner said. In most cases Wilner has seen, the case is handled in civil court. But if a criminal element is attached, it could be charged as such. In my experience things become criminal when the person who is the US citizen has done it before, essentially a repeat offender, and if its widespread, Wilner said. Kice, the ICE spokeswoman, said many cases involve a large cadre of individuals working together to connect paying foreign nationals with willing U.S. citizens looking to make a quick buck, oftentimes unaware of the potential consequences that can come in a union between two people that is legally binding. If youre technically married to somebody, then there are certainly legal implications for you, and I dont think people stop to think about that, Kice said. Youre tied to them financially. Youre tied to them in terms of your identity; there are all kinds of legal implications that people dont consider. Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not grant immigrants automatic citizenship but it offers a much faster ticket to permanent residency status, also known as having a green card. Immigration officials review each marriage to be sure it is a valid coupling and not just a business transaction to get someone a green card. The bride and groom undergo interviews before a two-year green card is issued. About three months before these temporary cards expire the couple is scrutinized again and if everything checks out the temporary cards are replaced with ones good for 10 years. According to the indictment, Chernykh paid Marquez to marry her in order to obtain immigration benefits. They both lied to authorities about the marriage in interviews and on applications, the indictment said. If Chernykh is found guilty, Wilner said, she will likely be deported. But not until after she serves her prison term. Staff writer Joe Nelson contributed to this report. Contact the writer: 951-368-9284, atadayon@pressenterprise.com, @PE_alitadayon A federal indictment returned Wednesday, April 27, supporting charges of conspiracy, marriage fraud and making false statements against San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farooks brother, the brothers Russian wife and her sister says the three were involved in a year-long scam. Syed Raheel Farook, 31, of Corona; Tatiana Farook, 31, of Corona; and Mariya Chernykh, 26, of Ontario were arrested early Thursday by U.S. Attorneys officers. Authorities said the three werent directly involved in the attack Dec. 2 at San Bernardinos Inland Regional Center that left 14 killed and 22 wounded. The new indictment alleges Chernykh payed the Farooks ex-neighbor Enrique Marquez Jr. to marry her for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits for Chernykh. Marquez was arrested after the Dec. 2 massacre on suspicion of illegally purchasing two assault rifles used by Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik in the attack. He has also been charged with conspiring to support terrorists about the firearm purchase and participating in a sham marriage. The alleged marriage arrangement between Chernykh and Marquez included signing immigration documents that they lived at the same address on Forum Way when they did not, the government says. Chernykh also claimed she lived there in interviews with FBI agents, the indictment says. Other alleged acts outlined in this weeks indictment include: Tatiana Farook warning her sister Chernykh on Dec. 25, 2014, not to post photos of Chernykh with the father of her child on a social website. A Nov. 5, 2015, social media statement from Marquez that he was involved in terrorist plots and might go to prison for fraud. Chernykh and Tatiana Farook purchasing a $50 wedding ring for Marquez in Riverside on Dec. 1, 2015, the day before the San Bernardino attack. Signings of immigration forms and affidavits that variously asserted Chernykh was married to Marquez and that Syed Raheel Farook was giving financial support to Chernykh. Chernykh signing immigration forms declaring she was married to Marquez and seeking resident status in the United States because of her marriage. A record of some of the $200 payments from Chernykh to Marquez. UPDATE, 6 P.M. Syed Raheel Farook and his wife, Tatiana Farook, have posted bail and left a federal courthouse in downtown Riverside after pleading not guilty in a marriage-fraud case related to the Dec. 2 San Bernardino shooting. Bail was set at $25,000 for Syed Raheel Farook and $35,000 for his wife, Tatiana Farook. Raheel Farooks mother, Rafia, agreed to secure their bond with her home equity. Bail was set at $50,000 for Mariya Chernykh, whose marriage is at issue in the case. Her bail is unsecured. She also is on an immigration hold. The next court appearance for all three was scheduled for June 6 in federal court in Los Angeles. http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Family has suffered much for the horrible, horrible acts of another family member. __attorney Dyke Huisd PE_Gail Wesson (@PE_GailWesson) April 29, 2016 http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js UPDATE, 5:35 P.M. All three suspects arrested Thursday in a sham-marriage case have pleaded not guilty in federal court in Riverside. UPDATE, 5:10 P.M. Mariya Chernykh, a Russian immigrant accused of entering into a sham marriage to Enrique Marquez Jr., has sought asylum, her attorney said in federal court Thursday afternoon. She, her sister and her brother-in-law who is the brother of Dec. 2 San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook were arrested Thursday morning on marriage-fraud charges. Attorneys are still haggling over Chernykhs bail. A magistrate judge has already set bail for the other two defendants. The trio have not yet entered pleas. UPDATE, 4:45 P.M. Bail hearings have been held for two of the three suspects arrested Thursday in a federal sham-marriage case related to the Dec. 2 San Bernardino shooting. Bail was set at $25,000 for Syed Raheel Farook and $35,000 for his wife, Tatiana Farook. Raheel Farooks mother, Rafia, agreed to secure the bond with her home equity. Next up is a bail hearing for the third suspect, Mariya Chernykh, who is Tatiana Farooks sister. All three also are expected to be arraigned. The hearing, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., was delayed more than an hour. THE BASICS Syed Raheel Farook, 31, of Corona; his wife, Tatiana Farook, 31, of Corona; and her sister, Mariya Chernykh, 26, of Ontario, were arrested early Thursday on federal charges of conspiracy, marriage fraud and making false statements. The sisters are Russian immigrants. Farooks brother is Syed Rizwan Farook, who along with wife Tashfeen Malik carried out the Dec. 2 terrorist shooting that killed 14 people and injured 22 at the Inland Regional Center. The Farook brothers used to be neighbors in Riverside with Enrique Marquez Jr., 24, who is charged with illegally buying two of the weapons used the the massacre. Raheel and Tatiana Farook were married in 2013. About a year later, Marquez married Chernykh, who was in the U.S. on a three-month visa issued five years previously. Authorities claim the marriage was a sham, and that Marquez admitted he was paid $200 a month to participate. The three arrested Thursday were charged with conspiracy to make false statements on immigration documents. Chernykh also was charged with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents like her husband was in December along with perjury and two counts of making false statements to federal agents. COMPLETE COVERAGE: Shooters brother, 2 Russian women arrested on marriage fraud charges The father of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz called on the state that gave us Ronald Reagan to unite behind his son in the June 7 primary. There are those who say, Oh, we need a dealmaker in Washington, said Rafael Cruz, 80. We are in the trouble we are today because of the corrupt deals made behind closed doors. We dont need a dealmaker. We need a statesman. And we need a statesman who knows he works for us, we dont work for him. The senior Cruz was addressing the monthly meeting of the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee on Thursday night at the DoubleTree hotel in Ontario. I guess you saw the news: Its a California-Texas ticket, he said, alluding to his sons announcement Wednesday that former presidential candidate and former Senate candidate Carly Fiorina would be his running mate, should he win the Republican presidential nomination. Together, were going to take California back. The Cruz family actually has a connection to the Inland Empire: Teds wife, Heidi, is a 1994 graduate of Claremont McKenna College. Cuban-born Rafael Cruz was jailed as a teen by the regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista, but turned against the successor regime of Fidel Castro while a college student in Texas in the 1950s. When I was growing up, there was a charismatic leader talking about hope and change, Cruz said. His name was Fidel Castro. Thursday night, he warned that four more years of Democratic policies would destroy the country. If we lose our freedoms here, where are we going to go? he asked the crowd of about 200. There is no place to go. A born-again Christian, the retired oilman now works as a pastor and public speaker when hes not stumping for his sons political campaign. Called a conservative force by the National Review, Rafael Cruz has said theres no legal basis for the doctrine of the separation of church and state in either the Declaration of Independence or Constitution, and has called for Christians to take every role in government. No church has lost its tax-exempt status for political activism, Cruz said, so pastors need to stop being politically correct and start being biblically correct, he said. We need for people of faith to again take their place in civic society. The elder Cruzs speech came after a day after former House Speaker John Boehner called Ted Cruz Lucifer in the flesh in an interview at Stanford University. I have Democrat friends and Republican friends, Boehner said, in the interview, which was published on Thursday. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a (expletive) in my life. Boehner, who described himself at Stanford as texting buddies with presidential candidate Donald Trump, said he would not vote for the younger Cruz if he were to become the GOPs presidential nominee. Cruzs father didnt address Boehners comments, but he did attack the former speakers golfing and texting buddy, although never mentioning Trump himself by name. Dont listen to a candidate who tells you what you want to hear, look at what they do, Cruz said, taking shots at Trumps shifting positions on abortion and the Israeli-Palestinian relations. You dont need a candidate that has three different stances on an issue in three hours. And he ended by looking beyond the long and bruising nomination battle to November: And let me tell you, Ted Cruz will beat Hillary Clinton in a landslide, Cruz said. And that was music in the audiences ears, getting the loudest applause of the night. After Cruzs speech, the county GOPs central committee voted on which primary candidates they would officially endorse. Those results will be released at a later date. The Redlands Tea Party Patriots also recently voted to endorse both Trump and Cruz. Staff writer David Allen contributed to this story. UPDATE: Power restored about 12:40 p.m. More than 200 customers were without power in Riverside on Friday morning, April 29, and by the afternoon officials were at the scene trying to find the cause after power was restored about two hours later. City spokesman Phil Pitchford said crews had been dispatched to the Riverside Plaza area, but Lt. Christian Dinco with the police department said it spread all the way down to Mission Grove. Dinco said police were not involved in whatever caused the outage. The lights went out at the Aveda Salon and Spa at the Riverside Plaza about 10:40 a.m., said manager Katrina Martinez. Doing hair without power presents a specific challenge for the stylists, whose clients typically leave with dry hair. We can still color and cut, its just that we cant dry, flat iron, curl, she said. She said stylists were also struggling to get good lighting, which is required when cutting a persons hair. Margie Franco came from Camarillo to see Mothers Day with her cousin at Cinema 16, but when they arrived about 10:50 a.m. for the 11:10 a.m. showing, the power was off and the ticket staff was gone. Im mad about it, she said looking up at the theater. She said her kids were going to be busy on Mothers Day, so this was her own celebration. This is my Mothers Day because I dont get a Mothers Day, she said. Asked what she would do when the movies showing time had passed, the 74-year-old said probably go to a bar. She laughed and added I love Stater Brothers, maybe Ill go there. Renee Gutierrez and Dorothy Velis stood outside El Torito about 11 a.m., where they planned to have an early lunch Friday. The two were surprised to learn that it wouldnt open when it usually does. They didnt even come out and say oh were sorry but something happened,' Gutierrez said. Maybe were not going to get nothing because theyre closed. The outage came about five hours after 20,000 Southern California Edison customers lost power in Hemet and San Jacinto. This is what Riverside Plaza looks like sans power. pic.twitter.com/3ymDUOjpaN Anne Millerbernd (@annieanyway) April 29, 2016 http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js UPDATE (Friday, April 29): 17 protesters arrested following Trump rally Demonstrators jumped on a Costa Mesa police car, breaking out the windows and attempting to turn it over, as tensions escalated after a Donald Trump rally on Thursday night. Orange County sheriffs deputies were threatening to arrest hundreds of people who filled an intersection chanting, Whose streets? Our streets! as a large crowd poured out of the Pacific Amphitheatre. Authorities said the crowd was declared an unlawful assembly and ordered people to disperse. Police, some in full riot gear, were pushing the crowd east on Fair Drive toward the 55 freeway. But CHP officers were there to keep the freeway clear. There were no immediate reports of injuries. At least one arrest was made. Several streets were blocked. Protesters moved toward deputies at Fairview Road and Fair Drive, who were wearing riot gear and displaying weapons loaded with nonlethal ammunition. Officers from Laguna Beach, Irvine and Brea joined O.C. deputies and Costa Mesa police at the scene. A reporter saw five helicopters circling the commotion. O.C. Sheriffs Department Lt. Mark Stichter said 200 officers were on the scene. The disturbance followed a buoyant Trump rally inside the venue that drew more than 8,000 people, most of them enthusiastic supporters. And there were no reports of clashes inside the open-air theater, which had the feel of a summer rock concert. The crowd stood and chanted its approval of the GOPs front-runners message. But Ian Smith, 24, who was inside the Trump rally, said it was filled with hate. He came out and saw hundreds in the street. There is so much passion, said Smith of Chino Hills. Were the new guard. This is our country now. Some in the crowd also broke out portable speakers, blasting music and starting a mosh pit in the middle of the street. Others shouted profanities about Trump. Many waved Mexican flags. Im willing to be arrested, said Blanca Melchor, 18, of Anaheim. Im proud. We have a voice. This is because of Trump and what he says. Several protesters urged peace. Others seemed to want confrontation. Led by a woman with a megaphone, many protesters shouted, Police and the Klan go hand in hand! One protester climbed the traffic light on the northeast corner of Fairview Road and Fair Drive, and wrote, (Expletive) Trump. The protesters cheered. This is the beginning of a movement, said Chris Luna, 24, of Tustin. Trump cant take away our country. Are you an Inland area resident who attended the rally? Let us know at talktous@pressenterprise.com. RELATED Donald Trump leads cheering crowd: Build that wall Reaction to Donald Trump in O.C. Trump supporters, protesters clash Here are five things you need to know Thursday, April 28, about the arrests and federal court hearings of San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farooks brother, the brothers Russian wife and her sister. Three were arrested this morning Syed Raheel Farook, 31, of Corona; Tatiana Farook, 31, of Corona; and Mariya Chernykh, 26, of Ontario were arrested on federal charges of conspiracy, marriage fraud and making false statements. Chernykh is married to Enrique Marquez Jr., 24, of Riverside, who authorities say illegally purchased two assault rifles used by his friend and former neighbor Rizwan Farook in the Dec. 2 massacre. Federal indictment reveals combined effort in sham marriage A federal indictment returned Wednesday supporting the arrests alleges that Chernykh paid Marquez to marry her. Chernykh also lied about the marriage to authorities in applications and in interviews. Tatiana Farook advised her not to post photos of her with the father of her child on social media. Neighbors rattled after arrest Neighbors were surprised by Thursdays media and law enforcement presence. They reported that the family has been friendly but mostly isolated since the incident. Some neighbors reported feeling scared and concerned. Three plead not guilty to charges, 2 post bail Raheel Farook and his wife posted bail and left the downtown Riverside federal courthouse after pleading not guilty to the charges. Mariya Chernykh remained in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail after entering her plea. She also is on an immigration hold. The next court appearance for all three was scheduled for June 6 in federal court in Los Angeles. Marquez remains in federal custody on slew of charges While Marquez wife appeared before a judge Thursday, he remained in federal custody. In addition to being charged with entering into a sham marriage, hes accused of supplying rifles and explosive powder used in the San Bernardino attack and plotting terrorist attacks in 2011 and 2012 at Riverside City College and on the 91 freeway during rush hour. The plans were never carried out. Bernard Stanley Hoyes figures his artwork is in good company. Four watercolors by the muralist, sculptor and painter are displayed and for sale at Riversides jewel, the historic Mission Inn. Hoyes scenes of desert wildlife and nature-scapes are juxtaposed with pieces of art dating to the 17th century that have been culled from all over the world. Im the guinea pig, Hoyes, 64, said with a laugh of a new series of rotating artists at the inn, which opened in 1903. Over the inns fireplace hangs Hoyes Wild Dates in Survival, at 40 inches by 60 inches and priced at $4,500, the sky ribboned with vibrant pinks, blues, purples and yellows. Hoyes, who lives in Desert Hot Springs, kicked off the inns program, which unites the historical with the contemporary. The hotels owners, Duane and Kelly Roberts, are eager to showcase its diverse artistic history while introducing a new generation of artists, said Shannon Walters, the inns director of sales and marketing. The hotel is a living work of art and a destination for art lovers, she said. The Spanish Art Gallery and The Galleria house much of inn founder Frank Millers collections, treasures that never have been officially appraised that decorate every corner of the hotel. There are some excellent pieces of art here, Hoyes said as he examined a glass-topped coffee table with inlaid wooden carvings. Throughout the series, the featured artist will exhibit his or her artwork in the lobby, with the next rotation scheduled after June 14. There is no end date to the program. A committee consisting of the Robertses and hotel staff selects the artists. Hoyes successor has yet to be chosen, Walters said. Interested artists may send inquiries to missioninn@brandmanpr. com. Honored to be tapped as the inaugural artist, Hoyes, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, is a major force in the modern black arts movement. When he was 9, his mother sold his wood carvings and watercolors to tourists to help support the household and encourage Hoyes creativity. At 15, he moved to New York to live with his father and to further his art education, which continued at the Vermont Academy. After earning a degree at the College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, Hoyes pursued art as a full-time career. During the 70s, he documented his journey from a struggling to a prominent artist in a solo Los Angeles exhibit called Rag Series. His works in the next decade reverberated with ancestral echoes and images of his Afro Caribbean roots, emphasizing the role and power of women in music, dance and magic. In his Revival Series, he captured the rituals, revival cults and ceremonies of spirituality and Christianity that hed witnessed as a child living with a great aunt in rural Jamaica. Since moving to the desert three years ago with his wife, LaVera, Hoyes delights in reimagining his surroundings that provide a sense of space and serenity. Even after Hoyes tenure ends at the inn, his works may be viewed in Riverside. As a co-curator of a show called Visual Voice, he will be part of an exhibit at the Riverside Art Museum covering the rise of 18 Southern California black artists work to the mainstream during the last three decades of the 20th century. The show will run from June 17 to Oct. 6. Contact the writer: 951-368-9559 or llucas@pressenterprise.com A link between animal cruelty and other crimes especially domestic violence has prompted the San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office to create a new unit to prosecute animal cruelty cases, District Attorney Mike Ramos announced Thursday. This is a link that experts across the country have known about for some time, said Ramos, following a press conference where he introduced the new unit. Any abuse is something we will not tolerate, not in this county. The case of Fontana mother Lorna Lopez illustrates the connection, said Ramos. Lopez and her husband, Victor Lopez, were reported missing by family members March 12, 2013 after the couple was seen arguing. She was found in a Chino pasture two days later. Victor Lopez had turned himself in and led police to her body. Investigators learned two years earlier, Victor Lopez had been convicted and sentenced to 30 days in jail for kicking the family dog in front of his wife and their four children. The abuser will start to see the connection the victim has with the animal, and they use that as a weapon, said Caroline Reyna, program director for the Family Assistance Program in the High Desert, believed to be only shelter for domestic abuse victims in the county that allows pets to stay with owners. According to the American Humane Association, 13 percent of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence. The organization also found that 71 percent of pet-owning women entering womens shelters reported their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to gain psychological control, a tactic Ramos said has been seen in cases of human trafficking. Just last month, Keion Hector, 23, was arrested in Ontario after he allegedly killed a victims 8-week-old puppy as a way to control and intimidate a female victim. Lay in the bed or Ill put your face by the dead dog. If you leave, Ill kill you like I killed Sasha, prosecutors allege he said. The DAs new unit is made up of eight deputy district attorneys with different expertise, including two juvenile prosecutors and one who supervises a family violence unit. Contact the writer: beatriz.valenzuela@langnews.com "Yin and yang, opening and closing, virtual and real. Like jogging, Tai Chi Quan is also an exercise that requires good rhythm." These are words of advice that Zhong Siyuan, 25, offered to several young amateurs. Zhong is currently the head Taoist priest of Danshanyu Temple in Xuyong County, southwest China's Sichuan province. Zhong said that many young visitors show interest in traditional Chinese culture after they watch her practice Tai Chi Quan. She also talks to them about Chinese calligraphy, traditional musical instruments and etiquette. Zhong has had a fondness for traditional Chinese culture since she was a child. She studied traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts in college. She converted to Taoism in 2013 after graduating from college.(Photo/CNS) While Enrique Marquez Jr.s Russian wife appeared before a judge Thursday, April 28, he remained in a federal detention center waiting for his next day in court. Mariya Chernykh, a 26-year-old Ontario resident, made her first appearance in the same federal court where her husband has appeared. She was arrested Thursday in an immigration and marriage fraud case along with her sister, Tatiana Farook, a 31-year-old Corona resident who also came from Russia and husband Syed Raheel Farook, a 31-year-old Corona resident. The trio is accused in a marriage fraud conspiracy that involved making false statements under oath to obtain immigration benefits for one of the defendants. Marquez, who is accused of supplying rifles and explosive powder used in the San Bernardino attack, was indicted in December in connection with the alleged marriage fraud. Marquez is charged with entering into a sham marriage with Chernykh in November 2014 and illegally signing an immigration document for falsely declaring he was living with her. Neighbors said he never lived with her and authorities allege Marquez got $200 a month for a year from Chernykh to marry her. The federal indictments assert the couple claimed they lived together, when they did not. He lived with his parents in Riverside, while Chernykh lived in Ontario with her boyfriend and their child. Marquezs friend Viviana Ramirez has said he told her he was trying to earn enough money at Wal-Mart and a tavern so he and his wife could get their own place. She didnt know if the marriage was arranged by the sister or if they got married without knowing each other. He never really talked about the marriage, Ramirez said in December. He said they just didnt have the money to move in together. The marriage fraud claims were almost a footnote to the headline-grabbing indictment. It alleged that Marquez, 24, a Riverside neighbor of San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook Syed Raheel Farooks brother had purchased rifles and explosive powder when he and Rizwan Farook plotted in 2011 and 2012 to carry out terrorists attacks at Riverside City College and on the 91 freeway during rush hour. The plans never were carried out. But federal authorities have said the weapons and explosive powder were used in the Dec. 2 San Bernardino attack by Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik. A federal prosecutor has said Marquez did not participate in and wasnt aware of the San Bernardino attack. Marquez is accused of one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, two counts of lying on federal forms for gun purchases and two counts of marriage fraud. He faces a status conference and motion hearings June 27. His trial date is set for July 19 in U.S. District Court in Riverside. He pleaded not guilty in January and faces up to 50 years in federal prison if convicted. Contact the writer: 951-368-9075 or gwesson@pressenterprise.com The man accused of supplying rifles and explosives used in the San Bernardino terrorist shooting is asking for an eight-month delay of his trial. The U.S. Attorneys Office with agreement of the defense counsel for Enrique Marquez Jr. are seeking to move the trial from July 2016 to March 2017 because of the amount of evidence to review and attorney trial commitments. The two sides have agreed but it will be up to the assigned U.S. District Court Judge Jesus G. Bernal to decide whether to change the dates. SAN BERNARDINO SHOOTING: Shooters brother, 2 Russian women arrested on marriage fraud charges The Friday, April 29, court filing in the case comes a day after three family members with ties to the slain San Bernardino shooters were charged in a new federal indictment with conspiring to set up a sham marriage and making false statements in immigration legal documents. The latter allegations surfaced in December as the FBI and local law enforcement began investigating the killings of 14 people and wounding of 22 others at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino. A federal prosecutor has said Marquez, 24, did not participate in nor was he aware of the San Bernardino attack. He is accused of supplying rifles and explosive powder used in the attack. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, two counts of lying on federal forms for gun purchases and two counts of marriage fraud. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in January. He faces up to 50 years in federal prison if convicted of the charges. The allegations of marriage fraud against Marquez foreshadowed the alleged involvement of his Russian wife, her sister and her sisters husband in attempts to keep Marquezs wife, Mariya Chernykh, in the United States. Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook, both 31, of Corona, and Chernykh, 26, of Ontario, all pleaded not guilty in federal court in Riverside on Thursday, April 28. Authorities have said Marquez and Chernykh married in 2014, and Marquez accepted money to participate in the arranged marriage, but the couple never lived together, contrary to legal paperwork they had signed. The Farooks were described as aiding in the marriage fraud. Raheel Farooks brother, Syed Rizwan Farook, was one of the San Bernardino shooters with his wife,Tashfeen Malik. The couple was killed in a shoot out with police. The request for a trial delay for Marquez states the government has produced discovery evidence to the defense including more than 8,500 documents investigative reports, photos, search warrants and expert witness reports and over 500 hours of audio-recorded interviews. The request also notes that Marquezs attorneys, Young Kim and Angela Viramontes, have trials in other cases scheduled to start in June. The attorneys propose continuing the status conference and motions hearing date from June 27 to March 6, 2017, and the trial date from July 19 to March 21, 2017. Marquez was a neighbor of Syed Rizwan Farook. Authorities have said he purchased the rifles and explosive powder when he and Farook were plotting in 2011 and 2012 to carry out attacks at Riverside City College and on the 91 freeway. Those plans were not carried out. MORE COVERAGE NEIGHBORS EVOLUTION: Marquezs influences increasingly radical 91 FREEWAY: Alleged plot targeted commuters, police RCC: Alleged plot involved pipe bombs, guns WHERE WAS MARQUEZ? 11 days of FBI questioning SHAM MARRIAGE: Marquez was paid to marry, affidavit says 911 CALL: He used my gun, suicidal Marquez tells operator IRC ATTACK: Affidavit provides detailed timeline, description of bomb SAN BERNARDINO SHOOTING: All the latest developments The arrests Thursday of three people in a marriage and immigration fraud case tied to the San Bernardino terrorist attack reflects a national problem in which marriage is used as a mechanism by foreign nationals to gain U.S. citizenship. The use of marriage as a vehicle to enable foreign nationals to gain lawful status is not uncommon, said Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Weve had a large number of substantial cases here in Southern California involving marriage fraud. Kice noted the September indictment of Santa Fe Springs resident Jason Shiao, his daughter, Lynn Leung, and Shannon Mendoza, who stand accused of orchestrating an elaborate scheme to set up sham marriages between U.S. citizens and Chinese nationals seeking permanent residency in the U.S. Shiao, the Justice Department alleges, posed as an immigration lawyer when setting up the fraudulent unions between U.S. citizen spouses and Chinese nationals, some of whom paid up to $10,000. On Thursday, federal agents arrested Syed Raheel Farook, 31, and his wife, Tatiana Farook, 31, both of Corona, and Mariya Chernykh, 26, of Ontario, on suspicion of orchestrating a sham marriage between Chernykh and Enrique Marquez Jr., of Riverside. All three pleaded not guilty to federal charges Thursday. Chernykh and Tatiana Farook are sisters and Russian nationals, government officials said. Marquez was indicted in December in connection with the marriage fraud case and the Dec. 2 attack; he is accused of buying and providing weapons to Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife. organized effort Marriage scams often involve many individuals working to connect paying foreign nationals with willing U.S. citizens looking to make a quick buck. The Department of Homeland Security has uncovered multiple marriage fraud schemes involving complex criminal organizations, Kice said. Oftentimes, U.S. citizens willing to engage in a marriage fraud scheme with a foreign national for financial gain are taking a great risk. Not only is it a federal offense, but the foreign spouse could gain access to sensitive personal information from their U.S. citizen spouse on their bank, retirement and investment accounts, personal identification and family heirlooms, Kice said. If youre technically married to somebody, then there are certainly legal implications for you, and I dont think people stop to think about that, Kice said. Youre tied to them financially. Youre tied to them in terms of your identity; there are all kinds of legal implications that people dont consider. Marriage fraud poses a potential threat to national security, financial institutions and the integrity of the immigration system, and engaging in such fraud for financial gain, at the expense of national security, is a felony with serious criminal penalties and consequences, Kice said. Terrorists and other criminals can use marriage fraud to enter the U.S., and can hide their identity, gain unlawful employment, access government buildings, and open bank accounts and businesses to conduct further criminal activity, Kice said in an email. National Security Also, participants in marriage fraud may, knowingly or unknowingly, be aiding terrorists, foreign intelligence or other criminal organizations, Kice wrote. In 2013, ICE launched a national campaign to stop marriage fraud, pushing for more training and disseminating information in print and on social media alerting the public to the potential danger of marriage fraud. Immigration attorney Richard Wilner, a partner in the Wilner & OReilly law firm, which has offices in Riverside, said scam marriages are so widespread that authorities cant prosecute all of them. I would think the government has to prioritize ones that they prosecute, and this case understandably deserves priority, he said. Its difficult to describe a typical marriage fraud case, because circumstances differ and all are complicated, Wilner said. In most cases Wilner has seen, the case is handled in civil court. But if a criminal element is attached, it could be charged as such. In my experience, things become criminal when the person who is the U.S. citizen has done it before, essentially a repeat offender, and if its widespread, Wilner said. The indictment alleges that Chernykh paid Marquez to marry her so she could obtain immigration benefits. Both lied to authorities about the marriage in interviews and on applications, the indictment states. If Chernykh is found guilty, Wilner said, she will likely be deported. But not until after her prison term. Contact the writer: joe.nelson@langnews.com or @SBCountyNow | 951-368-9284, atadayon@pressenterprise.com, @PE_alitadayon The Beaumont Police Department wants to establish a K-9 unit, and the community is jumping aboard. Police Chief Sean Thuilliez is proposing adding a detection dog, which is trained to detect human scent. The K-9 unit could help find people who are lost or missing or who have fled the scene of a crash or a crime, Thuilliez said. It could also be used to detect drugs hidden in a car or building. A detection dog differs from an attack dog, which is used to locate and subdue suspects. I think it will be a great for the community, Mayor Mike Lara said. The department uses the Riverside County Sheriffs Department when it needs K-9 services. With the areas population growing, now is a good time in place of relying on other organizations for K-9 services, Thuilliez said. Even if they are willing, sometimes they are unable, he said. Having its own unit would also allow the department to assist other agencies, Thuilliez said. Lara said he wasnt sure about the program at first, but then thought about his 91-year-old mother. We do have an aging population, and that hit home for me, he said. Thinking about my mom and her friends, they get forgetful and having a K-9 could help track someone who gets lost. Lara also said the dogs can be used in high schools, serving a dual purpose, sniffing for drugs and connecting with the students. I really like the way those dogs interact with the kids, Lara said. I think it will open up the community to the police officer that has the dog. The dogs handler will be chosen from current staff, Thuilliez said. As for the dog, he thinks a Labrador would be a good candidate due to its energy, discipline and being less prone to injuries as other breeds. But such dogs and training dont come cheap. The program will cost about $21,500 in its first year, and about $2,500 in subsequent years for care and feeding, Thuilliez said. The proposal is getting support from the community. The department on April 21 established an online fundraising campaign, which had reached $13,435 by noon Friday, including a pair of $5,000 donations from local businesses. The department is also working with local organizations to raise money through food sales and other means, Thuilliez said. The honor of naming the dog would likely be given to its handler, Thuilliez said. Contact the writer: jblodgett@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9086 or cshultz@pressenterprise.com Anti-immigrant rhetoric from the campaign trail is encouraging Latino immigrants to become U.S. citizens with one goal in mind: to vote against GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump. That energy is seen in citizenship workshops across Southern California. Community organizers in the Inland area began holding naturalization drives during the workweek in order to assist hundreds with their citizenship applications. In Orange County, crowds have stood in line to receive citizenship assistance. TRUMP IN CALIFORNIA: The lines are drawn Federal numbers show an increase in naturalization applications in June 2015 when Trump announced his candidacy and advocated for tighter border security, saying some Mexican immigrants were rapists and others came to the U.S. bringing drugs. He also said he will build a wall along the Mexican border, vowing to make Mexico pay for it. On Thursday, April 28, Latino protesters showed up in droves to protest Trumps appearance in Costa Mesa. They waved Mexican flags and held signs that read, Dump Trump and California Latinos are Majority Mr. Trump youre fired!!! Trump didnt back down. Within minutes of taking the stage, Trump had the crowd on its feet chanting, Build that wall. Thats the kind of rhetoric that some new citizens said inspired them to become eligible to vote. DECISION 2016: Trump projected to win 133 of 172 California GOP delegates In California, more than 850,000 people registered to vote between January 1 and March 31. Thats twice as much when compared to the same period in 2012, another presidential election year, according to Political Data, a company that provides political data to campaigns. This growth is largely Latino and Democrat, according to the company. Jack Pitney, professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College, said if Republicans nominate Trump, the California party could face continued difficulty wooing Latino voters. This year, the most important decision for sustaining the partys growth is in the hands of its voters, said Pitney, former research director for the Republican National Committee. If they want the party to get stronger, the worst thing they could do is vote for Trump. He would lose California massively in the fall, and drive record numbers of Hispanics to register and vote as Democrats. Jose Tovar and his daughter, Ana, of Perris, passed their citizenship interview Wednesday, April 27, and said theyre excited about voting. Now, if we dont agree with the system of government we can make a point, said Jose Tovar, 55, in Spanish. I wont tell you who Im voting for, but I will say who Im voting against: Donald Trump, added Tovar, who has been living in the U.S. for more than 25 years. The same goes for his 23-year-old daughter. Ana Tovar has been living in the U.S. since she was 18. She knew there would be some level of anti-immigrant discrimination, but not to the extent shes encountered, for example, when speaking Spanish in public, or with Trumps rhetoric. Among California voters, only 11 percent of Latinos have a favorable view of Trump, while 83 percent have an unfavorable perspective of him, according to a Field Poll released in April. The Field Poll is a nonpartisan California public opinion firm. Tim Clark, Trumps California campaign manager, could not be reached for comment. But at a Pennsylvania rally April 21, Trump said he will win the Hispanic vote because Latinos helped him win the Nevada caucuses. The Tovars, from the Mexican state of Jalisco, served as proof that obtaining U.S. citizenship is not an impossible process as some Latino immigrants envision it to be. Be prepared. Look confident, Jose Tovar told a group of immigrants preparing for the citizenship process at TODEC Legal Center in Perris on Wednesday. TODEC is a pro-immigrant group serving Inland migrant communities. The Tovars, who received assistance from TODEC, stopped by the center Wednesday to let people know they had just passed their naturalization interview. There was a sense of solidarity inside the tightly packed meeting room where staff and volunteers that day helped more than 100 immigrants fill out their citizenship applications. Se puede? Si se puede! they cheered. (Can we? Yes we can!) Its history repeating itself, said Luz Gallegos, community programs director at TODEC Legal Center, remembering the influx of citizenship interest when Republican Pete Wilson was governor. Prop. 187, a 1994 law championed by Wilson would have barred immigrants who came here illegally from services, including public education and non-emergency health care. Although it was never enacted, Latinos were energized by the battle against it. Im afraid Republicans seem to have forgotten about the Pete Wilson effect that is, what happens when someone scapegoats and alienates large portions of the population by proposing extreme positions on immigration that divide families and hurt our economy, said Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, during a Democratic Party conference call Wednesday, April 27. Still, there are many Latino immigrants in the U.S. who are eligible for citizenship, but havent applied. In fiscal 2015, 730,296 people became citizens nationally, an increase of 11 percent over the previous year. About 8.8 million immigrants are eligible for citizenship, and some 2.7 million are Mexican. A 2013 Pew Research Center report found the naturalization rate of eligible Mexicans was only 36 percent, while the rate for all other legal immigrants was 68 percent. It could be different this year. Research shows that at least for Latinos, those who become citizens during a politically charged environment on immigrant issues, vote at rates substantially higher than native-born or longer term naturalized Latino citizens, according to the University of Southern Californias Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, a nonprofit advocating for Latino participation in U.S. politics, estimates that 13 million Latinos will cast ballots nationwide in 2016, compared to 11.2 million in 2012 and 9.8 million in 2008. Saul Muro, 62, of Temecula, is one of them. Muro has been living in the U.S. for decades and recently decided to become a citizen. He wants to vote in this presidential election. He tried to become a citizen before, but didnt pass the interview. He hopes taking the TODEC workshop will help him pass this year. He joked that his wife tells him he has Trump to thank for his decision of becoming a citizen this year. But, he gets teary-eyed when he talks about the real reason hes applying for citizenship: his family. My children congratulate me. They say, How long have we been telling you (to become a citizen), Muro said in Spanish. Although Muro has been a permanent resident for years, through former President Ronald Reagans amnesty program, he said he still fears being deported, especially if Trump becomes elected. Being a citizen will allow him to, Feel more free in this country that I love so much, Muro said. Italia Garcia, a regional coordinator with Mi Familia Vota, which seeks to register Inland Latino voters, said Latino immigrants are now recognizing they have political power. Not only are we becoming the majority in numbers Over the past years weve been able to elect officials that represent our community values and are willing to put our community first, she said. Staff writer Jeff Horseman contributed to this report. RELATED TRUMP IN CALIFORNIA: The lines are drawn Donald Trump leads cheering crowd: Build that wall Reaction to Donald Trump in O.C. Trump supporters, protesters clash CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY: Praised for cutting Democrats majority, Brulte may get third term as chairman Donald Trump projected to win 133 of 172 California GOP delegates Contact the writer: 951-368-9462 or amolina@pressenterprise.com Hes a businessman and a billionaire. He doesnt need a job. He is giving back to America what America has given him. Wayne Dickey, 63, of La Palma, a white-bearded supporter who carried a Santa for Trump sign I dont like him saying my parents are bad people. He has no foreign policy. Veronica Holley, 20, of Irvine, who is of Latino heritage and objects to Trumps immigration policies I know hell do what he says. Without him, I lose all faith. Dawn Mayo, 49, of San Diego, who has known of Trump since she was 10 We feel that Trumps rhetoric is very decisive extremely problematic in terms of race and womens issues. It borders on hate speech. Nina Reich, who teaches at Loyola Marymount University and joined protestors at the rally I remember him coming into Trump Palace and the light from a chandelier shining on his hair. He looked like a god. Lily Romanow, 45, of Newport Beach, who worked as a cocktail waitress at Trump Palace in Atlantic City, N.J. When I heard Trump was in my hometown, I thought Id come here and tell him to go home. Jeannie Murphy, 77, of Costa Mesa, who support Hillary Clinton and attended the Trump rally with grandson, Riley Murphy Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump brought his rousing message of political indignation to a full house at Costa Mesas 8,000-seat Pacific Amphitheatre on Thursday and was celebrated by the vocal crowd for providing an alternative to the status quo. Within minutes of taking the stage to kick off his California campaign, Trump had the crowd on its feet chanting, Build that wall. Your crime numbers, theyre going through the roof, and we cant have it anymore, Trump told the packed venue at the OC Fair & Event Center. Were going to get our country back to a balance. Outside, sheriffs deputies on horseback and in riot gear had to separate pro- and anti-Trump groups who shouted profanities at each other and nearly came to blows, with one side chanting Dump Trump as the other shouted, Go back to Mexico. As Trump spoke, a large crowd of protesters, some waving Mexican flags, blocked an intersection outside. Drivers were burning rubber, filling the air with smoke. The tensions may be an early sign of whats ahead for California in the weeks leading up to the June 7 primary, as Trump shifts his attention to the state that could prove the most crucial yet in his drive to be the Republican standard bearer. No state has suffered more from open borders than the state of California, Trump told the crowd. Trumps choice of Orange County for his first major California event of the year is no surprise. While the countys increasing ethnic diversity has contributed to Republican voter registration recently slipping below 40 percent, the GOP still has an 8-point advantage over Democrats and continues its longstanding national reputation as a Republican powerhouse. The countys many wealthy donors also make it a national fundraising hub for GOP candidates. Hours before the rally began, large crowds of flag-waving supporters and scattered sign-carrying protesters gathered at the fairgrounds. Dawn Mayo stood on a concrete planter box in front of the fairgrounds Pacific Amphitheatre, surrounded by Trump supporters. She waved a blue Make America great again hat in her hand as she tried to lead the crowd in a Go Trump! chant that quickly died out. Ill get them excited. Give me time, said Mayo, 49, who grew up in New York and drove from San Diego on Thursday afternoon to attend the rally. I love Trump. I want the energy to be up and people to be as excited as I am. A first clash came around 4:30 p.m. We dont want you here, part of the crowd chanted at Juan Rodriguez, who wore an anti-Trump shirt and waved a Mexican flag. The 20-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter said he came to the rally to exercise his First Amendment rights. A young man in a suit and a red hat, carrying a flag, crept into the scrum and went toe to toe with Rodriguez. They screamed profanities at each other. We want a wall to protect ourselves, the man in the hat said. Trump wont make anything better, Rodriguez responded. The atmosphere outside became increasingly tense as the rallys scheduled start time approached. About three dozen protesters marched toward Trump supporters waiting in line to get in. Sheriffs deputies acted quickly as both sides shouted slurs and profanity creating a barrier between the two sides. Some officers were on horseback. Those on the pro-Trump side were told to stand on the sidewalk. It was scary, said Chelsea Rogers, 25, a Costa Mesa cosmetologist who came to the rally with her 16-year-old brother and who supports Trump. If it gets any crazier, I dont know what the police will do. On the anti-Trump side, Katrina Mendoza, 22, an Orange Coast College student, quickly walked away from the crowds as her friends urged her not to go back to the protest. A lady tried to hit me, Mendoza said. She called me disgusting and told me to go back to my country. But I was born here. Both sides continued shouting obscenities, with hundreds of protesters cordoned off in a portion of the parking lot. Inside the amphitheater, the atmosphere more closely resembled a rock concert, with Elton John music blasting from loudspeakers as the crowd got ready for Trump to take the stage. Mr. Trump is not going to do this by himself. We are an army. Together, we can do anything, said Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beall, warming up the crowd. An announcer over the loudspeaker instructed protesters to stay outside in a designated area. And he told Trump supporters they should not touch protesters. Secret Service agents escorted one man out as he filmed the crowd with a hand-held camera. It wasnt clear what triggered his removal. Agents also took a t-shirt deriding Trump with an expletive from another man. Meanwhile, many people in the crowd were talking politics amongst themselves. David Rose, 58, of Cypress, a lifelong Republican, said Trump represents average Americans and has the business acumen to run the country. Hes independent, not beholden to special interests and has had success running large organizations, Rose said. There appeared to be few Trump protesters inside the arena Thursday evening. But one, Gerardo Ramirez, 20, of Santa Ana said he hates Trump. The Costa Mesa rally came two days after the Anaheim City Council declined to approve, on a 3-2 vote, a proposed resolution condemning Trumps divisive rhetoric in the presidential race. The council meeting was preceded by a clash outside between an estimated 50 pro- and anti-Trump demonstrators. Five people were pepper-sprayed. Janet West, 62, of Long Beach was there to support Trump and knew one of the people hit by spray. We had dinner after and his eyes were all red, West said. It was awful. But West didnt let that stop her from getting to Thursdays rally five hours before it started along with fellow members of the activist group We the People Rising. You never think youll meet the future president of the United States, West said. While Texas senator Ted Cruz began laying the groundwork for his campaign months earlier, Trump remains the strong leader, favored by 46 percent of likely voters, according to Real Clear Politics aggregation of recent polls. Cruz is at 28 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich polls at 18 percent. The 1,237 delegates Trump needs to secure the nomination in advance of the July convention is within reach. Californias 172 delegates the most of any state could determine whether he reaches that benchmark or must continue the battle at the convention. Though Election Day is June 7, there is a more immediate urgency to connect with the states voters because mail ballots begin going out in 11 days. If Trump falls short of the 1,237 majority, it would allow convention voting to proceed past the first ballot, and delegates no longer would be obliged to back their original candidate. Some Republicans, including Cruz and Kasich, are hoping for that scenario and the possibility that it will allow someone other than the controversial billionaire to become the nominee. On Thursday night, Trump returned to familiar themes: closing the borders; bringing back American jobs; protecting the Second Amendment; and loosening restrictions on the U.S. military that he said put the nation at risk. The speech was short on policy specifics and long on emphasizing his campaign successes so far, talking at one point about the strategy of Cruz and Kasich working against him. We are on the verge of doing something unprecedented, he said. They used to call it the silent majority. This is the noisy majority. Were not going to take it. Amid the contentiousness outside, Jesseca Mendoza-Amin, who lives down the street from the fairgrounds, found a ray of hope. Shes Latino, her husband is a Muslim who emigrated from Egypt when he was 4, and she doesnt support Trump. Initially, she said, she was scared to go near the rally. But you know what? I had some great conversations, said Mendoza-Amin, 34. Holding a sign that said, We will pray for you, she stood next to a man waving an LGBT rainbow flag. The rhetoric hits home for me, she said. This isnt the world I want my girls to grow up in, she added, explaining she has three daughters in high school. But Mendoza-Amin said her faith in humanity was buoyed by the generally polite attitudes of those who spoke to her. Theyre voting for Trump and Im not, but we could converse, Mendoza-Amin said. I even hugged a guy. It gives me hope. Real estate tycoon and Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump landed at San Francisco International Airport at 11:40 p.m. today and headed to the California Republican convention here for an eagerly anticipated speech. But hundreds of protesters gathered outside the convention were determined to block his entrance when his motorcade arrives at the Hyatt Regency. The protesters banged drums and shouted slogans near a phalanx of police, holding signs such as Capitalism Kills and No Hate, No Racism and No Trump. Trump was forced to enter the hotel through a back entrance after walking through a grassy area after his motorcade which was headed north on a Highway 101 service road suddenly stopped close to the hotel. Harmeet Dhillon, a San Francisco resident who is vice chairwoman of the California Republican Party, told CNN this morning that the protesters had delayed Trumps arrival although it was immediately unclear why protesters on the ground would delay Trumps plane. Inside the Hyatt Regency, delegates and paid attendees waited in a long security line, along with dozens of reporters, to enter the banquet hall where Trump will speak. Some of the delegates sported GOP-red outfits. Bill Gilbert, a retired San Francisco police lieutenant, said he paid $100 to hear more of Trumps common-sense ideas for improving the country. I like what he says. Hes for America and business, said Gilbert, 71, of Woodside. I think hed be good for the country. But Jack Beebee, a microbiology student at San Jose State, said she wasnt there to protest Trump not so much because of his policies but because of his brand of populism. Im here to redress grievances now preemptively, she said. The protesters carried signs supporting every idea on the progressive political spectrum, from STOP HATE a banner expressing that sentiment was unfurled inside the hotel atrium and then quickly pulled down to free the nipple. A group of women and one man walked through the scrum topless, wearing pasties that demanded liberation for the very body parts they were barely covering. A Trump supporter walking toward the hotel was surrounded by protesters. Witnesses said the man did nothing to provoke the crowd except wear a Trump hat. Protest organizer Cat Brooks told Bay City News: Were here because Trump has used the largest platform in the world to issue a message of hate and invite violence against marginalized communities. Brooks said the candidate espouses anti-black, anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant views. After Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, some held the view that it indicated a post-racial society, according to Brooks, but Trumps rise has demonstrated that belief is false. He has exposed what we have always known is alive and here in America and that is a deeply anti-black sentiment, Brooks said. All three remaining Republican presidential candidates will speak this weekend as the convention continues with a dinner banquet this evening featuring Ohio Gov. John Kasich and a lunch banquet on Saturday with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, recently announced as Cruzs running mate, will host a dinner banquet on Saturday night. Burlingame police said in a statement on Thursday night that they are preparing for the expected protests against Trump by drawing officers from law enforcement agencies throughout the region. COSTA MESA: Police cruiser smashed in post-Trump rally protest Planning efforts are focused on guaranteeing that protesters are freely able to exercise their First Amendment rights, while ensuring the safety of both the protesters as well as those attending various events at the convention, Burlingame police said in a statement. Trump started his California visit Thursday night with a rally in Costa Mesa in Orange County. Protestors clashed with police outside and scuffled with Trump supporters leaving the event. One news photographer captured a man wearing a Trump T-shirt whose face had been bloodied. About 20 people were arrested. The address at a lunch banquet at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport kicks off the 2016 gathering, where Trump and the other remaining candidates Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich will make their pitch to hundreds of party officials and millions of Californians watching on TV or the internet. Polls show Trump has a commanding lead in California. Trump got the support of 49 percent of likely Republican primary voters, followed by Cruz with 22 percent and Kasich with 20 percent, according to a Fox News poll released April 22. After sweeping five states on the East Coast in convincing fashion Tuesday, the businessman and reality TV star is well on his way toward clinching the Republican nomination. But a strong performance in California would help him reach the magic number of 1,237 delegates and avoid a showdown with anti-Trump forces in July at the Republican National Convention. If his goal is to get the nomination on the first ballot, he has to take a large portion of the vote in California, said Bill Whalen, a research fellow at Stanfords Hoover Institution. For Cruz and Kasich, this is the last line of defense in preventing Trump from getting to 1,237. Ken Khachigian, a longtime Republican strategist and former speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan, said Trump, who has relied largely on instincts and media exposure so far in dominating the Republican field, will need to roll up his sleeves and think through how to appeal to Californias various diverse constituencies. I do think if Trumps going to pull this off, hes going to have to study California really hard, he said. The candidates are competing for 172 delegates in California, 159 of which will be awarded by congressional district. Winning one of the states 53 congressional districts nets a candidate three delegates. Whoever wins the popular vote June 7 will secure the remaining 13 delegates. Kasich is scheduled to address the convention at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Cruz will give a speech at noon Saturday, followed by his running mate, Carly Fiorina, at 7:30 p.m. None of the events is open to the public. Check back for updates from the convention, including a recap of Trumps appearance, throughout the day on Friday. RELATED Donald Trump leads cheering crowd: Build that wall Reaction to Donald Trump in O.C. Trump supporters, protesters clash The names of over 4,000 workers, designers and engineers who played a part in the design and construction of Shanghai Tower have been put on a new Wall of Honor. The 60-meter-long structure was erected in gratitude to all the people who played a part in creating the worlds second-tallest building, said Ge Qing, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Tower Construction and Development. The basement and one annex of China's tallest building, the Shanghai Tower, have opened to the public as a trial for the opening of the rest of the building later this year, said local authorities on Wednesday. The 632-meter-high building in the Lujiazui financial hub of the Pudong New Area is surpassed in height only by Dubais Burj Khalifa, which soars to 829.8 meters. Its 35-meter-high fifth floor annex contains restaurants, conference rooms and wedding and banquet halls. Along with the neighboring 492-meter-high Shanghai World Financial Center and the 420-meter-high Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai Tower is intended to cement Lujiazuis reputation as a center for top financial companies and corporate headquarters. Work on the tower began in 2008. It is scheduled to fully open by the end of this year. An elevator that travels at 18 meters per second will carry visitors to the 118th floor in just 30 seconds. There they will be able to take another elevator to the sightseeing platform on the 120th floor. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Brong Ahafo Region has alleged that Ivorian refugees at the Fetentaa Refugee Camp, near Berekum, are being bused to register in the countrys limited voters registration exercise. They argue that the move is to enable them to later vote in the November 7 general elections. According to the NPP, some of their members encountered twelve people believed to be from Ivory Coast at the Akokora-Kwadwo electoral area in the Sunyani East constituency, attempting to register in the exercise. This allegation comes months after the NPP argued that they have cause to believe that the countrys voters register is bloated by over 70,000 with names of minors and foreigners mostly from neighboring countries including Togo, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. In an interview with Citi News, the Brong Ahafo Regional Communication Director of the NPP, Maxwell Mahama, called on the general public to watch out for such impersonators. We are doing Ghanaian voter limited registration not West Africa, so we should try and reduce the oppressors rule. The oppressors rule here is that, Ivorians are coming to choose our leaders for us so everybody should be extra vigilante, he stressed. The NPP activist said the BNI, Police, Immigration officers as well as other security agencies should be up and doing because there are Ivorians in our midst. I am aware that we cannot drive them away but we can do something to protect the sanctity of the registration process. Everybody should be careful and extra vigilante because Ivorians are here. They should protect the registration centres to prevent others who want to come as foreigners to register. We cant prove foreigners registering Meanwhile similar incidents have been reported in the Jomoro and Evalue Gwira constituencies of the Western Region. But the NPP in Jomoro say they have not been able to prove the allegations but they remain vigilant to ensure it does not happen. Dont force people to register Ayariga In a another development, the founder of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga has charged political parties to desist from persuading prospective voters from registering in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise since that is the work of the Electoral Commission. I dont think that political parties must get involved in calling on Ghanaians to take part in the limited registration. It is not the duty of political parties to call on voters to come out and register, it is the Electoral Commissions duty, he said. Source: citifmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The great irony of this story is that it takes a strong stomach to both read, and be the cause of, the subject material. Beer-lovers across the country are preparing to get wonderfully soused with the 2016 iteration of the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular rolling around in Melbourne and Sydney at the end of May. GABS is a widely beloved beer and food festival that ranks in the Top 20 beer festivals globally, and if you enjoy good frothies and shithot food, its seriously the absolute tits. Each year, Australias master brewers wheel out the best of their wares for the events, including specially crafted beers concocted specifically for the occasion. 7 Cent (who, for the record, do a bloody knockout drop called the Hard Deck IPA for those keeping score at home and also for any 7 Cent PR types reading this who might feel like sending some to the PEDESTRIAN.TV Melbourne office attn: Cam Tyeson because my favour is very easy to curry) are taking things up to a level previously unseen in the world of brewing. Whilst other brewers might go for the rare hops, or import ingredients from ridiculous and amazing parts of the world in order to get their special brew *on point*, 7 Cent have instead decided to look closer to home. Much closer. Like, down at their own guts closer. The brewery has put together a thing called the Belly Button Beer, and it is goods as advertised: The brew has been made using yeast sourced from the actual brewers own belly buttons. Seriously. Putting in a little bit of themselves into each bottle, trial batches were made from all three of the brewers personal yeast storages, rigorously testing which colourful character of 7 Cent brewery provided the most character to their beer. Isolated from the brewers personal yeast strain, the samples where incubated and grown into colonies of yeast, carefully monitored to provide positive, sterile growth of the crucial and obscure ingredient. In the end, the final beer was made with just one of the brewers belly button yeast, which is said to exhibit qualities of a typical Belgian beer, with a spicy, zesty flavor, complimented by citrusy Mosaic hops and a hearty blend of barley, wheat, oats and rye for a full bodied brew. See? Goods. As. Advertised. The brewery even issued a very tongue-in-cheek (or stomach) promo video to accompany the new drop. Ive heard about having a beer gut, but this is ridiculous. The ~unique~ new brew will be among the 400-odd other types of beer and cider on offer at GABS 2016, which hits the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne on May 20-22, and the Australian Technological Park in Sydney on May 27 & 28. Source: 7 Cent. A spider bite right on the slug wouldnt be a walk in the park. Much less a bite from a freaking redback. Alas, for poor 21-year-old Jordan, thats the reality he faced a couple of days ago. The Sydney bloke copped a direct sting right on the biz whilst backing out a deuce in a portaloo this past Wednesday, leaving him in a fair amount of pain and necessitating a quick skip off to the infirmary. But rather than hide away in anonymity waiting for the whole thing to blow over, Jordan the deadset ledge that he seems to be owned the incident and spilled the beans on his meat & two veg for Kyle & Jackie O in an extended interview on KIIS FM earlier this morning. The young bloke actually seems like a legit champion, and playfully brushes off most of Kyle Sandilands godawful fucking dick jokes and constant requests to take a look. If you can stomach listening to Kyle and Jackie talk for 8 minutes, the whole saga is an incredible yarn. FULL INTERVIEW: Kyle and Jackie O Spoke To Jordan Who Was Bitten On The Penis By A Red Back Spider! #KJshow https://t.co/LHJnJ8tZfv Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo) April 28, 2016 Take this as a cautionary tale, friends. Never back in when youre backing one out. You never know what layer of hell your bits are gonna dangle into. Source: KIIS/Twitter. MIRACULOUS NEWS! The Productivity Commission, who has been conducting a 12-month inquiry into our countrys intellectual property system, is calling for an end to geo-blocking. In case youre somehow unaware, geo-blocking looks EXACTLY LIKE THIS ON YOUTUBE: It is frustrating as bloody hell. Do you guys have any idea how many times weve gone to share a new Last Week Tonight with John Oliver video with you, only to realise we cant because its been geo-blocked in Australia? KILLS US, BECAUSE WE WANT TO SHARE ALL THE CONTENT WITH YALL. The draft report, which was released early this morning, said this: The use of geo-blocking technology is pervasive, and frequently results in Australian consumers being offered a lower level of digital service (such as a more limited music or TV streaming catalogue) at a higher price than in overseas markets. Karen Chester, one of the commissioners, said to The Australian that she wished for the government to make it clear were going to let our folk get around geo-blocking, otherwise its not fair to users. Were saying to rights holders, no big brother, no draconian penalties and enforcement (from government), because thats going to be a huge regulatory burden and it isnt going to work. She also said that geo-blocking is one of the biggest reasons why Australias piracy rates are so bloody high (yes, were talking real Game of Thrones shit here people). The final report wont hit Parliament until August, and then its required that both houses table the report within 25 sitting days. ~ WATCH DIS INTERNET SPACE ~ Source: The Australian. Photo: Youtube. Why arent we free to move? was the question writer Izzy Combs posed in a piece by the same name published on Stoney Roads last year. Part analysis, part anecdotal recount, the expose was a deeply sobering look at our countrys club culture one where sexual harassment, unwanted attention and in tragic cases, rape is commonplace. Izzys story struck a chord among many young Australians, this writer included. It was shared a whopping 2702 times and helped kickstart a conversation around consent a conversation that was long overdue. But as impactful as the piece was, a pervasive culture like the one in our clubs doesnt disappear overnight. Thankfully, others in the scene have started standing up as well including a woman by the name of Kate Pern. The Cool Room crew, with Kate far right During the day, Kate works as a nurse with a particular interest in sexual assault prevention. At night, shes the Safety and Inclusion Coordinator at Melbourne label Jus B Chills Cool Room club nights. Its a job wed previously never heard of and its the first of its kind in Australia, to our knowledge. We chatted to her about the unique role, why its even a thing and how the party scene Down Under could be a much more chill place if there were more people like her. How was the concept of a Safety and Inclusion Coordinator born? The Jus B Chill crew wanted to put an emphasis on creating a safe space after seeing their friends continuously being harassed at club nights. It was becoming the norm going to the club, getting sexually assaulted. It shouldnt be like that. The idea was to create a space where their friends could come, party, dance, wear what they want, be themselves and not be harassed. Its pretty simple. From the first night we ran, we had non-gendered bathrooms and posters up about it being a creep free zone where only consensual behaviour is welcome. But, Kate tells us, since there is so much involved in organising and running an ongoing club night, they were finding it hard to keep inclusion a top priority. Jus B Chill wanted to bring someone on board who really understands this stuff, is passionate, and someone who can make [keeping the club creep free] their sole responsibility, she adds. Its a pretty exciting initiative and its pretty cool to be a part of it. Why were you chosen for the role? During the day, I work as a paediatric nurse and sexual assault prevention is something Im really passionate about and involved in, which is one of the reasons the team approached me, she says. Kate also works as a Workshop Manager for Empowered Together, an education group specialising in primary prevention of sexual assault so she was a natural choice. Lots of other club nights promise a zero tolerance for discrimination. Whats so different about this night? Usually when [promoters] run nights, theyre this mysterious entity, they post on their social media behind their nights page, and you dont know who it is. At Cool Room, Kate is a face people can recognise. She even provides a photo of herself to the door person to post at the entrance so punters know who she is at a glance, if they need to find her later on. The difference between Cool Room and other party nights like it is the trusting relationship they have with security staff, she reckons. The team of security at The Bottom End [one of the venues where the night is held] take initiative to train themselves. We just made a point of talking to the whole security team on the nights to make sure were all on the same page. Often when [event promoters] try to do the right thing, theyll say we have a no tolerance policy, good behaviour is expected but then, when you dont have security staff on board with that, it can all fall in a heap. If security staff arent trained properly, it can be them perpetuating the harassment. How have the crowd responded to your role? The night that ran in December was my first night in the role, and the response was really overwhelming. Fortunately, no incidents occurred, which could also be because the crowd was great, and we can attribute that to having a really, really good door person, who clearly communicated the expectations of the night. We dont knock back anyone because of the way they look, but if theyre being arseholes in the line, our wonderful door person just makes expectations of behaviour really clear no queerphobia, no transphobia and then they leave. So many people approached me who had never been to Cool Room who were amazed at how safe and comfortable they felt. I had women saying how comfortable they felt walking around, in the outfits they wanted to wear, without feeling like theyd be approached by men. I had people from the trans community saying they felt really safe and confident coming to the night because of the promotions wed done. I think a really big part of it is that people know that its not ok to grope someone on the dance floor, and sexually assault someone and harass them but they do it because they think they can get away from it, and sadly so often, they can. So making it really clear what wont be tolerated is important. Cool Room is pretty big across social media what has the feedback been like on the line? Weve had a couple of trolls. It makes me really happy because it means were doing the right thing. If were got trolls, were doing something right. During the first season, a guy shared the original Creep Free poster, and was like, THIS NIGHT SHOULD BE IN NORTH KOREA, WHAT IS THIS DICTATORSHIP!? which I thought was really cute. Then our most recent troll was just someone with sexist jokes e.g. women should be in the kitchen. But, I mean, if youre pissing off the MRAs, youre doing the right thing. And whats Jus B Chills biggest hope for the Aussie club scene in the future? As well as being able to create a safe space for people to come and party, the thing we at Jus B Chill want the most is for other venues to take up this initiative. If this sort of thing became the norm, it would be amazing. Were already seen other venues begin to pick this up. We would love every venue to follow our lead that would be really nice. Cool Rooms next night is on May 13th and if you go, Katell be there to guarantee you feel #freetomove. Photo: Supplied. A 23-year-old Iranian refugee at the Nauru Detention Centre who set himself on fire has died, the Immigration Department has confirmed. He was airlifted to Australia with third degree burns to most of his torso, but passed away this afternoon in a Brisbane hospital. According to reports, the mans name was Omid, and following a visit from the UNHCR on Wednesday, poured a 20-litre bottle of petrol over himself and cried: This is how tired we are, this action will prove how exhausted we are. I cannot take it anymore. The refugee on Nauru who set himself on fire has died. Another death attributable to this government Julian Burnside (@JulianBurnside) April 29, 2016 Refugee advocates earlier criticised why it took 24 hours to medically evacuate the man, to which Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said: Nauru is 4,500 kilometres from Australia, it is not as if were heading out to Bondi or Beenleigh to try and pick up somebody it is a long distance travelled. The Immigration Department has expressed their sympathies to the victims wife, family and friends, and said appropriate support is being provided to his wife and friends. Source / Photo: Fairfax. One of the most contentious aspects of the Barangaroo precinct in Sydney is the Crown Casino hotel complex which in its planned form looks kinda like a gigantic crystal dildo jutting from the harbour foreshore. Itd be a very tall building and Sydney City Council is thoroughly not keen on it. The councils chief planner Graham Jahn says that the tower will dominate and overwhelm the Barangaroo precinct and the harbour foreshore, and reckons that a casino shouldnt be able to form such a huge intrusion on Sydney Harbour. Though the project received some support from the city, such as from Liberal councillor Christine Forster, who described it as big, bold and beautiful, the general vibe wasnt positive. Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said that there was a strong sense in the community that there wasnt a whole lot of concern from Packer and co for anything but private profits. This doesnt mean theyre not pro-development, the anti-tower crowd reckon. They think a hotel complex on the foreshore is fine. Theyre just a little concerned about the sheer size of the thing. Half of the towers 69 floors are watermarked for use as luxury apartments and a VIP gaming facility. The argument from Sydders is that while giving international big rollers a better view of the Opera House is nice and all, its not worth sacrificing the public use case for the peninsula. The NSW president of the Australian Institute of Architects, told Fairfax that people would prefer a park to an enormous casino tower. What would history think of us all here today, if we chose a casino over a public park for this significant place on the harbour? Its just the latest in the fairly enormous shitfight that is the Barangaroo development. Source: Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Lend Lease. MISSION. BLOODY. ACCOMPLISHED. After the nation collective shat themselves upon the discovery that Arnotts, for reasons that to this day remain utterly mystifying, attempted the fix the beloved and very much not-broken Shapes by cranking out all new recipes, it would appear common sense is finally prevailing (to a degree). The benevolent biscuit tsar has announced that, due to overwhelming public outrage, they will be selling both Barbecue and Chicken Crimpy flavoured Shapes in their original form, just as the good lord intended. The new recipes have been met with almost universal disgust, and even sparked a Change.org petition that, at the time of writing, has amassed some 10,000+ signatures from outraged snack enthusiasts. Throughout the saga, Arnotts has been doggedly defending the changes, asserting that they were a result of consumer feedback. We changed the flavours based on customer feedback that they wanted to see bigger and bolder flavours. Which is a fine statement and all, provided that previous customer feedback was naught but JUST FUCK IT UP, FAM. And then, late yesterday, a reprieve; a stay of execution, if you will. Arnotts took to their Facebook page to front the braying masses, announcing that both BBQ and Chicken Crimpy would remain as is, and would not feel the kiss of the chefs blade. Thats the good news. The bad news, however, is that the new + improved formula will still be active for the remainder of the Shapes range, including the likes of Pizza and Cheese & Bacon. There is no word on whether the new recipe has adversely affected Savoury. When someone actually eats one, well let you know. Source: Herald Sun. As much as we love it when Friendlyjordies turns his uniquely vitriolic attentions to all matters political, we absolutely bloody love it when he decides to skewer certain sections of society. His scorching Stereosonic takedown is a fucking first ballot Hall of Fame candidate, and others (like the Schoolies or Bali ones) have been just as good. And now, we have this; a searing, and bloody hilarious pisstake of territorial beach bum types who, at least according to Jordan, are really only concerned with surf reports and the business end of a Gatorade Saxophone. Bless you and your bitter, fucked up heart, Jordan Shanks. Do not ever change. Not now. Not ever. Source: Friendlyjordies/YouTube. Dame Edna made a bizarro appearance on The Project last night and is now being accused of everything from being shitfaced on air to bullying Australias precious one, Waleed Aly. Is Barry Humphries/ Dame Edna off his/her head live on air? This is seriously sooo awkward? #TheProjectTV Cillian Naughton (@Cilliwhut) April 28, 2016 Dame Edna, who was there to promote some dire partnership with Peter Alexander for Mothers Day, started things off by telling viewers that little Wally, uh, really does look like exactly how he looks. (As opposed to what, a sea lion?) And I have to tell the viewers, that he really does look like this. He does! Its not a trick of the lights! she said. Waleeds discomfort was blatant as he replied, Im just trying to figure out what response you are looking for here. Yeah, super bloody weird / uncool when just last month Waleed found himself the target of a News Corp-led attack that he, as a non-white person, was nominated for a Logie. But it didnt stop there! Oh no! Dame Edna managed to dig in weird, unrelated jabs about entirely unrelated topics, like how her pj endorsement was making bed fun but she didnt know if Waleed believed in that, and how Waleed probably didnt think the Queen turning 90 was wonderful because I bet youre an old pinko, are you? Dame Edna is being super akward and passive agressive towards Waleed Ali. #TheProjectTV Owen Ikin (@owenikin82) April 28, 2016 In fairness where it probably isnt deserved, Waleed wasnt her only target. She also asked Carrie Bickmore if having kids had given her stretch marks and asked Fitzy where hed be if it wasnt for Big Brother house (lel). But tbh, the whole thing was a bizarre, incoherent mess, and proof that Barrie Humphries particular brand of comedy deserved to retire in 2012 when it was supposed to. Watch the segment below. Source / Photo: The Project. Amid a changing business environment, Chinese e-commerce website Taobao.com has decided to terminate online subscriptions to investment funds on May 18, less than three years after its opening, Beijing Times reported. Zhonghai Funds said it would stop offering its fund on China's largest online retail marketplace from May 15. Several other funds also made similar announcements that they will pull their services from Taobao, a unit of Alibaba Group. On Nov. 1, 2013 the online shopping platform teamed with 17 Chinese funds to allow Taobao users to buy into investment operations as easily as purchasing clothes online. Wang Qunhang, deputy general manager at Jian Financial Information, said Taobao fund stores were the best platform in the past to promote awareness and practices of Internet finance. But the rapid growth of Internet finance and mobile Internet have given customers much easier ways to manage their investments, it was added. Another fund company said sales by fund stores on Taobao have been sluggish except for an initial temporary surge at the beginning. Data showed 38 fund companies sold products on Taobao and nearly 1.8 million deals were made in the past two years. Online closures are expected to have little impact on fund companies, which mainly sell products directly on their own e-commerce sites. In 2015, Alibaba-affiliated Ant Financial Services Group also invested 200 million yuan into fund123.cn, which sells products offered by banks, asset management firms and fund companies. Insiders say the collaboration means Alibaba would choose a third party to continue exploring opportunities offered by its huge user base. 20228199-mmmain.jpg Pictured is actor and comedian Will Ferrell (left) and former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. (AP Images) Will Ferrell has backed out of "Reagan," a comedy in which the actor and comedian would've portrayed former President Ronald Reagan as he developed Alzheimer's Disease, according to Variety. The script would've included an intern who tries to convince the commander in chief that he is an actor playing the president in a movie. Reagan's children, Patti Davis and Michael Reagan, both slammed the film after it was announced, according to Variety. Davis posted an open letter on her website, which asked the actor to explain "how this disease is suitable for a comedy." "Alzheimer's doesn't care if you are President of the United States or a dockworker," she wrote. "It steals what is most precious to a human being -- memories, connections, the familiar landmarks of a lifetime that we all come to rely on to hold our place secure in this world and keep us linked to those we have come to know and love." Michael Reagan also tweeted Thursday, April 28, that "(Alzheimer's Disease) is not a comedy to the 5 million people who are suffering with the (disease)." #Alzheimers is not a comedy to the 5 million people who are suffering with the decease,it first robs you of your mind and then it kills you Michael Reagan (@ReaganWorld) April 29, 2016 The Alzheimer's Association also spoke out against the film, which president and CEO Harry Johns said was "offensive." The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture oversees restaurant inspections in the state. Inspection reports are 'snapshots' of the day and time the inspections took place. In many cases, violations are corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving. READ MORE: The following restaurants and other establishments in Cumberland County that handle food were inspected between April 3-9 and reported as of April 19. JOHNNY - JOE'S BAR & DINING 5327 E. TRINDLE ROAD, MECHANICSBURG Follow-up inspection (Out of compliance) Chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low-temperature sanitizing dishwasher was 0 ppm, and not 50-100 ppm as required; the person-in-charge does not demonstrate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection; clean, stacked food containers with stickers and sticker residue in the kitchen area; dried food residue on the guard of the deli slicer; food splatters inside and on the ceiling inside the microwave in the kitchen area; food debris on the floors behind the upright freezer in the kitchen area; an accumulation of grease and debris under the fryers in the kitchen. COMFORT INN PA TURNPIKE-I81 77 SHADY LANE, CARLISLE Opening inspection Caulk or sealing material missing from the back splash of the three-bay sink and the hand-washing sink. GIANT FOOD STORE No. 6542 950 WALNUT BOTTOM ROAD, CARLISLE A food employee was observed touching and cutting red onions for salad, a ready-to-eat food, with bare hands (corrected); the wash cycle thermometer on the kitchen pan washer is not reading correctly (sanitizing temperature is correct.); food employee personal belongings (coat) observed in kitchen area, although lockers are provided; walls in the kitchen and produce areas have several small unpatched holes present; ceiling vent cover in the kitchen has an abundance of static dust present. KRISTY'S WHISTLE STOP 600 S. ENOLA ROAD, ENOLA Regular inspection Ceiling exhaust vent and surrounding ceiling tiles need cleaned of greasy dirt. SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY - CHARTWELLS @ CENTURY CAFE 1871 OLD MAIN DRIVE, SHIPPENSBURG Regular inspection The Toastmaster sandwich press has missing and peeling epoxy coating, which is a food contact surface. Wax paper is available but is not to be used with heat sources. (Discussed options -- thermal paper, installation of a new epoxy coating or complete coating removal -- with manager). APLUS MINI MARKET 4501 TRINDLE ROAD, CAMP HILL Regular inspection Observed three containers of outdated milk for sale in the coolers in the store area. (one 1-percent expired 4/3/16, two 2 percent expired 4/5/16); Soap was not available at the hand-wash sink in the employee bathroom. BRANCH CREEK PLACE 115 N. FAYETTE ST., SHIPPENSBURG Regular inspection Loose caulking was found at several hood seams. This caulking was directly over food prep areas and may contaminate the food below (removed); facility does not have procedures for employees to follow when responding to an event involving vomitus or fecal matter discharge onto surfaces within the facility (pamphlet given); no sign or poster was posted at the hand-wash sinks in the kitchen and both restrooms to remind food employees to wash their hands (sign given). ECONOLODGE - CARLISLE 1252 HARRISBURG PIKE, CARLISLE Steramine QUAT sanitizer is required to have test strips that match the compound. The test strips on hand are for chlorine only. ITALIAN GARDEN 2 NEIL ROAD, SHIPPENSBURG Commercial frozen pretzels were stored in grocery bags without commercial packaging/protection. Grocery bags may not be clean nor food grade. Repeat in 2015 and 2016. KFC No. 50 313 LOWTHER ST., LEMOYNE Regular inspection Dust and grease drip on filters and metal lip above filters in hood system over fryers, oven, and cooking equipment; interior ceiling of microwave oven had old food debris and splash (corrected on site); underside splash area of mixer had excessive grease accumulation (corrected on site); excessive dust accumulation on ceiling vent slats and ducts above mixer/microwave prep area. Dust accumulation on ceiling vents in cooking/prep areas and honeycomb vent above to-go container shelves; facility does not have procedures for employees to follow when responding to an event involving vomitus or fecal matter discharge onto surfaces within the facility (corrected on site); establishment does not have employee who has attended food employee certification training. MORRISON MGMT SPECIALIST/CARLISLE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 361 ALEXANDER SPRING ROAD, CARLISLE Regular inspection The tabletop mixer has an oily film present on the motor housing. NAGOYA JAPANESE RESTAURANT 829 STATE ST., SUITE 1002, LEMOYNE Opening inspection Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Chlorine test papers required for products being used; toilet rooms do not have a self-closing door. RUTTERS FARM STORE No. 31 1 AIRPORT ROAD, SHIPPENSBURG Regular inspection An employee apron was temporarily stored on top of a baine-marie food cooler (moved and unit surfaces ordered cleaned); loose caulking found at the front of the hood, directly over a food prep and service area; heavy scale deposits found on the dish machine trays (discussed cleaning/ replacement options); paper towel holder empty at the hand-wash sink in the food prep area. SUBWAY No. 12693 20 W. MAIN ST., MECHANICSBURG Regular inspection Observed a cell phone stored on a prep table in the kitchen area; a broken floor tile near the three-bay sink; WALMART No. 5888 3400 HARTZDALE DRIVE, CAMP HILL Regular inspection Observed equipment in the hand-wash sink in the bakery, indicating uses other than handwashing; small door located in the receiving area of the food facility has a gap and does not protect against the entry of insects or rodents. APPALACHIAN BREWING COMPANY 6462 CARLISLE PIKE, MECHANICSBURG Regular inspection The hand guard on the deli slicer is broken and looks to have been sliced when slicing food and needs to be replaced; chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher was 0 ppm, and not 50-100 ppm as required (corrected); brown residue inside the nozzles of the soda machine in the kitchen area; an accumulation of static dust on the fan guards inside the walk-in cooler; clean food containers in the kitchen area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). BURGER KING No. 554 3555 OLD GETTYSBURG ROAD, CAMP HILL Regular inspection Observed two missing floor tiles under the fryers where grease is accumulating; a large hole in the wall near the three-bay sink that needs repaired. LOWER ALLEN DINER 3449 SIMPSON FERRY ROAD, CAMP HILL Paper towel dispenser empty at the front hand-wash sink in the kitchen area; floor drain near the three bay is not functioning properly and has pooling water. SAHARA RESTAURANT & MARKET LLC 5247 SIMPSON FERRY ROAD, MECHANICSBURG Bags of meat in the chest freezer had no identifying label; observed one gallon of whole milk for sale in the store area with an expiration date of 4/4/16; food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration; several lights in the upright coolers in the store area are not shielded; facility has no food employee certification; ceiling tiles missing in the walk-in cooler and need to be replaced. DICKEY'S BARBECUE PIT 6520 CARLISLE PIKE, MECHANICSBURG Regular inspection Observed several utensils in the kitchen stored in a container with the food contact side stored up; clean food containers in the kitchen area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). HONG KONG CHEF 225 CUMBERLAND PKWY, MECHANICSBURG Regular inspection Observed a wet wiping cloth on top of the baine-marie, not being stored in sanitizer solution; a fly strip hanging on the wall above the deli slicer in the back kitchen area; a missing light shield in the hood above the fryer. WEIS MARKETS No. 125 1195 LOWTHER ROAD, CAMP HILL Regular inspection Facility is not properly cleaning electric cheese grater in the deli area; food debris in the bottom of the tool drawer in the deli area. WEIS MARKETS No. 199 2150 BUMBLE BEE HOLLOW ROAD, MECHANICSBURG Regular inspection Final rinse gauge on the high-temp dishwasher in the bakery is only reaching 140 degrees F. Temp strip was run through cycle indicating water is reaching the minimum 180 degrees F; all three automatic paper towel dispensers in the deli area were not functioning (corrected on site); a missing floor tile under the fryer in the deli area. The following establishments had no violations: HISSHO SUSHI IN GIANT No. 6542 950 WALNUT BOTTOM ROAD, CARLISLE Opening inspection KINDERCARE 730 WERTZVILLE ROAD, ENOLA Regular inspection HARRISBURG ACADEMY 10 ERFORD ROAD, WORMLEYSBURG Regular inspection FRAULIE'S DELI 224 S. THIRD ST., LEMOYNE Regular inspection MONROE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1240 BOILING SPRINGS ROAD, BOILING SPRING Regular inspection SHEPHERDSTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1934 S. YORK ST., MECHANICSBURG Regular inspection MAGGIE'S ITALIAN ICE AND FROZEN CUSTARD 147 GETTYBURG PIKE, MECHANICSBURG Regular inspection JAMES BAR 626 ENOLA ROAD, WEST FAIRVIEW Regular inspection The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture oversees restaurant inspections in the state. Inspection reports are "snapshots" of the day and time the inspections took place. In many cases, violations are corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving. The following restaurants and other establishments in Lebanon County that handle food were inspected during the week of April 3-9 and were recorded as of April 27. READ MORE: READ MORE: Lebanon County Establishments with violations. April 6 CORVETTE GRILLE 202 W. MAIN ST., ANNVILLE Regular inspection. Cardboard boxes containing produce and a bag of onions stored directly on the floor inside the walk-in cooler; non-food contact surfaces (kitchen floor/wall behind cooking equipment) are not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of cooking grease, dirt and food. April 5 BARTOLO'S PIZZA 206 CAMPBELLTOWN ROAD, PALMYRA Regular inspection. Commercially processed refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food (non-exempt cheese) located in the walk-in cooler and held more than 24 hours is not being marked with the date it was opened; black, mildew-like growth on the ice deflector plate inside the ice machine. THE GIN MILL 324 E. CUMBERLAND ST., LEBANON Regular inspection. Food was stored or being prepped under dirty ventilation ducts and subject to potential contamination from dripping grease; non-food contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt, grease and soil around grill and fryer. WORLD WAR MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION 975 E. MAIN ST., PALMYRA Regular inspection. Refrigerated ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food (cut tomatoes and shredded lettuce) prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours located in the walk-in cooler is not being date-marked; commercially processed refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food (non-exempt cheese), located in the non-commercial refrigerator and held more than 24 hours is not being marked with the date it was opened; grease accumulation and food debris on floors and non-food contact surfaces of cooking equipment; missing tiles, exposing sub-floor, where the dishwasher used to be in place, and several locations in the kitchen. April 4 SUNOCO #7479 2 W. MAIN ST., ANNVILLE Regular inspection. A manufacture's/processor's label or a card, sign, or method of notification of label information is not available at the doughnut consumer self-dispensing case; non-food contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil; dried-food residue on the interior bottoms of the Bev-Air refrigerator and microwave; dust accumulation on the ceiling and walls across from the cooling units inside the walk-in cooler; main entrance door of the facility has some weather stripping missing, allowing light from the outside to show through to the inside, which doesn't protect against the entrance of insects or rodents. Establishments with no violations. April 6 OLDE WILLOW TREE CAFE 10 N. COLLEGE AVE., MYERSTOWN Change-of-owner inspection. No violations. April 5 ESTHER'S 2957 ROUTE 22, FREDERICKSBURG Complaint inspection. No violations. MANNINO'S PIZZA 230 E. CUMBERLAND ST., LEBANON Regular inspection. No violations. MEL'S DINER 8 E. CUMBERLAND ST., LEBANON Regular inspection. No violations. PALMYRA SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER 101 S. RAILROAD ST., PALMYRA Regular inspection. No violations. April 4 TURKEY HILL #045 2 E. MAIN ST., ANNVILLE Regular inspection. No violations. BEIJING, April 29 -- Six teams from China's top legislature will be sent to inspect the implementation of government regulations and bylaws on the regional autonomy system for ethnic minorities. The inspection panel of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Friday held a meeting to launch the campaign. China's law on regional autonomy for ethnic minorities allows central government authorities to formulate administrative regulations, ordinances and bylaws within their respective administrations to implement the law. The inspectors will oversee the practice of these regulations and bylaws and solicit suggestions about policies and enforcement. The six teams will be sent to different ethnic autonomous regions and provinces, including Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Qinghai and Sichuan to carry out the inspection, which is expected to last from May to September. Findings of the mission will be submitted for the NPC Standing Committee's review. taxes graphic.jpg Get ready to open your wallets, Harrisburg workers: The city will soon be collecting a new, higher local services tax of $3 per week, up from $1 per week. HARRISBURG- Harrisburg city council members Wednesday night approved a hike in the local services tax that raises the amount to $3 per week, up from $1 per week. The tax hike is projected to generate an additional $4 million annually for the city to help it address a longstanding structural deficit. The city underspent in every department in 2014 and 2015 to keep expenses in line with lagging revenues, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse has said, but the city can't continue to deny essential services to residents. When the tax was created in 2004, municipal leaders hailed it as recognition that workers had for too long received daily services such as police, traffic lights and utilities at a discounted rate. The tax effectively amounts to a commuter tax since it overwhelmingly applies to commuters. About 7,000 workers in the city are city residents and 36,000 are non-city residents. Here are five things you need to know about the newly increased tax: Tax hike kicks in July 1 Harrisburg officials on Friday decided to collect the 2016 tax by assessing $5 per week, starting July 1. Workers who fall under the tax already have been paying $1 per week so far this year. City officials spent Friday morning conferring with their tax collection company, Keystone Collections Group. They weighed several options, including taking out $52 in one paycheck to cover the first six months of the year before landing on the simpler, and less onerous solution of $5 per week for the final six months of the year, said Bruce Weber, the city's finance director. The good news? The weekly amount will "drop" to $3 per week in 2017. File for a refund if you make less than $24,500 According to state law, the local services tax applies to workers making more than $15,600 annually. But Harrisburg's ordinance lifted that minimum salary to $24,500 to protect the city's poorest workers. That action cut about 2,000 city residents from the local services tax rolls because their salary falls in between $15,600 and $24,500. Employees who fall between the different thresholds may need to file for a refund for what they paid early in the year. Employees with higher salaries who started jobs this year in Harrisburg will also need to make note if their salary reaches this threshold or not. Employees could earn $35,000 annually, for example, but if they started working in the city mid-year, their salary for 2016 would remain under the threshold. Those employees would need to file for a refund. Who pays the local services tax? The local services tax applies to people who work in the city, regardless of their hometowns. This covers all state workers assigned to buildings inside Harrisburg. Delivery drivers who may have routes in the city would pay the tax according to wherever their company is located, Weber said. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development provides the following scenarios: "If an employee is working temporarily at a Pennsylvania facility for a period of time that encompasses a 'reporting quarter', then the facility site would be the work location address. "If an individual works for an employer who has a central business location in PA, but the employee 'floats' or is transferred daily, weekly or monthly between other business sites, then the central or main employer business location would be the work location address. "If an employee is hired by an employer and receives work orders or instructions at home in PA but physically reports to other business sites on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, then the employee's home address should be used as the work location address." What's the history of the tax? The local services tax originally was known as the occupational privilege tax. It was capped at $10 a year, dating back to 1965, and taken out in a single paycheck. In 2004, legislators raised the cap to $52 per year and changed the name to the emergency and municipal services tax. The newly named tax was part of a three-bill package designed to help Pittsburgh, which was facing a $77 million budget shortfall in 2005. Under the law, municipalities were restricted to using the tax proceeds for police and fire services, road maintenance and property tax cuts. The municipality assessing the tax gets the bulk of the tax, with $5 per employee going to the school district. (That amount for the school district remains the same under the tax hike.) About 320 municipalities across the state built the tax into their 2005 budgets, including Harrisburg, which also reduced property taxes that year. Ambulance service groups asked for a change in the name of the tax in 2005, saying it confused residents who were then reluctant to pay for ambulance subscriptions because they thought it was covered by the tax. A law signed by the governor in 2007 changed the name of the tax to the local services tax and fixed several other bothersome aspects of the tax. The new law required employers to deduct the tax throughout the year, instead of in one or two chunks. And the new law also exempted workers who make less than $12,000 annually (that threshold has since been increased.) How long will workers have to pay the new, higher rate? Changes to the state's Act 47 law in 2014 allowed municipalities in the program for financially struggling municipalities to triple the local services tax. State officials say Harrisburg must lower the local services tax back to $1 per week when it leaves the Act 47 program, but city officials have said they need to retain the tax increase to survive. The city is expected to leave the Act 47 program in 2018, although it could get a three-year extension. The city's recently amended Act 47 recovery plan called for the tripling of the local services tax. City officials plan to lobby legislators for a change in law that would allow distressed cities to maintain the higher local services tax even outside of Act 47. Other municipalities across the state, including Reading, have already approached their local delegations seeking similar long-term help to address structural deficits. As it stands, nearly 17 percent of the city's budget, or $10.3 million, must go to debt obligations and another 18 percent, or $11 million, goes for health care. john estey Gov. Ed Rendell's chief of staff John Estey applauds as Rendell enters to deliver his yearly state budget address to a joint session of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) A Pennsylvania lobbyist who was involved in a federal corruption probe of the state Legislature was charged Friday with scamming the FBI out of $13,000 in bribe money. Attorney John H. Estey, 53, of Ardmore, was given $20,000 by an "undercover corporation" created by the FBI, according to filings in U.S. Middle District Court in Harrisburg. He was supposed to pass the money on to legislators in return for their backing of measures that would be favorable to the business interests of the fake FBI firm. Instead, Estey, a one-time chief of staff to former Gov. Ed Rendell, only gave $7,000 to the unnamed legislators as campaign contributions and kept the rest for himself, investigators claim. Court records show Estey, an executive with the Hershey Trust Company, has a tentative agreement to plead guilty to wire fraud, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The deal, which would not become final unless approved by Judge John E. Jones III, does not include a specific sentencing agreement. The charge against Estey deals with a con the feds claim he committed in April 2011. The FBI hired Estey as a lobbyist for its bogus company and instructed him to influence passage of legislation to benefit the nonexistent firm. "In discussions with undercover agents, Estey identified a number of members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Estey claimed would draft, introduce, control and support legislation beneficial to the business interests of the undercover corporation," court filings state. Estey suggested the $20,000 payment, investigators said. They said the money was to be given to Estey and then passed to the legislators under the guise of being campaign contributions from Estey. That shuffle was suggested by Etsey to circumvent state laws that bar corporate campaign contributions, officials said. The plot called for Estey to give $5,000 each to three unnamed legislators and $5,000 to a "particular leadership caucus" that is not named in court records. Estey was charged after a probe involving the FBI, state police and the IRS, investigators said. A ruling on Thursday by Oklahoma's highest criminal court has fueled outrage among women's and victims rights groups. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that the state's forcible sodomy law doesn't apply when the victim is intoxicated or unconscious. Put simply, the ruling says that oral sex with someone who is unconscious is not a criminal act. The ruling was reported first by Oklahoma Watch, a watchdog journalism group. Observers say the decision puts Oklahoma in sharp contrast with a national push to step up enforcement of sexual assault laws and toughen rules of sexual consent. The Court of Criminal Appeals in March found that under the language of Oklahoma's sodomy law, "forcible sodomy cannot occur where a victim is so intoxicated as to be completely unconscious at the time of the sexual act of oral copulation." The case involves a 17-year-old male charged with assaulting a 16-year-old girl who was heavily intoxicated. The boy, prosecutors said, had volunteered to give the girl a ride home. Some time later, doctors confirmed that the young man's DNA was found around the girl's mouth and on the back of her leg. The boy told authorities that the girl had consented to performing oral sex. The girl said she had no memories of it. Prosecutors charged the young man with forcible oral sodomy. The ruling has sparked outrage among victims advocates, lawmakers and women's groups. Here is some reaction to the ruling: Heartbroken and outraged at the ruling in OK. Our courts and laws cannot dismiss the violence women face. https://t.co/68qdiAbJNW Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) April 28, 2016 This Oklahoma court's ruling is so dehumanizing, I had to read it multiple times to make sure it wasn't a nightmare:https://t.co/esbdI8f6vZ Christina Cauterucci (@c_cauterucci) April 28, 2016 We need to do better than this, it is time for absurdist laws such as this to be changed "The ruling sparked... https://t.co/kjy7leB3XL MN Trauma Project (@mntraumaproject) April 28, 2016 Men who force oral sex on drunk women will NOT be prosecuted, rules court: The shock unanimous ruling left ... https://t.co/TZjWCC4pOK UK News (@UKNewsOne) April 28, 2016 corrections/prison file art (CAROLYN KASTER/Associated Press) Apparently, Tony R. Harper is not a fan of the accommodations or the service in the state prison at Laurel Highlands. But it seems the 59-year-old Philadelphia man, who is serving a life sentence for murder, will just have to bear with it. He has no real choice since a state Superior Court panel this week rejected an appeal in which Harper demanded that prison officials be ordered to move his bed so he can sleep more soundly and to be more prompt about picking up his mail. Harper's appeal, which President Judge Susan Peikes Gantman called "wholly frivolous," reads like a fussy patron's less than glowing review of a posh hotel. Its path to the state court began when Harper filed a grievance in January 2015, in which he asked prison staff to move his bed away from a wall. According to Gantman's opinion on the case, Harper "complained the placement of his bed interfered with his ability to get restful sleep because other inmates would throw items on his bed." He also complained that it was hard for him to doze because people were always walking by his bed. In another grievance, Harper griped that when he put his mail in the collection box by 3:45 p.m., prison staff didn't pick it up until the following day. A prison official replied that Harper's cell and bed placements were made to accommodate his medical needs. As for the mail complaint, the official said that's just how the prison's mail collection policy works. Harper then sued prison officials in Somerset County Court, claiming the refusal to move his bed constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The prison's mail collection schedule violated his due process rights because it interfered with legal correspondence, he contended. A county judge shot down both arguments and Harper appealed to the state court. Gantman agreed with the Somerset judge and noted in her opinion that "an inmate in Pennsylvania does not have the right to be housed in a particular facility or in a particular area within a facility." The state judge didn't buy his argument at the mail, either. She found Harper's entire appeal, which he filed himself, to be "woefully short" on legitimate legal arguments. woman card.jpg If all this talk of the elite Woman Card has you feeling left out of a privileged caste, Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is giving you an opportunity to be part of the club. Since Donald Trump accused her of playing "the Woman Card" to get where she is in the polls, her campaign has been flooding the inboxes of Democrats and other potential supporters. The offer is simple: Make a donation to her campaign and receive an actual Woman Card. "Congratulations on being in the majority!" the email says about women. The emails follow her decisive primary win in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, after which she shot back at Trump's Woman Card comments. "If fighting for women's healthcare and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in," Clinton said during a victory speech in Philadelphia. So if fighting for women is playing the #WomanCard, well... pic.twitter.com/wUuidf8qoj Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 27, 2016 The former secretary of state has been wearing the card comments like badges of honor, cashing in on social media posts and creating the website womancard.org. Numerous media outlets have since published pithy and sarcastic reports in response to the so-called Woman Card. "Unlike Man Cards, Woman Cards do not increase in value as they age. In fact, they depreciate," a Washington Post reporter said. The latest comes from CNN, which has made five of its own: women military draft The U.S. House of Representatives next month will vote on a bill that would require women to register for the military draft. In this 2015, file photo, Army 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, center, and Capt. Kristen Griest, right, pose for photos with other female West Point alumni after an Army Ranger school graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, Ga. Haver and Griest became the first female graduates of the Army's rigorous Ranger School. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) Women in the military draft? Wait for it. The House next month will vote on a bill that would do just that - require women - like men - to register with the military draft once they turn 18. That's a little provision in the sweeping U.S. defense bill is getting a lot of buzz. The provision was inserted Wednesday - almost by happenstance - into the annual National Defense Authorization Act. The provision seems a natural progression to the lifting of the ban on women in front-line combat units, something the Pentagon did in December. In fact, the Selective Service measure - which is now headed for the House floor for a full vote - came about as a result of unexpected circumstances and a House Republican's attempt "to take a stand against women in combat." In a report published Thursday in the military news outlet Stars and Stripes, Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican and Marine veteran, proposed the provision in the hopes of stirring debate over women in combat - something the Iraq and Afghanistan veteran opposes. Hunter, it seems, was just looking to raise opposition to the idea of women in the combat front. "This is about a big war, meaning when you have tens of thousands of people dying -- tens of thousands -- that is when you have a draft," said Hunter, who voted against his own proposal. As it turns out, Hunter's proposal rallied support, passing with a 32-30 vote. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) protested women in combat by saying they should be in the draft. His proposal passed.https://t.co/CzyXCuobEh Derek Kessler (@derekakessler) April 28, 2016 "I actually support your amendment and will be delighted to vote for it," said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif. If the bill, which heads for a full House vote next month, were to pass in Congress, women ages 18-26 would have to register for the draft. It would be the first time women will have registered. They could potentially be forced into combat. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, earlier this year backed the idea of women in the draft. "It is the logical conclusion of the decision to open combat positions to women," McCain told Roll Call. GOP presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has expressed vehement opposition to expanding Selective Service to include women. Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, shown here with wife, Heidi, and their two daughters, Catherine, 4, and Caroline, 7, opposes the draft for women. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) At a town hall meeting in February, Cruz, a father of two daughters, said: . "Listen, we have had enough with political correctness, especially in the military. Political correctness is dangerous. And the idea that we would draft our daughters to forcibly bring them into the military and put them in close combat, I think is wrong, it is immoral, and if I am president, we ain't doing it." While GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has expressed support for women in military combat roles, he has yet to weigh in on the draft issue. On the combat topic, Trump has said he would follow that advice from his military advisers "because I would want to hear that without a political bent." Last August, the billionaire businessman told Chris Cuomo on CNN that he supported women in combat: "The answer is yes because they're really into it and some of them are really, really good at it." Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton in 2007 said she was opposed to a draft but believe that, if there was one, both men and women should be conscripted. Earlier this year, CNN host Anderson Cooper asked the former Secretary of State the same question. She answered: "I have to think about whether I think it's necessary to go as far as our military officers are recommending. "You know, from my perspective, the all-volunteer military has worked, and we should not do anything that undermines it because it has provided a solid core of people who are willing to serve our country. The idea of having everybody register concerns me a little bit, unless we have a better idea of where that's going to come out." The U.S. has not had a military draft since 1973. Still, all men must register with the Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18. U.S. leaders insist that the all-volunteer force is efficient and that the nation is not returning to the draft. By Jeffrey Lord Well I'll be. Through an accident of politics - the rise of Donald Trump - Pennsylvania is, at long last, an important political player in the nation's affairs once again. The stunning Trump victory here in the GOP primary - in which The Donald carried all 67 Jeffrey Lord (PennLive file) Pennsylvania counties - is one for the record books. Not only is a 67-county sweep unprecedented for a hotly contested primary winner in either party.The results of the Trump Pennsylvania GOP sweep had another, if unintended, consequence. Notice that Hillary Clinton decided to appear personally in Philadelphia to claim her election victory over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. She also vowed to come back. Hmmm. Why would the presumptive Democratic nominee vow to be coming back to Pennsylvania? There is a reason - and one reason only. Pennsylvania may be the keystone to a presidential victory in 2016. Because of its central location and its central role in early American history, the state won the "keystone" nickname because, as the dictionary definition for the word suggests, it was "regarded as holding the other pieces in place" as did a keystone in an arch. It was, the dictionary again, "something on which associated things depend." What Pennsylvania held in place, of course, was the original thirteen colonies. It was no accident that delegates to the Continental Congress from New England and the South came to the middle ground of Philadelphia to discuss, debate and eventually vote for the separation from Great Britain. For a long time thereafter, Pennsylvania was the keystone of events in American history. It was Philadelphia once again that was selected as the location to write the Constitution of the United States. And, of course, for awhile, it was the new nation's capital until the newly created Washington, D.C. was established. It's railroads and steel played a central role in supplying the Union in the Civil War - not to mention the battlefield of Gettysburg, the "high water mark" of the eventually defeated Confederacy. But something happened to the Keystone State along the rest of the way to present day America. While Virginia, Massachusetts, New York and later Ohio began to churn out American presidents, Pennsylvania stumbled. The lone Keystone State contribution to the White House has been Lancaster's James Buchanan. Instead the state became known for powerful political bosses of both parties who were capable of delivering the state for their party nominees. Today the once powerful Keystone State has lost population and thus the clout of electoral votes - the latter down from an early twentieth century high of 38 (second in the day only to powerful New York) to today's 20. Still, those 20 votes are enough to make Pennsylvania a so-called "battleground" state - provided the GOP has a candidate who can make the battle. For the last six elections in a row, the GOP failed in this. Not since Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush carried the state in 1980, 1984 and 1988 has a Republican won the day here. What does the Trump sweep of 67 counties and Clinton's announcement that she will return really mean? It means the Keystone State is once again in play. Get the popcorn. Assuming they both win their nominations, Pennsylvanians will be seeing a lot of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. The Keystone State is key once again. Jeffrey Lord, of Camp Hill, is a political analyst for CNN, a Donald Trump supporter, and a frequent PennLive Opinion contributor. HEROIN ABUSE.jpg (file photo/PennLive) Of all the issues that pushed Pennsylvanians to the polls this week, none is more challenging, more pernicious or more deadly than the epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse. To get an idea of how vicious the heroin epidemic has become, you don't have to look any further than your own neighborhood. If you haven't been personally affected, then the chances are good that someone you know has. And the cost is high. The University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health found that fatal drug overdoses in Pennsylvania increased 14-fold between 1979 and 2014. The rise in abuse is most often attributed to the overprescription of opioid-based drugs. Authorities on the issue blame these drugs for opening up the doors to heroin. Heroin is highly addictive. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2011, 4.2 million Americans aged 12 or older (or 1.6 percent) had used heroin at least once in their lives. It is estimated that about 23 percent of individuals who use heroin become dependent on it. In the Trust for America's Health's 2015 report, Pennsylvania ranked fourth-highest among the states for its rate of drug overdose deaths for teenagers and young adults. The national rate is 7.3 per 100,000; Pennsylvania's rate is 11.8 per 100,000. President Barack Obama has escalated his administration's fight on three different fronts: expanding access to treatment, preventing overdose deaths, and increasing community prevention strategies. "Expanding access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid-use disorders has been a top priority for this administration. Research clearly shows that this approach, when combined with behavioral therapies, is more effective at sustaining recovery and preventing overdose," Michael Botticelli, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, told CNN in March. While Obama White House is making strides, the next president must develop a strategy to overcome the heroin epidemic. This includes dismantling a network of doctors, addicts, and drug dealers. The leading presidential candidates -- Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, who won in Pennsylvania and other states in Tuesday's Acela Primary -- have each spoken out on the issue. The same holds true from Democrat Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas and John Kasich of Ohio. Clinton, for instance, has called for spending $10 billion to fight what she described as a "quiet epidemic" in a 2015 op-ed in the New Hampshire Union Leader, PBS' Frontline program noted in a special report outlining the candidates' stances on the issue. According to Frontline, "Clinton's plan would widen access to treatment and recovery programs, in part through a new $7.5 billion partnership between states and the federal government." Cruz and Trump have offered little in the way of specifics, but they have called for securing the southern border with Mexico to fight the flow of drugs, Frontline reported. Kasich, the two-term Ohio governor, has first-hand experience fighting opioid abuse in his home state. According to Frontline, Kasich formed a cabinet-level Opiate Action Team, but "progress has been slow." Citing state data, Frontline reported that unintentional overdoses killed 2,482 Ohio residents in 2014, a state record. In Pennsylvania, state lawmakers are utilizing forums and public hearings to address the heroin issue head on. A bipartisan "PA Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (PA-HOPE) Caucus" has been formed to fight the epidemic. "Recently, my colleagues and I in Harrisburg voted to legalize medical marijuana. During that debate, several representatives recognized the need for action on the growing opioid epidemic, a huge threat facing our public health and safety. It's past time to turn our words into action," Rep. Ed Gainey, D-Allegheny, recently remarked. At a National Governors Association meeting in Washington D.C. in in February, Gov. Tom Wolf said the state should "consider new ... regulations to ensure all medical and dental students are taught safe addiction and pain management options before they're licensed to practice," McClatchy News Service reported. Also in February, the administration partnered with pharmaceutical manufacturer Adapt Pharma to provide a free supply of the anti-overdose drug Naloxone to all 500 of the state's school districts, according to published reports. The drug has also been provided to the Pennsylvania State Police. Pennsylvanians made their voice heard at the polls on Tuesday. In November's election, they'll have a chance to do it again. And when they do, they should send a clear message that ending the cycle of abuse should be at the top of the list for the next Congress and presidential administration. Jamar Thrasher, of Harrisburg, is a frequent PennLive Opinion contributor. When Rep. Mark Cohen leaves office on Nov. 30 after a 42-year legislative career, he could qualify for a pension that approaches $35,000 more a year than he currently earns from his legislative salary. When Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia, leaves office on Nov. 30 after a 42-year legislative career, he could qualify for a pension that approaches $35,000 more a year than he currently earns from his legislative salary. Cohen, D-Philadelphia, could receive as much as $119,884 a year as a retired legislator, according to pension calculations done by RocktheCapital's Eric Epstein based on information from the State Employees' Retirement System, which it confirmed to be accurate. Cohen's current salary is $85,356. Cohen, 66, was defeated in Tuesday's primary by Democratic challenger Jared Solomon in a contest for that party's nomination in the 202nd state House district. That effectively ends a legislative career that spans seven gubernatorial administrations and will allow him to lay claim as the longest serving member of the state Legislature at the end of his term. Cohen said in a phone interview on Friday his preference would be to continue serving in the state House but he accepts the voters' decision. He said he would welcome an opportunity to serve state government in some other way, such as on a state commission. If appointed to a paid position, he said he would forgo a pension if it was part of the compensation. "I'm interested in public service and am not interested in maximizing my income," Cohen said. But Epstein claims that Cohen's past actions indicate otherwise. He describes Cohen as king of per diems for having been at or near the top of lawmakers who claimed the most of these taxpayer-funded payment to cover food, lodging and incidentals while lawmakers are away from home on legislative business. Epstein also credits Cohen for being in the "hall of fame for abusing legislative perks," pointing to Cohen's reported use of his taxpayer-funded expense account to buy books and pay for three trips to the Pennsylvania Society in New York City. Cohen, an admitted voracious reader, defended his book purchases as making him a better legislator and claims the trips to Society weekend was a legitimate legislative business expense because he met with movers and shakers he deals with in his work. To see Cohen walk away after that with a pension higher than his salary indicates to Epstein the pension system is out of whack although he isn't the first one to do so. "We need to align legislative pensions with market-based formulas. This is not a pension. This is a golden parachute for a man who has made a career out of looting taxpayers," Epstein said. Epstein's pension calculations assume Cohen doesn't take a lump-sum payout of the contributions he paid into pension system or buys credits for any eligible prior service or faces IRS or retirement code benefit limitations. Cohen, meanwhile, said he is proud of the record he built during his legislative career. Among the examples, he cited were being on the forefront of the effort to legalize medical marijuana by introducing legislation to accomplish that back in 2009. He also fought hard to keep the state's Obamacare options open after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it wasn't mandatory for states to expand Medicare. And he said he has been a longtime advocate for online voter registration and endorsed Gov. Tom Wolf's decision that he had the inherent power as governor to implement it this year. "I was deeply involved in the legislative process this session and throughout my legislative career," Cohen said. "I thought, in my judgment, that I had something to offer and I had the responsibility to at least offer to my constituents the opportunity to re-elect me. They didn't. They chose someone else." That's why, he said, he would "welcome an opportunity to serve on a commission or some other capacity. I enjoy public service. I'm good at it." We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Russia is joining with China in opposing any US plans to establish a missile system in South Korea. Russia's opposition to any deployment of the THAAD system is being voiced following a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "Countries shouldn't be using Pyongyang's acts as pretext to increase their military presence on the Korean Peninsula. We believe the possible deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system won't resolve this problem. We hope the six-party talks can be resumed as early as possible, as we have built-up experience in resolving the nuclear issue through negotiations in the past." Meeting with Lavrov on the sidelines of the now-concluded Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Beijing, Wang Yi says the THAAD system represents a potential threat. "Both sides are gravely concerned about the possible deployment of the THAAD, or Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence system in South Korea by the US, because it goes beyond the actual defence demands of relevant countries. The deployment of the system will directly harm the strategic interests of China and Russia." The US and South Korean government's have been discussing the potential deployment of the anti-missile system around Seoul and locations in-range of North Korean short-range missiles. However, the THAAD system has the potential to fire missiles which could hit targets in China and Russia's far-east. HEFEI, April 29 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked officials to trust intellectuals, welcome their criticism and try not to interfere in their creative work. Xi made the remarks at a meeting on Tuesday in Hefei with a group of scientists and researchers, model workers and young people during his inspection tour to east China's Anhui Province, according to a press release published on Friday. Party and government departments should fully trust intellectuals and create a favorable environment for them to exercise their talent and develop their careers, the president said. Officials are urged not to "interfere in the creative work of intellectuals so that they can concentrate on their work." They should improve communication with intellectuals and help solve difficulties at work and in their personal lives. Officials should welcome advice and criticism from intellectuals and become a "true friend" of them, Xi stressed. "When opinions are meant well, we should warmly welcome them. We should take in constructive opinions and be more tolerant and inclusive even though some of them are biased or incorrect," he said, adding that intellectuals should not be blamed or punished for expressing their opinions. The president also expects intellectuals to put the country and people first, uphold "the right path" and pursue the truth. To better understand the situation of China and the rest of the world, they should not belittle themselves nor repeat others' words without thinking, he said. Xi encouraged them to take the lead in the country's innovation drive and contribute to the country's economic and social development as well as improvement of people's welfare. They should sharpen creativity, expand the horizon and devote themselves to hard work, Xi said. 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. Russia to move away from global oil pricing Putin's decade-old dream realized as Russia to price its own oil. LONDON Petroleumworld.com 04 29 2016 Russian President Vladimir Putin is on the verge of realizing a decade-old dream: Russian oil priced in Russia. The nation's largest commodity exchange , whose chairman is Putin ally Igor Sechin, is courting international oil traders to join its emerging futures market. The goal is to increase revenue from Urals crude by disconnecting the price-setting mechanism from the world's most-used Brent oil benchmark . Another aim is to move away from quoting petroleum in U.S. dollars. If Russia is going to attract international participation in Russian-based pricing, the Kremlin will need to persuade traders it's not simply trying to push prices up, some energy analysts said. The government is dependent on oil revenue to fund its budgets. The goal is to create a system where Russian oil is priced and traded in a fair and straightforward way, said Alexei Rybnikov, president of the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange, or Spimex, in a phone interview. Russia, which exports about half its crude, has long complained about the size of the discounts for lower quality Urals oil compared to North Sea Brent prices, which are assessed by the Platts agency. With world oil prices down by half in the past two years and Russia facing the prospect of its worst budget deficit as a percentage of its economic output since 2010, it needs every dollar of petroleum revenue it can get. Having its own futures market would improve Russian oil price discovery as well as help domestic companies generate extra revenue from trading, said Rybnikov. Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, competes with Platts and other companies in providing energy-market news and information. Kremlin Involvement The reality is that the Kremlin is always likely to be heavily involved in the Russian oil industry, said Richard Mallinson, an analyst at Energy Aspects Ltd. That creates the concern that the proposals might be structured to try to achieve higher prices, which is not consistent with efficient price discovery. The Russian government's system of approvals for shipping crude from different ports and pipelines could also mean subdued interest from western refiners, because some export volume adjustments could be politically motivated, said Ehsan Ul-Haq, senior oil market analyst at KBC Energy Economics. The volatility of the Russian ruble, which will be used for futures margins, also causes concern among companies. To attract traders, the Bank of Russia is preparing legislative amendments to grant non-Russian firms access to exchange-traded commodities and their derivatives, the financial industry regulator said in an e-mail. The bank will assist Spimex in starting futures to price oil for exports. Western Agencies Russia's largest oil companies, including Rosneft OJSC, Lukoil PJSC, and Gazprom Neft PJSC support the new futures and may become market makers, Spimex President Rybnikov said. He declined to name any trading firms outside of Russia, saying that the exchange has been in a dialogue with many market participants. Gazprom Neft has been involved in futures development since 2015, it said in an e-mail. Lukoil will be willing to participate in the futures market if it makes economic sense, the company said in an e-mail. A Rosneft spokesman declined to comment. Spimex has been Russia's largest oil product platform since trading started in 2008 after the government obliged companies to sell between 5 and 10 percent of their domestic transport fuel supplies there. Producers sold about 533 billion rubles ($7.8 billion) of products , or more than 15 percent of all fuel delivered to the local market, at the bourse last year. The initial futures contract will be worth 1,000 barrels traded in U.S. dollars with a minimum delivery of 720,000 barrels to the Russian ports on the Baltic Seas, according to its specifications . Russia planned to export about 1.5 million barrels of crude a day from its Baltic oil terminals in March. Previous Efforts Moscow is not alone in its push to change global oil pricing. China, which vies with the U.S. as the world's biggest crude importer, has spent two decades trying to introduce its own oil futures contact, now expected this year. Iran and Venezuela, members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, have called for trading oil in other currencies than U.S. dollars. The Kremlin plan echoes the New York Mercantile Exchange's efforts to offer Russian export oil futures in late 2006. Nymex, now part of CME Group Inc., discontinued the contract six years later because it wasn't popular among traders, JBC Energy GmbH said. Some market participants might be wary of embracing the new futures contracts as a benchmark due to concerns about the Russian government's high degree of involvement in the oil sector, said Eugene Lindell an analyst at Vienna-based JBC. It remains questionable as to what extent Spimex can provide a better overall trading framework. HEFEI, April 29 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated the spirit of hard work ahead of the International Workers' Day on May 1, urging people to realize their dreams and change destiny through honest work. Xi made the remarks at a meeting with renowned scientists and researchers, model workers and young students during his inspection tour to east China's Anhui Province, according to a press release published on Friday. All of society should vigorously promote the spirit of hard work, while opposing negative thoughts such as profiting from other people's work, opportunism and indulging in pleasure and comfort, Xi said. The president encouraged the working people, no matter their current occupations, to study diligently, work industriously and constantly perfect their own skills to create brilliant achievements. Model workers are the outstanding representatives of the working people and their exemplary deeds should be publicized for all of society, Xi said. He also advocated comprehensive support for them in realizing their full potential. Local authorities should sincerely care about the working people and conscientiously implement Party and state policies to promote employment and entrepreneurship, he said. Xi also urged authorities to earnestly protect workers' lawful rights and interests and help them solve problems to establish harmonious labor relations. Russian FM says external forces should not interfere in South China Sea issue BEIJING, April 29 -- External forces should not interfere in the South China Sea issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday. Lavrov, who is in Beijing to attend the fifth Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and for an official visit to China, made the remarks during talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Lavrov said Russia holds that the South China Sea issue should be resolved peacefully through political means, such as negotiations between the parties directly concerned, while external forces should refrain from interfering. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international laws, including the agreements reached between China and ASEAN, are the legal frameworks that should be followed, said Lavrov. The two foreign ministers agreed that the South China Sea disputes should be resolved through negotiations between parties directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and international laws. The international community and countries outside the region should contribute to stability in the region, rather than muddy up the situation, they agreed. Regarding China-Russia ties, Lavrov said the priority of Russia's foreign policy was to develop relations with China. He said Russia was willing to work with China to prepare for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China, and enhance economic and trade, investment, big projects and culture cooperation. Stressing that China greatly values its cooperation with Russia, Wang said China was ready to work with Russia to ensure the success of Putin's China visit, said Wang. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership of coordination, said Wang. He called on both countries to improve cooperation in the areas of energy, nuclear power, high-speed trains, aviation production and technological innovation as well as people-to-people exchanges. (Global Times) 10:16, April 29, 2016 Illustration: Liu Rui/GT Just a few years ago, there were worries among Asians that Chinatowns in the US would soon be history. At the end of 2011, Bonnie Tsui, the California-based author of the book American Chinatown: A People's History of Five Neighborhoods, wrote an article in the Atlantic Monthly titled "The End of Chinatown." "In the past five years, the number of Chinese immigrants to the US has been on the decline, from a peak of 87,307 in 2006 to 70,863 in 2010," she wrote, predicting that "Because Chinatowns are where working-class immigrants have traditionally gathered for support, the rise of China - and the slowing of immigrant flows - all but ensures the end of Chinatowns." Two years later, a report released by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund affirmed the concern by pointing out that the Asian populations in the Chinatowns in New York's Manhattan, Boston and Philadelphia, the three biggest Chinatowns on the East Coast, had dropped about half between 2000 and 2010. The bleeding of the traditional Chinatowns has been continuing. In New York, for example, the Chinatown located in lower Manhattan has been too expensive for new immigrants from China to settle in like their predecessors who came here decades ago. The mom and pop shops, some of which had been operating in this neighborhood for decades, have also been going belly up as rents soar. "I have never seen so many empty street-front spaces on East Broadway," said Xian Qiu Zeng, a community leader in Chinatown, referring to one of the busiest streets in Chinatown that used to be a haven for immigrants from Fujian Province. However, the worries about the end of New York's main Chinatown already sound stale. It seems now that not only is Chinatown not dying but it is revitalizing. And then there are the other Chinatowns in New York City. What brings new life to Chinatown is the number of immigrants from China. The influx didn't go into a downward spiral as it seemed it could a few years ago. Rather, it has bounced back. According to research released by the US Census Bureau in May 2015, China sent 147,000 immigrants to the US in 2013, 23,000 more than the previous year, overtaking Mexico to become the top source for legally recognized immigrants to the US. In New York, though, they are no longer settling in the traditional Chinatown. New Chinese immigrants have turned to other neighborhoods like Sunset Park in Brooklyn and Flushing in Queens - making them very large Chinatowns. Indeed, the authorities in the Sunset Park Chinatown are looking at constructing a traditional gate. Manhattan's Chinatown doesn't have such a structure. And a recent survey by the Asian American Federation found that 11 out of the 51 City Council districts in New York are more than a quarter Asian. The development of China, the accumulated wealth there and the keen passion of the Chinese for investing in the US may make the big difference. This has instilled an urge in local governments to build or rebuild their Chinatowns to attract immigrants and investment from China. Even in non-traditional Chinese areas like Long Island, an increasing Chinese population has made building a Chinatown a hot topic in recent few years. Nassau County on the island, for example, has been looking to acquire land for such a plan. Newark, the biggest city in New Jersey, is also considering revitalizing its Chinatown, which was vibrant in the 1920s and now hardly anything more than rubble and debris. In a forum dedicated to the project, Ugo Nwaokoro, a deputy mayor of Newark, said, "Newark welcomes Chinese immigrants and investors from China. If any investor is interested in the project of revitalizing Chinatown, we'd like to work with you." Even the 130-year-old Chinatown in Manhattan is looking for opportunities to take a ride on the China bandwagon. This Lunar New Year, the Chinatown Business Improvement District (BID) decorated two double-deck buses with ceremonial banners, and also took groups of lion dancers and marched from Madison Street in Chinatown to the glamorous Madison Avenue in midtown Manhattan. They performed in some high-end shops along the way and celebrated the Lunar New Year with onlookers. And then they joined a ceremony that saw a memo signed between the Madison Avenue BID and the Bund Association for Promotion of Commerce and Trade from Shanghai. Wellington Chen, the head of the Chinatown BID, told me this was the first time Chinatown, in Lower Manhattan, connected itself with midtown Manhattan to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Chen said the luxury shops along Madison Avenue have attracted many Chinese tourists and, therefore, a lot of attention from the media in recent years. By participating in the celebration, he hoped to attract some attention to Madison Street and bring more mainstream tourists to Chinatown. Instead of disappearing, it looks like the east coast's Chinatowns are multiplying and expanding. They certainly won't die as long as China keeps striding forward. The author is a New York-based journalist. [email protected] Follow us on Twitter @GTopinion Premier Li Keqiang visits a well-known tourist spot, Kuanzhai Alley, in Chengdu, the capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, on the evening of April 25. [Photo/gov.cn] Premier Li Keqiang made a surprise visit at night to a tourist attraction and commercial street in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, bought some souvenirs and even recommended Chinese Tsingtdao Beer to some foreign tourists he met. Soon after 8:20 pm on April 25, Premier Li arrived at the Kuanzhai Alley in Chengdu. He paid visits to several stores and talked with store owners about the business climate and tax burdens. Shortly after he entered the alley he was attracted to a book store named "Jianshan", where he bought two sets of postcards and a book. Li was soon surrounded by crowds of tourists who rushed to shake hands and take photos with him. He later visited several stores and bought a pair of panda dolls. At a store, he talked in English with a young boss from Bangladesh and bought a vase with a camel pattern. At a beer shop, Li had a good talk in English with several university professors from Australia. "Have you ever had Chinese beer?" Li asked with a smile, adding that China's domestic brand of Tsingtao is very good. China will be part of a multinational anti-terrorism exercise which is set to be held from May 2 to 12. [Photo: mod.gov.cn] China says it will be part of a multinational anti-terrorism exercise expected to be held from May 2 to 12. The exercise will take place in Brunei and Singapore and in waters off the two countries. Navies of the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will participate in the drills, along with those from China, the U.S., Russia, Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. Wu Qian, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, outlined further details about the exercise. "The exercise will include joint military training, sailing in formation, escorting, searching at sea, helicopter landing on each others warships, and the fight against terrorism. The Chinese military will send missile destroyer Lanzhou along with 12 SWAT soldiers and four staff officers to the exercise." Hu Weihua, task commander and head of a Destroyer Division of the Chinese Navy, said such cooperation helps countries in the Asian-Pacific region to handle cross-border non-traditional security challenges together. "Chinese warships have participated in ASEAN ADMM-Plus joint military drills many times, making a big contribution to pragmatic cooperation in such fields as humanitarian rescue and aid, maritime security, military medical science, anti-terrorism and peacekeeping." The exercise is the first maritime security and counter-terrorism drill within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' MeetingPlus. It's intended to boost pragmatic cooperation in defense and security amongst all the parties taking part. China adopted its first-ever law on overseas NGOs on Thursday to facilitate their legal operations on the mainland but to combat any activity that might harm national security. The 54-point law, passed at the bimonthly session of the top legislature, clarifies the registration process, operational rules and liabilities of overseas NGOs, as well as measures for their operations in China. The law, which takes effect on Jan 1, requires all overseas NGOs operating in China to be registered and regulated by central or provincial-level police authorities, a stipulation that has caused concern among some NGOs over whether their operations and activities will face restrictions. "Such worries are totally unnecessary if they follow Chinese laws," said Zhang Yong, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He said overseas NGOs have made a great contribution to China's development. There is no specific figure on how many overseas NGOs are in China. Chinese media have estimated there are more than 6,000, and most are engaged in environmental protection, education and poverty relief efforts. The adopted law includes many changes to the previous draft version. For example, the earlier draft required exchanges between Chinese and foreign colleges, hospitals, and science and engineering research institutes, but the adopted version exempts this. The law also removes the restriction limiting each NGO to a single office on the mainland, but the number and locations must be approved by regulatory authorities. Guo Linmao, a member of the commission, said the rights of NGOs will be fully protected, but those that break China's laws will be punished accordingly. "A very limited number of overseas NGOs have conducted activities in China that harm our national security or interests," he said. Behavior that damages China's territorial integrity, regime and people's interests is defined as harming state interests, he said. The new law gives police the authority to talk with representatives of overseas NGOs and ask them not to conduct such activities, or even blacklist or deport them. If they are found to have broken China's Criminal Law, they are also subject to criminal punishment. Photo taken on April 12, 2016 shows the Tropical Plants Pavilion of the Tangshan International Horticultural Exposition 2016 in Tangshan City, north China's Hebei Province. The 171-day expo will kick off here on April 29. [Photo: Xinhua] As people in the city of Tangshan in Hebei preparing to commemorate the 40th anniversary of a devastating earthquake which tore through the industrial city later this summer, by highlighting the achievements made since then. Tangshan, a city about 150 kilometers east of Beijing, was reduced to pebbles in a mega earthquake that hit on July 28th, 1976. Liang Chunlei was ten when the magnitude-7.8 quake rocked the city. "It's really hard for those who survived the quake to recall that moment. It's really tragic." The magnitude-7.8 quake claimed the lives of over 240,000 people, almost a quarter of the city's population. Forty years later, the city's population has increased to nearly 8 million. Its per capita GDP was more than 10,000 US dollars last year, ranking 25th in the country. "The development of Tangshan has been really fast over the past decades. Just take a look at the streets, much better than 30 years or even 10 years ago." And it's not just that. A study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences suggests Tangshan has the potential to become one of China's richest cities by 2025. "In the light of its geographic advantage, we see it as the 'Shenzhen in the North' and the center of the circum-Bohai Sea area because it has a good foundation of industrialization with a complete charred coal production chain." Dr. Wang Yufei is Associate Editor of the 2015 CASS report on urban competitiveness. "Moreover, Tangshan belongs to the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan urban cluster, which is one of the country's biggest urban clusters. The development of the cities in the area will reciprocally benefit Tangshan. That's why we've had such an outlook for Tangshan." As one of China's major steel production bases, Tangshan's steel output makes up one-seventh of the country's total. It has helped the city generate revenue over the past decades, especially when China's economy enjoyed double-digit growth featuring infrastructure construction and property investment. But that former economic strength is now gone. Wang Yufei notes Tangshan's former life-line has now become somewhat of an anchor. "Compared with Beijing or Tianjin, Tangshan's industrial structure is just flat, which is a big problem for the city's economic growth." On top of this, Tangshan has some of the worst air pollution in the country due to the high level of coal used to fire the steel mills. To cope with the challenges, the city has begun cutting its steel production levels, while attempting to upgrade its industrial chain. "Whether its transformation can be successful mainly depends on its industry innovation, including in steel producing technologies. Another aspect it needs to work on is to strengthen the city's 'soft power' in such areas as cultural atmosphere." In an attempt to put a softer face on the hard-steel image Tangshan has, an International Horticultural Expo will open in the city this Friday. For CRI, this is Tu Yun reporting from Tangshan. Guo Luping, 40, is a member of China's 21st medical team assisting Tunisia in healthcare. Guo and 11 other Chinese doctors traveled to Tunisia in November 2014. During her 14-month stay in Tunisia, Guo completed 496 operations. Her expertise was extremely valuable in Tunisia, where there is an overall lack of doctors, and particularly obstetricians. Due to her rich clinical experience and the obvious care she has for her patients, Guo soon won the trust of the local people. Unfortunately, Guo was diagnosed with breast cancer during her home leave in January 2016. Guo started her career as a maternity doctor and pediatrician in 1997. Over the course of her career, she has performed more than 7,000 operations. With more voices being heard and plans being proposed, Chinas status in the international arena has undoubtedly risen since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party. Speaking about Asian security, Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in Asia at the Shanghai Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in 2014. When attending the opening ceremony of the 5th Meeting of CICA Ministers of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Xi urged member countries to build consensus and step up dialogue and coordination in an effort to foster a security governance model with Asian features. The new model is the latest contribution China has made to regional governance. Sacrificing the security of the majority to safeguard that of the minority goes against history and common sense; special interest cliques, which tend to advocate just such illogical prioritization, inevitably bring conflict and confrontation. For instance, the launch of the Asia-Pacific Rebalance strategy by the U.S. in recent years did not bring Asia peace, but only uncertainty. It proved that a U.S.-led alliance system is not the right option to safeguard the peace and stability of Asia. Instead, a system of security governance with Asian features, as suggested by China, will be best for Asian development. Xi urged in his speech for Asian countries to uphold mutual understanding and promote the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and consultation. When encountering complex regional issues, all concerned countries need to stay calm and avoid taking rash action. They must not undermine the big picture outlook for their own good. "Asian features" include openness and inclusiveness, and China strongly opposes exclusivity. With regards to the development of CICA, China always backs adding new members since expanding the partnership network can only result in better regional relations. In addition, China welcomes those non-Asian countries that contribute positive energy to the peaceful development of Asia. China also dedicates itself to the top-level design of an Asian security agenda. In recent years, the world has witnessed China's efforts to promote the resolution of regional security issues like the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the Afghan issue. During the CICA meeting, Chinese leaders had a frank talk about the South China Sea issue and reiterated China's "dual-track approach," calling for relevant countries to work together with China to safeguard peace and stability. China, championing a regional security model with Asian features, will continue to strive for the integration of the Chinese Dream and the Asian Dream to create a brighter future for Asia. (The author is the Deputy Director of the Department for International and Strategic Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.) Brian Cundiff surrendered after an hours-long standoff following the shooting of a deputy. Authorities say a suspect has been charged after a Virginia deputy was shot in the head in Pittsylvania County. They say the suspect, Brian Cundiff, 37, surrendered himself shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, reports WSET. The Pittsylvania County (VA) Sheriff's Office received a "domestic" related call from a family member at a house on Keeling Dr. around 6:30 Tuesday night, officials say. They say the first responding deputies were met with gunfire, which struck one deputy. The deputy suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the side of the head and was treated and subsequently released from the hospital Tuesday night. Cundiff remained in the house for several hours with no contact, officials say. They say a SWAT team did at one point enter the house. After Cundiff surrendered, authorities said he was taken to the Pittsylvania County Jail. Officials say about 40 officers responded to the incident and that no one else, other than the deputy, was injured. The Pittsylvania County Commonwealth's Attorney says Cundiff has been charged with attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer, malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) dropped some hints about what the Republican alternative to Obamacare will look like, and it isnt pretty. One of Ryans main goals is to take cost protections away from people who have serious illnesses. Video: Reuters reported: Ryan said existing federal policy that prevents insurers from charging sick people higher rates for health coverage has raised costs for healthy consumers while undermining choice and competition. The rule, a cornerstone of President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act, has been praised by patient advocates for providing access to medical care for people who previously could not afford private health insurance. The Affordable Care Act also bars insurers from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions. Less than 10 percent of people under 65 are what we call people with pre-existing conditions, who are really kind of uninsurable, Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, told a student audience at Georgetown University. Lets fund risk pools at the state level to subsidize their coverage, so that they can get affordable coverage, he said. You dramatically lower the price for everybody else. You make health insurance so much more affordable, so much more competitive and open up competition. In other words, the Republican plan is to make health insurance more affordable by going back to the old system of allowing insurance companies to charge those preexisting conditions more than they charge healthy people. Paul Ryans Obamacare replacement is a return to the old broken healthcare system. In what universe, do Republicans think that it is good politics to tell sick people that they will either have to pay more for healthcare or not have health insurance? By changing the rule, Republicans would gut the Affordable Care Act and replace it with the unaffordable and we dont care act. If you have a preexisting condition or are currently ill, Republicans are coming for your health care. The GOP will try to dress up their plan as freedom of choice, but for Americans who are dealing with preexisting conditions the only choice they will be left is the one between lingering illness and potential death. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan called on Wednesday for an end to Obamacares financial protections for people with serious medical conditions, saying these consumers should be placed in state high-risk pools. In election-year remarks that could shed light on an expected Republican healthcare alternative, Ryan said existing federal policy that prevents insurers from charging sick people higher rates for health coverage has raised costs for healthy consumers while undermining choice and competition. The rule, a cornerstone of President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act, has been praised by patient advocates for providing access to medical care for people who previously could not afford private health insurance. The Affordable Care Act also bars insurers from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions. Less than 10 percent of people under 65 are what we call people with pre-existing conditions, who are really kind of uninsurable, Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, told a student audience at Georgetown University. Lets fund risk pools at the state level to subsidize their coverage, so that they can get affordable coverage, he said. You dramatically lower the price for everybody else. You make health insurance so much more affordable, so much more competitive and open up competition. Charging the same rates to individuals regardless of their medical history is also a key part of group health plans in the private sector. House Republicans, after repeated votes to repeal Obamacare, have promised to produce their own alternative to the Affordable Care Act as part of a broader policy agenda intended to attract voters in the Nov. 8 presidential election. The policy document is expected just ahead of the Republican presidential nominating convention in July. High-risk pools, which existed before the healthcare law, are state-level entities that guarantee coverage for people with health problems. Analysts say they can be prohibitively expensive and offer less than optimal health coverage. Republicans have proposed state-based risk pools as an Obamacare alternative in the past. Last week, the conservative Republican Study Committee recommended risk pools as part of the House policy agenda, saying premiums should be capped at 200 percent of a states average. (Editing by Leslie Adler) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders stood with Indiana workers and vowed to fight Carrier plant closings that will move 2,100 jobs to Mexico. Video: https://youtu.be/Xvqa7Qzayms Speaking at a United Steelworkers rally outside the Indiana statehouse, Sen. Sanders said: Im here today to tell all of you that I intend to do everything that I can to prevent United Technologies from shutting down their plants in Indianapolis and Huntington and throwing 2,100 workers out on the street and moving to Monterey, Mexico, where they will pay workers $3 an hour. This is not acceptable. This is the kind of corporate behavior that is destroying the middle class of this country and it has got to end. The greed of United Technologies is almost unbelievable. You cant make this stuff up. They have no shame. This is a company that in 2014 provided its retired CEO, Louis Schenevert, with a golden parachute of $172 million including a pension worth $31 million. And they apparently got rid of him because he was doing a bad job! Imagine what they would have given him if he was doing a good job. This is a company that could afford to pay its new CEO more than $14 million in total compensation last year. This is a company which made a profit of more than $7 billion last year. This is a company that received $6 billion in defense contracts last year from the taxpayers of this country. And this is a company that has received more than $58 million in corporate welfare from the Export-Import Bank. That is unacceptable. This is a company that in 2009 received $121 million in federal tax credits designed specifically to keep green manufacturing jobs in the United States. Today, we need to send a very loud and very clear message to the CEO of United Technologies: Stop the greed. Stop destroying the middle class in America. Respect your workers. Respect the American people. If United Technologies wants to receive another defense contract from the taxpayers of this country, it must not move these plants to Mexico. If United Technologies refuses to keep these jobs in Indiana, it should pay back all of the corporate welfare it has received from the taxpayers of this country. Lets be clear, however. What United Technologies is doing here in Indiana is what corporate America has done throughout this country over the last 35 years. It is not acceptable for a company to take hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks, and then move jobs overseas. It is not acceptable for corporate executives to pay themselves bigger salaries while destroying the American middle class. The answer to why Bernie Sanders continues to campaign can be found in his remarks at this protest. Democrats cant rely on any one voice to do it alone and stand up for American workers. President Obama couldnt do it alone. Hillary Clinton wont be able to do it alone. Workers need the voices of all Democrats to stand together against the corporate greed that is killing their jobs. Sen. Sanders is still campaigning, because there are millions of Americans who need him to speak out on their behalf. If America is going to be transformed. If the country is going to change, the fight must not end once a candidate is nominate or another Democratic president is elected. In order to rebuild the middle class, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and every Democrat across the country will need to stand together to end the destruction of the American Dream. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print PoliticusUSA is looking for bloggers who have a passion for liberal/progressive politics and the 2016 election. Here is how to join our team. Help Wanted (Unpaid): Bloggers PoliticusUSA is looking to add bloggers in several areas. Previous blogging and/or managing a current blog strongly preferred. Bloggers will be free to repost their blogs to PoliticusUSA, but only to PoliicusUSA. Proofreading is a must, and familiarity with WordPress is a plus. Bloggers are not paid freelance positions. Blogger Positions : 1). Bloggers are free to choose their own topics. 2). Blog entries must be proofread before publication. 3). Previous blogging experience is strongly preferred. 4). Posts may not be reposts from another website only your personal blog. 5). Single issue and general political bloggers are encouraged to apply. 6). PoliticusUSA is a liberal/progressive site. Please keep this in mind when applying. 7). Media bloggers and bloggers with an interest in presidential, congressional, and state elections will be given additional consideration. Applications without writing samples or links will not be considered. Apply to blog for PoliticusUSA by filling out the form below: Help Wanted Please fill out the form below to apply for a paid part-time reporter position with PolitcusUSA. Name * Email Address * Position Applying For About You, Links, and Writing Samples Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print During an interview on CNNs New Day, senior Sanders campaign adviser Jane Sanders admitted that her husband is not actively trying to flip Clinton superdelegates. Video: "We're not calling super delegates and saying,'Will you switch your vote?' " Jane Sanders tells @AlisynCamerota https://t.co/HEkOfcURVA New Day (@NewDay) April 29, 2016 When asked about trying to flip Clinton superdelegates on CNNs New Day, Sanders said, At the end, you know, were not calling superdelegates and saying will you switch your vote? Our thinking is that superdelegates are elected officials They came on with Sec. Clinton even before Bernie was in the race. It was a given that she was going to be the candidate, and we think and theyre going to see at the end if he has the momentum, if he has got the delegates neck and neck, even above Secretary Clinton and thats possible, then they will be looking at the general election and saying who is the stronger candidate against the Republican nominee. The Sanders campaign has definitely assumed a more passive tone towards Hillary Clinton. They are hoping that they can pile up a string of impressive victories to end the primary that will cause the Clinton superdelegates to rethink their choice. However, the Clinton superdelegates have had a year to consider Sen. Sanders, and they havent flipped, so the odds are probably zero that they flip after the primaries. Jane Sanders answer is a very clear sign that the Bernie Sanders campaign is systematically ending the fight for the nomination. Sen. Sanders has turned the focus of his speeches towards reforming the Democratic Party and the partys message. Bernie Sanders has a vital role to play in building the future of the Democratic Party. The next generation of Democrats could be Berniecrats. Bernie Sanders talks about the issues in a unique way, and if the Democratic Party is going to represent the concerns of ordinary Americans, Sen. Sanders will be a key player in making sure that those concerns have a voice to the highest levels of power. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print If you want to know just how screwed up is Americas response to guns and gun control, the issue Maryland state Sen. C. Anthony Muse hopes will have enough support to outweigh the pressure from the NRA, is not actual guns, but imitation guns. Thats right, last time Muse put forward a bill to ban imitation guns he withdrew it under pressure from the National Rifle Association. Now that the Baltimore police, one year after killing Freddie Gray, have shot a boy who was carrying an imitation Beretta 92 pistol made by Daisy Outdoor Products, Muse says he plans to reintroduce Senate Bill 742, telling International Business Times that What has happened, we hope, will be enough pressure to outweigh the pressure from the NRA. Ironically, IBT relates, The shooting took place while Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was attending an event on the west side of the city commemorating the one-year anniversary of the riot that followed the funeral of Freddie Gray. As New York Times Mid-Atlantic Bureau Chief Sheryl Stolberg put it in a tweet, new mayor, old story. Muse is right when he says Having these replicas on our streets is a very scary situation to put a police officer in who has a split second to make a decision, but the question remains: if you are going to take on the most powerful lobby on earth, why pick a fight over imitation guns rather than real ones? Imitation guns cant be used to shoot people. Sure, they can be mistaken for real guns, as happened in Baltimore, and that is tragic, but youre not going to walk into a school or a theater with a BB gun and kill a dozen people. IBT says the plastic gun carried by the boy in Baltimore was designed to look like a Beretta 92, the civilian version of the popular Italian-made semi-automatic pistol. So we are in a position to see the plastic imitations of civilian version of weapons legally banned while the sale of the real thing is legal. This is a scenario that makes very little sense. Police brought the boys mother in for questioning because her son was carrying a perfectly legal imitation gun. It would make more sense to be questioning the police. Neither the boy nor his mother broke any law. Perhaps police should be more careful about shooting children who are busy shouting at them that the gun is not real: Witness says 13y/o yelled to officers "It's not real, it's not real"..did not drop gun..officer shot him seconds later Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) April 27, 2016 Yet Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said at what IBT called an urgently arranged evening news conference that there was no reason to believe that these officers acted inappropriately in any way. No, certainly there is no reason to suspect officers of a police force that killed Freddie Gray one year ago acted in an inappropriate way in shooting another young black male, who in this case was armed with a fake gun. The truth is that arguments like this unfairly target young blacks, the primary victims of police shootings. The ACLU issued a statement making just this point: Statement from ACLU on shooting of 14-yr-old Dedric Colvin: pic.twitter.com/LD10a3NB5l Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) April 28, 2016 Shooting young black males is a bigger problem than those young black males carrying imitation guns which shoot BBs while gangs of white men carry actual assault weapons firing actual bullets without being shot at by police at all. A Baltimore Police Department statement of Facebook explains that, On April 27, 2016, at approximately 4:10pm, two Baltimore Police Officers were in the area of Aisquith Street and Baltimore Street when they observed a male with a handgun. The officers began to chase the suspect on foot and at the conclusion of the chase a shooting occurred But why chase black youths with what appear to be handguns while white men with what are obviously real guns are not considered a concern? Here we have a black kid chased by cops for just holding an apparent firearm. Another black male was killed at a Walmart store while holding an imitation gun (an MK-177 BB/Pellet rifle), yet we have seen a white man pointing a gun a real gun at people including police without being immediately shot down. Quite apart from the bizarre specter of controlling imitation but not real guns, there is a another problem here, at the heart of what is yet another shooting of an innocent black youth, but it is not imitation guns, or really, guns at all, but a systemic and unapologetic racism. Photo: Baltimore Police Department Portfolio English Edition's premium content is available only for subscribers Learn about the hottest news of the day, along with immediate follow-up analyses and 1000's of exclusive articles with full access to the premium content. Register and apply for a 14 days free trial period. Jeff Vehrenkamphas been named market president for Home Federal Savings Bank'sRochester market. Vehrenkamp started with the bank in 2001 as a mortgage lender in Rochester. He worked for three years in the Rochester market before moving to the Spring Valley branch in 2004 to become branch manager. He became Spring Valley Market Presidentin 2008, and he also oversaw branches in Winona and Marshalltown, Iowa, as well as a satellite branch near the Rochester International Airport. "Having Jeff back in Rochester will be advantageous for both our team and our clients," says Larry McGraw,executive vice president of Home Federal. "His extensive knowledge in ADVERTISEMENT commercial and mortgage lending as well as his leadership experience makes him a perfect resource for Rochester." Rochester-based Home Federal operates 12 full-service offices in Minnesota, located in Albert Lea, Austin, Eagan, Kasson (2), La Crescent, Rochester (4), Spring Valley and Winona; one full-service office in Marshalltown, Iowa; and three loan origination offices located in Delafield, Wis., Sartell, Minn., and Owatonna, Minn. staff reports PHILADELPHIA Les Waas, the advertising legend behind the Mister Softee jingle heard in hundreds of ice cream trucks for more than half a century, has died. He was 94. Waas died April 19 at Abington Hospice in Warminster, according to Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael-Sacks funeral home. The Mister Softee song, originally written in 1960 for the company started in his Philadelphia hometown just a few years earlier, played in the company's ice cream trucks as a way to signal their approach. Soon, the song became ubiquitous with ice cream, summer and fun as the opening notes became instantly recognizable to anyone within earshot sparking a craving they didn't realize existed. Both loved and loathed, the jingle remains a lasting part of the collective American childhood. The tune has also been used by competitors to lure children out of their homes and into the streets for frozen treats. During his advertising career, which spanned more than five decades, Waas wrote and produced more than 970 jingles for advertisers, according to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia where he served as president and chairman of the board. ADVERTISEMENT The Mister Softee song, officially titled "Jingle and Chimes," is his greatest legacy. Although most people know the notes of the twinkling, looping cadence, the song also has lyrics, including: "The creamiest dreamiest soft ice cream you get from Mister Softee" and "Listen for my store on wheels ding-a-ling down the street." Mister Softee has over 600 trucks and over 350 franchise dealers operating in 15 states plus China. Waas was also known for his sense of humor. University of Calgary psychology professor Piers Steel wrote in a 2011 "Psychology Today" article that in 1956, Waas and some of his fellow admen posted a sign in a Philadelphia hotel reading, "The procrastination's club meeting has been postponed." The sign drew attention from local press, prompting Waas to eventually hold the meeting the start of a long-running prank. Waas served as president of the Procrastinators Club of America, which even today claims thousands of members. Waas' wife, Sylvia, died in 2006. He is survived by his children, Sherri Waas Shunfenthal and Murry Waas. Stargazing on these nights has, for the most part, lost its chill, but honestly it's also lost some of its thrill. The winter constellations, overall the brightest of the year, are about to go on a summer vacation from our evening skies and won't be returning until late autumn. In early May, Orion the Hunter and all of his gang of bright stars and constellations, along with the planet Jupiter, start out very low in the evening in the western sky. By the end of the month, all of the great stars of winter have sunk below the horizon by the time it finally gets dark enough to stargaze, and by the end of May that's about 10 p.m. Stargazing is now officially a late-night affair. By far the best celestial gem in the Rochester evening sky this month is still the planet Jupiter, starting out high in the low southern sky after evening twilight. It's the brightest star-like object in the evening sky right now. Jupiter is about 450 million miles away, but even at that distance with a small telescope you can see up to four of its brightest moons as they patiently orbit the big planet. You may even see some of its brighter cloud bands. ADVERTISEMENT Jupiter's background constellation is still Leo the Lion, one of the brighter star patterns in the sky. Look for the backward question mark that outlines the chest and head of the great lion. The moderately bright star at the bottom of the question mark is Regulus, more than 77 light years away. If you face north and look overhead this month, the Big Dipper will appear to be dumping out on top of you. The Big Dipper is always upside-down in the evening this time of year. According to old American folklore, that's why we have so much rain in the spring, and of course, mostly on the weekends. Technically the Big Dipper is the rear end and tail of the constellation Ursa Major, the Big Bear, but it is the brightest part of the great beast. Since Ursa Major is nearly overhead right now, this is a great time to see the fainter stars that make up the rest of that constellation. See my website, lynchandthestars.com , for details. Elsewhere in the northern sky is the Little Dipper, lying on its handle, with the North Star Polaris at the end of the handle. Cassiopeia the Queen, the one that looks like the big W, is very low in the northwestern sky. In the high eastern sky, look for the brightest star you can see, Arcturus, which is also the brightest shiner in the constellation Bootes the Farmer. Bootes actually looks like a giant nocturnal kite with Arcturus at the tail of the kite. According to Greek mythology, Bootes the Farmer is hunting down Ursa Major, the Big Bear. The pursuit will go on until mid-autumn. If you wait until the midnight hour you can watch the planets Mars and Saturn rise fairly close together above the southeast horizon. Mars is by far the brighter of the two, sporting a very distinctive red-orange glow. It's so bright because this month it's the closest it's been to Earth since 2005! Right now Mars is about 53 million miles away, but by the end of the month it will be less than 47 million miles away. We're setting up for a Martian summer. Stay tuned! WINONA A jury last week convicted a former Caledonia funeral director of two counts of prostitution patron. Dennis Harold Jandt, 68, was found guilty of prostitution-attempting to hire 13-15 year old, a felony; no adjudication was made on a lesser charge of prostitution-agrees to hire to engage in prostitution in a public place, a gross misdemeanor. Sentencing has been set for June 15. The case dates back nearly two years, when Jandt replied to an ad placed in the "escort" section of an online classified ads website. The ad was actually the work of Winona law enforcement officers. Jandt and the "escort" exchanged text messages, explicitly discussing arrangements for sex and her actual age. He was told at least twice that the person he would meet was 15 years old. ADVERTISEMENT Jandt was arrested June 26, 2014, at the Winona hotel where the two had arranged to meet. Jandt was a funeral director for about 40 years. In addition to the Caledonia facility, he owned funeral homes in West Salem, Bangor and La Crosse, all in Wisconsin. Karin Sonneman, Winona County attorney, praised the work of Assistant Winona County Attorney Christina Davenport, who tried the case before the jury in a three-day trial. Sonneman also praised the work of the Winona County Sheriff's Office, the Winona Police Department and the Houston County Sheriff's Office for their contributions to the prosecution of the case and their commitment to investigating offenses connected to human sex trafficking. Despite prostitution cases commonly being viewed as a victimless crime, the reality is that the average age of entry into prostitution is 12-14 years old, a release from Sonneman's office says. The children are typically victims of offenses that are often unreported. Sexual exploitation of youth in Minnesota is commonly overlooked, misidentified as something else and undocumented. In 2014, the Winona County Attorney's Office (WCAO) established its human sex trafficking initiative in conjunction with the statewide effort that same year to respond to sexually exploited youth after the implementation of Minnesota's Safe Harbor law. The Safe Harbor law clearly identifies that youth who engage in prostitution are no longer criminals, but rather victims and survivors of sexual exploitation. The WCAO's initiative formed a collaborative, multi-agency approach to the investigation and prosecution of human sex trafficking crimes. The focus of the initiative is to target the demand of patrons to purchase children for sex and the demand that encourages the trafficking of children. WINONA One of the men accused of threatening a college student with a meat saw inside a warehouse has been sentenced in the case. Abdirhahman Hassan Samatar, 35, was sentenced to 45 days in jail, with credit for 45 days served, and placed on probation for two years. He received a stay of adjudication on one count of terroristic threats, a felony. Samatar pleaded guilty to the charge in March; in exchange, one felony count each of false imprisonment and second-degree assault were dismissed. With a stay of adjudication, the defendant pleads guilty, but the court doesn't "accept" the plea. When probation and its conditions are successfully completed, the charges are dismissed, and the defendant's criminal record doesn't reflect a conviction. The arrest record remains. The investigation began about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 13, when Winona police were sent downtown for a report of an assault. They found a man standing on a corner, naked and crying hysterically, the complaint says. ADVERTISEMENT He told officers he had been on his way back to his dorm room earlier and became lost, then was approached by two men later identified as Samatar and John Demaske, 45 who began to yell at him. The men got on either side of him, took him by the shoulders and led him to a warehouse on Laird Street. The victim said he felt like he had to cooperate with them and that "he was going to die in there," court documents say. Once inside the building, Samatar slapped him, then the two made him stand on a chair and remove all of his clothing. According to the reports, the men began to ask the victim about some things they thought he had stolen from them, then told the victim "you don't know the things we're going to do to you" and also spoke about sexually assaulting him. After about 30 minutes, the victim was able to get away, then ran into the street, yelling for help. A search of the warehouse turned up the man's clothing and belongings; also in the shop were a meat slicer, chest freezers, knives, blood-stained white aprons, "hardcore pornography" and machetes, the complaint says. Demaske told police he had found the college student inside the locked shop, and he and Samatar "wanted to scare him." Two days earlier, the report says, a bank bag containing $400 cash was allegedly stolen from the shop, and though Demaske suspected Samatar of stealing it, he hadn't reported it to police. Samatar told authorities Demaske was angry when he found the victim inside the shop, had turned on the meat saw and told the victim he was going to be "cut." The student wasn't injured. Demaske's case is still going through the court. Prosecutor in police shooting to enter alcohol program MINNEAPOLIS The prosecutor whose office won a recent conviction in the high-profile case of a Minneapolis police officer who killed an unarmed woman says he will be entering a treatment program for alcohol issues. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman issued a statement Friday saying he was evaluated for alcohol issues and agrees he needs treatment. Hell be entering a program Monday. Freeman announced last week that he was taking a medical leave, but didnt say why. His Friday statement says he has also worked to stabilize his "unacceptably high blood pressure." He says hes determined to reclaim his health and hopes to be back to work in mid-June. ADVERTISEMENT Last month, a jury convicted Mohamed Noor of murder in the 2017 fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia who called 911 to report a possible crime. Minnesota seeks to add Purdue Pharma owners to opioid suit ST. PAUL Minnesotas attorney general is asking a state court for permission to add the owners of drugmaker Purdue Pharma to a lawsuit that seeks to hold the company responsible for the opioid addiction crisis. Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma makes OxyContin and has been the subject of legal action in nearly every state. Attorney General Keith Ellison wants to add eight members of the Sackler family to Minnesotas lawsuit. He says the Sacklers, who own and operate Purdue, were involved in deceptive marketing tactics and strategies to sell more opioids, despite knowing the risks. If a judge approves, Minnesota would become at least the 11th state to take legal action against one or more members of the Sackler family. A family spokeswoman issued a statement denying the allegations, calling the lawsuit a misguided attempt to place blame where it doesnt belong. Man holed up in hotel surrenders to police ADVERTISEMENT BROOKLYN PARK Authorities say a standoff at a Brooklyn Park hotel ended after more than six hours when a man suspected of assaulting his girlfriend surrendered to police. SWAT officers and crisis negotiators were called to the La Quinta Inn early Friday after a woman reported she was being assaulted by her boyfriend and threatened with a gun. Police say the standoff began at 3:30 a.m. and ended when the man was arrested at about 9:50 a.m. Authorities say the woman was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Police say the 31-year-old suspect was not carry9ing a gun but it was unclear if there were any weapons in the room. The suspect, who has not been formally charged, has previous convictions for drug possession, motor vehicle theft, aggravated robbery, making terroristic threats, drunken driving and burglary. Jail inmate accused of running prostitution ring MORA An inmate at the Kanabec County Jail is charged with running a prostitution ring from his cell. Thirty-eight-year-old Daniel Ellington is charged in Washington County District Court with two counts of sex trafficking and two counts of promotion of prostitution. Prosecutors say Ellington communicated with a prostitute by text and "promoted and profited" from her activities in Woodbury last month. ADVERTISEMENT East Metro Sex Trafficking Task Force director Imran Ali says Ellington was 100 miles away and incarcerated, yet was promoting prostitution and profiting from it. The task force began investigating after a Woodbury detective found an online ad entitled "Blonde Bombshell." The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Kanabec County Sheriff Brian Smith says Ellington used a jail-issued iPod to text and paid a certain price for each message. Associated Press The Department of Natural Resources and Rochester Public Utilities kick off Arbor Month with an Arbor Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Three Links Shelter, 840 Seventh St NE at Silver Lake Park. There will be free food, a chance to use a climbing wall, balloon art, magician, scavenger hunt, live music and leaf stamping. Posters with the theme "Get you daily dose of trees" will be given away while supplies last. Third, fourth and fifth grade students from the Rochester area are attending the celebration. In case of rain, the celebration will be held at the Rochester Community and Technical College Field House, 851 30th Ave SE. Donny Erickson stood outside the Clarion Inn with Viking Lounge bartender Mark Thoreen on Friday afternoon, reminiscing about his favorite karaoke moments at the lounge. Erickson, like many others in Rochester, will have to find a new karaoke spot. The 196-unit hotel and lounge will be demolished within the year, with the new hotel set to be built on the site. "I just can't believe it," Erickson said, noting he stopped for lunch and realized the place had been cleared out. He had plans to drop by for karaoke later in the evening. "I've been coming here a long, long time. ... I'm going to miss this place." The news was broken to employees at a Friday morning meeting after the finalization of the sale Thursday to Lamont Companies. The company intends to redevelop the 5.5-acre property into a Candlewood Suites hotel and multi-tenant retail spot, according to a news release from the company. The release also noted the seller will retain a financial interest in the new development. ADVERTISEMENT "This transaction offered ideal outcomes for both parties involved," said Cushman & Wakefield/NorthMarq Senior Director Ronn Thomas, representing Sonor Hotel Corporation. "The location has easy access to major highways, booming downtown Rochester and other demand generators, and is ideal for a new hotel development." The hotel, located at 1630 South Broadway Avenue, was set to be cleared out by 4 p.m. Many of the hotel's 60 employees said the news came as a shock. "There's lots of camaraderie among employees, everyone got along," Thoreen said, noting he'll miss the group of employees he worked with and who are now looking for new jobs. Hotel employees said the rooms were vacated and guests were sent to other hotels in the area, noting Choice Hotels will take care of people with future reservations, such as wedding receptions. For many in the community, like Erickson, the closure of the 53-year-old establishment has come as a shock. Erickson, who considers himself a Viking Lounge regular, said the move will take away Rochester's "official karaoke bar," adding he was bummed that the management didn't give some of the establishments frequenters a heads up about the closing. "I've been absolutely smitten with this place," Erickson said. "But that's the nature of the beast, I guess. That's business." CHICAGO Prince's final days and unexpected death at age 57 raise questions among experts familiar with prescription painkiller overdoses. It's possible the innovative musician's demise represents one of the most public tragedies in an overdose crisis now gripping America. A law enforcement official told the Associated Press on Thursday that investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis. The law enforcement official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Whether Prince was addicted to painkillers is uncertain, but some are wondering whether the stigma surrounding addiction may have prevented Prince who built a reputation as a sober superstar from seeking help if he was becoming dependent. Does pain treatment lead to addiction? With good management and no history of addiction, opioids can help people find relief from pain with only a small risk of causing addiction, according to a 2010 systematic review of the available studies. ADVERTISEMENT "If you do not have a past history of addiction and are in your 40s and getting pain treatment with opioids, your odds of becoming newly addicted are low," said Maia Szalavitz, author of "Unbroken Brain," a newly published book about addiction. "One study of thousands of ER visits for overdose found that only 13 percent of victims had a chronic pain diagnosis." If Prince had become addicted, Szalavitz said, he may have shunned seeking help. "The stigma that is associated with addiction could well have been what killed him," she said. "Maybe he was afraid to seek help. Maybe he sought help before and was treated in a disrespectful and unproductive way." What is Naloxone? The overdose antidote naloxone has been saving lives for decades, reversing the effect of opiates since it was first approved in 1971. Hospital emergency rooms and ambulance crews use an injectable generic version to revive people whose breathing has slowed or stopped during a drug overdose. Needle-exchange programs in many cities distribute take-home naloxone kits to active drug users. Many experts consider these giveaways of generic injectable naloxone to be a public health success story that has saved thousands of lives. Newer to the market are brand-name versions of naloxone a nasal spray and a "talking" auto-injector that gives instructions. The syringe-free products have prompted new efforts to get naloxone kits to fire departments, police, parents, pharmacists and school nurses. One of the naloxone products, Narcan, was used after Prince's plane made an emergency stop in Moline, Illinois, on April 15 and he was found unconscious on the plane, the law enforcement official told the AP. The official said the so-called "save shot" was given when the plane was on the runway in Moline as Prince returned to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta. ADVERTISEMENT Narcan is carried by Carver County sheriff's department officers, Sheriff Jim Olson said at a news conference April 22. But he added that the overdose antidote drug was not used by first responders as they tried to revive Prince at his home on April 21. How does Naloxone work? Naloxone works by reversing the effects of opiates in the brain and at higher doses can immediately trigger withdrawal symptoms like nausea. Some drug users wake up cursing emergency personnel for ruining their high. Dr. Steven Aks, emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist at Stroger Hospital in Chicago, has seen it happen. Aks has revived many patients with a naloxone shot. "Too many to count," he said. It's an almost daily occurrence in the Chicago ER. "They will come into the emergency department not breathing, with small pupils. They're out of it. You can't wake them up. If you give an injection of naloxone, they start breathing better. They will sit up," Aks said. "If you give them too much they can go into withdrawal and feel sick. They'll feel nauseated, start having stomach cramps and pain throughout their muscles." After naloxone, it's a good idea to keep a patient under observation for about four hours, Aks said. When naloxone wears off, a patient can stop breathing again from opiates still flooding their system. "If you need multiple doses of naloxone (to revive a patient) they should stay overnight," he said. Aks also said more hospitals are educating overdose patients about naloxone and sending them home with kits, so friends and family can be ready with the life-saving antidote. DODGE CENTER The Dodge Center Public Library was awarded a Legacy Community Collaboration grant from the Southeastern Libraries Cooperation to install Little Free Libraries in areas that don't have public libraries or within a significant distance from the public library. "The goal of the Little Free Library project is to promote literacy for all ages and bring community members together to promote the love of reading," said Library Director Ingvild Herfindahl. About 10 of the miniature libraries will be constructed eight of them will be set up throughout the course of the project and the remaining two will be kept by the Dodge Center Library to display during informational programs. Little Free Libraries began in 2009 by Todd Bol of Hudson, Wis., who built a model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother who was a teacher who loved reading, according to the program's website. Bol filled the model with books and put it on a post in his front yard. The goal: "To promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide and to build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations." ADVERTISEMENT Several Southeast Minnesotan residents have installed a Little Free Libraries, including some in Lanesboro, Austin, Rochester and Winona, just to name a few. A number of people will be included in the project, including the industrial technology class at Triton High School as part of a woodworking project, and Mantorville Art Guild members, who will paint and decorate the libraries. Individuals will also host the libraries on their properties. EYOTA The Eyota City Council voted Thursday to instruct its engineers to issue a report on the feasibility of turning an 11-acre tract of land into a lake instead of a wetland. The land, located along the north side of West Second Street and just east of Minnesota Highway 42, was purchased with the thought of turning it into a 10-acre wetland with one acre being zoned for commercial use. But the visit by the Minnesota Design Team on April 14-16 brought the idea to turn the 10 acres into a lake. Eyota Mayor Tyrel Clark said the city had moved down the path to turn the land into a wetland to be used for storm water management, and it needed to stop that process to investigate the lake possibility. "We need to get a cost estimate on the lake," Clark said. "So it has to happen now if we want to investigate this opportunity from the Minnesota Design Team." Clark said he hoped the city's engineers could come back with an answer and answers on whether the lake would still earn the city wetland credits by next month. "The whole thing is about managing storm water," he said. "It's about what's the best fit. That's including cost." The cost isn't the only concern. Clark said council members raised questions on whether a lake would bring too much traffic to that section of town, safety concerns about a lake or how the lake would handle storm water for a big flood. ADVERTISEMENT The lake did have its proponents. Kathy Gust, an Eyota resident, showed up unaware the council would be addressing the issue. Clark said she wanted to start a committee to support the lake with awareness and fundraising. "The whole idea is for this to be the western cap on our downtown redevelopment," Clark said. "And when people come off of Chester Wood Trail, this is one of the first things they'd see coming to downtown." The former Guest House property outside of Rochester will be converted into a 70-bed men's residential mental health and chemical dependency treatment center called the Oakridge Treatment Center, the new owners have announced. New Brighton-based Meridian Behavioral Health bought the facility for $5.1 million from the Guest House, a Michigan-based nonprofit that provides addiction treatment for priests and other Catholic Clergy. Guest House treated more than 2,000 people at the site from 1969 to 2014, when it closed. The English Tudor-style mansion sits on 90 acres at 4800 48th St. NE. The new facility allows Meridian to extend its "innovative model of addiction treatment care" to serve an unmet need for health and chemical dependency in southern Minnesota, according to a press release from Meridian. "Addiction is a hugely prevalent and horribly undertreated disease," said Fran Sauvageau, President and CEO of Meridian. "We look forward to expanding service offerings in southern Minnesota to help those in need find a path to recovery." ADVERTISEMENT Meridian has nearly 8,000 clients annually Meridian at its seven residential and 11 outpatient programs in Minnesota. It offers a range of substance abuse and addiction treatment services, including medication-assisted treatment. "At a time when the region suffers from a shortage of behavioral health services, Meridian continues to invest in new facilities and programs," the Meridian press release says. In January, Meridian opened Beauterre Recovery Institute, a 60-bed residential addiction facility for adults and licensed professionals in Owatonna. Meridian purchased the former Daniel C. Gainey Conference Center from the University of St. Thomas and transformed it into a 61-bed residential addiction treatment center that has been described as "spa-like." Treatment costs $975 per day. Oakridge, located about five miles from downtown Rochester on an expansive wooded lot, will provide care to both privately and publicly funded clients, Meridian's release says. "When it comes to addiction treatment and recovery, every person has different needs," said Dr. Bud Lile, Chief Medical Officer of Meridian. "Like our other programs, Oakridge will tailor treatment plans based on the needs of the individual, specifically addressing the co-occurring mental health issues often intertwined with chemical dependency. The serene, rustic location makes it an ideal therapeutic setting." The Guest House continues to offer addition treatment to men and women who work within the Catholic church at its headquarters in Michigan. About 50 people gathered Thursday night in the cafeteria at John Adams Middle School for a listening session hosted by the Minnesota Judicial Branch Third Judicial District and the Rochester Diversity Council. A panel consisting of three judges, an attorney, a doctor and an interpreter listened to concerns from community members about racial and ethnic fairness in the Minnesota court system. "In eight years, I have not seen one jury with more than one person of color (in Olmsted County)," said Janet Krueger, an attorney with the Olmsted County public defender's office. "They do not feel their being judged by a jury of their peers." Angela Porter, a Minneapolis attorney who is from Rochester, said she feels the same frustration, not seeing juries that look more like her and members of her family. "There are few potential black jurors, few black attorneys and few black judges," she said. ADVERTISEMENT Porter said she finished her undergraduate degree and went to law school in Washington, D.C. When friends would find out she was from Minnesota, she said, she often was asked if there were really black people in Minnesota. "This is where the black people are," she said. "They're in court. When I saw a white defendant, I thought, 'Wow, that's new. That's a novelty.'" Third Judicial District Chief Justice Jeffrey Thompson said the names for jury selection come from voter registration lists, driver's license lists and lists of state identification card holders. "Of those groups, about 9 percent are people of color," he said. "And about 9 percent of our jury pools are people of color." Krueger brought up a second topic concerning juvenile defenders -- the majority of whom are children of color -- being brought into court cuffed and shackled. The image, often paraded in front of the children's families, can bring psychological damage and harkens back to slavery. Olmsted County Judge Kevin Lund said he wished the sheriff had been in attendance to hear that. "Years ago, the police implemented this over great objection by the Olmsted County bench," he said. "The vast majority of children who come through the justice system have had enough trauma in their lives." Since the meeting was set up by the Diversity Council as a safe space to speak, many who voiced their concerns did not give their names. One black woman said had lived in several countries around the world, but it was in the United States where she was most concerned for her sons. ADVERTISEMENT "I feel powerless to protect our boys," she said. The problem, she said, was not limited to the judicial system. Schools, health care and other institutions seem to have a different view of blacks than whites. A card for potential questions handed out for the night asked if people felt confident they would be treated fairly in the judicial system. The woman's answer was direct. "No," she said. Lund said he hoped Thursday's dialogue would prompt a wider discussion in the community. "It's not just about the judicial branch and the law," he said. "It's the schools, health care, the YMCA or jobs." The biggest problem, though, was the overarching sense of injustice so many seemed to feel. "I'm concerned tonight about how many people believe they are unfairly treated," Lund said. MINNEAPOLIS Investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press on Thursday. The official said that among the things investigators are looking at is whether a doctor was on a plane that made an emergency landing in Illinois less than a week before Prince died. The law enforcement official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The official said investigators are also looking into what kind of drugs were on the plane and at Prince's house in suburban Minneapolis. The official also confirmed some details that have previously been reported by other media outlets, including TMZ. ADVERTISEMENT Prince's plane made an emergency stop in Moline, in western Illinois, on April 15 and he was found unconscious on the plane, the official said. The person said first responders gave Prince a shot of Narcan, which is used in suspected opioid overdoses. The official said the so-called save shot was given to when the plane was on the tarmac in Moline as Prince returned to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta. The official said investigators are looking at whether Prince overdosed on the plane and whether an overdose killed him, and at what kind of drugs were involved. One possibility is the powerful painkiller Percocet or something similar, the official said. Narcan can be used on people even if an overdose isn't confirmed because it wouldn't necessarily be harmful. While it's premature to say where the investigation is heading, the mention of a doctor calls to mind other celebrity deaths, including Michael Jackson's. Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in prescribing a powerful anesthetic that contributed to the pop star's death in 2009. A second law enforcement official told AP that prescription drugs were discovered at Prince's home when the musician was found dead on April 21. That official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation into Prince's death. The official did not elaborate. An autopsy has been performed, but results aren't expected for three to four weeks. The search warrant for Prince's Paisley Park home and studio - carried out the day of his death - was filed Thursday under seal at the request of investigators who said it would hamper their investigation if contents were public. An affidavit in support of sealing the warrant, signed by Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud, also warned that disclosing details in the warrant could cause "the search or related searches to be unsuccessful" and risk injury to innocent people. Kamerud declined to comment Thursday on the reports of drugs found at Paisley Park, and told AP that he strongly disputed reports by several media outlets that investigators had asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help in the case. ADVERTISEMENT "We have not asked them for help, or asked them to be a part of the investigation," Kamerud said. "We might contact them to help us, but that hasn't happened. We don't have the medical examiner's report yet. We don't know to what extent pharmaceuticals could be a part of this." Leo Hawkins, a DEA spokesman in Chicago, said he had no comment. Prince's death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn't feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city. Prince was scheduled to perform two shows in St. Louis but canceled them shortly before his death due to health concerns. Longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels. When word of a massive earthquake in Ecuador reached Kate Welp in Rochester, the news didn't seem real. Welp is the executive director of Hands for Humanity , a Minnesota volunteer organization that makes regular medical trips to Portoviejo, one of the cities hit hardest by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck April 16. "As pictures started to come in and more reports it was it was just very hard to comprehend. It didn't seem real," Welp said. Welp immediately began to send text messages, trying to reach her contacts in Portoviejo. When the chaos in Ecuador had settled, more than 650 people were dead and more than 12,400 were injured, according to multiple media reports. Though Hands for Humanity had just completed a medical mission to Portoviejo three weeks previous, Welp knew immediately she and fellow volunteers would be needed again. They scheduled flights for Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT "When someone with so little is now left with nothing, you just have this helpless feeling when you're here and you can't help," said Kallie Howerton, a registered nurse and Hands for Humanity volunteer. "I just makes you want to get down there and do whatever you can to help them." In the days since the earthquake, Welp and Hands for Humanity have been collecting monetary donations on the organization's website, handsforhumanity.com. About $10,000 had already been raised, Welp said. The organization will be working with its partners in Portoviejo, the San Lucas Foundation, to determine how best to help. "As a foundation we don't want to make a quick, emotional reaction. We want to work with the local leaders down there to decide how we can best serve in the coming months," Welp said. Welp has been serving in Ecuador for 16 years. As a foundation, Hands for Humanity has been working primarily in Portoviejo for 13 years. After so many trips, the foundation's volunteers and locals have forged close bonds. "We have regular contacts, and being that we've been there for 16 years, our regular contacts are like family," Welp said. For more information and a link to donate, visit handsforhumanity.com or find Hands for Humanity on Facebook . A two-car crash west of Rochester on Thursday sent one person to the hospital. Keith Butler, 32, of Rochester, was westbound on U.S. Highway 14, and Jesse Durand, 37, of Kasson was southbound on County Road 104 when their two vehicles collided in the westbound lanes at 3:58 p.m., according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Butler sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Mayo Clinic Hospital Saint Marys Campus in Rochester for treatment. He was reported in good condition this morning, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Durand did not sustain any apparent injuries. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office assisted on scene. MINNEAPOLIS A senior Transportation Security Administration manager at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has testified that he received pressure to profile Somali imams and community members visiting his office. In a testimony Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Andrew Rhoades, assistant federal security director for TSA, claims his supervisor had advised him to check the names of potential visitors with the agency's field intelligence officer. He also said his supervisor accused him of "going native" after attending a meeting at a local mosque. "Those in the community in Minneapolis know I would never betray their trust by profiling them," Rhoades said. The allegation sparked a call by Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., for an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security. ADVERTISEMENT A TSA spokesperson has in a statement that his agency is reviewing the complaint and doesn't tolerate racial profiling. "However, it would be unfair and irresponsible to infer or conclude that profiling is a common TSA practice based upon a single interaction between one employee and his supervisor," the statement concludes. Somali leaders said Wednesday the allegations give further credence to longstanding complaints that community members are subject to heavy screening and harassment by the TSA at the Minneapolis airport. "Even if we're not flying, we'll be subject to surveillance and profiling," said Jaylani Hussein, the head of Council on American-Islamic Relations. "This is exactly what the terrorists want for the Muslim community to be feared and seen as suspect." In 2014, the federal government chose Minneapolis as one of three cities to host a pilot project to counter radical recruitment, an effort led by U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. Jibril Afyare, a project supporter, said the TSA allegations, if proven, would deal a major blow to efforts at building trust between the community and federal law enforcement agencies. "This really undermines our continuing cooperation and collaboration with our government, whether it's TSA, FBI or the U.S. attorney's office," he said. Luger's office declined to comment on the allegations before the investigation is complete. Rochester's quest to get $5 million to help upgrade Rochester International Airport's customs facility cleared its first legislative hurdle on Thursday. The Democrat-led Minnesota Senate approved the funding as part of a $587 million supplemental budget bill. The money would come from the state's airport fund. Initially, the city of Rochester had been seeking to get the money via a statewide construction borrowing bill, but later learned that there were surplus dollars in the airport fund that could be tapped. This morning, Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle made an appearance at the airport with Rochester Mayor Ardells Brede and other lawmakers, to highlight the need for the expansion. Rochester International Airport's U.S. Customs space does not meet federal requirements and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has warned the city that if the facility is not upgraded, the agency could close it after giving 120-days notice. If that happened, Rochester would lose its status as an international airport. Under the proposal, the airport's 450-square-foot customs space would be expanded to 20,000 square feet and moved to the main terminal. The total project's price tag is $10.5 million. The city of Rochester would pay nearly $2.8 million, and the Federal Aviation Administration has committed to spending $2.7 million. ADVERTISEMENT Also included in the Senate funding bill is $1 million to build an Olympic-size ski jump in Red Wing. There is also $200,000 for Zumbro Valley Health Center's pilot program that enables people being treated for mental health issues to also have access to on-site primary care services. The House passed a health funding bill with $394,000 for Zumbro Valley Health Center's pilot. There's also $100,000 in the bill to establish a collegiate recovery program at the University of Minnesota Rochester. The House has already passed an education funding bill that has $257,000 in start up funding for the UMR collegiate recovery program and another $179,000 in on-going dollars. The Senate funding bill also has $275,000 for Community Economic Development Association for a study of current and projected growth in southeast Minnesota. Still, the future of the bill is uncertain, as the Republican-controlled house passed a wildly different budget bill for the $900 million budget surplus. The Democrat-led Senate passed a mammoth budget bill that would devote the surplus to tax cuts, a new preschool program and measures meant to tackle racial disparities, among other things. Meanwhile, House Republicans were moving to approve a funding bill for state agencies that includes provisions slashing commissioner pay and imposing a hiring freeze across state government. With those pieces in place, the real bargaining can begin behind closed doors, where legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Dayton will determine whether a compromise is in sight. The two-year, $42 billion budget passed in 2015 left nearly $1 billion unspent, giving lawmakers a second crack at tax cuts, transportation fixes and other unfinished spending priorities. The final products from each chamber are worlds apart, leading some lawmakers to sound a note of caution. "We are about to embark on the most challenging 3 weeks of this session," Sen. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, quipped from the Senate floor. The Senate budget would draw down much of the surplus, while pursuing a stalled proposal to raise gasoline taxes for road and bridge repairs. The GOP-led House wants to save the leftover cash, splitting it between a transportation bill and tax cuts while drumming up some extra money through budget cuts to boost public school spending. ADVERTISEMENT Looking at some of the provisions in the House's budget, such as eliminating the state's Film and TV Board, Dayton expressed exasperation: "I'm not going to revisit budgets that were passed last year. If that's their position, I don't know why we need to spend taxpayer money for the next three and a half weeks. Pack up and go home." Both parties agree that more money is needed for broadband Internet infrastructure, but the Senate's budget put $85 million into the state fund, more than double what was passed in the House this week. Senate Democrats also included $25 million for a voluntary preschool program and funding for schools to hire more school counselors both things absent from the House GOP budget. But Republicans in the Senate took issue with the lack of funding for road and bridge repairs, trying to reroute more than $450 million of the surplus into dedicated transportation accounts. Democrats blocked it, arguing that would hardly make a dent in the billions of dollars needed over the next decade. "It funds everything but transportation," Sen. Scott Newman, R-Hutchinson, said. "There isn't a penny in this bill, not a penny, spent on roads." The Senate budget passed 39-24 after nearly 8 hours of debate. Sen. Carla Nelson was the only Republican who voted for it. "With the clock ticking and the lack of progress in the transportation conference committee, I was compelled to support the supplemental budget bill as it contained the Rochester International Airport funding," she said. "Retaining our designation as an international airport is essential to the very health of our entire region." There's still more to work out. House Republicans haven't specified how much of the surplus they'll earmark for taxes versus transportation. And while neither side has released their lists of public construction projects they hope to fund via borrowing this year, a scope has been set: Senate Democrats have promised to unveil a bonding bill that's $1 billion or larger; House Republicans set the mark at about $600 million. The House debate over a funding package for health care, state departments and public safety agencies veered into abortion as Republicans successfully tacked on amendments that would require licenses and fees at clinics that perform more than 10 abortions a year and would stop state-funded health care programs from paying for abortions. Democrats argued it would only hinder from getting a legal procedure. The full bill was expected to come to a final vote later Thursday evening. ADVERTISEMENT Before the governor and others head into the bargaining room, a group of lawmakers urged leaders to avoid last-minute, secretive deal-making. "Nobody benefits when you make laws behind closed doors in the last minutes," said Nelson. As a two-month-old cease-fire collapses and peace talks stall, the northern city of Aleppo is once again a main battlefield in Syria's devastating civil war. More than 60 people have been killed in less than 24 hours in airstrikes and shelling on contested neighborhoods of the city. A look at Aleppo: --- History Syria's largest city and once its commercial center, Aleppo was a crossroads of civilization for millennia. It hasbeen occupied by the Greeks, Byzantines and multiple Islamic dynasties. As one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, Aleppo's Old City was added in 1986 to UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites. ADVERTISEMENT But the civil war has damaged its landmarks, including the 11th century Umayyad Mosque, which had a minaret collapse during fighting in 2012, the 13th century citadel and the medieval marketplace, where fire damaged more than 500 shops in its narrow, vaulted passageways. Some historic sites have been used as bases for fighters. Aleppo was one of the last cities in Syria to join the uprising against President Bashar Assad's government. --- Significance Because of its strategic location near the Turkish border and symbolic significance, it is often said that whoever holds Aleppo wins the war. Although it would probably not end the war, should Assad's forces recapture Aleppo, it would mark a turning point in the conflict and deal a devastating blow to the opposition. Aleppo is about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Turkish border, and Ankara enjoys wide influence in northern Syria. Most of the rebels' supplies flow across the Turkish border. If the government succeeds in completely blockading the city, it would choke off the rebels and potentially force their surrender. It would also be catastrophic for tens of thousands of civilians still living there. --- A divided city ADVERTISEMENT A number of insurgent groups control several neighborhoods of the city, which has been rocked by airstrikes and is being attacked from the west, south and east by government forces. The only rebel supply line is a corridor that links the city with northern parts of the province leading to the Turkish border. Government forces and their allies control most of the eastern neighborhoods as well as the international airport and the nearby Nairab air base. Militants from the Islamic State group used to control several neighborhoods in Aleppo, but they were forced out by other rebels in early 2014. The main Kurdish militia, known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, controls several predominantly Kurdish northern neighborhoods. The main insurgent groups in the city are the ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham group; the Nour el-Din Zengi; the Tawhid Brigade; and the Nusra Front, al-Qaida's branch in Syria. Smaller groups also are involved in the fighting. The 45/15 school schedule is not right for Rochester. I attended the April 12 Rochester School Board meeting in which the 45/15 yearlong school program was discussed. While the schedule is currently only used at Longfellow Elementary School, the discussion at this meeting implied a 45/15 schedule ultimately could be implemented districtwide. I respect that many people like year-round school. When I first heard of this movement, I thought there would be obvious benefits to a 45/15 schedule. However, after contacting a sociologist in the field and reading current research, I realized perceived benefits of a 45/15 schedule are not apparent. I learned: 1. Large-scale rigorously performed studies have concluded year-round school does not improve student performance; ADVERTISEMENT 2. Recent studies with appropriate controls fail to demonstrate at-risk students benefit; 3. Residents that live in cities that incorporate year-round schools lose 1 percent to 2 percent of their home's property value 4. Year-round school reduces mothers' employment rates by 4 percent; and 5. Year-round school increases the cost of education. For these reasons, sociologists contend year-round school should only be implemented if schools are overcrowded. For many, summers in Minnesota are considered family time and an opportunity to grow outside the classroom. The 45/15 year-round schedule is not supported by research. Therefore, 45/15 should not be further implemented in Rochester schools. Aaron J. Johnson Rochester Isn't it great when government works? Lately, we're seeing some encouraging achievements. Sen. Carla Nelson has played a pivotal role in these efforts, forging bi-partisan consensus. While also active in helping veterans, the disabled and the elderly, Sen. Nelson as a former teacher is keenly focused on education. As our state becomes increasingly diverse, the percentage of students of color grows (it's now more than 30 percent and won't stop there). Today's students are tomorrow's workforce. Yet, we have one of the worst achievement (or opportunity) gaps in the nation. We need all of our students to be well-prepared for college and career. Sen. Nelson recently authored bills providing better educational opportunities, from pre-K through college. Throughout, she aims to optimize existing state resources (such as dual-enrollment funding for post-secondary enrollment options, concurrent enrollment, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate) and agencies (both in K-12 and higher education). By optimizing what's already in place, we can improve outcomes in a cost-efficient and self-sustaining manner. For example, taxpayers support Minnesota public colleges and universities, yet their graduation rates are shockingly low. So Nelson authored a bill to tie 5 percent of their state funding to measurable increases in student retention. That's common sense and bi-partisan. Sen. Nelson is helping make government work for all students. John Miller and Malik Bush ADVERTISEMENT Center for School Change co-directors St. Paul As a proposal to loosen restrictions on food trucks in Rochester continues to be tightened, the final rules are taking shape. Trucks near downtown likely will be restricted to approved zones; proposed buffers from the front doors of restaurants have been expanded to 150 feet from property lines, and suggested fees for trucks operating on public property have grown to $1,500. Some questions remain. Among them: Who will inspect food trucks operating in Rochester? The existing proposal calls for food-truck operators to be licensed by the state or Olmsted County health departments. It offers flexibility for entrepreneurs wanting to operate in more than one county. Yet, some of their brick-and-mortar counterparts say such flexibility shouldn't come without added cost. "The folks in the restaurant business have strongly advocated for how the county (inspection team) does their business," said Rochester City Council member Michael Wojcik during an April 18 public hearing on the issue. ADVERTISEMENT Among those restaurant owners is Joe Powers. The Canadian Honker owner told the council he's not opposed to food trucks and may even consider putting one on the street. However, he said he'd feel more comfortable with Olmsted County in charge of licensing. "I think we have one of the best county health departments in the state," he said, noting the opinion comes from 31 years of working with the agency. We trust Powers knows what he's talking about regarding the county's oversight, but his statement fails to take into account that Olmsted County already inspects local trucks seeking state licenses. Olmsted County Environmental Health Manager Mike Melius said two local inspectors perform initial reviews on local trucks whether they are seeking a state or county license. Additionally, they perform event inspections, as well as routine and complaint-driven inspections, regardless of license type. He said the goal is to make sure food is being sold safely in the county. Requiring local vendors to obtain a county license to operate in Rochester would cause them to need at least two documents to operate across county lines, which could backfire for restaurant owners objecting to mobile competition. Given the growing expenses for operating on Rochester's public streets, it's unlikely that food-truck operators will want to pay additional fees to operate outside the county when they can spend more time in Rochester's downtown at no additional cost. If the concern is about trucks from outside of Olmsted County, the Rochester ordinance could be adjusted to require outside vendors to obtain a local inspection when setting up in the city, similar to what they face during Rochesterfest, the county fair or other events. Melius noted such inspections consume county resources, which is a factor that may need to be a part of the city's review after the first food-truck season, but we expect most trucks operating in Rochester will have faced the scrutiny of Olmsted County inspectors in some form. If they are willing to pay $1,500 to serve Rochester residents, out-of-county operators likely will be willing to face a spot inspection, which could potentially be covered by the city's related revenue. For Olmsted County-based operators, the restrictions and costs already limit some opportunities for new businesses on wheels. It seems onerous to add to the cost by requiring two inspections by the same inspectors if vendors want to operate in Rochester and outside the of county during the same season. ADVERTISEMENT Some flexibility is simply good for business. H.A. Goodman is an immoderate supporter of Bernie Sanders for president. He is also a Huffington Post blogger. In his most recent column, republished at Salon, Goodman returns to the matter of Hillary Clintons private email set-up to conduct official business as Secretary of State. Goodman frames the column as an open letter to FBI Director James Comey. Apart from the expressions of support for Sanders, I would change only one word (could face indictment should read should face indictment). Here is the heart of Goodmans column: Since your investigation has taken so long, many people believe that nothing has been found, or simply that Clinton is too powerful to face any serious repercussions. Any attempt to warn people that Hillary Clinton could realistically face criminal indictments is either viewed as a Republican scare tactic, or lunacy. Even many Bernie Sanders supporters, a group that would benefit the most from the FBI recommending indictment of Clinton, feel its either disloyal, or pointless to bring up the email controversy. The massive group think within the Democratic Party, fostered by years of circumventing political scandals, has literally altered the mindset of normally rational individuals, and voters. To a great many people, there is simply nothing Hillary Clinton can do wrong; even FBI investigations are merged with Republican Benghazi hearings. Ultimately, your hard work, and your investigation into Clintons email server and correspondence, is viewed as a big, fat nothingb[u]rger. As Esquires Charles Pierce writes, The great Hillary email nothingburger is still on the grill, and its certainly overcooked. Sadly, the FBI has become part of a satirical narrative centered upon Clinton being the victim of never-ending Republican attacks. Its important for everyone at the FBI to know that your investigation, and I say this with all due respect, is viewed as a source of amusement for many writers, pundits, and observers loyal to Clinton. The 22 Top Secret emails on a private server (something that should disqualify anyone running for president) are either completely ignored by party faithful, or rationalized by twisted logic. Nothing is taken seriously anymore; everything is viewed through the belief that Republicans are worse, therefore Clintons indiscretions are meaningless. This should tell you something about the state of our Republic. This should also tell you something about the rule of law in our country. If anyone else in the U.S. government owned a private server storing Top Secret intelligence, for the sake of convenience, theyd be in jail. Lt. General Michael Flynn made that case on CNN with Jake Tapper. The mere notion that Hillary Clinton could face criminal indictments is simply unrealistic to many voters, and I explain here what the Clinton campaign and supporters think of you and your organization. There used to be a time in U.S. history when FBI investigations were bad for campaigns; now its not even a speed bump for the former Secretary of State. While Ive stated on this CNN International appearance that Clinton could face indictment, and in a CNN New Day appearance that Clinton manages to continually circumvent scandal, only the FBI can resolve this grandiose issue. Our country is getting closer to electing a person, under FBI investigation for potential misconduct pertaining to classified documents, that will have complete access to every single American intelligence agency. When Univisions Jorge Ramos asked Clinton If you get indicted, will you drop out? the former Secretary of States answer spoke volumes. She responded, Oh, for goodness thats not going to happen. The audience then cheered, for a response that no other American citizen would give to a question regarding possible DOJ indictment. Im not saying that people should fear the FBI. Im saying people should respect the FBI. At this point, Bernie Sanders is the only Democratic candidate not linked to an FBI investigation, yet Clinton is leading in delegates. This dynamic would never take place in any other leading democracy. If David Cameron had been investigated by MI5, rest assured the British would never have allowed him to become leader of his political party, and eventually Prime Minister. No doubt, you must perform your investigation without political pressure, but the reality is that millions of Bernie Sanders supporters are awaiting your verdict. Millions of independent voters, and millions of Democrats who arent voting for Clinton, need to hear your verdict. Needless to say, the Republicans are waiting as well. The entire nation is waiting for you to disclose the details of your year-long email investigation. Team Leniency for Drug Felons, the bipartisan group of Senators that wants, among other things, to let thousands of federal drug felons out of jail, held a press conference today to announce its revised leniency legislation. The changes to the Senate bill that stalled late last year do little to improve it. As Senator David Perdue, one of the Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who stood tall against the bill last Fall, said today: The bills definition of what constitutes a serious violent felony creates a loophole that would allow these serious felons to slip through the system. As currently written, this bill would put thousands of dangerous felons back on the streets early, potentially endangering our families and communities. Senator Jeff Sessions, who along with Senator Tom Cotton, has led the charge against this legislation, put out a detailed statement explaining why he opposes the revised version. Sessions stated: The changes made to the criminal sentencing bill fail to fix the bill and leave us with legislation that still would release thousands of violent felons and endanger millions of Americans whose safety is increasingly threatened by rising crime rates. While visiting concern on prisoners is an important and valuable act, we must understand a core responsibility of the government is safety of the public. The wise approach is to slow down and evaluate the trends before accelerating prison population decline. Democrats dont want to slow down. A vocal faction within the Party is demanding a jail break, and many congressional Dems apparently see releasing prisoners as good regardless of the consequences. Plus, President Obama needs this legislation for his legacy. Why any Republicans are playing along with Obama, Dick Durbin, and company is a mystery. Republicans normally worry about the consequences of actions pushed by the left as compassionate. They should take heed of this warning by Sessions: Professor Matt DeLisi of Iowa State University testified before the Judiciary Committee that releasing 1 percent of the current [federal prison] population would result in approximately 32,850 additional murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, and incidents of arson. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 76.9 percent of drug offenders were re-arrested within 5 years (78 percent of possession offenders and 75 percent of trafficking offenders), with 25 percent of the recidivating offenses (for which they were arrested) being violent crimes. Under current policy and law, we will soon see a 20 percent decline in the prison population, which would mean an increase of over 600,000 serious crimes. Is Team Leniency okay with this? Apparently so. Sen. Sessions then proceeded to a detailed analysis of the revised leniency for drug felons legislation. Here are a few highlights: Under current law, any prior felony drug crime constitutes a qualifying underlying offense that leads to the imposition of these mandatory minimums. This bill, however, counts only drug trafficking and manufacturing-related crimes and violent crimes that carry a possible maximum 10-year term of imprisonment, for which the offender served at least 12 months (no time served is required under current law), as qualifying underlying crimes. In effect, this provision requires a court to exclude drug trafficking convictions for crimes that resulted in significant prison sentences if the maximum term of imprisonment was less than 10 years. According to the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, this provision will redefine drug trafficking recidivism in many, if not most, federal cases from one prior drug trafficking conviction to at least 3 prior separate drug trafficking convictions. In other words, a defendant will have had to have been apprehended and convicted of drug trafficking 3 separate times before he will actually be considered a drug trafficking recidivist in federal court upon his fourth separate drug trafficking conviction. The revised bill would further narrow eligibility for these mandatory minimums by limiting the universe of qualifying predicate offenses to only those for which the offenders release from any term of imprisonment was within 15 years of the commencement of the instant offense. In other words, if a currently incarcerated federal drug trafficker was convicted of a previous drug trafficking offense and finished serving the sentence for that offense in 2001, then that drug trafficking offense would not count against him for purposes of this provision this includes those currently in federal prison who would be eligible for early release due to the retroactive application of this provision. Then, there is this provision, apparently designed to help criminals who are not even U.S. citizens: The revised bill adds a provision to shorten mandatory minimums for drug traffickers who smuggle drugs into the U.S. by boat or submarine. These criminals have never been eligible for such leniency and are rarely if ever U.S. citizens. This provision has already been tagged as the Scarface provision. Attorney General Loretta Lynch recently testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that other than the Southern border, the majority of drugs come into the U.S. by maritime routes. According to a 2014 study, in 2012, 80 percent of all illegal drugs smuggled into the U.S. arrived by sea. To illustrate, just last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a submarine carrying 5.5 tons of cocaine worth more than $1.9 million. (Emphasis added) In addition to foreign drug smugglers, illegal alien drug dealers, who make up more than 25 percent of the federal drug trafficking defendants convicted in FY2015 and who frequently are members of transnational gangs, also benefit under the revised legislation. Says Sessions: The bill still provides leniency for illegal alien drug traffickers. The criminal aliens who were responsible for the 2015 killing of Kate Steinle and the 2014 murders of California Detective Michael Davis, Jr. and Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver had been earlier convicted for the same class of federal drug crimes that some in Congress now seek to roll back through this legislation. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) union president Chris Crane wrote to Senate leaders in opposition to the legislation, noting that of the 6,600 BOP releases that occurred under prior sentencing guideline reductions, fully one-third were aliens. The revised bill also expands the statutory safety valve to major drug traffickers, including those with multiple prior criminal convictions. The safety valve was designed to permit low-level participants in drug trafficking crimes with little to no criminal record to be eligible to avoid mandatory minimums, even if they choose not to cooperate with law enforcement. In the revised legislation, Team Leniency for Drug Felons converts the safety valve into an escape hatch. Sessions notes: The original bill limited the bills expanded safety valve to those who were not an importer/exporter, high-level distributor/supplier, etc. Under the revised bill, these individuals are now eligible for the bills expanded safety valve if a judge finds that they are minor or minimal participants under the sentencing guidelines. This will require fact-specific inquiries, all of which are subject to dispute and will more than likely result in mini-trials, making it easier for drug traffickers to circumvent mandatory minimums. Furthermore, under the original bill, those who have been convicted of drug trafficking and manufacturing-related crimes, and violent crimes that carry a possible maximum 10-year term of imprisonment, for which the offender served at least 12 months, are not eligible for this waiver. The bill has been revised so that only those convicted of the above-described violent crimes are ineligible. This means that those convicted of drug-trafficking and manufacturing-related offenses are now eligible for this waiver. The revised bill is being pushed as a compromise. To me it looks more like deck chair rearrangement in which for every chair moved from the sun to the shade, another is moved from the shade to the sun. A true compromise bill would contain some changes to mens rea laws, to prevent folks from being convicted of regulatory crimes (including crimes against the Nanny State) that they dont know theyre committing. Yet, the revised bill does not offer any such changes. Senator John Coryn, a leading member of Team Leniency for Drug Felons, helpfully explained that mens rea reform was excluded from the Senate measure because Senate Democrats dont favor it. Republican Senators should make it clear that they dont favor releasing major drug felons, including violent ones, at a time when crime is rising and a drug epidemic is plaguing communities all over America. The Chronicle of Higher Education has a story out today about the experiment I began at the University of Colorado at Boulder two years ago, now that the smoke (what kind of smoke you ask?) has cleared. The story is behind a subscriber paywall, but heres the lede and a few fun parts plus some additional commentary from me: After 3 Years, U. of Colorado Deems Its Conservative-Scholars Program a Success By Courtney Kueppers In 2013, Steven F. Hayward accepted what he calls a gonzo challenge from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Seeking to support an underrepresented viewpoint on their campus, the universitys administrators invited Mr. Hayward to fill a newly created and unusual position there: a one-year term as a visiting scholar in conservative thought and policy. I was somewhat reluctant about the whole idea, said Mr. Hayward, who had been a fellow at the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, written for The Wall Street Journal and other national newspapers, and published a two-volume biography of Ronald Reagan. Its an imperfect idea, but it has this advantage: The fact that I was so well advertised and it was such a high-profile appointment meant that I did not have to practice any kind of self-censorship that a lot of conservatives feel in academia. . . . In commenting on the scarcity of qualified conservatives in higher education, I offered this thought: A lot of conservatives dont want to go to graduate school or pursue an academic career because, one, its a crapshoot for everybody, academic jobs are hard to get these days, said Mr. Hayward, now the Ronald Reagan Distinguished Visiting Professor at Pepperdine Universitys School of Public Policy. But then also theres the fear that if youre a conservative, it will be harder to get hired. . . . I added that theres increasing evidence of this, collected in the Dunn-Shields book Ive mentioned before. Mr. Hayward said not having to worry about concealing his conservatism was a highlight of his time in Colorado. An awful lot of conservatives in academia practice self-censorship, Mr. Hayward said. Well, I didnt have to do that in fact, quite the opposite. The administration and the donors who funded the program really wanted me to be a public presence, not so much to pick fights but to invite outside conservative speakers. Stay tuned. Ill have some fun follow up news to announce in a few weeks. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign seeks to delegitimize and destroy Israel. It has made its presence felt on many college campuses. Whence BDS? Bret Stephens and Caroline Glick devote invaluable columns to the question this week. Both columns are based on the eye-opening testimony presented by former Treasury official Jonathan Schanzer, now with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism at a hearing on threats to Israel held on April 19. Schanzers testimony traces the roots of BDS to the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), and KindHearts for Charitable Development three organizations implicated in financing Hamas between 2001 and 2011. Schanzer points out that while members of the three organizations leadership were jailed, deported, or otherwise brought to justice, many high-level and mid-level figures remained in the United States. Schanzer demonstrates that many of them have gravitated to a new organization called American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). In his testimony Schanzer documents the involvement of seven former key employees of now-defunct Hamas-linked organizations who are now associated with AMP. Schanzer testified that AMP is a Chicago-based organization and leading driver of the BDS campaign. According to Schanzer, AMP is arguably the most important sponsor and organizer for Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which is the most visible arm of the BDS campaign on campuses in the United States. AMP provides speakers, training, printed materials, a so-called Apartheid Wall, and grants to SJP activists. AMP even has a campus coordinator on staff whose job is to work directly with SJP and other pro-BDS campus groups across the country. According to an email it sent to subscribers, AMP spent $100,000 on campus activities in 2014 alone. The subcommittee has posted Schanzers heavily footnoted written testimony here. A Berkeley lecturer with the improbably Dickensian name of Hatem Bazian figures prominently in the BDS movement and in SJP. Bazian condemns Schanzers testimony here for McCarthyism and (surprise!) Islamophobia. Winfield Myers comments: As usual, Bazian offers fact-free, cliche-ridden bluster in lieu of rigorous rebuttal. Its all hes got. The video below begins with Schanzers brief statement to the subcommittee. Quotable quote: I should also note that AMP at their 2014 annual conference held a panel inviting guests to come navigate the fine line between legal activism and material support for terrorism. Its also noteworthy that a recent photograph from AMPs suburban Chicago headquarters features a poster with the phrase No Jew will live among them in Jerusalem. This sounds a lot like promoting Hamass agenda here in the United States if you ask me. Further to Pauls point below on Ted Olsons Bad Idea, just take in the dreams of Erwin Chemerinsky, writing a couple weeks ago in The Atlantic about his ideas for what the Supreme Court could do with a durable liberal majority. Chemernisky, one of the leading liberal law professors in the country, doesnt even try to disguise or dress up his undemocratic will to power: Thinking of a Court where there are five or even six justices appointed by Democratic presidents is tantalizing for those on the left, like me, who have spent their entire careers with a Court that has been decidedly right of center. So, where might it most make a difference? . . Death penalty. In 2015, in Glossip v. Gross, Breyer wrote a dissenting opinion, joined by Ginsburg, explaining why the death penalty is unconstitutional. Most expect that Sotomayor and Kagan would come to the same conclusion if there were a fifth vote to end the death penalty. This, even though the death penalty is specifically mentioned in the text of the Constitution. Second Amendment. Until 2008, not once did the Supreme Court find a law to violate the Second Amendment. Then, in District of Columbia v. Heller, the Court, by a 5-4 margin, declared unconstitutional a 35-year-old District of Columbia ordinance that prohibited private ownership or possession of handguns. Scalia wrote the opinion for the Court. A Supreme Court bench with five Democratic appointees will not extend this protection for gun rights and likely would overrule it, returning to the view that the Second Amendment protects only a right to have guns for the purpose of militia service. Also completely ahistorical. But easy to get around. Idaho will simply declare every adult citizen to be a member of the state militia. Dreaming. The possibility of five or six Democratic justices allows one to imagine what might be done in other areas. Might the Court find a constitutional right to education and conclude that disparities in school funding violate the Constitution? Might the Court find that the racial injustices in the criminal-justice system violate equal protection? For so long, progressives have had to focus primarily on keeping the Court from overturning precedents and limiting rights. Justice Scalias death and the coming presidential election allows liberals to dream of how much a different Court could do to advance liberty and justice for all. Chemerinskys dream could well become the American nightmare over the next few years. Given the Democratic Partys lust for the exercise of raw judicial power, Republicans would be right to cite this article as reason for opposing every single Democratic Supreme Court nominee, starting with Garland. PR-Inside.com: 2016-04-29 12:54:55 Press Information Magical Lands Ashington Workspace Lintonville Parkway Ashington Northumberland NE63 9JZ Sarah Marketing Executive +44 (0) 1670 432121 email http://magical-lands.com # 464 Words Ashington WorkspaceLintonville ParkwayAshingtonNorthumberlandNE63 9JZMarketing Executive+44 (0) 1670 432121 Press Release - Magical Lands29th April 2016A Unique 15 Day Guided Tour of JamaicaMagical Lands has launched a unique15 day escorted tour to discover the real Jamaica beyond the tourist trail. This tour of Jamaica uses a local guides and authentic accommodation and is perfect for anyone wishing to discover the history and culture of this wonderful island nation.Get away from the all-inclusive and stay in boutique locally owned properties, mingle in the local markets and discover the real Jamaica behind the tourist trail. With a local guide to show you around you will get to see and meet the Jamaican people, try the local food and drink and explore the history and culture. Try some peanut porridge, take a bite of fried fish and chew on a piece of sugar cane. Shop for some fresh ingredients at the local market and help prepare and cook your own Jamaican Lunch with assistance from your Rasta Chef.We visit Kingston and experience the atmosphere of Down Town by visiting Trench Town Cultural Yard the "government yard" where Bob Marley lived and composed many of his best known songs. Take a look at Marley's old bedroom, his first guitar and the shell of his rusty Volkswagen camper van. Feel the vibes at the Parade, stroll through Kingston's National Heroes Park, take a selfie with Bob Marley and walk in his footsteps at the Museum. From Kingston, we head in to the Blue Mountains, home of the famous Blue Mountain Coffee. Walk the mountain trails that will take you through the Holywell National Park and ascend through modified forest 1,400 metres above sea-level. On the way up, there are panoramic views of St Andrew and Portland before the trail descends through primary forest. You can go rafting on the Rio Grande and as your captain steers the bamboo raft downstream you can soak up the natural beauty with stunning views of the Blue Mountains, colourful flora & fauna and listen to the deafening silence.This takes in the rural side of the country and explores the local market in Brown's Town with its array of fresh smells, great tasting fruits, variety of vegetables and of course colourful vendors. Drive through the hills and enjoy the panoramic views of the North Coast as you make your way through small villages and end the tour in Negril where the tour ends with a relaxing stay on a Caribbean beachfront.The 'Jamaica - Reggae and Rum' group tour starts from 2,199 per person excluding international flights and as with all Magical Lands tours there are no compulsory single supplements. Places are available for tours departing in March, June and November 2017 and groups are limited to a maximum of twelve people.For full details see - http://magical-lands.com End. The #OccupyNASS campaign group has denied being sponsored to move against the National Assembly, or its embattled chairman, Bukola Saraki, pointing instead to a robust support package from unnamed Nigerians, at an average of N400, 000 daily, throughout its campaign period. The group on Thursday said it would bring down its tents and leave the main gate of the National Assembly on Friday morning, three days after starting a sit-in there. At a hastily-arranged press briefing Thursday night, the movement listed its achievements, demands and plans for the future. Bunmi Awoyemi, its convener, said the protest was ending on a good note for all Nigerians. This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that Nigerians from all walks of life were able to galvanise each other to come to Abuja to shut down the National Assembly, Mr. Awoyemi said. We succeeded in sending a very strong message that Nigerians will no longer be taken for a ride. The group denied that the protest was against Mr. Saraki who is under pressure to step down from office as he faces corruption trial. The #OccupyNASS said Mr. Saraki was merely a symptom of a dysfunctional National Assembly. As we have said since the beginning of this protest, its not about Saraki. The aim of this protest is not to get Bukola Saraki to resign because hes a symptom of the entire rot in the legislature, Mr. Awoyemi said. The aim of this project is to achieve fundamental reforms. It also denied being sponsored against the nations legislature, saying its activities were fully funded by Nigerians who are sympathetic to the movements cause. From day one, when Nigerians said theyre interested in occupying the National Assembly, contributions started coming in. Nigerians started asking for the account of the movement, Mr. Awoyemi said. Five thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand and even one million. A Nigerian, sitting amongst you today, donated 1 million to this protest. From U.S., from U.K., people were contributing to this movement. We were averaging 400,000 every day. The #OccupyNass group, however, rejected a call to open its internal processes to public scrutiny, describing a PREMIUM TIMES question about publishing details of its account as insulting. The group said a series of missteps by lawmakers in recent weeks informed their decision to take over the National Assembly. The National Assembly was trying to amend the law in order to escape justice. Some of them even said making laws that will further balance gender issues will make women turn to prostitutes, the group said. The group also held the lawmakers responsible for the ongoing budget impasse between them and President Muhammadu Buhari. We know the president sent a terrible budget, the group said, but they (lawmakers) took this terrible budget, mutilated it, destroyed it, pounded it, separated it and pocketed it. The group listed areas it believed the protest had been resoundingly successful, and acknowledged its agitation was buoyed by the overwhelming support from Nigerians on the Internet. When the movement of OccupyNass started, there were issues that were related to the amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, it was when this movement took off that they took those controversial bills down. We succeeded in sending a very strong message that Nigerians will no longer be taken for a ride. The senators also held a private meeting in which they said theres too much negative publicity about the National Assembly because of our protest. They also cancelled the summons of the CCT chairman. This is a victory not just for the Nigerian people but the agitation on social media as well, the group said. The movement demanded an immediate return of newly-acquired Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles by the lawmakers, immediate passage of the petroleum industry bill as well as a reversal of all constituency projects proposed in the budget. Its members said they will take their campaign to the countrys hinterlands where they will interact with other citizens on the need to recall their lawmakers if their demands were not met. They also promised to continue their agitation for a better Nigeria by sensitising rural dwellers on the activities of their elected lawmakers. Other leaders of the OccupyNass who participated at the briefing include Hamid Bakare, Isa Abubakar, Rekiya Sani and Jubril Gadzama. The Edo State Government has issued the statement below announcing the death of the Oba of Benin. The statement did not say when and how the monarch died. Read full statement below. Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo NOba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institution in Edo state and the country at large. His carriage comes with an elan that was peculiar with the reverence of royalty. His uncommon courage was symbolic of the can-do spirit of the Edo mind. His unity of purpose was not in doubt even as he used his revered position to promote constructive engagement amongst all shades of opinion and culture in Edo state. As a thorough-bred bureaucrat, rising to the pinnacle of his career as a Federal Permanent Secretary, he understood the dynamics and intricacies of governance. He was the alternative voice to the many voiceless in our society, calling government attention to issues of development and transparent governance, without minding whose ox is gored. He was brave, fearless, punchy and instructive in his verbal and written messages. To us at the Edo state Government, he was our strongest supporter; both in his uncommon faith in our ability and his readiness to offer uncommon advice to sharpen public discourse in our shared commitment to transform Edo state. It gladdens our heart, therefore, that our revered Oba was alive to witness the positive transformation of Edo state under his reign, and for standing with us through thick and thin in the course of making the Edo economy a treasure to behold. Being part of that eloquent history of transformation before his reunion with his ancestors gives us further reassurance that he will occupy a special pride of place in the hereafter. We are enveloped with a deep sense of nostalgia that our great Oba, a great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle and iconoclastic royal father of exemplary carriage and conduct, who sustained the dignity of the average Edo mind, has joined his ancestors. We are, however, encouraged by the fact that another great son of the Great Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Edaiken NUselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, who is already showing manifest quintessential attributes of his great father, will step into his fathers big shoes. Edo people will miss our iconoclastic royal father of the great Benin Kingdom. Nigerians and Nigeria will miss this great exemplar of a Royal Father, an Oba of distinction and integrity. Adieu until we meet to part no more. Oba gha to kpere, ise. Adams Oshiomhole, mni, CON Governor The traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom, Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, has died. The monarchs demise was officially announced by Adams Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo State, on Friday. Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing to glory of our highly revered Oba, Mr. Oshiomhole said in a 431-word statement announcing the kings death. Oba Erediauwa was aged 92. Almost one year ago, the monarch, who ascended the throne in 1979, was rumoured to have passed on after an undisclosed illness. The rumour became widespread after the campaign trail of then president, Goodluck Jonathan, landed in Benin in February 2015, and the Oba was conspicuously absent. Frank Irabor, Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, quickly moved to dispel the rumours. They have been peddling that rumour for more than a year now, because the Oba has not been coming out, Mr. Irabor said in a statement. If there is anything like that, there is usually a statement from the palace or from the Benin Traditional Council. The fact that he has not been coming out, even when the President came last week, does not mean that there is anything like that. One month later, a delegation of princes and chiefs in the Benin Kingdom, led by Ada Erediauwa, visited Abuja to convey the Kings assurance of his victory at the polls. However, a few days later, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom, Eheneden Erediauwa; the Iyase (Prime Minister), Sam Igbe; and some traditional chiefs declared that the monarch had not endorsed any candidate for the election. Eheneden had been formally installed as the Edaiken of Uselu, the heir apparent to the throne on March 7, 2015. One of the last public appearances of Oba Erediauwa was his handing of Red Egbeigben, the highest Benin traditional attire, to Mr. Jonathan. Prince Solomon Aiseokhuoba Igbinoghodua Akenzua (later known as Oba nOba Erediauwa) was 56 when he succeeded his father, Oba Akenzua 11, on March 23, 1979. Born on June 22, 1923, the young prince attended Government College, Ibadan, in 1939, from where he gained admission into Yaba College six years later. Afterwards, he was admitted into Kings College, Cambridge, to study Law and Administration. In 1957, he returned to Nigeria to join the Eastern Nigeria Civil Service as a District Officer. He retired from the civil service in 1973 and became the regional representative for Gulf Oil Company. Two years later, he was appointed the Commissioner for Finance by the military administration of Major-General George Innih. Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, the 38th Oba of Benin, was an author, peace advocate, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. In his statement, Mr. Oshiomhole described him as a thoroughbred bureaucrat who was brave, fearless and punchy. Edo people will miss our inchoate royal father of the great Benin Kingdom, Mr. Oshiomhole said. Nigerians and Nigeria will miss this great exemplar of a Royal Father, an Oba of distinction and integrity. Adieu until we meet to part no more. The Enugu State Government says it is opposed to the creation of grazing reserves across the country. The state declared its position following the invasion of Nimbo community by suspected herdsmen, who reportedly killed more than 20 people. The Deputy Governor of the State, Cecilia Ezeilo, made the declaration in Enugu on Friday while presenting the governments position on the incident to the Defence Headquarters Committee on persistent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria. The committee led by Edward Nze, a Major General, was in the state on the mandate of the chief of defence staff to find a lasting solution to menace of herdsmen in the country. Mrs. Ezeilo recommended that the Federal Government should create ranches to reduce the clashes between herdsmen and farmers. In the document, the state government called for immediate disarmament of the herdsmen across the country and a proper screening by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to repatriate the aliens among them. It also said that in discussions with herdsmen, they accused the Shua Arabs headed by one Ahmed Adamu who was included in a peace committee as a major culprit in the security challenges. There should be immediate disarmament of the herdsmen across the country, as they carry sophisticated weapons such as AK-47. Adequate measures should be taken to ensure proper policing of the countrys borders to check the influx of irregular aliens and security men equipped to face challenges, it stated. The state government called for a proper investigation into the circumstances that surrounded the invasion of the community where scores of residents were killed and compensations paid. Having spent enormous resources in the construction of a heliport for the Nigeria Police Force in Enugu, the state government calls for effective use of the facility with regard to fighting crime. Network providers should be made to provide network services to rural communities to enable security experts perform maximally and to share information among the citizenry, it stated. The document was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Gabriel Ajah. Earlier, the leader of the delegation said that there was a compelling need for a military action to curtail the aspect of criminality and terrorism of the herdsmen. Mr. Nze said that all levels of government must rise to the occasion to defeat the marauders. The conflict between herdsmen and farmers has escalated over the last decade with adverse impact on national security and could lead to other consequences if not checked. There must be a military solution to this problem because we observe that some elements of criminality and terrorism have reared their head in it, he said. He said that the incident in Enugu State had given impetus to the directive of the chief of defence staff on the urgent need to stop the marauders forthwith. Mr. Nze said the committee was set up to ensure a coordinated action against the menace, saying that it was unfortunate that the committee was in Nasarawa State when the marauders struck in Nimbo community. We were slated to visit Enugu State on April 27 following a letter dated April 13 from the chief of defence staff to that effect, Mr. Nze said. (NAN) The Union Bank of Nigeria PLC on Thursday floated a savings scheme that would help support the economic transformation and growth of the 11 states in northern region of the country. The scheme tagged UnionKorrect-Dai-Dai targets about 30,000 indigent people in each of the 11 states of the region to help redress the economic hardship in the area, especially among low income earners. The chairman of the initiative, Arasaratnam Sheahan, said in Gombe State at the official launching of the scheme, that it was conceived as a strategic initiative to transform the peoples saving culture. The states expected to benefit from the scheme are Gombe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto, Taraba, Jigawa, Kebbi, Katsina, Gombe and Zamfara. The scheme will help the common man to save at least N1, 000 per month with the assurance of earning cash benefits from the saving every quarter, Mr. Sheahan explained. He said the first phase of the scheme, which would last for two years, has an open period of six months from the time of official launching for over 900 beneficiaries to enrol expected to receive cash benefits within the period of the programme. The branch manager of Union Bank, Gombe branch, Fatai Baruwa, said the programme was coming at the right time when people were facing hardship and difficult times as a result the current economic down turn. Mr. Baruwa said the Union Bank was aiming at providing services geared towards building not only the economic strength of Nigerias northern region, but also to bring about economic benefits to the growth of the country at large. All the states of the federation on Wednesday lamented the negative impact of the economic crunch of the states, as they asked the federal government to expedite action on the approval of a new revenue sharing formula to boost the monthly revenue earnings of the states. President Muhammadu Buhari has said he received with sadness and an immense feeling of great national loss, news of the passing away of the highly revered traditional ruler of Benin Kingdom, Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa. A statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the president extended special commiserations to Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa and other members of the late Obas immediate family. On behalf of the Federal Government, President Buhari extends sincere condolences to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the people of Benin Kingdom and Edo State on the passage of the beloved monarch who had ruled over his people since his ascension to the throne in 1979. President Buhari assures them of the fullest sympathy and solidarity of the Federal Government and all Nigerians as they mourn Oba Erediauwa who will always be remembered as one of the most outstanding traditional rulers of his era. As the late Oba goes to join his very illustrious royal ancestors, President Buhari believes that his place of honour in the history of the Benin Kingdom and Nigeria has been assured by his long and highly successful career as a public servant, administrator and chief custodian of the much celebrated culture and traditions of his people, the statement said. The President prayed that God Almighty will receive the late Obas soul and grant him peaceful repose. He also prayed that God will grant Crown Prince Erediauwa the wisdom and courage he will require to build on the laudable legacies of Oba Erediauwa. The Nigerian Army has denied planning to secretly evacuate hundreds of bodies buried in a mass grave in Zaria, Kaduna State. The bodies are believed to be those of Shiite Muslims killed and secretly buried by troops in December. Amnesty International said satellite images supported the location of the mass grave earlier confirmed by the Kaduna government. A report by the news website, Saharareporters, on Friday, said soldiers had been deployed to guard the site ahead of the evacuation of bodies to hide evidence. A statement signed by Abdul Usman, a Colonel and Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said the report was simply a figment of their jaundiced imagination and a campaign of calumny againt the Army, in reference to the Shia group, Islamic Movement in Nigeria. The Army strongly and categorically reject the IMNs unfounded n spurious allegation. It is simply a concoction of lies and deliberate effort by the IMN to portray the the Nigerian Armys image negatively. The Nigerian Army will like to make it abundantly clear that, it has never contemplated such act at anytime. Its of no relevance whatsoever. We are focused on discharging our constitutional duty as a professional military force. We expect any responsible media to double check such weighty allegations before going to press. Nigerias national security and interest must never be toyed with, he said. He added that, the Nigerian Army as a law abiding entity had already stated its facts regarding the December 12-14 incident in Zaria before the Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba led Judicial Commission of Inquiry. For the avoidance of doubt, the commission had on Wednesday 27th April, 2016 visited all the sites of the incident in Zaria including the grave site in Kaduna. It was widely aired. It is not the duty of the Army to guard any public grave site other than our own designated military cemeteries. It appears that the IMNs desire is to whip up public sympathy not minding their crimes over several years against the people of Zaria as testified by the parties at the just concluded sitting of the commission. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria failed to state her facts or opinion if any as regards the incident of December 12th and 14th 2015 before the judicial commission of inquiry. While we await the report of the judicial commission, we would like to call on the general public to disregard this unfounded claim. Nigerian Army will continue to safeguard the lives and property of all citizens in every part of our great country. That is our mission. The Nigerian army announced on Friday, the discovery of a big pit in Jadda, said to have been used for the dumping of bodies of people killed by the terror group. The bodies were usually left in the pit to decompose, the army said in a statement. The army, in the statement by its acting Director of Public Relations, Sani Usman, said the troops from 7 Division Strike Group Team B, attached to 22 Brigade, discovered the pit on Thursday after dislodging Boko Haram fighters in Jadda, said to be a stronghold of the terror group. The troops freed people who were held hostage by Boko Haram, and recovered one AK-47 rifle with registration number OF-4814, 30 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 12 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 14 Dane Guns, one motorcycle, and two Solar panels, the army said. Other items recovered included 120 litres of petrol and packs of Panadol. Mr. Usman said the troops have intensified effort to clear the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in various parts of the North East. President Andrzej Duda on Thursday swore in Zbigniew Jedrzejewski as a new Constitutional Tribunal judge to replace outgoing Miroslaw Granat, whose term of office expired Wednesday. The ceremony at the Presidential Palace was attended by the lower and upper house speakers and the Constitutional Tribunal chairman. (PAP) R Sridharan, president of AIPIMA and Vimal Mehra, past-president of AIPIMA, in this interaction, say, the association is doing all it can to... By PrintWeek Team All eyes are on the Awards Night of the 12th edition of the PrintWeek Awards to be held at the Grand Hyatt (Santacruz East, Mumbai) on 2 Nov... 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. AMSTERDAM, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Constellium N.V. (NYSE and Euronext: CSTM) ("Constellium" or the "Company") today announced that the Company's invitation and other documents for the Company's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on June 15, 2016, at 15:00 CET (9:00 AM EDT), at the offices of Stibbe, Strawinskylaan 2001, 1077 ZZ Amsterdam, have now been published on its website ( www.constellium.com ) and are available free of charge at the offices of Constellium N.V., Tupolevlaan 41-61, Schiphol-Rijk, PJ 1119N, the Netherlands, attention Corporate Secretary. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130624/NY37453LOGO About Constellium Constellium (NYSE and Euronext: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, automotive and packaging. Constellium generated 5.2 billion of revenue in 2015. www.constellium.com Related Links http://www.constellium.com SOURCE Constellium INDIANAPOLIS, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE / Euronext Paris / SIX: LLY) today informs its shareholders its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016 has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Lilly makes available free of charge on its website, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, reports filed pursuant to Section 16 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after Lilly electronically files these documents with, or furnishes them to, the SEC. These documents are posted on Lilly's website at www.lilly.com - under "Investors." The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. These materials may be obtained electronically by accessing the SEC's home page at www.sec.gov . Copies of the above referenced information will also be made available, free of charge, upon written request to the Company's secretary at Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, U.S.A. This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Single-Diameter System Expands the Possibilities in Expandable Technology HOUSTON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Enventure Global Technology, the pioneer in solid expandable technology, today announced the successful qualification testing of its SameDrift Technology. SameDrift is a drilling liner with an industry standard drift diameter that matches the previous casing string run in a well. The solid expandable system was installed in a test well to verify the functionality of all SameDrift Technology system components together in drilling fluid and to drill out the expanded shoe with industry standard size tools. Enventure has incorporated experience from over 1,800 installations of expandable systems to improve resilience and reduce complexity of the new SameDrift single diameter system. The result promises a system applicable in a wide range of environments for operators around the globe. "This marks a significant milestone for expandable monodiameter technology," said Alastair McClean, President & CEO for Enventure. "SameDrift technology promises to provide a simple & reliable solution for operators facing challenging wellbore conditions because it provides features and capabilities that were not previously available, including the ability to rotate and reciprocate the liner to help work it to setting depth and to improve cement job quality," he explained. Enventure's SameDrift system expands solid steel tubulars using their proprietary expandable shoe and CLEAR cone design for a solution that leaves no part of the liner unexpanded which makes it relatively straightforward to drill ahead into the next hole section. The SameDrift Openhole Liner system ties back to casing without the loss of internal diameter, providing a continuous drift. The SameDrift Openhole Clad system isolates a trouble formation in the well without anchoring back into existing casing and provides the same drift below the previous casing with lengths from a single joint to over 1,000ft. SameDrift is currently available for use below 13-3/8" to 14" casing and provides a 12" drift diameter. Work is under way to provide an 8" SameDrift system soon with other sizes to follow, according to market demand. Enventure expects to install the first commercial 12" SameDrift system in June or July of this year. Enventure Houston-based Enventure Global Technology, Inc. continues to be the world's leading provider of solid expandable technology solutions for the energy industry. The company has a global presence with operations in North America, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, South America, Europe and the Far East. For more information, visit www.EnventureGT.com. Related Links http://www.enventuregt.com SOURCE Enventure Global Technology, Inc. BERLIN, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Glycotope GmbH, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company built on world-leading glyco-biology expertise, today announces the appointment of Dr. Alfredo Zurlo as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Zurlo is an oncologist with many years clinical experience and a proven track record in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. His last role was at Mologen AG where he was Chief Medical Officer and Member of the Executive Board. Previously Dr. Zurlo held various positions at F Hoffmann La Roche and Roche SA, including Senior International Medical Leader Director Oncology and Medical Director Oncology. Before that, he was a medical advisor for the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Dr. Zurlo completed his oncology and radio oncology training at the University of Rome. Paul G. Higham, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are delighted that Alfredo has decided to join Glycotope. He has an exceptionally strong background in oncology both in a clinical setting and within companies developing and marketing treatments for cancer. His experience in designing and managing clinical trials will be invaluable as we continue to advance our mature and growing pipeline of proprietary cancer therapies including our oncology lead PankoMab-GEX which is currently in Phase 2b in ovarian cancer." Dr. Alfredo Zurlo, Chief Medical Officer, said: "I am excited to be joining Glycotope. The company has a unique approach to the development of novel immuno-oncology candidates. Their proprietary glyco-biology platforms allow the generation of monoclonal antibodies with fully human glycosylation improving activity, drug characteristics and side effect profiles. Glycotope can also target carbohydrate epitopes to generate highly specific, novel targets. I very much look forward to working with the team to maximise the clinical potential of this powerful technology base." Roland Sand, Chairman of the Board, added: "We are very pleased to further strengthen Glycotope's management team with the appointment of Alfredo as Chief Medical Officer. It underscores the importance of oncology as our core business where Glycotope is developing projects through clinical trials and plans to enter into co-development partnerships. Our strategic partnership and license agreement with Octapharma established in October last year, through which we received an initial payment of 80m, both validated and endorsed one of our core technologies and gave us the flexibility to execute on our oncology strategy." About Glycotope Glycotope is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company built on world-leading glyco-biology expertise. The Company has a mature and growing pipeline of proprietary cancer therapies including PankoMab-GEX which is currently in a Phase 2b trial in ovarian cancer and has potential across cancer types and as a platform for the development of multiple further immuno-oncology products. Glycotope's innovative GlycoExpress technology enables the generation of high quality oncology and non-oncology candidates with fully human glycosylation improving activity, drug characteristics and side effect profiles. Its GlycoBody platform generates highly specific mAbs against carbohydrate epitopes found only on tumor cells. Glycotope is based in Berlin with a highly specialised GMP manufacturing facility in Heidelberg. The Company has a strong financial base being well supported by the existing investors including the Strungmann Family Office. Contact: Glycotope GmbH Luisa Brunig Phone: +49(0)30-9489-2588 Email: Luisa.Bruenig@glycotope.com Consilium Strategic Communications Chris Gardner, Jonathan Birt, Jessica Hodgson and Hendrik Thys Phone: +44(0)20-3709-5700 Email: glycotope@consilium-comms.com SOURCE Glycotope GmbH CALGARY, Alberta, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Oando Energy Resources Inc. ("OER" or the "Company") (TSX: OER) announces that the outside date under OER's previously announced proposed plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") with Oando PLC and Oando E&P Holdings Limited (the "Purchaser") has been extended to May 31, 2016 in order for the parties to obtain the remaining outstanding lender consents. Other material conditions precedent to completion of the Arrangement have been satisfied, including the approval of OER's shareholders and the final order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Full details regarding the terms of the Arrangement are set out in OER's management information circular dated January 19, 2016. Copies of the arrangement agreement, the management information circular and certain related documents have been filed with Canadian securities regulators and are available under the Company's profile on the Canadian SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. About Oando Energy Resources Inc. (OER) OER currently has a broad suite of producing, development and exploration assets in the Gulf of Guinea (predominantly in Nigeria). Cautionary Statement No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Forward-looking statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to intended acquisitions. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: the Arrangement Agreement may be terminated in certain circumstances; general business, economic, competitive, political, regulatory and social uncertainties; risks related to factors beyond the control of the Purchaser, Oando PLC or the Company; foreign countries' regulatory requirements; risks related to certain directors and executive officers of the Company possibly having interests in the Arrangement Agreement that are different from other Shareholders; risks that other conditions to the consummation of the Arrangement are not satisfied; global economic climate; dilution; ability to complete acquisitions; environmental risks; community and non-governmental actions; and regulatory risks. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of forward-looking statements of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's financial results are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) under the Company. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Pade Durotoye, CEO, Oando Energy Resources Inc., pdurotoye@oandoenergyresources.com, +1-403-561-1713. Tokunboh Akindele, Head, Investor Relations, Oando Energy Resources Inc., takindele@oandoenergyresources.com, +1-403-560-7450. SOURCE Oando Energy Resources Inc. PUNE, India, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ReportsnReports.com announces newly published Global Pantothenic Acid Industry 2016 Market Research Report available in the quickly growing chemicals section of its online business intelligence library. Complete report on the pantothenic acid market spread across 156 pages, profiling 18 companies and supported with 240 tables and figures is now available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/537101-global-pantothenic-acid-industry-2016-market-research-report.html . The Global Pantothenic Acid Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Pantothenic Acid industry. Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Pantothenic Acid market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions' development status. Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (US, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added. Few key manufacturers included in this report are Global Pantothenic Acid Industry AccuStandard, Toronto Research Chemicals, City Chemical, Service Chemical, Pfaltz & Bauer, 3B Pharmachem (Wuhan) International, BePharm (Click here for a quote), Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co, Shanghai Haoyuan Chemexpress Co, Cheng Du Micxy Chemical Co, Bide Pharmatech, Beijing Hengye Zhongyuan Chemical Co, Hubei Xiantao Xianlong Chemical Industry Co, Jiangsu Qiangsheng Chemical Co, Ningbo Inno Pharmchem Co, Tianjin Institute of Fine Chemicals retrocession, Tianjin Fucheng Chemical Reagent Factory and Shanghai Haiqu Chemical Co. The report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. What's more, the Pantothenic Acid industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered. With 240 tables and figures to support the Pantothenic Acid market analysis, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market. 2016-2021 forecasts for Pantothenic Acid market provided in this report include 2016-2021 Pantothenic Acid capacity production overview, production market share, sales overview, supply sales and shortage, import export consumption and cost price production value gross margin. Order a copy of Global Pantothenic Acid Market Report 2016 research report at http://www.reportsnreports.com/Purchase.aspx?name=537101 . Explore more reports on the Chemicals market at http://www.reportsnreports.com/market-research/chemicals/ . Some of the tables and figures provided in Global Pantothenic Acid Market Report 2016 research report include: Table Global Capacity (MT) of Pantothenic Acid by Types 2016-2021 Table Global Production (MT) of Pantothenic Acid by Types 2016-2021 Table Global Revenue (M USD) of Pantothenic Acid by Types 2016-2021 Figure Global Revenue Market Share of Pantothenic Acid by Types in 2016 Figure Global Consumption Volume Market Share of Pantothenic Acid by Regions in 2021 Table Global Consumption Value (M USD) of Pantothenic Acid by Regions 2016-2021 Figure Global Consumption Volume (MT) and Growth Rate of Pantothenic Acid 2016-2021 Figure Global Consumption Value (M USD) and Growth Rate of Pantothenic Acid 2016-2021 Another research titled "Global and Chinese DL-Pantothenic acid Industry, 2015 Market Research Report" is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Global and Chinese DL-Pantothenic acid industry with a focus on the global and Chinese market. The report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2010-2015 market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of DL-Pantothenic acid industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2015-2020 market development trends of DL-Pantothenic acid industry. With 98 tables and figures the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market. Read more at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/479094-global-and-chinese-dl-pantothenic-acid-industry-2015-market-research-report.html . About Us: ReportsnReports.com is an online market research reports library of 500,000+ in-depth studies of over 5000 micro markets. Not limited to any one industry, ReportsnReports.com offers research studies on agriculture, energy and power, chemicals, environment, medical devices, healthcare, food and beverages, water, advanced materials and much more. Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune - 411013 Maharashtra, India. + 1 888 391 5441 sales@reportsandreports.com Connect With Us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReportsnReports/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reportsnreports Twitter: https: //twitter.com/marketsreports G+ / Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/111656568937629536321/posts RSS/Feeds: http://www.reportsnreports.com/feed/l-latestreports.xml SOURCE ReportsnReports LA PLAINE SAINT-DENIS, France, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SRP Groupe announces the filing of its 2015 Registration document, including the annual financial report, registered with the French securities regulator, the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) under the number R.16-034, on April 28, 2016. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151124/290566LOGO ) The following documents are incorporated into the 2015 Registration document: the 2015 annual financial report, the report by the Chairman of the Board of Directors required under Article L.225-37 of the French Commercial Code, the reports from the Statutory Auditors and the statement of Statutory Auditors' fees. The 2015 Registration document is available on the websites of SRP Groupe (www.showroomprivegroup.com) and the AMF (www.amf-france.org). It is also available at SRP Groupe corporate office, 1, rue des Bles ZAC Montjoie 93212 La Plaine Saint-Denis Cedex, France. ABOUT SHOWROOMPRIVE.COM Showroomprive.com is an innovative European player in the online private sales industry, specialized in fashion. Showroomprive offers a daily selection of 1,500 brand partners on its mobile app or online. It has over 25 million members in France and in eight of its European country markets. Since its launch in 2006, the company has enjoyed quick and profitable growth. Showroomprive listed on the Euronext Paris market since October 2015 (code: SRP), Showroomprive registered gross turnover of over 600 million euros in 2015, and 443 million euros in net sales, up 27% versus the previous year. The company employs more than 800 people. For more information: http://showroomprivegroup.com This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire. SOURCE showroomprive.com LONDON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A Timberland Classic Updated with New Colours and Materials Iconic Summer Shoe Suitable for City Life as well as Sailing For SS16, Timberland has revisited its classic boat shoe silhouette, offering the style in different materials, such as premium leather and supple suede, in a plethora of loud summer colours - most notably red, green and yellow. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140410/680200 ) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361523 ) An iconic Timberland staple since 1979, the boat shoe has served as a deck shoe as well as an urban choice of footwear. Few other shoes have such a versatile appeal; the boat shoe works across a multitude of styles, whether it's preppy, chic or a sportier look. Its durable design means it's up for the task as a work shoe as well as the perfect summer shoe: easy to slip in and out of on hot beach days. Prices range from 80 - 130 and are available at timberlandonline.co.uk as well as the newly opened Oxford Street Store. About Timberland Timberland, a wholly owned subsidiary of VF Corporation, is a global leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium-quality footwear, apparel and accessories for consumers who value the outdoors and their time in it. Timberland markets products under the Timberland, Earthkeepers, Timberland PRO, and Timberland Boot Company brands, all of which offer quality workmanship and detailing and are built to withstand the elements of nature. The company's products can be found in leading department and specialty stores as well as Timberland retail stores throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, South America, South Africa and the Middle East. Timberland's dedication to making quality products is matched by the company's commitment to "doing well and doing good" -- forging powerful partnerships among employees, consumers and service partners to transform the communities in which they live and work. To learn more about Timberland, please visit http://www.timberland.com SOURCE Timberland ISTANBUL, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Set to take place as a full-fledged tradeshow for the first time in Turkey, Tissue World Istanbul 2016 scheduled from 27-29 September 2016 is set to be a very unique addition to the global Tissue World portfolio. Organized by UBM Asia and next to a wide range of tissue industry suppliers, Tissue World Istanbul will feature the highest number of tissue manufacturers and converters on the exhibition show floor. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121014/HK92339LOGO-d Confirmed tissue manufacturers on the exhibition showfloor include Hayat Kimya, Ipek Kagit, Aktul Kagit, Lila Kagit, Amaco and Mediterranean Tissue Mill, to name just a few. The strong interest and support from tissue mills and converters at Tissue World Istanbul 2016 corroborates the rising importance of the tissue industry in Turkey, strategically located on the crossroads of Eastern Europe, Russia, the CIS, the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa. Machine manufacturers who will be exhibiting include ICM Makina, Point Makina, Jetmaksan and Yusufoglu Makina. Similar to all other Tissue World events, Tissue World Istanbul 2016 features a conference alongside the tradeshow, covering critical issues and technological innovations impacting the industry locally and regionally. The conference will consist of two main sessions: the Senior Management Seminar and Applied Technology Seminar. The Senior Management Seminar will explore the important factors driving the business opportunities in the region while the Applied Technology Seminar will cover tissue papermaking advances; converting, packaging, wrapping and logistics; water and environment; and fibers and stock preparation. For more information on participating as an exhibiting company or visiting the exhibition, please visit www.tissueworld.com/istanbul/ or email info@tissueworld.com. About Tissue World Tissue World is the leading global event series serving the tissue industry worldwide since 1993. With events in Istanbul, Milan, Miami and Sao Paulo, it offers an integrated and intertwined platform consisting of exhibitions, conferences and a magazine providing an unmatched offline and online meeting place to do business, exchange ideas and learn, all year round. Contact: Agnes Gehot +65 6592 0888 ext 886 agnes.gehot@ubm.com Related Links http://www.tissueworld.com/ SOURCE Tissue World - UBM LONDON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VTTI Energy Partners LP (NYSE: VTTI) today filed its 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the "Form 20-F") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange at www.sec.gov. The Form 20-F is available for download on the Company's website at http://www.vttienergypartners.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141031/155895LOGO Shareholders may request a hard copy of the Form 20-F, including VTTI's complete audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, free of charge, by contacting VTTI's Investor Relations at info@vttienergypartners.com About VTTI Energy Partners LP VTTI Energy Partners LP is a fee-base, growth-orientated limited partnership, formed to own, operate, develop and acquire refined assets include interests in a broad-based portfolio of six terminals that are strategically located in key energy hubs throughout the world with a combined total storage capacity of 35.7 million barrels / 5.6 million m3 capacity. The Partnership's common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VTTI". Forward Looking Statements This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in VTTI's registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which is available via the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. VTTI undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this press release. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Contracts VTTI Energy Partners LP Robert Abbott, Chief Financial Officer +44 20 3772 0110 Hill + Knowlton Strategies New York, Peter Poulos +1 212 885 0588 Hill + Knowlton Strategies Amsterdam, Tanno Massar +31 20 4044707 Related Links http://www.vttienergypartners.com SOURCE VTTI Energy Partners LP OBERKOCHEN, Germany, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Programs for increasing efficiency bear fruit The ZEISS Group has ended the first six months of fiscal year 2015/16 (ended 31 March) with an increase in revenue which rose by 5 percent over the previous year to 2.322 billion (first half of 2014/15: 2.206 billion). At 280 million, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were almost 90 million above the previous year's figure (191 million). "The first half of the year went well overall. We achieved particularly strong growth in the Medical Technology and Research & Quality Technology segments," said Dr. Michael Kaschke, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss AG. "In addition, the programs initiated to increase the company's competitiveness are bearing fruit." ZEISS has a global workforce of 25,310 people. Expenditure on research and development activities totaled 207 million. Investments in property, plant and equipment amounted to 54 million. "As we are continuing to consistently optimize our cost structures and efficiency, we predict a slight increase in both revenue and the EBIT margin overall in 2015/16," says Kaschke. More information at http://www.zeiss.com/press About ZEISS ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries. The ZEISS Group develops and distributes semiconductor manufacturing equipment, measuring technology, microscopes, medical technology, eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and planetarium technology. With its solutions, the company constantly advances the world of optics and helps shape technological progress. ZEISS is divided up into the four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Research & Quality Technology, Medical Technology, and Vision Care/ Consumer Optics. ZEISS is represented in over 40 countries and operates more than 30 production sites, over 50 sales and service locations and about 25 research and development facilities. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. Carl Zeiss AG is the strategic management holding company that manages the ZEISS Group. The company is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation). Press contact ZEISS Group Jorg Nitschke, Press Spokesman Phone +49-7364-20-3242 Email: joerg.nitschke@zeiss.com SOURCE Carl Zeiss AG NEW ORLEANS, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 365 Connect, a leading provider of award-winning marketing, leasing, and resident technology platforms for the multifamily housing industry announced today that the company will participate in the Apartment Internet Marketing Conference. 365 Connect is also a key sponsor of the event. The conference will occur May 2 - 4, 2016 in Huntington Beach, California. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160426/360354LOGO Delivering technology solutions to multifamily housing communities across the nation, 365 Connect will exhibit and demonstrate its innovative resident lifecycle platform throughout the conference. The 365 Connect Platform resolves issues every multifamily community faces: marketing, leasing, and delivering services to residents. Enhancing living experiences by opening lines of communication, the platform follows the entire resident lifecycle, providing a nexus of information, resources, and services. 365 Connect Founder and CEO, Kerry W. Kirby, stated, "The Apartment Internet Marketing Conference hosts one of the most concentrated gatherings of technology professionals in the multifamily housing industry. With our focus on connecting both future and existing residents with where they live, this event is by far one of the most important conferences for us to attend each year as we engage, learn, and evolve our platform by interacting with our industry peers." The Apartment Internet Marketing Conference will feature an array of speakers, panelists, and apartment industry executives and will present an intimate look at the state of marketing from the perspective of multifamily management and ownership leaders. The conference has pioneered the exploration of topics like ratings and reviews, accountable marketing, revenue management as well as the explosion of video marketing. This year's event will focus on user experience, predictive lead generation, and utilizing virtual reality in order to attract prospective renters. With 36 technology awards and counting, the 365 Connect Technology Platform is highly recognized by its peers for its unique ability to market communities across the Internet, automate social media postings, and deliver decision-making resources and transactional tools across multiple devices. Today, 365 Connect's innovative technology platforms are utilized across the nation by the most respected national, regional, and local multifamily housing operators. "365 Connect is always proud to participate in the Apartment Internet Marketing Conference. This event amplifies our message that considerable achievements in technology come from commitment, creativity, and dedication. When our team attends the conference each year, we observe industry leaders and entrepreneurs enthusiastically gathering to discuss the latest trends, incubate new ideas, and collaborate on strategic action. In keeping step with these passionate innovators, we encourage attendees to stop by our business lounge, meet our amazing team members, and learn why multifamily communities all over the country are leveraging the power of our platform," Kirby added. About The Apartment Internet Marketing Conference: The Apartment Internet Marketing Conference is the apartment industry's only event dedicated solely to marketing, pricing, and encompasses all of the technological efforts surrounding the customer experience of the prospective renter. It is the most detailed and informative event in the industry and is sure to attract the industry's leading buyers of online and transactional services. Joshua Tree Conference Group has produced the AIM Conference since 2008. For more information visit: www.AIMconf.com About 365 Connect, LLC: 365 Connect is a leading provider of award-winning marketing, leasing, and resident technology platforms for the multifamily housing industry. Delivering a fully-integrated solution that eliminates redundant marketing efforts, simplifies transactions, and provides services after the lease is signed, the 365 Connect Platform interfaces with a variety of third-party applications to streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Powering the resident lifecycle since 2003, 365 Connect delivers game-changing results for its clients and the residents they serve by remaining laser-focused on connecting people with where they live. Explore: www.365connect.com This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE 365 Connect Related Links http://www.365connect.com PUNE, India, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "3D Printing Materials Market by Type (Plastics, Metals, Ceramics, and Others), by Form (Filament, Powder and Liquid), by Application, and by Region - Global Forecasts to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, The market is projected to grow from USD 530.1 Million in 2016 to USD 1,409.5 Million by 2021, at a CAGR of 21.60% during the same period. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 73 market data Tables and 44 Figures spread through 142 Pages and in-depth TOC on "3D Printing Materials Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/3d-printing-materials-market-1295.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. 3D printing technology has been adopted by major end-use industries because of its design flexibility, less wastage, and environmentally friendly properties among others. The increase in the demand for 3D printing technology in aerospace & defense, medical & dental, automotive, and consumer goods is driving the 3D printing materials market, globally. Medical & dental is one of the key segments in the 3D printing materials market Medical & dental is one of the major applications that use 3D printing technology. Several medical products such as surgical equipment, prosthetics & implants, and tissue engineering products are manufactured through 3D printing technology. Apart from this, 3D printing is also used for technologies in the field of medicine such as orthopaedic, dental, and cranio-maxillofacial. With recent advancements in bio-printing applications of the 3D printing technology, human organs can also be printed. Metal materials are expected to dominate the 3D printing materials market Metals have a higher market share in comparison to plastics and ceramics owning to its high strength. Therefore, they have a wide range applications in the aerospace & defense, medical & dental, and automotive industries that require strong materials for the making of end-use parts by using 3D printing technology. Metals are generally available in powder form with different grades of colors. Titanium is a special material with high strength used in 3D printing spare parts, medical, jewelry, home decor, tools, and army related products. For More Info Make Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=1295 North America is the largest 3D printing materials market The U.S. accounts for a major share of the 3D Printing Materials Market in North America, whereas Germany accounts for the major market of the European region. High growth in the U.S. is attributed to the growing demand for 3D printing technology, especially from the aerospace & defense industry. The Asia-Pacific region is also experiencing high growth in the 3D printing materials market. This increase in growth is due to the adoption of 3D printing technology in countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea. Major players in the 3D printing materials market: 3D Systems Corporation (U.S.) Arcam AB ( Sweden ) ) Arkema S.A. ( France ) ) Royal DSM N.V. ( Netherlands ) ) ExOne GmbH ( Germany ) ) Stratasys Ltd. (U.S.) MarketsandMarkets broadly segments the 3D printing materials market based on material type, form, and application. The study covers more than seven countries for the four main regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and RoW. Browse Related Reports: 3D Printing Metal Market by Form (Powder and Filament), by Type (Titanium, Nickel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Others), by Application (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Medical & Dental, Others), and by Region - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/3d-printing-metal-market-34714085.html 3D Printing Plastic Market by Type (Photopolymers, ABS, PLA, Polyamide/Nylon, Others), by Form (Filament, Ink, Powder), by Application, by End-User Industry, and by Region - Global Forecasts to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/3d-printing-plastic-market-21707470.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the 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 a 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. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Tel: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/chemical Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets PIERRE, S.D., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The state of South Dakota's new Internet sales tax mandate to force out-of-state sellers to collect South Dakota sales tax is an unconstitutional expansion of state tax powers and directly conflicts with precedent set by the Supreme Court of the United States. That's according to a suit filed today by the American Catalog Mailers Association (ACMA) and NetChoice in South Dakota's Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. Andy Gerlach, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Revenue, is the named defendant. In 1992, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota that, under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, states do not have the power to require sales tax collection by out-of-state sellers having no physical presence in that state. Under Quill, a company whose only contact with the state is communicating with customers via remote meanssuch as mail, common carrier, or the Internetlacks a "physical presence" in the state. In direct contravention of the Supreme Court's Quill decision, South Dakota approved a statute (SB 106) that creates new sales and use tax collection obligations on remote sellers. This novel "economic presence" classification defines retailers as having nexus within the state if they exceed $100,000 in annual sales or 200 remote sales transactions with South Dakota customers. Moreover, this applies not only to physical sales, but also sales of digital goods and online services. The new law takes effect May 1 and the State began circulating demand notices in March. "South Dakota is showing wanton disregard for established Supreme Court precedent," said Hamilton Davison, president and executive director of the ACMA. "This statute is blatantly unconstitutional and flies in the face of law that has been settled for decades. States simply don't have the authority to pick and choose the Supreme Court decisions they will follow." "South Dakota has imposed unconstitutional and unworkable burdens on remote sellers," said Steve DelBianco, executive director of NetChoice. "Left unchecked, this misguided tax law could set the course for enormous tax and administrative burdens on businesses across the country. Irresponsible state laws are not the way to make new national policies for interstate commerce." The plaintiff trade associations seek a declaratory judgment against the South Dakota Department of Revenue. If granted, this would mean that the statute is unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable. If not addressed, this new law will impose significant upfront costs on retailers. Research by the TruST coalition estimates that a mid-market retailer collecting taxes for states with multiple taxing jurisdictions and definitions would spend $80,000 - $290,000 in setup and integration costs and $57,500 to $260,000 in ongoing maintenance, updates, audits and service fees charged by "free" software providers. ACMA and NetChoice represent eCommerce businesses, catalog and remote sellers who will be directly and adversely affected by South Dakota's new sales tax law. They are also co-founders of the TruST coalition, which represents American businesses in the fight to keep interstate commerce and competition free from unfair tax burdens imposed by states where businesses have no operations or representation. South Dakota is not the only state considering such unconstitutional sales tax laws. Other states have passed or are considering similar legislation to define economic presence and undermine Quill, including Alabama, Utah, and Colorado. "This is equivalent to malpractice," said Davison. "It represents exactly the type of bad governance that makes Americans cynical of big government. While US Supreme Court precedent gives Congress the right to make new rules for interstate commerce in this area, State legislatures do not have this right." Congress is currently working to create a federal solution to Internet and remote sales tax. The ACMA and NetChoice support a legislative approach laid out by the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA-6th), which would administer sales taxes based on the location of the seller, not the buyer. This is the system already in place for brick and mortar retailers, who collect only where they are physically located, and would put Internet sellers, catalog stores, and big-box retailers on a level playing field. For more information about the legal proceeding, visit www.truesimplification.org. About the American Catalog Mailers Association ACMA is a Washington-based not-for-profit organization specifically created to advocate for the unique collective interests of catalog mailers in regulatory, public and administrative matters where the shared impact transcends individual company interests. ACMA participates in rulemaking and other proceedings of significance where a single collective voice increases influence and effectiveness. Membership is open to any party with significant interests in the catalog industry. More information can be found at www.catalogmailers.org. About NetChoice NetChoice is a trade association representing leading eCommerce businesses working to protect free enterprise and free expression on the Internet. About the TruST Coalition Led by the American Catalog Mailers Association (ACMA), Direct Marketing Association (DMA), the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA), and NetChoice, the True Simplification of Taxation (TruST) Coalition represents American businesses in the fight to keep interstate commerce and competition free from unfair tax burdens imposed by states where our businesses have no operations or representation. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361650LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361666LOGO SOURCE NetChoice; American Catalog Mailers Association FLORENCE, S.C., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ACS Technologies, the world's leading provider of church management software and service solutions, has acquired Helpmate Technology Solutions, including its Church Helpmate solution, which is desktop church management software with more than 2,000 users across the country. United by a common mission to help churches grow and make disciples, both companies see this merger as a welcomed opportunity to better serve Helpmate clients long into the future with deeper resources to develop next generation software, while providing superior service. For ACS Technologies, bringing Helpmate into the family is part of the company's growth strategy to its next generation, cloud solution, Realm. For Helpmate Technology Solutions, Realm is the product they know will better serve their clients. Also, with the largest support team in the industry, ACS Technologies is ready to seamlessly transition Helpmate clients into the future with Realm. Designed with church staff and congregation in mind, Realm provides a totally mobile experience that offers staff administration and member engagement in one whole church tool. It integrates administration, accounting, and community into the daily life of the church. "We are excited to welcome the Helpmate Technology Solutions team and clients to the ACS Technologies family," said Marvin Owen, President of ACS Technologies. "It's our honor to partner with trusted friends at Helpmate who share our passionate commitment to serving the church. We are truly humbled that, out of all of their options, Helpmate chose to partner with ACS Technologies. We always put our clients first, and for current Helpmate clients, we'll do the same for you. We're here to help you in every aspect of your ministry now and in the future." "We believe ACS Technologies' solution, Realm, is everything a modern church management tool should be. It's the perfect upgrade and replacement for the Church Helpmate product for today's churches," said Paul Schuster, Owner, Founder, and President of Helpmate Technology Solutions. "It's supported by a company whose commitment to service, excellence, and commitment to growing the Kingdom is second to none. After much prayer, we knew the best solution for our clients was not to rebuild our software, but rather to join with trusted friends who have already built a solution we believe in wholeheartedly." The ACS Technologies team is dedicated to working alongside Helpmate Technology Solutions to ensure current Helpmate clients receive top notch service as they begin transitioning to ACS Technologies' next generation ministry software, Realm. About ACS Technologies Founded in 1978, ACS Technologies is the leading provider of information management software and service solutions to nearly 50,000 churches, schools, and organizations. With brands such as ACS, PDS, The City, Realm, and HeadMaster, ACS Technologies enables churches, schools, and organizations to manage every area of their ministry. ACS Technologies is headquartered in Florence, SC with offices in Phoenix and Seattle. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361741LOGO SOURCE ACS Technologies Related Links http://www.acstechnologies.com COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), in collaboration with Battelle, has awarded grants to eight organizations and technical associations to expand student participation in enriching science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) exploration and learning, particularly for underserved students. AEOP offers students and teachers Army-sponsored programs that effectively engage, inspire and attract the next generation of STEM talent. Through AEOP's suite of programs, students from elementary school to college, representing all proficiency levels and ethnic, economic and academic backgrounds, participate in real-world experiences involving STEM disciplines. Scientists, technology experts, engineers and mathematicians, who act as mentors and guides, introduce students to the various opportunities in STEM fields through hands-on experiences and provide advice for technical skill development and career planning. "By leveraging strong local networks, we will provide even more students with high-quality experiences that deepen their engagement with science and expose them to the wide variety and opportunity offered by STEM careers," said Jeffrey Singleton, Director of Basic Research, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology or ASA(ALT). "These partnerships will leverage critical programs already proven to help students reach their potential." AEOP's new partners were selected specifically for their leadership in STEM learning and outreach to African-American, Hispanic, female and military-connected students. Together with these federal, academic and industry partners, the Army seeks to strategically work investments together so that its programs provide the highest quality experiences and contribute to an exceptionally prepared workforce. Bringing together the strongest thought and strategic partners also allows the Army's programs to better reflect the best of our diverse nation. "Mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities allow students to step into the role of the engineer, inventor or scientist, and begin a path toward a future in STEM," said Aimee Kennedy, Vice President, Education, STEM Learning, & Philanthropy at Battelle. "Expanding these opportunities for students of all backgrounds and zip codes also ensures a more diverse pool of future innovators." The grantees will each receive awards ranging from $45,000 to $52,000 to facilitate meaningful collaboration that will ultimately integrate with or enhance the suite of opportunities already offered by AEOP. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis. First-round recipients include: DC STEM Network, Carnegie Academy for Science Education (Washington, D.C.): The DC STEM Network will align its STEM Teacher Leader Cadre (STEM TLC), Network Ambassadors and digital communications to create a three-fold, comprehensive strategy to reach more than 3,000 D.C.-area students, parents and teachers. EduCare Foundation (Van Nuys, Calif.): EduCare's STEM Pilot Project will serve at-risk, underserved middle and high school youth from ten Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools. EduCare's STEM Pilot Project is a unique project that builds the STEM proficiencies, skills, and knowledge of youth, while developing necessary life skills for youth to pursue and be successful in STEM careers. EduCare will create a comprehensive, coordinated STEM program that incorporates AEOP's Junior Solar Sprint (JSS), eCYBERMISSION, and Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (JSHS) programs. It serves as an introduction of AEOP and the beginning of a process of integrating the entire AEOP portfolio within LAUSD's after school STEM programming. Harmony Public Schools (Houston, Texas): Harmony Public Schools is a network of high-performing K-12 public charter schools across Texas that operates 46 high-quality schools serving a diverse student population of 30,000: 61 percent of students receive free or reduced price lunch and 70 percent are under-represented minorities. Harmony plans to take part in an integrated suite of AEOP offerings with 400 students in grades 5-12, with the goal of training 40 STEM teachers to guide students to take part in AEOP programs and create awareness of STEM careers. Research Foundation for the State University of New York - System Admin. (Albany, N.Y.): The State University of New York (SUNY) is planning to scale-up the highly successful AEOP eCYBERMISSION initiative in New York State through afterschool programs in collaboration with the New York Academy of Sciences and SUNY colleges and universities using the infrastructure established though the National Science Foundation- funded SUNY/New York Academy of Sciences Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program. SUNY will partner with the Academy to train SUNY graduate students in STEM programs to mentor middle school teams in three New York regions, New York City, Syracuse, and Utica, participating in eCYBERMISSION projects. Society of Women Engineers (SWE) (Chicago, Ill.): SWE will support the expansion of its outreach programming for 5,000 K-12 girls nationwide and 750 K-12 STEM educators in order to engage, inspire and attract the next generation of talent in engineering and technology. While girls are traditionally underrepresented within STEM, and especially engineering, SWE is also committed to supporting girls from underserved communities. Through its existing and expanded programming, SWE will continue to work with organizations that provide services to underrepresented and underserved youth and will promote AEOP Programs (especially eCYBERMISSION, Camp Invention and RESET) to its students and teachers. Tiger Woods Foundation (TWF) (Irvine, Calif.): TWF will enhance AEOP's programs, specifically UNITE, GEMS and JSHS, by promoting these and other AEOP programs to TWF's network of 10,000 students and 500 teachers nationwide. Through its award-winning STEM Professional Development Program, TWF projects serving 100,000 students over the next five years. TWF also has an extensive history of working with and serving the military through its programming at Marine Corps Base Quantico. In addition, with programs for underserved youth in Washington, D.C., Orange County, Calif., and Stuart, Fla., and a strategic plan to serve 1,000,000 students by 2020. Sanford Research (Sioux Falls, S.D.): STEMwise Communities: Building STEM Literacy through Community Problem Based Learning and eCYBERMISSION will create a series of workshops across South Dakota to inform and build teacher confidence in the use of community Problem Based Learning (PBL) in their classrooms and to create lasting partnerships between STEM educators and professionals. TechBridge (Oakland, Calif.): Techbridge will forge a powerful link between their after-school STEM education programs for girls in Oakland, California and the AEOP Research & Engineering Apprenticeships (REAP) at UC Berkeley, to give these underserved girls deeper exposure to STEM skills, careers and role models. Techbridge will engage 70 high school girls from low-income communities in a year-long after-school program and introduce them to a broad array of STEM disciplines. About AEOP: The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) is comprised of Army-sponsored research, education, competitions, internships, and practical experiences designed to engage and guide students and teachers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). From elementary school through graduate school, students at all levels, interests, ethnic, economic, and academic backgrounds are encouraged to participate in hands-on programs in STEM disciplines. More information is available at: www.usaeop.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361472LOGO SOURCE The Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) Related Links http://www.usaeop.com Title: ' An Application Software based Information Management And Real Time Synchronous Communications System Including Intelligent Automated Assistants (Bots) In A Synchronized And Integrated Computing Ecosystem Including Different Types Of Remote Computing Devices With Different User Interfaces And Which Are Synchronized With A Master Database That Is Accessible From And Stored At A Central Location .' Ameranth's Intelligent Automated Assistant (IAA) innovations were invented by Keith McNally (Ameranth's President and lead inventor) and which were first deployed in 2005, in partnership with Zagat LLC. and used in hundreds of Zagat qualified restaurants as part of Ameranth's Magellan restaurant reservation system, which was then extensively licensed. Coupled with the earlier 1998/1999 innovations from Ameranth's patent family, these new claims, represent the first , leading and earliest priority inventions in systemic (IAA) - which is becoming the most important and strategic area of computing looking into the future. Virtually all leading computing experts, inclusive of Google, Microsoft, Facebook and many others e.g.( https://adtmag.com/blogs/dev-watch/2016/04/bot-development.aspx ) are now recognizing that the user interface of the future is going to revolve around 'Intelligent Automated Agents' (IAA), commonly referred to as 'Bots' (short for computerized 'robots') in which downloadable software applications, (Apps) will largely become a thing of the past, and the mobile user interfaces will rapidly evolve into ' conversational ' type communications -inclusive of 'artificial intelligence', operate mostly over mobile messaging platforms and without the normal/prior user interfaces of App based - standardized-computerized 'screens/menus', (rather with responsive, customized variants, generated in real-time). Mobile computing is no longer the future, it is the now and 'Bots' are fast becoming the 'now' themselves, in fact one of Ameranth's 46 'data synchronization' patent licensees, (Taco Bell), is already testing it's so called 'TacoBot' for food ordering. https://www.tacobell.com/feed/tacobot. The rest of the industry will soon follow. What most have still not yet recognized however, [yet Keith McNally did] as is reflected in the patent specifications and in these #20 pending claims, is that in order to successfully deploy a total 'Bot' based solution, it must be 'synchronized' as part of an overall integrated and synchronous system, so that these computerized-intelligent 'conversations' e.g. 'chats' are 'bi-directional' and [at least for the foreseeable future], 'Bot' based solutions will have to 'co-exist' in a mixed, multi-faceted computing ecosystem of not only many different device types, sizes and OS concurrently interacting and communicating with each other, but also ensuring that concurrent interactions and transactions from other 'web browser based' and/or 'App based' devices, all can occur seamlessly and synchronously with those from 'Bot based' devices, all while ensuring that the 'one truth' in the master/central database remains consistent and in equilibrium. Ameranth's inventions, as originally conceived and now claimed, uniquely enable and accomplish just that. Additionally, Ameranth's 'patent pending' technology and innovations included and include automatic 'communications conversions', [a prerequisite for any modern, systemic solution], especially 'Bot' based solutions - which require, automatic, real time conversions over varying channels, protocols, and mediums - from e.g. text to voice, voice to text, IM/chat to text, text to IM/chat and any other 'communication conversions' as will be required. Just some of these innovations are shown below in this 2005 filed figure #10 from the pending patent application: Ameranth's direct 'data synchronization' licenses now number 46 (with dozens of 'sub-licensees' including 'Dunkin Donuts'), - (representing/including more than 25 nationally recognized, large restaurant chains, totaling more than 50,000 deployed locations, which are in various stages of roll-out). In addition to its new patent license, Ameranth has patent license agreements with Cardfree, Taco Bell, Jersey Mike's Sub's, BJ's Pizza, Tilster Inc, Xpient Solutions Inc, EMN8, ORDIT, Cognizant Inc., Monkeymedia, Splickit, Radiant, Red-Fork, Menusoft, Nu-Order, Tap to Eat, Restaurant Revolution Technologies, Netwaiter, Brink Software, Savory Mobile, Skywire Media, Chownow, Compelcart, Xpient, Munchaway, OrderBee LLC, Meplus1 LLC, Ticketmob/Laughstub, Par, Squirrel, Subtledata, Comcash, Snapfinger, My Check LLC, Fork LLC, Data-Hawk, Squirrel POS as well as others and is in active negotiations to provide licenses to several additional hospitality industry product/service providers. "We are very excited about the vast potential from this pending patent application. These additional innovations continue the industry leading, visionary inventive leadership which Ameranth has sustained since its founding 20 years ago this month. This next generation - 'Bot' based user interface, is the latest but not the last Ameranth 'data synchronization' innovation, since more innovations and patent filings will be announced in the months ahead," stated Vern Yates, Ameranth's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The adoption of Ameranth's technology by industry leaders and the wide acclaim received by Ameranth for its technological innovations are just some of the many confirmations of the breakthrough aspects of Ameranth's inventions. Ameranth has received twelve different technology awards (three with "end customer" partners) and has been widely recognized as a hospitality wireless/internet technology leader by almost all major national and hospitality print publications, e.g., The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and many others. Ameranth was personally nominated by Bill Gates, the Founder of Microsoft, for the prestigious Computerworld Honors Award that Ameranth received in 2001 for its breakthrough synchronized reservations/ticketing system with the Improv Comedy Theatres. About Ameranth, Inc.: Ameranth, Inc. (http://www.ameranth.com) is a recognized leader in the hospitality technology market, having been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, USA Today, Business Week, US News & World Report, Nation's Restaurant News, Hospitality Technology, TIME, CNNfn, San Diego Union Tribune, and numerous other prestigious publications. Ameranth has also been awarded or participated in twelve technology/"best product" awards. Tel: (888) AMERANTH Fax: (858) 362-0151- (www.ameranth.com) Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361496 SOURCE Ameranth, Inc. Related Links http://www.ameranth.com ARLINGTON, Va., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) will host XPONENTIAL 2016, the largest trade show for the unmanned systems and robotics industry, from May 2 to 5 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Over 8,000 industry leaders and professionals from more than 55 countries will come together to discuss the latest innovations in the unmanned systems market. The exhibit hall will showcase over 600 cutting-edge companies, representing more than 20 industries. XPONENTIAL 2016 will offer over 200 educational sessions, providing information about the future of unmanned systems policy, regulations and technology. It will also feature for the first time the Startup Showdown, with $15,000 in cash prizes and mentorship opportunities for early-stage companies. The Innovation Hub, which includes educational programming such as poster sessions and "beyond the booth" presentations, is returning for another edition of the trade show. Award-winning journalist Miles O'Brien, the science correspondent for PBS NewsHour, will host XPONENTIAL. Keynote speakers will include Michael P. Huerta, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; Gen. David G. Perkins, commander of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command; Gur Kimchi, co-founder and vice president of Amazon Prime Air; and John Chambers, executive chairman of the board of Cisco Systems. In addition, the conference will convene a general session panel of industry thought leaders discussing the future of unmanned systems. U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, chairman of the House aviation subcommittee; Frank Kelley, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy for Unmanned Systems; Marke Gibson, senior advisor for UAS integration at the FAA; and Dr. John Cavolowsky, director of NASA's Airspace Systems Program, will serve on the panel, which will be moderated by AUVSI president and CEO Brian Wynne. For more information about XPONENTIAL 2016, visit www.xponential.org. To view this media announcement online, please visit http://bit.ly/1N6E1n1. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics represents more than 7,500 members from more than 60 countries involved in the fields of government, industry and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets. SOURCE Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Related Links http://www.xponential.org AMSTERDAM, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AVG Technologies N.V. (NYSE: AVG), the online security company, announced today that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of AVG (the AGM) will be held on June 9, 2016 at 09:30 a.m. CET, at the offices of Allen & Overy LLP, Apollolaan 15, 1077 AB Amsterdam in the Netherlands. AVG filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its 2015 Remuneration Report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 25, 2016 and published its 2015 Statutory Annual Report, on April 26, 2016. The notice and agenda of the AGM and the supplementary materials relating to the AGM, including the 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F, the 2015 Statutory Annual Report, the 2015 Remuneration Report and the proposal to amend the Articles of Association of AVG and the explanatory notes thereto are all available free of charge at the Investor Relations page (Shareholders Meetings section and Financials & Filings section under Annual Reports and SEC Filings) of AVG's website at investors.avg.com. The notice and agenda of the AGM (which have been filed with the SEC on a Form 6-K), the 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F and the 2015 Remuneration Report are also available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Interested parties may request a complimentary paper copy of any of the foregoing documents by contacting AVG's investor relations department. About AVG Technologies (NYSE: AVG) AVG is the leading provider of software services to secure devices, data and people. AVG's award-winning consumer portfolio includes internet security, performance optimization, location services, data controls and insights, and privacy and identity protection, for mobile devices and desktops. The AVG Business portfolio, delivered through a global partner network, provides cloud security and remote monitoring and management solutions that protect small and medium businesses around the world. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. www.avg.com investors.avg.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120306/SF65434LOGO SOURCE AVG Technologies N.V. Related Links http://www.avg.com BURLINGTON, N.J., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bandwave Systems LLC held a ribbon cutting ceremony last evening to celebrate the grand opening of its new tech center. With several local vendors, partners and customers in attendance, participants looked on as Burlington City Mayor, Barry Conaway, officiated the ribbon cutting for the new space. The new tech center increases the footprint of Bandwave's Burlington, NJ headquarters by approximately 35% and will house its growing support team. Designed in a moveable 'component style' format, the space can additionally be reconfigured for training and demo purposes when needed. "This new space allows us to expand our core team while supporting our current growth trend," said Tom Azelby, Managing Partner at Bandwave. "In addition to our remote support operations in Denver, this expansion enables us to continue delivering the premium services our customers have come to expect." About Bandwave Systems LLC Bandwave Systems LLC is a global provider of premier broadband aggregation solutions. With its proven set of processes and world class team of technicians, Bandwave brings single source Wide Area Network Management to multi-site enterprises more efficiently than any other provider. Founded in 2000, Bandwave has perfected a "One contract. One invoice. One support." approach to services including: Broadband Aggregation; Enterprise Broadband Management; Guest Wi-Fi; 4G wireless; Ethernet / Fiber; and SD WAN. Based in Burlington City, NJ, Bandwave Systems LLC is a privately held company. For more information: www.bandwavesystems.com - 888-396-7182 - [email protected] All products and company names are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. SOURCE Bandwave Systems LLC Related Links http://www.bandwavesystems.com LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany and FLORHAM PARK, N.J., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 1st quarter 2016: Sales 14.2 billion (minus 29%) EBIT before special items 1.9 billion (minus 8%) Higher EBIT before special items in Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions and Agricultural Solutions Chemicals and Oil & Gas with considerably lower earnings Outlook 2016 confirmed: Considerable sales decline due to divestiture of natural gas trading and storage business EBIT before special items expected at level slightly below 2015, based on an average oil price of $40 per barrel In the first quarter of 2016, BASF Group sales decreased by 29% to 14.2 billion compared with the same quarter of the previous year. This was largely on account of the divestiture of the gas trading and storage business, which had contributed 4.2 billion to sales in the first quarter of 2015. The lower price of oil led to declining sales prices, especially in the Chemicals segment. Overall sales volumes matched the level of the previous first quarter. Volumes increased slightly in the Functional Materials & Solutions, Oil & Gas and Performance Products segments, whereas they decreased slightly in the Agricultural Solutions and Chemicals segments. "We were able to slightly increase EBIT before special items in the Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions and Agricultural Solutions segments," said Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, at the Annual Shareholders' Meeting of BASF SE in the Congress Center Rosengarten in Mannheim, Germany. The significantly smaller contributions from the Oil & Gas and Chemicals segments reduced income from operations (EBIT) before special items by 164 million to 1.9 billion. A considerable earnings improvement in Other was especially the result of valuation effects for the long-term incentive program. Compared with the previous first quarter, EBIT declined by 129 million to 1.9 billion. EBITDA fell by 78 million to 2.8 billion. At minus 188 million, the financial result was below the level of the first quarter of 2015 (minus 164 million). Income before taxes and minority interests fell by 153 million to 1.7 billion. The tax rate was 15.4% (first quarter of 2015: 29.7%). The decline was mainly attributable to taxes in the Oil & Gas segment. Net income rose by 213 million to 1.4 billion. Earnings per share were 1.51 in the first quarter of 2016, compared with 1.28 in the same period of 2015. Adjusted for special items and amortization of intangible assets, earnings per share amounted to 1.64 (first quarter of 2015: 1.43). Dividend proposal of 2.90 per share BASF stands by its ambitious dividend policy and proposes a dividend of 2.90 per share for the business year 2015 (previous year: 2.80). The company would thus pay out around 2.7 billion to its shareholders. "We aim to increase our dividend each year, or at least maintain it at the previous year's level. Today's dividend proposal at the Annual Shareholders' Meeting also demonstrates our confidence in BASF's future development even with the knowledge that 2016 will not be an easy year either," said Bock. North America At 471 million, earnings matched prior first-quarter levels Startup of dispersions plant in Freeport, Texas , and formic acid production in Geismar, Louisiana Sales in North America decreased by 13% in local currency terms and by 11% in euros. The decline was largely attributable to a sharp drop in prices resulting from lower raw material costs, especially in the Chemicals segment. At 471 million, earnings matched prior first-quarter levels. Significantly improved contributions from the Agricultural Solutions, Functional Materials & Solutions and Performance Products segments were able to compensate for declines in the Chemicals segment and in Other. "The North American region remains an attractive market due to its anticipated economic growth over the next decade, its standing as the second largest chemical market in the world, and lower feedstock costs," said Wayne T. Smith, Chairman and CEO, BASF Corporation. "However, given today's challenging global market environment, it is essential that we build on the strengths of BASF and keep costs and cash under control while we go after the opportunities North America has to offer. With a keen focus on operational excellence, we will find additional ways to increase efficiency in our operations." At BASF's site in Freeport, Texas, operations commenced at a new dispersions plant and construction continues on a new ammonia plant together with Yara International. A production facility for formic acid started up in Geismar, Louisiana, making BASF the first formic acid producer in North America. Outlook for 2016 confirmed For 2016, BASF anticipates a continuation of the currently challenging conditions along with substantial risks. The expectations for the global economic environment in 2016 remain unchanged: Growth of gross domestic product: 2.3% Growth in global industrial production: 2.0% Growth in chemical production: 3.4% An average euro/dollar exchange rate of $1.10 per euro per euro An average Brent blend oil price for the year of $40 per barrel Bock: "We confirm our outlook for the full year: We aim to increase sales volumes in all segments. BASF Group sales will decline considerably, however, especially as a result of the divestiture of the gas trading and storage business as well as lower oil and gas prices. We expect EBIT before special items to be slightly below 2015 levels. This is an ambitious goal in the current volatile and challenging environment, and is particularly dependent on oil price developments." Focusing on high-growth businesses "We will continue to refine our portfolio in 2016. Our goal is to concentrate on high-growth businesses," said Bock. At the end of February, BASF reached an agreement with AkzoNobel to sell its industrial coatings business. This will enable BASF to focus even more on its core business with automotive coatings. In April, an agreement was signed to acquire the automotive refinishing business from Guangdong Yinfan Chemistry Co. Ltd., in China. The acquisition strengthens BASF's position in the rapidly growing market for refinish coatings in China. Last week, BASF agreed to sell its polyolefin catalysts business to the U.S. company W.R. Grace & Co. With this divestiture, BASF will continue to sharpen its focus in the area of process catalysts on key growth areas, including the chemical catalysts and refinery catalysts businesses. Business development in the segments in the first quarter 2016 Sales fell by 19% to 3.1 billion in the Chemicals segment, predominantly as a result of price drops brought about by the decline in raw material prices. Sales volumes decreased particularly in the Petrochemicals division in North America. At 465 million, EBIT before special items was down by 261 million compared with the first quarter of 2015, which had been marked by high margins. In addition to lower margins, this reduction was also attributable to increased fixed costs arising primarily from the startup of new plants in 2015. Despite higher volumes, sales in the Performance Products segment were 3.8 billion, which was 6% below the level of the previous first quarter, largely on account of lower sales prices. The main factor here was the oil-price-related decline in raw material costs, although ongoing pressure on prices in the hygiene business was additionally responsible. Thanks to reduced fixed costs and higher volumes, EBIT before special items rose by 32 million to 547 million. Sales in the Functional Materials & Solutions segment declined by 4% to 4.4 billion, mainly due to falling sales prices as a particular result of lower prices in precious metal trading. Sales volumes increased, particularly as a result of higher demand from the automotive and construction industries. Thanks to improved contributions from the Performance Materials and Construction Chemicals divisions, EBIT before special items grew by 25 million to 456 million. In a market environment that remains difficult, sales in the Agricultural Solutions segment declined by 6% to 1.8 billion. Price increases were unable to compensate for lower sales volumes and negative currency effects. EBIT before special items improved by 17 million to 591 million. Margins rose, partly as a result of higher prices, and fixed costs were reduced. Sales in the Oil & Gas segment fell by 88% to 611 million. The asset swap completed with Gazprom in 2015 meant a lack of contributions from the natural gas trading and storage business in particular. Sales were additionally weighed down by the decline in oil and gas prices. Production volumes increased, especially in Norway. EBIT before special items declined by 371 million to 66 million. At 477 million, sales in Other were down 31% compared with the previous first quarter. Lower prices and volumes in the raw materials trading business were largely responsible, along with the expiration of supply contracts at the end of 2015 in connection with the disposal of the company's share in the Ellba Eastern Private Ltd. joint operation in Singapore at the end of 2014. EBIT before special items improved by 394 million to minus 219 million, especially through valuation effects from the long-term incentive program. The increase was also supported by a positive currency result. About BASF BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.4 billion in 2015. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us. At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than 70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information at www.basf.com. You can obtain further information from the internet at the following addresses: Speech Print version basf.com/pcon Photos basf.com/pressphotos Forward-looking statements This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current estimates and projections of BASF management and currently available information. They are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not be accurate. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of BASF to be materially different from those that may be expressed or implied by such statements. BASF does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140221/MM69780LOGO SOURCE BASF Corporation Related Links http://www.basf.com/usa NEW YORK, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BASIS Independent Manhattan, the newest private school from the nationally ranked, world acclaimed BASIS.ed network just launched a series of information sessions for prospective families. The first session will be held May 17, 2016 at the Cornell Club at 6 East 44th Street in New York City at 6:30pm. To reserve a seat, please visit www.basisindependent.com/newYork. BASIS Independent Manhattan will serve students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school will start enrolling students beginning this summer for the school year starting fall 2017. The school's campus is located at 795 Columbus Avenue. Graduates of BASIS Independent Manhattan will matriculate into BASIS Independent Brooklyn, the PreK through 12th grade institution located in Red Hook that opened to acclaim in 2014. The 795 Columbus Avenue location currently houses a private school. BASIS worked extensively with school ownership to enable an additional year of operation before the agreed upon transition of the site to BASIS in the summer of 2017 to allow for fall 2017 operation. "There has been a tremendous response to news of BASIS Independent Schools' expansion into Manhattan, and we are now ready to share more details about our planned school to prospective families," remarked BASIS Independent Schools CEO Ian Block. "We are committed to founding an exceptional school that will complement the many long-standing and reputable institutions on the Upper West Side for years to come. What BASIS Independent Schools offer families is a distinct academic program blending the rigorous standards and foundational disciplinary study of the best European and Asian education with the ingenuity and creativity of the finest, most innovative American education." The BASIS Independent academic program is unique in that it is internationally benchmarked, which is vital in the 21st century global marketplace. Block continued, "Our flagship schools are already thriving in two of the most creative and demanding educational markets in the nation, Silicon Valley and Brooklyn. Our expansion is evidence of the demand for a new status quo of independent school education. Urban dwellers are truly evaluating what their tuition dollars are doing for them. They're seeking a program rooted in innovation, high expectations, and transparency, not to mention a lower price point and no pressure to fundraise." Of note: This will be the fifth school in the BASIS Independent Schools system, after Brooklyn and Silicon Valley (opened 2014), and Fremont , California and McLean, Virginia (opening 2016). BASIS.ed currently manages these independent schools, as well as twenty high-performing charter schools in Arizona, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Last year, in Shenzhen, China , BASIS.ed also opened its first international school. , California and McLean, Virginia (opening 2016). BASIS.ed currently manages these independent schools, as well as twenty high-performing charter schools in Arizona, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Last year, in Shenzhen, , BASIS.ed also opened its first international school. BASIS Independent Manhattan will use the identical elementary and middle school academic programs as BASIS Independent Brooklyn, which has been lauded for offering Mandarin and engineering classes from kindergarten; for its hands-on, project-based "Connections" class linking the arts, science, math, and humanities; and for its vibrant array of fine, visual, and performing arts and music coursework. Application information for the 2017-18 school year is available at http://basisindependent.com/newyork . About BASIS Independent Schools BASIS Independent Schools has five independent schools in Fremont and San Jose, CA; Brooklyn and Manhattan, NY; and McLean, VA. For more information, please visit http://basisindependent.com/newyork. SOURCE BASIS Independent Schools Related Links http://www.basisindependent.com LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Friday, May 6, 2016 from 8pm-Midnight at the historic Conrad-Caldwell House Museum Rev. Derek Terry will host the inaugural Kentucky Derby Scholarship Shake: Harlem Nights Party. Rev. Derek, who recently came out as an openly gay black pastor on the Oprah Winfrey Network, is hosting the derby party to raise awareness and funds for a new scholarship at the University of Louisville. The Dawn Wilson Scholarship for LGBTQ Students of color was established in the fall of 2015 to raise money for programing and scholarships for undergraduate students of color who identify as LGBTQ. Tickets for the Harlem Nights themed party are only $100 and include a few cocktails, food, and professional valet parking. 100% of all proceeds support the scholarship fund. Tickets are only available at www.DerbyShake.com Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361579 The Event The inaugural Kentucky Derby Scholarship Shake will celebrate the spirit and energy of the Harlem Renaissance (the cultural and intellectual movement of Black Americans in the 1920's-30's based in Harlem- New York City). Guests are encouraged (not required) to dress in their best versions of attire from that period. The purpose of the event is to not only raise funds for the scholarship at U of L, but to also provide the community with the opportunity to support the very specific needs of students of color who identify as LGBTQ. The leading cause of death for youth and young adult LGBTQ populations is suicide. Moreover, the Center for Disease Control recently reported that half of all black gay men will contract HIV in their lifetime. The University of Louisville Office of LGBT services seeks to be a national leader in combating these negative statistics through programs and activities that will provide students of color with the tools needed to have a positive campus experience, and be prepared for life after graduation. The Kentucky Derby Scholarship Shake is working to ensuring this dream is a reality. Nationally, very little work is being done on college campuses to address the specific needs of LGBTQ students of color. By having the support of Louisville's diverse population, students and families across the country will recognize that not only is the University of Louisville a welcoming and affirming place to send their children, but that the Greater Louisville area is a loving and supportive community as well. The Derby Scholarship Shake will show the country that Louisville, KY is dedicated towards supporting diverse populations. A Positive Outlook. A small committee under the direction of Rev. Derek and the Community Empowerment Center has been planning this event for over a year and the road has not been easy. Some individuals have expressed concerns as to whether or not Louisville, Kentucky is ready for an event that openly supports the black LGBTQ population. There are some who do not feel comfortable speaking on issues concerning LGBTQ people; however, Rev. Derek teaches that the only way we can reduce the stigmatization of this sometimes undervalued population is by starting conversations and engaging in honest dialog. "The Kentucky Derby Scholarship Shake is not a 'gay' event or a 'straight' event- it's a derby event whose proceeds will help college students in our community. The committee and I planned an event for to entire community to come together in the spirit of fun, diversity, and love while having an amazing time during Louisville's most exciting time of the year. It's all about love and having a good time! This is something positive and people are craving the opportunity to connect with something positive. I believe in Louisville and I know that the community always supports the right thing. A variety of individuals are already on board supporting and attending this year's event, and we already have three large companies in the area that are interested in serving as title sponsors for a larger event next year! I'm not worried about the small pockets of negativity." Rev. Derek Terry Since coming out on national television, Rev Derek continues to live walking in his truth. He has amassed an ever growing and thriving following on social media that he affectionately refers to as his on-line congregation (Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Youtube/Snapchat/Periscope). He is also the founder of the social media hashtag, #BlastTheStigma, which encourages individuals to post positive images that attack typically stigmatized communities especially those within the LGBTQ community of color. Rev. Derek recently Released his first book, God Loves Me and So Do I, (2015 RDTM Publishing) and also works to help LGBTQ college students of color across the country because he understands that these students have different cultural needs than their white counterparts. Rev. Derek travels throughout the country motivating and encouraging individuals to unashamedly and unapologetically walk in the full truth of who they are as they are. He is currently the pastor of the St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio and also leads a community service based church in Louisville, KY- The Community Empowerment Center. Rev. Derek splits his time between Louisville and Cincinnati. Dawn Wilson, the scholarship namesake, is a trans-woman of color who has spent thirty years working for social justice, transgender civil rights, and other human rights issues. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com. SOURCE Rev. Derek A. Terry Ministries LAS VEGAS, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Capriotti's Sandwich Shop opened its second Detroit-area location in the city of Royal Oak on April 26. Capriotti's will be giving the first 100 guests in line free 9" Bobbie sandwiches for a year during the grand opening celebration on April 30. The Royal Oak location will be the fifth Capriotti's location for franchisee Richard Smith. He was familiarized with the concept by a close friend and was captivated by its premium product and fresh ingredients. After leaving his long-time career in insurance sales, he acquired three existing Capriotti's restaurants in Wisconsin. In February he brought the concept to the state of Michigan by opening a restaurant in Detroit's Troy neighborhood. With more than 100 locations across the United States, Capriotti's is committed to creating mouthwatering, homemade subs and sandwiches made with the freshest ingredients for an unsurpassed taste. Capriotti's continues its 40-year nightly tradition of slow-roasting whole turkeys in-house and hand shredding them every morning to feature in a variety of their fan-favorite subs. Their award-winning sandwiches include the shop's acclaimed best-seller, The Bobbie, made with homemade turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and a touch of mayo on a freshly-made roll and the Capastrami, made with hot pastrami, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and cole slaw. The concept also features a wide array of salads and delicious vegetarian subs like the Veggie Cole, made with hot vegetarian turkey, provolone cheese, cole slaw and mayo topped with Russian dressing. "Opening our second Capriotti's restaurant in the Detroit-area within 2 months of the first is proof of the increasing popularity of the concept," said Ashley Morris, CEO of Capriotti's. "Richard operates his existing restaurants seamlessly and we look forward to his continued success in Royal Oak." Capriotti's is located at 30720 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48073 and will be open on Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For additional information regarding Capriotti's, please visit www.capriottis.com. For franchise information please visit www.ownacapriottis.com or call Bruce Evans at (702) 736-3878. About Capriotti ' s Sandwich Company Founded in 1976, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, is an award-winning sandwich shop that remains true to their 40 year tradition of slow-roasting whole, all natural turkeys in-house every day. Capriotti's fresh ingredients, homemade subs and unique menu items have won numerous accolades including being named one of the "10 Great Places for a Surprising Sandwich" by USA Today and many "Best of" awards across the country. Capriotti's cold, grilled and vegetarian subs, cheese steaks and salads are available at 100 locations in 18 states and federal districts across the U.S. including: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Washington D.C. Capriotti's signature sub, The Bobbie, was voted "The Greatest Sandwich in America" by thousands of readers across the country and reported by AOL.com. Capriotti's fans can also download the CAPAddicts Rewards app for iOS and Android, where they can earn and redeem rewards. For more information, visit capriottis.com. Like Capriotti's on Facebook, follow on Twitter or Instagram. SOURCE Capriottis Sandwich Company Related Links http://www.capriottis.com SIOUX FALLS, S.D., April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Carsforsale.com, one of the Internet's largest online automotive inventory websites, will be returning as the center ring sponsor of the Resurrection Fighting Alliance Clark vs. Viana event at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD on Friday, April 15, 2016. "It's great to have the Carsforsale.com logo back in The Octagon sponsoring RFA 37 this weekend," said Sean Coffman of Carsforsale.com. "This event gives Carsforsale.com the opportunity to support a great organization as well as our local community." The main event will feature Devin "Brown Bear" Clark and Rafael "Gaucho" Viana competing for the first RFA light-heavyweight title. Other features will include South Dakota favorites Jordan Larson and Logan Storley. Larson, a Sioux Falls native, will face Brian Camozzi while Storley, South Dakota wrestling legend, is up against Scott Futrell. As one of the largest automotive inventory websites, this sponsorship allows Carsforsale.com to increase brand awareness and inventory exposure to the millions of vehicles listed from over 20,000 dealerships nationwide. While supporting a full product suite of auto dealership marketing solutions, Carsforsale.com offers consumers an easy and feature-rich shopping experience when searching for new and used vehicles online. The RFA 37 main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT this Friday, April 15th. About Resurrection Fighting Alliance: RFA is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada and televised nationwide via AXS TV, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA promotions in the country. About Carsforsale.com: Carsforsale.com offers a fast and efficient solution to connect buyers with sellers of automotive vehicles. Founded in 1999, privately-owned, and headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD, Carsforsale.com continually develops tools and website features that give millions of unique monthly visitors the insight needed when searching for the perfect vehicle. For more information or to become a Carsforsale.com dealer, please visit Carsforsale.com or call (866) 401-9778. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150507/214621LOGO SOURCE Carsforsale.com Related Links http://carsforsale.com Didi seeks to build enduring collaboration with taxi communities. Given that supply shortage will remain the crux of China's transportation problem, the stability and experience of the taxi driver community remains the valuable foundation of any efficient mobility platform. As a believer in collaborative and progressive reform, DiDi is committed to support the ongoing reformation of China's taxi industry, through empowering drivers with new technologies, providing information platform support for taxi companies, and sponsoring new restructuring initiatives. In the past week, DiDi and leading taxi companies rolled out a partnership in Shanghai which now connects qualified taxi drivers and cars directly onto DiDi's private-car hailing program. As a result riders will enjoy quality service from experienced taxi drivers who in turn benefit from higher income. We also launched an initiative where riders may donate their mileage points on DiDi to a taxi driver health-check program, with enthusiastic response from our passengers. Cheng Wei also joined a panel with Anthony Tan, co-founder and CEO of Southeast Asia's Grab, at GMIC. They shared with audience the progress of the international partnership between the two companies, and reaffirmed their belief in a mobility ecology that celebrates diversity, collaboration and sustainability. About Didi Chuxing (Didi Chuxing) Didi Chuxing (formerly Didi Kuaidi) is the world's largest comprehensive one-stop mobile transportation platform. The company offers the full range of mobile technology-based transportation options for close to 300 million users across over 400 Chinese cities, including taxi hailing, private car hailing, Hitch (social ride-sharing), Chauffeur, Didi Bus, Didi Test Drive, and Didi Enterprise Solutions. Statistics show Didi holds over 87% of the private car service market and over 99% of the taxi hailing service market in China. A total of 1.43 billion rides were completed on Didi's platform in 2015. As a practitioner in the sharing economy initiative, we are committed to work with communities and partners to solve China's transportation and environmental challenges using data-driven precision algorithms that optimize resources allocation. By continuously improving user experience and creating social values, we are committed to building an efficient, collaborative, and sustainable transportation ecosystem. Didi was named one of Davos Global Growth Companies in 2015. Media inquiries Mainland China/Hong Kong Brunswick Group [email protected] +86 10 59608600 / +852 3512 5000 U.S. Sard Verbinnen & Co [email protected] +1 415 618 8750 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361505 SOURCE DiDi Chuxing LONDON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice today announced an agreement under which CD&R-managed funds will acquire Kalle GmbH, one of the world's leading industrial manufacturers of artificial casings for the meat processing industry. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Kalle manufactures and supplies casings for the protein-processing industry, including pork, beef, poultry and vegetarian protein categories. With operations across nine countries, the company generated 2015 revenues of more than 281 million from customers in 100 countries, producing more than 850 million meters of casings for a wide range of meat, poultry, and other protein products. It is the global leader in the value-added and viscose sausage casings sectors and the second largest manufacturer of polymer casings. CD&R Partner Sonja Terraneo added: "Our investment model is based on helping businesses grow profitably. We have been following Kalle's progress for many years and look forward to working with Kalle's talented management and employees to continue its strong sales and profit growth and to make the company an even more valuable enterprise over the long term." CD&R Partner Vindi Banga, former member of the Unilever Executive Board, will assume the role of Chairman of Kalle at the close of the transaction, expected around the end of the first half of 2016. "Kalle is a proven innovator with a highly differentiated offering to customers which improves product quality and production processes this is particularly apparent in the value-added casings segment where Kalle pioneered the category and is the global leader today," said Mr. Banga. "We believe Kalle is well-positioned to capitalize on its growth momentum, strong product mix and exceptional R&D capabilities to further penetrate the global market." "Kalle is a resilient market leader and growing business with a strong German heritage and excellent customer exposure globally, particularly in the growing US market," said CD&R Partner David Novak. "It is also a great fit with CD&R's focus on both consumer and industrial businesses in Europe, which have global reach, as well as our deep industry experience in foodservice." Bank of Ireland, ING, UniCredit, BNP, HSBC, SG, CACIB, SMBC and Oaktree have committed to providing debt financing for the transaction. Freshfields and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as legal advisors and PwC and William Blair acted as financial advisors to CD&R. About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Founded in 1978, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice invests in European and U.S-based businesses. Since inception, CD&R has managed the investment of $21 billion in 66 companies representing a broad range of industries with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $100 billion, including foodservice industry market leaders Alliant Foodservice, Brakes Group and US Foods. CD&R acquired Germany-based Mauser in 2014. The Firm has offices in London and New York. For more information, visit www.cdr-inc.com. About Kalle The Kalle Group, based in Wiesbaden, Germany, is one of the world's leading suppliers of industrially produced casings for meat, poultry, and other protein products. In addition to its innovative range of value-added casings, it creates a steady stream of new and customized solutions that enable new types of products. Over the past 20 years, Kalle has enjoyed strong, sustained and profitable growth. Today, it is using its technological and innovative edge to accelerate the pace of development both in existing markets and in many emerging markets in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.kalle-group.com. SOURCE Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Related Links http://www.cdr-inc.com BEIJING, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited ("Concord Medical" or the "Company") (NYSE: CCM), a leading specialty hospital management solution provider and operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, today announced that it filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. An electronic copy of the annual report on Form 20-F can be accessed on Concord Medical's investor relations website at http://ir.concordmedical.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Shareholders may receive a hard copy of Concord Medical's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 free of charge upon request. Requests should be submitted to http://ir.concordmedical.com. About Concord Medical Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited is a leading specialty hospital management solution provider and operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China. As of December 31, 2015, the Company operated a network of 127 centers with 76 hospital partners that spanned 53 cities and 25 provinces and administrative regions in China. Under long-term arrangements with top-tier hospitals in China, the Company provides radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging equipment and manages the daily operations of these centers, which are located on the premises of its hospital partners. The Company also provides ongoing training to doctors and other medical professionals in its network of centers to ensure a high level of clinical care for patients. As part of its high-end cancer hospital development strategy and oversea business extension, the Company acquired Concord Cancer Hospital, a private hospital in Singapore in April, 2015. For more information, please see http://ir.concordmedical.com. For more information, please contact: Concord Medical Services Mr. Adam J. Sun (Chinese and English) +86 10 5957 5266 [email protected] Ms. Fang Liu (Chinese and English) +86 10 5903 6688 (ext. 639) [email protected] SOURCE Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited Related Links http://ir.concordmedical.com WASHINGTON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FICO WORLD 2016 -- Panel of firms from multiple industries says speed of decisions was critical Decision management tools can dramatically accelerate time to value Advances in decision management technology are helping innovative firms worldwide improve customer service, said panelists in the closing session at FICO World 2016, the Decisions Conference, in Washington, DC. In a discussion chaired by Wayne Huyard, FICO executive vice president for Sales, Marketing and Services, representatives from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, payments processor Vantiv, Australia's Yarra Valley Water and Italy's Unicredit described their use of cloud-based analytics and decision management technology to manage risk, shorten time-to-value for new applications and protect customers from fraud. Tim Nargassans, Core Boarding Lead at Vantiv, discussed the importance of creating decision management solutions that embrace agile concepts. "It's critical to not only live agile from start to finish, but also to design scalability in order for the business to control its own destiny," Nargassans said. "With today's ever-changing regulatory landscape, the importance of elevating business rules back to the stakeholders without coding cannot be underestimated." Automation using the FICO Decision Management Suite has aided Yarra Valley Water, which has been able to handle considerably more service applications per year without increasing the staff responsible. "By managing our business rules systematically, we have been able to aggressively scale our business with full confidence that we are complying with industry regulations," said Stuart Squires, systems manager at the Australian utility. "In addition, our staff can use the FICO decision management tools to make changes to business rules without needing to rely on specialized IT people." For Italy's Unicredit, building a customer origination system on state-of-the-art FICO technology was just the beginning. "Our business case was based on increasing revenue, reducing operating cost and improving risk cost," said Ivan Cavinato, head of credit risk management at Unicredit. "But we were also looking beyond the current project to how we can improve decision management across our banking network. FICO's strategy and vision for the Decision Management Suite set it apart." Unicredit's strong understanding of decision management is rare outside the financial services industry, said Ken Elliott, global director of analytics at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a FICO Platform Partner. "Analytics provides little value without action," Elliott said. "In fact, we see many companies with great analytic capabilities report that they are not realizing the benefits they expected from their big data and analytics investments. At HPE, we help our clients overcome common barriers and operationalize analytics. This means putting analytics to work by integrating insights into every business decision whether these are long-term strategic decisions, or front-office decisions made thousands of times a day. "The FICO Decision Management Suite is key to the integration of insights into business decisions. Together, FICO and HPE are able to help our customers exploit the full value of analytics, which drives better decisions and ultimately superior business outcomes." At FICO World 2016, nearly 1,000 professionals responsible for customer onboarding and experience, pricing, cybersecurity, risk management, compliance, fraud and IT explored the latest technologies and strategies for unlocking insights and powering the best decisions possible. The conference featured sessions on analytic innovation, auto lending, collections, credit scoring, customer onboarding and experience, cybersecurity, insurance, mortgage lending and regulatory compliance. About FICO FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956 and based in Silicon Valley, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 165 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 100 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time. Learn more at http://www.fico.com. For FICO news and media resources, visit www.fico.com/news. FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and in other countries. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111010/CG83314LOGO SOURCE FICO Related Links http://www.fico.com HEALDSBURG, Calif., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dry Creek Vineyard announced today that it has been selected by the America's Cup Event Authority as the Official Wine of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series events in New York (May 7 & 8) and Chicago (June 11 & 12). Dry Creek Vineyard Selected as Official Wine of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Dry Creek Vineyard is selected as the Official Wine of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series New York and Chicago "The America's Cup represents the pinnacle of world-class yacht racing and we are thrilled to be selected as the Official Wine for the preliminary competitions, collectively known as the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, held in New York and Chicago," said Kim Stare Wallace, President, Dry Creek Vineyard. "For more than 30 years, the sport of sailing has been an integral part of the Dry Creek Vineyard brand and having our wines poured during these events is both an honor and testament to our nautical heritage." "With its longstanding track record for supporting the sport of sailing, and the nautical theme throughout its branding, selecting Dry Creek Vineyard as our Official Wine was a natural choice for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series' U.S regattas," said Harvey Schiller, Commercial Commissioner, America's Cup Event Authority. "We are thrilled to have their wines poured in the hospitality lounges and spectator boats during the New York and Chicago races." ABOUT DRY CREEK VINEYARD Established in 1972, Dry Creek Vineyard is Dry Creek Valley's flagship winery located in the heart of Sonoma County, California. Named one of the top 100 wineries of 2015 by Wine & Spirits Magazine, the winery produces Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage blends as well as a handful of single vineyard selections. Kim Stare Wallace serves as President overseeing a successful family winemaking and grape growing business that includes 185 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards. To learn more visit www.drycreekvineyard.com. Connect with Dry Creek Vineyard on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ABOUT THE AMERICA'S CUP The America's Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport, dating back to 1851, when the yacht America, after which the trophy is named, beat the best of the British fleet in a race around the Isle of Wight, U.K. The trophy won on that day was donated in trust through a Deed of Gift and has since become a symbol of immense achievement. In its 165-year history, only four countries have managed to win the America's Cup. The America's Cup is currently held by the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco. The 35th America's Cup will be in June 2017 on the Great Sound of Bermuda. The first stage of competition for the 2017 trophy is the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series, a racing circuit that includes events in New York (May 7-8, 2016) and Chicago (June 11-12, 2016). To learn more visit americascup.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361508LOGO Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361506 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361507 SOURCE Dry Creek Vineyard Related Links http://www.drycreekvineyard.com BEIJING, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. ("Dangdang" or the "Company") (NYSE: DANG), a leading business-to-consumer e-commerce company in China, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, which contains the Company's audited consolidated financial statements, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2015. The annual report can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.dangdang.com. The Company will provide a hard copy of its annual report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations, E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc., 21/F, Jing An Center, No. 8 North Third Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100028, People's Republic of China. About Dangdang E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. is a leading business-to-consumer e-commerce company in China. On its website dangdang.com and through mobile Dangdang, the Company offers books and media products as well as selected general merchandise products including fashion and apparel, baby, children and maternity and home and lifestyle products, among others. It also operates the dangdang.com marketplace program, which allows third-party merchants to sell their products alongside products sourced by the Company. Dangdang is transforming itself into an integrated online shopping experience with prominent destination categories. Dangdang's nationwide fulfilment and delivery capabilities, high-quality customer service support and scalable technology infrastructure enable it to provide a compelling online shopping experience to customers. For more information, please visit ir.dangdang.com. Investor Contacts: Ye Ji Investor Relations E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. Phone: +86-10-5799-2306 E-mail: [email protected] Elaine Ketchmere, CFA Compass Investor Relations +1-310-528-3031 Email: [email protected] SOURCE E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. Related Links http://ir.dangdang.com AURORA, Ore., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Flight Network, the largest not-for-profit air medical transport service in the United States, announced it will open a base at the Portland-Hillsboro Airport in Hillsboro, Oregon on May 20th. The base will provide emergency medical air transport to Washington, Columbia, and Yamhill counties and the surrounding Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metropolitan area. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361539LOGO "The crew is capable of being airborne in as little as 8 minutes. The $4.5 million dollar medically configured helicopter brings an ICU to the patient's side, wherever the patient is located. Lives will be saved and outcomes will be improved as a result of this resource," states Holly Love, Base Manager for Life Flight Network. Life Flight Network has served the area for nearly four decades from other local area bases. The helicopter stationed in Hillsboro will be an Agusta 119Kx and can make the trip to Portland in less than 10 minutes. Tuality Community Hospital, Tuality Forest Grove Hospital, Kaiser Westside Medical Center, and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center will directly benefit from having an emergency medical helicopter just moments away. Other surrounding communities, such as Gaston, Yamhill, Carlton, McMinnville, Sheridan, Willamina, Grand Ronde, Cornelius, Banks, Forest Grove, Vernonia, and Scappoose will also benefit from this air medical resource. Forest Grove Fire and Rescue's Chief Michael Kinkade recognizes the value of the helicopter in Hillsboro; "We provide emergency medical response to all of western Washington County, ranging from the crest of the Tillamook Mountain, the rural areas of Gaston, and the urban areas of Forest Grove and Cornelius. A Life Flight Network helicopter stationed at the Hillsboro airport will dramatically reduce helicopter response times to the critically ill patients we provide care to, which will help us improve patient outcomes." For a nominal fee, Life Flight Network offers membership options. Members incur no out-of-pocket expense if flown for medically necessary emergent conditions. To request more information about the membership program, or if organizations would like an in-person presentation, please contact the Life Flight Network membership office at 800-982-9299. ABOUT LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK: Life Flight Network is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). Life Flight Network has administrative offices in Aurora, Oregon and is owned by a consortium of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and Providence Health System. Aviation services provided by: Life Flight Network, Jackson Jet Center, Inc. and Metro Aviation. For more information about Life Flight Network or to become a member, visit www.lifeflight.org. For more information, contact: Jacob Dalstra, Regional Director Email 360-241-8985 SOURCE Life Flight Network Related Links http://www.lifeflight.org WASHINGTON, March 31, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Christians around the world face unprecedented levels of persecution, Family Research Council is joining an effort to call upon churches across America to stand with the persecuted. The call is to devote just a small portion of their time in their weekend services to pray and act on behalf of those around the globe who have been targeted for no other reason than their faith in Jesus Christ. FRC is joining with four leading international religious liberty groups: Open Doors USA, the Institute for Religion and Democracy, Voice of the Martyrs, and In Defense of Christians in this call to American churches. Nearly 40,000 U.S. churches have been asked to participate in Stand with the Persecuted Sunday on April 17 by showing a brief video, distributing a special bulletin insert, and spending time in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters internationally. The aims of Stand with the Persecuted Sunday are to: Pray for the persecuted, Participate in practical ministries that support them, and Promote policies that protect persecuted Christians throughout the world. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said: "This past Sunday, as we joyfully celebrated the resurrection of Jesus in our churches here in America, Christians elsewhere, like in Pakistan were targeted for death because of their Christian faith. As Christians here in American we have an obligation to pray for and act on behalf of our brothers and sister in Christ who are being persecuted for their faith. The persecution of Christians is at an unprecedented level and we are even seeing it here in the United States, but the hostility that Christians here in America are facing pales in comparison to the mistreatment, displacement, violence, rape, crucifixions, and beheadings experienced by followers of Jesus in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Pakistan, and other parts of the Middle East and beyond. "We are honored to partner with ministries like Open Doors USA, Voice of the Martyrs, The Institute on Religion and Democracy, In Defense of Christians and others which are highlighting the plight of the persecuted. Please urge your pastor and church to join us on Sunday, April 17 and Stand with the Persecuted," concluded Perkins. David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA, commented: ''The great challenge of this generation will be to love like Jesus loved in the face of persecution, and to love both the persecuted and those who persecute. The Church in the West needs to embrace and be a conduit for this teaching." Steve Oelenberger of Voice of the Martyrs noted: "Go! I am sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves. (Luke 10:3) Evil is still sweeping across the world, seeking who it can destroy. But Jesus is alive! He has overcome! Prayer is the path to victory and we have the privilege always to stand and pray for our persecuted family. On April 17, let us take this opportunity to stand with Family Research Council and others remembering in prayer those who are crying out to Jesus for the hope He has set before all those who believe." Also, Kirsten Evans, Executive Director of In Defense of Christians (IDC), commented: "IDC is grateful to all of the individuals and communities across the country who will 'Stand with the Persecuted' on Sunday, April 17th. Today Christians in Iraq and Syria are facing genocide at the hands of ISIS. The international community must respond not only to protect the communities victimized by these crimes and relieve their suffering, but to ensure their eventual peaceful resettlement of their rightful homelands." Please see frc.org/stand for more information. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150422/200566LOGO SOURCE Family Research Council Related Links http://www.frc.org Who: FCA Digital MediaTeam When: Immediately Where: media.fcanorthamerica.com or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfF44jQVAXQ Other: Websites are welcome to post or embed "FCA Replay." About FCA US LLC FCA US LLC is a North American automaker with a new name and a long history. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA US designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands, as well as the SRT performance vehicle designation. The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler, the innovative American automaker first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925; and Fiat, founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli. FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FCAU" and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol "FCA." Follow FCA US news and video on: FCA Content On Demand (COD): www.fcacod.com Company blog: blog.fcanorthamerica.com Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com FCA360: 360.fcanorthamerica.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChryslerGroup Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/chryslergroup/ Media website: media.fcanorthamerica.com Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fcacorporate Instagram: www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA Streetfire: www.streetfire.net/uploaded/chryslervideo.htm Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA Twitter (Spanish): www.twitter.com/fcausespanol YouTube: www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo Video - http://youtu.be/DfF44jQVAXQ SOURCE FCA US LLC Related Links http://www.fcanorthamerica.com AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 2017 Fiat 124 Spider is the most affordable turbo-powered convertible in America with a starting price of $24,995 (MSRP) Lineup includes: Classica, $24,995 ; Lusso, $27,495 ; and Abarth, $28,195 (MSRP) 2017 Fiat 124 Spider returns nearly 50 years after original introduction Revival of roadster continues expansion of FIAT brand in North America Delivers iconic Italian style with modern adaptation of original Spider legend Powered by standard proven turbocharged MultiAir 1.4-liter engine for best-in-class 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque on Classica and Lusso; 165 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque on Abarth, available with six-speed manual or automatic transmission EPA fuel economy of 26 city / 35 highway for manual transmission and 25 city / 36 highway for automatic transmission Double-wishbone front suspension and rear multi-link suspension with stabilizer bars, 54/46 weight distribution and tuned electric-power steering system for enhanced handling and fuel efficiency Available with an array of safety and security features including Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection and ParkView rear backup camera Technology including passive entry with keyless go, Bluetooth connectivity, heated seats and available FIAT Connect 7.0 with Pandora, Stitcher and Aha Available premium Bose nine-speaker system with noise cancelling headrest speakers First 124 units will be available as limited-production Prima Edizione Lusso The FIAT brand today announced that pricing for its all-new 2017 124 Spider lineup will start at $24,995 U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), not including destination. FIAT's all-new roadster is the lowest-priced turbocharged convertible in America. The 2017 Fiat 124 Spider revives the storied nameplate, bringing its classic Italian styling and performance to a new generation of vehicles and buyers. Paying homage to the original 124 Spider nearly 50 years after its introduction, the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider delivers the ultimate Italian roadster experience with driving excitement, technology and safety combined with iconic Italian design. The roadster will come standard with the proven 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo four-cylinder engine, the engine's first application in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. The engine delivers best-in-class 160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque on Classica and Lusso, 165 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque on Abarth, and is available with a six-speed manual transmission (26 city / 35 highway) or a six-speed automatic transmission (25 city / 36 highway). "Our mission at FIAT is to deliver Italian design and heritage in vehicles that are fun to drive," said Olivier Francois, Head of FIAT Brand, FCA Global. "The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider brings these elements together and comes loaded with open-air fun, stunning Italian design and the proven turbocharged MultiAir 1.4-liter engine." Fiat 124 Spider Classica The Classica model features a dual-tip exhaust, black roll bar finish, and body-color header, side sills and door handles. The vehicle also comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, Nero (black) premium cloth seats, halogen headlamps and LED tail lamps. Inside, soft-touch materials on the instrument panel are highlighted with light silver accents. Not visible are eight points to reduce NVH, including insulation in the instrument panel, center tunnel, convertible top and rear trunk, to name a few. The Classica is available in six colors: Rosso Passione (red clear coat), Bianco Gelato (white clear coat), Nero Cinema (jet black metallic), Grigio Argento (gray metallic), Grigio Moda (dark gray metallic) and Bronzo Magnetico (bronze metallic). The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Classica with a six-speed manual transmission has a U.S. MSRP of $24,995, plus $995 destination. The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Classica with a six-speed automatic transmission is $26,345, plus $995 destination. Fiat 124 Spider Lusso The Lusso ("Luxury") model builds on the Classica, with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, silver-painted A-pillar header and roll-bar cover and dual-tip chrome exhaust. The interior features heated premium leather seats in Nero (black) or Saddle and a leatherette-wrapped cluster brow. The lower instrument panel also is wrapped in leatherette, with Piano Black accents throughout. The Lusso model is available in seven colors: Rosso Passione (red clear coat), Bianco Gelato (white clear coat), Nero Cinema (jet black metallic), Grigio Argento (gray metallic), Grigio Moda (dark gray metallic), Bronzo Magnetico (bronze metallic) and Bianca Perla (crystal white pearl tri-coat). The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso with a six-speed manual transmission has a U.S. MSRP of $27,495, plus $995 destination. The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso with a six-speed automatic transmission has a U.S. MSRP of $28,845, plus $995 destination. Fiat 124 Spider Abarth The all-new Fiat 124 Spider Abarth offers a sportier, more responsive driving experience for performance enthusiasts at 165 horsepower. Features include a front and rear Bilstein sport suspension, mechanical limited-slip differential, front strut tower bar, Sport Mode selector and sport-tuned chrome quad-tip exhaust with the world-renowned Abarth sound. Its aggressive appearance comes complete with unique front and rear fascia, 17-inch Gun Metal aluminum wheels, Gun Metal exterior accents and an available hand-painted hood stripe, offering a one-of-a-kind appearance. Other available features include a Brembo braking system and Recaro seats for added sportiness. The Abarth model is available in five colors: Bianco Gelato (white clear coat), Rosso Passione (red clear coat), Nero Cinema (jet black metallic), Grigio Argento (gray metallic) and tri-coat Bianco Perla (crystal white pearl). The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth with a six-speed manual transmission has a U.S. MSRP of $28,195, plus $995 destination. The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth with a six-speed automatic transmission has a U.S. MSRP of $29,545, plus $995 destination. Fiat 124 Spider Prima Edizione Lusso To celebrate the return of the classic nameplate, the first 124 vehicles will be offered as a limited-edition Prima Edizione Lusso. Each will be individually numbered with a commemorative badge and available in exclusive Azzurro Italia (Blue) exterior paint with premium leather seats in Saddle. Consumers who purchase a Prima Edizione also will receive limited-edition items, including a matching blue leather bag, journal with pen, and a poster showcasing original design illustration with vehicle dimensions. The all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Prima Edizione Lusso has a U.S. MSRP of $35,000, plus $995 destination. About FIAT Brand The FIAT brand stands for discovery through passionate self-expression. That philosophy is embodied by the iconic Fiat 500 or Cinquecento a small car that lives big. Italian at heart and rooted in a rich heritage, the 500 is sold in more than 100 countries and is synonymous with modern, simple design blending form, function, technology and a pride of ownership that is genuine. In North America, the Fiat 500 was introduced in March 2011 and was soon followed by the Fiat 500c (Cabrio), the high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth and Abarth Cabrio, the fully electric Fiat 500e, the five-passenger Fiat 500L and the all-wheel-drive 500X crossover. The FIAT brand continues to expand with the introduction of the Fiat 124 Spider, a revival of the iconic roadster that combines Italian style, performance and engaging driving dynamics. The all-new Fiat 124 Spider will arrive at FIAT studios in summer 2016. Follow Fiat brand and FCA US news and video on: FCA Content On Demand (COD): www.fcacod.com Company blog: http://blog.fcanorthamerica.com Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.fcanorthamerica.com FCA360: www.fca360.com FIAT brand: www.fiatusa.com FIAT blog: blog.fiatusa.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/fiatusa or www.facebook.com/ChryslerGroup Flickr: www.flickr.com/ciaofiat or www.flickr.com/chryslergroup Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fiatusa or www.pinterest.com/FCAcorporate Instagram: www.instagram.com/fiatusa or www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA Streetfire: www.streetfire.net/uploaded/chryslervideo.htm Twitter: www.twitter.com/fiatusa or www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA YouTube: www.youtube.com/fiatusa or www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo For more information, please visit the FCA US LLC media site at http://media.fcanorthamerica.com. SOURCE FCA US LLC Related Links http://www.fcanorthamerica.com NEW YORK, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Supercapacitor, an electrochemical energy storage device between conventional capacitor and secondary battery, is characterized by short charging/discharging time, long service life, good temperature property, energy saving, and environmental friendliness, and can partly replace traditional chemical battery. Global supercapacitor industry has grownslower than lithium battery industry in recent years, largely due to lukewarm capital support for supercapacitor from governments and investors. Global supercapacitor market size reached about RMB28.36 billion in 2015 and is predicted to maintain a growth rate of around 20% over the next five years. Globally, supercapacitor is primarily applied to consumer electronics and transportation, which made up 47% and 29% of total supercapacitor consumption respectively in 2015. The demand for supercapacitor from transportation, particularly electric vehicles, has risen rapidly and is expected to account for roughly 41% in 2020, becoming the largest application field of supercapacitor. The United States, Russia, and Japan have always topped the global supercapacitor market and led technological level in the world. Major companies include U.S. Maxwell Technologies, Japanese NEC-Tokin and Panasonic, Russian Econd and ELIT, and South Korean NessCap. China, a late starter in supercapacitor industry which is still in its infancy, sees about 60% of its domestic demand rely on imports. The Chinese supercapacitor market size approximated RMB3.7 billion in 2015, seizing 13.0% of the global market. In China, supercapacitor has developed rapidly in urban public transportation and rail transit fields with internationally leading technologies. For example, the first supercapacitor bus and its fast charging station system which are up to the world's advanced level were completed in Zhangjiang High-Tech Park, Shanghai in 2004; the first supercapacitor bus model line --No. 11 bus route was completed in Shanghai in 2006, becoming the first commercially-operated supercapacitor bus route in the world. Nowdays, only 10-plus out of more than 60 enterprises engaged in R&D and production of supercapacitor in China can mass-produce practical products. Major powerful companies consist of Nantong Jianghai Capacitor Co. Ltd., SPSCAP, Shanghai Aowei Technology Development Co., Ltd., Bainacap Supercapacitors, Harbin Jurong New Power Co., Ltd., and Jinzhou Kaimei Power Co., Ltd. Global and China Supercapacitor Industry Report, 2016-2020 by ResearchInChina focuses on the followings: Global supercapacitor industry (market size & forecast, consumption structure, competitive landscape, etc.); China's supercapacitor industry (market size & forecast, competitive landscape, development trends, etc.); Upstream raw materials (electrode,electrolyte) market of supercapacitor; Downstream markets of supercapacitor industry (overview, demand for supercapacitor and forecast, etc.); 17 global and Chinese supercapacitor producers (profile, supercapacitor business, operation, etc.) Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03803141-summary/view-report.html About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. http://www.reportlinker.com __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com LOS ANGELES, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gotham Bail Bonds - Gotham Bail Bonds is Southern California's newest Bail Agency. Gotham Bail Bonds is the originator of the 1% Down Bail Bond program that grabbed a large percentage of California's bail industry in 2014 and 2015. The company's founders started Gotham Bail Bonds in April of 2016 after coming together from different companies with a common goal, to become the best bail agency in California, the slogan "Gotham Bail Bonds, because this town deserves a better class of bail agent," really states the company mission. Bonds backed by Bankers Surety Company of Florida. Gotham Bail Bonds is Veteran owned and operated. The CEO of the company, Yousuf Nabi, was the COO of another bail bond agency prior and grew that company 222% over a one-year period, and now he and his team are building Gotham Bail Bonds from the ground up, completely digitally becoming a trendsetter in California's Bail Industry yet again, with 2016 projections of 120 million in sales, Gotham Bail Bonds is on pace to become another one of Yousuf's successful startups. The Gotham Bail Bonds team is comprised of individuals from all over the Bail Industry and combined have more than 50 years in the business. Bringing together a great group from the ground up makes a difference in the company's future Yousuf stated. "The startup has a Google type atmosphere, letting its employees express their individuality while providing a casual atmosphere and creating a friendly environment with sleek apple feel like offices in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Van Nuys, Orange County Ventura, and Rancho Cucamonga already." Gotham Bail Bonds, this start up is catchy, trendy, and focuses on the next generation of clients, clients who use social media and prefer mobile apps rather then reading the yellow pages, said Yousuf Nabi who also stated, "revolutionizing the bail industry with an arsenal of digital tools, going digital makes things better, faster, efficient, and more convenient for the clients and the company, that is our focus at Gotham Bail Bonds," The client age range does not change much from past decades, the difference is the clients of today all have smartphones and don't read the paper, they use the world wide web to get what they need, when they need it, and that is why Gotham Bail Bonds owns 81.6% of the online advertising space for bail bonds in such a short amount of time, said Yousuf. About Gotham Bail Bonds Gotham Bail Bonds, a California Dept. of Insurance licensed bail agency. Veteran owned and operated. www.GothamBailBonds.com (866)955-2999 CA Lic# 1K05024 Contact: Ana Roman Gotham Bail Bonds Phone: (866)955-2999 [email protected] www.gothambailbonds.com SOURCE Gotham Bail Bonds Related Links http://www.GothamBailBonds.com ATLANTA, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), a leading global provider of packaging solutions to food, beverage and other consumer products companies, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Graphic Packaging International Australia Pty Limited, has completed the previously announced acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of Colorpak (ASX: CKL), a leading folding carton supplier in Australia and New Zealand. Colorpak operates three converting facilities located in Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand. Forward Looking Statements Any statements of the Company's expectations in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on currently available information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's present expectations. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements. Additional information regarding these and other risks is contained in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC. About Graphic Packaging Holding Company Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to providing consumer packaging that makes a world of difference. The Company is a leading provider of paper-based packaging solutions for a wide variety of products to food, beverage and other consumer product companies. The Company operates on a global basis, is one of the largest producers of folding cartons in the United States, and holds leading market positions in coated unbleached kraft paperboard and coated-recycled paperboard. The Company's customers include many of the world's most widely recognized companies and brands. Additional information about Graphic Packaging, its business and its products is available on the Company's web site at www.graphicpkg.com. SOURCE Graphic Packaging Holding Company Related Links http://www.graphicpkg.com Group Health staff, CareClinic staff, and members of Team Group Health, the Group Health-sponsored professional women's bicycle team, will fit nearly 4,000 kids with free bike helmets and hand out information about the importance of HPV vaccinations during the event. Helmets will be available on a first come, first served basis. Volunteers will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 18 locations across the state, including YMCAs and Fitness Zone. Group Health also donated to seven other YMCAs for a total of 25 supported locations for this year's event. For more information and a full list of YMCA locations, visit http://blog.ghc.org/bike-safety-for-kids/ About Group Health Cooperative Group Health Cooperative offers a unique health care system, care delivery and insurance coverage, in order to achieve one goal affordable, quality health care for all. Our innovative practices at 25 medical centers and within major Washington hospitals have earned national recognition for medical quality, disease prevention, and evidence-based treatments. These priorities have remained the same since we began serving patients in 1947. As a nonprofit organization, Group Health helps nearly 600,000 patients throughout Washington state achieve better health. Our focus on preventive care, combined with medical education, a charitable foundation and a nationally recognized research institute, advances health in the community in a way no one else can. Group Health supports events, programs, and organizations that share this commitment to strengthening health in our communities. For more information about Group Health, visit www.ghc.org. Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/grouphealthhealthykids.mp4 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361770LOGO SOURCE Group Health Related Links http://www.ghc.org ANNAPOLIS, Md., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. ("Hannon Armstrong," "we," or the "Company;"NYSE: HASI), a leading provider of debt and equity financing to the efficiency, wind and solar markets, today announced that the Company will release its first quarter 2016 results after the market close on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, to be followed by a conference call at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 1-800-289-0508, or for international callers, 1-913-312-0658. A replay will be available two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-870-5176, or for international callers, 1-858-384-5517. The passcode for the live call and the replay is 4282853. The replay will be available until May 11, 2016. Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.hannonarmstrong.com. The on-line replay will be available for a limited time beginning immediately following the call. To learn more about Hannon Armstrong, please visit the Company's Web site at www.hannonarmstrong.com. In addition to filing or furnishing required information to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Hannon Armstrong uses its Web site as a channel of distribution of material Company information. Financial and other material information regarding Hannon Armstrong is routinely posted on the Company's Web site and is readily accessible. About Hannon Armstrong Hannon Armstrong (NYSE: HASI) provides debt and equity financing to the energy efficiency and renewable energy markets. We focus on providing preferred or senior level capital to established sponsors and high credit quality obligors for assets that generate long-term, recurring and predictable cash flows. We are based in Annapolis, Maryland. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. Investor Relations Inquiries: [email protected] 410-571-6189 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160125/325673LOGO SOURCE Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. Related Links http://www.hannonarmstrong.com HOUSTON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE: HNR) (Harvest or the Company) today announced that, on April 25, 2016, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) notified the Company that it had fallen below the NYSE's continued listing standards, which provide that an NYSE-listed company is not in compliance if its average global market capitalization over a consecutive 30 trading-day period is less than $50 million and, at the same time, its stockholders' equity is less than $50 million. As required by NYSE rules, the Company has notified the NYSE that, within 45 days of receipt of the NYSE's notice, the Company will submit a business plan that demonstrates its ability to regain compliance within 18 months. The NYSE will either accept the business plan, at which time the Company will be subject to quarterly monitoring for compliance with the plan, or will not accept the plan. If the Company fails to comply with the business plan or the NYSE does not accept the plan, the NYSE may commence suspension and delisting procedures. The Company's business operations, securities reporting requirements and debt obligations are unaffected by the NYSE's notice. About Harvest Natural Resources Harvest Natural Resources, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an independent energy company with principal operations in Venezuela and Gabon. For more information visit the Company's website at www.harvestnr.com. CONTACT: Stephen C. Haynes Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (281) 899-5716 This press release may contain projections and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. They include estimates and timing of expected oil and gas production, oil and gas reserve projections of future oil pricing, future expenses, planned capital expenditures, anticipated cash flow and our business strategy. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Although Harvest believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual results may differ materially from Harvest's expectations as a result of factors discussed in Harvest's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other public filings. SOURCE Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. Related Links http://www.harvestnr.com Jeff L. Hull, Chairman of Niteo and Managing Partner of Highlander, commented, "The sale of this business is in line with Niteo's overall strategy of growing its car wash, auto dealership, auto auction and professional detailer business through Niteo's other brand, Car Brite, as well as growing our performance fluids brands. Eagle One is a great brand and has a very good presence in retail distribution channels. Our focus is on professional products, and we believe that Eagle One is a much better fit for HandStands and their current consumer product offering." Terry Morgan, Niteo's CEO, added, "We intend to use the proceeds from the sale to acquire additional appearance brands in the professional, car wash and industrial channels to continue our growth in those categories. The sale of Eagle One will allow us to focus our efforts on expanding those channels." Chris Anderson, HandStands' CEO, said, "We are thrilled to add this legendary car care brand to HandStands' growing roster of automotive appearance and fragrance products. With a full range of interior and exterior car care solutions, a strong pedigree of innovation, and a well-earned reputation for performance, Eagle One is a perfect fit for HandStands." Russ Wilson, Trivest Partner and HandStands Chairman, added, "The acquisition of Eagle One, a well-respected consumer car care brand, further broadens and diversifies HandStands' presence in the growing automotive appearance category. This transaction furthers HandStands' mission to be a valued retail partner in both the vehicle air freshener and automotive appearance categories." About Niteo NITEO is a premier formulator, packager and marketer of automotive appearance and maintenance brands. Brands include Car Brite and Pyroil, and Niteo is a licensee of the Valvoline brand for maintenance products. Niteo offers a comprehensive line of waxes, polishes, compounds, dressings, soaps, cleaners, solvents, paints and dyes, as well as fuel additives, parts cleaners, starting fluids, and functional fluids. For more information visit, www.niteoproducts.com. About Highlander Partners Highlander Partners, L.P. is a Dallas-based private investment firm with over $1 billion of assets under management. The firm focuses on making investments in businesses in targeted industries in which the principals of the firm have significant operating and investing experience, including basic manufacturing, food, chemicals, building materials, consumer products, and others. Highlander Partners uses a "buy and build" investment approach, creating value by helping companies grow organically and through acquisitions. For more information, visit www.highlander-partners.com. About HandStands HandStands was founded in 1983, and is headquartered in Draper, Utah; its brands include: Refresh Your Car! , California Scents, Bahama & Co., DRIVEN and Lexol, which can be found in Mass, Grocery, Hardware and Automotive Parts retailers throughout the world. HandStands holds the #1 spot in U.S. market share, in units sold, for automotive air fresheners. For more information, visit www.handstands.com. About Trivest Partners Trivest Partners is a private investment firm that focuses on partnering with founder/family owned businesses in the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1981, Trivest has completed more than 225 transactions, totaling in excess of $5.5 billion in value. For more information, visit www.trivest.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150630/227252LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150630/227251LOGO SOURCE Highlander Partners, L.P. Related Links http://www.highlander-partners.com CHICAGO, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HRC) announced financial results for its second quarter ended March 31, 2016, and updated its fiscal year 2016 financial outlook. Adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.71 represent an increase of 11 percent from $0.64 in the prior year, while reported earnings per diluted share decreased 27 percent from $0.45 to $0.33. Adjustments to reported earnings are detailed in the reconciliation schedules provided. Hill-Rom's quarterly revenue of $633 million increased 33 percent compared to last year, or 35 percent on a constant currency basis, primarily due to the Welch Allyn acquisition and strong growth in North America. Excluding Welch Allyn, constant currency revenue was approximately flat, with strength in our U.S. businesses offset by declines internationally. Including Welch Allyn, U.S. revenue was $438 million, up 48 percent, while revenue outside the U.S. of $195 million increased 13 percent on a constant currency basis. Management Comments "Driven by strong growth in North America and Welch Allyn, our pro forma constant currency revenue growth for the first half of the year was 3.5 percent," said John J. Greisch, Hill-Rom's president and CEO. "In addition, our disciplined focus on operational execution drove strong operating margin improvement and enabled us to maintain our full-year adjusted earnings outlook despite weaker international revenues." Second Quarter Highlights Revenue highlights below are reconfigured to our new reporting segments. Please refer to the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 for additional details. -- Revenue: -- North America. North America revenue increased 9 percent to $270 million. On a constant currency basis, product sales and service increased 11 percent, while rental revenue increased 6 percent. -- Front Line Care. Revenue for Front Line Care, which includes both Welch Allyn and Respiratory Care, was $185 million. On a pro-forma basis, Welch Allyn constant currency revenue growth was approximately 8 percent year over year. -- Surgical Solutions. Surgical revenue of $95 million decreased 3 percent on a constant currency basis, or down 4 percent on a reported basis. -- International. International revenue of $82 million was down 21 percent on a constant currency basis and 22 percent on a reported basis. -- Adjusted operating margin increased 230 basis points to 13.9 percent. -- Year-to-date operating cash flow increased to $88 million from $87 million in the prior year. -- Hill-Rom's investment in innovation resulted in the recent launch of two key new products during the quarter: -- Welch Allyn RetinaVue 100 Imager works in conjunction with the RetinaVue Network to make diabetic retinopathy screening in primary care settings truly practical for the first time. -- Trumpf iLED7 Surgical Light, a next generation lighting system designed to improve the OR environment. The automatic lighting management system uses the latest 3D sensor technology to analyze the surgical area to make automatic lighting adjustments and eliminate the need for manual adjustment. Please see the attached schedules for additional information and reconciliations of GAAP to adjusted financial measures. For a more complete review of Hill-Rom's results, please refer to the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Financial Guidance Summary Revenue : For fiscal 2016, Hill-Rom now expects reported revenue to be between $2.64 and $2.67 billion, compared to $2.66 and $2.70 billion previously. This reflects: low-to-mid single digit pro forma constant currency growth, and negative currency impact of approximately 2 to 3 percent at current rates For the third quarter of fiscal 2016, Hill-Rom expects reported revenue to be between $640 and $650 million. This reflects: low-single-digit pro forma constant currency growth, and negative currency impact of approximately 1 percent at current rates Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share : The company now expects full-year adjusted earnings per diluted share to be $3.26 to $3.30, compared to $3.24 to $3.30 previously. Third quarter adjusted earnings per diluted share are expected to be $0.75 to $0.77. Cash Flow : Hill-Rom expects cash flow from operations for the full year to be approximately $315 million, which includes non-recurring outflows related to our ongoing restructuring and integration activities. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $110 to $120 million. Discussion of Adjusted Financial Measures Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. routinely provides earnings per share results and guidance on an adjusted basis because the company's management believes that the presentation provides useful information to investors. This measure excludes strategic developments, acquisition and integration costs, special charges or other unusual events. Such items may be highly variable, difficult to predict and of a size that sometimes have substantial impact on the company's reported operations for a period. Often, prospective quantification of such items is not feasible. The company also excludes expenses associated with the amortization of intangible assets associated with prior business acquisitions. This adjustment is made to allow investors to evaluate and understand operating trends excluding the non-cash impact of acquired intangible amortization on operating income, earnings per share and other measures. Management uses these measures internally for planning, forecasting and evaluating the performance of the business. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of GAAP measures to adjusted measures appear in the financial tables of this release. Conference Call Webcast and Dial-in Information As previously announced, the company will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. ET. Webcast: To join the live webcast with audio on April 29, visit http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/ffbep5hq. The webcast slide deck will be posted to the Hill-Rom website prior to the webcast. Conference Call Audio Only Dial-in information: To join the live conference call, dial 877-304-8969 domestic callers / 631-291-4543 international callers. The following Confirmation Code is required for both: 81171275. Callers will need to provide their name, company affiliation and telephone number to the conference operator. A recording of the webcast/call audio will be available for telephone replay through May 4, 2016. To access the replay, dial 855-859-2056 domestic callers / 404-537-3406 international callers. For the replay, callers will need to use Confirmation Code 81171275. If you are unable to listen to the live webcast or the telephone replay, the webcast will be archived at http://ir.hill-rom.com/events.cfm. ABOUT HILL-ROM HOLDINGS, INC. Hill-Rom is a leading global medical technology company with 10,000 employees worldwide. We partner with health care providers in more than 100 countries by focusing on patient care solutions that improve clinical and economic outcomes in five core areas: Advancing Mobility, Wound Care and Prevention, Clinical Workflow, Surgical Safety and Efficiency and Respiratory Health. Around the world, Hill-Rom's people, products, and programs work towards one mission: Every day, around the world, we enhance outcomes for patients and their caregivers. Visit www.hill-rom.com for more information. www.hill-rom.com Disclosure Regarding Forward Looking Statements Certain statements herein contain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the company's future plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, representations and projections. It is important to note that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and the company's actual results could differ materially from those set forth in any forward-looking statements. For a more in depth discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements, see the discussions under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's previously filed most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Quarter Ended March 31 Year To Date Ended March 31 2016 2015 2016 2015 Net revenue Product sales and service $ 529.3 $ 375.7 $ 1,094.4 $ 749.1 Rental revenue 103.3 99.1 199.4 190.7 Total revenue 632.6 474.8 1,293.8 939.8 Cost of revenue Cost of goods sold 279.3 213.9 602.4 434.4 Rental expenses 49.1 46.7 96.5 91.3 Total cost of revenue 328.4 260.6 698.9 525.7 Gross profit Product sales and service 250.0 161.8 492.0 314.7 Rental 54.2 52.4 102.9 99.4 Total gross profit 304.2 214.2 594.9 414.1 As a percentage of sales 48.1% 45.1% 46.0% 44.1% Research and development expenses 34.3 22.2 67.9 44.0 Selling and administrative expenses 209.4 149.9 430.6 305.0 Special charges 10.7 3.8 17.8 7.5 Operating profit 49.8 38.3 78.6 57.6 Other income/(expense), net (21.7) (1.7) (44.7) (4.0) Income tax expense 6.0 10.5 7.5 15.4 Net income 22.1 26.1 26.4 38.2 Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (0.2) - (0.7) - Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 22.3 $ 26.1 $ 27.1 $ 38.2 Diluted earnings per share: $ 0.33 $ 0.45 $ 0.41 $ 0.66 Average common shares outstanding - diluted (thousands) 66,382 57,610 66,364 57,894 Dividends per common share $ 0.1700 $ 0.1600 $ 0.3300 $ 0.3125 Non-GAAP Financial Disclosures and Reconciliations While Hill-Rom reports financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, this press release includes non-GAAP measures. Hill-Rom uses non-GAAP measures to evaluate and manage its operations and provides the information to assist investors in performing financial analysis that is consistent with financial models developed by research analysts. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Revenue Constant Currency (Dollars in millions) US OUS Quarter Ended March 31 As Constant As As Constant 2016 2015 Reported Currency Reported Reported Currency Product Sales and Service $ 529.3 $ 375.7 40.9% 42.5% 64.3% 10.8% 14.4% Rental 103.3 99.1 4.2% 4.6% 6.4% (9.6%) (6.7%) Total $ 632.6 $ 474.8 33.2% 34.6% 47.6% 9.3% 12.8% North America $ 269.8 $ 246.9 9.3% 9.6% 11.3% (23.0%) (16.9%) Front Line Care 185.3 22.4 N/M N/M N/M N/M N/M Surgical Solutions 95.1 99.4 (4.3%) (3.4%) 7.7% (13.9%) (12.3%) International 82.4 106.1 (22.3%) (20.6%) - (22.3%) (20.6%) Total $ 632.6 $ 474.8 33.2% 34.6% 47.6% 9.3% 12.8% US OUS Year To Date Ended March 31 As Constant As As Constant 2016 2015 Reported Currency Reported Reported Currency Product Sales and Service $ 1,094.4 $ 749.1 46.1% 49.8% 68.9% 17.4% 25.8% Rental 199.4 190.7 4.6% 5.5% 7.6% (13.9%) (7.3%) Total $ 1,293.8 $ 939.8 37.7% 40.8% 51.7% 15.0% 23.3% North America $ 518.7 $ 472.1 9.9% 10.3% 10.9% (12.1%) (1.9%) Front Line Care 405.5 44.5 N/M N/M N/M N/M N/M Surgical Solutions 194.4 204.4 (4.9%) (1.5%) 6.3% (13.5%) (7.5%) International 175.2 218.8 (19.9%) (14.6%) - (19.9%) (14.6%) Total $ 1,293.8 $ 939.8 37.7% 40.8% 51.7% 15.0% 23.3% Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation: Earnings Per Share (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Quarter Ended March 31, 2016 Quarter Ended March 31, 2015 Operating Margin Income Before Income Taxes Income Tax Expense Diluted EPS Operating Margin1 Income Before Income Taxes Income Tax Expense Diluted EPS1 GAAP Basis 7.9% $ 28.1 $ 6.0 $ 0.33 8.1% $ 36.6 $ 10.5 $ 0.45 Adjustments: Acquisition and integration costs 0.7% 4.4 1.4 0.05 0.8% 3.8 1.2 0.05 Acquisition-related intangible asset amortization 3.8% 23.8 8.2 0.24 1.6% 7.6 2.2 0.10 FDA remediation expenses - - - - 0.3% 1.2 0.4 0.01 Field corrective actions -0.2% (1.0) (0.3) (0.01) 0.3% 1.2 0.2 0.02 Litigation settlements and expenses - - - - -0.2% (0.9) (0.3) (0.01) Special charges 1.7% 10.7 3.8 0.10 0.8% 3.8 0.1 0.06 Foreign valuation allowance and acquisition dividends - - - - - - 1.9 (0.03) Adjusted Basis 13.9% $ 66.0 $ 19.1 $ 0.71 11.6% $ 53.3 $ 16.2 $ 0.64 Year to Date Ended March 31, 2016 Year To Date Ended March 31, 2015 Operating Margin Income Before Income Taxes Income Tax Expense Diluted EPS1 Operating Margin Income Before Income Taxes Income Tax Expense Diluted EPS1 GAAP Basis 6.1% $ 33.9 $ 7.5 $ 0.41 6.1% $ 53.6 $ 15.4 $ 0.66 Adjustments: Acquisition and integration costs 2.3% 30.2 9.0 0.32 1.4% 12.7 4.0 0.15 Acquisition-related intangible asset amortization 3.7% 48.0 16.5 0.47 1.7% 15.7 4.4 0.20 FDA remediation expenses - - - - 0.2% 1.7 0.6 0.02 Field corrective actions - 0.1 (0.1) - 0.2% 2.3 0.7 0.03 Litigation settlements and expenses - - - - -0.1% (0.9) (0.3) (0.01) Special charges 1.4% 17.8 5.8 0.18 0.8% 7.5 0.3 0.12 Foreign valuation allowance and acquisition dividends - - - - - - 1.9 (0.03) Adjusted Basis 13.5% $ 130.0 $ 38.7 $ 1.39 10.3% $ 92.6 $ 27.0 $ 1.13 1Total does not add due to rounding. Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in millions) March 31, 2016 September 30, 2015 Assets Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 157.6 $ 192.8 Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances 467.4 494.7 Inventories, net 256.5 267.4 Other current assets 102.3 186.1 Total current assets 983.8 1,141.0 Property, plant and equipment, net 372.6 378.4 Intangible assets: Goodwill 1,613.8 1,610.5 Software and other, net 1,200.3 1,247.7 Other assets 72.1 80.0 Total Assets $ 4,242.6 $ 4,457.6 Liabilities Current Liabilities Trade accounts payable $ 118.9 $ 136.3 Short-term borrowings 90.6 58.0 Other current liabilities 282.1 384.5 Total current liabilities 491.6 578.8 Long-term debt 2,087.3 2,175.2 Other long-term liabilities 486.2 546.7 Total Liabilities 3,065.1 3,300.7 Total Shareholders' Equity Attributable to Common Shareholders 1,168.2 1,146.9 Noncontrolling interests 9.3 10.0 Total Shareholders' Equity 1,177.5 1,156.9 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 4,242.6 $ 4,457.6 Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Dollars in millions) Year to Date Ended March 31 2016 2015 Operating Activities Net income $ 26.4 $ 38.2 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 46.9 34.9 Amortization 8.5 5.5 Acquisition-related intangible asset amortization 48.0 15.7 Provision for deferred income taxes 14.9 (6.2) (Gain) loss on disposal of property, equipment leased to others, intangible assets and impairments 1.5 (0.2) Stock compensation 12.1 9.9 Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans (1.1) (1.4) Change in working capital excluding cash, current investments, current debt and acquisitions and dispositions: Trade accounts receivable 28.9 22.6 Inventories 12.0 (3.9) Other current assets 6.8 (2.8) Trade accounts payable (15.0) (16.6) Accrued expenses and other liabilities (102.9) (9.4) Other, net 0.5 0.8 Net cash provided by operating activities 87.5 87.1 Investing Activities Capital expenditures and purchases of intangibles (46.4) (80.3) Proceeds on sales of property and equipment leased to others 0.4 0.9 Payment for acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired - (2.7) Other 2.4 (4.8) Net cash used in investing activities (43.6) (86.9) Financing Activities Net change in short-term debt - (0.7) Borrowings on revolving credit facility 20.0 95.0 Payment of long-term debt (79.1) (7.6) Purchase of noncontrolling interest of former joint venture (0.4) (1.3) Payment of cash dividends (21.5) (17.7) Proceeds on exercise of stock options 2.2 9.1 Proceeds from stock issuance 1.6 1.3 Excess tax benefits from employee stock plans 1.1 1.4 Treasury stock acquired (3.2) (57.1) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (79.3) 22.4 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 0.2 (7.4) Net Cash Flows (35.2) 15.2 Cash and Cash Equivalents: At beginning of period 192.8 99.3 At end of period $ 157.6 $ 114.5 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130123/DE47178LOGO SOURCE Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.hill-rom.com CELAYA, Mexico, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrias Bachoco S.A.B. de C.V. ("Bachoco" or "the Company") (NYSE: IBA; BMV: Bachoco) today filed its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The 2015 Form 20-F can be downloaded from the SEC website at www.sec.gov and can also be found on Bachoco's website at www.bachoco.com.mx/inversionistas/ The Company's Mexican shareholders and the holders of its ADRs can also request hard copies of the Form 20-F, free of charge, by contacting us at the following address: INDUSTRIAS BACHOCO, Attention: Maria G. Jaquez, IR Avenida Tecnologico 401 Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. 38010 T. +52 (461) 618 3555 [email protected] DISCLAIMER The document contains certain information that could be considered forward looking statements concerning anticipated future events and performance of the Company. The statements reflect management's current beliefs based on information currently available and are not guarantees of future performance and are based on our estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in our Annual Information Form, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this document. Those risks and uncertainties include risks associated with ownership in the poultry industry, competition for investments within the poultry industry, shareholder liability, governmental regulation, and environmental matters. As a result, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, Industrias Bachoco, S.A.B. de C.V., undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement. SOURCE Industrias Bachoco, S.A.B. de C.V. Related Links http://www.bachoco.com.mx When it comes to striking up relationships, more than half of us find the idea of trying new flavors sexy. But, with 30 percent of people finding it unattractive when someone orders food they don't enjoy, it's easy to see why one in three order a meal at a restaurant they don't like, simply to impress their date. In fact, more than three quarters of people said that flavor is so integral to their daily lives that they would be willing to sacrifice in other key areas. Surprisingly, 72 percent would give up social media, 60 percent their right to vote and a whopping 56 percent would even give up having a successful career before sacrificing flavor. Most revealing is that almost half of people (42 percent) would rather give up sex than flavor when broken down by gender this lowers to 36 percent of men and rises to 48 percent of women. To put the theory to the test, Knorr conducted a social experiment with a twist. It paired complete strangers, based on their love of the same flavors, discovered using the Knorr Flavor Profiler. The results of the experiment were then captured in an entertaining short film, "Love At First Taste." The film was made by Tatia Pilieva, Director of viral hit film "First Kiss," and explores whether the flavors we love can reveal more about us and our relationships than we think. "Having studied the behavioral patterns behind food consumption for over 30 years, this research by Knorr validates something I have long suspected, that food and flavors are a window to our character, our flavor preferences offer a vital insight into our personality," said Greg Tucker, Flavor Expert and Psychologist. "So it is no wonder that when pairing up, we seek soul-mates who are also eat-mates, who like the same food and flavors that we do. Knorr has shed light on something we do subconsciously, just like selecting food from a menu, we select partners with a similar list of the characteristics that are important to us. Now it is clear that we make these gut decisions on compatibility using our taste buds as well as our hearts." "When we stop and think about it, flavor is what makes food such a pleasure and a part of many of life's meaningful moments. It is at the heart of everything we do at Knorr and we're delighted we share our passion with so many around the world," said Ukonwa Ojo, Senior Global Director for Knorr at Unilever. "Our interest in considering flavor in the quest to connect with others is a fun way to put its importance to the ultimate test. The palpable chemistry between the couples in the film proves that having the same flavor profile could be the missing ingredient to help us make a meaningful connection." To watch Knorr's latest film "Love at First Taste" and find out if the strangers were a match made in foodie heaven, click here. To discover which one of the 12 flavor profiles you are - such as a Spicy Rebel or a Gracious Grazer take the Knorr Flavor Profiler here. Join the conversation at #LoveAtFirstTaste Notes to Editors: For more information, please contact: Kristin Wooten, Edible - [email protected], 404-460-9651 To find out your flavor profile take the Knorr Flavor Profile Quiz here. About Knorr flavor research: In partnership with Knorr, Edelman Berland undertook a global online survey, with over 12,000 respondents from the Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, the UK and the USA (with over 1,000 respondents per market). Research was conducted in December 2015 and is nationally representative of the online population of each country in terms of age, gender, and region in every market. About Knorr: Our passion for flavor goes right back to Knorr's beginnings in 1838. From our iconic bouillon cubes to our delicious range of soups, we are always searching for the best flavors around the world - every single day. High quality is our food philosophy one that's been years in the making and we love inspiring people to approach the kitchen with a large measure of confidence. We are proud to be the 8th most chosen FMCG brand in the world (according to Kantar World Panel) and Unilever's largest brand, with a yearly sales value of over 4 billion Euros. Our products are sold in more than 87 countries around the world and our flavors are enjoyed by more than 320 million people every day. Our 300+ dedicated chefs are true culinary experts and represent over 48 nationalities, making us one of the biggest employers of professional chefs worldwide. Our mission is to unlock flavor and goodness from everyday food, from farm to fork. Want some flavor inspiration? Visit www.Knorr.com Video - http://youtu.be/xwx7NnPQ44U Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361585 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361586LOGO SOURCE Knorr Related Links http://www.Knorr.com CARMEL, Ind., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ITT Educational Services, Inc. (NYSE: ESI), a leading provider of technology-oriented postsecondary degree programs, today reported that diluted earnings per share in the first three months of 2016 decreased to $0.17 compared to $0.44 in the first three months of 2015. New student enrollment in the first quarter of 2016 decreased 16.4% to 11,788 compared to 14,104 in the same period in 2015. Total student enrollment decreased 15.4% to 43,293 as of March 31, 2016 compared to 51,201 as of March 31, 2015. The company provided the following information for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015: Financial and Operating Data for the Three Months Ended March 31st, Unless Otherwise Indicated (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Increase/ 2016 2015 (Decrease) Revenue $191.5 $230.0 (16.7)% Operating Income $14.2 $27.6 (48.6)% Operating Margin 7.4% 12.0% (460) basis points Net Income $4.1 $10.4 (60.7)% Earnings Per Share (diluted) $0.17 $0.44 (61.4)% New Student Enrollment 11,788 14,104 (16.4)% Continuing Students 31,505 37,097 (15.1)% Total Student Enrollment as of March 31st 43,293 51,201 (15.4)% Persistence Rate as of March 31st (A) 70.1% 69.2% 90 basis points Bad Debt Expense as a Percentage of Revenue 3.8% 5.3% (150) basis points Days Sales Outstanding as of March 31st 22.4 days 18.1 days 4.3 days Deferred Revenue as of March 31st $106.0 $139.9 (24.2)% Cash and Cash Equivalents as of March 31st $108.7 $146.0 (25.5)% Restricted Cash as of March 31st $5.5 $6.3 (12.5)% Collateral Deposits as of March 31st $91.2 $97.9 (6.8)% Private Education Loans (current and non-current), Less Allowance for Loan Losses, as of March 31st (B) $64.7 $86.1 (24.8)% PEAKS Trust Senior Debt (current and non-current) as of March 31st (C) $44.6 $71.7 (37.8)% CUSO Secured Borrowing Obligation (current and non- current) as of March 31st (D) $107.8 $117.2 (8.0)% Term Loans (current and non-current) as of March 31st (E) $49.6 $93.2 (46.8)% Weighted Average Diluted Shares of Common Stock Outstanding 23,856,000 23,819,000 Capital Expenditures $0.7 $0.9 (17.4)% (A) Persistence rate represents the number of Continuing Students in the academic term, divided by the Total Student Enrollment in the immediately preceding academic term. (B) With respect to the private education loans as of March 31, 2016, the amount included $9.8 million classified as current, and $54.9 million classified as non-current. With respect to the private education loans as of March 31, 2015, the amount included $9.5 million classified as current, and $76.5 million classified as non-current. (C) With respect to the PEAKS Trust Senior Debt as of March 31, 2016, the amount included $15.6 million classified as current, and $28.9 million classified as non-current. With respect to the PEAKS Trust Senior Debt as of March 31, 2015, the amount included $26.5 million classified as current, and $45.1 million classified as non-current. (D) With respect to the CUSO Secured Borrowing Obligation as of March 31, 2016, the amount included $18.1 million classified as current, and $89.7 million classified as non-current. With respect to the CUSO Secured Borrowing Obligation as of March 31, 2015, the amount included $21.0 million classified as current, and $96.2 classified as non-current. (E) With respect to the term loans as of March 31, 2016, the full amount of $49.6 million was classified as current. With respect to the term loans as of March 31, 2015, the amount included $12.1 million classified as current, and $81.1 million classified as non-current. Chief Executive Officer Kevin M. Modany noted, "We were disappointed with our new student enrollment results for the first quarter of 2016 and continue to experience a challenging new student recruitment environment. As of April 24, 2016, new student applications for academic periods that begin in the second quarter of 2016 were down 20% compared to the same period in the prior year, suggesting to us that we will experience similar year-over-year declines in new student enrollment in the second quarter of 2016." Modany continued, "As we evaluate the relevant information, we have been unable to find any indication or trend in the data that suggests to us that the enrollment environment will materially improve for the remainder of 2016. As a result, we are adjusting our internal new student enrollment goals for 2016 from our original expectation for a decrease of 12% to 15% compared to 2015 to a revised range of a decrease of 15% to 20% compared to the prior year." Chief Financial Officer Rocco Tarasi added, "While we continue to experience strong enrollment headwinds, we continue to have success in executing on our cost containment efforts to right size the business to account for our current and projected student census. As such, we are increasing our internal goal for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 from the previous range of $50 million to $70 million to a revised range of $55 million to $75 million." The projected new student enrollment, EBITDA and EBITDA component amounts are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and do not guarantee actual results for the period indicated. Factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected include those discussed in the documents that the company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the projections, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. EBITDA is not a measurement under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") and may not be similar to EBITDA measures of other companies. Non-GAAP financial information should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company believes that EBITDA provides useful information to management and investors as an indicator of the company's operating performance. A reconciliation of projected 2016 EBITDA to projected 2016 net income is included on Schedule A attached to this release. Based on various assumptions, including the historical and projected performance and collection of the student loans held by the PEAKS Trust and the CUSO, the company reported that its current estimate of the payments it may have to make under the PEAKS guarantee and the CUSO risk sharing agreement (the "CUSO RSA"), in the aggregate, are approximately: $27.4 million in 2016 (of which $12.4 million was paid in the three months ended March 31, 2016 ); in 2016 (of which was paid in the three months ended ); $12.6 million in 2017; in 2017; $13.0 million in 2018; and in 2018; and $105.3 million in 2019 and later, which amount includes an approximately $10.3 million payment in 2020 under the PEAKS guarantee. These estimated payment amounts are net of estimated aggregate recoveries of approximately $3.8 million under the CUSO RSA, which the company expects to offset against amounts due by it under the CUSO RSA over these periods. The company urges readers to review the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 when it is filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which report will contain additional information regarding these estimated payment amounts, including the assumptions used, the estimates of the type of payments, regular or discharge, and estimated recoveries, under the CUSO RSA. ITT Educational Services, Inc. will conduct a conference call with financial analysts to discuss its 2016 first quarter earnings at 11:00 am (ET) this morning. The public is invited to listen to a live webcast of the conference call. The webcast may be accessed by following the "Live Webcast" directions on ITT/ESI's website at www.ittesi.com. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Forward-looking statements are made based on the current expectations and beliefs of the company's management concerning future developments and their potential effect on the company. The company cannot assure you that future developments affecting the company will be those anticipated by its management. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the impact of adverse actions by the U.S. Department of Education ("ED") related to certain deficiencies; the action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against the company; issues or negative determinations related to the restatement of the company's financial statements; the company's failure to submit its 2013 audited financial statements and 2013 compliance audits with the ED by the due date; the impact of the consolidation of variable interest entities on the company and the regulations, requirements and obligations that it is subject to; the inability to obtain any required amendments or waivers of noncompliance with covenants under the company's financing agreement; the company's inability to remediate material weaknesses, or the discovery of additional material weaknesses, in the company's internal control over financial reporting; the company's exposure under its guarantees related to private student loan programs; the outcome of litigation, investigations and claims against the company; the failure of potential settlements to be approved and finalized on the terms proposed or initially agreed to; the effects of the cross-default provisions in the company's financing agreement; changes in federal and state governmental laws and regulations with respect to education and accreditation standards, or the interpretation or enforcement of those laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the level of government funding for, and the company's eligibility to participate in, student financial aid programs utilized by the company's students; business conditions in the postsecondary education industry and in the general economy; the company's failure to comply with the extensive education laws and regulations and accreditation standards that it is subject to; effects of any change in ownership of the company resulting in a change in control of the company, including, but not limited to, the consequences of such changes on the accreditation and federal and state regulation of its campuses; the company's ability to implement its growth strategies; the company's ability to retain or attract qualified employees to execute its business and growth strategies; the company's failure to maintain or renew required federal or state authorizations or accreditations of its campuses or programs of study; receptivity of students and employers to the company's existing program offerings and new curricula; the company's ability to repay moneys it has borrowed; the company's ability to collect internally funded financing from its students; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) As of March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 March 31, 2015 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $108,663 $130,897 $145,951 Restricted cash 5,538 6,015 6,328 Accounts receivable, net 47,086 48,837 46,200 Private education loans 9,787 8,480 9,541 Deferred income taxes 22,044 26,440 28,584 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 21,447 22,429 56,068 Total current assets 214,565 243,098 292,672 Property and equipment, net 138,242 142,164 152,181 Private education loans, excluding current portion, net 54,912 62,161 76,528 Deferred income taxes 69,402 71,817 65,912 Collateral deposits 91,229 91,168 97,932 Other assets 54,041 53,246 54,022 Total assets $622,391 $663,654 $739,247 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Current portion of term loans $49,623 $68,161 $12,082 Current portion of PEAKS Trust senior debt 15,634 20,105 26,533 Current portion of CUSO secured borrowing obligation 18,065 23,591 20,963 Accounts payable 56,694 59,753 73,390 Accrued compensation and benefits 15,949 12,425 15,151 Other current liabilities 29,631 31,973 28,602 Deferred revenue 105,996 113,739 139,856 Total current liabilities 291,592 329,747 316,577 Term loans, excluding current portion 0 0 81,147 PEAKS Trust senior debt, excluding current portion 28,916 30,701 45,127 CUSO secured borrowing obligation, excluding current portion 89,695 91,728 96,226 Other liabilities 50,132 50,342 52,247 Total liabilities 460,335 502,518 591,324 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued 0 0 0 Common stock, $.01 par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized, 37,068,904 issued 371 371 371 Capital surplus 178,134 181,160 185,936 Retained earnings 991,330 987,223 974,184 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (1,932) (1,693) 963 Treasury stock, 13,369,997, 13,394,834 and 13,516,221 shares at cost (1,005,847) (1,005,925) (1,013,531) Total shareholders' equity 162,056 161,136 147,923 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $622,391 $663,654 $739,247 ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Revenue $191,499 $229,975 Costs and expenses: Cost of educational services 92,631 103,553 Student services and administrative expenses 77,899 90,252 Legal and professional fees related to certain lawsuits, investigations and accounting matters 4,871 7,286 Provision for private education loan losses 1,878 1,244 Total costs and expenses 177,279 202,335 Operating income 14,220 27,640 Interest income 68 13 Interest (expense) (7,099) (10,388) Income before provision for income taxes 7,189 17,265 Provision for income taxes 3,082 6,818 Net income $4,107 $10,447 Earnings per share: Basic $0.17 $0.44 Diluted $0.17 $0.44 Supplemental Data: Cost of educational services 48.4% 45.0% Student services and administrative expenses 40.7% 39.2% Legal and professional fees related to certain lawsuits, investigations and accounting matters 2.5% 3.2% Provision for private education loan losses 1.0% 0.5% Operating margin 7.4% 12.0% Student enrollment at end of period 43,293 51,201 Campuses at end of period 138 143 Shares for earnings per share calculation: Basic 23,742,000 23,560,000 Diluted 23,856,000 23,819,000 Effective tax rate 42.9% 39.5% ITT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Dollars in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $4,107 $10,447 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 5,183 5,981 Provision for doubtful accounts 7,309 12,183 Deferred income taxes 3,103 9,869 Stock-based compensation expense 1,227 1,896 Accretion of discount on private education loans (2,724) (3,081) Accretion of discount on term loans 487 391 Accretion of discount on PEAKS Trust senior debt 720 1,655 Accretion of discount on CUSO secured borrowing obligation 45 219 Provision for private education loan losses 1,878 1,244 Other (237) (267) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Restricted cash 477 (288) Accounts receivable (5,558) (12,000) Private education loans 6,788 6,644 Accounts payable (3,346) 5,542 Other operating assets and liabilities 618 717 Deferred revenue (7,743) (7,619) Net cash flows from operating activities 12,334 33,533 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (718) (869) Collateral and escrowed funds (61) 0 Net cash flows from investing activities (779) (869) Cash flows from financing activities: Repayment of term loans (19,176) (2,500) Repayment of PEAKS Trust senior debt (6,976) (15,646) Repayment of CUSO secured borrowing obligation (7,604) (4,037) Common shares tendered for taxes (33) (467) Net cash flows from financing activities (33,789) (22,650) Net change in cash and cash equivalents (22,234) 10,014 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 130,897 135,937 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $108,663 $145,951 Schedule A EBITDA is not a measurement under GAAP and may not be similar to EBITDA measures of other companies. Non-GAAP financial information should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company believes that EBITDA provides useful information to management and investors as an indicator of the company's operating performance. Projected EBITDA is only an estimate and contains forward-looking information. The company has made a number of assumptions in preparing the projection, including assumptions as to the components of the projected EBITDA. These assumptions may or may not prove to be correct. In order to provide projections with respect to EBITDA, the company must estimate amounts for the GAAP measures that are components of the reconciliation of projected EBITDA. By providing these estimates, the company is in no way indicating that it is providing projections on those GAAP components of the reconciliation. Projected EBITDA can be reconciled to the company's projected net income for the period indicated, as follows: PROJECTED For the Twelve Months Ending December 31, 2016 Low End of Range High End of Range (Dollars in thousands) Net Income $10,200 $19,800 Plus: Interest expense, net 23,000 25,000 Income taxes 6,800 13,200 Depreciation and amortization 15,000 17,000 EBITDA $55,000 $75,000 SOURCE ITT Educational Services, Inc. Related Links http://www.ittesi.com NEW YORK, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Nations can play a vital role in helping resolve the genocide and related humanitarian crisis now unfolding in the Middle East, said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson in a presentation at the world body's headquarters in New York. Anderson spoke at the U.N. as part of a panel discussion sponsored by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See that focused on human rights abuses, including the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities, in the Middle East and elsewhere. Highlighting the evidence that led the United States to declare the situation in the Middle East genocide, Anderson noted that the United Nations can play a key role by working to secure "a future in the region that helps to preserve pluralism by protecting the victims and refugees, and by ensuring the survival in the region of ancient indigenous and religious communities, by punishing the perpetrators and by supporting the establishment of internationally agreed-upon standards of justice, equality, rule of law and religious freedom." He pointed out that ISIS consistently violates the four main goals found in the preamble of the United Nations Charter, which calls for the avoidance of war, the protection of human rights, the promotion of justice and international law, and the fostering of development and freedom. In his recommendations for the international community, Anderson said the U.N. Security Council should refer key perpetrators of genocide for prosecution by the International Criminal Court and, while the substantial evidence of genocide already exists, "further action should be taken to develop additional documentation before physical evidence is lost." The U.N. General Assembly in 2005 unanimously adopted the Responsibility to Protect, which includes the pledge of all nations and the United Nations to protect populations from genocide. Second, he said, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees should make provisions for locating and providing relief to communities such as Yazidis and Christians that have been targeted for genocide. "Those who wish to acquire official refugee status or immigrate find it difficult and often nearly impossible to do," said Anderson. "Some improvements have been made, but much more needs to be done." Third, in order to check the social and legal inequality that is the breeding ground of genocide, Anderson said, "the U.N. should advocate for full and equal rights for religious minorities in the region." He noted, "Religious hatred, discrimination and second-class citizenship too often constitute a way of life in the region and it is a way of life that is an antecedent to genocide. We cannot accept one standard for human rights in the region and another standard for the rest of the world." Finally, Anderson said the world must prepare for an additional humanitarian crisis as ISIS' controlled areas are liberated militarily. He argued that the international community should support both those who want to return home and their legal claims and those who wish to remain in the places to which they have fled. Since 2014 the Knights of Columbus has raised more than $10.5 million to aid victims of religious persecution in the region and led a public awareness campaign prior to the U.S. State Department's March 17 declaration that a genocide is taking place in Iraq and Syria. The Knights also produced a nearly 300-page report on the evidence of genocide at the request of senior State Department officials. The U.N. event launched the International Congress #WeAreN2016 that is being held in New York April 28-30 and focusing "on defending religious freedom and other human rights: stopping mass atrocities against Christians and other believers." The events will include input from the victims of atrocities in Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria and other countries. The three-day congress is being organized by CitizenGO and MasLibres and is co-sponsored by In Defense of Christians (IDC). More information on the conference is available at www.wearen.org More information on the Knights of Columbus is available at www.kofc.org SOURCE Knights of Columbus Related Links http://www.kofc.org SEOUL, South Korea, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) have signed a comprehensive teaming agreement to partner on the Multi-mission Combat Ship (MCS), which is based on a DSME hull design and intended for the corvette market. Both companies bring valuable experience and unique capabilities to the teaming arrangement. Lockheed Martin has a proven track record of developing and integrating complex systems into a wide variety of U.S. and international naval vessels. DSME is one of the world's largest shipbuilders and has a rich history of producing highly capable naval vessels for the Republic of Korea and other international customers. "DSME's MCS hull design coupled with Lockheed Martin's expertise in program and systems integration will allow the team to bring this capable ship to the international marketplace at an affordable price," said Joe North, vice president of Littoral Ships and Systems at Lockheed Martin Mission System and Training. "Together, we bring not only the best experience, expertise and resources, but also the right dedication and focus to offer coalition navies a multi-mission corvette-sized ship designed to meet future threats." "This Teaming Agreement on MCS and strategic cooperation will not only provide our customers with high capability vessels on time, but also further facilitate our two companies' joint efforts in exploring opportunities on a global scale," said Deog-Soo Kim, vice president and the head of the Naval & Special Ship Business Management Division at DSME. "Moreover, the Korean government is pursuing 'New-Economic Growth Activation by Defense Industry' as one of the state development agendas and this agreement is a good example of achieving the objective." Lockheed Martin and DSME are continuing to explore additional business opportunities in the international naval market where integrated, multi-mission corvettes will play a vital role in coastal protection as well as regional operations. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com . About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. About DSME As one of the largest shipbuilders in the world, DSME is the market leader which specializes in building various commercial vessels, large scale offshore platforms, and complex naval ships. DSME has maintained a strong position as a naval solution provider, which has served as the backbone for the Republic of Korean navy's as well as international navies' capability with high quality and on-time products. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141118/159313LOGO SOURCE Lockheed Martin Related Links http://www.lockheedmartin.com A live webcast can be accessed at the time of the presentation at https://lyb.com/investorevents, where copies of the slides related to the webcast will also be available for download. A replay of the presentation will be available on the company's website within 24 hours following the webcast. About LyondellBasell LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies and a member of the S&P 500 Index. LyondellBasell (www.lyb.com) manufactures products at 57 sites in 18 countries. LyondellBasell products and technologies are used to make items that improve the quality of life for people around the world, including packaging, electronics, automotive parts, home furnishings, construction materials and biofuels. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140416/75605 SOURCE LyondellBasell Related Links http://www.lyb.com CYPRESS, Calif., April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today confirmed that vehicles sold in the United States are not impacted by the fuel consumption testing data irregularities (VIDEO). Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Tokyo recently announced irregularities concerning fuel consumption testing data. None of the vehicles impacted by the testing are sold in the U.S. To confirm that U.S. market vehicles are not affected by this issue, Mitsubishi Motors R&D America, Inc., working together with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, proactively conducted an internal audit of U.S. market vehicles going back several model years to check previously submitted data to the EPA. After a thorough review of all 2013MY 2017MY vehicles sold in the United States, we have determined that none of these vehicles are affected. Our findings confirm that fuel economy testing data for these U.S. market vehicles is accurate and complies with established EPA procedures. An entirely different system is used for the United States market to determine what the EPA calls Road Load Coefficient, strictly adhering to EPA procedures. The data generated is then independently verified for its accuracy before being submitted to the EPA for their fuel economy testing. MMNA has shared this information with EPA, California Air Resources Board and DOT. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has acted quickly to address this issue and is putting in place a committee of external experts to thoroughly and objectively continue this investigation. The results of the investigation, once completed, will be made public. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is also working closely with the Japanese Government to fully review the implications of this issue, and to discuss potential resolutions. About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all research and development, marketing and sales for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells sedans and crossovers/SUVs through a network of approximately 360 dealers. MMNA is leading the way in the development of highly efficient, affordably priced new gasoline-powered automobiles while using its industry-leading knowledge in battery electric vehicles to develop future EV and PHEV models. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141111/158048LOGO SOURCE Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. Related Links http://www.mitsubishicars.com WASHINGTON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, Broderick Johnson, Special Assistant to President Obama and Cabinet Secretary, and SBA's My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Millennial Entrepreneur Champion Mike Muse will bring together millennials at the world famous Apollo Theater in New York on Tuesday. On the third day of National Small Business Week they will host a finale of the MBK Millennial Entrepreneurs Video Series and lead a conversation focused on moving millennial entrepreneurship forward. In a detailed news release Thursday, the U.S. Business Administration announced the lineup for The Finale: SBA's MBK "Biz My Way" Millennial Entrepreneurs Video Series Live at the Apollo Theater, which will include a panel of the series' entrepreneurs showcased in the video series. In addition, Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson, Chair of the My Brother's Keeper Task Force, will be in attendance to deliver remarks on behalf of President Barack Obama and to discuss the MBK Initiative and its impact on young people, especially young men of color. Media are invited to attend the event. Panelists will be made available for interviews. WHO: SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet Obama Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson MBK Millennial Entrepreneur Champion Mike Muse WHAT: The Finale: SBA's MBK "Biz My Way" Millennial Entrepreneurs Video Series Live WHERE: The Apollo Theater - Soundstage 253 West 125th Street New York, NY 10027 *Confirmed media will receive instructions on the media entrance. WHEN: 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. EDT Agenda: (Subject to change) 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Doors Open 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Networking 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Opening & Welcome Remarks 7:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Program 8:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. Reception HOW: Media MUST RSVP by May 2, 5pm. In order to be accredited, and gain access, the media must register via this link (www.NSBWapollombk.eventbrite.com) Note: When registering - above the green "Register" tab there is a blue "Enter promotional code," click that link and enter "MEDIA" and then click apply. Please indicate if you are a print, video, or radio reporter in the field provided. POC: [email protected]; 202-450-0148 For more information on National Small Business Week events, please visit www.sba.gov/nsbw . Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2016 SBA's participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA/SCORE programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact: [email protected]. SCORE is partially funded by SBA Cooperative Agreement No. SBAHQ-14-S-0001. National Small Business Week 2016 sponsors include: Chase for Business, SCORE, ADP, Colonial Life, Intuit, Sam' s Club, Square, YP, ESET, Facebook, Instagram, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) and VEDC Release Number: MA16-24 Contact: Miguel Ayala (202) 450-0148 Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/DC65875LOGO SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration Related Links http://www.sba.gov In addition, the Company announced that its 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting will be held at Neenah Paper's corporate office, located at 3460 Preston Ridge Road, Suite 600, Alpharetta, Georgia 30005. Common shareholders of record as of end of business on March 31, 2016 are eligible to vote at the meeting. About Neenah Paper, Inc. Neenah is a leading global specialty materials company, focused on premium niche markets that value performance and image. Key products and markets include advanced filtration media, specialized performance substrates used for tapes, labels and other products, and premium printing and packaging papers. The company is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and its products are sold in over 80 countries worldwide from manufacturing operations in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. Additional information can be found at the company's web site, www.neenah.com. Contact: Neenah Paper, Inc. Bill McCarthy Vice President Financial Analysis and Investor Relations 678-518-3278 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140507/85487 SOURCE Neenah Paper, Inc. Related Links http://www.neenah.com SPARKS, Md., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AiRISTA Flow, the world leader in true Wi-Fi enabled location services and workflow software solutions, and who recently acquired Ekahau RTLS, successfully completed a staff safety implementation at The Lawrence Upper School in Sagamore Hills, Ohio. As part of their RTLS solution, staff members of The Lawrence Upper School, a private institute for students with distinct learning styles in grades 7-12, are now equipped with state-of-the-art badge tags for safety related events. The tags offer completely wireless, two-way communications to facilitate campus incidents while reducing emergency response times with real-time location intelligence. The badge tags can send proximity based alerts for medical matters involving students and staff members. AiRISTA Flow's president, Ryan Madigan, said, "School safety is a matter that requires continuous attention. In a setting such as The Lawrence Upper School, our staff safety solution offers peace of mind with automation and always-on technology to help address concerns for the well-being of anyone on campus." Having some safety procedures and protocols already in place, Jason Culp, Head of Upper School, wanted staff members to have instant access to assistance in the event of an emergency. Culp considered exhaustive solutions including phone system modifications, but selected AiRISTA Flow featuring Ekahau RTLS as the most comprehensive, cost effective, and user-friendly solution available. "The Ekahau Vision software will be remarkably helpful, both in terms of allowing us to immediately know where an incident is occurring on campus, as well as allowing administrative staff to know the whereabouts of support personnel no matter where they are in the building," said Culp. The Lawrence Upper School completed user training, implementation, and go-live for the staff safety solution from AiRISTA Flow in one week. Now, staff members ranging from teachers to administrators wear rechargeable Wi-Fi-based badge tags on the job all over campus. The badge tags feature duress functionality and contain an LED screen that can display incident event locations, emergency instructions, or other critical data. Culp adds, "We believe Ekahau RTLS to be an excellent solution for smaller schools and businesses that are looking for an effective and expedient method for emergency communications." About AiRISTA Flow AiRISTA Flow is a leader in providing Wi-Fi-based Real Time Location Systems (RTLS), process improvement, and hand hygiene solutions. With innovative products and patented technologies such as RFID-over-Wi-Fi, AiRISTA Flow delivers superior software, hardware, and services for forward-thinking organizations, globally. For more information, visit www.airista.com or www.ekahau.com/rtls SOURCE AiRISTA Flow Related Links http://www.airista.com In theory, the rise in patent litigation could reflect growth in the commercialization of technology and innovation, as lawsuits increase proportionately as more and more companies turn to intellectual property (IP) protection to safeguard their competitive advantages. In reality, however, it's a very different story. The authors point out that the majority of recent patent litigation has been driven by "nonpracticing entities" (NPEs) firms that generate no products but instead amass patent portfolios just for the sake of enforcing IP rights. Cohen, Gurun, and Kominers discuss new, large-sample evidence adding to a growing literature that suggests that NPEsin particular, large patent aggregatorson average act as "patent trolls," suing cash-rich firms, seemingly irrespective of actual patent infringement. Patent trolling has a negative impact on innovation activity at targeted firms. Cohen, Gurun, and Kominers estimate that after settling with NPEs (or losing to them in court), companies on average reduce their research and development (R&D) investment by more than 25 percent. These results, Cohen, Gurun, and Kominers say, indicate a need to change U.S. intellectual property policy, particularly to screen out trolling early in the litigation process. Although since 2010 the U.S. Congress has considered more than a dozen bills aiming to reduce patent trolling, most of the proposed policy changes focus on after-the-fact punishments for bringing lawsuits that are declared to be frivolous (or "extraordinary") after court proceedings. For example, H.R. 9, the "Innovation Act," which is currently on the docket, provides for mandatory fee-shifting for patent lawsuits that the courts determine are not "reasonably justified." In reality, however, the average costs of patent litigation are large ($1 million to $4 million) and the process is drawn out. Even with the prospect of post-trial fee shifting, patent litigation targets may thus find it cost-effective and less disruptive to simply settle with NPEs, even in unfounded lawsuits. According to the authors, this is not a sufficient solution. So what should be done? Cohen, Gurun, and Kominers say that policies should screen out trolling at or before the time of patent assertion. The authors recommend advance review procedures that would provide preliminary evaluation as to whether the plaintiff's infringement claims are reasonable, and whether the asserted patents are of high quality. Such advance review could cripple trolling, they conclude pre-litigation review can separate good NPEs (and, more generally, good patent lawsuits) from bad. Legitimate infringement claims will be encouraged, whereas trolling will be screened out. This would greatly benefit innovative companies and help them propel the U.S. economy to greater heights. ABOUT HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 200 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and doctoral degrees, as well as more than 80 open enrollment Executive Education programs and more than 60 custom programs. For more than a century, HBS faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching to educate leaders who have shaped the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe. Contacts Jim Aisner Director Media & Public Relations Harvard Business School jaisner @hbs.edu 617-495-6157 Special note to reporters: More information, including a copy of this paper, can be found online at the Science press package at http://www.eurekalert.org/jrnls/sci. You will need your user ID and password to access this information. Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClpzNQVljjY SOURCE Harvard Business School CALGARY, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC) (OTCQX: ONCYF) (FRA: ONY) ("Oncolytics" or the "Company") today announced the formation of a Science and Technology Committee made up of directors Dr. William Rice and Dr. Bernd Seizinger. "In addition to many years of senior leadership in oncology drug development, Drs. Rice and Seizinger bring strong scientific and medical credentials along with a wealth of industry and academic contacts to their roles on the committee," said Wayne Pisano, Chairman of Oncolytics. "Cancer research and drug development, and indeed our own specific understanding of how REOLYSIN works, continue to evolve at a rapid pace. The committee is charged with supporting REOLYSIN's further development in the context of the broader oncology space with an ultimate focus on reaching a commercial endpoint." Dr. William Rice has held the position of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptose Biosciences Inc. since 2013. Preceding Aptose, he served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cylene Pharmaceutics Inc., prior to which he was the Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He has also served as Senior Scientist and Head of the Drug Mechanism Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, and as a faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Emory School of Medicine. Dr. Rice holds a PhD in biochemistry from Emory University and was a post-doctoral trainee in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Bernd Seizinger, MD, PhD, has held the position of Chairman/Executive Chairman of Opsona Therapeutics Ltd. since 2009. From 1998 to 2009, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GPC Biotech. He also served as Vice President of Oncology Drug Discovery and, in parallel, Vice President of Corporate and Academic Alliances at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Prior to his appointments in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals sectors, Dr. Seizinger held professorships and senior staff appointments at Harvard Medical School, Princeton University and Massachusetts General Hospital. About Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development of oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics. Oncolytics' clinical program includes a variety of later-stage, randomized human trials in various indications using REOLYSIN, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus. For further information about Oncolytics, please visit: www.oncolyticsbiotech.com. This press release contains 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. Forward-looking statements, including the Company's expectations related to the role of the Science and Technology Committee, and the Company's belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN as a cancer therapeutic, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of REOLYSIN as a cancer treatment, the tolerability of REOLYSIN outside a controlled test, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN, uncertainties related to the research, development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, changes in technology, general changes to the economic environment and uncertainties related to the regulatory process. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors should consider statements that include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "projects", "should", or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Related Links http://www.oncolyticsbiotech.com SEATTLE, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1953, painter Paul Klee described the creative process as a feedback loop where artists continually switch between "making a mark on canvas, perceiving the effect, and reacting with a further mark," over and over again until the completion of an artwork. At least three robots in the first annual international Robot Art Contest have utilized this concept to blur the line between human and machine creativity. These robots are eDavid of Germany, TAIDA of Taiwan, and cloudPainter of the United States. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361384 Not only do each of these robots mimic human artists by painting with a brush, but they also have a camera watching the canvas they are painting. Similar to how artists take a step back to evaluate their work, these cameras are continually watching the canvas, or in Paul Klee's words "perceiving the effect" of their painting. With each brushstroke, these robots compare the canvas to the image they are trying to paint, and evaluate their own progress to decide the next strokes. The specifics of how each robot evaluates its work differs, though the explanation provided by each team sounds remarkably similar to an artist describing their creative process. eDavid's creators Oliver Deussen and Thomas Lindemeier write that "Painting can be seen as an optimization process in which color is manually distributed on a canvas until one is able to recognize the content." Their robot sets out to demonstrate this approach by beginning with a picture and applying brushstrokes, evaluating each stroke as it works towards an optimized ideal. eDavid's paintings begins as a blurred image that sharpens over time as the robot optimizes an image into existence. TAIDA, the creation of Ming-Jyun Hong, employs a more traditional approach to painting. Two aspects of its creative process that make it notable look back to the classical roots of painting. The first is that the robot begins by applying an underpainting to set the tone of the image before working on a refinement layer. The second is that the robot paints from a limited set of pigments that include only cyan, yellow, magenta, black, and white. Like an old master, TAIDA mixes all its paints on a side palette before applying it to the canvas. Pindar Van Arman's cloudPainter takes the creative process beyond the canvas and into the realm of creating original compositions. Not only does his robot use feedback loops in an attempt to replicate human creativity, but it also uses algorithms to create unique compositions. When creating portraits, his robot takes its own photographs, selects a favorite based on aesthetic criteria, and then uses further heuristics to crop the photo and select a color palette for it. All this before the painting even begins. His robot then attempts to make the canvas look more like its original composition one brush stroke at a time. Eventually, it observes that new brushstrokes are no longer making the canvas any more like the original composition at which point Van Arman tells us "The robot decides it has done the best it can, and stops." While artistic machines have been around for years, these robots represent a new generation of self evaluating creative robots. They create not by random application of paint to a canvas, but by applying intentional brushstrokes in an attempt to achieve an artistic composition. Furthermore, they do not merely execute the instructions of their creators, but attempt to evaluate how well they are progressing towards their own goals and make adjustments based on their own progress. These robots paint with a mixture of rules and serendipity, like a human painter. While the question remains of whether the robots or their creators are the artists behind these paintings, the creative process is being executed independently by each robot. As these robots are painting without a premeditated plan or set of instructions, it would appear that they are at least simulating creativity. Considering how close to a human's creative process they are, it is even worth seeing whether or not they are achieving actual creativity. The work of these robots and other competitors can be seen at robotart.org where they are competing for $100,000 in prizes. Voting is open to the public for next several weeks with winners of this inaugural competition being announced on May 15th. --- Contact Information on Further Resources --- eDavid, TAIDA, and cloudPainter are currently competing in the 2016 Robot Art Contest against two dozen other teams from 8 countries on 4 continents. Their paintings and the works of all the competitors can be seen at robotart.org. Also feel free to contact the following team captains and the contest organizer for more information about these painting machines and the competition. Also feel free to contact any of following for more images Oliver Deussen eDavid Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1nskZgWSSE [email protected] Ming Jyun Hong TAIDA Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV4P6Meltu8 [email protected] Pindar Van Arman cloudPainter Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrAnJHKjoh0 [email protected] Andrew Conru robotart.org Sponsor and Contest Organizer Contest Website: robotart.org [email protected] This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Robot Art Contest | robotart.org Related Links http://robotart.org HARRISBURG, Pa., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of State Pedro A. Cortes today reported that Tuesday's Primary Election saw higher than usual turnout and few issues at polling places. "A good election, like other successful undertakings, requires careful planning and execution," Secretary Cortes said. "The Department of State and Pennsylvania's 67 counties worked collaboratively and diligently in preparing for Tuesday's Primary. Thanks to properly trained poll workers and well-informed electors, the election was carried out with little disruption." Cortes pointed out that Pennsylvania's primary involved almost 9,200 polling places, tens of thousands of voting machines and more than 3.3 million voters who cast ballots. The Department's early and unofficial estimate is that turnout was slightly more than 40.5% of the state's 8.27 million registered voters. That compares to 19.8% percent in 2012 and 42.7% percent in 2008, when there were still two Democratic presidential candidates in the race. Throughout Election Day, Department of State staff answered more than 3,300 calls received via the Commonwealth's voter help line (1-877-VOTESPA). Most callers wanted to confirm their voter registration status or asked for help in locating their polling place. The most common questions from callers asked about individuals' voter registration status or for help in locating their polling place. The Department monitored 23 issues reported by voters, the counties and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). Situations included two precincts that had voting machines down for a short period of time, a ballot printing problem, and a complaint of electioneering inside a polling place. In addition, PEMA assisted in expediting restoration of power to a few polling places hit by storms. In three instances involving power outages, the battery backup system worked as designed to keep voting machines functioning properly. Cortes thanked the tens of thousands of Pennsylvania poll workers who assisted on Election Day. "Our Commonwealth poll workers are in the front lines administering fair and reliable elections. They work long hours and have a strong sense of civic responsibility," Cortes said. "Their role is vital to our democracy." For unofficial election results, visit the Department of State website at dos.pa.gov. The site provides statewide totals as well as county-by-county breakdowns of each race. MEDIA CONTACT: Wanda Murren, (717) 783-1621 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of State Related Links http://www.state.pa.us Combat-proven, with nearly three million operational flight hours, MTS sensors provide detailed intelligence data from the visual and infrared spectra. The new MTS variant allows mission commanders to use high definition data from an airborne tactical sensor to identify and engage targets with much greater accuracy, significantly improving overall mission effectiveness. The DAS-4 incorporates other major improvements, including: four high definition cameras covering five spectral bands; a three-color diode pump laser designator/rangefinder; laser spot search and track capability; automated sensor and laser bore sight alignment; three mode target tracker; and built in provisions for future growth. "These next generation capabilities give our warfighters an unfair advantage through more effective assessment of threats and engagement of targets," said Fred Darlington, vice president of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems at Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems. Raytheon has delivered more than 3,000 MTS systems on a wide range of platforms, including: remotely piloted aircraft, helicopters and fixed-wing Aircraft. MTS delivers superior performance and reliability at the lowest life-cycle cost. About Raytheon Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon. Media Contact Mark Kasperowicz +1.972.952.3526 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361471 SOURCE Raytheon Company Related Links http://www.raytheon.com OKLAHOMA CITY, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by SandRidge Energy, Inc.: IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA IN RE SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. SHAREHOLDER DERIVATIVE LITIGATION Case No. CIV-13-102-W Relating to All Derivative Actions SUMMARY NOTICE OF PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF SHAREHOLDER DERIVATIVE LITIGATION TO: ALL PERSONS WHO OWN SHARES OF SANDRIDGE ENERGY, INC. ("SANDRIDGE" or the "COMPANY") COMMON STOCK AS OF MARCH 31, 2016 AND CONTINUE TO OWN SUCH SHARES. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23.1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma (the "Court"), of (i) the pendency of the above-captioned shareholder derivative litigation (the "Litigation" or "Action"), which was brought by certain SandRidge shareholders on behalf of and for the benefit of SandRidge; and (ii) a proposed settlement of the Litigation (the "Settlement"), subject to Court approval for consideration as provided in a Stipulation of Settlement (the "Stipulation") that is filed with the Court and available for review as indicated below, and a payment of $500,000 in cash (the "Settlement Payment") by defendants WCT Resources L.L.C. ("WCT"), 192 Investments, L.L.C. ("192"), and TLW Land & Cattle, L.P. ("TLW") (collectively, the "Settling Defendants") to SandRidge. A hearing will be held on June 15, 2016, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable Lee R. West, at the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, 200 N.W. 4th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102 (the "Settlement Hearing") to determine (i) whether the proposed Settlement should be approved; (ii) whether the Released Claims against the Settling Defendants should be dismissed with prejudice as set forth in the Stipulation; (iii) whether Co-Lead Counsels' request for reimbursement of litigation expenses should be approved by the Court; and (iv) whether certain Plaintiffs' request for incentive awards should be approved by the Court. IF THE SETTLEMENT IS APPROVED, THE RIGHTS OF SANDRIDGE SHAREHOLDERS TO PURSUE CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF SANDRIDGE WHICH ARE BEING RELEASED PURSUANT TO THE SETTLEMENT WILL BE AFFECTED. Please Note: Because this Litigation was brought as a derivative action, which means that it was brought on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company, any monetary benefits from the Settlement Payment will go to SandRidge. In a derivative action, individual shareholders do not receive any direct monetary recovery from the settlement. A more detailed Notice of Proposed Partial Settlement of Shareholder Derivative Litigation (the "Notice") that provides additional information concerning the Litigation, the terms of the proposed Settlement, and SandRidge shareholders' legal rights with respect to the proposed Settlement and the application for reimbursement of litigation expenses, and request for Plaintiffs' incentive awards, along with copies of the Stipulation and other documents filed in the Litigation, can be obtained from Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP's ("Kaplan Fox") website (www.kaplanfox.com), or the Company's website (www.sandridgeenergy.com). The notice has been or will be mailed to all shareholders of record as of April 6, 2016. The Notice has also been filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by SandRidge on April 20, 2016 and it is posted on SandRidge's website http://investors.sandridgeenergy.com/investor-relations/Derivative-Litigation-Settlement/, and Kaplan Fox's website (www.kaplanfox.com). You may also examine the Court files for the Litigation during regular business hours at the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, 200 N.W. 4th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102. If you owned shares of SandRidge common stock as of March 31, 2016 and continue to own such shares through June 15, 2016 (the date of the Settlement Hearing), you may, if you wish to do so, comment to the Court on the proposed Settlement, the application for reimbursement of litigation expenses, and Plaintiffs' request for incentive awards. Any objections to the proposed Settlement, the application for reimbursement of expenses, or Plaintiffs' request for incentive awards must be filed with the Court and delivered to Co-Lead Counsel and Counsel for each of the Settling Defendants no later than June 1, 2016, in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR THE CLERK'S OFFICE REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT AND THIS NOTICE. All inquiries may be made to Co-Lead Counsel: KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP Robert N. Kaplan 850 Third Avenue, 14th Floor New York, New York 10022 Telephone: (212) 687-1980 Facsimile: (212) 687-7714 [email protected] Co-Lead Counsel WHITTEN BURRAGE Michael Burrage, OBA #1350 1215 Classen Drive Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103 Telephone: (405) 516-7800 Facsimile: (405) 516-7859 [email protected] Co-Lead Counsel You should ask Co-Lead Counsel to confirm receipt of any email correspondence regarding the Settlement or the notice within three business days. If Co-Lead Counsel do not confirm receipt within three business days, you should call to ensure receipt. By Order of the Clerk of Court United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma SOURCE SandRidge Energy, Inc. WASHINGTON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Adviser to the Saudi Defense Minister and Spokesman for the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Ahmed Hassan Asseri said that the Saudi-led operation is stabilizing the country and defeating Al-Qaeda. "Today, I report 85 to 90 percent of the country [is] under control of the government," said General Asseri during a conference call yesterday with international reporters. "Now we are in the stabilization phase. We help the Yemeni government through their security services, through their army to be able to engage and extend their control in this region," said General Asseri. "We will continue to help them until we bring back the stability in the different cities in Yemen and in general." General Asseri discussed the success of a recent offensive organized by Yemeni security forces, in collaboration with Saudi and Emirati special forces, to retake the city of Al-Mukalla, which was serving as the base of Al-Qaeda operations in Yemen. He said the campaign succeeded in liberating Al-Mukalla and was a tremendous victory against terrorism. "We continue to follow those terrorists and we continue to find out where they are and we continue to defeat them, so we are committed to clear[ing] Hadramout from Al-Qaeda," he stated. Al-Mukalla is the capital of Hadramout province. General Asseri reiterated that Saudi Arabia and its allies are committed to finding a peaceful, political solution in Yemen. He was encouraged by the recent accomplishments of the peace talks in Kuwait. "We continue to work for peace and stability in Yemen, peace and stability in cooperation with the international community and with our friends, allied on top of them the United States of America," General Asseri said. SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office WASHINGTON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia will host Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and agency Administrator Charles Bolden on Tuesday, May 3, for an employee town hall and tour. The tour will include a stop at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad 0A, where preparations are underway to conduct a hot fire test of Orbital ATK's Antares rocket in preparation for returning the rocket to flight operations this summer. Media are invited to join the launch pad visit, employee town hall, and brief media question and answer session at the end. For accreditation, media must contact Wallops News Chief Keith Koehler at 757-824-1579 or [email protected] no later than 3 p.m. EDT Monday, May 2. Media must arrive at Wallops by 10 a.m. for the tour. Mikulski and Bolden will be joined by William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations at NASA Headquarters, Chris Scolese, director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Maryland, Wallops Director Bill Wrobel, and others. Dale Nash, executive director of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, will lead the tour of Pad 0A, which provides NASA the capability to launch Orbital ATK's Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft on resupply missions to the International Space Station. A medium-class launch facility completed in 2012, it was the result of a joint effort among NASA, the Commonwealth of Virginia through Virginia Space, and Orbital ATK. For information about Wallops, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/wallops Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov PALO ALTO, Calif., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A Palo Alto based nonprofit will host a workshop describing a new, collaborative approach to risk management on Wednesday, May 11 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Stanford Faculty Club. ProbabilityManagement.org has pioneered "simulation-based communication to improve actual managerial decisions and public policies," according to Robin M. Hogarth and Emre Soyer as cited in the MIT Sloan Management Review. The course is led by Sam L. Savage, the nonprofit's Executive Director and author of The Flaw of Averages. Additional presenters and topics will include: Industrial applications: Chevron, Lockheed Martin (via web), and PG&E Risk based budgeting at the City of Redmond, Washington (via web) (via web) Potential application in power utility safety regulation Estimating the value of information: Doug Hubbard , author of How to Measure Anything (via web) , author of (via web) Video games and mathematics: Keith Devlin , Executive Director of H-STAR at Stanford University and The Math Guy on NPR's Weekend Edition , Executive Director of H-STAR at and The Math Guy on NPR's Weekend Edition Web based uncertainty calculators: Ozzie Gooen , Founder of Guesstimate , Founder of Guesstimate Simulating the future: Dave Reilly , Founder of Autobox (via web) , Founder of Autobox (via web) Leveraging your legacy simulation software: Eric Torkia , Founder of Technology Partnerz "The flaw of averages explains why so many projects are behind schedule, beyond budget and below projection," said Savage. "This workshop shows how to solve these problems using nothing but the common spreadsheet." ProbabilityManagement.org's open SIPmath standard allows managers to transparently share and aggregate risks using anything from native Excel to sophisticated statistical packages. At the end of the course, attendees will have the option to apply the free, newly released 2016 SIPmath tools in a hands-on computer lab using their own laptops. Additional courses will be held in Washington, D.C. on June 8 and Chicago on June 9. For additional information and registration, visit goo.gl/xrwn05 Probability Management, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is changing the way we think about uncertainty through standards, best practices and education. Its board of directors includes Nobel Laureate in Economics Harry Markowitz. Its sponsors include Chevron Corporation, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Lone Star Analysis, Loring Ward, Wells Fargo Bank, Computerlaw LLC, and the Foundation for Creative Dispute Resolution. Executive Director Sam L. Savage is author of The Flaw of Averages: Why We Underestimate Risk in the Face of Uncertainty, and is a Consulting Professor at Stanford University. To learn more, visit ProbabilityManagement.org. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361723LOGO SOURCE ProbabilityManagement.org Related Links http://probabilitymanagement.org On April 8, the same day prize season registration opened St. Jude Children's Research Hospital hosted more than five dozen top video game broadcasters on campus, along with hosts from Twitch, the leading live video platform for gamers. For the first time ever, Twitch Weekly broadcast the popular show live from a non-gaming event, allowing hosts and broadcasters to learn about St. Jude patients' stories of hope and survival, speak with researchers at St. Jude utilizing video gaming as an effective therapy in childhood cancer survivors, and share more about how St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases with the online gaming community. "It's remarkable to see how deeply the entire video game industry has embraced the mission of St. Jude through our St. Jude PLAY LIVE platform, enabling gamers to play for a purpose," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We are deeply appreciative of gamers across the country, broadcasters, corporate partners and supporters whose collective efforts and passionate hearts help ensure St. Jude will continue its lifesaving mission of finding cures for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases." GameStop, a global family of specialty retail brands that makes the most popular technologies affordable and simple, continues its commitment to St. Jude PLAY LIVE as its official video game sponsor. GameStop provides participants with high-level incentives for supporting the mission. Included again in this year's prize package is a trip to the highly anticipated 2016 GameStop Expo, Sept. 14 in Anaheim, California as well as a pledge to match up to $45,000 in funds to drive donations. The year-round video game charity program has simple rules: gamers sign up at playlive.stjude.org, set a fundraising goal, share the program with friends and family, and raise funds while playing their favorite games. Participants won't just score points, they will help ensure no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Since its inception, St. Jude PLAY LIVE has raised nearly $2 million and continues to increase participants from the video broadcasting industry. Players use their skills to help the kids of St. Jude get to the next level and St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. This year, St. Jude PLAY LIVE is launching an overlay tool that will enable participants to see donations in real time. St. Jude PLAY LIVE is not just for professional video game broadcasters anyone who enjoys playing video games online or off is encouraged to sign up and play for a purpose. Students also can register as a service hour participant and earn 10 academic service hours for every $100 raised. "GameStop is proud to support St. Jude PLAY LIVE for the third straight year," said Matt Hodges, GameStop vice president of public and investor relations. "This charity event unites the gaming community for a very important campaign to help the kids of St. Jude who are fighting real battles with cancer." Through the generous support of St. Jude partners like GameStop, Twitch, Domino's, OriginPC, Razer, Steel Series and Loot Crate, participants can win prizes such as gift cards, and next-gen consoles. Registration for St. Jude PLAY LIVE is open now at playlive.stjude.org. About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude). Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361669 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150327/194976LOGO SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ALISO VIEJO, Calif., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (the "Company" or "Sunstone") (NYSE: SHO) today announced that W. Blake Baird and Murray J. McCabe have been elected to the Company's Board of Directors. In addition, Lewis N. Wolff, a Director since 2004, did not stand for reelection and has retired from the Board. These changes are effective as of April 28, 2016 and have expanded the Board to nine members, including eight independent Directors. Mr. Baird is the co-founder of Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE: TRNO), a real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and operates industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets, and has served as chairman of its board of directors and its Chief Executive Officer since February 2010. Prior to co-founding Terreno Realty Corporation, Mr. Baird was President and a Director of AMB Property Corporation and Chairman of its Investment Committee. AMB, (now Prologis, NYSE:PLD), was a leading global developer, owner and operator of industrial real estate with more than 1,100 buildings containing over 125 million square feet and an equity market capitalization of over $5 billion. Prior to joining AMB, Mr. Baird was a managing director of Morgan Stanley & Co., most recently as head of Real Estate Investment Banking for the Western United States. Mr. Baird also serves as a director of Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX), a Honolulu-headquartered ocean transportation and logistics company. Mr. McCabe is currently a Managing Partner at Blum Capital Partners, L.P. where he serves as a member of the Management Committee. His responsibilities include overseeing and managing Blum Capital's, and its affiliate Montgomery Street Partners', global real estate-related investment initiatives, focusing on distressed debt, opportunistic equity investments and structured investments in public securities. Prior to joining Blum Capital in September 2012, Mr. McCabe worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from 1992 through August 2012. During his 20-year tenure at JPMorgan, Mr. McCabe held several positions in the Investment Banking Division, including Managing Director and Global Head of Real Estate and Lodging Investment Banking. Mr. McCabe is a member of the advisory board for the Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics at the University of California at Berkeley, and is also an executive council member of the Real Estate Finance and Investment Center and serves on the REIT Investment Funds advisory board for the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, Austin. He has served as a director of RREEF Property Trust, Inc. since November 2012, and as a director of Columbia Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CXP) since September 2013. Douglas M. Pasquale, Chairman, stated, "I am excited and pleased to welcome Blake and Murray to the Sunstone Board. Both have extensive experience relating to real estate, capital markets, corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance and will bring new dimensions of leadership to the Board. On behalf of all the Directors and the entire Sunstone team, I would also like to thank Lew for his many years of leadership and service. As Sunstone's first Chairman, Lew has helped influence the direction and evolution of the organization since its IPO and we are grateful for his countless contributions." About Sunstone Hotel Investors: Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. is a lodging real estate investment trust ("REIT") that, as of the date hereof, has interests in 29 hotels comprised of 13,850 rooms. Sunstone's hotels are primarily in the upper upscale segment and are generally operated under nationally recognized brands, such as Marriott, Hilton, Fairmont, Hyatt and Sheraton. For further information, please visit Sunstone's website at www.sunstonehotels.com. For Additional Information: Bryan Giglia Chief Financial Officer Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (949) 382-3036 SOURCE Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. Related Links http://www.sunstonehotels.com PHILADELPHIA, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- After working with a well-placed confidential source, Tactical Rabbit has concluded that potentially nefarious activities are underway at many leading financial institutions. The nature of these allegations along with supporting documentation is disclosed in a letter to Janet Yellen, Chair of the Federal Reserve. Journalists and citizens can read the letter in full here. The ongoing investigation has depended entirely on human intelligence, which lends enormous credence to the findings. Tactical Rabbit's intelligence team has examined and releases more than 42,000 individual banking transactions totaling over $3.3 billion. Nearly $100 million of these transactions appear to violate OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) laws. The exact violations are explicitly stated in the body of the letter. "The public places enormous trust in banks and other financial institutions to abide by SEC regulations and operate with some degree of transparency," says Everett Stern, Senate candidate and intelligence director at Tactical Rabbit. "Unfortunately, our evidence reveals that at many banks, this isn't always the case. Therefore, we hope that American citizens call for a thorough investigation of all the entities identified in this letter." Stern encourages citizens with information related to this investigation to contact Tactical Rabbit today. "We read every e-mail we receive, and forward them to intelligence officers as appropriate. Tactical Rabbit's policy is to protect citizens who take the courageous step of revealing white collar crimes they've witnessed. As a former whistleblower myself, I understand how lonely that position can be and I founded Tactical Rabbit in part to support our fellow brave citizens." "The vitality and transparency of money systems is more than an economic issue," adds Stern. "In the U.S., it also boils down to a national security issue. That's why the banking sector has come under such scrutiny from independent watchdog groups. Government regulators are stretched thin, and we're committed to picking up the slack. At Tactical Rabbit, one of our top priorities is to 'follow the money' that funds such things as terrorism, fraud and organized crime." About Tactical Rabbit Tactical Rabbit is a leading-edge intelligence firm offering customized investigation services for US citizens, organizations, the government, and businesses ranging from small companies to Fortune 500 corporations. Tactical Rabbit has a proven track record of previous work with financial institutions, law firms, hedge funds, and governmental agencies. Contact: Everett A. Stern, M.B.A. Intelligence Director US Senate Candidate United States of America 703-229-1412 www.TacticalRabbit.com SOURCE Tactical Rabbit CHERRY HILL, N.J., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, received the highest ranking in Florida for overall customer satisfaction in Retail Banking, according to the 2016 J.D. Power U.S. Retail Ranking Study SM. This honor reflects TD's laser focus on delivering a legendary customer experience over the channels today's customers prefer. TD prides itself on offering friendly, expert guidance in all of its stores along with live customer support over online and digital channels 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. TD Bank achieved a retail customer satisfaction score of 837 in Florida from J.D. Power, 13 points ahead of its closest competitor. This represents an increase of seven points over last year, when the bank placed second. TD Bank also ranked highest in customer satisfaction in 2013. "We are committed to creating a great banking experience for our customers," said Ernie Diaz, TD Bank's Regional President of Florida. "This award demonstrates that we are doing the right thing for our customers. It also reflects our employees' passion for helping people achieve their financial goals and empowering businesses to grow." The J.D. Power study ranks 11 big banks on categories that include product offerings, facility, account information, fees and problem resolution, and channel activities. According to J.D. Power, TD Bank also attained high scores in facility and channel activities. Its score in Florida was the highest ever awarded in any TD region. "At TD, we place our customers at the center of everything we do," said Michael Rhodes, Head of Consumer Bank, TD Bank. "Our goal is to provide legendary experiences to our customers at every touchpoint: in-person, over the phone and through our digital channels. We're extremely proud of our team in Florida for delivering on that promise." About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at approximately 1,300 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US. TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131120/MM21057LOGO SOURCE TD Bank Related Links http://www.TDBank.com BEDFORD, Texas, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Adam Smith's Texas Harley-Davidson in Bedford, Texas, kicked off the grand opening of its new 72,000-plus square-foot store with a massive three-day-long celebration. The new Texas Harley-Davidson, which sits on six acres, is larger than 90 percent of Harley-Davidson dealerships in the country. The $10 million-plus store has 40,000-plus-square-feet more than the previous site and two full showrooms, one located on the second level with the capacity to showcase more than 500 bikes. Texas Harley-Davidson is the number one store in Texas, and in the top ten in the nation, for the past two years. The dealership's unique features include an interactive parts bar, the world's largest Harley-Davidson Bar & Shield, an outdoor covered area for events and a ride-in service department. Texas Harley-Davidson is located at 1921 Shoalmont Road in Bedford and is part of Calculated Risk Motorcycle Group's family of five Harley-Davidson dealerships in Texas. "Bedford is proud to be home to Texas Harley-Davidson. We have a lot to offer riders in our City, which draws people from all over DFW and North Texas," said Mayor Jim Griffin. "We appreciate Texas Harley-Davidson's business contributions to our city, as a major sales tax generator, and we also value them as a community partner because of their longstanding support of several City events and charitable organizations." "The new Flagship is 'home' for our Texas Harley-Davidson family," said Owner Adam Smith. "This new store gives us room to showcase our extensive collection of bikes and gear but also gives us room to grow our family of riders and team members. Our riders come back week after week for the Texas Harley-Davidson lifestyle of organized weekly rides, events like Bike Nights and to hang out in our two customer lounges. Our growth and success are a result of our team and our riders, and the experience they give and get!" The dealership's unique features include its Parts Bar, which removes the traditional transaction interaction and simulates the experience of friends customizing bikes together in the garage. Its service department allows the convenience of riding directly inside and up to its service desks. Texas Harley-Davidson's "signature scent," called Grit a combination of grease, tires, leather and burning gasoline infuses the store via its aroma injection system. Visually, the store has the look of an old manufacturing building, with exposed steel, brickwork and elevated walkways. Every company engaged in the new dealership process is local, from its architect and general contractor to its uniform provider. The store will employ 100 team members when fully staffed. "The Harley-Davidson Motor Company is delighted to see the vision of Adam Smith and his team come to fruition. This store will certainly bring a unique flavor to the Harley experience; encompassing all aspects of the brand within a truly stunning retail environment. It will appeal to anyone with an affinity for the brand; both riders and non-riders alike. I am excited to see the new addition to our family flourish and congratulate our partners at Texas Harley-Davidson on the opening of their new store," said Christian Walters, Managing Director, United States for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The three-day grand opening celebration began with a Friday afternoon chain-cutting ceremony with the mayor of the city which was attended by several city council members and the city manager. It included presentations from the Keller Independent School District's Air Force Junior ROTC and Keller Central High School's Drumline. Representatives from the Bedford fire and police departments attended and a four-legged (and adoptable) representative from Bedford Animal Services proudly attended wearing the latest Harley fashion. Friday's celebration ends with a late-night concert by Memphis Soul. Saturday's all-day celebration includes four live bands with headliner Grady Spencer & and The Work; a motorcycle and go-cart "drill team" demonstrations by Shriners Hella Motor Patrol and Moslah Mystic Wheels; veterans from the organization 22 Kill rappelling from the roof of the building; and a fireworks show, heavy with orange and silver pyrotechnics. Sunday's Family Day event includes music from School of Rock Fort Worth and School of Rock Southlake Dean's List bands, a Trick Cowboy and a rock-climbing wall. "With this new space, we've taken our quality of service and calendar of community events, like rider education, bike nights and organized rides, to a higher level," said Texas Harley-Davidson Partner Neil Noble. "We planned every section of the store with great detail and we are excited for everyone to come to the grand opening festivities so they can enjoy it, as well." Smith has owned Texas Harley-Davidson since 2011. He joined the Harley-Davidson business in 1991. In 1996, he opened his first Harley-Davidson dealership in Grand Prairie, making him the youngest person to own and operate a Harley dealership at the age of 22. About Adam Smith's Calculated Risk Motorcycle Group Calculated Risk's family of authorized Adam Smith Harley-Davidson dealerships includes Adam Smith's Texas Harley-Davidson at 1921 Shoalmont Rd., Bedford, 76021; Adam Smith's Texoma Harley-Davidson at 4000 N. US Hwy 75, Sherman, 75090; Adam Smith's Harley-Davidson of Waco at 4201 S. Jack Kultgen Expy Waco, 76706; Adam Smith's Roughneck Harley-Davidson, 3400 N. 4th St., Longview, 75605; and Adam Smith's Lumberjack Harley-Davidson, 2518 N. Stallings, Nacogdoches, 75964. The Adam Smith Harley team is committed to promoting the Harley lifestyle in everything they do by providing a one-of-a-kind experience that is fun, memorable and long lasting. With an Adam Smith's Harley-Davidson, you'll never ride alone. For more information about Adam Smith's Harley-Davidson dealerships, visit the websites. SOURCE Texas Harley-Davidson Related Links http://www.texasharley.com AUSTIN, Texas, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Mutual Insurance Company has awarded a combined $600,000 in grants to College of the Mainland in Texas City, Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, El Paso Community College, Kilgore College, Midland College and Amarillo College. The grants fund workplace safety courses for employers, workers and the general public through the colleges' risk management institutes. Since 1999, Texas Mutualthe state's leading provider of workers' compensation insurancehas awarded $4.6 million in safety education grants, and approximately 30,000 students have attended free safety courses in Corpus Christi, Kilgore, Midland and Texas City throughout the past 17 years. This year was the first year Texas Mutual awarded grants to El Paso Community College and Amarillo College to establish risk management programs. "All of us at Amarillo College appreciate the support that Texas Mutual is giving to our local employers and employees through this grant," Amarillo College President Russell Lowery-Hart, Ph.D., said. "Safety education is an important part of the workplace, and our new risk management program will have a positive impact on workplaces in and around Amarillo. We look forward to a successful partnership with Texas Mutual, as we all work toward creating safer workplaces for employees." Courses at the safety institutes include general topics, such as driver safety, ergonomic safety and OSHA standards, as well as courses tailored to the dominant industries in the Houston, Midland, Kilgore, El Paso, Corpus Christi and Amarillo areas. "We're taking a big step toward keeping workers safe by providing educational programs," Woody Hill, vice president of safety services at Texas Mutual, said. "Through the classes at these five safety institutes, more Texas employees receive safety training, giving them tools to be successful in business. Workplace safety education is always a sound investment and these grants, along with other Texas Mutual safety programs, demonstrate the company's ongoing commitment to workplace safety and the prevention of workplace accidents." For more information about Texas Mutual's many safety initiatives, visit texasmutual.com. About Texas Mutual Insurance Company Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned company, is the state's leading provider of workers' compensation insurance. Texas Mutual provides coverage to 40 percent of the market, representing over 64,000 companies, many of which are small businesses. Since 1991, the company has provided a stable, competitively priced source of workers' comp insurance for Texas employers. Helping employers prevent workplace accidents is an important part of Texas Mutual's mission. texasmutual.com twitter.com/texasmutual Media Contacts: Levente McCrary or Katie McKee [email protected] [email protected] Elizabeth Christian Public Relations (512) 472-9599 SOURCE Texas Mutual Insurance Company Related Links http://www.texasmutual.com Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: OPEC oil basket's price stood at $42.02 per barrel on Apr. 28, or $0.64 more than on Apr. 27, the cartel told Trend Apr. 29. The OPEC Reference Basket (ORB) is made up of the following oil brands: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). Global oil prices have increased to the maximum level in 2016 against the background of the US dollar's weakening, as well as the US Energy Department's (DOE) data on the country's oil output, which has dropped to its lowest level over the past year and a half. As of 12:15 (GMT+4) on Apr. 29, the price for June futures of the North Sea Brent oil mix increased by 0.39 percent to $48.33 per barrel, while the price for May futures of the WTI oil increased by 0.67 percent to $46.34 per barrel. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov JINAN, China, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 22-24, the 2016 China Green Companies Summit, the most influential business forum dedicated to sustainable development of China's economy, was held in Jinan, Shandong Province. Over 1,200 business leaders, political decision-makers, academic authorities, NGO representatives and influential journalists attended the event, including Liu Chuanzhi, Jack Ma, Ma Weihua, Guo Guangchang, Liu Yonghao, Tomson Li, Wang Yusuo, Lei Jun, Jia Yueting, Zhu Xinli, Liu Jiren, Charles Chao, Frank Wu, Huang Nubo, Edward Tian, and Wang Zhongjun. Organised by the China Entrepreneur Club(CEC), the Summit was supported by the Shandong Provincial Government and co-organized by Shandong Economic and Information Technology Committee and Jinan Municipal People's Government. This year's summit is themed "Redefining the Jungle: A New Business Order." Under the "New Normal" circumstances, when China's growth rate began to slow down, and in the face of the opportunities and challenges brought by the mobile Internet, a new ecosystem, or "jungle" needs to be nurtured among government, business, the public and the natural environment for sustainable development to flourish. The Summit has concentrated on more than 20 topics, which drew the most attention and undergone the most discussion over the past year, including supply-side reform, the Internet and sharing economy, financialization of private companies, investment in emerging industries, corporate governance and sustainable development, organizational reforms in the Internet age, entrepreneurship and venture capital investment. During the Summit, five foreign delegations from Britain, France, Canada, Italy and Japan attended the summit and co-organized five sino-foreign sessions. Over 120 representative from foreign government and enterprises were present and had in-depth discussion on ways to build win-win business relationships and possible opportunities for future cooperation. The year of 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the CEC. Ten insightful and innovative business leaders were invited to deliver speeches on trends of key social issues in the next decade. These distinguished speakers included Liu Chuanzhi, Jack Ma, Guo Guangchang, Liu Yonghao, Tomson Li, Jia Yueting, Michael Yu, Wang Yusuo, Edward Tian and Liu Jiren. During the Summit, a new form of face-to-face interaction between entrepreneurs, as well as between entrepreneurs and the media, was designed to boost direct communication. Additionally, on April 24, nearly 200 Summit participants visited the prominent local companies Inspur, Qilusoft Park, JIER, and SICC. The China Green Companies Summit has achieved "carbon neutral" for 6 years running. With the support of LAONIU Foundation, 200,000 RMB were donated to the the China Green Carbon Foundation to plant 58 acres of trees in Inner Mongolia to to offset the carbon emissions generated by attendees' transportation, accommodation, meals and electricity consumption. The Summit was also sponsored by BMW, Schneider Electric, DingTalk and Inspur. Established in 2008, the Annual China Green Companies Summit, held on Earth Day (April 22) each year, annually hosts over 1,000 guests from China and abroad, including business leaders, political decision-makers, academic authorities, NGO representatives and influential journalists, each bringing global foresight and drive for reform to the event. The Summit has been widely recognized as one of the most influential business forums dedicated to sustainable development of China's economy. The China Entrepreneur Club The China Entrepreneur Club is the premier business leader platform in China. Established by 31 of China's most influential entrepreneurs, economists and diplomats in 2006, the CEC is a hub for Chinese entrepreneurial exchange, cooperation, and international collaboration. As a private non-profit organization, the CEC is committed to nurturing entrepreneurship and business integrity while paving the future of sustainable economic and social development. CEC members represent the first generation of modern Chinese entrepreneurs. Members and member companies are proud to signify commercial success while abiding by the rules and regulations of the market economy. CEC members continue to set the example for sustainable competitiveness through better business practices, actively engaging in public welfare initiatives and endorsing corporate social responsibility. CEC member companies are economic powerhouses, with 49 dynamic companies earning a total annual gross income of over three trillion RMB. The CEC mission and vision represent a set of core values for club members, employees and affiliates to live by. These values are the backbone of club activity, from International Visits and Member Company Visits, to the Daonong Gala celebration and regular tailored events throughout the year. Furthermore, the CEC's Green Companies Alliance and annual China Green Companies Summit exhibit a relentless pursuit of building sustainable, transparent green companies in China. SOURCE China Entrepreneur Club PHILADELPHIA, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- It's not too late to book a last-minute getaway or business trip to Philadelphia with limited-time discounts from Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown. Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown will offer 30 percent off of room rates on select dates through June 2, 2016. Guests must make reservations within 48-hour time frames on April 29-30 and May 10-11. For information, visit www.PhiladelphiaDowntownCourtyard.com or call 1-215-496-3200. Living up to its location in "The City of Brotherly Love", the downtown Philadelphia hotel is featuring a friendly deal with 30 percent off of room rates on select dates through June 2, 2016. Available through two 48-hour flash sales, the offer must be booked between midnight on April 29, 2016 and 11:59 p.m. on April 30 or midnight on May 10, 2016 and 11:59 p.m. on May 11. Stay dates include May 15-17, 29-31 and June 1-2, and travelers need to use promotional code LPR when making a reservation. Making May the perfect time to visit Philadelphia, the city is alive with events and activities for visitors of all ages. Explore limited-time exhibitions including The Science Behind Pixar at The Franklin Museum, just 1 mile away. Other must-see exhibitions include International Pop at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Curious George: Let's Get Curious at the Please Touch Museum and Down the Rabbit Hole: Celebrating 150 Years of Alice in Wonderland at The Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia. During a day of exploration, travelers can take it easy at Spruce Street Harbor Park, reopening on May 6, 2016. The one-of-a-kind waterfront park features over 50 hammocks in addition to a boardwalk and arcade games. Visitors are also encouraged to try a local favorite at one of the city's top picks for an authentic Philly cheesesteak. Professionals traveling for business will appreciate the hotel's convenience to Pennsylvania Convention Center, home to state-of-the-art facilities. No matter how guests spend their day, they will enjoy comfort and convenience in stylish guest rooms and suites with plush Marriott bedding and an array of modern amenities. Stay connected and entertained with complimentary wireless internet access and flat-panel TVs featuring premium cable channels including CNN, ESPN and HBO. Or, catch up on email at a large workspace with an ergonomic chair and plenty of places to plug in. During downtime, grab a bite to eat at Nineteen 26, or get your heart racing in the hotel's fitness center or at the indoor pool. About Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown at 21 N. Juniper St. in Philadelphia, PA is near Pennsylvania Convention Center, Please Touch Museum and historic sites including the Liberty Bell. The hotel features 15 floors with 416 rooms, 83 suites and 12 meeting rooms totaling over 10,000 square feet of flexible event space. Guests enjoy access to complimentary Wi-Fi, a modern gym, indoor pool and on-site dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For information, www.PhiladelphiaDowntownCourtyard.com or call 1-215-496-3200. Sign up now for Marriott Rewards and get on the fast track to earn points for free hotel stays, room upgrades, flights, credit card purchases and deals with Marriott partners. Learn more about Courtyard and Marriott International Inc. PRESS CONTACT Ronie Nosner 1-703-407-2960 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160425/359586 SOURCE Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown Related Links http://www.PhiladelphiaDowntownCourtyard.com CORK, Ireland, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Confirms that plans are on track for its strategic merger with Johnson Controls to create a global leader in building products and technology, integrated solutions and energy storage Enhances business portfolio with acquisition of ShopperTrak to expand retail analytics solutions, and divestiture of Australian fire detection and protection business Expands pipeline with 7% orders growth in the quarter, and backlog increases 2% on quarter sequential basis, both excluding the impact of foreign currency and divestitures Achieves 126% adjusted free cash flow conversion rate in the quarter Provides guidance for third quarter 2016 EPS before special items of $0.52 - $0.54 Tightens guidance range for full-year EPS before special items to $2.05 - $2.10 from previous $2.05 - $2.20 Tyco (NYSE: TYC) today reported $0.33 in GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations for the fiscal second quarter of 2016 and diluted EPS from continuing operations before special items of $0.45, compared to previous guidance of $0.44 to $0.46. Revenue of $2.3 billion in the quarter decreased 4% versus the prior year, primarily due to a 4% negative impact of the stronger U.S. dollar against foreign currencies. Organic revenue declined 1% in the quarter, with acquisitions contributing 4 percentage points of growth, which was partially offset by a 3 percentage point impact related to divestitures. "I am pleased with the progress on our planned merger with Johnson Controls to create the global leader in building products and technology, integrated solutions and energy storage," said Tyco Chief Executive Officer George R. Oliver. "Our integration teams are making great strides, and I am more excited and confident than ever about the value creation potential of the merger for customers, shareholders and employees." "While ongoing sluggish economic conditions in key sectors put pressure on our short-cycle product markets in the second quarter, our continued focus on productivity initiatives enabled our Integrated Solutions & Services teams to deliver better than expected margin performance. We have made significant improvements in the fundamentals of our business. We are investing for future growth through a dedicated focus on service and installation within our North American fire and security business, continued product innovation and our commercial excellence initiatives. As a result of these initiatives, our order pipeline and backlog continue to build, which positions us well for increased growth in the second half," Mr. Oliver added. (Income and EPS amounts are attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders) ($ millions, except per-share amounts) Q2 2016 Q2 2015 % Change Revenue $ 2,331 $ 2,430 (4)% Segment Operating Income $ 289 $ 306 (6)% Restructuring and Repositioning $ (10) $ (29) (66)% Operating Income $ 225 $ 221 2% Income from Continuing Operations $ 145 $ 183 (21)% GAAP Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations $ 0.33 $ 0.43 (23)% Special Items $ 0.12 $ 0.07 Segment Operating Income Before Special Items $ 311 $ 331 (6)% Restructuring and Repositioning Before Special Items $ (16) $ (29) (45)% Income from Continuing Ops Before Special Items $ 192 $ 215 (11)% Diluted EPS from Continuing Ops Before Special Items $ 0.45 $ 0.50 (10)% Organic revenue, free cash flow, adjusted free cash flow, operating income, segment operating income, and diluted EPS from continuing operations before special items are non-GAAP financial measures and are described below. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures, see the attached tables. Additional schedules as well as second quarter review slides can be found in the Investor Relations section of Tyco's website at http://investors.tyco.com . SEGMENT RESULTS The financial results presented in the tables below are in accordance with GAAP unless otherwise indicated. All dollar amounts are pre-tax and stated in millions. All comparisons are to the fiscal second quarter of 2015 unless otherwise indicated. North America Integrated Solutions & Services Q2 2016 Q2 2015 % Change Revenue $ 947 $ 944 % Operating Income $ 131 $ 125 5% Operating Margin 13.8% 13.2% Special Items $ $ Operating Income Before Special Items $ 131 $ 125 5% Operating Margin Before Special Items 13.8% 13.2% Revenue of $947 million was up slightly compared to the prior year. Modest organic revenue growth was driven by 1% growth in integrated solutions and flat service revenue. Acquisition growth of 1% was offset by the weakening of the Canadian dollar. Backlog of $2.57 billion increased 4% year over year and 2% on a quarter sequential basis, excluding the impact of foreign currency. Operating income for the quarter was $131 million and the operating margin before special items improved 60 basis points to 13.8%, including a 20 basis point headwind related to non-cash purchase accounting. Underlying operations improved 80 basis points, driven by improved execution and productivity benefits. Rest of World Integrated Solutions & Services Q2 2016 Q2 2015 % Change Revenue $ 768 $ 847 (9)% Operating Income $ 57 $ 67 (15)% Operating Margin 7.4% 7.9% Special Items $ (20) $ (23) Operating Income Before Special Items $ 77 $ 90 (14)% Operating Margin Before Special Items 10.0% 10.6% Revenue of $768 million decreased 9% compared to the prior year, driven by a 9% unfavorable impact from foreign currency exchange rates. Organic revenue declined 1%, as 1% growth in service was more than offset by a 3% decline in integrated solutions. Acquisition growth of 8% was mostly offset by a 7% decline related to divestitures. Backlog of $1.91 billion increased 13% year over year, partly driven by acquisition activity, and 3% on a quarter sequential basis, excluding the impact of foreign currency and divestitures. Operating income for the quarter was $57 million and the operating margin was 7.4%. Special items of $20 million consisted primarily of a loss on divestitures. Before special items, operating income was $77 million and the operating margin was 10.0%. The operating margin declined 60 basis points, including a 40 basis point impact related to non-cash purchase accounting. Underlying operations declined 20 basis points driven by the mix of revenue decline, partially offset by productivity benefits. Global Products Q2 2016 Q2 2015 % Change Revenue $ 616 $ 639 (4)% Operating Income $ 101 $ 114 (11)% Operating Margin 16.4% 17.8% Special Items $ (2) $ (2) Operating Income Before Special Items $ 103 $ 116 (11)% Operating Margin Before Special Items 16.7% 18.2% Revenue of $616 million decreased 4% compared to the prior year. Organic revenue declined 3%, driven by Life Safety Products due to increased Air-Pak X3 shipments during the comparable quarter in the prior year, as well as softness in Fire Protection Products related to the high-hazard heavy industrial sector. Acquisitions contributed 3 percentage points of growth, which was fully offset by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. A divestiture negatively impacted revenue by 1%. Operating income for the quarter was $101 million and the operating margin was 16.4%. Before special items, operating income was $103 million and the operating margin was 16.7%. The 150 basis point decline in operating margin included a 50 basis point headwind related to non-cash purchase accounting. The underlying margin decline of 100 basis points was driven by the decline in revenue and a lower mix of higher-margin products. OTHER ITEMS Cash from operating activities was $124 million and free cash flow was $46 million , which included a cash outflow of $196 million from special items primarily related to the IRS litigation and prior year restructuring and repositioning activities. Adjusted free cash flow for the quarter was $242 million representing an adjusted free cash flow conversion rate of 126% for the second quarter and 111% for the six months ending March 25, 2016 . The company completed the quarter with $345 million in cash and cash equivalents. and free cash flow was , which included a cash outflow of from special items primarily related to the IRS litigation and prior year restructuring and repositioning activities. Adjusted free cash flow for the quarter was representing an adjusted free cash flow conversion rate of 126% for the second quarter and 111% for the six months ending . The company completed the quarter with in cash and cash equivalents. Corporate expense for the quarter was $46 million before special items and $54 million on a GAAP basis. before special items and on a GAAP basis. Restructuring and repositioning charges were $16 million before the reversal of $6 million of prior-period charges treated as special items, compared to $29 million for the prior year period. before the reversal of of prior-period charges treated as special items, compared to for the prior year period. The tax rate before special items was 17.3% for the quarter. As disclosed on April 21 , Tyco and Johnson Controls confirmed their merger plans and that the combined company expects to deliver $650 million in operational and global tax synergies over the first three years after closing. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by both Johnson Controls and Tyco shareholders, is expected to be completed on or around October 1, 2016 . , Tyco and Johnson Controls confirmed their merger plans and that the combined company expects to deliver in operational and global tax synergies over the first three years after closing. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by both Johnson Controls and Tyco shareholders, is expected to be completed on or around . As previously announced, during the quarter the company completed the acquisition of ShopperTrak, a leading global provider of retail traffic insights and location-based analytics, for approximately $175 million in cash. This business currently generates approximately $75 million in annual revenue. in cash. This business currently generates approximately in annual revenue. As previously announced, during the quarter the company divested its fire detection and protection business in Australia. In fiscal year 2015, this business had revenue of approximately $260 million . ABOUT TYCO Tyco (NYSE: TYC) is the world's largest pure-play fire protection and security company. Tyco provides more than three million customers around the globe with the latest fire protection and security products and services. Tyco has over 57,000 employees in more than 900 locations across 50 countries serving various end markets, including commercial, institutional, governmental, retail, industrial, energy, residential and small business. For more information, visit www.tyco.com . CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST Management will discuss the company's second quarter results for 2016 during a conference call and webcast today beginning at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time (ET). Today's conference call for investors can be accessed in the following ways: Live via webcast - through the Investor Relations section of Tyco's website at http://investors.tyco.com , , Live via telephone (for "listen-only" participants and those who would like to ask a question) - by dialing 800-857-9797 (in the United States ) or 517-308-9029 (outside the United States ), passcode "Tyco", ) or 517-308-9029 (outside ), passcode "Tyco", Replay via telephone - by dialing 888-568-0738 (in the United States ) or 402-998-1493 (outside the United States ), passcode 2577, from 10:00 a.m. (ET) on April 29, 2016 , until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on May 6, 2016 , and ) or 402-998-1493 (outside ), passcode 2577, from on , until on , and Replay via webcast - through the "Presentations & Webcasts" link on the Investor Relations section of Tyco's website: http://investors.tyco.com . NON-GAAP MEASURES Organic revenue, free cash flow (outflow) (FCF), and income from continuing operations, earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations, operating income and segment operating income, in each case "before special items," are non-GAAP measures and should not be considered replacements for GAAP results. Organic revenue is a useful measure used by the company to measure the underlying results and trends in the business. The difference between reported net revenue (the most comparable GAAP measure) and organic revenue (the non-GAAP measure) consists of the impact from foreign currency, acquisitions and divestitures, and other changes that either do not reflect the underlying results and trends of the Company's businesses or are not completely under management's control. There are limitations associated with organic revenue, such as the fact that, as presented herein, the metric may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. These limitations are best addressed by using organic revenue in combination with the GAAP numbers. Organic revenue may be used as a component in the company's incentive compensation plans. FCF is a useful measure of the company's cash that permits management and investors to gain insight into the number that management employs to measure cash that is free from any significant existing obligation and is available to service debt and make investments. The difference between Cash Flows from Operating Activities (the most comparable GAAP measure) and FCF (the non-GAAP measure) consists mainly of significant cash flows that the company believes are useful to identify. It, or a measure that is based on it, may be used as a component in the company's incentive compensation plans. The difference reflects the impact from: net capital expenditures, dealer generated accounts and bulk accounts purchased, cash paid for purchase accounting and holdback liabilities, and voluntary pension contributions. Capital expenditures and dealer generated and bulk accounts purchased are subtracted because they represent long-term investments that are required for normal business activities. Cash paid for purchase accounting and holdback liabilities is subtracted because these cash outflows are not available for general corporate uses. Voluntary pension contributions are added because this activity is driven by economic financing decisions rather than operating activity. In addition, the company presents adjusted free cash flow, which is free cash flow, adjusted to exclude the cash impact of the special items highlighted below. This number provides information to investors regarding the cash impact of certain items management believes are useful to identify, as described below. The limitation associated with using these cash flow metrics is that they adjust for cash items that are ultimately within management's and the Board of Directors' discretion to direct and therefore may imply that there is less or more cash that is available for the company's programs than the most comparable GAAP measure. Furthermore, these non-GAAP metrics may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. These limitations are best addressed by using FCF in combination with the GAAP cash flow numbers. The company has presented its income and EPS from continuing operations, operating income and segment operating income before special items. Special items include charges and gains related to divestitures, acquisitions, restructurings, impairments, certain changes to accounting methodologies, legacy legal and tax charges and other income or charges that may mask the underlying operating results and/or business trends of the company or business segment, as applicable. The company utilizes these measures to assess overall operating performance and segment level core operating performance, as well as to provide insight to management in evaluating overall and segment operating plan execution and underlying market conditions. The Company also presents its effective tax rate as adjusted for special items for consistency, and presents corporate expense excluding special items. One or more of these measures may be used as components in the company's incentive compensation plans. These measures are useful for investors because they may permit more meaningful comparisons of the company's underlying operating results and business trends between periods. The difference between income and EPS from continuing operations before special items and income and EPS from continuing operations (the most comparable GAAP measures) consists of the impact of the special items noted above on the applicable GAAP measure. The limitation of these measures is that they exclude the impact (which may be material) of items that increase or decrease the company's reported GAAP metrics, and these non-GAAP metrics may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. These limitations are best addressed by using the non-GAAP measures in combination with the most comparable GAAP measures in order to better understand the amounts, character and impact of any increase or decrease on reported results. The company provides general corporate services to its segments and those costs are reported in the "Corporate and Other" segment. This segment's operating income (loss) is presented as "Corporate Expense." Segment Operating Income represents Tyco's operating income excluding the Corporate and Other segment, and reflects the results of Tyco's three operating segments. Segment Operating Income before special items reflects GAAP operating income adjusted for the special items noted in the paragraph above. NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT In connection with the proposed transaction between Johnson Controls, Inc. ("Johnson Controls") and Tyco International plc ("Tyco"), Tyco has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form S-4 that includes a preliminary joint proxy statement of Johnson Controls and Tyco that also constitutes a preliminary prospectus of Tyco (the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus"). These materials are not yet final and will be amended. Johnson Controls and Tyco plan to mail to their respective shareholders the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus in connection with the transaction after the registration statement has become effective. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF JOHNSON CONTROLS AND TYCO ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT JOHNSON CONTROLS, TYCO, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Johnson Controls and Tyco through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov . In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Johnson Controls by contacting Johnson Controls Shareholder Services at [email protected] or by calling (800) 524-6220 and will be able to obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Tyco by contacting Tyco Investor Relations at [email protected] or by calling (609) 720-4333. PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION Johnson Controls, Tyco and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the respective shareholders of Johnson Controls and Tyco in connection with the proposed transactions, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding Johnson Controls' directors and executive officers is contained in Johnson Controls' proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on December 14, 2015. Information regarding Tyco's directors and executive officers is contained in Tyco's proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on January 15, 2016. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements. In many cases forward-looking statements are identified by words, and variations of words, such as "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "commit", "confident", "continue", "could", "intend", "may", "plan", "potential", "predict", "positioned", "should", "will", "expect", "objective", "projection", "forecast", "goal", "guidance", "outlook", "effort", "target", and other similar words. However, the absence of these words does not mean the statements are not forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, revenue, operating income, earnings per share and other financial projections, statements regarding the health and growth prospects of the industries and end markets in which Tyco operates, the leadership, resources, potential, priorities, and opportunities for Tyco in the future, Tyco's credit profile, capital allocation priorities and other capital market related activities, statements regarding Tyco's acquisition, divestiture, restructuring and other productivity initiatives, and statements regarding Tyco's proposed merger with Johnson Controls and related transactions. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause results to materially differ from expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: economic, business, competitive, technological or regulatory factors that adversely impact Tyco or the markets and industries in which it competes; unanticipated expenses such as litigation or legal settlement expenses; tax law changes; industry specific events or conditions that may adversely impact revenue or other financial projections; risks relating to the completion of the proposed transaction with Johnson Controls on anticipated terms and timing, including obtaining shareholder and regulatory approvals, anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the new combined company's operations, the ability of Tyco and Johnson Controls to integrate their businesses successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies, changes in tax laws or interpretations, access to available financing, potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction, and the risk that disruptions from the proposed transaction will harm Tyco's business. Actual results could differ materially from anticipated results. Tyco is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to update its forward-looking statements. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included from time to time in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's public reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2015, and subsequent filings with the SEC. STATEMENT REQUIRED BY THE IRISH TAKEOVER RULES The directors of Tyco International plc accept responsibility for the information contained in this communication. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this communication is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. This communication is not intended to be and is not a prospectus for the purposes of Part 23 of the Companies Act 2014 of Ireland (the "2014 Act"), Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 324 of 2005) of Ireland (as amended from time to time) or the Prospectus Rules issued by the Central Bank of Ireland pursuant to section 1363 of the 2014 Act, and the Central Bank of Ireland ("CBI") has not approved this communication. TYCO INTERNATIONAL PLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) Quarters Ended Six Months Ended March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 Revenue from product sales $ 1,398 $ 1,458 $ 2,806 $ 2,946 Service revenue 933 972 1,901 1,962 Net revenue 2,331 2,430 4,707 4,908 Cost of product sales 968 999 1,930 2,021 Cost of services 506 550 1,042 1,097 Selling, general and administrative expenses 602 648 1,175 1,300 Merger costs 26 26 Restructuring and asset impairment charges, net 4 12 16 70 Operating income 225 221 518 420 Interest income 4 4 8 7 Interest expense (22) (25) (46) (49) Other (expense) income, net (1) (165) 3 Income from continuing operations before income taxes 207 199 315 381 Income tax expense (63) (18) (99) (37) Income from continuing operations 144 181 216 344 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes 1 (16) 5 (18) Net income 145 165 221 326 Less: noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries net loss (1) (2) (1) (3) Net income attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders $ 146 $ 167 $ 222 $ 329 Amounts attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders: Income from continuing operations $ 145 $ 183 $ 217 $ 347 Income (loss) from discontinued operations 1 (16) 5 (18) Net income attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders $ 146 $ 167 $ 222 $ 329 Basic earnings per share attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders: Income from continuing operations $ 0.34 $ 0.44 $ 0.51 $ 0.83 (Loss) income from discontinued operations (0.04) 0.01 (0.05) Net income attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders $ 0.34 $ 0.40 $ 0.52 $ 0.78 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders: Income from continuing operations $ 0.33 $ 0.43 $ 0.51 $ 0.81 Income (loss) from discontinued operations 0.01 (0.04) 0.01 (0.04) Net income attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders $ 0.34 $ 0.39 $ 0.52 $ 0.77 Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic 425 420 424 420 Diluted 428 427 428 427 Note: These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on November 13, 2015 and Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2016 for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2015. TYCO INTERNATIONAL PLC RESULTS OF SEGMENTS (in millions) (Unaudited) Quarters Ended Six Months Ended March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 Net Revenue NA Integrated Solutions & Services $ 947 $ 944 $ 1,900 $ 1,895 ROW Integrated Solutions & Services 768 847 1,580 1,763 Global Products 616 639 1,227 1,250 Total Net Revenue $ 2,331 $ 2,430 $ 4,707 $ 4,908 Operating Income and Margin NA Integrated Solutions & Services $ 131 13.8 % $ 125 13.2 % $ 263 13.8 % $ 254 13.4 % ROW Integrated Solutions & Services 57 7.4 % 67 7.9 % 190 12.0 % 156 8.8 % Global Products 101 16.4 % 114 17.8 % 198 16.1 % 219 17.5 % Segment operating income 289 12.4 % 306 12.6 % 651 13.8 % 629 12.8 % Corporate and Other expense (54) N/M (56) N/M (105) N/M (105) N/M Restructuring and repositioning charges, net (10) N/M (29) N/M (28) N/M (104) N/M Operating income $ 225 9.7 % $ 221 9.1 % $ 518 11.0 % $ 420 8.6 % TYCO INTERNATIONAL PLC CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in millions) (Unaudited) March 25, 2016 September 25, 2015 Assets Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 345 $ 1,401 Accounts receivable, net 1,722 1,732 Inventories 670 624 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 864 754 Deferred income taxes 62 62 Assets held for sale 102 Total Current Assets 3,663 4,675 Property, plant and equipment, net 1,189 1,177 Goodwill 4,460 4,234 Intangible assets, net 1,025 863 Other assets 1,274 1,372 Total Assets $ 11,611 $ 12,321 Liabilities and Equity Current Liabilities: Loans payable and current maturities of long-term debt $ 400 $ 987 Accounts payable 797 774 Accrued and other current liabilities 1,643 1,661 Deferred revenue 393 380 Liabilities held for sale 50 Total Current Liabilities 3,233 3,852 Long-term debt 2,159 2,159 Deferred revenue 285 303 Other liabilities 1,756 1,931 Total Liabilities 7,433 8,245 Total Tyco shareholders' equity 4,142 4,041 Nonredeemable noncontrolling interest 36 35 Total Equity 4,178 4,076 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 11,611 $ 12,321 Note: These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on November 13, 2015 and Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2016 for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2015. TYCO INTERNATIONAL PLC CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in millions) (Unaudited) For the Quarters Ended For the Six Months Ended March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Net income attributable to Tyco ordinary shareholders $ 146 $ 167 $ 222 $ 329 Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries net loss (1) (2) (1) (3) (Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (1) 16 (5) 18 Income from continuing operations 144 181 216 344 Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 84 81 167 171 Non-cash compensation expense 12 15 27 30 Deferred income taxes 45 (23) 62 (29) Provision for losses on accounts receivable and inventory 17 18 29 34 Loss on extinguishment of debt 168 Legacy legal matters (19) (19) Loss on divestitures, net 17 22 69 23 Loss (gain) on investments, net 1 (3) (114) (7) Other non-cash items 6 5 7 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and divestitures: Accounts receivable, net 9 29 38 22 Contracts in progress (45) (38) (54) (30) Inventories (22) (21) (56) (64) Prepaid expenses and other assets 18 (41) (30) (66) Accounts payable 1 (46) 2 (87) Accrued and other liabilities (92) (27) (133) (56) Tax sharing agreement, net (122) - (122) - Income taxes, net 2 3 13 1 Other 74 11 45 (31) Net cash provided by operating activities 124 167 313 262 Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operating activities (13) 2 (11) 3 Cash Flows From Investing Activities: Capital expenditures (75) (57) (143) (123) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired (176) (373) (314) (525) Acquisition of dealer generated customer accounts and bulk account purchases (7) (4) (11) (8) Divestiture of businesses, net of cash divested 9 (1) 9 (1) Sales and maturities of investments including restricted investments 7 4 8 279 Purchases of investments including restricted investments (287) (7) (288) Decrease (increase) in restricted cash 19 6 24 (39) Other 1 2 1 2 Net cash used in investing activities (222) (710) (433) (703) Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued investing activities 4 4 (15) Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt 1,681 2,498 Repayment of short-term debt (1,432) (1) (2,098) (1) Repayment of current portion of long-term debt (1,134) Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 567 567 Proceeds from exercise of share options 15 24 26 57 Dividends paid (87) (76) (174) (151) Repurchase of ordinary shares (417) Transfer (to) from discontinued operations (9) 2 (7) (12) Payment of contingent consideration (1) (1) (23) Debt financing costs (22) (4) (23) (4) Other (2) (4) (13) (19) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 143 508 (926) (3) Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued financing activities 9 (2) 7 12 Effect of currency translation on cash (1) (6) (10) (16) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents 44 (41) (1,056) (460) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 301 473 1,401 892 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 345 $ 432 $ 345 $ 432 For the Quarters Ended For the Six Months Ended March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 Reconciliation to "Free Cash Flow": Net cash provided by operating activities $ 124 $ 167 $ 313 $ 262 Capital expenditures, net (74) (55) (142) (120) Acquisition of dealer generated customer accounts and bulk account purchases (7) (4) (11) (8) Payment of contingent consideration (1) (1) (1) (24) Voluntary pension contributions 4 4 Free Cash Flow $ 46 $ 107 $ 163 $ 110 Reconciliation to "Adjusted Free Cash Flow": IRS litigation costs $ $ $ 3 $ Separation costs 3 Restructuring and repositioning costs (FY15 and prior) 23 37 68 71 Environmental remediation payments 1 1 2 8 Legal settlements 14 14 (12) Net asbestos payments 8 3 10 8 Merger costs 8 8 Cash payment to ADT Resi / Pentair 16 1 16 1 Cash payment to Covidien / TE Connectivity 122 122 Acquisition / integration costs 4 2 5 3 Special Items $ 196 $ 44 $ 248 $ 82 Adjusted Free Cash Flow $ 242 $ 151 $ 411 $ 192 Note: Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure. See description of non-GAAP measures contained in this release. TYCO INTERNATIONAL PLC ORGANIC GROWTH RECONCILIATION - REVENUE (in millions) (Unaudited) Quarter Ended March 25, 2016 Base Year Adjusted Net Revenue for the Adjustments Fiscal Net Revenue for the Quarter Ended Divestitures / 2015 Base Quarter Ended March 27, 2015 Other Revenue Foreign Currency Acquisitions Organic Revenue(1) March 25, 2016 NA Integrated Solutions & Services $ 944 $ % $ 944 $ (10) (1.1) % $ 9 1.0 % $ 4 0.4 % $ 947 0.3 % ROW Integrated Solutions & Services 847 (62) (7.3) % 785 (73) (8.6) % 64 7.6 % (8) (1.0) % 768 (9.3) % Global Products 639 (3) (0.5) % 636 (18) (2.8) % 17 2.7 % (19) (3.0) % 616 (3.6) % Total Net Revenue $ 2,430 $ (65) (2.7) % $ 2,365 $ (101) (4.2) % $ 90 3.7 % $ (23) (1.0) % $ 2,331 (4.1) % (1) Organic revenue growth percentage based on adjusted fiscal 2015 base revenue. Six Months Ended March 25, 2016 Base Year Adjusted Net Revenue for the Adjustments Fiscal Net Revenue for the Six Months Ended Divestitures / 2015 Base Six Months Ended March 27, 2015 Other Revenue Foreign Currency Acquisitions Organic Revenue (1) March 25, 2016 NA Integrated Solutions & Services $ 1,895 $ % $ 1,895 $ (26) (1.4) % $ 12 0.6 % $ 19 1.0 % $ 1,900 0.3 % ROW Integrated Solutions & Services 1,763 (84) (4.8) % 1,679 (174) (9.9) % 93 5.3 % (18) (1.1) % 1,580 (10.4) % Global Products 1,250 (4) (0.3) % 1,246 (53) (4.2) % 56 4.5 % (22) (1.8) % 1,227 (1.8) % Total Net Revenue $ 4,908 $ (88) (1.8) % $ 4,820 $ (253) (5.2) % $ 161 3.3 % $ (21) (0.4) % $ 4,707 (4.1) % (1) Organic revenue growth percentage based on adjusted fiscal 2015 base revenue. Earnings Per Share Summary (Unaudited) Quarter Ended Quarter Ended March 25, 2016 March 27, 2015 Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations Attributable to Tyco Shareholders (GAAP) $ 0.33 $ 0.43 expense / (benefit) Restructuring and repositioning reversals (FY15 and prior) (0.01) Merger costs 0.06 (Gains) / losses on divestitures, net included in SG&A 0.08 0.06 Legacy legal items (0.03) 2012 Tax Sharing Agreement 0.01 Total Before Special Items $ 0.45 $ 0.50 Note: Sum of EPS before special items does not equal total due to rounding. Tyco International plc For the Quarter Ended March 25, 2016 (in millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) expense / (benefit) Segments NA Integrated Solutions & Services ROW Integrated Solutions & Services Global Products Segment Revenue Corporate and Other Total Revenue Revenue (GAAP) $947 $768 $616 $2,331 $ $2,331 Operating Income NA Integrated Solutions & Services Margin ROW Integrated Solutions & Services Margin Global Products Margin Segment Operating Income Margin Corporate and Other Restructuring and Repositioning Total Operating Income Margin Interest (Expense), net Other (Expense) Income, net Income Tax (Expense) Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries Noncontrolling Interest Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Tyco Shareholders Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations Attributable to Tyco Shareholders Operating Income (GAAP) $131 13.8 % $57 7.4 % $101 16.4 % $289 12.4 % ($54) ($10) $225 9.7 % ($18) $ ($63) $ $1 $145 $0.33 Amortization of acquired backlog included in revenue 2 2 2 2 Restructuring and repositioning reversals (FY15 and prior) (6) (6) 2 (4) (0.01) Merger costs 26 26 26 0.06 (Gains) / losses on divestitures, net included in SG&A 18 18 (1) 17 16 33 0.08 Acquisition / integration costs 2 2 1 3 (2) 1 Legacy legal items (19) (19) 7 (12) (0.03) IRS litigation costs 1 1 1 Total Before Special Items $131 13.8 % $77 10.0 % $103 16.7 % $311 13.3 % ($46) ($16) $249 10.7 % ($18) $ ($40) $ $1 $192 $0.45 Note: Sum of EPS before special items does not equal total due to rounding. Diluted Shares Outstanding 428 Diluted Shares Outstanding - Before Special Items 428 Tyco International plc For the Quarter Ended March 27, 2015 (in millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) expense / (benefit) Segments NA Integrated Solutions & Services ROW Integrated Solutions & Services Global Products Segment Revenue Corporate and Other Total Revenue Revenue (GAAP) $944 $847 $639 $2,430 $ $2,430 Operating Income NA Integrated Solutions & Services Margin ROW Integrated Solutions & Services Margin Global Products Margin Segment Operating Income Margin Corporate and Other Restructuring and Repositioning Total Operating Income Margin Interest (Expense), net Other Income, net Income Tax (Expense) Noncontrolling Interest Income from Continuing Operations Attributable to Tyco Shareholders Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations Attributable to Tyco Shareholders Operating Income (GAAP) $125 13.2 % $67 7.9 % $114 17.8 % $306 12.6 % ($56) ($29) $221 9.1 % ($21) ($1) ($18) $2 $183 $0.43 (Gains) / losses on divestitures, net included in SG&A 22 22 22 22 0.06 Acquisition / integration costs 1 1 1 1 Legacy legal items 1 1 1 1 Amortization of inventory step-up 1 1 1 1 Asbestos 3 3 (1) 2 IRS litigation costs 2 2 (1) 1 2012 Tax Sharing Agreement 4 4 0.01 Total Before Special Items $125 13.2 % $90 10.6 % $116 18.2 % $331 13.6 % ($51) ($29) $251 10.3 % ($21) $3 ($20) $2 $215 $0.50 Diluted Shares Outstanding 427 Diluted Shares Outstanding - Before Special Items 427 SOURCE Tyco Related Links http://www.tyco.com TSX: ELD NYSE: EGO VANCOUVER, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Eldorado Gold Corporation will now release its Q1 2016 Financial Results after the market closes on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Paul Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, will host a conference call on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 8:30 am PT (11:30 AM ET). The call will be webcast and can be accessed at Eldorado Gold's website: www.eldoradogold.com Conference Call Details Replay (available until May 19, 2016) Date: Thursday, May 12, 2016 Toronto: 416 849 0833 Time: 8:30 am PT (11:30 am ET) Toll Free: 1 855 859 2056 Dialin: 647 427 7450 Pass code: 891 934 64 Toll free: 1 888 231 8191 About Eldorado Gold Eldorado is a leading low cost gold producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkey, China, Greece, Romania and Brazil. The Company's success to date is based on a low cost strategy, a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, safe and responsible operations, and long-term partnerships with the communities where it operates. Eldorado's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EGO). SOURCE Eldorado Gold Corporation WASHINGTON, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau: SOCIAL INSURANCE Profile America Friday, April 29th. Health insurance and its affordability has been a topic of political contention mostly in the past two decades, but the social need was recognized much earlier. On this date in 1942, Rhode Island became the first state to set up a health or temporary disability insurance program for its working citizens unemployed because of sickness. The covered workers not the employers funded the program with a 1 percent tax on wages of less than $3,000 a year. Most Americans are without disability insurance, although Social Security provides some coverage to qualified workers. But health insurance is another matter. In 2014, over 208 million private policies were in force, with 170 million based on employment. Over 36 million Americans remained uninsured. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at www.census.gov. Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 4539 Disability insurance/accessed 2/3/2016: http://www.insurancelibrary.com/disability-insurance/how-many-people-have-disability-insurance Social Security Disability Insurance/accessed 2/3/2016: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/news/press/factsheets/ss-customer/age-group-dib.pdf Health insurance 2014: http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_14_1YR_S2701&prodType=table Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotion of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Audio" in the "Library" pull-down menu). Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau Related Links http://www.census.gov LOS ANGELES, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United States Marine Corps Colonel Scott Campbell, the Commanding Officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment in Quantico, Virginia, has been elected to the national governing board of directors for American Humane Association, the country's first national humane organization whose programs touch more lives than any other in its field. American Humane Association is now celebrating 100 years of working with the U.S. military, and in his new role on the board, Colonel Campbell will use his decades of experience in protecting his country to help protect the nation's children and animals, as well as current and retired members of the Armed Forces. He will work closely with American Humane Association's new Lois Pope LIFE Center for Military Affairs, which administers a wide array of programs and initiatives assisting America's active-duty military, veterans, military families, and military animals. Colonel Scott Campbell assumed the duties of Commanding Officer, Wounded Warrior Regiment in February 2015. He previously served as the Chief of Staff, Education Command. Colonel Campbell has served as an infantry officer at all levels. He has been assigned to 3rd Light Armored Vehicle Battalion, 29 Palms; Marine Corps Security Force Company, Bermuda; Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company, Norfolk VA where he deployed in support of Operation Restore Hope; I&I 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, Anchorage, Alaska; 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Camp LeJeune; and 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, Camp LeJeune. He was also assigned to the Technical Assistance Field Team in Saudi Arabia as the Schools and Naval Special Forces advisor and the Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Officer with the U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany. Colonel Campbell has commanded the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company; Maritime Special Purpose Forces, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit; 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company Camp LeJeune NC; and the 15th MEU, Colonel Campbell has served as a Marine Liaison Officer in support Operation Enduring Freedom at Fort Belvoir. His joint assignments include service as the commander of Joint Task Force, Train and Equip Program, Republic of Georgia U.S. Africa Command. He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School and Naval War College. He holds a Master's Degree in International and Strategic Studies. He has served as the senior Marine Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. A native of Texas, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Course and was commissioned in 1987. Colonel Campbell was the distinguished guest of honor at the official launch event on February 2 of the Lois Pope LIFE Center for Military Affairs in Palm Beach, Florida. The center's programs include: K-9 Battle Buddies: Helping military K-9 teams on and off the battlefield by facilitating reunions of military dogs and handlers, sending vitally needed care packages to active duty military dog teams, and providing veterinary care for retired war dogs. Helping military K-9 teams on and off the battlefield by facilitating reunions of military dogs and handlers, sending vitally needed care packages to active duty military dog teams, and providing veterinary care for retired war dogs. Wags4Patriots: Helping returning veterans cope with the hidden wounds of war by providing them with service dogs and conducting groundbreaking research on the important role these service dogs play. Helping returning veterans cope with the hidden wounds of war by providing them with service dogs and conducting groundbreaking research on the important role these service dogs play. Operation Purple: Helping America's littlest heroes and their families by sending registered therapy dog teams to the National Military Family Association's camps for kids with one or more deployed parents and retreats for families with recently returned parents. In 2015 alone, American Humane Association supplied more than 100 teams to 21 camps, providing healing to nearly 2,000 children and memories that will last a lifetime. Helping America's littlest heroes and their families by sending registered therapy dog teams to the National Military Family Association's camps for kids with one or more deployed parents and retreats for families with recently returned parents. In 2015 alone, American Humane Association supplied more than 100 teams to 21 camps, providing healing to nearly 2,000 children and memories that will last a lifetime. Red Star for Warriors: This program redeploys our nation's veterans to protect and serve on the home front in times of crisis as part of American Humane Association's renowned Red Star mobilizations following hurricanes, tornadoes, and even terror attacks and major animal cruelty cases. "I am honored to accept this position on American Humane Association's board of directors," said Colonel Campbell. "I am especially proud to join the board during the organization's milestone 100th year of working with the U.S. military. The work of the new Lois Pope LIFE Center for Military Affairs will mean the dawn of a new century of compassion for the men, women, and animals of the Armed Forces." "American Humane Association is grateful to have such a distinguished military officer and American hero join our board of directors," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association's president and CEO. "We thank Colonel Campbell for his long service to our country and for lending his wealth of leadership experience in the Marines to help guide and expand our military programs." About American Humane Association American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization, and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. With an unparalleled reach and scope, the organization positively touches more than 42,000 lives each minute through effective, life-affirming, life-saving services and public outreach more than any other organization in its field. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today it is leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101108/DC97343LOGO SOURCE American Humane Association Related Links http://www.americanhumane.org LAVAL, Quebec, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. ("Valeant" or the "Company") (NYSE: VRX) (TSX: VRX) today announced the nominees for election to its Board of Directors at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 14, 2016. As announced on April 25, 2016, Joseph C. Papa has been named Valeant's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Papa has been nominated for election to the Board, along with Robert A. Ingram, Robert N. Power and five of the current independent directors who were appointed to the Board in the last year: William A. Ackman, Dr. Frederic Eshelman, Stephen Fraidin, D. Robert Hale and Thomas W. Ross, Sr. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee has recommended three additional independent directors: Dr. Argeris N. Karabelas, Russel C. Robertson and Amy B. Wechsler, M.D. As previously announced, J. Michael Pearson will step down as CEO and as a director upon Joe Papa's arrival as CEO. Neither Mr. Pearson nor Howard B. Schiller will be standing for re-election. In addition, the following five current independent directors have informed the Board that they will not be standing for re-election at the 2016 annual meeting: Ronald H. Farmer, Colleen Goggins, Theo Melas-Kyriazi, G. Mason Morfit and Norma A. Provencio. Robert N. Power, Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, said, "I would like to thank our departing directors for their service to Valeant during periods of strong performance, and more recently through some challenging times that required extraordinary dedication, time and effort from these five individuals. As we transition to new leadership, it is a natural time to welcome three independent nominees who bring important new perspective and expertise to the Board." "I am pleased that Valeant is making good progress toward restoring the public's confidence and that the company has hired a great leader with an impressive track record of achievements and an impeccable reputation," said Robert A. Ingram. "We are excited for Valeant's next chapter and believe that the Board is well-equipped to oversee a successful turnaround under Joe Papa's leadership." Joseph C. Papa stated, "I want to thank Bob Ingram for his many contributions to Valeant, including serving as Chairman of the Board on two occasions, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee and Lead Independent Director. We are pleased that the company will continue to have the benefit of his insights and industry knowledge, and we are grateful for his leadership during a critical period." New Independent Director Nominee Biographies Dr. Argeris (Jerry) N. Karabelas Since December 2001, Dr. Karabelas has been a Partner at Care Capital, LLC ("Care Capital"), a life sciences venture firm with $500M under management. Prior to his work at Care Capital, from July 2000 to September 2001, Dr. Karabelas was the founder and Chairman at Novartis BioVenture Fund. Dr. Karabelas served as Head of Healthcare and CEO of Worldwide Pharmaceuticals for Novartis Pharma AG from 1998 to 2000, with responsibilities for Novartis Pharma, Ciba Vision, Generics and strategic and operational leadership of research and development. Prior to joining Novartis, Dr. Karabelas was Executive Vice President of SmithKline Beecham responsible for U.S. and European operations, regulatory and strategic marketing. Dr. Karabelas has served on numerous boards of directors of pharmaceutical and therapeutics companies, including Renovo, plc, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., NitroMed, Inc. and SkyePharma, plc. Since May 2015 has served as a member of the board of REGENEXBIO Inc. He has served as a director of Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation since July 2012 and is currently the Chairperson of the Board; however, his term as director expires in June 2016 and he is not standing for re-election. Dr. Karabelas also served as a member of the boards of directors of SkyePharma, plc from May 2001 to May 2009 and Human Genome Sciences from 2003 to 2013. Russel C. Robertson Mr. Robertson has served as Executive Vice President and Head, Anti-Money Laundering, at BMO Financial Group ("BMO"), a diversified financial services organization since July 2013. Prior to his current role, he served as Executive Vice President, Business Integration, at BMO Financial Group, and as Vice Chair at BMO Financial Corp. since March 2011. He joined BMO as interim Chief Financial Officer, BMO Financial Group in March 2008 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer, BMO Financial Group in August 2009. Before joining BMO, he spent over 35 years as a Chartered Accountant. In this capacity, he held various senior positions with a number of major accounting firms, including holding the positions of Vice Chair, Deloitte & Touche LLP in Toronto, Canada, from 2002 to 2008, and Canadian Managing Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP, from 1994 to 2002. Mr. Robertson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours) from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Since June 2012, Mr. Robertson has served on the board of Turquoise Hill Resources and Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. Amy B. Wechsler, M.D. Amy B. Wechsler, M.D. has been a practicing dermatologist in New York City since 2005. Dr. Wechsler is the author of The Mind-Beauty Connection, published by Simon & Schuster in 2008. She is board certified in both dermatology and psychiatry and is also an Adjunct Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at the Weill Cornell Medical College. As an expert on skin health, Dr. Wechsler serves as an advisor for Chanel Skin Care and is also a certified Allergan Injection Trainer and KOL Speaker, qualified to teach physicians and other medical professionals in the use of products such as Botox, Juvederm, and Voluma. Dr. Wechsler is an active member of several medical professional organizations, including the American Academy of Dermatology; the American Psychiatric Association; the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; the Independent Doctors of New York; The Physicians Scientific Society; and The Skin Cancer Foundation. Dr. Wechsler completed her residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital's Payne Whitney Clinic. She also completed a residency in dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Important Additional Information and Where to Find It The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in connection with the Company's 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "2016 Annual Meeting"). The Company plans to file a proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the 2016 Annual Meeting (the "2016 Proxy Statement"). SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE 2016 PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY WILL FILE WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Additional information regarding the identity of these potential participants and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the 2016 Proxy Statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the 2016 Annual Meeting. Shareholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of the 2016 Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements thereto and any other documents (including the proxy card) when filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the 2016 Annual Meeting at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov), at the Company's website (http://www.valeant.com). About Valeant Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE/TSX:VRX) is a multinational specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and found markets a broad range of pharmaceutical products primarily in the areas of dermatology, gastrointestinal disorder, eye health, neurology and branded generics. More information about Valeant can be at www.valeant.com. Contact Information: Laurie W. Little 949-461-6002 [email protected] Elif McDonald 905-695-7607 [email protected] Media: Renee Soto/Jared Levy Sard Verbinnen & Co. 212-687-8080 [email protected] Meghan Gavigan Sard Verbinnen & Co. 415-618-8750 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101025/LA87217LOGO SOURCE Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Related Links http://www.valeant.com CHICAGO, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Veltex Corporation-- OTC Markets symbol (VLXC) Veltex Corporation (VLXC) today announced results from the Company's 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 25th, 2016 at the Hilton DoubleTree Resort. Veltex reported that the members of its Board of Directors were once again re-elected by substantial margins. Further, the Plan of Recapitalization was approved by more than ninety four percent of the vote. The Board of Directors is also pleased to announce the unanimous reappointment of Mr. James "Jim" Jacob, of Palm Springs California, as President and Chief Executive Officer. Stephen G. Macklem was reappointed by the Board as Veltex's Chief Financial Officer and also as corporate Secretary / Treasurer by unanimous vote. R. Preston Roberts, who continues as Chairman of the Board, stated at the Annual Meeting, "Veltex is currently exploring all opportunities accessible, including, but not limited to, the retention of an investment bank, to maximize shareholder value surrounding these corporate properties. Our strategy has always been to maximize the value of our judgments and other assets. Whether you are a private equity firm or a corporate acquirer looking for corporate acquisition deals at the right price, or an investment bank or broker looking for deal mandates, or a law firm looking to expand its M&A practice, the question we now have before us is: 'Based on our strategy, who are the most relevant people that should be on our calling list this year?" In fact, recently, Veltex has entered into a contract with Mountain Valley Partners LLC, a company structured to specifically explore opportunities to expand shareholder value by merger or acquisition of Veltex. James "Jim" Jacob, President and CEO, stated, "Veltex has recently filed liens in both Nevada and California on properties associated with our judgments and have also begun asset searches and examinations of individuals and corporations who are legal creditors to Veltex. We have retained a major Nevada law firm to aggressively seek out and attach properties for the benefit of Veltex and its shareholders in Clark County Nevada." Mr. Jacobs continued, "Property liens have also been filed in Orange County California. Moreover, this Board and management are currently in contact with numerous private and public corporate entities exploring business combinations with Veltex, including but not limited to, an acquisition of Veltex. We have left nothing off the table. Of course, there are no guarantees, and we have just begun this process, however I am more than optimistic about our prospects." Veltex reported that the company's balance sheet now reflects more that $142 million dollars in judgments and interest in favor of Veltex Corporation along with $1,441,000 of net operating loss carry forwards at the end of 2015. Veltex has continuously sought the advice of foremost legal and accounting firms to protect and expand upon these potential valuable assets. The final audited vote count was as follows: Stephen G. Macklem votes cast FOR director were 34,204,607 or 98.6% and 396,341 votes WITHHELD, along with 92,700 non-broker votes. R. Preston Roberts votes cast FOR director were 33,687,850 or 97.12% and 913,098 votes WITHHELD along with 92,700 non-broker votes. James Jacob votes cast FOR director were 33,212,567 or 95.73% and 1,388,381 votes WITHHELD along with 92,700 non-broker votes. Kenneth J. Demaree votes cast FOR director were 33,212,710 or 95.7% and 1,388,238 votes WITHHELD along with 92,700 non-broker votes. Robert E. Fletcher votes cast FOR director were 33,217,407 or 95.7% and 1,383,541 votes WITHHELD along with 92,700 non-broker votes. Andreas Mauritzson votes cast FOR director were 33,217,407 or 95.7% and 1,383,541 votes WITHHELD along with 92,700 non-broker votes. The votes to ratify the Board decision to select Sassetti LLC as independent registered public accounts for fiscal year 2016 had 34,323,277 votes cast FOR or 98.8% and 369,256 votes cast AGAINST and 1,115 votes ABSTAIN. The votes to approve the Recapitalization Plan thereby effecting a reverse split of 1 for 25 (one for twenty five) of the common shares of the corporation with a par value of $0.001 were FOR 32,783,396 or 94.5% and 1,213,947 votes WITHHELD. There were no broker non votes. An announcement as to the details and timing of the implementation of the Recapitalization Plan will be forthcoming. Veltex Corporation, incorporated in Utah September 17, 1987, is a public holding corporation which maintains its corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. The company's common shares trade OTC Markets under the symbol VLXC. www.Veltex.Com Safe Harbor Statement Certain of the above statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. This press release includes forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Veltex or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe Veltex's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. SOURCE Veltex Corporation Related Links http://www.Veltex.Com Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: The shelling by Armenian armed forces on April 28 night caused severe damage to farm enterprise 'Qara Inek' located in the Afetli village of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district, the country's economy ministry reported Apr. 29. The Armenians destroyed the office building of the farm, barn, milk storage and other facilities as a result of the shelling. Besides, a large amount of cattle was destroyed, according to the report. On Apr. 29, representatives of the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support of Azerbaijan visited the farm, which was created at the expense of preferential loans of the fund. Azerbaijan's economy ministry provides all the necessary assistance to restore the farm enterprise, according to the report. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Barda, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Armenian armed forces have shelled Azerbaijani settlements from the occupied territories as a result of which two people were killed and several more got injured, Trend's correspondent reported Apr.29. Currently, three people, injured as a result of the Armenian shelling on the night of Apr.28, are receiving treatment in the diagnostic and treatment center in Azerbaijan's Barda city. Two of them - Zahid Rahimov and Anar Abdullayev - are the residents of Chemenli village, while one of them - Elgiz Garayev - is from the village of Garadaghli. The injured have shrapnel wounds, traumatic brain injuries and concussions as a result of the mine explosions, the surgeon of the diagnostic and treatment center Eldar Ahmadov told reporters. A group of foreign journalists accredited in Azerbaijan and local media representatives will become familiar with the situation on the line of contact and the facts of Armenian vandalism on Apr.29. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New Delhi, April 26 : The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) on Tuesday announced an association with Tamana, a non-profit organisation, which works with the multiple challenged and autistic children, to host a Khadi fashion show titled Inclusion Beyond Boundaries here. The fashion extravaganza attempts inclusion of the differently abled into the world of fashion. The exhibition will be held on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the hospitality partner for the event, read a statement. The show will bring forward creations of 10 FDCI designers including Abraham & Thakore, Anju Modi, Gaurav Jai Gupta, JJ Valaya, Payal Jain, Rahul Mishra, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rina Dhaka, Rohit Bal and Samant Chauhan. The style gurus will create ensembles in Khadi and present them in pure, simple and versatile forms for the differently abled and fulfil their dreams of walking the ramp with professional models. For the last 10 years, Tamana has been organising the show with the support of the fashion fraternity in their individual capacities. This year, the event is being executed under the umbrella of the FDCI. Tamana founder and president Shyama Chona said: "Tamana's annual fashion show has over the years depicted that fashion is inclusive; it does not discriminate, even the disadvantaged can imbibe the latest fashion and fulfil their desires and aspirations of looking good and fashionable." FDCI president Sunil Sethi shared: "We respect diversity and inclusion and it is an honour to partner with Tamana for a landmark event like this." Talking about the show, he added: "Our designers will make craft soaked ensembles in the fabric of the nation -- Khadi -- and make the dreams of the differently abled come true by encouraging them through the lexicon of style." Australian High Commissioner to India Harinder Sindhu will be the guest of honour at the event. Kolkata, April 27 : Actress-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly of the BJP, who on Wednesday approached the Election Commission with her grievances, said her complaints regarding the fourth phase of the West Bengal assembly polls were not being addressed properly. "I am being shunted from returning officer, poll observers to chief electoral officer. There were 131 incidents. I have submitted necessary documents... let's see what happens. I don't think they (the poll panel) have awakened from their sleep yet," Ganguly told the media. The BJP's star candidate on Monday faced angry protests by Trinamool Congress activists in Howrah North during the fourth phase of the assembly polls. The actress-turned-politician, who is contesting from Howrah North, alleged "rampant booth capturing" and voter intimidation by Trinamool goons in her constituency. A police case was registered against her for assaulting a woman voter and preventing her from casting her ballot. Paris, April 29 : Violent clashes between riot police and demonstrators erupted during protest marches against proposed labour reforms across France with scores of youth arrested and several policemen injured. In Paris, a reported 60,000 people responded to the call of seven trade and student unions to take to the street to voice their opposition to reform labour laws that they say favour business leaders and weaken workers' rights on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. The Interior Ministry put the number at up to 15,000 protesters in the French capital where seven policemen were injured with one in serious situation after they clashed with groups of masked youth hurling projectiles. Five of them were arrested. Violent incidents were also reported across French cities. In Marseille town, 57 people were arrested, while in Nantes, 23 others were arrested and six policemen were wounded, according to local reports. Denouncing violent clashes, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 124 people were arrested and 24 police officers were wounded during the demonstrations. Some 170,000 demonstrators across the country took part in the country's rallies against changing labour laws, police data showed. On March 31, a protest drew an estimated 390,000 people. With the national unemployment rate at 10.2 percent, the Socialist government plans to loosen labour rules by making layoffs easier, reducing overtime pay and economic redundancies and opening to negotiation working hours and holidays. French unions and leftist politicians, however, say such move would create more low-paid jobs and further weaken workers' finances. Under pressure, the French government unveiled earlier this month new aid to youth worth up to 500 million euros ($566.83 million) With a large slice of jobseekers are between 18 and 25 years, the governing Socialists said they would impose additional taxes on short-term contracts to encourage companies to recruit young workers on full-time contracts. They also promised aid to apprentices and students. "The government has already made some moves, but they are clearly insufficient. This mobilization is both against the government and also against the parliament," Claude Mailly, head of Force Ouvriere (FO) union, was quoted as saying by local media. The National Assembly will examine the draft text to reform labour laws next Tuesday. Juba, April 29 : The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) condemned an attack on its compound in South Sudan's Bentiu region where a grenade partly damaged one of the containers located in the humanitarian hub. In a statement issued in Juba on Thursday, UNMISS said the attack on Monday was carried out by armed forces who used the rocket propelled grenade that landed inside the perimeter of the compound, Xinhua news agency reported. "Initial investigations indicate that the projectile, along with earlier small arms fire, was directly targeted at the UNMISS compound," the mission said in the statement. The statement said the location of the UNMISS compound is well known and there were no known armed forces in the vicinity of the base at the time of the attack. "The UN takes this opportunity to remind all South Sudanese actors of the sanctity of UN staff, equipment and installations, including the protection of civilians sites and their residents," the statement said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Anakhanum Hidayatova - Trend: The status quo in Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh that existed before the recent escalation in Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict no longer exists, Amanda Paul, analyst at the European Policy Centre (EPC), told Trend Apr. 29. On the night of Apr. 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. "Azerbaijan had its first victory since the 1994 ceasefire agreement was signed and the psychological impact of this should not be underestimated," said Paul. The expert noted that the new situation under the new "ceasefire" that Russia negotiated on Apr. 5 remains very precarious with ongoing skirmishes with a real danger of a resumption of hostilities. Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry earlier said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire. There is an urgent need to return to peace negotiations to avoid a further escalation of violence, added Paul. "The international community needs to be more committed and creative in terms of its efforts to push for a solution of the conflict including rallying the leaderships of Azerbaijan and Armenia," she said. Paul went on to add that this means more than simply saying they support the good work of the OSCE Minsk Group and the three co-chairs. "More meetings of the full Minsk Group would be useful and more focus from other international actors because so far Russia is running the show, taking charge of everything including coming-up with new initiatives to solve the conflict," said the expert. She also noted that the most recent set of ideas of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reflects the strategic importance of the region to Russia and the investment that Moscow is making into it both in terms of hard and soft power. Moscow certainly does not want to see a full scale war in its backyard, said Paul adding that by continuing to sell arms to each side Russia is fueling the conflict in order to manage the situation. Russia wants to demonstrate that it is the only actor that is able to handle the leaderships of Armenia and Azerbaijan and prevent a full war, according to Paul. "By doing this Moscow hopes to minimize the influence of other international actors," said the expert adding that despite the undeniable influence that Russia has, Moscow's ability to prevent or end a fully blow war is far from certain. Furthermore, allowing Russia to dominate the process is not in the interests of the region or the peoples of Azerbaijan or Armenia, noted Paul. The international community needs to step up in this issue, she added. The expert thinks that the US could play an important role in resolving the conflict, but the country is currently so preoccupied with the forthcoming presidential elections and developments in Syria. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Edited by SI --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum Canberra, April 29 : Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday said the government is working to secure the safe return of an aid worker abducted in Afghanistan. Turnbull said the department of foreign affairs was working closely with local and overseas authorities to secure the release of Kerry Wilson, 60, who was reportedly abducted from the Afghan city of Jalalabad on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. "I'm aware of (the abduction) and the department of foreign affairs and trade (DFAT) is working with other agencies and of course the Afghan authorities to identify her whereabouts and seek to ensure her safe recovery," Turnbull said. According to reports, Wilson was taken from her office in Jalalabad by a group of armed men in military uniforms. Wilson's father, Brian made an emotional plea for her safe return on Friday, and said his daughter was a generous aid worker who had assisted in the region for more than 20 years. "I feel extremely worried indeed," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). "I presume she's a hostage, and that they'll do their best to keep her alive and not harm her, simply because they want to have something or other in return and it's not very good having a dead hostage." Wilson said his daughter knew the risks of working in the region and was always cautious while working. Shimla, April 29 : If you want to breathe clean air, travel to Himachal Pradesh's remote Kinnaur district that is endowed with the mighty Himalayas, gurgling rivers, virgin nature and a rich cultural heritage. A recent study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) says Kinnaur district has the cleanest air in the country, whereas the national capital is the most polluted. According to the the IIT-D Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, PM 2.5 (particulate matter) in Kinnaur was found to be 3.7+-1 microgram per cubic metre (g/m) annually, which is less than 10 percent of the national air quality target of 40g/m. Unlike Kinnaur, air particulate matter level of Delhi stood at 148+-51g/m annually, which is several times higher than the safe limit. PM 2.5 is harmful microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Naresh Kumar Lath said the environment protection initiatives taken by the administration helped checking air and water pollution levels. +ACI-A solid waste management project with an outlay of Rs.1 crore (+ACQ-150,000) is ongoing in the district. Likewise, building toilets under the Swatch Bharat Mission-Gramin is also under way,+ACI- a beaming Lath told IANS. He said several toilets have been built and the villagers have been sensitized against going into the fields to attend to nature's call. The construction of toilets is a major focus area and 30 percent of the remaining panchayats would soon be made +ACI-open defecation-free+ACI-, he added. Most of the villages of Kinnaur, which remain cut off from the rest of the country for more than six months a year owing to heavy snowfall, are known for their rich tribal culture and traditions. The district is home to a population of 31,528 as per the 2011 census. There is a tradition in this tribal-dominated district to welcome guests with a garland of dry fruits and a round Kinnauri cap with a green flap. The district administration, based in Rekong Peo, some 250 km from the state capital Shimla and known for growing delicious apples, a few years ago banned the use of plastic mineral water bottles in all official meetings and functions. The water is served in +ACI-kulhars+ACI- or clay mugs. The district, despite facing environment degradation owing to three large hydro-electric projects that are operational in the Satluj valley and many others coming up, has more than 60 registered home-stay units, besides numerous hotels and guest houses. Kinnaur is known for legally brewing 'angoori' and 'ghanti' home-made liquor. While the former is made from distinctively flavoured black grapes grown in high altitudes, the latter is made from locally grown apples and apricots. Chitkul, a village close to the China border with a backdrop of the majestic snow-clad Kinner Kailash peaks, is a must place to visit in the district. It nestles amid virgin nature, with abundant wildlife and exquisite flora and fauna. It is also the last point in India one can travel to without a permit. This picturesque village of Kalpa, located at 9,711 feet above sea level, is known for its apple orchards and natural untouched beauty. The idyllic, pastoral settings in Kinnaur have been attracting a large number of backpackers, mainly foreigners, for mountaineering expeditions, high-altitude treks and white-water rafting. Getting to Kinnaur How to travel: By public or private transport. Cabs normally charge around Rs.5,000 from Shimla (one-way) to Rekong Peo and it takes at least 12 hours. Distance: 250 km from state capital Shimla to Rekong Peo. Where to stay: Small hotels, guest houses, and even home stays with local people. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g+AEA-ians.in) Islamabad, April 29 : Pakistan Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz has said the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir must be resolved in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council, media reported on Friday. Aziz on Thursday said Pakistan remains fully committed to the objective of lasting peace, the Daily Times reported. The senior diplomat said if Asia were to regain its lost power and glory and contribute to global peace and development commensurate with its true potential, "we would have to assume our responsibilities and act on several fronts". "We also have to draw attention to root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, and the urgent need to address them. This should be main message as a part of the theme of promoting peace and security through dialogue," he remarked. "We must find peaceful political solutions to the conflicts in Syria and Yemen and Palestine. Pakistan supports the UN-led diplomatic initiatives in this regard," he added. Islamabad, April 29 : The Afghanistan government has raised questions over a trip by a Taliban delegation from Qatar to Pakistan, the media reported on Friday. The delegation reportedly arrived in Pakistan this week to address problems faced by Afghan refugees. The Kabul reaction comes close on the heels of President Ashraf Ghani's speech this week that peace talks between some factions of the Taliban were off the table. "The Taliban delegation's trip to Pakistan from our prospective is totally questionable. A terrorist group does not have the right to travel to countries. We expect Pakistan to have government-to-government relations with Afghanistan," TOLONews quoted Shahussain Murtazawi, deputy spokesman for Ghani, as saying. Kabul has also urged Islamabad to honour its pledge and suppress militants engaged in violence in Afghanistan. "Action should be taken against the militants involved in terrorist activities from Pakistan's soil in Afghanistan. This is the demand that our allies have as well," said a spokesman for the National Security Council. Jammu, April 29 : India has told China to case its reported construction activities in parts of Pakistani Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Friday. A spokesman for the army's Udhampur-headquartered Northern Command said in a statement: "There have been no instances of incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory." At the same time, he added that there was no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. "There are areas along the border including in Ladakh where India and China have differing perceptions of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. "Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the government has seen such reports and has conveyed its concerns to China about their activities and asked them to cease such activities." The spokesman said there had been 118 infiltration attempts from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir last year. "Of these, only 33 succeeded while the rest were foiled by troops. "Up to March 31 this year, there were 24 infiltration bids on the LoC (Line of Control) and only 18 succeeded." The spokesman said issues related to infiltration along the India-Pakistan border were taken up with Islamabad at the appropriate level. "Necessary steps are taken to ensure that the national security concerns are adequately addressed through capability and infrastructural development. This is a continuous process," the statement said. India has registered its protest against the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that runs through a part of Pakistani Kashmir. Pretoria, April 29 : A South African court on Friday here set aside a 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to drop corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma. The decision by NPA's former head Mokotedi Mpshe was "irrational" as he acted "alone and impulsively", Xinhua news agency cited the court as ruling. Mpshe should have followed the legal processes on emergence of the "spy tapes" and allow the courts to decide if the charges should have been withdrawn, Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said. London, April 29 : If you find that you just can't "unfriend" your well connected friend on Facebook because he may make your real life hell, your are probably right. According to researchers, socially well connected people may become online troublemakers on Facebook for those who avoid them. Online troublemakers tend to be socially well connected, said a team from Nottingham Trent University in Britain, adding that some Facebook users remain friends online with troublemakers because they are worried about the repercussions if they "unfriend" them. People are spending more and more time online making them more vulnerable to potentially damaging social tension and disagreements. "Our study explored the characteristics of people who might be more likely to cause this sort of trouble in an online social network," said Sarah Buglass from the school of social sciences. The team analysed the online relationship characteristics of 5,113 network contacts from 52 Facebook users aged 13 to 45 years. The participants were asked to rate 100 randomly sampled Facebook "friends" from their networks in terms of online disagreement (with self and others), relational closeness and communication frequency -- online and offline. This implied that Facebook users might be keeping an eye on provocative friends in a bid to avoid confrontation themselves. Online disagreements were more frequent in the 19 to 21 year old group. "It appears that they don't want to communicate with the troublemakers online for risk of damaging their own reputation, but, at the same time, they don't appear to want to unfriend them either," Buglass noted. "The social repercussions of unfriending someone reach far beyond the boundaries of the online network. People don't want to risk offline tension with their friends, family members or colleagues by disconnecting them from their online lives. Remaining online friends with troublemakers appears to be a social necessity for some," the authors noted. The findings revealed that online troublemakers tended to be socially popular contacts who were known and in regular communication with the participants offline but not online. The study was scheduled to be presented at the British Psychological Society's annual conference in Nottingham this week. New Delhi, April 29 : There was no incursion by Chinese troops into Indian territory, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told the Lok Sabha on Friday. In a written reply, the minister, however, said transgressions do occur due to difference in perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "There is no commonly delineated LAC between India and China. There are areas along the border, including areas in Ladakh, where India and China differ on the LAC. As both sides undertake patrols as per their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur," Parrikar said. The minister was replying to a question on whether the government had taken note of infiltration from Pakistan and incursions and transgressions by Chinese troops into Indian territory, including Ladakh region, and its construction activities in Pakistani Kashmir. He said the government regularly took up transgressions along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms, including flag and border personnel meetings, the bilateral working mechanism for consultation and coordination on the India-China border affairs and diplomatic channels. Parrikar said that up to March 31 this year, 18 of the 24 attempts made by terrorists to infiltrate into India this year were successful. In 2015, there were 118 attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir, 33 of which were successful. Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including by the Chinese, the defence minister said the Indian government had conveyed its concerns to China and asked them to cease such activities. "Issues related to abetting infiltration along the India-Pakistan border are taken up with Pakistan military authorities at an appropriate level through the established mechanism of flag meetings and weekly talks between the director generals of military operations of both the countries," Parrikar said. He said the government was fully seized of the security needs of the country. "Necessary steps, as required, are taken to ensure that national security concerns are adequately addressed through capability and infrastructural development. This is a continuous process," the minister said. Port Moresby, April 29 : President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said that the Indian economy has the potential to grow at 8-10 percent per year over the next couple of decades. "India today stands poised for another leap forward that is predicted to be around India's GDP growth 7.6 percent in 2016-17 and going to have higher growth rate in the coming years," Mukherjee said here. The President was addressing the Papua New Guinea Business Council on the second and concluding day of his official visit to this Pacific island-nation. "In fact, the Indian economy has the potential to achieve 8-10 percent GDP growth per year over the next couple of decades," the Presiden, himself a former finance minister of India, said. Mukherjee said that the world today saw the Indian economy as a bright spot in an otherwise gloom and bleak economic environment all over the world. "In fact, since the financial crisis in 2008, world economy had never fully recovered," he said. "One after another the crisis came but despite the unfavourable environment in the international world of money, finance, trade and commerce, India continued to achieve higher GDP Growth rate except a couple of years as the aftermath of this adverse impact in international scenario." On Papua New Guinea's economic growth, he said it did not truly reflect the potential of a country blessed with abundant natural and mineral resources, highly fertile soil, plenty of fresh water and an extensive coastline teeming with fish and a splendid variety of precious seafood. "The exclusive economic zone of Papua New Guinea, 3.1 million sq. km, is the guarantee of future growth of this region and would provide the opportunity to Papua New Guinea to lead the Pacific Ocean," the President said. He said the challenge for Papua New Guinea was how to best utilise its abundant natural resources for value addition, generating employment and economically empowering its people. For Papua New Guinea to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, Mukherjee suggeted the application of appropriate technologies, by increasing yield per hectare, by the use of varieties of new fertilisers, and an effective use of fresh water. "Our government policies have consciously created an environment for indigenous commercial, industrial and manufacturing entities to grow and sustain themselves," he said. " "Today our private sector has journeyed far and wide... Our companies create value and not merely extract resources. India invites you to partner with them." The President said that bilateral trade between India and Papua New Guinea for the year 2014-15 stands at $209.48 million. " "The balance of course is in favour of Papua New Guinea, but I am not satisfied with this figure because potentiality is much more," he stated. "We can offer to each other much more than this. There is scope -- not only for increased exports from here to India, but also from India to Papua New Guinea." Stating that there were mutual complementarities in many fields between India and Papua New Guinea, Mukherjee said that while India has the agricultural knowledge and technology to boost agricultural productivity, Papua New Guinea has an abundance of fertile lands and ideal conditions for agriculture along with the availability of fresh water. "While India has one of the biggest jewellery industries in the world, Papua New Guinea has gold; India has a huge energy requirement, Papua New Guinea has huge resources of natural Gas and petroleum," he said. "In all these sectors, India and Papua New Guinea can work together to improve industry practices and productivity. Our close cooperation could bring opportunities, growth and progress as well as prosperity to our people." he stated. Mumbai, April 29 : Actor Tiger Shroff says he is not keen to work with his father and actor Jackie Shroff for some time, but would like to share screen space with him if they come across a "good script". Asked if he would like to work with his father Jackie, Tiger told IANS: "As of now, I don't want to work with my father for at least seven to eight years. But if we come across a good script, then we would surely like to work together." The actor made his debut in 2014 with the film "Heropanti", which also featured actress Kriti Sanon. Tiger was lauded for his action sequences in the film. Asked if he only wants to do actioners, Tiger said: "'Heropanti' is not an action film. It is a family drama, but the audience really appreciates the few action sequences. My next film is 'A Flying Jatt', where you will see me doing comedy". The actor is seen doing some action sequences in his latest release "Baaghi: A Rebel For Love". The film also features actress Shraddha Kapoor in a pivotal role. Barda, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 Trend: Armenian armed forces constantly shell Azerbaijani settlements, a resident of the Garadaghli village of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district, Elgiz Garayev told reporters Apr.29. Garayev was seriously injured as a result of the shelling by Armenians on the night of Apr.28. He said that Armenians are targeting the settlements located along the frontline. "Armenians shelled our village by using multiple launch rocket systems, guns, mortars and rocket launchers," said Garayev, adding that the civilians are constantly shelled by Armenians. "Armenians never adhere to the ceasefire," he said. "Civilians have been targeted by Armenian servicemen. It should be stopped." Kolkata, April 29 : The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered a forensic test on the Narada sting tapes, which purportedly caught several leaders of the West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress taking bribes, to be conducted by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) at Hyderabad. The bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A. Banerjee passed the order while hearing public interest litigations seeking an independent agency probe into the sting. The lab has been asked to conduct the test "as expeditiously as possible" but not later than four weeks, and hand over the confidential report to the director of a court-appointed special committee, who would then place it before the court. The orders comes a day ahead of the crucial fifth phase of the assembly polls involving 53 constituencies spread over the three districts of Kolkata, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly. As many as four of those "caught" in the sting, are in the fray in this phase. Conducted by Narada News chief executive officer Mathew Samuel, the entire sting was carried using an iPhone and subsequently transferred to a laptop and then a pen drive. While the phone and the pen drive were handed over to a court appointed three-member special committee, Samuel had refused to part with the laptop, contending the committee needed to deposit the cost of the laptop before he can give them the device. The bench ordered the director of the special committee to hand over personally, the iPhone and the pen drive to the CFSL Hyderabad director. Expressing displeasure over Samuel putting up a condition to hand over the laptop, the court directed him to personally handover the device to the CFSL director. The court had constituted the special committee to take possession of the footage and the recording device from him in Delhi, after Samuel in an affidavit, affirmed there was a "threat to his life" if he came to Kolkata personally to hand over the tapes. But on learning that Samuel, subsequent to handing over the tapes, had conducted a press conference in the city, Chief Justice Chellur expressed his displeasure. "If he can attend a press conference here, why can't he then hand over the laptop to the court personally," said Chellur directing that Samuel should appear before the court and hand over the laptop. With his counsel contending that Samuel' personal appearance before the court may "compromise" the safety of the device, Chellur relented and directed the laptop be handed over the CFSL directly within a week. The CFSL has been asked to conduct a forensic test to ascertain whether the iPhone, laptop and the pen drive have been tampered/engineered/doctored or are genuine. "We direct the CFSL director to exercise caution and maintain the secrecy of the tapes as well as the confidentiality of the report. The contents of the report shall not be divulged to the media or any other party and shall be handed over to the director of the special committee," said the bench. The Trinamool had claimed the tapes were doctored, but opposed the opposition's demand for a scientific test on the tapes released in March. Both the Communist Party of India-Marist and the Congress welcomed the court's verdict. The sting operation has been a major issue in the assembly polls with the Left Front, Congress and the BJP collectively gunning for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool supremo. New Delhi, April 29 : The Congress on Friday asserted that the RSS does not want the government to push the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill for passage in parliament. The party said it will support the key legislation if the Narendra Modi government agrees to its two "principal demands". "We have been saying that let's pass GST. But because RSS has red flagged GST, the government will not like to pass GST and they will only blame us," party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said to reporters at the Foreign Correspondent's Club here. He said the party has two amendments to the bill and if the government accepts them Congress will support the bill. "What is Congress party saying on GST. Let us put an outer cap of 18 percent on it. Already there is 15 percent service tax in India, 35 to 40 percent income tax, and you (government) want to impose GST. By all means please do, but please put an outer constitutional cap," he said explaining that the 'proposed cap' will reduce the reckless multiplicity of taxes. "Can we impose the kind of tax on the people of this country that will break their back and drive them to a situation where it will lead to social unrest? The answer is no, and that is our responsibility," Surjewala added. Explaining the party's stand on the issue, Surjewala said the Congress wants the government to appoint a third party to arbitrate on the GST issues. "In another demand, Congress party says let there be a third party arbitrator to decide on disputes relating to GST but Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, (Finance Minister) Mr. Jaitley and their government wants the GST council to settle the disputes," he said, adding that there should be a neutral judge in case of a dispute between two parties. Surjewala said the government will not accept these "legitimate demands as RSS does not want it to pass the bill". He said that small scale and medium traders which make up the majority of the RSS support base believe they will get adversely affected by passage of the GST bill. He also accused the Modi government of being "non-serious" in projecting the country on a growth path. "Growth comes on account of sincerity and functioning of the government; its policies and their implementation on the ground. Congress party is contributing to key pieces of legislation which the BJP opposed when they were out of power," Surjewala said asserting that the Congress has helped in the passage of "hundreds of key legislation" as a "constructive opposition". The Congress's reaction has come in the backdrop of speculation that the government may try to bring in the key GST bill for passage in the ongoing Parliament session. New Delhi : It was like a macabre end to a Chabrol movie. I had returned with images of such aesthetic delight from the Pahela Baishakh festivities in Dhaka that the news of Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique having been hacked to death by Islamists left me in something of a daze. Promotion of Bangla syncretism, which I had found so compelling, was precisely his "guilt": He was in the vanguard of progressive literary and cultural activities, on the Rajshahi university campus; keen that students take an interest in the poetry and music of Tagore and Qazi Nazrul Islam, modern dance dramas, just the sort of stuff that lends to the Bangla cultural scene so much vibrancy. The Islamic State (IS), which claimed responsibility for the killing, said Siddique was inviting Muslims to the path of "atheism". A few days later, the rampant culture of impunity claimed its next victim - Xulhaz Mannan, editor of the gay, transgender magazine, and his fellow activist Mahbul Rabbi Tonoy. So far extremism had struck in the Bangla countryside. The latest attacks are in the heart of Dhaka, deepening concerns about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed's grip on the administration. A criticism of the regime on these lines invites from Sheikh Hasina a knee jerk response: darts are being fired by arch enemy Khaleda Zia, the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami - the source of all Islamic militancy in Bangladesh. She is not exactly in denial of the IS presence but her focus is on the Khaleda-Jamaat mischief. In this kind of polarization, what value does one place on an interview that a perfectly sensible, liberal editor in Dhaka places in my hand. Dabiq, the glossy IS magazine has in a Q and A, invited Shaikh Abu Ibrahim al Hanif, the Emir of the Khalifah's soldiers in Bengal, to spell out his plans. The 13-page interview, if validated as being authentic, has a dreadful message for Bangladesh: IS headquarters may shift to the country where Shias, Qadianis, Hindus and other deviants espousing cultural syncretism will be terrorized to their knees. "Jihad base in Bengal will facilitate guerilla attacks in India from both sides." There is terrible news for Myanmar too: "Cells" will be helped until the nation is overwhelmed. Of course there is institutional support for the ghastly killings of writers, teachers, artists with a liberal streak who have been hacked to death with machetes and meat cleavers. Los Angeles Times headline rings alarm: "Bangladesh may be the next providing ground for global Jihadist groups." Macabre attacks on soft targets in Bangladesh has multiple purposes: they discredit the Hasina government, intimidate liberals, the anti-Jamaat e Islami masses. Under stress, the Hasina establishment responds to such criticism by unfurling its authoritarian fangs. This explains the crackdown on editors and journalists: 84 cases against Mahfuz Anam, editor of the Daily Star, and arrest of 81-year-old Shafiq Rehman. The regime's authoritarian streak, disheartens the secular, liberal elite. True Hasina takes on the obscurantist forces but must a price be paid in civil liberties to contrive an unsteady, status quo? Because Indo-Bangladesh relations have seldom been as good as they are today, there is a suggestion, in murmurs among the elite that New Delhi supports the illiberal regime. This kind of talk carries. At the popular level questions surface: why must Dhaka be so obsequious with an "RSS led government"? An influential China lobby takes heart and looks for balance in the Dhaka, Beijing, New Delhi, Washington quadrangle. Any illiberal act by the regime in Bangladesh correspondingly causes tongues to wag about New Delhi's heavy handed handling of affairs like the JNU and Hyderabad universities. Between New Delhi-Dhaka official relations and the people-to-people perceptions, contradictions sharpen. What can New Delhi do? It certainly is in no position to stand on high moral ground and proffer advice to a regime increasingly intolerant of dissent. The BNP under Begum Khaleda Zia is a depleted force banking on the Jamaat-e-Islami's excesses. But her antecedents do link her to powerful elements in the army, a source of great discomfort to the Prime Minister. She is therefore willing to give the armed forces all the toys they want including a nuclear submarine to be used against few know who. The army is in clover, what with both the ladies outbidding each other to keep it in good humour. The bonanza from UN Peace Keeping duties increases by the day. Recently Saudi Arabia very nearly extracted Dhaka's participation in their year long war in Yemen. A decision to send troops was reversed by Sheikh Hasina: she agreed to troops only under the UN. By seeking Dhaka's help, Riyadh was out to spite Islamabad which said "no" earlier. That Sheikh Hasina even toyed with the idea was to undermine Khaleda Zia's support in Islamabad. Her expectation also was that Riyadh would help tone down Jamaat-e-Islami opposition to her. Has the Saudi initiative failed or does it still have life in it? Meanwhile, the diplomatic corps cannot take its eyes off the string of gruesome murders - four this month alone. American Human Rights group must have played a hand in 29 Bangladeshi bloggers being placed on the State Department list. In other words, if free thinking bloggers are threatened with death by IS, Al Qaeda and sundry extremists, they will be entitled to apply for US residence. This has the potential to swell the ranks of would be victims. It is a perfect arrangement: if militants wielding machetes, meat cleavers and bombs can qualify for the houris of paradise, their potential victims can now aspire for a fall back position in the real land of milk and honey. (A senior commentator on political and diplomatic affairs, Saeed Naqvi can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com. The views expressed are personal.) New Delhi, April 29 : The government on Friday said that more than 72.45 crore people from 14.8 crore households across 33 states and Union Territories are getting subsidised food grain under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). "As on April 2016, 33 states and Union Territories are implementing NFSA, and subsidised food grain are being provided to 72.45 crore beneficiaries from approximately 14.8 crore households. This is a big change from only 11 states and UTs, which started implementation of NFSA by March 2014," a statement by the consumer affairs ministry said. The ministry added that the remaining three states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Nagaland are also in an advanced stage of preparation for NFSA implementation. "Tamil Nadu and Kerala are presently in election mode and a decision to implement NFSA will be possible only after the elections are over, while the state of Nagaland is expected to start implementation of NFSA from July 2016," the statement said. The ministry also said that total storage capacity with Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies has been increased to 814.84 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). "FCI has a storage capacity of 357.89 LMT while state agencies can store up to 456.95 LMT which is sufficient, as compared to the peak requirement during procurement season is around 600 LMTs," the statement added. The government also informed that it had created new godowns to the capacity of 133.47 LMT in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode under Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) in 20 states. Shillong, April 29 : Assam Rifles chief Lt. Gen. Harminderjit Singh Sachdev on Friday said India and Myanmar had started joint border patrolling in some stretches of their "unfenced border". "The patrolling has not started all over but in some specific areas. They (Myanmar Army) also come and we also go there (Myanmar)," Sachdev told IANS on the sidelines of the investiture ceremony of Assam Rifles. India has been urging Myanmar to act against rebels including from the Manipur-based United National Liberation Front, People's Liberation Army (PLA), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup and People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Assam-based United Liberation Front of Asom and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang operating from Sagaing and Chin State of Myanmar. Assam Rifles, the country's oldest paramilitary force, guards the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border and also conducts counter-insurgency operations in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland. The Assam Rifles chief hoped that the new elected government in Myanmar will reciprocate India's requests on tackling terrorism. "The newly elected democratic government in Myanmar is reaching out to us (India). There are some positive steps. May be next year or two, we will be sure in which direction we are moving. I am sure something positive will be there," Sachdev said. Asked whether he expected the new Myanmar government to show similar security cooperation like Bangladesh to flush out Indian militants from its soil, he said: "Every nation works for its own national interest. I am sure Myanmar will now show positive signals to India. How fast that will be, we cannot say. And that all depends how both the countries work." On the security situation in the north-eastern states, Sachdev said: "Normalcy is seen everywhere, except in a few areas in Nagaland and Manipur. Abrogation of ceasefire by the NSCN-K is not worrisome. We will tackle it and I should say the overall situation is under control." Assam Rifles has 46 battalions, 15 of which are deployed along the India-Myanmar border. The porous border is used by Indian insurgents to slip in and out of the country. Four states of the northeast - Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) - share the border with Myanmar. Chandigarh, April 29 : The Haryana government on Friday announced that various facilities, including cabinet minister status, for former chief ministers would be withdrawn. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here on Friday. Other facilities include a government bungalow, official car, staff and other facilities to which cabinet ministers are entitled to. "In view of the resentment among the public and political parties on the facilities of cabinet minister to ex-chief ministers at state headquarters, the state government has decided to withdraw these facilities," a government spokesman said after the meeting. The facilities were extended to former chief ministers by the Congress-led government in May 2013. Terming the facilities a "burden on the state exchequer", Haryana's leader of opposition Abhay Chautala last week urged the government to withdraw the same. In a letter to Khattar, the Indian National Lok Dal leader said the facilities were extended to ex-chief ministers by the previous Congress government headed by Bhupinder Singh Hooda towards the fag end of its term. "The step was nothing but misuse of his position by Hooda for vested interests. He did this so that he could keep enjoying facilities which he got as chief minister even when out of power. This is an unnecessary burden on the state exchequer," Chautala added. Hooda remained chief minister of Haryana for two consecutive terms (2005-2009 and 2009-2014). New Delhi, April 29 : The excessive delay in Reliance Jio's commercial launch is frustrating investors, a Citi Group report said here on Friday. "The ensuing delay could be testing investors' patience. It raises concerns of Jio further eroding its first mover advantage. The capital expenditure targets also continue to go up," the report said. The delay is expected to be on the account of the company's chase for "perfection", it said. "RIL (Reliance Industries Ltd) is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring Jio does not over-promise and under-deliver. The company now plans to fully integrate Reliance Communication's 800 MHz spectrum before the Jio launch (making it the only player with sub-1GHz pan-India LTE spectrum," the report said. "It (RIL) also plans to increase the coverage to 90 percent (from 70 percent) before the Jio launch," it added. The report however stressed that a 3-6 month delay in the recently announced core projects does not impact estimate earnings of the company materially, since a meaningful contribution is assumed to come only by FY18. New Delhi, April 29 : India is all set to participate in Exercise Red Flag, an advanced aerial combat training exercise of the US Air Force, in Alaska with the main conduct phase set to start on May 3, an official statement said on Friday. The 'work up' phase concluded April 27. The team was "able to systematically achieve all the objectives laid down for this phase" and "is shaping up well to participate in the Main Conduct Phase", it said. Red Flag-Alaska is a 10-day air combat training exercise of the US Air Force which is held up to four times a year. It is designed to create a war like situation, and prepares pilots for real war situations. IAF said the Indian team, which comprises of four Sukhoi 30-MKI fighters, and four Jaguars, flew for a variety of missions during the work-up phase, termed as 'Distant Frontier'. The team that took off from Jamnagar on April 3, also has two military transport C17 Globemasters, and two IL 78 mid-air refuellers. The Indian team adopted a philosophy of 'Crawl, Walk & Run', signifying a progressive build up in the effort, pace and complexities of training sorties that were flown through the Work-up phase, the statement said. The intent during the distant frontier phase was to expose the participating members, especially aircrew, to an international environment and familiarize them with local flying procedures, radio telephony terminologies, NATO Brevity codes and airspace and environmental peculiarities. It is noteworthy that the local F-16 aggressor squadron has appreciated the performance of the Indian Air Force crew in the multiple missions conducted so far. Eielson air force base, where the contingent is presently deployed, is located 26 miles south east of Fairbanks town and it boasts of having one of the best operating environment in the US. The base houses the elite 18th aggressor squadron of USAF, which is flying the F-16 aircraft. In addition, the base also has a KC-135 squadron and the Air National Guard element apart from other facilities, it said. For the main exercise, the IAF fighters will be fielded alongside the best of US Air Force and US Navy, which will include the F-22, F-16, F-15 and F-18 fighter jets. As part of the operational support platforms IAF's IL-78 and US' KC-135 FR will also be deployed. Lucknow, April 29 : After days of suspense over his decision on the recommendations made by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for nominated members of the Uttar Pradesh legislative council, Governor Ram Naik on Friday approved the names of Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Zaheer Hasan 'Waseem Barelvi' and Madhukar Jaitley. The decision enables Ramoowalia, who is state prison minister, to keep his post as the period he had to become a member of either house of the state legislature was set to expire within the next 24 hours. While Hasan is a celebrated Urdu poet, Jaitley had been an advisor to the state government on 'externally-aided projects' for some time but was removed after serious differences emerged with the ruling party. He became a bitter critic of the chief minister but remained close to his father and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. The governor has however returned the name of Rajpal Kashyap, yet again with some queries. Naik had already okayed the names of Shri Ram Singh Yadav, Leelawati Kushawaha, Ram Vriksh Singh and Jitendra Yadav in July 2015. With this, seven names have been cleared out for the ten positions of nominated members. Kolkata, April 29 : BJP star candidate Roopa Ganguly on Friday was granted bail by a West Bengal court in an assault case after she surrendered. Contesting the assembly polls from Howrah North, a case was initiated against her for allegedly assaulting a female Trinamool Congress supporter during the fourth phase of polling on April 25. Ganguly, who is famous for playing playing the role of Draupadi in TV serial "Mahabharat", surrendered before a court in Howrah which granted her bail. Upon receiving complaints of rampant booth jamming and voter intimidation, Ganguly had on April 25 had gone to a booth in her constituency where she was faced with angry protests by Trinamool supporters who accused her disrupting the polling process. A heated argument ensued and subsequently Soma Das, a Trinamool supporter had accused Ganguly of "assaulting, and preventing her for casting her vote". Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Seba Aghayeva - Trend: Malta supports the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Malta's Foreign Minister George William Vella said Apr.29 in Baku. Vella made the remarks during the press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. "We are concerned over the escalation of the situation on the line of contact and support the continuation of the peace talks," he said. "The military operations should be stopped." Malta supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group in the conflict's settlement, Vella added. He pointed out that Malta supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. New Delhi, April 29 : Delhi University on Friday decided to stop the sale or distribution of the Hindi edition of 'India's Struggle for Independence (1757-1858)' authored by historian Bipin Chandra in 1988. The book ran into controversy earlier this week after family members of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh raised objections to the academic history book that refers to him as "revolutionary terrorist". The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday staged a protest in Delhi University against the book and its publisher. Shaheed Bhagat Singh's relatives also met Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi over the issue. "The sale and distribution of the book "Bharat ka Swatantarta Sangharsh', a Hindi translation of the book authored by Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee, Aditya Mukherjee, Sucheta Mahajan and K.N. Panikkar, has been stopped," Malay Neerav, media coordinator of the university, said. The book was first published in 1988, while the Hindi version was published in 1990 by Delhi University's directorate of Hindi medium implementation. Co-author Aditya Mukherjee told IANS that the book was withdrawn despite a letter sent to the vice chancellor that they wished to revise the term "revolutionary terrorist". "I am shocked. We had written a letter to the vice chancellor and the directorate. We've been publicly saying that (late) Bipin Chandra himself did not wish to use the term (terrorist). Even when we had used, yes, we had clarified it wasn't used in a derogatory way," Mukherjee said. He said in the letter he had written that they (co-authors) were willing to make the changes in the book forthwith. "He (VC) is well aware of our stand on the term used in the book... that we want to make the changes. Our views are in the public domain. We are awaiting the VC's reply to our letter," Mukherjee said. "The Hindi translation is gone. It is one of the largest constituency which we would like to reach our ideas to. We are very unhappy to learn (about this decision). The VC is a part of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, our culture. I have a firm belief that (VC) as a good liberal scholar should not ban the book," he said. The issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha by Janata Dal-United parliamentarian K.C. Tyagi on Thursday, after which the government said it will look into the issue. New Delhi, April 29 : The BJP and the Congress on Friday again indulged in political recriminations on the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal both in parliament and outside, with BJP chief Amit Shah targeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Members of both parties in the Rajya Sabha moved privilege notices on the issue. The Narendra Modi government too said it was determined to bring those guilty of bribery in the deal to justice and denied that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval or Prime Minister Narendra Modi's key aide Nripendra Mishra were involved in any way. In a direct attack on Sonia Gandhi, Shah asked at whose behest the contract terms in the chopper deal were tweaked. "When the AgustaWestland chopper deal was being finalised, Sonia Gandhi was the Congress president and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was in power. Their ministers were negotiating the deal," the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said. "The tender had the condition that only original equipment manufacturers could file the tender. Still, AgustaWestland -- despite not being an original equipment manufacturer -- was allowed to file the tender. Now my question to Sonia Gandhi is -- on whose behest this tampering with the original conditions was done," he said. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy submitted a breach of privilege notice in the upper house against Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for "lying" that the then Congress-led government had blacklisted helicopter maker AgustaWestland and its Italian parent company Finmeccanica. Swamy said in a tweet that the breach of privilege notice under Rule 187 was against Azad "for wilfully telling a lie to RS (Rajya Sabha) on AW (AgustaWestland) blacklisting". Swamy said before entering parliament that Azad "lied" about the blacklisting. The Congress too gave a breach of privilege notice against Defence Minister Manohar parrikar and his ministry. Congress members Husain Dalwai and Shantaram Naik, citing rules and procedure, said that when parliament is in session an important statement on an issue has to be made in the two houses of parliament and not outside. The defence ministry on Thursday issued a clarification on the issue through the Press Information Bureau. Meanwhile, the Congress accused the BJP of levelling false corruption charges against its leaders. Senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the ruling party should either prove the allegations or stop defaming political rivals. "Had they been in the opposition, I would have understood their limitations of not having any agencies (at their disposal) to prove or investigate something. But they are in power and have all the (government) agencies to probe whatever they want to," Azad told the media at Parliament House here. Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said the Bharatiya Janata Party had deputed the entire government machinery to come up with all sorts of charges against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi. "They are out to defame the Congress. They are doing this to divert public attention (from development work promised by them). We denounce this propaganda," he said. New Delhi, April 29 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Rajasthan government over the death of 11 children, living in state-run rehabilitation home, under mysterious circumstances within a period of the last 12 days, a statement said on Friday. Taking a sou motu cognizance of the entire issue through media reports, the commission has said that the issue is a human rights violation of the victims. "Accordingly, the commission has issued notices to the chief secretary, director general of police and director general, health services, government of Rajasthan calling for reports within two weeks," said a NHRC statement. The commission has said that the allegations of the government's failure in upkeep of the home have also been reported as the reason behind the incident. Enthusiasm among international investors for the UK commercial property market has continued to wane over the past quarter, with sentiment moving towards France and Germany. The latest commercial property investment barometer from BrickVest, which uses the views of over 6,000 international professional real estate investors, shows that only 27% view the UK as their preferred market, a 4% fall in the past 12 months. Appetite for the UK property market among German investors fell to 14%, down from 19% year on year while in France it slipped to 10%, almost half the 19% from a year ago. France is the biggest beneficiary of the UKs decline with a 20% year on year increase in international investment sentiment while support for Germany rose by 7%. Underlining increased concerns of an imminent turn in the cycle, the barometer reveals a sharp fall in the projected volume of assets under management (AUM) investors are planning to deploy into real estate over the next 12 months. Overall, investors expect to commit just 2.5% of their total AUM, a 33% fall on their planned allocation of 3.7% in the second quarter of 2018. Increased caution is also seen in the increased appetite for lower risk strategies, which rose 4% during the second quarter to 27% while high risk sentiment fell over the same period by 3% to 22%. The latest figures of our barometer reveal the continued negative effect of Brexit uncertainty on the UK commercial property market among international investors and particularly those based in France and Germany, said Emmanuel Lumineau, chief executive officer at BrickVest. We can expect this to continue over the third quarter and the October deadline at the very least. In the meantime, France and Germany are becoming more attractive destinations for international real estate capital, he explained. However, were likely to see a sharp drop in capital allocations to real estate over the next 12 months as nervousness about the end cycle conditions will see many investors taking a circumspect approach, he added. SeniorAdvisor.com presents the annual 2016 Best of Awards for in-home care, assisted living, and other senior living providers. Winners of the Best of Awards are chosen according to reviews written by seniors and families themselves. Those chosen represent the very best in senior living and home care with only a little over 1,000 out of nearly 100,000 providers being recognized. These distinguished elite truly exemplify the top one percent of senior care providers. Silverado Care is one of those senior living organizations that takes a different approach from the rest. The folks behind the company started with the question, What do I want for my own family? They then developed a unique service in response. The foundation of Silverado is based on the answers to this question. Every aspect of the company and their services is designed with family in mind. This ensures the highest quality of care for every single resident. Staff at Silverado are friendly and compassionate. Its the first thing you notice when you walk through the doors of one of their communities. Located across Arizona, California, Illinois, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and more, Silverados warm and welcoming approach to senior care has caught on big time. Today, Silverado Care provides a wide range of senior care services. There is a little something for everyone. Best of all, each program can be individually tailored to best meet the needs of each resident. Popular care programs include independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Silverado is dedicated to top quality care. And this doesnt just mean the best medical care. It also means creating and maintaining resident wellness, family relationships, and a welcoming living environment. Silverado Care has maintained an outstanding online reputation for several years, and regularly receives highly positive reviews from their families like the ones below from some of their winning communities: "The staff here are incredible! I don't even know how to explain how highly I think of them. The entire place just has a welcoming, family atmosphere. The staff are always smiling, and they wear casual clothing, not uniforms, which really contributes to the place feeling like a home, and not like an institution." - Family member of resident at Silverado Brookfield "One of the biggest pluses for our family is that the staff readily welcomed mom's little dog into the Silverado family. Mom has now been living at Silverado for two months and is well adjusted and happy." - Daughter of resident at Silverado Naperville "Silverado Onion Creek is a beautiful community. The staff are very friendly and considerate. They listen to everything you say and try to answer. What's unique is all of their staff are trained to handle Dementia patients, from the admin to the kitchen staff." - Family member of resident "The staff at Silverado Escondido really love what they do. I appreciate how much they want to care for and love on my Grandpa as he lives with Alzheimer's. I can go about my day and the things I need to do without worrying about him as much as I did before moving him to Silverado." - Family member of resident "We came to Silverado Valley Ranch as a referral from another unit. From minute one my husband has felt comfortable and welcome. As a result, I have felt at ease and comfortable with his being here. All personnel know each resident by name and treat each one with respect." - Spouse of resident "They have done really well with meeting my aunt's needs. Any time I have something that needs to be done I can just call them and I get an immediate response and have whatever it is taken care of right away." - Family member of resident at Silverado Peoria "Amazing Engagement with activities. You would think they were a non-profit by the way they run things. I do not know how to say how happy we are. They engage the whole person, not just the body." - Family member of resident at Silverado Belmont Hills Families are increasingly looking to online reviews to find out who truly delivers great care for our seniors, not just who claims to deliver great care, said Eric Seifert, President of SeniorAdvisor.com. Our SeniorAdvisor.com Awards program is all about celebrating the exceptional people who do just that. Were honored to spread the word about these organizations whom families can entrust with the care of their senior loved ones. To qualify for inclusion in the Best of 2016 Awards, providers must have maintained an average overall rating of at least 4.5 stars while receiving three or more new reviews in 2015. Additional details and a complete list of award winners can be found on SeniorAdvisor.com. To see the full list of award winners, please visit https://www.senioradvisor.com/awards/best-assisted-living About SeniorAdvisor.com LLC SeniorAdvisor.com is the largest consumer ratings and reviews site for senior living communities and home care providers across the United States and Canada. The innovative website provides easy access to the information families need when making a senior care decision, and features trusted reviews and advice from local residents and their loved ones. For more information, please visit http://www.SeniorAdvisor.com or call (866) 592-8119. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Seba Aghayeva - Trend: Azerbaijan has never rejected the negotiation process in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said Apr.29. "We plan to meet with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in one of the European cities, likely in Brussels, next month," said Mammadyarov during the briefing following the talks with his Maltese counterpart George William Vella in Baku. "The exact date and time will be determined later," he said. Commenting on the remarks made by Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan about the conditions for resuming the negotiations, the minister said that it is impossible to achieve peace by putting forward conditions. "If anyone in Yerevan believes that it will be possible to continue the negotiation process and maintain the status-quo by putting forward conditions, he is mistaken," said Mammadyarov. The minister added that with its actions, Armenia puts the ceasefire agreement dated 1994-1995 under threat. "Armenians should understand that it is impossible to resolve the conflict by military means," he said. "But it doesn't mean that the talks can continue eternally." Mammadyarov pointed out that Azerbaijan firmly adheres to its position. "The UN Security Council's resolutions should be fulfilled unconditionally. First of all, Armenian armed forces should be withdrawn from the occupied territories," he said. "Only after this, the negotiations can start on other remaining issues, such as the return of the IDPs [to their homes], restoration of communications and so on." 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Asebaa Tecplot, Inc., developer of the leading data visualization and analysis software for engineers and scientists, today announced the general availability of Tecplot 360 EX 2016 Release 2. The main theme of the new release is improved data loading. Tecplot developers focused on simplifying how data is loaded into Tecplot 360 EX and updating the available data loaders to handle evolving file formats, such as the FEA loader which has been updated to support data files from Abaqus 6.14, ANSYS 16.2, and CFX 16.2. The softwares Load Data File dialog has new options that make it easier to load data and layout files. Specifically, an All Files drop-down option has been added to the softwares dialog box. The All Files option shows all files in the browser, regardless of type, for easier selection. If the selected files are associated with a unique data loader, Tecplot 360 EX will automatically decide what data loader is appropriate so the user doesnt have to guess. For more than 30 years, the promise of Tecplot software has been increased productivity and efficiency, Tecplot Product Manager Scott Fowler said. Simply put, we provide tools that make work-life easier for engineers and scientists charged with making sense of very large technical datasets. The speed and ease with which our customers can load their data into Tecplot 360 EX and begin interacting with it greatly impacts their productivity. To that end, data-loading improvements highlight this release. Another new feature of Tecplot 360 EX 2016 Release 2 is support for SpaceMouse, the latest 3D navigation device from Boston-based 3Dconnexion, Inc. Use of the 3D mouse allows users to interactively change the view of Tecplots work area. SpaceMouse provides a comfortable, natural and consistent way to interact with digital content in the worlds most popular CAD and other technical software applications, making it easier for engineers to focus on their design rather than their software. SpaceMouse takes care of positioning the users model or view, and provides access to their favorite application commands, freeing the normal mouse to do what it was designed for moving the cursor to select, edit and create. About Tecplot 360 EX Tecplot 360 EX with SZL technology is the most memory-efficient CFD post-processor available for desktop computers, requiring 92% less memory than earlier versions when loading modern high-fidelity CFD solutions. CFD engineers are now able to load and analyze data once reserved for only the largest high-performance computing centers. Tecplot 360 EX, first released in 2014, is a substantial upgrade to earlier versions of Tecplot 360. Many customer-requested features from Tecplot 360 2013 are now incorporated into Tecplot 360 EX, including triangulation, streamtrace seeding, conditional expressions in equations, Fourier transforms, probe sidebar, custom color maps, animation speed control, and interactive macro debugging. Major user interface upgrades include native Mac and Linux look-and-feel, right-click context menus, dockable sidebars, a more flexible toolbar, easier file loading, and options for appending data. Other enhancements include consistent Export Dialogs with vector and raster image formats, an improved Translate/Magnify Dialog, and various performance improvements. Platforms and Pricing Tecplot 360 EX 2016 Release 2 supports 64-bit Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms. Pricing starts at $4,650 in the United States and Canada for a single-user perpetual license. Existing Tecplot 360 EX users with current Software Maintenance Service agreements can upgrade to 2016 Release 2 at no additional cost. Special pricing is available for qualified academic users. A fully-functional free trial version is available at http://www.tecplot.com/trial. About Tecplot, Inc. Founded in 1981 by former Boeing engineers Don Roberts and Mike Peery, who today serve as CEO and chairman of the board, respectively, Tecplot is the leading developer of Visual Data Analysis (VDA) software for engineers and scientists. Tecplots products allow customers using desktop computers and laptops to quickly analyze and understand information hidden in complex data, and communicate their results to others via brilliant images and compelling animations. The privately held companys products are used by more than 47,000 technical professionals around the world. Tecplot has been awarded numerous Small Business Innovation Research contracts from DOD, NASA, DARPA, and the National Science Foundation. In 2012, the company was named a Red Herring Top 100 Americas Award winner. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, Tecplot has consistently delivered category-leading innovation to the engineering and scientific communities. Examples of this never-ending innovation include Tecplot RS for oil & gas reservoir simulation, Tecplot Chorus for analyzing multiple simulations of design-space exploration data, Tecplot 360 EX for lightning-fast analysis of massive CFD simulation data, and Tecplot Focus for automating routine data analysis and plotting tasks. For more information, please visit http://www.tecplot.com Normally these Northern Virginia businesses compete for clients and customers, but at the Hopecam 5k, theyll compete to see which can run the fastest, raise the most money or register the most participants to help children with cancer. This year marks the 16th anniversary of the race and the second year that Hopecam has included a team competition to create awareness among the community. Companies such as Accenture, Baker Tilly, Booz Allen Hamilton, Christopher Consultants, Creative Systems and Consulting, Cooley, Deloitte, EC Tutoring, The McLean Group, Milestone Communications, Netcentric, Onyx, Savi Technology, ViON, are all participating in the competition this year to help promote Hopecam and their goal of helping to connect more children this year. NASCAR Driver Ryan Ellis will be on hand to greet the participants and get the runners started. Program Director of Hopecam Sara Dia explains, 15,780 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Nearly every one of these children will have to be isolated from their friends and unable to attend school as a result of their treatment. Today, thanks to technology, this isolation can be overcome by giving the child a tablet computer and working with schools to establish a connection with the hospitalized and homebound child. Hopecam is the only charity in the United States providing these services to children with cancer. Sponsors of the race are Advanced Technology and Research Corp., AEC, Bridge Builder Tax & Legal Services, P.A., Alex Rose, Helpcomm, Highland Title, The McLean Group, Netcentric, Paul Norman, Onyx Government Services, Savi Technology, ViON. Wheat's Landscape once again this year is providing water for the runners, and the Dulles Wegmans has generously donated the snacks. It costs about $1,000 to connect each child. About 12% of the children live in homes unable to afford Internet, which Hopecam provides at a cost of $500 per year. 70% of the children attend schools eligible for Title 1 (low income) financing. The Hopecam 5K is a USATF certified race-fast and flat for those wanting to set a personal best record. This is also the perfect race for families featuring an easy course for runners and walkers of all ages and fitness levels. This fun, family event is also stroller friendly. The 16th Annual Hopecam 5k Race/Walk will take place on Sunday, May 1st at 1890 Preston White Drive in Reston, VA. The race will start at 8:15am with registration starting at 7:30am. Participants can register online at http://www.hopecam.org If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Melissa Bowman at 703.364.5606 or email at volunteer(at)hopecam.org. The course offers a tremendous advantage for those who want to work in the industry or someone looking to open a craft brewery, says Mike Harting, CEO of 3 Daughters Brewing. On April 21st 2016, the first class graduated from a cutting edge Brewing Arts Program, the result of a collaboration between The University of South Florida St. Petersburg, 3 Daughters Brewing and Great Bay Distributors. The program is designed to offer homebrewers, beer enthusiasts and potential brewery owners the opportunity to gain an in-depth education in the rapidly growing craft beer industry. The curriculum is the first of its kind in Florida and offers 10 online modules taught by USFSP professors and individuals in the brewing industry. Online course work is followed by a unique opportunity for hands-on training at local participating craft breweries. The course offers a tremendous advantage for those who want to work in the industry or someone looking to open a craft brewery, says Mike Harting, CEO of 3 Daughters Brewing. It opens up a wide range of opportunities and gives participants the foundation to pursue their dream in craft beer. With over 25% of students already receiving a local job offer or working in the industry, it is easy to call the program a resounding success. The course offers a wide range of topics including the origins of brewing, the chemistry of malt, hops and water, yeast biology, the brew process, packaging beer, sanitation, working with distributors and how to open a successful brewery. Students learn how their craft beers will get to the marketplace, says Billy Carmen, Vice President of Sales for Great Bay Distributors. We offer the opportunity to spend time at our organization to gain insight on what the distributors role is in the 3 tier system. Considering how fast the industry is growing, understanding this partnership is an important component for success. The second Brewing Arts Program class is in progress and the next open registration is for June 2016. To find more information on the program, click here: http://www.usfsp.edu/brewingarts/about-the-program/ Metalcraft Logo It validates something weve known for a long time, that Metalcrafts RFID tags are in line with, and often perform better, than other manufacturers tags. According to a new research study, Metalcraft, a manufacturer of customized asset tags, has one of the most precise and reliable lines of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. The study, conducted by the University of Texas in Arlington, tested three of Metalcrafts Universal RFID tags against the top traditional RFID tags on the market. As RFID technology continues to mature, more companies are looking to implement the technology. RFID asset management is highly efficient and easy to use thanks to automatic identification and a non-line-of-sight signal. The study looked at 10 different RFID tags from the top manufactures and measured them for parameters including distance, orientation and material. Metalcraft had three tags in the study: the Universal, the Universal Mini, and the Universal Hard. All three tags consistently ranked among the top five, with the Universal Hard Tag consistently ranked in the top two. Overall, Metalcrafts Universal tags performed as well as or better than the traditional RFID tags tested. When asked about the study, Steve Doerfler, Metalcrafts President & CEO, said, Im very pleased with outcome of the study. It validates something weve known for a long time, that Metalcrafts RFID tags are in line with, and often perform better, than other manufacturers tags. Metalcraft continually seeks to refine and improve its products, offering proven, industry-leading RFID solutions to customers around the globe. Metalcrafts entire line of Universal RFID tags will be on display at RFID Journal LIVE! 2016 in Orlando, Florida, at Booth #938. Additional details, including the full study results and methodologies, are available at http://www.universalrfid.com/universal-performance. 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. Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs announces its May line-up of current affairs programs. All talks take place in Carnegie Council's headquarters in New York City and are streamed as live webcasts. To attend in person, please RSVP. Go to: http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/calendar/upcoming.html. Events take place at: 170 East 64 Street, New York, NY 10065. If not attending in person, watch them as live webcasts here: http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/live. A Rage for Order: The Middle East in Turmoil, from Tahrir Square to ISIS Tuesday May 10, 6:00 PM Robert F. Worth in conversation with Roger Cohen Five years after the Arab Spring, what is the plight of average citizens? What are their stories? How do they see their future after years of discord? ISIS: The Caliphate at Two Thursday May 12, 6:00 PM Michael Weiss in conversation with James Ketterer The Caliphate declared by ISIS is now two years old. What makes ISIS so seemingly successful and what are its goals? How has ISIS spread so effectively to other regions? What can the U.S. and others do to stem the tide? Threats and Opportunities on the Korean Peninsula Tuesday May 17, 6:00 PM The Hon. Gheewhan Kim (opening remarks), Scott A. Snyder, and Sue Mi Terry Should the U.S. and its East Asian allies be worried about this new round of nuclear threats from Pyongyang? Are negotiations possible with Kim Jong-un? What's China's role? And what is the real political effect of the North Korean menace on Seoul? Return to Cold War Monday May 23, 6:00 PM Robert H. Legvold Does the current crisis in U.S.-Russia relations match the depth and scale of the contest that dominated the international system in the second half of the 20th century? How might momentum toward a more positive U.S.-Russian relationship be regained? The Next Pandemic: On the Front Lines Against Humankind's Gravest Dangers Wednesday May 25, 8:00 AM Dr. Ali S. Khan In more than 20 years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Khan found that rogue microbes will always be a problem, but outbreaks are often caused by people. With the Zika virus as the newest threat, are we prepared for the next pandemic? 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. Franchise Owners We are proud of our employees... During the annual Filta Franchise Owners conference, recently held in Orlando, Florida, Filta announced the recipient of the 2016 Technician of the Year Award. In recognition of the Filta Technician that has gone above and beyond in the service of the companys clients and Franchise Owners. All Filta Franchisees are eligible to nominate a technician that has been employed for at least one year. Nominated employees must demonstrate loyalty, dedication, work ethic, outstanding customer service and support. This years recipient is Houston, Texas based technician Manuel Villareal. Mr. Villareal is employed by Filta Franchise Owner Mike Powers. Technicians are the life blood of our business and I can think of no one more deserving than Manny", said JJ Paul, Franchise Advisory Council Chairperson. JJ continued, "Manny was one of four-hundred employees eligible for last year's award, and elected by the network of Filta Franchise Owners. We are proud of our employees and recognize their outstanding efforts building our brand." For more information about Filta, please visit http://www.filta.com About Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions Established in the United Kingdom in 1996 and brought to the USA in 2002, Filta is the worlds leader in commercial fryer and cooking oil management services and offers its services through a worldwide franchise network. Filta is dedicated to saving its clients money, creating a safer working environment, and providing customers with the tools to increase the quality of their product, all while preserving the environment. Filta services over 5,000 customers every week and has recycled over 1/2 of a billion pounds of oil and counting! http://www.filta.com This week also marks National Infertility Awareness Week, which RMAPA will celebrate from April 25 through April 29. The weeklong observance is meant to draw attention to the millions of women and men fighting infertility. Reproductive Medicine Associates of Pennsylvania (RMAPA) in Allentown, Pa. is pleased to announce an 72.5% success rate for InVitro Fertilization (IVF) embryo transfers resulting in a live birth, for women under 35, according to a report released on March 11, 2016 by the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). The national average for this age group is 47.4%.* The 2014 rate is reported by SART, the primary organization of professionals dedicated to the practice of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in the United States. RMAPA's full Clinic Summary Report can be viewed at http://www.sart.org. RMAPA has consistently achieved IVF success rates significantly above the national average, since its inception in 2008 by Dr. Wendy J. Schillings, Dr. Paul A. Bergh, Dr. Richard T. Scott and Dr. Michael R. Drews, RMAPA credits its increase in successful pregnancies to participation in research studies for advancement in the areas of blastocyst embryo transfer, Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening (CCS), trophectoderm biopsy of embryos for genetic testing, and Single Embryo Transfer. This week also marks National Infertility Awareness Week, which RMAPA will celebrate from April 25 through April 29. The weeklong observance is meant to draw attention to the millions of women and men fighting the disease of infertility and honor healthcare professionals in the field. Patients and those interested in learning more about infertility services are invited to office to for daily giveaways and prizes. Past News Releases RSS Eugene Blackford opposed secession and, coming from an abolitionist family, the institution of slavery. He was a Unionist and resisted joining the Cotton Confederacy until the secession of his home state of Virginia made up his mind, after which his loyalty to the cause never wavered. While a teacher in Clayton, Alabama, Blackford raised and trained a company of men, the Barbour Greys, which eventually became part of the 5th Alabama Infantry, part of Rodess-Battles brigade. Blackford participated in, and penned vivid accounts of, First Manassas, Seven Pines, Gainess Mill and Malvern Hill, miraculously escaping each without injury. He left descriptions not only of the battles but also of the marches, the hardships, food, camp life and the oft-divisive politics of his regiment. He also left indelible and sometimes acerbic sketches of his leaders, including Earl Van Dorn, D. H. Hill, Jubal Early and Robert Rodes. Laid low by Typhoid fever at the end of the Seven Days battles, Blackford received a promotion to major. Returning to his regiment just before the battle of Fredericksburg (his home town), he wrote a first-hand account of the battle and its aftermath in the city. After the battle General Robert Rodes assigned Blackford to organize and train a picked unit of skirmishers and marksmen, the Sharpshooters. Drawn from the best men in the brigade and intended for scouting, screening, and picketing, the Sharpshooters assiduously practiced marksmanship and skirmish drill, attaining an unprecedented level of skill and proficiency in both. Blackfords battalion, the first so constituted in the Army of Northern Virginia, received its baptism of fire at Chancellorsville, screening Stonewall Jacksons famous flank march around the Union flank and providing security while he organized his attack, something his letters describe with justifiable pride. So successful were they that eventually General Lee ordered sharpshooter battalions to be organized in all his infantry brigades. They became the elite of the army, covering its advance and retreat, protecting it at rest and on the march, as well as picking off enemy officers and artillerymen. Author Fred Ray quoted extensively from Blackfords writings in his previous Civil War book, Shock Troops of the Confederacy (CFS Press 2006) and became interested in the man himself. He spent several years tracking down Blackfords papers and memorabilia in various archives, auctions, and private collections. In addition to his military commentary, Blackfords letters address politics, family matters, society and the social relations of upper-class Virginia. This volume, the first of three, covers the period from January 1861 (just before the beginning of the war) to the end of the Chancellorsville campaign in late May 1863. Two forthcoming volumes will cover Blackfords letters from the rest of the war, his court martial and reinstatement, and his diary-memoir. For more information contact: CFS Press Asheville, NC 828-505-2917 info(at)cfspress(dot)com http://www.ebsharpshooter.com ### May the Fourth Be With You As a long time Star Wars fan, I love seeing the new artwork our clever artist community comes up with to celebrate Star Wars fandom. Cutting edge design collective Design By Humans is offering original designs, some exclusive, in their officially licensed Star Wars shop in time for May the Fourth. These shirts are unique and original, and some of them cant be found anywhere else. They incorporate the old and new of the Star Wars franchise in a way that stays true to the spirit of the story, but also adds refreshing concepts. This stunning collection is chock full of the Star Wars characters we all know and love from Han Solo and C-3P0 to Phasma and Kylo Ren. These designs are available in a variety of colors, and in some cases may be offered as sweatshirts, tank tops, racerbacks and crew necks. In addition to the new styles offered, DBH has also expanded their womens line of Star Wars Apparel. The designs themselves offer a broad variety of witty pop culture mashups, retro poster-style creations, and technical schematics including some great lightsaber designs and several shirts picturing the beloved Millennium Falcon. Simply search Millennium Falcon inside the shop to find stunning designs based on the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. Shirts are available in a broad range of images and styles; searching for the best designs is easy. Whether its the Death Star design or a deadly lightsaber battle pictured on the shirt, this collection has it! There are new shirt designs being added all the time, some of them just in time for the upcoming Star Wars Day, also known as May the Fourth. Fans who choose can create their own complicated and exact costumes based on characters from the films themselves. For a simpler and quicker option that still honors the spirit and tradition of Star Wars, a t-shirt from this collection is a wonderful choice for any avid fan. More and more new creations will be added including Star Wars Rogue One shirts coming this fall. DBH also frequently hosts Star Wars themed giveaways, with a wide range of items from the movies themselves to the Battlefront game codes for a variety of consoles. Community Manager for DBH, Cassie Presentati is very excited about our Star Wars shop. She says As a long time Star Wars fan, I love seeing the new artwork our clever artist community comes up with to celebrate Star Wars fandom. About Design By Humans DBH is a collaboration of talented artists inspired by what they see in the world. Over 15,000 of these amazing creative souls share their art with everyone by composing designs which can then be purchased on anything from stickers and wall art to phone cases and t-shirts. This platform not only allows the consumer access to one of a kind artwork, but also creates a unique space for artists all around the world to work in and to be able to let their creativity out into the world. Artists use their own personal store to display their artwork which fans can then purchase on the item of their choice. Design By Humans has created a culture full of a vibrant creative spirit that is expansive and inclusive. They are a passionate society filled with artists of all styles and ideas. Design By Humans is online at http://www.designbyhumans.com, http://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/StarWars/new/, and can be followed on Facebook at /DesignByHumans, on Instagram @DesignByHumans, with #designbyhumans, and on Twitter @DesignByHumans. Author Debbi DiMaggio Brigantine Media announces the release of Real Estate Rules! by Debbi Di Maggio. Real Estate Rules! (ISBN: 978-1-9384065-4-6, trade paper, 124 pages, $14.95) will be available nationwide May 1, 2016. The Book Launch party for Real Estate Rules! will be hosted by Casey Sullivan of Summit Funding at a Luxury Panel for Realtors at 1515 Restaurant (1515 N. Main St.) in Walnut Creek, California, from 4:00 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2016. Real Estate Rules! offers advice to help real estate professionals build a successful real estate business. The book distills the knowledge of super-agent Debbi DiMaggio into 52 bite-sized nuggets of wisdom. Debbis rules to help agents build their business include: Become the captain of the ship for each transaction Act more like Tom Hanks, but also keep up with the Kardashians Google yourself, because that's the first thing your clients will do Look for leads in unlikely places With 52 rules, theres one for every week of the year to help real estate professionals succeed in their careers. Real Estate Rules! joins other popular titles in the Rules! books series published by Brigantine Media. These books give the standards for business success in a variety of fields. Written by experts and illustrated by veteran animator Steve Hickner, the Rules! books offer key business insights in an entertaining, easy-to-read format. Debbi DiMaggio is a master marketer, community builder, and tech-savvy guru in the fast-paced real estate market in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the top one percent of all real estate agents nationwide, she shares her expertise with real estate and mortgage professionals as an author, columnist, and speaker. Co-founder and Marketing Director of Highland Partners, Debbi is also an active philanthropist. Debbi's client list reads like the credits of a Hollywood blockbuster, including such celebrities as Julianne Moore, Sally Field, Hugh Grant, Ted Danson, Linda Fiorentino, Macaulay Culkin, and Tom Arnold. But Debbis credo is to treat every client as a VIP. For more information about Debbi, visit http://www.debbidimaggio.com. Illustrator Steve Hickner provides the humorous drawings that add even more zest to each rule. Steve is a film director at DreamWorks Animation, with numerous credits as producer, storyboard artist, and more throughout his career as an animator. For more information about Real Estate Rules!, visit http://www.therulesbooks.com or contact Janis Raye at 802-751-8802 or at janis(at)brigantinemedia(dot)com. Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: A resident of Azerbaijan's Aghdam region Elnur Mammadov, born in 1978, was wounded as a result of the suddenly started shelling by Armenians, Trend correspondent reported Apr. 29. "One of the shells fell close to us and I received shrapnel wounds," said Mammadov adding that despite Armenians' shelling the residents will not be leaving their native lands. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed as a result of the Aghdam district's shelling by the Armenians. There is a large number of the wounded. Eighty-four houses in the Aghdam district were damaged heavily. As many as 36 houses were damaged in the district's Garadaghli village, while five houses were completely destroyed. Damage was inflicted to 16 houses in the district's Zangushali village, one house burnt down, while two houses and a store were destroyed completely. Twenty-one houses suffered damage in the district's Afetli village, two other houses were completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. In honor of owner Ron Marinos mother, Janet Marino, both venues will donate 100% of the profits from their specialty cocktail, F CANCER, to Avon 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer. Caulfields Bar and Dining Room and Above SIXTY Beverly Hills will host a month long breast cancer awareness and fundraising campaign beginning May 1, 2016. In honor of owner Ron Marinos mother, Janet Marino, both venues will donate 100% of the profits from their specialty cocktail, F CANCER, to AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer. Last summer Marinos mother was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer during a routine mammogram. Although shocked and devastated, she immediately began to fight back. The remainder of her year consisted of countless hospital visits accompanied by weekly rounds of vigorous treatment. With the support of her family, and a fantastic team of doctors and nurses, Janet officially reached remission in January of 2016. Just a few months later, Marino learned his good friend, Toni Vlaovich, had also been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. After facing a grueling 7-month battle, Vlaovich now has her sights on helping raise money and awareness by participating in AVON 39s challenge this upcoming September. Caulfields and Above SIXTY will donate directly to Tonis AVON 39 fundraising campaign in honor of Janet Marino. AVON 39 The Walk To End Breast Cancer is the largest fundraising event for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Since its launch in 2003, more than 207,000 participants have trekked 6,868,000 miles and raised $550,000,000 in the fight to end breast cancer. Funds raised at each event provide direct impact locally, and help ensure that care and research programs nationwide have adequate resources to make the most progress possible. What many people dont realize is that once someones diagnosed with breast cancer, and lucky enough to beat it, they have to live every day knowing it may come back again, says owner Ron Marino. This is a reality not only for my mother and Toni, but for many women, men and families around the world. We may not be able to eliminate breast cancer entirely, but myself, and the entire team at Caulfields and Above SIXTY, are honored to support the cause. With generous product donations provided by Corralejo Tequila, Marino and his team created a specialty cocktailaptly named F CANCER to raise awareness and funding for the cause. Mixed with Corralejo Tequila, Triple Sec, prickly pear puree, mango, and lime juice, the drink is shaken and served over ice with a salted half rim. F CANCER is available for purchase at both Caulfields Bar and Dining Room and Above SIXTY for the entire month of May. Caulfields Bar and Dining Room and Above SIXTY are located in the SIXTY Hotel at 9360 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, California 90212. To learn more about AVON 39 please visit AVON39.org. For more information regarding Caulfields and Above SIXTYs Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit caulfieldsbeverlyhills.com/fcancer/ or email PR(at)caulfieldsbh(dot)com ### About Caulfields Bar and Dining Room: Offering a contemporary American cuisine with tasteful European influences, Caulfields Bar and Dining Room unites New York swagger, Paris allure and Hollywood history. Located on the first floor of the SIXTY Hotel in Beverly Hills, the venue offers a private back dining room with old-school Cadillac style booths, a vintage bar with a premium selection of craft cocktails, beer and wine and a sophisticated front dining room naturally lit by French inspired windows. Highlights from Caulfields innovative menu are also featured at its famed panoramic rooftop bar, Above SIXTY. Open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and weekend brunch, Caulfields is Beverly Hills best kept secret! Instagram: @Caulfieldsbh Phone: 310.388.6860 Reservations: Reservations(at)caulfieldsbh(dot)com Website: Caulfieldsbeverlyhills.com About Above SIXTY Beverly Hills: A cinematic rooftop bar and poolside lounge, Above SIXTY Beverly Hills provides balmy zephyrs and panoramic views of L.A.s distinguished skyline and fabled canyons. Located on the rooftop of the SIXTY Beverly Hills, Above SIXTY was named LAs Best Rooftop al fresco bar and restaurant located within walking distance from Rodeo drive and other world-class shopping. Above SIXTYs dynamic menu provided by Caulfields Bar and Dining Room, extensive bar and renowned 360-views, make it a premiere destination for both Angelenos and travelers from around the globe. Instagram: @AboveSIXTYBH Phone: 310.388.6860 Website: Caulfieldsbeverlyhills.com/above-sixty/ About Avon and the Avon Foundation for Women: Avon is a global corporate leader in philanthropy focused on causes that matter most to women. Through 2015, Avon and the Avon Foundation for Women have contributed over $1 billion in over 50 countries. Avons funding is focused on breast cancer research and advancing access to quality care through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program. The companys global markets sell special products to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer and domestic violence, conduct hundreds of events for these causes, and educate women around the world through its global army of nearly six million Avon Representatives. MEDIA CONTACT: Lexie Olson Director of Marketing and PR Above SIXTY Beverly Hills, Caulfields Bar and Dining Room, Magnolia Hollywood lexieolsonpr(at)gmail(dot)com Analysts International Corporation (AIC), an operating brand of ACS Group, a leading staffing agency in the information technology industry, announced today they have earned Inaveros Best of Staffing Client Diamond Award after winning the Best of Staffing Client Award at least five years in a row for providing superior service to their clients. Presented in partnership with CareerBuilder, Inaveros Best of Staffing Client Diamond winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based completely on the ratings given to them by their clients. On average, clients of winning agencies are nearly three times more likely to be completely satisfied with the services provided compared to those working with non-winning agencies. Focused on helping U.S. companies find the right people for their job openings, AIC received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 74 percent of their clients, significantly higher than the industrys average of 27 percent. With fewer than 2% of all staffing agencies in U.S. and Canada earning the Best of Staffing Award, just 22% of the 2016 Best of Staffing winners earned the Diamond Award distinction. The winners of this award truly stand out for exceeding client expectations. Exceptional client service has been the hallmark of AICs business for nearly 50 years, said Raj Sardana, Chief Executive Officer for ACS Group, AICs parent company. We are proud and honored to carry on this great tradition of service and to be recognized for our efforts in this way. This is a strong testament to the work of our employees and their commitment and dedication to serving our clients, added Sardana. "Leaders of growing companies are more committed than ever to staying flexible in this stable yet volatile market, making staffing firms the most viable employment partnership," said Inavero's CEO Eric Gregg. "Finding the best staffing partner with a proven commitment to service excellence can be really tough. BestofStaffing.com is the place to find the winning agencies that place talent with the skills you need in your city or state. We are very proud of the 2016 award winners." About Analysts/AIC Analysts is a premier provider of outcome-based Information Technology (IT) Consulting Solutions that span the software development lifecycle. Our core competency in Application Solutions, Enterprise Information Management, Cloud Services, Infor/Lawson Solutions, Secure Information Sharing, and QA/Test is backed by domain expertise and service delivery options tailored to our clients needs. AIC is a talent services firm that provides highly-skilled Information Technology (IT), Engineering, and Finance professionals to clients nationwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and innovation, AIC draws from 50 years of experience in the consulting services industry to provide unparalleled business and technical expertise to middle market to Fortune 1000 companies. Founded in 1966, AIC is a part of the ACS Group. About ACS Group ACS Group is a premier provider of IT consulting, engineering consulting, healthcare business solutions, talent solutions, and workforce management solutions to Fortune 1000 companies globally. ACS Group conducts business through four operating brands AIC, Analysts, ComforceHealth, and HireGenics each with a specialized business focus. Our operating brands have provided targeted services and solutions for more than 50 years. ACS Group has grown to over $700 million in revenue with more than 12,000 employees and consultants worldwide. Recognitions include: #1 Fastest Growing Company in the State of Georgia (2014); Ranked by SIA as the Second Largest Minority-Owned IT Consulting Company in the U.S. (2015); and winner of Inaveros Best of Staffing Client Diamond Award (2016). ACS Group is a certified MBE organization, and an NMSDC Corporate Plus member, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with offices across the U.S. and India, and an international presence in Canada and Latin America. For more information on ACS Group, please visit http://www.acsicorp.com. About Inavero Inavero administers more staffing agency client and talent satisfaction surveys than any other firm in the world. Inaveros team reports on over 1.2 million satisfaction surveys from staffing agency clients and talent each year, and the company serves as the American Staffing Associations exclusive service quality partner. About Inaveros Best of Staffing Inaveros Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the U.S. and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service quality based completely on the ratings given to them by their clients and job candidates. Award winners are showcased by city and area of expertise on BestofStaffing.com an online resource for hiring professionals and job seekers to find the best staffing agencies to call when they are in need. ### Contact Marc Cohen, Sr. Director Global Marketing and Communications ACS Group (678) 310-1251 marc.cohen(at)acsicorp.com Epic Homes, a new Colorado builder founded by local construction experts Christina Presley and Bill Wood, recently launched at the Leyden Rock community in Arvada where they will be building single-family homes on 52 lots. The Epic Homes philosophy centers on building homes where the buyer experiences a collaborative, personal touch. As an independent builder, Epic Homes has the ability to work one-on-one with buyers on both the small details and the final structure to build a home that is both special and unique. Epic Homes will provide their home buyers third-party, insurance-backed warranty protection from StrucSure Home Warranty, a national risk management company that is also headquartered in Colorado. By offering warranty protection from an industry leader, Epic Homes buyers can have peace-of-mind about their financial investment. We are pleased to add Epic Homes to our long list of quality homebuilders who are dedicated to providing a positive home buying experience, said Stacie Locke, StrucSures Vice President of Sales for the Rocky Mountain Region. We chose StrucSure Home Warranty as our risk management partner not only because of their comprehensive warranty coverage, but also their longevity, industry involvement, and solid reputation, commented Presley, who also served as the first female president of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver in 2015. Epic Homes officially launched on April 2nd with the opening of their first two model homes in the Leyden Rock community in Arvada, Colorado. Homes are priced in the upper $400,000 to $600,000 range with flexible ranch-style and two-story home plans available. Long-range plans call for Epic Homes to build 120-150 homes per year from Castle Rock to Arvada. About StrucSure Home Warranty Since 1997, StrucSure Home Warranty has been providing builders, remodelers, and contractors with warranty products that deliver peace of mind. Our warranties protect our clients from expensive claims, liabilities, and legal fees and offer their clients peace of mind through third-party warranty protection that is A-rated with additional reinsurance from Lloyds of London. Just like any risk management product, the hope is that you'll never need it, but when a problem emerges, you're glad you're covered! Visit http://www.strucsure.com to learn more. About Epic Homes Epic Homes launched in April, 2016 with a public grand opening of its first two model homes in Leyden Rock, a popular northwest Arvada, Colorado community. The Denver-based company was founded by local building experts Christina Presley and Bill Wood. Epic Homes are designed by award-winning KGA Architects (Louisville, Colorado), with interior design by award-winning TRIO Environments (Denver, Colorado). For more information visit http://www.LiveEpicHomes.com. Celergo, a leading provider of Global Payroll Management Services, announced today their participation at the American Payroll Association Congress 2016 (May 10-14th) in Nashville, TN. Michele Honomichl, Founder, Executive Chairman & Chief Strategy Officer will participate as a panelist addressing The State of Global Payroll: Facts, Fears, and the Future for Your Organization. Additionally, Honomichl will be joined by Kira Rubiano, Sr. Partner Management Specialist, in presenting the following workshops: Compliance Is No Longer Just Local - It's Now Global! Michele Honomichl and Kira Rubiano Thursday, May 12 Global Payroll: Regional Focus Michele Honomichl and Kira Rubiano Friday, May 13 Shadow Payrolls Michele Honomichl Friday, May 13 Celergo Global Payroll is pleased to be presenting at all of the above workshops this year, stated Honomichl. We believe education is key for companies that are expanding globally, and we are proud to support APAs international curriculum. Payroll professionals today are not only required to manage compliance at a local payroll level but also must be compliant with global standards including OFAC, FCPA, UK Bribery Act, European Data Privacy and much more. Michele is a subject matter expert and considered one of the foremost thought leaders in the industry. Additionally, Michele is the author of Chapter 13 of the Payroll Answer Book published by Wolters Kluwer http://bit.ly/22LbLrF. Both Honomichl and Rubiano are frequent contributors to Global Payroll Management Institute, where their white papers and videos can be downloaded at http://www.gpminstitute.com. About Celergo Celergo is a leading provider of Global Payroll Management Services, supporting global companies with solutions to meet their payroll needs in 140+ countries. We built core expertise in managing some of the most complicated payrolls, in the most complex business environments around the world. We solve your business issues by providing solutions to enable organizations to apply better fiscal controls and obtain greater visibility into global payroll processes. Our experienced, multi-lingual staff are dedicated to delivering high-quality service from our global offices in Chicago, Budapest, and Singapore. Celergo is compliant with OFAC, FCPA, Anti-Bribery, BCP, Data Privacy and SSAE16 policies and practices. To learn more about Celergo, visit http://www.celergo.com. Follow Celergo on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CelergoLLC Follow Celergo on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/celergo-llc Media Inquiries: Cathy Lininger 847-512-2684 clininger(at)celergo(dot)com "We know that the ability for lenders to communicate via text will help improve their collection rates, and its proving to be a better method of communication compared to mail, email and even calling." Solutions by Text, in Dallas, and Nortridge Software, in Lake Forest, Calif., have joined forces to provide an integrated texting (SMS) solution. Nortridge Loan System users can now deliver an automatic text message when the customer meets specific criteria. This partnership allows lenders to capitalize on this preferred method of communication to conduct business. The SBT /Nortridge integration provides the following: Protects consumer privacy and meet industry and regulatory compliance standards through documentation of customer consent to receive text messages. Develops a business rules strategy to deliver the perfectly scripted message when a customer meets specific criteria. Takes full advantage of all SBT/Nortridge safety measures to prevent message delivery when permission is removed (opt-out). Provides a measureable business solution to increase on-time payments plus reconcile past due accounts. Recent studies show why SMS is an important platform: 94 percent of text messages are read in nine minutes or less. 81 percent of adults text on a daily basis. Texting is 45 percent more effective than direct mail. Less than 1 percent of customers opt-out of a texting campaign that provides information regarding their account. (Source: Pew Research Institute - Washington D.C.) We are very excited to add the texting ingredient to the communications recipe, said Mike Cantrell, Solutions by Text president. Our relationship with Nortridge has been a cooperative effort to place an effective business communications tool into the hands of their clients. Greg Hindson, president of Nortridge Software adds, "Integrating this premium texting platform adds a critical component to the way our clients communicate with their borrowers. We know that the ability for lenders to communicate via text will help improve their collection rates, and its proving to be a better method of communication compared to mail, email and even calling." About Nortridge Software Nortridge Software LLC, provides lenders and loan servicers with the automation needed to more profitably originate, service, collect and report on loan portfolios. Since 1981, Nortridge has leveraged its experience in banking, lending and software development to provide clients with quality software solutions and excellent support services. Today, the Nortridge Loan System is valued by loan servicing companies representing a wide range of industries and loan portfolio sizes. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Calif. For more information, visit: http://www.nortridge.com. About Solutions by Text Solutions by Text (SBT) is a division of Marketing Response Solutions, a full-service consulting firm serving the business community since 1995. Over the past 8 years, Solutions by Text has solidified relationships with a variety of organizations in multiple industries to design and implement a diverse proprietary software designed to adhere to regulations within the mobile industry. For more information, visit http://www.solutionsbytext.com. Jack Sandlin, candidate for State Senate District 36, disputes claims made in a recent ad campaign distributed by the Marion County Republican Party. The mailing and phone campaign charges that Sandlin is a career politician with conflicts of interest. "Nothing could be further from the truth," Sandlin states, "When you contrast my decades in law enforcement and security with my part-time positions as Perry Township Trustee and Indianapolis City-County Councillor, it becomes very clear that I am a career public servant, not a career politician. These are nothing but attack ads." Sandlin states he is offended by claims that he has had conflicts of interest in the past, "In my law-enforcement career, as well as my elected positions, I've always been a true public servant. I always vote my conscience, and I always speak my mind. I work hard to prioritize the best interests of those I represent, rather than my own, and I take offense to any claims otherwise." With the primary days away, Sandlin is disappointed with this turn in the campaign. "I'm outraged at how far these ads have gone, including attacking my wife," he explained. "I'm not a rich guy who is trying to buy votes. I'm just a guy from the Southside who has work hard for every penny, who wants to represent the hardworking men and women in his district." Sandlin is a pro-life conservative Republican who has been endorsed by Indiana Right to Life. He owns Jack Sandlin & Associates http://www.indypi.com/, a firm that provides fraud examination, security consulting and private investigation services. His background includes more than 20 years with the Indianapolis Police Department and three years serving on the Federal Drug Task Force. Sandlin is a U.S. Army Veteran and lives on the south side of Indianapolis with his wife, Lydia. They have one daughter and three grandchildren. Share your opinion on the recent actions taken against Jack and his family here: https://www.facebook.com/sandlinforsenate/ SmartVPN.com Protecting your privacy online is only a matter of seconds. The virtual privacy network company Anonymous Inc. announced the immediate availability of their new, eco-friendly website at SmartVPN.com, SmartVPN has moved from physical to virtual servers, helping customers leave less of a carbon footprint while also ensuring even more security. SmartVPN has rebranded, but still provides a very high privacy on the Internet. Positive Customer Impact Many customers have already benefited from utilizing the new website, which still provides a very high level of security for as little as $2.99 a month. New users to the website will be able use it with a 7-day money back guarantee, no questions asked, ensuring only the highest level of customer satisfaction. SmartVPN has also introduced a new dedicated package that provides customers with a dedicated IP address that can follow you no matter where you are. The New Website Availability As the Internet has become more dangerous, especially with the increased availability of Wifi and Hotspots, security has become a concern for everyone. SmartVPNs new website is an update driven by customer feedback and is part of SmartVPNs commitment to deliver the latest security options, still in one convenient location. The company will also soon be launching VPN Clients for iOS and Android in addition to their existing Windows and MacOS applications based on OpenVPN using 256 AES encryption, as well as enrolling new protocols, which include IPSec and IKEv2 whereas PPTP and L2TP are still provided. SmartVPNs new website is available for immediate use at http://www.SmartVPN.com Krishna Chintam, Co-founder and Managing Director, Kellton Tech Krishna Chintam, Co-founder and Managing Director, Kellton Tech said: Ireland is home to one of Europes best multilingual, tech talent pool and will act as our springboard to make inroads into the European market and beyond. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today announced that Kellton Tech Solutions Limited, a global IT company is to establish its EMEA headquarters in Drogheda, Co. Louth, creating 100 jobs over five years. The development is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation through IDA Ireland. Kellton Tech enables businesses to make the digital leap through its broad range of IT offerings with particular focus on ISMAC (Internet of Things, Social, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud) and ERP-EAI (Enterprise Resource Planning & Enterprise Application Integration). By continuously enriching its expertise in cutting-edge technologies over the years, Kellton Tech has solidly positioned itself as a leading enabler of digital transformation. The Irish headquarters will be the heart of Kellton Techs operations in EMEA region, bringing it closer to customers and fortifying its global presence. The office will also house an R&D facility to facilitate the localisation of its flagship product KLGAME that earned the company much appreciation everywhere it was showcased; KLGAME is an IoT uptake using beacons, wearables, smartphones and other digital technologies for revolutionary applications. Making the announcement today, Minister Bruton said: At the heart of our jobs plan is our determination to accelerate job-creation in cities, towns and villages across the country, and that is why we have put in place the regional jobs plans. Todays announcement by Kellton Tech that it is establishing its EMEA HQ in Drogheda, and creating 100 extra jobs is a major boost for the North East and for our regional plans generally. I wish Krishna and his team every success with this project. Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash said: I am delighted to welcome Kellton Tech to my home town. It is great news for Drogheda and the wider county that the company has decided to base its EMEA headquarters here and will bring a welcome 100 jobs boost to the area. I have no doubt that our skilled workforce and location has helped in Kellton Techs choice to base itself here, joining a growing number of digital and technology companies in Louth. I hope this is the start of a long and successful relationship for Krishna and his team. Expressing his delight at the announcement, Krishna Chintam, Co-founder and Managing Director, Kellton Tech, said: Ireland is home to one of Europes best multilingual, tech talent pool and will act as our springboard to make inroads into the European market and beyond. As a pioneer of digital transformation, we are the market leaders in India with strong penetration in US. We are happy to extend our expertise to the EMEA market with Ireland as our base. We believe that this region is poised to emerge as our largest revenue-contributor outside of US. Explaining further, Karanjit Singh, CEO, Kellton Tech, said: Given that the US region contributes substantially to our revenue, the Ireland office will also be best-equipped to support US operations. The language edge and time-difference makes Ireland a highly advantageous proposition for technical support, sales-enablement and accounting. We foresee a huge step-up in our hiring in near-term to support our ambitious growth plans. CEO of IDA Ireland, Martin Shanahan said: This is a very important and welcome investment by Kellton Tech in a regional location with substantial local economic benefit. Kellton Techs decision to create this major hub for its global operations in Drogheda is a strong endorsement of the North East Region. I wish Krishna and his team every success with their operations here. For more information about the roles email gerard.eivers(at)kelltontech(dot)com. About Kellton Tech Solutions Ltd. Kellton Tech Solutions Limited is a public listed (BSE& NSE: KELLTONTEC), CMMi Level 3 and ISO 9001:2008 certified global IT services organization. It is headquartered in Hyderabad, India and has development centers in the United States, Europe and India. For two innovative decades, Kellton Tech has put into practice the vision upon which it was founded viz. "to offer infinite possibilities with technology". The company is committed to providing end-to-end IT solutions, strategic technology consulting, and offshore product development services. Kellton Tech serves the full gamut of customers including startups, SMBs, enterprises, and Fortune 500 businesses. The organization has serviced customers representing a wide range of verticals including retail, travel, e-commerce, education, hospitality, advertising, market research, manufacturing, consumer goods, logistics, SCM, and non-profits. Kellton Tech is also a global leader in providing Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Mobile Application Development, Enterprise Solutions & Internet of Things. Sorin Nastasia, SIUE director of international studies program. knowledge and skills related to international contexts and practices are key across many workplace settings The Illinois Board of Higher Education has recently been approved a new undergraduate degree in international studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to begin in fall 2016. The Bachelor of Arts in international studies, offered by the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), will focus on the complex social, political, economic and cultural interrelations that exist among nations and regions of our increasingly globalized world, according to Sorin Nastasia, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies and director of the new international studies program. In our increasingly globalized world, knowledge and skills related to international contexts and practices are key across many workplace settings, Nastasia said. In the past 10 years, there have been hundreds of thousands of export-related jobs and employment opportunities with foreign firms in the St. Louis metro area and across Illinois. The bachelors in international studies will prepare graduates for many positions in diplomacy or with non-profits, governmental organizations and businesses. CAS Dean Greg Budzban expressed his excitement for the launch of the international studies program, There are so many different areas where this degree would be useful. He also noted the many workplace settings in which students of this program may find employment upon graduation, including foreign service, foreign aid, U.S. government agencies, international intergovernmental organizations or international trade. Budzban said. The major will offer three concentration areas: international relations and diplomacy; international arts, culture and communication; and international development and sustainability. As part of a program committed to global perspectives, students will be required to complete two levels of foreign language, participate in at least six credit hours of study abroad experience, and complete a senior assignment with an international focus. The degree can be customized and tailored to encompass the interests and career goals of each individual, Nastasia said. The interdisciplinary program will require students to complete four core courses. Students may also choose from an array of electives offered across academic areas of CAS, including: Anthropology Applied Communication Studies Art and Design Economics English Language and Literature Foreign Languages and Literature Geography Historical Studies International Studies Interdisciplinary Studies Mass Communications Philosophy Political Science Theater and Dance Additional major electives from criminal justice studies, environmental sciences, public administration and policy analysis, social work and sociology are in the process of being added. An internship with an international focus and an independent project with an international focus are not required, but highly encouraged as major electives. With the first classes beginning in fall 2016, students may apply to the program by visiting siue.edu/apply. For more information, contact the SIUE Office of Admissions at 618-650-3705 or 800-447-SIUE. Central to SIUEs exceptional and comprehensive education, the College of Arts and Sciences has 19 departments and 85 areas of study. More than 300 full-time faculty/instructors deliver classes to more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Faculty help students explore diverse ideas and experiences, while learning to think and live as fulfilled, productive members of the global community. Study abroad, service-learning, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities better prepare SIUE students not only to succeed in our region's workplaces, but also to become valuable leaders who make important contributions to our communities. Stanley Consultants Project Manager Martin Weber accepts the award from MSPE Executive Director Mary Detloff The Coon Rapids Dam rehabilitation project is one of the largest infrastructure projects that has been constructed by the Minnesota DNR. Kim W. Waldorf, Minnesota DNR Project Manager The transformation of the Coon Rapids Dam into a physical barrier against the migration of Invasive Carp received the 2016 Exceptional Engineering Award from the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE). The $16 million rehabilitation was designed by Stanley Consultants, a global consulting engineering firm with decades of experience at Coon Rapids Dam. The award was presented by Mary Detloff, Executive Director of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers, at the April Board of Commissioners Meeting of the Three Rivers Park District. Awarded for the first time, the MSPE Exceptional Engineering Award recognizes the project for its exceptional engineering, including new/advanced engineering techniques; project impact on the publics health, safety and welfare; and economic benefit. This award joins a Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota, and a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies. Coon Rapids Dam is located on the Mississippi River in Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Owned and operated by the Three Rivers Park District, the dam is Minnesotas primary fortification against the upstream migration of Invasive Carp. The project was funded with a $16 million appropriation from Minnesota State Legislature to the Minnesota DNR. The dam was rehabilitated into a physical barrier that prevents fish from swimming or jumping past the dam into the upstream pool. A new full-operation, top discharging steel crest gate system maximizes the elevation difference between the upstream and downstream water levels. The greater the distance the more effective the fish barrier. The gates maintain precise upstream water levels while maximizing the height between upstream and downstream water levels. Nine gates installed along the length of the 1,000-foot-long dam allow more water to pass during high flows with minimal gate lowering. The Coon Rapids Dam rehabilitation project is one of the largest infrastructure projects that has been constructed by the Minnesota DNR, said Kim W. Waldorf, Minnesota DNR Project Manager. Its probably the most economical project we could have done, considering that the dam and gates should have a longevity of approximately 50 years. # About Stanley Consultants: Founded in 1913, Stanley Consultants is a global consulting engineering firm that provides program management, planning, engineering, environmental and construction services worldwide. Recognized for its commitment to client service and a passion to make a difference, Stanley Consultants brings global knowledge, experience and capabilities to serve clients in the energy, water, transportation and Federal markets. Since 1913, Stanley Consultants has successfully completed more than 25,000 engagements in all 50 states, U.S. territories, and in 110 countries. For more information on Stanley Consultants, please visit http://www.stanleyconsultants.com. Details added (first version posted on 11:13) Barda, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Armenian armed forces have shelled Azerbaijani settlements from the occupied territories as a result of which two people were killed and several more got injured, Trend's correspondent reported Apr.29. Currently, three people, injured as a result of the Armenian shelling on the night of Apr.28, are receiving treatment in the diagnostic and treatment center in Azerbaijan's Barda city. Two of them - Zahid Rahimov and Anar Abdullayev - are the residents of Chemenli village, while one of them - Elgiz Garayev - is from the village of Garadaghli. The injured have shrapnel wounds, traumatic brain injuries and concussions as a result of the mine explosions, the surgeon of the diagnostic and treatment center Eldar Ahmadov told reporters. A group of foreign journalists accredited in Azerbaijan and local media representatives will become familiar with the situation on the line of contact and the facts of Armenian vandalism on Apr.29. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Watch the Jive05 car in the ARCA and NASCAR Xfinity Series. We are pleased to welcome Jive to the ARCA Family of corporate partners, said Mark Gundrum, Vice President of Business Development and Corporate Partnerships for ARCA. We look forward to promoting their products throughout the 2016 season and beyond. Officials from Jive Communications, Inc. announced today that the international communications company has entered into a multi-faceted motorsports marketing program for the 2016 Racing Season. The announcement took place at the Talladega Superspeedway during the ARCA and NASCAR weekend activities. We are pleased to announce today a partnership with the Athenian Motorsports team and driver John Wes Townley for primary sponsorship of both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, said John Pope, CEO of Jive Communications. Were excited and grateful to begin our association with racing with these prominent brands and franchises. Jive will serve as primary sponsors of the Athenian Motorsports #05 Chevrolets for the NASCAR Xfinity Series events in Talladega on Saturday, April 30, and on July 1 in Daytona. The 12-race ARCA program will debut during todays General Tire 200 at Talladega. Jive will also serve as an associate sponsor on the No. 05 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. I turned my very first laps in ARCA and NASCAR in 2008, and I can tell you, this is the most excited Ive been about racing, said the 26-year-old Townley, a two-time Daytona ARCA race winner and the current ARCA points leader heading into todays General Tire 200 at Talladega. Jive is a company based in Utah that is entirely new to the motorsports platform. I feel like Athenian Motorsports and I are well-positioned to bring Jive some spectacular results on a regular basis in both ARCA and NASCAR. The timing of this deal is perfect. Were delighted that Jive will be along for the ride. Im confident this is going to be a great relationship. Brian Moore, VP of Sales for Jive Communications, addressed Jives additional involvement for 2016. In addition to the team sponsorship, were delighted to announce that Jive is joining ARCA as the Official Communications Sponsor for the 2016 season, said Brian. We will serve as the presenting sponsor for a pair of ARCA events on this years scheduleat Lucas Oil Raceway on July 22, and the Illinois State Fair event on August 21. Both the Lucas Oil Raceway and Illinois State Fair events will be promoted by Track Enterprises. The ARCA Sponsorship will include per-race and year-end contingency awards for the race teams, in addition to the Series sponsorship. We are pleased to welcome Jive to the ARCA Family of corporate partners, said Mark Gundrum, Vice President of Business Development and Corporate Partnerships for ARCA. We look forward to promoting their products throughout the 2016 season and beyond. About Jive Communications Jive Communications, Inc. provides enterprise-grade Hosted VoIP and Unified Communications to businesses and institutions across the globe. Jive's hosted services include Jive Voice (Hosted PBX), Jive Contact Center, and Jive Video, which all run on Jive Cloud, a distributed platform built on open industry standards. Jive has been purpose-built to deliver the most reliable, powerful and economical hosted communication services available to the enterprise and public sector markets. Learn more at jive.com/tour. About Athenian Motorsports In July 2014, Athenian Motorsports began operating out of a new, state-of-the-art, 43,000-square-foot facility in Concord, N.C. The team scored its first NASCAR victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October 2015. In 2016, the team is fielding entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. AMS is also fielding a car in the three NASCAR Xfinity Series races at Daytona and Talladega. About Track Enterprises Track Enterprises is a racing promotion company based in Macon, Ill., that oversees Macon Speedway, Lincoln Speedway, Terre Haute Action Track, and hosts a number of ARCA, USAC, UMP, POWRi, WOOLM, and other top events throughout the Midwest. Track Enterprises info can be found online at http://www.trackenterprises.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/TrackEnterprises. About ARCA The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is among the leading auto racing sanctioning bodies in the country. Founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum, the organization administers more than 100 events each year in multiple racing series, including the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour, plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) recently released fertility clinic data for 2014. Each year, reproductive endocrinologists are required to report in vitro fertilization (IVF) delivery rates to both the CDC and SART, the main organization of professionals dedicated to the practice of assisted reproductive technologies in the United States. This year, SARTs report includes expanded information in a new format, making it easier to evaluate the full meaning of fertility success rates. For example, it now breaks out success rates into primary, secondary, and total embryo transfer attempts. Among the 20 busiest fertility clinics in the U.S., in 2014 Pacific Fertility Clinic (PFC) reported very low twin and triplet rates and low pre-term and very pre-term delivery rates, while simultaneously maintaining excellent pregnancy and delivery rates. For patients using their own eggs, PFCs cumulative outcome per retrieval data showed a twin rate of just 2.3 percent for women under age 35, 3.4 percent for women 3537, and 1.4 percent for women 3840. These rates are much lower than the national average of 11.7 percent, 8.1 percent, and 4.1 percent for the same respective age groups. With the exception of 1.1 percent for women 4142, PFCs rates for triplets and other higher order multiples was zero in 2014 for cumulative outcome per retrieval. This lower twin and triplet trend is also improving nationwide. In 2014, 78 percent of babies born to parents undergoing fertility treatment in the U.S. were singletons, an increase of 3.5 percent since 2013. However, only 22 to 31 percent elected to have a single embryo transferred. By contrast, PFC strongly encourages elective single embryo transfer (eSET) and, when combined with pre-implantation genetic screening and diagnosis, its pregnancy and delivery success rates remain high. PFC continues to focus on building families one healthy baby at a time, and its numbers are a clear reflection of this forward-thinking philosophy. View PFCs full 2014 Clinic Summary Report here and the National Summary Report here. About Pacific Fertility Center Pacific Fertility Center is an international destination for male and female fertility treatment and care. It provides an extensive array of fertility treatment options ranging from intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) to cutting-edge technology such as vitrification and genetic testing of embryos. For more information: http://www.pacificfertilitycenter.com. ### Media Contact Renee H. Scudder, MS 415-249-3662 scudder(at)pacificfertility(dot)com Pacific Fertility Center 55 Francisco Street, Fifth Floor San Francisco, CA 94133 Indy Liu at Campaign Asia Awards Reception in Shanghai Here at FansTang, we believe excellent content happens when brand identity and message are seamlessly integrated into the content itself. Indy Liu, China President of FansTang, Chinas top Hollywood content provider, has been named to Campaign Asia-Pacifics Digital A-List 2016. Im honored to be named amongst other distinguished nominees, said Liu. Here at FansTang, we believe excellent content happens when brand identity and message are seamlessly integrated into the content itself. And this is the content that will resonate with the audience on an emotional level. Liu joined FansTang in 2014 as business development director and was promoted to president of China operations in 2015. In his current role, Liu overseas all aspects of FansTangs China operations, heading a team that developed and produced Chinas most watched Hollywood news program, as well as localized and streamed over 40 major awards shows and other live events in China. The team also created an award-winning, branded-content web series for Coca-Cola Chinas 2015 summer marketing campaign, which starred Western celebrities in viral videos. Liu and his team leveraged data analytics and production capabilities, talent partnerships and a multi-platform social-media ecosystem of over 128 million followers, to produce exceptional results without an additional media buy. The campaign won gold at The Great Wall Award and The Chinese Element International Creative Award during the 22nd China International Advertising Festival in 2015. FansTang CEO Adam Roseman commented, We would like to congratulate Indy on this fantastic news. He joined us with great expertise in digital content creation and localization strategy. With the substantial increase in our self-produced and licensed content portfolio, continued refinement and growth in our China operations will be crucial to our business unique position in one the worlds largest digital content consumer markets. About FansTang FansTang, wholly owned by China Branding Group Limited, is the largest provider of localized international live events content, social media content, and non-studio Hollywood and related video content into the China marketplace. FansTang also maintains the most robust international content data platform that services a growing portfolio of major clients including studios, Hollywood agencies, international ad agencies and brands. For additional information, please visit http://www.fanstang.com After a five year legal battle, the Colorado Court of Appeals has ruled that homeowners at the Landmark Towers high-rise condominiums will receive refunds of property taxes paid to the Marin Metropolitan District dating back to 2009 (Court of Appeals Nos. 14CA2099 & 14CA2463). The homeowners at the Landmark have been represented by Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C. since the beginning of this lawsuit. This decision by the Court of Appeals represents a real victory for taxpayers, said Brian K. Matise, lead counsel for the homeowners. We are happy to have obtained this result for our clients. The Colorado Court of Appeals determined that the property taxes were levied without the Landmark homeowners approval, a violation of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR). Additionally, it also held that the TABOR election was held under false pretenses. These decisions upheld the determination of the trial court, rendered in 2014. This decision will return real money to these homeowners, said David P. Hersh, co-counsel on this matter. Pursuant to TABORs refund provision, the District must refund all illegal taxes paid with ten percent annual simple interest. Based on the State of Colorado public filings, the Marin Metropolitan District illegally collected $3,723,503 in property taxes from 2009 through 2013. With interest, the total refund obligation is expected to exceed $5 million. Created in 2007, the Marin Metropolitan District was developed to help finance a new subdivision to the south of the Landmark development. Including two condominium buildings and a retail center, The Landmark sits on 15 acres at East Berry Avenue and Interstate 25 in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The Landmark homeowners have been represented by Brian K. Matise, David P. Hersh, Diane Vaksdal Smith, and Nelson Boyle of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C. throughout the life of this action. During a two day program for start-up companies on addressing the necessary fundamentals to transform technology into a viable company, CereScans CEO, John Kelley, joined other Denver business leaders in providing business basics to enable growth. Mr. Kelley, a recognized leader and mentor in the Denver area business community, shared his top fundamental learnings in building an effective, high caliber management team, and paralleled common traits of great managers and great leaders. It was Mr. Kelleys fourth appearance at the event, which connects experienced entrepreneurs in the community with emerging bioscience technology companies. Attendees were afforded a rare opportunity to learn from leaders in the industry while gathering valuable insight on the basics of assembling and growing the right team, company financing and valuation, and protecting intellectual property and technology rights, to name a few topics covered during the sessions. One of the most gratifying aspects to achieving success over time in business is the opportunity to assist others who are trekking on the same paths, said John Kelley. To be invited to speak to companies in the initial stages of development is an honor, and to help them become more successful by avoiding the pitfalls I encountered is certainly gratifying. CereScan is the nations leader in providing statistically measured brain diagnostics based on a new generation of imaging software, PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography) and SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) neuroimaging technologies. Referring and treating medical experts can rely on CereScan to offer differentiated diagnoses on a wide array of brain-based disorders including: Traumatic Brain Injury Toxic Brain Injury Alzheimers Disease Mild Cognitive Impairment Other Dementias Parkinsons Disease Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Bipolar Disorder ADD/ADHD Anxiety Disorder About CereScan CereScan combines state-of-the-art SPECT and PET/CT brain imaging technologies with a patient centered model of care to provide the highest level of neurodiagnostics anywhere. Using quantitative functional brain imaging, advanced imaging software, and an extensive library of clinical data, the CereScan medical team provides physicians with unmatched objective diagnostic information. CereScan helps patients and their physicians better understand the neurological basis of their conditions. In a variety of legal settings, CereScan provides objective evidence to attorneys and their clients regarding traumatic and toxic brain injuries. For researchers, CereScan provides independent pre- and post-treatment measures of organic changes in the brain along with measures of symptoms related to the brain disorder of interest. For more information, please call (866) 722-4806 or visit http://www.CereScan.com. About CO Impact Days and Initiative CO Impact Days is the first of its kind effort to create a statewide marketplace for impact investing; identifying, connecting, and celebrating Colorado's top social ventures and impact investors from the Western Slope to the Front Range. CO Impact Days will to bring together Colorados top 60 social ventures, 200 impact investors, and 500+ community members to Learn. Connect. Invest. For more information or tickets, visit http://www.coimpactdays.org or contact Molly at molly(at)coimpactdays(dot)org. CO Impact Initiative, created by the Impact Finance Center and led by Dr. Stephanie Gripne and a steering committee of community leaders is a 3-year strategy to elevate and accelerate impact investing in Colorado, catalyzing the flow of $100 million in investment capital into Colorado social ventures that deliver positive impact on the states communities, economy and natural environment. We see tremendous growth opportunities for Amendia, commented Chris Anderson, Partner of Kohlberg & Company. Amendia, Inc., a leading designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices used in spinal surgical procedures, today announced the completion of a significant transaction and partnership that positions Amendia for accelerated growth and an enhanced value proposition for current and future customers and partners. Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. (Kohlberg), a leading private equity firm specializing in middle market investing, has acquired majority ownership of the Company and intends to support Amendias growth initiatives from its $1.6 billion private equity fund, Kohlberg Investors VII. As part of the transaction, Amendia has expanded its senior management team to include several experienced executives, including three spine industry veterans: Chris Fair, who has joined Amendia as Chief Operating Officer and a member of its Board of Directors; Larry Boyd, PhD, who has joined Amendia as Executive Vice President, Research & Development; and Scott Bruder, MD, PhD, a Kohlberg strategic advisor who has joined Amendias Board of Directors and Executive Committee. We are thrilled with our new partners and the resources they bring to the Amendia organization, stated Jeff Smith, Amendia founder & CEO. Kohlberg & Companys reputation of investment success along with a track record of fostering world-class operational performance makes them the ideal partner to help implement our plans for strategic growth. Chris Fair has been a trusted advisor to Amendia for many years, and together with Scott Bruder and Larry Boyd we are adding more than six decades of world-class spine industry experience to our management team. The Amendia team and I look forward to working closely with our new partners to take our company to new heights. Amendia has carefully and steadily grown organically and through thoughtful M&A to become one of the premier growth companies offering a complete suite of products that meet the needs of surgeons and their patients, commented Chris Fair, Amendias Chief Operating Officer, whose experience includes a decade at DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson Company and leading Sales & Marketing at St. Francis Medical prior to their acquisition by Kyphon. I am excited to be joining Jeff Smith, Tim Lusby and their team of professionals at Amendia, and I look forward to helping the company expand its footprint, add resources, and build value for all customers and partners. The solid foundation already in place at Amendia is a distinguishing characteristic that gives this platform so much potential, added Scott Bruder, MD, PhD, who previously served as Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of Stryker, Chief Science and Technology Officer of BD, and as a Worldwide Vice President at DePuy, alongside Chris Fair. Im very enthusiastic about helping to pave the way for success in the evolving landscape of spine care by providing clinically meaningful innovations that improve patient outcomes. Amendia, headquartered in Marietta, GA, operates from an integrated design and manufacturing facility, offering a full suite of products to address the deformity and degenerative market segments, as well as minimally invasive and biologic solutions to treat even the most challenging cases. The company markets and sells its products through direct sales employees, independent agencies, and distributor partners. We see tremendous growth opportunities for Amendia, commented Chris Anderson, Partner of Kohlberg & Company. Through its broad portfolio of innovative products and intellectual property, scalable operational infrastructure, and continued dedication to its mission to exceed surgeon and patient expectations, Amendia is uniquely positioned to serve the growing demands of the spinal surgery marketplace in the US and beyond. About Amendia Headquartered in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Marietta, GA, Amendia is a leading designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices used in spinal surgical procedures. Amendias mission is to exceed surgeon and patient expectations by creating balanced solutions with disruptive technologies for medical devices paired with biologics and instrumentation. Amendias vertically-integrated strategy focuses on improving surgical outcomes and the lives of patients with spinal disorders. For more information, please visit http://www.amendia.com. About Kohlberg & Company Kohlberg & Company is a leading private equity firm headquartered in Mount Kisco, New York. Since its inception in 1987, Kohlberg has organized seven private equity funds, through which it has raised over $5 billion of committed equity capital. Over its 29-year history, Kohlberg has completed 66 platform investments and over 140 add-on acquisitions, with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $10 billion. For more information, please visit http://www.kohlberg.com. Media contact: Nikki Coleman, VP-Marketing & Education Amendia, Inc. 770-575-5237 ncoleman@amendia.com Hydro Dynamic, Inc. (HDI) celebrated several employee anniversaries during a ceremony on April 22, 2016. Several employees with 10+ and 15+ years of service were recognized. Added together the HDI team can now claim over 100 years of cavitation experience. This experience pairs well with accomplishing HDIs mission statement: To develop and implement cavitation technology across multiple industries, processes and nations allowing our customers to operate more efficiently and profitably. We will be globally recognized as the leader in cavitation technology with our ability to match cavitation solutions to customer needs." HDI is a world leader in cavitation expertise and utilizes its experience coupled with its ShockWave Power Reactor technology in numerous industries and applications. The combination of technology and knowledge allows HDI to solve complex problems allowing customers to save money while often running more efficiently with less environmental impact. About Hydro Dynamics Hydro Dynamics, Inc. is located in Rome, Georgia and is the developer and manufacturer of the cavitation based ShockWave Power Reactor (SPR). The SPR equipment uses the physical phenomenon of cavitation, normally known as destructive force, and harnesses it to solve critical industrial mixing, extraction and heating problems. The SPR can now be found on four continents in applications ranging from biodiesel production to hops extraction for beer. Learn more at: http://www.hydrodynamics.com. When I came across my fathers letters, sharing them seemed like a great opportunity to provide a chance for others to improve their future by viewing the past. Imagine being an 18-year-old off at war. Now picture yourself at that age as a Merchant Marine Corps sailor during the height of World War II. For Frank B. Bradshaw Jr., that was reality, and now others can live it alongside him through the release of his personal letters. Forty-Five Letters from a World War II Sailor is Bradshaws first-hand account of deployment. Edited by his son, Robert W. Bradshaw, this compilation of letters provides unique insight into life during the mid-1940s. Written between 1944 and 1946, the letters are primarily addressed to Franks parents and span a variety of topics from daily life on a cargo ship to a cold-blooded slaughter in the Ukraine. My father served at a very dangerous time when mariners died at a rate of one in 24. I think it must have been therapeutic for him to write the letters and for his family to receive continuous news of his well-being, Robert Bradshaw said. Beyond detailing life during World War II, the letters also showcase the impact hard work, honesty, education, and fiscal responsibility can have on achieving ones dreams. I have always been struck by Winston Churchills axiom the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see. When I came across my fathers letters, sharing them seemed like a great opportunity to provide a chance for others to improve their future by viewing the past, Robert Bradshaw said. Be it motivation to chase a dream or a deepened appreciation for members of the United States military, Forty-Five Letters from a World War II Sailor will provide readers with far more than a simple lesson in world history. For more information, visit http://www.fortyfiveletters.com. Forty-Five Letters from a World War II Sailor Edited by Robert W. Bradshaw ISBN: 978-1-4917-7185-3 Available in softcover Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AuthorHouse About the editor Robert W. Bradshaw served in the United States Army as a communications officer for a long range surveillance unit. He currently resides with his family in Atlanta, Ga where he is the President of Central Asset Management. # # # **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** For review copies, contact: Jessica Wenclewicz 317.602.7137 jwenclewicz(at)bohlsengroup(dot)com NFI, a leading supply chain solutions provider, will participate in the Transportation and Logistics Council Annual Conference, May 2 through May 4, 2016, with executives in various sessions and panels. NFIs Senior Vice President of Integrated Solutions, David Broering, and Senior Vice President of Intermodal, Don Aiken, will represent the company. Broering will serve as a panelist in Law of the Land, Law of the Jungle, discussing transportation law in business. He is also a panelist on Intermediaries Protecting Your Interests, discussing current issues involving brokers, freight forwarders, and 3PLs. In addition, he will moderate the Transportation of Food and Drugs panel, taking a look at new laws and regulations such as the Food Safety Modernization Act and Sanitary Food Transportation Act. Aiken will also be a panelist on the Transportation of Food and Drugs session. Attendees will receive a well-rounded perspective of major topics and trends affecting the transportation industry, said Broering. The T&LC Conference presents a great opportunity to discuss best practices and obtain insights on how to manage the evolving supply chain landscape. NFIs extensive transportation experience spans brokerage, transportation management, intermodal, dedicated trucking, drayage, and international transportation. NFI works to address customer needs in a safe, effective, and efficient manner providing logistics solutions. Our consultative approach to transportation delivers engineered solutions tailored to achieve customer supply chain goals. The 42nd annual conference takes place May 2, 2016 through May 4, 2016 at the Crown Plaza Albuquerque, New Mexico. # # # About NFI -- NFI is a fully integrated supply chain solutions provider headquartered in Cherry Hill, NJ. Privately held by the Brown family since its inception in 1932, NFI generates more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 8,000 associates. NFI owns facilities globally and operates 27.5 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space. Its company-owned fleet consists of over 2,300 tractors and 8,800 trailers, operated by more than 2,600 company drivers and 250 owner operators. Its business lines include dedicated transportation, warehousing, intermodal, brokerage, transportation management, global, and real estate services. For more information about NFI, visit http://www.nfiindustries.com or call 1-877-NFI-3777. The UNCF Fort Wayne Leadership Council will hold its inaugural Fort Wayne Mayors Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. May 18 at the Indiana Tech Law School. Hosted by Mayor Tom Henry, the event will be attended by business, civic and education leaders in support of UNCFs work in providing Fort Wayne students the resources to get to and through college. Chris Cathcart, vice chancellor of student affairs at Ivy Tech Community College-Fort Wayne, will deliver the keynote address. UNCF is proud of the partnerships that raises awareness and bring us together with stakeholders whose commitment is critical in our work, said Andrea Neely, regional development director. The commitment of Mayor Henry and members of UNCF Fort Wayne Leadership Council in investing in Better Futures is admirable and pays dividends when they become the next generation of leaders. The city of Fort Wayne is committed to being a leader in providing opportunities for students to succeed, Henry said. Were looking forward to being part of the upcoming breakfast to highlight the positive momentum and investments were experiencing in our community. Formed in 2007, UNCFs Fort Wayne Leadership Council has awarded more than 60 scholarships and raised more than $160,000 in support of Fort Wayne and Allen County students. This event provides an opportunity to help demonstrate our commitment to support our local students here in Fort Wayne and the importance of equal access to higher education for our students, said Brad Stiles, UNCF Fort Wayne Leadership Council chair. Sponsors of the Fort Wayne Mayors Breakfast are Parkview Health, Questa Foundation for Education and Indiana Tech Law School. To purchase individual tickets, which are $35, or for sponsorship information, please contact 260.427.2668/april.rivas(at)cityoffortwayne(dot)org or 317.283.3920/mekeemba.lomax(at)uncf(dot)org. Follow this event @uncf, @IndyUNCF @mayortomhenry, @cityoffortwayne #UNCF ### About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark: A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more atUNCF.org, or for continuous news and updates, follow UNCF on Twitter, @UNCF Baku, Azerbaijan, April 29 By Anakhanum Hidayatova - Trend: Armenia will suffer itself if the negotiation process on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is suspended, Ariel Cohen, senior fellow, Atlantic Council, founder of International Market Analysis Ltd., director of the Center for Energy, Natural Resources and Geopolitics, senior fellow at the Institute for Analysis of Global Security, told Trend. Cohen was commenting on Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's recent statement on the country's refusal from the negotiation process. The expert stressed that it is Armenia that will lose the economic development horizon, foreign investment and will suffer from continuing emigration as a result of the unresolved conflict. The expert said that the Armenian president's recent statement is extremely unfortunate. "This step by President Sargsyan would increase Russia's clout in South Caucasus," the expert added. "Moreover, it would increase potential the Iranian involvement, as Tehran is the ally of Yerevan." Cohen said that however, the destruction of the peace process opens the door to the increased military confrontation with very negative results to peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "The US, Russia and the EU have a duty to get the sides to resume the diplomatic process," the expert stressed. The expert said that the governments of both Armenia and Azerbaijan have to finally get to the negotiating table. Cohen added that any other alternative is much worse. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. 2015 Class X Winner Kyle Bell (Thlopthlocco Tribal Town) for his Documentary Short Native Evolution. Phil Karshis We are proud to have the opportunity to show award-winning films from Indian Country to national and international audiences during Santa Fe Indian Market, says Ms. Myers. Six years ago Class X was added as a juried category to the 95-year-old Santa Fe Indian Market, and SWAIA has seen a substantial increase in the quantity and quality of submissions in that time period. Native filmmakers can submit films in the following categories: Narrative Short (fiction), Animation Short, Music Video, Full length Feature, Documentary Short (nonfiction), Youth Short (in three age groups), and Experimental Short (new creative uses of film/video; techniques, and form). The Sundance Institute, under its Native American and Indigenous Initiative, will return as the awards sponsor for all three age groups in the Youth Shorts competition. A panel of esteemed film professionals decides winners in each category who are then eligible for Best of Classification, as well as Best of Show awards. The awards recognize an artists dedication and skill while retaining a commitment to traditional narratives and techniques. This years Class X applications are available online at http://swaia.org/Exhibitors/Class_X__Moving_Images . Submission deadline is June 3, 2016. Jhane Myers (Comanche/Blackfeet) is the Class X Film Manager for SWAIA. Last year we had a record number of entries (48), and we are gearing up to break that record in 2016! We are proud to have the opportunity to show award-winning films from Indian Country to national and international audiences during Santa Fe Indian Market, says Ms. Myers. The public can view the winning films on Friday, August 19, at the Native Cinema Showcase. The Native Cinema Showcase is a collaborative effort between the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and SWAIA. The Showcase presents roughly 5-10 full-length films, plus 50+ shorts (including SWAIAs Class X winners). The majority of the screenings will be held at the New Mexico History Museum, located in downtown Santa Fe. Films will screen beginning Tuesday, August 16, through Sunday, August 21, 2016. All screenings are free to the public with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Many Class X winners have gone on to make notable contributions, including the following alumni from 2015: Isabelles Garden by Jeffrey Palmer (Kiowa) (winner of Best Narrative Short): Winner of the Bill and Melinda Gates Short Film Challenge on World Poverty and Hunger at Sundance Film Festival. Jeffrey is directing an upcoming American Masters segment on PBS about N. Scott Momaday Jonathan Thunder (Chippewa/Ojibwe), winner of the Animation Short and Experimental Short categories, was recently awarded an IAIA residency Matthew Martinez (Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) A Thousand Voices (winner in the Youth Short Feature category) was nominated for an Emmy, and has recently been screened on PBS Echota Cheyenne Killsnight (Northern Cheyenne/Keetoowah), who won the Music Video category for True Pride Reality, was recently awarded the American Indian College Fund 2016 Henry Luce Scholarship to direct a documentary on Native college enrollment This years Indian Market takes place August 20-21, 2016 in downtown Santa Fe. For media inquiries, please contact: Audrey Nadia Rubinstein 505 490 5029 Audrey(at)jlhmedia(dot)com ### ABOUT SWAIA: Founded in 1921, The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Inc. (SWAIA) is an advocate for Native American arts and culture. It creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market as the finest Indian art event in the world; cultivating excellence and innovation across traditional and non-traditional art forms; and developing programs and events that support, promote, and honor Native artists year-round. swaia.org Dental Care International Trains Sri Lankan Students in Dental Surgery Assistant Program Dr. Dawn McClellan, an experienced pediatric dentist in Las Vegas, NV, is the co-founder and president of Dental Care International (DCI), a non-profit organization focused in Ecuador and Sri Lanka, with an office location in Las Vegas. Recently, Dr. McClellan led the Sri Lanka Outreach Program. DCI offers a residential Dental Surgery Assistant program to young girls in Sri Lanka as well as a full-time dental clinic in Sri Lanka and mobile outreaches in Ecuador. Through this international outreach program, Dr. McClellan, and the entire DCI team, have been able to provide meaningful education to those who have overcome truly tremendous obstacles. Over the past three years, the DCI team in Sri Lanka has taught, molded and graduated 29 girls who have become successful dental assistants. As a respected pediatric dentist in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. McClellan is pleased to help young girls learn useful skills and gain experience in dental assisting. All of the girls who participate in the program are from childrens homes across Sri Lanka, and most of them have overcome incredible difficulties such as poverty, abuse and war. Students who enroll in the dental assistant training program are sponsored by dentists and friends of DCI in the United States. The program lasts for one year and is a residential course intended to help graduates perform dental assistant duties with confidence. These girls are given an extraordinary opportunity to change their lives and improve their futures by graduating through this program. During Dr. McClellans recent visit to Sri Lanka, she and another board member visited girls at childrens homes and interviewed new candidates for the coming year, which starts in August, 2016. During their visit, they secured externships for their current class as well. Before returning, they were also able to visit their recent graduates on their work sites in clinics, hospitals and private offices. From orphanages to professional dental assistants in one year, these courageous young women are living proof of the success of this remarkable program. As a pediatric dentist in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. McClellan also offers pediatric dentistry services that may be scheduled by calling her practice. Those who would like to learn more about Dental Care International or are interested in offering support for the program are invited to visit their website at http://www.dcare.org. About the Doctor Dental Care International (DCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to dental care and providing dental services to the disadvantaged and neglected areas of the world. DCI was founded by Dr. Dawn McClellan and Mike PeQueen in 2001. DCI offers a one year residential Dental Surgery Assistant (DSA) Training Program near Kandy, Sri Lanka where girls who have survived abuse, neglect, poverty, and tragedy, are afforded an opportunity to receive training and later find work in hospitals and clinics across Sri Lanka. DCI has also made an impact in Cuenca, Ecuador since 2009, where a team of volunteers visit to provide dental services to rural school children. The DCI team is not only helping areas in need internationally, but locally as well, offering comprehensive pediatric dentistry and orthodontic services at their clinic in Las Vegas, NV where they provide increased access to dental care for the underserved and working poor in the community. To learn more about DCI, how to sponsor a student, volunteer or donate, please visit http://www.dcare.org or call (702) 272-1100 for more information. We are so pleased to have so many volunteers join together to help rebuild our communities with repairs to homes and facilities for those who find it difficult to maintain them." Michael Potter, Chair, Rebuilding Together Boston Starting on Wednesday, April 27th, Rebuilding Together Boston (RTB) is celebrating its 25th annual National Rebuilding Days (NRD), the nonprofit announced today. Nearly 350 volunteers and civic leaders will engage in the rehabilitation of nine sites including homes in Hyde Park, Dorchester, and Roslindale as well as the Dorchester YMCA, Dorchester Youth Collaborative, Greater Boston Nazarene Compassionate Center, Greenwood Memorial United Methodist Church, and the Nazareth Residence for Women and Children. National Rebuilding Month is a month-long national call to service during the entire month of April, culminating with National Rebuilding Day, the last Saturday in April. Nearly 20,000 volunteers will serve on over 700 affiliate-led community revitalization projects throughout the month. National Rebuilding Month has been recognized by community leaders and national corporate partners for its immediate and large-scale impact to communities across the country. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are 5.2 million homeowners who live in deteriorating, physically inadequate homes that threaten their wellbeing. The demand for our services grows as homeowners must choose from necessities like food and medicine over critical home repairs. This year, Rebuilding Together Boston will complete nine projects during National Rebuilding Month, bringing together 350 volunteers to serve homeowners and communities in need. Volunteers will come together to make various repairs to the homes and facilities. Beginning at 8:30 am and working until 3:30 PM, tasks will include making home modifications; replacing appliances, windows, insulation, fences, and decks; repairing ceilings, cabinets, decks and gutters; landscaping and yard clean up; and interior and exterior painting. Were especially excited about hosting 34 Lowes employees who participated on April 27th at the home of an elderly couple unable to maintain their Roslindale home. The couple have been in the home since 1997 after renting in various neighborhoods of Boston for three decades. A heart attack in 2008 limited the husbands mobility. His physical limitations combined with the familys social security income mean that they havent been able to keep pace with the needs of their aging home. Last years brutal Boston winter took a toll on the house, severely damaging 10 windows, making the task of home repairs even more daunting. Volunteers from Lowes installed new windows, repaired gutters, fixed the back deck and painted the interior of the home. Rebuilding Month will continue with six projects on Saturday, April 30th, one on Friday May 6th, and one on Wednesday, May 11th. Rebuilding Together Bostons work is made possible by the generosity of our sponsors and their employees including: Booz Allen Hamilton, Citywide Contracting, Comcast, Dr. Fix-It, Gilbane Building Company, Grand Circle Foundation, Honeywell, Imagitas, Kensington Investment Company, Lowes Home Improvement, Pro Teck Valuation Services, SMMA, Starbuck Coffee Company, and Verndale. We are so pleased to have so many volunteers join together to help rebuild our communities with repairs to homes and facilities for those who find it difficult to maintain them. Our focus is on improving the health and safety of Bostons residents, says Michael Potter, chair of the Board of Directors of Rebuilding Together Boston. We very much appreciate the support of our sponsors and volunteers, who make it possible to deliver critical services to our community. Throughout the country, over 2.6 million homeowners live in inadequate housing, often families with young children and limited resources or older adults who can no longer care for their homes, said Caroline Blakely, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. National Rebuilding Month shines a spotlight on the ever-growing need for our services and serves as a call to action to develop programs that ensure every American lives in a safe and healthy home. If interested in partnering with Rebuilding Together Boston or serving as a volunteer, please contact Karen Clay at kclay(at)rebuildintgoetherboston.org. Site Locations and Descriptions are available upon request. About Rebuilding Together Boston: Since its founding in 1991, RTB has completed close to 400 projects with an estimated total value at nearly $7 million and engaged over 20,000 skilled and unskilled volunteers. Recipients are unable to pay for critical repairs because of hardships such as advancing age, medical emergencies, low fixed incomes, or stretched organizational budgets. The organization relies on contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations as well as donated goods and services from local businesses. All work is performed at no charge. RTBs goals are to provide a safe and healthy home for all those served and to improve their quality of life, including their security, warmth and independence. For more information, visit http://rtboston.org/. ### Press Contact: Karen Clay 617.971.0058 kclay(at)rebuildingtogetherboston.org Michael Potter 617.833.9295 mpotter(at)rebuildingtogetherboston.org "The museum is pleased to share this artifact that few people have seen; a treasure used by troops during the Texas Revolution , says Larry Spasic, president. As is frequently the case when a rare and unusual historic artifact gets attention in the media, the public goes searching in their own attics and collections for similar items. Recently, native Texan Tom ONeal learned he owned a previously undocumented Tryon musket that has been in his family for several generations. In the true spirit of a Texas patriot, O'Neal is loaning a prized Tryon flintlock muzzle-loaded musket from 1816 to the San Jacinto Museum of History Association, where it will be on display for free until the end of 2021. Even though 1,500 of these .69-caliber muskets were ordered from Tryon of Philadelphia, only 860 were shipped due to a cholera epidemic in the eastern U.S., and of those, only 321 were ever officially put to use. Research shows the Republic was also suffering financially and could not afford to purchase the remaining 640 muskets; it is unclear if the Republic later fulfilled the contract. In 1841, Republic of Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar proposed that an expedition of traders be sent to Santa Fe accompanied by a volunteer escort guard, who were issued these Tryon muskets. Five companies of infantry and one of artillery accompanied the traders when they left Austin on June 19, 1841. When the expedition reached Santa Fe in September, they were met by armed resistance ordered by New Mexicos Governor Manuel Armijo. The Texians were imprisoned and the New Mexicans probably destroyed many of the muskets, as only a few exist today. The Santa Fe Expedition was the subject of a heated diplomatic controversy between the two nations before most of the prisoners were finally released in April 1842. These 1816 Tryon muskets were made of milled steel finished in a grey patina and a stock made of American Black Walnut. Weighing 10 pounds, they worked with a flint mechanism that fired a charge of black powder and a .69 caliber lead ball. According to historians, they were similar to what David Crockett would have used in the Texas Revolution. ONealwho now lives in Arlington, Texas, but was born and raised in Glen Rose, Texas,credits his son Stephen with the idea to loan the gun to a museum. The family believes the gun belonged to my great, great, great, grandfather Samuel Watkins. Samuel haled from Wales, UK, then fought in the Texas Revolution in the Republic of Texas army and received land grants for his service, says ONeal. I remember the gun hanging on a large wooden beam in my grandfather John W. Noack's basement in Rainbow, Texas, until his passing in 1997. "The museum is pleased to share this artifact that few people have ever seen, so we encourage the public to view this treasure that was actually offered by the Republic to protect the troops during the Texas Revolution , says Larry Spasic, president, San Jacinto Museum of History Association. The firearm will be part of the museums permanent exhibit that is open to the public year-round. In 2011, the San Jacinto Museum exhibited one of what was then considered only five Tryon Model 1816 muskets made for the Republic of Texas in 1840 in a special exhibit. The San Jacinto Museum of History Association was formed 77 years ago in 1938, one year before the San Jacinto Monument opened in 1939. The mission of the Museum remains to collect and preserve significant historical materials which relate to the early Texas history and its culture, and to promote the study of the Texas history through exhibits, publications and educational programs. That is a Texas-sized story to tell, so the Museum Association is in the throes of an expansion plan that will include a new annex and visitors center. The San Jacinto Monument is one of the tallest stone column monuments in the world. The nearly 500-foot elevator ride to the Observation Deck reaches the top, visitors can stand beneath the 220-ton, 34-foot Lone Star of Texasand see the historic battleground of The Battle of San Jacinto, the marshland restoration and boardwalk, the Buffalo Bayou, the busy Houston Ship Channel, the Battleship TEXAS, and many square miles of surrounding area. For a minimal fee, visitors can purchase tickets for the elevator ride to the observation deck, the Texas Forever!! The Battle of San Jacinto digital presentation, San Jacinto Museum of History and its exhibits. For more information about the San Jacinto Museum of History, its attractions and events, please call 281-479-2421, or visit http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org or the museums Facebook page. Dan Duffy, CEO of United Real Estate Group United Real Estate Group, a fast-growing real estate franchise company that operates multiple brands nationwide and in select countries internationally, will be featured on the popular CBS reality series, Undercover Boss. The show will be broadcast at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Friday, May 20. This will be the first time a real estate franchise has been featured on the popular program. United, established in 1925, continues to grow dramatically and be recognized as an innovative leader in unique, specialized real estate marketing. United Real Estate Group operates under two distinct brands, with United Real Estate focusing on urban residential markets and United Country Real Estate focusing on lifestyle and country markets. As United celebrates its 90th anniversary, CEO Dan Duffy was a prime candidate for Undercover Boss as he examines company performance, execution and culture at the local office level. The series has perfected the ability to uncover what is really going on inside some of Americas most iconic companies. In the episode, Duffy worked directly with affiliated real estate agents and auctioneers. With 6,000 affiliated real estate and auction professionals across the U.S., Central America, Mexico and Australia, it is often a challenge to know how services are being delivered to our clients in market and to know each of the amazing individuals that make this organization so successful, Duffy said. The opportunity presented by Undercover Boss was an extraordinary chance to do just that. Undercover Boss, in its seventh season, is a two-time Emmy Award-winning reality series that follows high-level executives as they slip secretly into the rank-and-file of their own organizations. Each week, a different leader anonymously joins a team member and works with them as they do their job, offering insights into the inner workings of their operation. Supporting the needs of the people and communities in which United operates has always been part of our core values at United. This experience reminded me how important it is for companies to not only provide exceptional services to their customers, but also to ensure everyone working with the company is respected and provided the resources to achieve their goals, said Duffy. Undercover Boss provided us a behind-the-scenes view into our 90-year-old brand. The experience was amazing and emotionally powerful. About United Real Estate Group United Real Estate Group, operating the United Country Real Estate and United Real Estate brands, addresses the unique markets they serve, lifestyle, country and urban, with exclusive marketing, technology and training solutions. Together, the United brands support nearly 500 offices and 6,000 real estate professionals across four continents with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes one of the largest portfolios of real estate websites, the largest internal real estate marketing services company, an extensive buyer database of more than 650,000 opt-in buyers, and regional, national and international advertising programs for properties. For more information about United Country Real Estate or United Real Estate, please visit http://www.UnitedCountry.com or http://www.UnitedRealEstate.com. # # # From left: Laysha Ward, Kimberly F. Price, Jacob A. Gayle and Sharon Smith-Akinsanya The Minneapolis UNCF local office will host the fourth Twin Cities Masked Ball on Saturday, May 14, at the Radisson Blu. The sold-out signature event, emceed by actor T. Mychael Rambo, will bring together more than 400 business, civic and education leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCFs president and CEO. Proceeds from the evening will fund the UNCF Twin Cities Hope Scholarship for deserving Minneapolis students, UNCFs member institutions nationwide and the UNCF Campaign for Emergency Student Aid (CESA) to help seniors pay final bills in order to graduate from UNCF member schools. I am thrilled to attend the 4th UNCF Twin Cities Masked Ball to support the critical work UNCF does, Hodges said. UNCF has a rich 72-year history and has raised more than $4.5 billion to support college students of color. Their work is crucial to ensure deserving students have access to high-quality higher education. We value the commitment of Mayor Hodges as we continue the plight in providing quality education for minority students, Lomax said. Together in the Twin Cities, supporters and stakeholders join to invest in Better Futures and forge partnerships that pave the way for the next generation of leaders . . . our dividends. The signature fundraising event will be chaired by Laysha Ward, executive vice president and chief corporate social responsibility officer of Target Corp., and co-chaired by Jacob Gayle, president of Medtronic Foundation and vice president of Philanthropy of Medtronic PLC. Masked Award recipients are Dr. Marcia Halvorsen and Eric and Dr. Ella Mahmoud for their dedication and support of UNCFs work. Halvorsen is emerita professor of economics at University of Redlands and former faculty member of UNCF member-institution Spelman College; Eric Mahmoud is president and CEO of Harvest Network of Schools; and Dr. Ella Mahmoud is the founder of Seed, Inc., and executive director of Seed Academy. UNCF scholarship students have a strong record of becoming leaders in business and the community, said Ward. Target proudly supports the work UNCF does every day to ensure underrepresented students get into and through college. This years presenting sponsor is Target, co-presenting sponsors plus is The Medtronic Foundation and co-presenting sponsors are 3M and Best Buy. Major sponsors are U.S. Bank, General Mills and Wells Fargo and supporting sponsors are Cargill, Comcast, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Mortenson and Thrivent. The black-tie affair begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes a VIP reception, student testimonial, live auction and elegant dining followed by dancing. DJ Sxooba will provide the music. To learn more about this event, please visit: uncf.org/twincitiesmaskedball. Follow this event @uncf #UNCFTC #UNCF About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities. Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous news and updates, follow UNCF on Twitter @UNCF. InfoDesk Consulting Industry Blog Actionable intelligence, according to Epstein, is carefully curated summaries of, and access to, only the most relevant business news and information from the most credible sources. InfoDesk, a leading provider of information management and content curation solutions, has launched a new Consulting Industry Blog. The new blog was developed specifically for professional services consultants that need to monitor the changing consulting industry information landscape, including disruptive technology, fintech news and other global market trends. Top Consulting Firms Are Upping Their Game Time is money, said Lynn Epstein, InfoDesk COO, todays consultants simply dont have time to waste searching the Web, noodling with social media, or poring over streams of unfiltered content full of meaningless press releases, advertorials and opinions. According to Epstein, Consultants have changed they way they consume information. To be successful, business consultants need to be highly informed about industries and sectors they serve. This includes having ready access to massive volumes of information, research, data and competitive intelligence. This is what we like to call actionable intelligence, she said. Actionable intelligence, according to Epstein, is carefully curated summaries of, and access to, only the most relevant business news and information from the most credible sources. In fact, InfoDesk provides actionable intelligence to a number of the worlds largest management consulting firms. Whether they are looking for full-service curated newsletters or tools to help them manage, curate and distribute their internal content, InfoDesk solutions can be tailored to meet each clients needs and budget. Our clients dont want more informationin fact, they want less information, but it has to be the right information, said Epstein. That means providing real insight about all types of competitive intelligence, including news, research, social media and more. The new InfoDesk Consulting Industry Blog features original and curated content about a variety of trending life science topics created by InfoDesk editorial services using InfoDesks proprietary content curation tools. Recent blog articles have included: Understanding Influencer Marketing A Resource Guide for Consultants, Cognitive Computing in Consulting Services An Overview of Ongoing Initiatives, The Consultant as the Content Curator: Ably Managing Information Overload, and The Best Ways to Discover Financial Technology Disruptors. See all blog posts. Each week the blog features a new article by Patty Wood, Senior Editor and Blogger on the InfoDesk Editorial Services Team. Wood specializes in corporate and pharmaceutical intelligence. Readers are encouraged to subscribe to the blog to receive emails when new articles have been posted. It is our hope, said Epstein, that this new blog will help show other consulting firms, especially the global information services teams how InfoDesk can help them get a handle on the deluge of competitive intelligence. About InfoDesk InfoDesk helps organizations integrate, manage and share all of their information resources on a single content neutral platform. InfoDesk has been providing actionable intelligence to multinational corporations, government agencies and other organizations since 1999. InfoDesk is based in New York with offices in London, Washington, DC and India. Learn more about InfoDesk. HomeTown Health CEO, Rep. Geoff Duncan and others gather for bill signature This is what hope looks like. On Tuesday, April 26, 2016 members of the HomeTown Health network, a network of 60 rural hospitals across the Southeast, celebrated the signature of Gov. Nathan Deal on SB 258, the Rural Health Care Relief Bill. The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Geoff Duncan (R - Cumming), offers a 70% tax credit to individuals and corporations which donate directly to a rural hospital in Georgia, and goes into effect January 1, 2017. The bill provides for up to $50 million in state tax credits available in 2017, $60 million in 2018 and $70 million in 2019. The bill affords an annual cap of $4 million dollars per facility in donations, which can provide a crucial influx of funds for rurally located hospitals in critical financial conditions across the state. In the video release from the well of the Georgia State House of Representatives prior to the presentation of the motion to accept the conference committee report, House Speaker David Ralston can be heard saying, If you want to have rural healthcare in Georgia, you better listen up. Rep. Duncan then stated, The hour is late and I will be brief. I can report to this body two things, tomorrow morning when this body wakes up we will be leading the national conversation on rural healthcare reform, and the folks in rural Georgia will have a renewed hope for the rural health care system. I ask for your favorable support. Rep. Geoff Duncan was present as the Keynote Speaker for the HomeTown Health 16th Annual Spring Conference, appropriately themed Keep the H in Your HomeTown. During his presentation, Rep. Duncan shared legislative details of the bill, what he envisions as the bill is enacted, and the policy making process it endured through the House and Senate during this years session of the Georgia General Assembly. He was honored by two standing ovations and spontaneous applause as he detailed the tremendous efforts made by he and other rural hospital supporters within the Capitol to ensure this bills approval. This is a major step for many rural hospitals to begin planning their future. The amount of legwork put into this bill by its supporters inside the Capitol and by the grass-roots efforts of communities statewide is astounding. This is what hope looks like, says Jimmy Lewis, CEO of HomeTown Health, LLC. HomeTown Health is urging its Georgia hospitals to begin promoting the bill locally, identifying potential donors within their community and their network, and making sure their hospital is compliant with the bills statues for qualification and required documentation. Matthew Compton-Clark "I'm excited to be serving the guests at Hartman Center. It's a beautiful site with a great and honored history." United Camps, Conferences and Retreats (UCCR) has placed Matthew Compton-Clark into the position of Site Director of Hartman Center, located in Milroy, PA. Matthew began working for UCCR at a California camp a number of years ago in the Associate Site Director Training Program. He worked at Camp Cazadero where he received his primary training. Matthew comes to Hartman from a recent stint at Craigville Retreat on Cape Cod. The Penn Central Conference of the United Church of Christ selected United Camps, Conferences and Retreats (UCCR) of Petaluma, California to take on operations of the camp and retreat center beginning in April 2016. UCCR, a non-profit cooperative established in 1970, currently manages 14 sites in Northern and Southern California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, most of which are owned by religious organizations. Under the new management agreement, the Pennsylvania Central Conference-UCC will become a member of UCCR with two seats on its board of directors. Hartman Center is located at the base of Straley Knob, twenty-one miles south of State College, Pennsylvania. It is comprised of 192 acres of open and wooded areas, with easy access to nearby streams, hiking trails, and state parks. The land on which Hartman Center sits formally became a camp in 1932 as it was willed to the Congregational Church of Milroy by its owner and namesake, Rachel Hartman. The center accommodates up to 200 guests in a variety of lodges, cabins, and summer A-Frames. The center has a historic stone farmhouse available for lodging. hartman Center also has chapel that accommodates up to 150 persons. Mike Carr, president of UCCR, said, "We look forward to supporting the mission of Penn Central United Church of Christ at Hartman Center. During the negotiations and meetings with the Central Conference staff, it was immediately evident that they have a huge amount of passion for their camp and successful continued programming. The camp is located in a beautiful valley in central Pennsylvania and the orientation of the buildings highlights the surrounding forest. This is an opportunity to expand our relationship with the United Church of Christ in support of their camping program and all the non profits who lease the facility to further their mission." UCCR has expanded its management services beyond California in recent years to properties in Ohio, Massachusetts, and now Pennsylvania. All sites managed by UCCR are open to non-profits, schools, religious groups, and organizations for retreats, camps, meetings, reunions, educational and community gatherings. UCCR also provides program partnership to its facilities and owner group organizations through on-site support and the Web of Life Field School (WOLF). The WOLF School is an environmental education provider. UCCR may be contacted directly at 800-678-5102. RKD Architects+ Elemental Homes renovation of Hilltop modern home Participating homes in the 6th annual Denver Modern Home Tour will open their doors for viewing from 11AM 5PM on Saturday, May 21st, in and around the Denver, Colorado area. All are invited to attend. Modern Home Tours is returning to Colorado in in May to give residents the opportunity to explore some of Denvers most impressive, private, modern residences. During the 6th annual Denver Modern Home Tour on Saturday, May 21st, attendees will learn from homeowners on what its like to live in a modern home, and chat with the architects to find out where they got their inspiration. The tour is self-guided and self-driven, allowing guests to explore these modern treasures at their own pace. The roster of homes for the 2016 Denver Modern Home Tour is still growing. Participants confirmed to date include: A brand new modern home in Highland designed by RealArchitecture and built by UnRealConstruction that takes advantage of a narrow vacant lot. Every detail was considered for this residence to blend contemporary style with present-day comfort: handmade copper-art siding, a glass-enclosed wine cellar, a golf simulator room, custom stainless spa on the roof, tilt-and-turn windows, radiant flooring, an elevator, and whole-house integrated control from a phone. RKD Architects and Elemental Homes were selected to complete the design and construction of a major renovation to bring a spectacular Hilltop home, originally designed in 1968 by Charles Haertling, up to todays higher standard of living. The renovation preserved the original integrity of the home, while adding a master bedroom suite, new cylindrical glass entry feature, and a small roof top pavilion where the owners will be able to enjoy a sunset over the mountains and city skyline. In the City Park West neighborhood, visit a new residence designed and built on an infill lot by Monopole Design Architecture and Construction. This modern structure respects the scale, rhythm, and proportions of the neighborhood, while employing the latest in passive, solar design techniques in its siting, construction, and mechanics. Light, color, tactile surfaces, and natural materials, all add to the human experience of the new, modern home. Take a walk through and visit an open unit in the Lumina building, designed by Tres Birds Workshop, located just a few doors down from the first home in Highland. This multi-unit, mixed-use building features natural sunlight woven throughout the building. Lumina uses the sun for energy in two ways, both passively and through the use of a vertical PV solar system that helps reduce the need for electricity and reliance on fossil fuels through a system of solar panels that create the walls for the main stair tower, a move that consolidates and conserves building materials. In the new Midtown community in north Denver, visit a brand new home recently finished, with interior design by Neoteric Decor LLC. All homes in this new 184-acre urban lot are extremely energy efficient and have both modern and contemporary finishes. Midtown will soon be connected by walking and biking trails and a stop on the new Gold Line. This homes interior design is a wonderful mixture of mid-century modern and new modern furnishings. Visit a progressive modern masterpiece by Pappas Architecture and Design in the Montclair neighborhood. The home features an open main floor layout, glass walls, lots of natural light, and a one-of-a-kind staircase. There is also a loft overlooking the main floor with views of the city. This home is currently on the market for sale by Cherry Creek Properties. In the North neighborhood of central Denver, visit a brand new home designed by Hodgin Architecture, which features an open living floor plan and an immense window opening at the staircase that provides a translucent flood of light to the stair and central core of the home, while maintaining privacy. Large sliding doors at the rear open onto a small covered patio and intimate garden space. The home design provides open, airy spaces filled with natural light and connections to the exterior spaces all on a challenging long, narrow urban lot in central Denver. Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver has been selected as the benefiting non-profit partner for the 2016 Denver Modern Home Tour. They will help staff the event in exchange for a donation and opportunity to use the tour as a fundraising vehicle. Denvers 5280 Magazine has signed on as the tours exclusive magazine partner. Participating homes in the 6th annual Denver Modern Home Tour will open their doors for viewing from 11AM 5PM on Saturday, May 21st, in and around the Denver, Colorado area. All are invited to attend. Kids under 12 may accompany their parents free of charge. Tickets are priced at $35 in advance and $40 on the day of the tour. For more details on the Denver Modern Home Tour and to buy tickets, visit http://modernhometours.com/event/2016-denver-modern-home-tour. About Modern Home Tours, LLC: Based in Austin, Texas, Modern Home Tours, LLC was founded by James Leasure in 2010 to introduce modern architecture and living to people across the nation. Through fun and informative tours in dozens of cities across the USA and Canada, the group invites people into some of the most exciting examples of modern architecture and design in the nation. With carefully selected architects, neighborhoods and architecture, the Modern Home Tours are unlike anything youve ever seen. Not only will you learn about the cutting edge of home design while on our tours, but you might even get an idea or two for your next home project! Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Armenia has violated the international law and committed crime against the Azerbaijani civilians, said the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev, Trend correspondent reported. Hajiyev made the statement while visiting the Aghdam district. "Therefore, Armenia and its leadership are directly responsible for this," he said commenting on the recent developments on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Limited enrollment at Stanford Continuing Studies is a prime reason why interested persons should go to the website immediately and sign up for the course. Jason McDonald, a San Francisco Bay Area expert consultant in SEO and social media marketing at https://www.jasonmcdonald.org/, is proud to announce enrollment availability for his summer, 2016, course at Stanford Continuing Studies in Internet marketing. Entitled, Marketing without Money, the course has proven to be very popular with the Silicon Valley entrepreneurship community. The course overviews everything from search engine optimization to social media marketing on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and more. Based on Dr. McDonalds best-selling workbooks that cover both search engine optimization and social media marketing, the course is a hands on adventure in the new world of Internet marketing. Limited enrollment at Stanford Continuing Studies is a prime reason why interested persons should go to the website immediately and sign up for the course, explained Dr. McDonald, Director of the Jason McDonald SEO Consulting Agency. The summer course is five weeks of lecture with exercises both in class, and outside of class, making it ideal for marketing managers, business owners, and entrepreneurs of every strip.. To learn more about the course offering, and to enroll, please visit https://www.jasonmcdonald.org/training/internet-marketing/. Persons interested in Dr. McDonalds 2016 Social Media Marketing Workbook are referred to Amazon at http://amzn.to/1OzFext, and for the SEO Fitness Workbook to http://amzn.to/1lUrMNS. Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and Todays Internet Marketing The reality today is that most businesses should focus on their Internet marketing, especially the items that can be obtained at no cost. This Bay Area course starts with an overview of SEO, both on page and off page elements. Students will learn how to define their keywords, embed them correctly in their websites, and use off page tactics like link-building to validate to search engines such as Google or Bing that their website is important. Next, the course will overview social media marketing, starting with a comparison of social media marketing to throwing a fabulous party. Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube will follow with ample time for both Instagram and Pinterest. The goals of the course are to a) overview SEO and social media marketing, and b) to help participants to make a detailed action plan for their business. About Jason McDonald Jason McDonald is director of The JM Internet Group, a leading online training company. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1992, and now both teaches and consults to San Francisco Bay Area businesses in SEO, Social Media Marketing, and AdWords. In addition to those services, he has been recognized as an expert witness in litigation on Internet marketing. He has several popular books on Amazon on the topic of Internet marketing. Media Relations, Tel. 800-298-4065 Leading global competitive intelligence software and services consultancy Cipher Systems was profiled on a recent episode of Enterprises, a television series hosted by world renowned entrepreneur and business expert Kevin Harrington. Enterprises features interviews with entrepreneurs, CEOs and industry professionals from across North America and throughout the world. The show tracks down the worlds most inspiring people, compelling stories and groundbreaking achievements. During an interview with Director of Business Development Beau Oliver, he shares Ciphers mission, to help small companies establish and create a world class competitive intelligence capability internally, but also for the larger companies to help them optimize and streamline their existing efforts, so that they can do more with less. Managing Director, Peter Grimm discusses how Ciphers Knowledge360 competitive intelligence software was developed: We partnered with a number of premium data providers [to enable users to] access premium information about only the companies that [they] need to follow. We also built in a fully widgetized framework which allows each individual organization or user to fully customize the way the tool looks and feels to fit specific business practices. Enterprises TV with Kevin Harrington is broadcast in the U.S. and Canada through a combination of FOX and ABC Broadcast Stations, Discovery Channel Transponder, Regional News Networks, Business News Network Canada, FOX News Channel and Bloomberg TV. It is headquartered in South Florida and films on location throughout the United States and around the globe. Ciphers segment on Enterprises is scheduled to air throughout the month of May: on FX KABB-TV in San Antonio on Sundays, 5/8 at 6:30 AM, 5/15 at 7:00 AM and 5/29 at 6:30 AM; on FOX WUHF-TV in Rochester on Sundays, 5/1, 5/15 and 5/22 at 7:30 AM; and on KSTC-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul on Saturdays, 5/7, 5/14 and 5/21 at 7:30 AM. See the segment now at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjT7aVyC0NE About Cipher Systems Cipher is an innovative boutique consultancy focused on providing strategic and competitive intelligence services and technology solutions that help clients better understand their market and make smarter, faster decisions. We deliver actionable insights to help clients maximize competitive advantage and see around the corner when making strategic decisions. Cipher offers a wide range of services from industry-specific research and analysis, to market entry strategy. Knowledge360 users can take advantage of discounted rates for Ciphers strategy and CI services, which can be delivered directly through the Knowledge360 platform. To learn more about Cipher and its full range of services, visit http://www.cipher-sys.com. For more information about Knowledge360, visit http://www.tryk360.com. Freightgate - a global provider of Best in Class Logistics Cloud Solutions Working with Freightgate is always a pleasure and we are excited to bring new efficiencies to the Sales and Rate aspects of our business. - Tim de la Torre, Vice President at Alliance International Freightgate, the Premier Innovation Leader in cloud computing and mobile applications for logistics and global supply chain management, announced today that Alliance International, one of North Americas largest independently owned providers of global logistics and customs clearance services, has expanded its use of Freightgates Cloud Logistics Suite. Alliance International has successfully expanded its daily use of the Freightgate Universe Logistics Management Suite enhancing rate and quote management across all modes while enabling closer collaboration between stakeholders and reducing answer times. Alliance customers will experience more responsive faster reply to pricing inquires, along with enhanced rate and routing guidance. We are delighted that Alliance, our customer for over two decades, has opted to enable its team with our sales automation and quote management solution, states Martin Hubert, President and CEO of Freightgate, Inc. Tim de la Torre Vice President at Alliance International Working with Freightgate is always a pleasure and we are excited to bring new efficiencies to the Sales and Rate aspects of our business. Freightgates Cloud Logistics Platform enables solutions empowering professionals on all levels to collaborate with global vendors and logistics providers seamlessly on a single common transportation sourcing platform for informed decision-making across the entire network. It encompasses ISO9001:2008-certified end-to-end transportation management processes from procurement, rate management, optimization, execution and visibility, carbon footprint, through invoice audit & pay. The Freightgate Universe is comprised of adaptive easy-to-deploy modules to help companies leapfrog into the 21st century with minimal start-up cost. Freightgate is the only commercial EFM compliant platform enabling standardized web-services as promoted by the US-DOT and Transport-Canada. Partner with Freightgate. To schedule a No-Obligation Demonstration of Freightgates Cloud Logistics Solutions, please complete form at: http://www.freightgate.net/demo or Call Freightgate Sales at (714) 799-2833. To learn more about the depth of service Alliance can offer, visit website http://www.alliance.com or Call Alliance Shippers at (562) 240-2200. About Freightgate Based in Fountain Valley, California, the Freightgate team has been developing web-based solutions for logistics and supply chain management since 1994, such as its industry-leading Cloud Logistics Platform, offering Supply Chain Collaboration & Visibility; TMS, Global Tender Bid Management; Least Cost Routing, Service Contract and Quote Management; Regulatory Compliance CBP and FMC; Automated eInvoice Audit and Payment; innovative What-If-Scenario Analysis tool; interactive online Sailing Schedule; BFN (Built for NetSuite) approved SuiteApps. Freightgate is ISO 9001:2008 certified. Visit Freightgate at: http://www.freightgate.net About Alliance Shippers Alliance Shippers Inc. is one of North Americas largest independently owned providers of global logistics and transportation services. Through our more than 50 regional and international sales and operating facilities strategically located in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Alliance Shippers Inc. offers shippers worldwide a full-service/single-source team approach to providing The Perfect Shipment via state-of-the-art rail, highway, ocean and air transportation services. Visit Alliance Shippers at: http://www.alliance.com International College Counselors Students are advised to choose AP courses based on their interests, their college major, and/or their career goals. Now is the time for students to start thinking about what Advanced Placement (AP) classes they're going to take. The AP curriculum consists of standardized high school courses that are somewhat equivalent to undergraduate college courses. After completing an AP class, students typically take an AP exam in that subject, which can earn them college credits and accelerated placement in college. Most students take their first AP class in their junior year, but freshmen and sophomores sometimes take them, too. Why take an AP class? Be challenged. There are more than 30 different AP-certified courses, including computer science, European history, psychology, music theory, and Chinese language and culture, although a high school may only offer some of these. Educational consultants at International College Counselors advise students to choose AP courses based on their interests, their college major, and/or their career goals. For example, students interested in engineering may take all of the math and science courses, but skip the history. Subjects can also help students determine a direction for their academic career. Improve college admissions chances. AP classes say to college admissions officers that a student is ready for college-level work. Colleges also want to see that students have taken the most challenging courses available to them. Colleges rank grades and academic rigor over most other factors on the college application, including standardized test scores. If a student plans to go to a competitive school, taking AP courses is crucial. Be better prepared for college. AP classes cover more material than traditional courses, are faster-paced, and hone skills like critical thinking, research, writing, and analysis. Boost GPA. Many schools give weight to AP grades when calculating GPA. AP courses can be worth as much as 6.0 for an A rather than the usual 4.0. School policies differ on this. Earn college credit. Skip a required introductory course in college and take something else. Save Money. Student can get some college credits completed without having to pay the full price they would while enrolled in college. Credit and/or Placement. AP exams are scored on a scale of 1 (lowest) through 5 (highest). Students who earn a 3 or higher can receive course credits and/or advanced placement at most colleges in the U.S. and in other countries. Win scholarships. AP courses and exam scores help students qualify for scholarships. New AP Course and Changes A new AP course in Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) launches this year in the Fall. According to the College Board website, this new course is designed to give students foundational computing skills, and an understanding of the real-world impact of computer programming and innovations. Other course changes taking effect in the 2016-17 school year are updates to the AP Calculus AB and BC courses and exam. In the case of AP Calculus, the College Board said that there will only be minor changes. The format of the AP World History Exam will be revised and there are also minor revisions to the AP World History course. For more information on AP courses and exams or high school course schedules, or for information on college admissions, visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com or call 954 414-9986. About International College Counselors The college advisors at International College Counselors help students from all over the world find, apply to, and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert educational consultants at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college admission process. Additional Resources From Public School to the Ivy League: How to Get Into a Top School Without Top Dollar Resources by Mandee Heller Adler and Aimee Heller, International College Counselors California Drivers Ed Online The response to our call for essay submissions has been tremendous, and not just from big California cities like Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Diego or Bakersfield. DmvEdu.org, a top-rated provider of drivers education online for California residents at http://www.dmvedu.org/, is proud to announce that it has featured four exemplary essays submitted to its youth forward scholarship program. Open to High School and college students from across the United States, and not just California, the scholarship program is based on an essay contest that will award three $1500 scholarships in support of college education. The response to our call for essay submissions has been tremendous, and not just from big California cities like Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Diego or Bakersfield, explained Azhar Mirza, Managing Director of DmvEdu.org. He continued, In fact, we are featuring four non-California submissions in our first post; all exemplify the spirit of philanthropy that we are seeking to encourage in young people today. To read excerpts of the four submissions, as well as click over to them to read in detail, interested parties are pointed to http://www.dmvedu.org/2016/04/yf-excerpts/. There, one can also learn more about the scholarship at http://www.dmvedu.org/scholarship/. High school counselors as well as financial aid offices in California are urged to reach out to DmvEdu.org to see how they can jointly promote this innovative scholarship opportunity. Scholarship Details The Youth Forward scholarship seeks to reward a commitment to volunteerism among young people close to driving age (whether older or younger). To apply, applicants need to submit an essay of less than 500 words in Microsoft Word format. Questions to be answered in the essay include the area chosen for volunteer service, the hours per week, the biggest challenge, the most satisfying experience, and what has been learned by the volunteer engagement. Qualities in Common While the four featured essays are not the winners, they have been selected for what they show about the correct spirit in terms of volunteerism. First and foremost, each of the essayists all tried. It might seem obvious, but they put digital pen to digital paper and described their commitment to volunteerism in 2016. One cant win, if one doesnt try, and one cant change the world just by thinking about it. Action must be taken. All four of these authors are taking action to make the world a better place, and have taken action by submitting their essays. Second, they all have focused on unique and different ways to make a difference. There is no one single calling for all people: one might find it important to identify and locate backpacks for needy kids, whereas another works in a homeless shelter. One isnt better, or worse: but both are different and unique. Find a niche, and fill it. Third, a commitment to doing good knows no geographic boundary. Of course, DMVedu.org is here in California, with HQ in Berkeley, but the leading online drivers education service finds inspiration all over the country from Mississippi to Alabama to Detroit and to Virginia. Wherever a young person is, he or she can make a difference: one need not to travel thousands of miles! Finally, each essay exhibits a commitment to the process as well as the outcome. Its not about fixing society, its about participating in making it better. Dont get discouraged because society cant be fixed in a jiffy. About DMVedu.org DMVedu.org is a top-rated website providing California drivers ed online as well as online traffic school programs certified by the California DMV. Many people come to the site looking for an easy way to find California drivers training online or to learn about the requirements and even take a California driver practice test. Certified by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the beauty of the website programs is that one can satisfy DMV requirements at the convenience of a computer. Web. http://www.dmvedu.org/ Garland recently introduced a new quality assurance and communication program for its manufacturing operations at the company's Cleveland headquarters. GMAX, which stands for Garland Manufacturing Attention to Excellence, is a proactive program designed to provide more education to the manufacturing staff and open the lines of communication between key players in the product manufacturing process. At its core, the concept is to keep all involved from team members working on the production line to the management team well informed with up-to-date information. The program also outlines a strategy for improving on safety, quality, inventory and efficiency. Each piece of the GMAX program was designed with one goal in mind: engage employees in a positive way that fosters personal ownership and a healthy team dynamic to maintain Garlands high standards. The GMAX program brings together many of the departments manufacturing, product management, research, quality, and safety that help make Garland's products a success in the factory as well as out in the field. One of the most exciting pieces of the program is the GMAX Command Center a new room built in the manufacturing plant with product mock-ups, educational information about Garland products, and real-time information from the Product Management and Quality teams. Already, the new program has brought positive changes to the Cleveland operations. Now that all of our team members know the goal and everyone is educated on the what and why of what were trying to accomplish, our quality assurance team went from just one department to the entire manufacturing team, said Colin Downey, plant manager. The GMAX program will continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of a constantly changing business landscape while striving to always put Garland's customers first. Garland is proud to offer this additional promise to customers that, even after 120 years in business, the companys focus is always on quality and improvement. About The Garland Company, Inc. The Garland Company, Inc. is one of the worldwide leaders of quality, high-performance roofing and building envelope solutions for the commercial, industrial and institutional markets. For over 120 years, Garland has continually developed unique product and service offerings that have raised the bar of performance while exceeding the individual needs of customers throughout the world. Today, our network of over 200 local building envelope professionals is strategically positioned throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to provide quality building envelope solutions for single and multi-property facilities. The Garland Company Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. For more information, visit http://www.garlandco.com or call 800.321.9336. San Diego Short Term Rentals The city of La Jolla, and the greater San Diego region as a whole, is prime real-estate by almost any measure. Key Housing, a top-rated corporate housing service for the San Diego area, is proud to announce a major information-on-demand update to their informational page on the short-term corporate housing market in the San Diego area. In this way, Key Housing is helping those people looking for corporate housing to find quality housing in what is one of the tightest apartment markets in the United States: Southern California, including San Diego in particular. The city of La Jolla, and the greater San Diego region as a whole, is prime real-estate by almost any measure, explained Robert Lee, President of Key Housing. The weather is rated as near-perfect, the access to the famous California beaches is unparallelled, the balance between open green spaces and big-city amenities is just right. But anyone considering short-term San Diego corporate housing must contend with the very tight limits on availability. With so many stymied inbound customers, we have updated our information page for San Diego to better help them online. To browse the newly updated San Diego corporate housing please visit http://www.keyhousing.com/GMcontact.asp?location=San+Diego. There one can easily browse a variety of available short-term housing for corporate renters available in the city. It is interactive in nature, and one can browse inventory. One can also reach out for a consultant, who can assist in the San Diego market. Casting a Wide Net for San Diego Corporate Housing Among the newly recommended strategies are what might be called the 'wide net strategy.' That is, in finding a suitable housing situation it is advised to cast the net a little farther, and seek accommodations in towns located on the periphery of San Diego proper. To the south is National City, but the border with Mexico prevents there from being too many options in that direction. The inland region to the north-east has Sierra Mesa and Clairemont Mesa, which are possibilities. Directly to the north is La Jolla, which has the advantage of being closer to the ocean. There is a large concentration of residential units in the La Jolla Village area. Example Development: La Jolla Colony Typical of this development is the La Jolla Colony, whose Web site one can visit here: http://www.keyhousing.com/rightside.asp?action=form3&ID=380 This apartment community and others in La Jolla Village benefit from their proximity to UC San Diego, which has encouraged development of a wide range of local amenities for shopping and dining. While San Diego is only a short trip down the road on I-5, it may not even be necessary, given the local options provided. Availabilities for corporate renters cannot be guaranteed; however, Key Housing has many other available opportunities in the hot La Jolla and San Diego area rental market. Interested parties are recommended to either use the website, or contact Key Housing directly for personal assistance with their San Diego temporary housing needs. About Key Housing Based in Folsom, California, Key Housing Connections Inc. specializes in corporate housing and corporate rentals in large cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Jose as well as smaller cities like Fresno, San Diego and Sacramento. Whether the need if for a serviced apartment or a short term rental, corporate housing or short term apartments, just browse our listings to find the rental that fits ones short term corporate housing needs. We are competitive with extended stay hotels in cities such as Cupertino, Santa Clara or even Long Beach, and many nurses, interns and people seeking pet friendly corporate rentals or corporate relocation services depend on us for their furnished apartment or other temporary housing needs. Whether after Los Angeles corporate housing, short term rentals in San Francisco, or a serviced apartment in San Diego - we can aid the search for the right apartment in the Golden State. After all, we're among the top-rated short-term apartment listing service in places like Redwood City, Santa Monica, Newport Beach and just about every city in California. Whether it's serviced apartments or a furnished rental, just search, click or call today! Key Housing (800) 989-0410 Corporate Housing blog at http://blog.keyhousing.com/ If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Moldova's former Ombudsman Aurelia Grigoriu visited the injured Azerbaijani citizens on the frontline on Apr. 29, Trend's correspondent reported. Today, in the hospital, we saw that Azerbaijani civilians suffer from the Armenian military aggression, said Grigoriu. We saw it with our own eyes, she said. "Armenians prevent the civilians from doing their work," she said. "Taking this into account, I believe that the international community should react to this and condemn the Armenian aggression." It is necessary to send documents to the UN General Assembly and the international court over the Armenian aggression, so that Armenia would bear responsibility for these crimes, Grigoriu added. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Restoration of a high school building destroyed as a result of shelling by Armenian armed forces Apr. 2 has started in the Sarijali village of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district, Trend's correspondent reported Apr. 29. . The school's principal Aybaniz Maharramova said that the reconstruction work will be completed soon, and the school building will be recommissioned. On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. The latest developments on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops are the most vivid example of Armenia's repeated ceasefire violation. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: The village of Garadaghli of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district is one of the settlements shelled by Armenian armed forces on the night of Apr.28. As many as 36 houses were damaged in the Garadaghli village, while five houses were completely destroyed. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: A group of journalists, consisting of representatives of foreign media accredited in Azerbaijan, and the local media, visited the Garadaghli village of Azerbaijan's Agdam district, which was shelled by the Armenian side from April 27 evening until April 28. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. In the village the journalists surveyed the houses, which were destroyed by heavy artillery attacks and met with the village's residents, Trend correspondent reported Apr. 29. The representatives of foreign and local media were accompanied by the Head of executive power of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district Ragub Mammadov, Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev and Head of the press service of Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry Vagif Dargahli. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Richard Russo. Knopf, $27.95 (496p) ISBN 978-0-307-27064-1 When Doug Raymer, chief of police of the forlornly depressed town of North Bath, N.Y., falls into an open grave during a funeral service, it is only the first of many farcical and grisly incidents in Russo's shaggy dog story of revenge and redemption. Among the comical set pieces that propel the narrative are a poisonous snakebite, a falling brick wall, and a stigmatalike hand injury. North Bath, as readers of Nobody's Fool will remember, is the home of Sully Sullivan, the hero of the previous book and also a character here. Self-conscious, self-deprecating, and convinced he's everybody's fool, Raymer is obsessed with finding the man his late wife was about to run off with when she fell down the stairs and died. He's convinced that the garage door opener he found in her car will lead him to her lover's home. Meanwhile, he pursues an old feud with Sully; engages in repartee with his clever assistant and her twin brother; and tries to arrest a sociopath whose preferred means of communication are his fists. The remaining circle of ne'er-do-wells, ex-cons, daily drunks, deadbeats, and thieves behave badly enough to keep readers chuckling. The give-and-take of rude but funny dialogue is Russo's trademark, as is his empathy for down-and-outers on the verge of financial calamity. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The annual Student Activities and Organization awards were presented April 7 in Fowler Hall. More than 150 nominations were received for the awards, which are given to outstanding students, student organizations and organization advisers. The Emerging Leader Award is given to those who have demonstrated knowledge of, and interest in, campus activities and organizations. The recipients are expected to display enthusiasm, motivation, communication and organizational skills. This year's winners were Zachary Schreiber, Lauren Huemmer, Shahin Mohseni, Grace Yun, Ashwin Sunderraj, Madeline DeLucenay and Priska Neehan-Numinen. The Outstanding Adviser of the Year is awarded to the student organization adviser who serves as a role model to students and has a strong belief in the organization they represent. Nominees show a willingness to commit sufficient time to the organization and promote students' personal growth by involving them in the organization's decision-making process. The winners for this year's award were Sue Eiler and Margie Jones. Other nominees were Anna Bowers, Dee Bernhardt, Brent Bible, Daniel Leaird, Susan Huffman, Mark Daniel Ward, Amber Perkins and Myron McClure. The Co-Sponsorship of the Year Award is presented to organizations that have provided the most outstanding co-sponsorship program or program series for the betterment of the campus, students and Purdue. Six events were nominated for this award. Purdue Student Union Board, Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center, Black Graduate Student Association, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power Purdue, Queer Students of Color: Black LGBTQ + Alliance, LGBTQ Center and SNPhA won for the collaboration on the "HIV/AIDS Awareness Week. The Outstanding Program Award is presented to the student organization that has implemented the most outstanding campus program during the academic year. The 2016 award was presented to Computer Science Undergraduate Student Board, for BoilerMake Hackathon, and Bangladesh Students Association International Mother Language Day. The Community Engagement & Involvement Award is presented to the student organization that provides outstanding service to other people or a place. The event can be a large, one-time activity or a series of smaller projects that meet community needs. This year's recipient is the Purdue Nutrition Society for their "Hunger Doesn't Take a Spring Break" program. The Boilermaker Pride Award honors a student organization for outstanding participation in a tournament competition. The organization must display outstanding sportsmanship, compete against a Big Ten opponent and have active participation by all members in most competitions. This year's recipient was the Latin and Ballroom Dance Team. The Year of Excellence Award is a "yearly achievement award" for student organizations that demonstrate outstanding continuous programs, leadership and service. This year's recipient was Purdue Best Buddies. Nominations for these awards are taken throughout the course of the year and are reviewed by a committee of students and faculty. Award winners receive plaques, pins or certificates for their organization and have their name inscribed on perpetual plaques on campus. Contact: Martia Brawner King, assistant dean of students, 765-494-1232, mbrawner@purdue.edu Don and Tina Sonneville, Moline, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception April 30 at Oakwood Country Club. Tina Guzzo, Rock Island, and Mr. Sonneville, Moline, were married April 28, 1956, at St. Pius Catholic Church, Rock Island. Their children are Chris Hansen, Moline; Jim, Burlington, Iowa; Rev. Beth, Lenexa, Kan.; and Mike, Bourbonnais, Ill. They have five grandchildren. Mr. Sonneville was employed in human relations at the Rock Island Arsenal, retiring in 1994 after 37 years. Mrs. Sonneville was employed as a secretary in the music department at Augustana College, retiring in 1998 after 17 years. They are members of Christ the King, Moline. CHICAGO Gun violence victim and former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords showed her support Thursday for an Illinois coalition and a new bill that hopes to encourage better business practices by gun dealers to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Stopping gun violence takes courage. The courage to do whats right, the courage of new ideas. Ive seen great courage when my life was on the line, said Giffords, who spoke during a news conference at the Jesse White Community Center and Fieldhouse in Chicagos Cabrini Green neighborhood. There, lawmakers, community advocates and gun violence prevention groups announced the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition and the Gun Dealer Licensing Act. Now is the time to come together, be responsible. Democrats, Republicans, everyone. We must never stop fighting. Fight, fight, fight. Be bold. Be courageous. The nations counting on you, Giffords said. The bill, which would crack down on illegal gun trafficking and give law enforcement the tools to encourage better business practices, will be introduced in the House next week, said Democratic state Rep. Kathleen Willis. Illinois is in the grips of a gun violence crisis, an incredibly complicated problem, said Democratic state Sen. Don Harmon, adding that 40 percent of guns used in crimes in Chicago from 2009 to 2014 were bought in Illinois. All too often somewhere between a gun manufacturer and a crime scene there is a transaction, an exchange of a gun, a sale of a gun, and one of the participants is pretending to be a law-abiding gun owner but is anything but, Harmon said. The vast majority of licensed gun dealers are trying to do the right thing, but there are some negligent dealers who are fueling illegal gun trafficking, Harmon said. He is pushing for changes in state law including: Background checks for the employees of gun dealers. Training and education for gun dealers and staffers so that staffers know how to conduct a background check and how to spot and prevent straw purchases. Proper storage of guns at dealerships to prevent theft. Harmon said the bill doesnt take rights away from law-abiding gun owners, it just asks gun dealers to follow responsible business practices. Delphine Cherry, co-president of the Chicagoland chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, says she feels sorrow every day after losing two children to gun violence. Her daughter was shot in the early 1990s while she was pregnant with her son. Twenty years later, in 2012, he lost his life when he was shot outside her Chicago home. In my driveway, Cherry said. Country Club Hills Police Chief William Jones and his wife were also on hand. His son, Tim Jones, a Park Forest police officer who is now recovering, was shot three times March 19 while on duty. Park Forest Police Chief Peter Green also spoke, saying he has had a front-row seat to the tragedy of gun violence and its not something thats easy to forget. (Tim Jones) nearly died after he was shot by a dangerous person with a gun, Green said. Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, co-founded Americans For Responsible Solutions, a gun violence prevention organization, in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Both are gun owners. Giffords was shot in Tucson, Ariz., about five years ago when a gunman opened fire on her and a group of constituents, injuring 12 others and killing six. Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Jamie Santini told a judge that Jamal Joiner told an acquaintance he and Rasheed Martin, both street gang members, were aiming at a rival when Amari Brown was shot in the chest and a woman wounded. Santini said the gang rivals had been feuding for months and had shootouts earlier that day as well as two other occasions weeks earlier. Joiner already is being held without for a murder stemming from one of the previous shootings. It wasn't immediately known if he has a lawyer. The 21-year-old Martin of Chicago was arrested weeks after the shooting at a home in Superior, Wisconsin. He is being held without bond in Cook County Jail. DAVENPORT -- Organizers of "Living Proof," an art exhibit that celebrates the creative spirit of cancer survivors, are seeking entries for the annual show planned Sept. 10-Oct. 16 in the Mary Waterman Gildehaus Community Gallery at the Figge Art Museum. All cancer survivors or patients within a 150-mile radius of the Quad-Cities can submit up to five works in any medium for consideration, for one entry fee of $25. Entries must be received by May 2 and scholarships are available. "We are thrilled to bring this exhibit back to the Quad-Cities and the Figge Art Museum," said Pamela Crouch, executive director of the exhibit and a breast-cancer survivor herself. "These works celebrate the strength and spirit of the cancer survivor. The entire exhibit is a visual representation of hope." The project started in 2010 at Davenport's Bucktown Center for the Arts, where it was based until it was held at the Figge in 2014, and last year in Peoria, she said. "We have a very inclusive concept of art," Ms. Crouch said, noting the pieces don't have to be newly created for this event. "Cancer can be a blip in some people's lives; some are newly diagnosed. You can go to the Figge and see some gorgeous works of creativity." Included in the fall exhibit will be a large quilt -- "Wrapping Ourselves in God's Love" -- created by African-American breast-cancer survivors. It was funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation and shown at last year's Race for the Cure. Each quilt panel reflects one survivor's journey, Ms. Crouch said. The quilt has spawned a support group, and the women are collaborating on a book, she noted. Of the Figge and its community-outreach programs, Ms. Crouch said: "We're so fortunate to have them here. ... The Figge has taken a leap of faith. I can't say enough good things about them." Complete submission details on the new juried exhibit are available at livingproofexhibit.org. Extensions are possible by emailing livingproofexhibit@gmail.com. DAVENPORT -- It's a windy, rainy Thursday at the Davenport Municipal Airport, and a 98-year-old man is sitting inside the hangar on a metal folding chair, waiting to revisit a piece of nostalgia from his life of 70 years ago. Jim Stopulos, of Bettendorf, is wearing the leather jacket he first donned back in World War II when he flew 30 combat missions in a B-17 that roared over the skies of Germany. He's waiting inside the hangar with his wife of 70 years, Jeanne, and their children and grandchildren. He's here to catch a flight on the Aluminum Overcast, a 71-year-old B-17 bomber owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association. The EAA is taking the plane on a tour across the country; it will be in Davenport through Sunday, May 1. It last was in the Quad-Cities in 2011. Mr. Stopulos served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. The overcast skies don't seem to dampen Mr. Stopulos' outlook, since he knows from experience that bad weather could wipe out his chance of flying again in a machine he last sat in back in 1945. "You have to have a positive outlook on life to begin with," he says. The memories seem to revisit Mr. Stopulos each time he looks up at the plane parked outside, waiting for clearance to go back up into the skies. During one of Mr. Stopulos' own combat missions, he recalls, the bomber he was in was high in the sky when "we got our oxygen shot out at about 20,000 feet." He's also reliving memories of coming back to base, of playing bridge with the flight surgeon in England. After finishing his briefing on his next flying mission, he'd walk to his friend and say, "Doc, get a bridge game going tonight. I want to come back to a bridge game." Mr. Stopulos laughs now, thinking of his friends, his youth, and the odds of making it out of the war alive. The Aluminum Overcast at the Davenport airport Thursday was delivered to the Army Air Corps in May 1945, at the tail end of a 10-year production run of 12,732 B-17 bombers. Of those aircraft produced, 4,735 were lost during combat missions, according to the EAA. Mr. Stopulos sits and waits for his chance to return to his past as people walk up to him, wishing him luck. He reminds someone he's not going to pilot the B-17 this time, just ride in it. As he waits, Mr. Stopulos speaks about his time in the war. "This may sound braggadocio, but really, I've had a theory of life that something good is going to happen to me," he says. "I didn't ever feel as if I would get shot down or anything. I knew I was going to come back. "I'm not bragging, but it's true." After the war, Mr. Stopulos says, he got into sales and the real-estate business. He owned movie theaters, including the Uptown Theater at 14th and Harrison streets in Davenport, which was later dubbed the Coronet. He added the Studio and Sierra theaters in Moline, the Central Theater in Geneseo and the Spruce Hills Twin Theater in Bettendorf. Instead of guiding a B-17 through black clouds of flak and enemy fighters, he was making sure the film projector and popcorn machine weren't breaking down. "When I got out of the service, I was more concerned about family than anything else," he says. "I had to start earning a living." He calls out to his wife while waiting in the hangar. "She was the first woman Marine from the state of Iowa," Mr. Stopulos says. He calls again. "Hey, honey, honey." Jeanne Stopulos walks over to her husband, and sits nearby. Ms. Stopulous also grew up in Davenport. She is a few years younger than her partner. "I was a Sullivan, Jeanne Sullivan," she says with a smile. "I was in the Marine Corps during the war stateside in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco." She talks to her husband about some of their memories and about the war years. "Everybody was involved in one way or another with the war," she says of America. "There was no denying that." The mist turns heavier as the B-17 sits. Grounded for now, it's one of just 11 or 12 of the bombers still flying. Some people tour the cramped plane, passing by the space allotted the tailgunner and his twin .50-caliber machine guns. Nicknamed the Flying Fortesses, the B-17s carried 13 .50-caliber guns -- in the back, the front, the sides, the top and the bottom. Suddenly, a man walks over to Mr. and Mrs. Stopulos. John Riedel, EAA Chapter 75 member, tells them the flights have been canceled because of the weather. Mr. Riedel hands Mr. Stopulos a commemorative chip honoring veterans. "We're going to get weathered out," Mr. Riedel says. "I'm sorry." The couple walks out to the B-17 to pose for a few pictures. "I'm sure he's disappointed," Mrs. Stopulos says. As they finish posing for the pictures that link them to their youth, Mrs. Stopulos adds about her husband, "He's been a good partner." Mr. Stopulos says he's disappointed about the flight cancellation, but not enough to dampen his enthusiasm or his outlook. "It brings back memories," he says. "It's been a great life. And I love the Quad-Cities." Meng Brings NASA Astronaut To Queens On October 17, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) brought NASA astronaut Dr. Jonny Kim to Queens where he met and spoke with students at Francis... Celebrating Columbus The Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Queens (FIAO) held their annual Columbus Day parade in Astoria, on Saturday, October 8, during Italian Heritage Month. The... Russo-Elling Mourned More than 300 first responders lined up on Thursday night to honor FDNY EMT Lt. Alison Russo-Elling, as her body was placed into a waiting... Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Armenia's armed forces have inflicted heavy damage to the Evoglu village of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district having intensively shelled the village on Apr. 28 night, reports Trend's correspondent. Houses and public facilities in the village were destroyed. Farming and private sector were also affected by the Armenian shelling. On Apr. 29, a group of journalists, consisting of representatives of foreign media accredited in Azerbaijan, and the local media, visited the Garadaghli village of Azerbaijan's Agdam district, which was shelled by the Armenian side from April 27 evening until April 28. In the village the journalists surveyed the houses, which were destroyed by heavy artillery attacks and met with the village's residents. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. For any aspiring entrepreneurs, Basson said to make sure you have a product or idea that retailers want to sell and consumers want to buy. 1 hour ago The Hungarian government has agreed to provide an 80% state guarantee for the proposed loan. GySEV is currently leasing three Vectron electric locomotives to replace the class 1116s it has handed back to Austrian Federal Railways (OBB), but is trying to revive a plan to purchase its own traction. GySEV also uses diesel locomotives leased from DB Cargo Romania and MAV-Start between Szombathely and Nagykanizsa on its north-south corridor connecting Slovakia and Croatia. However, with electrification works on this section already underway and the second phase scheduled for completion in 2020, GySEV's requirement for electric traction is set to increase. An invitation to tender for the locomotive contract is due to be published soon. Class I commodity slump a countercyclical short line bonanza Written by David Thomas , Canadian Contributing Editor A string of still-shiny, graffiti-free tank cars rests incongruously amid white apple blossoms with Oregons glaciered volcano shimmering in the distance. No, the tank cars are not waiting for the new seasons pressing of apple cider. They are stored here in aptly named Parkdale, earning Iowa Pacifics Mount Hood Scenic Railroad lucrative daily storage fees, while their owners wait, expensively, for recovery of the energy transportation business. What has been a calamitous downturn for fleet owners and Class I carriers is becoming a bonanza for short lines with spare sidings, or even, as in the case of Mt. Hood, underutilized main line track. The car storage boom means that Mt. Hoods summer passenger excursions will turn back to Hood River well short of their usual destination at Parkdale. We are in business to make money, and right now, the money is in car storage, Iowa Pacific CEO Ed Ellis told Railway Age, as the blossoms of April transitioned to the tiny fruit sets of May. For Iowa Pacific and other short lines with trackage to spare, car storage is a countercyclical boon to the big carriers gloom. Ellis estimated that 50,000 coal hoppers and an equal number of tank cars have become temporarily, or permanently, redundant. The Class Is are unhappy they are losing the coal business, and we are unhappy for them; but not so unhappy that we not going to make a few bucks in our unhappiness, said Ellis. At daily fees ranging from $3 to $12 depending on car type, Iowa Pacific has 6,000 cars parked in its yards and sidings, with room to double that. Not bad for a sideline business in otherwise hard times. At the other end of the car storage spectrum, Texas TNW Corp. has developed a core business of parking and caring for surplus railcars in dedicated logistics centers attached to each of its three Texas short lines. TNW currently has room for 14,000 cars with purpose-built yards, and even loop tracks that can accommodate fully coupled 110-car unit trains. For us, its not a surge business, TNW CEO Paul Treangen told Railway Age. We are a long-term provider of premier railcar storage. We can provide security, we can store loaded or unloaded cars, manage transshipment, and clean and maintain cars. TNWs short line stable, consisting of Texas Northwestern in the northern Panhandle, Texas Rock Crusher Railway at the states geographical bulls-eye, and the southerly Texas, Gonzales & Northern, are ideally situated to benefit from the ebbs and flows of the nations petrochemical economy. In the current ebb, TNWs storage tracks are filling not only with the expected tank car surplus, but also articulated flat cars configured to haul wind power towers and turbine blades. And, with oilfield services in retreat, brand-new hoppers ordered to carry fracking sand are moving straight from erecting hall to storage track. With most commodity and special-purpose cars now owned or leased by shippers, and Class Is slimming trackage to maximize operating ratios, the big carriers have neither the space nor the will to store privately owned cars. The Class Is strive to maintain network velocity and fluidity and prefer not to fill needed sidings with storage of shipper-owned cars, observed Treangen. Hopes for market revivals explain why some car owners are paying to keep surplus assets. A bigger factor may be that many cars have years remaining on leases that require they be turned back to lessors in good condition. Consequently, scrapping is not an option and their financers emphatically do not want them back before the due date. While collapsing demand for crude-by-rail may well spark cutting torches for the oldest, off-lease DOT-111s as they are forced from the rails by federal fiat, a great many newer, near-compliant cars may go to storage rather than to retrofitters, as was anticipated when CBR was booming. There are 65,000 DOT-111s mandated to come out of service and most of those cars will be neither rebuilt nor scrapped, predicted Iowa Pacifics Ellis. They wont be rebuilt because theres not enough demand for them, and they wont be scrapped because they are still subject to bank financing. If the bank has leased you the tank car for 10 years, they dont want it back. I believe well over half of the 65,000 DOT-111s will go into storage. Both TNW and Iowa Pacific say they have room for more cars and will lay fresh track if necessary to accommodate even more. We have plenty of land we can develop if we need to, said Treangen. Ellis promises: If we run out of space, we will build track. It wont be high-speed track; it will be amusement park track. Whether for storage-focused operators like TNW or sideline surge providers like Iowa Pacific, these are the good old days for short lines that can make money from not shifting cars. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Thirty-six houses were damaged as a result of the Armenian heavy artillery shelling of the Garadaghli village of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district, Trend correspondent reports. Armenia's armed forces are regularly violating the ceasefire. Five houses in that village were completely destroyed. On Apr. 29, a group of journalists, consisting of representatives of foreign media accredited in Azerbaijan, and the local media, visited the Garadaghli village of Azerbaijan's Agdam district, which was shelled by the Armenian side from April 27 evening until April 28. In the village the journalists surveyed the houses, which were destroyed by heavy artillery attacks and met with the village's residents. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Netflix is building partnerships, network infrastructure and in particular the content to aid its growth in Asia, CEO Reed Hastings told delegates at Asia Pacific Operators Summit (APOS) in Bali. Netflix Originals are being made faster in Asia than in earlier markets, chief content officer Ted Sarandos said at the summit, adding: We are doing a film in Korea called Okja under director Joon Ho Bong, a film in Cambodia by Angelina Jolie and original TV series in Japan.Bollywood films are also within Neflixs sights, but are a few years down the line. We will do movies the world watches. We will work with local producers. Imagine the traction [a film] would get with our 81 million and expanding global members, said Sarandos.The issue of censorship was also touched upon during the interview with Vivek Couto, executive director of Media Partners Asia , which organised APOS.We have to really help the creative freedom of storytellers. The art is finding that balance with local authorities, said Sarandos. For the most part the Internet is not as highly regulated as broadcast. Theres no passive viewing on Netflix. Regulators have found that to be a differentiating factor between broadcast and Netflix.Although the US streaming giant has not divulged the number of video-on-demand ( VOD ) subscribers it has recruited since its launch in Asia, Hastings said of the new 6.7 million members in the latest quarter, 4.51 million are from international [markets].He added: Netflix has barely been optimised. Its an ongoing process of delivery to Asia . We are far below the number of languages we need to support. We support 21 languages; YouTube is over 50.Netflix is also continuing its efforts to enter the Chinese market. Great rewards can follow great patience, Hastings told delegates. Viacom has reported lower adjusted fiscal Q2 earnings, but beats analyst expectations. The media giant reported adjusted earnings of $303 million. That compared with $467 million in the year-ago period. On a non-adjusted basis, the company had in the year-ago period recorded a loss of $53 million when including a $785 million pre-tax charge for a slew of layoffs and reorganisation moves in the year-ago period. Adjusted earnings per share fell to $0.76 from $1.16 in the year-ago period.The company's film unit posted a big quarterly loss, though, seeing a loss of $136 million after a year-ago profit of $1 million due to the disappointing performances of Zoolander 2, which brought in $56 million worldwide on a $50 million production budget, and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, which reached just $23 million worldwide on a $35 million budget.Philippe Dauman, executive chairman, president and CEO of Viacom , talked up TV success: Viacoms brands are among the most popular and culturally connected in the world, he said.Nickelodeon remains the No 1 network for kids, and many of our other networks have shown sequential improvements in ratings and consumption across platforms. The continuing strength of our brands was validated by our recent renewals with DISH and Frontier on attractive terms. In the past year, we have successfully closed long-term carriage agreements with domestic distributors representing more than 44 million subscribers. Around the world we continue to expand the global reach of our networks, launching several new channels in the quarter.Separately, Viacom and Roku have announced a partnership that enables Viacom to use aggregated audience insights from Roku to deliver targeted advertising on the Roku platform. And, it unveiled Vantage Studio Edition, the first data-driven marketing solution purpose-built for the movie industry. Vantage Studio Edition uniquely offers precision plus reach, deploying data to find target audiences while maintaining broad awareness. Prosecutors, defense appeal against house arrest of Domodedovo ex-managers MOSCOW, April 29 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul) Prosecutors and defense have appealed against house arrest of three defendants in the case connected with Domodedovo 2011 terrorist attack that left 37 dead, RAPSI learned in Moscows Basmanny District Courts press service. Earlier this week, the court changed the detention of Domodedovo Airport ex-director Vyacheslav Nekrasov and Managing Director of Domodedovo Airport Aviation Security Andrei Danilov to the house arrest. The house arrest of Export Management Company Limited ex-head Svetlana Trishina was extended until July 28. Nekrasov, Danilov and Trishina stand charged with the provision of services that allegedly do not meet security standards. Both the prosecution and defense seek for vacating this measure of restraint and release of the defendants. According to investigators, the defendants have not provided sufficient security level that let the suicide bomber freely enter the arrival lounge and set off an explosive. A suicide bomber detonated a bomb in the Domodedovo Airports international arrivals hall, killing 37 people and injuring 172, on January 24, 2011. Doku Umarov, Russias most wanted terrorist at the time, claimed responsibility for the attack. Altogether, 28 men connected with the terrorist organization called the Caucasus Emirate were linked to the attack, according to the investigators. Seventeen of them were killed in special operations in 2011, and four were detained. In November 2013, a Moscow Region court sentenced three men to life in prison and a fourth man to 10 years for their role in the suicide bombing. 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. Agjabadi, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: On Apr. 29, a group of journalists, consisting of representatives of foreign media accredited in Azerbaijan, and the local media, visited the Garakhanli village of Azerbaijan's Agjabadi district, which was shelled by the Armenian side from April 27 evening until April 28. In the village the journalists surveyed the houses, which were destroyed by heavy artillery attacks and met with the village's residents, Trend correspondent reported Apr. 29. Head of executive power of Azerbaijan's Agjabadi district Shahin Mammadov said that since the beginning of April, Armenians have been regularly shelling settlements located close to the frontline using large-caliber guns. "The shelling was especially intense on the night of April 28," Mammadov said. "In total, more than 100 shells were fired at the territory of the district, and nearly 50 of them were fired at the Garakhanli village alone. Nearly 30 houses were damaged, and a part of them was completely destroyed." The head of the district noted that the Armenian aggression doesn't allow people to live in peace, classes in schools are cancelled. "The world community must ensure the relevant resolutions adopted by the UN are implemented," Mammadov said. "We want the conflict to be resolved peacefully. If this doesn't happen, all the population of the Agjabadi district is ready to fight after the order of the Supreme Commander." The representatives of foreign and local media were accompanied by Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev and Head of the press service of Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry Vagif Dargahli. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. This article originally appeared in TomDispatch. Sunday, April 17th was the designated moment. The world's leading oil producers were expected to bring fresh discipline to the chaotic petroleum market and spark a return to high prices. Meeting in Doha, the glittering capital of petroleum-rich Qatar, the oil ministers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), along with such key non-OPEC producers as Russia and Mexico, were scheduled to ratify a draft agreement obliging them to freeze their oil output at current levels. In anticipation of such a deal, oil prices had begun to creep inexorably upward, from $30 per barrel in mid-January to $43 on the eve of the gathering. But far from restoring the old oil order, the meeting ended in discord, driving prices down again and revealing deep cracks in the ranks of global energy producers. It is hard to overstate the significance of the Doha debacle. At the very least, it will perpetuate the low oil prices that have plagued the industry for the past two years, forcing smaller firms into bankruptcy and erasing hundreds of billions of dollars of investments in new production capacity. It may also have obliterated any future prospects for cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in regulating the market. Most of all, however, it demonstrated that the petroleum-fueled world we've known these last decades -- with oil demand always thrusting ahead of supply, ensuring steady profits for all major producers -- is no more. Replacing it is an anemic, possibly even declining, demand for oil that is likely to force suppliers to fight one another for ever-diminishing market shares. The Road to Doha Before the Doha gathering, the leaders of the major producing countries expressed confidence that a production freeze would finally halt the devastating slump in oil prices that began in mid-2014. Most of them are heavily dependent on petroleum exports to finance their governments and keep restiveness among their populaces at bay. Both Russia and Venezuela, for instance, rely on energy exports for approximately 50% of government income, while for Nigeria it's more like 75%. So the plunge in prices had already cut deep into government spending around the world, causing civil unrest and even in some cases political turmoil. No one expected the April 17th meeting to result in an immediate, dramatic price upturn, but everyone hoped that it would lay the foundation for a steady rise in the coming months. The leaders of these countries were well aware of one thing: to achieve such progress, unity was crucial. Otherwise they were not likely to overcome the various factors that had caused the price collapse in the first place. Some of these were structural and embedded deep in the way the industry had been organized; some were the product of their own feckless responses to the crisis. On the structural side, global demand for energy had, in recent years, ceased to rise quickly enough to soak up all the crude oil pouring onto the market, thanks in part to new supplies from Iraq and especially from the expanding shale fields of the United States. This oversupply triggered the initial 2014 price drop when Brent crude -- the international benchmark blend -- went from a high of $115 on June 19th to $77 on November 26th, the day before a fateful OPEC meeting in Vienna. The next day, OPEC members, led by Saudi Arabia, failed to agree on either production cuts or a freeze, and the price of oil went into freefall. The failure of that November meeting has been widely attributed to the Saudis' desire to kill off new output elsewhere -- especially shale production in the United States -- and to restore their historic dominance of the global oil market. Many analysts were also convinced that Riyadh was seeking to punish regional rivals Iran and Russia for their support of the Assad regime in Syria (which the Saudis seek to topple). The rejection, in other words, was meant to fulfill two tasks at the same time: blunt or wipe out the challenge posed by North American shale producers and undermine two economically shaky energy powers that opposed Saudi goals in the Middle East by depriving them of much needed oil revenues. Because Saudi Arabia could produce oil so much more cheaply than other countries -- for as little as $3 per barrel -- and because it could draw upon hundreds of billions of dollars in sovereign wealth funds to meet any budget shortfalls of its own, its leaders believed it more capable of weathering any price downturn than its rivals. Today, however, that rosy prediction is looking grimmer as the Saudi royals begin to feel the pinch of low oil prices, and find themselves cutting back on the benefits they had been passing on to an ever-growing, potentially restive population while still financing a costly, inconclusive, and increasingly disastrous war in Yemen. Many energy analysts became convinced that Doha would prove the decisive moment when Riyadh would finally be amenable to a production freeze. Just days before the conference, participants expressed growing confidence that such a plan would indeed be adopted. After all, preliminary negotiations between Russia, Venezuela, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia had produced a draft document that most participants assumed was essentially ready for signature. The only sticking point: the nature of Iran's participation. The Iranians were, in fact, agreeable to such a freeze, but only after they were allowed to raise their relatively modest daily output to levels achieved in 2012 before the West imposed sanctions in an effort to force Tehran to agree to dismantle its nuclear enrichment program. Now that those sanctions were, in fact, being lifted as a result of the recently concluded nuclear deal, Tehran was determined to restore the status quo ante. On this, the Saudis balked, having no wish to see their arch-rival obtain added oil revenues. Still, most observers assumed that, in the end, Riyadh would agree to a formula allowing Iran some increase before a freeze. "There are positive indications an agreement will be reached during this meeting... an initial agreement on freezing production," said Nawal Al-Fuzaia, Kuwait's OPEC representative, echoing the views of other Doha participants. But then something happened. According to people familiar with the sequence of events, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince and key oil strategist, Mohammed bin Salman, called the Saudi delegation in Doha at 3:00 a.m. on April 17th and instructed them to spurn a deal that provided leeway of any sort for Iran. When the Iranians -- who chose not to attend the meeting -- signaled that they had no intention of freezing their output to satisfy their rivals, the Saudis rejected the draft agreement it had helped negotiate and the assembly ended in disarray. Geopolitics to the Fore Most analysts have since suggested that the Saudi royals simply considered punishing Iran more important than raising oil prices. No matter the cost to them, in other words, they could not bring themselves to help Iran pursue its geopolitical objectives, including giving yet more support to Shiite forces in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. Already feeling pressured by Tehran and ever less confident of Washington's support, they were ready to use any means available to weaken the Iranians, whatever the danger to themselves. 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Price: $ 1 State/Province: Florida Zip/Postal Code: 34747 Seller State of Residence: Texas Location: 347**, Kissimmee, Florida You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Texas Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, RIA Novosti reported citing the Russian foreign ministry. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Elena Kosolapova - Trend: The 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) which took place in Baku on April 25- 27 was held in the conditions when the world needs a dialog and intercultural communication and Baku demonstrated that this is a very good venue for such a dialog, Sevil Mikayilova, editor-in-chief of Azernews newspaper, said at the Baku International Policy and Security Network think tank discussions. Mikayilova noted that earlier Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan is not just geographically bridge Europe and Asia but it is also a cultural bridge connecting these two continents. She noted that the Forum gave an equal opportunity for all ethnicities, religions and nations to come and represent themselves and to voice their opinions about the global challenges. And from this point of view it was really important and that the UN high representatives sent there an important message saying that the youth should not be involved in dangerous tendencies of the world, Mikayilova said. She noted that the forum gave very important messages to the world urging to stop conflicts, violence and terror. Mikayilova also stressed that this is very important that the Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations was held in a Muslim country. She noted that Azerbaijan has already hosted many forums, and tolerance, multiculturalism and protection of the multi confessional society were the main agenda of every forum. University of Georgia students and faculty gathered in Tate Plaza on Thursday afternoon to mourn the four students who died in a car crash Wednesday night. Close to 100 people gathered in the plaza to pray for the dead, as well as a fifth student still in critical condition at Athens Regional Medical Center. Close President Jere Morehead solemnly addressed a teary-eyed crowd of hundreds who gathered in the Tate Student Center Plaza today to mourned the loss of Kayla Canedo, Britany Feldman, Christina Semeria and Halle Scott, who died in a car wreck Wednesday night in Oconee County. Thursday Dave Rawlings Machine Award-winning guitarist and songwriter Dave Rawlings will come to the Georgia Theatre with his band on Thursday evening. Rawlings is known for his bluegrass-folk style and intricate guitar playing. Tickets are $27.50 in advance and $30 at the door, and the show starts at 8 p.m. Athens-Clarke County police are searching for an inmate who walked away from his work detail earlier today, according to a press release. The Kayla Canedo enjoyed helping others, according to those close to her. She was a loved University of Georgia student by family, friends and co-workers. Details added (first version posted on 13:21) Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Seba Aghayeva - Trend: Azerbaijan and Malta have discussed the future cooperation matters, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said Apr.29. Mammadyarov made the remarks during the briefing following the talks with his Maltese counterpart George William Vella in Baku. Azerbaijan and Malta signed documents on cooperation in customs sphere, youth policy and an agreement on consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, said the minister. The parties also discussed the prospects for cooperation in energy sphere. Mammadyarov pointed out that Malta will take over the presidency in the Council of the European Union in 2017. Vella, in turn, said that a new stage of relations will start between Azerbaijan and Malta. "There are many promising spheres of cooperation which can be beneficial for both countries," he said. Vella noted that Malta is a suitable country for cooperation in the economic sphere. "I would like to take this opportunity to invite Azerbaijani businessmen to establish cooperation with Malta," he said. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Malta neared $142 million in 2015, according to Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee. This is while the trade turnover between the two countries neared $13.3 million in the first quarter of 2016, or almost twice more than in the same period in 2015. There are fewer black students than there are faculty members at the University of Georgia, but Jamari Jordan would not want to be anywhere else. Halle Scott demonstrated her faith in God daily and was looked up to by many friends and even those who had just become acquainted with her. FILE - In this May 10, 2007 file photo Hungarian writer Imre Kertesz speaks during the opening of the Book Basel fair in Basel, Switzerland. Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Prize for Literature for fiction largely drawn from his very real experience as a teenage prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, has died Thursday, March 31, 2016. He was 86. (Georgios Kefalas/Keystone via AP, file) SHARE By PABLO GORONDI, Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Imre Kertesz, the Hungarian writer who won the 2002 Nobel Prize for Literature for a body of fiction largely drawn from his experience as a teenage prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, died Thursday. He was 86. Book publishing firm Magveto Kiado said Kertesz died last month at his Budapest home after a long illness. "His death is an immeasurable loss not just for Hungarian culture but for universal culture, as well," Hungary's Ministry of Human Resources said in a statement. Germany, where Kertesz lived for a long time before returning to Hungary a few years ago, also paid tribute. "Through his work, Imre Kertesz brought a new tone to the remembrance of the darkest years of our history," said Germany's culture minister, Monika Gruetters. "As a witness, he wrote with great literary mastery of his harrowing experiences at the concentration camp. His books ... are his legacy and will remain unforgotten and haunting history books for future generations." In a statement, Gruetters noted "the esteem that he showed for Germans despite his bitter experiences," which she said found "noble expression" in his decision to entrust his archive to the Academy of Arts in Berlin. Kertesz was only 14 when he was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland in 1944. He survived that camp and later was transferred to the Buchenwald camp from where he was liberated in 1945. "As a child you have a certain trust in life. But when something like Auschwitz happens, everything falls apart," he once said. Yet Kertesz also made a startling confession that he experienced "my most radical moments of happiness" while at Auschwitz. "You cannot imagine what it's like to be allowed to lie in the camp's hospital, or to have a 10-minute break from indescribable labor," he told Newsweek magazine in a 2002 interview. "To be very close to death is also a kind of happiness. Just surviving becomes the greatest freedom of all." After returning to his native Budapest, Kertesz eked out a living working as a journalist and translator. Distrusted by the communist authorities who ruled Hungary after World War II, he spent his time translating into Hungarian the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Elias Canetti in a small apartment overlooking the Danube River. Influenced by the postwar existentialist novels of Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre, Kertesz was fascinated by the fate of the individual in an often totalitarian environment, where others decided his destiny. "I am a non-believing Jew," Kertesz once said in an interview. "Yet as a Jew I was taken to Auschwitz. I belong to those Jews whom Auschwitz turned into Jews." "Fateless," the novel that together with other works won him the 2002 Nobel, finally appeared in 1975 after a decade-long struggle to have it published. It was largely ignored, both by the communist authorities and the public in a country where awareness of the Holocaust remained negligible, despite the murder of around 500,000 Hungarian Jews by the Nazis and their Hungarian henchmen. According to Kertesz, the quasi-taboo status suffered by "Fateless" for so long may have been rooted in the fact that despite its Holocaust theme, the book also reflected Hungary's totalitarian communist system. "I wrote 'Fateless' about the Kadar regime," Kertesz said in an interview with the Hungarian weekly Elet es Irodalom, referring to communist dictator Janos Kadar, who ruled Hungary until shortly before the democratic changes of 1990. "Whoever lived in the Hungary of the 1970s had to notice immediately that the author (of "Fateless") knew the present and despised it," Kertesz said. To Kertesz, the process of adaptation to the Holocaust described in his book could just as well be applied to what happened to people in Hungary after the failed anti-communist revolution of 1956. In its citation for the Nobel Prize, the Swedish Academy also recognized this element of Kertesz's writing. "Kertesz's message is that to live is to conform," the academy said. "Individual experience seems useless as soon as it is considered in the light of the needs and interests of the human collective." Others said Kertesz's work could also be seen as a study of all repressive regimes. "Kertesz's significance was that in some sense he formulated the essence of totalitarianism," said Gabor T. Szanto, a writer and editor of Szombat, a Jewish cultural magazine. Numerous other novels, continuing the themes of the Holocaust, dictatorship and personal freedom, appeared throughout the 1980s and 1990s, winning Kertesz professional respect but failing to gain him a wider audience. All that changed upon his winning the Nobel, which suddenly propelled him to domestic and international fame. His infrequent personal appearances in Hungary in wake of the Nobel Prize were a massive success, with hundreds of people standing in line for hours to get his autograph on their copies of his books. In his Nobel acceptance speech, Kertesz claimed with typical self-irony that he wrote only for himself. "I didn't have an audience and didn't want to influence anyone," he said. In literary circles, he was regarded as a jovial companion, with a harsh, no-nonsense critical eye. A typical gesture was his refusal to support a statue being raised in his honor alongside that of other Hungarian Nobel winners. Still, Kertesz's Nobel victory, making him the first Hungarian to win the literature prize, caused great resentment among some Hungarians who would have preferred that a non-Jewish countryman get the honor instead. "Fateless," however, was later incorporated into Hungary's high school curriculum and Kertesz was awarded several state honors. Kertesz described "Liquidation," published in 2003, as his "last novel about the Holocaust." Set during Hungary's transition from communism to democracy in 1989, he said it was about "people who did not experience the Holocaust directly the second generation, who still have to deal with the Holocaust." Among his other books were "Fiasco" (1988) and "Kaddish For A Child Not Born" (1990) which formed a trilogy with "Fateless" "Someone Else" (1997), "The K File" (2006), an autobiographical novel, and "Europe's Depressing Heritage" (2008). Magveto Kiado said that during the last months of his life, even while ill, Kertesz helped prepare "The Viewer," a selection of his diary entries between 1991 and 2001 which was published this month in Hungary. A film version of "Fateless," directed by Lajos Koltai and for which Kertesz wrote the screenplay, premiered in Hungary in 2005. He is survived by his second wife, Magda. ___ Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. Elizabeth Fyre, life enrichment and volunteer coordinator, assists John Robison, 85, with his iPod as his wife, Rooney Robison 83, talks about the music her husband likes. (T. Ortega Gaines/Charlotte Observer/TNS) SHARE By Karen Garloch, The Charlotte Observer CHARLOTTE, N.C. It happens all the time. You cant recall the lyrics to a familiar song until you hear the music. Then the words come flowing back, as if youd never forgotten. This phenomenon is at the heart of a new program at Southminster retirement community that uses personally meaningful music and digital technology to improve the quality of life for people whose memories are fading. Its working for John Robison, 85, a retired Charlotte businessman who lives in the south Charlotte complex. He suffers from dementia and has trouble with short-term memory. But when he dons the ear phones to his iPod, his foot starts tapping and his eyes light up in recognition of songs by the crooners Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Robisons wife, Rooney, 83, who also lives at Southminster, loves watching her husband get pleasure from the music. Its so important for people with prolonged memory problems to be able to relate to something in the world that they can still enjoy, she said. Every connection you can make is rewarding for the family. Southminster is the first retirement center in Mecklenburg County to be certified to use the Music & Memory program, which is the subject of a documentary Alive Inside, about how music therapy can ease the suffering of people with Alzheimers disease. The idea is that songs associated with important personal events can trigger memory for people with dementia, Parkinsons disease and other diseases that damage brain chemistry. Calming music can enable the listener to focus and regain a connection to others. And ideally, it can also help replace or reduce the use of medicines for anxiety and depression. At Southminster, four residents so far have been outfitted with iPods specifically programmed with music that has personal meaning. The center has also provided a $1,000 grant to train others to provide the music program at PACE of the Southern Piedmont, a nonprofit health care provider that helps the frail elderly remain in their homes. In the next month, 10 PACE clients will be using iPods. Alive Inside tells the story of Dan Cohen, a New York social worker who founded Music & Memory in 2010. A few years earlier, Cohen had the idea to use iPods, which had been growing in popularity, to provide personalized music for nursing home residents. It was a hit with residents, staff and families and became the prototype for a bigger effort. With a foundation grant in 2008, Cohen brought 200 iPods to residents of four New York long-term care facilities. Then came the documentary which made the program famous when a video clip of Henry, a nursing home resident reawakened by listening to his Cab Calloway favorites, went viral. Since the founding of Music & Memory, hundreds of care facilities throughout the United States and Canada have implemented personalized music programs. Alive Inside, the film by director Michael Rossato-Bennett, won the audience award for top U.S. documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014. Rossato-Bennett is making a new film, tentatively called Alive Inside 2, that takes a deeper look at human connections and personalized music by focusing on the relationship between elders and children. MUSIC THERAPY ISNT NEW Southminster, like other long-term care centers, has long been using music in group therapy before beginning to distribute iPods to individuals. On a recent morning, a group of about a dozen residents some wheelchair-bound and not very responsive listened to music and singing led by Madeline Chandler, Life Enrichment Program coordinator. Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do, she sang. Im half crazy, over my love for you. Chandler moved around the room, sharing the microphone. It wont be a stylish marriage, sang one man in a wheelchair. I cant afford a carriage. The woman next to him finished the verse: But youll look sweet, upon the seat, of a bicycle built for two. Reactions varied, but one woman in the room who rarely talks opened her eyes and began dancing with her feet. As the music continued, more people gathered at the door, drawn by the tunes from an earlier generation In the Good Old Summertime, Aint She Sweet, Let Me Call You Sweetheart. Chandler said: Music is something they will come out for. STILL SOMETHING THERE Elizabeth Frye, Southminsters life enrichment and volunteer coordinator, is particularly excited about the new Music & Memory program because its so personalized. Compiling a play list of meaningful music for an individual is like writing a biography, she said. It takes time to interview the family and find the right songs. You have to become a detective, Frye said. You need to make sure its a song that has meaning. The first Southminster resident to get an iPod was a 67-year-old man who had suffered a massive stroke that left him bedridden. Frye said he was chosen because he was refusing to eat, was having a lot of pain and beginning to withdraw from others. When a staffer asked the man to choose songs for his iPod, he wrote out a long list, including an emphasis on songs he didnt want, such as Who Let the Dogs Out? He stayed up late adding to it every night, Frye said. He would call his wife, excited that he thought of a new one to add. It gave him something else to focus on beside his pain. Just creating the list improved his outlook. He started eating more and being more social. He died unexpectedly only four weeks after getting the iPod. But during the time he participated, Frye said, His quality of life drastically changed. MUSIC GETS FOOT TAPPING John Robison, a banker who ran his own executive search firm in Charlotte, was the second Southminster resident to receive an iPod through the program. The centers staff chose him because they knew hed had a deep connection with music throughout his life. Rooney Robison told them he used to sing in his Presbyterian church choir and also played the clarinet. When Frye sat down with the Robisons to download music, she made choices based partly on John Robisons body language. If the song got his foot tapping, it was a keeper. He seemed to enjoy a wide array of music, from the Mills Brothers to Mozart, Luciano Pavarotti to Andrea Bocelli, and Onward Christian Soldiers to the UNC Chapel Hill fight song. Only 29, Frye didnt know some of the songs Robison liked. But shes enjoyed learning about new music and watching his response. She said hes coming out of his room more often and enjoying other music programs at the center. Rooney Robison is also pleased: Im just so glad hes getting a chance to have something in his life that is like in the old days. 2016 The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) Visit The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) at www.charlotteobserver.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Pictured is guide Dave Jacobs with an incredible 43-pound king salmon that was caught from a past guided Sacramento River king salmon fishing trip. SHARE Sacramento River salmon season We have some tremendous salmon fishing news to report about this year's Sacramento River salmon season. It is now official as the California Department of Fish and Game Commission has approved and announced this year's 2016 Sacramento River salmon season. This year the Sacramento River will receive a full salmon fishing season with a two king salmon per person daily bag limit, as reported by Sacramento River salmon fishing guide Dave Jacobs. This year salmon fishing will officially open one hour before sunrise on July 16, 150 feet below the Sycamore Boat Launch in Red Bluff. The upper reaches of the Sacramento River will officially open Aug. 1 from the Deschutes Bridge near Anderson downriver to the Carquinez Bridge. This year the salmon season will remain open through Dec.16. This is welcome news for some of the greatest and most prized salmon fishing on the West Coast. The Sacramento River is home of the California record king salmon an incredible 88-pound king salmon. Sacramento River stripers This spring's striper fishing on the Sacramento River has been going very well with daily limits of large Sacramento River stripped bass. Most of the action has been from Colusa downriver through Verona as the Sacramento River is very low due to minimal releases from Keswick Dam and high volumes of irrigation pumping from the lower Sacramento River. Stripers mostly 18 to 24 inches are coming in daily with some very large female stripers 15 to 25 pounds coming in as well. Drifting live jumbo minnows has been working best in the daytime while black worms or white swim baits are working at night. The Coleman National Fish Hatchery has released the remaining 6 million fall-run juvenile salmon smolt into the Sacramento River. With low flows coupled with the massive irrigation pumping, the lower Sacramento River from Butte City downriver through Verona is extremely low, leaving exposed sand and gravel bars across the river. This is setting the stage for an incredible striper fishing as the smolts arrive in the lower Sacramento River. Striper fishing should be incredible as the stripers feed day and night on the hatchery salmon smolt just like last month when the first round of hatchery Sacramento River salmon smolt were released. Sacramento fishing.com fishing guide Dave Jacobs has witnessed countless striper boils as the spawning stripers have fed around the clock on the salmon smolts from Butte City downriver through Verona. This week's Sacramento River fishing report is courtesy of Dave Jacobs Professional Guide Service. For more local river fishing information or to book your fishing vacation, call Jacobs at 530-646-9110 or go to his website at www.sacramentofishing.com. SHARE By Joe Szydlowski of the Redding Record Searchlight New details have emerged in the case of four adults, one of whom worked for a boys and girls club, who are accused of having sex with a Gerber teen in Red Bluff and other places. Michael Flowerdew, 20, Thomas Christopher Seagraves, 21, Bryan Morrison, 19, all of Red Bluff, and Alexander Chance Isaacson, 19, of Gridley, were arrested April 19 on various sex-related charges after more than a monthlong investigation, police Sgt. Aaron Murray said in a written statement. A suspicious circumstance between the 14-year-old male victim and Seagraves led a school resource officer to pursue an investigation that included reviewing more than 26,000 text and social media messages sent over eight months. On April 19, officers searched the four suspects' homes and arrested them, Murray said. Flowerdew, Seagraves and Isaacson have pleaded not guilty. Morrison has yet to be arraigned and posted bail. Flowerdew posted bail as well. According to his Facebook profile, Seagraves worked in some capacity with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley, which serve Chico, Paradaise, Magalia and Oroville. Seagraves is a former employee, Joe Hejl, the organization's Chief Operations Officer, said Thursday afternoon. He declined to discuss Seagraves' role, tenure and reason for leaving the charity, which encourages career development, healthy living and citizenship among those age 6 to 18. "It's a personnel issue and confidential," he said. Staff and volunteers are not allowed to be alone with any children for any reason, he said. He said the applicant screening process includes the Department of Justice and FBI live-scan background checks with offender and sex offender registry reviews, examinations of Butte County Superior Court records and speaking with all references. "The safety and well-being of our kids is our first priority," he said. The complaint filed against Seagraves lists four counts of transporting a minor to engage in a lewd act, one of meeting a minor for lewd purposes, one for having oral sex with a minor, one for sodomy with a minor and contacting a known minor for sex. The dates for the charges range from Aug. 1, 2015, to Jan. 31, 2016. As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, he was in the Tehama County Jail with a bail of $1.35 million. The complaint against Isaacson accuses him of meeting a minor for lewd purposes, sodomy of a minor, oral sex with a minor, and contacting a known minor for sex. His next hearing will be May 9 and his preliminary hearing is May 10. He remains in Tehama County Jail as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday with a bail set at $505,000. Both men's preliminary hearings have been scheduled for May 10, with a status conference the day before. Flowerdew's complaint accuses him of meeting a minor for lewd purposes and contacting a known minor in October and November. It also accuses him of having oral sex with and sexually penetrating a minor around Oct. 3. His preliminary hearing is set for June 7. Morrison posted bail before his arraignment, which is now set for May 24. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight UC President Janet Napolitano addresses an audience at Shasta College on Friday. SHARE University of California President Janet Napolitano, who also served as Homeland Security secretary for President Barack Obama, will address the UC system's role in California and encourage students to consider her network of schools. Check here for live updates from Friday's talk. The event starts at noon at the school's theater and is free to the public, but seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. SHARE By Damon Arthur of the Redding Record Searchlight Yreka has long been known as a timber town. At one time there were six lumber mills in the area. But like many towns across the West, Yreka suffered as the timber industry went through upheaval during the early 1990s. Now there are only two mills in town. But local officials are trying to turn things around. They are working with researchers who are looking into using the area's proximity to forests and existing mill sites to bring a nanocellulose processing plant to Yreka. "They are interested in being a little bit more of a part of the future than of the past," said Alan Rudie, a chemist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. The lab is taking the lead into research on nanocellulose applications, as well as the effort to see if opening a processing plant in Yreka could be feasible. Nanocellulose fibers and crystals are microscopic materials derived from wood that can be used in such diverse applications as plastics, glass and concrete, according to Dan Blessing, natural resources officer for the Klamath National Forest. When added to materials such as concrete and plastics they become lighter and stronger. It can even be used to coat fruits to retard spoilage. A processing plant would use smaller trees and other wood products from the forest. The wood goes through grinding and chemical treatments to create nanocellulose material, Blessing said. Grace Bennett, Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors chairwoman, said that in its refined state, nanocellulose resembles powdered sugar. While nanocellulose materials make products lighter and stronger, it would also be good for Siskiyou County's economy by creating more jobs, Bennett said. The materials could help timber companies find a way to earn a profit from using smaller trees and other materials such as limbs and sawdust that are now considered waste, Bennett said. Removing smaller trees and brush from forests also makes them healthier and less prone to large, catastrophic fires, Forest Service officials said. Numerous communities across the West are located near forest lands, have access to water and other facilities to build a nanocellulose facility, Blessing said. But Blessing said Yreka is the only community in the United States working with the forest lab on the nanocellulose pilot project. "They could just as well say 'I could put one of these things in Burney,'" Blessing said. Yreka, however, was chosen simply because officials there asked, Rudie said. Bennett said she went to a meeting a year or so ago where she listened to a speech by Randy Moore, Forest Service director for California and Hawaii. Part of his speech covered nanocellulose technology. After the speech, Bennett said she approached him and told him she wanted the facility in Yreka. It wasn't long after that, Moore and a team of other Forest Service officials and scientists were visiting Yreka. About once every three months, researchers, scientists and officials with the Forest Service continue to visit Siskiyou County to provide updates on the project, she said. Rudie said there are several feasibility studies yet to complete before the project is ready to consider for private funding. If it is determined feasible and investors are interested, plant construction would likely not begin for another five to 10 years, he said. "I just think it's a super-neat deal for this county and for Yreka. To be the pilot project for this is very exciting," Bennett said. SHARE By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight The California Medical Association has joined a Redding woman's ongoing lawsuit against Mercy Medical Center in Redding, a Catholic hospital where she was denied a tubal ligation after a cesarean delivery. The CMA, a medical advocacy organization that represents more than 41,000 physicians in California, joined Rebecca Chamorro, 33, and Physicians for Reproductive Health, a national nonprofit that advocates for comprehensive reproductive health care policies, in the lawsuit backed by the American Civil Liberties Union. Dr. Ruth Haskins, president-elect of CMA, said religious directives set forth by Catholic hospitals directly affect her colleagues who work in the obstetrics and gynecology fields. Dignity Health hospitals, such as Mercy in Redding, operate according to the Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs). And according to those directives, procedures such as sterilization are labeled "intrinsically evil" and not permitted in a Catholic healthcare institution. Haskins said Dignity has "inconsistently applied" the ERDs by allowing some women to have postpartum tubal ligation. In August 2015, Rachel Miller of Redding was denied the procedure despite it being recommended by her doctor. After she presented her case to ACLU, a demand letter was sent to Mercy, and her request was granted. Chamorro was denied the procedure in December. The ACLU filed a lawsuit on her behalf in January, requesting a temporary restraining order against Dignity to bar the implementation of the religious directives for her care. But the courts sided with Dignity, and Chamorro delivered her baby in January without undergoing the procedure. She is now seeking damages against Dignity. Haskins said the lawsuit is not about the religious directives that Dignity follows, but as a corporation, Dignity Health is "jumping over medical staff" by making medical decisions, which she asserts is against the law. She said in California there is a "bar on corporations practicing medicine." "We're not attacking the ERDs," she said. "We just want injunctive relief over the procedure." She said the cost to the hospital to perform the procedure is "essentially zero," and the alternative choice is to undergo surgery again, which is another "anesthetic event." Dignity Health is the fifth largest health system in the nation and the largest hospital provider in California, with 29 hospitals in the state. And as they grow, the ACLU continues to hear about cases similar to Chamorro's. "This is an issue that is resonating with people in Redding and out of Redding," said Phyllida Burlingame, Reproductive Justice Policy Director at ACLU. "It just points to the fact that this is a problem." Burlingame said religious directives should in no way "trump medical decisions." "The best decisions for patients are made for by medical doctors, not businesses," she said. The hearing is scheduled for May 25 in San Francisco to determine whether CMA will be allowed as a party to the case. Michelle McClain, head cook at Turtle Bay Elementary School, has been named one of the six California Classified Employees of the year by the state superintendent. SHARE Michelle McClain, head cook at Turtle Bay Elementary School, left, talks to Kathy Wiedemann, cafeteria assistant, Wednesday, in the school's kitchen. McClain has been named one of the six California Classified Employees of the year by the state superintendent. By Alayna Shulman of the Redding Record Searchlight As head cook for Turtle Bay Elementary School, Michelle McClain's job is to serve up nutritious meals to 850 or so students every day. But McClain's reputation at the school goes far beyond food. "A lot of parents know her by name, and they've made it a point to tell me something special or exceptional that she's done for the kids," Principal A.J. Anderson said. That's one of the reasons Anderson nominated McClain for the state Department of Education's Classified Employee of the Year contest, which McClain and five other employees throughout California won out of over 100 nominees. "It's quite an honor," said McClain, of Palo Cedro, who won for the "child nutrition" category. "The kindergartners coming through and saying, 'Congratulations' is the best, because they can barely pronounce the word; it's really cute." Indeed, Anderson said McClain's relationship with the children is what really made her stand out as a potential nominee. When a new parent told Anderson at the beginning of the year that her son was a slow eater, Anderson said MClain's response was a simple: "I'll take care of it." Sure enough, when Anderson would go to check on the boy at lunchtime, "Michelle was always sitting next to him and taking the time to build a positive relationship, and not hurrying him out." Particularly because her job doesn't require as much direct contact with children as a teacher's might, Anderson said McClain's dedication to the students is admirable. "She's all about the kids," Anderson said. "That's what separates her from a lot of people." McClain has worked at Turtle Bay for five years. She said part of her job strategy is making sure the kids don't just eat healthy food, but want to eat it. "We have guidelines that we need to go by, and with that, I try to be very conscientious that they have a wide variety of choices," she said. "They have to have their fruits and vegetables, but we try to make it visually appealing." For example, McClain said dicing fruit and serving it in individual bowls tends to draw kids to it, and having an intentionally colorful salad bar has a similar effect. "(Presentation) really matters; it really does," McClain said. "I think that's very attracting for kids." In announcing the winners of the contest, state Superintendent of Public Schools Tom Torlakson said the winning classified employees such as McClain, "represent the very best of the best." In a press release on the winners, Torlakson noted how McClain also makes efforts to replace sugary treats with fruit and reduce sodium in menu items, and she even models "lifelong learning" by taking community college classes and "bettering herself so she can better the lives of those she impacts daily." McClain and the five other winners who are from Orange, Napa, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus counties will be honored at a May 16 luncheon in Sacramento. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of a new building of Aghsu District Central Hospital. President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the building. Minister of Health Ogtay Shiraliyev informed the head of state that the construction of the 160-bed hospital started in 2012 and was completed late in 2015. The hospital occupies a total area of three hectares. The hospital consists of the main building, a 15-bed tuberculosis prophylaxis center and an infectious diseases block. There are surgery, pediatrics, anesthesiology and intensive care departments in the hospital, which is supplied with modern medical equipment. President Ilham Aliyev met with local residents. Then a picture was taken. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight UC President Janet Napolitano addresses an audience at Shasta College on Friday. SHARE University of California President Janet Napolitano on Friday told a crowd at Shasta College that getting a UC in Redding anytime soon isn't going to happen, but there are growing opportunities for local students to either attend an existing UC or get the experience right here in town. "From everything I've heard, the push (for a UC in Redding) goes on today," Napolitano said to cheers from the crowd. But, "Until the university receives full state funding for the existing 10 campuses...another brick-and-mortar campus still lies in the future," she said. Still, Napolitano detailed her plan to enroll 10,000 more students in the UC system over the next three years, and "I want to be very clear: We want students from every county of California," she said. To do that, Napolitano said her department has a new plan to ease transfer of community college students into the UC system. While noting that the new transfer guideline doesn't guarantee admission, "what it does do is make the transfer process straightforward and transparent." She also detailed the satellite programs UC has in Shasta County, including forestry and medical opportunities. "A public research university like UC is not limited to its physical campuses," she said. Financial aid programs that help kids got to UCs also came up, including the Blue and Gold Opportunity Program. While she said aid is out there, she also expressed the importance of paying for an education when no alternatives exist. "It's the price of a low- to medium-priced car, and unlike cars, which go down in value when you drive them off the lot, a university education appreciates in value," she said. Napolitano also addressed criticism of the UC system's enrollment of many students from outside California, which some say puts local kids at a disadvantage. "That was the best option at that time," Napolitano said of increased outside enrollment, which translates to more money for the schools. But she noted how the three schools with the most out-of-state students have had caps ordered so that more California students can attend. Two organisations tracking tax violations and money laundering worldwide identify totally different sets of countries for lack of financial transparency, Subhomoy Bhattacharjee. Tax havens sprang up in the aftermath of World War I, as the moneyed in Europe felt the need to spread their risks beyond Switzerland. Since they were the ones financing the war, protection of their wealth seemed a fair demand to make on the Eurocentric world economy. Post World War II, as many Asian and African countries dropped a dragnet of capital controls around themselves, more havens emerged. The developments in either end of the wars were restrictions imposed on the flow of capital. In their business models the centres were not alone in being less than transparent in how they stashed their clients' money. The Tax Justice Network (TJN) in its report for 2015 has identified the top financial centres of the world, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore, as the "most non-transparent jurisdictions" hosting dubious financial activities. The tax havens of Seychelles, Mauritius and the British Virgin Islands come lower in the order. Using almost the same measurement tools, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) identifies a totally different set of countries, mostly war-torn, as running with "strategic deficiencies" and who are thus a threat to global financial flows. These include Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Korea, Iraq and Myanmar. TJN is one of the most respected global campaigners for tracking tax violations. FATF combines membership by governments of 35 countries to fix global money laundering and nip support for financing of terrorism. How one reads the Panama Papers controversy depends on which ranking one believes makes the cut. Because at its heart the issue is how capital should move across borders. The difference also shapes the problems in countering the leaks in the flow of global finance that the Panama Papers have thrown up. Going with a sledgehammer doesn't; intelligent sharing of information works better. Because what constitutes kosher flow of funds across nations routed through shell companies is dubious according to FATF only if the intention is to finance illegal activities. It recognises that capital will flow across boundaries and seek better tax options. For civil society led by TJN, the very act of the flow is often dubious, predicated on tax avoidance, even without any reference to the end use. For instance, applying the TJN standards, India ranks 45th on the score of tax secrecy; a lower rank is better on this scale. "India accounts for slightly under 1.5 per cent of the global market for offshore financial services, making it a large player compared with other secrecy jurisdictions", the latest report notes. Not exactly what successive Indian governments would be willing to accept. Yet it is also true that till 2013 India was not good enough to get membership of the FATF. To get membership India had to redraw a huge set of rules to obtain information from within its regulators and market players. And this is despite the fact that India till recently ran one of the toughest quantitative controls on outward flow of capital. Those controls only spurred moneyed people to seek tax shelters abroad. In fact, in 2011-12 the Panama government offered India a tax deal. As New Delhi reached out to Panama to share some of those tax details, the country instead offered an apparently better one. It promised to sign a double taxation avoidance agreement. Panama was willing to share details of tax shelters it was offering to companies and individuals but in return would India offer a capital gains tax shelter to those companies? In 1982, India had signed a similar deal with Mauritius, where tax authorities didn't ask for the provenance of the papers the foreign investors came in with. And Panama was not the only tax haven to notice it. Liechtenstein, Seychelles and Bahrain, too, came up with similar proposals. Between Mauritius and Panama, India had signed up on more than 70 such double tax avoidance agreements. By 2012, New Delhi realised that tracking dubious flows of capital is served better by signing simpler tax information exchange agreements on tax paid or mostly not paid, by its residents. Panama didn't show up for discussions after that. India's coming of age on tracking of capitals was prodded by discussions with the FATF, which advised governments like India not to commit to fresh mutual tax avoidance treaties with low-tax countries but obtain agreements to share tax information. Simultaneously, India also wrote a set of counter-avoidance measures in Budget 2011. There was to be flat 30 per cent tax at source on any domestic entity that transacted with countries like Panama, classified as non-cooperative jurisdictions. But now, instead of this FATF-promoted tracking system that weeds out the Panamas of the world from making inroads into the high street of global capital, do we adopt the TJN approach? By this logic it would seem there is hardly any major economy into and from where a movement of capital would be considered fair game, by all concerned. Under it all, the recent tax treaties India has subsequently signed or updated with Singapore and the USA become apparently complicit in supposedly dubious flows of capital. The next step from there is to ask for redoing of all the myriad international treaties for tax treatment. The calls for capital controls going up in volume, as a sub-argument of the current revelations, are movements in that direction. This brings up the pertinent observation made by Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan on de-legitimisation of entrepreneurial wealth. "Increasingly, there is talk about whether entrepreneurial wealth is illegitimate, whether self-made people should have what they have and whether that is something of a fair game," he said at Confederation of Indian Industry's Singapore Symposium this month. Unless these issues are sorted out, even the currently accepted legitimate flows of capital across national borders would soon run the risk of getting a dirty tag. ICICI Bank had posted a post-tax net of Rs 3,084 crore on a consolidated basis in the January-March quarter of last fiscal. ICICI Bank on Friday reported its worst numbers in over a decade with consolidated net profit plunging 87 per cent in the March quarter at Rs 406.71 crore (Rs 4.06 billion) due to a spike in provisioning for bad loans. Higher provisioning is in view of the Reserve Bank's asset quality review (AQR) as well as expectations of further bad loan issues at the country's largest private sector lender. The Chanda Kochhar-led bank had posted a post-tax net of Rs 3,084 crore on a consolidated basis in the January-March quarter of last fiscal, and Rs 3,122 crore (Rs 31.22 billion) in the preceding quarter, when it started recognising the effects of bad loans following the AQR. On a standalone basis, the bank's net profit tanked 76 per cent to Rs 701.89 crore (Rs 7.01 billion) from Rs 2,922 crore (Rs 29.22 billion) a year ago. Profit for the reporting quarter eroded on setting aside of Rs 3,600 crore (Rs 36 billion) towards "collective contingency and related reserves", above the RBI-mandated provisions in view of the stress it expects from the iron & steel, mining, rigs, power and cement sectors in the future, the bank said. As of the December quarter, ICICI Bank, which is one of the two systemically important lenders (the other being SBI), did not have a counter-cyclical buffer unlike its private sector peers. "The weak global economic environment, downturn in the commodity cycle and the gradual nature of the domestic economic recovery has adversely impacted borrowers. It may take some more time for the resolutions to be worked out," Kochhar, managing director and chief executive, told reporters in a concall. She did not specify the contribution of the five stressful sectors to the loan book and said it will be some time before they recover. The bank saw loans worth Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion) slipping into NPAs during the March quarter, taking the gross NPA ratio to 5.82 per cent, from 3.78 per cent a year-ago and from 4.72 per cent at the end of the preceding quarter. This led to a near three-fold spike in provisioning as per the norms to Rs 3,326.21 crore (Rs 33.26 billion) from Rs 1,344.73 crore (Rs 13.44 billion) in the year-ago period and Rs 2,844.05 crore (Rs 28.44 billion). The bank said as much as 60 per cent of the Rs 7,000 crore (Rs fresh slippages came in from the AQR, while Rs 2,700 crore (Rs 27 billion) came in from restructured assets slipping into NPAs. It continues to carry Rs 8,573 crore (Rs 85.73 billion) of restructured loans. Its smaller rival Axis Bank had also done a provisioning of Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) proactively and placed Rs 22,000 crore (Rs 220 billion) of corporate loans under a watch list fearing some stress, and reported a marginal 1 per cent dip in net income first time in 44 quarters. The first set of numbers from the larger private sector numbers underscore the fact that the bad loan issues are not just limited to state-run banks, which has reported massive drop in profits due to AQR in the December quarter, when the private players were better off. This was warned by American brokerage Morgan Stanley on Thursday in a note saying the NPA pains to linger throughout 2016-17 fiscal and that the AQR is not a "panacea" for the system. Joint committee cuts timeline from 60 to 45 days; suggests shield for employees Those filing for bankruptcy could find their assets in other countries assessed under Indian laws, if India implements the suggestions made by a parliamentary joint committee on the bankruptcy code. The joint committee on the insolvency and bankruptcy code has said since 'many corporate transactions and businesses today involve an international and cross-border element, the implications of cross-border insolvency cannot be ignored for too long.' The panel has suggested two new clauses and sub-clauses, which would require India to enter into agreements with foreign governments to enforce provisions of the code to debtors assets outside India as well. In its report, the panel said if a resolution professional or bankruptcy trustee decides that a debtors assets located abroad should be brought under the ambit of the law, then the adjudicating authority in the case should issue a letter of request to a court or an authority of the country in question. The draft bankruptcy Bill had no provision for cross-border insolvency, as the Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee and the finance ministry representatives had called the issue quite complex in their deliberations with the parliamentary panel. The draft Bill was made available in the public domain in November 2015, along with the report of the BLRC. It was presented in the Lok Sabha on the penultimate day of the winter session and immediately sent to a joint committee of both Houses. The committee comprises 20 members of the lower and 10 members of the upper Houses, respectively. It is headed by Rajya Sabha member Bhupender Yadav. It has also decided to cut the timeline for various processes during the course of insolvency, liquidation and bankruptcy, suggesting suggested that the time for filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against the order of the National Company Law Tribunal should be brought down to 45 days from the proposed 60 days. The parliamentary panel also said since a bankrupt entitys workers were some of the worst affected, their outstanding dues for a preceding period of 24 months should be given priority above all other debt. The draft Bill had this provision at three months, while the final Bill had provided for 12 months. Workers are the nerve centre of any company. In the event of any company becoming bankrupt, the workmen get adversely affected and, therefore, priority has to be given to their outstanding dues, the panel said. The panel also said operational creditors of an entity, such as workers, employees and suppliers, are not given any representation in the proposed committee of creditors which will deal with the bankruptcy proceedings. The committee is of the view that, if not voting rights, operational creditors at least should have presence in the committee of creditors to present their views on important issues, the report said. The panel also said the debtors outstanding dues to employees provident funds, pension funds and gratuity funds will not be included in the liquidation estate assets of the bankrupt so that these dues can be fulfilled. The bankruptcy law, which Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hopes will be passed in the ongoing Budget session, is a key part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led governments plans to improve Indias rankings in the 'ease of doing business' index. The Bill provides for a speedy process and a timeline of six to a maximum of nine months to deal with insolvency and enable winding-up of operations of a company or a limited-liability entity. It also proposes early identification of financial distress so that steps can be taken to revive an ailing company. Among other recommendations, the Bill suggests an insolvency regulator, for oversight over professionals in this regard. It lays down a transition provision during which the central government will exercise all the powers of the regulator till the time one is set up. This will enable quick starting of the process on the ground, without waiting for the proposed institutional structure to develop, the report states. The Bill recommends the existing Debt Recovery Tribunals be the adjudicating authority for individuals and unlimited liability partnership firms. The National Company Law Tribunal could serve as one for companies and limited-liability entities. It also proposes setting up of information utilities, to collect and collate financial information from listed companies and their creditors. IN THE FAST LANE The parliamentary joint committee on the bankruptcy code has recommended significant changes to the Bill Cross-border insolvency DRAFT BILL No provision. Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee had called it the next frontier, planned to take up this work in the next stage of deliberations RECOMMENDATIONS Committee suggests two clauses and two sub-clauses to deal with cross-border insolvency, including entering agreements with other nations and specifying, on a case-to-case basis, if a debtors assets outside the country should be brought under ambit of lawWorkers outstanding dues DRAFT BILL Wages and unpaid dues payable to workmen of the bankrupt for the whole or any part of the period of three months before the bankruptcy commencement date should be prioritised (later increased to 12 months) RECOMMENDATIONS Panel recommends increase in this clause to 24 months and says that workers get adversely affected if a company goes bankrupt Operational creditors (Workers, employees, suppliers) DRAFT BILL Given no representation in committee of creditors RECOMMENDATIONS Suggests if not voting rights, they should at least have a presence in committee of creditors Continuance of proceedings on death of bankrupt DRAFT BILL If bankrupt dies, the bankruptcy proceedings shall, unless the Adjudicating Authority directs otherwise, be continued as if he were alive RECOMMENDATIONS Panel says not inclined to give discretion on the matter to adjudicating authority. Suggests deletion of works Governments often request basic subscriber information, IP addresses or account content, including people's posts online Facebook Inc said on Thursday that government requests for account data increased by 13 per cent in the second half of 2015, with the United States and India topping the list. Government requests for account data increased to 46,763 from 41,214 in the first half of the year, the company said in a biannual report. The number of requests jumped 18 percent in the first half of the year. Government access to personal data from telephone and internet companies has become a bone of contention since former US. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified details of a program to collect bulk telephone metadata in 2013. Governments often request basic subscriber information, IP addresses or account content, including people's posts online. Facebook has about 1.65 billion regular users, or about one in every four people in the world. Facebook said about 60 per cent of requests in the United States had a non-disclosure order prohibiting the company from notifying the user of the government request. This was the first time Facebook has included details on non-disclosure orders since it started issuing the global requests reports in 2013. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters The prime minister sees himself as the "vikas purush". But realising his government's agenda for development requires not just a more efficient administration but also a credible implementation plan, says Nitin Desai. Why are so many economists writing about the current state of politics in India? Clearly they have not run out of things to say about the state of the economy and what needs to be done to accelerate growth and promote development. Yet one notices that the Delhi commentariat, in its private conversations and public pronouncements, sounds more concerned about the direction in which our politics seems to be moving than about the economy. One reason for the shift in attention by the economists who dispense gnana in the press and on TV could be that the hopes that some of them had for radical policy reforms from the new government have been belied by the parliamentary paralysis and a continuing populism fuelled by a near-continuous electoral fever. But lately, the views of commentators who otherwise were sympathetic to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government also show concerns about the atmosphere of divisiveness and intolerance that seems to be spreading. This columnist shares these concerns and hence this attempt to speak as a concerned citizen rather than as a professional expert. There are some positive developments on the economic policy front. A transparent and competitive auction regime has started functioning for assigning concessions to public resources, releasing us from the plague of high-level scams. Three crucial infrastructure ministries -- roads, railways and power and energy -- have energetic ministers who are working to accelerate investments and policy reform. The government has also announced schemes with catchy acronyms and ambitious goals on matters that affect people's lives more directly like sanitation, housing, urban development, health care, digital access, irrigation, agricultural marketing. The prime minister sees himself as the "vikas purush". But realising his government's agenda for development requires not just a more efficient administration but also a credible implementation plan. This will involve legislative changes for which it needs the cooperation of opposition parties who are in control of the Rajya Sabha. It needs the active cooperation of state governments whose fiscal independence has been greatly enhanced with the implementation of the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission. It must also mobilise the energies of local governance institutions and of civil society. But this will not happen if the ruling party's relations with the opposition are caught up in the acrimony of electoral battles and in destabilising opposition-run states, and if the public discourse is dominated by caste conflicts and debates about nationalism and identity. Right now, a different type of politics is far more important for the country than economic policy reform. From the perspective of a concerned citizen, three changes are required in the political tactics of the ruling party at the Centre. First, it must recognise the legitimacy and role of the opposition parties in governance and eschew slogans like "Congress-mukt Bharat". It must work out the necessary compromises to pass the laws it needs to fulfil its promises to the electorate. Complaining about the obduracy of the opposition in Parliament will be no defence when the ruling party seeks a second term, three years from now. After all, their own obduracy in the United Progressive Alliance-II regime did not prove to be a liability when they won the election in 2014. Second, its much touted policy of cooperative federalism must include some restraint on attempts to topple functioning state governments. This is particularly important for the development agenda as the effective control of the delivery systems for public interventions in most areas of development rests with the state governments. Expecting the cooperation of opposition-run states in implementing the government's alphabet soup of schemes is hardly possible if the ruling party's functionaries are bent on undermining their position by fair means or foul. Third, it must disown the extremists in its own ranks who treat as traitors anyone who does not support their narrow-minded nationalism and their desire to impose a singular religious identity on the idea of India. Those who sneer at the secularism and tolerance of diversity which was the foundation of our freedom struggle and which is written into our Constitution are the real anti-nationals. Despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that they have ruling regimes more sympathetic to their ideas, these lumpen elements often resort to violence to intimidate not just their political opponents but others who are not in the fray. One particular dimension of this conflict that is particularly disturbing is the confrontation between the narrow-nationalist right and the revolutionary left in our university campuses. There are several historical instances of such confrontations leading to a gradual erosion of democracy and freedom of expression and the emergence of dictatorships. Even if this fear is discounted because of the protection for fundamental rights in our Constitution and in our judicial processes, one must at least be concerned about the narrowing of young minds that will have to live in a world where economies, cultures and ecosystems are increasingly inter-connected across national boundaries. A narrow nationalism rooted in an upper-caste view of Hindu culture will be a disaster for a society that needs to reduce inequalities and discrimination and an economy that is increasing its global reach. Given the rich diversity of religion, language and ethnicity that is our strength, we need a civic nationalism which every Indian can espouse. To be an Indian must simply mean that you have the right of citizenship, nothing more and nothing less. The only loyalty that our nationalism should demand is to the letter and spirit of our Constitution, nothing more and nothing less. Given the emphasis on slogans in our political discourse. I end this plea for statesmanship and sanity in the political class by citing the second verse of the Indian National Army's anthem, which was a loose Hindi translation of Jana Gana Mana: Sab ke dil mein preet basaaey, teri meethi baani. Har sube ke rahne waale, har mazhab ke praani, Sab bhed aur farak mita ke, sab gaud mein teri aake, Goondhe prem ki mala, Suraj ban kar jag par chamke, bharat naam subhaga 'As I was getting out of my car at Haji Ali some activists charged towards me with lathis and knives.' 'Our presence forced the trustees to shut down the entrance earlier than usual. IMAGE: Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai outside the Haji Ali Dargah demanding the entry of women inside the sanctum sanctorum of the tomb. Photographs: Sahil Salvi After her successful campaign to gain entry for women at the Shani Shingnapur Temple near Shirdi, women's rights activist and Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai on Thursday, April 28, took her movement for gender equality to the Haji Ali Dargah in South Mumbai. Desai wanted Muslim women to be granted entry into the sanctum sanctorum of the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, but was stopped from entering the shrine, avoiding a showdown with the protesters who had gathered to block her. In 2011, trustees of the Haji Ali Dargah barred women from entering the interior of the tomb. The matter went to court and is still being heard. Desai spoke to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com about her organisation's efforts to overcome religious restrictions against women. What happened to your protest at the Haji Ali Dargah? The police did not allow us to enter Haji Ali. They claimed that there was a danger to my life and did not allow me to enter the tomb. They said there is a law and order problem and sent me to Pune under police protection. I am meeting my fellow activists in two days and on May 4 we will decide our next move. IMAGE: Desai alleges protesters working with the AIMIM attacked her car as it neared the dargah. Is it true that a mob beat you up outside Haji Ali? Yes. That is true. As I was getting out of my car at Haji Ali some activists from the AIMIM (the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) charged towards me with lathis and knives. In order to protect us, the police took our car ahead of the dargah. Were you afraid of the threats by AIMIM leader Haji Rafat Hussain who said he would throw ink on your face? No, I am not scared of him. I told him that he can go ahead and do whatever he wants. I told him I am going to protest irrespective of what he or what other people feel about my movement. If someone wants to throw ink on my face or even throw chappals at me I am not scared. Did the police give you adequate protection? No. The police did not give us proper protection. The matter is sub judice in a Mumbai court. Why are you insisting that women be allowed inside the Haji Ali Dargah? The Haji Ali matter has been in court since 2012. The Shani Shingnapur matter was in court since 2001. This (Haji Ali) matter can go on for another two years. Muslim women are demanding this (entry inside the sanctum sanctorum of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari's tomb). They want this to be implemented soon and have joined our movement. It is our duty to highlight this issue to the court and also to the government. The trustees of the Haji Ali Dargah told the court earlier that the entry of women in proximity to the grave of a male Muslim saint is considered a grievous sin. These trustees are lying. Before 2011 women were allowed to enter. Many women used to do that. It was only after 2011 that the trustees of Haji Ali refused entry to women. If you check you will find that the trustees of the Haji Ali Dargah are the same ones who are the trustees of the Makhdum Ali Mahim Dargah. Women are allowed entry inside the Mahim Dargah. The trustees are fooling the people. IMAGE: Desai has criticised the poor police presence outside the dargah. What do they gain by doing this? The Haji Ali Dargah trustees want to give second class treatment to women. They want to show their male dominance. It is said your movement for entry into the Haji Ali Dargah fizzled out in comparison to Shani Shingnapur. We were aggressive in this (Haji Ali) movement. You must have seen we tried to enter Haji Ali with all force. We were stopped by the police for two hours. We still sat there and agitated. And if you recall what happened on Thursday, you will find that the Haji Ali trustees shut down entry to the public at 7.30 pm. The Dargah usually shuts at 9.30 pm. However, our presence forced the trustees to shut the entrance earlier than usual. You did not turn up at the appointed time of protest at Haji Ali. Can you explain? I left Pune at 10.30 am. I got stuck at traffic in Dadar and was therefore late to reach Haji Ali. You also wanted to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. What happened? He did not meet me. I went to his house Varsha and protested about this issue. The police told me that since I had no appointment I could not meet him. The police detained me last night and released me from the Azad Maidan police station. IMAGE: The Haji Ali Dargah barred women from entering the interior of the tomb in a controversial 2011 decision. Photograph: Getty Images You've been criticised for not being your aggressive self when it comes to Muslim women's issues. That is untrue. We are aggressive in both cases. People who are opposing me write such things to undermine our efforts. We were aggressive at Haji Ali. If we were not aggressive we would have run away from Haji Ali when I was attacked there. But I did not run away from Haji Ali. I sat there for four hours and protested. We told the police that we would enter the Dargah even if you don't give us protection. We were as aggressive as we were at Shani Shingnapur, but some Hindus who oppose our movement want to defame us. I do not care about such things. It does not make a difference to our movement. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday gave notice in the Rajya Sabha for moving Breach of Privilege Motion against Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad over his remarks related to the AgustaWestland issue. The Congress also gave a breach of privilege notice in the Rajya Sabha against the Defence Ministry for issuing a statement on the chopper deal when Parliament is in session. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien told Swamy, who took oath as a nominated member on Tuesday, If you have given a privilege notice, there is a rule. The notice will be first examined by Chairman Hamid Ansari and if he finds a prima facie case, then the notice will be referred to the Privileges Committee. Earlier in the day, Swamy tweeted: Today I will seek to move a Breach of Privilege (motion) against Ghulam Nabi Azad for his falsely stating in the RS that the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) had blacklisted Finmeccanica (sic). On April 27, Azad had said in the House that the UPA government had blacklisted AgustaWestland. So, I would like to ask this question from the government. A company, AugustaWestland company, which was blacklisted by the UPA government, why did the Modi government allow this blacklisted company to take part in Make in India? Azad had said. Meanwhile, the Congress notice was given by MPs Shantaram Naik and Hussain Dalwai. The two contended that the statement on the issue should have been given in the House by the defence minister as the Rajya Sabha is in session, party sources said. According to Congress members, publishing of a clarification through a government website, therefore, constitutes a breach of privilege of the House and of the members, the sources said. The Defence Ministy had in a statement on Thursday refuted Congress claims that AgustaWestland was blacklisted by the UPA government and said it was the National Democratic Alliance, on July 3, 2014, that had actually put on hold all procurement and acquisition cases in the pipeline of six companies involved in the VVIP chopper scam. On the Congress allegation that the NDA gave clearance to a joint venture involving AgustaWestland through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, the ministry had said this proposal was approved on September 2, 2011 based on an application by Indian Rotorcraft Ltd, a joint venture of Tata Sons with AgustaWestlandNV, Netherlands. Image: BJP member Subramanian Swamy speaks in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo The Central Bureau of Investigation has called for questioning former Air chief S P Tyagi and former deputy Air chief J S Gujral in connection with its probe into the alleged corruption in Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. CBI sources said while Air Marshal (Retd) Gujral has been asked to appear for questioning on Saturday, Tyagi will be examined on Monday. Both have been questioned at length in 2013 but the fresh round of questioning was necessitated after April 7 order of an Italian court. The Milan Court of Appeals -- equivalent of Indian high courts -- has given details of how alleged bribes were paid by helicopter maker Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland to Indian officials through middlemen to clinch the deal. The order mentions the name of Tyagi at several points. The CBI which has received a copy of the Milan court order has now prepared a fresh set of questionnaire on the basis of the decision to put to Tyagi and Gujral. Tyagi has denied allegations against him and has claimed that the decision to reduce the ceiling was taken by a group of senior officials including Gujral, the CBI has so far maintained that Gujral was questioned as a witness but remain tightlipped if he will still retain the same status. The CBI had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the case. The allegation against the former Air chief was that he had reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from altitude ceiling requirement from 15,000ft so that AgustaWestland was included in the bids. However, this decision was taken in consultation with the officials of the Special Protection Guard and the Prime Minister's Office including the then National Security Adviser M K Narayanan. The CBI has alleged reduction of the service ceilingmaximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally -- allowed the United Kingdom-based firm to get into the fray as, otherwise, its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids. The agency had already questioned several bureaucrats including former cabinet secretary B K Chaturvedi and Comptroller and Auditor General Shashikant Sharma who was the then Defence Secretary, the then SPG chief B V Wanchoo and Narayanan who were all allegedly party to the decision to reduce the ceiling was allegedly finalised in 2005. The agency had also recorded statements of former Secretary (Security) at the cabinet secretariat Sudhir Kumar, former Inspector General, SPG N Ramachandran, who retired as DGP Meghalaya, and former Special Secretary (Acquisition) in the Defence Ministry H C Gupta. Image: Former Air chief S P Tyagi The Centre said in the Lok Sabha on Friday that it has issued notices to all the people named in the Panama Papers but tax laws do not allow the proceedings to be made public till cases are filed in courts. Responding to questions on tax evasion and black money, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Panama Papers leak case, notices have been issued to all those whose names have appeared. The minister explained that Section 138 of the Income Tax Act bars the proceedings of a case be made public till a case is filed in a court. Meanwhile, responding to another supplementary, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said the government is looking into papers received from HSBC and Panama and the various laws, including the one on foreign black money, are being invoked. Acting on the Panama Papers leak, the Income Tax department has sent a detailed questionnaire to about 50 individuals and entities figuring in the list of those allegedly holding offshore assets in tax havens, sources had earlier said. In the questionnaire, the IT department has sought to know if the person is indeed the same as named in the list made public recently and enquires about the vitals of their transactions made with the law firm Mossack Fonseca. It includes the year of incorporation, their source of income, details of business transactions done and whether they declared these investments and transactions to the Income Tax department and other regulatory bodies like the Reserve Bank of India any time till now. There are about 500 Indians named in the list which includes prominent businessmen, film celebrities and those belonging to lucrative professions. The government has created a Multi-Agency Group of probe agencies to go into these cases, comprising the IT department, its foreign tax wing, the RBI, Financial Intelligence Unit and the Enforcement Directorate. The Panama Papers leaks contain an unprecedented amount of information, including more than 11 million documents covering 2,10,000 companies in 21 offshore jurisdictions. Each transaction spans different jurisdictions and may involve multiple entities and individuals. On recommendations made by the Special Investigation Team on black money, Sinha said a series of recommendations have been received and the government has benefited greatly by the suggestions of the SIT. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of the newly-reconstructed Mughanli-Yevlakh part of the Baku-Shamakhi-Yevlakh highway. The head of state was informed that the total length of the two-lane road section was 115.15 kilometers. The overall width of the road is 12.5 meters, while the lane width is 7.5 meters. Six bridges were reconstructed, a number of facilities and electrical poles were installed along the road. Thirty-nine bus stops were built here. The reconstruction of the highway started in March 2010 under the relevant order of President Ilham Aliyev. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the road. Then a picture was taken. The Central Information Commission on Friday directed DelhiUniversity and GujaratUniversity to provide information on degrees earned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had criticised the functioning of the transparency panel. Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu also directed the Prime Ministers Office to provide specific number and year of the degrees of prime minister to his alma mater-- Delhi University and Gujarat University-- to make it easy for them to locate these records. Not prescribing the education (degree-based) qualification for contesting electoral offices is one of the great features of Indian democracy. What needed is education and not degrees. However, when a citizen holding the position of chief ministership wants to know the degree related information of the prime minister, it will be proper to disclose, Acharyulu said in the order as he treated explanation from Kejriwal as a Right to Information application. The information commissioner said, The Commission directs the CPIOs (central public information officers) of Delhi University and Gujarat University to make best possible search for the information regarding degrees in the name of Mr Narendra Damodar Modi in the year 1978 (graduation in DU) and 1983 (post-graduation in GU) and provide it to the appellant Mr Kejriwal as soon as possible. The genesis of the case is in two previous CIC orders and a scathing letter from Kejriwal to Acharyulu where he demanded that while he was ready to share information sought by RTI applicants, the CIC must also order disclosure of educational qualifications of the Prime Minister. In the case of Hans Raj Jain, who sought the details of the students who passed in 1978 with names starting from N (Narendra) and M (Modi), the DelhiUniversity had claimed that it will not be possible to search from lakhs of external students unless roll number was provided. The case was closed by Acharyulu as under complaint proceedings in RTI Act disclosure of information cannot be ordered by the CIC and to levy penalty there should be malafide on the part of the CPIO which could not be proved. In another case related to one Neeraj Pandey, who sought information about electoral photo identity card of the Delhi chief minister, Acharyulu had sought explanation from Kejriwal why he, as an MLA, be not declared as public authority under the RTI Act and why his party too was not brought under the Act. Kejriwal in his response did not object to disclosure of information about him but raised a demand for information about the prime ministers educational qualifications referring to Hans Raj Jain case, Acharyulu noted. He stated that while CIC wanted Mr Kejriwals information to be given, CIC was obstructing the information about degrees of Mr Modi, the prime minister. He expressed surprise over this and also doubted objectivity of the Commission, Acharyulu said. He said educational qualification related information about public authority or public servant or political leader occupying constitutional position is not hit by any exception under Section 8 of the RTI Act. It cannot be stated as personal or private information also. In fact, the information about educational degrees of the prime minister is already in public domain, he said. Citing an interview of Modi with journalist Rajeev Shukla, where he gives details of his educational qualifications, the information commissioner said it generated lot of curiosity among the people. The curiosity cannot be equated with public interest. Just because public is interested in it, it does not mean that it is in public interest. There is no educational qualification prescribed for contesting any electoral position under law. The election to Lok Sabha or prime ministership cannot be questioned on the point of educational qualification, Acharyulu said. Acharyulu said where there is a prescribed educational qualification for a position and its existence was doubted, the disclosure will be in public interest which is not the point in this case. The information commissioner quoted a comment of his father M S Acharya, a freedom fighter, when TeluguUniversity wanted his educational qualifications for being eminent journalist. He took pride in saying, I studied Raghuvamsha and Meghadoota, Kumarasambhava of Mahakavi Kalidas. They are not degrees offered by universities so what. They offer better education than many degrees awarded by the universities, Acharyulu said. Quoting from Constituent Assembly debates, Acharyulu said H V Kamath noted the extent of illiteracy in the country and the dangers it presented, an expressed regret that the franchise itself had not been restricted on grounds of literacy. Opposition does not stall legislative agenda; Upper House passes two bills. Kavita Chowdhury and Archis Mohan report. It was a day when Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah launched a direct attack on Congress counterpart Sonia Gandhi on the AgustaWestland issue. The Congress attacked Shah for irresponsible statements but, for a change, chose not to obstruct legislation in Parliament. The Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority, deliberated and passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill and The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015. Fireworks between the ruling BJP and the Congress took a backseat on Thursday. Both benches deliberated the matter of a one per cent excise duty on gold jewellry and then went on to discuss the SC amendment. The Congress strategy appears to be a shift from the hard stance of Wednesday, when former defence minister A K Antony gave a spirited argument for the decisions taken by the then Congress-led government on the helicopter deal with AgustaWestland. Sonia Gandhi had said she was not afraid of any probe. BJP president Amit Shah said on Thursday that Sonia Gandhi should name those who received the kickbacks. All I want to ask her is that those who gave a bribe are in jail in Italy; then, where are those who received the kickbacks? Who were in power at that time? They are responsible and they should bring out the truth. It should be disclosed before the people of the country, he said. On Gandhi saying she does not fear anybody, Shah said she was right and that is why such news items keep coming out. That is why when the National Herald corruption case happens, you say you do not fear anybody. When the AgustaWestland case occurs, you say you do not fear anybody... I want to tell her that we in the BJP are afraid of the Constitution, rules and public norms. Congress Pramod Tewari who had moved a notice for discussion on the AgustaWestland deal on Wednesday and then on Thursday as well, chose to withdraw his notice. Sources within the party said, Parliamentary Affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu had reached out to Congress leaders and urged them to allow legislative business to be transacted in the house. It also suited the Congress to not appear to be too obstructionist; the Congress thinking was that as long as the ruling party did not raise the issue and provoke them, the Congress too would not take it up. Furthermore, the Congress would not oppose any non- controversial legislation, like the Scheduled Caste bill which pertained to a large section of the public. On Friday, the upper house would be devoted to discussing private members bill. A controversial issue like the GST bill however is not on the cards. The Westland issue is, however, likely to be taken up on Monday in the Lok Sabha by the BJP. Three of its members have moved notices for discussion. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will reply. A call-attention motion was also moved on the issue by BJPs Bhupendra Yadav in the Rajya Sabha, yet to be decided by the chair. The major item for this session is to be the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Code. After the Lok Sabha wraps up its discussion on the Finance Bill, the Code will be taken up. On Thursday, a joint committee of Parliament presented its report on this. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday that he expected passage in this session. As the issue of stressed loans and willful default is in the public eye, all political parties could cooperate. More so as the committee report has been adopted without any dissent notes, with all the amendments suggested by opposition members having been taken on board. Later, he also took a dig at Gandhis Italian origin, saying she should at least have faith in an Italian courts decision. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi questioned why the BJP did not complete the probe into the matter within two years and identify the culprits. Why should Sonia Gandhi explain? In the Lok Sabha, the BJPs Meenakshi Lekhi alleged middleman Christian Michel had been given Rs 50 crore by the Italian company to manage the media and clinch the deal. Congress members protested and their leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, pointed out that their demands to put the record straight had been denied by the Speaker but Lekhi was allowed to speak. Lekhi, however, continued with her Zero Hour mention; amid the protests, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for the lunch recess. Later speaking to journalists, Singhvi said, In every case, the BJPs objective is sensationalism and to keep the pot boiling. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dared the Bharatiya Janata Party to arrest Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders of the party in connection with the controversial Rs 3,600 core AgustaWestland chopper deal. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis silence on the issue and wondered why Central Bureau of Investigations raids have not been conducted against Congress leaders in connection with the case. I dare BJP two arrest Sonia ji and those Congress leaders named in Italy court order and interrogate them, Kejriwal tweeted in on Thursday evening and went on to questions BJPs intentions. BJPll never do it. BJPS intentions are bad. For five years, BJP will engage in political rhetoric. There is a strong relationship between Congress and BJP, he said in another tweet. This is the first instance of Kejriwal directly naming Sonia which he had refrained from since the row erupted in Parliament. He had been demanding the arrest of all Congress persons involved in the murky deal. Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party chief asked whether those named in Italian court order should not be immediately arrested and interrogated. Why is the PM silent on Agusta? First BJP spared Vadra, now protecting entire Congress top brass in Augusta? the Delhi chief minister said on Twitter, referring to Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra. He also tweeted, Shouldnt those named in Italy court order be immediately arrested and interrogated? CBI raid had been conducted at me, but why there is no raid at Congress persons. In December last year, CBI had raided the office of Kejriwals Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar in connection with an alleged corruption case. Kejriwal had then accused the PM of getting CBI raid conducted at Delhi Secretariat. The controversial deal to buy VVIP choppers and the alleged bribes paid in clinching it have triggered a political storm after an Italian court cited handwritten references to Sonia, her political secretary Ahmed Patel and former Air Chief S P Tyagi by a middleman in a judgment that convicted the helicopter companys chief executive. The tragic US military attack on a 'Doctors Without Borders' hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz last October was a mistake, a combination of human errors compounded by process and equipment failures, the Pentagon said on Friday. Following a details investigation, the Pentagon has not only taken action against more than a dozen of its officials but also have decided to make condolence payments worth $5.7 million to 170 individuals and families victims of tragic attack on a Kunduz. "US Forces-Afghanistan leaders have offered their sympathies and provided condolence payments to more than 170 individuals and families affected by this tragedy. These modest payments are not designed to compensate the victims or place a value on their lives, but are a gesture of sympathy," General Joseph L Votel, Commander of the US Central Command told media persons at a news conference in Washington. "The Department of Defense has approved $5.7 million in funds to construct a comparable structure in Kunduz that is suitable for use as a medical facility," Votel said as he revealed details of a months long investigation into the tragic incident that killed 62 people on October 3, 2015. Votel said the investigation concluded that the personnel involved did not know they were striking a medical facility. The intended target was an insurgent-controlled site which was approximately 400 meters from the Doctors Without Borders Trauma Center, he said. The investigation found that an AC-130 gunship air crew in support of a US Special Forces element that was supporting an Afghan partner ground force misidentified and struck the Doctors Without Borders hospital, he added. Votel said the investigation determined that all members of both the ground force and the AC-130 air crew were unaware that the aircraft was firing on a medical facility throughout the engagement. The investigation ultimately concluded that the tragic incident was caused by a combination of human errors, compounded by process and equipment failures. Leading up to this incident, US Special Operations forces and their Afghan partners had been engaged in intense fighting for several consecutive days and nights in Kunduz, and had repelled heavy and sustained enemy attacks, he noted. The ground force was fatigued from days of fighting, still engaged with an aggressive enemy, and running low on supplies, the general said. Votel said the investigation identified 16 US service members whose conduct warranted consideration for appropriate administrative or disciplinary action including a general officer. Actions were taken against 12 of these. IMAGE: US Army General Joseph Votel, commander, US Central Command, briefs the media at the Pentagon in Washington. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to a joint meeting of the United States Congress will be an opportunity to energise efforts to improve bilateral ties, top American lawmakers from across the political divide have said. Reflecting the strong bipartisan support to the India-US relationship, the lawmakers welcomed the decision of the House Speaker Paul Ryan to invite Modi to address the joint meeting. "Speaker Ryan's decision to invite Modi to address Congress demonstrates the growing commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between the US and India," said Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn in a joint statement. Warner from the Democratic Party and Cornyn from the Republican Party are co-chairs if Senate India Caucus, the only country specific caucus in the US senate. "As a key security partner with a flourishing economy, a thriving relationship with India presents tremendous opportunities to reach our joint economic and strategic goals. Modi's visit presents an opportunity to energise efforts to improve bilateral ties between our two countries," Warner and Cornyn said after Ryan told media persons that he has invited Modi to address a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 8 In fact, Modi would be the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of the Congress after Ryan became the speaker last year. "This will be the first joint meeting of this speakership. We certainly look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi in the United States Capitol this summer, I believe it's June 8th," Ryan said. "India is the most populace democracy and soon it's going to be the most populace country. The friendship between our nations is a pillar of stability in a very, very important region. This address presents a special opportunity for us to deepen our ties with our ally, India," he said. "It is a chance to hear from the prime minister on how we can work together to promote our shared values and to increase prosperity," Ryan said. Congressman Brad Sherman welcomed Ryan's decision. "I am pleased that India's Prime Modi will be able to address a Joint Session of Congress this year," he said. "In 2014, I led the effort, and was joined by more than 80 of my colleagues, in trying to encourage then-Speaker John Boehner to invite Modi to give such an address shortly after he had assumed office," Sherman said. Following the letter of 80 US lawmakers, the then Speaker Boehner in a letter had invited Modi before his September 2014 WashingtonDC visit to address a joint meeting of the US Congress. However that could not happen as the Congress was in recess ahead of the 2014 general elections for the Congress. The Prime Minister's Office has not said yet if the invitation has been accepted. He accepts the invitation, Modi would be the fifth Indian prime minister to address a joint meeting of the US Congress and the first on more than a decade. Manmohan Singh was the last Indian prime minister to address a joint meeting of the US Congress had addressed on July 19, 2005. Other prime minister to get the honour were Atal Bihari Vajpayee (September 14, 2000), P V Narasimha Rao (May 18, 1994) and Rajiv Gandhi (July 13, 1985). "Since India's independence in 1947, the relationship between the United States and India has steadily grown. The United States and India have a unique relationship based on shared democratic values. The prime minister's visit is an opportunity to build on the US-India strategic partnership to the benefit of both our nations," Sherman said. "As things stand, our current trade relationship amounts to around $110 billion. I am encouraged by Modi's reform efforts and hope we can work together to make it easier for US companies to invest in India and increase US exports. I look forward to hearing directly from Modi about this issue," he said. "I applaud Speaker Ryan for inviting Modi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress, and I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to the Capitol. This address will serve as a sign of the deep and important relationship between the United States and India," said Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "Our partnership in areas such as defence, nuclear power, renewable energy and space exploration is very strong, thanks to our many shared values. I look forward to hearing from Modi about how we can continue working together to promote peace and prosperity," Royce said. "I look forward to welcoming Modi to Washington in June, where his address to a Joint Session of Congress will explore how our two nations can work together to further our shared values and interests," said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the first ever Hindu lawmaker elected to the US Congress. "As the world's oldest and largest democracies, the US and India have many shared values and objectives. Since Modi was first elected in 2014, he has made active engagement with the United States a priority on many levels including exploring mutually beneficial economic opportunities, stronger government-to-government relations, and enhanced security engagements," she said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the 10th East Asia Summit, at the 27th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters US President Barack Obama dropped in on a briefing for college journalists on Thursday at the White House. IMAGE: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to student journalists at a 'daily briefing' at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images The first-ever event at the White House of its type, press secretary Josh Earnest was fielding questions from students when Obama waltzed in wearing a dark suit and purple striped tie, with a white cup for tea or coffee. Obama did more than just stop by -- he took questions from the students crammed into the briefing room for more than half an hour. He fielded a wide range of questions from the students, who were attending the first White House College Reporter Day, on issues like immigration, the water crisis in Flint, Mich., Syrian refugees, civic engagement and his proudest achievements. He promised one his first inquisitor, the editor-in-chief of the University of North Carolinas Daily Tar Heel, a one-on-one interview after the young man creatively used his one shot at speaking to the president to get another. Thats a good use of your time, right there, Obama said, I am favourably disposed, the president said, looking to his press secretary for reassurance. But he said, It will not be a really long interview. IMAGE: College student journalists raise their hands to question US President Barack Obama during a 'daily briefing' at the White House. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images Obama encouraged the students to reduce the level of cynicism in the country, particularly concerning government affairs. You, as journalists, are going to have a role to play in reducing cynicism, he explained. He urged student journalists to ask their editors to write stories about how government was working, instead of focusing on just the things that were going wrong. At the end of the press conference, he said, All right, so Im counting on you guys, dont let me down. Dont let the country down. Youre going to be delivering the message to your peer group. The move is being taken in an attempt to deter poachers, say conservationists. IMAGE: A traditional Maasai tribesman holds an elephant tusk, part of an estimated 105 tonnes of confiscated ivory to be set ablaze, at Nairobi National Park. Photograph: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters As elephants continue to pay the ultimate price for the demand for their tusks, their advocates are preparing to watch the largest stockpile of ivory yet go up in flames in Kenyas Nairobi National Park on Saturday. Kenyan authorities have built towering pyres of more than 100 tonnes of elephant tusks -- constituting nearly 5 per cent of the worlds ivory -- that will be burned in an attempt to deter poachers. Although the destruction of elephant ivory will not in itself put an end to the illegal ivory trade in elephant ivory, it ensures that no one will ever profit from this contraband and, when coupled with the seizure of ivory and the prosecution and conviction of offenders, it sends a very powerful message that Kenya does not, and will not, tolerate this illegal trade, and that illegal traders now face significant risks along the entire illegal supply chain in source, transit and destination States, the Kenya Wildlife Service said in a statement. IMAGE: A Kenya Wildlife Service ranger stacks elephant tusks, part of an estimated 105 tonnes of confiscated ivory to be set ablaze. Photograph: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters This is not the first time the country has resorted to burning or crushing elephant tusks to deter poachers. According to the World Wildlife Fund, which calls the move a symbolic gesture with real potential to stop wildlife crime, Kenyan authorities destroyed nearly 40 tonnes of ivory between 1989 and 2015. On Saturday, dignitaries led by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta -- who last year set fire to 15 tonnes of ivory -- are expected to light a fuel gel which will flow into the centre of each pyre and ignite pieces of confiscated endangered African sandalwood. A mixture of diesel and kerosene will be pumped through pipes into each pyre, creating a sufficiently high temperature to incinerate the ivory, a process expected to last many days before everything is reduced to ashes. IMAGE: This is not the first time the country has resorted to burning or crushing elephant tusks to deter poachers. Kenyan authorities destroyed nearly 40 tonnes of ivory between 1989 and 2015. Photograph: Thomas Mukoya/Reuters In 2014, 164 elephants were killed in Kenya, down from 302 in 2013. Currently, there are an estimated 38,000 elephants in the country -- a significant rise from 16,000 a decade ago. However, despite the rise in their numbers, the African elephant -- the worlds largest land animal -- still faces extinction. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, there are only 470,000 of these animals left today -- down from over three million in the first half of the twentieth century. Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Presence of the Armenian troops in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is a threat to regional security, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Hikmat Hajiyev told reporters in Aghdam Apr. 29. "Armenia's leadership is openly conducting an aggressive policy, that country doesn't recognize the negotiation process and has once again refused it," said Hajiyev. He said Azerbaijan expects the international community to take urgent measures and put an end to Armenia's aggressive actions, adding that it is necessary to exert pressure on Armenia and force that country to a truce. "Azerbaijan once again states that it is always ready for comprehensive, productive negotiations," Hajiyev said. "Azerbaijan is ready for peace talks on the basis of the four UN Security Council resolutions, under which the Armenian armed forces must be immediately and unconditionally withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan." He added that Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, together with other structures, is documenting the civilian casualties and the damage inflicted to the country, and has informed the international community about the gross violation of the Geneva Convention commitments undertaken by Armenia. "Azerbaijan once again brings to the attention of the international community the fact that the presence of Armenian troops in the occupied Azerbaijani territories is a threat to the regional security," said Hajiyev. On Apr. 29, a group of journalists, consisting of representatives of foreign media accredited in Azerbaijan, and the local media, visited the Garadaghli village of Azerbaijan's Agdam district, which was shelled by the Armenian side from April 27 evening until April 28. In the village the journalists surveyed the houses, which were destroyed by heavy artillery attacks and met with the village's residents. The representatives of foreign and local media were accompanied by the Head of executive power of Azerbaijan's Aghdam district Ragub Mammadov, Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev and Head of the press service of Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry Vagif Dargahli. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. 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. Aghdam, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Azerbaijan's armed forces close to the contact line of troops were instructed to give an adequate response to Armenia's aggressive actions, Vagif Dargahli, spokesman for Azerbaijan's defense ministry, told reporters in the country's Aghdam district Apr. 29. He added that Azerbaijan will inflict retaliatory strikes on Armenia's firing points on the frontline. Since April 26 Armenian armed units have been violating the ceasefire at nights in order to cause numerous losses among Azerbaijani civilians, Dargahli said. He said that Armenians fired at Azerbaijani settlements using mainly mortars, howitzers and BM-21 multiple rocket launchers. Dargahli added that the situation on the frontline is stable, and the armed forces of Azerbaijan are controlling the operational situation. On Apr. 29, a group of journalists, consisting of representatives of foreign media accredited in Azerbaijan, and the local media, visited the Garadaghli village of Azerbaijan's Agdam district, which was shelled by the Armenian side from April 27 evening until April 28. In the village the journalists surveyed the houses, which were destroyed by heavy artillery attacks and met with the village's residents. Starting from April 27 evening until 04:00 (GMT + 4) April 28, the Armenian armed forces were firing at the Azerbaijani settlements and the Azerbaijani army positions in the Terter and Aghdam districts of Azerbaijan. Two people were killed and many more wounded as a result of the Aghdam shelling. At least 84 houses in the district were heavily damaged, some of them completely destroyed. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Title Report by Nils Muiznieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Following His Visit to Cyprus from 7 to 11 December 2015 Publication Date 31 March 2016 Country Cyprus Citation / Document Symbol CommDH(2016)16 Related Document(s) Final comments of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus on the final report drawn up by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe following his visit to Cyprus from 7 to 11 December 2015 Cite as Council of Europe: Commissioner for Human Rights, Report by Nils Muiznieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Following His Visit to Cyprus from 7 to 11 December 2015, 31 March 2016, CommDH(2016)16, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572232044.html [accessed 24 October 2022] Kyrgyzstan: UN Calls for Activist's Release Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Kyrgyzstan: UN Calls for Activist's Release, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57224ad17d3.html [accessed 24 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 United Nations Committee has called for Kyrgyzstan to release a human rights defender, Azimjon Askarov, and to quash his conviction, Human Rights Watch said today. In a ruling published on April 21, 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee found that Askarov, who is serving a life sentence, was arbitrarily detained, held in inhumane conditions, tortured, and otherwise mistreated without redress and was not given a fair trial. "Kyrgyzstan shouldn't wait another day to release Azimjon Askarov, who has been languishing in prison for six years," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The committee's decision offers Kyrgyzstan the opportunity to finally right this grave wrong." Askarov, 64, is a human rights defender from southern Kyrgyzstan. For years he worked as the director of Air, a local human rights organization, and focused on documenting prison conditions and police treatment of detainees. Askarov also documented violence and looting in the town of Bazar-Korgon during an eruption of violence in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. Police arrested Askarov that month for "organizing mass disturbances" and "inciting interethnic hatred" leading to the killing of a policeman in Bazar-Korgon. In September 2010, the Bazar-Korgon District Court found Askarov guilty and sentenced him to life in prison. His conviction was upheld on appeal, despite his credible allegations of ill-treatment and torture, as well as attacks on his lawyer and hostility and violence in the courtroom that undermined his right to a fair trial. Since Askarov's arrest, local and international human rights entities have expressed serious concern about the handling of the investigation and trial. But the Kyrgyz authorities have not carried out an independent and impartial review of his case. In November 2012, Nurbek Toktokunov, Askarov's lawyer, and the Open Society Justice Initiative jointly filed a complaint with the Human Rights Committee that several of Askarov's rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) had been violated. Kyrgyzstan is a party to the treaty and has accepted the competence of the committee, which reviews compliance with the treaty, to determine whether the government has violated the covenant, and to provide an effective remedy if the committee determines that a violation has occurred. The committee adopted its decision on March 31, 2016, after an in-depth multi-year review and exchange of views with both Askarov's lawyer and the Kyrgyzstan government. The committee found that Askarov's rights to a fair trial, to be treated with dignity in detention, not to be subjected to ill-treatment or torture, and not to be arbitrarily detained had all been violated. It concluded that in order to provide Askarov with an effective remedy, Kyrgyzstan must take appropriate steps to immediately release Askarov and quash his conviction. It also held that Kyrgyzstan has to provide Askarov, whose health has suffered in prison, with adequate compensation, and if necessary could conduct a new trial subject to the principles of fair hearings. Article 41 of Kyrgyzstan's Constitution guarantees Kyrgyz citizens the right to appeal to international human rights bodies, and in the case of a violation of their rights, says that Kyrgyzstan will take "measures for their rehabilitation and reparation." "Askarov's case is undoubtedly controversial in Kyrgyzstan," Williamson said. "The committee's decision - based on an independent assessment of the facts - offers a resolution, and allows freedom for Askarov." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Thailand: Ex-Minister Detained for Rejecting Draft Charter Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 20 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Thailand: Ex-Minister Detained for Rejecting Draft Charter, 20 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57224b9d46f9.html [accessed 24 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. Thailand's ruling junta should immediately release a former government minister in military custody for publicly opposing the draft constitution, Human Rights Watch said today. National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) authorities arrested Watana Muangsook, who was minister of social development and human security from 2005 to 2006, on April 18, 2016. A referendum on the draft charter is scheduled for August 7. "The Thai junta, by gagging a prominent critic, has heightened the climate of fear ahead of the constitutional referendum," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "The detention of Watana Muangsook for openly opposing the draft charter is a clear warning that the junta is prepared use intimidation and arrests to get their way in the referendum." The junta ordered Watana to report to the 11th Army Circle Camp in Bangkok at 11 a.m. on April 18. He was later transferred to a military facility at the 9th Infantry Division in Kanchanaburi province near the Thai-Burmese border. On April 19, Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan said in a media interview that Watana was detained for speaking out on the draft constitution: "I have warned [Watana] that he will be taken in [to military custody] every time he speaks up. If he still doesn't listen, we will do it again and again. Don't tell voters whether you like the draft constitution or not." Under NCPO Order 3/2558, promulgated in April 2015 after the lifting of martial law, the military authority is empowered to detain a person for up to seven days to prevent and suppress certain acts - including lese majeste (insulting the monarchy), offenses against the security of the state, weapons offenses, and violations of NCPO orders. The NCPO chairman and prime minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, has reacted strongly to politicians, academics, and activists who have publicly opposed the draft constitution. On April 19 Prayut said in a media interview: They have no rights to say that they disagree [with the draft constitution]. I don't allow anyone to debate or hold a press conference about the draft constitution. Yet they still disobey my orders. They will be arrested and jailed for 10 years. No one will be exempted when the Referendum Act becomes effective [after announcement in the Royal Gazette]. Not even the media. Why don't people respect the law instead of asking for democracy and human rights all the time? The junta's intolerance of opposition to the draft constitution, evidenced by Watana's detention and new oppressive legislation, raises concerns of heightened repression prior to the referendum. Penalties under article 62 of the Referendum Act, approved by junta-appointed members of the National Legislative Assembly on April 7, include a prison sentence of up to 10 years for those convicted of disseminating false information in newspapers, radio, television, electronic media, or any other means to influence voters' decisions or disrupt the referendum. Since the military coup in May 2014, the junta has broadly and arbitrarily interpreted peaceful criticisms and dissenting opinions to be "false information" and a threat to national security. "If people can't debate a proposed constitution, then nothing is safe for public discussion," Adams said. "The junta's pledges to restore democratic rule and respect for human rights have proven meaningless. Friends of Thailand from around the world should press General Prayut to immediately order an end to arbitrary arrest of critics and dissenters, and release all those being held for peaceful expression of opinions." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Turkey: Open Border to Displaced Syrians Shelled by Government Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 20 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Turkey: Open Border to Displaced Syrians Shelled by Government, 20 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57224c99a34.html [accessed 24 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. Syrian military attacks on armed opposition groups near the Turkish border hit two displaced persons camps on April 13 and 15, 2016, causing at least 3,000 people to flee, although they were unable to cross the border to safety, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch interviewed camp residents and members of the local civil defense forces, who said there were no fatalities in the camps, near the town of Bidama, though there was damage to tents and other property. A separate attack on a nearby displaced persons camp in late January killed two people and seriously injured three others. Turkey should open its borders to fleeing Syrians who have been forced into these camps near Turkey's southwest border. "Under fire even in makeshift border camps, Syrian victims of Turkey's border pushbacks are paying the price," said Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher at Human Rights Watch. "As the world struggles to end attacks on Syrian civilians, it should at least support Turkey to open its border to people fleeing the conflict, and stop turning them into sitting ducks." Over the past three months, displaced Syrians who tried to seek refuge in Turkey were repeatedly pushed back at the border and into insecure border camps in the area. On April 14, Human Rights Watch reported that Turkish border guards enforcing Turkey's one-year-old border closure shot at Syrians escaping ISIS advances northeast of Aleppo. The Syrian military should immediately end indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, and uphold its obligation to take all feasible precautions to avoid killing or injuring civilians, and damaging civilian objects, including camps for displaced people, Human Rights Watch said. Likewise, Turkey should respect its obligations to allow all Syrian civilians fleeing fighting to seek protection in Turkey. Hossam Zleito, head of the Bidama Syrian Civil Defense, made up of volunteer search and rescue workers, said that on April 13 and 15, the Syrian government struck areas around Bidama, including the Khirmash and Hambushiyah camps, to the northeast of the town. The Syrian government issued no statements on the attacks. On April 18, armed opposition groups announced that they would open a new offensive in the area, known as Jabal al-Akrad (or Kurdish Mountains). According to humanitarian agencies monitoring the situation, at least 17,000 displaced civilians are in the area. Syrian government forces' advances since October 2015 in the Kurdish and Turkmen mountains to the northeast of the Syrian city of Latakia have displaced thousands of people. They have fled to various locations northeast of Latakia, near the Turkish border. On April 16, Human Rights Watch spoke with five Syrians who had been living in the camps that were attacked the day before, Khirmash and Khabasi, which sheltered 2,000 people. Two Turkish border guard watchtowers overlook the camps. Two of the witnesses said that Syrian government forces whom they believed were positioned in Ghamam, about 25 kilometers southwest of Bidama, and Ain Ashra, about 10 kilometers southwest of Bidama, started shelling roads near the camps on April 14, including the main roads between Bidama, Ain al-Hur and al-Hanbushiya. Human Rights Watch could not confirm where the attack had been launched. The camp residents said that on April 15, artillery projectiles landed near both camps and inside Khirmash and that its 1,500 inhabitants had fled to nearby villages or into the hills. One said: It was early evening and the camp was full of families preparing for prayer and dinner. Suddenly, we heard an explosion near the camp, I think about 50 meters away. All the other explosions the day before and earlier that day were a few kilometers away in the towns, but we were worried. We called the Syrian Civil Defense and we started to evacuate everyone. We took all the women and children to the nearby camp school. About 15 minutes later, another shell landed in the middle the camp and there was a big explosion. Later we found out it landed near a cooking gas canister. After that, about four other shells landed in and very close to the camp. Everyone was very scared. A member of the Syrian Civil Defense said: At 6:15 p.m., we received a phone call from some in Khirmash camp who said a shell had landed close by and that everyone was afraid. Four of us went straight to the camp. While we were there another shell landed, this time in the camp. We ran toward the explosion and looked in all the nearby tents to make sure no one was injured. Fortunately everyone had already left and only one of the tents was destroyed. Over the next hour, we then used as many cars and trucks as we could to get people out of the camp. During that time another four shells landed in the camp and six outside the camp. People were very scared, but fortunately no one was hurt. This morning some of the men came back to pack up their things. They were crying and said their children were now extremely afraid and that they didn't know where to go. The camp representatives told Human Rights Watch that the people in the camps were mostly from Bidama, which government forces attacked in early February. Those interviewed said the camp residents had first fled to the Khurbat al Juz-Guvecci border crossing, 10 kilometers northeast of Bidama, but that Turkish border guards had repeatedly denied them entry. They then moved to the Khirmash and Khabasi camps. One of the men said that on April 13, Turkish border guards in the nearby watchtowers had used loudspeakers to announce in Arabic that no one should approach the border and that anyone who did would be shot. When asked about humanitarian needs in the camps, such as food and shelter, one said: "We don't care about those things. All we want is to go to Turkey and be safe." He added that some of the people who had fled the Khabasi camp were trying to dig a cave into the mountainside to protect themselves from shelling. "The message from the Syrians to Turkey and other countries is loud and clear," said Simpson. "We need safety first; food and tents cannot protect against shelling." Blocked at Border, Fleeing from One Camp to Another Human Rights Watch also spoke with other Syrians displaced by government attacks who had been repeatedly blocked from crossing into Turkey by Turkish border guards since late January and are now living in their second or third displacement camp. Two Syrians living in poor conditions in the overcrowded Sheikh Sayyah camp a few kilometers from the border town of Khurbat al Juz said they had previously lived for five months in the al-Hambushiya displaced persons camp, about three kilometers northeast of Bidama, but that on April 13, Syrian government forces had shelled the camp, forcing its approximately 1,000 inhabitants to flee yet again. Both said they had tried to flee to Turkey through the Khurbat al Juz-Guvecci crossing, but that border guards had pushed them back. Human Rights Watch also spoke with two of the 15,000 Syrians living in two displaced persons camps in Duria on the Turkish border, 15 kilometers northeast of Bidama. They had previously lived in the Yunsiya displaced persons camp, three kilometers southwest of Bidama, but fled with thousands of others at the end of January, when Syrian government forces attacked the nearby village and camp. A third man in the Duria camp said that at the end of January 2016, he had also fled with hundreds of other displaced Syrians from the Itqan camp, which was struck by government shelling on January 30. The head of Bidama's Syrian Civil Defense confirmed that two people had been killed and three injured in the attack. Two of the injured had to have arms amputated. An aid worker familiar with the area said that many of the Itqan residents tried to flee to Turkey, but were pushed back and went to Duria. The Duria camp representative told Human Rights Watch that in early February, all 15,000 residents had tried to flee to Turkey through the Khurbat al Juz-Guvecci border crossing, but had been pushed back by Turkish border guards, triggering the construction of the Duria camp. One woman said that she and thousands of others had sat for 10 days in the rain next to the Turkish border fence at Khurbat al Juz begging the guards to let them in. "Turkey isn't just pushing Syrians back who recently left their homes for the first time," said Simpson. "It's also blocking desperate people who have repeatedly fled attacks on displaced persons camps." Turkey's Closed Border Since early 2015, Turkey has all but closed its borders to Syrians fleeing the conflict. Between April 12 and 19, 2016, Human Rights Watch interviewed 25 people who described how Turkish border guards at the Syrian border pushed them and dozens - in some cases hundreds - of others back to Syria between February and mid-April. Many described serious violence and two said that Turkish border guards beat fellow asylum seekers so badly that they were hardly recognizable. These recent accounts of Turkish border guard abuses are consistent with Human Rights Watch findings in late 2015 of Turkish border guards beating and summarily expelling dozens of Syrians who crossed to Turkey using smugglers. As of early April, Turkey had completed a third of a 911-kilometer, rocket-resistant, concrete wall along its border with Syria and was working to fortify the rest of its border. Turkey is obliged to respect the principle of non-refoulement. That principle, under customary international law, prohibits rejecting asylum seekers at borders when rejection would expose them to the threat of persecution, torture, and threats to life and freedom. Turkey's refusal to allow Syrian refugees to cross the border comes as the European Union is closing its own external borders to asylum seekers. In mid-March, the EU concluded a controversial migration deal with Ankara to curb refugee and migration flows to Europe, offering 6 billion in aid to assist Syrians in Turkey, reinvigorated EU membership negotiations, and the prospect of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens. The deal provides for the return to Turkey of asylum seekers and refugees, including Syrians, who reach Greece by boat, on the grounds that Turkey is a safe country for them. The deal also commits the EU to work with Turkey to create areas inside Syria that will be "more safe." "As EU leaders celebrate lower numbers of Syrians reaching EU shores, they should reflect on the heavy price paid by tens of thousands of civilians trapped right now on Turkey's border," Simpson said. "Closing their eyes to suffering doesn't mean it's gone away." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Turkmenistan: EU Trade Pact Advances Minus Rights Progress Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 11 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Turkmenistan: EU Trade Pact Advances Minus Rights Progress, 11 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723056a4.html [accessed 24 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 European Union is moving ahead on a key trade agreement with Turkmenistan even though the government has failed to meet related human rights benchmarks, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 11, 2016, the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee will hold its first hearing on the agreement. In a March 31 letter, a coalition of 29 human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, urged members of the European Parliament to defer approval of the agreement until the Turkmen government meets the parliament's human rights benchmarks. "The Turkmen government has done almost nothing to meet the human rights benchmarks that the European Parliament set out specifically because of the country's ghastly human rights record," said Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The EU shouldn't even be considering moving ahead with this agreement." Since 1999, the EU had held up concluding a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement - a framework agreement for trade and legal relations - with Turkmenistan due to human rights concerns. The agreement contains a clause committing both parties to respect human rights and providing for the possibility of suspension should either party violate this principle. Turkmenistan is one of the most closed and repressive countries in the world, Human Rights Watch said. The government refuses to acknowledge the enforced disappearances in the prison system over many years - of more than 100 people, many of them former public figures. It continues to arrest and imprison people on politically motivated grounds. Several thousand people, most of them relatives of imprisoned or exiled critics of the government, have been arbitrarily banned from travel abroad to intimidate and prevent them from seeking justice for their loved ones. Turkmenistan remains closed to independent human rights scrutiny, and at least 12 United Nations experts who have requested invitations from the government to visit the country have not received them. Independent human rights groups are banned from operating in Turkmenistan. The government allows no media freedoms, and has in the past year destroyed private satellite dishes, further isolating people from information not approved by the government. In 2009, the European Parliament set out specific human rights benchmarks the Turkmen government would need to meet before the agreement could be ratified. They include: The unconditional release of all political prisoners; The removal of obstacles to free travel; Free access for the International Red Cross and other independent monitors; and Improvements in civil liberties "The European Parliament should stick to its principles, and insist that the Turkmen government make real progress on human rights before deepening its relationship with the country through this trade agreement," Rachel Denber said. "Turkmenistan's human rights record is so unrelentingly bad, that if the EU were to take the trade agreement's human rights clause seriously, it would have to suspend the agreement as soon as it was signed." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Burma: Major Step to End Decades-Long Cycle of Political Arrests Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 11 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Burma: Major Step to End Decades-Long Cycle of Political Arrests, 11 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572305ca4.html [accessed 24 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 new Burmese government, led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), has taken a major step in releasing approximately 200 political prisoners and detainees, Human Rights Watch said today. It has also pledged to release remaining political prisoners or have their politically motivated charges dropped by the end of April 2016. The NLD-led government should also use its absolute majorities in both houses of parliament to repeal or amend the many rights-abusing laws that have been used to prosecute dissidents and others during a half-century of mostly military rule, Human Rights Watch said. "The new NLD-led government's release of large numbers of political prisoners has been welcomed in Burma and around the world, but there are hundreds more still in prison or facing charges," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The NLD has correctly made releasing political prisoners a priority and should now follow through to ensure that all remaining activists are freed and that charges dropped against hundreds of others." Political prisoner groups estimate that 121 political activists remain in prison and another 320 people are facing charges for political offenses. On April 7, NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the newly appointed state counselor to President Htin Kyaw and the parliament, announced a plan to release political prisoners and activists facing charges for political activities. Under section 204 of the Burmese constitution and section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure granting the president power to issue pardons, the government pledged to release all political prisoners, but did not provide a timetable for the promised releases. On April 8, 199 activists, including 69 students facing a prolonged trial for protests against the National Education Law in 2015, were pardoned or had charges dropped and were released from custody. Those released included protest leaders Honey Oo, Phyo Phyo Aung, Nandar Sit Aung, Kyaw Ko Ko, Min Thway Thit, and Lin Hlet Naing. Prominent activists, such as the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society members Mei Mei and Nilar Thein, and land rights activists Su Su Nway and Naw Ohn La, were also pardoned and released. More than 2,000 other prisoners whose sentences were almost completed were also released in a general amnesty scheduled before the national Thingyan water festival, which starts the week of April 10 and continues for several days. A statement from Aung San Suu Kyi's office, late on Friday, April 8, announced that the process of releases would be delayed over the holiday, but all other political prisoners would be freed or have charges dropped by the end of April. In a sign of the challenges ahead, on April 8, a court in Mandalay sentenced two Muslim interfaith activists to an additional two years in prison with hard labor. Pwint Phyu Latt and Zaw Zaw Latt, already sentenced to two years in prison in 2016, were convicted on charges under the Unlawful Association Act section 17(a) for visits they allegedly made to the Kachin Independence Army in 2012. This follows the two-year hard-labor sentence handed down to the former NLD information officer, Htin Lin Oo, in June 2015, on charges of insulting religion. The NLD-led government should include these activists in the pardon process, Human Rights Watch said. The new government has pledged to follow a definition of political prisoner that was agreed upon by the NLD and former political prisoner organizations in 2014: "Anyone who is arrested, detained or imprisoned for political reasons under political charges, or wrongfully under criminal and civil charges because of his or her perceived or known active role, perceived or known supporting role, or association with activity promoting freedom, justice, equality, human rights and civil and political rights, including ethnic rights, is defined as a political prisoner." Last week, the newly formed government Legal Affairs and Special Cases Assessment Commission, led by former army general and house speaker Thura Shwe Mann and including a mix of NLD members and members of parliament, proposed the amendment or repeal of 142 laws used to prosecute political activists. Human Rights Watch called on the government to prioritize the swift repeal or amendment of key laws used by authorities against peaceful activists, such as various sections of the penal code; section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, under which many students were recently charged; the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act; and section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law, which has been used to detain activists such as Robert Khum Jarr Lee for alleged social media posts. Activists have told Human Rights Watch that they worry legal reforms will be hampered by the Burmese military's continuing control, mandated by the military-drafted constitution, over key ministries. Notably, the Ministry of Home Affairs is headed by an army general appointed by the commander-in-chief, giving the military effective control over the Myanmar Police Force, the Corrections Department, and the Special Branch. "To break the decades-long cycle of politically motivated arrests of peaceful critics of the government and military, Burma's new government should look systematically at laws long used to stifle basic freedoms," Adams said. "But until the constitution is amended to put the police fully under civilian control and oversight, the threat of political arrests will remain." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Algeria: Criminal Sentence for a Caricature Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 12 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Algeria: Criminal Sentence for a Caricature, 12 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572306314.html [accessed 24 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. "If the right to freedom of expression in the newly revised constitution has any meaning, Algeria should abolish laws that penalize peaceful criticism and satire of state officials," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. The police in Tlemcen, 500 kilometers west of Algiers, arrested Belarbi on October 20, 2015 and held her overnight. They questioned her about a Facebook post showing the faces of Algerian political figures, including President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, photoshopped as the Sultan and his entourage in a well-known Turkish television series called "Sultan's Harem." Next to the photo, Belarbi commented: "I don't know when this series of Bouteflika's will come to an end and when he will awake from his dream that has turned into a nightmare, which threatens the future of Algeria and its people." Belarbi admitted to posting the photo-montage and comment, but said that she had found the image elsewhere and had not created it. Algeria's constitution, as revised on March 7, 2016, guarantees the right to freedom of expression in article 48. It states that media freedom is not subject to prior censorship and that offenses cannot be punished by prison. However, it says that the right to freedom of expression may not be used "to harm the dignity, freedom, or rights of others. The dissemination of information, ideas, images, and opinions in complete freedom is guaranteed within the framework of the law and of respect for the religious, moral, and cultural values and permanent attributes of the nation" (articles 50-51). These broadly worded provisions are incompatible with Algeria's obligations to guarantee freedom of expression as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Algeria ratified in 1989. Belarbi's lawyer, Salah Dabbouz, told Human Rights Watch that the court convicted Belarbi of "defaming the president of the Republic," but acquitted her on charges of defamation and "harming a state institution." Numerous provisions of the penal code provide prison terms for peaceful expression. For example, the punishment for distributing, selling, exposing to the public, or possessing to sell, distribute, or exhibit for propaganda purposes tracts, bulletins, or flyers that "may harm the national interest" is up to three years in prison, and for defaming or insulting the president of the republic, the parliament, the army, or state institutions is up to one year in prison. The police confiscated Belarbi's phone and laptop when arresting her and have not returned the laptop, Dabbouz said. Belarbi has filed an appeal, but the date has not been set. Article 19 of the ICCPR protects the right to freedom of expression, including "freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice." In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Committee, which interprets the covenant, issued guidance to state parties on their free speech obligations under article 19 that emphasized the high value the treaty places upon uninhibited expression "in circumstances of public debate concerning public figures in the political domain and public institutions." It said that "state parties should not prohibit criticism of institutions, such as the army or the administration." Defamation should in principle be treated as a civil, not a criminal, issue and never punished with a prison term, the Human Rights Committee has said. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Syria: Indiscriminate Attacks Ongoing Despite "Cessation of Hostilities" Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 12 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Syria: Indiscriminate Attacks Ongoing Despite "Cessation of Hostilities", 12 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57230b434.html [accessed 24 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. Civilians are dying in Syria in new indiscriminate attacks despite the "cessation of hostilities" that began on February 26, 2016. One of the deadliest was the government airstrike on the town of Deir al-Assafir on March 31, killing at least 31 civilians, including nine women and 12 children, local civil rights groups and rescue workers reported. Three witnesses told Human Rights Watch that there were no military targets nearby. On April 5, armed groups fired mortars, locally made rockets, and other artillery into Sheikh Maqsoud, an Aleppo neighborhood under the control of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, in likely indiscriminate attacks that killed at least 18 civilians including seven children and five women, and wounded 68, according to the local Sheikh Maqsoud council. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the death toll. "A decrease in casualty numbers brought a much needed respite for Syrians, but many civilians are still dying in unlawful attacks," said Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East director. "Key countries pushing for negotiations in Syria - notably the U.S. and Russia - need to press the warring parties in Syria to end unlawful attacks." Negotiations between the Syrian warring parties are set to resume on April 13, but renewed fighting in recent days threatens to derail the "cessation of hostilities." The United States and Russia, as co-chairs of the Syria Ceasefire Task Force, which was set up in February to monitor indiscriminate attacks, need to adopt robust measures to deter further indiscriminate attacks or use of weapons with indiscriminate effects. Members of the local civil defense groups and rescue teams in Eastern Ghouta, where the March 31 attack took place, told Human Rights Watch that a Syrian plane struck a school and a hospital. Yasir Doghmosh, head of Civil Defense for Eastern Ghouta, said he rushed to the scene and "saw women and children running everywhere in a panic. We saw pieces of bodies on the street and people stuck underneath the rubble." Human Rights Watch reviewed video of the aftermath of the attack, which shows members of rescue teams trying to save women and children from rubble and destroyed buildings. The sounds of planes circling overhead is audible, as well as the sounds of explosions as rescue workers were doing their work. The video also showed images of young children in school uniform and backpacks escaping from a school. Human Rights Watch received a list of 31 names of the dead from the local Civil Defense group. A local media activist, Adam al-Shami, who was in Deir al-Assafir at the time of attack, told Human Rights Watch that the Civil Defense building, a civilian building, in the town was destroyed as well as a hospital and a school. The local Civil Defense group said that 14 bombs were dropped on the town. The videos showed damaged buildings but did not indicate if they were the hospital or the school that were hit. Doghmosh and al-Shami denied that there were any military targets nearby. The Syrian government did not issue any statements about this attack. "The bombing happened in completely civilian areas in the Ashira neighborhood," al-Shami said. "One member of the Syrian Civil Defense died in the attack." "In Aleppo, opposition armed groups fired locally made rockets, grad, and mortars," said Emad Dawud, a local council member, in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood. Local activists said that the armed groups began their attacks following clashes with the Kurdish militia over the control of a key thoroughfare. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the armed groups also struck the neighborhood with 23 rockets on March 6, killing nine civilians including four children. On March 19, four civilians, including two children, died when rockets were fired into Sheikh Maqsoud from the al-Halk neighborhood, which armed groups control. Human Rights Watch reviewed video posted on March 7 showing rebels from the Thuwar al-Sham brigade preparing locally made cylindrical rockets in preparation for a launch into Sheikh Maqsoud. A local journalist in Sheikh Maqsoud, Pervin Roj, said on April 8 that the heavy shelling that began on April 5 had not stopped. She said that the hospital was overrun with dead and injured. "There are still people under the rubble that the rescue teams cannot reach," Roj said. Video of the aftermath of the April 5 attacks showed victims being treated for difficulty in breathing. Photos of the aftermath showed children buried under destroyed buildings and others bloodied and covered with blankets after being lifted from the rubble. The Syrian National Coalition (SNC), a major opposition umbrella organization, issued a statement condemning the attacks on April 5. On April 7, the official spokesperson for Jaysh al-Islam, a militant group, issued a statement that "during confrontations [with the Kurdish militia], a local commander in Jaysh al-Islam used weapons that are not authorized to be used in these types of confrontations, which is considered a violation of the group's internal rules, and he was referred to the military judicial system of the army [Jaysh al-Islam]." The International Syria Support Group, a group of countries that have been leading the drive for a ceasefire in Syria, negotiated the cessation of hostilities. Syrian and Russian forces agreed to a ceasefire on airstrikes except on locations controlled by militant groups like the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. However, while the number of civilian deaths has decreased in the past month, indiscriminate attacks against civilian areas have continued, according to local human rights groups and Syrian civil defense, a group of search and rescue volunteer workers. The US and Russia, as co-chairs of the Syria Ceasefire Task Force, set up a monitoring system with a hotline for Syrian individuals or groups to report violations of the ceasefire by phone, email or text. The special task force should strengthen its reporting mechanism particularly for strikes that kill civilians, and publicly report on violations of the laws of war, and adopt measures to sanction and deter such violations, Human Rights Watch said. "As fighting resumes in parts of Syria, key backers of the Syria negotiations should ensure that protection of civilians remains a key priority by strengthening the monitoring mechanism and sending a strong signal to any warring party that continues to target civilians or use indiscriminate attacks," Houry said. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Egypt: 7,400 Civilians Tried In Military Courts Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 13 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Egypt: 7,400 Civilians Tried In Military Courts, 13 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57230c6f4.html [accessed 24 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 findings of a Burundian commission of inquiry into allegations of extrajudicial executions by members of the security forces on December 11, 2015, in the capital, Bujumbura, are misleading and biased. This is one of several official inquiries that have failed to properly investigate security force abuses or hold those responsible to account. The inquiry focused on reports of abuses during the most deadly operation by the Burundian security forces since the country's crisis began in April. Human Rights Watch found that police and military shot dead scores of people in Nyakabiga and Musaga neighborhoods, apparently in retaliation for opposition attacks on four military installations, and for heavy shooting at security forces by gunmen in these neighborhoods. "This is the latest in a series of commissions of inquiry in Burundi that has ignored widespread abuses by the security forces," said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "These inquiries have covered up state abuses and have not led to justice." The Prosecutor General, Valentin Bagorikunda, set up an inquiry into the December 11 events on December 17, 2015. Summarizing the inquiry's main conclusions on March 10, 2016, he did not mention killings or abuses of Bujumbura residents by the security forces. He claimed that those killed on December 11 were armed "combatants" wearing police or military uniforms. Since 2010, there have been at least seven commissions of inquiry into allegations of killings and other abuses. Most of them have denied or downplayed serious abuses by state agents. Human Rights Watch documented the killings of December 11 in detail and found no indications that the victims had participated in the attacks on the military installations. Some victims were found lying side by side, face down, and appeared to have been shot in the back or the head. Others survived with serious injuries. The security forces also carried out large-scale arbitrary arrests in both neighborhoods. In March, two United Nations special rapporteurs and one from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights visited Burundi to investigate human rights abuses at the request of the UN Human Rights Council. They plan to return in June and send a small team of human rights monitors to be based in the country. Presenting their interim report to the Human Rights Council on March 22, Christof Heyns, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, said: "The overt violence of last year seems to have subsided. At the same time covert violence, for example, in the form of disappearances, seems to have increased There are some in [the Burundian] government who seem to be open to change. Others, however, are in denial anything is wrong." Given the Burundian justice system's inability or unwillingness to conduct credible and thorough investigations, an independent, international commission of inquiry is needed to establish the truth about the grave abuses in Burundi in the past year and support the efforts of the special rapporteurs, Human Rights Watch said. An international commission with expertise in criminal and forensic investigations would conduct in-depth inquiries with a view to establishing individual responsibility for the most serious crimes. It would probe deeper into these crimes, complementing the work of UN and African Union human rights observers in Burundi as well as the Human Rights Council's initiatives. Burundian government officials have repeatedly claimed there is peace and security throughout the country, despite the fact that several hundred people have been killed over the past year and many others arbitrarily arrested, tortured or disappeared. The minister of human rights, social affairs and gender, Martin Nivyabandi, told the Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 22 that, "the situation is normalizing" and that, "Burundi today couldn't be a land where impunity reigns." "Contrary to the minister's statement, impunity has been at the heart of Burundi's political system for years and is one of the principal causes of the current human rights crisis," Bekele said. Serious new abuses were reported throughout March and early April. Scores of people have been arrested and others taken away to unknown destinations by the police or intelligence services. Ruling party officials, police, and members of the ruling party youth league known as Imbonerakure arrested at least 16 members of the opposition party National Liberation Forces (FNL) at a bar in Kirundo province on March 12. The police spokesman, Pierre Nkurikiye, claimed they were conducting a political meeting without authorization. Armed opposition groups have also been responsible for abuses. Unidentified men killed two ruling party officials in Bururi and Makamba provinces on March 15. Since early 2016, the intelligence services have intensified surveillance of human rights activists, journalists, and other perceived critics, making it even more difficult to document and expose abuses and putting the few activists who remain at even greater risk. Tensions were heightened on March 22, after an unidentified gunman shot dead Lt. Col. Darius Ikurakure, a military commander reportedly involved in many abuses, at the army headquarters in Bujumbura. Later that day, residents of Bujumbura reported that security forces arrested several people. That night, another military officer, Major Didier Muhimpundu, was killed in Bujumbura. An opposition group, the Republican Forces of Burundi (Forces republicaines du Burundi, FOREBU), later claimed responsibility for Ikurakure's death. "The government's claims that Burundi is calm and that security is improving aren't true," Bekele said. "The recent killing of the military officials has heightened tensions, and many people are being arrested or simply go missing." For details of Burundi's flawed commissions of inquiry, please see below. Commissions of Inquiry Over the last six years, the prosecutor general's office has set up multiple commissions of inquiry into human rights abuses, usually following critical reports by Burundian and international human rights groups or the United Nations. The Burundian government has used these commissions to try to show international actors that the Burundian justice system is able to investigate reports of abuses as well as to exonerate its security forces. Some of the inquiry reports have never been made public. Those that have are deeply flawed and biased in favor of the government, denying or downplaying state abuses. Few have led to the successful or effective prosecution of those responsible. A lack of transparency has made it difficult to know how much effort the commissions made to identify and interview a wide range of impartial witnesses. However, they did not approach independent Burundian or international groups, such as Human Rights Watch, that had investigated and reported publicly on these abuses. Nyakabiga and Musaga killings - December 2015 In the most recent case, the prosecutor general set up a judicial commission of inquiry on December 17, 2015, to investigate the December 11 killings. Summarizing the commission's findings, Bagorikunda, the prosecutor general, said that 79 combatants were killed along with 4 policemen and 4 soldiers. He claimed the 79 were carrying weapons and were dressed in police or military uniforms. He described allegations that people had been buried in mass graves as "not founded" and said government officials buried those who could not be identified because of concerns about hygiene. Bagorikunda stated that seven combatants captured in Mujejuru - in Bujumbura Rural province, outside the capital - died in unclear circumstances and that a case file has been opened against two members of the security forces. Human Rights Watch research into the December 11 events paint a different picture. Multiple witnesses from Nyakabiga and Musaga said they saw members of the police or military kill local residents. Human Rights Watch also viewed photos of 16 bodies found in Nyakabiga on December 12 and related video footage. Many were found in the street without their shoes. Security forces often make detainees remove their shoes to make it harder for them to flee. The photos were taken before local authorities collected the bodies. The victims in the photos and videos were all wearing civilian clothes. A witness told Human Rights Watch that three other victims in Musaga were wearing police uniforms and two military uniforms, but that it looked like someone had put the uniforms on them because they clearly didn't fit. Local residents said that Imbonerakure, wearing surgical masks and gloves, dug three or four graves in a cemetery in the Kanyosha neighborhood and buried some of the bodies there. They told Human Rights Watch that the authorities did not attempt to identify the dead. Ngagara Killings - October 2015 On October 13, unidentified men in Bujumbura's Ngagara neighborhood stopped three policemen in civilian clothes. They killed one, shot and injured another, and the third escaped. The police response was brutal and disproportionate. The police responsible for guarding state institutions (Appui pour la protection des institutions, API) killed, beat, and threatened residents in Ngagara while searching for the attackers. Police killed at least nine residents, including Christophe Nkezabahizi, a cameraman with the state broadcaster Radio Television Nationale du Burundi (RTNB), four members of his family, and a domestic worker. On October 17, the prosecutor general set up a commission to investigate these events. Most of the commission's report is devoted to the attack on the policemen. It does not indicate that the commission talked to anyone who witnessed the killing of Nkezabahizi and his family or other killings and abuses by policemen. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Burundian newspaper Iwacu talked to multiple witnesses who confirmed these abuses. The report notes that local residents did not respond favorably to a call for evidence by the commission and quotes a local official in Ngagara as saying that residents of his neighborhood did not want to talk to government representatives about what they knew. The report makes no mention of API police entering houses, beating people, shooting domestic workers, or looting homes, which numerous residents described to Human Rights Watch. Anti-Third-Term Demonstrations - from April 2015 Bagorikunda set up a commission of inquiry on April 29, 2015, into the violence surrounding demonstrations against President Nkurunziza's third term. The commission's report, published in August, described the protests as an "insurrectional movement." It focused on abuses by opposition sympathizers against the state security forces, destruction of state property, and killing of Imbonerakure. It did not mention killings, beatings, or scores of arbitrary arrests by security forces. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that police shot live ammunition at demonstrators indiscriminately - sometimes at point-blank range - hitting them in the head, neck, and chest. Medical personnel and witnesses, including a man who survived a shooting, said that some people were shot in the back as they fled. Medical staff in Bujumbura treated scores of people with bullet wounds. Some demonstrators threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the police, killed an Imbonerakure and then burned his body, and used slingshots to shoot stones, marbles, and other projectiles at the police. The president's main communications adviser, Willy Nyamitwe, told Human Rights Watch in May: "There are perhaps policemen who used too much force and others who were misguided. You need to recognize also that demonstrators are committing human rights abuses and they aren't being reported." He said some policemen had been arrested because "they used live ammunition against demonstrators." Cibitoke Province Killings - December 2014-January 2015 Human Rights Watch documented at least 47 extrajudicial executions by military, police, and Imbonerakure in Cibitoke province, western Burundi, between December 30, 2014, and January 3, 2015, after an unidentified armed group clashed with the military and police. The victims were members of the armed group who had surrendered. On April 25, Bagorikunda presented the findings of a commission of inquiry to investigate these events. The report focused on fighting between the armed group and the military and only superficially touched on allegations of extrajudicial executions. The commission stated that with the exception of three people whom policemen allegedly killed on their own initiative, all those who died were killed during the fighting. Its report states that these policemen were arrested. Human Rights Watch spoke with more than 50 people, including 32 witnesses to the killings, members of the armed group in detention, and local government officials, who confirmed that the victims were killed after they surrendered. The commission's conclusion that only three combatants were killed outside the fighting lacks credibility. Human Rights Watch research showed that some local authorities and Imbonerakure intimidated witnesses and warned them not to talk about these events. Politically motivated killings - 2010-2012 In a 2012 report, Human Rights Watch documented scores of political killings and targeted assassinations since late 2010. The deadliest attack took place on September 18, 2011, when gunmen entered a bar in Gatumba, a town near the Congolese border, and shot dead 37 people. A commission of inquiry submitted its report on the Gatumba events to the prosecutor general in October 2011, but to Human Rights Watch's knowledge, it was not made public. In January 2012, 16 people were convicted for their alleged role in the Gatumba killings, in an unfair trial during which several defendants stated they had been tortured. In June 2012, Bagorikunda set up another commission of inquiry into allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings, in response to reports by Human Rights Watch, the Episcopal Justice and Peace Commission, the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB), and the Burundian human rights organization Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons (APRODH). In August 2012, the commission published its report, recognizing that killings had occurred, but concluding that they did not constitute extrajudicial executions. The government minimized the scale of the problem and made little effort to conduct in-depth investigations. The report stated that case files had been opened on a number of these incidents and that investigations were under way. It attempted to discredit the findings of Burundian and international human rights groups. The commission's work resulted in the arrest of about eight people, including several policemen and local officials. In 2013, a court in Gitega tried deputy police commissioner Michel Nurweze, known as Rwembe (razorblade in Kirundi), for his alleged involvement in the murder of an opposition party member, Leandre Bukuru, and for attempted murder and torture in two other cases. His trial could have been an important first step toward ending impunity, but at least two prosecution witnesses refused to testify because they lacked adequate protection. The court acquitted Nurweze of the murder and torture charges, changed the offense of attempted murder to grievous bodily harm, and sentenced to him to three months in prison. He was released as he had already served a year in prison. A report of a commission of inquiry into extrajudicial killings in 2010, and another on abuses before, during, and after the 2010 elections have still not been published. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Greece: Asylum Seekers Locked Up Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 14 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Greece: Asylum Seekers Locked Up, 14 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57230d6e4.html [accessed 24 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. Greek authorities, in coordination with the European Union, are automatically detaining all asylum seekers and migrants who arrive on the islands of Lesbos and Chios in deplorable conditions, Human Rights Watch said today. The detention of about 4,000 people creates particular hardships for vulnerable people who are held, such as children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. The blanket detention of all asylum seekers and migrants in closed facilities is unjustified, given the possibility of less restrictive options, and amounts to arbitrary detention. The two closed facilities should be converted into open camps with appropriate services and safety for people needing protection from war, persecution, and human rights abuses. "The EU's policy, carried out in Greece, has locked up families and others who have fled horrors such as ISIS terror, Taliban threats, or Syrian-government barrel bombs," said Eva Cosse, Greece specialist at Human Rights Watch. "When alternatives to detention exist, as they do on the Greek islands, there is no legal or moral justification to hold asylum seekers and migrants behind bars." In visits to Lesbos and Chios from April 3 to 9, 2016, Human Rights Watch found that the police-guarded camps on both islands were holding a wide array of people with special needs, including women with young children, pregnant women, unaccompanied children, elderly men and women, and people with physical and psychosocial disabilities. None of the detainees had proper access to health care, sanitation facilities, or legal aid. Both camps began operating as open reception and registration centers for the hundreds of thousands of people who had reached the islands since early 2015 but they were converted suddenly to prison-like camps on March 20, 2016, when a deeply flawed deal between the EU and Turkey came into effect. Asylum seekers and migrants who have arrived since then are detained by Greek authorities, with help from the EU's border agency, Frontex, and forbidden to leave the camps. The Moria facility on Lesbos, with about 3,100 people, is surrounded by fence topped with barbed-wire. At the VIAL facility - a former aluminum factory - on Chios, the roughly 1,000 detainees are only allowed to move in a limited area with housing containers, surrounded by a fence with barbed wire. As open facilities, Moria and VIAL had been serviced by a variety of humanitarian organizations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but most of these, including UNHCR, suspended their operations after March 20, consistent with their policies not to provide services in closed facilities. Conditions at Moria and VIAL deteriorated rapidly due to the fear, frustration, over-crowding, and lack of services. Tensions at VIAL culminated on April 1 when violent clashes erupted between Syrian and Afghan detainees. About 400 people broke free from the facility and are now at one of two open camps in the town of Chios. Greece's new detention policy resulted from the agreement between the EU and Turkey reached in mid-March. On April 2, the Greek parliament hastily adopted a law that allows blanket "restriction of movement" on new arrivals inside closed facilities at border entry points - such as the islands - for up to 25 days during reception and identification. It provides for asylum seekers to be detained for up to three months while their claims are processed. People subject to deportation, including back to Turkey, can be detained for up to 18 months. The law decreased the maximum time that asylum seekers can be held in detention in Greece, but provides for a fast-track procedure to examine international protection claims within 15 days, including appeal. The fast-track procedure has not begun yet, but once in place, it would undermine the effective exercise of asylum seekers' rights, Human Rights Watch said. Many, if not most, of those currently detained in VIAL have expressed a desire to seek asylum in Greece, but the system is overwhelmed and the promised EU support is lagging, Human Rights Watch said. Similarly, as of April 12, all except 15 people detained in Moria had submitted an asylum application, according to the Greek police. A key aim of the EU-Turkey deal is to reject almost all asylum applications on the grounds that Turkey is a safe country for refugees and asylum seekers, and to enable swift deportations back there. Turkey cannot be considered a safe country due to its refusal to grant effective protection to non-Europeans in need, including Afghans and Iraqis, Human Rights Watch has repeatedly said. Turkey has also repeatedly pushed Syrians back into the war zone and closed borders to others trying to flee. The EU-Turkey deal is fundamentally flawed and should be repealed, Human Rights Watch said. All asylum claims submitted by people in Greece should be examined on their individual merits, and other EU countries should support Greece and asylum seekers there by immediately fulfilling their commitments to relocate tens of thousands of asylum seekers from Greece. EU and Greek authorities, in cooperation with UN agencies, should provide alternative accommodation for all asylum seekers, and limit the detention of asylum seekers to exceptional circumstances. "The current situation in Greece for desperate asylum seekers is perverse," said Cosse. "People fleeing danger are detained in unacceptable conditions while they await a likely return to unsafe Turkey or languish in the dysfunctional Greek asylum system." For details of conditions in the locked facilities, rights of asylum seekers, and the new asylum review procedures, please see below. Inadequate Services, Safeguards During unrestricted visits to the VIAL closed center on Chios on April 7 and 8, Human Rights Watch interviewed 21 people, including 15 with specific health or other needs. Mobility in the camp was restricted, with people locked into one of two sections that had housing containers, basic showers and toilets, and very little open space. The authorities had made no provisions to separate children from unrelated adults or to address protection concerns for women. The facility was holding at least three unaccompanied children, all of them in the same area as adults. Detainees said they had limited running water, a lack of hot water, and poor hygienic conditions. "It is so difficult here," said a 25-year-old single mother from Afghanistan with a 5-year-old son. "You are inside a prison. The food is not edible, and every day, half of the day, there is no running water. Conditions are not clean and who knows what kind of diseases are here. We didn't commit any crime to be in this prison." Women's showers and toilets are separated from men's but they lacked locks for privacy, and some women said they worried about their safety. "When someone is going inside to take a shower, someone [else] needs to stay outside to hold the curtain and make sure no one comes inside," a 24-year-old woman from Afghanistan said. "I never go alone." VIAL has no showers that are accessible for people in wheelchairs and only one accessible toilet for people with physical disabilities in each section of the camp. Detainees criticized the nutritional quality of the food, especially for children. "They don't give milk every day," a 32-year-old mother from Afghanistan said. "I have five children and two of them are already sick. It is very difficult to take care of them in a situation like this." As of April 9, only rudimentary health care was provided in VIAL by the Hellenic Red Cross and the army. Medical staff, including female staff, were only available during limited hours, with no services at night, though a few people with serious conditions have been transferred to the local hospital. A social worker in VIAL told Human Rights Watch that more doctors are expected in the coming days. One elderly couple from Khanaqin in Iraq said they did not have access to the medical treatment they needed. "My husband has a heart ailment and Alzheimer's," the woman said. "All of his tablets fell into the sea." Human Rights Watch met a 45-year-old woman from Afghanistan, a former professor who fled the Taliban, huddling in the corner of her container. Her nephew said she has severe mental health issues and showed a document from the Spanish Red Cross saying she suffers from severe depression and adjustment disorder, which is typically triggered by an intensely stressful event. As recommended treatment, a doctor had suggested a variety of anti-depressants and anti-psychotics, but the nephew said he had not been able to obtain any medications or other mental health care. Similar conditions apparently exist at Moria camp on Lesbos, a facility holding approximately 3,100 people - about 1,000 over capacity. The Greek government did not grant Human Rights Watch access to the facility. One detainee interviewed through the fence said he was lucky to sleep in a tent. "This is because I came two weeks ago," he said. "Whoever comes now sleeps outside, and the toilets are really dirty. You go inside and you can't even take a breath. The food is disgusting and the water is dirty. Both me and my friend have skin problems from washing in this water and drinking it." Another detainee at the fence, a 17-year-old boy traveling alone from Syria, showed Human Rights Watch a skin rash that he said had developed because of the water. Amnesty International, which visited Moria on April 5, reported that the packed facility was holding people with disabilities, pregnant women, and a large number of children, including a baby with health complications from an attack in Syria. Only three doctors were regularly available to provide medical care, Amnesty International said. Greek police have said that over the last week authorities in Moria have transferred about 700 vulnerable people to open camps on the island. To reduce overcrowding at VIAL, on April 7, the authorities transferred 243 people to a closed facility on Leros, another Greek island in the southern Aegean. At the same time, an average of 170 people per day continue to arrive on Greek islands, and all are automatically detained. Arbitrary Detention, Scant Review of Claims Under Greek and international law, all detainees, including irregular migrants and asylum seekers, must be informed, in a language they understand, of the reasons for their detention and their rights, including the right to challenge their detention and the right to legal aid. Despite this, none of the people interviewed by Human Rights Watch had been given a detention order or were informed about the reason for their detention. Detainees on Chios did not know they could challenge their detention, and they had no effective access to lawyers. As of April 9, too few interpreters were available at the camp for the many languages spoken by people there, including Arabic, Kurdish, and Farsi. Only one of the interpreters, for Arabic, is a woman. "I ask every day why I am detained but there is no answer to my question," said a 24-year-old woman from Afghanistan who applied for asylum in Greece while held in VIAL. On Chios, only one case officer from the Greek asylum service is reviewing asylum claims; as of April 8, he had processed 9 of 1,206 cases of people who had expressed the desire to apply for asylum in Greece. Three more officers are scheduled to arrive at the end of May. The lack of interpreters requires the use of interpretation services over the phone from Athens. Five officers from the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) are supposed to arrive on Chios on April 18. Their role, under the EU-Turkey deal, is to conduct preliminary reviews to determine whether asylum applications are inadmissible because the person had or could have applied for protection in Turkey. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: Azerbaijan's MST Engineering LLC has become the 7th resident of the country's Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park, Zaur Mammadov, deputy CEO of SCIP, told reporters Apr. 29 in Baku. The company will produce hydraulic trunks and fittings, said Mammadov adding that these details are widely used in oil and gas, engineering, food and other industries. About 40 new jobs will be opened there, he noted. He also said that the products produced by MST Engineering LLC will be exported to neighboring countries in the future. Currently, Azerbaijan imports the above-mentioned products and in the future the country will be able to provide both the domestic market, and to export them to neighboring countries, said Mammadov. "At the initial stage, raw material for the production of trunks and fittings will be imported, but after commissioning SOCAR Polymer plant, it will also be produced within the country," noted the deputy CEO. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to create the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park in December of 2011. The territory of Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park will be divided into two parts: administrative and social zone and industrial zone. Overall, the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park now includes the following residents: Azertexnolayn, SOCAR Polymer, Azerfloat, Azerbaijan Fibro Cement, SIKA company, and Baku Non-Ferrous Metals & Ferroalloys Company. Edited by SI Turkey: Open Borders to Syrians Fleeing ISIS Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 14 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Turkey: Open Borders to Syrians Fleeing ISIS, 14 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57230dea4.html [accessed 24 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. Turkey should stop shooting at Syrian civilians fleeing fighting and immediately allow them to cross the Turkish border to seek protection, Human Rights Watch said today. Renewed fighting between the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, and armed opposition groups in Northern Aleppo has displaced at least 30,000 people in the past 48 hours, with Turkish border guards shooting at some of them as they approach Turkey's new border wall. Turkey's border remains firmly shut, a year after the authorities started rejecting all but the most seriously injured Syrians. Turkey has previously indicated it wants to create a "safe zone" in Syria to which Syrians could ostensibly flee and Turkey could return Syrian refugees. In its March 8, 2016 deal with Turkey, the European Union said it would work with Turkey to "allow for the local population and refugees to live in areas which will be more safe." "As civilians flee ISIS fighters, Turkey is responding with live ammunition instead of compassion," said Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The whole world is talking about fighting ISIS, and yet those most at risk of becoming victims of its horrific abuses are trapped on the wrong side of a concrete wall." According to international aid workers in Turkey and heads of six of the 10 displaced persons camps east of Azaz near the Turkish border, ISIS advances on April 13 and 14 have forced out at least half the camps' 60,000 residents. They have fled to other camps, to the Bab al-Salameh camp on the Turkish border and to the nearby town of Azaz. Three of the camps - Ikdah, Harameen and al-Sham - are now completely empty of the 24,000 people previously sheltering there. On April 14, Human Rights Watch spoke with the representatives of six of the 10 camps and seven displaced Syrians who had been living in camps that had been taken over by ISIS or that were close to the fast-changing ISIS front line. All of the residents said they wanted to flee to Turkey but that the closed border meant they had nowhere to escape to. Some said they had stayed in the camps under ISIS-threat because they were afraid they wouldn't be able to find shelter elsewhere, knowing other camps along the Turkish border were completely full. Others said they had returned to their nearby home villages even though they were still unsafe. The head of Ikdah camp, on the Turkish border, said that ISIS had taken over the camp, which sheltered just under 10,000 people, early on April 14, fired shots in the air, and told residents to leave. A camp resident who escaped described what happened: "At dawn we heard gunshots near the camp. A short while later ISIS arrived and used a loudspeaker to tell us we all had to leave. They said we had nothing to fear and that we should all go east, into ISIS territory. We left the camp but headed north through olive groves toward the Turkish border. We were about 2,000 people. As we approached the border wall we saw Turkish soldiers on a hill behind the wall and they just started shooting at us. They shot at our feet and everyone just turned round and ran in all directions. I took my family and we walked to another [displaced persons] camp nearby, called al-Rayan. We're afraid now because ISIS is close to this camp too. But where can we go." The head of al-Sham camp, close to the town of Kafr Bureysha two kilometers south of the Turkish border, said during an interview that the sound of machine gun fire in the background was coming from advancing ISIS pickup trucks from the new front line town of Kafr Shush, about a kilometer away. He said that gunfire had injured a 30-year-old man in the camp earlier in the day and that people in the camp who couldn't escape quickly enough were digging holes to protect themselves. On April 14, displaced persons' representatives on the Syrian side of Turkey's closed Bab al-Salameh border crossing told Human Rights Watch that about 5,000 displaced people from camps to the east taken by ISIS or under ISIS threat the previous night and earlier that morning had arrived in the Bab al-Salameh camp and the nearby town of Azaz. "Turkey's closed border is forcing Syrian men, women, and children to dig ditches and hide to escape the horrors of war," Simpson said. "Turkey's attempt at creating a so-called safe zone is a terrible joke for civilians cowering underground and desperate to escape Syria." As of early April, Turkey had completed a third of a 911 kilometer rocket-resistant concrete wall along its border with Syria. Satellite imagery dated April 8 reviewed by Human Rights Watch showed that the wall had sealed off significant parts of the border north of Aleppo. Starting in late March, Syrian armed opposition groups opened an offensive from their enclave in Azaz to retake key areas from ISIS along the Turkish border. After armed groups took the town of al-Rai, ISIS began a counteroffensive on April 9, retaking a number of areas. Clashes in the towns near the Turkish border continue as armed rebel groups and ISIS try to gain control over towns there. According to reliable United Nations sources in Turkey, as of April 14, ISIS had opened an attack against villages to the east of Azaz, which is near the Turkish border, and was in control of several villages, including Hiwar Kalas, Kafr Shush, Zayzafun-Ekdeh, and Baraghideh. As of April 12, various agencies had identified 75,000 displaced Syrians living in about 10 informal camps and a number of locations in Azaz, to the east of the town along the Turkish border and in Bab al-Salameh. They also estimated at least an additional 25,000 displaced people were in various locations to the east of Azaz. Many of them have fled multiple rounds of fighting and offensives in Northern Syria. Since early 2015, Turkey has all but closed its borders to Syrians fleeing the conflict. On April 12 and 13, 2016, Human Rights Watch interviewed eight people who described how Turkish border guards at the Syrian border violently pushed them and dozens of others back to Syria in February and March 2016. Two described how Turkish border guards beat fellow asylum seekers so badly they could not recognize their faces. These recent accounts of Turkish border guard abuses are consistent with Human Rights Watch findings in late 2015 that Turkish border guards beat and summarily expelled dozens of Syrians who crossed to Turkey using smugglers. Turkish authorities have allowed international aid groups based in Turkey to cross into Syria and join Syrian aid groups to distribute tents and other assistance to Syrians stuck at the border crossing and in nearby border areas. Human Rights Watch said that allowing much-needed cross-border aid does not absolve Turkey of its obligation to respect the principle of non-refoulement. That principle, under customary international law and international human rights law, prohibits rejecting asylum seekers at borders when that would expose them to the threat of persecution and torture. In July 2015, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said that "cleansing the region of all threatening elements and establishing a safe zone constitutes the basis of 1.7 million Syrian refugees' return." The same month, Mevlut Cavusoglu, the foreign minister, said that, "When areas in northern Syria are cleared of the [ISIS] threat, the safe zones will be filled naturally.... People who have been displaced can be placed in those safe areas." While Turkey's desire to limit the number of refugees may be understandable, the current situation in northern Syria makes clear that any "safe zone" would be safe in name only and would put the lives of displaced people in danger, Human Rights Watch said. In mid-March, the EU concluded a controversial migration deal with Ankara to curb refugee and migration flows to Europe, offering 6 billion in aid to assist Syrians in Turkey, and reinvigorated EU membership negotiations and the prospect of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens. A key objective of the deal is to enable Greece, with EU support, to reject almost all asylum applicants arriving by boat from Turkey on the grounds that Turkey is a safe country. The EU's explicit pledge to work with Turkey to create in Syria "areas which will be more safe" where "the local population and refugees [will be able] to live" should be seen in the context of a broader plan to contain the flow of asylum seekers. "The violence at the Turkey-Syria border is terrible proof of what's wrong with the EU-Turkey deal," Simpson said. "EU countries and Turkey should be working together to provide genuinely safe havens for Syrian refugees, not slamming doors shut in rapid succession." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Nepal: End Intimidation of Human Rights Commission Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 14 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Nepal: End Intimidation of Human Rights Commission, 14 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57230e6a4.html [accessed 24 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 Nepal government should immediately stop all intimidation and harassment of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and its staff and respect its independence in line with international standards, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said today. The attempts to intimidate the NHRC are a direct contradiction of the United Nation's Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (the Paris Principles) as well as Nepal's constitution, the rights organizations said. According to the commissioners and confirmed by independent media accounts, on April 3, 2016, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli summoned the National Human Rights Commission chair, Anup Raj Sharma, and other commissioners to question them about the NHRC's statement delivered by Commissioner Mohna Ansari during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the human rights situation in Nepal before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March. In its statement, the commission highlighted various ongoing human rights concerns, including discriminatory citizenship provisions in the new constitution, the continued failure to properly investigate alleged unlawful killings and excessive use of force during protests in the Terai region in 2015, violations of the economic, social, and cultural rights of earthquake victims, and the need for credible transitional justice for conflict victims. "As the principal independent constitutional body mandated to promote and protect human rights in the country, the NHRC plays a vital role in ensuring governmental accountability, and was well within its authority under both the Nepali Constitution and international standards when it delivered its submission to the UN Human Rights Council during the UPR," said Nikhil Narayan, ICJ's South Asia senior legal adviser. "The PM's blatant attempt to intimidate the NHRC members for that submission is a flagrant violation of the government's basic obligation to ensure the NHRC's ability to carry out its work independently and without undue interference." While it is entirely appropriate for the prime minister, like other stakeholders, to consult with the NHRC, such exchanges should be conducted with due respect for the legitimate exercise of the institution's constitutional mandate, independently and free of undue interference or intimidation. NHRC members present at the meeting uniformly expressed the sentiment that Oli, through his aggressive questioning and reprimanding of the commissioners over the contents of certain sections of its submission, was trying to intimidate the commission and in particular Commissioner Ansari, at whom the questioning appeared exclusively directed. The Paris Principles set out internationally agreed upon standards designed to guide the work of national human rights institutions in a credible, independent and, effective manner. Crucially, the Paris Principles define the role, composition, status, and functions of these bodies, which include engaging with the UN and regional institutions and states' obligation to ensure their real independence through a broad mandate, adequate funding, and an inclusive and transparent appointment process. Furthermore, the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Declaration on Human Rights Defenders) reaffirms the right of human rights defenders and institutions to advocate for human rights at the national and international level, including by engaging with the UN and other intergovernmental organizations. "The line and manner of questioning, including insinuations of bias and a lack of neutrality, particularly those aimed at Commissioner Ansari, the public face of the NHRC in Geneva, revealed an intent not of clarification, but intimidation that seeks to limit the role and effectiveness of the NHRC," said Champa Patel, director of the South Asia Regional Office at Amnesty International. Based on media accounts, discussions between the commissioners and the prime minister reflected an apparent attempt by the prime minister to discredit the commission's statement by portraying it as the personal views of Commissioner Ansari alone or those of a nongovernmental organization. Sharma promptly rebutted this characterization in a public statement on April 10, clarifying that "the statement delivered by NHRC Spokesperson Ansari at the UPR session was that of the commission and not her own," and that "[i]mpunity has affected the overall promotion and protection of human rights." Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the ICJ have consistently and repeatedly highlighted rights concerns similar to those the commission expressed in its UPR submission. The prime minister and government of Nepal should implement without delay the commission's recommendations concerning discriminatory constitutional provisions, impunity for perpetrators of Terai violence on all sides, ensuring justice in the process of transition, and protecting the rights of earthquake victims. The prime minister and the government of Nepal must publicly state that they will respect and guarantee the independence and integrity of the National Human Rights Commission, as the principal constitutionally mandated human rights body in the country, in accordance with international standards. "The prime minister overstepped his authority, and his attempts to intimidate and intervene in the work of the NHRC contravene the Paris Principles, which clearly provide for the establishment of autonomous and independent institutions," said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The prime minister seems unwilling to recognize that the NHRC acts independently and is not an arm of the executive, subject to governmental dictates." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Germany: Prosecuting Satirist Mocks Freedom of Speech Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 16 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Germany: Prosecuting Satirist Mocks Freedom of Speech, 16 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57230f1a4.html [accessed 24 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. German authorities should defend freedom of speech, even if the contents of the speech are offensive to some, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should not afford heads of state greater privilege against provocative speech. Responding to a demand for action by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on April 15, 2016, that prosecutors would be allowed to pursue charges against a German satirist who wrote a highly offensive poem about Erdogan. Merkel referred the case to prosecutors under article 103 of Germany's criminal code which makes it illegal to insult foreign heads of state, with a penalty of up to five years in prison. Merkel said this article was "dispensable" and that her government would draft a proposal to remove it from the criminal code by 2018. "By giving the go-ahead for a possible prosecution while acknowledging the law should be repealed, the German government is passing the buck for protecting free speech to the courts, instead of upholding its own human rights obligations," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The government is contributing to the violation of free speech that a potential prosecution would constitute." The case centers on Jan Bohmermann, a satirist who recited the poem on German television on March 31. He admitted the poem was offensive and said he intended to test the limits of free speech in Germany. The Turkish government triggered the possible legal action under article 103 by submitting a formal request on April 10 to the German Foreign Ministry. Under the terms of the little-used article, the government was then required to decide whether to allow prosecutors to take up the case. Erdogan has also filed a private defamation case against Bohmermann in Germany. Freedom of expression is protected in particular under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which both Germany and Turkey are parties. The European Court of Human Rights has made clear that the protection of free speech "is applicable not only to 'information' or 'ideas' that are regarded as inoffensivebut also to those that offend, shock or disturb the State or any sector of the population." The court has likewise emphasized that while criticism of politicians has limits, those limits "are wider as regards a politician than as regards a private individual," and that politicians and public figures are "obliged to display a greater degree of tolerance in this context." Specifically, with respect to the type of offense provided for in article 103, the court has ruled that, "The offence of insulting a foreign head of state is liable to inhibit freedom of expression without meeting any 'pressing social need' capable of justifying such a restriction" and "undermines freedom of expression." The context of speech is also important in assessing what limits are acceptable, and in this regard the poem, which could be considered vulgar, was written as part of a deliberately provocative, satirical comedy act and, as the court has noted: "The use of vulgar phrases in itself is not decisive in the assessment of an offensive expression as it may well serve merely stylistic purposes," and that, "Style constitutes part of communication as a form of expression and is as such protected together with the content of the expression." Respect for freedom of expression requires limiting criminalization of speech to offenses involving incitement to violence and imposing other restrictions only if they are strictly necessary and proportionate to serve a legitimate and lawful aim, Human Rights Watch said. In line with the case law of the European Court, criminalizing the kind of offending speech involved in this case violates freedom of expression as it is neither necessary nor proportionate. Merkel noted that her decision "means neither a prejudgment of the person affected nor a decision about the limits of freedom of art, the press and opinion." German opposition parties criticized Merkel for giving in to pressure from Erdogan following the European Union's signing of the refugee agreement with Turkey in March. Germany's Social Democrats, Merkel's coalition partners, said they opposed the chancellor's decision to allow the case to proceed to prosecutors. "The poem is certainly highly offensive, but it is in situations such as this when we need to stand up for protection of free speech," Williamson said. "Germany bears responsibility for having such a bad law on the books and the sooner it is repealed, the better." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Russia: Government against Rights Groups Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 16 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Russia: Government against Rights Groups, 16 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57230f5a4.html [accessed 24 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. Since June 5, 2014, the Ministry of Justice has designated 126 groups as "foreign agents". By April 16, 2016, at least 16 groups have shut down. Also, the Ministry has removed its "foreign agent" tag from 11 groups, acknowledging that they had stopped accepting foreign funding. Accordingly, on April 16, 2016, the official list of active "foreign agents" comprised 99 groups. (Moscow) In 2012 Russia's parliament adopted a law that required nongovernmental organizations (NGO)s to register as "foreign agents" with the Ministry of Justice if they engage in "political activity" and receive foreign funding. The definition of "political activity" under the law is so broad and vague that it can extend to all aspects of advocacy and human rights work. Initially, the law required all respective NGOs to request the Ministry to have them registered and implied legal consequences for failure to do so. Because in Russia "foreign agent" can be interpreted only as "spy" or "traitor," there is little doubt that the law aims to demonize and marginalize independent advocacy groups. Russia's vibrant human rights groups resolutely boycotted the law, calling it "unjust" and "slanderous." In early March 2013 the Russian government launched a nationwide campaign of intrusive inspections of hundreds of NGOs to identify advocacy groups the government deems "foreign agents" and force them to register as such. Since the law entered into force, numerous rights groups challenged the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Justice in courts; most lost their cases. As a result, by February 2015 at least 13 groups chose to shut down rather than wear the shameful "foreign agent" label, including Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos", JURIX (Lawyers for Constitutional Rights and Freedoms), the Moscow School of Civic Education (Moscow), Kostroma Center for Civic Initiatives Support, Anti-Discrimination Center (ADC) Memorial, Side by Side LGBT Film Festival, Coming Out, "Freedom of Information" Foundation, the League of Women Voters and Human Rights Resource Center (Saint-Petersburg), Center for Social Policy and Gender Studies and Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov), Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "The Committee Against Torture" (Nizhniy Novgorod). In August 2013, Russia's then-federal ombudsman Vladimir Lukin, acting on behalf of four organizations and their leaders who were affected by the law, challenged the law in Russia's Constitutional Court. On April 8, 2014 Russia's Constitutional Court upheld the law, ruling that there were no legal or constitutional grounds for contending that the term "foreign agent" had negative connotations from the Soviet era and that, therefore, its use was "not intended to persecute or discredit" NGOs. The Constitutional Court also found that the "foreign agent" designation was in line with the public interest and the interest of state sovereignty. On May 23, 2014 parliament amended the "foreign agents" law, this time authorizing the Ministry of Justice to register independent groups as "foreign agents" without their consent, if the ministry regards the organizations as engaged in "political activity" and if the organization is receiving foreign funding. On June 4, 2014 the amendments were signed into law. On June 5, 2014 the Ministry of Justice promptly registered five groups as "foreign agents," and since then has registered a total of 122, including prominent civil society groups that vigorously protested this action. I. By March 13, 2016 the registry of "foreign agents" maintained by the Ministry of Justice included the following groups: Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow) June 5, 2014 Regional Public Association in Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedoms "Golos" (Moscow) June 5, 2014 Center for Social Policy and Gender Studies (Saratov) June 5, 2014 (the organization was shut down May 22, 2015) Women of Don (Rostov region) June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended February 29, 2016) Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma) June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended June 19, 2015) Interregional Human Rights Association "Agora" (Kazan) July 21, 2014 Regional public organization "Ecozaschita! Womens' Council" (Kaliningrad) July 21, 2014 Public Verdict Foundation (Moscow) July 21, 2014 Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Moscow) July 21, 2014 Lawyers for Constitutional Rights and Freedoms / JURIX (Moscow) July 21, 2014 (the organization was shut down May 26, 2015) Soldiers' Mothers (Saint Petersburg) August 28, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended October 23, 2015) Freedom of Information Foundation / Institute for Information Freedom Development August 28, 2014 PIR Center September 3, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended February 24, 2016) Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov) October 2, 2014 (the organization was shut down November 6, 2015) "News Agency MEMO.RU" (Moscow) November 20, 2014 Regional Press Institute (St. Petersburg) November 20, 2014 Moscow School of Civic Education December 9, 2014 Rakurs, Arkhangelsk regional non-governmental LGBT organization December 15, 2014 All-Russian movement "For Human Rights" December 22, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended December 30, 2015) Human Rights Center (Kaliningrad) December 25, 2014 Krasnodar Regional Social Organization of University Alumni December 25, 2014 Regional social organization "Public Commission for Academic Sakharov's Heritage Preservation" December 25, 2014 Resource Human Rights Center (St. Petersburg) December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down November 3, 2015) Regional Public Organization "Man and the Law" (Republic of Mari El) December 30, 2014 Center for Social Development "Vozrozhdeniye" (Pskov) December 30, 2014 Public Human Rights Organization "Civil Control" (St. Petersburg) December 30, 2014 The League of Women Voters (St. Petersburg) December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down May 22, 2015) Free Press Support Foundation December 30, 2014 Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "The Committee Against Torture" January 16, 2015 Educational Center "Memorial" (Sverdlov region) January 16, 2015 Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training" January 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended July 22, 2015) "Information Bureau of the Nordic Council of Ministers in St. Petersburg" January 20, 2015 Jewish regional branch of the Russian public organization "Municipal Academy" January 26, 2015 (the organization was shut down May 22, 2015) The noncommercial partnership "Press Development Institute - Siberia" January 30, 2015 Center for social, psychological and legal help to victims of discrimination and homophobia "Maximum" (Murmansk) February 4, 2015 (the organization was shut down October 28, 2015) Interregional public fund for civil society development "Golos-Povolzhye" (Samara) February 6, 2015 Interregional charity organization "Siberian Environmental Center" (Novosibirsk) February 12, 2015 Center for Civic Analysis and Independent Research / GRANI (Perm) February 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended June 19, 2015) Municipal public organization "Samara Center for Gender Studies" (Samara) February 16, 2015 Regional Fund "Center for Defense of Mass Media Rights" (Voronezh) February 26, 2015 Regional Charitable Social Foundation "For nature" (Chelyabinsk) March 6, 2015 Regional Ecological Social Movement "For nature" (Chelyabinsk) March 6, 2015 Humanist Youth Movement (Murmansk) March 13, 2015 (the organization was shut down August 25, 2015) Regional Social Organization for Contribution to Harmonization of Interethnic Relations "Azerbaijan" March 13, 2015 Regional Social Environmental Organization "Bellona-Murmansk" March 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down October 16, 2015) "Educational Center for Environment and Security" (Samara) March 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended October 8, 2015) Foundation "Migration XXI Century" March 27, 2015 Eco-logika (Rostov) April 3, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended March 30, 2016) Transparency International Russia - April 7, 2015 Social Environmental Organization "Planeta Nadezhd" April 15, 2015 Foundation for Consumers' Rights Defense (Novosibirsk) April 17, 2015 Civil Assistance Committee April 20, 2015 Foundation 19/29 - Foundation for Support of Investigative Journalism April 24, 2015 Commemorative Centre of History of Political Repressions "Perm - 36" April 29, 2015 Women's League (Kaliningrad ) April 29, 2015 (the organization was shut down December 16, 2015) Legal Expert Partnership "Soyuz " May 7, 2015 (the organization was shut down 25 August 2015) Center for Development of Non-Commerical Organizations May 13, 2015 Club of Accountants and Auditors of Non-Commercial Organizations May 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended March 30, 2016) Informational Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Northern Countries (Kaliningrad) May 13, 2015 Sutyajnik (Yekaterinburg) May 15, 2015 Human Rights Academy (Yekaterinburg) May 15, 2015 Ecological Center "Dront" (Nizhny Novgorod) May 22, 2015 The non-profit organization "Liberal Mission" Scientific Foundation of Theoretical and Applied Research May 25, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended September 11, 2015) The non-profit Dynasty Foundation May 25, 2015 Union of Employers (Tula region) May 28, 2015 Youth organization "Nuori Karjala/Young Karelia" June 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down March 25, 2016) Siberian Center for Support of Social Initiatives June 19, 2015 Interregional Social Foundation for Peace in the South and in the Northern Caucasus June 19, 2015 Informational Center "Free Inform" June 22, 2015 Center for Independent Sociological Studies (St. Petersburg) June 22, 2015 Regional Organization for Population and Development June 23, 2015 Geblerov Ecological Societ (Barnaul) June 23, 2015 Association "Legal Basis" (Yekaterinburg) July 3, 2015 Interregional Non-governmental Organization "Northern Environmental Coalition" (Petrozavodsk) July 8, 2015 (the organization was shut down December 1, 2015) Komi Human Rights Commission "Memorial" (Syktyvkar) July 21, 2015 Altai Regional Public Fund for 21st Century Altai (Barnaul) July 22, 2015 (the organization was shut down March 28, 2016) Interregional Public Foundation for Civil Society Development "GOLOS-Ural" (Chelyabinsk region) July 22, 2015 SREDA Foundation July 28, 2015 Non-governmental environmental organization "Green World" (Nizhny Novgorod) July 29, 2015 Civic Action Foundation (Perm) August 5, 2015 Alliance of Funds of Local Communities of the Perm territory August 11, 2015 Kabardino-Balkaria Human Rights Center regional branch of the "For Human Rights" All-Russian movement (Nalchik) August 18, 2015 (the organization was shut down November 6, 2015) The Human Rights Center of the Chechen Republic (Grozny) August 21, 2015 Interregional Social Ecological Foundation "ISAR-Siberia" (Novosibirsk) August 26, 2015 Perm Regional Human Rights Center (Perm) September 3, 2015 Siberia's lifeline (Novosibirsk) September 3, 2015 Golos Foundation in Support of Democracy September 4, 2015 Jewish Cultural Center "Hesed-Teshuva" (Ryazan) September 4, 2015 Sakhalin Environment Watch (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) September 18, 2015 Yasavey Manzara Information and Research Center (Naryan-Mar) September 23, 2015 Consumer Rights and Environment Protection Association "Princip" (Moscow region) October 5, 2015 Far East Center for the Development of Civil Initiatives and Social Partnership (Vladivostok) October 13, 2015 Russian Research Center for Human Rights October 20, 2015 Women of the Don (Rostov region) October 27, 2015 Friends of the Siberian Forests (Krasnoyarsk) October 28, 2015 Photography Club "Sobytiye" (Omsk) October 28, 2015 (the organization was shut down December 16, 2015) Research and Information Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg) November 6, 2015 Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk) November 10, 2015 Glasnost Defense Foundation November 19, 2015 Human Rights Institute November 20, 2015 Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North November 27, 2015 Green World (Leningrad region) December 2, 2015 Mashr (Republic of Ingushetia) December 8, 2015 Woman's World (Kaliningrad) December 11, 2015 Panorama Information and Research Center (Moscow) December 18, 2015 Dauria Ecological Center (Chita) December 30, 2015 Yekaterinburg Memorial Society (Yekaterinburg) December 30, 2015 Bureau of Public Investigations (Nizhny Novgorod) January 14, 2016 Committee for the Prevention of Torture (Orenburg) January 14, 2016 Institute of Forecasting and Resolving of Political Conflicts (Nizhny Novgorod) January 22, 2016 Ryazan Historical, Educational and Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Ryazan) February 1, 2016 Society of Assistance to Social Protection of Citizens "Peterburgskaya EGIDA" (Saint Petersburg) February 2, 2016 Center for Health and Social Support "SIBALT" (Omsk) February 15, 2016 Chelyabinsk Regional Organ of Public Independent Action "Ural Human Rights Group" (Chelyabinsk) February 15, 2016 Women of Eurasia (Chelyabinsk) February 15, 2016 Ural Democratic Foundation (Chelyabinsk) February 15, 2016 Legal and Social Support Charitable Foundation "Sphere" (Saint Petersburg) March 1, 2016 Centre for Civic Education and Human Rights (Perm) March 3, 2016 The International Development Fund for Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation "Batani" (Moscow) March 11, 2016 Center for Social and Labor Rights (Moscow) March 21, 2016 Arkhar (Gorno-Altaysk) April 5, 2016 Publishing House "Valentin Manuylov" April 15, 2016 And the four NGOs which registered voluntarily: Non-commercial Partnership "Supporting Competition in the CIS Countries" June 27, 2013 "The Union of Young Political Scientists", KarachayCherkess Republican Youth Social Organization December 15, 2014 Regional Social Movement "Novgorod Women's Parliament" (Veliky Novgorod) March 6, 2015 Center of Independent Researchers of the Altai Republic June 10, 2015 II. Administrative Court Cases at least 58 NGOs Groups that a court has found responsible for failing to register as a "foreign agent" may be fined up to 500,000 rubles (over US$16,000), and their leaders personally up to 300,000 rubles (approximately $10,000). They are: Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow) NGO lost the suit Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma) NGO lost the suit Anti-Discrimination Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg) NGO won two administrative cases, but later lost a similar civil suit to the prosecutor's office and chose to shut down Coming Out (St. Petersburg) NGO won the administrative case but later lost a similar civil suit to the prosecutor's office Side by Side LGBT Film Festival (St. Petersburg) NGO won the suit Regional Public Association in Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedoms "Golos" (Moscow) - NGO lost the suit Center for Civic Analysis and Independent Research / GRANI (Perm) NGO won the suit Perm Civic Chamber (Perm) NGO won the suit Perm Regional Human Rights Center (Perm) NGO won the suit Women of Don (Rostov region) NGO lost the suit Ecozachita! Zhensovet (Kaliningrad) NGO lost the suit Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov) NGO lost the suit News Agency "MEMO.RU" (Moscow) NGO lost the suit Regional Press Institute (St. Petersburg) NGO lost the suit Moscow School of Civic Education NGO lost the suit All-Russian movement "For Human Rights" NGO lost the suit Regional Public Organization "Man and the Law" (Republic of Mari El) NGO lost the suit Human Rights Center (Kaliningrad) NGO won the suit Krasnodar Regional Social Organization of University Alumni the proceedings was discontinued Regional social organization "Public Commission for Academic Sakharov's Heritage Preservation" NGO lost the suit Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training" (Volgograd) NGO lost the suit Rakurs, Arkhangelsk regional non-governmental LGBT organization NGO lost the suit Center for social, psychological and legal help to victims of discrimination and homophobia "Maximum" (Murmansk) NGO lost the suit Educational Center "Memorial" (Sverdlov region) NGO lost the suit, court of appeal decreased the amount of fine Interregional public fund for civil society development "Golos-Povolzhye" (Samara) NGO lost the suit Citizens' Watch (St. Petersburg) NGO lost the suit The noncommercial partnership "Press Development Institute - Siberia" NGO won the suit Regional Fund "Center for Defense of Mass Media Rights" NGO lost the suit Regional Social Organization for Contribution to Harmonization of Interethnic Relations "Azerbaijan" NGO lost the suit Regional Charitable Social Foundation "For nature" (Chelyabinsk) NGO lost the suit Regional Ecological Social Movement "For nature" (Chelyabinsk) NGO won the suit Eco-logika (Rostov) NGO lost the suit Regional Social Environmental Organization "Bellona-Murmansk" NGO lost the suit Foundation "Migration XXI Century" NGO lost the suit Interregional charity organization "Siberian Environmental Center" (Novosibirsk) NGO lost the suit, court of appeal decreased the amount of fine The non-profit organization "Liberal Mission" Scientific Foundation of Theoretical and Applied Research NGO lost the suit Center for Development of Non-Commerical Organizations NGO lost the suit The non-profit Dynasty Foundation NGO lost the suit Foundation 19/29 - Foundation for Support of Investigative Journalism NGO lost the suit Association "Legal Basis" (Yekaterinburg) NGO lost the suit Ecological Center "Dront" (Nizhny Novgorod) NGO lost the suit Regional Organization for Population and Development NGO lost the suit Center for Independent Sociological Studies (St. Petersburg) NGO lost the suit Human Rights Center "Memorial" NGO lost the suit Transparency International Russia NGO lost the suit Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "Committee Against Torture" NGO lost the suit Geblerov Ecological Societ (Barnaul) NGO won the suit Civic Action Foundation (Perm) NGO lost the suit Interregional Social Ecological Foundation "ISAR-Siberia" (Novosibirsk) NGO lost the suit Sakhalin Environment Watch (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) NGO lost the suit and is appealing the ruling Club of Accountants and Auditors of Non-Commercial Organizations NGO lost the suit Women's League (Kaliningrad) NGO won the suit Russian Research Center for Human Rights NGO lost the suit Interregional Public Foundation for Civil Society Development "GOLOS-Ural" (Chelyabinsk region) NGO lost the suit Human Rights Institute NGO lost the suit Interregional Human Rights Association "Agora" NGO lost the suit Glasnost Defense Foundation suit pending Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk) suit pending III. The leaders of at least 8 NGOs faced administrative charges personally: Anti-Discrimination Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg) NGO won the suit but the organization chose two shut down when it lost a "foreign agent" civil suit to the prosecutor's office Side by Side LGBT Film Festival (St. Petersburg) NGO won the suit Coming Out (St. Petersburg) NGO won the suit Association "Partnership for Development" NGO lost the suit Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma) NGO lost the suit Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow) NGO won the suit Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training" (Volgograd) NGO lost the suit Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk) suit pending Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Saudi Arabia: 3 Alleged Child Offenders Await Execution Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 17 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia: 3 Alleged Child Offenders Await Execution, 17 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57230fc94.html [accessed 24 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. Three Saudi men are awaiting execution for alleged, protest-related crimes committed while they were children. Saudi judges based the capital convictions primarily on confessions that the three defendants retracted in court and said had been coerced. The courts did not investigate the allegations that the confessions were obtained by torture. Saudi Arabia's announcement on March 11, 2016 that it will execute another four men for terrorism offenses raises fears that one or all three of the sentences could be carried out. Human Rights Watch has obtained and analyzed the trial judgments that the Specialized Criminal Court, Saudi Arabia's terrorism tribunal, handed down in 2014 against one of the men, Ali al-Nimr, and in a separate case, against Dawoud al-Marhoun and Abdullah al-Zaher. The judgments reveal flagrant due process violations, including denial of access to lawyers promptly after arrest or during lengthy pretrial detention, when investigators obtained the confessions. "Sentencing alleged child offenders to death is an appalling example of the Saudi court system's injustice," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director. "Not only are these three young men sentenced to death for alleged crimes they committed as children, but the courts didn't even bother to investigate when they said they were coerced to confess." The three were arrested for their alleged participation in demonstrations by members of the Shia minority in 2011 and 2012. Local activists told Human Rights Watch that more than 200 people from Shia-majority towns and villages in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province have gone on trial for alleged protest-related crimes since 2011. Mostly Shia residents of Eastern Province towns such as Qatif, Awamiya, and Hufuf have repeatedly held protests over discrimination by the government since 2011. Saudi Arabia's Shia citizens face systematic discrimination in public education, government employment, and permission to build houses of worship in the majority-Sunni country. Al-Nimr was tried individually and sentenced in May 2014. The other two were tried as part of a group and sentenced in October 2014. Al-Nimr and al-Marhoun were 17 at the time of their arrests, while al-Zaher was 15. Local media reported that Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court upheld al-Nimr's death sentence in September 2015, and that the Supreme Court informed a relative of al-Marhoun that it had upheld death sentences for al-Marhoun and al-Zaher in October 2015. On January 2, 2016, Saudi Arabia carried out a mass execution of 47 men convicted on terrorism-related charges, four of whom were Shia, including a prominent cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, Ali al-Nimr's uncle. The trial judgement for Ali Sa'eed Al Ribh, one of the other Shia men executed on January 2, indicates that he was under 18 when he allegedly committed some of the protest-related crimes for which he was sentenced to death in 2014. In 2015, only Iran and Pakistan executed people for crimes committed when they were under 18, according to Amnesty International. Both countries, as well as Bangladesh and Maldives, also sentenced child offenders to death last year, while previously convicted child offenders remained on death row in Indonesia, Iran, Papua New Guinea, and Saudi Arabia. Since the beginning of 2016 Saudi Arabia has executed 84 people. Saudi Arabia executed 158 people in 2015, most for murder and drug smuggling. Article 13 of the Arab Charter on Human Rights, which Saudi Arabia ratified in 2009, guarantees the right to a fair trial. Article 15 of the Convention against Torture, to which Saudi Arabia acceded in 1997, obliges Saudi Arabia to "ensure that any statement which is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings" The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which Saudi Arabia acceded in 1996, stipulates a number of important rights for children accused of committing crimes. They include the right to prepare an appropriate defense with "legal or other appropriate assistance" (article 40.2), the right "to have the matter determined without delay by a competent, independent and impartial authority or judicial body in a fair hearing according to law, in the presence of legal or other appropriate assistance," including the child's parents or legal guardian (article 40.3), and the right to "not to be compelled to give testimony or to confess guilt" (article 40.4). Article 37(a) prohibits capital punishment for children in all cases. Saudi authorities appear to have violated these obligations in the cases of al-Nimr, al-Marhoun, and al-Zaher, Human Rights Watch said. "Unfair trials of Shia citizens are simply another way Saudi Arabia has tried to silence its citizen's demands to end long-term discrimination," Whitson said. "The authorities should not compound their repression by killing child offenders." Death Sentences for Child Protesters The charges against the young men relate to their alleged role in the Eastern Province protests. Al-Nimr's judgment states he was convicted for crimes that included "breaking allegiance with the ruler," "going out to a number of marches, demonstrations, and gatherings against the state and repeating some chants against the state," and setting up a website on his Blackberry to incite demonstrations. He was also convicted of attacking police with Molotov cocktails and rocks, concealing men wanted by police, and helping the wanted men avoid police raids. Prosecutors gave no details of any injuries to police officers. Al-Zaher and al-Marhoun, arrested in March and May of 2012 respectively, both faced numerous charges including "participating in marches and gatherings ... and chanting slogans against the state" as well as throwing Molotov cocktails at police patrols. Al-Marhoun was also charged with attacking the Awamiya police station, burglarizing a pharmacy to steal medical supplies to treat wounded protesters, and supporting protesters by "buying water and distributing it to them." Al-Zaher was separately charged with concealing men wanted by security forces. The court convicted al-Zaher and al-Marhoun on all of these charges. The three men were detained without charge for up to 22 months and denied access to lawyers before and during their trials. Family members told Human Rights Watch that following al-Nimr's arrest in February 2012, authorities did not permit them to visit for four months. The authorities called him before a judge for the first time in December 2013 without informing his family, allowing him to appoint a lawyer, or providing a copy of his charge sheet. The court held three more sessions before the authorities allowed al-Nimr to appoint a defense lawyer. Yet, as the trial judgment records, despite court orders to the contrary, officials at Dammam Mabahith Prison did not allow al-Nimr's lawyer to visit him in prison to help prepare a defense before or during his trial. A family member of al-Marhoun told Human Rights Watch that authorities also held him without charge from the time of his arrest on May 21, 2012 until late 2013 before charging him and taking him to court. The family member said authorities held him incommunicado at a detention facility for minors for two weeks, and then held him incommunicado again for one month after transferring him to Dammam Mabahith Prison. Defense lawyers for al-Marhoun and al-Zaher told the court that neither boy had been permitted to have a parent or lawyer present during interrogation. The court found al-Nimr guilty on the basis of a confession he signed during his interrogation despite his statements that one of his interrogators wrote it and that he signed it under duress without reading it. The judgment stated that although the investigator wrote the confession, it was admissible because al-Nimr signed it. Family members said that al-Nimr agreed to sign the statement only after interrogators told him that they would then release him. The court also found al-Marhoun and al-Zaher guilty based on their confessions. Defense lawyers for al-Zaher and al-Marhoun said that both boys had been beaten and threatened with further beatings if they did not sign confessions written by interrogators. One of al-Marhoun's relatives said that interrogators forced him to provide an ink fingerprint on a written confession that he did not read and that he had trouble speaking and eating because of his beatings. Prosecutors presented no material evidence connecting al-Marhoun to his alleged crimes other than the confession. For al-Zaher, prosecutors presented only the confession and his arrest report, which stated that police "saw people with Molotov bombs and chased one of them until they arrested him, and after scanning the area they were in they found 33 glasses filled with benzene..." Judges immediately dismissed the defendants' claims that interrogators coerced confessions, without investigating the allegations that the evidence was obtained by torture. In dismissing al-Nimr's torture claims, the judge ruled that "Religious scholars have ruled that retracting a confession for a discretionary crime is not acceptable. Therefore, what the defendant has retracted from what appeared in his legally signed statement is not permitted, and what the defendant has argued regarding coercion was not proven to the judges." Lawyers for all three men asked the court to summon the people who interrogated the defendants to clarify the circumstances of their confessions, but judges ignored these requests. Authorities are holding all three men in Dammam Mabahith Prison. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Saudi Arabia: A Move to Curb Religious Police Abuses Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 18 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Saudi Arabia: A Move to Curb Religious Police Abuses, 18 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572310084.html [accessed 24 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. Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers issued a sweeping new regulation on April 13, 2016, curtailing the powers of the country's religious police. The council removed the authority of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, or religious police, to arrest, pursue, or request documents or ID cards from suspects. The new regulation will also require the religious police to clearly display official ID cards containing their name, position, branch, and official work hours. They would still have the authority to enforce sex segregation rules in public spaces. "This is a positive move for Saudi citizens and residents who have suffered years of harassment and abuse by the religious police," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director. "The authorities should go further and strip the religious police of the power to enforce sex segregation rules." The move to restrict religious police powers comes after several high profile incidents reported by local media and videos posted to social networking sites in which members are shown assaulting and harassing people. The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is a governmental organization under the purview of the prime minister, a position held by the Saudi king. It is responsible for policing morality issues such a public dress, mixing of the sexes, drugs, allegations of "sorcery and witchcraft," and insults to religion. The new regulation goes beyond a 2013 reform, which allowed members to detain suspects only "with the support of accompanying policemen." Three Saudi activists told Human Rights Watch, however, that in practice members of the group still arrest people without police on the scene. Under the new regulation, "heads of centers and members of the [religious police] are not to arrest people, restrain them, chase them, request their documents, confirm their identities, or follow them" (Article 7.2). The regulation states that powers for "procedures of criminal or administrative arrest, restraint, following, pursuit, detention, interrogation, confirmation of identity, and investigation" are restricted solely to the regular police and General Administration for Combatting Drugs. The king must now pass an implementing regulation to define in detail the responsibilities of the religious police. King Salman should remove the group's authority to enforce sex segregation rules, which have a disproportionately negative impact on women, Human Rights Watch said. In the most recent high-profile incident involving the religious police, in February, they stopped two young women on a street in Riyadh and told them to cover their faces. Arab News reported that the religious police then ordered the young women to get into their car, but they refused. While one of the women escaped into the nearby Nakheel Mall, the religious police chased her friend onto the main road and, as videos posted on social networking sites shows, shoved and dragged the young woman on the ground. A security officer at the mall told Arab News that the men chased her for about a half hour before she fell. On August 29, 2014, three members of the group attacked a British man and his Saudi wife in the parking lot of a Riyadh mall, Arab News reported. A video of the incident showed a member of the religious police jumping on the British man's back. While a police patrol responded to the couple's call for help, they left without intervening, and it was only after British Embassy security officers arrived that the religious police members left, Arab News said. Members have also been involved in high-speed car chases that ended in deaths and injuries. In one 2012 incident, an investigative committee found that members of the group and of the police caused the death of a Saudi man and serious injuries to his wife and two children after they crashed while religious police pursued them in a high-speed car chase in Baha Province. In a 2013 incident, two brothers died following car chase in Riyadh involving the religious police. Arab News reported that as the members chased the brothers, they ran a traffic light and hit a taxi and fence, then plunged from an overpass onto a busy street below. "Saudi Arabia has taken a step that could rein in longstanding religious police abuses, but authorities must enforce the new regulations for them to have any meaning," Whitson said. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch India: High Cost for Reporting in Chhattisgarh Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 18 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, India: High Cost for Reporting in Chhattisgarh, 18 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572310894.html [accessed 24 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 Indian government should investigate allegations that journalists are being prosecuted for their reporting of the conflict in central Chhattisgarh state, Human Rights Watch said today. In late March 2016, the Editors Guild of India reported that the media in Chhattisgarh state was "working under tremendous pressure" brought by the authorities, Maoist rebels, and vigilante groups. The authorities should drop baseless prosecutions of journalists and end abuses by the security forces against journalists, activists, and human rights defenders in Maoist-affected areas. "The authorities should address suffering of ordinary people and stop threatening and prosecuting journalists for bringing attention to rights abuses," said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director. "Silencing journalists and rights activists makes it easier for both the Maoists and government security forces to commit abuses with impunity." Four journalists facing criminal charges in Chhattisgarh appear to have been arrested because of their criticism of the government. Deepak Jaiswal, a reporter for the local Dainik Dainandini newspaper, was arrested on March 26. Prabhat Singh, a reporter for the Hindi daily Patrika was arrested on March 21. Santosh Yadav, a contributor to Hindi language newspapers, has been in custody since September 2015. And Somaru Nag, a journalist from a tribal community, was arrested in July 2015. All say that authorities have filed false criminal charges to silence them because of reporting they did that is critical of the security forces. The arrests of journalists have prompted widespread condemnation from Indian media associations, rights activists, and opposition politicians. In March, the Editors Guild of India, a 200-member independent group, sent a fact-finding team to Chhattisgarh to meet with journalists, police, and government officials. Their report found that journalists in the state "have to work between the security forces and the Maoists, and both sides do not trust journalists at all." The report also concluded that the state government wanted the media to support the fight against the Maoists and "not raise any questions about it." On March 31, Chhattisgarh's chief minister, Raman Singh responded to allegations that the authorities were attempting to muzzle the press, saying that his government was committed to media freedom. So far the government has not committed to take action to prevent security force abuses against journalists or hold those responsible to account. https://d.adroll.com/cm/r/outThe armed movement by Maoist groups, often called Naxalites, poses a serious security challenge in nine states in central and eastern India. In this decades-long conflict, thousands of civilians have been killed and injured and many people have been uprooted from their homes. The Maoists have committed numerous serious abuses, such as targeted killings of police, political figures, and landlords. In 2013, the Maoists killed two journalists in Chhattisgarh, Nemichand Jain and Sai Reddy. The government's security response to the Maoist threat has also resulted in serious human rights violations. State security forces - typically police and paramilitary forces - have arbitrarily arrested, detained, and tortured villagers, who are mostly from disaffected tribal communities. Police have often attempted to discredit human rights activists by describing them as Maoists or Maoist supporters. Lawyers at the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group, which provides free legal counsel to mostly tribal villagers in the conflict-ridden area, said that vigilante groups who side with security forces have harassed them as well as journalists and activists because of their work. "Ending police and vigilante abuses would be a stronger response to the Maoists than sweeping those abuses under the rug," Ganguly said. "A rights-respecting administration will be welcomed by communities who have long been caught up in a vicious cycle of violence and reprisal." See below for more information on abuses by police and vigilante groups with additional details of arrests and harassment of journalists, lawyers, and activists. Arrests, harassment of journalists In 2015, Prabhat Singh had written several stories questioning police actions including alleged extrajudicial killings in the Maoist conflict. In March, Singh and Deepak Jaiswal were arrested on a complaint filed in August 2015 by a school official alleging that they had entered the school premises during an examination without permission, assaulted school staff, and demanded money. The complaint was filed after the two had reported that the school's teachers helped students to cheat in the examination. Jaiswal and Singh were charged under several criminal provisions, including trespassing, obstructing a public servant in discharge of his duty, and assaulting or using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty, Singh's lawyer said. Singh was also charged with fraud and for texting obscene material, which included his support for a law to protect against arbitrary police action. The police contend that Jaiswal is not a journalist, contradicting the view of the local journalists' association. Bappi Roy, president of the South Bastar Reporters Association, told a newspaper that Jaiswal had been a full-time journalist for the last two years. Singh and Jaiswal have denied the charges against them, saying they believe they are being targeted by the police for their reporting on the Maoist conflict. Singh's lawyer alleged that the police had beaten Singh in custody, and that he suffered injuries to his chest and hands. The National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to the Chhattisgarh government over Singh's "illegal arrest, detention, and torture." The Press Council of India stated that Singh's arrest appeared to be a violation of press freedom and sought a report from the police and the state government. Somaru Nag was arrested in July for allegedly assisting youth who had burned down a crusher plant. He has been charged with robbery, causing mischief by fire or explosive substance, and criminal conspiracy among other criminal actions. Nag's family alleges that he was illegally detained for three days and beaten in police custody. His brother told reporters: "We saw that he had been beaten up very badly. He told us, 'Please speak to the other journalists and ask them to help me get released.'" Santosh Yadav was arrested in September for allegedly joining a Maoist ambush on a police patrol that killed one officer. Yadav has been charged for rioting, criminal conspiracy, murder, and attempted murder, as well as for associating with and assisting an unlawful organization under draconian anti-terrorist laws, the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have criticized these counterterrorism laws for failing to comply with international human rights standards and for being widely misused to target political opponents, tribal groups, religious and ethnic minorities, and Dalits. Yadav's father told the media that he believed Yadav was targeted merely for being among the first to arrive at the scene of the attack. Kamal Shukla, editor of a Bastar district-based newspaper, also said Yadav's swift presence at the scene made him suspect. "Your editor says rush to the spot, and a stringer has to do that," Shukla told a reporter. "Just doing our job makes us suspect in the eyes of the police and the Maoists." Before his arrest, Yadav had been repeatedly harassed by the police for his work. The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) reported that Yadav was under pressure from the police to become an informer against Maoists, and had been picked up at least twice before and threatened. The group said three months before arresting him, the police arbitrarily detained Yadav, stripped him naked, and prepared to beat him. The police only stopped, PUCL said, because Yadav told them he would write and tell everyone what they had done. Bastar's superintendent of police, Ajay Yadav, denied allegations of torture and defended Yadav's arrest: "We had been continuously watching his movements. He was very active in that area, and had links with the local [Maoist] commanders. He used to supply material to them." The Editors Guild fact-finding team reported that Yadav had said he took telephone calls from Maoist leaders in the course of his work as a journalist but had denied passing any information to them. He also told the team that he had occasionally dropped packets for the Maoists that included newspapers or magazines and sometimes papers of unknown contents. However, Yadav added that no one living in that remote conflict zone could refuse to carry papers for the Maoists without placing their lives at grave risk. The chief editor of the Deshbandhu newspaper group, Lalit Surjan, told the fact-finding team that "Santosh Yadav and many other journalists working in the remote area of Bastar should be given the benefit of doubt because they have been talking to Maoists as part of their job. They don't have any choice." In the Yadav case, the police claim he was not a journalist even though both newspapers that Yadav said he worked for have vouched for him. Sudha Bharadwaj, a human rights lawyer and PUCL's general secretary in the region, said that local stringers and journalists such as Yadav are at greater risk: "They don't get the immunity, protection, or working conditions that journalists in the national media get, even though no outside journalist can really report in these areas without a local journalist's assistance for travel and interpretation of the local Adivasi [indigenous] language." Yadav has been outspoken against alleged police abuses, and had often assisted tribal people in getting legal help. Yadav had brought several tribal people, including Nag, to the Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group for legal counsel (JagLAG). They are now representing Yadav and Nag. Police in Bastar allegedly began making late night visits to the house of journalist Malini Subramaniam, a contributor for the news website Scroll.in, and interrogating her about her work after she had repeatedly reported on alleged rights violations by security forces. After Subramaniam's house was attacked by unknown assailants in February, the police resisted for a full day her repeated attempts to register a complaint. Subramaniam said that the police detained her landlord and her domestic worker for questioning and alleged that the police pressured her landlord to serve her with an eviction notice. Subramaniam left the state in February. The police have denied any coercion charges saying local officials had issued orders to all landlords to furnish documents on their tenants and domestic help, and it was part of routine questioning. In 2011, the Indian Supreme Court said it was "aghast" that the Chhattisgarh government felt that anyone "who questions the conditions of inhumanity that are rampant in many parts of that state ought to necessarily be treated as Maoists, or their sympathizers." Harassment, threats against human rights lawyers, activists Shalini Gera and other lawyers at JagLAG told Human Rights Watch that police and local vigilante groups have harassed and threatened them because of their human rights work. Since 2013, JagLAG has worked on numerous cases dealing with human rights violations allegedly committed by the police and other security forces in the state. JagLAG lawyers recently assisted tribal women in filing complaints against police and security personnel for three alleged incidents of rape and sexual assault during anti-Maoist operations in Sukma and Bijapur districts between October and January. Harassment from police and their supporters forced JagLAG to leave Jagdalpur city in Bastar district and relocate about 400 kilometers away in Bilaspur district. In October and February, the Bastar District Bar Association passed resolutions effectively prohibiting "outside" lawyers - lawyers not registered locally in the state - from practicing in Jagdalpur courts. The lawyers at JagLAG challenged the first resolution and obtained an interim reprieve from the Chhattisgarh State Bar Council. However, according to Gera the district bar association continued to threaten them and any local lawyers who would assist JagLAG. Gera said that the police have been running a vilification campaign against the group. In March 2015, the New York Times reported that Inspector General SRP Kalluri, the Bastar chief of police, called them "Naxalite supporters." In February, three unidentified men on a motorcycle attacked tribal rights activist Soni Sori with a chemical substance. Sori had been helping tribal women register police complaints of sexual assault against the security forces in Bijapur and Sukma districts. In recent months, the rise of vigilante groups in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh state has reportedly become a serious threat for dissenting voices. These groups are linked to harassment and intimidation of critics of the government. According to India Today, police have admitted to supporting the Samajik Ekta Manch, an informal organization formed by local businessmen and political leaders to "counter Naxalism in Bastar and support the police in its work." One police officer in Bastar reportedly called Samajik Ekta Manch the state's "version of guerrilla warfare" against the Maoists. In February, Samajik Ekta Manch held a public meeting and a demonstration against JagLAG lawyers, accusing them of being defenders of Maoists. Such statements can put lawyers and the people they represent at serious risk, Human Rights Watch said. Chhattisgarh-based independent researcher and writer Bela Bhatia, who had also been helping tribal women file complaints, reported increasing pressure to leave Bastar. Bhatia alleged that in February, police questioned her landlord and visited her home. In March, about 100 people, including women from Mahila Ekta Manch (a group affiliated to Samajik Ekta Manch) went to her home when she wasn't there and distributed leaflets labeling her as a Maoist and called on the landlord to evict her. On April 15, the leaders of Samajik Ekta Manch announced that they were dissolving the group because "some people used the activities of the group to demonise the local police and state administration." Chhattisgarh state officials have a long history of using vigilante groups to fight the Maoists. From mid-2005 to 2011, the government supported and armed the anti-Maoist vigilante group Salwa Judum. Government security forces and members of Salwa Judum, which officials falsely described as a spontaneous citizen's movement, committed serious human rights abuses, attacking villages, killing and raping villagers, and burning down huts to force people into government camps. The group was outlawed in 2011 by the Supreme Court, which directed the state government to "take all appropriate measures to prevent the operation of any group, including but not limited to Salwa Judum" that seeks "to take law into private hands, act unconstitutionally, or otherwise violate the human rights of any person." However, direct or indirect government support for vigilante groups has continued in violation of the Supreme Court order. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch EU/Greece: First Turkey Deportations Riddled With Abuse Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 19 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, EU/Greece: First Turkey Deportations Riddled With Abuse, 19 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572310ef4.html [accessed 24 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 first round of European Union-sanctioned deportations of 66 people from the Greek island of Chios to Turkey on April 4, 2016 was rushed, chaotic, and violated the rights of those deported, Human Rights Watch said today. In Turkey, the detained deportees lost contact with family and friends held in Greece, and Turkish authorities have not allowed visits by rights groups or the United Nations. "In the mad dash to start the deportations deal with Turkey, the European Union and Greece tossed rights to the wind, including for people who wanted to seek asylum," said Fred Abrahams, Human Rights Watch associate director for program. "The abusive deportations expose the fundamental flaws in the EU's expedited mass returns to a country that cannot be considered safe." In visits to the VIAL detention center on Chios on April 7 and 8, Human Rights Watch spoke with 12 friends and one relative of 19 Afghans who were deported from Chios on April 4. Based on those interviews and text messages exchanged between those interviewed and the deportees, Human Rights Watch documented an array of irregularities and violations. The authorities did not inform people that they were going to be deported, did not tell them where they were being taken, and did not allow some of them to take their personal possessions. According to the UN Refugee Agency, thirteen of those deported from Chios had expressed a desire to seek asylum in Greece, and that number could be higher, Human Rights Watch said. The Greek authorities appear to have hurried the forced returns from Chios, and the 136 other deportations that day from the nearby island of Lesbos, to meet a publicized deadline for the start of returns under the ill-conceived EU-Turkey deal that went into effect on March 20, 2016. That deal allows the return of asylum seekers to Turkey on the presumption that Turkey is safe for asylum seekers and refugees. The legal basis for the return to Turkey of migrants who are not seeking asylum is a Greece-Turkey readmission agreement from 2001. An EU-Turkey readmission agreement to allow similar deportations from all 28 EU member states will go into effect in June. The deportations from Chios and Lesbos were carried out by Greek police with 180 "escort officers" from the EU border agency, Frontex. The Greek government and Frontex said that most of the deportees were from Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Afghanistan, and that none of the people returned to Turkey had wanted to seek asylum in Greece. On April 8, Greece deported a second round of 124 people from Lesbos, primarily from Pakistan and Afghanistan, assisted by 144 Frontex officers. The next day, Greece announced that it would suspend deportations to Turkey for at least two weeks to improve the process, though Greece and Turkey have indicated that deportations may resume earlier. Greece and the EU should extend the suspension of deportation until effective safeguards are in place to guarantee the right to seek asylum and to challenge deportations, Human Rights Watch said. "The EU deal is based on the deceptive premise that all returned people are safe in Turkey, when the facts say otherwise," Abrahams said. "To build walls around Europe, the EU is turning a blind eye to the dangers faced by people in desperate need." No Information, No Possessions The deportations from Chios began around midday on April 3, when Greek police at the VIAL detention facility took dozens of people to the main building where police and Frontex register new arrivals, and where the Greek asylum service is located. The authorities separated the 66 people they had identified for return, witnesses said. The 12 friends and one relative of the 19 deportees, who did not want their names published, told Human Rights Watch that the police had called people on the false pretext that they were to be registered, including for asylum. "Salim," a 24-year-old man from Afghanistan, said the police took three of his Afghan friends, Ilias Haqjo, Mohammad, and Reza (full names unknown), all between 20 and 25 years old, without their possessions. "They came here and told them they have to go to register," he said. "They left happy and when they came out the police were waiting for them. If the guys knew they were going to be deported, they would have taken their bags, their papers, their money." Among those selected for return was a family of five from Afghanistan: Shila Ahmadi, 40, Jalal Ahmadi, 54, and their three children, Mohsen, 20, Omid, 18, and Soraya, 16. Shila's brother said the family was from Logar Province but had moved to Kabul after the Taliban attacked their home in 2009, wounding Shila, Jalal, and Soraya. "The police came and took everyone to the main area," the brother said. "They separated the group [to be deported] and told them that they'll be transferred." In the afternoon, Shila Ahmadi began to scream and protest in the main area. A video given to Human Rights Watch shows her wailing as about 15 riot police with helmets and shields approach. A group of men nearby starts chanting: "This is Europe, it's a shame on you!" and "It's not human rights!" At 5:53 p.m., Omid Ahmadi began exchanging text messages with "Amir," a friend of the family who was in the closed part of VIAL: Omid: "They want to take us from here." "Amir:" "Where?" Omid: "I don't know." "Amir:" "Are you in the hall?" Omid: "Yes." "Amir:" "Deport or forward?" Omid: "I don't know." Later that evening, the police in VIAL bound the hands of the 66 deportees behind their backs and forced them onto a blue bus. "They brought everyone in the bus; it was a police bus, and they didn't let them take their jackets, bags, money, mobile phones," said "Tahir," a 26-year-old man from Afghanistan, referring to the three deported Afghan men, Ilias, Mohammad, and Reza. "We didn't have time to speak. Their families are calling us and are asking, 'Where are they?' and we don't have any information. We don't know where they are." The police took the deportees to an abandoned factory in Chios called Tabakika, which served as the registration center for new arrivals on the island before the VIAL facility opened in February. A person who visited the factory that night told Human Rights Watch that he saw people sitting or sleeping on the concrete floor, some with mats. The people told him they had been given food but asked for water. Between 15 and 20 of the people in Tabakika - Afghans and two people from the Democratic Republic of Congo - told the visitor that the police had taken them from VIAL without allowing them to gather their personal belongings: backpacks, clothes, and in some cases their mobile phones and documents. Human Rights Watch saw eight of the bags that people had left behind in VIAL, including the bags belonging to the three Afghan men and bags from four other Afghan men who were also deported: Zishan Haider, Alijan, Asadullah, and Rohullah (full names unknown). Another Afghan man, "Karim," showed Human Rights Watch a bag and medicine that he said a deported friend of his, Omid Popal from Kabul, had not been allowed to take. One of the Afghans held at Tabakika before he was deported, Wahid Abbasi, left a voice message for his friend, "Hamida," a single mother of one in VIAL, who was traveling with her sister and her sister's five children. "Hello, we are here with families in another camp without anything, no water, no food and it's so cold here," he said at 9:20 p.m. on April 3, on the voice recording. An exchange of text messages followed: Wahid: There is no news of deportation. They don't say anything. "Hamida:" How? Wahid Now we are the camp. There's nothing here. "Hamida:" They didn't tell you anything? Wahid: We are at the shore. No, they didn't say anything. "Hamida:" They didn't give you any papers? Wahid: They didn't say a word. Whatever news we get we will inform you right away. The confusion continued the next day as Greek and Frontex officials loaded people onto ferries in Chios and Lesbos harbors around 5 a.m. - two hours earlier than the police had announced to media. Text messages between deportees on the boat and people still in VIAL indicate that the deportees did not know where in Turkey they were being taken. Around 11:30 a.m., Mohsen Ahmadi sent a message to "Amir," the family friend in VIAL: Mohsen: OK, they are taking us to Turkey, we're inside the boat. Now we're close to Turkey. "Amir:" They didn't tell you where they're taking you? Camps? What city are you in? Mohsen: I don't know. When I know I'll tell you. Shortly thereafter, Wahid Abbasi informed his friend in VIAL, "Hamida," that the boat had arrived in Turkey. "Do you know where they'll take you and what they'll do?" Hamida asked. "I don't know," Abbasi replied at 12:03 p.m. "We're on the boat." Also on the boat from Chios was a family from Afghanistan's Faryab province - Ghulam and Rabia Sakhi and their daughters Shanaz, 19, and Suhaila, 15. A friend of the family who was detained with them in VIAL told Human Rights Watch that the Sakhi family had left their village, Maimana, because of fighting between Afghan government forces and the Taliban. "With each of us is a security officer, which makes us uncomfortable," a message from the Sakhi family said at 10:47 a.m. On the other side, in Dikili, Turkey, the authorities hung blue tarps on the fence around the registration tents to block journalists and human rights monitors from contacting the deportees. The police commander at the area denied a Human Rights Watch request to access the site. The deportees were then loaded onto buses and driven away. Police at the site told Human Rights Watch that they were headed to Kirklareli, near Edirne, and the media subsequently reported that the people deported from Greece were being held at the Pehlivankoy removal center in that town. The deportees on the buses in Turkey, however, seemed not to know where exactly they were going. "Now we're in the bus, they're taking us to a camp," Mohsen Ahmadi wrote his friend "Amir" around 3 p.m. "Why there?" "Amir" asked. "I don't know, the camp is near Istanbul," Ahmadi replied. "When you arrive, let us know," "Amir" wrote. "OK," Ahmadi wrote back at 8:28 p.m., but that was the last message that "Amir" received. "Hassan," a friend of the four deported Afghanis who could not take their bags said he received a message that evening from one of that group, Haider, who is from Ghazni province, followed by a brief conversation over the phone. "Hassan" recalled: "He [Haider] said: 'We are near a gate. I don't know where. Now they're taking us inside. It looks like a jail.' Then he said that if someone from immigration comes to our room [in VIAL] I should give them his stuff. Then he said 'now we're going inside and the police are collecting our phones. They're saying empty our pockets.' He said he'd call back, but he did not." On "Hassan's" phone, Human Rights Watch saw a message from Haider at 10:28 p.m. on April 4, followed by a phone conversation of 2 minutes and 32 seconds. Human Rights Watch collected the phone numbers of four of the people who were deported from Chios on April 4. As of April 18, none of them had replied to messages on Viber, the application they had been using. When called, three of the phones appeared to be shut off and one of the numbers was not working. The legal basis of confiscating phones from people being deported, if any, remains unclear. Given that asylum seekers and migrants rely on their phones to stay informed and to keep in touch with family, such measures appear unnecessary and cruel, as well as a violation of the individuals' personal property rights, Human Rights Watch said. Wrongly Deported Greek and EU officials repeatedly claimed that all of the people deported from Chios and Lesbos had not wished to seek asylum in Greece. But, according to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, 13 of the deportees from Chios had expressed such a desire, 11 from Afghanistan, and 2 from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The number who wanted to seek asylum may actually have been greater. During its research at the VIAL detention camp, Human Rights Watch found that many detainees lacked adequate information about seeking asylum in Greece and were unable to access legal aid. They also were not informed about the reason for their detention or their right to challenge it. These deficiencies raise doubts that asylum seekers who arrived in Greece after the EU-Turkey deal came into effect on March 20, including those deported on April 4 and 8, have had a fair chance to request protection, Human Rights Watch said. Detained in Turkey In Turkey, the status and treatment of the 13 wrongly deported people, as well as the other 189 deportees from Chios and Lesbos, remain unclear. Even if they are able to apply for asylum in Turkey, they can do so only for the purpose of resettlement in another country because Turkey limits its application of the 1951 Refugee Convention to refugees from Europe. A formal Human Rights Watch request to visit the removal centers that Turkey is using to process migrants returned from Greece was denied. UNHCR's spokesperson in Turkey said the agency is still negotiating access to the Pehlivankoy removal center. Turkey is currently negotiating readmission agreements with a number of countries, including Afghanistan, to expedite returns to countries of origin. Turkey's parliament approved the first of those agreements, with Pakistan, on April 8. Turkey cannot be considered a safe country for non-European refugees and asylum seekers because it does not provide effective protection, Human Rights Watch said. Effective protection requires access to fair and efficient asylum procedures and a demonstrated willingness and capacity to provide protection in accordance with the 1951 Refugee Convention and international human rights standards. This includes, most fundamentally, respect for the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits a country from returning a person to a country where they face a risk of persecution or abuse. Turkey has openly flouted the principle of non-refoulement by blocking Syrian asylum seekers at its border. As of April 18, Turkey was denying entry to up to 100,000 people from Syria, and even shooting at some who were trying to flee fighting. Despite Turkey's assurances that it provides work authorization for Syrians with temporary protection, as well as access to education and health services, many Syrians in Turkey have told Human Rights Watch that they face difficulty in registering for temporary protection and receiving identification cards, which is required for employment, health care, and schools. Many Syrians who do have temporary protection identification are still unable to qualify to work or to find jobs and many, particularly among the unemployed, are not able to send their children to school. Refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other non-European countries are not eligible for temporary protection in Turkey. At best, they can get conditional protection, which under Turkish law is explicitly for the purpose of third country resettlement. The EU-Turkey deal, however, makes no allowance for the resettlement of non-Syrians. It provides that Turkey will resettle one Syrian refugee to Europe for each Syrian asylum seeker returned to Turkey from Greece. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Russia: Constitutional Court Backs Selective Justice Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 29 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Russia: Constitutional Court Backs Selective Justice, 29 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572311684.html [accessed 24 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. Russia's Constitutional Court has, for the first time, ruled that a binding decision of an international human rights body was "non-executable" and cannot be carried out, Human Rights Watch said today. The court said that a July 4, 2013 ruling by the European Court of Human Rights requiring reform of an absolute ban on voting rights for prisoners violates Russia's constitution. "It's very simple - Russia is violating its legal obligation to enforce rulings of the European Court of Human Rights," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The constitutional court's decision, while predictable, deals a devastating blow for people in Russia who turn to the European Court because they can't find justice in the Russian courts." When Russia became a party to the European Convention on Human Rights and to the European Court, it accepted the legal obligation to enforce its rulings, without exception. In finding in favor of the victims in the case of Anchugov and Gladkov v. Russia, the European Court said that Russia's blanket ban on convicted prisoners' voting rights was "incompatible" with the European Convention on Human Rights. The applicants brought the case before the European Court in 2004 because they were imprisoned and therefore ineligible to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections. Article 32 3 of the Russian constitution bars convicted prisoners from voting in all elections. In 2015 Russia passed a new law empowering the Constitutional Court to review rulings of international human rights bodies and to declare them "non-executable" if the Russian court deems that a ruling contradicts the Russian constitution. The law was adopted a year after the European Court ordered Russia to pay 1.87 billion euro in compensation to shareholders of the oil company Yukos for violation of their property rights when the company went bankrupt. Under the 2015 law, if the Constitutional Court declares a ruling "non-executable," no steps to implement the ruling can be taken unless the constitution is amended. Moreover, victims of human rights violations who won the case will not receive any monetary compensation the ruling requires the government to pay. No other Council of Europe member state has conferred such powers on a national court. In March 2016, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), an expert advisory body of the Council of Europe, published an interim opinion stating that it is "unacceptable" for the Russian Constitutional Court to challenge final and mandatory findings issued by the European Court. The opinion affirmed that the European Convention on Human Rights "does not exclude any part of a member State's jurisdiction, including the Constitution, from scrutiny," so the European Court of Human Rights' ruling must be executed even if it is at odds with the constitution. This is in keeping with the general principles of international law, as articulated in the Vienna Convention on the Law on Treaties, which provide that a state cannot invoke domestic law as a defense for failing to implement an international obligation. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which oversees the implementation of European Court rulings, is supervising the enforcement of 1,590 rulings against Russia that the authorities have not yet fully carried out. Some of these cases concerned torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions. Ensuring implementation of the European Court of Human Rights' judgments across the Council of Europe is challenging, and many states are delinquent in complying, Human Rights Watch said. "Russia is going beyond making an unimpressive record on carrying out European Court ruling worse," Williamson said. "The Constitutional Court's new powers risks gutting the European system of human rights protection in Russia closing of a final help avenue for victims of abuses." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch China: New Law Escalates Repression of Groups Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 28 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, China: New Law Escalates Repression of Groups, 28 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572311984.html [accessed 24 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 newly adopted law in China gives police unprecedented power to restrict the work of foreign groups in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. The law will also limit domestic groups' ability to obtain foreign funding and work with foreign organizations. The National People's Congress passed the draconian Law on the Management of Foreign Non-Government Organizations Activities in China (the NGO Law) on April 28, 2016, and will come into force on January 1, 2017. "Beijing hardly needs more ammunition to crack down on civil society groups," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. "The NGO Law is like many others of the Xi Jinping era: ever-stronger tools to legalize China's human rights abuses." According to state media reports, the NGO Law as adopted makes some narrow improvements on previous drafts. It eases some of the administrative restrictions on foreign organizations' staffing and operations, and seemingly exempts foreign colleges, hospitals, and science and engineering research institutes. It also removes proposed restrictions limiting foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to one office each on the mainland and restricting them to five years of operation. However, the fundamental focus of the legislation - to subject foreign groups to tighter police oversight and prohibit any activities considered to "endanger China's national unity, national security, or ethnic unity" - has not changed, Human Rights Watch said. This is likely to disproportionately harm the work of groups engaged on issues the government deems "sensitive." The NGO Law requires that foreign groups must be sponsored by a Chinese government organization and be registered with the police, rather than the Ministry of Civil Affairs, as has been the case. It grants police extensive investigation and enforcement powers, including the ability to arbitrarily summon representatives of overseas groups, cancel activities deemed a threat to national security, blacklist groups considered to be involved in vaguely defined "subversive" or "separatist" activities, and permanently bar them from setting up offices or organize activities in the country. The ability to summon NGO representatives creates a legal basis for a longstanding practice, and there appears to be little if any opportunity for organizations to contest their treatment. The NGO Law permits police investigating foreign NGOs to: Enter its premises and seize documents and other information; Examine its bank accounts and limit incoming funds; Cancel activities, revoke registration, and impose administrative detention; and Participate in the annual assessment of foreign NGOs, which determines whether a group can continue operating. If foreign NGOs have carried out acts that are seen by the authorities as "splitting the state, damaging national unity, or subverting state power," police can hand down administrative detentions. Foreigners found to have breached the new law can either be barred from leaving China or deported. The law also steps up financial scrutiny of foreign NGOs, imposing strict regulations on the source of funding and account management of the groups, requiring that the organization's financial accounts be audited and announced publicly. Regulations on nongovernmental organizations should not undermine the rights to freedom of association, expression, and peaceful assembly, which are protected under the Chinese constitution and international law, Human Rights Watch said. Registration requirements should also be minimal and free of surveillance. Because the NGO Law fails to meet basic international standards, Human Rights Watch urges the Chinese government should substantially amend or revoke the measure. Previous versions of the law prompted unprecedented concern from foreign governments, universities, business groups, cultural organizations and others that have exchanges and cooperation with local groups in China. Some of their criticisms appear reflected in the government's decision not to apply the law to certain kinds of groups. Governments and institutions concerned by Beijing's efforts to stifle civil society should urge the law to be repealed or revised in conformity with international law. The NGO Law was developed during a period of escalating Chinese government hostility toward civil society, Human Rights Watch said. During the same period it has been under consideration, some of the most outspoken domestic groups, including anti-discrimination organization Yirenping, educational institution Liren Rural Libraries, and think tank Transition Institute have been targeted by the police for raids and arbitrary detentions. Swedish NGO worker Peter Dahlin, a co-founder of Chinese Urgent Action Working Group, which supported rights activists and petitioners to promote legal awareness, was detained in January and his group forcibly closed. The authorities accused the group of receiving foreign funding to finance "agents" to carry out works that "endanger state security." "Civil society groups have been one of the only human rights success stories in China in recent years, and their survival is crucial for the country's future," Richardson said. "So long as repressive restrictions are imposed on some parts of civil society in China, all organizations remain at risk." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: The work on the project for creating the infrastructure of Azerbaijan's Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park will be completed by late 2016, Azerbaijan's Deputy Economy Minister Niyazi Safarov said Apr.29. He made the remarks during the presentation of the park's new resident MST Engineering. Currently, the construction of the SOCAR Polymer plant, which is the largest part of the project's second stage, is underway, said the deputy minister. The work on attracting residents to the chemical industrial park continues and several more companies will receive the status of resident in the near future, according Safarov. Several companies producing pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizers have already shown interest in operation on the park's territory, he said. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to create the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park in December of 2011. The territory of Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park will be divided into two parts: administrative and social zone and industrial zone. Overall, the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park now includes the following residents: Azertexnolayn, SOCAR Polymer, Azerfloat, Azerbaijan Fibro Cement, SIKA company, and Baku Non-Ferrous Metals & Ferroalloys Company. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov Colombia: Constitutional Court Upholds Same-Sex Marriage Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 28 April 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Colombia: Constitutional Court Upholds Same-Sex Marriage, 28 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572311de4.html [accessed 24 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 Colombian Constitutional Court ended years of uncertainty for same-sex couples and bolstered the rights of LGBT people when it upheld the validity of same-sex marriage on April 28, 2016, Human Rights Watch said today. The court had long wanted Colombia's Congress to settle the matter. In a June 2011 decision, it asked Congress to legalize same-sex unions and said that if it failed to do so within two years, same-sex couples would have the right to ask judges and notaries to "formalize and solemnize" their "contractual relationships." Congress did not pass the necessary legislation, which led to more than two and a half years of legal uncertainty among judges and notaries. Some have performed marriages for same-sex couples while others have not, creating an atmosphere of arbitrary discrimination that the petitioners in the current case - led by the local group Colombia Diversa - sought to end. "The Colombian Congress has repeatedly failed to pass legislation that would comply with the Constitutional Court's ruling and end arbitrary discrimination in the country's marriage law," said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. "The court's decision to grant all Colombians, regardless of their sexual orientation, the right to marry the people they love is a landmark move for human rights in the country." In testimony before the court, Vivanco said, "The right to marry and to form a family are fundamental rights that States must protect. Limiting marriage to heterosexual couples violates the right to nondiscrimination and equality." "We hope that other courts and lawmakers in the region will follow the lead of the Colombian Constitutional Court in upholding this basic right," Vivanco said. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch With Syrian truce 'barely alive,' UN envoy urges Russia and United States to help revitalize talks Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 28 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, With Syrian truce 'barely alive,' UN envoy urges Russia and United States to help revitalize talks, 28 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572312fc40b.html [accessed 24 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. 28 April 2016 - The United Nations envoy mediating a resolution to the crisis in Syria warned that the latest round of talks was overshadowed by a substantial deterioration of the cessation of hostilities, and called on the leaders of the Russian Federation and United States to help salvage the "barely alive" pact. "What we need to do and to hear is that the cessation of hostilities is salvaged and [] is saved from a total collapse," Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria, told reporters following a briefing to the Security Council yesterday. "It's still there. It's still there because in many areas, it's still there. But it's in great danger. It's still alive, but barely. And the perception is that it could collapse at any time." The Special Envoy said that the previous round of intra-Syrian talks had received a boost and support linked to the beginning of the cessation of hostilities and a "clear commitment" to move ahead with an accelerated pattern of humanitarian access to besieged areas. "This round of talks has instead been overshadowed, let's be frank, by a substantial and indeed worrisome deterioration of the cessation of hostilities," he said. "We cannot ignore that and we have not ignored it." The most recent round of talks had seen air strikes on a hospital and the killing of a paediatric doctor, among other attacks, the Special Envoy said. "Let's put it in a few words: In the last 48 hours, we have had an average of one Syrian killed every 25 minutes. One Syrian wounded every 13 minutes," he said. Other senior UN officials expressed deep concern about the situation on the ground, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemning yesterday's aerial strikes against the hospital in Aleppo. According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, civil society groups report at least 20 people were killed as a result of the attack, including three children and the area's last paediatrician. In the statement, the UN chief echoed Mr. de Mistrua by calling on the warring sides in Syria to immediately renew their commitment to the cessation of hostilities. Mr. Ban also encouraged the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), in particular its two co-chairs, Russia and the United States - and including the United Nations, the Arab League, the European Union and 16 other countries and which has been seeking a path forward for several months - to exert pressure on all concerned to stop the fighting and to ensure credible investigations of incidents such as the attack on Al Quds hospital. Meanwhile, in his briefing to the Security Council, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien said that for many in Syria who are merely surviving, "life is miserable." He lamented: "Deliberately deprived of food and medicine, many face the most appalling conditions of desolation, hunger and starvation. We must all be ashamed that this is happening on our watch." Commonalities on political transition Mr. de Mistura said that despite such incidents, the talks had continued from 13 April until 27 April. He had prepared a mediator's summary indicating that there has been "some progress," and including his own understanding of what have been differing visions of the political transition from different points of view. "After all, we are talking about a political discussion regarding a conflict which has been going on for more than five years, and as you can see is still ongoing - there are some commonalities on the political transition," Mr. de Mistura said. One of the commonalities is that there is "no doubt" that there is an urgent need for a credible political transition, he said. "You remember when the word transition, at least in certain area, was taboo? Not anymore. Everyone acknowledges that that is the agenda," the envoy stressed. The envoy also said that there is a clear understanding that a credible political transition should be overseen by a new credible and inclusive transitional governance that will be replacing the present governance arrangements. The other common point is that the transitional governance should include members of the present Government, opposition, independents and others, he said. Members of the press in attendance for a briefing by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura at the Intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, Switzerland. UN Photo/Elma Okic Mr. de Mistura said that another commonality is that Syria does require a new constitution, and that the key responsibility for this transitional governance will be to oversee the drafting of the new constitution. In addition, any new governance should be agreed upon in UN-facilitated intra-Syrian talks "on the basis of mutual consent," he said. "Having said that, [there is] no denial that there are still major differences officially on the major issues," the envoy stressed. Calls for revitalization for next round of talks The Special Envoy also recalled the initiative by Russia and the United States in February that had led to the cessation of hostilities. "The Russian Federation and the US, as you remember, had a very strong initiative, which produced basically a miracle, because on 27 February, suddenly within hours, we had a dramatic collapse not of the cessation of hostilities but of the hostilities. And that produced a great feeling among everyone that in fact the political discussions and everything else had and should have a chance," he said. "We need that to be urgently revitalized," he continued. "And [] the Russian Federation and the US, as they did when they launched suddenly everything related to the cessation of hostilities, need to come back again and relaunch it." In that vein, he appealed for an "urgent initiative" at the highest levels for the next round of talks. The next round of talks would be meaningful "only if and when the cessation of hostilities is brought back to the level we saw in February and in March," Mr. de Mistura said. "Hence, my appeal for a US-Russian urgent initiative at the highest levels, because the legacy of both President Obama and President Putin is linked to the success of what has been a unique initiative which started very well and needs to end very well." In addition, a new International Syria Support Group meeting at the ministerial level would also be necessary, the special envoy said, in order to "relaunch what has been for a moment put in danger." "That is what we want to obtain before we actually announce the new round of talks, because that would certainly help the round of talks to become credible and effective. And we are ready for doing so because a lot has been done so far," he concluded. Digital cards improve food assistance to displaced families and Syrian refugees in Iraq UN agency Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 28 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Digital cards improve food assistance to displaced families and Syrian refugees in Iraq UN agency, 28 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723134140c.html [accessed 24 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. 28 April 2016 - Thousands of displaced Iraqi families and Syrian refugees across Iraq now have better and flexible access to food, thanks to an innovative digital cash card launched by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). "This programme is a turning point in WFP's food assistance operations in Iraq," saidJane Pearce, Representative and Country Director of WFP in Iraq, adding that "we now use innovative technology to deliver a faster humanitarian response that is reliable, flexible and scalable," she added. These electronic cards, known as SCOPE cards, enable WFP to assist in a timely manner those in need with both cash and vouchers, allowing them to choose, and buy their own food from local shops across the country, as well as collecting actual food from WFP distribution points. "The SCOPE cards give displaced Iraqi families and Syrian refugees the assurance that they can access food when they need it," said Ms. Pearce, adding that more importantly, "it also gives WFP valuable feedback on the types of food people are buying with the cards, which helps us better tailor our programmes to their needs." In order to receive the SCOPE cards, people need register their personal information and fingerprints into WFP's database, which is electronically linked to the cards. Therefore, when a card is swiped at a shop, it automatically connects to the database for identity confirmation, then the cost of the purchase is deducted from the total balance and recorded on a receipt. With the $32 million funding from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), WFP has launched a pilot project in Akre, in the northern Kurdish region, where thousands of displaced Iraqis and Syrian refugees are sheltering. The conflict in Iraq has triggered mass waves of displacement of more than 3 million Iraqis since January 2014. WFP is currently reaching 1.5 million displaced Iraqis and 70,000 Syrian refugees each month with food assistance. South Sudan: UN strongly condemns attack against mission compound in Bentiu Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 28 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, South Sudan: UN strongly condemns attack against mission compound in Bentiu, 28 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723136840b.html [accessed 24 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. 28 April 2016 - The United Nations has strongly condemned an attack that took place on 25 April against the compound of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Bentiu, where a rocket-propelled grenade landed inside the perimeter of the compound and partly damaged one of the containers located in the humanitarian hub. Initial investigations indicate that the projectile, along with earlier small arms fire, was directly targeted at the UNMISS compound, the Mission said. The location of the UNMISS compound is well known and there were no known armed forces in the vicinity of the base at the time of the attack. "The UN takes this opportunity to remind all South Sudanese actors of the sanctity of UN staff, equipment and installations, including the Protection of Civilians sites and their residents," UNMISS said. Earlier this week, UN Under-Secret ary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous, in a briefing to the Security Council, noted that the Government of South Sudan continued to impose restrictions on the movement UNMISS and humanitarian workers, stressing the need for unimpeded movement by the Mission and humanitarian partners in order to address the worsening humanitarian and human rights situation in the country. Syria: human toll and suffering are 'sickening,' UN relief chief tells Security Council Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 28 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Syria: human toll and suffering are 'sickening,' UN relief chief tells Security Council, 28 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723139040d.html [accessed 24 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. 28 April 2016 - With hundreds of thousands of civilians killed, millions of people displaced and countless families torn apart, the UN relief chief today described the human toll and suffering in Syria as "sickening," and said the global community should be "ashamed" that this is happening on its watch. "It does not require me to say to each and every member of the Security Council, that the impact of five long years of conflict in Syria defies understanding, let alone its description," Stephen O'Brien, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told the 15-member body during a monthly humanitarian update. Mr. O'Brien's update came as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned yesterday's aerial strikes against Al Quds hospital in Aleppo. According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, civil society groups report at least 20 people were killed as a result of the attack, including three children and the area's last paediatrician. Mr. expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved families. "The Secretary-General also reiterates his condemnation of recent indiscriminate shelling by Government forces and opposition groups, as well as terrorist tactics by extremists. Attacks that target civilians are inexcusable violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. There must be accountability for these crimes," the statement underscored. Calling on the warring sides in Syria to immediately renew their commitment to the cessation of hostilities, the UN chief in his statement encouraged the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), in particular its two co-chairs, Russia and the United States, to exert pressure on all concerned to stop the fighting and to ensure credible investigations of incidents such as the attack on Al Quds hospital. 'Life is miserable' in Syria In his briefing to the Council, Mr. O'Brien, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said that for many who are merely surviving, "life is miserable." "Deliberately deprived of food and medicine, many face the most appalling conditions of desolation, hunger and starvation. We must all be ashamed that this is happening on our watch," he lamented. Mr. O'Brien noted that the recent cessation of hostilities has provided a much needed moment of respite for some of those who are suffering in this terrible conflict. But the recent developments on the ground "show a substantial and worrisome deterioration, not least with increase of violence reported in Aleppo, Homs, Idlib, Lattakia and rural Damascus." Just this morning Syrian Government forces are reported to have restarted using aerial bombardment in Dar'a Governorate for the first time since the start of the cessation of hostilities, the UN official noted. "It is the duty of the Security Council to ensure that every possible avenue is explored to end the violence. I reiterate the call for sustained, safe, unconditional and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance. The parties to the conflict, the Security Council, and the co-chairs of the ISSG [International Syria Support Group] must exert every effort to revive the cessation of hostilities," Mr. O'Brien stressed, echoing the Secretary-General on the need for the Group - comprised of the United Nations, the Arab League, the European Union and 18 countries and which has been seeking a path forward for several months. A convoy bound for East Ghouta, Syria, on 19 April 2016. Photo: OCHA/Ghalia Seifo "You must not squander the opportunity presented by talks in Geneva and by the cessation in hostilities to put an end to the massive human suffering in Syria. The world and the people of Syria need this. They need your action," he added. Despite 'enormous challenges,' lifesaving assistance reaching millions Despite the enormous challenge - such as the increased targeting of hospital and health facilities - UN personnel on the ground and humanitarian partners have continued to deliver lifesaving assistance and support to millions of people across the country. According to the UN relief chief, the World Food Programme (WFP) has reached 3.7 million people with food aid in March. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Wold Health Organization (WHO) held a nation-wide polio campaign in March reaching over 2.1 million children. This week, UNICEF, WHO and partners began another immunization campaign to reach two million children in besieged, hard-to-reach and under-served areas. In addition, he told the Security Council that humanitarian cross-border convoys this year are reaching nearly twice as many people compared to the same period last year, with convoys having provided food aid to over one million people this March alone. Relief also continues to reach civilians through cross-line inter-agency operations, with 21 convoys deployed in March, and 24 operations having proceeded already in April. According to estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - which Mr. O'Brien leads - since January, assistance has been provided to 778,175 people in need in besieged, hard-to-reach and other priority cross-lines locations. Meanwhile, since 10 April, WFP has led and carried out 14 high altitude airdrops to those cut off by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) in Deir ez-Zor city, meeting the immediate needs of some 100,000 people. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) is now distributing the assistance on the ground. While airdrops are used only as a last resort, with the support of many Member States, WFP is able to continue the operation to send food as well as other humanitarian supplies, such as medicine, nutrition, water and sanitation supplies. However, Mr. O'Brien said he remains particularly concerned about reaching areas where complete access has been regularly denied. The UN has submitted the inter-agency convoy request for May to reach 35 towns in critical need. "I call on access to be granted without delay, including to Darayya and Douma. As has been reported many times, these areas are in desperate need of humanitarian aid," he underlined. Parties to the conflict ignoring international humanitarian law "International humanitarian law is very clear on medical treatment. The sick and wounded must be given the medical care required by their condition. Medical personnel must be protected in all circumstances. And attacks against medical facilities are prohibited," Mr. O'Brien stated. Despite these rules, he informed the Council that the withholding of medical treatment continues to be used as a weapon of war in Syria; OCHA is still receiving reports of parties to the conflict ignoring these basic tenets of international humanitarian law, including the removal of medicine and medical supplies from aid convoys. "This week, on the convoy to Rastan, the Syrian authorities removed medicines from supplies, and scissors and anaesthetic medicines from midwifery kits. This inhumane practice directly leads to unnecessary suffering and loss of life. We must continue to press the Syrian Government to allow the delivery of medical supplies. This is not idle [talk] - it can be proved - and be in no doubt it will be when one day there is no more fighting and those responsible are held to account - and they will be. There can never be impunity for this behaviour," Mr. O'Brien said. Concluding his remarks, he said the people of Syria cannot afford to see the situation move backwards again: "If the international community fails to maintain political momentum, with a sustained cessation of hostilities, and without full humanitarian access, the situation can and will only spiral further out of control. The international community simply must not let the chance we have today slip away. Frankly, I am not sure just how many more days or weeks or months the long-suffering people of Syria can endure this protracted humanitarian catastrophe." Security Council approves final extension for UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire, citing 'remarkable' progress Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 28 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council approves final extension for UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire, citing 'remarkable' progress, 28 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572313bf40c.html [accessed 24 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. 28 April 2016 - The United Nations Security Council today renewed the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire for a final period, extending it until the end of June next year, and also decided to terminate all arms, travel and financial sanctions against the country, with immediate effect. Welcoming Cote d'Ivoire's progress in relation to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform, national reconciliation and the fight against impunity, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2284 (2016) deciding that, until 30 April 2017, the mission would be mandated to support efforts by the Ivorian security forces to protect civilians, and by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire to consolidate peace and stability in the country while addressing border security challenges. The 15-member Council also unanimously adopted resolution 2283 (2016), deciding to terminate all arms, travel and financial sanctions against the country, with immediate effect, and to dissolve the Committee established by resolution 1572 (2004) to oversee those measures, and the Group of Experts established under resolution 1584 (2005) to assist that body. The Council also endorsed the Secretary-General's withdrawal plan for the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI), taking into account the security conditions on the ground following the successful conclusion of the presidential election held on 25 October 2015. For his part, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the adoption of the resolutions, reiterating the UN's continued commitment to Cote d'Ivoire. "The Secretary-General welcomes the determination of the people and the Government of Cote d'Ivoire in overcoming the political and security crises that led to the deployment of UNOCI in April 2004," Mr. Ban said in a statement attributable to his spokesperson. "It is the continued positive evolution of the situation in Cote d'Ivoire, including the successful conclusion of the presidential elections last year, which has enabled the United Nations to enter the final stage of peacekeeping in the country," the UN chief said. The Secretary-General recognized the "important role played by partners throughout the Ivorian crises," in particular the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the troop and police contributing countries and the UN country team, which he said facilitated the achievements made by UNOCI. "The Secretary-General underscores the importance of the continued engagement of all partners during the transformation of the United Nations' engagement in Cote d'Ivoire over the course of the next year, in particular through the United Nations Country Team, and following the closure of UNOCI," the statement said. UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) peacekeepers. UN Photo/Basile Zoma Concerning UNOCI's mandate, the Council authorized the mission to use all necessary means in carrying out its mandate, and requested that the Secretary-General complete the withdrawal of all its uniformed and civilian components by 30 April 2017. Regarding force structure, the Council decided to decrease UNOCI's military and police units, with a view to completing their withdrawal. It also decided to extend, until 30 June 2017, the authorization of the French forces to support UNOCI within the limits of their deployment and capabilities. In resolution 2284 (2016), the Security Council welcomed the "enhanced ongoing political dialogue among all political parties, further welcoming the important gestures made to this end by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire and the receptive spirit with which they have been received, and encouraging all political stakeholders to continue in this regard throughout the 2016 legislative election period and beyond." In particular, the Council emphasized the "crucial progress made by the people and Government of Cote d'Ivoire toward achieving national reconciliation and social cohesion," and noted the "importance of the work achieved by the Commission dialogue, verite et reconciliation (CDVR) as well as that being undertaken by the Commission nationale pour la reconciliation et l'indemnisation des victimes (CONARIV)." Earlier in April, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous said that with Cote d'Ivoire now firmly anchored on the path of peace, stability and economic recovery, it was perhaps time to consider wrapping up the UN mission and begin to consider the Organization's future role in supporting and consolidating the country's gains. In particular, Mr. Ladsous welcomed the Government's ongoing reforms to the expansion of the political space and strengthening of unity and national cohesion, adding that discussions were under way for the holding of a constitutional referendum planned by the end of the year, and the adoption of a new Constitution that would better reflect developments in Cote d'Ivoire over the past decade. Ukraine: Security Council meets on situation with sense of 'urgency and hope' Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 28 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Ukraine: Security Council meets on situation with sense of 'urgency and hope', 28 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572313d340d.html [accessed 24 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. 28 April 2016 - As the conflict in the eastern part of Ukraine enters its third year, the United Nations Security Council today met with both a sense of urgency and hope, as described by a senior UN political official. "The continued failure to fully implement the 'Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements' has underscored the crucial need to make progress toward a political settlement of the conflict," said Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, referring to the 13-point accord on ending the Ukraine crisis signed in Minsk in February 2015. Some positive political developments Some positive developments have been registered since the Security Council last considered the situation in Ukraine last December, Mr. Zerihoun noted, such as the largely respected ceasefire during the last weeks of 2015. Meanwhile, he said the Government of the new Prime Minister has committed to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, which has been "widely welcomed." "These developments are highly valuable in their own right," the UN official told the 15-member body. "However, to an extent, these positive steps forward continue to be heavily undermined to some extent by an overall precarious and unsustainable situation in the conflict area. Mr. Zerihoun reported that the total number of conflict-related casualties continues to climb, now standing at 30,729, including 9,333 killed and 21,396 injured since the beginning of the conflict in mid-April 2014. "While some of the recent civilian causalities have been caused by indiscriminate shelling, most are caused by landmines, booby traps, and other explosive remnants of war, which continue to represent the biggest threat to civilian life and security," he warned. Meanwhile, he indicated that the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe (OSCE) in eastern Ukraine remains instrumental: "In order to carry out its mandate, the Mission must urgently be granted full and unfettered access, including to the border, as stipulated under the Minsk agreements." 'Grave' situation on the humanitarian front Turning to the humanitarian situation, the Assistant Secretary-General said it remains "grave," with more than three million people in need of assistance, especially those close to the "contact line" and in areas beyond Government control. A hospital in Sloviansk, Ukraine, which was destroyed by shelling. Photo: UNICEF Ukraine/Pavel Zmey "The ongoing suspension by the de facto authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces of almost all UN and [international non-governmental] operations since July 2015 is of great concern," he stated. "Undue bureaucratic impediments deprive hundreds of thousands of people access to urgently needed essential services, supplies and other protection services." He explained that this is further compounded by the decision of the Ukrainian Government to suspend social payments, including pensions, to an estimated 600,000 displaced people, pending verification of their status. "While the legitimate right of the Government to combat fraud is understandable, it is important to put in place a transparent system that provides clear information about the criteria for any cancellation of benefits, and proper communication to those concerned," he underlined. In addition, Mr. Zerihoun highlighted the number of pressing human rights concerns, including the question of missing persons and the need to create a mechanism by which all parties to the conflict exchange information and cooperate to establish the whereabouts of those who went missing. Concluding his remarks, he told Council members that progress in the peace process will ultimately "depend on the political will of the parties, on their readiness and willingness to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict, through tangible deeds both on the ground and at the negotiation table." UN rights chief condemns spate of assassinations in Burundi Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 27 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights chief condemns spate of assassinations in Burundi, 27 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572313ff40b.html [accessed 24 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. 27 April 2016 - The United Nations human rights chief today condemned the increasing number of attacks against high-level officials in Burundi and called for proper investigations to be carried out. These attacks include the assassination of Brigadier General Athanase Kararuza and his wife on Monday, and the apparent assassination attempt against the Minister of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender, Martin Nivyabandi, on Sunday. "I strongly condemn these attacks," said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad, in a press release. "They must be properly investigated and the killers must be arrested and brought before the law. Some 31 people have been killed in attacks so far in April, compared to a total of nine people in the last month. The great majority of these attacks were carried out by unidentified armed men. I fear that the increasing number of targeted assassinations will inevitably exacerbate the already extremely dangerous spiral of violence and unrest in Burundi," he warned. The High Commissioner also strongly encouraged all parties to seize the opportunity of the upcoming East African Community-led Burundian talks in Arusha to engage in a meaningful dialogue, with the aim of improving the human rights situation and finding a lasting solution to the ongoing political crisis. It has been one year since the crisis in the country began; according to the UN, to date more than 400 people have been killed and almost 260,000 people have fled the country. Access and aid needed in Yemen, says UN humanitarian coordinator Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 27 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Access and aid needed in Yemen, says UN humanitarian coordinator, 27 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723142b40c.html [accessed 24 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. 27 April 2016 - Following a three-day mission to Yemen's north-western Sa'ada Governorate, the top UN relief official in the country urged Yemeni parties to remain committed to the cessation of hostilities and allow unhindered humanitarian access, while he called on the international community to increase the level of support. "Only a political solution to the conflict can end the suffering in Yemen. I hope that the cessation of hostilities continues to hold to allow the scale-up of humanitarian activities and pave the way to peace," said UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, in a press release. Accompanied by George Khoury, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen, the Humanitarian Coordinator visited the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Joumhouri Hospital, which is facing impending closure due to lack of resources. This is one of the few remaining functioning hospitals in Sa'ada and is the main treatment facility for wounded patients. "The closure of the ICU at Joumhouri Hospital would have dire consequences for access to life-saving care as critically-wounded patients would need to travel long distances," noted Mr. McGoldrick. The mission, which ended yesterday, also brought the UN officials Haydan city, where they saw the impact of the conflict on civilian infra-structure. Damage suffered by schools and Haydan hospital resulted in 3,000 students deprived of access to education and 10,000 people with no access to health care. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the closest medical facility now available is two hours away, but roads have also been affected making travel difficult. "Health and educational facilities should be preserved as neutral, protected spaces during armed conflict. I call on all parties to the conflict to act in accordance with international humanitarian law and refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure. Attacks on schools and hospitals have devastating consequences, particularly for children," said Mr. McGoldrick. During his mission, Mr. McGoldrick met with the Governor of Sa'ada, the Sa'ada Executive Council and Qatabir local authorities to discuss the need for increased support in the areas of shelter, health and education. Reaffirming the commitment of the international community to support people in need, the Humanitarian Coordinator requested local authorities to facilitate the work of humanitarian agencies, including conducting assessments to verify needs. "People urgently need safety, food, water, basic health care and education for their children. The humanitarian community in Yemen is determined to expand humanitarian operations. I appeal to authorities to support our efforts by respecting the independence of humanitarian action and also urge the international community to scale up its support to Yemen to ensure that critical needs are met," he declared. Libya: UN envoy 'deeply concerned' by terrorist attacks on oil fields Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 27 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Libya: UN envoy 'deeply concerned' by terrorist attacks on oil fields, 27 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723147c40d.html [accessed 24 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. 27 April 2016 - The most senior United Nations official in Libya today said he is deeply concerned by recent incursions by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) into Libya's oil crescent region and by attacks carried on oil fields. "The attacks of the so called Islamic State and its intention to control vital strategic areas are a serious threat to Libya's oil installations," warned Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), in a press release. "It constitutes a grave assault not only on the lifeline of Libya's national economy, but on the very livelihoods of millions of ordinary Libyans, many of whom are already enduring hardship as a consequence of the ongoing political and military conflict in Libya," he added. Taking note of the statement by Libya's Presidency Council of 24 April, Martin Kobler joined its calls to take all necessary measures to safeguard the oil fields and terminals. "I call on all security actors to respect the authority of the Presidency Council over Libya's natural resources," Mr. Kobler said. Furthermore, he reminded all parties in Libya of last month's UN Security Council resolution 2278, which condemns attempts to illicitly export crude oil from Libya, including by parallel institutions which are not acting under the authority of the Government of National Accord. He also underlined the primary responsibility of the Government of National Accord in taking appropriate action to prevent the illicit export of crude oil from Libya. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Vagif Sharifov - Trend: Iran, which intends to join the world shale oil and gas club, said about the discovery of shale reserves in the country, though provided no precise figures. Probably the exact figures of reserves are currently being clarified by Iranian geologists or maybe Iran intends to hold the cards waiting for some winning situation in the market. News of the shale oil and gas reserves in Iran was reported by Iran's news agency Shana quoting Mohammad Reza Kamali, director of Iran's Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI). What next with shale oil? The shale oil business is more sensitive to the world oil prices correlation rather than conventional one. The shale oil extraction is more expensive than traditional crude oil production due to technological reasons. For example, shale oil extraction capex costs less than conventional oil production. But opex in the shale oil projects is much higher than in the conventional oil fields development. The world average cost of the shale oil barrel extraction begins at 30-40 dollars, depending on the well production rate, again, on the initial capital expenditures and the volume of operational costs. As a comparison: the cost of the conventional oil barrel production starts at 5-10 dollars in some countries. So whatever Iran will state about the new reserves' figures there is a long way to go toward getting the first shale oil export profit. Iran therefore needs at least three things to start the shale oil production: - Money; - Purchase new technology for shale oil extraction; - Build new transport and export pipeline infrastructure. Having no shale oil production experience Iran may attract the US skilled business to help. The breakeven price for shale oil production at the very early stages in the United States was around 100 dollars per barrel but the skillful oil guys got the hand to decrease the costs of shale extraction. Over the time the business along with a new technology has optimized the shale oil production line so that it could manage to survive within the cheap oil such as 40 dollars per barrel. Indeed, the technology and inventiveness are not enough for the successful project if there are no investors around. The US business usually has an access to the cheap credits in dollars in its country. Obviously Iran business will hardly find the same cheap credits in US dollars and euros. Due to the current weak world oil price no one can guarantee Iran the fast shale oil project investment return. The last update from the World Bank says the average oil price during this year is expected at 41 dollars per barrel, 50 dollars in the next year. Who has the most shale oil reserves? EIA report says there are 420 billion barrel of technically recoverable shale oil reserves in the world comparing with 1.7 trillion barrel of conventional oil. USA holds the largest shale oil reserves - 78.2 billion bbl., Russia has 74.6 billion bbl., China - 32.2 billion bbl. This Trio owns almost half of the total world shale oil reserves. Additionally 36 countries in the world own technically recoverable shale oil reserves but in fact there are only three countries who are currently producing the shale oil: USA, Canada and Argentina. Vagif Sharifov is an analyst and expert in oil and gas markets. Follow him on Twitter: @VagifSharifov UNESCO team assesses damages to Syria's Palmyra world heritage site Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 27 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UNESCO team assesses damages to Syria's Palmyra world heritage site, 27 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723150040b.html [accessed 24 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. 27 April 2016 - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has completed a visit to the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria as part of a technical rapid assessment mission to take preliminary stock of destruction at the World Heritage site. Headed by the Director of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, the mission, from 24 to 26 April inspected both Palmyra's museum and archaeological site, taking stock of considerable damage to the museum, where they found that most of the statues and sarcophagi that were too large to be removed for safekeeping were defaced, smashed, their heads severed and their fragments left lying on the ground, UNESCO said in a press release today. Palmyra is a pillar of Syrian identity, and a source of dignity for all Syrians, said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. UNESCO is determined to ensure the safeguarding of this and other sites with all partners as part of broader humanitarian and peace building operations, she added. The experts participating in the mission, who were escorted by UN security forces, identified emergency measures to consolidate and secure the building and the work that will be required to document, evacuate, safeguard and restore whatever is possible. Work to match and document the fragments of destroyed statues has already begun. At the archaeological site, the experts took stock of the state of conservation of the grand colonnade and agora. They observed the destruction of the triumphal arch and Temple of Baal Shamin, which was smashed to smithereens, UNESCO said. The members of the mission observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims murdered at the amphitheatre. The experts had to examine damages to the Temple of Bel from a distance, as the edifice is still inaccessible and demining operations have not been completed. Likewise, the Mamluk Citadel, overlooking the ancient city, which also sustained serious damage, remains inaccessible. The Director-General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria, Mamoun Abdoulkarim, accompanied UNESCO's experts and heads of several departments in charge of World Heritage museums, architecture and sites. Destruction shown in April 2016 at the World Heritage site of Palmyra in Syria. Photo: UNESCO The participants paid tribute to the courage of all those who work to document and safeguard the heritage of Syria, especially the Directorate-General of Syria's Antiquities and Museums for its dedication to protect this heritage which belongs to all Syrians and to the whole of humanity, UNESCO stressed. The mission considered that despite the destruction of several iconic edifices, the archaeological site of Palmyra retains a large part of its integrity and authenticity. UNESCO said it will work with its partners to adopt emergency safeguarding measures. A full report on the site will be presented to the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session, in Istanbul, Turkey, in July, with a view to determining recommendations for emergency safeguarding measures that need to be taken. UNESCO plans to send an international mission of experts to examine in greater detail the state of conservation of heritage sites of Syria, including Palmyra. An international meeting of experts on the preservation of Syria's heritage sites will be held on 2 and 4 June in Berlin, Germany. The mission completed yesterday followed on a decision taken by the World Heritage Committee during its 39th session in Bonn, Germany, this past July, and a decision unanimously adopted during the 199th session of UNESCO's Executive Board concerning the Organization's role in safeguarding and preserving Palmyra and other Syrian World Heritage sites. The World Heritage site of Palmyra, an oasis in the Syrian Desert north-east of Damascus, contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences. UN rights office urges Mexico to consider recommendations on case of missing students Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights office urges Mexico to consider recommendations on case of missing students, 26 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723153a40b.html [accessed 24 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. 26 April 2016 - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today urged the Government of Mexico to take into serious consideration the recommendations made recently by a group of independent experts regarding the case of the enforced disappearance in Iguala of 43 students and the killing of six others in 2014. The Iguala case shows the crucial role that international cooperation can play in helping States to fight impunity for serious human rights violations, said Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a press briefing earlier today in Geneva. Mr. Colville said that OHCHR commended the invaluable work of the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (IGIE) in Mexico on the six killings and the missing students from the Ayotzinapa teacher-training college in the Mexican state of Guerrero. The IGIE, which was appointed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and invited by the Mexican Government to follow up on the investigation of the case, published an 605-page report on Sunday. Mr. Colville noted that as High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein stressed during his mission to Mexico last October, it is very important that the Government acts decisively on the IGIE's recommendations and ensures the rights to truth and justice of the victims and their families. Welcoming the willingness expressed by the President of Mexico and the Attorney-General's Office to take into serious consideration the Group's recommendations, Mr. Colville urged them to fully explore the new lines of inquiry suggested by the Group, and to strengthen the investigations into this emblematic case. He also said that OHCHR was concerned about the many challenges and obstacles reported by the experts that may have prevented certain lines of inquiries from being further explored, including regarding the roles and responsibilities of the military and other official authorities. We call on the Government to ensure effective follow-up to the investigation report and to tackle the broader structural challenges it has exposed. We also encourage the Government to engage with the follow-up mechanism that the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights has announced that it will establish, Mr. Colville said. In other news, the spokesperson said OHCHR has deplored the confirmation of the death sentence for apostasy against a Mauritanian blogger, Mohammad Ould M'Kaitir, by the appellate court on 21 April. Mr. Ould M'Kaitir was convicted in the first instance by the criminal court in Nouadhibou in December 2014 for an article he had published online. He had expressed repentance on several occasions since, including during the appeals hearing, Mr. Colville said. We should like to stress that under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Mauritania became a State party in 2004, the death penalty, if not abolished, can only be applied for the most serious crimes, the spokesperson said. We hope that the Supreme Court, which has now been seized with the case, will overturn the death sentence against Mr. Ould M'Kaitir, he added. Mali: UNICEF condemns withdrawal of children from schools in Kidal Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Mali: UNICEF condemns withdrawal of children from schools in Kidal, 26 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723155740d.html [accessed 24 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. 26 April 2016 - In the wake of the violent protests on 18 and 19 April in Kidal, northern Mali, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is warning that the events disrupted children's education in the region and endangered their safety. According to sources verified by UNICEF, many children were removed from classrooms during the school day to participate in rallies. "UNICEF condemns any action or helping to prevent the normal development of the education of children and reminds all parties that the place of the child is in school, because education is the best way to ensure a prosperous future for children and the nation," the agency said in a press statement. "Access to education has been made impossible for many children in Kidal. Efforts to bring thousands of children to school in northern Mali are likely to be lost if children [whose situation is already fragile], are removed from the classroom," said Fran Equiza, UNICEF Representative in Mali. According to the agency, when children are not in school, they are more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation or recruitment by armed groups. As such, UNICEF called for them to be kept in school so they can continue their education. In addition, just two months away from end-of-year exams, an interruption may cost them an entire year of education. For the school year 2015-2016, considerable efforts made by education partners in Mali, including UNICEF, to help increase access to formal education for some 344,115 children in the regions of Gao, Timbuktu, Kidal, Mopti and Segou, affected by the security crisis. Since October 2015, through the campaign 'Every Child Matters,' UNICEF was able to facilitate the return and remain in school for 29,592 children in areas affected by the crisis, including 4,934 in Kidal. UN rights office deplores death sentence against Mauritanian blogger Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights office deplores death sentence against Mauritanian blogger, 26 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723157540d.html [accessed 24 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. 26 April 2016 - The United Nations human rights office today deplored the confirmation of the death sentence for apostasy against a Mauritanian blogger, Mohammad Ould M'Kaitir, by the appellate court on 21 April. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR), Mr. Ould M'Kaitir was convicted in the first instance by the criminal court in Nouadhibou in December 2014 for an article he had published online. He had expressed repentance on several occasions since, including during the appeals hearing, OHCHR spokesperson Rupert Colville told the regular bi-weekly news briefing Geneva. "We should like to stress that under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Mauritania became a State party in 2004, the death penalty, if not abolished, can only be applied for the most serious crimes," the spokesperson said. "We hope that the Supreme Court, which has now been seized with the case, will overturn the death sentence against Mr. Ould M'Kaitir," he added. South Sudan: Ban welcomes swearing in of Riek Machar as First Vice-President Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, South Sudan: Ban welcomes swearing in of Riek Machar as First Vice-President, 26 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57231591411.html [accessed 24 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. 26 April 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the return of Riek Machar to Juba and his swearing in as the First Vice-President of South Sudan, calling it a "new phase" in the implementation of the peace agreement. In a statement attributable to his spokesperson, Mr. Ban also called for the immediate formation of the transitional government of national unity. "He commends the efforts of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Chairperson, former President Festus Mogae, and the African Union (AU) High Representative, former President Alpha Oumar Konare," the statement said. The Secretary-General also called on the Security Council to work closely with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the AU Peace and Security Council to mobilize the required support for the peace process. Mr. Machar's return to the capital marks a significant step towards bringing stability to the country, which only gained independence in 2009 after breaking away from Sudan, its northern neighbour. A political dispute erupted into conflict in December 2013, killing thousands, displacing over 2.4 million people, 650,000 of whom fled abroad, and impacting the food security of 4.6 million. Riek Machar's arrival in Juba should 'open a new chapter' for South Sudan UN Peacekeeping chief Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Riek Machar's arrival in Juba should 'open a new chapter' for South Sudan UN Peacekeeping chief, 26 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572315b1411.html [accessed 24 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. 26 April 2016 - The arrival in Juba of First Vice-President-designate Riek Machar should open a new chapter for South Sudan and allow "the real transition to begin," the United Nations peacekeeping chief said today, stressing that the security situation in the country, however, remains precarious amid a worsening humanitarian and human rights situation. Briefing the Security Council, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous noted that, in a "positive development," Mr. Machar had landed in Juba less than two hours earlier, and was expected to be sworn into office later in the day. "It is vital that the political and security trends now under way in the country change rapidly if we wish to see a possibility for us to see the peace process succeed," he said. "It is vital that parties should take this opportunity to show the genuine determination to move forward with the peace process," he added. In his briefing, Mr. Ladsous emphasized that intermittent fighting was witnessed in several areas of the country. Noting that the Government of South Sudan has continued to impose restrictions on the movement of the UN Mission there (UNMISS) and humanitarian workers, in violation of the Status of Forces Agreement, Mr. Ladsous stressed the need for unimpeded movement by the Mission and humanitarian partners in order to address the worsening humanitarian and human rights situation. "These restrictions have severely impacted the Mission's ability to move and protect civilians as well as the UN's ability to deliver badly needed humanitarian assistance," Mr. Ladsous said. "I would urge the Council to send a strong message to both the Government and the opposition on the utmost imperative to grant the Mission and humanitarian partners unimpeded freedom of movement to allow them to implement their respective mandates." Mr. Ladsous noted that of particular concern are the recent clashes between the SPLA and armed groups in Wau County, Western Bahar El Ghazal, leading to killings, and displacement of civilians. He said that fighting between SPLA and opposition forces has also been reported in Upper Nile and Unity and in the Equatorias over the past few weeks. He said that the preliminary investigation into the violence in the UNMISS civilian protection site in Malakal on 17 and 18 February indicated that at least 25 internally displaced people were killed and more than 140 injured. The Under-Secretary-General stressed that in view of the gravity of the incident, the Secretariat has convened an independent Board of Inquiry to look into the response of the Mission to the crisis. In addition, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has decided to establish a special investigation to look into all factors that contributed to the violence, and determine the responsibilities, he said. The special investigation will be led by Abiodun Bashua and is about to start its work. The Security Council will be briefed on the outcome of both investigations by early June, Mr. Ladsous said. Worsening humanitarian situation Turning to the humanitarian situation in the country, Mr. Ladsous said it is "unfortunately still worsening in scale, scope and urgency." "After more than two years of conflict and economic decline, more than half of the South Sudanese population are in need of humanitarian assistance. People's coping mechanisms are exhausted and, for far too many, survival has become a daunting challenge," he emphasized. The onset of the rainy season will put millions more at risk of severe food insecurity and disease, which he said was "a deadly combination." Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous briefs the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe Urging the Security Council to demand that the parties and all armed actors immediately uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, Mr. Ladsous stressed that the human rights situation in the country also remains of grave concern. "Civilians continue to be systematically targeted on an ethnic basis and their homes and livelihoods destroyed," he said. "As reported by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the scale of atrocities committed even after the signing of the Peace Agreement is unacceptable and there is no accountability for those committing these serious violations. Dissent is not tolerated and free speech is penalized," he added. Issues facing the transitional government Mr. Ladsous also said that the transitional government will have to "start work from day one" to address the governance, financial misappropriation and improving rule of law. "The current slump in oil prices has pushed South Sudan to the brink of economic collapse. Even if the parties fully implement the peace agreement, the economic challenges will not be overcome without significant reforms and international assistance," he stressed. In addition, he said that other conflict drivers, such as the creation of the new 28 states, should be addressed in accordance with the Summit Decision of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the position of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC). "A unilateral implementation of this order would be detrimental to the peace efforts; it also requires tremendous resources that South Sudan cannot afford," Mr. Ladsous said. In that regard, he urged the Security Council, in coordination with the African Union (AU), to engage President Salva Kiir on the issue with the aim to halt the implementation of the order until the issue is mutually resolved within the transitional government. Mr. Ladsous also emphasized the need for all parties to address the issue of impunity. "Without justice and reconciliation, healing old wounds will not be possible, particularly if impunity is not addressed," he stressed. "There is a need for all parties to unite on this issue and agree on national reconciliation and transitional justice, including establishing the Hybrid Court as per the agreed timeline as well as rebuilding the national justice system," he added. Mr. Ladsous also called on the Council to work closely with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the AU Peace and Security Council to mobilize the required support for the JMEC Chairperson, former President Festus Mogae, and the AU High Representative, former President Alpha Oumar Konare, to "generate the incentives and disincentives to change the current dynamics on the ground." "The South Sudan peace process is extremely fragile and will require a concerted and sustained effort at national, regional and international levels," Mr. Ladsous said. "Without political leverage generated by concerted international and regional efforts, they will not succeed," he added. Security Council extends mandate of UN Mission in Central African Republic Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 April 2016 Related Document(s) Security Council resolution 2281 (2016) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) until 31 July 2016] Cite as UN News Service, Security Council extends mandate of UN Mission in Central African Republic, 26 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/572315c840c.html [accessed 24 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. 26 April 2016 - The United Nations Security Council today extended until 31 July the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), determining that the situation in the country constitutes a threat to international peace and security. Under Council resolution 2281 (2016), the 15-member body authorized the Mission to take all necessary means to carry out its mandate within its capabilities and areas of deployment. The Council also welcomed the peaceful organization of a constitutional referendum on 13 December 2015 and legislative and presidential elections in December 2015, and February and March 2016, as well as the inauguration of President Faustin Archange Touadera on 30 March. In addition, the Council recognized that the future mandate of MINUSCA needs to be adapted to "the new circumstances stemming from the end of the transition, in full consultation with the newly elected authorities." The Council also requested that the Secretary-General conduct a strategic review of MINUSCA to ensure that MINUSCA's future mandate is "properly configured and adapted to a post-transition stabilization environment that enables peacebuilding efforts" in the Central African Republic. The Council also requested that the Secretary-General present recommendations to the Council by 22 June. Rights experts urge UN to compensate displaced Roma poisoned in camps in Kosovo Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 15 April 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Rights experts urge UN to compensate displaced Roma poisoned in camps in Kosovo, 15 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5723170740b.html [accessed 24 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 April 2016 - Two United Nations independent experts today called on the world body to hold the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) accountable for leaving Roma families exposed to lead poisoning in camps for those internally displaced in the territory. The Human Rights Advisory Panel of UNMIK, established in 2006 to examine complaints of alleged human rights violation committed by the Mission, made their opinion public last week. A press release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recalled that during 1998 and 1999, thousands of Roma were forced to flee by the armed conflict between the Serbian forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army and other Kosovo Albanian armed groups. Many became internally displaced persons (IDPs) or refugees in neighbouring countries and in Europe. IDP camps were established in the late 1990s close to the Trepca mining and smelting complex, known to be the cause of lead contamination and other forms of toxic contamination of the surrounding areas since the 1970s. The camps, which were intended to provide only temporary accommodation up to 90 days, were in place for several years. The opinion of the Panel highlights the extremely poor conditions of the camps, as its inhabitants often lacked running water, electricity, heating, adequate healthcare or access to food. "I have been following this case since the beginning," said the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsak-Ndiaye. "It is disheartening that in the meantime lives, had been lost and many had suffered serious health consequences." OHCHR noted that this case was brought up in 2008 by a group of 138 members of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo who were initially placed in three IDP camps - Zitkovac, Eesmin Lug and Kablare - after the Roma Mahala (neighbourhood) had been destroyed in South Mitrovica in 1999. "I am glad that justice is being now delivered to one of the most deprived communities who had to suffer conflict, displacement and negligence," the human rights expert added. "The opinion of the UN Panel expresses a breach of international obligations by the UNMIK and I hope that the UN will see it as an important opportunity to hold itself accountable." The Panel recommends UNMIK to publicly acknowledge, including through the media, its failure to comply with applicable human rights standards in response to the adverse health condition caused by lead contamination in the IDP camps, and to compensate victims for both material and moral damage. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, who visited the affected families in North Mitrovica in October 2013, stated: "I hope that a public apology will be made to the complainants and their families and that swift action will be taken to provide redress to victims, to demonstrate that the UN does fully promote and ensure respect for human rights of all, particularly those of internally displaced persons involved." He also welcomed the Panel advice that its findings and recommendations on this case be shared with UN bodies working with refugees and IDPs as a guarantee of non-repetition. The Panel's opinion recognizes that despite the fact that UNMIK had commissioned a report in 2000 which found extremely elevated blood lead levels of the affected community members living in the IDP camps, UNMIK did not make the report public and failed to take sufficient action to address the risks of lead exposure in the camps. According to the Panel, the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned in 2004 about the chronic irreversible effects of lead on the human body, urging UNMIK to immediately evacuate children and pregnant women from the camps, but no submission or documentation was provided by UNMIK indicating what specific actions were taken in response to WHO's findings and recommendations. The experts' appeal has also been endorsed by the UN Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Baskut Tuncak, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Dainius Puras. Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Zimbabwe Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Zimbabwe, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ede24.html [accessed 24 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 2015, the human rights situation in Zimbabwe remained fragile. Although conditions have improved since 2008, violations still occur. Harassment and discrimination continue to make up more than 60% of reported incidents. There have been increasing reports of discrimination in the implementation of government-controlled food aid programmes. There is periodic use of violence by the state, especially during election periods. However, due to some improvement in citizens' civil liberties, Freedom House recently improved Zimbabwe's status from "Not Free" to "Partly Free" in its Freedom in the World report. Ahead of the 2018 elections, it is essential that reforms are made to the electoral system, including ensuring the full independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. In 2015, the UK's human rights work in Zimbabwe focused on monitoring and reducing the overall number of recorded human rights violations, encouraging effective implementation and compliance with the 2013 constitution, improving property rights, and further developing democratic space. UK funding supported improved access to justice for vulnerable people, helped provide child protection services and contributed to a successful constitutional court challenge to the legality of child marriage. We spoke out through statements and in private meetings with the government of Zimbabwe about the importance of state institutions complying with the 2013 constitution, particularly with regard to evictions and demolitions. Progress in 2015 was patchy and a number of issues remain. Citizens' ability to enjoy their rights continues to be defined by their political affiliation. Intra- and inter-party violence continues at a low level, with worrying peaks around by- elections. Compliance with court decisions by police is inconsistent, and there have been repeated violations of constitutional protections in regard to eviction and demolition of properties, affecting both black and white communities. Remaining issues of concern include slow progress to revise repressive legislation in line with the 2013 constitution, restrictions on the freedom of the media, and preferential treatment of ruling party supporters in the distribution of food aid. The government of Zimbabwe has still not properly investigated the disappearance of political activist Itai Dzamara. LGB&T rights are not protected under the Constitution. The death penalty remains on the statute book, although there is a de facto moratorium in place. In 2016 the UK government will continue to encourage timely revision of repressive Zimbabwean legislation to align it with the 2013 constitution; support the efforts of local civil society organisations to have constitutional provisions enforced; monitor trends in frequency and severity of rights violations, including political violence, intimidation and politicised access to humanitarian aid; and support access to justice programmes. We will call on the government of Zimbabwe to respect the provisions of the Constitution, particularly regarding eviction and demolition of property, and support those who seek to have these protections enforced. The UK government urges the government of Zimbabwe to follow the decisions of its courts in disputed land seizure cases. We will continue to support efforts to build a more democratic, stable and prosperous Zimbabwe. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Yemen Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Yemen, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee011.html [accessed 24 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 overall human rights situation in Yemen significantly deteriorated in 2015. Human rights violations and abuses in Yemen took place on a large scale, including: the use of child soldiers; attacks on journalists and human rights defenders (HRDs); arbitrary detentions; destruction of civilian infrastructure; damage to Yemen's cultural heritage; and the lack of progress on improving the rights of women. Internal conflict further impeded the legitimate Yemeni authorities and undermined the protection of universal rights. On 1 July, the UN declared Yemen to be a Level Three Emergency, making Yemen one of the four most severe, large-scale humanitarian crises in the world. The conflict has had a significant impact on civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that civilian suffering in Yemen had reached "unprecedented levels". Civilians were also the victims of terrorist attacks in Yemen. The UN reported that the use of children in armed conflict increased in 2015. Reports of gender-based violence were twice as numerous in December as in March. There have been continued reports that the Houthis and forces loyal to ex-President Saleh have arbitrarily arrested, detained and abducted government supporters and HRDs. The NGO Reporters Without Borders reported that the Houthis and Al- Qaeda-linked armed groups were holding around 17 journalists hostage. The UK supported a UN Human Rights Council resolution in October, which called on the UN to provide technical assistance to the government of Yemen, assist the Yemeni National Independent Commission of Inquiry, and report back to the next session of the HRC. Throughout 2015, we raised the importance of respect for human rights law with the Coalition, the government of Yemen, and the Houthis. The UK has emphasised repeatedly to all parties, throughout the conflict, the importance of protecting civilians. We have supported the UN in their lobbying of the Houthis to stop using child soldiers. The UK continued to support the UN-led peace process in 2015, politically and financially, recognising that a political solution is the best way to bring about long-term stability. UN- convened peace talks were held in June and December, where progress was made on confidence-building measures. The UK supported the UN Special Envoy in including women in the peace process. There was 20% female representation in both delegations at the December round of talks. In 2016, the UK will continue to support the UN-led peace process to bring a political solution to the conflict, and call for all parties to improve humanitarian and commercial access. The UK is the fourth largest donor in response to this crisis, having more than doubled humanitarian aid to Yemen in 2016 to 85 million. The UK will continue to raise the importance of human rights law and protection of civilians with all parties. Tehran, Iran, April 27 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: Some scores of heavy transportation companies are meeting in Iran to explore the country for business opportunities, seizing the removal of sanctions that is going to give the country an economic boom. Trend has conducted interviews with a number of the representatives asking their views about the new situations. "I ham hear to learn more about the situations; see which companies are more willing to use our port," Robert Jan Timmers, business developer at Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands told Trend April 27. Speaking on the sidelines of Iran Heavy 2016 conference that was held in Novotel Hotel on the premises of Imam Khomeini International Airport to the south of the capital city of Tehran, Timmers hoped that as soon as remaining banking issues are raised, business with Iran will become possible. Years-long economic sanctions that had crippled Iran's economy were removed by the implementation of a deal with world powers in January. Yet, foreign banks have not shown strong-enough determination to start relations with Iranian partners. Mohsen Sharifi, Chairman of Board and CEO of the Iranian Pishro Navgan Siraf Internatonal Project Forwarding Co. said, "Nothing special has happened because of banking problems. Sanctions are lifted and the SWIFT connection has been established, but banks still lack enough trust in the situations." Despite such facts, there are yet some other companies which have been conducting business even at the time of the sanctions. "We have been working with Iranians for 20 years now, transporting machines and high-added-value goods. But I haven't heard of this problem before. We have been just transporting. We used to bring goods from Europe to Iran," Vincent Mullot, operation manager and shareholder at Orientrans Tas. A.S. told Trend. "We brought two cargos to Iran for Siemens last year and now we are here to seek more opportunities," James Hopton, Chartering Manager at BBC Chartering said. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Venezuela Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Venezuela, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee36.html [accessed 24 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 2015, the human rights situation in Venezuela was challenging. There were some efforts by the state to improve this. In July, it announced a 2015-2019 Human Rights Plan, including proposals to reform the judiciary, prisons and security forces, to end discrimination, and to protect vulnerable groups. It also launched a Human Rights Commission to oversee the plan's implementation. In December, despite concerns over the lack of international election monitoring, Venezuela held peaceful parliamentary elections with the highest voter turnout ever recorded. The elections were won by the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) coalition. However, a continued political, economic and institutional crisis prevented wider progress. During 2015, UN and regional human rights bodies expressed concern at the state of civil and political liberties and economic and social rights in Venezuela. There were wider concerns about institutional independence, transparency, and access to public information. Violence remained a central issue. There are an estimated 14 million illegal weapons in Venezuela. The high level of impunity has encouraged worsening criminality. Over 27,000 murders were reported in 2015. Venezuelan society is politically polarised. This affects the work of the public sector, NGOs and other civil society organisations. Human rights defenders have reported intimidation and physical attacks. Local NGOs estimate that there are over 80 political prisoners in Venezuela (the government maintains there are no political prisoners, only politicians in prison) and that more than 800 people have fled the country for fear of persecution. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has demanded the release of prominent political leaders and has expressed serious concerns about respect for due process and the rule of law. The UK's objective is to promote human rights and democracy in Venezuela, with a focus on working with all sectors of society to promote dialogue and reduce violence, strengthen democratic governance and civil society, and promote the rights of women and girls. The UK aims to work constructively to address our human rights concerns through public and private channels, including on areas of disagreement. The challenge has been to build consensus on action with the Venezuelan government. Since 2012, the UK has funded 22 human rights and democracy projects in Venezuela with local organisations and government institutions. These projects include protecting indigenous rights, supporting political dialogue and promoting electoral reform. A worsening economic situation, increasing violence and escalating political confrontation increase the probability that conditions will toughen in 2016, making tackling human rights issues more difficult. Project work with civil society may also become more difficult. From January to June, the UK will lead the local EU Working Group on Human Rights and Democracy. We will also work with official and non-official entities in the run-up to Venezuela's second Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council in October 2016. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Uzbekistan Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Uzbekistan, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee411.html [accessed 24 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 2015, we continued to have significant concerns about the overall human rights situation in Uzbekistan. In July, the UN Human Rights Committee considered Uzbekistan's 4th Periodic Report on its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The committee found that Uzbekistan had not taken sufficient steps to address outstanding concerns since it underwent its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2013. These included the lack of freedom of expression, poor criminal justice procedures, and the use of torture against detainees. Violations continued to be reported in 2015 by human rights organisations, and a number of human rights defenders were reportedly detained or harassed by the authorities. In March, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observed Uzbekistan's Presidential election. It concluded that voters were not able to make informed choices given that freedom of expression and association remain curtailed. Restrictions on the activity of NGOs further reduced space for constructive and open discussions on addressing human rights problems. However, some progress has been made, such as on child and forced labour. The World Bank published a report in November on the 2015 cotton harvest. The report concluded that the Uzbek authorities had taken measures towards eliminating child labour, and that it was now socially unacceptable and rare. The report also concluded that, whilst the risk of forced labour remained, the Uzbek government had agreed to address this as part of its co-operation with the World Bank and International Labour Organisation. Further progress was seen in the implementation of 2013/14 legislative changes aimed at improving communication between civil society and government bodies. The FCO's Human Rights and Democracy Programme continued to fund a project implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Uzbekistan's Academy of Public Administration. It helped to reform public administration by improving public access to information through e-governance portals and by establishing 200 public information centres across pilot regions. However, despite our sustained focus on ensuring full implementation of the Convention against Torture, we saw no substantive progress in 2015, and the Uzbek authorities refused permission for an FCO-funded project on torture prevention. Our key human rights objective in 2015 was to encourage further implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) which was drafted to take forward 121 recommendations following Uzbekistan's UPR in 2013. We see the NAP as the most practical vehicle for addressing a range of human rights challenges in Uzbekistan. It was formally adopted by the Uzbek government in early 2015, but agreement has not yet been reached between the government and UNDP on building a monitoring and evaluation mechanism into the plan. In 2016 we will continue to encourage progress on this and frame our human rights advocacy around the NAP, ahead of Uzbekistan's next UPR, in 2017. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Turkmenistan Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Turkmenistan, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee513.html [accessed 24 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 human rights situation in Turkmenistan throughout 2015 remained of significant concern. Little progress was made towards the implementation of its international obligations. Movement on the reform programme, to which the government has said it is committed, was slow. The reform programme includes an amended constitution, the adoption of a Human Rights Action Plan, and the appointment of an Independent Human Rights Ombudsman. Against a backdrop of a worsening economic situation, due to loss of revenue from gas, 2015 saw restrictions on the internet tighten, and space for civil society shrink still further. Widespread corruption and the lack of freedom of assembly or religion remained serious problems in 2015, as did an absence of government transparency or an independent media. Turkmenistan is yet to demonstrate that it is committed to genuine reform. In 2015, our objectives remained consistent in continuing to use every suitable opportunity, both bilaterally and through international partners, to encourage the Turkmen government to comply with its international human rights obligations and to underline the importance of human rights reform. Bilaterally, human rights were raised during the visits made to Turkmenistan by the FCO Minister for Central Asia, Tobias Ellwood, in July and December. The British Ambassador regularly made representations to the government on human rights issues, including on individual cases. In one case, following lobbying over several years by the British Embassy and other organisations, a former Turkmen Minister, who had been barred from travelling overseas following several years of imprisonment, was finally given permission to leave the country for medical treatment. The British Embassy supported projects with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in the areas of judicial independence, racial discrimination and educational reform, and we expect the results of these projects will be reflected in the Human Rights Action Plan due in early 2016. Some limited progress on human rights was discernible. For the first time in 12 years, Turkmenistan attended the OSCE Human Dimension meeting in Warsaw, and a long-awaited visit to a prison by EU Ambassadors took place. However, there is much to do, and reform needs to focus on implementation of current human right policies, rather than new laws. In 2016, we will continue to press for the range and pace of reform to increase, including through the new constitution and the Human Rights Action Plan. The British Embassy will support the work of the UN and OSCE through the funding of human rights projects. Presidential elections are due in 2017 (last held in 2012 when the EU noted its concern about their conduct). The hosting of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games will be an opportunity for Turkmenistan to demonstrate progress on human rights at a time when the sporting spotlight will be on them. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - The State of Israel and The Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - The State of Israel and The Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee611.html [accessed 24 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. We remained seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Israel and the OPTs in 2015. We were concerned by the Israeli government's violation of international human rights and humanitarian law in the context of Israel's occupation of the OPTs. We also had concerns about human rights infringements by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and grave concerns over those by Hamas in Gaza. There was a marked increase in violence from October 2015 onwards, with attacks on Israelis, and clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli security forces. This upsurge was characterised by uncoordinated random stabbing attacks, which the PA failed to condemn publicly. On 9 October, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement condemning the violence. Some of the measures Israel introduced in response (including punitive house demolitions, and restrictions on movement and access) exacerbated existing human rights concerns. Access to the Holy Sites in Jerusalem was restricted on several occasions. We also had concerns about the PA's approach to addressing the violence. For example, in September, PA security forces used excessive force to disperse a peaceful rally in Bethlehem. Israeli demolitions of Palestinian structures resulted in the displacement of at least 400 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The UK was deeply concerned by advancement of existing settlement plans and "legalisation" of existing settlement units. We continued to condemn publicly and privately settlement expansion as illegal under international law. We also continued to express our concern over settler violence; for instance, on 31 July, FCO Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, condemned the arson attack in Duma that caused the death of three Palestinians, including a small child. The number of Palestinians Israel held in administrative detention increased, with an average of 417 at any one time. We continued to seek improvements in the treatment of Palestinians in detention, notably children. The Israeli authorities took some positive steps, including the use of summonses in place of night-time arrests. We were also concerned by continued reports of mistreatment towards detainees by the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank. We continued to have concerns about breaches of human rights under Hamas, the de facto authorities in the Gaza Strip. Nine death sentences were passed for criminal acts; journalists were reportedly arrested and prevented from operating; and Gazan police used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations. We remained deeply concerned that Hamas and other militants were re-arming, re-building tunnels, and running training camps. In 2016, we will support genuine efforts towards a negotiated solution to the conflict. We will encourage the PA to make progress on human rights, including on incitement. We will continue to oppose any aspects of the Israeli occupation that violate human rights and international law, including demolitions and settlement construction. We will press for further improvement in the treatment of child detainees; maintenance of the status quo at al aram ash Shar f/Temple Mount; and reconstruction and improved rights of movement and access within Gaza. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Syria Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Syria, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee715.html [accessed 24 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 2015, the human rights situation in Syria continued to deteriorate as conflict intensified. The Asad regime continued to commit human rights violations on a large scale, persistently violated international humanitarian law (IHL), and failed to comply with numerous UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Regime forces continued to arbitrarily arrest, disappear, and torture detainees, many of whom have died in detention. The Asad regime and its allies (including Russia) carried out indiscriminate attacks that directly targeted civilians, including bombardment of civilian residential areas, schools, market areas and medical facilities, with barrel bombs, artillery, aerial attacks and mortars, resulting in mass civilian casualties. Lengthy sieges, mainly by regime forces, led to severe malnutrition and even starvation. The UK believes that both the Asad regime and Daesh have used chemical weapons in Syria. Daesh has been responsible for systematic and widespread violations of IHL, including targeting civilians. IHL violations were also carried out by al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra, and some other extremist groups. This violence and instability continued to force people from their homes and increased the numbers of internally displaced persons and those fleeing the country as refugees. Ultimately, the terrible human rights situation in Syria will only be addressed through a political settlement that ends the conflict. Through its role in the UNSC and the International Syria Support Group, the UK is supporting a peace process which aims to end the violence and achieve political transition away from Asad. UNSC Resolution 2254, adopted 18 December 2015, calls for ceasefire planning and an immediate end to attacks against civilians. The UK has been at the forefront of promoting the participation of minority groups, and especially women, in the peace process. We support progress that has subsequently been made on the political track, including the start of intra-Syrian peace talks, cessation of hostilities, and some improvements in humanitarian access. The UK led the adoption of three resolutions on the human rights situation in Syria at the UN Human Rights Council during 2015 and co-sponsored the UN General Assembly Third Committee Resolution on the human rights situation in Syria, which was also successfully adopted. We support the UN Commission of Inquiry's investigations into human rights violations and abuses in Syria. More widely, the UK continued to play a leading role in addressing the humanitarian situation in Syria. We have now pledged a total of 2.3 billion in humanitarian assistance to support Syrian refugees up to 2020. This is our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis. The UK supported a range of projects focused on human rights and accountability amounting to 10.3 million as at the end of 2015. These programmes included the provision of capacity building for Syrian human rights activists to gather evidence of violations of international criminal and humanitarian law. This evidence is intended for use in future international and/ or Syrian-led criminal and accountability processes. We also provided IHL and Law of Armed Conflict training, and supported women's empowerment in policing, civil defence, and local councils inside Syria. In addition, we are working to improve local capacity to document sexual violence in order to strengthen future justice mechanisms and reconciliation processes. We will continue this programme of work in 2016. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Sudan Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Sudan, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee8e.html [accessed 24 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. Overall there was no significant improvement in the human rights situation in Sudan during 2015. Ceasefires later in the year led to less fighting compared to previous years. However, ongoing conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile continued, with human rights violations/ abuses and international humanitarian law violations by all parties the majority by the government of Sudan. Humanitarian access continued to be severely restricted, and aerial bombardments by government forces continued. By the end of 2015, there were over 100,000 newly displaced people in Darfur and 3.2 million long-term displaced nationwide. Whilst freedom of expression increased slightly around the launch of Sudan's National Dialogue, this followed earlier detentions of opposition politicians and record levels of newspaper seizures. Sudan ranks 174th out of 180 on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. Freedom of religion or belief, sexual violence, and the powers and immunity granted to the security services all remain concerning. The government remains unwilling to acknowledge many of these challenges and has demonstrated little commitment to reform. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a major concern in Sudan, with 87% of women aged 15-49 reporting having undergone some form of FGM in a recent study. However, the national strategy to abandon FGM in a generation (2008-2018) is a positive step. The UK's key human rights objectives for 2015 focused on conflict resolution, preventing sexual violence in conflict, humanitarian access, the widening of political space and upholding freedom of religion or belief. We continued to support the African Union-led peace talks, and regularly lobbied all sides to allow full access in Darfur for the peacekeeping mission UNAMID and for humanitarian actors across Sudan. On 1 June, FCO Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, highlighted our concern over the situation in Blue Nile calling for an end to forced relocations and for humanitarian access. With our Troika partners (the United States and Norway), we also spoke out in April regretting the lack of a conducive environment for elections and calling for the National Dialogue to be comprehensive and inclusive. To help combat sexual violence in Darfur, UK-funded projects provided legal, medical and psycho-social support for over 150 survivors of rape, and contributed to successful prosecutions of members of the police and armed forces. Sudan is also the biggest recipient of UK aid targeting the abandonment of FGM. In support of strengthened civil and political freedoms, we attended four trials and raised cases of concern with the government. Internationally, we supported the renewed mandate of the UN Independent Expert at the UN Human Rights Council. We continued to urge the government to facilitate his work, especially by granting access to Blue Nile and South Kordofan. In 2016, our human rights priorities will remain conflict resolution and humanitarian access, pressing for greater civil and political freedoms, and tackling sexual and gender-based violence. We will also seek to use the opportunity of Sudan's forthcoming national strategy on ending child marriage to support improvements on the rights of the child, and continue to work on ending the harmful practice of FGM. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Somalia Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Somalia, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee931.html [accessed 24 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. 2015 was another year of serious concern for human rights in Somalia. Civilians continue to be killed, wounded and displaced by indiscriminate attacks and violations committed by various sides in the ongoing internal conflict. Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is endemic and access to justice is severely restricted, if not completely unattainable, for many of Somalia's most vulnerable people. The death penalty continues to be carried out, despite previous support at the UN by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) for establishing a moratorium. Attacks on freedom of expression are on the increase, with the Committee to Protect Journalists' annual Impunity Index recently naming Somalia, for the first time, as the worst place in the world to be a journalist. Concerns have also been raised over the recently adopted Media Law, which, depending on its implementation, could see the freedom of journalists further restricted. Somalia's broad human rights problems are underpinned by impunity, resulting from a lack of capacity to monitor and gather information, and to report, investigate and prosecute violations when they occur. Though lacking capacity to effect wholesale improvement, the FGS continued to demonstrate a commitment to improving human rights throughout 2015. In May, the FGS endorsed an Action Plan for their Human Rights Road Map. Bills on establishing an independent human rights commission and on sexual offences made progress in Parliament. Somalia also increased its engagement with international human rights instruments by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child in October. In 2015, the FCO's human rights priorities in Somalia focused on addressing wider security and impunity; establishing effective human rights institutions and instruments; and empowering women. In 2015, the FCO funded five technical advisers to increase the capacity of the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development to deliver its action plans, and provided support to a preventing sexual violence programme in Mogadishu. Given the deep-rooted nature of Somalia's human rights issues, the FCO's objectives are long term. Assessing whether the objectives are having a tangible impact upon human rights in Somalia will therefore take time. However, in the short term, the FCO will continue to focus on helping to build the foundation for long-term human rights protection. 2016 will be a pivotal year in Somalia's journey towards stability. The country's upcoming elections offer fresh opportunities for greater inclusion of women in decision- making processes. Federal and regional leaders have committed to a gender quota in both Houses of Parliament. Ensuring this happens in practice will be a FCO priority in 2016. Somalia's electoral process will, however, consume much of the country's limited capacity, potentially diverting attention from human rights commitments. A desire for a smooth electoral process may also see freedom of expression come under increasing pressure. The FCO will continue to encourage and support Somalia to fulfil and deliver upon its national and international human rights commitments throughout 2016. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - South Sudan Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - South Sudan, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ee9c.html [accessed 24 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 human rights situation in South Sudan deteriorated further during 2015. Both government and opposition forces continued to breach previous commitments to end hostilities, and widespread fighting resumed in April and May. While a peace agreement was signed in August, serious human rights violations and abuses, and breaches of international humanitarian law continued to be recorded, the majority of which were reportedly committed by government-backed forces. Sexual violence remained a significant concern and was reported in areas previously unaffected by conflict in the south. Gang rapes coupled with beatings and abductions of women were reportedly perpetrated by government-backed forces. Despite international pressure, there was little or no follow-up on long-awaited government investigations into human rights violations and abuses. The rights of the child continued to be violated with reports indicating the use of child soldiers by both sides. The African Union Commission of Inquiry (AU-COI) report was published in October and found that there were reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity and war crimes had been committed by all sides. A mission by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights undertook a comprehensive assessment of the situation and reported sexual violence had taken place throughout 2015. Civil and political space was severely restricted. The 2014 Security Bill gave the National Security Services enhanced powers to arrest and detain. Arrests, beatings and assaults on journalists and the closure of newspapers were reported throughout the year. The UK's key human rights objectives in 2015 centred on conflict prevention, preventing sexual violence, and protecting political space. We took action in all these areas during the year. We played a significant and sustained role in helping to secure the peace agreement and continued to lobby both sides to advance implementation. With our Troika partners (the United States and Norway) we encouraged publication of the AU-COI report and have been active in calling for follow- up. South Sudan remained a priority country for the UK's Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI). We provided support at the grassroots level, as well as pressing the government to fulfil the commitments it had made in the 2014 Joint UN Communique on the Prevention of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. Internationally, we successfully pressed for a strong resolution on South Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). The Prime Minister also announced the UK would send up to 300 troops to South Sudan to support the UN peacekeeping mission. Our priorities in 2016 will be to ensure the peace agreement is implemented, starting with the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity. We will continue to press for action on human rights, support human rights organisations, and take a lead on PSVI. We will encourage the AU to establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan so that perpetrators of abuses can be held to account. At the HRC we will press for a UN Special Rapporteur to be appointed. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Saudi Arabia Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Saudi Arabia, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234eea15.html [accessed 24 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. Throughout 2015, the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia remained of concern, though there were incremental steps to improve women's rights. In 2015, the UK continued to support the expansion of women's rights in Saudi Arabia. We welcomed the fact that the municipal elections of 12 December 2015 were the first in which women were able to stand for election and vote. In total, 38 women are now represented in municipal councils. The elections were monitored by the Saudi Arabian National Society for Human Rights, which declared them free and fair. However, we remain concerned about the inability of women to participate equally in society. Many of the barriers are cultural. We worked with a range of opinion-formers and activists to challenge entrenched attitudes and support those seeking to change them. There was a continuing negative trend in the number of executions. In 2015, 158 people were executed, up from 90 in 2014. Part of the reason for this was the conclusion of a significant number of long-running legal cases. The UK, together with the EU, was vocal in our opposition to the death penalty, particularly in response to the execution of 47 people on 2 January 2016. We assess that, since the principle of the death penalty is enshrined in Saudi Arabia's Sharia law, abolition is unlikely in the near future. We continue to focus our efforts on reducing the number of death sentences and executions, including by encouraging Saudi Arabia to apply the minimum standards contained in the EU guidelines on the death penalty. In 2015 we regularly raised the cases of Ali al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al-Zaher. All three were convicted of crimes committed when they were juveniles, although under Saudi Law they are considered to have been adult at the time. In 2015, the UK and the EU continued to support freedom of expression, including in relation to the cases of Raif Badawi, Ashraf Fayadh and other human rights defenders. We raised these cases privately with the Saudi authorities. We continue to believe that raising issues in private is the most effective way of effecting change in this context. In 2016, we will continue to focus on the application of the death penalty when not consistent with international minimum standards. We will continue to raise specific cases at a senior level with the Saudi Arabian authorities, and continue to follow closely cases relating to freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of expression. We will also continue to look for opportunities to work with the government of Saudi Arabia and NGOs to encourage further steps towards allowing women to participate equally in society. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Russia Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Russia, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234eeb15.html [accessed 24 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 human rights environment in Russia continued to deteriorate in 2015. The rule of law remained inconsistent and arbitrarily applied. The UK expressed serious concern publicly and to the Russian authorities about a number of judicial cases, including those of Ukrainian nationals Nadiya Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko. Representatives of the British Embassy in Moscow observed hearings in these and other cases. The space for civil society shrank further with the enforcement of restrictive legislation, notably the so-called "foreign agents" and "undesirable organisations" laws, which have the effect of depriving NGOs of vital funding and subjecting them to unreasonably burdensome reporting requirements and disproportionate sanctions, up to and including closure. During the course of 2015, 81 Russian NGOs were added to the "foreign agents" register, 13 chose to close down, and four foreign organisations were labelled "undesirable". The UK is deeply concerned about this crackdown on civil society. Freedom of expression remained under pressure. State- controlled media, particularly television, overwhelmingly emphasised a pro-government narrative. Although space for independent media continued to exist, most notably online, a small number of individuals faced criminal prosecution for posting critical comments. A number of independent journalists reported that they had experienced harassment, particularly in the North Caucasus region. The UK's human rights work in Russia during 2015 focused on five priority themes: civil society and democracy; equality and non-discrimination; rule of law; the North Caucasus; and freedom of expression. We supported a range of projects within these broad themes, including on LGB&T rights, disability rights, and media freedom. We raised our concerns about human rights regularly, including at senior official and ministerial level. In December, the FCO Minister for Europe, David Lidington, met leading Russian human rights defenders (HRDs) in Moscow, and raised our concerns during his meeting with First Deputy Foreign Minister Titov. Recent legislation makes it more difficult for the international community to support human rights organisations in Russia. We judge it unlikely that the situation will improve in 2016, and anticipate increasing pressure on government critics as the Duma (parliamentary) elections in September 2016 approach. Nevertheless, the UK will continue to support the promotion and protection of human rights in Russia. In meetings with the Russian government and through our project funding, we will strive to highlight the vital contribution made by HRDs and independent journalists. We will attend trials when we have concerns that justice is not being served, and we will speak out when we believe rights are at risk. We will continue to work with EU partners and through multilateral organisations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the UN to keep the spotlight on Russia's deteriorating human rights situation, thus maintaining pressure on the Russian authorities to implement international human rights commitments. The UK will continue to offer practical support to those people working in increasingly difficult circumstances for the rights of all. Russian Actions in Ukraine Russia's actions in Ukraine led to a severe deterioration in the human rights situation in both Donbas and Crimea in 2015. In the areas under Russian-backed separatist control in Donbas, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) continued to report killings, torture and other ill- treatment, illegal detention, and forced labour during 2015. Also deeply concerning are details of increasing restrictions being placed on civil society. Following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, the human rights situation continued to deteriorate through 2015. Arrests, torture and other ill treatment, and intimidation against political opponents and minorities persisted, particularly the Crimean Tatar community, with the knowledge or participation of "law enforcement" or other affiliated groups. Crimean Tatar institutions and organisations were increasingly branded as "extremist" and members arrested as "terrorists". Access to international monitoring agencies continued to be denied. Throughout 2015, the UK continued to call on Russia and Russian-backed separatists to respect international law and allow unimpeded access to international human rights monitoring agencies. We also continued to push for independent investigations into all serious allegations of human rights violations and abuses. Without improved access for international monitoring agencies and proper accountability for human rights violations and abuses, there is little prospect of the human rights situation improving in Donbas and Crimea during 2016. Details added (first version posted on 12:07) Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.29 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: The work on the project for creating the infrastructure of Azerbaijan's Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park will be completed by late 2016, Azerbaijan's Deputy Economy Minister Niyazi Safarov said Apr.29. He made the remarks during the presentation of the park's new resident MST Engineering. Currently, the construction of the SOCAR Polymer plant, which is the largest part of the project's second stage, is underway, said the deputy minister. The work on attracting residents to the chemical industrial park continues and several more companies will receive the status of resident in the near future, according Safarov. Several companies producing pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizers have already shown interest in operation on the park's territory, he said. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree to create the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park in December of 2011. The territory of Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park will be divided into two parts: administrative and social zone and industrial zone. Overall, the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park now includes the following residents: Azertexnolayn, SOCAR Polymer, Azerfloat, Azerbaijan Fibro Cement, SIKA company, and Baku Non-Ferrous Metals & Ferroalloys Company. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Anvar_Mammadov Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Republic of Maldives Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Republic of Maldives, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234eec15.html [accessed 24 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 2015, the human rights situation in Maldives deteriorated, with a sustained decline in democracy and judicial independence as President Yameen's government tightened its grip on power. Political and civil freedoms were eroded, opposition and some government figures were arbitrarily arrested, the press resorted to self-censorship, and there were worrying moves to re-introduce the death penalty after a moratorium of more than 60 years. Growing religious conservatism was also a cause for concern. In February, former President Nasheed was sentenced to 13 years on charges of terrorism following a trial that was internationally condemned. By the end of 2015, all opposition party leaders were in prison, detained, or in self-imposed exile. In October, former Vice President Adeeb was detained: the eleventh senior government official to be arrested or dismissed since President Yameen came to power in November 2013. A few weeks later, the government declared a State of Emergency. It lasted six days and a number of basic constitutional rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, were suspended. The suspension of parliamentary process during the State of Emergency enabled the swift and unchallenged impeachment of Mr Adeeb, making him the second Vice President to be impeached in a six-month period. Throughout the year, various regulations were introduced which restricted democratic space. The Home Ministry insisted NGOs seek permission before receiving foreign funding; this hampered their ability to function independently. At the end of November, the Home Minister announced a ban on street protests, stating that they should take place in "confined public spaces". This raised serious questions about the ability to exercise freedom of assembly and free speech. The Supreme Court, in a move to centralise and consolidate power, took the responsibility for regulating lawyers away from the Attorney General. We do not believe that the concerns in a report in 2013 by the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers have been addressed, including on the fact that many interventions by courts were arbitrary, and that due process was not being followed. The Anti-Terrorism Act, introduced in November, gave the government unfettered power to monitor people. The UK was at the forefront of international efforts to encourage Maldives to improve its human rights record. On 30 November, following the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Malta, the Prime Minister welcomed the conclusion of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group that Maldives were worthy of formal consideration. He said, "the Commonwealth has an important role to play in helping its members adhere to its values". The FCO's Minister for Asia, Hugo Swire, and FCO officials regularly raised our human rights concerns with senior government officials. In 2016, we will continue to remind Maldives of its commitment to protect human rights, using both quiet diplomacy and public messaging. We will also use coordinated international engagement to push for greater political plurality and inclusion; the protection of fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly; the independence of the judiciary; and the reversal of moves to reintroduce the death penalty. The Commonwealth, EU and UN will be important partners. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - People's Republic of Bangladesh Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - People's Republic of Bangladesh, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234eed15.html [accessed 24 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. There was no improvement in the overall human rights situation in Bangladesh in 2015. Tensions between the two main political parties, the ruling Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), remain unresolved. Confrontational actions during the first quarter of 2015, including the arrest of senior BNP leaders, an indefinite BNP-led transport blockade, and repeated hartals (labour strikes) impacted on people's security and livelihoods. The relatively peaceful and participatory Municipal Elections on 30 December, held on party lines for the first time, were a positive development. A rise in the number of extremist attacks against secularist writers and religious minorities during 2015 increased pressure on free speech, while the draft Foreign Donations Act risks becoming a missed opportunity to improve the regulatory regime for NGOs. Through its Human Rights and Democracy Programme, the UK provided safety training to bloggers in Bangladesh, and supported a review of the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 to bring it into line with international standards. An overloaded justice system and delays in processing through the courts contributed to a culture of violence where people take the law into their own hands. NGOs reported that excessive use of force, extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances were conducted with impunity, while the death penalty remained a legal punishment for a wide range of offences. In 2015, at least five people were executed, including three war criminals convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). NGOs continued to express concern over the process and independence of the ICT. During 2015, the Department for International Development contributed 3.7 million towards justice sector reform and 1.2 million for a police reform programme in Bangladesh. Women make a considerable contribution to the Bangladesh economy; many are employed in the public service and the ready-made garments sector. However, women still do not enjoy the same social status as men, and gender-based violence remains a substantial problem. Child marriage also remains a significant concern. Bangladesh has a growing economy and aspires to reach middle-income status by 2021. We encourage the Bangladesh authorities to ensure that this is matched by a positive human rights trajectory during 2016 and beyond. Positive indicators would include careful consideration of recommendations by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief when his report is released in 2016. We will also encourage the government to engage constructively with the UN Human Rights Committee when it reviews Bangladesh in October 2016. We remain clear that an effective justice system, and a vibrant civil society and free media, able to challenge and hold authority to account, are fundamental to a successful democracy. Free, fair and participatory elections are also crucial; we encourage all political parties to work towards achieving this at the parliamentary elections in 2019. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Pakistan Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Pakistan, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234eeec.html [accessed 24 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. Serious human rights concerns persisted in 2015. Following the terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan lifted the de facto moratorium on the death penalty, first in December 2014 for terrorist offences, then in March 2015 for all capital crimes. Throughout the year, over 325 people were executed, with an estimated 8,000 on death row. There were serious concerns over Pakistan's use of the death penalty, including fair trial issues and the execution of persons who were alleged to have been minors at the time of the offence. The Peshawar attack also prompted a constitutional amendment to enable military courts to try civilian terrorist cases. There is little information on these courts and no access to proceedings, making it impossible to assess their compliance with international obligations. The operating space for domestic and international NGOs narrowed considerably, driven in a large part by uncertainty over registration. This impeded their work and is yet to be resolved. Sectarian attacks continued but, relative to 2014, their intensity decreased in the last six months of 2015. Ahmadiyya, Shia, Hazara, Christian, Hindu and Sikh minority communities continued to suffer discrimination and targeted violence. As in previous years, the blasphemy laws were misused to the detriment of Muslims and non-Muslims. The government of Pakistan took some steps to develop institutions mandated to increase compliance with international human rights standards, including finally establishing the National Commission for Human Rights. FCO human rights objectives in 2015 for Pakistan focused on the death penalty, freedom of religion or belief, the promotion of the rule of law, and women's rights. At the highest level, the UK made clear to Pakistan its opposition to the death penalty. We urged Pakistan to reinstate the moratorium and comply with international commitments. FCO Ministers repeatedly expressed concerns about violations of freedom of religion or belief and encouraged Pakistan to reform its blasphemy laws. In Pakistan, British High Commission support for criminal justice reform was extensive, provided through programmes to improve civilian capacity to investigate, prosecute and convict criminals, including terrorists, in line with international standards. Pakistan remained a priority for UK development assistance, with programmes designed to improve human rights. Within the framework of the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which promotes economic development and compliance with 27 international conventions (including seven human rights conventions), the EU completed its biennial assessment of Pakistan's progress. During the review period, Pakistan launched a Treaty Implementation Cell and roadmap. In 2016, Pakistan can take further steps to ensure international commitments and constitutional provisions to safeguard human rights are honoured in practice. These include reinstatement of the death penalty moratorium, reform of the blasphemy law and discriminatory legislation, and action to empower women. Progress on judicial reform should enable the Pakistani authorities to respect the January 2017 sunset clause on the use of military courts to try terrorist suspects. GSP+ has helped to establish a framework for monitoring compliance with human rights commitments. With adequate political will, in 2016 that architecture can help drive tangible human rights improvements in practice. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Iraq Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Iraq, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234eef31.html [accessed 24 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 human rights situation in Iraq remained of grave concern during 2015. Daesh still controlled large areas in northern and western Iraq and continued to commit atrocities against all communities. Reports suggested an increase in sectarian tensions and in allegations of abuses and violations committed by government security forces (including the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), Kurdish Security Forces (KSF), Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and militias) as areas were liberated from Daesh. The UN estimate that there are now over 3.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, and that as many as 10 million people may be in need of humanitarian support (see Chapter II). The government of Iraq (GoI) has taken steps to address the human rights situation. This includes agreeing the Emergency National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. Prime Minister Abadi also reiterated commitments to holding to account all those responsible for human rights abuses and violations. Women and children, and religious and ethnic minorities do, however, remain at increased risk of persecution. The abolition of the positions of Minister of Human Rights and Minister of Women's Affairs as part of Prime Minister Abadi's efforts to streamline the Iraqi government has created further challenges, including the ongoing absence of a senior governmental lead for women's affairs. Iraqi citizens continue to face challenges accessing justice, and the rule of law remains weak. During 2015 we continued to engage with the GoI on human rights issues, particularly combating violence against women and girls, preventing sexual violence in conflict, and freedom of religion or belief. Progress in all areas remains slow. The GoI is still struggling with a legacy of sectarian policies, but Prime Minister Abadi is working to promote reconciliation and recognition of the rights of all communities. The UK is supporting the GoI as part of the Global Coalition to Counter Daesh. Through the Department for International Development (DFID), we have provided 79.5 million to support the international humanitarian effort. DFID has deployed two technical experts to the UN to improve co- ordination of the humanitarian response and information picture on sexual and gender-based violence. We are also funding a project to support victims of sexual violence by providing medical and psychosocial support and documenting crimes of sexual violence. We are providing 750,000 to support the implementation of the Iraqi National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, and have funded a project to promote freedom of religion or belief, by empowering community and religious leaders to defend the religious freedoms of all communities. Meaningful political reconciliation and reform remain critical to uniting all Iraq's communities against extremism and achieving long-term security, stability and prosperity. We will continue to support the GoI as they work to deliver inclusive governance for all Iraqis and realise their commitments to improved human rights. We will focus on areas where the UK has particular expertise and can add value. These include: addressing weaknesses within the judicial system and building judicial capacity; promoting legislative reform; preventing sexual violence in conflict; promoting freedom of religion or belief and minority rights; and working to build a sense of Iraqi nationhood through cultural projects. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Libya Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Libya, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234eefc.html [accessed 24 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. Overall, the human rights situation worsened during 2015. Reports by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, documented that armed groups on all sides disregarded civilians and committed violations and abuses of human rights, including abductions, extra-judicial executions, unlawful killings, torture, and other ill-treatment. In most of the country, the judicial system broke down. There were frequent reports of intimidation, detentions, and assassinations of journalists and human rights defenders. Street-fighting in Benghazi resulted in hundreds of casualties, including civilians. In the south, hundreds were killed in tribal clashes. Daesh committed atrocities including bomb attacks; beheading Egyptian, Ethiopian and Eritrean Coptic Christians; and executing local residents and Salafist Imams in territory under their control. In May, the International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, reaffirmed to the UN Security Council its continued jurisdiction over Rome Statute crimes in Libya, including those committed by Daesh. There were grave concerns over abuse of migrants by militia groups as they attempted to transit Libya. The political and security crisis made it difficult to make substantive progress on the ground. The UK proactively supported the Libyan political dialogue, facilitated by the UN, to end the conflict and establish a unified Government of National Accord (GNA). The UK and UNSMIL co-chaired an international meeting in London on 19 October to agree the most effective ways to support a new GNA. The UK welcomed local peace initiatives, including ceasefires, prisoner exchanges, and the return of internally displaced persons. The UK co-sponsored an African Group resolution at the 28th UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, adopted with overwhelming support on 27 March 2015. It established an OHCHR mission to investigate violations and abuses with a view to ensuring accountability. In her closing statement at the HRC, FCO Minister for Human Rights, Baroness Anelay, highlighted the serious human rights situation, and the urgent need for a political resolution. While the Libyan delegation engaged constructively with the Universal Periodic Review at the HRC in September, the UK noted with concern the limited capacity for investigating human rights violations and bringing perpetrators to justice. The UK welcomed the signing on 17 December 2015 of the Libyan Political Agreement in Skhirat, Morocco, for the establishment of a GNA. In 2016, we will continue to play an active role and encourage the Libyan parties to implement the agreement in full and ensure that, as Libyan state authority is re-established across national territory, respect for human rights is considered as an important part of re-building governance. We have re-focused our support to Libya on political participation programmes, including providing expert advice to the Constitutional Drafting Assembly; supporting various women's civil society organisations to advocate for women's rights in the constitution drafting process; and supporting civil society organisations involved in transitional justice issues in Libya, including the mapping of human rights abuses. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Egypt Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Egypt, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ef22b.html [accessed 24 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 2015, Egypt held parliamentary elections, completing the final institutional stage on its road map for political transition. At the same time, Egypt faced a significant terrorist threat, resulting in at least 366 deaths (in addition to the attack on the Metrojet aircraft that killed 224 people). Against this background, the human rights situation remained poor and continued to deteriorate. Although 2015 saw pardons for a small number of prisoners, Egypt continued to detain activists, journalists and protesters. In February, 230 activists were sentenced to life imprisonment in a mass trial in relation to protests in 2011. In May, former President Mohamed Morsi was sentenced to death in a mass trial with more than 100 others. Pre-trial detention periods were long; photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid (Shawkan) has been in pre-trial detention since August 2013. In 2015, reports of torture, police brutality, and forced disappearance increased. A local NGO documented reports of 676 cases of torture and 137 deaths in detention. The National Council for Human Rights submitted a list of 191 alleged forced disappearances to the Ministry of the Interior, which responded that 99 of those on the list were in detention and 15 had been released. Restrictions on civil society further limited the ability of NGOs to register, work and obtain funding, and a number of prominent human rights defenders were banned from travelling. Restrictions on freedom of expression also increased. A new counter-terrorism law banned publication of information about terrorism that contradicts official statements. The number of journalists jailed for their work rose to 23, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Protester Shaimaa al-Sabbagh was killed by police during a peaceful protest in January. During 2015 we worked to support implementation of the rights set out in Egypt's new (2014) constitution. We did this by: raising concerns at senior levels about human rights and our desire to see political reform, including during the Prime Minister's meeting with President Sisi in November; making public statements on issues of concern, including the trial of Al Jazeera journalists and the sentencing of political activists; raising concerns about human rights in Egypt in multilateral fora, including in our national statements at the UN Human Rights Council and during Egypt's Universal Periodic Review (UPR); funding projects promoting human rights and democracy in Egypt, including those that supported women's rights, freedom of expression and the Parliament; raising the importance of freedom of religion or belief with the Egyptian authorities, and promoting religious dialogue, including by hosting a visit to the UK by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar; and deploying a gender adviser to Cairo in support of work on women's rights. In 2016, Parliament will be a key institution in implementing constitutional rights and improving accountability. 2016 will also be an opportunity for Egypt to make progress on recommendations accepted during its UPR. The UK will support Egyptian government and civil society initiatives to improve the human rights situation, by continuing to raise concerns both in public and private, and through project funding. Our focus will be on detentions of political activists, police abuses, and restrictions on civil society. Improving the current trajectory is fundamental to Egypt's long-term stability. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Eritrea Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Eritrea, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ef26.html [accessed 24 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 2015, the human rights situation in Eritrea remained of serious concern, although there were some limited signs of progress. FCO's human rights priorities in Eritrea focused on encouraging government action in three areas: to clarify, and, where necessary, amend the terms and conditions of prolonged national service (which is predominantly non- military); to implement the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations that it accepted and look positively at implementing those it did not; and to implement its own constitution. The government of Eritrea took some incremental steps forward in 2015. It gave assurances to international partners to limit national service to 18 months. We do not yet have evidence that this has been implemented, and continue to press Eritrea to fulfil its commitment. We welcomed, however, the government's announcement in early 2016 that it would increase salaries for all those performing national service. Eritrea also increased its international engagement on human rights by participation in the UPR process and developing a stronger relationship with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The OHCHR was allowed to conduct the first independent visit to a place of detention since the late 2000s. We also welcomed Eritrea joining the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in November 2015. In January 2015, Eritrea released six journalists who had been detained since 2009. However, concerns remain. There have been no elections in Eritrea since independence in 1993. Eritrea has not yet implemented its 1997 constitution, though the government reports that preparatory work on the drafting of a new constitution is under way. Freedom of association and expression continue to be severely constrained. Opposition political parties and independent press are banned. Eritrea remains at the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index for the 8th consecutive year. Constraints on freedom of religion or belief persist, and the rule of law and the judiciary remain weak and liable to be circumvented through informal and extra-judicial forms of justice. There remain numerous reports of individuals who have been extra-judicially detained for long periods of time for political reasons. We remain concerned about the Eritrean government's approach to LGB&T issues. Homosexual activity in Eritrea is still classed as illegal. Eritrea declines to develop anti-discrimination legislation which would provide protection for the LGB&T community. Eritrea's national service system remains one of the drivers of migration from the country. Eritrea took part in the Valletta Summit on Migration (11-12 November 2015) and continues to engage with international partners through the African Union / EU Khartoum Process which looks to tackle forced migration and human trafficking. We continue to press Eritrea to take further steps on human rights. In 2016, the UK's priorities in Eritrea will continue to be to urge the Eritrean government to work on implementing the constitution and to reform the national service system which acts as a driver of migration. We will continue to support Eritrea's engagement with UN human rights bodies, and encourage them to extend this co-operation to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Eritrea, as well as the UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights in Eritrea. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ef315.html [accessed 24 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. There was an improvement in the overall human rights situation in Sri Lanka in 2015, although some concerns remain. Reversing the downward trend of recent years, the government of Sri Lanka took positive steps to improve freedom of expression (including the media) and freedom of movement, reduce inter-community tensions, and restore the independence of institutions such as the Human Rights Commission. The government also signalled its willingness to address long-standing allegations of past human rights abuses and violations, co-sponsoring a resolution in the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in October committing it to reconciliation, accountability and the protection of human rights. In a positive change of approach, the government engaged constructively with the international community, including with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other UN bodies. In 2015, the UK worked to encourage and support the government's reform process. The UK lobbied for progress on key issues such as the return of military-occupied land, the lifting of bans on Tamil diaspora organisations, and the release of long-term detainees held without charge under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The UK was a strong advocate for the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) and instrumental in the adoption of the HRC resolution in which the OISL recommendations were reflected. We supported this political effort through targeted funding that supported domestic monitoring efforts and increased participation for parliamentary elections in August. We also worked to improve police standards and police-community relations, and promoted interfaith dialogues across the country. Some of these positive changes are less apparent in the north and east. Human rights defenders continued to report harassment and surveillance in 2015, a point raised by the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances during their visit in November. The OISL report also highlighted a number of human rights concerns that still remain, including continued reports of torture, and sexual and gender-based violence. The UK has urged the government to investigate these and other allegations of human rights violations, and will continue to push for progress in these areas. In 2016, we expect the positive trajectory to continue. This is a moment of opportunity for Sri Lanka, and the international community has an important role to play. The OHCHR will present its assessment of progress on implementation of its recommendations at the HRC's 32nd session in June. We will continue to encourage and support Sri Lanka to deliver on its commitments to the HRC, and to make early progress to build wider support for its efforts to address accountability. The Prime Minister has pledged 6.6m over the next three years to continue our support for reconciliation and human rights. Our work with the government of Sri Lanka will aim to continue strengthening democracy and the rule of law, and reform the security sector, sharing UK experience and expertise. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ef415.html [accessed 24 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 human rights situation in the DRC deteriorated in 2015. There was some progress on efforts to tackle sexual violence but other human rights continued to be violated, especially related to the electoral process. There were arbitrary arrests and imprisonments, reports of torture of political activists, attacks on freedom of speech, and extra-judicial killings by state agents. In 2015, the UK's human rights work in the DRC focused on protecting political space and preventing sexual and gender- based violence. We worked to build long-term stability in the east, through contributions to MONUSCO (UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC), the work of the Department for International Development, and projects supported by the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. We were concerned about the tightening of political space during 2015. There were a number of arbitrary arrests of journalists, civil society figures and human rights defenders (HRDs). The British Embassy in Kinshasa monitors trials of political detainees on a regular basis, and raises concerns at the highest levels of the DRC government. We officially raised the Filimbi activist case, involving young people arrested in March and April 2015 at a workshop designed to encourage Congolese youth to perform their civic duties peacefully. The DRC government made some progress in addressing impunity in the armed forces. In September the Military High Court delivered its verdict upholding the conviction of Colonel Mukalayi for the murder of HRD Floribert Chebeya. In December, the National Assembly adopted legislation updating the Military Penal Code, abolishing immunity for these crimes for the Head of State and other government figures. However, we are concerned that many in the security forces continue to enjoy impunity for human rights violations. We remain deeply concerned about the massacres in Beni, and are supporting MONUSCO in preventing future incidences and reducing human rights violations in the east of the country. We are particularly disturbed by the recent escalation in Nande- Hutu ethnic conflict in North Kivu province. The UK funds projects that help victims of sexual violence in conflict to obtain justice. We are working with the DRC government to encourage use of the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict by legal and medical practitioners. This work includes translation of the International Protocol into Swahili and Lingala to enable its effective use at a local level. In 2016, the UK will continue to focus on political and civil society space and abuses related to the forthcoming Presidential elections. We will monitor arrests, detentions and disappearances of opposition and civil society figures, and will raise any concerns with the DRC government. We will continue to encourage the DRC government to take concrete steps to improve respect for human rights, particularly by taking action against armed groups in the east. We will also continue our work on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative, funding a number of grassroots projects and working closely with Jeanine Mabunda, the DRC President's Personal Representative on the Fight Against Sexual Violence and Child Recruitment. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ef515.html [accessed 24 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 human rights situation in the DPRK showed no sign of improvement in 2015. The DPRK government continued to reject the findings and recommendations of the UN Commission of Inquiry report, and to protest against resolutions passed by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and UN Security Council (UNSC). It persisted in rejecting serious engagement with the international community and did not undertake any notable measures to improve the domestic human rights situation. Whilst the DPRK accepted 114 recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, they declined discussions on their implementation plans, despite the encouragement of the international community. In 2015, human rights remained one of our policy priorities for the DPRK. We helped ensure the issue remained high on the international community's agenda, and raised concerns directly with the DPRK authorities. We also supported small-scale projects aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable groups in the DPRK. We worked to focus attention on the DPRK's human rights record through international fora such as the UN General Assembly, the UNSC and the HRC, where lobbying by the UK government helped to secure strong resolutions. We also supported the 14th session of the EU-DPRK political dialogue held in Pyongyang in June 2015, where the EU side raised human rights, including the use of prison camps, torture, and the lack of freedom of expression and political freedoms. We took every available opportunity in 2015 to raise our serious concerns about DPRK human rights directly with the DPRK government in London and Pyongyang. Senior FCO officials met diplomats from the DPRK Embassy and visiting senior DPRK officials. These meetings were used to reiterate our concerns over the DPRK's failure to uphold its international obligations. The British Embassy in Pyongyang repeatedly raised our concerns on human rights directly with the DPRK government. In 2015, the FCO funded a number of projects aimed at increasing awareness of international human rights standards and improving the provision of equipment available to disabled persons in the DPRK. We have also offered technical human rights training for DPRK officials but, at the time of writing, the DPRK authorities had yet to respond. Human rights remain a priority for our DPRK policy in 2016. We will continue to work with like-minded partners to urge the DPRK government to accept the existence and extent of their human rights violations, and to demonstrate a willingness to take steps to address these issues for example, by agreeing to a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur and other senior UN officials. We will maintain pressure on the DPRK through international fora (such as the UN and EU), and look for ways in which we can support the work of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights through its office in the Republic of Korea. Alongside this, we will press the DPRK to deliver on the UPR recommendations they have accepted, and use bilateral and international engagement to keep pressure on the DPRK. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 29 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: By using the Trans-Caspian corridor, shipments from Asia to Europe can be moved three times faster in comparison to the maritime route, said Azerbaijani ambassador to the US Elin Suleymanov's article, published in Washington Times newspaper. "The transit corridor from China to Europe includes a sophisticated infrastructure and harmonized "software" of procedures and guidelines to speed up shipments of goods, shorten delivery times and decrease overall costs," the ambassador wrote. "For American companies, the opportunities abound in a wide range of areas from logistics to construction to manufacturing to communications and services," Suleymanov wrote. "For instance, by using the Trans-Caspian corridor, shipments from Asia to Europe can be moved three times faster in comparison to the maritime route." "Economic benefits are obvious; and so are the strategic ones," Suleymanov wrote. "Working with trusted partners to promote development, prosperity and security in one of the world's crucial neighborhoods is clearly in the United States' interest." According to the article, importantly, this transit corridor is about public-private partnerships, where businesses, along with the region's governments, play a vital part in its formation. "It is also about regional integration with the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey working together to synchronize efforts and make the transit as smooth and efficient as possible for its users," Suleymanov wrote. "As they do so, they build on their earlier successful experience of building the East-West energy corridor, and especially the strategic Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, delivering resources of the Caspian Sea to global markets," Suleymanov wrote. "Trans-Caspian Trade and Transit Corridor East-West" large regional forum was held at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington on April 28-29, 2016. The forum was organized by the embassies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey in the US and brought together representatives from more than 50 major international companies. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Colombia Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Colombia, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ef615.html [accessed 24 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. There was mixed progress on the human rights situation in Colombia in 2015, despite efforts by the government of Colombia to improve it. President Santos took several significant steps to address human rights issues as part of the process to end the conflict between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). On 23 September, a landmark deal was reached on transitional justice and reparations for victims. In October, both sides agreed an accord to trace disappeared victims of the conflict. On 15 December, agreement was reaffirmed to establish a truth commission, reparations for victims, and punishment for war criminals. The Land Restitution and Victims' Law (2011) continues to provide compensation for victims, although progress is slow. Furthermore, in July, the government approved Law 1761, which categorises femicide as a separate crime and increases the punishment to up to 50 years' imprisonment. The Presidential Adviser for Human Rights published a human rights report in December after a five-year hiatus. However, human rights violations and abuses across a number of sectors remain a concern, including sexual violence, internal displacement, forced disappearances, and targeting of human rights defenders (HRDs). 63 HRDs were killed in 2015, a 13% increase from 2014. Colombia also remains one of the countries in the world with the highest levels of impunity. The UK has been a strong supporter of Colombia's improvement on human rights issues. Our overarching human rights objectives are to reduce impunity for human rights violations and abuses, improve access to justice, and support strong government institutions. Through prioritising three issues the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI), business and human rights, and HRDs the UK has made a tangible difference. The UK helped Colombia draft its National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights, published in December 2015. This is the first of its kind outside of Europe. The UK continues to raise human rights concerns with the Colombian government on a regular basis, including on specific cases. The peace process, which both sides are committed to concluding in 2016, will further help the government of Colombia to tackle human rights issues. The FARC's unilateral ceasefire and the government's suspension of aerial bombardments have reduced the intensity of hostilities. However, there is concern that security could worsen on the signing of a peace deal, as illegal armed groups and criminals may fill the vacuum left by FARC's demobilisation. Threats to land reform campaigners and HRDs may increase in the short term. Underlying drivers of the conflict, such as inequality and corruption, may lead to an increase in social protest. For 2016, the UK's human rights priorities will include further support for the post-conflict stage of the peace process. In addition to comprehensive bilateral support, the UK is a significant contributor to the UN Post-Conflict Trust Fund and the EU Trust Fund for Colombia. The UK will also continue working bilaterally on the priority areas of PSVI and HRDs, as well as business and human rights. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - China Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - China, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ef714.html [accessed 24 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. China continues to face significant human rights challenges, but throughout 2015 improved social and economic rights, and implemented reforms to strengthen the rule of law. The UK supports these goals. We cooperated with China on projects in priority areas including torture prevention, the death penalty, women's rights, and civil society. We assess that our co- operation contributed to a reduction in the number of crimes subject to the death penalty. We also believe it led to greater legal protection for victims of domestic violence and rape. In 2015 civil and political rights were subject to increasingly tight restrictions and space for civil society was constrained. There were restrictions on religious observance and cultural expression by minorities. Online and media censorship continued, with China reportedly jailing the largest number of journalists worldwide in 2015. A number of civil society organisations were closed, and EU nationals working in China detained and expelled. New laws and regulations, including National Security and Counter-Terrorism Laws, further restricted freedom of expression. Hundreds of human rights lawyers and associates were detained by Chinese authorities. The handling of these individual cases, as well as those of other human rights defenders (HRDs), such as Pu Zhiqiang, raised questions over China's commitment to transparency and its international human rights obligations. Throughout 2015, the UK consistently raised its human rights concerns with China, including at the highest levels. The UK- China Human Rights Dialogue remained an important channel for relaying our concerns and exchanging views. The 2015 Dialogue focused on the role of the judiciary. We also acted on cases of concern, including working closely with international partners on specific cases. This was done through lobbying on legislation (such as a draft Foreign NGO Management Law), attempts to visit individuals under house arrest, attempts to observe trials, and maintaining contact with HRDs. We raised human rights in China at the UN Human Rights Council, making clear our concerns over a crackdown against human rights lawyers, including Wang Yu. We were particularly concerned about the case of British citizen Mr Lee Po. As the Foreign Secretary said in the most recent Six Monthly Report on Hong Kong, our information indicates that Mr Lee was involuntarily removed to mainland China from Hong Kong. This case undermines the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" which provides for Hong Kong residents to be protected by the Hong Kong legal system. Barriers to achieving our aims included China's reluctance to accept meetings to discuss sensitive issues. Requests for human rights monitoring visits to Tibet were refused. In 2016, the government's "stability maintenance" policies look set to continue. These are likely to target groups perceived as disruptive. Many of those detained in 2015 may face further legal action. Proposed laws on foreign NGO management and cyber security may further restrict political space. We will work with the grain of reform where we judge this will yield meaningful progress, for example on rule of law. We will continue to raise human rights issues through whichever channel is most effective. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Central African Republic (CAR) Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Central African Republic (CAR), 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234ef8e.html [accessed 24 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 overall human rights situation in CAR remained very poor throughout 2015. Extra-judicial killings, kidnapping, banditry, sexual violence, arbitrary detention, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers continued. Inter-communal tensions remained high throughout the year. Violence surged in September with a spate of killings and the wanton destruction of many properties across Bangui. This violence saw a backlash against enclaved communities, with heightened tensions and obstructions to their freedom of movement imposed by armed groups. More than 60,000 cases of gender-based violence were reported to humanitarian agencies in 2015. There were persistent allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by UN, African Union (AU), French and EU troops (see Chapter II). The UK's key human rights objective in CAR in 2015 was to secure an end to the impunity that encourages such widespread abuse, through support to both security sector reform and elections. To this end, we supported the EU Military Advisory Mission, which provides the government of CAR with expert advice to reform the military, and provided diplomatic and financial support to the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA). UK aid also supported programmes addressing the protection and health needs of victims of violence, and aiming to prevent human rights abuse. CAR made some limited progress during 2015. We welcomed the passing of a law creating a Special Criminal Court, and worked with CAR authorities and international partners to support it. In a significant development, presidential elections went ahead in a largely peaceful manner. However, human rights continued to be violated in CAR on a regular basis, and with impunity. Security sector reform has not significantly progressed, constrained by lack of political engagement. Allegations of SEA, committed by international peacekeeping troops undermined the international community's ability to lead change. The ease with which armed groups move in the ungoverned space outside Bangui and small arms proliferation made it difficult for aid and remedial services to reach those worst affected, or for international peacekeepers to be effective. The humanitarian situation in CAR continues to be a cause for deep concern. More than 2.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 452,000 internally displaced people and 451,100 CAR refugees in neighbouring countries. The UK pledged an additional 7 million in humanitarian assistance, bringing the total UK aid contribution for the year to CAR and CAR refugees to 25 million. The UK remains one of the largest humanitarian donors to CAR, providing 58 million through NGOs and international organisations to assist CAR populations and CAR refugees since 2013. This money has helped provide essential healthcare, food and livelihood assistance, and protection to populations affected by the conflict. It is imperative that the unacceptable levels of human rights violations and abuses in CAR are reduced during 2016. The new President-elect and his government will be key to reconciliation and the reintegration of refugees and internally displaced people, as well as bringing an end to impunity, while continued security sector reform will help strengthen critical institutions. The peace-keeping mission MINUSCA will need to play a critical role alongside CAR authorities to address insecurity across the country. Successful legislative elections and efforts to rebuild the judiciary will facilitate progress. We will continue to work with the new government and international partners to achieve these goals, including by providing diplomatic and financial support through an EU Mission to train CAR armed forces. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Burma Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Burma, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234efac.html [accessed 24 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. There was progress on human rights in Burma during 2015, particularly in the areas of civil and political rights, but significant challenges remain. The 8 November parliamentary elections were an important milestone in Burma's democratic transition. For the first time in over 50 years, the people of Burma elected parliamentary representatives. Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won with a substantial majority and a real mandate for further reform. But, while the vote was peaceful, credible and competitive, there were several flaws: the Rohingya community was disenfranchised and prospective Muslim candidates were disproportionately excluded. In 2015, the democratic space for freedom of expression and assembly contracted. March saw the violent break-up of student protests, political prisoners continued to be charged and detained and, as elections approached, there were a succession of arrests following social media posts mocking the military. Relations between Buddhist and Muslim communities became increasingly tense and politicised with the passing of four discriminatory "Race and Religion" laws. Instances of hate speech and arrests on religion-based charges increased. More positively, there were further discharges of child soldiers, and the government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UK human rights priorities in 2015 centred on encouraging credible elections as well as upholding political freedoms and maintaining stability, including in Rakhine, Shan and Kachin States. UK support helped the Union Election Commission deliver a credible election with strengthened integrity measures. UK funding also enabled the first systematic and nationwide domestic observation effort in Burma's history. The UK remained an important supporter of the peace process, which saw substantive progress when the government and eight of the 16 main ethnic armed groups signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in October. However, fighting continued in Kokang and other parts of Shan and Kachin States, with the associated lack of humanitarian access, targeting of civilians, and acts of sexual violence. The UK continued to press for improvements to the treatment of the Rohingya community, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. FCO Minister for Asia Pacific, Hugo Swire, visited Rakhine for the second time in July. While there was no repeat of the violence of 2012, there was no improvement in the situation for the Rohingya in 2015. The ongoing dispute over citizenship rights and desperate living conditions led to an increase in the number of Rohingya leaving Burma by boat for other countries, causing a regional refugee crisis in May and June. April 2016 should see the historic transfer of power to a more democratic and civilian government. Constitutionally the military will, however, retain control of the key Ministries of Defence, Borders and Home Affairs, controlling the police, paramilitary groups and security forces, as well as the powerful General Administration Department. The incoming NLD government will face many serious challenges, not least in the field of human rights. Our policy will be to support and encourage the incoming administration across the whole human rights agenda. In particular, we will support a long- term sustainable plan to address the political and development issues in Rakhine and the plight of the Rohingya. We will also seek to build on the gains made in the peace process in 2015, encouraging the other armed groups to engage, and for all parties to work towards a political dialogue. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Afghanistan Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Afghanistan, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234efb2b.html [accessed 24 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 overall human rights picture in 2015 remained poor. The insurgency continues to be the biggest threat to the human rights of all people in Afghanistan. A notable example was the 15-day occupation of Kunduz by Taliban forces in October. A report from the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights presented findings of arbitrary killings, abductions, and violence, including threats and widespread criminality, and the use of child fighters. The ongoing insurgency affected access to education, health, and freedom of movement. Taliban and Daesh affiliates actively targeted media outlets, schools, and polio vaccine workers. Daesh affiliates were reportedly responsible for sectarian attacks, including the beheading of seven Hazara in Zabul in November. The UN reported on allegations of extra-judicial killings by the Afghan national and local police in a number of provinces, including Kandahar, Farah, and Herat. The report also noted a 14% reduction in the use of torture and ill-treatment. Against the background of insurgency and instability, the Afghan government made significant human rights commitments. On 5 September, through the Self Reliance for Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF), the Afghan government committed to improve women's access to justice; to increase their participation in government; and to prepare and implement laws on anti-harassment and the elimination of violence. On 30 June, Afghanistan launched the National Action Plan (NAP) for Women, Peace and Security. The government also worked to improve the number of women in government by appointing four female cabinet ministers, the first female Supreme Court Judge, and female Provincial Governors in Daikundi and Ghor provinces. Documented cases of violence against women have risen, with 5,132 cases reported to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) including 241 murders. Strongly-held conservative values contributed to slow progress, as illustrated by the tragic murder of Farkhunda Malikzada, who was beaten to death by a mob in Kabul on 19 March following false accusations that she burnt a copy of the Qur'an. Four death sentences were handed down for those involved, which were later reduced to prison sentences ranging from 10-20 years. In December, the UK, together with the UN Population Fund and the Ministry of Public Health, launched support for response services for women survivors of violence. This complements existing Afghan programmes on women's economic empowerment, education, security, and political participation. Following recommendations by the Special Electoral Reform Commission in December, we will continue to press for electoral reform to enable postponed parliamentary elections to take place. In 2016, we will encourage the Afghan government to deliver commitments made in the NAP and SMAF, including a new priority programme for women's economic empowerment. We will continue to take action to support the EU+ strategy for human rights defenders (HRDs) to ensure that HRDs' rights are protected by state and non-state actors. We will also provide financial support to the work of the AIHRC. The Brussels Conference in October will allow the Afghan government to set out progress made in delivering its reform plans, and for the international community to set out the future size and scope of its support. Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Bahrain Publisher United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Publication Date 21 April 2016 Cite as United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 - Bahrain, 21 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57234efb6.html [accessed 24 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. Overall, there was progress on human rights in Bahrain throughout 2015, although challenges remain. The government of Bahrain continued to take steps to implement its human rights and political reform agenda. The government also has a programme of socio-economic reform to promote and contribute to greater social inclusivity and cohesion across all communities. The UK's package of technical assistance to support reform in Bahrain began in 2012. Much of it has focused on building effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law and police and justice reform, in line with the recommendations in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) and UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR). This co- operation will continue in 2016. Beneficiaries of the UK's support include independent human rights and oversight institutions such as the National Institution of Human Rights (NIHR), Ministry of Interior Ombudsman, Prisoners' and Detainees' Rights Commission (PDRC) and Special Investigations Unit (SIU), who provide independent oversight of police behaviour and detention standards, and were established as a result of BICI recommendations. Whilst allegations of ill-treatment in detention continue, confidence in these organisations is increasing, and they are working more effectively. The NIHR's 2014 Annual Report, published in December 2015, states that it registered 88 complaints. Of these, 36 were upheld. The Ombudsman's Annual Report, published in June, includes figures which indicate a 375% increase in the Ombudsman's activity over the previous year. Although there has been no official report into the 10 March Jau Prison riots, we welcome the Ombudsman's pivotal role in investigating the causes of the riots, the authorities' response, and the aftermath (his having received 196 requests for assistance from detainees' relatives). The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has increasingly investigated complaints of allegations of torture or ill-treatment. 70 police officers have been charged with mistreatment and/or torture/ assault. In some cases, the SIU appealed lenient sentences given to police officers, including the two found guilty in the case against Fadel Abbas (reported in the BICI). There are continued concerns regarding freedom of speech and expression and peaceful assembly. Deprivation of nationality is also an area of concern, and Bahrain is not a signatory to either the 1954 or 1961 UN Conventions on Statelessness. 206 Bahraini citizens had their nationality revoked, with most of these individuals convicted of terrorism- related crimes. Despite a de facto moratorium on the death penalty, 14 people (including three in absentia) have been sentenced to death by the Bahraini courts for their roles in the death of law enforcement personnel. Five of these convictions have been confirmed by the Supreme Court. We continue to raise our concerns over the death penalty with the Bahraini government. FCO Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, hosted the sixth UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group on 25 November, which focused on reform and the UK's technical assistance. Following its mid-term review in 2015, Bahrain will also undergo its third UPR process in 2017. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 29 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: The Southern Gas Corridor made bringing of Caspian gas to Europe a reality, Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said at the 516th plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels. The speech of Maros Sefcovic is published on the Eujropean Commission's official website. Sefcovic stressed that the Southern Gas Corridor is one of the biggest construction projects of our time, aimed to bring Caspian, Central Asian and Middle Eastern gas resources to the European markets. "For years bringing Caspian gas to European markets was merely a subject for discussions and debate. Today it is a reality with contracts in place for more than $10 billion and concrete construction work ongoing in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey," Sefcovic said adding that the European Commission expects to start receiving this gas by 2020. Today the Southern Gas Corridor is among the European Commission's priority energy projects, which aims at the diversification of the EU gas supply sources and routes. The project envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe through Georgia and Turkey. Halloween is nearly here. Find out when Trick-or-Treat is happening in Martinsville. The leaves are changing, the evenings are getting cooler and excitement is building as Halloween draws closer. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Apr. 29 By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend: Turkmenistan and Switzerland have discussed the cooperation in political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, said the message from Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry. The discussions were held during the meeting with the Swiss ambassador to Turkmenistan Philip Stadler. Noting the positive dynamics in the development of political relations, the sides expressed commitment to the further development of cooperation. Stadler said that Swiss companies are interested in developing the relations in the sphere of agriculture and food industry. The parties also emphasized the necessity of continuing the cooperation in the rational use of water resources. The fuel and energy sphere, transportation and communication, investment making and tourism are considered the promising areas of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Switzerland. Turkmenistan is interested in partnership with Switzerland in such spheres as mechanical engineering, chemical, processing and food industry, pharmaceutical and biochemical production. The visit of Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Switzerland in October of 2012 gave an impetus to the bilateral relations. Saturday is officially Independent Bookstore Day, but Texas Star Trading Co. is making a whole weekend of it with book discounts, free gifts and multiple book signings. From 4:30-5:30 p.m. Friday, Glen Sample Ely will be at the store, located at 174 Cypress St., signing copies of his book "The Texas Frontier and the Butterfield Overland Mail, 1858-1861." The book was published earlier this year by the University of Oklahoma Press. Glynn Ray will sign copies of his book, "The Man Who Loved North Wind," from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. It's an action-packed novel set in New Mexico in the 1930s. Then from 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Karen Witemeyer will be signing copies of her Christian historical romance novels. Her latest titles are "With This Ring" and "Brides of Texas." The celebration concludes with Glenn Dromgoole, co-owner of the store, signing copies of his books. His newest release is "More Civility, Please." If you're unable to make it to the book signings, call 325-672-9696 in advance and they'll save a book for you. Jonathan Wood didn't have much choice when asked to speak on behalf of his Abilene classmates Friday night at the graduation ceremony for Texas State Technical College-West Texas. He was nominated for the honor by a landslide. "Every single instructor he's had independently nominated him," said Miranda Thomas, who teaches biology in the allied health program at the Abilene campus of TSTC. A joint ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the Abilene Civic Center for students graduating from the four West Texas campuses of TSTC. Speakers representing the other campuses will be: Breckenridge Joseph Thornton, welding technology Brownwood Joshua Barron, software and business management accounting More than 140 students from the four campuses will pick up their diploma for an associate degree in one of a number of programs offered at the two-year college. For Wood, that will be a paramedic degree. He already has an emergency medical technician certification and has been working for the North Runnels Hospital in Winters. He will continue in the job after graduation, only with a higher certification. "It's nice having a job already," Wood said, "and not have to worry about it." His new position will require him to work two 24-hour shifts instead of the one he currently works. In addition, he will be able to do more with patients, such as administer medications, insert breathing tubes and perform an electrocardiogram. Wood, 27, got into emergency medicine somewhat by accident no pun intended. After graduating from Water Valley High School in 2007, he was waiting tables and tending bar in a Midland restaurant when his girlfriend's brother told him about the emergency medical training he was getting at Midland College. It sounded intriguing, so Wood signed up, too. "It was entirely a whim," he said. But after just a couple of days, Wood was hooked on emergency medicine and went through the EMT program, finishing in 2009. Now married, Wood and his wife live in Merkel, which is an in-between location for her job as a nurse at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater and his job in Winters. Just as it didn't take Wood long to realize he wanted to upgrade from EMT to paramedic, he already is looking at the future. "I'm always thinking I have to have a goal," he said. The next step will be gaining a critical care certification that will allow him to transport patients to higher-level trauma centers and medical facilities. And, he has his eye on someday providing critical care to patients on medical aircraft. The chairman of the Emergency Medical Services Department at TSTC in Abilene, Ronnie Pitts, had to put in a brag for his prized student. Wood is graduating with a 3.95 grade-point average, with only an 89.3 grade on one of Pitts' tests keeping him from a perfect 4.0 GPA. "I got my first 'B' in pharmacology," Wood said, but is pleased with his overall performance. Wood may have his eye on greater things in the future, but for now, both eyes are on Friday night, when he will deliver a speech in front of peers, faculty, spouses, and parents. He may be cool under the pressure of an emergency medical situation, but giving a speech is something entirely different. "Hopefully," he said, "I won't embarrass myself too much." Jorja Hubbard said the only thing she's concerned about when going to the restroom is going to the restroom in safety and quiet. But for some, allowing Hubbard, who is transgender, to make a choice about which restroom she uses is a source of controversy. More than 900,000 people, for example, have signed a petition by the American Family Association calling for supporters to boycott Target, which recently stated that it "welcome(s) transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity." That's raised the ire of opponents, including Tim Wildmon, AFA president, who said in a statement that the store's policy is "exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims." The statement by Wildmon issued April 21 maintains that Target's decision opens the door to a man saying he "feels like a woman today," giving predators leave to enter the women's restroom, "even if young girls or women are already in there." "Clearly, Target's new policy poses a danger to wives and daughters," Wildmon wrote, the organization suggesting that the retailer keep separate facilities for men and women but offer a single-occupancy, unisex bathroom option for transgender customers and others who prefer privacy. For Hubbard, the row is "a big bunch of to-do about nothing as it relates to the motives of the truly transgender world," steeped in opinions based on misinformation and fear. Hubbard, a Haskell resident, said she struggled for years before choosing to live her life "true, honestly and open." "My life is good now that I have revealed my truth to the world," she said, noting that Haskell residents generally have been accepting, or at least tolerant. "I am not ashamed of it, I don't hide it, and I'm the happiest I've ever been," Hubbard said. Hubbard she applauded businesses who were choosing make gender-neutral bathrooms openly available, noting that those who intended to boycott Target soon might find themselves having to refuse to use "a whole litany of businesses that are transgender-friendly," including providers of air travel, car dealers and banking services. "It would just be nice to be able to go to the bathroom and take care of business and not worry," she said, noting that in the "true transgender world," reiterating the desire for choice was simply about using one's chosen restroom in peace, not promulgating perversion. "There's nothing perverted about it," she said. "That is our life, that's how we identify ourselves." Brandon Beck, chair of the board of directors of the Transgender Education Network of Texas, echoed those thoughts, saying that Target was a "forward-thinking company" that made a decision in favor of human rights. "We, as transgender people, have been using the restroom of our identity for as long as there have been gendered restrooms, with no known cases of trans people perpetrating crimes but many thousands of cases of violence being perpetrated against trans people," Beck said. "We want to be safe and treated with human dignity." Transgender people do not advocate sex crimes, he said, but often are victims of such crimes at a rate "much higher than the rates for cisgender people" defined as people whose self-identity conforms with the gender that corresponds to their biological sex. "We want to be safe in restrooms, too, and we thank Target for taking steps to make us feel human and more safe in a traditionally unsafe space," Beck said. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 17 states have considered legislation this year restricting access to multiuser restrooms, locker rooms and "other sex-segregated facilities on the basis of a definition of sex or gender consistent with sex assigned at birth or 'biological sex.'" Only one state North Carolina has enacted this type of legislation, though a bill in South Dakota passed in both chambers but was vetoed by the governor. Texas, among a number of other states, considered a so-called bathroom bill in 2015 that was not enacted. Tehran, Iran, April 29 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: The Iranian Mobin Petrochemical Co. is in talks with Germany's Siemens and Linde for cooperation, the company's CEO Jamshid Sabzkar said. Linde is willing to participate in development projects and invest in the Iranian petrochemical industry, he told IRNA news agency April 29. "Linde is even willing to buy our company's products," he said. Commenting on the Iranian petrochemical business after the removal of sanctions, he said the export of the products has increased after Iran's nuclear deal was put into action. Iranian oil officials have already said German companies have shown great interest in Iran's petrochemical projects, estimating that the German sides are likely to bring as much as 12 billion fund upon arrival. Iran plans to increase petrochemical output from 60 to 180 million tons per year. To do so, the country needs $70 billion investment, much of which should be procured from foreign sources. (Via GoSanAngelo.com) About 88 percent of officers recently surveyed by a state organization indicated morale in the San Angelo Police Department is not high and the administrative team consisting of Chief Tim Vasquez and three assistant chiefs doesn't appreciate input. However, a high number of respondents also indicated they enjoy their current assignments and would be content to finish up their careers at the SAPD. The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas conducted the survey on behalf of two labor organizations with local members: San Angelo Coalition of Police, which is a CLEAT affiliate, and the San Angelo Police Officers Association, which is associated with the Texas Municipal Police Association. The survey was sent to 149 sworn officers on April 20. Of those, 123 or 82.5 percent responded, according to CLEAT. The city's Human Resources Department said there are 150 sworn officers, four part-time sworn officers and 14 recruits on the payroll for the SAPD. Vasquez is running for re-election in the May 7 elections. He is challenged by Frank Carter, Jeff Davis and Mike Hernandez. Early voting started Monday. Chief Vasquez, who had not received an official copy of the survey results Thursday, was not happy with CLEAT. "I hate to see state CLEAT involving our officers in this way," he said. "It's sad officers are put in the middle." He said that is one reason he never asks SAPD officers to endorse him. "Even our San Angelo Police Association doesn't endorse anybody in the police chief race," he said, adding that San Angelo officers would participate in the election process. "Voting and getting involved in ugly politics are two very different things." Vasquez also contested the survey's numbers. "This is not a true sampling," he said. "It was done on Survey Monkey, and anybody could have voted multiple times." John Moritz, spokesman for CLEAT, said the survey was conducted in a professional manner and there are safeguards in place that would prevent that. "The results paint what we believe is really an accurate picture of what's going on inside the police department." Moritz added that one of the questions on the survey asked whether officers believe the chief values employee input. The overwhelming response was that he doesn't, and his reaction to the survey result "bears that out," Moritz said. According to the survey results, nearly 75 percent of officers believe Vasquez does not value their input. Most officers, however, believe their own direct supervisors value their input, the survey showed. The assistant chiefs also were rated on that topic. According to the survey, 75.42 percent felt Assistant Chief Kevin Hollway didn't value their input, 34 percent felt that way about Assistant Chief Robert Martinez, and 35 percent felt that way about Assistant Chief Jeff Fant. "To be an effective chief you have to put people in place that complement you," Vasquez said in an interview with Standard-Times earlier this month. "Each of them should be able to do things so that I can focus on chief stuff." According to the SAPD website, Martinez oversees investigations, Hollway is in charge of field operations, and Fant is in charge of administration including computing, statistics and other data. Vasquez questioned the timing of the survey, conducted after CLEAT endorsed Frank Carter in the San Angelo police chief race and the results released in the midst of early voting. "This is not valid. It was a politically motivated survey," Vasquez said. "Why didn't they give me a copy and share the results with me before releasing it to the media? I'm more than ready to entertain a valid survey after I'm re-elected so we can tackle some of the issues brought up." Moritz said CLEAT conducts such surveys periodically and generally at the request of local members. It is one of the many services the organization provides its membership. To add to his argument, Vasquez pointed out that Abilene recently conducted a similar survey, but it was handled in a markedly different manner. The Abilene Police Officers Association worked with CLEAT to conduct a workplace satisfaction survey at the Abilene Police Department in March. Out of 185 sworn officers then working at the department, 163 took the survey, said Abilene Chief Stan Standridge, who was appointed to the position. Similar to the San Angelo survey, the Abilene one had questions related to pay and benefits, equipment and staffing levels, communication, supervision and morale among other things, said Detective Adam Becker, president of APOA. He said the organization decided to work through CLEAT because they do offer such assistance to their members and because they wanted to have an independent third party involved to preserve the integrity of the process. CLEAT offered them a choice between electronic and paper options, and APAO decided to go the paper route. "We felt that was the best way to maintain the integrity of the survey," Becker said. "We had people come in person and mark their name off a (department) list (which stayed with the CLEAT representative) to get a survey, fill out the survey in person and on paper, and turn in the survey to the CLEAT rep." The Abilene police administration was involved both in the pre- and post-survey stages. APOA and CLEAT put together the questions and statements for the survey, then shared the draft with police administration and the Abilene city manager for their input. As a result of the feedback, questions were modified, deleted and added. When the results came back, the association, police administration and the city manager again visited about the issues highlighted by the survey. Standridge said police administration meets with APOA about quarterly, usually at the request of the association. According to the SAPD survey, 78 percent of the respondents do not have confidence in the Chief of Police's ability to lead the department into the future. The title was used rather than an individual's name for this question. Vasquez said he feels good about the race and about his chances. However, if he were to lose, he and his assistant chiefs would return to their previous ranks. For Vasquez, that would be sergeant. "But the reality is all of us would retire," he said. "I could seek an appointed chief position elsewhere because I would be qualified for it, but I want to stay home." It's fair to ask why are we having problems again with game rooms? Letters have been sent to nine Abilene game room locations, ordering them to shut down by May 1 Sunday. There are concerns, the letter states, of 'illegal gambling' at these locations. Also, the letter states that Abilene police have had increased calls for services to these locations. There have been two recent holdups at these sites. What 'illegal gambling' has been occurring was not clearly defined, but it could be cash payouts, which is illegal. At gaming rooms, winners earn cheap prizes or perhaps gift cards. Casino-type gambling not for charity is outlawed in Texas. Gambling is what many people do. In Texas, we bet in office pools, horse races, bingo and raffles, or which numbers will be picked in a lottery. We do 'gamble' for charity, paying for play money to spend at 'casinos' set up at fundraising events. People have gambled, are gambling and will gamble. The chance to spend a little to win a lot is too appealing. At least two problems could arise. One is overspending to win; the other is the gaming operation trying too hard to make sure you don't win, at least in the long run. Gambling and organized crime have long been associated. Texas has restricted that in part by limiting gambling. The problem here is that game rooms have been shut down before. In November 2007, nine game rooms in Jones and Taylor counties were targeted and 29 arrests were made. Eight-liner machines so called because there are eight ways to win on a given play were seized. End of story, right? No. So, why are these operations back? There seems to be a pattern that legal game rooms eventually go bad as new ways to skirt the law are concocted. Why go through this process again and again? The investigation continues into local game rooms law enforcement wants to find out who is behind these operations. Perhaps this time, the weed can be pulled out by its root and not grow back again. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 29 By Emil Ilgar - Trend: The run-off election for the parliament kicked off in Iran Apr. 29. As many as 136 nominees are running for 68 seats in Iran's 290-seat parliament, IRNA reported. The candidates are competing to secure seats for 55 constituencies in which no candidate achieved a clear majority during the February general elections. About 17 million voters are eligible to vote in the run-off election across the country. There will be no run-off vote in the capital, Tehran, as the candidates close to President Hassan Rouhani gained all the 30 seats in February. Iran says it will take "every lawful measure" against a court ruling that authorizes the seizure of around $2 billion of its frozen assets in the United States. On Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, saying Tehran reserves the right to take countermeasures in response to the decision made by the US Supreme Court, Press TV reported April 28. On April 20, the court ruled that the money had to be turned over to the American families of the victims of a 1983 bombing in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and other attacks blamed on Iran. The Islamic Republic has denied any role in the attacks. The money confiscated through the verdict belongs to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI). The assets have been blocked under US sanctions. "The Islamic Republic of Iran holds the United States government responsible for this outrageous robbery, disguised under a court order, and is determined to take every lawful measure to restore the stolen property and the interest accrued to it from the date it was blocked by the United States," wrote the top Iranian diplomat. "The entire court proceedings, which led to the recent ruling, has been fake and phony and a travesty of justice in every sense of law, jurisdiction, merit, fact, and process. This clearly constitutes an international wrongful act and entails international responsibility for the government of the United States, for which it will be held accountable," he asserted. Zarif further urged the UN chief to press Washington to release all frozen Iranian assets in US banks in line with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the six global powers in Vienna in July 2015. Under the agreement, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the UN Security Council and the US would be lifted. Iran has, in return, put some limitations on its nuclear activities. Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 27 By Farhad Daneshvar, Dalga Khatinoglu - Trend: Iran's revenue from tourism over the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 20) amounted to $8 billion, an Iranian vice-president told Trend. Iranian Vice-President and the head of the Cultural Heritage Organization Massoud Soltanifar said April 26 that 5.5 million foreign tourists visited the country over the last Iranian calendar year. Soltanifar is in Baku to attend the 7th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations which kicked off Apr.25. According to the vice-president, the country's cultural, historical, natural and religious sites are places of interest for tourists visiting Iran. "Iran enjoys rich cultural heritage and beautiful nature with a wide range of tourist attractions, including 19 UNESCO-registered sites, as well as deserts and ski resorts," Soltanifar said. Soltanifar further termed a group of visitors as "health tourists" which refers to those people who arrive in Iran for medical tourism. Annually a large number of patients from neighboring countries in particular Iraq and Azerbaijan arrive in Iran to visit doctors and use the country's medical services. Iran plans to lure 20 million tourists per year aimed at generating $30 billion in revenue by 2025, Soltanifar added. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has suggested that Iran's international tourism receipts in 2013 amounted to $1.294 million. Meanwhile, the World Bank reported that 4.96 million tourists arrived in Iran in 2014. The World Bank statistics indicate 1.175 billion inbound tourists across the globe in 2014 with an expenditure of $1.426 trillion. A villager looks at the skeleton of a water buffalo that succumbed to the drought in Siem Pang district in northeastern Cambodia's Stung Treng province, April 23, 2016. A severe drought in some parts of Cambodia has killed tons of fish and hundreds of other animals and put villagers at risk of not having enough water to drink, officials said. Nearly all of the countrys 24 provinces and the special administrative area of Phnom Penh have experienced some level of drought since earlier this year, but a few provinces have faced severe water shortages. Authorities and experts in central Kampong Thom province said they are taking measures to prevent fish from dying in the Chhmar River in Staung district due to excessively hot weather. The temperature there, which has reached as high as 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit), has caused water temperatures to rise and areas of the protected river to dry up, killing about 60 tons of fish since April 22, said Pen Vanrith, director of the provincial Fishery Department. Although the number of dead fish dropped this week, authorities are now concentrating their efforts on preventing further fish deaths in the river, which covers an area of 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres), he said. We have put plants in the river to reduce the heat and pumped in water to make sure the current has movement, he told RFAs Khmer service. The water levels are at 0.15 to 0.2 meters (six to eight inches), but they should be around 0.5 meters (20 inches), The Phnom Penh Post reported, citing Nao Thuok, secretary-general of the Ministry of Agriculture. This is the third consecutive year that excessive heat has killed off the rivers fish, said Pen Vanrith, adding that villagers can safely consume the dying fish because they are not contaminated. Authorities are monitoring the situation, said provincial spokesman Kong Vimean, who blamed the extremely hot weather on climate change. We are searching for nearby water resources so we can pump water into the river to supply oxygen to the fish, he said. Authorities are also seeking alternative ways to rescue the fish by digging tunnels to bring water into the river, he said. Northern provinces affected Monkey carcasses lie in a forest area dried out by the drought in the Rohal Sous fishing community in Battambang district's Ek Phnom district, April 28, 2016. Photo courtesy of Rohal Sous fishing community Authorities in northeastern Cambodias Stung Treng province are investigating the deaths of at least 200 cows and water buffaloes in the area from the drought, and helping villagers who face water shortages by digging new wells and transporting water, said provincial spokesman Men Kong. We will have an urgent meeting to seek measures to provide water to the villagers, [and] animal experts will look at the reasons why the cows and water buffaloes have died, he said. Authorities will first help villagers in Siem Bouk, Siem Pang and Thala Barivatthe three districts hit the hardest by the drought, he said. Temperatures in the province have been in the mid- to upper 90s. Villager Chea Phaneth said the livestock deaths due to the drought have seriously affected villagers. Area residents did not receive information about the drought, so they didnt create a plan to reserve water in advance, he said. As a result, children have had to walk far into the forest to get grass for their families cows and buffaloes. We released the buffaloes into the woods to find grass, but they died, Chea Phaneth said. At least 30 monkeys have died since Thursday after a flooded forest area dried up in northwestern Cambodias Battambang province, where temperatures have been in the upper 90s, said Hor Sam Ath, deputy of the Rohal Sous fishing community. More monkeys will die if there is no rain within a week, he said. Villagers in the provinces Ek Phnom district have also discovered the carcasses of many birds and reptiles that have died from the heat. Cambodia is at the end of its dry season, which runs from October through April. The wet season, which begins in May, usually brings 75 percent of the countrys annual rainfall. Reported by Sokheng Saut and Hum Hour for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Rescue teams search for the bodies of miners killed in a landslide in a jade mining area in Hpakant, northern Myanmar's Kachin state, Nov. 22, 2015. Myanmars natural resources minister on Friday began an inspection tour of the Hpakant jade mines and Mohnyin gold mines in Kachin state, where local residents are concerned about the environmental damage and deadly accidents their operations have caused, a state government official said. Ohn Win, head of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, is conducting the inspection through May 3 in response to a demand by civil society organizations in northern Myanmars Kachin state in late March that the new government form a commission to inspect jade mines that had violated industry regulations. H La Aung, minister of natural resources and the environment in Kachin state, said Ohn Win will meet with the states chief minister and other members of the government on Saturday and travel to the town of Mohnyin on Sunday. During the tour, members of the Kachin state government will discuss the problem of waste soil produced by mining activities and other environmental issues concerning the jade mines in Hpakant township with Ohn Win, he said. Mining and resource extraction in mineral-rich Kachinwhich holds jade, amber, gold, copper, iron ore and gemshave caused consternation among local communities affected by environmental fallout and other dangers from the activities. Deadly landslides Gold mining in Mohnyin township has caused environmental damage because of the hazardous toxins used in the extraction process, while jade mining companies in Hpakant have improperly dumped small mountains of waste soil that have led to deadly landslides. Last November, a 200-foot pile of dirt and debris from mining activities collapsed in the township, engulfing huts in an encampment of itinerant jade scavengers and their families and killing more than 100 people. In January, at least five landslides occurred at refuse sites around jade mines in the township, leaving six dead and dozens trapped beneath rubble. Local residents worry that heavy rains during the upcoming June-October monsoon season could cause additional landslides and endanger the lives of those who live nearby. Hpakant, which lies 651 kilometers (404 miles) north of Myanmars capital Naypyidaw, is the center of the countrys jade mining industry and produces some of the highest-quality jade in the world, much of which is exported or smuggled to neighboring China, where demand for the precious stone is high. State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party came to power at the beginning of April, has called for increased safety measures and government oversight of the industry. Reported by Wai Mar Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Villagers in a remote part of northwestern Chinas troubled Xinjiang region are being forced by local authorities to spy on their neighbors, watching constantly for behavior deemed suspicious or opposed to Beijings rule over the mostly Muslim Uyghur region, sources say. In a policy put in place almost two years ago, residents of Kizilsu village in Peyziwat (in Chinese, Jiashi) county in the Kashgar (Kashi) prefecture must now sign a Joint Responsibility Contract that threatens collective punishment for villagers found not in compliance with 30 specific regulations, sources said. The contract, issued by the village office of the ruling Chinese Communist Party and the village government, divides residents into specified groups responsible for watching for prohibited activities such as unusual travel to or from the area, the teaching or promotion of Islam, and the spread of politically sensitive information to outside contacts. Residents must also report fellow villagers who sell land or make unusual purchases, refuse to watch or read official news media, or suddenly quit smoking or drinking alcohol, sources said. The new policy of mutual surveillanceestablished in August 2014 and recently confirmed by RFAs Uyghur Serviceis being carried out with great success, a deputy party secretary for the village told RFA. [Moreover], the few who have failed to uphold it have been punished according to the law, the official said before hanging up the phone on learning that he was speaking to RFA. 'Well-maintained stability' Efforts are frequently made by investigators at both the village and county level to ensure the policy is properly enforced, an employee at a local state-owned firm said, adding, social stability is now being very well maintained in the village. All residents know they must strictly observe these regulations, another source said. No one is left in our village now who wears religious dress, she added. By forcing Uyghur villagers to spy on each other, policies of the kind in force in Kizilsu appear aimed at creating a class of local traitors who will turn others in to the police for the sake of promised government rewards, Hamut Gokturkformer general secretary of the Istanbul-based East Turkestan Foundationsaid. Similarly, giving up smoking and drinking, behaviors discouraged by Islamic tradition, is welcomed all over the world, he said. But the Chinese government now calls this a suspicious act, he said. Heavy-handed rule Rights groups accuse Chinese authorities of heavy-handed rule in Xinjiang, including violent police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people. China regularly vows to crack down on what it calls the three evils of terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism in Xinjiang. But experts outside China say Beijing has exaggerated the threat from Uyghur separatists, and that domestic policies are responsible for an upsurge in violence that has left hundreds dead since 2012. Reported and translated by Kurban Niyaz for RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Richard Finney. Vietnams top environment official offered an apology on Friday for his governments confused handling of a mass fish kill off that has killed tons of fish across a wide swath of the countrys central coast. Hanois official media quoted Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tran Hong Ha as saying I sympathize with people in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue (provinces) seriously affected by the environment pollution disaster. Even though ministries and science agencies have made efforts to deal with this disaster, they are still confused, unscientific and slow in reaction, not meeting the expectations of the people and public, he added. As the head of the ministry, I would like to take responsibility for this issue. Tonnes of fish have washed ashore in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces along a 200-kilometer (120-mile) stretch of the central coast of Vietnam. The dead fish washing up on beaches along the country's central coast include rare species that live far offshore in deep water. Tran told reporters that he had talked to the managers of the Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa Plastics Corporation. A mile-long waste water pipeline that runs from that firms multi-million-dollar steel plant in the Vung Ang Industrial Zone is believed to be the source of industrial effluent that killed the fish. According to Vietnams law, the waste pipeline that is being installed unexposed is not allowed. We have requested monitoring measures for this system, said the minister. According to activists posting on Facebook, hundreds of people in Quang Binh province brought dead fish to national highway 1A and erected makeshift tents to block the highway to protest Formosa Plastics. Some in the crowd shouted Give us our sea back! and Give us the fish and shrimp back. Trans statement indicated Vietnam was backing away from earlier assertions that some form of red tide had caused the fish to die, threatening livelihoods and food supplies. Red tide ruled out One fisherman told RFAs Vietnamese Service he did not believe the red tide explanation. In my experience as a fisherman for more than 30 years, Ive never seen fish die from red tide or toxins, said the fisherman, who asked not to be identified. Even when theres a huge storm and huge waves, it never causes fish to die and wash up on nearby beaches. But when Ive gone diving, Ive seen a huge flow of waste water from the Formosa Plastics Corporation factory, the fisherman added. Professor Le Huy Ba, former director of the Institute for Environment, Science, Technology and Management, at the Institute of Industry in Ho Chi Minh City told RFA in an interview that red tide can be ruled out. Red tide normally happens at the end of summer, not now. We dont see any change in the sea color, a sign of red tide, he said. The toxins are chemicals or metals including chromium, nickel, mercury or copper. They must come from industry waste, added Le. We see that fish deaths at the 30- to 40-meter (98- to 131-foot) depth of the sea and this is definitely not due to red tide, but chemicals and metals from massive waste that has very high density, he said. Nguyen Viet Thang, president of the Vietnam Fishery Association, told RFA his group was pressing the government to find the cause of the fish deaths, take steps to enable fisherman to return to work, and extend food aid to people who cant catch or eat fish or sell seafood for a living. We are not satisfied with their answers and in terms of science, it is not satisfactory. They used the reason of red tide just for the sake of having something to blame, he said. We need to focus on the obvious phenomena because in some places metal and chromium pollution have been identified, Thang added. At the moment there are dead fish in the sea, in cultivated farms and it is not easy to change the water. We therefore ask the government to provide support to fishermen in the area, he said. They first of all need rice because they cant work at the moment, Thang said, suggesting that each fisherman and each member of his family receive 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of rice to tide them over during the crisis. This support should last during the time government is doing the investigation and finding the solution to restoring production, he added. Reported by Cat Linh and Viet Ha for RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Paul Eckert. 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 of Ukraine's armed forces 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 Baku, Azerbaijan, April 29 By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend: Armenia's threats of using nuclear weapons can create legal and political problems only for the country itself, said Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu, vice chairman of the Turkish analytical center Strategic Outlook. "This threat is excessive," Oztarsu, who is also an expert on the South Caucasus, told Trend April 29. "If Armenia has nuclear weapons, the international organizations must deal with this issue to clarify the period of obtaining nuclear weapons, the way of weapon production and who helped the country." The expert added that if Armenia means the outdated Metsamor nuclear power plant, so much the worse for the country itself. Oztarsu stressed that it seems that the Armenian leadership is deliberately leading the country to destruction. "In any case, it is not worth believing in this statement," he said. "The only thing is that the threat of nuclear weapons can create problems for Armenia itself. Ankara and Baku must deal with the legal position of this statement." He added that the Metsamor nuclear power plant poses a threat to security and this issue must be urgently considered. "The recent victory of the Azerbaijani army greatly undermined the image of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and his followers," Oztarsu said, adding that this may contribute to a coup d'etat and the beginning of the big political games in Armenia." "By making a statement recently that Armenia refuses from peace negotiations, President Sargsyan tried to restore his image," the expert said, adding that if he retreats or negotiates, this will mean his political death. Hrant Bagratyan, Armenian MP, former prime minister, said at a press-conference that Armenia has nuclear weapons. While explaining this statement for journalists, Bagratyan said that Armenia has an opportunity to create nuclear weapons, adding that Armenia has such weapons. The Metsamor nuclear power plant was built in 1970. It was closed after the devastating earthquake in Spitak in 1988. But despite the international protests, the power plant's operation was resumed in 1995. Moreover, the second reactor was launched there. According to the ecologists and scholars all over the region, seismic activity of this area turns operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant in an extremely dangerous enterprise, even if a new type of reactor is built. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has made an unannounced visit to Baghdad as well as Iraq's Kurdish autonomous region for talks on the country's political crisis and the fight against the extremist Islamic State (IS) group. Biden met in Baghdad on April 28 with Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, parliament speaker Salim al-Jaburi, and other officials. Biden said the U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi forces are making "real progress" against IS fighters. He said his meeting with Abadi focused on planning operations for retaking the northern city of Mosul, which was captured by IS forces in 2015. "The vice president has arrived in Iraq for meetings with Iraqi leadership focused on encouraging Iraqi national unity and continued momentum in the fight against ISIL," a Biden spokesman said, using another acronym for Islamic State. The White House did not say what Biden plans to do in Irbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdish region, where he flew after Baghdad. Iraq has been embroiled in a political dispute in recent months over the formation of a new government made up of technocrats and the issue has led to a series of pro-reform protests involving thousands of demonstrators. IS forces still control parts of northern and western Iraq. Based on reporting by AP and dpa Local officials in Russia's North Caucasus region of Daghestan say a retired police chief from the area has been murdered. The regional Investigative Committee said on April 29 that unknown attackers shot the former chief of police in Daghestan's Shamil District overnight. The slain officer, whose name was not released, retired in 2015. Sources in Daghestan's Interior Ministry say "the murder was linked to the former police officer's professional activities in the past." Investigations have been launched into the killing. A search is under way to locate the attackers. Daghestan has become the epicenter of violence by militants seeking to establish an Islamic state in the North Caucasus. Police and government officials are regularly targeted. Based on reporting by RIA, TASS and Interfax What do Russian warplanes buzzing Western naval vessels, nationalists attacking a high school history event, and an assault on opposition leader Aleksei Navalny all have in common? Well, they all illustrate something that is at the heart of the Kremlin's foreign and domestic policy: the politics of bullying and intimidation. Yesterday, Russian nationalists attacked an awards ceremony for high school students organized by the human rights group Memorial -- throwing eggs at participants and spraying them with zelyonka, a green antiseptic liquid that leaves a deep stain. Also yesterday, two men attacked opposition leader Aleksei Navalny at the entrance of his Anticorruption Foundation, splashing him with a dark blue chemical liquid. These incidents are the domestic equivalent of Russian warplanes making provocative maneuvers -- as well as of the Kremlin's frequent nuclear threats. And they are also consistent with yesterday's incident in which Vira Savchenko, the sister of kidnapped Ukrainian military pilot Nadia Savchenko, was temporarily prevented from leaving Russia. As Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan wrote in their book Red Web, "The Putin system is all about intimidation -- more often than actual coercion -- as an instrument of control." Likewise, Stephen Blank of the American Foreign Policy Council wrote recently that the Kremlin believes this behavior illustrates the regime's "machismo and virility." But in reality, it illustrates the regime's weakness and its impotence. At home, it is the weapon of a kleptocratic regime that fears its days are numbered. And abroad, it is the weapon of a declining power that is desperate to prove its relevance. Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page. Iran has asked the United Nations to intervene to prevent the United States from diverting $2 billion in frozen funds to victims of terrorism under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on April 28, asking him to convince the United States to stop what he said would be a violation of state immunity. Ban should use his "good offices" to persuade the United States to "adhere to its international obligations," Zarif said. Zarif also asked Ban to help secure the release of Iranian assets frozen in U.S. banks, accusing the United States of "blatant disrespect for state immunity," which could have "catastrophic implications" for UN members. "It is in fact the United States that must pay long overdue reparations to the Iranian people for its persistent hostile policies," Zarif wrote, citing such incidents as the downing of an Iranian civilian airliner in 1988. Tehran's appeal to the UN comes one week after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sought to assure Zarif that he is doing everything he can to help Iran benefit from the lifting of economic sanctions under its nuclear deal with world powers. Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP An Iranian refugee who set himself on fire at Australia's immigration detention camp on the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru has died of his injuries. The 23-year-old man set himself alight on April 27 to protest Australia's strict policies on asylum seekers. Australia's immigration department said he died in an Australian hospital on April 29 after being airlifted there for treatment. Nauru's government says the detained Iranian refugees self-immolation was a protest intended to coincide with a visit to the island by representatives of the United Nations' refugee agency. Australia refuses to accept asylum seekers who try to reach its shores by boat. It pays Nauru and Papua New Guinea to hold them in detention camps instead. But Papua New Guineas Prime Minister Peter ONeill announced on April 27 that its refugee detention center would be closed after the supreme court in his country ruled the facility was illegal. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Iraqi authorities have shut down Al-Jazeera's Baghdad office, accusing the Qatar-based TV network of inciting "violence and sectarianism." Iraq's Communications and Media Commission sent the network a letter informing it of its March 24 decision to revoke the bureau's license and close its office for one year. The pan-Arab network denied on April 28 that it had violated regulations or deviated from professional and objective coverage. It said Iraq's decision contradicts the government's "commitment to guarantee freedom of expression." "We remain committed to broadcasting news on Iraq to Iraqi people, our viewers in the Arab world, and across the world," it said. Al-Jazeera has repeatedly come under fire from the Iraqi authorities for coverage perceived as too friendly to the Islamic State extremist group and hostile to the country's Shi'ite majority. Many in Iraq suspect Qatar, which funds Al-Jazeera, intentionally sponsors hard-line Sunni groups to counter the expanding influence of Iran and Shi'ite Islam in the region. Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has praised Arab countries for contributing to the "slow and steady" progress being made against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group -- but says Saudi Arabia could do more to choke off the militant group's sources of financing. Kerry made the comments in an interview with Alhurra, the U.S.-funded Arabic-language network. Alhurra: I will start with a direct question. The United States is leading the campaign to combat Daesh [the Islamic State militant group] in the Middle East. What do you think the United States' allies should be doing? John Kerry: Well, our allies are doing a great deal. There are 66 nations involved in this effort against Daesh, but the countries in the Middle East, particularly, are deeply engaged in this effort. We are working to cut off finance that comes from various places. We are fighting to prevent young people from being indoctrinated, and so we have a number of social-media initiatives to reach out to people and to counter Daesh's narrative. In addition to that, we are reducing the flow of foreign fighters very significantly by tightening the rules of travel in airports, customs, visas, and so forth. And we are, I think quite effectively, working together in the field against the Daesh operatives and have eliminated many of their leaders from the battlefield and by now I can say that we've reliberated and resecured 44 percent of the territory that Daesh held in Iraq and about 16, 17 percent of the territory in Syria. So it's a slow and steady progression, but it is being done carefully so that it doesn't fall backwards as we do it. Alhurra: Given that Saudi Arabia allocates the most budget to military spending among Arab countries, what do you think the Saudis should be doing more of to help these efforts to succeed? Kerry: Well, the Saudis are doing also a great deal. The Saudis have been leaders among the nations in the region. As a custodian of the two mosques, I think that King Salman and the government speak with a special authority with respect to Islam. They are putting together counternarrative efforts, so that they are responding -- they are responding, not us, it is coming from this very important seat of Islam -- speaking about what the true Islam is about, which I can't do, but obviously King Salman and the court can do. In addition to that, they are on the front lines of effort in the International Syria Support Group helping to try to shape a political solution to the fight. I think we would ask them -- they could do perhaps a little more -- to help us to cut off some of the sources of private finance, of money that moves [toward IS]; not the government, but moves privately. We're working on those things with Saudi Arabia. But they've been a very key and important partner in this effort. Alhurra: Many Iraqis have taken to the streets lately, peacefully demanding political change. Will the United States support such demands? Kerry: We support specific reforms in Iraq and we have been very clear with Prime Minister [Haidar] al-Abadi and with the government that in order to progress, in order to bring Iraqis together, in order to stabilize and grow the country and get their economy moving they need to be inclusive. Every Iraqi has to be represented within the governing process. I think it is inevitable that you will wind up having moments of tension, as we have seen in the past days. But on the other hand, I think it has worked, the process, in a way that ultimately works through some of the disagreements, some of the difficulties and then moves people together, hopefully, in the same direction. So we would encourage Prime Minister Abadi -- we have encouraged him and [U.S.] Vice President [Joe] Biden is there even as I speak having conversations with him about this particular need, which is to be inclusive, bring people to the table, work through the differences, and make sure that everybody is represented in a fair and sensible way. Alhurra: The young generation are the future leaders of any nation. What kind of leaders do you think the Middle East, Arab countries need in 10 or 15 years? Kerry: I think they need the leaders now and they are beginning to see younger leaders emerging. For instance in Saudi Arabia, the Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman has been leading the effort on a number of different fronts, particularly the economic transformation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It's a very ambitious plan, it's a very important plan. But I am told that, because he is young and he is helping to shape an economic future for people, a lot of young people are excited and rallying around that particular initiative. I think similarly Crown Prince Muhammad bin Zayed, his royal highness in the [United] Arab Emirates, has proven to be very visionary and together with his brothers they have really instituted some remarkable initiatives on energy, initiatives on the counterterrorism front. They've been very forward-leaning to stand up against Daesh and against Al-Qaeda and I think people appreciate that; not to mention what they have been able to do to transform their own economy in the U.A.E. Alhurra: You spoke of media initiatives to combat terrorism and Daesh. Alhurra and sister network Radio Sawa have launched a new initiative called Raise Your Voice. It gives a platform for moderate voices to discuss important issues in the Middle East. How important are such initiatives, do you think? Kerry: Very, very important. It's a very important initiative. It is imperative that citizens speak out -- everybody has a responsibility to fight back against this radicalism. I think that what's important is that people don't feel they can't make a difference. Everybody has an ability to prevent a friend from being seduced by phony narratives, by lies. Everybody has an ability to be able to tell the truth about Islam, to tell the truth about radicalism and terror, and I think that until people do speak up and fully make their voices heard, it's very difficult to mobilize the full energy that we need to against violent extremism. All violent extremism needs to be negated. Police in Almaty detained about a dozen Kazakh activists on April 29, including well-known journalists and rights defenders. Authorities detained the activists as they were preparing to stage a press conference and call for a public meeting about the government's decision to privatize large tracts of state-owned agricultural land. On April 28, police in Kazakhstans western city of Aqtau dispersed dozens of local residents who were protesting in the city center against government plans to auction off public land to private owners beginning on July 1. Hundreds also have rallied in the cities of Atyrau, Aqtobe, and Semei since April 24 against the privatizations, amid rumors that foreigners would be allowed to purchase the land. The government says foreigners will only be allowed to lease agricultural land. Kazakhstan's Prosecutor-General Zhaqip Asanov warned on April 28 that it is a crime to spread "false information about land privatization." Moscow would respect any decision by Sweden to join NATO, but would take "measures"to respond to the military alliance's approach to its borders, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned. "If Sweden decides to join NATO, we won't think that the Swedes decide to attack us," Lavrov said in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter published on April 28. "However, as the Swedish military infrastructure in this situation would report to NATO supreme command, certainly we would have to take the necessary military-technical measures on our northern boundaries, bearing in mind that there is a military-political bloc on the other side of the border which sees Russia as a threat and wants to deter it in any way it can," he said. He said Moscow's Defense Ministry would determine exactly what measures would be needed. He added that Moscow is not interested in "stirring up any confrontational military activities" despite a turn toward "Russophobia" in NATO and Sweden, and Stockholm's decision to join European sanctions against Russia. Moreover, he said Russia reaffirms each country's right to decide on its own what forms it wants to choose to ensure its security. Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS Russias Foreign Ministry summoned Polands Ambassador Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz on April 29 over Warsaws refusal to grant entry permits to a Russian motorcycle gang that is closely linked to President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin officials says Poland has refused to grant entry to members of the motorcycle gang known as the Night Wolves, a group that supported Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and whose members have fought on the side of Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The United States has imposed sanctions on the Night Wolves over attacks theyve made in Crimea and over their recruitment of fighters for separatists in eastern Ukraine. Poland in 2015 refused the Night Wolves entry when the fiercely nationalistic group was planning to mark the allied victory in World War II against Nazi Germany. The Night Wolves' leader, Aleksandr Zaldostanov, has frequently appeared in public with Putin. Based on reporting by Reuters, RIA, TASS, and Interfax Qatari Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim al-Thani said on Thursday that he was favorable to a free trade agreement among Arab countries and Turkey. Al-Thani spoke at the 11th Turkish Arab Economic Forum in Istanbul. "Free trade agreements between Arab countries and Turkey would have a big role on investment opportunities," he said. The minister added that Qatar was ready to host the first preliminary meeting for such an agreement. He emphasized that the recent decline of global oil prices had pushed Arab countries to work together even though they were also competitors. "Turkish businesses have been playing a great role in the development of Qatar," the minister added. Meanwhile, the vice president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Ali Kopuz highlighted that free trade agreements were essential to enhance the trade volume in the region. Each year since 2005, the Turkish Arab Economic Forum hosts high-profile speakers and businessmen from the region to discuss the current economic situation. Every year for the last 100 years, when the snow melts in the passes leading from Kyrgyzstan to China through the Tien-Shan (Heavenly) Mountains, evidence of one of the worst tragedies in the history of the Kyrgyz people is revealed. Skeletal remains of tens of thousands of people and animals appear. These bones mark the trails the Kyrgyz and their herds took as they tried to escape Russian tsarist troops in 1916. This year Kyrgyzstan's government is marking the 100th anniversary of the Great Urkun, the flight of the Kyrgyz people. By 1916 Kyrgyz had already started to depart their homelands in what are now the Chui, Naryn, and Issyk-Kul provinces of Kyrgyzstan and also from Kyrgyz areas in what is now southeastern Kazakhstan. Russian records of the time, kept in Almaty, show 1,787 Kyrgyz families had left for China in 1915. From 1904 to 1914 another "approximately 10,000" Kyrgyz made the trip east over the mountains. The reason was Russian colonization, St. Petersburg's version of Manifest Destiny, which had already seen Russia expand in some 200 years from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean. Russian settlers came to Central Asia in the latter half of the 19th century, on the heels of the tsar's army. The newcomers claimed ever more of the region's farmland. In 1916, two years into World War I, St. Petersburg decided it would be necessary to conscript some 220,000 males, 19 to 43 years old, from Central Asia for military duty in Europe. Russian officials in Central Asia warned this would be an unpopular move among the Central Asians. In St. Petersburg, officials resolved on a compromise: the men would be conscripted but they would fill supporting tasks in the military, not engage in fighting. That last part was not what was being said around the bazaars of Central Asia. The idea of fighting for a foreign conqueror in a war far away from home was unpopular enough. Most people in Central Asia in 1916 had very little concept of where Europe was or the reasons for the war there. Added to that was the rumor that the Central Asian Muslim conscripts would be forced to eat pork as part of their military rations (which did happen later to Central Asians in the Red Army). And the tsar's decree on conscription came into effect on June 25, a crucial time for Central Asia's farmers and herders to be engaged in the work that fed their families. What many of the Central Asian people of that time did know was that there had been revolts in 1873-76 (by Kyrgyz Mullah Iskhak Hazan-uulu, i.e. "Pulat-khan"), and in May 1898 (the Andijon revolt in which Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, and Tajiks participated) against Russian colonialism. Revolt broke out again -- and not only among the Kyrgyz, but among many of the other indigenous peoples of Central Asia as well. It was a dilemma St. Petersburg could ill afford at that moment. Besides the war in Europe, Russian military planners were also concerned about Turkish leader Enver Pasha's dream of a pan-Turkic empire, with Central Asia's Muslims a part of it (something that concerned officials in British India at that time also). The order went out for Russian troops to crush the rebellion. The tactic was to be the same as that used by Russian General Mikhail Skobelev less than 40 years earlier. "I hold it as a principle that the duration of the peace is in direct proportion to the slaughter you inflict upon the enemy. The harder you hit them, the longer they remain quiet," Skobelev said after wiping out the last of the Turkmens' resistance in 1881. It was the same in 1916. Few Central Asians possessed firearms at the time, so resistance was practically futile. But the point was to hit them hard, even if the Central Asians were unable to resist. The road from Bishkek to Kyrgyzstan's primary tourist area, the giant Lake Issyk-Kul, runs through Boom Canyon. In 1916, tens of thousands of Kyrgyz fled through this canyon. In a village called Belovodsk, 517 of the refugees, including women, children, and the elderly, were killed in one day. There are many other similar stories from the Urkun. RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Azattyk, for many years interviewed Kyrgyz who had made it to China with their families during the Urkun. One such person was Shaymerden Ibraimov, who at 80 years of age returned from China to Kyrgyzstan in 1995. "During the trip through the pass my great-grandfather Japarkul was killed, shot in the back by a [Russian] soldier. My grandfather did not have any way to bury him, so he was forced to leave the body," Ibraimov said. We also have the words of Bayali Isakeev, who was about 19 years old when he fled with his family. Isakeev wrote a book about the Urkun in 1933. Noting that winter had come early that year, he says: "We were forced to move on through the Bedel Pass at night. First I helped my mother and sister with a loaded camel make it along the narrow path. The path was slippery, almost entirely covered with snow, the slopes with ice. Below there were steep, yawning chasms. One false step meant certain death. I luckily led my mother and sister [along the path] and returned for my brother, who was halfway through the pass with our bull, loaded with our household possessions. On the way back we could see the crevasses filling up, nearly to the top in some places, with the bodies of camels, horses, cattle that had slipped over the side, and often people were there also." Records at the time were poor, so it is unclear to this day how many Kyrgyz perished during the Urkun. Most scholars agree at least 150,000 died but some say the figure exceeds 250,000. Hundreds of thousands of the survivors poured into Chinese Turkestan. Some in Russia protested the campaign. One was State Duma Deputy Aleksandr Kerensky, who called the tsarist actions in Central Asia a disgrace. After the tsar was deposed in 1917, a new government led by Kerensky came to power but, faced with myriad problems during its short tenure, that government could not even start to repair the damage done in Central Asia. The Bolsheviks came to power in late 1917 and used the Urkun, and other tsarist repressions against Central Asian people, to their advantage by pledging to honor the fraternity of all the peoples of the newly created Soviet Union. The Bolshevik government called on the Kyrgyz to return. Some did. Isakeev returned and rose through the ranks of the Communist Party to become a top official in the Kyrgyz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and later Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic (and also an editor at the Erkin Too newspaper). He was, however, arrested and shot in 1937 during the purges. The Urkun has a special place in the memories of the Kyrgyz. After independence in 1991, groups were formed to go into the mountain passes during the summer, locate the remains of those who perished in 1916, and bury them. Artifacts were collected and brought to museums. A film is being made about the Urkun and is due to come out in theaters soon. Kyrgyzstan's government and some organizations are sponsoring a series of events throughout 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Urkun. None of the other Central Asian states are following this example despite the fact that so many of the peoples of the region were part of the events that took place 100 years ago. Azattyk has done a wonderful job of creating a microsite to mark the 100th anniversary of the Urkun. Azattyk has photographs, pictures, copies of tsarist documents of the time and the stories of the some of the people who were alive during the Urkun, such as Ibraimov and Isakeev. You can read the site in Kyrgyz or in Russian. Much of what was written above was taken from the Azattyk website. Special thanks to Tynch Tchoroev, president of the Kyrgyz History Society international public association and former director of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have criticized suspected U.S. plans to deploy a missile-defense system on the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korean threats of preemptive nuclear strikes against South Korea and U.S. territory. Speaking after talks with Lavrov in Beijing on April 29, Wang said the sophisticated Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) will directly affect the strategic security of China and Russia if it is deployed by the United States. Wang said the missile-defense system would not ease nuclear tensions in the region. Lavrov accused Washington of using North Koreas nuclear tests and ballistic missile tests as an excuse, as a pretext to deploy a global antiballistic missile defense. A series of ballistic missile and nuclear tests by North Korea in recent months have pushed South Korea into talks with Washington about deploying the missile defense system. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, TASS, and dpa Russia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva says the Syrian Army is preparing to launch offensives against Islamic State militants in the cities of Deir Ez--Zor and the militants' stronghold of Raqqa. Speaking to Russia's RIA news agency on April 29, Aleksi Borodavkin said the Russian Air Force is supporting the ground campaign by troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Army recaptured the city of Palmyra from IS militants on March 27 after weeks of fierce fighting and Russian air strikes. That allowed Assad's forces to cut off the militants main supply route between western Syria and their de facto capital, Raqqa. Meanwhile, Syrian Kurdish fighters have advanced south to the town of Shaddadeh, cutting off IS supply routes between Raqqa and the IS-held city of Mosul in northern Iraq. But the road linking Raqqa and Deir Ez-Zor remains under the control of IS militants. Based on reporting by Reuters, RIA, TASS, AP, and Interfax The remains of a Russian special forces soldier killed in Syria during the battle to recapture Palmyra from Islamic State militants has been returned to Russia. Russias Defense Ministry said on April 29 that the remains of 25-year-old Aleksandr Prokhorenko have been delivered to Moscow and would be buried in a ceremony with military honors. Russias military said Prokhorenko was fighting alongside Syrian government forces near Palmyra for a week, directing Russian air strikes at IS targets, when his position was surrounded by IS fighters around March 19. According to Russian military officials, Prokhorenko called on Russian fighter jets to bomb his location when he found that his position had been overrun and he was about to be captured. The air strikes reportedly killed Prokhorenko as well as the militants who were about to capture him. President Vladimir Putin posthumoulsy awarded Prokhorenko with the title "Hero of Russia" by decree on April 11. Based on reporting by TASS, Interfax, npr.org, and Dozhd-TV The dust has not yet settled on Serbia's April 24 elections. In most European capitals, the clear win by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and his Progressive Party is regarded as a sign that the pro-Western mood is dominant in Serbia. This is partly true, but the reality is more complicated. Vucic's Progressives have seen their ranks in parliament reduced (by 27 seats at the time of writing) even though the prime minister called the snap election in an effort to strengthen his mandate. Moreover, for many in Vucic's party, the European Union is not a priority. Russian media also see Serbia's elections as a referendum on that country joining the EU. They have noted the seemingly pro-European attitude of the majority, but Russian outlets prefer to focus on the success of two right-wing parties: the Radicals and Dveri. Both oppose Serbian integration into the EU and support closer ties to Russia. They are vehemently opposed to any dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. At the time of writing, Dveri is involved in a dispute with the Central Election Commission over the final vote count and may not win any seats in the new parliament, despite securing around 5 percent of the vote. Nationalist Vojislav Seselj's Radicals will control 22 seats, however, having had none the last time around. Seselj in particular enjoys the support of some Moscow officials, and has received a disproportionate amount of attention among Russian media. When Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin visited Serbia in January, he caused a stir by holding a private meeting with Seselj. The resurgence of right-wing parties in Serbia, and Seselj's Radicals in particular, has been interpreted in some Russian media as a reaction to "Vucic's pro-European policy." On April 29 Russia's ambassador in Belgrade, Aleksandr Chepurin, came to the Radicals' party headquarters to congratulate Seselj on his election results. As far as these Russian observers are concerned, the rise of the right -- and not Vucic's victory -- is the real upshot of these elections. They are still predicting a bumpy road to the EU for Serbia. Moscow certainly does not anticipate any "anti-Russian" turn in Serbian foreign policy because, according to their narrative, the parties "opposed to NATO and supportive of closer ties with Moscow" have gained ground. The Moscow-based Kommersant newspaper writes that Serbia appears to be in a rush to secure EU membership but that it will never turn its back on Russia. The paper is already looking ahead to Serbia's 2017 presidential election, predicting that it will serve as a true test for Belgrade and its relations with the EU and Russia. Kommersant suggests that Vucic's goal was to gain an absolute majority in parliament so that he could continue with EU-mandated reforms. But Serbia's new parliament may not be so amenable to the prime minister's plans, with the pro-Russian Radicals on course to win 22 seats, even if Dveri misses the cut by a whisker. "Vucic's pro-European agenda will face serious obstacles," Kommersant warns. It sounds like a prediction, but it is actually a promise: Russian soft power will make your road to the EU as difficult as possible. According to research carried out by the Center for a Civil Society, an NGO, there are currently 40 Internet portals and organizations promoting Russia and its interests in Serbia, in addition to Radio Sputnik. The Russian propaganda machine certainly can't be faulted for lack of effort, and Seselj is riding an unexpected wave of popularity following his acquittal by The Hague war crimes tribunal. However, if Seselj is seen as Russia's best bet to block Serbia's path to democratic reform and EU membership, Moscow is backing the wrong horse -- or rather, a lame one. He may ruffle a few feathers or scare the equine guardians in front of the Serbian parliament building, as a Serbian cartoonist has suggested. But he has neither the power nor the stamina to shape Serbia's foreign policy in the long run. Tajik authorities have officially banned the issuance of new identification documents and birth certificates for ethnic Tajiks containing Russified surnames. Deputy Chief of the Tajik Service for Registration of Citizens, Jaloliddin Rakhimov, told RFE/RL on April 29 that the new regulations were approved by President Emomali Rahmon in March. According to the new law, ethnic Tajik children whose parents have surnames from the Soviet era that end with the Russian "ov" for men and "ova" for women will instead be given documents that use traditional Tajik suffixes -- "i," "zod," "zoda," "iyon," "far" or "pur." The regulation applies to the birth certificates of newborn ethnic Tajiks or ethnic Tajik children receiving identification documents for the first time. Adults who previously obtained documents with a Russified surname and choose to continue using that surname will be allowed to do so. The law does not apply to children who are not ethnic Tajiks. Tajikistan's president officially changed his Soviet-era Russified name, Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmonov, to Emomali Rahmon in 2007. ON MY MIND From buzzing warplanes to trolling submarines to persistent nuclear posturing, Russia's provocative behavior presents a dilemma for the West. Responding in kind to the Kremlin's provocations risks inflating Moscow's importance and giving Vladimir Putin the status he craves. But not responding, and not attaching a cost to these actions, could just encourage more bad (and dangerous) behavior. As I wrote on The Power Vertical blog this week, Russia is not strong enough for a real superpower showdown. So it is trying to create the illusion of one. It is fighting a Fake Cold War. So how do you fight back in a Fake Cold War? On today's Power Vertical Podcast, I'll discuss this issue with Mark Galeotti of New York University, Kadri Liik of the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Agnia Grigas of the Atlantic Council. So be sure to tune in! IN THE NEWS Russia has warned it will take "measures" if Sweden joins NATO. Nationalists attacked a high-school history-awards ceremony organized by the human rights group Memorial. Also yesterday, opposition leader Aleksei Navalny was attacked and splashed with a blue chemical liquid. The rector of Saratov State University has instructed faculty to keep students away from visiting US officials. The French parliament has passed a resolution calling for the end of Western sanctions against Russia. Russia's and China's foreign ministers have denounced U.S. "interference" in the South China Sea. In an apparent effort to set prices, Russia plans to open its own oil exchange. LATEST FROM POWER VERTICAL BLOG In case you missed this week's Power Vertical blog post, That Cold War Movie, here it is. "Putin's Russia is far too weak to fight a real Cold War with the West, so the Kremlin has decided to do the next best thing: make a reality show about a Cold War. Send some jets to buzz a Western ship, wait for the inevitable diplomatic dust-up, and voila! Everybody's partying like it's 1979!" WHAT I'M READING The Bodyguard and the Economist On his blog for the Wilson Center, Maksim Trudolyubov, editor-at-large of the business daily Vedomosti, looks at the larger meaning of two recent developments: the creation of a National Guard and the appointment of Aleksei Kudrin to head the Kremlin's Center for Strategic Research. "Putin is addressing issues that have not become apparent yet, and is trying to anticipate problems emanating from previously loyal quarters," Trudolyubov writes. "He has just created a super-strongman to deal with all security strongmen who might go rogue. He has just appointed a reformer-designate to make sure no one would be able to team up with Aleksei Kudrin for policy projects alternative to those of the Kremlin." The Politics of Intimidation Stephen Blank has a piece in Intersection magazine looking at the logic of Russia's air and sea provocations. "It is quite clear that the hallmark of Putins regime at home and abroad has become, if was not always, intimidation.These tactics highlight the fact that the regimes psychology and character are essentially those of an intimidation culture," Blank writes. The Panama Papers Motherlode On May 9, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists will release a searchable online database of more than 200,000 offshore entities that are part of the Panama Papers investigation. Database of Victims of Repression The NGO Reach Out has launched the Open List project, an online database of victims of political repressions carried out in the Soviet Union. The View of Moscow from Berlin Judy Dempsey has a piece on the Carnegie Center Europe's website on why German perceptions of Russia are important. "How Germany perceives Russia matters," Dempsey writes. "Germanys perception affects Europe. It affects the transatlantic relationship. It affects Germanys reputation with its eastern neighbors. And it affects stability and security." Ukraine and NATO In a piece for UNIAN, Kostyantyn Honcharov looks at moves toward greater cooperation between Kyiv and NATO in the Black Sea and asks whether they point to Ukraine's creeping "entry" into NATO. Melinda Haring of the Atlantic Council asks, meanwhile, whether Ukraine's reforms have passed the tipping point yet. What Does Porn Teach Us About Russia Writing on Open Democracy, the always insightful journalist and playwright Natalia Antonova takes a look at the exploitation of Russia's online porn stars. "In its own bizarre, disheartening way, porn in Russia represents an intersection of societal ills: a predatory criminal justice system, lack of adequate protection for businesses, lack of sexual education (because of that, Russians regularly turn to porn for advice -- which is not always a great idea), repression in the guise of moral panic, class-based contempt for people who are seen as performing 'dirty jobs,' and, of course, misogyny," Antonova writes. Trends To Watch Ekho Moskvy has an interview with political analyst Yekaterina Schulmann on trends to watch in Russian politics. China, Europe -- and Russia Journalist and political analyst Emanuele Scimia has a piece in EUObserver on how China is playing European politics -- and weakening Russia. The Putin Myth NPR has an interview with New York University professor (and Power Vertical Podcat co-host) Mark Galeotti on the "myth of Vladimir Putin." Event: Ukraine and Russia in a Fracturing Europe Brown University's Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs will host a seminar on Ukraine And Russia In A Fracturing Europe with Yale University Professor Timothy Snyder today at 4 p.m. U.S. EDT. You can watch the event live here. The Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine says it aims for a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine to begin with the start of the Easter and May holidays. The group, which comprises representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said in Minsk that it will work for the cease-fire to become effective on April 30 at midnight local time. The Contact Group issued a statement on April 29 saying all members have agreed that their "respective orders with regard to total compliance with the ceasefire will be communicated to all responsible persons on the ground." The announcement comes a day after the OSCE warned that violence in the war zone in eastern Ukraine had reached levels not seen for months. A peace deal co-signed by France and Germany in February 2015 in Minsk was meant to end the fighting, but the two-year war has now killed more than 9,300 people as the sides trade blame for truce violations. The United Nations on April 28 raised its estimate of the total killed during the conflict in eastern Ukraine to 9,333 from 9,160 in March. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the UN Security Council that the total number of casualties now stands at 30,729, including 9,333 people killed and 21,396 injured. Ukraine told the UN Security Council on April 28 that its cease-fire with separatists in the east must be strengthened before progress can be achieved on a political solution to the conflict. It was the first council meeting on Ukraine since December. With reporting by Interfax and AFP Officials in Russia-annexed Crimea have charged Mykola Semena, a contributor to a news site about Crimea run by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), with calling for separatism. Semena's lawyer Emil Kuberdinov told RFE/RL on April 29 that Crimea's Moscow-backed Prosecutor-General's Office made the charge against the journalist on April 28. Kuberdinov added that Semena refused to answer investigators' questions, citing his rights under Russian law not to testify against himself. The Moscow-backed Prosecutor-General's Office said on April 19 that Semena was being investigated over alleged "calls for undermining Russian territorial integrity via mass media." Police then detained Semena for questioning and subsequently released him. However, he was ordered not to leave Crimea while investigations are underway. The United States, the EU, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and international media-freedom organizations have expressed concerns over Semena's case and condemned a clampdown on independent media on the annexed peninsula. After Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, the Russian parliament passed a law making it a criminal offense to question Russia's territorial integrity. Ukraine told the UN Security Council that its cease-fire with separatists in the east must be strengthened before progress can be achieved on a political solution to the two-year conflict. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko suggested the Orthodox Easter holiday this weekend might provide an opportunity to shore up the truce after a surge of violations in recent months. "If we can start with that, we can then proceed to withdrawal of forces and resolving of all the problems -- demining, humanitarian problems -- all the way down to a political resolution," he told the council on April 28. It was the first Security Council meeting on Ukraine since December. Ukraine requested the meeting to discuss cease-fire violations in the eastern Donetsk region that OSCE monitors say have reached worrying levels over the past few weeks. Ukraine detailed accusations that Russia is providing military backing for the separatists, a claim Moscow rejects. "Russia has organized and deployed in Donbas a 34,000-strong hybrid military force consisting of regular Russian troops as well as of foreign and local militants," Prystaiko said. "Russian generals and military officers provide direct command-and-control of this illegal military entity [which is] impressively heavily armed," he said. Prystaiko dismissed Russian claims that the separatists' arms were purchased in local hardware stores. "Last time I checked, you will hardly be able to buy a decent knife in Ukrainian hardware stores, not to mention the multiple-launch rocket systems and jet flamethrowers," he said. The United States, France, and Britain back Ukraine's assertions and have blamed Russian aggression for starting the conflict. "What is happening today is the result of Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which began with its occupation of Crimea more than two years ago and expanded with substantial military on the ground and weapons support for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine," U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power told the council. Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin countered that the Ukrainian crisis was provoked by a "coup d'etat with external support," and rejected claims that the source of conflict was "Crimea's union with Russia." Moreover, Ukraine's case before the council was "very disappointing," he said, particularly because it lacked specifics on achieving peace. "Over the entire crisis, the UN has been used as a propaganda platform," he said. "There is a lot of rhetoric but no specific plan about how to implement the Minsk agreement" forged in February 2015, he said. Churkin said he hopes the cease-fire will hold over the upcoming holiday weekend. "Easter is one thing that continues to unite us, Russia and Ukraine," he said. Russia sought to circulate a resolution reaffirming the UN's commitment to the Minsk agreement, but failed to gain consensus approval because it also called for an investigation into the killing of Russian protesters in Odesa in May 2014 without mentioning violations by separatist forces. Foreign ministers from France, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia are expected to meet in early May to try to further the peace effort outlined in the Minsk agreement. With reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa Baku, Azerbaijan, April 29 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: Iraq was the world's fourth-largest natural gas-flaring country in 2014, as more than half of its gross natural gas production was flared, and the country is taking steps to reduce flaring and instead use its natural gas resources more for power generation and for reinjection into wells to enhance oil recovery, according to the US Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Country Analysis Brief report on Iraq. Iraq's proved natural gas reserves stood at nearly 112 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) at the end of 2015, accordong to the Oil & Gas Journal. About three-quarters of Iraq's natural gas reserves are associated with oil, most of which lie in the supergiant fields in the south. Iraqi gross natural gas production was 771 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in 2014, of which 454 Bcf was flared, according to OPEC's Annual Statistical Bulletin. In 2014, Iraq was the fourth-largest natural gas-flaring country in the world, behind Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. EIA believes that Iraq's plans to export natural gas remain controversial because natural gas is needed as feedstock for Iraq's electric power plants. The shortage of adequate gas has resulted in idle and suboptimal electricity generation in Iraq, the EIA said. EIA's report mentioned that prior to the 1990-91 Gulf War, Iraq exported natural gas to Kuwait. The gas came from the Rumaila field through a 105-mile, 400 million cubic feet per day pipeline to Kuwait's central processing center at Ahmadi. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has discussed reviving the mothballed pipeline, but there are no firm plans, the report said. The Iraqi government has also considered proposals to build a transcontinental pipeline to export natural gas to Europe via nearby countries, but there are no firm plans, the EIA stressed. WASHINGTON -- A new bill in the U.S. Congress would prevent the White House from lifting a raft of sanctions against Russia until Ukraine restores control over Crimea, which Moscow forcibly annexed in 2014, or settles the peninsula's status to Kyiv's satisfaction. The legislation, announced on April 29 by U.S. Representatives Eliot Engel (Democrat-New York) and Adam Kinzinger (Republican-Illinois), aims to bolster U.S. support for Kyiv with measures that include tightened sanctions against Russia and a push for greater private investment in the Ukrainian economy. "We need to build on our sanctions regime against troublemakers in the Kremlin, while working to preserve transatlantic unity," Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. "And we need to find ways of shoring up Ukraine and deterring [Russian President Vladimir] Putin that go beyond just throwing more money at the problem," Engel added. U.S. President Barack Obama's administration slapped several rounds of sanctions on senior Russian officials and companies following Moscow's military seizure of Crimea in March 2014 and an ensuing war between Russia-backed separatists and Kyivs forces in eastern Ukraine. These measures and analogous ones taken by the EU have angered the Kremlin, which has said it moved to take control over Crimea due to fears for the people there after the ouster of Ukraine's Moscow-backed president, Viktor Yanukovich, amid protests that Russia has cast as a U.S.-backed coup. Russia also denies backing armed separatists in the conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 9,300 since April 2014, despite significant evidence of such support. The bill would require that the U.S. president, prior to lifting a raft of Ukraine-related sanctions, submit "certification" to Congress that Ukraine has restored "sovereignty" over Crimea or that the peninsula's status has been resolved to the satisfaction "of a democratically elected government" in Kyiv. "As we have seen time and again, there is no stopping Vladimir Putins disrespect for global order, especially in regards to Ukraine," Kinzinger said. "It's time for the United States to stand up and reiterate that it will not tolerate Russia's aggression." Called the Stability And Democracy For Ukraine Act, the legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 28 by Engel, Kinzinger, and 14 other co-sponsors. The legislation would also codify the U.S. governments policy of nonrecognition of Russian authority over Crimea, mirroring Washington's policy of refusing to recognize Soviet sovereignty over the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It also directs the U.S. administration "to consult with the government of Ukraine and seek to establish an international consortium to drive private investment in Ukraine by minimizing and pooling political risk to would-be private investors," Engel's office said in a statement. The UN says that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is ready to help settle a dispute between Iran and the United States over Tehran's frozen assets if both sides ask for his assistance. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York on April 29 that "the secretary-general's good offices are always available should both parties to whatever tensions or issue request it." Iran asked the United Nations on April 28 to intervene to prevent the United States from diverting $2 billion in frozen funds to victims of terrorism under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Iran's Foreign Minister Javid Zarif wrote to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying Ban should use his "good offices" to persuade the United States to "adhere to its international obligations." Zarif also asked Ban to help secure the release of Iranian assets frozen in U.S. banks. Tehran's appeal to the UN comes one week after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sought to assure Zarif that he is doing everything he can to help Iran benefit from the lifting of economic sanctions under its nuclear deal with world powers. Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP The United Nations on April 28 raised its estimate of the total killed during the conflict in eastern Ukraine to 9,333 from 9,160 in March. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the UN Security Council that the total number of casualties now stands at 30,729, including 9,333 people killed and 21,396 injured. He said the latest incident occurred on April 27, when shelling killed at least four civilians and injured at least eight people in Olenivka near the city of Donetsk. Zerihoun said that fighting has escalated in recent weeks to levels not seen since August 2014, when it was at its most intense. He called on all parties to cease hostilities. He criticized both sides for hindering access to an international monitoring mission put in place under the February 2015 cease-fire agreement between Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany. But he said that restrictions on monitors were more common in areas held by Russia-backed separatists. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington is "outraged" by air strikes on a hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo that killed dozens and injured many others. Kerry said on April 28 in Washington that the attack matched a pattern by Syrian warplanes on health-care facilities that "have killed hundreds of innocent Syrians" during the country's civil war, which began in 2011. He said the previous day's attack on the Al-Quds hospital in Aleppo, which is supported by the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, had "killed dozens of people, including children, patients, and medical personnel." Kerry said Russia has "an urgent responsibility to press the [Syrian] regime to fulfill its commitments" under Security Council Resolution 2254 to stop its attacks on civilians and medical facilities. The attack was the latest in a string this week that has seen more than 150 civilians killed since April 22. Russia has been conducting air strikes in conjunction with Syrian warplanes against opposition forces and Islamic groups since September. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura appealed to the presidents of the United States and Russia to intervene to salvage a cease-fire that was "barely alive." Jan Egeland, the head of the UN humanitarian task force on Syria, said on April 28 that there had been a catastrophic deterioration of the situation in Aleppo and parts of Homs during the previous 48 hours. He said the strikes on the hospital and neighboring buildings had killed more than 60 civilians. Egeland said he cannot express how high the stakes are for the next hours and days as diplomats try to restore a fragile cease-fire deal that is in tatters. Syria's army on April 28 denied that it intentionally targeted the hospital. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa At first sight, six-year-old Vera Bondik doesn't seem like an unusual child. She looks just like other children her age. The difference is that she will never make eye contact with you, talk to you, or listen to you. She lives in her own world, which no one else can enter. Vera is autistic. Vera was a full-term baby with no pathologies or complications. When she was four months old, her parents noticed strange behavior -- Vera would not make eye contact, smile, or respond to new things. The older she grew, the more obvious it became. Vera was not healthy. For the first two years of her life, the doctors would cheer up Vera's mother, Alena Bondik, by saying that these oddities were within the normal development pattern. When Vera was two years old, the doctors in Abakan came up with a preliminary diagnosis: deafness. Alena then consulted with doctors in Tomsk who did not confirm that diagnosis. Vera started sleeping only a few hours a day, she became almost unmanageable. She was already three when the autism diagnosis was confirmed. The doctors then said to Alena, "Hang in there, there are no methods to treat autism in Russia." Vera's story is told by RFE/RL journalist Vera Trofimova and photographer Svetlana Panina. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. After a string of high-profile failures by the Secret Service to secure the White House, it has been decided to build a higher fortification. The White House fence height will be raised five feet by 2018, and will have a concrete foundation installed reduce the risk of fence jumpers, NBC Washington reports. The fence currently stands at 6'11, and has not been too much of a challenge for those who are determined to climb over it. "The current fence simply is not adequate for a modern era. We've said that before. It is becoming more and more acutely clear that that is in fact the case," Secret Service official Tom Dougherty said in the briefing to federal officials released to NBC. The fence will include "anti-climb" features, such as small spikes. "(The fence) is entirely scale-able, depending upon the circumstances. And we have now a society that tends to want to jump over the fence and onto the 18 acres," Dougherty stated. The Secret Service will be working with the National Park Service to accomplish the task. Plans for a new fence come after a man who had just stolen a woman's purse hopped the fence to the White House grounds while fleeing. The man reportedly did not realize it was the fence to the president's abode, and was just trying to get away from officers chasing him for the purse theft. On Thanksgiving, another man was arrested after scaling the fence while wearing an American flag, and in September of 2014, a military veteran with a knife hopped the fence and made it all the way inside the White House before being apprehended. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 29 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The US soldiers' uniforms were found in Turkey's south-eastern Sirnak province during an operation against the PKK, the Turkish Sabah newspaper wrote April 29. The newspaper wrote that the uniforms were found in the apartments, where the PKK militants were hiding. Earlier, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that over 5,359 PKK members have been eliminated as a result of the operations against this terrorist group since July of 2015. The president added that 355 Turkish servicemen were killed during these operations, which will continue until the complete destruction of the PKK. 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. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu A man was shot outside a barbershop Friday in the 6500 block of Midlothian Turnpike in South Richmond. The man was shot shortly before 1:30 p.m. behind the Mass Flow barber shop, police spokesman James Mercante said. A dark-colored sedan was seen leaving the area west on Midlothian Turnpike immediately after the shooting, Mercante said. The victim was taken to a local hospital. His injuries are not considered life-threatening. This week, we address parking near street corners and traffic circles, and ask if Lucks Lane will be widened any time soon. QUESTION: Why doesnt the city of Richmond issue parking citations for parking too close to street corners? Im completely fed up with having to take a huge risk every time I want to cross a street in the Fan District whether on my bike, driving my car, or by foot traveling to/from restaurants. If youre pulling out of a cross street onto one of the major streets youre basically crossing your fingers that when you pull out into the road nobody is going to T-bone your car because you cant see around all of the vehicles that are parked directly on the corners of the intersection, every day, at every single intersection. T.W. ANSWER: Readers send questions about this often, but it has been a while since we addressed it. Perhaps the violators dont read this column? How about we just mind the no-parking signage? On the city website, it shows as a $40 fine for parking on a crosswalk and within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. There are many other violations listed in the Richmond municipal codes Section 102-222. The reader made several good points for why drivers should not park close to street corners. Ill share a recent close call on my bike that illustrates one reason it is dangerous. I was following the citys bike Route 2 and turned right (south) from eastbound Grove Avenue onto North Dooley Avenue in the Museum District. In each direction at the corner, cars were parked too close to the corner, which forced me farther left as I turned, pushing me toward the other side of Dooley. A car coming the other way was already driving north on Dooley and we nearly collided. Ill admit, I took the turn too fast and too wide, but I wouldnt have if the cars hadnt parked so close to the corner which also blocked me from seeing the car on Dooley. Richmond police officials have said the departments enforcement of parking violations at street corners is complaint-driven and depends on information received from the community. Report infractions by calling the non-emergency number (646-5100) or contact the sector lieutenant for your area. *** QUESTION: As a property owner, I was an early and consistent supporter of the Floyd Avenue bike/auto-way concept. I still favor it, but the final project turned out differently than I had expected. The numerous roundabouts give inconsistent traffic instructions. Some indicate four-way yields, some have two-way stops for crossing streets, some two-way stops on Floyd. Ive seen several drivers confused as to just what to do at these roundabouts. K.D. ANSWER: Ive paid close attention to the planning and development of the Floyd Avenue bike boulevard. I bike it often and have watched as new sidewalks, traffic circles, roundabouts, bumpouts and other traffic-calming measures were put in place. This past week, the city installed speed bumps at certain intervals as well. Before the alterations, Floyd was already a safer option than most streets to bike and walk along, but the changes have made it more inviting for nonmotorists. Richmonds Department of Public Works announced earlier in April that it would be installing new yield signs to clear up confusion at more than 40 traffic-calming circles in the city. Once the changes are implemented over the next several months, all drivers will know to yield to the circulating traffic, whether in a roundabout or a traffic circle, the department announced in a release. The change will make the smaller circles, designed to reduce speed, operate in a similar fashion as the larger roundabouts, designed to replace traffic signals. That includes the seven circles installed as part of traffic-calming measures for the Floyd Avenue bike boulevard. In my opinion, the changes have not made Floyd safer for drivers, mainly because of what this reader mentioned. Many are still confused by the roundabouts. My advice is to take Floyd Avenue for what it is a residential street, not a commuter route. Slow down or stay away. Dont drive Floyd expecting to speed or to go more than a block or two at a time without having to slow down for another traffic-calming measure. It is a street redesigned to better accommodate residents, pedestrians and cyclists. *** QUESTION: Are they going to move to four lanes on Lucks Lane any time soon? It was supposed to be done a year ago. C.L. ANSWER: This reader is referring to a two-third-mile section of Lucks Lane between Spirea Road to Evergreen Parkway in Midlothian, east of state Route 288. The Chesterfield County website has the project scheduled sometime between spring 2016 and winter 2017. We checked with Brent Epps, a senior engineer with the countys Department of Transportation. The Lucks Lane widening project is currently in the right-of-way phase. We anticipate utility relocation to begin within a few months, and road construction to begin in the spring of 2017, he wrote in an email. The project estimate is $7,881,000 and is being funded with VDOT revenue-sharing money. The widening will include both sidewalks and bike lanes. Rape is a difficult and time-consuming crime for law enforcement to investigate. Throw in a journalist even a well-intentioned one looking for a story, and the truth can be easily muddled or lost. On Thursday, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist T. Christian Miller joined Andrea Press, a professor of sociology and media studies at the University of Virginia, to talk about the ethics and best practices surrounding journalistic investigations of rape cases. Moderated by UVa law and media studies professor Siva Vaidhyanathan, the talk saw a couple dozen students in attendance and generated a discussion that touched on the retracted Rolling Stone article A Rape on Campus, which told the story of a UVa student who said she was raped in an off-Grounds fraternity house. Miller, a journalist with ProPublica, won a Pulitzer earlier this month for a story he co-wrote titled An Unbelievable Story of Rape. The story follows the case of an 18-year-old woman from Lynnwood, Washington, who told police she was raped by a man who broke into her apartment. But police did not believe her and charged her with making a false report, to which she eventually pleaded guilty. When detectives in Denver later arrested a man on charges of serial rape, they found indecent photos of the Washington teenager on his camera. Millers story looked at false reporting and examined how rape is one of the only crimes in which a victims credibility can be a part of the case. Speaking about his own work and how he comes to find a story, Miller told the audience that journalists need to cover issues responsibly and make sure the facts are there before printing a story. Sometimes, he said, its better to drop a story than to try and make it a story. As a journalist, Ive learned that reporters do better to follow the road you find and not the road you want to find, Miller said. Asked about his thoughts on the retracted Rolling Stone article, Miller said red flags began popping up in his mind as soon as he read the first sentence. Miller said the mistakes in the story were so fundamental that the problems in it were obvious to other reporters reading it. The best practice is to follow the story, not an ideology, said Miller, who said it seemed like Sabrina Erdely, the author of the story, had a specific story in mind that she wanted to write. I would love to interview Erdely someday and find out why she used the practices she did, Press said. I think she knew exactly what she was looking for because she wanted to grab attention. And she did. Press, who identified herself a feminist sociologist, said the Rolling Stone story did not break in a vacuum. Before the story came out, the issue of campus rape was something that already was beginning to come to light. But following the storys publication, she said, more victims at UVa came forward to report their own assaults. She said UVa is not unusual and is probably representative of other campuses across the country. Citing a study from September, Press said about 23 percent of women undergraduates said they experienced some form of sexual assault, while 11 percent said they experienced actual penetration. Campus sexual assault is an epidemic, Press said. Unfortunately, she said, gathering sociological data about campus rapes can be extremely difficult because of the stigma against rape victims. Its even difficult to talk about what rape is with students because of different definitions of words like consent and sexual assault. We are researching some of the most intimate parts of life and its difficult, said Press. Both Press and Miller agreed that, although the story itself was not a good example of journalism, it had a positive side in that it brought more attention to the issue of campus rape. It was bad journalism that did some social good, Press said. The power of a story is often a motivator for choosing what to write about, Miller said. In journalism, sometimes you have to walk away. Following the talk, a few students crowded near the front of the room to talk to Press and Miller. Miyorose Koszeghy, a third-year media studies student, said it was interesting to hear about the Rolling Stone story from a journalistic point of view. I thought it was really great, Koszeghy said. I had gone to one of the forums about a year and half ago when the incident happened. I thought it was nice that they had a follow-up with someone in a journalistic background. I think one thing that I found interesting, and a little disappointing, was the turnout compared to a year and half ago, she added. Understandably so, the emotions and tension isnt as high now as it was then, but I was kind of surprised that it was such a low turnout. With only a few weeks remaining before the official start of summer, theres a lot to look forward to. Its not too early to mark the calendar for the Dominion Riverrock Festival in Richmond, set for May 20-22, where part of the draw will be the many paddling events on kayaks and paddleboards. Theres another paddling event that doesnt get as much viewing based on its nature, but which requires a tremendous amount of endurance and fortitude. Its the James River Rundown, which is scheduled to take place June 11-12. The Rundown, which is sponsored by the James River Association, offers three races. Theres a 140-mile endurance race, which begins June 11 at Riveredge Park in Lynchburg and ends the next day at the American Legion Post 354 in Richmond. Its one of the longest races of its kind on the East Coast. A separate 100-mile race also begins June 11 at James River State Park. While the first two races are certainly not for everyone, a more friendly version of 20 miles will take place June 12, beginning at Powhatan State Park. While 20 miles is nothing to sneeze at, particularly from a paddleboard, those in canoes and kayaks should have no trouble finishing. All three races will culminate at American Legion Post 354, where a family friendly postrace celebration will feature music, food and beverages. Competitors will navigate the James River in kayaks, canoes or paddleboards, either alone or in teams. Designated checkpoints will be set up along the way, offering paddlers opportunities to rest and camp during the event. RVA Paddlesports will be providing shuttles for participants in the 140- and 100-miles races. Space is limited and participants will need to register ahead of time. We are proud to host this unique event that attracts paddlers from across the country, introducing them to our founding river, said Bill Street, CEO of the James River Association. Safety is always a top priority, so there will be plenty of checkpoints, camping options and safety boats along the course. Be careful with rescues As is the case every spring, many species of animals and birds give birth, resulting in some struggling youngsters out there in the wild. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries cautions citizens to leave fawns alone if encountered in the wild. VDGIF notes most wild animals wont abandon their young, but they do leave them alone for long periods of time so as not to lead predators to their location. Does often join the fawns only for brief feeding times during the day before leaving again. This behavior leads people to view the fawns as needing rescuing, which often is not the case. VDGIF cautions any rescued fawn should be returned to the exact location it was found within 24 hours. If you encounter a wild animal that has been injured or truly orphaned, VDGIF cautions not to take matters into your own hands. China's crackdown on illegal fundraising continues. (Photo : Getty Images) China is taking steps to prevent more businesses from being victimized by illegal fundraising after a massive number of suspects were caught and punished last year. According to the South China Morning Post, a group of 14 agencies convened on Wednesday to organize a crackdown on illegal financing activities which escalated to about 71 percent in terms of money and people involved. Advertisement The historically high record of illegal fundraising cases involved 57 people and about 100 million yuan ($15.4 million), 44 percent higher than last year. The group is planning to overhaul the financing sector during the latter half of 2016 in order to determine the extent of illegal activities in private asset management, rural cooperatives, private equity and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending. Effects to Financing Companies According to The Wall Street Journal, newly established financing companies would be greatly affected by China's crackdown on illegal fundraising. In fact, on April 22, the SCMP reported that these businesses can no longer acquire approval from local commerce authorities. Apparently, new businesses with names that include "financial," "wealth management" and "fund management" will have to go through financial regulators first before acquiring approval to operate in a locality, particularly in Shanghai. "[Shanghai] officials believe the administration for industry and commerce failed to effectively regulate the market. The suspension of business approvals is an administrative measure rather than a rule or regulation," an unnamed source told the outlet. This as well as other motions were made in China due to the emergence of massive illegal financing activities last year. Illegal Fundraising Cases Last year, China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) was able to handle a total of 1.42 million P2P lending cases that involved as much as 820.75 billion yuan ($126.4 billion). The Xinhua News Agency reported that SPC President Zhou Qiang's report presented to the annual parliamentary session indicated that courts of all levels in China were able to distinguish legal P2P lending from the unlawful fundraising activities based on the SPC's judicial explanation last year. According to the SPC, P2P lending shall be recognized as a financial enterprise under certain conditions to satisfy investment and financing demands of both small and medium-sized businesses. In his report, Zhou further noted that courts all over China were able to close a total of 58,000 illegal fundraising, financial fraud and other related cases where 72,000 people were convicted. Furthermore, the SPC revealed its plans on studying Internet-based financial cases for just and fair trial guidance of Chinese courts. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Hidden Valley Middle School student Peter Gunn made some very poor decisions back in January when he discovered a shotgun in his baritone saxophone case while riding to school on the bus. Fellow HVMS student Jane B. Dopey was equally naughty when she sold her Ritalin pills to a classmate. Around the same time, a fight broke out in the halls between two eighth-grade students over an alleged $20 and a "Spongebob Squarepants" lunchbox. Alarmed? No need! The above stories are fictional and served as premises for three cases brought before Circuit Court Judge William Broadhurst during the Mock Trial. The event, sponsored by the PTA and run by HVMS civics teacher Tara McBride, has been going on for more than 25 years, although McBride would like it known that she did not in fact begin the Mock Trial. During each case, student witnesses were called before the court to tell what they knew and had seen and then were questioned by assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Matt Miller and cross-examined by defense attorney Mark Kidd. Some stories appeared unbelievable and drew laughs from the gallery. Each defendant was also called to the stand to defend his or her actions. After each case, Judge Broadhurst either put the case to the jury (those in the gallery) or pronounced judgement and sentence. After each case was heard, questions were put to the gallery, many of whom were fellow civics students. One question centered on who was more guilty in the case of Jane B. Dopey: the student accused of selling Ritalin or the witness who bought the Ritalin and then earned a lighter sentence for testifying against Dopey? For photos of the Mock Trial, see the photo gallery, or for a different view, click here. President-elect Tsai Ing-wen waves at supporters at DPP headquarters on Jan. 16, 2016 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo : Getty Images) Taiwans newly elected president Tsai Ing-wen vowed to maintain the status quo in the islands relationship with mainland China but will do so following her partys democratic principles. According to Reuters, Taipei's president-elect is planning to maintain, if not improve, ties with the mainland by governing the small nation with democracy. Advertisement "What will be different from the past eight years is that the promotion of cross-Strait ties will have to be based on the principle of democracy and people's desires," Tsai said in a statement, referring to the water that separates the island from the mainland. "Only in this way can the cross-Strait relationship last and give 'maintaining the status quo' real meaning." But Tsai's plan will most likely not work well with China's leaders, who intend to uphold the "one China" policy agreed upon by Taiwan's outgoing Nationalist government. Taiwan's Journey to Democracy Taiwan has long been regarded by the mainland as a wayward province which should be ruled by policies and laws in China, but many Taiwanese citizens want a separate nation. Historically, the first settlers of the island of Taiwan are believed to be people from Southern China. BBC News said that the island first appeared in Chinese records at a time when China sent an expeditionary crew to explore it in A.D 239 but Taiwan was tossed around after that. From 1683 to 1895, the island of Taiwan was "unquestionably" ruled by China under the Qing Dynasty, but was later ceded to Japan after China lost the first Sino-Japanese War. After the Japanese lost the World War II, the United States and Britain both decided to hand over the island to Chiang Kai-shek's Republic of China, which was their ally at the time. When Chiang was defeated by the Communist armies controlled by Mao Zedong, the remaining members of his Kuomintang (KMT) government sought refuge in Taiwan in 1949. After Chiang passed away, the KMT dictatorship, which was later inherited by his son, Chiang Ching-kuo, started to undergo democratization which led to the election of the island's first president, Chen Shui-bian, in 2000. Taiwan's First Female Democratic President On May 20, Tsai Ing-wen will begin her reign as the first president from a democratic party in Taiwan. A few weeks before her ascent, she effectively made her point on the Taiwan-China relations clear: democracy will rule the island. "I have said several times in the past that the new government will do whatever we can to sustain the peace and stability of cross-Strait ties and make them consistent and predictable," she said, reiterating her promise to the Mainland Affairs Council as cited by the AFP posted on Yahoo News. CHARLOTTESVILLE Rape is a difficult and time-consuming crime for law enforcement to investigate. Throw in a journalist even a well-intentioned one looking for a story, and the truth can be easily muddled or lost. On Thursday, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist T. Christian Miller joined Andrea Press, a professor of sociology and media studies at the University of Virginia, to talk about the ethics and best practices surrounding journalistic investigations of rape cases. Moderated by UVa law and media studies professor Siva Vaidhyanathan, the talk saw a couple dozen students in attendance and generated a discussion that touched on the retracted Rolling Stone article A Rape on Campus, which told the story of a UVa student who said she was raped in an off-Grounds fraternity house. Miller, a journalist with ProPublica, won a Pulitzer earlier this month for a story he co-wrote titled An Unbelievable Story of Rape. The story follows the case of an 18-year-old woman from Lynnwood, Washington, who told police she was raped by a man who broke into her apartment. But police did not believe her and charged her with making a false report, to which she eventually pleaded guilty. When detectives in Denver later arrested a man on charges of serial rape, they found indecent photos of the Washington teenager on his camera. Millers story looked at false reporting and examined how rape is one of the only crimes in which a victims credibility can be a part of the case. Speaking about his own work and how he comes to find a story, Miller told the audience that journalists need to responsibly cover issues and make sure the facts are there before printing a story. Sometimes, he said, its better to drop a story than to try to make it a story. As a journalist, Ive learned that reporters do better to follow the road you find and not the road you want to find, Miller said. Asked about his thoughts on the retracted Rolling Stone article, Miller said red flags began popping up in his mind as soon as he read the first sentence. Miller said the mistakes in the story were so fundamental that the problems in it were obvious to other reporters reading it. The best practice is to follow the story, not an ideology, said Miller, who said it seemed like Sabrina Erdely, the author of the story, had a specific story in mind that she wanted to write. I would love to interview Erdely someday and find out why she used the practices she did, Press said. I think she knew exactly what she was looking for because she wanted to grab attention. And she did. Press, who identified herself as a feminist sociologist, said the Rolling Stone story did not break in a vacuum. Before the story came out, the issue of campus rape was something that already was beginning to come to light. But following the storys publication, she said, more victims at UVa came forward to report their own assaults. She said UVa is not unusual and is probably representative of other campuses across the country. Citing a study from September, Press said about 23 percent of women undergraduates said they experienced some form of sexual assault, while 11 percent said they experienced actual penetration. Campus sexual assault is an epidemic, Press said. Unfortunately, she said, gathering sociological data about campus rapes can be extremely difficult because of the stigma against rape victims. Its even difficult to talk about what rape is with students because of different definitions of words like consent and sexual assault. We are researching some of the most intimate parts of life ... and its difficult, said Press. Both Press and Miller agreed that, although the story itself was not a good example of journalism, it had a positive side in that it brought more attention to the issue of campus rape. It was bad journalism that did some social good, Press said. The power of a story is often a motivator for choosing what to write about, Miller said. In journalism, sometimes you have to walk away. Following the talk, a few students crowded near the front of the room to talk to Press and Miller. Miyorose Koszeghy, a third-year media studies student, said it was interesting to hear about the Rolling Stone story from a journalistic point of view. I thought it was really great, Koszeghy said. I had gone to one of the forums about a year and half ago when the incident happened. I thought it was nice that they had a follow-up with someone in a journalistic background. I think one thing that I found interesting, and a little disappointing, was the turnout compared to a year and half ago, she added. Understandably so, the emotions and tension isnt as high now as it was then, but I was kind of surprised that it was such a low turnout. Miller, who took time to speak to everyone who came up to him, said, This was a chance to explain what journalists do, why we do what we do and why we care. I was thrilled the university agreed, and props to them for agreeing to have another journalist to come in and talk about another false reporting case. The Chinese government proposes to take 1 percent stake from big Web firms to gain direct influence over the Internet. (Photo : Getty Images) The Chinese government wants to take a small stake from Internet firms in the country in a bid to further tighten its control over the World Wide Web. First reported in The Wall Street Journal, China's Web regulators are proposing that the central government require Web companies to give the state a 1-percent stake. Advertisement Citing unnamed sources, the WSJ said that this would allow a representative from the government to be part of the board of China's biggest Internet giants after buying "special management shares." This would lend the government a more direct influence over the Web to further implement the Communist Party of China's policies on the Internet, particularly on censorship. Internet Companies According to the proposal, the Web firms should be placed under the oversight of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the Cyberspace Administration of China. If approved, the companies that are expected to be affected by this proposal include Tencent Holdings Ltd., Baidu Inc., NetEase Inc., and many other large-scale online media firms. But insiders told the WSJ that the proposal is highly unlikely to be approved because of the huge chance of complexities along the way, including the fact that these Chinese companies are enlisted in stock exchanges abroad which could result in resistance from exchange operators or foreign investors. According to EJ Insight, while the proposal may not materialize because of its vague clauses, there is a great question as to how much control the government of China would require until it is finally satisfied. Currently, the Communist government is requiring Web firms to censor themselves, requiring much investment on the part of the companies. China's Control Over the Internet When it comes to Internet censorship, there is no question that China's Great Firewall is one of the most effective Web filtering information centers in the country's cyberspace. In a special feature, the Huffington Post summarized all the things that a user is unable to do when accessing the Internet from China, such as the use of the world's widely used search engine, Google, along with its useful tools and components like Gmail, Google Maps and Google Drive. Aside from that, some terms such as spiritually related topics like Falun Gong or controversial political issues such as the Tiananmen Square cannot be searched even with the use of an approved search engine. In terms of social media, China has no access to some of the most popular websites including Whatsapp, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and many others. Durex is under fire in China for its disappointing live streaming ad. (Photo : Getty Images) The Chinese anti-pornography agency will be taking steps to prevent sexually suggestive advertisements from being posted over the Internet after Durexs highly controversial three-hour live broadcast that piqued the interest of over five million people. According to the Global Times, the Durex ad promised a live broadcast of 100 couples doing intimate activities late on Tuesday to promote their new condom product. Advertisement The company's voyeurism-themed marketing posts implied that the couples will be having sex while being streamed online. Because of this, a total of five million viewers were enticed to tune in to six video streaming platforms, including Youku, LeEco, and Douyuto, to watch the exciting three-hour event. But much to their dismay, the entire broadcast was plagued with the couples doing exercise, eating fruit and chatting. When it was finally time for the couples to lie down together in bed, a massive cloud of smoke filled the entire space where they were being broadcast. Many were unsatisfied with the "anticlimactic" ending, with some complaining that "nothing happened until the end." Marketing Interactive reported that the condom-maker was subjected to an Internet rally where netizens used the hash tag "resist Durex" to express their displeasure with the company, which currently holds 45 percent market share in China. According to QQ.com, many criticized the company, but some also fired at the streaming websites who decided to air Durex's ad despite the country's crackdown on pornographic activities and materials. To prevent another such incident from happening, the National Anti-Pornography and Anti-Illegal Publications Office revealed its plans on exerting more effort to bringing these kinds of vulgar marketing and soft-core pornography to justice. Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture called on to online streaming service providers to bear legal responsibility for broadcasting such vulgar contents on their websites, adding that violators should be punished. The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) of India released the annual export performance report for FY2016 in the presence of Chairman Praveenshankar Pandya, Vice Chairman Russell Mehta and other Directors. The data indicated that Exports of gold jewellery in FY16 dropped 13% to USD 8,609.25 mn as compared to USD 9,903.61 mn in FY15; Exports of Colored Gemstones dropped 4.4% in FY16 to USD 433.18 mn as compared to USD 453.25 mn in FY15; Gross exports of cut and polished diamonds in FY2016 dropped 13.7% to USD 19,996.06 million as compared to USD 23,160.18 mn in FY15; and other exports (such as pearls, synthetic stones, costume and fashion jewellery, etc.) increased by 49.7% in FY16. Speaking at the Presser, Praveenshankar Pandya, Chairman, GJEPC, said, For the first time ever, the Export of Cut & Polished diamonds, has shown a huge decline of 13% during April- March 2015-16, in comparison to the same period last year. Weak international demand and high rough diamond prices have led to the absence of Profitability. Slow Demand has led to the fall in Rough Diamond Import by 16% in FY 2015-16 for the first time. Rough Prices are edging upwards, the sluggish global demand has created inventory pile up. Increased Financial Cost or inventory carrying cost has become unbearable. Interest Subvention is the need of the hour! Russell Mehta, Vice Chairman, GJEPC said, GJEPC is preparing a Job Work draft Policy to be shared with the Government. The facility of job work is already allowed in China. In-spite of labour being around 20% expensive than India, global diamantaires are sending their diamonds to China for manufacturing purpose as job work policy is already in place in China. It is proposed to allow Goods on consignment basis for manufacturing purpose thus creating more jobs for artisans in the country. Praveenshankar Pandya also urged the government to permit the sale of rough diamonds at the SNZ in Mumbai by implementing a 0.25% tax on sales turnover achieved at SNZ by foreign mining companies. He also announced that it is collaborating with leading Miners namely De Beers, ALROSA and Rio Tinto to launch a Joint Promotional Generic Diamond Promotion Programme. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished Petra Diamonds said its production for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 leaped 26 percent to 995,905 carats compared to 791,443 carats, a year earlier. It said this was favourably impacted by production from the Kimberley tailings operations in South Africa following the completion of the Kimberley Mines acquisition last January. The company said production for nine months to 31 March 2016 was also up 10 percent to 2,6 million compared with 2,4 million carats recorded during the same period last year. Its revenue for the third quarter rose 25 percent to $120.5 million from $96.1 million, a year earlier, due to increased sales volumes and the sale of the 32.33 carat pink diamond from Williamson in Tanzania for $15 million. The company said that diamonds sold during the period also increased 13 percent to 937 526 carats compared to the previous years 826,815 carats further to the initial integration of the Kimberley Mines assets. "We are excited about our partnership in Kimberley, given the potential for long-term sustainable operations to the benefit of employees and the local communities there, said Petra chief executive Johan Dippenaar. Our expansion programmes remain on track and the opening up of undiluted mining areas has continued to yield improved grades at both Finsch and Cullinan. The construction of the new plant at Cullinan is also on track, and we remain highly focused on delivering the capital projects on time and within budget. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished De Beers announced Monday that diamonds with grading reports from its International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research (IIDGR) laboratories can now be uploaded to RapNet Rapaports Diamond Trading Network. I would encourage all our grading customers to begin uploading their polished diamond inventories with IIDGR reports to the RapNet site, said Jonathan Kendall, president of IIDGR. This will open up their stock to the strong expression of demand we are seeing from retailers, he said. De Beers noted IIDGR becomes one of only a handful of grading laboratories to have its reports listed on RapNet. IIDGR launched its generic diamond grading program earlier this year, extending its grading activity with the De Beers Forevermark brand. In a recent interview with Rapaport News, Kendall stressed the companys use of technology in the grading process enables it to improve on accuracy and consistency. The Long March 5 rocket being prepped for transport. The rocket will serve as China's primary launch vehicle for its space missions. (Photo : Twitter) China has started assembly of its latest Long March 5 heavy lift rocket, which is expected to be one of the country's major launch vehicles for its planned space missions. According to Long March 5's vice chief engineer Yang Hujun, assembly of the rocket is expected to be completed by the middle of the year. Yang added that testing the rocket will be conducted within a month, with the first launch set to be held later this year, CRI reported. Advertisement The 60-meter-long, 800-ton Long March 5 has a payload capacity of 25 tons for Low-Earth Orbit deliveries and 14 tons in Geostationary Transfer Orbit. It will also come in six different variant models, each serving a different role: for manned missions, and future lunar and Mars explorations. The rocket is also reportedly designed to use a non-toxic and pollutant-free propellant to reduce its environmental impact. Among the missions lined up for the Long March 5 is the launch of the Chang'e-5 lunar probe by the end of 2017. The probe will collect moon soil samples for analysis. China also plans to use the Long March 5 to deliver the Tianhe-1 module to orbit in 2018. The Tianhe-1 will serve as the core module for the country's planned first modular space station. Two space laboratory modules are set to be launched later to dock with the core module, GB Times reported. Aside from the Long March 5, the country also plans to field the Long March 7 rocket this year. The medium-range rocket will be able to carry 13.5 tons of payload to Low-Earth Orbit. Around 150 launches are slated for the Long March line of rockets until 2020. China unveiled the new set of space projects during its first national Space Day on April 24. The date marks the country's first foray into space with the launch of its first satellite, the DongFanghong-1, in 1970. A 15.99-carat Burmese ruby sold for $14.2 million at Christies New York Magnificent Jewels auction in New York on April 20. The oval-shaped stone within a circular-cut diamond and polished gold surround, known as the Jubilee Ruby, fetched $885,866 per carat, according to Christies website. The item, which was estimated at $12 million to $15 million, was the highlight of the auction. The auction realized a total of $57 million. The sale also included a cushion modified brilliant-cut, 10.07-carat, fancy intense purple-pink diamond. Bought for $2 million in 2007, this went for $8.8 million, or $878,352 per carat. Christies also sold a round brilliant-cut, 40.43-carat, D-color, flawless diamond for $7.2 million, or $178,605 per carat. The result comes after Sothebys failed to sell its lead item, Shirley Temples 9.54-carat blue diamond, at its Magnificent Jewels auction in the U.S. city on April 19. Sotheby's sold $29.9 million worth of jewels in total. Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders recently concluded a visit to Angola and said that the European country wanted to cooperate with the African states mining sector, particularly diamonds, according to a report on AllAfrica.com. His remarks came at the end of a meeting with Angolan Minister of Geology and Mining Francisco Monteiro Queiroz, in which the Belgian official outlined the possibility of trying to increase the price of Angolan diamonds in the Antwerp market. At that meeting, Queiroz requested that Belgium supply industry experts to train staff in the mining sector, as well as send Belgian financiers to Angola. Quieroz said that Belgiums experience in mining would prove invaluable to Angola, as it seeks investment and diversifying exploration to other materials. Former Dallas Area Rapid Transit Vice President of Marketing and Communications and current Richland College faculty member Sue Bauman has been appointed to the DART Board of Directors by the Dallas City Council. Bauman joined DART in 1984 and served as an agency vice president until her retirement in 2011. She joined Richland as adjunct instructor in government in 2011. Bauman replaces Robert Strauss who was appointed to the DART Board in 2006. Italian oil and gas company Eni SpA (E) reported Friday that its first-quarter net loss was 792 million euros or 0.22 euro per share, compared to last year's profit of 832 million euros o 0.23 euro per share. Loss per American Depository share was $0.48, compared to profit of $0.52 per share last year. Net loss from continuing operations was 803 million euros, compared to profit of 617 million euros a year ago. Adjusted net loss was 479 million euros, compared to prior year's profit of 454 million euros. Hydrocarbons production for the quarter grew 3.4% to 1.75 million boe/d. Net sales from continuing operations declined to 12.36 billion euros from 20 billion euros a year ago. Looking ahead, the company expects fiscal year 2016 production to be largely in line with 2015. The company noted that its financial and operating results allow it to confirm 2016 guidance of a 20% reduction in capex, organically financed at $50/bl, and its targeted leverage. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Belgian brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, or AB InBev (BUD,AHBIF.PK) said that it has submitted an updated package of commitments to the European Commission in line with its approach to proactively address potential regulatory considerations. AB InBev has offered the entirety of assets of SABMiller plc (SBMRY.PK,SAB.L) in Central and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland) for divestment in addition to Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime and their related businesses. These assets include a number of top brands in their and are expected to attract considerable interest from potential buyers. In line with AB InBev's ambition to close the overall transaction during the second half of 2016, the company has made this additional commitment in Phase 1 of the European Commission enquiry. The proposed divestments are subject to review and approval by the European Commission and conditional on the successful closing of the recommended acquisition of SABMiller by AB InBev, as announced on 11 November 2015. The divestment process in Europe will be carried out in the framework of the relevant employee information and consultation requirements and the ongoing dialogue with employee representative bodies. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News 3i Infrastructure plc (3IN.L) Friday said it has signed an agreement to invest approximately 200 million euros, subject to completion adjustments, in TCR, in a consortium with Deutsche Asset Management. Belgium-based TCR is an asset owner of airport ground support equipment and operates at approximately 100 airports. Completion of the transaction is conditional upon receiving clearance from the European Commission under the EU Merger Regulation which is anticipated by the end of August 2016. 3i Infrastructure and Deutsche AM's infrastructure investment will each acquire economic interests in TCR of up to 50% with the remaining equity being retained by the existing management team. 3i Infrastructure and Deutsche AM are purchasing their interests from the current owners, Chequers Capital and Florac. Separately, 3i Infrastructure announced that it has committed to invest approximately 5 million euros to acquire a significant majority stake in Coeur du Sud B.V., a Special Purpose Vehicle created for the Hart van Zuid primary Public Private Partnership project in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which has today reached financial close. The other shareholders are entities of the Heijmans and Ballast Nedam groups. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Austria's producer prices continued to decline in March, preliminary figures from Statistics Austria showed Friday. The producer price index dropped at a stable pace of 3.1 percent year-over-year in March. The measure has been falling since February 2013. The annual decline in March was primarily due to the falling prices in the field of energy and intermediate goods. At the same time, the price index for capital goods sector was more expensive than a year earlier. On a monthly basis, producer prices edged up 0.1 percent in March, in contrast to a 0.7 percent drop in the prior month. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) reported first-quarter earnings of $1.8 billion, or $0.43 per share, compared to $4.9 billion or $1.17 per share, a year ago. The company said the impacts of sharply lower commodity prices and weaker refining margins were partly offset by strong Chemical results. On average, 21 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report profit per share of $0.31 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company reported that its Chemical earnings increased 38 percent to $1.4 billion on stronger margins and higher sales volumes. Total revenues and other income decreased year-over-year to $48.71 billion from $67.62 billion. Analysts expected revenue of $48.14 billion, for the quarter. Capital and exploration expenditures were $5.1 billion, down 33 percent from the first quarter of 2015. On an oil-equivalent basis, production increased 1.8 percent from the first quarter of 2015. Liquids production totaled 2.5 million barrels per day, up 261,000 barrels per day, while natural gas production was 10.7 billion cubic feet per day, down 1.1 billion cubic feet per day from 2015. Project ramp-up was partly offset by regulatory restrictions in the Netherlands, field decline and asset management impacts. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Indiana Governor Mike Pence announced his support for Senator Ted Cruz, R-Tex., on Friday, just days before the potentially pivotal Republican presidential primary in the Hoosier State. In a radio interview on WIBC in Indianapolis, Pence praised Cruz for his dedication to advocating for the agenda of former President Ronald Reagan. "I really admire the way Ted Cruz has been willing to stand up for taxpayers in opposing runaway spending, deficits, and debt, calling for and leading on repealing Obamacare," Pence said. The governor also said he was impressed by Cruz' knowledge of the U.S. Constitution as well as his unwavering stand for the sanctity of life. The endorsement from Pence comes ahead of the Indiana primary on Tuesday, which could determine whether Cruz is able to stop frontrunner Donald Trump's march to the GOP nomination. Indiana is a winner-take-all state on the Republican side, and a win for Cruz could make it difficult for Trump to secure the 1,237 delegates he needs. However, while Pence said he would vote for Cruz, he also commended Trump for giving a voice to the millions of working Americans frustrated with the lack of progress in Washington. Pence said he is particularly grateful that Trump has taken a strong stand for jobs in Indiana and stressed that he would support whoever becomes the eventual Republican nominee. The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows Trump with a 38.8 percent to 33.5 percent lead over Cruz in Indiana. Ohio Governor John Kasich comes in third at 18.5 percent. Announcing an agreement between the campaigns on Sunday, Cruz said he would focus on Indiana and in turn clear the path for Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico. A victory for Trump in Indiana on the heels of his sweep of the primary contests in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island would further solidify his role as the presumptive nominee. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Google Android Wear director David Singleton announces Androidwear updates during the 2015 Google I/O conference on May 28, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan) The Federal Trade Commission has been investigating Alphabet Inc.'s Google and its abuses with the Android smartphone software. They will be examining the same issues that the European regulators have charged the popular internet company with. The FTC will be extending a probe that started a year ago, which was about the internet company's abuses with the smartphone software, according to the Wall Street Journal. Some app developers and other tech firms were complaining that the internet company has abused their authority when it comes to their mobile software. Advertisement Last week, European regulators have charged the internet company of using their smartphone software's name and status as the world's most popular mobile operating system, according to another report by the Wall Street Journal. This forced device makers and wireless carriers to favor the internet company's search engine, and their other services. Both the internet company and the commission have declined to comment on this matter. Members of the commission team that have been investigating the matter have recently met, and asked for information from at least two companies. The move means the probe is now progressing smoothly, and they are currently gaining more information from different sources. The commission investigators have not made any conclusions as of yet, so it is too early to believe that the internet company has done anything wrong. It is too early to say that the probe might lead to legal action as of the moment. The regulators from Europe might find a different conclusion than the commission, and there are several reasons for that. One of the reasons is that the competition laws from Europe will give antitrust enforcers more authority to take action against dominant companies. In Europe, the mobile platform of the internet company has stronger influence there, where it has 70 percent market share in Europe's five largest countries, and it also has 59 percent market share in the United States. The commission would also have to give the internet company credit if their actions were legitimate business moves and made Android users' experiences better. The internet company responded in a post from their official blog that the apps and services on Android devices help it improve their mobile software, and they also provide it for free to many phone makers. They want to keep the manufacturers' costs low and their flexibility of their resources high, the company added. Check out the commission's mobile apps video below: Pro-democracy activists carry a coffin to memorialize the victims of the Tiananmen Square Massacre during a rally on May 31, 2015 in Hong Kong. (Photo : Getty Images/Anthony Kwan) China passed a contentious law on Thursday granting the police extensive powers in controlling foreign charities and prohibiting such organizations from enlisting members or raising funds in the country. The law has given rise to an immediate and widespread protest. The new law pertaining to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has aggravated concerns from charities as well as foreign governments that it grants police unrestricted powers along with a government crackdown on civil society. Advertisement Currently, no less than 7,000 foreign NGOs are believed to be operating in China, which includes development charities like Save the Children, several advocacy groups such as Greenpeace, chambers of commerce as well as university centers. On the other hand, a committee of the Communist-controlled National People's Congress (NPC) endorsed the new law more or less unanimously with 147 votes in favor and just one against, Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency, quoted as the NPC spokesman He Shaoren telling reporters. According to Xinhua, the bill was submitted to the bi-monthly session of the NPC Standing Committee and, in its review report, the NPC Law Committee recommended that the bill be put for a vote during the session running from Monday to Thursday following two readings. The law, which is aimed at regulating the activities of NGOs founded outside the Chinese mainland, states that exchanges as well as cooperation between Chinese and foreign colleges, hospitals plus natural science and engineering technology institutes should be undertaken only in line with existing regulations. However, the new legislation does away with the restriction of allowing only one office in the Chinese mainland. Henceforth, the foreign charities can open offices as per their operational requirements. However, it will be mandatory for such institutions to obtain prior approval of the regulatory authority regarding the number as well as locations of the offices. Henceforth, overseas groups working throughout Chinese civil society on issues related to environment, philanthropy and cultural exchanges, and perhaps even in education and business will be required to find an official Chinese sponsor. In addition, it will be mandatory for them to register with the police. The new law is also applicable to groups working in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, New York Times reported. Organizations that fail to receive official approval will have to stop operating in China. It is expected that several of the existing groups will either cut back or do away with programs considered to be politically sensitive, for instance training lawyers, with a view to remain in operation. The new law is the most recent series of actions initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping against the Western influences and ideas which he as well as other leaders of the NPC believes are a threat to the Communist Party's survival. It is expected that Xi will enact further sweeping security laws in line with his and the party's ideology. Watch the video on "China denies controversial draft law would block all foreign sites" below: The super rare, special edition Iron Man Xbox One is to die for!; Captain America edition soon? [UPDATED] Microsoft has unveiled a series of custom Iron Man-themed Xbox Ones in line with the premiere of "Captain America: Civil War." (Photo : YouTube/JeuxActu) Microsoft has unveiled a series of custom Iron Man-themed Xbox Ones in line with the premiere of "Captain America: Civil War." The design itself is a beauty, and Tony Stark himself would be proud. The Special Edition Iron Man Xbox One comes in a rare white color and is decorated with an illuminated arc reactor similar to the one Tony Stark uses in the Marvel films, Eurogamer reported. The top of the console is labeled with the popular Stark Industries logo, and the unit is being marketed as "designed by Stark Industries." Advertisement The standard controller also received an upgrade. The white-colored device features a miniature arc reactor on top of the change view and Xbox OneGuide buttons, in place of the traditional Xbox home button The Iron-Man themed Xbox One is very limited edition and only three of this has ever been made in honor of this week's premiere of "Captain America: Civil War." According to IGN, all three units of the console are being given away by Xbox France through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Based on the promo ad, there appear to be no restrictions as to who can enter. The sleek design and the fact that it is a rare gem makes the Special Edition Iron Man Xbox One a must have for all gamers and Iron Man fans alike. With this bad boy, gamers can enjoy these upcoming Xbox One release: "The Walking Dead: Micone," "Doom," "Battleborn," "Hitman: Episode 3," "Fallout 4" and more. The Xbox France release coincides with the promotional tour for Team Iron Man. Actor Robert Downey, Jr. recently revealed a clip of him lighting up the Eiffel Tower to Iron Man's signature red and gold colors. On the other hand, the rest of Team Captain America visited Singapore for the local premiere of "Captain America: Civil War." As for those in Team Cap, there is no news about Captain America's own edition of Xbox One console. On other news, Downey Jr., Chris Evans and the rest of Marvel gang will return to the big screen in "Captain America: Civil War." The Avengers are divided by an internal conflict, and now, they have to take sides between Iron Man and Captain America. The new Spiderman, played by Tom Holland, also makes an appearance. "Captain America: Civil War" hits theatres on May 6. Watch the video to know more about Iron Man-themed Xbox One: 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 ... A few days before President Francois Hollandes visit to Cairo last week, the French ambassador invited me to meet with Hollande, as part of a small group of Egyptian writers and politicians. The purpose of the meeting, ambassador Andre Parant said, was to discuss the political and economic situation and explore ways to strengthen ties between Egypt and France. Parant made a point of inviting a diverse group of independent thinkers, perhaps to ensure that the meeting was not reflective of any one political and ideological view. The meeting, which lasted about an hour, was attended on the French side by the minister of culture, the director of the Arab World Institute in Paris, and several parliamentarians. The conversation turned to the current situation in Egypt, the political, economic, and cultural challenges facing the country, and potential avenues of cooperation with France. I focused in my intervention on the development of French-Egyptian economic relations, observing that Hollandes visit offered little on two of the most vital issuesthe return of French tourists to Egypt and increasing foreign investment in areas that could create jobs for the youth. President Hollande commented that he was working assiduously to encourage French tourism in Egypt, but that this depended on Egypts progress in securing airports and tourist facilities. As for investment, he said that a meeting that same morning with the French-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce was fruitful and he would pursue the issue further upon his return to France. Attendees also discussed how to combat terrorism without sacrificing constitutional and human rights gains, the turmoil in the Arab region, and cooperation in higher education. Hollande expressed Frances commitment to support Egyptian efforts in economic development, counterterrorism, and the building of constitutional institutions. I left the meeting thinking that we had conveyed a realistic picture of the nature of the challenges facing Egypt and the need for deeper cooperation between the two countries to address them. So I was shocked when, a few days later, everyone at the meeting came under severe media scrutiny, accused of urging France to cut economic ties with Egypt, scale down commercial cooperation, and bar French tourism. In fact, during the meeting with Hollande, we discussed ways to develop and encourage investment cooperation and overcome the tourism crisis. It is true that some attendees also raised concerns over the political situation, democracy, and human rights, but this was part of a frank conversation in which attendees expressed divergent views, and there was absolutely no incitement against the state, attempts to to leverage Western support, or conspiring to destroy national institutions as was later reported in the media. So why was the meeting the focus of so much attention and criticism when it was neither held in secret, nor as it the only meeting Hollande had during his visit? In fact he also met with other writers and intellectuals, as well as with investors, MPs, and officials. The answer, I think, is that such accusations of treasonous conduct are not new. They are revived whenever state agencies need a hook on which to hang their mismanagement and failure to resolve the Egyptian peoples problems. The state-owned media ignores the public's worries and problems pertaining to the grinding economic crisis, price hikes, as well as political and popular resentment over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir. Instead, they point the finger at statements and blog posts (some of which were unfortunate) about a conversation with a guest of Egypt, as if such a thing could conceivably lead to a breaking of French-Egyptian ties, change the course of bilateral economic cooperation, or undermine our national security. The suspicions and charges of treason leveled over the past few years at any person who dares to object to state policies and practices, or even express reservations, is no longer acceptable. In fact, its a sure-fire way of destroying society and its institutions, deepening the divisions within it, and weakening its ability to deal with challenges and risks. A state is not made strong only by its defensive and combat capacities, but by its internal cohesion, tolerance of diverse views, and belief that difference does not equal treason. The insistence on one opinion and the states dominance of the public sphere only furthers social divisions. It turns young people who wish to participate and forge the future either to despair and frustration or to violence, having found all avenues for peaceful dialogue and protest closed. *The writer holds a PhD in financial law from the London School of Economics. He is former deputy prime minister, former chairman of the Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority and former chairman of the General Authority for Investment. This article was published in Arabic in El-Shorouq newspaper on Monday, 25 April. Search Keywords: Short link: I give my consent to Sakshi Post to be in touch with me via email for the purpose of event marketing and corporate communications. Privacy Policy Customers are asked to be present on Friday at airports four hours prior to international flights and two hours prior to domestic flights; see information inside Related Daylight savings time in Egypt postponed to 7 July Egyptian national airline EgyptAir urged its customers to arrive at airports on Friday four hours prior to departure for international flights and two hours prior for domestic flights due to the postponement of daylight savings time in Egypt, an official statement said. The Egyptian cabinet announced Thursday that daylight savings time would start 7 July and - instead of today - and last until the end of October. Egypt is normally two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) meaning clocks in Egypt were three hours ahead of GMT when daylight savings time was last applied in 2014. The confusion caused by the daylight savings' last minute cancellation has affected 15% of domestic trips from Cairo International Airport as many travelers ran late for their flights, said head of Egypt's national carrier EgyptAir Hisham Al-Nahas, according to Ahram Arabic newswebsite. International trips from the country were not affected, El-Nahas said. Late passengers were provided seats in following flights with no penalty fees imposed, he added. EgyptAir asked its customers to contact its call centre in Egypt or visit its official website to find updated flight times. The airline's call centre's number in Egypt can be reached at 090070000 from any landline or 1717 from any mobile phone. EgyptAir's official website is www.egyptair.com Search Keywords: Short link: County raises employee wages in attempt to battle inflation After a market study on wages, Saline County has approved a pay increase for all its employees beginning Jan. 2023. The Associate Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi yesterday encouraged young Samoan females to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (I.C.Ts). Lealailepule made the point during the local celebration of the International Girls in I.C.T Day at the T.A.T.T.E Building in Apia. Organised by the International Telecommunications Union (I.T.U) and the United Nations, the day is designed to empower and encourage girls and young women to choose I.C.T. In Samoa, the Office of the Regulator (O.O.T.R) facilitated a one-day workshop programme for girls students from Colleges around the country. The programme included a Poster competition, mobile phone texting competition, Impromptu Speech Competition and Quiz Competition on I.C.T related topics. Regulator, Unutoa Auelua Fonoti, said the government has made it a priority to encourage young females and women to take up I.C.T. According to the stats from the I.T.U only a small number of females are in this industry and not only that it is the lack of access for the females to use I.C.T services, she said. Other records from the I.T.U show that 30% of government employees around the world who are working as I.C.T officers are females which means 70% of them are men and 19% of I.C.T Managers are females which means 81% of them are men. In Samoa alone, its less than 1% of female taking this career which is very small. Unutoa added that I.C.T-related work is well paid. Last year, the Samoa Bureau of Statistics conducted a survey and in that survey it says that an engineer and I.C.T workers are the highest paid people in Samoa throughout all fields. So that is the other reason why we are encouraging females to take up I.C.T. The Bank South Pacific has joined forces with the Development Bank of Samoa (D.B.S), the Samoa Housing Corporation (S.H.C) and the Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F) to host the 39th Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (A.D.F.I.A.P) annual meeting. To be held in Samoa for the first time next week, more than 130 delegates representing 40 countries in Asia Pacific are scheduled to attend. Yesterday, B.S.P General Manager, Maryann Lameko-Vaai, announcing their sponsorship at the banks main branch in Apia. She presented a cheque of $10,000 with $5,000 worth of merchandise to the Chairperson of the Organising Committee and C.E.O of D.B.S, Susana Laulu, C.E.O of S.N.P.F, Faumuina Esther Poutoa and C.E.O of S.H.C, Matautia Rula Levi. With the theme of the meeting being D.F.Is: Building Partnerships for Climate Change Resilience, Mrs. Lameko-Vaai highlighted the significance of helping to develop financing for sustainable economic and social development and climate change resilience. We recognise our role as a financial institution in fostering climate change resilience within our economy and our country, she said. Partnering with the Development Financing Institutions at this meeting will help our development partners produce solutions in the hope that it will lead to climate change resilience. B.S.P Group C.E.O, Robin Fleming will be in the country next week to speak at the annual meeting. The event will be held from 2-5 May 2016. Three people closely tied to the couple responsible for the San Bernardino terror attack were arrested Thursday in an alleged marriage fraud scheme involving a pair of Russian sisters. The accused include Syed Raheel Farook. His brother and sister-in-law, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, died in a shootout with police after killing 14 people and wounding 22 others on Dec. 2. Also arrested Thursday were Syed Raheel Farook's wife, Tatiana, and her sister, Mariya Chernykh. Prosecutors say Mariya's marriage to Enrique Marquez Jr., the only person charged in the shootings, was a sham designed to enable her to obtain legal status in the U.S. after overstaying her visitor visa in 2009. Marquez confessed to the green card scheme when authorities questioned him about the shootings, and acknowledged getting $200 a month to marry Chernykh, according to his criminal complaint, filed in December. According to an indictment unsealed Thursday, bank statements show that Chernykh was making $200 deposits into a joint bank account. Marquez remains the only person charged in connection with the terror attack. He's charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists by buying the assault rifles used in the massacre, making false statements about when he bought the weapons, and conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook on a pair of previously planned attacks that were never carried out. The Farooks and Chernykh were expected to be arraigned Thursday in federal court in Riverside. Attorneys representing them did not return calls seeking comment. If convicted of conspiracy to make false statements on federal immigration documents, they could get up to five years in prison. Chernykh also is charged with fraud, misuse of visas and other documents, perjury and two counts of making material false statements to federal charges, which could mean up to 25 years in prison. The indictment says Syed Raheel and Tatiana Farook participated in the sham by acting as witnesses to the union of her sister and Marquez, and by creating a joint checking account along with a backdated lease to make it appear as if all four of them lived together. Tatiana Farook also accompanied her sister to buy a $50 wedding ring, and Marquez and Chernykh posed in photographs that were staged to make the marriage appear real, prosecutors said. All the while, Marquez was living with his mother next door to the house where the Farook brothers grew up, and Chernykh was living in a different city with her boyfriend, also the father of her child, according to the criminal complaint against Marquez. Syed Raheel Farook, the shooter's older brother, earned two medals for fighting global terrorism for serving in the Navy from 2003 to 2007. In February, FBI agents spent hours searching his home in the Southern California city of Corona, carting out armloads of thick manila envelopes, a computer tower and an unidentifiable object so heavy it took two men to carry. That search warrant was sealed, and it wasn't immediately clear if it was connected to Thursday's arrests. Syed Rizwan Farook was a county health inspector who targeted his co-workers at an annual training session in what became the deadliest terror strike on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001. The FBI still has not found a hard drive from Farook's computer, despite having divers spend days searching a lake along the couple's escape route, and has yet to figure out what they did for 18 minutes following the shooting, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Thursday. Federal authorities also have not publicly revealed whether they gleaned any useful information from his iPhone, which was hacked into at the government's request, rendering moot a legal battle over Apple's refusal to unlock it for investigators. The FBI has not ruled out that someone other than the dead couple knew about or helped plan the attack. "Those questions are still lingering," Eimiller said. "Did they have help? Did they have some support of any form? This is very much a continuing investigation and will be for some time." Syed Rizwan Farook's family maintains they had no inkling about the plot. His mother, Rafia Farook, lived with him, Tashfeen Malik, and their newborn daughter in a townhome near San Bernardino. She said she never saw anything to suggest her son and daughter-in-law were planning a massacre. Malik was from Pakistan and came to the U.S. in July 2014 so she could marry Rizwan Farook, whose parents were born in Pakistan. Farook was born in Chicago and grew up in Southern California. A wave of nighttime airstrikes hit a hospital in Syria supported by Doctors Without Borders and nearby buildings in the rebel-held part of the contested city of Aleppo, killing at least 27 people as the U.N. envoy for Syria appealed early Thursday on the U.S. and Russia to help revive the peace talks and a cease-fire, which he said "hangs by a thread." Six hospital staff and three children were also among the casualties. The strikes, shortly before midnight Wednesday, hit the well-known al-Quds field hospital in the rebel-held district of Sukkari in Aleppo, according to opposition activists and rescue workers. The chief Syrian opposition negotiator Mohammed Alloush blamed the government of President Bashar Assad for the deadly airstrikes. He told The Associated Press that the latest violence by government forces shows "the environment is not conducive to any political action." The Civil Defense, a volunteer first-responders agency whose members went to the scene of the attack, put the death toll at 30 and said the dead included six hospital staff. Among those slain was one of the last pediatricians remaining in opposition-held areas of the contested city and a dentist. The agency, also known as the White Helmets, said the al-Quds hospital and adjacent buildings were struck in four consecutive airstrikes. It said there were still victims buried under the rubble and that the rescue work continued. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 27 were killed, including three children. Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym MSF, said in a series of tweets also emailed to the AP that at least 14 patients and staff were among those killed, with the toll expected to rise. "Destroyed MSF-supported hospital in Aleppo was well known locally and hit by direct airstrike on Wednesday," it said. A video posted online by the White Helmets showed a number of lifeless bodies, including those of children, being pulled out from a building and loaded into ambulances amid screaming and wailing. It also showed distraught rescue workers trying to keep onlookers away from the scene, apparently fearing more airstrikes. Alloush, who was one of the leading negotiators of the opposition in the Geneva talks, described the airstrikes as one of the latest "war crimes" of Assad's government. "Whoever carries out these massacres needs a war tribunal and a court of justice to be tried for his crimes. He does not need a negotiating table," Alloush told the AP in a telephone interview. "Now, the environment is not conducive for any political action." The February 27 cease-fire has been fraying in the past weeks as casualty figures from violence mount, particularly in Aleppo and across northern Syria. Airstrikes earlier this week also targeted a training center for the Syrian Civil Defense, leaving five of its team dead in rural Aleppo. Since April 19, nearly 200 people have died, including at least 44 in an airstrike on a market place in rebel-held area in northern Idlib province, as well as dozens of civilians in government-held areas from rebel shelling. The U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, briefed the U.N. Security Council via videoconference about the largely stalled indirect talks between the Western- and Saudi-backed opposition and envoys from Assad's government, which has the backing of Moscow. He said that after 60 days, the cessation of hostilities agreed to by both sides "hangs by a thread." "I really fear that the erosion of the cessation is unraveling the fragile consensus around a political solution, carefully built over the last year," de Mistura said in his council briefing obtained by The Associated Press. "Now I see parties reverting to the language of a military solution or military option. We must ensure that they do not see that as a solution or an option." The talks foundered last week after the main opposition group, called the High Negotiating Committee, suspended its formal participation in the indirect talks with Assad's envoys to protest alleged government cease-fire violations, a drop in humanitarian aid deliveries and no progress in winning the release of detainees in Syria. To commemorate World Press Freedom Day, U.N.E.S.C.O, F.A.O and U.N.D.P, in partnership with the School of Media and Journalism of the National University of Samoa, organised a seminar that brought together Communication Officers from government ministries and media representatives. More than thirty participants attended the event held on Thursday at the United Nations Compound, in Matautu-Uta. The programme, focused on the theme Freedom of Information and Sustainable Development, included five informative presentations about different aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development followed in the afternoon by group activities. In his opening remarks, Alain Godonou, Director of U.N.E.S.C.O, highlighted that: Public access to information and press freedom is vital to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies where sustainable development can be achieved. When interviewed, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Lizbeth Cullity, said: The media can contribute to improve peoples lives by explaining and promoting the Sustainable Development Goals. The seminar mainly aimed at providing the journalists and communication practitioners with the tools and the knowledge they need to disseminate information relevant to the Samoan communities. On the same day, participants attended an evening function where the N.U.S. Media and Journalism Students Annual Awards were celebrated. During the reception, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi delivered the keynote address and congratulated the three students that were rewarded for their excellence. The link between press freedom and sustainable development is made for the first time this year, following the adoption in late 2015 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The new Agenda for Sustainable Development recognize the need to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements, said Tuilaepa. On this years World Press Freedom Index Samoa ranks 29th out of 180 countries. The Index measures the level of freedom available to journalists and it is a snapshot of the media freedom situation based on an evaluation of pluralism, independence of the media, quality of legislative framework and safety of journalists. This is a tremendous result for a small island nation, something we should be proud of. The Students Annual Awards, administered by the N.U.S. Media and Journalism Programme, are assessed and judged based on outstanding students who have exceptionally contributed to information gathering and dissemination online through its Facebook Page as part of their technical and vocational training. The three winners were: Nefertiti Matatia (print and online category), Francis Vaigalepa (radio) and Katalina Tovia (TV). A media statement of commitment to promote and publicise the Sustainable Development Goals, crafted by the seminars participants and a Media and Advocacy Awards on S.D.Gs were also launched at the evening reception. The event, was held at the N.U.S Fale. Samoa received a grant of US$1.9million (T$4.3m) yesterday from the government of Japan. The grant contract was signed by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Ambassador of Japan to Samoa, Tuimaugaoalii Kazumasa Shibuta at the Prime Ministers office. This is a part of the ongoing support the Government of Japan has been providing for Samoa. According to a press release provided, the grant will be used properly and exclusively for the purchase of products and/or services necessary for the implementation of Economic and Social developments across Samoa. Tuimaugaoalii said the grant will be used for equipments and products to improve the services in some sectors in the country. We are looking at utilizing any equipment made in Japan with this grant to help enhance the services provided for the people of Samoa, Tuimaugaoalii told the media yesterday. The two sectors that are expected to be recipients of the grant are the Health Sector and Fire Authority. We received a lot of requests from the Samoa government but these are the two areas that needed a lot of help and we aim to cater for the need of your government. Dental equipments and fire vehicles are on top of the list for the grant. According to the press release, training and other necessary services for operation of maintenance of equipment would be covered as well. This cooperation agreement is supported by Japanese Supplementary Budget and extended by the Government of Japan to friendly countries like the Government of Samoa by virtue of its relevant laws and regulations and budgetary appropriations. Japan has been working in partnership with the Samoan Government since 1977, to further develop such socio-economic projects in Samoa. Tuimaugaoalii said that the government of Japan provides approximately 30million US dollars for the government of Samoa annually. The next grant contact is expected to be signed in July between Japan and Samoa according to Tuimaugaoalii. The President of French Polynesia, Edouard Fritch, was bestowed the chiefly title of Tagaloa yesterday. The ceremony was held at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Resort at Mulifanua. Former Member of Parliament for Faleata West, Ale Vena Ale and Ulu Vaomalo Kini gave their blessings to Tagaloa Fritch and welcomed him and his delegation to Samoa. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi along with some of his Ministers and Associate Ministers and delegation from Tahiti witnessed the traditional ceremony. In accepting the title, Tagaloa said he now understands the meaning of the ritual and its importance. Thank you for gathering here today and for this honour, he told the crowd. I hope for Gods help to guide me carry the title of Tagaloa. This is the essence of the people of the Pacific is to reunite and strengthen the relationship between Tahiti and Samoa. Tagaloa also acknowledged the long services of Prime Minister Tuilaepa saying that he wishes one day he will be as wise as Tuilaepa. He has a lot to teach us, added the President. In response, Tuilaepa congratulated Tagaloa for his title bestowment. When Ulu offered his blessings to the new chief he told Tagaloa he has finally come home to his family. He pointed out that Tahiti and Samoa have a long history and have close ties especially in the religion. The Missionary (John) William and Ellis (William) first arrived in Tahiti where they named the church L.M.S. (London Missionary Society) as Lotu Taiti, said Ulu. You have come back Tagaloa to your country and this is one testament of our ties this morningthis is your family. Those are your honour and blessings so wear it with pride on your head dressing and read it like you read the bible. Ale added his congratulations reminding Tagaloa that the title is a superior chief in the country. A private lunch hosted by the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel followed after the event. Tagaloa Fritch is leading a delegation of more than 300 officials from French Polynesia who are in Samoa for the opening of the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel. and Bungalows. The Egyptian cabinet announced on Thursday that daylight savings time will return to Egypt starting 7 July until the end of October. Daylight savings time, which had for years seen clocks put forward one hour in the summer, was canceled last April in a decision by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The system was scrapped following a public poll that showed a majority did not support applying daylight savings time in Egypt. First implemented in the country in 1988, the system was introduced as a power-saving measure prolonging daylight hours. It was abolished in April 2011 after the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak, with the government arguing at the time that the practice was ineffective at curbing power usage. The system was temporarily revived in May 2014 in order to ease consumption after the country saw rolling power blackouts. In the summer of that year, Egypt changed the clock four times, first applying daylight savings time, and then suspending it during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to shorten the daily dawn-to-dusk fast. Egypt is normally two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) meaning it was three hours ahead when daylight saving time was applied. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts prosecutor-general is sending a request for information on the cases from UK and US officials Egypt's top prosecutor Nabil Sadek ordered on Thursday an investigation into the deaths of two Egyptians who died under suspicious circumstances earlier this month in the United States and the UK. The prosecutor-general ordered investigations into the deaths of Mohamed Mahmoud Rushdie in Indiana, who was found dead in a dumpster, and British-Egyptian Adel Habib, who died earlier this week in a garage blaze in London. Habibs death is being investigating by British Metropolitan police and is unexplained at this stage in the investigation, according to a statement by the British embassy in Cairo. Rushdie, who had gone missing on 20 April before his body was discovered, was found bearing signs of torture. Egypts prosecutor-general ordered his offices International Cooperation Department to prepare a request for information on the cases from UK and US officials. According to a statement issued by the Egyptian foreign ministry on Thursday evening, the General Egyptian Consulate in Chicago is following Rushdies case. The consul has met with Indiana investigators to receive the latest updates about the crime. The foreign ministrys spokesperson said that the ministry summoned the head of the Consular Section at the US embassy in Cairo to stress the importance of uncovering the truth and finding those responsible. Search Keywords: Short link: The naval exercises between Egypt and UAE were held off the coast of the Gulf state Egypt and the United Arab Emirates concluded on Friday their two-week long joint military drill in the Gulf country's waters, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. The Khalifa II military and naval exercise included naval reconnaissance of enemy targets as well combat training techniques such as handling enemy targets at sea, storming suspect vessels, ship combat, and coordinating with air forces to receive air support. During a visit by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to Cairo last week, the UAE pledged $4 billion to Egypt, half as a deposit in the central bank and the other half in investments in developmental projects. Search Keywords: Short link: An all-night coffee house, a trunk full of stolen guns, and a briefcase full of cash. But whats really going on in Jack Bristows short story Joes Coffee House? Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join In my line of work, all that really matters is promotion. Youve gotta move up. You have to elevate yourself, by whatever means necessary. Sucking up to a boss, especially by making a lot of money for him, usually with a very good score, is one of the best ways to accomplish this goal. That scorching hot summer night in Las Vegas, we had it all planned out, too. Meet the weapons dealer at Joes Coffee House. Get to know the guy a little bit. And then, after you get to know him after you feel the guy out, as it were make the deal. Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today This all sounds pretty simple, right? But not really. In La Cosa Nostra, you have got to be extremely careful about the type of people you do business with. You say the wrong thing, you set off the wrong signals, and thats it youre toast. The whole business transaction might go down the tube, or worse yet, somebody might snuff you out right then and there in the parking lot. It didnt help matters much that it was now 3 oclock in the morning, and that Joes Coffee House was on the seediest side of Las Vegas: the infamous West Side, a mecca of greed and corruption. You are supposed to be a good earner, and youre supposed to be a real stand-up guy. So why are you dealing with all the dregs of the underworld? Why do you have to go 3,000 miles away from home, New York City, the Big Apple? Patsy tells me why I have to: .357 Magnums have been selling like hotcakes here, Joey. You gotta hightail it over to Las Vegas and make this here transaction with this fellow I tracked down. The guy seems totally legit; he seems to be on the up-and-up. Southern guy, speaks with a twang. A real country bumpkin type of good old boy, you know? I was to meet this character, who went by Roy though, clearly, that wasnt his real name at Joes Coffee House. But I had a few reservations about this here score. I dont think I wanna go through with this deal, Patsy, I said into the receiver. I mean, Im out there all alone; it sounds too risky. Look, Joey. I already told Mr. Spirochete about this deal. His hearts already set on having those guns. You dont want to break the old mans heart, do you? Hell, no. I dont want to break the old mans heart, I said. Thats the last thing I would want to do, Patsy. Believe me. Great, Joey, Patsy responded. Ill be by your apartment tomorrow morning with your plane ticket. And so, there I was the next night: Standing in front of Joes Coffee house, scoping the joint out. There were only four cars in the parking lot at this late hour: an old Coupe de Ville, which looked like it came straight out of the 1970s; a nice 2009 apple-red Porsche with tinted windows; a Subaru from 1992 with dents galore; and, in the back alley of the parking lot, the 2013 Lincoln MKS, which I had rented just a few hours before. The two old junkers, I concluded, must have belonged to the cook and the waiter or waitress. The Porsche, especially with its tinted windows, must have belonged to our weapons dealer, Roy. Sirens blared outside as I slowly and cautiously made my way inside the open-24-hour-a-day coffee shop. To say Joes Coffee House was a dump would have been an overstatement. It wasnt as bad as youd imagine it to be, looks-wise. It was a competent little coffee place. An old lady popped her head up from behind the cash register. She kind of surprised me, to be honest with you. I guess she had been fumbling around with the receipts, or trying to get the cash register to open, or something. What would you like to drink, sir? Can I interest you in a Multi-Latte, brewed with the finest Colombian beans? Sure, I said finally. Ill try your Multi-Latte. The old lady flashed me a smile, exposing her crooked teeth, and before she could make her way to the latte machine, I asked her outright, Say, Im looking for this guy, he was supposed to meet me here. But I dont see anybody. Are there any other customers in here? The old ladys face tensed up. Clearly, I had said the wrong thing. After all, this wasnt the greatest part of town. She probably had me pegged as a stick-up man. The old crone stammered. Why do you want to know, know that? Just then, I heard a toilet flush, and this guy with short brown hair, wearing a loud, dark blue sharkskin suit, made his way out of the john. The fellow, sounding affable enough, asked the old lady for another Multi-Latte. That sure hit the spot, sweetheart. You mind making me one more? The country bumpkin smiled, exposing his teeth; they brought the old ladys teeth to shame. Pearly white. Those frigging chompers were beyond reproach, I tell you. Anyway, I jumped in, trying to console the frightened old dame. See, I said, pointing my forefinger at Mr. Sharkskin. This is the gentleman I was supposed to meet, for our business transaction. The old lady looked at both of us, and then, once again, a huge smile engulfed her face. Two Multi-Lattes. Yes, sirs. And then she hightailed it over to the latte machine. The country bumpkin, Roy, and I made our way to the stools and parked our asses down. Roy looked at me; he was an interesting-looking specimen, all right. A decent-looking guy. Middle forties, probably. He had a nice, red tan the kind that drives the ladies wild light brown hair that verged on blonde, and dark blue eyes. He smiled at me, as we sat down on our respective stools. You ordered the Multi-Latte too, huh? Yeah, its the first thing she mentioned to me. Would you like to try our Multi-Latte? Sure, I says. Why not? Roy smacked his arm on the counter as though this were the funniest thing he had ever heard. And then he burst out in laughter. He had a loud, cackling laugh. Something about it was very upsetting to me. No kidding? She pushed the Multi-Latte on you? Thats what she did to me, too. Yeah, I said. Thats what she did, all right. Roy laughed once again, like this was the greatest thing he had ever heard. The guy was sure jovial. You had to give him that. Well, I know your buddy Patsy, he said. Hes from New York. Ive only spoken to him a few times, but he seems to be good people. Any friend of Patsys is good people too, as far as Im concerned. The old lady returned with the two Multi-Lattes. Thanks, darling, Roy said, smiling. The old woman returned his smile with a toothless one, and then she scuttled away, off toward the kitchen. Well, Im glad youre here, partner. What say you and I go outside and complete the transaction. You brought the briefcase, right? Look, I know youre a good guy, I said to Roy, but if you dont mind, Id like to make sure everything is on the up and up. Roy had this quizzical expression on his face. Before we make this here transaction, I gotta make sure youre not wearing any mics, I said, sternly. Roy didnt laugh at this one, as well he shouldnt have. On the street, accusing somebody of being a snitch is one of the gravest insults its tantamount to saying something nasty about somebodys mother, but a million times worse. Hey, dont worry about it, my friend, I said This is all just a proper precaution. We do this with everyone we do business with outside of New York City. Well, hell, you East Coast boys sure are mighty thorough, aint you? Well, why the hell not, partner? Roy pulled up turquoise-colored dress shirt, exposing his flat-as-a-board chest to me. No wire, I noticed. Okay, I said to Roy. Everything looks good. Lets go outside and do some business together. First off, we stop in front of the 2009 apple-red Porsche, which is parked near the front of Joes Coffee Shop. Its not obscured in the back parking lot like my car was. Lets see what kind of hardware youre peddling before I hand you over the briefcase, I told him. Roy looked around furtively a few times, making sure there werent any cops around, nobody who was planning on busting us; then, with one press on his keychain, we heard a light toot coming from the car, and then the trunk pops open. Whoosh. Roy handed me a flashlight, and I flashed it inside the trunk. I saw this big pile of metal: guns, guns, and even more guns. There had to have been 100 of them in all all .357 Magnums, too. I whistled impressively at the sight of these beauties. Whered you get all this hardware, I asked Roy. Roy beamed brightly, and he said, My partner and I, we burglarized an ammunition warehouse just outside of Gilbert, Arizona. We took everything we could get our hands on, by the truckload: AK-47s, shotguns, bullet-proof vests, and these .357 Magnums you see here. I grabbed one of the Magnums. The thing was heavy all right. It just felt mean. You could tell how strong it was just by holding it. Thats what I have been trying to tell our friend, Patsy if you guys ever need any more weapons, we can definitely help you out on that front. We have still got a bunch of AK-47s left, if your people in New York are interested. Ill let you know if we need anything more. First Patsys gotta run it by the old man in New York. Hes the boss, not us. What he says goes. Roy flashed one of his movie star smiles at me. Sounds good, partner. We made it to the back of Joes Coffee Shop to the part of the parking lot where my rental car the Lincoln MKS was parked. This time around, I pressed the key-chain and, like magic, the trunk of the car whooshed open. Abracadabra, I said. I grabbed the briefcase from out of the trunk and handed it over to Roy, my jolly country bumpkin friend. Twenty-five grand. Its all in there. But if you want to, youre free to count it. Nah, he said. He didnt want to count it. Anybody connected with the Spirochete clan in New York is okay by me, partner. *** Later that night, in my hotel room, I gave my comrade-in-arms Patsy Bravo a jingle. The transaction went as smoothly as you can imagine. No problems on my end over here, my friend. Mr. Spirochete is gonna be so happy, Patsy gushed. What about our friend Roy? I said, breaking Patsys train of thought. Patsy didnt seem to be too concerned about Roy. Forget about it, Joey, he said. The guys a hick, and a small fish, in the grand scheme of things. Im not worried about him. If we have to make a move on him later, then so be it. But for right now, lets just focus all our time and energy on nabbing Mr. Spirochete. I thought about what my three-year-long deep cover partner Patsy Bravo was telling me: Lets just focus on our big man in New York City for right now. And if we have to do another sting operation to nab our arms dealer friend Roy and his tacky sharkskin suit, then so be it, well do just that. But for right now at least, lets focus all our talent and energy on the Boss of Bosses, the Capo di Tutti Capi, Johnny A. Spirochete the most bloodthirsty mob boss in all of New York City, maybe in all the world. I cant wait to see that old buzzard finally go down. Its been a long time coming, Patsy said into the receiver. Absolutely, I said. And not only that, but theres this one other thing Im really looking forward to, once the old man finally goes down, once we finally nab him on these weapons charges. Whats that, Joey? Promotion, I said, finally. I cant wait till the day when Im Special FBI Agent Joey Samento. Indianapolis, IN -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/29/2016 -- Bastian Solutions, a global material handling systems integrator, announced today the incorporation of Bastian Solutions Europe. The new office will lead business development, engineering, and support across projects in Western and Eastern Europe. Leading the expansion is Mr. Guillermo Albaladejo, International Business Director at Bastian Solutions. Regarding the incorporation, Albaladejo stated, "We realize the value of the European market, possibly one of the most automated spaces in the world. Although Europe has an ample amount of technology suppliers, there is a void when it comes to flexible, true integrators as opposed to manufacturers. Our mission is to provide integrated systems with various technologies that fit the exact need of the client without the restrictions of a single catalogue of products. With that flexibility, we can compete in a range of projects--small, medium, and large." Bastian Solutions' new office is currently supporting existing customers, accepting requests for proposals, and has a base of suppliers ready to serve the United Kingdom and rest of Europe. "Providing our global customers with local support is paramount," continued Albaladejo. "We will continue to expand our international reach to ensure we can effectively and promptly meet any client needs that might arise. Additionally, the European market provides much opportunity, so we look forward to not only servicing our customers, but continuing to grow our brand of high-level service and flexible automation." To read more, go to: http://ow.ly/4mWzrQ Bastian Solutions will exhibit at booth #307 at the Warehouse Education and Research Council (WERC). The conference will be at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI from May 15-18. About Bastian Solutions Bastian Solutions (http://ow.ly/LaOTe), a global material handling systems integrator and expert in e-commerce fulfillment automation is an innovator in the fields of material handling automation, goods-to-person systems, wearable AR technology, supply chain software, and robotics. Bastian Solutions is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, with an additional 16 domestic offices and 7 international offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, and Qatar. Uniquely positioned, Bastian Solutions offers customers complete and innovative turnkey material handling systems, from design and simulation, all the way through installation and operations. Modern Materials Handling named Bastian Solutions 2015 Top 20 Systems Suppliers Worldwide. Bastian Solutions provides integrated material handling systems reducing the total cost of order fulfillment and delivery cycle times for its customers; tremendous productivity gains and a quick return on investment are ensured. Automating supply chain logistics with harmony between material flow, information flow, and operational processes, yields a unique and important competitive advantage. Follow Bastian Solutions on Twitter @BastianSolution. Geneva, Switzerland -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/29/2016 -- The Minutepay App offers a huge advantage over other money-transfer programs: recipients can receive a bank-to-bank transfer in 60 seconds or less rather than waiting 24 hours or more to get their money. Now, the creators of the Minutepay App have launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise funds for the development and marketing of this new program. According to the Minutepay App creators, "The Minutepay App solves a big problem for parents who need to transfer money to children who are traveling or anyone who has an instant money need. Currently, those who use apps to transfer money to someone else, whether domestically or internationally, must wait 24 hours or more for the transaction to clear. However, the Minutepay App allows the recipient to receive the funds in less than a minute, making it easy to wire emergency funds without leaving home." The Minutepay app requires an iOS or Android smartphone or device and two bank accounts. The sender logs in and transfer the chosen amount to a recipient's bank account. Once the transaction clears, which is in 60 seconds or less, the money is available for immediate withdrawal. In an emergency, children, parents, siblings or friends can receive cash instantly without having to use expensive money-transfer providers that also require a trip to a bricks-and-mortar locations. They can also avoid a long wait while transactions clear online. As seen at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/minutepay-app--2#/, the Minutepay app offers pledge levels ranging from $10 to $50, with perks including membership levels from "silver" to "VIP," each of which offers several benefits. Additionally, out of all funds raised by the IndieGoGo campaign, the company will donate money to children's and animal rescue causes. For more information on pledge levels and associated prizes, see the IndieGoGo page. About Minutepay App The Minutepay App offers fast and safe money transfer using an iOS or Android app. The app allows the sender to instantly transfer money to the recipient without a waiting period. Contact: Contact Person: Ricardo Cadet-Marthe Company: Minutepay App Address: Geneva, Switzerland Email: affilierisa@yahoo.com Phone: +41797469299 Website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/minutepay-app--2#/ Shenzhen, China -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/28/2016 -- The level of technology and the advancement in the automotive products has increased drastically over the last decade. Besides the powerful capacities of engines, cars come with an array of other features. Be it the interiors or the exteriors, car manufacturers have moved a lot forward. Automotive molds are one such area which is quite important for assembly of a car. These are used almost everywhere within the car which includes the engine, interiors or the tank. There are a number of manufacturing companies both within China and outside that are involved in the process of manufacturing these molds. One such Automotive Mould company that is based in Shenzhen and has been manufacturing these molds for the past 15 years is the Sositar Mold. The company is based in Shenzhen and has a big factory measuring over 3000 square meters. It is conveniently located and is operated by over 100 employees. Presently the company is processing over 40 to 50 sets moulds each month and has capital assets worth 8 million RMB. All the equipment installed within the factory has been imported from Switzerland and Taiwan. With a capacity of over 21 sets of Milling machines, 4 sets of CNC, 10 sets of Grinding machines, 7 sets of Wire Cutting Machines, etc. the company is capable of producing some of the best molds required for a number of purposes. The factory is fully equipped to manufacture injected plastic parts with weight below 1500g or measuring anywhere below 8500x1000x8500 mm. At the present moment the company is a reliable partner for supplying automotive plastic injection molding companies from across the world. They have been known for offering stable quality backed by competitive pricing. To know about their credibility, customers would be satisfied to know that they have been accredited with the ISO 9001:2008 certificate. Hence, they can be assured about the quality standards. In order to know more About Sositar Mold or their production capabilities, interested companies/customers may visit their website. The website features almost all the required information in regards to their products. One can also find Automotive Mould Case Study featured on their website that explains the process of molding that the company follows and recommends. For custom requirements or any other specific queries, customers can get in touch with the representatives by using any of the mentioned contact details on the website. About Sositar Mold Sositar Mold is a Shenzhen based organization that is involved in manufacturing of a number of plastic molds required for automotive. The company has been in the business for over 15 years and has a 3000 square meter unit in the city. It presently employs over 100 employees and has partners from across the world. To know more about their products, please visit the website. http://www.injectionmould.net/ For Media Contact: Person Name: Jackie Lau Address: Buliding A,Fengzhen industrial Park ShiYan town,Bao'an district, ShenZhen China Phone: 86-0755-33183226 Fax: 86-0755-33508985 Email Id: sales@sositarmould.com According to a team of scientists headed by Dr. Jean-Jacques Hublin at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, tooth-marks on a femur bone of Homo heidelbergensis found in Morocco indicate that it was consumed by large carnivores, likely hyenas (Crocuta crocuta or Hyaena hyaena). During the Middle Pleistocene, human ancestors likely competed for space and resources with large carnivores, who occupied many of the same areas. However, to date, little evidence for direct interaction between them in this period has been found. In the early Middle Pleistocene (up to 500,000 years ago) of North Africa, successful large predators such as the saber-tooth cat Homotherium, lived alongside leopards and lion-sized felids. These large cats were associated with increasingly modern canids and hyenids, which were effective hunters and carcass consumers, said Dr. Hublin and his colleagues from Morocco, France and Germany. At that time, hyenids largely dominated carnivore spectra in caves as in open-air sites, whereas large canids remained rare, unlike in the European carnivore guild, jackals and foxes being more common. All these carnivores alternately occupied the living spaces with hominins and exploited the hunted or scavenged resources brought by their competitors. Dr. Hublin and co-authors examined the shaft of a femur from the skeleton of Homo heidelbergensis, found in the Moroccan cave Grotte a Hominides near Casablanca, and found evidence of consumption by large carnivores. They said: the bone was discovered in Unit 4 of the Grotte a Hominides, dated to 500,000 years ago, and was associated with Acheulean artifacts and a rich mammalian fauna. The teams examination of the bone fragment revealed various fractures and tooth marks indicative of carnivore chewing, including tooth pits as well as other scores and notches. These were clustered at the two ends of the femur, the softer parts of the bone being completely crushed. The marks were covered with sediment, suggesting that they were very old. While the appearance of the marks indicated that they were most likely made by hyenas shortly after death, it was not possible to conclude whether the bone had been eaten as a result of predation on the hominin or had been scavenged soon after death. Nonetheless, this is the first evidence that early humans were a resource for carnivores during the Middle Pleistocene in this part of Morocco, and contrasts with evidence from nearby sites that humans themselves hunted and ate carnivores. Depending on circumstances, hominins at this time could have both acted as hunter or scavenger, and been targeted as carrion or prey, the scientists said. The findings were published this week in the journal PLoS ONE. _____ Daujeard C. et al. 2016. Pleistocene Hominins as a Resource for Carnivores: A c. 500,000-Year-Old Human Femur Bearing Tooth-Marks in North Africa (Thomas Quarry I, Morocco). PLoS ONE 11 (4): e0152284; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152284 [GARISSA, KENYA] Climate change related impacts ravaging semi-arid northern Kenya has affected traditional family planning methods for thousands of households, traditional healers say. Prolonged droughts and high temperatures have decimated trees used in producing various family planning herbal concoctions for generations. Village herbal banks stores for herbal medicines are experiencing dwindling stocks and are being scrambled for by thousands of pastoralists from remote villages along the Kenya-Somalia border. [Family planning] services here in Dadajibula are over-stretched and our supplies can only last for the next one month. Qali Hassan, Dadajibula village, Kenya During visits to the herbal banks women, traditional healers who also serve as birth attendants, educate women on fertility cycles and various family planning herbal medicines from trees such as Balanites aegyptiacea and Acacia. Herbal medicine plays a key role in providing alternative healthcare to people living in rural areas of Kenya and its high time the government and other stakeholders appreciated [the] role played by the sector and work on mechanism of mainstreaming it into the modern health system, says Julius Mwangi, a professor of pharmacognosy at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Mwangi urges Kenya to follow the example of Tanzania where complementary and alternative medicine practice has been integrated into the healthcare system. Qali Hassan, a traditional healer managing a herbal bank in Dadajibula village, told SciDev.Net in an interview last month (23 March) that she had received an estimated 1,000 customers from other villages and towns looking for supplies but she does not have enough due to high demand and low supplies. [Family planning] services here in Dadajibula are over-stretched and our supplies can only last for the next one month when we will be forced to shut the bank and pray for divine intervention, says Hassan. We expected the El-Nino rains to change things so that we get flowers and leaves to produce some concoctions and monthly herbal pills but we only experienced erratic showers and flash floods from the Ethiopian highlands which swept the border villages. Hassan adds that the affected customers are now resorting to birth spacing through prolonged breastfeeding and abstinence from regular sexual intercourse. Halima Adow, a customer from the remote Saretho village in Dadaab area, says she has run out of her herbal family planning concoctions, forcing her to sell her two emaciated goats to buy supplies from the distant Dadajibula herbal banks but supplies might run out soon. I have used these traditional methods for 20 years now and they are good. They are made from known trees. What is available in hospitals is not supported by my Islamic religion, Adow says. Adow explains that she uses the monthly pills on the 7th day of her menstrual cycle and another on the 13th day to control birth and give her ample time to rear goats.Abajillo Jaldesa, a gynaecologist working in Al-Shiffa Nursing Home, Garissa County, northern Kenya, tells SciDev.Net: The method is safe and the concoction and medicines are prepared by old people with mastery of indigenous knowledge . It is a local alternative to the conventional family planning method abhorred by locals due to the religious barrier.This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk. A solar-powered plane is reported to have landed in California on Saturday following a three-day dangerous flight across the Pacific Ocean, with an aim of travelling around the world. The solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 landed in Mountain View in San Francisco's Silicon Valley South at 11:45 in the evening after a 62-hour, continuous solo flight by Bertrand Piccard without fuel. The plane was moved slowly into a large tent built on Moffett Airfield where the pilot was welcomed by the team, according to Washington Post. The Solar Impulse 2's landing came a few hours following Piccard's fly-by performance over the Golden Gate Bridge while the spectators watched the small aircraft from below. Piccard and his fellow Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg are reported to have been flying the plane alternately on an around-the-world journey since taking off from Abu Dhabi in March 2015. The trip made stops in Myanmar, Oman, Japan, China and Hawaii. However, the trans-Pacific leg was reported to be the most dangerous of the plane's global journey due to the lack of emergency landing areas. The Solar Impulse 2's ideal flight speed is 28 mph, although it can double during the day, while it weighs more than 5,000 pounds. The aircraft's wings that are stretched wider compared to those of the Boeing 747, have 17,000 solar cells, powering propellers and charge batteries. Based on Yahoo report, the plane is being run on stored energy at night, Solar Impulse 2 is expected to make three more stops in the US prior to reaching the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or Northern Africa, as mentioned in a website that documents the journey. This solar-powered plane project started in 2002 and is expected to cost more than $100 million, highlighting on the significance of renewable energy as well as the concept of innovation. However, solar-powered plane travel is not yet considered for commercial flights, considering the weight and weather concerns of the aircraft, including the plane's slow travel time. A large lake beneath the Antarctic ice was recently discovered and it seems that it may have been lying there, undisturbed, for millennia. The lake that scientists believe measure approximately 87 by 12 miles is connected to a canyon system that is about 680 miles in extent. DISCOVERY: Ribbon lake measuring about 100 km long and 10 km wide found in Antarctica. https://t.co/cnDO0CBELi pic.twitter.com/5mFaBabI06 Beneath the Waves (@Waves_FilmFest) April 28, 2016 The findings, which are first published in Geology said that the lake was discovered upon finding faint grooves in the ice. With the help of satellite imagery, the region was found to be part of the Princess Elizabeth Land. Martin Siegert of the Imperial College London told New Scientist that there have been strange, linear channels on the surface, and they are inferring that these are above massive, 1,000-kilometer-long channels that are part of a subglacial lake. Researchers from the US and China have flown over the region and are now gathering ice, which they hoped will confirm the presence of under-ice features. The researchers will have a meeting in May to look over the data, so that they can begin testing their hypotheses about the lake and its channels. Despite its size, though, the lake, once confirmed, will not be the largest discovered under the frozen ice cap of the Antarctic. Lake Vostok was measured at 160 by 30 miles, making it the sixth largest lake if set on the United States - more than twice as large as the great Salt Lake in Utah. These subglacial lakes are a mystery to scientists - in 2012, Russians drilled into Lake Vostok to find evidence of unusual life, although their findings were met with controversy. Still, it is possible that these unlikely ecosystems found in subglacial environments are kept alive by some form of chemosynthesis which come from minerals descending from the ice above, or from the marine sediments below. A 10-pound lion cub (shown in the video below) was born on March 5 at the Buffalo Zoo. It was introduced on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, and will be shown to the public for a few weeks. The cub is the first born at the zoo in 25 years. It has no official name yet. The cub is the offspring of parents Lelie and Tiberius, who were paired among Survival Plan (SSP) endorsement for the threatened species. They are both the offspring of native African lions and they came to Buffalo zoo in 2013 and 2014 respectively, according to Buffalo News. Donna Fernandes, the zoo's president, said that they are cautiously optimistic about the new lion cub and thrilled with its progress so far, but it is not out in the woods yet. "In fact, it is common not to have any surviving offspring of a first-time litter by a lioness, in the wild or in human care." Lelie's delivered four cubs. On the other hand, the three died within the first two days. The half-sister of Lelie, Lusaka, is having signs of pregnancy too. The officials of the zoo are monitoring Lusaka, according to WGRZ. The Buffalo zoo is also observing Lelie and the newborn cub's health and development milestones. They would also give time for both of them to bond. This is to ensure their survival. With this, the cub will not be exhibited yet in the zoo. On the other hand, the zoo officials will send photos and videos to inform the cub's fan. The African lion, also termed as the Panthera lion, is one of the big cats in the family of Felidae and the genus Panthera. It is the second largest living cat next to the tiger. They exist in sub-Saharan Africa and in India. They usually spread in Northern and Western Europe and its species in the Americas from Yukon to Peru. Its population decline, while the cause are not yet fully understood. The West African lion is already endangered in Africa. Italian Foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni says that Rome's Prosecutor office is restoring contact with its Cairo counterpart Italy's Foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni on Friday urged Egypt to "collaborate seriously" in Giulio Regeni's murder probe so relations relations between the two states can normalise. "For us, a return to normality of relations depends on serious collaboration on the Regeni's case" Gentiloni told Italy's RAI radio according to Italian news agency ANSA. Italy recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations early April after two days of meetings between Italian and Egyptian investigators over the murder of the Italian PhD student whose body was found in Cairo in February. The talks between the Egyptian investigative team and their Italian counterparts in Rome in early April failed after Egypt rejected an Italian request to look at "the call logs of thousands of phone numbers" in the area where Giulio Regeni disappeared on 25 January. Egyptian officials said handing such information to Italy was "illegal and unconstitutional" according to local rules. Meanwhile, Egyptian authortities continue their investigation into Regeni's murder, saying the complexities of cicumstances around his disappearance and subsequent death are to blame for any delay in finding the culprits. During the interview, the Italian Foreign minister revealed that Prosecutor's office in Rome sent a new request for information to Cairo and that that contact with Cairo's prosecutor office has been restored. Nevertheless, Italy still maintains its position of "dissatisfaction", he added. He also said that he discussed Regeni's case with EU foreign ministers about during their latest meeting in Luxemburg. The PhD student, who was in Cairo conducting research on independent trade unions, went missing on 25 January. His body was found, bearing signs of torture, by a roadside on the outskirts of Cairo on 3 February. Egypt has strongly denied local and international claims that security forces were involved in Regeni's murder. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has blamed international criticism of Egypt's handling of the investigation into Regini's murder on what he described as domestic lies. Search Keywords: Short link: American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company, SpaceX, has won an $87.2 million contract from the US Air Force to launch a military GPS satellite in May 2018, according to a recent report. The national security launch will be the first one that SpaceX will carry out for the US military, since the American company got approval in May 2015 to launch military satellites. As per reports, it does not come as a surprise that SpaceX got the contract as it bid unopposed. The United Launch Alliance (ULA), a tie-up between Lockheed Martin and Boeing since 2006, is the only other spaceflight company that has authorization to launch military satellites. In fact, the company has launched nearly every satellite for the US military since its formation. However, ULA had declined the bid for the GPS-3 satellite contract because it couldn't have a rocket ready by the time of the expected launch. Nabbing the US Air Force contract signals a huge victory for SpaceX. It is being speculated that ULA will possibly start making more bids now for Air Force launch contracts, after SpaceX got authorization to launch military satellites. The GPS-3 satellite is the first of nine contracts that the Air Force has planned, which implies ULA and SpaceX could be directly competing for military business in the future. According to a former vice president at ULA, the company didn't want to engage in a cost shoot out with SpaceX. The cost of rockets from Spacex begin at $60 million while ULA's Atlas V, it primary rocket, costs around $164 million to launch. The price difference implies SpaceX offers a more reasonable alternative for the Defense Department as compared to ULA. According to reports, if low prices are a priority for the US Air Force, then SpaceX could end up winning more military launch contracts in the future. FLORENCE, S.C. McLeod Regional Medical Center is one of three hospitals in South Carolina to offer cardiac patients a newly approved implant device that can get them off blood thinners. The device is the Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Implant. It is manufactured by Boston Scientific and is given to patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation or A-Fib. So your heart has four chambers: right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle, said Dr. Rajesh Malik, the director of electrophysiology services for the McLeod Heart and Vascular Institute. Malik is currently the only physician at McLeod credentialed to perform the procedure. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular, often rapid, heartbeat in the upper chamber of the heart that can cause poor blood flow. For patients with A-Fib, clots are likely form to in the left atrium of the heart, also called the left atrial appendage. If you can somehow prevent a clot from releasing from that appendage then you may be able to reduce the risk of stroke, Malik said. Patients who are not able to tolerate blood thinners or regular standard-of-care medications are generally the best candidates for the device, he said. The Watchman device varies in size and is comparable in looks to a jellyfish or umbrella. It is deployed in the left atrial appendage with a catheter. Though it has been researched for more than five years, the research was predominately done in Europe, Malik said. The device was just approved by the FDA in March 2015, and Malik performed his first procedure at McLeod at the end of the same year. In all, the procedure takes approximately an hour. Even though it is now FDA-approved, Malik said, the procedure is still heavily monitored and researched. Physicians must complete a thorough follow-up. Why you did it, what technique you used, what your complications were Malik said. For 45 days following the procedure, the patient will stay on blood thinners. Then the patient will return to the hospital for a checkup in which ultrasounds are taken. After six months, if all is well, the patient will be completely removed from blood thinners of all kinds, Malik said. Those interested in learning more about the Watchman device should visit www.mcleodheart.org or www.watchmanheart.org or www.watchmanimplant.com. Call McLeod Cardiology at 843-667-1891 to find out if you are a candidate. The syndicate says it will defend dozens of lawyers and other detainees arrested during recent islands protests The Egyptian lawyers syndicate announced in a statement on Friday that it will set up defence committees to track those arrested during recent protests and to defend the accused during prosecution proceedings. Dozens of people were arrested in the capital Cairo and other governorates over the past two weeks during demonstrations against a recent Egyptian-Saudi islands deal. Among the detained are activists, lawyers and journalists. The syndicate said the defence committees will include members as well as volunteer lawyers to track all detainees, not only lawyers, and provide legal assistance throughout "all phases of investigations." The statement, signed by syndicate head Sameh Ashour, said the move comes as a response to a wave of "arrests of citizens as well as limitations and constraints lawyers face while doing their job of attending investigations." The union stressed its role in defending "freedom and human rights," while highlighting Egyptians' right to "freedom of opinion while being granted all legal guaranteesif detained." The syndicate added that an extensive report of all cases of detentions, as well as record of the status of each case, will be compiled by the committees and provided to the union. Lawyer Nabil Anwar Abu Sheikha said Friday that an arrest warrant was issued for him and 11 others for protesting against the controversial Saudi agreement. The arrest orders stem from demonstrations the lawyers took part in earlier in April in the town of Shebin Al-Qanater, some 32 kilometers north of Cairo. Abu Sheikha said he and the other lawyers will turn themselves in to prosecutors on Saturday for questioning. "Other lawyers will rally tomorrow in solidarity, and they might go on strike in protest of the arrest orders," Abu Sheikha told Ahram Online. Egypts decision to transfer the islands of Tiran and Sanafir into Saudi hands after a process of maritime demarcation has sparked a widespread public outcry, with some critics accusing the government of "selling the islands." Thousands demonstrated on 15 April against the decision in what were believed to be the biggest protests by non-Islamists against president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi since he came to office in 2014. A second wave of demonstrations by hundreds, and during which dozens were arrested, was staged ten days later on 25 April in several cities around the country. Freedom for the Brave, an advocacy group consisting of rights lawyers that track and provide logistic support to political detainees, said Friday that 130 people arrested during the recent protests in Cairo and Giza will stand trial on Saturday. Search Keywords: Short link: The Egyptian foreign ministry condemned Friday the recent shelling in several Syrian areas which have claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, mainly in the northern city of Aleppo. The ministry released a statement expressing the Egyptian government's "deep concern over the deteriorating condition" in Syria, as well as reports of civilian casualties "as a result of the escalation" in violence. Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid called for the political process between combatants in the war-torn country to reach "direct negotiations." He also urged facilitating the passage of aid to Syrians trapped in conflict zones. More than 230 civilians have been killed in Aleppo over the past week as the government of Bashar Al-Assad has pounded rebel-held areas, with rebels replying in kind. Aleppo was left out of a deal to freeze fighting despite international outrage over renewed violence in the northern Syrian city. Fighting has also surged around Damascus, Homs and other areas over the past week. Search Keywords: Short link: Air strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo killed 123 civilians including 18 children during the past seven days of intensified violence in the northern Syrian city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday. Seventy-one civilians, including 13 children, were killed by rebel shelling into government-held areas of the city during the same period, the British-based monitoring group said. Eight more civilians, including three children, were killed by government shelling into areas not under its control in the city, the Observatory said. Search Keywords: Short link: Migrants should no longer be able to get to Germany and Europe via the Balkan route, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Friday, adding he was concerned refugee numbers would rise with people now coming to Italy by sea from Libya. "It's clear that the Balkan route is a thing of the past and no longer will or should be a place again from where people will be waved through to Germany and Austria and to the centre of Europe," he said at a joint news conference with Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka in Potsdam near Berlin. "Now the issue is alternative routes ... we are of course concerned that we'll get rising refugee numbers again as they come via Libya and Italy," he added. De Maiziere said he agreed with Austria that the situation at Italy's northern border should not replicate the situation on the Balkan route last year. Austria has said it might reintroduce border controls at the Alpine Brenner pass to keep migrants from coming from Italy and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said Austria's plans to build a fence there were "shamelessly against European rules". Sobotka said the measure was necessary to prevent the route from turning into a major corridor for migrants seeking to reach northern Europe after they arrive to Italy through the Mediterranean from Libya and other north Africa nations. "What we have demonstrated is that the rule of law, the essential measure for us is that we want to register people who come to Austria, that our borders are not overrun," Sobotka said. He added: "This border management that has been in place since February is effective and we have applied this on the border with Hungary ... and we are preparing for this on the border with Italy." De Maiziere and Sobotka both piled pressure on Italy to take responsibility. "What is happening at the Brenner border crossing lies first and foremost in the hands of Italy," de Maiziere, said, adding that on the issue of border controls, states were working together but still needed a few more days to reach a European solution. Search Keywords: Short link: Turkish prosecutors have demanded up to five years jail for a British university lecturer based in Istanbul on charges of making "terror propaganda" for outlawed Kurdish militants, reports said Friday. Chris Stephenson, who teaches computer science at Bilgi University in Istanbul, was briefly arrested in mid March while protesting outside the city's main courthouse over the detention of four Turkish academics who are being tried on similar charges. He then left for Britain with his family, but returned to Turkey a week later after local authorities confirmed he was not subject to an entry ban. Turkish prosecutors have now completed the indictment and have asked for Stephenson to be given a jail sentence of between one and five years on charges of "making propaganda for a terror organisation", the Dogan news agency reported. A date for the trial has yet to be set. Prosecutors say Stephenson was on March 15 caught carrying brochures in support of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is banned as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. The academic, who has been based in the country for 25 years, has ridiculed the charges, saying he was only carrying invitation leaflets for the Kurdish New Year celebrations later in the month. The case further raises alarm over freedom of speech in Turkey, with individuals accused of backing the PKK or insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan facing sometimes severe legal punishment. Stephenson has been a strong supporter of four Turkish academics who have been prosecuted for signing a petition denouncing the government's military campaign against the PKK. On the first day of their trial last week, the four -- who had been held at high-security prisons -- were released as prosecutors sought to scale back the charges against them. Search Keywords: Short link: In a statement to Bursa Malaysia, following reports that it was in talks to sell AET to Teekay, the company said: In response to recent market speculation, MISC confirms that petroleum shipping is a core element of its current and ongoing business and, as such, has no plans to divest itself of its petroleum tanker subsidiary. MISC acquired AET in 2003 from Neptune Orient Lines (NOL). Located on land being reclaimed in the far west of the island phase 1 of Tuas Terminal will have a capacity of 20m teu a year. Once fully completed the terminal will have a capacity of 65m teu annually. The start of construction was marked on Friday by Singapore Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan with the launching the first caisson. Some 222 caissons each 28 m tall will form the permanent wharf structure. The Tuas Terminal is a centrepiece of Singapores Next Generation Port vision and demonstrates our strong commitment to strengthening and sustaining our leadership position as a global hub port and International Maritime Centre, said Andrew Tan, chief executive of the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). The terminal will developed a time span of 30 years with phase 1 reclamation works expected to be completed in the early 2020s. And longtime top lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been toppled with Credit Suisse taking its mantle. RBS has been the largest lender to Greek owners on aggregate for the past two decades but is cutting its shipping book, which is mainly Greek. These are among the main points of the annual Petrofin Bank Research, the 15th overview of bank lending to Greek shipping. However, reflecting the high level of Greek ship purchase activity, and the standing of the order book, the author of the analysis, Ted Petropoulos, points out that while drawn loans are down by 3.25%, commitments are up by 9.62%. "The extreme falls, in the preceding period, of the dry bulk, offshore and container sectors severely tested both owners and banks. For banks, it was a traumatic experience, as numerous clients experienced negative cash flows and were forced to consider scrapping or lay up. Loan payments were often delayed and / or stopped altogether, whilst falling asset values created enormous security shortfalls in the banks loan portfolios," said Petropoulos. Most banks confirm their books to Petrofin, but the Swiss giant is among those, which Petrofin has estimated. This puts Credit Suisse with a total book of $6.72bn compared to RBS $5.2bn. Credit Suisse lifted its portfolio by 13.53% while RBS book fell 13.58%. However, a point of interest is the fact the Swiss bank has some $1.14bn committed but undrawn while RBS has none, indicating what lies in the future. Other features pulled out by Petropoulos are: The number of banks involved in Greek ship finance has risen to 51, from 49; All five Greek banks are down with the overall Greek bank exposure down 15.22% and the share of Greek banks in Greek ship finance has fallen from 16.9% to 14.63%; International banks with a Greek presence continue to reduce their exposure, in 2015, by 7.94%, compared to a reduction of 4.23% in 2014, 9.35% in 2013 and 3.9% in 2012; and International banks without a Greek presence, continue their rise, at a year-on-year rate of 11.26%, albeit at a more modest pace than last years 17.23%. The top 10 Greek ship financing banks have again reduced their portfolios, collectively by 8.56%, compared to reduction of 4% last year while the market share of this top group was reduced to 53.43% ($33.5bn), compared to a market share of 57.24% ($36.6bn) in 2014 and 62.38% in 2013 ($38.3bn). Continuing the recent trend, the next 10 banks have increased their market share by 7.22% ($18.23bn), compared to 3.05% last year ($17bn). Petropoulos said that although Greek ship finance is not directly affected by the Greek crisis, it is nevertheless indirectly affected via the reduced lending ability of Greek banks. Further, he said: "The possible departure of Greek owners to other more welcoming shipping centers, may well signify their evolution away from the traditional Greek ownership model." The overall fall in loan volumes for the Greek-owned fleet was not surprising, said the researcher, adding, given tough shipping market conditions and the adoption by a number of banks of a harder policy of zero tolerance, although not all banks took the same line. Petrofin, was surprised by the low rate of decline, taking into account the problems faced by the ship finance industry and the difficulty of new loans meeting the ever-demanding bank requirements. We suspect the decline will continue and may, perhaps, accelerate in 2016, as banks adopt a harder line across both existing and new lending. Syrian doctor Mohammad Wassim Maaz saved the lives of countless children in the war-ravaged neighbourhoods of Aleppo city before an air strike this week on a hospital took his own. He kept his beard nearly trimmed and maintained an unlikely sense of humour given the horrors he saw on a near daily basis in the rebel-held parts of the northern city. "Dr Maaz was considered the best paediatrician and was one of the last ones left in this hell," one of his colleagues told AFP. Late on Wednesday night, an air strike on the Al-Quds hospital in the Sukari neighbourhood took his life and those of a dentist, three nurses, and 22 civilians. Maaz was originally from Aleppo and had been preparing to travel across the border to Turkey to visit his family. "Like so many others, Dr Maaz was killed for saving lives," said Dr Hatem, a colleague who preferred not to give his full name. Hatem manages the Children's Hospital in Aleppo, where Dr Maaz worked during the day before tending to emergency cases in Al-Quds hospital overnight. "Dr Maaz and I used to spend six hours a day together. He was friendly, kind and he used to joke a lot with the whole staff. He was the loveliest doctor in our hospital," Hatem wrote in a letter published by The Syria Campaign advocacy group. More than 270,000 people have been killed in Syria's brutal conflict, which has seen hospitals destroyed and medical staff killed across the country. "Dr Maaz stayed in Aleppo, the most dangerous city in the world, because of his devotion to his patients," Hatem said. Al-Quds hospital was supported by both Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross. MSF said it had been donating medical supplies since 2012 to the 34-bed Al-Quds hospital, where eight doctors and 28 nurses worked full time. "Out of the eight doctors, there are now only six left," Miskilda Zancada, the head of MSF's Syria mission, told AFP from Kilis in Turkey. She said 95 percent of the doctors in opposition-held parts of the city have left or been killed, leaving between 70 to 80 doctors to treat 250,000 people. "The people who are left in Aleppo are the most vulnerable," Zancada said. MSF spokeswoman Mirella Hodeib said Dr Maaz was a "very dedicated paediatrician and chose to risk his life to help the people of Aleppo". "His death is a terrible loss." Search Keywords: Short link: Under the MoU the two parties will exchange information on marine services, including standards, and regulatory frameworks for bunkering and other marine services, as well as the application of information technology in providing those services. The Research and development side of the agreement covers service efficiency and optimisation, as well as new developments such as LNG bunkering and green technology. Andrew Tan, chief executive of MPA, commented: This MoU will help strengthen the maritime linkages between ports in Europe and Asia, and forge closer cooperation at a time when ports have to work more closely with one another to ensure the safety, security and efficiency of global shipping. Signing on behalf of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Allard Castelein, president and ceo, said: It is important that the worlds largest and most progressive ports exchange experiences and join efforts to improve their business where they can. The signing took place at the end of a closed-door port authority round table, attended by port authorities from around the globe and hosted in Singapore as part of Singapore Maritime Week. Seaquest Tanker and Vermont UM Bunkering were the latest bunker suppliers to have had their licenses revoked by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) following checks in 2015 and 2016 respectively on the companies operations. MPAs separate investigations into the two companies revealed discrepancies and wrongful declarations in the records kept on board their bunker tankers, the MPA said. There were also separate incidences of transfers of bunkers between bunker tankers that were conducted without MPAs approval. The authorities reminded bunker suppliers they had to strictly adhere to the terms of their licenses. So far only 28 people have been rescued, as well as 24 bodies retrieved. The 20m long vessel capsized at midnight local time on Saturday, 17 miles off the Libyan coast, after distressed migrants rushed to one side to attract the attention of passing merchant vessel King Jacob, tipping the boat. Cargo vessels, as well as Italian and Maltese navy and coastguard ships and three helicopters are currently on-scene. Reports from some of the migrants indicate those on lower levels of the boat had been locked in by the smugglers. In time it will be a search [for bodies] only, a spokesman for the Italian coastguard was quoted by the BBC. The news follows the deaths of a feared 400 migrants last week under similar circumstances. At the opening of the Panama Maritime XII conference on April 12, IMO secretary-general Koji Sekimizu said We are concerned by the problem of migrants... 2014 was a record year for the losses of lives of migrants - this is why we will hold a conference at the end of April in Philippines for ending migration problems, having previously referred to people smuggling as a humanitarian tragedy that was stretching authorities to breaking point in the Med. The city of Aleppo, capital of the eponymous northern province, is strategically vital to all sides involved in Syria's five-year civil war and at the centre of escalating violence imperilling a landmark ceasefire. Syria's onetime economic powerhouse, Aleppo and its surrounding countryside has suffered some of the worst fighting in a conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people. The city has been split into zones held by the regime in the west, and opposition in the east, since July 2012. A spike in fighting has killed more than 200 people in the past week, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights -- the most serious violations of a truce agreed between the US and Russia that began on February 27. Among buildings hit in the flare up was Al-Quds hospital, where the city's last paediatrician was one of at least 20 killed, and another medical site was hit on Friday. The International Committee of the Red Cross warns that Aleppo is now "on the brink of humanitarian disaster." Meanwhile, militants from the Islamic State group, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, the regime and allied militias, Kurdish fighters and rebels are battling each other throughout the province. Aleppo is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, dating back to at least 4,000 BC, thanks to its strategic position between the Mediterranean and present-day Iraq. The former manufacturing hub, renowned for its textiles, is situated at the crossroads of major trading routes. It was considered the second city of the Ottoman empire until its collapse after World War I. The city suffered the wrath of the regime of Hafez al-Assad -- former president and father of current leader Bashar -- after an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood between 1979 and 1982. But the city returned to prosperity in the 1990s thanks to its ability to develop commercial, industrial and cultural activities at a time of state-controlled economic liberalisation. In April-May 2011, thousands of students demonstrated in Aleppo, which had so far been spared the pockets of unrest that Syria was experiencing. While the protests were brutally crushed, rebels took control of several parts of Aleppo province, which they would later use as launch pads for a massive July 2012 offensive on the city. The army fought back with tanks, leaving Aleppo divided between zones controlled by the rebels and those by the regime, with its province divided up between regime, rebels, militants and Kurds. Aleppo's residents have paid a terrible price during the conflict, with its pre-war population of 2.5 million reduced to just one million today. Some 750,000 are in regime-held areas, 200,000 in opposition areas and 100,000 in the Kurdish neighbourhoods. Multiple waves of displacement have followed round upon round of fighting and bombardment, including brutal barrel bomb strikes targeting opposition-held residential neighbourhoods. Most recently, 30,000 people were forced to flee as IS militants battled rebels near the Turkish border this week, according to Human Rights Watch. Fighting this week has also left over 200 fighters dead, according to the Observatory, a Britain-based monitoring group. Violence around Aleppo is the fiercest in Syria the ceasefire began, and is especially significant because all sides in the war are present in the province. "Aleppo is the key to war and peace in Syria," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. "Every side in the war has a stake in Aleppo." Syria expert Fabrice Balanche agreed. "The main battleground is Aleppo province. Assad must control Aleppo if he doesn't want to be president of half a country," he told AFP. The historic centre of Aleppo housed many heritage sites including its renowned 13th-century citadel. In September 2012, a blaze swept through ancient shops in the city's souk, and in April 2013 the minaret of the historic Ummayad mosque collapsed during fierce fighting. Rebels using explosives to reach government positions in Aleppo's Old City destroyed the iconic Carlton Hotel on May 8, 2014. And in July 2015, a blast destroyed part of the ramparts that surround the citadel. Search Keywords: Short link: A roadside bomb attack on a police patrol car in al-Ahsa in east Saudi Arabia wounded a policeman on Thursday evening, Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Friday. The attack was in a parking lot and in caused damage to five cars, SPA reported, citing a statement by an interior ministry spokesman. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the attack resembled previous ones by Islamic State on security forces or Shias, who the jihadist group considers to be heretics. The oil-producing Eastern Province is home to Saudi Arabia's Shia community. Search Keywords: Short link: EUROPE Bosnia and Herzegovina Expected Council Action In May, the Council will hold its biannual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The High Representative for BiH, Valentin Inzko, will brief the Council, presenting the latest report of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), expected in early May. Key Recent Developments The 20th anniversary of the initialling of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH (GFAP) in Dayton, Ohio, occurred on 21 November 2015. Yet even after 20 years of peace, BiH has continued to grapple with ethnic and political divisions. In recent months, political crises have revolved around BiHs state-level judicial institutions. On 27 November 2015, BiHs Constitutional Court ruled that the national day of Republika Srpska, celebrating the founding of the majority Bosnian Serb entity in 1992, discriminates against other ethnic and religious groups and is unconstitutional. Republika Srpska leaders said that they would not stop celebrating the holiday and demanded the removal of the courts three foreign judges and their replacement by BiH judges. Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik threatened to withdraw the entitys representatives from state institutions if this change was not adopted. (The Constitutional Courts ruling had been split among its nine judges. The three foreign and two Bosniak judges backed the ruling, and the two Bosnian Croat and two Bosnian Serb judges voted against it.) On 10 December 2015, Republika Srpska announced that it was suspending cooperation with BiHs state-level police, court and prosecutor. The decision came in response to the arrest of five Bosnian Serbs for war crimes and a search of municipal buildings by police in the town of Bosanski Novi. Following intense international criticism (the US, the EU and the OHR said in a joint letter that Republika Srpska had no right to opt out of the jurisdiction of the three state-level institutions), Republika Srpska agreed to renew cooperation on 16 December. Intense pressure, including from Serbia, also resulted in Dodiks announcing on 8 February the postponement of a referendum on whether to accept the jurisdiction of BiHs state-level judiciary and the authority of the High Representative. Plans for the referendum had been underway since last summer. The preparations had prompted Inzko to submit a special report to the Security Council in September 2015, in which he characterised the referendum as one of the most serious challenges to the GFAP since the end of the war. On 24 March, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) convicted former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic of genocide for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and nine other charges regarding atrocities committed during the war, including directing the siege of Sarajevo. Karadzic was sentenced to 40 years in prison. One week later, on 31 March, the ICTY acquitted nationalist Serb politician Vojislav Seselj. He had been charged with mobilising the Serb paramilitary troops to forcibly displace Croats and Bosniaks to create a Greater Serbia. The decision by two of the three judges determined there was not enough evidence to link Seselj to the crimes. A dissenting opinion strongly criticised this conclusion. The ICTY prosecutor has appealed the decision. Both rulings escalated tensions and produced angry exchanges among BiH and Serbian leaders. In the process towards its integration with the EU, BiH submitted its membership application on 15 February. BiH must still make progress in implementing an agenda of economic and governance reforms before the EU grants it official candidate status. Key Issues Ethnic divisions among Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs and divisive rhetoric by Republika Srpska officials remain key issues. The socio-economic and governance problems, such as political gridlock, corruption and high unemployment, which led to violent protests in February 2014, have continued. Another recurring issue is the need for BiH to complete a set of objectives and criteria, known at the 5+2 agenda, required by the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (composed of 11 countries and intergovernmental bodies) as conditions for closing OHR. Options The Council is most likely to hold the debate without taking further action. It could, however, issue a statement encouraging BiH leaders to overcome narrow political interests and ethnic divisions, to achieve meaningful progress in implementing commitments on economic and governance reforms and the 5 + 2 agenda for closing OHR. Council Dynamics Most members are concerned by the divisive rhetoric from Republika Srpska officials and the countrys political gridlock, which, according to the High Representative, has stalled BiHs peace implementation over the last ten years. They view such rhetoric and recent referenda initiatives as challenges to the GFAP and to BiHs sovereignty and territorial integrity. Members also usually highlight the need for BiH to implement governance and economic reforms to improve the quality of BiH citizens lives, especially after the countrys violent protests in 2014. Russia tends to support the positions of Republika Srspka. It argues that critics of the entity unfairly blame Republika Srpska for BiHs problems, overlooking political dysfunction within the Federation of BiH (the predominantly Bosniak-Croat entity), which it sees as the reason behind Bosnian Serb positions. In this regard, Russia has been very critical of the High Representatives reports and has called for OHRs closure. The issue of BiHs EU and NATO integration over the last two years has given rise to a new dynamic. Russia has taken the view that the Council should not impose these decisions on BiH because they are domestic choices. This has prompted Western members to often highlight that such integration is sought by BiH. These differences have made the once-routine renewal of the EU-led stabilisation mission EUFOR Althea much more contentious during the last two years. Russias support for Bosnian Serb concerns was also reflected in Russias vetoing a resolution that Republika Srpska and Serbia opposed on the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in July 2015. UN DOCUMENTS ON BIH This resolution renewed the authorisation of the EU-led multinational stabilisation force (EUFOR ALTHEA) for an additional year. This was the debate on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Hindsight: Better Negotiations for Clearer Mandates Mandating and overseeing peace operations, whether multidimensional peacekeeping operations with a military component or smaller political field missions, consume the largest proportion of the Councils time and energy. The 2015 reports by the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) and the Secretary-General put forward sets of recommendations for reforming how operations are carried out. This peace operations review requires action by the Secretariat, the Council and the General Assembly. Some of the most challenging issues raised in these reports relate to the strategic alignment among the Council, the Secretariat and the troop- and police- contributing countries, which is heavily influenced by some of the Councils working methods that frame (and limit) the authorisation, design and oversight of peace operations. The Council has already taken on board some recommendations, but much remains to be done to improve comprehensively how peace operations are mandated. One of the issues that require further discussion and reflection among Council members is the negative impact of negotiating patterns in the drafting and the design of mandates. Already in 2000 the Brahimi report, concerned about the ambiguity that could result from compromises required to build consensus in the Council and the disparity between mandates and resources, argued for clear, credible and achievable mandates. Even though the Secretariat may sometimes be responsible for providing unrealistic recommendations, the Councils own practices in negotiating resolutions that establish or renew peace operations contribute to the lack of focus in mandates and the gap between mandates and their implementation. Language becomes an end in itself. The HIPPO report noted that too often, mandates and missions are produced on the basis of templates instead of tailored to support situation-specific political strategies. The lack of strategic focus is exacerbated by the tendency of Council members to seek the inclusion of favoured issues, sometimes irrespective of their relevance or priority in the context of the situation under discussion. These so-called Christmas tree mandates also reflect advocacy efforts by Secretariat departments and NGOs, which also sometimes focus on language as an objective in itself without considering its urgency or achievability. The HIPPO report said that the Secretariat and the UN system should present the Secretary-Generals recommendations without recourse to lobbying Council members for specific interests. Council members are often unable to assess whether particular language in a resolution makes a significant difference in the implementation of the mandate. Personnel numbers drive Council discussions. As a result of the 2009 New Horizon reform initiative, the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support committed to developing a capability-driven approach to mandates, moving away from a number-intensive strategy to one that focuses on the results and impact of peace missionsand therefore on the necessary skills, capacity and willingnessrather than simply on generating adequate numbers of troops, police and equipment. However, the Council has done little to embrace this approach, and troop and police numbers continue to drive Council discussions about mandates. At the same time, the numbers of civilian personnel dominate budgetary negotiations in the Fifth Committee. Sequencing, prioritisation and flexibility, as recommended by HIPPO and the Secretary-General, require the Council to emphasise its strategic objectives and to promote a new approach to budgetary discussions. In this context, the timid attempts to prioritise or sequence mandates at the Council level are rarely reflected in Fifth Committee discussions. Irrespective of developments on the ground, most mandates are reviewed only at the end of their cycle, a fixed period (often a year) after the mandate is established. The conditions on the ground might change (for example, an increase in asymmetric attacks, a change in the nature of threats to civilians or the unravelling of the political process), but Council members are often reluctant to reassess the appropriateness of mandates in light of bad news, in the hope that tactical changes within the existing mandates can mitigate the new threats. Sometimes, however, the deterioration of a particular situation makes changing existing mandates unavoidable, as in South Sudan in December 2013. Council members are usually not involved in strategic discussions about the overall direction of the operations before negotiating the renewal of their mandates. One could argue that mandate cycles provide a tentative timeframe that can be used to forge a common strategic approach among Council members ahead of these renewals, but such exercises are very uncommon. Council members, particularly the elected ones, are sometimes discouraged by the penholder arrangement from taking the initiative on country situations on which they do not hold the pen. Most discussions among all 15 members regarding mandate renewals happen only after a first-draft resolution has been circulated by the penholder to the full Council, more often than not about a week before the needed adoption. Council membersusually represented by relatively junior diplomatsmeet in person a few times, but the greater part of negotiations takes place through emails or in bilateral discussions between the penholder and Council members who have raised concerns. The time pressure generated by the pattern of late circulation to all Council members also increases the barriers to significant reflection and changes. This process effectively precludes the collective development of strategic thinking. Even though some Council members have started convening informal meetings with troop- and police-contributing countries ahead of mandate renewals, these still depend on the goodwill of the organisers rather than a systematic effort by the Council as a whole to engage early in the negotiation process with all relevant stakeholders. Also, troop- and police-contributing countries continue to request that more information is made available to them ahead of mandate renewals. A 25 November 2015 presidential statement noted that the Secretary-Generals report identified a number of areas where the Council could play a key role in strengthening UN peace operations and expressed its general intention to continue to consider the relevant recommendations. Although it encouraged the Secretary-General to take forward those steps under his authority to contribute to improving UN peace operations and to provide the Council with updates on progress, the statement did not indicate how the Council itself would further consider the recommendations regarding its own responsibilities for peace operations. Council members could address some of the trends identified above by modifying the way business is conducted in the Council: flexibly tweaking peace operations mandates as conditions on the ground change, allowing for more time to negotiate resolutions, thinking about the objectives to attain before negotiating the numbers of uniformed personnel needed to reach them and prioritising mandates so they are achievable and not a Turtle Bay-centred wish list. By focusing more on these incremental changes and with the objective of delivery on the ground, rather than making use of general exhortations or negotiating more formal outcomes, the Council could significantly improve the way it designs and oversees peace operations. For further analysis, see Security Council Reports May 2016 research report, The Security Council and UN Peace Operations: Reform and Deliver. This report addresses what the peace operations review requires of the Council. MIDDLE EAST Iraq Expected Council Action In May, Special Representative Jan Kubis will brief on developments in Iraq and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). UNAMIs mandate expires on 31 July. In addition, the Council may reach agreement on a draft resolution circulated by China and Russia in mid-April addressing the use of chemical weapons by non-state actors, in light of several allegations since August 2015 that the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has used mustard gas in Iraq and Syria. Key Recent Developments Since Kubis last briefed the Council on 16 February, a serious political crisis has developed in Iraq. There have been large-scale protests, led by influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, against the governments patronage system. The protesters have demanded an end to the sectarian quota system that determines cabinet posts. The system has become unsustainable in an economy which is on the verge of collapse because of the governments reliance on oil revenue in a context of plunging oil prices. The situation is exacerbated by the high cost of fighting ISIS and popular discontent with failing public services. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi attempted to put forward a reform cabinet of technocrats to counter corruption and curtail the power of political actors opposed to reform efforts. Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Malakiof the Shia Dawa party, which Abadi also belongs tohas posed a significant obstacle to popular demands for reform and to the stability of the current government. There are reports that Maliki was positioning himself to reclaim the premiership as parliamentarians fought over the proposed technocratic cabinets negative implications for their own leverage. However, it seems Malakis efforts were averted when both Iran and the US intervened in early April to signal their support for Abadi. On 26 April, parliamentarians approved nominees for six of the less controversial ministries of health, labour and social affairs, water resources, electricity, higher education, and culture. At press time, Abadi was expected to submit nominees for the remaining cabinet posts by 28 April. However, it seemed there remained concern that the line-up of proposed technocrats may change to reflect previous sectarian political groupings seeking to maintain power. In addition, Abadi said he was not seeking to replace the defence and interior ministers, two portfolios that wield significant power and reflect entrenched interests in the government. Malaki is seen as being aligned with the Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabior the popular mobilisation forces (PMF)that are nominally under the command and control of the government. The PMF is popular in the Shia community for its pivotal role in maintaining Baghdads security and effectively reclaiming many areas from ISIS. However, the PMF has been accused of reprisal violence against Sunnis, kidnappings, lootings, attacks on mosques, killings, and refusing to allow Sunni residents back to their homes once areas have been liberated from ISIS. Regarding anti-ISIS operations, there have been further government gains in Anbar province, including retaking Ramadi and Hit. Iraqi government forces have undertaken these offensives with the cooperation of local Sunni tribal fighters and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, backed by air support from the US-led anti-ISIS coalition. The PMF has not been included in these offensives, in deference to the US position that Iraqs use of Shia militias in Sunni areas stokes sectarian tension and deepens the distrust of the Shia-led government among Sunni leaders. Recently the government has been gearing up to retake Mosul, which was captured by ISIS in June 2014. The PMF has insisted it will play a role in that offensive, despite objections from the US-led coalition and Iraqi government forces. Meanwhile, Sunni tribal leaders have signalled their unwillingness to participate in the Mosul offensive alongside the government if Shia militias are involved. At press time, planning for the Mosul offensive had been put on hold due to a lack of sufficient ground support. Despite the governments military gains against ISIS, the situation of civilians has not seen a corresponding improvement. OCHA reports that the violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted in 3.4 million internally displaced persons and ten million people who require humanitarian assistance. The UN has also reported new waves of displacement in Anbar province since the beginning of the year, presumably as a result of civilians fleeing the anti-ISIS offensives. Meanwhile, many thousands of civilians are unable to flee and are trapped on the front lines of battle. The World Food Programme estimates that 60,000 civilians are trapped in ISIS-controlled Fallujah, besieged by government forces that restrict supply routes into the city. The UN does not have humanitarian access to Fallujah, where civilians are facing acute shortages of food and medicine. Separately, the UN Refugee Agency has expressed concern about restrictions placed on the freedom of movement of internally displaced Iraqis fleeing ISIS-controlled areas that are disproportionate to any legitimate security concern. Even in areas already liberated from ISIS, UN officials are increasingly concerned that lagging re-stabilisation efforts could undermine progress. UNAMI has said that for military advances against ISIS to hold, the government, in cooperation with the UN, would have to work quickly to restore the rule of law and basic services and thus give civilians confidence that it was safe to return. This is particularly important in relation to the Sunni provinces, which have a strained relationship with the Shia-led government in Baghdad. Further complicating the humanitarian situation are warnings that the Mosul dam could collapse, a catastrophic scenario for 500,000 to 1.5 million Iraqis living in the path of the potential flood. The Mosul dam is not controlled by ISIS, but is very near ISIS-controlled territory. An Italian company has been contracted to maintain and reinforce the dam. At press time, the Security Councils 2242 Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security was expected to consider the situation in Iraq at a 29 April meeting. Several UN officials are expected to brief the 2242 Group, including the deputy head of UNAMI Lise Grande and Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore. Human Rights-Related Developments Gilmore, following a week-long visit to Iraq in April, said the international communitys focus on military action needs comparable investment in non-military relief. She added that the international community must not allow itself to be made complicit with the failed leadership of Iraq. A 25 April press statement by Gilmore added that Iraq must immediately take concrete steps to plan for the day after the defeat of ISIS, grounded in equality, the rule of law and a vision that has earned the confidence of all the countrys diverse communities. All the leaders of Iraq, at every level, in both word and action, need to demonstrate a far greater commitment to peace, equality and to the rule of law, the statement said. Unchecked corruption, lack of accountability for past and present crimes, the problem of militias, the growing number of internally displaced people, the partial or total destruction of entire villages and towns, violence against women, and the need for constitutional and legislative reforms are some of the many pressing human rights concerns in Iraq that need priority attention, the statement added. Gilmore also urged the international community to provide more support to humanitarian needs, the rebuilding of essential infrastructure, and towards justice and reconciliation in Iraq. Key Issues The key issue for the Council is promoting a genuinely inclusive government accountable to the Iraqi people. A related issue is determining how the Council and UNAMI can support Prime Minister Abadis reform process and encourage greater cooperation on financial, security and humanitarian issues between Abadis dominant Shia Dawa party and Kurdish and Sunni parliamentarians, and thereby build confidence in the central government and fortify Iraqs response to ISIS. Options Options seem limited since the security response to ISIS is happening outside the Councils purview. However, an option is to adopt a statement calling for the government to work towards enhanced security and humanitarian coordination with Kurdish and Sunni leaders, and for UNAMI to support the government in that effort. In such a statement, the Council could also condemn human rights violations by ISIS and by Iraqi security forces, including the PMF. Such a statement could also call on the government to cooperate with UNAMI in areas that may require enhanced mission activities, such as human rights, rule of law, electoral assistance, security sector reform, stabilisation activities in areas liberated from ISIS, best practices for child protection and gender policies and contingency planning in light of the Mosul dams possible collapse. Council Dynamics Council members uniformly support UNAMI and believe that the missions mandate is sufficiently broad and flexible to allow Kubis to fulfil the missions good offices role. However, the Council has been largely disengaged from grappling with the underlying political divisions among Iraqs Shia, Sunni and Kurdish populations, beyond bland calls for an inclusive government. It has been similarly disengaged from directly addressing the humanitarian crisis, in stark comparison to its engagement with the humanitarian crises in Syria and Yemen. The US is the penholder on Iraq issues in general, and the UK is the penholder on Iraq-Kuwait issues. UN Documents on Iraq This resolution renewed UNAMI for a year. Special Representative Jan Kubis briefed the Council and presented the Secretary-Generals reports on UNAMI (S/2016/77) and on Iraq/Kuwait missing persons and property (S/2016/87). This was the Secretary-Generals report on UNAMI. This resolution renewed UNAMI for a year. Special Representative Jan Kubis briefed the Council and presented the Secretary-Generals reports on UNAMI (S/2016/77) and on Iraq/Kuwait missing persons and property (S/2016/87). This was the Secretary-Generals report on UNAMI. EUROPE Kosovo Expected Council Action In May, the Council is expected to hold its quarterly briefing on Kosovo. Zahir Tanin, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), will brief on recent developments and the latest Secretary-Generals report. Serbia is likely to participate at a high level, while Kosovo will probably be represented by its ambassador to the US. Key Recent Developments The political situation in Kosovo has remained tense for the past six months. The opposition parties have continued the practice of setting off smoke bombs in the Assembly of Kosovo, the legislative body, with an aim of obstructing its normal functioning. Disorder has spread outside the Assembly on several occasions when supporters of the opposition staged a number of demonstrations, some of which resulted in violence and clashes with Kosovo police. The main point of contention between the government and the opposition continues to be the 25 August 2015 agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, which, among other things, mandates the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb Municipalities (ASM/CSM) in northern Kosovo, which the opposition fears could eventually pose a risk of secession. The establishment of the ASM/CSM has yet to be realised because of diverging interpretations of the agreement. Serbia has insisted that the ASM/CSM should have wide executive powers, something that the Kosovo side believes contradicts Kosovo law because it would entail the creation of another tier of government. On 26 February, the Assembly met to select a new president of Kosovo to replace Atifete Jahjaga, whose term was expiring on 6 April. Hasim Thaci, the former prime minister and current foreign minister, won after three rounds of voting. During the first two rounds, Thaci failed to secure a two-thirds majority of the Assembly votes, but he won in third round, which only required him to get a simple majority in the 120-seat legislature. The opposition managed to delay the vote by setting off tear gas in the chamber once again. Thacis nomination for the presidency was the result of a coalition agreement signed between his Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Prime Minister Isa Mustafas Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) following the elections in 2014. Under the agreement, the LDK got the post of prime minister while the PDK would hold the presidency after the end of Jahjagas term. During a special session of the Assembly on 7 April, Thaci was officially sworn in as Kosovos president. The following day, a number of high-level dignitaries from the region attended the inauguration ceremony, which was briefly interrupted when the opposition set off a smoke bomb during the ceremony. On 29 February, while still in office, President Jahjaga ratified an agreement with the Netherlands that had been signed on 15 December 2015 regarding the organisation of the Special Court of Kosovo. The Court will investigate cases of alleged war crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army during the Kosovo war and its aftermath. Based in The Hague, the Court will be staffed by international judges and will operate under Kosovo law. After the signing of the agreement, Jahjaga said that Kosovo had fulfilled all of its international obligations related to the establishment of the Court. Kosovo Serbs participated in Serbian parliamentary elections on 24 April. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) facilitated the process because Kosovo authorities do not allow the Serbian Electoral Commission to operate in Kosovo. Essentially, the OSCE organised the collection of ballots and their subsequent transfer to the Serbian authorities for the count. This was the third time the OSCE assisted in the voting by Kosovo Serbs in Serbian parliamentary elections. It did so previously in 2012 and 2014 using the same model. Human Rights-Related Developments On 15 April, the special rapporteurs on minority issues and the human rights of internally displaced persons, Rita Izsak-Ndiaye and Chaloka Beyani, released a statement that called on the UN to implement a 26 February opinion of the Human Rights Advisory Panel made public the previous week. The opinion found UNMIK responsible for compromising irreversibly the life, health and development potential of certain families exposed to lead poisoning in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kosovo. The complaint was brought in 2008 by 138 members of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo who were initially placed in three IDP camps after the Roma Mahala neighbourhood in South Mitrovica had been destroyed in 1999. The panels opinion noted that UNMIK had commissioned a report in 2000, which found extremely elevated blood lead levels of the affected community members living in the IDP camps, but did not make the report public and failed to take sufficient action to address the risks of lead exposure in the camps. The panel recommended that UNMIK publicly acknowledge, including through the media, its failure to comply with applicable human rights standards in response to the adverse health condition caused by lead contamination in the IDP camps and the consequent harm suffered by the complainants; make a public apology to them and their families; and take appropriate steps towards payment of adequate compensation to the complainants for material and moral damage. Key Issues Maintaining stability and security in Kosovo remains the main issue for the Council, especially in light of the heightened political tensions in the country. UNMIKs role in promoting the implementation of the existing agreements between Belgrade and Pristina is a related issue. Following the ratification of the agreements on the establishment and organisation of the Special Court of Kosovo, an issue for the Council will be to follow closely the cooperation of Kosovo authorities with the Court. Options Should the ongoing political impasse continue to disrupt the normal functioning of the Kosovo government and its institutions or pose a threat to stability, the Council could consider issuing a statement censuring the disruptions and urging political actors to engage in dialogue with an aim to resolving outstanding issues. Considering the lack of implementation of a number of agreements between Belgrade and Pristina, the Council could explore the ways in which UNMIK could facilitate the implementation process. Looking ahead, the Council could consider modifying UNMIKs mandate and reducing its presence pending the implementation of the agreements between Belgrade and Pristina. Council Dynamics For years now, Kosovo has been an issue of low intensity for the Council, mainly because of the leading role of regional organisations, such as the EU, NATO and the OSCE. In addition, most Western members of the Council share the view that Kosovo does not require serious scrutiny by the Council because of the progress already made. The unchanged Council dynamics on Kosovo result from an entrenched division among the permanent members. France, the UK and the US (the P3) recognise Kosovos independence and its legitimacy under international law, while China and Russia maintain strong support for Serbias position vis-a-vis Kosovo. Prior to the current wave of political difficulties in Kosovo, there had been some discussion by the P3 and other Western Council members about possibly lengthening the reporting cycle on Kosovo. Russia has objected strongly to an attempt by the Council to alter the reporting cycle or modify UNMIKs mandate. Russias position has been reinforced by the recent political instability in Kosovo. UN Documents This resolution authorised NATO to secure and enforce the withdrawal of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia forces from Kosovo and established UNMIK. Special Representative Zahir Tanin briefed the Council on Kosovo and the most recent UNMIK report (S/2016/99). MIDDLE EAST Lebanon Expected Council Action In May, Council members expect to receive the semi-annual briefing from Special Envoy Terje Rd-Larsen on the latest report on the implementation of resolution 1559. Adopted in 2004, resolution 1559 urged the disarmament of all militias and the extension of government control over all Lebanese territory. Key Recent Developments Notwithstanding Lebanons official position of disassociation from the Syrian conflict, Lebanese militants continue to engage in the conflict, in violation of resolution 1559. Hezbollahs engagement in the conflict in Syria continues to have domestic and regional repercussions for Lebanon. On 11 April, Israel acknowledged for the first time that it has launched dozens of strikes in Syria aimed at suspected arms shipments destined for Lebanons Hezbollah. On 20 April, Israels deputy chief of staff, Major General Yair Golan, issued a warning to Hezbollah, saying that in any future war with Lebanon, Israel would cause devastating damage and would unleash all of its military capabilities. Meanwhile, violence has flared recently between rival political factions in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Fatah member Hussein Othman was killed and others were injured on 1 April when a political dispute led to gunfire and the firing of rocket-propelled grenades in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. On 12 April, Fatahs security chief in neighbouring Mieh Mieh camp, General Fathi Zeidan, was killed, along with three others, when a bomb that had been placed in his car went off in Ain al-Hilweh. The camp, in southern Lebanon, has regularly seen deadly factional disputes. Palestinian refugee camps mainly fall outside the jurisdiction of Lebanese security forces. On 21 April, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri discussed the security situation in the camp with a visiting senior Fatah official, Azzam al-Ahmad. Al-Ahmad emphasised that the perpetrators of such violence were seeking to destabilise the camp and not Lebanon. During a regional tour, French President Francois Hollande announced in Beirut his countrys financial and military support for Lebanon and urged politicians to elect a president as soon as possible. France pledged 50 million euros in 2016 and 100 million euros over the next three years as assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Hollandes pledge follows Saudi Arabias 19 February suspension of a $3 billion aid package for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to buy arms from France in what a Saudi official described as retaliation for Beiruts failure to condemn attacks on Saudi missions in Iran. The decision came after Lebanese Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil during two meetings of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers refused to support Saudi resolutions condemning Iran. Lebanon remains in a political stalemate over the question of who will be the countrys next president. The office has been vacant since 25 May 2014. On 18 April, Lebanon failed for the 38th time to elect a new president. The next electoral session has been scheduled for 10 May. Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag briefed the Council in consultations on 17 March. Following the meeting, Council members issued a press statement on Lebanon. Council members reaffirmed its deep concern over the 21-month vacancy in the presidency of Lebanon and the current political stalemate in government and reiterated its strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon. They also reiterated their call for the continuation of international support for the LAF through additional and expedited assistance in areas where it is most critically needed, including counterterrorism and border protection, and expressed continuing concern about the negative impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanons stability and the immediate threat to its security. The statement called on all Lebanese parties to cease any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with their commitment in the ministerial declaration of the current government and in the Baabda Declaration of 12 June 2012. Council members, who continue to be gravely concerned by the impact of Lebanons hosting more than one million Syrian refugees, renewed their call for all parties to abide by their obligation to respect the safety of UNIFIL and other UN personnel and expressed appreciation for the International Support Group for Lebanon. Key Issues The ongoing crisis in Syria, with Hezbollahs involvement on the side of the regime, remains the overarching issue. The flow of arms through Syria to Hezbollah is a related issue. These circumstances have had a negative effect on Lebanon and continue to stall efforts to fully implement resolution 1559. A related issue is that Hezbollah and other non-state actors continue to maintain weaponry that directly hinders the governments exercise of full authority over its territory, poses a threat to Lebanons sovereignty and stability and contravenes its obligations under resolutions 1559 and 1701, which called for a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. Another issue is the inability of Lebanon to elect a president, which has paralysed the countrys parliament and threatens Lebanons stability with its potential to aggravate sectarian tensions within the country. Options Considering that Council members issued a comprehensive press statement in March outlining the main issues on which they stand united in their support of Lebanon, the most likely option is to merely receive the briefing and take no other action at this time. Council Dynamics The Council continues to demonstrate unity in support of Lebanons sovereignty, territorial integrity and security and to support Lebanon in its efforts to insulate itself from the damaging effect of the Syrian conflict. France is the penholder on Lebanon. UN Documents This resolution expanded UNIFIL by 15,000 troops and expanded its mandate. This resolution urged withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, extension of the Lebanese governments control over all Lebanese territory and free and fair presidential elections. This was the Secretary-Generals report on implementation of resolution 1559. This was a press statement reaffirming deep concern over the 21-month vacancy in the presidency of Lebanon and the current political stalemate. AFRICA Liberia Expected Council Action In May, the Council expects a briefing by Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko (Ukraine), chair of the 1521 Liberia Sanctions Committee, on the final report of the Panel of Experts and other sanctions-related matters, followed by consultations. Sanctions measuresincluding an arms embargo on non-state actorsexpire on 2 June, and the mandate of the Panel of Experts expires on 2 July. The Council is expected to review and possibly terminate the sanctions regime. Key Recent Developments With the Ebola epidemic now contained, despite some new cases in April, the Council and the Liberian authorities have directed their attention towards the imminent drawdown of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Resolution 2239, adopted in September 2015, authorised a further reduction in the number of UNMILs personnel and mandated that the transition of security responsibilities from UNMIL to the Liberian authorities be completed by 30 June. Parallel to the drawdown of UNMIL, the Council took action to ease the sanctions in September 2015, when it adopted resolution 2237 which renewed the arms embargo on non-state actors but terminated the asset freeze and travel ban. The resolution also reaffirmed the readiness of the Council to readjust or possibly terminate sanctions in light of the stability in Liberia and the subregion. On 17 March, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Farid Zarif briefed the Council on the situation in Liberia, including transition-related activities. Though he said that some in the political opposition and civil society question the countrys readiness for the transition, Zarif was confident that Liberia would meet all transition targets set by UNMIL and the government by the deadline. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has repeatedly said that the authorities are ready to assume security responsibilities related to the transition. However, both Sirleaf and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara appealed to the Secretary-General in January to maintain the UN peacekeeping presence in both countries pending the conclusion of the 2017 presidential elections in Liberia, given the potentially destabilising impact of the vote. The implementation of the transition plan by Liberian authorities has been uneven due to funding difficulties and the inability of the authorities to adopt compulsory legislation on security sector reform and arms and ammunition control, among other factors. Because of the global decline in commodity prices, the Liberian economy suffered considerable losses this year. This negatively affected the governments budget and consequently the funds allocated for the transition. Regarding the major gap in funding, Zarif appealed to bilateral and international partners to provide support for this and other aspects of the transition. Progress on the legislative front was made on 17 March when the legislature ratified the law on police and immigration. On 13 April, the legislature approved a land authority act, which is supposed to provide a basis for land reform. In addition, the act would enable the creation of the body charged with governing all land-related matters, a task previously undertaken by several different ministries. However, a crucial law on firearms and ammunition control has yet to be adopted. A surge in terrorist activity in the region in the past couple of months raised concerns about the security situation in Liberia. In the last six months, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb orchestrated attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and, on 13 March, in neighbouring Cote dIvoire. Following the attacks in Cote dIvoire, Sirleaf went to Abidjan, where she and Ouattara held talks on security issues. Both leaders stressed the need for coordinated regional and international counterterrorism efforts, while Ouattara also advocated advancing a regional approach through the Economic Community of West African States. Though the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Liberia free of Ebola in January, new cases of the virus were reported in April. Guinea also witnessed a surge in new cases of Ebola. Working with the authorities of Liberia and Guinea, WHO determined the existence of an epidemiological link between the flare-ups in both countries. As a result, the Liberian authorities have activated emergency response mechanisms to contain the spread of the virus while hundreds of people in the southern regions of Guinea have been given the experimental Ebola vaccine. Developments in the Sanctions Committee On 11 April, the 1521 Liberia Sanctions Committee held informal consultations. The meeting was primarily focused on the final report of the Panel of Experts. Issues that were discussed included the failure of Liberia to adopt arms and ammunition control legislation as well as risk factors posed by the surge in terrorism in the region and Liberias lack of capacity to deal with this phenomenon. On a positive note, Council members took note of the adoption of the police and immigration act. Key Issues The primary issue for the Council will be to examine the usefulness of sanctions in Liberia and consider further modifying or terminating the sanctions regime. Given the imminent drawdown of UNMIL and the transition of security responsibilities to Liberian authorities on 30 June, a prominent issue for the Council will be maintaining stability in the country. In light of the recent attacks in the region and neighbouring Cote dIvoire, the risk posed by terrorism is an emerging issue. Options A likely option for the Council is to terminate the current sanctions regime, which currently only includes an arms embargo on non-state actors. The Council could also decide to keep the sanctions regime unchanged for a limited time period or pending the successful transition of security responsibilities from UNMIL to the Liberian government. Council Dynamics In the second half of 2015, the Council started taking a more active approach towards the drawdown of UNMIL and further easing of sanctions. These processes were put on hold during 2014 and the first half of 2015 because of the Ebola epidemic. In September 2015, the Council showed its determination to ease the sanctions regime and authorise a further drawdown of UNMIL by unanimously adopting resolutions 2237 and 2239 respectively. By adopting these resolutions, the Council signalled its desire to gradually end the UNs current role in Liberia and ease sanctions, given that the country has been relatively stable for the past 13 years. The P3 in general and the US in particular seem to be keen on terminating the sanctions regime, despite the fact that while making some progress, Liberia failed to fully implement a number of reforms and legislative adjustments recommended by the Panel. The majority of the elected members also seem to favour further easing or terminating sanctions, though some E10 members tend to be more cautious in this regard. Despite this, it seems unlikely that elected members would directly oppose a resolution to terminate the sanctions, should the US decide to end the regime. There is also a prevailing view in the Council that the regular problems that the Panel has been identifying in its reports are issues less of security than of governance, for which sanctions are not viewed as an appropriate tool. In the regional context, the decision to end sanctions and drawdown the UN mission in Cote dIvoire further reinforces the view of the Council that the region is relatively stable. The US is the penholder on Liberia, and Ukraine serves as chair of the 1521 Liberia Sanctions Committee. UN Documents This was a resolution renewing the mandate of UNMIL until 30 September 2016 and continuing the drawdown of UNMIL, to 1,240 military personnel and 606 police personnel by 30 June. This was a resolution that renewed the arms embargo on non-state actors for nine months but terminated the asset freeze and travel ban. This was a report on UNMIL. This was a briefing on the Secretary-Generals UNMIL report. AFRICA Libya Expected Council Action In May, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda will deliver her semi-annual briefing on recent developments concerning cases in Libya. Key Recent Developments Seven of the nine members of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) arrived in Tripoli on 30 March. Despite the fact that the Presidency Council secured the support of key institutions, such as the Libyan Investment Authority, the National Oil Corporation and the Central Bank, so far it has not been formally endorsed by the Tobruk-based House of Representatives. A majority of House members issued a statement on 21 April after they were prevented from holding a vote on a list of GNA candidates, submitted on 15 February by the Presidency Council, by a militia reportedly allied with some House members. The statement expressed their intention to endorse the GNA, while reiterating reservations about article 8 of the Libyan Political Agreement regarding the transfer of military power, which is perceived as challenging the role that General Khalifa Haftar (the military leader of Operation Dignity in eastern Libya) will be able to play in Libya once a GNA is sworn in. A 22 April joint statement by the ambassadors and special envoys to Libya of the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US commended the efforts of the majority of members of the House in spite of unacceptable threats and welcomed the decision of those members to convene the House in a Libyan location that offers security and safety for its members. The first meeting of the State Councila consultative institution provided for by the Libyan Political Agreement in which most members of the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) are expected to participatetook place in Tripoli on 6 April. However, members of the GNC continue to be divided over whether to dissolve the GNC and pledge allegiance to the GNA. On 22 April, the State Council met in the headquarters of the GNC in Tripoli. Targeting the perceived spoilers, the EU imposed sanctions on 31 March on Agilah Saleh (head of the House), Nouri Abu Sahmain, (head of the GNC) and Khalifa Ghweil (head of the Tripoli-based National Salvation Government). The US also imposed sanctions on the latter on 19 April. The security situation continues to be critical, particularly in the east. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has been seeking to arrange a humanitarian ceasefire in the eastern city of Benghazi, but so far it has not been able to secure the agreement of the warring parties. In the west, clashes have persisted among rival militias in Warshafana. The situation in Tripoli is generally calm, with episodes of violence among rival militias. Since its establishment on 13 January, the Temporary Security Committee has been working to formulate a security plan to enable the GNA to establish itself in Tripoli. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL, Martin Kobler, last briefed Council members on 7 April, describing his plans to support the Presidency Council and the GNA in establishing themselves in Tripoli by maintaining a continuous presence in Tripoli. (A UN needs-assessment mission, deployed in January to evaluate the feasibility of UNSMILs return to Libya, concluded that such a move was contingent upon the establishment of the GNA in Tripoli and authorisation to deploy a UN guard unit.) The International Organization for Migration estimates that around 1,200 migrants have died this year on all Mediterranean routes to Europe. It also confirmed details of a shipwreck that resulted in the deaths of upwards of 400 migrants and refugees who had left Libya in mid-April. ICC-Related Developments Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi, son of deposed leader Muammar Qaddafi, was sentenced to death in absentia on 28 July 2015 by a court in Tripoli that tried him along with 36 other Qaddafi-era officials accused of serious crimes during the 2011 revolution. Qaddafi is being held in a militia-controlled jail in the town of Zintan. UNSMIL and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights criticised the trial as not meeting international standards for a fair trial. On 30 July 2015, Bensouda requested that the Pre-Trial Chamber order Libya to refrain from carrying out Qaddafis sentence, surrender him to the Court and officially inform the Security Council of the sentence, which she described as an irreversible manifestation of Libyas failure to cooperate with the Court. On 20 August 2015, the government of Libya, through its legal counsel, said in response to the Prosecutor that Qaddafis judgement was not final given that he was tried in absentia and stressed that he could not be surrendered to the ICC because he was not in the custody of the Libyan government. The ICCs Pre-Trial Chamber had issued a decision on the non-compliance of Libya with the Court in the case against Qaddafi on 10 December 2014, by which the matter was referred back to the Council to seek its assistance in eliminating the impediments to cooperation. The Council responded to this and other findings of non-compliance by agreeing on a 21 December 2015 letter from the Councils president to the president of the ICC, merely informing her that the letters transmitting decisions of Pre-Trial Chambers of the ICC on the situation in Darfur and Libya had been brought to the attention of Council members. In 2013, the ICC concluded that Libya was not unwilling or unable to genuinely carry out its proceedings regarding the case against former intelligence chief Abdullah Al-Senussi that was before the ICC, thus making it inadmissible before the Court. Bensouda has signalled in the past her readiness to open new investigations into ongoing crimes, but these efforts have been hampered by lack of cooperation from the Libyan side and by security and budgetary constraints. Human Rights-Related Developments A 15 February report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights described widespread violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights, perpetrated by all parties to the conflict in Libya throughout 2014 and 2015. On 24 March, the Human Rights Council adopted, without a vote, a resolution on technical assistance and capacity-building to improve human rights in Libya. The resolution calls on the GNA to fully implement the Libyan Political Agreement and condemns all violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law. These include unlawful killings, indiscriminate shelling and attacks on civilians, abductions and assassinations of government officials, judges and others, the shelling of hospitals and the looting of property. The resolution expresses grave concern at the number of conflict-related detainees, including children, and at reports of torture and sexual and gender-based violence in detention centres, strongly condemning practices such as abduction, hostage-taking, incommunicado detention, abuse and killings carried out by non-state armed groups, most notably the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Ansar al-Sharia and other terrorist organisations in Libya (A/HRC/RES/31/27). Key Issues The overarching issues are how to ensure the broad acceptance of the political agreement, including its endorsement by the House, how to bring on board those unwilling to sign it and how to isolate spoilers actively undermining the political process. A key issue is ensuring that military actors commit to implementing the ceasefire and other security arrangements provided for in the agreement. Addressing impunity and stopping violations of international humanitarian law by the parties is a related issue. The growing threat in Libya of terrorist groups with regional reach is an urgent issue. Options Options on Libya include: visiting Libya to hold discussions with the parties and regional stakeholders with the objective of breaking the current deadlock over the political process; holding an informal interactive dialogue with the prosecutor to develop a joint plan to ensure cooperation once the GNA is fully established; and imposing sanctions on spoilers. The Council could also issue a statement: reiterating the call for the GNA to hold accountable those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights and to co-operate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the ICC and the prosecutor; calling on member states to ensure adequate funding to support the ICC in investigating serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law; and calling on member states to extend full cooperation to and support for the ICC by assisting its investigations and complying with its rulings. Council and Wider Dynamics Council members generally support UNSMILs mediation efforts and have repeatedly stated that there can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya. There is also a feeling of urgency among Council members given the growing threat of ISIL in Libya. Some Council members emphasise the importance of a formal endorsement of the GNA by the House as per the political agreement. However, other Council members are already interacting with the Presidency Council of the GNA as the legitimate government of Libya. This dynamic has been reflected recently in the negotiations on resolutions 2273 and 2278, of 15 and 31 March respectively, and in a 1 April press statement. The semi-annual briefings by Bensouda on Darfur and Libya have proven rather ineffective given the reluctance of the Council to follow-up regarding the difficulties in implementing ICC decisions. Council members have often reverted to general exhortations rather than effectively addressing non-compliance in a more forceful way. It remains to be seen whether the new GNA will cooperate fully with the ICC and the prosecutor, unlike previous governments. The effortsled by Chile and Lithuaniato respond with a letter to the findings of non-compliance issued by the ICC took months of negotiations, reflecting sharp divisions among Council members, including among states parties to the Rome Statute. UN DOCUMENTS ON LIBYA The Council renewed the sanctions regime for a year. This was a resolution renewing UNSMIL until 15 June 2016. The Council welcomed the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement. This press statement deplored the maritime tragedy that resulted in up to 500 deaths. This press statement encouraged the Presidency Council to immediately begin its work in Tripoli to broaden the basis of its support. This was a press statement calling for the Presidency Council to take steps to rapidly start working from the capital, Tripoli. This was the final report of the Panel of Experts on Libya. This was a briefing by the prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda. THEMATIC ISSUES Protection of Civilians Expected Council Action In early May, the Security Council will hold a briefing on attacks on medical facilities and personnel in armed conflict as a part of its protection of civilians agenda. During the meeting, the Council is expected to adopt a resolution condemning attacks on health care workers and facilities and demanding compliance with international humanitarian law with regard to this issue. While yet to be confirmed at press time, it appeared that briefers would include high-level representatives from the UN, the ICRC and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). Background The Council has emphasised the importance of protecting humanitarian and UN personnel in various country-specific and thematic resolutions since the adoption of resolution 1265 in 1999, its first thematic resolution on the protection of civilians. Underpinning these efforts is a strong foundation of international law that affirms the safety and protection of humanitarian workers. Relevant international instruments include the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, the 1994 Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel and the 2005 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel. Key Recent Developments Over the past decade, the world has become a more dangerous place for humanitarian workers. According to Humanitarian Outcomes, a consulting service that works with donor governments and aid organisations on humanitarian issues, major attacks on aid workers such as shootings, kidnappings, bodily assaults and attacks with explosives were highest in 2014 in Afghanistan (54), Syria (26), South Sudan (18) and the Central African Republic (14). Attacks on health care workers and medical facilities have also been a factor in conflicts in Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen, among other cases. In addition to the harm caused to health care workers and facilities, such attacks have a devastating impact on people in need whose access to health care and humanitarian assistance is curtailed. In recent months, hospitals have been bombed or otherwise damaged in several conflict zones, resulting in numerous casualties. On 3 October 2015, 42 people were killed when US forces accidently bombed an MSF hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. In Yemen, at least six people died when a projectile struck the Shiara Hospital in the Razeh district in northern Yemen on 10 January. In Syria, missiles struck two hospitals on 15 February, one in Idlid province and one in Aleppo province; at least 25 people reportedly died as a result of these incidents. Following the outbreak of violence on 18 February in the UNs protection of civilians site in Malakal, South Sudan, one medical facility in the town was looted, while a second was reportedly set on fire. Recent UN reports have highlighted attacks on health workers and medical facilities as a serious problem facing the UN system and its partners. In his June 2015 report to the Council on the protection of civilians, the Secretary-General described how such attacks undermine humanitarian access to civilians in dire need. In his September 2015 report to the General Assembly, Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of UN personnel, the Secretary-General emphasised the importance of protecting humanitarian and health care workers through legislation and adherence to international humanitarian norms. Most recently, in his February report on the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit, the Secretary-General said, States and other parties to conflict must ensure that all context-specific political, legal, social and safety measures are put in place and strictly adhered to in order to protect humanitarian and medical personnel and facilities. On 19 August 2014, the Council held a briefing on the safety and security of humanitarian workers, coinciding with World Humanitarian Day, which honours the efforts of aid workers and takes place on the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN Baghdad compound, in which 22 people were killed. The Council adopted resolution 2175 ten days later, which: strongly condemned violence and intimidation against those involved in humanitarian operations; urged parties to armed conflict to allow complete and unhindered humanitarian access; urged states to ensure that they hold accountable those who commit crimes against humanitarian workers within their respective territories; and requested the Secretary-General to include in his reports on country-specific situations and other relevant reports information regarding the safety and security of humanitarian workers and to present recommendations about how to strengthen their protection. Key Issues The key issue for the Council is how the draft resolution that is expected to be adopted, which is broadly focused on medical neutrality in all conflict situations, can have a concrete impact on country-specific situations in which medical workers and facilities are attacked. A related question is how the Council can continue to maintain attention on this issue and ensure that its decisions appropriately reflect the imperatives of medical neutrality under international humanitarian law. Options The most likely option for the Council is to adopt the draft resolution on medical neutrality that has been negotiated for the past several months. Moving forward, the Council may consider: ensuring continuity of focus on this issue through annual briefings; calling on the UN system to develop a mechanism to collect data on attacks on medical workers and facilities across conflicts in a standardised way; and emphasising the importance of medical neutrality in relevant future Council country-specific decisions. Council Dynamics The protection of humanitarian workers and medical facilities is an issue of growing concern to several Council members. This is largely because of the high number of aid workers who are subjected to violence, the damage to medical facilities in numerous conflict settings, and the negative implications of these attacks on the lives of civilians in need of medical care and humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, there seems to be a rising perception among Council members that parties to conflict in many contexts show little respect for international humanitarian law, which includes protections for aid workers. The draft resolution on medical neutrality that is expected to be adopted in May was the product of several months of intensive effort by the five penholdersall elected members that collectively reflect the regional diversity of the Council. At press time, it appeared that the penholders were attempting to garner co-sponsorship from a large number of states consisting of the broader UN membership. UN Documents on the Protection of Civilians This resolution condemned violence and intimidation against those involved in humanitarian operations. This was a briefing on the protection of humanitarian workers in recognition of World Humanitarian Day. This was the Secretary-Generals 11th report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. This was the Secretary-Generals report for the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit. This was the report of the Secretary-General on the Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of UN personnel. Useful Additional Resource Attacks on Health Care in Armed Conflict: Role of the Security Council, International Peace Institute, Policy Forum, 14 April 2016, video link available at https://www.ipinst.org/2016/04/healthcare-in-armed-conflict#4 AFRICA Somalia Expected Council Action In May, the Council is scheduled to receive a briefing from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), Michael Keating, on the forthcoming Secretary-Generals report. The Council is also expected to renew the authorisation of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which expires on 31 May, and could elect to review the mandate of the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). The Council is planning a visiting mission to Somalia in May, where it is expecting to meet with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, defense and intelligence ministers and the governments chief of staff, as well as meet with AMISOM and UNSOM and members of civil society. Key Recent Developments Somalia has recently made significant progress on its electoral plan and the political process. On 4 April, the semi-autonomous Puntland region agreed to participate fully in the electoral process, on the basis of an agreement with the Somali government that the so-called 4.5 power-sharing formula, which gives an equal share to each of the four major clans while a coalition of smaller clans gets half a share, would under no circumstances be used beyond the 2016 elections. The intention is to hold one-person one-vote elections in 2020. The agreement was guaranteed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), with the UN, the AU and the EU serving as witnesses. There was also progress on the practical framework for the implementation of the electoral process. The third National Leadership Forum held in Mogadishu from 9 to 12 April agreed on a structure for the electoral process, involving the establishment of uniform election implementation teams at federal and state levels to organise the upcoming elections. Participants also agreed on the composition of these teams, and promised to formulate their terms of reference and to establish a dispute resolution mechanism. According to the plan, the electoral college this year will be 100 times larger than in 2012 elections, and 30 percent of the seats in Parliament are being reserved for women. The forum also announced that a constitutional conference would be held between 25 May and 5 June in the Puntland capital, Garowe, to discuss contentious political and constitutional issues that may require review. On AMISOM, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) adopted a press statement on 31 March in which it reiterated its serious concern about the funding gap created by the EUs untimely 20 percent funding cut and once again called on the UN to utilise assessed contributions to bridge the funding gap. It stressed that, in line with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, the AU in deploying AMISOM is acting on behalf of the Security Council. The statement also expressed serious concern over the reports of continuous shipment of arms for non-state actors in Somalia, in violation of the UN arms embargo. On 19 April, the Council held a briefing on Somalia at the request of the UK, taking advantage of President Mohamouds presence in New York for events in the General Assembly. Keating also briefed the Council, along with AU Permanent Observer Tete Antonio. Keating stressed that the electoral process remain vulnerable to spoilers, with Al-Shabaab being a potent threat. He also reported that the capacity of UNSOS is being strengthened, including through the deployment of a team of 70 military experts from the UK. Antonio highlighted four critical issues regarding AMISOM: that there is a clear justification for the renewal of AMISOMs mandate; that AMISOMs strategy must embrace more targeted operations involving holding, offensive and pursuit operations; that resources must be mobilised to ensure that the salaries of the Somali security forces are paid and to fill the gap created by the 20 percent salary cut for AMISOM uniformed personnel; and that the deployment of operational enablers and force multipliers are pivotal for AMISOM operations. President Mohamoud conveyed that Somalia has made solid improvements in weapons and ammunition management and in complying with Security Council arms notification requirements, and urged the Council to lift the arms embargo on Somalia, saying it would help accelerate the development of the national security forces and enhance Somalias ability to defeat terrorism. Following the meeting, Council members on 21 April issued a press statement in which they commended President Mohamoud and the federal government for the political progress made in the last four years, in particular the agreement on an electoral model. They welcomed the governments commitment to reserve 30 percent of seats in the upper and lower houses of parliament for women and called on the parliament to endorse swiftly the implementation plan decided by the National Leadership Forum. They recalled their expectation that there will be no extension of the electoral process timelines, and called for progress on the constitutional review process and for completion of the federal state formation process to be accelerated. They also expressed grave concern at the fragility of the security situation and reiterated condemnation of attacks and recruitment of children by Al-Shabaab. They underscored the importance of enhancing command and control and coordination within AMISOM, and of the swift appointment of a Force Commander. Members of the Council welcomed the efforts made by the federal government to strengthen the capacity and accountability of Somali security institutions and expressed concern about the fragile humanitarian situation. Concerning the humanitarian situation, UN humanitarian coordinator for Somalia Peter de Clercq on 31 March appealed for $105 million in aid to provide life-saving assistance to nearly two million people affected by the severe drought in the autonomous regions of Somaliland and Puntland. Sanctions-Related Developments The 751/1907 Somalia/Eritrea Sanctions Committee on 14 March adopted the implementation assistance note on the arms embargo entitled, Summary of arms embargo restrictions in place for Somalia and Eritrea, including exemptions. The note, requested by the Council in resolution 2244 of 23 October 2015, provides an overview of the scope of the arms embargo and exemption requests. The Sanctions Committee met on 22 April to receive a midterm update from the coordinator of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group. In the update, the coordinator conveyed growing concerns surrounding Al-Shabaabs resurgence and stressed that AMISOM and the Somali National Army (SNA) are in need of increased support. On 31 March, Djibouti sent a letter to the Secretary-General to convey the encouraging developments of the release of four of the 19 Djibouti prisoners of war held in Eritrea. Key Issues A key issue for the Council in May is the re-authorisation of AMISOMs mandate; as well as how the Council can best address the financial, operational and logistical challenges facing AMISOM and support efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the mission in its offensive operations against Al-Shabaab. In this regard, the importance of enhancing command and control and improving coordination within AMISOM remain issues of high importance, particularly in light of the upcoming elections, which Al-Shabaab will likely seek to disrupt. A further issue is ensuring that Somalia adheres to the timeline for the current electoral process and conducts peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections in August. Likewise, progress must be made towards the constitutional review process and completion of the federal State formation, with support from UNSOM. On the sanctions front, a key issue remains whether the measures against Eritrea should be reviewed in light of its recent release of the Djiboutian prisoners of war and the absence of any evidence of Eritrean support for Al-Shabaab, as reported by the Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group. Another issue is whether to lift the arms embargo on Somalia, which expires on 15 November, as requested by Somalia. Options The main option for the Council is to adopt a resolution renewing AMISOMs authorisation for one year. This resolution could address any concerns raised when the Council meets with AMISOM in Mogadishu. The resolution could also reiterate some of the messages expressed in the Councils 21 April press statement. A further option would be to review and, if deemed necessary, revise the mandate of UNSOS, as provided for by resolution 2245, which established UNSOS in November 2015 and decided to keep its mandate under review in line with that of AMISOM. This option remains unlikely, however, given that UNSOS was established only six months ago. During its planned visit to Somalia in May, while engaging with several key stakeholders, the Council could take the opportunity to reiterate its support to the government for the holding of timely and inclusive elections in August and send a message to spoilers that the international community is invested in supporting Somalias political transition. On AMISOM, the Council could take the opportunity to encourage the strengthening of command and control and reiterate the importance of the swift appointment of a Force Commander. Council Dynamics The Council remains generally united on Somalia. In their interventions during the 19 April meeting, most Council members welcomed recent political developments, while warning that the electoral schedule must be adhered to. They also were united in expressing their support for AMISOM and the SNA. Venezuela was the sole member calling on the Council to heed President Mohamouds appeal for the lifting of sanctions. At press time, discussions on AMISOMs reauthorisation had not yet begun; however, Council members were anticipating a report on AMISOM from the AU following a meeting of the PSC on the situation in Somalia set for 28 April, which, along with perspectives gained during the Councils meeting with AMISOM in Mogadishu, would help inform the Councils approach to the reauthorisation. The UK is the penholder on Somalia. UN Documents This was a resolution extending the mandate of UNSOM. This was a resolution regarding the successor to the UN Support Office for AMISOM, the UN Support Office in Somalia. This was a was the briefing with President Mohamoud. This was a statement that focused on recent political progress, the difficult security situation and the importance of further efforts aimed at strengthening AMISOM and Somali security institutions. This was a letter that informed the Council of the UKs readiness to deploy 70 military personnel to support UNSOS. This was a letter from Djibouti on the release of four of the 19 Djibouti prisoners of war still in custody in Eritrea. AFRICA South Sudan Expected Council Action In May, the Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the 2206 South Sudan sanctions regime, which expires on 1 June. Key Recent Developments Opposition leader Riek Machar returned to Juba and was sworn in as First Vice President on 26 April. Machars long awaited return to Juba, initially scheduled for 18 April, had been postponed several times, largely due to disagreements between the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) on the number of SPLM-IO soldiers that could be brought to the capital city and the types of weapons they should be allowed to transport. Following Machars arrival in Juba, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Machars return and called for the immediate establishment of the transitional government of national unity in a statement attributed to his spokesman. Recent tensions and clashes have been reported between SPLM and the SPLM-IO. On 6 April, fighting broke out between SPLM and SPLM-IO forces in Western Bahr el Ghazal state. Both sides sustained casualties, and buildings were destroyed near Mboro village. The fighting followed reports of a build-up of SPLM forces and attacks by helicopters in the area. Local officials have claimed that 90,000 civilians have fled to Wau town in recent months because of conflict in the vicinity. The SPLM has alleged that it is attacking criminals in Western Bahr el Ghazal, not opposition forces. Media reports further indicate that government forces have carried out attacks on SPLM-IO cantonment sites in Western Bahr el Ghazal, as high-level government representatives, including Army Chief of Staff Paul Malong Awan, oppose the cantonment of opposition troops in this state. Clashes between government and opposition forces were also reported in Rupkotni county in Unity state on 13 and 14 April. The opposition accused Malong Awan of orchestrating the transfer of armed youth on 9 April from his native Bahr el Ghazal state to Juba in breach of the peace agreement. On 12 April, SPLA spokesman Lul Ruai Koang acknowledged that a troop movement had occurred but said that it constituted a routine administrative matter and suggested that soldiers move through Juba to other locations. A group of men from the Murle ethnic group crossed on 15 April from South Sudans Jonglei state into the Gambella region of Ethiopia, where they killed more than 200 people, kidnapped more than 100 children and seized approximately 2,000 head of cattle before returning to South Sudan. Ethiopia has reportedly been in discussions with South Sudan regarding options for a joint military campaign against the perpetrators, which will include efforts to rescue the abducted children. The Council has devoted considerable attention to South Sudan in recent weeks. On 31 March, the Council held a briefing to hear from Festus Mogae, the chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission; Ellen Margrethe Lj, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (via video teleconference); Stephen OBrien, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; and Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mogae said that the act of forming [the transitional government] will not automatically relieve the humanitarian, development, political, military and economic crises facing South Sudan, and urged the parties and the international community to continue to work toward a more robust peace in the country. Lj said that fighting continued in various parts of the country, despite the peace agreement. She underscored the importance of forming the transitional government and noted that UNMISS was providing air transport to Juba for opposition forces as part of the transitional security arrangements agreed by the parties. OBrien emphasised the severity of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan. Civilians continued to be targeted, attacked and displaced, he said, while restrictions imposed on humanitarian access remained a significant problem. Gilmore briefed on the findings of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights assessment mission to investigate allegations of violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in South Sudan. She highlighted the need for accountability to break the cycle of violence in the country, calling on the AU to promptly establish the hybrid court envisioned in the August 2015 peace agreement. Following the public briefing, Council members discussed the situation in consultations. The Council adopted a technical rollover resolution on 7 April that renewed the mandate of the South Sudan sanctions regime for an additional seven weeks until 1 June. A presidential statement was adopted in conjunction with the resolution, indicating the Councils intention to assess progress by 30 April on steps taken by the parties as outlined by the Council in its 17 March presidential statement. Those steps involve the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement and a proposal for a national boundary commission to review the number of states in South Sudan and their boundaries, among other issues. On 19 April, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous briefed Council members in consultations on the postponement of Machars return to Juba. Following the meeting, China in its capacity as Council president delivered elements to the press in which members expressed serious concern with the delay in Machars return to Juba and called for the transitional government of national unity to be formed quickly. The Council held a briefing, followed by consultations, on UNMISS and the situation in South Sudan on 26 April. During the briefing, Ladsous said that Machars return to Juba was a positive development, but cautioned that political and security trends needed to change for peace to take hold. He highlighted the formation of the transitional government of national unity and the implementation of the transitional security arrangements as critical next steps in the peace process. Following the meeting, Council members issued elements to the press urging the parties to quickly form the transitional government. Key Issues A key issue for the Council is how to exert leverage on the parties to ensure that they fulfil their obligations under the August 2015 peace agreement. In this context, the Council has in recent months been considering whether to make adjustments to the sanctions regime. In large part, technical rollover resolutions adopted in February and April were intended to give the Council more time to consider its options and present a more unified position in order to have a constructive impact on the peace process. Another issue for the Council is the ongoing violence in South Sudan and the toll that it continues to take on the civilian population. Options The most likely option for the Council is to adopt a resolution extending the South Sudan sanctions regime. In doing so, the Council could consider: imposing an arms embargo on South Sudan; and mandating the Panel of Experts to investigate the sources of corruption in South Sudan and corruptions impact on the stability of the country. If the transitional government of national unity is formed, an option would be to adopt a presidential statement welcoming this development and urging the parties to work together to solve the security, humanitarian and economic difficulties facing the country. If the transitional government of national unity is not formed and the parties continue to violate the peace agreement, another option would be to dispatch a Security Council mission (possibly in conjunction with the AU) to deliver stern messages to the parties on the need to fulfil their commitments. Council Dynamics Council members continue to follow developments in South Sudan closely, as reflected by the presidential statements adopted on this issue since March. While some members are more optimistic than others about the incremental steps taken to implement the peace agreement, there was a general recognition among members during the consultations on 26 April that considerable challenges remain for peace to take hold in South Sudan. A significant issue of discussion among members in recent months has been whether the Council should pursue an arms embargo in South Sudan. This was a recommendation made by both the South Sudan Sanctions Committees Panel of Experts in its January final report and by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in its March report about allegations of violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law in South Sudan. It appears that some members believe that an arms embargo should be pursued even if the parties form a transitional government of national unity. Others, however, including at least one veto-wielding permanent member, are not supportive of this course of action, particularly at what they believe is a critical juncture in the implementation of the peace agreement. The US is the penholder on South Sudan, while Senegal is the chair of the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee. UN Documents on South Sudan This was a technical rollover resolution renewing the mandate of the South Sudan sanctions regime until 1 June. This indicated the Councils intention to assess progress by 30 April on steps taken by the parties as outlined by the Council in its 17 March presidential statement. This was a briefing on South Sudan. Thousands of taxi drivers disrupted traffic across Portugal on Friday as they protested against US cab giant Uber, which they accuse of illegally undercutting their business. In the capital Lisbon, between 3,000 and 4,000 cabbies were driving at a snail's pace through the city, according to the two main industry bodies organising the protest, Antral and the Portuguese Taxi Federation. Some 1,000 protesters were also out in second city Porto, while around a hundred mobilised in the southern resort of Faro. Lisbon taxi drivers adorned their cabs with black ribbons to signal a profession in "mourning". They stuck posters to their windows reading "Uber go home", "Uber is illegal" and "Uber is a national crime". Access to Lisbon airport was temporarily blocked by the parade of protesting cabs as it headed slowly towards the parliament, and tourists were having to make do with the city metro. "The government has to stop Uber's operations, which represent unfair competition with the taxis," said Antral president Florencio Almeida. "We don't need state subsidies, but we want the law to be enforced," he added. Portugal's Socialist government last month announced 17 million euros ($19.4 million) of funding to boost the taxi sector in a bid to placate drivers angry at the rise of Uber, but the protesters say this is not enough. "They are not subject to the same laws as us, and they don't respect the rules," said 34-year-old Lisbon driver Rui Pinto. "If the government doesn't prevent Uber from operating, they must be forced to pay insurance fees like us." Another protester, 80-year-old Antonio Nunes, said the company was guilty of "theft" for not paying more tax in Portugal. Uber transfers its Portuguese earnings to the Netherlands under complex international tax arrangements, though it does pay VAT in Portugal. The Portuguese Taxi Federation says business has dropped 20 percent since Uber arrived in the country in July 2014. Business has boomed for Uber since it launched in San Francisco in 2011. But the smartphone app has faced stiff resistance from traditional taxi drivers the world over, as well as bans in some places over safety concerns and questions over legal issues, including taxes. Licensed taxi drivers, who must undergo hundreds of hours of training in some countries, often complain that Uber drivers do not pay for permits or taxes. Uber says it is not a transport company like taxi firms, and that it simply connects drivers with passengers. Search Keywords: Short link: Status Update Burundi On 1 April, the Council adopted resolution 2279 requesting the Secretary-General to provide options for a police component to increase UN presence in Burundi (S/PV.7664). The options were submitted on 15 April (S/2016/352), and discussed by Council members under any other business on 27 April. Mali On 5 April, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous briefed the Council (S/PV.7665) on the latest MINUSMA report (S/2016/281). Malis Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop briefed as well. Western Sahara Council members held two meetings on Western Sahara under any other business on 7 and 13 April, at the request of Uruguay and Venezuela. Peacekeeping head Herve Ladsous briefed at both meetings on the situation concerning MINURSO following the withdrawal of dozens of mission staff as demanded by Morocco. On 26 April, Angola convened an Arria-formula meeting on Western Sahara to allow Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the AU Commission Joaquim Chissano to brief Council members on the efforts he is undertaking in the discharge of his mandate. Also on 26 April, a meeting of MINURSO troop-contributing countries was held ahead of 27 April consultations when Council members were briefed by Special Envoy Christopher Ross and Special Representative Kim Bolduc who presented the latest MINURSO report (S/2016/355). At press time, the Council was scheduled to adopt a resolution on 29 April to renew the MINURSO mandate. Cote dIvoire On 12 April, peacekeeping head Herve Ladsous briefed (S/PV.7669) the Council on the strategic review of UNOCI (S/2016/297) that commended the progress made by the Ivorian government since the post-election crisis in 2011 and recommended the further drawdown and near-term exit of the UN mission. The Council was also briefed by Ambassador Elbio Rosselli (Uruguay), chair of the 1572 Cote dIvoire Sanctions Committee, who presented the final report of the Committees Group of Experts (S/2016/254). On 28 April, the Council adopted resolution 2283 that terminated the sanctions regime in Cote dIvoire. The same day, the Council also adopted resolution 2284 which extended the mandate of UNOCI for a final period until 30 June 2017, after which the mission would be terminated. Counter-Terrorism On 14 April, the Secretary-General briefed the Council during an open debate on efforts to strengthen international counter-terrorism cooperation and coordination (S/PV.7670 and Resumption 1). China circulated a concept note ahead of the debate (S/2016/306). Also on 14 April, a joint open briefing was organised by the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee and the 1267/1989/2253 Al-Qaida and ISIL Sanctions Committee on countering the financing of terrorism. The 1267/1989/2253 Committee met again on 20 April to consider two comprehensive reports on delisting requests prepared by the Ombudsperson, as well as an oral briefing by the Monitoring Team on global implementation of resolutions 2178 and 2199 (SC/12323). Also on 20 April, the 1267/1989/2253 Committee added five entries to its sanctions list (SC/12332). Central African Republic On 15 April, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous briefed the Council (S/PV.7671) on the latest MINUSCA report (S/2016/305). The chair of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, Abdeslam Jaidi (Morocco) also briefed. On 26 April, the Council adopted resolution 2281 that extended MINUSCAs mandate until 31 July, and requested the Secretary-General to conduct a strategic review of its mandate by 22 June. Council members issued a press statement on 18 April condemning the killing of a MINUSCA peacekeeper (SC/12329). At press time, the 2127 CAR Sanctions Committee was scheduled to hold a meeting on 29 April, with representatives of the EU regarding the activities the European External Action Service and the planned EU training mission in the CAR. Yemen On 15 April, Special Envoy Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and deputy head of OCHA, Kyung-wha Kang, briefed the Council (S/PV.7672). On 25 April, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2016/5) to support peace talks that had started on 21 April in Kuwait (S/PV.7676). The presidential statement called for Yemeni parties to develop a roadmap for the implementation of interim security arrangements, withdrawals, handover of heavy weapons and the restoration of state institutions and resumption of political dialogue. It further requested a plan from the Secretary-General within 30 days on how the Special Envoys office can support the parties, in particular regarding the roadmap. Also on 25 April, the 2140 Yemen Sanctions Committee met with the new members of its Panel of Experts. Israel/Palestine On 18 April, the Council held its quarterly debate on the Middle East, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefing on his trip to the region in late March (S/PV.7673 and Resumption 1). Ban said that the demolition of Palestinian homes and businesses in the West Bank were continuing at an alarming rate and plans for more illegal Jewish settlements cast doubt on Israels commitment to a two-state solution. He also reported on the six-month surge in deadly violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, triggered by individual attacks perpetrated by Palestinians, which he condemned. He also reported that the Middle East Quartet was moving forward on a report that would review the situation and threats to a two-state solution, and provide recommendations on how to move forward. Afghanistan On 19 April, Council members issued a press statement condemning a terrorist attack in Kabul by the Taliban that claimed at least 28 lives and injured more than 300 people (SC/12331). The 1988 Sanctions Committee met on 20 April that focused on counter-narcotics efforts. Afghanistans Deputy Minister of the Interior Baz Mohammed Ahmadi briefed, as did the Committees Monitoring Team, which discussed the efforts of the Combined Maritime Force to track narcotic flows from Afghanistan. Water, Peace and Security On 22 April, Senegalese President Macky Sall chaired an Arria-formula meeting on the interlinkages between water, peace and security; best practices in water cooperation; and cooperation between UN and regional organisations in water resources management. Kabine Komara, the former prime minister of Guinea and High Commissioner of the International Basin Organization of the Senegal River, Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca and Caritas International representative Joseph Donnelly briefed. Gulf of Guinea On 25 April, the Council held an open debate on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (S/PV.7675). Angola, China and Senegal organised the meeting together, previously circulating a concept note (S/2016/321). At the meeting, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun briefed. The Council also adopted a presidential statement on the issue, which encouraged regional states, regional organisations and international partners to make fully operational the Gulf of Guinea counter-piracy mechanisms as soon as possible (S/PRST/2016/4). It further urged the international community to continue assisting Gulf of Guinea states with funds and other forms of capacity-building support. Golan Heights On 26 April, Council members were briefed under any other business by Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye Brook Zerihoun on the Golan Heights. The briefing was requested by Egypt, on behalf of the Arab League, following remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Golan Heights will remain forever under Israeli sovereignty. The Golan Heights were captured in the 1967 Six-Day War and were illegally annexed by Israel; under international law it is considered occupied territory. In elements to the press, Council members stressed the status of the Golan Heights remains unchanged. Peacebuilding On 27 April, the Security Council adopted a concurrent resolution with the General Assembly on the review of the UN peacebuilding architecture (S/RES/2282). Among its key elements, the resolution expanded the notion of peacebuilding as a process occurring before, during and after conflict situations, and requested a Secretary-Generals report that includes options, including through assessed and voluntary contributions, for increased funding for peacebuilding efforts. Ukraine On 28 April, the Council held a meeting (S/PV.7683) on the situation in Ukraine with briefings from Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Ertugrul Apakan (via video teleconference). Martin Sajdik, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group also briefed. The discussion focused on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and overall security situation in eastern Ukraine. AFRICA Sudan and South Sudan Expected Council Action The quarterly consultations on Sudan/South Sudan issues will be held in May. The Council is also expected to renew the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) prior to the expiration of its mandate on 15 May. Key Recent Developments Relations between Sudan and South Sudan have deteriorated in recent weeks. On 17 March, Sudan announced that it would close its border with South Sudan, which it had reopened earlier this year. It accused South Sudan of continuing to support the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army-North (SPLM/A-N) rebel group, an allegation South Sudan denied. Also on 17 March, Sudan announced that South Sudanese living in Sudan would no longer have access to health care and educational opportunities they had previously been accorded. In late March, South Sudan claimed that on two separate occasions Sudans air force dropped bombs on its territory in Renk, Upper Nile state, killing livestock. Sudan has rejected this claim. Fighting continues to be reported in Sudans South Kordofan state between government forces and the SPLM/A-N rebels. On 29 March, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said that they had taken control of Um Sirdiba, a town previously held by the rebels that had been one of [the rebels] important command centres, according to SAF spokesman Ahmed Khalifa Al-Shami. On 6 April, the SPLM/A-N attacked Sudanese forces at their Haluf base in South Kordofan, later claiming that they had destroyed the base and killed numerous government troops during the engagement. UNISFA has continued to facilitate efforts to promote reconciliation between the Misseriya and Ngok-Dinka communities in Abyei, the disputed area straddling Sudan and South Sudan. On 25 February, it provided security for a meeting of some 300 people from both communities in central Abyei. According to the Secretary-Generals recent UNISFA report, the participants discussed issues of mutual concern including the sharing of resources, water and pasture, migration, cattle rustling and the establishment of a common market. On 6 March, leaders from both communities convened at UNISFAs Todach base. They decided to establish a joint committee to address cattle-raiding and other criminal acts, but they were unable to agree on how to make the committee operational. Finally, according to the Secretary-General, Misseriya and Ngok-Dinka leaders agreed on 24 March to establish a traditional court system to mediate civil disputes and deal with criminal activity, with support from UNISFA; form a joint committee to locate and agree on appropriate grazing corridors for Misseriya nomads; and continue with trading activities between the two communities. The operation of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) along the Sudan-South Sudan border, which UNISFA is mandated to support, continues to falter. In recent months, aerial patrols have been hindered by South Sudans restrictions on flight and landing permissions for monitoring along the border. On 27 April, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous briefed Council members in consultations on UNISFA. He reportedly noted that recent dialogue between the Ngok-Dinka and Misseriya communities in Abyei was encouraging. Key Issues Key issues for the Council on Sudan/South Sudan and Abyei include: fostering improved relations between Sudan and South Sudan, given the recent tensions; inducing both states to establish temporary administrative and legal institutions in Abyei, given the lack of progress in determining areas final status; ensuring that both states exhibit greater cooperation with UNISFA; and renewing efforts to address the humanitarian impact of fighting in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states in Sudan. Options In adopting a resolution renewing the mandate of UNISFA, the Council might consider: urging Sudan to issue visas in a timely fashion to UNISFA personnel, especially its police component, which is understaffed, and to permit the delivery of construction materials to Abyei to allow for the building of improved living accommodations for UNISFA staff; urging South Sudan to remove flight and landing restrictions for UN aircraft monitoring the JBVMM; urging a reopening of the Sudan/South Sudan border, noting that mutually beneficial cross-border trade will result; encouraging recent reconciliation efforts between the Ngok-Dinka and Misseriya; and calling for the parties to reconvene the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, which has not met since March 2015. Given the continuing lack of humanitarian access to rebel-held areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, the Council could request a report from the Secretariat, in consultation with the AU Peace and Security Council, on possible options for engaging with the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N regarding humanitarian access to these areas. Council Dynamics The negotiations on the UNISFA resolution this month will probably not be contentious. However, there have been differences of view on the mandate and how to describe the situation in Abyei in the past that could be reflected again. As in past reports, the Secretary-General has recommended a mandate renewal of six months in his current report. During the December 2015 negotiations, Russia and Venezuela supported the Secretariats view that a six-month mandate would be appropriate, while the US proposed a five-month renewal (which was ultimately retained in the final text), perhaps believing that a shorter mandate might exert pressure on the parties to make progress in their negotiations. Russia has defended its opposition to what it views as biased language toward Sudan in past UNISFA discussions. In December 2015, the US advocated inserting language in the UNISFA draft resolution criticising Sudan for earthwork excavation at the Diffra oil facility in Abyei, viewing this excavation as a security measure that violated the 20 June 2011 agreement between Sudan and South Sudan. Russia, reportedly supported by China and Venezuela, countered that the excavation was not a threat to international peace and security and that the language reflected an anti-Sudan viewpoint. As a compromise, condemnation of Sudan for the earthwork excavation was removed from the final draft of what became resolution 2251. The US is the penholder on Sudan/South Sudan issues, including UNISFA. Un Documents on Sudan and South Sudan This resolution extended the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei until 15 May 2016. Was a report on UNISFA. MIDDLE EAST Syria Expected Council Action Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura is expected to brief in early May on the intra-Syrian proximity talks in Geneva and the challenges to the cessation of hostilities in light of the resumption of intensified fighting, particularly in northern Syria. Council members will receive their regular monthly briefings on the humanitarian and chemical weapons tracks. The Council may reach agreement on a draft resolution circulated by China and Russia in mid-April addressing the use of chemical weapons by non-state actors, with a particular focus on Syria as well as Iraq and Libya. In addition, the Security Council is expected to adopt a resolution condemning attacks on health care workers and facilities and demanding compliance with international humanitarian law. While the draft resolution is not country-specific, it is relevant to Syria in light of ongoing attacks against medical facilities there, in particular the airstrike targeting a hospital in rebel-held Aleppo on 27 April that killed at least 27 people. Key Recent Developments The first round of talks ended on 24 March and de Mistura provided a Paper on Points of Commonality to the government and the Riyadh-based umbrella Syrian opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC). As in 2012 and 2014, UN mediation hit an impasse over the issue of political transition and the future of President Bashar al Assad. The 24 March paper reflects this obstacle by citing the 30 June 2012 Geneva Communique without a specific reference to the Communiques call for a transitional governing body with full executive powers. De Mistura planned for the April talks to focus on political transition, governance, and constitutional principles, presumably in line with resolution 2254 that called for UN-mediated political talks, agreement on a parallel ceasefire and political process leading to credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance within six months, followed by the drafting of a constitution and elections within 18 months. A second round began on 13 April amidst several warning signs that the talks would falter. The opposition HNC signalled its concern over the lack of meaningful concessions as the government: (1) proposed a national unity government, but explicitly rejected a transitional governing body with full executive powers and insisted that Assads presidency was not subject to negotiation; (2) held parliamentary elections in government-controlled areas on the same day that the second round of talks began; and (3) announced a revised constitution could be ready within weeks for a referendum, implying that a constitution would not be drafted and agreed within the Geneva process. Aside from the expected maximalist positions, the near collapse of the political talks came about due to a noticeable slow-down in the delivery of humanitarian aid in tandem with an unravelling cessation of hostilities in Aleppo, Idlib, and around Damascus. In Aleppo, government forces, supported by Russian air power, have resumed targeting armed rebel groups fighting in coordination with Al Nusra Front, which is not a party to the cessation of hostilities. Meanwhile, further north, armed opposition groups lost territory to an offensive by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) near the border with Turkey. Finally, on 20 April, opposition leaders left Geneva following government airstrikes that hit two markets in Idlib province, killing 44 people. Some members of the delegation stayed behind, cognisant that completely abandoning the talks would allow the government to blame the opposition for the failure. Regarding aerial bombardment, when de Mistura briefed Council members on 14 March, he said that the Syrian minister of defence had assured his Russian counterpart that the government would not arbitrarily use weapons, presumably in reference to strikes against civilian targets. Nevertheless, on 31 March, government air strikes hit civilian infrastructure in the Damascus suburb of Deir al-Asafir, killing approximately 30 people. The US produced a draft press statement condemning the attack, but it was blocked by Russia, which cited the lack of convincing information about the attack and argued that the International Syria Support Groups (ISSG) ceasefire task-force had agreed to investigate the incident. The increasing violations of the cessation of hostilities and the challenges they pose to successful political talks were a key concern when de Mistura briefed Council members again on 12 April and then again on 27 April. De Mistura called for engagement by Russia and the US at the highest level and a ministerial meeting of the ISSG to try and shore up the cessation of hostilities and regain political momentum. Regarding the humanitarian situation, the slow-down in aid delivery, the continued removal by government forces of medical supplies from convoys and the lack of access to besieged suburbs of Damascus, particularly government-besieged Darraya, negatively affected the overall political climate in Geneva. On 5 April, the US called for a briefing from OCHA on these besieged areas under any other business. During the consultations, Russia argued that Darraya was controlled by Al-Nusra and ISIS. The US and OCHA said that there was no evidence of terrorist groups controlling Darraya. The Syrian government claimed there were no civilians in Darraya. Subsequently, a fact-finding mission by de Misturas office visited Darraya in April and confirmed the presence of civilians in need of food and medicine. On 21 April, de Mistura said the ISSG humanitarian task force and the UN had made modest progress on humanitarian issues. He reported that over half of those living in besieged areas had received some level of aid, including by air-drops in ISIS-besieged Deir ez-Zor. However, the government continued to deny access to the remaining six of 18 besieged areas. He also reported on the medical evacuation of 515 people; however, getting medical supplies to those in need, even if other aid was permitted, remained difficult. On 28 April, Jan Egeland, who chairs the ISSG humanitarian task force, said the situation in Aleppo was catastrophic and the supply route into Aleppo was at risk of being blocked, once again raising the spectre of a government siege of Aleppo. OCHA echoed many of these observations in its monthly briefing to the Council on 28 April. On chemical weapons, Acting UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Kim Won-soo briefed Council members on 13 April. He reported on the 23 March decision by the OPCW Executive Council that its Director-General should engage directly with Syrian government officials regarding gaps in Syrias declared chemical weapons arsenal, since 15 visits over the course of two years by the OPCWs Declaration Assessment Team had been unable to clarify discrepancies. Virginia Gambathe head of the UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), the body mandated to determine responsibility for the use of chemical weapons in Syriaalso briefed on the nine cases for which in-depth investigations began on 1 March. During those consultations, China and Russia circulated a draft resolution to expand the JIMs mandate to include the monitoring and investigation of the potential use of chemical weapons by non-state actors. Since August 2015 there have been several allegations of ISIS using mustard gas in Iraq and Syria. Human Rights-Related Developments On 23 March, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution submitted by the P3, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on the human rights situation in Syria, with a vote of 27 in favour, six against (including current Security Council members China, Russia and Venezuela) and 14 abstentions (A/HRC/RES/31/17). The resolution strongly condemns the continued systematic, widespread and gross violations and abuses of human rights and all violations of international humanitarian law by all parties; demands that all parties take all appropriate steps to protect civilians; stresses the need to pursue practical steps towards accountability, noting the important role the ICC can play; demands that the Syrian authorities facilitate, and all other parties do not hinder, the full, immediate and safe access of UN and humanitarian actors; and extends for one year the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry. The resolution also recommends that the General Assembly submit the reports of the Commission of Inquiry to the Security Council for appropriate action. Key Issue The essential issue for the Councilentering the sixth year of a war that has exacted a death toll of 470,000 and displaced half of the Syrian population, including 4.84 million refugees, is to exert effective leadership in supporting a cessation of hostilities and efforts to reach a political solution. Options The ISSG and resolutions 2254 and 2268 have identified roles for the Council in the event that talks in 2016 produce concrete results towards a national ceasefire and a parallel political process, including elections. In the near term, however, Council options are limited as the day-to-day oversight of resolutions 2254 and 2268 has been outsourced to the ISSG broadly, and Russia and the US in particular. Council Dynamics In late March, the general perception among Council members was that the cessation of hostilities had lowered overall levels of violence, allowed increasing flows of humanitarian aid and created a more conducive political environment. That optimistic outlook has now shifted towards caution. There is a sense that the governments recent offensives, particularly around Aleppo, could again shift the trajectory of the conflict away from negotiations back towards prolonged armed conflict. During the course of April, Council members were unable to reach consensus on several draft press statements attempting to address violations of the cessation of hostilities, besieged areas, the participation of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party in the Geneva talks and victories against ISIS in Syria. It is unclear to many Council members whether the lack of consensus on these statements reflects larger disagreements between Moscow and Washington DC about the way forward on the Syrian political track. Russia and the US have invested a great deal of political capital in the Geneva talks and seem to still be on the path of engagement. However, tensions have flared over Russias recent uptick of air operations (though well under February levels) and redeployments of artillery units near Aleppo, and provisional planning by the US to provide anti-aircraft weaponry to the opposition if the cessation of hostilities collapses. Tensions have also re-emerged on the chemical weapons track after China and Russia circulated a draft resolution that would expand the JIMs mandate to monitor and investigate the use of chemical weapons by non-state actors. While all Council members agree this is a serious issue, the P3 and many other members believe it is a broad threat that should not be tied to the JIMs mandate, which is specific to Syria. They are in favour of anchoring the issue in the Chemical Weapons Convention and the work of the OPCW. At press time, no agreement had been reached. Most outcomes on Syria are agreed between Russia and the US prior to agreement by the Council. Egypt, New Zealand and Spain lead on humanitarian issues. UN Documents on Syria Endorsed the cessation of hostilities and called for the resumption of political talks. This was the first resolution focused exclusively on a political solution to the Syrian crisis. It was adopted unanimously. This was on the humanitarian situation. This was a report on chemical weapons. People who visit Dallol, Ethiopia certainly don't do it for the weather: for a time the mining ghost town held the record for the hottest inhabited place on the planet, with an average year-round temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Daily heat in the region, known as the Danakil Depression, regularly climbs past 115 degrees. But for those who brave the searing equatorial desert, amazing visual wonders await. In 2002, I joined a group of scientists studying nearby Erta Ale volcano. An Ethiopian military helicopter brought us to Dallol at a time when reaching the area by land was considered exceedingly dangerous. Dallol lies in northeastern Ethiopia close to the disputed Eritrean border. This, and the at times somewhat hostile Afar tribesmen, make the area somewhat unstable and several armed attacks on tourist convoys have occurred in recent years, somewhat hemming touristic development of the area. Nevertheless, tourists increasingly are drawn to the springs to see the stunning yellow and red hydrothermal deposits. By 2008, when I made a second visit, small convoys of 4-wheel drive vehicles accompanied by armed guards were occasionally bringing visitors to the springs. Dallol's hot springs are mostly located on a large mound that has formed due to magma pushing upward and locally lifting the over 1 kilometer (0.6 mile)-thick salt deposits. Heated by the molten rock, groundwater carries dissolved salts to the surface where the sun's relentless heat quickly does away with moisture. Very few people know that in 1966, the U.S. military accidentally dropped four atomic bombs on Spain. Through a very large cover-up and PR effort, the U.S. has managed to keep it out of most history books, newspapers and the media, reports VICE, but what happened was a very serious incident that still has consequences 50 years later. On January 17, 1966, a US B52 bomber crashed into a refueling aircraft in Spain's airspace, causing four atomic bombs to drop. Two of them imploded in the Andalusian town of Palomares, releasing plutonium into the soil. Parachutes were released on the other two -- one landed on the ground but did not detonate and the other landed in the Mediterranean Sea, also still intact. Author and photographer, Professor John Howard, recently released a book titled "White Sepulchres," in which he documents the effect of this tragic incident on the people of Palomares. Prof. Howard spoke to VICE about his research on the incident, the cover-up afterwards and the on-going effects it has on the Andalusian people today. He says that when the government loses or breaks a hydrogen bomb it's referred to as a "broken arrow." "The U.S. admit to 32 of these 'broken arrows.' Eric Schlosser, an investigative journalist, estimates 100 for the 1950s alone, and for the U.S. Air Force alone, claiming that the navy and army failed to keep track," he told VICE. RELATED: Hydrogen Bomb vs. Atomic Bomb: What's the Difference? The reason hardly anyone noticed the bomb explosions at the time is because the U.S. turned all focus to the single bomb that fell into the Mediterranean. They brought in 32 ships to retrieve it and it took them 80 days. They gave the press images of the search, shifting the focus to the one bomb that went missing in the sea, instead of the three others on land. 50 years later, the exact health risks cannot be pinpointed, but it's estimated that ten kilos of plutonium were initially spilled, and just one milligram of plutonium in your lungs is almost certain to cause lung cancer. Prof. Howard told VICE "If a kilo or two is still on the ground, then anyone could inhale it on the wind. We know plutonium is in the food chain, but ingestion isn't as severe as inhalation, which they say is a guarantee of lung cancer." There haven't been many tests on the long-term health effects either, partly because there was a mass exodus after the incident, where 1,000 people moved out of Palomares. But there is an agricultural industry here, where migrant workers farm on the land, digging in the soil and kicking up dirt everyday, meaning they are more likely than anyone else to inhale plutonium. However, if they get cancer several years from now they might not still be in Palomares and then attribution becomes difficult. Interestingly, a very active sex industry has sprung up in the rural area surrounding Palomares in recent years. It's a sort of haven for swingers, nudists and the LGBT community, with people coming to visit from all over Spain and internationally as well. There's even a drag club with a name that translates to "Who cares?" -- something that Prof. Howard believes is a reflection on the "we're all going to die anyway" mentality. In visiting this potentially toxic environment, Prof. Howard says he was concerned for the risk it posed to his own health, but ultimately he felt that telling this story to the world was more important. Top Photo: The recovered hydrogen bomb displayed on the fantail of the submarine rescue ship USS Petrel (ASR-14) after it was located by DSV Alvin at a depth of 2,500 feet (760 m) When the gutting of Highland Park's lighting grid left residents in the dark four years ago, a grassroots group called Up until now, Soulardarity has adopted a one-light-at-a-time approach to their work, but lately their ambitions have grown. They're now setting their sights on restoring everything that was lost when two-thirds of the Detroit enclave's 1,500 streetlights were removed as part of a debt forgiveness deal in 2012. And what's more, they hope to do so by teaming with the city of Highland Park. "We believe we can light the entire city and that we can do a full installation of about 1,000 street lights all at once," Soulardarity executive director Jackson Koeppel says. Essentially, Souladarity wants to work with the city to help them install all the new solar streetlights in one fell swoop. The solar devices they're tentatively proposing, manufactured by the Ypsilanti-based Beyond that, they'd also come with smart controls that would allow for dimming and motion sensing, as well as an array of community services like providing WiFi, flashing to alert first responders of an emergency, triangulating gunshots for police, and serving as a community bulletin board via an intranet system. The bases of the streetlights would be modeled to reflect the historic nature of surrounding neighborhoods. One of Soulardarity's street lights On April 18, members of the group presented their vision at a workshop session of Highland Park's City Council in the hopes of laying a foundation for a partnership. They were accompanied by a representatives from the During the presentation, members of Soulardarity argued that working with them on the solar lighting project would lower carbon emissions, encourage job creation and economic development, and be a cost-effective choice for Highland Park. According to an analysis conducted with the assistance of SEMREO, Soulardarity found that installing 1,000 community-owned solar lights would cost the city $5.8 million, $100,000 more than having DTE install comparable grid-powered LED lights. Ongoing costs over the next 15 years, however, would only be $1.2 million, compared to a $4.3 million estimate for DTE. There would also be zero CO2 emissions under their community-owned solar plan, as opposed to a projected 1,024 metric tons with a conventional lighting approach. Estimates were based on DTE's proposed 2017 tariff schedule and average urban installation costs from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and Power Grid International, as well as previous installations in Highland Park. Financing costs were not factored into the projection. "The proposal Soulardarity has put together is very competitive with anything the utility could do and probably cheaper over the lifecycle of the light," SEMREO executive director Rich Bunch says. "We believe that this model has the opportunity to go even further than municipalities that own their streetlights in money saving." "Here, they're going to make their own power too," he adds. During the meeting, Soulardarity members also made a case that the project would spur development by establishing Highland Park's reputation as a clean energy hub and keeping an estimated $16 million a year spent on energy by residents circulating in the local economy. During a Q&A session following the presentation, council member Titus McClary pointedly asked how a one-family household with three children living on assistance would be able to afford installing a light by their home. Following that, other members of the body asked for details about the price tags of individual lights. Soulardarity program director Nikkia Jones responded by reiterating that her organization is pushing for a citywide installation effort. The group wants the city to help them with the expense and logistics of the entire project. As for the cost of buying and installing, one of the solar lights would cost about $4,000 apiece if all done at the same time, versus $9,000 apiece if done individually. Soulardarity hopes to fund their solar light installation endeavor through a combination of gift capital, social investment, tax credits, and non-extractive lending. The financing models they're proposing include municipal ownership of the lights, a lease-purchase agreement with SEMREO issuing bonds to pay for projects costs, and a service purchase arrangement where SEMREO would own the lights. Toward the end of Soulardarity's meeting, McClary asked why Soulardarity hadn't first reached out to Mayor Hubert Yopp's administration to approve their plan. "I invited them for a presentation," responded council president Rodney Patrick. "I believe we need to look at alternative energy. It's time we have that discussion." Koeppel says his group has since reached out to the administration and hopes to meet with them next week, with the goal of acquiring a letter of intent before May 16 so they can submit an application for a low-interest Soulardarity and Highland Park might be on the verge of an unprecedented collaboration between city and grassroots that could provide a blueprint for further projects in cities across the country. Not to mention carbon-free lighting for its residents. For those interested in further information, Soulardarity will be holding a public discussion on their proposal on April 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Prayer Temple of Love Community Center at 17 Highland Street in Highland Park. David Sands is a Detroit-based freelance writer. He's covered the news for as an assistant editor and worked as a staff writer for the transportation news site Mode Shift. Follow him on Twitter Huffington Post Detroit as an assistant editor and worked as a staff writer for the transportation news site Mode Shift. Follow him on Twitter @dsandsdetroit Related Pentagon to release report into Afghan hospital attack A U.S. aerial gunship attack on a hospital in Afghanistan that killed 42 people occurred because of human errors, process mistakes and equipment failures, and none of the aircrew knew they were striking a trauma center, a top U.S. general said Friday. "This was an extreme situation" complicated by combat fatigue among U.S. special operations forces, Gen. Joseph Votel told a Pentagon news conference. Votel headed U.S. Special Operations Command at the time of the tragic attack last fall. In March he took over U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in Afghanistan. Votel said investigators concluded that certain personnel failed to comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict. However, they also determined that these failures did not amount to a war crime, he said. "The label 'war crimes' is typically reserved for intentional acts intentional targeting (of) civilians or intentionally targeting protected objects or locations," Votel said. "Again, the investigation found that the incident resulted from a combination of unintentional human errors, process errors and equipment failures, and that none of the personnel knew they were striking a hospital." Votel expressed "deepest condolences" to those injured and to the families of those killed. No criminal charges have been leveled against U.S. military personnel for mistakes that resulted in the Oct. 3, 2015, attack on the civilian hospital in Afghanistan operated by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders. The group has called the attack a war crime and demanded an independent investigation. Votel said that the trauma center was on a U.S. military no-strike list but that the gunship crew didn't have access to the list because it launched its mission on short notice and as a result did not have the data loaded into its onboard systems. He said the military has sought to avoid similar mistakes in the future by requiring that such data be pre-loaded into aircraft. Central Command released a redacted version of the full investigation report on Friday, including details about what exactly led a U.S. Air Force special operations AC-130 gunship to bomb the hospital and how those mistakes were made. "The investigation determined that all members of both the ground force and the AC-130 air crew were unaware that the aircraft was firing on a medical facility throughout the engagement," Votel said. "The investigation ultimately concluded that this tragic incident was caused by a combination of human errors, compounded by process and equipment failures." Votel said 16 military members, including officers as well as enlisted, have been disciplined. He said none of their names will be released to protect the privacy of the individuals and in some cases because they are still assigned to sensitive or overseas positions. According to one senior U.S. official, a two-star general was among about 16 disciplined. A number of those punished are U.S. special operations forces. No one was sent to court-martial, officials said. However, in many cases a nonjudicial punishment, such as a letter of reprimand or suspension, can effectively end a military career. The official were not authorized to discuss the case by name and requested anonymity. The U.S. airstrike in the northern city of Kunduz last October was carried out by one of the most lethal aircraft in the U.S. arsenal. Doctors Without Borders has called the attack "relentless and brutal." The Associated Press reported in March that more than a dozen U.S. military personnel had been disciplined in connection with the bombing, and that the punishments were all largely administrative. The crew of the AC-130, which is armed with side-firing cannons and guns, had been dispatched to hit a Taliban command center in a building 450 yards from the hospital, the U.S. military said in November. 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. Officials have said the attack was caused by human error, and that many chances to prevent the attack on the wrong target were missed. A separate U.S. report on the incident, obtained last fall by the AP, 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. The attack came 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. Search Keywords: Short link: The new, supercharged San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a powerful magnet for superlatives: By some measures, its the largest museum of modern art in the United States; the fourth floor alone, of seven floors of galleries, encompasses more viewing space than the entire museum had before the renovation. While any collection of rare and unique objects is, by definition, limited, the museum is graced with extraordinary examples of the works of key artists, primarily of the 20th century, from Diego Rivera to Henri Matisse, Alfred Stieglitz to Bernd and Hilla Becher, Andy Warhol to Mark Bradford. DETROIT A road trip that opened with such brightness and hope after a sweep at Yankee Stadium petered out toward the end, with the As dropping five of the final six games. More ominous, Oaklands top starter and No. 3 starter had short outings Wednesday and Thursday at Comerica Park. Chris Bassitt, who started the final game of the trip, allowed four runs in a 40-pitch third inning in the As 7-3 loss to the Tigers, squashing any chance of a winning record on the trip and leading to some anxiety about his health. I know the velocity dipped, and thats concerning, said As manager Bob Melvin, referencing Bassitts 89-90 mph fastball in the later stages. Said catcher Stephen Vogt: Anytime a starter has back-to-back tough starts, you hope hes OK. We all know how good Bass is and how good his stuff is, and it hasnt necessarily been there his last two starts, so yes, that is a concern. Bassitt said he feels fine; hes just not pitching well and needs to make some adjustments. Falling behind a lot of hitters and up in the zone its just a mix for failure, he said. A combo of crap right now. On Wednesday night, Sonny Gray was more off kilter than hed ever been, throwing 65 pitches and exiting after two innings. He allowed four runs in a 40-pitch second inning. In the past seven games, the As have allowed 44 runs and have a 6.36 ERA. We like our guys, Melvin said of the starters. Youre always going to go through some rough patches. Bassitt, who allowed six runs over his first three starts, has given up 13 in his past two, including a career-high seven Thursday. With two other starters waiting in the wings, he might be on thin ice if he continues in this vein. Jesse Hahn, who pitched well for Oakland in the first half of 2015, has a minor blister issue at Triple-A Nashville but could be good to go soon. Henderson Alvarez, who is coming off shoulder surgery, could be ready to join the As rotation in mid-May. The As didnt make an error Thursday, but didnt play particularly well in the field, either. In the third, with men at the corners, Victor Martinez hit a flyball to left. Miguel Cabrera tagged at first and took off for second. Third baseman Chris Coghlan cut off Mark Canhas throw home and threw to second, allowing J.D. Martinez to speed home from third. Melvin pointed to some things infielders might have done differently on the play and concluded the Tigers timed it pretty well. You have to give them some credit, too. Oakland stranded 11 runners. The As scored on an RBI single by Josh Reddick in the third, a solo homer by Vogt in the fourth and an RBI single by Khris Davis in the ninth. The As did walk nine times, which was a big improvement; theyd drawn a total of seven walks in the previous five games combined and began the day with major-league lows in walks (49) and on-base percentage (.287). Obviously, with the way it started, were frustrated with the way it finished, said Vogt of the 5-5 trip. That being said, this is a tough road trip ... Were not going to hang our heads. We have a great opportunity to make some headway in our division this week and next. Oakland, which is 3-7 at home, returns to the Coliseum for series against the Astros and Angels, with top pitching prospect Sean Manaea making his major-league debut Friday against Houstons Mike Fiers. Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser The head of Austria's anti-immigration far-right apologised Friday for claiming a newspaper faked a photo of an anti-refugee protest by his party, donating 9,000 euros ($10,300) to a migrants charity. "A close inspection of the matter has now shown that this claim was not accurate. With an expression of my regret I hereby withdraw it," Heinz-Christian Strache of the Freedom Party (FPOe) said on Facebook. Photographer Juerg Christandl, who had sued Strache after he claimed the picture was doctored, said that this meant that "for me, the matter is now closed". He said would not receive any money. The photo, published in the Kurier daily, was of FPOe sympathisers holding up signs saying "No to asylum shelter" as a Syrian family with a young child arrived in Vienna in June 2015. Strache's party, one several populist on the rise across Europe, is leading in opinion polls on the back of unease about the arrival of 90,000 asylum-seeker in Austria last year. On Sunday, the FPOe's candidate Norbert Hofer came a clear first in the first round of elections for the largely -- but not entirely -- ceremonial post Austrian president with 35 percent of the vote. Hofer will now face Alexander van der Bellen, former leader of the Greens, in a run-off on May 22. A Gallup poll released Friday, which surveyed 400 people, put both candidates neck-and-neck. The first round was a debacle for the two centrist parties in Chancellor Werner Faymann's coalition, which have dominated Austrian politics since 1945, with their candidates knocked out of the race. This is despite the government taking a harder line on migrants, with parliament this week passing one of Europe's toughest asylum laws and the country tightening border controls. Hofer predicted on Friday as he presented new campaign posters -- "The RIGHT comes from the PEOPLE", says one -- that he would win "significantly" more than 50 percent on May 22. The FPOe has toned down its anti-immigration rhetoric, with Hofer focusing more on issues like direct democracy and opposing a contentious mooted trade deal between Europe and the United States. But despite coming across as likeable and moderate, Hofer, 45, is nonetheless an important figure in formulating FPOe party policy who has said Islam "has no place in Austria". The Oesterreich tabloid described him this week as "a kind, nice protest politician who wraps the FPOe's brutal declarations against refugees in soft language". Search Keywords: Short link: The elderly Chinese men and women who gather each morning in Portsmouth Square for their tai chi routines would seem to have little to do with a proposed hotel, office and condo complex a half-mile away at First and Mission streets. But in compact San Francisco, where high end and low end mingle cheek by jowl, the shadows that the proposed 2 million-square-foot Oceanwide Center at 50 First St. would cast on two Chinatown open spaces have emerged as the biggest political hurdle to the approval of what would probably be downtown San Franciscos last mega-project. Designed by British Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster, Oceanwide Center would include a 905-foot skyscraper with more than 1 million square feet of office space and 19 floors of condominiums. A second, shorter tower would contain 169 hotel rooms with an additional 154 condos. The taller of the two buildings would be the citys second tallest, topped only by the Salesforce Tower, which is under construction at 101 First St. and will reach 970 feet. For boosters of the nascent Transbay Transit District, the Oceanwide Center is key not just for the office space, hotel rooms and housing units it would generate, but also for the hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and fees it would pump into the struggling Transbay Transit Center, a project the city is bailing out with a $260 million loan. The project, which heads to the Planning Commission on Thursday for approval, would generate $117 million in one-time impact fees, which would probably be paid in November, when Oceanwide is expecting to obtain construction permits. In addition, it would pay about $647 million in Mello-Roos special taxes over 30 years, which would fund infrastructure in the Transbay district, including a possible Caltrain rail extension into the Transit Center. 1984 proposition in play But critics argue that economic benefits dont justify a violation of 1984s Proposition K the Sunlight Ordinance which blocks construction of any building over 40 feet that casts an adverse shadow on Recreation and Park Department property unless the Planning Commission decides the shadow is insignificant. The project would throw a shadow on Portsmouth Square between 8:05 and 9:10 a.m. from late October to early February. It would shadow St. Marys Square, also in Chinatown, in March and September. It would also shadow Justin Herman Plaza, at the foot of Market Street, from mid-October to late February, and Union Square from early May to early August. It really clobbers Portsmouth Square, said Allan Low, an attorney and a member of the Recreation and Park Commission. After six months of negotiating with the city, Oceanwide Holdings a Chinese developer that also has projects in New York and Los Angeles has agreed to mitigate the shadows with a $12 million endowment for recreation and parks programming in Chinatown, a fund that will help pay for amenities like sports, after-school programs and senior fitness programs, said Low, who helped hammer out the deal. Needed funding I am loath to negotiate a cash-for-shadow deal, but to their credit, Oceanwide did recognize the significant impact their project will have on Portsmouth Square and the Chinatown parks, he said. He said funding for programming is desperately needed. We can build the parks, but we have to have money for programs and services for the people in the parks, Low said. For the majority of people in Chinatown, the parks and recreation centers are the only open spaces to go outside of their SRO rooms. The commitment to Chinatown recreation is not enough to appease those who have fought to keep shadows out of city parks. Bill Maher, a former supervisor and director of the Department of Parking and Traffic who wrote Prop. K, said trading shadows for dollars is flatly illegal. Prop. Ks shadow-limiting powers are clear, he said. Planners have completely disregarded the voters decision on Prop. K, Maher said. They have simply administratively overruled the voters. They have changed the rules, without legal authority, to say the economic value of the project is the driving force. If that is the case, no park will survive. He added: Once you build a building, you can never get the park back. Downtown will become a perennial wind tunnel of darkness. Attorney Sue Hestor, who also worked on Prop. K legislation, agreed. Housing concerns, too Everyone throws money at things, but shadows are shadows, said Hestor, who has long been involved in battles over development. Portsmouth Square is the living room for people who live in 10-by-10 rooms, she said. In addition to the shadow issue, Oceanwide has faced blowback from affordable housing proponents, who contend the project will exacerbate already inflated housing prices. The Oceanwide project will probably stand out even in a neighborhood becoming defined by high-end buildings like Lumina and Millennium Tower. Plans call for a a 17,000-square-foot, ultra-luxury penthouse at the top of the taller tower, the citys largest. No price has been set, but it is likely to surpass the $49 million being asked for the 15,000-square-foot penthouse at nearby Lumina. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. To meet that headwind, Oceanwide has agreed to pay $40 million for off-site affordable housing, $33 million of which would go toward making permanent existing affordable housing stock within a mile of the project, according to Jeff Buckley, senior housing policy director for Mayor Ed Lee. Over the past several months, Oceanwide has worked closely with affordable housing and park advocates on a comprehensive community benefits package that will improve Chinatown parks and allow the city to secure affordable housing sites and SRO hotels within a 1-mile radius of the project, said Boe Hayward, who led the negotiations on behalf of Oceanwide. Stabilizing residential hotels The $33 million would target apartment buildings and residential hotels in Chinatown, an area that is increasingly attractive to investors looking to take advantage of the citys astronomical rents. We felt they could do more, and to their credit, they understood that, Buckley said. We have invested a lot of money in stabilizing SROs in the Mission and the Tenderloin and Sixth Street. Chinatown we have not invested in, largely because it wasnt necessary. But in the last few years we have seen a dramatic rent increase for vacant units in Chinatown. We want to make sure the housing stock will remain affordable. An additional $7 million would go to new construction of affordable housing at Fourth and Folsom streets, a parcel owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The craziness of the real estate market is impacting us in ways that we have not seen before, said Malcolm Yeung, deputy director of the Chinatown Community Development Center. This will allow us to stabilize some Chinatown buildings in ways that have not done before. And the project is big in more than just size. If approved, Oceanwide Center would be the last major office development passed until next year, because it alone will eat up two-thirds of the 1.5 million square feet of office space available for 2016 under the Proposition M office-space cap passed by voters in 1986. Its sort of the swan song in terms of big downtown projects because there are not that many sites, said Josh Switzky, who heads up citywide planning for the Planning Department. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SFjkdineen Presidential candidate Donald Trump was forced to abandon his motorcade on the side of a freeway, scramble up a hillside and slip into a side entrance of the hotel hosting the California GOP convention Friday as hundreds of angry protesters surrounded the building and did their best to disrupt the Republican front-runners speech. RELATED: Trump compares backdoor entrance to Bay Area speech to 'crossing the border' Trump joked about his roundabout entrance to the convention, saying it felt like he was crossing the border but the rambunctious demonstrators outside saw no humor in it all as they scuffled with police, threw eggs and blocked roads around the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame. Antoinette Chen See, 34, one of several protesters who formed a human chain on Old Bayshore Road outside the hotel, said she came out to try to deny Trump a platform in the Bay Area for what she called his racist rhetoric. RELATED: A call for GOP unity delivered Trump-style with insults We have a failed system in which someone who is so antiblack, so anti-Muslim and so anti-immigrant is allowed to be a viable candidate for president, she said. About the chains linking her to her fellow protesters, she said: They are not comfortable, but its worth it. Some Trump backers Presidential candidates Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio were also scheduled to speak at the convention, but it was Trump who drew the most ire from demonstrators Friday before, during and after his noontime speech. Coming just one day after protests at one of the billionaires campaign stops in Southern California turned violent, police were on high alert. Hate has no place in the democratic process, Bay Area activist Cat Brooks said in a widely distributed statement urging people to join the anti-Trump rally Friday. Black communities and all communities of color deserve a democracy that respects our vote, our vision and our values. The throng of protesters didnt dissuade at least a few Trump supporters from staging a small demonstration of their own. Cheryl Tapp, a 62-year-old flight attendant from Burlingame and longtime Trump fan, came out to the hotel to show her support. He treats women good. Look at his corporations, she said, referencing Trumps companies where females occupy some top posts. She blamed much of the controversy surrounding the candidate on the news media. You only hear about the bad stuff, she said. The anti-Trump crowd began gathering around 9 a.m. and grew quickly as protesters waved signs reading Dump Trump and Racist rhetoric not welcome here. Rabia Keeble of Oakland held up an empty Trump pinata, which she didnt fill to leave it as empty as he is, she said. Burlingame police arrested five protesters for unknown offenses, according to Lt. Jay Kiely. A San Mateo County sheriffs deputy also reported being kicked in the head by a demonstrator as he was trying to arrest a different protester. While trying to get in to hear his candidates speech, one Trump supporter wearing a Make American great again hat was punched in the back of the head by a protester in a black hoodie. Other protesters yelled at the assailant to stop, and after a great deal of pushing and shoving, police escorted the Trump supporter into the hotel. Speech delayed Around noon, just as Trumps speech was scheduled to begin, a group of protesters broke through the barricades set up around the hotel and tried to surge into the convention. Police quickly formed a skirmish line and pushed the crowd back. The commotion delayed the candidates speech for about an hour. The protests were organized by several local activist groups including the Anti Police-Terror Project, Black Lives Matter Bay Area and the BlackOut Collective. The representation among the crowd, though all united around their aversion to Trump, was varied, with pro-choice groups mingling among Hillary Clinton supporters who stood alongside Bernie Sanders fans. Theres a lot of different organizations, different coalitions voicing their concern for the Republican Party and Donald Trump specifically, said Adam Jordan, a 46-year-old chef and member of the Black Lives Matter Bay Area contingent from Oakland. Thats why its so chaotic here. Burlingame police had been preparing for the chaos all week and called in help from law enforcement agencies around the Bay Area. Hundreds of officers in riot gear fanned out around the protest area, setting up barricades to corral the crowds as demonstrators chanted, No more walls! By 3 p.m., only a handful of protesters remained. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Police were especially tense considering the raucous scene that erupted outside a Trump rally in Costa Mesa (Orange County) on Thursday night. Protesters who had been peaceful while that rally was under way grew violent after the event ended, night fell and they were confronted by police on horseback and in riot gear. One demonstrator jumped on a police car, smashing its windows, while others spray-painted graffiti on another cop car and the marquee of the venue where the rally was held. At least one Trump supporter was bloodied and roughly 20 people were arrested. Trumps departure Trumps Burlingame appearance, however, ended with none of those fireworks. After the candidate finished his speech, he left the same way he came in: out the side entrance, down the hillside and into his sport utility vehicle, which was still where hed left it on the side of Highway 101. Asked whether Trumps unconventional means of entering and exiting the hotel had been planned, Lt. Kiely replied, Do we really want to take all these people into custody or is there a less intrusive way of getting him ingress? Kimberly Veklerov and Kale Williams are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com, kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KVeklerov, @sfkale This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate After five years in which housing and office developers battled for available land to build on, a third category of investor has muscled into the San Francisco market in a big way: hotels. Over the past 12 months, more than a dozen new hotel projects have been proposed, swelling a pipeline that now has many hotel proposals with more than 4,000 rooms in it. If they all get built, San Franciscos new generation would include hotels in Mid-Market, Mission Bay, South of Market and the Transbay neighborhood. Others would be added to the northern waterfront, Fishermans Wharf and the Marina. And at 8 Washington St., a northern waterfront property where neighbors went to the ballot in 2013 to kill plans for luxury condos, a new developer is exploring a deal that would skip housing in favor of an eight-story hotel. The crop of hotel proposals is being driven by market forces booming tourism, robust business travel, healthy convention business and development that has added only a handful of major hotels in the last 15 years. Demand, and prices, are high. San Francisco had a record number of visitors in 2015 24.6 million, an increase of 2.7 percent from 2014. The average price for a room jumped 88 percent between 2014 and 2015 to nearly $400 a night, according to an index compiled by Bloomberg of the worlds top 100 financial centers. Housing obstacles At the same time, uncertainty around citys land-use politics partly surrounding proposals to increase affordable housing may be partly responsible for the influx in hotel projects, some industry observers say. At a time when we are seeing some uncertainty in the housing market, hotels in San Francisco are finally starting to pencil, said Sam Suleman, an executive vice president with Equinox Hospitality, which builds, manages and consults on hotels. Suddenly, were seeing a lot more speculative hotel projects than we have seen in a while. And some of these projects are replacing what would have been condos or apartments or office buildings. Several properties previously slated for housing have been switched to hospitality, including 1125 Market St., a vacant lot next to American Conservatory Theaters Strand Theater, and 48 Tehama St., now proposed for a 95-room hotel. Other projects that had been contemplated for 100 percent office or residential, such as 555 Howard St., are now envisioned as luxury hotels mixed with some office space and a smaller number of condominiums. One reason developing hotels can look more attractive than building housing is a proposition on the citys June ballot to double the required amount of below-market-rate housing in a new residential development, from 12 to 25 percent. Its not surprising that as housing becomes more difficult to build or less financially attractive, were seeing developers turning to hotels, said Tim Colen, executive director of the Housing Action Coalition, which lobbies for new housing. Housing production is definitely going to fall in 2016. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle Meanwhile, would-be developers of office towers have to wrestle with the office cap imposed by the 1986 Proposition M, a measure that voters passed to slow down what was seen as the Manhattanization of San Francisco. Prop. M allows the city to approve an additional 925,000 square feet of office space each year, a pool that grows when there are few new projects but gets eaten up quickly when the market is hot. Currently, there is 1.6 million square feet available under the cap, but more than 10 million square feet in the pipeline. Hotel rooms do not fall under the cap. Physical evidence of the hotel boom isnt yet apparent several hotels are under construction or about to start. Two historic buildings are undergoing conversion on central Market Street, including the former Renoir Hotel, which was delayed 18 months because of a fire. At 144 King St., across from AT&T Park, developer David OKeefe is finishing up Hotel Via, a 132-room boutique inn. Its going to be a really nice hotel across from the ballpark with a wonderful restaurant bar and rooftop terrace, said architect Michael Stanton, whose firm is designing about a half dozen San Francisco hotels. Youll be able to have some nice parties up there. At 250 Fourth St., developer Jay Singh will break ground this month on a 220-room hotel. Stanford Hotels is about to start work on a 250-room property on Mission Bays Block 1, across the street from where the San Francisco Giants are planning a massive mixed-use development. The Pacific Eagle Holdings Corp. has two hotels in the planning phase, according to Senior Vice President Hans Galland. One is at 1125 Market St., which will target a younger Millennial traveler who may want to stay close to Mid-Market tech firms like Twitter, Zendesk and Square. The other, at 555 Howard St., will be flagged with the groups luxury Langham brand. It will be part of a high-rise that will also include some condos. Langham has hotels in Boston, Pasadena, Chicago and New York. The group has long wanted a presence in San Francisco, where it has an office. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. We only invest in very, very strategic markets with a long-term holding strategy, he said. San Francisco has become one of the most important economic centers in the West, arguably the world. Finding locations But for every hotel builder who lands a site, another two or three are kicking tires, Stanton said. The only thing discouraging people is the difficulty of finding sites. San Franciscos pipeline still pales in comparison to other cities. Over the past six years San Francisco added fewer than 300 rooms, while New York City added 18,000 rooms and has another 36,000 rooms in the pipeline, according to CBRE Hotels. New Yorks pipeline represents 12 percent of its existing stock; in San Francisco its more like 2 percent. If you look at what has been announced over the last two to three years and what has materialized, its minimal, said San Francisco hotel consultant Rick Swig, whose family formerly owned the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. The discussion around use here has long been housing first and office second. For years San Franciscos room rates were not high enough to justify construction and labor costs that were on par with New York City. This is still an expensive place to operate, with both the construction and hotel workers unionized. But suddenly, with room rates soaring, the cost of doing business makes sense. Mark Fraioli, senior vice president with Jones Lang LaSalles Hotels & Hospitality Group, It is a city that has only moved from strength to strength in the post-recessionary years. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen San Francisco planners want to put the Hub back into the intersection of Market and Van Ness. A busy crossroads once dubbed the Hub because of the four street-car lines that passed through, the cluster of triangular-shaped blocks just beyond west SoMa and Mid-Market is the latest focus of Planning Department officials looking to make the best of a housing bonanza that will bring thousands of new units to the area. At the moment, the collection of traffic-suffocated blocks are largely devoid of greenery or pedestrian-oriented streets. The intersection of Market Street and Van Ness Avenue is seen as dangerous by drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike. A long block to the south is maybe the most dismal intersection in San Francisco: a tangled web of asphalt where South Van Ness Avenue, 12th Street, Mission Street, McCoppin Street, Gough Street, Otis Street and Brady Street all come together. But if the area has been historically neglected, that is about to change. It is the target of some 3,700 planned housing units, with big developments set for the Honda dealership at 10 S. Van Ness Ave., the site of the Goodwill store at 1580 Mission, the city office building at 30 Van Ness, the City College administration building at 33 Gough St., the Tower Car Wash site at 1601 Mission St., plus projects at One Oak St., 1540 Market St. and 30 Otis St. Makeover ideas Given that perhaps 7,000 new residents are going to be moving into the area over the next decades, the city is scrambling to figure out how to make it more beguiling and charming, with calmer streets, wider sidewalks, safer bike lanes, better public transit and more affordable housing. On Wednesday, the city will hold its first public scoping hearing on the Market Street Hub Project to get a sense of what neighbors want there, according to Lily Langlois, the Planning Departments point person on the project. Changes coming We want to remind people that what you see today is not what its going to look like when its built out, she said. We want to start the conversation around public improvements and streetscapes and open spaces and transit. As a planning area, the Hub is complicated by the fact that parts of the area are included in other plans, including the Market-Octavia Plan, which attracted investors by raising allowable heights at the four corners of Market and Van Ness to 400 feet. And given that projects are already in the pipeline for nearly all the major development sites, its unlikely that many developers will want to slow down their approval processes to be part of the Hub plan. Stages of progress In a perfect world, we would have done this work before we had these applications so now its a bit of a dance, Langlois said. There are a number that are moving forward under existing zoning. There are others that could move forward or could wait and take advantage of the plan. If the Hub comes to fruition, the city thinks the rezoning could raise heights and densities enough to add 1,200 housing units, about half of which would be below market rate. In addition, the city is working with Strada Investment Group, the developer of the Civic Center Hotel site at 12th and Market streets, to build a new public park for the neighborhood. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Chances are that the three large projects in which the city is the property owner or future tenant the Goodwill site, 33 Gough and 30 Van Ness will be the most likely to jump on the Hub bandwagon. Two of the projects 1540 Market St. and 1601 Mission are already approved and likely to break ground this year. In the works Trumark Urban Managing Director Arden Hearing, a developer who recently won approvals for two projects in the Hub (1601 Mission and 1540 Market St.), said that he appreciates the Hub planning effort but that his projects will be built before the plan is even done. We look at our projects as part of the catalyst of the Hub, bridging to the next round of development that are a few years out, he said. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen Public meeting The first public workshop is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the second floor atrium conference room at 1 S. Van Ness in San Francisco. For more information: http://bit.ly/23z93YH This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The opportunity was there: vacant board seats, a call for more directors. Yet in several recent shakeups at Bay Area tech firms from giants like Yahoo and numerous startups where venture capital firm Sequoia Capital has a seat no one took the opportunity to appoint a woman to the board of directors. On many of those boards and hundreds of others from San Francisco to San Jose and beyond every seat is held by a man. This failing is not unusual, industry experts said, and points to a bigger issue in the tech industry: Women are sorely underrepresented in boardrooms. Women make up more than 18 percent of board members at Fortune 1000 companies and at the 72 tech firms included in the Standard & Poors 500 index, though they make up about half of the population. For women of color, that number shrinks to about 3 percent. Five tech companies in the S&P 500 have no women on their boards at all. The ultimate destination is parity, but we have to have milestones and goals along the way, and I would certainly put at baseline no more companies should have zero women on their boards, said Brande Stellings, vice president of corporate board services at nonprofit workplace research group Catalyst. Come on. Its the 21st century. Yahoo, whose embattled chief executive Marissa Mayer is one of four women on its nine-person board, has had a higher than usual percentage of female board members. In the next two months, after a deal with activist investor Starboard Value, Yahoos board will transform, adding four new directors and losing two who will not seek re-election at the companys shareholder meeting in June. Of the four new directors appointed to Yahoos board, none is female. One of the outgoing members is a woman. That puts Yahoo at 27 percent above average, but a big step back from where it was. Yahoo declined to comment on the composition of its board. Parity is ultimate goal There is a danger in companies thinking, OK, we have women now, so were done, Stellings said. Companies should all have a goal of about 30 percent, but that is by no means a stopping point. Its just a stop along the way to eventual parity. In the ongoing conversation about diversity and the tech industry, putting women on boards can feel like a catch-22, said Nancy Sheppard, founder and CEO of Women2Boards, a nonprofit that helps women gain access to corporate boardrooms. Board members are typically culled from specific areas, including C-level leadership positions and venture capital firms, where women are similarly underrepresented. Less than a third of venture capital firms in the United States employ at least one woman to conduct business or participate in investment decisions, according to a Page Mill Publishing study issued last year that underscored a long-standing problem with the VC industrys diversity. Babson Colleges Diana Project estimated in 2014 that 6 percent of venture capitalists are women, down from 10 percent in 1999. The venture community doesnt include very many women in their ranks, and because of that it gets to be very clubby and it functions like a club thats not open membership, said Malli Gero, co-founder and president of 2020 Women On Boards, a nonprofit group that uses grassroots organizing to pressure companies to diversify their boards of directors. Youre beginning to see more women in venture, just like youre beginning to see more women on boards, but its a very slow process. In tech company boardrooms, women made up 18.3 percent of directors in the S&P 500, according to a study released last year by research firm Equilar. Its a notable increase from 2010, when 2020 Women on Boards found about 14 percent of board seats were occupied by a female director, Gero said, but new research shows that the number of women serving on boards has plateaued. Of all the newly elected directors at S&P 500 companies, about 31 percent of those elected last year were female, according to financial research firm Spencer Stuart. The year before, it was 30 percent. Diversifying is hard Change is hard, especially because when you have a group of people who look and think just like you do, thats comfortable, thats easy, Gero said. Diversifying is hard, its uncomfortable, but the payoff is so much greater. Diverse boards make better decisions, the companies are more profitable. Thats more important than the comfort of a CEO. Venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, which has backed Silicon Valley giants like Apple, Cisco, Google and Yahoo, had to fill nearly a dozen board seats left vacant by longtime venture capitalist Michael Goguen, who resigned his position at Sequoia last month amid allegations that he had sexually and physically abused a woman for 13 years and then reneged on an agreement to pay her $40 million for her suffering and discretion. (Goguen denied the allegations.) Goguen served on the boards of at least 10 companies, including publicly traded firm Infoblox and online lender Elevate Credit, which was widely expected to go public but postponed its offering in January. Infoblox, a network management firm, has one woman on its seven-person board. Elevate has none. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Sequoia, whose U.S. arm is one of hundreds of American VC firms that have no female investing partners, is not obligated to appoint a partner to a board seat it occupies. It could look externally for candidates and ask them to serve as a representative. The VC firm instead redistributed Goguens portfolio among existing partners, it said. Sequoia declined to expand on its reasons for doing so. The firms most recent hire, Mike Vernal, formerly worked at Facebook as a top technical executive. In an interview last year with Bloomberg, Sequoia Chairman Michael Moritz said the firm would consider hiring women so long as doing so didnt require it to lower our standards. He subsequently sought to clarify his remarks, which drew strong condemnation from others in the industry. Chamath Palihapitiya, co-founder of the Social + Capital Partnership, dubbed his remarks ridiculous and a sign and language of the past. Reluctant to apply Sheppard, who tends to work with smaller companies seeking directors for their boards, said executives can be reluctant to prioritize diversity because there is a perception that doing so means putting less of a premium on other factors like experience. Qualified women, meanwhile, might not think to apply for an opening. I talk to a lot of women who are interested in being on boards and the skill sets are amazing, but they dont think about connecting up to ask about being on boards, she said. They hear the stories about how hard it is and think there arent that many opportunities or that they wont be picked. Some just hadnt even thought of taking their career in that direction. One area where Sheppard has seen substantial progress is in companies willingness to talk about diversity and recognize their own pitfalls. Public accountability and peer pressure can be important drivers in increasing the rate of women and people of color appointed to boards, experts said. In 2012, Facebook went public with no women on its board. Nonprofits and shareholders called on chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to appoint a woman. He eventually appointed Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, who already served on the board of the Walt Disney Co., a month after the IPO. Today, Facebook has two female directors on its board of eight, a figure that has not changed in three years. Twitter, whose chief executive and co-founder Jack Dorsey has been vocal in his desire to diversify the social media companys board, appointed its second woman, Martha Lane Fox, to its board earlier this year. Dorsey has since tweeted that more additions will follow, ones that will bring diversity and represent the strong communities on Twitter. Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae HYDERABAD, India It is a balmy early spring morning in this hilly southern India capital of some 7 million. Once a cultural and gem trading center known as the City of Pearls, it is now better known as the home of the high-technology hub dubbed Cyberabad. Google, Microsoft and other tech giants have built gleaming new campuses here. Some of Indias largest outsourcing companies, which provide skilled Indian tech workers within the country and abroad, have set up shop here as well. All are tapping into Indias growing population of young IT and engineering talent, whose members flock here by the thousands seeking work. On the outskirts of the city, an ancient temple, surrounded by a buzzing market with food and flower stalls, rises on the banks of the Osman Sagar Lake. It is barely 8 a.m., but for hours already, the temple has been surrounded by a swirling mass of petitioners. Hundreds circle it quickly but silently, praying to the Hindu deity Balaji to grant the wish that has brought them here: to obtain a guest worker visa that will allow them to take their high-tech talents to America. The Balaji Visa Temple is among a handful of such shrines that have sprung up in recent years, offering Indian workers hope of divine help in obtaining a temporary U.S. specialty-occupation visa, familiarly known as an H-1B. Those who receive them can spend three to six years working in the U.S. a ticket, they believe, to a better, more financially secure future. About this project The international reporting for this story was made possible through a crowdfunding effort supported by Beacon, a journalism-funding startup in the East Bay. More than 200 Chronicle readers helped raise a total of $15,000 to put toward our reporting, photography, video production and graphic design. More than 190 donors gave between $5 and $100. Nine contributed $150 each, and Joseph Tobin II donated $1,000. The Chronicle will continue to report on issues raised by the H-1B visa system here in the United States. See an interactive H-1B project: http://projects.sfchronicle.com/2016/visas/ See More Collapse But to get there means beating long odds. A worker must be chosen from among thousands of hopefuls by a company in need of certain skills. An application in his behalf must be made, at a cost of thousands of dollars, and approved by U.S. officials. And, for the past several years, getting that far means having perhaps a 1-in-4 chance of success in a lottery among the huge number of applications for a limited number of visas. Those who are successful face other concerns: Navigating a system in which their employer controls their visa, and thus their legal status, leaving some feeling like indentured servants with no power over working hours or conditions. Having wages sometimes shaved through fees assessed by sponsoring companies, who may contract them out for other work. And increasingly, being pointed to by critics of the H-1B program, including GOP presidential candidates Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, as a threat to American workers. Still, they come in waves to cities like Hyderabad and shrines like the Balaji temple, eager to vie for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some have seen their applications put forward year after year without success, putting off marriage or finding a permanent home in hopes that this will be the year they get to America. To jobs that will boost their careers and pay far more than they can earn here. To a few years of adventure in the land of Hollywood and Disney World. Every year, thousands of Indian workers from Hyderabad alone get H-1Bs, while Indians overall make up more than two-thirds of those working on H-1B visas. Their growing presence has spurred calls for reform of the system on both sides: those who want the limited number of visas expanded and those who say the system has gotten out of control. Raja Ram Mohan, 31, a computer engineer, seems unconcerned with the growing H-1B debate, his thoughts only on the possibilities before him. This morning, he took 2 hours to circle the temple more than 100 times an act of gratitude to the deity for his success in obtaining an H-1B. His wife, praying for a visa for herself, accompanied him. Weve never been to America, Mohan said. I hear the Texas weather is somewhat like here? Maybe we can go there. Overwhelming demand for tech workers Since 1990, the H-1B visa program has allowed U.S. companies to hire foreign workers with special skills, including physicians, engineers, accountants, even fashion models. But, increasingly, the program has been dominated by U.S. technology companies seeking software analysts, engineers and other IT workers. In fiscal 2014, 65 percent of H-1B petition approvals were for workers in computer-related occupations. Demand for those workers has overwhelmed the H-1B program in recent years. Applications for the visas increased by 90 percent from 2013 to 2016. This year, a record 236,000 requests were submitted within days of the April 1 opening of the application period. The number of visas available, however, has always been limited. Since 2004, the cap has been set at 85,000 new H-1Bs annually 65,000 for foreign workers with at least a bachelors degree, another 20,000 reserved for those with advanced degrees from U.S. universities. Trade agreements reserve up to 6,800 of those visas for skilled Chilean and Singaporean workers. Exempt from the cap are skilled workers employed in higher education, nonprofit research or government research. Also not counted in the cap are extensions of an H-1B for a second three-year term. Since 2013, the huge demand for H-1Bs has prompted a computerized lottery to dole out the visas. That has spurred growing criticism of Indias multibillion-dollar outsourcing industry, which supplies legions of workers for U.S. companies every year. In fiscal year 2014, the most recent year data are available, 67 percent of H-1B visa recipients were from India, the highest proportion in at least 18 years. Indian companies, including Tata Consulting Services, Wipro and Infosys, submit tens of thousands of visa requests on behalf of U.S. clients each year. Critics say they are effectively gaming the lottery depriving smaller companies of the chance to fairly compete for H-1Bs and taking visas that could go to more highly skilled, higher-paid workers for low-level, lower-paid programmers. According to Department of Labor data, the top four Indian outsourcing companies successfully filed about 66,000 Labor Condition Applications in 2015, which is the first step toward obtaining an H-1B visa. While many Silicon Valley companies such as Apple and Intel tend to hire more highly skilled workers and pay six-figure salaries, the bulk of H-1B jobs go to lower-level IT workers who are often paid close to the minimum allowed by the visa program, about $60,000, says Ronil Hira, a Howard University public policy professor and researcher at the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank focused on labor issues. In 2015, more Labor Condition Applications were approved for jobs in Santa Clara County than any other region in the country: about 34,750. Nearly 8 percent of all applications filed were for jobs in Silicon Valley. In 2013, according to research by the Brookings Institution, more than 27,200 H-1B visas were approved for workers in two Bay Area metro areas: almost 16,000 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, and more than 11,000 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont. Hira, like others critical of the H-1B program, says most U.S. companies are not using the H-1B visa as a way to alleviate a shortage of STEM-educated U.S. workers; they use it to primarily cut labor costs. Others argue that the proliferation of outsourcing via H-1B, especially in the case of India, is leading to the export of skills acquired in the U.S., as guest workers visas run out and they move back to jobs overseas. U.S. companies also have been hit for allegedly replacing American workers with lower-paid foreigners. Disney was sued last year after some 250 IT jobs were eliminated and the work given to Indian tech workers on H-1Bs. The U.S. Justice Department investigated Southern California Edison in 2015 after the utility company laid off 500 IT workers while having some of them train H-1B workers, but said it found no violations of labor laws or discrimination against American workers. Photographer: Bernat Parera Fraud schemes and worker abuse Fraud and alleged abuse of workers also have been issues in the H-1B program. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initiated more than 200 fraud investigations into H-1B and related H and L visas, and made more than 110 criminal arrests from 2013 to 2015. Lawsuits and prosecutions also have occurred over guest workers reportedly being underpaid or forced to kick back some of their earnings to their sponsoring companies, which have control of their visas. Daniel Showalter, a group supervisor with Homeland Security investigations in the Los Angeles area, said in an interview that the way the H-1B program has developed, with the huge staffing firms flooding the system with applications, has taken it away from the intent of the visa itself. Showalter, who has investigated visa fraud for much of his 20-year career, says the system as it is now opens the door to fraud schemes and worker abuse. The most vocal critics of the H-1B program argue that the program deprives Americans of jobs and needs to be reformed. The most recent action: an increase in the cost of the visa application for major staffing companies like Tata and Infosys. A provision slipped into the 2015 omnibus federal spending bill doubled the fee to $4,000 for such companies. Recent hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee, whose immigration panel is chaired by Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, have been sharply critical of the H-1B program, also focusing largely on the large Indian firms dominance and concerns about the replacement of U.S. workers. Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin, a strong immigration supporter, have teamed on a bill that would forbid the replacement of a domestic worker by an H-1B visa holder and prioritize visa allocations to foreigners holding advanced degrees. Tech sector expects to take major hit While Infosys and Tata refused to comment on visa-related queries for this story, it is clear the Indian IT industry has been unnerved by these changes. Nasscom, the primary trade association of Indias IT and software services industry, estimated that the visa fee increase could cost the sector hundreds of millions of dollars annually. More than 80 percent of the industrys $120 billion in annual revenue is from IT service exports, including H-1B workers, R. Chandrasekhar, Nasscoms president, said. The U.S. actions are discriminatory to India, he said. At a time when both countries are targeting trade of $500 billion, and are striving to work together, it can hurt economic policy between the two countries, he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns about the bill with President Obama after it was passed late last year. Then in early March, India took its complaints to the World Trade Organization. If the U.S. and India cant negotiate a settlement of the complaint, India can ask the WTO to review the situation. Photographer: Bernat Parera It is a trade issue, Chandrasekhar said. We see the restrictions sought to be imposed that will create barriers for Indian industry. It is quite worrisome. Last fiscal year, more than two-thirds of H-1B visa holders came from India. Some 15 percent of those guest workers came from Hyderabad alone. So many visa applications have come from the city as the tech and outsourcing industries have expanded there that the U.S. opened a Hyderabad consulate in 2008, which has issued 130,000 H-1Bs since, said consul chief Jamie Fouss. The volume is as much as New Delhi now, he said. Some take alternative route Still, thousands of other workers seeking the visa miss out. While the large outsourcing firms grab the majority of visas, it can often take workers for an Indian company or an India-based branch of a U.S. company up to five years of service before being considered as an H-1B candidate. For those unwilling to wait, smaller outsourcing firms offer another possible route. At these companies, experts and Indian workers say, it is common for a worker to pay at least a portion of the H-1B application fee usually paid by the sponsoring company, or to agree to relinquish a portion of the salary earned in the U.S. More typical of would-be H-1B workers is a 30-year-old Hyderabad management consultant, a graduate of a top Indian business school who works for the Indian arm of a large U.S. consulting firm. He has lived and worked in the city for more than three years, but his apartment looks as if he just moved in: Theres little furniture, and the living room is a jumble of moving boxes. Each year since he arrived, he has gone into the H-1B lottery. Each year he has missed out. This year, the man, who asked to speak anonymously to avoid angering his company, is trying again. I didnt buy even the sofa in this flat, he said. I just came with a suitcase. He quotes statistics to explain his bad luck. His first application went out in 2013, the year the number of applications started spiraling out of control. The year before, he says, everyone sponsored by his firm received an H-1B. In 2013, there was 82 percent conversion, he says. Last year, it was 24 to 30 percent. Of 65 new business school graduates to be hired by his company, he is the only one still in India. Why is he so determined to get to the U.S.? You learn much more when youre directly interacting with your client, he says. If you dont get to do that, in the long run you will lose out to your peers, who will be much more informed. They will understand the U.S. market much better compared to me, whos sitting offshore and learning through reports or emails. Going abroad also means more money: Salaries with U.S. companies are at least three to four times what can be earned in India. The man has an education loan he is still paying off. All my friends who went to the U.S. paid it off in the first year, he says. It will be at least another month before he learns whether his application made it through the lottery this year. Though he still hopes hell get one, so much has changed since he first tried that he feels distanced from it, he said. I dont think much of the visa these days, he said. I was very, very hopeful the first time, and very, very disappointed the second time. Since then, I have gotten married. My life has changed. Now I think differently. Photographer: Bernat Parera His wife wants him to go to the Balaji temple to pray for help. But I wont, he says. Suppose this time I get the visa? Then you will unnecessarily attribute it to God. If I get it, the credit should be all mine. Deportation and dashed dreams Sanjeev Reddy Varakala stands in the middle of his lemon orchard and inspects a balky irrigation pipe. The setting sun casts a sepia glow over the rural landscape as Varakala scrambles beneath a thorny tree to pick lemons. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes For Varakala, a 36-year-old computer engineer with 12 years experience, life now was supposed to be very different. Last year, he received an H-1B. He quit his job at IBM India and planned to go to the U.S. to work, save enough money to educate his three children, maybe bring his family to America for a few years. Instead, in December, just eight months after he arrived in America, he was deported. U.S. officials sent him home after finding that his visa documents were not in order. He says it was because the company that sponsored him had engaged in visa fraud, first withholding his pay, then subcontracting out his services and keeping a portion of his earnings. The company, Agile Health Technologies of Naperville, Ill., had listed an in-house project on its H-1B application as its reason for hiring him and promised a $70,000 salary. But, he said, When I went there, there was no job. But I understood that only when I got there. How could I know before that? Sasikant Gandhamaneni, CEO of Agile Health Technologies, declined to comment for this story. Agile, established in 2013, reports having just two employees, including Gandhamaneni, but, according to visa records, has sponsored nearly 60 foreign workers. For almost three months, Varakala said, he did menial IT work and received no pay from Agile other than about $3,500 for expenses. He considered lodging a complaint, but said his colleagues warned that the company might put him on a plane home immediately. Maybe I should have, he said, I was sent back anyway. Instead, he said, he asked Agile to let him look for work elsewhere. He traveled to California to stay with a friend, and while there found work through another staffing company, KPIT Consulting, as a program analyst at MGM Studios. Agile, though, continued as his employer of record, and both Agile and KPIT took a percentage of his pay, he said, cutting his earnings by about 20 percent. A spokesman for KPIT confirmed that Varakala was subcontracted to work for MGM, but offered no further comment. MGM did not respond to requests for comment. Workers get the short end While he was aware that the arrangement was not aboveboard, Varakala said he felt he had no other option. If he objected, his visa might be revoked and he would be sent back to India. By staying, he could earn $5,000 a month at MGM and save money as he had planned. In November, Varakala flew home to India to attend his brothers wedding. When he returned in December, Customs and Border Patrol officers at Los Angeles International Airport questioned why he was not working at Agile in the job for which his H-1B had been granted. Varakala said he was told that Agile was under suspicion, but his visa was revoked and he was deported. He doesnt understand why he was punished but the companies that he says abused the system have not been. The CBP knows exactly what happens, he said. That these small employers get workers on an H-1B and then try to look for clients. That they dont pay correct, timely wages, abuse the system. A CBP spokesman said the agency could not comment specifically on Varakalas case, but said that cases like his are commonplace. Meanwhile, details of his case have been shared with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, who say they will review them. They caution, though, that their investigative focus is on companies that exhibit a pattern of alleged wrongdoing rather than individual cases. While Varakala looks for another job, he spends most of his time on his familys 5-acre farm in a Hyderabad suburb, a place his father managed to buy after a career as a laborer and welding instructor. He feels happy there, rooted in a way he never was in the U.S. Until his H-1B experience, Varakalas life reflected the dream many Indians share: getting an education that can pull them out of a struggling rural life, getting a job in a big city, maybe getting to America. His friends advise him not to tell anyone about his deportation. But whats the point? he said. I made a mistake by choosing this job, but I wont hide it. He and other tech workers often describe themselves as resources in the outsourcing system, a term that can make them sound not quite human. Its like going to a market to buy something and looking for the best price. These clients get cheaper workers, the contractors get the commission, workers get the short end, Varakala said. At the end, I dont think I was treated fairly. Fear of missing out on getting to America Tales of such pitfalls possibly awaiting them in America dont seem to concern those who visit the Balaji Visa Temple. For them, the Indian dream is in full flower. Raja Ram Mohan, the young engineer who is awaiting his H-1B assignment, is thrilled about finally seeing the American tourist sites he has seen in movies. He and his wife want to visit the Hollywood sign and Disneyland, a destination on almost every guest workers must-see list. I also want to see that what is that thing where everyone dresses up and goes out? Oh yes, Halloween. I want to see Halloween, he said. Bharath Kumar, a programmer from Hyderabad, also recently received his H-1B visa, after almost a year of waiting. He and his wife are ardent believers in the power of God, he said, and have made their pilgrimage to the temple. Now, he said, he can finally compete with all the vacation photos friends who have made it to the U.S. already have posted online. Why cant I have that life? he said, expressing the anxiety common among Millennials known as FOMO fear of missing out. From childhood I have seen people go overseas. It is what I have thought about for a long time, he said, sitting in a small apartment in Hyderabad full of rented furniture and a small shrine in a corner. He said he also feels pressure in his community to get to America. It is like you havent done much if you havent been there, he said. All of us know someone or is related to someone in the U.S. I just want to go for three years, he said. My parents will retire in 2019. I want to come back when they do, he said. C.S. Rangarajan, the Balajis head priest, knows that as long as the opportunity is out there, young Indians like Mohan, hoping for an adventure, for a chance at a better life, will continue to come and pray, understanding that luck is crucial to their hopes and seeking help from the divine. Chronicle staff writers Carolyn Lochhead and Joaquin Palomino contributed to this report. Padmaparna Ghosh is a reporter based in India. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Samsung courted software developers Wednesday by touting its growing reach into everything digital, from automobiles and smart-home devices to health care, Internet security and virtual reality. The South Korean electronics conglomerate even wants to create a holodeck, the fully immersive virtual reality room depicted in Star Trek. Its all about human connection and personal communication, Samsung executive Injong Rhee said during the keynote address of the annual two-day Samsung Developer Conference at Moscone West convention center. Samsung still makes the devices for which it is known: phones, televisions, refrigerators and washing machines. But now it is competing with Silicon Valley giants Apple and Google for the hearts and minds of software developers. Thats because in the past five years, We have changed from a hardware company into a software company, said Rhee, head of research and development, software and services at Samsung Electronics. Software now plays a really key role in everything we do. The theme of the two-day conference is connecting the future everywhere you look, with Samsung highlighting technology that goes beyond smartphones. Apple and Google are also pushing into similar digital frontiers, ranging from virtual reality and connected cars to smart homes. Samsung knows it needs to expand its collection of third-party software developers. About 4,000 people were expected for this years event, compared with about 1,000 who attended Samsungs first developer conference in 2013. Latest phones A month ago, Samsung began selling the latest generation of its flagship Android phones, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. They represent an important link between the South Korean company and its developer community. Samsung has made big progress on their Galaxy line of smartphones which, when connected to a commercial software ecosystem, could mean gains for the company, said Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy. They need to make the connection between their significantly improved devices and developer opportunity. Thats especially true after Apple on Tuesday reported its first quarterly revenue decline since 2003 as iPhone sales slowed. With Apples recent earnings release, it showed they arent infallible, so Samsung should demonstrate in this context that they can be a good commercial partner, Moorhead said. But Samsung is looking beyond phones, using the conference to show their full portfolio of devices and technologies to distinguish themselves, Moorhead said. The future of virtual and augmented reality is one of the biggest topics at the conference, with more than a dozen panels scheduled on topics ranging from designing social VR for everyday users to how to raise VR venture capital. Samsung has placed a big bet on virtual reality by heavily marketing its Gear VR virtual reality headgear, which was designed in partnership with the Facebook-owned Oculus VR. Moreover, Samsung is trying to spur the creation of more user-generated virtual reality video by selling a consumer-ready 360-degree camera called the Gear 360. At the conference, Samsung announced that it will start selling the Gear 360 on Friday in certain markets, including South Korea. But the company still wont say when the camera will be available in the United States or how much it will cost. But taking virtual reality one step further, Samsung is experimenting with the Entrim 4D, an accessory headphone that synchronizes the movement of visual VR content with a persons inner ear. The devices Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation makes people wearing virtual reality devices believe their bodies are moving with the experience, reducing the feeling of motion sickness that can accompany VR simulations. Cumbersome tech Rhee acknowledged that current virtual reality technology is cumbersome and incomplete. But he tried to fire up the imaginations of the developers in the room when he said that Samsung wants to create a virtual reality experience similar to the holodeck aboard the starship Enterprise. You enter the holodeck, you enter the virtual wall, you interact with all the virtual objects as if youre living it, he said. Thats the kind of reality were trying to create. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The Entrim is one of five devices that the Samsung Electronics innovation lab, called C-Lab, is showcasing at the conference. Another project is the AMe, a wearable lifelogging camera necklace that constantly records high-definition photos, video and data in a 360-degree radius. AMe is short for around me. Samsung also released an online platform, called the Artik Cloud, designed to support a wide variety of connected smart gadgets, from light switches to water management sensors, that make up the Internet of Things. Connecting cars And Samsung promoted its planned Connect Auto platform and Samsung Knox, a mobile security offering for businesses, as reasons software developers should come on board. We need you, and we want to invite you along with us in this journey to create the future, said D.J. Koh, Samsungs president of mobile communications. Gartner analyst Brian Blau said competitors probably dont have to worry that Samsung will take third-party developers away from their universes immediately. Although Samsung is jumping into a wide array of software-enabled devices, they havent necessarily put them in a cohesive ecosystem like weve seen from their competitors like Google or Apple, Blau said. They could challenge Apple and Google, but I think its some years away. Benny Evangelista is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bevangelista@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChronicleBenny Like many apartment dwellers eager to make the jump to homeownership, Amanda Holt was convinced that a renovated, turn-of-the-century Edwardian on the fringe of Noe Valley was the right home to settle in, for reasons other than its gorgeous and abundant natural light or beautiful wood floors. I instantly liked the vibe, but angels started singing when I saw the washer-dryer, says Holt, a content developer at a tech-marketing firm, whose nine months of house hunting included the recurring agony of being egregiously outbid on all of her offers. Laundry merits notwithstanding, this one stuck. As a child of the digital age, Holt, 30, wielded her Internet savvy to help decorate her home. She found a photo of San Francisco designer Eche Martinezs living room on the website Houzz and immediately decided that anyone who would hang a wooden giraffe head above a mantel was the man for a task that she found daunting. For Holt, the act of scouring Pinterest for design ideas a quintessential time suck for technologically inclined aesthetes was hardly efficient. Eches style is crisp and inventive, thoughtful and balanced, she says. Thats the kind of person I want to be, and thats the kind of home I want to have. Martinez, having honed his professional chops under esteemed San Francisco designer and art consultant Martha Angus, was particularly impressed by Holts art collection. In other words, he appreciated her point of view not a given when it comes to would-be collectors. While her pieces span figurative to abstract, shes mostly drawn to an urban aesthetic, he says. Since neon is a token of metropolises everywhere, Holt acquired a radiant Marcus Conrad Poston BE NICE sign from that other cyber rabbit hole, Etsy. (I point to it at the top of the stairs whenever anyone is being a pain in the neck, says Holt, who may or may not be referring to her live-in boyfriend, Paul, a corporate attorney, or his loyal sidekick, Wally, a 13-year-old pit bull.) Holt also managed to unearth two tiny black and white vintage photographs of Chicago, her hometown, at the vintage store Lost Art Salon within its overwhelming cache of forgotten canvases and prints. These occupy a coveted spot on the gallery wall in the dining room, along with a 3-foot-tall photograph of a miniature donkey with a flirtatious face, a Coup DEtat find; a geometric textile pattern; and a pin-up girl on vellum, displayed in a once-gilded antique wooden frame. Martinez defied standard operating procedure for exhibition spaces by toning down stark white walls with a Phillip Jeffries slate-gray vinyl wall covering a richer, warmer way to display art. Colored walls are also more useful for downplaying wear and tear. Holt entertains like a Millennial Martha Stewart: Engagement dinners, ladies nights, game-night barbecues and hangover breakfasts are in constant rotation, all centered around a rustic reclaimed-wood dining table, which easily seats 10. To alleviate some of the party pressure, cocktails are of the DIY variety, shaken and stirred by guests at the cerused-wood bar, inspired by Ken Fulks members-only Musto Bar at the Battery. The design completely supports the joy of hosting, says Holt. In the living room, site of many spirited House of Cards binge viewings, a cowhide ottoman is a Westernly counterpoint to the Jens Risom webbed lounge chair. This kind of style symmetry continues in the guest room, where Holts great-grandmothers refurbished settee sits under a bold black and white textile from HD Buttercup. In the master bedroom, an iron French canopy bed from Restoration Hardware anchors a tableau replete with trends: mirrored steamer-trunk nightstands, a West Elm repro of a Moroccan Beni Ourain shag and Shibori-style pillows. The rustic accent wall was a Pinterest discovery. My boyfriend noticed that most of my inspiration photos had wood walls, says Holt, who hired Pauls high school buddy, a woodworker, to clad the wall in 100-year-old reclaimed barn wood from Salinas. Judging from the constant parade of visitors, Holt is a firm believer that if you decorate it, they will come. I wanted a home that Id love living in, but that would also be a creative place that friends and family would stay in, rather than awesome Airbnbs, says Holt, who has officially christened her duplex The Holtel. Im pretty proud of that pun, she says. Leilani Marie Labong is a freelance writer. Email: home@sfchronicle.com Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Designer Eche Martinez: Create a gallery wall on a budget Find it One of San Franciscos best kept secrets when it comes to buying great art at reasonable prices is the Lost Art Salon. Consider this gallery an art apothecary of vintage paintings, photography, and works on paper. lostartsalon.com Love it Just because youre creating a gallery wall doesnt mean you need a conventional collection of prints or paintings. Pick anything you love some people love framing keys, vintage postcards or even funky food labels from their travels. Keeping it personal will make the display more interesting. Frame it A little investment in framing can go a long way. A vintage postage stamp can become a statement in an oversize frame. Color it Dont default to a white wall for an art collection. A dark paint color or even graphic wallpaper can make a more dramatic impact. Collect it When shopping for artwork, have a theme. It could be photography, paintings or one color that recurs though your collection. Chernobyl. The name alone stands as a synonym for nuclear disaster. The Chronicles front page from April 29, 1986, covers the worlds worst nuclear meltdown, an accident at the Chernobyl power plant in the Soviet Union that ended up killing at least 30 people and causing countless health problems. The severity of the accident, which spread discernible radioactive material over Scandinavia, was not immediately clear, the story on The Chronicles front page read. But a terse statement by the news agency Tass suggested a major accident at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Pripyat, 60 miles north of Kiev. The Soviets shrouded the disaster in secrecy in its immediate aftermath. The fallout spread to other countries, forcing the USSR to release details. The announcement, the Soviet Unions first official disclosure of a nuclear accident, came hours after Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark reported abnormally high radioactivity in their skies, and after Sweden demanded information, the story read. Specialists in the U.S., meanwhile, suspected that the accident was much worse than the Russians were saying. (Click to enlarge) The unprecedented admission by the Soviet government of an accident at one of the four reactors in Chernobyl led the American experts to theorize that some of the uranium-oxide fuel melted, releasing radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere in the type of accident that nuclear engineers fear the most, a story by The Chronicles Charles Petit read. Thirty years after the meltdown, the city of Pripyat is largely abandoned. Nature has taken back much of the Zone of Alienation, and wildlife roams the deserted streets. A few hundred residents refuse to leave the area, though researchers say it wont be safe for human life for 20,000 years. More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond. See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspaper's history. Chronicle Covers is a yearlong project highlighting one classic Chronicle newspaper page from our archive every day for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken, art director Danielle Mollette-Parks, producer Michelle Devera and editorial assistant Jillian Sullivan contributed to the project. Tim ORourke is the executive producer and editor of SFChronicle.com. Email: torourke@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TimothyORourke The president also told union leaders during a celebration of Internation Workers Day he wants 'made in Egypt' held up worldwide Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced on Thursday at a Labour Day celebration that EGP 100 million from the Long Live Egypt Fund (Tahya Misr) would be allocated to the manpower ministrys emergency fund in order to support workers in ailing sectors such as tourism. El-Sisi also stressed the importance of Egypt establishing a competitive industrial base that would enable the country to increase exports to African and global markets. "We want to hold high the slogan of 'made in Egypt' everywhere around the world," El-Sisi told trade union leaders at an event organised by the Egyptian Federation of Trade Unions at Masa hotel in Cairo. Egypts tourism sector, which employs around 4 million people, has taken a heavy hit since the deadly October 2015 crash of Russian plane in Sinai, which killed 224 people. The IS group claimed responsibilty for downing the plane. The Egyptian government has not yet released its final findings report. The sector saw some revenues of $500 million in the first quarter of 2016, down from $1.5 billion a year earlier. The charitable fund Long Live Egypt was established by El-Sisi in 2014 with the aim of supporting Egypt's economy and development, and is run by a committee he appointed. The president had announced in February that the fund has raised around EGP 4.7 billion since its establishment. El-Sisi urged the swift ratification of labour-related laws that would affect the production process. The president cited technology and electronic industries as important venues for exports. Egypt's exports to non-Arab African countries amounted to $260 million out of a total $9 billion during the first half of the current fiscal year 2015/16, according to the latest data from the central bank. A number of state officials and dignitaries attended the event including Premier Sherif Ismail and manpower minister Mohamed Saefaan. Search Keywords: Short link: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The anxiety over jobs and trade that has fueled Donald Trumps presidential campaign is also rattling political support for the H-1B guest worker visa, a tool that Silicon Valley has used for decades to import skilled workers. While Trump has performed neck-snapping flip-flops on the issue, ridiculing rivals for wanting to expand the visa, then later defending the visa during a debate, his official position calling for reforms is but one bellwether of a cooling political appetite for a guest worker program that once enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support. Created by Congress in 1990, the H-1B visa annually allows entry for as long as six years to 65,000 skilled foreigners, defined as having an undergraduate degree. An additional 20,000 immigrants with advanced U.S. degrees are also admitted. Unlike many other visas, the H-1B does not require companies to seek out U.S. workers for jobs first, only to pledge that hiring a foreign worker wont adversely affect U.S. workers. Visa numbers soared as high as 195,000 a year from 2001 to 2003, when both parties embraced the tech industrys call to attract the best and brightest from a global labor pool. Today, though, the visa is being swept up in a breathtaking disintegration of the GOP coalition between big business and various conservative factions, and it is coming under fire even from strong Democratic backers. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Trumps primary rival for the GOP nomination, is a case in point. Cruz once endorsed a large expansion of H-1B visas, in line with demands from his states tech sector. Now he suggests suspending the program and cracking down on the outsourcing companies in India that are the programs biggest users. Among Democrats, Silicon Valley Rep. Zoe Lofgren, top Democrat on the Judiciary Committees immigration panel and a longtime champion of the visa, now says it needs reform. The idea behind the program was to bring in people who have specialties that are needed in the American economy, Lofgren said. Too many H-1B visa holders dont fall into that exceptional category. They are at the low end of the skill level and the lower end of the salary level, which is not what the program was intended to do. Such criticisms dovetail with complaints by the Congressional Black Caucus that Silicon Valley has failed to diversify its workforce by recruiting more homegrown talent. Oakland Democrat Barbara Lee, whose district neighbors Silicon Valley, said that despite the valleys vaunted innovation culture, a lot of people havent even thought about diversity or inclusion. Democratic presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders has joined Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican and fierce critic of immigrations impact on U.S. workers, to demand that the administration open an investigation into the use of H-1B visas. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton told Silicon Valley executives in 2007 that she supported raising the H-1B cap. That same year, as a U.S. senator from New York, Clinton helped Tata Consulting, an Indian outsourcing firm that is one of the top users of the visa, open an office in Buffalo. Today, Clinton does not mention the H-1B visa on her website. Just three years ago, the Senate included a proposed increase in the number of H-1Bs, to as high as 180,000 a year, in its comprehensive immigration reform bill. That bill also would have provided unlimited green cards for immigrants who graduate from a U.S. university with an advanced degree in the so-called STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates launched the Fwd.us lobbying group to promote the bill, but conservatives led by the Tea Party wing of the GOP blocked it in the House. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has since pushed his I-Squared bill, which mimics many of the H-1B provisions in the dead Senate bill. But Hatchs bill has stalled. Tech executives maintain that the need for the visas is greater than ever. Frankly, there are just not enough engineers and scientists, people with those strong technical skills, here that have the ability to fill all of the positions here, said Peter Leroe-Munoz, head of technology and innovation policy at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a business organization. He took issue with critics who argue that increasing the number of visas dampens wages and discourages Americans from entering the STEM fields, and said recruiting U.S. minorities is a top priority among many of his member companies. No immigration-related proposal has a chance of moving in Congress until after the November elections, if then. But the future of the H-1B program still seems headed for reform. The last congressional action on the visa was a provision slipped into last years omnibus spending bill that doubled the visa fee to $4,000 for companies that rely heavily on it a clear shot at Indian outsourcing firms. Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate California political consultant Mike Madrid has been working for 25 years to get Republicans elected, but he cant envision voting for presidential front-runner Donald Trump in the states June 7 primary. Or for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. And while Ohio Gov. John Kasich seems more palatable, Madrid said he doesnt have a chance to win. You could not vote. You could write in (Sen. Marco) Rubio, Madrid said. Its funny, but its sad. But thats where Im at. The dilemma comes during a rare moment in the national spotlight for the California Republican Party, which holds its annual convention Friday through Sunday in Burlingame. For the first time in a generation, the California primary and, therefore, the party convention holds a relevant spot on the presidential primary calendar. This is the state where Trump could either secure the 1,237 delegates needed to win the GOP nomination or fall short and send the race to the national convention in July in Cleveland, where any of the three surviving nominees or someone else could walk out as the nominee. The upside for California Republicans who claim only 28 percent of the states registered voters, barely more than those who decline to state a party preference is that the primarys sudden relevance has lured all of the top nominees to Burlingame to make their pitches to the partys hard-core faithful. Trump at lunch Trump will speak at lunch Friday, followed by Kasich wooing the dinner crowd. Cruz has the Saturday lunch spot while his newly named running mate, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, revs up the dinner audience. Trump will meet with small groups after lunch, and Cruz will address hundreds of his supporters Saturday morning in a closed meeting. Kasich has a Commonwealth Club appearance in San Francisco scheduled for Friday afternoon. Winning over this crowd is key. These are the people who, if they like a candidate, will return to their districts to talk them up and get local grassroots volunteers to knock on doors and make phone calls for them. That sort of local networking is especially important in California, where it can cost millions of dollars to buy ads in two of the nations most expensive media markets San Francisco and Los Angeles. And it is especially important in the GOP primary because delegates will be awarded by congressional district. Whichever candidate wins the popular vote in a district takes home three delegates, whether it has a low number of Republicans, as in Democratic Rep. Barbara Lees Oakland area, or is thick with them, as in House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthys Bakersfield district. Conservative, religious bent Typically, GOP state party conventions attract a very conservative audience that is more religious than the rest of the population. On paper, observers say the group in Burlingame would seem to be a Cruz audience, so it will be illuminating to watch their reaction to Trump, who leads in the latest California polls. This group is suspicious of Donald Trump because they think he is not a real Republican, said Harmeet Dhillon, vice chairwoman of the California Republican Party. But I know numerous people who will be there who support Donald Trump. This group is very much up for grabs. Tim Clark, who is Trumps California campaign director, said not to expect the billionaire developer to change his message for California. Ours is a turnout strategy, Clark said. I dont expect the other campaigns to come here trying to push a new message or a new negative ad on Mr. Trump. Everybody has heard all that by now. I expect Mr. Trump to remain positive. To that end, last week Trump unleashed a robocall to voters registered without a party preference, encouraging them to register as Republicans before the May 23 deadline so they can vote for him in the primary. Only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP primary. Despite Trumps continuing popularity, his poor approval ratings with women and Latinos have some California Republicans worried that he could drag other GOP candidates farther down the ticket. It would be an unmitigated disaster. A wipeout of biblical proportions, said Ron Nehring, a former chairman of the state GOP who is now Cruzs national spokesman. Donald Trump is the most unpopular candidate in history, in modern times. He is intensely disliked. Megan Range, executive director of the Lincoln Club of Northern California a moderate, pro-business group whose members have donated $50 million to mostly California GOP candidates over the past decade worries about candidates like first-term East Bay Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-San Ramon, who is locked in a re-election battle in a district with more registered Democrats than Republicans. Not face of the party Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Trump is not what Republicans like me see as the face of the party. For him to be the one at the top of the ticket, thats a con to people like me and women of my age, Range, 34, said. This weekend at the convention, Madrid will make a presentation outlining his preliminary findings about how Trump could affect down-ballot races. It may not be as bad as some predict. During a special election in April in the Los Angeles area, when some candidates for local office tried to tie their opponents to Trump, Madrid said it backfired. At this point, its hard to bet against Trump in California. California is a media (-driven) state, Madrid said. And nobody does it better than Trump. Joe Garofoli is the San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Trump rally in state draws cheers, rage Donald Trump put his roughest edges on display Thursday night in Costa Mesa (Orange County) as he opened his California primary campaign with a raw performance highlighting his hard-line views on illegal immigration while trashing an array of rivals. The front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination surrounded himself on stage with people carrying banners with photos of relatives killed by family members in the country illegally. More than 8,000 supporters erupted in a thunder of cheers as Trump vowed to make Mexico pay for a wall along its border with the United States. Outside the packed Pacific Amphitheater, hundreds of protesters grew unruly after the rally, taking over nearby intersections, throwing debris at bystanders and vehicles, and shouting profanities against Trump. Los Angeles Times The examples of poor judgment and ethical lapses are piling higher against UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi. The lengthening list is leading UC President Janet Napolitano, once a defender, to sideline the campus leader and emphasize her displeasure. Its time to go, chancellor. Napolitanos action, termed an investigatory administrative leave, is a barely disguised invitation for Katehi to quit amid a mind-reeling string of missteps. A person linked to so many mistakes and errors cant be the effective leader Davis deserves. New charges are deepening Katehis self-inflicted problems. She was already in full apology mode after joining two outside paid boards, one a for-profit diploma mill and the other a textbook publisher, moves that invited conflict of interest and misrepresentation. She also approved spending $175,000 on a far-fetched plan to submerge Internet mentions of the 2011 pepper-spraying of protesters by campus police. The latest accusations, spelled out in a letter to the chancellor, worsen the picture of a campus leader with woeful judgment and an aversion to the truth. The chancellors daughter-in-law, a university employee, got a $50,000 raise over 2 years, and her supervisor got a 20 percent salary bump too. Katehis son is a paid researcher on the campus with the daughter-in-law as his boss. The chancellor herself was at the top of the job reporting tree for both family members. The list goes on. The chancellor gave material misstatements in describing the expenditure on the Internet erasing project both to the media and Napolitano. Another claim suggests student fees were possibly misused. Misleading the public and lying to the university president arent worthy of a campus leader. Napolitano, a measured executive not given to exclamation points or public grandstanding, is plainly put out by Katehis exasperating behavior and the continuing stream of embarrassing revelations. Adding to the pent-up atmosphere is the fact that Napolitano had defended the chancellor for taking a paid board slot with for-proft DeVry University. In placing the chancellor on 90-day paid leave, the UC president said she was deeply disappointed. During that period, a review by an independent outsider is expected to size up the claims against the chancellor. In the annals of mismanagement, those who create problems arent the best choice to fix matters. Katehi should take stock of the trouble shes caused and take the obvious next step by resigning. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Thomas K. Fowler/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Wayne Tilcock/AP Show More Show Less Heres Rule No. 1 in public relations: If you do something stupid, dont do something stupider to try to airbrush it. UC Davis is providing a case study in what not to do for communications classes everywhere. The university spent at least $175,000 for consultants to try to steer online searches away from the disgraceful 2011 incident in which campus police pepper-sprayed student protesters, the Sacramento Bee disclosed this week. The intent was to clean up the negative attention on the university and its chancellor, Linda Katehi, according to the proposal from the Maryland firm that was given a $15,000-a-month contract. The city is proposing a $260 million emergency bailout of the struggling Transbay Transit Center construction project in downtown San Francisco, a loan that officials say is needed to prevent work on the $2.25 billion transportation hub from shutting down this summer. The unusual loan, which would be paid back over the next five to 10 years with taxes collected from developers and property owners in the neighborhoods burgeoning high-rise district, is proposed as projected costs on the transit center have climbed $360 million in the past two years alone. Since 2008, project costs have soared by $1 billion. On Tuesday, city Controller Ben Rosenfield will introduce the proposed financing package to the Board of Supervisors, which must approve it along with the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The short-term financing will cover a projected shortfall of $149 million for fiscal year 2017 and $98.5 million in 2018. The city will borrow $160 million from Wells Fargo, and the MTC will provide $100 million. An investment The proposed financing comes just a week after sources say the Transbay Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors decided to oust Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan, the longtime executive director of the agency, which is responsible for the construction and oversight of the transit center. The date of Ayerdi-Kaplans departure is still unclear, and she didnt return a call seeking comment. Mayor Ed Lee said the financing plan will keep the project on schedule while protecting taxpayers. It is an investment in our infrastructure, in good-paying construction jobs and in the future of transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lee said. For more than a decade, regional transportation advocates have fought for a transit hub at First and Mission streets, slowly building public and political support for a project billed as the West Coast equivalent of New Yorks Grand Central Terminal. But others have questioned the order in which the projects phases are being undertaken. Early on, the transbay authority decided to invest in building the six-story transit center and 4.5-acre rooftop park before funding the extension of Caltrain and high-speed rail into the station, which many consider the key part of the project. Critics call it the billion-dollar bus station and question whether the unfunded $2.5 billion phase two, which includes construction of the Caltrain extension from Fourth and Townsend streets, will ever happen. Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who said he is likely to oppose the loan, called the project the most expensive bus terminal in the history of humankind. I have serious concerns about allocating a quarter of a billion dollars to a non-city agency for cost overruns that were not incurred by the city to an entity that is changing horses in midstream, Peskin said. That is money that could be spent to house the homeless, to repair potholes, to buy us some more cops. A quarter of a billion dollars is nothing to sneeze at. But Transbay Joint Powers Authority board Chairman Greg Harper, who is also an AC Transit director and has been a regular critic of Ayerdi-Kaplan, said there is no choice but to bail out the first phase and move on. Whatever risks there are in lending the money represent a fraction of the risk involved in not doing it. You cant just not complete a construction project of this size, or even delay it, Harper said. Better management needed City officials say they have mitigated risks by stepping up oversight of the project. In November, as the details of the loan were being hammered out, the San Francisco Department of Public Works was called in to oversee construction. Each expenditure from the $260 million loan will require the approval of a three-member cost control committee made up of San Francisco Controller Rosenfield, MTC Director Randy Rentschler and Ayerdi-Kaplans replacement. In addition, the Board of Supervisors will have the authority to approve leases signed with terminal tenants. We are not just going to hand over the money we need much better management and cost oversight, said Supervisor Scott Wiener, who is a member of the MTC board. This is not a position we wanted to be in. Its not a position the mayor wanted to be in. We would have much preferred that everything go along smoothly. But we are in this position. Supervisor Jane Kim, who sits on the transbay authority board and is co-sponsoring the loan legislation with Wiener and Supervisor David Campos, called the funding gap a difficult portion that the project needs to get through while containing costs as much as possible. Every dollar that goes into phase one is no longer available for phase two, she said. That is the biggest concern. Meanwhile, city officials are scrambling to finalize the $160 million sale of Parcel F, a city-owned property on Howard Street within the Transbay Transit District zoned for a 750-foot tower. While the transbay authority has raised $660 million by selling land around the new transit center over the past four years, Parcel F has proved difficult, with several deals falling through. Pinning hopes on Caltrain In addition, the transbay authority hopes to generate revenue by selling naming rights to the transit center and leasing out more than 100,000 square feet of retail space. In total, the transbay neighborhood will have 6 million square feet of new office space, 4,400 housing units and 1,000 hotel rooms. Gabriel Metcalf, executive director of the urban think tank SPUR, said if everything goes as envisioned with the transbay project, the political squabbles and financial pitfalls along the way will be quickly forgotten. Whether it turns out to be a good investment or not depends on whether we get Caltrain finally extended or not. If we get not just Caltrain, but high-speed rail as well, then all of this will look like a very sound investment. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen WASHINGTON With Donald Trump tightening his grip on the GOP presidential nomination, Democrats outlined plans Thursday to strap incumbent House Republicans including three Californians in districts with large Latino populations to the real estate mogul. Were going to make sure theyre tied to Donald Trump, and Donald Trump is tied to them, said Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, this years head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Democrats. Democrats would have to net 30 seats in November to retake the House and reinstall San Franciscos Nancy Pelosi as speaker, a feat that political analysts say would require a landslide loss by Trump that drags even popular GOP incumbents down with him. But even Lujan refused to go so far as to say Democrats will regain the majority. Democrats difficulties are illustrated by two of the Californians they have targeted. Reps. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock (Stanislaus County), and David Valadao, R-Hanford (Kings County), are well-established Central Valley incumbents who have easily held on to districts that President Obama won in 2012. Obama, in fact, won Valadaos district by a 10-point margin. Big wins in 2014 Both Denham, who is married to a Latina, and Valadao, whose heritage is Portuguese, have parted with GOP orthodoxy on immigration. In 2014, Valadao rolled over his Democratic opponent, the well-funded Amanda Renteria, by 17 percentage points, despite a big Democratic advantage in voter registration, while Denham beat back challenger Michael Eggman by 13 points. Republican leaders have gone out of their way to raise Valadaos profile by letting him lead Central Valley Republicans on water issues. Its laughable that Washington Democrats continue to insist they can succeed in these districts where their candidates have been soundly defeated over and over again in recent cycles, said Zach Hunter, spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, the GOPs House campaign arm. Both men also have big cash advantages over their challengers. Democrat Eggman is making another run at Denham, but he had just $370,000 to Denhams $2.4 million as of the end of last month. Valadao has $1.1 million in the bank compared with just $116,000 for Democratic challenger Emilio Huerta. Democrats are touting Huerta as the son of famed civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers union, noting that the district is 60 percent Latino. Barb Solish, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Valadao is the only non-Latino in the country representing a majority-Latino district. The committee settled on Huerta only after several other candidates flamed out amid grousing from local party activists that national Democrats were imposing their preferences in local races. Insufficient funds? Both parties see as perhaps most vulnerable a third California GOP incumbent, freshman Steve Knight of Lancaster, a high desert town in Los Angeles County. Knight holds the last red seat in L.A. County, Solish said. He has $500,000 in the bank to $205,000 for Democratic challenger Bryan Caforio, a Yale-educated lawyer backed by the campaign committee. But again, Democrats had trouble settling on a challenger, with many locals favoring Lou Vince, a city councilman spurned by the national party for his paltry fundraising. Local Democrats have accused Caforio of being a Los Angeles carpetbagger who only recently moved to the high desert. Obama also won this district in 2012, and Republicans put Knight in their Patriot Program to protect weak incumbents. Caforio has attacked Knight for waiting two months to visit the catastrophic Porter Ranch gas leak in his district and for receiving campaign donations from Sempra Energy, which owns the underground gas storage tank. Caforio is playing up the Trump card, saying there is no daylight between Knight and the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination. A new poll by Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit group, showed that the Republican Partys image has slipped nationwide to its lowest point since 1992, with 62 percent of the public having an unfavorable opinion of the GOP, a decrease in popularity of four points since last fall. Pew said most of the change has come from Republicans tilting against their own party. Public views of the Democratic Party remain unchanged in the poll, with 50 percent viewing the party unfavorably. Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead Hot on Social: Met Ball fashion report The annual Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala (a.k.a. the Met Ball) was held Monday night in New York City to celebrate the museums spring exhibition: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. The fash-tech mashup inspired some hits (Zoe Saldana and her Dolce & Gabbana train for days, Bette Midler in a gear-printed Marc Jacobs with headpiece by downtown party queen Susanne Bartsch, a classic Idris Elba in Tom Ford, the ageless Cindy Crawford in Balmain, Nicole Kidman in silver Alexander McQueen with matching cape) and some misses (Madonnas inappropriate-at-any-age Givenchy, a masked Zoe Kravitz in Valentino Haute Couture, Lady Gagas pantless Versace robot warrior, Demi Lovato and Nicki Minaj in overdone Moschino). Among the most talked-about dresses of the night was Claire Danes LED light-up gown by Zac Posen, which earned comparisons to Cinderellas magically constructed ball ensemble. Palo Alto author and fashion collector Christine Suppes, a member of the Friends of the Costume Institute, attended wearing Rodarte. Other Bay Area attendees included Apple chief design officer and gala co-chair Sir Jonathan Ive and his wife, Heather; Googles Sergey Brin; Tesla innovator Elon Musk, who brought his mother (and Styles 2015 fall fashion model) Maye Musk; 23andMe cofounder Anne Wojcicki and new boyfriend and Yankee Alex Rodgriguez; Denise Hale; Vanessa Getty; Trevor and Alexis Traina; and Ken Fulk. Among the talked about no-shows: Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld who was traveling with a group of the houses best clients to Havana prior to the Chanel Havana Cruise Collection debut in the the city. Speaking of Vogue, the magazines website bestowed best dressed honors upon Kim Kardashian in a too-tight sequined silver Balmain and husband Kanye West in ripped jeans and a crystal-studded jacket also by the house. As if that wasnt enough, the Yeezy designer also donned eerie blue contact lenses. In spite of Vogues commendation, much of the Internet disagreed, which sums up fashion in the age of technology. En garde Whose side are you on? Its dueling celebrity pop-ups in May, with Gwyneth Paltrows Goop Mrkt at 120 Maiden Lane open for business, and soon, from May 16-30, former model Amanda Hearsts ethical fashion pop-up Maison de Mode at 125 Maiden Lane (in the former Marc Jacobs space). Hearst, with designer Hassan Pierre, began launching the pop-ups in 2012 and the two have long eyed San Francisco. Being personally familiar with the city, I know that there is a large group of people who care about what they wear, said the great-granddaughter of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst by email. What I have noticed in San Francisco is that there is a large concern for the environment as well as how we as individuals impact the world around us. Clothing, jewelry and home goods by Maiyet, Osklen, Edun, Tempest+Bentley, Amour Vert, Spinelli-Kilcollin, Andrea Fohrman, Westward Leaning, Matson & Palmer, Tina Frey Designs and Azlee, among others, are featured. The shops have been well-received in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and even conservative Washington, D.C., where the duo were surprised to sell a purple sequined bomber jacket. Our customers told us, We are so happy you are here! There is no cool fashion in D.C. right now, Hearst said. As for what will go over big in S.F., I have no idea, she said. Thats part of the fun in doing this. Tusk, tusk In her purple pantsuit, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., made a splash at the podium at the San Francisco Zoos Zoofest on April 30, where she, the evenings honoree, joked she was not in mourning for Prince: I want you to know this selection of a suit is only because it was pressed, she said, drawing laughs. More seriously, her focus was ivory not the color, but the tusks of elephants. As mayor, Feinstein famously secured the loan of pandas from Shanghai, while her husband supported the acquisition of Asian one-horned rhinos (whose hoofprints-in-paint artworks went for $1,100 at silent auction). At the event, chaired by Elizabeth and Stephen Revetria and Charlot and Greg Malin, Feinstein noted there are only 500,000 elephants left on the planet, and they are being killed at the rate of 25,000 a year for their tusks. Those of you who are young, if we do nothing, will see the elephant become extinct, she said. What we have to do is stop the ivory trade. I have a bill that would do it; please help me pass that bill. The animal-loving crowd applauded another four-legged creature: Naming rights for three Mexican gray wolves were sold at live auction for a mere $100,000, the evenings highest bid. Pace-ing themselves Who says techies are too busy coding to care about fine art? Hundreds lined up in downtown Palo Alto on April 27 for the opening of the newest branch of New Yorks Pace Gallery, a leading dealer in contemporary art a party that included philanthropists Laurene Powell Jobs, MC Hammer, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen and artists James Turrell and Chuck Close, in the flesh. Young industrial designers and Stanford students were among those who stood in line for more than an hour to gaze at Turrells light sculptures, featured in the opening night exhibition. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Gallery President Marc Glimcher began coming to Palo Alto years ago to work with Arrillaga-Andreeseen and her acquisitions, and realized Silicon Valley was a natural base for Pace. When I started coming here, I experienced an amazing ability to share this is about a community that is (an) inspiration, he said.We are here to stay. Carolyne Zinko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: czinko@sfchronicle.com What if the worlds greatest magician and the creator of the worlds greatest literary detective teamed up to solve crimes? It didnt happen when Harry Houdini met Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1920, but it does happen in the new light drama Houdini and Doyle, premiering Monday, May 2, on Fox. The series is set in 1901, some 19 years before the two actually met, but this isnt the History Channel (for that matter, the History Channel isnt much of a history channel). Houdini (Michael Weston, House) is in England, engaged in an ongoing but friendly debate with Doyle (Stephen Mangan, Episodes) about the veracity of spiritualism, faith healers, miracles and the like. Although Doyle, as a physician, is a man of science, he believes in the supernatural, in part because he harbors hope that his wife, Touie (Louise Delamere, The Bible), whos in a coma and seemingly without hope of regaining her health, may be available for a chaw and a chat from time to time after she passes over. Houdini delights in proving to Doyle how various paranormal events are faked. But no matter how indisputably Houdini debunks the paranormal, Doyles faith is unshakable. Their ongoing debate is amusing, of course, but its also a version of the kind of repartee that fictional crime solvers often engage in. The only difference is that instead of poking fun at each other about doughnut consumption or a nonexistent love life, our two crime solvers tease each other about the supernatural. The London coppers, especially Horace Merring (Tim McInnerny, Outlander) have little patience with a pair of civilians working with them, and Doyle and Houdini have better things to do themselves. But when a nun is murdered, apparently by the ghost of another nun, Doyle and Houdini have no choice but to get involved. However, they are required to have a real cop with them at all times. That would be Constable Adelaide Stratton (Rebecca Liddiard, Man Seeking Woman), who was previously relegated to an office in the basement and not allowed to do actual police work. The mysteries at the respective centers of the two episodes made available to critics are engaging enough, but its the interplay among Doyle, Houdini and Stratton that holds our interest. Houdini, the brash Yankee (by way of Hungary) traveling with his mother, Doyle the unfailingly polite husband and father, trying to keep a stiff upper lip about his wifes prognosis for the sake of their two young children. The 10-episode series was created by David Hoselton (House) and David Titcher (The Librarians) and is a U.S., Canadian and British co-production. Somewhere among the three countries, someone seems to have dropped the authenticity ball because the sets look like sets, rather than the gritty, rain-soaked streets of London at the turn of the 20th century. Whats more, youd swear modern cleaning methods must have been invented, given how nice and crisp all the costumes seem to be. Were willing to suspend disbelief on these scores, as well as overlook historical revisionism about when our protagonists really met, because Houdini and Doyle is a pleasantly entertaining counterbalance to Foxs darker Monday night drama, Gotham. David Wiegand is the TV critic and an assistant managing editor of The San Francisco Chronicle staff. Follow me on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV Houdini and Doyle: Drama. Premieres 9 p.m. Monday, May 2, on Fox. Wines can get better with age. Do vineyards? The term old vine is one of the last unregulated terms that youre likely to see on a wine label. Though Ive never found an example of blatant misuse no one is slapping old vine on a vineyard they planted last Tuesday old is nevertheless relative. A label that says old vine could equally refer to 30-year-old vines (especially in a younger wine region) or to 150-year-old vines. So how old is old? Justice Potter Stewarts famous axiom holds up here. I know it when I see it, laughs Mike Officer, owner of the 89-year-old Carlisle Vineyard in the Russian River Valley and a co-founder of the Historic Vineyard Society, which keeps a registry of old vineyards. Hes right. Vines of a certain age look almost like a different plant species not only because of their gnarled shapes and enormous girth (like a tree, a vines diameter increases with age), but also because vineyards were laid out quite differently a century ago. You wont see those familiar tight, uniform rows of trellises, but rather erratic fields of heterogeneous, twisted growths, sparsely scattered, held up not by wires or stakes but by their own contorted mass. Bulbous, surreal and menacing, they call to mind Snow Whites haunted forest. But the more interesting question than whats old is whether, and in what ways, a vines age determines wine quality. I dont know if we can say that old vines are better, says Tegan Passalacqua, who makes wine from old vines for Turley Wine Cellars and Sandlands. But I think theyre more stable. Young vines, like young people, are often vigorous to a fault. They set more fruit than they can ripen, Passalacqua says. As they age, vines learn to self-regulate. Yields come into balance, and grapes ripen more evenly. Older vines often produce smaller berries, which can lead to more structured wines; theres a greater ratio of tannin-packed skin to juice. That many of Californias old vines have always been dry farmed (irrigation was not a thing in the 19th century) amplifies their extreme root depths. Underground is where you get all these flavor complexities, all the microbial activity, says Bill Easton, of Terre Rouge and Easton Wines in Amador County. Because of these deep roots, older vines are just greater translators of that complexity. Vague terms like concentrated and intense get thrown around a lot, sometimes attributed to old vines low yields. Like an older person, the analogy holds, an old vine speaks less, but chooses its words more wisely. On one hand, that may be a function of the yield balance that Passalacqua mentions; on the other hand, these lower yields may be a sign of general decay. I work with a vineyard planted in the 1880s, says Daniel Roberts, a vineyard consultant based in Sonoma County. And the vines are as dead as they are alive. Is it worth keeping them on life support? Is the fruit delicious enough to justify what may be an economically untenable situation? Some say no. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Lacy Atkins/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Steve Yeater/SFC Show More Show Less Everyone agrees that vines are no good in their earliest infancy. When a vine is young, it doesnt really have an established root system, says Roberts. It takes about four years to get the vine to ripen evenly. After that, Roberts does not believe that a vines age is a strong indicator of wine quality. When I taste blind, I cant tell a difference between old and young vines, he says. Im not saying theyre wrong, but I havent seen it. You cant haul a tractor through many of these 100-year-old vineyards; farming must be done by hand. Its very difficult to farm these vines, says Joe Shebl of Amadors Renwood Winery. It costs you maybe $5,000 to farm a ton of fruit, and then you can sell it for maybe $2,000, and that just doesnt make sense. Shebl makes wine from several old vineyards in Amador, including Jack Rabbit Flat, over 100 years old. And consumers wont always pay more for old-vine wines. Most of Californias old vines are Zinfandel, not big-buck designer grapes like Cabernet or Chardonnay. Can you charge enough for a bottle of old-vine Zin to recoup the farming costs? Shebl thinks not: I think for most people, the upper level for Zin is about $35 a bottle. Martinelli Winery charges $125 for its Jackass Hill Zinfandel, planted in the 1890s, and that probably still doesnt reflect the cost of farming, says Julianna Martinelli. Indeed, this sense that the preservation of old vines is rooted in an indulgent sentimentality, cost be damned, makes the old-vine conversation frustrating. Old vines can make great wine, but so can young vines, and neither can be said to categorically always make great wines. How can we continue to make proclamations about old and young when we cant even agree on what constitutes old in the first place? Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. To my surprise, when I put a version of this question to Officer, he gave a wonderfully scientific response. About 10 percent of the vines in the Carlisle Vineyard were unproductive when he purchased it, he said. He removed the dead vines and planted new ones. The young vines are farmed exactly as the old vines, and in fact grew from budwood taken from the old vines. So it at least approximates a controlled experiment, with vine age the only variable. And yet when we have picked the young vines separate from the old vines, the juice chemistries are very different, Officer says. The young vines often have one component sticking out high potassium levels, or excessively low acidity. We find that in the old-vine juice, the brix, pH, potassium, nitrogen, are just in harmony. In other words to use another vague term theyre balanced. Potassium levels, root depths, fruit yields this conversation can start to sound a little wonky, even to me. At the end of the day, all that matters is whether the wine tastes good, right? Maybe not. To some winemakers and growers, old vineyards have another value thats distinct from how they translate to wine. Theyre historic artifacts. Theyre libraries genetic repositories of grape varieties otherwise near extinction here. Try to find Muscadelle or Grand Noir or Aramon anywhere in California except haphazardly interplanted among old Zin. These vineyards capture a way of farming that is no longer done, says Officer. Widely spaced, dry farmed, head pruned, they speak of a pre-industrial maybe even, to some degree, pre-financial era in California viticulture. For those who seek to intervene less in the vineyard, these old sites are a time machine back to the Golden Age. Maybe thats enough. Related Egyptian journalists march in Cairo to file complaint against interior minister The head of Egypt's press syndicate Yehia Qalash said on Thursday that violations by police against journalists while covering protests will not be tolerated, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. In a press conference held at the press syndicate, Qalash said that the violations that took place on 25 April were sad and unacceptable, especially as they come at a time when the syndicate is trying to put an end to media chaos through legislations to ensure freedom not only for journalists, but for every Egyptian. Dozens of journalists had organised a stand on the staircase of the syndicate on Tuesday to protest the police violations against reporters during their coverage of Monday's protests over the government recent deal acknowledging Saudi sovereignty over the two Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir. "It is a shame that the year the syndicate celebrates its diamond jubilee, this happens without accountability or punishment for those responsible for this disgraceful act," the head of the syndicate said. The press conference was held to hear the testimonies of journalists who were detained by police during their coverage of protests. The syndicate's board and the journalists headed to the prosecutor's office to file urgent complaints against interior minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar and the head of Cairo's Security Directorate over "police violations." Until Thursday two journalists remained in detention following their arrest the day before. Syndicate secretary Gamal Abdel-Raheem said on Tuesday that the journalists were assaulted during their work and not allowed to enter the syndicate headquarters, adding that those inside the syndicate building were subjected to assault by thugs. The syndicate said that dozens of its members were barred from entering the syndicate building, a planned focal point for the protests, even after showing security personnel their press IDs in a "precedent that has not taken place in years," as security forces had sealed off the surrounding streets. The journalists chanted "write on the walls of the prison cell that the jailing of journalists is a shame." They also held up banners expressing support for jailed colleagues Mahmoud Abu Zeid Shawkan, Ahmed Sebei, and Ibrahim El-Darawy. Search Keywords: Short link: In a warehouse in northwest Berkeley, Covenant winery looks much like any other winery well, at least any other urban-warehouse winery. Walk in and youll see racks of barrels, lab equipment, a tidy tasting room behind a glass wall. You probably wouldnt think twice about the steel gate that leads from the warehouse entrance into the barrel area. Yet that gate is possibly the crucial element of the winery. Fortressing the barrels, it ensures that only Sabbath-observant Jews can access the wines in the stages before they reach the bottle. Covenant is a kosher winery a designation that, in practice, means a lot less than you might imagine. What makes wine kosher? Simply one thing: who touches the wine, explains Jeff Morgan, Covenants owner. This is a symbolic gesture. Kosher wines are made exactly as any other wine, except they must be handled only by Jews who qualify as Sabbath-observant meaning they keep kosher, attend synagogue and follow tenets such as observing high holidays. It doesnt apply to grapes, which are not considered as sacred as wine; anyone can pick them off the vine. But as soon as theyre crushed, the touch rules kick in. Morgan and his wife, Jodie, are not themselves Sabbath-observant the children of confused Jews, he says, they grew up secular in New York so they rely on their more-religious staff, led by winemaker Jonathan Hajdu, to do all the touching and moving of wine. That includes extracting samples from the barrel, hitting the on and off buttons on the bottling machine and, at the end of every day, closing that steel gate. The Morgans dont even have a key. A few times a year, kosher-certifying organizations will stop by the winery, unannounced, to check that theyre going by the book. Covenant has the Orthodox Union hechsher that little logo depicting the U in a circle that graces all sorts of products, including Coca-Cola and Lays chips as well as a stricter, more boutique hechsher from Rabbi Babad in Brooklyn. Those tiny marks, however, are the only clues youll find on a Covenant bottle that the wine is kosher. Morgan doesnt want to limit his customer base to only kosher-keeping Jews; he believes his wines can appeal to all wine lovers. Knowing its kosher is only important to those to whom it is important, he says. Kosher is not the qualitative measurement. Until relatively recently, kosher wine did convey a qualitative measurement to many drinkers: a bad one. The conversation about why is kosher wine so bad? inevitably turns to Manischewitz. And the answer is simple: Manischewitz is bad because it is made from Concord grapes, a species of Vitis labrusca not Vitis vinifera, the European grape species that produces the only types of wine worth drinking. (Sorry, lovers of Catawba from Pennsylvania, but its true.) In America, the old-school kosher wine brands, like Manischewitz and Kedem, were founded in New York (where else?), where the only grapes available were non-vinifera cultivars like Concord. Concord grapes taste fine as juice (Ive got nothing against Welchs), but once fermented they taste foxy and skunky. The only way to make the wine palatable, therefore, was to mask its off-flavors with lots of sugar. And thats where the idea of sweet kosher wines came from, says Joseph Herzog, whose grandfather created Kedem. Even today, many Jews think those sweet wines are traditional. Though they continue to operate Kedem, in 1985 the Herzogs established a winery in Oxnard (Ventura County), where they make high-quality vinifera wines from all over the state. They own Royal Wine Corp., the largest importer and distributor of kosher wine in the world. Kosher wines years of wandering are nearing their end. The quality of kosher wines has vastly improved over the last 10 years, says Bob Paulinski, senior vice president of wine for BevMo!, which carries about three dozen kosher SKUs. A lot of it has to do with consumers demanding better-quality wine across every channel, whether its kosher or not. Herzog echoes that: Theres been an explosion in the kosher market, especially with Millennials. Theyre not just looking for cheap, sweet wine. Covenant is a prime example of this change. The wines arent just good for kosher. Theyre just good. Gabrielle Lurie/Special to The Chronicle Morgan lived several lives before Covenant at one time, he played in Prince Rainiers house band in Monte Carlo; later, he was the West Coast editor of Wine Spectator but it was a conversation with his friend Leslie Rudd, owner of Napas Rudd Winery, that begat Covenant. We could make the best kosher wine in 5,000 years if you let me use your Cabernet, Morgan told Rudd. Rudd said no, but was interested to see what Morgan could do. In 2003, Morgan bought some fruit from the Larkmead Vineyard and drove it seven hours to Herzog to have it vinified there. The results impressed Rudd enough that he signed on as an equal partner in Covenant. In 2014, the Morgans relocated from Napa to Berkeley and opened their winery here. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Today, the diverse Covenant lineup includes a $20 white blend and a $150 Cabernet from Rudds Oakville property, Sonoma Chardonnay and Lodi Zinfandel. They will always make rose, one of Morgans lifelong passions (he used to own an all-rose wine label, Solo Rosa). Since 2013, hes also been making Rhone-inspired wines in Israel; the Covenant Israel winery will be up and running for the 2017 harvest. We are among a number of wineries that have raised the bar for kosher wine, making wine in an artisanal style, Morgan says. Weve helped convey to our core consumers Jews and the rest of the world that kosher wine can be just as good as non-kosher wine. It does require a little bit of extra planning. At harvest time, when most wineries operate seven days a week, Covenant has to take Saturdays off. Punchdowns are just gonna have to wait, Morgan laughs. It means we anticipate the problems. And as for those Jews who still believe that sweet Manischewitz is traditional for Passover, Morgan points out that Concord grapes never grew in Israel. I can assure you that before the destruction of second temple, they were not making Concord. It was vinifera, he says. By making better wine, we are getting back to our roots. Tasting Notes: Covenant's kosher wines and Passover pairings Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Its not just the Republican Party thats struggling to navigate its relationship with real estate mogul and presidential candidate Donald Trump. Google is, too. On Thursday, a representative of the Silicon Valley giant quietly accepted an online petition signed by more than 400,000 people asking the company not to have any role in the GOP convention in Cleveland. Petitioners dont want Trump to have a national stage for his divisive politics. To ramp up pressure on Google, the activists hired a plane to fly a banner across Bay Area skies, reading, Google: Dont be evil #DumpTrump. Representatives for Google which is planning to live-stream the convention did not respond to the request, according to the small group that hand-delivered the appeal at the companys Mountain View campus. Google also declined to respond to phone calls or emails from The Chronicle on the subject Thursday. But the company and a handful of others petitioned by the civil rights group ColorOfChange appear to be weighing their involvement. The protesters have done at least one thing: Theyre creating fear and making corporations think twice, said Subodh Bhat, a professor of marketing at San Francisco State University who specializes in controversial advertising and branding. However, Bhat said, the companies examination of the issue doesnt necessarily mean they should or will change course. I dont think companies can boycott something as important as the convention of one of the two big parties in the U.S, Bhat said. Most people will be seeing this as supporting the Republican convention, not Trump. ColorOfChange, which has been joined by several activist groups representing women and minorities, has since February been pressuring such corporations as Google, Microsoft, Walmart and Coca-Cola to refrain from sponsoring the convention. Companies have participated in the nominating events, both Republican and Democratic, for decades. Some businesses provide technological assistance, while others pay to publicize their brand. Google live-streamed both the Republican and Democratic conventions in 2012. But Trumps status as the Republican front-runner this year has upset activists. We think its really important that major brands like Google dont align with Trumps racism, xenophobia and misogyny, said Heidi Hess of the group CREDO Action, who helped deliver the petition Thursday. Microsoft and Walmart, like Google, did not respond Thursday to inquiries about the convention. Coca-Cola said in an emailed statement, Our support helps the host committees run these large events and contributes to local economic development but does not represent an endorsement of any specific party or candidate. According to ColorOfChange organizer Arisha Hatch, Coca-Cola capped its funding this year after hearing from the group though the company did not attribute its action to the group. Coca-Cola has given $75,000 to the 2016 convention, much less than it gave in 2012. We believe that Coke will not be the last to cut spending, Hatch said. Thursdays actions were timed with the state GOP convention, which begins Friday in Burlingame. Trump is expected to deliver a speech at noon at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport. Candidates Ted Cruz and John Kasich are also scheduled to speak over the weekend. Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander From 70 feet in the air, Brooke Bianco clutched the rim of a bucket cart as it jerked and jumped higher and higher. I can see bird nests up here, she called down to her 10-year-old son, Luke Bianco. This is so freaky. I have a birds-eye view of the birds. You never get to see this from the ground. Luke waved and inched forward in the line, eager for his ride in the bucket truck. A line of elementary students snaked behind him, heads craned up to look at Bianco. They were among the more than 200 children and young adults who filled the San Francisco Public Works operations yard off Cesar Chavez Street Thursday to crawl through a sewer, build a planter or toolbox, fill potholes, and operate a backhoe. Hordes of tiny workers in bright yellow hard hats and plastic gloves learned the nitty-gritty of carpentry and street cleaning, metal work and tree trimming. The event was part of Public Works Week and sought to showcase how skilled labor helps keep the city running. And, in a city fixated on technology, it was an introduction to types of work children might not have otherwise considered. We want kids to see that these are real, good-paying jobs, said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. There are a lot of opportunities. Nothing happens in this city without Public Works being involved. We fix and build, and deal with roads, trash, trees and graffiti. We rely on skilled laborers, and we need more of them. The department employs about 64 trade workers, including carpenters, locksmiths, electricians, painters, plumbers and metal workers. At one workstation, carpentry supervisor Jeffrey Soria helped students hammer together wooden planters. Soria, whose father was also a carpenter, has done the work for 25 years. So many times kids are glued to their phones or the technology part of things, he said, sighing. But if your toilet floods, you still call the plumber. And if your roof leaks, you call the roofer. Things like building a planter show kids that the field can be fun and that its necessary for the city to function and thrive. Jane Rudenko, a 9-year-old dressed all in pink, struggled to hold a rake nearly twice as tall as she is. Under the instruction of a volunteer, she used it to fill a square pothole with asphalt. Her mother, Masha Rudenko, recorded a video on her iPhone. Coming from Ukraine, I have an interesting perspective on all of this, Masha Rudenko said. I just want my daughter to see a little bit of everything. Its very important to understand how the city works and how our streets stay clean and functioning. San Francisco does a great job. The hands-on experience drew shrieks and giggles from the groups of students, who also got to paint traffic pylons covered in graffiti and scoop up dirt with a backhoe. Ellie Griffiths-Barnhart, 10, planted rosemary and yellow marigolds in two pots, then scribbled her name on the side with permanent marker. This is really, really cool, but kind of a lot of work, she said. I poured asphalt, and someone has to figure out where it goes while the other person mixes it around. Planting the rosemary was my favorite part because my dad and I like to cook together. Others had already chosen the line of work. A large group of Treasure Island Job Corps students moved from station to station, trying to decide which trade they should focus on. Booths from different unions lined a walkway, and members were ready to provide advice. Johnathen Dugue, 21, inspected a newly made planter, pointing out a gap where the boards didnt perfectly come together. I would have measured this and made it a tighter fit, he said. I think carpentry is what I want to do. But this gives us a chance to explore what each trade does. It gives you a heads up as to what is out there. These kind of jobs are so necessary, and there is a huge market out there. Its nice to know Ill have a job doing something I love. Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Tom Stienstra/Tom Stienstra / The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Leah Millis / The Chronicle 2015 Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A state court judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to restore Yosemite National Parks Hetch Hetchy Valley to its natural state by draining the reservoir that provides drinking water to the Bay Area. The Oakland group Restore Hetch Hetchy argued that the flooding of the valley and operation of the OShaughnessy Dam violated the state Constitution, which prohibits any unreasonable method of diversion of water by public agencies. Fictional representations of the Partition of 1947, which created India and Pakistan as two sovereign nations, have inspired countless writers and filmmakers. The massive transfer of people between the countries, with Muslims moving to live in the newly created Pakistan, and Hindus and Sikhs traveling into India, was so disruptive so rife with violence, fear and faith it cant help but provide compelling fodder for drama. Shobha Raos short-story collection An Unrestored Woman joins this strong tradition of Partition literature, but brings to it a distinctive contemporary sensibility. Most of the 12 stories are paired, with a minor character from one appearing as a main character in the next. One of the 12 stories, Kavitha and Mustafa, about a train robbery, appeared in the Best American Short Stories 2015. All of the stories make engaging use of historical material for their strong plots. The Opposite of Sex tells the story of Mohan, a land surveyor whose childhood is stolen by the sexual abuse of his fathers friend. Mohan falls in love with a young woman whose father plans to offer her to another suitor. To stop the wedding and step in as the womans savior, Mohan redraws the boundaries of the fathers land. The fathers house remains on 20 acres in India, but the rest of his land ends up in East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). Mohans transgression destroys the fathers ability to provide a dowry for his daughter, triggering twists that culminate in violence. However, the most memorable scenes of the book are not strictly sociopolitical. At her most daring, Rao shows us moments where eros, tenderness and loss collide. Some of these call to mind Ginu Kumanis 1995 feminist story collection Junglee Girl, but Rao is equally concerned with both genders. In a camp for refugees, two women spoon for solace. In Such a Mighty River, an elderly man suffering from dementia remembers his wife sucking on his sixth finger, before its forcibly removed. The boundaries of the stories are slightly porous an intimate gesture appears in one story before migrating into another and taking on a different meaning. In The Imperial Police, a closeted gay, white British constable, Jenkins, falls for and fetishizes his meticulous Sikh subordinate, Abheet Singh. At one point Singh tries to calm Jenkins by delicately wrapping a hand around his wrist, and and in that moment [Jenkins] thought he mightve come to know for the briefest moment, the thing for which hed always yearned, the thing that was the opposite of his many, many lonely years, the opposite at this, he closed his eyes of his concealment. In the paired story Unleashed, a young Hindu woman in New York learns her husband is cheating on her with her sister when she sees him touch her wrist at a party. Rich and intelligent, An Unrestored Woman crisscrosses generations of different faiths affected by the largest migration in human history. It shines a necessary light through the dark turmoil of that period in North India and Pakistan, illuminating the crevices of her characters inner lives. Anita Felicellis writing has appeared in the Rumpus, Salon and the Los Angeles Review of Books. Email: books@sfchronicle.com An Unrestored Woman By Shobha Rao (Flatiron; 244 pages; $24.99) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate If you havent registered to vote and are having trouble finding the time, an app might be just what you need. Named what else? Register to Vote, it says Californians and people from several other states can register in 30 seconds by scanning the back of their drivers licenses, filling in some basic information, then transmitting the information through the app. As with any political promises, take the 30-second pledge with a grain of salt, but it still might be worth your while. Fitbit wins patent ruling Fitbit has won the latest round against Jawbone in the battle of San Francisco companies that make fitness trackers. The U.S. International Trade Commission has invalidated the last of the Jawbone patents that were in dispute, removing one potential obstacle from Fitbit bringing its trackers, which are made overseas, into the United States. Judge Dee Lord ruled, however, that Jawbone can still pursue claims that Fitbit stole important trade secrets. The trade secret case is scheduled for trial May 9 in Washington. Top tweet Guy on the radio just described Shakespeare as an incredible content provider. is this a #dagger i see before me? Click here to find out! Katie Grant of Britains i newspaper, referring to a 450-something-year-old guy who doesnt even Snapchat. The Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techbriefing HONG KONG Since 2010, Yu Kai has followed the ritual every year: When a new Apple iPhone comes out, he gets rid of his old one and heads to a store in Beijing to buy the latest model. This year, however, he held back. Instead of buying the iPhone 6S, he has been waiting to see what the next iPhone looks like, and he said he might even switch to a model by a different maker. In China, where Apple has been a signifier of wealth and fashion, and where many Chinese update their smartphones each year, Yu is not an outlier. Apples second-quarter earnings report last week showed how hard it can be to keep the attention of Chinas fickle and increasingly hard-to-impress consumers. CEO Tim Cook said in an earnings call that sales in mainland China had fallen 11 percent compared with the same period a year earlier. Cook noted that sales had dropped from an extraordinarily high level: In the first quarter of 2015, sales were 80 percent higher than in the same period in 2014. But the decline announced Tuesday is a setback for one of the most beloved brands in China. Chinas young, middle-class consumers are increasingly willing, analysts say, to try phones from the many competitors including Huawei, Meizu and Xiaomi that are competing with Apple on technical specifications and aesthetics but that offer their models for a few hundred dollars less. Many customers like Yu, who is 29 and self-employed, consider the phone they use part of their personal identity, leading them to look at a broad range of available models. That being the case, Apple will have to fight to maintain its dominance of the high end of the market. Apple also faces other obstacles in China. The companys iBooks Store and iTunes Movies services were recently shut down by a Chinese regulator, just six months after they started operating. The rare about-face by China suggests that Apple could face further pressure as the Chinese government increases its scrutiny of U.S. companies operations within its borders. In the past four years, with strong demand in China for its products, Apple increased the number of retail stores in the country to 35 from just a handful, and Cook said last week that there would be 40 by the end of June. The company has also been able to tap into the enormous customer base of Chinas largest wireless carrier, China Mobile, after years of talks resulted in an agreement in 2013 that brought the iPhone to the carrier. The deal contributed to Chinese consumers spending $59 billion on Apple products in the latest fiscal year. But Apples most recent models do not represent a big leap from the previous generation. Everyone bought a 6 series, Steven Pelayo, a technology analyst at HSBC in Hong Kong, said by email. They were less inclined to upgrade to a 6S, which only had very minor changes. The iPhones weaker sales also reflect the broader slowdown in growth in Chinas enormous smartphone market. Jason Low, an analyst in Shanghai with the research group Canalys, said he expects the Chinese smartphone market to grow only 4.7 percent in 2016. As recently as 2013, it was growing 50 percent annually. If you look at the entire market, Apple cannot fight off so many competitors, like Samsung and local brands like Huawei and Oppo, he said. Theyre all trying to raise the average selling price, and that will bleed into Apples sales flow. Despite the pressure, Cook said in the earnings call that Apple is optimistic about China, even if it is losing ground. There is even a precedent for an Apple recovery: In 2012 and 2013, the companys sales growth in China slowed as competitors like Samsung offered phones with larger screens, which are very popular in China. When Apple released a phone with a similar screen size in 2014, its market share roared back. In many ways, the company is in a similar position today. Samsungs Edge phones have screens with rounded edges on one side, and many say the camera on Huaweis flagship model is better than Apples camera. For Mo Chen, a 26-year-old public relations professional who owns an iPhone 5, the next Apple smartphone will have to do much more than her current model for her to be tempted. She was blunt in her criticism: The iPhone 6 and 6S are really ugly. Many of Mos co-workers and former classmates use Android phones, she said, and she is considering switching to a device by Samsung of South Korea or to a Chinese phone made by ZTE or One Plus. I like Apple a lot, she said. I use an Apple computer. But in recent years, especially after I tried my friends Android phones, I realized that the brand has lost a bit of its charm. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The older of two brothers charged with murder in the killing of their parents admitted to investigators that he shot his father multiple times in the familys San Jose garage after a stranger told him to do it, according to police reports released Friday. Hasib Golamrabbi, 22, confessed to the killing after his arrest Wednesday in Tracy, but he said he didnt see his mother shot, the reports say. He said a stranger, whom he couldnt identify, had assaulted him in the home and instructed him to shoot his father. His younger brother, 17-year-old Omar Golamrabbi, told police he was in the home when his brother shot both parents, but he didnt mention a stranger or any other person, according to the arrest reports. The brothers purportedly told investigators that, after the killings, they went to an anime convention in Oakland, where they were seen behaving normally. Shamima Rabbi, 57, and her 59-year-old husband, Golam Rabbi, were found dead Sunday in their home in the 3000 block of Lucas Court in San Joses Evergreen neighborhood. On Friday, the brothers were arraigned on the murder charges in Santa Clara County Superior Court. The younger brother was charged as an adult. Both are being held without bail. According to police records, worried relatives initially contacted the brothers Sunday morning, when the two said they were in Oakland for the convention. The relatives asked the young men to return home because their parents were not responding to phone calls or knocks. Golam Rabbi had not shown up for work. After several hours, the relatives went to the home, discovered the bodies and called authorities. Inside the house police found writing on the walls that investigators believe came from two people. One scrawl appeared to have specific writing characteristics consistent with Omars writing found in notebooks, police reports say. Initially, Omar denied knowledge of the killings, saying he had been at the convention, police said. But he later told detectives that after his father was shot, he closed the curtains at his brothers request before his brother killed their mother. As the two were leaving, the younger brother said he got out of the car to check that blood was not seeping from the garage, the reports say. In a jailhouse interview with The Chronicle on Thursday, Hasib Golamrabbi said the true story would come out in legal proceedings. I want everyone to know what happened, he said, but I cant say anything without a lawyer. He was insistent that his brother had nothing to do with the killings. No, and thats all I can say, he said. Hes innocent. The older brother told a friend after the killings that someone had been coming into the house and torturing him over several months, and that it wouldnt stop unless he killed his parents, according to KPIX-TV. The friend said Hasib Golamrabbi hid at his house in Tracy after the killings, but that he later grew fearful and turned him in. The victims had emigrated from Bangladesh to the United States three decades ago. The arrest of the sons shocked some neighbors and family friends, who said there were no outward signs of tension within the family. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker San Francisco police are searching for a man who broke into the apartment of a 74-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her on Sunday afternoon, authorities said. Around 1:50 p.m., the assailant entered the womans home on the 800 block of Pacific Avenue near Stockton Street, said Officer Albie Esparza, a police spokesman. LOS ANGELES Federal agents on Thursday arrested three people, including the older brother of San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook, on charges of marriage fraud and lying to federal investigators, authorities said. Syed Raheel Farook; his wife, Tatiana Farook; and her sister Mariya Chernykh were arrested Thursday morning and charged in a five-count indictment filed in federal court alleging that Chernykh entered into a fraudulent marriage with Enrique Marquez Jr., who has been charged with providing weapons used in the deadly Dec. 2 attack at the Inland Regional Center. Two people were arrested at Farooks home in Corona (Riverside County) after the FBI conducted a search warrant Thursday morning, according to Sgt. Paul Mercado, a spokesman for the Corona Police Department. A second search warrant was served at Chernykhs home in Ontario (San Bernardino County), federal prosecutors said. In the course of the investigation into the terrorist attack, federal authorities said they determined Marquez received money to marry Chernykh, who took part in the wedding only to gain legal status in the U.S. FBI agents interrogated Chernykh as part of the inquiry into the terror attack, and prosecutors say she lied during those interviews by pretending that she lived with Marquez when she actually resided in Ontario. All three were expected to appear in federal court in Riverside later Thursday, according to the U.S. attorneys office. They were charged with conspiring to concoct the illusion of a marriage between Marquez and Chernykh and face up to five years in federal prison if convicted. Chernykh also was charged with fraud, misuse of visas and other documents, perjury and two counts of lying to federal investigators. Those additional charges together carry a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. attorneys office. This is the latest step in the comprehensive investigation into the horrific attacks in San Bernardino last year that took the lives of 14 innocent Americans and deeply affected so many more, U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker said. Dozens of Egyptian journalists staged a march from the press syndicate in downtown Cairo to the nearby prosecutor-generals office to file a complaint against the interior minister and the head of the capital's security directorate. The marchers, holding up cameras and slogans mostly calling for the release of detained journalists, protested against the police after a number of reporters were arrested on Monday, which saw limited protests in different parts of the country. The protests, which were over the recently declared Egyptian-Saudi island agreement, were all promptly dispersed by police in Cairo amid heavy security presence, with rallies supporting the deal and celebrating Sinai Liberation Day allowed to take place. Egypt's press syndicate has repeatedly condemned the arrest of journalists and others on Monday. Search Keywords: Short link: Mayor Ed Lee sent an open letter Thursday to all San Francisco police officers, calling upon them to remember their pledge to serve the people of San Francisco faithfully and honestly without predjudice. Two days after Public Defender Jeff Adachi made public the bigoted text messages sent by former Officer Jason Lai and one day after former Lt. Curtis Liu was charged with allegedly obstructing the rape investigation from which the text messages emerged, Lee asked the citys rank and file to remember the Not on My Watch pledge they took that requires them to not tolerate hate or bigotry in the community or from fellow officers, and confront intolerance and report it without question or pause. The vast majority of you, the men and women of the San Francisco Police Department, are hardworking and dedicated public servants who put your lives on the line to protect the public and build trust with the communities and neighborhoods you serve, Lee wrote. I profoundly respect and appreciate the work that you do and your commitment to our City. He continued: However, we have seen that the actions of even a small number of your colleagues can erode and undermine public trust and confidence in the Department. We have seen that outrageous acts of bigotry and intolerance can occur within the Department. From October 2014 to August 2015, Lai exchanged a series of messages with Liu and two other officers filled with disparaging remarks and derogatory slurs about black, Hispanic, gay, transgender, Indian, Muslim and Asian people. In April 2015, Lai said in reference to black people, Theyre like a pack if (sic) wild animals on the loose, and four months earlier told a colleague, Thats some n s, using a racial slur for black people. The messages were released Tuesday by Adachi, whose office is reviewing more than 200 court cases involving the officers to see if some of them should be dismissed because of bias. They emerged after a woman accused Lai of raping her on a date in August. Investigators discovered the text messages over the course of their probe, which included looking into whether Liu had tipped Lai to the rape allegations and obstructed the investigation. Liu was charged Wednesday with one felony count of making a false statement in a police report and two misdemeanor counts of delaying or obstructing a peace officer for his alleged role in the investigation. Though investigators could not find evidence to support the rape allegations, prosecutors charged Lai in March with misusing police databases. San Francisco police officials created the Not on My Watch initiative in 2015, shortly after the first batch of racist and homophobic text messages emerged. Allegedly exchanged in 2012 among 14 officers, the earlier messages were discovered by federal authorities looking into allegations that plainclothes San Francisco officers had divided up money found during searches of drug dealers. Those messages containing racist and antigay remarks calling black people monkeys and encouraging the killing of half-breeds forced prosecutors to re-evaluate thousands of cases handled by those officers. Thirteen were dismissed as a result. Some officers in the earlier case resigned, and Suhr moved to fire most of those who remained. In December, a judge ruled that the Police Department had waited too long to take action, allowing the officers to avoid discipline. The city is appealing the ruling. Following the first text message scandal and the fatal Dec. 2 shooting of Mario Woods, which drew outrage when video was released showing what many saw as officers using unnecessary force on a black man in crisis, Lee called for the scandal-plagued Police Department to undergo a series of reforms. The Police Commission is currently in the process of developing a new use-of-force policy, and the U.S. Department of Justices community-policing division is conducting a collaborative review of the police force at the behest of Lee and Chief Greg Suhr. In his letter Thursday, Lee also asked the citys police force to help ensure that the reforms underway initiated by me, Chief Suhr and the Commission, under the oversight of the United States Department of Justice move forward as quickly as possible. It is incumbent on all of us to ensure that every police officer, from a cadet to the highest ranking members of our department, represent our shared San Francisco values, he said. If Bay Area protesters wanted to get Donald Trump's attention during his Friday appearance at the California Republican Convention in Burlingame - mission accomplished. "That was not the easiest entrance I ever made" Trump said after taking the stage at the Hyatt Regency. "It was like crossing the border." There is no American food more contentious than barbecue. Its tribal, with factions from Texas, Kansas City, North Carolina and Alabama, all believing that their way of cooking meat over a fire is the only way. Dont get me wrong fierce tribalism is the reason that barbecue is one of our countrys best culinary traditions. But I get tired of the endless debates over authenticity, especially here in San Francisco, thousands of miles from those barbecue pits. David Lawrence isnt especially concerned about the purists. At his new barbecue joint, Black Bark, the chef has created his own style hes calling urban barbecue, which is mostly Texan with bits of others thrown in. He opened the casual spot across the street from his Southern fine-dining restaurant, 1300 on Fillmore, to revive the barbecue tradition that once flourished along the Fillmore corridor. The result is some of the citys best brisket, pulled pork and spare ribs, all with an admirable black bark that forms a seal to trap in the meats juices. With its distressed wood, metal stools, butcher-paper-lined cafeteria trays and long craft beer list, Black Barks closest cousins are more hipster-oriented places like 4505 Burgers & BBQ and Smokestack in the Dogpatch. But Lawrence wanted to make sure that his place also served his neighbors on Fillmore as well as the tonier Pacific Heights crowd. We keep the portions to a nice size and the prices right so people in the neighborhood can be part of it, he says. I want people around it to be able to feel comfortable, and to be able to afford to come in and eat. He seems to have succeeded; the two demographics share the communal tables, united in a love for the smoky, salty meat. Barbecue is a hard genre to master, but Lawrence brought in pit master Lance Nicholson from Memphis Minnies and a secret weapon in the form of Edith Cheadle, a 20-year Dallas barbecue veteran who happens to be the mother of one of the bandmates in 1300s weekly jazz brunch. Because her children didnt go into the family business, she was happy to find a receptive audience for her accumulated wisdom. That begins with the meat. San Franciscos building codes make it almost impossible to cook with wood only, but on recommendations from other barbecue greats like Aaron Franklin and Kevin Bledsoe, Lawrence is cooking brisket, pork, ribs, chicken and turkey legs on a gas-assisted Ole Hickory smoker. It doesnt seem to matter: The brisket is wonderfully fatty, the ribs fall off the bone, and the pulled pork has plenty of bark and crisped fat. Burnt ends are available to lucky customers who are there at the right time and know to ask. Meats are sold by the half pound, by the plate, on a sandwich with a buttery Panorama roll, or on platters that serve several people when one of those comes out of the kitchen, you wish you were sitting at that table. Sides are almost as important as the meat, and Cheadles recipes draw from soul food and are worth seeking out on their own. Some of the best choices: creamy mac and cheese, cinnamon-doused whipped yams, slightly sweet coleslaw, airy potato salad and baked beans with a hint of heat. The greens were cooked perfectly, but I prefer them with a little more vinegar. Black Bark restaurant shares a pastry team with 1300, and the crumby, tangy corn bread and buttery sweet potato pie are both hard to pass up. I wasnt in love with everything. The hot link was on the dry side. The chicken had a lovely mahogany color from pecan wood but not much flavor, and its gritty spice blend felt out of place. Those spices fared better on the all-dark meat turkey leg, a massive, caveman-like object that offers an impressive serving of protein for only $8. Sauces run the gamut from Carolina vinegar and mustard to Texas tomato-based to Alabama white a little of everything, which is how Lawrence likes it. Hes enjoying the process of tinkering and learning from Cheadle and others. Every step of the way Ive changed myself a little bit, he says. I come from three-Michelin-star restaurants in London, to America doing American cuisine, and then to doing Southern-influenced cuisine with European flavor to it. And now Im doing barbecue? It just keeps me excited. This is a fun project. And if it brings great brisket to San Francisco, all the better. Anna Roth is a freelance writer in San Francisco. Email: food@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annaroth What to order: One-meat plate with brisket, mac and cheese, and baked beans ($12); spare ribs ($9 for three); pulled pork sandwich ($10); turkey leg ($8); corn bread ($2); sweet potato pie ($6). Where: Black Bark, 1325 Fillmore St. (at Eddy Street), S.F. (415) 848-9055. www.blackbarkbbq.com. When: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. If you were to judge solely by the activity of orchestras and record companies, you could easily imagine that Mendelssohn wrote only two symphonies the perennially popular Italian and Scottish and that the other three entries in the composers work list were nonentities, or phantoms of the scholarly imagination. Thursday nights thrillingly great performance by Nicholas McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra of Mendelssohns overlooked Symphony No. 2, the Lobgesang or Hymn of Praise, showed just how wrongheaded that notion is. In a performance of remarkable power and tonal beauty, McGegan and his crew of musicians including the excellent Philharmonia Chorale and a lineup of first-rate vocal soloists unveiled an expansive and eloquent masterpiece, one that belongs by rights on the repertoire list of every orchestra in the country. It combines the silky elegance of Mendelssohns chamber music with the spiritual fervor of the oratorio tradition that he picked up from Handel and recast in his own image. If the neglect of this work is disgraceful, its also perhaps understandable. From a formal perspective, the Lobgesang is a bit weird though that hasnt hindered Berliozs formal oddballs from making their way in the world. Billed as a symphony-cantata, the piece begins with three full-formed symphonic movements that are played without a pause (a Mendelssohnian fingerprint). Only then do we get to the choral and vocal bits, where we suddenly find ourselves in the midst of a biblical extravaganza with texts drawn mostly from Psalms. Its a floor plan that owes an obvious debt to Beethovens Ninth Symphony, but also to plenty of other models, including ones from Handel, Mozart and Schubert. And that delicate balance of influence the impression the piece gives of being sort of Beethovenian but not really has impeded its reputation ever since its 1840 premiere. But as McGegan demonstrated superbly in Herbst Theatre on Thursday, April 28, the Lobgesang can stand perfectly well on its own inventive merits. The three orchestral movements a boldly expository opening that establishes key themes that will recur throughout the piece, followed by a suave, dancelike scherzo and an eloquent slow movement hover tantalizingly midway between fully formed statements and introductory material. The vocal and choral movements that follow complete the balance of weight in a way that is elegantly Mozartean a pointed and deliberate contrast to the disruptive force of Beethovens comparably placed Ode to Joy. The combination of classical symmetry and expressive fervor informed every moment of the performance. The orchestral movements sounded alternately robust, delicate and finely detailed; the singing of Bruce Lamotts Philharmonia Chorale, augmented with members of the UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus and the Stanford Chamber Chorale, was never less than stirring. But the finest contributions came from soprano Dominique Labelle and tenor Thomas Cooley, who each brought extraordinary tonal splendor and dramatic intensity to their assignments. For the soprano duet I waited for the Lord the works most heart-stoppingly gorgeous stretch of music Labelle was joined by Ashley Valentine in a collaboration that was nothing short of seraphic. The evenings short first half was devoted to music of Beethoven the Leonore Overture No. 3, the Elegischer Gesang and the Goethe setting Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage. None of it was adequate preparation for the glories that were to come. Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicles music critic. Email: jkosman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JoshuaKosman Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1. $25-$105. First Congregational Church, 2345 Durant St., Berkeley. (415) 295-1900. www.philharmonia.org. WASHINGTON Waves of campaign staffers are being dispatched to battleground states. Advisers are starting to consider locations for a splashy convention rally in Philadelphia. An army of lawyers is scrutinizing more than two dozen possible vice presidential picks. Though she has yet to clinch the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton and her team are taking early steps into a general election campaign. Aides are working under the assumption that Republican front-runner Donald Trump will be her opponent. Six months before the presidential election, theyre looking beyond primary rival Bernie Sanders and preparing their candidate and party for what may be a hard-fought and personally ugly fall campaign. Starting this week, Clinton campaign employees are being deployed to battleground states across the country, among them Ohio, Florida and Colorado. Democrats are also eyeing the possibility of making a run at traditionally Republican-leaning states such as Georgia, North Carolina and Arizona, calculating that Trumps penchant for controversy could put minority and female voters in play. Everybodys got their game face on, said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who was going to South Dakota over the weekend to campaign for Clinton. Aides from the primary are getting general election marching orders. Simone Ward, political director of the campaign committee for Senate Democratic races, will run Clintons Florida operation. Emmy Ruiz, who led a crucial Nevada primary win for Clinton, will handle Colorado. Mike Vlacich led New Hampshire operations in the primary and will do the same in the fall. The sooner you can get up and running the better, said Dan Pfeiffer, who advised President Obama. On the Republican side, Trump has not built anything resembling the sort of field operation it takes to win. Plans are also beginning to take shape for a convention in late July that will prominently feature Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and the vice presidential nominee. Its not clear what role Sanders will have at the convention. Taking a page from Obamas 2008 convention address at Mile High Stadium in Denver, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a close Clinton ally, is urging the campaign to hold a major speech perhaps even Clintons acceptance address outside Independence Hall, where the Constitution was signed. Clintons campaign has started the internal search for a running mate, though people familiar with the process say that effort is in an early stage. A team of lawyers is poring through information about a lengthy list of Democrats, among them Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. Other names mentioned by party insiders include Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Housing Secretary Julian Castro. No final decision is expected until Republicans hold their convention in Cleveland a week before Democrats gather in Philadelphia. The search for a running mate is being overseen by campaign chairman John Podesta and Clinton confidante Cheryl Mills, both of whom will help cull the list to a handful of names in the coming weeks. INDIANAPOLIS In a setback for Donald Trump, Indianas governor endorsed the front-runners chief rival, Ted Cruz, on Friday, just days before the states critical Republican primary contest. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence made his support for the Texas senator official during an afternoon radio interview, casting Cruz as a principled conservative. The man has shown the courage of his convictions, Pence said, citing Cruzs fight against government spending and the federal health care law, and his strong and unwavering stand for the sanctity of life. Pence, who faces his own re-election test this fall, also offered praise for Trump, who he said has given voice to the frustration of millions of working Americans. ... Im grateful for his voice in the national debate. The Indiana governors backing gives Cruz a desperately needed boost in his fight to block Trump from claiming the delegate majority before the GOPs national convention in July. A Trump win in Indiana on Tuesday would all but ensure he becomes the presumptive nominee. Trump swept all five Northeastern primary elections earlier in the week and enjoys a large delegate advantage over his Republican rivals. Cruz has been mathematically eliminated from earning the 1,237-delegate majority, but insists he can block Trump from the majority as well, as the 2016 contest shifts to friendlier terrain in the West and Midwest. The Texas senator declared he is all in on Indiana. Cruz said earlier Friday he would enthusiastically welcome Pences support. The country is depending on Indiana to bring some sober common sense, Cruz told reporters in Indianapolis, instead of going down a rash course of action that is endangering this country. Were barnstorming the state, he added after the first of four scheduled Indiana appearances on Friday. Pence, who is seeking his second term this fall, had been under enormous pressure from pro- and anti-Trump factions. Although he is more closely aligned with Cruz, he risks voter backlash in the fall if Tuesdays primary shows Indiana is filled with Trump voters. Trump said this week that he had met the governor and asked for his backing. I dont think hell endorse anybody, actually and he may endorse us, Trump told CNN on Wednesday. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal to stop Texas from enforcing its challenged voter ID law. But the court said it could revisit the issue as the November elections approach. The law has been in effect for recent elections, even after a trial judge struck it down in 2014 and an appellate panel found last year that the law had a discriminatory effect on minority voters. The challengers in the ongoing lawsuit argue there is no reason to allow the requirement to show picture identification at the polls to remain in place. But justices rejected the plea in a brief order Friday. The full New Orleans-based appeals court will hold a new hearing on the Texas law in May. The high court said that it is aware of the time constraints the parties confront in light of the scheduled elections. If the full appeals court has not issued a ruling by July 20, the court said, it would entertain a renewed emergency appeal over the voter ID law. Fridays order was the second time the justices have refused to block the voter ID law in Texas. In 2014, the court allowed the law to be used in the then-imminent general election. The order two years ago was issued two days before the start of early voting in Texas and without explanation, but appeared to be based on the courts view that changing the rules so close to an election would be confusing. Three justices dissented in 2014: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Ginsburg, writing for the dissenters, said the ID requirement created the potential for racially discriminatory voter disenfranchisement. Other Republican-controlled states, including Wisconsin and North Carolina, have passed similar voter ID measures that also are being fought in the courts. But the Texas law is widely viewed as one of the nations toughest. It requires one of seven forms of approved identification, but unlike other states with voter ID restrictions, Texas doesnt recognize university IDs from college students. Free voting IDs are available from the state, but opponents have said getting those cards still puts underlying financial costs on voters, such as paying for birth certificate copies and travel. While there have been anecdotal reports of confusion in the Texas elections held while the law is in force, there havent been widespread issues with people being unable to cast ballots because they lacked proper identification. 1 Popularity poll: He may never be president. But Bernie Sanders is Americas most popular senator. The least popular? Kentuckys Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader. They top the list of most popular and least popular senators in their home states, measured by Morning Consult, a nonpartisan media and survey technology company. It surveyed 62,288 registered voters across the nation since January. It found potential trouble for vulnerable Republicans this fall. The party now has 54 of the Senates 100 seats, but 24 GOP seats are up and at least six are regarded as potential pickups for Democrats. Ten Democratic seats are in play, but only one, Nevada, is seen as a possible GOP gain. 2 Inmate death: The conviction of a former New York City jail guard by a jury that found he ignored the pleas of a dying inmate in 2012 was upheld Thursday on appeal. The U.S. Court of Appeals in New York found no major errors in the December 2014 trial and conviction on civil rights charges of ex-Department of Correction Capt. Terrence Pendergrass. It also upheld his five-year prison term. The former guard is due for release from a low-security federal lockup in Michigan in December 2019. Pendergrass was convicted of depriving 25-year-old Jason Echevarria of his civil rights in a mental health unit of Rikers Island. 1 Runaway children: Four girls who apparently ran away from a facility for foster children near Tampa were found safe as they tried to sneak back onto the same property, authorities said Friday. Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said the girls were discovered just after 7 p.m. Friday trying to climb back over a fence near the rear of the property of A Kids Place. The three younger children 4-year-old Allison Nelson, 10-year-old Anabella Gonzalez and 11-year-old Heavenlynn Gonzalez are sisters. The other girl is 13-year-old Ashlyn Smith. 2 Kids rescued: Authorities in San Antonio have rescued eight unsupervised children from a home where a 2-year-old boy was chained to the ground in the backyard and a 3-year-old girl was tied to a door with a dog leash, sheriffs officials said Friday. Deputies arrived at the home after receiving a call just before midnight about a child crying for a long time, Sheriffs Office spokesman James Keith said. Two people identified as parents of six of the children arrived later and were taken into custody, Keith said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENSBURG, Pa. A natural gas pipeline exploded in a towering fireball Friday, destroying a home several hundred yards away, damaging at least three others and creating waves of intense heat that burned a fleeing homeowner as he ran down a road, authorities said. It looked like you were looking down into hell, said Forbes Road Volunteer Fire Chief Bob Rosatti. The fire and heat seared acres of woodlands around the pipeline in Salem Township, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh, turning tall trees into blackened poles, melting the siding off one property, and causing wet pavement to steam. People miles away reported hearing a huge whooshing sound and feeling the ground rumble. A quarter-mile evacuation zone was established, affecting about a dozen homes, said state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman John Poister. The pipeline was shut off and the fire brought under control within an hour, but residual gas burned for several hours before the fire was completely out, officials said. The man who was burned lived in the house closest to the fire. It was destroyed. He told us that he heard a loud noise and compared it to a tornado. All he saw was fire and started running up the roadway and a passerby picked him up, Rosatti said. The heat was so intense that it was burning him as he was running. He was conscious and talking to rescue workers when he was taken to the hospital, officials said. The state Department of Environmental Protection said the blast was traced to a pipeline. They said the pipeline and nearby complex is owned by Texas Eastern Transmission, a unit of Spectra Energy Corp. of Houston. The cause was unknown. Spectra Energy issued a statement saying our first concern is for the safety of the community, our employees, and any others who may be affected. The 30-inch diameter pipeline is one of four owned by Texas Eastern that run through the rural tract that Pete Rugh, 84, has called home his entire life. It scared the heck out of me. I heard this terrible roar. It shook to beat the devil, Rugh said. The noise was so great I couldnt hear anybody on the phone, he said. The room where I was sitting turned orange. I thought the fire was closer to me than it was, so I grabbed my keys, got in my vehicle and got out of there. A hazardous materials division of the U.S. Department of Transportation will take over the investigation. (Beijing) Local governments are undermining the central government's efforts to develop greener sources of electricity by squeezing production quotas for renewables and slapping extra levies on wind companies to prop up ailing coal-fired power plants in their regions. Governments in the northwestern provinces of Gansu and Xinjiang and in the southwestern province of Yunnan subsidized coal-burning plants and intervened wind power company productions, forcing some wind farms to take almost 60 percent of their turbines offline, the Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA), an industry body, said. Wind power capacity has been growing, but so has the amount of wasted wind energy, data from the National Energy Administration (NEA) show. About 26 percent of turbines in the country didn't produce any power in the first three months of 2016, statistics showed. In 2015, about 15 percent of the installed wind power generation capacity sat idling, the data showed, and it was the lowest level of utilization since 2012. Despite this, in 2015, new turbines that can produce 33 million kilowatts of electricity per year were installed, pushing up the country's total wind power generation capacity to 129 million kilowatts per year. China has the largest wind energy production capacity in the world, the NEA data showed. In previous years, a glut of wind turbines had pushed some to sit idle. The lack of a smart grid that can deal with fluctuating levels of output from renewable sources has also resulted in wasted wind, hydro and solar energy. Local governments and grid companies assign annual power production quotas to different types of power companies based on forecasts for demand and stability of supplies. Power producers are seeing weakening demand due to the economic slowdown. Since 2015, the problem of idling wind turbines has worsened partly because local governments assign coal plants enough production targets to survive at the expense of ones using renewable sources, said Qin Haiyan, secretary general of the CWEA. Coal plants have long been the easiest, fastest way for some provinces to stimulate local economic growth and create jobs. More than 12 percent of solar power generation facilities nationwide were forced offline in 2015. Solar plants in Gansu Province were the worst affected, with almost one-third of the capacity left unused, followed by Xinjiang with one-quarter of facilities unplugged, data from the NEA showed. Mixed-up Priorities Local government support for coal over renewables raises questions about whether the country is weaning itself from its addiction to the cheap but dirty source of energy as quickly as it can, experts said. "Some local governments have adopted policies that interrupt the development of renewable energy sources," said Qin. In December, authorities in Xinjiang squeezed production quotas of wind, solar and hydro power producers; levied an extra fee on them; and used the revenue to subsidize coal-fired power plants, the CWEA said. The Gansu government cut the price paid by the state-run operator of the local grid when buying 1 watt of electricity from a wind power generator by 40 to 75 percent. In November authorities in Yunnan tried to slap an extra surcharge on wind and hydro power producers and use the revenue to subsidize underperforming coal-fired plants. The plan, however, was suspended due to strong opposition from renewable energy firms, Qin said, but these policies meant wind farms that produced more energy lost more money. Wind companies have lost more than 18 billion yuan in revenue due to production cuts in 2015, the CWEA said. Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., the world's largest wind energy producer, suffered a 500 million yuan loss in 2015 because almost two-fifths of its turbines were forced offline, state media reported. Producers in Gansu were the worst affected and had to let 40 percent of their turbines sit idle last year, almost four times the capacity wasted in 2014, the CWEA said. Shenzhen-listed Ningxia Yingxing Energy Co., which has most of its wind farms in Gansu, said in a filing to the stock exchange that it lost 120 million yuan in 2015 due to lower energy demand and production quotas. On March 31, the CWEA accused the governments of Gansu, Xinjiang and Yunnan of adopting policies that violated the country's Renewable Energy Law. The association has lodged complaints with government departments in these provinces, demanding more transparency of policies governing the wind power sector and asking to lift production curbs. The Renewable Energy Law, came into effect in 2005 to support renewable energy development, requires local governments and state-run power grid operators to buy all electricity produced by a firm using renewable sources that fall within the government quota, said Yang Fuqiang, an energy and climate change expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental non-governmental organization. Squeezing production quotas and slapping extra charges on producers of renewables to cross-subsidize coal plants is a violation of the spirit of the law, the CWEA said. Coal-fired plants have been struggling in recent years. In Yunnan, only one in 10 facilities using coal operated at full capacity in 2015, said Wang Zhixuan, head of China Electricity Council, a government-backed power industry association. The country's total electricity consumption rose 0.5 percent in 2015 to 5.6 trillion kWh, official data show. The figure in 2014 was about 4 percent. Despite the drop in demand, local authorities approved 155 new coal-fired power plants in 2015, three times the number approved in 2014, said CoalSwarm, an energy industry research institution. The increase in permit approvals followed the enactment of a policy in March that allows provincial environmental officials rather than the central Ministry of Environmental Protection to approve projects to cut red tape. That system has created what appears to be a disconnect between achieving provincial economic growth targets and the country's overall energy requirements. The nation is already plagued by a glut of coal power plants. If all the approved plants come online, it would lead to excess capacity of over 200 gigawatts per year by 2020, said Yuan Jiahai, a professor at North China Electric Power University in Beijing, and it is a waste of 700 billion yuan worth of investment. Rising Tensions Producers of renewables say the increase in the number of coal plants hinders other energy sources from selling electricity on the grid and attracting investment. Although coal is the cheapest source of energy in the country, the price gap between the fossil fuel and renewables is narrowing. It cost 0.3 yuan to generate one kWh using coal in 2014, compared to 0.6 yuan per kWh with wind and 0.9 yuan using solar power, said Meng Xiangan, vice chairman of the China Renewable Energy Society, a research institution in Beijing. But if a pollution tax or a carbon tax is imposed on producers that use fossil fuels, the cost of burning coal for electricity will rise significantly, said Meng. The World Wildlife Fund, an environmental NGO, predicted that by 2020 coal power generation costs in the country will rise to 0.85 yuan per kWh, while that for wind and solar energy will reduce to 0.51 yuan and 0.62 yuan per kWh as technology improves. As part of the Paris Agreement on climate change signed on April 22, China pledged that by 2020, 15 percent of all its energy will come from sources other than fossil fuels. A long-term goal set by the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner, in 2014 is raising the amount of energy produced from non-fossil fuel sources to 91 percent by 2050. In March, the commission and NEA issued a series of guidelines to assist the development of renewables, including specific growth targets for each region and requirements for local governments to increase renewable energy consumption. If existing national-level policies are implemented, renewable energy companies will be able to make enough money to support their growth, said Meng. But if the local governments' appetite for coal is not reduced, plans to limit the country's reliance on dirty sources of energy and develop greener alternatives will fail to take off, said Yuan. (Rewritten by Han Wei) BOSTON The longtime girlfriend of gangster James Whitey Bulger was sentenced Thursday to an additional 21 months in prison for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating whether other people helped Bulger while he was a fugitive. Catherine Greig already is serving an eight-year sentence for helping Bulger while he was a fugitive. Greig spent 16 years on the run with him before they were captured in Santa Monica in 2011. Federal prosecutors had asked the judge to add a little more than three years to her prison time for her conviction on a criminal contempt charge. Greigs lawyer asked for leniency and said she should not get any more than six months. It is obvious that she is a kind, gentle woman who has literally done nothing bad in her life except fall in love with James Bulger and live with him for 16 years until their arrest, he wrote in a sentencing memo. Prosecutors said Greig refused to answer questions before the grand jury even after she was given immunity and after a judge issued an order compelling her to testify. They argued in a sentencing memo that she should be sentenced to a little more than three years for her conscious, considered, and unapologetic violation of the law. Greig already had nine months added to her prison time after she was found in civil contempt for refusing to testify before the grand jury. Bulger, now 86, is serving a life sentence at a maximum-security prison after a 2013 conviction for 11 murders, racketeering and other federal charges. He claimed that his role as an FBI top-echelon informant gave him immunity for those crimes, a defense with which jurors did not agree. (Shenzhen) - The former head of a leasing company controlled by state lender China Development Bank (CDB) denied he took millions in bribes from China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. during a trial on April 28, saying he was forced to making a false statement in exchange for a lenient sentence. Wang Chong, former president of CDB Leasing Co. Ltd., in which CDB has an 89 percent stake, stood trial at the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court in southern province of Guangdong on April 28. He was charged with accepting a total of HK$7.6 million, or 6.12 million yuan, in bribes from China Southern, the country's largest carrier by fleet size, and China Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd. to lease aircrafts from the two companies between 2006 and 2012, court papers show. Wang accepted HK$5.5 million between 2010 and 2011 from a third-party negotiator who helped China Southern strike a deal to lease out nine aircrafts to CDB leasing, prosecutors said. He took HK$2.12 million in three installments between 2006 and 2008 from another intermediary linked to China Eastern, after his company agreed to lease one of its jets, prosecutors said. Wang admitted that he accepted money from China Eastern, court papers show, but said he was coerced into making a false confession about accepting kick-backs from China Southern. Police said they detained Wang in February 2015. Wang told the court that that he had been locked up in solitary confinement from February to August 2015, and was denied access to a lawyer. He said investigators coerced him during this period into making a false statement about accepting millions from China Southern in exchange for a lenient sentence. In the confession document presented in court, Wang had admitted to accepting money from He Huiling, a woman who worked as a third-party consultant to the airline company, through his deputy Wu Rongxian. At the trial, Wang said his deputy had once told him that He wanted to return his favor, but Wang denied receiving any money from either He or Wu. It is not clear whether the police was investigating the pair. A defendant found guilty of embezzling or taking bribes worth 200,000 to three million yuan can be jailed for life. Officials convicted in cases involving amounts worth over three million yuan may be sentenced to death. Wang's trial is ongoing, but the judge did not announce a date for the next hearing when the court adjourned on April 28. (Rewritten by Li Rongde) Robert J. Cooper, whose unusual elderflower liqueur, St-Germain, introduced in 2007, was so completely embraced by the cocktail community that it became known as bartenders ketchup, died Monday in Santa Barbara. He was 39. His death was confirmed by Robyn Greene, the senior vice president of marketing and innovation at the Cooper Spirits Co., who said the cause was not immediately known. Mr. Cooper was a scion of the family that owns Charles Jacquin et Cie, an old cordials and liqueurs house based in Philadelphia. By his account, his father, Norton J. Cooper, gave him the cold shoulder when he suggested creating an elderflower liqueur like the ones he had encountered in bars in London. The younger Mr. Cooper persisted, however, going so far as to leave the family business to pursue his dream. He said, Ill hire you back in a year when you fail, Mr. Cooper once recalled. He didnt fail. St-Germain, packaged in a striking Art Deco bottle, landed like a thunderclap in the then-burgeoning cocktail world. Cocktail bartenders, hungry for new ingredients and flavors to work with, tossed it into every other new drink. By 2008 it was ubiquitous. In broader terms, it helped resuscitate the dormant liqueur business. Mr. Cooper proved to be a savvy marketer. He curried favor with influential young mixologists, sponsored cross-country bartender exchanges in which New York bartenders would guest-bartend at San Francisco bars and vice versa, hired prominent bartenders as brand ambassadors and held an annual Jazz Age lawn party on Governors Island. In 2012, he sold St-Germain to Bacardi for what was rumored to be a seven-figure sum. Mr. Cooper went on to return to circulation bygone bar ingredients like Creme Yvette, a berry-violet liqueur, and Hochstadters Slow & Low, a form of the common 19th century drink rock and rye. He anticipated the boom in rye whiskey by buying barrels of prime Canadian stock and then sitting on the liquid for years before releasing Lock Stock & Barrel, a 13-year-old straight rye whiskey, in 2013. Robert James Cooper was born on Aug. 3, 1976, in Manhattan. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelors degree in English and creative writing. He is survived by his wife, the former Kaitrin Cramm, and their two children, William and Charlotte. Mr. Cooper attributed his success in part to timing. PDT and Death & Co, two prominent New York cocktail bars, opened around the same time he introduced St-Germain. It was lucky, he said. They wanted something different they could work with that had integrity. Now you can go to Whole Foods and get elderflower soft drinks. U.S. allies in northern Syria, fighters from a Kurdish-dominated alliance and militiamen from the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA), clashed Thursday as Russian and government warplanes increased airstrikes on and around the city of Aleppo. As fighting intensified, the UN envoy to Syria pleaded with the United States and Russia to intervene "at the highest level" to revive struggling peace talks, saying a partial truce reached in February was now "barely alive." Rebel leaders said the cease-fire was dead in all but name. Fighting Intensifies That was clear on the ground in northern Syria as fights erupted among an array of armed groups, some, in theory, on the same side in opposing President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian government and Russian warplanes also intensified airstrikes in the north, hitting an Aleppo hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders Wednesday night, killing 14 civilians and three doctors, including the last pediatrician working in the rebel-controlled part of the city. The hospital strike was condemned by international medical charities. "The hospital bombing comes as the latest round of peace talks falters and the cessation of hostilities agreed in February is disintegrating into bloodshed," says Sonia Khush, Save The Children's Syria country director. "Save the Children partners in the area have told us of almost constant bombing and shelling this week, and urgent action is needed to save the small but crucial gains of the past few months," she added. White House spokesman Josh Earnest strongly condemned the wave of airstrikes. He said the United States was particularly appalled by the attack on the hospital. He described the tactics of the attack as "abhorrent" and "immoral." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement: "We are outraged by yesterday's airstrikes in Aleppo on the al-Quds hospital supported by both Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which killed dozens of people, including children, patients, and medical personnel." Kerry said the U.S. was still trying to establish all the facts about the airstrike but added, "it appears to have been a deliberate strike on a known medical facility and follows the Assad regimes appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders. These strikes have killed hundreds of innocent Syrians." He added that the regime's most recent "offensive actions" in Syria "compound the violence and undermine the cessation of hostilities." It was not clear what steps the U.S. can take to shore up the always fragile and frequently broken cessation of hostilities agreement. Following passage of the law Thursday, authorities gave assurances the legislation was not meant to restrict foreign NGOs from operating, but aimed at providing clearer regulations and boundaries for the nearly 10,000 foreign organizations in China. The full text of the law was not immediately available, but authorities said the legislation has seven chapters and 54 articles. The law was passed by China's parliament, the National People's Congress, with a vote of 147 in favor and only one opposing and one abstention vote. China has passed a controversial law that imposes new rules on foreign non-governmental organizations and puts the registration and supervision of such groups under the control of public security authorities. In a statement released shortly after the legislation was approved, the group Chinese Human Rights Defenders called for the repeal of what it called the "draconian law." "The adopted version appears to retain the most troubling elements of the previous draft, and allows for even tighter government control over NGO activities," the group said. "Once the law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2017, it will further restrict international NGOs working in China and suffocate the country's already beleaguered independent organizations." The new law bans foreign NGOs from raising funds domestically and recruiting Chinese members. According to earlier versions of the legislation, the law would give Chinese police the power to cancel activities they deem a threat to national security and to summon the leaders of foreign NGOs to report for meetings with government officials. Details released earlier this week said police would also be allowed to ban from the country any NGO they believe is promoting "subversion of state power" or "separatism." But authorities deny they would have a so-called blacklist. Officials argue Chinas requirement for foreign NGOs to register through police is reasonable because public security officials are already the ones who handle entry and exit of foreign nationals. They also said that in France, NGOs must register with the police is well. But unlike France, where citizens have the right to offer up viewpoints that may be at odds with the government, China has been cracking down on dissent and, for many, the legislation appears to be an extension of that broader effort. China recently detained and later deported a foreign NGO worker accusing him of damaging national security. Swedish NGO worker Peter Dahlin was paraded on state television and his group was accused of breaking the law because of its support of human rights lawyers. China has long regarded foreign groups with suspicion and one of its key concerns about NGOs is the possible influence they could have on the general public and the fear such groups could threaten the Communist Party's rule. Russia has launched the first rocket from its new cosmodrome, Vostochny, after a one-day delay for technical reasons. Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the far-east Russian location for the launch, and congratulated cosmodrome workers after the event - while also scolding them for the delay. "Despite all its failings, Russia remains the world leader in the number of space launches," he said at a televised meeting following the launch. The Soyuz rocket carried three microsatellites into orbit Thursday. Putin said afterward that the next stage for Vostochny was to launch a heavier rocket. North Korea fired a couple of medium-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, but the first crashed into the sea and the second also failed, according to military officials here. The Musudan missile is theoretically capable of hitting U.S. military bases on Guam in the West Pacific but does not seem to be working very well. Another Musudan missile launch on April 15 also failed, killing and injuring several personnel. The North fired the first missile from Wonsan around 6:40 a.m. and the second in the evening. The first missile did not show up on South Korean military radar but was spotted by a U.S. surveillance satellite. The North recently deployed two mobile missile launch vehicles near Wonsan, each with a Musudan missile. The Musudan is an upgraded version of the old Soviet SS-N-6 submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is 12 m long and thought to be able to carry a 650 kg warhead. The North has had about 40 of them warfare-ready since 2007 but seems not to have tested them until recently. The North is gearing up for a massive Workers Party congress on May 6, the first in 36 years, and the regime is frantically trying to project an image of power as international sanctions begin to bite. But South Korea and the U.S. are now expected to reassess the practical threat the Musudan poses given its tendency to blow up. The government here still believes that another nuclear test is imminent. North Korea's sources of hard currency overseas are drying up as even friendly countries implement UN sanctions against the regime and expel its arms dealers. Vietnam on April 23 deported Choe Song-il, who has been blacklisted by the UN Security Council for overseeing North Korean arms sales in Southeast Asia, Voice of America reported on Thursday. Choe had been living in Vietnam since 2013, where he allegedly managed revenues from arms exports and personally delivered the cash to Pyongyang. He was placed on the UNSC blacklist in March, which obliges UN member nations to freeze his assets and expel him. North Korea fought on the North Vietnamese side in the Vietnam War and the two countries have since maintained relatively friendly ties. Egypt has also deported three blacklisted North Korean officials, according to Radio Free Asia. Two were representatives of the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID), which is also under U.S. sanctions. The third was a state security agent. The three North Koreans apparently went to Egypt clandestinely and tried to sell arms to African and Middle Eastern countries. RFA reported that North Korean Ambassador to Egypt, Pak Chun-il "played a key role" in establishing the local KOMID branch and is also about to be expelled. Burma apparently expelled North Korean Ambassador Kim Sok-chol and several KOMID officials there last month. Kim was the first incumbent ambassador to be placed on a U.S. sanctions list on charges of spearheading North Korea's illicit arms exports. Pyongyang made an estimated US$300 million in hard currency from arms sales last year. Meanwhile, North Korea's traditional allies China and Russia have also shelved business projects with North Korea and barred North Korean ships from their ports. Russian state-run gas company Gazprom last month severed ties with the North for fear that dealing with Pyongyang could risk incurring U.S. and international sanctions. Gazprom had been involved in prospecting for gas deposits and other energy-related ventures with the North. Last month, Russia turned back a North Korean vessel attempting to dock in the Siberian port of Vostochny. China earlier this month banned trading of 25 items with North Korea and is barring North Korean ships from its ports. Seoul will step up its propaganda broadcasts at the border if North Korea conducts another nuclear test, it warned Thursday. "If the regime crosses the line with another nuclear test we'll step up measures that the regime finds uncomfortable" such as propaganda broadcasts, a senior official here said. The military wants to broadcast for longer and sharpen the messages. They were a regular feature at the border until an agreement in 2004, and Seoul resumed them last year after a box-mine attack in the demilitarized zone, suspended them again at North Korea's urging, and resumed them again after the North latest nuclear test. It hopes to expand personnel and budget for the psychological warfare unit, whose broadcasts have been somewhat inept so far. The military set up about 20 loudspeakers on the frontline right after the nuclear test in January. The Defense Ministry recently bought 40 more for W18 billion (US$1=W1,140). It plans to set them up in the frontline area the moment the North launches another provocation. "At the moment we can't disseminate propaganda leaflets due to opposition from the UN Command Military Armistice Commission, but that could change if the North conducts another nuclear test," a military officer said. "We'll make sure that North Koreans realize their regime has no future if it banks on nuclear arms," he added. Not only will Burlingame be the center of the Republican political universe for three days starting Friday, when White House presidential hopefuls Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich speak at the state Republican Convention, but some Democrats are taking advantage of the media spotlight shining on California, too. Billionaire San Francisco environmental activist Tom Steyer launched an 30-second ad Thursday ripping Cruz and Trump for their dubious attitudes toward climate change and urging people to vote against them. On Monday, the former hedge fund manager has announced his NextGen Climate Action super PAC would spend $25 million this year to get young voters in swing states to the polls by rallying them around environmental issues. The 30-second ad opens with a clip of Cruz saying, Climate change is not science. You want a skeptic, Im right here. Next comes a snippet of a Trump speech in which the billionaire developer says All of this with the global warming a lot of it is a hoax. Its a hoax. Then the ad cuts to Steyer, a potential 2018 California gubernatorial candidate, standing in green rolling hills saying: We need leaders who get it so that we can move away from coal and oil to clean energy. If you want to do something about climate change ... register and vote. The ad will appear online and on cable and broadcast outlets around California this weekend. Steyer told The Chronicle Thursday that while he was aiming the ad at a broad audience, he was taking advantage of the GOP convention to highlight how Cruz and Trump have such dangerous and extreme views that its important for everyone to vote. Steyer said that while polls show many Republicans nationally have softened their views on climate change in recent years, the partys White House front-runners are stuck in the past. I believe the Republican Party is basically renouncing its ambition to represent the majority of Americans, Steyer said. Their policies and attitudes are distinctly antagonistic to the majority of Americans. And Americans are smart. Asked whether he would be producing more ads highlighting the GOP candidates views on other issues, Steyer said, Possibly. This is not the only issue where these two gentlemen are out of step. Joe Garofoli is the San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on ... At an Orange County rally Thursday, Donald Trump repeated a bogus yarn about executing Muslim prisoners with bullets dipped in pigs' blood. In the aftermath of the Philippine-American War of 1899-1902, Trump said Gen. "Black Jack" Pershing had 49 Muslims shot and killed with bullets dripping with porcine blood, which Muslims consider filthy and unholy. Muslims are forbidden from ingesting pork. Trump said that Pershing told a 50th Muslim, "Take this bullet and bring it back to all of the people causing the problem. And for 42 years they didn't have a problem." The problem with this "teach the Muslims a lesson" tale is that it never happened. Pershing never presided over a mass execution of Muslim terrorists or any other religious zealots. "This story is a fabrication and has long been discredited," Brian McAllister Linn, a Texas A&M University historian and author of Guardians of Empire: The U.S. Army and the Pacific, 1902-1940, told Politifact. "I am amazed it is still making the rounds." The debunking site Snopes has also declared the story a fiction. Thursday's rally in Costa Mesa, Calif., was not the first place Trump has recited the phony pigs' blood story. He also told it during a rally in South Carolina in February. When he has been caught in a lie in the past, Trump has shrugged off criticism, saying he does not have time to check the accuracy of all the information he receives. And he apparently has no qualms about repeating the lie, even after he's been called out. VATICAN CITY Vice President Joe Biden found common cause with Pope Francis on Friday at the Vatican for a global commitment to fund cancer research. Biden spoke at a conference on regenerative medicine and ended up sharing the stage with the pope, who used his own speech to decry a profit-driven medical research system. With light streaming through stained glass into an ornate auditorium, the pope called for empathy for the sick and communal guarantees that all have access to care. Research, whether in academia and industry, requires unwavering attention to moral issues if it is to be an instrument which safeguards human life and the dignity of the person, the pope said. As he has done several times before, the pope gave voice to the moral argument behind a cause that Biden and President Obama have sought to elevate, helping to skewer traditional partisan divides that tend to overtake political issues in the U.S. The Obama administration has turned to this pope for support on climate change, poverty, rapprochement with Cuba and refugees. For Biden, the stately corridors and costumed Swiss Guards of Vatican City were an about-face from the scene just hours earlier, when the vice president visited Iraq on an unannounced visit. In Iraq, Biden worked to smooth over deep sectarian tensions threatening Iraqs political system; at the Holy See, he appealed for all religions to see defeating cancer as a means to express values of faith, love and hope. Biden, who lost a son to cancer last year, called cancer a constant emergency for the planet and urged philanthropists, corporations and governments to increase funding and information-sharing to end cancer as we know it. Though he said the world is on the cusp of unprecedented breakthroughs, he added that not enough is being done. Cancers not a national problem; its an international problem, Biden said. 1 Space launch: Russia on Thursday successfully launched the first rocket from its new space facility after a last-minute delay the day before. The Soyuz 2.1a booster blasted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East near the China border 3,400 miles east of Moscow early Thursday. The Roscosmos space agency said the three satellites the rocket was carrying orbited several hours later. 2 NGO restrictions: China took a major step on Thursday in President Xi Jinpings movement away from Western influences and toward stronger social control, as it passed a new law aimed at limiting the work of foreign nongovernmental organizations and their local partners. More than 7,000 foreign nongovernmental groups will be affected, according to state news reports. The law, adopted by the national legislature, states that foreign NGOs must not endanger Chinas national security and ethnic unity. The move to pass such a law has drawn criticism from U.S. and European officials, business and academic organizations. Already locked out of a major farm and forestry purchase in New Zealand last year, an Australian arm of the Chinese Shanghai Pengxin global conglomerate has today been told it can't buy one of Australia's largest farms, covering around 1 percent of the continent's total area. Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison announced this afternoon he was making a preliminary decision to block the proposed A$371 million sale of the S. Kidman & Co cattle empire, to a Chinese-led consortium, citing national interest concerns. New Zealand's Associate Finance Minister Paula Bennett and Land Information Minister Louise Upston last September rejected a recommendation from the Overseas Investment Office to allow the Chinese company to purchase the central North Island Lochinver station from the Stevenson Group for $88 million. Shanghai Pengxin began and subsequently dropped a court challenge to the decision and had been expecting an approval for the Australian purchase from the Australian OIO-equivalent, the Foreign Investment Review Board. That followed it cutting out two sizeable properties after Morrison rejected an earlier, larger offer last November. Even after the excision of Anna Creek and The Peake properties, Kidman will still be Australias largest private land owner and hold over 1 percent of Australias total land area and 2 percent of Australias agricultural land, Morrison said. Given the size and significance of the Kidman portfolio, I am concerned that the acquisition of an 80 per cent interest in S. Kidman & Co Limited by Dakang Australia Holdings Pty Ltd may be contrary to the national interest." Dakang Australia is 51 percent owned by Dakang Pasture Farming and 49 per cent owned by Shanghai CRED Real Estate Stock Co. Dakang was to have acquired 80 percent and Australian Rural Capital 20 percent under the blocked deal. Dakang Pasture Farming is listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange and is 55 percent-owned by Shanghai Pengxin Group, whose former chief executive in New Zealand, Gary Romano, was also deeply involved in the Kidman bid. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses MOVE Completes Purchase of Vessel for Trans-Tasman Service Z Energy shares jumped to a record after the Commerce Commission approved its bid to buy rival Caltex and Challenge! petrol station chains, saying price coordination at some stations wasn't enough to turn it down but that regions where Gull stations operate are more competitive. The competition watchdog's delayed and 3:1 majority decision on the $785 million deal gives Z about 49 percent of the retail transport fuels market and lets NZX-listed Z buy the 'downstream' assets of American oil giant Chevron, which is exiting all but its exploration activities in New Zealand. Z's clearance includes an undertaking to sell 19 sites and one truck-stop. The shares climbed 11 percent to $7.90, valuing the company at $3.2 billion. Matt Goodson, managing director at Salt Funds Management, said the deal was good for Z but bad for consumers. "It certainly wasn't priced as 100 percent certain to happen, there's obviously been a move, and it also appears the Caltex NZ business is travelling a little better than the previous numbers," Goodson said. "It's certainly a major win for some very capable management at Z Energy, and a significant loss for the New Zealand consumer given the very sharp movement in petrol margins in recent years and the fact that massive vertical integration remains in place." Commission chair Mark Berry told a briefing in Auckland that most of the panel felt Caltex had "simply been a price follower" meaning its exit wouldn't materially change the dynamics of the market in respect of price coordination, but accepted there was coordination happening in some instances and in some local markets. "The pattern of coordination is perhaps more evident outside the areas where Gull is present," Berry said. "What we see are different is pricing patterns through the country and the dynamic impact of Gull is clearly to be seen on the market. Outside of that, we get greater parity of prices." Berry emphasised the commission had not seen any evidence of price collusion from petrol chains. The majority view held that it wasn't the commission's role to determine all the impacts of price coordination. Berry said the majority view was the prospect of another bid for the Chevron assets was remote. Z, which was formed from the retail and other downstream assets of Royal Dutch Shell's New Zealand operation, must close retail sites in the following locations: Northland (3), Auckland (1), Waikato (3), Bay of Plenty (1), Wellington (1), top of the South Island (2), Christchurch (3), Canterbury outside Christchurch (4), and one in Otago, with a truck stop in Kawerau also to be sold. Berry said he couldn't disclose exactly which petrol stations for reasons of confidentiality. Z currently owns some 200 service stations while Caltex has 150 sites. Z's chief executive Mike Bennetts welcomed the decision, which took 10 months, saying "as a local company we believe buying the business of a global company is good for New Zealand and its now up to us to prove it." BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct MCY - Quarterly Operational Update VCT - Operational performance for the 3 months ended 30 Sept 2022 NZL - Forestry Estate Acquisition October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses MOVE Completes Purchase of Vessel for Trans-Tasman Service Whats new? Genesis Energy released its H1 2016 interim report in February, revealing a solid financial and operating performance against a back drop of intense retail competition and variable wholesale market conditions. For the six months ending 31 December 2015, Genesis Energy reported a 2.5 percent decline in total revenues to NZ$1,041.6 million compared to 1H15, with this due primarily to lower gas and petroleum revenues. EBITDAF for 1H16 was $175.5 million up 1.5 percent above the EBITDAF from the previous comparable period. In our view, the key positive from the result was the fact that the company managed to turnaround two years of steadily declining account numbers. Total electricity customers stood at 522,586 at 31 December 2015, up 1 percent on December 2014 but a positive number nonetheless. This was primarily driven by growth in Energy online customers from 74,400 at 31 December 2014 to 80,400 a year later. The overall 12 month switching rate for Genesis is now 0.7 percent lower than the broader electricity market at 19.8 percent. The higher customer number, in combination with growth in generation revenues helped Genesis stave off the impact of intense retail competition and variable wholesale market conditions. Technology is making price comparisons between energy retailers far easier, and with more entrants entering the market, competition in the retail sector is heating up and putting pressure on margins. According to the Electricity Authority there are now 22 retail parent companies with 33 brands, compared with only 12 retail parent companies five years ago. With little scope for product differentiation, incentives to switch provider invariably revolve around price in the form of an upfront discount on electricity. Genesis has been taking it to the competition in this regard, offering the first months electricity free (up to $250) for signing up to a 12 month fixed plan compared to Meridians offer of $100 free power. Genesis Energy also reported a strong increase in free cash flow and upped its dividend by 2.5 percent, with gearing (debt to debt plus equity) remaining stable at 34.6 percent in 1H16, compared to 34.4 pe\r cent in 1H15. The forecast dividend translates into a circa 8.2 percent cash dividend yield, which we see as very attractive given our view on future earnings growth and cash conversion. Price While Genesis Energys current earnings ratio for FY16 is significantly higher than the market at 21.8 times, we believe the companys prospective dividend yield of 8.0 percent provides a better benchmark of the stocks value relative to the market. Encouragingly for investors, the technical set up for Genesis Energy is consistent with the companys currently favourable investment fundamentals. In particular, we note that Genesis Energys share price is currently testing support at the 50-day moving average of $1.84. Should the share price hold, then a retest of the March high of $2.04 is likely. Coupled with the bullish moving average crossover that has been in place since January, this suggests momentum will favour the upside. Summary We believe that interim results from Genesis Energy were solid, particularly given the back drop of intense retail competition and variable wholesale market conditions. We are encouraged that company initiatives are seeing growth in customer numbers and generation revenues. Given our bullish view on energy prices, we also see an earnings recovery angle coming through with the companys 31 percent stake in the Kupe Oil & Gas field. The current dividend yield of 8 percent is also very attractive given we believe the underlying investment case remains robust. Greg Smith is Head of Research at investment research and funds management house Fat Prophets. To receive a recent Fat Prophets Report, CLICK HERE Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: The latest results season has proven better-than-feared on both sides of the Tasman New Article is coming soon! Hardening up - James Hardie Decmil Group - The Ducks are lining up Spark New Zealand: Taking Something Off The Table Vocus Communications Amcor Apple QBE Insurance Hot stock - Domain Holdings Australia BENGALURU: Earlier this week, the Cupertino-based tech giant, Apple revealed their first-ever decline in iPhone sales. The company also stated it is the first revenue drop since 2003, reports TOI. In China, Apples sales plunged by more than a quarter, its most important market followed by the U.S. The firms shares fell almost close to 8 percent that is below $100 for the first time since February. Along with Apples down fall in quarterly profits, Microsoft, Alphabet Inc and Twitter also shared their misfortune in their profits. According to Apples statistics, in second fiscal quarter, it sold only 51.2 million iPhones10 million units less than same quarter a year ago. Apple needs to come up with a radical new innovation or product rather than just the current incremental improvements to existing products. This is the only way in which it will reinvigorate sales growth, said Neil Saunders, Chief Executive of Conlumino, a research firm. The Apple Chief Financial Officer, Luca Maestri stated in one of his interview with Reuters that the difficult bar was set higher with the success of iPhone 6 in the previous year. The iPhone 6 is an anomaly, he added. According to Apples Chief Executive, Tim Cook, the iPhone 6s did not move the crowd to switch their iPhone from iPhone 6 whereas, in the previous year, majority of the people switched to iPhone 6 from iPhone 5s. I don't mean just a hair lower; it's a lot lower, he stated. If we'd had the same rate on 6S as 6, it would be time for a huge party. Despite the dip in iPhone sales, the companys services division such as Apple Music and the App Store saw the 20 percent growth which is considered to be better than sales statistics of companys iMacs and iPads. Cook spilled some beans on their future offering by saying, The future of Apple is very bright. Our product pipeline has amazing innovations in store. The global smartphone market is slowing as penetration of smartphones in major mature markets reaches saturation, and even markets like China start to see slower growth, says Jan Dawson, President at Jackdaw Research. Although, the company launched iPhone 5SE in March, the sales were not recorded for the past quarter. Looking at the bounce back opportunity, Maestri said, The situation right now around the world is that we are supply-constrained, he added. The demand has been very, very strong. However, Apples revenue plunged heavily by 26 percent in China from the quarter in previous year, Maestri said that the company was extremely optimistic about China. We continue to make a lot of investment there, he concluded. Read Also: Looking at them makes one go - "Because we're weird and we love it" Leeco Sells 7.5 Lakh Second Generation Superphones In One Day BENGALURU: Infosys, Indias second largest information technology services company, has made one more investment out of its global innovation fund. The Bengaluru-based firm said it has invested an undisclosed amount in Trifacta, which develops productivity platforms for data analysis, management and manipulation. San Francisco-headquartered Trifacta has so far raised $76.3 million in four rounds of venture funding, the last one being $35 million it raised in February this year. We see tremendous potential in self-service data preparation solutions like Trifacta to significantly help clients unlock the business value of their diverse and fast-growing Big Data assets, said Ritika Suri, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Infosys. This investment underscores our commitment to our clients to introduce a complete stack of data management solutions that complement our data management and automation platforms. Infosys has so far invested in eight start-ups, mostly US based, the previous one being Waterline Data Science. In January this year, the Bengaluru-headquartered company had made an investment of $4 million in Waterline which builds data discovery and data governance software. Read Also: Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai To 'Raise Foundation For Ramanujan' Isuzu Motors' Andhra Pradesh plant to start operation in next April STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Lou Caravone, the longtime chairman of Community Board 2 who died in 2004, dreamed of opening a horse riding facility in Ocean Breeze in the spot where a yearly rodeo was held. The community leader, who was easily identifiable by his cowboy hat, also had a special place in his heart for developmentally disabled children. "We decided to honor him by combining these two (horses and programs for the developmentally disabled). ...Today, Lou would have been proud," said Megan Delmar, director of Helping Others Obtain Possibilities Through Horses (HOOPH) -- a therapeutic riding program for New York City's developmentally disabled community operated by the Staten Island Recreational Association -- at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the long-awaited Ocean Breeze Indoor Therapeutic Horse Riding Arena on Friday. THE RIDING ARENA The pre-engineered metal building includes a nearly 5,800-square-foot riding arena, stables, areas for feeding and grooming the horses, offices, a lobby, as well as an observation room for visitors. The arena will provide year-round support for physical and occupational therapy programs, and will also be available for members of the community to use. It will also serve as the headquarters of HOOPH, which will begin programming in May. The arena is recognizable to anyone driving down Father Capodanno Boulevard by the bronze sculpture -- "Bronco Buster," by artist Gregory Perillo -- situated in front of the facility. STARTED BEFORE SANDY The design for the facility was just about complete when Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the Ocean Breeze community on Oct. 29, 2012. After this, the entire structure was redesigned with every protection needed to withstand future storms, said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver. "The superstorm did some damage but we want to make sure we provided a facility both for riding and to provide an incredible program to our disabled community," said Silver. "This is thanks to the strong advocacy of many groups here on Staten Island and we are so pleased that we had the funding to make sure this beautiful facility got built," he added. Said Lynda Ricciardone, borough parks commissioner: "This facility is here for folks from across the borough, as well as the other four boroughs." "It wasn't so long ago that I remember standing here on the grounds with Megan Delmar and volunteers creating wonderful memories for special children. But I also remember that she worked out of nothing more than a trailer and she created a sensory course right here that could only be used when the weather was favorable," she added. While many community leaders and public officials supported the construction of the ridding arena, former Borough President James P. Molinaro was credited with being a driving force behind getting the facility built. "I took a tour of the facility a few weeks ago and I'm telling you the horses have a good life here. If there was room, I'd move in," Molinaro joked. "Get ready for this facility to make a difference in the lives of many people," he added. FOLLOW Tracey Porpora on STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Staten Island Museum did Lucy Moses proud. Moses, a preservationist and philanthropist, is the namesake of the prestigious Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award. That award was given to the Staten Island Museum for its work restoring its new location on the Snug Harbor campus, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs announced Thursday. The award will be presented in a ceremony at Riverside Church in Harlem to the museum and several other preservation projects. It's the highest honor The New York Landmarks Conservancy gives. The museum's expansion to the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center was a dream 50 years in the making, which began when Snug Harbor was saved from demolition in 1965. It went on to become one of the first officially landmarked buildings anywhere in the five boroughs when the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission was founded that year. When the Staten Island Museum began its expansion into Snug Harbor, the neglected interior and compromised structure required the removal of a majority of the building's interior materials, finishes, and structure. But the building's historic cast-iron staircase and the original exterior walls and roof remained. Through a grant from Partners in Preservation and American Express, the Staten Island Museum preserved and restored the staircase to its original glory, and it now provides the architectural showpiece of the museum interior. The museum finally opened in Snug Harbor last year and now houses exhibitions, public programs and educational events. "Staten Island Museum's new home on Snug Harbor is one of those extraordinary buildings that both preserves a piece of New York City history and activates a state-of-the-art space where every New Yorker can engage with exhibitions and cultural programming," said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement. The museum's interim executive director, Cheryl Adolph, echoed the mayor's sentiments. "This award closes a circle that began 50 years ago, when the museum advocated for the front-row five Greek-revival buildings that include our museum at Snug Harbor to become the first designated landmarks of the newly formed New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission." "We are grateful," she added, "for the City's investment and proud to have achieved this remarkable feat in preservation history." MINNEAPOLIS -- Authorities are investigating whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing drugs for the musician in the weeks before he was found dead at his suburban Minneapolis home. A guide to the latest developments: ___ INQUIRY INTO EMERGENCY LANDING Questions about Prince's health surfaced April 15, when his private plane made an emergency stop in Moline, Illinois. He was found unconscious aboard the aircraft, according to a law enforcement official who was briefed on the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. While the plane was on the tarmac, the person said, first-responders gave Prince a shot of Narcan, an antidote that is used to reverse suspected opioid overdoses. At the time, Prince was returning to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta. The official said investigators are looking at whether he overdosed on the flight and whether an overdose killed him. One possibility is the powerful painkiller Percocet or something similar, the official said. Investigators also want to know whether a doctor was on the plane and whether any drugs were aboard the aircraft or at Prince's Minnesota house. While the investigation is far from complete, the mention of a doctor calls to mind other celebrity deaths, including Michael Jackson's. Jackson's physician, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in prescribing a powerful anesthetic that contributed to the pop star's death in 2009. ___ A SEARCH OF STAR'S HOME A second law enforcement official told AP that prescription drugs were discovered at Prince's home when the musician was found dead on April 21. That official also spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation. The official did not elaborate. Prince's Paisley Park home and studio were searched on the same day he died. The warrant and accompanying documents were filed Thursday under seal at the request of investigators who said it would hamper their investigation if the contents were public. An affidavit in support of sealing the warrant warned that disclosing details in the warrant could cause "the search or related searches to be unsuccessful" and risk injury to innocent people. The person who signed that affidavit, Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud, declined to comment Thursday on the reports of drugs found at Paisley Park, and told AP that he disputed reports by several media outlets that investigators had asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help. "We have not asked them for help or asked them to be a part of the investigation," Kamerud said. "We might contact them to help us, but that hasn't happened." He said authorities did not have the medical examiner's report yet and did not know "to what extent pharmaceuticals could be a part of this." An autopsy has been performed, but results are not expected for three to four weeks. ___ OTHER HEALTH COMPLAINTS, CANCELED CONCERTS Prince's death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn't feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city. Prince was scheduled to perform two shows in St. Louis but canceled them shortly before his death due to health concerns. Longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical problems from his performances, citing hip and knee trouble that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels. NYC Corruption Probe_Jast.jpg New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is surrounded by reporters as he leaves an event, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York. Aides to de Blasio have been subpoenaed by state and federal prosecutors amid investigations into his campaign fundraising operation, his administration said. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) NEW YORK -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio defended himself and his top advisers a day after his office confirmed that top aides were subpoenaed by federal and state prosecutors amid an investigation into the mayor's campaign fundraising operation. Speaking to reporters Thursday, de Blasio said the actions of his team were "legal and appropriate." He said his administration was cooperating with the investigations. De Blasio, who is serving his first term, has not been accused of any wrongdoing. His spokeswoman, Karen Hinton, said subpoenas were sent to de Blasio's top aide, Emma Wolfe, his campaign fundraiser, Ross Offinger, a consulting firm and a nonprofit group that advanced de Blasio's political agenda. Asked by a WABC-TV reporter Thursday if he had been subpoenaed, the mayor said he was not. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On one side, prosecutors say he's a violent Bonanno mob enforcer caught on wiretap threatening people with hatchets and bullets. His close ones, however, describe a good-hearted, incredibly funny man with a soft side and bit of a loose tongue -- or, how he more aptly puts it, a rough and tough cream puff. Anthony (Skinny) Santoro, 52, of Great Kills, has been portrayed with these conflicting -- yet fascinating -- personalities during his nearly three-month trial in state Supreme Court in Manhattan. So, who's the real "Skinny?" "He's not the guy made out in the papers," said one of Santoro's relatives who wished to remain anonymous. "He's a good man with a good heart. He doesn't have a bad bone in his body. "I hope to have him home very soon." Santoro and his three co-defendants -- Vito Badamo, 53, Nicholas Santora, 73, and Ernest Aiello, 36 -- are anxiously awaiting a verdict, with jury deliberations set to resume on Monday. The quartet is accused of enterprise corruption, including loansharking, gambling and drug dealing after authorities say they busted a nine-man Bonanno crew in July 2013. THE SAGA BEGINS Almost three years ago, Santoro was sipping his coffee on a summer morning when the cops came knocking at his residence. He quietly and respectfully placed his hands in front so he could be handcuffed and taken into custody, according to a source close to the defendant. From that day, the family feels, he was denied bail for a non-violent crime and railroaded for being Italian. "They were targeted because they're Italians," the relative added. "I really believe that. Nobody got hurt. Nobody was killed. That mafia doesn't exist anymore. "This should've been resolved three years ago. They gave him a bad deal. They stomped all over his rights." Prosecutors say Santoro was a key player in the Bonanno family's gambling operation, allegedly setting the prices for drugs and deciding on opening and freezing gambling accounts. The bulk of the state's case against him is the information intercepted from a series of wiretap calls, which implicate him using mob slang referring to illegal drug and gambling activities. The first time Santoro got to hear those wiretapped recordings against him was during the trial, a source with knowledge of the case said. In the most salacious call, Santoro says, "I'm gonna split his f------ head open with a hatchet, to be honest with you." "Biz, I'll put two holes in his f------ forehead, I'll double tap his forehead right now. I will go right now put two holes in his head. He'll be one dead young punk. I'll leave him in the street right now. I'll shoot him right now, right this minute. I'll take a shower and shave just to go shoot him." The police raid that netted cash, marijuana and seven firearms from his girlfriend's Tanglewood Drive home only added to the Hollywood mobster stereotype. Except nobody got "whacked." "He's got a big mouth and he yells a lot, but he doesn't mean anything by it," the family member said. "He's all talk. Look, he's a gambler, but he didn't do the other things they said he did." Santoro's lawyer, Adam Konta, argued his client was a broke hustler, and not a violent gangster. He also believes it was unfair Santoro was denied bail, despite the state's lack of evidence that he was a flight risk or a danger to society. "A lot of men in this situation would have broken down, but not 'Skinny,' " Konta said in a statement to the Advance. "He has remained focused on the jury seeing this case for what it is - an unsuccessful attempt to make him a member of the Bonanno crime family. "Throughout this lengthy trial, he has kept his head up and can always be counted on for a smile or a joke - not because he isn't taking the case seriously, but because he is a positive person who is trying to make the best out of an unnecessarily long and stressful situation." PENDING FEDERAL CASE Even if Santoro is found not guilty in the Manhattan case, the Staten Island man is still likely going to prison in connection with a federal gambling case in Connecticut. In 2013, before his arrest in this current case, Santoro pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business as part of a local Bonanno crime crew in Connecticut, and was sentenced to eight months in prison, said attorney Tim Parlatore, who represents Santoro in the federal case. The betting lasted more than 30 days and netted a gross revenue of $2,000 a day, court records show. But Santoro, court documents say, actually lost money on the bets. Santoro's sense of humor shines through during a witty exchange with the judge during his plea hearing, where he jokingly asks her if she wants to make a bet, according to court transcripts: Judge: Do you know the amount of money wagered by the person you referred? Santoro: No. I wouldn't have any idea of that. I don't even know how much money I got in my pocket right now, to be honest with you. Judge: Why don't you know that? Santoro: I don't pay attention to that. Santoro: Do you know how much money you have in your purse, your honor? Judge: Roughly, yes. Santoro: Exactly? Judge: Not exactly. Santoro: Oh, okay. Judge: Do you have some sense of how much money you have in your pocket? Santoro: Yeah, I have, your honor. Judge: How much money do you think you have? Santoro: I don't know, a few hundred, I guess. Judge: A few hundred? Santoro: You want to bet? I'm only kidding. I'm only kidding. A bit later in the transcripts, Santoro amusingly warns the judge not to place bets with his co-defendants busted in the Connecticut case. "Oh, God. You're a card," the judge replied to his friendly suggestion. "He's the funniest client I've ever had," said Parlatore, who has known Santoro for years. "He's just naturally funny." BIGGEST GAMBLE YET After refusing to make a plea deal, Santoro is betting the jury will find him innocent. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison. After months of testimony, the jury deliberated for two days before a week-long adjournment. The panel was charged with the different elements constituting enterprise corruption, grand larceny in the second degree and first-degree criminal usury. The case, the defense claims, hinges on venue. The defense argues Manhattan was not the proper jurisdiction for the trial considering most of the alleged criminal acts happened in other boroughs, including Brooklyn and Staten Island. During their brief discussions, the panel had several questions about venue, including if they had to be unanimous in making that determination. The judge instructed them that they needed to be in agreement. "It's been a long, long couple of months; the waiting and the waiting has been hard for the families," the family member said. "It's been more than enough already." trump-california.JPG Donald Trump supporter Robert Tally wears a button of Trump before the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) BURLINGAME, Calif. -- Donald Trump, the outsider, made his case to California's Republican establishment on Friday as protesters clashed with police. Demonstrators swarmed outside the hotel near San Francisco airport, forcing Trump to crawl under a fence to enter the hotel where he met with local GOP power brokers and gave a lunchtime speech at the state party's convention. On Thursday night, protesters tangled with authorities and damaged police cars after a Trump rally in Orange County. Tensions mounted as the GOP presidential contest moves into its final stages in one of the nation's most liberal and diverse states. The state party convention amounts to the starting bell in California primary, with Ohio Gov. John Kasich appearing later Friday and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and his new running mate, Carly Fiorina, up Saturday. During his speech at the convention, Trump called for the party to unify behind him but also issued a veiled threat to its leaders. "There has to be unity in our party," he said. "Would I win -- could I win -- without it? I think so because they're going to be voting for me" -- and not the party, he added. California's primary usually comes after the party nominees have been decided -- but this year it looms as a decisive contest that could either clinch the prize for Trump or force him into a contested convention in July. All three candidates are looking to galvanize supporters, sway undecided party members or poach from rival campaigns at the convention. "It's going to be a free-for-all," predicted the state party vice chairman, Harmeet Dhillon. That label clearly applied to Trump's Orange County rally Thursday night, which filled the Pacific Amphitheatre to its capacity of about 8,000, with many hundreds more turned away. Protests that stayed mostly peaceful during the event grew in size and anger afterward. Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the arena; one Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive away. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented, and other protesters sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venue's marquee. About 20 people were arrested, said the Orange County Sheriff's Department. On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators pushed to the front doors of the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame before being moved back by police in riot gear. Some protesters infiltrated the hotel building and hung a giant banner reading, "Stop Hate." The Secret Service led Trump in through a rear entrance to the hotel. Trump joked that as he crawled under a fence to get in, he "felt like I was crossing the border." Trump's remaining rivals can't beat him in what's left of the primary season. Their only hope is to deny him a majority of delegates heading into the July convention and wrestle for the prize in multiple ballots there. But questions persist in the party -- nationally and in California -- about Trump's electability in the fall and his conservative credentials. So the reception Trump receives from the state's party activists and grassroots organizers will be noteworthy. He rarely speaks to Republican establishment groups, and he rails against what he calls a rigged party system that governs the nomination. The California convention crowd defies expectation in a state known as a Democratic fortress. There have been pushes toward moderation, but the group leans conservative and favors calls for free markets, tax cuts and smaller government. It's also socially conservative: The state party's platform defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and wants the Supreme Court's affirmation of abortion rights reversed. Trump has spoken favorably about Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services. He has warned against cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, often targets for conservatives who want to slow government spending. When Trump earlier this month said transgender people should be able to use whichever bathroom they choose, Cruz's campaign released a statement saying Trump was "no different from politically correct leftist elites." The California platform endorses free markets; Trump has long criticized U.S. trade policy and advocated steep tariffs on Chinese goods. The California primary will award 172 delegates. Trump now has 996 delegates, Cruz has 565 and Kasich has 153, according to the AP's delegate count. It takes 1,237 to clinch the nomination. Hula group creates global connection When the pandemic ushered everyone indoors, Moorpark resident and longtime dancer Lisa Rauschenberger decided to get people back outsidesocially distanced, of course. She began to hold weekly hula lessons at... Hospital offers safe option to dispose of meds, narcotics Los Robles Health System is working to crush the opioid drug crisis by raising awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of... Rotary works to promote worldwide peace, goodwill The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise recently invited administrators and principals from the Simi Valley Unified School District to attend a meeting and receive the book The Nonviolence Handbook: A... Free books and Halloween treats Big fun awaits kids at local little libraries Simi Valley has about 20 registered Little Free Libraries that offer free books for children, teens and adults. In addition to providing free books to the community, the Little Free... By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree Best Canadian Blog 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 About Kate Why this blog? Until this moment I have been forced to listen while media and politicians alike have told me "what Canadians think". In all that time they never once asked. This is just the voice of an ordinary Canadian yelling back at the radio - "You don't speak for me." (goes to a private mailserver in Europe) I can't answer or use every tip, but all are appreciated! Katewerk Art Support SDA I am not a registered charity. I cannot issue tax receipts. Reconnaissance Man Economics for the Disinterested ...a fast-paced polar bear attack thriller! Want lies? Hire a regular consultant. Want truth? Hire an asshole. Weather Shop Click to inquire about rates. Dow Jones What They Say About SDA "Smalldeadanimals doesn't speak for the people of Saskatchewan" Former Sask Premier Lorne Calvert "I got so much traffic after your post my web host asked me to buy a larger traffic allowance." Dr.Ross McKitrick Holy hell, woman. When you send someone traffic, you send someone TRAFFIC. My hosting provider thought I was being DDoSed. - Sean McCormick "The New York Times link to me yesterday [...] generated one-fifth of the traffic I normally get from a link from Small Dead Animals." Kathy Shaidle "Thank you for your link. A wave of your Canadian readers came to my blog! Really impressive." Juan Giner - INNOVATION International Media Consulting Group I got links from the Weekly Standard, Hot Air and Instapundit yesterday - but SDA was running at least equal to those in visitors clicking through to my blog. Jeff Dobbs "You may be a nasty right winger, but you're not nasty all the time!" Warren Kinsella "Go back to collecting your welfare livelihood."Michael E. Zilkowsky Intelliweather Seismic Map Comments Policy Read this Best Of SDA Hide The Decline The Bottle Genie (ClimateGate links) You Might Be A Liberal Uncrossing The Line Bob Fife: Knuckledragger A Modest Proposal (NP) Settled Science Series Y2Kyoto Series SDA: Reader Occupation Survey Brett Lamb Sheltered Workshop Flakes On A Plane All Your Weather Are Belong To Us Song Of The Sled The Raise A Flag Debacle (Now on Youtube!) (.mwv Video) Abuse Ruins Life Of Girl Trudeaupiate Kleptocrat Jeans Child Labour I Concede Small Dead Feminist Protein Hoser: THK Interview The Werewolf Extinction Dear Laura (VRWC) We Wait Blogging The Oscars Jackson Converts To Islam Just Shut The HELL Up Manipulating Condi Gay Equality Rights 'Library Night' lands at Moscow China Cultural Center From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-04-29 11:10 People view Chinese books and paintings at the event at Moscow China Cultural Center. [Photo/Culturalink.gov.cn] The cultural event "Library Night" was held at Moscow's China Cultural Center, bringing visitors a feast of Chinese paintings and books. The night begun with a deliberate exhibition, where more than 40 traditional Chinese paintings were on display. Since this year's theme of "Library Night" in the country is "Reading Film", the film Confucius was also played for the public, giving visitors a deeper understanding and a broader knowledge of Chinese culture. Additionally, a Chinese book exhibition called "Ni Shan Book House" was also organized, where a slew of newly released books were available for the public. This is the first time that Moscow China Cultural Center joined their effort in the "Library Night" event, an annual national cultural fair where libraries, bookstores, museums and art zones extend their working hours and provide more services. A Russian artist explains her works to visitors. [Photo/Culturalink.gov.cn] Former Raiders great and CFMEU official John Lomax has been fined for breaching industrial laws on a South Australian worksite. It is the first time Mr Lomax, an ACT-based organiser with the construction union, has been found to have breached any industrial law, something which the Federal Court of Australia found was to his credit. Former rugby league international and current CFMEU organiser John Lomax. Credit:Jamila Toderas But the court lashed out at the CFMEU, and said it had a "dismal" record of complying with industrial legislation. Federal Court Justice Richard White found it was "probable" that the union deliberately brought in officials from interstate to walk onto the South Australian worksites unannounced. Police cordoned off a large stretch of London Circuit and used an aerial drone to investigate a potential threat outside Civic police station on Friday. A report was made that a person had been seen scaling the police station about 11am. Police were told that the man placed an item on the first floor ledge. An AFP officer with a police drone. Credit:Rohan Thomson London Circuit was closed between West Row and Farrell Place for a short time around lunch on Friday. Pedestrian access was cordoned off in the square between the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the City Police Station, and the ACT Supreme Court. Police are calling for witnesses after bungling thieves smashed their way through a shopping centre in Canberra's south, during an early morning ram raid on Friday, before they were pursued by staff. Police attended Calwell Centre at 5.45am after reports the two young hooded men forced their way in and caused significant damage. CCTV footage showed a Nissan Pulsar with no number plates driving slowly through the empty shopping centre. The car twice crashed into the roller doors of Woolworths before the passenger jumped out and crawled through a gap in the door. Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn has sold his entire stake in Apple on the back of concerns over China's economy and the risk of the country's influence on the stock. If he's worried, should we be too? Icahn, who has built his wealth around making conviction calls on outlying positions, cites signs of creeping protectionism from the Chinese government on top of already softening sales in the country as a key reason for cashing in on his 46 million Apple shares. "You worry a little bit - and maybe more than a little - about China's attitude," he told CNBC. He noted that the Chinese government could, "come in and make it very difficult for Apple to sell there ... you can do pretty much what you want there." The company that sells Nurofen has been fined more than $1 million for misleading consumers about its specific pain products. The Federal Court previously decided that Reckitt Benckiser, which sells market-leading ibuprofen medication including Nurofen Specific Pain Relief products, had engaged in misleading conduct by advertising that its products were specifically formulated to treat back pain, period pain, migraine pain and tension headaches over four years, when they all had the same active ingredient of ibuprofen lysine. The ACCC said the caplets in all four products contained the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine 342mg. "None of the four products is any more or less effective than the others in treating any of the particular symptoms," Justice James Edelman said on Friday. Malcolm Turnbull: ''Tax avoidance is legal; it may be undesirable and you may want to change the law to avoid it." While describing his past intention to cut back on "excesses" in negative gearing as "enthusiasms", he hinted that some change may yet be included. He said the blueprint was geared towards rewarding those taking risks, within what he termed "a difficult economy". Speaking to the Canberra press gallery on Friday, Treasurer Scott Morrison acknowledged his first budget was no ordinary affair - occurring just days before Mr Turnbull plans to visit the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove to have both houses of Parliament dissolved for an election on July 2. "As we look across the tax system and the way the tax system works, we need to ensure that it is sustainable for the future, and I will be making some further announcements about that next week in the budget," he said. Any move to narrow the field of negative gearing opportunities for investors would represent another direction change. The government initially flagged taking some action, and then comprehensively walked away from it when Labor put forward a policy of limiting negative gearing to new properties from 2017. "What I do know, though, is you must preserve the opportunity for Australians to try and get ahead," Mr Morrison said. "The sorts of issues that you refer to or the enthusiasms that I referred to on other occasions are very minimal, very small, and you don't want to do something that puts at risk the broader performance of the Australian property market. "I think even those who are fans of changes to negative gearing know that Labor's proposal in its composition is confusing and would be disruptive to property markets and undermine the performance of those markets and thereby undermine the value of Australians' homes." In an interview on Melbourne's 3AW on Friday, Mr Turnbull attempted to explain why he had referred to negative gearing in 2005 as "tax avoidance". The smartphone. It's the defining consumer good of this age, like the television or the automobile for previous generations. The screen we stare at more than anything other. Its rise changed everything, from the the way we communicate to the way we get around and the way we buy things.There's a reasonable chance you are are reading this story on one. It has also completely dominated the technology industry for the past few years. But now, a subtle shift is under way. Because (in developed countries like Australia at least) pretty much everyone who wants or needs a smartphone has one. In the eyes of investors, the best mobile business to be in is no longer actually making and selling phones, but making and selling the software that we use on them. That was the clear message the sharemarket was sending this week after the top tech companies in the US reported their results. Apple, the biggest name of them all, had a torrid week. It sold 51.2 million iPhones during the quarter, which sounds impressive, but was down from the 61.2 million it sold in the same period a year ago the first time sales have shrunk since it released the first iteration of the iconic device back in 2007. The company's total revenue for the quarter fell 13 per cent from a year earlier to $US50.1 billion, the first such decline since 2003. It was Malcolm Turnbull's so-called "Tampa moment", when the Prime Minister delivered the declaration on border protection that could so easily have been penned by Tony Abbott. But it was an anti-climax. More than an hour before Turnbull faced the media in a Hobart suburb on Thursday morning, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was having one of his regular on-air chats with Ray Hadley, the Sydney radio talkback host who was one of Abbott's strongest supporters. Hadley began by offering "just a little bit of history" on the topic of border protection, recalling how John Howard's Pacific Solution began with the interception of a Norwegian freighter, the Tampa, taking rescued asylum seekers to Australia, and how this was "central" to the Coalition's 2001 election victory. Hadley then confided that listeners had written to him, "a bit concerned that the Prime Minister doesn't have the stomach for what you're talking about and it's a real battle to keep these people out of the country". Former CG of Italy in Shanghai: CSITF promotes Sino-Italy innovation collaboration By:Wang Jiaye | From:english.eastday.com | 2016-04-24 12:46 Mr. Vincenzo de Luca 2016 China Shanghai International Technology Fair (CSITF) concluded on April 23 in Shanghai. Italy was the Guest of Honor Country and present with a delegation including 100 people including important Italian multinational corporations. Vincenzo de Luca, Director General of Cultural and Economic Promotion, Innovation said at the closing press conference that he was deeply impressed with the dramatically increase in terms of investment, policy and programs of science and technology innovation in Shanghai. Mr. Luca once served as Consul General of Italy in Shanghai. "This event (CSITF) is sort of milestone for new partnership between Italy and China", said Mr. Luca. Besides luxury, fashion and food market, "We are also discussing with Chinese partners and authorites how to enhance the collaboration in scientific and technology fields". There are more than 500 partnership projects between Chinese and Italian laboratories, research centers and universities. The two sides organized innovation forums in the past 6 years. This year's event will be held in April in Milan. "Smart City" is the focus of Italy for the presence of the CSITF. The country has invested more than 6 million euro in "Smart City" project in Italy in terms of environment, Wi-Fi, healthcare, energy efficiency and sustainable transport in the urban area. Italy will also share its experience with China especially Shanghai, said Mr. Luca. They will promote initiatives to fasten exchange between Italian start-ups, young people from universities with those here in China. When speaking of the potential for collaboration, Mr. Luca took healthcare as an example. "We can do much more in terms of not only investment, but also sharing experience between institutions in Italy and China." He advised that Italian way of promoting healthcare may be tested in China. On April 21, Stefania Giannini, Minister of Education, Universities and Research of Italy delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony and later meet with Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang for a thorough discussion about the bilateral cooperation. Italy also hosted the first Roadshow for the Internationalization of Italian Companies on April 22 with the aim of bringing more high-tech companies to China. "I can't image it happening in this column, nor on the Herald Letters page," writes Allan Gibson, of Cherrybrook, "however, the 'Your Say' page in Thursday's Northern District Times included a letter given the heading 'Owls and cockatoos need somewhere to live too' and 'signed' by one 'Mickey', the Powerful Owlet, Byles Creek Valley, Beecroft." But Alan, it just did happen in this column. "Want to impress the neighbours?" asks Peter Riley, of Penrith. "Well, go to the MYPLATES.COM website, do a custom search, and you'll see that the numberplate 'C8PHD' is still available. Hurry while stocks last! Available all good motor registries ..." "Australia Post," asserts Mark Edman, of Pymble (delivery disasters, Column 8, all week), "has no problem delivering mail in Pymble. In fact they deliver relentless 'paid junk mail', even when the letter box clearly states 'NO JUNK MAIL'. When contacted, they went through a list of things I may or may not want pizza discounts, real estate, house painting etc, to which I stated 'I don't want any junk mail'. Incredibly, the operator proceeded to ask me if I'd like my business promoted via junk mail. Australia Post, No means NO!" "Here is my suggestion for a solution to the Cryptic clue 'DA needs a shrink'," Carolyn Little, of Mortdale (Column 8, for a while now). "Answer: 'contract'. Why? A Development Application (DA) needs one." "In the first item of your column on Wednesday , you say that you understand 'a 50 kilogram weight has a mass of 50 kilograms wherever it is'," notes Ted Hamilton, of Normanhurst, and indeed we did. "However," Ted points out, "if it is in a space station, travelling rather quickly, relativity says it will have a mass greater than that which it had before it left Earth." True enough, and the International Space Station does roll around the Earth at an impressive 7.66 kilometres per second. Impressive to us, anyway, but a pedestrian pace in cosmic terms. Does anyone want to have a crack at calculating the (almost certainly tiny) relativistic mass increase? There could be a C8PhD number plate in it. They say crime doesn't pay. But getting an education does, even for gangsters. Economists have discovered mobsters making a living from things such as robbery, gun running, embezzlement and forgery in the heyday of the Italian-American Mafia earned more when they were better educated. A Mafia gang member who completed just one extra year of education could increase their earnings by about 8 per cent on average. For those involved with more sophisticated crimes such as fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion and counterfeiting so-called "business criminals" the return on education rose to 16 per cent. Offers they can't refuse: Education pays off , even for criminals. Credit:Film still These findings are from a study of the Italian-American Mafia during the middle of last century by economists Nadia Campaniello and Giovanni Mastrobuoni of the University of Essex and Rowena Gray of the University of California, Merced. Educational attainment might not be the first thing that comes to mind when Vito Corleone the legendary crime boss played by Marlon Brando in the 1972 movie The Godfather delivers his famous line: "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." But this economic research suggests Vito's fictional son and heir apparent, Michael Corleone, benefited a lot from his tuition at America's prestigious Dartmouth College. To appreciate the concrete poetry of his muscular Plumbers and Gasfitters Union Building, architect Graeme Gunn says you have to "get up close and sniff it". It's a metaphor, but irresistible to imagine: watching the fervid ranks of Brutalist architecture lovers rallying around the Carlton headquarters inhaling 50 years of union sweat. Probably not the heady image of unity the stalwart leaders inside the building had in mind when they commissioned it in 1969. But Brutalist fans are an equally passionate bunch, as Tumblr blogs such as F--- Yeah Brutalism suggest. Forget the strident title, 185,000 followers are hard to ignore. The Plumbers and Gasfitters Union Building in Carlton. Like mid-century modernism before it, Brutalism is experiencing a new wave of popularity. Adding to the growing trove of media are two books released in recent months: Concrete Concept, a pithy international travelogue, and Peter Chadwick's This Brutal World, based on another popular social media site. Meanwhile, Openhouse Melbourne, together with the Heritage Council of Victoria, is hosting "What's the Beef with Brutalism?" next month. A multimedia program featuring the acerbic and hilarious British architecture critic Jonathan Meades' 2014 documentary Bunkers, Brutalism, Bloodymindedness, the program also includes talks and a walking tour of Melbourne landmarks including Gunn's building, the recently threatened Total House in Russell Street and ARM Architecture's Hamer Hall refurbishment. "I make most of the play a comedy so the audience laughs a lot and periodically, I'll just jab them and they won't see it coming and they'll be blindsided and then I get them laughing again," Lee says via phone from New York. "By the end they're pretty disturbed in Straight White Men, it's really enjoyable and fun and then by the end, you get a knife in the gut. But it's not the kind of knife people like; it's kind of an awful ending. I've heard stories about people being really annoyed. And in a way, this play is even more disturbing because it is naturalistic and their expectations are even more traditional." That is, if they have even made it to the end. Before the work begins, Lee's stage directions require that female rap music (with sexually explicit lyrics) be played. Loud. "It's meant to indicate to the audience that the show is made by somebody who isn't a straight white male. When people of colour and women come in, they immediately feel more comfortable, like this is an environment for them, even though the actors are all white," she explains. "It was not meant to upset people but some of the more conservative audience members have interpreted it as a hostile gesture." When the work was first staged in the US, many demanded the music be turned off, shouting that they "hadn't paid for this!" Sarah Giles, who will direct the Melbourne production, is anticipating some discomfort. From the outset, there's a contradiction between the play's hyper-realistic living room set and the music. Giles is sure it will rub people the wrong way. "But that's the point; it's uncomfortable giving up your privilege." Using a traditional theatrical format to unpack the establishment of white theatre is "genius" says Giles. "She could've done something avant garde and formally challenging, but she's satirised the entire system," she says. "I think there may be people who watch this and think it's kind of an odd Arthur Miller without a plot!" Lee devised the work using her well-documented technique of coming up with "the worst idea she can think of", then writing it. "An identity politics show about straight white men? That sounds like a terrible idea! I asked myself, 'what it would be like if I woke up tomorrow as me, but in the body of a straight white man?"' The work is not as scornful as it sounds Lee tries to identify as strongly as possible with her subjects. "I wouldn't say straight white men are ... unfairly targeted, but I think the problem with the sort of social problems we're having in the West are not stemming solely from them, but from certain values that we all share," she says. The play's central question is what can such privileged men do to lead a moral life. "It's a question of what is it we want straight white men to do that they're not doing." Lee says that for years, such men have been the "default human". "Now they're being given the kinds of labels other groups have had for years." And tackling the issue within that demographic's own comfort zone appealed to her; naturalism, she says, is the straight white male of theatrical genres. "I thought it would be interesting to ... see what happened if I paired the two and looked at the limits of both the content and the form. The thing I found fascinating was that the very central problem of the play the fact that Matt is not pursuing a 'hero's journey' that is identifiably masculine is a structural thing that people have the most trouble with." And as an Asian-American woman, she needed to research her subjects a process she found both easier and harder than she anticipated. "It was easier in the sense that I actually share a lot of privileges with straight white men: people think they know how I'm going to feel when I walk into a theatre, they assume I'm well-educated and smart, the police are never going to chase me unless I do something pretty bad to that extent, I could write a lot from my own privilege, but the difference for me was mostly that I have no idea what straight white men are like when women aren't around," she says. She interviewed male friends and actors and actually cast the play before finishing the script: the finished work was shaped in part by conversations with her original cast members. All of Lee's works are about her own identity in some way, but in this work she says the central question applies equally to everybody: what are we willing to do to address social inequality? "For me, by pushing my own ambition as a playwright ... I'm contributing to the number of Asian women writing and directing plays so, I am adding diversity ... but what am I actually doing, you know, beyond that? "And If I were a straight white man and I couldn't be contributing just by getting ahead, what would I do?" Giles says the work has also thrown up interesting questions for herself and the cast. "We're so used to seeing women and minorities as authored by men. What's so great about this is that Young Jean is authoring these men it's such an unusual experience for the actor. I asked the cast, 'how many of you have been in a play written by a Korean woman?' No one put their hand up. 'How many been in a play written by a woman who isn't white?' No one put their hands up. It's kind of astonishing," she says. "Young Jean is also picking apart the Western canon: Waiting for Godot is a play about humanity, but Caryl Churchill's Top Girls is a play about women; women and minorities represent themselves and men represent humanity." Expatriate Alan Moorehead was Australia's most famous writer of the 1950s and '60s. An international celebrity, his books spilling into millions, the subject of several biographies (my own among them) he has, unlike that exuberant trio Clive James, Germaine Greer and Barry Humphries, who fixed their names in Britain some three decades later, dropped from view among younger readers in his own country. Forty-something Thornton McCamish has come to reclaim him in an intimate quest that revivifies this elusive figure and offers a book that his publisher claims "will take its place in a fresh tradition of contemporary biography". Our Man Elsewhere: In Search of Alan Moorehead, by Thornton McCamish. As the title suggests, Moorehead was quintessentially an "elsewhere man". With an arts degree from Melbourne University, he abandoned his final law exam, took a tram to The Herald office, and his journalist career began. Quitting the stifling suburban atmosphere of Melbourne and Australia in 1936, "to stay at home was to condemn yourself to nonentity", he shipped to England. Initially a stringer for The Daily Express in Gibraltar, he rose rapidly at the Express to head its pre-war bureaus in Paris and Rome and, in 1940, was appointed to Cairo as foreign editor Mediterranean. From there with his brilliant "'camera eye" cover of the fighting in North Africa, his sense of immediacy and daily action, and his "casual brilliance for atmosphere", he brought the desert war to the breakfast tables of Britain and won his newspaper's title as "the Prince of War Correspondents". McCamish was in his late 20s when he stumbled upon Moorehead's autobiographical A Late Education, and fell in love. It was a shock. He'd found a writer who "would forever be indispensable to my imaginative sense of the past" and whose life and writings he would follow "helplessly obsessed", tracing Moorehead's experience through the Mediterranean and European wartime landscapes (African Trilogy and Eclipse to hand), devouring the Moorehead papers in the National Library, reading his subject's 21 books, and investing his own vigorous energy in an engaged, closely identifying pursuit of this restless, determined and remarkable man. When Jonas Jonasson wrote The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared the novel became an instant hit in his native Sweden and an unexpected bestseller in the rest of the world. The comic misadventures of a centenarian who escapes from a nursing home, pinches a suitcase of money, and meets key political figures of the 20th century, some of whom are in his debt, all while on the run from a criminal gang took Scandinavian fiction in a light-hearted direction, away from the dark thrillers of Stieg Larsson, Jo Nesbo and Henning Mankell. What's so funny? The Swedish author Jonas Jonasson. Credit:Sara Arnald But it would be wrong to think The Hundred-Year-Old Man was written all for laughs. Jonasson created his hero Alan Karlson as a guide to ''the most terrible century of them all" in the vague hope "mankind would remember its wrongdoings a bit better and not always repeat them''. He was "as sophisticated as James Bond", as sharp-eyed as David Bailey, and for a while there, the women of Melbourne were putty in his viewfinder. So why haven't we heard more about Henry Talbot? One of Australia's leading fashion photographers of the 1950s and '60s, Talbot helped to redefine modern womanhood with images that captured the changing times. Breaking out of the studio, he staged his shots against bridges, factories and in one case, the backside of a racetrack, horse poo and all. Sharply dressed models perched atop ladders, stepped out in ski gear or busted go-go moves against the unlikely backdrop of the Altona Petrochemical plant. It was the 1960s, man, and Henry Talbot was bearing witness. The model wears a white bikini and white cotton lace cover; her assistant bears a parasol and a worried expression. 1961-1966 (detail). Henry Talbot Fashion Photography Archive Born Heinz Tichauer in Germany in 1920, Talbot developed an early taste for image-making when his parents gave him a Rolleiflex camera as a bar mitzvah gift. He went on to study graphic design in an inter-war Germany that led the field, but as the Nazis tightened their grip, his worried parents sent him to England. Refuge there proved short-lived and in 1940, he was declared an enemy alien and shipped off to Australia on board the Dunera. Later, during a stint in the Australian Army, he met fellow German refugee Helmut Newton. When the pair set up a Melbourne studio in 1956, their European sophistication and game-changing imagery swept the local fashion world off its modestly heeled feet. Clients including Vogue Australia, Sportscraft and the Australian Wool Board aligned themselves with the studio's fresh, modern vision. From the Beatles and Bob Dylan to Beyonce, Prince sits within a spectrum of musicians who have deployed the tools of cinema in service of their creative expression. Where many of his albums feature the rather staggering credit "produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince", that level of self-contained creativity simply cannot be transposed onto conventional feature filmmaking, an enterprise that demands many collaborators both in front of and behind the camera. Yet in his multiple forays into movies, Prince sought to create a melding of music and image as distinctive and exploratory as the rest of his work. In Purple Rain, he willed into being what has emerged as one of the definitive movie musicals of the modern era, while in the three films he directed, Under the Cherry Moon, Sign o' the Times and Graffiti Bridge, he tried different ways to strike a balance between music and storytelling. What these pictures have most in common is their attempt to bring a viewer into a complete experience. If Prince often seemed to live within a world of his own creation, in his film work, he seemed to be inviting the rest of us to join him there. Prince in the 1984 film Purple Rain, which catapulted him to global superstar status. If Purple Rain is the most conventional of his movies a fictionalised origin story that conflates biography and persona akin to Elvis Presley's 1957 Loving You it also is the most fully realised. In all four of his pictures, Prince puts himself across as some version of himself in a way that is distinct from the acting forays of musicians like David Bowie or Diana Ross. There was a visual component to Prince's work right from the start. His debut album, 1978's For You, credits him with "dust cover design". His self-titled second album features a back-cover photo of the artist naked on a winged horse. That was followed by the notorious black bikini briefs on the cover of Dirty Mind and the shocked headlines splashed across the front of Controversy. His 1982 double album 1999 produced breakthrough videos for the title track and Little Red Corvette, made with a visual style evocative of neon-rimmed new wave noir. Entering the Founders Room on the top floor of Hobart's Salamanca Arts Centre, there's the sense of stepping onto the set of a B-movie where the production design team has worked resourcefully to create weirdness on a budget. Disarticulated dolls' heads peer out from shadowy nooks; artificial cobwebs stretch between rafters flooded with red light. Evidently recruited for the occasion, a looming androgynous figure totters between the tables in a straitjacket and high heels, eyes hidden behind an oversized ratty wig. The occasion is Stranger With My Face, Australia's annual feminist horror film festival, named for a 1981 novel by the American young adult writer Lois Duncan, and held for the fourth time in Hobart over a few days this month. Since its inception, Stranger with My Face has created more buzz than many more lavishly funded Australian film events a testament to the increasing number of women filmmakers working in horror, and to the strength of community feeling among fans. In Ginanti Rona's Midnight Show, a masked killer roams a half-empty movie theatre. Arguably, its success also says something about Hobart's relative isolation. Filmmaker Briony Kidd notes that when she and her colleague Rebecca Thomson mounted the first Stranger With My Face in 2012, it was virtually the only film festival in town. "It's a very strange position to be in ... all of a sudden it has a sort of visibility." Punters who might not be automatic fans of feminist horror showed up simply to be part of something going on. Tuna sashimi with watermelon. Credit:Pat Scala "I thought we'd get a team together, do it and then disband, but when we were done Gerry said, 'Do you want to keep it going?'. He saw the value in what we'd created, even before he'd perceived the financial value in it." Based on the BBC natural history series, Walking with Dinosaurs became the biggest live touring show in the world in 2010. "We outsold Madonna, Pink, AC/DC," Tilders says proudly. "But it wasn't as financially successful as people thought it did great turnover but it was very expensive." Receipt for lunch with Sonny Tilders at Punch Lane Credit: The rights to that stage show developed by CTC for Dreamworks Animation, the studio behind the Dragon films and TV series are now owned by a Chinese meatpacking company, which Tilders admits he finds a "disconcerting" thought (and not just because his household is vegetarian). Already, the market has been flooded with cheap knock-offs of the velociraptor suits CTC created for the show, but he's hopeful that's as far as the infringements will go. "We're a little company that does everything; that's the secret sauce that will protect our IP [intellectual property]," he says, before adding ruefully: "I say that to make myself feel comfortable." The late Dutch Tilders. Puppetry can do all the things you can't do with people. We're lunching at Punch Lane in the city, a small, welcoming timber-rich venue that feels like a cross between an old-school bar and a small theatre-district restaurant in New York. He hasn't been here before, but suggested it after a couple of his colleagues brought some visiting Americans here. "They loved it," he says. "They're from LA, and they don't have anything like this." A Velociraptor makes its presence felt at the Jurassic World exhibition at Melbourne Museum. We order a couple of entrees tuna sashimi for him, house-marinated artichoke for me and a couple of mains. The wallaby holds a certain novelty appeal. "I'm personally brave enough," he says, "but as it will be recorded against my name maybe I should go for something less controversial." He chooses barramundi; I opt for the marsupial. Everything is very good, though the wallaby doesn't quite leap off the plate as I'd hoped it might. Tilders is a puppet maker by training, having graduated from the Victoria College of the Arts, but when he got the call from Harvey he was working on the Star Wars films in Sydney. "I made a bunch of really boring, second-string green diplomats," he says. "I spent weeks programming the Nimordians' few words of dialogue." Though his creatures ended up delivering most of their lines off-screen, it was, he says, "great fun". He treasures in particular the moment he sat in George Lucas' office after hours, wearing an alien mask and demonstrating how it would work. "I was a couple of feet from him, looking through these little slots, knowing he couldn't see me, and just staring at him." He would never have dared scope out the man they called The Creator on set, he admits, "because you're too cool, and he probably doesn't want to be stared at anyway". The first model Tilders remembers making was Lucas-inspired, too an R2D2 crafted in his year 9 wood-turning class but by then he was already addicted to puppets and making things. "Mum was an art teacher, and we used to go to Bali each year. I remember seeing, when I was about six, this barong dance the barong is this benevolent lion-headed god in Balinese theatre and it scared the hell out of me. But I also found it incredibly exciting that you could make this thing out of wood and as soon as you moved it even slightly it came to life." By the time he was in his teens, he had a closet full of masks and puppets. Equally formative was the fact he was allowed to take apart all his toys. "In fact, I would say I was encouraged to. I always said that one day I would put them all together again to make a different toy, and Mum knew I wouldn't. But ultimately I have, I suppose it just took me 25 years to do it." His father was the legendary bluesman Dutch Tilders, but Dutch and Sonny's mother, Loma, split when Sonny was four, and he barely knew his father until he was 19. "I saw him once, when I was in Grade 5, and he came in and gave me a few albums," he says, adding that the transaction took place in the schoolyard because his mother didn't want Dutch around, and Dutch didn't want to push it "because he realised that he'd done wrong, to coin a phrase out of a blues song". Sonny was in his late teens when one day his father called him. "He said 'Sonny', in this deep, rustic voice, 'It's your old man'. I said, 'Oh, I was going to give you a call', in my completely not-deep rustic voice that skipped a generation." Dutch was playing down the road from where Sonny was living. He invited his son to come along to the show. "I was terrified I wouldn't like his music," says Sonny, who had never listened to those albums his old man had given him. "What if I don't like it?" As a kid, he'd answered the inevitable "what does your dad do" question by saying "he's a blues guitarist", though neither he nor the kids asking had any real idea what that meant. "Later I started to wear it as a bit of a badge of honour but still thought, 'He'd better be a good one'." That night he discovered he was. "I loved it," Sonny says. "He was fantastic live." After that they'd regularly catch up for a beer in St Kilda, and it would have stayed like that had it not been for Sonny's wife Paula. "She met him and thought, 'My God, this man is an insane character, I want to do a documentary on him'." She enlisted Sonny as her sound and camera guy; they travelled with Dutch to gigs around the country, and through the interviews she conducted through the questions he would never have asked of his own accord he came to know his father, who died from cancer in 2011. "I was so glad of that, because he could have died being just someone I knew in a pub." There's no chance Sonny Tilders' own kids will grow up not knowing their father. "They come to the workshop and stroll around as if they own the place," he says. "They take it for granted that their dad has a kind of curious job." But it's one that has its frustrations as well as its rewards. King Kong cost north of $30 million to stage in 2013, and received mixed critical reviews (though its six-metre tall leading man was universally praised). Mooted international seasons have not yet eventuated, though Tilders remains upbeat about its prospects. "There's a whole reworking of the script and the songs, putting the focus more on the core [human] love story," he says. Tilders with Kong at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne in 2013. He was in New York in February to present this new-look Kong to 130 potential investors, and he thinks it went well. And even if New York doesn't work out there's a decent chance Germany might. Either way, he says, this Kong will be "more in that traditional musical vein" than was the show that played in Melbourne. "There was a lot of criticism that people didn't come out humming the tunes," he says. "I didn't get that at first. But I do now." The bill, pls I have somewhat gone off Thai food in recent years, mainly because of the dumbing down of flavours in restaurants to suit palates more sensitive than mine not used to the authentic, explosive combinations of chillies, coriander, lemongrass and other spices. I also suspected, not unreasonably, that many restaurant flavours were being created from ready-made sauces, sourced from bulk supplies. Dylan Jones made an unrivalled name for himself in Thailand where he and his chef wife Bo run the famous Bo.lan restaurant. It was with some pleasure, then, that I headed to the Apple Daily Bar and Eating House for a special Good Food Month collaboration meal between head chef Ivan Blackwell and visiting celebrity chef, Dylan Jones. Mr Jones is a Canberra-raised chef who has now made an unrivalled name for himself in Thailand where he and his chef wife Bo run the famous Bo.lan restaurant. In a year of startling data pointing to a warming world, the thin blue line in the chart below of Greenland's ice melt was initially dismissed as just too outlandish to be accurate. Greenland is home to the world's second largest ice mass, containing enough water to lift average sea levels about seven metres if it all melted. So in early April, signs that the giant ice sheets were melting at least a month earlier than typical during the three decades-plus of reliable records stunned scientists at the Danish Meteorological Institute. Sydney is in for a relatively damp and dull weekend, briefly snapping the city's spell of sunny and dry mid-autumn days. A band of rain sweeping across south-eastern Australia is expected to bring light drizzle overnight and some rain on Saturday. Sunday may see showers for the city as a second cold front moves through eastern NSW before clearing by the evening. Maximum temperatures are likely to reach 25 degrees on Saturday and 27 degrees on Sunday before dipping to 22 degrees for Monday. "What we're having is a fair number of cold fronts moving across southern Australia, tempering conditions for NSW," Tristan Meyers, a meteorologist with Weatherzone, said. On the day an Iranian asylum seeker died in a Brisbane hospital after he set himself alight on Nauru, nearly 200 people rallied in King George Square to call for an end to offshore detention. The man, believed to be called Omid, died of his injuries in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on Friday afternoon after he was flown into Australia for emergency medical treatment. Paul Mansfield wears a cage symbolising the imprisonment of asylum seekers. Credit:Cameron Atfield Omid's death hung heavy on the crowd that gathered in Brisbane's CBD Friday evening. "That young man is lying up the road, in that hospital in Herston, and that young man needs to be a reminder to this government that we will not take their treatment of human beings like this anymore," Karen Anderson, the Greens candidate for Griffith, told the rally. 1. Aid worker kidnapped An unfolding case in Afghanistan where a Western woman, believed to be an Australian aid worker, has been kidnapped. I spoke to former BBC and now freelance journalist Bilal Sarwary (who is worth a follow on Twitter and Instagram for his beautiful photos of the "Afghanistan you never see") who gave us some more details about the case, including the fact that the kidnappers were wearing uniforms belonging to the ASNF - the Afghanistan National Security Forces. The issue is being covered locally. Photojournalist Ron Haviv has never written a diary. He just takes photographs and the visual cues within them have always been enough to remind him of the place, time and circumstance he was in whether it be the West Bank or Northern Ireland, or one of the other 30 conflicts that he's covered. Well, the internationally renowned photojournalist concedes, that's what he'd thought: in his latest series, many of the photographs are titled 'location and date unknown', a predicament which he finds very disconcerting. The Lost Rolls is the result of Haviv processing more than 200 rolls of his abandoned, undeveloped film, some from over 20 years ago, in hope of rediscovering lost moments. The images have become a backstage retrospective, revealing famous faces and scenes of war as well as holidays, girlfriends and some complete mysteries. In his latest series, photojournalist Ron Haviv explores the interaction between photography and memory. Credit:Ron Haviv "Looking at the scanned rolls was a bit of a remarkable experience, it had a mix of emotions. One of the biggest lessons from doing this work is very disconcerting to me. Sometimes I was completing memories, but also on the flipside, I was seeing images that I had no idea about where they were taken or what was happening," said Haviv, who is in Australia for the Head On Photo Festival. In their damaged state, some scratched and foggy with light leaks, many without captions to explain the story, these photographs are now objects of art and make up an exhibition which is not so much about photojournalism, but is a lament to the era of film and and investigation into the interaction between photography and memory. Photographing a bushfire can be a hair-raising experience, but there is something about the photographs that captures the awe of most Australians. "It's very hot, there are embers flying which get caught on your clothes and burn you, your eyes are stinging from the smoke and it's hard to breathe," Fairfax Media photographer Wolter Peeters said. Each summer, it is Peeters' job to know which areas are most vulnerable to fire. On hot, gusty days, he's out patrolling target areas, ready to report. NSW Rural Fire Service crews prepare for impact on homes in Coronation Parade as an out-of-control bushfire burns around the Wentworth Falls escarpment. Credit:Wolter Peeters "The bushfire is such an unpredictable beast, you need to respect it," Peeters, who does annual Rural Fire Service safety training, said. "During a bushfire, you want to keep as close as possible to what's happening but not get in the way of the 'firies' [firefighters]. I keep a wet cloth nappy over my mouth, tied at the back, I keep plenty of water with me and always have an escape route planned if things turn pear-shaped." The scandal-plagued vocational education sector is set for a radical shake-up under a proposal from the federal government which could see a ban on brokers promoting courses to students, enforcing minimum student completion rates, and only funding courses that meet industry demand. The discussion paper, released on Friday, comes after hundreds of millions of dollars have been wiped from the public purse through allegations of unscrupulous education providers selling courses to illiterate students and those with learning impairments. The sector is expected to spiral to $3 billion in public debt this year. Special Minister of State Scott Ryan has unveiled the next tranche of political entitlements reforms. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "It has quite frankly been a disaster for taxpayers, so it needs to be rebuilt from the ground up," said federal Vocational Education Training Minister Scott Ryan. "The uncontrolled growth of the scheme is completely unsustainable" . Fairfax Media has revealed that one Sydney college, Australian Institute of Professional Education, was paid up to $1 million per graduate last year. It allegedly recruited disadvantaged students in some of the country's poorest areas through the promise of free laptops. It received $111 million in Commonwealth funding and handed out just 117 diplomas. Shen Narayanasamy. Credit:Eddie Jim At MLC, Narayanasamy had a "really good time", she says. She was part of a group that organised walkouts against One Nation in July 1998, "at that time when some bad comment about Asians could actually mean that high-school kids would walk out", she says, "as opposed to where we are now". MLC allowed students to join the protests in school uniform. The next year, Narayanasamy was voted head prefect. She briefly considered a career as a classical dancer, but instead went to Monash University to study law. She was elected president of the students' association in 2003, standing as an Unaligned Left candidate with other radical law students including Aamer Rahman, now caustic political comedian, and GLBTI-rights campaigner Anna Brown. Narayanasamy and the Unaligned Left took part in the campaign against the mandatory detention of asylum seekers. At a demonstration at Woomera in 2000, the camp fences had been torn down and the refugees escaped. "And then there was absolute chaos," says Narayanasamy. "Then Aamer's genius idea was he could pretend to be an asylum seeker, by putting on a fake accent. It got him put in jail with all the asylum seekers. And so he met this whole group." The refugees explained to Rahman how to organise visits, and campaigners began to take busloads of students inside both Woomera and Baxter detention centres. Narayanasamy was shocked to see that many of the asylum seekers were teenagers. "I thought, 'They don't need me, they need my mother,'" she says. "So I threatened my parents that if they didn't come just one time, I would never speak to them again. I knew if they just got in the door they would get it. And people literally fell at their feet. They were crying, and Mum brought curries she'd cooked, and fed them." Eventually, her parents adopted one of the boys. Narayanasamy was drawn to asylum-seeker rights because she could see no bigger moral issue that could be solved simply by a change in government policy. "You very rarely meet these moral questions in real life," she says. "You walk into these detention centres and you think, 'As a human being, how could I not close these centres down right now?' You see babies rocking themselves behind the wire. It shocks everybody I've ever taken in there." She graduated and took up a position with Norton Rose, a large commercial law firm, then a job as economic justice advocacy officer at Oxfam Australia. She moved up to Sydney and into a shared townhouse in Redfern. "I wrote the weirdest application for housing on the planet," she says. "I promised all these things that I could supposedly do, most of which I couldn't like cook custard." But she got on very well with her new flatmate, fashion designer Sophie Russo, and Russo and her mother decided Narayanasamy would make the ideal partner for Russo's brother. "They did this six-month absolute stalk," says Narayanasamy. "His entire family orchestrated the set-up. They'd send me bits of his writing. We'd go out for dinner, and they'd go, 'Have you ever met Robbie? In Melbourne? He looks like Johnny Depp.'" When Narayanasamy had to travel to Victoria, they gave her a homemade salami to pass on to Robbie "because apparently they couldn't send it". "I was like, 'Oh, I'm going to meet this weird son who clearly has no social life or partner, and hand over a fricken salami,'" she says. "Then he opened the door and within two minutes I was like, 'Oh my god, you're the love of my life.'" Robbie does look "a bit" like Johnny Depp, she says, "if you squint". "We never got married," says Narayanasamy. "My poor father gave us a translated version of the Hindu wedding ceremony. No one understands Sanskrit so we were, like, 'Oh, this is faintly quaint.' I've since read that there may be some better versions, but this one was atrocious. It was like, 'You will marry him and even if he is a donkey you will obey him.' A donkey? I looked at Robbie and I said, 'We can't do this.'" Our main course at Maha is slow-cooked lamb shoulder, fantastic orange-crusted salmon, and a hefty serving of politics. Narayanasamy and Robbie Russo have two children, three-year-old Laksha and one-year-old Adesh. While Narayanasamy was on maternity leave with Adesh, she and some friends founded No Business In Abuse. As a student, she says, "I never took somebody into those centres who didn't come out converted." Now the asylum seekers were held out of reach, there was no way for people to see their conditions for themselves, so Narayanasamy turned to different tactics. At Oxfam she had discovered that it was possible to pressurise corrupt palm-oil and logging companies in PNG by presenting evidence of their misdeeds to their bankers in Australia. "Banks are big beasts," she says. "If you bring a problem to attention in a particularly public or private way, I think quite often they say, 'It's going to be a PR issue. I've got this annoying activist who's going to keep fighting me there.'" So they simply drop the client and take on other businesses. With this idea as their guide, NBIA began working to persuade super funds and investment advisers to pull out of Transfield. "Then Transfield started to get so nervous about what we doing," she says. "They pre-emptively sent out a paper to the whole market about our activities. Which I think was profoundly stupid, because by doing that, they essentially told everybody all these problems." When Narayanasamy gave an interview to Fairfax in September 2015, she unwittingly came to personalise the campaign. "I thought the story would be in the business pages," she says. "They took a photo, and I thought, 'Oh, they might have a little photo with it.'" But the piece appeared on the front page of The Age, and Narayanasamy was headlined as the "Melbourne mum" behind the movement. Narayanasamy became the human rights campaign director at community advocacy organisation GetUp in August last year, and GetUp adopted NBIA. Transfield changed its name to Broadspectrum in September. The company has lost millions of dollars in value, even though its financials have improved. Narayanasamy thinks NBIA must take a large share of the credit (or blame) for this. But she says she is more comfortable with the new Let Them Stay campaign, which focuses on the 267 detainees including 30 babies currently in Australia who risk being sent back to Nauru. For Let Them Stay, the media uses images of the babies rather than photographs of Narayanasamy. Let Them Stay has scored some success, with no one deported to Nauru and the release of all families into the community. However, despite all the campaigners' efforts, mandatory-detention policies remain unchanged. "You don't win this kind of thing usually," she says. So how does she cope with that? "I've got a long time," she says, "I'm younger than most of the people in this area. I can wait them out." She pauses to eyeball invisible opponents. "Turnbull, Scott Morrison," she says, "I'm younger than you." TIMELINE 1982: Born in Melbourne 1998: Helped organised MLC student walkout against One Nation 2003: Elected president of Monash University Student Association 2008: Completed law degree 2010: Finished articles at Norton Rose; appointed Oxfam Australia's Economic Justice Advocacy Co-ordinator 2012: Daughter Laksha born 2014: Son Adesh born; began to work on No Business in Abuse (NBIA) while on unpaid leave Military doctors were initially granted full access to tafenoquine although this was overruled once the TGA realised the doctors would not comply with relevant safety regulations. The letter, sent by the TGA's director of drug safety Dr Leonie Hunt, told doctors they were not authorised to use the drug outside a controlled clinical environment and without the approval of a hospital ethics committee. "It has been brought to my attention that you do not satisfy these requirements and therefore the authorisation should not have been issued," Dr Hunt said. "Accordingly you are no longer authorised to supply or prescribe tafenoquine for use in defence personnel for the treatment of recurrent vivax malaria." According to the Department of Defence, the warning was the result of "an administrative error" caused when military doctors applied for the drug under the wrong subsection of the relevant act. The doctors were eventually granted the drug for "compassionate use" under a special access scheme that judged patient needs on a case-by-case basis. Another 30 ADF personnel were treated under the scheme after a spike in malaria cases during 2001-02. A TGA spokeswoman said the only way to acquire the dug remained the special access scheme. "Were the TGA to become aware that unregistered products were being supplied without obtaining appropriate exemption, the matter would be investigated," she said. GlaxoSmithKline told the military doctors all patients needed to be provided with information about the drug including alternative options. Written consent forms were also required. "An integral component and condition of approval for supply of an experimental drug is the documentation of safety and efficacy data," the letter said. "It is extremely important that we, as the manufacturers of tafenoquine, obtain detailed information regarding treatment and we ask for your co-operation to document details of patient history and therapeutic outcome." Patient outcomes were recorded by military doctors at the Australian Army Malaria Institute and published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in 2007. According to the journal article, the authors were full-time ADF employees and received funding from GlaxoSmithKline to present their findings. They insist no other potential conflicts of interest existed. Andrew George, a former infantry soldier and public relations officer with the Army Reserve, was treated with tafenoquine in Sydney and claims it left him with damaging side effects. Mr George, who features in promotional material for the reserves, said he was given the drug after being diagnosed with malaria but does not recall giving informed consent after a detailed explanation of the drug. He is one of many veterans seeking answers about the drugs with many believing it complicated their diagnosis and management of post-traumatic stress-disorder. "I am still proud of my service," he said. "I am proud to have done what my dad did - a Vietnam veteran," Mr George said. Australian Defence Medical Ethics Committee documents, released late last year under freedom of information laws, showed the ADF was concerned about whether the trials were properly explained to soldiers. "It would be preferable to have all information conveyed openly and honestly to every member involved in current and previous tafenoquine trials," the document said. "This will markedly reduce the risk of a perceived cover-up" Since the release of the document, the Department of Defence has made a catalogue of information about the trials and the drug available for veterans online. What's the secret to a long and healthy life? Scientists gathering in Sydney on Friday may have the answers. At the inaugural Australian Biology of Ageing Conference, hosted by the University of NSW, more than 130 experts will discuss the latest research into prolonging life, maintaining health and slowing the ageing process. These mice are siblings. The healthy-looking mouse on the right had its senescent cells eliminated. The other did not. Credit:Jan van Deursen and Darren Baker Among them is keynote speaker Dr Darren Baker, who has found a way to increase the median lifespan of mice by as much as 35 per cent. An Associate Professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Mayo Clinic in the US, Dr Baker and fellow lead researcher Jan van Deursen conducted a study on senescent cells, or worn-out cells that can no longer divide. A pair of possums have been captured at Sydney's Concord Hospital after they infiltrated the facility's roof space. Fairfax Media has previously reported that the inner west hospital is in urgent need of an upgrade, with at least one possum having entered the main building through its leaky roof. One of the two possums caught at Concord Hospital on Friday morning. A Sydney Local Health District spokeswoman confirmed that two possums were caught in the roof space of the hospital on Friday morning. "Following recent reports of possible possum activity at Concord Hospital, two traps were set by a licensed pest controller in roof areas where activity was suspected," the spokeswoman said. The way handsome Italian Edoardo Perlo sees it, Sydney was far enough from his tiny home town of San Remo in Italy that he could finally have some peace from his family. And his cousin Stefano de Blasi agrees, though the pair didn't quite count on just how successful their burgeoning Italian gastronomic empire in Sydney would become when they started five years ago. On Wednesday night they opened their fifth Salt Meats Cheese outlet, on Broadway. In August they hope to open a sixth outlet, in Bondi Junction. "Every time we say we are going to take a break we find another new venue and end up opening there it is crazy," Stefano admits. Indeed the affable cousins' mystery trip to Australia in 2008, following a path of so many young Europeans seeking sunshine and surf, was not your average backpacker experience for the pair. A Sudanese refugee who was convicted of the stabbing murder of an innocent bystander following a fight between two groups in Sydney's west has been acquitted after spending more than six years behind bars. The 15-year-old Sudanese youth, known as JB for legal reasons, has had his conviction quashed after it emerged years later that the support person he allegedly confessed to was actually a registered police informant. Innocent bystander: Edward Spowart was killed at Granville on April 21, 2008. Not only was JB and his legal team not told this, but they were not made aware that the support person, known as A107, was given a certificate of assistance by police for his help in JB's case when A107 was sentenced for unrelated fraud offences. On Friday the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled JB should be acquitted of murder. Malcolm Turnbull's attempt to make a virtue out of promising relatively little immediate funding for transport and infrastructure projects has been met with a mixed reception by planning experts. The Prime Minister's Cities Policy, released on Friday, commits to $50 million in planning for a new way finance major projects, but holds out a promise the government may borrow billions more to help kick-start rail lines. "One of the best things the federal government can do is to stop being an ATM," Mr Turnbull said at an event in Melbourne. Police have charged a man with the murder of a Chinese international student whose body was discovered floating face down in a blowhole on the NSW central coast last weekend. Michelle Leng, 25, was reported missing by her family on Anzac Day after it was claimed she failed to return to her Campsie home from a shopping trip four days earlier. On Friday afternoon, NSW homicide detectives arrested 27-year-old Derek Barrett, who is Ms Leng's uncle, at Campsie Police Station. He was later charged with her murder. Traffic was still heavy through the Petrie area but expected to return to normal throughout the morning. The Bruce Highway had mostly cleared while the Gateway Motorway and Gympie Arterial Road were improving shortly after 9am. Traffic delays north of Brisbane have slowly cleared as drivers finally arrive at work on Friday. Commuters are suffering through a horror run into Brisbane from the north on Friday morning. An earlier crash at Murrumba Downs causing long delays along the Bruce Highway was cleared shortly after 6am but the effects were still being felt well into the morning. Arterial roads through the Redcliffe and Petrie areas were described as "jam-packed" while the Ted Smout Bridge, connecting the peninsula to Brisbane's northern suburbs was a "shocker" about 8.15am. Traffic was crawling from the Gateway Motorway at Nudgee all the way back to the Bruce Highway and beyond most of the way to Mango Hill. Police have located a 13-year-old girl who had been missing since Wednesday. EARLIER A Lowood teen went missing from her home on Wednesday morning. Credit:Georgia Matts Queensland police are concerned for the welfare of a missing 13-year-old girl who was last seen on Wednesday. She went missing from her home in Lowood, a rural town about 40km west of Brisbane, about 11am. A hanging red lantern, recycled fortress-like timber doors, and lively music intrigues passersby and invites them into a world of modern Japanese izakaya dining on the Gold Coast. Opening as the first restaurant of its kind in South-East Queensland in 2014, Etsu Izakaya has already rocketed through the ranks of Queensland's growing culinary scene and has landed a place in this year's Australian Financial Review Top 500 Restaurants. Stepping into the dimly-lit aromatic space, featuring cracked concrete and curved timber walls, local artist murals, and an old tree adorning the centre of the room, the cultural dining experience is already set on a high. The long bar boasts a specialised range of Japanese whisky, sake, cocktails, draft beers and a range of wine to compliment the intricate flavours of the menu. But the main attraction is the share-style traditional Japanese menu featuring a superb range of sushi, sashimi, tempura dishes, salads, teriyaki, and fresh meat and seafood cooked on the Robata grills. After introducing your tastebuds to the distinct and delectable dishes, like their popular Kushiyaki skewers cooked on the Japanese robata grills, it's a no brainer that this unique social restaurant has swiftly made it to the top. Owner Mitchell McCluskey said he was inspired by his regular trips to Japan and the communal culture that influences izakaya dining, which is a typical Japanese after-work drinking bar that allures guests to stay longer through the share-style menu. "It's fun, chaotic, interesting and a very local restaurant," Mr McCluskey said. "The food is basic izakaya style with a modern Japanese fusion, and it just keeps getting better and evolving into something we never expected," he said. Mitchell and his wife Nerissa originally entered the Gold Coast foodie scene in 2011 with the popular Burleigh cafe Commune, and they wanted to get creative in another area and fill the gap on the Gold Coast for a modern Japanese dining experience. "We're extremely overwhelmed and excited to be up there in the Top 500 restaurants. It's very humbling as a local Gold Coast couple to be recognised with restaurants we admire and look up to," he said. As a part of the Australian Financial Review dining program, Etsu will be hosting an exclusive whiskey and dining event on May 3 with renowned whiskey ambassador Dan Woolley. With Japan's new status as a whiskey powerhouse, Dan will be showcasing seven Japanese whiskies matched to special courses in an open style forum event. For the fanatics, another 45 Japanese whiskies will be there to taste. Where: 2440 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach, QLD 4218 Cost: $145, including matched whiskies When: May 3 from 7pm-10pm Bookings: 07 5526 0944 She didn't see Maynard Wentworth, an Uber driver just starting his shift that night, until it was too late. She hit him at 107 miles per hour (172 km/h). Christal McGee, 18, posted this photo of herself to Snapchat after causing a traffic accident in an Atlanta suburb while using the apps 'miles per hour' filter. Credit:The Law Offices of Michael Lawson Neff, P.C. Snapchat has a filter that allows users to record their speed of travel, and she wanted to see how fast she could go. So McGee accelerated, then accelerated some more, reaching 113 miles per hour (182 km/h) on a suburban road outside Atlanta where the speed limit is 55 miles (88.5 km). Christal McGee was behind the wheel of her father's white Mercedes, 18-years-old and on her way home from work on a Thursday night in September 2015, when she pulled out her phone and opened the app. Now he and his wife are suing McGee and Snapchat for negligence. The narrative of that night is outlined in a civil complaint filed last week, which alleges that Snapchat was equally responsible for the cause of the crash because the company did not delete the 'miles per hour' filter from the app after it was cited in similar accidents prior to the September 2015 crash. The complaint and a statement from Wentworth's lawyer, Michael L. Neff, explain that night like this: McGee was driving several of her friends home from work at a local restaurant in Hampton, a suburb of Atlanta. One of the friends was pregnant, according to the statement from Neff's office. Over the pregnant passenger's objections, McGee urged the Mercedes faster and faster. She argued, according to the statement, that she was trying to get the car to 100 miles per hour so she could post it on Snapchat. McGee's passengers saw the controversial filter hit 113 miles per hour. The teen was just about to post the Snapchat, the statement says, when she crashed into Wentworth's Mitsubishi. The collision caused Wentworth "permanent brain damage," the complaint says, rendering him unable to work and causing him to lose 22.7 kilograms since the wreck. McGee hit her head on the windshield of the Mercedes then Snapchatted a photo of herself backboarded, in a neck brace, blood trickling down her forehead, according to the statement. The caption on the Snapchat read: "Lucky to be alive." She had stabbed Mr Stevens once in the back as he walked away after hitting and kicking her. Lisa McLaughlin arrives at the Supreme Court in Melbourne in March. Credit:Jesse Marlow Ms McLaughlin, a successful, hard-working businesswoman who was never the same after losing Zane, had left her husband by 2011 and was using ice on a daily basis with Mr Stevens before killing him. She had cradled her son's body in the water until he died after the accident when the family's ski boat and another boat collided about 2 kilometres from the Patterson River inlet in Carrum, south-east of Melbourne, on Saturday, April 19, 2008. Lisa McLaughlin's five-year-old son Zane was killed in a boating accident in 2008. Her then husband, Anthony, told police in a statement obtained by Fairfax Media how he remembered Zane lying on the back seat of the boat, with blood coming out of his nose and mouth. "I remember Lisa calling out, "What is going on, what is going on?", he said. Graham Stevens, 31 was fatally stabbed in the back with a piece of glass tubing by Lisa McLaughlin. "Lisa was lying on the floor of the boat, to the rear, she was covered in debris. "I remember saying to the police and ambulance people, 'Get Zane, get Zane.' Before the fatal crash, Zane and his mother were 'playing games like peek-a-boo'. Credit:Richard Hughes "I remember saying constantly, 'Get Zane, get my wife."' A paramedic came up to Mr McLaughlin and told him Zane had passed away. "I got in the ambulance with Zane. The ambulance person pulled the blanket covering Zane back ... I told him that I loved him and cried with him. "I remember sitting in the ambulance with Zane and asking myself, 'Why did this happen, how did this happen, telling Zane that I loved him over and over. "I cannot remember exactly where Lisa was. I do remember being with her and holding her hand but my memory of exact times, places and happenings is unclear. "I was totally distraught with grief, shock and disbelief at what had happened when we were in the boat. "I don't know how long I spent with Zane in the ambulance." Mr McLaughlin, who suffered four cracked ribs in the accident, was eventually taken by ambulance to Frankston Hospital for treatment. "I am grieving so much for Zane that I cannot express, and I am worried about the effect the whole incident will have on my wife Lisa and my two children, Max and Indi (who are now aged 16 and 11)." In her police statement, Ms McLaughlin said she believed she was going to die when the other boat came towards them. "It was not a dream, it was real," she said. "And in all of this I still had time to pray 'Dear God no, please not my children, don't take my children.' "And then I heard a massive noise that I had never heard before. Melbourne's "missing link" connecting the Ring Road at Greensborough to EastLink is "utterly overdue", Opposition Leader Matthew Guy says. In a sign that roads will once again become a key issue in the lead-up to the 2018 state poll, Mr Guy on Friday said he could give an "absolute guarantee" of an announcement closer to the election. "The project is needed the project is essential, it is one of our three biggest road projects that needs to be built," Mr Guy said. "Closer to the election I can give you an absolute guarantee you will see some announcements from the Coalition around road infrastructure in Melbourne and it will feature the North East Link and it will feature the East West Link." The link has been the RACV's top priority for eight years. It is also strongly back by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Victorian Transport Association. An Echuca man charged with almost 200 sex offences including rape and manufacturing child pornography was well-known in the country town's BMX scene. Fairfax Media can reveal the man charged is Fabian Roy Meharry, a 27-year-old who has spent the past several years living in the northern Victorian town. Echuca man Fabian Meharry. Credit:Instagram He was charged last Friday with 193 offences including four counts of rape, 23 counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16, 20 counts of manufacturing child pornography, 18 counts of grooming and 14 counts of using a carriage service for sexual activity with a child under 16. The alleged offences occurred between September 2011 and August 2015 and involved girls aged between 12 and 16. We enjoyed the warm autumn sunshine while it lasted but it's well and truly over - at least for the next few days. Victoria is in for a rainy, windy weekend but, forecasters say, temperatures shouldn't drop too dramatically. It's hoped a rainy weekend will be a welcome relief in drought-stricken parts of Victoria. Credit:Justin McManus Rain fell over most of the state on Friday, with the heaviest recorded over the north and central regions. In some areas in the far north - such as Kerang, Seymour, Shepparton and Benalla - more than 10mm of rain had fallen since 9am on Friday, no doubt a welcome relief for drought-stricken farmers. A woman has died and a man has suffered critical injuries in a head-on collision north of Melbourne. Two cars collided on Kilmore-Lancefield Road in Springfield, near Lancefield, about 4.30pm on Friday. A woman has died in a car crash in Springfield, north of Melbourne. Credit:Quentin Jones The woman, the sole occupant of one vehicle, died at the scene. She is yet to be formally identified, a police spokeswoman said. Washington: In September 2014, students in Hong Kong gathered in a public square to protest some of the Beijing government's legislative initiatives. One of their slogans was "When dictatorship becomes a reality, revolution is a duty", which has been attributed to Victor Hugo. During the Arab Spring, protesters in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria raised such slogans as: "The people want the overthrow of the regime", "Bread, freedom, social justice" and "The revolution of dignity and freedom". Some academics and public intellectuals who study non-Western societies, worried about imposing Western values, have expressed concern about the use of categories like human rights and liberal democracy. They have instead favoured drawing on non-Western societies' own intellectual traditions and lived experiences. Thus the academic debate about the form of government that China should adopt has focused on drawing from the ideals of Confucianism. Yet the slogans raised by the protesters are eminently familiar; they might well have been deployed in any other country, whether Greece, France, Ukraine or indeed the United States. Protesters in Hong Kong did not mention Confucianism at all, prompting one commentator on a prominent Chinese and comparative philosophy blog to ask: "Where are all the Confucians ... tonight?" Sao Paulo: Brazilian Vice-President Michel Temer has moved to reassure the country he would seek to implement immediate measures to spur economic growth should President Dilma Rousseff be impeached at the end of a process likely to start next week and drag on for up to six months. In an interview with TV network SBT, Mr Temer, a Rousseff coalition partner, said he believed he would find large support in the Congress for his first proposals and that job creation would be a priority. Roadblocks organised by an umbrella group supporting Brazil's ruling Workers' Party closed highways in several Brazilian states on Thursday morning. He denied possible changes to the government's popular social programs and said his possible rise to the presidency would send a message of pacification and optimism to the country. Oslo: All 13 people on-board a helicopter carrying North Sea oil platform workers that crashed on Norway's western coast are presumed dead, emergency services and police said on Friday. Two people were missing while 11 bodies were recovered when the search was halted late on Friday. The search was to resume Saturday, police spokesman Stig Losnegaard told the Bergens Tidende daily. Anders Bang Andersen, spokesman for the Joint Rescue Coordination for southern Norway, said 11 Norwegian nationals, one British citizen and one Italian were aboard the helicopter. The Norwegian Accident Investigation Board said the helicopter's flight data and cockpit voice recorders have been retrieved from the sea bottom and were to be sent on Saturday to Britain for analysis. Rome: Pope Francis' trip to Lesbos, from which he returned with 12 Muslim refugees, was organised in conjunction with the St Egidio lay movement in Rome. The Vatican will maintain the three families, with St Egidio initially providing their housing. There are criticisms of Francis for exacerbating the refugee problem - some claim his gestures aid people smugglers, others that in West Africa the word has got around that the Pope welcomes all comers with open arms. There is also criticism of him returning from Lesbos without Christians, even though he explained that initially Christians were on the list but the only refugees who had their documents in order happened to be Muslim. Some Italians consider such gestures to be too political. It helps to understand that the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner had devolved from a little-known media dinner into a black-tie mash-up of the Super Bowl, the Oscars and Davos, Washington-style - thanks primarily to the presence of the president, which confers a gravitas that the evening no longer deserves, and an influx of Hollywood stars looking for some free publicity. Now there are too many parties, too many B-list celebrities, too many corporate rubberneckers to make the evening anything but a red-carpet conga line for anyone with enough power, fortune or fame to land a ticket. President Barack Obama. Trump, the Celebrity Apprentice star, was a natural for the dinner: wildly popular, gregarious, huge. He was there at the invitation of writer Lally Weymouth. Daughter of The Washington Post's legendary Katharine Graham and mother of then-publisher Katharine Weymouth, she co-hosted the Washington Post-Newsweek reception for years and always invited her famous New York and DC friends as guests of the newspaper. They occupied seats that would have gone to Post reporters - but, as the old saying goes, you pick your battles. In 2011, however, Trump had become more than a television star. He was one of the leaders of the birther movement, a loud campaign that insisted that Obama had not been born in the United States and was not eligible for the presidency. Although the claim was discredited, Trump (publicly toying with a presidential campaign) remained unconvinced of the president's citizenship. The story was everywhere; Hawaii released Obama's original long-form birth certificate just days before the April 30 dinner. Trump (centre) with the author of the article Roxanne Roberts to his right. Credit:Screengrab I can't recall when we found out that Trump was attending as a guest of The Post, but the news landed in the newsroom with a thud. Inviting a reality star was fine. Inviting a leading voice of the birthers was a problem for many reporters, who were concerned that it appeared as though one of America's most respected newspapers was giving Trump (and by extension birthers) credibility. Trump arrived with his wife, Melania, at his side. He was gracious and engaging "as he greeted, charmed and flattered his way through the endless security line," recalled The Post's then-executive editor, Marcus Brauchli. Reporters asked Trump whether he expected any jokes to come his way. Sure, he told them: "I'm fine with this stuff." Donald Trump arrives for the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on April 30, 2011. Credit:AP Thus commenced the annual ritual - introductory speeches that no one listened to, aggressive schmoozing, photo ops and other strange encounters. By the time the president got up to speak, the crowd had been drinking for more than three hours. Obama opened his speech with a recording of the Hulk Hogan theme song Real American and his birth certificate pulsating on the Jumbotron. He threw one-liners at various VIPs in the crowd before turning to Trump halfway through the 19-minute routine. A copy of the long form of President Barack Obama's birth certificate from Hawaii. Credit:Handout "Now, I know that he's taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald," said Obama. "And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter - like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?" The president then turned serious: "But all kidding aside, obviously, we all know about your credentials and breadth of experience. For example - no, seriously, just recently, in an episode of Celebrity Apprentice - at the steakhouse, the men's cooking team cooking did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks. And there was a lot of blame to go around. But you, Mr Trump, recognised that the real problem was a lack of leadership. And so ultimately, you didn't blame Lil' Jon or Meatloaf. You fired Gary Busey. And these are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night. Well handled, sir. Well handled." What no one in the crowd knew until the next day was that even as he playfully joked at the dinner, Obama had authorised the secret raid in Pakistan that took out Osama bin Laden. Then it was Meyers' turn. The SNL veteran launched into what was essentially a 20-minute "Weekend Update" segment, with withering jabs at all. By the time he got to Trump, he was lobbing jokes like grenades: "Donald Trump has been saying he will run for president as a Republican - which is surprising, since I just assumed he was running as a joke. "Trump owns the Miss USA Pageant, which is great for Republicans, because it will streamline their search for a vice president. "Donald Trump said recently he's got a great relationship with 'the blacks.' Unless the Blacks are a family of white people, I bet he's mistaken." With cameras aimed at him in the crowd, Trump smiled at Obama's jokes and waved at the crowd. His response to Meyers was less lighthearted: As the comedian hammered him, the billionaire didn't crack a smile. "The president was making jokes about me," he recalled this week. "I was having a great time. I was so honoured. I was actually so honoured. And honestly, he delivered them well." But he was unimpressed by Meyers: "I didn't like his routine. His was too nasty, out of order." Had I been sitting anywhere else, I probably would have giggled at more of the jokes. But I felt that, personal opinion aside, Trump was a guest of The Washington Post and deserved to be treated with respect. I wasn't going to laugh to his face. (OK, his ear.) At the end of the dinner, Trump was swarmed by reporters demanding to know what he thought. He told them he'd had a great time and was honoured to be skewered by the president. And then he left. Pundits took that as yet more proof that he was upset, but some VIPs stick around for the after-parties, and some beeline to their private jets - which is why, Trump says, he didn't linger. The next morning, the newspapers had a different version that boiled down to "Trump humiliated". Trump says he was baffled by the headlines, because that wasn't his take on the night. "I didn't know that I'd be virtually the sole focus, and I guess when you're leading in most of the polls, that tends to happen," he told Fox & Friends the next morning. "I thought Seth Meyers, frankly, his delivery was not good - he's a stutterer and he really was having a hard time." In retrospect, Trump broke the classic rule of political humour that says that the only response to a joke about you is to laugh harder than anyone else in the room. Whatever he was thinking, Trump looked unhappy and gave pundits a reason to pounce. Never one to let facts get in the way of a good story, the New Yorker's Adam Gopnik decided that this was the night that changed everything. "Not only, as we did not know then, was President Obama in the midst of the operation that would lead shortly to Osama bin Laden's killing," he wrote last fall, "it was also the night when, despite that preoccupation, the President took apart Donald Trump, plastic piece by orange part, and then refused to put him back together again." Based on his seat a few tables away, Gopnik was not only able to observe Trump but apparently also believed that he could read Trump's mind. "On that night, Trump's own sense of public humiliation became so overwhelming that he decided, perhaps at first unconsciously, that he would, somehow, get his own back - perhaps even pursue the Presidency after all, no matter how nihilistically or absurdly, and redeem himself," he wrote. This narrative flies in the face of actual history: Trump mentioned running for president as far back as the 1980s, so the notion that this dinner was the single catalyst for this presidential campaign is absurd. He frequently used humour as part of his self-promotional toolkit and was the guest of honour at a 2011 Comedy Central roast just two months before the correspondents' dinner - an X-rated drubbing that made Obama and Meyers look like weenies. "As a developer, Donald Trump has done so much damage to the New York skyline, instead of calling him 'The Donald' they should call him the 20th hijacker," joked comedian Gilbert Gottfried. Trump's rebuttal? "What's the difference between a wet raccoon and Donald J. Trump's hair? A wet raccoon doesn't have seven billion f------ dollars in the bank." Trump returned to the correspondents' dinner last year, creating a stir when he threw an arm around national security adviser Susan Rice and whispered into her ear as cameras flashed. Any lingering scars from 2011? "There are many reasons I'm running," he told me. "But that's not one of them." GREAT BAY:--- The entire team of NAGICO Insurances both locally and regionally, would like to extend congratulations to Ms. Shelly Alphonso on receiving the Royal Decoration in the Order of Oranje Nassau on King's Day. Alphonso who is an Executive Manager at NAGICO is known for her outstanding work in the community of St. Maarten, especially in her efforts to create awareness and provide support to women afflicted with Breast Cancer through her foundation which she founded called; the Positive Foundation. "The managements and staff throughout our entire Group are very proud of Ms. Alphonso," Lisa Brown; Marketing Manager of NAGICO said. "The congratulatory emails, phone calls and messages have been coming in non-stop, because Shelly's great work through her foundation has impacted so many lives and families in and around St. Maarten." Alphonso and three others received Royal Decorations for their prolonged outstanding service to the community of Sint Maarten under the theme of: 'Care makes a difference'. "We are extremely pleased with Ms. Alphonso's accomplishment as it is very much in line with our mantra of being community minded and giving back to our community," Brown concluded. "We are also ecstatic that we now have a second member of our NAGICO team who has received this distinction in the last two years." Chairman of the NAGICO Group; Imran McSood Amjad who also received a Royal Decoration last year for his contribution to the island was elated and extended congratulations to Alphonso and all the other recipients. "It is truly an honor to receive such an award," he said. "I always say to my staff, it is nice to be important, but more important to be nice because a little bit of kindness goes a very long way. So congratulations to Shelly who has been with us at NAGICO for over 17 years, we are truly honored to have you on our team and congratulations as well to all the other recipients of this most prestigious award. ThingLink Launches 360/VR Editor to Embed Multimedia Content in Panoramic Virtual Reality Images DUBLIN, IRELAND (Marketwired) 04/29/16 Interactive media platform ThingLink () today announced the release of its new 360/VR multimedia editor that allows users to annotate 360 images and 360 videos and view them in virtual reality. The company is introducing its new 360 image editor during the in Dublin. allows users to annotate 360 panoramic images with text, image, and audio annotations as well as web embeds for mobile view. Audio and video annotations play as the viewer aligns a pointer with an icon that is displayed in the picture. The tool is ideal for online publishers, journalists, marketers, educators, and others who want to add rich content to virtual tours, news, sporting events, retail experiences, educational programs, or any application where annotated content can enhance the virtual reality experience. Users also have capability to create a multi-spacial navigation experience by connecting several 360 images or videos together. This allows them to create truly immersive experiences, making viewers feel as though they are moving from one space to another. The new 360/VR editor also includes a new automatic icon creation feature that makes the story creation even faster. Virtual reality is rapidly gaining popularity in online publishing, education, and marketing, and ThingLinks 360/VR Editor is a powerful, cost-effective way to enhance any mobile VR experience, said Ulla Engestrom, founder and CEO of ThingLink. Our editor makes it possible to add in-depth information to a virtual documentary, enhance a tour of a property for sale, explain strategies in virtual games, expand VR lessons for use in the classroom, and do so much more. And built-in engagement tracking and statistics can help content creators refine their VR experience and provide metrics for future VR applications. The new VR/360 editor will be included as part of ThingLinks new Premium business package ($1,500/year), which provides online publishers with a multimedia tagging platform that supports customized text, audio, video, and more, complete with engagement analytics. Advertisers and marketing creative teams who would like to integrate customized call-to-action options such as eCommerce experiences in the mobile VR view also can work directly with ThingLinks New York-based VIP services team. Schools have a special version of the new 360/VR editor that is being bundled with the recently launched ThingLink , which is a collection of high-quality, interactive, 360 degrees image and video journeys on a variety of topics including science, language, and arts. The 360/VR is included with the Premium school subscription package, starting at $500 per year per school. To get a promo code for reviewing VR editor or VR Lessons, please contact: ThingLink, founded in 2010, is an interactive media platform that empowers online publishers to create more engaging content by adding rich media links to photos, videos and virtual reality. With over 3 million content creators, ThingLink has become the most popular cross-platform solution and creative community for interactive images and videos. For more information, visit . Contact: Tom Woolf Woolf Media & Marketing 415-259-5638 NIVII Marketing Agency Selects Urbanimmersive Content Marketing Solution MONTREAL, QUEBEC (Marketwired) 04/29/16 Urbanimmersive Inc. ( Urbanimmersive or UI) (TSX VENTURE: UI.V), the real estate content marketing marketplace, is pleased to announce the signing of a reseller agreement with the marketing web agency NIVII. The reseller agreement will allow NIVII to integrate Urbanimmersives content management system and marketplace solution to its web service offerings. The new Value Added Reseller (VAR) program of Urbanimmersive now allows marketing agencies and real estate website developers to offer a turnkey solution to their clients in order to simplify the production and publication of real estate content on their blogs, social networks and newsletters. Producing original real estate content represents a challenge for the majority of real estate professionals due, among other things, to the writing of original texts, to the finding of inspiration, to linguistics, grammatical and stylistic writing rules and the challenges of formatting the content for web publication. Using an API (Application Programming Interface) developed by Urbanimmersive, real estate website developers can now integrate a white labeled content management system of Urbanimmersive into the real estate blog of their customers. In doing so, their customers get access to all features and services of Urbanimmersives real estate content marketplace specifically designed to simplify production, collaboration, management and publication of real estate content. The new Value Added Reseller program is part of Urbanimmersives strategy to make of its content marketing marketplace the reference in the industry for the production and publication of original real estate content. By allowing real estate website developers to easily integrate Urbanimmersive to their product offerings and generate revenues from it, this reseller program allows Urbanimmersive to reach more real estate professionals quickly. About NIVII NIVII is a web marketing agency based in Quebec with over 100 customers with major brands. The agency is active in the real estate industry serving home builders. NIVII is a Certified Google Partners. For more information, visit : About Urbanimmersive Urbanimmersive is a content marketing marketplace for real estate professionals. The Company connect real estate professionals, photographers and writers in order to simplify and optimize original content production workflow. Urbanimmersive enables is customers to leverage their marketing investment while increasing productivity, competitiveness, their web visibility, consumer engagement with their brand and ultimately, their revenue. Contacts: Urbanimmersive Inc. Ghislain Lemire President and CEO 514-394-7820 X 202 Combined Annual Shareholders Meeting Posted by Publisher Internet Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 ING) held its Combined Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting today in Paris. The shareholders approved all the resolutions submitted by the Board of Directors except for Resolution 32, which purported to shorten term of office for the independent advisor (censeur). The main resolutions approved pertained to the following: The consolidated financial statements for 2015 Distribution of a dividend of ?1.30 per share, up 30% over the previous year and payable in cash or in shares Ratification of the appointment of Ms. Colette Lewiner and of Mr. Bernard Bourigeaud as Independent Directors The renewal of the terms of office of Ms. Diaa Elyaacoubi, Mr. Philippe Lazare, Ms. Florence Parly and Mr. Thibault Poutrel on the Board of Directors An advisory opinion on the components of the remuneration due or granted to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in respect of 2015 The delegations of financial decision-making authority to the Board of Directors The proposal to reorganize the Groups operating activities in France into subsidiaries The Board of Directors renewed Mr. Philippe Lazares mandate as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Philippe Lazare, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ingenico Group, stated: I want to thank all the Ingenico Group shareholders for their support and their confidence. This year once again, our governance practices have progressed, with independent directors now forming a sizable majority on the Board of Directors. I also want to extend my thanks to the Board members for their commitment to growing Ingenico Groups business. Information on dividends The ex-dividend date is May 6, 2016 and the dividend payable date is June 3, 2016. Shareholders opting for a dividend paid in new Ingenico Group shares, priced at ?88.44 per share, must exercise that option between May 6, 2016 and May 26, 2016, inclusive. Beyond that time limit, only cash dividends shall be paid. The price for shares issued as stock dividends shall be equal to 90% of the average closing price quoted for Ingenico Group shares on the NYSE Euronext Paris stock exchange over the twenty trading days preceding the date of the Shareholders Meeting, less the net amount of the dividend. The shares issued as stock dividends shall carry dividend rights as of January 1, 2016 and shall have the same rights and terms as the Companys existing shares traded on the NYSE Euronext Paris stock exchange. Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 ING) is the global leader in seamless payment, providing smart, trusted and secure solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online and mobile. With the worlds largest payment acceptance network, we deliver secure payment solutions with a local, national and international scope. We are the trusted world-class partner for financial institutions and retailers, from small merchants to several of the worlds best known global brands. Our solutions enable merchants to simplify payment and deliver their brand promise. Learn more at www.ingenico.com twitter.com/ingenico Social Movements April 29, 2016 Raju Das There are things. And there are conditions of existence of things. In India, as in all countries of the world, many social problems exist. Close to 700 million Indians do not have access to food that will provide the minimum number of calories required for a healthy life. In other words, there is a massive amount of absolute poverty. And then there are conditions of existence of problems such as poverty. These conditions include not only anti-poor economic policies of a government but also anti-democratic measures which stop people from fighting against poverty, in a united and effective way. These measures include those that divide up the masses along lines of religion and crush dissent that challenges a governments pro-business policies or actions of its foot-soldiers. This is indeed what we witness now-a-days in India which is under a rabid right-wing Hindu nationalist government exhibiting fascistic traits.[1] The deployment of anti-democratic measures becomes a positive condition for the existence of poverty and similar problems. The struggle to remove poverty and similar problems must include the struggle against the conditions for these problems. This latter struggle includes the struggle for the very right to struggle. So, the struggle against social problems is really a two-pronged struggle: a) the struggle against the cause of these problems that lie in the economic/class system, including government policies, and b) the struggle to create conditions for this struggle. The Two-Pronged Struggle for Democracy Given that the bourgeoisie is increasingly reneging on its promise to protect minimum democratic rights as in a liberal democracy, the struggle against poverty, etc. increasingly requires a political struggle. This is the struggle, for example, against the attempts of the bourgeois elements to divide the nation of exploited classes (the nation of workers and poor peasants and adivasi small-scale or communal producers) along the lines of religion, region, language, and caste, etc. The political struggle of ordinary people includes the struggle against the conditions for the religious right and casteists, etc. to exist; the political struggle means the struggle to unite the exploited and oppressed groups so they can then struggle against the cause of the social problems, and therefore struggle against the structural forces which create disunity, along lines of religion, caste, location, etc. Every political struggle is a struggle to and struggle against. One may argue that what is being suggested above goes against the following revolutionary-Marxist idea. A successful struggle against the undemocratic nature of contemporary bourgeois society[2] must be a part of a struggle for the abolition of the class relation itself because no struggle for democracy can be successful in a genuine, thorough-going, and enduring manner without it being also a struggle against the class rule. This is especially true in the poor countries where the bourgeoisie is scared of the rising working class which is expanding in its numerical size. Even in the rich countries, given rising inequality (that Thomas Piketty and others have been talking about), capitalism is increasingly incompatible with liberal democracy, even as a mask of class rule, and this partly explains the popularity of Bernie Sanders in a country where the utterance of the word socialism is considered a sin. So struggle to achieve democracy must be itself a struggle against the class rule. I would, however, dialectically defend the distinction between the two forms of the struggle (struggle against the structural cause of social problems and the political struggle): they are different but connected. Let me explain. Economy and Politics of Class Everything in the world has a unitary cause, and subject to this fact, it also has multiple causes operating at different ontological levels, although not all these causes are of equal importance. For example, the primary cause of poverty and similar problems is in the unequal control of societys resources, in the class-relation of exploitation, and other processes associated with class relations (e.g. competition, periodic crisis of the capitalist economy, etc.). But class is not merely an economic thing. It is also political. The capitalist state is co-responsible for poverty (its magnitude, its distribution across social groups and areas, and so on). Poverty and social problems in general are political in that sense. They are political in an additional sense. The state helps the ruling class treat some groups of people such as low-income working class women, non-elite adivasis, Muslims, etc. as subhuman or as second-class citizens who have less than one unit of citizenship. Such a treatment allows their super-exploitation: they can be paid a below-average-wage. As well, the state divides the mass of people who would otherwise struggle against poverty and other social problems that harm them. The state takes away from them their right to fight, and becomes violent when they do exercise their right to fight where it exists. This is how the state is responsible for (the continued existence of) the problems. A similar strategy is followed by non-state groups (e.g. Hindutva parivar elements) which are outside of, but also, increasingly, linked to, and occupying positions inside, the state. They weaken the forces that can fight against poverty and its underlying class-dynamics. Scarcity of jobs and government benefits, etc. is socially produced by a class system, but scarcity is blamed by the dominant groups (by, for example, the middle class Hindus) on religious and ethnic minorities.[3] That is why: to struggle against social problems requires a struggle to create the conditions for that struggle: such conditions include creating ideological-political unity among the oppressed and exploited elements. In the present Indian condition, this means that people will have to struggle for protecting and deepening democratic rights. This is an imperative given the attack on these rights by the state and fascistic Hindutva elements surrounding the state, and inside the state, which uses the ideology of the nation and religion to crush any dissent. There is no doubt that large sections of big business are in an alliance with, and support, these ultra-conservative, semi-fascistic elements, directly or indirectly. After all, they are the ones who would benefit from a united country and not a country where the working masses regardless of their religion and other social non-class positions rise against them. So the struggle for democracy must eventually become a struggle against the political interests of the bourgeoisie, and such a struggle, given proper leadership, can grow over into a struggle against their economic interests. The Political Form of the Struggle for Democracy What class form will such political struggle, the struggle for democracy, take? One answer is as follows. Workers, small-scale self-employed producers, and their political parties/movements and class-conscious trade union members as well as their progressive organic intellectuals and independent activists participating in class-based social movements, all these elements can come together, at local, regional and national levels, starting from a city-neighbourhood and rural hamlet. These elements will form working class action committees, with the aim of struggling for the democratic rights of these basic classes and class-fractions, in the first instance. These rights include the right to practice any religion one wishes, the right to eat whatever food one chooses (beef or not), the right to be free from caste, gender, linguistic and geographical discrimination, the right to free speech and public assembly without intimidation from the state forces and private forces (e.g. so-called moral police of the Right), the right to receive an education that respects scientific temper, secularism and internationalism, and so on. There is no reason why such a struggle cannot be independent of all bourgeois parties.[4] In fact, to have any traction, the political struggle must have that class independence vis-a-vis at least the big business parties and big business as a class. What is needed, in India (as elsewhere in similar contexts), is a class-based coalition (i.e. a united front)[5] of political forces outside of and in an antagonistic relation to the political space occupied by forces supporting the two big-business parties (Congress and BJP), in order to struggle for democracy (and more). And the working class and semi-proletarians must have their own independence: they must possess, and they must exercise, the right to launch ideological criticisms against the elements within the united front that maintain a conciliatory approach to the dominant classes. One may ask: on what these forces will put pressure in their political struggle?[6] On a bourgeois government (e.g. on a Congress or BJP government in India)? Or, will these basic classes and their organic intellectuals try to form a government of their own, which will respect secularism and democracy? Or, will they remain as an extra-governmental power bloc and merely put pressure on whichever government there is, i.e. pressure for secularism, for democracy, etc., in order to create conditions for the struggle for the abolition of the bourgeois system? These are difficult questions. My personal view is that if and when conditions allow, the demand must be made for a government of ordinary workers, landless/land-poor peasants, and the salaried elements of the urban working class, and independent producers in urban areas. But there is no doubt that: the more this political struggle consciously becomes a part of the struggle against the system of class rule as such i.e. the more this political struggle relates the attack on democracy and peoples living standards to their class origin the more effective will it be in winning what are political-democratic demands in the first instance, and even some economic demands in the short term. Working Class: Agents of Change The main agents for such struggle for democracy (and for economic concessions) must be workers, and small-scale producers who do not exploit others. As is widely known now, democratic measures and welfare benefits have been granted in the West and elsewhere more or less because of the threat of a 1917 (or 1949 perhaps) there. Typically major concessions are given by the ruling class when there is a threat to its class position, and not merely because of the threat to the political power of this or that party of this class or merely because of the trade union struggle, although the latter forms of struggle are important in that they add to the impact of major revolutionary upsurges such as 1917. There are definite limits to the extent to which in the current conjuncture characterized by what appears to be capitalisms terminal decline, a ruling class will concede to democratic demands (and significant economic concessions). This is especially the case when the undemocratic conduct[7] has become an important way in which the ruling class in a liberal democracy rules. In India, the bourgeoisies failure to protect peoples democratic rights (including right to freely unionize) and the failure to concede to demands for meagre improvement in living standards, during the Congress regime was a condition of existence for the current attack on democracy and living standards by the Right; and the Rights attack on democracy is even more severe than in the previous regime. Both parties (and the class forces behind them) have together shown that they and thus the big business class whose interests they represent are unsuitable to rule. And large sections of the masses are increasingly not tolerating the present state of affairs (e.g. attack on democratic rights and on their basic living standards), as indicated by numerous acts of resistance and strikes in different places in India. The Hindu Right, both within the state and outside, is the greatest threat to democracy. It must be fought on all fronts. The subjective raw materials conditions of existence exist for that struggle. 31 per cent votes were cast for the BJP at the 2014 national election. This means that merely 20 per cent of the eligible voters, or, 14 per cent of Indias population, supported it. In other words: potentially, 86% of India, 80% of eligible voters, and 69% of the people who voted did not support the BJP. This massive subjective force can produce the conditions for the struggle for democracy and secularism. This is the struggle of the 69% vs 31%, or indeed 86% vs 14%. And this 31% or 14% includes many people whose support is akin to marrying on a rebound: they voted for the BJP not because they supported it but because Congress, BJPs economic other, disappointingly failed to meet the needs of the people. There was no credible secular progressive national scale alternative on offer. On the other hand, there are millions of ordinary people who vote for Left parties[8] (at least 25 million people voted for left parties at the last election). The Communist Party-Marxist (CPM) alone has over a million Party members, and its mass and class organizations have a total membership of 70 million. In a large majority of left-oriented constituencies, left parties are major forces; they have lost partly because of the faulty electoral system (the first-past-the-post system).[9] The left parties vote share in West Bengal is nearly as much as BJPs vote share at the Center. The Left has not too long ago received overwhelming electoral support at local elections in Tripura; it indeed has increased its vote share. There are millions of people in Left-oriented unions in the country. In addition, there are progressive civil society organizations, including those of artists and writers, associated with the left. There are secular-minded people in smaller non-Left parties (including in what are called socialist parties, which are merging to form a united party, and in a middle class party, called Aam Admi Party); class-conscious workers in those parties may join or provide some support to the united front. India still has one of the largest concentrations of progressive intellectuals in the world who are committed to scientific and secular values, and who think from the standpoint of the working masses (workers and small-scale independent producers), however inadequately. All in all, India has a large left and secular-democratic ideological-political apparatus. That needs renewal and new energy. Armed with a proper class perspective and education, which unpacks the connection between class relations and the attack on democracy and which guides a class-oriented struggle for democracy and secularism, such a counter-hegemonic apparatus can create conditions of the existence for the struggle against poverty and other social problems. This apparatus can struggle for democracy and secularism and for an improvement in the standard of living, as conditions for existence for an uninterrupted struggle for a workers and poor peasants government. This struggle for democracy and secularism will announce to members of the bourgeoisie, whether they support rabid communalists or are formally secular, that their economic rule is in trouble, not only because it has failed to satisfy the needs of the masses while living off their labour with opulence but also because it has failed to respect the minimum standards of democracy. Of course, most parts of this ideological-political apparatus are unlikely to be clear about socialist goals. And, the question is then who will lead such a broad united front type movement, a movement within which class and democratic consciousness will be inevitably uneven. Under these conditions and given that Left movements have generally been more social democratic and electoralist than revolutionary, it is easy for the extant small-scale genuinely revolutionary forces to politically isolate themselves from the masses, to indefinitely wait for the right moment, and to think that their only goal now is the production of revolutionary (online) educative material. That would be a mistake. One is reminded of Lenins (1922) point here which he made in On the Significance of Militant Materialism: One of the biggest and most dangerous mistakes made by Communistsis the idea that a revolution can be made by revolutionaries alone. On the contrary, to be successful, all serious revolutionary work requires that the idea that revolutionaries are capable of playing the part only of the vanguard of the truly virile and advanced class must be understood and translated into action. A vanguard performs its task as vanguard only when it is able to avoid being isolated from the mass of the people it leads and is able really to lead the whole mass forward. The movement for democracy and for an improvement in living standards must be seen as a series of concentric circles, the innermost circle representing fight for socialism and for state power. This movement must play an educative role in the political sense: by struggling for democracy and for economic concession, the masses will use whatever they receive to further their struggle, and they will learn what the limits to their success are, and they will learn what combination of methods for struggle works in what context. Ideological education through pamphlets (online and offline) and speeches (electoral or academic or otherwise) and study circles and so on is absolutely important in order to produce a counter-hegemonic culture (Das, 2011), but ideological education, abstracted from actual mass struggles, can be futile beyond a point. When millions of people are suffering under grinding poverty and are facing attack on their democratic rights, when these objective conditions exist, it is criminal not to strengthen the hammer and sharpen the sickle of the subjective forces: the contradiction between the class-objective forces and class-subjective forces must narrow. And the united front movement must deploy multiple forms of struggle. It is instructive to return to Lenin (1920): History as a whole, and the history of revolutions in particular, is always richer in content, more varied, more multiform, more lively and ingenious than is imagined by even the best parties, the most class-conscious vanguards of the most advanced classes. [I]n order to accomplish its task the revolutionary class must be able to master all forms or aspects of social activity [including legal and illegal methods] without exception; second, that the revolutionary class must be prepared for the most rapid and brusque replacement of one form by another. Conclusion Shortly after coming to power, the Hindu right government recommended the promulgation of ordinances for auction of coal blocks and increasing the foreign investment ceiling for insurance from 26% to 49%. Given the determined resistance to its reforms agenda from the opposition, it failed to get the bills passed in the parliament. Replying to a question as to what was the urgency to bring an ordinance a day after the winter session concluded, the Finance Minister said: There has been too much delay. That is why there is urgency. How can delay that is, something not happening on time itself explain urgency? The answer is tautological. The Minister is hiding the real cause for urgency. But he could not entirely hide his feelings for the economic masters. He said: It [the ordinance] announces to the rest of the world, including investors, that this country can no longer wait even if one of the Houses of Parliament waits indefinitely to take up its agenda [italics added].[10] So, democratic method or not, the government is keen on paying back the bourgeoisie which placed it in power through its money power. The government will not wait. If the government exercises this kind of urgency in acting in the interest of the ruthless dictatorship of monopoly bourgeoisie, and as a part of the same process of serving its bourgeois masters, the government crushes all forms of democratic right including free speech and assembly and the practice of religion, then the working masses must show a similar kind of urgency and announce to the political class and its economic masters their own intention: to take control over their own political destiny and to say that they also cannot wait eternally. This article first published on the sanhati.com website. Your digital subscription includes access to all content on our agricultural websites across the nation. Access unlimited content and the digital versions of our print editions - This Week's Paper. For city money, South Bend apartments allot 40% of rooms to poor tenants The need for reasonably priced one- and two-bedroom units is dire in the city. Many renters are older and disabled residents who live alone. Marquette springs upset, Slinger survives in football playoffs The nine Milwaukee-area top-seeded football teams all won Friday night. The results across Level 1 set up some interesting games for the week ahead. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea The best space books for kids and teenagers will embrace a number of themes. We've picked some of the top sellers and most representative titles to add to your library. Parents and caregivers will like the emphasis on STEM (opens in new tab) (science, technology, engineering and math) along with these books' encouragement of diverse themes. Kids will also like learning about these things, while enjoying illustrations and in some cases, building up their literacy skills by reading about space topics they enjoy. We've picked the best space books for kids that have come up recently. Some of these books are science fiction, while others are focused more on biographies or activities. The goal is to give your teens and kids several entry points into space to see where their interests will lead them next. Embedded in these books will be a few things that long-time space explorers will appreciate. There are references to what being a planet means, which is relevant for fans of Pluto (opens in new tab). There are tales of interesting people who made a difference despite systemic obstacles, including the Mercury 13 (opens in new tab) or the Hidden Figures (opens in new tab). There are also wonderful space images (opens in new tab) taken from Earth or from other celestial locations, showcasing the beauty of our universe to those that are open to seeing it. We hope that these books will encourage your kid or teen to keep reading and to keep learning about STEM topics that have meaning to them. Many of us at Space.com first got interested in space when we were quite young, so we know the power of a good story in bringing new people into the field. Good luck! And for adults or older teens looking for something more age appropriate for themselves, we've also gout our guides to the best astronomy books and the best sci-fi books. Best space books for children (12 and under) (Image credit: Amazon) 1. Astronomy Activity Book For Kids 100+ Fun Ways to Learn About Space and Stargazing Specifications Price: 8.99 Author: Aurora Lipper (Author), Victoria Stebleva (Illustrator) Publisher: Z Kids Release Date: September 14, 2021 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Introduces kids to planets and constellations + Contains engaging STEM activities + Includes advice for practical stargazing + Adds videos for supplementary learning Reasons to avoid - Lacks spiral cover for easy opening - Biased towards Northern Hemisphere - Hard to bring outside for stargazing - Some activities require equipment Aimed at ages 5 to 7, this book by a former NASA scientist gives kids an excellent introduction to the sky. They'll learn about planets, constellations and other big targets. Learning is reinforced through engaging STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities that are kid-friendly. The book is also richly illustrated, which may help younger readers who may not be comfortable with all the terminology. With an astounding 160 pages available, youngsters will finish this book being able to find at least some things in the night sky. They also will have a handy entry point for more research, especially because the book includes a list of resources at the end, such as kid-friendly educational videos. (Image credit: Amazon) 2. Hidden Figures The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race Specifications Price: 10.89 Author: Margot Lee Shetterly (Author), Laura Freeman (Illustrator) Publisher: HarperCollins Release Date: January 16, 2018 Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Complements the Hollywood movie + Introduces kids to equity, diversity, inclusion + Shows civil rights and science history + Richly illustrated to attract younger readers Reasons to avoid - Lacks some biographical detail - Prioritizes facts over story - Includes some advanced vocabulary - Some readers say it can get dull at times Aimed at ages 4 to 8, this book is a simplified and richly illustrated version of the "Hidden Figures" story that has also appeared in Hollywood and in a bestselling adult's book. The book features the biographies of four Black women who worked at NASA during the early 1960s, facing barriers such as segregation and sexism to help the astronauts of the time land on the moon. The book is an example of how people behind the scenes can make a difference, but also serves as a good point of discussion for equity, diversity and inclusion in young audiences. While the book is more biographically focused and has less of a storytelling aspect, the four women themselves are good examples of how diversity can make a difference in space exploration and science fields. (Image credit: Amazon) 3. My First Book of Planets All About the Solar System for Kids Specifications Price: 6.79 Author: Bruce Betts Publisher: Rockridge Press Release Date: June 16, 2020 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Includes basic information about the planets + Up-to-date with information on dwarf planets + Vocabulary is perfect for young readers + Illustrations complement interesting facts Reasons to avoid - The pages are matte, not glossy - The book construction appears delicate - Some images are lacking clarity - Says Pluto is not a planet Aimed at ages 3 to 5, this book serves as an up-to-date introduction on the planets of our solar system. Some readers may be unhappy that Pluto is officially designated not a planet, which doesn't fit the view of all astronomers. But overall, the book has a rich diversity of solar system worlds, including dwarf planets. At times, the illustrations may fall a little short of expected, but they do perfectly complement the facts. Even the youngest children will be able to remember interesting information about the worlds around us, thanks to this book. Overall, the book serves as a great jumping-off point for curious kids looking to learn more about the universe, and is a perfect introduction to astronomy and science. (Image credit: Amazon) 4. Gutsy Girls Go For Science: Astronauts With Stem Projects for Kids Specifications Price: 14.95 Author: Alicia Klepeis (Author), Hui Li (Illustrator) Publisher: Nomad Press Release Date: September 24, 2019 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Introduces female role models to youngsters + Includes innovative STEM activities + Packed with sidebars and fun facts + Adds more information with QR codes Reasons to avoid - Lacks many pictures to reinforce concepts - Very focused on a few individuals - Little storytelling in favor of activities - Use of QR codes may leave out kids without phones or computers Aimed at kids aged 8 to 11, your hands-on youngsters will appreciate this book filled with STEM activities. This book is part of a larger series focused on females in fields such as engineering and coding. This particular edition focuses on astronauts, showing the types of science this profession demands in orbit. Best yet, the kids get to try out simplified versions of the science themselves. While the book only focuses on a few individuals, it does illustrate the roles of astronauts of multiple genders and how they contribute to space exploration. QR codes will help kids step off into their own exploration by viewing TEDx talks or other videos that are on similar science topics to what is contained in the book. (Image credit: Amazon) 5. There's No Place Like Space All About Our Solar System Specifications Price: 6.00 Author: Tish Rabe (Author), Aristides Ruiz (Illustrator) Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers Release Date: October 26, 1999 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Serves as an affordable introduction to space + Helps kids gain confidence with reading + Includes rhymes to assist with memorizing + Contains beautiful illustrations of the planets Reasons to avoid - Only appropriate for beginning readers - Quite dated for today's kids - Fans will see no mention of Dr. Seuss - Has a rude reference to Uranus Aimed at "beginning readers" aged 5 to 8, parents (and kids) who enjoy Dr. Seuss stories will appreciate this entry about planets. The book goes over what the authors deem to be the eight planets of our solar system, so just be aware that kids who know about Pluto's planet debate will have some questions to ask you. The book's age shows at times, including a rude joke about Uranus that today's children may feel uncomfortable with repeating. But the elements of Dr. Seuss are otherwise timeless, with the rich illustrations, the interesting characters, and the tongue-twisting rhymes that will leave you and your child laughing as you move through them. Best space books for teens (13 to 17) (Image credit: Amazon) 1. Women in Space 23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-Breaking Adventures Specifications Price: 11.89 Author: Karen Gibson Publisher: Chicago Review Press Release Date: March 3, 2020 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Discusses the Mercury 13 and other women of space exploration + Has a wide span of people who have flown in space or done research about it + Corrects the historical record about some individuals + Highlights equity, diversity, inclusion Reasons to avoid - Biographies lack in detail at times - Illustrations are quite small - Some readers may find the writing dull - A lot of focus on sexism, less on science Aimed at ages 12 and up, this comprehensive set of 23 female biographies profiles women who have worked in space or who have done a lot to support its exploration. Readers looking to learn more about the Mercury 13, or who want to read about female firsts in countries around the world, will greatly enjoy this book. While illustrations are small and the text at times tilts a little hard at sexism, it does showcase the reality and the difficulties of the early female space explorers. Readers interested in fields ranging from the sciences to engineering will also get inspired, as the book talks a little about the work these women did in space to advance these fields. (Image credit: Amazon) 2. A Complicated Love Story Set in Space Specifications Price: 11.99 Author: Shaun David Hutchinson Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Release Date: February 15, 2022 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + The main characters are enjoyable to learn about + The romance story between teenaged boys is rather sweet + Each character is very true to what it feels like to be a teen + It makes you wonder how teenagers will react to space as tourism opens up Reasons to avoid - Some main plot questions will be unanswered - The book is quite long, for reluctant readers - Few science elements discussed, in favor of science fiction - Pacing is uneven, although satisfying Aimed at ages 14 and up, this book quickly brings you into a teenaged romance between boys that takes place shortly after a disaster in space. The three main characters are very believable adolescents and often, readers say that their main complaint is they want to learn more about what happened after the events of the book. With authenticity at its core, and space as a stunning backdrop, the story is a great exploration into what it means to be growing up amid adverse circumstances. While we at times have less about space and more about plot, after all, this is a fiction novel. At 400 pages, happily, we'll get a chance to ride along with these characters for a while. (Image credit: Amazon) 3. Frank Herbert's Dune Saga 6-Book Boxed Set Specifications Price: 64.33 Author: Frank Herbert Publisher: Ace Release Date: August 25, 2020 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + A perfect complement to the 2021 movie + Effortlessly combines space and politics + Amazingly diverse, given the story is half a century old + Tells the story of a space journey from a teenaged perspective Reasons to avoid - Very expensive (maybe buy one book at a time) - Dated at times, as the original story was written in 1965 - The books are small and do not come in a boxed set - Some readers say the books are very delicate Aimed at teenagers about 14 or 15 and older, "Dune" is of course a classic series now going through its third generation of readers. Fans of the 2021 movie, or any of the comic books or other presentations of the story, will appreciate the chance to dive into the story in detail. Given the price of this set, though, you may want to invest in one book at a time to pace out your spending. "Dune" is a remarkably prescient book for its time, given it was written in 1965. Some readers may find dated elements to it, but the experience of being a teenager in a complex world still has a lot of resonance today. Today's teenagers will also appreciate the efforts at equity, diversity and inclusion that the young protagonist seeks, even when other forces are against him. (Image credit: Amazon) 4. The Astronomy Book Specifications Price: 14.29 Author: DK Publisher: DK Release Date: February 2, 2021 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Emphasizes facts with illustrations and flow charts + Includes a variety of objects, from quasars to pulsars + Highlights people of multiple genders contributing to space + Packed with interesting information across the universe Reasons to avoid - More emphasis on history than new findings - Some ideas might be obsolete - The information might be technical at times - Biographies are sometimes favored over science findings Aimed at young adults, this book aims to capture a breadth of topics about astronomy and the universe in which we live. While much of the book is a history of where we got today, it is a richly illustrated journey with pictures, flow charts, fact boxes and other elements to keep today's multimedia generation engaged. The biographies, of which there are many, at least highlight people of multiple genders contributing to astronomical discoveries. The book also isn't afraid to dive into the big debates of our era, whether it be how the Big Bang kickstarted the universe or what the real definition of a planet should be. (Image credit: Amazon) 5. Space Atlas, Second Edition Mapping The Universe And Beyond Specifications Price: 34.49 Author: James Trefil Publisher: National Geographic Release Date: October 23, 2018 Today's Best Deals Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Includes incredible photos of space vistas + Moves the reader comprehensively through the solar system and beyond + Richly updated with new spacecraft data + Perfect for dipping in or reading cover to cover Reasons to avoid - The book is for advanced audiences only - Each topic is only touched on briefly - Sometimes information is sacrificed to include an image - Not a very portable set of information For young readers and some adults, this book is a lovely tour through our solar system through the eyes of telescopes, spacecraft and other cosmic visitors. You'll get a brief, but excellent tour of topics from planets to galaxies. The pictures are second to none, and the information serves as a guide to learn more. Advanced readers will enjoy this book best, although they may find that they don't get as deep a dive on the topic as they wish. The book, however, does seek to touch on many topics, which means you can use each section as a further reading guide to figure out more about our fascinating universe. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. The April 27 award of an $83 million U.S. Air Force contract to launch a GPS-3 satellite gives SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket (shown above rolling out for the January 2016 launch of Jason-3) an important foothold in the national security launch market. WASHINGTON SpaceX has won an $82.7 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to launch a next-generation GPS satellite aboard its Falcon 9 rocket in May 2018, the first of nine launch contracts the Defense Department plans to put out for bid over the next three years. The award announced April 27 by the Pentagon was all but certain to go to SpaceX since the only other qualified bidder, United Launch Alliance, sat out the competition saying, in part, it didnt think it could win a cost shootout with SpaceX. The contract also marks a significant first for Elon Musks rocket company, which DoD had previously only entrusted with small, experimental satellites. The deal is SpaceXs first award under the Air Forces Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program, which since its inception has divided the launch of big-ticket national security satellites between the Atlas and Delta rockets. [The Rockets and Spaceships of SpaceX (Images)] "This GPS 3 Launch Services contract award achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions," Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, commander of the Air Forces Space and Missile Systems Center, said in an April 27 press release. United Launch Alliance, which for the past decade has launched nearly every U.S. national security satellite, said in November it did not submit a bid for the 2018 GPS-3 launch in part because at the time it did not expect to have an Atlas 5 rocket available for the mission. The company also cited problems certifying its accounting system and concerns about how the Air Force would weigh price versus reliability, schedule certainty, technical capability and past performance in choosing a launch provider. The win gives SpaceX a foothold in a national security launch market its been eager to crack for years. In 2012, SpaceX gave the Air Force an unsolicited bid to launch the GPS 3 satellites for $79.9 million per launch. The Air Force rejected the offer, but initiated a process for certifying SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket to carry military and intelligence payloads to orbit. The Air Force completed that process in May. But in four years since SpaceX tossed that unsolicited $79.9 million offer over the Air Forces fence, SpaceXs price for the GPS 3 mission barely moved. The new contract is a firm-fixed price contract for $82.7 million to cover launch vehicle production, mission integration, and launch operations and spaceflight certification, the Pentagons announcement said. The GPS 3 mission is the first of nine medium-class launches the Air Force intends to put out for bid by the end of 2018. Of the nine, six are for GPS 3 satellites, all of which are in SpaceXs wheelhouse and will pose a competitive challenge for ULA if the Air Force continues to make price a key deciding factor. A request for proposals for the next GPS 3 launch, this time for the third satellite in the constellation, known as GPS 3-3, is expected later this spring. ULA has said it plans to bid on the next mission. Meanwhile, the same day the Air Force was preparing to announce SpaceXs GPS 3 win, the Hawthorne, California, company upstaged the contract award by announcing over social media that it plans to send an unmanned version of its Dragon capsule to Mars as soon as 2018. "SpaceX is planning to send Dragons to Mars as early as 2018," SpaceX said on Facebook. "Red Dragon missions will help inform the overall Mars architecture that will be unveiled later this year. These missions will help demonstrate the technologies needed to land large payloads propulsively on Mars." This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. Scientists have discovered a new type of comet, one that is nearly tailless like a Manx cat, that may be a leftover chunk of the same stuff that formed the Earth billions of years ago. The newfound comet, shown here in an artist's depiction, is returning from the Oort cloud at the solar system's edge. A new kind of comet that is nearly tailless has been discovered and the surprises don't stop there. The new comet recently returned from the edge of the solar system but may have originated much closer to the sun, scientists say. In fact, it may even reveal clues about the building blocks of Earth. Given the nearly tailless appearance of this new comet, the scientists named it a Manx object, after Manx cats, which are mostly tailless. "I always tell my students that science is 99-percent hard work, sometimes tedious, because the details really matter," said study lead author Karen Meech, an astronomer at the University of Hawaii. "But there is 1 percent of the time where there is the thrill of excitement, when you discover something new and unexpected and you know it is important," she told Space.com. "This was one of those times!" This newfound class of comet also may help to solve the mystery of how the solar system formed, the scientists noted. [Comet Quiz: Do You Really Know These Icy Wanderers?] Most known comets come from the Oort cloud a cold, giant shell surrounding the solar system like a giant, thick soap bubble. Scientists estimate that the Oort cloud is made of trillions of icy bodies that lie as far as 100,000 times Earth's distance from the sun. Scientists have discovered a new type of comet, one that is nearly tailless like a Manx cat, that may be a leftover chunk of the same stuff that formed the Earth billions of years ago. The newfound comet, shown here in an artist's depiction, is returning from the Oort cloud at the solar system's edge. (Image credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser) Astronomers focused on a comet named C/2014 S3 using the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii. The comet, discovered in 2014, is a little more than twice as far away from the sun as Earth is. The 860-year-long orbit of the comet, known as S3 for short, suggested it came from the distant Oort cloud. Unlike other known comets, S3 was nearly tailless up to 100,000 times or so less active than typical comets on similar orbits. Comets grow more active when they approach the sun and their ice heats up, becoming the gas making up a comet's tail. The lack of activity from S3 suggests it was ice-poor instead of ice-rich, unlike previous known comets from the Oort cloud. Follow-up observations of dust in this comet's stubby tail conducted with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope revealed that S3 more closely resembled stony asteroids from the asteroid belt than a typical comet. Their model of this new comet's dust confirmed that it came off the comet itself, as opposed to originating from a piece of rock that may have collided with the comet. "We've found the first rocky comet," study co-author Olivier Hainaut, an astronomer at the European Southern Observatory in Garching, Germany, said in a statement. [See Amazing Comet Photos from Earth and Space] This image of the weird tailless Comet C/2014 S3 (Pan-STARRS) was made from observations by scientists using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and the Canada-France Hawaii Telescope. It is the first rocky comet ever found, scientists say. (Image credit: K. Meech (IfA/UH)/CFHT/ESO) Because of their proximity to the sun, Earth and the rest of the inner solar system have relatively little ice compared with the outer solar system. This newly discovered comet's lack of ice suggests that, although it came from the Oort cloud, it may have actually originated in the inner solar system. "It is very exciting S3 would have been kicked out while the Earth was being formed, possibly even by the early-days Earth," Hainaut told Space.com. "S3 would then be a planetesimal like those which formed the Earth, but preserved since that time in the cold of outer space." "We already knew of many asteroids, but they have all been baked by billions of years near the sun," Meech said in a statement. "This one is the first uncooked asteroid we could observe it has been preserved in the best freezer there is." Previous research suggested that Manxes that are not rocky also exist for instance, dead comets that have lost most of their ice. "These icy Manxes make the count of the rocky ones more difficult, as one has to determine if a Manx is rocky or icy, which is tricky," Hainaut said. It remains uncertain what portion of the Oort cloud is made up of rocky Manxes. "We are now trying to measure this fraction," Hainaut said. "As of today, we know that the fraction of rocky objects is small. Otherwise, many Manxes would already be known 1 to 500 to 1 to 5,000 or so, but we don't know yet how small." This illustration shows the most likely orbit for Comet C/2014 S3 (Pan-STARRS), the first-ever object found to be on a long-period cometary orbit. The comet's current orbit takes 860 years to complete one trip around the sun. (Image credit: ESO/L. Calcada) Recent models of solar system formation suggest that gravitational interactions between the planets may have slung matter from the inner solar system outward, with each model predicting different amounts of inner solar system material in the outer solar system. Discovering how many comets are rocky Manxes in the Oort cloud might help narrow down which of these models might best explain how the solar system was born. The researchers' statistical analyses suggest that if they can find 50 rocky Manxes, they can begin discriminating which models of solar system formation might be likely or unlikely. "Based on that number, we are now asking for telescope time on various telescopes to track these objects," Hainaut said. Further analysis of the compositions and other features of the rocky Manxes might help shed light on how the solar system has evolved over time. "It is very exciting to know that this rock [S3] is likely a building block of the Earth, or at least of the rocky planets," Hainaut said. "We can now study it or other similar ones we are now observing and learn more about the Earth and its formation." The scientists detailed their findings online April 29 in the journal Science Advances. Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebookand Google+. Original story on Space.com. World View is developing a type of balloon it calls a "Stratollite" that can remain in the upper atmosphere for extended periods and hover over a region, providing services usually provided by orbiting spacecraft. WASHINGTON An Arizona company developing stratospheric balloons for tourism and research announced April 28 it has raised $15 million to develop a new type of high-altitude balloon that could serve missions usually handed by satellites. World View Enterprises said the $15 million Series B round will go towards the development of what it calls "Stratollites," a version of its high-altitude balloons that are able to remain aloft for extended periods of time and remain over the same area, or travel extended distance as needed to carry out their mission. World View is already flying more conventional balloons that carry research payloads into the stratosphere for limited periods of time. "The major innovation in this product is the ability to fly for long periods of time over specific places of interest," said Jane Poynter, chief executive of World View, in an interview. World View is able to control its Stratollites without any propulsion system, but rather by taking advantage of divergent wind conditions at different altitudes in the stratosphere. "The beautiful thing is that the planet gives us a propulsion system, and it's called the wind," Poynter said. Taber MacCallum, World View chief technology officer, said the company has already done some test flights to validate wind models to confirm that they can maneuver using the wind. "It's a bit like sailing," he said. More tests are planned over the next several months before beginning to fly customers towards the end of the year. World View anticipates using Stratollites for applications like communications, remote sensing and meteorology, missions today frequently carried out by satellites. Poynter said the company has received "a lot of interest" from potential customers for those applications, although she did not disclose any specific commercial or government customers. "No other balloon, satellite or drone has been able to successfully complete long-endurance flight over a specific area of interest and safely return to Earth," said Deepak Kamra, general partner at Canaan Partners, a venture capital fund that led the investment round. "World View is creating a brand new 'above-Earth' economy that operates in an unutilized layer of space." World View, which raised $7 million in an earlier Series A round, said the new investment will go towards accelerating development of the Stratollite technology and beginning commercial service. Canaan and other investors, including Norwest Venture Partners, are providing additional business support, Poynter said. World View is best known for a balloon system called Voyager that is designed to take people to altitude of about 30 kilometers, giving them a view not unlike that from space. Those flights will also be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administrations Office of Commercial Space Transportation. Poynter said the technology they are developing for Stratollites would also apply to Voyager. In January, officials in Pima County, Arizona, where World View is based, agreed to construct a new headquarters and manufacturing facility for the company, along with a pad for balloon launches, near the Tucson airport. Poynter said construction of that new headquarters is "going great," and should be ready for the company to move in around the end of the year. That incentive agreement between the company and the county has generated a lawsuit against the county by the Goldwater Institute, a Phoenix-based think tank who argues that the deal violates a "gift clause" provision in the state's constitution. That suit has not affected construction, Poynter said. Originally published on Space News. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. 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Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. The question now is how far Europe is willing to go in its self-denial. It's likely the European Commission will provide an answer next week. "It's not possible for Turkey to fulfill the criteria 100 percent. We know that," says one German official with knowledge of the negotiations. The official says the situation will not ultimately be black or white -- it will be gray. "It's like when you tell your kids that you will take them on vacation if they great straight A's," says another EU diplomat. "Are you really going to cancel if they get a B?" But what if there is also an F or two in there? One of the points of contention is a Turkish anti-terror law so broadly defined that it makes it possible for Erdogan to go after anyone he decides to label as a terrorist, even journalists who report critically about him. Inside the European Commission, some believe this law gives a "blank check" to Turkish security agencies to do as they please. Parts of Turkish law are also inconsistent with the European Convention on Human Rights. Even in Ankara, many doubt that anything will change fundamentally in the coming weeks. Ertugrul Yacinbayir, the country's former deputy prime minister, says the government has no interest in undertaking a reform of the anti-terror law. "They will never implement all of the EU's conditions," he says. Erdogan's strategy is that of agreeing to many of the conditions. But he has done little in a few, decisive areas. It is a course of action he hopes will make it as difficult as possible for the Europeans to turn away from their visa pledge. When a 20-person EU delegation traveled to Ankara to negotiate the details of the visa deal, around 60 well-prepared Turkish specialists were waiting for the Europeans. They addressed issues like combatting corruption and altering laws against money laundering. For the last four days, there has even been a daily video conference between Commission representatives and Turkish government experts in order to clarify problems. Erdogan Unequivocal Even critical EU diplomats readily admit that Turkey has in fact moved forward with a number of draft laws. In its last progress report on visa liberalization for Turkey in March, the Commission reported that "a number of important steps forward" had been made. And this week, a long-awaited letter arrived confirming, for example, that Iraqis and Afghans who are returned from Greece to Turkey are now able to submit applications for international protection. "We have implemented almost all conditions," says Selim Yenel, Turkey's ambassador to the EU. "We want the agreement to be implemented in its entirety and for all Turkish citizens." At public appearances, Erdogan leaves no doubts about his expectation that visa-free travel will be implemented in June. The president plans to keep to his word, having pledged visa-free travel to voters. He can ill afford a failure on the issue. "Erdogan is prepared to go as far as he has to," says Metin Corabatir, president of the Research Center on Asylum and Migration (IGAM) in Ankara. "If the EU rebuffs Turkey, then the deal will be history. Then Erdogan will hardly be willing to serve as Europe's doorman." The issue of visa-free travel for Turks is also a political hot potato for Merkel domestically. It could re-escalate delicately patched over differences she has with the CSU's Seehofer over her refugee policies. The CSU opposes visa-free travel and Seehofer has recently been making sure that everyone knows it. In an interview with the Bayernkurier, a newspaper that serves as the party's mouthpiece, the politician said he could only warn against it, saying that visa-free travel might lead to the importation of "internal Turkish problems" to Germany. It's sentiment shared by Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Hermann, likewise with the CSU. "In my opinion, the unlimited free entry of Turks and Kurds to Germany is indefensible for security reasons," he says. Hermann sees a danger "that the Turkish-Kurdish conflict will be imported and carried out on German soil." The critical voices aren't restricted to the CSU; they can also be found in Merkel's own CDU. The party's domestic policy expert in parliament, Wolfgang Bosbach, for example, notes that the federal government had "always rejected" visa-free travel for Turks "because it feared a considerable increase in irregular migration, and not without reason, particularly in light of the critical situation in the Kurdish regions." From the perspective of security, he says, visa freedom is problematic. Will Visa Waiver Bring Influx of Turks? Interior Ministry officials in Berlin fear that the lifting of the visa requirement will lead to a massive spike in the number of Kurds applying for asylum here. Visa-free travel would give them the ability to take a normal flight to Germany as a tourist and then submit their asylum requests once they land -- applications that in many cases would have a good chance of success. There are already 11,000 Turkish nationals living in Germany after having been provided with asylum due to state persecution at home. If President Erdogan continues to escalate the conflict with the Kurdish population in southeastern Turkey, that number could rise even further. Fears also persist in Berlin that the policy will result in an influx of poverty migrants from Turkey who will go off the grid and make ends meet with under-the-table jobs rather than leaving after 90 days as stipulated under the visa-waiver program. Gareth Jenkins, a prominent British expert on Turkey, believes that a substantial number of Turks would come to Europe and either apply for asylum or disappear into the underground economy, especially in Germany and the Netherlands, where so many Turks have relatives. There are already 400,000 internally displaced refugees within the Kurdish regions of Turkey as a result of the civil war-like conditions there. Many are dirt poor, Jenkins says, "but whether by finding it themselves or borrowing it from others, even they would be able to find enough money to get a passport and pay the 70 to 80 it costs for a one-way flight on a budget airline from Turkey to Germany." It's not just the potential increase in the number of Turks entering Germany that frightens CSU politicians. They also fear that the issue could help to further elevate the right-wing populist AfD. Reservations about a visa waiver for Turks among the German population are significant. A poll taken in March found that 49 percent of Germans reject the initiative. Gunther Krichbaum, the chairman of the federal parliament's European Affairs Committee, fears that the debate will unsettle Germans. "The people are paying very close attention to what is happening right now," he says. "The EU's credibility is at stake." The Bundestag, though, doesn't have the power to stop the visa-waiver plans. It must be approved by the European Council, the powerful EU body that represents the leaders of the 28 member states, and by the European Parliament, but not by the German parliament. But Manfred Weber, the group leader of the Christian Democrats in the European Parliament, is calling for just that. "Given the importance, especially for Germany, it would surely be good if the government in Berlin were to underpin the refugee treaty with a decision by the Bundestag, including any possible visa liberalization," he says. 'Increasingly Unlikely' Netanyahu himself is responsible for critics of Israel having become more powerful. Almost 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, but the Jewish population has now risen to 350,000, spread out over 125 settlements. The colonies fragment the region: It would be impossible to create a cohesive Palestinian state without clearing a large number of the settlements. "A two-state settlement is becoming increasingly unlikely," wrote the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in a recent analysis. "The financial and political costs of implementing it rise with every settlement unit needing to be demolished and with every settler needing to be evacuated and compensated." A majority of the Israeli cabinet is now openly opposed to a Palestinian state. One example is Minister of Education Naftali Bennett, who is also head of the pro-settler party The Jewish Home. "Israel cannot withdraw from more territory and cannot allow for the establishment of a Palestinian state," he said in 2015. The German Foreign Ministry has carefully collected all such quotes. Officials there are now simulating alternative scenarios, and most of them are not optimistic. Their focus is on possible alternatives to the founding of a Palestinian state. Not Backing Down Would Israel annex the areas in question? And would the country be prepared to grant Palestinians in such a state equal rights, with the risk that Jews could soon be in the minority? Or would Israel establish an apartheid regime similar to the one that once held sway in South Africa? These are exactly the questions that US Secretary of State John Kerry posed during a December forum in Washington, DC. He warned that the "two-state solution" is threatening to become just a "throwaway phrase" and encouraged Israelis to confront the difficult questions. "We can't go back and forth and maintain the norms of diplomacy and pretend." Could the German foreign minister hold a similar speech? In January, those in favor of Steinmeier doing just that floated a trial balloon. They wrote a draft speech for the minister in preparation for his appearance in early February at the Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz. The draft speech did not blame Israel exclusively for the failure of the peace process, but it asked questions that a German foreign minister has never dared ask in public. Many in Steinmeier's circle liked the manuscript, but the pro-Israeli members of his staff ultimately won out. Steinmeier's office manager Jens Plotner removed the decisive passages from the speech. But the Israel skeptics aren't backing down. They are planning on trying again ahead of Steinmeier's next speech on the issue. Rome, April 28, 2016 (SPS) - Minister Counsellor and Personal Envoy of the President of Republic, Mr. Bashir Mustapha Sayed, held several meeting at different levels, the government, parliament and political parties during his visit to Italy. President Envoy accompanied by Polisario Fronts representative in Italy, Mr. Amih Omar has met the Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of the Mediterranean region, Mr. Enzo Amendula, Sahrawi delegation was also received at the headquarters of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate and Human Rights Commission. It should be recalled that the said visit comes in the framework of diplomatic tour leads the president envoy to several countries in Europa. SPS 125/090/TRA Helsinki (Finland), April 28, 2016 (SPS) - The Finish former Foreign Minister, Mr. Erkki Tuomioja stressed in an interview with the Association for the Monitoring of the resources and for the protection of the environment (AMRPENWS), I have been a minister for eleven years, and all these years, I dont see the Moroccan side being interested in any solution, and is undermining the UNs resolutions... but at the same time, the UN should be the primary mover for a solution for the issue. We have the resolutions, but they have to be implemented. In his response to question about Ban Ki Moon s description of Moroccos presence in Western Sahara as Occupation, He used the language of the UNs resolutions, resolution 1514, indicating that Morocco made a mistake by protesting against Ban Ki Moon, because that would make him and the Security Council more ready to defend a resolution that a huge majority has already called for. He added that Morocco seems also to use everybodys concern about terrorism as an excuse; and also claiming that Western Sahara has potentials for terrorism. former Foreign Minister of Finland said that the European court of Justices ruling on December 10th,2015, is very interesting. It might come very handy even if the European Council appealed it... this progress in this situation is yet to be seen. It is very encouraging to have such a ruling as it prioritizes this issue on the EUs agenda. Respecting any potential role for Finland as a government in the Saharawi issue, he replied: I am now, here, representing the opposition in the parliament, so I cant speak for the government here, The position on Western Sahara has not changed, and I dont think it will change. Actually, there are questions about Western Sahara presented officially by the parliamentary group to the government. We are waiting for the written answers to be submitted from the government side. Erkki Tuomioja advices the Saharawis to be patient saying: I have seen in some cases that looked like lost cases, but at the end of the day they won. For example, the independence of the Baltic republics which thirty years nobody would have thought possible just happened out of the blue. At the end of his interview, Thats an opportunity of course, but I dont see any indications there could be anything new, only a prolongation for the rather frustrating situation which we have been having. The Finish former Foreign Minister said regarding the upcoming UNs meeting on Western Sahara. SPS 125/090 . London, April 29, 2016 (SPS) - The international organization supporting Western Sahara and based in the United Kingdom, Western Sahara Action Forum (WSAF) has blamed the United Nations Security Council for Morocco's human rights violations against Sahrawi prisoners. All violations by the Moroccan authorities against Sahrawi citizens are "direct result of the UN Security Council's failure to implement a referendum on the right of self-determination" of Sahrawi people, said WSAF in a statement published on its website. "Arbitrary arrest, torture in detention, denial of adequate medical care and unfair trials are all common violations by the Moroccan state against Sahrawi citizens," said the UK-based organization. WSAF has reiterated its solidarity with all Sahrawi prisoners in Moroccan jails and called on the UN Security Council to include human rights monitoring in the mandate of the UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which should set, the soonest possible, a date for the referendum. The international organization also expressed concerns about the "health of 17 Sahrawi university students, currently on hunger strike in the Moroccan prison of Oudaya." The health of these Sahrawi students, who were arrested on 29 January after participating in protests in Agadir and Marrakech, "has deteriorated and they require hospital treatment," said WSAF. The organization also expressed "concerns about the status of another hunger striker, Abdul Khaliq al-Markhi, a human rights defender. He is currently serving a four-year sentence in the Moroccan prison of Tiznit," adding that since he "began hunger strike on 1 April, he has reported suffering irritation in his eyes and chest, pain in his head and stomach, nausea, and restricted movement, to the extent that he now requires a wheelchair." "Despite these serious health problems, it is reported that he is not receiving adequate medical attention," deplored the UK-based organization. (SPS) 062/090/700 New York, April 29, 2016 (SPS) - The Representative of the Polisario Front to the United Nation, Boukhari Ahmed, has welcomed the renewal of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) by the UN Security Council. Following the decision of the UN Security Council on Friday to renew the mandate of the mission, Mr. Boukhari Ahmed also called for more urgent and decisive Council action to reverse Moroccos expulsion of MINURSOs civilian personnel, and to set a firm timeline for final negotiations on a referendum. Below is the statement by Ahmed Boukhari: SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR END TO DEADLOCK ON WESTERN SAHARA; POLISARIO DEMANDS DECISIVE ACTION TO RESTORE UN MISSION AND TALKS ON SELF-DETERMINATION New York, 29 April 2016 Following the first divided vote in Security Council deliberations on Western Sahara in more than 15 years, the Frente POLISARIO welcomed the renewal of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and called for more urgent and decisive Council action to reverse Moroccos expulsion of MINURSOs civilian personnel, and to set a firm timeline for final negotiations on a referendum. Todays two votes against the resolution (Venezuela, Uruguay), as well as three abstentions (New Zealand, Angola, Russia), sends a powerful signal that business as usual on Western Sahara is unacceptable and cannot continue. Council members expressed strong support for MINURSOs full mandate, and a solution which provides for Saharawi self-determination. The days of Security Council members having their head in the sand on Western Sahara are over. Todays vote sends a message, loud and clear, that the status quo is unacceptable, and that Morocco will not be allowed to obstruct the UNs mission in Western Sahara, nor to kill off our long-promised right to vote in a referendum to decide our political future. The POLISARIO leadership will consider todays resolution carefully, and decide on next steps. Justice and international law will prevail. In todays Security Council debate, the majority of Council members criticized Moroccos unprecedented challenge to the authority of the Security Council, which has a set a dangerous precedent for peacekeeping worldwide. Todays resolution requires the Secretary-General to brief the Council within 90 days on whether MINURSO has been restored to full functionality by the return of MINURSOs civilian personnel, and to consider further action against Morocco if it has not. Whether MINURSO operates in Western Sahara is not a decision that can be taken unilaterally by an illegal occupier in a Non-Self-Governing Territory. The legality of the situation is clear. The International Court of Justice confirmed in 1975 that Morocco has no sovereign ties to Western Sahara, a legal reality that led the European Court of Justice to recently strike down the EU agricultural trade agreement with Morocco. Speaking to the Security Council on 26 April, African Union Special Envoy for Western Sahara Joaquim Chissano reaffirmed the AUs strong support for the Saharawi peoples right to self-determination, who must be given the opportunity of choosing freely their destiny. Morocco is the only African country that is not a member of the AU because it has isolated itself with its illegal occupation of Western Sahara. (SPS) 062/090 The study, commissioned by Farmers Weekly, suggests that farmers are significantly at odds with the farming establishment. The National Farmers Union, farmers unions in Scotland and Wales and most other farming bodies that have taken a position have declared their support for staying in the EU. Overall, 58% of farmers who took part in the research said they will vote leave on 23 June, while only 31% plan to opt for remain, with 11% undecided. The proportions vary across the country, but according to the research there is no part of the UK where there is not a sizable majority in favour of leaving amongst those who have decided how to vote. Farmers in the Midlands, South West England, South East England, East Anglia and Yorkshire/Humberside are most keen to leave the EU. Those in Scotland, Wales and the North West of England are slightly more inclined to want to remain, though a significant majority in these regions still say they will vote to leave. There is also considerable variation in voting intention by farm type. Poultry farmers and growers of vegetables, sugar beet and potatoes were most likely to say they favour Brexit in the study, while sheep and beef farmers had the highest proportions for staying in the EU. The research, conducted by Reed Business Insight on behalf of Farmers Weekly between 11 and 20 April, is based on responses from 577 farmers across the UK, with the results weighted to reflect the profile of the UK farming population. Looking at other breakdowns of the results, farmers with smaller holdings and those either under 45 or over 65 are more likely to vote to leave the union, while those running bigger farms and farmers aged 45 to 65 are less likely to want to break with Brussels. The study also asked farmers what issue most influenced the way they intend to vote in the referendum. Not surprisingly the results suggest significant differences in the priorities of farmers on opposite sides of the debate. Farmers who want to leave say they are influenced mainly by issues not directly related to farming, such as concern about loss of sovereignty and immigration. When asked about farming-related issues they cite frustration with EU red tape as by far the biggest factor influencing their decision. The minority of farmers who want to remain in the EU are mainly worried about the impact of Brexit on their economic prospects. They are particularly concerned that leaving the EU will lead to a winding down of farm subsidies, and make it harder to access key European markets for agricultural products. Farmers who said they plan to vote remain are pessimistic about their prospects should the UK vote to split with Brussels - 90% of these farmers believe that Brexit would make them worse off. In contrast, 63% of those who say they will vote to leave believe that their businesses will be better off outside the EU, although a sizable 29% think it will make no difference. Asked how confident they were that a post-Brexit UK government would implement farmer-friendly policies, 90% of those planning to vote remain were either not at all confident or not very confident. However, even those in the leave camp are somewhat uncertain, with only 13% saying they are very confident and 57% quite confident, leaving 27% with little confidence that they would be on the receiving end of farmer-friendly policies if we left the EU and 3% who dont know. Although many of those wanting to break with the EU cited red tape as the main issue influencing their decision, a sizable minority of these farmers think Brexit will make no difference to the amount of farm regulation they face. 62% of leave voters believe the amount of regulation would reduce but 35% think it would stay the same. Amongst the minority of farmers who say they want to stay in the EU, 71% believe that leaving would make no difference to the amount of red tape. The same stark divide between those opting for leave and remain was evident when farmers were asked how confident they were that the UK would be able to negotiate preferential trade deals with EU member states post-Brexit. 92% of those wanting to quit the EU are either very confident or quite confident about this, whereas 79% of those opting to stick with Brussels are either not very confident or not at all confident. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY Six inmates stood outside the Federal Correctional Institution on Thursday, anxiously awaiting the prisons newest residents. The two arrivals seemed even happier than the women assembled to greet them, wagging their tails and licking the faces of their new companions. It was the first day of a new dog training program at the prisons minimum-security womens camp. The dogs were brought by Tails of Courage, a national dog rescue organization based in Danbury. They will be matched with inmates training to become dog handlers. Each dog will stay with an inmate at all times until it is can be adopted. These dogs are going to have attention 24/7, said Lynne Kelly, the facilitys executive assistant and camp administrator. Were hoping to give them some skills that make them more adoptable. The launching of the program was one of several activities held at the facility in the past few days to mark National Reentry Week, a new initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice. The activities included a job fair, a seminar on how to start a business, presentations about programs available to offenders on supervised release and panel discussions on existing and new re-entry services. Basically, (inmates) have a network of services once theyre released from our custody, Kelly said. National Reentry Week events are being held in all 50 states. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Connecticut said the events are part of an ongoing effort to make our criminal justice system fairer, more efficient and more effective at reducing recidivism and helping formerly incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities. A major part of this commitment is assisting those who have served time in prison transition to being productive and law-abiding members of society, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Deirdre Daly said in a statement. Too often, returning citizens face impregnable barriers as they compete for jobs, seek to attain stable housing and support their families. Through the new dog training program, Tails of Justice, two inmates already certified to handle dogs will each train two other inmates to raise a dog. The second inmate will be a back-up handler when the primary handler is eating or showering. After the inmates are done training, they will receive the same certification from the U.S. Department of Labor and will begin training other prisoners. Kelly hopes the certification can help inmates find jobs in animal shelters, dog grooming facilities and similar businesses. This partly helps them do their time because they have the emotional connection to the animal, Kelly said. It helps them get through the day and it also gives them a marketable skill to find employment. One of the two certified trainers currently incarcerated at the Danbury prison is Linda Watkins, 55, who did a similar program while incarcerated in West Virginia. That program taught inmates to train service and therapy dogs. When I came here, I didnt have a lot of patience, she said. And being in that program, I learned to have patience. Ive become calmer and I actually want to help other people. Watkins, who also took a veterinarian technicians course while in prison, hopes her new skills will help her find a job when she is released. Kerry Seaman, the other certified dog trainer, was in a similar program that was given in the Danbury prison until last year. She said that program, which trained inmates to raise bomb-sniffing dogs, changed her experience behind bars, which she hopes to pass on to other prisoners. That program helped me get through my time here, she said. For me, getting this program started is to be able to leave something for the other ladies who come behind me... Its almost like a second chance for the dog as well as a second chance for us. noliveira@newstimes.com, 203-731-3411, @olivnelson STAMFORD The Connecticut Womens Hall of Fame will host a STEM program at Scofield Magnet Middle School on May 6, featuring STEM leaders and Rep. Jim Himes (D-4). The event is designed to expose Scofields 270 sixth graders to women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. Research shows that more than half of girls who are interested in STEM have been exposed to a female STEM role model, and that its crucial young women see the connection between STEM subjects and solving real-world problems, according to the group. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MILFORD A person was hit and killed by an Amtrak train Friday afternoon, the second fatal accident involving Amtrak on the same day. A trespasser was struck by Amtrak Train 2158, Amtrak's Acela Express service, near the Milford train station Friday afternoon at about 2 p.m., according to Amtrak spokesperson Craig Schultz. The train was operating from Washington, D.C., to Boston. Schiltz said 297 passengers were on board the train, though no one was injured. Amtrak is working with Metro-North Railroad to restore service to the area, as trains are currently being held away from the area while an investigation is conducted. Milford police spokesman Officer Joseph Dempsey said Metropolitan Transit Authority is currently handling the investigation while Milford police officers assist. Metro-North had tweeted just after 2 p.m. that service on the New Haven Line between New Haven and Stamford was delayed and service between New Haven and Bridgeport was suspended due to the police activity. Service on the New Haven Line returned to normal schedule at about 4:45 p.m. No delays between west of the Stamford are expected. More News Amtrak train hits, kills person on tracks Metro-North announced shortly before 4 p.m. that substitute bus service along the Waterbury Branch for the 3:36 p.m. train from Bridgeport to Waterbury and the 4:51 p.m. train from Waterbury to Bridgeport is being provided to travelers. Traffic on Gulf Street near Old Buckingham Avenue in Milford was backed up as of 3 p.m. A "trespasser" was struck and killed on the Shore Line East line in Guilford earlier Friday. Schultz said earlier Friday a trespasser was struck and killed in the Guilford area by Amtrak Train 2190 at approximately 8:25 a.m., operating from New York to Boston. There were approximately 119 passengers on board the train at the time, though no injuries on board were reported. The victim of that incident has not yet been identified. Khan is acting on the behest of BJP and the RSS to create a constitutional crisis in Kerala," Chief Minister Pinarayi VIjayan said. R ichard Caring, the tycoon behind The Ivy and Annabels restaurants, today faced scrutiny from MPs over the 93 million in dividends he got from BHS when he was a shareholder. Caring, who owned 22.5% of the retailer in the early days of Sir Philip Greens ownership, may be questioned by select committees over BHS and its collapse this week with a pension deficit of 571 million. MPs on the business and work and pensions committees are poring over BHSs accounts and plan to order all those involved including Green, whose family took out 400 million from the chain to appear before them for questioning over the companys finances. Former business secretary Vince Cable told the Standard there was a strong case for Caring to be called. Carings lawyers, Carter-Ruck, pointed out that he was paid the dividends between 2001 and 2004, and that he sold his stake in 2006. They said the business traded profitably while he was a shareholder, and that two years after he sold his shares, the pension fund was in surplus. Shoppers react to BHS news Frank Field MP, chairman of the work and pensions committee, said: Our focus is going to be on where the money went and to whom. Shadow business secretary Angela Eagle added: All those who have taken massive amounts out of BHS in dividends need to justify their actions. If it was excessive and reckless, it must be paid back. However, Conservative MP Mark Field said an attempt to claw back money for the pension fund from Green and others who took cash out of BHS would deter buyers from attempting to rescue troubled businesses. Retail tycoon Sir Tom Hunter also held a 5.3% stake, from which he earned 22 million in dividends. Duff & Phelps were appointed administrators to BHS on Monday, with 11,000 jobs at risk. The stores continue to trade. I nvestors in The Restaurant Group who cut their losses following heavy falls from the Garfunkels owner this year breathed a sigh of relief today after dodging another profit warning. The FTSE 250 firm, which also owns Frankie & Bennys, revealed that pre-tax profits for this year are now expected to be between 74 million and 80 million, lower than the 87 million it banked last year, as it struggles to get customers through its doors. The company, which is heading for its first fall in annual profits for more than six years, expects like-for-like sales to fall between 2.5% and 5% this year, blaming Frankie & Bennys and Chiquito, based at retail parks, rather than Garfunkels for its troubles. Although the pubs and concession businesses are performing well, the restaurants in retail parks are underperforming because of lower footfall, increased competition and cannibalisation, Panmure Gordon analyst Anna Barnfather said. Those who had remained loyal to the cause after two big share dives already this year decided enough was enough, sending the shares plunging further, down 80.16p or 21% to 294.14p. Investors werent the only ones heading for the exit finance chief Stephen Critoph has left, a few months after the company revealed chairman Alan Jackson was on the way out. With corporate results hardly filling investors with confidence, it came as little surprise that the FTSE 100 drifted 49.49 points lower to 6272.91, after a late sell-off on Wall Street. AstraZeneca reversed early falls, caused by a first-quarter profit slide, to stand 12.5p healthier at 3972p when chief executive Pascal Soriot confirmed plans to cut jobs in a bid to prevent the drugmakers profits falling further. Ophir Energy dived 15.6p to 76.3p as Schlumberger walked away from its floating liquefied natural gas project off Equatorial Guinea, leaving the mid-cap oiler in need of a new funding partner. Buyers flocked to Rotork, up 10.7p at 190.1p, after it announced its $25 million (17 million) takeover of US-based gearbox maker Mastergear and as it managed to nudge first- quarter revenues higher despite fewer valve orders from oil and gas firms. The hangover continued for addiction treatment firm Indivior, off 2.2p at 159.8p. The Reckitt Benckiser spin-off told the market yesterday afternoon that it had abandoned its heroin treatment after disappointing patient trial results. Former punters favourite Gulf Keystone fell 0.39p or 7.5% to 4.81p even as the cash-strapped oil firm confirmed a deal with bondholders. Review at a glance T he pagan in me loves the latest trend in superhero movies; the more gods the merrier. And thanks to the length and breadth of the Marvel cinematic universe, directors Anthony and Joe Russo have umpteen gods to choose from for their third Captain America yarn. One household name, in particular, has been pumped full of zip. When Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans) falls out with Avengers leader Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), the latter seeks help from a YouTube sensation whose number one priority is homework. Andrew Garfield was perfectly decent in Sonys The Amazing Spider-Man but 19-year-old Tom Hollands Peter Parker/Spidey is a delight. Hes giddy with callowness. Hes young-school. Its also great to see Paul Rudds Antman recruited by Captain America rubbing up against the big guys during a spectacularly inventive fight sequence. And Chadwick Boseman, as vengeance-fuelled TChalla/Black Panther, is superbly poised. Even Iron Man, whose smug and jaunty schtick was overused in Avengers: Age of Ultron, becomes a permanent source of pleasure, mostly thanks to scriptwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. A CGI effect allows us to see a false memory of Starks younger self. The old man of the group has a character arc thats poignant. When he goes to war, its thrilling. TODO: define component type brightcove True, it takes a long time for him to go to war. The plotting is tighter and more plausible than in Batman v Superman, but only just (theres an everyman baddie with limitless funds. I should be such an everyman). As for our titular hero... With Stark becoming the surprise poster-boy for big government, Rogers desperate to protect his friend and one-time Soviet stooge Bucky (Sebastian Stan) is forced to fly the flag for libertarianism. Unfortunately, the captain himself has become a big, fit nothing. In fact, only the presence of his charisma-free love-interest Sharon (Emily VanCamp) saves him from being the dullest person in the room. The central debate is topical but it cries out for input from some of Marvels newer creations (if only there was space for Ms Marvel, aka Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teen from New Jersey). You cant help wishing, too, that the film-makers had been allowed to think outside the toy box. In Marvel comics, super-heroines never look a day over 30 and, as a result, middle-aged actresses never get to smash shit up on screen. But imagine if Meryl Streep were parachuted into the proceedings. Shes played the Iron Lady; why not Iron Woman? Marisa Tomei (as Spideys sexy Aunt May) quips that aunts come in all shapes and sizes. The superheroes in this movie are certainly the most diverse weve seen so far, yet the status quo remains unchallenged. Of course, Id be happy to revise this opinion if the Cap and Bucky were to become a romantic item in Avengers: Infinity War. Dont tell me you havent noticed the way Bucky looks at Cap! Such a move would probably create civil war among comic book fans. But isnt it time superheroes joined the (real) modern world? Cert 12A, 147 mins Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout G one are the days when going to a festival just means standing in a field watching some bands with a plastic pint of beer in hand. Of the hundreds of UK gatherings taking place this summer, more than a third now have a theme to help bring the party to life, from simple fancy dress to transforming their whole site into a fantasy universe with stage and site set-ups becoming ever more elaborate. Bestival kickstarted the trend back in 2004, when their first festival introduced the fancy dress parade. We were going to festivals like the Big Chill and Glastonbury and we just thought how can we be different and stand out from those other great festivals? recalls founder Rob da Bank. We thought 50 people might turn up for the whole festival, but 4,000 turned up and awful lot of them had dressed up. On seeing the success of their experiment, come the following year they escalated the idea to a theme for the entire event. Earliest themes Cowboys & Indians and Pirates seem simplistic by comparison to last years Summer of Love and this years still more elaborate The Future theme. Much of the creative director and Rob da Banks wife Josies creative budget is going on a seven-storey space rocket a stage called the Space Port, in place of the Port, Bestivals signature big ship stage. We went with some pretty simple themes to start with and then as we moved through the years we got a bit deeper, and started to come up with more thematic stuff than just pirates, Rob da Bank explains. Its the new thing. Nowadays everyones got a theme or a dressing-up thing, but back then it was a bit more unique. Its been a part of our heritage. It adds another layer. A festival with a beer tent, a stage and some acts some people just want that. Other people want this multi-layered experience where they forget themselves and turn into someone else for the weekend, be it a giant squid or an arctic explorer. The best festivals in the UK in 2016 1 /34 The best festivals in the UK in 2016 Glastonbury Worthy Farm, Somerset, June 22-26 The daddy. The boss. The Big Kahuna. Glastonbury can rely on its stellar reputation to sell out before it has even announced most of its attractions. Music, Coldplay, PJ Harvey and ELO in the sunday afternoon "legend slot" are the only confirmed acts so far. You can still register for a resale of any cancelled or return tickets, and if you fail to get in, it's all on telly anyway. glastonburyfestivals.co.uk Tabatha Fireman/Redferns via Getty Images T in the Park Strathallan Castle, Perthshire, July 8-10, In its second year in a new location, Scotland's biggest music festival will hopefully have solved the problems that led to huge delays for those leaving the site last year. The line-up is as big as ever, with The Stone Roses, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and local hero Calvin Harris headlining, and the reunited LCD Soundsystem and Last Shadow Puppets also high on the bill. Major Lazer (pictured) will also be making an appearance. tinthepark.com/ Isle of Wight Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, June 9-12 With its psychedelic imagery and impressive history the Isle of Wight Festival like its golden oldies, hence the presence of Status Quo, Adam Ant, The Damned and Iggy Pop in its line-up. Queen are headlining with their Freddie substitute Adam Lambert, alongside relative whippersnappers Stereophonics and Faithless. isleofwightfestival.com V Hylands Park, Chelmsford, August 20-21 Generally the best place to see whoever's big in the Top 40 this year, V has hardly bothered with rock bands this time and gone fully pop with its two headliners, Justin Bieber and Rihanna. Chart-toppers such as Sia, David Guetta, Bastille and Years & Years will also be providing big tunes, while the dance tent features Annie Mac and Eric Prydz. vfestival.com Standon Calling Standon House, Standon, Herts, July 29-31 Not far north of the M25, this steadily growing independent festival last year played host to about 10,000 people who no doubt will be keen to join in with this year's fancy dress theme: "Legend of the lost seas". There are plenty of hot newcomers on the bill, including Honne, Tiggs Da Author and Loyle Carner, while bigger names such as Suede, Kelis and Jess Glynne will come out after it gets dark. standon-calling.com Reading Richfield Avenue, Reading, August 26-28 The organisers of Reading (and its sibling in Leeds) have tried to combat the current dearth of viable major headliners by naming five over its three days. Foals, Disclosure, Biffy Clyro and Fall Out Boy are the slightly smaller bands who will share top billing, while the undeniably massive Red Hot Chili Peppers will headline alone on the Saturday. readingfestival.com Green Man Glanusk Park, Brecon Beacons, August 18-21 While watching the main stage bands at Green Man your eye cant help but be drawn to the stunning hills beyond. A river runs through the site, and the music is suitably bucolic too. Belle and Sebastian, James Blake (pictured) and Wild Beasts will bring dreamy sounds late at night, with Floating Points, Julia Holter and local hero Cate Le Bon providing more highlights. greenman.net Rex Kendal Calling Lowther Deer Park, near Penrith, Cumbria, July 28-31 With the opportunity to see deer wandering about in the Lake District, you hardly need any bands. Disturbing the peace this year will be Rudimental, Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds, Madness and The Charlatans, whose singer Tim Burgess will also bring his Tim Peaks diner area to life once again. endoftheroadfestival.com End of the Road Larmer Tree Gardens, Salisbury, Sept 2-4 There are peacocks, magical woodlands and a consistently great music line-up every year. This time Joanna Newsom, Animal Collective and Bat For Lashes lead the way but there are also endless new discoveries to make from an impressive daytime roster. endoftheroadfestival.com Sonny Malhotra Latitude Henham Park, Southwold, July 14-17 Like a newspapers arts pages come alive, Latitude can usually be relied upon to offer a range of theatre, poetry and even ballet alongside the bands. This year you can see Opera North as well as productions of both The Importance of Being Earnest and A Midsummer Nights Dream. The National, New Order and Grimes (pictured) are among those providing the music. latitudefestival.com Zak Kaczmarek/WireImage Wilderness Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, Aug 4-7 Like a newspapers arts pages come alive, Latitude can usually be relied upon to offer a range of theatre, poetry and even ballet alongside the bands. This year you can see Opera North as well as productions of both The Importance of Being Earnest and A Midsummer Nights Dream. The National, New Order and Grimes (pictured) are among those providing the music. wildernessfestival.com Big Feastival Alex Jamess Farm, Kingham, Cotswolds, Aug 26-28 Jamie Oliver gets together with Blur bassist and cheese enthusiast Alex James (where else would you have the opportunity to see Alexs Cheese Hub?) who give equal billing to gigs and grub. Oliver will be doing demos alongside the likes of Raymond Blanc and Tom Kerridge, while music comes from the likes of Mark Ronson (DJ Set), Kaiser Chiefs and Ella Henderson. jamieoliver.com Boardmasters Watergate Bay, Newquay, Cornwall, Aug 10-14 Heres the best place to combine surfing with suitably lively bands including Chase & Status, deadmau5 and Primal Scream. A surfing competition for professionals long before it incorporated a music festival, you can also book your own lessons if you get sick of the music. boardmasters.co.uk Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images Bestival Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight, Sept 8-11 DJ Rob Da Banks brainchild traditionally closes festival season with as many wacky happenings as can be crammed into a weekend. This year these include Mexican masked wrestling, a Bollywood tent and a drum and bass set from former choirboy Aled Jones. The music line-up looks great too, with The Cure, Major Lazer and Hot Chip all coming over on the ferry. bestival.net Carolina Faruolo Secret Garden Party Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambs, July 21-24 Like all the peripheral bits of Glastonbury without feeling youre stuck on Oxford Street on christmas Eve, Secret Garden Party is the definitive boutique experience. camp in safari tents, tipis or garden sheds, try out the UKs only hot tub bus and drift away to the sounds of caribou, air and Shura. secretgardenparty.com Danny North Festival No 6 Portmeirion, North Wales, Sept 1-4 There should be less mud than most at this small weekender, which takes place around the eccentric italianate village built by Sir clough William Ellis, best known as the set of cult Sixties TV show The Prisoner. attendees will be at liberty to enjoy Noel Gallaghers high Flying Birds, Super Furry animals and Bastille, plus a david Bowie tribute show with surprise guest vocalists. festivalnumber6.com Camp Bestival Lulworth Castle, Dorset, July 28-31 Bestivals little sister is the best one for children in fact, youll feel pretty left out if youre not wheeling around a few four-year-olds in one of those trolleys used for transporting gravel at garden centres. This year theres a space theme and music from Fatboy Slim, Jess Glynne and Tears for Fears, but everyone will really be there to see cBeebies superstar Mr Tumble. campbestival.net Womad Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, July 28-31 A festival has come a long way when its offers include a weekend spa ticket that comes with complimentary Womad sarong and slippers. As ever, the music here is more wide-ranging than anywhere else, stretching from English folk act This Is the Kit to Senegalese legend Baaba Maal and US funk pioneer George Clinton and everywhere in between. womad.co.uk Cambridge Folk Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge, July 28-31 Now more than 50 years old, this venerable festival continues to stretch the definition of what constitutes folk, with Irish rockabilly lady Imelda May, gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello and soul man Charles Bradley all on the bill. A more conventional folk hero, Christy Moore, is one of the headliners. cambridgelivetrust.co.uk Love Supreme Glynde, East Sussex, July 1-3 Like Cambridge, this relative newcomer is proving successful by billing itself as a specialist festival, in this case jazz, while taking the broadest view of what that entails. Hence stars such as Grace Jones, Lianne La Havas and Kelis appearing on the bill, alongside more recognisable jazz acts including Melody Gardot and Kamasi Washington. lovesupremefestival.com Download Donington Park, Derby, June 10-12 The former home of the Monsters of Rock festivals continues to rock in a monstrous fashion, offering a mix of ageing metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Megadeth plus the younger, poppier end of the spectrum including All Time Low, Billy Talent and Shinedown. downloadfestival.co.uk Ramblin Man Fair Mote Park, Maidstone, July 23-24 Born last year, Ramblin Man caters to the large audience that exists for the old unfashionable stuff. Classic rock bands Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Black Stone Cherry and Thunder are among the main attractions. Theres also a prog rock stage and, needless to say, a real ale festival. ramblinmanfair.com Creamfields Daresbury Estate, Halton, Cheshire, Aug 25-28 There are four days of dancing to be done at this successful spin-off from the superclub Cream. The line-up is a whos who of the biggest DJs in the world right now, from homegrown talents Calvin Harris, Fatboy Slim and Above & Beyond to the super Swedes Avicii, Axwell & Ingrosso, and Alesso. And, of course, Pete Tong has an All Gone Pete Tong tent. creamfields.com Wild Life Brighton City Airport, June 11-12 This one must have done so well the first time around that the second one has the same headliners as last year: Disclosure and Rudimental. Dance music from the likes of Flume, Julio Bashmore and Tiga dominates the bill but theres also classic hip hop from Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes and De La Soul and incongruous singer-songwriter fare from James Bay. wildlifefestival.com Sam Neill/Liam Simmons Sundown Norfolk Showground, Norwich, Sept 2-4 Sundown has a few proper pop stars in its mix, not least Jason Derulo, Jess Glynne and Years & Years, but the various dance stages will keep energy levels the highest. Theyre run by organisations including UKF, Defected and Ministry of Sound. sundownfestival.co.uk Electric Daisy Carnival Milton Keynes Bowl, July 9 This American import also operates in New York, Las Vegas and Japan. It only lasts a day and a night but you can still camp nearby. Theyre bringing their Crystal Village to Milton Keynes, an apocalyptic stage set-up appropriate for excess-loving EDM DJs on the bill. They include Avicii, Axwell & Ingrosso, Martin Garrix and Oliver Heldens. uk.electricdaisycarnival.com Over the years artists performing at the festival threw themselves into the themes; for the Under the Sea year in 2008 Amy Winehouse dressed her stage as a ship, for Space Oddity in 2009, Mika came as an astronaut and dressed his stage with silver foil planets, while Florence Welch, of course, is always happy to dress up. One year off the back of the fuss that was made over Bestivals proposed Circus theme coulrophobia (phobia of clowns) is second only to arachnophobia as the commonest fear the Scissor Sisters brought on 12ft clowns on stilts, with garish faces, halfway through their performance to freak everyone out. I dont think its enough just to put a stage in a field anymore. People want to get involved There have also been impressive costumes from the crowd; a particularly memorable one for their Cowboys & Indians theme of 2005 being an Indian lady stood in a giant silver tray with a lid on top and 2.50 scrawled across it Indian takeaway. Bestival always has a bill of big- name artists; this year The Cure, Major Lazer, Hot Chip, and Bastille are the big draws. But for some festivals, the theme is even more integral than the music. This is the case for Standon Calling, in Hertfordshire at the end of July, whose theme Town of Two Faces last year saw them build a Wild West town, with a stage in a town square surrounded by a saloon bar, a barbershop, a menagerie, and an ironmonger all built out of wood. This years theme Legends of the Lost Seas will feature the stage on the back of a Spanish galleon, with shanty bands playing from the upper deck. Its about creating an entire infrastructure; step into the site and youll feel immersed in that world. But they too started out with mere fancy dress and took the theme to another level. Every year their sets become more ambitious. I dont think its enough just to put a stage in a field anymore, founder Alex Trenchard explains Audiences are looking for more than that now; theyre looking for a full experience and watching bands is only a part of that. People want to get involved. The top 20 family friendly UK festivals 1 /26 The top 20 family friendly UK festivals Lunar Festival Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire Often described as a Midlands mini Glastonbury, the Lunar Festival keeps things PG during the day with a range of activities including green crafts, daily yoga, cinema club, sausage making workshops, circus skills workshops and Guerilla knitting. Theres also a free farm which allows kids to handle baby chicks, bottle feed lambs and ride the ponies. At night the parties kick off with pop up mini-nightclubs becoming the main stars. 5-249 June 3-5 lunarfestival.co.uk Jolyon Holroyd Shambala Shambala Festival Northamptonshire Spirituality is the name of the game at Shambala. Taking place in a secret location in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, kids of all ages are welcome, play areas are plentiful and there is no shortage of kid-friendly activities. However, the real winner for parents is Bees Mobile Creche, who are offering day care for the fifth year running. Meaning parents get up to three hours for themselves to take in the musical acts (over 200) across 12 live stages. 42.90-124.99 August 25-28 shambalafestival.org Carolina Faruolo Womad Charlton Park, Wiltonshire Ever wanted to try your hand at gong baths or playing the didgeridoo? If yes, Womad festival is for you. Take part in an array of cultural and wellbeing activities from meditations to morning laughter sessions. The music line up is as eclectic as its wellbeing programme with a range spanning from folk to dance and world music. Kids should busy themselves in the Brazilian themed World of Children area, and, come Sunday, theyll present their huge creations and designs in the Childrens Parade. July 28-31 85-175 womad.co.uk Dee McCourt Secret Garden Party Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon This years Secret Garden party is pulling out all the stops with not just its headliners (such as Primal Scream, Caribou, Air ) but so too its space theme and extra-curricular activities: dance offs, paint fights, action camps and huge art installations. Those with little ones in tow should make a bee line for the Kids Area for performers, music and face painting. 130-180 July 21-24 secretgardenparty.com Olivia Williams Larmer Tree Festival Larmer Tree Lodge, Tollard Royal SP5 5PY Having once won the UK Festival Awards for Best Family Festival, you know youre in safe hands. Aside from its beautiful settings (the kids will love the free roaming peacocks), the festival has successfully merged young families with the festival going experience. Theres a baby changing tent, toilets are clean and plentiful (theyve even won an award for them), a specific family camping area, and under 10s go free. As for the adults? Aside from the music, the packed poetry, literature and talk line ups will keep you entertained. 95-260 July 13-17 larmertreefestival.co.uk Chris Stanbury Citadel Festival Victoria Park Road , E3 5SN A love child of Love Box and Wilderness Festival , Citadel is the newcomer on the festival scene (2015 was its inaugural year). Held on a Sunday in Victoria Park means its a relatively chilled festival filled with debates, talks, sports dancing, and, of course music. Icelandic experimental rock outfit Sigur Ros is set to headline this year, with more to be announced. From 49.50 July 17 citadelfestival.com buy tickets Wilderness Festival Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire One of the pricier festivals on the circuit (general admission starts from 175.25*), and its no wonder why. Aside from its big-bill restaurant line ups, which include long table banquets (this years chefs include Raymond Blanc, Skye Gyngell and Virgilio Martinez), pop up restaurants (think Moro, Hix and Petersham Nurseries) and street stalls from Londons best ( Shotgun, The Quality Chop House, Maze Sushi and Duck & Waffle), there are talks and debates; theatre and arts; and wellbeing workshops. Plus, family fun is in no shortage with everything from a dedicated gaming clubhouse to circuses, theatre and storytelling. General Admission 175.25* Aug 4-7 buy tickets Andrew Whitton 2015 Wickham Festival Wickham, Hampshire, PO17 5AL Eschewing your middle-of-nowhere festival for one thats a stones throw from the charming Wickham Village means your sleepover options range from camping on site to a bed and breakfast, with the festival a mere five minute stroll (or free shuttle bus). Apart from sleeping options, theres a myriad of childrens activities: from bouncy castles, puppetry, crafts and storytelling to childrens entertainers and all are free once youre in the festival arena! From 70-160 August 4-7 wickhamfestival Standon Calling Standon, Hertforshire What started in a backyard with a bunch of mates is now a full-blown festival that has played host to the likes of Florence and the Machine, Friendly Fires and Mumford and Sons. It may not have started family-orientated (secret raves, 5am license, micro clubs) but over the years their day time PG activities have expanded to more kid friendly antics such as pony rides, trapeze classes workshops, masterclasses, arts and crafts, treasure hunts, sports days and pop-up theatres. From 134 July 29-31 standon-calling.com buy tickets Latitude Henham Park, Beccles, Suffolk Unlike most festivals, Latitiude has taken the time to distinguish between toddlers and tweens. Under 12s should busy themselves in the Kids Area with crafting, storytelling, performances and interactive learning. Over 12s will find themselves in the Inbetweeners Area getting involved in a range of music, media, technology activities, plus wildlife survival skills and assault courses. From 80-200 July 14-17 latitudefestival.com buy tickets Isle of Wight Festival Newport, Isle of Wight Having been running for 45 years, the Isle of Wight Festival is a well-oiled machine. Two hours from London, it prides itself on catering to music fans of all ages with a range of ticket prices and accommodation to suit all ages and budgets. This year, in celebration of punk turning 40, the line-up includes Iggy Pop, Adam Ant, The Damned, Buzzcocks, The Godfathers and The Sex Pissed Dolls. 145-195 June 9-12 Isle of Wight buy tickets Henley Festival Festival Henley on Thames, Oxon RG9 1BF This may seem to be more for the over-50 bracket, thanks to its black tie dress code, class-acts (this year Elton John and Elvis Costello are set for the stage) and high-brow pop ups ( such as Ronnie Scotts) but, it takes a kid-friendly turn come Family Sunday, with a range of kid friendly activities: from brass culture via Ronnie Scotts, music school, magic tricks and beat boxing classes. From 5-130 July 6-10 henley-festival.co.uk Hampton Court Palace Festival Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, KT8 9AU For those looking for a civilised festival, complete with picnics and prosecco, book a spot at Hampton Court Palace. More concert than festival, get there early for a picnic in the park before taking your seats in the courtyard of the palace for performances by the likes of Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Art Garfunkle and Anastacia to name but a few on this years line-up. Kids are welcome but bear in mind most performances start at 9pm, so probably one for the teens. 45-95 June 8 -23 buy tickets Greenman Festival Brecon Beacons, Wales Held in the Black Mountains nestled in the Brecon Beacons, is an eco-friendly festival where electro heads dance next to folk singers. Kids of all ages are welcome with tons of things to do in the Little Folk areas. Accommodation ranges from general, family, quiet and live-in vehicle camping - all equipped with toilets as well as hot showers, fresh water taps. Pre-pitched tents are also available. 60-220 August 18 -21 greenman.net Glastonbury Festival Pilton, Somerset Glastonbury may have a solid reputation for its hedonistic partying but in recent years its reputation as a family friendly festival for all ages (toddlers to retirees) has spread. If youre one of the lucky 135,000 to have secured a ticket, you can expect: over 3000 acts across 100 stages (including Kanye West, Florence and the Machine, Pharrell Williams, Mark Ronson) and a host of activities from talks, fairgrounds, circuses and cinemas. And this year, little ones especially are in for a treat. The Kidz Field at Glastonbury is celebrating its 21st anniversary year, meaning theyve outdone themselves with the outdoor games, attractions and kid friendly acts. General admission 228 June 22-26 glastonburyfestivals.co.uk Festival No.6 Portmeiron For an even split between music, art and culture, head to Festival No 6. The boutique family-friendly festival in Portmeiron is curated to offer a refined take on the festival experience: from bands and string ensembles to comedians and screenings to readings, performance art, installations, intimate talks. Choose to sleep in a castle, a cottage, a tipi or your own tent 100-185 September 1-4 festivalnumber6.com Cornbury Festival The Great Tew Estates, Oxfordshire For a taste of a classic English summer party, book tickets to Conbury Festival. Organised with the whole family in mind, its a country fair with a rock n roll twist; a farmers market with a dance floor. The programme runs from arts and crafts, roaming entertainers, fairgrounds to therapy and massage zones. But its piece de resistance? All activities in the Kids Zone from dance classes to clay making and face painting are free. As for the line-up, All Saints, Seal and James Morrison are just a few of the artists set to take the stage. 30-315 July 8-10 cornburyfestival.com buy tickets Camp Bestival Camp Bestival Lulworth Castle, East Lulworth BH20 5QS If a kids area at a festival is simply not enough, try Camp Bestival, Bestival's 'little sister' targeted at families with small children. Think bouncy castles, helter skelters, an art town, fairground rides, sandpit and kids catwalks. This years outer space theme means you can expect a cosmic adventure. But its not just about activities. This little festival pulls some big names: Fatboy Slim, DJ Yoda and The Cuban brothers are just a few of the headline acts. Expect to see parents rocking out with buggies. 15-197 July 28-31 campbestival.net Bestival Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight Or, for those with slightly older kids in tow, stick to Bestival. This years line-up includes Major Lazer, The Cure, Hot Chip and Diplo but its not just about the music. Head to the Kids Area with the young ones for a full on play experience and full programme of theatre shows and crafts. Otherwise there are circus tents, night parades, interactive art installations and, if it all gets a bit much, chill out in the tea tent. 90-390 Sept 8-11 bestival.net Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival Inverness Held up in the Highlands, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival welcomes over 2000 children aged 12 and under with free access to the festival and plenty for them to do: petting zoos, discos, theatre and music workshops, puppetry and circus tents and, of course, ceilidhs and this years superstition theme is sure to attract many a young witch and warlock. As for the parents, the line-up includes Two Door Cinema Club, The Darkness and Madness. 77 -137 Aug 4-6 tartanheartfestival He points out that some of the bigger festivals which stick to the formula of bands on a stage in a field with a beer tent started to struggle to shift tickets. For them it becomes ever more essential to bag the biggest acts to lure people to their site. The big festivals compete on artists alone and theyre trying to reassert their position with exclusives so that smaller boutique festivals cant book the acts that they book. The festivals that are really successful are the ones that capture the imagination. Once people come and see the world that you create, that becomes the real selling point and thats what keeps people coming back year after year. For most people, a dressing-up box was a part of their childhood. Its all about peoples desire to escape, as seen in the rise of interactive and immersive theatre productions such as Punchdrunk, You Me Bum Bum Train and Secret Cinema, all of which Trenchard and his team have worked on. We like to get dressed up and escape, and creating worlds helps us do that. While musics really important, its about creating these worlds to run alongside it, he says. Its something people come along to Standon Calling for. What weve gone from is a fancy dress theme in the early days to the extent that now we try to tell a story during the festival to create a parallel universe. Its about escapism and the themes and stories help people escape and thats why they want to go to a festival that makes it more than about the music. Dressing up is inherently a very British pastime. Not that fancy dress is compulsory at any of these events, but Rob da Bank recommends festival-goers immerse themselves to enjoy the full experience. There are people who are nervous about getting dressed up and making a fool of themselves, he says. People should just embrace it. Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout I t's a three-day weekend and that means a chance for a spring blowout. London is ready to party until Monday night and Martin2Smoove is here to guide you through. Hailed by Rihanna as Londons hardest working DJ, he started playing underground hip hop parties in venues like the Notting Hill Arts Club and Ministry of Sound and has since played to a range of audiences from David Cameron to Drake. He is playing at this years Gumball 3000 Rally car extravaganza and party, DJ-ing for US superstar Eve, and is part of the Ministry of Sound Weekender team on Capital FM. Here are his top ways to party. 1. Gumball 3000 Regent Street, W1. Monday, gumball3000.com Londons main shopping street rarely gets shut down mainly for the likes of the NFL, the Christmas lights switch on, and royalty. So watch top skateboarders and BMX riders do their thing on half pipes, see some of the worlds most amazing cars of the future and soak in everything the Gumball lifestyle has to offer, hosted by Absolute Radio. No hassle: The Hoff taking part in the Gumball 3000 Rally (Fabien Wester) / FABIEN WESTER 2. Gumball 3000 Party Tape, 17 Hanover Square, W1S. Monday, tapelondon.com With an amazing line of Eve, Afrojack, Alchemist, DJ Charlsey and me, this is the perfect way to finish off your bank holiday weekend. Things to do in London this weekend (April 29 - May 2) 1 /14 Things to do in London this weekend (April 29 - May 2) Secret Sundaze Opening Party St John at Hackney, Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 0PD (Saturday April 30) What better way to celebrate reaching the summer season than attending a huge party in a beautiful church in Hackney? Secretsundaze are bringing you an event that involves some of Londons best underground DJs. With fantastic acoustics throughout the church, Secretsundaze have certainly picked an elegant location for their wild party. After the party at St Johns dies down, follow the crowd to a secret location for the afterparty! secretsundaze.net Global Publicity The Priory Arms May Bank Holiday Beer Festival 83 Lansdowne Way, SW8 2PB (Begins on Friday April 29 - May 2) The bank holiday weekend is arriving, and what better way to spend it than having a beer or five with your mates down at the pub? Most of you will agree that this sounds like a great weekend. But what if I told you there will be over 100 beers to try, with 11 kegs and 70 bottles. If you prefer cider over beer then theres also a selection of six ciders to taste at The Priory Arms. The May bank holiday beer festival will feature a wide selection of beers, including the likes of Cloudwater Brew, Dark Star, Beavertown Beer and more. The Priory Arms May bank holiday beer festival opens on Friday April 29, through until Monday May 2. Find event details here The Priory Arms Pop Brixton's Roof Comes Off 49 Brixton Station Rd, SW9 8PQ (Sunday May 1) With hope that Winter is finally disappearing, Pop Brixton is preparing to let the sunlight into their shipping container haven. To celebrate the roof coming off on Sunday May 1, Pop Brixton will celebrate with a variety of eating, drinking, shopping, and entertainment activities. Whether you prefer to get there early to enjoy a Vietnamese brunch, or whether you want to sit in the sun and enjoy the live music throughout the afternoon, Pop Brixton has it sorted. Site admission is free. popbrixton.org Tonic PR Goblin Kings Masquerade Ball 28 New Kent Rd, SE1 6TJ (Friday April 29) If you big on Halloween and enjoy the dressing up, then whos to stop you from doing it on any other day? Goblin Kings Masquerade Ball is the scariest event aside from Halloween and youre sure to get spooked out with the scary masks. Taking place at the Coronet in Elephant & Castle, the Masquerade Ball will pay homage to David Bowie as 30 years have passed since Labyrinth was released. Not only will the evening be a fitting tribute to the late singer, but Goblin King will also be providing entertainment, consisting of circus and cabaret performances amongst the ballroom setting. The dress code allows you to get creative, and they encourage you to emphasise the spooky feel. goblin-king.co.uk Third Mind Productions Canalway Cavalcade Little Venice, (Begins Saturday April 30 until May 2) Little Venice will be home to hundreds of canal boats over the bank holiday weekend. Whilst the event begins on Friday April 29, the real activities take place on Saturday and Sunday, consisting of a Teddy Bears Picnic, live music, and even a blessing of the boats from the Bishop of London. With lots of family-friendly events to participate in, the Canalway Cavalcade boasts a fantastic location and a beautiful array of colourful canal boats. waterways.org.uk The Inland Waterways Association London Falafel Festival Borough Market, 8 Southwark St, SE1 1TL (Sunday May 1) Borough Market is hosting Londons first Falafel Festival. The festival sees different nationalities cook up their falafels to see who the best falafel curator in London is. Uniting in London for the festival, falafel makers will be flying from Cairo and Beirut to compete against two London falafel makers in an attempt to win tasters taste buds. Tickets are 20, and include a taster of all four of the falafels. Read our preview Falafel Hoxton Beach Grand Designs Live ExCel Centre, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL (Opens April 30) Kevin McCloud and his team are coming to London to showcase the most popular trends to have in your home. Inspired by the Channel 4 program Grand Designs, Londons ExCel centre will be able to see over 500 exhibitors across 6 different sections. Visitors will also receive great tips about home renovations, as well as witnessing Michelin-star chefs cook up a storm. So whether youre looking for inspiration for your home, or if youre just fascinated by home designs, then Grand Designs Live is one for you. granddesignslive.com press image Street Feast Dalston Yard, Hartwell St, E8 3DU (Opens Friday April 29) Returning again with another brilliant line-up of food stalls, Street Feast is bound to be another winner this weekend. With 16 food traders, and 12 bars, you can find a selection of world cuisine. From Mexican tacos by Breddos to Korean burritos from Kimchinary, youll be sure to find something to please your taste buds. Dont forget to wash it down from one of the bars at hand. Whether you fancy gin, rum or whisky, Street Feast will have an option for you. streetfeastlondon.com Brixton Bread & Beer festival Windmill Gardens, West end of Blenheim Gardens , London, SW2 5EU (Monday May 2) This year brings the first festival to the iconic location, and welcomes local artisan bakeries and Brixton Brewery. With a variety of locally brewed beers to choose from, theres no reason to not enjoy a drink in the beautiful surroundings of Brixtons Windmill Gardens. This event also sees the iconic windmill launch a self-curated brand of flower, which will be available to buy at the event. Admission is free, and takes place between 1-5pm. Read our preview press image DJ Jazzy Jeff Electric Brixton, Town Hall Parade, Brixton, SW2 1RJ (Saturday April 30) Will Smiths former partner in crime and candid good vibes deliverer Jazzy Jeff is arriving in London this Saturday. You can expect a set filled with colourful, nostalgic tracks from his 80s catalogue, as well as some new material. Having been a duo with the Fresh Prince in the 80s, DJ Jazzy Jeff will hopefully bring the moves too... ticketweb.co.uk Rex Gumball 3000 car rally Regent Street, (Monday May 2) This years notorious car rally sees the charity event beginning in Dublin, and ending in Bucharest. Passing through London is inevitable, but central London will be bustling with car lovers and David Hasslehoff fans as the Gumball 3000 car will parade down Regent St. Having started the Gumball 3000 Foundation in 2013, and this year's rally aims to help disadvantaged young people. gumball3000.com FABIEN WESTER 3. Sunday Lyan Dandelyan, The Mondrian Hotel, SE1. Sunday, morganhotelsgroup.com Take one of the best hotel cocktail bars in the world, throw in a DJ cutting some tunes and you have a great Sunday. 4. Crepe City Old Truman Brewery, E1. Saturday, crepe-city.co.uk The perfect place for a trainer addict like me its the biggest sneaker event in Europe with more than 200 sellers showing off the rarest pairs of kicks under one roof. Food stalls and DJs play all day. Don't sweat the technique: Hip Hop Karaoke 5. Hip Hop Karaoke Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen, N1. Sunday, hiphopkaraoke.co.uk Hit the stage and get your Drake or Stormzy on for an amazing night of unpretentious fun and good music. 6. Kitchen Takeover at The Dead Dolls House 181 Upper Street, N1. From Thursday, thedeaddollshouse.co.uk Monthly kitchen pop-ups at this drinking den kick off with the bold flavours of Busan BBQ Korean ingredients and American classics. Opening up: Pop Brixton (Tonic) / Tonic PR 7. May Day Festival Pop Brixton, SW9. Sunday, popbrixton.org Food from Viet Box, a Zen Den with a mindfulness class and music from Busk Brixton all day to welcome warmer weather (fingers crossed). 8. Boozy Bowling Weekender All Star Lanes, several locations. All weekend, allstarlanes.co.uk Late-night happy hours, a new food menu and shots for star bowlers. Game on. Get ready: Little Nan's 9. Little Nans 90s party 1-3 Rivington Street, EC2, Tonight, littlenans.co.uk Cocktails in teapots, a photobooth and plenty of pop classics at Red Gallery. 10. MAP Maison 321 Kingsland Road, E8, Open now, mapmaison.com A new cocktail spot in Haggerston with resident DJs and rare spirits. @martin2smoove Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout O ur series of quick fire questions with some of this year's top festival artists reveals their best and worst experiences at festivals around the world. What was your first ever festival? Reading in 1989, just after I got my GCSE results. It used to be terrible, with bands like Starship and Meatloaf, but that year was incredible New Order headlined, and it was only 33 to get in. I also met Gruff and Daf from the Furries for the first time there, we watched Spaceman 3 together. It was the last time I drank Thunderbird wine. How has the festival scene changed since you started out? Massively. There are two or three every weekend now, but few that stand out, with a real identity, like End of the Road and Green Man. Im looking forward to Caught By The River Thames its done by Heavenly Records and theyre really on a roll. The Super Furries famously used to arrive at festivals in a tank... That was 1996, and it was a lot of fun. Im sure our label, Creation, loved it, as a piece of publicity. The tank cost 10,000, about the same as a page advert in the NME, and people still talk about it now. It was a statement for us. Wed decommissioned a tank and were using it a part of a peaceful protest against the Criminal Justice Bill, which was an erosion of human rights. It became a party hub for like-minded people. What is the best festival set youve seen? Daft Punk did the most spectacular show Ive ever seen in Spain. There was just this vast pyramid of video screens, with the two robots at the top. It was ridiculous. Festivals in London this summer 1 /28 Festivals in London this summer Wembley Stadium June 5 to Sept 10, Wembley Stadium, wembleystadium.com Two epic shows from older legends bracket this summers stadium gig offerings, with Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band blasting off on June 5, and piano man Billy Joel wrapping up as autumn approaches. In between, there are two R&B superstars in the shape of Rihanna on June 24 and Beyonce on July 2-3. But even they cant outdo Coldplay, wholl play for four nights between June 15-19. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch British Summer Time July 1-10, Hyde Park, W1, bst-hydepark.com These six all-day shows in central London are the best opportunity to see music giants here this summer. Two classic albums will be aired in full when Carole King makes a rare appearance plays Tapestry on July 3, then Stevie Wonder plays Songs in the Key of Life on July 10. Theres also a pop day with Take That on July 9, hip hop from Kendrick Lamar, who appears alongside Florence + the Machine on July 2, folk rock from Mumford & Sons on July 8 and something edgier with Massive Attack on July 1. Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Wireless July 8-10, Finsbury Park, N4, wirelessfestival.co.uk Former Hyde Park weekender Wireless is back in north London for its 11th event. Each of the three days offers a broad mix of sounds the kids love, with the stadium house of Calvin Harris and Eighties pop of The 1975 on July 8, bulldozing dance from Chase & Status and smooth hip hop from J Cole on July 9, then rowdy grime from the Boy Better Know crew and tropical house from Kygo on July 10. Field Day June 11-12, Victoria Park, E3, fielddayfestivals.com Hackneys Field Day this year, which is marking the occasion with exclusive headline sets from two Mercury Prize winners: electro-soul man James Blake and PJ Harvey, who will play songs from her powerful new album The Hope Six Demolition Project. The rest of the bill is a hipsters dream, with bigger names such as Roots Manuva and Air joined by Gold Panda, Parquet Courts and Meilyr Jones. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Somerset House Summer Series July 7-17, Somerset House, WC2, somersethouse.org.uk When it isnt set up as a top ice-skating spot, the neoclassical courtyard by the Thames is an impressive place to watch hot bands. This year they include lively Aussie jazz-funk act Hiatus Kaiyote on July 7 and French electro-swing group Caravan Palace on July 14. Among the solo acts are the returning Laura Mvula on July 10, indie rocker Courtney Barnett on July 13 and the current holder of the Mercury Prize, Benjamin Clementine, on July 9. Lorne Thomson/Redferns Citadel July 17, Victoria Park, E3, citadelfestival.com The blasted heath that remains after the Lovebox Festival will become more civilised on the Sunday, when this sibling of Oxfordshires posh Wilderness Festival takes over. Therell be fancy street food, talks and pop-up theatre from the Old Vic. The music is sophisticated fare too, with Iceland dream-makers Sigur Ros, Canadian electronica man Caribou and soul star Lianne La Havas all playing. Samir Hussein/Redferns On Blackheath Sept 10-11, Blackheath, SE3, onblackheath.com A John Lewis sponsorship should ensure that this relative newcomer appeals to the middle classes with its chefs stage and posh food village. The music will suit indie fans mature enough to know their way around an avocado. Primal Scream and Belle and Sebastian top the bill, with Hot Chip and James playing high up too. Theres also a stage run by Heavenly Recordings for more esoteric fare. Hampton Court Palace Festival June 8-23, Hampton Court Palace, hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com These fancy events, which seem to exist purely so Jools Holland (June 10) and Van Morrison (June 14) have a reason to get out of the house every summer, allow you to picnic in the grounds of Cardinal Wolseys Tudor pied-a-terre before watching soul belter Anastacia (June 9), Dutch jazz lady Caro Emerald (June 17) and three concerts from Sir Tom Jones (June 8, 15, 16). Live at Chelsea June 17-19, Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW3, liveatchelsea.com Now in its second year, this series not only offers the opportunity to buy the ultimate picnic hampers (with the Gordon Ramsay Group keeping your sarnies free of ants) but also a chance to eat Michelin-starred food inside the Royal Hospital Chelseas state apartments. After that kind of spread, heading into the grounds to watch Wet Wet Wet (June 18) or Simply Red (June 19) might be a bit of a letdown. Mauricio Santana/Getty Images Greenwich Music Time July 5-10, Old Royal Naval College, SE10, greenwichmusictime.co.uk With Canary Wharf glittering over the water behind the main stage and the grand Naval College just next door, this is a pleasant spot to watch mainstream acts including veteran voice Seal on July 6, blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa on July 7 and big-selling Swedes Roxette on July 8. Jamie Cullum wraps things up with some fast-fingered piano work on July 10. Kew the Music July 12-17, Kew Gardens, kew.org A stage in front of the glass Temperate House in Kew Gardens cant afford to risk any heavy metal bands, so instead there are tasteful offerings from Simply Red (July 12), Will Young (July 13) and, of course, Jools Holland (July 15). Long-running ABBA tribute act Bjorn Again should liven things up a bit and shake a few leaves from the trees on July 14. Jo Hale/Redferns We Are FSTVL May 28-29, Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Upminster, wearefstvl.com The first major London festival offers more dance music than you can shake a glowstick at, across 14 stages in an airfield. Big names include regular party starter Fatboy Slim, Swedish giant Steve Angello and drum-and-bass dons DJ Fresh and Sigma. The rejuvenated Craig David will also be in attendance with his TS5 concept. Paul Underhill South West Four Aug 27-28, Clapham Common, SW4, southwestfour.com The bank holiday weekend will feel significantly livelier on Clapham Common, where an A-Z of DJs from Above & Beyond to Yotto (okay, A-Y) will keep the party going non-stop. Less serious clubbers will appreciate the presence of chart-friendly names such as Rudimental, Dizzee Rascal and The Chemical Brothers. Other live acts include Boys Noize, Nero and Netsky. Ollie Millington/Redferns via Getty Images Lovebox Victoria Park, E3, loveboxfestival.com Lovebox has been a more eclectic affair in the past, but these days its mix of hip hop and dance music seems to cater best to a severely up-for-it crowd who are as likely to be found dancing around the taco truck as the main stage. Madonna producer Diplo appears twice, in solo guise and with his band Major Lazer, theres rap from Run the Jewels, grime from Stormzy and a legend in the form of George Clinton. The biggest draw, however, ought to be the chance to see the reformed LCD Soundsystem. Richard Johnson Meltdown June 10-19, Southbank Centre, SE1, southbankcentre.co.uk Elbow frontman and beloved radio host Guy Garvey is in the prestigious curators hotseat for the latest Meltdown season on the Southbank. His band wont be playing but hell do a solo set on June 17. Other notable names plucked from his little black book include Laura Marling (June 18), Richard Hawley (June 16) and a rare reformation gig from short-lived Texan band Lift to Experience (June 10). Lorne Thomson/Redferns Stone Free June 18-19, O2 Arena, SE10, theo2.co.uk The classic rock crowd will take over the O2 for a weekend in June, with theatrical rocker Alice Cooper and prog man Rick Wakeman topping the bill. Relative youngsters The Darkness and Blackberry Smoke will also be engaging in heavy riffing, plus therell be film screenings, artists in conversation and a vinyl fair. AFP/Getty Images Visions Aug 6, London Fields, E8, visionsfestival.com Now in its fourth year, Visions sprawls across multiple hip Hackney venues including Oval Space, the Moth Club, the Laundry and St Johns Church. Wanderers should stumble upon performers including Scottish rap trio Young Fathers, the severely heavy Lightning Bolt and powerful singer-songwriter Anna Calvi. Camden Rocks June 4, Camden High Street, NW1, camdenrocksfestival.com More than 200 bands for 35 sounds fair enough, especially when they include indie favourites The Cribs, Carl Barat of The Libertines other band The Jackals, folk hero Billy Bragg and Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols. Dozens of lesser names will rumble along Camden High Street in esteemed venues including the Electric Ballroom, the Barfly and Dingwalls. Danny Payne/REX/Shutterstock FOLD June 24-26, Fulham Palace, SW6, foldfestival.com It stands for Freak Out Lets Dance, which is what people have been doing in the vicinity of Nile Rodgers band Chic for many years. Because hes in charge of this one, Chic will play every night, joined by different acts each time, including Labrinth and Alison Moyet (June 24), Beck (June 25) and John Newman (June 26). Nile Rodgers Productions Caught by the River Thames Aug 6-7, Fulham Palace, SW6, caughtbytheriver.net Caught by the River, a nature website made by music-lovers, branches out into the real world with a new festival appropriately situated right by the Thames. Following smaller events in Cardigan and Hebden Bridge, this one is more ambitious, promising to bridge the previously unspanned gap between mind-bending psychedelic rock n roll shows and Springwatch. Performers include Low, Super Furry Animals and Beth Orton. Jeff Barclay/Music Pics/REX House of Common Aug 29, Clapham Common, SW4 , madness.co.uk A Madness gig by another name, this is the latest guise for the Nutty Boys enjoyable all-dayers. Theres a strong reggae feel to this one, with legendary DJ David Rodigan and Jamaican giants Lee Scratch Perry and Toots and the Maytals providing the build-up to Suggs and co. Julian Finney/Getty Images And as a festival vet, whats your top tip for surviving the summer? I always like to do a festival close to home so I can drive home to my own bed. I never slept on the tank. Its not very comfy inside the machine. SFA play Caught By The River Thames, Electric Picnic and Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia A new Indian restaurant has arrived on Shaftesbury Avenue, led by Sameer Taneja a former chef at Mayfairs Michelin-starred Benares. It describes itself as offering half plates and full drinks, referencing its sharing menu of small plates paired with a large cocktail list. Dishes have been inspired by months of travel across India, and have been deliberately chosen to show off some of the countrys less well-known cooking styles. These will include nihari nalli, a dish of slow-cooked bone marrow in sauce; Lawrence Road Kulcha, a naan stuffed with cottage cheese and brushed with truffle ghee; tandoori guinea fowl served with beaten rice; and red mullet with a spiced crust. Cocktails are of the punchy and potent variety, and made using Indian flavours and ingredients, as well as homemade shrubs and syrups. The Keri Collins is made with vodka, mango puree, lime and soda; the Ammas Special blends gin, cucumber, coriander, lime and sugar; and the Talli Ho is made with whisky, beer syrup, orange bitters, lime and soda. Watch our video above to find out more about the new restaurant. Visit tallijoe.com. 30 must-try dishes in London restaurants 1 /41 30 must-try dishes in London restaurants Bone marrow on toast with parsley salad at St John Not only has this dish kicked off countless wonderful meals over the course of St Johns 25 years, but it also gets credit for putting British cooking back on the global culinary map. Roasted bone marrow, coaxed out onto toast, cut perfectly with salad of parsley, shallots and capers. A nose-to-tail revolution, and utterly divine. Whole turbot at Brat Tomos Parrys talents with a turbot first came to feverish acclaim at Mayfair restaurant Kitty Fishers, but they are now the star attraction at his Michelin-starred solo spot. This whole fish grilled Basque-style, over hot coals and in a specially designed cage softens as if it has melted, and is basted at the table in an emulsion made with its own juices. Benjamin McMahon Marinara at 50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Superlatives should be used in moderation but heck it, this might just be Londons best pizza. This under-the-radar London iteration of a Naples pizzeria serves an unrivalled marinara: just tomato sauce, oil, garlic and oregano. No need for any more with a sauce this good and a base so fine and perfectly charred, you can stop mourning your cancelled Italian holiday at first bite. Luciano Furia Clay pot baked pork and crab glass noodles at Kiln When we say Kiln is one of the hottest spots in town, we mean it hang over the counter at the Thai barbecue and youre not far out of range for the odd flame. Baking in the heart of the swirling heat is this must order: shimmering glass noodles, coated with a silky sauce enriched with fatty slicks of Tamworth pork belly and improbably unctuous crab meat. Lamb chops, Melabes Perhaps because its quietly tucked in among its unassuming neighbours down on the wrong end of High Street Kensington, Melabes is often overlooked by Londons food lovers. An unwarranted shame, as this partly Middle Eastern, partly Mediterranean set-up is really very good; it is somewhere to pick and choose from bits and pieces, and put a meal together yourself. The lamb chops, which come all smokey and burnished from the grill, are perfect; pink as a Vegas sign inside, but the fat all soft and dripping and delicious. A must, whatever the order. Steak tartare imperial at Bob Bob Ricard Theres Press For Champagne buttons, lobster in your mac and cheese and anything that stays still long enough gets gilded there is no point in going small at Bob Bob Ricard. Steak tartare is a luxurious pick at the best of times, but the Imperial upgrade here comes with a dollop of caviar even without the finishing touch, the tartare itself is one of the best in the capital. Bacon naan at Dishoom Londoners spent decades believing bacon in a bap with some ketchup (or brown sauce, but lets not have that argument now) couldnt be beaten and then Dishoom came along. This breakfast sandwich fills a fresh naan with bacon, a slathering of cream cheese, a luxurious tomato and chilli chutney, coriander and an oozing fried egg if you feel so inclined. Hangover be gone. Cacio e pepe at Padella Five years ago, you would have thought anyone queuing for pasta in London to have lost their minds this dish changed that. The starlet of Padellas much coveted is this plate of pici hand-rolled fat worms of eggless pasta with a mirror-shine sauce of parmesan cheese and pasta. Simple but unrivalled and itll set you back just 6. Jamon croquetas at Barrafina A dish like this should be elusive it is far too easy to eat seven portions of croquetas in a single sitting, which is why we presume Barrafina makes you queue. Very sensible. As the crunchy coating gives way to the oozing centre, enriched with the flavour of Spanish jamon (the best ham in the business), were already planning our next visit. Biang biang noodles at Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles There are oodles of noodles in the capital, but Guirong Weis triumphant take is one of the finest. First finding followers at her north London restaurant Xian Impression (soon to reopen for dine-in, but not yet), the dish of has inspired a whole spin-off restaurant in Spitalfields. Thick, hand-pulled, chewy noodles soak up all the spice and zing of the special sauce they swim in very special indeed. Souffle Suissesse, Le Gavroche Le Gavroche the street urchin is perhaps not for everyone. It is a Mayfair time machine, a reminder of how things were done once upon a time. Fortunately, it happens that how things were once done was very well indeed, and lunch or supper here is a masterclass in traditional French luxury (and often, happily, includes very large glasses of wine). Staff make the place, anyone who has been gently teased by the twins pretending to be each other will know. A tendency towards the old ways does mean the cooking offers little in the way of evolution or revolution, but new, after all, isnt always better. Michel Roux Jrs cheese souffle, baked on double cream, stuns, so overwhelmingly tasty, utter decadence that clings to the taste buds. Buttermilk Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Around the Cluck / 12:51 James Cochran found his signature dish early on, but its good it should stay with him for the rest of his career. While he has chops, and can do more beyond, theres something special in the way he works with his chicken; hotly spiced, gorgeously crispy, beautifully soft on the inside. A long-standing favourite and, though 12:51 cant operate as it did before, there are tables at his new project Around the Cluck, which is operating out of the same site. Breakfast at Hawksmoor Guildhall Your Full English is not full in comparison to the Hawksmoor breakfast at the steak connoisseurs Guildhall restaurant. The mind-boggling two-person spread swaps bacon rashers for an entire smoked chop, serves its bubble and squeak with short rib, puts trotter meat into its baked beans, and adds grilled bone marrow to all the usual trimmings. Cauliflower shawarma at Berber & Q Its not often that the main event at a barbecue restaurant is the veg, but Berber & Q have achieved just that. The cauliflower shawarma here is cooked on their flaming grill until softened and charred, before being doused liberally in tahini, pomegranate molasses, coriander, pomegranate seeds and a scattering of dried rose petals. BBQ Butter Chicken Wings at Brigadiers Brigadiers is a bold, boisterous sort of place: a labyrinthine City dining room, packed to the rafters with beer and Indian food that is indisputably gutsy. But arguably its finest moment comes in one of its smallest packages these chicken wings may be diminutive, but are mightily spiced, deftly charred and dripping with ghee-fuelled succulence. Beef brisket bun at Smokestak David Carters Shoreditch restaurant occupies itself by giving the entirety of Kansas City a run for its money on a daily basis. The star turn at this lauded barbecue restaurant is its beef brisket bun the meat is soft and juicy, riddled with its fats in the centre, while charred and treacle-like on the outside, paired perfectly with pickled chillies. To remember it is to salivate, we assure you. Snails, LEscargot LEscargot is one of Sohos old aristocrats and in its grand, beret red dining room there is always a mischievous sense of fun perhaps because it is still such a smart, suited, chandeliered place, and people are often drinking themselves rather silly. The clue to good eating is in the name; the snails come still clinging to their shells and submerged in their butter and parsley sauce. Dive in; you will emerge stinking gloriously of garlic. It wont matter a jot; roll on the red wine and settle in for a long, comforting night. Confit potatoes at Quality Chop House Yes, there are some high quality chops on offer at this 150-year-old Clerkenwell restaurant but blimey, leave room for the chips. Fine slices of potato are stacked into architecturally sound wedges, and confited until shatteringly crispy on the outside and devastatingly soft in the centre. They have been much imitated in recent years, but never bettered. Smoked eel sandwich at Quo Vadis Jeremy Lee cooks many things to a legendary level at Quo Vadis his pies could so easily have also made this list but he gets the nod here for his unrivalled take on the fancy sandwich. Smoked eel, horseradish cream and Dijon mustard, served with red onion pickle a combination so popular Lee says he nearly ran out of eel on post-lockdown reopening. Classic bao at Bao London has buns in abundance, but we still bow down to the fluffy superiority of Bao. The Taiwanese restaurant has become a cross-town favourite, thanks to its pleasingly pert rice buns (they are genuinely very pert, no crassness intended) and carefully considered fillings. The classic order comes filled with braised pork, fermented veg, coriander and a dusting of peanut powder. Carol Sachs Potato and roe, Core by Clare Smyth Clare Smyth has a knack that must infuriate other chefs; she is able to take the simplest of ingredients say, a single carrot and a smattering of lamb mince do something devilish with it and charge rather a lot for it; so good are the results, though, that few mind. Smyths sorcery is perhaps best witnessed with her signature, the potato and roe. It is simply a potato on a plate in a little sauce, but then it is also perhaps the best potato dish in the world; it has this wonderful salty richness, a certain seaside intenseness. It is glorious; so too is the smoked chicken that tends to come as an amuse bouche. Youll be treated here. Omelette Arnold Bennett Dont worry, no Arnolds were harmed in the making of this dish. Alongside impeccable service and an arguably perfect dining room, you could add another highlight to your breakfast at The Wolseley by ordering this creamy, haddock-filled dish, named for the writer who inspired its creation while staying at the Savoy. Fish pie, J Sheekey Long an actors favourite, J Sheekeys glamour has never lost its lustre. Its kept its regulars and charmed newcomers with a menu that plays the greatest hits of fine dining favourites. Seafood is Sheekeys thing; simply done sole is beautiful here, crab comes three ways, brill brushed in butter has a meatiness thats beyond satisfying. The fish pie is famous though, and rightly so; beneath the flaking pastry is a sea of cream, mustard and white wine, in it bobbing cod, haddock and salmon. It is simple but never fails; it does on its own for lunch, but is a failsafe at supper, too. John Carey The Ari Gold at Patty & Bun Theres a cheeseburger on every high street in the capital but not all of them are created equal. Patty & Bun has got the classic combination down to a tee with its curiously named Ari Gold burger: a fat, 35-day aged patty is served medium rare, and topped with gooey American cheese, smokey house mayo and tangy pickled red onions. Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung Few dishes in the capital have been known to cause queues of four hours. Thats exactly what the world-famous xiao long bao dumplings did when top Taiwanese restaurant group Din Tai Fung first opened in Covent Garden. An intricately folded out layer (made by chefs trained for at least 18 months) gives way to succulent meat and a broth you could take on by the bowlful. Pig's trotter, the French House Upstairs in the Soho local, Neil Borthwick is quietly running one of the areas best kitchens. He orders in particularly good oysters, does brilliant things with brill and with his pigs trotter, has a dish that is rich and fatty, but with a beautiful salty cut that makes it madly moreish. The menu tends to change often upstairs in the French, but have this if its on. That little dining room is somewhere to go in early for lunch and stay until late, eventually spilling down into the pub below, to drink pints they do pints now, not just halfs all while merrily reliving the joys upstairs. Peter Clark Dover sole with crab butter at Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill There are so many delights at Bentleys, its tricky to pick a single one. This could so easily have been a plate of rigorously sourced oysters, the fish pie, the decadent Royal seafood platter (pictured). It is however, the Dover sole that wins. A sublime piece of fish always, expertly cooked without fail choose it either filleted with beautiful crab butter, or grilled and whole for a simple pleasure. Over in the City, Corrigan does similarly brilliant things with lobster at Daffodil Mulligan. Ragu, Lina Stores Sohos Lina Stores the pasta bar, not the longstanding Italian deli it comes from is the sort of restaurant one longs for; small, fun, friendly, not too pricey. They do small plates of near perfect pasta; their ragu, whether lamb or veal, is a gem. A good ragu is hard to find too often theres too little meat, or meat not cooked for long enough but here, they spend the time over it, cooking slowly, carefully. No restaurant can compare with a Nonna, but Lina gets gratifyingly close. Porterhouse steak, the Guinea Grill London is not short of steakhouses, but the Guinea does not number among them. A pub a proper one it is tucked down a Mayfair sidestreet, away from everything and yet still perpetually busy. Besides the small bar is a dining room that looks much as it must have done when the likes of Sinatra was in (or Bette Midler, or Kylie, or Regan, or, or, or), where theyve served prime Aberdeen Angus cooked on a smoking hot grill. The Guinea is all about having a good time pints, red wine, brandies, the lot but they cook beautifully, and their handling of a good piece of beef is second to none. Puree de pommes de terre, Le Comptoir Robuchon The late Joel Robuchon may have been the most decorated chef of his and perhaps any other era, but his signature stayed humble mashed potato. Until youve had it, it is hard to believe it could be quite so good; mash, after all, is mash. No matter the scepticism, it will always surprise; it is almost silly that so little could taste of so much. A side, it will match almost everything on the menu; of which, the lamb with aubergine on the menu of classics is extraordinarily good. Follow Ben Norum on Twitter @BenNorum Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout F or many people, turkey sits in the same camp as Brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding something to be eaten just once a year. This is not the case for husband and wife Amir and Limor Chen, who will open a restaurant serving only turkey in Shoreditch this June. Following a successful residency at Shoreditch House last November, Strut & Cluck will become the latest in Londons line of single-item eateries, with almost every dish being based around the meat. For the couple the meats appeal is in its healthiness, versatility and flavour, leading Mrs Chen to call it a superfood. She started cooking it for her family as a healthier alternative to chicken when she discovered what it had to offer and became inspired to launch this restaurant. The dishes she has designed for the restaurant emphasise this, focusing on roasting and grilling over charcoal rather than deep frying. Items likely to feature include grilled turkey drumsticks with tahini, pomegranate molasses and roasted vegetables, and sourdough with hand-pulled turkey, pickled onion mayo, pickled eggs and stuffed chillies. Many nutritionists call turkey meat the "happy food" as it contains tryptophan which helps create mood-enhancing serotonin. It is also one the leanest, most nutrient-rich meats and contains an abundance of minerals and amino acids. 30 must-try dishes in London restaurants 1 /41 30 must-try dishes in London restaurants Bone marrow on toast with parsley salad at St John Not only has this dish kicked off countless wonderful meals over the course of St Johns 25 years, but it also gets credit for putting British cooking back on the global culinary map. Roasted bone marrow, coaxed out onto toast, cut perfectly with salad of parsley, shallots and capers. A nose-to-tail revolution, and utterly divine. Whole turbot at Brat Tomos Parrys talents with a turbot first came to feverish acclaim at Mayfair restaurant Kitty Fishers, but they are now the star attraction at his Michelin-starred solo spot. This whole fish grilled Basque-style, over hot coals and in a specially designed cage softens as if it has melted, and is basted at the table in an emulsion made with its own juices. Benjamin McMahon Marinara at 50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Superlatives should be used in moderation but heck it, this might just be Londons best pizza. This under-the-radar London iteration of a Naples pizzeria serves an unrivalled marinara: just tomato sauce, oil, garlic and oregano. No need for any more with a sauce this good and a base so fine and perfectly charred, you can stop mourning your cancelled Italian holiday at first bite. Luciano Furia Clay pot baked pork and crab glass noodles at Kiln When we say Kiln is one of the hottest spots in town, we mean it hang over the counter at the Thai barbecue and youre not far out of range for the odd flame. Baking in the heart of the swirling heat is this must order: shimmering glass noodles, coated with a silky sauce enriched with fatty slicks of Tamworth pork belly and improbably unctuous crab meat. Lamb chops, Melabes Perhaps because its quietly tucked in among its unassuming neighbours down on the wrong end of High Street Kensington, Melabes is often overlooked by Londons food lovers. An unwarranted shame, as this partly Middle Eastern, partly Mediterranean set-up is really very good; it is somewhere to pick and choose from bits and pieces, and put a meal together yourself. The lamb chops, which come all smokey and burnished from the grill, are perfect; pink as a Vegas sign inside, but the fat all soft and dripping and delicious. A must, whatever the order. Steak tartare imperial at Bob Bob Ricard Theres Press For Champagne buttons, lobster in your mac and cheese and anything that stays still long enough gets gilded there is no point in going small at Bob Bob Ricard. Steak tartare is a luxurious pick at the best of times, but the Imperial upgrade here comes with a dollop of caviar even without the finishing touch, the tartare itself is one of the best in the capital. Bacon naan at Dishoom Londoners spent decades believing bacon in a bap with some ketchup (or brown sauce, but lets not have that argument now) couldnt be beaten and then Dishoom came along. This breakfast sandwich fills a fresh naan with bacon, a slathering of cream cheese, a luxurious tomato and chilli chutney, coriander and an oozing fried egg if you feel so inclined. Hangover be gone. Cacio e pepe at Padella Five years ago, you would have thought anyone queuing for pasta in London to have lost their minds this dish changed that. The starlet of Padellas much coveted is this plate of pici hand-rolled fat worms of eggless pasta with a mirror-shine sauce of parmesan cheese and pasta. Simple but unrivalled and itll set you back just 6. Jamon croquetas at Barrafina A dish like this should be elusive it is far too easy to eat seven portions of croquetas in a single sitting, which is why we presume Barrafina makes you queue. Very sensible. As the crunchy coating gives way to the oozing centre, enriched with the flavour of Spanish jamon (the best ham in the business), were already planning our next visit. Biang biang noodles at Xi'an Biang Biang Noodles There are oodles of noodles in the capital, but Guirong Weis triumphant take is one of the finest. First finding followers at her north London restaurant Xian Impression (soon to reopen for dine-in, but not yet), the dish of has inspired a whole spin-off restaurant in Spitalfields. Thick, hand-pulled, chewy noodles soak up all the spice and zing of the special sauce they swim in very special indeed. Souffle Suissesse, Le Gavroche Le Gavroche the street urchin is perhaps not for everyone. It is a Mayfair time machine, a reminder of how things were done once upon a time. Fortunately, it happens that how things were once done was very well indeed, and lunch or supper here is a masterclass in traditional French luxury (and often, happily, includes very large glasses of wine). Staff make the place, anyone who has been gently teased by the twins pretending to be each other will know. A tendency towards the old ways does mean the cooking offers little in the way of evolution or revolution, but new, after all, isnt always better. Michel Roux Jrs cheese souffle, baked on double cream, stuns, so overwhelmingly tasty, utter decadence that clings to the taste buds. Buttermilk Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Around the Cluck / 12:51 James Cochran found his signature dish early on, but its good it should stay with him for the rest of his career. While he has chops, and can do more beyond, theres something special in the way he works with his chicken; hotly spiced, gorgeously crispy, beautifully soft on the inside. A long-standing favourite and, though 12:51 cant operate as it did before, there are tables at his new project Around the Cluck, which is operating out of the same site. Breakfast at Hawksmoor Guildhall Your Full English is not full in comparison to the Hawksmoor breakfast at the steak connoisseurs Guildhall restaurant. The mind-boggling two-person spread swaps bacon rashers for an entire smoked chop, serves its bubble and squeak with short rib, puts trotter meat into its baked beans, and adds grilled bone marrow to all the usual trimmings. Cauliflower shawarma at Berber & Q Its not often that the main event at a barbecue restaurant is the veg, but Berber & Q have achieved just that. The cauliflower shawarma here is cooked on their flaming grill until softened and charred, before being doused liberally in tahini, pomegranate molasses, coriander, pomegranate seeds and a scattering of dried rose petals. BBQ Butter Chicken Wings at Brigadiers Brigadiers is a bold, boisterous sort of place: a labyrinthine City dining room, packed to the rafters with beer and Indian food that is indisputably gutsy. But arguably its finest moment comes in one of its smallest packages these chicken wings may be diminutive, but are mightily spiced, deftly charred and dripping with ghee-fuelled succulence. Beef brisket bun at Smokestak David Carters Shoreditch restaurant occupies itself by giving the entirety of Kansas City a run for its money on a daily basis. The star turn at this lauded barbecue restaurant is its beef brisket bun the meat is soft and juicy, riddled with its fats in the centre, while charred and treacle-like on the outside, paired perfectly with pickled chillies. To remember it is to salivate, we assure you. Snails, LEscargot LEscargot is one of Sohos old aristocrats and in its grand, beret red dining room there is always a mischievous sense of fun perhaps because it is still such a smart, suited, chandeliered place, and people are often drinking themselves rather silly. The clue to good eating is in the name; the snails come still clinging to their shells and submerged in their butter and parsley sauce. Dive in; you will emerge stinking gloriously of garlic. It wont matter a jot; roll on the red wine and settle in for a long, comforting night. Confit potatoes at Quality Chop House Yes, there are some high quality chops on offer at this 150-year-old Clerkenwell restaurant but blimey, leave room for the chips. Fine slices of potato are stacked into architecturally sound wedges, and confited until shatteringly crispy on the outside and devastatingly soft in the centre. They have been much imitated in recent years, but never bettered. Smoked eel sandwich at Quo Vadis Jeremy Lee cooks many things to a legendary level at Quo Vadis his pies could so easily have also made this list but he gets the nod here for his unrivalled take on the fancy sandwich. Smoked eel, horseradish cream and Dijon mustard, served with red onion pickle a combination so popular Lee says he nearly ran out of eel on post-lockdown reopening. Classic bao at Bao London has buns in abundance, but we still bow down to the fluffy superiority of Bao. The Taiwanese restaurant has become a cross-town favourite, thanks to its pleasingly pert rice buns (they are genuinely very pert, no crassness intended) and carefully considered fillings. The classic order comes filled with braised pork, fermented veg, coriander and a dusting of peanut powder. Carol Sachs Potato and roe, Core by Clare Smyth Clare Smyth has a knack that must infuriate other chefs; she is able to take the simplest of ingredients say, a single carrot and a smattering of lamb mince do something devilish with it and charge rather a lot for it; so good are the results, though, that few mind. Smyths sorcery is perhaps best witnessed with her signature, the potato and roe. It is simply a potato on a plate in a little sauce, but then it is also perhaps the best potato dish in the world; it has this wonderful salty richness, a certain seaside intenseness. It is glorious; so too is the smoked chicken that tends to come as an amuse bouche. Youll be treated here. Omelette Arnold Bennett Dont worry, no Arnolds were harmed in the making of this dish. Alongside impeccable service and an arguably perfect dining room, you could add another highlight to your breakfast at The Wolseley by ordering this creamy, haddock-filled dish, named for the writer who inspired its creation while staying at the Savoy. Fish pie, J Sheekey Long an actors favourite, J Sheekeys glamour has never lost its lustre. Its kept its regulars and charmed newcomers with a menu that plays the greatest hits of fine dining favourites. Seafood is Sheekeys thing; simply done sole is beautiful here, crab comes three ways, brill brushed in butter has a meatiness thats beyond satisfying. The fish pie is famous though, and rightly so; beneath the flaking pastry is a sea of cream, mustard and white wine, in it bobbing cod, haddock and salmon. It is simple but never fails; it does on its own for lunch, but is a failsafe at supper, too. John Carey The Ari Gold at Patty & Bun Theres a cheeseburger on every high street in the capital but not all of them are created equal. Patty & Bun has got the classic combination down to a tee with its curiously named Ari Gold burger: a fat, 35-day aged patty is served medium rare, and topped with gooey American cheese, smokey house mayo and tangy pickled red onions. Xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung Few dishes in the capital have been known to cause queues of four hours. Thats exactly what the world-famous xiao long bao dumplings did when top Taiwanese restaurant group Din Tai Fung first opened in Covent Garden. An intricately folded out layer (made by chefs trained for at least 18 months) gives way to succulent meat and a broth you could take on by the bowlful. Pig's trotter, the French House Upstairs in the Soho local, Neil Borthwick is quietly running one of the areas best kitchens. He orders in particularly good oysters, does brilliant things with brill and with his pigs trotter, has a dish that is rich and fatty, but with a beautiful salty cut that makes it madly moreish. The menu tends to change often upstairs in the French, but have this if its on. That little dining room is somewhere to go in early for lunch and stay until late, eventually spilling down into the pub below, to drink pints they do pints now, not just halfs all while merrily reliving the joys upstairs. Peter Clark Dover sole with crab butter at Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill There are so many delights at Bentleys, its tricky to pick a single one. This could so easily have been a plate of rigorously sourced oysters, the fish pie, the decadent Royal seafood platter (pictured). It is however, the Dover sole that wins. A sublime piece of fish always, expertly cooked without fail choose it either filleted with beautiful crab butter, or grilled and whole for a simple pleasure. Over in the City, Corrigan does similarly brilliant things with lobster at Daffodil Mulligan. Ragu, Lina Stores Sohos Lina Stores the pasta bar, not the longstanding Italian deli it comes from is the sort of restaurant one longs for; small, fun, friendly, not too pricey. They do small plates of near perfect pasta; their ragu, whether lamb or veal, is a gem. A good ragu is hard to find too often theres too little meat, or meat not cooked for long enough but here, they spend the time over it, cooking slowly, carefully. No restaurant can compare with a Nonna, but Lina gets gratifyingly close. Porterhouse steak, the Guinea Grill London is not short of steakhouses, but the Guinea does not number among them. A pub a proper one it is tucked down a Mayfair sidestreet, away from everything and yet still perpetually busy. Besides the small bar is a dining room that looks much as it must have done when the likes of Sinatra was in (or Bette Midler, or Kylie, or Regan, or, or, or), where theyve served prime Aberdeen Angus cooked on a smoking hot grill. The Guinea is all about having a good time pints, red wine, brandies, the lot but they cook beautifully, and their handling of a good piece of beef is second to none. Puree de pommes de terre, Le Comptoir Robuchon The late Joel Robuchon may have been the most decorated chef of his and perhaps any other era, but his signature stayed humble mashed potato. Until youve had it, it is hard to believe it could be quite so good; mash, after all, is mash. No matter the scepticism, it will always surprise; it is almost silly that so little could taste of so much. A side, it will match almost everything on the menu; of which, the lamb with aubergine on the menu of classics is extraordinarily good. The look on the restaurant will continue the poultry theme. Tiles on the walls are being designed to resemble the feather formations of a strutting turkey, while the space will be decked out like an outside terrace complete with hanging baskets and lanterns. It is due to open in June on Commercial Street. Follow Ben Norum on Twitter @BenNorum Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout I n her prologue to this study of the last days of five great writers, Katie Roiphe confesses to serious qualms about her project. At various points in the years I was writing this book I wanted to stop, Roiphe tells us, because it was tricky, dangerous, unwieldy, or confusing, or making me anxious, but I couldnt stop. It is not hard to believe her, as its theme, how we face death, is something from which many of us might flinch or turn away, guided by instinct or ethics. Its interesting how quickly the imagination turns death into something else; how quickly, cleverly, resourcefully we flee, Roiphe observes. Taking a quintet of subjects Susan Sontag, Sigmund Freud, John Updike, Dylan Thomas and Maurice Sendak The Violet Hour reconstructs their final moments, even down to their last minutes, while also looking at what they wrote and thought about mortality in their work. Roiphe describes it early on as a kind of biography backward: a nice, if slightly awkward idea, which conveys only a little of its originality and force. As all of Roiphes case studies show, it is a good deal easier to be eloquent about death before the fact than to confront it finally. Sontag is here remembered quoting Samuel Johnson with amusement: Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight it concentrates his mind wonderfully. If you would endure life, Freud wrote, be prepared for death. Rage, rage against the dying of the light, wrote Dylan Thomas famously. Yet the account of Sontags final days is harrowing for her inability to accept her mortality, during her last cancer in 2004. Freud, dying from throat cancer, refused all painkillers before finally agreeing to be given morphia, thereby having final control. Updike, who knew how writing was a way of too instantly transforming pain into honey, worked on a final book of poems after his diagnosis of lung cancer. Dylan Thomas died in New York at 39 after a delirious, unhinged drinking spree, in a prolonged and disturbing flight from himself. Three of these portraits (of Sontag, Updike and Sendak) take Roiphe near to the present day. She leaves the archives to talk to the friends, lovers, and family of her subjects, as well as their housekeepers and nurses. She is good on the domestic arrangements of illness, and the chains of duty and affection that bind other people to her subjects. She tells us what her subjects were reading. And she argues that while nearly everyone has a fantasy of a last conversation, very few people actually have it. 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Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review Inevitably, there are passages in The Violet Hour when the writing quails before the supreme eloquence demanded by its theme, and the grisly, unforgiving nature of the material. Roiphe writes in fragmentary, diary-like paragraphs throughout, allowing her to weave back and forth in time and to indulge in her own form of evasion when, struggling with her subjects final days, she slides off into reflections on their oeuvre, life and loves, losing her overall focus. But the controlled and steady tone of all these portraits holds the book together, and makes it more than the sum of its parts: a contemporary, uncomfortably familiar study of death in the modern age. Favouring clarity, Roiphe tries to look closely without consolations or euphemisms or evasions or neat conclusions. What she sets down here, to her credit, is not at all neat or consolatory. Gracefully, it offers community and commemoration, even while acknowledging that some things are better left unsaid. Earl of East London is a lifestyle brand and store based in an old shipping container in Hackneys trendy Netil Market, founded by Paul, 32, and Niko, 29. The couple are known for their excellent taste in succulents and huge array of scented soy wax candles, including sweet grapefruit and wildflower. Here, Paul and Niko tell us how they got into the industry, where they look for inspiration and why theyre both obsessed with charcoal. How did you end up setting your own lifestyle store and do you have any advice for those hoping to break into the industry? Niko: From coming up with the idea of what it was that we wanted to do, to setting up the store and launching our own products; it all kind of happened all organically, without having a master plan. I think the one thing we've learned over the last two years is to turn opportunities into real moments and push the business and ourselves non-stop. Beautifully displayed / Earl of East London lifestyle store - press image Paul: We didn't set out with a master plan, we just had a shared interest in wanting to create. Our store is a representation of the things we love, not just the products, but also the idea of being able to create something beautiful without it having to cost the earth. The best piece of advice to anyone who wanted to start something would be to just put your ideas out there, trial your idea at a market, tell people what you want to do, collaborate with others. What lifestyle trends do you predict for the coming months? P: For the past few years we have had a focus on Californian brands, Instagram turned everyday US makers in to global influencers and that and our trips to the US really inspired us. I think generally there is a movement away from that crafty style and that people want high quality, well-produced items and simple items. N: Simplicity is key. We're looking towards Asia and Scandinavia for inspiration. Are you working on any new projects at the moment? N: We're working on a very exciting collaboration with a well know fashion retailer and are also planning curated gatherings and events. Candles, lotions and potions Whats your favourite piece from your shop? N: We're obsessed with charcoal at the moment. P: Yeah, we recently started working with a Danish brand called Sort of Coal, they have such amazing charcoal based body and haircare products. We have also moved more into apothecary and it sits well alongside our candles giving us a bit more of a focus. Where do you seek design inspiration? N: Travel is probably the most important source of inspiration for us, our two new scents Atlas Cedar and Strand have been inspired by recent trips. P: Going away is great because you see new ideas and find beauty in things that are just everyday; I always love it when we return home as you see the city differently again. The duo are known for their curation of house plants What was last piece of homeware you bought yourself? P: We recently bought tan leather bar stools from Everything But The Dog on Chatsworth Road. I'd wanted them before we had the house but couldn't find them anywhere. The guys managed to find them for us, which was great. What is your favourite design shop or boutique in London or beyond? P: I really love Alchemy Works in LA, its such an incredible space and I just want everything, they do destination stores so well in the US. Whenever I'm in town I always visit Liberty, it.s steeped in history and has so much charm and character. N: Personally, I really love Kempton Market for amazing furniture finds or Forest for scandi furniture Is there a restaurant or hotel in London whose design you particularly like/admire? P: Hotels have massively upped their games in recent years. The Hoxton, Ace and Edition are all incredible and have made hotels destinations again. I also really love Raw Duck and Bistroteque, they are both laid back and cool. N: I love the vibrant interior of the Hoxton in Holborn. It's playful, but sophisticated. It's casual, but chic. Do you have a top room makeover tip? P: Mix it up, some of the items people point out in our home are from IKEA but they are placed alongside vintage pieces so are out of the flat pack context. Always choose eggshell over gloss paint and don't be afraid to paint the woodwork in the same colour as the walls. What home accessory could you not live without? P: Candles of course N: And mood lighting, generall. There is a no 'big light' policy in our home isn't there Paul.... Describe a day in the life of a lifestyle storeowner P: Everyday is different and you think about it from the minute you wake up until the minute you go to sleep. As a small storeowner you wear so many hats, Visual merchandiser/Shop Assistant/Buyer/Accountant/Social Media Manager/Product Designer/Wholesaler but that means you learn so much and get to work with so many great people. N: It's like getting the house ready when you expect guest. Why did you choose your specific unit and location in London Fields? P: Honestly I think Netil Market chose us. We used to visit every Saturday so when we decided to do something it was a natural choice. It has such a special vibe there, its right in the middle of Hackney but just slightly off the beaten track, so it is much more of a locals market than its neighbours. For more info visit earlofeastlondon.com. Follow Paul and Niko on Twitter @EarlofEast Follow Aimee on Twitter @Aimee_Mc1 T heres something incredibly romantic about train travel, with its relaxed pace, comfortable accommodation and wonderful scenery. Take your cue from Wes Andersons iconic flick The Darjeeling Limited and try one of these railway trips a calming antidote to life in the fast lane. Palace On Wheels, India Best for Regal types How long? Eight days Live like a maharaja on board the Palace on Wheels, a train that captures the essence of Rajasthan with its sand dunes, Bengal tigers and Hindu temples. The itinerary includes a grand feast at Taj City Palace in Udaipur, which is a favourite destination of Nicole Kidmans; a boat ride on Lake Pichola, home to the picturesque Lake Palace; and a camel ride into the Thar Desert from Jaisalmer also known as the Golden City. Onboard the plush train, feast like a king on Rajasthani curries served by traditionally dressed khidmatgars (waiters) and splash out on an Ayurvedic massage in the rejuvenation spa carriage. Cost From 3,000 per person (palaceonwheels.co.uk) The Belmond British Pullman Belmond British Pullman Best for Day trippers How long? One day The golden age of steam train travel originated in Britain, so what better way to explore the country in the warmer months than by locomotive? The Belmond British Pullman, which departs from Victoria, has a fabulous selection of trips around the UKs most picturesque towns. Our top pick? A steam-hauled day trip to Bath, which allows guests to soak up the very best of the historic spa town and its famous Roman baths, fortified by a Bellini brunch on departure and a four-course dinner with champagne to look forward to on the return leg. Cost From 510 per person (belmond.com) Seven Stars, Japan Best for Design lovers How Long? Four days The Seven Stars locomotive coasts through rice paddy fields and tectonic landscapes on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, home to hot springs and Japans most active volcano, Mount Aso. Once described as the gateway to Asia, the train is a fine lesson in traditional Japanese design. On board, youll find lustrous woodwork in the cabins, bamboo blinds and ceramic sinks, inspired by Satsuma earthenware, which originated from the island in the 17th century. For guests concerned about cabin fever, theres also a nights stay in a traditional ryokan (inn), complete with its own private hot spring. Cost From 3,400 for two people (cruisetrain-sevenstars.com) El Transcantabrico, Spain Best for Foodies How long? Eight days for the Leon to Santiago de Compostela route This luxury vessel with original 1920s Pullman carriages takes you on a culture-packed trip that covers 400 miles of luscious landscapes in northern Spain. Work up an appetite hopping off the train to marvel at the Romanesque art in Olmeda, the golden beaches of Santander and the Covadongas glacial lakes, each an opportunity to indulge in regional specialities such as pintxos delicious small sharing plates of smoky chorizo, nutty Idiazabal cheese and fresh seafood as well as passing through Spains Basque region, famous for having the worlds highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants. Cost From 3,510 per person (luxurytrainclub.com) Highland Adventure Best for Film buffs How long? Five days This scenic trip takes you on a whistle-stop tour of the most stunning scenery in northern Scotland. Starting in Inverness, youll spend five days hopping on and off some of the countrys finest trains, including The Jacobite steam train, which once famously doubled as the Hogwarts Express. Whoosh past Ben Nevis and the ancient Glenfinnan viaduct, and take in some of Scotlands most beautiful views Loch Duich is home to the romantic Eilean Donan castle, which features in countless films including The World is Not Enough and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Cost From 545 per person (greatrail.com) The Namib Desert Pride of Africa Best for Families How long? Nine days The Namibian Safari journey on this Edwardian-style train covers 2,000 miles of savannahs via canyons and cities. See the centre of one of the worlds famous diamond rushes in Kimberley before drifting across the stark vistas of the Northern Cape to the Fish River Canyon. If youre craving the city, the next stop is Windhoek, Namibias capital, where the German castles punctuating the skyline could lead you to mistake it for a western city. After nights spent in spacious suites on wheels, the adventure finishes off with a flight to the Namib Desert and a night in the Etosha National Park for some game-spotting and a dry lake bed so large it can be seen from space. Cost From 2,635 per person (luxurytrainclub.com) Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @EsMagOfficial A bout 20 years ago, Toyota sparked a small revolution when it introduced the first mass-produced hybrid car, powered by a petrol engine and an electric motor. The Toyota Prius went on to find 3.6 million buyers and spawned a generation of other hybrids. The first three versions were clever, reliable and successful, but as a driving experience, it was about as much fun as a trip to the dentist. Its engine screamed when asked for acceleration and the car felt obstructive much of the time. A new decent-to-drive version was needed, which brings us to the new fourth generation car, which feels a great deal better. Even more fuel-efficient and less polluting, the new Prius sits lower and feels better balanced. The new 1.8-litre petrol engine still wails under acceleration, but these days you dont need ear protectors. Styling is brave it is a bit fussy at the back, with a spoiler across the rear window which hinders your vision. The well-built cabin is spoilt by white plastic trim on the steering wheel and centre console which looks like something out of a bathrooms catalogue. There is plenty of room in the front, but the swooping roofline hinders rear headroom. The boot is even more vast than before, thanks to a smaller but more efficient electric motor beneath the rear seats. At the cars launch in Valencia, a complicated place to drive, the sat-nav fell woefully short, constantly failing to re-plan our route when we ignored its orders to enter non-existent streets. Toyota bosses seem determined to address this before the cars reach customers. Priced between 23,295 and 27,450, the new Prius is a vast improvement on the last car. But theres still room for improvement. Toyota Prius Business Edition Top speed: 112mph CO2: 70g or 76g/km (depending on wheel size) Combined MPG: 94.1 Price: 24,195 A side from the bloody battles, Game of Thrones is also renowned for its stunning scenery. Filmed in locations across Northern Ireland, Malta and Spain, the hit HBO series has had thousands of fans wanting to jet off to holiday where all the GoT action happens. But no one location features as prominently in GoT than Croatia, which has served as the backdrop to some unforgettable scenes, including the Jesuit Stairs where Cersei took her infamous walk. Kings Landing which is filmed near the coastal Croatian town of Dubrovnik has become one of the most popular reasons drawing visitors to this stunning Balkan island. And its not hard to see why: Dubrovnik dates back to the 16th century and is encircled by magnificent stone walls that are lapped by the glistening Adriatic Sea. A UNESCO world heritage site, it is consolidating its place as an upmarket travel destination with a flurry of smart hotels. But there is plenty more to discover beyond Dubrovnik's medieval walls. Croatia is blessed with a smattering of idyllic islands. From the secluded beauty of Lastovo island to the marbled beauty of Hvar Town, here are some of the best places to visit on the Croatian coast: Rab Island Rab Island, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES Edward VIII took Wallis Simpson to little known Rab Island in 1936 and its not hard to see why it was chosen. A secluded island off northern Croatia in the Kvarner Gulf, Rab has medieval rooftops and spires, enchanting golden-stone alleyways, lush green forests and endless sandy beaches and sheltered coves. Nudists should ask for the way to Kandarola Bay Dubrovnik Dubrovnik, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES Game of Thrones fans wont want to miss the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik but nor will anyone else. The location is simple sublime: a walled city at the southern tip of the Dalmatian Coast dropping into the glistening Adriatic below. The Old Town is pedestrian-only and you can walk along the top of the old wall to get brilliant views. Chic five-star hotels and quality seafood joints make it the ideal coastal city break. For a real injection of glamour, stay at Villa Dubrovnik 10 minutes outside of town. The hotel has a vintage speedboat which will take you to and from the Old Town. Vis Vis, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES Further north from Dubrovnik, youll see the small but incredibly charming island of Vis. It used to be an important naval base in the former Yugoslavia, so Vis was out of bounds for tourists and it still feels largely undiscovered. The quiet island has stretches of vineyards and produces some of Croatias best known white wines. It also has some of the best seafood to offer. If youre treating yourself, join the yacht brigade in the beautiful garden restaurant of Villa Kaliopa. Telascica National Park Telascica National Park, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES Telascica is a bay on the southeastern part of the island Dugi Otok. A designated nature park 10km long, it is dotted with cliffs, islets and smaller bays, perfect for exploring by boat. Its not far from the mainland city of Zadar. Lastovo Island Lastovo Island, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES A traditional way of life still reigns on the tiny paradise of Lastovo, making it a good choice for the more intrepid traveller. Beach life it aint instead youll find thick forests, a wonderfully craggy coast and a walkers paradise the diving is good, too. In fact, the whole island is a dedicated nature park. On the southern side of the island is the Struga Lighthouse, where you can actually stay. You can get to Lastovo by ferry from Split. Lopud Lopud, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES Only half an hours ferry northwest from Dubrovnik is Lopud, where the formers aristocracy used to sail to for weekend breaks in the 17th century. One of the Elaphiti islands, the island is full of derelict churches, chapels and monasteries and a sleepy village harbour that will make you feel as if youve stepped back in time. Head to Sunj for a bit of beach action. Korcula Old Town Korcula Old Town, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES The supposed birth place of Marco Polo, the walled old town of Korcula is well worth a visit. It juts out pleasingly into the Peljesac Channel and its architecture takes its inspiration from the Venetian Renaissance. Hvar Town Hvar Town, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES The St Tropez of Croatia, Hvar Town is impossibly chic dressed in the Venetian style with piazzas and a huge cathedral crowning the main square. Hvar is popular with both the super yachties and young party animals, so avoid peak season if you dont like crowds. Mljet Mljet, Croatia / ALAMY IMAGES Prince Charles is a fan of the walking on this pretty island that is part national park and just a 90-minute ferry from Dubrovnik. Its also home to a Benedictine monastery accessible by boat and several lakes you can swim in. A London fraud gang which targeted pensioners to raise cash to fund Islamic State in Syria could have escaped with millions of pounds, it emerged today. Nine men face jail today for their part in the bank of terror fraud in which conmen tricked elderly victims into handing over their life savings by posing as police officers on the phone. Two have already been jailed. One victim, a 94-year-old man from north-west London, lost 130,000. Among those convicted was Mohamed Dahir, 23, of Finsbury Park, who was supported in an earlier bail application by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, his local MP. Another being sentenced at the Old Bailey today is Nathan Fagan-Gayle, 29, an X Factor finalist, who laundered thousands of pounds of the cash. Mohammed Youssfi, 38, of West Brompton, has already been jailed for 20 months for money laundering and fraud after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. Mohammed Abokar, 28, of Islington, was sentenced to 18 months for money laundering. Commander Dean Haydon, the head of Scotland Yards Counter Terrorism Command, described the men as an organised crime group who callously and systematically preyed on the elderly and vulnerable. He urged people to be alert to calls from people claiming to be police officers or bank employees, saying they would never ask for bank details on the phone or by email. He said: These people were committing fraud on an industrial scale. They pretended to be police officers who were trying to uncover a fraud in the banking system and won the trust of their victims and persuaded them to hand over their pin numbers and bank details. As a result people were duped out of their life savings. The investigation by officers from the National Terrorism Financial Investigation Unit uncovered 16 phone lines used to make 6,000 calls to about 4,000 different numbers. Detectives found evidence of 140 frauds which raked in more than 1 million but investigators believe dozens of victims have been too scared to come forward. They believe total losses could run into millions. At an earlier hearing a prosecutor told magistrates the funds were being used to buy weapons and bullets in a scam referred to as the bank of terror. Fagan-Gayle, from Mitcham, who appeared in the 2012 X Factor series, laundered 20,000 in cash and spent most of it on designer clothes and flights to LA. Officers identified Makzhumi Abukar, 24, as the main organiser and co-ordinator, directing the frauds from his Holloway address. The fraud and money laundering was revealed after investigators found unusual payments to a British jihadist who moved to Syria. Detectives believe some of the cash was used to fund the travel of UK citizens to fight for Islamic State in Syria. Victim Elizabeth Curtis, 73, from Cornwall, said she also lost 130,000. In an interview with the BBC she said: I was absolutely stunned and shocked, and could not believe I had been so stupid and naive as to be taken in. The gang, who were convicted of either conspiracy to commit fraud or money laundering offences, also included Fahim Islam, 21, of Stepney, Achmed Ahmed, 23, of Holloway, Anrul Islam, 24, of Dagenham, Sakaria Aden, 22, of Stoke Newington, Yasser Abukar, 24, of Holloway, and Warsame Sheik, 30, of White City. T he CPS is reportedly reviewing its decision to drop a murder investigation into the death of a man at a fashion millionaire's home. Ricci Gallagher, 46, died in July 2015 after an incident at an Essex farmhouse belonging to Richard Glanville, a former executive at a firm that owned high street clothing chains Oasis, Warehouse and Coast. Mr Glanville, 60, from Billericay, was arrested in connection with the murder probe along with a 54-year-old man from Basildon and had been due to answer police bail in May. Essex Police announced on Thursday that the men will face no further action and an inquest into Mr Gallagher's death is due to take place in due course. His widow, Linda, said she had been left "devastated" by his death and has requested the case be looked at again, according to The Sun. Released from bail: Richard Glanville / Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images The CPS told the newspaper: "We have had an application from a family member under the victim's right of review for the decision to be looked at again and we will be doing so." Until 2013 Mr Glanville was chief financial officer for Aurora Fashions, which owned the clothing stores. On July 30, 2015 police were called to his home in Sudburys Farm Road, Little Burstead, where they found Mr Gallagher injured. The delivery driver from Blind Lane, Little Burstead was taken to a London hospital where he died on August 6. According to police Mr Gallagher had reported a fire at his home minutes before they were called to the farmhouse where he was found fatally wounded. At the time Mrs Gallagher paid tribute to her husband who she described as a "very kind considerate person with a great zest for life and was liked by all who met him". She said they had a "very happy marriage" and were excited by a recent move to the village where they planned to build a home. She said: "The tragic events that have unfolded from the day of the fire at our home and subsequent head injury from which he died have left me and my family devastated." An Essex Police spokesman said: "Two men arrested on suspicion of the murder of a man in Little Burstead in July 2015 have been released from their bail and will face no further action. "The 54-year-old man from Basildon and 60-year-old man from the Billericay area were due to answer bail on May 11 but have had it cancelled in advance due to insufficient evidence. "An inquest will be held in due course." A Frenchman who sparked a terror alert at Gatwick Airport in the wake of the Paris attacks has walked free from court. Jerome Chauris, 41, was cleared of possessing an air rifle and a lock knife at the West Sussex airport following a trial which ended this week at Hove Crown Court, Sussex Police confirmed. The alert caused 1.2 million of disruption after thousands of passengers had to be evacuated from the North Terminal until the area was given the all-clear by bomb squad officers. Bomb disposal specialists carried out a controlled explosion inside the terminal during the security alert on November 14 the day after the Paris terror attacks that claimed 130 lives. Airport passengers and staff waited in nearby hotels for up to six hours before being allowed to return to the airport. Mr Chauris, from Vendome, central France, was detained at the airport amid increased security at British ports following the Paris attacks. P olice today released a chilling transcript of the harrowing 999 call that led to the arrest of sadistic teenage murderer James Fairweather. The caller describes freezing after spotting the would-be serial killer hiding in bushes in Colchester near to where he carried out one of his murders. They begin Hi, I wonder if you can help me, before describing the double murderer who was later arrested and today jailed for life at the Old Bailey. The caller says: Theres a very suspicious guy down there whos just standing there, and its like obviously a dog trail and hes just on his own and its quite a secluded area. As the 999 operator tries to elicit more information, the concerned member of the public adds: Hes got thick dark glasses I dont if that makes I dont know, its just somethings not right. The call was made at 10.50am on May 26, 2015, nearly a year after Fairweather had last struck. Police eventually attended the scene and arrested the boy, who aged just 15 was said to have been obsessed with becoming Britains youngest serial killer. Now 17, Fairweather shrugged and mouthed "don't give a s***" as he was locked up for at least 27 years, waving to his parents as he was led to the cells. The schoolboy had spent months obsessing over mass murderers like the Yorkshire Ripper when he stabbed his first victim, James Attfield, more than 100 times while he slept in a park. Custody interview of teenage murderer James Fairweather Fairweather struck again three months later when he stabbed to death 31-year-old Saudi student Nahid Almanea. A violent and volatile man who stabbed a 36-year-old in the head and slit his throat twice following a takeaway row has been jailed for 20 years. Tony Henry attacked the man outside the fast food venue in Parsloes Road, Dagenham, in front of horrified onlookers. During the attack, Henry knifed him in the back of the head and again in the chest before slicing at his neck. His victim was lucky to be alive, police said, and spent four weeks in the Royal London Hospital after the attack on August 8 last year. Today, at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Henry was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of attempted murder. Speaking afterwards, Detective Constable Elena Midlane, from Barking and Dagenham CID, said: This heinous attack was committed in broad daylight on a busy main road with many members of public going about their daily business. The victim received extensive injuries both physically and emotionally. She added: Tony Henry is a violent and volatile man who will now spend a considerable period of time behind bars. Even to this day he has not shown remorse, and following Henry's not guilty plea, the victim was forced to attend court and relive the harrowing attack whilst giving evidence. A sadistic teenager who was obsessed with becoming Britain's youngest serial killer has been jailed for life for the brutal murders of two strangers. James Fairweather, 17, shrugged and mouthed "don't give a s***" as he was locked up for at least 27 years, waving to his parents as he was led to the cells. The schoolboy had spent months obsessing over mass murderers like the Yorkshire Ripper when he stabbed his first victim, James Attfield, more than 100 times while he slept in a park. Fairweather struck again three months later when he stabbed to death 31-year-old Saudi student Nahid Almanea. The teenager, who was just 15 at the time of the attacks, tortured his victims by deliberately stabbing them in the eyes and wounding them to cause pain, the Old Bailey heard. Victim: James Attfield / PA When he was eventually captured, he gave a "chillingly frank" confession to police, saying Ms Almanea should not have been walking along as "she should have known there was a murderer in town". After he carried out the attacks, Fairweather calmly ditched his weapons in a stream and destroyed his blood stained clothes, then relished the "state of fear" among locals in Colchester, Essex. When his bedroom was searched, police found reams of research on Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, Ipswich serial killer Steve Wright, and US mass murderer Ted Bundy. Custody interview of teenage murderer James Fairweather Fairweather claimed he had been driven to kill by a combination of autism, paranoia, and voices in his head, as well as being bullied at school since the age of 11. But a jury rejected his defence of diminished responsibility and found him guilty of the double murder following a trial. "It's plain in carrying out these two murders you were seeking to emulate other serial killers such as Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper", said Mr Justice Spencer. "When you committed these murders, you were acting out your violent and sadistic fantasy which had been fuelled by your obsession with serial killers. "You had immersed yourself in that world for several months at least." Killer James Fairweather's mother Anita / PA The court heard Fairweather sneaked out of his home through the living room window to carry out the first attack on Mr Attfield in March 2014, finding him drunk and sleeping after a night out. "It was a brutal, relentless, and cowardly attack on a man lying on the ground drunk and incapable of defending himself", said the judge, who added that Fairweather had "relished the sense of power and control". Fairweather jokingly played with his thick-rimmed spectacles as he entered the dock this morning, giving a thumbs-up to his father and mouthing the words: "Chin up". He carried out the first murder on March 29, 2014, three days after he was sentenced to a youth referral order for criminal damage and a knifepoint robbery. Mr Attfield, a father-of-four, was still alive when his wounded body was discovered in Castle Park in Colchester, the court heard. He had been stabbed 102 times, and had injuries showing he had tried in vain to fend off Fairweather's attack. Ms Almanea, a student at the University of Essex, was stabbed with a bayonet by Fairweather as she walked to class along the Salary Brook Trail footpath on 17 June, 2014. He came up behind her and stabbed her in the back, then knifed her repeatedly including inflicting wounds to both eyes. Fairweather was questioned by Essex Police after the second attack, as he had a history of knife crime, but police did not have enough evidence to link him to the killings. He was eventually captured in May last year while prowling the same area as the attack on Ms Almanea, wearing gloves and holding a lock knife and looking for his third victim. There was evidence of "sadistic conduct" in both murders, wounding his victims before delivering the fatal blows, the court heard. "In Ms Almanea's case, he had targeted her eyes, knocking off her sunglasses specifically so he could stab her in the eyes", said the judge. Psychiatric tests showed Fairweather had an "emerging psychopathic personality disorder" and had been driven to kill by his obsession with notorious serial killers. He admitted in interview that he had thought constantly of "killing and raping" and spent his spare time watching pornography. Prosecutor Simon Denison QC said if Fairweather had been 21 at the time of the murders, he could be facing a whole life prison sentence. He added that Essex Police had spent 2.6m on the investigation, drafting in extra officers and distributed thousands of panic alarms in the wake of the murders. In an impact statement, Mr Attfield's mother Julie Finch said: "We continue supporting each other as a family and remember James as a friendly practical joker that he was." She dubbed Fairweather a "monster" and added: "Our lives were changed forever when my kind and brave son Jim was brutally killed." Fairweather admitted manslaughter but was convicted after trial of murder. He will serve 27 years behind bars before he is considered for release. A woman was slapped at a Tube station after angering another commuter by stepping in front of her during rush hour. The victim was allegedly assaulted at Manor House by a woman who became annoyed when she veered across her path on the station concourse. Police said the suspect chased the victim down an escalator and shoved and slapped her, leaving her with a cut lip, during the attack on March 9 at 8.30am. British Transport Police today released a CCTV image of a woman they want to speak to in connection with the incident. DC David Bishop investigating said: I am keen to speak to the woman in the CCTV image as I believe she has vital information that could help with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to called 0800 405040 or text 61016 quoting 216 28/04/2016. A n outbreak of measles has been declared in London after 76 cases in the last two months. Public health chiefs today advised teenagers and adults to check whether they were fully vaccinated, as about 50 of the cases were in people aged 15 or older. The sudden outbreak is about seven times greater than normal and coincides with a wider spike in cases of the highly infectious virus across England. London has the lowest take-up of the MMR vaccine across the country, with 87 per cent of children protected. Public Health England said the number of teenagers being infected was a legacy of the 1998 MMR scare. Teenagers were advised to check whether they are fully vaccinated / PA That was sparked when the now- discredited doctor Andrew Wakefield wrongly linked the vaccine to autism, reducing uptake to about 60 per cent in the capital. London public health director Dr Yvonne Doyle said of the current situation: We are seeing an increase in measles cases across the city, which could be considered an outbreak. The cases are being confirmed mainly in adolescents and young adults but its never too late for them to have the vaccine. Those who have not received two doses of the vaccine in the past or who are unsure should speak to their GP. Theres no harm in receiving an additional dose where there is any uncertainty. Signs to look out for can include cold-like symptoms, sore red eyes, a high temperature or a red-brown blotchy rash. Those people experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention but phone ahead before visiting GP surgeries so arrangements can be made to prevent others from being infected. The call for improved vaccination rates saw Wandsworth town hall covered in measles spots as part of European Immunisation Week. The UK needs to vaccinate an additional 2,000 children a month to meet the World Health Organisations 95 per cent target for herd immunity. Wandsworth has seen at least three cases since February. The MMR vaccine, which also protects against mumps and rubella, is offered to infants in England from the age of 12 months, with a second dose at three years four months. Measles can lead to serious complications and rubella can cause problems in pregnancy. Wandsworths director of public health Houda Al-Sharifi said: Projecting spots on to the town hall may appear to be a light-hearted stunt but behind it is a very serious message. In some cases people who contract measles go on to develop pneumonia and encephalitis [brain inflammation]. Its never too late to get vaccination. A n advertising executive smashed 500 of plant pots in a rage after being thrown out of a central London restaurant for being too drunk, a court heard. Jonathan Scott, 40, shouted do you know who I am? and tussled with staff when he was asked to leave the Italian eatery Antico because he was hassling other customers. Restaurant owner Nick Crispini said once Scott had been manhandled outside and the front door was barricaded, Scott destroyed plant pots and threw pebbles at the front of the restaurant. Scott, who was on a work night out at the time of the incident, resigned in shame from the advertising agency he worked for after the incident, Camberwell Green magistrates court heard. Wearing designer glasses, a blazer, turned-up skinny jeans and no socks, Scott pleaded guilty to criminal damage and using threatening words and behaviour yesterday. Scott had been asked to leave Bermondsey's Antico restaurant / Google StreetView He was hit with 780 in fines, 125 of court costs, and order to pay 500 in compensation to Mr Crispini. Prosecutor Denise Johnson said Scott, who lives in luxury apartment overlooking The Strand, was spotted going table to table annoying other customers on February 16. He watched him for a little bit to see whether the defendant would just leave, and told staff not to serve him any more alcohol, she said. When he realised the defendant wasnt leaving and his behaviour didnt appear to be getting any better, he asked him to leave. Mr Crispini said Scott replied: Do you know who I am? You cant ask me to leave, I will take you down. He was then forced to manhandled Scott to the door, enlisting other staff to force him out of the restaurant. The defendant was holding on to the door frame, refusing to leave, said Ms Johnson. People in the restaurant were alarmed as the manager continued with other staff to try to remove the defendant. Eventually they all got outside, and due to the momentum of pushing him they all fell over including the defendant. The court heard the staff then blocked the front door to the restaurant, in Bermondsey Street, as Scott stumbled around outside. The defendant started to destroy the plant pots outside, and was throwing pebbles, added Ms Johnson. He also tried to kick the door and appeared to be trying to get inside the premises. The court was told Scott had not drunk excessively that night, but reacted badly to new medication to combat panic attacks. He cant remember what took place, but it seems he was overcome by medication which led to an extremely regrettable situation in the restaurant, said Joshua Normanton, defending. Due to the embarrassment of this situation, he felt forced to resign from the company. He was on a work night out and had to turn up for work the next day with a black eye. Mr Normanton added that Scott, who has dual American and British citizenship, has been instrumental in raising money for the Damilola Taylor Trust for the last decade. He has now set up his own advertising agency in a bid to get his career back on track. Scott was fined 390 for criminal damage, 390 for using threatening words and behaviour, 85 court costs, a 40 victim surcharge, and 500 compensation to the victim. C ampaigners have attacked plans to lease Kensingtons oldest library on the cheap to a 5,800-a-term prep school. North Kensington Library, which opened in 1891, is due to be leased to Notting Hill Prep School, and library facilities moved to a new building on the site of a nearby community centre. The school for five- to 13-year-olds, where writer Richard Curtis and Princess Dianas brother Earl Spencer have sent their children, would pay Kensington & Chelsea council about 365,000 a year to lease the building, but residents claimed the council was asset-stripping public facilities in order to give to the private sector. Library users have launched a campaign to keep the library in its Grade II listed building in Ladbroke Grove. Edward Daffarn, of local community organisation Grenfell Action Group, said: The library was built out of public funding so that local people could educate themselves. It was then given to the council to manage, but instead of managing it theyve decided to strip it and give it to their friends at the prep school. Theyve told us for a long, long time that they couldnt afford to do it up and thats why theyre moving the library, but theyve offered the prep school a years free rent to do it up. The building is so special to us and we just dont think it is appropriate to let it to a private school. The library is so loved by the public. That building sums up what North Kensington is its having that that makes this community great. Two protests have already been held outside the library, with the latest on Tuesday joined by 75 people. Library member Rosie Mortimer, 31, said: I felt as though I was always boring on about library closures and how important libraries were to local communities, but never really set foot inside one. I joined the North Kensington Library about a month ago and have really enjoyed going there and taking my children there, and realised how important it is for a community to have a really great library. The council will soon launch a consultation on plans to move all library facilities to the Lancaster Youth Centre site in Lancaster Road, where a gym and a youth centre are also planned. A council spokesman said: In contrast to the current building, the new facility would be fully accessible to people with disabilities. The library will not close until the new North Kensington Library is open to the public. They added: "Councils are legally bound not to dispose of land for less than the best value that can reasonably be obtained and in 2015 the Royal Borough instructed its agent to carry out a valuation of the asset. After conducting the valuation, our agent advised that Notting Hill Prep (NHP) should be regarded as a special purchaser as it is the adjoining tenant. Therefore, the rent the Council could expect from them would be significantly higher as NHP gains from their proximity to their existing school site and they have a pressing need for additional space. Through negotiation, the rent was eventually agreed at a substantial premium to the agents market value to reflect NHPs position. There were no other special purchasers who might have offered more." R egent Street will be deafened by the noise of revving engines this bank holiday Monday as a parade of super-charged cars competing in the Gumball 3000 Rally rolls into London. The 18th annual event features 120 supercars that set off from Dublin tomorrow and race through 11 countries to arrive in Bucharest on 7 May. Competitors in this years rally include DJ Afrojack, rapper Eve, Knight Rider star David Hasselhoff and retired Formula 1 racing drivers David Coulthard and Jean Alesi. The Regent Street event, between 12pm and 10pm, includes BGF1, an F1-spec custom-built car by Team Betsafe driven by an anonymous driver channelling the mystery persona of Top Gears The Stig. It features a camouflage wrap designed by automotive photographer Oskar Bakke. Street F1 with Team Betsafe The BGF1 weights 640kg and is fitted with a V8 Ferrari Type 056 engine generating 640hp, accelerating from 0-60mph in two seconds. O ne in three migrants who come to the UK head for London, official statistics show. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed that of the 600,000 migrants who arrived in the country two years ago, more than 200,000 now lived in the capital. The data also showed that net migration to London the difference between numbers of people from abroad arriving and leaving had risen almost 28,000 between 2013 and 2014. All regions in the UK had more migrants from overseas arriving than leaving, but the highest numbers were in London, the south-east and the east of England. In 2014, net international migration on London was at 107,404, with the most migrants living in Newham, followed by Westminster and Tower Hamlets. Wandsworth was the only borough to see a drop in migration, with 241 more people leaving than arriving from abroad. The data also showed that tens of thousands of Londoners had abandoned the capital in favour of other areas of the UK. Internal net migration was down by more than 68,600 - a far steeper drop than any other region of the UK. A n unwanted pet dog was dumped by its owner on a London bus, where it was locked up alone overnight until authorities could come and deal with it. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross was found sitting alone in the pram and wheelchair area of the 158 bus, with its owner nowhere to be seen. The bus made its way along Leyton High Road on Thursday evening with the forlorn animal on board. The bus ended up at Stratford Bus Station at about 9.30pm. The driver then shared a photograph of the sad pet on social media in a bid to track down its owner. The driver, Amos Paul Mak, posted on Facebook that he had offered to take the dog home until its owner was found, but was told he would be unable to do so due to company regulations. He said: [The dog is] Affectionate enough but scared. Tried to move it onto another bus as the one its on is needed in service, [but] he wont budge. Loves being rubbed around the head nice enough fella. He added: It wont move, it will stay on that bus til morning. Im not allowed to take him in case he bites. A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said police and the RSPCA were called but neither were able to come out. The spokesman said: "We then called the police station at Forest Gate, which has a dog pound, but they said it had no space. "The bus was taken out of service and taken to the bus garage at West Ham. They tried to get the dog off the bus but it was frightened and would not come off the bus." He added the dog was "well cared for and kept on the bus" until this morning when it was collected by the dog warden. A Metropolitan Police Service said: "We were called at 9.30pm to reports of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier left on a bus. We did not attend. TfL then called the dog warden." An RSPCA spokewoman said: "We were concerned to hear about a dog that appears to have been left on a bus yesterday in the Stratford area. "We are grateful to the staff at the bus station for letting us know, and we have advised them to contact the local dog warden as soon as possible." A Newham Council spokesman said: This dog is currently being looked after by our animal welfare team while we try to locate its owner. "If anyone recognises this dog, please contact the team on 020 8586 9739." I f Sadiq Khan fails to become Mayor of London next Thursday, a career at Butlins could be his true destiny. Hello everyone, howre ya doin? cried the jaunty Labour candidate to a shivering rent-a-mob of party workers who had been waiting ages for his arrival in Deptford Market. Hello sweetie, can I have a nut? he twinkled to three-year-old Dalia Assemakis who, not entirely trusting him with her full bag of peanuts, picked one out with sticky fingers and cautiously passed it over. Thank you very much, said the MP, popping it in his mouth with a trusting grin. Like a born Redcoat, Khan warmed the home crowd of supporters with ease, leaving no child uncosseted. With the Standards snapper Jeremy Selwyn in tow, he pleaded with little Orla Mincoff Bourke, aged six months, in mock panic: Please dont cry, please! Uncle Jeremy is a nice man, hell put your picture in the paper. But his 45-minute walkabout through one of Londons safest Labour seats quickly revealed the Tooting lawyer could have a struggle to get people to turn out and vote next week. Good luck, said a fabric stallholder in Deptford Market as his hand was pumped. But after the candidate had gone he called to his mate: I dont know who I want to win. I cant tell them apart, to be honest. Sadiq Khan speaks up his campaign At Bob Cumminss fish stall, Khan pointed at a slippery beast and joked: Is it named Zac? Switching to serious mode, he urged: Tell your customers to vote next Thursday. But after the circus had moved on, Mr Cummins was not ready to commit his vote. I dunno yet, he said. Maybe I would if he had actually bought something... But Khan kept his hands firmly in his pockets. Dont be shy, the cheeky chappie told Liz Cocozza, 56, who works at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, pulling her close for the walkabouts 20th selfie. Liz said she would definitely vote for him. My dad was a bus driver like his dad, she said admiringly. Hes a good working-class man. Fruiterer Phil Hamlin, after being cross-examined on the travails of running a small business, mischievously offered Khan a banana. The MP was not falling for that, returning it with the comment: It didnt work out too well for David Miliband. Mr Hamlin, a stallholder for 30 years, said afterwards that he was undecided. To tell the truth, he mused, they are all much alike. Housing was the issue that kept coming up in conversations with this working-class community, particularly the impossibility of finding affordable homes in a postcode undergoing rapid gentrification. At Deptford Action Group for the Elderly, five pensioners sipping teas complained about the exodus of young people born into the area but unable to afford to live there. Khan assured them he would provide homes that people on ordinary incomes could rent or buy. Its vital that bus drivers can live in London, he said. We need to make sure areas like this are affordable to Londoners. Teacher Theresa Onwuka said the promise of affordable homes had won her vote. Im always Labour, she said. But he is going to increase housing which is what we need most. Surrounded by supporters in the high street, Khan was in high spirits, clowning with passers-by. Overhearing a man telling his daughter on the phone that he was standing next to the candidate for Mayor, he grabbed the handset and announced: Ive got your dad Im not letting him go until you say youll vote for me. Student Jack Beddoe, 24, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the legend Khan You Dig It. Ive made a dozen because friends keep asking for them, said the Labour party member. A disconsolate Naris Iqbal had decorated his stall in Douglas Way with posters of the Man from the Council Estate but was gutted when his candidate failed to visit it. Its a small thing but Im disappointed after the hard work, he said. Khan told the Standard his campaign was fizzing with energy and denied he was worried about a low Labour turnout. We are in a good place, and spending a lot of time talking to people who previously voted Conservative, he said. He declined to condemn strikes by Southern rail conductors or junior doctors, adding: Strikes are a sign of failures. What I say to employers is, Talk to your staff. Asked why he was not being seen out with party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Mr Khan said: To give Jeremy Corbyn his due he is leading a national party with elections in Scotland and Wales and councils around the country. Was he keeping his distance from the Left-winger? Im talking to Londoners but I think Jeremy Corbyns vote is in the bag. D efiant Ken Livingstone today insisted he had done nothing wrong as Jeremy Corbyns leadership was plunged into fresh turmoil over the anti-Semitism row. Mr Livingstone was suspended by Labour after claiming Hitler supported Zionism before he went mad but Mr Corbyns deputy went further and demanded new rules to purge anti-Semitism from the party. Speaking to the Evening Standard exclusively today, Mr Livingstone stood by his controversial words. Everything I said yesterday was true and I will be presenting the academic book about that to the Labour Party inquiry, he said. Mr Livingstones defence is expected to rest on the writings of a controversial American Marxist historian Lenni Brenner, who claims there was collusion between the Nazis and early campaigners for a Jewish homeland. "Everything I said yesterday was true" Labours leader was hoping to regain the initiative after his worst crisis yet by arranging weekend TV interview to announce a crackdown on all forms of racism, including anti-Jewish comments. But Tom Watson, his powerful elected deputy, pre-empted him this morning with a radio interview calling for new party structures and selection rules. The former London mayor out walking his dog this morning / Reuters Mr Watson also strongly condemned as vile, offensive and crass the comments made by Mr Livingstone yesterday. Mr Livingstone was later confronted outside the BBCs Millbank studios by Labour MP John Mann who accused him of being a Nazi apologist in front of TV cameras. Ken Livingstone calls Hitler a Zionist on BBC Radio London The denunciation by Mr Watson contrasted with the hesitation of Mr Corbyn, an old friend of the former Mayor of London, who suspended Mr Livingstone but has declined to say what should be done with him. In his powerful intervention, Mr Watson left no doubt in the minds of MPs that he thinks Mr Livingstone must renounce such views or be expelled. Asked if he thought Mr Livingstones comments were anti-Semitic, he said: I personally think that Ken Livingstone was straying into that territory. But they were certainly offensive and provocative. To link Hitler and Zionism in the way he did must have been done to create offence. Labour MP berates Livingstone The partys National Executive will decide Mr Livingstones fate. But no-one is in any doubt that Ken Livingstones behaviour yesterday has let down the Labour Party, let down those thousands of candidates who are standing in an election next Thursday and caused deep offence, in particular to the Jewish community in Britain but also to people out there who expect the Labour Party to adhere to higher standards, said Mr Watson. Mr Livingstone took his dog for a walk today, after being suspended from the Labour party / Reuters Mr Watson said he and Mr Corbyn had both been talking to representatives of the Jewish community to look at whether Labours own structures can be improved to make sure that we send a very clear signal to people in our party that we will have a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitism. That could mean more intensive questioning of potential candidates and issues like are our rules robust enough and our procedures. He said there must be a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitism ad a clear signal that the problem was acknowledged and was being addressed. Labour MP Wes Streeting, the vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism, welcomed Mr Watsons remarks. I thought Tom Watsons response to the anti-Semitism challenge facing Labour was thoughtful and honest, he said. Ken was mobbed by press yesterday and suspended from the Labour party over the controversial remark / Anthony Devlin/PA Thats how we need to respond to a genuinely serious problem in Labour, that cannot be addressed by the ostrich mentality of burying heads in the sand. Mr Corbyns spokesman said Team Corbyn had discussed what needed to be done with Mr Watson and pledged: Jeremy will announce further initiatives in the near future. But Mr Corbyn was not yet ready to endorse Mr Watsons comments about Mr Livingstone or agree with his call for a commission led by former Kinnock aide Baroness Royall to be put in charge of recommending action. The president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews strongly condemned Mr Livingstone. Jonathan Arkush told Today: What Ken Livingstone deliberately did was to draw an equation between Nazism and Zionism. He therefore crossed a line into certainly what most people would regard as distinctly anti-Semitic. The Moment a furious John Mann came face to face with Ken Livingstone Urging Mr Corbyn to get a grip on the problem, he highlighted the Labour leaders past praise for his friends in Hamas and Hezbollah and said: I also want Jeremy Corbyn finally to say that his own meetings with anti-Semites in the past, before he became leader, were inappropriate and should not be repeated. Mr Livingstone left his house in Cricklewood, north west London, the morning in jeans and a khaki coat to walk his dog, Coco. TODO: define component type apester Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham admitted Labour should have acted more quickly over anti-Semitic allegations involving councillors, activists and MPs. These allegations, when they are surfacing, have not been dealt with properly and quickly enough. They need to be dealt with much more speedily in the future, he told BBC1s Question Time. Labour MPs say there is a schism in Mr Corbyns office between pragmatists and those who do not think action should be taken. Jeremy is not good at making ddecisions when his team are split, said one. Z ac Goldsmith today warned that rail delays in south London were costing the economy 70 million every year - as he pledged to take control of the least popular routes. The Tory mayoral hopeful said delayed and cancelled trains were causing misery to thousands of commuters and it was time for the services to come under Transport for London control. The worst hit commuters suffered 27 cancelled or significantly delayed trains last year, meaning an average 13 hours spent waiting on platforms and trains, according to a campaign analysis. Passengers using the Govia Thameslink franchise - which runs Southern and Thameslink services - lost nearly two full working days to delays and cancellations. Southeastern and South West Trains commuters lost one whole working day. It comes as figures show that nearly 22,000 people arrive in London each morning rush hour on suburban trains that dont have enough space to accommodate them properly. Mr Goldsmith said he would work with the Government to bring the routes under TfL control when their franchises come up for renewal. The Standard first revealed the Department for Transport plan, which is also backed by Labours Sadiq Khan, in January. He attacked his Labour rivals plan for a four-year fares freeze which he said would leave a 1.9 billion black hole in TfLs finances. Mr Khan refutes the figures. These delays are not just causing misery for commuters but also hurting Londons economy. I will work with the government to bring southern trains under TfL control and create a more reliable Southern Overground, Goldsmith said. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group said: The rail industry works closely with both TfL and the DfT to run services and will work with them to help continue to improve services for passengers and make the best possible use of scarce capacity on our network. It comes after Mr Goldsmith pledged to appoint a US-style deputy mayor for citizenship and integration to make sure the capital does more to settle Syrian refugees. TODO: define component type apester The new City Hall role would be responsible for helping to resettle ten families in every London borough every year over the next five years. At a major event hosted by campaign group London Citizens, the Tory MP criticised the Government for failing to deliver on its commitment to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees directly from camps in the region. He said it had not been followed through, adding: We need to accelerate that process. I believe London can and should do more. However, he said this must be led by local authorities because they were on the front-line. Government figures show that 1,337 refugees have been given a home in Britain under the resettlement scheme since it was set up in early 2014. However, just 43 have been resettled in London with only four boroughs taking part so far. Mr Khan said it would be a badge of shame for a city as wealthy as London not to welcome more refugees. He cancelled a campaign event to vote for Britain to accept 3,000 child refugees this week. Mr Goldsmith did not vote because of campaign commitments. Mr Khan explained he would not appoint a deputy mayor because he personally would work to promote citizenship and democracy for all Londoners. Labours hopeful, dramatically ahead in the polls, today warned of a shocking brain drain of Londoners at the peak of their career. He published new research showing the extent to which first-time buyers were being ripped off with the average cost of a first home in London - 383,000 - which could buy a studio flat in E14, the same as a seven-bed terraced house in Liverpool, a five-bed detached house in Glasgow or a two-bedroom flat in central Manchester. More 30-somethings left London last year than ever before. If we dont act know this will cause huge damage to Londons economy, culture and society. As Mayor, I will not rest until Londoners can afford to live in their city again, he said. L ondon's next mayor could tap into 1 billion of unspent government cash to unlock the capitals housing crisis, a report said today. The six-point plan from a government-backed think tank claimed the money could help deliver 50,000 homes a year in London. The document from the Housing and Finance Institute, set up by George Osborne, also called for more powers to be passed to boroughs and greater housing density in the capital. HFI chief executive Natalie Elphicke said: Whoever wins the keys to City Hall on May 5 has a huge challenge on their hands in delivering the homes that London needs. To solve this housing crisis, London needs a fully comprehensive plan that brings together public and private sector partners and some new innovative thinking. The proposals we set out today can help us build the 50,000 homes a year Londoners are crying out for. The report highlighted up to 1 billion of unspent money in boroughs housing revenue accounts, plus more in land values, access to national grants and potential low-rate borrowing that could be utilised. It also claimed London has capacity for more than one million more homes simply by better land use, citing denser housing in Paris and Madrid as a way forward. The report called for a Housing Delivery Taskforce at City Hall bringing together housing associations, boroughs and the private sector. Labour candidate Sadiq Khan has set a target of half of all the new homes being genuinely affordable to rent or buy. The Tories Zac Goldsmith has pledged to build 50,000 new homes a year by 2020, give Londoners the first chance to buy new homes and ensure a significant proportion are only for rent. M ore than 100 leading City grandees have backed the Vote Leave campaign arguing that Brussels meddling represents a genuine threat to Britains financial services industry. Senior figures from the worlds of banking, stockbroking, insurance and fund management said in a letter to the Standard that the Square Mile can thrive and grow outside the European Union. The signatories include respected names such as former chairman of the LIFFE futures exchange Sir Brian Williamson, hedge fund bosses Paul Marshall, chairman and founding partner of Marshall Wace, and Kevin Pakenham, co-founder of Pakenham Partners, and Melanie Hampton, managing director of insurance brokers Alexander Miller. Many well-known campaigners for Brexit who also signed the letter include former HSBC chief Michael Geoghegan, Dominic Burke, group chief executive of insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson, and Crispin Odey, founding partner of Odey Asset Management. Former Tory party treasurer Peter Cruddas, founder of online trading company CMC Markets, is also on the list. All 110 said they were signing the letter in a personal capacity rather than on behalf of their businesses as individuals active in the City of London and UK financial services who share a strong personal commitment to the worlds most vibrant financial centre. They added: We believe the City is most likely to strengthen its lead as the worlds largest international financial centre, and continue to make a major contribution to the UK economy and employment, outside the EU but with continued access to its capital markets. The move is designed to counter the impression that the City Establishment is overwhelmingly in favour of a Remain referendum vote on June 23. A number of leading City figures, including current HSBC bosses Douglas Flint and Stuart Gulliver, and Stock Exchange chief Xavier Rolet, signed a pro-Remain letter to The Times in February. But according to todays signatories there is scant evidence that the EU will foster or support the kind of innovation which is essential if Europeans are to compete with the rest of the world. Specifically, we worry that the EUs approach to regulation now poses a genuine threat to our financial services industry and to the competitiveness of the City of London. Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott said: Far from the picture of gloom painted by the Government, it is clear the City of London would not only retain its pre-eminence as the worlds most important financial centre, but would also thrive after freeing herself from the EUs regulatory shackles. It came as former prime minister Sir John Major accused the Brexit campaign of offensive tactics and dismissed arguments about the powers handed to Brussels by claiming North Korea was the only nation with undiluted sovereignty because of its isolation. The ex-Conservative leader, who is campaigning for Remain, warned there would be economic and political damage if the country votes to leave. He told BBC Radio 4: Im no starry-eyed Europhile, but I have no doubt where our future lies. J eremy Corbyn has announced an independent review into racism within the Labour party in a bid to dampen down an anti-Semitism row heightened by remarks from Ken Livingstone. Former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti has been appointed to head a panel tasked with drawing up "a statement of principles and guidance about anti-Semitism and other forms of racism". The panel - whose vice-chairman is Professor David Feldman, director of the Pears Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism - is expected to consult with the Jewish community and other minorities and report within two months on issues such as "transparent compliance procedures" and training. Mr Corbyn insists there is no "crisis" within the party but his handling of anti-Semitism allegations, which have led to the suspension of former London Mayor Mr Livingstone and Bradford West MP Naz Shah, has been criticised. Today, Mr Livingstone told the Standard he had done nothing wrong by claiming Hitler supported Zionism before he went mad. But Mr Corbyn said he had now taken "decisive" action. He said: "We have taken decisive action over allegations of anti-Semitism since I became leader, suspending all those involved from membership, and have set up an inquiry under Baroness Royall into reports of anti-semitism in the Oxford University Labour club and elsewhere. "There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour Party, or anywhere in society. We will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all minority communities." Mr Livingstone has suggested Labour will have to lift his suspension over controversial remarks linking Adolf Hitler to Zionism as the row over the party's handling of anti-Semitism allegations continued. The former London mayor's comments were branded "vile, offensive and crass" by the party's deputy leader, Tom Watson, who said Mr Livingstone had "let down the Labour Party". But the former London mayor, who faces calls to be expelled over his remarks, claimed that the party's internal inquiry would have to let him back in because "it's hard for somebody to decide to suspend me from the party" when he had been making the same point for 30 years. Additional reporting by the Press Association. S ocialist Workers Party activists are planning to back Sadiq Khan for London Mayor because they believe the election is a referendum on Jeremy Corbyn. A secret recording of a Momentum meeting in Haringey revealed that many of the far-Left partys members are weighing in behind Labours mayoral candidate. One activist, Simon Hester, told the meeting: We will be backing Sadiq Khan in the election because of Jeremy and because of the difference hes made, and because we dont want to be seen to be undermining what will be seen as a referendum on Jeremys leadership. His remarks were welcomed by Andrew Fisher, Mr Corbyns policy chief who was suspended and then readmitted to the party after urging Labour voters to back the anarchist Class War party who said he agreed with the analysis. Figures in the Labour leadership believe that a victory in London by Mr Khan, even though he is on the soft-Left of the party, will bolster Mr Corbyns position at a time when he is under threat from a growing anti-Semitism crisis in his party ranks and also faces losses in elections elsewhere in the country. Mr Hester praised the Labour leader for making a huge difference and putting the Tories on the back foot over issues such as academies and junior doctors. He said the wider Left should unite with Jeremy taking the front and building the battle against the Government: All these things are going to be the things that really start to undermine the Tories and maybe even bring down dodgy Dave way before 2020. In recent days the Tories have concentrated their attacks on Mr Khan by linking him with his party leader, who they view as a liability, in Londoners minds. The Prime Minister warned earlier this week that a Labour victory at City Hall would put Mr Corbyns hands on the levers of power for the first time. Business Secretary Sajid Javid also said Mr Khans nomination of Mr Corbyn for leader although he did not actually vote for him showed he still cant be trusted by sensible, aspirational Londoners. Mr Khan has always maintained he would put Londoners before his party and has distanced himself from Mr Corbyn during the campaign. A weasel has shut down the world's largest and most expensive scientific experiment by munching through a cable. The Large Hadron Collider at CERN near Geneva has gone offline after an animal, believed to be a weasel, started eating one of its transformers, New Scientist reported. A spokesman for CERN told the website: I can confirm that we had some issues overnight with electrical trouble. We suspect it might be due to a small animal. CERN said the machine might take a few days to be back up and running, but the equipment had not been badly damaged. The massive superconducter, which runs for 17 miles and cost 3.74 billion to put together, is being used to uncover the secrets of dark matter. A technical hitch had delayed the restart of the LHC in 2015 after a two year re-fit and upgrade almost doubling its power. F our ex-Cabinet ministers today united behind a campaign for the UKs new polar research ship to be named after Sir David Attenborough. Two former environment secretaries and a pair of former culture secretaries said it would be a fitting honour for a man who opened Britains eyes to the wonders of the natural world. In a public vote to help choose the name of the 200 million ship, more than 10,000 people said it should be the veteran wildlife broadcaster. But the vote ended in farce last month when 124,109 people backed joke name Boaty McBoatface following a social media campaign. The Natural Environment Research Councils vessel will become the worlds most advanced floating laboratory. In 2019 it will set sail for the Antarctic, which was disclosed to an awed global audience by Sir David in his 1993 series Life in the Freezer. National treasure: Sir David Attenborough (David Parry/PA Wire/Press Association Images) / David Parry/PA The BBC presenters 90th birthday is on May 8. Today, former Tory environment secretaries Caroline Spelman and Owen Paterson, and former Labour culture secretaries Lord Smith and Baroness Tessa Jowell, called for the vessel to be named after him. Baroness Jowell said: I think it is a great idea to call this ship after Sir David Attenborough who has given to millions of people the gift of appreciation of the natural world." Ms Spelman said: It would be very special to honour David Attenborough during his lifetime. From my childhood on it was Sir David who opened my eyes to the natural world. I cant think of anyone who has made such a great impact on our understanding of the diversity of nature. Lord Smith, a former Environment Agency chairman, added: This is a serious ship with a serious purpose and I cant think of any better name to make that clear. Mr Paterson described him as universally respected and liked. Sir David, whose books and programmes span seven decades, has said he is flattered but thinks a traditional naval name would be best. Suggestions have included Shackleton, Endeavour, and Falcon. Clarification: Due to a production error, a comment made by Tessa Jowell was wrongly attributed to Jo Johnson. We apologise for the mistake. A cheese producer has been fined for selling produce which contained a potentially deadly bacteria to London farmers' markets. Frances Wood, 70, of Alham Wood Cheeses, failed to keep her dairy clean and in a good condition, with her cheese found to contain harmful bacteria, including listeria. The dairy farmer made buffalo mozzarella and other white cheeses which were sold on to pizza restaurants and markets across the capital. Yeovil Magistrates Court heard Mendip Council became aware the cheese could be harmful and worked with Wood to ensure she improved her produce. But in November 2014, Wood, of West Cranmore, Somerset, was served with a notice requiring her to cease cheese production after failing to take necessary steps to make her produce safe for public consumption, the court heard. The council found cheeses produced by Wood contained salmonella, E. coli and listeria, which is one of the most lethal of all food pathogens, according to the Food Standards Agency. Prosecuted: Frances Wood is not allowed to produce cheese in the future / Mendip Council Unsatisfactory conditions were also found at a stall selling the cheese at Camden Market. In making his judgment, District Judge Rose called Wood's business "a shoddy operation" which was "rather amateurish". He said Wood had been "carrying on taking risks when she shouldn't have" and stated that cheese was "a high-risk product and therefore higher standards of diligence were required". Wood pleaded guilty to two offences under the 2013 Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations and was fined 787, along with being ordered to pay 6,000 in costs to the council. The judge also imposed a Hygiene Prohibition Notice which prohibits Wood from participating in the management of any cheese production or processing business in the future. A n Essex school has banned TOWIE-style slang amid fears pupils could miss out on jobs to foreign rivals who have a superior command of the English language. The Ongar Academy has outlawed words such as aint and emosh as well as the incorrect usage of like and literally. Teachers launched the crackdown over fears pupils could miss out in the jobs market when up against people from abroad who have been taught more formal spoken English. David Grant, head of the school seven miles from where the Essex reality show is filmed, told The Sun: "The way our pupils talk is synonymous with TOWIE. They are also influenced by role models such as Adele." The campaign, for 100 Year Seven pupils, will target a word or phrase every fortnight to ban with geezer and bird reported as examples. The prohibited words will then be emblazoned on posters around the school to highlight they should not be used. Mr Grant said pupils must compete for positions with "non-native English speakers, who because of the way they have been taught proper English, may be better spoken than them." A British national has been killed in a helicopter crash in south-west Norway, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has confirmed. The Briton was one of 13 people on board the aircraft which plunged into rocks near the city of Bergen. A spokesman for Norway's Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre said 11 people were killed and two are yet to be found. One Italian was also in the helicopter - a Eurocopter EC225 - when it came down. The eleven others were Norwegians. Police spokesman Morten Kronen said the helicopter was "totally smashed" and TV footage showed smoke billowing from the crash site not far from the small island of Turoey. Eyewitness Rebecca Andersen told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang that the helicopter's rotor blades "came rushing toward us", before she heard "a violent explosion". Crash: Emergency workers at the crash near Bergen in Norway / AP UK accident investigators have been deployed to help the investigation into the crashed helicopter, which is believed to have been carrying passengers from an offshore oil field when it came down. An FCO spokesman said: We have offered our support to the family of a British national who has sadly died in a helicopter crash in Bergen, Norway. "Our thoughts are with all those affected. We will remain in contact with local authorities. A British family beaten unconscious while on holiday in Thailand have vowed they will never to return to the country. Lewis and Rosemary Owen and their son were knocked out cold in Hua Hin during the Thai New Year celebrations. The vicious attack was captured on CCTV and four local men have since been arrested and charged. As Mrs Owen, 65, recovered from serious head and eye injuries, the couple's son - who is also called Lewis - said his parents would never visit Thailand again. Recovering: Rose Owen / Thai tourist board The younger Mr Owen, a graphic designer who lives in Singapore, told the Western Mail newspaper: "I'm not going back to Thailand again. "Mum and dad won't be either. "We were all unconscious. My mum did not even realise she had been kicked in the face. I did not know my head had been stamped on." Mr and Mrs Owen, who live in Wenvoe in South Wales, have been regular visitors to Thailand since the 1980s. Neighbours said they had friends out there and would often take presents over from the UK. But on April 13, they were savagely attacked as they made their way back to the apartment they were staying in. Thai police later released video footage of the assault in a bid to trace the suspects - however officers refused to show the Owens the clip because it was "too violent". Festivities: Lewis Owen was out in Thailand with his wife for Thai New Year / Facebook The video shows the mother, father and son being punched to the ground before being repeatedly kicked and stamped on as they lie helpless. Mrs Owen needed an operation to ease swelling on her brain while her 68-year-old husband sustained heavy bruising, two black eyes and needed six stitches in his forehead. Lewis, who also had 16 stitches to his head, said the family are now "doing okay" - but he still remains shocked by the attack. "We had never seen the guys before we left the bar we were in," he said. "It was just out of the blue." The Owens' stunned neighbours described the family as "lovely" and peaceful people. Family friend John Miles, 65, who lives opposite, said: "Lew and Rose are a really lovely couple and very hard-working. "They are genuinely lovely people, I can't imagine why anyone would ever want to hurt them." Officials in Thailand said Suphatra Baithong and Yingyai Saengkham-in, both aged 32, and Siwa Noksri, 20, were captured within days of the assault. A fourth man, 20-year-old Chaiya Jaiboon, was apprehended on Thursday. A spokesman for the Tourism Authority of Thailand said: "If found guilty, the perpetrators of this incident will face full justice under Thai law. "The Tourism Authority of Thailand would like to express our deepest sorrow to the family who were subjected to the assault in Hua Hin during the Songkran celebrations. "We hope that you recover from your injuries and make a swift and full recovery." T he Giants Club summit launched today with a call by Kenyas president for delegates to work together to become custodians of the planet and its wildlife. More than 200 political leaders, conservationists and businesspeople from Africa and around the world have gathered in the foothills of Mount Kenya to find ways of protecting Africas elephants and battling the poachers who have left them facing extinction. In his opening speech, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared that everyone must care about these gifts God has given us. He added: Thank you for your commitment to working to stop those who wish to kill our wildlife for profit. Thank you for caring about this precious planet. "Because of what we can achieve together in the days, weeks and years to come, we are safeguarding natures greatest and most endangered species for our children, for their children, and for all those children yet to come. The African elephant, the worlds largest land mammal, faces extinction as poaching fuelled by demand for illicit ivory surges in Asian markets. Between 20,000 and 33,000 elephants are killed every year across the continent. Protecting nature: Kenyas president Uhuru Kenyatta, accompanied by his governments Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Judy Wakhungu, greets Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev outside the Mount Kenya Safari Club as the Giants Club summit got under way today At the two-day summit African heads of state will join other politicians, the UN, wildlife groups, scientists, and businesses as they seek ways to finance and conduct the battle against the poachers, and conserve the elephant population. President Ali Bongo of Gabon and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, also members of the Giants Club, were due to address delegates this afternoon. Among the announcements, Helen Clark, head of the United Nations Development Programme, will unveil a $60 million fund from the Global Environment Facility to combat the illegal wildlife trade in Africa. It will help rangers, local communities and other groups work together to protect the continents endangered species. The British Army, which has a training base in Kenya, will commit to building a huge fence to protect farmers and their crops from being trampled by elephants. Events will climax at 3pm tomorrow with the burning in Nairobi of Kenyas entire stockpile of seized ivory. More than 105 tonnes eight times more than has ever before been destroyed at once will go up in flames at a ceremony attended by thousands of people. At the same time, more than a tonne of rhino horn will be destroyed. Max Graham, founder and chief executive of Space for Giants, implementation charity of the Giants Club, said: These two days see all the people who need to be together to accelerate progress on elephant protection to-gether in one place: Africas leaders, conservationists, philanthropists and investors, and people with the influence to bring others to our side. That is what makes this event so special and will help secure elephants and the landscapes across which they roam forever. The Giants Club was founded by the Presidents of Kenya, Gabon, Uganda and Botswana, and Evening Standard proprietor Evgeny Lebedev, the patron of Space for Giants and the Giants Club. It was created to unite African governments, businesses and conservationists to find a solution to the poaching crisis and assist in the implementation of the Elephant Protection Initiative. A licia Vikander has been cast as Lara Croft in the forthcoming new Tomb Raider film. The rising star, who won an Oscar this year for her role in The Danish Girl, is the latest actress to take on the iconic video game character. While Daisy Ridley was reportedly being lined up for the role, it seems that Swedish star Vikander, 27, has nabbed the part. Iconic role: Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider / Paramount Following on from her roles in Ex Machina and the forthcoming Jason Bourne film, Vikander will play a young Croft in what is expected to be an origins story. Based on the plot of the latest Tomb Raider game, released in 2013, the film is expected to focus on Croft as a student. Alicia Vikander - style file 1 /76 Alicia Vikander - style file February 13, 2011 At the NRW Reception during day four of the 61st Berlin International Film Festival Andreas Rentz/Getty Images February 18, 2012 At the Closing Ceremony during day ten of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival Andreas Rentz/Getty Images September 4, 2012 At the UK Premiere of Anna Karenina Stuart Wilson/Getty Images November 5, 2012 At 'A Royal Affair' New York screening Andy Kropa/Getty Images November 7, 2012 At the 'Anna Karenina' New York special screening Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images November 14, 2012 At the after party for Focus Features' 'Anna Karenina' Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images January 12, 2013 At the Art of Elysium's 6th Annual Black-tie Gala 'Heaven' David Livingston/Getty Images February 10, 2013 At the British Academy Film Awards Ian Gavan/Getty Images February 11, 2013 In the press room during the Elle Style Awards at The Savoy Hotel Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images February 24, 2013 At the Oscars at Hollywood & Highland Center Frazer Harrison/Getty Images September 5, 2013 At 'The Fifth Estate' premiere during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival Jason Merritt/Getty Images February 16, 2014 At an official dinner party after the British Academy Film Awards Chris Jackson/Getty Images March 4, 2014 At the Chanel 2014 autumn/winter show in Paris Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images December 7, 2014 At The Moet British Independent Film Awards Tristan Fewings/Getty Images January 5, 2015 At the UK Premiere of 'Testament of Youth' Ian Gavan/Getty Images March 11, 2015 At the Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images April 6, 2015 At 'Ex Machina' New York premiere Rob Kim/Getty Images May 9, 2015 During a photocall of the film 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E' Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images May 19, 2015 At the Premiere of 'Sicario' during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images May 21, 2015 At amfAR's 22nd Cinema Against AIDS Gala Ian Gavan/Getty Images May 23, 2015 At the 'Macbeth' Premiere during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images June 2, 2015 At the 'Testament Of Youth' New York premiere at Chelsea Bow Tie Cinemas Rob Kim/Getty Images July 11, 2015 At Entertainment Weekly's Comic-Con party Jason Merritt/Getty Images August 10, 2015 At the New York premiere of 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images September 5, 2015 At a photocall for 'The Danish Girl' during the 72nd Venice Film Festival Ian Gavan/Getty Images September 5, 2015 At a screening of 'The Danish Girl' presented in competition at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images September 12, 2015 At 'The Danish Girl' premiere during the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival Jason Merritt/Getty Images September 12, 2015 At the InStyle & HFPA party during the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival Jason Merritt/Getty Images September 20, 2015 At the Louis Vuitton Series 3 VIP Launch Anthony Harvey/Getty Images October 3, 2015 At the 53rd New York Film Festival Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images October 19, 2015 At the 22nd Annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards Michael Kovac/Getty Images November 1, 2015 At the 19th Annual Hollywood Film Awards Jason Merritt/Getty Images November 21, 2015 At the premiere of 'The Danish Girl' in California Jason Merritt/Getty Images December 6, 2015 At The Moet British Independent Film Awards 2015 at Old Billingsgate Market John Phillips/Getty Images December 8, 2015 At the UK Film Premiere of 'The Danish Girl' Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images January 2, 2016 At the 27th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala Jason Merritt/Getty Images January 9, 2016 At the BAFTA Los Angeles Awards Season Tea Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images January 9, 2016 At the 40th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards John Sciulli/Getty Images January 10, 2016 At the Golden Globes Jason Merritt/Getty Images January 17, 2016 At the 21st Annual Critics' Choice Awards Jason Merritt/Getty Images January 30, 2016 At the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Jason Merritt/Getty Images February 6, 2016 At the Virtuosos Awards at the Arlington Theater Mark Davis/Getty Images February 14, 2016 At the BAFTAs Ian Gavan/Getty Images February 26, 2016 At the ninth annual Women in Film pre-Oscar cocktail party Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images February 28, 2016 At the Oscars Jason Merritt/Getty Images May 2, 2016 At the Met Gala Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images May 28, 2016 At the Louis Vuitton 2017 Cruise Collection show in Brazil Vivian Fernandez/Getty Images July 3, 2016 At the Jason Bourne Australian Premiere Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images July 11, 2016 At the 'Jason Bourne' European premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square Chris Jackson/Getty Images February 26, 2017 Alicia Vikander attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards Frazer Harrison/Getty Images February 26, 2017 Alicia Vikander attends the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images September 22, 2017 Alicia Vikander attends 'Submergence' premiere during 65th San Sebastian Film Festival Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images October 02, 2017 Alicia Vikander attends the Opening Of The Louis Vuitton Boutique as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images October 05, 2017 Alicia Vikander attends the Louis Vuitton show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2017 Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images January 07, 2018 Alicia Vikander attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel Frazer Harrison/Getty Images February 28, 2018 Alicia Vikander attends 'Tomb Raider' photocall at the Santo Mauro Hotel Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images March 6, 2018 Alicia Vikander attends the "Tomb Raider" European premiere at the Vue West End Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Vikander follows in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie, who first brought the character to life on screen back in 2001. The A-lister starred in the first film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and the 2003s follow-up Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. Roar Uthaug is on board to direct the new film, with MGM and Warner Bros co-producing after they acquired rights from GK Films Vikander will also appear on the big screen this year in Tulip Fever and The Light Between Oceans. F lorence + the Machines videos for the singles from her most recent album looked like they were all part of the same film. It turns out they were. Shes now put a 48-minute video entitled The Odyssey on her official website, uniting the previously aired clips with new scenes. Independent writer Joseph Charlton has followed Neil Tennant and Chrissie Hynde in ditching journalism for music with new London band Our Mother. Their EP, A.O.B, mixes jittery electronics and a falsetto voice to fine effect. Its out today, with two highlights streaming on Soundcloud. Loading.... The streaming wars continue. After Beyonces new album was limited to streaming on Tidal, there should be a new Drake album out today, but only on Apple Music. The singles from Views from the 6 Summer Sixteen, One Dance and Pop Style are already on sale in the iTunes store. German DJ Koze releases a compilation showing the wares of his label, Pampa Vol. 1, today. It includes new music from Jamie xx and Mount Kimbie and a stunning Matthew Herbert remix of Lianne La Havass Lost and Found which is also on Soundcloud. Loading.... Manchester producer Sam Shepherd earned much acclaim for his debut album as Floating Points last year. Hes following it up with an EP, Kuiper, in July, and whetting appetitites with a video of a live performance of the title track that weighs in at a mighty 18 minutes. U ntil December last year few people outside of Wisconsin had heard of Steven Avery. But then a 10-hour documentary called Making a Murderer went live on Netflix, and everything changed. Suddenly it seemed like everyone you encountered was obsessed with the intricate legal goings on of a small courtroom in Manitowoc County. The fuss was all thanks to film-makers and real-life partners Laura Ricciardi, 45, and Moira Demos, 43, who say they were the perfect pair to tell his controversial story. Avery had served 18 years of a jail sentence for sexual assault when he was exonerated by DNA evidence in 2003. He subsequently became a champion for victims of wrongful conviction, had a state legislature bill named after him and, in 2005, was awaiting the result of a $36 million lawsuit against the county when he was arrested for the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach. Demos and Ricciardis series covers the events from Averys preliminary hearing right up to the present day, when Avery is serving a life sentence. Theres no narrator, instead the story is told through courtroom footage, interviews and press briefings. Once aired, it rapidly became a national, then an international phenomenon. A petition to Barack Obama in January attracted almost 300,000 signatures calling for Averys release. The White House was forced to respond that it can only intervene in federal cases. Netflix doesnt release viewing figures but the series dominated pop culture discussion London was hooked. Ricciardi and Demos had been dating for two years when their interest was piqued after seeing Averys face on the cover of The New York Times in November 2005. A week-long trip to test the waters ended with them sub-letting their New York apartment and moving to Wisconsin to be closer to the action. They spent the next 10 years working together on the project. They joke that it is pretty miraculous we survived! Demos says: We were coming to film school later, in our early to mid-thirties. We knew that no one was going to open any doors for us. Knowing we had to make our own opportunities, this story seemed like it had a lot to give. It was a little crazy to think that the two of us could pull this off. But on paper we had Lauras law degree and screenwriting education, and my camera, lighting and editing experience. The pair met the day before they started graduate film school in New York, where they were both studying for a masters degree in fine arts in film at Columbia University. Before then Ricciardi had practised law for four years and Demos had worked in the industry for a decade, initially working in lighting departments before switching to editing. In 2003 she decided to treat herself to film school. Stumbling upon a new project was, Ricciardi says, good timing. 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 We were entering the thesis phase of our programme, our scheduled classes had finished and it allowed for another few years to develop and produce a project. So we were on the look out for a good story. We knew that whatever we did next would have to propel us into the industry. They had worked together before, on short projects during their degree, but this was a mammoth undertaking. When they returned home to New York in August 2007, they had hours of courtroom footage and interviews but no outlet for their end project. At the time it was unheard of that an online streaming giant would fund a long-form narrative documentary series. Demos explains that they were completely independent. True crime: Netflix's new show Making A Murderer has got everyone talking / Netflix We were trying to raise money for additional shooting and post-production. For the first nine of our infamous ten years on this, we were on our own. And after two years in Wisconsin, our debt was through the roof. We fell back on our previous careers Laura in law offices and me on film sets. After the initial whirlwind of chatter and praise for the show, then came the inevitable backlash: ethical debates over whether true crime ignores the victim, and accusations that the directors had failed to represent a balanced argument or were rooting for Avery from the start. Ricciardi is adamant that this is not the case: We knew our job was not to investigate the case or try to work out who had killed this poor woman. We never took that on. We couldnt. We never set out to anoint anyone here we chose the story because of Stevens unique status. We wanted to speak to everyone but we had no control over whether they would participate. Some did, some didnt. We thought the more perspectives we could include, the richer the story would be and so we found ways to include points of view of people who refused to participate. They are sympathetic towards the Avery family and point towards class and wealth as a central theme of the series. They quote James Joyce: the particular contains the universal when they discuss how even in a homogenous community which seems insular from the outside, people within it find their differences and exploit them. As film-makers they identify more with the genre of social justice than true crime. We were there not to judge the Averys, says Ricciardi, we were offering them a voice. I think what people see is that as documentarians, we had empathy. The resilience of this particular family they had already endured the horror of Steven being wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years. They were helpless in the face of a system which ground him up and spit him out. Luckily they were open to us and incredibly gracious. Demos adds: The fictional crime stories are 99 per cent from the cops and victims point of view, so maybe true crime is trying to show that there is tragedy on all sides of these situations. Working as a couple was an all-encompassing process, but they deny that they had any artistic or ethical differences, instead finding a balance between their natural instincts. Demos says: I think of things philosophically, abstractly and globally. Laura has a more concrete detailed and factual orientation so the way in which we could interweave those threads was a testament to how we were both collaborating on this and bringing our individual voices together. Netflix: Eight exclusive shows you need to watch 1 /10 Netflix: Eight exclusive shows you need to watch Bloodline Ben Mendelsohn and Kyle Chandler star in this family-based thriller House of Cards Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright excel in this dark political drama NETFLIX Lilyhammer The Sopranos star (and E Street Band member) Steven Van Zandt breaks out in his own gangster drama Grace and Frankie Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin star in this sitcom from the creators of Friends Daredevil Marvel are bringing their gritter superheroes to Netflix, starting with Daredevil Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Ellie Kemper is impossibly upbeat in the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, from Tina Fey Narcos Wagner Moura stars as Pablo Escobar in this addictive drug thriller Better Call Saul The prequel / spin-off to Breaking Bad is exclusive to Netflix in the UK Right now they are based in Koreatown in LA its up and coming and are picking over options for their next project. It might well be fiction, which Demos thinks wouldnt be that much of a stretch: Storytelling is storytelling and that was incorporated into our docu-series. The fictional ideas were looking at now have to do with the real world, because you dont always have access to the story you want to film for a documentary. Sometimes you need to write the story. Meanwhile the Steven Avery story continues: Avery is being represented by Kathleen Zellner, a lawyer notorious for gaining exoneration in wrongful conviction cases. Will Ricciardi and Demos be following the developments? Ricciardi is hesitant: If we were to continue following we would have to be clear on why we would do that. Its real life. But we have spoken to Kathleen Zellner about potentially filming with her. If the stars align, we might well do it. Follow Rachael Sigee on Twitter: @littlewondering Making A Murderer is available to watch now, exclusively on Netflix DENVER (AP) With less than two weeks to go in the legislative session, Colorado's Democrat-led House finally debated and advanced a proposal to boost spending on underfunded roads and schools by removing a multimillion-dollar Medicaid fee from the state's constitutional tax-and-spending strictures on Thursday. Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper called on lawmakers when the session began more than 100 days ago to set aside the fee to avoid refunds under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, free millions of dollars in future budget years for Colorado's roads and schools, and give the Legislature more flexibility in the budgeting process. It took months for the House Democratic leadership to line up some Republican votes to give the proposal a long shot at passage. Even if it fails in the Republican-led Senate, it could give momentum to pending ballot initiatives that would ease TABOR's 23-year reign over state budgeting. TABOR requires refunds whenever total state income surpasses a cap that's based on inflation and population, not the economy's performance. House Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst's bill would provide at least five years' flexibility to spend more on schools and roads. It also would help restore severance tax revenues that have been used to balance the budget in recent years, as was the case with the $27 billion budget approved this month. Those revenues are supposed to compensate communities affected by mineral extraction. At issue is a hospital fee that raises money some $750 million that is matched by the federal government. That doubled sum is sent back to those hospitals to care for the needy. This year, budget writers cut the hospitals' contribution by $75 million to help balance the 2016-2017 budget and avoid TABOR's refund trigger. The bill would restore that contribution and, consequently, matching funding. Republicans insist TABOR, approved by voters in 1992, requires voters to approve any tax increase. They've consistently called the hospital fee a tax subject to TABOR. Hullinghorst's bill was opposed by Americans for Prosperity and others critical of rapid Medicaid expansion in Colorado, which they blame for the state's budget woes. But a host of business groups endorsed the bill, concerned about the impact of deteriorating roads and underfunded schools on the economy. The bill's Senate sponsor, Republican Larry Crowder of Alamosa, insists hospital needs in his rural district outweigh politics, as did GOP Rep. J. Paul Brown of Ignacio during Thursday's debate. The House passed, again by voice vote, a companion bill spelling out how newly available state dollars would be spent if Hullinghorst's legislation passes, over and above current and future budget amounts: For the next fiscal year, $50 million for highways, $16 million for the severance tax fund, $40 million to K-12 schools and $50 million for higher education. Each area would be fully funded in that order if there's not enough revenue for all of them. For the next four fiscal years, 30 percent would go to K-12, 25 percent to higher ed, 15 percent to highways, 10 percent to severance taxes and 20 percent to the general fund to help budget writers who, by law, must craft a balance budget annually. House Minority Leader Brian DelGrosso strongly objected to a proposed list of transport projects that would get priority funding. The House must pass the bill before it goes to the Senate. The session ends May 11. FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) Colorado State University says an energy company CEO who attended the school is donating $13 million for scholarships and construction projects. CSU said Thursday that Michael Smith of Freeport LNG will donate $5.8 million for 70 full scholarships in business, geosciences and chemistry. Smith will also give $3.7 million for the Michael Smith Natural Resources Building and $3.5 million toward the school's new sports stadium. An alumni center in the stadium will be named for Smith and his wife, Iris. Smith founded Basin Exploration, a Colorado-based energy exploration and production company. After selling Basin, he joined Freeport LNG, which is building a liquid natural gas export terminal in Freeport, Texas. Smith said his CSU education helped him succeed in business. University President Tony Frank expressed gratitude for the donation. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) An Omaha man accused of stealing a gay pride rainbow flag and burning it has been found guilty. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 24-year-old Cameron Mayfield was found guilty Wednesday of arson. Prosecutors said that the charge was prosecuted as a felony, not a misdemeanor, because the incident was investigated as a hate crime. Mayfield was accused of taking the flag from the porch of a lesbian couple who lived near him, setting it on fire and waving it in the middle of the street in March 2015. James Martin Davis, who is Mayfield's attorney, argued the act was a drunken prank and not a hate crime. "Just because the victims are gay doesn't make it a hate crime," Davis has said. Mayfield had testified that he thought the flag was a spring ornament, not a gay pride flag, and that he had no idea that the his neighbors were gay. Prosecutor John Alagaban was more than a bit skeptical. He pointed out that Mayfield passed three or four neighbors' homes and all the flags hanging on their homes. The prosecutor also pointed out all the steps Mayfield took to steal the rainbow flag. "His actions were too purposeful to not be targeting this couple and that item," Alagaban said. Mayfield faces up to two years in prison. The tournament is to honor former Scottsbluff graduate Noah Bruner, who lost his life a year ago in a plane accident and the tournament will feature youth teams from around the area along with a referee clinic. The city council will consider an ordinance text amendment of definitions for tattoo, body piercing, permanent color and branding and zoning district provisions amending zoning jurisdictions in which tattoos and body art will be allowed in commercial and manufacturing districts. The council will also consider a memorandum of understanding with Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) regarding arrangements for the procurement and development of the solar project and consider the agreement to purchase land owned by NPPD for the development of the solar project. The council will also consider a lease agreement with Scottsbluff Solar for the community solar project. 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To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. An untrue rumor that litter boxes are being placed in schools for students who dress up in furry costumes and identify as cats has made its way to two North Carolina school districts despite the claim being easily debunked. After hearing chatter about litter boxes inside schools, an employee at North Lincoln High School in Lincolnton decided to put the rumor to rest. There is nobody ... Shanghai-based Chinese steelmaker Baosteel has announced in its quarterly report that it has recorded an operating revenue of RMB 35.273 billion ($5.43 billion) for the first quarter of the current year, down 14.77 percent year on year, with a net profit of RMB 1.529 billion ($0.24 billion), down 1.2 percent year on year. Friday, 29 April 2016 23:03:19 (GMT+3) | San Diego Baker Hughes has reported that for the week ending April 29, the US rotary rig count dropped by 11, following a nine-rig decline the week before. This brings the current US rotary rig count to 420. The number of rigs drilling for gas fell by one to 87, while the number of rigs drilling for oil declined by 11 to 332. The overall rig count is still down by 485 rigs, year-on-year.Meanwhile, the Canadian rig count dropped by three in the week ending April 29 at 40, following a neutral trend the week before. The Canadian rig count is now down by 42 from the same week a year ago. The China and Steel Association (CISA) has announced that in mid-April (Apr. 11-20) this year the average aggregate daily crude steel output of large and medium-sized steel enterprises in China - all CISA members - totaled 1.6879 million mt, up 0.09 percent compared to early April (Apr. 1-10) this year. Friday, 29 April 2016 23:06:39 (GMT+3) | San Diego Commercial Metals Company along with state, federal and local officials and their honored guests gathered today for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction of CMC's second technologically advanced micro mill which will be located in Durant, Oklahoma. Joe Alvarado, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of CMC, said, "This event marks another historic day for CMC, the State of Oklahoma, and the City of Durant. We believe the addition of a second micro mill to CMC's portfolio of highly efficient and customer focused production facilities will open new market opportunities and enhance CMC's position as a leading supplier of long products in the U.S. market. Today would not have been possible without the support of the State of Oklahoma and the City of Durant and we look forward to many years of a very successful relationship." According to the company, CMC's innovative micro mill technology uses a continuous-continuous manufacturing process that melts, casts and rolls steel from a single uninterrupted strand, producing higher yields and lower energy consumption than the traditional mini-mill process. The Oklahoma micro mill is expected to create approximately 300 jobs in the Durant area. CMC expects the new Durant micro mill to be commissioned in the fall of 2017. Russian mining and steelmaking company Evraz Group has announced that its Siberian steel division Evraz ZSMK has obtained European DIN 488-2:2009-08 standard for its B500B rebar . The certification will enable Evraz to supply its 10-40 mm 500 rebars to Europe. The company expects that the certification will contribute to the further promotion of its products in Europe. Meanwhile, Evraz also stated that it is expanding its rebar sales in other regions. The company has already gained the ASTM certification for Grade40 and Grade60 ASTM 615 rebar for the US. In addition, Evraz ZSMK has developed CS:2012 rebar for the markets of Southeast Asia. The first lot of this rebar totaling 5,000 mt has already been shipped to Hong Kong. Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau expects to invest up to $150.6 million at its Indian Andhra Pradesh plant to expand the mills capacity by 200,000 mt, according to a media report. As the specialty steel mill looks to expand its product portfolio, it expects to add another 200,000 mt capacity to the existing mill. The combined capacity could increase to 500,000 mt, according to a companys executive in India Friday, 29 April 2016 10:17:59 (GMT+3) | Shanghai Shanxi Province-based Chinese stainless producer Taigang Stainless Steel Co. (Taigang Stainless Steel), a listed subsidiary of Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co. (TISCO), has announced in its annual report that in 2015 it registered an operating revenue of RMB 11.379 billion ($1.75 billion), down 33.32 percent year on year, with a net loss of RMB 544 million ($83.69 million) compared to a net profit of RMB 17.90 million in 2014. In 2015, Taigang Stainless Steel produced 10.2559 million mt of crude steel, down 4.36 percent year on year. Taigang Stainless Steel stated that the continuous declining trend of finished steel prices and slack demand from downstream users were the main reasons for the loss it recorded in the given year. Friday, 29 April 2016 14:05:22 (GMT+3) | Brescia SteelOrbis has learned that Italian producers' domestic billet offers are currently in the range of 375-380/mt ($428-433/mt) ex-works, rising by 100/mt ($114/mt) since late February. Meanwhile, Italian producers' billet export offers stand at 390/mt ($445/mt) FOB. 1 = $1.14 Friday, 29 April 2016 09:56:07 (GMT+3) | Istanbul According to markets sources, Japanese offers to Taiwan for H2 grade scrap are in the range of $302-304/mt CFR. Friday, 29 April 2016 21:37:55 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo A source from a major slab producer in Brazil told SteelOrbis that he is paying BRL 65,000/mt ($18,841/mt) CFR, full taxes conditions, for niobium ferroalloys supplied by CBMM, the worlds largest niobium producer. The price is stable in BRL for the last month, although compares to $18,062/mt one month ago, due to exchange rate variations. In March, CBMM exported the product at $20,979/mt, while the local arm of Anglo American exported it at $21,570/mt, both FOB conditions. 1 USD = BRL 3.46 (April 29) The Romanian authorities, through the Embassy in Chisinau, are maintaining a permanent contact with the Government of the Republic of Moldova, after the Trans-Dniestrian separatist authorities announced having placed air defence units due to the violation of the airspace by a Romanian plane, the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) informs. "The MAE confirms that the Romanian Embassy to Moldova received on April 20, 2016 a letter from the negotiator of the Trans-Dniestrian region in the 5+2 format on "the flyover of a Romanian plane in the Security Zone of Moldova." The mentioned aircraft belongs to a private company from Romania, which won an international tender to conduct mapping and do the digital model of Moldova's relief," the MAE says on Friday in connection with the flyover on the territory of Moldova by Romanian aircraft. According to the MAE, the Chisinau Reintegration Office has delivered ahead of time all relevant information related to these mapping activities to the Joint Control Commission, a body that has attributions in observing and managing the situation in the Security Zone in Moldova. The mapping activities of Moldova's territory are conducted under a technical support project run by the Land Relations and Cadastre Agency of the Republic of Moldova. The Joint Control Commission was established under the Agreement on principles of peaceful settlement of the armed conflict in the Trans-Dniestrian region of Moldova, signed by Moldova and the Russian Federation on July 21,1992. The press service of the self-styled Trans-Dniestrian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that combat-ready air defence units were placed at the order of Trans-Dniestrian separatist leader Evgheni Shevciuk, according to the news agency press in Tiraspol Novostipmr and Interfax.ru agency. Tiraspol claimed having taken this decision following some alleged unauthorized flights from April 4 to 27 in the air space of Trans-Dniestr, which have allegedly been performed by Diamond DA-42 Twin Star plane registered in Romania. The Trans-Dniestrian side initiated the convening of a emergency meeting of the Joint Control Commission, in which there was an exchange of views between the sides, announced the president of this structure from Tiraspol. Novostipmr agency reported on April 20 about an alleged plane belonging to Romania which had allegedly entered the air space of the breakaway region of Trans-Dniestr for air mapping. According to the cited source, the 'Foreign Ministry' in Tiraspol sent a letter to the Romanian Ambassador in Chisinau, Marius Lazurca (who is at end of his term), in connection with alleged violations of the air space of Trans-Dniestr by a plane belonging to Romania. Subsequently, Russian portal Regnum indicated that Tiraspol had briefed Moscow in connection with this matter. Agerpres Ive been thinking about a lot about El Centro, Calif., lately. Ive never visited the city, in the Imperial Valley 113 miles east of San Diego, but it shows up prominently in monthly Labor Department reports. As of March, its unemployment rate of 18.6 percent was the highest among the nations 387 metropolitan areas. Jobs have long been scarce there the jobless rate has been 12 percent or higher for at least 25 years and Californias leaders seem to want to make things worse. The states new $15-an-hour minimum wage, which will be fully phased in by 2022, can probably be absorbed in expensive cities such as San Francisco. But in poorer areas such as El Centro and other agricultural hubs such as Bakersfield and Salinas the wage increase is certain to be a job killer. Why should St. Louisans care about a vegetable-growing city more than 1,700 miles away? Because, in some important ways, Missouri is more like El Centro than prosperous San Francisco. Activists are pushing for a $15 minimum wage in Missouri, too, although they acknowledged recently that 2018 is the earliest it would go on a statewide ballot. To be sure, we dont suffer from double-digit unemployment here. The March jobless rate in metro St. Louis was just 4.7 percent. We do, however, have a low cost of living and relatively modest wages. A $15 wage floor would be 88 percent of Missouris current median wage. Historically, the minimum has never been much more than half of the median, so the number of workers affected has been small. The more ambitious figure would, in theory, give a many people a mandatory raise. In practice, many of them will lose their jobs or see their hours cut. Missourians need to watch what happens in California, and particularly in low-wage parts of the state. More than half of all jobs in El Centro will be affected, for better or worse, by the new wage floor. Michael Podgursky, a professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Columbia, expects young job-seekers to be hurt the most. You cant repeal the laws of supply and demand, he said. What the market is telling you is that a lot of young people are not worth $15 an hour. They need work experience, and its going to be harder for them to get it. New York, the second state to pass a $15 minimum wage, at least is taking regional differences into account. The $15 benchmark takes effect at the end of 2018 in New York City and 2021 in three suburban counties, but the minimum wage goes to only $12.50 by 2020 in the rest of the state. Even $12.50 an hour, though, will be too much for some businesses in Buffalo or Utica, where the cost of living is one-fourth lower than in the Big Apple. The legislation allows New Yorks governor to push the upstate minimum wage to $15 eventually, too. Supporters promote a $15 minimum wage as a way to reduce inequality, but, geographically speaking, it will have the opposite effect. Places like New York City and San Francisco will continue to thrive, while lower-cost cities see jobs disappear. Here in Missouri, wed like to think we can lure jobs from states such as California and New York. If we give away our labor cost advantage, though, our similarities to El Centro and Buffalo may become painfully clear. When Warren Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in the mid-1960s, it was a struggling textile manufacturer. After trying for years to revive its fortunes, he shuttered the mills and turned his focus to other industries. Today, Berkshire is one of the most-valuable companies in the world because of those efforts. It has interests in insurance, utilities, transportation, retail and increasingly manufacturing. The billionaire has been beefing up the segment of his business that makes everything from T-shirts to bricks. In January, he completed a $32.7 billion takeover of Precision Castparts Corp., a supplier to the aerospace and energy industries. And a month later he closed on the acquisition of battery maker Duracell for more than $2 billion. The deals are part of a broader evolution at Berkshire that will be on full display as shareholders gather this weekend for the companys annual meeting in Omaha, Neb. In his earlier years running the company, Buffett focused on investing in stocks by using funds held at insurance units. More recently, hes sought to diversify by buying whole businesses, several of which will showcase their wares in an exposition hall adjacent to the meeting. Though the latest acquisitions were for manufacturers, that may have been driven by circumstance rather than a grand strategy, said David Rolfe, chief investment officer at Wedgewood Partners, which manages $8.5 billion including Berkshire shares. The deal for Duracell was part of a tax-saving stock swap with Procter & Gamble. And the Precision Castparts takeover got done after shares of the manufacturer slumped amid lower demand from customers in the oil-and-gas industry. Hes got his short list in his head of stuff that hed like to own and that would move the needle, Rolfe said of Buffett. If its another one in the manufacturing industry, so be it. The new businesses will probably be a major driver of earnings at Berkshire this year. In February, Buffett told shareholders to expect profit in the manufacturing, service and retailing segment to grow substantially in 2016 as Duracell and Precision Castparts enter the fold. Analysts at UBS Group estimate that the aerospace supplier alone will contribute $2.59 billion in pretax profit this year. In 2015, Berkshires manufacturing businesses which also include a chemical company, a toolmaker and Fruit of the Loom produced $4.89 billion in earnings before tax. Duracells contribution to the group could be as much as $350 million annually after tax, according to Jim Shanahan, an analyst at Edward Jones. Both purchases will probably benefit investors, he said. A month before the Precision Castparts deal was completed, Buffetts company had more than $70 billion in cash that was earning almost nothing. Adding manufacturers means Berkshire will be getting a greater portion of profit from a sector that investors value highly, Shanahan said. As they diversify away from insurance and they add more manufacturing, on balance, the earnings warrant a stronger multiple, he said. Its favorable for valuation. Berkshire had climbed 11 percent this year through Tuesday, beating the 2.3 percent rise in the Standard & Poors 500 Index. The company isnt expected to report its full results for the first quarter until May 6, though Buffett may provide a snapshot of earnings at the annual meeting. There are other differences between the manufacturing operations Berkshire owns now and Buffetts early chapters with the company. The billionaire knew the textile business was declining when he started buying the stock in 1962. In contrast, many of Berkshires manufacturers now are in growing industries and often make acquisitions to expand into new areas. Lubrizol, a chemical company that Buffett bought in 2011, has been a regular buyer of businesses. Precision Castparts will also probably keep expanding through acquisitions, Buffett has said. And the company is poised to benefit if increasing demand for travel boosts aircraft production. Buffett understood that the textile industry had all kinds of problems and made every effort to turn around a business that was going downhill, said Bill Smead, who oversees about $2.4 billion including Berkshire shares at Smead Capital Management. Thats not the kind of businesses that hes getting involved in now. Emma Orr contributed. Three students expelled from school for misconduct, parents complain Illustrative photo The students have to stay out of school for six months. Meanwhile, secondary school finals are scheduled in three months. VietNamNet Bridge - The management board of a secondary school in Thai Binh province has decided to expel three students from the school because they urinated in the "wrong place".The parents of three students Tran Van Thanh, Tran Quang Minh and Tran Ngoc Hieu from the Vu Tien Secondary School have lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Education and Training, asking for intervention in the case.The students have to stay out of school for six months. Meanwhile, secondary school finals are scheduled in three months.Explaining the schools decision, Vu Tien Schools headmaster Pham Xuan Dinh said the school had forced the students to stay away from school because they broke the law.In the last year, the three students have repeatedly slandered teachers and workers of the school, wrongly denouncing them of committing embezzlement and adultery.The students have also been caught painting dirty words on the blackboards, walls and corridors to offend teachers.After receiving the complaint from the parents, the Thai Binh provincial Education and Training Department has sent inspectors to the school, while it has told the Vu Tien Secondary School to delay the decisions enforcement until the inspectors make a final .While many people support the schools decision, saying that it is necessary to impose sanctions, others believe that it would be better to educate students instead of keeping them away from the school environment.Xuan Vu, a parent, commented that with their repeated behavior, the students have posed a challenge to the school. Therefore, they must bear punishment to realize what they can do and cannot do at school.Vu said he did not support the parents who have shouted to the public for help. They must take responsibility for their childrens behavior, he commented.How will their children grow up and who will they become if they make mistakes but do not bear punishments? he said.Trung Anh Vu, a teacher of a continuing education establishment, said it was necessary to punish the students as a measure to protect teachers.If you scold a student, you will be condemned by the public. Teachers bear pressure at school, he said.Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Thu Luong, deputy headmaster of the Kim Dong Secondary School, warned that the schools decision, if implemented, may lead to immeasurable consequences.Whats the future for the students if they cannot go to school? she said, adding that they may join the black society, which the school and parents dont want to see.Zing AWARDS Chuck Martoia, manager of the St. Charles County office of Coldwell Banker Gundaker, was named 2015 Realtor of The Year by the St. Charles County Association of Realtors. Geile/Leon Marketing Communications won two 2016 Bronze Telly Awards for online videos produced for a Union Pacific Railroad for a safety awareness campaign. Western Specialty Contractors was named 2016 Restoration Champion by the U.S. Green Building Councils Missouri Gateway Chapter for work on the Clayton police headquarters and municipal facility. Grizzell & Co. was named a winner in the 2016 Hermes Creative Awards competition. HELPING OUT The Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Board granted $2,000 to the St. Paul United Church of Christ Food Pantry and $5,000 to the St. Charles Volunteers in Medicine clinic. The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation donated $87,000 in grants to the American Lung Association in Missouri for smoking cessation programs. The Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program and Southern Illinois Builders Association donated $25,000 to the Construction Management Technology Program at Southwestern Illinois College. MILESTONES First Community finished March with just shy of $35 million in automobile loans disbursed, a record for the 82-year-old company. The SITE Improvement Association celebrated its 50th anniversary. POWERS Insurance and Benefits marked 25 years in business. OPENINGS Providence Bank opened its Lake St. Louis Banking Center: 460 Hawk Ridge Trail, Lake St. Louis, Mo. 63367 Monkey Joes opened an indoor play and party center for children. 4732 Mid Rivers Mall, Cottleville, Mo. 63376 PROJECTS Wiegmann Associates completed construction of an $800,000 HVAC project for a multi-tenant build-out at Aviator Business Park in Hazelwood. RECOGNITION: Schaub & Srote Architects won a Houzz Best of Customer Service award. Mosby Building Arts earned Houzz badges for both customer service and design, while two of the companys designers Jillian Brinkman and Jill Worobec received Houzz badges for customer service. SixThirty and the city of St. Louis were recently recognized by Village Capital and VilCap Communities as a pioneering startup community. Bade Roofing won the 2015 Firestone Inner Circle of Quality Award and Versicos Excalibur Award. Matt Kakta, vice president for leveraged lending at Enterprise Bank & Trust, was selected to receive a 2016 Emerging Leaders Award from The M&A Advisor. Starbucks is opening the doors of its Ferguson store Saturday. The Seattle-based coffee retailer announced plans last year to make its first Ferguson store at 10768 West Florissant Avenue part of an initiative to provide a venue for young people who need job training. Starbucks has hired about 30 employees to staff the Ferguson location, mostly who live within a few miles of the store, the chain said. Ferguson was chosen because of the widespread attention on the city following protests and unrest following the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in August 2014. Starbucks is working with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis to offer mentoring and job skills training for youth in the coming months, regardless of whether they plan to work at the coffee chain, said Rodney Hines, director of Starbucks' community investments. Starbucks opened a similar store in Queens in recent weeks and plans to open more than a dozen more in the next few years, he said. Community groups are also welcome to use the Starbucks for meetings, said the store's manager Cordell Lewis. The Ferguson Starbucks will sell caramel cake bites made by a local bakery, Natalies Cakes and More, that was damaged during the Ferguson unrest in November 24. A photograph of owner Natalie DuBose's emotional reaction after her shop was vandalized spurred an outpouring of donations that helped her rebuild her business. In recent months, Starbucks has expanded its partnership with Natalies Cakes and More and now offers its baked goods for sale in more than 30 Starbucks in the St. Louis region. The added business has helped Natalies Cakes and More expand production to 24 hours a day four days out of the week and grow its staff from less than a dozen to 22 current employees, DuBose said. DuBose said she plans to open an additional kitchen with extra production capacity so she can expand sales of her cakes and other baked goods nationwide. "I'm just totally grateful for all the support I've received," DuBose said. My goal as a business is to continue to grow." Missouri will get $6.7 million from a settlement with Bank of America, and most of the money would be used for legal help for people facing mortgage foreclosure. The money comes from a 2014 settlement with Bank of America over mortgage issues. Besides help in foreclosure cases, the money can be used for community development. The money will go to the Missouri Lawyer Trust Account Foundation, the settlement monitor announced. The Foundation pools small-dollar escrow accounts from lawyers around the state, and collects interest on the money. About 90 percent of interest is used to help four legal aid groups serving the poor. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, based in St. Louis, is one of the four. The group also funds other legal-related programs, such as the Court Appointed Special Advocate program designed to help children in foster care around St. Louis. Denise Brown, the foundation's executive director, said the group hasn't decided how the $6.7 million will be distributed. The foundation's distribution usually ranges from $600,000 to $1.3 million per year. COPENHAGEN U.S. defense giants Lockheed Martin and Boeing have stepped up their battle in Denmark to win a $5 billion order for combat jets that is due to be decided next month, with an advertising blitz in newspapers and on billboards by Boeing reflecting the importance they give to winning the deal. The result of the Danish governments lengthy deliberations is expected to make waves around the global defense market, as several other nations also have to decide whether to replace their aging warplanes with Lockheed Martin Corp.s brand-new F-35 Lightnings or play safe with cheaper, older-generation planes such as Boeings F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, which are built in north St. Louis County. A third contender in Denmark the Eurofighter Typhoon made by Airbus Group, BAE Systems and Finmeccanica officially remains on the short list, but Danish government sources say it is no longer being considered. With so much at stake in terms of prestige, the bitter rivalry between Lockheed Martin and Boeing has erupted into a public spat in Denmark as Boeing compares its rivals new aircraft to a scandal over the botched purchase of Italian trains a decade ago. The choice of fighter jets is not just about Denmarks defense. Its also about working from day one, Boeing has said in newspaper and billboard ads, in a clear reference to the F-35, which entered service last July for the U.S. Marine Corps but is still completing a development program that began in 2001. The U.S. Air Force is slated to declare an initial squadron of F-35s ready for combat later this year. In the ads, a full-page photograph shows some of the defective trains that had yet to be fully developed at the time of order. Technical problems with the 85 trains, of which less than half are in use to date, ended up costing the Danish state hundreds of millions of dollars, causing a public outcry. Boeings ad campaign started in March and peaked in April in newspapers, on outdoor billboards, radio spots and door-to-door distribution. Toward the end of the campaign, Boeing had bought ads worth 9.65 million crowns, or $1.5 million, excluding discounts, according to TNS Gallup Adfacts. By reminding Danes of a past purchasing scandal, the ad campaign has raised hackles in some quarters over the use of such tactics but nevertheless has also sparked a public debate about the merits of investing in untried technology. We dont use such methods in Denmark, said one defense lawmaker who is involved in the decision-making process. Boeing ought to be careful not to be hit by its own boomerang, if we get disgusted by the company. Right now, Boeing is close to giving me this feeling, the person said in reaction to the ad campaign. However, in the wider public more accustomed to ads for organic cheese than fighter jets the discussion quickly shifted from what type of plane should be purchased to whether Denmark should buy new warplanes at all. Boeing, based in Chicago, has defended its advertising. The informational campaign was created firmly out of respect and understanding of the documented Danish acquisition process, which has a phase of public debate, Tom Bell, the top sales executive for Boeings defense business, told Reuters. Boeing executives are publicly bullish about their chances of winning the Danish order for up to 30 jets, but they privately concede that winning Denmark would be a long shot, making the ad campaign seem like a last-ditch effort. Winning Denmark is absolutely vital for Boeing, which has limited firm export orders left for the (Super Hornet) and is desperate for business, said Francis Tusa, Editor of Defence Analysis. On Thursday, Danish radio station Radio24syv reported that an expert group formed by the countrys Defense Ministry had recommended the purchase of 28 F-35s. The group found that the Lightning was better than Eurofighters Typhoon and Boeings Super Hornet in four priority areas: military combat, economy, strategics and Danish industrial cooperation with the producer, Radio24syv said, citing sources close to the negotiations. Denmarks Defense Ministry did not reply to requests from Reuters. Spokesmen from various political parties declined to comment. Outside the traditional major arms purchasers in the Gulf, nations currently shopping for fighters include Belgium, Indonesia and Malaysia, while eastern Europe is looking for secondhand aircraft. The United States is poised to approve two long-delayed sales of Boeing fighters to the Gulf including 28 Super Hornets worth $3 billion for Kuwait. The U.S. Navy had requested 2 Super Hornets in the 2017 defense budget, but it also has a separate but unfunded call for 12 jets. Still, Boeing remains keen to win new export orders to shore up future production for its fighters in St Louis County. For Lockheed Martin, based in Bethesda, Md., losing the Danish order could dent market confidence in the F-35. Denmark is one of eight original partners that helped fund development of the F-35 and flies Lockheed F-16 jets alongside Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands. Norway and the Netherlands have ordered F-35s, and Belgium has expressed interest. However, the $379 billion F-35 program has been plagued with cost overruns and delays. Its been a scandal, and the cost overruns have been disgraceful, said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at a hearing Tuesday. And its a textbook example of why this Committee has placed such a high priority on reforming the broken defense acquisition system. U.S. officials now say the program has met its cost and schedule targets since a major restructuring in 2010, and acquisition costs are now finally coming down. Software issues and problems with a complex logistics system still pose challenges, according to a U.S. congressional report released this month, which said the lack of a back-up system could potentially ground the U.S. F-35 fleet. Lockheed officials say they are confident that the new jets superior data-processing and fusing capabilities, coupled with its ability to evade radar, will ultimately prevail over the older-generation Super Hornets. LOS ANGELES Fresh off his career-defining role as prosecutor Christopher Darden in FXs acclaimed limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, St. Louis native Sterling K. Brown is revisiting an old friend. Half a mile from Los Angeles Superior Court, where O.J. Simpson was tried on two counts of murder for the 1994 deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and waiter Ronald Lyle Goldman, Brown can be seen onstage at the Mark Taper Forum in the Suzan-Lori Parks play Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3). The dramedy explores the work and personal lives of Civil War-era slaves. Brown stars as Hero, a slave who must choose whether to join his master fighting for the Confederacy in exchange for his freedom. He will appear in the production through Sunday. (The production continues without him until May 15.) Brown originated the role at New Yorks Public Theater in 2014. We spoke to the actor about returning to the character and seeing the parallels between Hero and Darden. Q Did the decision to come back happen pre-O.J. or post-O.J.? A Post, I believe, because we finished shooting in October of 2015, and it was after we were done shooting the show that they knew it was going to be scheduled at the Taper. Q When you started rehearsals, was everyone talking about People v. O.J. Simpson? A A few people. Some of the cast was watching, some of the cast was not. They may or may not have FX in their apartment complex, so a lot of them were watching on their computers. But everybody was very complimentary and very sweet. I tried not to bring it up too much because I was focused on the task at hand. They said positive things, by and large you never get tired of hearing positivity. Q With so much happening for you right now, why did you decide to continue with Father Comes Home From the Wars? A When the play first came to me, Id been a fan of the casting directors at the Public Theater in New York for a long time Heidi Griffiths and Jordan Thaler. They were always interested in me coming back to do a particular project. Suzan-Lori (Parks) wrote this play so many years ago, and as it was moving toward production, they were like, We think Sterling Brown should be a part of this. And so I was honored that they considered me in the first place. And Suzan-Lori Parks wrote a play that was one of the theatrical highlights of my life going to see Topdog/Underdog, with Don Cheadle and Jeffrey Wright. It blew me away. And it won the Pulitzer Prize, deservedly so. The fact that (Suzan-Lori Parks) asked me to be a part of something that she was creating, it wasnt a very hard sell. So the opportunity to come back to it, in my hometown, where I dont have to uproot myself from my family for several months and I get to still be a father and a husband although, if you ask my wife, she may tell you differently because it does take up a lot of time. But the opportunity to do theater, which is how I first came into this business in the first place, and be home at the same time, was too good to pass up. Q What initially spoke to you about this play? A The play is set in the Civil War on a plantation in West Texas. And even though its set in that time, its not supposed to be a period piece. As you can see, some of the costume design elements throw things very jarringly into the present day. Even the vernacular gives you some phrases like true dat. I think Suzan-Lori set out to create a piece of theater that didnt leave people thinking, Wow, what a shame slavery was, glad we got over that. Its still an institution that affects the way in which we live our lives, even today. I think in regards to Hero and Homer, in particular, they are these two slaves that are both left with scars one in a physical manifestation, and the other in a psychological manifestation. No one escaped from it unscathed. But at the end of the day, when Hero says, These are my hands now, what hes trying to say is: Slavery is real, slavery has done a number on me, but at the end of the day, I have to take responsibility for my own actions. And own myself. The act of owning oneself, recognizing that he is his own man, he decides to bury the boss master, and now he can start his life anew. And thats such an interesting place to be in, for me. And its interesting. As a kid growing up in St. Louis, Mo., I lived in a predominantly black neighborhood. Any time people talked about slavery, it was always something like, If I was a slave, I wouldnt have been putting up with that. I would have been out in a heartbeat. And its like, sure, its a very easy thing to say. But when actually faced with the realities of that institution, we can only speculate. Suzan-Lori gives us a vast diorama of the different perspectives of how to navigate that institution: to flee, to stay, or this very indecent proposal that the master brings to Heros table, which is to go and fight with the Confederacy with the hopes of gaining your freedom when the war is over. Q Theres a moment in the play where its said, The worth of a colored man once hes made free is less than his worth when hes a slave. A In that whole section of Part 2, you can tell that Hero is really struggling with the concept of freedom. When the paradigm that he has known for the entirety of his lifetime is slavery, how does one imagine something outside of the paradigm? You have to be worth something, right? Its not quite landing the idea that, no, you own yourself. That, in it of itself, is a very scary proposition because theres something about being someones property, being something of worth or value, that keeps you safe from the rest of society. When you know you no longer belong to someone in that way, whats to keep anyone from doing to you what they wish to do? And so the resonance that has for me, in particular, being from St. Louis and doing this play in N.Y.C. the incident with Mike Brown had transpired in Ferguson. The failure to indict happened while we were performing the show. And it was just heart-wrenching on a personal level for me. I go back to this statement from Watchmen: Who watches the Watchmen? The people who are supposed to protect and serve us. And particularly coming off the O.J. Simpson project. There is a reason that many African-Americans have a healthy mistrust for law enforcement. We dont always feel protected or served by that particular institution. So theres something frightening that comes with freedom. And there was something very frightening for a lot of slaves once they were free and were going through Reconstruction. It was like, what do you do now? There was nothing set up. Most people wound up sharecropping and staying on the land where they had once been slaves. So, yeah, that night when the lack of indictment transpired in the Mike Brown case, people were just crying. But we had this play that gave us sort of a mouthpiece to express what we couldnt necessarily express on our own. At the end of the show we decided as a cast that we would put our hands up in hands up, dont shoot posture and it was such a powerful moment that Suzan-Lori decided that she wanted to incorporate it into the play itself. So when Hero says, I belong to the boss master, he puts his hands up, as if to say, Dont shoot me. Im just going about my business. Q There is this parallel between Hero and Darden in that theyre both sort of viewed as traitors by their communities. A Thats interesting. They are definitely two individuals that dont have the most popular standing with regards to how they should navigate their personal lives. Hero puts a lot of stock in the masters word because he tries to be a man of his word himself, even though he falls short. He himself is the closest to the master, and Suzan-Lori is very much saying, you cant help, to a certain degree, to become akin to the people whom you spend the most time with. And at the end of the play, its almost like youve seen three different Heros. You see Hero, the alpha male, at the beginning of the play; a very subservient Hero in Part 2; and by the end you see a man who has literally changed by virtue of war, by virtue of exposure to the master. And then Darden, being in a very particular crossroads being a prominent black member of the prosecution at a time when black America was very much on the side of the defense in the O.J. Simpson trial that was interesting because I heard that a few named actors had passed on the role because of how unpopular he was. And so its interesting for me to try to get into the skin of both of these individuals because you cant judge someone and play them at the same time. You have to have some real compassion and empathy for them. And you dont necessarily have to like them or love them, but you have to understand their perspective. And you have to be able to communicate their perspective without bias, as strongly as you can. I think thats what attracted me to these characters who can seem very problematic. While Germanys politicians are loudly debating whether Islam is compatible with democracy, five of its state universities are quietly developing pioneering new Islamic theology faculties to try to ensure that it is. The five universities in Muenster, Osnabrueck, Frankfurt, Tubingen and Erlangen-Nuremberg recently passed their first official evaluations by Muslim and Christian experts and were granted 20 million euros (or $22 million) to continue for another five years. The programs now have a total of over 1,800 students and plan to grow. The largest program, in Muenster, has 700 students in its three-year bachelors program and received more than double that number of applicants this academic year alone. Their example has been such a success that Berlin decided to introduce Islamic theology at one of its universities, even though it will not get federal funds for it. The practical approach these faculties have taken towards training Muslim religion teachers, conducting research into Islam and fostering interfaith dialogue contrasts sharply with the increasingly shrill declarations coming from Germanys far-right, especially the Alternative for Germany party. The party is holding a convention this weekend to agree on its new platform. Its deputy leader, Beatrix von Storch, said Islam violates Germanys democratic constitution and its public symbols such as minarets, muezzins (people who call Muslims to prayer) and full-face veils should be banned. Johanna Wanka, Germanys federal minister for education and research, struck a different tone in January when she approved the renewed funding for the five theology centers. With these centers, the Muslim faith has found a home in Germanys academic and theological debates, she said. This is an important contribution to interreligious dialogue. German state schools have religious education classes that students attend according to their beliefs. Instruction in the majority Protestant and Catholic faiths are available countrywide and a few areas also offer Jewish education. With the growing number of Muslims in Germany, four states have introduced regular Islamic education for their Muslim public school students. The courses need university-trained teachers, so some universities had to start offering academic programs in Islam. The faculties teach standard courses on the Quran, Islamic law and classic Muslim philosophy, as well as Arabic and pedagogy. Marrying traditional Islamic learning with German academic standards has not been easy. Muslim associations like DITIB, the local arm of Turkeys Religious Affairs Department that runs mosques and employs imams around Germany, have a say in hiring professors. They have rejected or opposed some candidates they thought were too liberal. But the universities insisted Islam had to be subject to the same critical approach as any other subject and academics must be able to do research and publish freely. Conservative guardians of Muslim tradition have some reason to be wary. German theologians developed the historical-critical method of biblical scholarship in the 18th and 19th centuries, an approach most Islamic scholars have resisted because they view such analytical methods as undermining the faith. If Islamic theology faculties followed this example, some conservatives worried, they could become hotbeds of heresy spreading a reformist Islam unfit to teach to young Muslims. In Muenster, Muslim groups led a bitter campaign against the facultys director Mouhanad Khorchide, who received several death threats and was given police protection. But the university stood by him and the criticism eventually ebbed. The Lebanese-born son of Palestinian refugees, Khorchide, 44, has irritated conservative Muslims with popular books such as Islam Is Mercy and God Believes in People, and appearances on German talk shows where he is treated like the new spokesman for Islam. He speaks out clearly against the ultra-conservative Salafi Muslims, who have a tiny but growing following among young German Muslims, and call for Shariah to be the law of the land. It is not the job of religions, including Islam, to pass laws, Khorchide said. The real concern of Islam is that people perfect themselves, both as individuals and as a society, in order to reach the community of God. In nearby Osnabrueck, Bulent Ucar said the faculty he heads taught neither an outdated faith nor a kind of Islam Light to its 300 students. We try to match tradition to todays situations. But we can only change the understanding of Islam if we are accepted by Muslims in their congregations, said the 49-year-old ethnic Turk born in Germany. His faculty has widened its horizons by launching projects such as one with the Catholic theology and sociology faculties to study social work among immigrants. It has also joined with a Protestant college and a rabbinical seminary to coordinate curricula for their students. Like several other Islam professors, Ucar has become a regular commentator in the media on Muslim issues. In a recent interview, he compared the Alternative for Germany party with the ultra-orthodox Salafis. Both assume that Islam is not made for democracy, he said. Frankfurt faculty head Bekim Agai, 42, was born in Essen to a German mother and Macedonian father. He says his faculty wants to develop an Islam for Germany that makes traditions useful for their context. One of its leading professors, Omer Ozsoy, came from Ankara Universitys theology faculty in Turkey, known in the Muslim world for its modern interpretation of the Quran. Harry Harun Behr, a German convert from Catholicism to Islam who teaches religious education, says the faculties have brought about an anthropological shift in Islamic theology with less traditionalism and more attention to the situations in which Muslims live. Islam in Europe will have its own stamp on it, he said. This is very attractive for Islamic theologians from many different countries. They can do their research here without political pressure. The rapid expansion of the five faculties reflects their popularity among German Muslim students, many of whom will go on to become teachers of Islam, hospital chaplains and social workers among the growing minority. Not all of them are ready for the traditional rigor of German academia, though. They want to have their faith confirmed, but a university is a place to think about ones faith, Khorchide said. He thinks it will take one or two generations of students before most approach Islam as an intellectual subject. Weighed down by debt used to make the purchase, squeezed by low shale gas prices and faced with declining coal use in a more climate-conscious world, St. Louis-based Peabody declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week. (Credit: Peabody Energy) Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Its not likely that the Oregon case of Kelsey Cascade Rose Juliana, et al v. the United States of America had anything to do with St. Louis-based Peabody Energys filing for bankruptcy. But the timing, and a unique St. Louis connection, are worthy of notice. It was no surprise when the St. Louis coal giant sought Chapter 11 protection on April 13. Coal stocks have been diving for years, mostly due to the sustained cheaper costs of natural gas, but also because of increased regulatory costs as the governments of the world finally take at least initial steps toward recognizing the need to address climate change. Thats where Kelsey Cascade Rose Juliana comes in. Juliana is a 19-year-old resident of Eugene, Ore. Shes a committed enough environmentalist that in 2014 she walked 1,600 miles from Nebraska to Washington in the Great March for Climate Action to raise awareness of climate change. Last September, Juliana and 20 other young people from all over the country sued the government, claiming that by ignoring climate change for decades, the U.S. has robbed the next generation of their constitutional rights to life, liberty and property. In detailed pleadings, the plaintiffs, which include renowned climate scientist James Hansen (and his granddaughter) argue that the government has known of the dangers of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere as far back as 1899 and yet has basically stood aside as the powerful fossil fuel industry had its way. The present level of CO2 and its warming, both realized and latent, are already in the zone of danger, they argue. Defendants have acted with deliberate indifference to the peril they knowingly created. As a result, Defendants have infringed on Plaintiffs fundamental constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property. Defendants acts also discriminate against these young citizens, who will disproportionately experience the destabilized climate system in our country. From a political standpoint, its a compelling case. Politicians love to make hay by arguing that their positions are taken on behalf of future generations. Now, the next generation is taking matters into its own hands, trying to force a reluctant government to recognize that reversing climate change by developing and enforcing more stringent environmental regulations is a constitutional mandate. The thought of the next generations suing this one over its failings is a scary one if youre a parent. Imagine having to defend every mistake you made in raising your children in a court of law, with your children on one side represented by high-powered attorneys. My youngest daughter, for instance, loves to tell the story about the time I left her at church. (I plead the Fifth.) Each of my six children can recount a time or two when I inadvertently taught them to string four-letter words together in a sentence while standing on a ladder trying to attach the darn Christmas lights to the gutter. Famed St. Louis defense attorney Scott Rosenblum couldnt get me out of such a case. The fact that Im even thinking of Rosenblum sort of makes the point. Hes the guy you hire when you know youre guilty but seek a Hail Mary. And thats what the climate change lawsuit probably is. Except for this: On April 8, a judge ruled that the case can go forward. That judge, Oregon federal district court magistrate Thomas Coffin, was raised in St. Louis, home of the nations coal industry. Again, maybe its a coincidence. Coffin, a 1963 graduate of St. Louis University High School, declined through a spokesman to talk about the case. But in his 24-page order he made it clear that the arguments put forth by the next generation in this unprecedented lawsuit deserve an airing. When combined with the EPAs duty to protect the public health from airborne pollutants and the governments public trust duties deeply ingrained in this countrys history, the allegations in the complaint state a substantive due process claim, Coffin wrote. The ruling came shortly after the judge had retired, though he has been recalled to the bench and is still hearing cases. Perhaps Coffin was thinking of his own grandchildren and their legacy. Or maybe, like most of the nation not directly making their living off of the fossil fuel industry, the judge realized that our nation had simply been ignoring climate change for too long. Who better to make the case that our generation has failed than the children who will inherit the earth we leave them? COLLINSVILLE A toddler was reunited safely with her mother Thursday night after Collinsville Police Department said she was allegedly abducted by her father. The father was still at large. Police said Tchaka Malik Spiller, 24, left with his two-year-old daughter against the wishes of the child's mother about 10:15 p.m. The girl was returned to a family member and she was then reunited with her mother, police said. They provided no more details about the return. Police said Spiller had brought his daughter back to her mother's residence after an authorized visitation. The couple argued and Spiller then left with his daughter in the woman's black 2004 Hyundai Sonata with Illinois license plate Z352747. Police and the mother of the child made contact with Spiller and ordered him to bring the child back and he refused. The Madison County State's Attorney's Office charged Spiller with one count of child abduction. Bail was set at $100,000. Spiller is believed to be in St. Louis or en route to Kansas City or Chicago. According to police, there is no indication that Spiller is a threat to the safety of his daughter. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Spiller and his daughter is asked to contact the Collinsville Police Department at 618-344-2131 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. ST. LOUIS A former California police officer who moved to the Philippines after being released from prison on a child sex conviction has been indicted in federal court here on a child pornography charge. Michael Bruce McDonald, 76, became a volunteer teacher and a dance troupe choreographer in his adopted country, according to his Facebook account and online postings. A grand jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis indicted McDonald Feb. 24 on one count of transportation of child pornography. He was arrested this month in California, according to court records. The indictment claims that McDonald transported six files containing child porn sometime between Aug. 1 and Feb. 24, but contains few other details. McDonalds public defender declined to comment on the case Friday, as has the prosecutor. On April 22, U.S. Magistrate Judge John Bodenhausen ordered McDonald held in jail until trial. The order says that McDonald has been living in the Philippines, and is being accused of producing the child porn with which he is charged. A jury in Orange County, Calif., convicted McDonald in 2001 of charges including sodomy and oral sex with a person under 16, as well as possession of child porn and child stealing. He was sentenced in 2002 to a total of eight years in prison, according to online court records. News reports say that the victim was a boy, 14, who had run away from home. They also say that he faced molestation charges in the 1980s while working as a Long Beach police officer, but those charges were dropped. McDonald has been in the Philippines since at least 2010, when he married, according to his Facebook page. He has several pictures of himself with a dance troupe of young girls. In one, he says he assists in choreography. In a comment on an unrelated photo from the Philippines, McDonald said that he volunteers as an English teacher at a nearby school. Although McDonald was once listed on the California sex offender registry, he is no longer. That can happen if someone moves out-of-state or out of the country. On April 4, the U.S. Supreme Court said that a sex offender who moves out of the country does not have to notify the state that he left. The decision came after two federal appeals courts split on the question. The cases involve two men who also moved to the Philippines. In 2013, the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals, headquartered in St. Louis, said that a Kansas City man did not have to update the registry when he moved to the Philippines, and that his indictment for failing to do so should be dismissed. A Kansas man, Lester Ray Nichols, got the opposite result in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Nichols case was the one decided April 4. ST. LOUIS A man who allegedly amassed black powder and other bomb-making materials in a Bridgeton motel room this month claimed they were intended to make crafts, but he spoke of a hatred for President Barack Obama and told police Hitler was right, court documents show. Douglas Herr, 44, of Chatham, Ill., was charged in St. Louis County Circuit Court with one count of unlawful possession, transport, manufacture, repair or sale of an illegal weapon. A federal agent said that although black powder is not considered a high explosive, the 25 pounds found in Herrs room could have done major damage to the building or made powerful pipe bombs. Employees of a Home Depot store in Bridgeton became concerned after Herr asked them to cut pipe into sections 7 inches long and to thread both ends for caps. Police arrested Herr, and found the powder in a search of his room at a Super 8 motel. Neither the documents nor police have said what investigators think Herr intended to do. Donald Hood, the police chief of Bridgeton, and Ed Magee, spokesman for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch, declined to comment Thursday. Herrs public defender and parents also declined to be interviewed. Herr had first gone to the Home Depot on April 12, asking employees about cutting the pipe as well as buying end caps and Teflon tape, which is commonly used to secure threaded pipe joints. He bought four rolls of tape and said he would return with the pipe, the documents say. Suspicious employees called police that day, and again when Herr returned the morning of April 13. Officers found Herr in the parking lot, where he told them the pipe was for crafts, the documents say. While he was in the back of a police vehicle on the way to the station, he said that he hated Obama, believed Hitler was right and repeatedly said he had to meet friends at Busch Stadium later in the day, the documents say. The St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Milwaukee Brewers that afternoon. Federal officials have told the Post-Dispatch that there was no credible threat to the stadium or fans. Later, at the station, Herr told detectives about buying black powder and fuses, and said there was nothing illegal about that or making pipe bombs, the documents say. He told them there were thousands of videos of pipe bombs on YouTube. Im not really known as a terrorist, he told police, and volunteered that he was not planning revenge on the Wentzville police for falsely convicting him of a robbery, the documents say. After Herrs arrest by Wentzville police in October 2015 on robbery and assault charges, he had mentioned having access to large amounts of black powder but didnt explain why, Police Chief Kurt Frisz said Thursday. Police suspected he might have some type of mental illness, based on his actions. Herr was accused in Wentzville of stealing frozen pizzas from a truck and then trying to run down a man who confronted him about it. Herr entered a no-contest plea March 21, admitting there was sufficient evidence for him to be found guilty. He was sentenced to five years of probation. In his plea documents, Herr said he suffered from manic depression and schizo-affective disorder but was not on any medications. He was to be supervised on the mental health caseload and be subject to random drug testing and drug or alcohol treatment. Police wrote in court documents from the Bridgeton case that Herr seemed to have an uncommon knowledge of the construction of explosive devices. On April 13, investigators discovered 25 one-pound bottles of powder in Herrs room, as well as fuse, eight pipe end caps, Teflon tape, an electric drill and pipe sealing material, the documents say. Some documents refer to the material as black powder, some as gunpowder. A motel manager who would identify himself only as Sam told a reporter after Herrs arrest that police had blocked off the side of the building where his room was located. They were here all day long and they didnt tell us anything, he said. Sam said that Herr had rented a room for a week and had been acting normal. He didnt say why he was in town, and staff didnt ask. Herrs home in Chatham is near Springfield, Ill. High damage potential John Ham, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, explained in an email that it is legal for a convicted felon to possess black powder only if used solely for sporting, recreation, or cultural purposes in antique firearms. At least some felons can possess pre-1899 firearms or replicas. Black powder is low on the energy scale of explosive materials, Ham wrote, and burns rapidly instead of behaving like a high explosive. But packed into a pipe bomb, the pressure would build until the pipe came apart, sending large metal pieces flying as fast as 1,000 feet per second. If the entire 25 pounds had gone up at once, it could have blown out walls, windows and doors in the hotel and could have destroyed adjacent rooms, depending on whether it was in the manufacturers container or packed into pipes, he wrote. Christine Byers of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. NORMANDY Dressed in a gray suit and red tie, Quentin Eddings approached the lectern inside the gym of Normandy High School on Thursday and told state education officials he was about to graduate but had hardly set foot on campus this year. Instead, hes spent his senior year taking classes at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley, where hes getting college credit that will help him earn a bachelors degree even sooner. There are way more opportunities this year at Normandy High than in the past, Eddings said. And he began to list them. One year after the state took over and restarted the district and eliminated Advanced Placement and honors classes at the high school those courses have been restored, with additional opportunities to be challenged, such as starting college early. About 70 parents, district staff and state education officials sat at round tables in the gym for a town hall meeting about the progress of Normandy schools. State law requires such hearings to be held twice a year when a district is unaccredited. Superintendent Charles Pearson reported that attendance is up by 10 percentage points this year, with 77 percent of students at school 90 percent of the time the metric the state uses to measure attendance. And based on the most recent internal assessments, 35 percent of students who were considered to be below basic in math have moved out of that category a sign that academic growth is taking place. In reading, that number is 37 percent. This kind of movement keeps us on a trajectory, Pearson said. The district is two years into a state takeover thats the deepest intervention of its kind in any Missouri school system. In 2014, the Missouri Board of Education voted to take over Normandy after years of academic failure, compounded by an exodus of students who had left under a controversial state law that opened the doors to higher-performing schools. At that point, Normandy was the worst-performing school system in the state. It was close to bankruptcy as millions of dollars left in the 2013-14 school year to finance the tuition and transportation of 1,100 students who had transferred out. The state education department replaced about half of the districts teaching staff with instructors with no training or experience in high-poverty environments. As a result, classrooms were unruly. Teachers came and went. At the state hearing last spring, parents and students said it was the worst year they could remember. But changes made this school year have resulted in a different response whenever town hall meetings have been held at Normandy. Sixth-graders are no longer at Normandy Middle School, but at the elementary schools. A kindergarten center is open so teachers can collaborate on ways to get children reading earlier and better. And partnerships with corporations and nonprofits have grown to better support literacy. Student transfer numbers are down, with 520 students attending school in other districts. Were progressing, Pearson said. He later added, I hope I didnt leave a message that Im satisfied with that. Several parents indicated they were not fully satisfied either. Sheila Love, who has two children at Barack Obama Elementary School, said classrooms remained disruptive. Come on now, she said. The truth is the truth. You can sugarcoat it, but all you educators here from the state you go out and see these schools. There are kids who walk the hallways all day long. How are they going to learn? Pearson said district staff was working on it. Next fall a curriculum will be put in place to help children deal with trauma, which should help behavior, he said. A young child whos traumatized doesnt know how to handle their anger, he said. The district focused on several strategies this year to get the 3,200 students on a better path. Educators adopted a standards-based curriculum. Theyre assessing students monthly to track the depth of their learning. Teachers are meeting weekly to look at student data and adjust their teaching. The district has one more school year to demonstrate significant improvement enough to warrant an upgrade in accreditation or risk being dissolved by the state Board of Education. Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven made no reference to that possibility when she wrapped up the hearing. Instead, she said she was encouraged by what she had seen in Normandy schools this year. Were excited about the positive energy were seeing, she said. Theres really excitement around learning. Im happy to see that. ST. LOUIS Republicans will gather in each of Missouri's eight congressional districts Saturday to continue the process of choosing delegates to send to the GOP National Convention in July a normally meaningless routine that this year could have real consequences because of the possibility of a contested convention. GOP presidential front runner Donald Trump won Missouri's March 15 primary, meaning 37 of the state's 52 delegates will be obligated to vote for him on the first ballot at the national convention. Usually, that's where it ends. But anti-Trump Republicans continue to hold out hope that the controversial billionaire won't win enough delegates before the convention to secure the nomination. If that happens, a second ballot (or more) is a possibility. At that point, most of the delegates will no longer be bound to the primary winner, and can vote for any candidate they want. Supporters of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Missouri and around the country have been working to line up their own people to fill those delegate spots which will be chosen at gatherings like the ones here Saturday so they will have friendly votes in place should a second ballot happen. Saturday's eight Missouri meetings all are at 10 a.m. The meeting for St. Louis' first Congressional district will be at Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School, 7539 Manchester Rd. A complete list of the meetings is available at: https://www.missouri.gop/election-2016/#find The Republican National Convention is July 18-21 in Cleveland. ALTON In an attempt to control its stray cat population, the Alton City Council has authorized a program to trap and neuter the animals and then return them to the streets. An agreement to provide this service between SNIP Alliance of the Metro East Humane Society and Alton is being crafted at no cost to city. Officials maintain that cats multiply faster than dogs and that statistics show that in 2014 alone 1,542 cats were brought into Madison County Animal Control and 75 percent were killed. Alderman Carolyn MacAfee, sponsor of the ordinance, said most animal lovers are concerned with overpopulation. She said people have a tendency to feed stray cats and dont want to see them euthanized. GODFREY A married couple who operate a day spa for massage, Botox injections and other treatments were accused Thursday of having a concealed video camera in a changing room. The Madison County Grand Jury indicted Miroslawn "Mirka" Figueroa, 55, owner of the Dutch Hollow Medical Day Spa, and her husband, Dr. Samuel P. Figueroa, 67, of unauthorized video recording and live video transmission. Dr. Figueroa is charged with a felony, Mirka Figueroa with a misdemeanor. Also charged with a misdemeanor count was Ronald E. Riddlespriger, 53, owner of Hi-Tech Security Systems, who allegedly installed the camera. The Figueroas live in Alton. Riddlespriger is from Godfrey. Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons said in a statement that the sheriff's office received a tip in September that a camera was concealed in the changing room. Deputies found the camera but not images or video, he said. Gibbons said deputies contacted all of the spa clients who had appointments during the two-day period in which the camera appears to have been operated. The spa's website identifies Mirka Figueroa as chief executive officer and Dr. Figueroa as medical director. Among other offerings listed were laser hair removal and waxes. It says the business is at 3042 Godfrey Road. The maximum penalty for the felony count is three years in prison. The misdemeanor offense carries a one-year term in jail. DURHAM, N.H. The University of New Hampshire now acknowledges that spending $17,000 on a custom-made chef's table with LED lights for the campus dining hall was a mistake. Initially, university officials thought the light-up table would allow the dining staff to interact with students and demonstrate healthy cooking techniques. But word soon got out about the $17,570 price tag on the 16-seat table, which was installed several weeks ago. The school newspaper wrote about it, and other media outlets picked up on it. The table costs nearly as much as in-state students pay annually for tuition and fees. On Friday, UNH spokeswoman Erika Mantz told The Associated Press that having a chef's table was a good idea, but much less money should have been spent. The university plans to keep the table. LONDON MARKET OPEN: Pound rises past $1.13 as Johnson backs out Monday, October 24, 2022 - 09:08 The pound was recovering some ground on Monday, holding back the internationally exposed FTSE 100 stock index, after former prime minister Boris Johnson pulled out the race to take back his former job, clearing the way for market favourite Rishi Sunak. The FTSE 100 index was down 24.70 points, or 0.4%, at 6,944.50. The mid-cap FTSE 250 was up 79.70 points, or 0.5%, at 17,286.25, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.67 of a point, or 0.1%, at 786.07. The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 693.63, the Cboe UK 250 up 0.4% at 14,750.50, and the Cboe Small Companies down 0.1% at 12,233.88. In European equities on Friday, the CAC 40 in Paris and the DAX 40 in Frankfurt were both 0.4% higher. Former chancellor Sunak could be declared the next prime minister within hours after Johnson ruled himself out of the race for No 10, with uncertainty over rival Penny Mordaunt's prospects of securing sufficient support from members of Parliament. Tory MPs will choose who they want to be their new leader in the first stage of the contest on Monday, should both remaining candidates get the 100 nominations required to reserve a place on the ballot. If Mordaunt falls short of this total by the deadline of 1400 BST, or pulls out of the contest, Sunak will take charge of the party without the need for a vote. It comes after Johnson dramatically withdrew from the race having never officially entered, claiming he had the numbers but admitting he could not unite his warring party. In a statement on Sunday evening, he said there was a "very good chance" he could have been back in No 10 by the end of the week if he had stood. Sterling was quoted at $1.1343 early Monday, sharply higher than $1.1203 at the London equities close on Friday. In London, housebuilders were crowning the FTSE 100. Persimmon added 2.9%, Taylor Wimpey 2.8%, Barratt Development 2.2% ,and Berkeley gained 2.1%. Figures from lender Halifax showed cities have driven house price growth in the UK this year, leaving the suburbs lagging behind. Since the start of the year, as people have gradually returned to the office, property prices across Britain's cities have typically grown by 9.2%, compared with 7.9% growth on average in surrounding areas, Halifax said. Andrew Asaam, mortgages director at Halifax, said a trend of people looking for greener spaces to move to, which was seen early on in the coronavirus pandemic, had remained. He said: "That trend didn't disappear completely this year, as house price growth in these areas remained strong. But, as daily life started to get back to normal for many, the opportunity to live in cities became more attractive again, driving up demand." Pearson was 2.5% higher. It said trading in the nine months to September 30 was "strong", with underlying sales up 7% year-on-year, allowing the company to reaffirm its full-year sales and adjusted profit outlook. The London-based education publisher said Assessment & Qualifications sales grew 12% in the nine-month period due to a "continued focus on health and wellness, as well as US Student Assessment and UK & International Qualifications, as exam timetables continue to normalise after Covid-19 disruption". Virtual Learning sales were up 5%, and English Language Learning sales up 28%. Higher Education sales were down 4%, however, holding back the overall growth. Looking ahead, Pearson said it is on track to deliver at least 100 million of cost efficiencies next year, and it remains on track to deliver group sales and adjusted operating profit in line with consensus expectations for 2022. At the other end of the blue chips, Shell gave back 2.2%. The UK oil major and QatarEnergy on Sunday announced that Shell will take a 9.375% in a huge gas field extension offshore Qatar for an undisclosed sum. TotalEnergies last month said it had been selected for a 9.375% participating interest as well. QatarEnergy, which will retain 75% of the project, said a third international partner will be announced "in due course", with a 6.25% stake remaining. TotalEnergies was down 1.4% in Paris. The North Field South expansion project is expected to have capacity for 16 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas. The overall North Field project, which also includes North Field East, is "the industry's largest ever LNG project", QatarEnergy said. Starting production in 2026, it will add more than 48 million tonnes per annum to world LNG supplies by 2027. The project has taken on particular significance in recent months, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine restricted gas supply to Europe. QatarEnergy estimates that the North Field, which extends under the Gulf into Iranian territory, holds about 10% of the world's known gas reserves. On AIM, Pure Gold slumped 48% after it said financing woes will see it suspend operations and place its PureGold mine on care and maintenance immediately. "This step follows an evaluation of several potential alternative scenarios and has become necessary because the mine has not yet achieved consistent positive site-level cash flow, notwithstanding recent reductions in operating costs and sequential quarter over quarter increases in production," it added. Pure Gold said if it can not secure additional financing in the short term, it will be forced to default on its debt obligations. In China, the Shanghai Composite closed down 2.0%, while the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong lost 6.7%. Xi Jinping on Sunday was confirmed as general secretary of China's Communist Party's for a rare third term, disregarding traditionally respected age and term limits and cementing his grip on power. A day earlier the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, held only every five years, amended the party constitution to more deeply reflect Xi's ideology and enshrine his leadership role. China's economy grew 3.9% year-on-year in the third quarter, according to official data released on Monday, beating forecasts. China had been expected to announce some of its weakest quarterly growth figures since 2020, with its economy hobbled by Covid-19 restrictions and a real estate crisis. In the previous quarter, growth in the world's second-largest economy collapsed to 0.4% compared with the previous year, the worst performance since 2020. The country posted 4.8% growth in the first quarter of 2022. But Monday's data, published six days later than scheduled, showed a slight rebound, with China posting growth higher than the 2.5% predicted by a panel of experts surveyed by AFP. The Japanese Nikkei 225 index closed up 0.3%. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney ended up 1.5%. The euro traded at $0.9844 early Monday, higher than $0.9802 late Friday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JP148.94, up versus JP148.03. In the US on Friday, stocks ended sharply higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 2.5%, the S&P 500 up 2.4% and the Nasdaq Composite up 2.3%. Stocks were boosted by a Wall Street Journal report that said some US Federal Reserve officials want to slow the pace of rate rises after the November central bank meeting. Gold was quoted at $1,650.60 an ounce early Monday, higher than $1,643.70 on Friday evening. Brent oil was trading at $90.00 a barrel, lower than $92.84 late Friday. Still to come Monday, there are PMI readings from the eurozone at 0900 BST and the UK at 0930 BST, followed by US at 1445 BST. Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Artist Jane Tomlinson. STRATFORD-UPON-AVON-born artist Jane Tomlinson has created three illustrated maps in praise of William Shakespeare. Jane started drawing maps just as a doodle six years ago, her early maps being in black and white. Her first was of a tiny village in Oxfordshire and then she mapped Woodstock, where her mother lives. Last year, she painted the whole county of Oxfordshire, which has won a commendation for the British Cartographic Societys John C Bartholomew Award for schematic mapping. But now the artist is turning her attentions to Stratfords famous playwright. Jane says: I began with the simple idea of showing all the plays in their rough geographical position. But so many of the plays are set in the British Isles and Italy, I realised that each of those places deserved a painting in its own right. Shakespeares British Plays took just two weeks to complete, and was immediately followed by Shakespeares Italian Plays. Jane added: Im so proud of my Stratford roots that these Shakespeare paintings were inevitable. It was such fun to research them, I learned loads. When I started, I had no idea that Id end up with three paintings. Its been a lot of work, but fascinating to discover more about all those lovers and fighters, heroes and villains. I guess what drove me on was sheer force of Will Power. To see the paintings in more detail go to: www.janetomlinson.com/artworks/shakespeare-map/ or call in at the Montpellier Gallery in Chapel Street, Stratford, where the three original watercolours are now on show until early May. To find out how to enter for your chance to win one of six signed prints, see the Stratford-upon-Avon Herald of Thursday, 28th April. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX) (TSX: VRX) today announced the nominees for election to its Board of Directors at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on June 14, 2016. As announced on April 25, 2016, Joseph C. Papa has been named Valeant's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Papa has been nominated for election to the Board, along with Robert A. Ingram, Robert N. Power and five of the current independent directors who were appointed to the Board in the last year: William A. Ackman, Dr. Frederic Eshelman, Stephen Fraidin, D. Robert Hale and Thomas W. Ross, Sr. In addition, the Nominating and Governance Committee has recommended three additional independent directors: Dr. Argeris N. Karabelas, Russel C. Robertson and Amy B. Wechsler, M.D. As previously announced, J. Michael Pearson will step down as CEO and as a director upon Joe Papa's arrival as CEO. Neither Mr. Pearson nor Howard B. Schiller will be standing for re-election. In addition, the following five current independent directors have informed the Board that they will not be standing for re-election at the 2016 annual meeting: Ronald H. Farmer, Colleen Goggins, Theo Melas-Kyriazi, G. Mason Morfit and Norma A. Provencio. Robert N. Power, Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, said, "I would like to thank our departing directors for their service to Valeant during periods of strong performance, and more recently through some challenging times that required extraordinary dedication, time and effort from these five individuals. As we transition to new leadership, it is a natural time to welcome three independent nominees who bring important new perspective and expertise to the Board." "I am pleased that Valeant is making good progress toward restoring the public's confidence and that the company has hired a great leader with an impressive track record of achievements and an impeccable reputation," said Robert A. Ingram. "We are excited for Valeant's next chapter and believe that the Board is well-equipped to oversee a successful turnaround under Joe Papa's leadership." Joseph C. Papa stated, "I want to thank Bob Ingram for his many contributions to Valeant, including serving as Chairman of the Board on two occasions, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee and Lead Independent Director. We are pleased that the company will continue to have the benefit of his insights and industry knowledge, and we are grateful for his leadership during a critical period." New Independent Director Nominee Biographies Dr. Argeris (Jerry) N. Karabelas Since December 2001, Dr. Karabelas has been a Partner at Care Capital, LLC ("Care Capital"), a life sciences venture firm with $500M under management. Prior to his work at Care Capital, from July 2000 to September 2001, Dr. Karabelas was the founder and Chairman at Novartis BioVenture Fund. Dr. Karabelas served as Head of Healthcare and CEO of Worldwide Pharmaceuticals for Novartis Pharma AG from 1998 to 2000, with responsibilities for Novartis Pharma, Ciba Vision, Generics and strategic and operational leadership of research and development. Prior to joining Novartis, Dr. Karabelas was Executive Vice President of SmithKline Beecham responsible for U.S. and European operations, regulatory and strategic marketing. Dr. Karabelas has served on numerous boards of directors of pharmaceutical and therapeutics companies, including Renovo, plc, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., NitroMed, Inc. and SkyePharma, plc. Since May 2015 has served as a member of the board of REGENEXBIO Inc. He has served as a director of Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation since July 2012 and is currently the Chairperson of the Board; however, his term as director expires in June 2016 and he is not standing for re-election. Dr. Karabelas also served as a member of the boards of directors of SkyePharma, plc from May 2001 to May 2009 and Human Genome Sciences from 2003 to 2013. Russel C. Robertson Mr. Robertson has served as Executive Vice President and Head, Anti-Money Laundering, at BMO Financial Group ("BMO"), a diversified financial services organization since July 2013. Prior to his current role, he served as Executive Vice President, Business Integration, at BMO Financial Group, and as Vice Chair at BMO Financial Corp. since March 2011. He joined BMO as interim Chief Financial Officer, BMO Financial Group in March 2008 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer, BMO Financial Group in August 2009. Before joining BMO, he spent over 35 years as a Chartered Accountant. In this capacity, he held various senior positions with a number of major accounting firms, including holding the positions of Vice Chair, Deloitte & Touche LLP in Toronto, Canada, from 2002 to 2008, and Canadian Managing Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP, from 1994 to 2002. Mr. Robertson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours) from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Since June 2012, Mr. Robertson has served on the board of Turquoise Hill Resources and Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. Amy B. Wechsler, M.D. Amy B. Wechsler, M.D. has been a practicing dermatologist in New York City since 2005. Dr. Wechsler is the author of The Mind-Beauty Connection, published by Simon & Schuster in 2008. She is board certified in both dermatology and psychiatry and is also an Adjunct Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at the Weill Cornell Medical College. As an expert on skin health, Dr. Wechsler serves as an advisor for Chanel Skin Care and is also a certified Allergan Injection Trainer and KOL Speaker, qualified to teach physicians and other medical professionals in the use of products such as Botox, Juvederm, and Voluma. Dr. Wechsler is an active member of several medical professional organizations, including the American Academy of Dermatology; the American Psychiatric Association; the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; the Independent Doctors of New York; The Physicians Scientific Society; and The Skin Cancer Foundation. Dr. Wechsler completed her residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York Presbyterian Hospital's Payne Whitney Clinic. She also completed a residency in dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Washington REIT (NYSE: WRE) announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 4,625,000 common shares, which was upsized from the previously announced 4,000,000 common shares, at a public offering price of $28.20 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $130.4 million. Washington REIT has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 693,750 additional common shares. Washington REIT intends to use the net proceeds from the offering initially to repay borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility and subsequently to fund its announced acquisition and for other general corporate purposes. J.P. Morgan, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are joint book-running managers for the offering. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the offering may be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (866) 803-9204; from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Attn: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: (866) 471-2526, facsimile: (212) 902-9316, e-mail: [email protected]; and from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014. Chevron (NYSE: CVX) reported Q1 EPS of ($0.39), $0.29 worse than the analyst estimate of ($0.10). Revenue for the quarter came in at $23 billion versus the consensus estimate of $21.47 billion. "First quarter results declined from a year ago, said Chairman and CEO John Watson. Our Upstream business was impacted by a more than 35 percent decline in crude oil prices. Our Downstream operations continued to perform well, although overall industry conditions and margins this quarter were weaker than a year ago. Our efforts are focused on improving free cash flow, Watson stated. We are controlling our spend and getting key projects under construction online, which will boost revenues. We announced first LNG production and first cargo shipment from Train 1 at the Gorgon Project in March. Production from the Angola LNG plant is imminent and a cargo shipment is expected in May. Earlier in the year, we started up production at the Chuandongbei Project in China, and we continue to ramp up production in the Permian Basin and elsewhere. We continue to lower our cost structure with better pricing, work flow efficiencies and matching our organizational size to expected future activity levels, Watson added. Our capital spending is coming down. We are moving our focus to high-return, shorter-cycle projects and pacing longer-cycle investments." CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS Cash flow from operations in first quarter 2016 was $1.1 billion, compared with $2.3 billion in the corresponding 2015 period. Excluding working capital effects, cash flow from operations in first quarter 2016 was $2.1 billion, compared with $4.3 billion in the corresponding 2015 period. CAPITAL AND EXPLORATORY EXPENDITURES Capital and exploratory expenditures in first quarter 2016 were $6.5 billion, compared with $8.6 billion in the corresponding 2015 period. The amounts included $791 million in first quarter 2016 and $730 million in the corresponding 2015 period for the companys share of expenditures by affiliates, which did not require cash outlays by the company. Expenditures for upstream represented 92 percent of the companywide total in first quarter 2016. For earnings history and earnings-related data on Chevron (CVX) click here. Dr. Shilin Chen Recognized for Herbal Genomics Research SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that Dr. Shilin Chen has received an Agilent Thought Leader Award in support of his groundbreaking herbal genomics research using multi-omics techniques. Dr. Chen directs the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing. The institute strives to identify the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines and make new drugs. The award will fund the use of integrated biologyincluding various multi-omic solutions from Agilentto generate important biological data sets related to the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds from herbs, including artemisinin and glycyrrhizin, for example. Through his research, Dr. Chen hopes to deepen understanding of the mechanism by which herbal medicines disrupt diseases and identify relevant biomarkers, which could then point the way to new drug discovery. We are delighted to receive an Agilent Thought Leader Award. It will allow us to incorporate integrated experimental and bioinformatics approaches to traditional Chinese medicine, said Dr. Chen. Our group is focusing on dissecting and understanding the biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms responsible for specific metabolic processes generated by natural herbs. We have initiated the herbal genomic project, and Agilents innovative technologies and unique solutions can provide new tools and approaches to help us combine metabolomics and genomics in the study of traditional Chinese medicine. We are looking forward to working collaboratively with Agilent scientists to accelerate the discovery and characterization of new medicines. We are pleased to support Dr. Chens efforts in the systems-level analysis of herbal metabolic processes using integrated omics approaches, said Dr. Teng Chai Hock, vice president and general manager of Agilents Life Sciences and Applied Markets Group in Greater China. Dr. Chens research is a prime example of continued innovation in traditional Chinese medicine through the application of advanced analytical methods. The Agilent Thought Leader Award promotes fundamental scientific advances by contributing financial support, products and expertise to the research of influential thought leaders in the life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets. Information about previous award recipients is available at Agilent's Thought Leader website. About Agilent Technologies Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A), a global leader in life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets, is the premier laboratory partner for a better world. Agilent works with customers in more than 100 countries, providing instruments, software, services and consumables for the entire laboratory workflow. The company generated revenue of $4.04 billion in fiscal 2015 and employs about 12,000 people worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com. NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available at www.agilent.com/go/news. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005119/en/ Agilent Technologies Inc. Victoria Wadsworth-Hansen, +1 408-553-2005 [email protected] Source: Agilent Technologies Inc. LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Culinary Workers Local 226 has launched a website about the growing labor dispute at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, ExplorePalmsLaborDispute.org. The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas is owned by private equity owners TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners, which are reportedly exploring a possible sale of the asset, according to Bloomberg. The website will help inform potential buyers of the Palms about the labor dispute. The casinos workers have been seeking a fair process to choose whether to unionize since June 2015. TPG Capital and Leonard Green have not agreed to commit to a fair process at the Palms. TPG Capital told the Union that Palms management should handle the matter. Palms management has not agreed to workers requests for a fair process. The ExplorePalmsLaborDispute.org website provides information about the dispute including press coverage of protest activities: The website also provides a history of the labor dispute, including the National Labor Relations Board General Counsel complaint for Unfair Labor Practices at the Palms issued in October 2015 alleging unlawful surveillance, threats of reprisals and unlawful discipline and the subsequent settlement. Culinary Workers Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America. CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005249/en/ Media: Culinary Workers Local 226 Bethany Khan, 702-387-7088 [email protected] Source: Culinary Workers Local 226 SUGAR LAND, Texas, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CVR Partners, LP ("CVR Partners") (NYSE: UAN) today announced that its subsidiary, East Dubuque Nitrogen Partners, L.P. (f/k/a Rentech Nitrogen Partners, L.P.) (the "Company") has commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase any and all of its outstanding 6.500% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (CUSIP Nos. 76011Q AA7 and U76034 AA2) (the "Notes") issued by the Company and East Dubuque Finance Corporation (f/k/a Rentech Nitrogen Finance Corporation) (together with the Company, the "East Dubuque Issuers"). In connection with the Tender Offer, the Company is soliciting the consents of holders of the Notes to certain proposed amendments (the "Consent Solicitation") to the indenture governing the Notes (the "Indenture"). Concurrently with, but separate from the Tender Offer, the Company has commenced an offer to purchase for cash any and all of its outstanding Notes at a purchase price of 101% of the aggregate principal amount (the "Purchase Amount") of the Notes (the "Change of Control Offer" and, together with the Tender Offer, the "Offers"). Notes that remain outstanding following the consummation of the Offers will continue to be obligations of the East Dubuque Issuers under the Indenture. Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on May 27, 2016, unless extended or earlier terminated (such date and time, as may be extended, the "Expiration Date"). Under the terms of the Tender Offer, holders of the Notes who validly tender their Notes and provide their consents to the proposed amendments to the Indenture (and who do not validly withdraw their Notes and consents) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on May 12, 2016, (as such date and time may be extended, the "Early Tender Date") will receive an amount equal to $1,015 per $1,000 in principal amount (the "Total Consideration"). Holders who validly tender their Notes and provide their consents to the proposed amendments after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date will receive an amount equal to $985 per $1,000 in principal amount (the "Tender Consideration"). Notes CUSIPs and ISINs Tender Consideration(1) Early Participation Premium(1)(2) Total Consideration(1)(2) 6.500% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2021 $320,000,000 CUSIP: 76011Q AA7 U76034 AA2 $985.00 $30.00 $1,015.00 ISIN: US76011QAA76USU76034AA27 (1) For each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, excluding accrued but unpaid interest, which interest will be paid in addition to the Tender Consideration or Total Consideration, as applicable. (2) Payable only to Holders who validly tender (and do not validly withdraw) Notes prior to the Early Tender Date. Holders whose Notes are accepted in the Tender Offer will also be paid accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes up to, but not including, the settlement date. Holders should note that the Total Consideration is higher than, and the Tender Consideration is lower than, the Purchase Amount under the Change of Control Offer. The procedures for tendering Notes in the Tender Offer and in the Change of Control Offer are separate. Notes tendered in the Tender Offer may not be tendered in the Change of Control Offer, and Notes tendered in the Change of Control Offer may not be tendered in the Tender Offer. The primary purpose of the Consent Solicitation and proposed amendments is to eliminate or modify substantially all of the restrictive covenants relating to the Company and its subsidiaries, eliminate all events of default other than failure to pay principal, premium or interest on the Notes, eliminate all conditions to satisfaction and discharge, and release the liens on the collateral securing the Notes. Holders may not tender their Notes in the Tender Offer without delivering their consents under the Consent Solicitation, and holders may not deliver their consents under the Consent Solicitation without tendering their Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer. If the requisite consents are received and the proposed amendments become effective pursuant to the Consent Solicitation, the Company will terminate the Change of Control Offer. Consummation of the Tender Offer and payment for the Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of requisite consents. The Company reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to waive any and all conditions to the Tender Offer. Complete details of the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are included in the Company's offer to purchase and consent solicitation, dated April 29, 2016. Requests for documents relating to the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation may be directed to Ipreo LLC, the Information and Tender Agent, at (888) 593-9546 or (212) 849-3880 (Banks and Brokers). Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC will act as Dealer Manager for the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation. Questions regarding the Tender Offer and the Consent Solicitation may be directed to Credit Suisse at (800) 820-1653 (U.S. toll free) or (212) 538-2147 (collect). Change of Control Offer The Change of Control Offer is being made in connection with the consummation of the merger of the Company and its general partner with and into separate subsidiaries of CVR Partners (together, the "Merger"). The consummation of the Merger constitutes a "change of control" under the Indenture and obligates the East Dubuque Issuers to make a Change of Control Offer. The Change of Control Offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 28, 2016, unless extended by the Company (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Time"). Holders who validly tender their Notes prior to the Expiration Time will be eligible to receive a purchase price of $1,010 for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes. Holders whose Notes are purchased in the Change of Control Offer will also receive accrued and unpaid interest from the most recent interest payment date on their Notes up to, but not including, the settlement date, which will occur promptly after the Expiration Time. Tendered Notes may be withdrawn at any time at or before the close of business on the second business day preceding the Expiration Time. Any extension, termination or amendment of the Change of Control Offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by a public announcement thereof. The complete terms and conditions of the Change of Control Offer are described in the Company's Change of Control Notice and Offer to Purchase dated April 29, 2016, copies of which may be obtained from Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the Depositary and Paying Agent for the Change of Control Offer, by calling (800) 344-5128. This announcement is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to sell or a solicitation of consents with respect to any securities. The Change of Control Offer is being made solely by the Change of Control Notice and Offer to Purchase dated April 29, 2016. The Change of Control Offer is not being made to holders of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. About CVR Partners, LP Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, with manufacturing facilities located in Coffeyville, Kansas, and East Dubuque, Illinois, CVR Partners, LP is a Delaware limited partnership focused primarily on the manufacture of nitrogen fertilizers. CVR Partners' Coffeyville nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility is the only operation in North America that uses a petroleum coke gasification process to produce nitrogen fertilizer and includes a 1,300 ton-per-day ammonia unit, a 3,000 ton-per-day urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) unit and a dual-train gasifier complex having a capacity of 89 million standard cubic feet per day of hydrogen. CVR Partners' East Dubuque nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility uses natural gas to produce nitrogen fertilizer and primarily includes a 1,025 ton-per-day ammonia unit and a 1,100 ton-per-day UAN unit. The principal executive offices of CVR Partners are located at 2277 Plaza Drive, Suite 500, Sugar Land, TX 77479 and its telephone number is 281-207-3200. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook," "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "seek," "should," or "will," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. For a discussion of risk factors which may affect our results, please see the risk factors and other disclosures included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our other SEC filings. These risks may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. CVR Partners disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. Investor contact:Wes HarrisCVR Partners, LP281-207-3490[email protected] Media Relations: Angie DasbachCVR Partners, LP281-207-3550[email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080226/CVRLOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cvr-partners-lp-announces-commencement-of-tender-offer-consent-solicitation-and-change-of-control-purchase-offer-300260421.html SOURCE CVR Partners, LP CALGARY, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC) (OTCQX: ONCYF) (FRA: ONY) ("Oncolytics" or the "Company") today announced the formation of a Science and Technology Committee made up of directors Dr. William Rice and Dr. Bernd Seizinger. "In addition to many years of senior leadership in oncology drug development, Drs. Rice and Seizinger bring strong scientific and medical credentials along with a wealth of industry and academic contacts to their roles on the committee," said Wayne Pisano, Chairman of Oncolytics. "Cancer research and drug development, and indeed our own specific understanding of how REOLYSIN works, continue to evolve at a rapid pace. The committee is charged with supporting REOLYSIN's further development in the context of the broader oncology space with an ultimate focus on reaching a commercial endpoint." Dr. William Rice has held the position of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aptose Biosciences Inc. since 2013. Preceding Aptose, he served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cylene Pharmaceutics Inc., prior to which he was the Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He has also served as Senior Scientist and Head of the Drug Mechanism Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, and as a faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Emory School of Medicine. Dr. Rice holds a PhD in biochemistry from Emory University and was a post-doctoral trainee in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Bernd Seizinger, MD, PhD, has held the position of Chairman/Executive Chairman of Opsona Therapeutics Ltd. since 2009. From 1998 to 2009, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GPC Biotech. He also served as Vice President of Oncology Drug Discovery and, in parallel, Vice President of Corporate and Academic Alliances at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Prior to his appointments in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals sectors, Dr. Seizinger held professorships and senior staff appointments at Harvard Medical School, Princeton University and Massachusetts General Hospital. About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development of oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics. Oncolytics' clinical program includes a variety of later-stage, randomized human trials in various indications using REOLYSIN, its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus. For further information about Oncolytics, please visit: www.oncolyticsbiotech.com. This press release contains 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. Forward-looking statements, including the Company's expectations related to the role of the Science and Technology Committee, and the Company's belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN as a cancer therapeutic, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the efficacy of REOLYSIN as a cancer treatment, the tolerability of REOLYSIN outside a controlled test, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize REOLYSIN, uncertainties related to the research, development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, changes in technology, general changes to the economic environment and uncertainties related to the regulatory process. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors should consider statements that include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "projects", "should", or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. SOURCE Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Company Readies Launch of East Bali Center for Community Development SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The US Embassy in Singapore has honored East Bali Cashews (EBC) for its outstanding societal impact following EBCs win of the 2015 US Secretary of States Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE). EBC received that award during a ceremony at the US Department of State in Washington DC earlier this year. It is easy to find value in good cashews, but it takes real vision and concern for others to do what East Bali Cashews has done to uplift an entire community, said Blair P. Hall, Jr., Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Singapore. Secretary Kerry chose to honor EBC and its founder, Aaron Fishman, because his business has been transformative. EBC now employs over 350 people in Bali, including previously unemployed women, while building a preschool for employees' children and increasing incomes of local farmers by 20 percent along the way. Since 1999, the Secretary of State awards the ACE each year to recognize companies that are leaders in responsible business conduct worldwide and make important contributions to the growth and sustainable development of the local economies in which they operate. Aaron embodies the best of American social entrepreneurialism and the can-do attitude of US entrepreneurs, who look at a problem and see solutions, not impediments, and who look at a business relationship as an investment for the long-term, not a transaction for the short term, Mr. Hall continued. Aaron did not do it alone. Pro-bono assistance from US investment firm KKR in partnership with Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) gave him the business tools he needed and provided another showcase for something Americans and American businesses do so well Corporate Social Responsibility, in which the United States is a global leader. During the honor ceremony located at the residence of the Deputy Chief of Mission, Founder and CEO of EBC Aaron Fishman discussed the business and its community empowerment philosophy. It has been a true honor to receive the Secretary of States award, said EBC Founder and CEO Aaron Fishman. The ACE underscores our efforts to enhance the lives of people in the village of Desa Ban, Karangasem, East Bali, by creating new jobs, offering social services and equipping people to rise out of poverty. EBC uses sustainable, eco-friendly business practices to process unshelled cashews, package and sell them to the domestic and international markets. The company is based in Desa Ban, creating employment opportunities where per capita income is US$2 per day. During its initial stages, global investment firm KKR offered its expertise by helping develop EBCs financial model and business plan. East Bali Cashews creates social value in a local Indonesian community as part of its business model, said Kabir Mathur, Director at KKR Southeast Asia and a member of KKRs capacity building impact investment team. KKR is extremely proud of the work East Bali Cashews has done and for being part of its journey. Without KKRs support and guidance, we would never have raised the capital at the pace we have done so. They completely accelerated our growth, added Mr. Fishman. In presenting the award, the State Department noted how EBC has improved the quality of local agricultural production, modernized its methods and expanded services to address the health and education needs of the children of company employees. Company Readies Launch of East Bali Center for Community Development As EBC has become more embedded within the Ban community, they have come to understand not only the depth of need in the region, but how to successfully implement social programming to catalyze sustainable change. In order to leverage EBCs community relationships and expand their social impact, EBC is launching a venture philanthropy initiative, the East Bali Center for Community Development (EBCCD). The EBCCD is raising contributions to fund programs that will generate community empowerment through farmer education. Providing farmers with the knowledge on best practices for crops can best raise the living standards in Desa Ban. The EBCCD will also contain a lodge which will be a service-learning provider, offering social, environmental and cross-cultural learning adventures aimed at international school groups. EBC has been visionary in building a profitable business that simultaneously generates a powerful social impact. EBCs creating a new model of social entrepreneurship based on venture philanthropy to find new ways to impact the lives of its community is an exciting development, said Steven R. Okun, Director of Public Affairs at KKR Asia Pacific, who serves as an advisor to the EBCCD. About East Bali Cashews We're nuts about cashews. Our top-quality local, fresh and natural cashews are gluten-free and vegan with zero cholesterol. When you eat them, you are enjoying more than a healthy superfood. You are helping improve the social, economic and agricultural conditions of our home, Desa Ban, Indonesia, a village in the mountains of East Bali, a region suffering from staggering poverty, lack of education and unforgiving terrain. We are a young, energetic company who are revolutionizing the cashew trade by doing things differently. We built our factory in a central location with one purpose: to provide you with the freshest, most ethically sourced cashews possible while lifting up our community. We buy directly from local small-holder farmers and process the cashews in the village where they are grown before shipping them off for you to enjoy. We educate and empower farmers and their families, produce our own energy using cashew shell biomass, and we're launching new initiatives all the time to find new ways to grow together. We now employ 350 people in the region, 85% of whom are women who had few to no opportunities before we opened our doors. Sustainability in all its forms and community empowerment is fundamental to our philosophy. Our commitment to a triple bottom line means that people and planet come first, and profit sustains and supports each. Together with our Ban family, we've worked hard to make it so that when you choose East Bali Cashews, you are receiving the highest quality, freshest cashews, made with natural ingredients and pure love. No Preservatives. No artificial ingredients. No BS. Just what we think are the best cashews in the world. For additional information, please visit East Bali Cashews website at www.eastbalicashews.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160428005621/en/ East Bali Cashews Jonas Preisler (English) [email protected] or Tria Dinanti (Indonesian) [email protected] Source: East Bali Cashews A woman is reflected on a wall with a company logo of Baosteel Group at an office in Shanghai, July 24, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer By Ruby Lian and Manolo Serapio Jr SHANGHAI/MANILA (Reuters) - China's Baosteel Group said on Friday that accusations by U.S. Steel Corp against the company, including that it had stolen commercial secrets, were groundless and vowed to protect its legal rights. China's second-biggest steelmaker and the world's fourth is the first Chinese steel producer to respond to U.S. Steel, which launched a campaign this week to halt imports from China. "In particular, the charges claiming that Baosteel stole commercial secrets from U.S. Steel is rootless speculation and subjective assumption, and could even be described as an absurd statement," Baosteel said in an emailed statement. "Baosteel has not and will never steal to obtain technology," the company said, adding that it had consistently focused on original research and technology improvement. "The charges in the application violate the spirit of justice and fairness and were also disrespectful and besmirching to Baosteel and its research staff," it said. "Baosteel will protect its legal rights in accordance with related international regulations and laws." U.S. Steel on Tuesday filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC), calling on regulators to investigate dozens of Chinese producers and their distributors for allegedly conspiring to fix prices, stealing trade secrets and circumventing trade duties by false labeling. China's commerce ministry on Wednesday urged the ITC to reject U.S. Steel's call, saying there was "no factual basis" for intellectual property disputes over China's steel exports to the United States. In a statement later on Friday, the China Iron and Steel Association said allegations of intellectual property infringement were "completely baseless" and that it strictly abides by Chinese law and international norms. The United States, European Union and others last week called for urgent action to address global steel overcapacity, after China and other major steel producing nations failed to agree on measures to tackle an industry crisis. Britain in particular has been hit hard as its largest producer Tata Steel has announced plans to pull out of the country, threatening 15,000 jobs. Anger toward China has grown since last year as its steel exports surged to a record 112 million tonnes, but a domestic steel price rally could help limit shipments this year as producers sell more at home. Baoshan Iron & Steel, the listed unit of Baosteel Group, said the rapid increase in Chinese steel prices may deter government efforts to curb overcapacity in the sector in the short term by prompting once-shut mills to restart. "This will slow the reduction in overcapacity, but with mills reopening and supplies rising and the government strengthening monitoring on real estate and futures, steel prices will fall," Baosteel board secretary Zhu Kebing told a separate online briefing. Zhu attributed the spike in steel prices to previous big production cuts, low inventories and an improving Chinese economy. (Reporting by Ruby Lian and Manolo Serapio Jr, additional reporting by Megha Rajagopalan in Beijing; Editing by Ed Davies) Juha Sipila of the Centre Party is pictured after he was voted to become the next prime minister at the parliament in Helsinki May 28, 2015. Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via REUTERS/File Photo HELSINKI (Reuters) - If Finland joined NATO it would lead to a serious crisis with neighboring Russia, a report commissioned by the Finnish government said on Friday. Membership of the military alliance would strengthen Finland's security but trigger a harsh reaction from the Kremlin, affecting trade between the countries, according to the report prepared for Prime Minister Juha Sipila's center-right government. Militarily-neutral Finland shares a 1,340 km-long border and difficult history with Russia, its former ruler. The report gave no direct recommendation on whether Finland should seek membership, but said a joint Finnish-Swedish application would be a better strategic option than either Nordic country joining the alliance alone. "This is a question of grand strategy," Finnish Prime Minister Sipila told reporters on Friday. "Small nations do not often change their basic foreign policy guidelines," he said, adding that leeway was needed in case the security situation changed. Only 22 percent of Finns support joining NATO, while 55 percent are opposed, a recent poll by public broadcaster YLE showed. Finnish membership of NATO would double the length of the border between the alliance and Russia and increase the NATO presence in the Baltic Sea. But without Sweden, Finland would be an isolated outpost which NATO would have difficulty defending, the report said. Sipila said the governments of Finland and Sweden had promised not to "surprise each other" on the issue. Nordic countries have stepped up military cooperation since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. This month two Russian warplanes flew simulated attack passes near a U.S. destroyer in international waters in the Baltic, according to the U.S. military. On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview that if Sweden joined NATO, Moscow would take "necessary military-technical measures". Sweden's government has said it will not join the alliance, but four opposition parties want membership. Finland won independence during Russia's revolution of 1917 but nearly lost it fighting the Soviet Union in World War Two. It kept close economic and political ties with the West during the Cold War but avoided confrontation with Moscow. (Reporting by Tuomas Forsell and Jussi Rosendahl; Additional reporting by Simon Johnson in Stockholm; Editing by Andrew Roche) NAIROBI (Reuters) - Five people were killed in a gun and grenade attack in a district of Burundi's capital which is stronghold of opposition to President Pierre Nkurunziza, police said. Tit-for-tat attacks between Nkurunziza's security forces and his opponents have escalated since April 2015 when he announced a disputed bid for a third term. He won re-election in July. Thursday night's attack struck a bar in Bujumbura's Musaga neighborhood, where protests were held against the president last year, said deputy police spokesman Moise Nkurunziza. Among the dead were a three-year old child and an unarmed soldier who was in civilian clothes, he said. "It was around 10.10 pm last night when four armed men in civilian clothes attacked a small pub... killing five people," he said. "As they were fleeing, the attackers threw a grenade at a small army base just nearby which didnt do any damage." Residents in Musaga said two others who were wounded in the attack later died. Officials were not immediately reachable to confirm the deaths. The United Nations says more than 400 people have been killed since last April and close to 260,000 have fled the country. (Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Dominic Evans) A crane is seen at the construction site of an apartment building in Colombo, Sri Lanka October 14, 2015. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte By Shihar Aneez COLOMBO (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached agreement with the Sri Lankan government for a $1.5 billion bailout to help the island nation avert a balance of payments crisis. The three-year loan will require IMF board approval in June, the global lender said on Friday, and is subject to Sri Lanka implementing reforms, including streamlining the tax code and reducing a bloated deficit. "The Sri Lankan authorities and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement on a 36-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF)," for a $1.5 billion loan, Todd Schneider, IMF mission chief for Sri Lanka, said in a statement. The agreement comes as debt-laden Sri Lanka faces a looming balance of payments crisis due to heavy foreign outflows from government securities and high external debt repayments. Sentiment on financial markets was bolstered by the IMF deal, helping the rupee currency trade firmer and stock index rise nearly 1 percent in early trade. Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves have fallen by a third from their peak in late 2014 to $6.2 billion at end-March. The government will seek to raise the tax-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, which was 10.8 percent in 2014, to near 15 percent by 2020 through a new Inland Revenue Act, reform of the VAT and the customs code, Schneider said. The loan - the second bailout from the IMF since 2009 - will support the government's ambitious economic reform agenda aimed at fundamental changes to tax policy, reverse a two-decade decline in tax revenues, and put public finances on a sustainable medium-term footing, Schneider said. "Stronger revenue performance will enable smaller fiscal deficits and lower borrowing, reduce the overhang of public debt, and ease pressure on the balance of payments." Sri Lanka's 2015 budget deficit hit 7.4 percent of GDP, up from 5.7 percent in 2014. Schneider said the formal approval of the EFF was "expected to catalyze" an additional $650 million loans, bringing total support to about $2.2 billion. The majority of the $650 million loans will be from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, government officials told Reuters. "This (agreement) will boost the investor confidence," Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran told Reuters via telephone from Hong Kong. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said Sri Lanka was already well on the way to implementing reforms, including raising value added tax (VAT) by 4 percent, announcing a restructuring plan for its loss-making state-run airline, and eliminating tax holidays granted by a state-run investment body. Moody's Ratings agency said in a statement the loan would provide external liquidity to ease immediate financing pressures and could reduce Sri Lanka's vulnerability to a sudden halt in capital inflows. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Jacqueline Wong) By Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - In a divisive vote, the U.N. Security Council on Friday extended for a year a peacekeeping mission in disputed Western Sahara and demanded urgent restoration of its full functionality after Morocco expelled international civilian staff. Rabat's retaliation against the mission, known as MINURSO, came after United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon referred to Morocco's 1975 annexation of Western Sahara after colonial power Spain's withdrawal as an "occupation." The U.N. has said the expulsions have crippled the mission The U.S.-drafted resolution asked Ban to report back within 90 days on whether the mission's functionality had been restored. It does not threaten any punitive measures against Morocco if the mission remains understaffed. Several council members said the resolution should have gone further in demanding the restoration of MINURSO's full strength. Highlighting the disappointment at its contents, the text received 10 yes votes, just one more than the required minimum, along with two against and three abstentions. Venezuela and Uruguay opposed it, while Russia, New Zealand and Angola abstained. "It should not have been like this," New Zealand's U.N. Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen told the 15-nation council. "The resolution should have stated the reality, that the expulsion of the civilian component has seriously compromised the mission and its ability to discharge its mandate." A split vote on a mandate renewal for a peacekeeping mission is rare. Mission mandates are usually approved unanimously. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said the weeks of haggling over the wording of the resolution on MINURSO's extension, one of the council's most heated annual battles, was even more difficult this time. "This year's mandate renewal was challenging and contentious," she said. "That is an understatement." Moroccan U.N. Ambassador Omar Hilale said Morocco would study the resolution. He did not address reporters' questions about whether Rabat will accept restoration of full civilian staffing levels. "The important thing for us is that the military component should work well and we have already committed ourselves to provide them with all their needs," he said. The Sahrawi people's Polisario Front independence movement wants a referendum on the idea of an independent Western Sahara. Morocco has said it would only grant autonomy. While the resolution does not explicitly call for a referendum, it "reaffirms" previous resolutions calling for a plebiscite. Polisario's U.N. representative Ahmed Boukhari said the resolution was a "step in the right direction but it is not enough." He blamed veto power France for preventing the council from threatening punitive measures against Morocco if it refused to let MINURSO restore full staffing. French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the resolution was balanced. The controversy over Ban's "occupation" comment, made during a visit to refugee camps for Sahrawi people in southern Algeria, is the worst dispute between the United Nations and Morocco since 1991, when the international body brokered a ceasefire to end a war between Rabat and rebels fighting for independence in Western Sahara. MINURSO was established at that time. (Writing by Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Toni Reinhold and James Dalgleish) The headquarters of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc is seen in Laval, Quebec in this file picture taken November 9, 2015. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/Files By Caroline Humer (Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE: VRX) on Friday issued a 2015 financial report that met an important deadline for creditors, revealing new details on a range of financial and legal issues, and it also announced changes to its board. Shares in Valeant fell 4.0 percent to $33.81 in midday trading in New York on Friday and are well down from their all time high of $263.70 in August. The company has been facing scrutiny from the U.S. Congress, prosecutors, and regulators over its drug pricing, business practices and accounting practices. Valeant's relationship with Philidor RX Services, which has been distributing its drugs, was terminated last year, hurting Valeant sales. The publication of the report satisfies demands from Valeant's creditors, but also shows the difficult road ahead for the drugmaker, Wall Street analysts and investors said. "We think investors should sell on this catalyst since the business is quite weak and faces a number of headwinds," Mizuho Securities analyst Irina Koffler said in a research note. The annual report does not answer some more basic questions about what strategy Valeant will adopt, said David Neuhauser, managing director of Livermore Partners, which is short Valeant. "They continue to dig out of a very troubled situation that will take time," Neuhauser said. In the report, Valeant restated its 2015 financial loss and 2014 earnings as it had forecast. The report also revealed new details about the poor sales of its Addyi sexual dysfunction drug, financial details about its Xifaxin gastroenterology treatment, and also disclosed possible inventory issues on its pharmaceuticals in Poland and Russia. The company also revealed it is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice in North Carolina. The regulators have requested material relating to the production, marketing, distribution, sale and pricing of three of its life-saving drugs, Valeant said. Massachussetts and New York are also investigating similar issues. In a separate statement, Valeant said that seven current board members would not be standing for re-election at its June 14 shareholder meeting, including Howard Schiller, the company's former Chief Financial Officer and G. Mason Morfit, who represents ValueAct. Robert Ingram will remain, along with ValueAct representative Robert Hale and several others including activist investor Bill Ackman. Ackman, one of Valeant's largest shareholders, had signaled the board changes at a Congressional hearing earlier this week where he spoke on Valeant's behalf. He vowed that the company would change its business model and revisit certain price increases, including on two heart treatments. Valeant had said it would file its report by April 29, although it had an extension agreement with its creditors to delay the filing until June 11 to stave off a possible default on its $30 billion debt. Valeant had also said in February that it would restate results for 2014 and 2015, and on Friday, the Laval, Quebec-based company said no further restatements were required. (This story has been refiled to clarify that board changes were announced separately from annual report) (Reporting by Caroline Humer in New York, Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Natalie Grover and Amrutha Penumudi in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza) Rachel Pope has signed a lease with the Riverbank Lane development and will move her shop after 20 years in the same spot. Browsers Quality Secondhand Bookshop in Hamilton will celebrate 20 years in business in May. Kelsey Wilkie talks to the owner of the bookstore that appears to be surviving while other industries and technologies slink into obscurity. Nestled among the copious number of cafes and eateries on Victoria Street is the sole store dedicated to books. The slight shop sits unassuming in the heart of the CBD. The odd vagrant can be seen using the front window as a leaning post as he lights his smoke. READ MORE: * Kiwis still buying books thanks to blockbuster films * Quilters bookshop faces final chapter * 'Boutique' laneway planned for Hamilton's main street * Earthworks begin on Hamilton's new window on the Waikato River * Tea party in celebration of Alice's anniversary Inside, the dimly lit store welcomes customers with a homely appearance. Literature lines the walls. Behind the front counter, covering the wall, are the items owner Rachel Pope and her staff have found in the used books: foreign currency, an old print photograph of Mother Teresa, a beige piece of fabric with the word Grandma and a heart sewn in green. Items once used to mark a place, forgotten. The store acts as a bit of a graveyard for forgotten items. Items from yesteryear are throughout the store: a typewriter, an old cash register, an antique telephone, each proving inadequate as technology has evolved. Then there are the books. A sea of pages filled with wisdom, knowledge, or fictitious tales. MARK TAYLOR FAIRFAX NZ "I have always loved bookshops and being in bookshops," Browsers Quality Secondhand Bookshop owner Rachel Pope says. An older man in a navy suit peruses the mechanical section. He buries his head in a book about railways. A pair of young women roam about before finding Jane Austen. An older Asian man is curled up reading on the orange couch in the back. MARK TAYLOR FAIRFAX NZ An old cash register is one of many items dotted around the store. A quiet symphony plays. These are the moments, when customers are completely engrossed in reading or searching, that Rachel loves. "That's why it's called Browsers," Rachel says. "I wanted people to come in and pause in their tracks - just learn." MARK TAYLOR/FAIRFAX NZ Browsers has a large selection of books and artefacts. Browsers opened in May 1996. It was a serendipitous business for Rachel. She had been practising law for six years, but when she returned from living in England, she struggled to find work. The bookshop had been a fantasy and fate had forced her hand. MARK TAYLOR/FAIRFAX NZ Items of whimsy in Browsers create a homely atmosphere. "I've always loved reading, it's always excited me. "I have always loved bookshops and being in bookshops. "I find bookshops really inspiring. "When I travelled, whatever city I was in, I would always find a bookshop. The idea for the hours came from overseas. "You find the writers you love and you find others that you don't know about. There's stuff to learn and there're people who make recommendations." She went into business with Warwick Jordan, who owned the Hard to Find bookshop in Onehunga. Rachel became the sole owner of Browsers in 2008. MARK TAYLOR/FAIRFAX NZ "When I travelled, whatever city I was in, I would always find a bookshop. The idea for the hours came from overseas," Rachel Pope says. Rachel worked in Warwick's shop for three months for nothing to learn the ropes. Then the day came for her store to open. A van load of books was dumped on to the floorboards. Rachel's eyes glazed over. It seemed like a lot but it wasn't. They barely filled half the shelves. KELLY HODEL/FAIRFAX NZ Rachel Pope is about to shift Browsers across the road to Riverbank Lane. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't polished, but it evolved. Slowly the quality of the stock improved. A Hebrew Bible from 1699, translated into Latin, is the most expensive purchase for the shop. It was $3000. Rachel bought it from a woman whose husband was a solicitor in London. He had a huge Jewish clientele. His clients wouldn't swear affidavits on a Christian Bible. She had come from London with a few Bibles. "I felt really thick when I bought it, because I got the book, opened it and then it dawned on me that it begins at the back." The fiction section is really solid, Rachel says, as is New Zealand nonfiction, particularly hunting books and Maori books. What began as a daydream has become a haven for curious minds. It's referred to as an institution, spoken of fondly by those who know it. One of the strangest books she's come across was Memorable Australian Farm Equipment and Their Uses. It sold pretty quickly, she says. Notable New Zealanders frequented the store. John Campbell was a favourite for Rachel. For a long time, business was easy, and then it wasn't. Business took a hit when electronic books became mainstream. There was no way to compete, Rachel says. It became easier for customers to find a book. "When you find a book for people, they would just be over the moon, because they had to wait. There was something about the thrill of the hunt. "Now you go online and there are other dealers around the country and you'll pretty much find the book that you're looking for." The buying also changed. The volume of people phoning up wanting to get rid of their books has become overwhelming, Rachel says. "Back in the days, if it was a good collection, you went and got it. I just had to start saying, I can't buy any more. "Each collection that comes through, I'm buying a smaller and smaller per cent of it." Then the global financial crisis in 2008 hit. Sales charts for printed books dropped around the world. Printed books appeared doomed, inconvenient in this fast paced world. But a revival has begun. Bookstores in New Zealand have strengthened. The industry saw a lift in sales in September 2014, Booksellers New Zealand chief executive Lincoln Gould says. 2015 saw sales grow through brick-and-mortar bookstores, he says. "That's quite a major turnaround. We still haven't reached the level of before the global economic crisis, but the graphs are heading in the right direction." Global book sales revenue is forecast to rise by US$8 billion by 2018. While there is growth in the number of people buying electronic books, printed copies still make up more than three-quarters of the market. University of Waikato Management School associate professor Roger Brooksbank says that printed books, like records, are seeing a resurgence, thanks in large part to baby boomers' nostalgia, he says. "Browsers is unique because there're a lot of older books in there. It appeals to a specific market. It's not exclusively older people, but let's say baby boomers, who are used to printed books. "A lot of people prefer having a book. It's tangible. You can touch it and feel it. You get a bit of a tactile relationship from a book that you don't get with technology, with reading stuff online." Small and independent booksellers in particular are reporting strong trade. Independent bookshops are beginning to thrive because of a competitive advantage - the relationships they can build. Unlike online stores, independent retailers offer personality and can build relationships within the community, Lincoln says. Browsers has seen the shift, too. It's not a roaring trade, but it's solid, Rachel says. "Kindles have had their time - they've had their flash. Those who are going to have them, have them." August will mark a new chapter for the store. The secondhand bookstore will move across the street to the newly developed boutique shopping destination of Riverbank Lane. Riverbank Lane is the brainchild of Hamilton developer Matt Stark and follows the success of mixed retail laneways around the world. Stark bought the long-time vacant Riverbank Mall and the adjoining four-storey office building in early 2014. Browsers' new shop is being built. It will be slightly smaller and an "L" shape, but the furniture will likely be the same. "I met the landlord and I liked him and I liked the ideas. He's got a really collaborative approach. You usually just lease a space and are told to get on with it. He's really interested in the shop and what it's going to look like." A reincarnation is coming. "I think loving literature and selling books, it has an integrity. It will never die. People always love stories. I have an ultimate faith that there will always be a market for books, for stories, for information, for something produced beautifully. "Some books are works of art." With New Zealand music month about to start, its time to take a look at the musical legacy of Auckland. We rank the best ever bands Auckland has produced. The line up of these greats, who have produced some of the classic songs of our culture, argue for Auckland being able to claim it is the home of New Zealand's best music. SIGN UP TO OUR AUCKLAND NEWSLETTER Want to get the best out of living in Auckland? Sign up here for our new email newsletter on the latest openings of restaurants, cafes, bars, what's hot, what's not, suggestions on places to visit, day trips around the region, top spots and favourite corners. 15 - Midnight Youth Formed by a bunch of mates out of the North Shore's Rangitoto College this band first released a single in 2007, with their debut album The Brave Don't Run in 2009. It hit number two on the New Zealand album chart, went platinum and won them Best Rock Album and Best Group at that year's New Zealand Music Awards. They became a fixture of festival circuits across the US and Asia, before frontman Jeremy Redmore left in 2012. Little known fact, Redmore went on to play the disciple Simon in a 2014 version of Jesus Christ Superstar. 14 Strawpeople Not your conventional band, Strawpeople was a studio based electronic group created by Paul Casserly and Mark Tierney who brought in various singers to collaborate on tracks notably Stephanie Taueuihi and Fiona McDonald. Their album Broadcast was their highpoint, reaching number three on the New Zealand charts and staying in the top 40 for 51 consecutive weeks. Single Sweet Disorder won the 1995 Silver Scroll award and was voted one of the all time APRA Top 100 New Zealand songs. 13 The Mint Chicks In the proud tradition of Auckland bands forged from school friendships, this time at Orewa College, the Chicks started in 2001 with brothers Kody and Ruban Nielson forming the backbone. They were a post-punk rock group known for frenetic live sets allegedly the volume of one show was so loud part of a venue ceiling fell down. They were picked up by Flying Nun and won five Tui's in 2007 including best rock group and best album. 12 The Swingers Formed out of the remnants of legendary Auckland band The Suburban Reptiles and fronted by one time Split Enzer Phil Judd, the Swingers soon abandoned Auckland for Australia. They were shortlived, forming in 1979 and for all intents and purposes gone by the end of 1982, but they left behind some enduring music, including the single Counting the Beat, albeit it has since gained a second zombie life as a commercial jingle. 11 Mutton Birds With all three members of Mutton Birds hailing from other bands, most notably Don McGlashan from Blam Blam Blam, the Mutton Birds were almost a supergroup. From their 1992 self titled debut, with hits Dominion Rd and the remake of Nature, which stayed in the charts for more than a year, the band went on to be one of the most prolific and musically gifted of Auckland bands. 10 The Screaming Meemees The Meemees formed in 1979 as another group of school friends and confirmed the North Shore as the heartland of Auckland's best post-punk and new wave sound. They were short lived, dipping out in 1983, but in those few years they made a dramatic impact. Vocalist Tony Drumm and mates stormed the charts with single See Me Go, the first New Zealand single to enter the charts at number one. 9 DD Smash Dave Dobbyn is one of the country's greatest musicians and in the 1980s the vehicle for his brilliance was DDSmash. The band's first album Cool Bananas was released in 1982 and became the first New Zealand album to debut at number one. It went on to become triple gold, spawning singles that are still a staple of radio playlists and drunken parties: Devil You Know and Outlook For Thursday. 8 Nesian Mystik It was Western Springs College where the members of Nesian Mystik met each other and formed the band in 1999. Their sweet R&B and hip-hop, filtered through their polynesian roots, lead to a record number of 11 Top 10 New Zealand singles over the years and was featured on the sound track of Sione's Wedding. Their first album Polysaturated debuted at number one and was certified four times Platinum. 7 Ardijah Ardijah, which is based around Betty-Anne and Ryan Monga, only released their first single in 1986, but they had spent years paying their dues working the Auckland pub and club scene. Their blend of polynesian funk and R&B helped change the Auckland music scene and inspired a new generation of south Auckland bands. They have been one of the most enduring bands, with multiple singles Silly Love Songs making it to number one in 1999. And of course their son, Beau Monga, went on to win X Factor 2015. 6 Supergroove One of the most energetic live acts of the 1990s, Supergroove was a sprawling band featuring a horn section and an infectious blend of funk, rock and hip-hop. Their debut album Traction from 1994 debuted at number one and went on to sell five times platinum. They scored six Top 10 hits including Can't Get Enough. The band also launched the career of Che Fu who went on to solo success. 5 Blam Blam Blam Another short lived blast of North Shore teen post punk sound came from Blam Blam Blam, Don McGlashan's original band. The trio created just one studio album, but their songs were more than mere chart hits, they became ingrained into the national psyche. The single There is No Depression in New Zealand was unofficial theme song for the winter of 1981, marred by the Springbok tour and Prime Minister Rob Muldoon's grim economic policies. 4 - Dragon Dragon were a monster of a rock band in their heyday of the 1970s, pumping out hit after hit think April Sun in Cuba, Are You Old Enough? and Still in Love with You. Formed by brothers Marc and Todd Hunter in 1972, they had relocated to Australia by 1975 and went on to live the life of rock stars to the fullest, but we still claim them as an Auckland band. Their status was recognised when the Australian Recording Industry Association inducted them into its Hall of Fame. 3 - Hello Sailor One of the most enduring bands, Hello Sailor, headed up by Graham Brazier with Dave McArtney technically played their first gig in Tokoroa, but Brazier, brought up above a bookshop halfway down Dominion Rd, was such an Auckland identity we claim Sailor as an Auckland band. Formed in 1975, the band produced just two albums before officially disbanding in 1980 then the boys went on to solo projects, got back together, collaborated and all the while the legend grew and songs such as Gutter Black and Blue Lady became part of New Zealand culture. 2 th'dudes Dave Dobbyn's original band alongside the equally talented Ian Morris and Peter Urlich, formed while they were all students at Sacred Heart College in Glen Innes in the 1970s. They were named New Zealand Group of the Year in 1979 before disbanding in mid 1980. During that time they produced a legacy of songs that have powered raucous pub singalongs for decades Be Mine Tonight, Right First Time, Walking in Light and of course Bliss. Come on, admit it, you know all the words by heart. 1 Split Enz Yes, we all know the Finn brothers famously lived in Te Awamutu, but it was not till Tim Finn went to Sacred Heart (the same school that gave us th'dudes) and then Auckland University that the classic Enz line up formed and the band launched itself on unsuspecting Auckland audiences in 1972. Need more be said from there they became national treasures. Do you disagree with our rankings? Let us know who we missed out or who should be bumped up the list next time we rank Auckland's best ever bands. Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz The shape of the proposed Minister of Local Governments legislative reform proposal Better Local Services Reform is now clearer. The intention is to encourage more joint services delivered over a wider area, recognising attempts to get large-scale local government amalgamation in Northland, Wellington and Hawkes Bay failed under the current legislation because communities were concerned about losing local democracy and voice. A Local Government Amendment Bill is expected to be presented to Parliament in June 2016. It will enable more joint services and infrastructure provision on a wider scale, particularly for transportation and the three waters, largely by multiply-owned Council Controlled Organisations. It will provide greater ability to transfer functions between councils, accomplish easier boundary changes. And while making it easier for local government to undertake reorganisation processes, it also gives the Local Government Commission more teeth to force change to occur. The stated aim is to provide more cost-effective services and infrastructure and a more efficient and effective local government reorganisation process. It appears the Government is getting serious about making structural change happen. However, proponents of change will still have to listen to the will of the people under the proposed legislation, as polls of electors will be a requirement for any Local Government Commission-led amalgamation proposals. Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz Its official: The ambulance really is at the bottom of the cliff. We signed up again to support St John Ambulance and are left wondering what kind of sick society wont fund essential emergency services from government coffers, yet splashes out on impotent military relics, rich boys sport, horrible art and fictional television nonsense. The funding farce doesnt stop at ambulances. There are a stack of other essential services such as Waipuna Hospice, medical support services and Volunteer Coastguard which scramble for charity dollars year in and year out. We expect these organisations to deliver, but how many of us give a second thought to the costs of maintaining the levels of service? The navy treated us to a rare visit at Anzac weekend, with one of the ships that does go. A glimpse of your tax dollars floating by. But how many millions are tied up at the Devonport Wharf, ships that go nowhere? White Elephant ships I havent done the sums but a fair guess the cost of running one of these White Elephant ships for a year would probably cover the entire operating budgets of ambo, coastguard, Blind Foundation, cancer drugs, and the Deranged Old Editors Asylums. Yet I cant see much benefit for the public from the navy, complete with its collection of ships that hardly leave the wharf. The navy, bless em, might find more useful work to do, such as assisting coastal rescues and salvage. That is, if they can get their boats moving. God help us when Fiji invades. Well have to invite them right into the Hauraki Gulf and ask that they pull alongside Devonport and settle it with an arm wrestle, because half our fleet doesnt go to sea. Maybe the navy should have to raise their own funds to carry on playing warships. Reminds me of the education funding campaign from a few decades ago It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the air force has to hold a cake stall to buy a bomber. That was back in the days when we actually had airstrike capability. Not now. If we are invaded, the best we can manage is a colourful stunt display that hopefully might scare away the attacking hordes. A bit like a Morris Dance in the sky. Hopefully the invaders will assume the inhabitants are complete basket cases and fly the other way. Money wasting There must be a better use of resources, whereby these dinosaur armed forces do more domestic chores to earn their keep. Such as the air force, with their 11 flashy new $154 million trainer planes, doing more local air search work. There are many times during a sea search when air support would be effective, yet the local Police search budget rarely allows for such help. Meanwhile, the air force merrily carries on with aerobatics and stunt flights at the taxpayers expense. So, while were dissing the armed forces, we might as well have a crack at the army, too. Experts at blowing holes in tussock. They could play a greater role in Land Search and Rescue. Filthy rich But at least the $3 billion/year armed forces arent the frivolous waste of money that is NZ on Air. While the ambos go cap in hand, the nation pours dosh into radio and television to prop up stations and programmes that cant stand on their own two feet in the commercial world. Why are they not forced to hold cake stalls and sell raffle tickets, if they want to fund their particular hobby? NZ on Air has just shelled out another $6.7 million for its latest local series, Dirty Laundry. Its from the makers of Filthy Rich, and while we have quite enjoyed that series, surely we need emergency services funded, before television dramas. Pondering priorities Heres a classic piece of irony During the 25 years of NZ On Air investment activity, only Shortland Street, supported by NZ On Air for four seasons, has been able to move to be fully commercially funded. So we bankroll a fictitious doctor drama, yet the real life medical emergencies attended by St John are a charity case! It leaves me pondering the priorities of a society that seems to value art over life, as the ambo officers plead on television for enough loose change for them to carry on saving people; and Coastguard launches its Mayday appeal (page 22). The proverbial ambulance really is at the bottom of the cliff. Scrambling for the crumbs at the bottom of the funding Great Divide. In the meantime, subscribe to St John, sign up with Coastguard, support the Westpac chopper, and join the Morris Dancing group... Youll automatically qualify for the Home Guard. brian@thesun.co.nz Like on Facebook, Rogers Rabbits blogger. Careers with Hart with Jay Hart At the end of university, each graduate will hold a qualification. Relevant work experience will often determine which graduate gets hired. For more competitive university studies including veterinary science; relevant, previous work experience is expected from students before they apply to vet school. This means volunteering at the local SPCA or veterinary clinic. Conservative fields, such as law, tend to hire from within their internship programmes, available to university students. But instead of waiting for law school admission, look for opportunities to introduce your teens to lawyers. Encourage your teen to build connections that may lead to their first internship and possible employment once they're in law school. Internships are not only the best way for teens to land their first job, but they are also the best way for them to discover what they would really like to be doing, or not doing, with their degree. While pursuing my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, I made every holiday count by engaging in meaningful internships, which allowed me to explore different available career paths. Before obtaining my Bachelor of Arts, I interned for a multi-national insurance company; law offices and local, national and international governments. My last internship led to my first job after graduation. Many of my internships were paid and often overlapped my studies. Noting my passion for exploring careers, my university agreed to apply some of my work experience in lieu of actual papers. Most universities today will offer the opportunity to complete at least one internship as part of a degree. Ultimately, its not about the quantity of hours worked or internships had. Its all about the quality of the work experience and relationships built. Another 350 schools will be able to access wireless technology, thanks to a funding increase for the Ministry of Educations Wireless School Network Upgrade Project (WSNUP), Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announced today. An extra $8.5 million will be spent on WSNUP, which retrofits wireless technology in schools to enable them to access the latest digital resources, says Ms Kaye. Todays announcement comes just two weeks after Ms Kaye announced that $500,000 was being made available to add 40 further schools to the WSNUP programme. The extra funding for WSNUP comes from savings made from the recently completed School Network Upgrade Project (SNUP). That project provided state and state-integrated schools with upgraded core on-site ICT infrastructure, such as cabling and switching, to enable them to access high-quality internet. The advent of wireless technology saw the Government move to ensure this technology was automatically included as part of SNUP, for the almost 1,300 schools that received their SNUP upgrade from June 2013 onwards. In 2014, WSNUP was set up to retrofit wireless technology to schools that hadnt received wireless as part of their SNUP upgrade, and which hadnt installed wireless technology to an appropriate standard using their ICT operational budgets. WSNUP provides schools with a significant contribution towards the cost of installing wireless technology. There are 475 schools already in the process of having wireless retrofitted, and todays announcement will see this increase to about 825 schools throughout the country. This additional boost means that through the combination of post June 2013 SNUP upgrades, the WSNUP programme and schools use of ICT operational budgets, a large majority of New Zealand schools will have access to high quality wireless connections. Students, teachers and others will all benefit from greater access to wireless technology, whether in the classroom or learning out and about. Learning and education in 2016 is vastly different from what it was like 10, or even five years ago. Widespread and mobile access to the internet is leading to new and significant opportunities for students, parents and teachers. The rollout of wireless connections is a vital step towards delivering these opportunities, enabling more young New Zealanders to learn anytime and anywhere. Source: Office of Nikki Kaye. Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne today announced funding of $303 million over five years to combine urban and rural fire services into one organisation from mid-2017. The name of the new organisation Fire and Emergency New Zealand reflects the wide range of services that our firefighters provide for their communities, including callouts to road accidents and natural disasters, Mr Dunne said. Merging the New Zealand Fire Service, the National Rural Fire Authority, and the fire functions of 40-plus Rural Fire Authorities is a significant and complex change, said Mr Dunne. $191 million operating funding over three years from 2017/18 will be spent on new measures to address funding gaps in rural fire services, set up local committees to ensure community needs are well understood by the single fire organisation, and better support for New Zealands 12,000 fire volunteers. The remaining $112 million of capital funding will be spent on moving to the new organisation. This funding package shows our commitment to building a 21st century fire service that supports its career and volunteer workforce, that supports rural and urban communities, and that keeps strong links to civil defence and other emergency services. The fire levy (paid on insurance for contents, property and motor vehicles) will become the main source of funding for the new organisation, replacing a variety of funding sources for rural fire services. From July 2018 the fire levy will be broadened to include insurance on material damage, not just fire damage, to better reflect the range of services Fire and Emergency New Zealand will provide. The fire levy on motor vehicle insurance will be extended to include third party insurance. The $303 million package over the next four years will be funded through: A proposed increase in the fire levy of approximately $161 million over three years from 2017/18. $30 million of Crown funding over three years from 2017/18 towards the cost of public good non-fire activities, such as responding to medical emergencies, floods or other natural emergencies. A $112 million capital injection which will be repaid over the next 10 years. The new funding arrangements will be much fairer and will ensure that both large and small property owners and most motorists will pay their fair share towards the cost of fire and emergency services, said the Minister. The Minister said there would be public consultation every three years on the level of the fire levy, making the funding of fire services more transparent. The changes to the levy mean there may be small increases from the 2017-18 year, but more work has to be done. This will include an operational and performance review of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission that will start this year, as well as a comprehensive analysis of the costs of rural fire services, to inform the transition to the new organisation and its likely costs. We will have for the first time a picture of the cost of providing fire and emergency services, Mr Dunne said. This will allow Fire and Emergency New Zealand to strategically deploy services where they are needed to protect our communities. We will have a stronger performing organisation that can show it is efficient and effective, the Minister said. People transitioning to the new organisation would retain existing entitlements. Mr Dunne said legislation will be introduced into the House within the next three months, and will provide for issues such as how assets will be transferred from the current fire services to the new entity, and an updated offences and penalties regime. Background information at www.dia.govt.nz/Fire-Services-Transition SOURCE: Office of Peter Dunne At age seven, Japleen Kaur is only just learning to walk unassisted. For now, she uses a walker to get around or her father helps to steady her steps. Its because the Te Puke Primary School pupil was born blind. I feel really sad for her because she might not be able to see the world, says Japleens 12-year-old cousin Sharon Kaur. Trade Minister Todd McClay confirmed today New Zealand will host the 13th round of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade negotiation in Auckland from 12-18 June 2016. RCEP aims to broaden and deepen existing Free Trade Agreements between ASEAN and six other countries, including New Zealand, says Mr McClay. It is important for New Zealand to play its part in these negotiations which offer us significant opportunities to increase our trade and economic links with the dynamic Asia region. Once completed, RCEP will be the largest trading bloc in the world in terms of population. The countries participating have a total population of over 3 billion people. They also account for around 27 per cent of global trade and have a combined GDP of $US23 trillion. Critically for New Zealand, the 15 other countries cover 55 per cent of our goods export markets (in 2015) and six of our top ten trading partners. It would not be in New Zealands interests to stand aside from a negotiation that covers at least 55 per cent of our merchandise exports, says Mr McClay. RCEP is part of New Zealands ongoing trade agenda. Helping New Zealand businesses gain easier and better access to this dynamic and fast-growing region will provide significant benefits to our economy. New Zealands participation in RCEP complements New Zealands existing free trade agreements in Asia, and will help New Zealand build new FTA relationships, notably with India. It will help to make the regions noodle bowl of rules operate better together, reducing the costs for New Zealands businesses to operate in the region. Together with other agreements like TPP, RCEP underlines the governments commitment to ensuring New Zealand actively participates in the development of the trade and economic architecture of the Asia Pacific, says Mr McClay. The government intends to provide further details about opportunities for stakeholders to present views and relevant information in connection with the RCEP negotiations. SOURCE: Office of Todd McClay Spains two new political parties will try to take advantage of the most recent furore concerning a politician from the 'old guard' Soria resigned from his position last week after being caught up in the Panama Papers scandal. :: EFE With a repeat general election in June now certain, Spains two new political parties will try to take advantage of the most recent furore concerning a politician from the old guard. Former PP industry minister Jose Manuel Soria is now known to have been a director (i.e. account holder), about twenty years ago, of a Panama-based company (i.e. offshore bank account). He resigned two weeks ago, but not without trying to escape with a lie first. The incident and its aftermath are interesting for a number of reasons. If you want to whip up public outrage at a politician or company, few methods are more effective than accusations of tax avoidance (legal if morally dubious) or evasion (illegal). News of Sorias former offshore financial activities, disclosed as part of the Panama Papers, has therefore prompted a very fashionable kind of disapproval in Spain - one that might well benefit Podemos and Ciudadanos in the June vote. It hasnt been said enough, though, that it was Sorias initial lie that merited his resignation, rather than his possession of an offshore bank account two decades ago. Despite the attention given to the latter fact, there hasnt been much public discourse about the distinction between tax avoidance and evasion, or the nuanced difference between banking confidentiality and financial secrecy. Too often, the immorality of tax avoidance or the pursuit of greater financial confidentiality is assumed rather than actually argued for. The Panama Papers are merely the most recent reminder of this. Three years ago, in April 2013, The Guardian released a list of high-profile figures running offshore bank accounts in the British Virgin Islands, another destination unable to escape its dubious distinction as a leading tax haven. For an article on the subject I interviewed BVI Premier Dr Orlando Smith, who insisted that the BVI is a reputable financial hub that maintains client confidentiality but does not tolerate secrecy. Yes, of course he was going to say that - but the notion cannot therefore be dismissed as risible. For the named individuals who had done nothing illegal or immoral, the Guardians scoop was an unjustified invasion of their financial privacy. Yet this, of course, was not the headline. The Panama Papers give us a new list of names to scrutinise, but they pose the same unanswered questions as The Guardians BVI Papers did in 2013. The international financial regulations that make tax avoidance legal and popular remain in place, despite the ignominy inflicted upon those who exploit them. Soria and others like him can hardly be described as victims, but one wonders whether their detractors shouldnt instead be attacking the laws which make offshore banking and tax avoidance such viable options in the first place. Students queue up in preparation to read a section of Don Quixote in their native tongues. :: L. H. Just as William Shakespeare is regarded as the prized jewel in the plush crown of English literature, Miguel de Cervantes is celebrated as being the one true father of Spanish prose. In a body of work written during the Spanish Golden Age which includes countless novels, plays and poems, Don Quijote de la Mancha is recognised as the Spanish writers greatest work. As well as acting as a key component of the Spanish literary canon, the novel (originally published as two separate volumes in 1605 and 1615) has been labelled a classic of western literature and has been translated into 48 different languages. The Spanish classic relates the adventures of a middle-aged gentleman from La Mancha, Don Quixote, who rides across Spain on a quest to right every kind of wrong after he is inspired by the tales of chivalry he has read in books. Accompanied by his trusty servant, Sancho Panza (a peasant laborer) the protagonist travels around Spain where he encounters a series of peculiar challenges, including a battle with a group of windmills who he mistakes for giants. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the writer's death, students at the University of Malaga gave a reading of Don Quijote at the Centro Internacional de Espanol last Friday afternoon. In an event held to promote Spanish language and culture, a reading of the first chapter of Don Quixote was given in 18 different languages; Spanish, English, Catalan, Galician, Finnish and Japanese to list a few. Although few members of the audience were able to understand the totality of what was being narrated before them, there was feeling of understanding through the manner in which students of the University of Malaga delivered the text. The reading at the CIE-UMA was just one of a number of activities that were held last week by the University of Malaga to celebrate the life and works of Miguel de Cervantes. Earlier on in the week, university lecturers and students visited various bookshops around the city to talk about their favourite novels and, on Thursday afternoon, pupils watched an adaptation of Cervantes most famous novel, the 2002 production El caballero Don Quijote directed by Manuel Gutierrez Aragon. The Parque Tecnologico de Andalucia, Malaga. :: ALVARO CABRERA How many grains of sand lie on a beach? Millions, billions, trillions? Even if you were to dedicate an entire lifetime to counting the insignificant granules, the likelihood of the matter is that youd never reach an accurate figure given the sheer quantity of the yellow stuff. Luckily for us, this problem is purely hypothetical. However, in the modern world of business, companies across the globe are facing the very real situation of data overload. With the evolution of social media and the constant capture of information via the web, businesses are now collecting and logging information at an unprecedented rate. So enormous is the quantity of data being amassed that businesses are now struggling to process and manipulate their own information. This phenomenon of compiling huge amounts of data has been labelled under the umbrella term, Big Data. But what exactly is Big Data? Introducing Big Data Data becomes big when the quantity of information in a data set (a collection of data such as a table) is so large that traditional processing applications become redundant. Moreover, the data collected takes a huge amount of time to manipulate and needs a specialist to be able to make sense of it. Thus, businesses are starting to seek new methods of processing the information they collect. To the relief of companies everywhere, big data analytics providers such as RavenPack are helping firms to deal with their data. The internationally recognised company, which has been based in Marbella for 13 years, will be one of a number of groups present at J in the park, a technology conference that is being held at La Termica (Malaga) on May 20th and 21st. The event, hosted by Valo, is aiming to unite developers and technology buffs around the topic of Big Data and the event will feature more than 40 speakers sharing their best practices. A future in finance Earlier this week, SUR in English spoke to Armando Gonzalez, co-founder and CEO at RavenPack, about the upcoming event and the exciting potential of Big Data. Gonzalez described how companies like RavenPack have developed programs that have the ability to analyse data sets which are too large for humans... quicker than you can blink your eye. As a result, Big Data is attracting the interest of global banks who are using the technology to evaluate information about stocks with greater speed and accuracy. Besides the obvious time advantage, Big Data technologies are also capable of spotting patterns and trends that are impossible for humans to detect. Thus, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the potential of Big Data which Armando predicts will be used by everyone in the next five to ten years. At J on the beach, the Marbella-based company will be looking to hire new talent for their team, people with a gift for programming. The CEO of the company also expressed a preference for the discovery of local talent given the companys location. A growing industry The presence of international companies like RavenPack (who have clients in Japan, New York and London) as well as events like J on the beach are all helping to strengthen Malagas technology sector. In the last year, nearly 900 new jobs were created by the industry, now the provinces second fastest growing employer after the hospitality sector. Many of the firms have set up base in the Parque Tecnologico de Andalucia (PTA). Between 2015 and 2016, employment in the technology industry rose by 11.1%, just slightly lower than the increase seen in the hotel industry. The development of the technology industry is a big plus for Malaga as the sector is helping to relieve pressure on the hotel industry which for many years has been Malagas salient source of employment. Instead, technology firms are offering an alternative source of employment with the latest statistics revealing that the sector employs 8,000 people. Although this figure is still dwarfed by hotels and restaurants which employ a huge 53,000, the number is expected to continue to grow. Winners of the SUR in English Education and Learning supplement schoolwork competition visited the SUR offices tThe artists. Libby James, 17, and Calvin Benten, 11, with artist and judge George Kowzan. :: SUR Young talent invaded the SUR offices recently when three of the winners of the Education and Learning supplement published last month visited the newsroom with their families. The two students whose work was selected as the best in the art section, Libby James, 17, of Aloha College, and Calvin Benten, 11, of Novaschool Sunland International, had the added privilege of meeting artist George Kowzan, one of the judges in the competition. George congratulated Libby on her decision to go to art college, and discussed the influences that led to her box art entry in the competition. The artist once again praised Calvin on the perspective in his drawing that was published in the supplement in this newspaper in March. Pippa Hogan, 17, of English International College, recited her winning poem, The Face of Grief, during her visit to SUR, raising comments on how someone so young could write something so moving. Five-year-old Polina Marincheva, of the British School of Marbella, received her award and congratulations for her winning poem, Sea, surrounded by her classmates. Meanwhile Nicole Leonetti, 15, of Swans International School, was presented with her certificate by her teacher Joanne Henareh. Nicoles report on her schools effort to help Syrian refugees won the news report category. SUR inEnglish Editor, Rachel Haynes, and Consultant Editor, Liz Parry, encouraged all the winners to continue with their good work. EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A woman has been accused of burning her child and then whipping him with a belt, according to the New York State Police. Halima J. St Louis Halima J. St. Louis, 33, of 201 W. Yates St., Apartment 3, was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. State police said St. Louis intentionally burned her 4-year-old boy with a hair straightening iron and whipped him with a leather belt. Authorities did not say when the child was assaulted or what lead to the assaults. The 4-year-old suffered injuries to his arm and stomach, state police said. St. Louis was arraigned in DeWitt Town Court and ordered held at the Onondaga County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail or $15,000 bail bond. She had not posted bail Friday afternoon. . MEXICO, N.Y. -- A mobile home in Oswego County caught fire early Friday morning. Firefighters rushed to 396 George Road in Mexico at 4:05 a.m. after a caller reported the home was on fire, said an Oswego County 911 dispatcher. The Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, the New Haven Volunteer Fire Corporation, the Pulaski Fire Department and the Scriba Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire. Departments cleared the scene at 6:33 a.m., the dispatcher said. No one was transported from the scene to a hospital for treatment, he said. The American Red Cross assisted two adults impacted by the fire. Mexico firefighters were not immediately available for comment. In addition to four fire departments, the New York State Police and the Oswego County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene, the dispatcher said. According to county real property records, the home is owned by Carol Larrabee, of 861 Red Schoolhouse Road, Fulton. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Authorities have identified a man who died Saturday in a motorcycle crash on Interstate 690. Syracuse police said Jeremiah M. Thomas, 32 of Syracuse, was riding a 2005 Suzuki east on I-690 between Midler Avenue and Thompson Road in Syracuse around noon. He was riding with Joseph Williams, 28, of Syracuse at the time, police said. Jeremiah M. Thomas Thomas apparently lost control of his motorcycle and crashed, police said. He was thrown off the motorcycle, which slid several feet before stopping in the middle of the highway. Traffic slowed for the crash and police said a driver was trying to avoid other cars when she clipped the side of the empty motorcycle and her car became disabled on the highway. The driver who clipped the motorcycle was identified as Margaret Taylor, 65, of Syracuse. Police said she was not injured. A preliminary investigation showed that excessive speed contributed to the motorcycle crash. But police said they are "probing further for possible additional contributing factors." Officers interviewed several witnesses and planned to talk to more people. Toxicology results are expected to take several weeks. Thomas served in the Army, according to his obituary. Police asked anyone with information about the crash or who was on the highway when the crash occurred to contact 315-442-5152. Atlantic Basin crude trade to the East For many years, the tanker industry benefited from strong increases in Atlantic Basin crude trades to the East. Several reasons were behind this growth. For example, significant gains in US crude production earlier this decade reduced US appetite for imports. Trade from West Africa was hit the hardest, allowing for more crude being shipped not only to Europe, which had suffered from the loss of Libyan barrels, but also long haul to Asia, Gibson said in a recent report. In addition, there were significant gains in trade from Latin/South America to the East on the back of growing regional production and falling US imports of Latin American barrels. However, the dynamics of the market are changing. The collapse in oil prices reversed the stellar growth in US output, which had started to decline since May, 2015, with the downward trend showing no signs of abating at the time of writing. Furthermore, at the end of last year, US authorities repealed the decades old crude oil export ban. Although short term prospects for international exports are likely to be limited, declining production suggests a greater US need for imports. To some extent, we are already seeing signs of this, as after years of decline, US crude imports remained flat in 2015 versus 2014, averaging 7.7 mill barrels per day and this years EIA preliminary weekly estimates suggest that crude trade into the US has started to rise. Total imports have averaged around 7.8 mill barrels per day since January, up by around 0.5 mill barrels per day, compared to the same period in 2015, with stronger imports from the key Middle East and West African producers. Rising westbound shipments from the Middle East undoubtedly support tanker demand, but can the same be said for volumes from West Africa? The combined Angolan and Nigerian crude production remained generally flat in 1Q16 relative to last years average. This means that increases in crude shipments from the region to US reduced the volume being transported westbound to Europe and/or long haul to the East. The picture is similar going forward, as only marginal changes are expected in Angolan and Nigerian sustainable crude production in the medium term. Thus, any potential growth in trade to the US could impact negatively on shipments to Asia, if European bound volumes remain unchanged. On this basis, the prospects for long haul movements are closely linked to developments in Libya, as the recovery in North African crude production is likely to free up more West African barrels for eastbound shipments. However, considering the great degree of political instability in Libya, this seems unlikely to happen any time soon. The prospects for crude trade from Latin America to Asia are also more uncertain, as the ongoing weakness in US domestic output could stimulate stronger imports of Latin American crude, restricting long haul shipments to the East. The dynamics of the market are likely to change once again when the oil price firms, aiding the recovery in US domestic output. However, even then expanding refining capacity in Latin/South America represents another threat to regional exports. According to the IEA, around 0.55 mill barrels per day of new refining capacity is expected to come on stream between 2018 and 2021. In order for long haul crude trade to the East to continue to increase, the future gains in Latin American crude production needs to outpace the growth in refining capacity additions, Gibson concluded. ICS lambasts Spanish Supreme Court At a meeting of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPCF) this week, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) strongly criticised the judgement of the Spanish Supreme Court in the Prestige Case. This judgement (in January 2016, but discussed by the IOPC Funds this week) overturned that of a lower Spanish Court, in La Coruna in 2013, instead finding the Master criminally liable for damages to the environment and sentencing him to two years imprisonment - albeit likely to be suspended. It further held that the misconduct deprived the shipowner of the right to limit liability for pollution damage under the 1992 Civil Liability Convention (CLC). The lower court, after hearing evidence including that from the Master had previously acquitted him of all charges of criminal damage. It had also acquitted the Spanish civil servant who had been involved in the decision not to allow the ship into a place of refuge. The lower Court did not therefore award any compensation to the claimants, which included the Spanish Government. But the Supreme Courts judgement was reached after only one day, without hearing any new evidence and in the absence of the Master. At the same time, the Supreme Court confirmed the acquittal of the Spanish civil servant. In a formal statement to governments, which oversee the global oil pollution compensation regime via IOPCF, ICS stressed that its immediate concern was the implications of the Supreme Courts decision for the unwarranted criminalisation of seafarers. But ICS also noted that this decision may now be deployed to break the shipowners right to limit its financial liability under the CLC. The Supreme Courts decision was extremely surprising in that it overturned a lower courts acquittal of the Master, in his absence, and without hearing any new evidence as to his knowledge about the condition of the ship. This raises fundamental questions as to whether it was a fair trial.ICS said in a statement. ICS also told the IOPCF meeting This decision appears to be highly unusual and has been reached through a somewhat contorted application of law to facts, which were found to be correct by the lower court. The decision also seems entirely unbalanced, applying different standards when assessing the blameworthiness of the Master to those applied to government officials on shore, whose decisions were exonerated by the Supreme Court. It is of great concern to ICS that this decision may be used to support a claim to break the shipowners right to limit liability and that the amounts then claimed would far outstrip those limits. These limits of liability are the essential quid pro quo for shipowners for agreeing a strict liability under the CLC regime. However, under the CLC, the right to the limits may be broken if it can be shown that the shipowner acted recklessly and with knowledge that the damage would probably result. ICS further added that the actions by the Spanish government to pursue its claims against the shipowner, for what are expected to be enormous amounts in excess of the shipowners limits of liability, could seriously undermine the system of shared liability that has been agreed under the CLC/Fund liability and compensation regime. ICS therefore appealed to all IOPC Funds member states to do their utmost to protect and support the system, which has worked very well over the past decades, and which should not be sacrificed for the interests of individual countries. The whole regime is based on co-operation and trust between the shipping industry, the oil industry and governments said ICS it its submission to the IOPCF. But ICS now fears that that the entire system of efficient compensation for oil spills could be put in serious jeopardy because of unsound decisions being made by national courts. Markets - Newbuildings almost run dry In a lacklustre newbuilding market, Aegean Shipping Management has ordered two Aframaxes at Chinas Cosco Zhoushan shipyard, plus another two as options. They are due for delivery in 2018. Brokers put the cost at $41.8 mill per vessel. This latest order from Aegean was the first since taking delivery of four MRs from Daesun Shipbuilding in South Korea in 2014. CSSC Chengxi Shipyard was reported to have won its first ever orders to build chemical tankers. This came with Swedens Ektank contracting four 18,600 dwt units. The first of the four new chemical tankers is scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2018. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Oslo-listed BW LPG has signed a debt facility agreement worth $221 mill for the financing of four of its VLGC newbuildings. The financing was raised from ING Bank, KFW IPEX-Bank, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp(OCBC) and Standard Chartered Bank, as mandated lead arrangers, where ING Bank also acted as co-ordinator and facility agent, the company said. We are very pleased with this financing, which leverages the well-priced Korean ECA lending to provide an exceptional all-in cost and structure. This is a clear demonstration of BW LPGs platform value in obtaining market leading financing. We are grateful to our lenders for their continued support, BW LPG CEO, Martin Ackermann, said in a comment. BW LPG has also taken delivery of BW Tucana, the seventh VLGC in its newbuilding programme of eight ships being built by the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), while three VLGCs and four BW Pacific MRs have been timechartered to Nissen Kaiun. All of the vessels are currently under construction at Japan United Marine Corp (JMU). In the charter markets, Navios Maritime Acquisition Corp has agreed charter deals for three of its product tankers at 14% higher average charter rates. The MR2 Nave Equator was fixed to an undisclosed party for 18 months at $17,000 per day.The 2009-built ship is expected to generate $5.5 mill of aggregate EBITDA for the complete charter period, Navios said. Furthermore, Navios Acquisition signed charter extensions for the MR2sNave Titan and Nave Orion, for another year, following the charterers options being exercised. Pursuant to the options, the applicable increased base rates are $15,306 and $14,813 (net) per day, respectively, plus profit sharing,Navios said. Brokers said that two of the three vessels were fixed to Scorpio and Hafnia (Nave Titan). The 2013-built vessels are expected to generate around $6 mill of aggregate base EBITDA for the one-year charter extensions. Navios Acquisition also said that it has contracted 91.5% of its available days for 2016. Gener8 Maritime took delivery of the VLCC Gener8 Nautilus on 20th April, 2016 from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries. She is the ninth of 21 VLCCs due to enter into Gener8 Maritime's fleet. Upon delivery, the Gener8 Nautilus entered Navig8's VL8 Pool. Meanwhile, Navig8 Product Tankers has entered into a $130.3 mill senior secured credit facility agreement for post-delivery financing for four 74,000 dwt LR1s. The loan, agreed with Citibank, London Branch and Caixaban, will be used for vessels which were either constructed or are currently under construction at South Koreas STX Offshore & Shipbuilding. The loan, which will also cover the 87,500 cu m VLGC Navig8 Experience delivered in March, 2016, provides financing of around 65% of the contract price of the four ships. The financing is split between two separate tranches - a $26.1 mill commercial tranche and a $104.2 mill tranche insured by Korean Trade Insurance Corporation (K-Sure tranche). Thus far, we have raised over $1.3 bill through a combination of equity, senior debt and sale and leaseback financings. We will continue to seek diverse and inexpensive sources of capital, as we continue to accept deliveries from our newbuilding programme, said Nicolas Busch, Navig8 Product Tankers CEO. Concordia Maritime has signed a new consecutive voyage contract for the P-MAX tanker Stena Polaris. This contract, which comes into effect in May, 2016, is for one year. The contractual partner is one of the worlds largest oil and gas companies, Concordia said, without naming the company. This is a new niche trade that we have identified together with our customer. The new contract clearly demonstrates that we have found an arrangement that creates value for all parties. The customer has a specific transport need for which the large load capacity of the P-MAX tankers will be well suited. For our part, the contract is fully in line with our commitment to concentrate employment on niche trades where there is potential for premium rates, said Kim Ullman, Concordia Maritime CEO. Stena Polaris has been employed on one of the same customers niche trades to Australia and New Zealand since spring, 2014. The vessel will be mainly used to transport light oil products from Singapore to island groups in the Pacific Ocean. China Shipping Tanker reportedly fixed the 2007-built Yasa Golden Bosphorus for 12 months at $26,000 per day, while the recently sold Aframaxes SN Claudia and SN Olivia were reported as fixed to ST Shipping for 12 months at $22,500 per day each. The 1999-built MR Ocean Quest was thought fixed to Petrobras for three years at $17,500 per day, while a 2006-built Handysize was believed fixed for two years at $15,500 per day. In the S&P sector, Aframaxes were the pick of the bunch on brokers reports. For example, the 1996-built sisters CE-Merapi and CE-Breeze were reported sold to Turkish interests for around $18 mill en bloc. Indonesian shipowner Soechi was said to have picked up the 1999-built Aframax Jag Laxmi for $13.6 mill, while Indian interests were thought to have purchased the 2003-built Aframax sisters Phoenix Alpha and Phoenix Beta for $40 mill en bloc. Another 2007-built Aframax was also said to be on subjects to Asian interests. Finally, four newbuilding MRs at STX Jinhae were reported sold to Chinese interests for $140 mill en bloc. They are due for delivery in 2017. SHARE Jason Fauller, 35, 100 block of Eighth Avenue, Vero Beach; warrant for fugitive from justice, Missouri, violation of probation. Tammy Roseman, 44, Melbourne; burglary of an occupied dwelling. Londa McDermott, 56, 6400 block of 33rd Avenue, Vero Beach; possession of cocaine. Kiley Yandle, 27, 1300 block of 44th Avenue, Vero Beach; warrant for violation of probation, grand theft, possession of firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Jason Hiler, 26, Deland; warrant for third-degree murder with a weapon or firearm. Javon Roberts, 22, Sanford; warrant for third-degree murder with a weapon or firearm. Austin Natskakula, 22, 1000 block of South 13th Street, Vero Beach; aggravated assault domestic violence.) Myles Brown, 41, 700 block of Third Street, Vero Beach; readmit, driving while license suspended, prior conviction. Arrested in St. Lucie County. By Melissa E. Holsman of TCPalm After court, Chief ASA Tom Bakkedahl praised Judge Dan Vaughn's death penalty ruling in #Tisdale case. Called it reasoned and thought out. Melissa E. Holsman (@MHolsman) April 29, 2016 11:20 a.m.: Judge Vaughn sentences Tisdale to death for first degree murder. 11:07 a.m.: Judge Vaughn orders a break while the state prepares paperwork to finish sentencing. 11 a.m.: The court breaks down the defense's arguments for a life sentence, giving little or no weight to many points. Judge says 2 statutory aggravators exist in #Tisdale case, and proven in unanimous jury verdict which he gives "great weight" Melissa E. Holsman (@MHolsman) April 29, 2016 10:08 a.m.: Judge Vaughn declares Tisdale guilty as convicted and requires him to be fingerprinted in open court. 9:58 a.m.: Bakkedahl apologizes to the Morales family "for a broken legal system." Chief ASA Tom Bakkedahl lays out legal argument why Eriese #Tisdale should be executed for killing Sgt. Gary Morales pic.twitter.com/9nRylyQHha Melissa E. Holsman (@MHolsman) April 29, 2016 9:50 a.m.: The state urges Judge Vaughn to sentence Tisdale to death because "justice demands it." 9:48 a.m.: Chief Assistant State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl addresses the court. He said the court has three options: Sentence Tisdale to life in prison with no possibility of parole, order a "do over" for a penalty phase, which the state rejected, or order Tisdale be executed. 9:41 a.m.: Tisdale's lawyer addresses the court. She talks about the changes in Florida's death penalty law and asks for a life sentence. Eriese #Tisdale gives a speech as Morales family listens in silence, swears he will walk free one day. pic.twitter.com/0s1db3Omml Melissa E. Holsman (@MHolsman) April 29, 2016 9:26 a.m.: The defense said Tisdale will speak before the judge but the state said the Morales family will not speak. 9:23 a.m.: Tisdale's mother, Charmaine Tisdale, addresses the court. She said her son is a changed man and deserves to live. She said her son "feared for his life" on the day he killed St. Lucie County Sheriff's Sgt. Gary Morales. 9:19 a.m.: Tisdale's aunt addresses the court, asking for a life sentence instead of a death penalty sentence. 9:16 a.m.: Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn enters the court. 9:15 a.m.: Eriese Tisdale's family arrives. 8:54 a.m.: Court is expected to begin at 9:04 a.m. 8:40 a.m.: The family of Sgt. Gary Morales arrived at the courtroom. --- FORT PIERCE Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn is expected to sentence convicted killer Eriese Tisdale this morning during a 9 a.m. court hearing. Tisdale, 28, faces a punishment of life in prison without parole or the death penalty for killing St. Lucie County Sheriff's Sgt. Gary Morales during a traffic stop in Fort Pierce. On Feb. 28, 2013, Tisdale, then 25, armed with a Glock handgun, fired seven times at Morales, striking the veteran sergeant in the head, neck and arm. Morales, 35, was found dead inside his patrol car on Naylor Terrace, south of Edwards Road. He was belted to his seat and never fired his weapon. Vaughn is expected to be the first trial judge to sentence a defendant convicted of capital murder before Florida's sentencing system was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in January and after a new law was enacted last month. That new law may influence how, or if, Vaughn imposes a sentence today. Members of Morales' extended family are expected to attend Friday's hearing, but it's unclear if anyone will address Vaughn in court. Life or lethal injection? When the same jury that convicted Tisdale in October voted 9-3 to recommend his execution, it satisfied a mandate that a majority of jurors agree to advise a death sentence. Florida's new law requires at least 10 out of 12 jurors vote in favor of the death penalty. And prosecutors must first spell out the reasons, or aggravating factors, why a death sentence should be imposed. It also requires the jury, during the guilt phase of a trial, to decide unanimously if there is at least one reason that justifies the death penalty. That didn't happen during Tisdale's trial, but the law governing his prosecution didn't require it. State prosecutors want Vaughn to follow the jury's 9-3 recommendation and sentence Tisdale to death. His court-appointed lawyers have argued that because the death penalty law changed during his prosecution, the only remedy is to order he serve life in prison without parole. More on Tisdale case Eriese Tisdale Sgt. Gary Morales New death penalty law blurs sentencing for St. Lucie deputy-killer Tisdale U.S. Supreme Courts ruling on Floridas death sentencing could delay punishment for St. Lucie cop killer High court: Florida death penalty system is unconstitutional Witnesses describe scene of St. Lucie County sergeant shooting Tisdale's arrest history St. Lucie prosecutors will seek death penalty against Tisdale in sheriff Sgt. Morales' death Tisdale officially charged with first-degree murder of St. Lucie sheriff's Sgt. Morales Tisdale's mother recalls son's demeanor before police say he killed deputy Court documents reveal more details in slaying of St. Lucie sheriff's sergeant Morales One year later: Shooting death of St. Lucie County sheriff's Sgt. Gary Morales Video timeline of Sgt. Gary Morales slaying case Murder suspect in St. Lucie County Sgt. Morales' death loses motion Tweets by @MHolsman Tisdale sentencing order U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio speaks to reporters Friday at the South Florida Water Management District headquarters in West Palm Beach. (ISADORA RANGEL/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) By Isadora Rangel of TCPalm WEST PALM BEACH U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said Friday he doesn't support buying land south of Lake Okeechobee "at this time" to reduce discharges into the Indian River Lagoon, saying it's not a "realistic proposal." The Republican said there's no money to do that and the federal government should focus on finishing projects already in the pipeline. The former presidential candidate also pointed out there's no willing seller after U.S. Sugar Corp. lobbied heavily against a deal to sell more than 46,000 acres to the state last year. U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Bonita Springs, filed a bill to set aside $500 million in federal money to buy land, but it's highly unlikely the bill will become law. "The biggest issue is we got current projects that are already programmed that are being executed upon," Rubio said. "I don't want us to lose focus on those programs and those projects and getting those done." Rubio toured South Florida Water Management District headquarters to learn about the status of those existing projects and touted one of them, still pending congressional approval, that would reduce discharges by 14 percent. The Central Everglades Planning Project was included in a bill that authorizes water and marine infrastructure projects across the country. It cleared its first Senate committee hurdle Thursday. Rubio lobbied to get CEPP in that bill. He also mentioned the U.S. Small Business Administration now is offering low-interest loans to businesses affected by discharges. Yet environmentalists and many experts say existing projects won't significantly reduce discharges and Florida needs more land for storage south of Lake Okeechobee so that water can be cleaned before it's moved into the Everglades, as it was naturally intended. Rubio recognized that need but said there are many restraints. "The process from buying land to turning into a place to hold water takes a long time," Rubio said. SUGAR SUPPORT Rubio has been a staunch supporter of a federal program that provides price supports for the sugar industry and imposes quotas and tariffs on imports. The program keeps sugar prices artificially high and environmentalists oppose it because sugar farms stand in the way of Lake O water moving south. They also claim the industry isn't paying its fair share to clean farm runoff, with taxpayers footing most of the bill. The sugar program came up in a Republican presidential debate before Rubio quit the race in March. Some of his opponents, such as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, consider it a corporate handout. Rubio has accepted sugar political donations and is close with the Fanjuls, owners of sugar giant Florida Crystals. The family raised funds and helped elect him to the U.S. Senate in 2010. "Right now, American agriculture is not in a competitive situation with Brazil and all the other countries that heavily subsidize their industries," Rubio said. "I've always said, as soon as those countries get rid of their supports we should get rid of ours." LAKE BILL Rubio toured the St. Lucie River in 2014 and talked to local officials and environmentalists in Stuart. He vowed to continue to work on a bill that would transfer control of discharges from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the state. The federal agency relies on a complicated formula that takes into account lake levels and rain forecasts to dictate when to release water. State Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, pushed for a state takeover and has said that formula should be updated to take into account the health of the lagoon and work should be done to reinforce the dike that surrounds the lake. Rubio said he's still working on the bill even though his staff released a report last year that found transferring lake control was nearly unfeasible because, among other reasons, the state could be liable if the Herbert Hoover Dike breaches. "We're still working on it, but the Senate process is excruciatingly slow," he said. Sen. Marco Rubio will meet with staff and water managers Friday to discuss Lake Okeechobee discharges and the Central Everglades Planning Project. (ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) By Staff Report U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio toured the South Florida Water Management District headquarters in West Palm Beach on Friday morning. The Republican met with staff and water managers to discuss Lake Okeechobee discharges into the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, plus the Central Everglades Planning Project. The project, which could reduce 14 percent of discharges, was included in a bill that approves water and marine infrastructure projects across the nation. On track to get congressional approval this year, it cleared its first Senate committee Thursday. Rubio later spoke to reporters about the issues plaguing the lagoon and solutions. Follow political reporter Isadora Rangel's live coverage of the event on TCPalm or follow her tweets @IsadoraRangel2. Tweets by @IsadoraRangel2 #Korean Air-Cebu incident Korean Air flight overruns Cebu runway, no injuries reported Korean Air Co. said Monday its flight KE631 with 173 people on board overran the runway while landing at Cebu International Airport in the Philippines a day earlier but no injuries... #Yoon Suk-yeol Yoon calls for war against drug crimes President Yoon Suk-yeol called Monday for special measures to address drug crimes, saying they must be stopped before they become a national-level threat. Yoon gave the instruct... Fallow land and green sugar cane are divided into rectangular fields in the Everglades Agricultural Area, which borders a rim canal and natural marsh land in Lake Okeechobee in this 2005 photo. Belle Glade and a rainbow can be seen in the distance. (FILE PHOTO) By Tyler Treadway of TCPalm BELLE GLADE Rick Roth thinks Congress needs more farmers. Roth happens to be a farmer; and he happens to be running for the U.S. House District 18 seat. As he steered his Ford pickup along dirt roads separating fields in the 5,000-acre Roth Farms east of Belle Glade on a cool, windy January day, Roth said farmers possess qualities often lacking among today's lawmakers and government leaders. "You don't see people in Washington working together anymore. Republicans and Democrats won't work together, states and the feds won't work together," said Roth, a Republican. "Now farmers, we've figured that out. We don't see each other as competitors. We work together." But could a congressman who grows sugar cane as well as rice, celery, parsley, lettuce and radishes on two-thirds of his 5,000 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee work with environmentalists? Environmentalists say farmers, particularly mega-farmers U.S. Sugar Corp. and Florida Crystals, are impeding a plan to build a reservoir in the EAA to clean excess lake water before sending it south to Everglades National Park.That water currently is discharged from the lake east to the St. Lucie River in Martin and St. Lucie counties, both in District 18, and west to the Caloosahatchee River, causing environmental and economic damage to those waterways and the Indian River Lagoon. Farmers want to hold onto their land, arguing the more than 60,000 acres in the EAA already taken out of farming for water projects is enough. Roth said environmentalists aren't interested in cleaning water and preserving estuaries. Their agenda is "about pushing human activity out of the region. The environmental groups' goals are anti-food, anti-water supply and anti-people," he told the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association's online publication "Harvester" in July 2012. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who is running for Senate, made the discharges and the health of the river and lagoon a top issue of his congressional tenure. But it was Bonita Springs tea party favorite U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson who filed a bill in March to earmark $500 million for the U.S. Interior Department to buy land for the reservoir. 'COTTAGE INDUSTRY' Roth's disdain for what he calls the "professional environmental community" is well documented. As he drove past a sugar cane field flooded by rain in what is supposed to be South Florida's dry season, Roth said environmental groups have become "a cottage industry that has to have an issue to fight on to continue to raise money. They've got a predetermined agenda to take away farmland. How can I work with people who want to destroy a way of life that employs people a lot of people and feeds a lot more people?" The comment makes Eric Draper, director of Audubon Florida, chuckle. "I've known Rick for a long time," Draper said. "He's a likable guy who makes some bombastic comments, including some hard shots at environmentalists. I appreciate his point of view as a farmer in the EAA, even if he doesn't appreciate mine." Environmentalists want to use only 5 to 10 percent of the area's 450,000 acres to clean water to send to the Everglades, Draper said. "That's hardly taking it all," he said. "Are there some environmentalists who want to take over the entire EAA? I guess. But I've been working on Everglades issues for 25 years, and I've never said anything like that. None of the credible leaders in the environmental community have said that." FINISH PROJECTS Rather than build a reservoir south of the lake, Roth said the best way to protect the Everglades, the St. Lucie River and the lagoon is "to move forward on all the projects that have already been started," including the nearly completed restoration of the Kissimmee River north of the lake. "The biggest problem I see facing the lagoon is that we need to clean up the water in Lake Okeechobee," Roth said. The 3,000-square-mile Kissimmee River basin that stretches north to Orlando is the largest source of water and phosphorus draining into Lake Okeechobee. Fertilized ranch pastures and urban areas along the Kissimmee each contribute about 25 percent of the phosphorus that runs into the lake. Dairies north of the lake have the highest concentration of phosphorus per acre but contribute only about 5 percent of the total load because they have lower acreage. Sod farms, ornamental foliage farms and natural areas make up the rest of the phosphorus load. "It's a no-brainer that the emphasis should be on adding storage north of the lake," Roth said. It's not so obvious to University of Florida Water Institute experts who said in a 2014 study that in addition to projects currently under construction, "between 11,000 and 129,000 acres of additional land" in the EAA is needed to store and treat water so it isn't sent to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee. Overall, Roth said, environmental regulations are too stringent. "It's not the 1970s anymore," he said. "Everyone understands now that we have to save the environment, and farmers know that better than most people. We depend on the land for a living. You don't protect the environment by over-regulating; you do that by working together. Environmentalists can work with "ag-oriented" congressmen, Draper said. "If Rick gets elected, we can work with him. We always find a way to work with people." NO PARTY POLITICS A registered Republican all his adult life, Roth said he's never played party politics. "Some of my best friends are Democrats," he said. "And when I get elected, if you're a congressman from Florida, you and I are going to be friends. It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat. We're going to work together to benefit all Floridians." Still, the Wellington resident chose to run in District 18 instead of District 21 congressmen aren't required to live in the district they serve because the latter has too many Democrats. "I can't run in the district I live in and have a chance of winning because it's too partisan," Roth said. "With a district that's 60 percent Democrats, there's no way I can win. The fact is, everybody's too partisan. They vote their party and not their values." Roth said he stands firm on his values, but will "always be willing to compromise on the approach." As his truck bounced past a field of almost harvest-ready celery, Roth illustrated his point. "Now, see, this is what I mean," he said. "We didn't grow celery five years ago; never thought about it. Turns out celery is a good crop to grow in this weather because it likes all this rain we've been getting. You learn, you adapt. As a farmer, you do what's best for your farm. That's why we need more farmers in Washington." SHARE Vero Beach power plant By Colleen Wixon of TCPalm VERO BEACH Losing the Indian River Shores customers still would have a multimillion-dollar impact on remaining Vero Beach electric customers even after costs such as buying power in bulk are taken out of the calculations in a partial sale, Vero Beach electric officials said this week. A new report shows that selling the Indian River Shores portion of the system to Florida Power & Light Co. would have less impact than the city's original estimate of $64.5 million, said Vero Beach electric counsel Robert "Schef" Wright. FPL has offered the city $13 million. Talk of a partial sale to FPL began about a year ago, but was dropped when Vero and FPL realized they were more than $50 million apart. The city's original analysis considered expenses such as fixed costs, general expenses and electric-fund debt and how much more the city would have to raise rates for remaining customers. Next week, the city's Utilities and Finance commissions and the City Council will hear Wright's new analysis of a $42.4 million impact after 30 years without the Shores customers and a $59.6 million impact after 50 years. Wright said Shores officials asked the city to reconsider its original estimate using different numbers. "We agreed we would do it," he said. The new analysis eliminated debt service after 2023 and bulk power supply costs after 2047, using Florida Municipal Power Agency estimates that its member cities would pay off debt on four power-supply projects by 2047. But numbers can be manipulated and they still are high, said Shores Mayor Brian Barefoot, who disputes the new valuation. Barefoot said the city is trying to confuse people with lots of numbers. "There's no way to know whether these numbers make any sense," he said. "I can make these numbers come out any way I want to." Barefoot said he disagrees with many of the "assumptions" used in the valuation. For example, the report uses the same rate structure for 30 years as for 50 years, he said. "Why would you ever assume the same rate structure is in place?" Barefoot asked. City officials on Tuesday also could consider reopening negotiations with FPL to buy the city's entire electric system under a proposal from Indian River County Attorney Dylan Reingold. FMPA officials indicated a willingness to help resolve the issue and sale during discussions Reingold had during the legislative session, he said. Vero Beach electric customers have complained for years about high rates. City voters have indicated a preference to sell the electric utility to FPL, but that effort stalled because the city has been unable to get out of its agreements with the FMPA, a power co-op involving multiple municipalities. More than 60 percent of the Vero Beach electric customers live outside the city limits, and have been fighting to sever ties with Vero's utility in favor of FPL. "I don't know what to expect," Reingold said of his presentation to Vero Beach City Council. "I hope they view this as a positive step forward." Protesters gather outside a Fort Pierce City Commission meeting called by Commissioner Reggie Sessions on Wednesday at Fort Pierce City Hall. The meeting was held in light of the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Demarcus Semer by Fort Pierce police April 23. (XAVIER MASCARENAS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) This is getting downright scary. Over the course of 25 years of living and working in Fort Pierce, I've never seen the city closer to a potential conflagration as it has been after the Saturday night shooting death of Demarcus Semer by Fort Pierce police. At an emergency meeting Wednesday night, the Fort Pierce City Commission did little to ease growing tension in the city's northwest section. The board refused to take up Commissioner Reggie Sessions' motion to send a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice demanding the investigation be taken out of the hands of St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara. Instead, the commission voted to send a watered-down version of such a letter, seeking to ascertain whether the situation in Fort Pierce warrants the feds' attention. That spineless decision maddened audience members so much they abruptly stood and walked out en masse. It was hard to blame them. "I have the utmost respect for the (Fort Pierce) Police Department," resident Takisha Brianvil told me after the meeting. "They've done roll call outside my home, I've been in focus groups with the mayor and city manager. I'm on both sides. We just want justice and the truth." I heard the same plea for justice over and over as I walked among the crowd outside city hall. And I heard variations on this theme of distrust of law enforcement, whichever agency they belong to whether they wear black, white, green or blue uniforms, it's all the same. Inside the commission chambers I was struck by how patient the audience was and, for the most part, how polite speakers were. People don't seem ready to riot but this is a volatile situation and I'm not sure how long that patience is going to last. In reaction to a column last week, in which I called for an outside agency to take over the investigation, I was accused on social media of being a cop-hater. Not true. I have great respect for law enforcement officers in general; some have become valued acquaintances over many years. One person asked how I'd feel if this was happening in my neighborhood. Well, it's pretty close. I live 2 miles from the site of Saturday's shooting; closer to a mile from several other Lincoln Park trouble spots. I've made a lot of friends in the northwest community over the years; I hear their frustration and feel their anger at regularly being treated as if they and their opinions don't amount to much. In my experience, some of those in authority have adopted a paternal attitude toward the minority population, and that any anger in Lincoln Park will dissipate if given enough time. That seems totally out of sync with recent experience in Ferguson, Missouri, Cleveland and other cities. We need to learn from those places; it could easily happen here. It seems to me that withholding all the details of the shooting could actually inflame public opinion rather than tamp it down. That could spell trouble for a city that has not faced street violence on a large scale since the passing of the Civil Rights Act or when schools were desegregated more than 40 years ago. Authorities say they are withholding information about the shooting including names of the officers to protect those involved. Yet many in the Lincoln Park community are convinced they know which officers were at that traffic stop. Several people in the crowd after the commission meeting openly shared the names with me. Perhaps the powers-that-be hope that dragging out the investigation will eventually calm things down. Chief Assistant State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl noted Wednesday the case will go to a grand jury. That, he cautioned, will add two to three months or more to the process. Commissioner Eddie Becht also pointed out that bringing in the Department of Justice could hold things up even longer. As someone who lives relatively close to the scene of this incident, I'm worried. The prospects of citizen unrest erupting into violence are awful to consider. Something must be done and quickly. More on the shooting in Fort Pierce Here we go again. That's all I could think of when I heard Lange Sykes criticize trial lawyers at a recent forum featuring candidates seeking the Florida House District 54 seat held by term-limited Rep. Debbie Mayfield, R-Vero Beach. I hadn't thought much of tort or medical malpractice reform in about six years, the last time Erin Grall, a trial lawyer, ran for a state House office. It seems all's been quiet on the legal reform front since 2014, when Florida Gov. Rick Scott pronounced victory in his 2010 "Let's get to work" campaign to create 700,000 jobs in seven years. At the end of 2015, that number hovered around 1 million. MORE | Laurence Reisman: Two House District 54 candidates emerge as most passionate But candidate Sykes brought up tort reform several times recently at the Republican Club of Indian River County. "Taxes, fees, burdensome regulations and plaintiffs' attorneys are the four biggest jobs killers in America today," the Vero Beach business owner said, noting that in Tallahassee, he wants to implement "substantive lawsuit reform." Later in the forum, when asked whether to expand Medicaid to cover uninsured Floridians, he said no, then said there were three big issues in the state: health care, jobs and immigration. "The common thing hurting these three important issues, oddly enough, are plaintiff attorneys," Sykes said. "What they do is they sue doctors and they sue businesses." To me, Sykes, 30, a first-time candidate, was picking on Grall, the front-runner among his three opponents in the race. In 2010, Grall, then 32, a Vero Beach native, ran against three middle-aged men from Brevard County in a House district centered there. Polls showed her up 6 points against Tom Goodson late in the campaign, she said. Then the Florida Chamber of Commerce Alliance, funded largely by U.S. Sugar Corp., and Disney, unleashed a series of nasty attacks via mail, on TV and radio on her and her profession. Despite the attacks, Grall won 65 percent of the vote in Indian River County. She lost overall by only 280 votes to Goodson, who received 31 percent of the vote. The attacks were so bad, Jim Davis, executive vice president of Treasure and Space Coast radio, stopped running the commercials, and fired off a strongly worded letter to the Florida Chamber. Penny Chandler, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Indian River County, canceled her agency's membership in the state chamber. "Having been in a chamber career for nearly 30 years, I feel that the ads are a disgrace to my profession and the standards I have personally held high for decades," she said at the time. Sykes told me the other day he won't stoop to mudslinging. "I'm running a positive campaign and talking about my individual merits," said Sykes, whose company, Riomar, sells a line of casual shoes for $295 a pair. For this community's sake District 54 encompasses all of Indian River County I hope Sykes and his supporters avoid negativity. But I'm not optimistic. The Florida Chamber of Commerce Alliance this year has raised $858,000, far more than in 2010. That includes $330,000 from Florida Power & Light Co., and $80,000 from U.S. Sugar. Companies associated with Disney have donated almost $7,000 to Sykes' campaign. The Doctors Company Florida political action committee, which supports candidates who pledge to reform malpractice laws, gave his campaign $1,000. Disney and the doctors committee have donated $225,000 to the Florida Justice Reform Committee, which gave Sykes $1,000. In other words, there is plenty of money floating around to slime Grall even if Sykes does not do it directly. Special-interest committees are nasty and have little accountability. "There's nothing like watching the first TV ad run against you," said Grall, noting she expects Big Business to be after her again. "I believe in personal responsibility that's at the core of my profession," Grall said, "and anyone that understood that would have a hard time getting up and tearing that down." The good news if Sykes allows his supporters to attack Grall is that negative mailers and TV and radio spots traditionally have not worked in Indian River County. May that be a lesson to local candidates and faceless, out-of-county committees. The election of a president of the NUS who holds such self-evidently toxic views should be looked upon not as an isolated case of individual intolerance, but as an indication of wider prejudices pervading the NUS. Malia Bouattia once described Birmingham University as a Zionist outpost and criticised mainstream Zionist-led media outlets and their effect on the anti-Israel movement during the Gaza and the Palestinian Revolution event in September 2014. It speaks volumes that throughout UK universities, even the most devoted amen corners of the NUS have reacted with indignation at the appointment of such an individual. Yet that is not to say that her ascendency is some anomalous blip in the voting system, nor that her views are at variance with radical student sentiment. NUS delegates recently cheered as speakers at their annual conference argued against commemorating the Holocaust. Students at the University of Edinburgh pinned up a poster on campus which claimed that the Holocaust was a Jewish invention fabricated for financial gain, labelling it the greatest swindle of all time. It seems strange that Edinburgh students will vote on whether to throw out their vice-president for academic affairs after she raised her hand in a meeting, since such a gesture violates their safe space policy, all the while anti-Semitic ideology is left to decorate the corridors. The poster remained undetected until that very same vice-president exposed its contents for wider scrutiny. The NUS itself has come under fire for a series of increasingly extreme reforms, after its now infamous decree to outlaw representatives for gay men in student LGBT+ societies on the grounds that cis gay men are exempt from oppression. With the motion passed, the delegates later confirmed that gay men were disproportionately at risk of violence. This seemingly contradictory stance either stems from differing opinions from the floor being put forward, or an NUS which has allowed progressive radicalism to manifest itself both as hypersensitive parades of victimhood and as unashamed displays of some of the oldest bigotry around. The appeal from Cambridge students to disaffiliate from the NUS is not only a fitting reaction to the election of Ms Bouattia, but a message of defiance against an association which has fanned the flames of intolerance for far too long. Students are clearly beginning to recognise the incongruity to Ms Bouattia lambasting the Governments anti-terror policy for aiding Britains steady descent into a police state, when she holds sway over a Union which has prohibited clapping as it triggers anxiety, and instead demands the use of jazz-hands to signify approval at some conference meetings. It is time to strongly applaud those at Cambridge who have stood up against both Bouattia and, by extension, the organisation which has bestowed such a level of authority upon the holder of these indefensibly repellent views. After all, she was elected not in spite of, but precisely because of her beliefs. With a few days until the play opens at the Corpus Playroom, I chatted to SWALLOW director, Avigail Tlalim, about Beyonce and the theme of female anger in the play, the challenges of working on such a new piece and why it is so important for more trans parts in Cambridge theatre. What are the principal themes of the play? Stef Smith wrote in an interview that she wanted to write a play about characters who are angry with the world. To me SWALLOW is about characters who are filled with unexplored anger, which is swallowed down in such a relatable manner. In rehearsals we are often amazed at how many of layers of meaning there are in every scene- every time we hear it we find more. One of the threads is definitely the taboo of female anger. Beyonce dealt with this so effectively this week in Lemonade, and I definitely think (and hope!) that its a concern that is bubbling to the surface. I think we are badly educated in how to process emotions in general; of course, this is often a gendered and cultural issue. This play both vividly challenges and exemplifies this. Could you tell us more about the trans character? Sam is a trans man who is transitioning, and the play deals with trans issues in a really understated and nuanced way. Im really passionate about representing trans peoples life experiences on the Cambridge stage. I think theatre has a duty to put the under-represented on its stage without forcing their presence to be a statement. The truest way to represent someone is to allow them to exist and not shroud their presence with their political significance. I began casting with the intention of finding a trans actor to play the role, reaching out to the community here in Cambridge and it was really unfortunate that we werent able to find anyone. But I know that Georgie Henley will do the part justice as best she can. Behind every label there is a person. These individuals- their hearts, their worlds and their internal lives-are what this play is about. I dont want people to call it the trans play. Sam exists alongside everything and everyone else; he is a complex, developed character whose role in the play is not at all confined to his transition. What are the challenges of working on such a new show? Something really exciting about working with a play that was only published a few months ago is how contemporary all its concern are. Structurally its unlike anything Ive ever read there are no scenes and narration, monologues, asides and real time scenes all flow over and on top of each other. Its really beautiful to have to piece all this together. Its lovely because Stef Smith tweeted us to wish us luck, and its quite motivating to have the writers blessing, especially because I admire her so much! The fact that this play has so rarely been staged keeps us even more creatively engaged- and we have the privilege of being able to relate to the words in a personal way, which might not be possible with a more established piece. How have the cast responded to the piece? SWALLOW has an absolutely stellar cast. Georgie Henley, Isla Cowan and Emma Corrin are about as bulletproof as it gets. One of the original reasons I was so excited to put on this show was to offer three complex, nuanced and challenging roles to three incredible actors- and I couldnt be happier with those who have answered this call. There are so many wonderful actors in this town and its such fun to offer them complicated roles to work on. Something that has totally taken us by surprise is how easily the lines have just flown into the actors memory; they suspect it's something to do with the rhythm of the piece, but of course, I think its because theyre brilliant! Why should people come to see the show? I truly feel like SWALLOW is a play everyone in Cambridge should see; the honesty of the portrayal of pain puts exam term into perspective, and the moments of humour are beautifully real. If you are lucky enough to get given one of our bookmarks, see it as a personal invitation! SWALLOW is directed by Avigail Tlalim, and opens on Tuesday 3rd May at 7pm, at the Corpus Playroom. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Getty Images on Wednesday filed a competition law complaint against Google with the European Commission. The company last year filed an interested third party submission in support of the ECs investigation into Googles anticompetitive business practices. Gettys complaint, in essence, is that Google Images creates galleries of high-res copyrighted content, and that providing easy access to them dissuades consumers from going to the source to view or license those images. That damages Gettys image licensing business. Googles behavior is adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of visual artists around the world, impacting their ability to fund the creation of future works, said Getty General Counsel Yoko Miyashita. Getty also complained about Google giving preference to its own image search over its rivals search tools. Encourages Piracy Online search is an essential tool for the discovery of images, and Google Images dominates the market, Miyashita told TechNewsWorld. The Google Images format promotes right-click piracy by making high-res imagery easily available without the need to get a license or permission from the source. By cutting off user traffic to competing websites like Getty Images and reserving that traffic exclusively for its own benefit, Google creates captive, image-rich environments, and is able to maintain and reinforce its dominance in both image search and its general search services, Miyashita argued. Fair Use or Not? Googles rationale for image search, in general, is that displaying the image is necessary for the user to assess how well the image corresponds to their search, noted Matthew Sag, a professor at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. That practice has been litigated at least twice in the United States in relation to thumbnail images and has easily passed the test of fair use, he told TechNewsWorld. Gettys complaint is directed more specifically to the creation of high-resolution galleries, and Google could make a similar argument that consumers need to see the image in high-res to properly evaluate it, but this argument is not nearly so compelling, Sag said. What Getty Wants Getty Images wants to encourage the EC, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and other government bodies to implement competition law-based sanctions against Google, Miyashita said. The goal is to ensure that Google ceases its anticompetitive practices and that when displaying images, it does so in a format that simply directs users to the most relevant source website in a way that doesnt prejudice image owners for Googles benefit, he explained. That means one click to source. Further, Getty Images would like to see Google taking steps to discourage copyright infringement, added Miyashita. However, Google is under no obligation to design its information services in a way that drives traffic to a particular website, or external websites in general, Loyolas Sag pointed out. Gettys Chances of Success The type of claim Getty is making failed in the United States in Perfect 10 v. Google, noted Ben Depoorter, Sunderland Chair at UC Hastings College of the Law. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that Googles framing and hyperlinking as part of an image search engine constituted fair use because it was highly transformative. However, in Gettys case, the context is different, Depoorter told TechNewsWorld, because of the antitrust angle and the fact that EU countries do not have a similar broad and flexible fair use exception to copyright law. Google Images is part of Googles continued effort to provide the most attractive search engine in the world, Depoorter remarked. Image thumbnails on Google direct you to other websites, and the higher-res versions seek to improve the display of the results. Google will claim that theyre in the business of directing traffic to the sites, not replacing them, he suggested. While the design of Google Image search would make a poor antitrust case in the U.S., said Sag, it might go further in the EU, because they take a broader view of abuse of dominance. An international team of cybersecurity experts hacked into an iPhone loaned to a U.S. congressman who sits on a key technology committee, in a 60 Minutes demonstration of how easy it is for a criminal to spy on callers by exploiting an international mobile phone network vulnerability. The segment aired Sunday. The hackers were able to listen in on a call by Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., who sits on the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee, just by getting the actual phone number he was using, according to the program. The team, led by German security researcher Karsten Nohl, easily penetrated the Signalling System No. 7 network, which it then could use for everything from listening in on calls to tracking the callers movements and intercepting text messages. Lieu, who volunteered to participate in the hacking demonstration, characterized the ease with which the researchers were able to access the phone data as creepy, and said demonstration left him feeling angry. Call for Investigation The congressman is exploring policy fixes for the SS7 flaw, said Jack dAnnibale, senior advisor to Lieu. In fact, he has called for an investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, he told TechNewsWorld. The applications for this vulnerability are seemingly limitless, from criminals monitoring individual targets to foreign entities conducting economic espionage on American companies to nation states monitoring U.S. government officials, Lieu wrote in a letter sent Monday to Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the OGR committee. The vulnerability has serious ramifications not only for individual privacy, but also for American innovation, competitiveness and national security, Lieu wrote. Many innovations in digital security such as multifactor authentication using text messages may be rendered useless. Network Still Vulnerable The computer security team that carried out the 60 Minutes demo first uncovered the SS7 vulnerability at a German hacking conference in 2014. These vulnerabilities are quite serious, and they certainly warrant immediate action by nearly every phone company which is part of the SS7 system, said Cooper Quentin, staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It is a near certainty that criminals and spies are exploiting this vulnerability for nefarious purposes, he told TechNewsWorld. The U.S. government cannot solve the problem on its own, Quentin added, because the vulnerability is shared by phone companies around the globe, who must work together to fix the problem. Network vs. Device Discussions about phone security generally center on one of two issues, noted Christopher Budd, global threat communications manager at Trend Micro. Those issues boil down to either the security of the device or the security of the network. Some of the issues raised by the 60 Minutes piece relate to the network as opposed to the device. By and large, while these are interesting and even scary sometimes, theyre not something that most people should worry about, Budd told TechNewsWorld. Carrying out an attack requires a degree of focused resources against a target, he pointed out, and most regular phone customers are not targets. Carriers have security teams that typically focus 24x7x365 on the security of their networks, Budd noted. The thing that most people can control is the security of their individual device, which requires running mature security software to keep it up to date. That last in particular is important, he said, because so many Android devices have been abandoned for updates by the carriers and manufacturers that its impossible to keep them up to date. Its also advisable to keep multiple layers of security on a phone. As a security company, we see an increasingly large number of requests for details about how we protect sensitive customer data from third-party access, said GreatHorn Vice President Chris Fraser. Encryption is part of that narrative, he told TechNewsWorld. Cybercriminals can find subtle and creative ways to bypass security controls that are put into place, Fraser pointed out, and the best way to prevent against such an exploit is never to rely on one method of cyberprotection as the failsafe. Relying on encryption, or any single security approach or tool whether its a passcode on a mobile device or an antivirus tool is a flawed and seemingly failure bound strategy, he said. What you need is defense in depth. Former Motorola president Rick Osterloh is returning to Google. After parting ways with the Lenovo-owned company last month, Osterloh has been hired by Google as a Senior Vice President in charge of a brand new hardware division. He will report directly to Google chief Sundar Pichai. Re/code was first to report the news after a Google representative confirmed the hire. Earlier this month, the publication reported that Regina Dugan, leader of a secretive skunk-works project within Google called Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP), had been poached by Facebook. In her absence, Google was said to be plotting a hardware shake-up which is exactly what's happened. According to Re/code, Osterloh is now in charge of ATAP in addition to Google's Nexus division, the popular streaming TV stick Chromecast, wireless home router OnHub and Google Glass. Tony Fadell, who has overseen the Glass project since it graduated from Google X last year, will reportedly hang around the division as a team advisor. Fadell will remain CEO of Nest, a separate company within the Alphabet umbrella, we're told. During his time with Motorola while it was owned by Google, Osterloh worked his way up from head of production management to company president, filling a role left vacant when Dennis Woodside took a job at Dropbox in 2014. He stuck with Motorola as it was sold to Lenovo but left last month as the company was restructuring. Image courtesy Re/code In 2009, a couple of Russian scientists decided to start a small business out of the spare bedroom of their Long Island home. With the gumption of a gym teacher in an Ural village who turns out an Olympic dream team, Daniel Stolyarov and wife Elena Polyakova launched Graphene Laboratories, one of the world's first graphene production facilities. There's something quintessentially Russian about graphene. First isolated in 2004 when a pair of Russian researchers used a piece of scotch tape to pull a single atomic layer off of a hunk of graphite a feat legions of molecular scientists had failed to achieve in 50 years of research using the highest level microanalysis equipment graphene is a supermaterial: the thinnest material ever obtained, the lightest known to man, harder than diamond, stronger than steel, superconductive, transparent, bendable. You might say graphene is the consummate 21st century building material. Daniel Stolyarov would say so. As the sole manufacturer of graphene-enhanced 3D printing materials, he is at the forefront of what is shaping up to be a revolution in the 3D printing industry. "So far, 3D printing has been utilized only for making mechanical components, which I believe is a serious limitation," says Stolyarov with heavily-accented precision at a Tech Day New York expo where the average attendee is too jacked up on free candy and ginchy new apps to bother with a staple item like 3D printer filament. "It can be used for making functional devices. But to make a functional device, you need to combine a variety of materials: conductive materials, insulating materials and thermally-conductive materials in one piece and put them all together in the same 3D printing process. There's no need for assembly work if a 3D printer is used this way." The bottom line is that a length of graphene filament can turn a 3D printer into a home electronics manufacturing unit capable of cranking out anything from a robot to a cell phone, no assembly required. Based in the unassuming hamlet of Calverton, N.Y., 3D Graphene Lab Inc. consists of an e-commerce business, a manufacturing facility and an R&D lab where Stolyarov and company successfully ran out the first 3D-printed battery last year. "Graphene, when mixed with a polymer, makes a conductive network within the polymer, and then the polymer becomes conductive. Then, you're only one step away from making a battery," explains Stolyarov. "Our conductive filament was the basis for making a battery, then we came up with materials for (an) anode cassette and separator and (3D printed) it in one piece ... The beauty of that is that we didn't use a fancy specialized 3D printer, we used an inexpensive, consumer-based 3D printer. It's all in the materials." "There are certain benefits a 3D-printed battery can offer," says Stolyarov, in the manner of one accustomed to gross understatement. "It can be made in any shape and can be part of a machine or device." It can also charge 10 times faster than a lithium-ion battery and take up a fraction of the space of a conventional AA. The countless potential applications for super-strong, super-conductive, feather-light graphene polymers are not lost on the world's industrial captains and Graphene 3D Lab's clients include NASA, Ford Motor Co., GE, Apple, Xerox, Samsung, IBM, LG, Harvard, MIT, Caltech, Stanford and other tech sector A-listers. "We started out making (graphene) and offering it to researchers," says Stolyarov. "Since then, our dream (has become) to offer it to ordinary people so that they can explore this material and benefit from it." Graphene currently costs about $150 a pound ($70 a kilogram), a price Stolyarov considers prohibitive and is actively working to reduce to a level that will make graphene filament feasible for printing appliances and furniture. "3D printing has tremendous potential," he says almost unconvincingly from his spot behind a display table littered with the kinds of plastic doodads commercial 3D printers are commonly used to churn out today, while his research and development team in Calverton prints batteries, light bulbs and materials that don't exist in nature, but will likely end up as high-performance running shoes on the feet of 21st century Olympians. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BlackBerry recently confirmed that it would release two new smartphones running Android instead of its own Blackberry 10 OS. Images of the handsets, codenamed "Hamburg" and "Rome" have just leaked, and they provide a look at their design, keyboard, and display. In June 2015, the first report of an Android-based BlackBerry surfaced, which was believed to be a last ditch effort for the struggling smartphone maker to remain in the hardware business or exit the market. The device was confirmed to feature the company's iconic physical QWERTY keyboard, which was a nod to BlackBerry's loyal fan base but a gamble in the sea of smartphones that use virtual keyboards. The BlackBerry Android handset was codenamed "Venice" and was officially released as the BlackBerry Priv and featured specs that were on par with flagship Android smartphones at the time. It also featured a similar curved display like the one found on the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. The BlackBerry Priv was released by all major U.S. carriers and hit Verizon in March, after which the company's CEO John Chen recently confirmed the company would release two new Android smartphones. We now have a better idea on those two new BlackBerry smartphones, which are codenamed "Hamburg" and "Rome," and will reportedly be midrange smartphones that will be priced around $300 to $400. It appears the site that first posted the leaked images has been taken down. The image of the BlackBerry Hamburg shows a design similar to that of the Priv, will feature a curved OLED display, possible slide out QWERTY keyboard (although it's not shown opened in the image), speaker grill below its screen, and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The BlackBerry Rome includes a fixed physical QWERTY keyboard and possible curved display, and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The BlackBerry Hamburg will reportedly cost $400 and be released in the second quarter. The BlackBerry Rome is expected to carry a price tag of $300, although an expected release date wasn't revealed. We'll keep you posted on any new BlackBerry Hamburg and BlackBerry Rome news as it becomes available. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The House unanimously voted on April 27 to refurbish a nearly three-decade old email privacy bill that advocates and tech companies like Dropbox and Google have pushed for years. The bill, five years in the making, prevents government agencies from accessing and reading old emails of citizens without warrant. This closes off a gap in the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1989 to ensure that law enforcement agents avail of a warrant prior to obliging technology companies to hand over a person's emails, videos, text messages, photos, and other electronic communications. The Email Privacy Act (EPA) or H.R. 699 has been passed to the Senate for evaluation and will then be coursed to the President for his seal. "Citizens should no longer be at risk of having their emails warrantlessly searched by government agencies. The Email Privacy Act will update our archaic privacy laws for the 21st century and safeguard our Fourth Amendment rights," said Rep. Jared Polis, an author of the Email Privacy Act. "I'm proud that the House has passed this common sense bill, and I look forward to a swift passage in the Senate," he added. Local, state, and federal police agencies currently hold the authority to check emails if the communication is at least six months old. The critics said the law had been passed even before emails were used and that it violates the constitutional protection of Americans against unreasonable searches. Under the EPA, U.S. citizens could expect to have privacy in their email accounts including professional or personal content stored in the Internet. The authorities would also be required to show probable cause in order to oblige a service provider to release storage data or communications through a search warrant. Government agents should also preserve the legal tools required to perform criminal investigations to protect the welfare of the public. Tech companies said the policy is valuable now that electronic communications amongst Americans are mostly stored online. "For consumers to feel safe with cloud computing, personal data stored remotely must have the same legal protection as data on their own computer," said Mark MacCarthy, Software and Information Industry Association's public policy senior vice president. "House passage of (the bill) brings us one step closer to leveling the playing field for government access to data stored in the cloud," he added. Photo: Johan Larsson | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The price of steaks might increase in Denmark because the country mulls about taxing beef and other red meats in its battle against climate change. The Danish Council of Ethics, an independent body that advises the government, announced that Danes have an ethical obligation to reduce the impact of climate change and they could do this by lowering their red meat consumption. "An effective response to climate-damaging foods that will also contribute to raising awareness of climate change must be united, which requires that society sends a clear signal through regulation," said Mickey Gjerris, a spokesman for the council. All Types Of Red Meat Could Be Taxed In The Future The majority of council members (14 of 17) said they support the "red meat tax." The council recommends an initial tax on beef, but will include other red meats in the future. It added that other food products that will be deemed harmful to the environment could also be taxed. "The Danish way of life is far from climate-sustainable, and if we are to live up to the Paris Agreement target of keeping the global temperature rise 'well' below 2 degrees Celsius, it is necessary both to act quickly and involve food," the council said. Animal Agriculture: Key Driver Of Climate Change Animal agriculture accounts for about 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than the overall emissions from all types of transport across the globe, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said. It is a common notion that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are the key factor that contributes to the growing problem of global warming. Scientists, however, believe that there are other key factors that contribute to climate change, including global food production, animal agriculture and waste disposal. Animal agriculture or farming may be one of the major key drivers of climate change. This produces two other main greenhouse gases, which are methane and nitrous oxide. About 10 percent of all emissions are from cattle and more than 43,000 liters of fresh water are required to manufacture just 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of beef. Photo: Michael Cannon | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A viral video of a lemur showing antics and interacting with humans has been circulating on the internet. A conservation group, however, urges social media users to stop sharing the clip because having a lemur for a pet is never a good idea. The video shows two young boys petting a ring-tailed lemur and scratching its back. Whenever the scratching stops, the animal pats its own back, signaling that it wants more. Nazaire Paubert Tsimanova, who uploaded the video, said that the clip was recorded in Madagascar. But according to conservation biologist Kim Reuter, the video is not cute at all because it lacks the crucial context showing the severe threats facing lemurs. "All you see in the video is two adorable kids and an adorable lemur," said Reuter, who is part of the nonprofit Conservation International. The video might even spur demand for the already endangered species, Reuter believes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers the lemur as endangered. The wild animal is on the Red List of Threatened Species. The population of the species is believed to have been halved over a three-generation period, or about 36 years. The continuous reduction of its population is caused by exploitation through uncontrolled hunting, pet trade and habitat loss. Since lemurs are wild animals, they are not safe to keep as pets. They could be very difficult to handle and may become dangerous in the long run, with their capacity to bite humans. In Madagascar, pet lemurs are usually snatched from the wild as young, a process that often involves the killing of the mother. There are about 28,000 lemurs that have been kept as pets in the past five years. Keeping a wild animal for a pet could also endanger the animal's health since it might be fed with food that it does not normally eat and get exposed to certain diseases it would not ordinarily contract. With the best interest for the environment in mind, the video was not posted in this article. Photo: Mathias Appel | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Amazon has been found to be liable for in-app purchases that children have made without permission from their parents, as decided by a federal judge. The ruling ends the case filed by the Federal Trade Commission against Amazon back in 2014, as Amazon then refused to comply with the FTC's request to revise its in-app purchase policy. The commission alleged that Amazon unlawfully billed thousands of customers millions upon millions of dollars through in-app purchases made by children without the authorization from their parents. According to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington state, Amazon did not implement proper safeguards to keep children from making the unauthorized purchases. "Given the design of the Appstore and procedures around in-app purchases, it is reasonable to conclude that many customers were never aware that they had made an in-app purchase," said the court in its ruling. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour acknowledged the over 1,500 customers that were denied for refunds for unauthorized purchases, adding that it is Amazon's policy that all in-app purchases made are nonrefundable and final. Coughenour, however, did not approve a request by the FTC to subject Amazon to an oversight period of 20 years, as the company has already changed its policies and procedures for in-app purchases since the initial filing of the case. Previously, in-app purchases on apps from the Amazon Appstore did not need passwords, making it possible for developers to abuse the fact by blurring the lines between paid and free content, especially in games for children. The system has since been updated to provide informed consent for in-app purchases, but that did not come around until July 2014. The ruling on Amazon's liability did not specify the amount of monetary relief for the affected users, with the figure to be determined over the coming months. The FTC is pushing for full refunds for all unauthorized in-app purchases. The amount will most likely be a significant one, with past cases against other tech giants serving as examples. Both in 2014, Google refunded $19 million, and Apple paid back $32.5 million to users for in-app purchases made by children without the consent of their parents. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Remember when a panel of experts before a U.S. House committee back in February urged NASA to produce a solid plan for its human mission to Mars by the 2030s? It warned that the space agency is pressed for time, given the possibility of a space mission-unfriendly administration taking over the White House next year. This early, however, NASAs space technology program is apparently already facing a budget crunch. While it requested $826.7 million for the program next year, a Senate-approved spending bill last April 21 provides only $686.5 million. In particular, budget for its Mars landing technology demo project is slashed by around 85 percent in response to budget cuts to its space tech plan, as well as the need to reserve funding for a satellite servicing effort. According to Space News, NASA deputy associate administrator James Reuter said the agency's Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project would receive a fraction of its originally intended budget of $20 million for 2016. This cut was deemed a requirement by the fiscal year 2016 appropriations bills last December, particularly the Congress instructions to spend $133 million or almost 20 percent of the total on the RESTORE-L satellite servicing. "The net effect is that we had to find $40 million to cut," revealed Reuter, pertaining to other space tech programs that ultimately included LDSD and a program studying composite structures to be used on the upper stage of the Space Launch System. But what is LDSD all about? Well, it investigates the function of inflatable decelerators and advanced parachutes for slowing down space vehicles as they enter a planets atmosphere specifically of Mars. Two test flights failed to show the success of the technology, with the parachute either failing to open fully or suffering canopy tears even if it opened. NASA would have performed such research despite any budget developments, but will be less capable to do it now, Reuter explained, comparing the original $20 million funding to the now available $3 million. The Senates spending bill, he added, also requires $130 million to be allotted to RESTORE-L, which is double the agencys projection. These are just some programs expected to constrain NASAs space efforts if budget remains at the Senates level. NASA's space tech program was conceived in 2010 to address the many challenges of exploring deep space. However, the Congress has not shown enough support, funding only around half of what President Barack Obama has requested from that time on. This year, some of the limited funds will be given to the SLS rocket for its accelerated development, as well as the Earth-observing Landsat satellite managed by NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. For now, the Mars exploration remains a puzzle to be solved. For instance, NASA must land massive payloads on its surface, although one has to face that the Curiosity rover itself still was a relatively small payload of 900 kilograms. Human and cargo missions would be much larger, therefore posing a great challenge ahead. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If you're a frequent user of Google Calendar for Android and peruse it to schedule meetings, you'll be pleased to learn that a new feature that simplifies things is rolling out for the application. As we reported on April 27, Google pushed out the "Find a time" button for Android users of the Google Calendar app, which will help users zone in on a time for meetings that is suitable for all. The feature has been introduced for Google Apps for Work, as well as Google Apps for Edu users. Thanks to the feature, users will be able to streamline the scheduling of meetings with a lot more ease. The "Find a time" button has been designed with organizations in mind where employees have conflicting schedules and coordination of the same is essential for meetings. If one were to physically check each colleague's calendar while scheduling a meeting, you can imagine how tedious and time-consuming that would be. However, with Google Calendar for Android and the new "Find a time" button, it gets extremely convenient to coordinate and set up a meeting without any hiccups - and it doesn't matter if people are in different time zones! In the event one is unable to find a time that will be convenient for all, the Calendar has the automatic ability to seek out which conflicting meetings may be rescheduled. How It Works Step 1: Update the Google Calendar app on your Android smartphone to the latest version. It can be downloaded from this link. Step 2: Open the Google Calendar app and go about scheduling a meeting with your team members. Step 3: You will see the invite option for team members you want to attend the meeting. Once you invite them you will see the option "Find a time." Step 4: Tap the "Find a time" option. This will begin the analysis of all the invited members' schedules. The Calendar will also check for any restrictions that could occur due to a conflict in schedule. Step 5: Suggestions for the best time for a meeting for all the invitees will be thrown up by the Calendar. This will be based on rank - the best time, followed by next-best, and so on. If a particular meeting time is suitable for all invitees, then the Calendar will display this along with the other suggested times. Step 6: Select the best option and you're good to go! iOS users of Google Calendar need not be disappointed as the "Find a time" feature is in the pipeline for the iPhone as well. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Elon Musk makes history by breaking a military contract monopoly now that SpaceX won one to launch a global positioning system (GPS satellite). Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has just received a fixed-price military contract worth $82.7 million for a GPS satellite to be brought to space through Falcon 9 sometime in May 2018. The costs will be used to build the rocket and certification for spaceflight, along with operations launch. "GPS 3 is the next generation of GPS satellites that will introduce new capabilities to meet the higher demands of both military and civilian users," read the air force's statement. The satellite will perform a variety of security-related functions including preventing jamming and improving the precision or accuracy of both navy and air force navigations. However, the awarding is currently overshadowed by what analysts call a break of the virtual monopoly by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, which together have formed United Launch Alliance (ULA). ULA has basically been the leader of expandable launch systems including bringing national security satellites into space, with $70 billion worth of contracts until 2030. Although SpaceX has been in the aerospace business for about 14 years, it was primarily serving NASA. It was only in May 2015 when the air force certified for national security satellites. To be fair, ULA didn't try to secure such contact because of accounting system issues, although it could also be because at the time of the bidding, the United States had imposed restrictions on Russian-made engines called RD-180, which are used in some of the ULA's rockets. It's currently unclear whether or not ULA will participate in at least eight more possible launch contracts. Further, the government intends to conduct a "competitive" selection process to drive down launch costs. The objective fits well with the business model of SpaceX that desires to spend less on space travel and make it more affordable. "This GPS III Launch Services contract award [also] achieves a balance between mission success [and] meeting operational needs," said Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, air force space's program executive officer. SpaceX is also planning to launch the first-ever Red Dragon mission to Mars by 2018 in preparation for possible human colonization in the planet. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two known smartphone companies have been dropped from the top five list of smartphone makers. On April 27, research firm IDC reported a slight increase in smartphone shipments worldwide during the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period a year earlier, with vendors shipping a total of 334.9 million. A significant highlight of the report's top five vendor standing is how two lesser-known Chinese brands, Oppo and Vivo, displaced Lenovo and Xiaomi from their fourth and fifth positions, respectively. IDC reports that Oppo's growth is the strongest among the top five with a 153.2 percent rate year-over-year and total shipments of 18.5 million units in Q1 2016. While its main focus is domestic, the company has been shipping since 2012 to destinations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with 20 percent of its shipments going out of China in 2015. Oppo's expansion in China focused on a strong push to smaller cities via offline channels. Unlike Oppo, Vivo has been more focused on domestic markets, primarily relying on its strong retail presence in lower-tier markets as a key factor for its growth. Its best-selling product, X5Pro, is considered as a relatively premium product in China and one of the most expensive at around $300. The company entered the Southeast Asian and Indian markets in 2014, and by 2015 had shipped less than 10 percent of its products to these regions. Vivo posted shipments of 14.3 units in Q1 2016, with a 123.8 percent year-over-year growth rate. It's a surprising change for Lenovo, which, together with its subsidiary Motorola, has a high profile in global markets. Xiaomi had been positioning itself for a big break, but that did not happen. IDC's latest figures suggest that both companies were aligning themselves in markets that were more tenuous than they may have seemed. The report also highlights the fact that the smartphone market in China, the world's biggest market, has begun to mature. "China has reached saturation its phone market is essentially driven by replacement, with fewer first-time buyers. Beyond the lower-end phone segment, the appeal of premium smartphones will be key for vendors to attract upgrades and to maintain or grow their market share in China," said Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner, a tech research and advisory firm. The implication is that Chinese consumers now want more value out of what they are willing to spend. While buyers are gravitating around moderately priced phones, they are willing to explore upstream and pay more for novel functionalities. In a possible move to recover lost ground, Xiaomi recently launched Xiaomi Mi 5, an alarmingly smart smartphone at an alarmingly moderate price. Motorola is reportedly mulling a similar undertaking to reverse its fortune. Meanwhile, Samsung maintains its lead with 81.9 million shipments and a 24.5 percent market share. Apple stays in second place with 51.2 million shipments and a 15.3 percent market share while Huawei comes third with 27.5 million shipments and an 8.2 percent market share. Photo: Cheon Fong Liew | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Researchers at the University of Washington (UW) have developed a new type of computer that derives its power not from a battery or any other external source but from radio waves it collects and converts into electricity. Known as the Wireless Identification and Sensing Platform (WISP), this new device is the result of a combination of computing and sensor technologies that make use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader to gather the radio waves around it in order to turn them into electric power. While WISP doesn't have the same processing capabilities as other higher-end computers that are available in the market right now, it does have enough power to operate its onboard sensors and transfer data much like other small wearable devices such as Fitbit. The researchers believe that the new technology can be used to further developed Internet of Things (IoT). WISP can lead to the creation of lower maintenance devices than those equipped with low-energy Bluetooth sensor chips. This battery-less computer can be used to develop sensors capable of monitoring the structural stability of buildings in case a natural disaster occurs. Agriculture researchers can also use WISP to monitor the growth of crops in fields. Another application for the Wireless Identification and Sensing Platform is in the form of a backup calling module for phones so that people can still use them in the event of a power outage or if their phone's battery has run out. The UW team worked closely with colleagues at the Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands to provide WISP with wireless programming capabilities. The resulting Wisent protocol now allows the battery-less computer to be reprogrammed using the same radio waves it collects. "Our vision is to have truly wirelessly reprogrammable software-defined battery-less computers wherever and whenever we want," TU Delft Assistant Professor Przemysaw Paweczak said. So far, the researchers haven't released any details on when the new WISP computer will be offered to the public and how much a unit will likely cost. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Philips has updated the Hue app for the HomeKit-connected smart lights and lightbulbs, which will enhance the overall experience of users. On April 28, Philips announced the update for Android and iOS Hue app, which brings users a fresh design and a more intuitive interface. The app now includes a new feature called "Rooms," which will allow users to group together lights in a room and control all of them at once. The update also adds another feature called "Routines," which can be used for setting light schedules. The "Scenes" tool of the app will automatically select five most vibrant colors from a sample picture and create a custom lighting scheme. Users will be able to tweak the colors picked by the tool. The "Home & Away" feature brings complete peace of mind because users can still control the lights even when they are away. With this setting, the app turns the lights on or off based on the users preference and device's location. The new "Widgets" feature allows for easy and quick controlling of the Philips Hue lights. "Quick to set up and even quicker to access from drop down menu on the home screen, you can have up to 10 widgets that combine multiple rooms and scenes at once, giving you easy access to your favorite light settings," says Philips. The latest update to the Hue app is a big improvement as many users complained of the initial version of the app. "It's amazing really... a massive global corporation like Philips apparently can't hire programmers who actually know how to create a decent app! After all these pointless updates, they STILL can't figure out how to make the Alarms & Timers page scroll smoothly. God help you if you have more than one page of alarms and timers like I do... scrolling that page up or down is literally painful to watch! It lags and sticks and stutters," complained one user. Customers can download the Hue app for iOS and Android free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store respectively. The iOS version of the Hue app is compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch running on iOS 8.0 or above. The app weighs 57 MB and supports a number of languages such as English, Dutch, Czech, French, Japanese, German, Italian and more. The Android version of the app weighs 26 MB and requires Android 2.3 or above. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Samsung has recently revealed that its Samsung Pay service will allow you to withdraw cash from ATM machines, but the service is currently limited. To benefit from the feature, three criteria must be met: you should be in South Korea, you should own one of Samsung's flagships and you should use Woori Bank for the cash withdrawal. Should all three conditions be met, no debit card will be needed to take cash out of ATMs in the country. A Samsung executive from the Samsung Pay team noted at a recent developer conference that the company aims to take its mobile payments service to the UK, Spain, Singapore, Canada, Brazil and Australia during 2016. Currently, Samsung Pay works only in South Korea, China and the United States. South Korean users of the service also get support for gift cards that let them redeem points useful to unlock rewards and special benefits. Via Samsung Pay, users in South Korea are able to operate online payments and shop on apps directly from their screen. During the conference, Samsung mentioned that it is unknown when these features will land in the U.S. Samsung took the lid off its mobile payment service in 2015, allowing users of its flagship phones to purchase goods and services by sweeping the devices near registers instead of credit cards. The unveiling happened simultaneously with the presentation of Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, the first handsets that supported the capability. The possibility to take out cash from ATMs by using your smartphone is not breaking ground, but we commend Samsung for finally putting it into practice. The OEM did not divulge what technology it uses to make it happen, but we are looking at either NFC or MST. Samsung is now one of the big players in the mobile payment technologies, but the company took its time before joining in the bandwagon. Apple was the first company to create hype around the functionality with the Apple Pay service, and Samsung followed. As an interesting detail, both Apple and Samsung launched their mobile payment services in China at the same time, during the Chinese New Year. Since then, both companies have been looking to expand their services by adding features and setting foot in different markets. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Motorola is hosting a big event on May 17, so we might get to see the much-rumored Moto G4 and G4 Plus sooner than previously thought. Just last week, Lenovo touted an "exciting" new Motorola device set to debut on June 9, and the Moto G4 and G4 Plus were the first that came to mind. With an event now set for May 17, however, the two upcoming Moto G4 models could arrive sooner, while Motorola may be preparing something else for June. Lenovo and Motorola may be saving that June event for the flagship Moto X (2016), believed to be the handset that was recently spotted in benchmarks with the code name "Sheridan." For now, Motorola sent out invitations for May 17, when it will hold events in New Delhi and Mexico. Since we now expect to see the Moto G4 and G4 Plus in May, here's what we know so far about the two devices. The Moto G4 is rumored to feature a 5.5-inch full HD display, an octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel main camera and 16 GB of built-in storage, among the highlights. The Moto G4 Plus, meanwhile, is expected to share many specifications with the G4, potentially even the screen size and resolution, but it's said to have a better 16-megapixel rear camera, as well as a front-mounted fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button. Both smartphones are rumored to come with metal frames and plastic backs, and launch in Black and White color options, with interchangeable rear covers in different colors. It remains to be seen which of these rumored specs will turn out to be accurate, however. As always with leaks, rumors and speculation, it's best to take all reports with a healthy dose of skepticism until formal confirmation. If the Moto G4 and G4 Plus are indeed set to hit the scene on May 17, we'll get the official scoop straight from the source soon enough. We'll keep you up to date as soon as we learn more, so stay tuned. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Lizards sleep in a series of stages, such as rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, much like human beings, according to new research. The study even indicated the creatures may dream. Australian bearded dragons were examined as part of the new study. Investigators were able to show the animals experienced sleep in much the same way as our own species. This marks the first time any major study has documented proof that lizards sleep in stages, including slow-wave sleep and REM. It is during this latter stage of sleep that most dreaming takes place. Before this recent study, only mammals and birds were shown to exhibit such behavior. The subjects of a reptile's dream remains a mystery, although the possibilities remain intriguing. "If you forced me to speculate and to use a loose definition of dreaming, I'd speculate that those dreams are about recent notable events: insects, maybe a place where there are good insects, an aggressive male in the next terrarium, et cetera. If I were an Australian dragon living in Frankfurt, I'd be dreaming of a warm day in the sun," said Gilles Laurent, a neuroscientist from the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Germany. While REM sleep is marked by increased heart rate, blood pressure and dreaming, slow-wave sleep is just the opposite. During this most-restful period of sleep, little dreaming occurs, and brain activity, dominated by delta waves, is reduced. Humans typically experience REM sleep four to five times each night. Electrodes placed inside the brains of the lizards revealed Pogona vitticeps experienced the effect around 350 times during each period of sleep. These stages lasted an average of just 80 seconds each time. This discovery suggests that sleep patterns seen in humans and birds evolved 100 million years earlier than previously believed. Researchers believe the behavior likely first evolved in amniotes, a distant common ancestor of lizards, birds, and mammals, which lived between 300 million and 320 million years before our own time. Nearly all animals sleep, although methods and behaviors during the process differ between species. Animals that do not sleep include dolphins and bullfrogs. Analysis of the sleep patterns of lizards, and what the discovery can tell us about the evolution of animals, was published in the journal Science. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A humanoid robot created by Stanford University scientists was able to dive and find King Louis XIV's wrecked ship and its treasures. The robotic diver called OceanOne is a successful combination of artificial intelligence, haptic feedback networks and human touch, which are all key components for numerous potential applications in sea exploration and research. Finding The Treasures While sitting comfortably on a boat, Stanford professor Oussama Khatib was able to virtually dive to King Louis XIV's La Lune wreck, which is 100 meters or 328 feet below the Mediterranean. He was also able to collect a small vase from the site, bring it back to the boat and celebrate in triumph as he was the first human to ever touch a part of the ruins. The most interesting part of the mission is that Khatib did not have to do anything too drastic. All he needed was a joystick. The unconventional way of exploring the historic underwater site was made possible by controlling OceanOne, which appears to be an all-around virtual diver one that possesses human vision, an artificial brain and haptic force feedback. Although the trip to La Lune was just the first mission for OceanOne, Khatib hopes to embark on more challenging missions requiring high-level underwater skills that are too hazardous for human divers to perform. "OceanOne will be your avatar," says Khatib. He adds that the goal is to allow humans to dive virtually and be free of harm. Being able to have a human-like diver without sacrificing the actual body of that diver is going to be amazing, he says. About OceanOne OceanOne was originally created to help study coral reefs that are situated deep in the Red Sea. Since no submarine can dive with the skills of a human, experts developed OceanOne, which has now evolved into what it is now. The humanoid robot looks like a mermaid, with its entire body measuring 5 feet and its torso containing a head with a stereoscopic vision. It also has two connecting arms, which have force sensors that allow scientists to control the robot's grip on objects. The tail of the robot contains computers, batteries and thrusters. Human-Robot Collaboration Diving with OceanOne is much like diving together with actual humans, who communicate via hand gestures in performing complicated tasks or scientific experiments. Khatib says they connect humans and robots in a highly meaningful and instinctive way. The combination of humans and robots make a great pair, with robots doing things too dangerous for humans and the human providing the necessary touch to complete the tasks efficiently. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google is fusing its hardware products into a new division, tapping former Motorola president Rick Osterloh to oversee the business unit. The new unit will house many of Google's upcoming, as well as existing, hardware projects such as the Nexus smartphone, Chromecast video streaming stick, Chromebook laptops, tablets, and OnHub Wi-Fi routers among others. Google said that Osterloh will now oversee Project Aura, the group in-charge of reinventing the Google Glass. Google launched its $1,500 smart eyewear developer kit in 2012 but never released a consumer version because of privacy, as well as safety, concerns. Google has stopped manufacturing the Google Glass and decided to cut the cord of its Explorer's beta program in January 2015. Traditionally, Google's main focus is on the software platform driving the hardware that third parties develop. Even the Google flagship Nexus series is developed in partnership with third-party hardware companies, such as HTC, Motorola, and Samsung among others. With Google eyeing new technologies in wearables, including augmented and virtual reality, Osterloh is expected to bring expertise in product design and manufacturing to develop products that consumers want. Recode earlier reported that Osterloh will assume the senior vice president role and directly report to Google CEO Sundar Pichai. He will also work closely with Android SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer, who will now focus his effort on software and platform development, and Nest's CEO Tony Fadell, who will remain an adviser to the Google Glass team. This will be Osterloh's second time working for Google as he was previously part of Motorola before Google sold it to Chinese company Lenovo. In January, Lenovo announced its decision to slowly phase out the Motorola brand, changing it to "Moto by Lenovo" and the company has been undergoing a wide reorganization since. Osterloh stuck with Motorola and served as president and chief operating officer until March this year. Under his watch, Motorola has seen many successful products, including the Moto X, Moto G, Moto E, Droid Turbo and Nexus 6 smartphone series, as well as the Moto 360 smartwatch, which all launched to rave reviews. Google is hoping to bolster its hardware division further by bringing Osterloh on board. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New York Times is shipping another 300,000 Google Cardboard Virtual Reality (VR) Viewers for its online digital-only subscribers. In 2015, New York Times, in partnership with Google, sent out over 1 million Google Cardboard headsets to their home print subscribers to coincide with the launch of the NYT VR app. This new release of 300,000 devices is accompanied by the May 19 launch of their VR production Seeking Pluto's Frigid Heart, and will reach approximately one-third of their installed digital subscribers. With the recent launch of consumer VR devices including the Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift CV1, and HTC Vive, many companies are exploring how to best engage the new fledgling market. The incredibly low-tech Google Cardboard relies completely on the capabilities of users' smartphones to provide the sensor data, processing, and high quality display. A similar move was taken with the Samsung Gear VR, developed in cooperation with Oculus, which relies on the power of Samsung's flagship Android phones. The key difference between the Cardboard and the Gear VR though is the build quality and the integrated VR home store. Other devices like the Oculus Rift CV1 and HTC Vive require a powerful desktop computer but provide richer VR experiences and include revolutionary new capabilities, such as hand-tracking motion controllers included with the HTC Vive. With the industry moving rapidly from the simple Google Cardboard design, the New York Times is exploring the possibility of supporting more devices. "There's lots of VR companies who will tell you that the world's moving beyond Cardboard pretty quickly, [...] and I think we're going that direction too," said New York Times Senior Editor Sam Dolnick, as cited by The Verge. Still with the high cost of the current high-end VR setups, a smartphone mounted in an inexpensive Google Cardboard is an incredibly accessible way to experience VR. According to Pew Research Study, over 72 percent of people in the U.S. own a smartphone. This statistic proves that the potential market for Google Cardboard is incredibly strong. Seeking Pluto's Frigid Heart is New York Times' eighth VR production launched on the NYT VR app. It is also the first one that uses 3D computer generated imagery instead of 360-degree video. Other NYT VR stories included the refugee crisis, the U.S. Presidential Elections, and on-the-ground coverage of the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks. With VR technology, New York Times is hoping to move from simply telling stories to providing the means of virtually inhabiting these areas and seeing the events first hand. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Huge parts of the Great Barrier Reef may be dead within 20 years due to coral bleaching caused by climate change, says Australian scientists. Top scientists and researchers of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, Australia, revealed that in two decades' time, the Great Barrier Reef will be dead due to the continuous rising of greenhouse gases resulting in huge events of coral bleaching in the area. According to the scientists, mass coral bleaching such as the current gripping of the reef is expected to take place every two years starting at about mid 2030s. As a result, corals won't get enough time to recover. Corals need 15 years to be restored from bleaching. The scientists say that due to climate change, the water in the ocean increased in temperature by 1 degree Celsius (33.8 Fahrenheit) as noted on the coral bleaching event last month. According to the authorities, the March coral bleaching event is the worst record. "This year's bleaching event is 175 times more likely today than in a world where humans weren't emitting greenhouse gases. We have loaded the odds against the survival of one of the world's greatest natural wonders," said Andrew King, head author and scientist from the ARC Centre for Excellence. "Climate change is very likely to make the extreme ocean temperatures underpinning this year's massive coral bleaching event occur every two years, during March, by 2034," the scientists warn. Another scientist in the study said that the team's findings conform to his early predictions about the death of the Great Barrier Reef. In 1999, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, a professor from the Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, controversially predicted that the Great Barrier Reef would be dead by 2040. The scientists published their latest study earlier than usual - before the review process - since the findings reveal huge consequences, and time is of the essence for the reef's survival. The scientists added that the result of their study demands urgent solution and action for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. In addition, the scientists warned that the loss of the corals would make a great impact on species inhabiting it. There would also be a domino effect on industries depending on this great wonder of nature. The death of the reefs might compromise 69,000 jobs in the tourism and fishing sectors. Photo: Robert Linsdell | Flickr Google appears to be pushing ahead with its plans for a self-driving car with the tech company reportedly engaged in "late stage talks" with Fiat Chrysler about a potential partnership. In a recent article by The Wall Street Journal, Google is said to have been in negotiations with the Italian-American automaker for several months and is now poised to close an agreement. Google has been in search for a car manufacturer who can help continue its plans of creating vehicles with self-driving technology. The company said that it doesn't want to build the cars themselves, but rather, it would like to serve as an auto supplier instead. In December, Google and Ford were reported to be in talks about starting a new company dedicated to the creation of self-driving cars. While this partnership would seem like a good fit, business experts believe a deal between Google and Fiat Chrysler would even be better. Fiat Chrysler has been looking for potential partners of its own to help the automaker offset costs for development and production. The automaker's CEO Sergio Marchionne pointed out that industry players have to produce on a bigger scale in order to achieve better returns on their investments. He said that they are open to the idea of entering a partnership with a tech giant such as Google or Apple. Auto industry analyst Karl Brauer explained that car companies are now trying to break into the tech space because they are aware that it is where their future lies. Tech companies, on the other hand, are trying to find a way to enter the automotive industry. Brauer said that a partnership between Google and Fiat Chrysler could help both companies become leaders in this pivotal race. Alphabet, Google's parent company, has spent the past six years trying to perfect its technology for self-driving vehicles. So far, the company has logged over 1.5 million miles to test its self-driving capabilities in a real-world setting. Both Google and Fiat Chrysler have yet to confirm the reported partnership deal. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If you're wondering why some people look quite older or younger than their actual age, then the answer may be in the DNA. A new study suggests a variation of a particular gene can make people appear about two years older or younger than they already are. The specific gene is called MC1R (melanocortin 1 receptor), which has already been linked to certain facial features such as red hair and freckles. For the research, David Gunn, a scientist of Unilever who provided some funding, and his team worked with people whose job was to assess digital images of 2,700 Dutch seniors and guess their age. Based on this experiment, the team discovered that assessors viewed more women to be older than their age, and men, younger. The team then looked into the supplied DNA of these seniors and found that those whose perceived age was older carried certain risk variants of MC1R. They also observed the same thing when they replicated the test, this time with 1,200 seniors from the UK and 600 from the Netherlands. If that discovery isn't interesting enough, the link between the older perceived age and the risk variant remains even if other factors such as age and sun exposure are taken into consideration. The study didn't explain how the risk variants make one appear older, especially since it's not associated with the appearance of wrinkles. "There are two things we don't know: what part of perceived age does it influence, and how does it do it," said Manfred Kayser, Erasmus Medical Center forensic molecular biology professor who worked with the Unilever team. There are a couple of theories, however. One, they change other aspects of the face such as the height of the lip or the sagging of the jaw skin. It's also possible that it's related to the non-repair of damaged DNA or inflammation. The study can be a "different approach" to understanding how a person ages. "By finding more genes involved in perceived age, we can better understand the relationship between how old you look and how healthy you are," Kayser further explained. Don't forget too that putting all the blame to genes may not be the best idea as other factors can just as make you look old. These include the food you eat, exposure to sunlight, smoking, and even your attitude. The study is now available in Current Biology. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There is more to a peacock's feather-shaking technique than just an ostentatious display of iridescent eyespots to attract a mate, a new report has revealed. Animals often display their body parts such as head crests and horns as a form of sexual display. Peacocks woo a mate by fanning out their feathers and shaking them. Researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada found the biomechanics that suggest that it is not just the visual display of its stunning, iridescent eyespots that attracts a potential mate. Peacocks also produce vibrations at resonance when shorter tail-feathers strike the longer feathers. The vibrations create an illusion that everything is moving except for the eyespots on top. By doing a microscopic study of the feathers, the scientists saw that the characteristic eyespots of peacocks are held together by microhooks while they wiggle and rattle their tails. This causes the surrounding filaments of the eyespots move along with the other feathers as the eyespot center remains still - eyespots then appear iridescent. Along with the movement, the feather-shaking vibration occurs at a frequency that is almost similar to the feather's usual frequency. By studying the high-speed video capture of the train-rattling display and comparing it with individual feathers studied in the laboratory, the physicists were able to identify that frequencies of train feathers were at resonance. The physical properties of the peacock's feather allow them to strum at a rhythm that matches their feather train's natural frequency. Study author and applied physicist Suzanne Amador Kane likened the action to a child on a swing. "If you just pull them back and let them go, they swing at a pre-set frequency," explained Kane. "The rate at which they swing back and forth is set by the mechanical properties of the swing and not how you're pushing them." The team also noted that peacocks with longer tail feathers are able to shake faster, suggesting that they have powerful muscles that make them more attractive to peahens. The study was published in PLOS ONE on April 27. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 343 Industries is serving up another helping of Warzone Turbo for Halo 5: Guardians, the studio announced on Twitter yesterday. This serving is about the same size as the previous one. Warzone Turbo returned on April 28 and will run until May 4. "Call in your high level REQs and join the mayhem," the studio tweeted. The rules are the same. There's no need to work through levels. Warzone Turbo players hit level 9 as soon as their home base is secure. Players are also given near instantaneous energy regeneration to keep the chaos caffeinated and they are given access to their full REQ inventory for the entire match. Warzone Turbo was last launched on March 31 and was live until April 4. 343 Industries originally had no plans to ever launch Warzone Turbo to the Halo 5 community at large, according to Lead Multiplayer Designer Lawrence Metten. The mode was developed to let 343 Industries' Quality Assurance team test standard Warzone without having to level up to nine and replenish their energy. "Then one day we made the 'mistake' of giving the mode a whirl during our afternoon studio playtest," Metten said last month. "It was incredibly chaotic and surprisingly a ton of fun to play, which inevitably led to a long and drawn out internal discussion that went something like this: 'Should we ship this?' 'We can't not ship this!'" Before launching Warzone Turbo for the entire Halo 5 community, 343 Industries added "a couple tuning tweaks" and a few "scattered adjustments," according to Metten. 343 Industries hasn't revealed why it brought Warzone Turbo back. If the return of the frenetic game mode has little or nothing to do with testing, then it may be that the reintroduction of Warzone Turbo is a move to see if the mode is something players would play long term - plus, it's a good way for players to burn REQs. Here's how word got out about Warzone Turbos' return: Warzone Turbo is back and available through 5/4. Call in your high level REQs and join the mayhem! pic.twitter.com/pkWj92L7wh Halo (@Halo) April 28, 2016 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a 61-year-old man who threatened to shoot President Barack Obama. The FBI and Medford police arrested John Martin Roos on April 28. The FBI also found what appeared to be pipe bombs from the residence of the accused. The Oregon State Police Explosives Unit "rendered the devices safe." The FBI also briefly detained Roos' roommate, who was present when the apartment was being searched. However, the roommate was not arrested and is not facing any charges. On April 21, Roos wrote on a Facebook post that officers of the Secret Service and the FBI visited him in March to discuss the threat of shooting President Obama. Roos also criticized the federal agents on social networking site and called them "America's gestapo." One post referred Obama as a vile Muslim traitor. In a separate post Roos wrote that Obama was "barely worth the cost of the bullet." He did not only targeted the President, but also made withering comments about First Lady Michelle Obama. In December 2015, Roos asked "American Patriots" to come forward and take some action against the president. "With 500,000 plus hunters (a minimum) in America, my question is why are we still listening to a traitor speak on TV?" said Roos. "There are certainly enough good shots in America to get the job done. You say you want a revolution. Lets Roll." The FBI has confirmed that they have arrested Roos for threatening to shoot Obama. Roos was not at home when the arrest warrant was served, but the federal officers were able to locate and arrest him in Medford. He is held in the Jackson County Jail and a court date has yet to be set. Court records suggest that Roos has some minor criminal history in Jackson County. In the past, he has been lodged for dodging a police officer and driving under the influence. However, these charges are not major in comparison to the threats he has made toward Obama. Photo: Marc Nozell | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A report published by SecurityScorecard earlier this April shed light on exactly how many vulnerabilities plague U.S. government organizations. The data revealed that, out of all of the industries examined, ranging from health care to hospitality, the government ranked last in terms of cybersecurity. For the report, SecurityScorecard analyzed 600 local, state and federal government organizations. It ranked their performances on an A through F scale (F being the worst), and each grade was based on relative security health and current security measures. The bottom performers were the U.S. Department of State, NASA and the information technology systems of Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Washington. Most of the low-performing organizations were frequent victims of malware infections and exhibited poor network security. Researchers also accounted for major government data breaches that occurred between April 2015 and April 2016. The state government websites of Colorado and Georgia topped the list, as did the website of the IRS. In terms of major websites, including NASA.gov, FBI.gov and IRS.gov, data showed that their security levels remained relatively consistent, but not overly positive. The FBI, for instance, remained within the "B" range over the six-month period (October through March) analyzed by SecurityScorecard. However, it has been hovering around "C" since a data breach in February 2016. IRS.gov had been near an "A" rating during the same six-month period. However, it fell to a "C" in February following a reported data breach. Researchers say it's been showing improvement as its security has remained effective. NASA.gov has been the worst of the bunch, with grades fluctuating near the "C" level. Similarly, a data breach earlier this year dropped it into the "D" range. Despite the many lapses in security, some government organizations are keeping up with the ever-changing demands of cybersecurity. The websites of Clark County, Nev., the Hennepin County Library, and the City of Phoenix all scored close to 100 percent, placing them well within the "A" grade. Researchers note that the top performers had a few characteristics in common. Primarily, they excelled in the areas of application security, password disclosure and patching. Founded in 1901, the National Institute of Standards and Technology was created by the government to guide the government in its security measures, online and offline. The researchers of the report recommend looking to the NIST for a holistic view of best practices. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On April 21, multiple sources began reporting that the U.S. government is looking into a detection system manufactured by Israel to detect underground tunnels. The technology would be able to spot these human-created tunnels, typically designed for the transport of drugs and other illegal goods. This detector would be the first of its kind if it were to go mainstream for government use. The Israeli government has been funding the development of the technology for five years, but it has just started to make headlines. More than 100 companies have allegedly been involved in the creation of the underground detector. Civilian engineers, infrastructure contractors and tunnel construction experts have all been involved in its creation. Israel Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon says that the search for tunnels has been at the top of the country's priority list. News of the tunnel detector's existence came shortly after the discovery of a concrete-lined tunnel near the Gaza border, spanning more than one mile. In the U.S., the government would likely use the tunnel detecting technology along the Mexico border. At the moment, tunnels are discovered through tips from informants or investigative work, rather than technology. The U.S. currently has equipment to locate land mines, natural gas and oil deposits. However, none of these items are advanced enough to handle the detection of tunnels. With the technology from Israel, the U.S. hopes to hone in on tunnels and save costs that would otherwise go toward developing its own system. The government has set aside $120 million for Israel to continue developing the tunnel detector over the next three years. On April 20, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it had uncovered one of the longest-ever underground tunnels along the California border. It was 800 yards in length and began at a house in Tijuana, Mexico. Six people were arrested in drug trafficking and tunnel-related charges. "This case is a strong reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist along the Southwest border," said Hunter Davis, director of Air Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations. "Drug trafficking organizations continue to jeopardize our National Security in exchange for profit." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Fairphone 2, the operating system designed with "nothing to hide," was officially released by Fairphone on April 28. The phone manufacturer, which specializes in creating products that are composed of conflict-free materials, bases the Fairphone OS on the Android operating system. Fairphone launched code.fairphone.com in the beginning of 2016 to allow developers across the Web to help develop the OS. Google Mobile Services are not included in Fairphone 2, meaning users will have to find alternatives for maps and email. However, Fairphone claims that people will be "surprised" by the number of alternatives on the market. "Going forward, the Fairphone Open Source OS will get the same support, regular updates and security fixes as the 'normal' Fairphone OS with Google services, but please be aware that there may be a short timespan between releasing an update for each version in a given cycle," wrote Software Developer Kees Jongenburger on the Fairphone blog. With the release of Fairphone 2, the company continued to press its ever-present mission of providing transparency. Fairphone highlighted the benefits of open source upon the launch of the OS, such as knowing exactly went into making it. Through software like Google Mobile Services, Fairphone claims that users may not always know what makes up the OS and apps fueling their phones. "These apps and services are very popular and definitely useful, but we believe that to have true ownership of your phone, you should be able to make a conscious decision about what software you'd like to run," Jongenburger stated. Fairphone claims that Fairphone 2 was created with DIY repair in mind. It will sell spare parts and provide repair guides to users. Over time, the company is also going to focus on providing patches for any security holes that are discovered. "We're taking responsibility for keeping the default Fairphone 2 software running smoothly, but with this open source release, we're also making it possible for external parties and developers to contribute to keeping the software up to date," says Jongenburger. Fairphone initially began as a campaign back in 2010, and it registered as an enterprise in 2013. The Amsterdam-based company is now 100 percent independently financed. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Lasik surgery has already given people a way to correct their vision with advanced technology, but what if it were possible to achieve similar results with an injectable device? Google filed a patent on April 28 that showed this may become a solution for those with vision problems in the future. In the patent, illustrations demonstrate the injection of an electronic device that would focus light on the retina. This would ideally correct poor vision, and it would be powered wirelessly through an energy-harvesting antenna. It could also contain its own storage, radio and lens. Google has notably filed many patents in the past that have not necessarily come to life. Thus far, the company has not widely announced the development of any vision-correcting technology stemming from the patent. However, this is not the first time that Google has dabbled in optometry. The company has been notably working with Novartis, the global pharmaceutical company, to deliver innovative technology to the industry. Patent applications have revealed that one of the products that could be developed is a lens that senses glucose levels. This would likely be for diabetes patients. In June 2015, news began circulating that the Google may be developing a contact lens that could collect and analyze data from tears. Google has been working with Novartis since 2014. The pharmaceutical company licensed Google's "smart lens" technology for all ocular medical uses. "We are looking forward to working with Google to bring together their advanced technology and our extensive knowledge of biology to meet unmet medical needs," said Novartis CEO Joseph Jimenez, at the time of the announcement. "This is a key step for us to go beyond the confines of traditional disease management, starting with the eye." Under the agreement, Google claimed it would help Novartis with the development of products for diabetic patients, as well as individuals with presbyopia, who can no longer read without glasses. "Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturization of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people," said Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google. "We are very excited to work with Novartis to make this dream come true." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Infosys Deepens Relationship With Microsoft | TechTree.com Infosys has recently announced an expanded relationship with Microsoft, the global leader in platform and productivity solutions, in driving industry-led solutions, to simplify and automate migration to Microsoft products and to accelerate Microsoft Azure-based and other digital transformations for clients. Infosys has committed to scale its team of dedicated Azure consultants to 5,000. Many organizations wanting to migrate to the cloud select Azure as an open, hyperscale, enterprise-grade cloud platform. Together, Microsoft and Infosys address a range of migration and implementation scenarios to bring the benefits of cloud to clients quickly and easily. Infosys world-class learning and education center continuously renews the skills of thousands of engineers, helping to drive innovation and automation in all engagements with Microsoft. For example, Infosys provides DevOps and testing automation support to Microsoft. This enhanced alliance builds on Infosys' longstanding relationship with Microsoft as a Global Managed Alliance Partner. Infosys brings the productivity benefits of Microsoft products to its global client base, and is also a provider of technology and business process services to Microsoft. Earlier this year, the two companies announced a similar collaboration in supporting healthcare organizations in their digital transformation. In the banking industry, Infosys' core banking product, Finacle suite, has been available on Azure for the past year. Collaboration highlights: Infosys will provide a broad range of offerings to accelerate the adoption of Azure, Analytics and SQL Server 2016. Clients will be able to leverage solutions such as the Healthcare Analytics Suite along with migrations of a wide range of technologies including Mainframe and Linux. Infosys will expand the availability of its products on Azure, in addition to Finacle, to clients. In order to assist Microsoft clients, Infosys, along with Microsoft, will build design tools, solution frameworks and accelerators to simplify and automate a significant part of the effort required by clients to migrate and manage their implementations on to Microsoft products. Infosys will build a global capacity of more than 5,000 consultants skilled on Azure within the next few years, alongside a broad range of tools and solutions designed to accelerate the delivery of services that will drive legacy transformation, workload migration and analytics services. The two companies will establish a global Azure Innovation Center - an ecosystem to proliferate the development of innovative solutions and offerings to help our enterprise clients utilize the power of the Microsoft cloud platform. The center will utilize the best of design thinking to enable Infosys architects to incubate, differentiate, adopt and showcase the impact of emerging technologies. Microsoft and Infosys will work to enable clients on cloud transformation journeys to utilize capabilities across Azure, Microsoft Dynamics and Cortana Analytics suite. TAGS: Infosys, Microsoft Google Translate: 10 Years Since It All Started | TechTree.com Google is celebrating its tenth year in the field of translations. Yup, you guessed it right. Google Translate completes 10 years allowing users to translate from different languages. Also, during these 10 years, the company has been introducing one or the other update to make this service more reliable. When Google first launched the service, the company supported just two languages and today, the list of supported languages has risen to whopping 103. On this occasion, Barak Turovsky, Product Lead of Google Translate has posted a blog post on the official Google Translate blog, noting down what Google Translate is today, after 10 years in its bucket of experience. Google Translate has been known to help people make connections, especially when you have visited a country where English is not often spoken or written. Another fact we can understand by going through the original post is that, more than 500 million people currently use Google Translate, and the most commonly used languages are English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, and Indonesian. Barak has also mentioned in the post that Google Translate works on more than 100 billion words a day. Now, that's huge! Most of us have been wondering many times - how would Google predict the trending terms. There are number of ways to do that, and Google Translate is one of them. How? Google looks into what people are translating and thus, trends can be easily understood. On this note, the original blog post notes: Last year we saw a big spike in translations for the word "selfie, and this past week, translations for "purple rain" spiked by more than 25,000 percent. And, congratulate yourself if you are an avid Google Translate user. Google claims that more than 3.5 million people have made 90 million contributions through Translate Community. So, if you find an error in the translation next time, it would be good if you can review, validate, and recommend translations. That's how Google Translate is learning. Speaking about the journey of Google Translate, the company introduced bilingual conversation, back in 2011, which allowed people to converse with each-other even though they knew no one common language. In 2014, Google also rolled out the Voice Search feature in Hindi and seven other Indian languages. However, visual translation from English to Hindi was included only in July, 2015. Lastly, Google Translate also has offline support on both Android and iOS. So, do not panic if a country you are visiting has no proper Internet connection. But, be well prepared in advance, as you will have to download offline language packages when you are in your home country! TAGS: Google, Google Translate, Google India Samsungs Artik 10 a worthy challenger to Raspberry Pi 3, will start shipping next month Samsung Artik 10 is a computer board featuring 8 processing cores and will provide a nice little battle to the Raspberry Pi 3. Artik 10 was announced last year with the suggestion that it could be used as a PC replacement if the consumer is proficient enough in assembling that computer themselves. In addition, Samsung Artik 10 has several other uses as well, ranging from the development of smart appliances, drones, robots and other gizmos. While pricing details are currently not available, we have a feeling that it is going to be along the same lines as its predecessor, Artik 5. Artik came with a price tag of $99.99, making it clearly more expensive to the more affordable $35 Raspberry Pi 3. It could be that Samsung Artik 10 could feature the same price tag as its predecessor, but that would not make it a very affordable board now would it? However, the trade-offs are worth it if not for one tiny little complaint. Artik 10 features a 32-bit ARM CPU, and while smartphones, and tablets, as well as the Raspberry Pi 3 boast 64-bit processors, it is disappointing to see that the Samsung Arik 10 comes with an outdated processor. In fact, Samsung also uses 64-bit processors in its tablets and smartphones, so it makes no sense for the company to go back to old older processor architecture when shipping out its Arik 10. The 8 cores are running in ARMs big.LITTLE architecture. The higher performing cores, which in this board are four Cortex-A15 cores; they will tackle the more demanding tasks while the remaining four lower-power Cortex-A7 cores will tackle the lesser tasks and will also contribute to some level of efficiency. However, Samsung Artik 10 has better graphics than Raspberry Pi 3. Its Mali-T628 MP6 graphics processor can display HD video at 120 frames per second, which is twice the frame rate that Raspberry Pi 3 is able to render. Also, the new Artik board has 16GB of flash storage and 2GB of LPDDR3 memory, both of which are greater than what is present on Raspberry Pi 3. Artik also has wireless capabilities and expansion ports to connect external sensors, cameras, displays and other components, making it superior than its latest challenger, but carries nearly three times the price tag. Which one would you go for if given the chance? PCWorld U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded an unprecedented number of apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border in a fiscal year. | Read More France's Casino Group has agreed to sell its Vietnam unit to Thai conglomerate Central Group for 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) including debt, the retailer said on Friday confirming an earlier Reuters story. Central Group, controlled by business family Chirathivat with interests in real estate, department stores and retailing, beat rival Thai tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi's TCC Group to win the majority stake in hypermarket operator Big C Vietnam, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The two tycoons have been expanding into their neighbouring Southeast Asian markets in search of growth areas. The French group on the other hand is retreating from fast-growing Asia markets as it has been under pressure to cut down its heavy debt load. Its shares tumbled in December after short seller Muddy Waters said Casino was "dangerously leveraged" and managed for the short term. Casino has been battling of late to restore its investment-grade credit rating after Standards & Poor's Ratings Services said it risked downgrade to junk. In February, Casino sold its stake in Thai hypermarket operator Big C Supercenter PCL for 3.1 billion euros to TCC Group, which beat Central Group in the bidding. It achieved its Vietnam sale at a multiple of 1.8 times net sales, the company said in a statement. Central Group declined comment. Casino Chief Executive Jean-Charles Naouri said he was confident his group would manage to sell 4 billion euros of assets to cut debt which totalled 6.1 billion euros at the end of 2015. He did not rule out exceeding that target. HSBC advised Casino on the Vietnam sale, while Citigroup and Deutsche Bank advised Central, said people familiar with the matter, declining to be identified as the information was not public. Pjico, one of Vietnam's five biggest non-life insurance companies, is set to sell a 20 percent stake to a foreign investor, expecting to increase its charter capital by 40 percent to VND1 trillion (US$44.89 million). The company, 51 percent owned by state-owned fuel trader Petrolimex, would issue more than 17.7 million shares for the purpose by June end, news website Dau Tu reported, quoting CEO Dao Nam Hai. Pjico has been in talks with two foreign companies, it said. The company reported revenues of more than VND2.23 trillion ($100.15 million) last year, up 5.1 percent from 2014. Almost 45 percent came from vehicle insurance, followed by property insurance which accounted for nearly 20 percent. Vietnam's non-life insurance market grew 17.18 percent last year to over VND32 trillion ($1.43 billion), figures from the Ministry of Finance showed. Vietnam Airlines Corp., which sold shares in an initial public offering 17 months ago, expects to get them listed some time later this year after closing a deal with ANA Holdings Inc., Chief Executive Officer Pham Ngoc Minh said. The shares of the state-owned carrier may start trading on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, Minh said in an interview in Hanoi. The company agreed to sell an 8.8 percent stake to the Japanese airline in January for $108 million as part of a plan to offload 20 percent. We expect to list the shares later this year after completing our strategic partnership deal with ANA and fulfilling some procedural requirements of the exchange, he said. Vietnam Airlines is revamping its fleet with the latest wide-body aircraft from Boeing Co. and Airbus Group SE as it adds international routes to meet demand for air travel from the countrys growing middle class. Pre-tax profit in the first half of 2016 is likely to jump about three to four times amid an increase in passenger traffic of as much as 13 percent, Minh said. Jetstar investment The company plans to open new routes from the Southeast Asian nations central-coast beach cities of Nha Trang and Danang to Japan and South Korea, he said. Easing of tourist visa rules last year by the government for visitors from France, Italy, Spain, the U.K. and Germany is boosting traffic, according to Minh. The airline is also spending to help unit Jetstar Pacific Airlines expand its fleet to 30 planes from 12 over the next four years. It plans to jointly invest $139 million in the subsidiary, along with partner Qantas Airways Ltd., Minh said. Vietnam Airlines owns 70 percent of Jetstar, while Qantas holds the rest. Facing stiff competition from low-cost carrier VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Co., Vietnam Airlines is positioning itself as a premium carrier, targeting the countrys new flying classes as well as foreign tourists, he said. VietJet may surpass the national carrier this year to become Vietnams biggest domestic operator, according to CAPA Centre for Aviation. The overall market share doesnt mean so much, Minh said. Good margin is more important. We want to keep our main market segment as premium. We aim for high-end services. Trading delays The carrier said its first-quarter pre-tax profit rose 33 percent , while passenger traffic climbed 12 percent. Vietnam Airlines raised about $51.3 million from the November 2014 IPO, selling the entire 49 million shares offered at an average price of 22,307 dong ($1). Equivalent to a 3.5 percent stake, the company was then valued at $1.5 billion. In Vietnam, after an IPO, it is normal for companies to wait for months before their shares start trading on a bourse. The nations two stock exchanges reported 139 offerings in 2015, of which only 47 were listed the same year, according to a report by the State Securities Commission. State-owned Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverages Corp., the countrys biggest beer maker, sold shares in 2008 and Vietnam National Textile & Garment Group, the No. 1 textile maker, in 2014. Both have yet to list them. Vietnam on Thursday banned the sale and distribution of non-living aquatic products in its central region, following inconclusive efforts to explain why huge numbers of dead fish washed ashore. The ban tackles fears of a health threat along 200 km (124 miles) of the coast, after the government said the fish could have been killed by toxic discharge caused by humans or "red tide", when algae blooming at an abnormal rate produce toxins. On Wednesday, the government said there was no evidence that discharge from a new Taiwanese-built steel plant, a unit of Formosa Plastics, was to blame for the fish deaths. Vietnam exports $7 billion of seafood a year, mostly from waters off its southern coast, but industry has yet to feel the impact. Fish and shrimp from the affected region are chiefly consumed at home, an industry official told Reuters. Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung ordered officials in four Vietnamese provinces to seize and destroy dead aquatic products washed ashore or raised along the coastline. "The use, collection, transport, trading of dead aquatic products as food for people and feed for livestock is strictly prohibited," the order said. Seafood exports from January to April are estimated to have risen 3.8 percent from a year ago to $1.93 billion, compared to a fall of 15.6 percent in 2015. Vietnam's biggest markets are the United States, Europe and Japan. Members of the media cover a meeting attended Vietnam's National Resources and Environment Minister Tran Hong Ha (C) officials and science experts on the recent situation of fish kill in Vietnam's central province, at the ministry's headquarters in Hanoi, April 27, 2016 . Tests of seawater in Thua Thien-Hue, one of the affected provinces, showed higher than normal levels of some pollutants, the province's environment department has said. Vietnam has a four-day holiday ending Tuesday, and many people had booked tours to beaches in Quang Binh, neighboring the province of Ha Tinh. The latter, 400 km (250 miles) south of Hanoi, is where dead fish began washing up on April 6. Seafood markets have been deserted and tourist firms are receiving cancellations, state media reported. The Vietnamese government is facing a major hurdle in one of its most ambitious attempt to remove legal barriers to investment and business: time is running out while there are still a large number of regulations waiting to be reviewed for the cut. The deadline for half of the existing business requirements to be removed is July 1. Under the Law on Investment that took effect last year, only the central government can decide on which conditions businesses have to meet. T hat means more than 3,000 legal requirements put forth by ministries and provincial and municipal governments over the years must be reviewed and rid off. The central government will reintroduce rules that it deems necessary. At a government meeting early this week, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc firmly rejected proposals for extending the deadline, as many ministries and agencies claimed they are unable to finish the task in time, news website Dau Tu reported on Wednesday. "We cannot let extra legal requirements continue to obstruct businesses' activities," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying. In interviews with local media, economists and officials involved in the process clearly believed it is not easy to scrap thousands of legal requirements within months. In fact, ministries and agencies complained about the shortage of time, even as they supposedly started reviewing their legal requirements around one year ago. Businesses in Vietnam often have to navigate through a myriad of regulations and restrictions. For instance, to sell alcohol, a restaurant has to apply for a license, under a government decree. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has its own extra paperwork requirements, including proof of contracts between the restaurant and its suppliers as well as quality certificates for the alcohol products. Time issues aside, there appears to be a lack of political willpower for action. Bui Thu Thuy, deputy chief of the department of business development under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, told news website VietNamNet that many ministries insist that all of their rules are necessary and should be kept. Another critic of the underwhelming work of ministries and agencies, Nguyen Minh Thao, deputy chief of the business environment office at the Central Institute for Economic Management, said in the Dau Tu report that she saw no progress in the reform process. Officials are reviewing the regulations as if they wanted to keep them all, rather than to remove as many barriers as possible, Thao said. Duong Dang Hue, former chief of the department of civil and business laws at the Ministry of Justice, agreed. Businesses will not benefit at all if at the end the number of regulations and restrictions remain the same, he told Dau Tu. Turning ministerial circulars to government degrees will not help, Hue said. Speaking with VietNamNet, Dau Anh Tuan, who is in charge of legal issues at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said the government should invite independent organizations to take part in the review. Ministries rarely want to remove their own circulars, but will find ways to keep them legally, he said. Even worse, many ministries such as construction, transport, industry and trade, and agriculture continued to issue new legal requirements even after the Law on Investment became effective, Dau Tu reported, citing a report by a panel tasked with overseeing the law's application. Nguyen Dinh Cung, who is on the panel, said many ministries believed that they still have rights to issue legal requirements, because other laws stipulate that ministers are in charge of issuing regulations for the sectors that they oversee. According to a recent survey by VCCI and the US Agency for International Development, 65 percent of businesses agreed that government officials causing trouble is common when they process procedures for businesses. The survey also found that 66 percent of respondents had to pay informal charges last year, compared to 64.5 percent in 2014 and 50 percent in 2013. Over 11 percent of respondents said the charges were equivalent to more than 10 percent of their revenue, slightly higher than 10 percent in 2014. Vietnam's insurance sale reached around VND68 trillion (US$2.96 billion) by 2015 end, up 21.43 percent year on year, the highest growth since 2011, according to latest figures released by the Ministry of Finance. Non-life insurance sector accounted for more than 45 percent of the total sale and recorded a rise of 14 percent, while life insurance sector's revenue grew 29.5 percent, the ministry said. Local insurance companies' combined payouts were estimated over VND21 trillion ($916.35 million), it said. Vietnam's insurance market is forecast to grow over 10 percent in 2016. A woman in Ba Tri District, Ben Tre Province receives drinking water under a New Zealand government-funded program. Photo courtesy of Oxfam The New Zealand Embassy in Hanoi on Thursday announced humanitarian aid worth US$50,000 to communities affected by drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre. Up to 6,000 cow and goat farmers in Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu districts will receive cash grants to buy food and water supplies for their animals, which they are dependent on for their livelihoods, the embassy said in a statement. We recognize the serious impact that the drought and saltwater intrusion is having on communities in southern and central provinces of Vietnam," Ambassador Haike Manning said in a statement. This assistance is a modest, but practical contribution to the communities we are already working with through our existing project, and is an example of New Zealands ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable communities across Vietnam, Manning said. The aid will be provided through an ongoing $4 million New Zealand government funded project in the province, implemented by Oxfam in Vietnam. Oxfam is working with Ben Tres government to provide safe drinking water to more than 6,000 people. The drought and saltwater intrusion has affected hundreds of thousands of families, while most of them are already living under poverty line, said Oxfam Country Director Babeth Lefur. Vietnam is in urgent need of international aid worth $48.5 million as a crippling drought threatens to create a shortage of food and water for two million people in southern and central Vietnam, the government said Tuesday. The country is going through its worst drought in almost a century amid intense and prolonged El Nino conditions. An official report estimated the drought damage at $250 million, saying it would rise since the situation would last for several more months. Ho Chi Minh City has not found any signs of corruption in its agencies this year, and a senior inspector admitted that there should have been more efforts to uncover wrongdoings. The issue was raised during a meeting on Wednesday between the city's administration and legislators, when Deputy Tran Van Thien questioned why corruption has not been seriously discussed at any government meetings for years. Is corruption really nonexistent or is it hiding somewhere? Thien said, as cited by Tuoi Tre newspaper. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Nga, deputy chief inspector of the city, said that her unit found no corruption cases in the first nine months. But Nga said that does not mean corruption does not exist. She said corruption is still complicated in several areas such as construction and public spending, where government management is not very tight and there is still a lot of red tape. Officials are receiving gifts and it is hard to prove if they are meant as bribes, she said. She said the city government has not paid due attention to expose corruption and has not funded regular inspections. Tran Van Thien speaks at the meeting on December 9, 2015. Is corruption really nonexistent or is it hiding somewhere? Thien ask. Photo: Tan Phu The 70-page social-economic report presented at the meeting by the Peoples Committee, the citys administration, gives around a quarter of a page to corruption. The report said inspections only found wrongdoings worth around VND85 billion at 80 administrative units. Thien said HCMC and the whole country needs leaders who have the enthusiasm, the capability and the bravery to fight what he called a national crisis. The Chinese police have arrested a man in the eastern Anhui Province for allegedly trafficking at least 14 Vietnamese women, including his own wife, local media reported. The man, identified only as Zhang, was arrested along with 24 accomplices who had either sought potential brides from him or trafficked them from Vietnam to the southern Chinese province of Yunnan. In December 140 police officers mobilized to investigate the case had rescued 10 victims, sending back four minors to Vietnam. The remaining six opted to remain with the families that had bought them. Three other women had fled earlier, the police said. The first victim was Zhangs wife, whom he paid for in 2001 since disability in his legs reportedly made it difficult for him to find a local wife. He had been told to go to Yunnan to look for trafficked Vietnamese woman waiting to be sold as brides. After choosing his wife, he paid for 13 others and sold them to men living in his neighborhood for a profit. He paid RMB60,000 (around US$9,000) each for the victims, among whom were four girls aged 13. In 2007 the government approved the China National Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children to combat trafficking and safeguard the legal rights of women and children. Amid concerns that whatever is killing fish en masse in several central provinces has spread to Da Nang, the city assured Thursday that tests found waters off its coast remain safe. A statement from its Department of Natural Resources and Environment said tests on samples taken along the coast showed that the water is fit for swimming and other activities. Dang Quang Vinh of the department said the water samples were obtained from 100 meters offshore at beaches, piers and other places in all four coastal districts, Lien Chieu, Ngu Hanh Son, Son Tra, and Thanh Khe. The levels of pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonium, suspended solids, lead, mercury and cyanide were all within limits, he told news website VnExpress. There are no unusual changes compared to tests done in April last year, he said. The assurance came amid public concern as some dead fish have washed ashore in recent days. People feared Da Nang would suffer the same fate as its northern neighbor Thua Thien-Hue and other provinces like Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Ha Tinh, where hundreds of tons of fish have washed ashore in recent weeks, apparently killed by industrial effluents. Suspicion has centered on Hung Nghiep Formosa Steel Company, a major company in the Vung Ang Economic Zone, which admitted it has a large sewage pipe going straight into the sea though claiming all its discharged wastewater is treated. The provinces have shut down beaches. A diver working in the company port in Ha Tinh died Sunday after suffering breathing difficulties following a dive. Police have not revealed the autopsy results. Another diver was diagnosed with copper poisoning, and many are seeking medical help. Da Nang, which is a popular destination among both local and foreign tourists, has promised to do further tests and publicize the results regularly in the coming time. A man who allegedly burned his former wife with gasoline in the north-central province of Quang Tri Thursday morning turned himself in at a police station last night, authorities said. Nguyen Van Son, 42, told the police that he was unhappy after several unsuccessful efforts to persuade his ex-wife to revive their broken marriage. According to witnesses, Son poured a can of gasoline on Phan Thi Lan while she was sitting in a coffee shop in Dong Ha town at around 9:30 am. The 37-year old woman, who was rescued by her friend and other customers, was rushed to a hospital with severe burns on her face and body. Son fled the scene. The couple separated last year, and Son met Lan several times since in an effort to mend the relationship. Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, speaks to the press during his inspection trip to Formosa steel plant in Ha Tinh Province on April 28, 2016. Photo: Tuan Dung It is illegal to install an undersea sewage pipe, Vietnamese environment minister Tran Hong Ha has told Taiwanese steel company Formosa, which is the main suspect in an ongoing environmental disaster that has caused mass fish deaths in several central provinces. Ha led a working team of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to inspect Formosa, a major firm in Vung Ang Economic Zone in the central province of Ha Tinh, on Thursday. Under Vietnamese law, it is illegal to install an undersea sewage pipe. We will take measures to inspect and monitor this sewage system, he said. Although the environment ministry has not yet found evidence to prove any direct link between Formosas wastewater discharge and the environmental disaster, it will continue to inspect Formosa to find "any possible indirect link," Ha said. According to Ha, the ministry will order Ha Tinhs Department of Natural Resources and Environment to work with Formosa to review the companys wastewater treatment system. He ordered Formosa to regularly provide data related to wastewater to the department. The minister also apologized for the ministrys "slow response" to the environmental disaster, which caused public uproar. He said the ministry is still conducting tests on the dead fish and will soon issue instructions on the catching and consumption of seafood. The ministry organized a press conference late Wednesday, three weeks after the first fish deaths along the central coast were reported. It said the mass fish deaths were possibly caused by chemical toxins discharged by human activities on the land and in the sea, and red tide a phenomenon caused by algal blooms. It said that authorities did not have evidence to link the disaster to Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company (FHS), as the Formosa company the province is officially called. Tests did not show that the sea waters safety indexes failed to meet required standards, deputy minister Vo Tuan Nhan told the press. Most experts and scientists approached by Thanh Nien rejected the theory of red tide, saying it was not convincing. Dr. Le Xuan Canh, director of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, said red tides usually happen near the waters surface, so they will not kill deep-sea fish. Fishers in the central region have found many kinds of deep-sea fish that were apparently poisoned and washed ashore since early this month. On the other hand, red tide would cause the seawater to have a distinct smell, but that is not the case, he said. Dr. Vu Trong Hong, former deputy minister of fisheries, said he believed that a sea current brought toxic chemicals stemming Ha Tinh southward to Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces. The Vietnam Fisheries Society also rejected the red tide theory, saying it believed that the fish died because of toxic chemicals discharged by humans. It asked relevant authorities to clarify how many sewage pipes were installed to discharge wastewater into the sea in Ha Tinhs Ky Anh Town, the place where the first fish deaths were reported. It demanded that authorities investigate how Formosa imported 300 tons of chemicals to clean the sewage pipe and how it used the chemicals. On Thursday, Ha Tinh government provided 22 kilograms of rice each to 4,500 affected households who make their living by fishing in five communes in Ky Anh Town. It also allocated VND750 million (US$33,652) to seafood farmers directly affected by the environmental disaster. Forget personal computer doldrums and waning smartphone demand. Google thinks computers will one day cease being physical devices. Looking to the future, the next big step will be for the very concept of the device to fade away, Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai wrote Thursday in a letter to shareholders of parent Alphabet Inc. Over time, the computer itself -- whatever its form factor -- will be an intelligent assistant helping you through your day. Instead of online information and activity happening mostly on the rectangular touch screens of smartphones, Pichai sees artificial intelligence powering increasingly formless computers. We will move from mobile first to an AI first world, he said. Pichai was, in part, talking his own playbook because Google has been working on AI and related technology such as machine learning for years and this advanced software already powers web services and apps such as Google Photos and Google Translate. Google is also a major investor in Magic Leap, a startup that has raised more than $1 billion to build an augmented-reality system that inserts 3-D moving images and other information into the surroundings people see. Pichai is on the board. Magic Leap has been coy about the physical form its technology will take. When asked last year whether it will be a head-worn device near the eyes, Rony Abovitz, the companys CEO, said he saw computing as being a kind of presence all around humans in the future. Pichai has risen to the top role at Google in recent years, taking over from co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, so his views shape the strategic direction of the Internet search giant. Indeed, he expounded on the future of computing in a Google founders letter that has been only written by either Page or Brin for over a decade. Still, Google has a history of grand pronouncements about the future of computing that dont pan out, at least initially. In 2013, Brin touted the benefits of Google Glass, the companys connected eye wear, saying that summoning information to ones eyes was a better use of the body than rubbing a featureless piece of glass. Glass flopped because of privacy concerns and technical problems like short battery life. After insisting that Vietnam should take it slow with hi-speed services 4G, the Ministry of Information and Technology has apparently changed its mind, saying it will possibly grant licenses to local operators this year. Licensing will take place some time between September and October, Vietnam News Agency reported, citing Deputy Minister Phan Tam at a meeting on Wednesday. According to previous plans, 4G will not be officially available in Vietnam until 2017, when local operators have finished running the new services on a one-year trial basis. "The ministry has observed that Vietnam has quite enough conditions for a successful launch," Tam was quoted as commenting on the new plan. At a conference in October last year, responding to local operators' call for launching 4G this year, the ministry said Vietnam should wait for some time until the technology becomes more popular and cheaper. The ministry also said that 4G technology only works on more expensive smartphones, but Vietnamese consumers still mostly use low-end handsets. So far four businesses have been allowed to test 4G, including three telecom giants MobiFone, Viettel and VinaPhone, which together are controlling 99 percent of the 3G market. FPT Telecom, a unit of tech giant FPT, has also acquired permission for a similar trial, local media reported. However, only Viettel and VinaPhone are known to have started their trial at the end of last year, while MobiFone plans to test its own service this month. Under a national plan, 95 percent of Vietnam's population will use 3G and 4G services in 2020. Vietnam had more than 35.7 million subscribers of 3G as of January, or around 38 percent of the population, according to official figures. Da Nang is expected to receive more Thai tourists this summer after Bangkok Airways announced a new service from the capital city of Thailand. The airline said at a press briefing Wednesday that starting May 25 it will have four return flights every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between the cities. Flights will depart from Bangkok's main airport Suvarnabhumi at 11 a.m. and from Da Nang Airport at 1:35 p.m. A round trip ticket starts at US$213. Varong Israsena Na Ayudhya, vice president in charge of sales, said it decided to launch the service as Da Nang is an interesting place with many attractions. He said the carrier is negotiating with Vietnam Airlines to also launch code share flights to other cities in Vietnam. Da Nang is the third biggest city in Vietnam and has been well connected to several destinations in China, South Korea and Southeast Asia. The city received 1.27 million foreign tourists last year, up by a third from the previous year. Thailand is also a popular travel destination among many Vietnamese. Foreign tourists at the site near the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1. Photo: Tran Tam Foreign arrivals to Vietnam recovered in January with increases from most major markets especially South Korea, which has taken over China to become the biggest source of visitors. The General Statistics Office reported more than 805,000 arrivals in the first month of the year, a 12.3 percent increase compared to a year ago. Compared to December, that was up nearly 6 percent. Visitors from South Korea shot up more than 28 percent to 149,330, followed by China with 147,510 visitors. Arrivals from Russia, a major market that many travel firms have been worried about recently, grew 23.7 percent. Tourists from Russia and South Korea can stay in Vietnam for 15 days without a visa. Most other markets that benefit from a similar visa policy, including Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK, saw increases of between 10 and 29 percent. Finland is the only visa-free market whose arrivals stayed almost unchanged from January last year, although the number was up more than 61 percent from December. Foreign arrivals to Vietnam last year dropped for the first time in six years, by 0.2 percent from 2014, according to figures from the statistics office. The country has planned on better promotions and to issue visa waivers to more markets as it aims to attract 8.5 million foreign arrivals in 2016 and 10.5 million in 2020. Foreign arrivals in Vietnam in the first four months increase nearly 18 percent from last year. Photo: Diep Duc Minh Vietnams tourism ministry Thursday urged the government to double the visa-free stay period for tourists from five European countries to 30 days to attract more visitors. The visa waiver for visitors from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, made last July, would be more effective with a longer period of stay since western tourists usually vacation for three to four weeks, it said. It also wanted the waiver policy to be effective for five years instead of being subject to annual renewal, saying tourism campaigns need long-term plans. Official statistics show that arrivals from the five countries this month increased by 9-34 percent year-on-year. For the past nine months, they were up nearly 14 percent compared to a mere 5 percent a year since 2010. The extra tourists are estimated to have contributed nearly US$171 million to tourism revenues, it said. Vietnam has received nearly 3.25 million foreign arrivals this year, up 18 percent. Tourism insiders have been urging the government to be more generous in its visa policy given the intense competition from other countries. Indonesia waives visas for tourists from 169 countries and territories and targets 20 million arrivals in 2019. Malaysia does so for 155 nationals and Singapore, 150. Vietnam, which received less than eight million foreign visitors last year, waives visa only for 22 countries. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism last year proposed that the country should add another 19 to the list soon. Albertina Ricardo, 17, sits next to her child in Inhambane, Mozambique Lucia Felix, a 15-year-old Mozambican girl, dreams of returning to her village school but instead she must prepare for motherhood after she was chosen for an arranged marriage and became pregnant. She is one of the millions of "child brides" across Africa who are married before their 18th birthday, with many already wed when they are younger than 15. This week, the African Union will meet in Zambia to hold its first conference on "Ending Child Marriage in Africa" -- a small step in efforts to protect girls such as Lucia. "One day, a young man arrived here to choose a wife from several girls and he chose me. Then I got pregnant," she told AFP, speaking under a mango tree in the courtyard of her family's home in the southern village of Jangamo. Lucia, who is eight months' pregnant, had just returned from the doctor after contracting malaria and she complained of pains in her belly. Millions of "child brides" across Africa are married before their 18th birthday. "I'm afraid because I'm still a child and I fear I won't be able to take care of my baby," she said. "I want to go back to school and to study to become a teacher." The African Union says about 14 million under-age girls are married on the continent each year -- almost all of them forced to by their parents, often against laws that are rarely enforced. 'Rights violation' "Child marriage is a human rights violation that robs girls of their rights to health, to live in security, and to choose if, when and whom to marry," the AU said ahead of the meeting on Thursday and Friday in Lusaka. "It is a harmful practice which severely affects the rights of a child." The meeting will gather representatives from member states, first ladies, UN officials and civil society groups to discuss how to change long-established cultural norms and how to eventually end child marriage altogether. Lucia's mother, Zaida Zunguze, admits she first supported her daughter's marriage to her 20-year-old suitor, but said that she wanted Lucia to wait until she turned 18. "She's still a child, she knows nothing. I want to continue teaching her how to take care of her house," Zaida said, sitting on a mat next to Lucia. "I'm worried because the man said he would provide for the baby, and now he doesn't say anything." Lakshmi Sundaram, executive director of Girls Not Brides. The legal age of marriage in Mozambique is 18, or 16 with parental consent, but nearly half the girls are married in traditional ceremonies before they turn 18. According to the last national census conducted in 2011, about 14 percent are married before the age of 15. "The concept of the child here is different. As soon as they show the first signs of puberty, they are already considered an adult," Pascoa Ferrao, director of the social action department in the southern city of Inhambane, told AFP. "(Child marriage) has often to do with economic circumstances. If a girl is married off, then there's one less mouth to feed. "It leads to increased child mortality because teen mums don't know how to take care properly of their children." 'Girls not brides' According to the international coalition Girls Not Brides, girls who marry before 18 are also more vulnerable to HIV, domestic violence and malnutrition. "I lost my job as a maid because I was pregnant. The bosses don't like it," said Cidalia Daniel, 17, who has a 10-month-old son. According to the international coalition Girls Not Brides, girls who marry before 18 are more vulnerable to HIV, domestic violence and malnutrition. She now lives with her parents after her husband, 21, fled abroad when she became pregnant. "He would beat me up if I said something he didn't like. He got angry. I didn't like his behaviour," she said. To try to help discourage parents from arranging the marriages, Mozambique in 2007 created "community committees for child protection". "These committees are responsible for identifying cases, and contacting social workers so that they can intervene," said Ana Machaieie, from UNICEF, which trains and equips the project. "We must make parents take responsibility, because too often they impose marriage on their own children, instead of protecting them." Under-age marriage rates in Africa are highest in Niger, Chad and the Central African Republic. The inaugural AU "child bride" meeting in Lusaka will focus on sharing experience of campaigns to reduce child marriage and on securing higher government funding. This aerial view of a city China built illegally on an island in the Paracel chain, which is claimed by Vietnam. Photographer: AFP via Getty Images The professionalism displayed by Chinas navy in some of the worlds most contested seas is masking an underlying challenge to the existing order in the East China Sea and South China Sea that must be resisted, according to a report by an Australian security think tank. Beijings newly acquired taste for maritime rules of the road is lowering the risk of accidental conflict, wrote Ashley Townshend and Rory Medcalf in a report published Friday by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute for International Policy. In turning away from tactical aggression, Beijing has refocused on passive assertive actions to consolidate a new status quo in maritime Asia. Chinas strategy is based around its island-building program, which has created more than 3,000 acres (1214 hectares) of land on seven features it occupies in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. Though its actions have sparked tensions with other claimants including the Philippines and Vietnam, and prompted the U.S. to carry out naval transits to defend freedom of navigation in the waters, China has still managed to expand its maritime influence. As it is virtually impossible to compel China to roll back its outposts, the current policy imperative -- aside from defending freedom of navigation -- is to deter further militarization or the creation of a new air defense identification zone, particularly in relation to the Spratly Islands, the authors wrote. China declared an air defense identification zone in November 2013 over part of the East China Sea covering islands contested with Japan, and said its military would take defensive emergency measures if aircraft enter the area without reporting flight plans or identifying themselves. While China has rarely attempted to enforce the restrictions, analysts speculate that China may attempt to establish a similar zone above the South China Sea. U.S. Rear Admiral Marcus Hitchcock this week underlined one of the themes of the Lowy report, praising the Peoples Liberation Army Navy for abiding by a code set up for unplanned encounters at sea, no matter what their nations are going through diplomatically. Scarborough Shoal Even as Chinas navy adheres to those rules of conduct, U.S. officials are concerned that China may start creating an island on Scarborough Shoal, which it seized from the Philippines in 2012. On April 19 the U.S. sent six U.S. Air Force planes into the vicinity of the shoal, which lies about 230 kilometers (143 miles) from the Philippines coast. An airstrip there would add to Chinas existing network of runways and surveillance sites that Admiral Harry Harris, head of U.S. Pacific Command, said last year creates a mechanism by which China would have de facto control over the South China Sea in any scenario short of war. The authors dub Beijings current strategy as passive assertion, where China uses the cover of the regions relative stability to push ahead with island building, militarization, and the expansion of its naval and law enforcement patrols to create new zones of military authority. Part of the strategy is to portray the U.S. and its allies as the aggressors, the authors wrote. That tactic was displayed Thursday at the monthly press conference of Chinas Ministry of Defense. It is the so-called freedom of navigation operations of the U.S. that have plunged the situation in the South China Sea into disorder, undermined regional stability and harmed the security interests of littoral states, ministry spokesman Wu Qian said. Chinas statement is the latest example of its public relations efforts to portray the U.S. as Asias main maritime provocateur, said Townshend, a research fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. By consistently portraying the United States and its partners as destabilizing forces, Chinas public relations campaign could muddy the international narrative about who is actually driving Asias maritime tensions. New recommendations To combat Chinas strategy, interested nations should adopt measures aimed at imposing direct and indirect costs on China. The recommendations include: * Strengthening and widening maritime and aerial confidence-building measures to bring China-Japan and China-Association of Southeast Asian Nation codes to the same level as China-U.S. rules. Codes on unplanned encounters at sea should also include coast guards and other civilian maritime law enforcement agencies. * Countries should execute freedom of navigation flights and voyages within the 12-mile zones of the islands China claims and its 200 nautical mile (230 miles) exclusive economic zone. * Maritime capacity building should also be expanded to enable all countries to respond to Chinas growing presence. This should involve the transfer of ships, aircraft and surveillance technologies to allow countries like the Philippines and Malaysia to patrol their regional waters. * Expansion of diplomatic criticism to target its reputation as a good international citizen, including strengthening support for the Philippines case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Townshend is also currently a visiting fellow at the Asia-Pacific Center at Fudan University, Shanghai. Medcalf is head of the National Security College at the Australian National University in Canberra. A voter casts his ballot in the Pennsylvania primary at a polling place inside a firehouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 26, 2016. More than half of American voters believe that the system U.S. political parties use to pick their candidates for the White House is "rigged" and more than two-thirds want to see the process changed, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The results echo complaints from Republican front-runner Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders that the system is stacked against them in favor of candidates with close ties to their parties a critique that has triggered a nationwide debate over whether the process is fair. The United States is one of just a handful of countries that gives regular voters any say in who should make it onto the presidential ballot. But the state-by-state system of primaries, caucuses and conventions is complex. The contests historically were always party events, and while the popular vote has grown in influence since the mid-20th century, the parties still have considerable sway. One quirk of the U.S. system - and the area where the parties get to flex their muscle - is the use of delegates, party members who are assigned to support contenders at their respective conventions, usually based on voting results. The parties decide how delegates are awarded in each state, with the Republicans and Democrats having different rules. The delegates' personal opinions can come into play at the party conventions if the race is too close to call - an issue that has become a lightning rod in the current political season. Another complication is that state governments have different rules about whether voters must be registered as party members to participate. In some states, parties further restrict delegate selection to small committees of party elites, as the Republican Party in Colorado did this year. "Id prefer to see a one-man-one-vote system," said Royce Young, 76, a resident of Society Hill, South Carolina, who supports Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. "The process is so flawed." Trump has repeatedly railed against the rules, at times calling them undemocratic. After the Colorado Republican Party awarded all its delegates to Ted Cruz, for example, Trump lashed out in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, charging "the system is being rigged by party operatives with double-agent delegates who reject the decision of voters." Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus has dismissed Trumps complaints as rhetoric" and said the rules would not be changed before the Republican convention in July. Trump swept the five Northeastern nominating contests on Tuesday in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The New York billionaire has 950 delegates to 560 for Cruz, a U.S. senator from Texas, and 153 for Kasich, the Ohio governor, according to the Associated Press. A total of 1,237 delegates are needed to secure the Republican nomination. On the Democratic side, Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, has taken issue with the party's use of superdelegates, the hundreds of elite party members who can support whomever they like at the convention and who this year overwhelmingly back front-runner Hillary Clinton. Clinton has repeatedly emphasized that she is beating Sanders in both total votes cast and in pledged delegates, those who are bound by the voting results - rendering his complaints about superdelegates moot. On Tuesday, the former secretary of state won Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Connecticut, while Sanders won in Rhode Island. Clinton leads Sanders by 2,141 delegates to 1,321, according to the AP, with 2,383 needed to win the nomination. Sanders has also criticized party bosses for not holding enough prime-time television debates and said before a string of primaries open only to registered Democrats this month that independents have lost their right to vote, referring to a voter block that has tended to favor him. A Democratic National Committee official was not immediately available to comment. 'Arcane rules' Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said the U.S. presidential nominating system could probably be improved in a number of areas, but noted that the control wielded by party leadership usually became an issue only during tight races. "The popular vote overwhelms the rules usually, but in these close elections, everyone pays attention to these arcane rules," he said. Some 51 percent of likely voters who responded to the April 21-26 online survey said they believed the primary system was "rigged" against some candidates. Some 71 percent of respondents said they would prefer to pick their partys nominee with a direct vote, cutting out the use of delegates as intermediaries. The results also showed 27 percent of likely voters did not understand how the primary process works and 44 percent did not understand why delegates were involved in the first place. The responses were about the same for Republicans and Democrats. Overall, nearly half said they would also prefer a single primary day in which all states held their nominating contests together - as opposed to the current system of spreading them out for months. The poll included 1,582 Americans and had a credibility interval of 2.9 percentage points. A crane is seen at the construction site of an apartment building in Colombo, Sri Lanka October 14, 2015. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached agreement with the Sri Lankan government for a $1.5 billion bailout to help the island nation avert a balance of payments crisis. The three-year loan will require IMF board approval in June, the global lender said on Friday, and is subject to Sri Lanka implementing reforms, including streamlining the tax code and reducing a bloated deficit. "The Sri Lankan authorities and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement on a 36-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF)," for a $1.5 billion loan, Todd Schneider, IMF mission chief for Sri Lanka, said in a statement. The agreement comes as debt-laden Sri Lanka faces a looming balance of payments crisis due to heavy foreign outflows from government securities and high external debt repayments. Sentiment on financial markets was bolstered by the IMF deal, helping the rupee currency LKR= trade firmer and stock index .CSE rise nearly 1 percent in early trade. Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves have fallen by a third from their peak in late 2014 to $6.2 billion at end-March. The government will seek to raise the tax-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, which was 10.8 percent in 2014, to near 15 percent by 2020 through a new Inland Revenue Act, reform of the VAT and the customs code, Schneider said. The loan - the second bailout from the IMF since 2009 - will support the government's ambitious economic reform agenda aimed at fundamental changes to tax policy, reverse a two-decade decline in tax revenues, and put public finances on a sustainable medium-term footing, Schneider said. "Stronger revenue performance will enable smaller fiscal deficits and lower borrowing, reduce the overhang of public debt, and ease pressure on the balance of payments." Sri Lanka's 2015 budget deficit hit 7.4 percent of GDP, up from 5.7 percent in 2014. Schneider said the formal approval of the EFF was "expected to catalyze" an additional $650 million loans, bringing total support to about $2.2 billion. The majority of the $650 million loans will be from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, government officials told Reuters. "This (agreement) will boost the investor confidence," Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran told Reuters via telephone from Hong Kong. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said Sri Lanka was already well on the way to implementing reforms, including raising value added tax (VAT) by 4 percent, announcing a restructuring plan for its loss-making state-run airline, and eliminating tax holidays granted by a state-run investment body. Moody's Ratings agency said in a statement the loan would provide external liquidity to ease immediate financing pressures and could reduce Sri Lanka's vulnerability to a sudden halt in capital inflows. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (R) arrives to a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 18, 2014. Iran asked U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday to convince the United States to stop violating state immunity after the top U.S. court ruled that $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be paid to American victims of attacks blamed on Tehran. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote to Ban a week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, calling on the Secretary-General to use his "good offices in order to induce the U.S. Government to adhere to its international obligations." Zarif's appeal comes amid increasing Iranian frustration at what they say is the failure of the United States to keep its promises regarding sanctions relief agreed under an historic nuclear deal struck last year by Tehran and six world powers. In the letter, released by the Iranian U.N. mission, Zarif asked Ban to help secure the release of frozen Iranian assets in U.S. banks and persuade Washington to stop interfering with Iran's international commercial and financial transactions. "The U.S Executive branch illegally freezes Iranian national assets; the U.S Legislative branch legislates to pave the ground for their illicit seizures; and the U.S Judicial branch issues rulings to confiscate Iranian assets without any base in law or fact," Zarif said. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's top adviser Ali Akbar Velayati was quoted by Iranian state media as saying that "Iran will never abandon its right and will take any necessary action to stop such an international theft." "This money belongs to Iran," he said. Ban's spokesman and the U.S. mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter or the accusations made against the United States. Zarif told Ban he wanted to "alert you and through you the U.N. general membership about the catastrophic implications of the U.S. blatant disrespect for state immunity, which will cause systematic erosion of this fundamental principle." The U.S. Supreme Court found that the U.S. Congress did not usurp the authority of American courts by passing a 2012 law stating that Iran's frozen funds should go toward satisfying a $2.65 billion judgment won by the U.S. families against Iran in U.S. federal court in 2007. "It is in fact the United States that must pay long overdue reparations to the Iranian people for its persistent hostile policies," Zarif wrote, citing incidents including the shooting of an Iranian civil airliner in 1988. Last week Zarif met several times with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in New York to discuss Iranian problems accessing international financial markets. Tehran has called on the United States to do more to remove obstacles to the banking sector so that businesses feel comfortable investing in Iran without fear of penalties. Some hardline lawmakers have called on the government of President Hassan Rouhani to consider the ruling a violation of the nuclear deal reached with the United States and other major powers in 2015. Italy's state police releases video of an arrest of one of the four suspects in a plot to carry out a militant attack in Italy. Customer Hirokazu Hosaka (R) prays to his mother as he stands at her coffin with his wife Minako Hosaka at the 'Corpse Hotel' in Kawasaki, Japan, April 20, 2016. Tucked away in a quiet residential street in Kawasaki city in Japan is a refurbished workshop with a plain silver exterior and black draped windows that residents describe as creepy. The business inside, Sousou, is one of Japan's latest so-called corpse hotels, a camouflaged morgue used to store some of Japan's mounting pile of bodies waiting for a spot in one of the nation's overworked crematoriums. Crematories need to be built, but there isnt any space to do so and that is creating funeral refugees," said Hisao Takegishi, who opened the business in 2014. Staff members remove a coffin from a room of the 'Corpse Hotel' in Kawasaki, Japan, April 20, 2016. At a daily rate of 9,000 yen ($82) family members can keep their deceased relative in one of Sousou's 10 rooms for up to four days until a crematorium can be found. Unlike other such morgues-in-disguise, which try to blend in by looking like hotels, Sousou doesnt refrigerate corpses, relying on air conditioned rooms instead. As Japan ages its people are dying off at a faster pace. About 20,000 more people per year are expiring with the death rate expected to peak at about 1.7 million a year by around 2040, according government estimates. By then, barring any major influx of immigrants, Japan will have 20 million fewer people. Residents of Kawasaki are unhappy about living next to Sousou's hidden corpse refugees, with placards and flags dotting the neighborhood expressing outrage at the presence of the morgue. A child cycles past the "Corpse Hotel" in Kawasaki, Japan, April 20, 2016. Yoko Masuzawa, 50, who, lives behind Sousou, demanded it put air ventilation grills above ground level, a request that she says it ignored. "It was built so close, less than a meter away in some places," she said. Sousou's customers, however, are grateful for a place to keep their deceased relatives. I think its great that families and acquaintances can come and visit before she heads off to the crematorium, said 69 year-old Hirokazu Hosaka, as her mother's body lay in a decorated coffin in Sousou. Takegishi, who used to help organize weddings, is looking to tap growing demand, with plans to bring corpse hotels to other cities. A much worse performance in transparency is just one of quite a few disheartening results released Tuesday by the 2015 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI). Timely released right before Vietnamese citizens go out and vote for those who will represent them in May, the 2015 UNDP-sponsored index provides last years results as well as an overall picture of government performance since 2011 when the annual national survey was first carried out. The 2015 survey interviewed about 14,000 people across the country about national and local government performance. Out of six categories examined, the 2015 results show the sharpest drop of 7 percent in Transparency, in part because of less public awareness of local lists of poor households and less confidence in the information provided. As high as 46 percent those surveyed believe that truly poor households are not included in the official lists to receive government support. Meanwhile, almost 41 percent, which is higher than in previous years, said the households categorized as poor were in fact not. There has also been less publicity about local land-use plans in the past five years. Just over 11 percent people interviewed said they knew about local land-use plans in 2015. Of those who knew, only 3 percent were offered opportunities to voice their opinions before the plans were issued. Corruption and bribery In the Corruption category, people show more concern about corruption in the public sector and less confidence about the governments willingness to fight corruption. Only 37 percent said their local government was serious about fighting corruption. Over 44 percent of respondents paid bribes to get a land use rights certificate, compared to just 24 percent in 2014. It is also services related to land use rights certificates that have been the worst performer every year since 2011 in the Public Administrative Procedures category. Over 22 percent said they had to wait for more than 100 days, not 30 days as mandated by law, to get the land use rights paperwork they requested. The 2015 index also features a new question about the three most important issues respondents believe Vietnam is facing. The answers are: poverty and hunger; jobs and employment; and roads. Other major concerns are corruption, law and order, and the East Sea dispute with China. There are also stark differences between female and male concerns. Women are more worried about poverty, education, jobs and health. Meanwhile, males care more about the East Sea dispute, corruption and transport. Gender, ethnicity, mass organization membership and education are factors influencing voter participation. Women, ethnic minorities, people with less education and people who are not members of mass organizations are generally less likely to vote. Top performers In terms of provincial performance, five provinces, Nam Dinh, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, and Long An have consistently been the top performers in PAPI. The poorest performers are found along the northern border and in the south-central and Central Highlands regions. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are in the bottom half. Speaking at the release of the 2015 index, UN Resident Coordinator Pratibha Mehta said the new National Assembly and Peoples Councils could use this index as a tool to assess government reform over the past years and benchmark future performance. So far, 26 provinces have responded to PAPI, issuing resolutions and plans to address citizens needs identified by the index. Tunisia and Malawi also plan to follow this initiative from Vietnam. Technology is another important feature of PAPI. The 2015 survey was conducted on tablets, rather than traditional paper-based questionnaires, allowing for direct, real-time interactions with respondents. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) speaks during a visit to the Sinhung Machine Plant in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang April 1, 2016.REUTERS/KCNA North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two intermediate range ballistic missiles on Thursday, but both failed, the U.S. military said, in a setback for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ahead of next week's ruling party congress. The isolated nation has conducted a series of missile launches in violation of U.N. resolutions ahead of the Workers' Party congress which begins on May 6. South Korea also says North is ready to conduct a new nuclear test at any time. China said the U.N. Security Council was working on a response to North Korea's latest missile tests, while U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Pyongyang to cease "further provocative actions." Thursday's tests looked to have been hurried, according to a defense expert in Seoul, and follow a failed launch of a similar missile earlier this month. The first launch, at about 6:40 a.m. local time (05:40 p.m. EDT Wednesday) from near the east coast city of Wonsan, appeared to have been of a Musudan missile with a range of more than 3,000 km (1,800 miles) which crashed within seconds, a South Korean defense ministry official said. Later, at around 7:26 p.m., the North shot a similar intermediate range missile from the same area, but the launch was also understood to have failed, the official added. The U.S. military's Strategic Command said it tracked two attempted launches, neither of which posed a threat to North America. "Not successful" "Initial indications reveal the tests were not successful," said Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell, a STRATCOM spokesman.. The Musudan missile theoretically has the range to reach any part of Japan and the U.S. territory of Guam. It has never been successfully flight-tested. A similar missile launched on the April 15 birthday anniversary of Kim's late grandfather, North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung, exploded in what the U.S. Defense Department called a "fiery, catastrophic" failure. Some experts had predicted that North Korea would wait until it figured out what went wrong in the previous launch before attempting another, a process that could take months. Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defence and Security Forum and a policy adviser to the South Korean navy, said the North Koreans appeared to be in a rush to demonstrate a success head of the party congress. "They need to succeed but they keep failing," he said "They didn't have enough time to fix or technically modify the system, but just shot them because they were in a hurry." U.S. and South Korean officials have expressed concerns that North Korea could attempt a fifth nuclear test in a show of strength ahead of the congress. "Signs for an imminent fifth nuclear test are being detected ahead of North Korea's seventh Party Congress," South Korean President Park Geun-hye said at a national security meeting on Thursday. The 15-member U.N. Security Council met to discuss the latest missile tests at the request of the United States. China's U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyi, president of the council for April, said: "We're looking at a response from the Security Council." Diplomats said the council was likely to issue a statement condemning the latest missile tests. Japan's U.N. Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa, also a council member, said that during the closed-door meeting "everybody condemned the latest failed launches." Ban's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, called the actions "extremely troubling." Yonhap said the first missile was not detected by South Korean military radar because it did not fly above a few hundred meters, and was spotted by a U.S. satellite. On Saturday, North Korea tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile, which traveled about 30 km (18 miles) off its east coast. The tests have come in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions which were strengthened after North Korea's last nuclear test in January and a space rocket launch the following month. President Barack Obama said on Thursday he expected the United States would meet a goal of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees before the end of the year despite delays and opposition from critics concerned about security implications. As Europe grappled with Syrians fleeing the countrys civil war last autumn, Obama promised to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of fiscal year 2016. But the State Department reported on March 31, halfway into the fiscal year, that only 1,285 Syrians had been admitted into the United States. "We're going to keep on pushing," Obama said when asked on Thursday whether the goal would be achieved. Obama's promise has come under fire from Republicans concerned that violent militants could come into the United States posing as refugees. More than 30 governors have tried to block refugees from their states, but courts and attorneys general have said it is up to the federal government to screen refugees and settle them. The president said his administration wanted to assure the public the refugees were being properly screened and vetted. Congress may put up roadblocks to the process, he said. "Administratively I think now we have the process to speed it up," he told a news conference with student journalists at the White House. "Our goal is to continue to try to make the case to Congress and the American people (that) this is the right thing to do and we believe that we can hit those marks before the end of the year." Washington has offered refuge to far fewer of the millions fleeing war in Syria and Iraq than many of its closest allies in Europe and the Middle East. The agency responsible for processing and admitting refugees, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is under added pressure to make sure none of those admitted have ties to violent extremists. Requirements for additional screening measures were passed following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris after Obama had laid out his goal of admitting 10,000 Syrians. U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter testifies on operations against the Islamic State, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 28, 2016. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday he would support lifting restrictions on the sale of weapons to Vietnam, in the latest sign of thawing ties between former enemies whose focus has shifted in recent years to China's military buildup. When asked by Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, if he would support lifting the restrictions, Carter said at a hearing: "We've discussed this in the past and I appreciate your leadership in that regard, chairman, and yes." Carter did not elaborate, although his comments come ahead of a planned visit to Vietnam by U.S. President Barack Obama late next month. The United States partially lifted a long-time ban on lethal weapons sales to Vietnam in October 2014, nearly 40 years after the end of the Vietnam War, to help the country patrol and defend itself in the South China Sea in the face of growing naval challenges from China. At the time, U.S. officials said future sales could include airborne systems. Carter pledged on a visit to Vietnam last year to provide it $18 million to help its coast guard buy U.S. patrol boats. But the United States has said that fully lifting the embargo will depend on other conditions. "There are a number of factors that we must consider with regard to lifting the ban, including progress on human rights," the State Department's top human rights official, Tom Malinowski, said on Tuesday after an annual human rights dialogue with Vietnam on Monday. Pope Francis waves as he arrives at a Jubilee audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 9, 2016. Pope Francis on Friday called for a Church that was less strict and more compassionate towards "imperfect" Catholics, such as those who divorced and remarried, saying "no one can be condemned forever". Francis said gays should be respected but firmly re-stated the Church's position that there are "absolutely no grounds" to equate gay unions to heterosexual marriage. In a 260-page treatise called "Amoris Laetitia," (The Joy of Love), one of the most eagerly awaited pronouncements of his pontificate, Francis quoted Martin Luther King, Argentine Poet Jorge Luis Borges and even the 1987 Danish cult film Babette's Feast to make his case for a more merciful and loving Church. The keenest anticipation centered on what he would say about the full re-integration into the Church of Catholics who divorce and remarry in civil ceremonies. Under current Church teaching they cannot receive communion unless they abstain from sex with their new partner, because their first marriage is still valid in the eyes of the Church and they are seen to be living in an adulterous state of sin. The number of divorces has risen markedly in recent decades in most of the leading economies grouped in the OECD. About 42 percent of marriages in England and Wales ended in divorce in 2013, according to an estimate by the UK Office for National Statistics. "No one can be condemned forever, because that is not the logic of the Gospel! Here I am not speaking only of the divorced and remarried, but of everyone, in whatever situation they find themselves," the pope said. RELATED COVERAGE U.S. Catholics welcome Pope's love treatise but want clarity Presenting the document at a packed Vatican news conference, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna, called it "a classic case of the organic development of doctrine," which he described as being a continuation of theological thought without rupture with the past. Progressives have proposed the use of an "internal forum" in which a priest or bishop work with a Catholic who has divorced and remarried to decide jointly, privately and on a case-by-case basis if he or she can be fully re-integrated and receive communion. DISCERNMENT, NOT RIGID RULES Francis seemed to embrace this view, saying he could "not provide a new set of general rules ... applicable to all cases", but he called for "responsible, personal and pastoral discernment of particular cases". Father James Bretzke, professor of moral theology at Boston College, said while Francis did not explicitly give a green light for remarried Catholics to return to communion, "the dots are pretty close together, you can connect them reasonably easily and conclude that he is saying this is a possibility. "If he's not opening the door, he is at least showing you where the key under the mat is." The document appeared to be partly aimed at the pope's own bishops, saying while basic tenets of the faith remain, there had to be more consultation and debate within the Church about how they are applied locally in the type of decentralized institution Francis has called for. Francis said he understood those conservatives who "prefer a more rigorous pastoral care which leaves no room for confusion" but the Church should be more attentive to the good that can be found "in the midst of human weakness". "The Church turns with love to those who participate in her life in an imperfect manner," he said, including in this category those Catholics who are cohabiting, married civilly or are divorced and remarried. Conservative American Catholic author George Weigel said he did not see an opening to the divorced and remarried but rather "a call for the Church to be creative in integrating people in difficult situations". The document, formally known as an Apostolic Exhortation, followed two gatherings of Catholic bishops, or synods, that discussed family issued in 2014 and 2015. In other sections, Francis said young people had to be better prepared for a life-long commitment, praised the "erotic dimension" of love within marriage and said the Church needed a "healthy dose of self-criticism" for in the past preaching that procreation was the "almost exclusive" reason for marriage. South Asia's clothing and textiles industry can create millions of jobs for the region's working-age women, boosting economic growth and helping improve children's health and education, a World Bank report said. The industry is already the most female-intensive in much of the region, women making up 71 percent of its workforce in Sri Lanka, 35 percent in India and 34 percent in Bangladesh. In Pakistan, its share of women workers is second to agriculture. "South Asia needs to create jobs in labor-intensive industries where it enjoys a comparative advantage such as apparel to employ its burgeoning youth and attract more women into the workforce," the report released on Thursday said. "South Asian households with women working, especially in the textile and apparel sector in India and Pakistan, tend to have fewer young children on average," it said. Higher wages in China, the world's largest clothing exporter, are driving global brands to seek cheaper alternatives in countries including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. South Asia is best placed to lure these businesses with its lower wages and expanding young population, even though recent industrial disasters have raised questions about safety and the conditions of workers in these countries. The industry employs about 4.7 million workers in the formal sector, and several million more informally, making up about 40 percent of the region's manufacturing employment. Its ability to lure unskilled and semi-skilled women is particularly important, as South Asia has one of the lowest female labor force participation rates in the world of about 32 percent, compared with East Asia's 62 percent, the report said. More women workers, fewer children Countries with greater female labor force participation generally see later marriages, fewer children, better nutrition and school enrolment, and higher gross domestic product, according to the World Bank. "The apparel sector offers a promising and realistic entry point for women into the formal labor force, thanks to a high wage premium compared to agriculture," the report said. "As apparel exports increase, the rising demand for female labor pulls women from agriculture and other informal sectors." Average wages in the industry range from about $0.51 per hour in Bangladesh to about $1.06 in India, compared with $2.60 in China, according to 2012 data compiled by the World Bank. As output increases to meet higher demand, a 1 percent increase in the expected wage raises the likelihood of women joining the labor force by between 16 percent in Pakistan and 89 percent in Sri Lanka, the World Bank estimates. Despite the large number of women the industry employs, however, female workers lack a voice and representation in Bangladesh, the region's largest exporter by value. Regulatory capacity is also weak in Bangladesh, even though scrutiny has increased in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster. Three years after the disaster that killed more than 1,100 factory workers, the rights and safety of workers in the region are in greater focus, but progress in fixing problems in the supply chain is slow, experts and activists say. In India, compliance is limited in the informal sector, where most workers are employed. Overtime is a serious problem, and child labor is common, with reports also of exploitation and sexual harassment of women. In addition, the region faces growing competition from Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam. But with stricter controls, better wages and higher-value products, South Asia's apparel and textile industry can retain its competitive edge, the report said. "Given that much of apparel production continues to be labor intensive, the potential to create more and better jobs is immense," it added. Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, US April 27, 2016. Donald Trump's first major foreign policy address alarmed American allies, who view the Republican front runner's repeated invocation of an "America first" agenda as a threat to retreat from the world. While most governments were careful not to comment publicly on a speech by a U.S. presidential candidate, Germany's foreign minister veered from that protocol to express concern at Trump's wording. "I can only hope that the election campaign in the USA does not lack the perception of reality," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. "The world's security architecture has changed and it is no longer based on two pillars alone. It cannot be conducted unilaterally," he said of foreign policy in a post-Cold War world. "No American president can get round this change in the international security architecture.... 'America first' is actually no answer to that." Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister and foreign minister who served as UN envoy to the Balkans in the aftermath of the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, said he heard Trump's speech as "abandoning both democratic allies and democratic values". "Trump had not a word against Russian aggression in Ukraine, but plenty against past U.S. support for democracy in Egypt," Bildt said on Twitter, referring to lines from Trump's speech that criticized the Barack Obama administration for withdrawing support for autocrat Hosni Mubarak during a 2011 uprising. "First isolationist candidate" Trump's speech, uncharacteristically read out from a teleprompter, seemed aimed at showing a more serious side of a politician who has said he intends to act more "presidential" after months of speaking mainly off the cuff. He promised "a disciplined, deliberate and consistent foreign policy" in contrast to the "reckless, rudderless and aimless" policies of Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trump's likely Democratic opponent if he secures the Republican nomination. The speech included no dramatic new policy proposals that might generate headlines, such as his past calls to bar Muslims from entering the United States or to build a wall on the frontier with Mexico. Where he was specific, like rejecting the terms of last year's nuclear deal with Iran, calling for more investment in missile defense in Europe and accusing the Obama administration of tepid support for Israel, he was firmly within the Republican mainstream. A major theme -- that more NATO allies should spend at least 2 percent of their economic output on defense -- is one that has also been taken up by the Obama administration itself, including repeatedly during the president's visit to Europe last week. Nevertheless, Trump's rhetoric raised alarm in allied countries that still rely on the superpower for defense, particularly the phrase "America first", used in the 1930s by isolationists that sought to keep the United States out of World War Two. Former South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han, who now teaches at the Korea University in Seoul, said Trump would be "the first isolationist to be U.S. presidential candidate, while in the post-war era all the U.S. presidents have been to varying degrees internationalists. Saying the U.S. will no longer engage in anything that is a burden in terms of its relationships with allies, it would be almost like abandoning those alliances," he said. It will inevitably give rise to anti-American sentiment worldwide. Xenia Wickett, head of the U.S. and Americas Programme at Britain's Chatham House think tank, said the speech suggests Trump would make Americas allies less secure rather than more. "He talked about allies being confident but all of his rhetoric suggested that America should be unpredictable and that Americas allies needed to stand up for themselves." "Disaster" Earlier in the U.S. nomination process, foreign leaders were not shy to condemn Trump openly and publicly. In December, when Trump called for his temporary ban on admitting Muslims, British Prime Minister David Cameron called him "divisive, stupid and wrong". Hundreds of thousands of Britons signed a petition calling for Trump to be banned from Britain for hate speech, which was taken up in parliament. Cameron declined to ban Trump, but said: "If he came to visit our country, I think he would unite us against him." In January, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel lumped Trump together with the leaders of European far-right parties as "not only a threat to peace and social cohesion, but also to economic development". These days, with Trump now seen as likely to win his party's nomination, European officials are more circumspect in public, but sound no less alarmed in private. A Trump presidency would be a disaster for EU-U.S. ties," said one senior EU official involved in shaping foreign policy in Brussels. "Right now, we and the Obama administration generally understand each other. I dont think we understand Donald Trump. He has no understanding of the delicate, complex nature of foreign policy on Europes doorstep. Nevertheless, some of the policies Trump shares with other Republicans do have sympathetic audiences abroad. Ryszard Terlecki, head of the parliamentary group of Poland's ruling rightwing Law and Justice party, said Trump had a point when criticizing the Obama administration for backing away from plans for increased missile defense. "This decision influenced very badly the security of this part of Europe. If it weren't for that, the conflict in Ukraine would not escalate," he told Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly opposed the Obama administration's deal with Iran, and Trump's speech, like an earlier one to a pro-Israel lobby group in Washington, went down well with some right-leaning Israelis. "Trump wants an America that is decent, strong, loyal - but also no patsy. And he sees in Israel the most loyal ally of the U.S." wrote Boaz Bismuth, diplomatic correspondent for the pro-Netanyahu daily Israel Hayom. In the Arab world, where governments and their citizens are also alarmed at the rise of non-Arab Iran, Trump's strong rejection of the deal with Tehran is a popular position that would have been embraced if expressed by another candidate. But Trump's previous call to ban Muslims from the United States has made him anathema in the region. Emirati political analyst Abdulkhaleq Abdullah said no speech would be enough to salvage his reputation there: "He's a racist and a chauvinist who will never be widely welcomed in the Arab world." Or, as Kuwaiti twitter user Mohammed al-Ammar wrote: "Some of his speech is correct and logical, but the problem is, he's still #Trump." Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy admits he remains unsure if he will ever play again but is gradually feeling "more optimistic" about the prospect. The champion defender's season was cruelly cut short in the dying seconds of the Dogs' round-three encounter with Hawthorn when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. Murphy immediately knew that his season was over after hearing "that sweet little pop sound." With Rance out for the next two weeks, the player who was battling to hold his place in defence and with the club's season on the line suddenly becomes the key backman. Out of form in defence, Troy Chaplin was swung forward in desperation, now he will flip back to the back line to cover for the suspension of the league's best backman Alex Rance. Former Melbourne captain David Neitz played a career swinging from key defence to key forward said as an experienced player regardless of his previous form in defence, Chaplin would be able to mentally switch. "I don't think he would be setting himself to play and be Rance, he will set himself to do a job he has done before," Neitz said. "You would not say he is going to turn around and be the replacement for the best defender in the competition but you can switch back and play a role and that takes mental application and concentration and he has plenty of that. "I think these days you have to be more and more flexible as players so he should be able to adapt." Chaplin has played best when able to jump in third man up in defence but has struggled when isolated with a forward. On Tuesday the federal budget will officially double the funding of the $2 trillion super fund industry's Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT) in an attempt to tackle a backlog of customers who have been waiting up to four years to have their disputes, including life insurance matters, resolved. Unfortunately, the Turnbull Government has decided to kick some other pressing issues years down the road, which has done consumers a disservice. These include addressing financial planners' educational qualifications and professionalising the sector after a string of financial planning scandals which exposed lax education standards. Currently, planners can sit the basic RG146 regulation to qualify as a financial planner, which can take less than eight days to complete in an open-book, non-supervised environment. They are then legally qualified to advise on people's life savings. On Thursday assistant treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer quietly put out a press release on her website saying the beefed up education and exam requirements that were supposed to be effective from July 2017, will be delayed until 2019 and existing advisers will have until 2024 almost a decade - to reach degree-equivalent status. A joint parliamentary inquiry chaired by David Fawcett recommended higher education standards back in December 2014. Flamboyant Indian couple Pankaj and Radhika Oswal flew back to Australia to fight their colossal court action against the ANZ two weeks ago. No sooner had they landed than the Tax Office slapped them with a Departure Prevention Order (DPO), stopping the two from leaving the country indefinitely. The Commissioner has a $190 million claim against them. And without venturing into the merits of the case, albeit one for an internal cashless transfer of shares, the travel ban tends to further enshrine the double standard so prevalent in government; the hypocrisy, that is, of treating the establishment more leniently than outsiders. A host of multinationals should owe the Tax Office a lot more than the Oswals but you would never see a Chevron executive, for instance, barred from travel until the company sorted out its settlement. Rio Tinto will offer a $100 million loan of last resort to uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia in a bid to ensure the redundant miner can fully fund its rehabilitation obligations in the heart of Kakadu National Park. In a move that ends years of uncertainty over how the rehabilitation of the Ranger uranium mining precinct in the Northern Territory would be funded, Rio has decided to make the extra cash available to the company in which it holds a 69 per cent stake. The town near the Ranger uranium mine was named Jabiru after the bird species in Kakadu. Credit:Getty Images ERA had warned in recent annual reports that its rehabilitation provisions may not be sufficient to fund rehabilitation of the Ranger mine, which is surrounded by the world heritage listed national park. ERA had sought permission, unsuccessfully, to continue mining at the site beyond the end of its 2021 Ranger lease, in a bid to raise more funds for the rehabilitation. Google Australia has restructured and vowed that in the future it will count its lucrative advertising revenue locally on its tax bills. Its 2015 tax bill hit $16 million, but still remains a fraction of its overall profit. The accounts come ahead of Tuesday's federal budget where the Turnbull government is expected to include another round of fresh measures aimed at ensuring multinationals pay more local taxes. Google, like a number of other multinationals, has had to restructure its tax affairs to avoid being hit with tougher penalties under laws passed by the federal government at the start of the year. So what was and is the difference? It's likely Gillard didn't have anything specific in mind; she just knew she had to swear off it. It is even less clear what Abbott meant, because the year before, when he was publicising his book Battlelines, he actually suggested that a "tax" would be preferable to an ETS, and sketched how it would work: a tax on consumption (which would, oddly, be refunded at the end of the financial year). He sets it out in a 30-second clip that's still available on YouTube. The Labor-Greens package levied a carbon price at point of production. It was an ETS with a three-year fixed-price period that moved to a floating price. (Rudd's CPRS had been an ETS with a one-year fixed-price period.) Ancient news? Well, it would be if it didn't motivate Labor's protestations over the "t" word. In a perfect world for Labor, climate change would disappear as a political issue. But in the absence of those conditions, one might ask why it didn't simply promise not to do anything except, perhaps, continue with the government's "direct action" scheme? Why not adopt a small-target strategy in this combustible area? The answer is that no one would have believed them. Going to the election with no carbon price, forced into the inevitable "never ever" pledges, would have been preposterous given the party's longstanding enthusiasm. As Rudd and then Gillard found after dumping the CPRS in 2010, having no policy, after all the "moral challenge" hyperbole, simply left a vacuum into which opponents shovelled horror tale after ghastly scenario. Illustration by Rocco Fazzari The opposition took the initiative this week. Labor announced a policy to hasten the country's slow-motion progress from carbon fuels to renewable ones. The Turnbull government's response was a frenzied attack and a wild scare campaign. Malcolm Turnbull himself, who once campaigned passionately in favour of more decisive action on climate change, started campaigning emphatically against it. The Labor renewables policy will be one of the defining points of this year's election, partly because it defines Labor. But more powerfully because it illuminates Turnbull and what he has become as he opposes more and more of what he once believed. It brings his transformation from Malcolm Turnbull to Tony Abbott closer to completion. Greg Hunt "is going around basically telling lies" about Labor's plan to drive up electricity prices by 78 per cent. John Hewson The economist and former Liberal leader John Hewson says that Turnbull's response is "very damning, actually". He says that if Turnbull were serious about innovation, jobs and growth he'd support some of Labor's plan, not oppose it. "Bill Shorten can run a new industry on these commitments with new jobs and a new industrial base for the country. Labor has taken a bit of a risk and gone out in front on this," Hewson tells me, "and it's being constructive and they are still pretty moderate in terms of the task ahead of Australia over the next 30 years. "Labor's carbon emissions target, I think, is realistic and it's getting closer to where it should be" if Australia is serious about its commitments to the Paris climate accord. "It's all right for Malcolm Turnbull to talk about innovation but to make it happen, it's not just designing apps. "This country has a poor record of commercialising new technology. You need a broad based movement," says Hewson, who is a renewables entrepreneur these days. Labor's target? Its new plan has two more ambitious aims than the government's. One is to cut Australia's carbon emissions faster. Instead of government's current commitment to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2030, Labor proposes cutting 45 per cent over the same time. That'd be bigger than the EU target of 34 per cent, identical to Germany's 45, and smaller than Britain's 49. The other new Labor proposal is to create a new renewable energy target for the decade ending in 2030. At the moment, Australian law requires electricity companies to work towards generating 23.5 per cent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. Labor wants to enlarge and extend this to a target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030. This goal, naturally, would help to achieve the first goal. To hit its carbon target, Labor's policy also includes two emissions trading schemes. One would be a broad scheme for major emitters that put out over 25,000 tonnes a year. This scheme would put a cap on total emissions but no fixed price on them. The cap would shrink as the years passed and the price of emitting would rise. Labor estimates that the scheme would cost big emitters about 30 cents per tonne of carbon in the initial phase. Big emitters who face international competition would pay about 3 cents a tonne. For reference, the Gillard government's carbon tax imposed a price of $23 a tonne on emissions. The other would be an emissions trading scheme for the electricity industry only. This scheme would be designed to make the power companies meet their proportionate share of cuts in total national carbon emissions. Two further elements: New emissions limits on new cars; and limits on how much land clearing state governments could permit farmers to conduct. Much detail for this plan is missing; Labor says that it would be for the next parliament to negotiate in 2016-2019 so that it could be put in place for the decade to follow. Unexpectedly, the Business Council of Australia, the biggest of the big-business lobbies, a group that thundered against Gillard's carbon tax, embraced the Labor proposal this week as "a platform for bipartisanship" on climate change. Business, like most voters, is thoroughly disheartened by the way that the political system has mangled a national solution to the problem of climate change. Business cannot plan and cannot invest without stable and sensible policy. The Turnbull government's response? To oppose both targets immediately, reflexively. And to scaremonger. While the Greens leader, Richard di Natale, sought to ridicule the Labor plan because the initial carbon price in its emissions trading scheme was a risibly low 3 cents a tonne, the Coalition tried to inflate it into a giant job-eating monster. "This is yet another economic handbrake that Labor is putting on our economy," said the prime minister. Labor would have to "very significantly increase the cost of energy, the cost of electricity and all other power." An emissions trading scheme, said Turnbull, would be "effectively another tax." Treasurer Scott Morrison said it would amount to "a big, thumping electricity tax". Environment Minister Greg Hunt said that it was "Julia Gillard's carbon tax on steroids". He said that the wholesale price of electricity would soar by 78 per cent by 2030. Sound familiar? This is Tony Abbott's scare campaign against Labor's carbon tax exhumed and sent into electoral battle once more. Nothing agile or innovative about that. Labor knew it was coming - why did Bill Shorten take the risk? Because Shorten decided months ago that he had no choice but to take risks. He concluded that Labor was such an underdog, that the Turnbull government was so ascendant, that there was no point in trying to present Labor as a "small target", avoiding criticism by avoiding action. Labor has instead taken the initiative and the government's responses have exposed Turnbull. The movement in the polls has been all one-way away from the Turnbull government. John Hewson observes: "Shorten is a confidence player. He's getting a lift in the last few weeks and now he's out there punching hard again, and I'm amazed that Malcolm can't see it." Turnbull, he says, should have rejected some elements of Labor's plan but embraced some the longer and larger renewables target, for instance. Labor's renewables target, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, would require about $48 billion in new investment in solar and wind energy, the basis for a major source of new economic activity. Bloomberg's Kobad Bhavnagri told The Australian newspaper that electricity prices were unlikely to increase by much in the process because "Australia's power fleet is aging and needs updating and one way or another prices will have to rise to support new investment." The difference will be whether Australia gets a thrusting new industry in the process. Or not. Bhavnagri again: "Without renewable policy, it is old coal that banks the higher prices and remains dominant. With renewable policy, the money instead goes to building new wind and solar farms." Hewson is stinging on the government's scaremongering. Greg Hunt "is going around basically telling lies" about Labor's plan to drive up electricity prices by 78 per cent, he says. In any case, that figure has been discredited before. It's predicated on a world where there is no policy response except a carbon price, and the carbon price goes to $209 dollars a tonne. The government's claims of "a massive new tax are ridiculous" says Hewson. "There are already solutions around baseload solar with battery storage that are cheaper than current electricity prices." Hewson still expects Turnbull to win the election, but his disillusionment with Turnbull is deep: "Malcolm said he'd give us advocacy, not slogans, and we'd get better politics. "And here we are with slogans already. Labor's negative gearing policy is 'Labor's big housing tax'. Now he says Labor has 'a big new electricity tax'. He's trying to kill off debate in areas where he's exposed. The slogans are taking over." As someone who was briefly detained after the botched execution of a Chaser prank, I'm a fan of the rule that people shouldn't be locked up without a good reason. This notion, which goes back to the Roman principle of habeas corpus, is the crux of the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court's recent decision overturning the detention of asylum-seekers on Manus Island. Reading section 42 of the PNG constitution, I wonder why we ever thought it would permit the detention of people who have committed no crime. It prevents detention except under specific circumstances although it's unclear whether that covers pranks involving public nudity. Illustration: Michael Mucci Shouldn't arbitrary detention bother Australians, too? We often throw up our hands when an Aussie's locked up overseas even after being convicted, but we're fine with locking up non-Australians who've dared to seek asylum. Which is not only no crime, but protected by a treaty to which we're a signatory. We've blithely embraced Guantanamo logic, where it doesn't matter what your government does as long as it happens on a remote island. Whereas I suspect that if our government set up its razor wire in the middle of Martin Place, the public would tear it down in a day. Bangarra Dance Theatre is in mourning following the sudden death overnight of its acclaimed music director, David Page, brother of its artistic director, Stephen Page. The Bangarra Dance Theatre is in mourning after the sudden death of its music director, David Page. Credit:Edward Mulvihill David, 55, was creator of music scores to some of Bangarra's iconic works. . The company confirmed his death in a short statement: "The Bangarra clan is unbelievably saddened that our brother David Page is no longer with us," it read. "On behalf of Stephen, the Page family and Bangarra, we ask for your privacy and respect at this difficult time." A leading doctors' group has called for a coronial investigation after an Iranian refugee at Nauru died after setting himself alight over despair at life on the Pacific island. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection said the married man, 23, died on Friday. "The department expresses its sympathies to his wife, family and friends. The death will be reported to the Queensland Coroner," it said in a statement. Treasurer Scott Morrison has again knocked back the sale of Australia's largest private land holding to Chinese conglomerate Shanghai Pengxin Group, concluding it was not in the national interest. The S. Kidman & Co portfolio constitutes the country's largest private land holding, accounting for 1.3 per cent of total Australian land and 2.5 per cent of all agricultural land. Mr Morrison said he remained concerned that the size and significance of the sprawling Kidman portfolio being sold as a single entity put it out of the reach of a domestic buyer. "The size of the asset makes it difficult for any single Australian group to acquire the entire operation," he said. He stressed the decision reflected only his "preliminary view" and the relevant parties would be able to respond to his findings by Tuesday. If you wanted a window into the peculiar chemistry of Coalition politics, this marriage of convenience between liberal free marketeers and nostalgic agrarian socialists, here it was. Within minutes of Treasurer Scott Morrison's 'pro tem' rejection the proposed sale to a Chinese consortium of the S.Kidman property portfolio, the Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was on Twitter backing him in: "I welcome the federal Treasurer's decision on Kidman," Joyce enthused. Morrison had described the announcement as a "preliminary" finding, concluding that the 80 per cent sale of the massive property holding to Dakang Australian Holdings Ltd. may not be in Australia's national interest. It's the latest move by McDonald's to step up the quality of its food as it works to stage a turnaround of its business, which has lost customers in recent years. The world's biggest hamburger chain says it began testing the new recipe in about 140 stores in Oregon and Washington in March. McDonald's says it is testing Chicken McNuggets with no artificial preservatives as it works to revive its US business. The company has conceded that it failed to keep up with changing tastes and that it is looking at improving core menu items. Last week, it also said it is testing a version of its Big Mac that comes with bigger patties. McDonald's wants parents to 'feel good' about new McNugget recipe as it hopes to boost business. Credit:McDonald's McDonald's did not provide details on what exactly is different about the new McNugget recipe, but said it is "simpler" and "parents can feel good" about it. It said it was getting feedback from customers with the test, and did not say when it planned to launch the new recipe nationally. Last week, McDonald's said sales rose 5.4 per cent at established US locations during the first three months of the year. But the company did not say how much of that came from an uptick in customer visits. As Fairfax Media revealed a fortnight ago, the woman's legal battles began when she begged Australian officials on Nauru to let her come here to terminate the pregnancy she does not want. Instead, Australia sent her to Port Moresby for an abortion, where she remains in limbo after an emergency court order was imposed preventing an abortion being carried out until the current case is resolved. Abortion is also illegal in Papua New Guinea, according to its criminal code, which states a woman who attempts to "procure her own miscarriage" faces a maximum seven years' imprisonment. Last year a PNG couple were jailed for five years for causing the death of their unborn child. But the federal government says the risk of her being prosecuted for having an abortion is negligible, and says - despite flying her to PNG, paying for her accommodation and arranging her visa to PNG - it does not bear responsibility for the woman's care. IHMS officials have repeatedly raised serious concerns about the woman's care. In a letter to the department, IHMS warned that the woman faced long-term health and psychological consequences if she was forced to endure a pregnancy she did not want. "The mental health risks are greater the longer the pregnancy progresses against her will," the report said. More than 10,000 people with a disability and 6000 workers face an uncertain future as the NSW government moves ahead with plans to transfer services to the private sector ahead of the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Disability advocates have raised concerns about continuity of care, and the union representing workers has warned many will leave the sector under the transfer of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) services to non-government organisations. Uncertain: The NSW government is moving ahead with plans to transfer disability services to the private sector. Non-government service providers have welcomed the move, saying it would lead to greater choice for people with disabilities. She had been studying a translation course in Sydney and living with her aunt and cousin in Campsie. Michelle Leng, whose naked body was found floating in the Snapper Point blowhole. Credit:Facebook Her brother and mother, who live in China, were grappling with the news, Chief Inspector Jubelin said. "I don't think 'devastated' properly describes it. It's very difficult and even more traumatic for her family that they are so far away at this time." Police look for evidence after Michelle Leng's body was found at the blowhole at Snapper Point in the Central Coast. Credit:Marina Neil Police released CCTV footage on Friday showing Ms Leng walking along Pitt Street about 3pm last Thursday. She then caught a train from St James railway station, arriving at Campsie station about 4.30pm. The computer-generated image of Michelle Leng that was released by police when they were seeking to identify her body. Credit:NSW Police I don't think devastated properly describes it. It's very difficult and even more traumatic for her family that are so far away at this time. Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin But she never returned to her Campsie home. Her phone and social media accounts have not been active since late Thursday night. "We know she was communicating with friends up until the late hours of Thursday evening," Detective Inspector Jubelin said. "So obviously it's from that period to the discovery of her body that's the time period we are interested in." Computer image released On Wednesday morning, the NSW Homicide Squad released a computer generated image of a young Asian woman whose body, three days earlier, had been found naked, floating face down in the blowhole. She had no jewellery, no personal items and no tattoos, and remained unidentified for three days. The image and accompanying description - an Asian woman, aged 20-35, about 170 centimetres tall, with a medium build and shoulder-length dark hair - bore an unnerving resemblance to that of Ms Leng. Savvy social media users seized upon the two separate reports, joining the dots across the English language and Chinese language internet spheres. By Thursday afternoon, NSW Police had all but confirmed the connection and were awaiting final DNA results. On Thursday morning, Ms Leng's family revealed that detectives had begun gathering evidence for a DNA comparison. "Yesterday, New South Wales Police took away her toothbrush, collected hair and other personal items to do DNA comparison. Today the police took away Michelle's computer to find more effective clues," her family told an Australia-based Chinese-language news site. The quote has been translated. Final moments mapped With one element of the mystery now resolved, homicide detectives have turned their focus to how Ms Leng's body came to be dumped more than 100 kilometres from Sydney's CBD. Chief Inspector Jubelin said detectives had thoroughly canvassed the area, including gathering CCTV footage from the surrounding Lake Munmorah State Conservation Area and were "mapping out her final moments". Police divers had recovered "certain items from the water" near where her body was found, but police would not publicly divulge what they were, or whether the murder weapon was recovered. He said there was "no clear or concise motive at this stage" and would not comment on speculation that Ms Leng had been communicating with a boyfriend or partner before she died. The blowhole is about five kilometres from the entrance of the Lake Munmorah national park, which has a camping ground, and is accessible by a number of dirt roadways which are open between 5.30am and 6pm each day. "The post-mortem has come back with some results. We're working on a number of theories. Certainly by the condition of her body, we don't anticipate her body was in the water very long," Chief Inspector Jubelin said. When she failed to make contact over the Anzac Day long weekend, her family filed a missing persons report with the NSW Police on Monday. They told detectives her disappearance was very out of character. It was just before noon when shoppers going about their Friday at a suburban mall found themselves caught up in Sydney's latest underworld execution. Stunned onlookers watched while as many as eight shots were fired in the car park of Bankstown Central Shopping Centre killing one man and injuring another man and a woman. The dead man, known Sydney crime figure Walid "Wally" Ahmad, collapsed at the entrance to the shopping centre. An Australia Defence Force member has been arrested in relation to a bank robbery at one of the country's largest military bases. Robbery and Serious Crime Squad police arrested Private Sarah Royna, 24, on Friday, following a two-year investigation into the robbery at the Richmond Air Force Base. Australian Defence Force member private Sarah Royna arrested over bank robbery. Credit:Channel Nine Ms Royna, a serving member of the ADF and based in Victoria, was arrested at Surry Hills police station. She was charged with robbery while armed in company, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a prohibited firearm. A Sydney father has been sentenced to 14 years jail in Fiji after being found guilty of possessing almost 50 kilograms of cocaine. Fiji police arrested tow truck driver Joseph Abourizk and a Fijian local last July after finding several parcels of cocaine hidden in two suitcases. Sydney man Joseph Abourizk has already been in jail for nine months. On Thursday, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe sentenced him to a maximum of 14 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 12 years. Luke Foley returned from an official trip to Lebanon this week, accompanied by two of his most senior parliamentary colleagues: Jihad Dib and Shaoquett Moselmane. Foley visited villages that have particularly strong ties with NSW thanks to a large diaspora population in Sydney and met "senior political and cultural figures". It's the second such trip Foley has taken since becoming Opposition Leader. The first, in June last year, was to India. Accompanying him was Daniel Mookhey, the first member of the NSW Parliament of Australian-Indian heritage. Foley said his visit was all about "pursuing and forging links with the sub-continent" as a major economic partner. The Crime and Corruption Commission will review the handling of police complaints for the first time in its 2016-17 audit. Each year the commission focuses on different areas within the public sector to audit responses to allegations of corruption and areas where corruption could occur. The Crime and Corruption Commission will audit the handling of police complaints this year. For the 2016-2017 period the commission will audit five areas. The head of the Crime and Corruption Commission corruption division, Dianne McFarlane, said the commission broadly audited in three different categories: agency specific, theme-based and public interest, and were held to ensure the public sector was handling corruption appropriately. New road and public transport ideas are needed to reduce crippling peak -hour congestion in the fast-growing Brisbane's western suburbs along Moggill Road, the local MP says. Moggill Road has featured poorly in the RACQ's congestion "choke point" reports for a decade. The most recent, released on Friday, finds only small improvements in the morning peak hour. Moggill MP Dr Christian Rowan said it was time for a public re-think of the problem and possible solutions. A person wearing a clown mask was involved in a terrifying drive-by shooting in Brighton, police say. Prominent property developer and mining industry entrepreneur Kleo Hatziladas was in his black Jeep when it was peppered with bullets from a passing vehicle in Sussex Street at about 9am on Thursday. The scene of a drive-by shooting on Sussex Street in Brighton. Credit:Tom Cowie Police have been told that Mr Hatziladas, 49, noticed a white Commodore cross on to the wrong side of the road at the intersection of Wellington Street. The car, carrying a passenger who was wearing clown mask, then drove up next to the Jeep and fired a gun at the driver's side door. Murray Goulburn's mid-week announcement sent shockwaves through the industry. The nation's biggest dairy processor said it would cut the price it paid farmers for milk, and revealed a net profit forecast of between $39 million and $42 million, less than half its prospectus forecast of $89 million from last year. It also revealed that its managing director would step down, as would its chief financial officer. The news left farmers reeling, and asking; what went wrong, and, how come important forecasts were so far out? While the milk price cut is bad news for farmers, the effects will not stop at the farm gate. When farmers get paid less they have less money to spend in local towns, in places like Maffra near Denison, which are heavily dependent on the dairy industry. They may also look to cut back on using contractors, such as people who spread fertiliser. Graeme Anderson, 72, who also farms at Denison, said this week's news was "shattering". Asked to describe the impact on his farm of the milk price cut, he answered bluntly: "Dramatic. The operating surplus that we would have spent again on the farm that's gone." It is impossible to imagine anything fragile surviving the aggressive rush of hundreds of thousands of people commuting to and from work, the unforgiving noise and the endless additions to the concrete jungle that is the city. But a handful of endangered and threatened animals and plants are surviving in an environment that many would consider too hostile for such fragile beings. The grey-headed flying fox travels between cities to source seasonal food such as fruit and nectar. Credit:Mark Clements Across Melbourne, 20 fauna and flora, ranging from chirping frogs to delicate orchids, call the city home. The new research comes from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, based at the University of Melbourne. Police are hunting an accident-prone thief who unwittingly stole a guide dog during a crime spree with another man in Melbourne's north-west. The Kia Cerato Koup was stolen from a Smithfield Road service station in Kensington about 1.20pm on April 20. After leaving, the offender realised the victim's guide dog was in the car, he then dropped the dog off at a nearby bowling club before it was reunited with its owner. CCTV images of a man police wish to speak to about a crime spree in Melbourne's north-west. Credit:Victoria Police A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the guide dog may have been training, as the victim was not visually impaired. When Numan Haider pulled a knife from his clothing, two policemen had no doubt of his intentions. "He was going to cut my throat and cut my head off," said an AFP officer who was stabbed five times and recalled Haider standing over him before a single bullet killed the 18-year-old instantly. A Victoria Police officer, stabbed in the arm but who recovered and shot Haider, ''had no other choice". ''If I had not shot Haider he would have killed [the AFP officer] and then returned to do the same to me," he said. Haider's actions outside the Endeavour Hills police station, shortly after 7.30pm on September 23, 2014, and his behaviour beforehand were the subject of a coronial inquest that began in early March and finished on Friday afternoon. Police have charged 34 people over the Moomba riots, which saw men and boys go on a violent rampage through Melbourne's CBD. A police investigation into the terrifying rampage ended on Friday, resulting in a string of charges for those allegedly involved, including 10 people with suspected links to the Apex gang. The so-called Apex gang came to public attention after a large-scale brawl in Melbourne's city centre last year. Credit:twitter.com/@russmulry Apex has come under intense police and media scrutiny in the wake of the riots and a series of carjackings and aggravated burglaries across Melbourne. Police have charged 30 people over the March 12 riot and intend to summons another seven to appear in court. Police have released CCTV footage of two witnesses they want to speak to as part of their investigation into the death of taxi driver Mohamud Muketar. Mr Muketar had just finished his shift when he was brutally assaulted near the corner of Condell and Napier streets in Fitzroy just after 11.30pm on April 20. Paramedics and police could not revive Mr Muketar and he died at the scene. Homicide detectives are treating the death as suspicious and are appealing for witnesses to come forward, in particular two people who were in the area at the time of the bashing. Police have charged a 44-year-old man with murder after a Bentleigh grandmother was found dead on Tuesday. Investigators had been questioning Socrates Tamvakis, the son of Violet Tamvakis, 75, whose body was found in her home in Melbourne's south-east. Violet Tamvakis Credit:Victoria Police Mr Tamvakis was arrested at a Bentleigh cafe at 4pm on Wednesday after a member of the public recognised him and called police. A closed out-of-sessions court hearing was held on Friday evening, where the accused was remanded in custody. Police allegedly caught a 31-year-old man travelling 72 kilometres over the speed limit in Melbourne's inner east with a blood alcohol reading more than three times the limit. A Victoria Police spokesman said Yarra Highway Patrol members were left stunned at the man's extremely high breath test reading in Kew on Friday. The man allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.177 per cent. Credit:Aaron Sawall Police caught the 31-year-old Mont Albert North man travelling at 172km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Eastern Fwy about 2.15am, police said. He was taken to a nearby police station for a breath test, where police allege he returned a blood alcohol reading of .177 per cent. Thirty years ago this week, when Chernobyl blew up in the world's worst peacetime nuclear disaster, Olena Fedorova's young life changed as she slept. She was six. At close to 1.30am on April 26, 1986, reactor number four at the nuclear power plant, in northern Ukraine near Belarus, exploded. Olena Fedorova with the dress she wore when she was photograped aged five with her grandmother. Credit:Joe Armao The reactor's roof blew off and a huge radioactive cloud blew out, killing 49 people straight away and causing an estimated 30,000 premature deaths. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Commission on Radiological Protection say these deaths, a figure still growing, are overwhelmingly from cancer. Police believe a Honda station wagon was travelling north on Cameron St, when it collided with a Chrysler sedan travelling south, about 12.50am. Two drivers are fighting for their lives in hospital after the Cranbourne crash. Credit:Courtesy of Seven News Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives and emergency services attended the scene on Cameron St in Cranbourne early Saturday morning. A woman has died in hospital after a two-car crash at Cranbourne, in Melbourne's south-east. The Chrysler driver, a Junction Village woman, 32, was flown to The Alfred hospital with life threatening injuries, but died on Saturday afternoon. The scene of the crash Credit:Courtesy of Seven News The Honda driver, a Cranbourne man, 37, was taken to the same hospital with critical injuries. A hospital spokeswoman said he was now in a serious but stable condition. Both were the sole occupants of the cars involved in the crash. Anyone who witnessed the incident or with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report atwww.crimestoppersvic.com.au. Bruce Springsteen, actually happy to be returning to Australia It is an issue that is playing out in cities and states across the Bible-belt south in particular, becoming a rallying point for religious conservatives in an election year, while also making headlines around the world as a counter-movement of protest, which has included boycotts by Bruce Springsteen, Hollywood studios and big business, takes off. At the centre of it all though are LGBTI Americans trying to negotiate everyday life under these bills as an already stigmatised community, and that most mundane, most human of unavoidable activities going to the toilet. Lee Churchill, of Raleigh, shows her support of the bill during a rally at the Halifax Mall in Raleigh on Monday. Credit:AP "For most transgender people using the bathroom is a stressful thing to begin with," says Comero. "Once this bill passed it really escalated the stress and the worry and the fear exponentially." The so-called House Bill 2 (HB2) came about after the city of Charlotte a relatively liberal city in a Republican state passed an ordinance in February expanding anti-discrimination protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity, including outlawing the denial of goods, facilities and places of "public accommodation" such as bathrooms to people simply for being gay or transgender. The executive director of Equality North Carolina, Chris Sgro, leads a group carrying petitions calling for the repeal of House Bill 2 to governor Pat McCrory's office. Credit:News & Observer/AP The backlash from some in the religious and conservative political movement was swift. Republican governor Patrick McCrory's argument against the ordinance followed the blueprint of those heard elsewhere: that it was a matter of privacy and safety, and would allow men to enter women's bathrooms and change rooms for nefarious purposes. North Carolina governor Pat McCrory says allowing transgender people to use the bathroom of their choice puts citizens at risk of 'deviant actions'. Credit:AP "This shift in policy could also create major public safety issues by putting citizens in possible danger from deviant actions by individuals taking improper advantage of a bad policy," he said, according to the Charlotte Observer. On March 23, he signed the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, now known as HB2, which eliminated anti-discrimination protections for LGBTI people and forced public schools and agencies to segregate bathrooms according to people's sex on their birth certificate. Protesters rally against House Bill 2 in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Monday. Credit:News & Observer/AP Chris Brook, the American Civil Liberties Union legal director in North Carolina, said he believed the issue of transgender people and bathroom use had taken a grip in public debate because while gays and lesbians were increasingly visible, the transgender community is still not well understood. "We all know in 2016 gay and lesbian friends, neighbours, family members, but you might not know a transgender person," he said. Charlie Camero had to make up business cards explaining why he was forced to use the women's bathroom. "Knowing somebody is the key here, that you recognise that the transgender community has the exact same desires on a narrow level to use the restroom in peace, and on a broader level, to be respected and treated as a person with inherent dignity." Protests began immediately, with condemnation from individuals and companies like Apple, American Airlines and PayPal, the latter of which went on to cancel plans to open an operations centre which would have brought 400 jobs. Joaquin Carcano, a transgender man who opposes the HB2 bill. The ACLU, in collaboration with other groups, soon announced they would challenge the law in court as unconstitutional. Joaquin Carcano, a transgender man who works at the University of North Carolina, is the lead plaintiff on their case. Like Comero, he was forbidden from continuing to use the men's bathroom but Carcano did not feel like he belonged in the women's bathroom either, and has chosen not to do so. At work, his only options therefore have been to walk for 15 minutes to the campus' only single-occupancy public stall, or use a recently discovered toilet in the basement maintenance area that can only be accessed via a service elevator. It's onerous. He says he's drinking less water to try to minimise bathroom use, and has to factor bathroom trips into the day in a way most people couldn't imagine. "It's a process, it feels very unnecessary and uncomfortable to feel like you have to take these other steps for something that wasn't an issue months before, that had never come up in conversation," Carcano says. Both men are clear though that is more than simply a matter of inconvenience or embarrassment for the transgender community, it's one of potential danger and serious mental health consequences. Forty one per cent of transgender adults in the US have attempted suicide, compared with 1.6 per cent of the general population. The rate of violence faced by transgender Americans is already alarmingly high, with transgender women of colour the most common target of hate-crime killings and transgender people 3.7 times more likely to face police violence. While there are no known cases of transgender people attacking women and children in bathrooms in the US, as supporters of these bills fear, bathrooms are a common site of harassment and intimidation for transgender people themselves. Seventy per cent of transgender respondents of one UCLA survey in Washington DC said they had been denied access to or harassed or assaulted when trying to use a public restroom. Carcano, who is Latino, says his fears for the wellbeing of transgender Latinas is one factor motivating him to join the case. "A lot of them, they're not in a position to challenge the law, or to speak out and defend themselves because of the fear of deportations, or the general fear of the police." The protest movement was given a boost on April 8, when Springsteen cancelled a show in Greensborough, NC, in support of the state's "freedom fighters". In the weeks since, a flood of other artists have joined him in cancelling shows Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas and Bryan Adams while a range of film and TV studios have refused to film in the state. But supporters of the bill are digging in even as business abandons the state. Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz has begun using the issue to flex his conservative bona fides on the campaign trail. After rival Donald Trump said he didn't have a problem with transgender women like Caitlyn Jenner using the women's bathroom, Cruz released a classic scare ad that stated "Should a grown man pretending to be a woman be allowed to use the women's restroom? The same restroom used by your daughter? Your wife? Donald Trump thinks so." London: Tributes began coming in Friday after one of the last pediatricians in the embattled city of Aleppo was killed in airstrikes in rebel-held areas of the Syrian city. Air raids in the city late Wednesday left at least 50 dead, including patients and staff at al-Quds hospital, which was supported by international aid groups. But it was the death of Muhammad Waseem Maaz that seemed to draw attention special attention to the quickly deteriorating situation in the city. "Like so many others, Dr Maaz was killed for saving lives. Today we remember Dr Maaz's humanity and his bravery. Please share his story so others may know what medics in Aleppo and across Syria are facing," the director of the Children's Hospital in Aleppo, Dr Hatem, said in a statement posted on Facebook, that has gone viral. Dr Maaz worked in the al-Quds hospital mostly overnight, often after long day shifts at Aleppo's Children's Hospital. He started working in the city in 2013, according to Doctors Without Borders. SAINT-CONSTANT, QC, April 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Stop, Look, Listen: Incoming Train?, a new permanent exhibition on railway safety produced by Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum in collaboration with Operation Lifesaver, was inaugurated today in the presence of public figures from the world of transportation and municipal life as well as from the culture, tourism and media industries. This initiative promoted by CN is intended primarily for children aged 3 to 7 years old and their parents. It aims to encourage families to be vigilant around railway tracks and to teach young children to safe practices near railway facilities. This project was made possible through financial support from CN as well as other players in the rail industry, including the Agence metropolitaine de transport (AMT). The exhibit, presented at Exporail's Hays train station as an interactive course with railroad-themed decor, facilitates the understanding and application of safety messages. Joined by their parents, young visitors take on the role of apprentice locomotive engineer, using their imagination, senses and motor skills to complete eight challenges. It teaches them to detect danger when approaching train tracks and to recognize the safety signs and devices surrounding them. The whole visit provides an interactive, educational, fun and preventative railway safety experience. The museological approach was developed by the teams at Exporail and Operation Lifesaver under the museographical direction of Carrier Communication & Design. According to C. Stephen Cheasley, President of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association and Exporail, "This exhibition is part of Exporail's educational mission and will provide our family clientele with an authentic railway safety experience on site. We kindly thank all our partners that supported the project, in particular the teams at Operation Lifesaver and CN for their collaboration in putting together this exhibition." The Stop, Look, Listen: Incoming Train? exhibition meets a need for increased public awareness with regard to trespassing on railway tracks. According to Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer at CN: "Railway safety is a shared responsibility, but it is especially important to CN. On one hand, we want to save lives and prevent accidents. On the other, as a leading railway company, our success directly depends on our ability to transport our merchandise safely. This being public-rail safety week, we could not have asked for a better time to launch this exhibition that will encourage children and adults alike to adopt safe practices around railway tracks." Michael Bourque, President and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada, reiterated the importance of being vigilant around railway property: "Rail safety is our number one priority. Through this exhibition, the public will gain a better understanding of safe behaviour around railway tracks, and we are proud to be a part of that. I would like to thank CN for launching this initiative, for which I was very proud to act as the honourary president during the funding campaign." For his part, La Prairie MP Jean-Claude Poissant expressed his delight at the fact that this new children's exhibition will enhance visits to Exporail, which are already greatly enjoyed by the public. "I am especially pleased about this exhibition given that it addresses railway safety, a theme that is a key priority within our government." He also stressed the major role Exporail plays in the preservation and enhancement of Canadian railway history and in the area's cultural tourism. Exporail would like to thank the donors who made this project possible: CN, Agence metropolitaine de transport, Cando Rail Services, Montreal Port Authority, Sydney Coal Railway (Logistec Corporation), Ontario Southland Railway, Tshiuetin Rail Transportation and The Canadian Heartland Training Railway Services Inc. About Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum Located on the South Shore of Montreal, in Saint-Constant/Delson, Exporail showcases the largest collection of railway material in Canada, with over 160 vehicles, 10,000 artefacts, 200 archival fonds and collections and over 1,000 miniature trains. Visitors are taken on a fascinating journey into the world of railroads: they can climb aboard selected vehicles on exhibit and relive the experiences of passengers of the past. In summer, they complete their visit with a ride in an antique streetcar, on a miniature railway, or aboard a passenger train. Exporail is a project of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association, a non-profit organization. www.exporail.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/Exporail Twitter: @exporail About Operation Lifesaver Established in Canada in 1981, Operation Lifesaver (OL) is a national public-rail safety program sponsored by Transport Canada and the Railway Association of Canada. Through partnerships with provincial safety councils, police, railways, the trucking industry and community groups, Operation Lifesaver is dedicated to saving lives by educating Canadians about the hazards surrounding highway/railway crossings and trespassing on railway property. In addition to its Public-Rail Safety Week, Operation Lifesaver spreads its message of "Look, Listen, and Live" throughout the year as part of several initiatives, including interactive websites for kids, educational modules for new and professional drivers and social media pages on Twitter and Facebook. OL network volunteers also deliver over 500 presentations and activities across Canada each year. www.operationlifesaver.ca Facebook: www.facebook.com/operationgareautrain Twitter: @oplifesaver SOURCE EXPORAIL CONTACT: Source and press contact: Bruno Cordellier, Communications Officer, 450 638-1522, extension 249, bruno.cordellier@exporail.org KARIYA, Japan, April 28, 2016 -- DENSO Corporation today announced its global financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016: Consolidated revenue totaled 4,524.5 billion yen ( US$40.2 billion ), a 5.0 percent increase from the previous year. ( ), a 5.0 percent increase from the previous year. Consolidated operating profit totaled 315.7 billion yen ( US$2.8 billion ), a 4.7 percent decrease from the previous year. ( ), a 4.7 percent decrease from the previous year. Consolidated profit attributable to owners of the parent company totaled 244.3 billion yen ( US$2.2 billion ), a 5.5 percent decrease from the previous year. "DENSO's revenue increased due to an overseas production volume increase and the growth in sales in addition to the impact of the weak yen. On the other hand, despite cost reduction effort and the production volume increase, operating profit decreased due to the increase in research and development cost and start-up cost for new products," said Koji Arima, president and CEO of DENSO Corporation. In Japan, a production volume decrease mainly in compact cars led to a decrease in revenue to 2,646.6 billion yen (US$23.5 billion), a 0.7 percent decrease from the previous year. The increase in R&D cost for future growth in addition to the decrease in production volume and other expenses led to an operating profit of 154.5 billion yen (US$1.4 billion), a 21.5 percent decrease from the previous year. In North America, an increase in car production, boosted by the steady economic growth, led to an increase in revenue to 1,112.7 billion yen (US$9.9 billion), a 15.1 percent increase from the previous year. As a result of the increase in production volume, the operating profit totaled 47.7 billion yen (US$423.4 million), a 20.8 percent increase from the previous year. In Europe, car production increased due to the recovery of the economic slump, which led to an increase in revenue to 593.6 billion yen (US$5.3 billion), a 7.0 percent increase from the previous year. Despite the production volume increase and the growth in sales, the depreciation expenses and other costs for start-up products led to the decrease in the operating profit to 14.4 billion yen (US$127.9 million), a 14.3 percent decrease from the previous year. In Asia, the increase of car production resulted in a revenue increase of 1,161.2 billion yen (US$10.3 billion), a 10.6 percent increase from the previous year. As a result of the increase in production volume as well as cost reduction effort, an operating profit totaled 96.6 billion yen (US$857.2 million), a 19.4 percent increase from the previous year. In other areas, mainly the South American region, including Brazil and Argentina, revenue totaled 59.5 billion yen (US$528.0 million), a 19.4 percent decrease from the previous year. The operating loss totaled 2.0 billion yen (US$17.8 million). "For the new fiscal year, despite production volume increase and the growth in sales, revenue and operating profit will decrease due to the exchange rate," said Arima. (Foreign exchange rates used for the next fiscal year are US$= 110 yen, Euro= 125yen) Forecast for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2017 Half-Year Forecast Full-Year Forecast Changes from Previous FY Revenue 2,200.0 billion yen [US$19.5 billion] 4,500.0 billion yen [US$39.9 billion] -24.5 billion yen (-0.5 percent) Operating profit 133.0 billion yen [US$1.2 billion] 313.0 billion yen [US$2.8 billion] -2.7 billion yen (-0.9 percent) Profit before income taxes 148.0 billion yen [US$ 1.3 billion] 342.0 billion yen [US$3.0 billion] -5.3 billion yen (-1.5 percent) Profit attributable to owners of the parent company 102.0 billion yen [US$ 0.9 billion] 235.0 billion yen [US$2.1 billion] -9.3 billion yen (-3.8 percent) About DENSO Corporation: DENSO Corp., headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 38 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs more than 150,000 people. Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, totaled US$40.2 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 8.8 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to www.globaldenso.com, or visit our media website at www.globaldenso.com/en/newsreleases/media-center/ About DENSO in North America: In North America, DENSO employs more than 22,000 people at 30 consolidated companies and affiliates. Of these, 25 are manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs more than 14,000 people in California, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Arkansas. DENSO's North American consolidated sales totaled US$9.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016. For more information, go to www.densocorp-na.com. Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DENSOinNorthAmerica (Notes) The above forecasts are created based on the information obtained by the date of this announcement and the actual results may differ due to various causes in the future. U.S. dollar amounts have been translated, for convenience only, at the rate of 112.68 yen = US$1, the approximate exchange rate prevailing in the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market on Mar 31, 2016. Billion is used in the American sense of one thousand million. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140521/90198 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/denso-announces-year-end-financial-results-300259383.html SOURCE DENSO Corporation CONTACT: Bridgette LaRose, DENSO International America, Phone: 248-372-8266, bridgette_larose@denso-diam.com RELATED LINKShttp://www.densocorp-na.com EAST HARTFORD, Conn., April 28, 2016 -- Pratt & Whitney's PurePower Geared Turbofan engine will power Bombardier's largest C Series aircraft order based on an agreement signed by Delta Air Lines for 125 aircraft. The order consists of 75 firm aircraft with options for up to 50 more as well as a 15-year services agreement. Pratt & Whitney's PurePower Geared Turbofan engine is the sole-source engine provider for Bombardier's C Series aircraft. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company. "Bombardier champions sustainable and leading edge technology and that is why we chose Pratt & Whitney to power our game-changing C Series aircraft family which together received a strong endorsement from the Delta Air Lines order today," said Fred Cromer, president, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. "The C Series aircraft is revolutionizing the single-aisle aircraft market and the Pratt & Whitney engine is a big factor and important partner in this success and we look forward to this continued support to our C Series customers." "Today's historic deal is fantastic for the North American aviation industry, and we send our congratulations to Bombardier and Delta and know that the Pratt & Whitney PurePower engine will deliver unmatched value in terms of fuel burn, noise and emissions," said Rick Deurloo, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing, Commercial Engines, Pratt & Whitney. "Customers continue to believe in the ingenuity of our engine technology recognizing it represents one of the most compelling stories in aviation history. This engine is more than just a means to power an aircraft; it defines an age in sustainable aviation technology." The PurePower engine family has completed more than 58,000 cycles and 35,000 hours of testing. Bombardier is a manufacturer of both planes and trains and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. News and information are available at bombardier.com or on Twitter @Bombardier. Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC. This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. For more information about Pratt & Whitney, visit www.pw.utc.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/prattandwhitney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prattandwhitney YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/prattandwhitney1925 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pratt-&-whitney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dependableengines/ Sara Banda Alice Straight Pratt & Whitney Pratt & Whitney +1 (860) 565-4031 office +1 (860) 565-2344 office +1 (860) 202-8644 mobile +1 (860) 830-6187 mobile sara.banda@pw.utc.com alice.straight@pw.utc.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pratt--whitneys-purepower-geared-turbofan-engine-to-power-bombardiers-largest-c-series-order-for-delta-air-lines-300259382.html SOURCE Pratt & Whitney RELATED LINKShttp://www.pratt-whitney.com HOLLYWOOD, Fla., April 28, 2016 -- RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange, will demonstrate its visual remote selling tool at booth #117 during the ARDA World 2016 Annual Convention & Expo. The technology platform, which offers video conferencing, screen-sharing capabilities, document transfers and more, provides a way for RCI affiliates to increase their touchpoint opportunities with current owners and prospective buyers. "Since previewing RCI LiveStream at last year's ARDA World conference, we have received immense interest in the platform, and there are affiliates already using it," said Fiona Downing, senior vice president of business development and operations for RCI. "With success already evident and the massive potential this holds for resorts, we wanted to offer live demonstrations of how the technology works at this year's trade show." The in-person demonstration will show affiliates the fully-equipped video and audio platform, which allows resort representatives to speak live with prospects and owners anywhere, at any time. The tool includes pitch prompt capabilities, which can show scripted responses based on the discussion topic to the resort employee, allows guests in various locations to view a presentation, and can include two sales agents so that specialists can provide further information on a call as needed. Additional useful features include screen-share functionality, making it easy to show prospects the same visuals that are used in the sales room or to share website materials. If the conversation moves to a contract, a file can be sent for signature within the platform, making the signing process as convenient as possible. "RCI LiveStream has proven to be a functional and useful tool for assisting our clients to understand the benefits of RCI Points," said Justin Chaney of Leisure Getaway, Inc., who is using RCI LiveStream for several affiliated resorts. "It's user-friendly, easy to follow and understand, easy to navigate, interactive for both parties, and clients have been extremely receptive to it. We are truly honored to have the privilege of utilizing this product and expect a considerable amount of new business as a result of it." The RCI LiveStream capabilities are powerful tools for customer service, providing a way to hold personalized, face-to-face conversations that can occur at any time of year, not just when the owner is on vacation. In fact, even the RCI Call Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, now uses the tool to provide personalized support to subscribing members. RCI LiveStream was developed by RCI in collaboration with sales technology specialist Generator Systems. For more information, visit the RCI booth (#117) at the ARDA World 2016 Annual Convention & Expo, contact your account representative, or visit RCIAffiliates.com. About RCI RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with approximately 4,300 affiliated resorts in more than 100 countries. RCI pioneered the concept of vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility and versatility with their vacation ownership experience. Today, through the RCI Weeks program, the week-for-week exchange system, and the RCI Points program, the industry's first global points-based exchange system, RCI provides flexible vacation options to its 3.8 million RCI subscribing members each year. RCI's luxury exchange program, The Registry Collection program, is the world's largest program of its kind with approximately 200 affiliated properties either accessible for exchange or under development on six continents. RCI is part of Wyndham Destination Network and the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands . For additional information, visit our media center. RCI can also be found on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taking-the-sales-room-online-rci-to-demo-virtual-sales-tool-at-arda-world-2016-300259397.html SOURCE RCI CONTACT: Steven Alessandrini, (973) 753-8278, Steven.Alessandrini@rci.com; Catherine Reynolds, (973) 753-4662, Catherine.Reynolds@rci.com RELATED LINKShttp://www.rci.com PHOENIX, April 28, 2016 -- U-Haul Company's longstanding commitment to honoring and assisting veterans will be on display locally Friday with the arrival of The Tribute Journey at the Phoenix VA Hospital. The Tribute Journey, carried out by Gold Star Mother and artist Kathryn Cross, is an expression of appreciation for our veterans and current military service members through the hand delivery of custom greeting cards. Illustrations and poetic verses are crafted by Cross, while the cards are printed at U-Haul headquarters in Phoenix. U-Haul is sponsoring Cross on her 8,263-mile trip that features stops at 16 hospitals across eight states and three Canadian provinces. More than 5,400 cards and hugs of gratitude will be issued along the way. Phoenix will be the third stop on the Tribute Journey as Cross and U-Haul Team Members visit the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center at 650 East Indian School Road from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. "We have to say thank you, and I believe in saying it loud and handing them a greeting card that means something," Cross said. "They cry. They smile and clutch onto these cards. They decorate their rooms with these cards." Cross has been making cards for veterans since 2009, a labor of love she began in the memory of her son, OSSN Tyler J. Connely, who was killed serving his country. Cross started the Tribute Journey to communicate to service members, past and present, that they are never forgotten. "When I lost my son, I was so heartbroken," Cross said. "He lost his life while on patrol. We don't always remember the ones who serve every day. He's not engraved in granite somewhere. He's engraved in my heart. "Those who served, the ones in hospitals, are often by themselves. They have no visitors. They need to know that we as a people have not forgotten what they've done to protect our freedom." U-Haul has partnered with Cross since the annual Tribute Journey began, printing and delivering more than 200,000 cards every year to veterans around the world. U-Haul Team Members volunteer with Gold Star Mothers in handing out cards at hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Cards are also sent to Navy ships at sea. U-Haul, which was co-founded by World War II Navy veteran L.S. "Sam" Shoen and his wife, Anna Mary Carty Shoen, has been recognized on multiple occasions for its commitment to being one of the top military-friendly U.S. employers. To read more about how U-Haul is supporting veterans and helping your community, please visit myuhaulstory.com. Contact Jeff Lockridge Sebastien Reyes E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com Phone: 602-263-6194 Website: uhaul.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/u-haul-sponsored-tribute-journey-comes-to-phoenix-va-hospital-300259244.html SOURCE U-Haul Road Safety on Five Continents Conference (RS5C) [cid:image004.png@01D1A16E.6686CD80] Dear Friends and Colleagues This year's Road Safety on Five Continents Conference (RS5C) includes an exciting opportunity to take part in a special iRAP-hosted session on Thursday 19 May between 11am to 12pm. The session is titled: 'The importance of Road Infrastructure Safety in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals' It will take place in: The Las Vegas meeting room. Windsor Florida Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The 90 minute session is divided into two parts. The first session includes 15 minute presentations by the following speakers: iRAP MoU and projects in Brazil: Professor Valter Tani, LabTrans, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, BRAZIL The CAF role in road safety: Hilda Maria Gomez, Ejecutiva Principal, Direccion de Analisis y Programacion Sectorial, CAF iRAP projects in Ministry of Transport, CHINA : Greg Smith, Managing Director, Road Assessment Services, RAS Our session will conclude with a 45 minute workshop session in which delegates will have an opportunity to use our ViDA demonstrator to star rate an example section of road and explore ways to improve safety and save lives. I do hope that you will able to join us and support this VTI event. Yours Sincerely Julio Urzua If you have questions about the Conference, please visit http://www.vti.se/rs5c International Road Assessment Program (iRAP), Charity no. 1140357 Correspondence: Worting House Basingstoke Hampshire RG23 8PX UK T: +44 1256 345598 F: +44 1256 811876 www.irap.org WASHINGTON, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During today's Opening Keynote at Springtime Expo, ASAE announced a new event for the association industry called Xperience Design Project (XDP). The new design thinking format will be a two-day, business event for association professionals and industry partners to co-create solutions around shared challenges in the meetings industry. The inaugural Xperience Design Project will be May 23, 2016-24, 2017, at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, Maryland. "We are excited about XDP because it will be a game changer for the association industry. It will provide attendees and industry partners the opportunity to discuss topics together and create innovative and effective solutions," said ASAE President and CEO John H. Graham, IV, FASAE, CAE. "The event will be 100 percent interactive, allow for one-on-one conversations, and build important relationships, so our members and industry partners can elevate how they conduct business as well as implement their meetings." XDP will include The Lab, Connections, and Business Exchange. On day one, attendees will participate in The Lab, which are immersive, interactive learning experiences around six key topic areas, and Connections, an evening social event. On the second day, attendees will hear key takeaways from each of the six topics and take part in the Business Exchange, a series of one-on-one conversations with industry partners. ASAE partnered with 360 Live Media, a DC-based marketing and experience design agency, to develop the concept of the new event. ASAE and 360 Live Media went through a three-part development process that included: research, experience strategy and design, industry co-curation, and branding of XDP. "We are honored to partner with ASAE in developing the vision, strategy, and experience design for XDP. This will be a transformational experience for the association community, and it will showcase and advance ASAE's leadership in innovation. We can't wait to launch XDP with ASAE in May 2017," said Don Neal Founder & CEO of 360 Live Media. ASAE is sun-setting the Springtime Expo. For information and to pre-register for XDP, visit www.xdpbyasae.org About ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership ASAE is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 9,300 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, and provides resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. For more information about ASAE, visit www.asaecenter.org. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asae-announces-new-event-xperience-design-project-300258985.html SOURCE ASAE CONTACT: Sabrina Kidwai, APR, CAE, skidwai@asaecenter.org, 202-557-1066. RELATED LINKShttp://www.asaecenter.org SOUTH BEND, Ind., April 28, 2016 -- Former Secretary of State and current Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton toured AM General's Commercial Assembly Plant where she learned of the Company's expanding contract manufacturing initiatives and also witnessed firsthand a demonstration of the universally accessible MV-1 vehicle, purpose built from the ground up for people with disabilities. AM General President and CEO, Andy Hove, AM General, Commercial President, Howard Glaser, Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly and Mrs. Clinton paused during their tour of the facility to witness Mobility Ventures employee, and former Ms. Wheelchair America, Erika Bogan demonstrate the innovative vehicle that redefines accessible transportation for people with disabilities. Bogan, a single mother of three girls, was severely injured in 2002 and has since become a vocal leader and passionate advocate for the disabled. Upon seeing the demonstration, Mrs. Clinton spoke briefly with Bogan and then commented later to a gathered crowd, "I want to thank you for coming up with the MV-1. What a remarkable invention, providing dignity, mobility to people with disabilities. I am thrilled that I got to see that." The MV-1 is the only purpose built wheelchair accessible vehicle. The MV-1 redefines accessible transportation with a built-in side-entry power ramp, ample head room, and seating for up to five which includes the ability to safely accommodate two wheelchair users at a timeone of whom rides in the front and the other in the spacious passenger area making it the perfect solution for consumers, commercial use, and government fleets. And at Mobility Ventures, safety comes first. The MV-1 safety record is unmatched by any wheelchair accessible vehicle, based on federal NHTSA safety recall data for aftermarket conversion vans. Additionally, the MV-1 meets all Buy America requirements. Information about the MV-1 family of accessible vehicles can easily be found on our new website at www.mv-1.us. The site includes useful information on building/customizing your own MV-1, vehicle specifications, a downloadable brochure, vehicle photos and the nationwide dealer network locations. Also, please click the hyperlinks below for informative MV-1 customer testimonials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU-YPOQD910 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifZXRnWVSVs About Mobility Ventures LLC Mobility Ventures is an industry innovator in purpose-built paratransit vehicles for public and private transportation providing design, engineering, marketing, sales, and customer service support. Mobility Ventures is a wholly owned subsidiary, of AM General LLC. Please see more information about Mobility Ventures at www.mv-1.us About AM General AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. Through its military business, the company is widely recognized as the world leader in design, engineer, manufacture and support of Light Tactical Vehicles, having produced and sustained more than 300,000 vehicles in over 60 countries. Its growing Commercial business includes its wholly owned subsidiary, Mobility Ventures, designer and manufacturer of the acclaimed MV-1, the only American made vehicle specifically engineered from the ground up in support of wheelchair users and people with disabilities. AM General is also proud to have been selected by Mercedes-Benz to be its only contract manufacturer in the United States, producing the R-Class vehicle in Mishawaka, Indiana. AM General has more than five decades of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com. Media Contact: Jeff Adams Global Communications & Marketing / AM General Phone: 703-347-2276 E-mail: jeff.adams@amgeneral.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hillary-clinton-visit-to-am-general-highlights-mv-1-universally-accessible-vehicle-300259497.html SOURCE AM General RELATED LINKShttp://www.amgeneral.com AUSTIN, Texas, April 28, 2016 -- In recognition of the state's thriving travel and tourism industry, Governor Greg Abbott announced the designation of May 1, 2016-7 as Texas Travel and Tourism Week, in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week. The travel and tourism industry is one of the strongest drivers of Texas' economy and highlights the diversity and beauty of the Lone Star State. The Texas travel and tourism industry is responsible for generating an estimated $69 billion in spending in the state in 2015, which directly supported 653,000 jobs across a variety industries, including leisure and hospitality, transportation, retail, trade services, finance, real estate, construction, insurance and others. Additionally, domestic leisure travel to Texas destinations continued to increase in 2015, accounting for nearly three out of every four travel days across the state and roughly 60 percent of travel spending. From sandy beaches and picturesque mountains, to guest ranches and urban centers, Texas offers a multitude of incredible leisure experiences for visitors of all ages, palates and interests. "Visiting Texas is an experience unlike any other, and the millions of tourists who visit each year are a testament to our unique appeal across the country and around the globe," said Governor Abbott. "Texas' expanding tourism and travel industry provides not only vital economic activity, but also allows us to showcase Texas' diverse traditions, history and attractions. I invite everyone to share their favorite parts of Texas on social media this week as we celebrate all the Lone Star State has to offer." The Governor is encouraging all Texans and those who have visited Texas to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #TexasToDo throughout Texas Travel and Tourism week. In February 2016, Texas Tourism launched a new advertising campaign utilizing the popular state tagline, "Texas. It's Like A Whole Other Country." The new campaign transitions the traveler from the big picture to a more in-depth focus on the unique individual experiences waiting to be discovered. The new campaign includes three television ads focusing on family fun, cuisine and traveling like a local, immersing prospective travelers in the sights, sounds and flavors to be experienced in the Lone Star State. For more details about Texas Travel and Tourism Week and about the economic impact of travel in Texas, please visit www.travel.texas.gov. To learn more about Texas travel events and destinations, or to order a free Texas State Travel Guide, please visit www.TravelTexas.com, and connect with Texas Tourism on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. About Texas Tourism: Texas Tourism's mission is to enhance and extend local economic development efforts by marketing Texas as a premier travel destination in out-of-state domestic and international markets, generating non-Texan travel to the state. Travel and tourism are vital to the Texas economy, with an estimated $69 billion spent at destinations across the state in 2015. Travel spending directly supported 653,000 jobs across a variety of Texas industries. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texas-celebrates-travel-and-tourism-industry-during-2016-texas-travel-and-tourism-week-300259535.html SOURCE Texas Tourism CONTACT: Amber Reaver, Edelman, Amber.Reaver@edelman.com, 512-634-3672 RELATED LINKShttps://www.traveltexas.com WASHINGTON, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Next year's Defense spending bill passed out of the House Armed Services Committee with many pro-worker provisions endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, including an amendment to reverse steep cuts in travel expenses for civilian employees who spend months away from home supporting our warfighters. "Nearly all of the amendments we supported on behalf of the 270,000 civilian employees AFGE represents in the Department of Defense were included in the spending bill that passed out of the House Armed Services Committee," AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. said. "AFGE will work to retain these provisions as this bill moves through the congressional process, and we will fight to remove any language that would undermine the critical jobs that civil service workers perform on behalf of the American people," Cox said. President Cox thanked the following members of Congress for standing up for federal workers: Rep. Rob Bishop (Utah), Del. Madeleine Bordallo (Guam), Rep. Tammy Duckworth (Illinois), Rep. Walter Jones (North Carolina), Rep. Ruben Gallego (Arizona), Rep. Rick Larsen (Washington), Rep. Beto O'Rourke (Texas), Rep. Mike Rogers (Alabama), Rep. Austin Scott (Georgia), Rep. Mark Takai (Hawaii), and Rep. Timothy Walz (Minnesota). One anti-worker provision that was included in the bill would defund the Defense Commissary Agency by converting it to a non-appropriated fund (NAF) entity. This change would force the commissaries to raise prices on military families and slash pay and benefits for commissary workers. "Many of the commissary's workers are veterans or spouses of service members. Slashing the modest pay and benefits of future commissary workers is an unconscionable proposal that AFGE will continue to fight as the spending bill advances in Congress," Cox said. Following are some of the AFGE-backed provisions included in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that cleared the House Armed Services Committee: Reverse steep cuts in per diem rates for employees who travel away from home for longer than 30 days at a time; Extend the cap on service contract spending to deter DoD from shifting work from the civilian workforce to contractors; Establish guidelines for converting non-military essential work from civilians or contractors to military personnel; Require DoD to use the easy-to-review Army checklist for complying with existing laws and rules on contracting; Require DoD and the military services to report on skill gaps created as a result of mandatory headquarters cuts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) positions as well as in depots and arsenals; Provide DoD industrial facilities with direct hiring authority for two years; Allow DoD industrial facilities to transfer employees who were hired competitively for term and temporary positions to permanent positions that are open to both internal and external applicants if they have already worked at least two years; Ensure continued use of the current Title 10 definition for commercial items for core depot maintenance; Allow arsenals to charge variable labor rates to make their pricing more competitive; Request a report on the role of DoD depots in maintaining the C-130; Require DoD to identify critical defense items sole sourced to foreign entities and develop a plan for bringing that work back to U.S. arsenals and depots. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. For the latest AFGE news and information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/defense-spending-bill-clears-committee-with-key-pro-worker-provisions-300259527.html SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees CONTACT: Tim Kauffman, 202-639-6405/202-374-6491, tim.kauffman@afge.org RELATED LINKShttp://www.afge.org On this week's Insider Podcast, we spoke to Risteard O'Domhnaill, director of landmark Irish documentary The Pipe and his most recent work, Atlantic. The documentary follows the story of three communities - Ireland, Norway and Newfoundland - and the effects of globalisation, over-fishing and the oil industry has on them. O'Domhnaill's work on The Pipe grew out of his own involvement with filming the scenes at Rossport for news organisation. However, with Atlantic, Risteard O'Domhnaill approached the documentary and his subject with a much more wider approach. We talked about The Pipe, funding for documentaries like Atlantic, the politics behind the story and how his own work outside of Atlantic. As always, you can follow The Insider on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and YouTube. BURLINGAME, Calif., April 28, 2016 -- The Edison Awards, honoring the best in innovation and excellence in the development of new products and services, has announced that Proterra was voted the Gold Winner for innovation in Electric Energy & Propulsion Systems at an awards ceremony held in New York City. Ryan Popple, CEO, Proterra, accepted the award and joined hundreds of senior executives from some of the world's most recognized companies to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all of the 2016 Edison Award winners. "We are honored to be the Edison Award champion in our category and salute our fellow silver and bronze winners, ChargePoint and Caterpillar," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "As communities reduce dependency on fossil fuels and adopt zero-emission, battery-electric transit that provides clean, quiet transportation for all, this Edison Award further recognizes the strong market demand for EVs and the momentum to create a healthier planet." Being recognized with an Edison Award has become one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements literally changed the world, garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name around the world. "Our judges recognized Proterra as a true innovator out of the many products in the Transportation and Logistics category," said Frank Bonafilia, executive director of the Edison Awards. The nominees for the Edison Awards were judged by a panel of more than 3,000 leading business executives including past award winners, academics and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medical. About the Edison Awards The Edison Awards is a program conducted by Edison Universe, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering future innovators. The Awards have been recognizing and honoring the best in innovations and innovators since 1987. They honor game-changing innovations that are at the forefront of new product and service development, marketing and human-centered design, and are one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of successful innovation. For more information about the Edison Awards complete program and a list of past winners, visit www.edisonawards.com. About Proterra: Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 155 vehicles to 16 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley and South Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/proterra-is-named-a-2016-gold-edison-award-winner-300259572.html SOURCE Proterra Inc. CONTACT: Lauren Burke - pr@proterra.com RELATED LINKShttp://www.proterra.com Gilmore Car Museum Offers Very Unique Driving Experience - 100 Year Old Driving Technology HICKORY CORNERS, MI - April 29, 2016: Imagine your next car without a gas pedal, fuel gauge or windshield wipers. No, it's not the latest version of the Google self-driving car nor the newest model Tesla electric car. It's technology that was introduced by Henry Ford more than 100 years ago on the Ford Model T, and you can learn to drive one at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI just 20 minutes northeast of Kalamazoo. "Think of it as going back to driver's training-old school that is!" states Museum spokesman Jay Follis. Follis explains that students are put behind the wheel of an authentic Model T Ford right out of the Museum's collection and drive within the historic campus. The Model T is controlled by three pedals on the floor, a handle beside the seat and two small levers on the steering wheel. The only fuel gauge was a wooden ruler you'd place into the gas tank-most often located under the driver's seat. A hand operated windshield wiper wasn't made standard until 1925. Oh, don't forget the crank out front for starting the engine! The Gilmore Car Museum, North America's Largest Auto Museum, has offered Model T driving courses to the public for nearly a decade and each of the dates typically sell out quickly. In celebration of the Gilmore Car Museum's 50th anniversary and with the support of AAA, which marks their 100th year in Michigan, several additional classes have been added bringing the total to 20 for the 2016 season. Henry Ford introduced the Model T as a sturdy, low-priced car for the "everyman" in 1908, and produced it with very few changes until 1927. It became affectionately known as the "Tin Lizzie," and was soon chugging off the assembly line and into history. More than 15 million were sold, making the Model T the longest production run of any single model automobile, apart from the Volkswagen Beetle. The Model T Ford "revolutionized transportation in America. Changing the way Americans live, work and travel," declares The History Channel website. While the cars themselves may appear very simplistic by today's standards, they do hold a challenge for drivers of modern cars. Think you're up for the challenge? If so, you're in good company. Most antique car enthusiasts have never driven a Model T and most students are perplexed by the three pedals and the hand controls until they begin actually driving one. Participation in this program is open to all licensed drivesr, sixteen years or older. Participants can sign up online at GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call the museum directly at 269-671-5089 to attend one of the 20 classes offered. Each session is taught by a handful of long-time Model T owners and enthusiasts and includes practice drives in genuine Model T Fords around the Museum's three miles of paved roadway. Museum historians provide a bit of history on Henry Ford, the early Ford Motor Company, and up close inspections of various Model Ts during the course's special guided tour. The cost of this "old school" driver's training is only $105.00 per student or $95.00 per student for Museum members and makes an unique gift. After successfully completing a road test in an authentic Ford Model T, each student will be presented with a Certificate of Completion and souvenir booklet. Class size is limited and they sell out quickly so make sure to visit www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org or call the Museum at 269-671-5089 to reserve your spot today. Mitsubishi Motors North America Confirms U.S. Vehicles Not Impacted By Fuel Consumption Testing Data Irregularities +VIDEO CYPRESS, CA - April 28, 2016: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) today confirmed that vehicles sold in the United States are not impacted by the fuel consumption testing data irregularities. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Tokyo recently announced irregularities concerning fuel consumption testing data. None of the vehicles impacted by the testing are sold in the U.S. To confirm that U.S. market vehicles are not affected by this issue, Mitsubishi Motors R&D America, Inc., working together with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, proactively conducted an internal audit of U.S. market vehicles going back several model years to check previously submitted data to the EPA. After a thorough review of all 2013MY 2017MY vehicles sold in the United States, we have determined that none of these vehicles are affected. Our findings confirm that fuel economy testing data for these U.S. market vehicles is accurate and complies with established EPA procedures. An entirely different system is used for the United States market to determine what the EPA calls Road Load Coefficient, strictly adhering to EPA procedures. The data generated is then independently verified for its accuracy before being submitted to the EPA for their fuel economy testing. MMNA has shared this information with EPA, California Air Resources Board and DOT. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has acted quickly to address this issue and is putting in place a committee of external experts to thoroughly and objectively continue this investigation. The results of the investigation, once completed, will be made public. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is also working closely with the Japanese Government to fully review the implications of this issue, and to discuss potential resolutions. Auto Lab Live April 30, 2016 : Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 April 30, 2016 Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York area radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Each week a cadre of experienced hands-on automotive experts are in-studio with advice for the New York area's 12 million people, providing listeners with honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice. Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format. http://www.theautochannel.com/cybercast/theautolab/autolab_live.asx 8 to 9 am on WMCA Radio Listen Live on WMCA Radio 9 to 10 am on WNYM Radio Listen Live on WNYM Radio New programs air Saturday mornings. After listening to the first hour on WMCA, you will need to close that window and click the link to listen to the second hour on WNYM. After listening to the first hour on WMCA, you will need to close that window and click the link to listen to the second hour on WNYM. Listeners can hear the past 18 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on www.theautochannel.com. Listen - Auto Lab Page (Includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures April 30, 2016 - Car Question? Straight Answers From These In-Studio Auto Lab Experts Harold Bendell- Major Auto Fred Bordoff-Bronx Community College, CUNY Tim Cacace-Master Mechanix Howard Lepzelter - Retired Bronx Community College, CUNY Jerry Pastore-D & J Diagnostic Johanna Pastore-D & J Diagnostic Joanne Porcelli, Esq Michael Porcelli - Central Avenue Auto Repairs & I-CAR Nicholas Prague- MTA and Rockland Community College, SUNY April 30, 2016 - Correspondent Reports - Car Reviews, Opinion and Other Automotive News and Information Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England WHERE OTHERS LEFT OFF-BMW2 ACTIVE TOURER MPV Robert Sinclair-AAA Northeast AAA INFORMAL SURVEY FINDS DISTRACTED DRIVING RAMPANT Sharon Sudol & John Russell Senior Correspondents 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU Russ Rader, Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety TOUGH TEST FOR PICKUPS, FORD F-150 NABS LONE GOOD RATING FOR SMALL OVERLAP PROTECTION Holly Reich, Automotive Journalist 2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA There are certain things you just don't expect the Queen of England to do. Engaging in a verbal joust with the Obamas is one of those things. Even if it is for a good cause. Ahead of the Invictus Games, the Obamas sent a video message to Prince Harry, throwing down the gauntlet. Unfortunately for them, he wasn't alone. His Nan was there too and she was dismissive enough about the Obamas chances. Unfortunately for you @FLOTUS and @POTUS I wasn't alone when you sent me that video Y - H.https://t.co/sjfSQvkzb6 Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 29, 2016 No your ears did not deceive you. The Queen of England DID say 'Boom'. Ive listened again; Queen says boom.... https://t.co/lxYxkfstVK Peter Hunt (@BBCPeterHunt) April 29, 2016 Via Twitter Authorities warn about rainbow fentanyl Victims often arent aware theyre taking it The Ventura County Office of Education and state health officials have issued a warning to schools and families about rainbow fentanyl, a form of the potentially fatal synthetic opioid that comes in bright colors. Rainbow fentanyl can be found in... Cancer support community to host remembrance event Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara invites family members and friends of those who have died from cancer to attend the second annual Evening of Remembrance from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 3 at Cancer Support Communitys Garden of Hope,... Grant advances CSUCI research Cal State Channel Islands assistant professor of computer science Scott Feister and assistant professor of mathematics Alona Kryshchenko recently received $112,480 from the National Science Foundation to continue a grant to support their research project, Enhancing Laser Based Ion Sources... Healthcare agency recommends flu shots The Ventura County Health Care Agency offers options for the community to receive flu shots through its Ambulatory Care Clinic system, public health clinics and pop-up clinics. Although seasonal influenza viruses are detected year-round in the United States, they are... PIKETON, Ohio A family murdered for no apparent reason evokes a lot of sympathy from a community. Unless that family was dealing drugs. Drugs are so prevalent in this rural swath of the country that highway signs provide drivers with a number to report impairednot drunkdrivers. So less than a week after this community rallied to support the families of the eight people shot to death in their beds by an unknown killer or killers on Friday, much of that support began to dry up on Sunday evening when the states attorney general revealed that the Rhoden family appeared to have been selling large quantities of marijuana. Since then, donations to help cover the tremendous cost of burying so many people have all but stopped, according to Rev. Phil Fulton. Why not give to give someone a decent burial? Fulton wondered aloud to reporters . Dont they deserve that? The cold-blooded massacre shocked Cincinnati restaurateur Jeff Ruby enough on Saturday that he offered a $25,000 reward for anyone who gave police information that led to solving the crime. On Thursday, Ruby rescinded the offer due to recent complex criminal developments, he tweeted. All that small-town goodwill for the Rhodens sure didnt last very long, but for the family of Hannah Gilley, who was engaged to Frankie Rhoden and was also murdered, Piketons goodwill never started. Its all Rhodens, Rhodens, Rhodens, and everybody seems to forget about Hannah, Patty Hammond, owner of the towns only bar, told The Daily Beast on Wednesday night. Hammond will host a fundraiser on Saturday for Hannaha poker run since its motorcycle season as well as a party at the tavern with enough bands and booze to draw in riders from across Pike and Adams counties. Hannahs aunt and uncle have also been working on behalf of her grief-stricken parents to organize fundraisers to help with funeral costs. A friend of Hannahs walked into Piketons Riverside Restaurant on Thursday to post a flier for an upcoming fundraiser for the Gilley family. Sarah, who didnt want to give her last name, was busy putting fliers up all around Piketon and nearby Waverly, advertising a $5 car wash on Saturday evening. Hannahs parents, however, are laying low. Theyre trying to keep to themselves, Sarah said. They dont want their words twisted. Members of the Gilley family couldnt be reached today, but considering how small and sparsely populated this area is its not at all shocking to learn they are trying to stay out of the public eyethis is the biggest thing to happen in Piketon since, well, since Piketon became Piketon. The Gilleys daughter had a wonderful sense of humor, her friend and former classmate Riley Pritchard said on Thursday as she idly smoked a cigaretteeveryone here idly smokes cigarettesin front of Piketons abandoned elementary school. She loved pets, and she loved being outside, Riley said, adding Hannah was funny enough to make just about anyone laugh. Perhaps due to the incomprehensible massacre, or the fact that it is not yet a week old, 19-year-old Riley still speaks of Hannah in the present tense. Shes a really nice girl. Shes very, very pretty too. Two men approached as she spoke, all rednecks and jailhouse tattoos and teeth stained by tobacco like a lot of other young men around here, and asked to borrow money for the cigarettes that sit in virtually every Pike County hand. I dont have no money. My boyfriend gave me these cigarettes, Pritchard told the pair of the dukes in her pocket. And hes saving his money for us to go on a date. The older of the two, who didnt want to give his name, didnt know much about Hannah, but said if you were the type of person to smoke weed or pop pills you had probably heard of the Rhodens, at least some of the younger ones. Tell you what, you buy me a pack of cigarettes and Ill sit down right here with you and tell you all kinds of crazy stuff about them, he said. And just like that, the talk was back to the Rhodens. Syrian media activist Hadi al-Abdallah recorded a video yesterday, showing the devastation unleashed on Bustan al-Qaser and Kallaseh, rebel-held parts of Aleppo city, by what he quite clearly referred to as an aerial assault. Given that the only aircraft bombing Aleppo belong to either the Assad regime or the Russian Air Force, the possible culprits behind the killing of at least a dozen civilians, including a small child whose scalp was torn off, exposing the gray matter of his brain, were obvious. Until, that is, Russian propaganda channel RT got a hold of al-Abdallahs reel minus the references to warplanes and Assad, then pinned the devastation on al-Qaeda. Abdullahs video was apparently edited by APTN, the Associated Presss licensing service, to which RT is a subscriber. APTN nevertheless noted in its storyline that the footage showed the aftermath of what a Syrian monitoring group and a first-responders team say [were] new airstrikes on the rebel-held part of the contested city of Aleppo. RTs article did not acknowledge that storyline.* Disinformation like this is of a piece with how Moscows media surrogates have depicted the Syrian civil war for five years, but especially since Russias intervention in conflict last September on behalf of Assad. Still, this cynical distortion of evidence comes amidst a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Syrias industrial city. Pro-regime airstrikes and rebel artillery shelling have killed 200 people in the last week alone, rendering the international truce obsolete. According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 60 percent of the fatalities have been on the rebel side. Particularly egregious was yesterdays destruction of the al-Quds hospital in rebel-held Aleppo by aircraft, which killed over 50, including patients and medical staff. Among the latter was Aleppos most prestigious pediatrician, Dr. Muhammad Waseem Maaz, who was mourned by one of his colleagues on Facebook as the loveliest doctor in our hospital. Al-Quds is supported by both Medecins Sans Frontieres and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Germany today blamed the Assad regime for the blatant violation of humanitarian law. (Another medical facility, this one a clinic in Aleppos al-Marja district, was also reportedly struck today in another airstrike, killing one adult and one child.) Below is what al-Abdallah said in his original dispatch from Bustan al-Qaser and Kallaseh. The bits in bold are what RT Arabic used from the APTN-licensed footage to make its case that terrorists, rather than pro-regime forces, were responsible for the devastation: So here, another place, Bustan al-Qasir neighborhood, the buildings are burning because of the shelling executed by the warplanes on civil houses. Here, civil defense teams are trying now to extinguish the fire in the civil houses, also here are tens of martyrs and wounded, and people under the rubble, everything is being destroyed. If the other side of Aleppo is being destroyed, this side is being burnt by the air force of Assad, and by the silence and betrayal of the world, towards what is going on, what is going on in this city. The hardest feeling ever, is that a mother looks for her children under the rubble of her house, or a father looks for his children under the rubble of his destroyed house, This is the situation of the residents of Aleppo, everybody is looking for his/her children A father hugging his child after he found her under the rubble of the house. Reality cannot be described by words; there is no word that can express of the ugliness of the situation of the civilians in Aleppo city. RTs article accompanying the footage is headlined: People Killed and injured by Nusra bombing on residential neighborhoods of Aleppo. Nusra here refers to Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaedas branch in Syria, but there is no mention of al-Abdallahs reporting. Instead, RT relies on a source in Aleppo police command and Syrian state media outlet SANA to claim that rocket-propelled grenades fired from Bustan al-Qasir caused the death of civilians and damage to residential areas in Meridian, regime-held neighborhood in Aleppo.Not only does this contradict al-Abdallah's clear location of the destruction as in Bustan al-Qasir -- in a part of his narration of the footage that RT used -- but it is belied by what monitors and other eyewitnesses claimed about the site and nature of the attack. Al-Abdallah is incensed. He tweeted yesterday: The Daily Beast got in touch with him today via WhatsApp. All areas in Aleppo are subject to Russian/Syrian air shelling, he said, except the areas that are under Assad control. Yesterday, the areas shelled are, Bustan al-Qasir, Al-Kallasseh, resulted in two massacres, in which 42 were killed and tens wounded. We have some shelters underground but they are not real shelters. They are basements in the buildings but not safe and not enough, and they can be reached and destroyed by Russian rockets or [barrel bombs]. Rescue teams, al-Abdallah said, are working day and night to help the victims, but it is not enough. Relief organizations, such as the Syrian Civil Defense group, also known as the White Helmets, are unable to cater to the wounded, including those still trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Al-Abdallah added that civilians are trying to flee the city but cannot because their only way out, the Castillo Road, is being shelled, and most of them dont have places to go anyway because the Turkish border is closed. Confirming what Syrian journalist Rami Jarrah told The Daily Beast in December, al-Abdallah said that locals are now able to discern the difference between Syrian and Russian warplanes based on three main differences. The first is the scale of destruction wrought by the sorties: Russian aircraft cause more damage than Syrian aircraft. The second is linguistic: Free Syrian Army rebels intercept communication between jet pilots and their command centers, and can tell whos about to enter their airspace based on whether Arabic or Russia is overheard. The third is flight formation: Russian planes fly in groups of two, three, and four, whereas Syrian planes fly solo. Listen now to the planes sound, al-Abdallah said, as the sound of multiple aircraft could be heard over his voice. These are the Russians. UPDATE: Since this article was published, RT Arabic altered the headline of its original story, the content of that story as well as the title of its embedded YouTube video of Abdullah's edited footage from Aleppo. All changes were made to suggest that the attacks on Bustan al-Qasir were via airstrikes, not Nusra shelling. * Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that RT Arabic's video was actually pre-edited by APTN, which licensed Abdullah's video to its clients. When the Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took to the press conference-stage on Wednesday to announce that former rival Carly Fiorina would join his campaign as running mate-in-waiting, he took a good long time making that point clear. It wasnt until at least 30 minutes after the press conference was scheduled to begin that he finally named Fiorina as his pick. And once Fiorina started to speak, you could kind of understand why he took his sweet time. Though Cruz has a plenty-impressive debate resume, Fiorina might be the only other person in the Republican field who could conceivably outshine him. Plus, Carly actually talks like a normal human being. You sort of felt that when you watched yesterday, said Debbie Walsh, who heads Rutgers Universitys Center for American Women and Politics. It felt like the crowd got more juiced up over her than over him. And, Walsh said, that shouldnt surprise anyone. When you watched her in those debates, she consistently was one of the topif not the topperformers in the Republican field, she added. Probably of all of the Republican candidates who came under attack from Donald Trump, she was the most effective in silencing him. Though Cruzs debate performances won plaudits, experts say Fiorinas ice-queen response to when Trump provided a mealy-mouthed apology for criticizing her face may be the single most memorable moment from an unforgettable series of primary debates. It came after Trump leveled an insult that seemed incredibly over-the-top, even for him. Look at that face, he said to staffers, according to a report in Rolling Stone . Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president? he added. I mean, shes a woman, and Im not sposedta say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious? When Fiorina and Trump came face-to-face at the Sept. 16 Republican debate, a few days after the magazine reported the comment, he tried to explain it away by saying he was just referring to her persona. But Fiorina didnt buy it for a second. I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said, she replied, never cracking a smile. I think shes got a beautiful face and shes a beautiful woman, Trump replied. Fiorina didnt blink. That moment on the stageI think every women in America knew what Trump meant when he said that, said Walsh. He stopped, and weve never really seen him stop before. So shes effective in that way. Shortly after the debate, the SuperPAC backing her released an ad cashing in on the moment. Ladies, look at this face, and look at all of your facesthe face of leadership, she said in the video, which used footage of a speech she gave to a Republican womens group in Arizona. The face of leadership in our party, the party of womens suffrage. This is the face of a 61-year-old woman, she concluded. I am proud of every year and every wrinkle. The video racked up half a million views on YouTube and was hailed as one of the best of the cycle. Chris Jahnke, whose firm Positive Communications helps female Democratic comments hone their rhetorical skills, said she shows video of Fiorinas Trump-smackdown to her clients. Its because shes so in control, said Jahnke. She has this ability to exude confidence, and that was really how she pulled herself by the fingernails onto the mainstage of the debates, Jahnke added. Shes got this strong, commander-in-chief presence. The Texan has a presence all his own, of coursebut its a little different. Cruz is obviously an amazing speakerbut hes almost too good of a speaker to appeal to the masses, said Kristin Tate, a conservative columnist and author of the new book Government Gone Wild. In this election, two things are very evident: The voters want someone who is authentic, and someone who is an outsider. Fiorina is both. She sounds less scripted than Cruz when she speaks, which could help combat the claims that Cruz is not authentic enough. Fiorina could be a reverse Sarah Palin. When Palin first joined John McCains ticket in 2008, many conservatives hailed her as a godsend. But thanks to her public policy cluelessness and her propensity for saying things that made absolutely no sense, she ended up being more of an albatross. Fiorina, in contrast, is known for her relentless discipline and preternatural ability to stay on-message. And while McCain made Palin a star, Cruz may end up tarnishing Carlyafter all, shell be permanently linked to the guy who lost to Donald Trump (unless Cruz wins! Anything could happen!). While Cruz draws criticism for sounding robotic and waxing overly poetic about Constitutional law (Glenn Beck has even called him boring on the stump), the main criticism Fiorina gets is that she doesnt smile enough. For many women, thats a charge thats all too familiar. Kellyanne Conway, who heads the pro-Cruz SuperPAC Keep the Promise 1, said Cruzs willingness to be outshone is one of his strengths. Good bosses hire up, and Ted Cruz proved again in his selection of Carly what we already knew through his marriage to Heidi: He is unafraid of strong, brilliant women, she said. His choices speak volumes about his judgment, and his confidence in occasionally being overshadowed by those strong, brilliant women. A common description of Cruz is that he is the smartest person in the room, she continued. He just got some welcome competition in Carly Fiorina. The nominating contest grinds on, but the Acela primary set the stage for a general election faceoff between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Trumps solid majorities mean that GOP voters, in their inscrutable wisdom, have spoken, choosing a political neophyte whos never held any public office, has no discernable governing philosophy, and whose campaign consists mainly of bigoted outbursts and vicious personal attacks on anyone who gets in his way. In contrast, the Democratic center seems to have held. Bernie Sanderss call for an anti-capitalist revolution enthralled millenials, but his dream of turning America into a European-style welfare statea colossal Denmarkstruck out with black and Latino voters, and with women, who preferred the pragmatic Clinton. Whats more, Clinton now has a cause that can galvanize a campaign thats been criticized for lacking passion and inspirationsaving America from Donald Trump. Although some diehard Bernie Bros may decide to sit out the November election, she should have little difficulty uniting her party around the goal of keeping the billionaire bully out of the White House. Looking ahead, the bigger challenge will be recalibrating her campaign for the general election. That means moving beyond attempts to co-opt Sanderss populist appeal to hardcore partisans and crafting a broader message aimed at persuadable voters across the center. A new PPI poll provides fresh evidence that the pragmatic centers demise has been greatly exaggerated. Swing voters still exist, and they likely will play a decisive role in determining which party wins control of the White House and Senate in November. Conducted by veteran Democratic pollster Peter Brodnitz, the PPI survey examined four presidential battleground states that also feature competitive Senate and House races this year: Florida, Ohio, Colorado, and Nevada. We found that just over 20 percent of electorate in these swing states is made up of voters who lend their support equally to Democrats and Republicans, do not strongly identify with either party, and did not vote for the same party in the last two elections. Who are the swing voters in 2016? Most describe themselves as Independent (84%) and moderate (56%). In political outlook they lie between the two parties: Just 11% are liberals, compared to 49% of Democrats; 24% are conservatives, compared to 69% of Republicans. They are slightly more female than male and a little less likely to have a college degree than voters overall. Nearly a third of them are non-white. Our survey indicates that to win them, Democrats must move beyond the finger-pointing populism thats dominated their primary campaign. Swing voters arent drawn to an angry narrative of economic grievance and victimhood. Most dont believe the economic deck is stacked against them (only 39% say it is, compared to 47% of Democrats). Swing voters are worried about the economy, but they have little interest in a revolution to fetter corporations or trade wars with China and Mexico. Instead, they seem eager for a hopeful account of how to make America a stronger competitor in the global economy. They reject Donald Trumps overblown claims that the U.S. economy is in shambles. Nor do they share the populist lefts hostility toward American business. On the contrary, they favor policies that help entrepreneurs and businesses succeed as the best way to get wages rising again and help U.S. workers get ahead. For example, they support dramatically lowering the corporate income taxto 15%to put U.S. companies on an even competitive footing and prevent more jobs from going overseas. Heres the message that comes through loud and clear in this poll: In the general election, Democrats cant afford to cede the high ground of economic growth and competitiveness. While they see reducing inequality as important, swing voters show less intensity on this score than Democrats. Like Republicans, they give higher priority to stimulating growth than to fairness. On trade, the PPI poll found a striking incongruity between the fiercely protectionist rhetoric that has pervaded the primary season and the attitudes of voters in the four battleground states. Fully three-fourths of all voters believe that, to have a strong economy the United States must rely on trade. Strikingly, Democrats are the most likely to agree (82%). They also strongly support new trade agreements. Strong majorities of voters reject the Trump-Sanders diagnosis that bad trade agreements are to blame for U.S. jobs going abroad; they say cheaper labor is the main reason. And more say they want to train U.S. workers for new jobs in high-tech manufacturing than to bring back manufacturing jobs that dont require advanced skills, like textiles or automobiles. Swing voters are interested in new and pragmatic ways to stimulate economic growth and opportunity. For example, they were more likely than Democrats to favor reducing regulatory burdens on U.S. businesses (70-57%). They strongly endorsed (78%) a regulatory improvement commission to prune old rules that have accumulated over decades. They also backed a two-year limit on environmental reviews of new infrastructure projects, as well as reining in the proliferation of state and local occupational licensing requirements, which make it especially difficult for low-income people to market their skills. Swing voters and Democrats strongly believe that higher levels of skill and education are the key to boosting U.S. competitiveness. They favor creation of a robust system of career pathways that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training, and offers credentials to certify the technical skills workers need to land middle-income jobs. In general, the swing voters are more fiscally conservative and mistrustful of government than Democrats. To take one example, Democrats by 52-39 favor Sanders call for free college. Swing voters instead endorsed (60-36) the idea of allowing students to get college degrees after three years, thereby shaving a year off tuition costs. Democrats and swing voters enthusiastically endorsed universal pensions to help all workers save for retirement from their very first job, as well as HomeK plans that also allow them to put aside money tax-free for a down payment on a home. There was also strong support for a carbon tax to slow climate change, and swing voters agreed with Democrats that the bigger danger is that America will move away from fossil fuels too slowly rather than too fast. All in all, our survey of swing voters in swing states illuminates the key task facing Democrats as they pivot from the primaries to the general election: Fashioning a forward-looking message that unites the interests of swing voters and the partys core partisans. That means offering a progressive alternative to an angry and polarizing populisma hopeful vision for reviving economic growth that works for everyone, not just the fortunate few. The man who invented Ted Cruz just endorsed him. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who pioneered many of the anti-establish tactics and rhetoric that Cruz now uses, announced today that he supports Cruzs presidential bid. The endorsement may have come just in the nick of time; the Indiana Republican primary is on Tuesday, and Cruzs campaign will lose any final semblance of competitiveness if he cant pull off a win in the predominantly white, Christian state. Luckily for Cruz, Pence is a hero to Christian conservatives. And he just gave the Texan a boost. Im not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming Republican primary, he told Indianapolis radio host Greg Garrison. I particularly want to commend Donald Trump, who I think has given voice to the frustration of millions of working Americans with the lack of progress in Washington, D.C., he added. More than 50 social conservative leaders and Christian pastors followed Pences lead on Friday, getting in line behind Cruz. In some ways, he was the Cruz of the House years before Cruz ever ran for Senate. As chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee from 2005-2007, Pence was a source of constant frustration to the Republican leadership team, led by then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay, because of his efforts to push rank-and-file Republicans to fight for a more conservative approach to spending. But unlike Cruz, Pence did not deliberately try to make his colleagues hate him; he often said, Im a conservative, but Im not angry about it. In fact, John Boehner encouraged him to join Republican leadership, and he became the third-most-powerful House Republican. Cruz and Pence share many allies, including Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway, who heads pro-Cruz SuperPAC Keep the Promise One and has also been Pences longtime pollster. And their ideologies are practically identical. After Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Acta law that allowed business owners to discriminate against potential customers based on sexual orientationCruz issued a full-throated defense of the governor. I want to commend Gov. Mike Pence for his support of religious freedom, especially in the face of fierce opposition, Cruz said in statement on March 30, 2015. Gov. Pence is holding the line to protect religious liberty in the Hoosier State. Indiana is giving voice to millions of courageous conservatives across this country who are deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks upon our personal liberties. Im proud to stand with Mike, and I urge Americans to do the same. Cruz may have liked Pences move, but many Indianans didnt. The governors approval ratings took a 15-point hit in the wake of the controversy. The backlashparticularly from from the business communityeffectively ended any rumors that he might launch a presidential bid. It also jeopardized his re-election bid. Politico reported that the governor is mulling running negative campaign ads for the first time in his political career, as he faces Democratic challenger John Gregg. The contest is a rematch; he beat Gregg in 2012 by 3 percentage points, netting less than half the vote. Indiana has allowed its governors to serve two consecutive terms since early 1970s, said Andrew Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Indiana University. He is possibly going to be the first governor to not win re-election. Downs said any endorsement would be risky for Pence. Given the passionate nature of each of the supporters for Trump and for Cruz, saying no to one of them, because thats how it will be perceived, would be really dangerous, he said. That could be enough to make that one-, two-, three-point difference thats til November. It could also make a difference for Cruz. The Texan leads Trump by 6 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average. The last-minute endorsement recalls Scott Walkers late-breaking support for Cruz, which helped him nab a campaign-saving win in Wisconsin. A tale of two cities has become a city of two tales. One tale is what New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says about an ever widening pattern of ethically questionable fundraising and influence peddling as he pursues such noble causes as income equality and affordable housing. The other tale is the whole and actual truth. In pursuit of the truth, the U.S. attorneys office and the Manhattan district attorneys office have subpoenaed de Blasios top political aide, Emma Wolfe, and his top fundraiser, Ross Offinger. Also subpoenaed was the PR firm BerlinRosen, which was co-founded by a close friend of the mayors and played a major role both in his election and in his subsequent efforts to further his progressive agenda. Also subpoenaed was the Campaign for One New York, a nonprofit outfit that sought to further his progressive agenda while raking in considerable contributions from developers, unions, lobbyists, and others who have business with the city. The group announced it was closing down last month after the government watchdog Common Cause New York asked the citys Campaign Finance Board and Conflicts of Interest Board to take a look at it. After The Wall Street Journal broke the news of the subpoenas on Wednesday, de Blasio avoided the media by ducking out a side door while visiting a homeless shelter in Harlem. He seemed to be doing more of the same on Thursday, when he slipped in the back door for an appearance at a community college in Midtown Manhattan. But he exited the front entrance after the event and spoke briefly with the waiting media gaggle. He insistedas he had previouslythat he and his team hold themselves to the highest level of integrity and would fully cooperate with the investigators. Since there is an investigation, I cant go into any details, he said. Thats an ongoing process. He was lawyering up without explicitly saying so. He could have gone into every possible detail if he had so desired. He was asked how he felt about the subpoenas. I feel fine because everything weve done was legal, he said. He was already moving toward his waiting SUV. He was asked if he himself had been subpoenaed. I was not, he said.He reiterated, Everything weve done was legal and appropriate, and were going to fully cooperate.Everything would include what might be called a tale of two Wilhelms, and there may reside a clue to what drives Wild Bill. As has been widely reported, de Blasio had started life as a Wilhelm. He had then decided to exchange his fathers surname in favor of his mothers maiden name, de Blasio. He nonetheless came to idolize another Wilhelm, his first cousin, his deceased fathers nephew John Wilhelm. The cousin attended Yale and then became a labor organizer after seeing a listing in the help wanted ads. He demonstrated precocious ability and unrelenting drive as he successfully organized Yales white-collar workers. More victories followed in Las Vegas, and Wilhelm became a rising star in the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (HERE) as it was trying to shake off longtime influence by organized crime. He was just the guy to become the new secretary-treasurer in 1996; the new money guy had gone to Yale, not jail. Wilhelm continued to demonstrate why he had also been able to beat Yale. He took on the Las Vegas casinos not with the mob but with a mob of resolute picketers when needed. The membership of the Las Vegas local grew from 18,000 to just under 50,000 as he actively recruited lower-paid housekeepers and custodians where HERE had traditionally concentrated on tipped bartenders and waiters. It is critically important for the future of our union to develop its identity as an immigrant union, he was quoted saying. Wilhelm was of the opinion that a progressive need not be a zealous reformer. A progressive was somebody who made social progress and might sometimes have to be expedient to get that done. He convinced a casino that it was in both their interests to avoid the election protocols established by the National Labor Relations Board. The casino was soon unionized, albeit with some concessions from HERE.Some of Wilhelms detractors say he was also willing to circumvent NLRB rules to put a troublesome local in trusteeship. The anti-union National Institute for Labor Relations Research contends, Wilhelm has a way of overlooking irregularities in the service of left-progressive causes. (PDF)In 1998, Wilhelm became the president of HERE, which subsequently merged with the Union of Needle trades, Industrial, and Textile Employees (UNITE). He remained president of UNITE HERE!the combined moniker acquiring an exclamation pointuntil his retirement in 2012. His tenure saw women and minorities achieve positions of leadership for the first time. After stepping down, Wilhelm remained a national hero in the progressive labor movement, one of its true giants, most particularly in the eyes of his cousin Bill de Blasio. Some of you may remember the 60s and 70s, when I was growing up, de Blasio told a labor convention in Boston in 2014. We had a phrase back then; it was What you see is what you get. So that is John Wilhelm in a nutshell. John just started right into the fray. There wasnt any warmup. There wasnt any period of wandering about, wondering what to do for the world. He just started right into organizing. John never got tired. John never stopped. John never changed his focus.De Blasio no doubt admired Wilhelm all the more for having helped him get elected mayor that year. The $84,948 that Wilhelm raised for the campaign was certainly welcomed, but the critical difference had come in the form of a larger sum that was routed in such a way that it has drawn the attention of the FBI.As reported by Greg Smith of the New York Daily News, the FBI has taken note of $175,000 that was donated in 2013 by UNITE HERE! to an animal rights group called NYCLASS that has long campaigned for a ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City.The same sum was transferred two days later from NYCLASS to an organization with the cynical and altogether brazen name NYC Is Not for Sale. A lawyer named Jay Eisenhofer, who has ties to de Blasio, kicked in $50,000 that was similarly routed through the same two organizations.NYC Is Not for Sale was dedicated to thwarting the mayoral candidacy of then City Council President Christine Quinn. The money from Wilhelms union and the lawyer and others went toward a devastating TV attack campaign, complete with Wizard of Oz music that suggested she was some kind of wicked witch. The victorious de Blasio pledged that he would make the carriage horse ban a top priority from Day 1 and seek to get it done in the first week. He told people that he was being urged to do so by his daughter, Chiara. Really. As chance would have it, actor Liam Neesons nanny is married to one of the horse carriage drivers in Central Park. Neeson joined a counter-campaign, which succeeded in thwarting de Blasios efforts.The union that Wilhelm long ran remained no less supportive of de Blasios efforts to become not only mayor of New York but a figure as big in progressive politics as his cousin was in the progressive labor movement. UNITE HERE! gave $200,000 to de Blasios Campaign for One New York. De Blasio also raised considerable funds to bankroll an effort to assist the campaigns of three upstate Democratic candidates for state Senate. His goal was to establish a Democratic majority in the state Senate that would facilitate what might be termed progressive progress. The method was to get around pesky campaign finance restrictions by routing the money through the state and county Democratic committees and then to the particular candidates. All three candidates lost. Andas was first reported by Ken Lovett of the New York Daily Newsthe Division of Election Law Enforcement of the state Board of Elections launched an investigation into the funding. The result was a formal referral to the U.S. attorneys office and the Manhattan district attorneys office. It is recommended that this case be referred for further investigation and prosecution as appropriate, the summary said. The referral reported that the fundraising operation had been run from City Hall by de Blasios staff in coordination with the Campaign for One New York and various unions and political consultants. Some checks bore the notation donation per Mayor. The referral further noted, As with donations to Campaign for One New York, many of the donors of money contributed to these candidates and committees (in response to solicitations of Mayor de Blasio) also appeared in the database of people doing business with the City of New York. These included Alexis Lodde of Texas, who had kicked in $100,000, his first and only New York political contribution. Lodde had earlier secured a New York City school bus contract with a super low bid. He then became a primary beneficiary of a $42 million subsidy to raise the wages of school bus workers. This unusual allocation also gratified the union, which was represented by Harold Ickes, a lobbyist who is particularly close to de Blasio. The school bus worker subsidy joined a growing list of benefits that City Hall bestowed on contributors. De Blasio received hundreds of thousands more in taxi industry donations when he ran for mayor. He did what he could to stall the green taxi program. He then moved to put the brakes on what the taxi industry viewed as a bigger threat, Uber. The taxi cab industry had been a big contributor to de Blasio back when he was the citys public advocate. The supposed man of the people had opposed the green taxis that would serve folks in the outer boroughs where yellow cabs are scarce. De Blasio sought to cap the number of for-hire vehicles in the city, but the City Council refused to go along. De Blasio then ordered a $2 million, four-month study of the issue. He had, in the meantime, appointed his chief fundraiser in the taxi industry to become an assistant commissioner in the Taxi and Limousine Commission. And do not forget the real estate developers. They include Two Trees Management, which signed a mega deal with the city to develop the old Domino Sugar Refinery and then kicked in $100,000 to the Campaign for One New York. The Campaign for One New York, in turn, paid out big sums to consultants with connections to de Blasio. The BerlinRosen firm received $490,000. All the fundraising and the conflicts of interest appear to form a pattern. The word pattern is used in the criminal referral. It also appears in the racketeering statute. And it is sure to spur the interest of a federal prosecutor, most particularly U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. After the Daily News reported on the criminal referral and its contents, a prominent campaign lawyer named Laurence Laufer prepared a letter on de Blasios behalf. Laufer contended that the referral constituted a complete misreading and utter disregard of the states unambiguous election law. Laufer further described it as a blatantly political document that was leaked to the press. With the apparent hope of a little positive spin, de Blasio held a press event on Monday to announce that each and every homeowner in the city would be receiving a $183 one-time refund on water and sewer charges. He somehow thought it was a good idea to have a huge check for that modest amount set up as a prop behind him when he stepped before the TV cameras. A large check is a glorious thing, dont you think? he actually said. De Blasio afterward began to take questions about the criminal referral regarding some bigger than big campaign checks. He said the referral should never have been put into the public domain. He was asked if he thought it had been leaked for political reasons, and he declared himself anxious for what he termed a full airing of the facts. I think its important that the facts be found in this case, he said. A lot of very good people are having their names dragged through the mud over these last few weeksa lot of people that I respect greatly and have worked with for years. Thats not right. Thats not fair I want all the facts out there because Im quite convinced the facts will show that everything was done legally and appropriately. He could have started airing all the facts he wanted, right then and there. He instead said, But when you see something done in this kind of fashionwhen you see an inappropriate leak, when you see the law being misconstrued in such an obvious fashion, of course it begs the question of motivation, but Ill leave it to all of you to uncover. Leak or no leak, there remained the issue of the fundraising and the influence peddling. He produced nary a fact in that regard before he abruptly fled with two final words: Thanks, everyone. The next day, de Blasio again faced the cameras, but this time in City Hall for the release of the budget for fiscal year 2017. His progressive zeal seemed particularly justified when he spoke of the billions the city is now losing because the Republicans in Congress forced a compromise that excludes undocumented immigrants from Obamacare. New York City folks were also sure to be outraged at the huge imbalance between what the state takes from the city in taxes and returns in expenditures. His irregularities seemed almost minor in comparison, and you wondered if maybe the ends justify the means. But then you saw the words on the first page of the budget summary. Progressive, Honest, Responsible Government. The word Honest seemed to jump from the page and hang in the air. It followed de Blasio as he slipped out the side door of the homeless shelter on Wednesday and in the back door of the community college on Thursday. It was waiting for him when he decided to face the reporters after all. But he lawyered up, saying he could not offer any facts because there was an investigation. He might as well have been Donald Trump saying he could not release his tax returns because he was being audited. The mayor then rode off. Were about getting the peoples business done, his spokeswoman said. She said she also was not going to go into the details. Why not? a reporter asked For one, I dont know the details, she said. The mayor sure does. Nobody thinks he has sought to enrich himself. He is not corrupt in the way of the rapacious Boss Tweed, the Tammany Hall chieftain of old for whom the courthouse behind City Hall is named. If de Blasio is corrupt, it is in a new way. A suggestion of what may drive him came on a day when an FDNY lieutenant was shot while trying to put out a fire where a fugitive was holed up. Rather than rush to the hospital to bolster the firefighter and his family, de Blasio chose to go for his morning workout at a Brooklyn YMCA. His routine complete, he paused to step on the scale and raised an index finger. For an eternal few moments, de Blasio nudged the little weight on the horizontal beam until the arrow at the end matched up with the little line. His full focus was on exactly how much he weighed. And perhaps his ultimate focus is on taking his measure in other ways. The obvious comparison for him to make would be with his cousin, the other Wilhelm. A tragic twist will come if Wilhelms stature is lessened as a result of his effort to elevate de Blasio. The horse carriage drivers who stood to lose their jobs are union members and the big backers of the ban include a real estate guy who would love to develop the sites where the stables now stand. One has to wonder why the members of UNITE HERE! have not squawked about so much of their money being poured into what threatens to become a scandal. The Campaign for One New York is now closed and de Blasio must know that he has stumbled in his stated goal to end the tale of two cities. But he can make it a city of one tale right now. He just needs to be honest. The young mother was nude and breastfeeding in her nursery when she saw the nanny cams green light flash on. A 28-year-old dispatcher in Michigan, she quickly realized someone was watching her. Only three devices could access her camera: her iPhone, her iPad, and the cellphone of her fiance, who was in jail on a marijuana charge. She activated the Find my iPhone function on her beaus mobile and was horrified: The cellphones location allegedly matched the home of a Hazel Park police officer. These shocking allegations are detailed in a lawsuit filed by Megan Pearce, who accuses officer Michael Emmi of turning into a peeping Tom after arresting her fiance. Jonathan Marko, an attorney for Pearce, called the alleged creeping a huge breach of the public trust. It could be any one of us, Marko told The Daily Beast. The idea that a police officer thats sworn to serve and protect would invade our privacy and watch us in our most intimate moments is terrifying. Pearce said she was shocked, devastated and sad over the alleged spying by Emmi, a 15-year veteran of the Hazel Park police force, the Detroit News reported. At a news conference, Pearce said it was very difficult to make accusations against a fellow law enforcement officer. But she said her legal action is absolutely necessary to take this action to prevent this from happening to any future individuals, according to the News. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court, accuses Emmi of violating the Fourth Amendment, federal wiretapping laws, and state laws on invasion of privacy and eavesdropping. The nanny cam voyeurism allegedly occurred shortly after the March 2 arrest of Pearces fiance, 33-year-old Cody Fuhrman. Fuhrman, a licensed caregiver under the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, was charged with felony delivery and manufacture of marijuana and possession of hydrocodone. He pleaded not guilty, court records show. Emmi was part of a task force that executed search warrants on Fuhrmans home and other locations as part of the bust. The cop also searched the couples nursery but found no contraband, the complaint alleges. Its unclear if he saw their nanny cam that day. According to court papers, the cop seized Fuhrmans phone the day of his arrest and logged it into evidence at Oakland County Jails computer crime lab. But if cell records are any indication, the phone left or never made it to evidence, Marko said. Pearce would later learn that her fiances cellphone showed data usage at a cell tower near Emmis residence, the complaint states. The phone also pinged to Emmis residence through a Find my iPhone feature, court papers claim. At least one day after her fiances arrest, Pearce saw the small green light flashing on her Nest Cam baby monitorwhile she and her son were naked after just leaving the bathtub, the complaint states. A dispatcher for the Warren Police Department, Pearces daily routine consisted of taking her infant son into the tub and bathing him. She would then nurse him and put him to bed, the complaint says. The Nest Cams status light flashes whenever its being monitored by a designated device, such as a computer, cellphone, or iPad. The camera also has a sensor that sends alerts to the devices when there is motion in the babys room. Someone was violating the sanctity and privacy of her home and watching her nurse her son in the nude, the complaint charges. The only other device that could access that camera at the time was Cody Fuhrmans iPhone. Pearce immediately tried to disable the phones Nest Cam access. But later on, while she was nursing her son and speaking to her brother over the phone, the light flashed once more, she claims. Oh my God, someone is watching me again, Pearce cried, according to the lawsuit. Seconds later, the light turned off and the peeping Tom detective had been discovered, the complaint alleges. The lawsuit states Pearce is under constant stress, fearing the footage from her nanny cam will end up on the Internet. Hazel Park police didnt return messages left by The Daily Beast. But, according to the Detroit Free Press, the police chief said there were no plans to investigate Emmi, whom he called an exemplary officer. Police Chief Martin Barner called the allegations odd and suspicious, the Free Press reported. I seriously have my doubts if these allegations are true, Barner said. How does she know where my officer lived? There are a lot of gray areas here. What is she doing cohabitating with a felon? Maybe shes got a bigger issue than my officer. Theres a lot more to this than oh this police officer was spying on me while I was naked. Seriously? This isnt the first time Emmi has faced legal action. In 2013, an Oakland County man filed a lawsuit claiming Emmi used a Taser on him at a hospital, where he was transported for suicidal thoughts. Joshua Clay claimed he was not violent or combative that day in 2010 when he refused hospital staffs orders to remove his clothing. But Emmi and other officers tackled him to the ground and Emmi stunned him with a Taser for a prolonged period of time, the court papers claim. The case was settled. Meanwhile, Emmi was sued in 2010 over an illegal search at a home, where marijuana plants were discovered. Emmi was performing a welfare check and didnt have a warrant, but an appeals court later upheld the search, the Free Press reported. Marko, an attorney for Pearce, said he was appalled that Hazel Parks police chief declined to investigate Emmi. You would think that in a police department, if somebody made some pretty serious allegations against one of your officers saying they violated the public trust they would want to ask some questions and investigate, Marko told The Daily Beast. Two toddlers are in the hospital Friday after they were found tied up with dog leashes in a backyard in San Antonio, Texas. In total, eight children were rescued from the same home on Thursday night, ranging in age from 10 months to 13 years old. Sheriffs deputies found one toddler chained to the ground and the other to a door, according to James Keith of the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. Neighbors called police around 11:45 p.m. on Thursday after they heard crying in the backyard for a long period of time. When deputies looked inside, they found another six children. Its unclear exactly how long the children were abandoned for. The 3-year-old girl is in the intensive care unit with a broken arm, a fractured foot, bruises, and scratches, Keith said. The 2-year-old boy was also taken to the hospital for a variety of issues, Keith said, and he is listed in serious condition. I can tell you from the photos Ive seen: the little boy was wearing a tight metal chain with zero slack that was wrapped around his ankle and then nailed to the ground, he said, adding that some of the injuries appeared to be older than 24 hours. To describe this as horrific would be an understatement, he continued. This is extremely sad, disturbing and disgusting. We are committed to devoting every ounce of our energy to tracking down the people responsible for injuring these children and we will fight to make sure these children are never hurt like this again. Their mother, 34-year-old Porucha Phillips, was charged Friday with injury to a child by omission with serious bodily injury and injury to a child by omission with bodily injury. She was playing Bingo when the children were found, Keith said. Its believed she was responsible for the care of the two children who were found tied up outside, a statement from the sheriffs office said. Over several hours of questioning, Phillips allegedly said that she doesnt know how they were tied up, Keith said. She just said, I dont know they ended up like that. Phillips and the father of the children returned to the home early on Friday morning and were immediately taken into custody and questioned by deputies. The father has not been charged, and Keith said that he was at work during the alleged abuse. Authorities are still looking for the parents of the injured toddlers. All eight of the children are now in the custody of the Texas Department of Child Protective Services. The whole situation is just mind boggling, Keith said. Its hard to even imagine what this woman was thinking or how someone can even put children in a situation like that. On March 24, an Oklahoma appeals court unanimously ruled that forcible sodomy cannot occur where a victim is so intoxicated as to be completely unconscious at the time of the sexual act of oral copulation (PDF). Translated into English: Forcing a woman to perform oral sex while shes blackout drunk isnt rape. Oklahoma Watch first reported the shocking decision, which Tulsa County assistant district attorney Benjamin Fu called dangerous and offensive. Fu served as the lead prosecutor in a case against a 17-year-old boy who claimed in a police interview that a 16-year-old girl he drove home from a park had consented to oral sex. The girl said she did not remember what happened and another boy who rode in the car confirmed that she was having difficulty staying conscious. After she was taken to the hospital early the next morning, tests showed that her blood alcohol level was a staggering .341 and that traces of the boys DNA were around her mouth. But because she was intoxicatedand because the alleged rape was oral rather than vaginalthe court determined that Oklahoma law did not apply to her case. Oklahomas rape in the first degree statute is fairly comprehensive, applying to victims who were mentally ill, intoxicated, unconscious, physically coerced, or threatened with violence. But the forcible sodomy statute only lists two barriers to consent: mental illness and violence. The difference between the statutes might seem like a technicality, but its one that the appeals court took seriously, writing that they could not enlarge a statute in order to prosecute the boy. More alarming than this conclusion is the fact that these bizarre loopholes and double standards in rape legislation arent just confined to one state. As of 2013, the FBI defines rape as penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. The agencys prior definitionthe carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her willwas not only archaic, it was ambiguous about what, precisely, counted as rape: Did carnal knowledge include oral rape, anal rape, rape with an object? But even though the federal government has now laid out a crystal clear and expansive definition of rape, several statesnot just Oklahomastill regard nonconsensual vaginal penetration with a penis differently from other, equally serious forms of forcible sex. As Jennifer Gentile Long, CEO of AEquitas, a resource for prosecutors in cases of violence against women, told The Guardian of the Oklahoma case, There are still gaps in the ways laws are written that allow some cases to fall through the cracks. This case seems to be one of them. Georgia, for example, has a separate aggravated sodomy statute that covers any [nonconsensual] sexual act involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another. But the state takes rape, which it defines solely as vaginal intercourse, more seriously. Georgians convicted of rape can be executed or sentenced to life in prison without parole. Those convicted of aggravated sodomy, on the other hand, can only get a maximum punishment of life with parole. Both are serious penalties but the slight difference between them sends the message that vaginal rape is a more serious offense than anal or oral rape. Kansass rape law contains language aimed at offenders who deceive their victims into believing that vaginal penetrationwhether by a penis, a finger, or an objectis a medically or therapeutically necessary procedure like a medical exam or a legally required procedure like a cavity search. That specific protection is absent from its aggravated criminal sodomy law for oral and anal contact or penetration. Oregon state law makes subtle distinctions between sexual offenses based on what the offender used for the nonconsensual penetration. The states criminal code has virtually identical rape and sodomy legislation but it also contains a third category of unlawful sexual penetration that only applies if the penetration is done with any object other than the penis or mouth of the actor. Oregons first-degree rape and sodomy statutes contain language designed to prevent child sexual abuse, automatically defining the offenders siblings, half-siblings, children, or stepchildren as victims if they are under the age of 16. But the unlawful sexual penetration statute for sexual offenses committed with an object strangely lacks that language. The loopholes dont end there. Some states even dole out different punishments or have different standards of force for marital rape, as The Daily Beast reported last June. Ohio state law, for example, still technically allows a husband to drug and have nonconsensual sex with his wife. A bill to address this situation is still pending. This week, Oklahoma lawmakers are rushing to close their own forcible sodomy loophole now that it has been exposed but, around the country, others remain, with possible judicial disasters lying in wait. The West has been waging its war on terror for 14 years. The result? Instead of a couple of hundred dangerous international terrorists, we now have over 100,000. And 1.3 million dead in the Middle East. Now a number of politicians on both sides of the aisle want to defeat ISIS with yet more bombs, and President Obama is sending an additional 250 special operations forces to advise and assist in the fight there. Despite short-lived successes, this strategy has not worked for the past 14 years and couldnt even shut down the Taliban. The war on terror has turned out to be a policy that breeds terror. Just over a year ago, I became the first Western journalist to embed with ISIS in its occupied territories and to be granted interviews with many of its fighters and leaders over the course of 10 days in Raqqa, Syria, and Mosul, Iraq. As the result of those conversations, as well as dozens of others before the trip, and almost 50 years of experience in the region, I can tell you that the current Western strategy will not work. The strategy is extremely short-sighted. Every day, the number of international terrorists rises as a result of Western bombing raids, and they have never been greater as evidenced by the events in Brussels, San Bernadino, and Paris. ISIS, which was first established in 2003 as a direct reaction to President George W. Bushs invasion of Iraq, is an ideology. You cannot destroy ideologies with bombs. Rather, you must discredit them, eliminate their recruiting grounds. Thus far, Western leaders have been unable to do this. It is therefore time for a fundamental change in strategy. For a start, we must cut ISIS off from new supplies of weapons and ammunition. Shipments of arms to all rebel groups in Syria must cease. Many of them end up in the hands of ISIS, one way or another. Most ISIS fighters I saw in Mosul were equipped with U.S. Army gearincluding machine guns, armor, and even boots. Though most of it was looted from Iraqi army bases, ISIS also buys a lot from the black marketeffectively turning the American-backed Free Syrian Army into the groups primary ammunition supplier. Then, we must prevent ISIS from getting more recruits. Dozens of them cross the Turkish border into ISIS territory every day. We must help Turkey close its border to ISIS. The current status quo is unacceptable. Most importantly, we must deprive ISIS of recruits from the local population by supporting national reconciliation in Syria and in Iraq. This would deprive ISIS of the support of marginalized Sunni segments of the population. If Iraqi Sunnis alone turn their backs on the Islamic State, it will be done for. Instead, U.S. bombs in Iraq kill Sunni civilians on an almost daily basis. Entire cities like Fallujah, Ramadi, and Baiji are leveled. In Ramadi, the murderous battle lasted three months. The result was the destruction of 90 percent of the city, hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and almost 2,000 dead civilians. Of the 2,000 ISIS fighters that defended the city, 1,850 were able to get away to foment terror elsewhere. Western politicians and the Western media are wrong to celebrate this catastrophe as a victory. Using the Ramadi victory as a model, 10,000 ISIS fighters are now to be driven out of Mosul, a city with a civilian population of 1 million. Heated battles are already being waged between Iraqi government forces and ISIS at Qayyarah, 40 miles to its south, with enormous air and ground support from the U.S. here. On March 19, American planes attacked the University of Mosul, the second largest university in Iraq. Thirty Iraqi civilians who had nothing to do with ISIS died in the attack. As usual, the deaths of Iraqi civilians merited no mention in most Western media outlets. Perhaps this strategy is one way to smash ISIS as a state, but it will only send the fighters underground. In fact, they would become the most horrendous underground movement of all timenot only in the Middle East, but also in the West. This scorched-earth campaign is reminiscent of the Vietnam War. It runs counter to international law, and it is unwise. We must not remain silent on this issue, because Iraq has already suffered too much. And because there are smarter ways to put an end to ISIS. Right now, the West has a great opportunity that has gone unrecognized by its leaders. The mood in Mosul and many other Sunni majority cities in Iraq has soured. At first, the Sunnis tolerated ISIS as a lesser evil in comparison with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Malikis anti-Sunni government. Now, though, the people of Mosul have had enough of their ISIS overseers. The Sunnis hold their culture, which is more than 5,000 years old, in high esteem. They are increasingly disgusted by ISISs medieval regulations, its daily subterfuges and brutality, and its extreme forms of discrimination against women and girls. It is almost impossible for the inhabitants of Mosul to leave. They are prisoners in their own city, hostages of ISIS. If the United States and the international community were to force the current Iraqi government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Maliki to grant the Sunnis a fair share in political life in Iraq, a popular uprising of Sunnis against ISIS could happen very quicklynot only in Mosul, but throughout Iraq. And that would be the end of ISIS both as a state and as a terrorist organization. An ISIS defeated by Arab Sunnis would have no future, not even in Syria. If Sunnis are treated fairly and reintegrated into society, then and only then will the specter of ISIS be laid to rest. President Obama: This is how you take out ISIS, not by obliterating cities. Maybe #nevergarland is a good thing. Sure, the unprecedented refusal of the Senate to even consider the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland is a violation of the senators oaths of office, a dangerous precedent, a constitutional fiasco financed by secretive billionaires, and an indignity foisted upon a good man and solid jurist. But for progressives, there are at least three silver linings. First, the eight-person court is working overtime to avoid 4-4 splits, with unusual consequences such as a proposed compromise on religious exemptions to Obamacare. The Courts effort to do its job stands in stark contrast to the Senates, and may actually be working. Second, if the presidential race does come down to Clinton vs. Trump, all this stalling may be just thatstalling the inevitable. Maybe Garland will be confirmed in November in order to avoid a Justice Obama or other Hillary Clinton nominee. Maybe Clinton will put up a progressive next February, with the Senate having flipped to a Democrat majorityperhaps driven by opposition to Trump. Either way, maybe this constitutional blip wont really matter that much in terms of the composition of the court. Most importantly, though, the #nevergarland/#doyourjob mess may finally accomplish something no presidential candidate has managed to do in the last 50 years: get Americans to care about whos on the Supreme Court. The baseline is low. Most Americans cannot name more than a single Supreme Court justicea 2012 survey found that two-thirds couldnt name even one. A 2015 Gallup poll found that 44% of Americans had either never heard of Justice Scalia, or had no opinion of him. And with political opinions already polarized, elections are generally decided based on core issues: its the economy, stupid plus foreign policy/war, a few social issues (this year, immigration and race; other years, homosexuality), and personality. Not surprisingly, when Americans are polled about the issues most important to them, the Supreme Court tends to be at the bottom of the list. This, of course, is infuriating to people who are civically engaged, who have, over the years, made eloquent cases for the Supreme Court being the most important issue at stake in presidential elections. In recent years, the Supreme Court has transformed our electoral system (mostly for the worse), made same-sex marriage a national right, saved Obamacare, and issued hundreds of lesser-known but crucial rulings on criminal law, corporate law, environmental law, and labor law. Except for the President, Supreme Court justices are probably the most powerful individuals in American government. The unimportance of the Court to voters also belies the specious request by Senate Republicans to let the people decide the next nominee. Of course, the people already decided in 2012 when they re-elected President Obama to a four-year term. But really, they never decide; except for a few anti-abortion conservatives who would surely vote Republican anyway, the Supreme Court is not on their minds at all. Could this year be different? We dont know yet, of course. Julia Azari at FiveThirtyEight argues that the effect will be limited, because peoples minds will be made up anyway, and the Court issue will follow, rather than lead, those opinions. I think theres reason for more optimism, though. Three reasons, in fact. First, even if the net effect on the election result is limited, its at least likely that the Supreme Court will be a higher profile issue, which could boost its importance in the long term, even if it doesnt swing the 2016 election results. In the long run, this increase in visibility would be very good for democracy in general. Its ridiculous that Americans know so little and care so little about the Supreme Court, and changing that situation is more important than how it cuts in any particular election. I wouldnt say that the net benefit to democracy is worth the disservice to democracy that the Senate is now creating, but it is, at the very least, an unintended side benefit. Second, responding to conservative concerns that this thrice-married, greed-driven New Yorker is insufficiently religiously pious and/or socially conservative, Donald Trump has promised to put extreme conservatives on the Supreme Court: not just justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade and same-sex marriage, but ideologues like Judge William Pryor, who has said Roe created a right to murder unborn children, and Judge Diane Sykes, who has issued several rulings to the right of Supreme Court precedent on taxpayer support for religious groups that engage in discrimination. Trump has even offered to outsource much of the evaluation process to the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing think tank funded by the Coors family, the Koch Brothers, the Bradley Foundation, the Scaife Foundation, and the Olin Foundationthe leading funders of Americas far-right infrastructure, the Tea Party, the opposition to Obamacare, the successful effort to erase campaign finance regulations and voting rights laws, and so on. The Heritage Foundation and its various affiliates have supported the government shutdown in 2013, opposed all attempts at immigration reform, and pushed the virulent opposition to Obamacare, even though Heritage wonks originally invented the individual mandate back in 1989. In other words, a Trump-packed court would not simply tilt to the right, but fall over itself to the right, taking the country with it. And with an open spot on the Court, this issue would be an immediate, rather than an abstract, one. Third, to the extent the Senates obstructionism is properly understood as Republican obstructionism, it could help defeat the myth that the system is broken due to vague, non-partisan Washington gridlock. That myth are false, and they have led to the populist revolts of both Trump and Sanders, each of whom blame the system rather than Republican obstructionism. But the system didnt bring us Citizens United; Republican activists, funders, judges, and legislators did. The system hasnt blocked health insurance for millions of Americans; Republican governors have, by refusing to accept Obamacare even at the expense of their own constituents. And the system isnt responsible for the stalemate on Judge Garland. President Obama did his job, and the Republican majority in the Senate chose not to do its, under the thinnest of flim-flam pretexts. To the extent that this accurate narrative, rather than the system is broken, can take hold, it can work to the advantage of those trying to do the job of governance, rather than those in the Senate and on the campaign trail who wish to torpedo it. Its quite likely that the Supreme Court issue will generate more heat than light this fall. But given the American publics cool indifference to this crucial political decision, even heat would be welcome. It may be that obstructionist Republicans are doing democracy, and the Democrats, a favor. Barack Obamas swan song as Comedian-in-Chiefscheduled for Saturday night at the White House Correspondents Association Dinnerwill doubtless display his natural comic timing and pointed wit that are rare for any politician, let alone the head of state of the planets only superpower. Obamas appearance at the eighth such dinner of his presidencyin which hell be expected to aim jokes at Donald Trump, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell, and possibly even himself, while showing an expertly-produced and amusing video in the basement ballroom of the Washington Hiltonwill also represent the apotheosis of a peculiarly American phenomenon. Over the past five decadesspanning from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton to Obamaplaying the clown has become part of the presidential job description even if it isnt an explicit constitutional duty. So presidents show up in late winter and early spring for endless black-tie banquetsroiling with journalists, government officials, pop-culture celebrities and other self-impressed typesand try to make them laugh. No other nation on earth imposes on its leaders the requirement to be funnyespecially not in the ritualized, professionalized fashion of modern, media-savvy presidents who are compelled to amuse their inferiors at the Gridiron, Alfalfa Club, Radio and Television Correspondents and, finally, this particular dinner on Saturday night that caps official Washingtons annual festival of self-celebration. The American context is one in which we like to think that our rulers are not that separate from us. We dont like the distance, says Texas A&M political science professor George C. Edwards, the editor of Presidential Studies Quarterly. The idea that you can make fun of somebody and that they will be sitting there while youre making fun of them, and then theyll make fun of you, reflects the genuine ethos of American egalitarianism. National Journal White House beat reporter George Condon, whos at work on a definitive history of the 102-year-old correspondents associationof which he was president during the first year of Clintons administrationagrees. Its in our DNAthat we didnt have kings and queens, we have regular people as our leaders, and that they come from us, Condon says. And to show that you have a sense of humor is just one way of showing that youre of the people. The first president to attend the dinner was Calvin Coolidge in the late 1920s, Condon says. Silent Cal gave a long and droning address about the separation of powersprompting the association to tell future presidents not to worry about a speech, just to enjoy the show, which eventually featured big bands, comedians, and even Dinah Shore. The gregarious and fun-loving Franklin Delano Roosevelt immensely enjoyed the dinner, although he schmoozed with reporters instead of performedand a couple of times gave gravely serious, nationally broadcast talks about the progress of World War II. FDR attended his last dinner in 1945 shortly before his death. Harry Truman hated the dinner and seldom attended. Ditto Dwight Eisenhower. JFK was the first president to deliver extended comic speeches, and Lyndon John enlisted Bob Hope and future Jaws novelist Peter Benchley to feed him material. Richard Nixon had little use for the correspondents association and in 1973, as the Watergate scandal blossomed and he was forced to sit on the dais with journalists who were on his Enemies List, he opened with: It is a privilege to be here at the White House correspondents dinner. I suppose I should say it is an executive privilegea stilted reference to the bogus legal theory the Nixon White House was claiming to avoid handing over incriminating material in the ongoing investigations. Gerald Ford enjoyed the camaraderie of the dinner both years of his brief presidency, but Jimmy Carter resented that, as he wrote in his diary, he was being forced to sing for his supper and endure face-time with ink-stained wretches who spent the rest of the year attacking and belittling him. Reagan, a Hollywood denizen who in 1954 emceed a variety show in Las Vegas, was a member of the Friars Club, and later, as governor of California, appeared on several Dean Martin Roasts, was a natural performer who loved having an audience. He was self-deprecating, and he killed. George H.W. Bush, not so much. Condon tells me Bush 41 was thrilled in 1989 when Garry Shandling agreed on the spur of the moment to help him with his routine. (Obama, meanwhile, will be followed to the microphone by Comedy Central host Larry Wilmore.) Clinton, who recruited the services of the pre-senatorial Al Franken and Everybody Loves Raymond showrunner Phil Rosenthal, among other comedy pros, was the first president to show videos at the dinner. His final performance in 2000 was graced by a memorable short film in which he was depicted as a lame-duck chief executive with barely anything to do while his vice president, Al Gore, ran for president and his wife campaigned for a New York Senate seat. Clinton was shown washing the presidential limo, mowing the South Lawn, playing Battleship in the Situation Room with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, riding a bicycle with his friend Terry McAuliffe up and down the corridors of Old Executive Office Building, and running after Hillarys car with the bagged lunch she had forgotten to take with her. It was, for Clinton, an unusual instance of making fun of himselfand the crowd at the Hilton roared. By contrast, it is difficult to imagine that this the sort of tradition would flourish in, say, France (whose quintessential leader, Charles De Gaulle, purposely kept his citizens at bay, believing distance equaled dignity), the Peoples Republic of China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, or, for that matter, Turkeywhose authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, regularly jails political jokesters and recently demanded that the government of Germany prosecute a German (!) comedian who had the temerity to mock the Turkish strongman on a German (!!) television program. At last report, the German state prosecutor (!!!) was looking into the possibility. In Britain, Question Time in the House of Commons provides no shortage of wisecracks lobbed back and forth between the prime minister and his or her loyal opposition, and sharp humor intrudes on the occasional after-dinner speech delivered during a party conference. But the joshing and jesting have yet to achieve the formal, ceremonial status that has become compulsory in the Colonies. The former Tory Leader William Hague of the late 1990slater David Camerons foreign secretarywas renowned for his ripostes during parliamentary debate, ostensibly a technique for eroding the popularity of the governing Labour Party and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair. William thinks that humour is a very valuable weapon, an ally once confided to The Independent. The important thing about political jokes is not that they are funny in themselves but that they tell a political truth. But while Hagues fleet-footed japes were applauded in the media, he couldnt avoid the fact that they never helped him fulfill his ambition to obtain the top job. Fat lot of good it did me, Hague ruefully noted, according to British journalist Phil Dampier, co-author of White House Wit, Wisdom and Wisecracks, a compendium of presidential one-liners. Humor is a good way of getting your message across, Dampier says, noting that London Mayor Boris Johnson, a former journalist who regularly appeared on the popular BBC show, Have I Got News for You?, parlayed his television persona as an affably bumbling buffoon into elected office. And now hes being talked about as a possible prime minister, Dampier says. On the other hand, when Queen Elizabeths adult children, led by Prince Edward, ventured into slapstick comedy in 1987dressing up as giant vegetables and hurling fake hams at each other and various celebrities to raise money for charity in a television special titled Its A Royal Knockoutthe spectacle was widely considered a PR disaster, Dampier says, and seen as a real low point, a cheapening of the monarchy. The queen, at least, had the good sense not to participate in a farce that would have been a laugh too far even for an American president. Indeed, University of Minnesota political scientist Lawrence R. Jacobs warns that excessive or misguided joking by a president could ring hollow and harm the office. The idea of presidents who wield this enormous and increasingly unaccountable power having a laugh? Jacobs says. Not so funny. An especially piquant example occurred at the Radio TV Correspondents dinner in April 2004, when George W. Bush did shtick about the U.S. military not being able to locate Saddam Husseins apparently nonexistent weapons of mass destructionthe stated rationale for going to war in Iraq Those weapons of mass destruction have to got to be somewhere, Bush joked while an antic slide show played, showing him searching under furniture in the Oval Office. Nope, no weapons over there maybe under here? The public outrage was immediate concerning Bushs attempt to find humor in an ill-advised military adventure that had resulted in thousands of Americans and Iraqis dead and wounded. There are lines you cannot cross, Clinton White House joke-writer Mark Katz, an occasional contributor to The Daily Beast, told CNN at the time. With regard to going to war, sending American troops to war to find weapons of mass destruction, thats a joke thats playing out on the world stageand is at our expense. Meanwhile, Jacobs, a regular at comedy clubs in Minneapolis and New York, claims that Obamas standup routines tend to be pugnacious rather than hilarious. His humor has always struck me as painful in the sense that it was less the joshing around where were all letting our hair down here, and more about settling scores, Jacobs says. Jacobs, for instance, didnt appreciate Obamas famous and widely praised (including by this reporter) evisceration of Donald Trumpwho at the time, on May 1, 2011, was not the Republican presidential frontrunner but simply a reality show billionaire and rabid birther whod been loudly questioning the legitimacy of the presidents Hawaiian birth certificate. Donald Trump is here tonight! Obama announced to the 3,000-odd dinner-goers in the Hilton ballroom, including Donald and Melania at The Washington Post table. I know that hes taken some flak lately. But no one is happier, no one is prouder, to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald. And thats because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matterlike, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac? Trumps smile stiffened as Obama continued, All kidding aside, obviously we know about your credentials and breadth of experience. At this, ripples of laughter coursed through the crowd. For exampleseriouslyin an episode of Celebrity Apprentice, at the steak house, the mens cooking team did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks. And there was a lot of blame to go around. But you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership. And so ultimately you didnt blame Lil John or Meatloaf. You fired Gary Busey. And these are the kinds of decisions that would keep me up at night. The Trumps fled the ballroom that night, and the next day, Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden. Judd Apatow later claimed credit for writing those Trump jokes for the presidentone of a team of comedy professionals, including Daily Show writer Kevin Bleyer, who regularly have contributed to Obamas standup routine. Trump had it coming to him, Jacobs concedes, but thats the whole point: The president isnt there to use humor to get even. That was just him decimating Trump. To me, thats not humorous. Thats abuse. Standup comic Wayne Federman, Jimmy Fallons former head monologue writer, has a more generous assessment of President Obamas comedy stylings. I think hes right up there with Reagan and John Kennedy as far as being a president who can use humor to his advantage, Federman says. I just hope that, as usual, hes funny, that hes warm and reflective about his eight years in office. In a shout-out to his fellow professional, Federman adds: And Im rooting for Larry Wilmore to do a good job. A Texas A&M finance professor convicted of beating his wife was ordered to report to jail in the next 10 days to begin serving his sentence. Yong Chen, 40, was convicted earlier this month of assaulting his wife. A punishment was agreed upon, but District Judge Steve Smith postponed the sentencing hearing to give Chen a chance to visit his sick and aging parents in China. He was formally sentenced Friday morning. Chen will spend 30 days in the Brazos County Jail and 20 months on probation. If he violates the conditions of his probation, he could face up to 300 days in jail. He will also have to pay $1,500 in court costs. Prosecutors said Chens attorney asked the judge on Friday to reconsider the ordered jail time, but Smith declined. Chen is to decide on a day in the next 10 days to report to the Brazos County Detention Center, where he will serve his sentence day for day. Assault is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Chen taught three courses at the Mays Business School. He was suspended from his teaching duties after his conviction, but is still employed with the university pending a review by university officials to decide an appropriate disciplinary action. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy While there are many hard-working students who also hold jobs at Texas A&M University, some -- like College Station native Joel White -- stand above the rest. As a part of National Student Employment Week earlier this month, White was honored by the university as Campus Student Employee of the Year and received $5,000 in scholarships from The Association of Former Students and the Class of '56 Student Employee Endowed Award. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital pharmacist Amy Savarino, who nominated White, said he has "just shined" in the past few years he has worked at the hospital pharmacy. "He would always come in and ask what he could do to help. He's just a go-getter," Savarino said. "He just goes a step above simply leaving his fingerprint on things." Savarino said White has often spent his free time "coming up with ideas" to help make the program and the work environment better. In addition to his level of commitment to the position, she said White's longevity has also made him stand out. "We have a lot of turnover just because we're a university," Savarino said. "We have students who come in and they do a great job of getting their job done and going home, but Joel has just invested." White began working at the hospital as a freshman at Texas A&M, Savarino said -- an occurrence she said is outside the norm for the program. "We never hire freshmen just because they don't know anything," Savarino said. However, after being allowed to spend spring break shadowing, White had won them over. "He was so incredible just the week that he shadowed us that we knew we had to hire this kid," Savarino said. Outside of his studies and work with the pharmacy, Savarino said White also works occasionally in the teaching hospital's veterinary emergency room and is a member of the Texas A&M Singing Cadets. Shiva Thompson, a graduate assistant who participated in the National Student Employment Week celebration planning, said White was chosen from more than 60 nominees. She said the criteria for student nominations include being employed for a minimum of six months, maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the semesters of employment, working an average of 12 to 25 hours per week and being enrolled in at least six hours of classes per semester. To learn more about National Student Employment Week, vist jobsforaggies.tamu.edu. A rate of 3% of trees showing tolerance doesn't sound high, but ash does seed prolifically so perhaps survivors will eventually fill some of the gaps left by more susceptible individual trees. Too little, too late? At the first sites where ash dieback was reported around 20 years ago in Lithuania, many healthy looking ash were left standing, when the badly diseased mature trees were felled. Sadly, almost all of the trees that were left in those first fellings are now either dead or showing severe dieback. The latest research in the UK strongly suggests that Hymenoscyphus fraxineus was already present some years before its official confirmation in 2012. Given the extent of damage caused by the disease, why was it not discovered earlier? A possible reason is that it takes time for a pathogen population to build up sufficiently to become strikingly obvious. It is too late to start agonising about a failure to detect ash dieback. A disease spread by the wind to widely dispersed trees is impossible to stop. We need to think more carefully about research priorities and what we want to achieve. A first priority should be to maintain healthy ash trees in the wider environment in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. This means paying equal attention to the pathogen and the host - and what happens between them. There is good news for the UK, however: the government has already recognised the need for even more and sustained research to avoid such damage to forests. Alongside NORNEX, much research emphasis has been on understanding the fungus that causes the disease and looking for resistance in the host. The pathogen that causes dieback orginates in Asia, where it invades the tree's leaves, but doesn't cause disease - nothing to get concerned about there. When the fungus came to Europe (we're not sure how), however, it also spread to the stem, killing branches and eventually whole trees. A new pest could be moving in The NORNEX report mentions the second threat on the ash tree's horizon: the emerald ash borer, an insect which is present on the continent of Europe, having spreading westwards from Moscow. The bright green bug is native to the same areas of east Asia as H. fraxineus, but spread to North America - probably in the late 1990s/early 2000s - where it is devastating all native species of ash. Unfortunately, it is now highly likely that the Emerald ash borer will gradually spread across Europe towards the UK, too. The ash trees remaining after the effects of H. fraxineus will certainly provide suitable food sources for the borer in the UK. It is essential, therefore, that the rewarding efforts made to understand ash dieback are continued with emphasis on the emerald ash borer. Salvation may be possible, but not overnight. There are some promising paths to pursue but we have to consider whether Asian ash species will provide suitable habitats for the same dependent species as native ash - and that's an ecological question that is hard to answer. Strengthening resistance using Asian ash species holds considerable promise for the future - and not only for ash. The genetic methods employed by NORNEX are relevant to different tree species threatened by other diseases and insects. There is hope ahead to dampen the doomsday scenario that brief bursts of media interest fuel. It's not good by any account, but there are glints of hope to lighten the path ahead. Steve Woodward is a Professor and the Personal Chair at the University of Aberdeen. Eric Boa is a Research fellow at the University of Aberdeen This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Hukou reform under way in 29 regions across China Updated: 2016-04-29 14:35 By Wu Xiaobo(chinadaily.com.cn) The reform of the housing registration, or Hukou system, has been under way in most regions in China. [Photo/IC] The reform of the housing registration, or hukou system, has been under way in most regions in China following the State Council's call to establish a unified household registration system for urban and rural residents in a document issued in 2014. To date, 29 province-level regions,apart from Beijing and the Tibet autonomous region,have unveiled official plans on the reform of the housing registration system, according to China News Service. The plans have in general phased out the so-called urban and rural hukou and replaced them with more general terms such as residential hukou, family hukou, or collective hukou. In mega cities such as Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan and Xi'an, point-based hukou policies are prevalent. The policies, despite their variance in different places, generally take into account the factors of the legitimacy of a person's job and residence, insurance and a fixed number of years he or she has lived in the city. According to the proposals of the State Council, China should fully liberalize household registration in townships and small cities. Some provinces have adopted more relaxed measures. Southwest China's Sichuan province, for instance, extends the application of this policy to big and midsized cities. Guizhou, also in Southwest China, plans to remove the hukou restrictions in midsized cities, as well as in townships and small cities. According to the State Council, big cities should not require more than five years of social security payment for hukou applicants. The time limit has been shorted in some provinces. Central China's Henan province, for instance, requires two years of payment for the most, while East China's Anhui province, requires a maximum three years of such payment. The Inner Mongolia autonomous region scrapped the requirements on social security payment for Hohhot and Baotou cities to relax local hukou access. Actually it gets more scary, because who knows when this might start applying to water too. We've fought it off until now, but we fear for the future. So imagine, Canada exporting limited water supplies to California to maintain unsustainable models of agribusiness or desert cities, with no ability to control it. How have you found the tour? There's a hunger for new information. Really the campaign is just getting going here. And people really want bigger analysis - they're not just interested in this one deal but the whole way we're governed. In that sense, TTIP is a symbol - and a way of locking in an economic model that's done so much damage. No matter who we elect in future, it will be very hard to row back a whole host of anti-social policies currently being enacted. You started by working on global trade deals - like taking on the corporate agenda at the World Trade Organisation. How does TTIP link to that global struggle? Well it's the same struggle. At Council for Canadians, we do tons of globally-focussed work - with women's groups, farmers groups and environmentalists. And the campaigns they're involved in have so much in common. For instance, a real concern for us is building a global water movement, to stop privatisation of water and other forms of water commodification - like the new markets being set up to trade water. Before our eyes, water is being turned from a right into property. This started out as looking 'environmental' - let's give water a price and we'll be better able to conserve it. But what actually happened? Big farmers bought up the water 'rights' of small farmers, then international investors come in, and water becomes a commodity to make profit from. Chile's situation is the worst. It has 100% of water services privatised. Big business buys up water and can then use it in anyway it wants - pour toxins into it, be as unfair and unsustainable in their usage as they want. They own it. This is completely connected with the 'free trade' agreements. For instance, under NAFTA, a company has already sued Canada on the basis that they owned the water. When the company withdrew from Canada, they argued that they deserved compensation for losing their property: the water 'rights' they held. So this isn't a clear cut 'North vs South' battle. The ecological crisis has come home to the global North, just like structural adjustment and debt crisis. In US, there are terrible problems in California, Florida, the Great Lakes. Poor people getting cut off from water and energy through austerity in Europe. Detroit in the US is the most extraordinary situation where, following 'bankruptcy' the right wing governor just dismissed democratic council powers and put in a general manager to, among other things, privatise water. He didn't go after big business for not paying their bills, but the poor. They were looking at 3,000 households cut off a week. Then social services come and take your kids away as you can't raise kids without running water. But there is a really global movement fighting back. This isn't charity - building a well and feeling good about yourself. It's about ordinary people having control of water, land and resources. We fought water privatisation and had some amazing victories. But that wasn't the end - we've a long way to go. How did you get started on this life of campaigning? Originally I was in the women's movement, where I even advised the previous Prime Minister Trudeau (the father of the new Prime Minister). And we'd heard that President Reagan was pushing his agenda on Canada via trade agreements. And we thought this would have a devastating impact on women's equality because it was such a backward-looking agenda. Well I soon learnt about how these agreements work and we formed an organisation to fight it. They called me the unofficial leader of the opposition I was so vocal. We went on to build the best movement Canada's seen - with unions, faith groups, first nations, women's groups. It was grassroots, bottom-up. And it worked - before the terror attacks on 9/11 really hurt the movement. The government can dismiss us as activists but can't dismiss voters so easily. We need to build personal relationships locally, all over the country. It's so much more powerful than a national office saying something. There is some hope in Canada again now. We've been through a period of Thatcherism. It's such a boost to see that government lose. They waged war against anyone who might disagree with them, especially charities - thank God we're not a charity. They started forcing them to work with mining companies if they wanted to get government aid. Now all of this damage can't just be undone overnight. Look at Britain - it still hasn't undone the policies of the Thatcher government. And it's even more difficult now in that we have these trade agreements which lock in all the bad laws passed. In Canada, power's been consolidated at the top, child poverty's massively increased. We can't have the battle against this social destruction made even harder by trade deals. So they must be front and centre of our fight. Action: Email your MEPs and tell them to stop CETA. Also on The Ecologist: Further information: Global Justice Now's briefing on the EU-Canada trade deal, CETA. Nick Dearden is the Director for Global Justice Now and is the public face of the organisation. Nick started his career at War on Want where he became a senior campaigner. He went on to be corporates campaign manager at Amnesty International UK. As director of the Jubilee Debt Campaign, he built strong relationships with campaigners in the global south. He helped win a new law to stop Vulture Funds from using UK courts to squeeze huge debt payments out of poor countries. This article was originally published by Global Justice Now (formerly the World Development Movement). State investigators were unable to confirm many of the allegations raised by Franklin County parents of children with special needs but did identify systemic problems within the school district that require action, a long-awaited report released Tuesday details. The report, from a 14-person team at the Virginia Department of Education, found systemic problems with Franklin County Public Schools' record-keeping practices, noting in several areas that the district failed to maintain all of the necessary documentation required for students who receive special education services as a result of a disability. Among the six systemic issues requiring corrective action, two were related directly to students: one regarding insufficient documentation to justify the placement of students in the regional program; and another a failure to get parental consent when changing a students disability that qualifies them for services, due to a misunderstanding of regulations. There was also one nonsystemic issue requiring corrective action, which found that the school district was reimbursed more than $70,000 for a student who was incorrectly marked as attending the regional program. The report said the district must return the money. Investigators found no evidence that services for students were "predetermined" without regard to individual student circumstances, the report states. They also found no evidence that students with disabilities were "impermissibly" segregated from general education students, or that the school district reported data falsely. State officials did find "a number of issues unique to specific students" but did not address those in the report. Instead, they will be dealt with individually with parents and "through corrective action where appropriate," the report states. It is unclear how many students this involves. Superintendent Mark Church said in a statement that the district was very pleased with the outcome of the investigation. Though the school board and administrators hadnt had a chance to read the 90-page report in detail, Church said that the district was very pleased that the VDOE concluded that the allegations, which led to the lengthy investigation, were unfounded. He described the issues requiring corrective action as typical regulatory compliance concerns. Claims that the school district pressured employees or retaliated against them over the course of the investigation also were not supported by evidence, the report states. Investigators did note that relationships between "some parents and some administrators have become strained, if not broken" and said that with better communication between the two groups, some of the issues reported by parents "might have been resolved at a local level." The state opened its investigation in September, after receiving a binder full of parent complaints collected by state Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin. Parents have alleged, in the complaint and in interviews, that their children were not provided services they were entitled to because of their disabilities. Over three periods in October, November and December, state officials conducted in-person interviews with 45 families and telephone interviews with 11 more families, in addition to interviews with Franklin County central office administrators, special education staff, school board members and others. Investigators also reviewed the files of 70 students, the report states. The report acknowledges the frustration shared by parents, who have expressed concern over the length of time the investigation took. The education department's report says rumors that the findings were delayed because of either a "cover-up," influence by school attorneys or court involvement are unfounded. "None of the foregoing has been the case. Counsel for the School Board and school administration has been cooperative throughout this process," the report's authors note in a footnote. "Only two factors dictated the time taken to complete this report: its unprecedented scope, and our desire to reach accurate conclusions supported by the facts and law, while continuing to perform our regular as well as several other equally unique duties for the Commonwealth of Virginia." The report requires the school district to submit a corrective action plan within the next 30 days that details how school officials will fix the systemic issues uncovered by the investigation. The report also lays out a number of best practice suggestions that state officials urged Franklin County school officials to consider as improvements to the district's special education program. Janet Lennon, a consultant who advises parents throughout Virginia on special education-related issues, said several of her Franklin County clients spoke to state investigators. She said Tuesday she hadn't had time yet to read the report, but that several of her clients had and were "disappointed." One told her that they believed the report was just as expected, a waste of time. They feel very disheartened by the system, Lennon said. They feel like the school systems get away with so much and the parents are held to such a different level. Casey Fabris contributed to this report. The Rocky Mount Police Department has a new officer, as K-9 Rousey graduates from the Police Academy this weekend. Rousey, a German Shepherd, was abandoned as a puppy and was turned over to an animal rescue in Pennsylvania. She was soon discovered by the Throw Away Dogs project, which rescues, rehabilitates and relocates stray dogs so they can be put to use as police K-9 working dogs. The police department in Winchester began to eyeball Rousey about a year ago, as they were looking for a new K-9 to be used as a dual-purpose dog. She didnt test properly on some of the aggression phases, so they ended up not being able to use her, said RMPD Officer Chris Shelton, Rouseys partner and handler. She couldnt meet their needs and didnt have the skills to do the patrol work they needed her to do at that time. So Rousey was returned to the Throw Away Dogs rescue. At some point, the Roanoke County Police Department was made aware that Rousey was available and passed the word on to the RMPD. Sgt. Andy Pendleton went to Winchester to pick her up, and I got her around the first week of February, Shelton said. The dog was free of charge to the department. Rousey and Shelton started basic K-9 school through the Roanoke Police Department on Feb. 8, and on April 11, Rousey was certified for narcotics detection and tracking. We had 10 weeks of training and she did excellent in school, Shelton said. She was at the top of her class, in my opinion. Rousey will serve with the RMPD in narcotics detection. She is trained to search cars, buildings, schools and other operational areas. She is also trained to track missing persons. If an elderly person or a child goes missing, Rousey is trained to track them and find them, Shelton said. Shelton and Rousey formed a bond very quickly. I spend more time with her than with my own family, Shelton said. She goes home with me and then back to work with me. Its a whole lot to take on and a lot of my day revolves around her from working to feeding to play time. Rousey will graduate Saturday, April 30 from the Roanoke Police Academy. SHARE By Gleaner Staff A few capital improvement projects for the Henderson County Water District should be starting soon. The Henderson County Water District board of directors approved a pair of motions related to capital improvement projects during a Wednesday night meeting. The board awarded a bid to Fraley's Improvements of Henderson to replace the roof on the Robards pump station. The bid was for $2,695, said Superintendent Pete Conrad, who added he expects the project to begin within the month. The board also approved a contract with Straeffer Pump and Supply of Chandler, Indiana, to rebuild the piping and bring in new pumps to the U.S. 41 South pump station. The contract is for $10,678. Conrad has also been authorized to advertise and hire for a temporary position that will become a permanent one. The district's customer service representative is expected to leave at the end of July. The district plans to hire a new person to shadow the customer service representative and then take over that position, Conrad said. Employees of Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services work at the tactical operations center in Frankfort processing claims and unsnarling the benefit system, known as benefind, that has disrupted benefits such as Medicaid coverage and food stamps ( Photo: John Sommers II/ Special to the CJ) SHARE By Deborah Yetter, USA TODAY NETWORK, The Courier-Journal FRANKFORT, Ky. Seeking to resolve widespread problems with a new public benefit system, state officials have created a "tactical operations center" under the command of a former Army major aimed at improving the flow of aid such as Medicaid or food stamps to needy Kentuckians. "At the end of the day, we are here to serve those clients," said Vickie Yates Glisson, secretary of the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services. "I feel like we're definitely getting a handle on it." Launched Feb. 29, the computer system known as benefind meant to be a one-stop shop for public benefits instead triggered massive disruption. Thousands of letters went out in error telling people their benefits had been canceled or demanding information that clients already had provided, such as proof of income or citizenship. Many reported the loss of benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) or health coverage through Medicaid. Local state benefit offices have been jammed with people and phone lines overwhelmed as thousands of Kentuckians sought help. On Thursday cabinet officials showed off the temporary center established in Frankfort where nearly 100 state workers many who volunteered to come from distant counties work eight hours a day at computers processing cases and entering information to speed up the claims system. Some willing to do so work overtime. Among those visiting Thursday was Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton, who appeared on behalf of Gov. Matt Bevin, who is out of the country on an economic development trip. "I truly appreciate you guys coming here from your home counties to address this backlog," she told the roomful of workers. "If (Bevin) were here, he would thank you from the bottom of his heart." Health advocates say they are beginning to see some improvements with access to benefits. "Some of it's getting better, but there's still a lot of work to do," said Emily Beauregard, executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health, a coalition of health advocacy groups. Beauregard said her organization remains concerned about Bevin's plan to dismantle kynect, the state health exchange where people shop for health coverage or enroll in Medicaid. The governor by the end of this year plans to shift people seeking private health plans to the federal exchange; people would use benefind to enroll in Medicaid. "I'm concerned we won't be ready for the transition this year," Beauregard said. As for the current problems, some people wrongly cut off from benefits said they are seeing improvements. Corey Nett, a Louisville man featured April 1 in the Courier-Journal, did get Medicaid funds restored that pay for attendants to help with daily needs and communication, said his aide, Joanna Hatch. Nett has cerebral palsy and is eligible for a Medicaid program to help people with disabilities. But she said Nett is still trying to get Medicaid benefits reinstated that help pay the costs of his health care. "It's very complicated," Hatch said. "He's still not getting everything he should." Officials said they are working to resolve all such cases and believe the temporary work center in Frankfort should help. Brandon Carlson, the retired Army major now employed by the cabinet as project manager, said he established the center based on his military experience. "I modeled this after tactical operations in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Carlson, who was deployed in both countries. Carlson said the goal this week is to successfully process 10,500 cases. By early Thursday, the workers already had completed work on about 8,750, he said. He said he expects the center to be open through the end of next week to get caught up. About 1.3 million people in Kentucky get health coverage through Medicaid, and many of those get other benefits, such as food stamps. The workers at the center don't deal directly with clients. Their job is to process cases as quickly and efficiently as possible through the benefind system, freeing up others in offices to help clients who call or visit in person. All workers volunteered for the assignment. Some commute from their home counties and others who live farther away are being put up at hotels in Frankfort. Several employees who spoke with a reporter Thursday said they enjoy the work and are learning more about benefind through staff provided by Deloitte Consulting, the company that designed the $101 million public benefit system under contract to the state. Julie Enzweiler, from Kenton County, said the system was extremely frustrating for workers when it launched. State workers couldn't process claims or resolve problems for clients because of questions about the system or breakdowns or errors in benefind. "We couldn't help them," she said. "It was terrible." But after improvements by Deloitte and aid from technology people at the Frankfort center, claims are flowing more smoothly, she said. "Things are cracking now," Enzweiler said. "It's going so much easier." Officials hope that translates into improvements statewide with the new benefit system. Adria Johnson, the cabinet's commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services, which oversees public benefits, said crowds have eased at local benefit offices and the state has reduced telephone wait times that had left frustrated clients on hold for hours or repeatedly reaching a recording advising them to call another time. The average wait time for help by telephone is now 30 minutes, Johnson said. "We're noticing a huge improvement," she said. "People are getting through." Calls to the cabinet's ombudsman's office in Frankfort, where many people call for help, were reaching as many as 900 per day. Now about 200 people are calling per day, said Tim Feeley, the cabinet's deputy secretary. Glisson, the secretary, said the cabinet is trying to provide a 24-hour response to anyone who calls the ombudsman's office. Anyone who reports the actual loss of benefits such as Medicaid or food stamps is flagged for faster service from a "rapid response team," Glisson said. The cabinet has taken additional steps to try to limit problems, including temporarily extending Medicaid benefits to people who otherwise would be due for annual recertification, said Stephen Miller, state Medicaid commissioner. Miller said he personally had contacted some clients trying to resolve their Medicaid problems. And he said the cabinet has stopped the computer-generated flood of notices, many in error, to clients about their benefits. "They're no longer getting the letters," Miller said. SHARE By Laura Acchiardo, laura.acchiardo@thegleaner.com The Henderson County Tourist Commission will see a $4,000 increase in their municipal allocation in the upcoming fiscal year. At the Henderson City Commission meeting Tuesday night, a public hearing was held to receive comments and hear appeals regarding possible funding of outside agencies for the fiscal year ending July 1. One of those agencies was the tourist commission. The Agency Funding Ad Hoc Committee reviewed funding requests from 11 agencies. The panel considered the financial need of each organization, the public service the organization provides and how much those services would cost the city if the organization didn't exist. All agencies had an opportunity to appeal the recommendations of the committee at the public hearing. Kyle Hittner, executive director of the Henderson County Tourist Commission, was the only one to appeal. The tourist commission submitted a request for $37,756 from the city plus an additional $6,000 for a one-time capital improvements expense. The funding committee had recommended the tourist commission receive $33,700, the same amount from FY 2015-16. The additional $4,056 in the request was to go toward salary and wages for the Depot Community Room employees and painting of the tourist commission office interior. The tourist commission houses the Depot Community Room, where Event Coordinator Donna Spencer and Assistant Tom Jake work. Spencer receives $12.82 an hour and Jake $8.23 an hour. Both work approximately 19 hours per week. "When that $33,700 was originally allocated, there was only one staff person in the Depot Community Room," said Hittner. "Now there are two. Increasing their pay is really important to me." Spencer and Jake's duties include researching and setting up the exhibits, curating the community room, organizing walking tours in Downtown Henderson and producing videos. Hittner requested Spencer's pay be increased by 3 percent and Jake's increased to $10 per hour with additional hours. After the appeal, the commission agreed to allocate $37,700 rather than $33,700 to the commission for FY 2016-17. In other business: The city of Henderson's Codes Department received a question regarding indoor shooting ranges, but the city's zoning ordinances do not address indoor ranges or other indoor recreational uses. The topic will go before the Planning Commission, which will prepare an amendment and hold a public hearing. Commissioners approved a Municipal Aid Cooperative Agreement between the city of Owensboro/Daviess County and the city of Henderson. The cooperative pact is for emergencies and disasters where each participating party will provide mutual aid and assistance to other parties. The agreement includes the coordination of, communications for, training for, response to and standby for planned events and emergency responses within Kentucky. Owensboro and Daviess County had already approved the agreement. Ken Christopher, representing the Henderson War Memorial Foundation, requested a renewal of city funding. The foundation plans to erect a bronze statue of Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, a Henderson native who was commander-in-chief of the Navy's Pacific Fleet when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The requested amount of $20,000 had previously been allotted to the Kimmel Statue Project, but funds had not been accessed because planning had not been completed. The board agreed to reallocate the $20,000 to the project. Commissioners approved a second reading for the special events ordinance relating to alcohol package sales without consumption and the zoning regulations amendment ordinance allowing more than one business in a single structure for multiple zones. Internet care services ready to flourish Updated: 2016-04-29 08:27 By Ma Si and Wang Yanfei(China Daily Europe) Technology firms are revolutionizing sector by partnering with public hospitals and acquiring private ones Like many people in China, Chen Hua (not her real name), a 60-year-old from Guangdong province, used to hate visiting hospitals because every time she had to wait in long lines to see a doctor, pay medical bills and buy the prescription drugs. Now, she has found a better alternative: She visits a nearby drugstore where she can interact with doctors at major hospitals via video link. A nurse checks the body temperature of patients at a medical center in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Long Wei / For China Daily Recently, Chen had backache and had an online consultation with a doctor at Guangdong Internet Hospital, which is operated by the Second People's Hospital of Guangdong province. "He prescribed medication online, which I could buy immediately (at the drugstore)," she says. "Previously, it took four hours to see a doctor, but now the entire process takes less than 10 minutes." Chen is among a growing number of patients benefiting from China's booming online medical services. Technology companies are rushing to revolutionize the sector by partnering with public hospitals and acquiring private ones. Dozens of internet hospitals are popping up across China, fueled by strong support from local governments. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Tencent Holdings Ltd and a string of startups are all eyeing the niche. Jiang Xinwei at consultant company Analysys International says China's internet healthcare industry has entered a new stage after years of explosive growth in basic online medical services, such as making appointments and paying medical bills. Analysys International estimates the industry was worth 11.3 billion yuan ($1.73 billion; 1.54 billion euros) in 2014, up from 5 billion yuan in 2011, with the figure rising to 15.7 billion yuan this year. "By setting up online hospitals, tech companies are finally looking at the key aspects of remote diagnosis, which promises bigger chances of profitability," Jiang says. Qin Zexi, an analyst with iResearch Consulting Group, says the online healthcare industry will continue to gain steam, thanks to the swift development of mobile internet technology and the government's intensified efforts to push medical reforms. "Public hospitals used to be reluctant to embrace the internet, but now that has gradually been changed by the government," Qin says. In March, Li Bin, the minister in charge of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, called for more widespread use of the internet to direct patients to different medical institutions based on their needs, so as to reduce the pressure on big hospitals and improve the efficiency of medical resources. Unlike other web-based services such as e-commerce, which initially boomed in the wealthy eastern provinces, online medical service providers have ventured into less-developed western regions. We Doctor Group, which has raised more than $100 million in funding from Tencent, opened an internet hospital for northwestern Gansu province recently by teaming up with a local public hospital. "The internet can help expand medical services to secluded villages and remote regions such as the Tibet autonomous region," says Liao Jieyuan, CEO and chairman of We Doctor Group, who adds that patients can organize video diagnosis, e-prescription and drug deliveries via its platform. Alibaba is running a similar project in a village in the central province of Hubei, where it hopes to help villagers deal with common and chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes. However, other players are eyeing the higher end of the online healthcare market, which includes handling serious and complicated illnesses by pooling top-level doctors. "Every year, thousands of people travel to top-tier cities, looking for experts to treat diseases that local doctors can't deal with," says Wang Hang, CEO of Haodf, which says it employs 100,000 qualified doctors. "By leveraging the internet, patients can first have a video call with experts to see whether they need to be treated in person. This helps reduce unnecessary transportation costs. Local doctors will also be present to offer the most accurate descriptions of patients' symptoms." Mississippi River levels impacting Burlington tourism, barge transport The problem is especially dire on the Lower Mississippi, where low water-level barriers are restricting corn and soybean shipments to New Orleans. If youve been paying attention to the marketing campaign for La La Land, you know that Hollywood two hours fellating itself with This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK Gabriella Duran, 15, is used to being on her own. Every school day, she wakes up at 5 a.m. to get to school. She takes the train from Bridgeport to South Norwalk, where the Brien McMahon High School bus picks her up in time for first period. And every evening, she gets home after her family has eaten and makes dinner for herself -- mostly cereal. But what the Bridgeport native's not used to, is being far from home now that she's headed to a southern college. "North Carolina is so far away and I was like 'Do I want to go that far away from home? What about my family?" she said. Duran was one of 27 students selected to participate in the Norwalk school district's first collaboration with Wishbone, a program that helps students raise money to participate in summer programs at prestigious universities. After a month's worth of applications, and after qualifying for their low-income requirements, the chosen students have 30 days to raise the money for their program. Wishbone uses online crowd-funding to help the students raise the money. With its matching grants for the students and barely competitive social media contests, Wishbone touts a near-100 percent history of students reaching their goals. "When I heard about the program I was like 'This is too amazing for words! And this is a lot of work!'" said the principal of Brien McMahon, Suzanne Brown Koroshetz. The Carver Community Center had invited her and fellow district high school principals to hear from Wishbone's representatives about their organization. "The minute they left I said 'We have to get as many kids in as possible.' And who is my best kid-gatherer?" she asked, moving her arms in a flourish to present the man beside her. Qadir Abdus-Salaam, one of five staffed housemasters at the school, laughed in response. "And I said 'Hmm, what's this program?' And then when I heard about it, I said, 'Done deal, I'm all over this,'" said Abdus-Salaam. He had participated in a similar program when he was in high school that completely changed his world view, he said. "I was like this is what I did, this is me right here," he said. "I told them my whole story and I said 'And look at me now, I'm a boss for a reason.'" Under his guidance, 12 Brien McMahon students are participating in the 30-day challenge; five have already completed their donation goals. The other 15 are at Norwalk High School. On Thursday, Brien McMahon sophomore Ja'rya Dorsey had 17 more days and $966 more to go, but she said she's not too worried. "At this point I'm like if it's meant to be it's meant to be. I can't make people take money out of their pockets," said Dorsey. Duran, who started her challenger earlier than Dorsey, said she had not felt the same way when she was at her 13-day mark. "I was crying every day. I think the Wishbone lady was fed up with me. She was done. I think she was going to sell herself by the end," she said, laughing. "I didn't really ask my family because my mom does work hard for us. So I couldn't really ask them for money or help," said Justin Ngomepaul, 16, a sophomore. He completed the 30-day challenge and will be attending the National Student Leadership Conference's International Diplomacy program. His father sells vacuums, he said, and his mother stays home to take care of him and his seven siblings. The program usually costs about $6,000, but with Wishbone he only had to raise $2,995. "I go to my teachers and say 'Yo, you know you're my favorite teacher'" said Dorsey, making Ngomepaul and Duran laugh. Dorsey is a competitive dancer and wants to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. She's about two weeks into her campaign, hoping to attend Hofstra University's National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine. "I like blood. Like, I love open wounds. If you have a cut I'll help, no problem. It gives me a rush," she said. Though she'd only be traveling to New York City--unlike Ngomepaul and Duran, who will be going out of state -- she said she's nervous about leaving home for that long. "They tell us when you go it's like you're on your own and you have to fend for yourself. Doing stuff on my own and being only 15 years old -- that's a lot of pressure," she said. But getting out of their comfort zone is what Abdus-Salaam hopes his students will do. He said right now they're big fish in a small pond, and it's important for them to see what the big pond looks like. "That's what I want these guys to see -- to see what building your future is about," he said. "And that will be their trajectory, to the stars." Duran has completed her challenge, having raised $6,450, and will be participating in the Duke University Summer Academy for High School Students program as a "global helper" this summer. Those interested in donating to a local student can visit https://www.wishbone. org/campaigns. And though Dorsey isn't quite there yet, she's already picturing her summer. "I can't wait to cut people open," she said, smiling, then serious. "Medicine just never gets old. There's always something new to uncover." Those interested in donating to a local student can visit https://www.wishbone.org/campaigns. SFoster-Frau@ctpost.com; @SilviaElenaFF Xi stresses role of science and technology Updated: 2016-04-29 08:27 By Zhu Lixin and An Baijie(China Daily Europe) President seeks an increased 'sense of mission' through education and greater achievements For the second time in a week, President Xi Jinping has emphasized the important role of science and technology in powering China's development on April 26. Speaking at a symposium on internet and cyberspace security on April 19 in Beijing, he called for China to make a breakthrough in next-generation internet technologies. And on April 26, at one of the events highlighted most by Chinese media during his field-study tour of Anhui province, Xi visited the University of Science and Technology of China, in Hefei. He visited the province from April 24 to 27. At the university's Institute of Advanced Technology, Xi was shown achievements in areas ranging from artificial intelligence to public security, and from drones to alternative energy. He visited the control center of the 2,000-kilometer Beijing-Shanghai quantum communication main network, due to become fully operational in the second half of this year, and the university's Laboratory of Physic Science for Advanced Medical Application. Talking to faculty members, researchers and students, Xi praised the university's recent progress in innovation and new technologies. He urged his audience to show a greater "sense of mission" by educating more people and making greater achievements in the new frontiers of science and technology. An economy of China's size would be unsustainable if it relied entirely on imports for its new science and technologies, Xi said. Zhang Xiaojun, vice-president of Anhui Huami Information Technology, which has investment from Chinese mobile phone producer Xiaomi, was one of the high-tech company leaders who met with the president. He said he thinks Xi's comments will greatly encourage technology companies like his, and he is more confident in serving the Chinese economy with smart wearable gadgets. Yao Hongyu, CEO of Beijing-based cloud computing and big data company Yoyo Systems, said he thought the president was saying in Anhui that the next 10 years is the best time for China to build up its power in new technologies. He said the country's current scientific research capability still lags behind many developed nations, and most of the core components of China's industrial robots are imported. Yao added that it will be "a long and tough journey" for the country to improve its capability on core technologies. He said state-owned companies and government departments should buy domestic brands to support the development of China's science and technology, and the nation needs to develop core technology in fields such as cloud computing and big data. During his Anhui trip, Xi visited the village of Xiaogang, which was one of China's poorest four decades ago and took a lead in the country's economic reform and opening-up in the late 1970s. He also visited mountainous Jinzhai county, where many farmers are beginning to use solar power to change their lives under the government program to eliminate poverty. Contact the writers through anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily European Weekly 04/29/2016 page24) NORWALK The Norwalk High School Alumni Association will hold its annual Teacher Honor Roll on Sunday, May 1, at 3 p.m. The social will be held at The Norwalk Inn & Conference Center on East Avenue to honor teachers who retired from the Norwalk School System. This year the honorees are: Pasquale "Pat" D'Orio '46, Laurine Browder '59, Donna Grimaldi Raguseo '67 and Dr. Paul A. Krasnavage '71. For more information, contact Chair Catherine Vigilante (203) 866-3504. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK A Depression-era mural showing slaves working alongside a Mississippi riverboat in the mid-19th century accurately depicts segregation in the United States, but it doesnt belong in City Hall, speaker after speaker told the Norwalk Human Relations Commission Thursday night. Its a slap in the face that the people who represent Norwalk, said Angela Harrison, who for years has asked officials to remove the mural from City Hall. In a public hearing at City Hall, Carol L. Frank, Human Relations Commission chairwoman, invited residents to share their thoughts about the mural, allotting each speaker three minutes. The commission, she said, would evaluate the public input and draft an opinion to be submitted to the mayor. Several members of the Mayors Youth Council urged the commission to recommend moving the mural. Members of the citys African-American community filled the Council Chambers to offer similar advice on the mural, which was painted by local artist Justin Gruelle as part of a Works Progress Administration project during the 1930s. As a black man who grew up in the Civil Rights movement in this country, I find this (mural) offensive, and Im appalled that the powers that be in City Hall, in this city, feel that this is not offensive, Joseph Maples told the commission. Several Common Council members, including Eloisa Melendez, Travis L. Simms and Phaedrel L. Bowman also asked the commission to recommend moving the painting. Measuring roughly 3-by-12 feet, the mural was too large to move to the council chambers from its second-floor home for Thursday evenings hearing. Bowman, a District B Democrat, stood next to an image of the mural shown upon a screen in the council chambers. I see child labor, she said, pointing at young African-Americans stooping to carry riverboat passengers luggage. Right there, I see a gentleman in a top hat and I see a gentleman in a different top hat. Now is this one of those slave fugitive hunters? Bowman summarized slavery as rape, violence, murder. Some speakers argued that removing the mural would amount to censorship and would diminish discussion of the history of slavery in the United States. The issue here isnt simply whether one painting should be removed from the context of other paintings around it in City Hall, said Jeffrey Price. For me, its about whether were brave enough to allow our troubled past to enlighten our future. When governments have become zealous in censorship and removal of artwork, things have not gone well, Price said. Proponents of removing the mural dont want the artwork destroyed, they told the commission. Instead, they said, the mural should be moved to a museum or historical society. Images depicting African-Americans contribution to local history should be placed in City Hall, they told the commission. Out of all of Norwalks history, this is what is being depicted? Lori Kydes said of the Gruelle painting, as Councilman Steve Serasis showed a display board with photographs of African-American soldiers from Connecticut who fought in the American Civil War. Simms told The Hour that the mural doesnt accurately portray Norwalk. City Hall should be depicting what our community is a diverse community, he said. Yes, (the mural) is history of the United States, but this is not history of Norwalk. That was on the Mississippi, not in Norwalk, Connecticut. Gruelle based his painting on Mark Twains book Life on the Mississippi, which was published in 1883 and depicted Southern trade in the late 1850s. HARTFORD The House of Representatives on Thursday night voted 138-7 to establish so-called affirmative consent for sexual activity on state college and university campuses. The bill, which was the center of an hour-long debate, next heads to the Senate, with the legislative adjournment date of midnight, May 4 looming. It is aimed at reducing campus sexual assaults and violence between intimate partners, by requiring people to consent con. It would also promote the support of bystanders to report incidents where students may be drunk or otherwise incapacitated and may be taken advantage by acquaintances, friends and roommates. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said the issue of sexual assault on campus is one of the most-important issues lawmakers can discuss. This particular bill, for me, as a woman, is very difficult because I dont know anyone who does not agree that we should do everything we can to support any victims of any crime, especially sexual assault, she said. The debate seems to be divided between those who believe colleges and universities are doing what they can and those who believe the General Assembly needs to develop new law, she said. I think theyre both viable answers, said Klarides, who voted for the bill. They may seem at odds, but I think they both make a lot of sense, she said, warning that sometimes the General Assembly means well, but falls short of solving problems. She said that lawmakers who voted against the bill should not be criticized. Last year a similar bill had wide support in the state Senate, but it failed to get called in the House in time to meet the legislative deadline. A 2014 bill required state universities, both public and private, to revamp policies on sexual activity on campus. Since then, nearly all institutions of higher learning have also enacted their own policies on affirmative consent. The pending bill does not require those institutions to adopt the states definition of affirmative consent, which is also know as Yes Means Yes. Who decides, at the end of the day, whether they are substantially similar? asked Rep. Richard A. Smith, R-New Fairfield. Rep. Gregory Haddad, D-Mansfield, who introduced the legislation,said it would be up to each college and university to develop guidelines on sexual behavior that are compatible with the legislation. Rep. Tom ODea, R-New Canaan, was one of the few lawmakers, six Republicans and one Democrat, who voted against the bill. He questioned whether the bill was needed when there is over-arching federal legislation in place. The father of a 16, 14 and 12-year-old, ODea said he doesnt believe it would make them safer on campus. kdixon@ctpost.com; NORWALK A Bridgeport man who confronted his sons boss at a local car wash allegedly exposed a handgun in the course of an argument with the manager. Police said that Marcos Riveras son, who is an employee of Freds Car Wash at 64 Connecticut Ave., punched out of work early on Thursday after being given a verbal warning about being late, and was reportedly upset when told that paychecks would not be ready until that afternoon. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD After a five-hour filibuster by Republican senators in which economics, personal experiences at summer jobs and general opposition to extending the states schedule to raise beyond the $10.10 an hour set to take effect next January 1, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff abruptly withdrew the bill late Thursday. While the legislation can be renewed on the Senate floor by Duff, D-Norwalk, in the waning days of the General Assemblysession, which ends at midnight next Wednesday, its unlikely since hundreds of other bills await debate and action in both the Senate and House. The apparent death of the bill was a defeat for first-term Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport. Legislation originally drafted to charge large chain stores for the social costs of paying low wages was amended on the state Senate floor late Thursday afternoon to raise Connecticuts $9.60 per-hour minimum wage to $12 by Jan. 1, 2020. The move apparently took GOP lawmakers by surprise as one after another, they criticized the bill. Opposition was led by Sen. Rob Kane, R-Watertown, Sen. L. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich, Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton and Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford. Moore, co-chairman of the legislative Human Services Committee, said the proposal was a scaled-back version of two other bills, which died this session that would have raised the minimum wage to $15. Moore, who runs a nonprofit organization, said she worked a minimum-wage job for a month and discovered the struggles of many low-income families. I could have never have survived if I had a family on the money that I was being paid at the low wage of $9.50 per hour, she said. I worked beside a man who was a CPA who could not find work as a CPA and was being paid $9.75 an hour. People are working multiple jobs and are still not making a living wage and not able to feed their families, Moore said. Many of the people that are working in the low-wage jobs are receiving subsidies from the state of Connecticut, being paid by tax dollars. If they were making a decent wage, those tax dollars could go to pay for some other things. Moores proposal surprised Republicans in the General Assembly, who embarked on their hours-long argument against the bill, which would piggyback on the current schedule of wage hikes that plateau at $10.10 an hour on Jan. 1, 2017. Under the legislation, which originated in the legislative Labor Committee, it would become $10.70 in 2018, $11.30 in 2019 and $12 on Jan. 1, 2020. Where did we come up with these figures? asked Kane, whose district includes Seymour and Oxford, and who is ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. He warned that Connecticuts business climate is still fragile after the states two highest tax hikes in recent years. It is based on the proponents best interest and getting the wage to something that is livable, Moore replied. So the proponents are now setting legislation rather than the committee that you chair, said Kane, whose district includes Oxford and Seymour. Theyre providing input, sir; thats why we have the public hearings: to hear from the community and the low-wage earners, Moore responded. Kane blamed under-employment on state government policies that hinder business with high health care costs, high taxes and high energy costs. We dont want CPAs taking those jobs? There has to be a reason why a person took that job, he said. Frantz, ranking member of the Finance Committee, said wages are an important issue, but the free market works here beautifully and establishes fair wages. Everybody is better off as a result of having a competitive situation, Frantz said, warning that there was a lack of data for senators during the debate and there is a danger of job losses if wages are raised at the wrong time. If were not paying attention to those important pieces of data and metrics in general, we are paying a disservice to the state of Connecticut, Frantz said, noting the double-digit unemployment rates in Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven. Were in tough-enough shape here in Connecticut without this proposal. As the hours piled up through the evening, Republican senators described their own experiences as young minimum-wage workers, including summer jobs in the Berkshires and, working construction jobs. Boucher recalled her father, an Italian immigrant in Naugatuck, worked multiple jobs when she was growing up. kdixon@ctpost.com The state General Assembly this week overwhelmingly approved a bill that would prevent employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history on a job application. The bill, known as "Ban the Box," would prohibit most employers from adding a box on their job applications asking candidates about their prior arrests, criminal charges or convictions. Employers such as school districts and law enforcement agencies, which are required by law to check every applicant's criminal background, would be exempt. The bill, introduced by the Public Employees Committee, was approved Tuesday and now heads to the Senate. Research shows that most employers are reluctant to hire applicants with criminal records. A recent study conducted in New York City by the National Institute of Justice found that a criminal record reduced the likelihood of a callback or job offer by nearly 50 percent. The original bill proposed banning employers from inquiring about a candidate's criminal history until a conditional job offer was made. That bill had strong support from such groups as the Connecticut Association for Human Services and the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut as well as several state agencies, including the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. However, after several business groups opposed the original bill because of security concerns, the Assembly narrowed the ban to exclude the interview process. "The original intent of check the box was to make sure that people who have convictions and couldn't get a job would never be able to be productive members of society," said State Rep. Gail Lavielle (R-143) of Wilton. "The way it was originally structured, however, business people felt that it went too far. As amended, it is a good compromise. It gives people an opportunity to have access to job interviews and make their case to employers. It also gives employers a chance to make their decisions based on their judgment. It's fair to both parties." DMHAS Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon wrote to lawmakers in support of the bill: "Providing the opportunity to have an interview would allow candidates to be evaluated on their current merits, not past mistakes." Employment is a valuable part of the recovery process and is often a tool that assists recovery," she said. "Through the employment process, individuals find a positive purpose and meaning in their lives." Eric Gjede, an assistant counsel at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, said the amended bill is a good balance between the interests of job applicants and those of employers. "It does give people who are looking for a second chance in their life the opportunity to get their foot in the door and make a case for themselves," he said. "But at the same time, it provides a protection for employers so they can provide a safe workplace for their employees and their customers." In a testimony at the General Assembly earlier this year, a Connecticut resident said removing the criminal history "box" would give ex-inmates a fair chance to prove in an interview that they have been rehabilitated. "Upon release, every application I filled out shook me to the core, having to mark down the crime I had committed, which I already served time for," Dan Varley wrote in his testimony. "At what point do we, as a society, stop punishing people for their mistake?" noliveira@newstimes.com, 203-731-3411, @olivnelson HARTFORD -- Democratic leaders of the General Assembly on Thursday afternoon announced they have crafted a new budget that can pass the House and Senate and get signed into law by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. But they said the new $19.7-billion proposal that would take effect July 1, will not come to a vote until further negotiations with Malloy and -- possibly -- Republicans. Malloy, however, was critical of the proposal and won't support it in its current form, even though it addressed the projected $920-million shortfall. And by mid-afternoon, Republicans were attacking the Democratic document for its use of short-term revenues and further stress on state hospitals, while cutting more unionized public employee jobs. The budget plan contains hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to the spending package passed last year in the two-year, $40-billion budget. In a hastily called news conference outside the third-floor Senate chamber, Democratic leaders said the proposal includes no new taxes, no withdrawal from the $400-million emergency reserves and no new borrowing. Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey stressed it would continue funding for municipal aid and local schools. Malloy's recent proposal literally gutted millions of dollars in aid to public schools in affluent communities, including Greenwich, Fairfield, Westport, Darien, New Canaan and Ridgefield "It does include structural changes in our budget that will not only help us and will help us reach a balanced budget for 2017, but these changes will roll out into the next biennium and will dramatically reduce those projected deficits for the next biennium," Sharkey said. The proposal includes non-union wage freezes; and increases in drug co-pays and contributions for health care; and a $125,000 pension cap for non-union employees. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said the goal was to foster sustainability at a time of reduced tax revenues; protect the middle class; and to approve a balanced budget. "Now it's really up to us and to the governor to work together, and with the Republicans, to come up with something we can put on the floor of the House and Senate and vote on and move forward for the state of Connecticut," Duff told reporters. The legislative adjournment deadline is midnight, May 4, but if lawmakers can't reach a budget deal, they will go into special session. Devon Puglia, Malloy's spokesman, said the governor appreciates the work of the Democrats, who have an 87-64 majority in the House and a 21-15 edge in the Senate. "As he has said repeatedly, coming to terms with a new economic reality is hard, and we recognize that the caucuses have moved to find difficult savings," Puglia said. "We also want to be clear that the governor has serious concerns about this proposal, and he could not support or sign it in its current form. It relies on hundreds of millions of dollars in one-time revenues and unrealistic savings targets. It is critical that we do things differently this year and find a better, more sustainable way of budgeting. This proposal is still too close to the status quo; it contains too much "business as usual." "With proposals on the table from the Governor, Democrats, and Republicans, we are hopeful and optimistic that legislative leaders are now ready to begin negotiations in earnest. We should reconcile our budgets and work to achieve long-term, structural changes." Republicans leaders, meeting reporters on the fourth floor of the Capitol later in the afternoon, said that Democrats would lay off even more than planned by Malloy. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides and Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano said the Democratic proposal is just an avenue to adjourn next week and run for re-election, without addressing the state's long-term needs. "I don't know how many time we have to see this happen," said Klarides, R-Derby. "I don't know how many times we have to stick gum in a hole." The Republicans on Monday offered their own budget solution, which included ending the state's landmark public-financing program for General Assembly and top-of-the-ticket statewide races. Come up with a plan that gives people predictability and sustainability." "This budget is the same product that they put out year after year after year after year," said Fasano, R-North Haven. "It has cuts that result in hurting the poor, hurting hospitals; they've made more cuts to social services that we don't cut as deeply. They have made significant changes to hide expenses. There are no structural changes in this budget. I would argue that this budget was just done as a pass to get into the governor's office just to say 'okay we anteed-up, we're in the room now.'" Fasano said that budget lines were transferred into other departments, creating new costs for state businesses. He said Republicans were unable to get details on the Democrats' plan from non-partisan legislative staff. "We released our details," Fasano said. "We did a full presentation with details, analysis, long-term impact." Meanwhile, State Treasurer Denise Nappier on Thursday sent a letter to legislative leaders suggesting that capital projects that have not yet started should not be started, or stopped. "In addition, the State would need to stop authorizing new spending on bond projects, thereby reducing the amount of bonding needed to fund the projects," Nappier wrote. And Matthew Barrett, executive vice president of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities, said the Democrats' proposed $10.5 million cut to skilled nursing facilities is unacceptable, particularly those that agreed to raise wages to $15 per hour. "The cut, which reverses a legislative promise made just last session, hits nursing home employees especially hard," Barrett said in a statement. "It also represents a double hit to the employers who relied on this promise and did the right thing by already giving their employees raises." kdixon@ctpost.com WILTON The GRAMMYs Music Educator Award may have been awarded to North Carolina teacher Phillip Riggs, but for Wilton High Schools band director and music theory teacher Frank Chip Gawle, it was never about the awards. For Gawle, it was the music or more importantly the children who played the music that really mattered. As Gawle stood before a crowd gathered to celebrate his accomplishments on Tuesday, this modesty, or rather his overwhelming pride in the group of children and parents that sat before him, was on full display. He thanked his teaching partner John Rhodes and his friends and supporters throughout the town of Wilton. He thanked the Wilton band booster club and the students in the various bands. He thanked his wife and children for putting up with a devotion for music that at times tore him away from being a full-time parent. He even thanked the town, the school, the GRAMMY Foundation, and the audience. Had Riggs had been able to attend the ceremony, Gawle probably would have thanked him for the stiff competition that he had offered up too, because thats the kind of guy Gawle is. Since the 35-year teaching veteran was so remiss to heap self-praise upon himself, that duty ultimately fell to others. Were here to recognize Mr. Chip Gawle for his many accomplishments as Wilton High Schools music teacher, band director and instructional leader, said music legend Darryl Tookes, who came down to Wilton to present the finalist award to Gawle. I just told Chip that I also wrote the curriculum for music theory at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, but I learned a few things down here that Im going to add when I get back. With attribution, might I add. It wasnt only Tookes who heaped praise on Gawle, who is set to retire at the end of the school year. In fact, Connecticuts General Assembly too recognized Gawles achievements and sent him an official commendation from state. Gawles overpoweringly humble nature only made it that much more enjoyable when Wilton High School principal Robert ODonnell put a bow on the presentation when he announced that the $1,000 check, which the music teacher had been awarded for being a finalist, would not only go towards buying new instruments for the band, but it would also partially fund the creation of a new scholarship: The Chip Gawle Annual Music Scholarship Fund. Yet, even in the face of the immense praise being tossed his way, Gawle remained self-effacing. I want to thank all of you for this great honor, said Gawle, clearly choked up by the 20-second, standing applause that he received with every pause in his speech. Im blessed with a strong and supportive family, and it was in that spirit, that I tried to encapsulate in my programs throughout my career. True to his own spirit, Gawle then accepted his accolades with a smile on his face. But, it wasnt until he got back to conducting the ensuing musical piece that Gawle truly seemed at home. Publishers team up with Baidu to fight IP infringement Updated: 2016-04-29 18:05 By Cecily Liu in London and Meng Jing in Beijing(chinadaily.com.cn) International publishers will now see their intellectual property protected better in China, thanks to a milestone agreement between China's biggest internet search engine Baidu Inc and the International Publishers Copyright Coalition. Under a memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday, the two organizations will collaborate in tackling online IP infringement. For example, they will help IP rights holders find out if their rights are being infringed, and if so, will take down the infringed content from the Baidu search engine. The Beijing-based Baidu said in a statement that it will set up a platform dedicated to processing tip-offs on both Chinese-language and English-language IP infringement and create a healthy internet environment. "Baidu has been actively working to solve the challenges in protecting copyrights online via teaming up with partners around the globe," said the company in a statement. The search engine giant had been accused in the past of allowing unauthorized digital content of books and music on its sites. The move was welcomed by international publishers looking to generate significant revenue in China by exporting their digital content. The UK's publishing industry, for example, has a third of its total revenue coming from digital sales and 40 percent from exports, including a significant portion from China. "We hope that we will progress our work with Baidu even further over the coming years to look at ways of delisting websites containing infringing content and filtering out pirated material," said Emma House, director of publisher relations at the UK Publishers Association, which is a sponsor of the IPCC. "For publishers, it's extremely important and valuable that the 3 major online platforms in China, Baidu, Alibaba (Group Holding Ltd) and Tencent (Holdings Ltd) take copyright protection seriously. The IPCC already has an MOU with Alibaba and now the MOU with Baidu represents progress in the internet platforms partnering with rights holders to tackle the problem of copyright infringement together." Matthias Wahls, managing director of M. Wahls Publishing Consultancy, said the agreement is very encouraging for publishers and authors. "Nowadays digital content is increasingly easy to experience copyright infringement issues, which means the role that a search engine like Baidu can play to protect IP is increasingly significant," said Wahls. Adrian Fisher, a counsel at the London-based law firm Linklaters, said the agreement demonstrates an evolution business practice in China. "It also reflects the 13th five-year plan (2016-20), which identifies the need to advance the rule of law," said Fisher. "It's encouraging that copyright infringement is being taken seriously by such a major search engine. In the TMT sector, copyright infringement can seriously undermine the incentive to innovate, so this is an encouraging development in a competitive industry," Fisher said. The signing of the agreement was a highlight of the annual UK-China Copyright Week, which consists of a series of events in China, attended by a UK delegation led by Ros Lynch, director of copyright and enforcement at the UK Intellectual Property Office. "In China, IP law has undergone a rapid process of reform and we continue to see the Chinese government implement changes which improve its IP regime. The consumer marketplace is becoming increasingly digital, which creates a new range of IP challenges. We particularly support collaborations between industry to improve online IP protections such as this MOU between Baidu and the IPCC," said Lynch. Contact the writers at cecily.liu@chinadaily.com.cn and mengjing@chinadaily.com.cn This week on Segue, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Greg Budzban, PhD, hosts Kevin Cannon, PhD, chair of the SIUE Department of Criminal Justice Studies. An Iowa native, Cannon received his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Missouri in political science. He obtained a masters from his alma mater in criminal justice studies. Cannon earned a PhD in criminal justice studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2001. Cannons career began as a professor at Salem State College in 1999. He worked at the College for three years before desiring to return to the Midwest. After searching for attractive universities, Cannon placed one job application - at SIUE. He joined the SIUE faculty in 2002 and has fallen in love with the School and the Department of Criminal Justice Studies, sharing that he hopes to one day retire from the institution. With the masters in criminal justice studies going through the approval process, the scholars focus conversation on the program that is projected to be offered at SIUE in fall 2017. Providing easy access to working professionals, the masters in criminal justice studies will be offered through an online format. The curriculum is structured for completion in two years, with many courses being offered in eight-week intervals. A masters in criminal justice studies offers students a unique educational opportunity. It provides a broad understanding of criminal justice studies as a whole. It also allows students to tailor the degree to their specific interests through elective courses in the areas of policing and criminal investigation, the court system, theory and the corrections system - including prisons, probation and parole. Conversation also included discussion of opportunities for experiential learning in the St. Louis metropolitan area, growth of the department since its establishment in 2002, and the importance of training and educational opportunities in policing. Cannon references the prospects available to SIUE students in the Department of Criminal Justice Studies, both in and out of the classroom. We are graduating almost 100 students per year now, he says. One fundamental part of the program is the internship experience that all students must complete as a senior assignment. Students may either seek internships with agencies that already contract with SIUE or actively seek their own, but right now, we have agreements with approximately 180 agencies. These are not just law enforcement agencies, either. Typically, people think, Criminal justice degree - youre going to become a police officer. We have students who go into many different fields, and we have followed that with our internship opportunities. We have numerous law firms, police departments, probation offices, parole departments, the Madison County Coroners Office and many more. He further cites the network of agency partners and alumni that have contributed to the internship and employment efforts of future SIUE graduates. He explains that through the various fields of criminal justice, both SIUE and criminal justice professionals have the opportunity to positively affect the lives of others. Budzban begins a conversation on policing and argues that society has begun to demand a higher degree of professionalism among officers and police departments. Cannon emphasizes the importance of further education and communication skills in order to fulfill this need in communities. Every study has shown that the more education you have, the better you will be as a police officer, he explains. A college education opens students eyes to so many different people and lifestyles. As a police officer, youre forced to interact with everyone from all different backgrounds. So, keeping an open mind and not having that narrow focus of everyone should behave exactly how I did when I was growing up is very important for a police officer to have. A college education is good for that. If you come from a poor, urban area, your interaction with police is very different than if youre coming from a poor, rural area or any other social class. You have different backgrounds, and theres a longstanding history of predominantly white policing in minority communities. So, one of the greatest skills in criminal justice these days is being able to communicate with a diverse group of people. Cannon further explains the career opportunities for women and minority students in the field of law enforcement, as these demographics are in high demand in an effort to bring more diversity into police departments. The gentlemen discuss the anticipated approval of the masters in criminal justice studies, citing the programs dedication to faculty-student mentorship and continuance of a high-quality education through an online platform. One of the best things about my graduate experience was the relationship developed with faculty, Cannon shared. The faculties truly become your mentors in your academic development, and we dont want the online students to miss out on that. A big part of growth in graduate programs is connections with faculty and learning from them inside and outside of the classroom through personal relationships. He added, Ever since I started here, Ive had students saying When are you going to start a masters program? - Because a lot of people want to further their education beyond a bachelors degree to make themselves distinct in a competitive field. Once people know the SIUE faculty, they feel comfortable with them and know that we are going to give them a good education. Our intention with the online masters is to make sure we give a high quality education - just like we do with our undergraduate programs. Students who complete that program will have a set of skills that will help them as critical thinkers in the workplace. Were hoping to be able to give people working in the field the opportunity to complete a quality masters degree in a timely fashion. Budzban shares in Cannons excitement by concentrating on the programs potential for immediate impact. He further explains that because of the programs online nature, it creates academic value for working professionals seeking access to additional education from across the country. Tune in to WSIE 88.7 FM every Sunday at 9 a.m. as weekly guests discuss issues on SIUEs campus. By Logan Cameron, SIUE Marketing & Communications Following a devastating home fire, Red Cross volunteers met with those affected and provided assistance for their immediate emergency needs, such as shelter, food, clothing and replacement medications in the 800 block of Holyoake Road in Edwardsville. Volunteers also comforted and listened to those in need, helping them with long-term recovery planning and connecting them with community resources. Location: 800 block of Holyoake Road, 62025 Assistance: emergency assistance Helping: one adult The Red Cross is part of the All Ready campaign, a unified effort among emergency preparedness experts in the bi-state region that focuses on the importance of individual preparedness. The campaign encourages the three critical steps of preparedness: Make a plan, Get a kit, Be informed. The Red Cross is able to respond quickly when emergencies happen thanks to our generous donors and dedicated volunteers. The American Red Cross of Eastern Missouri is a proud member agency of the United Way, which makes significant investments in Red Cross services. Courts are handling more foreign IP cases Updated: 2016-04-29 08:26 By Cao Yin(China Daily Europe) Trend shows China is a key market for enterprises to develop innovation China has become a major market for foreign enterprises to develop intellectual property innovation, according to a senior judge with the Supreme People's Court. With more frequent economic and trade exchanges, IP disputes nationwide involving foreign litigants rose from 2,840 in 2013 to 5,675 last year. "Foreign-related cases are a key area for IP tribunals in courts, especially administrative ones," Song Xiaoming, chief judge of a civil tribunal for IP cases, who revealed the figures, said ahead of World IP Day on April 26. In 2013, courts heard 1,143 foreign IP administrative cases, with the number rising to 4,348 last year, the top court says. In such lawsuits, government agencies such as copyright administrations are usually the defendants accused of improper official rulings. Of the IP administrative cases involving foreigners, most were related to patents and trademarks, Song says, adding that those involving business secrets have also risen rapidly. IP House, a third-party institute, analyzed 5,022 verdicts from 5,432 cases heard by the Beijing IP Court recently and found that 1,095 had foreign litigants. Of those cases, 395 involved enterprises from the United States, 2.7 times more than those from Germany, which was second on the list, the institute says. Among those involving US businesses, 346 were administrative IP cases concerning, for example, trademarks and patents. "The boom in IP disputes should be attributed to China's strategy to go global and bring in foreign business, as well as to a strong awareness by foreign enterprises, especially those in the US, to protect their rights in China," Song says. He says many American companies have applied to Chinese IP authorities for protection of their patents and trademarks, which is why a large number of disputes concern them. Chen Jinchuan, vice-president of the Beijing IP Court, says the US invests heavily in innovation and applies for patent protection in China the most often. Song says with more Chinese companies expanding overseas, they should pay more attention to protecting their intellectual property, as few now apply for patent or trademark protection overseas. "As China is calling for the development of high-grade, precise and advanced technology, such innovations should be protected both at home and abroad," he adds. Mao Mingqiang, an IP judge at Ningbo Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang province, says the increase in foreign-related IP disputes is not necessarily a bad thing. "Some Chinese companies have learned a lot from such lawsuits or have later cooperated on business with their foreign litigants," Mao says. caolei@chinadaily.com.cn Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jake Coyle (Associated Press) New York, United States Fri, April 29, 2016 The first time Steven Spielberg offered a role to Mark Rylance, the actor said no. That was 30 years ago for "Empire of the Sun." Now, Rylance can't stop saying yes. Fresh off their Oscar-winning collaboration on "Bridge of Spies," Spielberg and Rylance have booked not just another film together, but a trio of them. Along with joining the cast of Spielberg's "Ready Player One," a science-fiction thriller due out next year, Rylance has signed up to star as Pope Pius IX in the Tony Kushner-scripted "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara." But first, Rylance stars in "The BFG" (out July 1), Spielberg's adaption of the Roald Dahl classic. Rylance plays the titular Big Friendly Giant in a motion capture performance that the actor promises will impress in its technological wizardry. "That's the big leap forward in this film," says Rylance, whose character befriends an orphan girl, played in live action by Ruby Barnhill. "The trickery of it will be hidden. But make no mistake, the trickery was incredible." Before "Bridge of Spies" and PBS's "Wolf Hall," Rylance was known primarily as arguably the greatest stage actor and Shakespeare interpreter of his generation. His commitment to theater remains (he recently finished a run of "Nice Fish," a play based on Louis Jenkins poetry, in Brooklyn) but his newest role is as Spielberg regular. "It comes from him because obviously I'm not in a place to offer him work," Rylance says, chuckling. "It makes me a little nervous that I'll fail him at some point! But at the moment it's quite enjoyable." Rylance says he relishes becoming a member of Spielberg's community, which includes other mainstays like composer John Williams, cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and the late Melissa Mathison, who penned the screenplay to "The BFG." Rylance believes Spielberg may be eager for a company of actors, too. "Because I was doing 'Nice Fish' and busy in New York, at first I contemplated not going to the Academy Awards because I'd have to miss some performances," he says. "But I thought, well, I'll ask Steven what he feels about it. He said it would mean a lot to him if I went. He's only ever had one other actor win an award in one of his films: Daniel Day-Lewis in the Lincoln film. I think he feels there is a slight opinion that he's not an actor's director. I don't have that opinion, quite the contrary. But I think he feels he's known more for other aspects of filmmaking." Essential to the making of "The BFG" was having the two stars together in the same room, despite their characters being separated by scale in the motion capture process. "There was no camera. There was no lighting apart from the general state. There were no marks to hit," Rylance says. "It was like doing a play in a small theater studio where the audience is all around you. Steven, who wasn't (electronically) suited up, could stand right next to us on the set, which he often did, laughing and looking at us." The 56-year-old Rylance is used to being part of some of the most celebrated plays in London's West End and on Broadway, but his newfound prominence in Hollywood is novel. He's soon to begin shooting Christopher Nolan's WWII film "Dunkirk." At his first Oscars, he went home a winner, all the while with a bemused but gracious attitude about the affair. "It was fascinating to go through for the first time," says Rylance. "I don't think it's any kind of true reckoning of the quality of anything, so it was a little sad to me that the African American community put such stock into it as a way of determining their worth. I don't think any artist should be determining their worth on those things." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ben Curtis (Associated Press) Nairobi, Kenya Fri, April 29, 2016 Kenyan authorities have built towering pyres of more than 100 tons of elephant tusks that will be burned on Saturday, in what wildlife officials believe will be the largest single destruction of ivory in history. In front of the tusks are illegal ornaments made from ivory, such as a Chinese warrior on horseback with his fist in the air. As local conservation groups and media visited the ivory-burning site in Nairobi National Park on Thursday, workers were putting the finishing touches to the stacks of ivory as rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service stood guard nearby. The ivory is now piled into some dozen giant pyres, ready to be lit when the Giants Club wildlife summit being held in Laikipia ends on Saturday. A ranger from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) stands guard near an ivory statue in front of one of around a dozen pyres of ivory, in Nairobi National Park, Kenya Thursday, April 28, 2016. (AP/Ben Curtis) Dignitaries led by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta who last year set fire to 15 tons of ivory are expected to light a fuel gel which will flow into the center of each pyre and ignite pieces of confiscated endangered African sandalwood. A mixture of diesel and kerosene will be pumped through pipes into each pyre, creating a sufficiently high temperature to incinerate the ivory, a process expected to last many days before everything is reduced to ashes. The 105 tons of ivory and over 1 ton of rhino horn were transported in shipping containers from across Kenya, representing the vast majority of the country's stockpile. Conservationists worry that there is a a real threat of elephants becoming extinct in the next 50 years because of poaching bankrolled by the illegal trade in ivory, fueled especially by demand in China. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ari Setiyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 29 2016 In the last decade, transnational organized crime (TOC) has posed a significant and growing threat to international security. The 9/11 tragedy illustrated that this threat did not come solely from state actors with military power. Every country is now preoccupied with handling non-military threats such as people-smuggling, terrorism, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, cybercrime, illegal fishing and so on. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin John-Thor Dahlburg (Associated Press) Brussels Fri, April 29, 2016 The world is fascinated by Donald Trump, just as blindsided as many Americans are about his rise and nearly at a loss to understand what he would do as president. Foreign-policy elites around the globe speak of Trump as a loose cannon, a "roller-coaster," ''unpredictable," ''dangerous" and, perhaps above all, a "mystery." But they can't avert their gaze from a Republican presidential race that turns on the billionaire's every word. "Donald Trump makes me laugh a lot," said Felipe Algorta Brit, a member of the lower house of Uruguay's parliament. "If he wins the presidency, everybody will cry." The handwringing is not universal. Some analysts saw hints in Trump's foreign policy speech this week that he would take a reasoned approach in office, his out-there instincts curbed by the realities of government. Others think that under Trump, relations with China and Arabs might improve. And Trump is no outlier in contending the United States is too entangled abroad. If there is a dominant thread in Trump's speeches, said Peter Trubowitz at the London School of Economics and Political Science, it's that "the US needs to scale back in its international commitments, and that those commitments have been too much of a one-way street, favoring America's allies." SHOOTING FROM THE HIP "Trump is a mystery," said Yoaz Hendel, a former spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Trump fires in all directions and makes lots of contradictory statements. This terminological roller coaster does not bode well for Israel." Russians are similarly wary, despite Trump's conviction that he and President Vladimir Putin could do some "great deals" together. Trump "is unpredictable and may change his position 180 degrees," cautioned Sergei Rogov, a specialist on the US at the Russian Academy of Science. "With Trump," said Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen, "it is really like drawing a ticket in the lottery." ___ MIDEAST, PRO AND CON "I honestly believe he will take the world to a deplorable state of affairs," said Iraqi lawmaker Muwaffak al-Rubaie. Emad el-Din Hussein, editor in chief of Shrouk, a leading Cairo newspaper, said Trump would be the "best gift" to the Islamic State because his presidency would strengthen violent anti-Western sentiment in the Middle East. Yet some in the Arab world, noting Trump's suggestion that he would be more neutral in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than his predecessors, said he might be better placed to broker a peace deal. Mustafa Alani of the Gulf Research Center in Geneva said many politicians and elites in the Middle East are unhappy with President Barack Obama and "are ready to take a risk on Trump." ___ EUROPE: ALREADY 'MISTRUST' Trump's opposition to sweeping free trade deals could doom a proposed trade agreement between the US and the European Union. And Trump has said the "obsolete" NATO alliance must pay greater attention to terrorism and questioned whether it makes sense for Washington to keep guaranteeing the security of allies he called "freeloaders." Bruno Lete of the German Marshall Fund, a Brussels-based think-tank, agrees Europeans should do more to defend themselves. But he said Trump's talk about NATO, backbone of US foreign and defense policy for almost 70 years, is damaging. "Mr. Trump's rhetoric has already created among the European partners a sense of mistrust and skepticism," Lete said. "I am afraid Mr. Trump's first job would have to be to build trust on this side on the pond, and that's bad news for the trans-Atlantic partnership." Germany's foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said it's unclear how Trump's "make America great again" slogan fits with his wish to pull back on foreign commitments. Trump's positions "aren't entirely free of contradictions," Steinmeier said diplomatically. His agenda "doesn't seem to be entirely spelled out yet." Nicolas Bouchet, who researches Europe at the German Marshall Fund, was blunt: "A President Trump would ignite anti-Americanism across Europe." ___ MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA Former Mexican leaders have voiced rage at his proposals to build a border wall at Mexico's expense, rectify what he's called a rip off of U.S. jobs and crack down on immigrants he's branded criminals and rapists. Peter Schechter, who researches Latin America at the Atlantic Council, said a Trump presidency could dampen trade with all of Latin America. He said Trump's statement that he might tax or restrict remittances Mexican immigrants send home has raised alarm in other countries that rely on payments by U.S.-based workers, such as Honduras and El Salvador. ___ IN THE END, REALPOLITIK? Trump promises to defend U.S. economic interests much more aggressively in particular by getting tough on China, which he accuses of unfair competition. But Chinese leaders expect him to moderate his positions if he assumes office, in part because of pressure from U.S. companies doing business in China, said Zhao Kejin, a specialist in international relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Zhao said ties might improve, as they historically have done during Republican administrations back to Richard Nixon. "Chairman Mao (Zedong) once said he preferred to deal with the Republicans rather than the Democrats," Zhao said. Josef Braml of the German Council on Foreign Relations said Trump's foreign policy speech suggested he was seeking stability, interested in "making 'deals' with autocrats and engaging in realpolitik." jNew Zealand Prime Minister John Key said "I take all of the slogans that are made on the campaign trail with a grain of salt." But Mats Karlsson, director of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, contends harm has already been done. Trump's vow to walk away from the table if he's not getting his way would make agreements on conflicts, trade or the climate more difficult, he said, and "will make anyone on the other side of the table look for long-term solutions that are less dependent on the U.S." "Trump is weakening the U.S. position even as he campaigns," he said. "Even as we wait for the outcome of the election, the prospects for a rules-based world order are eroding." ___ With contributions around the world from Associated Press writers Rhonda Shafner, Nick Perry, Jan Olsen, Eduard Castillo, Adam Schreck, Leonardo Haberkorn, Khetam Malkawi, James Heintz, Frank Jordans, Aron Heller, and Yu Bing. (**) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Josh Lederman (Associated Press) Vatican City Fri, April 29, 2016 Saying cancer is a scourge with no boundaries, Vice President Joe Biden came to the Vatican on Friday to call for a global commitment to fund cancer research that benefits everyone, not just the "privileged and powerful." Biden, who lost a son to cancer last year, used his appearance at a Vatican conference on regenerative medicine to urge philanthropists, corporations and governments to increase funding and information-sharing in a bid to "end cancer as we know it." He said the world is on the cusp of unprecedented breakthroughs but said the world still has not done enough. "Cancer is a constant emergency," the vice president said. "Cancer's not a national problem, it's an international problem. It's a human problem. It affects all races, all religions." Pope Francis spoke directly after Biden a particular treat for the Catholic vice president, Biden's aides said. With light streaming through stained glass into an ornate auditorium in Vatican City, the pope called for ensuring all have access to cancer care, stressing the need to combat a system that prioritizes profits over human life. "Research, whether in academia and industry, requires unwavering attention to moral issues if it is to be an instrument which safeguards human life and the dignity of the person," the pope said. Before taking the stage, the pope greeted Biden privately in a room backstage, where the two exchanged small tokens, the White House said. The two were also seen smiling and chatting together as they greeted conference attendees after their speeches, joined by the vice president's surviving son, Hunter Biden, and son-in-law Howard Krein, a physician who's been involved in Biden's cancer push. The pope's focus on helping the less fortunate and the health of the planet have been welcomed by Biden and President Barack Obama, who have made common cause with the pontiff on climate change, rapprochement with Cuba and the refugee crisis. Last year, Biden's eldest son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, died from brain cancer after his family's hopes of a last-minute medical breakthrough fell short. Months later, his father declared a "moonshot" to cure cancer when he announced he wouldn't run for president. Since then, Joe Biden has launched a task force with Obama's blessing and the White House asked Congress for US$1 billion over two budget years for research. Only a fraction has so far been approved. While at the Vatican, Biden met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, at the gold-adorned Treaty Room of the Apostolic Palace. Then he left Vatican City for Palazzo Chigi, the Italian premier office in Rome, where a military band and honor guard greeted Biden and Premier Matteo Renzi by playing the American and Italian national anthems. The two held a private meeting before Biden was to return to Washington. The vice president traveled here from Iraq, where he paid a surprise visit Thursday to meet with Iraqi leaders about their political crisis and the campaign against the Islamic State group. ___ Associated Press writer Frances D'Emilio contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin thejakartapost.com (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 29, 2016 The government is spending too much on logistics in prisons due to its repressive judicial system, experts say. Instead of providing rehabilitation services, the government tends to imprison drug suspects, causing prison overcrowding, they said, citing an example. Indonesia has 183,000 prisoners detained in 477 penitentiaries, which are actually designed to accommodate 118,000 inmates, according to data. Center for Detention Studies director Ali Aranoval said the cost of one prisoner meal was around Rp 11,000 (83 US cents) in penitentiaries and Rp 40,000 in the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) detention center. This meant the government had to spend at least Rp 2 billion a year on food for prisoners, he added. It would be better if the government could allocate such a high prisoner cost of living to other sectors, such as education, Ali said in Jakarta on Thursday. According to the Law and Human Rights Ministry, drug-related prisoners account for around 35 percent of the 183,000 inmates in the country. Institute of Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) legal expert Erasmus Napitupulu said such a situation occurred because drug-related suspects tended to be imprisoned rather than put in rehabilitation centers. Ali shared similar concerns. He said there were options other than imprisonment, including house arrest. Detention centers should be the last resort of our penal system, he said. According to an ICJR study, the number of detainees and prisoners doubled from 71,500 to 144,000 from 2004 to 2011, while prison capacity increased by less than 2 percent. It means there will always be prison overcapacity problems every year, Erasmus said. He added that in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, the overcapacity level in prisons stood at 662 percent, while in Bagansiapiapi, Riau, it could reach 1,000 percent. In several cases, overcapacity has led to riots in prisons. Reports revealed several riots occurred in prisons around Indonesia, including the latest case at Banceuy penitentiary in Bandung on April 23. Previously, riots have broken out at Kerobokan prison in Bali on April 21, Tewaan Bitung detention center in North Sulawesi on April 6, Malabero prison in Bengkulu on March 25, Rajabasa prison in Lampung on March 18 and Muara Bulian prison in Jambi on March 17. (vps/ebf) Saving a home for history Updated: 2016-04-29 08:27 By Deng Zhangyu(China Daily Europe) Children play in an old ancestral temple in Jinxi county, Jiangxi province. Jie Gang / For China Daily With the country's modernization, ancient villages are disappearing at a fast pace as old houses are replaced by new buildings. But a county in East China is seeking to reverse the trend When twilight falls, Hu Qinghua's routine starts. After he finishes work in his rice fields he visits a family in Youdian village. He speaks to them about the history of their house and narrates stories about their common ancestors. His hope is to persuade them to repair their house, built hundreds of years ago. Hu, 63, can trace his ancestry back more than 20 generations in an ancient village in East China's Jiangxi province. All the buildings of Hu's village in Jinxi county date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). However, most of the houses are empty. And some are even on the verge of collapse. "Young people move to cities, leaving their parents behind in the village. It's almost empty now," says Hu. Hu's village is one of more than 100 ancient villages in Jinxi. All these villages have traditional houses, some built also in styles of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). There are about 11,000 houses built during one of the two dynasties in the county, according to the local government. "It's like a huge museum of ancient architecture. It's rare to see ancient houses that are mostly in their original forms in such large numbers in China," says Guo Daiheng, an expert on Chinese traditional architecture. With China's modernization, ancient villages are disappearing at a fast pace as residents replace old houses with modern buildings. An average of 100 villages are vanishing each day in China, scholar Feng Jicai remarked during last year in Beijing. But not all old houses are demolished. Some are transformed into tourist attractions, and the local residents are replaced by businesspeople. Guo says houses in Jinxi have retained their old forms because locals have great respect for their ancestors. "People don't demolish old houses. They may leave for the cities or build new houses near their village," says Guo, whose team has been in the area for two months now with the sole aim of studying the houses and protecting them. She has helped with a conference called Digital Heritage Around China to raise awareness and money for the preservation of ancient villages. In Youdian village, there are 72 traditional stone buildings with walls that are several meters high. The village's most famous ancestor was Hu Guifang, a senior official in the Ming Dynasty, who was in charge of construction, transportation and agriculture. He returned to the village after he retired. The village mainly houses descendants of the official. They have lived in the buildings built by their ancestors for generations. Other villages in Jinxi share many similarities with Youdian. They have ancestral temples, schools and houses with similar layouts that include ponds, and long and narrow stone alleys. Well-known ancestors of today's villagers were influential scholars, writers, poets and powerful officials in Imperial China. All these villages have been influenced by Confucianism and Taoism, says Guo. That's why they are built in harmony with the surrounding rivers and mountains. Now, all these villages face a common problem - people are leaving and the houses are decaying. Meanwhile, Hu Qinghua's daily visits and persuasion have continued for more than a year. For the few residents of the village, they recognize that their houses must be preserved as a kind of cultural heritage after the local government offered them money to help with repairs. "I told them (the villagers) that if they don't repair their houses, it's a kind of disrespect to their ancestors," says Hu. Most villagers take his words seriously, but they can't afford the cost of repairs. To repair an ancient house takes a lot of money. Just to stabilize it and fix its wooden windows can cost about 30,000 yuan ($4,600; 4,100 euros). But the average annual income of villagers who work in the rice fields is about 10,000 yuan, says Hu. Huang Qinhua, a local official in Jinxi, says: "A resident often pays 2,000 to 6,000 yuan for the repairs, and the government covers the rest." Huang says the local government also wants to bring in private funds to protect the ancient villages. For instance, Guo's team and the organizer of Digital Heritage Around China have promised to help fix decaying houses. But Guo says repairing the houses is relatively easy compared with convincing young villagers to return home from the cities. These villages that rely mainly on agriculture can't provide adequate job opportunities like big cities do. However, Guo says she sees hope when she meets young people making plans for their hometowns. A young man who Guo met this year told her that he realized the value of the houses in his village when he saw how ancient properties are protected in other countries. So he has decided to return home and to start work on repairing his own house. "In China, the link between people and their villages is very powerful, so there's hope that the next generation will respond," she says. dengzhangyu@chinadaily.com.cn An old house with stone-carved patterns. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Statesman) New Delhi Fri, April 29, 2016 Seeking to ensure peace in the Indian Ocean region, navies of India and Indonesian on Thursday began a nearly month-long joint patrol exercise in Andaman Sea. The two navies have been participating in coordinated patrol twice a year, since 2002, to keep this vital part of the Indian Ocean region safe and secure for commercial shipping and international trade. The 27th series of India Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (Corpat) is being conducted from Friday till May 19, an official Defense Ministry statement said. "Apart from securing the trade sea route, the coordinated patrol also serves to enhance mutual understanding and inter-operability between the two navies. "The Corpat thus reflects the shared concern between the two countries for a peaceful Indian Ocean for the benefit of international community," it said. Opening of the Corpat is being held at Port Blair from April 28-30. Closing ceremony will be held at Belawan, Indonesia from May 16-19 it said. The Indonesian Navy is being represented by the ship KRI Imam Bonjol and Maritime Patrol Aircraft CN 235 while INS Karmuk and one naval Dornier aircraft are representing the Indian Navy, it said. A high-level Indonesian delegation for the 27th Corpat arrived at Port Blair Friday. Later in the day, senior officers of the delegation led by First Admiral Muhammad Ali, called on Vice Admiral Bimal Verma at his office, wherein the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and cooperation, it said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 29 2016 Innovation will serve as an important cornerstone for stronger Dutch-Indonesian relations, the Dutch ambassador said as the Netherlands Embassy in Indonesia celebrated its third Kings Day in Jakarta. Optimism levels are high following President Joko Jokowi Widodos fruitful visit to the country, which saw a number of lucrative business agreements signed between the two countries. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Christian Guntur Lebang and Muhamad Arif (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 29 2016 In the wake of a series of armed piracy incidents and kidnappings by gunmen believed to have ties to the southern Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are contemplating conducting joint maritime patrols in the increasingly piracy-prone waters of northeast Kalimantan. At the time of writing, 14 Indonesian and four Malaysian seamen remain held hostage. Joint patrols by littoral states are indeed a prospective and necessary solution to combat piracy and other transnational maritime security challenges in the sea off Kalimantan. Southeast Asian countries have shown the merits of joint patrols in tackling piracy. The Malacca Strait Sea Patrols (MSSP) conducted jointly by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore since 2004 have significantly reduced the number of piracy attacks in the busy sea lane. And despite a lack of effectiveness of the aerial surveillance component of the operation, known as Eye in the Sky, the MSSP remains one of the most successful multilateral joint maritime operations ever conducted. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 29, 2016 A year since the last round of executions by the government inspired international outrage, talks are growing regarding the next batch of condemned drug criminals set to face the firing squad. "Implementation of the law in Indonesia, including the death penalty, does not violate any international laws. There are no restrictions on the death penalty," Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told reporters on Thursday when questioned about capital punishment. Indonesian law, he continued, must be respected by both national citizens and the international community, adding that the government on principle did not meddle in the application of the law in other nations, and as such did not expect other nations to interfere in the application of the law in Indonesia. The Foreign Ministry has not received any information on the date of the next executions or those to be executed, the spokesman confirmed. Earlier this month, Cilacap Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ulung Sampurna Jaya said the third batch of executions to be carried out under President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration would be conducted "in a matter of weeks". Two British people are thought to be among the group earmarked for death. Security measures around Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java, have been prepared in anticipation, Ulung said. The police chief said a number of locations were under tight guard by police Mobile Brigade personnel, especially maximum security prison Pasir Putih. The international community condemned Indonesia after eight men were executed on Nusakambangan last year. Those executed were Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, Nigerians Martin Anderson, Sylvester Nwolise, Okwudili Oyatanze and Raheem Salami and Indonesian Zainal Badarudin. The country's relations with Australia and Brazil, especially, turned sour after the government repeatedly rejected pleas to spare their citizens. According to the Attorney Generals Office (AGO), there were 64 drug convicts on death row as of 2015. To date, 14 drug convicts have been executed in separate rounds on January 18 and April 29 last year, with six and eight people in each batch, respectively. The AGO recently confirmed that the government would continue with further executions this year, but the exact time and location have not yet been confirmed. (dan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anggi M. Lubis (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 29 2016 Next weeks trilateral meeting between foreign ministers and military chiefs is expected to result in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) stressing the need to conduct joint patrols in the waters where Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf is causing terror. The meeting scheduled for May 5 is to address the abduction spree by the militant group in the Sulu and Sulawesi waters shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Currently there are 14 Indonesian and four Malaysian sailors being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf. The meeting is aimed at not only finding the best solution to ensure the hostages safety, but to also enhance security in the Sulu and Sulawesi waters, deemed important for the regional trade, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said. Arrmanatha said the meeting was initiated by Indonesia, after President Joko Jokowi Widodo instructed Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo to work closely with neighboring countries to enhance maritime security. What we are about to discuss in the meeting is how we can take concrete actions to ensuring safety in the waters and prevent unwanted problems like piracy, Arrmanatha told reporters at a press briefing held Thursday. Among the actions to be deliberated is for the three countries to carry out joint patrols in the area. The waters are a vital trade route and if security disruptions keep on occurring, it could be to the economic detriment of the three countries. The TNI has several times offered its support to its Philippine counterparts, however the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is reluctant to allow a foreign military to enter its territory. AFP cited the Philippines Constitution, which bars foreign militaries from operating in the country without a defense agreement. The hostage crisis has affected 23 Indonesian sailors, of which 14 are still being held captive, three were released, and five managed to escape abduction attempts while another is being treated after being wounded in a shoot-out. On March 26, hijackers attacked the Indonesian-flagged tugboat Brahma 12 and barge Anand 12 near the Malaysian border and kidnapped 10 Indonesian sailors. The vessels were en route to deliver coal to the Philippines. A Philippine rebel group led by Abu Sayyaf confirmed the attack, took responsibility for abducting the 10 sailors and demanded a 50 million peso (US$1.07 million) ransom. On April 1, four Malaysians aboard the MV Massive 6 tugboat were abducted as they were returning to Tawau, Sabah after delivering a cargo of timber to Manila. Three Indonesian crew members were, however, released. On April 15, tugboat TB Henry which was manned by 10 sailors was hijacked by Abu Sayyaf as it was sailing from Cebu in the Philippines to Tarakan in North Kalimantan. Five Indonesian sailors safely escaped the abduction and arrived in Tarakan last week, while one of the crew was wounded during a shoot-out between Malaysian authorities and the militants and is still undergoing intensive medical treatment at a hospital in Sabah, according to the The Straits Times. In the largely Christian Philippines, the Abu Sayyaf extremist group, known for bombings, kidnappings, extortion and beheading hostages, is considered one of the most hard-line militant groups in the Philippines Muslim south. More than two dozen foreigners including the Indonesian and Malaysian hostages are currently under their captivity. Last week, a Canadian national was beheaded after his 300-million-peso ransom due on April 25 had failed to be paid. Arrmanatha said the government continues to monitor the locations of all the hostages and has maintained frequent communications with its Philippine counterparts. _________________________________________ 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. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Lolita C.Baldor (Associated Press) Washington Fri, April 29, 2016 The US has moved surveillance drones into the skies over Libya to gather intelligence and get a better picture of what's going on in case additional military strikes against Islamic State militants are authorized. The top US military officer told a Senate committee on Thursday that the Pentagon has shifted assets to Libya, based on recommendations from the US commander for Africa. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the decision was made more than a month ago to increase resources for US Africa Command. US officials say the decision allows the Pentagon to shift unmanned aircraft to Libya. Dunford said he agrees with assessments that there are about 6,000 Islamic State militants in Libya. The rise of the Islamic State in Libya has triggered broad concerns, particularly in Europe. Earlier this month, Army Gen. David Rodriguez, head of US Africa Command, said that the number of Islamic State militants in Libya has doubled in the last year or so to as many as 6,000 fighters, with aspirations to conduct attacks against the US and other nations in the West. Rodriguez said that local Libya militias have had some success in trying to stop the Islamic State from growing in Benghazi and are battling the group in Sabratha. But he said that decisions to provide more military assistance to the Libyans await a working national government. Libya slid into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi and has been split between rival governments since 2014. Islamic State militants gained a foothold in Libya amid the power struggle and security vacuum. The US has conducted two airstrikes in Libya in recent months targeting Islamic State fighters and leaders, but Rodriguez said that those are limited to militants that pose an "imminent" threat to US interests. He said it's possible the US could do more as the government there takes shape. The increased surveillance would aid any effort to carry out more of those strikes. (**) Getting back to basics Updated: 2016-04-29 08:24 By Xu Xiaomin(China Daily Europe) In Chinese culture, intellectuals are supposed to dream of living like hermits in the countryside after they have attained a deep understanding of life and achieved success in their career or in academia. In the old days, many gave up living in the city and moved to villages to embrace nature. This tradition has existed for thousands of years. Now, Ji Xiaoxiang and Yang Mohan, both 33 and graduates of Tongji University's Urban Planning School in Shanghai, have made that journey to the village. The boutique hostel Da Le Zhi Ye, which is minimalist and comfortable, is located in Deqing county in Zhejiang province. After spending several years designing urban developments, they say they were left disenchanted, as many projects did not become a reality. Determined to find a new challenge, they traveled extensively in search of something that aligned with their skills. They eventually ended up in Biwu, a village in Deqing county in the eastern province of Zhejiang. "It was New Year's Day, 2013. It was snowing heavily the day we arrived in Biwu and the whole place was covered in soft, white snow," Ji recalls. "Yang and I were standing on the terrace of an old farmer's house, looking at the mountains, and it was there we decided this was the place." The men rented the old house and spent their savings transforming it into a boutique hostel, Da Le Zhi Ye, the name of which comes from an ancient book, The Classic of Mountains and Rivers. Ji had never lived in the countryside before but now prides himself on successfully integrating with the local community. The hostel features huge windows, which let in copious amounts of natural light, and a small cafe that serves a decent Americano. Minimalist but comfortable, it also has a terrace where guests can relax and admire the starry skies. There is a serenity that permeates the place that can't be found in a metropolis, and when night falls only the sounds of a nearby stream can be heard. "This is the way life should be," Ji says. Yang and Ji are among a small group of urban elites who have done the opposite of young people from the villages, who still think the only measure of success is to own an apartment and have a decent job in cities like Shanghai and Beijing. Ask any of the 274 million migrant workers in China about his or her reason for seeking work in the big cities and the most likely reason will be that farming, with its harsh conditions and meager income, is simply not worth it. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, residents in urban areas earned 1.73 times more than their rural counterparts last year, down from 2.3 times in 2009. The income gap is the predominant factor that influences millions of farmers, especially young people, to abandon their hoes and head to greener pastures in the cities, with many of them ending up on construction sites and assembly lines. In recent years, however, some people - mostly young and well-educated - have been going against the grain, heading from major cities to relatively remote regions, such as Deqing, to pursue their dreams. "I hope to go even further," Ji says. "My plan is to be more involved in the local community of this beautiful place." Remodeling old homes is merely the first step in his plan, he explains. He believes the slow village life can be made more colorful and energetic to attract a greater number of visitors from the city, which would in turn provide business for villagers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Tokyo Fri, April 29, 2016 You can waltz with Leo, pirouette to "Swan Lake" or join Beyonce on the disco floor. Well, your holograms can, at Tokyo's Madame Tussauds wax museum. The Tokyo location of the museums known for their life-sized celebrity figures in wax opened a dancing hologram attraction Thursday. Visitors can waltz and disco with Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Marilyn Monroe, or pirouette in a "Swan Lake" ballet with Olympics figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu. Mizuho Shinden had a dream-come-true experience with two of her favorite celebrities, Monroe and Lady Gaga. "It looks as though I'm really there, so that's a strange feeling. But I thought, wow, it's like a dream to be able to dance with such amazing people,'" Shinden said. Tomoaki Ishizuka, center, and Yurika Yonekura, left, scan their faces as a staff member, right, guides them through a newly opened Hologram Dance Theater at Madame Tussauds in Tokyo, Thursday, April 28, 2016.(AP/Eugene Hoshiko) It was more unsettling for Tomoaki Ishizuka, who found himself dressed in a ballet leotard alongside Hanyu. "I saw myself dancing with other ballerinas, so that was disgusting - but it was disgusting because it looked so real," said Ishizuka. Participants get a 3D face scan, which is transposed onto a hologram dancer for the 90-second presentation. The attraction is one of the ways the centuries-old museum is exploring of interacting with celebrities in a digital age. Museum General Manager Toshi Endo said the current roster of three dances and six celebrities will expand by midyear. Video shows the beating of a restaurant manager on East Broadway who had come to the aid of a waitress. Police arrested the man seen attacking the 50-year-old manager. [Channel 7] A driver was rear-ended by a taxi near Grand and Willett streets. A passenger inside the cab then got out and attacked the person who had been struck by the taxi. [DNA Info] Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito has decided to back a proposal for a plastic bag fee. Local Council member Maragret Chin is a prime sponsor. [Daily News] Happening This Weekend: On Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., the Manhattan DA is hosting a clean slate forgiveness event at Grand Street Settlement. Its an opportunity for people to clear up outstanding warrants for minor offenses. On Saturday at noon, City Council member Margaret Chin will take part in a community outreach event at the Lowline Lab. At the event, people will learn details about the Lowlines new community engagement committee. On Sunday, there we be a Community Chalking event to kick off Lower East Side History Month. Stir-fries capture spirit of the wok Updated: 2016-04-29 08:27 By Pauline D Loh(China Daily Europe) Stir-fries are best done in a specially shaped Chinese frying pan called a wok. Provided to China Daily Editor's note: To understand China, sit down to eat. Food is the indestructible bond that holds the whole social fabric together and it is also one of the last strong visages of community and culture. Stir-frying is a uniquely Chinese kitchen skill. It is a cooking style that combines science and economics, and generations of chefs have fine-tuned it to an elevated art. It does, however, command certain conditions. It must be executed over an open fire, whether it be on a gas stove or wood burning. Do not try to stir-fry on a hot plate. All you will get is a batch of sad, wilted vegetables. First, let's talk about the science. Stir-fries are best done in a specially shaped Chinese frying pan called a wok. It has a wide rim, generally with a handle on each side, and gently sloping sides. It is a multipurpose utensil that can utilize the heat of the open fire so efficiently that you can steam, boil, braise, stew, deep-fry and of course, stir-fry. The Chinese cook knows every inch of his wok. The bottom of the pan, where the heat is strongest, is best for searing and browning. The sloped sides are perfect for pushing aside fritters when deep-frying so that they can gently finish browning in the residual heat. Deep-frying in a wok is also efficient. The shape of the sides allows the hot oil to gather at the bottom so you can deep-fry without using too much oil. When adding cooking wine, the experienced chef will pour it down the inner surface so the heat of the wok will sear off the alcohol while retaining the flavors of the wine. Soy sauce and vinegar, too, acquire depth of flavor after being heated on the sides before they join the rest of the ingredients at the bottom of the pan. The best Chinese wok is hammered out of iron and carefully seasoned and cleaned. I know some chefs who only briefly rinse their pans clean with a straw brush without ever allowing a drop of detergent to come into contact with them. We have Teflon-coated frying pans these days, but nothing beats a well-seasoned iron wok in the kitchen. There are many ways to season the wok, and every housewife will tell you her method is the best. I have been told to cook a kilogram of chives in my wok, slowly, until the herbs are totally brown and crisp. Another expert tells me to render pork fat in the wok until it acquires a deep, dark sheen. Yet another says to use a new wok only for deep-frying until the iron is "totally moisturized". You can tell that these chefs are serious about maintaining their wok in top condition. Certainly, the Teflon-coated frying pans would never allow you to experience that special flavor we call wok hei - the spirit of the wok. It is that special tingle to the taste buds that combines the aroma of hot oil and the best flavors of the ingredients brought out by rapid cooking over high heat. It is the crunch of vegetables that are clearly cooked but still with plenty of tactile appeal. It is the tenderness in slices of meat with all their natural juices expertly sealed in. That is why I cringe when I see the inexperienced attempt stir-frying, especially since many Westerners think of it as a healthy option to their accustomed cooking methods. Here is an easy and quick guide to proper stir-frying. First, get a proper frying pan. The best place to get one is in Chinatown, where the shopkeepers may even stock woks that are already seasoned. These may gleam with grease, but do not use harsh soap or detergent on your pan. Nothing works better than high heat to kill any germs that dare to linger. My method of seasoning is to render fat in the wok, so on that same trip to Chinatown, remember to drop by the butcher's for some pork fat. Cut the fat into cubes and slowly cook in your new wok until you get a nice simmering pan of oil. Allow to cool, safely pour away the oil, and then wipe the wok clean with clean kitchen or paper towels. Now you can start stir-frying. First of all, a classic Chinese stir-fry is often 80 percent vegetables and about 20 percent finely sliced meat for flavoring. Whatever the combination, the stir-fry always starts with aromatics such as ginger, garlic, shallots or leeks. The oil is first added to the heated wok, and by the time you can see a slight haze rising, it is time to add the ginger slices, minced garlic or chopped onions. These aromatics infuse the hot oil, and as the fragrance rises, you can choose to discard or keep them. Next to go in are the slices of meat - fish, pork, beef or even lamb. Some chefs will quickly sear the meat until just cooked and remove it. This is especially advisable if you are cooking them with root vegetables that take a longer time in the pan such as lotus roots, bamboo shoots, carrots or radishes. If you are cooking greens, remember to add the hard stem ends first, and the softer leaves next. Always keep the fire on high. As soon as the vegetables are done, return the meat to the wok, season and dish up immediately. The average stir-fry should not take more than five minutes, and possibly less. Another secret to a good stir-fry is to have your mise en place ready. Have your oil and sauces by the stove, your meat cut and marinated, and all your vegetables prepared to toss into the wok. A stir-fry turns into a braising very easily. Because stir-frying is such quick cooking, make sure your vegetables are cut so that they can cook in more or less the same time. Meat is more like a flavoring, but it, too, must be prepared so it takes the shortest time to cook. Cut meat against the grain for tenderness and massage your sliced meat in a little cornstarch dampened with water or stock. This is a process we call "velveting", and it gives the meat a wonderfully smooth texture. It is worth every effort to master the art of the stir-fry. Where else and how else can you have healthy meals in minutes? paulined@chinadaily.com.cn Kale with beef stir-fry This is one of the easiest and most popular dishes both in China and abroad. Just pay attention to the prep work. 400 g Chinese kale (kailan) 150 g beef fillet, sliced against the grain 5 cm piece of ginger, minced, juice extracted 2-3 slices of ginger 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon water Salt and pepper to taste Wash and rinse vegetables. Peel stalks so only tender ends are left. Cut into 5 cm sections, and halve them if they are too thick. Cut leafy ends into 5 cm lengths. Marinate beef slices with cornstarch, ginger juice and oyster sauce. Add water to moisten and massage to mix well. Set aside. Heat wok, add cooking oil. When oil is hot, add ginger slices. They should sizzle immediately. Add beef slices and toss with spatula to separate. Meat should be removed as soon as it turns color. Keep heat high and add kale stems, toss till they just turn color and add leaves. Toss for about a minute, sprinkling in a little water to help the cooking. Return meat to wok and toss to mix vegetables and beef. Season with salt and pepper and plate immediately. Serve hot. Rainbow stir-fry An all-purpose meat and vegetable stir-fry that makes use of pantry basics. 1 can young sweet corn, sliced 1 can bamboo shoots, sliced 1 can water chestnuts, cut into half 1 carrot, peeled and sliced 100 g sugar snap or French beans, topped and tailed 2-3 cloves garlic, minced 1 small or half a large chicken breast, sliced against the grain 1 tablespoon cornstarch, salt and pepper, 1 egg white Salt and pepper to taste Prepare vegetables and have ready on plate. Marinate chicken slices in egg white, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Massage well and leave aside. Heat wok, add cooking oil and throw in minced garlic. As soon as garlic turns color, add chicken slices, toss to separate. Remove when chicken turns color. Set aside. Add sliced carrots and water chestnuts to wok. Add beans, followed by bamboo shoot slices and corn. Keep tossing vegetables until beans are cooked but still crisp. Return chicken to wok and toss to mix. Season to taste. If you like a bit of sauce, you can add a little water. The cornstarch on the chicken will thicken it into a gravy. Plate and serve. Note: You can mix and match, just keep an eye on colors and textures. The above ingredients were chosen because they all cook fairly quickly. Chicken can be replaced with tofu for a vegetarian option, but skip the marinade. Cameras placed in Yunnan reserve record endangered species of wild deer, civet and bear It's hard to see wild animals in China, especially mammals. Some species that were once widely distributed have rarely been spotted for years, including the large Indian civet, Asiatic golden cat and dhole, or Asiatic wild dog. Yet a team of conservationists say they are excited by the results of a recent wildlife survey in the far southwest of the country. Footage captured on motion-activated cameras set up last summer in northeast Mengla county, Yunnan province, has provided a large collection of fresh data on 23 rare species, including what is thought to be Williamson's mouse-deer and Asian black bear. "We set up 20 cameras in a forest covering about 500 square kilometers in the border area between China and Laos," says Feng Limin, a zoologist at Beijing Normal University and a founding member of the Chinese Felid Conservation Alliance. "They produced more than 10,000 photos." Before the survey, which was supported by the Lancang Watershed Conservation Fund, Feng says there were only one or two reliable recordings of the large Indian civet. They came from a survey by the alliance last year in Medog, in the Tibet autonomous region. "Until then, we weren't sure whether the animal could still be found in the country." The civet is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. Once widely distributed in South China, its population has declined sharply since the 1950s. The animal has disappeared from most habitats because of hunting, either for its meat or as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. Williamson's mouse-deer is the smallest species of deer found in China. According to Feng, the animal is usually seen in southern Mengla, in fragmented forests along the Nanla River at altitudes below 600 meters. However, those recorded in the recent survey roamed at altitudes close to 1,000 meters. "It's the first time the deer has been recorded at an elevation above 700 meters in China. It may mean an unknown population exists in Mengla," he says, adding that the finding warrants further research. In fact, scientists are not sure whether mouse-deer in China are Williamson's mouse-deer or an entirely different, or even new, species, he adds. "There have been few ecological studies on the animal. The discovery of the new population will certainly shed light on the species." Records for the Asiatic golden cat and dhole, both of which are endangered, were also scarce before the survey, Feng says. "Our findings show the rich biodiversity of the surveyed area. It will give the forestry department direct evidence for its preservation." He explains that the area was a state-owned forest farm until it was designated as a nature reserve last year. Before the survey, it was a mystery to scientists and conservationists. The discovery of so many rare animals, including a few carnivores, reveals the biodiversity in the Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, says Yang Hongpei, director of scientific research for the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, which carried out the survey with the alliance. The comparatively unspoiled ecosystem shows the area's high value for scientific research and conservation, he adds. This year, Feng, Yang and their colleagues will continue the survey. "We want to get a full picture of the biodiversity in this area and across Xishuangbanna," Yang says. Because of pressures from economic development, especially expansion of crops such as tea and rubber trees, tropical forests in Xishuangbanna have shrunk and become fragmented. Today, the national reserve has only about 3,000 sq km of primitive forests left. The surveyed forest is about 1,000 meters above sea level and ideal for tea planting. "Areas near the forest are known for producing good Pu'er tea. At present, the expanding tea plantations are a major threat to the forest," Feng says. Contact the writers through chenliang@chinadaily.com.cn Spain food fest gets full helping of Chinese Updated: 2016-04-29 08:27 By Li Jing(China Daily Europe) More than 100 Chinese food and agricultural companies take part in the Alimentaria Exhibition in Barcelona this year. Photos by Li Jing / China Daily Record numbers of exhibitors and buyers show up for Barcelona biennale Barcelona's biennale international food and drinks expo, Alimentaria, saw a record number of Chinese exhibitors this year, forming the second-largest foreign contingent behind Italy. The event, which was held from April 25 to April 28, is the sector's third-largest international trade show. This year, it featured more than 1,000 foreign companies, 25 percent of the total exhibitors. Among them, 123 were from China, a 5 percent increase on 2014. Most Chinese exhibitors were at international pavilions in a new section introduced this year to complement the show's traditional restaurant, wine, meat and dairy products sectors. Taian Optimum Foods Technology Co, a agrifood business from the eastern province of Shandong that exports frozen and fresh organic vegetables, was among the firms making their debut at the expo. Li Hu, its chairman, says the big draw was that the Spanish market is open to overseas companies and that there are no specific restrictions on food industry imports. According to data from the Spanish Food and Drink Industry Federation, Spain imported food and drink worth 18 billion euros ($20.2 billion) in 2014, with France the main supplier, accounting for 16.8 percent. China was the 10th-largest supplier. Li visited supermarkets and major food markets in Barcelona and says he found that the availability of Chinese agrifood products is small. "The market potential is big for Chinese companies. Their food products will be competitive for their low price and good quality," he says. He cites garlic as an example, saying the average price in Spain is 8 euros a kilogram, while in China it is the equivalent of 1.30 euros. "There will be margins, even after the import process and transportation." Zhang Guojing is a representative of Green Farmer Food Group, a company producing Chinese seasonings in Hebei province. He says Spain has a large demand for seasonings because of its culinary culture. "We have some customers here, and we expect the fair to help us enter other European regions," he says. "In Spain, the trade business is developed, and the country also has close business connections with other European nations. We're looking to tapping the market and expanding our business." Alejandro Alcon Esparte, a chef who owns four restaurants in Barcelona, says Chinese food products are becoming popular in his country as people seek diversity. "Customers from Northern Europe, in particular, are interested in exotic Asian food," he adds. Some exhibitors at the show also say they see Spain as a gateway to Latin America. Sun Lu, president of Medallion, a company that makes fruit cups and jelly, says: "It's the first time for us to exhibit at the fair. Our target market is Latin America, although there weren't many buyers from there, not as many as I expected and fewer than at fairs in the United States." In addition to the exhibitors, a record 62 Chinese buyers also traveled to this year's event. The group was invited as part of a Alimentaria program that invites 800 key buyers from 78 countries and was made up of importers and major operators involved in distribution and the hotel, restaurant and cafe sector. J. Antoni Valls, managing director of Alimentaria Exhibitions, says the fair began to invite Chinese buyers four years ago. He says China is a key market for the Spanish food and drinks industry when it comes to promoting and diversifying exports because of its "industry volume and double-digit growth over the past 10 years". "Meat, wine and olive oil are the main products China imports from Spain," he adds. The food and drink industry in Spain is highly internationalized. Last year, 16,575 of the total 132,277 Spanish exporters shipped agrifood between January and November, according to the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade. Some 55 percent of food companies with a foreign presence export on a regular basis and have exported for at least four consecutive years, the institute says. Spain's exports of food and drink products reached 37.5 billion euros between January and November, up 8.34 percent on the same period in 2014. The European Union is the main destination of its agrifood exports. However, sales saw the biggest increase in non-EU markets, including a 61 percent increase in China, the data show. Mauricio Garcia Quevedo, managing director of the Spanish Federation of Food and Drinks Industries, says the pace of exports of Spanish food and drink products allows them to forecast that in 2020 foreign sales will represent a large proportion of the total production output of the industry, taking Spain from Europe's sixth-largest export economy up to fourth in the next four years. lijing2009@chinadaily.com.cn Beijing's plan shows path to the future Updated: 2016-04-29 08:25 By Dennis Pamlin(China Daily Europe) Unhampered by old vested interests, the 13th Five-Year Plan is a good guide for how the world can support global sustainability Different parts of China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) have been discussed intensively in recent months. Now, after the National People's Congress has approved the plan, it is time to put the full final document in a global context. This five-year plan is probably one of the most important documents on the planet when it comes to long-term global security and sustainability. There are many aspects that deserve further elaboration, but three parts are of particular importance for governments, companies and NGOs around the world that want to support global sustainability. Before discussing the three key sustainability areas of the plan, a historic perspective is needed to fully understand its importance. From a Chinese perspective, this might be the most important five-year plan ever. For all previous plans, China could draw on inspiration from other countries. Now, China is moving so fast into uncharted territories that it is hard to use any country as inspiration to any significant degree. The transition from an old industrial economy to a new and sustainable service economy also requires the kind of systemic overview that the plan provides. From a global perspective, this is also a unique five-year plan. If implemented successfully, the 13th Five-Year Plan would position China as the global leader when it comes to the next economic revolution. On the research side, it is now on the same level as the European Union, Japan and the United States. But when it comes to actually ensuring implementation for the transition, the five-year plan is ahead and is a global reference document. This leadership when it comes to strategies for implementation is not because China has better experts, but rather because its planning processes are not held back by old vested interests in the same way as in Western countries. The result is a strategy in which, instead of setting the old economy against the new, China focuses on how the old industries can help and be helped in the transition to the connected and sustainable service economy. From a global perspective, three areas are especially important to support and ensure positive development in China that will be crucial for global sustainability. First, promote new business models that support sustainability. These new models will be based on concepts such as connectivity, sharing, circular economy, networked solutions, transformative transparency, and global sustainability. For new business models to be sustainable they must deliver solutions that are so resource efficient that 10 billion people or more can use the service without destroying the planet. Such solutions tend to require new clusters of companies, and these need support. Among the actions needed in China and abroad are a review of current incentive structures, new guidance for public procurement, smarter taxation, and a review of old laws that today support old unsustainable companies while holding back new sustainable clusters of companies. New business models often are much more resource efficient, using information and communication technology together with new materials and robotic solutions, so it is important that the benefits are shared within society. If sharing is not ensured, inequity on the national and international levels is likely to explode, given already unsustainable levels today. Second, open international innovation platforms for global public goods should be established. Support for the establishment of a permanent international coordinating body for global public goods is one important aspect. It could also include strategic support for smart city development in China that supports an accelerated uptake of a new generation of sustainable solutions around the world. Third, it is time to ensure that we can turn global catastrophic risks into drivers for innovation. There are already a number of challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and nuclear weapons where better collaboration is needed. But there are also emerging challenges in areas such as nanotechnology, synthetic biology and artificial intelligence. All these areas have many things in common and a coordinated approach is needed. The sooner it can begin the better. As acknowledged in the five-year plan, the transition from an old industrial economy based on traditional drivers to a new service economy based on new drivers will be difficult and sometimes painful. However, there is no realistic alternative. The old economy is destroying the planet and is not resource efficient enough to allow the approximately 10 billion people that will live on the planet by 2100 to live a good life. Action in the three areas above will not cost very much, but will be crucial to secure a strategic transition to a sustainable economic system globally and establish a new generation of international collaboration. The international support for global sustainability that the 13th Five-Year Plan can deliver must begin now. The author is an entrepreneur and founder of 21st Century Frontiers in Sweden. He works with companies, governments and NGOs as a strategic economic, technology and innovation adviser. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Last Hua Hin attacker apologises as Brits prepare to leave HUA HIN: A 20-year-old arrested yesterday (Apr 28) for his role in the brutal beating of an elderly British family in Hua Hin today (Apr 29) apologised for allegedly putting the pensioners in the hospital. crimepoliceviolencetourism By Bangkok Post Friday 29 April 2016, 03:44PM Deputy national police chief Wuthi Liptapallop, left, interrogates Chaiya Jaiboon at the Hua Hin police station in Prachuap Khiri Khan province today (Apr 29). Photo: Chaiwat Satyaem Senior national police officers went to Hua Hin police station in Phrachuap Khiri Khan, today to interrogate Chaiya Jaiboon before Lewis Owen, 68, and his wife Rosemary, 65, return to the United Kingdom on May 3. The suspect was the fourth and final man arrested for the violent Songkran festival attack on the couple and their 43-year-old son John outside a temple in the early hours of April 13. The altercation reportedly began after John bumped into one of the drunk assailants. Police said Chaiya, arrested at his house in nearby Pranburi district, admitted he and his friends had been intoxicated and thought one of the tourists had hit one of his friends. The suspect pressed his palm together in a traditional wai gesture and told officers repeatedly that he apologised to people of Hua Hin and Thailand and to the foreign family. He said he regretted what he had done. Three other suspects Suphatra Baithong, Yingyai Saengkham-in, both aged 32, and Siwa Noksri, 20 were arrested and also apologised earlier. Deputy national police chief Wuthi Liptapallop said at Hua Hin Police Station that the case was closed and the surveillance-camera footage was important evidence. He said that he has ordered police to prevent such incidents from recurring in all tourist destinations, especially Hua Hin, an important attraction. Gen Wuthi admitted that officer numbers were limited in tourist resorts and that he would propose more deployments. Hua Hin police continued to visit Mr Owen and wife Rosemary, who was resting in her her hotel, recovering from a serious head injury. The couple will leave Thailand on May 3. Their son, who left earlier as planned, told the Daily Mirror newspaper in the UK yesterday night that he and his parents will never return to the kingdom. We were all unconscious. My mum did not even realise she had been kicked in the face. I did not know my head had been stamped on, he told the paper, saying they had been knocked out and didnt realise the brutality of the attack until they saw the video days later. John Owen said his father suffered two black eyes and received six stitches to the forehead. He said he had 16 stitches on his head in three areas. His mother suffered fluid on the brain that needed to be drained. I'm not going back to Thailand again. Mum and dad wont be either. Never, ever again. Read original story here. Not too early for Sino-EU free trade talks Updated: 2016-04-29 08:25 By Fu Jing(China Daily Europe) FTA talks between Brussels and Beijing would take at least five years, so launching a feasibility study this year makes sense The Centre for European Policy Studies, the European Union's leading think tank, released a report recently outlining reasons why Beijing and Brussels should launch free trade agreement talks. The opinion of most experts is in line with that of the team led by Jacques Pelkmans, a senior research fellow at the CEPS. However, there have been voices saying that, although it would benefit both sides to reach a deep and comprehensive free trade deal, it is too early to take action right now. Their arguments range from giving China market economy status first to the need to deal with terrorism, the migrant crisis and economic challenges. In addition, they say Brussels is busy talking with Beijing about a bilateral investment agreement, and that it is more willing to conclude and ratify this agreement first before entering into free trade talks. Compared with Brussels' reaction, Beijing has been more proactive in pushing for such discussions. When President Xi Jinping paid his first visit to the European Union's headquarters in Brussels two years ago, he raised the idea that both sides should do a feasibility study on an FTA. China and the United Kingdom also agreed to push such talks at the Beijing-Brussels level during Xi's visit to the country last year. Pelkmans' team says in its report that Brussels has slowly gotten accustomed to China's urgency. The country stated in a recent foreign policy update that entering FTAs with its partners is at the top of its agenda. Is it really too early for Brussels to engage with Beijing and start free trade talks? The answer is no. Some may say the market economy of China is not sophisticated enough for Brussels to consider a strategy of combined talks similar to those between Brussels and Washington on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. But Brussels and Beijing are already talking about an investment pact, which aims to achieve "deep and comprehensive" goals. In some ways, the ongoing talks basically show Brussels' recognition of the openness and sophistication of China's economy, which has been developing for decades. So it is not reasonable for Brussels to postpone the FTA because of China's lack of market economy status. What's more, China has already entered into FTAs with a number of non-EU countries in Europe, including Switzerland and Iceland. They treat China as a market economy, and the agreements have already boosted trade flows by big margins. Some may say that it would be encouraging and promising for both sides to start such talks, but that Brussels is preoccupied with other pressing tasks. However, the leadership, especially top European leaders, should keep the big picture in mind even when dealing with the different crises the EU faces. With thousands of bureaucrats in Brussels, there is no problem forming a task force to officially launch feasibility studies with the aim of initiating talks with Beijing. China is undergoing decisive reforms, so launching free trade talks could also speed up domestic reforms. From feasibility studies to ratification, being optimistic, Brussels and Beijing will need at least five years to remove barriers and establish an FTA. The most important thing now is for the leaders of both sides to take the first step and agree to launch a feasibility study at their annual summit this year. Then, negotiators from Beijing and Brussels can engage in the give-and-take process to unlock the great potential that is locked behind trade barriers. The author is deputy editor of China Daily European Weekly. Contact the writer at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn NLA updates computer crime punishments BANGKOK: The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) unanimously passed cabinet proposed amendments to the 2007 Computer Crime Act in their first reading yesterday (Apr 28). technologycrimepolice By Bangkok Post Friday 29 April 2016, 08:57AM The National Legislative Assembly is rushing through amendments that would increase the penalties under the Computer Crime Act to deal with the political crisis. Photo: Bangkok Post The amendments would see the penalties for violating the law increased. The NLA voted by an overwhelming 160 to zero to forward the draft amendments on to their second reading. One main reason cited by the cabinet to support the proposed changes was the need to update the law in order to keep up with changing forms of offences which have become ever more complicated due to evolving and advanced technologies. The proposed amendments mainly involve Section 19 of the law which deals with penalties for offenders. (See chart of current charges and penalties.) Under the proposed changes, sending spam or messages in a way that annoys recipients by not giving them the chance to unsubscribe or reject such information could result in a fine of up to B200,000. Offenders who upload, disseminate or forward false information over a computer network may face up to five years in jail or a maximum fine of B100,000. These penalties will apply if offenders are found guilty of handling the false information in a way that can cause damage to the countrys internal, public and economic security, in a manner deemed as scaremongering, or through an act of distributing pornographic materials. Offenders found guilty of editing photos of others in a manner that can damage their reputations or instigate hatred or embarrassment, face up to three years in jail and a maximum fine of B200,000. The draft amendments also deal with tougher punishments for providers of computer services who are found guilty of colluding with an offender of the law or providing assistance in committing electronic crimes, or being aware of any such criminal act. Cases involving offences that are subject exclusively to fines will not need to be brought to court. Instead, a three-member committee will be established under an order of the relevant cabinet minister to determine the fine amount. Some NLA members raised questions over the clarity of the definition of the act of annoying others as stated in the draft amendments, saying people have different annoyance tolerance levels. Other NLA members also expressed doubts over whether the offence of annoying others in this case deserves a fine as high as B200,000. Read original story here. SOEs must be careful with EU filings Updated: 2016-04-29 08:25 By Simon Holmes and Michael Reiss(China Daily Europe) Commission views Chinese state-owned enterprises as insufficiently autonomous of the state, leading to regulation complexities Chinese state-owned enterprises will be seeing a lot more of the European Commission in the future. After a run of decisions by the EU regulator, such businesses are much more likely to have to file deals in the EU than Chinese private-sector businesses, or indeed SOEs from other countries. If they do not, significant fines may be imposed on them. This is more than a minor nuisance. Filing deals can be time-consuming and expensive, with large information requests from the regulator. What is more, such deals cannot be implemented until they are cleared by the commission. The commission has fined companies up to 10 percent of their global turnover for failing to notify or complete preclearance - even where there were ultimately no competition concerns. The largest fine was about 150 million yuan ($23.1 million; 20.5 million euros). Why is this happening? The reason is highly technical, but the consequences are anything but. The technical reason is this: The commission only reviews deals if the parties generate enough turnover in the EU. When it comes to a Chinese SOE, the commission takes the view that it is insufficiently autonomous of the Chinese state. It therefore counts not only the turnover of the Chinese SOE doing the deal, but also the turnover of all other Chinese SOEs (or at least those controlled by China's State Assets Supervision and Administrative Commission). So deals involving Chinese SOEs with little or no EU turnover may be caught. It doesn't stop there. When a deal is caught by the EU, the commission then has to decide if it raises any competition concerns. For example, does the deal involve a significant overlap between the parties in an already concentrated market? The commission would normally look at the activities of the parties directly involved in the deal. But when it comes to Chinese SOEs, the commission has been looking at the activities of all other Chinese SOEs in the relevant market, not just the ones doing the deal. This means the commission is more likely to identify a competition concern. It also means that much more data needs to be gathered and provided to the commission - not just about the SOE doing the deal, but also about all Chinese SOEs in the sector. Take the recently cleared joint venture between China General Nuclear Power Corporation and French energy company EDF. The commission only looked at the deal, which involves the construction and operation of three nuclear power plants in the United Kingdom, because CGN is a Chinese SOE. If it had been a private company, the deal would not have fallen within the EU jurisdiction, as the company's sales in Europe are far below the threshold. It is only because the commission aggregated CGN's sales with those of other SOEs that these thresholds were met. Second, once the deal fell within the EU jurisdiction, the commission's competition assessment looked not only at CGN's activities in the nuclear and other energy markets, but at those of all Chinese SOEs - in Europe and around the world. The CGN transaction was ultimately cleared, but this took months of detailed information-gathering and submissions to the commission. And this was a deal that, according to the commission, ultimately did not raise any competition concerns. Other deals have involved Chinese SOEs with enough EU turnover of their own to trigger an EU filing without the need to aggregate their turnover with other Chinese SOEs. But they have still had to contend with a competitive assessment that has taken into account the activities of other Chinese SOEs. This was the case for the acquisition of Pirelli by China National Tyre and Rubber Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of China National Chemical Corp. It was also the case in relation to the joint venture between DSM and Sinochem in the chemicals sector. Up to this point, the commission has tended to widen its net to encompass the turnover and activities of SASAC-controlled SOEs. Indeed, most of the deals it has reviewed have involved SOEs operating in key markets that tend to be the preserve of SASAC SOEs. However, this could change. The commission's decisions indicate that it could also look at local government SOEs. Given that there are thousands of such businesses in China, the information-gathering involved may be harder than counting the bricks in the Great Wall. Chinese SOEs would be wrong to consider these consequences as being limited to deals involving activity in the EU. A joint venture between two non-EU businesses may trigger EU jurisdiction, even if the joint venture will not be at all active in the EU, providing the two parent groups have sufficient EU turnover from their other unrelated activities. This means that, for example, a joint venture between a Chinese SOE and a Japanese conglomerate that will only produce and sell goods in China could be caught, provided the Japanese conglomerate has enough EU turnover. Even if the Chinese SOE does not have enough turnover in the EU, the turnover of its sister Chinese SOEs may push the deal over the jurisdictional line. In short, the following scenarios could unexpectedly trigger an EU merger filing: * A Chinese SOE that has little or no presence in the EU when acquiring a business in the EU; * A Chinese SOE entering into a joint venture in the EU with a non-European partner; * A Chinese SOE entering into a joint venture even where that joint venture will not be active at all in the EU; * A Chinese SOE and another party (even a non-European one) jointly acquiring a target that has little or no presence in the EU. As noted, transactions requiring an EU filing must be cleared by the European Commission before they can be implemented or significant fines can be imposed. Not only can they be imposed, but they almost certainly will be imposed if the commission learns of them. This may be as a result of the deal being reported in the media through notification of another competition authority (for example, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce), or because the parties notify the commission of another deal that refers directly or indirectly to the earlier deal that wasn't the sbuject of a notification. The other implication is that Chinese SOEs notifying about transactions will need to provide information not only about their own activities, but also about other Chinese SOEs in the same or related markets. Notified cases involving Chinese SOEs are therefore likely to require longer prenotification discussions with the commission (or, if this is not done, the risk of such cases being referred to a detailed phase 2 investigation will increase). Chinese SOEs will therefore need to consider their future transactions carefully with their advisers before stepping ahead. Otherwise, the European Commission maybe an unexpected gatecrasher to the party. Simon Holmes is a partner at law firm King & Wood Mallesons and Michael Reiss is a managing associate. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Woman names baby after airline after giving birth on flight Updated: 2016-04-28 10:01 (Xinhua) CANBERRA - A woman who unexpectedly gave birth on a Jetstar flight has named her son after the airline, in a bizarre tribute to the flight attendants who helped deliver the child. Jetstar, a subsidiary of Australia's national airline Qantas, allows pregnant women to fly up until the end of their 40th week of the pregnancy for flights shorter than four hours, but passengers were surprised when a woman went into labor midway through the flight. On Thursday, Australia's Fairfax Media reported the woman gave birth during the flight from Singapore to Myanmar with the help of the crew and three doctors on board the flight, and as way of thanks, named her child Saw Jet Star. The airline took to social media to announce the news overnight, and praised the crew for their quick thinking, which helped "ensure the safe delivery of our youngest ever passenger on a flight". "The happy arrival of baby Jet Star was met with a round of applause from other passengers on the plane, so we're sure it's not a moment they'll ever forget either," the statement said. "The baby boy weighed six pounds, seven ounces and is the first baby to be delivered on a Jetstar Asia flight." The airline said it would also be "contributing 750 US dollars' worth of baby supplies to the family". Three candidates seek two spots in District 5 House race Three candidates are running for two seats representing District 5 in the state House: Kahden Mooney, Byron I. Callies and incumbent Hugh Bartels. UN urges DPRK to stop any 'further provocative action' Updated: 2016-04-29 09:44 (Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations on Thursday said that the latest launch of ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is "extremely troubling," and urged Pyongyang to stop any "further provocative action." "We would just repeat that these type of actions by the DPRK are extremely troubling and we would yet again encourage the DPRK to cease any further provocative actions and return to full compliance of its international obligations," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. The DPRK on Thursday fired what was believed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile, but it appeared to have failed, South Korea's defense ministry said. A South Korean Defense Ministry official told Xinhua on the phone that the DPRK launched a projectile, estimated to have been a Musudan missile, at about 6:40 am local time from the Wonsan area in northeastern DPRK. The official said the launch appeared to have failed as the projectile was believed to have crashed several seconds after liftoff. If confirmed, it would mark the DPRK's second test-firing of a Musudan missile after the launch on April 15. South Korea's military saw the April 15 launch as failure as the missile exploded in mid-air several seconds after liftoff. Also on Thursday, the UN Security Council met behind closed doors on the DPRK's latest missile launch at the request of the United States, diplomats and UN officials said here. Afghan diplomat looks to China for greater regional security Updated: 2016-04-29 14:09 By Wang Qingyun(chinadaily.com.cn) Afghanistan wants to benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative and to provide connectivity between South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, said an Afghan diplomat on Thursday. "We want to make sure that we are part of this (initiative)," said Hekmat Khalil Karzai, deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan, who was in Beijing attending the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures. "We want to make sure the infrastructure, the logistics and everything else is looked after and dealt with so (the countries in) the region can further connect to one another," he said. He emphasized that regional security is an issue that needs to be addressed for the initiative to be successful, and said his government looks to China to offer more support in improving the security of his country. "Various different militant groups", including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a terrorist group targeting China, he said, are operating in Afghanistan. "An investment in Afghanistan now is an investment in the security of China," Karzai said. China and Afghanistan have started to strengthen exchanges and cooperation to cope with the threat of terrorism. On Feb 29, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met in Kabul with Fang Fenghui, member of China's Central Military Commission and chief of the Joint Staff Department under the CMC. Ghani was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying that the ETIM is an enemy of both Afghanistan and China, and that he hoped to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism. On April 20 in Beijing, Fang met with Mohammad Hanif Atmar, national security advisor to the Afghan president, saying that China hopes to strengthen cooperation between the two countries' militaries in fields including counter-terrorism intelligence and joint drills. Eva Lilienfeld, News Editor lilienfe17@grinnell.edu Following a semester of extensive review of Grinnells relationship with the Posse Foundation, President Raynard Kington announced that Grinnell will no longer accept new Posse cohorts as of April 13. After Grinnells decision to sever ties with the Posse foundation, students and alumni responded quickly, with 400 alumni signing onto a letter to Kington calling for more information about new programs that would replace Posse. The group received a response from Kingtons office on April 15 and is currently soliciting signatures online for a second response letter. Ostensibly, this plan has been under development for quite some time. Why, then, must the College consult with stakeholders and gather feedback from students now? Shouldnt the input have been incorporated early in the process so that it could have a meaningful impact? the second letter reads. Since then, Kington has released a draft framework to provide additional support to the student body in a Special Campus Memo sent on Wednesday, April 28. The draft framework detailed a plan to expand PCPOP, develop a common reading list and support diversity and leadership on campus in other ways. We know that our students do not experience life at Grinnell equally, and that students do not encounter the social and cultural environment of the campus in equal terms, read the memo. In the same email, Kington also called on the College community for input on the proposed plan. Many students, however, are still disappointed with Grinnells decision not to accept any more Posse scholars. Throughout the week, students have taken to Facebook event planning and postering through the loggias to encourage students to attend the Posse Solidarity Rally, which will take place today at 5 p.m. outside JRC 101. Keli Vitaioli vitaioli@grinnell.edu Students were notified through a campus memo that members of the Grinnell Police Department and the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force had been on campus on Tuesday morning, April 19, executing search warrants in the dorm rooms of two students and the off campus apartment of another, leading to the arrest of three students. The two arrests on campus were under the charges of intent to deliver marijuana, failure to affix a drug stamp and possession of drug paraphernalia the first two charges being Class D felonies and the latter a misdemeanor. The police presence and action on campus came as a surprise to students, but administrators did not have much notice either. We were informed shortly before they came onto campus, said Dean of Students Sarah Moschenross. We were contacted by the Grinnell Chief of Police that let us know they would be coming onto campus with search warrants. We didnt know for who or [what dorm] at the time. It is common practice for the Grinnell Police to notify College Campus Safety and Security when they are coming on campus, and these arrests were no different. The College was alerted of the situation just as they would have been for any other police response on campus, and administration had no choice but to comply with the search warrant. The students were escorted to the Jasper County Jail, where upon they were released on bail and are awaiting trial. While the College has no hand in the outcome of these ongoing criminal investigations, they adjudicate accusations of behavior against their code of conduct, such as illegal drug use and distribution, on a case-by-case basis. The system involves either review by judicial council, which consists of five students and a student affairs advisor, or a private administrative hearing. The conduct system gives students a fair process under the conduct system to take responsibility or not take responsibility for the accusations against them. They will have a chance to explain the evidence that was witnessed by our staff and they can have a support person with them as they undergo that process, Moschenross said. While the student and advisor committee hear cases of student misconduct on campus, students are not present for cases where the accused student faces suspension or expulsion. Fellow students dont hear those cases, instead it is referred to a college hearing board that is comprised of a student, a faculty and staff member, or a private administrative hearing with me which students can always request depending on the privacy needs of the student, Moschenross said. Our conduct process is meant to be educational and not punitive in nature. Moschenross is new to the department, having started in July of 2015, but believes the recent influx in on-campus arrests is not due to an increase in illegal activity but to an increase in the Colleges ability to handle these cases. Its my impression that more cases have been adjudicated through the conduct system recently, but that doesnt mean the same behaviors werent happening last year, Moschenross said. We have more staff and structures in place which helps the conduct system function better than it has previously. Whether or not misconduct places students at risk of suspension or expulsion is determined by the seriousness of the misconduct. At the time of the interview Moschenross was unable to comment on whether or not the students who are facing charges are at risk of suspension or expulsion, however, she states that they are still currently enrolled at the College. The Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force that executed the warrants is a multi-agency group, which includes one officer from the Grinnell Police Department as well as members from departments in the surrounding areas such as Newton, Pella, Marion and Jasper County. While there were Grinnell College security officers present during the arrest, the task force is responsible for the investigation as it continues. It seems like today there are more arrests specifically when it comes to marijuana usage, said Grinnell Police Captain Theresa Peterson. Kids in high school and kids in college dont think its as big of a deal as it was 20 or 30 years ago. With the legalization of [marijuana] in different states and medicinal use we see that stigma just doesnt exist anymore. Emma Roszkowski roszkows@grinnell.edu It is common practice for Chicago artists such as Chance The Rapper, Donnie Trumpet and Saba to feature other local musicians on their tracks. However, one collaborator spoken word poet turned rapper Noname has especially captivated listeners, appearing just long enough to drop a tantalizing verse and disappear. Nonames produced work is sparse, but Grinnellians will have the opportunity to hear her perform in Gardner Lounge tonight, Friday, April 29, at 9 p.m. Opening the show will be fellow Chicagoan and activist Ric Wilson. The concert will be in conjunction with the BreakBeat Poets reading at Eco House earlier in the day. Noname, born Fatima Warner, grew up listening to local Chicago blues greats like Buddy Guy and Howlin Wolf and watching Def Poetry Jam. Inspired by the emotional impact that the Def Poetry performers had, Noname began writing her own poetry. In high school she joined YOUmedia, a youth media program that mentors Chicago students interested in art, music and spoken word, where she performed spoken word poetry and connected with aspiring young artists such as Chancelor Bennett, now known as Chance The Rapper. Noting the similarity of spoken word to freestyling, Noname began to dip her toes into rap, appearing on the track Lost on Chance the Rappers Acid Rap (2013). She has since been featured on the project Surf (2015) by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment and the tracks of artists such as Saba, SPZKRT and Mick Jenkins. Despite her plethora of features credits, Noname has not yet released her own comprehensive collection of work. She has been trumpeting the release of an eternally forthcoming EP, Telephone, since 2014. Singles of hers have been found floating around YouTube, posted by channels that have no tangible relation to the rapper. These solitary gems explain the fervor of Noname fans Noname delivers critiques of institutional racism, poverty and politics as well as odes to Mary Jane that leave the listener happy and warm, despite the songs serious subject matters. Self-described musician and prison abolitionist Ric Wilsons work complements that of Noname thematically while differing stylistically. Wilson delivers similarly socially conscious messages but with more dance influences. Dont be fooled by his lighthearted delivery, though, Wilson takes his activism seriously. In 2014, he served as a delegate for the grassroots organization We Charge Genocide, which appeared before the United Nations to charge the Chicago Police Department with genocide and torture of black and brown youth in Chicago. Noname and Ric Wilson promise to deliver music that appeals to music lovers and activists alike. Mira Braneck, Staff Writer braneckm@grinnell.edu The monarch butterfly population has seen a serious decline in numbers in the past two decades. However, a new program through the National Conservation Resources Service, a department within the USDA, is providing funding to Iowan farmers that want to enact conservation practices and increase monarch habitats on their land in an effort to help preserve the diminishing population. The program, in partnership with a Regional Conservation Partnership Program project, will provide funding to farmers for conservation practices such as brush management, conservation cover, field borders and prescribed burning, according to the news release put out by the NCRS. In the Midwest, the program will focus on planting milkweed and monarch nectaring forbs in wetlands. The program focuses on states that lie along the core migration route and primary breeding range of the butterflies, according to the NCRS. This includes Iowa, as well as Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Farmers and other agricultural producers can apply for funding through the NCRS. 10:30 a.m.Sixth alarm. Host mom opens the garage and starts her car; my host brother is playing one of his many instruments. Think about getting out of bed. 11:00 a.m.Forced out of bed thanks to seasonal allergies. 12:00 p.m.Find cold leftover ham and cheese empanadas for brunch. 1:30 p.m.Check Google and find out that the exchange rate went down. Sad, head over to bank to withdraw Argentine pesos. 1:40 p.m.Arrive at bank and get in line, assuming its for the ATM. Turns out that it is not for the ATM, and proceed to the ATM, where there is no line. Withdraw money and head for the door, only to be stopped by security who murmurs something. Fail to understand, and ask for him to repeat. Pretend to have understood and wait. 2:15 p.m.Get on Subte Linea D and head for Universidad de Buenos Aires: Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. 3:00 p.m.Arrive at Facultad de Ciencias Sociales for my Argentine Social History class. 3:10 p.m.Professor hands off her mate to a student, who then proceeds to make, drink and pass around the mate with other students. Wait for Argentine classmates to offer it to me, but realize that Im too far from todays mate cluster. 4:37 p.m.Stare off for a minute and lose track of lecture. Think about the readings I should have done for the class. 5:00 p.m.Rush out of class to get cafe con leche before the second lecture. 5:13 p.m.Attempt to take notes. 6:00 p.m.Think about how I would understand more if I had finished the readings for class. Miss the small discussion-based classes at Grinnell. Think about medialunas. 6:57 p.m.Worry about all the readings I have to do for the mid-term paper. Start panicking. Regret not studying abroad. 7:00 p.m.Leave class fully caffeinated. 7:09 p.m.Get on Subte Linea E and head home. 8:00 p.m.Arrive home to host brother playing his instruments. Snack on crackers and dulce de leche. 9:13 p.m.Nap. 10:15 p.m.Struggle to get Wi-Fi in bed as I wait for host mom to call me down for dinner. 10:27 p.m.Host mom calls me down for dinner: meat with shredded carrots. 11:13 p.m.Miss spicy food and share photos of spicy Cheetos with Grisel Hernandez 17, also struggling with Argentine cuisine. Begin liking cooking videos on Facebook. 11:41 p.m.Attempt to do reading for class. 12:37 a.m.Convince self that its study abroad and head to bed. 12:39 a.m.Hope that the panaderia has chocolate covered churros with dulce de leche filling in the morning. Lily Bohlke, Copy Editor bohlkeli@grinnell.edu For international students who may struggle with spending so much time so far away from home, and whose parents may also be worried about the distance, Friends of International Students (FIS) provides an invaluable service of matching students up with host families, who often become second families for their Grinnellian host students. According to the FIS webpage, the program facilitates student/community host friendships across culture, across generations and across communities. Subsequently, international students are given the opportunity to take advantage of having a host family or individual before they arrive at Grinnell their first year. Both the student and the host fill out interest forms and then the Office of International Student Affairs matches them up. It has something to do with helping international students get acclimated, because coming from different countries, it can be hard to get used to the culture, said John Franca 17, who hails from Brazil. Having a host family helps to bridge that gap and just gives you a friend. While some host families choose to host a student to maintain a connection to student life at the College, others do so in order to gain international perspective. It had something to do with cultural diversity, said Bazil Mupisiri 18. They wanted their grandkids to meet different people and learn about different cultures. Tara Verma 19 chose to be matched up with a host family for her own peace of mind as well as her parents. Her host family serves as a resource if she needs help, or just as someone to hang out with when she feels stressed and needs a break from Grinnells busy and occasionally overwhelming campus. If Im ever super stressed or anything I just go to their place for dinner and play with their pets and hang out, Verma said. For the ISO Food Bazaar, Takshil [Sachdev 19] and I went and cooked in their kitchen. They are there if I ever need anything. Best of all, Verma and her host family have similar interests both of Vermas host parents are musicians, and her host mothers favorite musical is the Sound of Music. When I first met [my host mother], I walked up holding a tote that was the Sound of Music, Verma said. She saw that and right away she said, Thats my favorite musical. This is why we got paired up! Franca said that he also has a strong and healthy relationship with his host family. They feel like a family away from home to him. Oftentimes, he will watch wrestling with his host family, cook together or sometimes Franca babysits their kids. I was surprised because Im just this random college student from Brazil that comes into their house, Franca said. They just took me in and accepted me and weve learned so much from each other. Mupisiri added that his host family has been open with him and curious about him since he arrived on campus. They asked me questions about me and where Im from, what kind of environment I come from and about my family, he recalled. Im just free around them. According to Verma, although she is incredibly close with her host family and thinks they are wonderful people, there are some important differences between her host family and her real family. Franca agreed, clarifying that it was certainly not in a detrimental manner. Since theyre not my parents, they dont have the same authority that my parents have over me. Its a very close relationship, but there are certain dynamics [that] are different, Franca said. However, Mupisiri sees few differences between his host family and his family back home. He gets along with their children and grandchildren, and they get along with his relatives, for example, one of his aunts who visited Grinnell. They act like my family. Mentally, [I] know they are not, Mupisiri said. But they are basically the same. Megan Tcheng, tchengme@grinnell.edu Nestled next to the Center for Religion, Spirituality and Social Justice and positioned directly across the street from the ARH, 1227 Park Street is home to the nine residents of Chinese House and their resident feline friend, Possum the cat. Gracia Lee, Amy Zhou (both 16), Yaoyang Chen, Jisheng Zhang, Ying Zhang (all 17), Hannah Hwang, Kat Scott-Nevros, Medha Gopalaswamy and Cora Wang (all 18) lovingly call the spacious two-story language house their own and apparently, so do many of their friends. We only have nine residents, but we have over 12 people in the house at any [given] time. We have friends come over for dinner, to study, and some even sleep on the couch, said Chen, who pointed towards a large, navy sofa in the center of their living room. People sleep on the couch a lot, Zhou agreed, a sentiment that was quickly met by a chorus of approving chatter from the rest of the house members. Despite the couchs popularity, the most active area of the Chinese House is likely the houses fully equipped kitchen, which most of the house members use to brush up on their cooking chops. With specialties ranging from chocolate chip mochi bread to an impressive repertoire of authentic Japanese, Chinese and Korean dishes, the residents of Chinese House take their culinary endeavors seriously. Food, likewise, possesses an important role in the development of the house community. All nine members of Chinese House admit to having bonded over their mutual love for food. We cook a lot and eat together a lot, Hwang said. And everyone is always willing to share, added Zhou. Every time you walk in, if someone is eating, you just go for it. Chinese Houses culinary endeavors, however, expand beyond the residents and close friends. As one of Grinnells five school-sponsored language houses, Chinese House hosts community events throughout the academic year and, of course, their events involve food and drink. We started doing a Chinese and Japanese bubble tea time at the house. It happens every first and third Friday of the month. Basically language learners and house members can come together and drink bubble tea. We want to give students more opportunities to meet other international students and speak the language, Lee said. The house members most beloved nightly tradition, Midnight Kitchen, reflects their shared admiration for any and all things culinary. As the residents explained, this late-night affair arose less out of necessity and more out of a desire for communal procrastination. Midnight Kitchen happens when cant finish our homework during the night, so we get really hungry, Ying Zhang explained. Then we use food to procrastinate more And then we go to bed even later And then we sleep on the couch, Zhou finished with a smile, nodding pointedly at the houses most notorious couch-sleeping suspect. Theres always someone awake in the house at any given time, Scott-Nevros noted. With so many people constantly rotating in and out of the house, Chinese House seems to be perpetually alive with activity. The nine house members, however, despite their disparate personal schedules, always find overlapping time during the day to interact. The members of the house even know each others morning schedules, even if they would rather be left blissfully unaware. In particular, the issue of an unruly alarm clock prompted a flurry of spirited responses. Should we talk about the alarm? Chen jokingly proposed, when asked how the house members get along. [Chen] will leave his alarm on for hours. You can hear it throughout the house, Lee said. One time he woke me up at like 5:30 in the morning, Jisheng Zhang said. Weve kind of adapted by now, though. We just dont care anymore, he concluded, reflecting the house members dominant attitude towards each others quirks. In this way, despite the trials and tribulations of Chens alarm and their changing personal schedules, the nine residents of Chinese House manage to live together as a cohesive group. Spread throughout the houses six bedrooms, the residents fill the building with their loving energy. When the residents of Chinese House arent boiling up massive amounts of boba, pearls in bubble tea, or entertaining their steady stream of guests, they like to enjoy the company of the houses newly appointed mascot (or should we say, mascat): Possum. Possum, an adopted housecat from PALS, Grinnells local animal shelter, initially joined Chinese House as a temporary resident. Now, however, she resides in the house as an assimilated member of the residential community. Despite her bed-hogging tendencies and her penchant for covert, late-night escapes, Possum provides the house with some much-needed feline attention. All in all, the residents of Chinese House have nothing but respect and affection for one another and their feline friend. We really kind of love each other, Ying Zhang said. Nora Coghlan, News Editor coghlann17@grinnell.edu Let my people go, set my people free, Im letting my people know I love you like you were me, chanted Black Lives Matter activist Damon Williams 14 and a crowd of students, faculty and staff in a packed ARH 302 on Thursday night. Williams, co-chair of Black Youth Project 100s Chicago chapter and co-founder and co-director of the Let Us Breathe Collective roused Grinnellians in a two-part discussion and workshop highlighting the intricacies of racialized state violence, alongside Professor Kesho Scott, Sociology, and Professor Shanna Benjamin, English, both of whom returned to campus just for the event. Drawing on his intersectional approach to activism, Williams outlined the various factors contributing to racialized violence, including a different understanding of the idea of violence itself. We often think of state violence as solely that police bullet going into a black body, and that is probably the most egregious example, but it is rooted in a system that is widespread and sometimes not as visible, Williams said. Deprivation is violence. Williams also outlined the history of American police, exposing the inherent flaws in the institution itself that have led to its systematic violence against black people. The first agent[s] of the state that was given a badge and given the power to use force were slave patrollers thats not a metaphor, he said. That is the legacy, that is where state-instituted authority came from. In light of the systems inescapable flaws, Williams, and the organizations he represents, calls for abolition of the institution of police. I believe that prisons and police are inherently destructive forces that criminalize communities and make them more separate from our economic activities and put them outside the labor market [they] should be abolished, Williams said. They only have the power to arrest people, to deprive them of their physical freedom; to fine people, to deprive them of resources, and [to use] physical force. Police cannot keep us safe by definition. They do not have the power to. Guns, cages and fines cannot end drug addiction. Guns, cages and fines cannot end domestic disputes. Guns, cages and fines do not stop homicides. Guns, cages and fines do not cure mental health issues. While much of the dialogue focused on the role of the police and the state, Williams insisted that these issues are part of a larger system in which individuals all play a role. We talk about the state and the federal government or even local politics as this thing that is above us, something that is behind in a dark room, but at least as it is written in our society, the state is the public, the state is people. The state is you. An elected official is the collectivization of your individual power, Williams said, calling for the audience to interrogate their role in the system. Once the police are killing somebody, they are doing that in your name, thats not separate from you. Following his initial talk, Williams was joined in his conversation by Benjamin for a conversation on framing the movement and later by Scott for a workshop on understanding social movements more broadly. Students joined the conversation by asking Williams for tips on how to further the movement in Grinnell, citing examples of pushback from the administration in the recent decision to cut ties with Posse and the erasure of #BlackLivesMatter images spray painted on campus last December. Williams encouraged students to continue fighting for accountability. [The administrations] backs are against the wall and yall can continue to elevate and escalate the pressure youre putting on them and you can make sure that you are at the table, and [that] what they say that theyre going to do, they do it, he said. Turning it back on the audience, Williams urged students to examine their activism and their role in discourse. I want to challenge you a little bit, because unless you are actively trying to change that power dynamic we are all part of the problem. Liberal is not an accomplishment. Saying that you are liberal is not some end goal. Liberalism is still rooted in a system that tries to deny that this is happening. Liberalism still benefits from these processes, and they are the type of processes that still necessitate the need for the type of good that you are trying to do anyway, Williams said. If your work is not addressing the power dynamic or actually repairing the harm done to the people who are victims to these systems then you are unfortunately part of the problem. Benjamin echoed Williams sentiments, and hoped that his conversation would encourage the campus community to engage in discussions about the isms that are at play in Grinnell. My experience has been that Grinnell idealizes itself in ways that can undermine the work required to really have an inclusive campus, and individuals are [unwilling] to be self-reflective about how theyre breathing an air that is imbued with racist, sexist, patriarchal tendencies. This is the air we breathe, but folks want to act like its not because, Ive come to Grinnell and Ive made a choice to be liberal and I pursue a social justice mission, Benjamin said in a later interview. If you cant be real with yourself about your preconceptions and the expectations that you place on persons of color, minoritized communities, expecting them to do the work of fighting white supremacy when they werent the ones to create it. This has to do not with the policing of black bodies but many times about how majority communities manage one another and to what extent they are willing to engage in difficult conversations with classmates, with people they think theyre friends with and to get real about how embedded these ideas are in our psyches and I think once we get clear on that, thats a starting place. Michael Cummings, Community Editor cummings@grinnell.edu What was your excuse the last time you missed a class or a work shift? Whatever it may be, Library Assistant Chris Gaunt has you beat. During her time at Grinnell, Gaunt has missed work several times in order to serve jail time. Gaunt told her story at a Political Lives talk hosted by the Political Science SEPC on Tuesday morning in ARH. Since the early 2000s, she explained, she has become an ardent peace activist, knowingly risking arrest to stand up for causes she supported. Two of my brothers enlisted in the Vietnam War, and I didnt know anything was going on, Gaunt said, explaining that she was not an activist early in life. I was completely un-awake. I was ignorant of politics. However, Gaunt said that her wake-up call came following the attacks on September 11, 2001. I remember kind of sitting back for a year aghast, and watching, and literally feeling a wave of fear sweep across this country and watch my countrys chosen response [which] was basically to seek revenge through the military, Gaunt said. And I was like, Oh my god, there has to be a better way. Her initial entry into the world of activism came through her church. I was arrested for the first time in my life never been arrested even for a speeding ticket trying to follow what I might call those non-violent footsteps of Jesus, the real teachings of quote, the Church, she said. Gaunt began advocating for anti-war movements across the country. She joined other groups doing things trying to stop National Guard planes from leaving Des Moines to fly to Iraq. Perhaps the climax of Gaunts activism came during protests in Georgia in 2003 and 2006. I got sentenced to three months in 2003, did the time. In 2006, I crossed again, and I knew Id get six months because it was the same judge, Gaunt explained. During the initial 90-day imprisonment, Gaunt received a letter from the Colleges Office of Human Resources informing her that she had been granted a leave of absence to serve her time. She had no such luck in 2006. [T]hey initially fired me, Gaunt said. Professors knew me pretty well by then, and townspeople knew me well, a lot of pastors, staff, students, so when you guys all came back from winter break and I was in jail, they tactfully approached President [Russell] Osgood They put out there that maybe I was doing things that this college, social justice-wise, tries to teach people to do. They encouraged [President Osgood] to take it out of human resources hands and take it into his own hands, and he did that, thank you God, Gaunt said. Gaunt explained that she entirely understood why she needed to be fired from a Human Resources point of view, but she was really thankful for the College community and for President Osgood for overlooking the public relations perspective. For Gaunt, one of the greatest benefits of her advocacy work has been the relationships she has formed with people she met during her time. When she spent 90 days in jail in Georgia, she was locked up with eight other women from seven different countries. One of those people from that first jail time in 03, ended up [being] my soul sister in life. She got deported to London, this Ethiopian woman, and this winter break was my fifth trip to London to visit her, Gaunt said. While Gaunt has no regrets, she does not encourage students to follow in her footsteps. I wouldnt recommend any of you guys to do the jail thing, she joked. However, Gaunt had a few words of wisdom for Grinnellians interested in social justice work. I think [my advice] is to tell people to find their way, Gaunt said. And Grinnell students are finding their way of doing it. Find where you can put yourself in there, and what works for you, and then not to be afraid to take the stand and then to buck the trend in this country of letting fear be your decision-maker, instead let freedom and love and confidence, and knowing youre doing the right thing, be the guide. Megan Tcheng tchengme@grinnell.edu Robert Sloyan, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and author of The Politics of Deception: JFKs Secret Decisions on Vietnam, Civic Rights, and Cuba, will be on campus this Friday to meet with students and talk about careers in journalism. Sloyan recently sat down with the S&Bs Megan Tcheng to discuss his journalism career, which has spanned more than 50 years. The S&B: How did you get involved in the field of journalism? Sloyan: I went into the army in 1955, right out of high school. It was the peacetime army. One of the guys had just gotten out of the Columbia journalism masters program and another one had just gotten out of a program in Chicago. They both trained me. I learned everything about journalism in the army and when I got out of the army I started working for a daily newspaper in Albany, New York. Just last year, you came out with a new book, called The Politics of Deception: JFKs Secret Decisions on Vietnam, Civil Rights, and Cuba, which exposes some of the lesser known facts about JFK and his final year as president. What prompted you to write on this specific topic? I covered Kennedy when I started to work in Washington at the United Press International Bureau. It was the year of 1960 presidential campaign: Kennedy against Nixon. I cut my teeth on that campaign. I covered the debates between Kennedy and Nixon as a dictationist. I knew Kennedy. Id met him and, of course, I liked him. He had great speeches and, for all I knew, he was a really great president. But I didnt know and neither did my colleagues or the senior reporters in town what he was really doing. As a wire writer, your story changes during the day. You clean it up and do whats called a write-through, where you write through the entire story better written, with new facts. So I did a write-through of the Kennedy administration, 50 years after the fact. Its based off of the tape recordings Kennedy himself made, secretly. I listened to 289 hours of these recordings and another 60 phone conversations. I am very critical of him. You can hear from the tapes what he actually did, as opposed to what he said he did. What was the most rewarding aspect of your book writing experience? It was more hard work. As I got in to it, certain tape recordings leapt out at me. There was one conversation, [about the execution of a coup South Vietnam,] where JFK approved bribing a Vietnamese general. The general took the bribe, led the coup, assassinated the president of South Vietnam, destroyed the government stability in Saigon, destroyed the military in Saigon and Kennedy was assassinated three weeks later. Lyndon Johnson went to his grave blaming Kennedy for that overthrow. That was the most startling thing I uncovered in my book. How do you think the field of journalism has changed during your time as a reporter? Clearly a lot of newspapers have lost circulation and have lost income, so its more difficult to get a job. Big newspapers, in particular, have suffered. Smaller newspapers, though, in prosperous cities, have done pretty well so you can have a good career. Then theres always television, and then there are a bunch of Internet-based news organizations that are hiring reporters. So there is a different career out there for new reporters. The trouble with [some online news sites] is that theyre totally unreliable. You dont have the same discipline as honest-to-god newspapers. You dont have editors saying, Where did you get this? or Is this right? Instead you have people who are just trying to make a buck. What advice do you have for aspiring reporters or, for that matter, aspiring authors in general? Its important to read history and to read literature. You need to have that depth of knowledge of the world depth of knowledge of different countries and different cultures. Also, if you read literature, you can improve your writing skills. You can learn journalism very quickly. You get the facts who, why, what, when, where and, in the first year or so, you can become pretty skilled at gathering information. But you have to bring to the job an understanding of the world and an understanding of people. Thats what you get through your education. You have to realize how little you know and how much there is left to learn. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA), worlds seventh-largest automaker, might make it through the year intact as an independent entity. But dont count on it. Sooner or later, the Rube Goldberg enterprise created by Canadian-Italian CEO Sergio Marchionne will be merged out of existence. Or, more likely FCA, which employs 11,335 Canadians, will break itself up and be sold in pieces. Heres a set of salient facts for FCA investors, including the merger partners Marchionne has spent the past two years wooing: In fiscal 2015, a year of record volume in North American auto sales, FCA eked out a profit of $410 million (U.S.) on record sales of $120 billion. Its profit would have been just $104 million without the contribution of Ferrari, which FCA has recently spun off. If this is the best FCA can do when the notoriously volatile auto industry is at its peak, buckets of red ink are in store, come the inevitable next industry downturn. That explains why FCA has a modest shareholder value, or market cap, roughly equal to that of the much smaller Mazda Motor Corp., which has about one-third FCAs vehicle production. FCA is overly reliant on two gas-guzzling vehicle families, the Jeep SUV and the Ram pickup. Fiat, which makes the decisions for FCA, is gradually exiting passenger cars Fiats traditional strength in favour of the lucrative big-metal vehicles. Its doing so on the dicey assumption that fuel prices will remain relatively low indefinitely. De-emphasizing entry-level passenger cars and family sedans will also inhibit FCAs potential in emerging markets, which FCA, like other automakers, has targeted for their high growth potential. But Marchionne is contemptuous of passenger vehicles and their slim profit margins. Earlier this month, he said FCA feels no obligation to continue making passenger cars simply because of the fact that it was due to a higher calling of being an automaker. For that matter, hes out of sync with 21st-century high-tech automaking, dismissing driverless cars and calling electric vehicles almost obscene because they lack an internal combustion engine. That engine is 157-year-old technology, and one would think its time to move on. One of the biggest mistakes in business history was the failure of the Detroit Three to take small cars seriously. Paid $170,000 a day, or $60 million per year, Marchionne, too, seems not to relate to people who seek only basic transportation in their vehicles. Too bad, since the North American success of Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and Hyundai Motor Co. trace back to their first, unassuming Corollas, Bugs, Civics and Ponys, respectively. Marchionne has set an audacious goal of increasing FCAs vehicle production by more than 50 per cent in just two years, to 7 million units. To do so will cost, by FCAs estimate, about $52 billion. Thats a sum FCA wont easily be able to raise, given that FCAs current debt load, of $7.5 billion, is already an unusually high level of indebtedness for an automaker of FCAs size. Hence Marchionnes urgent search for a sugardaddy merger partner. By means he hasnt made clear, Marchionne intends that FCA be debt-free by 2018, just two years from now. And that FCA enter the ranks of the worlds top five automakers, by revenue and unit volume, also by 2018. That year isnt a coincidence. Marchionne, 63, says he will retire in 2018, setting his legacy in stone. That haste accounts in part for FCAs failure to improve its abysmal reputation for quality. In J.D. Powers http://www.jdpower.com/ratings/study/Vehicle-Dependability-Study-%28VDS%29-by-Make/846ENG overall dependability ratings for 2015 END , the Chrysler, Fiat, Dodge and Jeep brands are assigned dismal ratings of two or three out of five. And in the U.K. Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study for 2014, FCAs flagship semi-luxury brand Alfa Romeo ranks 25th out of 26 models surveyed. Fiat, of course, was effectively insolvent just over a decade ago, and Chrysler plunged into bankruptcy protection in 2009. The bigger and better-run Daimler AG lost all of the more than $40 billion it spent over a decade trying to make a go of Chrysler. Marchionnes effort to do the same, but this time by bashing together two weak companies in the expectation of creating a stronger one, was a shoot-the-moon proposition from the start. And it hasnt worked. Last year, General Motors gave a flat no to Marchionnes merger entreaties. Earlier this month, Marchionne spoke hopefully about a merger with Toyota, Ford or Volkswagen. Ford immediately put out a press release rejecting an FCA merger. The lack of interest is understandable. Its difficult to regard FCA as a going concern when it is so openly determined to merge itself out of existence. Marchionne has won the admiration of an auto press that enjoys his candour and sweater-clad lack of formality. So much so that the self-serving contradiction of Marchionnes constant calls for industry consolidation, with capacity reduction the obvious goal, escapes comment despite Marchionnes own grandiose plans to boost FCA's production more than 50 per cent. Every auto executive wishes its competitors would shut plants, or just go out of business, to end the curse of too many vehicles chasing too few buyers. But they generally keep that view under the hood, as it were, while Marchionne practically stops people in the street to say it. If only he walked the talk. Marchionne has ambitions to be one of the great auto executives. Hes tried to realize them by acting like other empire-building CEOs. There is another way to earn a savvy reputation. Given that so many FCA products are made better and cheaper by the firms competitors, Marchionne could be an industry hero by dismantling a company the world doesnt need. The Jeep, Ram pickup, Chrysler minivan and Maserati marque are franchises that, on their own, would make attractive acquisitions for FCAs peers. Its unlikely North Americans will ever embrace the Fiat brand or understand what Alfa Romeo stands for. But those brands still have appeal in Europe and Brazil. They would make a good fit with a Volkswagen AG, Renault S.A. or Peugeot S.A. At a high-profile presentation to investors earlier this year, the first of the slides FCA showed to the worlds deep-pocketed investors was Mark Twains famous quote: The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated. When it gets to the point where you have to acknowledge that your industry has largely written you off, along with the bulk of potential customers, its probably time to throw in the towel. Correction- April 29, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Yugo cars were built by Hyundai. SHARE: Humans and the Internet have been failing to communicate since the very first online message was sent in 1969. It happened on Oct. 29 of that year, as Werner Herzog shows in his new film Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World, a Sundance hit receiving its Canadian premiere Thursday and Friday at Torontos Hot Docs festival (April 28 May 4, details at www.hotdocs.ca ). On that momentous day 47 years ago, UCLA computer professor Leonard Kleinrock and his student programmers sent historys first Internet message to a computer at Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, California, a distance of nearly 600 kilometres. The intent was to send the computer greeting LOGIN, but only LO came through before the system crashed. How poetic it was, as Herzog and Kleinrock remark, that the first word on the Internet would be an exclamation of wonder or surprise. And how appropriate that this first brief message would be an unintended communication, the consequence of people thinking they knew exactly what they were doing and saying with their machines. The medium is the message, as Torontos Marshall McLuhan famously observed of mankinds technological extensions, but the hubris is entirely human. The folly of digital arrogance is shot through the cautionary tale that is Lo and Behold, and two other Sundance films making their Canadian debut at Hot Docs: Weiner and Tickled. The message in all three films is that the human capacity to create marvellous machines is surpassed only by the human tendency to use them incorrectly, even to the point of evil. Often its the result of people not understanding the ramifications of the Internets incredible reach and permanent record. The Internet pioneers interviewed in Lo and Behold talk about how the Net was conceived as a worldwide community of helpful people, not a minefield of anonymous antagonists, so security precautions werent adequately baked into its design. Herzog visits a California family who sadly understand this all too well: the parents and siblings of Nicole Nikki Catsouras, 18, who died in a crash while driving her fathers Porsche on Oct. 31, 2006. One of the first responders, an investigator for the California Highway Patrol, took a photo of Nikkis body and nearly severed head. It was later illegally uploaded to the Internet, for reasons that could range from simple misjudgment to sick sport to pure malevolence. The grisly image went viral, and online trolls from around the world began relentlessly taunting the Catsouras family. Nikkis mother Lesli says she now considers the Internet the spirit of evil and adds, I didnt know such depravity existed in humans. (The family successfully sued the CHP, winning nearly $2.4 million (U.S.) in court-awarded damages.) Digital hubris is also evident in Weiner, by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, which began as a redemptive chronicle of disgraced former Democratic Congressman Anthony D. Weiner. Hes known worldwide for the Weinergate scandal of 2011, when he admitted tweeting sexually explicit photos of himself to young women hed met online. Weiner figured hed never be caught one of his aliases was Carlos Danger but he also admits he didnt fully understand what he was doing. He also lied about ceasing his sexting habits, which caught up to him when ran for mayor of New York City in 2013. The camera catches the shock and paralyzing fear of Weiner, and the anger and dismay of his wife Huma Abedin and campaign staffers, as an online gossip site reveals the candidate is still sexting women, at least one of whom is seeking some kind of vengeance Weiner rails against the technology that undid me, yet hes the author of his own misfortune. The narcissistic politician is so wrapped up in his own bubble, and his pathetic need for recognition, he allows the astonished Kriegman and Steinberg to continue filming him. New Zealand doc Tickled is in many ways the most disturbing of the three films in its depiction of widespread digital hubris. Directors David Farrier and Dylan Reeve begin their film as a humorous report on a bizarre yet apparently harmless pastime called competitive endurance tickling. Their investigation leads down a rabbit hole of Internet links involving cyberbullying, identity fraud, online shaming and extortion. Not much should be said about the film going in it proceeds like a thriller but its no spoiler to say that anyone who has seen the 2010 doc Catfish will recognize how deception is now very much a part of online activities. I contacted Farrier by email and he said hes heard the Catfish comparison, including from some of his sources in the doc who feared being catfished themselves. The Internet is now part of the daily lives of many people, Farrier wrote, but I think there is still a huge portion of society thats naive to the dangers of the online world. People still click on terrible scam emails. People trust that the person theyre chatting to on Tinder is a real person and not a bot, or a person with ulterior motives The Internet is a great tool, but where there are humans involved, theres always someone who will be using it to be a little naughty. Or a lot naughty. Peter Howell is the Stars movie critic. His column appears Friday. Read more about: SHARE: Today, Toronto gets its own soundtrack. Judging from reaction on social media, much of the city was plugged into Drakes latest album, VIEWS, on Friday. The reviews were largely positive, with many praising not only the albums style but its portrayal of Toronto Beginning with the rumble of streetcar tracks and a picture of the CN tower on the cover, the album is a love letter to the city and people from The 6 are showing some love in return. I can hear so many people listening to @Drake on the streetcar this morning, tweeted one local. Unsurprisingly, the album left no meme unturned, inspiring a Snapchat filter and an album-cover generator that perches a tiny Drake atop any photo. Notable Torontonians couldnt resist the allure of tweeting their views about #views. Peter Mansbridge listened to the album while on assignment in Brussels, while Drakes biggest fan and defender Norm Kelly promoted the album heavily on his twitter feed. Others proclaimed it #DrakeDay in Toronto, and noted the auspicious timing of the album dropping on Game 6 of the Toronto Raptors playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. The hometown hero is global ambassador for the team, and some hoped the album would help buoy the team to victory. Its 6 in #the6ix on the day of the #raptors 6th game of the series and @Drake drops, wrote Ryan Thomas Sheppard on twitter. But not everyone was a fan. Some tweeted the album was mediocre and compared it unfavorably to Beyonces Lemonade, which was released last weekend. Read more about: SHARE: Ontarios health minister has given the green light to major hospital restructuring plans in the eastern GTA that will eventually include new hospitals being built in Scarborough and Durham Region. Dr. Eric Hoskins announced Thursday that the province is acting on recommendations to overhaul acute health-care services in the area to help improve integration and access. The changes are seen as necessary to keep up with population growth and aging infrastructure. The plan, controversial in some quarters, will involve breaking up the Rouge Valley Health System. Its Centenary campus, in Scarborough, will join the General and Birchmount campuses of the existing Scarborough Hospital to form a new Scarborough Health Corporation. Its Ajax and Pickering Hospital site, in Ajax, will join Lakeridge Health, which currently has four campuses in Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville and Port Perry to form a new Durham Health Corporation. Firm timelines have not been given. But in a speech at the Scarborough Civic Centre on Thursday, Hoskins announced that up to $5 million will be made available to develop a master plan for each of the Scarborough and Durham region hospitals. This master plan will help with planning future infrastructure developments that we all know are necessary and required, and will also support specifically the redevelopment of the emergency department at the Rouge Valley Health System Centenary site, Hoskins said. The minister appointed Mark Rochon, a veteran of health services restructuring in Ontario, to oversee the entire project. In a telephone interview later in the day, Rochon said construction projects wouldnt start for 10 to 15 years, and the actual building of new hospitals would take two to three years longer. In the meantime, work will begin on planning the sites and construction. This is a plan (that), once executed, will bring improved health-care services to the people of Scarborough and West Durham, and I am looking forward to working with the communities and hospitals to move the plan toward execution, Rochon said. Plans to restructure east-end hospital services date back years and a couple of proposals have fallen off the rails because of community opposition. While there is much support for the current plans, it is by no means unanimous. The board of directors of the Rouge Valley Health System issued a news release to express disappointment with the decision to split its two campuses. While this is a very disappointing outcome, our board and leadership team remain committed to delivering the highest quality of care to our patients, said board chair Fred Clifford, adding that the campuses remain open for business. I want to assure our staff, physicians and volunteers that our commitment to them has not diminished. We will do everything we can to support them during this time of transition, he said. Hoskins announced $20 million in funding to better integrate and expand diagnostic imaging services at the Scarborough Hospitals general campus. This investment means improved services in radiology, fluoroscopy, interventional imaging, cross-sectional imaging, CT scanning, ultrasound, breast imaging and nuclear medicine, Hoskins said. As well, the minister announced a new investment of more than $10 million in local hospitals as part of the governments 2016 budget. It includes increases in operating funds to the tune of $4.5 million for the Rouge Valley Health System, $2.9 million for the Scarborough Hospital and $2.6 million for Lakeridge Health. SHARE: OTTAWAThe Trudeau Liberals may have promised to exclude the F-35 from the competition to replace the air forces aging CF-18 jet fighters, but federal officials meeting the day after last falls election were singing a completely different tune, documents reveal. The records, obtained by The Canadian Press, show top Industry Canada bureaucrats met on Oct. 20 and discussed what advice to give the incoming government about the controversial procurement, emphasizing the decision should be based on requirement, not politics. A procurement decision like C-18 replacement is primarily driven by the operational needs of the Canadian Forces, said the briefing. Prior to the election, Trudeau said the Liberals would not proceed with the F-35 purchase and would instead run an open competition, with savings from a cheaper alternative set aside to rebuild the navy. The Liberals have been quietly backing away from that position, with both Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Procurement Minister Judy Foote pointedly refusing to exclude Lockheed Martin, the F-35s U.S.-based manufacturer, from the competition. The documents provide, for the first time, tantalizing clues as to why the Liberals moderated their tone. Aside from saying the new fighter must meet the air forces needs, officials pointed out that opportunities for Canadian aerospace firms to bid on sustainment contracts for the F-35 may be greater than expected. The program is beginning to make concrete decisions regarding how the global F-35 fleet will be sustained (i.e. maintenance, repair, simulation and training), said the analysis. Like production work, such sustainment work will be allocated on a best-value basis to those countries that have committed to acquiring the plane. The industrial value of the sustainment opportunities can be expected to be even higher than that associated with production, with such opportunities anticipated to be valued in the billions of dollars, with similarly no guaranteed value of work. Unlike regular military equipment purchases made by the federal government, the F-35 program does not allocate a specific amount of work and cash for Canadian aerospace firms. Instead, it allows Canadian companies to bid on the world-wide contracts associated with the fleet. Because Canada is still a partner in the program, companies in this country have so far won about $750 million in related production contracts. The Industry Canada briefing says any replacement aircraft would have an impact on Canadian firms, but noted not all companies in Canada are equally positioned to take advantage of industrial opportunities related to available fighters. One of the potential F-35 rivals is the Boeing Super Hornet, which is a significantly upgraded version of the F-18. In an interview last month with The Canadian Press, Roberto Valla, vice president of global sales for Boeing in Canada, said the company already has long-standing relationships with suppliers in the country and would have no problem delivering significant industrial benefits. He said the company has a track record of delivering on its commitments with $6.5 billion delivered for existing contracts and another $3.1 billion in obligations still to come. Valla also touted the immediate benefit of selecting the Super Hornet, saying it is cheaper to operate and maintain. SHARE: Just how many of Ontarios sickest patients fell off a controversial, $100-million waiting list for life-saving stem-cell transplants in U.S. hospitals is a secret Cancer Care Ontario said it is committed to keeping. Theyre covering up, said Amir Attaran, a professor in the faculties of law and medicine at the University of Ottawa. It is a cynical abuse of privacy law, to shield a callous and incompetent agency from disclosing how many Ontarians its inattention and bad management have killed. Simple as that. Ontarios privacy commissioner also took issue with Cancer Care Ontarios rationale. It is not apparent to us how patients would be identifiable from a raw number in these circumstances, Brian Beamish told the Star in an email. Beamish consulted with Cancer Care Ontario before the government agency doubled down on its decision to withhold statistics on patients who relapsed or died while waiting for an American stem cell transplant. An ongoing Toronto Star investigation revealed that since the fall of 2015, more than 200 Ontario patients with various forms of blood cancers, such as leukemia, and immunologic disorders were referred by Ontario hospitals for out-of-country care because of a systemic capacity crisis in the province. There are too many patients in need of allogeneic stem cell transplants new immune systems, essentially, delivered through donated bone marrow or stem cells and not enough beds, staff or funding to offer equal-access urgent care. International standards dictate that patients requiring such a transplant generally get one within three months of their initial diagnosis, for the best chance of success. Canadas largest cancer centre, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, formally shut its doors to new stem cell transplant patients in March because its wait list for treatment had grown to eight months. A spokeswoman for the hospital confirmed that 147 of its patients have been referred for U.S. transplants in the past seven months. The Ontario government has approved 191 patients for funded transplants in Buffalo, Detroit and Cleveland at a cost of roughly $500,000 (U.S.) per patient. Only 19 people have received the treatment so far. Sharon Shamblaw, a 46-year-old mother of three in St. Marys, Ont., arrived at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo in late January of this year, five months after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Hours before she was to be admitted, diagnostic tests revealed she had relapsed. The governments contract permits U.S. hospitals to treat only patients who are in remission from cancer, even if doctors believe a transplant is still a curative option. Shamblaw was ordered back to Ontario. She is in palliative care at home, told she will die within days or weeks. The Star wanted to know how many other patients, province-wide, relapsed or died before getting their best shot at survival. This is how Cancer Care Ontario answered the question, in a written statement forwarded by spokesman Marko Perovic: As an agency of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, CCO has to balance competing legal obligations; namely, its obligations under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to promote government transparency and its obligations under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 to protect the privacy of Ontarians and to maintain the confidentiality of their information. CCO does not report publicly on information about small numbers of patients that has the potential to be used to re-identify an individual. As CCO is committed to protecting personal privacy and mitigating risk of re-identification, CCO has determined in this case that it will not disclose the number in question. One transplant doctor told the Star on Thursday that four patients on his roster alone died while waiting for their approved U.S. transplant. There is absolutely no way they can withhold this as personal information, none, said Attaran, the Ottawa lawyer and a trained biologist. This is an absolute fraud on the law. Cancer Care Ontario is acting in bad faith and has no legal support whatsoever for its position. Anyone with a modicum of legal skills would know this is nonsense. For more than a decade, physicians at Princess Margaret, Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton and The Ottawa Hospital the only three Ontario centres equipped with highly specialized staff and space to provide allogeneic treatments using stem cells or bone marrow from donors unrelated to patients have warned Cancer Care Ontario this crisis would happen without immediate intervention. A 2007/2008 CCO report led by front-line doctors showed the government agency was shortchanging hospitals on the actual costs of treatment. For example, an allogeneic transplant in Ontario at the time cost about $130,000 (including the lab work required to find a suitable stem cell donor). The funded rate was $80,000. In a May 2015 letter to Cancer Care Ontario obtained by the Star, five transplant program directors wrote of their hospitals ethically-not-right rationing of treatments, patients relapsing and dying while waiting for a transplant, and patients getting extra cycles of therapy to try and buy time to get them to a transplant. Without an immediate expansion of resources, the doctors wrote, the only alternative is out-of-country referrals a retrogressive practice that will cost more money . . . and still result in numerous patients failing to get to transplant because of the long out-of-country referral process. Conservative health critic Jeff Yurek (Elgin-Middlesex-London) said his office has received so many emails from families affected by this crisis. Some have gone to the U.S. for transplant, come home with infection, which is common for the first two years post-transplant as the bodys new immune system settles in, and been forced to return to the U.S. for vital treatment because none is available in Ontario. Others have reached out to Yurek, frustrated that theyre still waiting. Releasing the numbers of those who have relapsed because of the breakdown in the system would be important in determining how widespread this is, Yurek said. It seems the ministry is in protective mode right now to ensure the damage to their failings in the health-care system is minimized. NDP health critic France Gelinas (Nickel Belt) told the Star she has heard gut-wrenching stories from constituents across Northern Ontario desperate to access transplants. Its difficult for the clinician and the patient, Gelinas said. Every day is a time bomb. They put their patients through hell to put them on a wait-list to nowhere. SHARE: VANCOUVERThe needs of the alleged victims played a key role in a Dutch courts decision to refuse a request for another delay in the trial of a man thought to be linked to the suicide of British Columbia teenager Amanda Todd, says a court spokeswoman. Polly van Dijk of the Amsterdam court said in an interview that Aydin Cobans trial on child pornography and extortion charges will start Monday even though his lawyer officially quit the case Friday. Coban knew he had to find somebody, van Dijk said, adding that Coban was aware of the scheduling restrictions and had already been granted two postponements. Today the court said you had chances enough. Amanda Todd, a 15-year-old girl from Port Coquitlam, B.C., killed herself in October 2012 after a spate of incessant bullying over nude photos of her that Coban allegedly posted online. Her mother, Carol Todd, said Friday that the focus of the Dutch criminal proceedings shouldnt be on her daughter. She said she distanced herself from the case to allow the stories of other alleged victims to be heard. I chose to stay away from it because I want the attention focused on the trial and not on myself or on Amandas story right now, she said. I think the wisest choice is to let justice prevail. The Canadian government has requested Coban be extradited to face five separate charges in connection to Amanda Todds case. If successful, that would lead to criminal prosecution in Canada and would put her daughters story at the forefront, Todd said. B.C.s Justice Ministry has said Amanda Todds case has had a significant enough impact to warrant pushing for it to be tried in Canada. Coban faces 72 charges in the Netherlands, most of which relate to blackmail and the production and distribution of child porn involving 39 victims from across Europe, North America and Australia. The alleged incidents took place between 2008 and 2014. Thirty four of those allegedly involved were underage at the time, while the remaining five were adult men. None of the allegations has been proven in court. Coban parted ways with his first lawyer last month. The court offered to find Coban legal representation and warned him when he insisted on retaining his own counsel that he would have only two weeks to be ready for trial, said van Dijk. His most recent lawyer, Robert Malewicz, was granted an extension past the first two weeks, but quit when the court refused on Friday to give him an additional postponement. Elsbeth Kleibeuker, a spokeswoman for the Dutch National Prosecutor, said in an email that if Coban is unable to find representation by Monday the court may appoint him a lawyer to function as a process-monitoring guard. The judge expressed regret over Malewiczs decision to drop the case, Kleibeuker wrote in an email. Malewicz will remain Cobans counsel for the extradition hearing, which is scheduled to begin on June 14, one day after a ruling is scheduled to be delivered in the criminal proceedings, she said. Ottawa made it a crime to distribute intimate images without consent through anti-bullying legislation that came into effect in March 2015, partly in response to the deaths of several young Canadians, including Amanda Todd. Her mother spoke out at the time against the proposed bill, saying parts of it went too far in trampling childrens privacy rights. Todd has worked since her daughters death to raise awareness around keeping families and kids safe from online predators. SHARE: EDMONTONPremier Rachel Notley says she made inroads in Washington, D.C., when she explained Albertas climate-change plan. My message everywhere was the same, that Alberta is now one of the worlds most responsible energy producers, that we are an extremely attractive place to do business, and that we hope to be a valued partner in driving green and value-added technologies, said Notley in a conference call with reporters Friday. Its a message that resonated with everyone I met. Notley met with numerous officials during her trip, including Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski, the chair of the U.S. Senate committee on energy and natural resources She also spoke with Christy Goldfuss, managing director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Albertas climate-change plan, introduced late last year, calls for a cap on oilsands emissions, a broad-based carbon tax and a phase-out of coal-fired electricity. Notley has said she believes the plan gives Alberta more credibility and moral authority when it pitches for more fossil-fuel infrastructure. The premier has been pushing for a pipeline to Canadas east or west coast to get Alberta crude to markets in Asia in order to fetch a better price than the province can currently get from U.S. buyers. Notley acknowledged her climate change plan slows the increase of greenhouse gas emissions, but doesnt reverse them. In the long term (it) will reduce emissions, she said. You cant turn on a dime, but you cant not make change simply because you cant turn on a dime. On Thursday, Notley stressed in a speech at Johns Hopkins University that oil remains critical to her province, given that its responsible for one job out of six. Notley did not use the trip to lobby for the Canada-US Keystone XL pipeline, which was rejected by U.S. President Barack Obama last year. Notley said she would have liked to meet with more leaders, but said time was tight for U.S. politicos given the presidential election season. The issue really is ensuring that youre talking to those folks that are going to be influential regardless of the nature of the administration after the election, she said. I feel pretty confident that our representations have been heard by people who will have the ear of key decision-makers in January. Read more about: SHARE: Doctors in Ontario can grope their patients and keep their licences, and the government has no clear timeline to address what has become a growing concern. The issue, highlighted by a 2013 Star investigation, led Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins to launch a task force in December 2014 to study sexual abuse among health-care professionals. Sixteen months later, he is unable to say when the task forces report will be released, or whether he believes doctors found guilty of groping, by their medical college, should be automatically stripped of their licence to practise medicine. I fully intend to release the report and recommendations and I expect to be able to do that in the relatively near future, Hoskins told the Star in an interview Thursday. The report is currently undergoing a lengthy legal review. The issue was again raised this week when a discipline committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons chose to suspend, rather than revoke, the licence of Toronto physician Dr. Javad Peirovy for sexually touching four patients. Peirovy denied the allegations before the committee, and his lawyer declined to comment to the Star. Lawyers for the college had asked for Peirovys licence to be taken away, and the college has said it is considering its appeal options. The colleges registrar said in a statement Wednesday that the regulatory body was disappointed with the decision of the discipline committee, which is independent of the college. Revocation is mandatory under the Regulated Health Professions Act for nearly every form of sexual abuse, including penetration, oral sex and masturbation, but touching remains a grey area and revoking a physicians licence is entirely at the discretion of the discipline panel hearing the case. The CPSO proposed last September that the government amend the act to ensure that all forms of sexual contact lead to revocation, something critics had been demanding for years. I do not understand why sexual assault should not require automatic revocation, said medical malpractice lawyer Paul Harte. It is an obvious and clear gap in the legislation, and why would it not be fixed immediately? Is a 14-year-old girl whos molested without penetration deserving of less protection? Progressive Conservative health critic Jeff Yurek said in an interview that a doctor should suffer a loss of licence for groping, and that he would assume the issue could have been dealt with a lot quicker in the legislature. They swear an oath to cause no harm, and obviously any form of sexual abuse is going to traumatize patients, who would never get over that, and the fact that (Peirovy) is only suspended is outrageous, he said. He added hes concerned there could be more cases dealt with in a similar fashion before amendments are made to the legislation. I think swift action would have highlighted the importance of this abuse that has been occurring without proper penalties. Hoskins told the Star mandatory revocation is one important element, but he wants to wait until releasing the task forces recommendations before proposing amendments to the RHPA, which was enacted in 1994. It was important to look at these other areas at the same time, to make sure that a straightforward and important change does get to other issues of the RHPA, he said, including prevention, victim support, working with the institutions that educate our health-care professionals. When asked if he believes a doctor found to have sexually touched his or her patient should lose their licence, Hoskins said: Im a physician myself, and I believe that that bond and trust between a patient and a health-care provider is almost sacred, and it has to be respected. He added that patients need to have confidence that we have a system in place to provide the appropriate measures to be taken against that individual (physician), while also supporting victims. The victims in the Peirovy case were traumatized, according to the discipline panel, which decided to suspend him for six months. The panel concluded that he was at a low risk to reoffend, mainly due to the evidence of a forensic psychiatrist. The CPSO would not make its registrar available for an interview Thursday, citing its review of the Peirovy case, but pointed out ways in which it has tried to improve its processes for dealing with sexual abuse of patients, including adding more disciplinary information about physicians on its website and a policy on sharing information with the police. Task force chair Marilou McPhedran, who has also headed two previous task forces looking into these issues, noted that concerns about the discretion exercised by discipline panels, such as in the Peirovy case, have been raised at public hearings. She pointed out that the RHPA has never prevented discipline panels from revoking a health-care professionals licence when doing so would be in the public interest and patient safety. We made this point 15 years ago in the second task force report, she said, and we continue to see cases that raise the same concern today. SHARE: After earning the distinction of becoming the first Canadian city to regulate storefront medical marijuana dispensaries, Vancouver city inspectors initiated a crackdown Friday on businesses operating without a licence. Last year, Vancouver city council adopted a framework to regulate all retail pot businesses after shops started popping up across the city, as they now are in Toronto. The city began issuing business licences $1,000 for compassion clubs and $30,000 for medical marijuana stores and required operators to comply with a list of regulations. Pot shops, for instance, are only allowed to operate in commercial zones at least 300 metres from schools, neighbourhood houses, community centres and other marijuana-related businesses. But the city refused to grant permits to 140 dispensaries because they didn't comply with rules such as being too close to schools or community centres, The Canadian Press reports. Operators were allowed to remain open and given six months to comply with the regulations. The deadline was Friday. Those violating the rules will be forced to close or face fines. Nonetheless, many will continue to operate without a licence because they feel they havent been given their due process, says Jaclynn Pehota, director of Outreach for the Cannabis Growers of Canada. The group represents between 16 and 20 of the 160 outlets in Vancouver. The problem that were facing here in Vancouver is that the board of variance (the appeal body) is booked up through November 2016, so people who are in the appeal process are still being forced to shut their doors. Toronto Councillors Paula Fletcher and Mary Fragedakis have suggested the city follow Vancouvers lead to curb the over-concentration of pot businesses in one neighbourhood. Pehota says what Toronto can learn from Vancouver is how not to proceed. The problem is the bylaw is extremely vague, she told the Star in an interview from Vancouver. "This is an abject failure in my opinion, in attempting to regulate cannabis businesses based on strictly land-use." Pehota said there is "no easy answer here, no simple magic bullet, she said. As much as a mess as it is in Vancouver it was not intended to be this adversarial. Read more about: SHARE: An eyewitness to Sundays deadly police shooting says the two Toronto officers who arrived on scene to find Andrew Loku wielding a hammer shouted demands at him to drop the weapon, before one officer fatally shot him soon after arriving on scene. The entire event starting from when the officers located Loku on the third floor of his Gilbert Ave. apartment building, to when Loku lay on the ground dying occurred in the span of a minute or two, according to Robin Hicks, Lokus neighbour, in her first interview since witnessing the shooting. Im not talking five minutes, or two minutes, Im talking seconds here. We didnt get a word in, me or Andrew, she said. Hicks says she was with Loku in the third floor hallway when two officers climbed up the stairs, shouting at Loku to drop the weapon. She claims the only thing police said to Loku before one officer fired was the order to drop the weapon. Loku, a 45-year-old father of five from Sudan, was shot dead early Sunday inside his apartment complex near Eglinton Ave. W. and Caledonia Ave. The buildings units are leased by the Canadian Mental Health Association to provide affordable housing and services for people suffering from mental illness. Hicks account of the shooting could not be verified by authorities. The Special Investigations Unit, the civilian agency which probes death or serious injury involving police, is now investigating. Spokesperson Monica Hudon said she could not release additional information about the shooting Tuesday. Toronto police say they cannot answer questions related to the incident or respond to Hicks account of events while the SIU investigates including whether the officers were notified before entering the building that it housed people with mental health challenges. Neither the SIU or Toronto Police will release the names of the officers involved. Grieving friends say Loku was a kind, hardworking man who lived alone while trying to bring his wife and five kids, who range in age from early to late teens, to Canada from Sudan. In April, Loku went to visit his family before returning for his graduation ceremony from George Brown Colleges construction program in June, according to John Cosamas, Lokus best friend. After years working odd jobs, including a cleaning gig at a nearby grocery store, Loku was hoping a better job would allow him to send more money back home to support his family. He was always talking about his kids, said Sabina Santurlino, a close friend who, as Lokus emergency contact in Toronto, was first to learn of his death from authorities Sunday. He talked about bringing them here, so they had it in their mind that one day they would be with their dad. Lokus half-sister, who lives in Saskatchewan, has been in contact with his wife and children. The family is confused and devastated, said Santurlino. So too are members of the tight-knit Sudanese community, several dozen of whom from across Canada were expected to participate in a scheduled conference call Tuesday night to discuss how to move forward. The communitys so outraged right now, people just want answers, said Salwa Bol, one of Lokus friends. Its just touching people in ways you cannot even imagine. Hicks said the incident began early Sunday with a loud tenant on the third floor who lives directly above Lokus second-floor unit. Loku had recently been complaining to Hicks about the noise coming from the unit. Hicks, who lives on the third floor, says she was awoken by banging coming from down the hall. When she left her apartment she could see that Loku had come upstairs from his unit and was yelling at the tenants above him. He had entered their apartment and was holding a hammer. When I opened the door and realized it was Andrew, I was in shock because Andrew is the quietest person in this whole building, Hicks said. He just said, Please, please. What did I do wrong to you people, I need sleep. Hicks could hear that one of the women in the unit was calling police. She began coaxing him out of their apartment. I just grabbed his arm and I said, Andrew, come on... and he looked at me, and he didnt look like Andrew, you know, in his eyes. Hicks led Loku out of the noisy apartment and into the third floor hallway, where Loku continued to be agitated, at one point banging the hammer on metal railing of the stairwell between the second and third floor, Hicks said. She claims Loku was beginning to calm down when police arrived on scene, responding to a call about unknown trouble and a man with a hammer. A female officer arrived first, Hicks said, and stood alone at the top of the third floor landing before a male officer arrived. Both were yelling for Loku to drop the weapon, Hicks said. She was also urging Loku to put the hammer down. At that point he turned around and looked at the officer, Hicks said. They told him to drop it one more time but he didnt, and thats when the male officer shot. Andrew died right in front of me. There was no reason for it. Lokus friends and other tenants in the building say they did not know Loku to be violent or angry. Santurlino said she did not know the details of Lokus mental health history, but said his behaviour right before his death sounded out of character. Hicks said before police arrived, Loku was obviously upset, but had not actually harmed the residents inside the noisy apartment despite having the opportunity. However, one resident of that unit who did not want to be identified said she felt very threatened when Loku arrived with a hammer. The shooting has renewed concerns about Toronto police interactions with people experiencing mental health challenges. Multiple fatal shootings of emotionally disturbed people wielding weapons have led to inquests and reports detailing how Toronto officers could avoid deadly force. Among repeated recommendations is the need for officers to defuse a tense situation through de-escalation techniques, which include offering someone in emotional distress help instead of issuing whats known as the police challenge an officer yelling an order to drop your weapon. Following the fatal police shooting of teenager Sammy Yatim on a streetcar in 2013, then-police chief Bill Blair commissioned a report on Toronto police interactions with emotionally disturbed people. The July 2014 report, written by retired Supreme Court judge Frank Iacobucci, advocated for training that emphasizes de-escalation techniques and communication in place of force. One month before Iacobuccis report was released, Blair issued a routine order stating that whenever feasible and consistent with officer and public safety, de-escalation attempts must be made before resorting to force. Lokus death has also shaken the residents of the building, a small group of whom held a meeting with staff from the Canadian Mental Health Association Tuesday to hold a moment of silence and plan a future fundraiser to help Lokus family. CMHA has arranged for group and individual counseling starting this week. Were committed to helping people, whether thats next week, next month or next year, CMHA Toronto executive director Steve Lurie said at the meeting. SHARE: Toronto Police issued a correction and apology on Friday regarding a press conference Thursday that cited the location of a gang-related shootout as an Airbnb property. Earlier this month, an altercation between members of the Young Buck Killers and a rival gang, the Queens Drive Crips, took place on the 25th floor of a building near Front St. and Blue Jays Way, according to investigators. At Thursdays press conference, Staff Insp. Mike Earl mentioned that the location in question was an Airbnb-rented condo, but police have since corrected that statement and apologized to the accommodation-sharing company. Police said that that the information investigators were originally given was incorrect. According to police, members of the Young Buck Killers gang were partying at the condo on April 19 when they received word that members of the Queens Drive Crips were on their way. Four Young Bucks went downstairs to look for the gatecrashers. When they came back upstairs, the Queen Drive Crips were waiting for them in the hallway. Security footage shows the gang members opening fire as the elevator doors open, but police do not believe anyone was seriously injured. Later that day, two 17-year-olds involved with the Queens Drive Crips were kidnapped in what police believe was retaliation for the condo ambush. The boys were tied to chairs, beaten throughout the day, threatened with guns, and allegedly forced to perform sexual acts, according to police. A ransom was eventually paid, and the boys were released on April 21. Three men have been charged in relation to the incident, and police are seeking two more. Akli Whyte, 23, faces 10 charges related to possession of the gun. Deshawn Walters, 18, faces nine weapon charges. A 16-year-old, who cannot be identified, faces seven charges. Warrants have been issued for Lincoln Anthony Richards, 23, and a 17-year-old male. Police caution that they are believed to be armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees them should call 911. With files from Peter Goffin Update December 21, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version to remove references to the name of an accused who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. SHARE: Katelynn Sampson taught the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto a lot about the weakness of its systems. Some of them seem so basic, I shook my head in disbelief many times over the past couple of days, sitting in the cavernous courtroom where the inquest into the little girls painful death is taking place. If you found a lost child, what would you do? Call the cops, tell them everything you know, then call back the next day and find out what happened? If only CAS staff had done that Seven-year-old Sampson was murdered by her two caregivers in their Parkdale apartment eight years ago. Paramedics found her lifeless body in a pool of blood, covered in 70 wounds, each more ghastly than the last. Eight of her ribs had been broken, her teeth had cut through both her lips, and there was a gaping hole in one finger, exposing the bone. Police found her blood in every room of the apartment. They found a note on which shed written, 62 times: I am A awful girl thats why know one wants me. Her caregivers, Donna Irving and Warren Johnson, pleaded guilty to her murder three years ago. They are in prison. We will never know why they were so vicious to Katelynn. What we can hope to understand is how we might have protected her from them. For three days this week, Nancy Dale testified in the courtroom. She is the chief operating officer of the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto, the protection agency that at first was in charge of Katelynns file and later referred her case to Native Child and Family Services. (Irving identified as half-Anishinabe, so once she took custody of Katelynn, NCFS was deemed the lead protection agency. There are two other child protection agencies in Toronto: the Catholic Childrens Aid Society and the Jewish Family and Child Service.) The news of Katelynns murder shocked Dale so much, she ordered an internal audit of every interaction the CAS had with her file. The audit, submitted to the inquest, showed the CAS had received a half-dozen calls concerning Katelynn in the months before her death. One came from the Catholic Childrens Aid Society, imparting a warning it had received from a neighbour, stating that Irving was involved in crack and prostitution, and had threatened the caller. While the CAS worker documented that call, there was no evidence that it passed the information on to Native Child and Family Services. Communication failure was a big theme. Four of the calls came from Katelynns public school, where she was in Grade 2. The first was seeking information about Katelynns custody. But the file about the call did not include all of Katelynns background. The investigator noted the agency had a tendency to respond on a call-by-call basis, and not integrat[e] other information learned in the process that presents another concern. That was another upsetting theme. The fourth call from the school came from the principal, who stated Katelynn had arrived with bruises on her face and arms. The CAS worker said shed referred the case to Native Child and Family Services by phone, and perhaps by fax, although the agency didnt keep fax confirmation records at the time. Workers at NCFS say they have no notice of the call or fax. What happened? I dont believe we will ever know the answer, said Dale. The CAS worker never followed up. Katelynn kept coming to school for a few more days. Then she stopped coming altogether. The last call the CAS received about her was from police, after her death. Now, the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto gets 120 to 130 referrals every day. Its easy to imagine workers slipping up on paperwork. But few clients have files as concerning and complicated as Katelynns, Dale said. Katelynns mother had lost custody of five previous children because of her crack addiction, prostitution, incarceration, drug trafficking and poor supervision. The CAS had also removed two of Irvings previous children, for similar reasons. As the court heard, Johnsons file contained a hefty criminal record, as well as allegations he sexually assaulted two young girls back in 1991. (He was never charged by police, and was not put on the child abuse registry because the eldest girl, just 5, was too traumatized to talk about it at a hearing, Dale said. The plan was to return to her later, after shed received counselling.) A poised Dale told the court the ways her agency had learned its lessons from these mistakes. In 2009, Torontos four agencies launched an Internet-based referral system that tracks reports. The agencies have also joined a new provincial record network so they can access each others records. The CAS sent workers to five Toronto schools, including Katelynns, to strengthen communication and build trust, Dale said. Her staff has been trained to think critically. All these things are now part of Katelynns sad, common sense legacy. The staff from Native Child and Family Services take the witness stand next. Catherine Porters column appears on Friday. She can be reached at cporter@thestar.ca SHARE: There was a glimpse of emotion, a dab of tenderness and a modicum of remorse at the inquest into Katelynn Sampsons death this week. Hallelujah. We are talking about a 7-year-old who was slowly beaten to death in the summer of 2008. Police found her blood in every room and closet of the Parkdale apartment where she lived. The forensic pathologist documented no fewer than 70 brutal injuries across her little body, including eight broken ribs, holes in both lips where her teeth had cut through and a wound in her middle finger so deep it exposed the bone. Even today, the thought of that bone makes me want to weep and snarl. But up till now, the prevailing tone from the witness stand has been as cold and impersonal as the wood-panelled courtroom. Katelynns legal guardians, Donna Irving and Warren Johnson, pleaded guilty four years ago to murdering her. The purpose of the inquest, then, is to examine how we all might have protected her from them. Many alarms about Katelynns safety were sounded in the months preceding her death, the inquest has heard. The loudest was rung by the principal of Parkdale Public School, Jim Smyth. He took the witness stand this week, pausing to collect his emotions while recalling the spring afternoon in 2008, three and a half months before her death, when Katelynn arrived in his office with bruises and red marks on her face, arms and hands. She told him a pot of boiling water had toppled on her over the weekend, he said. Concerned, he phoned her guardians. Johnson corroborated her story, and Irving added that the bruises were from roughhousing with the other kids in their apartment. I was very uncomfortable with the explanation, said Smyth. He called the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto and filed a report. The courtroom has already heard how that report was somehow lost between the offices of CAS and those of Native Child and Family Services, which was in charge of the file because Irving is half-Anishinabe. Neither launched an investigation. But Smyth didnt know that. They told me they would investigate and follow up, he said. But I didnt hear anything. He didnt follow up with CAS either not at the end of the day when she went home with Irving, later that week or the next, despite a Toronto District School Board policy requiring principals to do so within 24 hours if it is not apparent that an investigation has commenced. My personal experience with CAS, I always waited for them to get back to me, he said. (Since the Baldwin inquest last year, the TDSB has strengthened its duty-to-report training, according to media manager Shari Schwartz-Maltz. It is now mandatory for all staff, and annual.) Smyth also failed to fill out the official forms about the incident, one of which would have gone to the school social worker. I simply forgot, he explained. Eleven days later, Irving called the school office to say Katelynn would be absent for a while, because the family was going to Irvings reserve to attend a funeral and help a disabled uncle. By then, Katelynn had already missed 31 full days and 27 half-days of school. When asked if that was enough to warrant concern that something was seriously wrong at home, Smyth responded: No doubt about it. The Ministry of Educations absentee policy at the time held that students who missed 15 consecutive days of school or more should be referred to a social worker or deregistered. Smyth did neither. I was hoping they would come back, he said, adding later: I take responsibility. Katelynn never returned to school. However, a week before the end of the term, Irving was back in Smyths office, requesting forms to transfer her to another school. Smyth says he asked her if Katelynn could attend the last few days to see her friends. She said No, she cant come back. Shes recovering from a broken leg, he said. In retrospect, given all the other worrying signs, he should have called CAS right then, he said. I wish I could take it all back, he said. I wasnt thinking of child abuse at the time. I didnt put them together the broken leg being another situation. It was a sad relief to finally hear a faint moan of remorse in the courtroom that has mostly witnessed bureaucratic shrugs. Smyth knew Katelynn personally. He recalled whispering a question in her ear. She was a beautiful little girl, he said. Im sure he was haunted by her memory in the halls and schoolyard of Parkdale Public School, until he retired two years later. But in truth, out of all the adults charged with her protection, he had the fewest reasons to be alarmed. Neither protection agency shared any of Irving and Johnsons thick file with him. He didnt know their criminal histories. He didnt know that Irving had already given up two children to CAS because of addiction and Johnson had been accused of sexually abusing his two young nieces many years before. If he had, he said, No question, the decision would have been to call CAS. Sampsons former Grade 2 teacher is scheduled to testify on Friday. Catherine Porters column appears on Friday. She can be reached at cporter@thestar.ca SHARE: When it comes to sexual violence against indigenous women, some Toronto researchers want to stop raging against the machine and start tinkering with it instead. We have lots of stories about survivors, and the horrific experience they go through, coming forward, researcher Maya Chacaby told the Star. What we dont have is what happens after that story comes forward. Chacaby and her fellow researchers from the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres are launching a study that will thoroughly examine how a sexual assault report weaves through the system from the moments before police are called, to what investigators look for on the scene, to what documents a Crown attorney receives. If its systemic in nature, then we need to take a look at the systems and processes, she said. Systemic barriers, such as homelessness, existing criminal records, or encounters with child protective services institutions in which indigenous people are overrepresented come into play in those little processes, she says. That could result, for example, in a woman calling the police to report a sexual assault, only to be arrested herself on an outstanding warrant. Maybe then no rape kit is collected, compromising the investigation into her original call. The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services offered a $128,419 grant for the project, called Gwayakwaajimowin, an Ojibway word meaning truth telling. The funding is part of the provinces three-year plan to curb sexual assault. Minister Yasir Naqvi says the research project dovetails with the provinces long-term strategy to end violence against indigenous women. That package includes $2.32 million for police and justice reforms, such as better training for officers and Crown attorneys, and $1.15 million for public awareness of violence prevention measures and anti-racism training for civil servants. Its really important that we develop solutions based on what the victims and survivors have gone through, Naqvi said. I think thats even more true for indigenous women and girls. We know theres so many historical issues and challenges that need to be dealt with. Chacaby and her fellow researchers will spend six months collaborating with community members and following cases in Hamilton and a northern Ontario community yet to be announced. Though the work requires cooperation from police and courts, she is confident it will happen. Its not about finger-pointing, she said, adding the goal is in everyones interest. I dont think anybody wants to see more missing and murdered indigenous women anywhere. Instead of talking about how horrible the system is, lets look at whats actually happening inside there and come up with some viable solutions that we all can celebrate. SHARE: A Peterborough nurse has been found guilty of professional misconduct for accessing almost 300 confidential patient records at Peterborough Regional Health Centre over two years, at a disciplinary hearing she fought to keep secret. Mandy Edgerton (formerly Edgerton-Reid) was slapped with a four-month suspension and a formal reprimand on Wednesday, by a five-member panel at the College of Nurses of Ontario. The Toronto Stars lawyers successfully challenged her effort to hold the hearing in secret. The panel found she committed professional misconduct by accessing 285 patient files at the Peterborough hospital that she had no authorization or consent to look at. The snooping occurred between 2010 and 2012, while she was a nurse there. Once Edgerton gets her registration back, she will have to notify any employer for a further 18 months of the misconduct, and shell have to attend three meetings with a nursing expert. The panel found she had committed another act of professional misconduct for failing to maintain appropriate nurse-client boundaries with someone for whom she was providing home care between June 2012 and October 2013, by getting too engaged with the family through doing things like bringing personal friends to the home of the client. Edgerton admitted to these allegations at the hearing. College counsel Megan Shortreed told the panel the college has seen an increasing number of these cases where there has been multiple unauthorized accesses to personal health information. She said such a sanction will send a message to (Edgerton) that she does not engage in future misconduct, and will also warn other nurses in Ontario that misconduct of this nature will be dealt with seriously by this college. Edgerton and six other employees were fired by the Peterborough Regional Health Centre amid allegations they violated patient privacy in 2011 and 2012. She was also named as a defendant in a $5.6-million class-action lawsuit, alleging breach of privacy. She was originally also accused of accessing personal health information about a student and sharing it with other nursing students she taught at Fleming College, which fired her in 2012, but she was not found guilty of anything with regard to this incident. Asked after the hearing for comment, Edgerton said she had none whatsoever, not to the Toronto Star. The website of the College of Nurses of Ontario lists her current employer as Manulife Financial, but a spokesperson for the company contacted Tuesday said there was no person with that name working there. Edgertons lawyer, Robert Stephenson, argued that she had accessed the files of patients she had had undocumented interactions with so as to do things such as provide reports at the end of her shift. He also said she accessed reports for patients not directly in her care as part of teaching nursing students at Fleming College, and that when police and other community services alerted the hospital they were bringing someone in, she would sometimes proactively look up records. (Edgerton) did not disclose any personal health information to anyone, Stephenson said, adding she did not misuse the information in any way. Hospitals, who play an important role in this process and in ensuring the publics safety and public confidence, are not here today, he said. A spokesperson for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Michelene Ough, wrote in an emailed statement that the hospital takes patient privacy very seriously, and that employees are required to sign a confidentiality agreement and take privacy training every year, which Edgerton did. She added that the centre did perform random audits of accesses to patients personal health information before March 2012, when Edgertons access was audited. A 2015 Star investigation found hundreds of hospital privacy violations are not reported to the privacy commissioners office. Michael Crystal, a lawyer for patients in the class-action suit, said the ruling sends a strong signal that the college is taking invasion of privacy very seriously. This is a very, very positive development along the road, and I think it will encourage and bootstrap other players the privacy commissioner, the Ministry of the Attorney General to pursue prosecutions in this area, he said. Its not a game changer, but its major. To be suspended says, Hey, were giving you the second most serious sanction, and thats to send a message to would-be snoopers. SHARE: The nominations for one of Canadas most prestigious journalism awards were announced Friday, including two entries from The Stars six finalists. The Michener Awards honour excellence in public-service journalism, this year recognizing works from The Star, CBC, Canadian Press, the Globe and Mail, Radio-Canadas TV magazine Enquete, and the Telegraph-Journal of Saint John, N.B. The Star has been nominated for two submissions, including an investigative series which found that police keep and frequently release non-conviction records about citizens during routine background checks, unfairly harming individuals. The Star also shares a joint nomination with the CBC and the Globe and Mail for investigative journalism on missing and murdered indigenous women. The Canadian Press was cited for articles by Winnipeg-based journalist Chinta Puxley on the isolation of residents of Shoal Lake 40 in Manitoba. The Globe was named finalist for a series into the tendering process for an expansion of Toronto's St Michaels Hospital that was found to suffer a lack of due diligence and serious conflicts of interest. The Telegraph-Journal managed to obtain child-care inspection records in Saint John that showed the provincial regulator had failed to enforce cleanliness standards, safety practices and mandatory background checks on employees. Enquete was named finalist for a story on the disappearance of an indigenous woman from Val DOr, Que., while the CBC, Globe and Star were cited for work on missing and murdered indigenous women. Founded in 1970 by the late Roland Michener, who served as governor general from 1967 to 1974, the awards are judged by the degree of public benefit generated by each entry. Gov. Gen. David Johnston will host the awards ceremony at Rideau Hall on June 17 when the 2015 winners will be announced. With files from The Canadian Press SHARE: The director of the York Region school board has what amounts to a job for life there once his unprecedented 10-year contract expires, the Star has learned. In an unusual clause in his employment contract a copy of which was obtained by the Star if the board decides not to renew J. Philip Parappallys tenure after his decade at the helm, the director shall automatically be placed in the position of supervisory officer (at maximum supervisory officer salary and benefits ) Using access to information requests, the Star obtained the contracts of other education directors in Peel, Halton and Toronto, as well Parappallys predecessor. None have such a guarantee. Joel Hertz, a trustee when the controversial Parappally was hired in 2014, said he remembers the clause clearly and it seemed kind of unusual at the time. Generally, if your job doesnt work out, you get some severance, and its nice knowing you, said Hertz, whose support helped Parappally secure the director role which was initially only for four years. When you think about it, why would you put a person not doing his job well back into a senior role in the organization, and then working for another director? It doesnt make sense. He recalls some discussion about it at the boardroom table, but most people were so upset about the contentious hiring process and Parappallys selection in general that the details of the contract seemed like the least of (their) worries. But now with a 10-year contract, and the guarantee of a job after that, this is just ridiculous, Hertz said. Parappally was vaulted to the position of director from field superintendent in a process that itself caused an uproar in the York Region District School Board. He was initially given a four-year contract; a year and a half later it was inexplicably renegotiated and bumped up to 10 years, which is unheard of in Ontario education circles. The contract came amid questions about how Parappally was hired after not being endorsed by the very consultant hired by the board to find a new leader; according to Hertz, there were concerns Parappally was the only candidate to bring notes to his interview and didnt have strong references. In a previous email to the Star, Parappally said he was humbled to be chosen as director. He said he couldnt discuss specifics of his contract since it was a personnel matter. In accordance with the Education Act, I am qualified to hold the position of director of education in Ontario, added Parappally, who earned $268,267 in 2015, according to the provincial Sunshine List. Since being named director, dozens of staff, insiders and parents have spoken to the Star about a worsening climate at the board, and others have expressed concern about the unusually high number of senior administrators leaving. Responding on behalf of the board, Chair Anna DeBartolo who has known Parappally for 16 years, first meeting him when he was an administrator at her childs school said via email that the directors contract is based on a standard template used for all supervisory officers. We do not discuss personnel matters publicly, nor do we engage in speculation. When the boards communications manager was asked why Parappallys predecessor Ken Thurston had no such provision in his contract, DeBartolo amended her statement to clarify that it is used for supervisory officers promoted from within the board. She has previously told the Star the board needed stability of the 10-year contract as Parappally implements a long-term plan. According to education insiders, almost two decades ago, a handful of education directors might have negotiated similar clauses in their contracts for protection as the government of the day began amalgamating boards. But it is not considered a current practice. In Halton Region, the contract of recently hired Stuart Miller, who was promoted from within, states that in the event the board does not elect to renew the contract, or the parties are unable to agree to the terms, the contract herein will expire at the end of the term. And if the Peel District School Board decides not to keep veteran director Tony Pontes when his contract ends in 2018, the agreement also simply expires. He too was a long-time employee of the board he now runs. The York contract is troubling on several fronts, said Charles Pascal, a former deputy education minister. The notion of a 10-year contract itself, especially for someone of that level of experience, and adding on the superintendent job after the 10 years has several problems, he said. Its basically guaranteeing a job for life; as well, theres no thought put into the notion that a new director may not want that particular individual as a superintendent on the senior team, said Pascal, a governance expert who is now with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. It just lacks strategic intelligence of the nature of what a new director would want, and a new director would be stuck with somebody who may or may not work out. In the post-secondary world, university or college presidents sometimes return to being professors once their terms are up, but this is not a comparable situation, he added. This has nothing to do with what would be best for the York board, added Pascal. Governance is about what is in the best interest of the students and the staff ... It appears as though, with the length of the contract and a job-for-life condition at the end of it, that question wasnt raised. When asked to comment about the Stars revelations about Parappallys contract, a spokesperson for Education Minister Liz Sandals said school boards are responsible for the details of how contracts are structured. We continue to monitor issues to ensure the good governance of school boards across the province as they continue to support the success and well-being of all members of all its school communities, Nicole McInerney said in an email. Noor Javed covers York Region for the Star and can be reached at njaved@thestar.ca Kristin Rushowy is an education reporter and can be reached at krushowy@thestar.ca SHARE: As the tax filing deadline loomed this week, the federal Conservative party sent out a curious fundraising appeal. Its that time again taxes are almost due! the party reminded potential contributors. Did you know that political donors can get big tax credits at tax time? So much so that a $50 donation can cost as little as $12.50 after the tax credit! The email then reminded taxpayers: Justin Trudeaus Liberals are running wild with the countrys credit card, racking up billions of dollars in debt. The basic logic, then, is that citizens should give money to a political party to get an immediate, cashback reward from the federal treasury, and as a bonus, keep it out of the hands of the dreaded Liberals. No doubt this works Conservatives wouldnt be doing it otherwise. Liberals, meanwhile, were also turning on the fundraising appeals as the April 30 tax deadline grew closer, offering to send stickers to contributors labels emblazoned with slogans such as Sunny Ways, Canada Is Back or My PM Knows Quantum Computing. Yet another Liberal email, with just one word in the subject line Rumours hinted that Trudeaus party was in danger of being out-fundraised by the Conservatives, even now that Liberals are in power and their rivals are not. With their war chest filling up again, the attack ads and food-fight politics wont be far behind, that email read. Clearly I would have no future as a political fundraiser, since I would be extremely reluctant to ask Canadians, of any stripe, to donate their hard-earned dollars on the same weekend that theyre filing their taxes. Fundraising also requires people to see the world through stark, black-and-white distinctions between friends and enemies. Governing, on the other hand, requires bridge-building between people. That distinction, between fundraising and governing, explains a lot of what were seeing these days in the dismantling of former prime minister Stephen Harpers legacy. The thread that connects many of these developments from laws being struck down to the trial and verdict of Sen. Mike Duffy is what the old government did to raise cash. Duffy, well recall, was appointed to the Senate in late 2008 primarily because of his potential to attract donations to the Conservative cause. It soon became clear that Stephen Harper had not chosen Mike Duffy merely to speechify in the Red Chamber, veteran journalist Dan Leger wrote in his 2014 bookDuffy: Stardom to Senate to Scandal. At the partys bidding, the new senator was soon packing his bags for the road and a series of Conservative fundraisers that would bring big dollars into the party war chest. As so many Conservative and Liberal senators had done before him, Duffy would raise money for his party while drawing a stable salary from the Canadian people. And though it wasnt stated explicitly in the Duffy investigation or the trial, we can probably assume that all the hand-wringing within the Prime Ministers Office and debates over paying Duffys expenses in 2013 were rooted in the question of how he would be compensated for the money he raised. We might recall that the Conservative party, chief beneficiary of Duffys fundraising achievements, was going to pay the bill until it was deemed too costly. What were seeing in the courts, too, is a result of the good-fundraising/bad-law approach to power. Over the years when the Conservatives were running the country, critics often wondered why the government would be taking measures almost certain to be struck down by the courts from mandatory minimum sentences to banning the wearing of a niqab at citizenship ceremonies. The answer, obviously, was that the so-called law-and-order agenda or standing up for Canadian values helped raise money for the party. Many commentators have been discussing, especially in light of the Duffy verdict last week, what will remain of Harpers legacy after the Liberals and the courts not to mention his own party are finished dismantling much of it. In iPolitics several weeks ago, columnist L. Ian MacDonald suggested that Harpers legacy was being so swiftly dispatched because he was a transactional rather than transformative prime minister. That assessment sounds about right, especially if were talking about the transactions between Conservatives and their donor base. The perils of mixing fundraising and government have been much in the headlines recently, with particular attention to conflict of interest. The vanishing Harper legacy should be a warning to the new Liberal government, too, about another possible fundraising conflict between whats good for the short-term bank account of the party and what lasts in the long-term future of the country. Read more about: SHARE: The NDP appears to be stalling on political fundraising reforms because of its financial ties to the Ontario Cornerstone Leadership Corporation, charges Premier Kathleen Wynne. In the wake of a Star probe of Cornerstone, a union-financed holding company, Wynne wondered if the partys corporate arrangement explains its opposition to her approach to fixing Ontarios lax fundraising rules. It certainly raises the question for me (that) maybe thats why there hasnt been as much uptake of the discussion on substance, the premier said of NDP Leader Andrea Horwaths criticism of the Liberal legislative plan. If this story if this revelation now allows Andrea, or pushes Andrea, to have a conversation with me about substance thats a really good thing. Horwath countered that its Wynne not her, Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown, or Green Leader Mike Schreiner who is being obstructionist. Id suggest its the premier who is dragging this out, by stubbornly digging in and saying its her way or the highway said the NDP leader, who is allied with Brown and Schreiner on the issue. We can all agree that its time to get the influence of big money out of government and politics in Ontario. Cornerstone, which has no listed phone number or website, bought the NDPs headquarters at 101 Richmond St. E. nine years ago for $3.1 million. The Star obtained the previously secret 2009 shareholders agreement that revealed Cornerstone is a complex corporate entity where the Ontario NDP controls all of the Class A common shares. All of the Class B common shares are owned by eight public-sector and private-sector unions or their locals. These shareholders United Steelworkers District 6 and National, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the United Food and Commercial Workers, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (now Unifor), the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, and the Service Employees International Union have less boardroom power than the NDP with its Class A shares. The corporate structure is not illegal. Wynne is expected to table fundraising reforms next month and it is unclear how that would impact Cornerstone. One of the questions I asked was about union and corporate donations but also guarantee of loans. Those are the kind of questions I want to engage with (Horwath) on, the premier said. For me whats important is that we have everybody engaged in figuring out how to change the rules. But Horwath maintained that the NDP and Cornerstone are independent of one another. I said there was no direct financial relationship in terms of money flowing from one organization to the other. We have guarantors on our loans like every political party does when we need loans, she said. We have some unions that guarantee our loans, we have this completely separate organization, called Cornerstone that guarantees some of our loans, said Horwath. According to Elections Ontario, Cornerstone guaranteed a $6-million loan to the NDP to bankroll its 2014 election campaign. That year, the party paid Cornerstone $273,904.56 for office and equipment rent. The confidential shareholders agreement sheds light on Cornerstones connections to the NDP. The corporation shall, upon request from time to time by the ONDP and in compliance with applicable law, provide such guarantees, liens, and other financial assistance and such further assurances and instruments in respect thereof, as the ONDP may request from time to time to assist in financing its activities, it says. Union leaders say they worked with the NDP to create Cornerstone to help the party compete with the Liberals and Tories, who have connections to Bay Street banks and can therefore secure campaign loans more easily. Cornerstone board chair Anne Healy who is also executive assistant to the national secretary-treasurer of the CUPE has said the corporation is watching developments regarding political fundraising changes. The Cornerstone board will look at any new legislation when details are available to see how it will affect our operations, but until then we dont think speculation is a useful exercise, said Healy. A revamp of Ontarios lax political fundraising law has been a hot topic at Queens Park since the Star disclosed on March 29 that Liberal cabinet ministers have party fundraising targets of up to $500,000 apiece. Wynne announced legislative changes which will ban corporate and union donations and reduce annual contributions to a maximum of $1,525 from $9,975 in the immediate aftermath of the expose. Read more about: SHARE: The director of the Special Investigations Unit believes Andrew Lokus aggressive behaviour on the night he was shot dead by Toronto police was due to intoxication, not mental illness, and said police did not know the building where Loku lived and died housed people with mental health challenges. SIU director Tony Loparco also raised serious concerns about the improper conduct of one Toronto police officer immediately after Lokus death, saying his attempt to secure and view surveillance video threatened to publicly compromise the credibility of the SIUs independent probe. The revelations in the high-profile Toronto police shooting come after the Ministry of the Attorney General publicly released on Friday the SIU directors report, a document that has always been kept secret after every investigation since the watchdog was created in 1990. But the heavily censored document is a fraction of Loparcos report just nine of 34 total pages and omits key information, including the name of the officer who killed Loku, the names of nine police witnesses, and those of 15 civilian witnesses. The information thats kept secret in those missing pages, critics say, is the most important part: the evidence. This is not a full release, this is not full transparency, this is not the full accountability that the public has been asking for, said Margaret Parsons, executive director of the African Canadian Legal Clinic, the firm that has been retained by Lokus family. It is impossible to determine how Loparco arrived at his conclusions, Parsons said, without seeing what civilian witnesses had to say and to weigh that against the officers version of events. The partial release of information doesnt come close to giving the family justice, Parsons said. Were not any more informed than we were yesterday before the report was released, said Rodney Diverlus, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto, which had camped outside Toronto police headquarters for weeks in protest following the SIUs decision to clear police in Lokus death. Without knowing what the evidence was, and the legal reasoning of the director, it cannot be subjected to public scrutiny and doesnt serve any valid purpose whatsoever, said former SIU director and Crown attorney Howard Morton. Alongside the release of the report, the government named an Ontario Court of Appeal justice to lead a review of police oversight in the province. For now, NDP deputy leader Jagmeet Singh and Progressive Conservative MPP Randy Hillier both of whom have been vocal critics of the SIUs secrecy in recent weeks examined the released reports highly censored form and condemned it. Its disrespectful to the (Loku) family and its disrespectful of the public, said Singh. It took so long to release so little, said Hillier, who said it is completely unacceptable to withhold all of the witnesses accounts. Queens Park said the deletions, which are a result of privacy and safety constraints as well as legal requirements, include information gathered from witness interviews, and forensic and physical evidence. The omission of key information is due to the fact that when the SIU does an investigation, it formally advises everyone interviewed that their names and statements will be kept confidential. The information would only be released with their consent, or if required by law in a criminal court hearing or a coroners inquest. But privacy experts say the province can and should do more to disclose more information about Lokus case and all other SIU probes. Ann Cavoukian, formerly Ontarios information and privacy commissioner, said the civilian statements should have been made public but without any witnesses identifying information, as is done by British Columbias police oversight body. The names of the officers should be released because they are acting in a formal public capacity. Weve heard from so many people who just want to get an understanding of what happened, and you gain a better understanding by hearing from each of the witnesses in their own words as opposed to a summary of that by the person overseeing the whole process, she said, adding shes cautiously optimistic with the released of the censored report. Current information and privacy commissioner Brian Beamish was pleased that at least a partial version of the report was released, but reiterated his position that the names of the police officers should be published, despite the government saying they are protected under freedom of information and privacy legislation. He said some portions of the witness statements could also have been released without identifying them, in compliance with privacy law. I understand the position of the government that formal assurances of confidentiality (to the witnesses) were made and the reluctance to retroactively change the rules of the game, Beamish said in a statement to the Star. However, I continue to believe that there is a significant public interest in the release of some personal information in reports of this nature, for example, the names of subject officers. Going forward, I believe the rules need to be revised immediately so that families and the public have all the information they need, including personal information, to assess SIU investigations and findings. Loku, a 45-year-old father of five from South Sudan, was killed when officers were called to a Toronto apartment building at 502 Gilbert Ave. last July, after reports he was threatening a woman inside with a hammer. He was killed in the third-floor hallway of his unit in a building leased by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to tenants with mental health challenges. According to the SIU report, Loku was advancing on police with a hammer with it raised above his head. Loparco ruled the unnamed officer shot Loku in self-defence, and that Loku repeatedly ignored orders to drop the weapon. What you gonna do, come on, shoot me, Loku is quoted as saying. However, two eyewitnesses have told the Star that by the time police arrived on scene, Loku initially agitated by an ongoing noise dispute in the building had calmed down and no longer posed a threat. New information provided in Loparcos report includes that the partner of the officer who shot Loku told the SIU that she herself was just about to fire at the time. The report also reveals that the officer who shot Loku was not interviewed until July 13, more than a week after the shooting. An SIU spokesperson did not respond to an email Friday asking what caused the delay. Loparcos report also reveals that Lokus blood-alcohol level was 247 mg/100 ml of blood, three times the legal limit. The director says it was likely Lokus intoxication, and not his mental illness, that caused him to be aggressive toward police, though Loparcos rationale for this is not included in the report released Friday. The full report SIU report on Andrew Loku's shooting death Loparco also said there is no no evidence police knew of Lokus mental health issues, because a civilian witness with the CMHA said the organization expressly did not advise Toronto police that the building housed people with mental health challenges because of the possible stigma. Lokus death and the secrecy surrounding it sparked outrage across Ontario, triggering an upcoming coroners inquest and the two-week Black Lives Matter Toronto protest outside Toronto police headquarters. Against that backdrop, Premier Kathleen Wynne said the report would be released to the public. It is the first since the SIU was launched in 1990. After every SIU probe, the agencys director does a report detailing the decision to either lay a charge or clear an officer. That report only goes to the attorney general. Also Friday, the government named Justice Michael Tulloch to lead a review of how police oversight is conducted in Ontario. Tulloch, the first black judge on the Ontario Court of Appeal, worked on a previous review of the SIU, and will report back with final recommendations by next March 31 in a report that the attorney general must make public. His independent probe will examine the SIU, the Office of the Independent Police Review Director and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. I am certainly aware that the issues involved are complex and will require a sense of balance and fairness, Tulloch said in a statement to the Star. I am also confident that with the input of the stakeholders involved that I will be able to investigate these issues with a fresh perspective to make the necessary recommendations in order to ensure a more functional system. Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur said it is an important appointment, adding that Tulloch will be widely consulting with everyone from police to activists to journalists who cover policing matters. I have full confidence in him, said Meilleur, noting that Tullochs review could lead to the retroactive release of other SIU reports and to the censored information in the Loku case. We have asked Justice Tulloch to prioritize making recommendations as to how information in SIU reports could be made public in the future, as well as whether past SIU reports should be made public, and the form this information would take. The government expects to receive these prioritized recommendations in the coming months, she said. This review process ... will create a more transparent approach to police oversight that has the confidence of both the police and the public they serve. MORE AT THESTAR.COM You should know whats done in your name: Keenan Andrew Lokus death by a police bullet came quickly, witness says Andrew Lokus death by a police bullet came quickly, witness says No charges for police officer who shot Andrew Loku SHARE: PANAMA CITYProsecutors on Wednesday wrapped up their search of the Mossack Fonseca law firm looking for evidence of any illegal activity in the company at the centre of a document leak that revealed details of offshore financial accounts. Lead organized crime prosecutor Javier Caraballo emerged from the offices after 27 hours of searching to say investigators had seized 100 computer servers that they would begin reviewing. We cannot so far establish if we have elements that show some kind of tie (to illegal acts), but we are satisfied with the quantity of information that we have been able to collect, Caraballo said. Earlier in the day, Attorney General Kenia Porcell said it was too early to talk about what might have found in an investigation that she described as very complex. She said investigators were checking the firms computers and noted it had servers in multiple locations. Prosecutors are also checking the server of the telephone company that provided the firms service. Im not saying there is a crime, Porcell stressed. Mossack Fonseca has denied any wrongdoing. The search started Tuesday, 10 days after news reports began emerging about the document leak known as the Panama Papers. Stories reported that the millions of documents contained details on secretive offshore accounts and shell companies set up by Mossack Fonseca for wealthy clients around the globe. About 30 demonstrators gathered outside Mossack Fonsecas office Wednesday to demand a thorough investigation. We demand justice. We cannot allow that a law firm cast doubts on the country, said Luis Gonzalez, leader of the countrys powerful construction workers union. Investigate these scoundrels and lock them up. Some legal observers questioned the governments delay in investigating the offices. The day after the revelations came to light the public ministry should have intervened immediately in Mossack Fonseca, should have collected the data, the computer, gotten all of the evidence, said Italo Antinori, an expert in constitutional law at Complutense University in Madrid. A lot of evidence could have been diluted, altered. SHARE: A man wearing what authorities described as a panda outfit was shot and wounded by police after he entered a Fox TV station in Baltimore and threatened to blow it up on Thursday with a device he displayed in the lobby. A police robot later was used to remove the mans clothes and police determined that the device was inert, consisting of chocolate bars wrapped in aluminum foil connected by wires. The man was hospitalized in serious but stable condition early Thursday, and police said he was expected to survive. Police did not release his identity, but said he was 25 and thought to be from Howard County in Maryland. Police were investigating a motive. The incident began about 1 p.m., police said, when a strangely dressed man with a suspicious device approached a security guard in the entry of Fox 45. Jourael Apostolides, the security guard, said the man showed him a flash drive that contained a message about the composition of the sun that the man said he needed to transmit. Apostolides later told reporters outside the station that the man had a hedgehog onesie outfit on. The message was that the government was wrong in how it thought about anything in space, Apostolides said. I saw him from across the street, Fox reporter Paul Gessler told the Washington Post in a telephone interview. It was like an all-white painter suit, almost like a onesie-type suit. At a news conference, T.J. Smith, communications director for Baltimore police, said officers responded to calls about the mans threat and also about a car on fire in the stations parking lot that either belonged to the man or was associated with him. It appeared to be arson-related, Smith said. There was a rag inside of the gas tank area of the vehicle. (There) was no type of explosion; no type of bomb detonated at any time. The man was struck at least three times when police fired a total of seven shots as he emerged from the building and began advancing toward them, refusing to remove his hands from his pockets as officers commanded, Smith said. The man fell to the ground outside the station and a robot was brought in to search him for explosives. I wish we were in a position to render first aid to him immediately, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis told reporters. But Davis said the man still posed a threat and could have been attempting to trigger an explosive device. When you have a non-compliant individual, unfortunately you have to do what you have to do, Smith said. Apostolides said he was concerned about two other people present when the man allegedly made his threat in the station lobby. My first thought was to get them out of there, he said. Then I tried to calm him down. Apostolides said he offered the man food, water and a seat. Apostolides added: Everyone needs someone to talk to. Police said Thursday evening they were investigating the contents of the flash drive. Why did he do this? Smith said. We dont know the answer to that. Asked whether the incident might be related to another at ABC2 in Baltimore in 2014, when a man crashed a truck into the station, Davis said: Public spaces, places where people get their news from . . . are occasionally vulnerable. SHARE: COSTA MESA, CALIF.Several hundred protesters opposing Donald Trump gathered Friday outside the hotel where he was scheduled to speak to Republicans, and some broke through a steel barricade and approached the venues entrance. Police in riot gear stood shoulder-to-shoulder to keep demonstrators back as they were pelted with eggs. The crowd chanted anti-Trump slogans in a rowdy scene reminiscent of protests that grew out of hand following a Trump rally in Southern California the night before. On Friday, a man wearing a Trump campaign Make America Great Again red hat was struck while being jostled by a group of shouting protesters. It went gangbusters. They attacked me, said Chris Conway, a mortgage broker from San Mateo. A dozen protesters linked arms to block the road in front of the hotel near San Francisco International Airport, but police had already closed it to traffic. Protesters also draped a large Stop Hate banner outside the hotel. In Southern California, violent demonstrations led to 17 arrests as the Republican presidential contender brought his campaign to conservative Orange County on Thursday. While Trump held a rally at a fairgrounds amphitheatre, dozens waved anti-Trump signs outside in mostly peaceful protests and traded insults with masses of the candidates supporters who had lined up to see him. Later in the evening, however, the protests swelled and grew rowdy and spilled into the streets. One Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the arena. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented, and other protesters sprayed graffiti on a police car and the Pacific Amphitheatres marquee. Dozens of cars including those of Trump supporters trying to leave were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. Some protesters badgered Trump fans as they walked to their cars in the parking lot. Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the venue. There were no major injuries and police did not use any force. Earlier in the evening, a half-dozen anti-Trump protesters taunted those waiting to get into the venue. Trump supporters surrounded one man who waved a Mexican flag and shouted Build that wall! Build that wall! a reference to Trumps call to create a barrier between the United States and Mexico to stop illegal border crossings. Seven shirtless women wearing Bernie Sanders stickers over their breasts entered the square outside the amphitheatre. They said they were protesting Trumps lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and womens rights. I feel like he wants to make America great again, but certainly not for women, for the LBGTQ community or for the lower class, said one of the women, Tiernan Hebron, referencing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. He has, like, done nothing to help with gender equality or womens rights or reproductive rights or anything. Trump has drawn large crowds across the country, with some of his events marred by protests and scuffles. The Pacific Amphitheatre was filled to its capacity of about 8,000 and a couple thousand more were turned away, Orange County Sheriffs Lt. Mark Stichter said. Earlier this week, a Trump rally in nearby Anaheim turned contentious when his supporters and protesters clashed, and several people were hit by pepper spray. Trump was not present. Read more about: SHARE: In the latest attack on Syrias hospitals and medical personnel in the past three days, Russian or Syrian airstrikes blasted a Canadian-run hospital in the besieged city of Aleppo. On Friday, the website of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM-Canada) said that the Al Marjeh Primary Health Care Centre was completely destroyed after patients and medical personnel were evacuated earlier in the week. The centre opened in 2014 and cared for thousands of displaced people, with 82 per cent of its patients women and children. The targeting of health centres and hospitals is a war crime, said Oakville surgeon Dr. Anas Al Kassem, who had helped to operate and support the clinic. We strongly condemn these actions and ask the international community to act and protect hospitals and aid workers. Its time the international community took action to stop these crimes against humanity. That seems increasingly unlikely. The Syrian military announced a 24-hour regime of calm in government-held Damascus and rebel-held Eastern Ghouta beginning Saturday, and for 72 hours in the northern Latakia province. But Russia has refused to include Aleppo in an extended truce and Syria considers anyone in its rebel-held areas to be a legitimate target. In spite of a Feb. 27 ceasefire deal that gave civilians a temporary respite from the violence, attacks have escalated amid fears that Syria and its allies including Russia, a veto-bearing member of the UN Security Council are planning to clear the rebel-held eastern area of Aleppo and reclaim it by force. On Wednesday, the Al Quds hospital in Aleppo was targeted, killing at least 50 patients and staff members, including Dr. Muhammad Waseem Maaz, one of the citys last remaining pediatricians. On Friday, more than 80 humanitarian organizations signed a petition to U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking them to take urgent steps to end attacks on Syrian civilians, which claim a life on average every 25 minutes in the past 48 hours. There can be no justification for these appalling acts of violence deliberately targeting clinics, which are prohibited under International Humanitarian Law, said a statement from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Deliberate attacks on civilians, and on hospitals and medical facilities, are considered war crimes under the laws of war. But for Syrias President Bashar Assad, they appear to be part of a systematic strategy of territorial gain. What is truly egregious is that wiping out hospitals appears to have become part of their military strategy, said Amnesty International crisis response director Tirana Hassan in a report last month. The strategy has destroyed scores of medical facilities and killed hundreds of doctors and nurses since the start of the conflict. Amnesty has documented a Syrian government pattern of destroying civilian infrastructure and driving out support personnel in rebel-held territories, to pave the way for an advance by ground forces, and to force residents to flee to Assad-controlled areas. Hospital attacks and assaults on civilian areas have made life untenable for many Syrians, who are in deteriorating health from years of war. Hospitals in many parts of the country are so overwhelmed with traumatic injuries that they cant serve patients with chronic conditions, says Elise Baker of Physicians for Human Rights, which maps attacks on medical facilities. Medical supply routes have also been cut off and aid deliveries are hampered. The goal is to terrorize populations and make life unbearable in areas outside government control, Baker said. But on the ground, many people have said they were not going to surrender to tyranny and murderous tactics. They would rather die in their homes. Since the beginning of 2016, more than 30 medical personnel have died in attacks, and others have been forced to flee. Since the war began, almost 600 have reportedly died. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that airstrikes and government shelling had killed more than 131 civilians in the past week, while rebel shelling of government areas killed 71 civilians, according to the Guardian. Rebels have also attacked medical facilities with shelling. Some 400,000 people have died in Syrias six-year war. However, there appears to be little hope for an end any time soon. The Syrian opposition walked out of peace talks in Geneva last week as fighting escalated around Aleppo. Assad also has little incentive to compromise as long as Russia, as well as Iran and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia are bolstering his forces, although he still controls less territory than Daesh, other rebel groups and the Kurds combined. If the attacks on Aleppo continue, said the ICRC, it will be pushed further to the brink of humanitarian disaster. Read more about: SHARE: DAMASCUS, SYRIAThe Syrian army and rebels unleashed deadly new attacks on each other Friday in Aleppo, with insurgents shelling a mosque during weekly prayers and government airstrikes hitting opposition neighbourhoods in escalating bloodshed the U.N. decried as a monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all parties. More than 200 people have been killed in eight days of mounting violence in and around the contested northern city, including 15 at the Malla Khan mosque hit by rebel rockets and another 10 from the government warplanes and helicopters, officials said. The surge in fighting has caused the collapse of a two-month ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and Russia. It also has raised fears of an all-out government assault on Aleppo and warnings of a humanitarian disaster in the 5-year-old civil war. In rebel-held neighbourhoods, medical facilities, bakeries and a water station have been pounded by a government bombardment, residents say. Electricity is down to a few hours a week. A single road out of Aleppo is the only supply line for the insurgent-controlled districts, where an estimated 250,000 people remain. If forces loyal to President Bashar Assad take the road, there could be major shortages of food and medicines. People have already started fleeing the city, said Baraa al-Halaby, an activist who watched older men, women and children leave his rebel-held neighbourhood Friday. If Aleppo comes under siege, people will starve to death within a month. Assads military declared a brief truce in the capital of Damascus and its outskirts and the coastal province of Latakia but not in Aleppo. That could signal plans for a ground assault. Pro-Assad media in Lebanon have been reporting for weeks that reinforcements are preparing for the grand battle of Aleppo. Syrias largest city and its commercial centre before the war, Aleppo has been divided between the two camps. Now it is once more the main battleground after peace talks stalled in Geneva. Zeid Raad Al Hussein, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the latest fighting showed a monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all parties to the conflict. In a statement released in Geneva, Zeid urged the sides to step back from a return to all-out war. In short, the violence is soaring back to the levels we saw prior to the cessation of hostilities. There are deeply disturbing reports of military buildups indicating preparations for a lethal escalation, he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed ways to resolve the Syrian conflict through the preservation and strengthening of the Feb. 27 ceasefire, the provision of humanitarian assistance to people living in blocked areas and the establishment of a sustainable political process, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Lavrov again stressed the need for the full participation of Syrian Kurds in the talks, as well as for the disengagement of the moderate opposition from groups considered to be terrorist organizations. U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the two talked about the cessation of hostilities; about some of the efforts that are under way; about the reinforcement of that cessation of hostilities in parts of Syria; and also about the political negotiation track as well. After a brief lull overnight, government airstrikes resumed Friday morning on rebel-held areas. At least 10 people died and dozens were wounded, according to the Local Coordination Committees and Bibars Mishal, a volunteer with the first-response Civil Defence Teams in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that monitors the conflict, put the death toll at 11. The rebel rockets struck the Malla Khan mosque after noon in the government-held Bab al-Faraj districts, killing 15 and wounding 30, state TV reported. In opposition areas, air raids prompted religious leaders to suspend the collective Friday prayers in mosques for the first time. The heart of the believers is aching ... but preserving lives is an important religious duty, the Religious Council of Aleppo, an opposition body that runs religious affairs, said in an online statement. Government airstrikes have heavily damaged infrastructure in opposition neighbourhoods. A main hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders was bombed late Wednesday, and the death toll from that attack rose Friday to more than 50, according to the group, known by its French acronym MSF. Among the dead were patients and at least six staff, including one of Aleppos remaining pediatricians. The hospital was one of the few standing medical centres in Aleppo and offered pediatric and cardiology wards. A clinic was damaged Friday in the neighbourhood of al-Marj, but there were no casualties, said two opposition monitoring groups. A water distribution point in Bab al-Nairab was damaged Wednesday, depriving four neighbourhoods of drinking water, said Mishal, the civil defence volunteer. He called eight days of government airstrikes vicious, vicious, vicious. A third medical centre in the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood was bombed shortly before dark Friday, destroying the facility. No one was at the facility at the time, but three bystanders were killed. MSF said it was desperately worried that people in rebel-held areas of Aleppo are in danger of being cut off from medical care. The sky is falling in Aleppo, said Muskilda Zancada, head of MSFs Syria mission. The city, consistently at the front lines of this brutal war, is now in danger of coming under a full offensive. No corner is being spared. Attacks on hospitals and medical staff are a devastating indicator of how the war in Syria is waged, one of numerous brutal ways in which civilians are targeted. Zancada said the city is already a shell of what it once was, and the latest assault appears determined to eliminate even that. It was not immediately clear what impact the Syrian armys unilateral truce declaration would have. The opposition seemed unlikely to abide by it after dozens were killed in government airstrikes in Aleppo. The ceasefire was due to come into effect at 1 a.m. Saturday, according to an announcement on Syrian state TV. The military said it will last 24 hours in Damascus and its suburbs and three days in Latakia. According to the Observatory, airstrikes and shelling in Aleppo killed 202 civilians in the past week, including 31 children on both sides. Syrian state TV reported that 85 people were killed and more than 600 wounded in government-held areas alone in the past week. Read more about: SHARE: Age is nothing but a number. An 80-year-old woman in the small town of Sultan, Wash., proved that Thursday night when she shot and killed an alleged intruder who broke into her home. At the moment, details are thin. A 25-year-old man from Gold Bar, Wash.a town of about 2,000 allegedly broke into the older womans home around 8:30 p.m. Thursday while she was enjoying an evening with her husband, 75, and son, 45. The man allegedly stabbed her husband in the abdomen, felling but not killing him. Before calling 911, the woman took matters into her own hands and shot the intruder, killing him. Shealong with her sonmanaged to escape without any injuries. Her husband was airlifted to the Harborview Regional Medical Center. Detectives suspect the man was a stranger, who was trying to rob the elderly couple, according to a press release from the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office. Identification of the suspect, as well as cause and manner of death, will be provided by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner, it states. Sultan, part of Snohomish County, which also includes Gold Bar, is a small town of around 4,000 people about an hours drive inland from Seattle. Though it boasts a similarly low crime rate, a Block Watch comprised of citizens and led by president Bob Klement has been working with police to expand the program. At a meeting last year, Sheriff Ty Trenary said, Homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction are at an all-time high. We believe, right now, Snohomish County is the epicentre of the problem, the Monroe Monitor reported. It scares me to death that thats where we are right now, he added. The Snohomish County jail can hold 1,200 inmates, and the Monroe Monitor reported that last year it held around 950 people each day. SHARE: DRESDEN, GERMANYIn a bleak assessment, Germanys Federal Police warned on Thursday that the country should be prepared for more politically motivated violence committed by right-wing extremists in the coming months. Apart from physical harm, one has to reckon with murders, authorities concluded in a statement. The report came amid allegations that police authorities had failed to confront the countrys growing right-wing extremism problem. Neo-Nazis and their supporters had already created a climate of fear, according to the report, which said that pro-refugee volunteers, politicians as well as journalists were likely targets of violence. The influx of refugees into Germany has massively decreased in recent months, following a deal struck with Turkey to accommodate more asylum seekers outside the European Union. Germany took in more than one million refugees last year, but far fewer are expected to arrive this year. However, right-wing extremist violence against asylum seekers and their supporters in Germany is not expected to decrease. Country-wide xenophobic tensionswhich started to attract attention in 2014have contributed to the emergence of right-wing networks, according to German police officials. Last week, special forces raided apartments in eastern Germany and arrested five suspects who have been charged with terrorism. The group reportedly targeted homes of asylum seekers. Hundreds of attacks against such homes and refugee centres were recorded in 2015 and this year. Most of them are believed to have been committed by right-wing extremists, although in some cases, refugees themselves allegedly set their own homes on fire to protest living conditions. Apart from terrorism networks targeting refugees, police forces also fear that determined, irrationally acting, fanatic lone offenders could commit acts of violence in coming months. Police statistics also offer insight into another new aspect that defines right-wing attacks on refugees in Germany: Since 2014, the number of women blamed for those acts of violence has doubled. Police officials did not provide an explanation, but the shifting profiles of offenders could indicate that anti-refugee violence is becoming more widespread. About 75 per cent of individuals charged with such attacks had previously not been sentenced for right-wing crimes. Civil-rights groups in Germany have blamed anti-Islam demonstrations, such as the weekly marches by Pegida (a group using a German acronym that translates to Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West), for making intolerance more socially accepted. Police officials said Thursday that such movements had contributed to a xenophobic mood in many German cities and rural areas. Last week, Lutz Bachmann, the co-founder of Pegida, went on trial for allegedly having incited the people. Bachmanns trial has been closely watched by pro- and anti-refugee groups. His supporters have criticized the mainstream media and German officials for what they consider to be censorship and harassment. Pegida demonstrators have branded leading conservative politicians traitors of the people. But more worryingly to officials, the hateful rhetoric has also turned violent at timeswith several journalists and political opponents being physically assaulted in recent months. Police said such incidents might have been the first indications that worse was yet to come. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONA U.S. aerial gunship attack on a hospital in Afghanistan that killed 42 people occurred because of human errors, process mistakes and equipment failures, and none of the aircrew or U.S. ground troops knew the target was a hospital, a top U.S. general said Friday. This was an extreme situation complicated by combat fatigue among U.S. special operations forces, Gen. Joseph Votel told a Pentagon news conference. Votel headed U.S. Special Operations Command at the time of the tragic attack last fall. In March he took over U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Sixteen military members have been disciplined for their roles in the tragedy, Votel said. None face criminal charges. Doctors Without Borders, the international charity organization whose hospital was destroyed in the attack, said in a statement Friday that it would like to see an independent and impartial investigation. It said the punishments announced by the U.S. military are inadequate and out of proportion to the deaths, injuries and destruction caused by the mistaken attack. The lack of meaningful accountability sends a worrying signal to warring parties, and is unlikely to act as a deterrent against future violations of the rules of war, the organization said. Votel said investigators concluded that certain personnel failed to comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict, but that those failures did not amount to a war crime, he said. The label war crimes is typically reserved for intentional acts intentional targeting (of) civilians or intentionally targeting protected objects or locations, Votel said. Again, the investigation found that the incident resulted from a combination of unintentional human errors, process errors and equipment failures, and that none of the personnel knew they were striking a hospital. Meinie Nicolai, president of Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French initials MSF, took issue with Votels assertion. The threshold that must be crossed for this deadly incident to amount to a grave breach of international humanitarian law is not whether it was intentional or not, Nicolai said, noting that with various countries fighting in the region with different rules, armed groups cannot escape their responsibilities on the battlefield simply by ruling out the intent to attack a protected structure such as a hospital. Votel expressed deepest condolences to those injured and to the families of those killed and said compensation payment was made to victims families. Zabihullah Neyazi, a nurse who lost his left arm, eye and a finger in the attack, said administrative punishment wasnt enough and that a trial should be in Afghanistan, in our presence, in the presence of the victims families, so they would be satisfied. Votel said the trauma centre was on a U.S. military no-strike list but that the gunship crew didnt have access to the list because it launched its mission on short notice and did not have the data loaded into its on-board systems. He said the military has sought to avoid similar mistakes in the future by requiring that such data be pre-loaded into aircraft. The Pentagon on Friday released a memorandum from Defence Secretary Ash Carter ordering military commanders to take a series of steps over the next four months to mitigate the potential for similar incidents in the future. Among other things, Carter ordered that the Kunduz scenario be incorporated into pre-deployment training as an example of the kind of complicated situations that troops may face in Afghanistan or other war zones. Central Command released a redacted version of the full investigation report on Friday, including details about what exactly led a U.S. AC-130 gunship to bomb the hospital and how those mistakes were made. The investigation determined that all members of both the ground force and the AC-130 aircrew were unaware that the aircraft was firing on a medical facility throughout the engagement, Votel said. The investigation ultimately concluded that this tragic incident was caused by a combination of human errors, compounded by process and equipment failures. Votel said none of the names of the 16 disciplined personnel will be released to protect the privacy of the individuals and in some cases because they are still assigned to sensitive or overseas positions. According to one senior U.S. official, a two-star general was among them. A number of those punished are U.S. special operations forces. Some were given letters of reprimand and admonishment; one officer was removed from command; some were suspended from their duties and some were given extensive retraining. No one was sent to court-martial. It is important to point out that these adverse administrative actions can carry severe repercussions on the careers and professional qualification of these individuals, Votel said, to include possible denial of promotion or advancement and possible removal from the service. The crew of the AC-130, which is armed with side-firing cannons and guns, had been dispatched to hit a Taliban command centre in a building 450 yards (411 metres) from the hospital, the U.S. military said in November. 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. Votel on Friday confirmed that no hostile firing was seen there. 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. Read more about: SHARE: An American who has been held in North Korea since October was sentenced to 10 years of hard labour Friday for spying and other offences, Chinese and Japanese news agencies reported from Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. The man, Kim Dong-chul, is the latest U.S. citizen to receive a harsh sentence in North Korea, which has often used the fates of Americans held there as leverage in dealing with Washington. His sentencing came a month and a half after North Korea sentenced a U.S. college student, Otto F. Warmbier, to 15 years of hard labour for trying to steal a political banner from his hotel in Pyongyang. Kims sentence was handed down by North Koreas Supreme Court, meaning it cannot be appealed. The verdict was reported by Chinas state-run Xinhua News Agency and the Japanese news service Kyodo, both of which have bureaus in Pyongyang. North Koreas state media did not immediately carry the news. The U.S. State Department has not explicitly confirmed Kims detention, saying that discussing such cases publicly does not help its efforts to free Americans in the North. But the North has released a copy of Kims U.S. passport, and South Korean officials said Kim was a Korean-born U.S. citizen. In March, Kim appeared at a government-arranged news conference in Pyongyang and apologized for trying to steal military secrets in collusion with South Koreans. The South Korean spy agency has denied involvement in such a plan. Kims predicament was not known until January, when the North Korean government allowed CNN to interview him in Pyongyang. At that time, Kim identified himself as a 62-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Fairfax, Virginia, and said he used to run a trading and hotel services company in Rason, a special economic zone that North Korea operates near its borders with China and Russia. He said he was arrested in October while meeting with one of his local sources, a former North Korean soldier, to receive classified data. Over the years, North Korea has detained several Americans on accusations of illegal entry or spying, or other so-called anti-state crimes. It has often given them lengthy prison terms before freeing them, sometimes after the arrival of high-profile visitors, like former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, from the United States. Some of the foreign captives told reporters after their release that officials had coerced them into confessing to crimes at news conferences in Pyongyang. Besides Kim and Warmbier, North Korea is holding a South Korean-born Canadian pastor, the Rev. Lim Hyeon-soo, who is serving a life sentence of hard labour on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama announced new steps Friday to help curb gun violence, including by identifying the requirements that smart guns would have to meet for law enforcement agencies to buy and use them as well as sharing mental health records with the federal background check system. Smart guns use various technologies to prevent an accidental shooting or help track down a missing gun. These common-sense steps are not going to prevent every tragedy, but what if they prevented even one? Obama wrote in a Facebook post. We should be doing everything we can to save lives and spare families the pain and unimaginable loss too many Americans have endured. As Obama unveiled a plan last January to expand federal background checks for gun purchases, he directed the Departments of Defence, Homeland Security and Justice to conduct or sponsor research into smart-gun technology. Obama also instructed the agencies to regularly review the availability of such technology and to promote its use. In a report released Friday, the Justice and Homeland Security departments said they expect to complete the work of identifying the smart-gun requirements by October. The Defence Department will continue to help manufacturers test smart firearms under real-world conditions at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland. Gun makers could also be eligible to win cash prizes through the program. The federal government will also continue to help state and local governments as smart-gun technology develops, the report said. Many gun injuries and deaths are the result of legal guns that were stolen, misused, or discharged accidentally, Obama said. As long as weve got the technology to prevent a criminal from stealing and using your smartphone, then we should be able to prevent the wrong person from pulling a trigger on a gun. The president also called for more attention to be paid to the mentally ill. The Social Security Administration will publish a proposed rule to help ensure that mental health records about people who are prohibited from buying a gun are reported to the background check system. The public will have 60 days to comment after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. Obama also said the White House will hold a conference in May on preventing gun violence. SHARE: It was first developed in a Canadian lab more than three decades ago, promising and potent and intended to relieve pain in a less addictive way. Labelled W-18, the synthetic opioid was the most powerful in a series of about 30 compounds concocted at the University of Alberta and patented in the U.S. and Canada in 1984. But no pharmaceutical company would pick it up, so on a shelf the recipe sat, the research chronicled in medical journals but never put to use. The compound was largely forgotten. Then a Chinese chemist found it, and in labs halfway around the world started developing the drug for consumers in search of a cheap and legal high one experts say is 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 stronger than morphine. And now it has come to North America a fact that has scientists and police warning that the already deadly impact of designer opioids could get much worse. Its a king hell of a molecule, said University of Alberta neuroscientist Bill Colmers. I think this is basically quite evil. The substance first surfaced in Canada last August, when Calgary police seized fentanyl pills containing traces of the drug. Then more than a kilogram of W-18 was discovered in the home of a Florida man, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for smuggling fentanyl from China, reported the Sun Sentinel. He faced no charges for possessing the W-18, however, because its not yet illegal in the U.S. or Canada. And just last week, Health Canadas drug analysis service confirmed that four kilograms of a chemical powder seized in a fentanyl investigation in December 2015 were indeed the dangerous W-18 drug. Two to 20 micrograms of fentanyl per kilogram of body weight make up a typical dose, but mere nanograms billionths of gram of W-18 might give an equivalent high, Colmers said. It means making extremely accurate dilutions to get your dose which is really difficult to do, Colmers said. These street guys that are cutting it have no clue. Rogue chemists are mailing W-18 readily available on Chinese websites to North American postal codes in powder form, said Calgary police Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta. Wholesalers then mix the pure powder with binding agents in a tumble dry and put the concoction through a pill press, yielding a dangerously inconsistent final product, he said. Schiavetta offered up a baking analogy: Each cookie will have a different number of chocolate chips, and its the same with W-18, he said. Fentanyl is already killing people in the hundreds in western Canada, and now theres this. Illicit use of fentanyl was blamed for 655 deaths across Canada between 2009 and 2014, a figure that is likely an underestimate, said Staff Sgt. Pierre Blais with the Alberta elite policing squad, ALERT. The drug isnt nearly as dominant as fentanyl Its brand new, but may come more to the forefront, he said. Health officials are concerned for many reasons. There are currently no clinical tests to detect the drug in a persons blood or urine, according to Colmers, making it difficult for doctors to help someone who might be overdosing. Its effect on humans is largely unknown because W-18 was only ever tested on lab mice. The uncertainty of it all is what frightens me more than anything, said Dr. Hakique Virani, a public health and addiction specialist at the University of Albertas faculty of medicine. Were not sure how it behaves in human beings. Police and government authorities in Alberta have taken criticism for their handling of designer opioids. ALERT waited a month after the December seizure before sending in the then-unknown W-18 substance for lab testing this year. Health Canada took roughly three months to come back with test results this month. And Alberta Health delayed warning the public for six days after learning about the health risk earlier this month, the Globe and Mail reported. Weve not done as good a job as we should have, Virani said. Ontario Provincial Police and Toronto police say no W-18 seizures have been made across the province or in Toronto. Health Canada says it is working to have W-18 added as a schedule one drug, like heroin and cocaine, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. ALERT noted it is working with local police agencies and the Alberta health department to monitor the problem and reduce demand. The debut of W-18 also draws attention to the growing influence Chinese chemists have on the kinds of drugs entering the North America. Last fall, China banned 116 different synthetic drugs, according to reports, including fentanyl and flakka, a drug that put Florida in crisis mode beginning late 2014. Since the ban, flakka has all but disappeared. In its absence, however, Chinese drug manufacturers began producing alternatives to sell, including W-18, a spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman told the Calgary Sun. Read more about: SHARE: HELSINKIFinland could expect harsh reactions from Russia if it decided to join NATO, but would be better off doing so together with neighbouring Sweden, an expert panel told the Finnish government on Friday. Meanwhile in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned of a military-technical response if its neutral neighbours became members of the alliance, saying that Baltic countries have shown no gratitude to Moscow for letting them go in peace after the Soviet Union collapsed. NATO supporters in non-aligned Nordic countries Finland and Sweden have been stepping up calls for membership following the Ukraine crisis and increased assertiveness by Russian forces around the Baltic Sea. Both Finland and Sweden have deepened their partnership with the alliance in recent years but have so far not sought membership, partly because of concern over the Russian reaction. Its one thing to have neutral neighbours in the north and another to have neighbours who are members of the North Atlantic alliance, Lavrov told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter in an interview published Friday. Asked how Russia would react if Sweden joined the alliance, Lavrov said Moscow will of course take all necessary military-technical measures at our northern borders, since on the other side of the border there is a military-political bloc that considers Russia as a threat and is trying to contain her in every way. Lavrov singled out Lithuania as the most aggressive, Russophobic country and said it is pushing NATO in an anti-Russian direction. He defended the actions of Russian warplanes this month as they buzzed a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Baltic Sea, saying they decided to take a look at the ship from a safe distance. The remarks coincided with the release in Finland of a government-commissioned report on the implications of joining NATO. Referring to Russias reactions to NATOs enlargement in the past, the report said the political and economic reactions may be strong, even harsh, notably during the transition phase. Even while stopping short of the use of force, specific counter-measures would be difficult to predict. Both countries are concerned about Russian military activities in the region, underscored by hunts for unidentified foreign submarines in Swedish and Finnish waters, and occasional airspace violations by Russian aircraft. In a brief conclusion, the 60-page report stresses the importance of mutual co-operation between the Nordic neighbours when decisions are made about joining NATO, saying it would be considerably more benign for Finland if the two countries joined at the same time than if Finland joined alone. Similarly, a Swedish decision to join NATO and a Finnish decision not to join would leave Finland isolated and exposed, said the report. The two neighbours have worked with the alliance since the mid-1990s when they joined NATOs Partnership for Peace and have actively contributed forces to NATO-led peacekeeping and monitoring missions. Also, they engage in dozens of exercises annually with alliance members and their militaries weaponry is NATO-compatible. Visiting Helsinki this week, NATO Gen. Petr Pavel told reporters that should Finland decide to join the Atlantic alliance, its a matter of just technical procedures. Swedish researchers say it would be even easier for Sweden to integrate. Sweden is often referred to as the best non-NATO member or partnership country No.1, said Fredrik Doeser, from the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and National Defence University. Joining might be easy technically, but finding the political will is more difficult. Polls in Sweden suggest that the country is split on membership, while a majority in Finland continues to oppose membership. Both countries have a history of neutrality. Sweden became a neutral nation at the end of the Napoleonic wars and stayed out of World Wars I and II. It has deepened its partnership with NATO in recent years, and Swedish fighter jets participated in a NATO-led air campaign in Libya in 2011. Finland, which gained independence from Russia in 1917 after a century of being part of Czarist Empire, didnt declare itself neutral until the mid-1950s, with the memory of two bitter wars against its huge eastern Soviet neighbour hanging over it. In Sweden, opponents of NATO membership, especially among the left and the Greens, feel the nation would lose sovereignty and would be only a minor player in the alliance. Others fear NATO might install nuclear weapons on its soil. Swedens centre-right opposition is positive toward membership and reacted angrily to Lavrovs comments. Our foreign and security policy is decided by Sweden, not by Russian threats, said Annie Loof, leader of the Center Party. Karin Enstrom, the foreign policy spokeswoman for the main opposition Moderate Party, urged the Swedish Foreign Ministry to summon the Russian ambassador to explain Lavrovs words. In Finland, NATO membership is more of a hot potato. Its not much discussed in a country of coalition governments where consensus rules. Generally, politicians talk about the NATO option, meaning that Finland has the possibility of applying for membership someday. Its a controversial subject and politicians are reluctant to speculate and disagree because consensus would be impossible, says Mika Aaltola from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. And Finnish foreign policy is dominated by consensus. He also points to fears of Moscows reaction. Finns dont usually speculate about the possibility of war, but in the case of NATO membership they fear Russias reaction could be disastrous, he said. Read more about: SHARE: LONDONTwo Birmingham men were accused in court Friday of giving money to a key suspect in the Brussels and Paris bombings in a case that may link British residents to those plots. Meanwhile, German prosecutors say they have indicted an alleged member of the Islamic State group who is accused of advocating the killing of infidels in a propaganda video and violating Germanys war weapons control act. In the U.K., prosecutors said in Westminster Magistrates Court Friday that Mohammed Ali Ahmed and Zakaria Boufassil, both 26, allegedly gave more than 3,000 pounds ($4,400) to Mohamed Abrini in Birmingham in July. Abrini is a suspect in the Brussels and Paris bombings The two suspects are charged with violating Britains Terrorism Act by providing someone with money that they knew, or had reason to believe, would be used for terrorism. Abrini, who is in custody, was the man in the hat seen on video footage moments before the deadly Mar. 22 bombings at Brussels airport that killed 16 people. He was also wanted in the Nov. 13 attacks on Paris that claimed 130 lives. A third suspect from Birmingham, Soumaya Boufassil, 29, was also charged along with Ahmed with preparing acts of terrorism between Jan.1, 2015 and Apr. 8. She wore a burka in court and spoke only to confirm name, date of birth and address. The two men also provided personal details, but no other information. The three had been arrested in Birmingham on Apr. 14-15 and were charged Thursday evening. The next hearing is set for May 13 at Londons Old Bailey courthouse. In Germany, federal prosecutors said Friday that 27-year-old German citizen Harry S., whose last name was not given in accordance with German privacy law, joined a special Islamic State unit in April 2015 in Syria. He received military education including training for special combat and in the use of automatic rifles, but left the unit abruptly in early June. In mid-June he appeared on a German-language IS video calling for viewers to join jihad, and, if theyre not able to leave for Syria, to attack and kill infidels in Germany. He was arrested upon his return to Germany in July. SHARE: For me, the scariest signal yet sent by the Trudeau government was bringing English deliverologist Sir Michael Barber, to their Alberta cabinet retreat, to tell them how theyre doing. They imported a British con man who was a perfect accessory during the Blair years, and now that slippery Tony is gone, replaced by the rawer, more authentic Jeremy Corbyn he moves on to the colonies. Barber has delivered his spiel in Australia, the Punjab and Maryland. Are we impressed to be in that company? Its an early warning sign that the Trudeau folk are starting to believe their own BS. Im not particularly against BS, everyone in power deploys it; the danger point comes when you start gulping it yourself and not just spooning it out to others. Thats when the vultures start swanning around the retreats. CBCs Terry Milewski interviewed colleague Rosie Barton, who was on site, re: the scam. Rosie seemed dubious but said the Brit told his marks they were doing rawther well. Terry, sounding like a true rube, i.e., someone who has no idea thats what he is or a candidate for Private Eyes pseuds corner said he counts on Rosie for hip terms like deliverology. Its about as fresh as the 500 channel universe. I happen to own a copy of Barbers Deliverology 101, from 2011. I wont say I read it, its not really meant for that, but I sort of flapped through it once. Its loaded with charts, checklists, bullet points: nobody reads these things but theyre meant to make you feel like a practical, can-do type, not someone who wastes time on books a profile rife in the upper regions of education administrators, who happen to be Barbers natural habitat. Ive avoided defining deliverology because it doesnt actually exist. Its just mouthfuls of verbiage. Barber told Paul Wells of Macleans, at an earlier cabinet retreat, that hed been recruited to the prime ministers delivery unit in order to rescue Blairs government. Its not tremendously exciting, but its really important, getting the priorities, the definitions of success, the trajectories, the data I shouldve said gobfuls of verbiage. You could do a close analysis of his language to show how vacuousness is literarily constructed but it seems to hypnotize people like Wells, who views himself as deeply skeptical. If a Canadian talked in such vapours, Wells would shred him. What is it the accent? What Blair really delivered was a continuation of Thatcherism, in cheerier tones (which trickled down to our own left, in the person of Thomas Mulcair) and then, inevitably, the current Tory government there. Blairites like Barber simply climbed off the gravy train in the metropole and relocated to the hinterland. He now shills for Pearson, the education publishing powerhouse and main profiteer from high-stakes standardized testing everywhere. John Oliver took Pearson apart on his show. The company is partly responsible for the stupid waste of time on testing in Ontario. Just this week, the U.S. reported math scores down and others flatlining, which is the universal pattern: a brief bump due to novelty, then level off or decline. But there are mountains of money to be made from providing the tests, study guides, teacher courses and markers, some right off Craigslist. Barbers other UK legacy was the creation of academies to replace the public system in the name of school choice and open the door to privatization and profits. This week as well, the Tories there said theyd be watering down the academies freight train since ordinary schools perform just as well. True, Barbers resourceful self-promotion doesnt compare to his master, Blair, whos gone on to rake it in everywhere (like his master, Bill Clinton). But what really bothers me is that some Liberals who schlep Barber to their events may also be looking forward to signing on at Pearson, or Mckinsey, where Barber worked previously, at the point, not necessarily far off, when they too leave public service and cash in. Bernie Sanders, where are you when we need you? Can you picture Bernie bringing in a toff with a shtick to mesmerize his cabinet with lectures on deliverology a term drawn from the world of pizza? Its so Trumpish: you suss out what people want to hear and supply it. End of story. Ding dong. Oh, could someone get the door? Its the deliver(olog)y man. Rick Salutin appears every Friday. SHARE: Sherry McKenna and Lulu Abu Dahi are in my thoughts today as I call it quits after 43 years in journalism, most of them here at the Star. They haunt me still, after a lifetime as a reporter, copy editor, national editor, foreign correspondent, columnist and editorial writer. Back in 1982 a recession cost Sherrys husband his job and forced the family to rely on the Scott Mission in downtown Toronto for a bag of groceries. It was a refuge, McKenna said, for people who dont have anything. As a newly-minted editorial writer, the Star's institutional voice, I wrote an angry screed decrying the need for food banks in a city as rich as ours. Hours later a generous Star reader offered Sherrys husband a new job. And I learned something about the Star family. It stretches far beyond our offices at One Yonge Street and it has always identified with working people. Years later as the Stars Middle East correspondent I came across a child broken by war. It was 1990 and Lulu Abu Dahi was a Palestinian girl who had just started school during the uprising against Israeli occupation. She ran into a riot one day on the way to the candy store and was cut down by a soldiers rubber bullet that shattered her skull, and her life. She was left unable to talk, walk or hold up her head. If you hugged her and whispered I love you, baby in Arabic, her dark eyes might register a faint flicker of understanding. Her suffering epitomized the senselessness of the conflict. Giving a voice to people such as Sherry and Lulu is a big part of the Stars vocation in its reporting, commentary and editorial advocacy. Cruelly intractable as the worlds problems can be, the Star was founded in the hope that what cannot be turned fully to good, to paraphrase Thomas More, may at least be made as little evil as possible. How? By empowering people with the information they need to make sense of politics, society and the world around them, and to make better choices. The Stars viewpoint as a paper for the people, articulated by Joseph Atkinson more than a century ago, is Canadian, liberal and reformist, dedicated to social justice, civil liberties, civic engagement and the rights of working people. To this day, its journalists carry that mission forward. They are supported by the Torstar chair, John Honderich, and owners who champion a robust journalism that serves democracy and public debate, and has stood the test of time. Newspapers struggle for readers, these days. But look around. Scour the Internet and social media. Rummage Reddit, visit VICE, delve through Drudge. You will be hard-pressed to find a more focused, trustworthy source of information than this newspaper. The media trade has changed since I started out at The Gazette in Montreal banging away on an old Underwood typewriter back in the days of lead type and carbon paper. Today its all about smart phones, tablets and social media. Like everyone else, Ive morphed into a digital news provider. But I never did learn to type. I still pound out editorials with one finger. Guess which one. And as the tech world has churned, the real one has turned. When I got my start on the police desk, Canada was coming of age under Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who faced down Front de Liberation du Quebec terrorism, negotiated constitutional independence from Britain, defeated a Quebec secession bid and made us an officially bilingual nation. Now Justin Trudeau has arrived, along with generational change. Across those years weve seen the end of the Cold War, with its arms race and proxy wars. Weve witnessed the birth of the Internet. Shared the horror of 9/11, and genocides. Felt the new world disorder. Been threatened by global warming. Weve also seen the rise of the 1 per cent, and elections in which the Star was the only major paper not to endorse the parties and policies of the 1 per cent. There are times when being an editorial writer is its own reward. Covering much of this Ive been shot at in Central America, was arrested by the Syrians, caught flak from the White House during the Iraq War, saw my kids tear-gassed and had to bribe my way into Beirut during the civil war there. Its been a blast. Beirut especially. And missioning through it all, Ive been inspired by the Stars passion and purpose to tell the stories that matter, and make the case for change. It has been a privilege. And so, as we used to end our reports back in the day: 30 SHARE: Queens Park appears to be on the verge of undoing more than a century of progress for deaf children. The province should change course before it does lasting damage. The ministry of educations recent undertaking of a consultation process apparently aimed at closing two of the four provincial schools for deaf and hard of hearing students should serve as a warning bell to everyone concerned with equity in education. Such closures would undo 130 years of Ontario deaf community advocacy for the use of sign language in deaf childrens education. At the provincial schools, deaf students have the opportunity to study with teachers who are fluent in sign language and with other deaf students. Students also have access to bilingual learning materials (in American Sign Language and English or Quebec Sign Language and French) and opportunities to study sign language as a school subject. It is exceedingly rare for a school board program to provide such accommodations to individual students, who are often isolated in mainstream school board classrooms. In mainstream classes, there may be no access to sign language, or only through a poorly qualified interpreter. Deaf students in these classrooms are often excluded from group activities and may not develop supportive peer networks due to language barriers. Providing adequate accommodations in mainstream settings is more expensive than having all supports centralized. The governments actions conflict with current evidence regarding the role of sign language in deaf childrens healthy development. As reported last February at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, depriving deaf children of sign language results in linguistic and cognitive delays that extend into adulthood. For this reason, scientists urge teaching sign language to children and parents even when deaf children receive cochlear implants. In fact, sign language can help children receive more benefits from cochlear implants, since it provides a foundation for the development of speech and listening skills in addition to literacy. On April 13, in what was apparently a pre-emptive strike aimed at undercutting a planned rally of parents and community members at Queens Park, Minister of Education Liz Sandals announced that enrolment will resume for 2016-17 at Centre Jules-Leger in Ottawa and the Robarts School for the Deaf in London. However, no long-term promises have been made regarding the future of deaf schools in Ontario. In fact, problems with the enrolment process have set the stage for these consultations. Unlike other Ontario public schools, which are managed by school boards, the provincial schools are directly under the purview of the ministrys provincial schools branch. Parents of children with a hearing loss must first register their child with a local school board before undergoing a lengthy application and evaluation procedure. Community advocates and parents report that children are frequently refused entry to the provincial schools, for seemingly arbitrary reasons. These refusals appear to be tied to ministry efforts to shrink student enrolment and thereby strengthen the case for closure of the provincial schools. Even with Minister Sandals announcement that new students will be accepted for 2016-17, how many parents will place their kids in a school that may close one year later? The threatened closure of Centre Jules-Leger in Ottawa is of special concern, since this is the only school for deaf children in the province that provides a bilingual education in Quebec Sign Language and French. The elimination of any opportunity for francophone deaf children to learn their native sign language will be in contradiction to Premier Kathleen Wynnes recent apology to Franco-Ontarians for the governments historic restrictions on the use of French in elementary schools. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Canada signed and ratified, calls for governments to provide services which ensure disabled children achieve their full potential. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires governments to facilitate learning of sign language by deaf students and promote the linguistic identity of the deaf community in schools. Instead of closing the provincial schools, the ministry of education should work to enhance the schools environment and enable deaf and hard of hearing students to thrive. It is time for Liz Sandals to get up to speed with both current research and her governments legal and moral responsibilities regarding the educational rights of deaf children. Kristin Snoddon, PhD, is assistant professor in the School of Linguistics and Language Studies at Carleton University. SHARE: Donald Trumps populist vow to put America First has been a hit on the hustings, with some Republicans at least. But his take on the wider world, outlined in a major foreign policy speech this week, turns out to be an oddball mix of military braggadocio, wild and woolly thinking, and sheer naivete. Thats a problem. Its also unsettling from a strictly Canadian point of view. Trump regards North American free trade, a cornerstone of the entire Canada-U.S. relationship and our economy, as a total disaster. He seems dismissive of global warming. And Canada would have to double military spending to $40 billion a year to satisfy his demand that freeloading allies pay their way or forfeit American protection. Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government can only hope that Democrat Hillary Clinton doesnt fritter away the lead she has over Trump in polls that look ahead to the Nov. 8 presidential election, now that Trump is closing in on the Republican nomination. Americans, like Canadians in the last election, crave change. Many distrust familiar political faces, and Clintons is one of the most familiar around. Still, the prospect of a Trump presidency should give anyone pause. As he crushed his rivals in primaries this week, Trump derided Clinton, the first serious female presidential candidate, as a weak and crooked politician who has nothing going for her but the womans card. She would make a horrible president, he said. That from a candidate who is notorious for slandering women, Latinos, Muslims and others, and who would bring back waterboarding torture. If that werent bad enough, the serial incoherency of Trumps world view, outlined in a speech on Wednesday, is chilling. His America First slogan echoes the rallying cry of Nazi-appeasing isolationists in the run-up to the Second World War, yet at the same time Trump claims he would not hesitate to send U.S. forces abroad to fight to win. He claims that America is going to be a reliable friend and ally while claiming we must as a nation be more unpredictable. He dreams of enlisting Muslim nations to destroy Daesh jihadists, while vowing to block Muslims from the U.S. He rails against nation-building but in the same breath promises to focus on creating stability, without defining either. He imagines building a great, great wall along the Mexican border, and expects Mexico to foot the bill. And he contends that the U.S. nuclear arsenal has been allowed to atrophy at the very time when Washington is pumping $1 trillion into its modernization. It defies belief that someone so recklessly naive, ignorant and incoherent can come this close to the presidency. But he has. Allies are rattled. The state of the union is not strong. Read more about: SHARE: Theres bad news and a bit of good news in the story of Javad Peirovy, the Toronto doctor who sexually abused four female patients yet will keep his licence and will be back at work in six months. The bad news is obvious. Any physician who abused his patients trust so egregiously is clearly not fit to practice medicine and should lose his licence. Not ifs, ands or buts. But that wont happen to Peirovy. Three years ago he pleaded guilty in criminal court to charges of assault arising from incidents in 2009 and 2010 in which he abused female patients. And last July, a disciplinary panel of Ontarios College of Physicians and Surgeons found that he had engaged in the sexual abuse of four patients by touching their breasts when he had no medical reason to do so. Despite that finding, the same panel decided this week that Peirovy may keep his medical licence. He will be suspended for six months, but then may go back to work and practise on female patients as long as hes accompanied by another female health professional. The panel says thats in line with penalties handed out to doctors who abuse patients but dont engage in a list of specific acts such as sexual intercourse and masturbation that require mandatory loss of a medical licence. In other words, Peirovy engaged in sex abuse lite, not the heavy stuff. In the real world, that makes little sense. Doctors who sexually abuse their patients simply dont deserve to keep their jobs. Both the safety of patients and public confidence in the system require it. The good news in this long-running saga is that even the College of Physicians and Surgeons itself is now clearly embarrassed that one of its members is being treated so lightly. Its lawyer argued before the disciplinary panel that Peirovys licence should be revoked, and once the penalty was announced this week the college issued a statement publicly disavowing the outcome. It said it was disappointed by the panels failure to take away the doctors licence, and added that it supports changes to provincial law that would require mandatory revocation in any case where physical sexual contact with a patient is proven to have occurred. In fact, after dragging its heels for months after a Star investigation in 2013 put the spotlight on the issue of sexual abuse by doctors, the College last year proposed changes to legislation to make loss of licence compulsory for any doctor found to have crossed that line. The province set up a task force 16 months ago to examine the issue. Its expected to report soon, and the Peirovy case shows how badly it is needed. If the government had already tightened the law, the colleges disciplinary panel would almost certainly have been obliged to act differently and the doctor would not be heading back to work in a matter of months. As it is, patients and especially female patients are still waiting for action. Ontarios health minister, an array of experts, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons agree that zero tolerance is the only way to go for doctors who betray their patients trust in such a fundamental manner. The government needs to see the task force report as soon as possible, and take steps to close the loophole on abuse without delay. SHARE: Re: Bike theft proves hard to avoid, April 26 Bike theft proves hard to avoid, April 26 Many thanks to Michael Robinson and William Davis for highlighting the problem of bike theft. Regrettably, their articles make the entirely correct point that the police just dont care. Bait bikes have successfully reduced bike theft in San Francisco and other U.S. cities because thieves never know if the lock theyre sawing is bait, for police surveillance. Last month I attempted to alert the police and city council to the potential value of a bait bike program in Toronto. I sent a letter describing the success in San Francisco and included a link to a New York Times article describing the project, to Mayor John Tory, all of the members of the citys Transportation Committee, Police Chief Mark Saunders and Police Superintendent Gord Jones. The response was underwhelming. I received a few acknowledgements of receipt, but not one comment or offer to take the idea under advisement. It is hard to reconcile the citys desire to see more people commute by bicycle with its complete lack of interest in bike theft a major reason many people leave their bikes in the garage and drive to work. Torontonians would be more willing to commute by bike if the police spent their time arresting actual bike thieves instead of carding innocent passersby. Robert D. Katz, Toronto Another moan about bike thefts in Toronto. Back in the 1950s we had to buy a licence for our bikes they only cost $1 and we could get them at any police station. But they meant that the police had the serial number of every bike on record, and they might stop any bike without licence. My first licence was a steel plate like a car licence, but smaller but in later years the city cheaped out and went to small plastic tags. Now the steel plate would be very good because like a car licence it could be read by computer and stolen bikes (or plates) spotted. Why no licences now? Another question: months ago (perhaps couple of years ago) it was revealed that security staff of a building on Bloor St. were cutting locks off bikes chained to a city sign post and (supposedly) donating the bikes to charity. There is some question about this because one woman whose bike disappeared asked for it at the building, supposedly within the time-frame that the bikes were held before donation, and they didnt have it. Why has there never been a follow-up on this? Doesnt anyone care about stolen bikes? Andy Turnbull, Toronto SHARE: In this Jan. 23, 2016, file photo, despite adverse weather conditions, people visit New York's Central Park as a large winter storm enveloped the East Coast. The blizzard has set another record, in New York City, while a record in Newark, N.J., was deleted, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday, April 28, 2016, in a report prompted by questions about the accuracy of snowfall measurements. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, 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. About 16 U.S. military personnel, including a two-star general, have been disciplined for mistakes that led to the bombing of the civilian hospital in Afghanistan last year that killed 42 people, a senior U.S. official said Thursday, April 28, 2016. According to officials, no criminal charges were filed and the service members received administrative punishments in connection with the U.S. air strike in the northern city of Kunduz. (AP Photo/Najim Rahim, File) In this image made from video and posted online from Validated UGC, a Civil Defense worker carries a child after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, April 28, 2016. A Syrian monitoring group and a first-responders team say new airstrikes on the rebel-held part of the contested city of Aleppo have killed over a dozen people and brought down at least one residential building. The new violence on Thursday brings the death toll in the past 24-hours in the deeply divided city to at least 61 killed. (Validated UGC via AP video) But the tribe has a long way to go In a major setback to the residents of the Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai, the Bombay High Court on Friday ordered its demolition. The court has also ordered inquiry against the politicians, ministers and officers involved in the Adarsh Housing Society scam. The court has given 12 weeks time to the Devandra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra Government to appeal in the Supreme Court against its order. The society, originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and war widows, was converted into a 100-metre-tall building. Meanwhile, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan while talking to ANI avoided commenting on the decision and said he doesnt want to react on the judgement. The Adarsh scam claimed its first victim in the form of Ashok Chavan, who was forced to resign after reports surfaced that his kin owned flats in the society. After Chavan, top bureaucrats too faced the axe, most notably among them being Maharashtra's Chief Information Commissioner Ramanand Tiwari and Human Rights Commissioner Subhash K Lalla. The 31-storey Adarsh Housing Society, originally meant for Kargil war heroes, landed in controversy after media reports said that several politicians, bureaucrats and defence personnel owned flats there. Nearly nine months after the Patidars began their agitation in BJPs model state Gujarat demanding reservation under OBC category, the saffron party has finally bowed to the pressure. State BJP president Vijay Rupani on April 29 announced 10 per cent reservation for economically backward classes from the general category. Flanked by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and senior minister Nitin Patel, Rupani told media persons in Gandhingar that the government would bring in an ordinance on May 1Gujarat Day. The income limit of the family to be eligible for the reservation has been kept at less than Rs 6 lakh annually. The reservation will be in addition to the financial assistance that was announced by the chief minister last year for the meritorious students from non-reserved categories. That scheme will continue. We want students to study, Anandiben quipped. Lalji Patel of the Sardar Patel Group, one of the groups of the agitation, said that it would be possible for him to react only after studying the details. Though the Congress had demanded reservation based on economic criteria, the party does not appear to be happy with the decision. Opposition leader in the state assembly Shankersinh Vagehla said that the state government should give at least 20 per cent reservation on economic basis. He described the move a lollipop. Central Gujarat convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti Uday Patel termed the move as new lollipop and said that their demand was for reservation in the OBC category or Rajasthan/Haryana pattern. He said that 10 per cent reservation to 3.5 crore people falling in this category was just not acceptable. He said that the PAAS had not even accepted Congress demand of 20 per cent reservation on economic lines. The decision to give 10 per cent reservation to those from the non-reserved category falling in EBC was taken at a meeting where national BJP president Amit Shah was present, apart from Anandiben, senior ministers and key persons from the state party. Apart from the financial criteria, merit criteria will also be applicable, Rupani said. However, he did not elaborate further. He said that the students would benefit from this in the next academic session beginning in June and that this was one of the reasons that an ordinance is being brought in on May 1. Asked if the state government had given in to the demands of the Patidar leaders, Rupani said that there has been a discussion at the national level about reservation on economic lines. This is based on that, he said. Rupani accused the Congress of making a political demand and asked as to why the Congress did not bring in this reservation when it was in power. The BJP had suffered reserves in the elections to civic bodies and panchayats last year and much of it has been attributed to the Patel ire. In the result of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation announced earlier this week, the BJP and the Congress shared 16 seats each in the 32-seat civic body. Though the BJP managed to contain the Congress, its performance is not being considered good for the fact that the party has been ruling Gujarat for over 15 years now and Gandhinagar is the state capital. Patidar leader Hardik Patel has been behind the bar for six months on the charges of sedition. His five aides Chirag Patel, Ketan Patel, Dinesh Bambhania, Vipul Desai and Chirag Desai were granted bail on April 28. The reservation stir has claimed 12 lives, including that of a policeman, in the state. Police in Kerala on Friday arrested a man on charges of raping a woman, allegedly at the behest of her 'impotent' husband, who wanted her to get pregnant, a report said. Police said the couple, who hail from Vadakara in the northern Kerala district of Kozhikode, had been undergoing infertility treatment for the past two years. As the treatment remained ineffective, one of the husband's friends, identified only as Sidikk, 30, reportedly suggested that he would have sex with the woman and impregnate her. The husband, whose identity has been withheld to protect the privacy of the victim, agreed to this bizarre suggestion. He convinced his wife to continue the infertility treatment and on its pretext, brought her to a clinic on March 5. (There), she was raped by the man in the presence of her husband, the report quoted a police officer as saying. "When the victim attempted to escape from the room, the husband dragged her back and the latter rapped her. Following the incident, the woman quarrelled with her husband and went home. The incident came to light when she revealed the molestation to her family. Later, she lodged a complaint at the Nadakkav station on Thursday. Based on a complaint, the men were taken into custody on Friday. The report said the duo admitted to the crime and are booked under relevant provisions of the IPC that deals with abduction and sexual assault. They were later brought to a court, which remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days, the report said. India on Thursday said the recent 90-minute talks with Pakistan was just a courtesy meeting between foreign secretaries of the two countries, during which New Delhi insisted that a team of Indian investigators probing the January Pathankot terror attack be allowed to visit that country. I would first of all clarify that there was no official dialogue between our foreign secretary and Pakistan's foreign secretary, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh said in parliament. He said Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry was here to attend a conference on Afghanistan peace and development and as an etiquette, there were some talks between him and Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar. But, it should not be taken as official dialogue," Singh told the Rajya Sabha. The minister's reply was surprising because India had described the April 26 talks, which continued for some 90 minutes between Chaudhry and Jaishankar, as a bilateral meeting that was expected to lead to progress towards the start of the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. The minister was replying to Congress leader Anand Sharma who asked the government to clarify whether Pakistan had agreed to allow an Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) team to visit that country for probe into the attack on the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Pathankot. India blamed the suicide attack, which left seven people dead, on militants who had crossed over into India from the border with Pakistan. A team of Pakistan investigators was in March allowed to visit Pathankot as part of its probe. This sparked bitter criticism by the Congress-led opposition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Singh said the issue was raised with Pakistan and "they have to look into our NIA visiting Pakistan. So far as we are concerned, (we have) conveyed formally to Pakistan foreign ministry that the terms of reference of the (probe team) visit are broadly agreed to with the proviso that they would be on the basis of reciprocity and followed in accordance with the extant legal provisions. Singh said that the Pakistan government has to take a formal view and convey to us. The issue of visit of Pakistan investigators to Pathankot was also raised in the Lok Sabha with opposition members lamenting that Islamabad did not respond in the right spirit to India's gesture. Congress member Jyotiraditya Scinda accused the government of going soft on Pakistan. "The visiting team also comprised an ISI officer," he said, adding diplomacy with Pakistan should not be handled with "emotive yardstick". "We should negotiate with Pakistan from the position of strength." But there was no response from the government. In Pakistan, Chaudhry said his talks with Jaishankar may not have produced a breakthrough. But we conveyed our concerns (about Kashmir and India's alleged involvement in Balochistan trouble) forthrightly, the Pakistan foreign secretary said in Islamabad on Wednesday. Pakistan is ready for dialogue, whenever India agrees to it, Chaudhry said. China will soon come out with its first database with biographies of over 1,300 Living Buddhas living in the Communist nation, which the state media and analysts say could "strike a heavy blow" to the Dalai Lama, living in exile in India. The online registration system contains the profiles of 1,311 individuals recognised as reincarnated Buddhas to help the public differentiate between "real religious figures" and "fraudulent ones", Global Times quoted the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) as saying. The BAC first published details on 870 Living Buddhas in January. The organisation said that there will not be major changes to the database's inquiry system in the near future, noting that their only responsibility is to update information on the reincarnation and Parinirvana of the Living Buddhas. The online system gives detailed information on Living Buddhas, including their photos, legal names and the number of Living Buddha certificates they have received. Daily views of the system since its launch in January have reached a peak of 98,000, according to the BAC. "The system will strike a heavy blow to the Dalai Lama, as he has been utilising his religious status to ratify Living Buddhas at willwhich is against religious traditionin an attempt to control Tibetan monasteries and divide the country," Zhu Weiqun, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference's Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, previously told the Global Times. Reincarnation of Living Buddhas is a unique inheritance system in Tibetan Buddhism that originated in the 13th century. The BAC began issuing certificates to Living Buddhas in 2010. The Living Buddhas included in the database are scattered throughout provinces and autonomous regions in China's north, northwest and southwest, with many concentrated in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the BAC said. China calls the 80-year-old 14th Dalai Lama "a political exile who has long been engaged in activities to split China under the pretext of religion." The Dalai Lama fled his Himalayan homeland to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Donald Trump's first major foreign policy address alarmed American allies, who view the Republican front runner's repeated invocation of an "America first" agenda as a threat to retreat from the world. While most governments were careful not to comment publicly on a speech by a US presidential candidate, Germany's foreign minister veered from that protocol to express concern at Trump's wording. "I can only hope that the election campaign in the USA does not lack the perception of reality," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. "The world's security architecture has changed and it is no longer based on two pillars alone. It cannot be conducted unilaterally," he said of foreign policy in a post-Cold War world. "No American president can get round this change in the international security architecture.... 'America first' is actually no answer to that." Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister and foreign minister who served as UN envoy to the Balkans in the aftermath of the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, said he heard Trump's speech as "abandoning both democratic allies and democratic values". "Trump had not a word against Russian aggression in Ukraine, but plenty against past US support for democracy in Egypt," Bildt said on Twitter, referring to lines from Trump's speech that criticised the Barack Obama administration for withdrawing support for autocrat Hosni Mubarak during a 2011 uprising. First isolationist candidate Trump's speech, uncharacteristically read out from a teleprompter, seemed aimed at showing a more serious side of a politician who has said he intends to act more "presidential" after months of speaking mainly off the cuff. He promised "a disciplined, deliberate and consistent foreign policy" in contrast to the "reckless, rudderless and aimless" policies of Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trump's likely Democratic opponent if he secures the Republican nomination. The speech included no dramatic new policy proposals that might generate headlines, such as his past calls to bar Muslims from entering the United States or to build a wall on the frontier with Mexico. Where he was specific, like rejecting the terms of last year's nuclear deal with Iran, calling for more investment in missile defense in Europe and accusing the Obama administration of tepid support for Israel, he was firmly within the Republican mainstream. A major theme -- that more NATO allies should spend at least 2 percent of their economic output on defense -- is one that has also been taken up by the Obama administration itself, including repeatedly during the president's visit to Europe last week. Nevertheless, Trump's rhetoric raised alarm in allied countries that still rely on the superpower for defense, particularly the phrase "America first", used in the 1930s by isolationists that sought to keep the United States out of World War Two. Former South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sung-han, who now teaches at the Korea University in Seoul, said Trump would be "the first isolationist to be US presidential candidate, while in the post-war era all the US presidents have been to varying degrees internationalists. Saying the US will no longer engage in anything that is a burden in terms of its relationships with allies, it would be almost like abandoning those alliances," he said. It will inevitably give rise to anti-American sentiment worldwide. Xenia Wickett, head of the US and Americas Programme at Britain's Chatham House think tank, said the speech suggests Trump would make Americas allies less secure rather than more. "He talked about allies being confident but all of his rhetoric suggested that America should be unpredictable and that Americas allies needed to stand up for themselves." "Disaster" Earlier in the US nomination process, foreign leaders were not shy to condemn Trump openly and publicly. In December, when Trump called for his temporary ban on admitting Muslims, British Prime Minister David Cameron called him "divisive, stupid and wrong". Hundreds of thousands of Britons signed a petition calling for Trump to be banned from Britain for hate speech, which was taken up in parliament. Cameron declined to ban Trump, but said: "If he came to visit our country, I think he would unite us against him." In January, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel lumped Trump together with the leaders of European far-right parties as "not only a threat to peace and social cohesion, but also to economic development". These days, with Trump now seen as likely to win his party's nomination, European officials are more circumspect in public, but sound no less alarmed in private. A Trump presidency would be a disaster for EU-US ties," said one senior EU official involved in shaping foreign policy in Brussels. "Right now, we and the Obama administration generally understand each other. I dont think we understand Donald Trump. He has no understanding of the delicate, complex nature of foreign policy on Europes doorstep. Nevertheless, some of the policies Trump shares with other Republicans do have sympathetic audiences abroad. Ryszard Terlecki, head of the parliamentary group of Poland's ruling right-wing Law and Justice party, said Trump had a point when criticising the Obama administration for backing away from plans for increased missile defense. "This decision influenced very badly the security of this part of Europe. If it weren't for that, the conflict in Ukraine would not escalate," he told Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly opposed the Obama administration's deal with Iran, and Trump's speech, like an earlier one to a pro-Israel lobby group in Washington, went down well with some right-leaning Israelis. "Trump wants an America that is decent, strong, loyal - but also no patsy. And he sees in Israel the most loyal ally of the US," wrote Boaz Bismuth, diplomatic correspondent for the pro-Netanyahu daily Israel Hayom. In the Arab world, where governments and their citizens are also alarmed at the rise of non-Arab Iran, Trump's strong rejection of the deal with Tehran is a popular position that would have been embraced if expressed by another candidate. But Trump's previous call to ban Muslims from the United States has made him anathema in the region. Emirati political analyst Abdulkhaleq Abdullah said no speech would be enough to salvage his reputation there: "He's a racist and a chauvinist who will never be widely welcomed in the Arab world." Or, as Kuwaiti twitter user Mohammed al-Ammar wrote: "Some of his speech is correct and logical, but the problem is, he's still #Trump." COLEMANS MUSTERED Crisis-torn Co-operative Bank has appointed a deputy to take over from chief executive Niall Booker. Liam Coleman, who has worked for Nationwide Building Society and RBS and is director of retail and commercial at the Co-op Bank, will become deputy chief executive on Tuesday. The bank said he would succeed Niall Booker at a date to be determined. LAST ORDERS A clutch of European beer brands are being eyed for sale as Anheuser-Busch InBev seeks backing for its 71billion takeover of SABMiller. SAB and AB InBev said it was willing to offload beers including Dreher in Hungary, Kompania Piwowarska in Poland, Plzensky Prazdroj and Pivovary Topvar in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Ursus in Romania. The proposal comes on top of last weeks 2billion deal to sell beer brands Peroni, Grolsch and Meantime to Japanese brewery giant Asahi. TOUGH LESSON Education publisher Pearson saw a 4 per cent fall in revenues in the three months to March, compared to the same period in 2015, after losing contracts in New York and Texas, and amid falling US college enrolments. It has issued a string of profit warnings in recent years. It announced 4,000 job cuts in January. Shares have fallen more than 40 per cent in the last year, and closed 1.17 per cent or 9.5p down to 805p. DEAL DISASTER Ophir Energys shares lost nearly a fifth of their value after a deal with US group Schlumberger collapsed. Oil and gas explorer Ophir has been in talks with the worlds largest oilfield services firm to partner it on its Fortuna project in Equatorial Guinea. Shares fell 18.4 per cent or 16.9p to 75p. PLANE SAILING Airbus has signed three big deals. China Eastern Airlines has ordered 20 Airbus A350 XWBs, Philippine Airlines is finalising an order for six A350-900s, while two A320neos and two A320s have been ordered by Air Cote DIvoire. Airbus builds wings and others systems in the UK. SALES SURGE Laird saw revenues grow 15 per cent to 171million in the three months to March 31. Undeserving? More than one in ten investors voted against AstraZeneca ceo Pascal Soriot's 8.4m pay Two more British blue chips have been dragged into the row over fat-cat pay after facing a revolt from shareholders. More than one in ten investors voted against the 8.4million Pascal Soriot was handed last year as chief executive of drug maker AstraZeneca. It followed a series of huge rebellions on Thursday when millions of shareholders turned on the bosses of some of Britains biggest companies. Rakesh Kapoor, chief executive of Nurofen and Durex owner Reckitt Benckiser, is now in the firing line ahead of his companys annual meeting next week. The UK Individual Shareholders Society, or ShareSoc as it is known, described Kapoors 23.2million pay for 2015 as indefensibly high and urged investors to vote against it. In a further blow to Reckitt, the company was fined 885,000 for misleading customers in Australia after a court ruled that pills that claim to target specific ailments, such as migraine or back pain, were in fact identical. A Reckitt spokesman said: Nurofen did not intend to mislead customers in Australia and insisted Nurofen products in the UK are not affected and continue to be available. Reckitt Benckiser shares fell yesterday 1.5 per cent or 101p to 6654p. A string of chief executives have faced a backlash over fat cat pay so far this year in a so-called shareholder spring. The most dramatic rebellion so far came on Thursday when more than 72 per cent of shareholders in FTSE 250 engineer Wier Group voted down a plan to allow executives to take home millions in share options regardless of how well the company performed. Pharmaceuticals giant Shire also suffered a significant backlash when nearly half of investors opposed a 25 per cent pay rise for chief executive Flemming Ornskov to 15million. The scale of the revolt at AstraZeneca was nothing like as big but underlined growing unease over high levels of boardroom pay. Soriot took home 8.4million in 2015 up from 3.5million in 2014 after the company saw profits jump from 873million to 2.2billion. But figures yesterday showed revenues rose by just 1 per cent in the first quarter of this year to 6.1billion and profits fell 15 per cent to 1.4billion. Rival drug maker Shire reported a 15 per cent rise in first quarter revenues to 1.2billion. Astra shares fell 0.8 per cent or 31.5p to 3928p while Shire was up 1.8 per cent or 74p to 4261p. Restaurant Group was off the menu yesterday after a profit warning sent the share price spiralling. The group behind the chains Chiquito and Frankie & Benny's warned that sales could be down as much as 5 per cent this year. In a trading update the firm said profit for the full year was likely to be between 74million and 80million, down from 86.8million the year before. Finance boss Stephen Critoph is leaving immediately, after 11 years with the group. The firm is searching for a replacement. Shares slumped 26.7 per cent, or 99.8p, to 274.5p. They are down 60 per cent so far this year. Several brokers cut their target price for the stock on the announcement. Gone cold: Restaurant Group's chains Chiquito and Frankie & Benny's warned that sales could be down as much as 5 per cent this year Paul Hickman, analyst at Edison Investment Research, said: 'This announcement brings to an end a consistent run of almost uninterrupted profit growth lasting more than a decade. 'The strength of alternative models such as home delivery exemplified by Domino's Pizza and Just Eat arguably signals a change in eating out habits.' Restaurant Group said it still expects to open more than 30 sites this year, despite being hit by reduced footfall and competition from food-focused pubs. The firm put its lack of diners down to a rise in people doing online shopping, meaning fewer shoppers at the retail parks where its restaurants are located. Perhaps that's why Cineworld shares took a dip yesterday too. The multiplex cinema chain which is often to be found on the same leisure park sites as Restaurant Group's branches, dropped back 4.9 per cent, or 26.5p, to 515p. BA-owner International Consolidated Airlines shares landed 4.7 per cent, or 26p lower at 525p after the group announced it was slowing expansion plans following the Brussels terror attacks. Several other airlines found themselves in the departure lounge as a result. EasyJet fell back 2.8 per cent, or 42p, to 1473p. The firm yesterday announced plans to recruit 450 pilots. Tui shares retreated 3.2 per cent, or 33p, to 991p after the holiday giant revealed it was selling its hotel booking arm Hotelbeds for 930million. The business will go to private equity firm Cinven and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Flybe's shares bucked the trend, taking off 1.7 per cent, or 1p, to 58.75p. It had been a positive start to the week for Flowgroup, a UK firm which develops energy efficient products such as boilers which generate low carbon electricity. On Monday Flowgroup announced it was to enter the European market after Trillary Srl, part of an Italian heating consortium, signed a letter of intent to trial the Flow boiler for potential launch into the Italian market. Shares heated up more than 5 per cent on the news. But the price flowed back yesterday after the firm published its final results and reported an operating loss of 17.1million, up from a loss of 10million in 2014. Flow also reported an uptick of 52 per centin the number of energy customer fuel accounts to 100,000 and revenue of 40.4million. Shares lost 17.8 per cent, or 4.5p, closing at 20.75p. Oil firm Ophir Energy disappointed investors yesterday after it revealed its talks with drilling contractor Schlumberger had fallen through. The two companies had been in discussions about funding Ophir's natural gas project in Equatorial Guinea. Yesterday Ophir said the pair had been unable to agree terms on the deal. There had been talk in January of Schlumberger being given a 40 per cent interest in the project. Ophir's shares were off 18.4 per cent, or 16.9p, to 75p as it continues to search for alternatives. It says it has remained in discussions with other parties. Jimmy Choo share's tiptoed down as investors concerns about luxury brands continue. The designer shoe maker crept back 3.3 per cent, or 4.2p, to 123.6p. But RBC has a target price of 160p. Jimmy Choo is ranked the second most desirable luxury footwear brand, the broker said, with an extremely sticky customer base who are unlikely to 'trade down' to a cheaper brand. Shoppers will know fruit importer Fyffes for its blue-labelled bananas. In a trading update yesterday, it said it was raising its target earnings range by 7million to 49million-54million following its purchase this month of Highline Produce, Canadas largest mushroom firm, for 76.6million. Dublin-based Fyffes also distributes pineapples and melons, and has branched out into snacks such as plantain chips. Households in the UK are 'depressed' about the state of the economy as Brexit uncertainty and eurozone instability has sent consumer confidence tumbling, new research suggests. Across the country, sentiments towards the UK's economic situation slumped into negative territory for the first time in 15 months in April, a report by GfK carried out on behalf of the European Commission said. With people being bombarded with mixed-messages over a potential Brexit, a group of eight influential economists, known as the 'Economists for Brexit' has suggested Britain's departure from the EU could boost the country's economy by 4 per cent. Storm clouds brewing: People's 'depression' about the state of Britain's economic situation has sent consumer confidence tumbling, as uncertainty over a potential Brexit and the Eurozone crisis takes hold, findings by GfK suggest GfK's overall index dropped three points to minus 3 this month, with the measure for the general economic situation of the country during the last 12 months decreasing four points to minus 14, 17 points lower than this time last year. Joe Staton, head of market dynamics at GfK, said: 'Mixed messages about a post-Brexit world and the on-going eurozone crisis are casting a cloud over our economy. 'The biggest dent to confidence comes from consumers' depression about the general economic situation in the UK for the next year, dropping 20 points in 12 months. 'Against this backdrop, even faith in our personal economic fortunes has taken a battering contributing to the overall fall in the numbers. 'Trends in confidence show our degree of optimism about the state of the economy and this indicator will make for interesting reading between now and the EU referendum on June 23.' Confidence crisis: Across the country, sentiments towards the plight of the UK's economy slumped into negative territory for the first time in 15 months this month, a report by GfK carried out on behalf of the European Commission said People's expectations for the country's economy over the next year have fallen by two points to minus 14, a slump of 20 points in a year, GfK said. But, consumers feel more positive about their personal finances than they did in April last year, even though they are less confident about what lies ahead in this regard for the rest of the year. If you're jetting off to the continent this Bank Holiday weekend, you will find it suddenly cheaper to use your mobile phone. All mobile networks operating in the European Economic Area country (the 28 EU countries, plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) are required to lower their overseas charges within the region below a new cap from today, thanks to regulations from Brussels. The maximum charge for calls made within the EU will be set at a maximum of 0.05 (4p) per minute, while the cost of a text will be capped at 0.02 (2p), and each MB of data used must not incur a fee of more than 0.05 (4p) - excluding VAT. Bonjour: Say hello to friends and family while abroad in France or anywhere else in the EU for less Bear in mind, a MB of data is typically used up by viewing just five or six webpages on your device. The new charges are an improvement of the previous upper limits of 0.19 a minute to make a call, 0.06 for texts and 0.20 per MB of data (capped at 40 per month - data only), excluding VAT. The pre-VAT cost of a 30-minute call will fall from a maximum 4.44 to 1.17 from Saturday. Countries outside the EU are not covered by the new rules and roaming charges can be vastly more expensive. From June next year, data roaming fees across the EU will be banned altogether. The move should put an end to 'bill shock' in the EU - whereby phone customers return home to unexpectedly large bills incurred for use abroad. Data from comparison uSwitch published at the end of last year showed that one in six mobile phone users had to pay more than 100 on top of their normal bill, while the average was an extra 61, rising to 72 for 18-34 year olds. Some mobile phone operators have already cut roaming charges. Tesco Mobile announced this week that its customers would not be charged for roaming in any of 31 European countries from May 23 until September 3. Calls, data and texts will not incur extra charges for those on pay-as-you-go, while those on contract can use their existing allowances. Three mobile already offers a similar 'Feel at Home' perk which wont charge extra to call or text the UK or for data use in 18 countries. Anything beyond customers' contracts will cost more. The network charges 16.6p per minute for calls, texts cost 5.5p and data costs 10p per MB. Although Three offers a smaller list of countries where you wont pay extra, it does include some popular destinations outside of Europe including Australia, New Zealand, The US, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Carphone Warehouse-owned iD network also has TakeAway tariffs, which include free roaming in 29 countries including the whole of the EU, USA and Australia. Plans start at 12.50 a month for a SIM-only 12 month contract. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Mark Hallum The Bayside home that formerly belonged to federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis has been nearly demolished in violation of the work permits issued by the city Department of Buildings. Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside) said last week the DOB had given the owners a notice to revoke on the ALT-1 work permit, which allows for no less than 50 percent of the structure being retained. The property was purchased by Jia Hua Realty, a limited liability company based in Bayside that was formed in March 2014, according to city records. The owner identified herself as Lisa and said she had lived in New Jersey with her parents, husband and one child when she spoke to a TimesLedger staff two weeks ago. According to the DOB website, the property was inspected April 15 with no violations found, but this was before Vallone said the work permit had been revoked. The structure that once stood at three stories is now reduced to ground level. The work on the historic property caught the attention of Bonnie Skala Kiladitis, daughter of late activist Frank Skala, when she complained to Vallone, who sent a formal letter to the city Department of Buildings for the breach of its permit. After hearing from Vallone, the DOB issued a notice to revoke the building permit, pending the owners answer to the objections. Our community will not stand idly on the sidelines when homeowners and developers come into our neighborhoods and deceitfully try to circumvent building codes. This type of blatant disregard of building permit requirements and deliberate over-development will never be accepted in our community, Vallone told the TimesLedger. I want to thank the DOB for working hand-in-hand with our office to immediately address this issue. The large, stately house located on 218-15 40th Ave. is believed to have been built circa 1890 and was the one of the personal residences of the Lawrence family, influential members of the early Bayside community. A study conducted by historic preservation consultant Paul Graziano found the Lawrence Estate is eligible for the National and State Register of Historic Places, a recognition that carries no protection from demolition or alteration. The building plans for the renovation show that only the front of the house was to be build upon. But neighbors watched in despair as the roof was peeled away and the inside gutted, according to Kiladitis, who grew up in the Skala house across the street. Vallone is pushing for the Department of Buildings to levy the maximum fines and penalties in order to set an example to homeowners, contractors and architects. According to a spokesman for Vallone, a quick response from the DOB is critical to ensure that houses are not torn down and rebuilt before action can be taken. State Assemblyman Edward Braunstein (D-Bayside) also put in a complaint with the Department of Buildings. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Graciano Clause and Mark Hallum Members of the Jamaica Muslim Center, along with elected officials and others from the Muslim community in Queens, held a rally Friday at the center in the wake of a recent attack on its premises. Muslims have called for the suspect to be charged with a hate crime. According to police reports, Michael Voyard, 26, entered the Queens mosque at 85-37 168th St. high on synthetic marijuana, known as K2, and cocaine during noon prayers April 19. Voyard yelled anti-Islam and anti-Muslim slurs, before getting into an altercation with several congregants, punching and kicking people repeatedly, police said. Ten people were injured, three of them seriously. One congregant, a 69-year-old man, was hospitalized after suffering bruising to his face and a brain hemorrhage, police said. In surveillance footage shown at the rally, Voyard can be seen wearing a white tank top and hitting a man in the face before being surrounded by the congregation and being driven out of the mosque by the crowd. He then stripped naked and was arrested by NYPD officers from the 107th Precinct. He was charged with misdemeanor assault and was released April 22 after his arraignment. At the rally, Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) led a discussion in which city and congregation leaders addressed the incident and made statements in support of the Muslim community. We come together today as one community to support the Jamaica Muslim Center and those who were injured, Lancman said. This crime, including the potential bias motive, must be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrator brought to justice. Lancman said the NYPDs Hate Crimes Taskforce was investigating whether or not the attack was a hate crime. The Jamaica Muslim Center has been a place for worship for Muslims living in Jamaica and this travesty should not diminish the contribution their members have made in the community, Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans) said. He added that as the community learns about the reality of the disturbing incident, it should be remembered that the act of one person does not represent the many who choose to live peacefully in their neighborhoods. I am angered and disappointed each time I hear about an incident like the one that took place at the Jamaica Muslim Center on Tuesday, said Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows). Violent attacks at places of worship cannot be taken lightly. The president of the center said the attack was clearly a hate crime. It absolutely should be considered a hate crime that our Muslim brothers and sisters were attacked by a stranger while praying, said Mohammad Rahman, president of the center. Weprin criticized the anti-Muslim rhetoric that has been part of the national debate during the presidential primaries. It goes against everything that the United States stands for. It should be an offense to all Americans and all decent human beings, he said. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry Nearly 277,500 private homeowners in Queens will receive a $183 tax credit this summer as Mayor Bill de Blasio decided to no longer request a rental payment from the city Water Board, saving $244 million next year and $268 million in fiscal year 2018. He announced Monday that the fees New Yorkers pay will be dedicated solely to the operation, maintenance and expansion of the water and sewer system. For decades the city has been using the water bill as a cash cow for the general treasury, de Blasio said. Thats not right. The water bill should be for one thing and one thing only the cost of water. Our water is safe and pure but it costs to keep it that way. This credit will provide some relief as we work to keep water and sewer bills as low as possible. City Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Hillcrest) has aggressively advocated for the city to stop the water rate rental payment, said. For years the city has stolen homeowners water taxes to pad the general fund through the guise of excessive rental payments demanded of the Water Board for using the water and sewer infrastructure that keeps New York running, and todays decision to abandon this swindle is good news. The mayor proposed the one-time credit be applied to all of the more than 664,000 one- to three-family homes across the city. It was written into his $82.2 billion Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 presented Tuesday that has many items that will please Queens residents. The budget includes $21 million in capital funding for smaller, specialized snow removal equipment for the Department of Sanitation in response to Winter Storm Jonas that paralyzed the borough with over 30 inches of snow in late January. More than 70 snow plows became stuck on narrow streets. This new funding will make our streets safer for pedestrians and vehicles by purchasing smaller equipment that will help DSNY deftly navigate snowy streets and clear crosswalks and bus stops, de Blasio said. The Executive Budget includes an investment of almost $2 billion in New York Health + Hospitals to address a growing financial shortfall in the largest municipal health system in the nation The city will also make a $100 million investment in critical, new infrastructure shifting from inpatient care to ambulatory care and outpatient services. This multibillion-dollar investment will stabilize and improve our citys public healthcare system, City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) said. Elmhurst Hospital, a public hospital in my district, serves thousands of uninsured and undocumented New Yorkers each month. These dollars will help ensure that facilities like Elmhurst Hospital are adequately staffed and have the resources they need to care for all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status or income level. The mayor plans to triple the number of intensive-care mental health units on Rikers Island with $8.7 million in FY 2017, a $5 million investment will add an additional 50 more ambulance tours in Queens and the Bronx where response times are slowest. Queens and the Bronx will also divide $10 million in capital funding for two new full-service animal shelters. The budget includes $244 to replace the upper roadway of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, which is reaching the end of its useful life. Work is expected to take four years. The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, one of the citys iconic bridges spanning the East River, will benefit from this necessary funding and continue its role effectively moving hundreds of thousands of people daily, de Blasio said. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry The citys Department of Transportation officially opened the long-awaited Pulaski Bridge bikeway Friday connecting Long Island City and Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Cyclists now have a dedicated and fully protected two-way path separated from the pedestrian walkway on the 0.6 mile span across Newtown Creek. We are thrilled to be opening a new Pulaski Bridge bikeway worthy of Long Island City and Greenpoint, two of our citys greatest and quickly growing neighborhoods, DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said. With creativity and teamwork, DOTs Transportation Planning and Bridges teams have given New York Citys 1,000-mile bicycle network one great new mile. The federally funded project took more than 3 1/2 years to complete due to unique engineering problems on the movable bascule bridge that opened in 1954. The Pulaski Bridge opens nearly 500 times a year for marine traffic on the waterway below. Its a moveable bridge and that adds to the complexity here, Deputy Commissioner for Transportation Planning & Management Ryan Russo said. It was a complex problem. It wasnt exactly putting a man on the moon, but it was still a complex engineering challenge. Russo led a group of elected officials, DOT staff and transportation advocates on an inaugural ride across the bridge from Long Island City. Cyclists previously had to share the 8.5-foot-wide path with pedestrians leading to safety concerns. Ive biked on this bridge for many years, City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said. Newtown Creek is really something. I love Newtown Creek, but that doesnt mean I want to swim in it anytime soon and there were plenty of times across the bridge where you just didnt feel safe. The latest DOT counts show that 1,500 cyclists use the bridge during peak weekday hours. In the period between 2009 and 2013, cyclist volume on the bridge grew by 106 percent, while pedestrian use increased 47 percent. The opening of this protected bikeway is going to encourage even more people to walk and bike between Brooklyn and Queens, City Councilman Stephen Levin (D-Brooklyn) said. The best was to get people outside and active to make them feel safe and comfortable, and this project does just that. North Korea on Friday sentenced a detained Korean-American, Kim Dong-Chul, to 10 years hard labour on charges of subversion and espionage, China\s official Xinhua news agency said. The announcement, which comes at a time of elevated military tensions on the Korean peninsula, followed an even harsher sentence of 15 years hard labour passed last month on a US student, Otto Warmbier, for stealing a propaganda banner from a tourist hotel in Pyongyang. The brief Xinhua despatch from Pyongyang said Kim\s penalty was handed down by North Korea\s Supreme Court. There was no immediate North Korean confirmation of the sentence. According to a prosecutor cited by the Chinese news agency, Kim carried out "reactionary propaganda" against North Korea "and injected into local people fantasies about the superiority of the United States, in order to shake the stability of the political and social system." The 62-year-old, who became a naturalised US citizen in 1987, was arrested back in October. Kim was paraded in front of media cameras in the North Korean capital a month ago, when he admitted to stealing military secrets and pleaded for clemency in a carefully orchestrated "confession". His detention first came to public attention when he was produced in January during an interview CNN was conducting with a detained Canadian pastor in a Pyongyang hotel. At that time, Kim said he had been living in China near the North Korean border for the past 15 years, commuting regularly to Rason a North Korean special economic zone. According to the North\s state media, he had been arrested in Rason as he was receiving a USB stick containing nuclear-linked data and other military information from his source. The Supreme Court prosecutor said Kim started spying in 2013 after South Korean agents tasked him with collecting party, state and military secrets. South Korea has denied any involvement in Kim\s case. Foreigners detained in North Korea are often required to make a public, usually officially scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing as a first step towards a possible release. Observers said the long sentences handed down to Kim and Warmbier reflected soaring military tensions 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 in March. 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. 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. The US State Department "strongly recommends against all travel" to North Korea and specifically warns of the risk of arrest. SOURCE: AFP Some 20 demonstrators were arrested on Thursday outside a Donald Trump campaign rally in southern California, where the Republican presidential front-runner vowed to his supporters to get tough on illegal immigration if elected. Demonstrators smashed the window of a police squad car, marched in protest and blocked traffic as police in riot gear tried to disperse the crowd outside of the county fair grounds in Costa Mesa, California, according to local media and the Twitter account of the Orange County Sheriff\s Department. The department said on its Twitter account that about 20 arrests were made and that no major injuries were reported. Trump visited Costa Mesa, a city of more than 100,000 people, a third of whom are Hispanic or Latino, hoping to garner support in California where voters will go to the polls during the state\s Republican primary on June 7. A strong primary win in California for the billionaire could thrust him above the delegate count needed to secure the Republican nomination for president and avoid a contested party convention in July. During the campaign stop on Thursday, Trump promised to get tough on illegal immigration by building a wall on the border between Mexico and the United States, a popular theme of his presidential campaign, suggesting that a wall would stop drugs from coming into this country. "The drugs are poisoning our youth and a lot of other people and we are going to get it stopped," he said, telling the crowd that he would force Mexico to pay for the wall. After the event, local news showed hundreds of demonstrators surrounding vehicles, waving Mexican flags and holding signs in protest of Trump outside of the Orange County Fair and Event Center. At least one demonstrator was shown jumping on the top of a police car while other demonstrators were seen shaking a police vehicle. A Los Angeles Times reporter posted a photo on Twitter of a man wearing a Trump T-shirt with a bloodied face. Trump has come under fire from rivals for fueling unrest with his rhetoric as several of his rallies around the country have been met by protests during the last several months. SOURCE: REUTERS Local safety experts offer advice for keeping Trick-or-Treat fun for everyone As families prepare for fun night of Trick-or-Treating, local safety experts are offering some tips on how to stay happy and healthy this Halloween season. Property taxes SHARE By John Ingle of the Times Record News Wichita County homeowners will soon learn the preliminary appraisal value of their home as letters from the Wichita Appraisal District were mailed out Thursday. Letters for commercial properties will go out Friday, and business and personal property notices will be sent Monday. Eddie Trigg, chief appraiser for WAD, said residential values overall are estimated to increase 2 percent, with some increasing a little higher and some decreasing. Commercial values will increase about 6 percent, he said. Homeowners and businesses will have until May 31 to file a written protest with the WAD to contest the preliminary valuation, he said. Hearings before the administrative district judge-appointed Appraisal Review Board will begin in June. Final appraisal values have to be certified by July 25. "They can protest online, which they have been able to for two years now on residential properties, and any other property they can do it online," Trigg said. "It just hasn't taken hold. We just haven't had as many (online protests)." An informal protest option is also available in which a person can speak to an appraiser about their preliminary values. But, appraisers are only able to share general information, by law, unless a formal written protest has been filed. Monty Toliver, WAD's residential supervisor, said most disagreements can be resolved without filing a written protest with the office. "What I would encourage property owners to do is before they file a protest is call and talk to the appraiser," he said. "A lot of times we can explain the process to them, or they can tell us problems that we didn't know about, and we can make value changes informally without them having to file a protest. So, I would encourage people to do that first." In 2015, about 360 residential owners made informal inquiries, according the WAD statistics, and about 150 had their values changed. Setting an appraised involves more than grabbing numbers out of thin air. Toliver said appraisers use a specific process to mine data from multiple agencies to discover, list, appraise and defend those values. The office uses aerial photos and physical observations, sales data specific to each neighborhood, and computer programs to complete the complex process. Values are computed for different components of property, he said. For example, values are applied for living areas, covered patios or porches, outbuildings, garages and carports, in-ground pools and land. Those figures added together comprise the model value of the property. In short, anything that is affixed to the property and adds value to a residence is included. "The key component to that is after you come up with the model value, then you compare that to what the market says and you adjust that model value to the market," Toliver said. A system of checks and balances are in place in the office to make sure values are at a "ratio of one", or set at 100 percent of what the market value for the home. Appraisers look at the median value of what comparable homes sold for in each neighborhood and don't consider high-end or low-end sales. The goal is to be as accurate as possible with the valuations. Visit www.wadtx.com or call 940-322-2435 for more information about how the appraisal process works. CHRISTOPHER WALKER/TIMES RECORD NEWS Robin Payne testified on her behalf Thursday afternoon in the 30th district courtroom. Payne was charged in a sealed indictment in December 2014 of exploiting her 25-year-old disabled daughter. The defense attorney for a Wichita Falls woman accused of exploiting her severely disabled daughter called a litany of character witnesses in the woman's sentencing trial Thursday. Robin Frances Payne, 51, is accused of leaving her disabled adult daughter in a crib smeared with feces in 2013 while using the victim's Social Security checks for her own benefit. Payne already has pleaded guilty to one count of exploitation of a disabled person in the case. Evidence presented in Thursday's proceedings which were held before a district judge but not a jury will play a role in determining the sentence handed down by District Judge Bob Brotherton. The sentencing phase of the case began Monday in Wichita County's 30th District Court. On Thursday, Payne's attorney Stacy Kosub called to the witness stand friends, family members and coworkers to praise the defendant's character. Some witnesses were more effective than others. Kayla Fudge, who was supervised by Payne while working at Golden Corral, characterized the woman as a hard worker and "a very good mother." When confronted with evidence that Payne had not taken her disabled daughter to the doctor in six years and that the victim's crib mattress appeared to be soaked with fecal matter, Fudge said, "no parent is perfect." Ronald Antepara, who said he's been friends with Payne for 30 years, gave similar testimony, saying "(Payne) has always been a good person... She's always helped other people. She's always loved her children, took care of them." Payne's son, Brandon Terrall, who was staying at the defendant's home when police entered the residence and found the victim, also testified to his mother's goodwill, but remarks he made during testimony were repeatedly shown by prosecutors to be inconsistent with statements he gave to police some months after the incident. While he was on the stand, prosecutors showed photos taken by investigators the day the victim was discovered by law enforcement. They depicted the victim's living conditions, including soiled crib she slept in, rodent droppings and a dead mouse in her bedroom, and a photo of her nude in the crib, smeared with feces. Payne herself was called to the witness stand near the end of the afternoon, though little significant testimony directly regarding the incident was elicited before proceedings were continued to Monday morning. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Smyrna, Ga. Adventure Outdoors is an 80,000-square-foot store with walls lined with long guns, cases packed with handguns and aisles jammed with all the accessories an avid outdoorsman would need: coolers, clothing, ammo. At the customer service counter is a government-issued poster that warns: "Don't lie for the other guy." Store founder Jay Wallace said his staff is diligent about making sure buyers are legitimate and not fronting for someone who is legally prohibited from buying a gun. But once a sale goes through, he said, it's out of his hands. "A firearm takes on a life of its own after it leaves. It can be bought and sold many times over," Wallace said. The flow of guns from one person to another, and from states with loose gun laws to those with strict ones, has long flummoxed law enforcement and gun-control advocates and is emerging again as a hot topic. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton singled out rival Bernie Sanders' home state of Vermont, which has few gun restrictions, for supplying a disproportionate share of firearms used in crimes in New York. (She exaggerated: in reality, many more guns flow in from states to the South.) California Gov. Jerry Brown, after the San Bernardino attack, charged that lax gun laws in Arizona and Nevada have created a weapons pipeline into California. Chicago has long been plagued by guns traced to points as far away as Mississippi. While the vast majority of guns used in crimes were originally sold legally, what happens to such weapons after their initial sale is difficult to track and even harder to prevent, because most criminals get their guns from friends, family or on the street. "We have very little information about the precise course that all the guns take that are used by criminals," said Daniel W. Webster, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research. The government has two snapshots of a gun: where it was purchased and where it was recovered, an incomplete picture because not every gun recovered is traced. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives show that guns used in crimes usually are bought in the state where the offense is committed. Of the 7,686 firearms recovered in New York that were traced by the ATF in 2014, 1,397 were originally sold in New York. "The bottom-line answer is passing a law doesn't stop bad guys from breaking the law," said Erich Pratt, of Gun Owners of America. "Bad guys are still going to get the guns and what happens is it prevents good people from getting guns." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Frankfurt, Germany Volkswagen's CEO says he apologized in person to U.S. President Barack Obama for the carmaker's emissions scandal, in which it rigged its cars to cheat on diesel engine pollution tests. CEO Matthias Mueller said he held a "two minute" conversation with the president during his visit to Hannover, Germany, this week. "I took the opportunity to apologize to him personally for this matter," Mueller said during the company's annual news conference Thursday in Wolfsburg, Germany. "I also expressed my thanks for the constructive cooperation with his authorities and naturally expressed the hope that I can continue to fulfill my responsibilities for 600,000 workers, their families, the suppliers, the dealers," Mueller said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could levy fines of up to $18 billion, but analysts think the punishment will not be that drastic. Volkswagen seemed to endorse that view by saying it had set aside 7.0 billion euros globally for legal costs from 2015, on top of 7.8 billion euros ($8.8 billion) to cover fixes and an offer to buy back some 500,000 defective cars. Overall, the company deducted 16.2 billion euros from last year's earnings to cover the costs of the scandal, in which it fitted cars with software that enabled them to pass tests but then turned emissions controls off during every day driving. The scandal broke when the EPA took action against Volkswagen. Some 11 million cars worldwide have turned out to have the software. Mueller said Thursday that recalling and fixing the cars that were rigged to cheat on the tests "will remain our most important task until the very last vehicle has been put in order." Analysts say the impact of lower sales could make the final bill much higher than the company's figure. Volkswagen says it is reporting costs that it knows about at the present time. The company said last week that it lost 1.5 billion euros on an after-tax basis after a profit of 11.1 billion euros in 2014. Volkswagen is currently working out a settlement with U.S. authorities in federal court in San Francisco, and has said that would include an offer to buy back as many as 500,000 of the just under 600,000 defective vehicles. COLONIE - Police officers from around the region gathered on Wolf Road Friday morning to hand out flowers and raise money for a fund for the families of police officers who died in the line of duty. Friday marks the 12th annual Blue Friday, created to recognize the sacrifices made by police. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A loose bull in was tranquilized Thursday after its roaming forced a brief lockdown of a high school in the Binghamton area, the Press & Sun-Bulletin reported. READ THE STORY ON PRESSCONNNECTS.COM Law enforcement officials to tranquilized the bull around noon in a field in Whitney Point, Broome County. Officials did not say where the animal came from, though Whitney Point High School was placed on a brief lockdown while authorities searched for the bull. Afterward, Whitney Point Mayor Ryan Reynolds posted a photo of the animal on Twitter (@MayorReynoldsWP) and said, "Everything can go back to normal." He tweeted, "No one, including the bull, was harmed." On April 25, 2015, a herd of buffalo got loose from GEM Farm in Castleton. About 15 swam the Hudson River from around Schodack Island and came ashore on the west side of the river in Bethlehem. The formally named American bison eventually ran across the Thruway near Selkirk Exit 22. Police allowed hunters hired by the animals' owners to shoot the herd in a remote area. http://www.timesunion.com/ This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany The wife and mother of Edson Thevenin said Friday they want the state attorney general to investigate the events that resulted in his fatal shooting by a Troy police sergeant. "We want to know what happened that night," Cinthia Thevenin said of her husband's death on April 17. The answers and justice they want for their family will only come with a full accounting from a full unbiased state investigation, Thevenin and Gertha Depas said. "We came here to speak up for Edson. We want to clear his name," Thevenin said at news conference held at the Empire Christian Center at 205 Washington Ave. Extension. "Why was his life taken?" Depas asked about her son's death. She said they are "fighting for justice" for his two children. The two women said they only learned of the Rensselaer County grand jury clearing Sgt. Randy French after it handed up its no bill last week. No one in the family was asked to testify or was told the grand jury was meeting, they said. The grand jury report coming five days after Thevenin was fatally shot during a traffic stop on Hoosick Street in Troy stunned his wife and mother. "They rushed it. They rushed to sweep everything under the rug," Thevenin said. The last Rensselaer County grand jury report on a fatal shooting involving Troy police came in November. That was more than two months after Officers Joshua Comitale and Chad Klein were seriously injured and car-jacking suspect Thaddeus Faison was killed in the Aug. 22. shootout in Lansingburgh. The women said the grand jury's quick report after the Thevenin's fatal shooting concerned them in light of how they have never received a complete accounting of what led to their loved one's death. "The detective said my husband died in a car accident," Thevenin said. She said police came to her door on the day of the shooting, and initially asked her if her car had been stolen, making no mention of what happened to her husband. Since then, police have not returned any calls from family members or spoken to them. The family also has not been able to claim Thevenin's personal belongings, including his wedding ring. The 37-year-old Watervliet man died after a sequence of events that began when police said he fled a traffic stop on Sixth Avenue, between Hutton and Hoosick streets, around 3:30 a.m. Thevenin tried to make a U-turn on the Collar City Bridge, then crashed into a barrier. As police blocked off avenues of escape for Thevenin, he backed his car toward the police sergeant, pushing French against his cruiser. Police said French fired eight shots from his service weapon, killing Thevenin. Pastor Tre' Staton of Empire Christian Center said he saw Thevenin's body and he was shot four times in the head and hit four more times. He also asked why the grand jury heard the case without the toxicology results being back from the autopsy. Cinthia Thevenin said the silence has left them confused about the case and with questions that they hope Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will answer in his investigation of the shooting. Schneiderman has sued Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove to overturn the county grand jury report and to assume control of the investigation. Scheiderman claims Abelove violated Executive Order 147, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued last year following several high-profile deaths in police-civilian encounters across the country. Abelove spokesman Jonathan Desso said the district attorney has no comment on the pending legal matter. Thevenin and Depas said they have not retained an attorney, but are considering doing so. kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York's highest court ruled Thursday that DNA evidence presented by prosecutors must be accompanied at trial by at least one analyst involved in the critical stages of its processing or who independently analyzed the raw data. The Court of Appeals, divided 4-3, said such DNA evidence otherwise violates a defendant's constitutional right to confront an accuser. The court ordered a new trial for Sean John, convicted of menacing and gun possession. John was accused of pointing a gun at a man outside his Brooklyn brownstone in 2010. A loaded gun was found in the building's basement. Prosecutors presented DNA evidence showing John had handled the gun. "There is no dispute that DNA evidence is powerful forensic evidence in determining either the guilt or the innocence of the accused," Chief Judge Janet DiFiore wrote for the majority. "We will not indulge in the science fiction that DNA evidence is merely machine-generated, a concept that reduces DNA testing to an automated exercise requiring no skill set or application of expertise or judgment." The court majority said the DNA analyst who testified at his trial only initially processed swabs from the gun handle and was "permitted to parrot" other analysts' conclusions at trial. The swabs had been collected by police and submitted to the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner with a report identifying them as "gun swabs" and saying, "Perp handled the firearm." The DNA analysis of those, like another taken from John's mouth by police months later, involved a four-step process by at least a half-dozen other analysts who were not presented as prosecution witnesses, DiFiore wrote. "As a result, these critical analysts who engaged in an independent and qualitative analysis of the data during the DNA typing tests none of whom was claimed to be unavailable were effectively insulated from cross examination." Judges Jenny Rivera, Leslie Stein and Eugene Fahey agreed with DiFiore. In his dissent, Judge Michael Garcia, a former federal prosecutor, said the ruling runs contrary to New York case law and will needlessly harm the criminal justice system. The city medical examiner's office has about 150 analysts working on more than 8,000 cases a year. Requiring that all analysts testify at trials with DNA evidence would "wreak havoc" on large forensic labs, he wrote. The DNA analysis requires unpacking, examining and documenting the evidence; adding chemicals, heating and cooling the sample to release DNA from cells; measuring the amount of DNA contained; copying 16 specific genetic locations; then running the sample through an instrument that separates nucleic acid fragments by size. The resulting profile is described in a string of numbers. All the tests are run twice, according to Garcia. The analyst who testified also had provided "the critical comparison" of the DNA profiles from the gun and John's saliva determining that they matched. Judges Eugene Pigott Jr. and Sheila Abdus-Salaam joined Garcia in his dissent. Washington Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign said it plans to lay off hundreds of field staffers and other aides, even as the Democratic candidate promises to keep running against Hillary Clinton through the June primaries and into the Philadelphia convention. A day after losing four out of five Northeastern primaries, spokesman Michael Briggs said Wednesday the Sanders campaign was making the cuts as it shifts its focus to the California primary on June 7. The campaign will have gone from a staff of more than 1,000 in January to about 325-350, Briggs said. "We will continue to have a strong and dedicated staff of more than 300 workers who are going to help us win in California and other contests still to come," he said. After losses to Clinton in Tuesday's primaries in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Connecticut, Sanders said that he would now seek as many delegates as possible to "fight for a progressive party platform." "Every person in this country should have the right to vote for whom they want to see as president of the United States and what they want to see the agenda, Democratic agenda, look like," he said. At a rally at Purdue University on Wednesday, Sanders said he was "in this campaign to win and become the Democratic nominee," adding, "If we do not win, we intend to win every delegate that we can so that when we go to Philadelphia in July we're going to have the votes to put together the strongest progressive agenda that any political party has ever seen." Sanders won the Rhode Island primary Tuesday, adding to his trove of more than 1,300 delegates, but his loss in New York and defeats in Pennsylvania and Maryland are likely to change the focus to shaping the Democratic platform, Clinton's policy agenda and his movement to address income inequality and the campaign finance system. Sanders hopes to win next week's Indiana primary and is looking to contests in Oregon and California, but he remains 300 pledged delegates behind Clinton. He has vowed to compete until the final District of Columbia primary in June. Clinton's campaign and Democratic leaders are watching to see if Sanders will continue to raise issues that could damage Clinton's chances in November or whether he will encourage his youthful following to back Clinton. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy Eight months ago, Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove expressed "grave concerns" over an executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo that named Attorney General Eric Schneiderman the special prosecutor in deadly encounters between police and unarmed civilians. Abelove described the order as confusing and contradictory and indicated he would not step away from prosecuting such controversial cases. "I remain committed to handling all cases, including those involving law enforcement officers, with impartiality, fairness and honesty, without fear or favor but in a lawful and transparent fashion," Abelove wrote at the conclusion of an Aug. 29 opinion piece in the Times Union. "The state's citizens deserve no less." Eight months later, it appears Abelove kept his word. On Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced he is suing Abelove for violating Executive Order 147, which Cuomo put into place last year in the wake of several high-profile deaths in police civilian encounters across the country. The suit came after a grand jury cleared Troy police Sgt. Randall French of all charges in the deadly April 17 shooting of Edson Thevenin. The 37-year-old Watervliet man died after a sequence of events that began when police said he fled a traffic stop on Sixth Avenue, between Hutton and Hoosick streets, around 3:30 a.m. Thevenin tried to make a U-turn on the Collar City Bridge, then crashed into a barrier. As police blocked off avenues of escape for Thevenin, the driver backed his car toward the police sergeant, pushing French against his cruiser. Police said French fired eight shots from his service pistol, killing Thevenin. Abelove's office quickly presented the case of Thevenin's shooting to the grand jury. On April 22, Abelove announced the sergeant had been cleared five days after the shooting saying the grand jury determined that French's use of deadly physical force was justifiable under the law. "My heartfelt sympathies go out to the French and Thevenin families," Abelove said in a statement. "Hopefully, the community can begin to heal now that the grand jury has concluded its investigation." Schneiderman had a different take. "This is the first time a district attorney has attempted to exercise jurisdiction over a case in violation of the express terms of the executive order," Schneiderman said in a statement. In the piece published in the Times Union, Abelove fully acknowledged Cuomo's executive order to be "the law of the state a law that we are sworn to uphold." At the same time, the district attorney was clearly rankled by the order. "The governor and the attorney general apparently felt compelled to act because they share the belief with a vocal minority that district attorneys and law enforcement are too close to allow us to investigate and prosecute police fairly," he wrote. Abelove, a first-term Republican, wrote that district attorneys were rendered powerless by Cuomo's executive order. "The order is clear: district attorneys are to do nothing. We are barred from even inquiring into any incident covered by the order," Abelove wrote. And yet his office presented the Thevenin case to the grand jury. Jonathan Desso, a spokesman for Abelove, said the district attorney's writings referred to "incidents covered by the order. It does not apply to incidents which are not covered by the order, incidents where the civilian is armed." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. In the piece, Abelove had been admittedly unsure what was covered under the executive order and what was not. Abelove wrote its language was murky and created issues over jurisdiction. "For instance, if there is ambiguity about whether the civilian was armed, who responds to that case the attorney general or the district attorney?" Abelove wrote. "What does 'armed' even mean? A gun? A knife? A brick? A glass bottle? How is that determination made? If the civilian dies months after the confrontation with law enforcement, does the district attorney turn the case over to the attorney general? No one knows." Abelove added: "When asked some of these important questions recently, the attorney general's response was essentially, 'We'll figure it out.' With all due respect, the time to figure this out would have been when the order was drafted. Waiting for an incident to occur is too late to figure out how to proceed." Abelove did not comment on Schneiderman's legal action. Neither French nor an attorney for him could be immediately reached. In court papers, attorneys for Schneiderman said Abelove lacked the proper jurisdiction to present the case to the grand jury meaning that jeopardy would not attach and, conceivably, the sergeant could still face criminal charges. "Where a prosecutor lacks the requisite authority he is not a proper person before the grand jury and those proceedings conducted by him before the grand jury are defective," stated a memo from Schneiderman's attorneys to Abelove and County Attorney Stephen Pechenik on Wednesday. Schneiderman's lawyers said the office is permitted to intervene in cases "where, in his opinion, there is a significant question as to whether the civilian was armed and dangerous at the time of his death." rgavin@timesunion.com 518-434-2403 @RobertGavinTU This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 PAUL BUCKOWSKI Show More Show Less 2 of 3 PAUL BUCKOWSKI Show More Show Less 3 of 3 ALBANY - The College of Saint Rose has increased campus security during the ongoing investigation of the reported sexual assault of a female student, according to Albany police and the college. City police, who are searching for two suspects, were called to an apartment-style dorm for older students early Wednesday morning. Campus security footage shows two male suspects leaving Centennial Hall at the time of the incident, but neither the university nor Albany Police has not released those images. IEEE to Join Stakeholders at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland IEEE (News - Alert), the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, today announced its participation as a contributing sponsor at the upcoming World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Forum being held 2-6 May 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland. The WSIS Forum, which incorporates the recently adopted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is the largest gathering of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) community that focuses on making the information society accessible to all. IEEE will be joining more than 1,800 global leaders from government, civil society, industry, academia and the technical community to discuss and help advance solutions so that all citizens of the world have meaningful access to the information society. IEEE's engagement at WSIS complements its existing open, global and collaborative work in Internet Governance, security and privacy, including: IEEE Internet Initiative, IEEE Big Data Initiative, IEEE Computer Society, IEEE Cybersecurity Initiative, IEEE Internet of Things Initiative, IEEE Smart Cities, and the IEEE Standards Association Industry Connections program for Ethical Considerations in the Design of Autonomous Systems, which helps provide recommendations for the ethical implementation of standardized intelligent technologies, as well as others. "Through the IEEE Internet Initiative, IEEE shares the goals of the WSIS Forum to focus on allowing all of us to enjoy the benefits of a society powered by Information," said Oleg Logvinov, chair of the IEEE Internet Initiative. "We are committed to working with all stakeholders to realize a fully connected world society so we collectively advance technology for the benefit of humanity." WSIS participants can connect with IEEE at the following sessions: The IEEE Internet Initiative World Cafe workshop, held on 5 May 2016 from 12:30-15:00 CEST in the ICT Discovery Room, will explore WSIS action lines and SDGs as they relate to e-Health data policy. The session will include a technical demonstration and discussion on personal healthcare device interoperability, and encourage participation and discourse on identifying and addressing major policy issues, as well as brainstorming telemedicine application development based on policy requirements. A thematic, interactive workshop, "Internet Governance, Security, Privacy and the Ethical Dimension of ICTs in 2030," held on 5 May from 16:45-18:15 CEST, will discuss obstacles in addressing security, privacy and the ethical dimension of ICTs in today's Internet and ICT-centric world, identify critical issues, and discuss possible opportunities to create more positive outcomes in the future. The panelists are Oleg Logvinov, President and CEO, IoTecha Corporation, Dr. M.G. Michael, Ph.D., Honorary Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information Technology at the University of Wollongong, Christine Runnegar, Director, Security and Privacy Policy, Internet Society, and Dr. Greg Shannon, Ph.D., Chief Scientist for the CERT Division, Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, and past chair of IEEE Cybersecurity Initiative. In addition, Oleg Logvinov will be delivering IEEE's intervention at the High Level Policy segment of the meeting on 3 May from 10:15-10:45 CEST. IEEE's participation at WSIS Forum 2016 follows the successful Global Connect Stakeholders: Advancing Solutions event co-hosted by IEEE and the World Bank on 13 April 2016 in Washington DC, which convened 160 of the top connectivity network engineers, regulatory experts and representatives from government to develop a plan of action addressing the Global Connect Initiative's ambitious goals. About IEEE Internet Initiative The IEEE Internet Initiative is a cross-organizational, multi-domain community that connects technologists and policymakers from around the world to foster a better understanding of, and to improve decisions and advance solutions affecting, Internet governance, cybersecurity, and privacy issues. Learn more at http://www.internetinitiative.ieee.org. About IEEE IEEE is a large, global professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005561/en/ [April 29, 2016] Lockheed Martin and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Sign Teaming Agreement to Build Multi-mission Combat Ships SEOUL, South Korea, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) have signed a comprehensive teaming agreement to partner on the Multi-mission Combat Ship (MCS), which is based on a DSME hull design and intended for the corvette market. Both companies bring valuable experience and unique capabilities to the teaming arrangement. Lockheed Martin has a proven track record of developing and integrating complex systems into a wide variety of U.S. and international naval vessels. DSME is one of the world's largest shipbuilders and has a rich history of producing highly capable naval vessels for the Republic of Korea and other international customers. "DSME's MCS hull design coupled with Lockheed Martin's expertise in program and systems integration will allow the team to bring this capable ship to the international marketplace at an affordable price," said Joe North, vice president of Littoral Ships and Systems at Lockheed Martin Mission System and Training. "Together, we bring not only the best experience, expertise and resources but also the right dedication and focus to offer coalition navies a multi-mission corvette-sized ship designed to meet future threats." "This Teaming Agreement on MCS and strategic cooperation will not only provide our customers with high capability vessels on time, but also further facilitate our two companies' joint efforts in exploring opportunities on a global scale," said Deog-Soo Kim, vice president and the head of the Naval & Special Ship Business Management Division at DSME. "Moreover, the Korean government is pursuing 'New-Economic Growth Activation by Defense Industry' as one of the state development agendas and this agreement is a good example of achieving the objective." Lockheed Martin and DSME are continuing to explore additional business opportunities in the international naval market where integrated, multi-mission corvettes will play a vital role in coastal protection as well as regional operations. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com . About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. About DSME As one of the largest shipbuilders in the world, DSME is the market leader which specializes in building various commercial vessels, large scale offshore platforms, and complex naval ships. DSME has maintained a strong position as a naval solution provider, which has served as the backbone for the Republic of Korean navy's as well as international navies' capability with high quality and on-time products. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141118/159313LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lockheed-martin-and-daewoo-shipbuilding--marine-engineering-sign-teaming-agreement-to-build-multi-mission-combat-ships-300260204.html SOURCE Lockheed Martin [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 29, 2016] Younicos: Prime Minister of Portugal visits world's first megawatt-scale renewable energy system on Graciosa The Prime Minister of Portugal, Dr. Antonio Costa, as well as the President of the Azorean Government, Dr. Vasco Cordeiro, and other high-level country officials have today visited the world's first megawatt-scale grid-forming renewable energy system, which is currently being constructed on the Azorean island of Graciosa. They were joined by executives from EDA, the island's utility, system architect Younicos, Swiss company Leclanche, the battery energy storage system provider, as well as Recharge, the Danish majority investor in the project. The official visit enabled Younicos to showcase the capabilities and benefits of the groundbreaking project. The "island-mode" capability of the project's intelligent battery system will enable up to 100 percent spontaneous renewable energy generation, making it possible for the Portuguese island to replace an average of 65 percent of its fossil fuel power with cheaper and cleaner renewable energy - saving millions of euros and tons of CO2. This system can be easily replicated on other islands with the same kind of benefits, and the same technology can be used to support mainland grids. "We are honored to host these distinguished officials and guests and give them an up-close look at the future of renewable energy-based systems," said Stephen Prince, Youncos CEO. "This island is breathtakingly beautiful - even more so now that its electricity can be generated primarily from abundant natural resources like wind and solar. Our intelligent software controls are the key to capitalizing on renewables, maintaining grid resilience, reducing emissions and saving money." A 1-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic power plant and 3.2 MWh of lithium-ion batteries have already been installed on the island. A 4.5 MW wind park is currently under construction. Once the system is completed Younicos software and controls will enable the grid-forming battery power plant provided by Leclanche to balance short-term power fluctuations, allowing the island to be powered by wind and solar energy - with existing diesel assets needed only for back-up power during prolonged periods of unfavorable weather. Commissioning is expected in summer 2016. About Younicos Younicos is a global leader for intelligent energy storage and grid solutions. Clients benefit from technical expertise, commercial know-how and in-depth experience built on nearly 100 megawatts installed in more than 20 energy storage projects worldwide. The company was founded in 2005 in Berlin, Germany, and currently employs more than 150 storage enthusiasts there and in Austin, Texas (USA). For more information please visit http://www.younicos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005734/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 28, 2016] PR Newswire Hosts Inaugural Media Coffee Event in Jakarta to Shed Light on Challenges of Going Global for Indonesian Communicators JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to better engage local audiences in Indonesia, PR Newswire is bringing its signature event Media Coffee to Jakarta for the first time with the topic "How to Tell Your Stories to the World: Challenges of Going Global for Indonesian Communication Professionals". Arief Yahya, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Indonesia, Justin Doebele, Chief Editorial Advisor at Forbes Indonesia and Vice President of Jakarta Foreign Correspondent Club, and Prita Laura, News Anchor of Metro TV will share their insights on the entry of Indonesian brands into international markets. This free-to-attend event will be held at 9 a.m. (JKT) on May 12 at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel and is open for registration now. As the world's fourth most populous country and Southeast Asia's biggest economy, Indonesia is entering an exciting stage of growth and new opportunities. According to Millward Brown, the combined value of the BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indonesian Brands hit US$64.6 billion in 2015. For Indonesian companies seeking to further grow their brands and leave their footprints on the global stage, it is essential to learn how to deliver their brand's story i a meaningful and effective way. At the Media Coffee event, Yujie Chen, Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific at PR Newswire will be giving a welcome speech, followed by the three esteemed speakers who will share their experiences and thoughts on how brands can strategize their storytelling and venture into new markets that are beyond Indonesia's borders. The event will cover three subtopics: Branding the Nation the Case of "Wonderful Indonesia" What Does the International Media Want From Your Communication Outreach? Creating Multimedia Content Strategy that Drives Results With Perhumas Indonesia, the leading professional association for public relations practitioners, and Bubu Kreasi Perdana, one of the biggest digital advertising agencies and web developers in Indonesia as the official partners, PR Newswire's inaugural Media Coffee in Jakarta will be one of the highly sought after events among Indonesian communication professionals. For those who cannot attend the Media Coffee event in person, the event will be recorded and the archived video will be available shortly after the event. If you are interested in receiving alerts for the archived video, you can subscribe for updates. About PR Newswire's Media Coffee The goal of Media Coffee is to enable communications professionals to hear from leading media organizations on how their respective companies work, providing insight into their specialist areas, giving advice on achieving coverage and informing them on effective targeting of journalists within their sector and how to build a mutually beneficial relationship. About PR Newswire PR Newswire (www.prnasia.com) is the premier global provider of news release distribution and multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, public relations practitioners and investor relations professionals to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry in 1954, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, distribute, target and measure text and multimedia content across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to tell their stories to the world. For further information, please contact: PR Newswire's Asia Marketing Team +852-2572-8228 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160428/8521602767 Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151006/8521506608LOGO [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 29, 2016] ACMA and NetChoice File Legal Challenge against South Dakota's "Blatantly Unconstitutional" Internet Sales Tax Law PIERRE, S.D., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The state of South Dakota's new Internet sales tax mandate to force out-of-state sellers to collect South Dakota sales tax is an unconstitutional expansion of state tax powers and directly conflicts with precedent set by the Supreme Court of the United States. That's according to a suit filed today by the American Catalog Mailers Association (ACMA) and NetChoice in South Dakota's Sixth Judicial Circuit Court. Andy Gerlach, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Revenue, is the named defendant. In 1992, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota that, under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, states do not have the power to require sales tax collection by out-of-state sellers having no physical presence in that state. Under Quill, a company whose only contact with the state is communicating with customers via remote meanssuch as mail, common carrier, or the Internetlacks a "physical presence" in the state. In direct contravention of the Supreme Court's Quill decision, South Dakota approved a statute (SB 106) that creates new sales and use tax collection obligations on remote sellers. This novel "economic presence" classification defines retailers as having nexus within the state if they exceed $100,000 in annual sales or 200 remote sales transactions with South Dakota customers. Moreover, this applies not only to physical sales, but also sales of digital goods and online services. The new law takes effect May 1 and the State began circulating demand notices in March. "South Dakota is showing wanton disregard for established Supreme Court precedent," said Hamilton Davison, president and executive director of the ACMA. "This statute is blatantly unconstitutional and flies in the face of law that has been settled for decades. States simply don't have the authority to pick and choose the Supreme Court decisions they will follow." "South Dakota has imposed unconstitutional and unworkable burdens on remote sellers," said Steve DelBianco, executive director f NetChoice. "Left unchecked, this misguided tax law could set the course for enormous tax and administrative burdens on businesses across the country. Irresponsible state laws are not the way to make new national policies for interstate commerce." The plaintiff trade associations seek a declaratory judgment against the South Dakota Department of Revenue. If granted, this would mean that the statute is unconstitutional and therefore unenforceable. If not addressed, this new law will impose significant upfront costs on retailers. Research by the TruST coalition estimates that a mid-market retailer collecting taxes for states with multiple taxing jurisdictions and definitions would spend $80,000 - $290,000 in setup and integration costs and $57,500 to $260,000 in ongoing maintenance, updates, audits and service fees charged by "free" software providers. ACMA and NetChoice represent eCommerce businesses, catalog and remote sellers who will be directly and adversely affected by South Dakota's new sales tax law. They are also co-founders of the TruST coalition, which represents American businesses in the fight to keep interstate commerce and competition free from unfair tax burdens imposed by states where businesses have no operations or representation. South Dakota is not the only state considering such unconstitutional sales tax laws. Other states have passed or are considering similar legislation to define economic presence and undermine Quill, including Alabama, Utah, and Colorado. "This is equivalent to malpractice," said Davison. "It represents exactly the type of bad governance that makes Americans cynical of big government. While US Supreme Court precedent gives Congress the right to make new rules for interstate commerce in this area, State legislatures do not have this right." Congress is currently working to create a federal solution to Internet and remote sales tax. The ACMA and NetChoice support a legislative approach laid out by the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA-6th), which would administer sales taxes based on the location of the seller, not the buyer. This is the system already in place for brick and mortar retailers, who collect only where they are physically located, and would put Internet sellers, catalog stores, and big-box retailers on a level playing field. For more information about the legal proceeding, visit www.truesimplification.org. About the American Catalog Mailers Association ACMA is a Washington-based not-for-profit organization specifically created to advocate for the unique collective interests of catalog mailers in regulatory, public and administrative matters where the shared impact transcends individual company interests. ACMA participates in rulemaking and other proceedings of significance where a single collective voice increases influence and effectiveness. Membership is open to any party with significant interests in the catalog industry. More information can be found at www.catalogmailers.org. About NetChoice NetChoice is a trade association representing leading eCommerce businesses working to protect free enterprise and free expression on the Internet. About the TruST Coalition Led by the American Catalog Mailers Association (ACMA), Direct Marketing Association (DMA), the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA), and NetChoice, the True Simplification of Taxation (TruST) Coalition represents American businesses in the fight to keep interstate commerce and competition free from unfair tax burdens imposed by states where our businesses have no operations or representation. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361650LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361666LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/acma-and-netchoice-file-legal-challenge-against-south-dakotas-blatantly-unconstitutional-internet-sales-tax-law-300260142.html SOURCE NetChoice; American Catalog Mailers Association [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 29, 2016] St. Jude PLAY LIVE prize season levels-up on April 29 MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Video gamers are grabbing their favorite controller and counting down to the third annual St. Jude PLAY LIVE prize season, kicking off April 29 to May 31 to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The St. Jude PLAY LIVE video game charity program encourages participants to raise funds for the kids of St. Jude and to play for more than bragging rights. On April 8, the same day prize season registration opened St. Jude Children's Research Hospital hosted more than five dozen top video game broadcasters on campus, along with hosts from Twitch, the leading live video platform for gamers. For the first time ever, Twitch Weekly broadcast the popular show live from a non-gaming event, allowing hosts and broadcasters to learn about St. Jude patients' stories of hope and survival, speak with researchers at St. Jude utilizing video gaming as an effective therapy in childhood cancer survivors, and share more about how St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases with the online gaming community. "It's remarkable to see how deeply he entire video game industry has embraced the mission of St. Jude through our St. Jude PLAY LIVE platform, enabling gamers to play for a purpose," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We are deeply appreciative of gamers across the country, broadcasters, corporate partners and supporters whose collective efforts and passionate hearts help ensure St. Jude will continue its lifesaving mission of finding cures for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases." GameStop, a global family of specialty retail brands that makes the most popular technologies affordable and simple, continues its commitment to St. Jude PLAY LIVE as its official video game sponsor. GameStop provides participants with high-level incentives for supporting the mission. Included again in this year's prize package is a trip to the highly anticipated 2016 GameStop Expo, Sept. 14 in Anaheim, California as well as a pledge to match up to $45,000 in funds to drive donations. The year-round video game charity program has simple rules: gamers sign up at playlive.stjude.org, set a fundraising goal, share the program with friends and family, and raise funds while playing their favorite games. Participants won't just score points, they will help ensure no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Since its inception, St. Jude PLAY LIVE has raised nearly $2 million and continues to increase participants from the video broadcasting industry. Players use their skills to help the kids of St. Jude get to the next level and St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. This year, St. Jude PLAY LIVE is launching an overlay tool that will enable participants to see donations in real time. St. Jude PLAY LIVE is not just for professional video game broadcasters anyone who enjoys playing video games online or off is encouraged to sign up and play for a purpose. Students also can register as a service hour participant and earn 10 academic service hours for every $100 raised. "GameStop is proud to support St. Jude PLAY LIVE for the third straight year," said Matt Hodges, GameStop vice president of public and investor relations. "This charity event unites the gaming community for a very important campaign to help the kids of St. Jude who are fighting real battles with cancer." Through the generous support of St. Jude partners like GameStop, Twitch, Domino's, OriginPC, Razer, Steel Series and Loot Crate, participants can win prizes such as gift cards, and next-gen consoles. Registration for St. Jude PLAY LIVE is open now at playlive.stjude.org. About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook (facebook.com/stjude) and following us on Twitter (@stjude). Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160429/361669 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150327/194976LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-jude-play-live-prize-season-levels-up-on-april-29-300260155.html SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 29, 2016] Parliamentary Secretary Rudd Breaks Ground at New Port Granby Project Facility CLARINGTON, ON, April 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Parliamentary Secretary Kim Rudd, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Carr, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today took part in a groundbreaking ceremony in Clarington, Ontario, to launch the construction of a new facility for the long-term management of low-level radioactive waste. The Port Granby Project is part of the broader Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) an agreement between the Government of Canada and local communities to develop and implement a safe, long-term management solution for low-level radioactive waste within the municipalities of Clarington and Port Hope. The state-of-the-art waste management facility will be the first of its kind built in Canada. Parliamentary Secretary Rudd delivered remarks at th event, emphasizing the importance of the project and the Government of Canada's commitment to safe and secure radioactive waste management. She also highlighted the nuclear industry as a driving force for innovation and as a vital part of Canada's and the international community's clean energy goals. Quote "The Port Granby Project is an impressive example of what can be accomplished when communities and governments come together in common cause. As part of the broader Port Hope Area Initiative, it reflects our government's commitment to the safe and modern management of radioactive waste and our recognition of the nuclear industry as an important source of good jobs, economic growth and low-emissions energy." Kim Rudd Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources Related Products Backgrounder - Port Hope Area Initiative Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.news.gc.ca. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 29, 2016] Keywords to expand its Montreal studio, creating 100 jobs MONTREAL, Canada and DUBLIN, Ireland, April 29, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Keywords Studios, an international technical service provider to the global video game industry, announced today that it intends to expand further in Montreal, creating 100 new jobs within the next three years. This announcement was made during a visit of The Honourable Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal and President of the Montreal Metropolitan Community, at Keywords headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, and after his discussions with Andrew Day, Chief Executive Officer of Keywords Studios. We love the city and we love the quality of the talent we can find in Montreal", commented Mr Day. "Since coming to Montreal in 2010, we've had great results there and we want to continue this success." Keywords offers technical services to the gaming industry. Functional testing and localization testing are the main tasks accomplished in Montreal. Keywords' clients includes the world's best-known developers, among which, to name a few, Ubisoft, WB Games, Zynga, King and Sony. They have worked on thousands of different titles such as Rise of the Tomb Raider, Halo 5: Guardians, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Candy Crush, Clash Royale and Mobile Strike. "Keywords' decision to continue to invest in our metrpolis illustrates once again Montreal's strength in the video game industry", said The Honourable Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal and President of the Montreal Metropolitan Community, during his visit of Keywords' headquarters, part of his European trip. "What's more, it does highlight the fact that the whole gaming cluster plays a vital role in our economy and that Montreal is the place to be." Montreal International, Greater Montreal's investment promotion agency, has provided support to Keywords Studios over the years. "Along with our government partners, we've been working with Keywords since their arrival in Montreal, stated Stephane Paquet, Vice President - Investment Greater Montreal at Montreal International. Their reinvestment is most welcome and the whole team at MI look forward to continuing working with Keywords on other projects." "I hope that this most recent announcement is only a first step, added Mr Day, since we are currently studying further more ambitious possibilities for our Montreal studio." Keywords' Montreal studio currently employs around 350 employees. About Keywords Studios (www.keywordsstudios.com) Keywords Studios is an international technical services provider to the global video games industry. Established in 1998, and now with facilities in Dublin, Rio de Janeiro, Montreal, Portland, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Tokyo, Singapore, New Delhi, Pune, Rome, Milan, Barcelona, Madrid, Shanghai, Manila and London, it provides integrated art creation, localization, testing, audio and customer care services across 50 languages and 14 games platforms to a blue chip client base in more than 15 countries. It has a strong market position, providing services to 20 of the top 25 most prominent games companies, including Microsoft, Supercell, King, Bandai Namco, Sony, Konami, Electronic Arts, 2K, and Square Enix. Recent titles worked on include Tom Clancy's The Division, Batman: Arkham Knight, Street Fighter V, Call of Duty: Black Ops III. Keywords is listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (KWS.L). SOURCE Montreal International [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 29, 2016] BASIS Independent Manhattan Launches Fall 2017 Admissions Campaign NEW YORK, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BASIS Independent Manhattan, the newest private school from the nationally ranked, world acclaimed BASIS.ed network just launched a series of information sessions for prospective families. The first session will be held May 17, 2016 at the Cornell Club at 6 East 44th Street in New York City at 6:30pm. To reserve a seat, please visit www.basisindependent.com/newYork. BASIS Independent Manhattan will serve students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school will start enrolling students beginning this summer for the school year starting fall 2017. The school's campus is located at 795 Columbus Avenue. Graduates of BASIS Independent Manhattan will matriculate into BASIS Independent Brooklyn, the PreK through 12th grade institution located in Red Hook that opened to acclaim in 2014. The 795 Columbus Avenue location currently houses a private school. BASIS worked extensively with school ownership to enable an additional year of operation before the agreed upon transition of the site to BASIS in the summer of 2017 to allow for fall 2017 operation. "There has been a tremendous response to news of BASIS Independent Schools' expansion into Manhattan, and we are now ready to share more details about our planned school to prospective families," remarked BASIS Independent Schools CEO Ian Block "We are committed to founding an exceptional school that will complement the many long-standing and reputable institutions on the Upper West Side for years to come. What BASIS Independent Schools offer families is a distinct academic program blending the rigorous standards and foundational disciplinary study of the best European and Asian education with the ingenuity and creativity of the finest, most innovative American education." The BASIS Independent academic program is unique in that it is internationally benchmarked, which is vital in the 21st century global marketplace. Block continued, "Our flagship schools are already thriving in two of the most creative and demanding educational markets in the nation, Silicon Valley and Brooklyn. Our expansion is evidence of the demand for a new status quo of independent school education. Urban dwellers are truly evaluating what their tuition dollars are doing for them. They're seeking a program rooted in innovation, high expectations, and transparency, not to mention a lower price point and no pressure to fundraise." Of note: ? This will be the fifth school in the BASIS Independent Schools system, after Brooklyn and Silicon Valley (opened 2014), and Fremont , California and McLean, Virginia (opening 2016). BASIS.ed currently manages these independent schools, as well as twenty high-performing charter schools in Arizona, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Last year, in Shenzhen, China , BASIS.ed also opened its first international school. , California and McLean, Virginia (opening 2016). BASIS.ed currently manages these independent schools, as well as twenty high-performing charter schools in Arizona, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Last year, in Shenzhen, , BASIS.ed also opened its first international school. BASIS Independent Manhattan will use the identical elementary and middle school academic programs as BASIS Independent Brooklyn, which?has been?lauded?for offering?Mandarin and engineering classes from kindergarten;?for its?hands-on, project-based "Connections" class linking the arts, science,?math, and humanities; and?for its vibrant?array of fine, visual,?and performing arts and music coursework. Application information?for the 2017-18 school year is available at http://basisindependent.com/newyork . About BASIS Independent Schools BASIS Independent Schools has five independent schools in Fremont and San Jose, CA; Brooklyn and Manhattan, NY; and McLean, VA. For more information, please?visit http://basisindependent.com/newyork. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/basis-independent-manhattan-launches-fall-2017-admissions-campaign-300260280.html SOURCE BASIS Independent Schools [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Lawrence County Council adopts increased budget for 2023 The final total for next years budget was adopted at $28,405,574, an increase of 3.5% from the approved budget for 2022. Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world's most differentiated and comprehensive portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories, and in 50 different languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences around the world through its iconic brands and products, including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, WB Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Spanish, Hogar de HGTV, among others. More information: www.wbd.com. One of the biggest draws on the Splendour In The Grass 2016 lineup, The Cure, have announced they will embark on a quick run of headline performances whilst in the country, five years since their last Australian appearances. Known for their mind-blowing, hit-filled two-hour-plus performances, The Cure will be playing two arena headline shows at Sydneys Qudos Bank Arena (formerly Allphones Arena) and Melbournes iconic Rod Laver Arena. Whats more, the band will be hitting up Adelaide and Perth, with details to be announced at a later date. Aussie fans will get to see The Cure at the top of their game, as theyre currently in rehearsals for a major US and European tour. Tickets for The Cures Australian headline tour go on sale 10am Friday, 6th May, with Telstra Thanks pre-sale tickets available from 10am 3rd May until 10am 5th May. Check below for all dates and ticketing details. The Cure Australian Tour Dates Tickets on sale 10am Friday, 6th May Telstra Thanks pre-sale 10am 3rd May until 10am 5th May Monday, 25th July 2016 Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Thursday, 28th July 2016 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne The young but still incredibly seasoned local troubadour Sam Brittain is in the early stages of unveiling his his new album Signal Lights set for release on June 3. The first offering from the exciting release Stab in the Dark is today getting its very own video accompaniment. Directed by Kieran Ellis-Jones of Crystal Arrow Films its a stunning effort from the Aussie talent. The lyrics for Stab in the Dark summarise a coming of age, prompted by travel, grief, and a lethal dose of reality, as Brittain describes, I was beginning to see the real sacrifices that have to be made as a touring artist in order to be successful. The loved ones you leave behind. Losing a dear friend of mine a few months prior to a stroke was a shotgun blast to the heart It was a blatant reminder that none of us are invincible and you never know when your time is up. To celebrate the release, Brittain will be hitting the road on a national tour in June, kicking off in Adelaide at The Gov on June 4 and moving through to Brighton Up Bar (Sydney) on June 8, The Ellington (Perth) on June 15, The Toff (Melbourne) on June 23 and finishing up at The Milk Factory (Bris) on June 26. Check out Brittains video below and if you like what youre hearing be sure to visit this Facebook page for more info on the upcoming record and shows. Weve known for some time now that seemingly none of the bands on the Soundwave 2015 lineup have been paid for their performances at the now defunct event, but its only been recently that bands have begun speaking out about it. As Tone Deaf reported yesterday, in a recent interview Fear Factory frontman Burton C Bell claimed Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah should be behind bars for stiffing both the industrial metal veterans and the other bands on the 2015 lineup. The owner ripp[ed] everyone off. None of the bands ever got paid, Bell told Sticks For Stones. The best thing that could happen is that man goes to jail. He deserves to go to jail for ripping so many people off. Not just bands from out of the country but local bands as well, he ripped off local contractors also. We needed that money to survive until the record came out and when that didnt happen, my family suffered because of it. He should just hope that he never comes across me, ever. Previously, British progressive band Monuments had been the only act to speak out when they were forced to launch a crowdfunding campaign to make ends meet following Soundwave 2015. There is no reason to think he will ever pay us, they wrote. Now, speaking to News Corp, Millencolin lead guitarist Mathias Farm had said he was not really surprised when he heard news that Soundwave had been cancelled and the company wound up, saying the band sensed there was trouble when they didnt get paid. I loved that festival and we had such a good time playing it but we kind of noticed something was wrong just afterwards because we never got paid, he said. We got some money but we got screwed over kind of bad. [include_post id=477818] For us to get down to Australia costs a lot of money and also the crew have to get paid, they always get paid. But we never really got the money we were promised. Some other bands got hit much harder than we were but still, we noticed something was wrong. Its a pity because I liked that festival and also the guys that ran it were good people. I guess there will probably be some other big tour that will fill that space. We used to do that thing called Big Day Out and (Maddah) bought Big Day Out, too. We survived but it was kind of bad. According to documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Comission, Soundwave Festival Pty Ltd, a company now in administration, owes Fear Factory some $78,000, Monuments just over $19,000, and Millencolin almost $100,000. These days, you rarely see the name King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard and not have prolific follow closely behind. The band are currently sitting on their ninth album, the fourth to be released by the Melbourne outfit in just 18 months. Titled Nonagon Infinity, the album is the follow-up to the jazzy Quarters! and the acoustic Paper Mache Dream Balloon, and sees the band returning to the hazy, fuzzed-out psychedelia of previous albums. The face-melting nine-song collection also has the distinction of being the worlds first infinitely looping LP, with each track seamlessly flowing into the next, the final song linking straight back into the opener. We recently sat down with Stu Mackenzie, frontman for the endlessly creative young group, to chat about the gear that aids King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard in their ongoing sonic explorations and the guitar gear he just couldnt live without. Weapon Of Choice My guitar of choice is always kind of changing. At the moment, Ive got this one that this guy called Zack built for me in Melbourne. Its called the Flying Banana and its this yellow, sort of like a bent Flying V shape sort of thing, which he modified with microtonal frets in there. So theres some extra frets in between the frets, which unlocks some secret notes. Thats my guitar at the moment that Ive been playing everything with, but I havent worked it into the live set just yet. Ive been playing it a little on stage. Ive always used, from the very start, just a Hot Rod Deluxe amp, which is kind of the most basic really stock standard, common Fender. And I love them, I love the fact that everyone has them and theyre so easy to get or rent if you need them. Theyre very replaceable and everyone knows how to fix them. I used to take two with me and sing into one, but now I just sing into some guitar pedals and different mics and stuff. Putting Your Foot Down My guitar pedal setup has probably evolved a little bit but not changed too much. My setup really hasnt changed too much. Ive used different guitars over the years. Its taken a few turns, but nothing drastic. I mean, my pedal board is mostly pretty standard. Ive got a Boss Tuner, an MXR Carbon Copy, a Boss DD-3 Delay, a Cry Baby Wah Pedal, all standard as. The only off ones are a Devi Ever Torns Peaker, which is like my fuzz pedal, which Ive used since forever. Its the only real drive pedal Ive ever used. Its a one-trick pony, I dont think the knobs even do anything, you just step on it and it squeals. Im definitely able to try things out more in the studio, but I like the idea of keeping things pretty minimal. With Quarters, the only pedal I used was a little vibrato pedal, which I still use. Theyre real cool pedals. With Nonagon Infinity and Im In Your Mind Fuzz, the pedal rig was exactly the same live as it was in the studio. Obsession When I think about myself when I was younger, I was pretty obsessed with guitar pedals. Im probably a lot less obsessed now than I used to be. I think its only natural to want to discover all the colours you have to paint with. Theres something about exploring sonics that is fascinating to a learning guitarist. I mean, everyones learning, but finding out what you can do with a guitar, which is a lot, it has a way of unlocking new sounds or textures or colours that werent previously available. Its only natural to be infatuated by that. Getting Weird Ive got heaps of weird stuff, heaps of that stuff. Ive got this Turkish flute thats kind of like a snake charming instrument. I got it imported from over there and used it on one of the songs on the new album. Ive been trying to learn how to play it properly, but yeah, thats pretty bizarre. Ive got a baglama, which his also Turkish, which I got from there. Kind of in the same zone, though, but Ive got lots of little weird bits and pieces, mics and tapes and things. Solving Creating Problems Problem solvers? Ive got problem creators [laugh] My Hagstrom, which I love, its probably my favourite ever guitar as well, but its old and its got old pickups and Ive tried to replace the wiring before. Its kind of perpetually shitting me. Its a nuisance to restring. Its got 12 strings, with these weird nuts, which sit really close to the tuning pegs, so it takes quite a lot longer than twice as long to restring. Its a problem creator, for sure, but I still manage to always use it. I use it live more than any guitar now and its the guitar I played on the whole of the new record. I just keep coming back to it. I cant think of any problem solvers. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizards new album, Nonagon Infinity, is available now. Head to the official King Gizzard website to order it now! "Ford Motor Co. said it would idle the F-150 operation at its Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo to fix a mechanical problem at the body and paint shops that is hindering the plant's ability to reach production targets. The 4,626 workers on the F-150 side of the plant will be on temporary layoff the week of May 9, returning to work on May 16." Tech trouble and shrinking production numbers amid the global marketplace make life doubly harder for these auto worker locals.Here's the latest . . .Meanwhile,and threaten to subvert American progress in the future of the international auto industry.Developing . . . The countdown for the worst government of the post-Junta period has started, New Democracy leader Mitsotakis says. SYRIZA has cost Greece enough, he adds Greek Main Opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis threw down the gauntlet at Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, calling on him to step down, during his speech at the partys inaugural political Committee meeting, Wednesday. The country cannot bear to go through last summers drama, it cannot bear the incompetent and irresponsible Prmie Minister any longer, he underlined. Mr. Tsipras you are seeking an escape route, resign now, Mistotakis stressed. Leftism and levelling He accused the Tsipras government of being an amalgamation of leftism and levelling. He claimed the most pressing duty was to get rid of the the group that came to power through lies and deceptions and burdened Greece with an extra 12bln. The proud negotiations have cost us 5 times more and now a new package of measures has come on top of the bill, Mitsotakis said. The leader of Greeces major opposition party blasted the government for being a sorry troupe of professional liars and populist megalomaniacs, adding that the only thing they were interested in was to remain in power at any cost. The worst government of the post-Junta period The countdown for the worst government of the post-Junta period has started, he added "We want the citizens with us so that the worst government of the post-Junta period goes away," he underlined. "Our historic mission is the recovery of Greece ... under the condition that this incompetent government leaves," he added. The measures the creditors are asking for is a result of the prime minister's lack of credibility, Mitsotakis stressed. 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 A debt haircut is inevitable because Greece will never be able to pay its debt, former Die Linke leader and German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine said in an interview with ANA-MPA A debt haircut is inevitable because Greece will never be able to pay its debt, former Die Linke leader and German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine said in an interview with ANA-MPA. "The issue of debt haircut should be negotiated with the creditors," he underlined. "This haircut should be properly made so that the economy grows and Greece can serve its debt," he explained and added: "However, only a haircut will not be enough." Lafontaine estimated that the austerity policy has failed and Europe risks to collapse mainly because of the Monetary Union's wrong planning. The former Finance Minister said that Greece needs to return to the existing European Monetary System (EMS) adding that Denmark also participates in the EMS. The European Monetary System allows revaluations and devaluations and obliges the European Central Bank to intervene if there is a high depreciation or revaluation of a currency. "I am convinced that this way the Greek economy would slowly recover." The full interview of Oskar Lafontaine is available at ANA-MPA website. 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 The list of the most popular hotels in Greece for the fortnight from April 4 17, according to the enquiries-based ranking of fvw hotelometer, was again headed by the Ikaros Beach The list of the most popular hotels in Greece for the fortnight from April 4 17, according to the enquiries-based ranking of fvw hotelometer, was again headed by the Ikaros Beach ahead of the Pilot Beach Resort and the Lindos Princess. These three were also the favourites for families, in a slightly different order: Lindos, Pilot Beach and Ikaros. The couples ranking was led by the Ikaros Beach, the Apollo Beach and the Atrium Palace. The fvw Hotelometer is a fortnightly ranking of the most popular tourist hotels in Turkey, Spain and Greece, showing customer enquiries but not actual bookings. It is based on all enquiries in the Traveltainment reservations system used by German travel agents and online booking engines. The data, supplied by IT company TrevoTrend, is split into different categories (overall, families, couples, singles and star ratings). 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 Tourexpi, turizm haberleri, Reiseburos, tourism news, noticias de turismo, Tourismus Nachrichten, , travel tourism news, international tourism news, Urlaub, urlaub in der turkei, , holidays in Turkey, , global tourism news, dunya turizm, dunya turizm haberleri, Seyahat Acentas, This site is best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0+, at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. International design practice Benoy has been appointed to the Bahrain International Airports new terminal development to provide services for the interior design of the new passenger terminal building as part of the Bahrain Airport Modernisation Programme. The considerable expansion will increase Bahrain International Airports capacity to 14 million passengers per year. Four times larger than the current airport, the future 200,000-sq-m terminal will serve as a gateway to Bahrain once complete in 2019. Head of Benoys Mena Studios Paul Priest said: Benoy is honoured to be working with Bahrains Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and the Bahrain Airport Company on their vision for the future of the country. By applying our knowledge of the region with our expertise across aviation, hospitality and retail, we have helped to shape this terminal into a boutique experience for guests travelling to and from the kingdom. The concept design for the terminal interiors has drawn on the natural assets and culture of Bahrain. The landscape of the island nation has had an influence on the colour palette and form of the interiors. Geometric motifs and traditional crafts such as basket weaving have also been subtly referenced through fractal patterns and installations. We wanted the design language to symbolise the many facets of Bahrain. The airport has the technology and modern facilities which all travellers have come to expect, however, we didnt want to lose the rich identity of this country in the process. Our design has ensured that when guests enter the terminal, they will know they have arrived in Bahrain, said Craig Menzies, director at Benoy. Gateways are an integral part of the design and have helped Benoy enhance the visual experience of the passengers and guests. The departure and arrival journeys have been framed by grand portals and entrances which accentuate the transition between different functions of the terminal route, from check-in to immigration, for example. New and improved state-of-the-art technology will be introduced throughout the airport to maintain safety and security, improve passenger convenience and speed up processes from check-in to boarding. Separate dedicated premium class facilities and an extensive retail, food and beverage and duty free zone will add to the additional offers of the new terminal. The airport experience is changing. Airports are being seen as more than just transport facilities; they are now destinations in their own right. As the sector evolves towards more user-centric and commercially aware designs, Benoys proven portfolio of creating thriving and successful Places for people around the world is becoming ever more relevant, Craig said. Benoys scope on the development runs from concept design to documentation for the interior design of the public spaces across the terminal. Extending its aviation expertise around the world, Benoy is currently delivering Singapore Airports two major developments, Terminal 4 and Jewel Changi Airport as well as the Retail Planning on the New Beijing Airport Terminal. The firms portfolio also includes the 2010 upgrade of Hong Kong International Airport. Well established in the Mena region, Benoy is also delivering the Concept Masterplan for the prestigious Bahrain Marina. - TradeArabia News Service Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM APPOINTS NEW DIRECTORS Industry: Destinations Canika John and Frances Williams-Augustin have new responsibilities (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - April 28th, 2016 - For Immediate Release Source: United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism Contact: Luana Wheatley + 1 340 774-8784 lawheatley@usvitourism.vi Bevan Springer + 1 201 861-2056 bevan@marketplaceexcellence.com Canika John USVI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM APPOINTS NEW DIRECTORS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (April 27, 2016) - Canika John is the new Director of Marketing for the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, and Frances Williams-Augustin has been given new responsibility as Director of Visitor Experience for St. Croix. In making the announcements, Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty said that "Canika John has been an integral member of the Tourism team, taking on increased responsibility in sales and marketing as well as other areas, while Frances Williams-Augustin, a former American Airlines career veteran and manager, has invigorated our Department with a level of creativity and energy that has helped to elevate our visitor experience efforts." Born and raised on St. Thomas, John interned with the USVI Hotel and Tourism Association before beginning a 10-year tenure with the advocacy group where she eventually served as Office and Events Manager, managing all of the association's fundraising, marketing and social events. Later, she served as Meeting Services and Catering Sales Manager at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa, responsible for the successful execution of all banquet events, management of group rooms and catering, local catering sales, and company sales forecasting and budgeting. She also participated in the Manager on Duty program which helped develop her executive management leadership skills. At the Department of Tourism, John started as a Conference Planner but her duties quickly grew to include trade show marketing, promotion package development, tour operator partnerships, leisure sales, niche marketing and advertising. Frances Williams-Augustin Williams-Augustin was born and raised in Christiansted, St. Croix and was introduced to the travel business at Southerland Tours travel agency, igniting her passion for the travel industry. Shortly thereafter, she pursued a career with American Airlines where she remained for 23 years before leaving the post as Lead Station Agent to become the Department of Tourism's Marketing Manager for St. Croix. In that pivotal role, Williams-Augustin infused the St. Croix office with a level of dynamism and proficiency that has inspired both her peers as well as tourism partners across the Territory. "We look forward to seeing these ladies shine as they embrace their new roles and continue to promote the Territory with passion and pride," Commissioner Nicholson-Doty stated. For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com , follow us on Twitter ( @USVITourism ) and become a fan on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI ). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel - including on-line check-in - making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens. ENDS ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release : CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Bevan Springer Company: Marketplace Excellence Corporation Phone: + 1 201 861-2056 Email: bevan@marketplaceexcellence.com Web: www.VisitUSVI.com PRESS RELEASE TAGS MEDIA GALLERY Visit Our Site Timeshare ProPlus to Exhibit at CRC 2016 (TRAVPR.COM) April 29th, 2016 - Timeshare ProPlus creators of the only timeshare-specific, online title and related services software has been confirmed as an exhibitor for this years Canadian Resort Conference. The conference will be held at the Hilton Niagara Falls in Niagara Falls, Canada on September 13th and 14th. The yearly Canadian Resort Conference is produced by Perspective Group on behalf of the Canadian Resort Development Association (CRDA) and attracts senior level officials operating in the resort industry from across Canada, USA, Mexico, the Caribbean and beyond. We are excited to introduce our time saving services to a new market by showcasing our software as an Exhibitor to the attendees of Canadian Resort Conference, said David Heine, President of Timeshare ProPlus. The undisputed leader in handling Timeshare applications, Timeshare ProPlus comes equipped with the latest and best security available, saving resort operators and management time, paper, and postage [TPP]. We are delighted to welcome Timeshare ProPlus to this years Canadian Resort Conference, said Paul Mattimoe, President & CEO of Perspective Group. Their unique, online, timeshare-specific services deserve all of the exposure that this conference affords. CRDA is an industry-based association dedicated to advancing vacation ownership all across the world.The CRC is an annual opportunity for association members and non-members to further their understanding of vacation ownership and the resort world. The conference provides an interactive session format with knowledgeable speakers and excellent networking opportunities. This year, the event will open with a popular Speed Networking session and cocktail reception at the sleek Myst lounge on the 33rd floor of the Hilton. A full day of general sessions will follow. For more information about CRC 2016 visit http//:canadianresortconference.com About Timeshare ProPlus Timeshare Pro Plus offers online software for resort developers, HOAs and sales organizations to use when handling the paperwork and communications activities involved in the process of transferring a title. Modules including TimeshareProPlus.com, RequestMyEstoppel.com, HoldMyEscrow.com and JiffyDocs.com may be used individually or as a whole package to complete necessary forms, collect payments and fees, and produce documents in less than an hour. For more information, contact Dave Heine at Dave@Timeshareproplus.com or 407-373-7474. About CRDA CRDA is an industry-based association that is dedicated to furthering the vacation ownership resort and leisure industries. It was founded over 30 years ago in response to the publics demand for reliable information about timeshare products. Focus has since broadened to all aspect of shared ownership. For more information visit www.crda.com About the Canadian Resort Conference Canadian Resort Conference (CRC) is an annual event produced and hosted by Perspective Group, the vacation ownership industrys leading PR & Multimedia Company globally. CRC attracts senior-level executives from Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and beyond. It provides a crucial networking platform for those interested in entering the Canadian resort marketplace, and those who want to find strategic partnerships with other international companies. For more details, visit www.canadianresortconference.com. For more information about Perspective Group visit http://perspectivemagazine.com ### In Rio de Janeiro, bold bands of marauding monkeys are turning to a life of looting and mischief. By the dozens, young capuchin monkeys have been descending the nearby hills to sneak into homes and steal fruit and other food from unsuspecting residents -- wreaking havoc in the process. "They come in, make a mess, break and throw everything onto the floor," says one distraught resident of Rio's primate-sacked South Zone. But local experts say that kind-hearted humans may be to blame for unleashing this proverbial barrel of monkeys.Sure, in still-photos and wildlife documentaries, capachin monkey are undeniably adorable and seem rather harmless,but the recent slew of break-ins and thefts have familiarized locals with their more cunning qualities. In fact, an investigation from Jornal Floripa recorded some surprisingly well-orchestrated incidents of looting. By mimicking a birdcall, one monkey alerts countless others hidden that the latest home invasion will soon be underway. Boldy, they lie in wait on rooftops, climb the gutters of buildings, and even risk jumps to invade homes. One monkey is seen toting stolen milk. But most impressive is the action about to happen. In a seemingly quiet building, suddenly, the first member of the gang approaches. The monkey uses the power lines to reach the tree in front of a building. When he reaches the top, he is already accompanied by another member. The monkey perceives the presence of the news crew and cast threatening looks. One gets to the apartment window. The pair examined the site and plan the attack. One last sneaky look and the sequence of invasions begin. A primatologist aiding in the investigation, Christiane Rangel, tells reporters that the monkey-led crimesprees is the work of juvenille capuchins who, like human youths, tend to be more fearless than their adult counterparts. She says that as more people move in, more monkeys will as well. Rio's Southern Zone borders Tijuca Park, the world's largest urban forest, so throughout the year the presence of a monkey or two isn't uncommon. Usually, the small primates have been happy getting handouts, like fruits and bread, from well-meaning residents -- but experts say this may have clued the monkeys in to the wealth of treats that lies beyond the forest. That, coupled with a seasonal food scarcity, seems to have driven the capuchins into a using their stealth and dexterity -- not merely their charity inspiring cuteness -- to fill their bellies. Meanwhile, as reporters look on, more monkey's are gathering to partake in the latest assault. One accidently drops the bag of bananas he'd theived from a nearby kitchen, so he cooly eats the one he was carrying in his mouth -- he knows there is plenty more to be found. "It is the portrait of a city growing into the forest. The person's house was the home of the monkey before," says Rangel. Her advice to the residents is to no longer feed the monkeys. After all, they seem to be quite capable of feeding themselves. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Mahesh Sharma Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 28 The city police have arrested four nationals of Nepal, who, along with their accomplices, were wanted by the police for allegedly killing a local doctor whose body was found lying in the backyard of his clinic on railway road here a fortnight ago. The accused, identified as Arjun Bahadur Saud, Dalip Bahadur Saud, alias Dilli, Sher Bahadur Saud, alias Suraj, and Sher Bahadur, alias Sahil, of Mangal Pur Dhangarhi in Nepal, were nabbed by police teams from Sahnewal railway station when they were preparing to catch a train to North-East. The accused also attempted to kill the deceaseds wife Aruna Puri on while she was alone at home situated near the clinic the same day. Senior Superintendent of Police Sangrur Pritpal Singh Thind said members of an SIT, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Amargarh Gurmit Singh Tejay and SHO City Roshan Lal, nabbed the accused while they were trying to leave the area on Wednesday. The accused, all Nepal nationals, had conspired to kill the doctor couple with an intention to rob them on April 12. As they had been staying at the house of the victims for a long time, they knew well about their routine. They conspired to target them separately and assaulted Dr Ramesh Puri while he was about to return home in the evening. Dr Puri was strangled after being tied with ropes and clothes and the accused stuffed his mouth with a piece of cloth to prevent him from raising the alarm. The accused later entered the house and overpowered Dr Aruna Puri who lost consciousness on being stuffed cloth in her mouth. The accused took away her jewellery, cash and valuables. Acknowledging that it was a sort of blind murder, the SSP said prompt action and scientific procedure adopted by SIT supervised by SP Malerkotla Jaswinder Singh and DSP Amargarh Gurmit Singh enabled the police teams nab four out of six accused wanted in the case. As none of the accused had local background, the investigating team had to make extra effort to search them from far-off places, including Delhi, Haridwar, Kashipur, Rudarpur, Rudarprag, Sri Nagar, Augustmuni, Aukhi Math, Dangi and Peng (Uttarakhand). Unable to sustain hiding in eastern states, the accused returned to Punjab and were nabbed on Wednesday. Preliminary investigations revealed that at least two accomplices of the arrested accused had succeeded in taking shelter at their native places in Nepal. The district police would soon initiate legal procedure to seek their arrest through the Nepal Government. Meanwhile, office-bearers of social organisations, led by former MC president Ravinder Puri, have decided to felicitate members of the SIT for cracking the murder case and nabbing the accused. S Nihal Singh THE Indo-Pakistan talks are, more often than not, playing blind mans buff. The point about New Delhi inviting Pakistans foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry for a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar was to start the process of talking all over again. The outcome was in keeping with low expectations as became clear from the recital of well-worn themes by the two sides: stop terror and the centrality of Kashmir. There are interesting nuances though to this meeting of the two foreign secretaries, the first since the Pathankot attack. First, Prime Minister Narendra Modis dramatic stopover in Lahore last Christmas to meet Mr Nawaz Sharif soon yielded place to relations taking a dip. This weeks talks sought to give a push to keeping a conversation going. And the Pathankot attack prompted Islamabad to countenance the Pakistani origin of the attackers although the visit of its team to the scene of the crime has led to the usual inspired leaks. The Delhi talks produced the familiar narratives, and the Pakistanis this time had an alleged Indian spy to spice their version of events. The resonance of the two countries relations on their peoples being what it is, neither side can stray from the script. Is it then a ruse accepted by the two sides to hold secret talks behind the facade of the usual name-calling to arrive at a compromise? The contours of the policies of the two unfriendly neighbours are well known. Kashmir has acquired an almost surrealistic quality for Pakistanis because their leaders have been telling them since Partition that it was stolen by India after attempts to acquire it by force through irregular and regular troops failed. The policy then employed by a succession of Pakistani rulers was to bleed India through a thousand cuts. It does not take a Sherlock Holmes to discover that terrorists, with the connivance of the Pakistani authorities, are nurtured, trained and equipped by organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, the latter under Masood Azhar, to commit murder and mayhem in India. In course of time Islamabad had to grapple with the problem of separating good terrorists from bad because the latter variety was going after the Pakistani power structure. There was another twist to the Pakistan story because, especially in the reign of Mr Sharif, the army had tightened its grip on foreign and security policies, particularly in relations with India, China and the US, and on the key to the bomb. Given its history, the army has been a power factor after the early deaths of the iconic Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his successor Liaquat Ali Khan. It consolidated its power after the sad end of the showman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, particularly during the present ostensibly civilian regime. In India, the coming to power of Mr Modi represented a break from the past. The last years of the UPA-II were problem-ridden, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh beholden to his own party chief and demanding coalition partners. Ironically, despite his emotional attachment to his former home in Pakistan, he could not make a single visit to the neighbouring country in his 10 years in office. Hopes were high at one time on both sides that Mr Modi, as the head of an ultra-nationalist party enjoying a majority government, could make a new opening in traditionally stalled relations. The analogy, of course, was that it needed a Richard Nixon to make peace with Communist China. He invited Mr Sharif, among other neighbouring leaders, to his swearing in, and when after a time, talks were stalled in a familiar quagmire, he took the daring step of greeting Mr Sharif in his Lahore home. Pathankot followed, as if on cue, to stymie the upswing in relations nothing like a terror attack to bring back the familiar rhetoric on the two sides. But one interesting difference this time was that Islamabad did not dismiss Pakistani provenance in the attack. So the question remains: where do the two sides go from here? The simple answer New Delhi came up with was to resume talking under the cover of a high-level conference on Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the device of the national security advisers (NSAs) of the two countries forming another channel of communication does not seem to be working. For New Delhi, it had the benefit of keeping the Pakistan army in the loop because its NSA is a retired general. But apart from breaking the ice through a meeting in Thailand, the two NSAs are repeating the narrative of the political channel. Efforts in the past to open a separate secret official channel led to interesting ideas being thrown up, but in the end they could not stand the test of working through the bureaucracy of the two countries to reach the top to be converted into negotiating positions. If the two sides do not use talks they may have in future as a camouflage for real discussions, there is little prospect of a beginning to the end of a long process of reconciliation. The world is littered with unresolved problems between countries left over by history and passionate debates. The subcontinents Partition was a great human tragedy while bringing freedom. Pakistanis have the more difficult task of reconciling with India because they have not quite decided what the shape and goals of their country should be. Islamabad also has an ideological problem, with the Muslim world in the Middle East seething in ferment and extremist tendencies coming to the fore. The moderate Pakistani, particularly among the professional and middle classes, might be in a minority but it is a significant minority. The Modi governments attempt seems to be to test the limits of Pakistans existing juxtaposition of forces in an effort to keep the conversation process going to keep in touch, according to the official script. The terrorists have the advantage of springing a surprise. Chandigarh, April 29 The Haryana government on Friday decided to withdraw Cabinet Minister-like facilities, including rent-free accommodation and staff, provided to former Chief Ministers of the state. Responding to the resentment among the public and political parties in the state on the issue, a decision to this effect was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here, an official release said. This decision will impact former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, sources said. On May 2, 2013, the then Chief Minister Hooda had in a Cabinet meeting decided that all facilities provided to the Cabinet Minister may also be extended to the ex-CMs of Haryana at the state headquarters. The facilities included rent-free furnished accommodation of the status of a Cabinet Minister, a private secretary, an assistant, a driver, four PSO, and two peons. PTI Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, April 29 India has asked China to cease its construction activities in parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Army said on Friday. This was disclosed in a written statement issued here today by Northern Command spokesperson Colonel SD Goswami. He, however, said there had been no instances of incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory while adding that there was no proper demarcation of the Line of Actual Control between the two countries. There are areas along the border in Ladakh where India and China have differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control. With both sides undertaking patrolling as per their perception of the Line of Actual Control, transgressions do occur, read the statement. Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the government has seen such reports and has conveyed its concerns to China about its activities and asked it to cease such activities, added Colonel Goswami. India, it may be stated here, has registered its protest against the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that runs through a part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In April 2015, China and Pakistan signed an agreement to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through Gilgit-Baltistan. It will extend up to Gwadar Port in Pakistan and give China access to the Indian Ocean and beyond. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had visited China from April 17 to April 21 to improve ties between the two countries. In 2011, then General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern CommandLt Gen KT Parnaik had said the Army had ample proof of the presence of Chinese troops along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. In fact, a number of times soldiers have spotted Chinese soldiers in bunkers along the Neelam valley in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir near the Gurez sector of north Kashmir, he had said. General Parnaiks statement was substantiated on March 13 this year when Chinese troops and their senior officers were spotted at forward posts along the Line of Control on the Pakistani side opposite the Nowgam sector in north Kashmir. In December last year, Northern Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda had visited China to fine-tune Line of Actual Control channels. While Pakistan and China have been working expeditiously to complete the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, at least 70 border roads in Jammu and Kashmir remain incomplete. These roads, a majority of them in the strategic Ladakh region, were sanctioned in the last five years. Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 29 The J&K High Court has directed the government to take up the issue concerning the nationality of a woman and her minor child, who are languishing in a Jammu jail for the past four years, with the Pakistani authorities. The court issued these directions after the woman furnished the details on her paternal relations in the court through her lawyer. Rubeena wants to go back to her home in Pakistan, but it has become difficult for her to prove her nationality as she has no supporting document. She claims that she came to India from Pakistan for treatment. However, since 2012 she along with her minor child is stuck in the Kot Balwal jail in Jammu because the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi has failed to confirm her nationality. The plight of this 25-year-old woman and her daughter who were arrested in November 2012 in Jammu as they had no valid travel documents was brought to the notice of the High Court by her lawyer Shafakat Hussain this week, who submitted her particulars in the court in the form of an application. In view of the application submitted by the lawyer, it would not be difficult for government respondents to confirm the nationality of the woman and her child with the Pakistan High Commission and take steps for sending the duo back to their country, a single Bench of the High Court observed in its orders issued today. Let the respondents file a report within three weeks, the court directed while asking the authorities concerned to take up the matter with the Pakistan High Commission at New Delhi. As submitted by her counsel, Rubeenas story is not of losing way and wandering into India. Rather, as Rubeena claims, she arrived in India with her husband and daughter for medical treatment. They had valid passports and other necessary documents. However, for inexplicable reasons, Rubeenas husband left her and the daughter behind in Delhi and took away all documents. Stuck in an alien country, Rubeena was unsure how to return home with her four-month-old daughter. It was then that her misery began. According to the official records, Rubeena was arrested on November 6, 2012, at Kanachak in Jammu and was booked under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and subsequently detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA). After her arrest she identified herself as Rubeena, daughter of Noor Mohammad, a resident of Musa Colony in Hyderabad, Pakistan. On February 26, 2013, officials of the Pakistan High Commission met her at the Central Jail in Amritsar. However, till date the High Commission has not confirmed her nationality. In the meantime, Rubeena completed her sentence term under the PSA in October 7, 2013, but she was again booked under the PSA every six months to make her detention legal as there was no case against her. According to Hussain, prolonged detention has affected Rubeenas mental and physical condition. Rubeena from Pak in Jammu jail since 2012 Rubeena claims she arrived in India with her husband and daughter for medical treatment. They had valid passports and other necessary documents. However, for inexplicable reasons, Rubeenas husband left her and the daughter behind in Delhi and took away all documents. According to the official records, Rubeena was arrested on November 6, 2012, at Kanachak in Jammu Tribune News Service Jammu/Udhampur, April 29 Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today promised to break new ground by annihilating distances and adding value to the lives of people living in remote and inaccessible areas of the state. She described bridges as a key component of rural infrastructure. Mehbooba congratulated the Rural Development Department (RDD) and Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary for their trendsetting initiative of adopting the convergence model. Today, we are witnessing at Udhampur what Mufti Saheb had envisioned during the District Development Board meetings, in which he used to emphasise on convergence models to create sustained infrastructure, she said. The Chief Minister said this while addressing a gathering after e-inaugurating 56 small bridges (footbridges) under Project Rahat in Udhampur today. She also inaugurated Model Girls Higher Secondary School, Udhampur, as part of the Model School Scheme of the Education Department. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said Udhampur district had shown the way in how the convergence model could be put together to create assets worth crores. She said other Deputy Commissioners needed to take a cue from Udhampur in convergence. She said all district hospitals would be upgraded as model hospitals in the state, adding one maternity-cum-childcare hospital will be set up in each constituency of the state. Earlier, she dedicated 56 small bridges constructed under the first phase of Project Rahat, being executed at a cost of Rs 18.50 crore. Welcomes Indo-Pak talks Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday welcomed the Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, saying, J&K will benefit immensely if the two neighbours come together and engage in a meaningful dialogue. I hope the two neighbours will be able to break the ice so that lasting peace is established in the region, she told reporters during her visit to Udhampur. She said Islam was a religion of peace and tolerance, adding that a majority of the Muslims believed in peaceful coexistence, including the Muslims of India. This is the reason why Indian Muslims are respected all over the world despite a cloud of suspicion hovering over Muslims at the global level. It pains me when I see hapless people in Syria, Libya and Pakistan being sucked into the vortex of violence for no fault of theirs, she added. Mehbooba said she was happy that despite the Pathankot incident, the two countries had carried forward their engagement, indicating their commitment to firmly entrenching peace in the region. Tribune News Service Jaipur, April 29 A joint team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have seized ancient artefacts mostly war items, including a cannon worth Rs 100 crore in the international market, from a rented house in Jaipurs Tilak Nagar area. The seizure includes centuries-old precious stones, paintings, manuscripts, hand-written Gita, Quran, coins, the four-feet-long Cannon, and other war items. The rented room was a complete museum in itself, GRP-Jaipur SP Om Prakash said. A gang of smugglers, led by Abhishek Tiwari, was stealing ancient artefacts and selling them abroad, Om Prakash said. Two members of this gang, Shankar Rao and Manoj Choudhary, were arrested for possessing Rhino horns in Jaipur by the GRP in February. The hunt to nab other gang members inclucing Tiwari was on. A case under Sections of Antique and Art Treasure Act, 1972, has been lodged against the suspects. Saurabh Chadha Daler Mehndi needs no introduction. He became an instant hit with his dance numbers and continues to enjoy popularity even after all these years. A power-house of talent, Daler has been excelling at his art with each album and each track. Here he talks about his past experiences and future plans and why music is synonymous with power. What according to you is the power of music? Naad or sound is a very powerful tool. Naad, just like feelings and emotions, can be understood without any knowledge of the language it uses as an expression. Music makes the infinite tangible. You can be one and many at any time by using the energy of music. Word is another very powerful medium and when combined with sound, the combination creates an extraordinary experience for the listener. It can raise and engage your energy or soothe your nerves, make you nostalgic or happy. Music has the power to ride on the data stored in your subconscious and magnify those stored emotions through its energy. However, for majority of people in India, Bollywood defines music and Punjabi notes form an integral part of it. The concept was introduced in the early 1990s. Even the South Indian music is strongly influenced by Punjabi music. The power of music transcends boundaries of region and language. When I sang Tunak Tunak, people thought it wouldnt work but it went on to break many records. Namoh Namoh became an opening anthem for several ceremonies and is even used in the election campaigns. I earn royalties from Wanna Marry You, Kachi Tut Gyi Jinna Di Yaari and these royalties are earned from radio stations and clubs in Greece, Rome, Italy, Germany... These are just a very few examples of the power of music that transcends all man-made boundaries. My music is not confined to pop, my repertoire also includes Sufi, Gurbani, bhakti, Bollywood, Punjabi folk, bhangra rock. I feel my music has the power to connect with people around the world. You are currently collaborating with many eminent musicians in India and across the globe. Please share some interesting ones. I am working on The Soul of Mirzya in Mirzya. It is penned by Gulzar and composed by me. It is sung impromptu on a single key and is dedicated to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Shankar Ehsaan Loy and the undivided Punjab and its artisans. It is one of the most challenging projects I have worked on and is really close to my heart. It will take my art to another level. For the commercial world, there is Bahubali 2 in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada. There is the title track of Dangal for Aamir Khan and Pritam, a bhangra punk-rock album with the Wolfmen, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Punk Rock Movement in the United Kingdom. For those on a spiritual journey, I recently finished working on Salok Mahalla 9, Dukhbhanjani Sahib, Japji Sahib (sung for the first time it has always been recited and never sung before), Chaupai Sahib, an anthem for the preparation of celebrations of 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. I feel that I have very less time and there is so much to do. How has your journey so far been? It all started in 1995 with Bolo Ta Ra Ra. It has been quite a struggle as well. People in India appreciate my art but I aim to create music for world audience, for all music lovers. You are involved with many social campaigns, including the most talked about DM Green Drive. Please tell us something about it. I have just come back from a music tour at Bilaspur, Raipur in Chhattisgarh. Its sad that people take great pride in talking about the malls that have come up but are blind to the absence of green cover. The cities are reeling under heat. There are thermal plants, owing to coal mines but what are we leaving for the next generation? Daler Mehndi Green Drive takes pride in planting and sustaining over 12 lakh trees in the NCR. I am also working on the project, White Gold Cowshala, that aims to save the Indus cow breed the Gir, Sahiwals, Haryanvi Desi, Tharparker cows. Then the bee culture is what we will be working on next. You are among the very few entertainers in Asia who have managed to create a brand. How important is that image to you? Of course, brand-building is very important in the present times. The brand is made when you establish something unique and original. There are no shortcuts to it, only hard work produces results. I am proud of what I have achieved but there is more to be done. What do you have in store for the fans? I have in store beats and melodies which will instantly make a connect with audience. Music has the power to make you dance, laugh and cry and that is my kind of music. The Soul of Mirzya has been penned by Gulzar. It has been sung impromptu on a single key and is dedicated to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, music-director trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and the undivided Punjab and its artisans. It is one of the most challenging projects that I have worked on Daler Mehndi Dehradun, April 29 Raging forest fires in Uttarakhad have killed five persons and burned 1890 hectares of forest land in Kumaon and Garhwal regions since early February prompting Governor KK Paul to seek deployment of three NDRF companies to douse the flame and conduct rescue operations. As many as 922 cases of forest fire incidents in the state had occurred since early February killing five persons, including three women and a child in separate incidents, and injuring seven, Principal Conservator of Forest (PCF) B P Gupta said. Pauri, Tehri and Nainital are the worst hit by these fires as they abound in Cheed and Sal trees which are highly inflammable. "The NDRF companies, assisted by experts, will launch fire extinguishing and rescue operations in affected areas immediately," Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh said, adding precaution is a must to minimise loss to forest wealth and wildlife. IG Sanjay Gunjyal has been asked to coordinate with the NDRF, the district magistrates concerned and Principal Conservator of Forest to supervise the rescue operations, he said. Locals have being told to report a fire incident to the district magistrate concerned as soon as they sight it so that it can be controlled in time. "Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul convened an important meeting of officials concerned last evening to review the steps being taken to control the forest fires spreading to residential areas," Gupta, who is also the nodal officer for fire incidents in Kumaon and Garhwal regions, said. The governor has doubled the number of personnel deployed from 3000 to 6000 to control the fire and asked all agencies including the SDRF, district administration and the rural population to contribute their bit, he said. Forest fires are natural during summer but this time they have occurred on a bigger scale as the fire season which normally begins by February 15 began on February 2 when two women were charred to death in the jungles of Uttarkashi, the PCF said. The other three casualties including a woman and her six-year-old child from Nainital and Pauri districts, he said. The PCF said the scale of forest fires in Uttarakhand this time has been bigger due to little or no rain during winter at most places. Pre-fire alerts listing possible fire points over the next seven days in forest areas are being made available in the Forest Department website www.forest.uk.govt. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat has asked the governor to declare Uttarakhand as fire-disaster stricken state and involve locals in fire extinguishing efforts. PTI Pretoria, April 29 South African President Jacob Zuma should face almost 800 corruption charges that were dropped in 2009, a judge said today, piling further pressure on the embattled leader. The charges, relating to a multi-billion dollar arms deal, were dropped by the chief state prosecutor in a move that cleared the way for Zuma to be elected president. The decision... to discontinue the charges against Zuma is irrational and should be reviewed, Pretoria High Court judge Aubrey Ledwaba said. Mr Zuma should face the charges as applied. The prosecutor had justified dropping the charges by saying that tapped phone calls between senior officials in then-president Thabo Mbekis administration showed political interference in the case. The recordings, which became known as the spy tapes, were kept secret but finally released in 2014 to the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), after a five-year legal battle. DA leader Mmusi Maimane said Fridays court ruling was a major blow for the president, who has faced months of criticism over various corruption scandals and the countrys dire economic outlook. Today is a great victory for the rule of law. Ultimately Jacob Zuma must face prosecution, Maimane said after attending the court hearing. We are deeply, deeply delighted. We believe its a significant judgement. Jacob Zuma must have... his day in court. The DA called for the National Prosecuting Authority to immediate revive the 783 charges of corruption dating back to 1999. But the legal wrangling is set to continue, with the ruling likely to go to appeal. The president last month lost another major legal case when the countrys highest court found he violated the constitution over the use of public funds to upgrade his private residence. The so-called security upgrades, which cost taxpayers $ 24 million, included a swimming pool, chicken run, cattle enclosure and an amphitheatre. The DA and other opposition parties attempted to impeach him in parliament, but the ruling African National Congress (ANC) used its majority to easily defeat the motion. Zuma has also been beset by allegations that a wealthy Indian migrant family had such influence over him that it could decide ministerial appointments. Pressure on the president to be ousted or to resign has grown with several veteran leaders of the party that brought Nelson Mandela to power in 1994 calling for him to step down. AFP OKLAHOMA CITY The Senate on Thursday sent Gov. Mary Fallin a bill that would criminalize the sending of what is called revenge pornography. The upper chamber passed Senate Bill 1257 by a vote of 39-0. The measure criminalizes the unauthorized dissemination of intimate photos or video, usually done after a relationship has ended. This is a purely destructive act that almost exclusively targets women, and it should be a crime, said Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, the Senate author. We are simply acknowledging today that our statutes have to keep up with modern crimes. This act should never have been socially acceptable, but to this point it has been legally acceptable. I am very hopeful that is about to change. Holt said he didnt think the problem was large among older individuals but is a serious issue with millennials, or those who were born between the early 1980s and early 2000s. It (the bill) will have an impact one way or another, he said. Once word gets around that sending revenge pornography is a crime, potential perpetrators will take it more seriously, Holt said. Victims will know they can go to the district attorney to pursue charges, he said. In the past, prosecutors have told him they do not have a state law to rely on for a basis to prosecute, Holt said. It is a new tool at their disposal, Holt said. I think it will get used. The bill says a person commits a crime when they intentionally disseminate an image of another identifiable person who is engaged in a sexual act or is nude. The bill specifies that the image was obtained under circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe the image was private. It also defines the image as one disseminated with the intent to harass, intimidate or coerce, and the offender knew or should have known that the dissemination was nonconsensual, according to the measure. The measure has exemptions for law enforcement investigations and reporting unlawful conduct. The measure gives judges the ability to order that the image be removed if that is still within the power of the person who committed the act. The penalty is up to one year in prison and a fine. If signed by Fallin, the law would take effect Nov. 1. Tomorrow on 60 Minutes, Matt Stone and Trey Parker from South Park discuss their Broadway hit The Book of Mormon. Plus a US story from Anderson Cooper on bonobos, and a report on Fatal Familial Insomnia. The Sleeping Curse We all know what its like to have a bad nights sleep, tossing and turning for hours and facing the next day tired and cranky. Well imagine the nightmare of waking up but never getting back to sleep ever again. Thats the cruel reality for a handful of families throughout the world. Fatal Familial Insomnia is an extremely rare and debilitating brain disease with no treatment and no cure. It steals your sleep, your mind, your motor skills and ultimately your life. For Queensland brother and sister, Hayley and Lachlan Webb, this terrifying disease could strike at any time a family curse that they are determined to break. Reporter: Karl Stefanovic Producers: Ali Smith, Jo Townsend Blasphemy on Broadway Matt Stone and Trey Parker have made a fortune out of offending everyone. For nearly two decades this wicked comedy duo has been writing and voicing the controversial cartoon South Park. Along the way theyve poked fun at just about every celebrity and minority there is. Their latest comedic assault is on stage a highly successful Broadway show called The Book of Mormon, which, as the name suggests, has the Mormon religion well and truly in its sights. Like everything Matt and Trey do, nothing and no-one is off limits. This duo has made a career out of offending peopleso consider yourself warned. Reporter: Michael Usher Producer: Phil Goyen Bonobo Business Of all the animals on earth, the bonobo is one of our closest genetic relatives. No wonder then, they could teach us humans a thing or two. Closely related to the chimpanzee, the bonobo is the rarest and most intelligent of the great apes, a peace loving primate a million miles from its violent chimp cousin. Bonobos are caring and compassionate females rule the roost, aggression is rare and life involves plenty of fun and copious amounts of sex. But as youll see in our report, the bonobo lives in only one place in the world the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa which is why its the least understood ape on the planet. Reporter: Anderson Cooper Producers: Michael Gavshon, David M. Levine 8:30pm Sunday on Nine Mondays Australian Story presents A Kind of Music a profile of the Wenitong family of Far North Queensland, using music and medicine to stop the ice epidemic taking hold. This episode is introduced by actor Aaron FaAoso. As one of Australias first Indigenous doctors, Mark Wenitong combines his skills as a physician and a musician to fight disease and ill health in Far North Queensland. Now hes determined to prevent the ice drug epidemic from gaining a hold in the region. Theres some people who are doctors that happen to be musicians, and theres other people I think that are musicians that happen to be doctors, and thats probably more me. Dr Mark Wenitong From a tough childhood where he witnessed the impact of cultural disadvantage and alcohol on his father and other members of his community, Mark Wenitong broke the mould and enrolled in medicine as a mature student at Newcastle University in the 1990s. When Mark went through, it was the impossible dream, you know, couldnt be done so you needed a very, very resilient group of people who got to do it. Dr Louis Peachey His greatest role model was his mother, Lealon. Back in the 50s and 60s, she fought against the odds to become a pioneering Indigenous nurse. Lealon Wenitong raised her six children as a single mother while also establishing a reputation for her dedicated health care throughout the Indigenous communities of Northern and Central Australia, which persists to this day. It was Lealon who urged Mark to enrol in medicine. Today he combines treating patients with a role as Adjunct Associate Professor at James Cook Universitys School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He is involved with several Indigenous health initiatives including helping young people affected by the devastating Ice epidemic at Gindaja, one of the few residential rehabilitation centres in Far North Queensland. He is hoping that rehabilitated addicts will help to convince others to avoid the drug. Despite his dedication to his work as a doctor, Mark Wenitong describes himself as primarily a musician, a talent he has passed on to all his children. Daughter Naomi rose to prominence as half of successful duo Shakaya who picked up four platinum awards for their first single Stop Calling Me and toured with Beyonce and Human Nature. Just being successful and being black for me for a while, it was really fulfilling. But things were happening in this country that were shocking, you know, like, deaths in custody and stuff, all over the news and we were on stage singing Cinderella Naomi Wenitong, composer-musician Eldest son Joel, also a successful musician, joined forces with his sister to form The Last Kinection named in honour of their grandmother. They started to write and perform music that was far more political, focusing on Indigenous self-determination. To get up and be singing these songs that we know nobody wants to hear, you know, not even we want to talk about some of the stuff were talking about, you know, but we have to and thats, thats another example of how Dad influenced us. Naomi Wenitong The family was plunged into crisis when Naomi and Joel suffered a terrible car crash. Naomi was pronounced dead at the scene but, miraculously, she eventually pulled through. During the darkest times in intensive care, Mark found that despite his medical training he could do no more than sing to her as she lay for weeks in a coma. The music, they believe, assisted her recovery. I can remember when Naomi was in the brain injury unit and I was so worried that she wasnt going to get any better. It was devastating as a parent and I just wanted to get her out of there and take her home and just take care of her. Dr Mark Wenitong Joel, who was the driver, suffered survivor guilt for some time. But it was a turning point for him and he made the decision to follow his father into medicine graduating last month. This is that fork in the road, that I need to travel down this way now, and, and I felt that thats what Nan was there to tell me as well, so, so thats what I did. Dr Joel Wenitong Australian Story follows the Wenitong family as they work in medicine and sing for their people and the wider community. Monday, May 2 at 8pm on ABC. A debate about Foxtels streaming service, Foxtel Play has been ignited through a Kotaku article, republished via The Age /SMH under the headline Why I refuse to feel sorry for torrenting Game of Thrones. With such a provocative headline I immediately found myself asking, Would it also be ok to download Wolf Creek? It begins next month on the Fairfax-Nine SVOD Stan. Upon closer inspection the argument surrounds problems with Foxtel Play. Foxtel Play is designed as a Foxtel-Lite service enabling instant access to channels on desktop & devices, without a full home installation. Pricing starts at $25 a month (with a $5 add-on discount for movies+drama during Game of Thrones season). The author Mark Serrels has clearly had frustration with the service. He outlines several problems, including crashing, buffering, customer service and number of allowed devices. He complains he tried to pay for the service but it just wasnt up to scratch. The article makes a very good point about Foxtel Play only being available in Standard Definition. In 2016, I agree that isnt good enough when others such as Netflix are offering HD at a lower entry. That should be addressed by new CEO Peter Tonagh asap. But does that really make it ok to then turn to piracy? Hardly. I get that he doesnt want to pay for a full installation to watch one show. But Subscription TV models around the world work on packaging, including HBO in the US. If they ran on a I just want this show model, they would soon evaporate -who would make Game of Thrones then? And at our 24 million population such a proposition also isnt comparable to the USAs 322 million. Seriously Yes there is a wait for the DVD and iTunes release -just as there is in the US (Australia actually had the iTunes access for an extra season than the US). HBO is very strategic in its release and rights for its content. With the budget required to produce GoT thats hardly a surprise. Many of the articles about Australia topping piracy rates for GoT this week made little mention that the numbers were facilitated by the ANZAC Day holiday: more people at home willing to pirate, and more waking hours (post 11am) to enable it (TorrentFreak actually acknowledged the timezone factor). Game of Thrones season opener saw a record 727,000 viewers on the first day. If Australia has 12.5% of the 1 million downloads TorrentFreak quoted thats a potential 125,000 pirates, putting the balance overwhelmingly in the legal -and not illegal- camp. This would all be a better argument if GoT was taken out of the argument. The issue is really about the quality and pricing of Foxtel Play. Foxtels response to the article is as follows: This weeks viewership numbers show that the Game of Thrones season 6 opener was the most watched series premiere in Australian subscription TV history, which speaks volumes about fans who are eager to do the right thing when watching this incredibly popular show. Foxtel has taken extra steps to make it as accessible as possible to Australian fans, including simulcasting Game of Thrones at the same time as the US and, once again, offering special pricing for Foxtel Play subscribers. No word on plans for HD. Well need clarity on that sooner rather than later. NB: If youre looking to weigh in on this one remember site policy still stands: its fine to discuss piracy as a legit industry issue, its not so fine to endorse it. Please word appropriately. UD students had an opportunity to meet Walter Munk in conjunction with his invited lecture. Walter Munk discusses his career and climate change before a large and enthusastic audience at Mitchell Hall. 10:30 a.m., April 29, 2016--Before he even spoke a word, Walter Munk received a standing ovation. To many of those in attendance, he is an ocean science icon, a hero who has inspired oceanographers worldwide for nearly eight decades. On Monday, April 25, Munk, age 98, spoke to a packed house at the University of Delawares Mitchell Hall, and attendees sat riveted to their seats as he discussed the evolution of his research during a special guest lecture. His lifetime of pioneering research, his passion for teaching and his many accolades make Dr. Munk something of a legend in this field. It is no exaggeration to say that he built and shaped the way we study and understand the ocean, said UD Acting President Nancy Targett. Throughout his career, Munk known as the Einstein of the Oceans has contributed to the fundamental science and practical applications of oceanography. He and colleagues from Scripps Institution of Oceanography developed amphibious warfare methods at the U.S. Navy Radio and Sound Laboratory, including wave prediction methods used during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. We had so much luck. Once everyone got on board, I was amazed in 3 years what we could accomplish. When a broad [group] of people work together, there is very little you cannot do, he said. He pointed out, however, that not every concept he developed was met with a positive response. Dont expect glories when you have a new idea. In 20 years you may go from its a mistake and youre wrong to everyone knows that, Munk said. Over the decades, Munk studied ocean-sound transmission, deep-sea tides, climate change, ocean currents and wave propagation. His work on the Mid-Ocean Dynamics Experiments in the 1960s and 70s significantly improved the accuracy of tide prediction. During this same time period, many scientists were becoming increasingly concerned about the warming climate, how human were contributing to the problem and the uncertainties surrounding what, if anything, could be done to affect change. Today, this conversation on climate change and predicted challenges associated with sea level rise continues. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, strong evidence suggests that global sea level is rising at an increased rate and it is expected to continue to rise through this century. The major contributors: thermal expansion of the ocean due to warming and the loss of land-based ice, such as glaciers, due to increased melting. Munk said he believes that one of an oceanographers most important jobs is to adapt to changing climate and [to work to] make it less severe. He conceded that the work is difficult, particularly because adaptation will be different in different places. He added that while the proper steps are as yet unknown, measuring the data is the easy part. The second step is more difficult: getting nations to do something about it, said Munk. In a question-and-answer session following his talk, journalist Chris Mooney, who covers energy and environment for the Washington Post, revisited the issue, asking what society should be doing about this thing called climate change. Munk quipped, We should stop melting the ice sheets, eliciting chuckles from the audience. Despite his humorous approach, Munk encouraged the audience to continue working on this problem. He called the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) a first step toward change but said that to be successful scientists must come together in a global effort, the way the Allied forces did during World War II. Mohsen Badiey, acting dean in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment (CEOE), closed the evening saying, From what I heard tonight, the future needs students and scientists like those we have in our college to address these major environmental challenges. I am confident that we are situated well to answer that call. Inspiring undergraduates At UD, Munk helped found the Physical Ocean Science and Engineering (POSE) program, a multidisciplinary academic program designed to provide students a strong foundation in physical oceanography as well as opportunities to acquire state-of-the-art observing and modeling skills while working closely with POSE faculty. Before returning to California, Munk had the opportunity to meet some future scientists in CEOE when he talked with undergraduate students enrolled in MAST 382 Introduction to Ocean Sciences, taught by Danielle Dixson, assistant professor in CEOEs School of Marine Science and Policy. He encouraged the students to gain field experience, tackle tough research problems and forge ahead, despite the challenges they will face. Its perfectly acceptable to fail on good projects with a worthy cause, Munk said. Take chances; dont be afraid of things not working, there are lots of unsolved first world problems; and be daring. This guest lecture was held during UD Institute of Global Studies Arctic Month celebration and was hosted by the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment. Article by Karen B. Roberts Photos by Kevin Quinlan and Evan Krape The University of Delaware recently held its 38th annual Project Search education fair, with representatives of school districts from across the country in attendance. The University of Delaware recently held its 38th annual Project Search education fair, with representatives of school districts from across the country in attendance. 2:43 p.m., April 29, 2016--Well prepared, innovative, enthusiastic, and ready to hit the ground running. These were just a few of the accolades recruiters used to describe University of Delaware students at Project Search. More than 100 employers attended UDs 38th annual education career fair on April 20 at the Bob Carpenter Center. Representatives of school districts from across the country interviewed 407 students and local education professionals for a range of positions in: early education, K-12, special needs programs, foreign language immersion, music instruction, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields and more. Jacob Kee, an elementary teacher education major, met with several recruiters from schools in southern Delaware. I live in Lewes and am hoping to get a job down there, he said, adding, I made some great connections today. For candidates wanting to teach even further south, a recruiter from Greenville County Schools in South Carolina was eager to talk. We hire between 400 and 600 candidates a year, so we recruit all along the East Coast, said Margaret Spivey, director of professional employment for South Carolinas largest district. Id never attended Project Search before, but Im truly impressed with the candidates. Our schools have incorporated full inclusion, so UDs dual certification (in special education and elementary/early childhood education) is very important. Jeff Conkey, Brennen School principal, was recruiting for the Delaware Autism Program. We are fortunate to hire Delawares education students, he said. They are able to hit the ground running. Students with masters degrees from other programs dont always have as much interaction with our student population. UD graduates come to us with extensive experience, skilled in evidence based practice. UDs Career Services Center provides guidance to help students during the interview process. When asked what advice had been most helpful, Brooke Nichols, who is finishing up her 4+1 masters program in exceptional children and youth, responded, You want to seem interested and get more information about the schools. So its good to have a couple of questions prepared in case they ask if you have any questions. They come in handy, if you cant think of anything at the moment. The only criticism of the event was that there werent enough candidates to go around. It is a nationwide concern that fewer people are going into the teaching profession. Its very competitive out there now, said Jerry Lamey, Hodgson Vocational Technical High School principal, recruiting for New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District. Were trying to get the best candidates, so we come to Project Search every year. We meet quality students who are well-prepared. They are innovative thinkers and understand current education trends. Sulaiman Miller had a unique perspective, having interviewed at Project Search after graduating from UD in 2002 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. He was hired by Positive Change Academy as a teacher, was promoted to director of education and returned this year as a recruiter. I remember sitting in those bleachers, and it makes me more sympathetic toward the students Im interviewing today. When asked about the value of Project Search, Miller said, You can identify good candidates by reading their resume. But meeting with them face-to-face is much more valuable. You can see who really has a passion for teaching. As the career fair wrapped up, a number of students emerged optimistic. I feel good, said Nichols. I really enjoyed talking to the different representatives for the school districts. The interviews seemed to go well, so we shall see. Article by Alison Burris Photos and video by Lizzy Adams The political subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group on resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine has begun its meeting in Minsk. The Belarus Foreign Ministry made a relevant post on Tweeter. The meeting of the political subgroup on security of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine is underway in Minsk, reads the report. A reminder that the previous round of talks of the Trilateral Contact Group took place in Minsk on April 20. iy The Ukrainian side has drafted all the necessary legislation needed to hold elections in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, and is ready to discuss this issue at international meetings. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said this at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, own Ukrinform correspondent reports. The elections are not only a significant part for the peace cause, they are also possible task. We have drafted all the necessary legislation and are ready to discuss the modality, when the leadership will gather in Minsk, Prystaiko said. He stressed that the elections should be carried out "in line with the requirements of the OSCE standards and our [Ukrainian] laws." iy United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power says that the carrying out of local elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine is possible only after proper security conditions are provided there. The U.S. Ambassador said this on Thursday at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the conflict in Ukraine, own Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to her, one of conditions for the political settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine is the resuming of normal situation along the demarcation line, when the Special Monitoring Mission can normally fulfill its tasks. Samantha Power also stressed that the present climate in eastern Ukraine in no way promotes these standards. iy State-run Mykolaiv-based Zorya-Mashproekt gas turbine scientific production complex and the Defense Ministry of India have concluded an agreement on the supply of power units for Indian Navy ships, the companys press service reports. Zorya-Mashproekt signed a contract with the Defense Ministry of the Republic of India on the supply of equipment. The company will produce and deliver to the customer the naval power units for ships in service of the Indian Navy, according to the companys press service. The contract was signed under the program of replacement of engines and reducers, which exhausted their resource and are to be removed from service. This program, which is planned to be implemented in 2016-2017, foresees the re-equipment of small-sized ships of the Indian Navy. iy The French Foreign Ministry has confirmed the preparations for the next meeting of the foreign ministers of the Normandy format countries but has not named the exact date. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said this, an Ukrinform correspondent reports from France. "The meeting of the foreign ministers of the Normandy format countries is being planned. Its goal will be to advance in implementation of the Minsk agreements. We will inform you about the meeting details in accordance with established procedure," he said, when asked about the place and date of the meeting. ol U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt, having spoken with the leadership of Ukraine, is optimistic about the appointment of a new Prosecutor General of Ukraine. U.S. diplomat told reporters following his meeting with the college students in Mariupol, a local Ukrinform correspondent reports. "I am inspired by what I have heard from President Poroshenko and premier Groysman, and a general agreement between the Ukrainian political leaders on what kind of new Prosecutor General Ukraine requires. He ought to receive a broad support from the Ukrainian society. This I why I am optimistic about the issue," he said while commenting on the delay with appointment of a new Prosecutor General of Ukraine. tl Safety is necessary condition for holding elections in the temporarily occupied areas of Donbas, so Russia should fulfill all its obligations under the Minsk agreements. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt said this to reporters after the meeting with students in Mariupol, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "As U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Samantha Power said yesterday, safety in those areas is an absolutely necessary precondition for elections. This means that Russia should comply with its obligations under the Minsk agreements," the Ambassador said. The American diplomat noted that "nobody talks about any specific dates." ol U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt has paid a visit to the memorial to victims of shelling in Mariupol, Donetsk region, that took place in January 2015. In a statement issued by the press office of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, he gave a reminder of who the victim was and who the aggressor was in the conflict being waged on Ukrainian territory. "Coming here is an opportunity to commemorate the innocent victims of Russian aggression in Ukraine. It is also an event that inspires to carry on working as hard as we can to see the full and complete implementation of the Minsk agreements to stop this horrible and senseless violence," the U.S. diplomat said. He added that the international community would never forget who the aggressor in that conflict was. ol | By Patricia Fanning A panel of scholars in the field of financial well-being and capacity-building appeared at an event sponsored by OneMain Financial and presented by the University of Maryland School of Social Work (SSW). The panel discussed spending, saving, and other aspects of monetary decision-making after participants were welcomed by Sheldon K. Caplis, MBA, director, community relations, at OneMain Financial. A contribution by the company made possible a documentary presentation and the panel discussion. (View a photo gallery.) Held April 27, the event was arranged by the SSWs Financial Social Work Initiative (FSWI) and supported by the Office of Financial Education and Wellness at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Speakers included Annamarie Lusardi of George Washington University, left; Eldar Shafir of Princeton University; Gerri Walsh of FINRA Foundation; Karen Gibbs, moderator; Sheldon Caplis of OneMain Financial; Robin McKinney of Maryland CASH Campaign; and SSW Dean Richard Barth, president, American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. The program began with the showing of the documentary, Thinking Money: The Psychology Behind Our Best and Worst Financial Decisions, produced by Maryland Public Television. Three members of the panel were among the experts interviewed in the documentary. The film and the panel discussion allowed the audience to gain insights on how the market and the human brain affect the way people handle or mishandle their finances. In the wake of the Great Recession, panelists noted, a misstep can hold severe consequences for those living paycheck to paycheck or without adequate resources. Try as they might, for some people, theres more month than there is money, said Gerri Walsh, JD, president of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. FINRA is a registered trademark of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Walsh is among the panelists who also appeared in the documentary. Others featured onscreen were Annamarie Lusardi, PhD, academic director of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center and Denit Trust Chair of Economics and Accountancy at the George Washington University School of Business; and Eldar Shafir, PhD, the William Stewart Tod Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs at Princeton University. Lusardi shared some new findings about women, who around the world are disproportionally more likely than men to say, I do not know. "It's a fantastic result," said Lusardi, "because they know they do not know," making women ideal financial decision-makers and ideal targets for financial education. Shafir described research showing the load that is borne by people trying to manage with insufficient funds. They devote enormous amounts of their mental resources to that juggling, that challenge, he said, leaving fewer to deal with other things in their lives. They were joined in the discussion by Robin McKinney, MSW '01, a clinical instructor at the SSW and director of the Maryland CASH Campaign, and by television anchor and correspondent Karen Gibbs, who was the moderator. Were seeing a lot of collateral loans particularly among older folks selling things in their house that they want to get back, McKinney said. Making reference to the documentary's depiction of pawnshops, she noted that many people find they cant afford to redeem their belongings. Thats the challenge of pawn, she said. Youre really stripping these assets. The event was planned during April to mark National Financial Literacy Month and to help further an effort to meet the Grand Challenges adopted earlier this year by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. Social work educators, researchers, and practitioners aspire within a decade to meet the 12 challenges, including one to build financial capability for all. SSW Dean Richard P. Barth, PhD, MSW, who is president of the academy, and Jodi Jacobson Frey, PhD '04, MSW '98, LCSW-C, associate professor at the SSW and chair of the FSWI, spoke at the event in addition to Caplis. The SSW offered continuing education credits for those who registered through its Office of Continuing Professional Education, and several alumni who were in attendance participated in a lively question-and-answer session with members of the panel. A reception followed. Khairallah Farhan holds a child at Al Salam camp for displaced families, Baghdad, Iraq. UNHCR/C. Gluck BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 29 (UNHCR) - Iraqi father-of-two Khairallah Farhan fled his home in Ramadi when it was overrun by extremists in 2015. But despite the fact that it was retaken by Iraqi forces at the end of last year, he is in no rush to go home. Not only was his house severely damaged, but two close relatives who hurried home to rebuild their lives were killed by exploding booby-trap devices left behind by militants. "I'm very cautious about returning. I will not rush back yet," says the 30-year-old, who is among 1,200 displaced Iraqis living at the sprawling Al Salam camp in the capital, Baghdad. He is among thousands of people from Ramadi weighing the risks of returning home. The Iraqi government announced at the start of the year that it had re-taken the city from extremist forces, although it has not yet declared the city, Iraq's third largest, "clear" for return. UN assessment teams found "staggering" destruction in the city. Thousands of buildings in Ramadi and its outskirts had been damaged, and the city was also littered with improvised explosive devices. According to estimates, several dozen people have been killed in recent weeks since they returned to the city, which sprawls along the banks of the Euphrates River west of Baghdad. Having lost relatives to blasts, Farhad is looking for greater assurance before going home. "If the government can declare the city safe and offer us help, we will return," he says. The upsurge in casualties has prompted the Iraqi authorities to issue a temporary directive, telling civilians not to return for the time being - and to wait until the deadly booby traps and explosives in the city can be cleared. Some 3.4 million Iraqis are internally displaced by the conflict. Despite the lingering hazards, many families are risking all to head home. Hikmat Jassim, manager at Al Salam camp, shows photographs taken days earlier on his cell phone of farewell ceremonies for families in the camp as they prepared to set off on the uncertain journey to the once-bustling city of nearly half a million residents. "Around 200 families have left here to go back to Ramadi," he says. "We do not encourage them to go, but we do not prevent them from going either." In fact, many departing families had been allowed to take their tents with them, if their homes had been damaged, and were given food parcels by well wishers. The photos showed trucks lined up, laden with blankets and other basic necessities for the families, with people crying and being hugged on departure. Amer, a father of 10, from Ramadi's Al Jamhuria neighbourhood, is among those who have returned to the city. "We celebrated leaving the camp," he said when UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, contacted him in the city by phone. "Everyone was very excited to return home. We were crying at the prospect of going back, we were so happy." He returned to a house that was habitable, although the second story had been destroyed, leaving 16 family members to live crammed into two rooms. Amer has also reopened the small hardware shop that he ran. And, in a city that needs extensive rebuilding, he said business is brisk. "My work is very good; better than before because every family wants cables for electricity, motors for fridges and other building materials." While there was no power, leaving families to rely on generators, he said most services were functioning in his neighbourhood and schools were opening again. He has no regrets about returning. By Caroline Gluck in Baghdad. Apologies, it seems we cant find what you were looking for. The content has either moved or no longer exists. Maybe try a search In New York, Bethlehem Central High School teacher Jessica Westervelt drew inspiration from the popular TV series "House Hunters International." She adopted the concept of the said show and created an activity for her Spanish class. Like what happens in the show, she assigns students to work in three per group and act out like real estate agents who will find houses in a foreign country which speaks in Spanish. Westervelt took advantage of the activity to teach different vocabularies for Spanish 3 lessons. The exercise incorporates the curriculum with her students' interest. It was easy for her to introduce this activity to the class because at that time the show was on its prime. Westervelt acts out as the client whereas the group of students will help her out look for a house to live in or to rent for vacation in a Hispanic country. The groups typically make a brochure to describe the houses they found. Presentation is done by group as team of realtors discussing to a client. The whole activity is conducted in Spanish while other students listen and take note to practice their writing, listening and conversational skills. Meanwhile, students in Pflugerville, Texas' Hendrickson High School take Geometry in Construction class with a new twist. According to an interview with Jerry Richey and Brittany Matchett, the founding teachers of the said program, students build a tiny house in a year to complete the course. Richey said they were able to improve the ideas of his tiny house classes by watching relevant shows. Most of the students who attend the course are familiar with tiny house, Matchett added. The class is divided into two. First half of the class is done by studying Geometry with Matchett while the other half is learning construction with Richey. For Richey, Geometry students in this set up do better than the traditional course because they get to experience what they learn and the practices are on-hand. Matchett encourages traditional geometry classrooms to tap in this innovative way of teaching. All the latest Uttoxeter news Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Page Content The date for a long-awaited ground breaking of a new Chemistry Biology building at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has been set. It will be Thursday, May 5. The total project bids are within budget. Miron Construction of Neenah is the apparent low general contractor. The general contractor bid includes mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection work. The bids are positive news, said Carl Rasmussen, facilities planning director at UW-Stevens Point. Were working with UW System administrators and the Wisconsin Department of Administration and its Division of Facilities Development to determine what, if any, items cut from the original project can be returned to it. The process of awarding the contract and securing needed signatures is under way and can take up to 90 days. Work will begin as soon as the contract is finalized. The ground breaking is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 5 in Lot X, the future site of the chemistry-biology building. It will be along Fourth Avenue and adjacent to the current Science Building, which will continue to house other academic programs, the planetarium and observatory. Construction of the new four-story building is expected to be completed by spring 2018. It is the first major, free-standing academic facility built on campus since 1971. The 176,500-square-foot building will contain building will contain three 48-seat classrooms, two 24-seat classrooms, two 98-seat lecture halls and research and teaching labs for biology and chemistry on each floor. Flexible room configurations combined with modern technology will support hands-on learning and student research, hallmarks of a UW-Stevens Point education. Design work is being done by Potter Lawson, Inc., Madison; and HOK, St. Louis, Mo. It is being designed and built to meet sustainable LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. The State Building Commission approved $75 million in capital funding as part of the 2013-2015 biennium budget and granted authority to spend $75.18 million in April 2015. The additional $182,000, from UW-Stevens Point student fees and program revenue funds, will be used for a vegetative green roof on a portion of the building as well as a small cafe. The $75 million in capital funding can only be used for this building. The capital budget is separate from the base state operations budget. Cuts proposed to the UW System budget for the 2015-17 biennium are not affected by the capital budget, nor can they be reduced by not constructing the science building. In preparation for construction, landscaping on the perimeter of Lot X will be removed the week of March 21, during spring break. Half of the shrubs will be transplanted around campus. The others, less viable plants, are available through Surplus Sales Store. Anyone interested may contact Fred Hopfensberger, fhopfens@uwsp.edu or 715-346-4474 at Surplus. The new building will put science on display, inviting students and the public to see and feel science education and research as it happens, said Chris Cirmo, dean of the College of Letters and Science. This building will become an activity hub for campus, highlighted by a tropical conservatory, collaborative student study spaces, an outdoor teaching amphitheater, coffee shop and specialized laboratories in molecular biology, human biology, botany, genetics, chemistry and biochemistry, Cirmo said. Cheyenne Student Named UWs Outstanding Graduating Woman Kimberly Sanchez Kimberly Sanchez, of Cheyenne, who graduated with dual majors in anthropology and Russian, and a minor in the Honors Program, is the recipient of the Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Award as the University of Wyoming's outstanding graduating woman. Sanchez, who graduated in four and a half years in fall 2015 with a 3.8 grade-point average, was on UW honor rolls each semester. The award, established in 1964, recognizes Sanchez for exhibiting the finest leadership, academic integrity and citizenship qualities. Vikram Singh, from Bangalore, India, received the Tobin Award, honoring the outstanding graduating man. It would be an overstatement to say that I was thrilled about coming to the University of Wyoming after graduating high school. I, like so many other small-town kids, longed to go to a big school on the East Coast, away from my family, Sanchez says. However, my time spent at UW turned out to be a wonderful and transformative experience that I did, and always will, cherish. Since coming to UW, Sanchez has proven herself to be an outstanding student. The list of her academic honors and scholarships demonstrates consistent and indeed accelerating academic and research ability. She has gone beyond classroom work by seizing every opportunity available to an undergraduate for research training and international experience, says UW Department of Anthropology Professor Lin Poyer, who nominated Sanchez for the award. Those achievements include being selected as a McNair Scholar, a prestigious research-focused internship opportunity for students planning a Ph.D.-level career. In addition to her stellar academic work, Sanchez is active in multicultural and other volunteer activities on campus, demonstrating not only her leadership and teamwork skills, but also her practical ability to handle multiple responsibilities, and her constant self-reflection as she strives to achieve her own career goals while giving back to the community, Poyer adds. Sanchez worked with anthropology Professor Todd Surovell on her first research project and, in fall 2014, she expanded her research and spent the semester in Khankh, Mongolia. There, she taught English to K-12 students and worked on her second research project. One main focus of the McNair Scholars Program is preparing students -- through intensive undergraduate research -- for acceptance into Ph.D. programs. Based on Sanchezs work as a McNair Scholar, she was accepted into various doctoral programs at the University of Cambridge, University of Georgia and the University of Michigan (UM). She will attend UM in the fall, and her doctorate will be fully funded. I cant express how much joy these pursuits brought me over the years I spent at UW, Sanchez says. I learned valuable skills that I will be taking with me to graduate school and discovered that I could help make positive changes in my community and even the world, even if they are fairly small. Sanchez has immersed herself at UW, serving as a GEAR UP peer mentor; an AmeriCorps volunteer; a College of Arts and Sciences student ambassador and Central Committee undergraduate representative; a member of the annual Shepard Symposium on Social Justice and Martin Luther King Jr. Days of Dialogue planning committees; and various multicultural organization roles. She is a remarkable young woman who has shown exceptional academic achievement, commitment to leadership and service to the campus community, says Chicory Bechtel, who served as Sanchezs secondary academic adviser through Multicultural Affairs during her entire UW experience. As such, Kimberly is truly one of our outstanding graduating women at UW. UW Students to Present Research for Black Life in Wyoming Symposium University of Wyoming students will present their research projects during Reimagining the West, a biennial free public symposium on black life in Wyoming, Tuesday, May 3, at 12:15 p.m. in the Wyoming Union Family Room. The 25 UW students new research findings focus on the lives and historical contributions of African-Americans to the Equality State and the American West. The Reimagining the West exhibitions will include such media as documentary films, portraits, photography, museum-style exhibitions and digital media created by students from the Black West class taught by Kerry Pimblott, African American and Diaspora Studies Program assistant professor. Her students have spent the spring semester conducting original research on the black Western experience. The students projects are designed to highlight the important and often-overlooked contributions of African-Americans to Wyoming and the West, Pimblott says. The event and class projects are sponsored by the African American and Diaspora Studies Program, the Department of History, the American Heritage Center, and the Service, Leadership and Community Engagement office. Refreshments will be provided. Students presenting, their hometowns and media, are: Beulah -- Raena Bush, podcast. Big Piney -- Zachary Wenz, museum-style exhibition board. Billings, Mont. -- Megan Briggs, website. Bonner Springs, Kan. -- Katherine Kasckow, museum-style exhibition board. Casper -- Samantha Case, documentary short; Clinton Ide, museum-style exhibition board; and Sawyer Seville, website. Cheyenne -- Taylor Fontes, museum-style exhibition board; Ashley McDowell, spoken word and documentary short; and Christian Robinson, website. Elizabeth, Colo. -- Ellen Hughes, museum-style exhibition board. Evanston -- Hunter Harp, website. Evansville, Ind. -- Joe Wannemuehler, museum-style exhibition board. Gillette -- Lee Cline, website. Laramie -- Victoria Cortez, museum-style exhibition board; and Cassandra Hunter, historical marker. Riverton -- Nicholas Riter, artwork. Rock River -- Emma Summers, museum-style exhibition board. Sheridan -- Gage McKeag, photography. Torrington -- Seamus Smith, museum-style exhibition board. Tours, France -- Alison Chendri, Kevin Lesien and Thomas Poitou, all website. Wagoner, Okla. -- Gunnar Woodburn, museum-style exhibition board. Wheatland -- Trena Tackitt, artwork. SHARE By READER SUBMITTED CONTENT CSU Channel Islands (CI)s Second Annual Frances Huggins Community Health Fair and Street Store promises to be three times as big and at least twice as colorful as the first one. Student organizers expect about 300 people from the surrounding neighborhood to attend the fair, which will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at the St. Paul Baptist Church Annex located at 840 South G Street in Oxnard. Zumba classes; performances from Ballet Folklorico de CI and Mariachi; physical and mental health screenings; FOOD Share Ventura County; 25 vendors and a pop-up street store offering free clothing will all be part of this years event. This years theme is Healthy Kids, Healthy Families. The main idea behind this years health fair was to create a community environment of healthy living, said faculty advisor and Assistant Professor of Nursing LaSonya Davis-Smith, DNP. That starts with our youth and young people. We want to focus on kids eating healthy, living active lives and improving the health outcomes of the entire community. Davis-Smith said she let the interdisciplinary student team run the project, with senior Emily Hops in charge of the event. Hops is a Liberal Arts major with an emphasis in holistic health. Because she is a dancer herself Hops, 22, knows the value of activity in an overall healthy lifestyle, so she wanted to make activity an integral part of the fair. As a dancer and a future health professional, I understand the benefits of physical activity, Hops said. I personally have many hobbies that involve physical activity including belly dance, Zumba, hip hop, yoga, and hiking. My hope was to provide health fair attendees with creative and engaging ways to get their 30 minutes a day of exercise. Hops said active hobbies not only burn calories, but aid in stress management, release endorphins, build a sense of community, and add a lot of fun to everybodys day. Also involved in the project are Nursing and Spanish students, who have been handing out fliers for the fair at Farmers Markets and other community events. Representatives from FOOD Share will be on hand to give out fresh fruit and vegetables and enroll qualified people for CalFresh, a food assistance program for low income citizens. Health care workers from St. Johns Regional Medical Center will check health indicators like blood sugar, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and give written tests to assess mental health. There will be panel discussions, presentations, a raffle for 10 bicycles, and a performance from a local competition cheer team of girls ages 7 through 12 called the Unique Diamonds. The Pop-Up Store is a continuation of a project started in 2015 by CI Communication students. The students created a local version of a worldwide movement called The Street Store in which low income or homeless people are allowed to select clothes and try them on, just as they might in a clothing store. The process offers more dignity than taking whatever is given to them. The Community Health Fair was run by nursing students out of the Frances Huggins Community Clinic, a clinic nursing students created out of a rundown trailer and named for the mother of Bishop Broderick Huggins of St. Paul Baptist Church. Frances Huggins was a health care pioneer in the poor community where Broderick grew up. Last year the Street Store and the Community Health Fair were two separate events. This year, the two are being held together with sponsorship from the CI Center for Community Engagement; the CI Nursing program and B.A. Huggins Ministries. For more information contact, LaSonya Davis-Smith, Assistant Professor of Nursing at 805-437-3878 or lasonya.davis-smith@csuci.edu. SHARE CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Oxnard High School's Ana Sanchez, right, applies finishing touches to her dessert at the Oxnard Union High School District's Sweets by The Beach culinary competition on Wednesday. Students from Rio Mesa and Pacifica high schools also competed in this second annual event at the Embassy Suites Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Passion fruit sorbet with a ginger cream, prepared by Rio Mesa students during the Oxnard Union High School District's Sweets by The Beach culinary competition. Students from Oxnard and Pacifica high schools also competed in this second annual event at the Embassy Suites Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort on Wednesday. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Students from Pacifica, Oxnard and Rio Mesa high schools compete Wednesday in the Oxnard Union High School District's Sweets by The Beach culinary competition. This is the second annual event at the Embassy Suites Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Pacifica High School's Adrian Bernardo uses propane to heat up spun sugar at the Oxnard Union High School District's Sweets by The Beach culinary competition on Wednesday. Students from Rio Mesa and Oxnard high schools also competed in this second annual event at the Embassy Suites Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort. Pacifica's entry would go on to win first place. By Anne Kallas, Special to The Star It wasn't the crowd of about 50 people that worried Ana Sanchez of Oxnard High School; it was the fear of blood. "I don't want to cut myself. I don't want to mess up at all," Sanchez said. "I can stand in front of a crowd anytime." Sanchez was one of six students from three high schools in the Oxnard Union High School District taking part in the second annual Sweets by the Beach culinary competition Wednesday at Embassy Suites Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard. The two-person teams were selected from among students enrolled in the culinary arts programs at Pacifica, Rio Mesa and Oxnard high schools. The contest is part of the Alliance for Linked Learning, which is a partnership between the Ventura County Civic Alliance and the school district, according to Mary Anne Rooney, Civic Alliance project director. Rooney explained that the competition dovetails with hospitality week, a countywide effort designed to allow students to get an idea of what goes on behind the scenes at various Ventura County hotels and restaurants. "Linked Learning takes rigorous curriculum with a business focus and combines it with experience in the workforce," said Rooney, who noted that Oxnard high schools have an overall 82 percent graduation rate, but students involved with the Linked Learning academies have a 90 percent graduation rate. Earlier in the day, students from the area high schools had a chance to shadow various executives at the Embassy Suites. "When I first started, I called the superintendent to find out how we could work together: 'You have students and I have work connections,'" said the hotel's general manager, Colleen Huther. Jobs at the hotel range from front desk positions to engineering and event planning. "Working at a hotel is a great career opportunity for students, but they don't think about it," Huther said. The Pacifica High School business academy came up with the idea for Sweets on the Beach last year. "The kids got together and brainstormed last year about how to market a timed contest with a dessert theme," said Aaron Ferguson, a Pacifica teacher who heads up the academy. The three teams of students were given three "secret ingredients," selected ahead of time by Embassy Suites Chef Nikki Newman. The teams then crafted a dessert to offer to five judges Kayla Hernandez, Pat Doler, Ali Smith, Richard Varible and Mike Lodi who looked at presentation, taste, appearance and creativity. Newman said she chose passion fruit, ginger and cilantro, "because they are currently in season and can be sourced here in Ventura County. It will make them think outside the box and open their palates." The No. 1 dessert was created by the Pacifica team of Ilima Bachmeier and Adrian Bernardo. They made ginger mint panna cotta, strawberry cilantro lime pastry cream, candied cherry and passion fruit gastrique, and cilantro ginger sugar, with a spun sugar accent. Matt Rockwell, who runs Pacifica's culinary arts program, said there are 110 students in the upper classes of his program and an additional 120 students who try the program during their freshman year. The second-place dessert was made by Alondra Corona and Jessica Rivera of Rio Mesa. They made a passion fruit sorbet with ginger cream, served with caramelized sugar pops. Rio Mesa culinary arts teacher Cynthia Allen said she has five full classes of students in her program, for a total of 170. The final dish was Likikoi ginger granita paired with cilantro whipping cream, made by Sanchez and Brannon Barr of Oxnard High School. Mari Vogt, who heads up that school's culinary arts program, said there are 175 students enrolled. "The big thing we stressed was 'mise en place' everything is in its place," Vogt said. "I think this contest is a great idea to give the students a chance to perfect their skills." SHARE File photo By Staff Reports A Santa Paula man was in Ventura County Jail on Friday after police said they found a loaded gun in his car, along with ammunition and what police suspect is methamphetamine and marijuana. Santa Paula police were called to the Santa Paula Cemetery shortly after 2:30 p.m. Thursday where they found Alex Castro, 33. Police said Castro, who is a convicted felon, told them there was a loaded gun in the vehicle. Police said they found a loaded .22-caliber revolver in the car. Castro is facing charges of carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Castro's bail is set at $145,000. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Armando Vazquez, standing in front of a painting of a Mexican town, sends money to his four uncles in Mexico. SHARE ROB VARELA/THE STAR Elena Vazquez (left) of Oxnard works with Lorena Ruiz during a citizenship class in Oxnard. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Armando Vazquez hangs a painting at the Cafe on A cultural center and gallery in Oxnard. ROB VARELA/THE STAR Elena Vazquez (right) of Oxnard attends a citizenship class in Oxnard. ROB VARELA/THE STAR Elena Vazquez (left) of Oxnard listens as Angela Guadamuz is quizzed in preparation for an upcoming citizenship exam. By Tom Kisken of the Ventura County Star If Irene Rojas can't send money to her parents in a mountain village in Oaxaca, Mexico, they eat twice a day instead of three times. They earn 100 pesos a day on good days selling the corn they grow. They can't afford beef without help. Rojas sends $200 a month when she's making money picking strawberries. When the 31-year-old Oxnard area woman isn't working, she wires money every other month. She does it for the same reason as scores of other immigrants, some here legally, others not: Because of what would happen if they didn't. "My parents would suffer a lot more," she said in Spanish. Immigrants sent back nearly $25 billion to Mexico last year in money called remittances, nearly all of it from the United States. Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, a UCLA public policy professor, calculates about a quarter of the money more than $6 billion came from California. As much as $150 million was sent from Ventura County to Mexico in 2015, he said, basing the calculation on the county's estimated 62,000 undocumented immigrants. "It's about $2,000 a year per undocumented worker," he said, noting that many people cross the border to support families in their homelands. "That's probably a conservative estimate." As California's June 7 primary approaches, remittances are wedging their way into the presidential race. Republican front-runner Donald Trump proposes using the money as a lever to force Mexico to pay for a border wall. If they refuse, he said, the government will block at least some remittances. His plan includes making immigrants prove they live here legally before they're allowed to wire money to Mexico. That worries Rojas. She has no documents. She crossed the border at age 15 with her father. They returned to Oaxaca to pay off debts. She found work harvesting squash but knew she could help her family more in California. At 17, Rojas decided to leave again. Before her father let her go, she made him a promise: To send money. Her gifts are used for food, medicine and doctors. Her father has diabetes. Her mother needs treatment for hypertension. She sends the money from a store on Oxnard's Fifth Street, using a service called MoneyGram. If laws changed and wiring money no longer worked, she would send it with relatives or find some other mechanism. She would have to find a way. "For my parents," she said. Susana Covarrubias sends money to an uncle in the state of Sonora. 'HE'S MY BROTHER' Some remittances come from community groups that send money to villages or organizations in their home states. The vast majority comes from immigrant workers who send money back for spouses living in impoverished communities, for children they hope will eventually immigrate too or for themselves in anticipation of returning one day. Mexico receives the most money from the United States. China, India and the Philippines all received more than $10 billion in one year, according to a breakdown from the Pew Research Center in 2014. For nine years, Simi Valley real estate investor Zeyad Elalami sent money to his brother, sister-in-law and their two children in the Gaza Strip. He stopped only when the family immigrated from the Palestinian territory earlier this year. He wired the money for the same reasons immigrants from Mexico stand in front of plastic windows waiting for Western Union tellers. "For them to survive," Elalami said. "They have no food, no money, nothing. The unemployment rate over there is almost 85 percent." The stories are everywhere. Call people and ask if they have friends who send money. They say they do it themselves. Agustin Busch, a Navy veteran who once lived in Oxnard, was deported 17 years ago after being convicted of drug possession. Gabriella Navarro-Busch, his younger sister and his lawyer, uses Western Union to wire him money in Baja California where he works in construction. Some people dismiss Trump's proposal to block remittances. Not Navarro-Busch. She talks of maybe opening a bank account across the border, in Rosarito, as a way to deal with possible changes in the law. Her brother's recent health issues mean she's started delivering money in person. That could continue too. What the Ventura attorney won't do is stop giving him money. "He has a hard time making ends meet," she said. "And he's my brother." Yolanda Zamudio sends money to her 23-year-old son and her parents in the state of Guanajuato. IT'S LIKE TITHING In a country that produces about $18 trillion worth of goods and services, $25 billion being sent to Mexico constitutes "chump change," said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies. The center supports tighter immigration controls. But the loss of money that could be spent in grocery stores and restaurants in local economies stings more because much of it comes from poorer communities, Krikorian said. "These are precisely the places that would benefit from the capital being invested locally," he said. Economists say the loss has to be weighed in the context of the income generated by immigrants who came here to support loved ones in Mexico. "It's probably a small fraction of the economic activities they generate by working in the county," said Sung Won Sohn, an economist at CSU Channel Islands. Armando Vazquez comes from Ahualulco in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Once a small and impoverished farming village, it's growing with a surge of restaurants and shops created by American dollars. Vazquez credits a tradition of remittances that stretches back as far as immigration. "We do it like tithing," said the Oxnard artist and leader of the Cafe on A cultural center. He still sends money to his four uncles in Ahualulco. Find a way to cut off or minimize the stream and the past would re-emerge. "It would be catastrophic," he said. "The poor would get poorer." Others suggest little will change even if laws are modified to block remittances because people would find other ways to give. In a makeshift classroom at an Oxnard community center, Elena Vazquez used broken English to recite questions about the U.S. Supreme Court and the Bill of Rights. The 54-year-old Oxnard woman is studying to become a citizen. She sees the step as completion of the journey that began when she left her family's home in Mexico City 26 years ago. She came here for the same reasons she will stay here for opportunity, jobs and to help her family. From the beginning, she sent money to Mexico City, first to her sister to provide care for their mother, who was ill. When her mother died three years ago, Vazquez kept sending the money for work on the family home and because her sister at age 50 needs financial support. "She doesn't have another way of surviving," said Vazquez. The grim reality is why Vazquez looked surprise when asked how long she'll send money back. The answer is obvious. Forever. Alfonso Chavez sends $200 a month, sometimes more to his parents in Oaxaca, Mexico. PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS This is the first in a series of stories looking at how policies proposed during the presidential campaign could impact Ventura County. Immigration jumped to the front of the presidential debate when Republican Donald Trump promised to build a wall between the United States and Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants. He said he would compel Mexico to pay for the wall. In April he revealed more details, saying he would force Mexico to pay by stopping the flow of money being sent back to the country from immigrants in the United States. There was $24.77 billion transferred globally to Mexico in 2015, nearly all of it from the U.S. Trump said he would change a rule in the USA Patriot Act that would force anyone wiring money outside the U.S. to prove they are in the country legally. If Mexico paid $5 billion to $8 billion for the fence, he said he would not enforce the rule. * Click the document below to read all three pages. Sources: The Washington Post, Politifact, Vox Staff writer John Scheibe contributed to this report. SHARE Oh, puhleeze, no! The Trumpster is going to run a totally chauvinistic campaign against Hillary Clinton. It's going to be, "She wouldn't be here if she weren't a woman," and, "She just wants to be the first woman president." After the voters of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut voted for Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, he said, "I think the only card she has is the woman's card." Ever gallant, Trump continued, "She has got nothing else going. Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don't think she would get 5 percent of the vote." Clinton then responded. Well, she said, "if fighting for women's health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in. ... We want America to be in the future business." Not content with past gratuitous insults against Clinton, Trump added: "And the beautiful thing is women don't like her, OK?" Oh, and do they like him? Seven out of 10 women say they have an unfavorable opinion of Donald Trump. We knew Trump adviser Paul Manafort's wink-wink-nod-nod assurance that Trump would soon switch to "presidential mode" would not happen. Indeed, Trump quickly assured the world that he had no intention of "toning it down." Clearly, Trump and Clinton already have each other in their sights for the fall campaign. It's going to be as painful as we all feared. With Clinton's latest post having been secretary of state, we've been waiting to see how Trump will attack her on that front. We found out the day after Tuesday's primaries. Outlining his foreign policy, Trump displayed a panoply of contradictions and vacuousness. He promised his foreign policy would be popular with all Americans, simple and focused on one factor America, first above all else. Then he said the United States has not put Israel's interests first and foremost. He said, "The power of weaponry is the single biggest problem we have in the world." He wants to modernize America's nuclear weapons stockpile and promote its edge in cyberwarfare. Oh, yes, and 3-D printing. He doesn't want to defend other countries unless they appreciate what we do, pay for their defense and not tie us up in alliances that restrict America's ability to make its own decisions. But he wants us to stand by the agreements we have already made. He will deal with the national debt by not wasting one dollar. He wants to beef up the military but doesn't say how he will pay for it, since Congress has been steadily cutting the defense budget. He wants to end "the theft of American jobs." He does not say how. While Trump says he is the "only one who knows how to fix" America's problems, he offers no details. He pledges to get rid of the Islamic State quickly, but won't tell us how, to avoid tipping them off. He vows to get rid of the Iran deal signed with six countries to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons but says Iran absolutely must not be permitted to get nuclear weapons. How? We don't know. We have to stop China from becoming the new economic powerhouse, he warns, but he also says we have to sign deals with China that benefit us more than China. If not, we simply walk away from the table. Ditto Russia. Ah, now we're in territory Clinton knows well. But that debate is complicated and will show Trump up as a know-nothing on how the world works. So much easier to swipe at Clinton as being a woman unqualified to be president. Says Trump, "Watching her on television ... she just gives me a headache." Trump has been successful in knocking out his rivals by exaggerating a personal trait and demeaning them for it. John Kasich has "disgusting" eating habits. Ted Cruz is a "liar." Jeb Bush had "no energy." It was "Little Marco." He didn't like Carly Fiorina's face. A bully, he dissed everyone in the race. Now he's going after Clinton. For being just a woman in pantsuits. For a man who insists the United States must be less predictable in foreign policy, Trump is oh so predictable. Ann McFeatters is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Readers may send her email at amcfeatters@nationalpress.com. SHARE Foreign policy does not determine American elections. Indeed, of all Western countries, we are the least interested in the subject. The reason is simple: We haven't had to be. Our instinctive isolationism derives from our geographic exceptionalism. As Bismarck once explained (it is said), the United States is the most fortunate of all Great Powers, bordered on two sides by weak neighbors and on the other two by fish. Two world wars, nuclear missiles and international terrorism have disabused us of the illusion of safety-by-isolation. You wouldn't know it, though, from the Democratic presidential race, where foreign policy has been treated as a nuisance; a distraction from such fundamental questions as whether $12 or $15 is the proper minimum wage. On the Republican side, however, foreign policy has been the subject of furious debate. To which Donald Trump has contributed significantly, much of it off-the-cuff, contradictory and confused. Hence his foreign policy speech Wednesday. It was meant to make him appear consistent, serious and presidential. He did check off the required box, delivering a "major address" to a serious foreign policy outfit, the Center for the National Interest (once known as the Nixon Center). As such, it fulfilled a political need. As did its major theme, announced right at the top: "America First." Classically populist and invariably popular, it is nonetheless quite fraught. On the one hand, it can be meaningless isn't every president trying to advance American interests? Surely Truman didn't enter the Korean War for the sake of Koreans, but from the conviction that intervention was essential for American security. On the other hand, America First does have a history. In 1940, when Britain was fighting for its life and Churchill was begging for U.S. help, it was the name of the group most virulently opposed to U.S. intervention. It disbanded totally discredited four days after Pearl Harbor. The irony is that while President Obama would never use the term, it is the underlying theme of his foreign policy, which Trump constantly denounces as a series of disasters. Obama, like Trump, is animated by the view that we are overextended and overinvested abroad. "The nation that I'm most interested in building is our own," declared Obama in his December 2009 West Point address on Afghanistan. This is also the theme of Bernie Sanders. No great surprise. Left and right isolationism have found common cause since the 1930s. Socialist Party leader Norman Thomas often shared the platform with Charles Lindbergh at America First rallies. Both the left and right have a long history of advocating American retreat and retrenchment. The difference is that liberals want to come home because they think we are not good enough for the world. Conservatives want to wash their hands of the world because they think the world is not good enough for us. For Obama, we are morally unworthy to act as world hegemon. Our hands are not clean. He's gone abroad confessing our various sins, everything from the Iranian coup of 1953 to our unkind treatment of Castro's Cuba to the ultimate blot, Hiroshima, a penitential visit to which Obama is currently considering. Trump would be rightly appalled by such a self-indicting trip. His foreign policy stems from a proud nationalism that believes that these recalcitrant tribes and nations are unworthy of American expenditures of blood and treasure. This has been the underlying view of conservative isolationism from Lindbergh through Pat Buchanan through Rand Paul. It is not without its attractions. Trump's version, however, is inconsistent and often contradictory. After all, he pledged to bring stability to the Middle East. How do you do that without presence, risk and expenditures (financial and military)? He attacked Obama for letting Iran become a "great power." But doesn't resisting that automatically imply engagement? More incoherent still is Trump's insistence on being unpredictable. An asset perhaps in real estate deals, but in a Hobbesian world American allies rely on American consistency, often as a matter of life or death. Yet Trump excoriated the Obama-Clinton foreign policy for losing the trust of our allies precisely because of its capriciousness. The tilt toward Iran. The red line in Syria. Canceling the East European missile defense. Abandoning Hosni Mubarak. Trump's scripted, telepromptered speech was intended to finally clarify his foreign policy. It produced instead a jumble. The basic principle seems to be this: Continue the inexorable Obama-Clinton retreat, though for reasons of national self-interest rather than of national self-doubt. And except when, with studied inconsistency, he decides otherwise. Charles Krauthammer's email address is letterscharleskrauthammer.com. He writes for The Washington Post Writers Group. SHARE Last November, the Port Hueneme City Council sanctioned two members for abuse of employees, providing confidential legal documents to interested third parties, and conduct unbecoming. We attempted to address these concerns at a special workshop in October. Asked about this questionable behavior, one council member erupted in such a display of anger that he had to be escorted from the room. Shortly after, a second member stormed out "after repeating vague allegations about misdeeds by city staff and the other council members," as described in The Star's editorial March 27. At the subsequent council meeting, the council elected to remove the two members from all representative and leadership positions as a sanction for their questionable behavior. Despite the gravity of the situation, they took that as an opportunity to clown around and treat the matter as a joke. There is nothing funny about workplace harassment. There is nothing cheap about it, either. Subsequently, the city's insurance carrier, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, paid $279,000 to settle a harassment claim. As stated in the editorial, the insurer believed the "case was so valid that the best course of action was to write a big check as quickly as possible to avoid litigation." The authority is a large organization that represents over 100 cities in California. It is well equipped with lawyers, accountants and actuaries who make decisions based solely on the facts at hand with an eye to the bottom line. Since this particular harassment claim was filed directly with the authority, no one from the city had any input into its resolution. Since the settlement itself is sealed, the facts presented are not available to the public or anyone on the council. While this may lead to unfounded speculation, such privacy provisions are typical for these types of settlements. Nonetheless, as The Star pointed out, "the rapid settlement of the claim says to us that the behavior existed and was easily proven." As a consequence of this claim, as well as an observed pattern of similar behavior, the insurance authority is taking the extraordinary step of requiring that the city of Port Hueneme agree to a Performance Improvement Plan. At Monday's council meeting, the authority will present the city with a plan that covers such areas as legal responsibilities, communication, and harassment training for council members and staff. Some key plan provisions are: "All council members and appointed officials are required to complete preventing discrimination and harassment and workplace violence prevention training. Training sessions will also address gender sensitivity." "All council members are required to complete specific training on council relations, the city council/city manager form of government, appropriate interaction with city staff, the Brown Act, leadership, and cooperation as identified and provided by the authority no later than 60 days after the adoption of the Performance Improvement Plan." "All city staff is required to complete team building and team communication training. Managers and supervisors will participate in one session, and general employees will participate in a separate session. Training will address the challenges currently facing the city." Failure to complete the plan could result in the city having its insurance canceled. It is critical that all members of our city staff, but especially our colleagues on the council, take this challenge seriously and devote their full attention to meeting the requirements. Not too long ago, Port Hueneme was regarded as one of the best-governed cities in the county. There is no reason why we cannot regain that distinction. Jonathan Sharkey is mayor pro tem and Sylvia Munoz Schnopp is a councilwoman in Port Hueneme. SHARE To tree lovers It was sad to learn that one of the two trees on a hilltop above Ventura has died, but it is heartening that the owners of the private property will plant a replacement tree in the fall. Despite being popularly known as "Two Trees," the hilltop was officially designated a historical landmark in January 1987 as "Five Trees" to reflect the number of blue gum eucalyptus trees remaining after a fire in 1903 destroyed eight of the original 13 trees planted. To Santa Paula Speaking of historic sites, your fair city's planning commission was right to defer for a month the hearing on a proposed residential tract to be built on the site of the historic Hardison House. Valid concerns for and against the project have been raised, and careful consideration must be given to whether the project adds or detracts from the property. To scholars Congratulations to the 90 high school students honored at the 33rd annual Star Scholar awards this week, especially to Erin Hall Stoodley, who was named the recipient of the $5,000 Julius Guis Star Scholarship. Another reward still awaits one of these scholars. The event's keynote speaker, Matthew Foster, founder and executive director of the nonprofit RAKlife, asked each student to write a one-page essay on improving a life, a family, a community or the world. The reward a free round-trip flight anywhere in the world. To globe-trotters It won't be a typical Sunday jaunt in the family car. Tjerk Bury, of Thousand Oaks, and his son, Chris, will settle into a specially rebuilt 1972 Datsun 240Z on June 12 in Beijing and take a once-in-a-lifetime, 9,000-mile road trip during the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge 2016. Happy sightseeing. To voters If you'd like to do more for the democratic process than merely cast a ballot, this is your chance. Ventura County is accepting applications for poll workers for the June 7 presidential primary. You can complete an application online at http://venturavote.org. Click on the "Poll Workers" link. You can also request an application by calling 654-2784 or apply in person at the Elections Division in the Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. To all It's still a month to the traditional start of the fire season, but Thursday's fire near Foster Park north of Ventura that was fueled by high winds should be warning enough of the dangers that could be encountered. The continuing drought leaves the area drier than normal, which means even the smallest of fires could quickly rage out of control. To workers Once more, the employment sector feels the belt tighten because of online competition. This time, 37,000 people face losing retail jobs this year because of consumers preferring to shop online. That's more than double the number of layoffs announced in 2015. Call it progress of a sort, or just the nature of the beast. Let's just hope no one pulls the plug. To Venturans Three measures have been added to the already lengthy ballot you will cast Election Day in November. You will be asked whether to set term limits for council members, whether to give council members a raise, and whether to align the terms of mayor and deputy mayor with those of the council. It's never too early to begin studying the issues. As Sophocles wrote: "Quick decisions are unsafe decisions." To ocean-goers After more than four months' closure, the Ventura Pier will reopen Saturday at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting. The pier was closed Dec. 13 after aggressive surf wiped out 13 pilings and loosened 17. More pilings suffered damage from the surf in January and February. Just less than $1.5 million was spent to repair the pier. Parking at the lot off Harbor Boulevard will be free as long as you get your parking document validated at the event. SHARE This week Gov. Jerry Brown must act on a package of tobacco bills that, if signed, would be what the Sacramento Bee has called the "most significant tobacco legislation in decades." We encourage the governor to sign the entire package. The two major pieces of the package would raise the legal purchase age for tobacco products from 18 to 21 and classify and regulate e-cigarettes like traditional tobacco products. In addition, the bills would eliminate many of the current exemptions to bans on smoking in the workplace and allow counties to introduce local taxes on tobacco sales. How we got to those bills sitting on the governor's desk at this exact moment is a tale steeped in money and politics. The e-cigarette bill first surfaced in the Legislature last year and appeared destined for approval, as it had support from a majority of Democrats in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Then the tobacco lobby stepped in front of that train and managed to halt it. The bill failed to come out of the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee intact. The Center for Public Integrity has reported that two tobacco companies have contributed $390,000 to the re-election campaigns of members of that committee since 2013, including $88,100 to the chairman, Adam Gray, a Democrat from Merced. So Democratic leaders bypassed the committee this year by sneaking the e-cigarette bill, along with the minimum wage increase and other tobacco reform measures, into the "special session" the Assembly was having on health. It didn't really fit the governor's call for the session, but they made it work and got the bills passed on March 10. Then the bills sat for nearly six weeks before being sent to the governor, a highly unusual delay. That, once again, was because of the tobacco lobby. The tobacco industry promised to start a referendum petition drive as soon as the governor signed the bills, to get them on the November ballot to see if voters will overturn the action. The tobacco industry probably will still do that, even though it has a much shorter window to get it accomplished. The Los Angeles Times obtained an email from a tobacco lobbyist who said it was willing to pay signature-gatherers $10 a signature for that referendum. That is five times or more what these folks are paid to collect signatures on other petitions. Right now, Democrats have four key initiatives including a play to raise tobacco taxes on the street getting signatures. A high-paying tobacco referendum would suck up every state signature-gatherer and probably kill the other initiatives. So the Democrats had to wait until they were done gathering signatures for their initiatives before the governor acted and triggered the opportunity to gather signatures for the tobacco referendum. That's the nasty and expensive behind-the-scenes politics. What's happening for us to see is that California has an opportunity through these bills and through an additional bill to ban all tobacco on college campuses to continue the effort to free our state from tobacco smoke, particularly for young adults, and from the hugely expensive health costs associated with smoking. We do hope the governor signs the bills. And after that happens, we hope you refuse to sign the referendum petition to place the issue on the ballot. But if the referendum makes it, we hope you will vote against it in November. Friday evening, Instagram sensation Jen Selter celebrated her 21st birthday at TAO (Photo credit: Al Powers, Powers Imagery). Starting off the night with dinner at TAO Asian Bistro with friends, the fitness model enjoyed a few of the restaurants signature dishes including Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass and assorted sushi. Photo credit: Al Powers, Powers Imagery. After dinner, the party continued upstairs at TAO Nightclub as the birthday girl took over a VIP table on the dance floor. Shortly after arriving, Selter was surprised with a custom three tier birthday cake and a special appearance from TAOs mirror man. She spent the rest of her night celebrating and dancing with her friends to the sounds of Breathe Carolina. Photo credit: Al Powers, Powers Imagery. Bring the whole family to celebrate Mothers Day with a brunch buffet this year at The Resort on Mount Charleston. Only 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, but a world away in atmosphere, Mount Charleston is a great destination choice to spend your Mothers Day. Make this years Mothers Day special at The Resort at Mount Charleston where the whole family will enjoy a full brunch buffet at the charming and rustic resort. The annual Mothers Day brunch buffet at The Resort at Mount Charleston never disappoints where you can enjoy a full brunch buffet menu of delicious food while surrounded by the beautiful mountains high in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Call (702) 728-4935 or email us at dining@mtcharlestonresort.com to make your reservation today! Pricing for an adult buffet is a great price at $25.95, while kids 5-12 are $12.95 and will have the option of a special buffet line featuring a new kids spring inspired buffet with all of the foods that kids love. On top of those great deals, the Resort will be offering free meals to all children under 5! Be sure to make your reservation as soon as possible, as there is limited seating available. The brunch buffet will feature Prime Rib and Roasted Chicken carving stations as well as: Corned Beef Hash, Vegetable Quiche, Various Hors DOeuvres , Breakfast Pastries, a build your own Scramble Station and much more! Check out the whole menu here. If you would like to relax while enjoying your time on Mount Charleston for Saturday evening, take advantage of the resorts Room and Brunch Buffet package at $149. STAY SATURDAY, MAY 7th BOOK NOW! Room and Buffet rates just $149! For more great deals and offers on the latest events from the Resort, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or at The Resort at Mount Charleston. The AAA Five Diamond Bellagio has partnered with the Charity Case Foundation, a philanthropic group of California winemakers, to create an extraordinary charitable event, Jan. 28-30. The weekends festivities will be filled with exemplary wines, astounding cuisine and Pokers Ultimate Bottle Tournament. The poker tournament requires an entry fee of $2,800 and event organizers anticipate the prizes, which are all large-format bottles of wine including Hundred Acre, Far Niente and Joseph Phelps, among others, to be one of the most extensive collections ever assembled for a charitable event. Guests will enjoy three luxurious days at the world-class Bellagio while being part of a special experience to raise money for several worthy charities in Napa County and Southern Nevada. In Napa County, beneficiaries include the Wolfe Center, Cope Family Center, Foster Kids Fund, and the Aldea Children and Family Services. The Southern Nevada beneficiaries are Nevada Cancer Institute and the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Bellagio is proud to host this premier poker tournament and partner with such elite winemakers as those from the Charity Case Foundation, said Randy Morton, president and COO of Bellagio. With our unsurpassed service and amenities, we are able to provide our beneficiaries and event participants with a weekend to remember. The festivities will begin Friday, Jan. 28, as all registered participants gather and mingle with winemakers, celebrities, VIP guests and Bellagios elite team of Master Sommeliers for a pre-tournament party which will include enticing cocktails and appetizers from Bellagios award-winning chefs. On Saturday, Jan. 29, after a final opportunity to register for the poker tournament and a delectable lunch buffet, the competition will begin in the Fontana Lounge, which provides breathtaking views of the Fountains of Bellagio. For the first six levels, players will be allowed unlimited re-buys at $2,500 each so long as they have less than their original starting chip stack of $10,000. At the conclusion of the re-buy period, all players will be offered a one-time add-on at a fee of $2,500, or a double add-on at $5,000. Additionally, several of the competing celebrities and VIP guests will have a bounty placed on them. If a player knocks out a celebrity or VIP guest who owns a bounty, they will win an exclusive bottle of wine. At least one player at each table will own a bounty at the beginning of the tournament, which in turn will increase the amount of money for the benefiting charities. Tournament competition will end Saturday evening at 8 p.m. or when the final table is determined, whichever occurs first. The event activities will resume Sunday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. with an exclusive wine tasting with producers who have donated large-format bottles. This allows players who do not make the final table an opportunity to enjoy some of the top donated wines. The final table will begin play at noon and when the winner is determined, they will become Pokers Ultimate Bottle Champion and earn a 24k, 3-ounce gold bracelet donated by Monex Gold. For more information about the poker tournament and three-day event visit www.bellagio.com, www.ultimatebottletournament.com, www.charitycasefoundation.org or call the Bellagio Concierge toll free at (866) 406-7117. Australian music sensation Havana Brown put on a show in Las Vegas all day Friday. In town for a performance with collaborator Pitbull, Havana began her day at Bare Pool Lounge at The Mirage, DJing under the sweltering Vegas sun (Photo credit: The Light Group). Photo credit: The Light Group. Working up an appetite for a luxurious Japanese dinner, Havana and crew headed to Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge, Chef Akira Back after her performance. Satisfied and ready to party Friday night, Havana made her way through Bellagio to The Bank Nightclub where her team popped bottles of vodka while she sang her hit song We Run The Night to fans at the packed club. Photo credit: The Light Group. There have been echoes from local media that Hollywood was making another King Kong feature film in the agrarian outcrop of Tam Coc. If you need a reason to escape Hanoi for the weekend, then having the new home of King Kong only two hours away by motorbike is more than enough for most. Fill the tank up and you have all you need to make the 105km journey and then some. All you need for the overnighter is a small back pack and around US$40 between you and your companion for food, drinks and a wonderful trip through the gorges and limestone caves. Hanoi, in all its crazy glory, can make you crave some fresh air and luscious landscapes. Follow Giai Phong Road out of Hanoi and at this point the road will become Ngoc Hoi Road. The railroad will guide you all the way to the main town of Ninh Binh, where theres a right turn to Tam Coc. The beauty of this region unfolds a little more after every ten kilometres. Once you are truly clear of Ha Noi, the awe-inspiring structures begin to appear in the distance. It is only once you reach the first large bridge that you begin to see the ancient monoliths and waterways carved out of the landscape. Dont trouble yourself over the weather; with or without the sun, the shades of green are still just as numerous. For US$7, each of us had a dormitory bed to ourselves at a homestay with breakfast included. On arrival I felt like I was on the set of Jurassic Park and not King Kong, but you can see why Hollywood used this pristine landscape. The homestay is located in a village named Ninh Thang. It is situated only a kilometre or more from the entrance to the main attraction. When you take your bike up the main road you arrive at what could be mistaken as a Vietnamese-Venetian canal, but the palm trees and jungle-covered mountains make this very much a one-of-a-kind place. From here you can take a boat and float along, but we chose to walk for a few kilometres and began our journey through the caves near the old temple. As you walk along you can see human nature in perfect harmony with nature itself. The human eye is able to see the colour green better than all others and this is the perfect place to see that. The internet is filled with pictures of this wonderful place but you need to see it through your own lens. From underneath the shadow of each of these mega-structures, you can see people living far away from the digital world. There is no noise other than the sound of the wind cascading through the steep valleys. There are families living deep inside these waterways and you can catch a view of life from an ancient era. The beauty of the hard working men and women, perpetually at work will remind you of who you are and why youre there. Source: VNS Steam escapes from the cooling tower of the Tihange nuclear power station, one of the two large-scale nuclear power plants in Belgium, March 26, 2016. Photo source REUTERS/Vincent Kessler BRUSSELS: Belgium is to provide iodine pills to its entire population of around 11 million people to protect against radioactivity in case of a nuclear accident, the health minister was quoted as saying Thursday (Apr 28). The move comes as Belgium faces growing pressure from neighbouring Germany to shutter two ageing nuclear power plants near their border due to concerns over their safety. Iodine pills, which help reduce radiation build-up in the human thyroid gland, had previously only been given to people living within 20 kilometres (14 miles) of the Tihange and Doel nuclear plants. Health Minister Maggie De Block was quoted by La Libre Belgique newspaper as telling parliament that the range had now been expanded to 100 kilometres, effectively covering the whole country. The health ministry did not immediately respond to AFP when asked to comment. The head of Belgium's French-speaking Green party, Jean-Marc Nollet, backed the measures but added that "just because everyone will get these pills doesn't mean there is no longer any nuclear risk," La Libre reported. Belgium's creaking nuclear plants have been causing safety concerns for some time after a series of problems ranging from leaks to cracks and an unsolved sabotage incident. Last week Germany asked that the 40-year-old Tihange 2 and Doel 3 reactors be turned off "until the resolution of outstanding security issues". The reactor pressure vessels at both sites have shown signs of metal degradation, raising fears about their safety. They were temporarily closed but resumed service last December. Belgium's official nuclear safety agency (AFCN) rejected the German request, saying the two plants "respond to the strictest possible safety requirements." At the fair, students submitted their resumes to the employers they want then, if they are chosen, sat down for an interview with the companies staff right at the companies booth and then expect to hear from companies at the end of the event. We can talk directly to the recruiter. Its faster and feels more relaxed than if we go to a formal interview at companies. The interviewer also gives us a lot of career advices, said Vu Thuy Duong, a senior at Banking Academy. Duong said she knew people who were hired at the fair. Vietcombank and VietinBank are the hottest banks among the students, many of whom say they know that a banking job means long hours but that the good pay makes up for it. Over the last few years we have recruited many graduates of Banking Academy. It shows that the quality of the schools programmes has been increasing, said Nguyen Danh Luong, member of the board of directors cum deputy general director of Vietcombank, a diamond sponsor of the event, besides VietinBank and Agribank. The fair, which aims to connect students with employers, saw the participation of students of Banking Academy but also business students from many schools in Hanoi including Academy of Finance, National Economics University, Foreign Trade University, University of Economics and Business-Vietnam National University. Participating companies include Vietinbank, Vietcombank, Agribank, Maritime Bank, TPBank, BIDV, Coop Bank, Techcombank, SHB, VIB, TPBank, ABBank, OCB, BaoViet Bank, Onebank, KeyBanker, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Jolo English, An Cu Real Estate, FTMS Global, Viettels Hanoi branch. VIR is among the events media sponsors. Big C Vietnam has a network of 43 stores and 30 shopping centers and achieved a net sales in 2015 of 586 million ($666 million). According to the press release, Central Group in partnership with the Vietnamese Nguyen Kim Group will continue the strategy of Big C Vietnam in particular concerning the supply of goods produced in Vietnam for Big C stores. Casino continues its procurement of Vietnamese food, which will be distributed in France, Brazil and Colombia. In December 2015, Casino Group had revealed plans to sell its Big C supermarket chain in Vietnam as well as Thailand and Colombia to pay debts. Casino sold Big C Thailand to TCC Holding for 3.1 billion ($3.4 billion) in February. In Vietnam, the race for the retail chain includes Koreas Lotte, Thailands Berli Jucker, as well as Central Group and Dairy Farm from Singapore. Vietnamese potential buyers Co.opmart and Masan Group were also in the running. Earlier this week, Central Group was reported to be buying online retailer Zaloras operations in Thailand and Vietnam. Vietnam is considered a very potential market for retailers. According to the General Statistics Office, the retail revenue in 2015 was VND2,470 trillion ($111 billion), up 10.6 per cent on-year. However, modern retail, namely supermarkets and malls, only accounted for 25 per cent of all this. The percentage is a lot lower compared to that in other countries in the region, such as the Phillippines (33 per cent), Thailand (34 per cent), China (51 per cent), Malaysia (60 per cent), and Singapore (90 per cent). The prospect has lured in many big international names in retail including Seven & I Holding, Lotte Group, TCC, Circle K, Berli Jucker Plc and Aeon, all of which are all planning expansion in number of outlets in the near future. Work has undoubtedly, changed since then. The stage has been set for a new knowledge and services-based economy to be realised. Organisations are turning to technology to cope with this shift. People are focused on realising a mobile, technology laden workforce to enable greater collaboration and consumption. A recent Microsoft online survey surveyed 5,000 working professionals across 13 countries in Asia and found that only 46 out of every 100 employees in Vietnam felt their employers are enabling them to be productive, collaborative and innovative, whilst ensuring personal wellbeing in the changing world of work. Adopting new technologies is a great first-step but it must be accompanied with policy change to be effective. Companies need to rethink workplace policies to better equip and empower their employees for what we term as the New World of Work in order to stay relevant to the marketplace and talents, as well as to ensure business success in the new economy. An organisation that takes care of its employees, putting forth policies for employee welfare as well as supporting varied work lifestyles of its employees, will result in employees who integrate work with life. With technology enabling mobility and instant connectivity, the notion of integrating work into life and vice versa seems to be the new norm moving forward. What was interesting was that the study found that 66 per cent needed to be in office to get work done because they require access to equipment and tools that are available in the office only; and 23 per cent said that they were doing so just to be close to their colleagues and managers. This clearly highlights a mind-set and operational gap that needs to be addressed in order for companies to reap productivity gains. From a people management perspective, we must work hand in hand as leaders to better empower employees to enable remote work to happen and to improve productivity within the organisation. Here are three ways to go about rethinking workplace policies for the New World of Work: 1. Manage performance, not presence As the saying goes, Work is not a place you go to, but a thing you do. However, for many in Asia, especially so for respondents in our study from China, Hong Kong and Korea, face-time with managers and colleagues seems to be extremely necessary and a key reason as to why employees feel the need to be present at their workplace at any point in time. In fact, research has found that the notion of telecommuting may be hazardous to employee evaluations, whereby the concept of passive face time, which is nothing more than just showing up in the office, could impact perceptions of ones performance at the workplace. Managing performance not presence is a mind-set change managers in todays modern workplace need to adopt to bring out the best in employees. With work becoming increasingly on-demand and on-the-go, it is important for managers to learn to lead dispersed teams effectively, and this can be done when clear key performance indicators (KPIs) for teams are set from the get-go. It is also important to focus evaluations on performance and outcomes. This way, employees are aware of expectations and their performance can be tracked against deliverables rather than attendance. One meeting best practice at Microsoft is to always provide a Skype for Business link for all meeting attendees internal or external so that it enables all parties to participate in quick discussions and decision making processes, while eliminating the time to travel. 2. Empower collaboration across teams The study showed that 51 per cent of all respondents feel that the ability to collaborate instantly with colleagues would most benefit the company that they work for. Empowering collaboration builds a team-oriented workforce where employees feel vested in the growth and performance of the company and this goes beyond meetings and brainstorms. One way is to look at creating or remodelling workspaces that foster collaboration and creativity as well as to leverage collaboration tools which break down the siloes between teams. Microsoft has adopted the New World of Work open plan office concept where there are a number of different work spaces for varying work styles, including cafe-style booths, standing desks as well as drop-in rooms for virtual meetings. A post-implementation survey conducted in the Singapore office in 2012 found that 49 per cent of employees collaborated more with their colleagues, and 77 per cent saw an improvement in their work environment. Leading pan-Asian insurance group, AIA Group, has also recently introduced Office 365 to more than 20,000 users across the Asia Pacific region where it operates. By leveraging the cloud productivity tool, AIA is able to overcome language barriers employees face and they can now freely exchange ideas and collaborate in real time. Today, a manager speaking Mandarin uses Yammer to connect with his colleagues speaking Malay in Malaysia or Vietnamese in Vietnam. 3. Democratise access to technology From the study, a majority of respondents felt the need to be in office as they required access to equipment and tools that are available only at the workplace. In addition, respondents who held managerial positions within their organization seemed to be better equipped to respond to internal and external stakeholders, with 53 per cent indicating that they were well or very well equipped in doing so, compared to 40.7 per cent of non-managerial respondents. With mobile and cloud technologies being pervasive today, it is important to champion for such tools to be made widely available for every employee to work flexibly and remotely. At the same time, it is important to also ensure that your companys data is secure and protected. With Office 365, not only is the service security-hardened, it also provides admin and user controls to help organisations meet compliance requirements at no additional costs incurred for on-premise infrastructure. It is important to empower employees in a way that will help contribute to productivity gains for the organisation without being restrictive and prescriptive in managing employees performance. Theres also a significant element of trust which needs to be built; for managers who empower and trust employees to work towards defined goals and for employees to gain trust with their leaders who focus on the things that matter. Ultimately, the shift towards a New World of Work needs to stem from rethinking workplace culture and practices for the digital economy to truly enable the success of an organisation. Sri Lanka enjoyed a blistering economic growth rate averaging more than 8.0 per cent for two years after a prolonged civil war ended in 2009. (AFP/Ishara S.Kodikara) COLOMBO: The IMF has agreed a US$1.5 billion loan for Sri Lanka in support of economic reforms aimed at reversing a two-decade decline in tax revenue and reviving growth, it said Friday (Apr 29). The International Monetary Fund's chief for Sri Lanka, Todd Schneider, said a staff-level agreement was reached to release US$1.5 billion over a three-year period in support of the island's reform agenda. "This agreement will be subject to completion of prior actions and approval by the IMF?s Executive Board, which is expected to consider Sri Lanka?s request in early June," he said in a statement. The island has already announced an increase in value added tax (VAT) from 11 to 15 per cent from Monday. It has also said it will scale down tax exemptions and promised to simplify revenue collection. The IMF said the Sri Lankan government will seek to raise its tax-to-GDP ratio to 15 per cent by 2020 from the current level of 11 per cent. Schneider said the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to Sri Lanka was expected to "catalyse an additional US$650 million in other multilateral and bilateral loans, bringing total support to about US$2.2 billion". An EFF is designed to help countries resolve serious balance of payment problems brought on by structural weaknesses in the economy. Sri Lanka enjoyed a blistering economic growth rate averaging more than 8.0 per cent for two years after a prolonged civil war ended in 2009. But the pace of expansion has since slowed, falling to 4.8 per cent in 2015, down from 4.9 in the previous year, according to official data. The new government in Colombo sought an IMF bailout immediately after taking power in January last year, but the fund turned down the request, saying the country's reserves were at a comfortable level then. However, the government faced a balance of payments crisis after the government went on a huge spending spree to implement its election pledges of higher public sector salaries and lower prices. In 2009, Sri Lanka received US$2.6 billion from the IMF to boost its financial reserves, which dropped below US$1 billion at the height of fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and troops. On May 6, LG Display will organise a ground-breaking ceremony of the $1.5 billion hi-tech screen (OLED) production factory in the northern port city of Haiphongs Trang Due industrial park, according to a source from the Haiphong Economic Zones Management Authority (Heza). On the same day, Heza will grant the investment certificate for the investor. On April 5, the Haiphong Peoples Committee and LG Display signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the latter to implement OLED production facility. It is the second $1.5 billion facility of LG Group in the northern port citys Trang Due IP. The group expected to receive the citys support in licensing its new investment certificate and ensuring water supply for the new facility so that the projects construction can be implemented on schedule. Once the factory comes into operation, it will play an important role in the citys socio-economic development. The city commits to providing preferential conditions for the investor during the construction process. Besides, it is the first time at the IP that the investor receives support to construct accommodations for its employees, said Le Van Thanh, Chairman of the Haiphong Peoples Committee. Thanh also said LG could consider to sell 20 per cent of its OLED output from the new facility on the domestic market. In April 2015, LG inaugurated its 800,000 square metre electronic manufacturing complex in Trang Due IP, which specialises in producing price-competitive electronic goods, including televisions, mobile phones, washing machines, and air conditioners. The total sum of $1.5 billion invested in the complex will be disbursed between 2015 and 2028. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha The mass fish death is an environmental disaster, happening for the first time in Vietnam. The local authorities have made efforts to deal with the incident, however the results have yet to satisfy the people due to the slow investigations of the local authorities and relevant government agencies. Being a minister, I admit my faults in the incident, Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment said in the framework of the visit to Ha Tinh one of the affected central provinces. On April 28, a group of inspectors, led by Ha, arrived at Ha Tinhs Ky Anh district to take water and sediment samples to find the cause of the mass fish deaths. The group also checked the waste water treatment system of the Taiwanese Formosa Groups Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Ltd. Ha stated that collecting new water and sediment modes is to compare to the previous results. Vietnamese authorities will concentrate find the culprit causing the above disaster. We hope people will believe in us, Ha added. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with scientists, will work with companies in the provinces Vung Ang economic zone that discharge wastewater into the sea in order to collect the information about their wastewater volume. Besides, the local authorities will supervise the waste water volume discharging into the sea through online camera systems. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc Themed Vietnamese companies, drivers of growth, the meeting is currently taking place at the Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City. There, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc is listening to firms comments and proposals regarding the business environment and the bureaucracy process in Vietnam. This is the PMs very first meeting with the business community, which comes three weeks after he took office. We should provide the most favourable environment for companies to grow as they are the pioneers of our economy . This calls for more progressive laws to improve the business community in terms of both quantity and quality. Anything that hinders this growth should be changed and I hope to hear a lot from attending firms today, PM Phuc stressed during his opening speech. He thus expressed his wish that the meeting would be a meaningful, straightforward and heart-felt interaction between the government and the business community. The meeting today should result in real changes in the law, and ultimately a greater trust in the Vietnamese business community, the PM noted. As part of the meeting, Chairman of the peoples committees of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will sign a memorandum with the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), promising to foster the best business environment for firms in these two major cities. Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the VCCI According to Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the VCCI, the meeting comes at a crucial time as only 42 per cent of 500,000 firms in Vietnam have recorded profits in 2015. This setback means that business efficiency remains low and the domestic business environment is still unable to support growth. As a result, Loc looked forward to seeing great contributions from attending firms and responses from the PM. Prior to the meeting, the VCCI has submitted a 200-page proposal to the PM and relevant ministries. The meeting with PM Phuc this morning is joined by representatives from 300 domestic private firms, 50 foreign-invested firms, 20 equitised state-owned enterprises and 10 cooperatives. Related associations of these firms are also in attendance. The meeting will also be broadcasted live via 62 stations around Vietnam, which is an unprecedented move for an event of this kind. In the afternoon, PM Phuc will meet with relevant government bodies to discuss the suggestions put forward by the business community this morning. Later on, he will return to Hanoi to discuss with the government on a new resolution named Helping Vietnamese firms become the main drivers of the economic growth. Mikio Masawaki - General director of Sapporo Vietnam Recently, we can observe clearly the changes and efforts from the Vietnamese government in improving investment climate in Vietnam. As a foreign investor, we are very interested in the following factors while investing in Vietnam. Firstly, it is the consistency and transparent in policies and undertaking policies. It is important for investors to be updated quickly and correctly of such policies. Therefore, should the government enable a convergent information portal for investors, it would help them to easily locate the information that are looking for. Secondly, it is the transparent business environment. This especially is meaningful for Japanese investors who have strict standpoints in compliance with regulations. Thirdly, it is completion of infrastructure before any proceed with investors. Investors will prioritise any areas that offer complete infrastructure and related services. We should not wait until investors come to invest in building infrastructure. Fourthly, when investors are investing here, it is important to maintain the good relationship with them. It means the local authorities should engage and communicate more with the investors opinions, proposals. Hence, both parties can grow together. Colin Pine - General director of Ho Tram Project Company We're the largest foreign-invested tourism project in Vietnam, and our US-based shareholders have already invested over $700 million in the first phases of our multiple-phase integrated resort project. From this experience, its our view that Vietnam is clearly committed to attracting quality foreign investment. Furthermore, the commitment to entering free-trade agreements, particularly Vietnams participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, underlines Vietnams understanding that attracting foreign investment is a competitive endeavour. Regarding the new government, we believe foreign investors would like to see improvements in the following areas: firstly, a clear, fair and competitive legal framework both generally and for their industry. Secondly, they want to operate in a reasonable and competitive tax environment, with quality infrastructure to support investment and expansion. Its also important that the legal framework is clear and treats foreign businesses and investors the same as their Vietnamese counterparts. In our case, a key milestone that would strengthen our investments in Vietnam would be the proclamation of a Casino Decree within this year, which provides a legal and tax framework that is regionally competitive. We're excited to work closely with the government in creating a safe and enjoyable casino entertainment industry for all. The other major improvement that can instill more confidence in foreign investors is continued commitment to enhancing and expanding Vietnams infrastructure. For the southern economic zone, we may take Long Thanh international airport as a good example. Don Lam CEO of VinaCapital The majority of our investments are in Vietnamese companies such as IDP and Hoa Phat Group. Through our experience with them, we see that the main hindrance for companies is that they always need to apply for permission to do something. Dealing with this kind of bureaucracy is time consuming, expensive and mostly unnecessary. Moves to reduce the numbers of permits companies are required to obtain and other related bureaucratic burdens would be welcomed by all and ultimately enhance efficiency. We believe the new government is business-friendly, wants to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the community, and is open to feedback. It is genuinely trying to help Vietnamese businesses compete more effectively in our increasingly integrated economy. Shimon Tokuyama - Chairman of the Japan Business Association in Vietnam Vietnam has a huge potential to flourish its economy through IT related industries, particularly some businesses towards Japanese market. The background we consider so is due to the similarities of language between Vietnamese and Japanese. As we know about 70 per cent of Vietnamese words can be expressed to use Chinese character, our language of Japanese is also the one to use the character (Kanji). When an IT related company tries to develop some software or programmes aiming to foreign market, workers' ability to use and understand the language spoken by customs in the market is very important. Actually focusing on the result of advanced level test for Japanese language ability, Vietnamese has the largest number of applicants in ASEAN. And some Japanese businesses have already set up its developing institutions or design center in Vietnam , and developed a lot of IT related products in Japanese. However, we estimate that the human resources in such area have not been fully utilised in Vietnam . For example, the number of applicants for the Japanese test is far below the numbers of China and Korea . As 1,726 Vietnamese students applied to the most advanced level test in 2015, the number of China for same level is 42,414 and Korea is 13,981. Thus, to bring more opportunities in the Japanese related IT businesses, we strongly hope that more government efforts to strengthen the Japanese language education in Vietnam . As many students who has their major in IT and software, it seems a lot of opportunities to study English but little on Japanese. Making some chances to get know the similarities between our two languages could become the first step. Philip Falcone Founder and principal of Harbinger Capital Vietnam stands at the vanguard of an ascendant Asia-Pacific. The countrys economy continues to grow with a purpose and stamina that is matched only by the ambition and entrepreneurial spirit of its people. The educated middle-class continues to expand, while the countrys strong work ethic has made it one of the most productive and competitive manufacturing centers in Asia. Its population of 90 million are among the savviest users of technology in the region and the countrys burgeoning start-up culture is quickly gaining recognition around the world. Even among its neighbours in this fast-developing region, Vietnam stands out as exceptional. Today, the countrys business environment continues to rapidly improve and offers enormous upside for American investors. With the Trans-Pacific Partnership and ASEAN Economic Community coming online in the next few years, Vietnam is quickly evolving into one of the most dynamic markets Asia. Vietnams approach to cultivating economic growth and development will further improve its investment climate. As an investor, I also see a tremendous opportunity to support the countrys growth through the development of improved hard infrastructure in the transportation sector, especially with respect to air travel. The construction of new, high quality facilities will relieve overcrowding at the countrys already bustling airports, create additional investment opportunities, and add to Vietnams international prestige as it draws in visitors from Asia and farther abroad. I am currently working closely with other large American investors to identify and support airport development projects, and Ive been encouraged to learn that it is a priority for the government as well. President Obamas visit in May symbolises the growing recognition of the key role Vietnam will play in the Asia-Pacific century. Cementing a stronger and more closely integrated commercial relationship with the United States promises further economic growth and development. It is a natural partnership that will benefit both countries and present wonderful opportunities for even deeper friendship as time goes on. As an experienced investor in Vietnam, I have seen the countrys promise firsthand - as we say in New York, I am bullish about Vietnams future and Im all-in. >> Business community pins hopes on PMs actions Syrians inspect the damage in the government-controlled side of the northern city of Aleppo following fighting between regime forces and rebels. (GEORGE OURFALIAN/AFP) ALEPPO, Syria: The United States and the United Nations on Thursday (Apr 28) condemned an air strike on a hospital in Syria's Aleppo, with Washington demanding that Russia restrain its Syrian ally. UN officials also voiced alarm at the "catastrophic deterioration" of the situation in Syria and appealed on world powers to salvage a Feb 27 truce. But in Aleppo on Thursday, fighting between rebels and regime forces killed 53 civilians - the highest toll for a single day in a week of violence that has cost more than 200 lives, according to a monitor. The Syrian army was meanwhile poised to launch an offensive against rebels who control part of the northern city. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed "outrage" over Wednesday's air strike that hit Al-Quds hospital in Aleppo's rebel-held Sukkari neighbourhood. He said it appeared to be "a deliberate strike on a known medical facility" and said Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, must restrain the Damascus regime. "Russia has an urgent responsibility to press the regime to fulfil its commitments under UNSCR 2254, including in particular to stop attacking civilians, medical facilities, and first responders, and to abide fully by the cessation of hostilities." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said attacks that target civilians are "inexcusable" violations of humanitarian law. "There must be accountability for these crimes," he said. The city's last remaining paediatrician and three children were among the 20 people killed in the air strike overnight on the Al-Quds hospital, which was supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF). A civil defence group known as the White Helmets told AFP 30 people were killed in the strike on the hospital and a nearby block of flats. TRUCE 'BARELY ALIVE' The Aleppo violence has raised fears for the ceasefire in other areas of Syria and called into question the future of UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva that have now gone into recess. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura warned that the hard-won February 27 ceasefire was now "barely alive" and could collapse "any time". Speaking late Wednesday after a third round of Syria peace talks fizzled out, De Mistura also urged its co-sponsors Russia and the United States to take action to rescue it. He said the United States, which supports some rebel groups, and regime ally Russia needed to act, calling on them to organise a high-level Syria meeting before negotiations resume. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien further raised the alarm on Thursday in remarks made at the UN Security Council. "We must all be ashamed this is happening on our watch," said O'Brien, urging world powers to salvage the truce. "You must not squander the opportunity presented by talks in Geneva and by the cessation of hostilities to put an end to the massive human suffering in Syria," he said. And the UN's Jan Egeland, who heads an international humanitarian taskforce for war-ravaged Syria, spoke of a "catastrophic deterioration" of the situation in the country. "The stakes are so incredibly high," Egeland told reporters in Geneva, and warned that "the lifeline to hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people ... may be broken." 'HUMANITARIAN DISASTER' Rebel rocket and artillery fire on government-held neighbourhoods on Thursday killed 22 civilians, including two children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Regime air strikes on rebel-held districts, including Bustan al-Qasr, killed 31 civilians, including three children, said the British-based monitor. An AFP correspondent said every building in sight in the Bustan al-Qasr district had had its windows blown out. "It is the worst day in Aleppo in five years. The regime did not spare a single neighbourhood," said one resident. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that Aleppo city was "on the brink of humanitarian disaster". The pro-government Al-Watan newspaper and a Syrian regime source meanwhile said the army was preparing to take the whole of Aleppo. "Now is the time to launch the battle for the complete liberation of Aleppo," the paper said, adding that it "will not take long to begin, nor to finish". A regime source told AFP that "the army is preparing a huge operation in the coming days to push the rebels away from the city by encircling it and creating a security zone". Rebels have controlled eastern districts of Aleppo city since 2012, while western neighbourhoods are held by the regime. Control of the surrounding province is divided between a myriad of armed groups - militants of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, Kurdish militia and various rebel factions as well as the army. Further north in the province, rebels including the powerful Islamist Ahrar al-Sham group and Kurdish forces fought fierce battles on Wednesday and early Thursday that left 64 fighters dead, a monitor said. More than 270,000 people have been killed in Syria and millions forced from their homes since the conflict erupted in 2011. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. With Syria's February cease-fire showing signs of fraying, the United States and Russia have announced plans to try to reinforce localized cease-fires in the coastal province of Latakia as well the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta. A Syrian government statement said the truce would begin at 1 a.m. local time Saturday (2200 UTC Friday) and last for 24 hours in Damascus and Eastern Ghouta. It said a similar arrangement in Latakia province was expected to last for 72 hours. So far Saturday, there are no reports of serious fighting in the region. About 230 civilians are believed to have been killed in fighting between the government and the rebels during the last week in Aleppo, which was Syria's most populous city before civil war broke out five years ago. Among those killed were at least 50 people in a hospital that was hit in an overnight airstrike. It is our view that this, essentially, would be a refreshment of the cessation of hostilities and getting both sides to commit to refreshing the commitments that they made, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. U.S. officials said Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed details of the plan Friday. However, officials said, talks on the renewed cessation had been underway for some time. Officials said the U.S., Russia and other members of the 17-nation International Syria Support Group would use their influence with either the Syrian regime or the opposition to try to get both sides to comply. A senior State Department official said that in focusing on quelling unrest in Latakia and Eastern Ghouta, the escalating violence in Aleppo was not being ignored. There should not be any thinking that anything was set aside, the official said in a Friday briefing. We have moved forward on what we were able to move forward with right now, the official added, saying negotiators hoped to be able to make progress on Aleppo as soon as possible. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the plans for Latakia and Eastern Ghouta would test the commitment that all parties made to the initial cessation of hostilities. This is a recommitment and it is a test for the Russians, for the regime as well as for the opposition, he said. Rebels continued to hit government-controlled neighborhoods in Aleppo with rocket and artillery fire Friday. State media said a direct hit on a mosque killed 15 people and wounded 30. The Syrian government also kept up its bombing raids. Civil defense officials said the regime's airstrikes hit a well-known medical clinic, wounding several people, just over 24 hours after similar raids destroyed a hospital in Aleppo. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders said 50 people, including six of its staff members, were killed when the al-Quds Hospital in the rebel-held Sukkari district was destroyed by airstrikes late Wednesday night. Kerry, speaking in Washington, said targeting of the hospital appeared to have been "deliberate." There was no clear account about whose planes were involved, but reports from Aleppo said they were either Russian or Syrian aircraft. More than 80 international and Syrian NGOs signed a statement Friday demanding that Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin respond to U.N. appeals to try to stop the bloodshed. "These atrocities are happening on your watch," the statement said, addressing the two presidents by name. "Please heed the call of the U.N. Special Envoy to Syria to take urgent steps to rescue Syria's cessation of hostilities [the partial, ineffective truce that began several weeks ago] and end attacks on civilians. Please act now to keep hope alive for Syrians." Doctors' letter Doctors in Aleppo issued a separate open letter to Putin and Obama mourning the death of the city's last pediatrician, one of at least 730 doctors and nurses killed in the civil war. "Soon there will be no medical professionals at all left in Aleppo. Where will civilians turn to for care and attention?" the letter asked. From Geneva, U.N. rights chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein said this week's violence in Syria showed a monstrous disregard for civilians lives by all parties to the conflict. Rebels demanding the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the government troops opposing them control separate parts of Aleppo, and portions of the surrounding province are in the hands of numerous other fighters, including members of al-Qaida and the Islamic State terrorist group. IN PICTURES: Deadly Airstrikes Hit Aleppo Hospital, Dozens Killed Fighting between Syrian rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad spread throughout the war-torn country Friday as Syrian government and Russian warplanes maintained their airstrikes on the former commercial capital, Aleppo, for the eighth straight day. The Syrian Coalition, the Western-favored political opposition to Assad, accused his government of war crimes with the bombing raids on rebel districts in Aleppo, saying the airstrikes "represent a coup de grace" to the U.S.-Russian brokered cessation of hostilities, which was agreed to in February. In Aleppo, a clinic was hit Friday in an airstrike a day after a bombing raid destroyed a hospital, civil defense officials said. The clinic, which had been providing treatment for patients with chronic illnesses and dental services for about five years, was badly damaged. A nurse was among several people wounded. On Wednesday, al-Quds Hospital in the rebel-held Sukkari district was destroyed in airstrikes. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the attack on the hospital appeared to have been "deliberate." On Friday, Medecins Sans Frontieres (or Doctors Without Borders) one of the medical charities that supported the hospital raised the death toll, saying 50 people died at al-Quds, including 14 medical staff. The International Committee of the Red Cross denounced the attack on al-Quds, saying it was "unacceptable" and warned that Aleppo was being "pushed further to the brink of humanitarian disaster." Among the medical staff killed at al-Quds was Aleppo's last remaining pediatrician, Muhammad Waseem Moaz. In a Facebook tribute to the 36-year-old, a colleague, Dr. Hatem, the director of the Children's Hospital in Aleppo, praised Moaz's "humanity and bravery," saying, "he was the loveliest doctor in our hospital." Planes didn't sleep Thursday was the deadliest day in Aleppo since violence flared last week, leaving 54 people dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition monitoring group. The observatory said 226 civilians including more than 50 women and children have been killed so far in the eight days of heavy bombardment of Aleppo. "The planes didn't sleep and didn't let us sleep either," a resident told the French news agency. "The Earth is shaking beneath our feet." Friday prayers were suspended at city mosques in rebel-held neighborhoods in fear of more violence. In retaliation for the airstrikes, rebels fired mortars and rudimentary rockets on government-controlled parts of Aleppo. Syrian state media reported Friday that rebels shelled an Aleppo mosque in the Bab al-Faraj neighborhood, killing at least 15 and wounding 30. Monstrous disregard for civilians' Aleppo wasn't alone Friday in being rocked by the breakdown in the cessation of hostilities. Renewed fighting was widespread across the country with the rebels and government trading shells in Hama, the regime bombarding villages in southern Idlib just to the west of Aleppo, and fierce clashes reported by activists in the Homs countryside. U.N. rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement Friday that the renewed violence in Syria this week showed a "monstrous disregard for civilians' lives by all parties to the conflict." Activists also reported clashes between Islamic rebel factions and regime forces in the areas of Al-Bilaliyah, Bala and Al-Bahariyah in Eastern Ghouta after the regime sought to make advances. Rebel commanders told VOA that Assad forces had shelled al-Skik village in the southern countryside of Idlib and that government helicopters and warplanes struck the town of al-Hbit. Peace talks barely alive On Thursday, the U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, pleaded with the United States and Russia to intervene "at the highest level" to revive struggling peace talks. He warned a partial truce reached in February was now "barely alive." Rebel leaders said the cease-fire was dead in all but name. Opposition leaders Friday dismissed the idea of resuming their participation in peace talks. The vice president of the Syrian Coalition, Muwaffaq Nyrabiya, said it is impossible to "talk about any political approach to resolving the conflict amidst these barbaric, systematic crimes against the Syrian people." The Russian envoy to the U.N. in Geneva, Alexei Borodavkin, said in Geneva that Washington and Moscow are making a joint effort to halt the fighting in Syria; but, he added, "Only Syrians are capable of finding a way out of the crisis." Violations of a tense cease-fire in eastern Ukraine between Kyiv and Russian-backed rebels have reached "alarming numbers" not seen in months, international monitors told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday. "Violence in eastern Ukraine is once again reaching a peak," warned Ertugrul Apakan, the chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. He said that so far in April, his monitors have registered the highest number of cease-fire violations since August 2015, while many heavy weapons that were previously at permanent storage sites and holding areas are missing and have turned up in use at the line of contact. "We need a cessation of hostilities and a full and sustainable cease-fire," Apakan told council members. He and Martin Sajdik, the special representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, said the sides must fully respect the cease-fire ahead of the Orthodox Easter holiday, which will culminate this Sunday. "Secure conditions must be created for the people living in proximity to the hostilities and those who will cross the contact line during the upcoming holidays," Sajdik said. Both diplomats briefed the council via a video link from Kyiv. "Easter is one thing which continues to unite us and the Ukrainians Russians and Ukrainians so I hope it is going to be respected," Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters after the meeting regarding the truce. "The cease-fire is the number one priority in the whole Minsk process," said Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko, referring to the February 2015 agreement that is aimed at resolving the conflict. "If we can start with that [cease-fire], we'll be able to proceed to the withdrawal of forces, resolving all the problems the demining, the humanitarian problems, everything all the way down to political resolution," Prystaiko added. Thousands of violations "The word cease-fire is losing its meaning in eastern Ukraine," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said that on April 14, the monitors recorded more than 4,000 violations 500 of them using prohibited heavy weapons. "This cycle of escalation must stop," Power added. Each side blames the other for the violations. Council members urged both sides to implement the Minsk Agreement and its package of measures including the cease-fire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the release of hostages and prisoners, and talks that would lead to local elections. Ukraine began a two-year term on the Security Council in January. Thursday was the first time this year that its delegation asked for a discussion of the situation. The State Department says it does not believe there has been a deterioration in U.S.-Russia relations over the crisis in Syria, in spite of the Russian-backed Syrian governments continued bombing of civilian and rebel targets. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that there are constant daily communications between the U.S. and Russia inside the Syria cease-fire task force, which the countries co-chair. He added that in terms of efforts to foster a political resolution to Syrias crisis, U.S.-Russian leadership is still required inside of the ISSG [International Syria Support Group], the17-nation body backing U.N.-facilitated talks and a cessation of hostilities that is showing signs of fray. In spite of the cease-fire, at least 20 people were killed in an overnight airstrike on an Aleppo hospital, including a pediatrician and children. Overall, fighting between the government and rebels in the northern city has left more than 50 people dead over the past day. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the hospital attack but said the U.S. is still trying to gather the facts surrounding the incident. It appears to have been a deliberate strike on a known medical facility and follows the Assad regimes appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders, said Kerry. The State Department and White House urged Russia to use its influence with the Assad government to try to stop such attacks. The message that we are sending to the Russians is a direct one, said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. They need to abide by the cessation of hostilities that they signed on to, and that they need to use their influence with the Assad regime to do the same. Kirby said it appears that Russia is not exerting its influence on Syria as energetically as it could. However, he added that it is also possible that the Assad regime is just not heeding Moscows advice. It is hard to know to which. This is either not enough influence being applied or not enough attention being given to the influence being applied, said Kirby. He said the problem could be a combination of both. The cease-fire breaches have impacted the U.N.-mediated proximity talks between the Syrian government and opposition. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura said the cease-fire is barely alive and could fall apart at any time. He commented after wrapping up a third round of talks in Geneva on Wednesday. De Mistura said he planned to hold a fourth round next month, but called for the cease-fire to be revitalized before he sets a date. At the State Department, Kirby said the U.S. is going to continue to talk to Russia about how to keep the cessation of hostilities alive and make it more sustainable. We are looking at ways in which we can do that, he said. Donald Trumps rally numbers are up for debate. Its a quiet Sunday morning in the small city of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Inside a sound booth in a storefront radio station, "The Marc Scaringi Show" is taking calls from Trump supporters, who are reporting that the Republican front-runner had far more supporters at his latest rally than the mainstream media reported. Why do you think the press is constantly distorting the numbers like that? asks one female caller. Scaringi leans in to the mic. Theyre probably trying to downplay the overwhelming popular support Donald Trump has, he says. Scaringi worked on Capitol Hill for years and ran for a U.S. Senate seat as a tea party candidate in 2012. Now the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, lawyer hosts a weekly talk show that, in the words of his show opening, aims to celebrate constitutional conservatism. Across the country, hundreds of local conservative talk radio hosts like Scaringi are tapping into the electorates outsider sentiment this election season, contributing to the unexpected fall of former establishment presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio and the rise of Republican front-runner Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Scaringi says the radio show has been a learning experience since the station approached him and suggested that he host a show last October. He admits he cuts across the grain of the modern Republican Party on many issues. His change from tea party candidate to Trump supporter makes more sense when you consider the businessmans America First approach to trade, immigration and foreign policy. Scaringi has adopted a similar approach: I will try to turn it back to the Constitution and I will try to answer those debates and dilemmas by how our Founding Fathers considered and deliberated and decided those issues." Scaringi says the callers on his show cant stop talking about Trump and the way he speaks about the issues that matter the most to them immigration, terrorism and trade. Radio's children Trump and Cruz are both the spawns of talk radio, Brian Rosenwald says of the two remaining leading candidates in the Republican presidential field. Rosenwald is a fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and is writing a book about the impact of conservative talk radio. Rosenwald says Cruz is the ideological child of talk radio, an uncompromising conservative whom hosts have been pleading for for decades, while Trump mimics the style of talk radio with his unvarnished, unfiltered, almost hyperbolic style full of insults and wisecracks. Longtime talk show host Rush Limbaugh is still the leader in the field, with an average of 14 million to 16 million listeners a week, followed by other enormously popular hosts like Glenn Beck and Laura Ingraham who can pull in millions of listeners in a week. But the larger impact, Rosenwald says, is in smaller markets like Carlisle, where the local hosts could have a much larger audience in terms of politically engaged folks. Successful hosts build relationships with their listeners, treating them as friends and conversational partners in a way a news anchor or newspaper reporter simply cant. One of the appeals of the medium is that the talk radio host can say what the average Joes are thinking but feel they cant say, says Rosenwald, because theyre going to be branded as a bigot or scorned in some way. Building a conversation Days after the Trump rally debate on Scaringi's show, Mark Zimmerman sits at a coffee shop a block away from the state Capitol, reflecting on the crowd that gathered for Trump and the way the 2016 election has become an inflection point for changes in technology, media and politics. A self-described Trump supporter who attended the rally, Zimmerman says he listens to the Scaringi show because it reveals the institutional interests behind the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates. Marcs onto that; he keeps hammering away at that, says Zimmerman. He says the political process in Washington has moved too far away from the average person and the more its suppressed, the more volatile it will become. Zimmerman says talk radio programs provide an outlet by approaching issues with a logical analysis. Scaringi does have an open mind, and he is listening to what people are saying, he says. He has callers on his shows and theyre angry. I witnessed that for the first time at the Trump rally. These people are angry. They dont feel like their voices are being heard. Zimmerman listens to nationwide political talk shows and reads The Economist, but he says local talk radio allows listeners to decide how they perceive issues. Theres a very different conversation happening here locally. I think youre hearing it on shows like Marcs. WATCH: Electing Pennsylvania Republican 'Deal-Makers' Exposes Party Divides Ultimate impact And talk radio's finest hour could still be ahead. If the establishment tries to pick a nominee who is not Ted Cruz or Donald Trump in July in Cleveland, says Rosenwald, talk radio is absolutely going to explode. Scaringi will be there. He was elected as a delegate to the Republican Party convention in Cleveland this summer and will vote for Trump no matter how many rounds it takes to settle the nominating process. If we go to a second ballot, who knows whats going to happen? Scaringi says. He predicts the convention will be contentious because the establishment powers are using Cruz to deny Trump the nomination. The men and women who control a lot of these party apparatuses and the Republican national party are going to push Kasich." And the outsider talk show host will be bringing the convention and all its messiness back to his listeners in Carlisle. The Australian government has urged the British people not to leave the European Union (EU). A referendum on the United Kingdoms membership in the EU will be held in June. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop believes it is in her countrys best interest that Britain remains a part of the European Union. Earlier this month, Bishop held talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron at a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C. She said the European Union was a significant trading partner for Australia, and that Britains continued membership in the 28-state body was imperative. As a bloc, the EU is Australias largest source of foreign investment and is its second largest trading partner after China. Negotiations towards an eventual free trade agreement are underway. Britain is the worlds fifth largest economy, and two-way trade between Australia and Britain is worth around $16 billion annually. But some Australian politicians are urging Britain to leave the EU because membership had forced the nation to cede control of its borders and laws. Conservative Senator James Paterson told the Australian parliament that British voters should turn their backs on EU membership. Britain would be more prosperous, free and secure outside the European Union. The European Union project may have begun with good intentions. But the reality is that the EU today has strayed very far from those intentions. It has become bloated, undemocratic and hostile to the freedoms that made Britain great, said Paterson. British Prime Minister David Cameron has lobbied world leaders to support his bid for his country to remain in the European Union. President Obama said Britain would go to the "back of the queue" for trade agreements with Washington if ties with the EU were severed. Australia is a former British colony, and social and economic ties between the two nations run deep. Sporting rivalries are fierce, and Britons continue to migrate to Australia in large numbers, while the parliament in Canberra is based on the Westminster system. Australia is a constitutional monarchy with Britains Queen Elizabeth as its head of state. Britains future in Europe will be decided at a referendum on June 23. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Friday sought to focus the global community's attention on cancer research, calling the disease a "constant emergency" and urging that new treatments be made available more quickly. Biden, addressing a conference on regenerative medicine at the Vatican, said that "as we stand on the cusp of unprecedented scientific and technological change of amazing discoveries that were once unimaginable breakthroughs, we cannot forget that real lives and real people are at the heart and reason for all that we do." More than 3,000 people die from cancer each day in the United States alone, the vice president said. Pope Francis made his own plea for stepped-up cancer research, stressing the need to combat a system that he said prioritizes profits over human life. "We need to oppose an economy of exclusion and inequality that victimizes people when the mechanism of profit prevails over that of human life," the pontiff said. "This is why the globalization of indifference must be countered with the globalization of empathy." Last year, Biden lost a son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, to brain cancer, and months later he called for a major effort to find a cure for cancer characterizing the project as a "moonshot" when he announced he wouldn't run for president. The American Cancer Society reports that more than 1.6 million new cases will be diagnosed in 2016 and close to 600,000 people will die of the disease in the U.S. Britains foreign secretary met with Cuban officials Thursday to discuss trade and tourism ties with the communist country, marking the first visit of its kind since 1959. Upon landing in Cuba late Thursday, Philip Hammond said Britain is ready to strengthen its ties with the small island nation, and signed several cooperation agreements on energy, education and financial services. "Britain and Cuba have outlooks on the world and systems of government that are very different," Hammond said. "But as Cuba enters a period of significant social and economic change, I am looking forward to demonstrating to the Cuban government and people that the U.K. is keen to forge new links across the Atlantic. Hammond said he wanted "enhanced bilateral cooperation underpinned by increased trade, increased investment and more tourists coming to Cuba" from Britain. Last year, according to the British Department of Trade and Industry, exports to Cuba rose by 25 percent. Also last year, according to Hammond, Britain was the second largest country of origin for tourists to Cuba, trailing only Canada, with 160,000 Britons making the trip. Hammond is scheduled to participate in several high-level meetings while in Cuba to discuss social and economic changes, human rights and the fight against global health threats such as the Zika virus. Hammonds visit to Cuba follows a March visit by U.S. President Barack Obama the first president to visit Cuba since 1928. The world's most profitable company became less valuable this week when California-based Apple Inc. reported the first decline in iPhone sales in 13 years. Apple CEO Tim Cook blames the struggling Chinese economy for Apple's weaker earnings, but analysts say other factors may be at play including the increasing saturation in the smartphone market and a shortage of new products. More than two billion people around the world own a smartphone nearly one in five of them are iPhones. The phones success has been key to Apples transformation into a global technology leader, but the days of people lining up around the block for the next great iPhone may be over. Industry analyst Ross Rubin told VOA via Skype that in some ways Apple has become a victim of its own success. Apple of course competes in the premium segment of the market -- very strong in the U.S., Japan, Western Europe, he said. And those are economies where we're starting to see increasing smartphone saturation. That market saturation is why Apple is likely looking to new markets, says business professor Greg Autry. The company recently released a new budget model called the iPhone SE which some see as a way to appeal to more consumers in the developing world. India is obviously a highly-populated market, with again a growing middle class, and there is opportunity there, Autry said. But it isnt growing as smoothly as China did during its growth period. Ultimately Apple needs to move beyond the iPhone, according to Frank Gillett, an analyst at research and advisory firm Forrester. That could come either through converting Android users, who now make up the biggest share of the smartphone market, or expanding its online software and cloud business. Now, if they came out with a breakthrough product or price, then you might see a change, particularly if it's different than the other smartphone makers in this market. But absent that kind of innovation in price or features, I think we're in a much more gradual and uncertain market," Gillett said. Its not a drastic turn of events for Apple which earned revenues of more than $50 billion in the first quarter. But for many investors, it could raise the question of whether Apple is still the innovative, technological powerhouse it used to be. At a lodge beneath the shadows of Mount Kenya, the presidents of Kenya, Botswana, Gabon and Uganda, as well as conservationists, business people, tourism operators and global philanthropists, met to discuss a problem devastating countries across Africa: the killing of tens of thousands of elephants every year to feed the illegal ivory trade. The three-day Giants Club Summit aims to find solutions to protect elephants and safeguard their landscapes. Ol Pejeta, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and a place that has quite a bit of experience with anti-poaching strategies, hosted a day of demonstrations and talks to help summit participants better understand the fight against poaching. Such high-level governmental support is crucial to stop the poaching epidemic, says Max Graham, the founder and CEO of Space for Giants, an elephant protection charity that provides technical advice to the Giants Club members and is supporting the summit. "We haven't seen anything on the continent dealing directly with this issue, at this level of participation, Graham said. And that's why it's worthwhile. The political will, and I'll say this again, if you have political will at the very top, everything else becomes easy." For governments in Africa, the tourism industry provides a strong incentive to protect the wildlife, according to Kenya's cabinet secretary for tourism, Najib Balala. "So, yes, we care because it is important for our GDP," Balala said. Wide-ranging lessons Participants at the day's events watched a demonstration by Ol Pejeta's rapid response team, which showcased how Kenyan police reservists along with a tracker dog can land via helicopter at the scene of a crime and begin their work. Participants also watched re-enactments of human conflict with elephants, learned about the importance of judicial reform when it comes to prosecuting poachers, and discovered the different types of fences and deterrents being used to stop elephants from crop raiding. For Wayne Lotter, co-director of a conservation NGO in Tanzania called PAMS Foundation, the event provided "an opportunity to come and network with other people, share best practices and learn that there's some good people here, and we can also share some of our experiences." The participants as well as English actress and model Elizabeth Hurley also had the opportunity to meet Sudan, the last remaining male northern white rhino in the world, and a 6-month-old white rhino calf named Ringo, who perhaps gives a glimmer of hope in this fight against poaching. WATCH: Elephant Anti-Poaching Summit Convenes Many prominent surgeons think the idea is crazy and will not work, but Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero says he still plans to attempt the first human head transplant late next year. He even has a volunteer, 31-year-old Russian software development manager Valery Spiridonov, who suffers from a debilitating muscle-wasting disease. Canavero's project does have supporters in the medical community, including Dr. Michael Sarr, professor emeritus of surgery at the Mayo Clinic. He said the procedure is very risky, but experiments show that reconnected spinal cord nerves may actually function. During the procedure, estimated to last about 36 hours, Spiridonovs head will be cooled to around 12 degrees Celsius, cut from his body and, as quickly as possible, connected to a donated body of a brain-dead person. Canavero will be assisted by a team of 100 surgeons and other medical staff, including some who have experience in head transplants on animals. After surgery, Spiridonov will be kept in an artificially-induced coma for 3 to 4 weeks while doctors stimulate his spinal cord nerves to reconnect and start functioning. Transplants of various organs are now routinely done on human patients in many parts of the world, but all attempts at head transplants done on monkeys quickly resulted in death. However, Canavero predicts that Spiridonov will not only live with his new body, but be able to walk within a year of the operation. When police arrested Lamin Darboe's father two years ago, the 16-year-old had to quit his studies and work on his uncle's farm in Gambia. Desperate to go back to school, he stole his uncle's bull to pay his way to Europe. "I sold his bull... before he found out, I was gone," said Darboe, who still does not know how his father fell foul of the law. "I want to have a future, and become someone responsible in the future," he said at an old villa in the hilltop Sicilian town of Caltagirone that now shelters 50 minors. Darboe is just one of thousands of migrants who have risked the deadly boat journey from North Africa to Italy this year, piling pressure on a shelter system that is bursting at the seams even before the expected summer spike in arrivals. About 27,000 boat migrants have reached Italy since Jan. 1, slightly up on the same period last year and following a total 153,000 arrivals in 2015 and 170,000 in 2014. The numbers are expected to rise this year because countries along the "Balkan route" starting with a short boat ride from Turkey to Greece and continuing on land up to Austria have shut their borders. That may cause more migrants to sail from Libya to Sicily, the closest part of Italy. Many of the new arrivals move swiftly to wealthier northern Europe, although Austria has said it may shut down its main border crossing in the Alps to them. Already 113,000 are housed in Italy, some three-quarters of them in what are called "temporary" shelters. The situation is acute for minors like Darboe, who Italian law requires be treated with extra care and be integrated quickly into the school system. More than 2,700 unaccompanied minors arrived in Italy during the first three months of the year, the Interior Ministry says, a four-fold increase on the same period of 2015. Clogged system Italy is seeking to expand the shelter network to house a total 150,000 adults and minors this year, Mario Morcone, who manages Italy's immigration system, said last week. But some regional governments do not want to take in more immigrants, he said. "The shelter system is still inadequate," said Giovanna Di Benedetto, a spokeswoman for Save the Children in Sicily. "There are not enough places for everyone. So the network of shelters must be expanded and some of them must improve their standards." Daniele Cutugno, a psychologist who manages the center where Darboe now lives, said red tape and a lack of central coordination for the shelters is slowing the asylum process and clogging up the system. "There are many actors, but it seems like everyone has their own script," Cutugno said. "There needs to be greater coordination of who does what." On Wednesday, the humanitarian group Terre des Hommes said it was "very concerned" about the unhygienic conditions in a "hotspot" in Pozzallo, a port on Sicily's southern coast, that is used to quickly identify migrants when they first touch European soil. After four boatloads of migrants arrived in April, the Pozzallo hotspot has been hosting more than 300 migrants, half of them unaccompanied minors, it said. One reason minors are not being sent northwards is due "to the absence of a unified system for all the minor communities" that makes it difficult to identify open beds in existing shelters elsewhere, the group said in a statement. Summer crossings The challenge to house migrants will probably increase this summer, when calm sea conditions favor boat crossings. Meanwhile the boys in the Sicilian shelter who have applied for asylum are studying Italian verb conjugations. They hope to move soon to a smaller 12-member "community" shelter and enroll in high school. "I'm trying my best to learn the language, so when I go to school I'll understand," said Gambian Bubaccar Janneh, 17, who wants to get a degree in agriculture. Darboe was also practicing Italian: "I want to be a biologist. That's what I want to be." Pyramid-shaped piles of ivory rest upon the grasslands of Nairobi National Park, ready for a burning that will mark the close of a three-day high-level summit Saturday. The massive burning will end the Giants Club summit of African leaders, attended by Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta, the heads of state from Gabon and Uganda, U.N. and U.S. officials, and members of conservation groups. Robin Hollister, a pyrotechnic expert and former film special effects engineer, is staging the grand gesture against the ivory trade, which threatens to render elephants extinct. It's not an easy job, he said, because ivory doesnt burn. "It's a show, after all. The burning has to be symbolic," Hollister said, "There'll be ivory towers, nice flames it will be very visual. Hollister said that unless the fire is sustained at high temperatures for a long time, the ivory won't disintegrate. If you try to burn it with a match or by throwing it into a fire, it wont ignite, he said. A short distance away from the piles of ivory, thousands of liters of a mixture of diesel and kerosene sit in a tank, waiting to be injected with pressurized air though steel pipes buried in the ground that lead into the heart of the pyramids. Kenyas president will torch the largest of the piles. Kenyan officials hope the fire will render the tusks useless as part of the worldwide campaign to fight elephant poaching. The number of African elephants roaming the continent has plummeted since the beginning of the 20th century to an estimated 400,000 today, down from over 1.2 million. Much of the loss in the past few decades has come from illegal hunting to supply the ivory market. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the ivory trade in 1989. However, there are still a number of illegal ivory markets, primarily in Asian countries, which encourage poaching. Kenya Wildlife Service Chairman Richard Leakey said the market is key to the problem. Ivory is worth about $500 a kilogram to poachers and the price rises by the time it arrives at its destination, he said. So my appeal is: Lets kill the market, once and for all. Lets never again have ivory across international boundaries, Leakey said. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has called on Bangladesh to track down those responsible for the murder of a gay-rights activist who also worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Kerry telephoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday night to discuss the killing this week of USAID worker Xulhaz Mannan and his friend, Tanay Majumder, an actor. The Bangladeshi branch of al-Qaida has claimed responsibility for the murders, saying the victims were targeted because they were "pioneers of practicing and promoting homosexuality." The prime minister's press secretary, Ihsanul Karim, said Hasina assured Kerry of her government's full cooperation in the case, the latest in a series of violent attacks against non-Muslim activists and authors in Bangladesh. "Our position is firm against terrorism," Karim said. "We are following a 'zero tolerance' policy [against such violence]. Our law-enforcing agencies are working hard." Mannan, an editor of Bangladesh's first gay-rights magazine, and his friend were hacked to death in the capital, Dhaka. Hasina is said to have advised Kerry that evidence uncovered since the killings on Tuesday could lead to arrests soon. Kerry was quoted as saying that he will send a high-ranking U.S. diplomat to Dhaka to strengthen the countries' joint counter-terrorism efforts. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday praised countries in the Middle East for working to bring political and economic change in the region. In an exclusive interview with the Alhurra network, Kerry hailed the efforts by Arab nations to fight Islamic State terrorists. With 66 nations participating in the fight against IS, Kerry said, the countries in the Middle East "are deeply engaged in this effort." He said that by working together, the coalition "has reliberated and re-secured 44 percent of the territory that Daesh [the Arab acronym for the jihadist group] held in Iraq and about 16 to 17 percent of the territory in Syria." Kerry said the U.S. and its allies have been taking several specific measures to fight Islamic State, including working to cut off funding; preventing young people from becoming indoctrinated by setting up social media initiatives to counter the extremist group's narrative; and reducing the flow of foreign fighters by tightening the rules of travel. Republican skeptics Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates have been expressing deep skepticism over the Obama administration's strategy for defeating IS. On Thursday, Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican, accused the administration of having a "myopic" focus on the group while missing broader U.S. challenges in the Middle East. McCain favors sending in a large coalition ground force a proposal President Barack Obama has ruled out. Kerry said Washington's partners are "quite effectively working together in the field against the Daesh operatives and have eliminated many of their leaders from the battlefield." Kerry admitted there are steps that can be taken only by the leaders in the region. He said, for example, that because Saudi Arabia is custodian to the holiest sites in Islam, its leaders speak "with a special authority with respect to Islam." He said the Saudis are putting together a counternarrative to Islamic State so that "this very important seat of Islam [is] speaking about what true Islam is about." But he said the Saudis can certainly do more to help the West suffocate the source of financing for the terrorist group. Praise for young leaders Kerry said the efforts by the Middle East leadership also translate to their domestic front. He praised young leaders for helping the region undergo an economic transformation. He singled out Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates as visionaries of the younger generation who are trying to move the economic fortunes of their kingdoms into the future. He said the United States is encouraging such forward progress in other nations in the region, like Iraq. "In order to progress, in order to bring Iraqis together, in order to stabilize and grow the country to get their economy moving, they need to be inclusive," Kerry said. "Every Iraqi has to be represented within the governing process." Kerry said ultimately it is up to every individual to determine what can be done to fight terrorism and injustice. "Everybody has an ability to prevent a friend from being seduced by phony narratives, by lies," he said. "Everybody has an ability to be able to tell the truth about Islam, to tell the truth about radicalism and terror. Until people do speak up and fully make their voices heard, it's very difficult to mobilize the full energy that we need to against violent extremism. All violent extremism needs to be negated." U.S. President Barack Obama has nominated Marine Corps Lieutenant General Thomas Waldhauser to lead AFRICOM, the U.S. military's Africa Command. Defense Secretary Ash Carter called Waldhauser the "perfect pick" to lead AFRICOM. In a statement, Carter cited Waldhauser's leadership, management skills and military experience. In 2001, Waldhauser led some of the first U.S. forces into Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. If confirmed by the Senate, Waldhauser would replace highly-regarded General David Rodriguez. AFRICOM's main focus is bolstering African military forces and training troops to fight militant groups that include al-Shabab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria and Islamic State in Libya. "Every day, the men and women of AFRICOM perform a wide range of critical and important missions, including building partner capacity, enabling regional forces and combating the metastasis of ISIL and other violent extremists," Carter said, using an acronym for Islamic State. Carter said he is confident Waldhauser will bring the "same caliber of strong and steady leadership" to AFRICOM that Rodriguez has provided for the past three years. Having become fully operational in 2008, AFRICOM is the military's youngest geographic command. Waldhauser joined the Marines in 1976. He served in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and in Iraq. He is currently the director for joint force development at the Pentagon. North Koreas defiant and accelerated efforts to develop an advanced nuclear arsenal have not been deterred, so far, by the tough new United Nations sanctions imposed in March. The latest infraction of U.N. resolutions banning Pyongyangs nuclear and ballistic missile programs occurred Thursday, when the North attempted another intermediate range ballistic missile launch. But the missile crashed seconds after it was fired, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. The North Korean military conducted a similar mid-range missile test earlier this month that also failed. In response to the lasted missile test, the United Nations urged North Korea on Thursday to stop "any further provocative actions" and the Security Council held a closed-door meeting to discuss if further responses should be considered. Pyongyang is also reportedly prepared to conduct its fifth nuclear test at any time, just months after it set off its last nuclear explosion in January. Sanctions questioned The new North Korean sanctions passed in March are considered the strongest international measures yet and are meant to pressure Kim Jong Un to reconsider his nuclear ambitions. But rather than offer concessions, the young North Korean leader has reacted to international pressure with speed and fury, increasing the number and frequency of tests and threatening nuclear strikes against the United States and its allies in Asia. Under the current sanctions regime I see little hope for making real progress in denuclearization despite all the fuss about sanctions, said Ambassador Chun Yung-woo, who was a South Korean national security adviser to former President Lee Myung-bak until 2013, and is now an analyst with the Asan Institute in Seoul. Ambassador Chun was one of a number of international analysts who discussed the purpose and effectiveness of North Korean sanctions at an Asan Institute forum in Seoul this week. North Korea has been under United Nations sanctions since it conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. The new measures include banning much of the Norths lucrative mineral trade, inspecting all cargo crossing the border for illicit items, and blacklisting key officials and organizations connected to the Norths nuclear program. Chinas mixed signals China holds the key to effective sanctions enforcement as 90 percent of all North Korean trade passes through its borders. Yang Xiyu, a North Korea analyst at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, said contrary to reports of lax implementation, the Chinese government has imposed strict requirements that will significantly reduce trade at the Sino/Korean border. You need to provide a full set of documents and evidence to show the legitimacy of your deal, and such a complicated procedure technically will sharply increase comprehensive costs for businessmen, said Yang. However on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping again tempered his support for sanctions with concern for maintaining regional stability. We will absolutely not permit war or chaos on the peninsula, said Xi. Ambassador Chun said Beijing is sending mixed signals that undermine the international commitment to sanctions. The message that Kim Jong Un will get from Chinas position is, Dont worry about serious consequences, we will pretend to take sanctions, but not unbearable sanctions, said Chun. If Pyongyang goes ahead as expected with its fifth nuclear test prior to the commencement of its ruling party congress next week, the international community, including China, will likely consider further sanctions that will impose economic pain beyond those targeting the military and elites. If they go further, I believe they will receive the further shocks, said Yang. Iran lessons Even the most comprehensive sanctions regime can take years to persuade an adversary as seemingly determined as North Korea to reconsider its nuclear deterrent. Sanctions campaigns take a lot of work. They take a long time to work. Thats one thing I really learned from the whole Iran experience, said Gary Samore, who worked on Iran and North Korea nuclear issues when he served as President Barack Obamas White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction. He is now an analyst with Harvard Universitys Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. He noted that it took years for a crippling international embargo on Iranian oil to pressure Tehran to agree to a deal to dismantle its nuclear program. North Koreas rush to advance its nuclear and missile technology is likely a recognition that international sanctions will succeed in restricting needed materials and funds in the near future. Kim Jong Un has openly declared his country as a nuclear state and the recent missile tests suggest that his military has been ordered to speed up efforts to achieve verifiable medium and long range nuclear capabilities. At some point, Samore said, North Korea may seek a deal to freeze its current nuclear capabilities for easing the sanctions. Then the United States and the international community will have to consider what degree of compromise they are willing to accept. We need to think about what we are prepared to offer in exchange in terms of partial sanctions relief and assistance, because were not likely to get it for free, he said. Still, these analysts said, economic sanctions that lead to negotiations offer the best hope for peaceful resolution to the nuclear standoff on the Korean peninsula. President Obama also recently emphasized increased military deterrence and reliance on missile defense systems to protect the United States and its allies from a potential North Korean attack. But he ruled out taking offensive military action against the North, saying while American allied forces would ultimately win, it would come at a devastating humanitarian cost for South Korea. Pyongyang has sentenced a Korean-American man to 10 years of hard labor for subversion. A North Korean court handed down the sentence Friday to naturalized U.S. citizen Kim Dong Chul. Kim confessed last month to attempting to steal North Korean military secrets and asked for mercy when he was paraded in front of the media in Pyongyang in March. Coerced confession? He confessed a week after North Korea sentenced Otto Warmbier, an American student, to 15 years of hard labor for stealing a propaganda banner. Both Kim and Warmbier confessed to their charges, but observers say both confessions were likely coerced. Kim and Warmbier's sentences come amid mounting tensions following North Korea's launching of nuclear weapons tests and long-range rockets tests. Washington, Seoul and Tokyo have increased their defense readiness postures in response to the tests. U.S. and South Korean forces have conducted joint annual military exercises. Authorities in Almaty, Kazakhstan shut down a news conference Friday called by activists who were discussing plans for protests in the city against land reforms. Police detained about a dozen activists outside Almaty's Press Club. The incident follows protests across the country against government plans to privatize farmland beginning on July 1, 2016. Although public protests are rare in Kazakhstan, hundreds have rallied in several cities since Sunday (April 24), out of fear that land reforms could allow foreigners to take over farmland, especially after the government announced several agreements with neighboring China on agricultural projects. Reforms reportedly will allow the government to sell farmland to joint ventures, provided they are controlled by Kazakh citizens, but direct land sales to foreigners will still be banned. The Kazakh prosecutor-general issued a warning Thursday, saying that it is a crime to spread "false information about land privatization." Some analysts, however, have said that Kazakhs join in protests to express their general discontent with the government of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been running the country since 1989. Russian authorities are seeking greater control of information on the internet, with some who favor tighter restrictions looking to China. Russia's Safe Internet League, an influential lobby, hosted a first-ever forum Wednesday in Moscow with China's top internet censors, including Fang Binxing, known as the "Father of the Great Firewall of China." Comments from speakers at the event underscored the desire for authorities to further limit and control information online. Fang lectured on cyber sovereignty, arguing that countries borders apply to the online world as well and foreign interference should not be tolerated. Chinas cybersecurity and internet policy chief Lu Wei said that online freedom was not a right but a responsibility to be kept in check lest it lead to terrorism, according to a tweet from a Financial Times reporter. Lu echoed Kremlin rhetoric, saying Western media were waging an information war against their countries. Both Chinese and Russian speakers lamented American companies dominance of the internet. Konstantin Malofeev, who is chairman of the Safe Internet League and is linked to both the Kremlin and the Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine, said Russia should learn from Chinas internet censorship practices and assert its sovereignty online. Struggle for control Russian internet experts said the forums timing and high-profile guests demonstrated an urgency in the Kremlin's struggle to control information ahead of parliamentary elections later this year and presidential elections in 2018. I think this reflects their level of desperation inside of the Kremlin, said Andrei Soldatov, co-author of "The Red Web: The Struggle Between Russia's Digital Dictators and the New Online Revolutionaries," who spoke to VOA via Skype. They have these coming elections. And, it seems they need desperately to find some sort of solution to be absolutely sure that they can control the internet before the elections. Russian authorities increased scrutiny of online social media after they proved key to organizing mass 2011-2012 anti-Kremlin protests. They thought if you control the television stations, I mean, like the major TV stations, then youre good. Then you control the public opinion, independent TV Rains digital media chief Ilya Klishin said to VOA. At that point they found out that even internet news websites and people on the Facebook and Twitter can actually organize 100,000 [-person] rallies [in] downtown Moscow. The movement against the Kremlin, sparked by allegations of election-rigging, petered out as arrests and intimidation fractured the opposition. A crackdown on media ensued. Heavy fines and jail time have been introduced for anyone posting online comments deemed extremism, an incitement to hatred or an insult to revered groups such as Orthodox Christians. Prominent bloggers have been forced to register their real names. Anton Nosik is a Moscow-based blogger and Russian internet pioneer who, just a day before the forum, was charged with extremism and inciting hatred for posts he made about bombing Syria and comparing President Bashar al-Assads government to Nazi Germany. He faces a fine of thousands of dollars and up to four years in prison if found guilty. Perceived as enemy Nosik told VOA he thought he was being prosecuted "because I'm perceived as a foreign influence, as an enemy of the state, enemy of the regime perceived not by law enforcement as such, but rather by those guys who reported me. Nosik said that while Chinas online censorship has long targeted politically sensitive issues that are well-known to all, such as Tibet and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Russias internet censorship goals are still developing but fast growing. He said the Kremlin's desire to censor and control information has sparked a competition among Russian lawmakers to pass increasingly restrictive laws. Particular deputies are proposing laws just to make themselves noticed by their superiors and to be included in the lists for the next parliament to be elected later this year, Nosik said. So, many laws are proposed that curb internet freedom in very many different ways. Prominent bloggers and activists are targeted to send a message, Soldatov said, because the Russian system, in large part, is based on intimidation and instigating self-censorship among journalists and among users of social networks and bloggers. That's why they use these tactics. While intimidation is expected to continue, fully blocking major internet sites or social networks, as China does, is not a likely option for Russia, Klishin said. Its not like in China or even in Turkey, where they had YouTube or Twitter blocked. So far, they never blocked a major social network or web platform like Gmail or YouTube or Twitter," he said. "So, you know, if they would ban Facebook in Russia, then everyone would notice. They found a way how to deal with journalists, Soldatov said. But the internet is a completely different thing, because the internet, the content, is generated by users. And [the Ukraine crisis] showed them very clearly that they cannot control social networks even if they control the company which owns social networks. Photos contradicted Kremlin The Kremlins denial that it supplied troops to eastern Ukraine was discredited after Russian soldiers were found posting photos of themselves via the social network VKontakte. Its founder, Pavel Durov, sold the company in 2014 and left Russia, he said, because of pressure to turn over data to Russian authorities. One way Russia is seeking to mimic Chinas internet controls is in forcing all foreign internet service providers to base their servers with Russian data inside Russia. To put it very simply, the idea of the Russian surveillance is to have direct access to all the information on all servers of all internet service providers and content providers on the Russian soil," Soldatov said. Which means that the moment, say, Google or Facebook or Twitter land their servers in Russia, all their data, including [encryption] technologies, would be immediately available ... to the Russian security services. While Western companies have so far resisted putting their servers in Russia, Chinese companies were praised at the forum Tuesday for having started to comply. The Russian security services would know what you buy in China, but of course it's absolutely incomparable with the information that we share on Facebook and Gmail, Soldatov said. Because, that [is] essentially private information which might be intercepted by the Russian security services and might be used against, say, activists, opposition leaders and participants of any kind of political movements. South Sudans government and officials for Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition, or SPLM-IO, said they are moving closer to forming a transitional government, which is now several months behind schedule. The current cabinet will likely be dissolved "any time now," said President Salva Kiir's spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny. Ateny said Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar are finalizing consultations on the formation of a transitional government. "The president now is working on the process to dissolve the government in the running up to the formation of the transitional government of national unity, Ateny said. There are a bit of consultations that are taking place between the parties and particularly the first vice president." Ateny added that Kiir is ready to name 16 ministerial positions for the transitional cabinet from his side. SPLM-IO spokesman William Ezekiel said his side also finalized consultations and nominations in a meeting Wednesday, chaired by the former rebel leader, Machar. "The agenda was to discuss the issue of the formation of the government of national unity, particularly in regard to the quarter given to IO by virtue of the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan," Ezekiel said. Parties to the August peace agreement are under pressure from the international community and regional partners to quickly form a unity government. Ezekiel said officials examined the qualifications of each candidate. "All of us agreed that the ministers of SPLM-IO, they should get rid of themselves on issues of tribalism, nepotism, regionalism and all sorts of excuses, Ezekiel said. The criteria were as follows: that we need competent cadres, [a] person with [a] good qualification background, a person who entirely has the spirit of serving the people of South Sudan and, above all, a candidate who believes in the principles and in the spirit of the agreement." Ezekiel said Machar has already submitted the list of SPLM-IO nominees to Kiir. The peace deal states that the transitional government will have 30 ministers. Kiir will appoint 16, the SPLM-IO will appoint 10, and the former detainees and opposition parties will appoint two each. Civil society and pro-democracy groups have called on parliamentarians in Swaziland to scrap debates on three proposed amendments that they say would further erode the fundamental human rights of citizens in the southern African kingdom. Parliament is debating the amendment of the public order act, the professional terrorism act and the police act. The proposal for the public order act of 1973 states that groups of at least 15 people cannot convene without first giving reasons for the meeting, presenting the agenda and getting permission from the commissioner of police. Wandile Dludlu, national coordinator for a pro-democracy group known as the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF), says the law already restricts freedom of movement and expression, and that the amendment would make things worse for the public. "If the commissioner thinks and believes the agenda may pose a threat to national security or public order and public interest, he has a right according to this [proposed] law to stop the meeting," Dludlu said. Supporters rejected critics concerns, saying King Mswati III's government has the constitutional mandate to protect citizens from chaos and instability. They also said the law is needed to ensure that security agencies have the necessary legal backing to do their jobs. Dludlu, however, said the government is in violation of the bill of rights, which guarantees freedom of movement. The proposed law, he said, is pre-colonial and will cause dissent in the kingdom. "It is totally unnecessary to have an act that restricts so irrationally and unreasonably the freedom of movement to a point that it gives power to an appointee to determine our rights, which among others are fundamental rights of freedom of movement and expression," Dludlu said. Professional terrorism act The professional terrorism act being considered in parliament enables the government to describe anything it finds unpleasant as terrorism, pro-democracy groups say. Critics fear the move will criminalize activities of all civil society and pro-democracy groups, including demonstrations and protests against policies of the government. "We believe it is too broad, making almost everything that may be deemed anti-government to be a terrorist act," Dludlu said. "For instance, this act says that if you are wearing a T-shirt of an opposition, that may be viewed or taken as terrorism. We think this is an abuse of the anti-terrorism treaty that the world has and it is being used to deal with dissent in the context of Swaziland." But supporters of the government say there is a need for anti-terrorism laws to empower security agencies as part of the global war on terrorism. Police act Parliament also is debating the police act, which seeks to ban police officers from forming a union. Opposition groups say it is almost certain the amendments will become law because most lawmakers will not defy the king and his administration. Civil society and pro-democracy groups plan to use the May 1 workers day to rally against the amendments. The groups also plan to petition the international community to pressure the government to scrap the amendments. "We intend to use this day to raise more awareness specifically around these laws, Dludlu said. The Syrian army has plans to launch offensive strikes on Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa two Islamic State strongholds in the countrys northeast with the help of Russian air forces, Alexei Borodavkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said Friday. Borodavkin, who is also a permanent representative to other international organizations in Geneva, said the army has been successful fighting IS and other terrorist groups, like al-Nusra Front, in the past and hopes to continue those efforts. "In line with UNSC (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 2254, the cease-fire regime in Syria does not apply to Daesh, al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups As a result of operations by the Syrian armed forces with [the] support of Russian combat aircraft [the Syrian] city of Palmyra has been liberated, and now further offensive operations are being planned in the direction of Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa," Borodavkin told reporters in Geneva, according to Russian state media. A cease-fire between the Syrian government and opposition forces officially went into effect on February 27 following peacekeeping efforts by the United States and Russia. The truce, though, does not apply to the terrorist groups. According to Borodavkin, if those militant groups would like to be a part of the cease-fire agreement, they must sign the relevant documents, report their exact location and disengage from al-Nusra Front forces, because, at present, they are, unfortunately, heavily mixed on the battlefield. Deir Ez-Zor, an important strategic location because of its vicinity to a number of oil fields, has been under IS control for several months. A year after Nepals massive earthquake forced an Everest climbing expedition to withdraw from the mountain, climbers have returned to base camp. Its quiet here; nobody bothers anyone, Dr. Nima Namgyal Sherpa, an expedition organizer, told VOA's Tibetan service via low-signaled cellphone. For me, it's normal business. Down below the tallest mountain on Earth, however, lives of people affected by last years 7.8 magnitude quake are far from normal. Nepal reconstruction efforts have been glacially slow: With the exception of several internationally protected world heritage sites, almost none of its estimated 800,000 damaged structures have been rebuilt. On the far side of the Himalayas, Tibetan villages razed by that same quake also remain unchanged, their crumbled remnants seemingly abandoned, many of their estimated 100,000 internally displaced locals still without homes to return to. Rongshar villagers Like many Tibetan communities along the Nepal border, Rongshar Township was heavily damaged by the quakes. Unlike other quake-shattered towns, however, many Rongshar inhabitants refused to be relocated to Shikatse, Tibet's westernmost prefecture-level city, by the Chinese search-and-rescue teams that arrived days after the massive temblor struck. Calling Rongshar more beautiful and lushly vegetative than Shikatse, the protesting Rongsharians echoed well-worn talking points of Beijing critics, who say Chinas policy of moving Tibetan nomads and farmers into newly built towns is part of a deliberate strategy to suppress the traditional Tibetan way of life. While many displaced Tibetans willingly relocated to Shikatse, Chinese authorities reportedly threatened Rongshar villagers who refused to budge, vowing to withhold aid if they insisted on staying. One year later, some Rongshar villagers continue to live in tents. About two months ago, I managed to speak to [family in Rongshar]," Wang Bhumo, an India-based teacher, told VOA's Tibetan service. "They were still living in tents. I dont know whether their houses are being built or not. Last Friday, Tibet Radio, Chinas official Tibetan language news service, indicated that most relocated Tibetans still remained in Shikatse. The state newscaster also said Pema Trinlay, vice party secretary of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), recently visited Shikatse to reassure displaced Tibetans that quake reconstruction is a top priority for 2016. The radio report, however, did not indicate whether reconstruction would focus on rebuilding damaged homes or erecting new towns. Chinas state-run Tibet Online News reported in November that 1,758 Tibetans who had been relocated to Shikatse were sent to welfare homes in a community described as Khulchung in the border town of Dram. A photo in the article showed an official passing boxes described as gifts to elderly Tibetans standing before rows of what appeared to be freshly built five-story structures. Relocation efforts In 2014, TAR officials said they had moved 2.3 million Tibetans into new homes, and that a five-year plan for Qinghai province aimed to relocate 90 percent of nomads by the end of 2014. According to Radio Free Asia, China officials confiscated residency permits and other personal documents of Tibetan nomads in Yushu prefecture, Qinghai, because they refused to move from their pastureland home into impoverished resettlement towns. While Chinese official news outlets have not reported whether Tibetans relocated to Shikatse have requested to return home or move into newly built developments, a February report by Tibet Radio suggested a dialogue was ongoing. According to that report, TAR Chairman Losang Gyaltsen visited Tibetans in Shikatse, where he listened to opinions of the people and told them that it was understandable that people love their homes and that there would be a brighter future for them. Tensions were high Friday as hundreds of protesters clashed with police outside a hotel where Donald Trump spoke to members of California's Republican establishment. Trump traveled to Silicon Valley, an area with a decidedly liberal population, a day after violence erupted at a campaign rally of his in conservative Orange County in Southern California. More than 300 demonstrators swarmed outside the hotel near San Francisco airport, forcing Trump to crawl under a fence to enter the hotel. "That is not the easiest entrance I've ever made," he told the gathering. "It felt like I was crossing the border," he said, referring to migrants who often make similar maneuvers at America's southern border. The protesters, some wearing bandannas over their faces and carrying Mexican flags, held signs protesting Trump's controversial plan to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration. They tried to rush the hotel entrance but were pushed back by police. A day earlier, police arrested 17 people outside the Trump rally in Costa Mesa, south of Los Angeles. At one point, police in riot gear and on horseback formed a barrier between the two groups outside Orange County's Pacific Amphitheater, where Trump delivered a campaign speech. The windows of a police car were smashed and several people were injured before the crowd was brought under control. Trump is closing in on the 1,237 delegates he needs to clinch the Republican presidential nomination after a string of dominant primary victories in states that included New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. His rivals, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich, have been mathematically eliminated from winning a first-ballot nomination. Their only hope is to deny Trump a majority of delegates heading into the July convention and wrestle for the prize in multiple ballots there. The next key race is Tuesday, with Republican and Democratic party primaries in Indiana, a conservative Midwestern state with vast farmlands and industrial centers. A win in Indiana for Trump would not lock up the nomination for him but would give him a significant edge as he heads to the final nine state nominating contests, which run through early June. More than 100,000 people gathered in Diyarbakir, the main city in Turkeys predominantly Kurdish southeast, last week to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The gathering was one of the most powerful displays of the rising power of Islamists in the region, which is stoking tensions with the pro-secular Kurdish nationalist movement. Young and old came from all directions, chanting "God is great" and "Islamic Kurdistan. It was a powerful show of force by Islamists. Leading Kurdish Islamists and others from elsewhere in the Middle East attended the rally. One of the biggest cheers was given to a Hamas representative. Speakers promised to return the region to its religious past, a promise that one man said cannot come too soon. The event's organizers, Prophet Lovers, a collection of Islamist groups, distributed religious literature and canvassed across Diyarbakir's neighborhoods ahead of the rally. Many districts were recently opened up to the Islamists after security forces reinforced strict control in areas that were once strongholds of the secular PKK rebel group, which is fighting the Turkish state. Cemil Cahit Unsal, head of organization for the rally, says its message offers a way out of the region's violence. "We come together for our prophet's birth. He has installed fraternity and peace, and that's why we say in messages that if we, as the people of the region, take him as our role model, live his life, these fights, these wars, this chaos will not continue and will not have any meaning," he said. The promotion of religion and rise of Islamist groups raise suspicions and fears among some supporters of Kurdish nationalists. The nationalist movement sees the establishment of equality for women as one of its biggest achievements. Many key positions in the pro-Kurdish HDP are held by women, including mayors. The party is often accused by Islamists and the government of being anti-religious, but local HDP acting Mayor Azize Deger Kutlu rejects the charge. "Religion should not be the monopoly of the political parties. Such a statement is not true. Everyone can and does practice their religion the way they want. The HDP has always argued for separation of religion and politics and is against the use of religion as a tool in politics," said Kutlu. The Syrian conflict a few hours away is adding to tensions between secular and religious Kurds. Many of those fighting for and against Islamic State in Syria are Kurds from Turkey. Muhammed Akar, local head of the ruling AK Party in Diyarbakir, acknowledges there are dangers. "In all societies, differences carry the potential of conflict. There is this risk, I accept this. Turkey's democratic standards will not allow these societal groups to get into conflict with each other," said Akar. Islamists and Kurdish nationalists violently clashed 18 months ago in Diyarbakir, leaving nearly 50 dead. The trigger? Syria. The dead are not forgotten on either side. The Pentagon has disciplined 16 military personnel, including a two-star general, for their role in last year's mistaken airstrike on a hospital in Afghanistan that killed 42 people. The hospital, run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, was attacked by an Air Force AC-130 gunship, one of the most lethal in the U.S. arsenal. Doctors Without Borders called the attack "relentless and brutal.'' None of those punished face criminal charges but in many cases a nonjudicial punishment, such as a letter of reprimand or suspension, can effectively end a military career. General Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees the war in Afghanistan, is expected to announce the action Friday at a Pentagon briefing. The airstrike occurred during an intense battle in Kunduz, after Taliban militants had seized the northern city. A military report determined that the U.S. forces involved in the airstrike mistook the hospital for another compound that was serving as a Taliban headquarters. Officials have said the accident was caused by human error, and that many chances to avert the incident were missed. Thousands of investors are flocking to Omaha, Nebraska, to gain insight from one of the world's most successful investors. Warren Buffett, the world's third richest man, will host the annual meeting of shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated, a conglomerate he oversees with annual sales of $200 billion and well over 300,000 employees. Last year, more than 40,000 people descended on the midwestern city to attend what has become known as the "Woodstock of Capitalists," in honor Buffet's 50th year at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway. At least that many are expected Saturday and Sunday, even though the meeting will be live-streamed for the first time. The stream will be available in Mandarin to meet demand from China, where he is greatly appreciated and where possible investment opportunities lie. Shareholders will attend gala activities hosted by Buffett but, most importantly, they will receive his coveted newsletter. Over the years, the newsletter has become a guide for small and large investors alike. It provides Berkshire Hathaway investors with insight, not only about earnings and operations, but forward-looking remarks regarding the economy and advice about how to be a better leader. Buffet, whose net worth was estimated by Forbes to be $66.7 billion in 2015, is one the world's most successful investors. At 85, he is the oldest CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Berkshire is ranked fourth on the list of Fortune 500 companies, which consists of the 500 largest corporations in the U.S. as measured by total revenue. South Asia can create millions of new jobs in the apparel industry by taking advantage of rising manufacturing costs in China, says a new World Bank study. This would not only boost economic growth, it would create much-needed opportunities for women. According to the study Stitches to Riches, East Asian countries like Vietnam and Cambodia are capturing the market share of global garment exports faster than countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But lower costs and a burgeoning young, working class population, give South Asia an opportunity to increase the size of its apparel industry, which continues to be labor intensive. This is important for a region where female participation in the workforce is dismally low. The share of women employees in garment factories is far higher compared to other industries: women account for more than two-thirds of the industrys work force in Sri Lanka, and about one-third in India and Bangladesh. The World Bank country director in India, Onno Ruhl, said this could help countries like India. Female labor participation unfortunately has been going down over the last 10 to 15 years, and it is a trend we would really like to see reversed in India, he said. According to the World Bank study, countries with greater female labor force participation generally see later marriages, fewer children, better nutrition and school enrollment and higher gross domestic product. Wages, a key component in industry, range from about half a dollar per hour in Bangladesh to over a dollar in India. That is far lower than about $2.5 in China. But although these jobs have improved the lives of women, working conditions in the region have come under scrutiny. The biggest wake-up call came in 2013, when the collapse of the eight-story Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh killed more than 1,100 garment factory workers and turned the spotlight on the hazardous conditions in the industry. Rob Wayss at the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, said growth opportunities in the sector will not be fully realized without a simultaneous effort to improve factories. The Accord is spearheading a safety overhaul in Bangladeshs garment industry. The industry cannot grow in Bangladesh and in other parts of South Asia without close attention to safety and compliance. The global brands and global retailers are paying close attention to conditions in their factories, he said. The World Bank study has also underlined the need for stricter controls, better wages and higher-value products. Ruhl is also urging India to encourage more foreign direct investment in the sector and to scale up the size of businesses from small enterprises to medium-sized ones. The industry employs about five million workers in the formal sector, and several millions in the informal sector. For much of the world, North Korea is a Stalinist nightmare, an isolated enclave of prison camps, poverty and hunger. But for tens of thousands of people scattered across South Korea and living underground in China, it's something far more complicated. It's a memory they wrestle with. It's home. It's the place they left behind. And even if there is plenty they hate about it, there is also much that they miss, sometimes achingly. They miss relatives and friends and the small-town neighborliness that can come, admittedly, in not having many recreation choices. They miss dancing to accordion music in public parks on their days off, and the greasy street food they'd yearn for when they were most hungry. At times, they even miss the three generations of dictators, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un, who have controlled the country for nearly 70 years. "I think all the time about the people I knew there,'' said a former coal miner, a gentle man who works at least 12 hours a day in a Seoul convenience store, and who has the disheveled look of someone who rarely gets enough sleep. He left North Korea a decade ago with his family. "Whenever we're together, and we're eating a good meal, we think about those people.'' More than 27,000 North Korean refugees live in South Korea. Thousands more live underground in China, often working menial jobs for low pay, though just how many remains widely debated. A handful of other refugees live in countries ranging from England to the United States. The convenience store manager, whose muscular arms still betray his years as a miner, misses the siblings he left behind, and the nieces and nephews he may never meet. Relatives in South Korea paid smugglers to get his family out, he said, but his siblings wouldn't go. "They were too afraid,'' he said. "Now they regret it.'' Like nearly all North Korean exiles, he spoke on condition his name not be used, fearing retribution against extended family still in the North. Researchers say relatives of refugees, particularly those known to live in South Korea, can face punishments from job demotions to imprisonment. He has no warmth for the Pyongyang government, railing against the regime for leaving nearly all North Koreans in poverty as a handful grow rich. But some other refugees disagree. Polls of North Korean refugees, often known here as defectors, say many still have some fondness for the leaders in Pyongyang. "All three [of the Kim family dictators] really did think of the North Korean people,'' said another exile, a former North Korean policeman who acknowledged that he is torn about his feelings. North Korea, he noted, has spent billions of dollars on its military even as so many of its people have gone hungry. In the worst times, hundreds of thousands of people are thought to have died in a famine that ripped through the country in the mid-1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, North Korea's most important patron at the time. But, he added, his homeland is also a small, poor country that has successfully stood up to the world, surviving international isolation and years of economic sanctions. So when Pyongyang sets off a nuclear test or test-fires a missile, he sees a leader proving he cannot be bullied. "Maybe this is the way Kim Jong Un can protect his family, protect his people, protect his country,'' said the former policeman, pride filling his voice. "If I was in his position, sometimes I think I might do the same thing.'' He paused: "Well, sometimes.'' He knew how that sounded, and it surprised even him a little. But like all North Koreans, he grew up enveloped in an all-pervasive personality cult that portrays the Kims as something akin to gods. They are studied in schools and discussed by every adult in mandatory political sessions. Thousands of monuments to them, statues, paintings, busts, inscriptions, memorials, mosaics, historic sites, have been built across the country, and occupy central positions in every town and city. In official hagiographies, they defeat every enemy, win every race and outsmart every other world leader. Their titles are repeated endlessly in announcements: the Marshal, the Respected General, the Great Leader of Mankind, the Sun in the Sky. While the famine changed much in North Korea, including how the leaders are seen by ordinary people, it is impossible for North Koreans to escape the worshipful propaganda, and very difficult for them not to be affected by it. Plus, North Korea is more than the Orwellian cliche that it sometimes appears to be in Western headlines. It's a complex place where even those who suffered terribly can remember good times, whether that was visiting grandparents over the New Year holiday, families looking out for one another when food ran low, or the small-town feel, with flirting young people and gossiping elders, after the staged mass political rallies that can bring tens of thousands of people together. For the ex-policeman, his sometimes-generous view of North Korea is mixed up with his difficulty adjusting to life in South, a common problem among the refugees who live here. He hasn't been able to hold a job for more than few months, and constantly worries that he's being discriminated against. He's overwhelmed by the South, sometimes talks about wanting to return home. Lost amid Seoul's dual whirlwinds of consumerism and competitiveness, he yearns for the days when things seemed simpler. "In South Korea, tradition only decreases as time goes by,'' he said. "Now it looks like a Western society.'' For instance, he says few wives in North Korea would begin eating a meal before their husbands had eaten, an ancient custom that has been largely abandoned in South Korea. The government in Pyongyang, for its part, openly detests North Koreans who flee the country, once calling them ``human scum who betrayed their homeland and people'' in an official report. Leaving North Korea has also become much more difficult in recent years, with security tightened dramatically along the border with China, the usual method of escape, since Kim Jong Un came to power. Last year, 1,277 North Koreans resettled in the South, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry, less than half as many as in 2011. Ask those people, though, and nearly all say there is something they miss. A middle-aged woman, once a black-market gold dealer, says she is happy in South Korea. After some initial cultural confusion, 'When I first heard rap music I said: `What is this? Is it a song?''' she has grown to love her life in Incheon, a city near Seoul. What she missed was injogogibap, a popular North Korean street food and meat substitute, made from rice and leftover bits of tofu, that became popular at the height of the famine. Not long ago, she found a couple of restaurants near her new home that serve it. She smiled when she talked about eating injogogibap in North Korea, and smiled again when she said she finally found places in Incheon to buy it. Taiwan's president elect says she will maintain the status quo for relations with China, but will prioritize democracy and make decisions that transcend party politics. Tsai Ing-wen said Wednesday while visiting Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council that what will be different in her administration from the past eight years is cross-strait ties will be based on "the principle of democracy and people's desires." Tsai has said she will maintain the status quo, but has not elaborated on how she will incorporate her commitment to democracy. Additionally, Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party has historically supported independence for Taiwan. But Current Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has been criticized by opponents for pro-China policies they say are aimed at eventual reunification. Recently relations between Tapei and Beijing have been increasingly tense, particularly after the deportation of 45 Taiwanese from Kenya to China where they are wanted for fraud, a move Taipei believes to be more about politics than crime. China considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. The two countries split in 1949 after a civil war. One year after a deadly earthquake struck Nepal, the prime minister announced the country is rebuilding some of the damaged heritage sites. They include temples, monuments and a UNESCO heritage site. On April 25, 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed 9,000 people and damaged hundreds of historic structures. Nepali officials have said fully rebuilding the countrys architectural heritage and the 600,000 homes destroyed by the quake will take years. But this week Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli announced the government will start. Monday the prime minister offered prayers at an ancient Buddhist temple, one of the hundreds of structures damaged by the quake. Memorial services for those who died were held Sunday. Protesters also demonstrated against the slow speed of the recovery efforts in the South Asian country. In a White House statement, National Security Council spokesperson Ned Prince expressed condolences for the lives lost in the quake. He also acknowledged that "much of the hard work of rebuilding Nepal still lies ahead." "We are humbled by those who risked their lives to save others, including the six United States Marines who perished in Nepal while providing relief to Nepalis in need," he said. Other nations are also sending money to help the rebuilding efforts. Monday, the New York-based World Monuments Fund announced donations totaling $1 million for five historic sites. But, while international donors have promised $4.1 billion towards Nepal's recovery, only $1.3 billion has reached the country. Critics blame the government for taking months to set up the National Reconstruction Authority. The slow movement to rebuild has left many people living in sub-standard temporary shelters. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates that four million people are still in these temporary homes. The homeless have been promised about $2,000 in aid. However, only several hundred people have received the first $500 installment. Mike Bruce is a spokesman for the non-governmental group Plan International. He spoke to VOA via Skype from Nepals capital of Kathmandu. Bruce said the Nepali government has not been slow to rebuild it has simply faced challenges in the past year. Bruce added that homes and heritage sites were not the only things destroyed by the powerful quake. He said over 30,000 classrooms were damaged or destroyed. Plan International aims to rebuild 20 schools and repair 16,000 of those classrooms. Bruce said the classrooms will be both accessible to those injured in the quake, and better able to withstand any future quakes. According to reports by VOA's Tibetan Service, Tibetan villages along Nepal's border, which were also destroyed by that same quake, have yet to be rebuilt. Many of an estimated 100,000 displaced Tibetans remain without homes to return to. Last week, Tibet Radio, a Chinese official Tibetan language news service, said a senior official recently visited the displaced Tibetans. He told them that quake reconstruction is a top priority in 2016. It is not clear whether the construction will focus on rebuilding damaged homes or simply moving displaced Tibetans into new towns, as Beijing has done before. Im Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English from several VOA News stories. Kelly J. Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on Facebook. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story heritage n. traditions, achievements, buildings, beliefs that are part of a group or nation architectural adj. to describe method or style of a building, how it is built condolences n. expression of sympathy when someone dies sub-standard adj. below what is considered good installment n. one in a series of payments until something is paid for Most workers in Zimbabwes south-eastern city of Masvingo say they are facing deteriorating working conditions, getting low salaries and generally struggling to make ends meet due to a depressed local economy, which has resulted in low production in many companies. The workers say as a result, Labor Day has become an ordinary event since they are doing what they call non-rewarding formal and informal jobs in Zimbabwe. One of the most disgruntled workers is Sheila Gakava, an employee of the local branch of the National Railways of Zimbabwe, who says there is nothing to celebrate on Labor Day. This used to be an important day in my life but not anymore. I am failing to fend for my family and my children have dropped out of school so to me celebrating this day makes no sense. I am actually contemplating migrating to other countries to seek greener pastures. Another local worker, Zachariah Chikwenya, says most employees are working for nothing. There is nothing much to celebrate, we are facing economic challenges in the country. We will be just celebrating our poverty. We are just hoping for a better future and it is hope thats is keeping us alive. Non-payment of salaries and the deteriorating working environment and pressure from home is affecting our performance at work so things are not rosy for us. Zimbabwes largest workers representative body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or ZCTU, says although the labor situation is bad in the country, it is going ahead with national preparations for Labour Day. Michael Kandukutu, ZCTU national organising director, says preparations are at an advanced stage for marking Labor Day. ZCTU is going to be commemorating workers day at 30 centres in the country. Our structures are busy fundraising and organising and mobilising for the event. We will be commemorating under the theme Defending Workers Constitutional Rights Our Prerogative. ZCTU bemoaned the violation of workers rights in the country and the general decay of the economy, which it says is contributing towards the impoverishment and suffering of workers. ZCTU gender director, Fiona Magaya, says women are facing a serious violation of their rights and continue to suffer more despite their rights being enshrined in Zimbabwes constitution. We are not happy as women. We are actually mourning, you find out that women are still being discriminated, there is still the patriarchal belief that women cannot lead and should not have positions of influence at workplaces. Men still demand sexual favours from us for them to promote us and that is a gross violation of our rights. We are still far from getting gender equality. Kandukutu says workers in Zimbabwe are facing a number of challenges. In the past it used to be a commemoration but not anymore, workers are facing challenges, a lot are losing their jobs emanating from the July 17 Supreme court ruling that saw the sacking of over 28,000 workers. Our government is promoting labour market flexibility and labour laws that allow employers to hire and fire workers at will. There is no rest for workers and us as ZCTU so we continue to fight the workers struggle. Zimbabwe has declared the first day of May a national holiday to give workers a chance to commemorate Labor Day but employees says the holiday has lost meaning. Togolese president Faure Gnassingbe says African countries should play an active role in boosting inter-regional trade. Officially opening the 57th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on Friday in Bulawayo attended by President Robert Mugabe, several ministers, members of the diplomatic community and thousands of Zimbabweans, Mr. Gnassingbe said African nations should break all the trade barriers in order to conducive conditions for running businesses. Some Zimbabweans have described the trade fair as a low key event, noting that it no longer saves any purpose. But trade fair officials maintain that the annual event is still relevant in todays modern business shows as they have diversified over the years to cater for the needs of exhibitors. Gnassingbe has come under heavy criticism from some Zimbabweans for his style of leadership and refusal to embrace term limits. Togo is one of the tiniest of countries in Africa, a sliver of land squeezed between Ghana and Benin. Gnassingbe, who is on his third term came into power in 2005 after the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, Africa's longest-serving ruler, who succumbed to a heart attack in 2005. Eyadema had seized the presidency of Togo in a coup in 1967. It was perhaps fear for their careers that prompted the top military brass to ignore the constitution, which called for the speaker of parliament to be made interim president pending elections in 60 days, and elevated Mr. Eyadema's son instead. The speaker, who was abroad when Mr. Eyadema died, stayed there. Togo's parliament quickly amended the constitution to catapult his son into power. But international pressure forced Lome to hold elections. Nearly 800 people were allegedly killed by the security forces after protesting what they alleged to be electoral fraud. Various nations condemned the elections and the way the situation was handled by the Economic Community of West African states and the African Union. Some political analysts see parallels in what is happening in Lome and Harare. But permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joey Bimha told VOA Studio 7 that Gnassingbe came at the invitation of President Mugabe as the two countries seek to build closer ties. Studio 7 also reached international relations expert, Clifford Mashiri, a former diplomat at the Zimbabwe Embassy in Ethiopia, who said Gnassingbe and President Mugabe have so much in common. Meanwhile, some exhibitors have expressed confidence that they will strike lucrative deals at this years trade fair. Chairmaine Hassen, director of Botswana company Solarmatics, said her firm is optimistic that they will reap huge rewards at the annual event. Tanganda Tea Company operations manager, Farai Garayi, noted that his company has new products, which were well-received in Zimbabwe. Some countries exhibiting at this years trade fair include Russia, Botswana, Ethiopia, Germany and several others. There are also hundreds of local exhibitors. Our Bulawayo correspondent Nompumelelo Moyo contributed to this report. Its time to shake the rust off Americas foreign policy. Its time to invite new voices and new visions into the fold, something we have to do. The direction I will outline today will also return us to a timeless principle. My foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people and American security above all else. It has to be first. Has to be. That will be the foundation of every single decision that I will make. America (APPLAUSE) America first will be the major and overriding theme of my administration. But to chart our path forward, we must first briefly take a look back. We have a lot to be proud of. In the 1940s we saved the world. The greatest generation beat back the Nazis and Japanese imperialists. Then we saved the world again. This time, from totalitarianism and communism. The Cold War lasted for decades but, guess what, we won and we won big. Democrats and Republicans working together got Mr. Gorbachev to heed the words of President Reagan, our great president, when he said, tear down this wall. (APPLAUSE) History will not forget what he did. A very special man and president. Unfortunately, after the Cold War our foreign policy veered badly off course. We failed to develop a new vision for a new time. In fact, as time went on, our foreign policy began to make less and less sense. Logic was replaced with foolishness and arrogance, which led to one foreign policy disaster after another. They just kept coming and coming. We went from mistakes in Iraq to Egypt to Libya, to President Obamas line in the sand in Syria. Each of these actions have helped to throw the region into chaos and gave ISIS the space it needs to grow and prosper. Very bad. It all began with a dangerous idea that we could make western democracies out of countries that had no experience or interests in becoming a western democracy. We tore up what institutions they had and then were surprised at what we unleashed. Civil war, religious fanaticism, thousands of Americans and just killed be lives, lives, lives wasted. Horribly wasted. Many trillions of dollars were lost as a result. The vacuum was created that ISIS would fill. Iran, too, would rush in and fill that void much to their really unjust enrichment. They have benefited so much, so sadly, for us. Our foreign policy is a complete and total disaster. No vision. No purpose. No direction. No strategy. Today I want to identify five main weaknesses in our foreign policy. First, our resources are totally over extended. President Obama has weakened our military by weakening our economy. Hes crippled us with wasteful spending, massive debt, low growth, a huge trade deficit and open borders. Our manufacturing trade deficit with the world is now approaching $1 trillion a year. Were rebuilding other countries while weakening our own. Ending the theft of American jobs will give us resources we need to rebuild our military, which has to happen and regain our financial independence and strength. I am the only person running for the presidency who understands this and this is a serious problem. Im the only one believe me, I know them all, Im the only one who knows how to fix it. (APPLAUSE) Secondly, our allies are not paying their fair share, and Ive been talking about this recently a lot. Our allies must contribute toward their financial, political, and human costs, have to do it, of our tremendous security burden. But many of them are simply not doing so. TRUMP: They look at the United States as weak and forgiving and feel no obligation to honor their agreements with us. In NATO, for instance, only 4 of 28 other member countries besides America, are spending the minimum required 2 percent of GDP on defense. We have spent trillions of dollars over time on planes, missiles, ships, equipment, building up our military to provide a strong defense for Europe and Asia. The countries we are defending must pay for the cost of this defense, and if not, the U.S. must be prepared to let these countries defend themselves. We have no choice. (APPLAUSE) The whole world will be safer if our allies do their part to support our common defense and security. A Trump administration will lead a free world that is properly armed and funded, and funded beautifully. Thirdly, our friends are beginning to think they cant depend on us. Weve had a president who dislikes our friends and bows to our enemies, something that weve never seen before in the history of our country. He negotiated a disastrous deal with Iran, and then we watched them ignore its terms even before the ink was dry. Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, cannot be allowed. Remember that, cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. (APPLAUSE) And under a Trump administration, will never, ever be allowed to have that nuclear weapon. (APPLAUSE) All of this without even mentioning the humiliation of the United States with Irans treatment of our ten captured sailors so vividly I remember that day. In negotiation, you must be willing to walk. The Iran deal, like so many of our worst agreements, is the result of not being willing to leave the table. When the other side knows youre not going to walk, it becomes absolutely impossible to win you just cant win. At the same time, your friends need to know that you will stick by the agreements that you have with them. Youve made that agreement, you have to stand by it and the world will be a better place. President Obama gutted our missile defense program and then abandoned our missile defense plans with Poland and the Czech Republic. He supported the ouster of a friendly regime in Egypt that had a longstanding peace treaty with Israel, and then helped bring the Muslim Brotherhood to power in its place. Israel, our great friend and the one true democracy in the Middle East has been snubbed and criticized by an administration that lacks moral clarity. Just a few days ago, Vice President Biden again criticized Israel, a force for justice and peace, for acting as an impatient peace area in the region. President Obama has not been a friend to Israel. He has treated Iran with tender love and care and made it a great power. Iran has, indeed, become a great, great power in just a very short period of time, because of what weve done. All of the expense and all at the expense of Israel, our allies in the region and very importantly, the United States itself. Weve picked fights with our oldest friends, and now theyre starting to look elsewhere for help. Remember that. Not good. Fourth, our rivals no longer respect us. In fact, theyre just as confused as our allies, but in an even bigger problem is they dont take us seriously anymore. The truth is they dont respect us. When President Obama landed in Cuba on Air Force One, to leader was there, nobody, to greet him. Perhaps an incident without precedent in the long and prestigious history of Air Force One. Then amazingly, the same thing happened in Saudi Arabia. Its called no respect. Absolutely no respect. TRUMP: Do you remember when the president made a long and expensive trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, to get the Olympics for our country, and after this unprecedented effort, it was announced that the United States came in fourth fourth place? The president of the United States making this trip unprecedented comes in fourth place. He should have known the result before making such an embarrassing commitment. We were laughed at all over the world, as we have been many, many times. The list of humiliations go on and on and on. President Obama watches helplessly as North Korea increases its aggression and expands further and further with its nuclear reach. Our president has allowed China to continue its economic assault on American jobs and wealth, refusing to enforce trade deals and apply leverage on China necessary to rein in North Korea. We have the leverage. We have the power over China, economic power, and people dont understand it. And with that economic power, we can rein in and we can get them to do what they have to do with North Korea, which is totally out of control. He has even allowed China to steal government secrets with cyber attacks and engaged in industrial espionage against the United States and its companies. Weve let our rivals and challengers think they can get away with anything, and they do. They do at will. It always happens. If President Obamas goal had been to weaken America, he could not have done a better job. Finally, America no longer has a clear understanding of our foreign policy goals. Since the end of the Cold War and the breakup of the Soviet Union, weve lacked a coherent foreign policy. One day, were bombing Libya and getting rid of a dictator to foster democracy for civilians. The next day, were watching the same civilians suffer while that country falls and absolutely falls apart. Lives lost, massive moneys lost. The world is a different place. Were a humanitarian nation, but the legacy of the Obama-Clinton interventions will be weakness, confusion and disarray, a mess. Weve made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before. We left Christians subject to intense persecution and even genocide. (APPLAUSE) We have done nothing to help the Christians, nothing, and we should always be ashamed for that, for that lack of action. Our actions in Iraq, Libya and Syria have helped unleash ISIS, and were in a war against radical Islam, but President Obama wont even name the enemy, and unless you name the enemy, you will never ever solve the problem. (APPLAUSE) Hillary Clinton also refuses to say the words radical Islam, even as she pushes for a massive increase in refugees coming into our country. After Secretary Clintons failed intervention in Libya, Islamic terrorists in Benghazi took down our consulate and killed our ambassador and three brave Americans. Then, instead of taking charge that night, Hillary Clinton decided to go home and sleep. Incredible. Clinton blames it all on a video, an excuse that was a total lie, proven to be absolutely a total lie. Our ambassador was murdered and our secretary of state misled the nation. And, by the way, she was not awake to take that call at 3 oclock in the morning. And now ISIS is making millions and millions of dollars a week selling Libya oil. And you know what? We dont blockade, we dont bomb, we dont do anything about it. Its almost as if our country doesnt even know whats happening, which could be a fact and could be true. TRUMP: This will all change when I become president. To our friends and allies, I say America is going to be strong again. America is going to be reliable again. Its going to be a great and reliable ally again. Its going to be a friend again. Were going to finally have a coherent foreign policy based upon American interests and the shared interests of our allies. (APPLAUSE) Were getting out of the nation-building business and instead focusing on creating stability in the world. Our moments of greatest strength came when politics ended at the waters edge. We need a new rational American foreign policy, informed by the best minds and supported by both parties, and it will be by both parties Democrats, Republicans, independents, everybody, as well as by our close allies. This is how we won the Cold War and its how we will win our new future struggles, which may be many, which may be complex, but we will win if I become president. (APPLAUSE) First, we need a long-term plan to halt the spread and reach of radical Islam. Containing the spread of radical Islam must be a major foreign policy goal of the United States and indeed the world. Events may require the use of military force, but its also a philosophical struggle, like our long struggle in the Cold War. In this, were going to be working very closely with our allies in the Muslim world, all of which are at risk from radical Islamic violence, attacks and everything else. It is a dangerous world, more dangerous now than it has ever been. We should work thank you. (APPLAUSE) We should work together with any nation in the region that is threatened by the rise of radical Islam. But this has to be a two-way street. They must also be good to us. Remember that. They have to be good to us, no longer one way. Its now two-way. And remember, us and all were doing, they have to appreciate what weve done to them. Were going to help, but they have to appreciate what weve done for them. The struggle against radical Islam also takes place in our homeland. There are scores of recent migrants inside our borders charged with terrorism. For every case known to the public, there are dozens and dozens more. We must stop importing extremism through senseless immigration policies. We have no idea where these people are coming from. Theres no documentation. Theres no paperwork. Theres nothing. We have to be smart. We have to be vigilant. A pause for reassessment will help us to prevent the next San Bernardino or frankly, much worse. All you have to do is look at the World Trade Center and September 11th, one of the great catastrophes, in my opinion, the single greatest military catastrophe in the history of our country; worse than Pearl Harbor because you take a look at whats happened, and citizens were attacked, as opposed to the military being attacked one of the true great catastrophes. And then theres ISIS. I have a simple message for them. Their days are numbered. I wont tell them where and I wont tell them how. We must (APPLAUSE) we must as a nation be more unpredictable. We are totally predictable. We tell everything. Were sending troops. We tell them. Were sending something else. We have a news conference. We have to be unpredictable. And we have to be unpredictable starting now. But theyre going to be gone. ISIS will be gone if Im elected president. And theyll be gone quickly. They will be gone very, very quickly. (APPLAUSE) TRUMP: Secondly, we have to rebuild our military and our economy. The Russians and Chinese have rapidly expanded their military capability, but look at whats happened to us. Our nuclear weapons arsenal, our ultimate deterrent, has been allowed to atrophy and is desperately in need of modernization and renewal. And it has to happen immediately. Our active duty armed forces have shrunk from 2 million in 1991 to about 1.3 million today. The Navy has shrunk from over 500 ships to 272 ships during this same period of time. The Air Force is about one-third smaller than 1991. Pilots flying B-52s in combat missions today. These planes are older than virtually everybody in this room. And what are we doing about this? President Obama has proposed a 2017 defense budget that in real dollars, cuts nearly 25 percent from what we were spending in 2011. Our military is depleted and were asking our generals and military leaders to worry about global warming. We will spend what we need to rebuild our military. It is the cheapest, single investment we can make. We will develop, build and purchase the best equipment known to mankind. Our military dominance must be unquestioned, and I mean unquestioned, by anybody and everybody. But we will look for savings and spend our money wisely. In this time of mounting debt, right now we have so much debt that nobody even knows how to address the problem. But I do. No one dollar can be wasted. Not one single dollar can we waste. Were also going to have to change our trade, immigration and economic policies to make our economy strong again. And to put Americans first again. This will ensure that our own workers, right here in America, get the jobs and higher pay that will grow our tax revenues, increase our economic might as a nation, make us strong financially again. So, so important. We need to think smart about areas where our technological superiority, and nobody comes close, gives us an edge. This includes 3D printing, artificial intelligence and cyber warfare. A great country also takes care of its warriors. Our commitment to them is absolute, and I mean absolute. A trump administration will give our servicemen and women the best equipment and support in the world when they serve and where they serve. And the best care in the world when they return as veterans and they come back home to civilian life. Our veterans (APPLAUSE) Our veterans have not been treated fairly or justly. These are our great people and we must treat them fairly. We must even treat them really, really well and that will happen under the Trump administration. (APPLAUSE) Finally, we must develop a foreign policy based on American interests. Businesses do not succeed when they lose sight of their core interests and neither do countries. Look at what happened in the 1990s. Our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and this was a horrible time for us were attacked. and 17 brave sailors were killed on the USS Cole. And what did we do? It seemed we put more effort into adding China into the World Trade organization, which has been a total disaster for the United States. Frankly, we spent more time on that than we did in stopping Al Qaida. We even had an opportunity to take out Osama bin Laden and we didnt do it And then we got hit at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Again, the worst attack on our country in its history. Our foreign policy goals must be based on Americas core national security interests. And the following will be my priorities. In the Middle East our goals must be, and I mean must be, to defeat terrorists and promote regional stability, not radical change. We need to be clear sighted about the groups that will never be anything other than enemies. And believe me, we have groups that no matter what you do, they will be the enemy. TRUMP: We have to be smart enough to recognize who those groups are, who those people are, and not help them. And we must only be generous to those that prove they are indeed our friends. (APPLAUSE) We desire to live peacefully and in friendship with Russia and China. We have serious differences with these two nations, and must regard them with open eyes, but we are not bound to be adversaries. We should seek common ground based on shared interests. Russia, for instance, has also seen the horror of Islamic terrorism. I believe an easing of tensions, and improved relations with Russia from a position of strength only is possible, absolutely possible. Common sense says this cycle, this horrible cycle of hostility must end and ideally will end soon. Good for both countries. Some say the Russians wont be reasonable. I intend to find out. If we cant make a deal under my administration, a deal thats great not good, great for America, but also good for Russia, then we will quickly walk from the table. Its as simple as that. Were going to find out. Fixing our relations with China is another important step and really toward creating an even more prosperous period of time. China respects strength and by letting them take advantage of us economically, which they are doing like never before, we have lost all of their respect. We have a massive trade deficit with China, a deficit that we have to find a way quickly, and I mean quickly, to balance. A strong and smart America is an America that will find a better friend in China, better than we have right now. Look at what China is doing in the South China Sea. Theyre not supposed to be doing it. No respect for this country or this president. We can both benefit or we can both go our separate ways. If need be, thats whats going to have to happen. After Im elected president, I will also call for a summit with our NATO allies and a separate summit with our Asian allies. In these summits, we will not only discuss a rebalancing of financial commitments, but take a fresh look at how we can adopt new strategies for tackling our common challenges. For instance, we will discuss how we can upgrade NATOs outdated mission and structure, grown out of the Cold War to confront our shared challenges, including migration and Islamic terrorism. (APPLAUSE) I will not hesitate to deploy military force when there is no alternative. But if America fights, it must only fight to win. (APPLAUSE) I will never sent our finest into battle unless necessary, and I mean absolutely necessary, and will only do so if we have a plan for victory with a capital V. (APPLAUSE) Our goal is peace and prosperity, not war and destruction. The best way to achieve those goals is through a disciplined, deliberate and consistent foreign policy. With President Obama and Secretary Clinton weve had the exact opposite a reckless, rudderless and aimless foreign policy, one that has blazed the path of destruction in its wake. After losing thousands of lives and spending trillions of dollars, we are in far worst shape in the Middle East than ever, ever before. I challenge anyone to explain the strategic foreign policy vision of Obama/Clinton. It has been a complete and total disaster. I will also be prepared to deploy Americas economic resources. Financial leverage and sanctions can be very, very persuasive, but we need to use them selectively and with total determination. TRUMP: Our power will be used if others do not play by the rules. In other words, if they do not treat us fairly. Our friends and enemies must know that if I draw a line in the sand, I will enforce that line in the sand. Believe me. (APPLAUSE) However, unlike other candidates for the presidency, war and aggression will not be my first instinct. You cannot have a foreign policy without diplomacy. A superpower understands that caution and restraint are really truly signs of strength. Although not in government service, I was totally against the war in Iraq, very proudly, saying for many years that it would destabilize the Middle East. Sadly, I was correct, and the biggest beneficiary has been has been Iran, who is systematically taking over Iraq and gaining access to their very rich oil reserves, something it has wanted to do for decades. And now, to top it off, we have ISIS. My goal is to establish a foreign policy that will endure for several generations. Thats why I also look and have to look for talented experts with approaches and practical ideas, rather than surrounding myself with those who have perfect resumes but very little to brag about except responsibility for a long history of failed policies and continued losses at war. We have to look to new people. (APPLAUSE) We have to look to new people because many of the old people frankly dont know what theyre doing, even though they may look awfully good writing in the New York Times or being watched on television. Finally, I will work with our allies to reinvigorate Western values and institutions. Instead of trying to spread universal values that not everybody shares or wants, we should understand that strengthening and promoting Western civilization and its accomplishments will do more to inspire positive reforms around the world than military interventions. (APPLAUSE) These are my goals as president. I will seek a foreign policy that all Americans, whatever their party, can support, so important, and which our friends and allies will respect and totally welcome. The world must know that we do not go abroad in search of enemies, that we are always happy when old enemies become friends and when old friends become allies, thats what we want. We want them to be our allies. We want the world to be we want to bring peace to the world. Too much destruction out there, too many destructive weapons. The power of weaponry is the single biggest problem that we have today in the world. To achieve these goals, Americans must have confidence in their country and its leadership. Again, many Americans must wonder why we our politicians seem more interested in defending the borders of foreign countries than in defending their own. Americans (APPLAUSE) Americans must know that were putting the American people first again on trade. (APPLAUSE) So true. On trade, on immigration, on foreign policy. The jobs, incomes and security of the American worker will always be my first priority. (APPLAUSE) No country has ever prospered that failed to put its own interests first. Both our friends and our enemies put their countries above ours and we, while being fair to them, must start doing the same. We will no longer surrender this country or its people to the false song of globalism. The nation-state remains the true foundation for happiness and harmony. I am skeptical of international unions that tie us up and bring America down and will never enter (APPLAUSE) TRUMP: And under my administration, we will never enter America into any agreement that reduces our ability to control our own affairs. (APPLAUSE) NAFTA, as an example, has been a total disaster for the United States and has emptied our states literally emptied our states of our manufacturing and our jobs. And Ive just gotten to see it. Ive toured Pennsylvania. Ive toured New York. Ive toured so many of the states. They have been cleaned out. Their manufacturing is gone. Never again, only the reverse and I have to say this strongly never again; only the reverse will happen. We will keep our jobs and bring in new ones. There will be consequences for the companies that leave the United States only to exploit it later. They fire the people. They take advantage of the United States. There will be consequences for those companies. Never again. Under a Trump administration, no American citizen will ever again feel that their needs come second to the citizens of a foreign country. (APPLAUSE) I will view as president the world through the clear lens of American interests. I will be Americas greatest defender and most loyal champion. We will not apologize for becoming successful again, but will instead embrace the unique heritage that makes us who we are. The world is most peaceful and most prosperous when America is strongest. America will continue and continue forever to play the role of peacemaker. We will always help save lives and indeed humanity itself, but to play the role, we must make America strong again. (APPLAUSE) And always always, always, we must make, and we have to look at it from every angle, and we have no choice, we must make America respected again. We must make America truly wealthy again. And we must we have to and we will make America great again. And if we do that and if we do that, perhaps this century can be the most peaceful and prosperous the world has ever, ever known. Thank you very much, everybody. I appreciate it. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE) Thank you. Archer appreciates the simple joys of language. The shows writers treat English (and, frequently, tidbits from foreign tongues) as a complex plaything to be endlessly reconfigured. The characters often act like comedy writers, amusing themselves with puns and one-liners for their own sake. (When Ray responds to Pams diss of Otto Von Jizzmark by saying he wouldve gone with Franz Turdinand, it may as well be a direct transcript from a writers room.) Even during the most heated action scenes, theres always time for Archer to stop what hes doing and brainstorm the perfect wordplay. The dialogue nests phrases within phrases, ideas within ideas, mimicking the informal patterns of actual human speech. To wit: Mallory opens Bel Panto: Part One in the middle of a meeting, working her mouth around the line which brings us to our penultimate item, which concerns, yet again, and to no great surprise, the restrooms, specifically the towel dispensers. After seven seasons, it should come as no surprise that Archer treats writing as an art with self-evident worth. But in a more general sense, the Archer writers have a deft understanding of how language works. All the familiar faces at the Figgis Agency speak in a hypercolloquial vernacular built both from real-world shorthand and in-show shibboleth, much like the way friends develop inside jokes. When groups of people spend a lot of time together, their linguistic habits meet in the middle and form a unified dialect all their own. These characters understand one another when they begin a sentence with, Which or yell, Phrasing! out of nowhere and so do we. Bel Panto stands as a miniature monument to the elastic capabilities of words, whether its a pun that stitches the last line of one scene corresponds to the first of another, or Cheryl spiraling into an increasingly asinine monologue that ends with, What ever happened to blimps? Bel Panto belongs to the best category of Archer episodes, wherein the entire ensemble gets transplanted into a self-contained situation and assumes new roles to handle their surroundings. It bears more than a passing similarity to season fours Live and Let Dine, which placed the agency formerly known as ISIS undercover in a five-star restaurant. This weeks episode sends them to a high-society fundraiser for the Tinnitus Foundation (a cause close to Archers heart, and even closer to his perma-perforated eardrums) to protect a valuable necklace worn by Veronica Deane. It takes approximately ten seconds for them to get entangled in the long-simmering enmity between Veronica and her ex-husband Ellis Crane (voiced by John OHurley, continuing this seasons streak of well-placed guest actors), a silver-fox director in the tradition of golden-age staples like Howard Hawks and William Wyler. As Ray, Pam, and Cheryl seethe about getting stuck on hired-help detail, Archer immediately attempts to fulfill his fantasy of bedding a movie star, and Lana strikes back at him in the most convenient available way by hitting on Ellis. In terms of plot, its nothing new, though the extended presence of Veronica and Patton Oswalts sleazy lawyer suggests Adam Reed and his writers may be playing a long game. This episode excels by flexing Archers true strength: setting its characters loose in peculiar surroundings, where they must react to one another. Activities as simple as chatting about nothing, or even chatting about chatting, play like action scenes under Reeds skillful pen. (Not to mention the actual action scenes, of which this episode has few.) When Archer kills the pink-colored gunman in the secret chamber he and Veronica have claimed as a base, shes visibly horrified. But as he explains to her, if he had let the guy live, he wouldve almost certainly escaped or called for help or otherwise fouled up the plan. The gang might be in Hollywood, but this story doesnt follow a typical formula. It obviously isnt real life, either. Archer occupies a fascinating space in between. Hes a cartoon that talks like a human being. Assorted Thoughts and Questions: Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images Oh great, now everyone who looks like a celebrity is gonna want to get knocked unconscious by a drunk sociopath. Cosmopolitan.com reports that Mario Licato, the New York man who was subjected to a vicious punch from a stranger enraged by Licatos notable resemblance to Shia LaBeouf, got an apology voice-mail from the actor himself. No, no, Shia LaBeouf was not the perpetrator, though that would be an extremely Shia LaBeouf reveal. After receiving an Instagram comment from LaBeouf, Licato found a voice-mail on his work phone. Said Licato: It was a pretty long voicemail. He was like, Hey, this is Shia LaBeouf I just read an article that you were punched in the face because you look like me? And he was like, Aw, man. That sucks. Im so sorry. But I get it. Its happened to me before. And then he was like, I dont know. I wish I was in New York. Id come bring you soup. He was just like, This sucks. I dont even know what to say. Im sorry. People are just crazy. Just because you look like me? LaBeouf also left his phone number and urged Licato to call him to chat. Lets giggle over this, the Fury actor said. Maybe theres a silver lining in all this. Meanwhile, Licatos assailant will never get to meet the celebrity he most resembles, though to be fair, there arent a ton of famous people that look like theyre made out of hot wet garbage. World Hunger Relief will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a Farmily Reunion and Farm Day Friday and Saturday. The reunion will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, and will include food trucks and music. Saturday activities will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will include live music, hayrides, a petting zoo, fresh lunch, a storytime and more. For more information, visit www.worldhunger relief.org or call 799-5611. Baylor concert The annual Presidents Concert at Baylor University will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Jones Concert Hall in Baylors Glennis McCrary Music Building. This years program is a performance of Johannes Brahms A German Requiem, Op. 45. The concert will feature the Baylor Symphony Orchestra and Baylors A Cappella Choir and Concert Choir. General admission tickets cost $15, and can be purchased online at www.baylor.edu/music or by calling 710-3571. Barbecue plate sale Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 3733 Homan Ave., will have a barbecue plate fundraiser at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost is $8 for a plate of barbecue chicken and sausage links, potato salad, baked beans and cake. The sale will run until sold out each day. For more information, call 754-1666. Tabernacle fundraiser China Spring Tabernacle, 127 Ford St., will have a garage sale fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The public can rent a table to sell their own items for $15. To reserve a table, call Angela Shaw at 836-9015. Boil-water notice McLennan County Water Control and Improvement District No. 2 in Elm Mott issued a boil-water notice Thursday for its water customers. The notice was issued after repairs were required to fix a break in the line. For more information, call 829-1824 or 722-5005. Giveaway event Zion Hill Baptist Church will have a giveaway event of clothes, shoes and housewares from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Estella Maxey Neighborhood Center, 1809 J.J. Flewellen Drive. For more information, call 717-9218 or 224-1717. West garage sale The West, Texas Foundation will have a West citywide garage sale and junk-in-the-trunk event at 9 a.m. Saturday on Main Street in downtown West. For more information, call 733-1865. 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. A nonprofit group aimed at improving mental illness and addiction resources plans to launch in Waco, working with employers to improve the workplace and reduce costs. Jenna Hoff, Face It Together Waco executive director, said the national organization uses data and evidence-based practices to help health care organizations, employers, employees and communities improve. Hoff said she discovered Face It Together while living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where the nonprofit group is based. The model was tested five years before the nonprofit group expanded to new locations. Hoff said she has worked in mental health recovery in Waco for several years and thinks the groups proven methods would be a great benefit to the area. She said the three main focuses are access to care, quality of care and measuring outcomes, which is a method already familiar to Waco through existing nonprofit groups, she said. The model is being tailored to meet the needs in Waco by incorporating mental illness resources. Waco City Council member Dillon Meek, general counsel of Face it Together Waco, said the nonprofit group takes a unique approach to a real problem facing the community. Its a really cool initiative that has seen a lot of fruit in other parts of the country, Meek said. Hoff said they hope to launch as soon as possible. The timetable revolves around funding. She said they need $125,000 in pledges from the community and another $125,000 from private donations or grant funding. One in four people live with a mental illness, or 25 percent of the workforce in a given year, she said. One in 10 people suffer from addictions, she said. About 90 percent of those who need addiction treatment and 67 percent of those who need mental health care wont get help in a given year. It costs each employer about $1,700 per employee, per year, for an employee with an untreated addiction, she said. Face It Together will charge employers $40 a year per employee to improve that situation. Addiction costs U.S. employers $260 billion each year, and mood disorders cost employers about $50 billion each year in lost productivity, according to Face It Together. Individuals with an alcohol problem use twice as much sick leave and are five times more likely to file workers compensation claims. Hoff said turnover brings added costs, department productivity loss, morale degradation, and staff concerns. Many employees wont come forward because of fear of consequences in the office, lack of information or the stigma associated, she said. Each workplace can tailor the program to meet its needs, Hoff said. A lot of employers dont know how to address a situation of this nature, she said, and the nonprofit can help educate and assist in keeping valued personnel. Lets say its a high-level manager that youve put a lot of money into training and you dont want to let them go. . . . It will cost more to replace them, Hoff said. We make sure we can help them with that. We want to change the culture in the workplace, ensure theres no stigma and shame in struggling with these things. Face It Together includes workplace education and outreach programs, wellness and benefits programs, supervisor training, human resources support, measuring outcomes and a co-workers in recovery program, among others. So often people dont realize, Wow this is actually depression Im dealing with, Hoff said. We want people to understand depression and anxiety before it gets too far. SpaceX, which has a rocket-testing facility in McGregor, announced it has entered into an agreement with NASA to make a flight to Mars by 2018. Founder Elon Musk has made it clear he would like his aerospace company involved in the colonization of the Red Planet. The trip reportedly would involve an unmanned Dragon capsule landing on Mars to collect scientific samples. SpaceX, in Twitter and Facebook messages, confirmed the collaboration with NASA and mentioned the importance of the McGregor plant in making it possible. A SpaceX tweet shows a Dragon 2 SuperDraco propulsive landing system going through its paces 15 miles west of Waco, and includes the words, Key to Mars landing. SpaceX spokesman Phil Larson said the company will provide most of the funding for the project but is not yet prepared to release a figure. NASA will offer some technical support, such as use of the Deep Space Network for communications, Larson said in an email to the Tribune-Herald. Uncrewed missions will help demonstrate the technologies needed to land large payloads propulsively to Mars. He said Musk will reveal more details later this year about his plan to make Mars a destination point should Earth face destruction. Air Force contract Also this week, the U.S. Air Force announced it has awarded an $83 million contract to SpaceX to launch a GPS satellite, a move that breaks the monopoly Lockheed Martin and Boeing have held on military space launches for more than a decade, according to trade magazines. The GPS satellite will be launched in May 2018 from Florida, Air Force officials said. The contract awarded to SpaceX covers the production of a Falcon 9 rocket, spacecraft integration, launch operations and spaceflight certification. United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security, did not compete for the GPS launch contract, according to the Reuters news service, reportedly because of accounting issues and trade sanctions that could limit its ability to acquire Russian-made rockets. This GPS III Launch Services contract award achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space mission, said Lt. General Samuel Greaves, who directs the Air Forces Space and Missile Systems Center, in a statement. Founded in 2002, SpaceX has completed 26 launch missions that include resupplying the International Space Station for NASA, hauling commercial satellites into space and carrying out U.S. government science and national security missions. Its online manifest identifies 45 future missions, with most launches to take place at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California or the Cape Canaveral Air Fore Station in Florida. SpaceX is building the worlds first commercial launch site designed for orbital missions in the Boca Chica area of South Texas. The 4,000-acre McGregor facility serves as the company nerve center. It is equipped with 11 test stands for the various rockets the company produces. SpaceX averages two rocket tests per day, and some have been known to rattle windows and shake pictures off the walls of nearby homes. There are stretches when the testing comes pretty often and pretty loud, said Delores VanGuilder, a manager at Donald Citrano's Coffee Shop Cafe on McGregor Drive. But the restaurant can live with the noise, she said, because SpaceX employees often eat lunch there, VanGuilder said. We had 15 or so in here today, she said Thursday. But it can be more than that, depending on what theyre working on and whether they can leave. The company employs more than 300 people at its testing facility in McGregor and is in line to receive $3 million in incentives from the Waco-McLennan County Economic Development Corp. in exchange for promises to hire 300 additional employees during the next few years, bringing total employment to nearly 600. As for the mission to Mars, SpaceX founder Musk has found an enthusiastic partner in NASA. In a blog post, NASA Deputy Administrator Dave Newman said collaboration with industry and international partners is key to getting there. For Musk, Mars has been the focus of his obsession. Before he launched SpaceX, the billionaire who founded PayPal and Tesla was curious to know when NASA planned to send humans there, so he checked the agencys website because, of course, there had to be a schedule. I couldnt find it. I thought the problem was me. Because, of course, it must be here somewhere on this website, but just well hidden. And it turned out it wasnt on there, said Musk, as reported in the Washington Post. In an effort to generate support for NASA and the cause of travel to Mars, Musk decided to buy a rocket and send a greenhouse to Mars, which would be the farthest life had traveled and the first thing living on Mars, which is 249 million miles from Earth. But buying a rocket proved too difficult and expensive, so Musk decided to build one on his own. He created SpaceX by investing $100 million of his own money. He has said he wants to colonize Mars so that humanity has a back-up plan in case anything should happen to Earth, such as an asteroid hitting it. NASASpaceflight.com quotes Musk as saying, With Dragon launched on a Falcon Heavy (rocket), it can go pretty much anywhere in the solar system, because thats a heck of a big rocket. Dragon, with the heat shield, parachutes and propulsive landing capability, is able to land on a planet that has a higher entry heating, like Mars. A renovated 19th-century white pine barn originally erected in Canada began to take shape Thursday afternoon as a permanent fixture of Magnolia Market in downtown Waco. Head contractor Timeline Construction and Homestead Heritage rebuilt the 60-foot by 30-foot barn and are re-assembling it as a pavilion behind Magnolia Market, Timeline owner Sam Schwennesen said. The barn was disassembled, cleaned and shipped to Waco, and construction crews pulled members from the crowd at Magnolia to help raise the structure once again, this time at the popular tourist attraction. This was built in the 1870s, from the best we can tell, because we took a core sample of it, sent it in, got it tested, and we know from the hand-hewn beams, Schwennesen said. They didnt have sawmills until the early 1900s. The barn was located near southern Ontario before crews worked to disassemble it and restore the wood, Homestead Heritage manager Kevin Durkin said to the crowd gathered for the barn raising. Durkin said the barn will be put back together primarily by hand, similar to how English settlers originally built the barn. They are not certain who built the barn, but its construction was in the English style, he said. It was built to last hundreds of years, Durkin said. Now I dont think they (settlers) ever thought it would be in Waco, Texas, but it will be here for a long time to come. Durkin led participants in raising portions of the frame that weigh between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds. Kathy and Tom Dudley, of Geno, California, and their longtime friend Deanna Hinton, of Salado, watched the start of the barn raising and hoped to spot Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. Ive always been fascinated with the name Waco anyway, and weve always driven by but with the river right off the interstate we wanted to come back again. But we really came because of Magnolia, Kathy Dudley said. We are all Fixer Upper fans . . . and I think the whole barn raising this is great, especially when they got the spectators involved. Hinton said the charm of Magnolia Market continues to bring people to Waco. They have brought the community together, and it is a very strong and important thing, Hinton said. To be building a resting place outside of the market is really creating something for everyone, and I think it is really neat to watch bringing old and new together. Guests from across the country watched as the crews worked throughout the afternoon to finish the fame and install rafters for the roof. Schwennesen said the completion date for the pavilion is scheduled for May 15. Applause Natalie Hoelscher, a junior at Robinson High School, was selected as the 2016 Miss Heart O Texas Fair & Rodeo. She is active in school and church activities, as well as being involved in the McLennan County 4-H program. This will be her third year as a Heart O Texas Fair & Rodeo Sweetheart and last year she served as the mascot, T-Bone. Class acts Matthew Salinas, of Waco, a 2011 Midway High School graduate, will receive his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Tarleton State University in Stephenville on May 7. McMurry University in Abilene announced that Devlon Noble Jr., of Waco, received a scholarship at the Scholarship Day competition on April 9. Scholarship Day awards are among the highest academic recognitions made by McMurry University to entering freshman students. Scholarship Day awards provide an annual stipend of at least $8,000 and are renewable for up to eight semesters of full-time study. Pitching in Assistance is being sought to produce a booklet or DVD that can be given out to winners and family members of the Miss Waco Pageant. Bill Foster and his associates produced the Miss Waco Pageants for 28 years. David Eddleman kept them going for another 12 years until he retired due to health issues. To ask questions or to offer to help, call 756-0347 or email billfoster@BFAWaco.com. Send submissions to neighborplus@wacotrib.com. Rapoport Academys board of directors approved a realignment of the elementary grades Thursday after a series of open meetings in which parents voiced divided opinions on the proposal. Seven board members voted for the proposal, while two members abstained. All prekindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade students will attend East Campus Elementary, while second-, third- and fourth-graders will attend North Campus Elementary starting at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year. Each campus currently has pre-K through fourth grade. Superintendent Alexis Neumann said two buses will shuttle students between the elementary campuses starting at 7:35 a.m. so parents dont have to travel if they have children attending separate campuses. This also keeps any students who attended their neighborhood school from being forced to drive across town. Neumann also assured parents that elementary campuses would open about 15 minutes earlier so parents driving farther would have enough time to drop off their children and arrive to work on time. Neumann proposed the realignment at the beginning of April, saying she wanted to erase uncharitable perceptions between the two elementary campuses. District reports also show that combining the 68 students in each grade would help improve teacher professional development and instruction quality. East Campus Elementary School did not meet state academic standards for the first time in the 2014-15 school year, while North Campus barely passed, according to district reports. I believe this is going to change the trajectory of students, Neumann said Thursday. While there was strong support for the overall proposal, many board members voiced reservations about combining the schools in August instead of waiting a year. Jonathan Tran, parent representative, said many parents and staff members werent against the overall proposal but felt slighted because they werent given the opportunity to digest the information in a reasonable amount of time. But Rapoport Chief Academic Officer Ashley Henderson urged the board to move quickly to maintain momentum students have gained from added instructional support the district added this year to address slipping academic performance. We have students that are two, three years behind, and if we wait another year, they could fall further behind, Henderson said. My wife, Nancy, and I have just returned home from Tonto Verde, a retirement community in the Sonoran Desert north of Phoenix, Arizona, where we spent five wonderful days with Nancys sister and husband inside and outdoors at an adobe house like all others in that community. We walked, hiked, and were reminded of our previous studies in the U.S.-Mexican borderlands. The largest plant inside and around Tonto Verde was Saguaro cactus, often 20-30 feet tall, with arms bearing white flowers. Other cacti had flowers of red, white, purple or yellow. Also, there were green-leaved trees like mesquite and willows along the creeks, plus green-leaved shrubs in drainage areas. Wildlife we stopped to watch included many kinds of desert birds in and out of cacti, and lizards on the ground around widely spaced cacti. Fifteen feet outside our house were cactus wrens delivering food to hatchlings in a nest so deep inside a flat-leaf, 6-foot-tall prickly pear cactus that when we walked over and tried to peer in we couldnt see the nest. Cactus spines are quite protective! Upon returning home, we found our Central Texas yard and adjacent forest full of fresh green leaves plus singing birds such as northern cardinals, Carolina wrens, and tufted titmice with migrating Swainsons thrushes and at least three species of warblers, plus white-eye vireos and blue-gray gnatcatchers. Nature delivers such beauty in our lives, and I discovered that Nancys sister and retired-dentist husband each kept binoculars on the kitchen counter to see nature. As I write this nature column at home, gray clouds cover the sky, but in the next day a cloudless sky prevailed. Our total rain since we returned on April 12 was more than 7 inches, and our air is somewhat foggy, as it often is in springtime. Cardinals, tufted titmice, Carolina chickadees and other birds are singing. A Carolina wren just peered into our historic fishing creel (Nancys grandfathers) hanging head-high on the brick wall of our front porch, which was used successfully for nesting last year . Caterpillars are descending from trees, shrubs and other plants, and each morning while I pick up our newspaper, I find fresh armadillo diggings and their smaller poked holes in the wet soil. Spring has sprung insect and worm food for migratory and local birds and other wildlife. The diggings in the topsoil of our yard and in our forested nature preserve reminded me that April 22 was Earth Day. I hope that this special day reminds us all to be alert to essential nature. My family and nature are so blessed with springtime, wherever we are on Earth. What an uplifting time of year! The public is also blessed by natures air, water, soil, rocks, and wildlife everywhere. Remember that nature serves all life all over the Earth. Im happy that we have a nature column in this paper and a U.S. National Earth Day to help us be thankful. Fred Gehlbach is a retired Baylor University research biologist. The Texas law allowing firearms at public universities has the institutions buzzing, and McLennan Community College is considering how best to comply. Robert Page, co-chair of MCCs campus carry working group, presented a website on the topic at the board of trustees meeting Thursday night. Because it is not a four-year institution, MCC is not required to comply by this fall. Its deadline is in August of 2017. Under the law enacted last year, colleges can consider the nature of the student population, specific safety considerations and the uniqueness of the campus environment when establishing regulations. Our job is not to debate the law, its how to implement the law, said Page, division chair of visual and performing arts. In February, President Johnette McKown approved the 23-member working group to consider how best the college can comply. Though licensed Texans can carry handguns either concealed or openly, there are exceptions for many sites that prohibit guns. Weve created a website because the state law also requires us to have a place where we can disseminate information about campus carry throughout the campus, Page said. And its open to everybody on the MCC website. The website gives a summary of the law, a list of committee members, a timeline of its work, contact information and frequently asked questions. Last month, the group held its first meeting, and this summer a campus survey will be created. Subcommittees of the group will then review plans set forth by the University of Texas, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University. Page said its an advantage to be able to look at other institutions plans before proposing their own. Basic template Were going to be able to take those and work from that, Page said before the meeting Thursday. So were not going to have to completely reinvent the wheel. Were going to piggy back on the work that theyve done. I think as its shaping up, as Ive read quite a few of these recommendations from schools, there is a basic template coming out. To further spread information, there will be forums for students, faculty, staff and community members in September. Page said it is unlikely handguns will be allowed in sporting events, polling events and places of governance around campus. He estimates about 1.5 percent of MCC students, faculty and staff hold concealed handgun licenses. He said about 1 percent of the population at the University of Texas holds a license. I know we will do our best to follow the law as set forth by the legislature, board chairman K. Paul Holt said. Private universities are not required to allow guns, and Baylor University decided recently to continue banning guns on campus. Three employees with GoldStar Transit were fired after a Waco Independent School District bus accident sent seven students to the hospital on April 14. Assistant superintendent of middle schools Rick Hartley, who also manages Waco ISDs transportation, said he was told three GoldStar employees were fired after the accident near the intersection of Lake Shore Drive and 19th Street. I know that there are three people no longer with GoldStar as a result of the accident. They did not want to give me specific information, other than to assure me that those responsible are no longer with the company, Hartley said. The bus was going down a hill on 19th Street toward Lake Shore Drive shortly after 8 a.m., and the driver reported the brakes failed. The bus hit a median as it crossed Lake Shore Drive and came to a stop in a shopping center parking lot, according to police. The driver was able to avoid colliding with any other vehicles. Hartley said seven of 21 students were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries. GoldStar, which operates Waco ISDs school busses, released a statement Wednesday, stating that employees were terminated after investigations by the company and Waco police. GoldStar did not release any other details on the investigations or the employees who were fired. Requests for further information were denied, and calls and emails to the company Thursday were not returned. The Tribune-Herald has submitted public records requests for information on the incident and the employees who were fired. According to the Waco police crash report, Royce Montgomery, 61, of Waco, was driving the bus. Officials have not said whether Montgomery was one of the three employees fired.The front brakes worked properly, but the rear brakes malfunctioned, according to the police report. Work was done on the bus before the mechanical failure, but it was not inspected before it was returned to service, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said. Excessive speed was also a factor in the crash, Swanton said. Witness said the bus bounced wildly as it went over the curbs and at one time leaned over the to the side that at one time, they (the witness) thought it was going to tip over, Swanton said, citing the police report. They also said that it appeared the bus was traveling at a very high rate of speed, which is also indicated by the length of the skid marks and the distance the bus traveled after the driver first applied the brakes. GoldStar said it has completed retraining of personnel and a thorough check of the companys fleet to ensure all required safety standards and regulations are met or exceeded. The safety of our passengers, employees and the community is our first and most important priority, GoldStars statement says. Swanton said officers closed the crash report Wednesday with no criminal charges. Hartley said the safety of students will always be a high priority for school administrators, transportation staff and faculty. I met with GoldStar today and we went through everything from the time of the incident to where we are today about all the things they are doing to ensure that my buses are running safe for my students and their families, he said. That, to me, has always been the bottom line. Are my buses safe and are the parents comfortable with their children riding these buses. They (GoldStar) have gone through everything to assure me that every single one of them is safe for operation now. Famed Texas Ranger Frank Hamer is best known as the man who stopped the deadly 1930s robber duo Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, but a new biography argues the rest of his career merits as much attention to his bravery and investigative success. In his five decades of law enforcement, Hamer faced down lynch mobs, including some in McLennan County; enforced order on rioting oil field communities; tackled gamblers, moonshiners, bootleggers and corrupt bankers and politicians; and investigated several unsolvable crimes, all during a period in which the Texas Rangers pivoted from primarily border control and protection to more of a state police. He was the greatest lawman of the 20th century, said John Boessenecker, author of Texas Ranger: The Epic Story of Frank Hamer, the Man Who Killed Bonnie and Clyde. Boessenecker, a history writer, San Francisco trial attorney and former policeman, will speak on The Myths of Frank Hamer Saturday morning at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. Its part of the museums three-day Lone Star History Conference, which opens Friday evening and continues through Sunday. The periodic conference brings in historians, writers and Rangers past and present to talk about issues in Texas Ranger history. Common bond Christine Rothenbush, marketing and development coordinator for the Ranger Hall of Fame, said the semi-annual conference in the past has attracted some 500 people, most from outside Waco and some from as far away as California. Interest in history and the Texas Rangers proves a common bond and supports the Hall of Fame and Museums mission. Its really a great event for us, she said. Wende Wakeman, the first woman to serve as a Texas Ranger lieutenant, and Kemp Dixon, author of Texas Rangers and World War II, will speak at Fridays conference session, which starts at 5 p.m. Saturdays speakers include Texas Prison Museum Director Jim Willett, U.S. Marshals Service historian David Turk, Texas State Historian Bill Neal, Texas Rangers Assistant Chief Frank Malinak and authors Boessenecker, Dave Johnson, Jim Dillard and Bob Alexander. The conferences Sunday morning session will be a writing roundtable with a panel discussion on writing, publishing and marketing. The museum also will unveil a new exhibit chronicling the history of 1870s Texas Ranger George Arrington. Boessenecker and Alexander have new books to unveil at the conference, Boesseneckers Texas Ranger and Alexanders Whiskey River Ranger. Boessenecker said his introduction to Hamer came when, as a boy, he saw the 1968 film Bonnie and Clyde. It was a hugely popular film at the time but has been criticized since for glamorizing the criminal couple at the expense of law enforcement officers like Hamer. Texas Ranger was Boesseneckers first history set outside of California or the Old West and a project he thought someone else would surely tackle. I was waiting for years for a properly written, properly researched biography, he said. After finishing his last book in 2010, Boessenecker decided to do one himself, checking with Texas historians he knew to see if there was any book in progress. Told there wasnt, Boessenecker began his work. In an effort to rebut Bonnie and Clyde, Hamers second wife Gladys assisted the publication of the 1968 biography I Am Frank Hamer, but its account of Hamers life and career had its own problems with fact. A glaring omission, Boessenecker would find, was Hamers efforts in the 1920s in facing down the Ku Klux Klan and Texas mobs out to lynch black prisoners in county custody while awaiting trial or sentencing. The San Francisco author says that long-overlooked part of Hamers career was the brightest and most noble episode of his official life. Ties to Texas history Hamer began his Ranger career in 1906, trained by famed Ranger Capt. John Rogers, whose integrity and fair treatment of Latinos and African-Americans under his charge was passed on to the young Ranger, the biographer said. Hamers career was stitched through Texas history of the early 20th century: The Bandit Wars of 1915, when the violence of the Mexican Revolution spilled across the border. Out-of-control lawlessness in oil towns Mexia and Borger. Attempted lynchings in Waco in 1922, one foiled by Hamer standing on the courthouse stairs with his submachine gun. A 1928 investigation of the Texas Bankers Association that found its monetary rewards for dead bank robbers had turned into a murder-for-reward ring. The celebrated search for Bonnie and Clyde, which ended with their deaths in a 1934 ambush near Gibsland, Louisiana. An investigation of the suspicious Ballot Box 13, whose nearly unanimous ballots for Lyndon Johnson provided the margin of victory over Coke Stevenson for Texas Senator in the 1948 Democratic primary. Although Hamer had a larger-than-life career as a law enforcement officer, Boessenecker said finding the real Hamer was a matter of research and verifiable sources. It wasnt hard to separate the myth from the truth, he said. Ive been doing this a long time. What was hard was finding that truth in Hamers own words. The lawman only had a sixth-grade education, but his remarkable memory for faces and facts meant much of his investigative work was never put to paper, Boessenecker said. The Texas State Archives helped with its holdings of the Texas Rangers scouting reports, and recently released FBI files on Bonnie and Clyde added crucial information to that part of the story, he said. Hamer wasnt a Texas Ranger for all his career. He was a city marshal of Navasota in the 1910s and a private investigator at other times in his career. He resigned as a Texas Ranger in 1933 rather than serve under Texas Gov. Miriam Ferguson and her husband Jim, whom he considered corrupt. He wasnt a Ranger, in fact, when asked to track down Bonnie and Clyde. Hamer retired from law enforcement for good in 1949 and died in Austin in 1955. He was the chief town-tamer of Texas . . . called on to go to one hot spot after another, Boessenecker said. He was so self-possessed, so self-confident . . . and totally fearless. This spring marks our 150th year of organized professional medicine in Waco. The Waco Medical Association was founded April 1866, evolving into the McLennan County Medical Society in 1903. In recent weeks, the 17th annual MCMS Gold-Headed Cane Award was given to Dr. John Speckmiear, a most deserved honor. And the Family Health Center Gala was held to support and celebrate the work that the center a brainchild of the medical community has done in Waco over 46 years. In 2015, the Family Health Center provided more than 250,000 encounters to more than 58,000 unique patients. The family medicine residency program has trained nearly 400 family physicians, including more than half of our local physicians. And our unusual exhibit, Leeches to Lasers: 150 Years of the McLennan County Medical Society, is officially open and, yes, complete with real (and historic) leeches! It is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Fort House, South Fourth Street and Webster Avenue. Were holding a private reception there on the Waco Medical Associations exact 150th anniversary this Saturday. To better grasp the strides of physicians over time, consider some stellar figures and events in our colorful history. From them, youll understand why the pride and diligence they demonstrated inspire us today. Wacos medical first family: Pharmacist William Colgin opened a drugstore on the Waco square at the start of the 20th century. He had three sons who began a multi-specialty clinic in Waco. Merchant was an internist, Irwin a general surgeon and William an ear, nose and throat surgeon. These brothers began practicing medicine around 1910. They founded the Colgin hospital and clinic in 1920, which closed during the Depression in 1939. The site became the Joanna McClelland Memorial Hospital for indigent patients and the brothers went on to serve Waco into the 1940s. The next generation two internists James and Merchant practiced from 1948 to 1988 (Merchant continued on alone till 1993). They started their practice in the ALICO building but moved to 2320 Columbus Ave. after the downtown skyscraper was shaken in the May 11, 1953, tornado, then relocated to the Hillcrest Medical Tower in 1975 till they closed. James son Murray returned to Waco once he finished his internal medicine residency and practiced in Waco from 1987 to 1999. He now practices in Kerrville. One of the Colgins almost saw his career cut short in 1942. Lt. Merchant Colgin was traveling to England in a group of ships to serve in the 8th Air Forces medical corps in World War II when a German U-boat surfaced. (Some 3,000 Allied ships were sunk by U-boats during WWII.) The German captain used a loudspeaker to tell the men on the boat they had 20 minutes to abandon ship before he sunk them. He proceeded to torpedo their ships, then sent word by radio to a neutral ship to come pick them up and take them to safety in Bermuda. Merchant soon joined another naval convoy to England. Decades later in 1990, Merchant learned the U-boat captain still lived in Germany. They corresponded. Colgin remained grateful that the former captain had spared his life so that he in turn could do good serving the medical needs of Waco for the next nearly 50 years. The Spanish Flu in Waco: Ten weeks after Congress voted to declare war on Germany and its allies and join in World War I in 1917, a military installation was approved for Waco. It was called Camp MacArthur, covered 10,700 acres on the northwest side of Waco and welcomed its first 18,000 trainees from Wisconsin and Michigan in September. Eventually the camp held 28,000 soldiers. Many would form the famous 32nd Infantry Division, which accomplished significant exploits in France and earned the nickname Les Terribles. Some of these soldiers met and married Waco women and their families still live here today. The Great War was over Nov. 11, 1918, and Camp MacArthur closed soon after. While 17 million died worldwide due to World War I, between 30 million and 50 million died at the same time of the Spanish Flu that struck in three waves through 1918. Waco was not spared. Records are difficult to find due to war, confusion over the flu and the governments preferring little transparency. There were 930 cases of flu at Camp MacArthur and 202 soldiers died. Many others died of flu once they got overseas. In the city, between 280 and 500 citizens died of the flu. Local and military doctors cooperated to increase sanitation and quarantine the sick. Facilities were overrun and coffins stacked up at the roughest times. Waco Mayor Ed McCullough closed schools, theaters and movie houses. The efforts and education of physicians and community leaders rendered the flu less severe in Waco than in many other places. Addressing a local need: At the March 1965 McLennan County Medical Society meeting, Maurice Barnes suggested a committee be formed to address Wacos medical needs, specifically health care for the indigent. He and R. Wilson Crosthwait co-sponsored the committee. That July steering committee member David Dow gave their recommendations to the board. This eventually became the Post-Graduate Medical Education and Physician Procurement Committee in 1968. Led by Nick Bellegie and George Berry, the committee tackled the problems of bringing younger primary-care physicians to Waco (there was only one physician per 1,200 citizens back then), supplying health care to those who have no resources, the desire for a house staff program for the hospitals and, finally, the need for a director of medical education for Waco. Ultimately, many physicians and others came together to find resources to help, including through physician donations, the Model Cities Program, Sister Austin Cusimano of the Providence Hospital and administrator Julian H. Pace of the Hillcrest Hospital. Local governments and businesses were enlisted for support. Dr. Dow worked with political leaders to arrange grants from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development. The Family Practice Residency Program officially began on July 1, 1970, with its first two residents, Bing Oei and Julio Esquivel. Today that program has developed into the remarkable Family Health Center. The Last Stitch: Born in a log cabin in Mississippi in 1873, William L. Crosthwait studied medicine at Hospital College of Medicine of Central University in Louisville, Kentucky, with a tuition of $100 a year. He moved to Texas to practice in Holland (in Bell County), then moved his practice to Waco in 1911. When he was 83, he and Ernest Fischer wrote a book called The Last Stitch in 1956 reviewing his life and 56 years of medical practice, mostly in Waco. The title was based on a threat that it would be his last stitch if his surgical skills failed to save the life of a beloved woman shortly after he began his medical career in Texas. Instead, for saving Aunt Bess, he was paid with a horse named Buck. Dr. Crosthwait had many adventures, book-ended by his leadership of a medical rescue train (financed by William Randolph Hearst) to Galveston in 1900 after the hurricane that killed thousands and later serving to help in the 1953 Waco tornado disaster that killed 114 and injured 597. He served in the military in the Great War in 1917, worked as team physician for the Waco High School Tigers for 35 years, taught medical jurisprudence at Baylor University, was appointed to the State Board of Health, pioneered typhoid vaccination in Texas, treated bubonic plague in the 1920s and worked for the State Board of Medical Examiners. He began a family legacy in Waco that continued with his son, Wilson Crosthwait, and his grandson, Bobby Crosthwait. Not afraid to speak up: Oliver Halbert, M.D., grew up in Waco and graduated from Waco University in 1873, then studied medicine at the University of Louisville before returning to practice on the east side of Waco. His passion for learning led him to take regular post-graduate medicine courses in New York City. Freshly motivated after one of his trips, he placed a notice in the newspaper that local doctors should have an office where they worked instead of standing around drug stores, smoking cigars and telling yarns. A special meeting of the Waco Medical Association was called and Halbert was expelled for unprofessional conduct. He was reinstated when he apologized and later served as president of the association. Later, while serving as county health officer, he discovered numerous patients had been treated for fever characterized by rash. He diagnosed this as smallpox. The chamber of commerce met with other physicians and denounced Dr. Halbert and declared there was no smallpox in Waco. Dr. Halbert then had the state health officer come to Waco to confirm the presence of smallpox. Appropriate measures were then taken and the epidemic quickly died out. Dr. Halbert was a longtime member of First Baptist Church till he fell into strong disagreement with another prominent physician member of the church. He became a charter member of East Waco Baptist Church, then later helped organize the Columbus Street Baptist Church where he served as a deacon till his death. From 1896 for many years, he was on the board of the YMCA, including years as president, and gave heavily of his time and money in promoting it. He also served on the Baylor University board of regents. A hard-working, tireless, up-to-date, caring physician, he died in 1914 and, for all the controversy he caused among neighbors, city boosters and fellow physicians, his funeral procession was reportedly the longest ever known in Waco. Dr. Tim Martindale is president of the McLennan County Medical Society, dedicated to preserving the health and well-being of our community through improved technology, education of patients regarding their own role in caring for themselves and increased availability of medical care for all economic groups. Whatever else you can say of health care, medicine at times sure seemed simpler a century or more ago. Take for instance the Waco Medical Association fee schedule prescribed for local physicians in the 19th century and now part of an exhibit celebrating the 150th anniversary of organized professional medicine in Waco, latterly through the McLennan County Medical Society. If a doctor was providing, say, obstetric services, simple, the charge was $20. If the service was obstetrics, difficult, the charge could range between $30 and $100. Amputation of a finger or toe? Between $10 and $30. Amputation of the forearm $25 to $50. Which raises the disarming question: Just when was the amputating of a toe or finger more expensive than amputating a forearm? But as the medical society exhibit on display at the Fort House, 503 S. Fourth St., makes clear, early-day physicians took other folks lives seriously, no matter how rugged and independent life was in 19th-century Central Texas. Consider as evidence sobering Article III of the Waco Medical Association Constitution: It shall be the duty of the member of this association at every meeting to present a report in writing of each death that occurs in his practice giving the name, age, sex and disease of his patient; the general treatment he pursued; and the reasons why, in his opinion, the treatment failed. In so many ways, medicine has improved. The good old days dont look so good when one considers the bleeding of patients to cure them; the high mortality rate caused by an outbreak of the Spanish influenza in 1918; and such outright quackery as Boyds Miniature Galvanic Battery, used to treat any and all ailments. The latter, consisting of a sort of bracelet with bits of copper, silver and brass, was touted with this slogan: The blood is the life! Accomplished at last! The efficacy of electricity! Yet in other ways, medicine is more confounding than ever, not only because of the increasing involvement of government for better and worse but because advances in medicine challenge religious, ethical and moral paradigms in ways that the best science always does. We dont even know how much medical procedures cost today. Theyre lost in a haze of giant medical providers and insurance companies. Many local physicians find themselves conflicted about what one described as time constraints, insurance demands and corporate medicine, especially given doctors oaths to safeguard and champion their patients. The health-care system today often seems poised to compromise health care, especially if the patient and physician arent vigilant. In marking the sesquicentennial this year, the McLennan County Medical Society is celebrating not only early-day area doctors and their latter-day practitioners but grave occasions in our history when the local medical community, either individually or as a force, faced adversity, chaos, ignorance and even death to save their neighbors, whether amidst an influenza epidemic or after a killer tornado. Society members are assisting with a Baylor University oral history project involving several Waco physicians (and long-suffering spouses); working to erect a historical marker of physicians first organized meeting at Fourth and Austin; and contributing to 150th anniversary endowed scholarships for pre-med students at Baylor and nursing students at McLennan Community College what society president Tim Martindale described to colleagues as an investment in our future, a plan to mentor students who will be our partners in the work of medicine. (If you want to donate to the scholarship, contact society executive director JoAn Felton at (254) 776-2882 or admin@mclennancountymedicine.org.) But more important than the exhibit, historical marker and scholarship fund is the county medical societys ethical and moral compass, which must continue to somehow steer us through the often tortuous currents of politics, religion and society to ensure that lives old, young and in between are never marginalized or overlooked. While society leaders are justifiably proud of how members rallied to assist hundreds of injured in the wake of the deadly ammonium nitrate explosion in nearby West in 2013, the triumphs they demonstrate daily are no less important encouraging healthier lifestyles, treating if not curing to ensure quality of life for the ailing, managing both physical pain and emotional and mental distress and, finally, counting each death as a learning moment to save yet other lives something their frontier predecessors took just as seriously. ASHLAND The ROC Car Show is celebrating its 10th, and final, year this May. The car show will take place on Saturday, May 7 at the Ashland-Greenwood High School parking lot at 1842 Furnas Street in Ashland. Rich and Terri Miller have organized the show, which is a fundraiser for the ROC Youth Center in Ashland, since its inception in 2007. This will be the last year the Millers are in charge of the show, said Rich Miller. This is definitely our last year, and hopefully we have a good day, Miller said. Health reasons have caused the couple to cut back on their activities, including the time they volunteer to organize the car show. Theres a lot of running, Rich Miller said. It takes a lot of time. Its not easy to put on a car show. Most car shows are put on by car clubs, Miller said. But for the past 10 years, its just been Miller and his wife who have done all of the organization. That includes finding sponsors, buying trophies and door prizes, arranging vendors and the DJ, coordinating the location and scheduling the show, just to name a few of the tasks. Were not a club, were just a small family that does this, Miller said. The Millers are going out with a bang, however. They have scheduled a special display coming to the show. It is called the Freedom Truck, a semi from Custom Diesel Drivers Training, Inc. that is decorated in honor of fallen veterans of war. The trailer is decorated with the stars and stripes, while the tractor has scenes that include a helicopter landing with soldiers. On the back are names of soldiers who died in battle. Miller said the truck is actually used in driver training. They use it to teach drivers, he said. Werner Trucking will also be bringing their show truck and possibly their Operation Freedom Truck, Miller said. The decorated semis will be on display along with the vehicles that are competing for trophies in 44 classes. Well be handing out probably 156 trophies this year, so I hope we have a lot of cars, Miller said. Last year about 100 vehicles that preregistered. At their peak, the ROC Car Show had as many as 150 cars line the parking lots at the high school. Over the years inclement weather dealt them a few problems, including one especially cold May that basically cancelled the show. It was rescheduled for later in the summer, however. Last year rain in the morning kept many entries away, even though the skies cleared and the day was sunny when the actual show took place. Sponsors are key to any car show, and the Millers have been blessed to have some generous sponsors over the years. Miller said OReilly Auto Parts has donated 66 trophies to the show for the past five years. The show does not hand out the traditional first, second and third place trophies in each class. Instead, they give a first place trophy and two runners-up. There are 44 classes of cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles. Miller said they added one new class for 2016. We will have a Rock Crawler Class this year, he said. There will also be specialty awards, including memorial awards and club participation trophies One specialty award is given for the vehicle that traveled the longest distance to be at the show. Entries come from central Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Miller said the judging will be done by non-participants. He added that youngsters who attend the show will be given a chance to vote on their favorite vehicle. Dash plaques and goodie bags are handed out to the first 100 entries. A raffle will start at approximately 3 p.m., just prior to the award ceremony. The feature raffle prize will be a dorm-sized refrigerator that has been custom-painted with a flag and eagle motif, Miller said. Ashland Auto Supply generously sponsored this prize, he added. Raffle tickets are being sold prior to the car show and are available to the public. Miller said the public must be present to win all of the prizes except for the refrigerator. There will also be door prizes and drawings for children and pre-entries. Were going to have a good amount of door prizes, said Miller. A disc jockey will provide music for the car show. Indoor restrooms will be available in the school. Vendors will also be on site. Big Daddys Mini Donuts and Lauren Beths Popcorn will provide some sweet treats, while Josies Jems Signs offer a unique shopping experience. The cost for pre-show registration is $15 until April 29. Registration on the day of the show will cost $20 and takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The show opens to the public at 12 p.m. and lasts until awards are given out, beginning around 4 p.m. Admission to the public is free. Over the years, they have given approximately $35,000 to the ROC Youth Center, which provides a Christian-based facility where pre-teens and teenagers in the community can hang out. Last year the show netted $5,036 for the center. For the third year in a row we gave them over $5,000, Rich Miller said. The ROC, as it is known to the kids who attend, opened in 2005 to provide children a place where they can find guidance and a comfortable spot to spend time, have some fun and interact with mentors. Located at 123 North 14th Street in Ashland, the center is open Monday and Wednesday nights and for special events. ROC attendees will run the concession stand at the car show to raise additional money for their facility. Miller said hed like to see the car show continue on under new management. Its a shame to see it go, he said. Anyone interested in organizing the car show next year can contact the millers for more information at 402-944-2557 or email millertimes@windstream.net. Not every warbird restoration focuses on a complete airframe. As much as wed like to see them all saved, it just isnt practical sadly. So very few of us are fortunate enough to have the space or the budget to preserve even one aircraft on our own. However, it is possible for an ordinary bloke on a shoestring budget to take on a cockpit section from a historic aircraft. In fact, preserving cockpit sections is becoming a popular pastime around the world. Where once an aircraft would be entirely scrapped, there are other options now. Some of the more common types can be had for just a few hundred dollars in bare bones condition, whereas a fully restored forward fuselage from a rare aircraft can command many thousands. We thought our readers would be interested to learn about the efforts of Australian David Rasmus and his fight to save the nose section of a WWII combat veteran Royal Australian Air Force Douglas Dakota. This aircraft rolled off the Douglas production line in Oklahoma as C-47A-25-DK 42-108949 in May, 1944 before joining the RAAF as A65-52 in June that year. She flew in support of Australian forces in the South Pacific during the war. After WWII, the Dakota entered the Australian civilian registry; first as VH-CII and later as VH-TAK. Our Antipodean correspondent, Phil Buckley brought us this story, for which we are very grateful! So here is David Rasmus in his own words MY BACKGROUND I first became interested in WW aircraft when I was about 10 years of age. My Mother used to buy me a beautifully illustrated kids magazine from the UK called Lion and one of the stories was about a RAF ace called Paddy Payne who flew everything from Spitfires to Stirling bombers.the Germans never stood a chance. From then on I was hooked; every birthday or Xmas all I wanted was model aircraft I had them everywhere in my room and hanging from the ceiling as well! I joined the Gawler South Australia branch of the Air Training Corps as a cadet, and attained the rank of Corporal. On one of the visits to Edinburgh Air Base, our group received a flight on one of the RAAF C-47s.my first flight ever. Little did I know where that would lead me later! Life went on as normal and the fascination was always there, but I gained an interest in building cars, so I took to that passion for a while as I thought I could never afford an aircraft. But the turning point came in about 2009 when I started volunteer work at Classic Jets Fighter Museum in Parafield SA. When I started, we were finishing the P-39 and the boss was negotiating the purchase of a F4U-1 Corsair wreck from Vanuatu. I had never done sheet metal work before, but was always good with my hands and could pick up skills quite easily. After a short while, I was asked to build the Corsairs vertical stabilizer from scratch using an original unit as a pattern. However, I wasnt allowed to dismantle the authentic item; just measure and copy The finished product earned me the Crewmember of the Year in 2010 as voted by the other workers, and I must say I was very proud of what I had achieved. From there forward, I took on anything I could, making every part starting with a flat piece of aluminium. I worked on Corsair bulkheads, wings, engine cowl and the last major parts were the air intakes, which are quite large and made up of a multitude of pieces. While working at the Classic Jets Fighter Museum, I acquired some pieces of wrecked warbirds from Bob Jarrett: a broken prop and spinner from a P-39, P-51 air intake and a piece cut from a P-39, plus a few other bits, which all came from New Guinea in the 1980s. I spent time at home restoring or just cleaning them for display in my home, some of which are in the Aircraft Corner of my lounge. ACQUISITION OF C-47 COCKPIT It was early 2014 when I saw an interview with Dick Winterburn of the Derelict Aircraft Museum in Victoria. He said he wanted to sell some of his wrecked aircraft, and as I was browsing the photos I saw it.There was this sad looking shell of a C-47 nose, cut off just aft of the pilot seats location, and right away I knew I wanted it. I emailed Dick the next day, and within a few days we had a deal. A friend of mine was driving interstate in May, so I joined him and we brought back my own small piece of C-47. I looked in to its history, and soon found out that it was a veteran of New Guinea and Borneo during WWII, serving with 34 and 38 Sqn RAAF..I had myself a piece of Biscuit Bomber!!!! After the war, the Dakota was off for service as a civilian carrier in various companies. At the end of her flying career, she was used in a B grade movie called Sky Pirates in 1986. Unfortunately, this was when most of the damage was done to the aircraft. The film crew cut the fuselage down its length for interior shots, and after they were done shooting, someone hacked off the cockpit and scrapped the rest. It was a sad ending for a war veteran. This nose section had to be restored. I had to save it, no question about it. PLANNING BEGINS TO OVERHAUL COCKPIT So the planning began. The basics were easy; it will be a restoration to return the cockpit to its status while flying for the RAAF in 1944. So work started searching the globe for parts, making new friends and acquaintances. I found some parts in the USA and a small amount in Australia. Pretty soon I found out that most people with C-47 items didnt want to part with them as they were so difficult to find. But I persevered, and kept asking questions, following leads, and even started my own Facebook page for the project. This is where help came from another C-47 devotee named David Anderson who has his own RAAF C-47 nose which he displays at air shows etc. David emailed me last year asking if I needed any parts, as he had been collecting for quite a while and it was time to move some on. I couldnt get to the phone quick enough! He had a treasure trove of parts, and said he would like to see A65-52 as close to new status as possible. From what Ive seen of his parts haul, Im sure Ill be pretty close. My second load will be coming over soon and will include both seats with cushions, escape hatch, hydraulic panels and tanks, windscreen wiper assembly and many more small parts. One of the hydraulic panels is actually from my very own aircraft as it still has the tag attached from when it was removed! MAKING PROGRESS Im doing all this work at my own home, and I must admit that my house got quite a few double takes with a Dakota nose perched in front of my kitchen window. I purchased a copy of a C-47 blueprint from e-Bay and had the station 86 section behind the pilot enlarged and transferred the shape on a large piece of MDF. Now I have a pattern of the actual size of the bulkhead and ribs I need to make. I have made some patterns and parts, which are all etch-primed and on racks ready for the assembly process to begin later. So I started the dismantling process. The first thing I had to do was patch the lower rib on the front of the nose to return some rigidity to the piece, then split the fuselage at the waist just below the window frames, so now I have a top and a bottom. While the bottom was under cover, I started working on the top and found quite a bit of corrosion in some of the panels around the edges. I wanted to keep it as original as possible, so decided to patch all but the worst pieces (which will have to be re-made). Of course, the piece with the worst damage is also one of the more difficult parts to shape; the pilots side windscreen frame. Not to be put off, I dove in head first and after a few weeks of making the pattern then beating and shaping the aluminium, I ended up with a pretty good replacement part considering all I had to work with were hand tools (no expensive presses here). The roof panels required some re-shaping and patching, as did the centre strap down the centre of both windscreens. The pilots side window frame needed a patch as well. All parts were etch primed and undercoated. I have already purchased the correct satin green paint for the interior and that will be applied once the last pieces have been repaired or replaced. At the moment all thats left on the jig is the panel in front of the pilots attached to 2 ribs. The next step is to clean and paint strip underneath, etch prime and undercoat. Only then can I start the assembly of the upper half.I cant wait! WarbirdsNews wishes to thank David Rasmus very much for his story, and we wish him well with his work on preserving Australian aviation history. It is clear that he has a passion for his work, and is making every effort to preserve as much original material as possible, which we always applaud. We will be following his project as it progresses. We also wish to thank Phil Buckley very much for his contributions too! Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and leases freight railroads. It operates through three segments: North American Operations, Australian Operations, and U.K./European Operations. The company transports various commodities, including agricultural products, autos and auto parts, chemicals and plastics, coal and coke, food and kindred products, lumber and forest products, metallic ores, metals, minerals and stone, petroleum products, pulp and paper, waste, and other commodities. It owns or leases 122 freight railroads, including 105 short line railroads and 2 regional freight railroads located in the United States, 8 short line railroads located in Canada, 3 railroads located in Australia, 1 railroad located in the United Kingdom, 1 railroad in Poland and Germany, and 2 railroads in the Netherlands with a total of approximately 16,200 miles of track. The company also operates 6,200 additional miles of track that is owned or leased by others. In addition, it operates deep sea maritime containers and provides bulk haulage, including coal, aggregates, cement, and infrastructure services. Further, the company provides rail service at approximately 40 ports; rail-ferry service in North America, Australia, and Europe; and contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut. AFL players would become free agents for life, if an idea to further loosen the system gains the support of the AFL later this year. The idea that players should remain free agents after swapping clubs is among several that will be put forward by the AFL Players Association as the system comes under review as part of collective bargaining negotiations. AFL Players' Association boss Paul Marsh. Credit:Getty Images The AFLPA is keen for players' service to be measured by the number of years they have spent in the competition, rather than the service they gave given one club. Their idea would see free agents retain the choice of where to play at the end of their contract with with the club they joined as a free agent, rather than have to re-qualify by spending eight or more years there. The lawyer in Turnbull thinks if he can litigate the issue more expertly than his opponent, the verdict will, naturally, be favourable to him. The egotist in him thinks his "common sense" will automatically trump economic modelling, and electoral support will follow. The mansplainer in him believes that if he can write a detailed enough blog post pointing out the errors in others' research, the congratulations will flow. It's great to have a Prime Minister, finally, who engages with policy, and even (imagine!) understands its technicalities. By dismissing voter concern, and choosing instead to attack both Labor's policy and any economic modelling that disproves his assertions, Turnbull has displayed what the self-helpers call a huge empathy gap. But Turnbull's focus on detail blinds him to the keen feelings of voters on the issue of the cost of housing. Feelings which, if not addressed at a political level, will harden into resentment. Getting lost in the minutiae of negative gearing policy fails to address the well-founded anxiety which underlies it that housing has become unaffordable for all but the wealthy or the lucky. So far the cost of housing debate has appeared to divide the electorate into two camps those who already own property, and accuse those who don't of being lazy or unwilling to make the requisite sacrifices; and those who don't own it, and see a system stacked against them. The latter camp points to insane capital city house prices, the rising house-price-to-income ratio, and what economists call the "deposit hurdle" that loan deposits are a far bigger percentage of average incomes than they used to be. The Coalition has aligned itself with the property owners camp, where they believe there is safety in numbers the 2011 census found nearly 70 per cent of Australians own their home outright or have a mortgage on it. And as the Prime Minister keeps telling us, over a million Australians claim negative gearing deductions. But anxiety over the cost of housing has become too free-floating to be contained by a simple haves/have-nots divide. It is a constant and tedious topic of conversation in all sorts of circles. As my colleague Matt Wade wrote recently, Fairfax-Ipsos polling shows housing has surpassed healthcare and the cost of living in the list of Sydneysiders' concerns. The March Fairfax-Ipsos poll shows a quarter of voters are undecided about changes to negative gearing that's a huge chunk of the market up for grabs, politically speaking. The electorate is not black and white on this one. People who own their homes outright worry about their children's inability to ever achieve the same. Others are stuck they have invested in property but can only afford to do so because they still live at home with their folks. Others (like me) bought a small pad they grew out of, and now rent elsewhere, unable to afford a family home. I have some sympathy for the attitude attributed to Baby Boomers - that they made sacrifices to afford their homes, but today's youth are too entitled to do so. I saved for my deposit by budgeting over many years. My family didn't give me any money, nor did I expect them to. But I also remember the despair of being outbid at auctions by investors, or by fellow young people who were obviously backed by Big Parent dollar. For them, buying a flat was a breezy addition to the portfolio. For me, it was the hope-laden culmination of years of careful plotting. That despair is a feeling, an emotional response ungoverned by economic modelling. No amount of Prime Ministerial mansplaining can assuage it. There's no great surprise here. This was such an obvious violation of the PNG constitution that the PNG government tried frantically in 2014 to change the constitution to make it legal. When the moment of truth arrived, neither the PNG nor Australian governments mounted a meaningful defence. This die was long cast. Illustration: Andrew Dyson Marles' only real defence is to say this whole centre should be empty by now; that we might have got away with it if only the getaway car had turned up on time. Hence: "PNG never imagined people would be on Manus for so long we didn't either." Well, that's a monstrous failure of imagination, then. Because while it's true Labor said its Manus centre would be empty in a year, it's also true there was no plan to make that happen. It was an entirely unaccountable dream: a declaration utterly devoid of meaning. The Manus Island detention centre will soon close. Credit:Andrew Meares Labor never knew where these people would be resettled, once found to be refugees. It never handed the Coalition a stack of agreements with other countries guaranteeing these people would have a home. It passed on a detention regime made of matchsticks. Now it stands ready to tut, the moment things collapse. No, the real feat of imagination here would have been to pretend this could end any other way. Because the PNG Supreme Court this week did nothing more than reveal the obvious: that our policy was only ever to sweep asylum seekers under someone else's rug. It was designed to stop boats coming to us, but solve no greater problem than that. We've not brokered an agreement with our regional neighbours to share the load, because we've preferred instead to bribe the poorest nations into removing the problem from our sight. PNG Prime Minister Peter ONeill, Credit:Joosep Martinson Occasionally, as in Cambodia's case, we've paid them dozens of millions of dollars for almost exactly nothing. Pursue that kind of non-policy and eventually it catches up with you. Manus is full of people already found to be refugees, stuck in a country that says it simply cannot afford to take them, and right next to one that very easily could. They're there because "stop the boats" in truth a bipartisan slogan only ever masked a question we could never answer: what happens to these people? What happens to the ones who don't die at sea, or the ones we convince to return home? Do they die elsewhere? We don't really know because the minute they aren't on boats headed for us, they cease to exist. And as far as we're concerned, their misery doesn't exist either. That's why all the stories simply wash over us. Reza Berati is killed under our care. The ABC's Four Corners program reveals that Hamid Khazaei died because the Immigration Department pointlessly delayed vital medical treatment. This week we learnt an Iranian man set himself on fire in Nauru. None of this fundamentally moves us because we've constructed an elaborate world that makes this simply the cost of doing business, rather than anything that registers as a series of tragedies we've helped create. Nothing gets in the way, except when a court uses brute force. That's when you'll find Richard Marles, not questioning how his own party's scheme could be so hopelessly conceived, but demanding Peter Dutton fly to PNG to keep this thing alive. Somehow. Anyhow. It's also when you'll find Peter Dutton responding by saying refugees from Manus "will not be settled in Australia". That's not even remotely an answer to the question of what we'll do now that our main policy has been quashed. But it is the only thing anyone since Rudd has ever needed to say. Doctors have declared war on chiropractors amid outrage over an "eye-watering" video showing a Melbourne chiropractor manipulating a newborn baby's spine. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has told its members to not refer patients to chiropractors and is calling for the federal government and private health insurers to stop paying them for questionable treatments. The powerful group which trains GPs says it has taken a stand against chiropractors this week after a video emerged on YouTube of Melbourne chiropractor Ian Rossborough manipulating a premature baby's spine to treat colic and reflux. In the video, which has been viewed more than 1 million times since it was posted in January, Dr Rossborough flexes the baby's back before pressing firmly on her spine to produce a cracking sound. The sudden movement causes the baby to cry. Patrick Norman Pat Chapman is a 34-year-old, Caucasian male who was last known to be in Piedmont which is near the area of Greenville, Missouri on May 10, 2020. Pat had stayed the night with a friend and his wife at their home. In the early morning when the friend woke to go to work. Pat was gone in his own Burgundy color 1995 Ford Escort. That is the last anyone was known to have seen him. The vehicle was later recovered on May 29, 2020 in Mill Spring, Missouri. At the invitation of the Executive President of Bolivian Customs, Ms. Marlene Ardaya, and the Mexican Revenue Service, WCO Deputy Secretary General Sergio Mujica attended the XXXVIIth Meeting of the Multilateral Agreement on Mutual Assistance for Directors General of Customs of Latin America, Spain and Portugal (COMALEP), held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, from 20 to 22 April 2016. The opening ceremony was chaired by Ms. Ardaya and included opening remarks from Ms. Isabel Clavijo, Secretary of COMALEP and Head of International Affairs in Mexico Customs, as well as from the WCO Deputy Secretary General. The speakers highlighted the key role of COMALEP to support trade facilitation and protection of society. They also referred to the significant contribution of Spain and Portugal in maintaining the links between Latin America and Europe. The first day of the Meeting was held jointly with the Conference of Directors General of Customs from the Americas and Caribbean Region and was also attended by representatives from private sector organizations in the Region. The meeting focused on Coordinated Border Management, both at national and international levels, including the establishment of Single Window as a tool to improve efficiency at the border and facilitate legitimate trade. On the second and third days of the COMALEP meeting, several panel sessions were held covering subjects of key topical importance, such as the practical experience of COMALEP Members in the implementation of the TFA; e-commerce; Customs cooperation; information exchange; and risk management. Deputy Secretary General Mujica presented the main actions carried out by the WCO in relation to COMALEP Members, including career development opportunities, capacity building activities and use of the WCO Customs Enforcement Network (CEN). ORG Bahamas Foundation and Citizens For A Better Bahamas are co-hosting a FREEDOM OF INFORMATION Public Education Forum at 6:30pm - 8:30pm Tuesday, May 10, at The Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts on Mackey Street. Let's Talk About It! Why do we need a Freedom of Information Act? How will a Freedom of Information Act affect me? Ask questions. Get answers. Join us as we explore this key topic of accountability and transparency; the first step towards responsible governance. Need more information? Visit www.orgbahamas.com or www.citizensforabetterbahamas.org Organization for Responsible Governance Recommends Freedom of Information Act Public Consultation Period Be Extended. NASSAU, New Providence, (April 28, 2016) Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG), a new nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for open, accountable and responsible governance, is calling for the government to seek greater public participation in the creation of a Freedom of Information Act. The Minister of Education recently announced a series of public consultation meetings on the proposed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to be led by the governments appointed Commission; however, ORG has observed that the meetings have not been well advertised, information on the governments recommendations for the bill has not been made available, and, subsequently, the public has not been well engaged -the initial meeting in Nassau drew only 15 attendees and the second in Grand Bahamas had only five. ORG sees a critical need for public education on the importance of a strong and fair Freedom of Information Act, and believe the governments efforts have not been either effective or sufficient. As such, ORG will hold an independent, Public Education Forum on Tuesday, May 10th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts. (See info above and graphic) The event currently has the support and participation of Citizens for a Better Bahamas, The Nassau Institute, The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation, The Bahamas Bar Association, Civil Society Bahamas and We the People. This list is expected to grow. ORG promotes the tenants of good governance in the Bahamas. Good governance is internationally recognized as open, transparent and participatory and a strong Freedom of Information Act is essential to the successful inclusion of citizens in their government and the eradication of corruption within government. There seems to be a decided lack of interest or investment by the government in passing and implementing an effective FOIA, said ORG Executive Director Matthew Aubry. There has not been sufficient public education and engagement on the elements of the bill, no meaningful engagement of civil society and no clear evidence that the Commission has benchmarked the Bahamas legislation against international standards. ORG proposes that the public consultation efforts be expanded to allow the education of Bahamians on what a Freedom of Information Act means so that they can provide meaningful input on the bill. ORG also proposes that the government appointed Commission engage local and international Civil Society Organizations to ensure that the Bahamian FOIA is strong and holds up to international standards. Lana Lee Brogdon, Chair of ORGs Public Education and Messaging Committee said,ORG and the other Civil Society Organizations want to help engage the public in this critical legislation. This is too important for us to just stand by and do nothing because it will affect our children and the future of our country. We need all individuals and organizations to come out on Tuesday, May 10th to the Dundas to learn more. We have invited the government to join us and provide their presentation and we hope they take this as seriously as we do. Although a Freedom of Information Act was passed in 2012, it was never enacted, reportedly based on problems identified in the language of the bill. In May 2015, a new FOIA bill was proposed which was to be tabled in May 2016 and a commission was appointed to review the legislation. While local and international watchdog agencies recognized improvements in the bill, they noted that it still fell short of international best practices and issued recommendations for correction. In the past year, no adequate information has been issued on the status of the FOIA bill. On April 13th, the Minister of Education announced that the tabling of the bill would be delayed until probably November and a series of public consultations would be held by the Commission to seek public comment. Consultations have been held in Nassau and Grand Bahama in the past week and will be held in Eleuthera, Exuma and Abaco in early May. The Organization for Responsible Governance-705F (ORG) , a membership based non-profit foundation founded in 2015, is comprised of Bahamian citizens, residents, student and youth organizations, civic groups, community leaders, businesses, associations and civil society. This diverse and inclusionary group will focus on initiating a national dialogue on core socioeconomic and geopolitical concerns affecting The Bahamas, including open and accountable government; fiscal, energy, educational, economic, immigration and constitutional reforms; the equitable enforcement of the rule of law; monetary policy; trade agreements and the ease of doing business. by Adrian Gibson ON Sunday, I suffered a harrowing experience at the hands of two officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). It opened my eyes to the abuses, disrespect and breaches of constitutional rights that so many Bahamians have been subjected to by rogue elements of the police. I wont discuss that experience here as that experience is being addressed via other means. However, I will spend the next few weeks looking at the issues confronting the police force, with insider information and a critical view to offering suggestions that could hopefully better policing tactics, training and so on. Indeed, though I have experienced some of the worst of the worst, I believe that the RBPF is still home to some of the most credible, decent Bahamians. I have a number of friends and family members who are police officers. I find many of them if not all to be people of impeccable character and integrity who would not sacrifice the truth and what is right for some expedient means. Whats more, there are far too many in the upper echelon of the police force who merely pay lip service to change. These days, quite a number who join the RBPF are barely literate. The force has seemingly been recruiting, in some respects, from the bottom rung of society and hiring folks merely on the recommendations of MPs, pastors or as some political favour. Many of these people are unemployable elsewhere. Some of them have no real skillset. I was recently sent a copy of one of the social studies examinations given to new recruits. I decided to test my six-year-old son with it. He was able to answer half or nearly half of the questions. So, should my six-year-old now be allowed to join the force? After all, he must have scored at least half the percentage points needed to pass that exam. We have horrendous systemic challenges that have resulted in a subset of officers who bring discredit and disrepute to the police force and who thereby dramatically undermine public confidence in the RBPF and the other uniformed services. The fact that we have not aggressively dealt with the challenge is, in part, a reflection of the culture of criminality in The Bahamas and a culture that has perpetuated and worsened the problem. We need, more than ever, to encourage, introduce, maintain and cultivate a culture that does not condone or allow the type of boorish behaviour that has allowed the RBPF to deteriorate so dramatically in the eyes of the Bahamian people. Every dirty or corrupt or overreaching or abusive police officer creates untold damage to the rule of law and the level of lawlessness in this country. We have turned a blind eye to it to our own detriment. Now the chickens have come home to roost. In some cases, we now have gangsters in uniforms projecting themselves as protecting and serving us when they are only protecting their own self-interests, abusing us, violating our constitutional rights and making a mockery of good and honest community policing. In some cases, some officers falsely believe themselves to have more power than they actually do. Some of them believe themselves to be a law unto themselves rather than the enforcers of the law. Some of them believe themselves to be above the law. It is no wonder that the community no longer trusts the police. In some instances, what we are witnessing can only be likened to the fox guarding the henhouse. There is no place for that. I have received an outpouring of support after people heard of Sundays incident concerning me. In one case, a young lady told me that she was involved in a traffic matter. She stated that she went to a police station to fill out a report. She is attractive. The officers that she interacted with at that station, I am told, insisted that they needed to take a picture of her and that she needed to take down her top and bra. She was offended by this but in the end, she felt threatened and ended up feeling as if she had no choice. This is unacceptable. In December, 2015, President of the Bar Elsworth Johnson was told by a junior police officer to carry his arse. He was attending a police station to see about a client. These rogues must be weeded out immediately. I am inviting readers to send me stories of your encounters with police officers. I will be parked on this topic for the next few weeks and I look forward to your responses. _________________________________________________________ First published in the The Tribune under the byline, Young Man's View, here View Adrian Gibson's archive here ____________________________________________________ The views expressed are those of the author, and not necessarily those of WeblogBahamas.com (which has no corporate view) or its Authors. Boris Johnson drops out of race to be next UK prime minister Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By Bill Hughes Apr. 28, 2016 | 10:08 PM | PADUCAH, KY American Quilter's Society Executive Show Director Bonnie Browning took a moment Thursday to look back over the recently-completed Quilt Show and Contest, and also looked ahead to 2017, when they will host two events in Paducah. Browning said they went into the event knowing the downtown hotel construction had taken a lot of their parking and the pavilion had been moved, but things went better than she expected. Browning said, "The new location of the pavilion - the front door looks like the front door now - on the first day it was pretty hot over there, but then we got some fans so that it wasn't so hot in there, and the vendors, I believe, did well." She said she was more concerned about the loss of parking, and that more people had to go to Carson Park and take an express shuttle. To help quilters understand the situation, she recorded a video they could watch before they arrived. "Allen Ramsey and I - on Thursday before the show - took a trip downtown and gave them visual images of what the hotel looked like now in its construction stage, and space behind it of all the parking we were losing, and where the new pavilion was located. So they learned a whole lot before they ever got here," Browning said. She said they also made a video showing how to get from the intersection of Park Avenue and Joe Clifton Drive to spot where the shuttle would pick up passengers inside Carson Park. That video helped a lot, too, based on attendee comments. Browning said the express shuttle from Carson Park to the Convention Center was crowded enought that it needed an extra bus once or twice, but it worked fine for most of the week. She expressed her appreciation to everyone who made the thousands of visitors feel welcome. "It takes this whole city to make this happen. All of the (Paducah) Ambassadors that answer all of the questions everywhere they are. They help man our shuttle stops, they have the desk in the atrium of the Convention Center. They field so many questions about everything about this city - where to go shopping, where the drug stores are, how to get dinner reservations, who does and who doesn't take dinner reservations," Browning said. "And then of course, all of the people who host quilters. A lot of people have quilters staying in their homes, and that's a service that we can't live without because of not having enough hotel rooms, and even with the new hotel there still won't be enough rooms." Browning said all 72 employees of Schroeder Publishing worked all week, and she appreciates how they pitched in at five different locations to help. She said AQS hasn't yet compiled a total of how many attended this year, but she hopes to know within the next few days. Browning said when the city hosts two Quilt Weeks in 2017, the fall show won't be a duplicate of the April show. All quilt entries must be different, and there won't be a Quilt Museum auction in the fall. Quilts that win fall contests will not be purchased and displayed at the Quilt Museum, either. Other activities will be different too, including speakers and workshops. "Different activities going on, we're even playing with the layout of the show so it looks different. We're trying to make it a totally different show so that people do want to come to Paducah in the fall, which we know can be a beautiful time of year here, too. " Browning said quilters have said they're hoping that two Paducah shows will allow them to get hotel rooms more easily. She said it takes 18 months to completely plan a show, including scheduling speakers, exhibitions and workshops. The two AQS shows are set for April 26-29 and September 13-16, 2017. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 29, 2016 | 07:26 AM | PADUCAH, KY Eight teenagers have been treated for injuries after police say a van ran a stop sign and hit a school bus picking up students Friday morning in Paducah. The Paducah Police Department says 60-year-old George Vick, of Paducah told police he was slowing his school bus on Oscar Cross Avenue to pick up children when a van ran a stop sign at Oscar Cross and South 11th Street and hit the bus in the side. Police said the driver of the van, 63-year-old Byron Faulkner, of Paducah said his brakes failed and he was unable to stop. Minor to moderate damage was reported to both vehicles. Neither driver was reported injured. Four students on the bus were taken by ambulance and four were taken by private vehicle to Baptist Health Paducah for treatment. All complained of minor pain to their right sides, reports said. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 29, 2016 | 01:54 PM | PADUCAH, KY A traffic stop Thursday afternoon led to the arrest of a McCracken County teen on drug charges. The Paducah Police Department said an officer pulled over 18-year-old Damonterius Stiggers vehicle for failing to use a turn signal when turning from North 13th Street onto Palm Street. Police said Stigger admitted to officers that he did not have a drivers license, and that he was acting nervous and reached under the car seat. Detectives also reportedly noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the car. During a search of Stigger's car, police reportedly found a plastic bag containing 7.7 grams of cocaine and a set of scales commonly used to weigh drugs. they also siezed $1,625. Stigger was arrested on charges of first degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with no operators license and failure to signal. He was booked into the McCracken County Jail. Stigger was out on bond at the time of his arrest for a previous wanton endangerment charge for his alleged involvement in a December 6 shooting in the 1300 block of Walter Jetton Boulevard. By Joe Jackson Apr. 29, 2016 | 12:45 PM | MAYFIELD, KY The Graves County Bar Association on Friday recognized a woman for her ten years of service to families and children. Sandra Halter is a social worker who, for the past 10 years, has volunteered her time for a Graves County program called, Children in the Middle. She specializes in working with families dealing with transitions such as separation and divorce. Halter said she is a messenger for the court. We developed this program about 10 years ago and have been doing it ever since, Halter said. I think it's been a good service to the parents of Graves County and it helps protect the children of Graves County from conflicts that go on after divorce. Graves Circuit Judge Tim Stark said Halter deserves a lot of credit because there is no profit motive for her. There's nothing in it for her except the satisfaction of helping families and children in the community. Stark said. The bar association presented her with a plaque on Friday in the Graves County Circuit Courtroom and thanked her for her service. Wexford family to discuss Lamh sign language on Late Late Show It would mean so much to Lori May to have other children communicate with her Mauricio Pochettino has emphatically put rumours of a dalliance with PSG to bed by announcing that he plans to extend his Tottenham contract by a further two years. Tittle-tattle had been rife in the week after Pochettino said that returning to manage the Ligue 1 champions someday is part of his dream. However, the Argentinian has today nipped speculation over his future in the bud by telling the press that he plans to extend his deal at White Hart Lane until 2021. It was an easy decision when you feel the love of the people and the potential of the club is massive, so why change? We create a good atmosphere on the training ground and I think we can achieve big things in the future. I believe in this project and this club. I want to stay here. Its being reported by several sources that Poch has verbally agreed the extension which, we probably dont need to tell you, is bloody brilliant news for everyone with a vested interest in Spurs long-term stability and progression. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Because of his often uncanny vocal impersonations, playwright/director/actor Rick Miller has been described as successor to fellow Canadian impressionist Rich Little. Boom, Millers one-man show that closes RMTCs season, ought to put any such damning-with-faint-praise comparisons to rest. Millers famous fringe show MacHomer demonstrated his facility for mimicry in a fun-filled mashup of Shakespeare and The Simpsons that was still miles removed from Littles Vegas-style, celeb-o-phile shtick. Boom, um, explodes the comparison altogether with a multimedia show in which impersonation takes a back seat to story. DAVID LECLERC PHOTO Rick Miller That story is the stuff of sprawling saga, nothing less than a history of the baby-boom years between 1945 and 1969, told through the experiences of three people from vastly different backgrounds. (Its running time is about two hours and 15 minutes with intermission, not including a nightly talkback.) Significantly, none of these individuals is famous. When he casually takes to the stage, Miller introduces us to them via video images: his Ontario-born mother; a genial Austrian playboy (one wonders if Miller couldnt resist the temptation to make him sound like Christoph Waltz); and a hard-living African-American blues musician. The juxtaposition of the trio seems a little odd, rather like an assemblage of disparate suspects in an Agatha Christie mystery. But as we hear their origins, it starts to make perfect sense, as each interviewee (Miller supplies their voices) tells his or her stories. Their biographies encompass the prickly geopolitics of postwar Europe, the cycle of conformity and rebellion in North America, and the civil-rights battles fought everywhere from India to the American South. DAVID LECLERC PHOTO Rick Miller Its all enhanced by excellent multimedia on a set designed by Yannik Larivee thats suggestive of a giant top hat, a transparent cylinder at centre stage rising from a curved brim on which an array of images are vividly projected. Yes, Miller uses music in the show to illuminate the cultural transitions of the era, but its best not to expect his usual uncanny standards in the 100 or so voices he takes on here. This might be a function of vocal strain: His Perry Como is unrecognizable, but his Bob Dylan is pretty good. His Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd doing opera is excellent. (One suspects Miller could have nailed Tom Waits, but alas, that artists career didnt break until 1972.) Miller gratuitously fills in the vocal blanks when we see footage of Walter Cronkite announcing the death of John F. Kennedy or Edward R. Murrow editorializing against Joe McCarthy. Its much more fun seeing him put his own words in the mouth of Pierre Elliott Trudeau that playfully spin on the contemporary reality of another Trudeau in the PMO. It all amounts to a big, bold, ambitious summary of an era that goes beyond a shopping list of events. Miller thoughtfully contextualizes mid-20th-century culture and history into a rich tapestry in which its all too easy to forgive the occasional dropped thread. randall.king@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @FreepKing If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. Rick Miller in Boom David Leclerc Photo Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO Ontarios Liberal government is under increasing pressure to release a complete list of private companies that were given billions of dollars in grants and loans. Auditor general Bonnie Lysyk reported in December that the government had committed $2.36 billion to 374 private business projects between 2004 and May 31, 2015, with $1.87 billion in grants and $489 million in loans. The province has committed another $118 million in corporate subsidies since the auditors report was released. Lysyk found there was no information on which companies received more than $70 million in funding for 60 different projects. For months, the Progressive Conservatives have been asking for a list of the companies that received what he calls corporate welfare, how much they were given, and what the job targets were. Its time the government clears the air on these grants and comes clean to Ontario taxpayers, said PC economic development critic Monte McNaughton. The NDP said the Liberals should not be picking winners and losers. Theres no measure of accountability whatsoever in regards to these grants, and the auditor found that the respective ministries dont even return to see if the jobs were retained or created, said New Democrat finance critic Catherine Fife. The auditor found 80 per cent of the economic development funds went to companies that were invited to apply for the money by the government. We need to see the grants to ensure that this wasnt simply a crony capitalism-type program where companies gave donations to the Liberals and received grants in return, said McNaughton. Theyve cherry picked which grants to make public, which raises the question: what is the Liberal government hiding from taxpayers? Economic Development and Trade Minister Brad Duguids office said the Liberals are immensely proud of their business support programs. Ontarios $2.8 billion worth of business partnerships have leveraged $29 billion in private-sector investments, spokeswoman Jessica Hume said in an email. A January report from the provincially funded Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity said Ontario has 127 programs that provide financial help to companies. The programsare administered by 14 different ministries and are not centrally organized or broadly marketed, making it difficult for many firms to find and apply for these programs, the report concluded. It cost the government $85 million just to administer all its business support programs, according to Lysyk. A recent survey by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce found that over 50 per cent of businesses planning an expansion sought some form of government financing. The auditor said the cost per job per year from the government grants ranged from $718 to $16,981 depending on the funding program, several of which were consolidated in 2015 into the new $2.8-billion Jobs and Prosperity Fund. McNaughton said Parrish and Heimbecker Ltd. got a $5-million grant late last year to build a flour mill in Hamilton that would create 15 jobs, which he calculated works out to more than $300,000 per job. The auditor said the government gave only four per cent of the total funding to small- and medium-sized businesses, which account for one-third of Ontarios gross domestic product, and did not support any new startups. Much of the money went to big companies. Ubisoft, a video games company based in France, got a $263-million grant to open a development studio in Toronto, while Linamar got $50 million to expand its auto parts plant in Guelph. Ford of Canada was promised up to $70.9 million in 2013, Toyota got a $42.1-million grant in 2015, and the government committed up to $85.7 million in Hondas plant in Alliston. McNaughton said the owner of a frozen food company near Strathroy who went to the bank to finance his warehouse expansion was upset when a competitor near Woodstock got a $3.5-million grant from the province. The owner of this small business that employs about 50 people called me and asked: Why am I paying higher taxes and more fees in order to fund my direct competitor?' said McNaughton. To me, that makes no economic sense. The Ministry of Finance also provides financial support to business, in the form of corporate tax credits, which cost the province $2.87 billion in 2014/15 alone. The auditor found that the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure rarely considers which companies benefited from the Ministry of Finances targeted tax credits when it gives out grants and loans. Follow @CPnewsboy on Twitter Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL Valeant Pharmaceuticals is shaking up its board of directors, with half of them not standing for re-election, the Quebec-based drugmaker announced Friday. Among the seven of the 14 board members not seeking re-election are the companys outgoing CEO, Michael Pearson, and former chief financial officer Howard Schiller. The board had previously requested Schiller tender his resignation as a director, but he refused. In addition, five independent directors will not stand for re-election at the companys annual meeting scheduled for June 14, when the board will be reduced to 11 members. The company also announced three new independent director nominees. As we transition to new leadership, it is a natural time to welcome three independent nominees who bring important new perspective and expertise to the board, Robert Power, the chairman of the nominating and corporate governance committee of the board, said in a statement. The news came after the company announced it filed its restated financial statements for 2015 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The pharmaceutical giant had received default notices from its debtholders due to the failure to file its form 10-K with the regulator. Valeant (TSX:VRX) said Friday the filing of the document corrects the problem and it is in full compliance with its credit agreement. Valeant missed a March deadline because of a need to restate how it reported about US$58 million of revenue from U.S. mail-order pharmacy Philidor Rx Services, an affiliated company that has since been shut down. Once Canadas most valuable company by stock market value, Valeants stock has plunged by nearly 90 per cent amid controversy on several fronts, including its relationship with Philidor and its increases to drug prices. Pearson, Schiller and Bill Ackman a new director whose hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management is the second-largest shareholder in Valeant expressed regret for hiking drug prices during a grilling Wednesday by a U.S. Senate committee. In addition to Congressional probes over alleged drug-price gouging, it is under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Attorneys offices in Massachusetts and New York. The company also disclosed Friday it is under investigations by the North Carolina Department of Justice over three drugs under scrutiny from Congress and the State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety over Philidor. Quebecs securities regulator, LAutorite des marches financiers, has also requested documents about the internal committee it set up to review Philidor, its relationship with the company, Valeants accounting practices and other matters. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The World Bank benefits from immunity under international law and wont have to hand over documents to a Canadian court hearing a corruption case involving ex-SNC-Lavalin employees, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Friday. The international financial institutions refusal to submit to an order signed by a trial judge was addressed by the high court, which found in its favour in a unanimous decision. Four people three former SNC-Lavalin (TSX:SNC) officials and the representative of a Bangladeshi official are accused in a case that centres on the granting of a lucrative supervision and advisory contract for the building of a multi-purpose bridge over the Padma River in Bangladesh. The accused are ex-SNC employees Kevin Wallace, Ramesh Shah and Mohammad Ismail as well as businessman Zulfiquar Bhuiyan. Theyd been seeking information gathered by a division of the World Bank that investigates fraud, collusion and corruption cases. The unit initially shared some of its findings with the RCMP, which led to the federal force laying charges. The Mounties announced in September 2013 that charges of bribing a foreign official had been filed in Toronto against Wallace and three other men. The World Bank fought the order and the Supreme Court ruled its initial co-operation in the case did not mean the Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) an independent investigative unit within the bank had renounced its immunity. The World Bank Groups immunities cover the records sought and its personnel, and they have not been waived, the high court ruled. Moreover, the INTs records were not disclosable under Canadian law. The Supreme Court found the Ontario Superior Court trial judge had erred in issuing the order. He (the trial judge) found that the INT could not selectively share some of the information, documents or correspondences in its possession with Canadian law enforcement officials, Justice Suzanne Cote and Justice Michael Moldaver wrote on behalf of the court in a 70-page ruling. However, the doctrine of selective waiver, developed at common law, should not inform the interpretation of an international treaty. Also that year, the World Bank, which had funded the project, prohibited SNC-Lavalin and hundreds of its subsidiaries from having access to institution-funded projects for the next 10 years. It was described at the time as the longest exclusionary period ever doled out by the Washington D.C.-based institution. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2016 (2370 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A suspected drunk driver who blew over the legal limit has walked free based on a bizarre legal technicality. Stanley Fryza was arrested in December 2009 during a Christmas checkstop as he left the Marion Hotel. He produced blood-alcohol readings of .11 and .13. He was convicted at trial in March 2011 of driving over .08 based on those readings in what seemed like an open-and-shut case. Instead, it has turned into a lengthy legal battle. Fryzas lawyer immediately appealed after discovering a glitch in the evidence: a certificate of analysis on Fryzas breathalyzer results had been photocopied by the arresting officer. In the process, the copy given to the defence was missing part of the text that was inadvertently cut off. This included a single digit of the lot number of the alcohol standard used in the testing process. Although the evidence was stamped Certified True Copy, the duplicate wasnt an exact match with the original. Police told court it was an innocent shifting of the paper that caused the error and they didnt realize it until it was too late. The Crown said it didnt change the strong evidence against Fryza, as the original document clearly shows the accurate test results. However, a Court of Queens Bench justice disagreed, saying an essential part of the certificate of analysis had been altered in the disclosure process. The judge ruled the only remedy was to throw out the conviction and try the case again. And thats where things really get strange. Fryza went on trial for a second time, with the same result. However, the arresting officer never took the step of serving Fryza or his lawyer with the proper paperwork, instead relying on the same flawed document that had previously caused the legal headaches. As a result, the conviction has been tossed once again. And this time, the Court of Queens Bench says there will be no further chances they have entered an acquittal to avoid what they say would be an abuse of process. It would be grossly unfair and prejudicial to the accused to order a third trial, wrote Justice Doug Abra in a decision released this week. He called it ridiculous that the police officer didnt do what was required to avoid having this happen again. The officer, Sgt. Rob Riffel, told court he couldnt access the original document to make a proper copy because it was locked in the court office following the first botched trial. At no time did Sergeant Riffel attend the court office in an attempt to make a copy of the Certificate of Analysis. Furthermore, apparently Sergeant Riffel did not make any request of the Crowns office to get an order that the Certificate of Analysis be released from the court in order that it could be copied, said Abra. Without a proper certificate of analysis accepted by the court, Abra said there is no evidence of what the accuseds readings were and there is no choice but to set him free. www.mikeoncrime.com Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winnipeggers last year were alarmed by the arrest of a young man tweeting support for Islamic State terrorists from his Charleswood residence. Now, a Transcona man who spent several years in an African prison is back openly advocating Shariah law, defending IS and making members of Winnipegs Muslim community very nervous. When Fewaz Hargaaya was imprisoned in 2011 on a trip to Ethiopia, friends and family in Winnipeg were worried sick for his safety. After being tortured and locked up for nearly four years, hes back in Canada, and the community is even more worried about him and their own peace and security. The friendly, outgoing young man who grew up in Transcona returned a religious fanatic who distanced himself from friends and family while pushing Shariah law to an unreceptive Islamic community. What was it like coming back to Winnipeg? At first, it was a shock, said Hargaaya, now 31. He said he could no longer trust anyone. In Ethiopia, two friends testified against him when he was accused of crimes including espionage, kidnapping, torture and the only charge he confessed to smuggling wireless communication devices, which he planned to sell, into the country. Hes no longer close to his family. Hes out of work and adrift, he said from a payphone in Calgary. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Fewaz Hargaaya wont disavow terrorist organizations and had a confrontation with other Muslims outside the Winnipeg Central Mosque recently. He believes hes been under CSIS surveillance for a while. He headed west after the latest of several run-ins at the Winnipeg Central Mosque that have left the Muslim community on edge. He says hes angry at moderate Muslims he labels apostates and hypocrites who arent following Shariah law to the letter like groups such as the Islamic State. He said hes not violent but wont disavow the terrorist organizations. If they pray to Mecca and fast during Ramadan, if they follow the text of the Quran to a letter, then who are we to say theyre not Muslims? Theres a lot of worry about Hargaaya but little anyone can do. Security expert James Fergusson with the Centre for Defence and Security Studies says Hargaayas words and actions present more of a concern than those of Aaron Driver, the 24-year-old in Charleswood man who was detained for supporting terror groups online. Likely, his time in prison exposed him to radical Islamic views, reinforced by the fact that Ethiopia would be seen as pro-western, the regime working for the West, and thus the West being responsible for his plight, said Fergusson, a University of Manitoba professor. A peace bond was issued for Driver who went by the name Harun Abdourahman on social media because federal justice officials believed there were reasonable grounds he might aid a terrorist group or terrorist activity. He was ordered earlier this year to reside at a home in Strathroy, Ont., and to not to have a computer or unauthorized cellphone until Aug. 31. In Hargaayas case, its reasonable to expect he is being watched by security authorities, said Fergusson. Hargaaya said hes certain hes been under CSIS surveillance long before April 15, his most recent confrontation with Winnipegs Muslim community outside the Winnipeg Central Mosque on Ellice Avenue. He was handing out brochures in the pouring rain on the Friday before the provincial election. It was an anti-voting campaign, said Hargaaya. It was nothing to do with promoting violence, but it was different from the norm, he said. According to Hargaaya, there are verses in the Quran that say Muslims are not permitted to vote in elections that are not Islamic. He says governments and police that dont follow Islamic laws set out hundreds of years ago have no authority over Muslims. His Muslims Dont Vote brochures which Hargaaya said included Quran verses were ruined during the confrontation with mosque executive director Idris Knapp, he said. It was an insult to Islam, said Hargaaya, recalling his anger. Im heated as hell and see nothing but blood. Id been in prison for three years, Ive been tortured and abused and locked up in a six-by-six cell. Ive gone through so much BS, but nothing, in my eyes, compares to what he did there, said Hargaaya. He contacted the Free Press to express his outrage over the incident. That was worse than Charlie Hebdo, he said, referring to the Paris publication that was accused of insulting Islam and attacked by al-Qaida terrorists who killed 12 people. It was a flagrant insult of the religion and my right to practise my religion and freedom to propagate my religion, he said of the incident outside the Winnipeg mosque. Im making sure my fellow people my family and community members are not deceived by these individuals perverting the religion, he said. When they promote things that are not part of the faith, I take a stand. Hargaaya says he is not afraid of upsetting anyone. Locked up or dead, Im ready for both. He plans to return to Winnipeg to promote his interpretation of Islam. Im coming back full force with discourse, no matter how nervous it makes people. Theyre scared, but Ive got nothing to lose. Should they be scared? I dont know, said Knapp, with Winnipeg Central Mosque. He was leery of speaking to the Free Press about Hargaaya, whose behaviour has been a source of frustration and worry. He stands up yelling and screaming at the khatib the person giving the sermon how were all hypocrites, said Knapp. People at that point are afraid of him. Knapp said hes received veiled threats. He mentions my address the street I live on with my family He said Weve got your IT address. One member of the congregation who didnt wanted to be identified said Hargaaya was haranguing young people outside the mosque during the last provincial and federal election campaigns. Knapp said members have asked Hargaaya be banned from the mosque, but thats easier said than done. Its a place of worship how do you bar someone from that? Knapp said theyre concerned Hargaayas time in prison took a toll on his mental health. Hes contacted Hargaayas mother to see if she can do anything. Hargaayas parents and sister did not respond to Free Press requests for comment. Hes free to have his opinion, Knapp said. For now, theres little anyone worried about Hargaaya can do. Ultimately, unless he commits a crime, or there is reasonable grounds to believe he will, there is little we can do to address his views, anger or personal issues, said Sgt. Bert Paquet with the RCMP in Winnipeg. Knapp said he called the police non-emergency line during the last run-in with Hargaaya, but didnt pursue it. Some members of the congregation are concerned if they raise a red flag about Hargaaya, they, too, will be put under scrutiny. Should everyone be monitored? Knapp asked. We really need to protect our rights and freedoms. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. While most Muslims in Canada feel theyre treated better than Muslims in other western countries, they still feel singled out for discrimination because of their faith, a new national survey says. The poll by Environics asked the fastest-growing religious minority in Canada about pride and belonging, Muslim identity and practice, discrimination and perceptions of domestic support for violent extremism. It found 84 per cent of Canadian Muslims believe they are treated better than those living in other western countries, up from 77 per cent in 2006. Most (83 per cent) said they were very proud to be Canadian, up from 73 per cent in 2006. The survey found 87 per cent said it is important for Muslim communities to work with government agencies to address radicalization. Their greatest source of pride, they said, was living in a free country and Canadas diversity. Most (79 per cent) participated in the last federal election. The majority said what they least liked about Canada was the cold weather. The survey results broadly reinforce my own experiences in Canada and in the Canadian Muslim community, said Idris Elbakri, president of the Manitoba Islamic Association. Canadian Muslims love and appreciate Canada, said the radiological physicist. Theyve been able to establish a strong religious identity here thats meshed with a strong sense of belonging, he said. The number of Manitobans who identify as Muslim grew to 12,405 in 2011 from 3,525 in 1991, according to Statistics Canada. Locally, we are also seeing this with our community organizations and mosques, which are moving away from being by Muslims for Muslims to being more open to and interested in serving all, said Elbakri. When the survey asked for their opinion of Islam, 42 per cent of non-Muslim Canadians said they have a positive opinion down from 49 per cent in the 2006 survey. The survey 10 years ago found peoples impressions of Islam improve the more they have contact with Muslims. Non-Muslim Canadians who had frequent contact with Muslim Canadians had a more positive impression of Islam (70 per cent) than those who encountered Muslims rarely or never in their lives (36 per cent). A little more than half (54 per cent) of Muslims believe the views of their fellow Canadians toward Islam are generally positive. Just over a third (35 per cent) said they experienced discrimination in Canada in the past five years: two-thirds said at work, and one-third said in public spaces. One quarter said theyve experienced difficulty crossing borders because of race, ethnicity or religion. A third believe the next generation of Muslims will face more discrimination and stereotyping. The concerns voiced by young Muslims about discrimination are real, and young Muslims could be more sensitive to it because Canada is the only country they know, said Elbakri. Our hope is that Canada will continue to evolve and grow to be a country for all of its citizens, from those whose roots go back millennia to the newcomers who are experiencing our winters for the first time. The survey of Muslims was conducted by telephone from Nov. 19, 2015, to Jan. 23, 2016. The margin of error was plus or minus four per cent in 19 out of 20 samples. The survey of non-Muslims was also by telephone and conducted between Feb. 6 and 15, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 per cent in 19 of 20 samples. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2016 (2370 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Get ready to start paying more on your Hydro bill. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) announced Thursday it has approved a 3.36 per cent increase to Manitoba Hydro rates. This will cost the average customer without electric heating $2.83 more a month. For customers with electric heating, their monthly bill will increase by $5.41 monthly. DARREN CALABRESE / CANADIAN PRESS FILES The approved increase is less than the 3.95% requested by the Crown corporation in December. Manitoba Hydro made the case that new projects, coupled with provinces aging distribution system required the rate increase. However, in the PUBs decision released Thursday it argued the long-term financial projections for Manitoba Hydro have improved significantly and the increase of 3.36 per cent is the best option. The PUB also opted to delay the increase until August as opposed to a April 1 increase requested by Manitoba Hydro. The PUB argues this it to avoid the impact on ratepayers, who saw their bill go up by 3.95 per cent last August. The PUB is an arms length board that regulates the rates charged by Manitoba Hydro. It may not be the requested increase, but Manitoba Hydro spokesman Scott Powell said he is pleased with the decision. The PUB has seen the need for moderate and predictable rate increases to fund our ongoing capital projects and rehabilitation of the (provinces) electrical infrastructure, so we are generally pleased with todays orders , Powell told the Free Press Thursday. This is considered an interim increase, which will be finalized in the fall following a general rate application Manitoba Hydro has to file. The PUB board directed that all revenues from the August rate increase go to a Bipole III deferral account to offset the impact of rate increases expected when the transmission line and Keeyask generating station come into service. Powell said the move will help control the need for any outrageous increases as the mega-projects come online. If you had a 0 (per cent increase) then you would have a much larger increase when they come into service. This allows us to smooth out the impacts that would occur when those projects come into service, Powell said. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2016 (2370 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Redevelopment could save PSB The Public Safety Buildings last hope of avoiding the wrecking ball is for somebody to come forward with a redevelopment plan, a heritage advocate says. Cindy Tugwell, Heritage Winnipegs executive director, said city councils unanimous vote Wednesday seals the buildings fate unless a plan comes forward that hasnt been heard of yet. Is it hopeless? Ive always been steadfast with buildings, but the community has to speak loudly with what they want, Tugwell said. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The last hope to save the Public Safety Building would be a redevelopment plan that no one has heard yet, Heritage Winnipeg says. But if I was a betting person, I have to tell you this is one of the more complex heritage issues Ive ever seen. Tugwell, along with the buildings architect Les Stechesen and building designer Sotirios Kotoulas, made a final appeal to save the example of brutalist architecture to city councillors Wednesday, but they proved unsuccessful. City council decided not to save the 51-year-old building which has been described as a cultural heritage artifact because it would cost millions to renovate it. Mayor Brian Bowman said he is now looking forward to learning how CentreVenture and others want the site to be redeveloped, but he and city councillors have been told the PSB site is subject to a caveat dating back to 1875 that dictates it has to continue to have a public use or it will revert back to the descendants of Alexander Ross. The city has said it will look at selling the civic parkade, which has been closed for a few years after it was found to be structurally unsound, because it is not part of the land restricted under the caveat. Tugwell said the PSBs fate has been tied to the millions of dollars in cost overruns involving turning the former Canada Post building into the new police headquarters. The PSB is paying the price, she said. The new police headquarters has cost millions, and councillors are scared to invest in any other capital project. Tugwell said she had also hoped to convince councillors to look at a multi-year renovation of the PSB, by doing a floor at a time, before moving civic staff into the building, but that was also rejected. Kevin Rollason Portion waste contracts: department Winnipegs water and waste department believes the city will pay more for waste collection if garbage and recycling contracts are broken up into smaller pieces. In February, city council asked solid-waste managers to stagger the citys waste-collection contracts so they do not all expire at the same time, and also break up collection areas into smaller regions. In a report published Thursday, solid waste manager Daryl Doubleday writes these changes could cost the city more money. The city may have to hire more staff for administering and enforcing more contracts, he writes. As well, because contractors need a year to prepare for services and existing contracts are coming due, the city would have to negotiate interim collection contracts that would likely produce higher collection costs over the interim period, Doubleday writes. More significantly, more collection areas may simply result in higher charges, contrary to the belief more competition among contractors would drive down costs. The larger number of service providers results in a duplication of infrastructure and administrative resources (offices and staff), and, therefore, doesnt permit the economies of scale, Doubleday writes. He also states multiple contracts with staggered start dates would increase communication costs and could cause confusion among Winnipeg residents. The report comes before councils water and waste, riverbank and environment committee Monday. Bartley Kives $40-million sewage contract on tap Winnipeg is one step closer to completing $336-million worth of sewage-treatment upgrades to the South End Water Pollution Control Centre. The city is poised to award a $39.8-million contract to NAC Constructors to complete bioreactor, clarifier and blower work at the sewage plant, the second-largest of three in Winnipeg. NAC came in with the lowest bid among five respondents to a city tender. The city estimated the work would cost $49.6 million. The contract comes before councils water and waste, riverbank and environment committee Monday. Upgrades to the citys smaller West End Water Pollution Control Centre are complete, while the larger North End Water Pollution Control Centre is in the midst of $651 million worth of upgrades. Kives Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2016 (2370 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Kierra Elektra Star Williams Manitobas deputy childrens advocate is concerned that the death of another child in care one that has drawn comparisons to the slaying of Phoenix Sinclair will cause social workers to boost child apprehensions. The easy thing to do is just apprehend. At the end of the day, thats not good for individual children. Its not good collectively, said Corey La Berge. Manitoba, with more than 10,000 kids in care of family services agencies, has one of the highest child apprehension rates in the nation. About 90 per cent of the kids in care are indigenous. La Berge said the death of 21-month-old Kierra Elektra Star Williams in July 2014 is just the kind of case that fuel(s) risk aversion on the part of child welfare agencies. Details surrounding Kierras death are just emerging, but the allegation is that she was neglected, starved and beaten to death after being returned by child and family services to her biological parents on Peguis First Nation. Its just tragic, La Berge said of the case, as he confirmed Thursday that the Office of the Childrens Advocate (OCA) had launched an investigation soon after being informed of the tots death by the chief medical examiners office. La Berge did not comment directly on the OCAs probe. But he said such investigations are complicated by the fact that the office is careful not to interfere with a police inquiry. We are typically involved in terms of communicating with the investigating officers to make sure were not stepping on any toes or anything, he said. Likewise the Crowns office. Police have released little information about Kierras death. Her mother, Vanessa Bushie, has been accused of second-degree murder, while her father Daniel Williams and adult sister Jasmine Williams are charged with manslaughter. The charges have not been proven and the three are presumed innocent. The Free Press is challenging a series of publication bans imposed on bail hearings involving the accused. A preliminary hearing is set for December, and a trial isnt expected to happen before 2018. JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Deputy Children's Advocate Corey La Berge La Berge was careful not to comment on the media challenge, but he said, in general, the public should be provided with more information when investigations are conducted into tragic incidents. OCA reports are not made public. They are provided, by law, only to the minister of family services, the chief medical examiner and the provincial ombudsman. While the deaths of children in care are thoroughly investigated and recommendations for system improvements are made to prevent repeat occurrences, the public doesnt see that work, the OCA official said. I think the more in the dark the public are in terms of situations like this the death of this girl then were left with speculation, conjecture, rumours, paranoia, suspicion and a loss of confidence in the administration of child welfare. And I think that doesnt do anyone any good. The Selinger government had belatedly introduced legislative amendments that could have opened up the review process more to the public. But the legislative session came to an end before they were passed. The province is now in a period of governing limbo. Outgoing Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross lost her seat in the April 19 election and has cleared out her ministerial office. A new family services minister will be appointed on Tuesday. Meanwhile, La Berge said the OCA could complete its report into how child welfare agencies and others handled Kierras case before criminal proceedings are dealt with. Whether that, in fact, happens will depend upon discussions with legal authorities and whether we feel comfortable completing that report absent some of the information we dont feel comfortable trying to obtain. Normally, in the case of a child who dies while in care, the OCA would obtain any records or files kept by CFS agencies involved. It would interview case workers and supervisors and speak with family members. It may also examine the role of those who provided any mental health services or other publicly funded social services to the child. Under law, the OCA is not allowed to assign blame, but to point out how agencies can improve operations to ensure that a tragic incident is not repeated. La Berge said if in its investigation it discovers a problem that could put a child at risk, it will get in touch with those concerned immediately. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The fire that recently scorched the corner of Maryland and Westminster last weekend brought horrific destruction to the doorstep of one of Winnipegs most charming residential neighbourhoods. Flames that burned through the night consumed an 11-unit rental apartment building under construction and seriously damaged two adjacent houses. Days later, a reminder of the infernos heat could be seen in the melted digital signboard of Westminster United Church across the street, some 23 metres away. Were it not for the selflessly quick thinking of neighbours and the heroism of Winnipeg firefighters, this terrible event would have been a tragic one. For the developers of the apartment block, a local company named the Ranjjan Group, this destruction is the absolute worst-case scenario. Insurance for the project will recover capital costs, but likely not indirect costs such as interest and operating expenses. In spite of the loss, Ranjjan has stated it will rebuild on the site. Maryland, once named Boundary Street to indicate its place as the original western limit of the City of Winnipeg, is now the boundary between two established and increasingly desirable neighbourhoods, Wolseley and West Broadway. A quieter alternative to Osborne Village, and home to the burgeoning Sherbrook Street, it is easy to see the areas appeal. A similarly sized condo building, also by Ranjjan, is underway at the opposite end of the block, while a larger rental development is planned for the other side of Maryland. JASON HALSTEAD / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Firefighters work at the scene of a massive overnight blaze in Wolseley that started in an under-construction condominium building and spread to two neighbouring homes near the corner of Westminster Avenue and Maryland Street on April 23, 2016. To begin construction over again might seem like starting at square one, and in many ways it is. But much of the work was done before construction could get underway. This infill development required a rezoning of the property, in order to build 11 units instead of the permitted six. It also required myriad variances to the zoning bylaw concerning things like the setback of the building and the number of parking spaces. For example, the developer had to get permission to provide only four parking spaces instead of the required 14. These decisions needed to be made by council in public hearings. Altogether, the approval process took more than three months. For developers, this long and laborious process adds uncertainty to what is already a risky venture, since council can effectively kill a project on a whim if it decides it doesnt support the rezoning. This doesnt exactly fill potential investors with confidence. That such a small apartment block on a busy street in a neighbourhood with many existing apartment blocks requires so much time and effort is a testament to how current regulations can prohibit density. Outside Winnipegs downtown, which has its own zoning bylaw, regulations uphold a suburban ideal of separated densities and land uses that has little relevance to the urban context of most mature neighbourhoods. Even building a single-family house on a typical lot in Wolseley requires a variance any lot less than 5,000 square feet is too small to build on, according to the bylaw. These regulations are held in place by a council wary of upsetting NIMBY (not in my backyard) residents who view their neighbourhoods as club goods akin to a private park where any new development threatens to cause congestion. In 2013, council rejected a recommended small tweak to the zoning bylaw that would lessen red tape for single-family infill. In such a restrictive zoning environment, it is somewhat understandable that Winnipegs largest development companies have avoided doing infill in established neighbourhoods. Not only is the scale too small, but the potential red tape and NIMBY pressures are too overwhelming. Major infill areas such as former industrial sites in St. Boniface or South Point Douglas can work for large developers, but these typically involve complicated land assembly and service agreements, and require a lot of equity and planning capacity. In the meantime, small infill developments offer additional housing choices for people who want to live in established walkable neighbourhoods close to downtown, but maybe dont want the century-old house or apartment that seemingly goes with it. Small development does this without significantly altering a neighbourhoods scale and built character. Reforming zoning regulations in established neighbourhoods can allow planners and council to get on with the business of creating and passing neighbourhood plans, such as one for the Sherbrook-Maryland corridor, that give greater certainty to both developers and residents. Small infill developers such as Rajjan and others like them can get on with the business of building. Robert Galston is a masters candidate in the city planning department at the University of Manitoba. Twitter:@robgalston Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In the recent Manitoba election, the Progressive Conservatives set a modern record of 40 seats on the basis of 53 per cent of the votes cast. The seat count surpassed the previous record 37 seats won by the NDP in 2011 and the previous record vote share of 49 per cent won by the NDP in 2003. By the usual measures of political success, the 2016 outcome was an impressive political accomplishment for leader Brian Pallister and his party. There were no serious charges of voting irregularities during the contest, and now, after nearly 17 years of NDP rule, a peaceful transfer of power is taking place. These two fundamental conditions of a healthy electoral democracy do not exist in many countries, so we should celebrate the occasion. On the other hand, there are signs our electoral democracy is not as healthy as it should be. For the fourth general election in a row, the provincewide turnout rate of 58.87 per cent of registered voters fell below 60 per cent. The comparable turnouts in 2011, 2007 and 2003 were 55.8 per cent, 56.7 per cent and 54.2 per cent, respectively. A comparison of turnouts in all provinces from 1967 to 2011 found Manitobas rate was on average the third-lowest in the country. The provincewide turnout rate hides wide variation across Manitobas 57 constituencies. The preliminary estimates for 2016 from Elections Manitoba show the lowest turnout was in Kewatinook, the vast, sparsely populated northern riding where of 13,214 registered voters only 3,195 (24.1 per cent) cast a vote. The highest turnout was in Winnipegs River Heights, where 73.9 per cent (10,137 of 13,715 registered voters) cast a ballot. Many factors cause such wide differences, with empirical studies suggesting competitiveness among the parties and candidates is the leading cause. The announcement from Elections Manitoba that advance vote usage had increased 38 per cent from 2011 caused some commentators to conclude there was to be greater voter engagement in this election. This proved not to be true, as the final turnout only rose by three percentage points. Similar to election agencies across the country, Elections Manitoba calculates turnout on the basis of the number of voters who are registered, not the total number of Manitobans who are eligible to vote. Registration occurs through voluntary enumeration at residences, a revision period and at polling stations on the advance and main voting days. Elections Manitoba estimates it usually registers slightly less than 90 per cent of eligible voters, but it does not publish a precise total of eligible voters. One way to estimate the total voting population of Manitoba would be to start with the 900,000 voters eligible to vote in the October 2015 federal election. This number would then have to be lowered slightly to recognize provincial enumeration is voluntary and there is a six-month residency requirement to vote in a provincial election. Adjusting for these factors, we might assume a Manitoba voting population in April 2016 of 890,000. If we then calculate the turnout rate based on all eligible voters, rather just registered voters, approximately 51 per cent of the total voting population cast a ballot this month. Another sign of political malaise is the number of voters who used their legal right to cast a declined ballot, which usually indicates they did not like their political options. Unlike rejected or spoiled ballots, declined ballots are part of the official count. In the 2016 election, the number of declined ballots rose to 4,016 from 440 in 2011. The previous high for declined ballots was 1,129 in 1999, which featured among its themes a scandal about vote-rigging by the governing Progressive Conservatives, who ended up losing power. The fact only half of the voting population took the time to vote, and a growing number cast a protest vote, indicates electoral democracy is not as robust as it should be. Moreover, given the official method for calculating turnout and the vagaries of the simple plurality electoral system, victorious parties have to be careful not to boast unduly about the strength of the democratic mandate they claim to have received. Voting is the only direct democratic activity in which most Manitobans engage, so increasing turnout is a desirable goal. Elections Manitoba can increase the opportunities and convenience of voting but this will result in only small increases in turnout. The more serious problem is the motivation to vote. The media, schools, advocacy groups and academics can help with educating people about the importance of voting. But the primary responsibility for dealing with voter disillusionment resides with politicians and political parties who must inspire more voter confidence and engage more people in their activities. Paul Thomas is professor emeritus of political studies at the University of Manitoba. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA B.C. Premier Christy Clark is the latest politician forced to explain the ethics behind accepting cash for access. Clark has been on the hot seat for days after it was publicly revealed she receives between $30,000 and $50,000 a year from the B.C. Liberal partys coffers as payment for attending events including fundraisers. Some of those events are swanky, only-get-in-if-you-have-the-cash private affairs. So not only are people getting access to the highest office in the province by writing a big cheque, the premier herself is essentially getting paid extra for attending those events. In one example, individuals paid $10,000 each for the privilege of attending a private event with Clark at the home of the chancellor of Simon Fraser University. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark says there is nothing wrong with accepting cash for attending Liberal party fundraisers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck The only thing odd about the NDPs ethics complaint about the practice is that it took so long to be filed, since the Liberals readily admit they have been doing this for more than two decades. Clark defended the practice saying she knows she has to separate her public duties from any sources of funding for political parties. I always keep that utmost in my mind when were making decisions, she said. Well, OK then, as long as she pinky-swears not to let those people who paid money influence her, then everything is A-OK. In the United States, where political-party financing dwarfs anything seen in Canada, money is everything. That country cant even get a majority of politicians to address lax gun laws even when more than 30 toddlers managed to find a gun and shoot themselves last year. Why? Because the National Rifle Association gives so much money to congressional candidates, its influence is impenetrable. Money talks, even if Christy Clark wants to pretend she can ignore it. If Clark sold $10,000 tickets to meet with her in the premiers office, the outrage would be swift. How is it different when those meetings take place in a private residence? Clark, of course, is not the only politician in this position. Federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould has offered feeble excuses for attending a $500-a-head, invitation-only fundraiser in Toronto earlier this month with a bunch of lawyers. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is muttering the sounds of the converted about cracking down on party fundraising rules after her party was put on the hot seat for ministers holding fundraising events with stakeholders in their own departments. Like Clark, Wynne tried to suggest just because youre a cabinet minister getting an earful from someone who is looking for something from your office doesnt mean the policies of her government are influenced by party donors. Wilson-Rayboulds defence was no less cringe-worthy, with her trying to suggest she was only there as the MP for Vancouver Granville, not as the justice minister, her policy adviser who attended with her was just there on her own dime to have a good time and they were only talking to the lawyers about Canadian politics, being involved in politics and ensuring that everybody has the ability to have their views heard. Yeah, well, having your views heard is still a lot easier when you have the cash. Manitoba can sit a little bit smugly in all of this, being among the provinces with the strictest limits on political fundraising. Only Quebec has stricter dollar limits on donations to political parties and candidates, and Manitoba is one of just four provinces that dont allow any donations from corporations or unions. But that doesnt actually stop the kind of pay-to-play ,meet-and-greet events weve seen in other provinces. It may be on a smaller scale, but it happens in Manitoba as well. One of the NDPs biggest fundraising events each year was the annual premiers dinner, where people bought tickets to mingle with cabinet ministers and the premier. There is nothing stopping the new government from holding fundraising meet-and-greets in someones living room. The only difference would be the maximum donation could be $3,000, rather than $10,000. Thats still far out of reach of the vast majority of Manitobans. Mia Rabson is the Free Press parliamentary bureau chief. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Ontario Court Justice Charles Vaillancourt has handed down his ruling: Sen. Mike Duffy has broken no laws. This ruling, concerning appropriation of public funds for what many mistakenly thought was a criminal misuse of Senate expense accounting, will have several consequences. First, there will be a veritable stampede of aspiring senators to lobby various interest groups to advance their name for admission to the most exclusive club in Canada now any reservations about the long arm of the law reaching out to senatorial miscreants has vanished. Second, Duffy will resume his seat in the upper chamber. He may even be feted as a kind of folk hero. He will most certainly recoup back pay, and one can only imagine what future lawsuits will originate from the febrile imagination of his legal counsel. Third, sitting senators will act decisively to clarify senatorial expense rules so in the future their personal trainers, makeup artists and pals contracted to do work on their homes need have no trepidation about being reimbursed from the public purse. If Justice Vaillancourt sees nothing illegitimate about such charges, why should we? And finally, this ruling can only accelerate the death spiral of respect for our parliamentary government. Because although their apparent uselessness tends to obscure the fact, senators are parliamentarians. Parliament is the House of Commons and the Senate. Parliamentary ethics, admittedly not to be adjudicated by a court of law, should not be confined to It wasnt a crime. Lest we forget, Senate approval is required for legislation originating in the Commons to become law. Although it cannot reject money bills, the Senate can vote down other laws and, albeit not on matters of much general import, has done so in the past. The Senate can originate legislation. So it is somewhat startling to read in the Conflict of Interest Code for Senators the following: Senators who are not ministers of the Crown may participate in any outside activities, including the following: (a) Engaging in employment or in the practice of a profession; (b) Carrying on a business; (c) Being a director or officer in a corporation, trade union or not-for-profit organization; and (d) Being a partner in a partnership. Since the practice of appointing non-elected senators to cabinet posts has thankfully died out, this effectively means sitting senators can do anything they want. It is apparently assumed this is a part-time, even trivial job even though in a decade a senator will be paid somewhat more than one would receive for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. In fairness to members of the Senate, members of Parliament except ministers and parliamentary secretaries backbenchers who represent about 60 per cent of the present government caucus have the same freedom as senators. There have been several attempts by Parliament to pass conflict-of-interest legislation that would cover all parliamentarians, none of them successful. It seems parliamentarians are much more efficient at passing laws that affect your (and my) interest, than at passing laws that affect their own interest. Now that sunny ways are illuminating the parliamentary path these days, we must assume this deficiency will be remedied fairly soon. We are also in the midst of Senate reform. Our federal government has appointed its first batch of new senators that has been fairly well-received, seemingly because most are not Liberals. The government delegated its special interest in Senate appointments to other interest groups such as the late NDP government of Manitoba recently punted from office by an irate public who in turn suggested its independent choices. Make no mistake, moving away from the old political patronage model of appointments is a major improvement or at least will be if we have a transparent process that ensures we are sending people to the upper chamber who have at least two qualifications beyond being eminent Canadians. The first would be that before appointment to the Senate, aspirants state publicly what they feel is wrong with the current Senate and what role they feel they could play in reform; and the second would be how they intend to communicate regularly with and be accountable to the citizenry of their province. If we simply continue with an opaque process of appointing eminent Canadians, the Senate is really nothing more than the Order of Canada with a generous honorarium attached. There are countless ways the Senate can be reformed to produce meaningful results short of constitutional change. Mandatory public reporting by all senators; limiting time spent on debates that have no effect on legislation; developing more effective mechanisms for senatorial advice on the development of Commons legislation; a strong public role across Canada for the Senate in stimulating public discussion of issues of current import to Canadians; conflict-of-interest rules that would actually limit conflict of interest these and many more are available to the Senate. Membership should be a privilege, not an entitlement for past services in some other field, and bring with it duties and responsibilities, not perks and rewards. The problem is not the Senate its the senators. Norman Brandson was deputy minister of the former Manitoba departments of environment, water stewardship and conservation from 1990 to 2006. On April 26, under the headline EPAs plan has needless rules and regulations, the Daily News ran an opinion piece by Jack Gerard of the American Petroleum Institute. API describes itself as the national trade association that represents all aspects of Americas oil and natural gas industry. Award-winning author and journalist Jane Mayer tells us something very different about API in her book Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires behind the Rise of the Radical Right." API, along with several top oil industry executives and conservative think tank officials, colluded on a secret plan to spend $2 million to confuse the press and the public about the growing scientific consensus that global warming is real and is caused by human activity. The plan called for recruiting skeptical scientists and training them in public relations so that they could act as spokesmen, thereby adding legitimacy and cover to the (oil) industrys agenda. William OKeefe, a former CEO of API, lobbied for ExxonMobil and headed the George C. Marshall Institute, which Newsweek magazine called a central cog in the (global-warming) denial machine. API also helped to fund a non-peer-reviewed study claiming that polar bears ... were not endangered by climate change. So maybe when Mr. Gerard and API tell us that the Environmental Protection Agency uses needless rules and regulations, we should take it with a grain of salt or should I say a grain of sand? Authorities used DNA evidence to link an Illinois man to the burglary of a Sauk County gas station that took place in December. A criminal complaint filed Thursday charges 52-year-old Anthony L. Babic, of Bristol, Illinois, with felony burglary and theft, as well as misdemeanor criminal damage to property. A warrant has been issued for his Babics arrest. Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister issued a press release in December in which he stated someone manipulated the locking mechanism on the Bluffview Citgos door, and broke inside overnight. The person allegedly forced their way into a safe inside the gas station and stole a significant amount of cash, as well as cigarettes. Meister asked for the publics help in solving the crime. The complaint says authorities arrived at the scene to find the safe tipped on its back with the bottom cut open. The burglar also had cut wires to an alarm panel and security camera. Investigators believe some of the tools used in the burglary belonged to the gas stations owner. But the most important piece of evidence, according to prosecutors, was a hammer that was left on top of the emptied safe. The Wisconsin Crime Laboratory swabbed the hammers handle for DNA and found a match in a state offender database. The DNA matched that of Babic, prosecutors say, who was convicted of 1996 burglary and theft charges in Columbia County. If convicted of the Sauk County felony burglary charge, Babic could face up to 12 years and six months in prison, as well as $25,000 in fines. JUNEAU Guests learned tips for living with purpose and in good health at the Focus on Women Resource Day on Thursday. Now in its 21st year, the event, held for the first time at the Juneau Community Center, featured vendors offering services and products, prizes and speakers who offered tips on the event theme of Live, Laugh and Love. Linda Klinger, director of rehabiliation and wellness at Beaver Dam Community Hospital and the Blue Zones Project lead, spoke to Focus on Women guests about finding their purpose, the importance of connections, learning how to downshift, and what the Blue Zones Project hopes to accomplish in Dodge County. She said it is important for people to start asking themselves tough questions and take a bigger look to learn more about their values. My purpose is service, Klinger said. Im here to serve the community. She also suggested making a list of what stresses you in love and remembering the Serenity Prayer to let go of what is not in your control. She spoke of the value of finding the right tribe close friends who share interests. Those few close friends will help you weather the storms, Klinger said. The event also included Pattie Carroll, a family living educator for UW Extension- Dodge County, highlighting The Five Love Languages, teaching guests about words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch as ways to demonstrate and receive love. Entertainer Nino Cruzillini headlined the event with a combination of magic, mind reading, and comedy hypnosis. JUNEAU A Milwaukee man is being held on a $100,000 cash bond after being charged Thursday with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Charges against Kirk Lupton, 56, followed a raid that was conducted in the early morning hours of April 27 in which 35 firearms were seized. During his initial appearance in court, Judge Steven Bauer set a $100,000 cash bond with the conditions that he have no contact with the residents of N3315 Highway J in the town of Lowell as well as his victims. He also may not leave the state of Wisconsin. The Dodge County Sheriffs Office began investigating Lupton early this year, believing he may have been in possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. According to the criminal complaint, Lupton was convicted of theft by fraud and false statement in application in Milwaukee County in 1995 under the name Kirk Bintzler. He changed his last name from Bintzler to Lupton in 2009. A confidential informant told officers that he had purchased five or six firearms from Lupton over the last two to three years. Officers had the confidential informant purchase a .410 shotgun, a 9mm handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun from Lupton on separate occasions. Officers made contact with two escorts who identified Lupton as a client and said they saw Lupton in possession of a firearm while meeting with him as a client. One of the escorts told officers that Lutpon threatened her with an assault riffle and accused her of setting up a robbery in Milwaukee. The escort said she feared for her life. On March 18, officers interviewed a man who said he observed Lupton provide crystal meth to a woman. The man said he found a sim card that contained a video in which Lupton forced the woman onto her bed, tied her to it and sexually assault her. With the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, surveillance equipment was deployed on the property at N3315 Highway J in the town of Lowell where Lupton resided. The surveillance video shows Lupton holding a pistol. Officers executed a no-knock search warrant April 25 at Luptons home. He was taken into custody for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He refused to speak to officers and requested a lawyer. Another man was also arrested during the April 25 raid. Richard Nutter, 34, was taken into custody on a probation violation. Online court records show Nutter has a lengthy criminal history including several felony convictions. Lupton will appear in court again on May 5 at 1:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing. Congressman Ron Kind made a stop in Mauston on Monday, providing updates from Washington D.C. and listening to concerns from constituents. Kind, who represents Wisconsins third congressional district, held a listening session that ran for more than an hour at the Juneau County Courthouse. Kind, (D-La Crosse) has served in Congress since 1997. At least 20 people attended Mondays session, which featured a broad range of topics from terrorism to affordable healthcare. Kind opened the session with an update on his recent work in Washington. Kind recently visited the Middle East with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, a Janesville native, making stops in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. While he didnt specifically site Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump for saying the U.S. should place a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the nation, Kind said recent anti-Muslim remarks made during the presidential campaign have affected relations in the Middle East. One thing we heard during the course of the trip over there was the growing concern about the anti-Muslim rhetoric that were hearing through the course of our political campaigns, Kind said. Theyre telling us that its harder for them to convince their population that they need to do a better job of partnering with the United States when theyre hearing a lot of anti-Muslim sentiment coming out of the U.S. these days. It could hurt the cooperation and trust we need in this region of the world right now. I would hope our presidential candidates would understand this because (leaders in the Middle East) are saying, Thats not us, and were fighting ISIS like you are. In light of recent terrorist attacks in France and Belgium, Kind said Congress is working with European nations to strengthen their terrorism defense strategies. Kind heard from several residents within his district on Monday. Harvey Baumgartner, a veteran, talked to Kind about concerns he has with getting adequate medical care from the Choice Program and VA medical centers. It just bothers me every time when President Obama says were doing everything we can for veterans and then we have to go through things like this, Baumgartner said. We need to do a better job of overseeing this program, Kind said. Juneau County resident Dave Wester expressed concern with the states political climate, saying theres been a whole lot of things going on recently that undermine our democracy. Wester said the controversial voter ID law has already seen problems and Kind mentioned a 92-year-old World War II veteran from Reedsburg who was denied the opportunity to vote during the April 5 primary election. These voter suppression laws need to be fixed, Kind said. Its just wrong. Its not the Wisconsin way and not the way of our country. Voting is still the great equalizer for our citizens. If theres a real epidemic of voter fraud, Im not aware of it and that was the whole guise of passing this legislation. Redistricting has been a problem too, on both parties. Its leading to a polarization of the two political parties, but you would think they would want to work together to address this issue. Kind also voiced concern over big money in politics and the influence of super PACs on elections. We shouldnt have to chase dollars for self-defense purposes while running for office, Kind said. Retired Mauston dentist P. Michael Mick McCormick, addressed problems with healthcare, especially in dentistry. McCormick, who retired last fall after 41 years serving the community, said that due to the continued decrease in care reimbursement, patients are not getting treated for serious dental issues. McCormick said he served patients covered by Medicaid and BadgerCare insurance supplements for more than 35 years. Im afraid with the way things are going in medicine, more physicians are going to be driven out, McCormick said. Its predicted that many over age 50 will quit in the next five years if something doesnt change. Kind also heard about the heroin epidemic thats affected rural areas in Wisconsin in recent years. Kind said he has attended listening sessions with law enforcement in District 3 to hear their opinions on the drug problem. Kind is also an advocate for rehabilitation over incarceration, stating that over 50 percent of our prison population in the country is non-violent offenders. Kind concluded the session by addressing concerns with Social Security and Medicare coverage. With more than 10,000 Baby Boomers reaching Medicare eligibility every day, keeping the coverage viable is a major issue. Regarding Social Security, Kind doesnt support privatizing it and said its not in the crisis state yet, but we have to start having hearings about it to make sure its well off far into the future. We have to maintain the promise to our kids that if they work hard, it will pay off for them in the future. The list of Wisconsin delegates to the Republican National Convention came as a surprise to early Ted Cruz supporter Rep. Andre Jacque, R-De Pere. Jacque said in an interview he was told by the Cruz campaign that he was on their initial list of 15 delegates, but when the final list was released by the state GOP he didn't even make the cut as an alternate. That's an issue, he said, because the state GOP constitution gives the campaign that wins the most statewide votes the right to pick 15 delegates and 18 alternates. Those who did make the list included former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who was chairman of Ohio Gov. John Kasich's state campaign effort, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who was Marco Rubio's state chairman and endorsed Cruz 10 days before the April 5 primary. Jacque was one of six state lawmakers who endorsed Cruz in mid-February. Only two of them made the final list, which included many party insiders and close allies of Gov. Scott Walker, who gave Cruz a key endorsement a week before the election. Jacque said he spoke with a Cruz campaign staffer who was a liaison to national delegate coordinator Ken Cuccinelli. Jacque said he learned "there was not significant overlap between the lists" and there was surprise within the campaign about the final list. Wisconsin GOP spokesman Pat Garrett said in a statement "the list of delegates was developed in direct consultation with the Cruz campaign and reflects a wide range of elected officials and grassroots leaders who have been on the forefront of pushing major conservative reforms in Wisconsin over the last several years." The Cruz campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Brian Westrate, a Donald Trump delegate from the 3rd Congressional District, said the Cruz campaign told him they don't intend to challenge the list. Jacque said he was less concerned about himself not being on the list as other grassroots supporters who also were on the initial list and didn't make the final cut. "That was my greater disappointment -- that there was a considerable effort for Sen. Cruz in Wisconsin and I didnt feel that was reflected in the list that was put forward," Jacque said. There's another dynamic at play, Jacque noted. Though Cruz's Wisconsin delegates are bound to vote for him in a contested convention unless he receives less than a third of the vote in any given round, there are also opportunities for delegates to vote on changes to the rules, and there's no requirement that they vote on those rules the way the Cruz camp wants. For example, Rule 40b only allows candidates with a majority of delegates in eight states to be considered for the nomination. Cruz has said that precludes Kasich from being considered on the first ballot. But delegates could vote to change the rules. Thompson, in an interview from the Vatican after an audience with Pope Francis, said he doesn't know how he would vote on a rule change or if one will be necessary. Longevity wasnt difficult to explain for a cheerful Howard Latton, a Portage Kiwanis member for 75 years, former circuit court judge and World War II prisoner of war. In Poland I was a prisoner in a camp with 3,000 similar guys, Latton said. After being in a fence with thousands of men, when (George) Patton released us, why, I decided I was going to concentrate my time on women. I attribute that to my long life. Latton, after walking through a standing ovation at Pizza Ranch, celebrated his 100th birthday Wednesday with Portage Kiwanis members and his oldest daughter, Katherine. From 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday hell celebrate the milestone in an event open to the public in Portage City Halls community room, 115 W. Pleasant St. A program honoring Latton begins at 2 p.m. Latton was a co-pilot in the 381st Bomb Division of the Army Air Corps when, in May 1944, his B-17 was shot down over Germany, where he was later captured. He spent almost a year in POW camps, including several months in Stalag Luft III POW camp in what is now Poland, 100 miles southeast of Berlin, until his liberation in April 1945. Among his memories of that period, he said, is marching to a camp in Nuremberg. A journal he wrote while in camp is now held in the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison, the value of which he said is not so much what I wrote, but what the other prisoners wrote." Latton and his three daughters each own a copy of the journal, he said. Latton practiced law in Portage from 1950 to 1973 before becoming a circuit court judge until 1984, covering Marquette, Washara, Columbia and Sauk counties, and he worked as a reserve judge until 2002. Retired wasnt a word his friends used to describe him. Were so very fortunate and honored to have Howard in the community, being that hes been here since the early 1940s, he's served our country and immediately became a Kiwanian to serve our community and those beyond," said Portage Kiwanis President Margaret Rudolph. He cant do the brat fry and the cooking now, but he always comes to support us. The Medford native joined Kiwanis after moving to Portage in 1940, having served as president, vice president and lieutenant governor. As lieutenant governor, Rudolph explained, Latton worked with all the different clubs in the Wisconsin-Upper Michigan district. Kiwanis, at its core, is a club that "keeps in touch with other clubs," she added. I thought Id have a very easy time of it, but shortly after I joined, the president moved out of town and I had to take over, Latton said of joining Portage Kiwanis. Among his accomplishments as a member, he said, is furnishing playground equipment near St. Johns Lutheran Church and, in the late 1940s, piping the music out of an upstairs window for the enjoyment of skaters of a local pond. Rudolph noted Lattons and other longtime Kiwanis members contributions to city parks, keeping them clean and stocked with flowers. Kiwanis is always looking for improvements, to help, Latton said. Cows and streetcars Latton remembered his early days in Portage with clarity and amusement. Did you know Portage had a streetcar? There was a streetcar that would go from the depot (to) downtown, Latton said. And dont forget the cows in the city. There was a man who, as a boy, would hire out everybody on Cook Street toward downtown, and they would bring the cows to his house, Latton said. He would gather everybodys cows, including mine, and then he would take them across the bridge to eat during the day, and afternoon hed come and pick them up, bring them back to his house, and the neighbors would collect their cows so they could milk them. Thats not something that happens now? Rudolph said. I think he got $12 a week -- or month, Latton said. Life lessons Out of law school in 1940, Latton began his tenure with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue in Madison and worked with Dorothy Walker -- the first female district attorney in the state. She was famous, because there werent many women lawyers or prosecutors, and so I worked with her, went into military, and came back and re-worked with her, Latton said. We didnt get along too well," he added with a laugh. "She was pretty dominant, so I moved into my own office. But I got good training from her. She was a good lawyer. Latton in 1943 on a military base in Texas married his wife Kay, together for 68 years until her death in 2011. He has three daughters -- Kristine, Nancy and Susan -- six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Kristine Latton knows her father as an example of loyalty and steadfastness, and the "embodiment" of security. I was very fortunate to grow up in a really stable home, Kirstine Latton said. I always felt safe, secure. We were protected from things like the war. We didnt really hear much about that. It was a nice environment to live in. We went on many wonderful vacations. Dad had his own plane, and we flew all over the U.S. We had great times doing that. Staying sharp Kristine Latton and Rudolph agreed Howard Lattons ability to stay sharp all these years hinges upon his desire to keep learning. Howard is an avid reader, Rudolph said. He keeps up on all the news, gets outside often and he still drives, she added. I get a tremendous amount of mail, Latton said, noting he also remains a heavy investor. "It's very simple," he joked of his age. "Make sure you live to 50, and then you're sure." What can residents learn from the life of a citizen like Latton? A lot, Rudolph said. Be active, read a lot and be informed. W&M professor talks about helping homeless schoolchildren According to statistics provided by the Department of Education, the number of homeless students in public schools across the nation has doubled since before the last recession. In Virginia alone, there are over 18,000 enrolled students identified as homeless. Patricia Popp, state coordinator of Project HOPE-Virginia recently sat down with William & Mary News to discuss the issue of student homelessness, something that must be addressed in order to have a better future for all, she said. We are talking about our most vulnerable population, Popp said. Our children. In 1987, the federal government created the McKinney-Vento Act, which requires every school district to provide homeless students equal access to a public education. It is currently estimated that there are more than 1.1 million students in the United States defined as homeless. The categories include sheltered, unsheltered, doubled-up, and "hotel/motel." Students in these categories are at times difficult to identify, Popp said. They feel embarrassed and will be reluctant to speak about it. {{youtube:medium|b2mYian55Qc, How to identify homeless school students}} Homelessness can hinder a childs academic, social and physical development, said Popp. Being a homeless student can also bring about stressors that other students will not have. Homeless students are more likely to score poorly in reading, math and spelling, Popp said. In addition, homeless students are more likely to be held back a grade in school. {{youtube:medium|Uqk0WrLajJ0 How homelessness affects school students}} Project HOPE-Virginia, a collaboration between William & Mary and the Virginia Department of Education, homeless students have seen an improvement in their academics and chances of graduating from high school and going to college. {{youtube:medium|NOGiQB2lFU4 Progress made by Project HOPE-Virginia}} Popp believes that there is hope for students facing homelessness and that school in itself should be conducive for them to become productive citizens. The school can be that one safe harbor, said Popp. When everything else is in their lives is up in the air. Popp is a clinical associate professor in the curriculum and instruction area at William & Marys School of Education. She also serves as the liaison for the Virginia Department of Education to the Virginia Department of Social Services for implementation of the educational stability requirements in the Fostering Connections Act. She has co-authored Students on the Move: Reaching and Teaching Highly Mobile Children and Youth, Reading on the Go, Effective Teaching and At-Risk/Highly Mobile Students for the National Center for Homeless Education, and West Meets East for Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Regulatory milestone for US central storage facility 29 April 2016 Share An application for a licence to construct and operate a Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF) for used nuclear fuel in Texas has been submitted to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The application is delivered to the NRC's Joel Munday by Rob Baltzer, CEO of WCS Submission of the application by Waste Control Specialists (WCS), with the support of partners Areva and NAC International, has been hailed as a regulatory milestone in efforts to establish a CISF at the company's facility in Andrews, Texas. WCS already operates two separately licensed disposal facilities for low-level radioactive waste at the site, including the Texas Compact Disposal Facility, the only commercial radioactive waste disposal facility in the USA to be licensed within the last 30 years. WCS said that the application followed a year of pre-application meetings. The company has kept to the timeline it set out when it notified the NRC of its intention in February 2015. The issue of how to store used nuclear fuel pending the availability of a federal repository for permanent disposal is a pressing one for US nuclear power plants. The CISF would provide engineered interim storage facilities for used fuel that has already been placed in dry storage casks at the nuclear plant site. The storage casks would be encased in an additional NRC-certified transportation cask and transferred primarily by rail to the facility, where it would be removed from the transportation cask and placed in storage. The first fuel to arrive at the facility would be from reactors that have been permanently shut down. WCS president and CEO Rod Baltzer said that the licence submission places the project on track for completion in 2021. He said that the company is proposing an initial 40-year storage licence for 40,000 tonnes of heavy metal to be built in eight phases, each able to accommodate 5000 tonnes. The proposal includes opportunities for 20-year licence renewals after the initial licence period. "Thanks to the hard work of our partners at Areva and NAC International, and input from NRC, we were able to deliver a very thorough, detailed licence application," Baltzer said. "As a result, I am confident that we will have a final licence in approximately three years." NRC will now review the application to ensure that it contains sufficient information to enable it to conduct detailed reviews. Once accepted for review, the regulator will carry out parallel reviews on the safety and security aspects and the environmental impact aspects of the proposed facility. The process will involve the preparation of a safety evaluation report, an environmental impact statement, and a hearing if one is requested by interested parties. The regulatory process is expected to take about three years. Areva and NAC between them represent 62% of existing dry storage systems in the USA, including 78% of used nuclear fuel stored at sites where there is no longer an operating reactor. Areva signed an agreement with WCS in 2015 to support the licence application and environmental report for the facility. Areva and NAC also signed a separate agreement to work together to support the licensing, design, construction and operation of the CISF, to ensure that the facility can handle the majority of commercial used nuclear fuel and reactor-related used fuel and high-level waste already in dry storage at US sites while also leveraging their expertise in used nuclear fuel transportation. The NRC expects to receive an application for a second centralized interim storage facility, from Holtec International, for a site in New Mexico, by the end of November. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Outstanding Personal Achievement Sees Wrexham Scout Honoured With Prestigious Award This article is old - Published: Friday, Apr 29th, 2016 A Scout from Wrexham has been honoured with a prestigious award for outstanding personal achievement at a recent London ceremony. Jake Myatt was honoured by international adventurer Chief Scout, Bear Grylls at Windsor Castle for gaining his Queens Scout Award on Sunday 24th April 2016. Bear was joined by Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO. The Queens Scout Award is the highest honour in Scouting and is awarded for outstanding personal achievement. This honour is achieved by young people aged between 16 and 25 who have completed a range of challenges including service to their community, completing an expedition in wild country, undertaking a five-day residential project in an unfamiliar environment and learning a new skill or developing an existing talent. Jake, aged 24, from Wrexham is one of over 650 new Queens Scouts who received the prestigious and top award on Sunday. Speaking of his achievements, Jake said: Participating in community impact projects as part of our everyday adventure within scouting not only benefits the local community in which we work but helps us as young people on our journeys in life to become active citizens. The annual Windsor Castle event has been held regularly since 1934 on the Sunday nearest to St. Georges Day (23rd April). St. George is the Patron Saint of Scouting. Since the Queens Scout Award was instigated, over 100,000 of these awards have been presented to young men and women for outstanding personal achievements and service to their local communities. They have learnt new skills and taken part in many of the 200 different activities on offer by Scouting across the UK. Chief Scout Bear Grylls added: All these young people have lived the adventure of a lifetime to achieve their Queens Scout Awards, and I admire that spirit so much. They are huge inspirations to over half a million Scouts in the UK and I am so pleased that both Scouting has honoured them today. They are amazing. A protest called by trade, high school, and university student unions against the Socialist Partys (PS) labour law reform brought together some 500 demonstrators in the northern French city of Amiens. The banners and flags of the Stalinist General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and FO (Workers Force) were prominent, and youth fewer than in previous demonstrations. The demonstration was politically dominated by the satirical magazine Fakir, based in Amiens, whose editor Francis Ruffin launched the petty-bourgeois Nuit Debout movement occupying Republique Square in Paris, which has spread to several French towns. Fakir and Ruffin have long played a central role in the social movement in Amiens, supporting various pseudo-left allies of the PS, including the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF). The gathering received lavishly-printed free copies of a four-page Fakir supplement and leaflets calling for a meeting of Amiens Nuit Debout after the demonstration. The CGT offered their mic to supporters of Nuit Debout to advertise the meeting. The leaflet proposed no policy to defeat the El Khomri law and claimed that the principles of the movement are that Politics must not be for professionals but for everyone. This obscures the fact that the professional operator Ruffin and his team work closely with the PS political satellites. The free Fakir issues statement on Nuit Debout proclaims that Nuit Debout is not a party and so does not have a programme. It supports the coming together of the Nuit Debout movement with the very trade unions which have supported the PS governments reactionary attacks on the Labour Code. It says this would be the junction of classes, a union of proles and intellectuals. Nonetheless, Fakir does not hide its pro-PS sympathies. It praises the election of the first PS president, Francois Mitterrand, in 1981 by bearded teachers, Socialists and workers without mentioning the PS turn to austerity. It finishes with a long interview with the demographer and political commentator Emmanuel Todd calling for economic protectionism. A WSWS team distributed the statement The working class in France mobilizes against austerity and spoke to several youth. They were unanimous in thinking that the series of spaced out days of action called by the unions and the pseudo-left did not represent a serious attempt to counter PS austerity and attacks on the protective laws of the Labour Code. They all saw the struggle against austerity in France as part of an international war against the working class and agreed that it needed to be opposed on an international basis. Zoe, in her second year at Michelis High School, specialising in literature and languages, said: The unions may be trying to do something, but its not enough. I cant say why, but if the El Khomry law is not withdrawn, the youth have no future. It cant be done with the PS government. It must be an international fight. Thomas, studying building trades at the vocational Acheuleen High School had come to the demonstration with a classmate and with Salome, a first year student at Thuilliers High School. Though he could not say why the unions were not carrying out a real fight, he said his fellow students were all worried about their future. The state of emergency represses the right to protest, its against the workers and youthits no good. Salome expressed disgust for the government and various parties claiming to be on the left who had supported the election of PS President Francois Hollande. Hearing of Jean-Luc Melenchons plan to form a national guard to help the army, she exclaimed: And thats supposed to be the left in France! She said, The government has used the terrorist attacks and the state of emergency to attack our rights and our right to defend ourselves. The deprivation of nationality is designed to divide us. I agree, its like a return to Vichy France and the Algerian War. Im not in a union, but I know they are not working for us. My brother is a trade unionist. He tells me that theyre going to make us pay for emergency treatment in the hospitals. Next itll be education and well be a people with nothing. The economic crisis is internationalI agree with your programme of uniting workers across the world, she added. Monday April 25, a holiday in Australia and New Zealand, marked 101 years since the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops landed at Gallipoli as part of the Allies disastrous failed attempt to invade Turkey during World War I. The first Anzac Day ceremonies in 1916 glorified the thousands killed at Gallipoli in order to encourage more young men to fight and die for the British Empire. Such efforts failed to produce sufficient recruits. In the face of growing anti-war sentiment in the working class, the New Zealand government introduced conscription later that year. Altogether 18,000 New Zealanders died in World War I and more than 41,000 were woundedmore than 5 percent of the countrys population. This years military-led dawn services, in towns and cities throughout the country, were held against the backdrop of escalating geo-political volatility, resembling the tense periods leading up to World War I and World War II. All the imperialist powers, led by the US, are once again preparing for war. Washingtons aggressive pivot to Asia, aimed at encircling and subordinating China, involves a vast military build-up in the Asia-Pacific region. American allies are supporting the drive toward war. US Secretary of State John Kerry praised Australia and New Zealand for continuing the legacy of ANZAC by contributing troops to the current war in Iraq and joining US military exercises that are aimed against China. New Zealands population has been deliberately kept in the dark about the countrys military alignment against China. The ruling elite is highly conscious that there is no support for armed provocations that could spark a conflict between nuclear-armed powers, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the entire world. At the same time, the government has spent more than $100 million on exhibitions, films, books and events celebrating the centenary of World War I. The aim is to promote obedience and respect for the military and ideologically prepare the country, especially young people, for new wars. Prime Minister John Key, in a brief Anzac Day video address, declared that we lost far too many men at Gallipoli, but praised those who fought for the values and principles that underpin our country. He did not elaborate what these values were. New Zealands ruling elite joined World War I to defend the British Empire and extend New Zealands colonies in the Pacific by seizing German-held Samoa and part of Nauru. At the dawn service in Wellington, governor-general and former army chief Jerry Mateparae declared: Our hope is that there will be a time when war and conflict are consigned to history. He immediately added, however: For now, the reality of our situation is that we still need people who are prepared to serve their country in our Defence Forcein our Navy, Army and Air Force. None of the speakers at any of the services referred to the enormous increase in military spending being planned in Australia and New Zealand to assist the countries integration into US war plans. The NZ government plans to spend $11 billion over the next decade on new planes, frigates and other hardware. In a video statement, opposition Labour Party leader Andrew Little said: New Zealands international reputation is about peace. Its why were nuclear-free, but we should never forget about the tragedies of war because its the best way to avoid them in future. What a fraud! Labour has always been a pro-imperialist party. It supported New Zealands participation in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and Bushs occupation of Iraq. The 1999-2008 Labour government also sent troops to East Timor and the Solomon Islands to support the Australian-led military occupations. Little recently called for troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria. Labours defence spokesman Phil Goff has repeatedly attacked the government from the right for reducing military spending. This month, Labour and its ally, the right-wing populist NZ First Party, called for a major increase in funding and recruitment into the navy. NZ First leader Winston Peters, who Labour sees as a potential coalition partner for next years election, hypocritically stated in his Anzac Day speech: Let us commit ourselves to working for a world where differences between nations can be resolved without resort to war. At the same time, he hailed the contribution our service veterans have madenot just in the two world wars but in Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, Kuwait, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Timor and [the Solomon Islands] and the many other theatres. This month, NZ Firsts defence spokesman Ron Mark attacked moves to close two army training areas, accusing the government of being short-sighted with respect to what it takes to train and prepare for war. The party has also called for unemployed youth to be encouraged to train in the army. NZ First and Labour have sought to whip up anti-Chinese sentimentblaming Chinese immigrants for the housing shortage and unemployment. The xenophobic campaign aims to divert social tensions and align New Zealand with Washingtons anti-China pivot. The references to peace in the Anzac Day speeches reflect fears that the governments World War I propaganda may backfire, amid deeply entrenched anti-war sentiment. A New Zealand Herald editorial noted: The centenary of the Great War is not yet halfway through and already we have probably read enough of it, just like those who were living through it. The Herald also published a comment by the Ministry of Cultures chief historian Neill Atkinson. He wrote that Anzac Day can be a powerful force for unity and understanding, offering a form of collective solace and sense of belonging, but warned that tensions regularly surface in debates on topics that challenge the popular Anzac narrative, including wartime dissent, conscientious objection and military executions. He called for recognition of those who supported, endured or opposed the war. One sign of hostility to the militarist narrative is the support for anti-war sculptures installed anonymously in Wellington the night before Anzac Day. They depict the brutal field punishment endured by conscientious objector Archibald Baxter and others during World War I. Dozens of comments on the Dominion Posts web site applauded the objectors. One said: They believed no one should have been fighting that war. They defended their comrades by striving for an end to senseless killing. They were quite prepared to die for that. A campaign must be waged to stop the descent into a catastrophic third world war. We urge readers to register today to take part in the upcoming International Online May Day Rally, hosted by the International Committee of the Fourth International. The purpose of this unique event is to unite workers throughout the world in opposition to imperialist war, based on the fight for socialism, which is the only means to prevent war. The author also recommends: Government-produced book describes WWI as successful and profitable [24 April 2014] New Zealanders shun Camp Gallipoli WWI celebration [10 April 2015] New Zealand s WWI exhibitions falsify history and glorify war for a new generation [22 April 2015] Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan released a consultation document earlier this month to kick off the Liberal governments much touted defence policy review. The document, whose principal author was the Canadian Armed Forces high command, is aimed at laying the political groundwork for a massive expansion of militarism at home and abroad. It makes clear the real significance of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus repeated declarations since coming to power last October that Canada is back on the world stage, and his pledge to re-engage with United Nations peacekeeping missions. This multilateralist, humanitarian rhetoric is aimed at legitimizing a vast escalation of Canadian military interventions on a global scale, including in cyber and outer space, while concealing their predatory purpose. The document is part of a phony public consultation process that is to be concluded by July. The four-member panel of experts that is conducting the policy review is to submit its recommendations to the cabinet before the end of the year. The review will conclude with the government unveiling the public articulation of Canadas new defence policy in early 2017. Canadas defence policy review, as was the case with the like reviews Germany and Australia recently conducted, is being accompanied by a public relations blitz on the part of the political elite and military-security establishment aimed at overcoming the deep-seated popular opposition to military-spending hikes and increased participation in foreign wars. The corporate media is fully onboard with the push for a more aggressive foreign policy, from the pro-Liberal Toronto Star, which recently reaffirmed its support for a genuinely robust fighting force, interoperable with our American and other allies, to neoconservative pundits such as Conrad Black, who has described the Liberals defence review as an opportunity for Canada to take a major step forward. The Canada-US alliance From the outset, the consultation document makes clear Canada should deepen its longstanding strategic partnership with the United States and that Ottawa is fully onboard with Washingtons key geostrategic offensives: threatening Russia in the Baltic, Eastern Europe, and the Black Sea; the current Mideast war, which is the continuation of a decades long drive to strengthen US dominance over the worlds most important oil-exporting region; and the anti-China pivot to Asia, which is aimed at encircling and preparing for war with Beijing. Canada, the document declares, faces an uncertain, complex and fluid security environment, including a multi-faceted array of threats and challenges, both traditional and conventional. The document singles out Russian aggression in Ukraine, before going on to cite geopolitical rivalries and disputes in the Asia-Pacific region, a clear swipe at China. Although the document makes no mention of this, Canada is already deeply integrated into Washingtons aggressive moves in the South China Sea and its broader military build-up in East Asia. In 2013, the Canadian military concluded an Asia-Pacific cooperation agreement with the Pentagon whose provisions remain entirely secret. Having painted a picture of a menacing world, the document proceeds to make the ominous declaration that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) must be in a position to achieve stability in conflicts far from home. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned during last years election on the promise to intensify Ottawas already close strategic partnership with Washington. During a visit to the White House in March, he invoked Canadas three-quarters of a century-old military-security alliance with US imperialism to pledge Ottawas collaboration in US military operations across the globe. Canadas military-intelligence apparatus is in the forefront of pushing for t his agenda . Last fall it was reveal ed that in 2013 the Canadian and US militaries held discussion s a t the highest levels about c reatin g a joint military taskforce capable of conducting offensive operations anywhere in the world. ( S ee: HYPERLINK "https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/10/06/usca-o06.html" Why are Canadas politicians mute about the Canada-US military integration plans? ) Military-foreign policy issues played a significant role in the rallying of decisive sections of big business behind the Liberals during last falls election campaign. Trudeau won ruling class support by promising to raise military spending, push through numerous military procurement projects that had stalled under the Harper Conservatives, and to reset relations with the US, which the Liberals charged had been damaged by the previous governments focus on securing Washingtons approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Canadas elite now hope to move forward on all these fronts with the Liberals progressive internationalist facade providing useful political cover. Trudeau laid out his governments priorities in his mandate letter to Sajjan. In it, he urged the defence minister, who served with the military in Afghanistan, to strengthen Canadas commitment to NATO and the North American Aerospace Defence (NORAD) system, renew Canadas commitment to peacekeeping missions, and ensure that the military had sufficient equipment to carry out these tasks. The consultation paper expands on these points. It calls for reopening the Martin Liberal governments 2005 decision not to participate in the US-led ballistic missile defence system (BMD), whose ultimate aim, its name notwithstanding, is to make it feasible for the US to wage a winnable nuclear war. The policy review consultation document states, Given the increase in the number of countries with access to ballistic missile technology and their potential to reach North America, this threat is expected to endure and grow more sophisticated in the coming decades. The document further suggests that NORAD needs to evolve or modernize and that this should include expansion beyond the air and maritime domains. These remarks are all the more revealing in light of Trudeaus agreement with Obama during his White House visit to expand US-Canadian cooperation in the Arctic. The consultation paper contains a separate section on the Arctic. It raises concerns about the lack of radar systems above 65 degrees north and otherwise suggests the military should become more active in the far north. While this is in part put down to increased trading activity resulting from climate change, the document goes on to pointedly remark, Recent Russian activity in the Arctic has only added to this challenge. Significantly, the figures appointed by Sajjan to the four-member expert panel overseeing the review are all trusted representatives of Canadian imperialism. Bill Graham, who served as foreign and defence minister during the Chretien-Martin Liberal governments, is on record as supporting Canadas participation in the US-led ballistic missile defence system, having described it two years ago as an amazing new form of weapons system. Ray Henault is a former Chief of Defence Staff, whose term in office from February 2001 to 2005 was largely devoted to overseeing the CAFs role in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. Margaret Purdy worked for the government for decades as a defence and national-security expert, while Louise Arbour is a former Supreme Court justice who went on to play a prominent role at the United Nations as the High Commissioner for Refugees and later headed the International Crisis Group. She is a leading exponent of the responsibility to protect (R2P) doctrine, which the Canadian government was central in developing in the early 2000s and which has served as the justification for one imperialist war crime after another ever since Peacekeeping missions While the Conservatives proclaimed Canada a warrior nation, the Liberals are seeking to conceal their and the Canadian elites militarist agenda behind phony humanitarian and pacifist phases. Thus, the Trudeau government is touting a commitment to re-engage with UN peacekeeping. The claims that Canada has a special peacekeeping vocation were always a fraud. The peacekeeping missions Canada undertook during the Cold War were always done at the say-so of the great powers, above all the US, and with the aim of defusing crises that threatened to undermine NATO, as in the 1956 Suez crisis and the Cyprus conflict, or otherwise undermine imperialist interests. However, the defence policy document makes clear that in the name of peacekeeping, the Trudeau government intends to deploy CAF troops in a very different type of missionmissions where they will be expected to violently suppress targeted groups. Peace support missions, states the document, are increasingly deployed to hostile environments where violence is systemic and there is a desperate need to end violations of human rights. Unlike traditional peacekeeping missions of the past, most current missions operate where there is no clear peace accord to be monitored. The missions are, moreover, frequently authorized under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, thereby allowing use of force. Even more revealing is the choice of examples the document offers to illustrate Canadas involvement in peace and security operations. It speaks of the combat operations in Afghanistan; the training of soldiers loyal to Ukraines ultra-nationalist, pro-western government to fight pro-Russian separatist rebels; the CAFs deployment to train Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in Iraq; and Canadas involvement in the UN mission in Haiti. All of these missions have been aimed at strengthening the hegemony of US imperialism, which the Canadian bourgeoisie views as vital to advancing its own global interests. In Afghanistan, the CAF waged a brutal counterinsurgency war against the Afghan population, while in Iraq it is backing Kurdish forces who have been accused of atrocities and who aim to ethnically partition the country. In Ukraine and Haiti, Canadian forces openly collaborated with far-right and outright fascist forces, most notably in Ottawas outspoken support for the 2014 coup in Kiev. Military spending and domestic deployment The defence policy review document leaves no doubt about the need for increased financial resources to be devoted to the military to ensure it has the equipment necessary to carry out its expanded role. A section on defence spending notes that the CAF has been resourced with spending levels of 1 percent of GDP for the past decade, before mentioning the commitment made by NATO leaders in 2014 to move towards spending 2 percent of GDP on the military. The Liberals have already committed to increasing military spending by vowing to implement the previous Conservative governments plan for an additional 1 percent rise in military spending each year for nine successive years beginning in 2017. The investments will include the purchasing of new weapons systems. The document argues this should potentially include equipment to enable defensive and offensive operations to be carried out in cyberspace and to defend Canadian satellites. Chief of the defence staff, General Jonathan Vance, is an outspoken advocate of the purchasing of drones, and he has made no secret of the fact that he believes they should be armed. The consultation document explicitly refers to this issue as being a critical matter for debate during the review. The procurement process to replace the air forces fleet of CF-18 fighter jets is under way, and major purchases of sea rescue aircraft, naval destroyers and helicopters are in the works. A strong domestic armaments industry, the paper writes, enables Canada to retain an agile and combat capable force. The increased resources to be made available to the CAF are not only intended for use abroad. The document outlines proposals for expanded armed forces deployments within Canada, to assert territorial claims in the Arctic, provide disaster relief, and collaborate with law enforcement in counter-terrorism activities. This last point is significant, since the definition of terrorism in Canadian law is so broad that political opposition and protest groups can fall under its scope. The review consultation document ends by emphasizing the scale of operations the ruling elite envisages for the military when it states, The CAF remain focused on defending Canada and North America and contributing to a wide spectrum of operations globally. However, the security environment has shifted and the time is right to reflect on the CAFs role domestically, on the continent, and globally, as well as on how the CAF should be resourced and equipped. Europe Strike by French rail workers Staff at Frances state-run national rail service SNCF came out on strike at 7 p.m. on Monday, returning to work at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The biggest impact of the strike was on Wednesday, when many services were affected. According to press reports only half of the scheduled TGV high-speed trains operated and 40 percent of the regional TER trains. Services in Paris were badly hit. The strike was in response to proposed changes to working conditions. SNCF is changing the rules for paying for travel to work expenses. Currently, staff can claim for commuting expenses over three kilometers; SNCF wants to increase this to 50 kilometers. Among other proposed changes is reducing the number of two consecutive days leave, currently set at 52 per year, down to 30. They also want to reduce the number of hours allowed between shifts from 14 to 13, increase the number of nights staff can be expected to be away from home from one to two, or three at a time and to get rid of the advanced notice of shift changes. German airport ground staff in walkout Public sector employees at German airports, including ground services staff, security staff, fire fighters and check-in operators held a one-day strike Wednesday. Among the airports badly affected were Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Cologne and Hanover. Lufthansa said it had cancelled 60 percent of scheduled flights, while Germanys second largest operator, Air Berlin, had to cancel over 40 internal flights. The airport staff, members of the union Verdi, are seeking a 6 percent pay rise. They recently rejected a 3 percent increase to be paid over two years. Talks between the union and the employer resumed on Thursday. Strike at UK Southern Rail Rail workers employed by Southern Rail held a one-day strike this week over plans to bring in driver-only operated trains, doing away with the conductor/guard doors and safety procedures roles. The company is in talks with the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) to try to avert further strikes planned for May 10 and 12. Council staff in Scottish city of Glasgow to be balloted for action Thousands of staff working for Labour-controlled Glasgow city council, organised by the GMB, Unite and Unison unions, are to be balloted for possible strike action. The decision was taken after the council announced its intention to class six public holidays as leave days. The move will affect residential care workers, refuse collectors and emergency social work teams, who normally work the public holidays, to provide essential cover and receive enhanced pay. According to the unions the change will mean an average loss of around 600 a year. National Museum of Wales dispute escalates Employees at the six National Museum of Wales (NMW) sites throughout Wales began an all-out strike Thursday. The members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) had previously held strikes over the past few months, mainly on weekends and bank holidays, over plans to abolish enhanced pay for weekend and bank holiday working. Greek ferry staff to join one-day protest Greek ferry workers organised by the Panhellenic Seamans Federation (PNO) announced they will take part in the planned one-day strike on May 8 called by the private sector union body, the GSEE. The one-day strike is in opposition to the Syriza-led coalition governments planned pension reforms. Irish transport workers push for substantial pay raise Rail staff working for Iarnrod Eireann (Irish Rail) are to be balloted for strike action. They are seeking a 25 percent pay rise and are represented by the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) and the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU). Any strike action would consist of withdrawal of labour for several hours per day. A planned strike by Irish tram drivers in Dublin on Thursday went ahead. They are seeking a 26.5 percent pay raise. The strike follows several strikes over past months, with more scheduled. Talks between the tram operator, Transdev, and SIPTU on Monday were unsuccessful. Tram drivers are also opposed to plans to introduce lower pay rates and longer shifts for new drivers. Strike by Italian cement producer staff over proposed job cuts Employees of the Italian cement producer, Italcementi, are on strike today. They are represented by the unions Feneal Uil, Filca Cisl and Cgli Fillea. The strike is in protest at plans for job cuts by HeidelbergCement, the German multinational poised to take over the company. HeidelbergCement proposes over 400 job cuts this year and a further 250 next year as part of its restructuring plans. Norwegian hotel staff walkout spreads Last weekend around 3,500 hotels and restaurant staff in Norway began strike action. Nearly 400 hotels and restaurants have been hit so far. It has impacted Norways largest hotel chain, Thon Hotels, and on Sunday, the Raddison Blu Plaza hotel in Oslo was forced to close its doors with guests having to make alternative arrangements. Talks on Monday between employees and hotel employer representatives, NHO, were deadlocked. The union representing hotel and restaurant staff is pushing for a wage increase and the right to conduct local negotiations with hotels and restaurants. Press reports indicated the strike, which was well supported, was likely to spread. The weak state of the krone, the Norwegian currency, has produced a boom in hotel and restaurant visits by foreign tourists. Protest by Ukrainian nuclear power staff Employees of Energoatom, the Ukrainian state nuclear power company, held a rally in the capital, Kiev, on Tuesday. The day was chosen to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster. They held the rally to protest the governments freezing of the companys assets. The asset freeze has left the company unable to purchase new nuclear materials to maintain the operation of its four plants, and is threatening to affect payment of wages. The assets were frozen as a result of a court order over unpaid debts. Africa Strike pending for Kenyan public sector workers The Kenyan Trades Union Congress (TUC) has threatened a strike by public sector workers over unpaid wages. A deadline has been set for the government to sign collective bargaining agreements before the budget is established for 2016-17. The bargaining agreements are outstanding for teachers, university staffs, and council workers. Dockworkers and others are yet to be signed. The TUCs deadline to strike is July 1. It complains that while private sector workers have had minimum wage increases, workers in the public sector have missed out. South African airline imposes wage deal South African airline operator Comair has settled a wage dispute with the United South African Airlines workers union. Airline workers, who manage the baggage handling, ticketing, security checks and other duties, were locked out of their workplaces when they refused to accept the imposition of a management settlement. The workforces claim for a 35 percent increase over three years was rejected by Comair and the original management offer of 22.5 percent over three years was imposed. Other aspects of the dispute, such as safety, are still under discussion. Namibian airline food supply workers protest Workers providing in-flight food for airlines at Hosea Kutako International Airport delayed outbound flights on Monday when Namibia Commercial Catering, Food and Allied Workers Union members working for Flamingo In-Flight Catering demonstrated against their work conditions. They complained security guards employed by the Namibia airports use force against them and treat them with disrespect. They are put through inhuman searches, sworn at and shouted at and are under constant stress. Although when they complain, promises are made that the incidents will be looked into, nothing ever happens. The Namibian Protection Services, the airport security company, are making a counter-claim against Flamingo workers, claiming assaults on their personnel. Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France yesterday in the fourth day of action called by trade, high school, and university student unions against the labour law reform of Socialist Party (PS) Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri. Rail, airport, and port workers walked off the job. Riot police, who have savagely attacked youth on every protest against the El Khomri law, again clashed with protesters in cities across the country. While estimates varied widely of how many people marched170,000 according to the authorities, 500,000 according to the Stalinist General Confederation of Labour (CGT)it was clear that participation was sharply down from the over 1 million people who protested on March 31. This does not reflect any lessening of the broad opposition among workers and youth to the El Khomri Law. Even pollsters, whose findings generally conform to the needs of the ruling class, admit that the law remains wildly unpopular. It would lengthen the work day, undermine job security for young workers, and allow trade unions to negotiate contracts inferior to the standards set by the Labour Code. Rather, the protest is coming up against a key obstacle: masses of workers and youth marching in the protests do not have a viable strategy for a struggle against the PS government. Several youth asked questions of WSWS reporters at rallies yesterday on how to really oppose the PS. This reflects a basic political reality: the organisations controlling the protests are allies of the PS and have not mounted any real struggle against the El Khomri Law. They defend the PS. The CGT's political ally, the Left Front, together with the New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA), called for a vote for President Francois Hollande in 2012. All have worked for decades in various alliances with the PS. They have not called for any broad mobilisation of the workers against constant police attacks on the protests, fearing this could bring down the extremely weak and unpopular PS government of President Hollande. The workers have largely ignored their calls for impotent symbolic protests. This has allowed the PS to try to impose its law with brute repression, under the pretext of the state of emergency: relying on the unions to demobilise the workers, thus isolating student protesters, police savagely attacked the youth at each successive day of action. Even today, when it is clear that the PS is determined to forcibly impose the austerity agenda advanced across Europe by the European Union, and trample the opposition of over 70 percent of the population, these organisations are only proposing more impotent appeals to the PS. As the government prepares to present the El Khomri Law to the National Assembly on May 3, the unions have issued a statement proposing that holding strike meetings in work places would allow workers to obtain new collective guarantees to produce social progress. These false and empty promises, designed to give political cover to corrupt bureaucracies allied to the PS, go against the experiences thousands of workers and youth are passing through. The PS and the other parties in the National Assembly are determined to slash wages and working conditions and will stop at nothing to accomplish it. The only way that the working class can defend itself, in France and across Europe, is by mobilising en masse in an open political struggle for socialismin France, against the Socialist Party government and its pseudo-left allies. The central difficulty facing workers and youth in France is that currently, no political party advocates such a struggle. Every nominally left party has for decades treated the PS, a big business party, as a representative of socialism and of the workers movement. As a result, though Hollande is Frances most unpopular president since World War II, broader layers of workers have not entered into struggle, and a small layer of protesters is forced into fruitless street battles, facing off against hordes of riot police. Clashes broke out in and around protests including in Paris, Le Havre, Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, and Marseille. Police assaulted youth protesters in Marseille and confined a number in St. Charles train station, while a car was burned during fighting between police and protesters in Nantes. WSWS reporters attended the main protest in central Paris, attended by a number of delegations of trade union officials, members of PS and Left Front youth organisations, and groups of students from various local schools and universities. They spoke to a student from the 13th district of Paris who has participated in the Paris demonstrations against the El Khomri Law. She strongly opposed the El Khomri Law, saying, Were already precarious enough, if we lose even more on job security, it will not be pretty. There is nothing good in it for the future of the youth, and not just of the youth, for employees, for workers of all descriptions. She attacked the state of emergency imposed by the PS, calling it a good cover to prevent people from going out and marching on the streets ... But there is a good turnout, so thats good, their plans are not working so well. She also criticised the PS governments sudden floating of a reactionary proposal to ban the Islamic veil in French universities as a measure to divide students protesting the El Khomri Law. She said, They are bringing up the issue of banning the Islamic veil in the universities now, by pure coincidence, when all the youth are out on the streets protesting a government measure ... I do not agree with this. She also criticised the war in Syria: Western policy is not for nothing in what is happening in these countries, either Gaddafis fall or his death. Youth today who leave France, Belgium, Germany or wherever to go in Syria or the Middle East, its not for no reason. Its maybe that they were sort of pushed to go, and it was made clear to them that here they had no future ... I feel sadness for those who were killed in the [terrorist] attacks, the victims, and for youth who see no other solution than to leave for those countries. And behind it all, there is a lot of manipulation. WSWS reporters attended a youth rally in Marseille and spoke to several students. One high school student told a WSWS reporter that he opposed the El Khomri Law because it constrains our future, because wages are not going up though working time is going up. Even if work is less physically demanding than it was in earlier periods, they are making us work much more. He also sharply opposed police violence, particularly in Marseille, where police have steadily escalated their deployments and the PS have called for sending in the army to impose law and order. He said, I think people have to open their eyes. Its not just at the protests that there is police violence, there are certain areas of Marseille where there are those problems every day. He regretted that no political organisation in France defends social equality, saying, I want equality for all, but thats a utopia because no one is pushing for it, especially in the workplaces. But I think we are in a society where we have to help each other. World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to junior doctors on picket lines and at rallies during this weeks two one-day strikes without emergency cover. Niraj is a junior doctor working at Charing Cross Hospital in west London. He said the Conservative government was trying to destroy working conditions: They cut the research time available to doctors studying fundamental medicine, which has vital applications into real surgical operations in cardiac surgery or neurosurgery. This hospital is one of the main centres in neurosurgery in the UK. On the government claim that it will introduce a seven-day health service, Niraj said, We doctors are made to work already 24 hours in a team from 8 a.m. to the next morning 8 a.m. If an emergency happens or a severe case develops with a patient, we remain at work out of professional care for the patient. The contract the government plans to impose in August means an effective pay cut of around 30 to 40 percent, he said. All our unsocial hours bonuses will be wiped out. I carry 60,000 student loan debt under my name to finance my studies to become a consultant doctor, spanning 11 years overall from the start, with my university degree. A general practitioner needs 5 years of study. Younger junior doctors have had to accumulate higher level of debts to fund both their studies and their yearly maintenance. What was 60,000 in student loans now turns into 100,000 in loans for the younger junior doctors. The government wants to decimate our pay, with the consequences that we as doctors will not be able to afford housing for ourselves and our families. It should never have come to this, but we must take a stand. No one is going to do it for us. We stand against the privatisation of the National Health Service. Following the first strike day on Tuesday, hundreds of junior doctors and their supporters attended a demonstration after marching from St. Thomas Hospital to the Department of Health, via the residence of the prime minister, Downing Street. Mike, who works at Guys Hospital in the capital alongside 300 others, was critical of the role of the trade unions and the Labour Party, who have been instrumental in laying the basis for the attacks on the NHS now being enforced by the Tories. He said, The unions and the British Medical Association [junior doctors trade union] were inadequate at defending the National Health Service, particularly since the new health care act of 2012. The new Labour Party had been attacking and undermining the NHS since Tony Blair. As for the old Labour Party, I think it is gone for good. Mike said, I will look up and read the website of the NHS FightBack. Reporters explained to Mike about the call of the Socialist Equality Party and NHS FightBack for junior doctors to establish action committees, independent of the BMA. Stacey is from Glasgow and works as a junior doctor in a north west London hospital with 250 others. She attended the rally with friends and brought a homemade banner reading, People over profit. She said, The cuts, the increased workload and hours will simply put both patients and doctors in mortal danger of making a mistake. On Wednesday, a rally of around 1,000 health workers and supporters was held in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, outside City Hall. Angela, a junior doctor, was asked her reaction to the attempt by the Labour Party and BMA to have the governments proposed contract introduced as a pilot scheme. The health unions worked unsuccessfully with the Labour Party over the weekend to engineer a return to work and the introduction of the inferior contract via a pilot scheme. Angela said, I cant understand why it is even mentioned. I heard [Health Secretary Jeremy] Hunt had rejected it, but that may just be a ploy. He could be saying: Come on and convince me. It is a bad, a very bad compromise that allows Hunt to probably get his way through the back door. We are asked to put our trust in the results of a scheme without knowing who the people testing it are within the NHS. Asked what she thought about the growing level of public support for their struggle, in contrast to the role of the unions, who were organising nothing in their defence, Angela said, The support from the staff we work with is fantastic and also from the public, but we cant win on sympathy and good wishes. Many of the staff are aware that if we are beaten the nurses will be next. You cannot impose the contract just on the junior doctors. We are told the other unions have their hands tied by the [anti-union] laws. I dont know how to deal with that, but we should be defending the NHS together. Its everyones fight. James, a medical student studying at the University of Sheffield, said, What the contract says isnt the biggest issue. I think its more to do with the fact there is no respect from the government for what doctors do. Otherwise they wouldnt have to strike. Talk of a 24-hour NHS is a sham, as there is a 24-hour service already. It cant run without nurses and the other staff members. Althea is a junior doctor at Salford Royal Hospital in the north west of England. She said, I am from the Philippines where this is no free health system. If you cant pay, you dont get any treatment, and if you are very ill you die. I think this is a struggle for all of the public sector. Everyone is under threat. Hunts proposals do not make sense, as we already work at weekends. We work over and above our rota hours on a goodwill basis. I have just finished an 80-hour week. Much of the NHS is now privatised. We are already understaffed. We get a rota, and there is always a shortfall in staffand the infrastructure is all collapsing. We have the support of the public and the other sections in the NHS. We want the government to talk with us, but they are refusing. Outside Bristol Royal Infirmary in south west England, 250 junior doctors staged a silent sit-in protest. Members of the public showed their support for the strike by bringing hot drinks and food to the picket line. Later 350 to 400 junior doctors and their supporters marched through the city. Vice President Joseph Biden visited Iraq Thursday for crisis talks with officials in Baghdad and in the Kurdish regional capital of Irbil. The trip was not announced in advance, for security reasons, an indication of the precarious state, both military and political, of the US puppet regime. Biden met for 80 minutes with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, whose Shiite-led government is increasingly shaky. The US vice president also met with Shiite and Sunni leaders in the capital before flying on to Irbil for talks with Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdish region. It was Bidens first visit to Iraq since the official withdrawal of American troops at the end of 2011. US forces returned to the country in strength after the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) overran Iraqs third-largest city, Mosul, in June 2014, capturing vast quantities of military supplies as Iraqi Army troops fled. With US air support and technical assistance, Iraqi government forces and Kurdish Peshmerga militia have regained some of the territory lost to ISIS, including Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and Tikrit, capital of Salahuddin province. ISIS fighters still control Fallujah, barely 25 miles from Baghdad, and most of Anbar province, as well as Mosul, once home to 2 million people. Iraqi Army troops, Shiite militias and Kurdish Peshmerga have been moving slowly towards Mosul, preparing for an assault on the city that is widely expected to begin in May or June, before the worst heat of the summer sets in. The main purpose of Bidens trip, according to US officials who spoke with the press off the record, is to determine whether the current Iraqi government is capable of carrying out the offensive on Mosul. An unidentified senior official traveling with Biden who spoke to the Los Angeles Times said, Its our sense that if momentum is lost in the campaign, its more likely to happen on the political side than the military side. The Abadi government has been thrown into crisis by widespread popular outrage over corruption and declining living standards, as the mainly Shiite ruling parties divide up perks and positions of influence and steal the countrys oil revenues. The falling world price of oil, which has slashed the governments main source of income, has made the infighting even more ferocious. The Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose followers fought the US occupation regime for several years, has reemerged as a significant political force leading mass protests against corruption and for a reconstitution of Abadis cabinet. Abadi himself has sought to balance between the tens of thousands brought into the streets by al-Sadr and the old guard in his own party, loyal to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom Abadi replaced. On Tuesday, protesters threatened to storm the Iraqi parliament building in the protected Green Zone if the legislature did not agree to begin implementing Abadis plan to replace his cabinet, drawn from the Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties, with a non-party group of technocrats. The parliament finally ratified the replacement of six of the 22 cabinet ministers before adjourning. There were other signs of instability in the capital. On Monday a suicide bomber killed 14 people in a market in the New Baghdad neighborhood, which is predominantly Shiite, and wounded at least 38 more. ISIS has frequently targeted Shiite areas for such attacks. On Wednesday, the Iraqi government forced the closure of the bureau of Al Jazeera Media Network in Baghdad and banned its journalists from reporting in the country. Al Jazeera is owned by the government of Qatar and generally aligned with the Sunni-ruled Gulf monarchies against Iran and the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government. The political convulsions have affected the Iraqi governments ability to sustain the ongoing offensive against ISIS. Last month Abadi pulled troops from the battle zone around the city of Hit, in Anbar province, and redeployed them in the capital. The troops have since been returned to combat and succeeded in capturing Hit last week. The impact of the political crisis in Baghdad on the military advances against ISIS has prompted a series of high-level US visits. Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter both visited Baghdad in the last month, and Bidens visit was driven by similar concerns. The underlying cause of the crisis is the shattering impact of the US conquest and occupation of Iraq, which destroyed the country as a functioning society. Faced with widespread armed resistance to the US occupation, the Bush administration deliberately fomented sectarian warfare between Shiites and Sunnis, culminating in the bloodbath of 2006-2007. Prominent Democrats, including Biden himself, were identified with this divide-and-rule strategy for securing the gains of a criminal war. Biden is well known for having advanced in 2006 a plan for the partition of Iraq into three semi-independent parts: a Shiite-ruled south and center, a Sunni west and northwest, and an autonomous Kurdistan in the countrys northeast. The divisions within the country currently run along those lines, with ISIS in control of most of the Sunni-populated region. The promotion of sectarian divisions in Iraq was followed under the Obama administration by the promotion of Sunni Islamic fundamentalist organizations in the war first in Libya to overthrow the government of Muammar Gaddafi, and then in Syria against the government of Bashar al-Assad. ISIS itself emerged out of these operations, financed largely with weapons and funds from the US-backed gulf monarchies. The US took action to curtail its advances only after it began to take over oil-rich regions in Iraq. In a foreshadowing of the type of conflicts between ethnic-based parties and militias that could break out on a wide scale, Kurdish troops and Iraqi Shiite militia forces exchanged mortar and machine-gun fire Sunday in Tuz Khurmatu, a town of mixed population 120 miles north of Baghdad, near the informal line of separation between the Kurdish-ruled provinces and those controlled by forces loyal to Baghdad. At least 12 people were killed. In an indication of the complex and intermingled character of the population, press reports described the town as home to a mix of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, and both Sunnis and Shiites, and said that Shiite Turkmen were involved in fighting the Kurds this week, as well as Shiite Arabs. Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Badr Organization, the most powerful Shiite militia, arrived in Kirkuk, the nearest Kurdish-ruled city, to negotiate a stand-down from the fighting with Kurdish commanders. There is little doubt that Vice President Biden discussed the Kurdish-Shiite clash when he met late Thursday with Massoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdish region, in Irbil. The clash directly undermined the impending Mosul offensive, where Kurdish forces, Shiite militia and Iraqi Army troops are supposed to coordinate their operations for a concerted assault on ISIS. The Obama administration has been steadily building up the US troop strength in Iraq, which now totals more than 5,000 troops, including hundreds of Marines and Special Forces operators who are engaged in combat with ISIS, despite White House claims that only training and advising are involved. Once an offensive begins against Mosul, casualty figures are likely to be extremely high on all sidesamong the various Iraqi forces attacking and defending the city, among the American troops, and especially among the hundreds of thousands of civilians still trapped in what is about to become a bloody battleground. At the end of last week, German chancellor Angela Merkel and European Union (EU) Council president Donald Tusk, along with EU Council vice president Frans Timmermans, visited a showcase refugee camp on the outskirts of the city of Gaziantep, Turkey, close to the Turkish-Syria border. The hypocrisy of the visit was hard to beat. The misery of the great mass of the refugees in Turkey was airbrushed out of the picture, as was the denial of their rights resulting from the dirty deal struck between the EU and the Turkish government. The trip by the German chancellor and EU Council president to the refugee camp at Nizip resembled a visit to a Potemkin village. According to the official figures, some 5,000 refugees from Syria live in the camp, including about 1,900 children. Even the right-wing newspaper Die Welt had to note that there was not a camp in Turkey where conditions are better than in this one. The facilities are good, there are schools for children, and many residents go to work. Accompanied by Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Merkel and Tusk opened a child protection centre for the UN childrens relief organisation UNICEF in Gaziantep, financed with EU money and regarded as a model project. That EU money is also funding internment camps and deportation facilities was not mentioned during the visit. Rather, Merkel, Tusk and Timmermans established that the agreement with Turkey was apparently in the interests of the refugees and followed humanitarian objectives. At the press conference, Tusk stated: Since the agreement in March, we have seen that the streams of illegal refugees coming across the Aegean have decreased significantly. Our return and readmission measures work. In return, we are resettling Syrian refugees from Turkey. So we are on the way from illegal migration to legal migration. Quite apart from the fact that seeking refuge from war and persecution is an internationally recognised right and thus cannot be criminalised as illegal, Tusk avoided any mention of the inhuman consequences of the EU-Turkey pact. Although in the three weeks since the pact came into force only 5,847 refugees arrived on the Greek islands, compared to 26,878 in the previous three-week period, this was not because Turkey offers better care for those seeking protection. It is because the EU is treating the new arrivals brutally and inhumanely and deporting them back. On the Greek islands of Lesbos, Samos and Chios, refugees are crammed into severely overcrowded detention facilities; families are torn apart and asylum applications dealt with in expedited proceedings, without any chance of legal support. Also, the promised resettlement programme, which the EU had pledged to carry out, taking in one Syrian refugee directly from Turkey for every one deported there, is running very slowly. So far, the EU has only accepted 102 refugees from Turkey within the framework of this agreement, of whom 54 were permitted to come to Germany. At the press conference, Merkel also praised the practical possibility of inspecting one part of the EU-Turkey agreement. She added, With the deal with Turkey, refugees also have more opportunities to be near their homes. They are also served by the cooperation between the European Union and Turkey. Tusk added that the visit was the best example for the world, when it comes to how we should deal with refugees. No one had the right to teach Turkey what to do. This was meant not only to justify the deportation policies of the EU, but also to detract from the fact that the EU has engaged Turkey to do its dirty work of repelling refugees. Turkey has still never fully ratified the Geneva Refugee Convention. Refugees who do not come from Europe are not recognised as such in Turkey, and have no democratic rights. For all intents, the deal between Turkey and the EU has eliminated the fundamental right to asylum. While a few handpicked Syrians are permitted to come to Europe, refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea and Sudan no longer have any chance and must reckon with being deported from Greece via Turkey back to their country of origin. Turkey is negotiating readmission agreements with the most important countries of origin for refugees. Those affected already include 13 refugees from Congo and Afghanistan, whom the EU deported to Turkey in early April illegally, and who were then taken into custody. Access to them by human rights organisations and lawyers is being denied. According to Amnesty International (AI), refugees in Turkey are systematically isolated in internment camps. Staff from the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR and other NGOs are also denied access to these detention centres. Turkey has also hermetically sealed off its outer borders to refugees. At the start of 2015, the border was closed for people fleeing the civil war in Syria. Now, the government has even built a 911-kilometre-long wall along the border. AI has meticulously documented how the number of forcible returns on the border has increased in recent weeks. Two refugees reported to Human Rights Watch that people from their group of refugees were beaten so severely that they were barely recognisable. Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu used the visit of Merkel, Tusk and Timmermans to deny these allegations. I want to emphasise quite frankly that not a single person is being sent back to Syria against their will, Davutoglu declared, adding that no one knows whom Amnesty International is working with. Without contradiction from Merkel or Tusk, Davutoglu insinuated that the human rights organisation collaborated with alleged terrorist groups. In fact, at least 16 refugees have been shot on the border by Turkish soldiers in the past four months, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A refugee smuggler told the Daily Mail, Refugees who cross the border are now either killed or arrested. Turkish soldiers who have previously helped the refugees and even carried their bags are now shooting at them. The European deputy director of AI, Gauri van Gulik, told the Guardian, Merkel and Tusk should not confuse PR with reality. The mistreatment of refugees in Turkey is really happening and what makes the whole thing worse is that Merkel and Tusk are complicit. Rather than focusing on whitewashing the behaviour of Turkey and continuing to spur it on, Europe should be aware of its own responsibility. Aside from flagship camps like Nizip, where 250,000 of the estimated 2.7 million civil war refugees from Syria and Iraq were housed, refugees in Turkey mostly live in poverty, hardship and misery. A report by Die Welt described a makeshift camp in western Turkey. In the district of Torbali, at least 10,000 Syrian refugees live under abominable hygienic conditions in barracks, ruins and tents. Refugees pay the landowners up to 375 a month for a pitch. Even children have to work as day labourers in the fields, for the equivalent of 11-14 per day. No one goes to school here. Nesrin Semen from the World Food Programme (WFP) told the Tagesspiegel that it was hard for refugees to find work in Turkey. Some families have to live in abandoned buildings or windowless sheds or empty shops. The aid from the WFP and the Turkish Red Crescent is not enough to supply the bulk of the refugees. The fact is that most Syrian refugees in Turkey do not have enough to eat, said Semen, adding, Many refugees have depleted their savings and are forced to take their children out of school so that they can earn a little. The EU is directly responsible for the catastrophic situation faced by the refugees and their mistreatment. As allies of the US, the European imperialist powers have supported the wars in the Middle East that have forced millions of people to flee their homes. These desperate people are denied the fundamental right to asylum and are repulsed at the external borders by making authoritarian regimes the henchman of Fortress Europe. While Merkel is praised in Germany for her supposed welcoming culture, and she praises the EUs dirty deal with Turkey as a sustainable solution to the refugee crisis, refugees in Turkey suffer the brutal consequences of this rigorous isolationist policy of the EU. The managing director of ProAsyl, Gunter Burckhardt, told the Frankfurter Rundschau, Merkels Turkey visit pretended humanity, but we are witnessing the greatest attack in the history of the EU on the human right to asylum. The EU-Turkey deal, according to Burckhardt, abolishes the right to asylum, systematically making refugees defenceless and disregards human rights. Socialist Equality Party candidate Jerry White addressed a meeting at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Tuesday. White spoke on the topic: The Great Unmentionable: War and the 2016 US Elections. The Cambridge meeting was part of a weeklong trip by White and his supporters to the East Coast, with stops in Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts, where the SEP candidate spoke with Verizon workers on the picket line about the political issues in their ongoing strike. The meeting Tuesday, hosted by the MIT International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), attracted students from MIT, Harvard, Northeastern University and Bunker Hill Community College. Opening the meeting, White said: When the Socialist Equality Party announced last week that my running mate Niles Niemuth and I were entering the 2016 presidential elections, we said our central task would be to break the conspiracy of silence by all the official candidates and the media about the war plans of the United States and alert workers and youth to the grave dangers of a world war. He said the first task of the SEP election campaign is to fight to build an international antiwar movement based on the working class and directed against the capitalist system, the source of militarism and war. White pointed to the two candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination: Hillary Clinton, an exponent of regime change and mouthpiece for the CIA and Pentagon, and democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, who refers to US foreign police as little as possible, but supports the use of drone assassination and ruthless aspects of the Obama administrations foreign policy. As for the Republican Party presidential contenders, White said, they joke about the use of nuclear weapons as if they were toys. White reviewed developments over just the last several weeks that underscore the danger of world war. On Monday, Obama announced a significant escalation of the US intervention in the Middle East, with the dispatch of 250 more Special Operations troops to Syria. On April 11, Russian jet fighter planes buzzed the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea as it engaged in provocative military exercises near the Russian naval based in Kaliningrad. He said that Barack Obama had been elected in 2008 because of the deep antiwar sentiment in the US population. However, far from bringing peace, he said, the supposed president of change has only escalated the geographic scope of militarism, while developing his own doctrine to justify these crimes. The SEP candidate warned that the danger of a third imperialist world war, fought with nuclear weapons, is greater than at any time since 1945. Workers and young people can wage an effective struggle against war only to the extent that they organize their strength independently of and in opposition to the Democratic Party and the capitalist two-party system, he said. White stressed that this struggle must be international, uniting the working class across national boundaries in a common struggle against imperialism and for socialism. The anger and opposition of billions of people around the world requires a new strategy, he said. The ICFI insists that the fight against war must mobilize the international working class on the basis of an anti-capitalist and socialist program. He urged those in attendance to register for the International May Day 2016 Online Rally being held this Sunday, May 1, to support the SEP presidential campaign, and to join and build the SEP and the IYSSE. The floor was opened for questions and comments, and the first question was: Looking at the hawkish nature of Hillary Clinton, is there any reason to believe that she is less dangerous than Donald Trump? White referred to a recent New York Times article that said that Clintons willingness to go to war would inevitably set her apart from the Republican candidates she is likely to meet in the general election. A student in the audience commented: Students are concerned about the threat of war, and nuclear war in particular, adding, What you are proposing is a deep, systemic solution, which will require an enormous cultural and political advance. This is a monumental problem. How do you propose going about this? White responded that objective conditions, including the crisis of the capitalist system, would propel workers and youth into struggle, but that the role of socialists was to fight to raise the intellectual atmosphere and to build a political leadership. Society is divided into two hostile camps, he said. The most important task is to clarify the political and historical questions, stressing the importance of turning to the only revolutionary force in society: the international working class. The meeting broke up into informal discussion, with many people remaining behind to speak with White about the SEP presidential campaign and the issues raised in his report. Matt from Bunker Hill Community College told the WSWS: I think the meeting was really informative. I think the emphasis on antiwar is one of the most important parts of the fight for socialism. In other words, the fight for socialism is the fight against war. Capitalism leads to war, so obviously to fight against war means to fight against capitalism. Arjuna, 30, a graduate student, said he had been reading the World Socialist Web Site for years. There is no other site that speaks so clearly for the working class and poor of all countries, he said. The WSWSs exposures of the war danger are alarming. The capitalist rulers are toying with this planet as if they were playing a video game. The movement of naval forces throughout the Pacific and Indian Ocean is clearly part of a worked-out strategy by the US to control all of Asia. He added, Without the efforts of your party and the WSWS, the working class would be blinded and left at the mercy of imperialism. Rosa, a 28-year-old graduate student, said, I thought the presentation was very effective, direct and down-to-earth. I agreed with the point about students and youth becoming drawn into political life. Im a student, but I think of myself as a worker. I also agreed with the points about Hillary Clinton. She does not speak for women workers, and the presentation made clear that she is a first-rate hawk and warmonger. In an interview published Thursday in the New York Times, US President Barack Obama expressed his frustration at the persistent belief of the American people that their economic circumstances are not improving. Obama declared that despite the fact that his administration managed the 2008 financial crisis better than any large economy on Earth in modern history, leading to an economic recovery that outpaced that of every other advanced nation, his efforts were, in the words of reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin, vastly under-appreciated by the US population, a fact that left the president frustrated. Obamas comments were a continuation of a theme laid out by Obama in March, when he declared America is pretty darn great right now and disparaged an alternative reality out there from some of the political folks that America is down in the dumps. The problem according to Obama, channeling the sadistic prison warden in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, is a failure to communicate. He told Sorkin, We were moving so fast early on that we couldnt take victory laps. We couldnt explain everything we were doing. I mean, one day were saving the banks; the next day were saving the auto industry; the next day were trying to see whether we can have some impact on the housing market. Obama attributed the feelings of the US populationaccording to one poll, 64 percent believe the economy is still in recessionto disaster-mongering by the Republican Party. If you have a political partyin this case, the Republicansthat denies any progress and is constantly channeling to their base, which is sizable, say, 40 percent of the population, that things are terrible all the time, then people will start absorbing that. Obama made these statements in the context of an election campaign that has been dominated by enormous anger over social inequality and Wall Street criminality, which has found expression in broad support for the campaign of socialist Bernie Sanders, as well as, in distorted form, that of the quasi-fascistic Donald Trump. The fact that in the midst of such a tumultuous election campaign, Obama feels it is appropriate to make such statements is a testament to the contemptuous attitude of the financial elite of which he is a part, who see the great majority of the population as ignorant dupes who would be happy if they only realized how good they have it. Any serious look at economic realities for working people in the US makes clear that this widespread anger is entirely justified. During the decade between 2005 and 2015, seven years of which Obama was president, all net job growth was accounted for by people working in alternative work arrangements, or those working as independent contractors, temps, through contract agencies or on-call. In 2013, a typical American household had 40 percent less wealth than it did in 2007. The yearly income of a typical US household dropped by a massive 12 percent, or $6,400, in the six years between 2007 and 2013. Suicide and mortality rates are soaring, while life expectancy is falling for a significant share of the population. Drug overdoses are becoming an epidemic, and the gap between the expected lifespan of the top and bottom 1 percent has reached nearly 15 years. To the extent that Obama accepts the existence of any of these social realities, he merely presents them as inevitable byproducts of sweeping changes transforming the global economy, outside of and working counter to his administrations supposedly egalitarian economic policies. Sorkin sums up Obamas views with the statement, Were not only losing jobs to overseas competition, were losing them to technology. In other words, automation and globalization, and not the White House, are to blame for the growing economic distress felt by broad sections of the American population. But any sober assessment of the policies described in Obamas interview makes clear that the growth of social inequality and the impoverishment of working people under the Obama administration were the deliberate and predictable outcome of the White Houses economic agenda. The Obama administration presided over a sweeping restructuring of social relations in the US in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, eliminating decent jobs, incentivizing companies to gut health care, and carrying out an all-out assault on workers pension benefits, while providing essentially unlimited amounts of cash for the financial elite. Even before taking office, Obama proved himself a vociferous defender of the social prerogatives of the financial oligarchy. In his interview with the Times, he recalls his role as a presidential candidate in whipping the Democratic Party into line behind the Bush administrations 2008 plan to bail out the banks, lending them trillions of dollars essentially interest-free, while doing nothing to hold those responsible for the financial crash to account. With large sections of the Republican Party coming out in opposition to the Bush administrations bank bailout, and some Democrats inclined to make at least a rhetorical show of opposition, candidate Obama, convinced that anything short of a major bailout could lead to economic catastrophe, said Democrats should back [Treasury Secretary] Paulsons plan. They did. Once Obama came into office, the White House imposed wage and benefit cuts on workers. The Obama administrations much-touted 2009 auto bailout was contingent on slashing the wages and benefits of autoworkers, helping produce record profits for auto makers. These policies were designed to have precisely the effect they did: driving the stock market, as Obama boasted in the interview, from in the 6,000s to 16,000 or 17,000. This helped ensure that the wealth of Americas richest 400 individuals nearly doubled, from $1.27 trillion in 2009 to $2.34 trillion in 2015. Despite their occasional invocations of the growth of social inequality and the economic distress facing large sections of the US population, the campaigns of Democratic presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are notable for the complete absence of any criticism of Obamas economic policies, which they consistently single out for praise. Moreover, given the fact that Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, has wrapped herself in Obamas mantle, the presidents statements are a clear indication that her presidency would be even more hostile to the needs and sentiments of broad masses of the population than that of Obama. This fact underscores one fundamental reality: The Democratic Party, no less than the Republicans, is nothing more than the tool of Wall Street, impervious to reform or popular pressure. In the 2016 election, there is only one political party that represents the interests of working peoplethe Socialist Equality Party and its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Jerry White and Niles Niemuth. An article on the Verizon strike published April 21 on the web site of the International Socialist Organization (ISO), A rising sea of red against Verizon, is a crude effort to provide a left cover for the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and disarm the strikers and workers more generally in the face of the unions treachery. The ISO, by promoting the union bureaucracy and concealing the political issues posed by the Verizon workers struggle, serves as an accomplice in the efforts to isolate the strike and impose new concessions in pensions, health benefits and working conditions. The ISO opposes any movement by the workers to break free of the narrow constraints imposed on the strike by the unions and broaden the struggle to involve other sections of workers both in the US and internationally. This is under conditions where the US election campaign has revealed a growth of militancy and anti-capitalist sentiment among broad layers of workers and youth. The article by Mark Friedman and Ruth Hurley falsely depicts the union leadership as being locked in an intransigent struggle against the telecommunications giant in defense of the jobs and living standards of the strikers and the working class as a whole. The authors equate the selfish institutional interests of the union bureaucracy with the interests of the workers, omitting or distorting the actual record of the unions treachery. They solidarize themselves with the unions corporatist, nationalist and pro-Democratic Party politics. The CWA and IBEW are fighting to uphold a set of standards for compensation, job security and workplace dignity that the rest of the labor movement can rally behind, they write. The claim that the union apparatus is fighting for compensation, job security and workplace dignity is patently false. While the strikers are determined to oppose company demands for new cuts in health benefits and pensions as well as the potential loss of thousands of jobs through outsourcing, the sole concern of the unions in the Verizon strike is to expand their dues base, which has fallen significantly since the company began shifting the axis of its business to its wireless division, which is nonunion. That is why the union leadership has focused almost entirely on the demand that Verizon expand its fiber optic FiOS operations, which are part of the companys unionized wireline operations. The unions are prepared to offer up as bargaining chips the pensions, health benefits and working conditions of rank-and-file workers in their horse-trading with the company over FiOS. They have already offered Verizon $200 million in concessions. The authors solidarize themselves with this policy when they write that the central question in the strike is whether the unionnow down to 11 percent of the total company[can] maintain relevance. They attempt to provide this corporatist policy with a left gloss by introducing identity politics, writing, Verizon has flatly refused to deliver its service in some areas, many of which are predominantly Black and Brown. They say nothing about the unions deliberate isolation of the strike. They are silent on the CWAs refusal to call out 16,000 AT&T workers on the west coast whose contract expired on April 9. Nor do they mention the fact that the Verizon workers were ordered to remain on the job for a full eight months after their previous contract expired, providing the company with ample time to train tens of thousands of strikebreakers. The unions have maintained only skeleton picket lines throughout the strike, allowing the company to bring strikebreakers into its facilities, while diverting the energies of strikers into demonstrations outside of Verizon outlet stores calling for a consumer boycott. The CWA and IBEW have used the strike as a platform for Democratic Party politicians to make worthless pledges of support. The strike itself was hastily organized so as to coincide with the Democratic Party primary in New York, and Bernie Sanders was invited to address a CWA rally in Manhattan the day before the primary. The CWA, eager to camouflage its corporatist policies by backing a self-described socialist candidate, was one of the first unions to endorse Sanders last year. The ISO article has nothing critical to say about this. Instead, it hails the appearance of Sanders at the demonstration, declaring that his high profile at picket lines and union halls has helped cast Verizon as the poster child of the kind of corporate rule that the Sanders campaign skewers. This is in keeping with the ISOs promotion of Sanders, whose campaign is a calculated effort to channel broad social anger and disgust with the political establishment back into the Democratic Party. The authors tack on at the end of the article an admission that With the end of the Democratic primaries in New York and Pennsylvania, the boost of the Sanders campaign will dry up, and it will be up to Verizon workers and their supporters to keep up the pressure. The authors do not elaborate on this implicit acknowledgement that Sanders appearances on the picket line and at demonstrations are nothing more than election stunts. The article makes only one oblique reference to the outcome of the last Verizon strike, noting in passing that The last strike at Verizon in 2011 lasted two weeks before the unions went back to work without a contract. The sentence is deliberately constructed so as to give the impression that its defeat was the fault of no one in particular. In fact, the unions, having called off the strike without shifting Verizon on any of its concessions demands, more than a year later imposed a sellout agreement that included most of the companys original takeaway demands. This experience, which is still fresh in the minds of many strikers today and is a source of resentment and hostility towards the union, is glossed over by the ISO because the organizations orientation is precisely to the union bureaucracy and the Democratic Party, not the working class. This basic fact is underscored by the authors attempt to present the 2012 Chicago teachers strike as a victory for the working class and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) as a model union. Both claims are outright lies, often repeated by the ISO, one of whose members, Jesse Sharkey, is vice president of the union. The article calls the Chicago teachers strike the most critical strike in the intervening period after the 2011 Verizon walkout, and describes it as a model of how unions can fly a flag of social justice and not just fight for bread-and-butter contract issues. In fact, the CTU called off the strike after only eight days and pushed through a contract that included new attacks on teachers job security and working conditions. The sellout of the strike paved the way for the shuttering of 54 public schools by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a Democrat, the largest mass closure of schools in American history. Chicago teachers have now been without a contract for close to a year, and the CTU has made clear that it is prepared to forgo any significant wage increase and accept further concessions in a new contract. Perhaps the most reactionary aspect of the ISOs defense of the union bureaucracy is its tacit support for the unions promotion of economic nationalism and chauvinism. The April 21 article says nothing about the ceaseless efforts of the CWA and IBEW to divert the anger of workers and direct it against Verizon workers in Mexico, the Philippines and other countries. This nationalist policy blocks any united struggle of workers against the company, which operates on a global scale, while setting in motion a fratricidal and self-defeating bidding war between workers in different countries to save jobs by working harder, longer and faster for less. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited China early this month to patch up strained relations between the two countries and seek financial assistance. Since taking office in January 2015, President Maithripala Sirisenas administration has distanced Sri Lanka from China and lined up behind US imperialism. During his three-day visit from April 6, Wickremesinghe met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang and other officials, making several agreements. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government is facing a balance of payment crisis and a huge foreign debt burden. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated it would offer a loan of around $US1.5 billion loan, but this is not sufficient to avert a financial crisis so the government has turned to other avenues, including China, to beg for assistance. Relations with China soured when Sirisenas government suspended several major projects that commenced during former President Mahinda Rajapakses government, funded by Beijing banks and companies. The pretexts for the suspensions were irregularities, corruption and absence of proper environmental impact assessments. The real reason was the shifting of Colombos foreign policy away from Beijing, in favour of Washington and India. Sirisena, formerly a minister and leading figure in Rajapakses government, defected from it to contest the presidential election in a regime-change operation, backed behind the scenes by the US and assisted by India. Washington and New Delhi were hostile to Rajapakses close political and economic ties with Beijing. The Obama administration wanted Sri Lanka firmly lined up behind the US pivot to Asia, a military and strategic encirclement of China. Sirisenas suspension of the Chinese-funded Colombo Port City (CPC) project was particularly significant. Sri Lankas single largest foreign investment, involving $1.4 billon, it was meant to reclaim 233 hectares (575 acres) of land from the seafront adjacent to Colombo harbour. Chinese President Xi opened this project when he visited the country in September 2014. It was considered to be a component of Chinas Maritime Silk Road, placing Sri Lanka at the centre of links between China, South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa. After building the complex, the contractor, the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), was to gain control of 108 hectares. The Maritime Silk Road forms part of Beijings plans to defend its vital trade routes, including the sea lanes through the Indian Ocean, in the context of US war plans against China. India and the US objected to the CPC project, with media reports that New Delhi claimed it was a threat to the security of India and the Indian Ocean. Beijing has continually pressed the Colombo government to restart the project. Just before Wickremesinghes visit, the Chinese government said Colombo had to pay $125 million in damages for delaying the project. CCCC claimed it would lose $380,000 a day as a result of the suspension of work, which would also affect about 5,000 workers directly and indirectly. During Wickremesinghes visit, it was agreed that the suspension would be lifted, but with the Chinese company handed a 99-year lease over 20 hectares, instead of previously-promised outright ownership. This new condition is a message to New Delhi and Washington that Sri Lankas pro-US and pro-India policy has not changed. Wickremesinghe later told a Colombo press conference that a 40 percent stake in the CPC would be offered on the stock market, giving Indian and other companies the opportunity to invest. At the same time, to appease China, he said that Chinese companies would be given control over a section of the CPC in order to develop a financial district. Wickremesinghe said the CPC would be included in the governments Western Province Mega Polis program, which seeks to develop a cluster of cities for financial, commercial, tourism and industrial ventures to attract foreign investments. Sri Lanka has accumulated debts to China to the tune of $US8 billion. During the Rajapakse government, an estimated 70 percent of infrastructure projects depended on Chinese funds. Wickremesinghe has proposed that Chinese state-owned companies convert billions of dollars of this debt into equity in these projects and domestic companies. Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama, who accompanied Wickremesinghe to Beijing, said the government was keen to sell some state-owned enterprises to China as well. Wickremesinghe also offered 1,000 hectares for an exclusive Chinese economic zone in the Hambantota area in the countrys south. The previous Rajapakse government built a seaport and airport in this region with the Chinese-funded loans. Wickremesinghe said that by offering the land to China he wanted to make use of these under-utilised facilities. Acknowledging Wickremesinghes offer, Chinese Premier Li told the media: We welcome the resumption of the Colombo Port City project, and stand ready to work with Sri Lanka to push forward the construction steadily. The Chinese government also gave $500 million to Colombo as a grant. However, Sri Lankas request for debts to be transformed into equity has yet to be agreed. A joint statement issued at the end of Wickremesinghes visit said: The two sides will use the development of a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as an opportunity to further advance infrastructure development, the China-Sri Lanka FTA [Free Trade Agreement] negotiations, promote joint ventures and expand cooperation. Chinas eagerness to patch up the relations with Colombo and accommodate some of its requests shows Beijings strategic concerns, amid the US aggressive military drive, which also involves stronger US ties with India. India has officially kept silent on the Colombo governments concessions during Wickremesinghes China visit. Expressing concerns within the Indian elite, however, the Times of India commented: Sri Lanka has accepted Chinas bidding to make the Indian Ocean an economic hub, ignoring Indias concern. In an effort to placate New Delhi, Wickremesinghe told his Colombo press conference: The project [Colombo Port City Project] will not have any impact on Indian security. We have discussed it with India and we are willing to discuss it with India further. Wickremesinghes visit to China underscores both the magnitude of Sri Lankas economic crisis and the geo-political tensions engulfing the region as the US ramps up its military preparations against China. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten had very few people to address Tuesday on the steps of the Michigan capitol in Lansing. Although the event was scheduled on a professional development day for the districts 4,000 teachers, barely 200 people showed up for the long-planned demonstration organized by Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) Local 231, and other school worker unions. The rally was a reactionary affair aimed at appealing to the state legislature to pass a series of bills supported by Republican Governor Rick Snyder. With the district reeling from the latest exposure of financial misdealing and corruption, the extreme right wing of the Republican Party is pressing their campaign for vouchers and/or the complete charterization of the former Motor City. Under the guise of the lesser of two evils, the teachers union has thrown its full support to the State Senate bills proposed by the deeply hated Governor Snyder, now notorious across the US for his role in the Flint poisoning. The measure is being shepherded through by Snyders handpicked DPS emergency manager, Judge Steven Rhodes, who is likewise reviled for his decision to vacate the Michigan Constitution and slash Detroit city workers pensions and benefits. Everyone feels very, very betrayed by the union right now, one teacher who boycotted the event told the World Socialist Web Site. They keep saying we want to rebuild your trust in us but I believe the AFT is controlled by the politicians, the same people making these decisions for us. The dismal turnout for this tawdry affair indicates the rapidly dwindling authority of the DFT and its parent organization, the American Federation of Teachers, among teachers and support staff. The unions month-long campaign involving Labor to Neighbor outings, supporting a MoveOn.org petition and assorted other publicity stunts ended up mobilizing a relative handful of teachers and students, along with the predictable community activists, preachers and the pro-union pseudo-left group BAMN (By Any Means Necessary). AFT president Weingarten had the audacity to portray the coming votes on the pro-privatization legislation as a moral moment, adding that lawmakers should do what is right and just by funding our schools. The AFTs attitude toward the legislation is determined by the stipulation that it transfer current employees to the Detroit Community Schools District while respecting collective bargaining, ie., that it maintain the union as a partner in the destruction of public education and teachers livelihoods. Moreover, the union is involved in ongoing efforts to organize charter schools so it can make up for lost membership and collect dues from the terribly exploited charter school instructors. The well-heeled officialdom is strongly motivated by the threat to their income stream. Under Governor Snyders right-to-work laws, the DFT will lose dues check-off rights at the end of the month as their contract expires. After doing everything in their power to squash the independent sickout actions of the rank and file last January, the AFT has spared no effort in staging a series of phony mobilizations to give the appearance of concern over the fate of the hard-pressed Detroit schools. This is aimed at convincing teachers to sign up for alternative dues collection through their banks or credit cards. Also speaking at the rally was DFT President Ivy Bailey and executive vice president Terrance Martin who also solidarized the union with Rhodes and his legislative mandate. Ignoring the self-contradiction, Martin went on to lay the entire blame for the crisis of Detroit schools on the states emergency management laws. Weve lost over half of our membership in the last 10 years because of these laws. Weve closed over half of our schools because of these laws. And so weve been hit tremendously. As thousands of Detroit teachers know, the DFT did not let their phony opposition to the emergency manager law prevent them from collaborating with every emergency manager since Robert Bobb was named in 2009. The DFT accepted the entire framework dictated and controlled by the financial elite, and dutifully went hat in hand to beg, as long as they had a seat at the table. But when it came to the membership, they ruthlessly forced through giveback contracts and imposed ever-higher cuts in wages and benefits. As a result, Detroit teachers, who were once the highest paid in the state of Michigan, now are the lowest, and close to 10,000 teaching jobs have been eliminated. Another teacher told the WSWS, I did not go to Lansing because I do not trust the union or Randi (Weingarten). Snyder and his EM made the debt and they need to clean it up. They need to go to prison. In fact, the bulk of the DFT membership opposed or simply ignored the exhortations of Bailey and others to participate in Tuesdays demonstration, refusing to be taken in by yet another charade foisted upon the ranks of teachers by this rotten organization. Three months ago, the school district was rocked by a series of spontaneous teacher sickouts and student walkouts protesting both the dilapidated and dangerous conditions in the schools and the years of pay and benefits cuts teachers have endured. These actions, occurring in defiance of the DFT/AFT bureaucracy, alarmed sections both of the AFT hierarchy and the ruling elite. Weingarten and Vice President Ann Mitchell left their plush Washington, DC offices to fly into Detroit, launch a phony lawsuit against the district, hold candlelight vigils and various other stunts to shut down the independent initiative and corral the movement back into support for Democratic Party politicians. It should be noted that many of the same local Democrats who claimed to support the sickouts are so integrated into the state conspiracy to dissolve the DPS afoot in Lansing that they urged the DFT to call off the rally two days prior to the event. Apparently fearful that their appeals to the Republican-dominated legislature to finance the reorganization of Detroits schools would be hampered by protesting teachers on the steps of the capitol building, a coterie of the Democratic Black Caucus, led by State Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, drafted a letter urging the DFT to call it all off. However, the fact that the union went ahead with the event is not a function of any opposition to the Democrats. Rather, the DFT is desperate to posture as a viable police force to contain the militancy of the teachers, and to redirect their willingness to fight into reactionary activities like Tuesdays rally. Im not even sure why they had the rally today, said a middle school art teacher who chose not to attend. It was supposedly going to be the result of secret balloting in all the schools, but apparently some schools didnt even ballot, she told the WSWS. AFT President Weingarten is going all over the US. From one side of her mouth she says Im with your fight, on the other she is supporting charter schools. How do we know she isnt right with the politicians? Its obvious she is. This cant just be happening over and over again without people being on the take. It cant be a coincidence. There is some collusion happening. The DFT is supporting the Snyder bills. Both bills (the House and Senate) make the Detroit Public Schools second-class schools. They open the doors to the charter system, give away the DPS to make money and give taxpayers money to charter schools. And its legal. These bills are a way to privatize DPS and turn it into a charter system. The system is creating throw-away human beings, paying them $10 an hour. No one goes to a charter school and says Im staying here for my career, Im invested in this school. No, people go to charters with the hope of getting a job in the public schools. Charter schools are a career path to nothingness; they open and close like cereal boxes. What are we doing to our children? A lot of them are located in an industrial building, not an environment for learning. What is the state of education? How can young people learn to be productive human beings? For its part, the pseudo-left group BAMN, led by deposed DFT President Steve Conn, while claiming to oppose the Snyder plan, advances a reactionary perspective combining appeals to racial politics with the bankrupt notion of community control. In a leaflet posted on the eve of Tuesdays rally, Conn called on teachers to attend the event behind the slogans, Restore democracy in Detroit and End the new Jim Crow. Conns organization, as always, functions as an auxiliary wing of the Democratic Party in Detroit, cozying up to the proponents of racial politics on the City Council and doing everything possible to divide the working class. The demand for community control coming from these quarters has nothing to do with democratic rights. Instead, it is a demand by the corrupt political establishment in Detroit, which has long overseen the destruction of the school system, to regain control of the districts multi-million dollar budget and the business opportunities that arise from it. Facing growing anger from public sector workers the Verdi trade union organized selective warning strikes across Germany this week. The walkouts involved bus and tram drivers, nurses, childcare workers, street cleaners, airport employees and municipal administrative workers. The dissatisfaction is not only directed against the employers, but increasingly the union itself, which is negotiating the contract for public services (TVO) with representatives of the federal and municipal authorities. Verdi officials are posturing as militant foes of austerity and are demanding a 6 percent wage increase. This is simply an effort, however, to divert attention from the fact that the union has collaborated in the imposition of deregulation, job cuts and wage reductions for years. The municipal employers and government representatives have made clear that, in spite of billions in budgetary surpluses for this year, they intend to impose a cut in real wages. This is the meaning of the insulting 0.6 percent raise officials have offered for 2016. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and Thomas Bohle, president of the association of municipal employers (VKA), made the offer during the second round of bargaining in Potsdam in mid-April, even though the government had a record surplus for public spending of almost 30 billion in 2015. In the third round of talks, which began Thursday, not only wages, but also public sector pensions were discussed. The employers side intends to push for workers to make larger pension contributions from their pay. Bohle and de Maiziere are confident that Verdi will accept this because the union agreed to the same provision in the contract for state employees (TVL) last year. Verdi has essentially agreed to increased pension contributions from municipal employee as long as union functionaries are consulted. In a post on its web site, the union writes, We are only prepared to accept higher employee contributions if the necessity to take action is proven for each pension fund. A leading Verdi executive, Wolfgang Pieper, said in an interview, We are ready to discuss the situation of each pension fund with the employer if there is a need to take action and if that is proven. Verdi has already agreed to a gradual change of the pension system at Frankfurt airport. At the end of November 2015, it accepted a new contract for ground staff through which the fixed pension will be replaced by one made up of investments on the capital markets funded by the employees themselves. The public sector has been subject to restructuring for many years, and workers have confronted real wage cuts, layoffs and increased stress on the job. Twenty years ago, the federal employees contract (BAT) covered 5.2 million workers. It was replaced in 2006 with the TVO and TVL. Today, the TVO applies to 2.2 million and the TVL to 800,000, amounting together to just 3 million workers. Even when one takes account of the fact that the state of Hessewith around 100,000 employeesleft the contract alliance, the numbers clearly show how many workers have been axed. On average, 100,000 jobs have been lost each year for the past 20 years, while the demand for qualified staff in the education sector, urban infrastructure, public transport, nursing and childcare has steadily increased. New hires are increasingly receiving fixed-term contracts. In the past, someone who worked in the public sector had a job for life. But deregulation and the trend towards outsourcing and privatization have resulted in only one in three new hires receiving a permanent post. Pieper acknowledged this in the previously mentioned interview when he said, Fixed-term contracts play a large role in the public sector, adding, 60 percent of new hires are fixed-term. Due to the so-called debt brakewhich mandates spending cuts when the debt-to GDP ratio rises above 60 percentand Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaubles balanced budget dictate, staff cuts and privatization have been accelerated. Routes on public transport networks have been handed to private bus companies and hospitals have been merged into larger associations and privatized. In every case, washing, catering, cleaning and other services have been outsourced to sub-contractors. The latest example is provided by Rhineland-Palatinate, where the new coalition of Social Democrats, Greens and neo-liberal Free Democrats have agreed to eliminate a further 2,000 jobs. Similar cost-cutting measures at the expense of public sector workers are being planned and implemented by all levels of government. None of these problems are being raised as issues in the contract talks. The negotiations are in reality a done deal, since the Verdi representatives have more in common with the employers than with the workers they allegedly represent. They belong to the same political parties, and see the same need to offload the cost for the crisis on the backs of the workers and they frequently switch places from top union posts into senior offices in the government. The best example is Frank Bsirske, the Verdi leader. He is a member of the same trade union as Thomas Bohle from the employers side. Bohle is also a member of both Verdi and the SPD. Bsirske is the longest-serving chair of a German trade union. At the same time, he sits on a number of supervisory boards, including Deutsche Bank, Postbank and IBM. He is deputy chairman of the board at energy firm RWE, and a member of the administrative council at the reconstruction loan corporation (KFW). Before becoming union chair in 2000, Bsirske participated in a modernization program as human resources head in the city of Hanover, during which time 1,000 of 16,000 jobs were cut. Bsirskes role became clear last year during the childcare workers strike, when he strangled the struggle of carers, social workers and disability support workers, forcing them to accept the same terms they had previously rejected decisively. Those workers who have gone through so many terrible experiences with the trade unions over the years are watching the talks with extreme mistrust. Martin, a nurse from Frankfurt, wrote to the World Socialist Web Site, In the public sector collective bargaining poker, unfortunately only a percentage wage increase is being considered which will certainly leave the lower earners further away from those on high incomes although staff cuts and deteriorating working conditions are briefly pointed out, Verdi ultimately accepts them as unavoidable. Martin works at Hochst hospital, which is being merged with facilities in Hofheim and Bad Soden to form one of the largest municipal clinic associations, the Frankfurt-Main-Taunus clinics. In the course of the preparations for the merger, 110 of 1,700 jobs were cut. Frankfurts director of health Rosemarie Heilig justified the move in the citys parliament (Romer) by pointing to the clinics structural deficits. Heilig is a member of the Greens, the same party as Bsirske. Martin explained that questions of working hours and working conditions without stress were no longer concerns of the trade union. He said, We have long been criticizing the percentages being demanded. A pay increase by fixed amounts would benefit low earners far more. Those who earn more look forward to a pay rise too. Asked about working conditions, the nurse reported that staff coverage was increasingly thin. But this is simply presented as being unavoidable. The wage increase reigns supreme over everything, as if it will cure all of our problems, which it wont. He continued, We have had the warning strikes for a few weeks. Yet we are dealing with the fusion and privatization plans. Hochst hospital is the second largest in Frankfurt. It is enormously important for the west of Frankfurt and outlying region. Actually, it is irreplaceable. Even prior to the merger workers faced relentless pressure on their jobs and conditions. The laundry was closed years ago, Martin said, since then all of the washing is transported to Bavaria; in spite of the petrol prices, all the stuff is washed in Franken. Food is still prepared by us. Cleaning and the preparation of beds were outsourced long ago. In terms of care, the hospitals KPHs (nursing assistants) are helping us for the moment. There are occasionally times of crisis, when it is really bad, external personnel, from a private contractor, come to help for a few weeks. There will be no positive changes resulting from the merger. There are already no reliable monthly schedules, and as an experienced nurse, one must be ready, planned or unplanned, to shift between wards, which is another major burden. The reason for this is obvious, Martin said, They are trying to cover all of the work with internal staff, without hiring any more people. Nurses have to document every move they make. For an experienced nurse, it is almost an insult. One has to constantly document what one has done. That the napkin was laid out with the food, excuse me, but I could also document that I opened the door to come in. In the past, it was not so extreme. He said it would be preferable to use this time to provide care. Martin said of the current wage conflict that neither the merger nor the stressful working conditions were being discussed. All of this is accepted as inevitable, including by the works council in Hochst, where the SPD and Left Party hold sway. It appears as though everything has been agreed between the works council and management beforehand, he said. 6 years, 5 months ago by Scott Hardy Accused of shooting man at party near QU in January A former Quincy man, charged with aggravated battery in a January shooting near Quincy University, has had his trial moved back one month. Octavian Haley, 20, of Burlington, Iowa appeared Friday at a pre-trial hearing in Adams County Circuit court. His lawyer asked for, and was granted, the delay in his trial. Haley's already plead Not Guilty to one count of Aggravated Battery with a firearm. Hes accused of shooting Chase Seckman of Quincy during a party near the QU campus early on the morning of January 3. Haleys in the Adams County Jail on $350,000 bond, and his trial is now set for June 13. 6 years, 5 months ago by Scott Hardy Case may have tie to IL Veterans Home State and local health officials have confirmed another case of Legionnaire's Disease that may be linked to the Illinois Veterans' Home. The Adams County Health Department Friday said that a person being treated for symptoms of pneumonia tested positive for the Legionella bacteria on Tuesday. The Department also learned that the person had recently been on the grounds of the Illinois Veterans' Home, but was not a resident. The Illinois Department of Public Health says the un-identified person could have been exposed to the bacteria in at least two locations - One being their home, and the other being the Vets Home. Test results are unable to provide a conclusive link to either location. The Veteran's Home is undergoing $4.8 million dollars worth of repairs, include the installation of a new water main and other water lines at the facility. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an aging water system and lack of proper management led to the outbreak, which claimed twelve residents and led to 54 people testing positive for the disease. Officials say they don't think there's an increased risk of exposure in Quincy. . Watch this Insiders Update Tonight on ABC27 WTXL at 6 pm ALACHUA COUNTY, FL. (WTXL) - Heather McCrossen and Kamrie Mitchell are two women missing from North Florida and the similarities of their disappearance don't end there. Both were victims of abuse and both were tied to one man, Andrelo Witcher. McCrossen, 26, was an abuse victim, police documents detail how she was terrorized by Witcher. McCrossen and Witcher had a violent relationship. "Eventually he beat her up so bad that she tried to flee and get away from him. She went to Michigan to be with her family and while she was in Michigan he called her and threatened her and said if she didn't come back he was going to come there and murder her entire family." According to McCrossen's close friend Heather Atkinson, "He would beat on her quite often and he did other things to her and I was there for her and every time she called me I was there to rescue her but she always went back to him because she loved him but then the beatings got worse everything got worse." Atkinson said that McCrossen filed several police reports detailing black eyes, a broken bones. On one occasion in 2007, Atkinson said that, McCrossen was kidnapped and locked in a hotel room. She was tied to a bed for days, while repeatedly being beaten and raped. Friends said that McCrossen finally got up the strength to leave Witcher for good and had it all planned out. However, McCrossen was never heard from or seen again. Atkinson remembers her last talk with McCrossen like it was yesterday, "My boyfriend at the time was suppose to pick her up or myself from the bus station and because I was at work he went to get her and she never arrived at our bus station." With no body and no leads, the case went cold. That is until Cold Case Detective Kevin Allen got involved. Det. Allen says, "I first interviewed him prior to getting a warrant for his arrest, I wanted to hear his side of the story and his response was, 'I've put that part of my life behind me, I've made my piece with God, it's Gods will now'". Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi also recently hired prosecutor Cass Castillo. In his 35 years of experience his specialty has become homicides where no body has been recovered. When Detective Allen filed the case, Castillo got involved and filed manslaughter charges against Witcher. It's through witness testimony that the Alachua County Sheriff's Office was able to file charges. According to Det. Allen, "He threatened to kill her, he had the means and opportunity to kill her and according to Heather's mother, she was the last person to see her." During the McCrossen investigation. Allen realized Witcher could be a person of interest in another missing persons case where another body was never recovered. "I was made aware in a very prompt manner that Kamrie Mitchell was also one of the last people to be seen alive with Andrelo Witcher and that Andrelo Witcher had threatened her the night before she disappeared." In 2012, 24-year-old Kamrie Mitchell went missing from the Branford/Lake City area. According to Suwannee County investigators, Witcher broke into her home and got into an argument with her and her father Jeff Mitchell over prescription pills. The next morning Mitchell was gone. Deputies were unable to charge Witcher in Mitchell's disappearance but they were able to charge him with home invasion. Sheriff Tony Cameron with The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office says, "We were able to file charges and get him arrested and sent to prison for five years, which he is just about to be serving, his sentence is over." Detective Allen is confident his case will stick, "Manslaughter is an easier case to prove in a homicide without a body, all we have to prove is that it was an act by the defendant and unjustified. Both mothers of both victims, Heather McCrossen and Kamrie Mitchell are relieved and optimistic that if and when we convict him maybe he will talk and maybe we can get their daughters back for decent burial and bring them home." Andrelo Witcher is set to be arraigned May 16th in a Columbia County Courthouse. If you have a story idea for the INSIDERS be sure to email us at abc27News@wtxl.tv, attention the INSIDERS. TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - This week is National Reentry Week and it's all aimed at giving federal inmates resources to help them upon release. According to the Bureau of Prisons, about 41,000 inmates in federal prisons return back to neighborhoods and communities in each year. On Thursday, the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee held a panel of individuals who have been through the prison system and made it out the other side. The talked about their own experiences with prisoners nearing release. The FCI also held a resource fair where the inmates had the opportunity to learn about programs being offered before they get out and after. Close to half of the prison population attended Thursday's events. Officials say initiatives like these reduce crime and keep prisoners out of the system. "Giving them these skills, they will apply them to their life," said Assistant Warden Betty Coleman. "Once they re-integrate back into today's society... hopefully they can get some type of ideas of when they go back into the community, how to get started. Their success stories will also inspire the ladies that we have here that are coming up on release." Authorities at FCI say that reentry begins on the first day that an inmate is incarcerated, and that events like these help towards that effort. BRADENTON, Fla. - A man is under arrest for trespassing after being found in a shed at a Home Depot in Bradenton. Deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office were called in after workers reported seeing the man entering the storage shed at the Home Depot on Cortez Road. Deputies say numerous announcements were made to get Christopher Hobbs out of the shed. He reportedly concealed himself in the back corner of the shed and kept the door locked. Two K9 deputies were brought in to get through the door and get to Hobbs. He was treated by Emergency Medical Services and transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital to treat his injuries from the dog bite. DECATUR CO., GA (WTXL) - Deputies are on scene investigating a homicide in Decatur County, and have now identified the victim. According to the Decatur County Sheriff's Office, 23-year-old Quentieria Knight was found shot to death near Zorn Road and Highway 27, just north of Bainbridge. Sherrifs, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, are on scene investigating. This is a developing story. Stay with WTXL on-air and online for the latest. TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Presidential candidates are looking ahead to next Tuesday's primary in Indiana, after Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton had big wins along the east coast this week. As Trump and Clinton continue to gain more momentum, what does this mean for the other campaigns? Does Bernie Sanders still have a chance to become to the Democratic nominee, or will he consider an independent run? Does Ted Cruz's pick for his running mate help him get more votes? WTXL ABC27's Political Contributor Dr. Ed Moore talked about the future of those campaigns when he joined Jade Bulecza in the WTXL Downtown Studio Thursday. A house at 1606 W. King St. is photographed in Yakima, Wash. on Thursday, April 28, 2016. The Washington Court of Appeals Division III ruled the city could seize the home because the landlord was aware of a tenant selling meth from the location. (SHAWN GUST/Yakima Herald-Republic) You are the owner of this article. Presidential candidate Ted Cruz speaks during a rally at the Century Center in South Bend, Ind., on Thursday, April 28, 2016. (Sam Householder/The Elkhart Truth via AP) New owner of possible 'Hanging Tree' pin: Her mom was in the movie Event attendees walk around the upstairs in the newly opened Plath Hall building on the Perry Technical Institute campus in Yakima, Wash., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. (SOFIA JARAMILLO/Yakima Herald-Republic file) If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. The IDF's "target bank" has registered hundreds of successful kills over the past few years of terrorists both in the north and in south. The operations are managed from a command and control center called the "Canopy of Fire." This mobile room is filled with flat screens showing its operators everything that is happening on Israel's borders. The officers who command this center are the ones who order the use of firepower on the border fences, which at times makes the news: A cell planting explosive devices was eliminated, a Syrian cannon was destroyed, or terrorists trying to infiltrate Israel were thwarted. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Ynet recently visited the "Canopy of Fire" command and control centers in the north to document the operations of those who, at the moment of truth, will have to make decisions within seconds that could prevent ISIS terrorists from infiltrating the Golan Heights and arriving at one of the towns there, or stop a new war from breaking out in the north over the kidnapping of a soldier. The most top secret of the command and control centers will soon undergo a significant upgrade, when a new technological system is declared operational, which is aimed at aiding the commanders of the "Canopy of Fire" to oversee the destruction of dozens of targets at a short period of time. Canopy of Fire command and control center (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) "The challenge is not just in identifying and neutralizing individual terror cells that come near the border fence to plant an explosive device," Col. Guy Markizno, the "Canopy of Fire" officer at the Golan Division, told Ynet. "It's also, at the same time, to destroy a very large amount of targets that were marked in advance." The new computerized system was fit with an easy-to-use interface that shows the images on the big screens in HD quality and high resolution. The system's interface is similar to that of Facebook, with user-friendly icons. But this is the extent of the virtual, friendly part of the software. The classified system still does not have a name, but it does have algorithms that will be able to calculate, within seconds and without human interference, which rockets, shells or bombs will be "paired up" and launched at which target (an enemy control and command center, a big terror cell, or a Syrian APC speeding towards the Quneitra border crossing transporting jihadists). These algorithms have already proven their efficacy over the past few weeks. The deadly orchestra's conductors The target bank of the IDF's Golan Division, which was established only two years ago in light of the civil war raging in Syria, is housed at the Canopy of Fire command and control center, and is often updated. "By the time this story is published, the briefing I'll give you about what's going on in the Syrian Golan will be considered archive material," Col. Markizno said. "Things change here so often. There are many sources of power in the Golan, compared to Gaza or Lebanon, where it is clear who the enemy is. There isn't one dominant ruler on the Syrian side, the groups there don't answer to anyone. Today they're fighting against each other and tomorrow they will fight alongside each other. The Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade (who are affiliated with ISIS) for example, are fighting for territory, unlike the Nusra Front (who are affiliated with al-Qaeda), who are fighting for ideology." And amidst this chaos, the IDF is preparing for a large-scale terror attack the Islamists could launch against Israeli targets. The military's working assumption is that there will be no intelligence warning of an attack including dozens of militants who try to infiltrate Israel and fire rockets deep into the Golan. In order to be ready for such a possibility, the IDF's Golan Division drilled this very scenario in a wide-scale surprise exercise two weeks ago, which also included training for ground attacks inside Syria. Canopy of Fire command and control center (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) Such a scenario will include fighter jets and helicopters, tanks firing shells and bombs, and artillery troops launching accurate Spike missiles. The conductors over this deadly orchestra will be sitting in the "Canopy of Fire" command and control center in the division's base, located among the green trees of the northern Golan. "It all starts with intelligence, an area that we have greatly improved upon this year. This intelligence can come from a variety of sources, including the division's observations battalion," Col. Markizno said. "We have to quickly translate this intelligence into the correct armament, from mortar shells to bombs dropped by a fighter jet." And the firepower is now far more available in the plateau than it was before the civil war in Syria. Nowadays, the Israeli Air Force is far more alert to the happenings on the Golan Heights, with hundreds of fighter jets scrambled up to the northern skies every year. In addition to that, there is an artillery battery and tank companies stationed on the border on a permanent basis - something that until recent years only happened on the Lebanese border. These troops have already shelled dozens of targets on the Syrian side of the border over the past three years, while maintaining cautious rules of engagement - but such that don't hesitate to signal to the other side that the IDF has invested a lot of its operational resources in the Golan Heights - and has yet to use them. "We're operating in a method of 'Deterring Retaliation,'" Col. Markizno added. "We won't retaliate with the same intensity, but rather with firepower that would make the enemy wary of firing again." Decision to open fire within seconds The decisions at the "Canopy of Fire" command and control center must be made within seconds - minutes at most - because the "targets" tend to run away and disappear. The authority to use firepower is given to Markizno and two other artillery officers, who serve as on duty "Canopy of Fire" commanders alongside Markizno in three shifts, 24/7. "The target is 'vital' for only a short time, sometimes for seconds," one of the officers said. "We have to work together and fast with all of the involved parties." The most critical stage of launching the "Canopy of Fire" is the "incrimination stage." It is the moment in which the officers in the command and control center declare that the target on the flat screens as hostile, and give the go-ahead to destroy it. "At this stage, you don't deal with assumptions and guesses. When there's doubt - you don't shoot," Markizno said. "The 'incrimination' comes from crossing intelligence with information from other gathering measures - radars, observation cameras, drones, and more." Canopy of Fire command and control center (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) The one who decides whether a target has been "incriminated" is the intelligence officer stationed at the command and control center, who was especially trained to that end. After the "incrimination," the responsibility is passed on to the on duty "Canopy of Fire" commander, who examines the "morality" of a target, a fairly new term in the IDF, which has been recently introduced to other units as well, including in the navy's submarines. The commander has to examine whether there are innocents near the target or a mosque. There are also lookouts stationed at the command and control center on a regular basis, who closely accompany the operation. The "Canopy of Fire" center also conducts damage assessment in real time after the bombardment in order to ensure the target has been destroyed. Much like the Golan Division's "Canopy of Fire," the Galilee Division's similar mechanism on the Lebanon border is preparing for a change that could be immediate. "We wrap up every incident, like the ones on Mount Dov this year and last year, as quickly as possible," explained Col. Alon, the division's "Canopy of Fire" officer. "Hezbollah is fighting in Syria, gaining experience and turning into a semi-military organization. We'll know how to deliver a strong and significant blow to it." With all the restaurants in Tel Aviv, there are relatively few representing the cuisines of Latin America. Take away the handful of Mexican restaurants, and there are hardly any picking up the slack for the entire continent of South America. Considering how many Israelis travel to the southern Western Hemisphere for their after-army trips, this is a market that is woefully underserved. Fortunately, Totuma Arepa Bar opened just a few months ago to meet this need. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Totuma is the brainchild and domain of Dalia Alhadef, who was a finalist on televisions Master Chef in 2012. She had Immigrated to Israel from Venezuela, where the arepa is ubiquitous, much like pita bread here in Israel. And it functions very similarly, meant to be stuffed and eaten like a sandwich. In the restaurants own words, it serves fine street food. The vibe in Totuma is what you might expect in a neighborhood eatery: Basic but inviting, with a pleasant enclosed outdoor seating section surrounded by green plants. And clearly it has already been discovered: Even on an ordinary weeknight, the place filled up with customers, drawn by the good food and reasonable prices. It is also the kind of place meant for quaffing a cold beer or sipping a tropical cocktail. There is a decent selection of chilled beers from Mexico and Argentina, as well as the familiar domestic brands. But the house cocktails looked just too tempting, and the waitress - who spoke excellent English - recommended the Pura Vida: A frozen rum concoction made with pineapple, banana, coconut, ginger and lime; it was not only refreshing and delicious, but since it melted quite slowly, it lasted through most of the meal. Another rum-based drink (like the majority of the cocktails here), is the Caribbean Ginger Beer: Rum with Totumas homemade ginger honey, lime and ginger beer, garnished with a slice of ginger. It was a pleasantly potent drink, perfect for fans of ginger. The bilingual menu features dishes primarily from the northern countries of South America: Colombia, Venezuela and Peru. The appetizers are grouped under the heading Para Picar y Compartir, translated for nosh and share. Unfortunately, our first choice - in fact, one of the most common dishes in South America - was not available, since plantains were not in season. The good news is that this means Totuma prepares all its food from scratch using fresh ingredients. We started with a cachapa - a sweet corn pancake - filled with pabellon, Venezuelan shredded beef. The beef was nicely seasoned, and the combination extremely tasty. We ate the cachapa together with one of the two salads on the menu, by the slightly confusing name Tropical Salad, since the ingredients - lettuce, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes - hardly evoke the tropics. The best thing about the salad was the dressing, identified as Totumas special mayo - a zesty condiment that could prove addictively versatile. Naturally, we had to try one of the arepas, so the manager brought us the asado negro, literally black roast. The succulent beef slow-cooked in cane sugar was indeed very dark in color, and the resulting flavor nectarous without being cloying. Also in the arepa was guasacaca, a Venezuelan avocado-based relish; tomato; and white salty cheese - all the ingredients together making for a nice interplay of flavors. Venezuelas neighbor to the west is the home of our next dish, La Colombiana: Ground beef containing hints of spicy chorizo and topped with a fried egg. The generous portion of meat came with the classic Latin American sides of white rice and black beans, creating a hearty and satisfying dish. The next stop on the map - and the menu - was Peru, and a dish called Pollo Peruano, or Peruvian chicken. Peruvian flame-grilled chicken is famous for its finger-licking goodness, and that is what I was expecting. In actual fact, in Peru the dish we were served goes by the name pollo saltado, signifying a very popular combination of sauteed onions, tomatoes and peppers with either chicken, beef or fish. In any event, we were not disappointed by the switch: the chicken and vegetables in a tangy soy-vinegar sauce was a savory masterpiece. Finally, as if the four desserts on the menu didnt present us with enough difficult choices, the manager insisted we try one that was not yet written down: chocolate taquitos, which became popular since Totuma introduced them on Valentine's Day. It was easy to see why these crunchy chocolate-filled sticks served with dips of rich fudge and caramel, like a cross between pastries and candy bars, have won a permanent spot on the menu. The Venezuelan dessert was quesillo, a custardy flan swimming in a caramel sauce. Both this and the signature dessert La R - dark chocolate mousse, sweet cream, cookie crumbles and spiced caramel - were sinfully decadent. Totuma may have the look, feel and prices of a simple neighborhood eatery, but the quality of the food ranks up there with the likes of its fancier Dizengoff neighbors. Not kosher Dizengoff Street 265, Tel Aviv North Korea on Friday sentenced a US citizen of Korean heritage to 10 years in prison after convicting him of espionage and subversion, the second American it has put behind bars this year. Kim Dong Chul had been detained in the North on suspicion of engaging in spying and stealing state secrets. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor after a brief trial in Pyongyang. North Korea's Supreme Court found Kim guilty of crimes and espionage and subversion of under Articles 60 and 64 of the North's criminal code. A Palestinian tanker truck overturned on Highway 35, near the West Bank city of Halhul, on Friday. The truck hit another car, and both vehicles caught fire. Five Palestinians, four adults and one child, were reportedly killed in the accident. Prince's final days and unexpected death at age 57 raise questions among experts familiar with prescription painkiller overdoses. It's possible the innovative musician's demise represents one of the most public tragedies in an overdose crisis now gripping America. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday that investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis. The law enforcement official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The Syrian army has declared a temporary truce for the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, and the coastal province of Latakia - but not for the contested northern city of Aleppo. What impact the unilateral declaration would have was not immediately clear. It's unlikely the opposition would abide by it after days of government airstrikes and bombardments killed dozens in Aleppo. KABUL, Afghanistan - Survivors and the families of those killed in a US airstrike on a hospital run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the Afghan city of Kunduz are dismayed that those responsible will not face criminal charges. Zabihullah Neyazi, a nurse who lost his left arm and eye and a finger on his right hand in the attack, told The Associated Press Friday that the incident was "not forgivable." He says he and other victims "want justice." Neyazi is waiting for a visa to travel to India for further medical treatment. The Pentagon is expected to release a report Friday investigating the mistakes that led to the bombing, which killed 42 people. It says that the US military personnel responsible will receive administrative punishments but not criminal charges. A girl armed with a knife tries to stab an IDF soldier; a boy dressed as a sniper shoots him as revenge: these images are only some of those broadcast on Hamas's television channel, taken from a children's play that was performed as part of the Palestinian Festival for Childhood and Education in Khan Yunis. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter This event of incitement, as reported in the Daily Mail, is paid for in part from the charity Interpal, which is supported by the leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn. This has been revealed at the height of a storm of anti-Semitism involving the center-left party. Children's play acting out terrorism X This week alone, two Labour Party members were suspended. The first, Naz Shah, was suspended after calling on social media for Israel to be transferred to the United States. The second, former London mayor Ken Livingstone , was suspended for claiming that Adolf Hitler supported Zionism. Gaza children in terrorist play On Thursday, Labour MP John Mann vehemently attacked Livingstone in an unprecedented attack caught on camera. Mann, who heads the All-Party Parliamentary Group against Antisemitism, yelled at Livingstone whilst the latter was entering BBC studios, calling him a "disgrace," a "Nazi apologist" and a "disgusting racist." Mann-Livingstone confrontation X The current wave of troubles is likely to cause additional embarrassment for Corbyn, who has been receiving criticism for not acting aggressively against anti-Semitic elements that have been growing in his party. Interpal, which donated 6,800 to the festival, sponsored a 2013 visit to Gaza by Corbyn and his wife, valued at 2,800. Corbyn even aided the organization in fundraising by participating in video clips and calling its chairman "a very good friend." In 2003, the USA deemed Interpal to be a terrorist organization and claimed that it transfers tens of millions of dollars to Hamas annually. A spokesman for Interpal stated that they did not specifically support the children's play, instead asserting that the organization supports different activities in the Gaza Strip that do not include violence. Globe Arena, the venue where the annual Eurovision Song Contest is to be held in Stockholm in less than a fortnight, released a document in which it listed flags that may not be waved by the public, including the Palestinian flag. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Globe Arena has forbidden, according to the document and inter alia, flags "containing commercial messages," flags" of political or religious nature, in particular flags of disputed territories," and flags "containing statements in another language than English." In addition to the explanation, a non-exhaustive list of banned example flags was providing, including the Basque, Crimean, Transnistrian, and Palestinian flags. The flag of ISIS was presented separately with the message, "the below flag is strictly prohibited." Recently, European media has reported that ISIS is planning a terrorist attack at Eurovision this year. Some of the banned flags (Screenshot from globearenas.se) The document, which does not currently appear on the Eurovision website, states that the audience members may wave flags of any of the 42 countries participating in the contest, the EU flag, rainbow flags (provided that it is not waved "politically") and flags of other countries that are members of the United Nations and appear on their website's list . While the General Assembly of the UN recognized Palestine in 2012 as a non-member observer state, this did not include membership in the organization. In 2009, when (the Jewish) Noa and (the Arab) Mira Awad jointly represented Israel at Eurovision with their song " There Must be Another Way ," the audience waved Palestinian flags alongside Israeli ones. Flags at Eurovision (Photo: AP) Globe Arena's decision provoked controversy in Eurovision fans who belong to areas whose flags have been banned. One Basque fan was incensed that his flag was in the same list as the ISIS flag, and other similarly displeased people took to Eurovision's Facebook timeline to express their ire. Spanish politicians expressed outrage at the Basque flag's inclusion in the list. As a result, the organizers of Eurovision 2016 stated that the list was a draft that was not intended for publication. At this year's Eurovision, Israel will be represented by Hovi Star, who will be singing "Made of Stars." In a large Hamas rally on Thursday in the Gaza Strip attended by thousands of supporters, Ismail Haniyeh spoke, but a new display of hate attracted the most attention. Directly behind the speakers' lectern was a green bus with the words "Number 12" on itthe same number of the bus blown up this week by a Hamas operative. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter A picture of the Temple Mount figured in the background, and during the demonstration, an actor entered a cage where he portrayed a Palestinian detainee surrounded by Israeli soldiers. At the hate rally, at which armed members of Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, young women danced, and children watched attentively. Recreated exploded bus (Photo: AFP) Supporters at rally (Photo: Reuters) Before the Gazan supporters, Haniyeh complimented the "heroic act" of Abd al-Hamid Abu Srur, who committed the suicide terrorist attack in Jerusalem that wounded 20 other people. Haniyeh warned during the rally of the continuation of the closure on the Gaza Strip. "It's impossible to continue the siege of two million Palestinians in Gaza." Haniyeh addressed Israel: "There's a limit to patience. Don't tighten the noose on the Gaza Strip and don't misinterpret our patience in Gaza." Ismail Haniyeh on the podium (Photo: Reuters) He emphasized that the establishment of a sea port and airport there do not mean that Gaza is becoming a state of its own. "There is no state in Gaza and there is no Palestinian state without Gaza," he said. He also spoke of the Jerusalem bus attack: "The suicide attack that Abd al-Hamid Abu Srur carried out is proof of the continuation of Hamas's adherence to the solution of opposition. We emphasize with blood, fire and rifle that nobody has the right to stand before the intifada and its people." Hamas hate rally (Photo EPA) The military wing of Hamas warned during the rally that two options were on the table: ending the blockade on Gaza or an explosion. Actor portraying Palestinian detainee (Photo: EPA) Three months before blowing up Bus 12 in Jerusalem, the terrorist Abu Srur appeared at the mourning tent for the family of Srur Abu Srur, who was killed in a clash with security forces in Beit Jala in January. In a recording from the tent, he appears masked and wearing a military uniform with a Hamas bandana on his head, reading a message for the family members in on behalf of the military wing of Hamas. "Blessing to our prophet," he said to those present in the mourning tent. "He taught us to love jihad and martyrdom." Abu Srur continued and glorified his relatives, and noted that he was now in Paradise. The military wing of Hamas released the video clip, and they admitted immediately following Abu Srur's death that he was from their ranks. ATHENS - Police say an anonymous video threatening the safety of "American students" was posted by a social media user in Europe and there is no risk to Ohio University. Authorities initially believed the threat was posted to a location-based social media app group connected to the university, prompting heightened security on the southeastern Ohio campus and closing six area school districts Friday. Investigators shared an image from the video that shows a hand holding a gun and the words: "Tomorrow American students will die. Some of u are ok. Don't go to school tomorrow." Officials said Friday afternoon the threat was posted by someone in Europe not affiliated with any group on the app called Yeti. Police commended the member of the Ohio University Yeti group who reported the threat. 301st blasts through world's largest EOD exercise Explosive ordnance disposal technicians with the 301st Fighter Wing here took part in the first of a series of EOD exercises billed as the largest in the world. Ravens Challenge X kicked off April 18-22 at Fort Wolters, Texas, one of four locations for this years exercise. With more than 1,000 participants, it is now the world's largest exercise of its kind, according to organizers. Sponsored by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Center for Explosives Training and Research, the annual exercises brings military EOD technicians and public safety bomb squads together to perform counter-improvised explosive device operations in a realistic environment. Tech. Sgt. Joseph Lagrone, 301st EOD technician and exercise controller, explained the importance of this kind of training. For these guys to get this kind of training is invaluable, he said. To work with public safety bomb squad guys and see the different tactics they bring to the tableits invaluable. EOD technicians were run through a gauntlet of training scenarios including vehicle-borne, cabin and passenger bus IED situations, among others. The newest Airman to the unit, Senior Airman Ryan Wilson, an EOD apprentice, participated in the exercise with a team comprised of 301st EOD and Army technicians. Its a lot different training than we usually get, because we have more resources convening in one place and time, Wilson said. It [the exercise] puts out new crisis scenarios that we havent run across yet. When a real-world situation occurs, the 301st EOD, which area of responsibility covers 62,000 square miles in Texas, may need to collaborate with other agencies, such as a local bomb squad or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, depending on the situation. They see out of country, we see in country, Ricky Hendrix from the Plano Police Department Bomb Squad said. Communications have changed over the years where it is just an internet site away from seeing people build things here the military has seen out of country, so it [collaboration] is critical for us. Lilla Pistorio, a management and program analyst for the FBI critical incident response group counter-IED section, shared what its like to work a crises in a joint environment. When an incident happens, FBI phones ring off the hook from bomb technicians wondering what they are looking for, Pistorio said. By focusing on the components, tactics, techniques, and procedures the enemy is employing, the bureau is striking a really good balance of sharing needed information. With government agencies, local bomb squads, and military personnel from multiple branches training and collaborating together, Ravens Challenge X provides an avenue to increase the level of preparedness of all involved. Beale reserve unit returns to refueling mission The Air Force Reserve's 940th Wing here was officially redesignated as the 940th Air Refueling Wing today. The wing will change from the C2ISR (command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) mission to the air refueling mission and fly KC-135 Stratotanker, which has provided aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force for more than 50 years. The redesignation and mission change will also see the unit change Numbered Air Force organizational assignments from 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, to 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, California Historically, the 940th flew Stratotankers for more than three decades until the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission re-aligned the unit. An air refueling wing since 1977, the unit moved from Mather AFB, California, to McClellan AFB, California, in 1993, and then here in 1998. The former two bases have since closed. The official ceremony to celebrate the mission redesignation is schedule June 4 at 10 a.m. More information for the ceremony will be released in upcoming weeks. For more information, contact the 940th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs at 940wg.pa@us.af.mil or (530)-634-1818. Regulators such as the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) have increased their focus on dodgy property deals in recent times and the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) has reminded consumers that profitable investments arent usually a walk in the park. Theres always going to be a spruiker or wealth generator out there promoting their wares, its really a general and constant warning to be on your guard about who you trust and where you get your advice from, REBAA president Rich Harvey told Your Investment Property Magazine. You see a lot of the spruikers out there making outlandish claims and I think its really important for consumers to be aware that making money is not easy, it takes time and it takes effort. Particularly if the markets changing and cooling then some of the claims people are making now will be severely tested over the next decade, Harvey said. In particular, Harvey said younger buyers are likely at more risk of being taken for a ride and he reminded them not let their dreams override sensible decision making. Theyre also very aspirational. People in that Generation Y bracket can easily be sold a dream which can quickly turn into a lemon, he said. Theyve got to be very careful with who they decide to listen to and where they get their advice from. While Harvey and REBAA have concerns about operators who claim they will deliver significant returns in a short period of time, buyers have also been warned about those who promote quantity of quality. A lot of people get caught up in that they have to have 10 properties or five properties or X number of properties. Its a mathematical equation at the end of the day in terms of what you want to achieve when it comes to wealth or income. Its not about the number of properties, that can have a bearing on it, but a more important point is the quality of those properties. You might have one two-bedroom apartment in Potts Point and that could be the equivalent of four houses in a regional area. Which one is better? Well theyre going to perform differently but you may end up at the same point, but there are different levels of risk involved. Though he is concerned about activities of spruikers and the possibility of them causing people to overleverage, Harvey said recent tightening of lending criteria has come with a positive. APRA really has tightened the brakes, so naturally investors are having that forced upon them so they cant over-gear. Theres a lot of spruikers out there that say we know the way around the banks and we can beat them at their own game and try to fudge employment figures or income returns, but you cant do that. At the end of the day APRA is now really digging their heels in and a lot of brokers that Im speaking to are finding it a lot harder to get approvals. Good deals will get approved if youve got good savings and tick all the boxes, but the actual volume or quantity of loans you can get have been reduced quite significantly compared to two or three years ago. Both REBAA and Harvey are long time proponents of more regulation in the property investment industry and while there are some positive signs in that respect, Harvey said real progress will only be made if regulators are better resourced. Its all about resources. At some point I think ASIC will regulate directly property investment, as to when that might happen I dont know, but I think theyre moving in that direction. The entry barrier to become a selling agent or buying agent is far too low. The bar needs to be raised and it really needs to be raised a lot higher than what it is right now. Id like to see stronger licensing requirements and stronger training and education requirements around real estate agents and buyers agents. 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. Stiri pe aceeasi tema - President Klaus Iohannis declared, on Thursday, that the new justice laws that were recently adopted by Parliament are good and he indicated that he would promulgate them if they pass the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR). Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro - President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday stated that the European Commission's proposal regarding the high gas prices is good and Romania agrees with the new measures. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your friends - President Klaus Iohannis will participate, on Thursday and Friday, in Brussels, in the meeting of the European Council, among the topics of discussion being the necessary measures in the field of energy, following the package of proposals presented by the European Commission and the reaffirmation - The European Union's unity can be strengthen if Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia become past of the Schengen area, President Klaus Iohannis stated on Thursday, prior to the first meeting of the European Political Community, in Prague, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste - President Klaus Iohannis, who is attending on Thursday, in Prague, the first meeting of the European Political Community, said he will speak within this new format, about "the need for solidarity with Ukraine'', told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro - President Klaus Iohannis declared on Monday that there has recently been an intense and natural debate on the future of education, showing that he expects the debate to continue in Parliament until a legislative form that helps teachers to fulfill their aspirations is reached. Fii la curent - President Klaus Iohannis on Monday signed a decree regarding the submission to Parliament for ratification of a loan agreement and a grant agreement between Romania and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) related to the first programmatic financing for the development - President Klaus Iohannis sent on Thursday the Law on the protection of public interest whistleblowers to the Parliament for re-examination. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Help your friends know more about Romania! Ahmedabad: The Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), which was demanding inclusion of the Patels in the OBC category for reservation, Friday rejected Gujarat government's announcement of 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward among upper castes and termed it as a "lollipop" by the government to misguide Patel community. However, another quota agitation body Sardar Patel Group (SPG) welcomed the government's move, but said they will assess how it will help Patel community and up to what extent. According to PAAS spokesperson Brijesh Patel, their original demand was to include Patels in the OBC for reservation or provide a separate quota for the community, just like Haryana did for Jats recently. "This 10 per cent reservation for EBCs is nothing but a lollipop by government to misguide the Patel community. Hardik and PAAS never asked for it. We always wanted reservation under OBC quota or like the reservation granted to Jats by the Haryana government," Brijesh Patel said. According to him, Patel community will stick to their original demand and will not accept the government's current scheme of 10 per cent reservation for EBCs. "This announcement is a tactic by BJP government to silence the Patel community. But, we will not get misled by this announcement. BJP will have to face consequences for playing such politics. PAAS will launch protests across Gujarat against this announcement," said Patel. The SPG, meanwhile, welcomed the government's move. "We welcome this announcement, as SPG was always in favour of EBC quota rather than getting included in the OBC list," SPG spokesperson Purvin Patel said. "However, we will assess this scheme before coming to any conclusion. We will clear our stand after going through it, as we need to check how it will help Patel community and up to what extent," he said. The BJP government in Gujarat today announced 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward among upper castes, which include Patidars, with a family income cap of Rs 6 lakh a year to avail the benefit. The decision, taken in the state party's core group meeting in which BJP national president Amit Shah was also present. , comes after the recent reverses in the civic polls left the party jittery in the state where Assembly election are due next year. Chandigarh: The Haryana government has reportedly decided to withdraw to strip former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda of his cabinet rank. News agency ANI quoted sources confirming the move. Last week, The Tribune had reported that the Khattar was close to withdrawing the cabinet rank to Hooda over his alleged role in the Jat reservation stir. The Leader of the Opposition, Abhay Chautala, too had written to Khattar against cabinet rank for Hooda. Interestingly, it was Hooda who had made the provision of cabinet rank for a former CM at the fag end of his term as CM. The cabinet rank had meant that Hooda was given a staff of six, allotted a government bungalow and an official car. All of it will be withdrawn now. Zee Media Bureau London: A new study suggests that drinking peppermint tea can improve long-term and working memory in healthy adults. For the research, the team randomly allocated a total of 180 participants to take a drink of peppermint tea, chamomile tea or hot water. They found that participants who took peppermint tea showed significant improvement in long term memory, working memory and alertness. However, participants who took chamomile tea exhibited slowed memory and attention speed compared to both who took peppermint and hot water. "It's interesting to see the contrasting effects on mood and cognition of the two different herbal teas. The enhancing and arousing effects of peppermint and the calming/sedative effects of chamomile observed in this study are in keeping with the claimed properties of these herbs and suggest beneficial effects can be drawn from their use," said Mark Moss, researcher at Northumbria University in Britain. Before the participants consumed their drink they completed questionnaires relating to their mood. After a twenty minute rest the participants completed tests that assessed their memory and a range of other cognitive functions. The findings have been presented recently at the British Psychological Society's Annual Conference in Nottingham. New Delhi: 2019 General Elections may be far off but the anti-BJP camp has already started looking for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's replacement. However, with so many rounds doing the rounds, the anti-BJP coalition, which is desperate to topple the central government, is a bit confused as whom to pitch against an 'invincible' Narendra Modi in the 2019 General Elections. Among all, Nitish Kumar, the Bihar Chief Minister, is believed to be the front-runner in the probable PM picks. With Congress rallying behind Rahul Gandhi to project him as its PM nominee in 2019, it is highly unlikely that the Grand Old Party will support Nitish Kumar for the top post. Congress, a partner in the Bihar's 'Mahagathbandhan' government, has strongly opposed any attempt by Kumar to project himself as the prime ministerial candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. After supporting the Janata Dal (United) in the Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress now wants it to back Rahul Gandhi for PM's post in 2019. Even though this may have no bearing on the General Elections, which are still three years away, all this points to the growing tension in the anti-BJP alliance. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who had earlier backed Nitish Kumar as PM candidate, today backtracked on the issue, saying it is not appropriate to comment right now on whether Bihar chief minister would be the face of the anti-BJP alliance. Though, the NCP veteran made it clear that since Nitish Kumar has proved his mettle in Bihar, he cant be ignored. Earlier, in an interview given to the Economic times, Pawar had endorsed Nitish Kumar as the most suitable candidate to lead the united opposition, if it comes into being. He had said that the JDU president will be the most credible face of an anti-BJP alliance. The NCP chief also said that it is too early to give a verdict on Rahul Gandhi as he has also evolved with time and making efforts to reach out to people. Interestingly, just a few days back, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had said that he would back Nitish as future prime minister candidate. Amid Modi-for-PM chant in BJP and elevation of Rahul Gandhi in Congress, a senior Samajwadi Party leader has proposed party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's name for the top post, claiming several regional parties have accepted him as their leader. SP leader Naresh Agarwal said his party chief Mulayam Singh will be the best candidate for the PM's post. On Sharad Pawar's statement about Nitish Kumar being a possible PM candidate for 2019, BSP chief Mayawati said it is ''too premature.'' New Delhi: Heres is a good news for all those students who had appeared for Class 10 board examinations conducted by Board of Secondary Education of Andhra Pradesh (BSEAP). The AP Board SSC class 10th results 2016, is likely to be declared on Thursday, i.e. May 5. The exams for Andhra Pradesh SSC were held between March 26, 2016 and 4th April, 2016. The Board of Studies Andhra Pradesh, is a part of the Directorate of Government Examinations. It falls under the ministry of secondary education, Government of Andhra Pradesh. It conducts exams twice in a year once in March (the Annual Examinations) and the other in May/June ( Advanced Supplementary Examinations) . Students can check their results on the board official website: http://www.bseap.org/ Or On http://www. manabadi.co.in/ PDF copies of the results can be downloaded from the websites. These reference copies are just temporary, but it is advisable to take a print out of this. Valid and original maksheets by the board would be made available at the students' respective schools. Steps to be followed to check result: 1. Students need to log on to any one of the websites mentioned below to access their result. 2. Students will need to submit their roll number and date of birth on the results page to obtain their results. 3. They can take a print-out of the result for future reference. New Delhi: NIA has filed a charge sheet against an NSCN-IM militant in connection with the ambush on an army convoy in Arunachal Pradesh on April 2, 2015, in which three jawans were killed. The charge sheet was filed before a National Investigation Agency Special Court for Arunachal Pradesh at Yupia yesterday in which NSCN(IM) militant Kapai alias Singmayo Kapai, a resident of Nagaland, has been named as the key accused. NIA told the court that it would continue further investigation in the case as certain other accused are yet to be apprehended, a release issued by the agency here said today. According to NIA, militants belonging to NSCN(IM) ambushed the convoy of army soldiers on April 2 on Khonsa-Longding road near Tupi village, about 15 km from Khonsa Police Station in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. Three army personnel were killed and three others were seriously injured in the incident. During the course of investigation, NIA collected evidence from the field as well as technical and forensic evidence, which was submitted along with the charge sheet to the Special Court. Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is all set to release third set of files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Friday, as per ANI. The files will be released at 12:30 pm today. Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma will release the next set of 25 files pertaining to Bose tomorrow, as per PTI. Last month, the minister had released 50 declassified files relating to the leader on web portal www.Netajipapers.Gov.In. Similarly, as many as hundred secret files were made public by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Netaji's 119th birth anniversary on January 23 Earlier, on April 26, government had said that two crucial files relating to Netaji would be declassified by Japan this year-end, but the country had given no assurance regarding three more such files in its custody. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had told the Lok Sabha that the five files, which are with Japan, could be 'crucial' to resolve the mystery over the fate of Bose. "Japan has conveyed to us that they will declassify two of the five files by the end of this year but no commitment has been given to the rest of the three files. But we are hopeful that they will declassify the remaining three files too," he had said during Question Hour, as per PTI. Rijiju had said that two files relating to Netaji which were with the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs continued to be missing and efforts were on to trace them. The Minister had said that around 150 Netaji files had been declassified and were available online, while 25 more files each were being uploaded online every month. In October last year, PM Modi had met the family members of Netaji and had announced that the government would declassify the files relating to the leader whose disappearance 70 years ago remains a mystery. While two commissions of inquiry had concluded that Netaji had died in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, a third probe panel, headed by Justice MK Mukherjee, had contested it and suggested that no such aircrash had taken place. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday renewed attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the AgustaWestland VIP chopper deal, asking on whose behest the terms of the contract were tweaked. Posing questions to Ms. Gandhi before the media, he said reports of bribery in the deal appeared in the Italian media soon after the it was finalised but the then UPA government went ahead with it instead of invoking a tender clause, which enabled it to be put on hold. The deal was put on hold only in 2013 after corruption was proved, he said adding the Congress chief should answer who was behind the delay. I want to ask the Congress President as to who was behind the change? Who ensured that the company was found technically qualified? Who was behind the changes in the tender conditions? he asked at a press conference. Raising another question, he said when the deal was done, one of the conditions was that the field evaluation trial of the choppers would be carried out in India but it was later changed and the firm was allowed to do so in its premises. Conditions were changed abruptly. Did it not play with Indias interests? Did it not compromise the seriousness of trial? Did the then Defence Minister give the permission? On whose behest did it happen? Sonia Gandhi should answer it too, he said. He also refuted the claim of Congress that all the money given by AgustaWestland under the ban guarantee has returned to India and said only a part of it has been en-cashed. Congress chief should herself answer these questions be appearing before people, by appearing before the media, he said. The Congress should come out of the mindset of thief scolding a cop. Shah demanded that Sonia Gandhi should come clear on the issue and give a statement in the media on this. Aligarh: Amid ongoing nationalism debate, the Centre has reportedly asked the Urdu writers to refrain from writing highly inflammatory anti-national content. According to a ToI report, the Centre has issued a new circular informing writers affiliated with the National Council for Promotion of Urdu (NCPUL) advising them not to produce content ''against national interest" or that which creates hatred among communities. As per the report, the NCPUL website now features a declaration form that the authors are required to sign. "The contents of the book, periodical, manuscript, magazine and project do not have any material which is against the national interest or which may create any sort of hatred amongst the different sections of the society," the declaration in the form reads. The circular from the Centre is expected to trigger a fresh controversy amid questions why only Urdu writers have been asked to comply with the order. Since these conditions have been laid out for Urdu writers whose books are acquired by NCPUL - a body which promotes Urdu language under the HRD Mnistry many writers see the move as a kind of kind of "declaration of loyalty" to the BJP government at the Centre. However, a section of Urdu writers feel it is quite understandable that the Centre would not entertain any material that is against national interest since NCPUL is a government organisation. Bhopal: Delhi, which is ranked among the most polluted cities, is expected to get green power from Madhya Pradesh starting next year to run its Metro trains. "We are charting out the power purchase agreement to be signed between Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and developers of the world's largest solar power plant of 750 MW coming up in the state's Rewa district," Madhya Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Department Principal Secretary Manu Shrivastava told PTI. "We issued tenders for setting up the power project last month," he said, adding that a meeting of bidders has already taken place on April 1 in Delhi. "This meeting was also attended by DMRC Director (Electrical) AK Gupta," he said. Significantly, the development has come at a time when the Delhi government is struggling hard to reduce pollution in the national capital and has even introduced the 'odd-even' number scheme to limit vehicular traffic - a major pollutant. MP will certainly supply power to DMRC and paper work in this regard is in the last stage, Shrivastava said adding that the solar power plant at Rewa would be commissioned possibly by June 2017. The Solar Energy Corporation of India and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVN) have joined hands to facilitate setting up of the green power station, christened Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Project, on 1,500 hectares area at Bandwar region in Gudh tehsil of Rewa district, said Shrivastava, who is also the Managing Director of MPUVN. "World Bank is going to give Rs 250 crore for the project," he said. Shrivastava said that the cost of the set up for 1 MW solar energy comes to around Rs 6 crore. At present, the world's largest solar power project - Ivanpah Solar Power Facility of 392 MW - is at Mojave deserts in California, United States, officials said. In February 2014, Narendra Modi, as BJP's prime ministerial candidate, had inaugurated Asia's largest solar power project in Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh. New Delhi: Protesting ex-servicemen demanding complete implementation of 'One Rank One Pension' on Friday suspended their agitation, according to report. The 320-day-old agitation at Jantar Mantar was suspended today evening. Major General (retd) Satbir Singh confirmed the news and told ANI, "Our agitation will continue,only activities will be changed a bit. We will hold rallies, especially at places where elections are taking place. For now, we have decided to give a temporary 'pause' to relay hunger strike for some days." Singh added further and said, "We want our demands to be fulfilled. If things don't go in that direction, we'll intensify our agitation." Government had in September last year announced the scheme for determining pensions of armed forces veterans. Ex-servicemen had launched a major stir in June to press for OROP but a section of protesters were not satisfied with the scheme and continued their agitation. Lucknow: Condemning Bhumata Brigade president Trupti Desai for forcibly trying to enter the religious places of worship, the first woman Qazi of Uttar Pradesh on Friday said that such acts can cause communal tensions in the society. Speaking to ANI a day after Desai was denied entry in Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, Heena Zahir said, Forcibly entering temple or mosque is not acceptable. She shouldn't act like this as we live peacefully. Such acts can cause communal rift and fights and they should not be encouraged, she added. Desai had on Thursday tried to enter Haji Ali Dargah, but was stopped at main entrance. As she reached the premises of the Dargah, the Mumbai Police did not allow her to get down from her car at the main entrance. Desai, however, made another attempt to enter, but was once again stopped. She had then decided to reach Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis' residence to do sit-in, but was detained along with her supporters on her way. New Delhi: As heat wave conditions continued unabated in many parts of India, seven more people died in Odisha and Telangana due to sunstroke whereas Assam and Arunachal Pradesh were hit by a sever cyclone followed by hailstorms on Friday. In Odisha, one more sunstroke death was reported from Sambalpur district, taking the toll due to heatwave to 10. Angul, Baripada, Talcher, Bhawani Patna, Sonepur and Titlagarh braved the searing sun recording maximums in the 40-44 range, though thunderstorm brought some relief to residents in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and parts of coast belt. In Telangana, the sunstroke toll since the beginning of this summer has surged to 143 from 137, the State Disaster Management department said. Taking serious note of heat-related deaths, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao ordered all district collectors to take necessary steps to prevent people from getting affected by intense heat wave. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in a statement said day temperatures were appreciably above normal at a few places in the state. The highest maximum temperature of 44 degress Celsius was recorded at Badrachalam, Hanmakonda, Nalgonda and Ramagundam. On the other hand, a severe storm hit parts of Assam last night, killing at least four persons in Tinsukia and Cachar districts. One person was killed in Dibrugarh district when lightning struck his house. Likewise in Arunachal Pradesh, a woman and a child were killed today when the house, they were staying in, collapsed due to cyclone and hailstorm at Diyun circle in Changlang district. Sixteen-year-old Kala Thaki and a six-month-old girl Siji Chakma lost their lives in the calamity, an official report said. Chief Minister Kalikho Pul announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, the report said. The state government also sent report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the incident and prevailing situations in the state. So far 21 people have died due to flood and landslide in the state in past several days. While a person was drowned at Jengthu River recently, landslide triggered by heavy rain washed out an entire labour camp killing 16 people at Famla village in Tawang district on April 22 last. Two others were killed in fresh landslides in the district the next day. Meanwhile, Bihar, parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Kerala and Jharkhand continued to reel under the scorching sun. The national capital had a hot day at 40 degrees. The minimum in the city was 21.7 degrees Celsius. Bankura in West Bengal was the hottest in the country at 45.1 degrees Celsius. Asansol, Burdwan and Sriniketan in the state recorded respective maximums of 44.1, 42.2 and 43 degress Celsius. In Kerala, a 42-year-old man died of suspected sunstroke in Kottayam district. Seventy cases of sun burn and one death have been reported from the district even as the Kerala government has approached the Centre to declare the state as drought hit. Malampuzha in Palakaad district recorded the highest temperature at 41.5 degrees Celsius for the fourth consecutive day in the state, followed by Kannur and Kozikode at 38.5 degrees each. In Bihar, Patna was the hottest at 44.3 degrees, followed closely by Gaya at 43.8 and Bhagalpur 43. The local MeT office similar weather conditions will prevail in the next two days. In Jharkhand, steel hubs of Jamshedpur and Dumka had a high of 44.2 degrees Celsius. Ranchi, Palamau, Jamtara and Khunti also sizzled at 41, 43.3, 41 and 40 degrees Celsius, respectively. Allahabad was the hottest in Uttar Pradesh at 44.3 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, IMD said heatwave conditions are likely to continue over several parts in central and east India till May 10. (With Agency inputs) Jammu: The Army said on Friday that China has been asked to stop its reported construction activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the government has seen such reports and has conveyed its concerns to China about their activities and asked them to cease such activities," a spokesperson for the Army`s Udhampur-based Northern Command said in a statement. The statement further said a decline has been reported in Chinese incursions into the Indian territory. "There have been no instances of incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory (of late)." The spokesperson, however, added that there is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. "There are areas along the border including in Ladakh where India and China have differing perceptions of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. India has registered its protest against the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that runs through a part of PoK. Mumbai: A Dawoodi Bohra community's spiritual leader has allegedly encouraged the act of khatna (female genital mutilations) in India during his recent sermon at the Saifee Mosque in Bhendi Bazaar. As per a report in The Times of India, during his sermon on the occasion of 51st death anniversary of Syedna Taher Saifuddin, Syedna Muffadal Saifuddin said "The act has to happen! If it is a man, then it is right, it can be openly done, but if it is a woman then it must be done discreetly, but then the act has to be done. Please understand what I am trying to talk about..." "We should keep our things strong, stay firm. Even the big sovereign states, whatever it is they say, if it makes any difference to our things, then we are not prepared to understand!" he says and then adds, he was quoted as saying from a four-minute audio clip. "The Syedna was reading from a script which is usually the routine on such an occasion but all of a sudden he went off and started talking in a cryptic fashion. It was confusing at first. Then we gradually realized that he was talking about female circumcision when he used words like amal (act), mamlakat (states) and that the act must be carried out discreetly for women and openly for men. It was very disturbing for me and my wife," A Mumbai resident was quoted by TOI as saying. However, a close friend of Syedna's family has denied such allegations. Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister`s Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz has said the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir must be resolved in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council, media reported on Friday. Aziz on Thursday said Pakistan remains fully committed to the objective of lasting peace, the Daily Times reported. The senior diplomat said if Asia were to regain its lost power and glory and contribute to global peace and development commensurate with its true potential, "we would have to assume our responsibilities and act on several fronts". "We also have to draw attention to root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, and the urgent need to address them. This should be main message as a part of the theme of promoting peace and security through dialogue," he remarked. "We must find peaceful political solutions to the conflicts in Syria and Yemen and Palestine. Pakistan supports the UN-led diplomatic initiatives in this regard," he added. New Delhi: Hitting back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper bribery row, the Congress on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of protecting the defence firm in question. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Prime Minister has been protecting the UK-based subsidiary of Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica ever since he came to power. Why is Modi government protecting bribe-giving company AgustaWestland? Why it did not do anything for two years when CBI was conducting inquiry? Surjewala asked. Actually the only person who has been protecting AgustaWestland is the Narendra Modi government for the last two years, he added. The Congress spokesperson stated that the NDA government had sanctioned Foreign Investment Promotion Board's (FIPB) permission on October 8, 2015 to the Indian Rotorcraft Company, which is a partnership between the Tatas and AgustaWestland. Will the Defence Minister answer on this? Surjewala asked. New Delhi: In an unique step, India's border security force (BSF) has reportedly activated eight laser walls along the border with Pakistan to help them detect infiltrators. According to media reports, BSF plans to activate four more laser walls on the border over the next few days. A laser wall can help detect objects passing the line of sight between the laser source and the detector. A laser beam sets off a loud siren in case of a breach. The laser walls will cover stretches of treacherous terrain and riverine areas, TOI reported citing a top BSF official. BSF plans to cover over 40 unfenced stretches along the Pakistan border with laser walls in a bid to prevent any infiltration. India has stepped up efforts to secure the border in wake of the deadly Pathankot attack by alleged Pakistani terrorists. Some of the vulnerable areas that has lasser walls now included Ujj river in Bamiyal and unfenced riverine stretches in Jammu sector. New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to see ailing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The visit comes amidst reports that the condition the senior BJP leader is improving fast and she is likely to be discharged soon from the AIIMS. Sushma was admitted to the premier hospital after she complained of congestion in the chest. Swaraj (64) was admitted to the Cardio-Neuro Centre of AIIMS on April 25. "Her treatment is being supervised by a team of senior specialists. She continues to show rapid improvement and is likely to be discharged soon," an AIIMS statement said. AIIMS has also set up a medical board for formulating a combined treatment strategy for the minister. (With PTI inputs) Washington: A top US lawmaker has called on the Obama administration to fortify ties with India as the South Asian nation can act as a potential "counterweight" to China. The demand comes amidst China's s growing influence in Asia. "From a strategic perspective India is a potential counterweight to China's growing regional influence in Asia. They've become increasingly vocal on issues like freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean region," Congressman Eliot Engel said during a Congressional hearing on Thursday. The Congressman from New York voiced his views during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Challenges and Opportunities in Asia. He said India, which is the world's largest democracy, should become an integral part of America's Asia policy. "As the world's third largest economy, India has the potential to become a major economic player in East Asia, and is already playing a constructive role in maritime issues," Engel said. "It's the third largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity and is the largest democracy in the Asia region. "The US-India relationship is important, it's growing, in particular on the defense side, and Prime Minister Modi will be coming to Washington again in a couple of months to meet with President Obama," Engel added. New Delhi: A defiant Subramanian Swamy has challenged the expunging of his comments by the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, calling the decision as arbitrary, unreasonable and against the House rules. The BJP MP said today that he will also seek breach of privilege proceedings against Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for "falsely" saying that the UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the manufacturer of AgustaWestland choppers. The BJP MP had made certain comments targeting Congress members yesterday while speaking on the issue of minority institution and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien expunged them following vociferous protests from the opposition MPs. He had told Swamy that he was "unnecessarily provoking others" and asked him to refrain from it. An unrelenting Swamy tweeted today, "I have filed a notice in the RS challenging the expunging of my words by the Dy Chairman since it is arbitrary, unreasonable and against the RS rules." In another tweet, he said, "Today I will seek to move a Breach of Privilege against Ghulam Nabi Azad for his falsely stating in the RS that the UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica." Swami's barbs at Congress have sparked protests in the House since he made his entry as a nominated member and the Chair has expunged some of his remarks, mostly aimed at party chief Sonia Gandhi. Azad yesterday said Swamy is just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. "There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words," he asked the Chair. The Congress leader said Swamy does not know the difference between street language and parliamentary words. "He does not allow his hair to grey so he can learn and mature. Jammu: Pitching strongly for peace between India and Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday urged both countries to join hands against terrorism while asserting that funds spent on animosity can instead be diverted towards 'good purpose'. Dubbing terrorism as the biggest threat faced by nations across the globe, Mehbooba told reporters that Muslim nations are the worst victims of terrorism. "Nations across the world are coming closer, terrorism has emerged as the biggest challenge for all countries. Muslim nations are the worst victims of terrorism," she said. "Both India and Pakistan need to address the problem of terrorism and alienation of youth. If we keep fighting then this would pose a threat to our existence. The money being spent on animosity can be instead diverted towards good purpose," she added. She lauded the efforts being made by India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue despite terrorist attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot. "The talks have begun. The Prime Minister had gone to Lahore where an informal meeting was held. After that, unfortunately the Pathankot incident took place, but despite that talks went on. Even recently, the talks were held," she added. Mehbooba had last week laid a firm emphasis on improving tourism in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and said that if the US could mend ties with Iran then why India can't take a similar step. During her visit to villages near Suchetgarh border to promote tourism, she had said that violence at the border and incidents of bullets being fired immediately makes headlines, but the news of border folks sharing land and water seldom grabs attention. New Delhi: Chinese activist Lu Jinghua, who was denied visa by New Delhi, has now claimed that an alleged 'economic business' deal between the countries could be the main reason for India's denial of visa to her. Jinghua was about to board a flight to New Delhi at New York's JFK airport on Monday when she was told by the Indian authorities that her visa had been cancelled. The Tiananmen activist also claimed that India is the first country to deny her visa after China. "I 100 per cent believe it's the Chinese government's pressure on India. I think China has given an economic business deal to India in exchange," Jinghua was quoted as saying by NDTV. The 55-year-old activist also stated that the denial of visa to "seven activists" implied a "change in the Sino-India ties." Lu Jinghua, a leader of the Tiananmen Square student protests, posses an American passport and says she has never been denied visa by any other country. The Centre, however, clarified that she hadn't been issued a visa at all as her documents were "illegible" and revealed inconsistencies with the stated purpose of her visit. This was countered by Jinghua, who said, "Wrong application is a lie. I followed all directions. I was not given any reason." The activist says she tried to contact the Indian Consulate and visa office but they did not respond and phone calls on the number provided on the visa application went to voice-mail. Besides Jinghua, India has refused visas to two other activists who were due to attend an inter-faith conference this weekend in the hill town of Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. She further alleged that it was done under pressure from China as "it fears the rising power of the new prime minister of Tibet-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay." The Dharamsala conference, which began yesterday and ends on Sunday, is aimed at exchanging ideas among different ethnic and religious communities. New Delhi: After India's strong objection to the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, the US administration has reportedly decided to withold the funds that it had earmarked (as a subsidy) for Pakistan's purchase. The Obama administration is still willing to sell the jets to Pakistan, but will not contribute US funds towards the deal, Dawn reported citing a BBC Urdu report on Friday. According to the report, the US administration has taken this step following directions from the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations which has the authority to dispense or withhold the funds. After this decision, Islamabad may have to foot the bill of $700 million for the eight fighter jets, the BBC report quoted a State Department official as saying. According to an earlier deal reached between Washington and Islamabad, Pakistan would have paid $270 million while the US would grant the remaining $430 million for the purchase. The report further said that a sum of $742 million earmarked for American military aid to Pakistan in the 2016-2017 budget has also been put on hold. The report, however, said that the decision is not final and the Obama administration is still under consultation with the Congress in this regard. "The sale of weapons is a long process and we cannot comment on such unique circumstances at this time," Nadeem Hotiana, spokesperson for the Pakistan embassy in Washington, was quoted as saying. The F-16 sale to Pakistanb had faced stiff resistance in the US Congress earlier this year, when lawmakers moved resolutions seeking to block the sale. Some US lawmakers are of the opinion that the sale of F-16s to Pakistan would assist counter-terrorism operations in the restive country. India as well as some US lawmakers, have rejected this claim and said that the F-16s will not been useful in such operations and would ultimately be used against India. New Delhi: Former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi, who is in the dock for his alleged involvement in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper kickbacks scam, was on Friday faced with more uncomfortable questions. As per a report on NDTV, Tyagi was taken to an opera night in Milan by AgustaWestland officials when negotiations were underway for the multi-crore deal. This has been revealed in papers that concern the Italian court judgement in the case. The former Air chief has been referred to as "Shashi Tyagi" and "Marshall Tyagi" in Italian court documents. As per the report, Tyagi had met Agusta officials twice while he was the IAF chief. In 2006, Agusta officials had treated him to an opera night at the world famous Teotro Alla Scala Opera in Milan. A company official had told the Italian court that expenses for the visit were paid for by Agusta - an year later the company went on to bag the contract to supply 12 VVIP helicopters to India in a deal worth over Rs 3,600 crores. The Italian court, which has convicted top officials of the UK-based AgustaWestland and its parent firm, Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica, has stated in its judgement that kickbacks were paid to the former former IAF chief. The ex-IAF chief has rejected bribery allegations and denied that he had altered chopper specifications to help Agusta bag the contract. Srinagar: A centuries old Baital Bhairo Temple in the highly-sensitive area of Srinagar, which was closed after most pandits were forced to migrate to Jammu and other parts of the country due to militancy in 1990, was reopened on Thursday. After the reopening of the temple, Jogi langar (the canteen where food is served for sadhus) in Rainawari area - the locality in the heart of old Srinagar city that was once home to a high number of Kashmiri pandits - is again reverberating with the sound of temple bells after 27 long years. After the migration of Kashmiri Pandits, the property of the temple was illegally sold by Dharmatma Trust to a local real estate dealer. However, when residents in the area came to know about it, they informed Kashmiri Pandits, who responded with swift legal action and the area was recovered from the property dealer. Kashmiri pandits, who visited the temple, were greeted by the locals and together they cleaned its premises before offering prayers. It was an emotional moment for most as they reunited with their old neighbours. Some of the Kashmiri Pandit families, who did not migrate during militancy, have formed a group to look after temples in Kashmir. They have formed an organisation by the name of KPSS. According to KPSS (Kashmiri Pundit Sangarsh Samiti), there were 583 temples in Kashmir before militancy set in. Of these, 532, including the 52 which disappeared without a trace, were damaged in different militancy-related incidents. KPSS has decided to approach mosques for help to reopen temples. New Delhi: A Congress member in Rajya Sabha raised the issue of police lathicharge at NIT in Srinagar on Saturday and accused the ruling BJP of not allowing the students to hoist the national flag there. During the Zero Hour, Pramod Tiwari said ever since BJP government came to power at the Centre, organisations related to it were trying to create unrest in educational institutions, be it Hyderabad university, JNU or NIT Srinagar. He accused the ruling party of adopting double standards regarding the Tricolour, saying BJPs policy regarding the national flag in Kashmir was different from the rest of the country. Students of the NIT wanted to hoist the national flag at their campus, but they were beaten up, he said, adding that these NIT students were now protesting in Delhi. They (students) were only demanding that they be allowed to hoist the national flag and BJP government is not letting them hoist the tricolour...They are not permitting this, the Congress member said while criticising BJP and organisations related to it. He alleged that the BJP was sowing seeds of poison in educational institutions of the country. Prabhat Jha (BJP) raised the issue of spread of cancer among children in the age group of 1-14 years. Citing a report, he said about 50 children in this age bracket die of cancer on an average each day. The toll due to cancer in the children is about 18,000 a year, he said. He asked the government to study the report and demanded a national policy for detection and prevention of cancer in the children. Deputy chairperson P J Kurien said that cancer is so rampant that government should take the issue very seriously as the disease is spreading like anything in the country. Responding to it, minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was taking steps to deal with the problems posed by cancer. In his Zero Hour mention, Motilal Vora (Cong) Mahyco Monsanto Biotech Ltd (MMBL) was illegally extracting money from cotton farmers. He said farmers were being cheated of Rs 1,300 per 450 gram packet of cotton seeds. He asked the government to recover the illegal extractions made by the company. Srinagar: A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara in north Kashmir early today. The militant, who was holed up in a mosque since last night, was killed as he tried to escape, an army official said. Security forces had launched an operation in Kanthpora village of Lolab following information about the presence of militants in the area. "After a brief exchange of firing, at least one militant took shelter in a local mosque," the official said. The operation was yesterday hampered by local residents who pelted stones at security forces. Several policemen, including an officer, were hurt in the stone pelting, a police official said. Kupwara is 85 kms from here. Bengaluru: Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday flagged-off the much awaited East-West corridor of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) - south India's first underground metro. "Namma Metro is to provide better commuting facilities in the city and all out efforts would be made to complete the remaining portion of the phase I of Namma Metro within a few months," said Siddaramaiah, highlighting his government's attempts to provide better infrastructure in Bengaluru and sought further assistance from central government. "Phase II of Namma Metro would cost Rs.26,405 crore and the work has already commenced. If all goes well, it will become operational by 2020. The state government will contribute Rs.9,000 crore for this project and it has already released Rs.900 crore till now. The remaining amount will be released in the near future," he said. The chief minister said the survey work for Phase III has already started, and BMRCL aims to facilitate 20 lakh commuters to take the Metro in the future. Assuring Karnataka of all assistance, Naidu said: "I assure the state government that central government will extend all help for the phase III of Namma Metro." Stressing on the need to decongest public roads, he appealed the general public to shun personal transport and utilise public transport. "I want more and more people use public transport to avoid traffic jams on the city roads. I want software companies to encourage their employees to prefer car pooling. It will be good if people use bicycles." With a 5.12 km underground section, the east-west corridor passes beneath some of the city's most iconic landmarks such as the Vidhan Soudha, the GPO, Cubbon Park, the high court and others. Thousands of government employees working in several offices stand to benefit hugely along with the general public from the new Namma Metro link. The extended Metro will stretch from Baiyappanahalli to Nayandahalli and fare between the two points has been fixed at Rs.40. With Namma Metro as option, the hours-long commute on wheels from Mysuru Road in the west to Baiyappanahalli in the east, a distance of 18 km, will reduce to around a little over 30 minutes. The metro will have a frequency of 10 minutes. Kollam: Kerala's Labour Minister Shibhu Baby John and his opponent candidate from the Left Front N Vijayan Pillai were attacked while participating in an election debate organised by a local TV channel by a violent mob on Thursday. According to reports, the mob also pelted stones at them during which John and his Left opponent Pillai were injured. John was immediately rushed to a hospital in Kollam. He later told reporters that the incident occurred shortly after a debate betweeen the three main candidates began. Pillai, a candidate of the opposition Left Democratic Front, was injured on his legs when he was attacked with chairs. He was hospitalised too. "After about 15 minutes, while I was replying to questions from the audience, a commotion broke out and in the melee, I was injured on my right forehand when a stone was thrown on me. There is a wound," said John. John, an engineer by profession who represents the Revolutionary Socialist Party, is contesting from Chavara assembly constituency, from where he has won twice in the past. Chavara was earlier represented by John's father, late Baby John, a trade union leader and a minister. Mumbai: In a major development, the Bombay High Court on Friday ordered the demolition of scam-tainted Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society building located in south Mumbai. The High Court also ordered an inquiry against politicians, ministers and officers who were involved in the Adarsh Housing Society scam. The high court also gave 12-week time to Maharashtra government to appeal in Supreme Court against the order. Though the BJP welcomed the high court ruling, Ashok Chavan, the former Maharashtra chief minister, refused to react on the court judgement in the Adarsh Housing Society case. The Bombay High Court had in December last year reserved its order on a bunch of petitions in connection with the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society case. A division bench of justices RV More and RG Ketkar had in September started final hearing in the petitions including one filed by the society in 2011 challenging an order of demolition passed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and a petition filed by the Ministry of Defence seeking implementation of the demolition order. The 31-storeyed residential building located in plush Colaba has been embroiled in a controversy for flouting several environment norms and regulations and for allegedly not taking the requisite permissions. The Defence Ministry has been claiming ownership of the land where the Adarsh building stands. It has also claimed that the building poses a high security risk. In January 2011, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had issued a demolition order on the ground that the Society did not have Coastal Zone Regulation clearance. The building remains unoccupied and without electricity and water supply. Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: Google Translate-a free translation service offered by Google, that has been helping us since a long time turned 10 on Friday. The service, which translates words, web pages and phrases between English and over hundred other languages, currently provides support to 9 of India's 22 official languages. It also features voice search in Hindi and 7 other India languages which came into existence in June 2014. Visual translation from English to Hindi was added in July 2015 and Sindhi language was added to the mix earlier this year. Google also made it possible to do a bilingual conversation on Translate. In its journey of 10 years, Google Translate has helped people make connections by translation. "Our goal was to break language barriers and to make the world more accessible. Since then, we have grown from supporting two languages to 103 and from hundreds of users to hundreds of millions," Barak Turovsky, product lead of Google Translate, posted on Google's official blog. Turovsky said more than 500 million users were using Google Translate. The most common translations are between English and Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese and Indonesian. The company is translating more than 100 billion words a day. In addition to common phrases like "I love you," people are looking for translations related to current events and trends. (With IANS inputs) Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: The US space agency NASA has lifted Orion spacecraft crew module for Exploration Mission-1 to test stand for pressure testing in the Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A team from NASA and Lockheed Martin are getting ready for proof pressure testing on Orion's spacecraft. Proof testing is an evaluation that will help verify the structural integrity of Orions underlying structure known as the pressure vessel. The work is an important milestone on Orions journey toward EM-1, its mission atop the Space Launch System rocket in 2018. But EM-1 will not have humans aboard as it will pave way for future missions with astronauts and for missions to the red planet Mars. Orion spacecraft will travel for thousands of miles, during the flight, beyond the Moon over the course of about three weeks. The assembling and testing of Orion for the EM-1 mission is taking place at different locations across the United States and abroad. Engineers at NASA Glenns Plum Brook Station in Ohio are testing a structural representation of the service module with sound pressure and vibration. Meanwhile, at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, engineers are in the thick of a series of tests, dropping a representative Orion crew capsule in Langleys Hydro Impact Basin to understand what the spacecraft and astronauts may experience when landing in the Pacific Ocean after deep-space missions. Finally, the first flight module of the Orion service module, provided by ESA (European Space Agency), was delivered this week by Thales Alenia Space to the Airbus Defence and Space, which is building it, to its location in Bremen, Germany. (Source: NASA) Chennai: Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi and eight others were today acquitted of all charges, including attempt to murder, in the 2002 the auditor Radhakrishnan assault case. First Additional Sessions Judge P Rajamanickam in his brief judgement acquitted all the accused. "I acquit you all. You may go," the judge said in the packed open court where the accused had appeared before him. The Judge said approver-turned hostile witness Ravi Subramanian will be tried separately. Jayendra Saraswathi, 80, who was the prime accused, Kanchi Mutt Manager Sundaresa Iyer and junior pontiff Vijayendra Saraswati's brother Raghu faced the main charge of criminal conspiracy and read with it, the charges of attempt to murder and abetment. According to the prosecution case, former auditor of the mutt S Radhakrishnan was assaulted by a gang in his home here on September 20, 2002 following a conspiracy hatched by the accused assuming that he was writing letters in the pseudo name of Somasekhara Ganapadigal highlighting alleged 'irregularities' in the Sankara Mutt. The attack was a consequence of Jayendra Saraswathi allegedly expressing frustration over such letters and asking Sundaresa Iyer and Raghu to do something about it. Police had registered a case against 12 persons, including Jayendra Saraswati, and the chargesheet was filed in 2006 for offences including attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy. Two of the accused died during the pendency of the case. Deposing before the judge on March 28 to answer questions under CrPC section 313, the Sankaracharya had said the charges made out by the prosecution against him were lies. In 2013, the Sankaracharya and his junior were acquitted by a Puducherry court in the case related to the September, 2004 murder of Kancheepuram Varadaraja temple manager Sankararaman. The seer was charged with hatching criminal conspiracy to do away with Sankararaman as he had 'exposed' alleged irregularities in the mutt, but the court acquitted him and others. Bareilly: Six members of a family, all minors, were killed when a fire broke out in their house here early Friday morning, police said. Among the victims were four sisters and their two cousins. There were no elders in the house as the parents of the four sisters -- Raju Kashyap and his wife -- had gone to Pilibhit to attend a wedding function, they added. The incident occurred near Kali Dham temple in cantonment area under Quila police station, City SP Samir Saurah said, adding the bodies have been sent for postmortem. The house apparently caught fire when the inmates forgot to put off a candle and went to sleep, police said. When people saw smoke and flames coming out from the house, they broke open the door and found that the thatched roof had collapsed. Six bodies had been retrieved from the house, Fire officer Radhey Shyam said. The deceased were identified as -- Saloni (17), Sanjana (15), Bhuri (10), Durga (8) -- all sisters, and their cousins Mahima (9) and Debu (7). Gairsain: In more trouble for former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday began its investigation into a sting operation CD released by rebel Congress leaders alleging that the former tried to woo them with money. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had sent the Uttarakhand sting CD to the Chandigarh forensics laboratory for examining the authenticity of the CD. The Central Forensic Science Laboratory, in its report submitted to the government, said that the sting operation CD released by rebel Congress leaders against Rawat was genuine. The CD was released by rebel nine Congress leaders, who claimed Rawat had tried to win their support by offering money. The main opposition BJP had earlier demanded a CBI probe into the case, claiming that Rawat had lost his credibility after the CD came to fore and accused him of trying to shield his aides. The former Uttarakhand chief minister had rejected the allegations made by the BJP, saying all charges against him were politically motivated and baseless. Rawat even dared the BJP to produce the original CD so that it could be sent for a forensic examination. The BJP-led opposition had created an uproar in the state assembly in the recent past, forcing several adjournments of the proceedings. Kolkata: BJP candidate Roopa Ganguly on Friday surrendered before a Howrah court in connection with the case of an alleged assault on a Trinamool Congress activist during the Assembly polls. The actress-turned politician was later granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 500. The case was lodged against Roopa by TMC activist Soma Das for allegedly "pushing" her on April 25 during the fourth phase of polling in the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal. Roopa was charged under the Indian Penal Code 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) along with her election manager Animesh Roy. Roopa, after receiving complaints of a booth being jammed by TMC workers in Salkia, went to one such booth where she was surrounded by them triggering a war of words between them. Das had alleged she was pushed and obstructed by Roopa. The Election Commission has also taken cognizance of the incident. New Delhi: Noted Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen on Friday accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of being a jihadi sympathiser after her government failed to nab the accused involved in the brutal murder of an editor and his friend. She (PM) made no statement, took no action against the jihadis who killed progressive people in Bangladesh. Hasina is a jihadi sympathizer! she said. A CCTV footage showed three jihadis who killed LGBT magazine editor Zulhas Mannan and his friend Tanay Majumder. But the government won't arrest them, she said in a tweet on Friday. LGBT activist and editor of a transgender magazine Julhas Mannan and his friend Tanay Majumder were hacked to death in Bangladesh this week by Islamic extremists. Majumder was also a gay-rights activist. Mannan was the editor of transgender magazine Rupban and wrote extensively on the atrocities suffered by the LGBT community in the conservative Bangladeshi society. He was also working for the US embassy. According to media reports, four people armed with sharp weapons entered a building in Dhaka where Manna and Majumder were residing. The assailants, disguised as courier delivery boys, knocked onto the doors of Mannan. And once they entered the house, they hacked them to death. On their way out, they also brutally beat up the security guards employed by the apartment bock. The murder of the gender rights activists come days after a University professor was assassinated in Bangladesh, for promoting secular views. Burkina Faso officials are no longer allowed to accept gifts worth more than 35,000 CFA francs (53 euros, $60), the government announced Thursday in another move to counter rife corruption and cronyism. "If an agent receives a present, a gift and other perks worth more than 35,000 CFA francs, it falls under the law," Justice Minister Rene Bagoro told reporters, outlining the terms of an order made by the cabinet on Wednesday. An anti-corruption law adopted in 2015 already provides for up to 20 years in jail for economic crimes. Under another new "appearance" decree, public officials are required to account for any apparently inexplicable increase in their standard of living. "If you appear to have more than five percent more than what you should own, you fall foul of the law," Bagoro said. The decrees were made under the anti-corruption law passed by the National Transitional Council set up after the fall of president Blaise Compaore who fled the country after a popular uprising in 2014. The anti-corruption law criminalises so-called appearance offences and prohibits gifts for public officials in a country where high-ranking government employees often receive donations and gifts. The head of state, ministers or senior officials usually receive donations, such as cattle and valuable traditional clothes, during their tours of the country. People often offer gifts and donations to public officials to encourage them to advance their issues. The law also requires the head of state, members of the government, members of parliament, mayors, the military high command and senior officials to make a declaration of their property within 30 days of entering and leaving office. President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who was elected in November 2015, has made the fight against corruption a priority. roh/eak/ck/mtp/jv Beijing: China and Russia on Friday rapped US plans to put a missile defence system on the Korean peninsula, less than 24 hours after Pyongyang twice tested projectiles thought to be capable of reaching American territory. A series of missile tests and nuclear blasts by North Korea have pushed Seoul into talks with Washington about deploying the US's sophisticated Theater High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD), which fires projectiles to smash into enemy missiles. Beijing fears that the presence of more US hardware on its doorstep will further tip the balance of power in the Pacific towards Washington. "We both are gravely concerned about the US's likely deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a briefing with his visiting Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. "The move goes beyond the actual defence needs of relevant countries," Wang said, adding: "It will directly affect the strategic security of China and Russia respectively if it is deployed." This week's North Korean rocket tests failed, but Pyongyang has now made three bids in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan missile, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam. "The current situation on the peninsula is indeed in a highly dangerous period", Wang said, adding that proper implementation of UN resolutions barring the North from developing any ballistic missile-related technology were key to bringing the country to the negotiating table. China is the North's biggest trading partner and its key aid provider. South Korean military officials say the North is desperate to register a successful launch ahead of next week's ruling party congress, at which leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to take credit for pushing the country's nuclear programme to new heights. In recent months, the North has claimed a series of major technical breakthroughs in developing what it sees as the ultimate goal of its nuclear drive -- an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a warhead to targets across the continental United States. The achievements trumpeted by Pyongyang have included miniaturising a nuclear warhead to fit on a missile, developing a warhead that can withstand atmospheric re-entry and building a solid-fuel missile engine. Last Saturday, it successfully tested a submarine- launched ballistic missile -- a move that was promptly condemned by the UN Security Council. Aleppo: Regime aircraft on Friday pounded rebel areas of Syria`s second city Aleppo, which was left out of a deal to "freeze" fighting despite international outrage over renewed violence. Shelling and air raids in Aleppo over the past week have killed more than 230 civilians and pushed a landmark February 27 ceasefire to the verge of collapse. On Friday, crude barrel bombs smashed into residential neighbourhoods as rescue workers scrambled to cope with the casualties. Near the eastern rebel-held Fardos district, the civil defence, known as the White Helmets, pulled bloodied bodies caked in dust from a building that had been hit. An AFP correspondent saw a distraught man cradling his wounded daughter, who appeared to be about 10, in an ambulance. "My daughter! Oh God, my daughter, please someone get in and drive!" he screamed. After a rescue worker jumped into the driver`s seat, the young girl whimpered: "I`m going to die... I`m going to die." Outside one building, a man clutching his face and screaming paced back and forth as rescue workers pulled bodies from an apartment complex. Some onlookers helped rescue workers remove rubble as others stared at the sky waiting for the next strike. Bombardment killed 17 people in rebel-held districts and 13 people in the government-controlled western neighbourhoods, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "The earth is shaking beneath our feet," one resident of the densely populated Bustan al-Qasr area told AFP. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on warring parties to recommit themselves to the "indispensable" truce. "People of Syria are once more living in fear of their lives, after the glimpse of the benefits peace could bring," she said in a statement.Despite the carnage, Aleppo has been excluded from a fresh "freeze" in fighting brokered by the United States and Russia. Syria`s armed forces said that it would begin at 1:00 am Saturday (2200 GMT Friday) and last for 24 hours in Damascus and the nearby rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta, and 72 hours in the coastal Latakia province. US special envoy for Syria Michael Ratney said the agreement was a "general recommitment" to the original truce, "not a new set of local ceasefires". A Syrian security source said the deal was brokered by the US and Russia, but that Moscow had refused a request by Washington to include Aleppo. US Secretary of State John Kerry called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss "keeping and reinforcing" the broader ceasefire, Russia`s foreign ministry said. The High Negotiations Committee -- Syria`s main opposition body -- condemned the growing violence in Aleppo in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The HNC walked out of UN-backed peace talks in Geneva earlier this month in frustration at the increasing bloodshed. "It`s not an appropriate time to talk about a political process in the wake of the horrific massacres and the systematic violations of the truce, which has no real presence on the ground," tweeted HNC head Riad Hijab. On Friday, an air raid hit a local clinic in Aleppo`s rebel-held Al-Maja neighbourhood, wounding several people including a nurse, the White Helmets said. Medical equipment lay scattered across the badly damaged clinic`s floor, covered in debris and dust, an AFP correspondent said. "We serve civilians in this establishment, there were no fighters here," said Hassan al-Ahmad, who heads the clinic. It was the second time this week that an air strike hit one of the few medical facilities still operating in rebel areas. Late Wednesday, air strikes hit the Al-Quds hospital and a nearby block of flats in the Sukari district, killing 30 people. Dr Mohammad Wassim Maaz, known as the most qualified paediatrician in eastern Aleppo, was among the dead. "He was friendly, kind and he used to joke a lot with the whole staff. He was the loveliest doctor in our hospital," Dr Hatem, a colleague, wrote in a letter published by The Syria Campaign advocacy group. Al-Quds was supported by both Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross. UN rights chief Zeid Ra`ad Al Hussein on Friday slammed world powers backing opposing sides in Syria, saying the renewed violence showed a "monstrous disregard for civilian lives". An online campaign to halt the carnage picked up speed, with Twitter users posting pictures of destroyed buildings in flames with the hashtag #AleppoIsBurning. In a western government-held neighbourhood, Nour Shmeilan, an Orthodox Christian, said she was too afraid to attend Good Friday church services. "We`ve packed all our things in a single suitcase and are ready to flee at any moment," she told AFP. Syria`s army is poised to launch an offensive aimed at retaking the city and surrounding province. Once Syria`s economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by fighting since 2012 when rebels seized the city`s east, confining government forces to the west. Since the conflict in Syria erupted in 2011, more than 270,000 people have been killed and millions more been forced from their homes. str-rm/mjg/srm Bujumbura: Gunmen in trenchcoats burst into a bar firing at drinkers in Burundi`s capital Bujumbura killing five, police said Friday, the latest in a string of attacks in the troubled country. Four civilians and a soldier were killed and three others were wounded in the shooting late on Thursday. "A group of four armed criminals wearing long coats entered ... they started shooting at customers," police spokesman Moise Nkurunziza said. Hundreds have been killed and a quarter of a million people have fled Burundi since President Pierre Nkurunziza`s controversial decision last April to run for a third term, a vote he won amid opposition boycotts in July. The latest efforts to hold talks between rival factions are due to open on Monday in the Tanzanian town of Arusha. esd/cyb/pjm/ser Oslo: Thirteen people were killed when a helicopter crashed off the coast of southwest Norwegian city of Bergen on late Friday night, as per BBC. The helicopter was carrying North Sea oil workers, killing all 13 people on board, rescue services said. As of now, rescue officials have recovered 11 bodies while two people on board are still missing, AFP quoted rescue officials as saying. The search operation has been called off for the remaining two passengers as after five hours the officials have presumed that they could not have survived the crash. "We presume that all 13 are dead," Borge Galta, head of the rescue centre in the southwestern Sola region said. The Super Puma chopper went down around midday in the archipelago off the coast of Bergen, Norway`s second-biggest city. The cause of Norway`s worst helicopter accident in decades was not immediately known, but investigators seemed to be leaning towards a technical problem. The aircraft was carrying 11 Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian, rescue services said. The helicopter broke into pieces near a small island and debris was found scattered on land and at sea. Part of the chopper containing the bodies of some of the victims was resting on the seabed under five to seven metres (16 to 23 feet) of water, around 20 metres from land, rescue officials said. The aircraft`s black boxes were later retrieved, Dagbladet newspaper reported. A spokesman for Sola rescue centre, Anders Bang Andersen, told AFP the helicopter had been on its way to Bergen`s airport when it crashed with 11 passengers and two crew members on board. It was returning from the Gullfaks B platform, in one of Norway`s biggest offshore oil fields, which is operated by state-owned Statoil. The chopper was an EC225 Super Puma built by Airbus Helicopters and operated by CHC Helikopterservice for Statoil. Airbus Helicopters in a statement sent its condolences to the victims` families and said it was "fully mobilised" to understand the cause of the accident. Norway`s civil aviation authority said it had grounded all EC225 helicopters until further notice, recalling that the same model had encountered technical problems in 2012 which had led to restrictions on its usage. Statoil set up an emergency help centre in Bergen for the families of the victims.Verdens Gang newspaper reported that the owner of the helicopter, CHC Helikopterservice, had twice obtained a postponement of a scheduled technical inspection of the stricken helicopter. Several witnesses described blasts and seeing the aircraft spiral downwards. "There was an explosion and a very peculiar engine sound, so I looked out the window. I saw the helicopter falling quickly into the sea. Then I saw a big explosion," an island resident told the Bergensavisen daily. "Pieces (of the helicopter) flew into the air," she said, adding that she saw the rotor detach. Mobile phone footage broadcast by TV2 channel showed it flying through the air. A spokesman for Norway`s accident investigation board, William Bertheussen, said investigators were trying to protect the crash site to get a full reading of the cause of the accident. The crash was the deadliest of its kind in Norway since 1978, when a chopper plunged into the sea, killing 18 people. "It`s a very sad day for those who work in the oil and gas sector," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a press conference, fully clad in black. Live footage shortly after the crash showed leisure boats rushing toward the scene, where thick black smoke was billowing into the sky. Helicopters, ambulances and divers were scrambled to the scene. On August 23, 2013, a Super Puma AS332 L2, an older model of the same helicopter, crashed into the North Sea near the Shetland Islands, killing four. Gullfaks, one of Norway`s biggest offshore oil fields, suspended its drilling operations until further notice. (With Agency inputs) Pyongyang: The Supreme Court of North Korea on Friday sentenced South Korean man with American citizenship to 10 years of hard labour for espionage after he reportedly confessed to spying. Kim Dong-chul, who was born in 1953 in Seoul and immigrated to the US in 1972, was charged with plotting to subvert the North Korean system, slandering the supreme leadership of the socialist country and gathering state and military secrets for espionage, Xinhua news agency reported. In 2005, Kim moved to Yanji, a Chinese city some 10 km from the border with North Korea and later in 2008 established a trade company named Dongmyong in Rason, a special economic zone in North Hamgyong province, where a large number of Chinese businesses operate. After his company was founded, he continuously carried out reactionary propaganda against Pyongyang and injected into local people fantasies about the superiority of the US, in order to shake the stability of the political and social system of the country, according to the prosecutor. Kim started espionage in 2013 after coming into contact with several South Koreans who tasked him with collecting top party, state and military secrets of North Korea, including its nuclear facilities, nuclear tests and photographs of warships as well as other information. He was arrested on October 2, 2015 when he was receiving an SD card that contained photos of local markets in Rason and documents about North Korea`s nuclear programmes from a local resident in Rason whom he had bought off, said the prosecutor. Kim confessed to the charges, repented of his crimes and appealed for gracious treatment in court. District of Colombia: An indelible blue drawing of an ornate birdcage, festooned with roses and petals, wraps its way around Navy Corpsman Jessica Bryant`s forearm. The 23-year-old sailor`s tattoo is large, but not big enough to be considered a "sleeve," the type of design that covers an entire arm. Bryant hopes to remedy that, thanks to new Navy rules kicking in April 30 -- aimed at attracting recruits among young millennials who have adopted tattoos en masse. "When they make this really, really legal, I am going to finish the rest of it," she said during a recent visit to the Champion Tattoo Company in southeast Washington, across the road from a Marine barracks. Until now, sleeve tattoos have been barred under military regulations. The Navy is scrapping the ban -- and going further still -- to adopt the most lenient rules on body art of any US military service. From next month, sailors will also be allowed a tattoo on their neck -- up to one-inch across -- and restrictions will be lifted on ink below the knee or elbow, including on the hands. Additionally, sailors with visible tattoos will be allowed to work as Navy recruiters, a gig that was off-limits to them before. "Everyone`s really thrilled," said Navy Corpsman Everette Abney, 28, as he perused tattoo designs to add to the colorful selection already on his forearm. News of the rule change was up on "Facebook for maybe an hour, and it had been shared about 40,000 times," Abney said. His friend, Navy Corpsman Taylor Hoyte, 20, is getting a tattoo of a pair of interlocking hands as part of a design that will eventually be a sleeve. "I want to keep going until I run out of room, from the neck down," she said.Tattoos are a longstanding tradition among sailors the world over -- think Popeye and his anchor -- reaching back to the 18th century. But in recent decades, as the military sought for troops to project a more uniform and professional image, even the Navy restricted what kind of tattoo sailors can wear. With the practice more popular than ever among millennials and hipsters, the Navy`s latest easing of the policy is aimed at reaching a wider array of potential sailors. According to a Harris poll, nearly half (47 percent) of Americans born in the 1980s and 1990s have at least one tattoo. "This policy has increased the pool of candidates we recruit from. Will we get new recruits that wouldn`t have previously applied to the Navy? I think absolutely, yes," Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Nate Christensen said in a phone interview. "The Navy strives to reflect the nation we serve, to attract, recruit and retain the nation`s best talent," he added. Offensive, overly vulgar or racist tattoos remain off-limits. Military tattoo restrictions have long stoked ire among rank-and-file troops. Many grumble that if they can die for their country, they should be able to express themselves on their skin."Today`s military needs to understand... that letting service members have tattoos with less restrictions adds to their own esprit de corps. It boosts morale. It allows them to tap into an ancient warrior spirit," said Butch Johnson, owner of the popular Washington tattoo parlor, which is located next to a hip eatery. "It is the one personal item that can be taken into a battlefield and give a service member that extra edge, a feeling of power, a reminder of family, patriotism, pride -- and a tattoo can`t be taken away." Johnson says Marine Corps restrictions on tattoo sleeves -- when they were implemented locally in 2012 -- had hurt his bottom line. The bearded artist traced his buzzing tattoo gun over the skin of Tyler McManus, 24, a former Marine who says he wasn`t allowed to re-enlist in part because of his extensive tattoos. "A lot of people that had tattoos were `volun-told` to get out," said McManus, who is getting a huge Polynesian tribal design inked across his back. The popular military phrase: "Si vis pacem, para bellum" -- If you want peace, prepare for war -- stretches across his chest. Since leaving the Marines in 2014, he has had a full sleeve depicting a carp and a dragon in Japanese style etched onto his left arm. Now he is considering enlisting with the Navy because of the service`s new rules. "With the lax tattoo policy and the way that I read it, I would be much more obliged to go back into the Navy to serve with them," McManus said. wat/sg/ec Washington: Democratic Party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders shared a specific list of changes he would like the party to make. Sanders on Thursday declared that he wants to see the Democratic Party pursue a 50-state strategy, open primaries in every state, and automatic voter registration for everyone starting at age 18, Politico reported. "I want to see this country have one of the highest turnout rates in the world, not one of the lowest, and that is why, in my view, the Democratic Party has got to make very clear we need automatic voter registration. All over this country we have Republican governors trying to make it harder for people to vote. Our job is make it easier. Bring more people into the system and that means if you are 18 years of age you are registered to vote, end of discussion," Sanders said. The Vermont senator went on to also call for the Democratic Party to push for same-day registration and open primaries. Sanders said the party needs to focus on a 50-state strategy, instead of trying to win on friendly terrain. "The truth is that the Democratic Party has turned its back on many of those states. We need a 50-state strategy. We need to plant the flag of progressive politics in every state of this country," Sanders said. The comments by Sanders comes as the Vermont senator`s path to the nomination has narrowed dramatically, after defeats in New York and in four of five states on Tuesday. Kabul: The dwindling US troop presence in Afghanistan is hampering the Pentagon`s ability to train and monitor local security forces, a government watchdog report warned Friday. Since local Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) assumed responsibility for their country`s security, taking over from NATO forces at the start of 2015, US troop numbers have dropped to 9,800 -- and are set to fall further still to 5,500 by next year. "With fewer forces in theater, the United States military has lost much of its ability to make direct observations, provide tactical mentoring, and collect reliable information on ANDSF capability and effectiveness," John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), wrote in his quarterly report to Congress. Sopko`s report comes at a dangerously fragile time for Afghan security. Despite 15 years of war, the Taliban remain a major threat and has hit local troops hard, including in the brief capture of the major city of Kunduz, jolting confidence Afghan government forces can hold their own. The United States estimates about 5,500 Afghan security forces were killed last year alone and, Sopko warned, no one seems to know exactly how many are left. "More troubling is SIGAR`s assessment that neither the United States nor its Afghan allies know how many Afghan soldiers and police actually exist, how many are in fact available for duty, or, by extension, the true nature of their operational capabilities," the SIGAR report states. In addition, America`s shrinking presence means US troops are less able to have an impact on the ground, while at the same time the capability of local forces has not risen to fill the gap. "The ANDSF will be increasingly left not only with their own capability gaps in air support, signals, intelligence, and other areas highlighted by US commanders, but without the ability to call on US and coalition military components for help," the report states. Sopko has been a vociferous critic of United States efforts to restore security to Afghanistan, especially through reconstruction. He has penned multiple reports blasting bureaucrats for shoddy record keeping and oversight, and has criticized the Afghan government for waste and corruption. Spoko said Congress has appropriated approximately $113 billion for Afghanistan reconstruction. About $10 billion remains to be disbursed. "The reconstruction effort in Afghanistan is in a perilous state," Sopko said. "Afghanistan has had the lead responsibility for its own security for more than a year now, and is struggling with a four-season insurgency, high attrition, and capability challenges." In all, the United States has spent about $1 trillion in fighting and reconstruction during the years it has been in Afghanistan. Some 2,200 US lives have been lost in the longest war in US history. Riyadh: Saudi Interior Ministry said the police foiled a terrorist attack in Asir region in the country and killed the two attackers, the media reported. The ministry`s spokesperson Major-General Mansoor Al Turki on Friday said the attack was prevented when the police chased two suspicious cars at a parking lot, one of which had explosives, Xinhua news agency reported. The drivers fired shots at police, escaped to the desert and got killed. No injury was reported among the police forces. Al Turki said that further investigation will focus on identifying the attackers and their target. Damascus: The United States and Russia have agreed on a "freeze" in fighting along two major fronts in Syria, but not in war-ravaged Aleppo, the Syrian and Russian militaries said Friday. Fighting in the rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, and the province of Latakia is set to halt at midnight on Friday (2100 GMT). Syria`s army said the freeze would come into effect at 1:00 am and would last for 24 hours in Eastern Ghouta and for 72 hours in coastal Latakia, the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad`s Alawite sect. There was no mention of Aleppo, where a week of fighting has killed more than 200 civilians. In February, the US and Russia brokered a partial truce in Syria between regime forces and non-jihadist rebels. The US special envoy for Syria, Michael Ratney, said Friday that the agreement was a "general recommitment" to that truce, "not a new set of local ceasefires." "Likewise, persistent violations in Aleppo have stressed the Cessation of Hostilities and are unacceptable," he said. "We are talking to Russia to urgently agree on steps to reduce violence in that area as well." A Syrian security source in Damascus said the deal had been reached in Geneva between US and Russian officials. "The Americans asked for Aleppo to be included, but the Russians refused," the source said. Russia is a key backer of Assad`s regime, while the US has supported various opposition factions in the country. A diplomatic source quoted by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said that Moscow and Washington, co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, "are the guarantors of the `regime of silence` implementation by the sides." Russian Lieutenant-General Sergei Kuralenko, based in the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia province, said that during the freeze, "all combat and using any weapons will be forbidden". "We call upon all parties interested in establishing peace on Syrian land to support the Russian-American initiative and not disrupt the `regime of silence`," he said, quoted by RIA Novosti. Although the February 27 truce had seen violence drop across large parts of the country, fighting against jihadist groups continued in Latakia, the eastern province of Deir Ezzor and elsewhere. Eastern Ghouta is held by the powerful Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel group, which has signed on to the truce. But fighting there between Jaish al-Islam and regime forces has been building in recent weeks. Opposition factions in Eastern Ghouta and Latakia were not immediately available for comment on the freeze. More than 270,000 people have been killed since Syria`s conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests. Washington: Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump on Friday claimed if elected he would ensure the Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA trace Osama bin Laden is freed from jail within "two minutes". "Yes, I do. I think I would get him out in two minutes," Trump told Fox News in an interview when asked if he would help free Shakeel Afridi, the doctor jailed for helping the US track down al-Qaeda leader bin Laden who was killed in a covert raid by US commandos in 2011. "I would tell them let him out and I'm sure they would let him out," Trump said with confidence. "Because we give a lot of aid to Pakistan. We give a lot of money to Pakistan. And frankly, they don't have any respect for our president. But when you say they take advantage or they are no friend, nobody is a friend to us," he said. "They just take us like a bunch of suckers. And that's what my speech was about to a certain extent. It was also economic in terms of economic, relative to aid and the military. But Pakistan certainly takes advantage like everybody else. Nobody is different," Trump said. The real estate tycoon said he would keep 10,000 troops in Afghanistan mainly because of Pakistan's nuclear weapons. "I would stay in Afghanistan. It's probably the one place we should have gone in the Middle East because it's adjacent and right next to Pakistan which has nuclear weapons. So I think you have to stay and do the best you can, not that it's ever going to be great but I don't think we have much of a choice," he said. "That's one place, frankly, instead of going to Iraq we probably should have gone there first. I would say in Afghanistan and only, again, because of its location next to Pakistan," Trump said. "So you would keep the 10,000 troops there and fight a war of attrition against the Taliban? You know, Pakistan...?" Trump was asked. "I hate doing it, I hate doing it so much. But, again, you have nuclear weapons in Pakistan so I would do it," he said. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian tankers won a T-90S tank as a prize in the Tank Biathlon 2014 International competition. The 2015 made tank has been transported to Armenia on April 27 and will be added to the arsenal of Armenian Armed Forces, Press Service of Armenian Defense Ministry told Armenpress. Armenian tankers finished 2nd at the Tank Biathlon-2014 international competition which was held in the Alabino military college in Russia, and as a prize a T-90S tank was presented by the Russian Defense Ministry. Unlike the participating teams of 12 countries, the Armenian team also included conscripts. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. The President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and RPA Faction MPs hold a meeting on April 27 which was mainly devoted to the discussion of the draft Electoral Code. Parliament President Galust Sahakyan informed journalists that they have also discussed issues on the Parliament activity and its future plans during the meeting. Parliament President rejected the talks that the President of Armenia reprehended several MPs. In response to the question whether RPA Faction had a gaps during this period, Galust Sahakyan stated that one of the gaps was the law which didnt pass in the last reading. He said no one expected that at the end opposition would unite and did not participate in the voting. He did not agree with a view that his absence is the reason that RPA Faction did not work well and stated that almost all MPs work more intensively. Parliament President stated that there were no discussions on the recent dismissals of high-ranking military officials during the meeting. He also added that currently there are no talks on new dismissals. YEREVAN, APRIL 28, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Galust Sahakyan says Azerbaijan aimed at capturing Nagorno Karabakh territories during the 4-day war. Our Army acted brilliantly during the military operations, and this is why Azerbaijan failed its goals, he said during a press conference. Speaking on the Armenian arsenal Sahakyan assured Armenia never had issues regarding armaments. We did not conduct attacking actions, we just defended our lands, he added. GYUMRI, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. The judge, lawyers of the successors of the Avetisyans, and Permyakovs advocate asked the culprit questions during the court session. Armenpress introduced the questions asked by Lusine Sahakyan and Yerem Sargsyan, the lawyers of the successors of the Avetisyans, and Permyakovs answers. -In what psychological state are you now? -Normal -Does the account in Odnoklassniki social network belong to you? -Yes. -The notes also belong to you? -Maybe, someone elses. -Do you want to prove something to someone? -I have nothing to prove to someone. -Do you want to say something to the relatives of the killed? -I have nothing to say. -Do you feel sorry for people? -Yes. -Who do you feel sorry for at the moment? -The relatives of the Avetisyans. -Do you acknowledge that it was you who caused them sufferings? -Yes. -If you were released from here just now, what would you do? -I would say but I will not say. -If someone told you that somebody killed 7 people, what would be your answer? -I would say he is insane, but believe, I am not insane. -Do you regret? -Yes, and I do not say it just for saying. -Are you a member of any satanic cult? -No. -Why do you grin? -The question is funny. -But you have made a note about satans letter. -It is not mine. Permyakovs advocate Eduard Aghajanyan and judge Harutyun Movsisyan also asked questions. Valery Permyakov murdered 7 members of the Avetisyan family, including a 6 month old baby, on January 12 of 2015 in Gyumri, Armenia. Permyakov was a soldier of the 102nd Russian Military Base. He was detained when trying to cross the Turkish border. On August 12, The Russian side sentenced Permyakov to 10 years of imprisonment for desertion and illegal possession of a firearm. The Investigative Committee of Armenia filed a criminal case against Permyakov for the murder of the family. Trials continue in Gyumri. YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian held a farewell meeting with Ambassador of India to Armenia Suresh Babu. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, Edward Nalbandian thanked the Ambassador of India for his contribution to the development of Armenian-Indian relations. Ambassador Babu stated that India highlights the strengthening of relations with friendly Armenia and deepening of partnership in different spheres. The Ambassador expressed gratitude for the support rendered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and other state agencies. The interlocutors exchanged ideas over issues of bilateral agenda. The sides touched upon the implementation process of the agreements in the spheres of trade, IT, science, education and culture reached during the 7th meeting of Armenian-Indian intergovernmental commission. YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan has commented on the 25th anniversary of the military operations of Azerbaijan against the civilians of Nagorno Karabakh, called Operation Ring. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, the comment reads as follows, 25 years ago, on April 30, the launch of another state terrorism by Azerbaijan against the Armenian people was heralded. This was the elimination of the Armenian population in northern Artsakh and deprivation of their motherland. This operation that has been approved by Azerbaijani authorities up till now has one legal assessment: crime against humanity. The atrocities committed in the sidelines of Operation Ring carried out by Azerbaijani militia with the participation of the Soviet Army have deserved adequate assessment by the international community: international human rights organizations, legislative bodies of the USA and the RF, and by relevant resolutions of the EU. Anyway, Azerbaijan did not decline its policy of racism and Armenophobia, the latest demonstration of which is the April aggression of Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh and the atrocities accompanying it. Azerbaijan showed by its power politics adopted just from the beginning, military rhetoric and brutality typical for terrorist organizations why self-determined Nagorno Karabakh Republic can never be part of Azerbaijan. Australian banks are clamping down on foreign buying of homes Australian lenders are clamping down on home loans to foreigners as concerns about the health of the nations housing market mount. Westpac Banking Corp. will no longer lend to offshore customers who arent citizens or who dont hold appropriate residency visas. It follows Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank Ltd. and ANZ, which have tightened funding to overseas customers. The changes made by the biggest banks in the country are part of a broader scrutiny of foreign buying of Australian homes, which has helped drive a 55 percent jump in home prices across the nations capital cities in the past seven years. Rising demand, particularly from China, has triggered community concern that locals are being priced out of the property market, prompting the government to tighten scrutiny of foreign investment. In line with Westpac Groups responsible lending practices, we have strengthened our policies regarding non-residents lending and foreign income, which represent a very small component of our loan book, the Sydney-based lender said. Westpac said it wont accept applications from non-residents, self-employed foreigners and temporary visa holders living overseas. The bank also reduced the loan-to-value ratio for mortgage applicants with foreign income to 70 percent from 80 percent. In a note to mortgage brokers announcing the changes, the lender said its priority continues to be to support Australian citizens and permanent residents living outside of Australia on their journey to own a home or investment property in the country. The Reserve Bank of Australia in its semi annual assessment of the nations financial system warned buying of Australian homes by Chinese posed an indirect risk just as government data showed acquisitions of houses and apartments by residents of the second-largest economy doubled for the second consecutive year. The changes in lending policies come as the government in the state of Victoria said it will double a property tax for foreigners from July 1 in a move likely to undermine surging prices in its capital Melbourne, Australias second-largest city. Story continues The tightening is starting to bear some fruit with demand from overseas buyers for new housing dropping to 11.8 percent in the first quarter from a high of 16.8 percent in the third quarter of 2014, according to a survey by National Australia Bank. The annual rate of Australian housing market capital gain slipped to the lowest in 31 months in March, according to data from research firm CoreLogic Inc. The median dwelling price in Sydney has dropped from a peak of A$780,000 ($604,000) in October to A$730,000 in March, the data shows. Petroleum storage tanks at the Suncor tar sands operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta. (Reuters) When Warren Buffett puts his money on something, people listen. So as a savvy investor you may be wondering if you should follow his lead and buy up shares of one of Canadas largest energy companies. Even with the volatility of oil prices, an investment in Suncor Energy Inc. is, by and large, a good thing for many Canadian investors, say financial experts. Its uncertain where oil prices will go, says Scott Clayton, a senior researcher with TSI Network, a Toronto portfolio manager and newsletter publisher. Oil will remain volatileit could drop further or rise up. But we feel that most investors should have some oil and gas exposure in their portfolios and the best way to do that is with good dividend-paying stocks such as Suncor. One thing we really like about Suncor is that at 3.2 per cent, Suncor has a high yield dividend for an oil and gas stock. As arguably the worlds savviest investor, Buffett beefed up his position in Suncor late last year boosting his share in the company to about $1.1 billion. That amount represents 30 million shares of the energy giant, a sum purchased in the third quarter of 2015 by Buffetts Omaha-based multinational holding company Berkshire Hathaway. The move made Berkshire the ninth largest shareholder in Suncor as of late September. His previous investment was worth about $815 million, a stake of 23.3 million shares. Suncor now comprises 0.63 per cent of Berkshires portfolio, and is its 20th biggest holding, according to Financial Post. Suncors downstream interests are another reason why investing in the company would be wise, says Clayton. As a major North American refiner, operating four refineries in Canada and the U.S., the oil company can process nearly 500,000 barrels of crude per day, according to The Motley Fool. Plans are also in the works to expand in Europe and off the coast of Newfoundland. A merger with Petro Canada means Suncor owns 1,500 gas stations, a large downstream market for its refined oil. Story continues Suncor benefits from lower oil prices because the costs of the primary input into the refineries are lower, says Clayton. Thats called an integrated oil company. It not only has oil production but also downstream operations. Another reason for Buffetts bullishness on Suncor might have to do with its acquisition in March of Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. The energy giant acquired Canadian Oil Sands for $6.6 billion, a move that lets big firms like Suncor streamline operations and cut costs. Even with low oil prices their strong cash flow and sound balance sheet lets them buy beaten down oil stocks, Clayton says. Its a chance to buy assets at distressed prices. As Suncor Energy is Canada's leading integrated energy company, its operations include oil sands development and upgrading, conventional and offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining and product marketing under the Petro-Canada brand. Known as a patient and clever investor who is watched by many, Buffetts investment in Suncor is believed to be his first in a Canadian corporation. If its not the first time, its definitely the largest stake hes ever taken in a Canadian company, Barry Schwartz, a vice-president at Baskin Financial Services told The Globe and Mail in 2013. Will Buffetts rising interest in Suncor be seen as a validation by shareholders and potential investors, many of who are disillusioned by the struggling oil industry? I dont want it to sound like Im making a recommendation but we can take his behaviour as a lesson, says Marshall McAlister, a chartered financial analyst with Pavilion Investment House in Edmonton. If hes one of the greatest investors in the world maybe we should take a lesson that owning businesses over a long time is the wise thing to do. Buffetts Midas touch has reached into many sectors and includes popular brands such as Heinz, Benjamin Moore, American Express, Pampered Chef, Dairy Queen and Fruit of the Loom. By Allison Lampert MIRABEL, Quebec (Reuters) - Bombardier Inc's dual-class share structure is vital to protect the long-term interests of the Quebec-based aerospace and transportation company, and the Bombardier-Beaudoin family has no plans to relinquish its majority control, Executive Chairman Pierre Beaudoin said on Friday. "For the family, the success of this company has always been important. The family was there in good and bad times," Beaudoin said in response to a question at Bombardier's annual meeting. "The multiple voting right shares enable us to invest in the long term and allow us to protect the company against its dismantling, and we do not want to change anything." The share structure has long faced criticism, especially given the company's missteps around its long-delayed and over-budget CSeries passenger planes that won a reprieve with a big order from Delta Air Lines on Thursday. Several major investors, including the Quebec pension fund, have pressed the Bombardier-Beaudoin family to reduce its voting control of the company, according to sources. The family has resisted ceding control of Bombardier, founded in 1942 by snowmobile inventor Joseph-Armand Bombardier. It moved into train and plane building via acquisitions made by his son-in-law, Laurent Beaudoin. The company's founding family has a 53.23 percent voting stake, largely via the 79.5 percent stake of Bombardier's Class A multiple voting shares the family controls. Those shares carry 10 votes per share, while Class B shares carry 1 vote per share. Bombardier has conceded that the dual-class structure is a factor in negotiations for a $1 billion cash infusion from the Canadian government. Beaudoin on Friday declined to comment on the funding talks, saying only that he urged Canada to match Quebec's pledge to put $1 billion into the CSeries passenger jet program. Some influential minority shareholders, including at least three major Canadian pension funds, had called for greater transparency within Bombardier and opposed changes to its stock option plan and other proposals. British Columbia's main public sector pension fund has said it planned to withhold support from all five of the Bombardier-Beaudoin family members on the company's board. But Bombardier, as expected, easily passed all resolutions put forward by the company on Friday and won backing for all its board nominees despite the opposition from some shareholders. The company's stock consolidation plan, aimed at boosting its sagging share price, passed with 98.5 percent backing. A shareholder proposal seeking greater transparency was defeated. It would have forced Bombardier to separately disclose voting results on all resolutions by class of shares. The proposal, though, did win backing from Bombardier's third-largest shareholder and ally in its rail business, Quebec-based institutional investor La Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec. (Additional reporting by Euan Rocha in Toronto; Editing by G Crosse and Will Dunham) KINGSTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - Networks of Centres of Excellence Three knowledge mobilization networks, including the Kingston-based Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet), will receive renewed support totalling $3.6 million from the Government of Canada to continue their work in putting scientifically validated best practices into the hands of the people who put it to use on the front lines. Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, on behalf of Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, today announced at Queen's University that PREVNet will receive $1.2 million over three years to continue to connect the best research with those who can put it into practice. These investments are the result of the most recent competition for the Networks of Centres of Excellence Knowledge Mobilization initiative. Children and Youth in Challenging Contexts (CYCC) and Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids (TREKK) were the other two networks to receive renewed funding. Funded networks support knowledge transfer activities and collaborations among academia, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations in a variety of sectors. Quotes "These networks demonstrate how the results of basic research can be used to inform evidence-based policies and practices. By putting the latest knowledge into the hands of people at the front lines, they help ensure that children and youth across Canada will receive better care and live in a safer environment." - The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science "The Government of Canada is proud of its support for innovative initiatives through the NCE Knowledge Mobilization networks. One of the key characteristics of these networks is their ability to make an impact at the grassroots level - in emergency rooms, schoolyards and local communities. These are tangible benefits that Canadians experience in their day-to-day lives." - Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands Story continues "CYCC, PREVNet and TREKK have demonstrated extraordinary value and made a very tangible difference in reducing bullying, improving emergency care for kids and helping youth who are at risk since they were created in 2011. We are proud to be able to continue supporting their work for another three years." - Dominique Berube, Vice-President, Research Programs, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council "We thank the NCE for providing PREVNet with the opportunity to create a 'made in Canada' solution and to develop a partnership model that is unique in the world. The added value of PREVNet has been to have a cohesive, orchestrated approach across different systems, such as mental health, education, and public health, so we can address bullying prevention in a systematic and evidence-based way. In Canada and beyond, PREVNet is recognized as the authoritative voice for the prevention of bullying and the promotion of healthy relationships." - Debra Pepler, Scientific Co-Director of PREVNet and Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology, York University "Our goal for the next three years is to enhance Canadians' capacity to prevent bullying and promote healthy relationships by partnering with governments, corporations, and youth-serving organizations to leverage our most successful evidence-based resources, adapt them for many different groups, and put them into the hands of those involved with children and youth in all the places where they live, learn, and play. The prevention of violence through the promotion of healthy relationships in children and youths' development are the cornerstones for a competitive, healthy and productive society." - Wendy Craig, Scientific Co-Director of PREVNet and Professor and Head of the Department of Psychology, Queen's University "Our renewal will enable the CYCC Network to continue our work with partners across Canada to find the very best ways community-based children's services can build children's resilience. Focused on how to prevent violence towards children, and end young people's violence, we are identifying hundreds of great programs from across this country that show promise. Our community partners are setting the network's priorities, from preventing violent extremism among youth to finding ways to prevent suicide and helping victims of child sexual abuse heal." - Michael Ungar, Scientific Director, CYCC Network "We are grateful to the Government of Canada for its continuing support of Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids (TREKK) and our vision that every child receives the highest standard of care, whether they are treated in a pediatric or general emergency department. This additional funding will allow TREKK to share the latest evidence in pediatric emergency care through innovative and engaging resources for both health providers and families and continue with efforts to expand TREKK's reach to all emergency departments across the country." - Terry Klassen, Director, TREKK Quick facts Each renewed network will received $1.2 million from 2016-19. CYCC (headquartered in Halifax, NS) translates research into tangible policies and programs through national and local events; a web-based database of best practices; and knowledge synthesis reports on critical topics relating to mental health programming for vulnerable and at-risk young people. PREVNet (headquartered in Kingston, ON) brings together a network of researchers and national organizations. Its initiatives, based on education, assessment, intervention and policy, are designed to stop bullying and victimization and create environments where children feel safe. TREKK (headquartered in Winnipeg, MB) shares knowledge and experience among general emergency departments, children's hospitals, and academic institutions to ensure that the latest knowledge about pediatric emergency care is put into common practice. The NCE-KM program was created in 2011, and currently funds five networks. Other networks' mandates focus on cybersecurity and regenerative medicine. Related products Backgrounder Associated links NCE-KM program information Currently funded NCE-KMs Follow us on Twitter: @NCE_RCE The Networks of Centres of Excellence, which manages the NCE-KM initiative, operates a suite of national funding programs on behalf of the three federal granting agencies-the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). NCE programs support large scale, multi-disciplinary collaborations between universities, industry, government and not-for-profit organizations, which focus Canada's research capacity on economic and social challenges, help commercialize and apply research breakthroughs, increase private-sector R&D, and train highly qualified people. The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba is investigating a young woman's allegations that she was assaulted by two Winnipeg police officers in the fall of 2015. The 19-year-old said the assault occurred Oct. 17 when she was detained under the Intoxicated Persons Detention Act, an IIU news release said. One male officer punched her in the cheek and a second male officer stomped on her knee, she alleges. After her detention, the woman visited Health Sciences Centre and sought treatment for her injured leg. The woman complained to the Winnipeg Police Service about the alleged assault on April 19 and police reported her complaints to the IIU on April 20, the release said. Manitoba's Independent Investigation Unit is obligated to investigate all serious incidents involving both on- and off-duty police officers in the province. [B.C. Premier Christy Clark disclosed she gets a top up from the Liberal party in addition to her annual premier and MLA salary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck] Revelations that B.C. Premier Christy Clark receives a $50,000 stipend from her party, on top of her premiers salary, makes it all the more urgent that the province reform its political fundraising rules and put an end to high-priced fundraising dinners with the leader, says an advocate for political reform. Duff Conacher, co-founder of the group Democracy Watch and a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa, says Clark is in a conflict of interest if she benefits from the money raised by the party by offering exclusive and expensive access to her. Its a benefit that is connected to your position. The money goes to the party but gets routed back to you in a re-election campaign. Therefore, its an illegal gift, Conacher tells Yahoo Canada News. Even worse now that we know that some of the money directly goes back to her. The B.C. Liberals were already defending their fundraising. At the annual dinner earlier this month in Prince George, where two tickets at Clarks table were available for $25,000 and two more for $15,000 each. Now Clark confirms a report from the Globe and Mail that she receives the annual stipend, in addition to her $192,000 salary. Conacher and B.C. New Democrat MLA Dave Eby have both filed complaints with the B.C. conflict of interest commissioner. The commission office will not comment on any complaints, even to confirm it has received them or is pursuing an investigation. Dermod Travis, executive director of the group IntegrityBC, says he hasnt bothered to file a complaint. Its a significant and major concern but so is B.C.s conflict of interest legislation, which is pretty well toothless and gutless, Travis tells Yahoo Canada News. Clark has told reporters that the stipend was no secret, part of public disclosure records since 1993. And shes given no indication that the annual stipend will stop on her watch. Story continues Similarly, the B.C. premier has been steadfast in defending the fundraising dinners she and her cabinet members attend. The NDP raise money with exclusive soirees and the B.C. Liberals raise money, as well, she tells reporters. We all do that under the rules in the province. Weve done it for a long time in British Columbia, and, you know, I think the issue for us is to make sure that we always separate our duties, our public duties from any sources of funding for our political parties. Clark says that separation is utmost in my mind when were making decisions. Travis points out that the B.C. Liberals have raised nearly $108 million since 2005 $70 million of it from businesses and corporations. Five companies and one association have donated more than $1 million each, he says, including Encana Corp., the Aquilini Investment Group and Teck Resources Ltd. Elections are almost being bought and sold in this province and thats not the way elections should unfold, Travis says. Prior to the last provincial election in 2013, the B.C. Liberals raised eyebrows with a $125-a-plate fundraising dinner in Calgary, attended by then-energy minister Rich Coleman and his successor, Bill Bennett. In Ontario, similar revelations about Ontario Liberal fundraising dinners with the premier and cabinet members spurred Premier Kathleen Wynne to table legislation. Travis says Clark doesnt appear to be ready to follow suit. One premier demonstrates leadership and one premier who thumbs her nose at the electorate, he says. Democracy Watch has long championed changes in political fundraising rules that would eliminate corporate and union donations and cap individual donations. All levels of government should also ban out-of-province donations, Conacher says. Quebec has the best model in Canada, he says. Christy Clark, its just going to get worse and worse for her. I think theyre underestimating the concern. By Alisa Tang SINGAPORE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Migrant workers who fall prey to human traffickers often avoid reporting their cases to Thai authorities for fear of being incarcerated, leaving them unable to earn money to send home or pay back debts to brokers, a leading activist said on Thursday. Migrant workers from Myanmar and also Cambodia commonly borrow money to pay recruitment fees to illegal brokers to be smuggled into Thailand or to registered brokers for the paperwork to go legally. Once they start their jobs, they are often not paid for several months as their salaries are used to pay those debts, leaving them vulnerable to trafficking and broker exploitation. But Andy Hall, who works with the non-profit Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN) in Thailand, said trafficking victims veer away from seeking help from Thai authorities because they could end up detained in shelters and unable to work until they give testimony against those exploiting them. "MWRN is reluctant to get involved with anything relating to the official trafficking system because we don't believe that being identified as a trafficking victim is generally beneficial for the worker in the long term," he said. Contrary to MWRN's findings, Thai government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Thailand "of course will not detain" migrants who enter the country legally and become victims of human trafficking. "We will investigate the trafficker, but the victims can go free," he said. For illegal migrants, he said there's no other way than to detain them. "If they report to us, they will at least be protected by our officers in terms of proper welfare and food in a compound we have provided," he said. Hall said almost all the trafficking victims MWRN has met - with the exception of people in desperate psychological situations or severe danger - just want to work, earn money and send money back to their families. But agency, recruitment and corruption costs, can cause migrants to rack up debts from $400 up to $1,200 just to get started working in Thailand, Hall said. "That's a huge amount of money for someone in Myanmar who can sometimes be earning as little as a dollar a day," he said on the sidelines of Trust Forum Asia, a slavery and trafficking forum in Singapore hosted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. MWRN this month worked with Thai authorities to assist nearly 100 workers from Myanmar who came into Thailand legally, were exploited for months and locked up, unpaid or underpaid, on construction sites and chicken and coconut exporting factories. Of those, 10 men are willing to help with cases against the Thai and Myanmar recruitment agencies or brokers, MWRN said. But Thai authorities are now holding them in a human trafficking shelter north of Bangkok even though they all have passports and entered Thailand legally late last year. Hall said entry into such shelters should be voluntary, as it is in most countries, sought by people needing rehabilitation services or feel they are in danger before testifying. "If it's not voluntary, and you're doing things against people's will, they're going to do whatever they can to not report what they've suffered because they know that if they report it, they'll end up being incarcerated," he said. "We find that it's a policy that actually undermines enforcement of trafficking law and actually undermines the ability of authorities to prosecute people." (Reporting by Alisa Tang, additional reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok, editing by Belinda Goldsmith. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, corruption and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories) By Parisa Hafezi ANKARA (Reuters) - President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have sharply ideological differences but the fragility of Iran's economy has forced them into an uneasy alliance at least for the time being. In the past, the two powerful figures had offered contrasting visions for the Iranian economy with the conservative Khamenei calling for self-reliance and the pragmatist Rouhani urging cooperation with the world. But now, after having achieved a nuclear deal with the West, both leaders have a vested interest in setting aside their differences to secure their political futures and turn the economy round. "Rouhani's political career depends on this issue. If he fails to improve the economy, he will lose the leader's support and will turn into a lame-duck president," said a reformist former official, who is close to Rouhani. "His failure in the economic field, will lead to his political failure." While allaying the fears of Iranian hard-liners against any detente with the West, Khamenei cautiously backed Rouhani's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with the United States and other major powers in 2015, aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting crippling sanctions. Rouhani will be protected by Khamenei against his hard-line critics so long as he is taking steps to improve the economy a senior official said, on condition of anonymity. But Khamenei's patience is being strained because of a lack of tangible economic benefits since sanctions were lifted in January. Some U.S. restrictions on Tehran remain in place. "For the leader Khamenei, the most important issue is to safeguard the interests of the nation and the country. That is why he backed the president's nuclear policy," said an Iranian diplomat close to Khamenei's office. HONEYMOON THREATENED Some point out that Khamenei's protection of Rouhani will stretch only as far as there is an economic dividend. "But now, the question is what was the use of reaching a deal if it cannot improve people's lives," the diplomat said. Khamenei's core support comes from lower-income people, who have socially, politically and economically invested in the Islamic Republic, analysts say, but this group has yet to benefit from the easing of sanctions. "Hard-liners are concerned that they might even lose the backing of their core supporters who were against any rapprochement with the West but remained silent because of Khamenei's support of the deal," political analyst Hamid Farahvashian said. Rouhani is in a constant power struggle with the countrys influential hard-liners and has even faced accusations of undermining pillars of the 1979 Islamic revolution, including "hostility towards the United States". This makes the alliance with Khamenei and his protection more valuable than ever to Rouhani's survival. "Rouhani is passing through a very sensitive period of his political career," said the first official. "It does not matter whether his allies did well in the elections in February." Rouhanis chances for re-election in 2017 are far from guaranteed despite a strong showing for his allies in February parliamentary polls and for a clerical body with the power to appoint or dismiss the supreme leader. Iranians will vote in a run-off parliamentary election on Friday for 68 of parliament's 290 seats, which will determine the makeup of the assembly as the February vote failed to give a majority. The current parliament is dominated by Rouhani's hard-line rivals. The onus is on the president to attract investors, justify Khamenei's political investment in him and to deliver economic prosperity to ordinary Iranians who have suffered for decades because of the sanctions imposed over the nuclear program. Pressure mounted on the Iranian leadership when U.S. and European restrictions drastically cut oil exports that are the engine of Iran's economy, and social unrest threatened. Rouhanis failure to improve Irans economy will be end of his honeymoon (with the leader)," said a security official. "The establishment is well aware of dangers of economic hardship and shortcomings." INVEST IN IRAN Iran's hard-liners have criticized Rouhani's economic policies and the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has demanded a bigger role in the economy, seen as a challenge to a government trying to attract foreign investment and open Iran's markets. Any increase in IRGC economic involvement could scare away foreign investors, as many of its members and front companies remain under U.S. sanctions. The IRGC runs a powerful business empire as well as being in charge of elite armed forces. Its profitable economic interests could be threatened by more competition from abroad. But Khamenei is convinced of the value of foreign partners. Iran is in desperate need of foreign investment ... I cannot recall the leader meeting any visiting European leader in the past years but he met (Italian Prime Minister Matteo) Renzi in April, said Tehran-based analyst Saeed Leylaz. The unprecedented meeting had a message, which was invest in Iran, he added. In domestic politics, Rouhani cannot always be sure of the support of Khamenei, who since succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, has ensured that no group gains enough power to challenge his authority. Rouhani's popularity has alarmed Khamenei's hard-line allies, who are wary of losing their status within Iran's complex power structure. They have blocked, for example, Rouhani's attempts to relax social restrictions. The president's second term will very much depend on Khameinei's blessing and this in turn will depend heavily on a favorable economic outcome. Some analysts said that there are still very limited chances for more social and political freedom in Iran, where hard-liners control the judiciary, security forces and state media, despite Rouhani's successes. Rouhani is a regime insider," a pro-reform politician said. "He is clever enough to avoid confrontation with the leader. Leylaz disagreed, saying Rouhani might adopt more aggressive policies if re-elected. "But of course it might cause a backlash, bringing more limitations." (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Peter Millership and Giles Elgood) The Pentagon says 16 US military personnel have been disciplined over a botched gunship attack that left dozens dead at an Afghan hospital. But the US military said last year's raid on the Doctors Without Borders site, which killed 42 people, was not a war crime because it was unintentional. US Central Command chief General Joseph Votel said they crews had thought they were attacking a Taliban base, not a hospital. The personnel responsible for the 3 October 2015 attack would receive administrative punishments, said the Defence Department. But there will be no criminal charges and no one is facing a court martial. A two-star general, other officers and special ops troops are among the 16 being disciplined. The hospital in the northern city of Kunduz was attacked by an AC-130 gunship, which is armed with side-firing cannons and guns. Gen Votel told a news conference: "The label 'war crimes' is typically reserved for intentional acts - intentional targeting (of) civilians or intentionally targeting protected objects or locations. "Again, the investigation found that the incident resulted from a combination of unintentional human errors, process errors and equipment failures, and that none of the personnel knew they were striking a hospital." Gen Votel said the hospital was on a US military no-strike list, but the gunship crew had no access to that information. The mission was launched on short notice, which meant the crews did not have the data loaded to their onboard systems, he added. He expressed "deepest condolences" to the victims. Survivors and families of the victims said on Friday they were angry no US military personnel would face criminal charges. Zabihullah Neyazi, a nurse who was maimed in the attack, told the Associated Press the incident was "not forgivable". Doctors Without Borders previously called the attack "relentless and brutal". The US Air Force special operation was unleashed as Afghan forces fought to retake Kunduz from the Taliban. Story continues Afghan officials claimed the hospital had been occupied by the Taliban, though no evidence has emerged to support that claim. President Barack Obama apologised for what was one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in the 15-year war. The US command in Kabul has offered compensation to more than 140 families and individuals. The payouts include $3,000 to those injured in the attack and $6,000 to relatives of those killed. "Lyin' Ted." "Crooked Hillary." How about "Presidential" Donald? With a general election in his grasp, the Republican presidential front-runner who tarred his rivals Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton as a liar and a crook now seems to be rebranding himself. "It's very easy to be presidential," Donald Trump told reporters in Manhattan, after sweeping five Eastern state primaries on Tuesday. "I'm not playing a part." But it's a public image that's proving elusive. So elusive, in fact, that some of Trump's former strategists question whether a "presidential" Trump persona really exists beyond brief performances at victory rallies and formal speeches like his foreign policy address this week. "That's not the type of person he is," says Stephanie Cegielski, who was contacted by the Trump team in 2015 for her public-relations expertise, and also formerly served as communications director for the pro-Trump SuperPAC Make America Great Again. "I think he's so steeped in his bombastic persona that it will be difficult for him to stick to a presidential, canned message," she said. As the Trump campaign shifts into general election mode, the former reality TV star is facing a clash of personalities. Leaked recording The challenge going forward, according to political strategists, will be how to balance the dignified obligations of the nation's highest office with the blustery showmanship that elevated his candidacy. Cegielski says she recommended Trump not stray from standard stump speeches. She suspects his advisers would prefer that too. Trump may have been told by his new campaign adviser Paul Manafort to tone down the rhetoric and embrace a more dignified manner. Whether that's sustainable remains an open question. Cegielski has her doubts. "I'm not convinced that Trump can keep up that tone of playing nice in the sandbox," she says. "He has a very distinct and direct personality, and isn't terribly keen on being told how to present himself." Story continues A leaked recording from a private briefing fuelled rumours that a more mainstream Trump might emerge soon. In the recording, obtained by the news outlet Politico, Manafort assures Republican National Convention members that the brash real estate mogul has been "projecting an image," and that "the part that he's been playing" would mature appropriately for the general election. The comments reportedly incensed the candidate. Trump bristled at the suggestion that he's only presenting himself as a national political leader, insisting he has the diplomatic chops to function effectively in the Oval Office. "Look, I'm not changing," he told reporters in New York on Tuesday. "I went to the best schools. I'm, like, a very smart person, I'm going to represent our country with dignity, and very well. I don't really want to change my personality, it got me here." Dangerous game Even so, he brought a different temperament to Washington on Wednesday. In a measured tone, he delivered a foreign policy speech urging "clear-eyed" approaches to terrorism, while leaning on an aid that has been rarely used in his campaign so far a Teleprompter. "We should seek common ground based on mutual interests," he said, regarding relations with Russia, while ditching some of the more hawkish barbs he's used on the stump. There were stumbles. His flubbing of the pronunciation of "Tanzania," for example. But it showed an uncharacteristically restrained Trump compared to earlier in the week. Just two days before the sober foreign policy speech, Trump was cheered on at a Rhode Island rally as he mocked John Kasich's table manners, pantomiming the Ohio governor chowing down on breakfast at a Pennsylvania diner. "He's shoving it in his mouth," Trump said, bringing an invisible fork to his mouth and smirking. "It's disgusting." There was at least one other moment in which Cegielski felt she was watching a more stately Trump. "Following the New York primary, there was a definite shift in tone," she said. There were no references to "Lyin' Ted," only remarks addressing "Senator Cruz." The danger in trying to remake Trump lies in his appeal as an off-the-cuff, say-anything personality, warns Steve Jarding, a public policy lecturer with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. "You never try to reinvent yourself. People see right through it, and they think politics is fraudulent enough," Jarding says. "So it's a very dangerous game they're playing to say this Donald Trump is somebody other than the Donald Trump we've been watching for the better part of the year." Not handled, coached, programmed In an open letter published last month, Cegielski wrote of a guiding principle within the campaign that was used as a mantra: "Let Trump Be Trump." Washington-based Republican strategist Roger Stone believes there's little sense in shifting strategies now. Not when delegate math favours Trump possibly winning a first-ballot nomination at July's Republican National Convention. Stone, a long-time friend of Trump's and a former strategist on his campaign, says he knows the billionaire real estate magnate can conduct himself appropriately. But he doesn't buy that a more "cerebral" Trump exists in private, as former political rival Ben Carson suggested last month, or that voters will soon meet a version of Trump that's closer to a conventional politician. "There is only one Trump, and Trump marches to his own drummer," Stone said. "Trump is not handled, Trump is not coached, he is not programmed. He is genuine. He is his own man. I think a lot of political strategists and consultants are used to having a client who is malleable." Delegate hunting in California Trump is scheduled to deliver a lunchtime keynote speech today for the California Republican Convention, and will be joined by his rivals for the nomination Cruz and John Kasich. Thousands are expected at what could be one of the biggest Republican conventions in the Golden State in decades. It will give Republican voters another look at how the three competitors engage with the same crowd. It also offers Trump a chance to target delegates and persuade them that he is presidential material. For his part, Stone rejects the logic that a presidential hopeful needs to adopt a more traditionally political demeanour. Trump has changed the game too much to start playing along now, he says. "The anger in the country is so palpable, I'm not sure it calls for a change in tone," he says. "He's not a stiff, he's a truth-teller and a showman. And politics, as well as being educational, has to be interesting. When you're not putting any interesting or provocative proposals out there, the voters get bored." "One thing you can say about Trump," Stone added, "he's never boring." By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is prepared to consider imposing sanctions or an arms embargo on South Sudan's leaders if they fail to cooperate in a proposed unity government to end conflict in the country, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday. "We have everything at the table, we are prepared to look at sanctions, we're prepared to look at an arms embargo," U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, told lawmakers. The fighting in South Sudan, whose 2011 secession from Sudan was supported by the United States, has torn apart the world's youngest country. The country's rebel leader Riek Machar was sworn in as first vice president on Tuesday after he returned to the capital Juba for the first time since conflict broke out two years ago. President Salva Kiir's sacking of Machar as his deputy ignited a war in December 2013 which has killed thousands and displaced millions in the world's newest country. The United States has said Machar's return is an important step toward the establishment of a unity government. But Booth said an arms embargo could only work if neighboring countries cooperated. The U.N. Security Council has long threatened to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan but veto-power Russia has been reluctant to support such an action. An effective way to cut weapons supplies to South Sudan, Booth continued, was to impose strict controls over its capital expenditure, which would also help focus spending on the neediest. "We all agree there are far too many arms in South Sudan and they certainly don't need any more," Booth said, "If we can use the financial side to get at preventing additional weapons from getting into South Sudan, that would be an easier way to do it and a more effective way to do it." He said the United States was looking at who was responsible for the pillaging of state coffers. "We really want to make sure that resources of the country are going to be utilized for the people, so we're taking a careful look at what has been stolen in the past and who stole it," Booth added. "We have already put the existing government and the opposition on notice that we would be looking for some kind of expenditure control mechanism in place, otherwise it would be very difficult to justify putting additional resources in support of stabilization of the macro economy," Booth said. The United States on Wednesday pledged an additional $86 million in humanitarian aid to help communities most hurt by the conflict. It has provided an estimated $1.6 billion in assistance to the country since December 2013. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by James Dalgleish) MarketWatch Americas high inflation rate will produce a 7% increase in the size of the standard deduction when workers file their taxes on their 2023 income, according to new inflation adjustments from the Internal Revenue Service. Its also going to pump up tax brackets by 7% as well, according to the annual inflation adjustments the IRS announced this week. Start with the standard deduction, which is what most people use instead of itemizing deductions. Revenue at 691 million, up +1% at historical exchange rates and flat at constant exchange rates Strong head start in Government Programs, Machine-to-Machine, Enterprise and Payment fully offsets softer markets in Latin America and Asia and lower sales to mobile network operators 2016 outlook confirmed Revenue variations are at constant exchange rates except where otherwise noted. All figures presented in this press release are unaudited. Amsterdam, April 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 - GTO), the world leader in digital security today announces its revenue for the first quarter of 2016. Main segments Main activities First quarter 2016 ( in millions) Total Payment & Identity Mobile Embedded software & Products (E&P) Platforms & Services (P&S) Patents & Others Revenue 691 433 258 468 222 0 Year-on-year variation at constant exchange rates = +17% (20%) (8%) +22% n.s. Year-on-year variation at historical exchange rates +1% Olivier Piou, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The revenue for the first quarter 2016 illustrates the success of Gemalto's diversification strategy and the resilience of its business model. Strong performances in Government Programs, Machine-to-Machine, Enterprise and Payment have offset lower revenues from SIM and related services. We continue to focus our efforts and investment on our higher growth businesses, and confirm the improvement in our gross margin this quarter towards achieving our 2016 and 2017 objectives." Basis of preparation of financial information Segment information The Mobile segment reports on businesses associated with mobile cellular technologies including Machine-to-Machine, mobile secure elements (SIM, embedded secure element) and mobile Platforms & Services. The Payment & Identity segment reports on businesses associated with secure personal interactions including Payment, Government Programs and Enterprise. The SafeNet acquisition in 2015 is part of the Enterprise business. In addition to this segment information the Company also reports revenues of Mobile and Payment & Identity by type of activity: Embedded software & Products (E&P) and Platforms & Services (P&S). Historical exchange rates and constant currency figures The Company sells its products and services in a very large number of countries and is commonly remunerated in other currencies than the Euro. Fluctuations in these other currencies exchange rates against the Euro have in particular a translation impact on the reported Euro value of the Company revenues. Comparisons at constant exchange rates aim at eliminating the effect of currencies translation movements on the analysis of the Group revenue by translating prior-year revenues at the same average exchange rate as applied in the current year. Revenue variations are at constant exchange rates and include the impact of currencies variation hedging program, except where otherwise noted. All other figures in this press release are at historical exchange rates, except where otherwise noted. Adjusted income statement and profit from operations (PFO) non-GAAP measure The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). To better assess its past and future performance, the Company also prepares an adjusted income statement where the key metric used to evaluate the business and make operating decisions over the period 2010 to 2017 is the profit from operations (PFO). PFO is a non-GAAP measure defined as IFRS operating profit adjusted for (i) the amortization and depreciation of intangibles resulting from acquisitions, (ii) restructuring and acquisition-related expenses, (iii) all equity-based compensation charges and associated costs; and (iv) fair value adjustments upon business acquisitions. These items are further explained as follows: Amortization and depreciation of intangibles resulting from acquisitions are defined as the amortization and depreciation expenses related to the intangibles recognized as part of the allocation of the excess purchase consideration over the share of net assets acquired. Restructuring and acquisitions-related expenses are defined as (i) restructuring expenses which are the costs incurred in connection with a restructuring as defined in accordance with the provisions of IAS 37 (e.g. sale or termination of a business, closure of a plant,), and consequent costs; (ii) reorganization expenses defined as the costs incurred in connection with headcount reductions, consolidation of manufacturing and offices sites, as well as the rationalization and harmonization of the product and service portfolio, and the integration of IT systems, consequent to a business combination; and (iii) transaction costs (such as fees paid as part of the acquisition process). Equity-based compensation charges are defined as (i) the discount granted to employees acquiring Gemalto shares under Gemalto Employee Stock Purchase plans; (ii) the amortization of the fair value of stock options and restricted share units granted by the Board of Directors to employees, and the related costs. Fair value adjustments over net assets acquired are defined as the reversal, in the income statement, of the fair value adjustments recognized as a result of a business combination, as prescribed by IFRS3R. Those adjustments are mainly associated with (i) the amortization expense related to the step-up of the acquired work-in-progress and finished goods assumed at their realizable value and (ii) the amortization of the cancelled commercial margin related to deferred revenue balance acquired These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable IFRS measures and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. In the adjusted income statement, Operating Expenses are defined as the sum of Research and Engineering expenses, Sales and Marketing expenses, General and Administrative expenses, and Other income (expense) net. EBITDA is defined as PFO plus depreciation and amortization expenses, excluding the above amortization and depreciation of intangibles resulting from acquisitions. General information Main segments Main activities First quarter 2016 ( in millions) Total Payment & Identity Mobile Embedded software & Products Platforms & Services Patents & Others Revenue 691 433 258 468 222 0 As a percentage of total revenue 100% 63% 37% 68% 32% 0% For the first quarter of 2016, total revenue came in at 691 million, up +1% at historical exchange rates and stable at constant exchange rates. Payment & Identity, representing 63% of total Company revenue, posted sales of 433 million, up +17% year-on-year. Embedded software & Products revenue of 468 million was (8%) lower compared to the same period last year due to lower sales to mobile network operators and to a lesser extent to lower sales to banks in China. Embedded software & Products activity for Government Programs and Machine-to-Machine continued to show strong positive trends during the quarter. Platforms & Services activities, representing 32% of first quarter Company revenue, posted sales of 222 million, an increase of +22% year-on-year, supported by the expansion in payment issuance services and data protection solutions. The effects of currency movement in the first quarter of 2016 are minimal compared to the first quarter of 2015, resulting in a difference of less than 1 percentage point between revenue growth at historical and constant exchange rates. The hedging program, which aims at partially neutralizing the impact of sudden currency variations on the Company's profit from operations, produced a 0.1 percentage point difference compared to the same period last year. The first quarter revenue of 2016 in the Americas region is stable compared to the same period in 2015. North America continued to grow despite the high comparison basis in Mobile sales last year, fully offsetting the soft market environment in Latin America. Revenue variations by region, at constant and historical exchange rates, are presented in Appendix 1. Segment information Payment & Identity in millions First quarter 2016 First quarter 2015 Revenue 433 369 Year-on-year variation at constant exchange rates +17% The Payment & Identity segment's revenue came in at 433 million, increasing by +17% compared to the previous year. Embedded software and Products revenue was up by +7% at 261 million. The segment's Platforms & Services revenue came in at 172 million, growing by +35% compared to the same period last year. The Payment business grew +12% year-on-year, reaching 233 million. The Americas continue to post the largest growth with strong sales of EMV payment cards and issuance services in the United States offsetting lower sales in Asia. The Enterprise business revenue increased to 103 million, up +14% on the same period in 2015. The trend in revenue mix within the business continues to move towards a higher proportion of software services. The Government Programs business was up +34% versus a flat first quarter in 2015, at 97 million. The revenue increase stems from strong deliveries of previously won projects in all regions, and 6 million from the addition of Trub AG, acquired in the second quarter of 2015. Mobile in millions First quarter 2016 First quarter 2015 Revenue 258 316 Year-on-year variation at constant exchange rates (20%) The Mobile segment posted revenue of 258 million, (20%) lower at constant exchange rates compared to the first quarter of previous year. Embedded software & Products revenue for the segment came in at 207 million. SIM sales were lower by (34%) at 133 million due to the tail-end effect of the U.S. operators mobile payment service 2015 closing announced earlier and to lower demand in Latin America and Asia. The Machine-to-Machine business continued to grow, by +12% year-on-year on top of a strong +25% increase a year ago, at 75 million driven by the expanding global demand of connected devices and embedded secure elements (eSE) for the Internet of Things (IoT). Platforms & Services revenue for the segment came in at 50 million, reduced by (9%) year-on-year as Mobile Financial Services revenue decreased year-on-year, also due to last year's U.S. operators mobile payment service closing. Patents & Others in millions First quarter 2016 First quarter 2015 Revenue 0.4 0.6 Year-on-year variation at constant exchange rates (29%) Patents & Others revenue was 0.4 million this quarter versus 0.6 million during the same period in 2015. Additional information Gemalto has been chosen by the National Police Board in Finland to supply the country's new ePassport, which will enable secure and faster border crossings. The new travel document has advanced security features and is fully compliant with ICAO1 requirements. Gemalto is already responsible for Finland's polycarbonate electronic ID (eID) and resident permit cards. Under the new multi-year contract Gemalto will produce and personalize hundreds of thousands of Sealys ePassports and eID cards each year. These will be issued to citizens within days or even hours, via a convenient nationwide network of trusted retail outlets and delivery points. Gemalto released the latest findings of the Breach Level Index, revealing that 1,673 data breaches led to 707 million data records being compromised worldwide during 2015. The Breach Level Index (BLI) is a global database that tracks data breaches globally and measures their severity based on multiple dimensions, including the type of data and the number of records compromised, the source of the breach, and whether or not the data was encrypted. According to the Breach Level Index, more than 3.6 billion data records have been exposed since 2013 when the index began benchmarking publicly disclosed data breaches. Gemalto and PROSA, one of the largest payment processors in Latin America, announce a partnership to bring mobile payments to Mexico. PROSA has operations in eight Latin American countries and will provide mobile payment services to all customers, which include 95% of credit, debit and prepaid card issuers in Mexico. Gemalto's Allynis Trusted Service Hub (TSH) enables easy new customer onboarding, which allows banks to swiftly launch their own NFC mobile payment wallets utilizing host card emulation (HCE). Another important feature of Gemalto's TSH is its ability to provision payment wallets from device manufacturers and mobile network operators as they launch in Mexico. Gemalto announces its leading edge Cinterion Cat. 1 LTE M2M module is Verizon certified to connect to the largest and most reliable 4G LTE network in the U.S. M2M and IoT device manufacturers currently using 2G or 3G technologies will now have a ruggedized industry connectivity solution for devices that require the performance and longevity of 4G networks. Machine to Machine (M2M) device makers leveraging the Verizon 4G LTE network have access to a future-proof Category 1 solution enabling highly efficient, cost optimized LTE connectivity and a quick go-to-market roadmap. Gemalto and Bridge Alliance demonstrated a solution for multi-country deployment of IoT devices at the Mobile World Congressusing Gemalto's LinqUs On-Demand Connectivity (ODC) subscription management solution. Bridge Alliance is a partnership of 35 leading operators in Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, serving over 750 million customers. This demonstration, based on the GSMA interoperable standards, shows how hermetically sealed M2M and IoT devices such as connected cars or smart meters can securely connect to any Bridge Alliance Member Operator using remote 'over-the-air' provisioning. Gemalto and Jasper, a global Internet of Things (IoT) platform leader, today announced a partnership to simplify global deployment of IoT devices and services through on-demand subscription management. Integrating Jasper's IoT service platform with Gemalto's LinqUs On-Demand Connectivity removes the complexity of deploying connected services worldwide for mobile operators, device manufacturers, and application providers. Customers can provision and manage subscriptions on devices remotely via a single embedded SIM (eSIM), resulting in more efficient and cost-effective deployment models while enabling rapid distribution and device activation. Outlook For 2016, with the positive trends in Enterprise, Government Programs, Machine-to-Machine and the US EMV ramp-up effort completed, Gemalto expects to generate a +1.5 percentage point gross margin increase, accelerating its profit from operation expansion towards its 2017 objectives. Live Audio Webcast and Conference call Gemalto first quarter 2016 revenue presentation will be webcast in English today at 3pm Amsterdam and Paris time (2pm London time and 9am New York time). This listen-only live audio webcast of the presentation and the Q&A session will be accessible from our Investor Relations web site: www.gemalto.com/investors Questions will be taken by way of conference call. Investors and financial analysts wishing to ask questions should join the presentation by dialing: (UK) +44 203 367 9457 or (US) +1 855 402 7762 or (FR) +33 1 7077 0939 The accompanying presentation slide set is also available for download on our Investor Relations web site. Replays of the presentation and Q&A session will be available in webcast format on our Investor Relations web site approximately 3 hours after the conclusion of the presentation. Replays will be available for one year. Calendar Gemalto N.V. will hold its 2016 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at the Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport Hotel, Rijnlanderweg 800, 2132 NN Hoofddorp (Haarlemmermeer), the Netherlands at 2:00 p.m. CET. The first semester 2016 results will be reported on Friday August 26, 2016, before the opening of Euronext Paris. Stock Exchange Listing Gemalto N.V. is dual listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Paris, in the compartment A (Large Caps). Mnemonic: GTO Exchange Dual listing on Euronext Amsterdam and Paris Market of reference Euronext Amsterdam ISIN Code NL0000400653 Reuters GTO.AS Bloomberg GTO:NA Gemalto has also established a sponsored Level I American Depository Receipt (ADR) Program in the United States since November 2009. Each Gemalto ordinary share is represented by two ADRs. Gemalto's ADRs trade in U.S. dollar and give access to the voting rights and to the dividends attached to the underlying Gemalto shares. The dividends are paid to investors in U.S. dollar, after being converted into U.S. dollar by the depository bank at the prevailing rate. Structure Sponsored Level I ADR Exchange OTC Ratio (ORD:DR) 1:2 DR ISIN US36863N2080 DR CUSIP 36863N 208 Investor Relations Corporate Communication Media Relations Agency Winston Yeo Isabelle Marand Suzanne Bakker M.: +33 6 2947 0814 M.: +33 6 1489 1817 M. : +31 6 1136 8659 winston.yeo@gemalto.com isabelle.marand@gemalto.com suzanne.bakker@citigateff.nl Sebastien Liagre M.: +33 6 1751 4467 sebastien.liagre@gemalto.com About Gemalto Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the global leader in digital security, with 2015 annual revenues of 3.1 billion and customers in over 180 countries. We bring trust to an increasingly connected world. Our technologies and services enable businesses and governments to authenticate identities and protect data so they stay safe and enable services in personal devices, connected objects, the cloud and in between. Gemalto's solutions are at the heart of modern life, from payment to enterprise security and the internet of things. We authenticate people, transactions and objects, encrypt data and create value for software enabling our clients to deliver secure digital services for billions of individuals and things. Our 14,000+ employees operate out of 118 offices, 45 personalization and data centers, and 27 research and software development centers located in 49 countries. For more information visit www.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter. This communication does not constitute an offer to purchase or exchange or the solicitation of an offer to sell or exchange any securities of Gemalto. This communication contains certain statements that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information and other statements concerning Gemalto. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, events, products and services and future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates" and similar expressions. These and other information and statements contained in this communication constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of applicable securities laws. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and security holders are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the Company, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by the forward-looking information and statements, and the Company cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication include, but are not limited to: trends in wireless communication and mobile commerce markets; the Company's ability to develop new technology and the effects of competing technologies developed; effects of the intense competition in the Company's main markets; challenges to or loss of intellectual property rights; ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships in its major businesses; ability to develop and take advantage of new software, platforms and services; profitability of the expansion strategy; effects of acquisitions and investments; ability of the Company's to integrate acquired businesses, activities and companies according to expectations; ability of the Company to achieve the expected synergies from acquisitions; and changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication speak only as of the date of this communication and the Company or its representatives are under no duty, and do not undertake, to update any of the forward-looking statements after this date to conform such statements to actual results, to reflect the occurrence of anticipated results or otherwise except as required by applicable law or regulations. Appendices Appendix 1 Revenue by region in millions First quarter 2016 First quarter 2015 Year-on-year variation at constant exchange rates Year-on-year variation at historical exchange rates EMEA 299 282 +6% +6% Americas 274 270 = +1% Asia 118 134 (13%) (12%) Total revenue 691 686 = +1% Press Release (PDF): http://hugin.info/159293/R/2008126/742638.pdf Danish English Press release Group Communications Tel. +45 45 14 56 95 29 April 2016 Realkredit Danmark reports net profit of DKK 1,069 million for the first quarter of 2016 Realkredit Danmark today published its report for the first quarter of 2016. The report is available at rd.dk. Highlights are shown below: The Realkredit Danmark Group recorded a net profit of DKK 1,069 million in the first quarter of 2016, against DKK 1,053 million in the first quarter of 2015. Net profit for the first quarter of 2016 was supported by a low level of impairments, while net profit in the first quarter of 2015 was supported by income from strong remortgaging activity and a relatively high return on the bond portfolio. Total income amounted to DKK 1,587 million, against DKK 1,806 million in the first quarter of 2015. At DKK 195 million, expenses were 3% lower than in the first quarter of 2015. Impairments fell to DKK 21 million from DKK 228 million in the same period of 2015. Impairments equalled 0.01% p.a. of total mortgage lending, against 0.06% for full year 2015. Customer interest in FlexLan loans with short refinancing intervals has been growing in the past few quarters, and in connection with the two most recent refinancing dates, there was a net increase in loans with short refinancing intervals. Realkredit Danmark still expects the profit for 2016 to be at the same level as in 2015. Carsten Nddebo, CEO, says: The first quarter of 2016 was characterised by lower activity than in the same period of last year. Still, we delivered a satisfactory result for the quarter mainly because of a fall in impairments and a net reversal of impairments made against exposures to business customers. The fall in impairments was due to general macroeconomic improvement in Denmark. Contact: Carsten Nddebo, CEO, tel. +45 45 13 20 82. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ but I can sort of see it here. I can't see what momentum means when you have a candidate that is way behind and wins two small contests back to back or gets a little positive coverage, but in a situation where the candidate is already way ahead, and trounces his opponents in 5 contests, and is sitting pretty while his opponents keep trying to come up with something to stop him and failing (dead on arrival alliance and awful vp announcement), I can sort of see people wanting to vote for the person who looks like the winner. I have to say, though it is a lot more like playing red rover in elementary school than momentum in physics. Once a team was doing very well, kids used to throw themselves at the harder linkages in order to join the team that was clearly winning. Because being on the team that only had 5 really strong kids left on it looked like it was depressing (I was never one of those strong kids, so I have no person experience with it). American Coatings Association Pushing for TSCA Reform Bills ACA has supported two bills: the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, S. 697, which passed the U.S. Senate on Dec. 17, 2015, and a House of Representatives bill, H.R. 2576, which passed June 23, 2015, on a 398-1 vote. The American Coatings Association, a nonprofit trade association for the paint and coatings industry,this week urged Congress to finalize a bill that will reform the Toxic Substances Control Act as soon as possible. TSCA reform has been in the works for years and advocated strongly by some in Congress, including the late New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died in 2013, but a final bill has yet to emerge during this Congress. ACA has supported two bills: the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, S. 697, which passed the U.S. Senate on Dec. 17, 2015, and a House of Representatives bill, H.R. 2576, which passed June 23, 2015, on a 398-1 vote. The TSCA was enacted in 1976; advocates of reform bills say it does not give EPA sufficient authority to regulate chemicals, and that many chemicals now on the market have never been evaluated for safety. ACA noted in an April 26 online article that urged quick action to get a final bill out of conference that EPA, which is responsible for implementing and enforcing TSCA, supports TSCA reform and told Congress which parts of each bill it preferred in a letter dated Jan. 20, 2016. "ACA has been pushing for modernization of the 40-year-old federal statute for the past five years, with the rationale that a strong federal chemicals management program is essential to avoid a patchwork of varied state chemicals management regulations," according to the article. "ACA supports a modernized, federal chemicals management program that will not only improve the public's confidence on the safety of chemicals, but will also provide businesses with much-needed certainty and consistency in the marketplace. While ACA applauds the progress that has been made to date, given that 2016 is an election year and the many remaining issues Congress must address (including the Supreme Court vacancy), the window of opportunity to pass legislation narrows every week. When it comes to TSCA Reform, time is truly of the essence. It is important that the coatings industry encourage Members of Congress to continue to be engaged and push for a timely resolution on TSCA reform as soon as possible." OSHA Finds Multiple Hazards After Battery Manufacturer's Worker Loses Part of a Finger Exide Technologies also received an alert letter for a lack of heat-stress program. After a worker suffered a partially amputated left middle finger, OSHA conducted a safety inspection at an Exide Technologies facility in Salina, Kansas, and has issued one willful and 10 serious safety and health violations. The agency also issued a hazard alert letter for failing to implement a heat-stress program, according to the agency's news release. OSHA has proposed $127,300 in penalties in the case. "Exide Technologies is exposing workers to dangerous electrical and machine hazards that can cause devastating and life-changing injuries like the one this worker suffered," said Judy Freeman, OSHA's area director in Wichita. "While working as a strip caster, this man joined 65 other Kansas workers who, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, suffered preventable, workplace amputation injuries in 2015. Exide needs to clean up its act and take immediate action to fix these hazards." According to investigators, the partial amputation occurred when the employee's left hand was caught in the unguarded belts, pulleys, and gears of a lead chopping machine. News Microsoft Intune Gets Additional Mobile Client Management Capabilities Microsoft announced some mobile application management progress this week for its Intune service. Intune is Microsoft's mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) service. It's sold as part of Microsoft's Enterprise Mobility Suite licensing, which also includes access to the Azure Active Directory Premium service and the Azure Rights Management Service. This software bundle aims at delivering mobile management, identity management and rights management controls for organizations across mobile platforms. Intune is but one solution in a crowded field. Last year, Gartner placed Microsoft in the "Visionaries" category among the various mobile management vendors out there. Intune has been slowly evolving as a product. It gets enhanced gradually because Microsoft is tasked with addressing the MDM/MAM aspects of different mobile platforms, including Android, iOS and Windows Phone, with each platform having specific built-in capabilities. Today's announcements just described a couple of Intune-related MAM progress milestones. Skype App Management First up, Intune now can handle the MAM and "conditional access" aspects of mobile Android and iOS client apps for Microsoft's Skype for Business Online service, Microsoft announced today. IT pros can set client mobile application policies for Skype for Business users. They can also establish policies that will set conditions for when devices are deemed suitable to connect with an organization's network, which Microsoft calls "conditional access." For instance, network access can be permitted only if the device is running the most up-to-date software. IT organizations can enforce the use of personal identification numbers. They can "selectively wipe corporate data while keeping personal apps and files intact," Microsoft's announcement stated. The distinction between MAM and MDM can get nuanced. However, Intune can be used to enforce MAM policies while also using other solutions for MDM purposes, Microsoft's announcement explained. IT pros have to turn on so-called "modern authentication" in the latter scenario, though. Here's how Microsoft defined this modern authentication capability: Modern authentication brings Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL)-based sign-in to Office client apps across platforms. This enables sign-in features such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), SAML-based third-party Identity Providers with Office client applications, smart card and certificate-based authentication, and it removes the need for Outlook to use the basic authentication protocol. Rights Management for Android Apps Microsoft's second Intune announcement this week is that it has extended its Azure Rights Management Service (RMS) to Android devices. The rights that get managed via Microsoft's service have to do with file access by end users. It's also possible to use Azure RMS to restrict other end user actions, such as the ability to copy and paste text across applications. Microsoft has now integrated Android apps under Intune's MAM capabilities. For instance, an Android RMS sharing app can be used to view audio and video files, as well as PDFs, from Microsoft Outlook or other Intune-managed applications, the company announced this week. An Intune subscription is only needed if an organization wants to tap MAM capabilities for these Android RMS sharing apps. Microsoft also has "existing viewer apps for PDF, AV and image" viewing, which are used with Intune-managed applications. However, these viewing apps eventually will get deprecated, meaning that Microsoft plans to stop developing them. "There will be notifications for organizations using these viewer apps," the company promised regarding the forthcoming deprecations, although no timeline was announced. Presumably, RMS sharing apps will be the preferred viewing apps going forward. Mexico's head of criminal investigations faced calls to be fired as the attorney general's office launched a probe into his handling of a crime scene in the disapperance of 43 students. The inspector general opened an investigation on Wednesday into officials present at a river in southern Guerrero state on October 28, 2014, the attorney general's office said in a statement on Thursday. Tomas Zeron, the head of the criminal investigations agency, was led that day by a suspect to the San Juan river, in which the burnt remains of students were allegedly tossed by a drug gang. Foreign experts who aided the investigation slammed Zeron's conduct, saying his failure to make a written report about the visit, including the discovery of a bone, went against the "minimum international standards of investigation." The experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights also said medical reports show that the suspect had injuries that strongly indicate he was tortured. The lawyers from Colombia and Chile, along with a Spanish psychologist, called for Zeron's actions to be investigated prior to the official announcement. Parents of the students and opposition lawmakers demanded that Zeron be fired. "It was Tomas Zeron who obstructed the process, who falsified all the evidence, who made people testify without they lawyer, which violates human rights," said Marko Cortes, who leads the conservative National Action Party in the lower house of Congress. Local human rights organizations issued a statement on behalf of the parents, saying that Zeron should be sacked "to allow an investigation into obstruction of justice." It was the latest condemnation of the government's handling of the case, which has caused outrage in Mexico and abroad, while President Enrique Pena Nieto's approval rating has dropped. - Investigator defends himself - Zeron vehemently denied any misconduct late Wednesday, saying his visit to the river site was legally sound. He released a video showing that he was indeed at the location with a suspect on October 28 but he said no crucial evidence was found that day. He said the bone that was discovered turned out to be that of a bird, and that a human bone was only found on October 29. Prosecutors say Iguala city police abducted the students and delivered them to a drug gang, which killed them, incinerated their bodies at a garbage dump in the nearby town of Cocula, and tossed the remains in the river. While the experts say an official picture shows that a bag containing a bone belonging to one student was marked "October 28," Zeron said it was a mistake by a forensic investigator and that the picture's metadata, which cannot be altered, is dated October 29. Zeron said the presence of two officials from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights seen near the site in his agency's video showed that he was not hiding anything. But the UN office issued a statement saying that the two officials were never taken to the river and were never aware that a suspect was there. (Video of the PAP rally by Stefanus Ian) The character and experience of the potential Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok should be key considerations for residents when they cast their vote in the upcoming by-election, said Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth. Fu made the point on Friday night (29 April) during the first Peoples Action Party (PAP) rally for the Bukit Batok by-election at Bukit Gombak Stadium. Calling Murali Pillai, PAPs candidate for the 7 May by-election, a humble person, Fu noted that the lawyer has been serving as a grassroots leader for 16 years. She contrasted Muralis track record with that of Chee Soon Juan, the Singapore Democratic Partys (SDP) chief and its candidate for the by-election. He (Chee) wants to be a full-time MP. As far as I know, he has not held a full-time job for a long time. Working experience is essential and when you want to employ someone, you will look at their experience. "It will be interesting to see if there is a referral letter (for Chee) from Chiam See Tong, she said. Various media reports have said over the years that Chee ousted former SDP chief Chiam from the party in 1993. But Chee and his other SDP members have denied the claim, saying that Chiam left the party voluntarily. Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (Photo: Bryan Huang/Yahoo Singapore) Fu was one of two PAP MPs who spoke at the rally, which was attended by over 300 people. Other PAP members like Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob and MPs Low Yen Ling and Rahayu Mahzam, were also at the stadium to give their support to Murali. Fu also questioned Chees capability to run a town council. It is not easy to start a town council. In some other constituency, the task of setting up (a town council) will consume management attention for many years, she said. "He has also offered to start many new programmes but has he started any social services even when he does not have a full-time job? she added. Story continues Halimah urged Bukit Batok residents to vote for a candidate who has been serving in the constituency for some time. Speaking in Malay, she pointed out that Murali has been a grassroots leader at Bukit Batok for 16 years and has been helping residents with many issues, such as job search and legal aid. She also questioned Chees character and reminded Bukit Batok residents about how the SDP chief had stalked and shouted at then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at Hong Kah West hawker centre in the run-up to the 2001 General Elections. I never forget how Chee shouted at then PM Goh. It is unbecoming, especially as Asians we need to respect our elders, said Halimah. Murali Pillai waving to supporters after the rally. (Photo: Bryan Huang/ Yahoo Singapore) In his speech, Murali reiterated that he will put the needs of Bukit Batok before his and insisted that if there is any clash between his interest and that of the residents, he will take care of the residents first. I want to make a positive difference for you and the day I stop doing so, I will leave and when I leave, I leave with the shirt on my back and nothing else, except memories of my service with you, he said. If you miss the PAPs first by-election rally, you can watch the YouTube video and a slideshow of the rally highlights. HaloDoc recently raises pre-Series A round from Djarum, Go-Jek, and Mensa Group HaloDoc CEO Jonathan Sudharta (left) with Head of Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Daeng Mohammad Faqih at HaloDocs recent grand launch event At the recent Indonesia E-commerce Summit & Expo event in Serpong, Tangerang, Detik reported that Indonesias President Joko Widodo specifically named four local startups that he believed will help push Indonesias position as the digital energy of Asia. HaloDoc is one of the startups that he mentioned, alongside agritech startups TaniHub, LimaKilo, and Nurbaya Initiative. They all need to be given full support in order to be able to move to the next level, the President said. HaloDoc is an online platform that facilitates long-distance consultation between doctors and patients. Available as a desktop site and mobile app, the platform enables patients to consult with doctors through video calls, voice calls and chat. A similar concept can be seen in the Philippines Medifi. It is a product of online health tech company MHealth Tech, and the service is integrated to the companys other products ApotikAntar (medicine delivery service), LinkDokter (a social media platform for Indonesian health practitioners), and Lab (booking platform for laboratory tests). It will also include appointment and directory features in the near future. The service was meant to complement the existing medical consultation services, and was not meant to replace those jobs. Also Read: They just started college, but HealthHacks PH is looking to hack Philippines healthtech scene HaloDoc also recently announced that it has received undisclosed pre-Series A funding from ride-hailing app Go-Jek, tobacco giant Djarum Group, as well as healthcare and logistics company Mensa Group. The company plans to use the funding to expand nationwide in order to fulfill its goal to operate in every single city in Indonesia. We will focus in Indonesia, even though there are some opportunities that we see in the region, said HaloDoc CEO Jonathan Sudharta in an e-mail to e27. Story continues To achieve the goal, the company actively reached out to medical communities by participating in events attended by doctors. It also reached out to potential users by conducting a Corporate Social Responsibility programme, apart from doing offline and online events. Based in Jakarta, HaloDoc currently operates with 60 employees. It claimed to have secured 17,000 doctors in LinkDoctor platform; about 1,000 of them already downloaded the platform, with a daily growth of 50 doctors. Also Read: This investor wants to create opportunities in digital health for emerging markets The founding of HaloDoc was inspired by Sudhartas own experience, consulting via text messages and video conference with his doctor friends. I happen to know many doctors as friends, so whenever I got sick I always call them and ask for consultations. If need it, we chat using video [conference] platforms, he said. Then I thought, Why not get everybody in the country to connect with as many doctors, as we already have LinkDokter? he continued. The idea becomes more relevant especially as there are many challenges faced by Indonesian medical sector, and the platform is able to offer solutions. Congestion is the major issue faced by patients in Jakarta and other big cities, while rural areas are experiencing scarcity in several types of medical professionals. We only have 600 cardiologist, that means one cardiologist must take care of 431,000 patients. Even then the distribution is very bad. With HaloDoc, hopefully we can ease the pain, he explained. Sudharta started out his career as a medical representative in pharmaceutical company PT Otto Pharmaceutical Industries, a subsidiary of Mensa Group (which later invested in HaloDoc). Though he studied economics with a specialty in e-commerce at Curtin University, Perth, Australia, the pharmaceutical sector has always been his true calling. Image Credit: HaloDoc The post This is the Indonesian healthtech startup that President Joko Widodo has been talking about appeared first on e27. AFP News Ukraine on Sunday denounced as dangerous lies suggestions from Russia that it was preparing to use a "dirty bomb". Its western allies also dismissed the allegations from Moscow, just hours after Russia went public with the claims. In conversations with his British, French and Turkish counterparts, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu conveyed "concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a 'dirty bomb'", Moscow said. Russia did not mention the alleged "dirty bomb" allegation in its statement following Shoigu's call with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin. "If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on social media. "I believe that now the world should react as harshly as possible." Earlier Sunday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounced Moscow's claims as "absurd" and "dangerous". "Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves," he added. A British defence ministry statement said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had "refuted these claims and cautioned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for greater escalation". And in Washington, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson dismissed Moscow's "transparently false" claim. "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation," she added. - 'Vile strikes' - Russia also announced Sunday that it had destroyed a depot in central Ukraine storing over 100,000 tonnes of aviation fuel. Kyiv's energy operator meanwhile said scheduled power cuts had been introduced in the Ukrainian capital due to Russia's repeated strikes on the nation's power network. The blackouts started from 11:13 am (0813 GMT) with consumers in Kyiv divided into three groups "disconnected for a certain period of time", energy company DTEK said. DTEK reiterated calls for residents to use electricity "sparingly" and for businesses to limit their use of external lighting. More than one million Ukrainian households have lost electricity following recent Russian strikes, according to the Ukrainian presidency, at least a third of the country's power stations having been destroyed ahead of winter. Zelensky condemned the "vile strikes" in comments late Saturday, after Russian attacks caused power cuts across the country. - 'Save your strength' - In the southern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rig, deputy mayor Sergiy Miliutin was dealing with emergencies and power outages from his underground bunker, used as a venue for a children's martial arts competition. "I've reached a point where I just survive on my drive. You have to stay level-headed and save your strength. No one knows how long this will all last," he told AFP. The intensification of Russian strikes on Ukraine, particularly energy facilities, came after the bridge linking the annexed Crimea peninsula to mainland Russia was partially destroyed by an explosion earlier this month. It was another major setback for Moscow's forces, battling to contain a Ukrainian counter-offensive in the south and east of the country. French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that it was for Ukrainians to decide when "peace is possible", in comments made in Rome at the start of a peace summit. Ukraine reported three deaths in an overnight Russian artillery strike in the Toretsk area, a governor of the eastern Donetsk region said. Inside Russia, two lines of defence have been built in the border region of Kursk to deal with any possible attack, a local governor said on Sunday. On Saturday Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor in the neighbouring Russian border region of Belgorod, said the construction of defence structures had begun. Gladkov said two civilians had been killed in strikes there Saturday, and that 15,000 people had been left without electricity. - Kherson evacuations - Meanwhile Ukraine's SBU intelligence service said it had detained two officials of Ukrainian aircraft engine maker Motor Sich on suspicion of working with Russia. The SBU said management at the company's plant in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region -- partly controlled by Russian forces -- had colluded with Russian state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec. The suspects had supplied Russia with Ukrainian aircraft engines that were used to make and repair attack helicopters, the SBU said. In the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, which Russia claims to have annexed, pro-Moscow officials on Saturday urged residents to leave "immediately" amid a "tense situation" at the front. Kherson, the region's main city, was the first to fall to Moscow's troops and retaking it would be a major prize in Ukraine's counter-offensive. A Moscow-installed official in Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, told Russian news agency Interfax on Saturday that around 25,000 people had left Kherson city to the left bank of the Dnipro River. Ukraine has denounced the removal of residents from Kherson, describing them as "deportations". bur-imm/raz/jj/lcm - A British citizen it has been confirmed is the head of the Islamic State (ISIS) in East Africa, Abdul Qadir Mumin who holds a British passport is believed to leading a group of ISIS militants who defected from al-Shabaab - The ISIS militants are accused of sexual and physical abuse on women in Somalia Abdul Qadir Mumin, a British citizen is believed to be the head of ISIS in East Africa. According to a report by British news channel, Sky news, Mumin leads a large number of militants who joined the Islamic State from al-Shabaab. Sky news reports that Mumin and his group are recruiting child soldiers to swell their numbers. The group says boys some aged between 10 and 15, are targets for the militia. READ ALSO: ISIS launches its first attack in East Africa after bombing Amisom Mumin and his group are said to be based in remote Galgala mountains in north eastern Somalia after being defeated by Somali government forces in a nearby town. Puntland army commander, General Mohammed Saed Hirsi said they need international assistance to combat terrorism or the world will suffer from its effects. READ ALSO: New terrorist group vow to challenge al-Shabaab dominance Abdul Qadir Mumin the leader of ISIS in East Africa. Photo: www.thetimes.co.uk Mumin and his ISIS terror group have been accused of sexual and physical abuse on women in Somalia. Children were also not spared by the terror group under Mumin as he used force to train them to be jihadist militants. A child soldier who tries to escape from ISIS was usually tied up to a tree for 24 hours and beaten with canes. READ ALSO: AMISOM captures al-Shabaab stronghold Photo: Reuters Source: TUKO.co.ke Walkie talkie tower 2 Getty Images Britain's upcoming referendum on its EU membership known as "Brexit" has almost completely killed overseas investment in commercial property, according to a survey released on Thursday by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Only 5% of RICS firms reported an increased demand from international investors for British commercial property in the last quarter compared with 36% from the same period last year. London was hit hardest, with 80% of respondents agreeing that Brexit uncertainty had curtailed overseas investment in the capital. The report added that the most likely beneficiaries of a Brexit would be Paris, Frankfurt and Dublin as many corporations would move their offices to remain in the EU trading bloc. Economists have struggled to predict how Britain will be affected in the wake of a Brexit, and this is reflected in the polls, with neither the "Leave" or "Remain" campaign taking a significant lead in the last month. Even the recent pleas by President Obama for the UK to stay in the EU didn't sway opinions, with the Leave faction even edging ahead in a recent YouGov poll. The RICS report concluded that despite the investment slowdown, the UK would probably be fine even if a Brexit happened: "London is likely to remain a magnet for investment, but it is harder to anticipate how other major cities and the devolved nations will be affected. Scotlands pre-referendum slow-down in commercial activity still saw degrees of investor appetite and occupation, and witnessed a bounce-back from held back investment and occupation decisions." NOW WATCH: FORMER GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: The single largest threat to the global economy See Also: SEE ALSO: Britain's economy will be significantly damaged by Brexit's impact on immigration By Xiaowen Bi HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's securities regulator ordered the country's major commodity futures exchanges this week to control speculative trading activity, sources told Reuters, after a surge in prices sparked fears of a boom-and-bust cycle. In response, commodity futures exchanges in Dalian, Shanghai and Zhengzhou ordered major institutional investors that lack a commodities background to rein in their trading, three people with direct knowledge of the situation said. The sources didn't define what was meant by a lack of background in commodities. Investors, including hedge funds and retail investors, have placed big bets on Chinese commodities futures this year, driving up contracts including in iron ore, rebar, cotton and even eggs. The rally has prompted many analysts to warn of similarities with a boom in the country's stock markets, which reversed into a sharp crash last summer. "Many local media and researchers mentioned the huge volume and volatility," said one of the people. "The regulator felt nervous. They hope to keep stability." The CSRC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman at the Dalian Commodity Exchange declined to comment on the CSRC order, but said the exchange would further improve its mechanism for controlling risks. The Shanghai Futures Exchange did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange could not be reached for comment. The people said the CSRC ordered the exchanges on Monday to bring speculative trading under control. They said the latest measures are partly aimed at cracking down on high-frequency trading, although they did not provide further details. However, the exchanges have made several public announcements this week of measures that increase the cost of trading, such as a rise in transaction fees and minimum margin requirements, action that has taken some of the heat out of the rally and traded volumes. Market trading limits have also been widened. Story continues At their peak this year, Dalian iron ore had risen 73 percent, and Shanghai rebar 62 percent. On some days, the trading volume in iron ore futures on the Dalian exchange exceeded China's total imports for 2015. Analysts said speculators have been betting that government plans for more infrastructure spending and signs of a pick up in the economy would fuel more demand for commodities. Others suggested commodities futures markets were the only place left for speculators to make quick profits given weakness in stocks, bonds and housing. The measures this week appear to be having an impact. Steel and iron ore futures steadied on Thursday, while other commodities fell further. "The aim is to restrict the oversized space for profiting from short-term trades, reduce elevated holdings of related products and curb speculation," the Dalian Commodity Exchange said on Wednesday, referring to the moves to increase trading costs. The volatility in prices has already deterred some major industry players from using the futures market, causing some to take losses and others to reduce their positions. It also marks a setback for attempts to give China's domestic markets more influence over global pricing, analysts say. A run up in steel prices has been blamed for encouraging some idled steel mills to restart production, adding to a production glut in the country and exports of the metal, which is upsetting other countries. The CSRC came under fire as China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets slumped as much as 40 percent in just a few months last summer. In a further blow, a stock index "circuit breaker" introduced in January to limit stock market losses was deactivated after four days of use because it was blamed for exacerbating a sharp selloff. In its attempts to stabilise stock markets last year, the CSRC instituted a flurry of blunt measures including halting short selling, suppressing trading in index futures and banning share sales by major shareholders in companies. The official state news agency Xinhua reported in February, without giving details, that the head of the regulator had been removed and succeeded by Liu Shiyu. (Additional reporting by Ruby Lian in SHANGHAI and Watson Zhang in BEIJING: Writing by Pete Sweeney; Editing by Jason Subler and Neil Fullick) It's deja vu all over again! What's the latest fight about? The International Monetary Fund has lost patience with the strained math of the Greek bailout plan. It is refusing to lend Greece any more money, unless either the country enacts extra austerity to guarantee a high budget surplus, or eurozone countries led by Germany write down a lot of what Greece owes them. Germanys irascible finance minister, Wolfgang Schauble, is taking a hard line against any debt relief. So the IMF, with German encouragement, is taking a hard line on Greek budget cuts. The IMF is convinced that previously negotiated austerity measures will leave Greece short of its agreed targeta budget surplus before interest of 3.5% of GDP in 2018by two percentage points. So the IMF wants Greece to guarantee now that it will automatically impose extra cuts worth 2% of GDP if the budget is off target. The axe should fall on pensions, public-sector pay, and tax exemptions, the IMF thinks, because all other Greek spending has already been cut toodeeply, and tax rates are already too high. Greeces finance minister, Euclid Tsakalotos, is adamant that legislating a list of extra budget cuts that are conditional on future budget data is politically and legally impossible. His compromise proposals so far are not specific or automatic enough for the IMF. Mr. Tsakalotos has repeatedly warned lenders that he would sooner resign than give in, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Can anyone broker a deal? European Union officials are trying. The EUs executive arm, the European Commission, is pressing the IMF to back down. And Dutch finance chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem has called a meeting of the Eurogroup ofeurozone finance ministers, which he chairs, for May 9. That meeting could debate debt relief for Greece, an incentive for Athens. But debt talks first need clarity on Greeces budget. Thus, the May 9 date sets a deadline for a Greek-IMF compromise. Story continues European officials are hoping in typically inelegant EU-speakthat a commitment technology, or formula for the 2% contingency measures, can be both tough enough for the IMF and gentle enough for Athens. But they dont know how. The Europeans are trying to will an agreement into existence, says Nick Malkoutzis, founder of Greece-analysis website MacroPolis. What are the possible solutions? One of the three main actors has to cave in. The IMF could accept Greeces offer to trim all public spending, in case its budget is off target, without enumerating specific cuts to politically sensitive areas such as pensions. But that could be a compromise too far for the IMF, which thinks it has already compromised too much with both Greece and Germany. The IMF isnt under much pressure to strike a deal; many fund officials would be relieved if they dont have to take part in the Greek bailout any more. It hasnt been a happy experience. Germany could back Greeces compromise offer, and lose IMF participation. But Chancellor Angela Merkel has spent six years telling her parliament and public that the Greek bailout plan is only credible if the IMF is on board. Berlin doesnt trust the Brussels-based commission to police the bailout strictly. Ms. Merkel wants to avoid Grexit, because of its unpredictable economic and political fallout. Mr. Schauble wouldnt mind so much: He has long thought Greek politicians arent up to the rigors of euro membership. Greece could give in to the IMFs demands, with face-saving concessions for Mr. Tsakalotos and his boss, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Greece is under time pressure to do a deal. With its bailout aid frozen, the country is burning through its low cash reserves. The government can pay pensions and wages in May but not June, European officials say. So the likely outcome is that Greece blinks? The unpredictable factor is Syriza and its leader, Mr. Tsipras. Many politicians and other close observers in Athens say the IMFs terms would not survive a vote in parliament, where the Syriza-led coalition has a majority of only three seats. Rather than lose his lawmakers support in parliament, Mr. Tsipras might choose snap elections, which opinion polls suggest would put Syriza in opposition. Then the conservative New Democracy party would have to deal with the IMF, whose demands it too rejects. Mr. Tsakalotos is telling the IMF that no elected government could dowhat it asks, according to people familiar with the talks. Well soonsee if hes right. DUBLIN, April 29 (Reuters) - Acting Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny moved closer to ending weeks of political deadlock on Friday when his Fine Gael party secured the agreement of rival Fianna Fail to facilitate a minority government under his leadership. "We have an agreement," acting transport minister Paschal Donohoe told journalists after weeks of talks between the two parties. Under the deal Fianna Fail will abstain in key votes, enabling the government to pass legislation. With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) all other parties in Ireland (Other OTC: IRLD - news) 's fractured parliament refusing to join Fine Gael in government, the centre-right party needs to secure the support of some of the 14 independent lawmakers it has been in talks with for weeks. (Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Hugh Lawson) By Roberta Rampton and Stephen Kalin ERBIL, Iraq/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other top officials in unannounced visits to Baghdad and Erbil on Thursday to show support for a government battling Islamic State amid political and economic crises. It was the first visit for Biden, the White House's point person on Iraq, since U.S. forces withdrew in 2011 after nearly nine years of occupation. He was the third and highest-level U.S. official to visit the country this month. Islamic State, also known as ISIL, seized large portions of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in 2014. Iraqi forces have won back some territory, such as the western city of Ramadi, but often after long battles that have left the areas destroyed. Biden's trip, several months in the planning, is a sign of the progress Washington believes Iraqi forces have made in beating back the militants over the past year and its hope that the northern city of Mosul can be recaptured before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office in January. "This is a good indication of the United States' continued support for Prime Minister Abadi's efforts to unify the nation of Iraq to confront ISIL," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. The vice president has close relationships with Iraqi leaders and speaks with them about every 10 days. Still, "there's no substitute for being able to sit down face-to-face," a U.S. official said. Biden, a longtime U.S. senator before becoming vice president in 2009, said he had been to Iraq almost 30 times during his career. His first stop on Thursday was Baghdad where he met Abadi and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri to discuss "progress" in the fight against Islamic State, including plans to retake Mosul. "It's real. It's serious. It's committed," Biden told reporters. Iraqi officials say they will retake Mosul this year but, in private, many question whether that is possible. Biden hopes some progress can be made before the extreme summer heat, a senior administration official said. He later flew to Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, for a 90-minute working dinner with the Kurdistan region's president, Massoud Barzani, to discuss the Mosul offensive in which Kurdish peshmerga forces are expected to have a critical role. The peshmerga have emerged as a key component of a U.S.-led coalition's strategy to "degrade and destroy" Islamic State, driving the insurgents back in northern Iraq with the help of air strikes despite a financial crisis that has made it difficult to pay salaries. POLITICAL CRISIS Biden's trip also served to counter a "misperception in the region" that Iran, which backs powerful Shi'ite Muslim militias fighting Islamic State in Iraq, has undue influence in the nation, the U.S. official added. But it comes at a turbulent time in Iraqi politics. Abadi has faced resistance to a government overhaul aimed at tackling corruption. He won lawmakers' approval to replace a handful of ministers on Tuesday after delays and disruptions. The political battle has also sparked populist protests that forced the government to bring back troops from the front lines to secure the capital. U.S. officials have expressed concern that unrest could distract from the war effort. Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Baghdad earlier this month to show their support. "It's been a pretty all-consuming political affair," a senior U.S. official told reporters, noting recent signs of a "calmer trajectory" in the drama. Obama has said he has seen "momentum" in the efforts of the coalition fighting Islamic State, and recently authorized more U.S. forces to go to Iraq and Syria to help train and assist local fighters. Their goal is to help Iraqi and Kurdish forces retake Mosul by the end of the year. The United States has already redeployed several thousand troops to Iraq to help defeat Islamic State. The White House is concerned that not enough is being spent to rebuild parts of Iraq devastated by the fight, a deficit made worse by the low price of oil, Iraq's main revenue source. The United Nations is urgently seeking $400 million from Washington and its allies for reconstruction, while Obama asked Gulf Arab leaders to assist during a visit to Riyadh last week. He also discussed the issue with European leaders in London and Hanover, Germany, and told reporters Iraqi reconstruction would be a topic for the G7 meeting in Japan next month and for NATO. Biden, whose late son Beau spent a year in Iraq with the Army, later spoke with U.S. troops and embassy workers. He showed them a daily tally of the number of U.S. troops serving, killed and injured in the line of duty that he carries in his front suit pocket. "The history of this region is a nightmare from which everyone is constantly trying to awake," he said, adapting a line from Irish novelist James Joyce. (Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Peter Cooney) Philip Hammond has said Britain is keen to forge "new links" with Cuba - as he became the first Foreign Secretary to visit the island since before the 1959 revolution. Mr Hammond's trip follows Barack Obama's historic visit last month, which was intended to normalise US-Cuba relations after decades of hostility. The Foreign Secretary is holding meetings to discuss social and economic change in the Caribbean nation, human rights and global health threats such as the Zika virus. He is also expected to sign an agreement restructuring Cuba's debt to the UK, as well as agreeing future cooperation on financial services, energy, culture and education. Mr Hammond's first stop after arriving was Revolution Square in Havana, where he laid a wreath to Cuban independence hero Jose Marti. He also held talks with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla. Mr Hammond said: "Britain and Cuba have outlooks on the world and systems of government that are very different. "But as Cuba enters a period of significant social and economic change, I am looking forward to demonstrating to the Cuban government and people that the UK is keen to forge new links across the Atlantic. "That is why Cuba and the UK are set to reach new cooperation agreements on energy, financial services, education and culture, to the benefit of both our nations. "As the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Cuba since before the Cuban Revolution in 1959, this is an opportunity to hear for myself what Cuba thinks about its present challenges and where it sees its future." WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - The White House on Friday said talks to install a new anti-missile defense system in South Korea would continue in the wake of nuclear arms and missile tests by North Korea despite calls by China and Russia for the United States to back off. The United States and South Korea have begun talks on possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system after North Korea tested its fourth nuclear bomb on Jan. 6 and conducted missile tests. The nuclear test and missile launches violate U.N. resolutions against North Korea backed by Russia and China. U.S. and South Korean officials have expressed concern the North could attempt a fifth nuclear test in a show of strength ahead of its Workers' Party congress, which begins on May 6. North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two intermediate range ballistic missiles on Thursday, but both failed, according to the U.S. military. On Friday, the White House said it was still in talks with its close ally South Korea and that the system, if installed, would not threaten other countries. "Those discussions are ongoing," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters. "That equipment would be oriented toward the threat that is posed by North Korea, not oriented toward China or Russia." Speaking at joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier on Friday called on the United States to respect "legitimate concerns" of China and Russia over the missile system. "This move goes beyond the defensive needs of the relevant countries. If it is deployed it will directly impact China's and Russia's respective strategic security," Wang said. "Not only does it threaten the resolution of the peninsula nuclear issue, it quite possibly could pour oil on the fire of an already tense situation, and even destroy strategic equilibrium on the peninsula." North Korea's actions should not be used as an excuse to make moves that would escalate tensions, especially the U.S. deployment of an anti-missile system, Lavrov said, according to an interpretation in Chinese. North Korea's drive to develop a nuclear weapons capability has angered China, Pyongyang's sole major diplomatic and economic supporter. But Beijing fears THAAD and its radar have a range that would extend into China. Chinese President Xi Jinping has said Beijing would not allow war and chaos to break out on the Korean peninsula. Earnest gave no timing on when talks with South Korea may concluded but added that "the United States is prepared to invest resources in keeping them safe." North and South Korea remain technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, rather than a treaty. The North routinely threatens to destroy South Korea and the United States. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Nick Macfie and Cynthia Osterman) By Ayman al-Warfalli BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - A government based in eastern Libya has shipped its first cargo of crude in defiance of authorities in the capital Tripoli, a bold move that could deepen the divisions that have brought chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. The Tripoli authorities asked the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to blacklist the India-flagged tanker Distya Ameya, which left the eastern Libyan port of Hariga overnight carrying oil they said could not be lawfully sold. The eastern government has set up its own National Oil Corporation (NOC) to act in parallel to the Tripoli-based NOC that is recognised internationally as the only legitimate seller of Libyan oil. The tanker departed Hariga carrying 650,000 barrels of crude late on Monday bound for Malta, said Mohamed al-Manfi, a spokesman for the eastern NOC. Maltese national TV said the ship was in international waters near Malta. The island's Port Directorate said the tanker was not authorised to dock there and requests would be refused. The ship last reported its position through the publicly available AIS tracking system earlier on Tuesday as still in Libyan waters. Libya's economy depends almost exclusively on oil export revenue and the fight over who controls those funds has driven chronic instability and civil war since long-serving autocrat Gaddafi was toppled and killed by Western-backed rebels in 2011. Parallel parliaments and governments have operated in Tripoli and the east since 2014. Much of the country is in the hands of dozens of armed groups loyal to one or other government, while small areas are controlled by Islamic State fighters. Political division, labour disputes and security threats have reduced Libya's oil output to less than a quarter of the 1.6 million barrels per day produced before the uprising. A U.N.-backed unity government, which arrived in the capital last month, includes figures from across Libya's divides but has not yet been fully accepted by either of the two loose alliances fighting for power since 2014. UN RESOLUTIONS It was not immediately clear how the eastern NOC could conduct a sale given the international opposition. One possibility might be to attempt a ship-to-ship transfer in international waters. "We are concerned about purchases of Libyan oil outside of legitimate channels," U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday, emphasizing that all sales should go through the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation. The United States has stopped unauthorised sales of Libyan oil in the past, sending special forces in 2014 to board a tanker off Cyprus loaded with crude shipped by a group pressing for more autonomy in eastern Libya. The U.S. troops forced that ship to return. Another senior U.S. official declined to be drawn on whether Washington might undertake a similar operation, saying it would "look at all appropriate mechanisms to address the situation." If the shipment went through, it could spark copycat sales that would further shrink the unity government's revenues. "That's very bad for Libya and very threatening, potentially, to the viability of any Libyan government," the second U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. Among U.S. concerns are that such oil sales could fund arms purchases by those resisting the unity government's authority. The official said the United States and other nations could impose sanctions on those found to violate U.N. Security Council resolutions on Libya, though he did not provide details. The eastern NOC has long been trying to sell its own oil, but until now those efforts have been blocked by the NOC in Tripoli, with the support of Western countries. The NOC in Tripoli says any sale by its eastern rival would breach U.N. Security Council resolutions and put the future of Libya's economy at risk. NOC Tripoli officials said on Tuesday they had notified the United Nations, countries with naval forces in the Mediterranean and a unity government now working in Tripoli that the shipment had not been authorised and should be stopped. "We have done our job and we are waiting for them to do theirs," said spokesman Mohamed al-Harari. The NOC in Tripoli has continued to run oil production throughout the crisis that followed Gaddafi's fall, with the funds paying state salaries across Libya, including many of the rival armed groups, which have generally been granted official status. The Tripoli NOC has retained international backing, and says it is working to plan future oil sales with the new U.N.-backed unity government. News of the eastern NOC's effort to export its first shipment of oil emerged late last week, when the NOC in Tripoli said it had prevented port workers from loading oil onto the Distya Ameya. It said the shipment had been ordered for a company called DSA Consultancy FZC, registered in the United Arab Emirates. (Additional reporting by Ahmad Gaddar and Libby George in London, Chris Scicluna in Valletta and Aidan Lewis in Tunis; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by James Dalgleish and Richard Chang) Today in One Paragraph Ted Cruz named Carly Fiorina his running mate. Donald Trump pledged to put America first in an uncharacteristically formal address on foreign policy. Bernie Sanderss campaign started laying off members of its staff in the wake of a series of defeats in the Northeast. Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican speaker of the House, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a bank fraud case linked to sexual-abuse allegations. The U.S. Supreme Court appears to be leaning toward overturning former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnells corruption conviction. And the White House announced that President Obama will visit Flint, Michigan, next week. Top News Cruz Picks His Running Mate. Ted Cruz announced former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina as his vice presidential pick, calling her a woman of extraordinary intelligence and deep principle. Cruz also touted Fiorinas respect for the Constitution and her understanding of the threats facing the United States. (Jonathan Karl, Jessica Hopper, Ben Gittleson, and Veronica Stracqualursi, ABC News) Recommended: John Boehner on Ted Cruz: 'Lucifer in the Flesh' Trump Promises America First. Coming off a five-state win in Tuesdays primaries, the Republican front-runner laid out his foreign policy agenda in Washington, where he called for a stronger U.S. military, blasted President Obamas nuclear deal with Iran, and vowed to put American security first. Trumps prepared remarks, which were a departure from his usual off-the-cuff speeches, will be the first in a series of policy addresses. (Jeremy Diamond and Stephen Collinson, CNN) Sanders Campaign Takes a Turn. The Vermont senators campaign began letting field staff go after Tuesdays primaries left him trailing Hillary Clinton by an even greater margin. We're 80 percent of the way through the caucuses and primaries and we make adjustments as we go along, said Sanders's campaign communications director Michael Briggs. This is a process that weve done before of right-sizing the campaign as we move through the calendar. (Gabriel Debenedetti, Politico) Story continues Former House Speaker Sentenced. A federal judge sentenced Dennis Hastert to 15 months in prison, along with a $250,000 fine and two years of supervised release after violating bank regulations in an attempt to cover up allegations that he sexually abused teenage boys during his tenure at Yorkville High School. Nothing is more disturbing than having serial child molester and speaker of the House in the same sentence, said the judge. (Aamer Madhani, USA Today) Recommended: How to Save the Republican Party SCOTUS Hears McDonnell Appeal. The Supreme Court appeared to be considering reversing the corruption conviction of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. During oral arguments, several of the justices seemed unsatisfied with the standard to use when deciding whether political actions are corrupt or routine. The justices will vote on the case Friday, and a ruling is expected in June. (Nina Totenberg, NPR) Obama to Visit Flint. White House officials announced that the president will travel to Flint, Michigan, on May 4 to hear firsthand from Flint residents about the public health crisis, receive an in-person briefing on the federal efforts in place...and deliver remarks to community members. (Todd Spangler, The Detroit Free Press) Tomorrow in One Paragraph. Ted Cruz is campaigning in Indiana. John Kasich will be in Oregon. And Donald Trump will campaign in California. 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 For even the savviest of presidents, the relationship between a commander in chief and his military is famously fraught, an intricate dance of egos and agendas, worldviews and bureaucracies. A President Trump, however, could usher in a clash of historic proportion. The Huffington Posts Andy Kroll on how the U.S. military is preparing for the prospect of a Trump presidency. Top Lines Commonwealth in Crisis. Puerto Ricos debt now totals over $70 billion and Congress does little. The Atlantics Vann Newkirk writes that no state has recently faced such dire straits as Puerto Rico, even during the Great Recession. Will Congress help them? Recommended: Donald Trump and the GOP Tradition of Foreign-Policy Incoherence Meet Melania. Donald Trumps wife, an ex-model from Slovenia, moved to New York City to make it big, but her next stop might be even bigger: the White House. (Julia Ioffe, GQ) Top Views Re-evaluating the White House Race. Check out these delegate charts to see where each presidential candidate stands after Tuesdays nominating contests. (Kevin Schaul and Samuel Granados, The Washington Post) 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. -Written by Elaine Godfrey (@elainejgodfrey) Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. DAKAR (Reuters) - Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has won re-election, securing 93.7 percent of votes cast in an April 24 poll to extend his 37-year rule over the Central African oil producer, a government statement said on Thursday. Obiang, Africa's longest-serving leader, has ruled the former Spanish colony since 1979 when he staged a bloody military coup and ousted his uncle, who was later executed. Obiang's closest challenger in the polls was Avelino Mocache Benga, who won just 1.5 percent of the vote, according to complete provisional results. Turnout was 92.9 percent, the statement from Equatorial Guinea's Office of Information and Press said. With territory divided between the African mainland and islands in the Gulf of Guinea, Equatorial Guinea boasts the highest GDP per capita in Africa thanks to its extensive oil and gas reserves. However, it ranks 144 out of 187 states listed on the United Nations' 2014 Human Development Index. Critics say oil money is funnelled to a rich elite while much of the country lives in poverty. A 2004 U.S. Senate probe showed millions of dollars channelled by Obiang and his relatives into the disgraced Riggs Bank. (Reporting by Makini Brice; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Andrew Roche) By Jim Finkle (Reuters) - SWIFT, the global financial network that banks use to transfer billions of dollars every day, warned its customers on Monday that it was aware of "a number of recent cyber incidents" where attackers had sent fraudulent messages over its system. The disclosure came as law enforcement authorities in Bangladesh and elsewhere investigated the February cyber theft of $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank account at the New York Federal Reserve Bank. SWIFT has acknowledged that the scheme involved altering SWIFT software on Bangladesh Bank's computers to hide evidence of fraudulent transfers. Monday's statement from SWIFT marked the first acknowledgement that the Bangladesh Bank attack was not an isolated incident but one of several recent criminal schemes that aimed to take advantage of the global messaging platform used by some 11,000 financial institutions. "SWIFT is aware of a number of recent cyber incidents in which malicious insiders or external attackers have managed to submit SWIFT messages from financial institutions' back-offices, PCs or workstations connected to their local interface to the SWIFT network," the group warned customers on Monday in a notice seen by Reuters. The warning, which SWIFT issued in a confidential alert sent over its network, did not name any victims or disclose the value of any losses from the previously undisclosed attacks. SWIFT confirmed to Reuters the authenticity of the notice. SWIFT, or the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is a cooperative owned by 3,000 financial institutions. Also on Monday, SWIFT released a security update to the software that banks use to access its network to thwart malware that security researchers with British defense contractor BAE Systems said was probably used by hackers in the Bangladesh Bank heist.[L2N17S0RG] BAE's evidence suggested that hackers manipulated SWIFT's Alliance Access server software, which banks use to interface with SWIFT's messaging platform, to cover their tracks. BAE said it could not explain how the fraudulent orders were created and pushed through the system. But SWIFT provided some evidence about how that happened in its note to customers, saying that in most cases the modus operandi was similar. It said the attackers obtained valid credentials for operators authorized to create and approve SWIFT messages, then submitted fraudulent messages by impersonating those people. FOLLOWING THE MONEY Cyber security experts said more attacks could surface as SWIFT's banking clients look to see if their SWIFT access has been compromised. Shane Shook, a banking security consultant who investigates large financial crime, said hackers were turning to SWIFT and other private financial messaging platforms because such attacks can generate more revenue than going after consumers or small businesses. "These hacks specifically target financial institutions because smaller efforts result in much larger thefts," he said. "It's much more efficient than stealing from consumers." Justin Harvey, chief security officer with Fidelis Cybersecurity, said hackers followed the money and would be drawn into such schemes in hopes of emulating a big heist like the one on Bangladesh Bank. "After the Bangladesh Bank heist became public, every other attacker out there is looking to see if they can do the same," he said. SWIFT spokeswoman Natasha Deteran told Reuters that the commonality in these cases was that internal or external attackers compromised the banks own environments to obtain valid operator credentials. "Customers should do their utmost to protect against this," she said in an email to Reuters. SWIFT told customers that the security update must be installed by May 12. "We have made the Alliance interface software update mandatory as it is designed to help banks identify situations in which attackers have attempted to hide their traces - whether these actions have been executed manually or through malware," she said. (Reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston; Additional reporting by Serajul Quadir in Dhaka; Editing by Jonathan Weber, Martin Howell and Peter Cooney) POTSDAM, Germany (Reuters) - Migrants should no longer be able to get to Germany and Europe via the Balkan route, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Friday, adding he was concerned refugee numbers would rise with people now coming to Italy by sea from Libya. "It's clear that the Balkan route is a thing of the past and no longer will or should be a place again from where people will be waved through to Germany and Austria and to the center of Europe," he said at a joint news conference with Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka in Potsdam near Berlin. "Now the issue is alternative routes ... we are of course concerned that we'll get rising refugee numbers again as they come via Libya and Italy," he added. De Maiziere said he agreed with Austria that the situation at Italy's northern border should not replicate the situation on the Balkan route last year. Austria has said it might reintroduce border controls at the Alpine Brenner pass to keep migrants from coming from Italy and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said Austria's plans to build a fence there were "shamelessly against European rules". Sobotka said the measure was necessary to prevent the route from turning into a major corridor for migrants seeking to reach northern Europe after they arrive to Italy through the Mediterranean from Libya and other north Africa nations. "What we have demonstrated is that the rule of law, the essential measure for us is that we want to register people who come to Austria, that our borders are not overrun," Sobotka said. He added: "This border management that has been in place since February is effective and we have applied this on the border with Hungary ... and we are preparing for this on the border with Italy." De Maiziere and Sobotka both piled pressure on Italy to take responsibility. "What is happening at the Brenner border crossing lies first and foremost in the hands of Italy," de Maiziere, said, adding that on the issue of border controls, states were working together but still needed a few more days to reach a European solution. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Michelle Martin and Joseph Nasr; Editing by Balazs Koranyi) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India said on Thursday it had asked Britain to deport Vijay Mallya, the liquor tycoon who flew to London last month as bankers pressed him to repay about $1.4 billion owed by his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. The Ministry of External Affairs has written to the British High Commission seeking Mallya's return so that "his presence can be secured for investigations against him" under India's anti-moneylaundering law, spokesman Vikas Swarup told reporters. The liquor tycoon and Formula 1 boss has not disclosed his whereabouts since flying first class from Delhi to London on March 2, leaving the Indian government and bankers red faced as they try to crack down on high-profile defaulters. The foreign ministry last Sunday revoked Mallya's diplomatic passport that he carried as a member of parliament's upper house. The move was a step towards launching a bid to bring home Mallya, who is the subject of a non-bailable warrant issued by a special judge in Mumbai. The Enforcement Directorate, a government agency set up to fight financial crime, has accused Mallya's UB Group of using 4.3 billion rupees ($64.5 million) of bank loans to Kingfisher to buy property overseas. Creditors, led by State Bank of India , have rejected an offer of partial repayment by Mallya, who had given a personal guarantee for the Kingfisher loan. They have demanded that the former billionaire attend a hearing in India's Supreme Court. Mallya, traced by Indian reporters to a country residence in Hertfordshire, has said he would comply with the law. The British Home Office, which adjudicates in such cases, declined to comment. A spokesman said its policy was neither to confirm nor deny that extradition requests have been made. (Reporting by Krishna N. Das and Douglas Busvine; editing by Susan Thomas) By Ahmad Ghaddar LONDON (Reuters) - An Indian-flagged oil tanker is returning to Libya, the North African country's rival oil corporation said on Thursday, after its failed first attempt to export crude oil led to the ship being blacklisted by the United Nations Security Council. The Distya Ameya tanker is heading to the western Libyan port of Zawiya, said Nagi al-Maghrabi, chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) set up by Libya's rival eastern government in parallel to the Tripoli-based NOC. The Tripoli NOC is recognised internationally as the legitimate seller of Libyan oil. Magrabi told Reuters he would continue to fight for the right of the eastern NOC to export crude, describing the situation as "a legal issue and we will work on it." The Tripoli NOC and its international backers say that if the eastern government succeeds in its long-held aim of selling oil independently, it would undermine a U.N.-backed unity government that arrived in Tripoli last month and put the political and economic future of Libya at risk. The U.N. Security Council Libya sanctions committee blacklisted the Distya Ameya on Wednesday after receiving a request from the Libyan U.N. ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi. This requires states to ban it from entering any port. The ship left Libya's Marsa el-Hariga port late on Monday carrying 650,000 barrels of crude and was currently near Malta. A source close to the situation said the cargo was to be offloaded at Zawiya and processed for use within the country. Deepak Shetty, director general of shipping with India's Ministry of Shipping, said he had told the vessel's operator and the charterer to instruct the captain not to discharge the cargo "at all, anywhere." "They will follow the U.N. guidance which will come to them through us," Shetty said. "They are now staying put ... no oil will be discharged even if the charterer wants them to. They will wait for the U.N. to tell us where the vessel will have to go." However, the U.N. spokesman's office in New York said the U.N. Libya mission was not involved in the issue at all. Under U.N. Security Council resolutions adopted since 2014 on the illicit export of Libyan oil, it is up to states - not the United Nations - to direct designated vessels "to take appropriate actions to return the crude oil, with the consent of and in coordination with the Government of Libya, to Libya." (Additional reporting by Nidhi Verma in NEW DELHI, Libby George in London, Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau at the UNITED NATIONS and Aidan Lewis, writing by Jonathan Saul and Michelle Nichols, editing by Dale Hudson and Marguerita Choy) Ireland Agrees New Government After Nine Weeks Nine weeks after Ireland's general election, the two largest parties have reached agreement on the formation of a minority government. Fianna Fail will facilitate the formation of a Fine Gael administration and support it for the next three years after securing significant compromises. Enda Kenny is now poised to become the first Fine Gael leader in history to serve two consecutive terms as Prime Minister. He is expected to meet with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin over the weekend before parliament reconvenes in Dublin next Wednesday. The breakthrough came when Fine Gael agreed to the suspension of controversial water charges, the dominant issue of the election campaign. An independent commission is to be appointed to examine the issues of funding and conservation in relation to water. Its recommendations will be put to a parliamentary committee which will bring its own proposals before parliament for a vote. In statements released this evening, the two parties said: "Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have reached a political agreement to facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority government. "Both party leaders are now being briefed, extensive drafting has to be done and then both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will hold separate parliamentary party meetings to outline the details of the confidence and supply arrangement." The Fine Gael-led minority government is expected to include a number of independent members of parliament. Fianna Fail were the big winners in the election on 26 February, recording an unexpected recovery from the party's near collapse in 2011. There was speculation that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail - who were on opposite sides during Ireland's civil war - may form a grand coalition. Instead, Fianna Fail has agreed to facilitate the formation of a minority government and avoid another general election. Danger: A radiation sign outside a forest near Chernobyl (Rex) This week marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, that saw a nuclear power plant go into meltdown before exploding and sending lethal dust into the air. A staggering 56,700 square miles of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia was covered by the fallout, forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to leave their homes for good in what is, to date, the worlds worst nuclear accident. The nuclear fire lasted 10 days, spewing out 400 times as much radiation as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima at the end of the Second World War. Amusement park: Bumper cars lie untouched in the abandoned town (Rex) Deserted: Buildings lie empty as tress and plants begin to take over (Rex) Around 31 people died as a direct result of the accident but many deaths since can be attributed to the after-effects of what happened on 26 April 1986. Today, a 25-mile exclusion zone around the plant still remains, but life still goes on for those who remained or returned to the nearby area since the devastating accident. But what is life like for those people - and do they run the risk of developing life-threatening diseases, 30 years on? What is the nearest town? Pripyat, in northern Ukraine, lies near the border of Belarus and was the closest town to Chernobyl. However, it was completely abandoned following the disaster, with the population of nearly 50,000 evacuating their homes to escape the fallout. Today, it is a deserted ghost town, full of empty buildings and, most iconically, a Ferris Wheel in the Pripyat theme park that has become a symbol of the deserted area. The closest inhabited city is Ivankiv, which sits around 20 miles north of the exclusion zone, and 42 miles from Chernobyl itself. Iconic: The ferris wheel is one of the most famous sights of Pripyat (Rex) How close do people live to the site? Towns such as Slavutich in Ukraine are located just over 40 miles away from Chernobyl, and was build to house around 25,000 former exclusion zone residents. Around 3,800 people live on this border of the exclusion zone, many of whom commute in to carry out work on the site. Some 3,000 people live INSIDE the zone for up to 14 days at a time while they perform dangerous work on the factory. Another 400 elderly farmers have also resettled in their old homes following the disaster, not wanting to leave the area they had lived for their entire lives. Story continues Warning: The exclusion zone remains a restricted area today (Rex) What is happening to the factory? After 30 years, work at the power plant continues as around 7,000 people travel in from the outskirts of the exclusion zone to help decommission the plant. Workers must take radiation tests before they return home from their potentially life-threatening jobs. Other workers help to manage the exclusion zone. Abandoned: Hundreds of books lie scattered in a floor of a building that was once a school (Rex) What does the area look like? Pripyat is an abandoned town, full of empty buildings and deserted homes. Much of the interiors remain untouched since they were abandoned, with childrens toys littered in bedrooms covered in mould and dirt. Rusty beds, deserted fairgrounds and empty swimming pools show an area that was once full of people. Now, nature itself has taken over - with plants and trees slowly spreading across what was once an area filled with human invention. Has wildlife survived at Chernobyl? With no human interference, wildlife has flourished at Chernobyl over the past 30 years. In fact, it has become the perfect place for animals to breed without control. The Chernobyl exclusion zone is now home to wolves, bears and horses, among other - although it is not clear how much the animals are affected by diseases as a result of radiation. Dangerous: Workers still visit the factory to dismantle it for several hours a day (Rex) Do residents have a massively increased risk of cancer and other deadly diseases? The total death toll from cancer from the accident is expected to reach around 4,000 for people exposed to high doses of radiation, according to the United Nations and World Health Organisation. However, they state that there is no evidence of higher rates of death or illness for the 5 million people still living on contaminated lands in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. Others think the figures are too conservative. Keith Baverstock, a former radiation adviser for the World Health Organisation believes Chernobyl will kill between 30,000 and 60,000 people. At least 28 people were killed in the initial Chernobyl explosion. Tests: Radiation levels are still higher than the norm close to the factory (Rex) Desolate: Buildings lie in ruins after being left to waste away (Rex) Are newborns at risk of birth defects as a result of radiation? The short answer is yes - children are still being born with severe birth defects and rare types of cancer in areas close to Chernobyl, 30 years on from the accident. According to British charity Bridges to Belarus, women who have lived their lives exposed to high levels of radiation are starting to have children with some alarming deformities. Severe cases have included a baby born with two heads and other with missing limbs. An unusually high number of children are also stricken by thyroid cancer - in an area where state healthcare is lacking. How much radiation still exists in the area? Following the explosion, there was so much radiation inside the reactor and control room of the plant that death would occur in just one minute. Today, workers inside the exclusion zone work for three weeks inside before spending three weeks outside of it. They are only permitted to work for five hours a day. Any longer is thought to be too dangerous and the levels of radiation at Pripyat are still far higher than the norm. Hotspot: Tourists flock to the area to see the abandoned streets for themselves (Rex) When will the area become inhabitable? While people do still live close to the exclusion zone, Ukrainian officials do not think the area will be completely safe for humans to live for at least another 20,000 years. Can anyone visit Chernobyl? Surprisingly, tourists do flock to the area every year to tour Pripyat, Chernobyl and its surrounding areas. Day passes must be obtained by the government through tour companies. Visitors are usually not permitted to enter any of the buildings while many bring radiation masks to protect themselves. Tourists are screened at the end of the day to test their radiation levels. However, it is thought that the amount of time spent near Chernobyl is not necessarily dangerous for those visiting. According to WikiTravel, it takes between 300 and 500 roentgens per hour of radiation to deliver a lethal dose, with levels on the tour ranging from 15 to several hundred micro-roentgens per hour. By Piya Sinha-Roy and Jill Serjeant (Reuters) - Police found no signs of suicide or obvious trauma in the death of U.S. music superstar Prince, but it could take weeks before autopsy results reveal how the groundbreaking performer died, authorities said on Friday. The intensely private musician, whose hits included "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry," was found dead in an elevator at his home in suburban Minneapolis on Thursday at the age of 57, shocking millions of fans around the world and prompting glowing tributes by fellow musicians. Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson, whose office is investigating the circumstances of his death, said Prince was last seen alive by an acquaintance who dropped him off at his home at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday night. "There were no obvious signs of trauma on the body," Olson told a news conference. "We have no reason to believe at this point that this was a suicide. The rest is under investigation." The influential star, born Prince Rogers Nelson, was found unresponsive in an elevator at the Paisley Park Studios complex where he lived in the suburb of Chanhassen, authorities said. Olson declined to say whether any items were recovered from the home by police, citing the ongoing investigation. He did say that no one else was found at the property. The local medical examiner's office conducted a post-mortem examination on Friday morning for four hours but its results could be some time coming. Prince's body was released to his family on Friday afternoon, the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office added in a statement. "As part of a complete exam, relevant information regarding Mr. Nelson's medical and social history will be gathered. Anything which could be relevant to the investigation will be taken into consideration," the statement said. No information will be released until all results have been obtained, it added. "Gathering the results will take several days and the results of a full toxicology scan could likely take weeks," the medical examiner's office said. Prince's music blended styles including rock, jazz, funk, disco and R&B, and it won him seven Grammy Awards as well as an Oscar. He had been on a U.S. tour as recently as last week. But he was briefly hospitalized a week ago after his plane made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, suffering from what his representative told celebrity news website TMZ was flu. Nevertheless, the star hosted a party at Paisley Park last Saturday night at which one attendee said Prince played two tunes on a piano and then introduced fans to his doctor. 'REMARKABLE LOSS' Prince first found fame in the late 1970s before becoming one of the most inventive forces in American pop music. On a trip to London, U.S. President Barack Obama said he listened to "Purple Rain" and "Delirious" on Friday morning at the U.S. ambassador's residence to get "warmed up" for his meetings. "I loved Prince ... It's a remarkable loss," Obama told a news conference. As well as singing and songwriting, Prince played multiple instruments including guitar, keyboards and drums. A Jehovah's Witness and a strict vegan, he sold more than 100 million records and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Record producer L.A. Reid told NBC's "Today" show on Friday that he was perplexed by the death of his friend. "The Prince I know was super-healthy, vegan, wasn't an abuser of drugs, wasn't an abuser of alcohol," Reid said. "He was clean and he looked young and he looked really healthy and vibrant, so the whole thing is really mysterious to me." During his life, Prince was known as fiercely determined to protect his intellectual property. How others might profit from his legacy hinges on how astute he was about arranging for control of his music after death. Twice divorced with no surviving children, he apparently lacked any immediately identifiable heirs. Ex-wife Manuela Testolini said that as well as being a husband and friend, Prince had been a "fierce philanthropist" who encouraged her to set up her own charity. She had contacted him only a few days ago, she added, to tell him she was building a school in his honor. "I am heartbroken beyond words," Testolini said in a statement on Friday. (Additional reporting by Jane Ross in Minneapolis, Alex Dobuzinskis, Dan Whitcomb and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles, and Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia has proposed that the United Nations Security Council blacklist Syrian rebel groups Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham for links to Islamic State and al Qaeda militants, though Washington warned such a move undermine the push for a truce. If none of the council's 15-member Islamic State and al Qaeda sanctions committee blocks or puts a hold on the listing by 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on May 11 then the groups will be added to the U.N. sanctions list, said diplomats. "The reason for such a move was the information that these groups, which are waging a war in Syria, are closely connected to terrorist organizations, first of all with ISIS (Islamic State) and al Qaeda," Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said in a statement on Tuesday. Washington's mission to the United Nations cautioned against blacklisting the two groups, saying it would undermine attempts to get a sustained halt in the fighting in Syria. "Designating Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham two groups that are parties to the cessation of hostilities would have damaging consequences to the cessation (of hostilities) just as we are trying to de-escalate the situation on the ground," Edgar Vasquez, a spokesman for the U.S. mission, said. A senior Security Council diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the Russian move as "unhelpful." "It's a way of trying to divide the opposition," the diplomat said on Wednesday. Jaish al-Islam (Islam Army) is a major armed rebel group in Syria and part of the High Negotiation Committee, which was set up in Riyadh last December to negotiate on behalf of opposition groups at U.N.-brokered peace talks with the government. The High Negotiation Committee is backed by Western nations and key Arab states. Ahrar al-Sham withdrew from the Riyadh meeting, saying "revolutionary groups" were sidelined. But the group did attend the latest round of peace talks in Geneva. Russia's Foreign Ministry has long said that Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham should not be involved in Syria peace talks. Ahrar al-Sham is an ultra-orthodox Salafist group and has fought as part of a military alliance including the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, which was not part of a cessation of hostilities agreement brokered in February. Ahrar al-Sham, whose late leader fought alongside Osama bin Laden, last year denied sharing al Qaeda's ideology or having organizational ties to the group. (Additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Tom Brown) By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia will re-run voting at 15 polling stations after days of bickering among the ruling and opposition parties over alleged irregularities in Sunday's election, a move that could significantly affect the outcome. Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, who wants to take Serbia into the European Union, won the election with 48 percent of the vote, unchanged from 2014. But his Progressive Party's majority in parliament was reduced as more parties attained the five percent vote threshold needed for seats. A day after the vote, left-wing and ultra-nationalist opposition parties teamed up to demand a recount, claiming election fraud. Vucic responded by accusing the opposition of attempting to rig the vote and influence the Election Commission, and also demanded a recount. Scattered abuses were reported including missing or vandalized ballots, more votes cast than voters, people voting without identification and one case where a drunkard smashed ballot boxes. International observers, including rights bodies Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said fundamental freedoms were respected although there was biased media coverage, undue advantage for incumbents and a blurring of state and party activities. After considering the complaints, the Election Commission said late on Wednesday the vote would be repeated within a week at 15 polling stations around the country, totaling 16,678 voters, although there would be no nationwide recount. Counting of valid votes, still going on after the election, is expected to be completed on Thursday, the commission said. While the affected polling places comprise a tiny proportion of the 8,549 voting stations nationwide, the impact could be significant because two political groups are a whisker above the five percent threshold needed to enter parliament. Those two are the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)/Dveri, an ultra-nationalist grouping that media reports say is just 48 ballots above the threshold. A leftist alliance grouped around former president Boris Tadic is also just above it. The partial re-run could reinforce their position or push them below the threshold, in which case their seats - around 13 in each case - would be shared out proportionally among the other parties in parliament. That would give Vucic's conservative Progressives - currently in line to get 131 seats in the 250-seat assembly - a more comfortable majority. If DSS-Dveri gets in to parliament, it would bring another pro-Russian, anti-EU voice into the assembly, in addition to the Radicals of Vojislav Seselj, who was recently acquitted of war crimes by the U.N. tribunal in The Hague. "This is a dangerous gamble by the opposition parties because they can lose what they already have and it could also erode trust in the system," said Milos Damljanovic, head of research at the Belgrade-based BIRN Consultancy. Vucic has said he will decide on the make-up of the new Serbian government after his party meets on May 28. (Editing by Adrian Croft/Mark Heinrich) (Reuters) - Three people were killed and one critically wounded in shootings early on Wednesday in north-central Mississippi, a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation official said. Multiple crime scenes are involved in the shootings in Montgomery County, located about 100 miles north of Jackson, according to Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Warren Strain. A person of interest was being interviewed and the Montgomery County sheriff is investigating, Strain said. No motive has yet been given for the shootings and authorities did not provide any information on the victims.The person who survived the shooting was airlifted to a hospital, Strain said. The incident occurred at about 2 a.m., WCBI-TV, a CBS affiliate in northern Mississippi, said, citing the county coroner. The coroner could not immediately be reached for further comment and Strain could not confirm the time. (Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales; Editing by Bill Trott) GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations mediator called on Thursday on the leaders of the Russia Federation and the United States to salvage the "barely alive" two-month ceasefire in Syria and revitalise the damaged peace process. U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura spoke to reporters in Geneva after briefing the Security Council by video-link at the end of a two-week round of talks. The main opposition High Negotiations Committee pulled out of the formal talks a week ago, in protest of intensified fighting and slow aid deliveries. Referring to the two powers, he said: "There is no reason that both of them which have been putting so much political capital in that success story and have a common interest in not seeing Syria ending up in another cycle of war should not be able to revitalise what they have created and which is still alive but barely." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay and Shadia Nasralla) Ted Cruz and John Kasich It has taken only a few days for the unprecedented deal between Ted Cruz's and John Kasich's presidential campaigns to fall flat. The agreement called for Kasich to pull out of Indiana in exchange for Cruz's ceding contests in Oregon and New Mexico. It was viewed as a Hail Mary attempt at keeping GOP frontrunner Donald Trump from racking up the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the Republican nomination ahead of the July convention. Trump has called the deal "collusion" between the two campaigns, and he has lambasted both for making it. But on Friday, signifying the diminishing nature of the agreement, Trump mocked both candidates in a scathing tweet. "Wow, the ridiculous deal made between Lyin' Ted Cruz and 1 for 42 John Kasich has just blown up," he posted. "What a dumb deal dead on arrival!" When the deal was first announced by both campaigns late Sunday night, it seemingly had potential. A win in Indiana is essential to keeping Trump from clinching the nomination. Cruz has a better shot in the Hoosier State of overtaking Trump, whose polling average in the state shows him to lead by more than 6 points. Both Kasich and Cruz are mathematically eliminated from securing the Republican nomination ahead of the GOP convention. The hope in joining forces was that they could stop Trump from reaching the needed number of delegates, potentially triggering a second ballot at the convention on which many delegates would be able to vote freely for the candidate of their choice. But the deal first got off to a rocky start when, on Monday morning, an agitated Kasich refused to ask his supporters to vote for Cruz in Indiana. john kasich He told a group of reporters gathered around him at a Philadelphia diner that Indiana voters "ought to vote for me." "I don't see this as any big deal," Kasich said. "I'm not going to spend resources in Indiana he's not going to spend them in other places. So what? What's the big deal?" Story continues Shortly after Kasich made the remarks, GOP strategist and commentator Evan Siegfried told Business Insider that he thought it "was a verbal slip" by the Ohio governor. "It probably will be walked back soon," he said. "I think the genuine answer to that is he had a gaffe and it's not a big deal. I think his supporters in Indiana will know that's their thing, to go vote for Cruz. In Indiana you vote Cruz in Oregon you vote Kasich." But Kasich seemed only to add to the confusion during a Tuesday-morning appearance on NBC's "Today" show. "I have laid out a strategy, and I have not told anybody to not vote for me," Kasich said. "I'm just not there campaigning. You know what? When you don't campaign in certain areas in any kind of a race, guess what? Your turnout goes down. I don't tell people how to vote. I am not in that state right now. I will be in other states." Additionally, Cruz hasn't asked supporters in Oregon where a new poll showed him faring better than Kasich or New Mexico to vote for the Ohio governor. By Wednesday, with both candidates seeming to distance themselves from the deal amid seemingly endless ridicule from Trump and the Manhattan billionaire's campaign, Cruz opted to make what he called a "major announcement" to try to snatch back some positive headlines. Carly Fiorina Cruz announced his choice of ex-presidential hopeful and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as his running mate, should he win the nomination. But Fiorina told conservative radio host Mark Levin on Thursday that Kasich should drop out of the race. It came less than four full days since the Cruz-Kasich pact was announced. "Look, there is somebody in this race who ought to get out," Fiorina said. "His name is John Kasich." Cruz also told a crowd at an Indiana rally that Kasich "pulled out" without any mention of the deal struck between the two campaigns. "John Kasich has pulled out," he said, according to The New York Times. "He's withdrawn from the state of Indiana." Shortly after he said that, Kasich's chief strategist, John Weaver, sent a cryptic tweet. "I can't stand liars," he wrote. NOW WATCH: Ted Cruz just released a bizarre attack ad featuring a terrifying Hillary Clinton impersonator More From Business Insider Italian buyout firm Alto Partners has sold its entire 95% stake in BIA, a European producer and distributor of couscous, to B.F. S.p.A., which is the holding company of Bonifiche Ferraresi. YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. Specialist in International law, professor emeritus at Stockholm University and at Swedish National Defense College Ove Bring urges Turkey to enter into dialogue with Armenians over the tragedy of 1915. Modern Turkey is responsible for the incidents if 1915, as it is the same state, the successor of the Ottoman Turkey, Armenpress reports the professor at Stockholm University announced this during Against the Crime of Genocide second global forum. Ove Bring mentioned that according to international law, economic losses resulted by genocide must be recovered and compensated over time. If there are some people who lost right to property, members of their families in Turkey can prove that their family had an economic lawsuit. They can apply to the European Court of Human Rights trying to prove that the mentioned lawsuit was never annulled, it continues to exist, Bring said. He added that it is a difficult path, as many things need evidences, but theoretically it is possible that can be brought into life. YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey, Erdogan's son in law Berat Albayrak made an anti-Armenian statement. As Armenpress reports citing Demokrathaber.net, Albayrak, applying to those who oppose the planned nuclear power plants in Turkey, directed against the Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia. Turkish Minister stated that the nuclear power plant which is 10-20 kilometres away from Turkeys border is a serious threat to the world. Use your energy to protest against the Armenian nuclear power plant. By this you will serve Turkey greatly said Turkish Minister. Albayrak, however, doesn't remember that according to various expert assessments Armenias nuclear power plant is absolutely safe for operation. It has been recorded that Armenian nuclear power plants seismic safety meets modern security requirements and figures of existing nuclear power plants. YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. Head of RPA Faction Vahram Baghdasaryan says Armenia never refused from negotiations of Nagorno Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement during an interview with journalists. We urge Azerbaijan to respect ceasefire, we want to receive guarantees that Azerbaijan wont again conduct steps to resolve conflict with military means. We say there is a need to establish investigative mechanisms in the line of contact in order to check who is really the instigator and aggressor. We also say there is a need to give targeting assessments, Armenpress reports, Vahram Baghdasaryan mentioned. Vahram Baghdasaryan couldnt answer the question whether Azerbaijan will move forward to meet the conditions set by Armenia. I cannot answer instead of unpredictable Azerbaijan, however, it seem that they discuss these issues. Previously they did not want even to discuss such kind of issues, he said. He said that the three conditions set by the Armenian side are not as incredible as the ten conditions set by Ilham Aliyev during the Kazan document discussions which were aimed to the failure of the negotiation process. MP agrees with the statement that Armenias policy on Nagorno Karabakh issue has changed after the four-day war the danger of which still remains. If we start negotiation process, and our soldiers are being killed in the border, we do not need such kind of negotiations, Vahram Baghdasaryan concluded. President of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan told during the April 28 meeting of RPA Executive Body that three preconditions must be met for resuming talks on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. Armenpress reports RPA spokesperson and Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov told the reporters about this after the meeting of the Executive Body. He clarified that the three preconditions are the installation of monitoring mechanisms, addressed statements by the international community, and guarantees that Azerbaijan will not unleash another aggression and terrorism against the people of Nagorno Karabakh. Modified On Apr 29, 2016 01:46 PM By Sumit for Jaguar XF Jaguar drove the long wheelbase (3,100mm in length), China exclusive version of its XF sedan (XF L) to the 2016 Beijing Motor Show. The XF L tries to fulfil almost every wish of a luxury car seeker. Tailored to be chauffeur driven, the car has several upgrades such as a new air-cleaning ionisation system, a 17-speaker Meridian Surround Sound System, wifi, dual 8-inch screens, folding tables, heated/cooled seats and increased legroom for the rear seat occupants. There is an InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touch-screen for the driver as well. The sedan is offered with two engine options, namely a 2.0-litre motor and a 3.0-litre V6 supercharged engine. While the former is offered in two tunes of 200hp and 240hp, the latter is capable of churning out 340hp. An eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive is standard across the variants. Recommended Read: Jaguars updated XF surfaces at the 2016 Auto Expo The car is likely to go on sale in China in 2016 and will be assembled at the Chery Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing facility in Changshu (China). Dr Ralf Speth, chief executive officer at JLR said at the reveal, "China continues to be an important market for Jaguar Land Rover and we are delighted to introduce our first locally-built Jaguar here at the Beijing Auto Show. Designed exclusively for our discerning Chinese customers, the Jaguar XF L is bespoke to this market." We would have liked it all the more provided Jaguar was bringing this version to India as well. Those who are interested in buying this specific version are left with no other option but to import it from the neighbouring country. Also Check: Jaguar F-Type SVR Unveiled in Official Video 2016 Delhi Auto Expo: Jaguar F-Type makes a pouncing stance Read More on : Jaguar XF review Excessive regulatory burden has already cost credit union members more than $7.2 billion, and CUNAs latest grassroots campaign urges those members to tell policymakers to Ease the Burden. CUNA launched this latest phase of its Member Activation Program (MAP) Thursday in order to educate and activate Americas 105 million credit union members. We have two main goals for this campaign, said CUNA president/CEO Jim Nussle. First, we want to educate credit union members on how burdensome regulation impacts them directly and activate them to contact lawmakers and regulators with a message of reducing the regulatory burden on credit unions. Second, through this member activation, we want to educate Congressand eventually regulatorson the harm to credit union members, consumers and constituents caused by undue and misplaced regulation of credit unions and their member-owners. CUNAs new website, www.easetheburden.com, gives credit union members an opportunity to contact their elected officials to inform them of the costly burdens credit unions are facing. Members can use the form letter or edit it with specifics and send it to their senators and representative with a few clicks. The site also offers interactive graphics that show state-by-state regulatory burden costs, as well as a form for credit union members to tell their own story about the negative effects that come with regulations placed on credit unions. Boycott Driscoll's at Fairfield Costco - International Day of Action Date: Saturday, May 07, 2016 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Event Type: Protest Organizer/Author: Sarah Cain Email: Location Details: WHERE: Costco in Fairfield, CA (5101 Business Center Dr, Fairfield, CA ) Note: We will meet in the Goodwill (5081 Business Center Dr, Fairfield, CA 94534) parking area, a 2 minute walk Sat, May 7, 1pm 2:30pm Where: Costco Wholesale, 5101 Business Center Dr, Fairfield, CA **Note: We will meet in the Goodwill (5081 Business Center Dr, Fairfield, CA 94534) parking area, a 2 minute walk** Familias Unidas has returned from their West Coast Tour. The tour was an amazing success with 18 new boycott committees formed bringing the total to 41 boycott committees across North America! The workers have built a groundswell of grassroots energy with people all over the country ready to fight and pressure Driscoll's until they get Sakuma and the growers in San Quintin to negotiate historic union contracts! To build upon this incredible momentum Familias Unidas is now calling for an international day of action on May 7th to demonstrate the unified strength of the boycott movement, and show Driscoll's that people everywhere will not stand for the injustices they are perpetuating and profiting off of. Stay tuned for more details! Hosted by Solano County Boycott Committee. Email Sarah for more information sarahsolanocoboycottcommittee [at] gmail.com _______________________________ The injustices in the Driscoll's supply chain were well documented in the LA Times series "Product of Mexico," as well as the book "Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies" by Dr. Seth Holmes. And they continue to be documented. These include but are not limited to: Inhumane working conditions including lack of bathrooms and clean water for washing hands and drinking, below poverty wages that include very unrealistic production expectations to make minimum requirements, systemic wage theft, sexual harassment & abuse of women, underage children working in the fields, and inadequate protection from and ongoing exposure to very dangerous pesticides. Strawberries just made this year's "Dirty Dozen" list, imagine what levels the farmworkers are exposed to. Driscoll's is the largest distributor of strawberries in the world, with over 700 farms supplying them. We feel they have the power to convince their growers to negotiate a legally binding contract with the two independent farmworker unions from Washington State and San Quintin, Baja, Mexico - but they refuse. Costco is one of Driscoll's biggest buyers, and so has the buying power to encourage Driscoll's to do this, so this is why Costco is where we will be! You may try to buy local when you can, but sometimes you just need another pint of strawberries, and Driscoll's is in every store... People see the Watsonville address and think well that's not too bad, or they see the Certified Organic Driscoll's and think that's ok. In reality, they are a vertically integrated multinational company with farms all over the world, and have even used their power to gut Certified Organic standards for strawberry production. Trump announced Wednesday that he will deliver the kickoff address for the California Republican Party convention on April 29. Cruz and Ohio governor John Kasich are also addressing the convention." - Breitbart articleBuilding a mass action wall to keep him out! Donald CHUMP thinks he's going to give a speech in the bay. The republicans are meeting to build more facist power. The people will rise and shut it all down. California has the most prisons in the US and rates amoungst the lowest in education. We need systemic change and TRUMP isn't it. This is a call for all affinity groups and community members to turn out and turn up Bicycle couriers laid off by Sprig, Inc. have called for a rolling picket of Sprig, Postmates, and other dot com delivery companies in San Francisco on Sunday, May 1. Organizers have called for a Critical Mass to form at 5 PM at Justin Herman Plaza in downtown San Francisco. Bike Couriers Call for Critical Mass Rolling Picket of Delivery Companiesby Jonathan NackApril 29, 2016OAKLAND Bicycle couriers laid off by Sprig, Inc. have called for a rolling picket of Sprig, Postmates, and other dot com delivery companies in San Francisco on Sunday, May 1. They plan to lead a Critical Mass Bike Strike to draw attention to what they say are the companies mistreatment, which includes low pay, a no tip policy, no benefits, no sick or vacation days, chaotic scheduling, limited hours, and misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees.Organizers have called for a Critical Mass to form at 5 PM at Justin Herman Plaza in downtown San Francisco. https://www.facebook.com/events/1557650347861708/ Earlier in the Day, the Bay Area Industrial Workers of the World Couriers Union will lead a bike contingent in a May Day march which will begin 11 AM at the ILWU Hall, at 400 North Point in San Francisco. The march will go to Harry Bridges Plaza where there will be a rally at 1 PM . https://www.facebook.com/events/1266244166737216/ The International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Local 10, which will lead the march, called it as part of a National Day of Mourning for Black and Brown unarmed victims of police killings across the country, according to a report by the San Francisco Bay View newspaper. http://sfbayview.com/2016/04/join-ilwu-local-10-for-may-day-2016-national-day-of-mourning-for-victims-of-police-terror-bernie-sanders-danny-glover-invited-to-speak/ A courier named Wildcat said that the bike picket is in response to Sprigs bike couriers being laid off without notice. She said that Sprigs move to curbside delivery by car was actually, in retaliation for a union organizing drive by the Bay Area IWW Couriers Union. She said that bike couriers had recently asked management to change its no tip policy; for flexible full-time scheduling; better backpacks; hazard pay for deliveries in inclement weather; and a raise to $16 Dollars an hour.Sprig, Inc. delivers food cooked in its kitchens. Its website states that its food is cooked with fresh ingredients and that its suppliers are, ...sustainable, local, and ethical growers... and that they, ...choose organic produce as a high priority and opt for meat that is sustainably-raised. Sprig delivers by car, but in downtown San Francisco, until recently, it had been using bike couriers due to traffic and limited parking. Now, Sprig is delivering all food by car and requiring downtown customers to come out and meet the car at the curb.Sprig had originally classified the bike couriers as independent contractors and paid $20 an hour, according to Wildcat. That was later reduced to $16 hour. Independent contractors are not entitled to any benefits and are not covered by the National Labor Relations Act. As of January 1, 2016, Sprig re-classified the couriers as employees, which made them eligible for benefits, but reduced their pay to $13.50 an hour, Wildcat recounted.At a meeting called by Sprig on April 14, manager Matt Landry informed the bike couriers that they were all laid off. There was no notice and severance pay was only offered to some couriers, conditional on their agreeing not to sue Sprig, according to Wildcat.An unfair labor practice charge in retaliation for union organizing has been filed against Sprig with the National Labor Relations Board, according to a spokesperson for the Union.By press time, Sprig had not responded to requests for an interview or to issue a statement.In a related development, in January, the California Labor Commissioners Office ruled that a driver for the ride-hailing service Uber should be classified as an employee, not an independent contractor. Uber is appealing the decision. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/business/uber-contests-california-labor-ruling-that-says-drivers-should-be-employees.html?_r=0 One speaker expected at the bike picket is Donovan Reid. According to a report by PhotographyisNotaCrime.com, Reid was pulled over in a questionable traffic stop, then beaten by SFPD, while delivering a burrito on bike for Postmates, on January 3, 2016. He suffered a fracture to his knee as a result. There is video of the beating. The police are said to be investigating the incident. https://photographyisnotacrime.com/2016/01/san-francisco-police-beat-man-for-using-navigation-app-on-phone-while-riding-bike-to-deliver-burrito/ Wildcat, told IndyBay.com that Postmates refused to pay Donovan disability benefits, because they classify him as an independent contractor, rather than as an employee.Reid told IndyBay.org that he expects a tough fight with the delivery companies to win rights for couriers. We have to be resilient. A lot of things will happen. The companies will try to not offer coverage as employees. They will use shady strategies and loopholes in order to not offer couriers the best that they can offer. We need to unify, stay together, have each others back, and push back, said Reid.Postmates website describes its service as a, delivery platform [that] connects customers with local couriers, who purchase and deliver goods from any restaurant or store in a city. Team Moquett Back for More with Whitmore: Last year, rising trainer Ron Moquett had a promising Kentucky Derby runner in Far Right, a ridgling co-owned by Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta. While Far Rights race for the roses ultimately left them empty-handed, Team Moquett is back to try again in this years Derby with Whitmore. A chestnut Pleasantly Perfect gelding whose race record appears at first glance to be subpar, Whitmore has simply not had a chance to run his race. In his three preps for the Derby at Oaklawn Park, the Southwest Stakes (GIII), the Rebel Stakes (GII), and the Arkansas Derby (GI), Whitmore was subjected to a myriad of bad trips that saw him running extremely wide throughout, bobbling, and being shuffled back. In spite of his poor racing luck, the gelding was still able to manage come-from-behind runner-up finishes in the Southwest and the Rebel and a third in the Arkansas Derby. Thus, Whitmores signature running style was deemed to be that of a closer, but Chance Moquett, involved son of the geldings trainer, maintains the belief that their Derby horse has simply been forced to run that way and will be even better if he can get an actual good trip. Ninety percent of people know that how good a horse is depends on his trip, Chance maintains. Zenyatta got beat because of a bad trip. Rachel Alexandra got beat because of a bad trip. Secretariat got beat in the Travers, and American Pharoah got beat in the Travers. He continues to have a troubled trip, and he continues to have to use run on the backstretch and use run on the far turn. Because Whitmore will be entering the Kentucky Derby starting gate with only a maiden victory and an allowance win at sprint distances, much criticism has been made about how he along with multiple other Derby starters belongs in the classic. Chance whole-heartedly defends Whitmore, explaining, Its frustrating to me that people say he cant get the distance. Hes got the pedigree. If you look at the trips this horse has had, in all actuality, hes already gone the distance. People say he flattened out in the Rebel Stakes. No, he didnt. The first thing Irad Ortiz said when he got off was that the horse didnt quit but that Cupid just had more than him. In terms of his running style thus far, Chance maintains that Whitmore is not a cut and dry closer. People say he comes from too far out of it. What people dont realize is that he would rather run in traffic. Weve been compromised in every race. We dont want to be that far back; we want to be closer. Whitmore is a multi-move, multi-run kind of horse, and hes very push-button. He has a high cruising speed. Assuming his start from the gate isnt compromised by nearby front-runners shuffling for position, Chance foresees a much different race plan for Whitmore in the Derby. Post position is really going to come down to whos around us. As long as we dont have a lot of horses around us that are pushing for the front, well be okay. In the Derby, I think hell be five lengths or so off the lead. I see multiple horses going to the front, and I see us being second flight with a good break and the right maneuvering. If we get a good trip in the first part of the race, we dont need to use horse on the backstretch to find ourselves with a shot to win. Multiple Triple Crown series-winning jockey Victor Espinoza believes in Whitmore, too, seeing as he reached out to Ron Moquett in search of his Derby horse. Team Moquett is thrilled, and Chance expressed, I think Victor is very talented, and we are honored to have him on our horse. It cant hurt, right? In regards to the daily attitude of Whitmore, it seems as if the gelding may be a bit of a handful. Whitmore is a very quirky horse, Chance said. Hes honestly kind of scary to be around, and its especially terrifying since hes a gelding. From what my dads told me, he was nearly untrainable before being gelded. He wants to dominate you. There are not that many people that can go in his stall without asking the right way. Perhaps Whitmore will dominate on the first Saturday in May, too. Related Links: Majesto the Forgotten Horse in Kentucky Derby 142 Updates on Kentucky Oaks 2016 Contenders: Only one week remains until the premier race for 3-year-old dirt fillies in North America, the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6. Without the presence of Songbird, the race will offer bettors a variety of viable choices. Give the pace scenario some careful thought. Without reading the past performances, none of these horses seem to be need-the-lead types, although a few of them can lead if necessary. The weather report looks great for Friday afternoon, with a high of 74 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. 1. Terra Promessa (150): Four days ago, the points leader breezed five furlongs in 1:02.80 at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen and Stonestreet Stables. 2. Lewis Bay (130): Last Saturday, she breezed four furlongs in 50.20 at Churchill as well for trainer Chad Brown and Alpha Delta Stables. 3. Land Over Sea (128): Also last Saturday, the Fair Grounds Oaks winner breezed five furlongs again in 1:02.20 at Keeneland. Plenty of fans are hoping for a Doug ONeill Oaks/Derby Double with her and Nyquist. 4. Weep No More (100): Last Saturday too, the Ashland winner breezed four furlongs at Churchill in 49.20 seconds for trainer George Arnold II and Ashbrook Farm. 5. Go Maggie Go (100): This filly remains unbeaten in two starts for trainer Dale Romans and owner Mike Tarp. She breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Churchill last Saturday. 6. Cathryn Sophia (80): The third-place Ashland finisher breezed five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at Keeneland last Saturday for trainer John Servis and Cash is King. She looks headed towards the Oaks. 7. Mo dAmour (70): Princess of Sylmars connections, Todd Pletcher and King of Prussia, campaign this filly. Just yesterday, she breezed four furlongs in 48.20 seconds at Churchill. 8. Venus Valentine (50): Two days ago, she worked four furlongs in 49.40 seconds at Churchill for Mo Toms conditioner Tom Amoss and Rosemont Farm. Blinkers will be added for the Oaks. 9. Mokat (50): Three days ago, she worked (rather then breezed) six furlongs in 1:13.80 at Santa Anita Park. For unexplainable reasons, horses are rarely given the breezing designation on the west coast. 10. Rachels Valentina (48): Yesterday, she breezed four furlongs in 47.80 seconds at Churchill. Bettors and fans expect her to be a popular choice as the daughter of Rachel Alexandra. 11. Royal Obsession (45): The filly who sold for over $1 million twice breezed five furlongs in 1:00 flat at Churchill four days ago for Asmussen and Stonestreet. 12. Dream Dance (44): No workouts show for this Neil Howard-trained filly since April 10. She did gallop last Saturday at Churchill though. 13. Nickname (40): Asmussen comes into the Oaks loaded with another contender. Four days ago, she breezed five furlongs in 1:00 flat at Churchill. 14. Taxable (40): Also for Asmussen, she breezed five furlongs in 1:02.80 at Churchill four days ago. The Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned filly only lost by a neck to Terra Promessa in the Fantasy. Toronto, ON Five years ago, attorney Paul Miller told LawyersandSettlements that he had 18 Five years ago, attorney Paul Miller told LawyersandSettlements that he had 18 transvaginal mesh cases across Canada. In those five years, more Canadian women - and their doctors - realized the mesh is the cause of their pain and internal damage. As of today, we have settled 220 transvaginal mesh cases and about 50 more individuals are getting close to settling, says Miller at Will Davidson law firm in Toronto. And he is still hearing from women with TVM complications. And he is still hearing from women with TVM complications. Miller has partnered with a US firm that included Canadian cases in its multidistrict litigation (MDL) negotiations. We were able to settle American Medical Systems and Bard through this MDL," Miller says, but if cases dont settle, we still litigate them here in Canada.This is how it works: The US law firm contacts a transvaginal mesh manufacturer, say Bard, and tells them his co-counsel (Miller and other attorneys at Will Davidson) has a number of cases, and would Bard be interested in including them in the MDL.My clients have benefited from this process because they are being paid in US dollars and, depending upon the conversion rate, they could get about 25 percent more than American individuals, Miller explains. And the offers for women who have been seriously injured by transvaginal mesh is good. In terms of settlement amounts, our clients have been very pleased with the results.One Canadian law firm reached a proposed settlement of $2.3 million for their 20 Canadian clients, says Miller, and the Notice of settlement Approval Hearing is scheduled for the beginning of May.All of Millers clients with Bards transvaginal mesh accepted the settlement. Other transvaginal mesh companies are in different stages of negotiation. Some companies are closer than others and anything can happen, says Miller. For instance, Boston Scientific was planning a few days of negotiations in early May. They have best intentions - they want to settle - but if the numbers arent right, reaching a settlement agreement takes longer.Last January,talked with Miller and two Canadian women who suffered severe complications from transvaginal mesh. Catherine Buote had 18 surgeries to remove the mesh and repair internal damage it caused. Trudy Randell, another Canadian woman, had part of her bladder removed after many emergency room trips and surgeries. Some women, however, cant find a surgeon in Canada to remove the mesh. In 2013, Mary told this reporter that she was on a TVM bucket list to get the mesh removed. She filed a Canadian transvaginal mesh lawsuit. Buote, who is permanently disabled due to the mesh, was one of the first Canadian women to receive a settlement.It [the settlement] is a recognition there was some problem with the mesh for these women and the problems they complained of, that for so long doctors said were in their minds. [The settlement] confirmed that these were real problems, Miller toldThere is now some good news for Canadian women who need to get the mesh removed. Increasingly, there are high-end surgeons in Toronto who realize the expertise needed to remove transvaginal mesh, and they may not have that expertise to do so, says Miller. There are surgeons in the United States with such expertise and many women have requested surgery in the United States, but couldnt afford it. Now the Canadian government is approving out-of-country assistance for these women - this surgery was not approved four years ago.Miller still gets two or three calls a week from women with transvaginal mesh issues. Even though transvaginal mesh class actions have commenced and settlements reached in Canada, it is not too late to make a claim. Toronto, ON Women in Canada have filed lawsuits alleging their babies developed birth defects after being exposed to Women in Canada have filed lawsuits alleging their babies developed birth defects after being exposed to Zofran (known generically as ondansetron). Similar to lawsuits filed in the United States, lawsuits in Canada allege women were given Zofran to treat nausea and vomiting linked to morning sickness, even though Zofran was not approved to treat pregnant women. GSKs conduct was tantamount to using expectant mothers and their unborn children as human guinea pigs. According to(12/7/15), a class-action lawsuit has been filed against GlaxoSmithKline, maker of Zofran, alleging babies were put at risk of birth defects when they were exposed to a drug not approved for use in pregnant women. The plaintiffs, approximately a dozen so far, say they were not warned that there was the potential for birth defects.One such plaintiff is Terra Mercer, whose daughter Aaleyah, was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate after Mercer was prescribed Zofran off label to treat her morning sickness. In Canada, Zofrans warning label states, the safety of ondansetron for use in human pregnancy has not been established. Ondansetron is not teratogenic in animals. However, as animal studies are not always predictive of human response, the use of ondansetron in pregnancy is not recommended.According to(7/23/15), in GlaxoSmithKlines own filings with Health Canada, the drugmaker noted Zofran was not recommended for pregnant women. GlaxoSmithKline responded to CBS noting it had used the specific wording that the Canadian government requires for such products, and Zofran sold in the United States has the language mandated under the U.S. code.Although the label does say ondansetron is not recommended for use in pregnant women, it does not note what the risks of using the drug while pregnant could be. It also does not note any studies that suggest Zofran could be linked to an increased risk of birth defects. While some studies have shown no link between the use of Zofran and the development of birth defects, others suggest a possible link exists.Court documents filed in a US lawsuit (, case number 2:15-cv-00709) against GlaxoSmithKline allege the drugmaker chose not to study Zofran in women because animal studies revealed evidence of birth defects and intrauterine deaths in offspring.GSK avoided conducting these studies because they would have hampered its marketing of Zofran and decreased profits by linking the drug to serious birth defects, court documents allege.Ondansetron is approved to treat nausea and vomiting in patients who are undergoing chemotherapy, but doctors are able to prescribe it off label. - More details emerge following ongoing drama between Tee Billz and Tiwa Savage - The current situation started after Tee Billz's infamous Instagram rants on Thursday, April 28 - The Instagram meltdown brought uncertainty among fans, celebs and the media all through the day More revelations have continued to pour in following the infamous Instagram drama from music entrepreneur and artist manager Tunji Tee Billz Balogun on Thursday, April 28, 2016. The messy details from an obviously depressed Tee Billz sent chills down the spines of many, as they revealed private issues between him and wife Tiwa Savage on many levels. The couple soon became major trending topics on social media all day on Thursday, April 28 and it was an awkward look. READ ALSO: 7 lessons from ensuing drama between Tee Billz and Tiwa Savage As the people continued in uncertainty about his well-being owing to the suicidal rants, reports from sources close to Bella Naija brought a breath of hope as they revealed that he had been taken into custody and was spending time with loved ones. File photo of Tee Billz and wife Tiwa Savage However, fresh reports from Encomium magazine sources today Friday, April 29 say the couple has had issues in the marriage for some time now. The sources said the marriage actually broke down in 2015 but things were apparently kept under wraps. The reports further revealed that in mid April 2016, Tee Billz angrily left the Leeki Phase 1 home the couple had lived in with their nine-month-old son Jamil. The troubles between the pair which led to the meltdown were allegedly caused by trust issues as well as misunderstanding from finances and responsibility issues. The couple only recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary on April 26, although insiders say they didnt spend time together on the day. Various unconfirmed sources also say the couple has fought troubles stemming from infidelity issues and many other secrets which put them at loggerheads more often than not during the (short-lived) affair. In the heat of everything, there have been speculations that Tee Billz assaulted Tiwa several times after she accused him of sleeping around. It was reported by sources that Tiwa was in secret affairs with a number of influential society men including a billionaire industrialist. Encomium magazine states that the couple has reportedly gone their several ways on several occasions after heated arguments but they managed to control the situation until the recent outburst. Tiwa Savage and Tee Billz became official after a massive Dubai wedding in April 2014 and they welcomed their son, Jamil, in 2015. File photo of Tee Billz and wife Tiwa Savage The issues between them became too much for Tee Billz to bear to the point that he went on a mission to end everything, though in a rather catastrophic way, first by revealing messy details on Instagram and then attempting to commit suicide before he was rescued by close friends. READ ALSO: Heres the current situation with Tee Billz following infamous Instagram rants All of this unfolded in a drama-like manner on Thursday, April 28, 2016 and got the fans, Nigerian media and online space transfixed for the most part of the day. Hopefully they resolve their differences soon enough as theres no gain in warring especially when theres a child involved in the relationship. Source: Legit.ng - The great Oba of Benin is dead - Omo n'Oba Erediauwa Akpolokpolo I is said to have been battling illness since last year - His death was announced by Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom The Oba of Benin, Omo nOba Erediauwa Akpolokpolo I, has been reported dead. His death was announced few minutes ago by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe. The Great Oba of Benin Sources report that the late monarch has been battling an unknown illness since last year. The Benin Traditional Council formally announced the translation of the Oba of Benin, Omo N'Oba n'Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, to his ancestors on Friday, April 29. His translation was announced by the Prime Minister and Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, in the presence of other traditional Chiefs and Enigie (Dukes), with the traditional braking of native chalk at the entrance of the palace. READ ALSO: Breaking: PDP chieftain murdered (photos) While announcing the translation, the Iyase said: "Osorhue Bunrun. Oba Erediauwa of Benin Kingdom, the Prince if Peace, Ebo, Ayemwirhe, emini mini mini, has returned with his ancestors. May he find perfect peace with God." A Naij correspondent in Benin reports that following the breaking of the native chalk at the main entrance of the palace, all the chiefs broke down in tears and wailed for the translated Monarch. In accordance with the Benin traditional mourning rites for a translated Monarch, every male in the kingdom is expected to shave his head throughout the mourning period that may last for up to three months, while all markets in the kingdom are to remain closed for about seven days. The Benin Crown Prince and Edaiken of Benin, Eheneden Erediauwa, who arrived at the palace at about 1:10 pm from his temporary resistance in Uselu, was formally informed of the translation of his father, before it was publicly announced. Reacting to the announcement of the translation of the Monarch, the Obadolagbonyi of Benin Kingdom, Chief Omon-Osagie Utetenegiabi, said: "Yes, it is traditional. It is customary that when a sitting Oba becomes an ancestor, translates to a greater glory. The Oba of Benin does not die because he is an institution; he mainly translates to a high glory as an ancestor. "The news is first broken to his eldest son and the immediate family which was done earlier today. And the Iyase of Benin, as the highest ranking Chief now breaks the news to the people of Benin Kingdom and the world. Iyase is the traditional Prime Minister and the bridge between the people and the royalty and that is what he has done today. READ ALSO: Ekiti doctors death: Grief, tears as protest mar funeral service "From today until the expiration of Emwinekhua all Benin Chiefs, all chiefs that have been entitled by the Oba to wear the round bead round their necks, which is two, will now wear one. It is customary because when you see a Chief wears one bead, it shows that we are in a state of mourning. After today, we are awaiting further instructions on what to do. "Oba Eredia uwa is the Oba of Peace, the Oba who brought prosperity to his people, the Oba who understands his people. He makes sure that no one was offended, the Oba who could sit in judgment and give judgment against his own son for a commoner. It is rare. Oba Erediauwa is the best that has happened to Benin Kingdom in the last 1,600 years." In reaction to the announcement of the Oba's death, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has eulogised the departed Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa. The Governor expressed his profound reverence for the departed Monarch in a press statement he issued and personally signed. He described the late Monarch as "an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage". Oshiomhole said: "Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo NOba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institution in Edo state and the country at large. "His carriage comes with an elan that was peculiar with the reverence of royalty. His uncommon courage was symbolic of the can-do spirit of the Edo mind. His unity of purpose was not in doubt even as he used his revered position to promote constructive engagement amongst all shades of opinion and culture in Edo state. As a thorough-bred bureaucrat, rising to the pinnacle of his career as a Federal Permanent Secretary, he understood the dynamics and intricacies of governance. He was the alternative voice to the many voiceless in our society, calling government attention to issues of development and transparent governance, without minding whose ox is gored. He was brave, fearless, punchy and instructive in his verbal and written messages. "To us at the Edo state Government, he was our strongest supporter; both in his uncommon faith in our ability and his readiness to offer uncommon advice to sharpen public discourse in our shared commitment to transform Edo state. It gladdens our heart, therefore, that our revered Oba was alive to witness the positive transformation of Edo state under his reign, and for standing with us through thick and thin in the course of making the Edo economy a treasure to behold. Being part of that eloquent history of transformation before his reunion with his ancestors gives us further reassurance that he will occupy a special pride of place in the hereafter. "We are enveloped with a deep sense of nostalgia that our great Oba, a great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle and iconoclastic royal father of exemplary carriage and conduct, who sustained the dignity of the average Edo mind, has joined his ancestors. We are, however, encouraged by the fact that another great son of the Great Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Edaiken NUselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, who is already showing manifest quintessential attributes of his great father, will step into his fathers big shoes. "Edo people will miss our iconoclastic royal father of the great Benin Kingdom. Nigerians and Nigeria will miss this great exemplar of a Royal Father, an Oba of distinction and integrity. Adieu until we meet to part no more. "Oba gha to kpere, ise," the governor concluded. Oba Erediauwa was born in 1923, when in 1979 he ascended the throne of his fathers, he became the 38th Oba of Benin, traditional ruler of the Edo people in Benin City, in Nigeria. He was formerly addressed as the Prince Solomon Akenzua, and took on the title Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I after taking over from his father Oba Akenzua II, in a ceremony held in Benin city, on March 23, 1979. Source: Legit.ng Jeff Bezos Amazon's planning to "significantly" increase its spending in video content as it gets more serious about taking on Netflix in the online video-streaming space. During its earnings call with the press on Thursday, Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky stressed that the company's seeing better engagement and conversions from Prime members who use the video service, and that a lot of future investments will focus on boosting video offerings. "One of the larger investments is our content spend ... We like the results because we see better engagements, better free trial conversions from Prime members who use the video service," Olsavsky said. "We're going to significantly increase our content spend, some of it is in Q2 guidance, but we'll be expecting more of it in the backend of the year certainly." Online video has been a major investment area for Amazon lately. Its original TV series "Transparent" and "Mozart in the Jungle" have won Golden Globe awards recently, while the e-commerce business was the biggest spender at this year's Sundance Film Festival. And earlier this month, in a clear sign that Amazon's going after Netflix, the online-retail giant made its video service available to non-Prime members, launching a standalone video service that can be purchased month by month. Until then, Amazon's video content was available only to Prime members, its $99 annual membership program that gives access to two-day free shipping and a bunch of video and music, as well as cloud-storage space. Amazon's likely going to invest in its original programming, a space where it's known to lag behind Netflix and HBO. As this chart from Morgan Stanley shows, most people believe that Netflix and HBO have better original content than Amazon: Screen Shot 2016 04 28 at 4.22.07 PM NOW WATCH: Ford is partnering with Amazon to let you control your house from your car More From Business Insider Arik Air is a leading airline in Nigeria and boasts of one of the largest fleet of any Nigerian airline with 26 short, medium, and long range aircraft. You can conveniently book your Arik Airline flight online at the Arik Air Booking platform or you can use a flight comparison site like TravelStart. Arik Air operates about 150 daily flights and operates both domestic and international routes. Booking your Arik Air flights is very easy. Want to Book Cheap Flights Online? Click Here The airline offers an online booking platform for intending travelers to conveniently book and make payment for Arik Air flight. Online Payment for Arik air fares can be made with most debit/ATM cards. Aside Arik Air, other Nigerian airlines like Dana air and Air Peace also offer online booking and payment services. A Book-on-Hold option has been introduced to the platform. With this option, you book a flight on the Arik Air Booking platform and make payment via any QuickTeller supported ATM machine, QuickTeller App, or any bank branch nationwide. You can do your Arik Air Booking directly on this site using the tool here. The tool is powered by TravelStart a site for comparing flights and finding cheap flights online in Africa. You may also do your Arik Air Booking directly on TravelStart, Click Here. Flight Comparison services like TravelStart will help you find cheap flights online by enabling you compare flight fares across multiple Airlines. Arik Air Booking is Convenient Arik Air booking platform makes life easy for travelers. All one needs is an internet connection and you can handle most of their flight transactions with the Airline online. Transactions supported by the Arik Air online booking platform include: flight booking, secure payment, online ticketing (e-Ticket printout), booking management, fares calculation, online check-in, viewing of flight schedule, etc. The Airline does not currently support cancellation of flights once confirmed online and rescheduling of flights online. Arik air cancellations and rescheduling can be made via phone or by visiting a local Arik air office. The Booking website contains helpful travel information that will be useful to intending travelers. Booking your Arik Air flight ticket online is simple. Just, visit www.arikair.com, there you can book and pay for Arik air flights. Just fill-in the book a trip form at the Arik Air booking website, the booking engine will search for and list flights for the period you chose plus the cost of the flight. You can then complete your booking, make payment and get your Arik Air e-ticket via email or as a print-out. Looking for Cheap Flights Online? Click Here Arik Air fly different routes reaching 22 airports in Nigeria like Port Harcourt, Uyo, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, Calabar, Jos, Ibadan, Asaba, Benin City, Kano, Owerri, Gombe, Ilorin, Sokoto, Warri, Yola, etc with Lagos and Abuja as hub. The airline also reaches 11 air ports in Africa, including Accra, Abidjan, Cotonou, Banjul, Dakar, Johannesburg, Luanda, Douala, Freetown, Libreville, and Monrovia. Arik Air flies to London Heathrow, New York JFK, and Dubai International Air Port, United Arab Emirates. Visit Arik Air flight timetable and route map for details of flight schedule. Arik Air boasts of a fleet of air craft with most of them quite new. Popular Routes on Arik Air Booking Platform Here are some popular routes for your Arik Air Lagos-Calabar Lagos-Abuja Abuja-Lagos Lagos-Enugu Abuja-Benin Lagos-Benin Abuja-Kano Lagos-Kano Abuja-Asaba Abuja-Ibadan Contact Arik Airline Arik Air has been taken over by AMCON, though flight services are expected to continue as normal. At the Arik Air booking website, you will also find contacts of Arik air offices and authorised agents through out Nigeria and in countries where they have operations. For questions and enquiries, you can call customer care on 01 2799999. You can also connect with the airline on Twitter. Aside Arik Air, many Nigerian airlines like AirPeace have also deployed ecommerce/ICT tools in their business operations. A lot of them now offer Airline booking, which makes things easy for travelers. Planning to travel by air? Checkout Arik air booking website at www.arikair.com. Go electronic payment today, fly Arik Air. Report missing links at our forum, twitter, or Facebook page. Thanks Articles on Booking Flights Online Citycon continues to implement its strategy by divesting a portfolio of non-core properties. The company has today sold five properties comprising 46,800 sq.m. and located across Finland to a Finnish investment fund, eQ Finnish Real Estate, for a total value of approximately 74 million. The sales price is above the [] After a five year holding period, Jargonnant Partners has sold the business center Pilgersheimer Street 38/Kuhbachstreet 7-11 in Munich to Patrizia Immobilien. The asset is located in the up-and-coming Munich district of Untergiesing. With a letting space of almost 21,000 square metres and lots of tenants with high credit ratings, [] Javascript Error Javascript is deactivated in your browser. To use all functions on this portal, for example the login, Javascript must be activated. Please activate Javascript in your browser settings. Renault Duster in India is still in its first generation while the Brazil-spec model is a second-gen Sold in several international markets, Renault Duster has undergone a mid-cycle upgrade in Brazil. It may be recalled that while Brazil has the second-gen Duster, the Indian spec model (now in BS6 format) is a first-gen. Newly updated Brazil-spec Renault Duster comes with a range of styling upgrades, improved hardware and new features. Second-gen Brazil-spec Duster has received a range of exterior updates that reflect the companys new design language. Changes that are easily evident at first glance include a new grille, refreshed headlights and tail lamps, and blacked-out bumpers with prominent faux skid plate. Theres a pair of auxiliary lamps as well on the front bumper. It is not certain if these features would be introduced in all trims as a standard fitment. Talking about its interiors, there are a few major changes here as well. The overall layout of the dashboard has been changed, and it now looks much more premium. Gone is the protruding plastic block from the doors, which housed the window buttons. The same has now been incorporated into the door handles, like is seen in other cars in the segment. AC vents are seamlessly fitted into the dash, and so is the new touchscreen infotainment system, which is powered by updated software and also gets new layout. Instrument cluster is also all new. It houses two large circular dials with a LCD display in the center. AC controls are circular knobs like earlier Duster. But now they have digital display incorporated to set the desired temperature of the cabin. Thanks to newly designed doors, there is more space in the door pockets, in comparison to older Duster. Below is a comparison of old Duster and new Duster interiors. Coming to the engine department, 2.0-litre petrol motor has been replaced with a 1.6-litre 16V engine that delivers a max power of 118bhp. This is mated to a 5-speed manual or CVT automatic and power is sent to the front wheels. 2020 Renault Duster Facelift gets a new 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine as well which debuted in India at Auto Expo 2020. Brazil-spec Renault Duster facelift utilizes a new platform called B0 Plus, which is an enhancement over the B0 architecture. This has helped derive improved performance from suspension system while overall rigidity has been increased by 12.5%. SUVs doors, hood, roof and tailgate have been updated and overall length has been increased by 40mm. In India market, Renault had recently updated the Duster to keep it market relevant. It is priced from Rs 8.5 lakhs, ex-sh. It has also received a BS6 compliant engine option, in the form of a 1.5 liter petrol engine. Three variants are on offer, all petrol manual. In the coming months, it will also get a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol unit that generates 156bhp and 250Nm of torque. With this update, Renault Duster will become the most powerful petrol SUV in its segment. On the other hand, Dusters 1.5-litre diesel unit has been discontinued in the Indian market. Washington State University researchers have developed a new assessment tool to gauge the risk that someone with a mental illness will commit a crime. It could also speed up long-delayed competency evaluations for people awaiting trial. The assessment provides a small but notable improvement over the current evaluation system, said Alex Kigerl, an assistant research professor in the WSU Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. Writing in a recent edition of the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Kigerl and co-author Zachary Hamilton note a growing need to evaluate patients based on their risks to others and themselves before assigning them to inpatient hospital care or outpatient treatment. "Often a balance must be struck between patient rights and freedoms and public safety and risk," they write. State officials have struggled in recent years to ease overcrowding in mental-health facilities. They face legal action for delays in evaluating patients' competency to stand trial. Last year, a U.S. district judge said Washington "is violating the constitutional rights of some of its most vulnerable citizens" by failing to undertake evaluations within the legal limit of seven days. Kigerl's new assessment aims to give mental health examiners a way to prioritize patients for quicker evaluation and help determine who should be involuntarily committed. advertisement "If it's looking like someone is at an exceptionally high risk of committing a violent crime, the process should be expedited for the patient to receive an evaluation and even to be hospitalized," he said. "Less risky patients who are not likely to be a danger to other people can be put on a less restrictive alternative where they are in an outpatient setting and can receive treatment and visitations from mental health staff in a less oppressive environment." Kigerl and Hamilton prepared the assessment tool for the nonpartisan Washington State Institute for Public Policy, which the state legislature has asked to develop a risk-assessment instrument for patients with mental health issues. The researchers modified a tool used for offenders under state department of corrections supervision, called the Static Risk Assessment or SRA. "Static" characteristics refer to characteristics that can't be changed, like sex, age and prior offenses. The SRA only uses those items because they lend themselves to easy computation, saving the staff and evaluator time needed to manually assess dynamic factors like mental health and substance abuse, said Kigerl. The researchers adapted the SRA to create the SRA for Mental Health Patients, or SRA-MHP, using a sample of 16,289 involuntarily committed patients and 8,713 patients undergoing evaluation after being charged with a crime. The researchers developed their assessment using data from half the pool of patients, then tested its predictive power by comparing it against the other half. "The next step on this project would be to add dynamic characteristics -- ones that can be changed -- such as clinical variables about the patient, their mental health status, maybe chemical dependency, their employment and educational attainment and history," said Kigerl. "If you look at a lot of literature on risk assessments, dynamic factors add slow but incremental improvement." The strength of the tool is measured by a figure called the "area under the curve," or AUC. An AUC of .5 would mean a tool is about as good a predictor as a coin flip. An AUC of 1.0 is perfect. The old evaluation method has an AUC of .79; the new SRA-MHP gave an AUC of .81. "When we're talking about violent offenses, a little bit can go a long way," Kigerl said. The research is in keeping with WSU's Grand Challenges, research initiatives aimed at large societal problems. It is particularly relevant to the Sustaining Health challenge and its theme of promoting healthy communities, as well as the challenge Advancing Opportunity and Equity. Three years ago, an elderly male cat was found sitting alone in a parking lot in Connecticut. He was extremely emaciated and had an infection on his front right paw. An anonymous tip to Noah's Ark Animal Hospital ultimately alerted the staff to the cat's whereabouts. Rachel Keyes "He weighed about 7 pounds when we brought him in," Rachel Keyes, an assistant at Noah's Ark, told The Dodo. "We ran a bunch of tests on him so we could do a full exam and help bring him back to health." Medical staff found that he was anemic and had stage 2 kidney disease, among other illnesses. The staff at the hospital named the cat Billy and, as they worked to bring him back to health, became incredibly attached to him. Rachel Keyes That was how Billy found his new home at Noah's Ark, officially becoming the hospital's feline mascot. "Billy had free reign of the hospital," Keyes said. "He just roamed around everywhere and made his own little spot at the front desk in the reception area. Any time clients came in, they'd say hi to Billy and Billy was very friendly in return." Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Rescued Animals Melt Into This Woman's Arms When She Sings To Them Rachel Keyes Under the watchful eye of hospital staff, Billy, now 16 years old and a healthy 13 pounds, blossomed into a mellow, loving office cat. He was just one of the family, said Keyes. One of his favorite pastimes included "shaking hands" with the receptionists. Rachel Keyes But at the end of last month, Billy and Noah's Ark were met with an unexpected surprise. A new client - a father and daughter - visited the hospital. As Billy walked by, the father commented that the cat looked an awful lot like the one their family had lost years ago. His name was Batuffolo, known as Tuffo for short. As the man and his daughter continued to speak with the receptionist, Billy suddenly did something very out of character. "Billy recognized them and jumped up on the very top of the counter, which he doesn't do," Keyes said. "Then, he jumped right into their arms. Billy lets people pet him, but he never jumped into anybody's arms." Rachel Keyes The receptionist then began to ask the father and daughter about the cat's tendencies, to see if they matched Tuffo's. Billy, in particular, has a unique way of drinking water - he scoops it up with his paw first before drinking. Tuffo was known for doing the same thing. "Later that afternoon, they came in with other members of the family and Billy's twin brother, [Cotone]," Keyes said. "The two cats recognized each other immediately." A few days later, Billy was taken back home to be with his beloved sibling and family, after a three-year separation. The hospital now keeps in close contact with Billy's family, the Sicconis. As it turns out, after a move during the summer of 2013, Billy wandered away from home and never came back. But now he's home safe and sound with his loved ones, thanks to the equally loving care provided by Noah's Ark. "While we're very sad that Billy is gone, we're very happy that Billy is back with his rightful owners and appears to be very happy and well-adjusted," Keyes said. Much has been written about the horrors of the illegal wildlife trade , but no words can compare to seeing the helpless faces of its victims firsthand. Dog Goes Everywhere In His Dad's Kangaroo Pouch Officials in Cambodia made a shocking discovery this week, and in the process saved dozens of lives. Packed inside a vehicle bound for the nation's border, they found 43 monkeys tied up in sacks with no hope of escaping. Police officials told the Khmer Times that the animals were being smuggled to be sold in neighboring Vietnam, a major hub for wildlife trafficking. Photos of the monkeys show just how little regard is given to their well-being, as they were found piled up like mere commodities. New Zealand outfit Beastwars command an untouchable reputation as one of the best metal acts in the southern hemisphere and theyre about to remind their Australian fans why with their latest Oz tour. The band are gearing up to release their new album, The Death of All Things on 22nd April, and theyre celebrating with a string of dates that will comprise the bands only Australian shows for 2016. In 2011, the release of Beastwars critically acclaimed self-titled debut announced to the world that antipodean metal was not to be messed with and they followed up on that promise with 2013s powerful Blood Becomes Fire. On the live stage, the band are a force to be reckoned with and have previously taken to Aussie stages to rock alongside the likes of Red Fang, The Sword, Windhand, Truckfighters, and Unida. Though this could potentially be the last time we see the guys on Aussie soil, as they explain right now were halfway through what could be our last ever tour. When the band started we thought that making 3 albums that we were proud of would be the most success we could ask for. And with the release of our third record The Death of All Things and the imminent departure of our drummer Nato to London, this last run of shows has got us thinking of how lucky weve been in the 7 or so years of being an active band. To celebrate the ear-drum busting legends, and the impending tour we caught up with the guys to chat about the biggest highlights from their impressive career.Listen to/ buy The Death of All Things here: www.beastwars.bandcamp.com. Incredible Support Slots It started with the oddest matching of all, supporting noise rock band Health about a year after we formed. Their fans didnt get us at all with some deaf reviewer mentioning Nickleback vocals. But the offers got better and better with slots supporting bands wed grown up with like Helmet, Fu Manchu, Melvins and more recent inspirations like Mastodon, High on Fire, Windhand and Red Fang. Unfortunately we cant do every support tour though as Greg Anderson from SunnO))) got in touch (yes, fan mail!) and requested us to support them on their recent Australian tour. Unfortunately the budget didnt quite stretch far enough for that to happen but it was a buzz to be asked. Everyone always assumes that if you play some shows with a band you get to hang out and become best buddies with them but its generally pretty hard to break through the groundhog day monotony of the bigger touring bands life. They pretty much just want to play and sleep and youre just another support bands in an endless sea of support bands changing night after night. Some bands make there own fun with this, like the Fu Manchu bass player burping at us every time we said hello to him. That was pretty weird. Some bands make there own fun with this, like the Fu Manchu bass player burping at us every time we said hello to him. That was pretty weird A big night for band was the Kyuss Lives support in Wellington to a sold out 700 crowd the week our first album was released. I think we were all excited that we were going to meet them but so often as it is with these supports we didnt get to meet the band, actually we were kicked out of the backstage area by the promoter almost immediately after we played. But it was a great show and they were a great band. 3 years later we found ourselves supporting Unida (one of John Garcia of Kyuss other bands) on their NZ/Aus tour and Matt (vocals) was really keen to say hello to but once again it wasnt to be. So on the 2nd night of the tour Matt decided he would stumble into his dressing room and found John sitting drinking in the dark by himself. This guy is a huge legend and slightly intimidating and the words that popped out of Matts mouth were youre Mexican, Im Irish, lets drink. Which he happily did and he turned out to be a fantastic guy. The tour ended 3 shows later with a hug and Matt and John great friends for those few days. Playing Some of the Best Indie Festivals In the World Camp A Low Hum in New Zealand and Cherry Rock in Melbourne are two festivals that stand out in our career. Both introduced the band to bigger audiences and led to some of the craziest nights. A Low Hum was like a paradise for acid heads, a mixed genre festival supposedly full of hipsters (I hate that word) but what we found were young people absolutely passionate about all types of music, including some middle aged metallers like us. There was nothing like it. The final year we played their was a huge storm which flooded the entire festival site. Luckily we played on the first night just before the rain came down. The polar opposite but equally awesome is Cherry Rock in Melbourne which James Young invited us to play for 2 years in a row. Having him as one of our champions in Melbourne really has meant so much to us. Cherry Rock has to be one of the best festivals weve been to in the world. The first year we played The Meat Puppets headlined with a fantastic set. Clayton (guitar) and his good friend Matthew (who is an amazing luthier- one of Melbournes best) hung out with Curt Kirkwood until dawn drinking, smoking and chatting. He had some amazing stories and Clayton was so enthralled that he almost missed his flight back to NZ. Youtube: Beastwars at Camp A Low Hum Deathgasm There was a competition in New Zealand called Make My Horror Movie where if you had a great idea you could get $250,000 to make your film. We started talking to the director of NZ heavy metal splatter horror film Deathgasm as soon as we heard his idea and said wed be involved in any way that he needed. We ended up supplying T-shirts for the cast and music for the soundtrack. When we went to the premiere we were stunned. If he had of told us what scene our music was being used in, on paper we probably would have said no because we tend to take things quite seriously and this was just nuts. Im pleased we didnt get a chance to veto because we were used in one of the most iconic scenes from the film and the worldwide release has gained us a tonne of new fans. STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS As James (bass) arrived at the very last NZ Big Day Out he looked out at the spot where his 17-year-old self watched Pink Floyd play many years earlier. Dreams can come true. He was brought back to reality pretty fast by some grumpy assistant production manager shouting that the gates were opening and if we didnt shut the f*** up hed personally throw us out of the grounds and cancel our set. Ouch. Playing all the classic venues weve played at has been a buzz, but Western Springs was standing on the shoulders of giants like Bowie, Zeppelin, Deep Purple and so many others. Photo: Old mates Beastwars & Red Fang together HITTING THE TOP OF THE CHARTS (OR NEAR ENOUGH) When our 2nd album Blood Becomes Fire was released in 2013 we were up against some tough competition. There was a huge buzz with our fans about our new record but we were releasing around Mothers Day and Michael Buble cunningly had some handsome crooner CD to release the same day as us. Alistair, the marketing boss at our New Zealand distributor Universal Music had the genius idea of a dont let your mum choose whos number 1 campaign. We took everyone by surprise and landed at number 2 on the top 40 charts over here. It looked like we had a good shot at the number 1 spot for this new album too until the untimely passing of Prince RIP. Listen to/ buy The Death of All Things here: www.beastwars.bandcamp.com Album Tour Dates Adelaide Thurs 28 Producers Bar w Mammoth and Loathing Hollow Melbourne Fri 29 Ding Dong w Horsehunter and Orb Brisbane Sat 30 Crowbar w Lizzard Wizzard and Grieg Tickets at www.oztix.com.au Bernie Sanders is losing the primary battle, but he's still waging a war for the soul of the Democratic Party. Now all-but eliminated from winning the Democratic nomination, the Vermont Senator and his advisers are drawing up plans for a fight over the party's platform and rules at the July convention, hoping to inscribe his ideas into the party's DNA. That could mean putting into the text ideas that Clinton and her allies have resisted, such as raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour or changing the primary rules to eliminate superdelegates, Sanders allies say. His advisers are considering tactics that would take advantage of the party's arcane rules to push proposals through the party-controlled committees, perhaps as far the convention floor. The looming fight at the convention has become a key motive for Sanders to continue contesting major primary states. "If we don't win, we intend to win every delegates we can," he said at a rally on Wednesday, "so that when we go to Philadelphia, we will have the votes to put together the strongest progressive agenda that any party has ever seen." But Sanders will face some of the same challenges in his platform fight that he faced in his campaign, with much of the agenda on the convention floor controlled by Clinton and her allies within the party. He has lost a string of devastating losses in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and other delegate-rich states in recent days, which means he will have fewer supporters compared with Clinton in the convention halls. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, has already appointed the leaders of the three committees Sanders hopes to influence. Co-chairing the Rules Committee is former Rep. Barney Frank, a vocal Clinton ally who has repeatedly criticized Sanders for having few accomplishments in Congress. A co-chair for the Platform Committee is Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy, a close Clinton ally who has harshly targeted Sanders' gun control stance. Story continues Moreover, it is unclear Clinton herself is willing to compromise with Sanders if he does make stringent demands. "I am winning. And I'm winning because of what I stand for and what I've done and what I stand for," Clinton said on Monday, indicating her resistance to shifting her platform. Clinton added that in the 2008 elections, she supported then-Sen. Barack Obama without preconditions, despite being closer in popular vote to him than Sanders is to her today. "We got to the end in June and I did not put down conditions. I didn't say, 'You know what, if Senator Obama does x, y and z, maybe I'll support him,'" she said. Sanders and his advisers have not yet settled on issues they wish to advance at the convention. On Monday, Sanders said that Clinton would need to adopt single-payer healthcare and a more comprehensive climate change plan if she wants to win over his supporters. His allies are adamant that he get a strong hearing at the convention and say on the platform, which could lead to a contentious fight in Philadelphia. "This resurgence of the progressive wing of the party has been a good thing and it demands its day in the sun at the convention," said Rep. Ra?l Grijalva, a Sanders backer, in an interview. "The platform has to be more reflective of the issues [Sanders] has put up front." The rules to the convention are complex, and Sanders' and his advisors, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, have not settled on the best method to help set the party's platform. But even if Sanders enters the convention with between 1,500 and 1,900 delegates--well under the number of delegates he would need to win the nomination--he will have a strong base of grassroots organizers committed to his ideas. "These are people that very much believe in Bernie Sanders' agenda. They're going to care about this a lot," a Sanders aide said. "I don't think the DNC or the Clinton campaign have wrapped their mind around that." Though the leadership of the party's three key committees generally favors Clinton, Sanders could have significant leverage over the convention. Each party committee has 187 members. Twenty-five are appointed by the DNC chair, and the other 162 are apportioned according to each candidate's support in state primaries and caucuses. If Sanders wins 40% of the total delegates in all primaries, he will have roughly the same representation among the 162 members on the committees who are not appointed by the DNC chair. Those delegates will largely be hand-picked Sanders loyalists. According to party rules, Sanders only needs support from 20% of each committee to propose amendments that could make it to the floor of the open convention--which could in turn spur a contentious, public fight in primetime. If Sanders' backers in the platform committee push for a $15 minimum wage, for example, and Clinton's supporters oppose it, the Sanders camp could issue a "minority report" with 25% support and bring the debate to the convention floor. That would force Clinton supporters to decide whether to vote against a measure popular with the Democratic base. One change the Sanders campaign has long eyed is making the Democratic primaries open to voting by independents. "One of the things that we will be fighting for on the platform, whether he's the candidate or not, is electoral reform," said Jane Sanders, Bernie's wife, in an interview with CNN this week. "The process needs to change. We need an open electoral system, same-day registration and open primaries." Still, Clinton's broad support in the party is in institutional hurdle against any attempt by Sanders to control the proceedings. The 25 most-senior members on each committee have already been chosen by Wasserman Schultz. On the Platform Committee, for example, at least 16 of the 25 members appointed by the party are known Clinton allies. Much of the party's infrastructure is made up of stalwarts who came up during President Bill Clinton's tenure and have longstanding connections with the family. Others endorsed Clinton early in the race. "Because the Party's platform is a statement of our values, the DNC is committed to an open, inclusive and representative process," said Luis Miranda, communications director at the Democratic National Committee. "[J]ust as we did in 2008 and 2012, the public will have opportunities to participate." Sanders' campaign has not decided how it will approach the convention. It may heed a call to party unity and ensure any negotiations are careful and contained within the committees. Or it may take a more ambitious approach. In the divisive 1980 Democratic convention, losing candidate and then-Senator Ted Kennedy battled with President Jimmy Carter over major platform points, bringing amendments to the convention floor in a show of defiance. Kennedy was able to help push the Equal Rights Amendment into the party's platform. At the end of the convention, Carter was ungracefully forced to follow his rival around the stage to seek a reconciliatory victory gesture. Recent Democratic conventions have been tamer affairs. Clinton in 2008 conceded the nomination to Obama and did not seek an open fight on ideological issues, letting the nominee set the agenda. Sanders has already defined much of the conversation in this race. Clinton has moved toward Sanders' position against the Keystone Pipeline and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and borrowed much of his rhetoric on income inequality and other issues. Clinton campaign aides are hopeful that the party will come together in July despite Sanders' language. Jane Sanders said on Tuesday that the campaign "will not play the role of spoiler" and Sanders himself has said he will do everything he can to prevent a Republican from being elected. "In the end, we have every confidence that our party will be able to come together," Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon said. "At this point in time, when the primary is still eight weeks left to be contested, I think there's still plenty of time for Sen Sanders to make a decision as to how he would conduct himself, and what he would ask his supporters come this summer." This article was originally published on Time.com. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com Exxon Mobils profits were down by half last year, and down 63 percent in the first quarter of this year. (Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images) After 10 years at the helm of the worlds biggest publicly owned oil company, Exxon Mobil chief executive Rex W. Tillerson has had mostly gloomy news for shareholders lately. Profits were down by half last year, and down 63 percent in the first-quarter financial results announced Friday. Buffeted by low petroleum prices, the oil giant has tightened its spending belt, slashing capital outlays by 33 percent in the first quarter. And it has been forced to borrow money to meet dividend payments, mortgaging a bit of tomorrow to pay shareholders today. This week Standard & Poors downgraded the stocks gold-plated triple A credit rating to double A plus, the first time Exxon lost its triple A rating since Harry Truman was president, the communists took over China, and the advent of color television. The executive that the politician Sarah Palin called T. Rex even took a well-publicized 18 percent pay cut to $27.3 million to keep shareholders whose stock price has barely changed in five years from getting too restless. But dont cry for Tillerson, who is scheduled to retire next March. The 64-year-old Exxon veteran, who joined the company as a production engineer in 1975 and never worked anyplace else, has built a nest egg with about $218 million in Exxon stock plus a pension plan worth about $69.5 million, according to an April 13 proxy statement and a form filed Dec. 9 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson. (Evan Vucci/AP) This has been a year where political candidates have taken aim at highly paid corporate executives and inequality in American society. One sign of popular unrest: BP shareholders, in a rare rebellion earlier this month, voted against a proposed 20 percent raise for BP chief executive Bob Dudley, though the vote was only advisory. Thanks to a rule from the Securities and Exchange Commission, big companies will have to disclose how much greater their top executives pay is than the average employee. The rule wont apply to Exxon Mobil until the 2018 proxy. But Tillersons salary this year will be about 500 times the median U.S. household income. Its outrageous. This is a man who has helped drive not only a company but maybe the world over a cliff, said Rosanna Landis Weaver, an executive compensation specialist with As You Sow, a group that promotes social and environmental corporate responsibility and who believes Exxon should move into renewable energy. She said his compensation cut was a largely symbolic reduction on a package that was exorbitant. Yet Tillersons compensation package almost seems tame in an era of excess. Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, head of a investment firm in another industry taking its lumps lately, received $89.5 million in compensation in 2015not counting $644.8 million in dividends from his Blackstone shares, $65.6 million for his investments in Blackstone funds, and $10.8 million for tax benefits. (Tillersons dividends amount to about $7.5 million a year.) The Exxon Mobil stock and pension package Tillerson has accumulated over the course of his 41-year career also falls short of the nearly $350 million his predecessor Lee Raymond had in stock and pension when he left Exxon Mobil amid public uproar a decade ago. Tillersons nearly 2.5 million Exxon Mobil shares reported Dec. 9 in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing could still jump in value if oil prices rebound before he is expected to retire next March. Tillersons nest egg, said Exxon Mobil spokesman Alan Jeffers, was produced over a career, in which he came right out of school and started working here. And the end point is not when he walks out the door on retirement. Jeffers said that about 1.8 million of Tillersons Exxon shares are not vested meaning they cannot be sold now but more and more will become vested every year over the next decade. That structure was designed to give Tillerson an incentive to do things that are in Exxon Mobils long-term interest and tie his holdings to the outcome of long-term exploration and development projects. It also defers tax payments. One sign of the delayed impact of decisions: Even as oil prices have fallen, Exxon Mobil Friday reported higher oil production, the result of investments made in earlier years. Last year, Tillerson took a bigger pay reduction than the median energy company in the Standard & Poors list of the 500 largest U.S. companies, according to Institutional Shareholder Services. Excluding pensions, the median of the 26 S&P 500 energy chief executives took pay cuts of 0.9 percent from 2014 to 2015; by contrast, Tillerson had a reduction of 14.6 percent. The company says hes been worth it. In drawing up his pay package, the company compared Tillersons compensation to those of chief executives at a dozen other major corporations only one of them, Chevron, in the oil industry. It said that he ranked in the 39th percentile when calculated over his 10-year tenure as CEO. Institutional Shareholder Services, however, said just counting his total compensation for 2015 put him above the 90th percentile of those same dozen corporate giants including General Electric, Boeing, Verizon, Ford Motor, and Pfizer. In many ways the jury is still out on how Tillerson has handled the rollercoaster of crude oil prices and blockbuster development of shale oil and gas in the United States. During his tenure, crude prices went from about $60 a barrel up to $148, then down and up and back down as low at $28. The companys capital spending including new exploration and production spending rose from $17.7 billion the year Raymond left to $42.5 billion in 2012 before sliding to $23 billion this year. Exxon Mobil tried to catch up with smaller independents thriving in U.S. shale exploration and in 2010 ended up making an ill-timed purchase of XTO Energy, a company with extensive domestic holdings, when prices were relatively high. In its downgrade of Exxons credit rating, S&P pointed to lower revenues because of falling crude oil prices, high-cost investment required to replenish reserves and maintain oil and gas production, and large dividend payments. Nonetheless, Exxon Mobil raised its dividend even higher the day after S&Ps downgrade. S&P also said Exxon Mobil had doubled its debt level, while keeping up massive share buybacks. Although Exxon Mobil suspended buybacks earlier this year, over the Tillerson decade the company reduced the number of outstanding shares from 6.2 billion to 4.1 billion at a cost of $54 billion since 2012 and more than $200 billion over the past decade. The company says it is a way to return money to shareholders, and at the same time boost the stock price. Nothing has changed in terms of the companys financial philosophy or prudent management of its balance sheet, Exxon Mobil said in a statement after the downgrade. ExxonMobils access to financial markets on attractive terms remains strong and is a competitive advantage relative to industry peers. The slightly lower credit rating isnt expected to hurt the company, analysts agreed, but it still mattered. A double A plus rating is not a terrible thing, but there is a symbolic effect here. The biggest company in the industry has lost its gold-plated triple A, said Pavel Molchanov, an energy analyst at the investment firm Raymond James. Molchanov said the company was continuing to spend about $12 billion a year paying dividends to shareholders because this company prides itself on being a dividend aristocrat. It has grown its dividend year in and year out for decades. It is preserving that history. Booking around the world travel doesn't have to be hard. Learn how to maximize the value of your next trip by making multiple stops while circling the globe. (McKenna Ewen,Osman Malik/The Washington Post) If only we had 80 days. Unfortunately, we dont have Vernes generous vacation allotment, but we do have nearly three weeks more than enough time to take a short lap around the world. For our circumnavigation, we will touch down in five countries, one island city-state and a former British colony administered by China. The boots-on-ground segments will last from a brief 24 hours (Reykjavik, Iceland) to a more languorous three days (Seychelles). For each destination, we will embark on a mini-scavenger hunt: we must visit a landmark, eat a local dish and snap up a souvenir. Over 20 days, we will cover thousands of miles and several time zones on four continents. And on the 21st day, we shall rest. Follow us on Instagram (@andrea.sachs and @jabinbotsford) and on Snapchat (@jabinbotsford). [How to book your own trip around the world] Day 1: Reykjavik, Iceland First stop: Reykjavik, Iceland Population: 331,918 Known for: Natural soaking tubs, Viking lore, fermented fish, Bjork, an affinity for elves Must see: Blue Lagoon Must eat: Hakari (fermented shark) or sheeps head from the BSI bus station cafeteria Souvenir: Piece of volcanic lava or ash, or Icelandic woolens 1 of 11 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad What you need to see in Iceland when you have 24 hours View Photos Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their first stop was Iceland, where they made the most of their short visit. Caption Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their first stop was Iceland, where they made the most of their short visit. In Grindavik, Iceland, a woman floats in the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa. Read more about the trip here. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Neither one of us mentioned the S-word. We had only 24 hours in Reykjavik; we could sleep on the morning flight to Stockholm. On the island, Jabin and I moved like the Icelandic wind that could seemingly push the Nordic country closer to Greenland. About an hour after arriving on the red-eye, a nearly six-hour flight from Dulles, we were bouncing along toward the Golden Circle, the nearly 200-mile loop that bubbles, spews and sprays with geologic features. The route provides layover lubbers like us with an alternative to the 830-mile Ring Road, which demands at least a week of your devotion. With foggy heads and clear skies, we hiked down to the first attraction on the route, Kerio, a volcanic crater lake that is a mere baby at 3,000 years old. The gravely path down to the caldera felt like shifting coffee grinds underfoot. I fell more on that short walk than I had over the past two winters. Fortunately, the landing was soft and silly. I also wasnt the only tumbler in the crowd. A mom created a human chain with her young son, who eventually lost to gravity. Thankfully, the sliding stopped just shy of the shore; one false step into the icy water and youre an instant Popsicle. Kerio is a volcanic crater lake that is a must-see in southern Iceland. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) At Gullfoss, or Golden Waterfall, the water thundered down the Hvita River gorge, releasing frothy white plumes high into the air. In the distance, the mountains wore snowy stoles around their shoulders. The wind started to kick up, and I had to resist invisible hands pushing against me. The force grew even stronger at Geysir Hot Springs, a site gurgling with geothermal activity. On the short stroll to Strokkur, which puffs steam every four to eight minutes, my headscarf blew around like a kite and my mitten flew into a rivulet near a boiling hot pot. I knew that I had to take immediate action; I couldnt wait till the shops in the capital. I disappeared inside the store across the street and, a few minutes later, returned to the field in my new armor, an Icelandic wool hat. You see, sometimes a souvenir is more than a keepsake; its a tool of survival. Gullfoss is a common stop for tourists along Iceland's famed Golden Circle. The falls are part of Hvita River. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) We completed the Circle by mid-afternoon and scooted into Reykjavik for a one-two punch of diversions. We rode the elevator to the observation deck of the 244-foot-tall Hallgrimskirkja Church and stood on stools to peer at the colorful buildings cascading toward the sea and keeping a polite distance from the steely mountains. Afterward, by the harbor, Jabin stood in line at the food stand, Bjarins Beztu Pylsur, whose name translates to the best hot dog in town. When his turn arrived, Jabin, who had trained for this moment, ordered a hot dog with everything (onions, sweet mustard, remoulade sauce) and a Coke. An employee dressed his dog and placed it in a narrow wooden holder on the counter for pick-up. Bjarins Beztu Pylsur has been selling hot dogs since 1937. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Murals and street art lend character to a small Reykjavik park. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) I can taste the lamb, Jabin said as he parsed the medley of proteins. On our 12th hour in Iceland, we finally arrived at one of the countrys most popular attractions, the Blue Lagoon. (For proof, count the buses and American accents.) Guests of the geothermal spa follow a ritual that includes a pre-soak shower and the slathering of conditioner on ones hair, to protect locks from drying out. Once in the pool, which steamed like a witchs cauldron, Jabin and I swam-walked to the bar, where he ordered a cider and I re-energized with a blend of orange juice, carrots and ginger. After dawdling in a particularly hot spot, we wandered over to the facial bar and scooped white silica mud out of bowls. I spread the goop over my face as if I were making a fluff sandwich. An employee advised us to leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes; I kept it on for twice as long, embracing the mime look. We later returned to the little hut for a second treatment, an algae mask. A staff member told us to wash it off after 10 minutes. I turned my greenish face toward a less-inhabited cove. By the lava rocks, I searched for a quiet place. I had many more hours before I could S, so the least I could do was grab a few minutes of R&R. A view of buildings in downtown Reykjavik as seen from the top of Hallgrimskirkja, a Lutheran church. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Days 2-4: Stockholm Second stop: Sweden Population: 9.8 million Known for: Island-hopping, minimalist design, ABBA, royal palaces, fish, Bjork, an affinity for elves Must see: Junibacken, a museum dedicated to Swedish childrens books Must eat: Swedish meatball, or pea soup and pancakes (a Thursday tradition)the BSI bus station cafeteria Souvenir: Dala horsewoolens 1 of 15 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Around the world: Scenes from Stockholm View Photos Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their second stop was in Sweden. Caption Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their second stop was in Sweden. The Tyska Kyrkan, or German Church, in Gamla Stan, or Old Town, is seen from a hotel window in Stockholm. Read more about the trip here. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. When I walk into an H&M store in the States, I often wonder whether Swedes also shop there. The global clothing chains birth certificate reads Vasteras, Sweden, after all. Soon after landing in our second around-the-world destination, a nearly three-hour flight from Iceland, I set out to learn the truth. Inside the mall-size store in central Stockholm, I feigned interest in tribal prints to eavesdrop on others accents. I left with my answer (yes, they do have them) plus a pair of $10 tassel earrings that disproved the notion that Sweden is ridiculously expensive. A couple is seen kissing in the reflection of a mirror in an H&M store in Stockholm, where the company has its headquarters. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Stockholm is a cosmopolitan city on par with other Western greats. Locals dress in the urban uniform of black-on-black and shame monolinguists by slipping seamlessly into English. But Swedes also embrace traditions that I had assumed were unsanctioned stereotypes but turned out to be truths. I eat Swedish meatballs at home, our waiter at Restaurang Slingerbulten told us. We eat them any day of the week. Jabin ordered hemmagjorda kottbullar med graddsas, rarorda lingon, pressgurka och potatismos, which translated, on the plate, to four meatballs covered in gravy and paired with mashed potatoes, pickles and a ruby-colored mound of lingonberries. While chatting with the server, we were interrupted by an eruption of singing from the front room. He explained the Swedish custom of belting out a song before each glass of aquavit. The table next to us dropped their utensils and chimed in. Jabin polished off his meatballs, and we left before their second round or set. People relax across a river from Old Town. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) For a souvenir, I had an idea in my head (keeping it a secret) but feared that no modern Swede would dare own the particular trinket I sought. At K&U, a clothing store on the island of Sodermalm, I plunked a pair of clogs on the counter and, while an employee rang them up, prodded staff members for ideas. The daughter of the shop owner pointed to the wooden shoes and said, Those. As a second option, she recommended a Dala horse (secrets out) and assured me that her family owns several of the wood-carved, painted figurines. She directed me to Ahlens City, the countrys largest department store, which was founded in 1899. I found shelves of horses on the fourth floor, by a tourist information booth. (Yes, its that mega.) I selected a red Dala horse with a folk-artsy flower on its back and a white stripe on its nose. The Vasa Museum, allegedly the most-visited museum in Scandinavia, offers a cautionary tale about Swedish design but, in the countrys defense, the Dutch were also to blame for the tragedy. In 1628, the 226-foot-long warship set sail, a move by King Gustav II Adolf, who was seeking Baltic domination. The vessel, which was built by a Dutch shipwright, sank less than a mile from the dock. The Vasa squatted on the seafloor for 333 years, before it was salvaged, restored and lodged indoors, safe from unsteady seas and royal fancies. People walk around a museum for the 17th-century Vasa warship, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 in Stockholms harbor. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Shelves of Dala horses, a traditional carved and painted wooden statuette originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna, at a store in Stockholm. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) A member of the royal guard stands outside Kungliga slottet, or the Royal Palace, on the eve of the Swedish kings birthday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) The museum sits in the Royal National City Park, home of several cultural institutions, oak tree groves and woodland creatures. At Junibacken, across from the museum, I made my way through a parking lot of prams and stepped into a Swedish childhood. I have been reading them since I was 3 or 4, said a young woman running the Story Train, a magical spin through the tales of Astrid Lindgren. This ride always makes me cry. On the street, I noticed a slow line of cars trailing behind officials riding high on horses and boxing in a carriage. I asked a resident about the processional. She said that King Carl XVI Gustaf was turning 70 the following day and was supposedly throwing himself a birthday bash nearby. But we had to send our regrets by that time wed be off to our next destination and it never pays to keep a lemur waiting. Stockholms Old Town is illuminated at night. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Day 5-7: Antananarivo, Madagascar Third stop: Madagascar Population: 23.8 million Known for: Lemurs, chameleons, lemurs, frogs, lemurs, baobab trees, lemurs Must see: Andasibe-Mantadia National Park Must eat: Zebu, a meat stew Souvenir: Madagascar vanilla 1 of 17 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad What its like to hang out with lemurs in Madagascar View Photos An island off the countrys eastern coast is home to all the wild lemurs in the world 105 species. Caption An island off the countrys eastern coast is home to all the wild lemurs in the world 105 species. A common brown lemur licks photographer Jabin Botsford's face on Lemur Island at Mantadia National Park in east Madagascar. Read more about the trip here. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. How badly did we want to see lemurs? So badly that we spent nearly 24 hours traveling from Stockholm to Madagascar, testing our resolve through one red-eye, two layovers (Paris, the Seychelles) and four semi-edible airplane meals (among the dishes: a greasy egg-roll-meets-burrito snack paired with fruit salad, ratatouille and rice with a creamy carrot salad, and lots of vacuum-sealed bread). That we clocked more than five hours in a car that corkscrewed along twisty roads crowded with trucks, parading children, crayfish vendors and carts drawn by zebu, the local cattle. That we sacrificed much-needed sleep by rising early for day hikes to view the diurnal lemurs and staying up late (in jet-lag hours) for night walks to see the nocturnal residents. (Our solution to the lack of zzzs: snoozing during every car ride, no matter the length of the drive.) We also braved leeches, malarial mosquitoes and giant spider webs that hung like lace curtains in the rainforest. All for a primate. But lemurs arent just any animal, and Madagascar isnt just any African country. The island off the eastern coast is home to all of the wild lemurs in the world 105 species. And they are nearly everywhere. Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is one of the lemur habitats closest to the capital, Antananarivo, a clamoring metropolis with colorful buildings stacked on hillsides and trimmed with rice paddies and barren fields. The reserve counts a dozen lemur species among its kingdom of critters, which also include birds (many endemic), chameleons (ditto), frogs, beetles, butterflies, stick bugs and so many spiders. We started in the Mantadia section, which is accessible only via a deeply rutted, unpaved route. My back ached not from the 90 minutes of jostling but from trying to twist into a semi-horizontal slumbering position. Jabins suffering was much worse: His head was repeatedly acting out a knock-knock joke on the window. Houses and buildings cover the hills in Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Driver Raymond races through the countryside. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Our guide, Liva, was like a heavy dose of caffeine. He was deeply attuned to nature (birds actually answered his calls) and his enthusiasm for the local wildlife jolted us awake. We dove into the thick of the forest, stepping high over roots and crouching low to avoid sticky webs. In the distance, we heard the cries of the black-and-white ruffed lemur, a sound that resembled a heavy metal bands cover of whale song. Cocking his ear, Liva followed the vocals to the source. While we watched a family defend its territory against intruders (little ol us?), Liva darted off to scout for other species. He returned with a slew of finds: sleeping eastern woolly lemurs (so jealous), the rare red-bellied lemur and the diademed sifaka, or dancing lemur, which seemed to be wearing orange leg warmers. Sometimes people come to the park and dont see any lemurs, he said. You saw four species. You were lucky. A black-and-white ruffed lemur grabs food from photographer Jabin Botsfords hand on Lemur Island. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) A lemur sits on the head of reporter Andrea Sachs on Lemur Island. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) A Parsons chameleon is spotted on a night walk near Eulophelia lodge. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Unlike that of my jeans, which ripped on one of the uphill scrambles, our luck with lemurs continued. We added the bamboo and the common brown on Lemur Island, a so-called refuge for lemurs rescued from domestic situations. On the night walks, we stared into the Beanie Boo eyes of mouse lemurs and watched a Parsons chameleon change color from banana-yellow to a more chic orange with green stripes. The indri, the largest lemur, kick-started our morning trek in Andasibe. A family of four swooped over our heads, their furry white legs propelling their bodies across the wide expanse, their human-like hands grasping the opposite trunk. The visit ended with the dancing lemurs, which were too busy scarfing down strawberry mangos to jig for their rapt audience below. Back in the parking lot, exhausted but elated, I again heard the bellows of the indri. They are saying goodbye, Liva said. Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is one of the lemur habitats closest to the capital. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) The following morning, we said our own farewells at a lower decibel, of course. Goodbye, kindly staff member at Eulophelia lodge, who broke from the set menu to prepare for us ravitoto, a traditional meal made of mashed cassava leaves mixed with beef from zebu. Goodbye, Josefa, our ever-buoyant guide who, during our mad dash to the airport, accommodated our request to purchase Madagascar vanilla, our chosen souvenir. Goodbye, Raymond, the driver who navigated the gnarled traffic in Antananarivo like a rude New Yorker. And a special screeching goodbye to the lemurs. Sadly, we will have to leave you behind as we fly northeast to the Seychelles. You are endemic, after all. A diademed sifaka lemur jumps from tree to tree at Andasibe-Mantadia National Park in Madagascar. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Days 8-11: Mahe, Seychelles Fourth stop: Seychelles Population: 92,430 Known for: Beaches, nature reserves and marine parks, Creole culture, water sports, coral islands Must see: Vallee de Mai National Reserve, a UNESCO site Must eat: Breadfruit, fried or boiled Souvenir: Woven basket or sarong 1 of 17 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad On Seychelles, kick around rugby-ball-size coconuts on white-sand beaches View Photos Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their fourth stop was in the 115-island nation of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Caption Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their fourth stop was in the 115-island nation of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Mahe Boats float by the beach near Chalets dAnse Forbans on one of the islands of the Seychelles, one of the worlds smallest countries. Read more about the trip here. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. It was inevitable. We were going to experience a glitch or depending on whos telling the story, a major screw-up. For the first three countries, we glided through our itinerary with the greatest of ease. Our only delay lasted barely an hour, and the aircraft ended up leaving Stockholm before the estimated departure time posted on the overhead screen. My blood pressure didnt even have a chance to rise. And then we arrived in the Seychelles. A little background info: We had planned an outing from Mahe, the largest island in the East African archipelago and our home base, to Praslin, a nearby isle with a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The agent in the States told us to be ready for an 8 a.m. pickup; a representative at the Seychelles airport said the driver would come at 9. After processing the schedule change, I flashed Jabin an ecstatic expression usually affiliated with winning the lottery. Our Powerball ticket number: an extra hour of sleep. The famous coco de mer palm trees in Praslin National Park on the Seychelles island of Praslin. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) The morning of our excursion, I was luxuriating in bed, gazing dreamily at the palm trees outside my window, when I heard a knock and a strangers voice telling Jabin that our ride was here. I checked my phone 7 a.m. and rushed to the front door to speak with the innkeeper. She said the plane was taking off shortly; we had to leave N-O-W. I dont want to point fingers, but okay, I will: The airport employee gave us incorrect details. But my phone was also to blame: It was still on Madagascar time, an hour behind. We ended up missing the flight plus the next one plus the ferry, an alternate mode of inter-island travel. At the airport, we added our names to the standby list for the 11:30 departure. I slumped down in the plastic chair, feeling like a delinquent student in the principals office. My punishment: no trip to Praslin that day (we attempted the outing the next day, and succeeded). Palm trees line the beach near Chalets dAnse Forbans on the Seychelles island of Mahe. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Instead of wallowing, we turned the mishap upside-down. We drove (on the left side, a remnant of British rule) to Victoria (all hail Queen V), where we spent a sunny-rainy-sunny afternoon. The compact capital mixes the styles of past colonial powers with the colors and textures of the African culture. A symphony of English, French and Creole drifts through the streets. Houses, hotels and apartments near Victoria, the countrys capital. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Traffic moves through Victoria on a rainy day on the island of Mahe. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Workers sell seafood at a fish market in Victoria. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) We set out in search of a souvenir, eschewing goods made in China for the homemade crafts at the Cooperative des Artisans, which the British established in the 1930s to promote local talent. I hovered around the raffia baskets and handbags woven by three elderly ladies, but Jabin nixed the idea: The delicate handiwork would never survive the crush of travel, especially in the overhead bins. The shopkeeper suggested a more durable wood carving that was the size of a mini-bagel and resembled well, lets just say a placard in the palm forest on Praslin describes the seeds form as pornographic. The piece is a diminutive replica of Lodoicea, the largest coconut in the world, which grows only in the Seychelles. The government protects and regulates the giant nut, which sells for hundreds of dollars. I would need thousands more rupees to purchase the real thing, plus a bowling bag to transport it home. The traditional dish of chicken coconut curry served at the Bonbon Plume restaurant on Praslin. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) A long-exposure image of a beach near Chalets dAnse Forbans on Mahe. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Coconuts are a recurring theme on the islands. Our traditional dish, which we sampled at the Bonbon Plume restaurant on Praslin, was chicken coconut curry (pass on the fruit bat). For our landmark, we hiked around Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve (the UNESCO site), one of only two locations in the country where the coco de mer palm, the parent of that husky coconut, grows. I kicked around rugby-ball-size coconuts on the white-sand beaches and noticed coconut ice creams high placement on menus. On the ferry back to Mahe, I watched the palm trees on the shoreline shrink to pencil-height. The sky set off red and orange flares. Halfway through the journey, passengers clutching white bags rushed into the open air. I offered them a consoling smile and then turned my gaze toward the sunset and beyond to India, our next destination. Locals and tourists on a ferry boat leaving Praslin watch the sun set. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Days 12-14: Mumbai, India Fifth stop: India Population: 1.25 billion Known for: Hindu temples, Taj Mahal, Bollywood, beaches, mad shopping, even madder traffic, curries, yoga Must see: Gateway of India and Elephanta Caves Must eat: Missal pao or bhel puri Souvenir: Bangles from Colaba Causeway 1 of 17 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Three days in Mumbai: Hindu gods, biryani and custom mehndi View Photos Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their fifth stop was in the bedazzled city. Caption Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their fifth stop was in the bedazzled city. A woman stands in front of a large carving in the Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbor. Read more about the trip here. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. I knew that we had been making serious headway around the world when I started to recognize the pilots names (why, its captain Patrick of Air Seychelles again), stopped calculating the time change (I set my clock to Now) and was close to memorizing my passport number (448*******). Another sign: At our next destination, the top item on our laundry list of activities was actually doing laundry. Before departing Washington, Jabin and I had agreed to pack light, so that we could avoid checking bags. We hoped that our limited but thoughtful choices would carry us through the extreme poles of the thermometer the layer-to-strip approach. But dirt, sweat and lemur licks happen. We had planned to wash our clothes in the Seychelles, until we learned that the nearest facility was on a different island. By the time we reached Mumbai, after a nearly five-hour flight, we were desperate for a washer and dryer. Jabin was surviving on two sets of underwear and socks, a white T-shirt and one pair of shorts. I was trying to protect three clean dresses from being contaminated by shorts covered in red mud and brambles, a skirt encrusted with the salt of the Indian Ocean and a bathing suit smelling of sulphur. Many local and foreign goods can be found for sale on Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, also known as the Colaba Causeway. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Before setting out to explore Mumbai, a financial center bedazzled by Bollywood, we considered our options. We could pay for the hotels itemized laundry service (sample price: $2 per undergarment), wash by hand in the tub (Jabin had a six-pack of Tide) or introduce a few new pieces into our tightly curated wardrobe. But any additions could feasibly throw off our delicate luggage ecosystem. (Prior to India, we had been very prudent with our purchases, buying only palm-size or flat gifts.) Jabin scrubbed several items, taking a chance that they would dry before we departed two days later. I, meanwhile, decided to see what Mumbai was sending down the runway this season. The Gateway of India was built in 1924 to mark a visit by King George V and Queen Mary. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Shoes hang in a shop on Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) South Mumbai sits at the tip of the city and could easily dip a big toe into the Arabian Sea to cool off. Many of the precincts buildings remember the British Raj well, such as the Gateway of India, which was built in 1924 to mark a visit by King George V and Queen Mary. Crowds of tourists, many from around India, congregate around the landmark to snap photos of one another and the odd Westerner (I now appear in more than a dozen family photos, including one in which I am holding someones wiggly baby) to commemorate special moments such as weddings and anniversaries (look for the women in red) or to catch the ferry to the Elephanta Caves, an ancient stone gallery of carvings of Hindu gods, with real cows and monkeys in attendance. A woman stands in front of a large carving in the Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbor. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Long ribbons of shops and stalls unfurl behind the Taj Mahal Palace, the stately hotel across the street from the archway. On the way to Shahid Bhagat Singh Road to buy jangly bangles, we met a feisty woman in an aquamarine sari who anointed herself our shopping guide. She led us to a closet-size store lined with bolts of fabric. Jabin selected a textile and a style, then stood as still as a mannequin while an assistant took his measurements. The proprietor told us to return for the shirt after 5 p.m. In the bridging hours, we promenaded along Colaba Causeway, buying Kashmir shoes from this vendor, a cotton dress with its own ventilation system (butterfly sleeves) from that one, and a few outfits from Fabindia, a chain store that specializes in handcrafted creations. Come sundown, we definitely had clean clothes. I didnt even care if I spilled biryani from Bademiya, a neighborhood restaurant, on myself. I had a bagful of replacements. People walk along Shahid Bhagat Singh Road. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Bangles and many other trinkets and clothing items are for sale in a street market. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Before heading back to the hotel with our packages, we took a seat at a beauty salon and held out our palms. An artist drew flowers, tendrils, paisleys and dewdrops on my wrist and hand. Per request, she inked a camera aimed at a bride on Jabins skin. She explained that mehndi is a traditional adornment for betrothed-to-bes, who will typically cover the area from their fingertips to their elbows and their toes to their calves. The plant-based dye also contains salubrious properties that can calm individuals about to embark on a stressful adventure, such as marriage or packing for the Singapore leg of a jaunt around the globe. Marine Drive as the sun sets in Mumbai. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Day 15: Singapore Sixth stop: Singapore Population: 5.67 million Known for: Modern architecture, multicultural neighborhoods, street food, cleanliness Must see: Buddha tooth relic museum or Singapore Flyer, the worlds largest observation wheel outside the United States Must eat: Hainanese chicken rice Souvenir: Risis orchid 1 of 11 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Twenty-four hours in the island city-state of Singapore View Photos Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their sixth stop was in the therapeutic city. Caption Reporter Andrea Sachs and photographer Jabin Botsford set out on a trip around the world. Their sixth stop was in the therapeutic city. A boat floats along Marina Bay in Singapores downtown district after a storm passed. Read more about the trip here. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. My ears relaxed first, then the rest followed. No one was blaring their horns or raising their voices above the sleeping-baby decibel. We were in Singapore, a timeout between the contact sports of India and Hong Kong. After the aural jackhammer of Mumbai, the hush of the island city-state was as soothing as a pair of velvet noise-cancellation headphones. Riding in a cab after a 5-hour overnight flight from India, I eased into the back seat and listened to the soft-spoken driver point out attractions along the route (Botanic Gardens, Sri Mariamman Hindu temple) and recommend activities (the theme parks on Sentosa Island, shopping on Orchard Road). After he took a wrong turn to the hotel, he pulled over and turned off the meter as an apology. Jabin and I had less than 30 hours on the ground, and I could have easily spent all of it cruising around in his quiet car. Marina Bay after a storm passes in Singapores downtown district. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) By now, we were accustomed to bumbling around in a state of partial-zombie, and we knew exactly what we needed to rejoin the living: kaya toast. The breakfast food is seemingly found on every block and eaten at any hour. We sought out the most authentic version, returning to early-20th-century Singapore for a taste. (The pocket-size restaurant resides in a mall at Peoples Park Centre, so time travel required a fair bit of imagination.) Ya Kun Kaya Toast, a chain with more than 50 outlets Asia-wide, was founded by Loi Ah Koo, an immigrant from Chinas Hainan Island who worked at a coffee stall, serving the characters of the day: laborers, merchants, boat operators, money-lenders. In the spirit of entrepreneurship, he and his wife started selling a happier morning meal of grilled toast slathered with kaya jam, a spread of eggs, coconut milk, sugar and pandan leaf, with a cold pat of butter inserted in the middle. Two soft-boiled eggs and a cup of coffee or tea accompanied the short stack of slices. Jabin took a bite of the sweet bread. It would be really good. . . he began to say. Jet-lag food? I interjected. Hangover food, he continued. I really wish they could put bacon on it. Then Id be set. The traditional dish of kaya toast of grilled toast slathered with kaya jam, a spread of eggs, coconut milk, sugar and pandan leaf, with a cold pat of butter inserted in the middle, served at Ya Kun Kaya Toast. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) A market area in Singapores Chinatown district. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Singapores population is comprised of three main ethnic groups: Chinese, Indian and Malay. In Chinatown, lanterns hang like plump red moons over narrow lanes. Shops sell a dizzying array of souvenirs. Signs urge binge-buying: one for $4, three for $10. The Merlion is Singapores mascot, and the hybrid lion-fish appears on every imaginable (and even un-) object, including poker-chip lighters, clocks, thermometers and sets of olive forks. I browsed the shelves of Merlion-shaped edibles, resisting the pack mentality for a single sleeve of gold-wrapped chocolates. I also picked up some locally made Tiger Balm ointment to help alleviate a cold that ended our healthy streak. Downtown and Marina Bay at sunset. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) A statue of the Merlion, a mythical creature with the body of a fish and head of a lion, representing Singapore's fishing village origins and the hard-working spirit of Singapore's people. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Meandering through Singapore was therapeutic. The streets are vacuum-clean, and the buildings glisten in the sunlight. The tropical temperature is set on steam room. As I decimated my face towelette supply, I imagined that I was purifying, not perspiring. On my stroll to the Singapore Flyer, the worlds largest observation wheel outside the United States, I detoured at an open-air food court (the heat made me do it) and ordered a longan chin chow. The mound of shaved ice wore a cap of grass jelly cubes, tropical fruit and mystery beads that popped like candy caviar. The dish turned into a puddle, and I had to switch from spoon to slurp. People pray at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) In our dwindling hours, Jabin and I squeezed in a visit to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, which houses one of the spiritual teachers pearly whites in a solid gold stupa. I lit a stick of incense and contemplated my wish. I could have asked for a quick recovery from my sneezing and coughing, but I didnt want to squander the moment. Instead, I called on Tiger Balm to heal my health. I applied the ointment before our flight to Hong Kong, thereby freeing up Buddha to take care of the rest. The Singapore Flyer, a giant Ferris wheel that was at one time the worlds tallest, as the sun sets at Marina Bay. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Days 16-19: Hong Kong Seventh stop: Hong Kong Population: 7.14 million Known for: Striking skyline, Victoria Peak, traditional junk boat rides in Victoria Harbor, shopping (see: electronics), street night market Must see: Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island Must eat: Baked barbecue pork buns Souvenir: Po Sum On healing balm 1 of 17 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad In Hong Kong, a pulse that rivals Manhattan and Bangkok View Photos Ever-buzzing nightlife and posh shopping mix with Buddhist relics in the autonomous territory. Caption Ever-buzzing nightlife and posh shopping mix with Buddhist relics in the autonomous territory. The Ngong Ping 360 cable car offers a view of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Read more about the trip here. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Hong Kong welcomed us with a dance party in the street. In the SoHo neighborhood, bars blasted the universal playlist of Britney, Bieber and Bruno, a siren call for the multinational revelers to down shots delivered by syringe and peel off their shirts. I looked over at Jabin, who was eating tacos, and suggested that we skip sleeping on our final night. We could dine, drink, boogie, grab our bags and go straight to the airport. He told me that pulling an all-nighter was one of the best ideas Id had since we started our epic journey. And I thought booking us aisle seats had been my finest moment. The leg that had seemed so far off had finally landed at our feet. After a four-hour flight from Singapore, we had only two full days left in our final destination. We couldve eased up on the sightseeing, but no: We were going to push ourselves to near-exhaustion. Extreme fatigue was the ideal condition for the 141/2-hour flight home. People break out into dance on Lan Kwai Fong Street as music from bars blasts through a central Hong Kong neighborhood. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) A couple walks down an alley as the sun sets in the Mong Kok district. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) The autonomous territory off the southern coast of China pulsated like Manhattan or Bangkok. The gritty, textured city brimmed with discoveries, curiosities and dramatic vignettes. Shadowy alleyways appeared like film noir settings for a shootout or an illicit kiss. Breathing in the warm air felt like guzzling an energy drink spiked with something harder. Our walk from the hotel to the subway station turned into a much-needed workout. We climbed steep staircases, traversed cramped lanes and skirted obstacles specifically, pods of slow walkers glued to their gadgets. We rode the subway (public transportation, a first for us) to Lantau Island and boarded a cable car to Tian Tan Buddha, a giant bronze statue perched cross-legged atop Mount Muk Yue. I peered through the glass floor and noticed a lone hiker wobbling on the trail below. We shared the compartment with a family, and the couples child stomped on the trees, just missing the trekkers head. The Tian Tan Buddha statue, or the Big Buddha, on Lantau Island. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) People take photos as they ride a cable car heading to the Tian Tan Buddha statue. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) A woman runs down the stairs leading to the Tian Tan Buddha statue. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) By the time we reached the top, Jabin was hungry, and I was still vegetarian. Our positions dovetailed at the Po Lin Monastery, which serves a multi-course lunch of vegetables, tofu and rice. Afterward, we scaled 260 steps to the Big Buddha, who gazed at us beneath drowsy lids. A woman asked Jabin to snap her photo. She held up two sheets of paper on which she had written Hong and Kong. I am traveling around Asia and Europe until my money runs out, she said. It should last for a year. The adventurer, who hails from Vietnam, was sending the images to her father, who was undergoing dialysis and could travel with her only in spirit. We stayed up late wandering around Mong Kok, a teeming commercial district that keeps insomniacs hours and is illuminated like a Lite-Brite board. At the Ladies Market, a night bazaar with more than 100 stalls, we perused cheap trinkets that were most likely made in the Motherland. (We ended up buying our souvenir a tea cover, chopsticks and a rest stand shaped like a local mountain range from Goods for Desire, an Urban Outfitters-style retailer founded in Hong Kong.) Jabin dared to sample foods a spicy tomato noodle soup, ice cream in mystery flavors that could have resulted in a trip to the first-aid kit. People take photos on the top deck of the Peak Tower near the summit of Victoria Peak. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Layers of multi-colored buildings line the streets in central Hong Kong. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Our last meal in Hong Kong, and for our entire round-the-world journey, almost didnt happen. During our quest for dim sum, the first two restaurants we tried said they stopped serving the small plates at 4 p.m. We rushed to another dining spot, arriving just in time to order six dishes. You are so excited, a diner told us. You are acting like you are going to a first-class restaurant. During the mango-pudding course, a waitress mopped around our table. I skated out the front door. We returned to SoHo and joined the throng of celebrants gripping cocktails and wearing headbands with blinking lights. We took several laps around the track of bars and then climbed onto a wall overlooking the Bacchanalian scene. Hong Kong was gearing up for a long night, and we were in no rush to leave. The top deck of the Peak Tower near the summit of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Day 20: Home At New Yorks JFK airport, a certain kind of freedom lay just after the customs line: the freedom to eat a hamburger with fresh toppings at Shake Shack (pile on the produce), to drink a Diet Dr. Pepper (none of that horrid Coke Lite) and to gulp down water with ice (no fear of gastro-wrenching bacteria). At the American Airlines gate, we couldnt find the burger outlet or the soda pop but, while waiting for our flight to Washington, we chugged several tall glasses of cold water. Welcome home, indeed. More from Travel: How to plan a trip around the world Discovering the beauty of Suffolk, through a WWII soldiers eyes Allison Spences Dame Potion, created with acrylic on linen and faux fur, is on display at the Hamiltonian Gallery. (Nicole Dowd/Hamiltonian Gallery) Fire consumes, but also transmutes, and can clear territory for renewal. Allison Spence didnt torch anything for Spread, but her Hamiltonian Gallery show was inspired by Pando, a Utah forest that benefits from periodic burns. The single-rooted Aspen-tree colony is a vast clonal organism its name is Latin for I spread thought to be at least 80,000 years old and now at risk of death. The idea that destruction can lead to regeneration also is a motif of the Japanese horror-comic series about Tomie, a blue-haired femme fatale. She dies regularly, but is always somehow reproduced, also by a sort of cloning. If the extensive Pando is odd yet natural, Tomie is a dark fantasy of fecundity gone amok. Spence, whose previous Hamiltonian show invoked David Cronenbergs The Fly, muses on both the American forest and the Japanese anti-heroine in a video that melds documentary and free association. Shes also displaying two leaves, apparently sacred relics of Pando, and four paintings on linen or fake fur. These have been crumpled, and fixed in their squashed state with resin, so the text and partly representational imagery are distorted. This is not how nature is usually presented by artists or, for that matter, gardeners. Yet despite her taste for the horror genre, Spence isnt simply extolling chaos and violence. The beauty of nature, Spread seems to be saying, is not elegant forms or appealing colors, but unruly vitality. Allison Spence: Spread On view through May 7 at Hamiltonian Gallery, 1353 U St. NW, Suite 101. 202-332-1116. hamiltoniangallery.com. Zac Benson, "God is Greater," 2016. "Midpoint," 2016, The Stamp Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park. (Christopher Bugtong/Stamp Gallery) Midpoint 2016 The title of Stamp Gallerys Midpoint 2016 refers to the status of its four participants, who are halfway through the University of Marylands MFA program. Its not much of a stretch, however, to see the artworks themselves as midpoints. Working with paper or wood, the artists make things that seem to have frozen amid transition. Kevin Hird is the woodsman, erecting pillars of blond lumber, punctuated with clusters of black screws. He also cuts boards into thin slices that are then fanned (and glued) into sinuous forms. They twist off the wall, halfway between the ballet and the hardware store. Dominique Wohrer also deals in spins and twirls, but her choreography is of pulpy paper, dyed in shades of gray and black. Her creations include open-centered globes defined by webbed lines, a book-like fan of rough leaves and a long hanging piece, unfurled like a scroll or a scarf. The fluidity of Wohrers sculpture contrasts C.W. Brookss wall-filling minimalist piece, a grid of index cards marked with a variety of small lines. Perhaps these are the notes for a term paper on Sol LeWitt. The shows most pointed entry is Zac Bensons God Is Greater, which commemorates Saint Elijahs Monastery, a Christian cloister in Iraq whose ruins were demolished by the Islamic State in 2014. Benson mounted 15 identical Arabic-language Bibles on the wall, each with a slightly different image of the lost complex burned into its cover. The piece is a seared reminder of using the power of ideas to destroy as well as create. Midpoint 2016 On view through May 21 at Stamp Gallery, Adele H. Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park, Md. 301-314-8492. thestamp.umd.edu/gallery. Rita Elsner. "Hear/not Here," on view at the Joan Hisoka Healing Arts Gallery. (Tom Wolff/Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery ) Alchemical Vessels In its three previous years, Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallerys Alchemical Vessels asked artists to repurpose a bowl, an object whose shape and purpose evoke the ceremonial. For 2016, the gallery switched to a cigar box, a clunkier foundation. But then the goal is transformation, and most of the 123 contributors hid, disguised or significantly altered the container. A few even destroyed it. Naoko Wowsugi smashed, Nehemiah Dixon III burned and Charles Jean Pierre perforated until the ordinary carton became something fragile and even lacy. Only two of the participants didnt employ an actual cigar box, which shows that artists, as a group, follow the rules more often than might be expected. A box, like a bowl, can be a world in miniature. Margo Elsayd designed a reading room, complete with one of those tiny reading lights. Helen Zughaib constructed a bedroom, outfitted with dollhouse furniture. Elaine Langerman installed a nest for creatures who might actually fit inside such a box. Many of the artists simply put their customary styles and concerns in or on a box. Patrick J Burns directly addresses the effects of smoking, arraying cigarettes that drip a tar-like substance. Ulysses Marshall ditched the box in favor of a larger, coffin-shaped form covered in graffiti and primitivist pictures. Rita Elsner also ponders death, but more gently; she made a box of and for pencils, filled with used drawing implements that belonged to the late Manon Cleary, one of D.C.s best-loved artists. Alchemical Vessels 2016 On view through May 6 at Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, 1632 U St. NW. 202-483-8600. www.smithcenter.org/arts-healing/joan-hisaoka-art-gallery.html. Michael Borek There are 16 pictures of the presidents home in Treachery of Images: The White House, Michael Boreks show at Multiple Exposures Gallery. Yet it could be said that theres only one. Each picture of the landmark is identical; what differs is the backdrop on which it has been what? Projected? Reflected? Superimposed? The Czech-born Bethesda photographer would prefer that viewers solve the puzzle for themselves, although he does specify that the overlapping is not the result of computer or darkroom trickery. The White Houses seen on the sides of 16 white vehicles buses? vans? were all captured in a single shot. Theyre distinguished only by minor industrial or environmental differences, such as drops of rain. (Amusingly, these look as though they might be the result of spray from the North Lawn fountain in the picture.) Borek took the shows title from a Surrealist painting by Rene Magritte, in which a picture of a pipe is inscribed, This is not a pipe. Today, the industrialized world is awash in imagery, and people are supposedly more media-savvy than they were in Magrittes time. Yet its easy to confuse representation with reality. Thats why this one picture is worth 16 looks. Michael Borek: Treachery of Images: The White House On view through May 8 at Multiple Exposures Gallery, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. 703-683-2205. multipleexposuresgallery.com. CURITIBA, Brazil, April 28 (Reuters) - Brazilian prosecutors have filed unspecified charges against political strategist Joao Santana, the architect of President Dilma Rousseff's 2010 and 2014 campaigns, according to a statement delivered before a news conference on Thursday. Santana was arrested in February for allegedly receiving bribes in a scheme to divert funds from state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, part of Brazil's largest-ever corruption investigation. (Reporting by Thais Skodowski, writing by Caroline Stauffer, editing by G Crosse) Renowned jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval has come a long way from the Cuban village where he was born 66 years ago. He has won 10 Grammys, an Emmy and, in 2013, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His many recordings have been influenced not only by his Latin roots, but also by such jazz musicians as Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Clark Terry and Sandovals onetime mentor, Dizzy Gillespie. A U.S. citizen since 1999, Sandoval has continued to tour extensively while scoring dozens of film soundtracks and recording his trumpet, piano and classical compositions. We talked to the jazzman recently, not long after he had played with the house band on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and participated in a trumpet-off with Colbert, who didnt have a chance of besting Sandovals signature high notes. Q: Was the trumpet your first instrument? A: In the very, very beginning, no. I tried different things, because there wasnt a little marching band in my home village where I grew up. They gave me different instruments to try. But I think very soon the trumpet started to call my attention. Q: When did you become aware of jazz music? A. That was much, much later. I started in music in 1960, 61, around there, and I didnt hear any jazz until 66, 67. I never heard any jazz, and then a journalist guy in Cuba played for me an album of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. That was it. Goodness. I couldnt believe it. I said, Oh, my Lord. Im still thinking about that. Q: How did you start to find other jazz music after that? A: I started to listen on the shortwave radio the Voice of America with Willis Conover. He had a radio jazz program every day. Q: Were there jazz bands to join? A: Jazz bands? Not really. Q: So you had to learn it from the radio? A: Absolutely. I couldnt even buy an album or a record or something, because there wasnt a music store. Q: In your village? A: No, in the whole island! Q: So you had to learn how to play just from hearing these things on the radio and remembering it? A: Absolutely. Q: That sounds difficult. A. No. Music is in the air. Music is in the atmosphere. The only thing you need is the desire to learn and to absorb that information. When you really want to, it doesnt matter what you have to do, but you will find a way to learn. Q: Many musicians focus on one type of music or another, while youre adept in two jazz and classical. A: A lot more than two. Actually Im writing a score for movies, which has nothing to do with jazz. And I play the Cuban music, of course; I play Latin jazz, I play bebop, I play funk, I play a little bit of classical music and I love baroque. I love impressionist music so much, and Im a fanatic of Sergei Rachmaninoff. I love his piano concertos and his orchestra concertos. By the way, I wrote two classical trumpet concertos. I recorded the first one with the London Symphony a few years ago, and I just finished writing a second one that I plan on recording in Poland, in Warsaw, this coming summer. Q: When you play a place like Blues Alley, do you perform any classical pieces? A: No, because this is a small group, and we are playing in a jazz club and the people are going there to listen to jazz. Its a jazz club, its not like a venue for people who go listen to classical music. . . . Our first obligation, our mission, is to give something that the audience will love and will feel comfortable and enjoy what youre doing onstage. . . . We owe everything to the audience. What are we without the audience? We are homeless. I think we better pay attention and give your best things to the audience. Q: You finally got to meet Dizzy Gillespie in the 70s. A: It was May 77. He stopped in Havana for 24 hours on a jazz cruise. That was a boat that was doing a Caribbean jazz cruise. I went there to see him when he came down the stairs of the boat. . . . What a privilege. I always considered that a gift of God to meet my hero and the guy who was my biggest musical influence of my entire life. To become a friend of your hero? Man, thats more than an honor, and for me I always considered that a gift from God. Q: You played and toured with him many times over the next decade. But it wasnt until 1990 when you defected from Cuba, while on tour in Spain. Why did you choose that time? A: I could do it many times before. But I was married and I had a son. I didnt want to leave them behind. I was waiting for an opportunity to have my wife and my son on the other side. And the Cuban government gave them special permission to travel and join me in Europe for a short vacation. That was the opportunity I was looking for. Q: What do the recently relaxed relations with Cuba mean for you? A: We appreciate the attention of the administration of President Obama. We really appreciate what he has been doing. But I knew what was going to happen: The response from Cuba is the middle finger right in the face. The response from them is, as always, they dont care what anybody else thinks. Theyre so tough and hard-headed people that they dont care about anything. Q: How will that change? A: They have to change the complete government. They have to shed that mentality. They have to establish respect for human rights. They have to establish a democracy. And they have to let everybody speak their opinion and allow freedom of all kinds. Because there is only one newspaper and one TV and one radio station, controlled 100 percent by the government. The people dont have any kind of opportunity to express any kind of idea that is not exactly what the government wants to hear. Q: Youve collaborated with such a wide variety of artists, from Frank Sinatra to Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys. I was wondering if you ever had the chance to work with Prince. A: Im so sorry and sad about the bad news. But, no, I never did. But the thing I should mention to you is that in two different occasions, I was playing my gig with my band, and people told me he was in the audience. Oh, my goodness. For me, that was a beautiful detail, that he went to see my gigs. Arturo Sandoval performs two shows nightly Thursday through May 8 at Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Tickets: $50-$55. 202-337-4141. bluesalley.com. When musicians at Olney Theatre Center play Dont Cry for Me Argentina in the musical Evita this summer, they will do so feeling more like Olney artists. The 78-year-old theater signed its first contract with the local chapter of the American Federation of Musicians on April 19, ending 16 months of labor negotiations. The important thing, says Ed Malaga, president of AFM Local 161-710, is that musicians will now be treated as employees of the theater, not independent contractors. Under the new agreement, Olneys musicians will receive higher pay, pension contributions, a designated representative to discuss issues with management, and formalized standards on matters such as how long they can rehearse without taking a break. For patrons, what matters is that Olney recognizes its musicians as among the areas best and wants to keep raising its artistic standards. Olney had been the last theater in the area to routinely produce musicals with union actors, scenic artists, directors and choreographers, but not union musicians. The local, which boasts 2,000 members, already has contracts with Arena Stage, Center Stage Fords Theatre, the Kennedy Center, the National Theatre, Signature Theatre and the Shakespeare Theatre Company. One caveat: Adventure Theatre MTC and Imagination Stage also produce musicals with professional artists, but those productions use recorded music. Malaga said Imagination Stage recently approached the union to discuss hiring live musicians for a project but then told him they didnt have the resources. Wed like to work with them, Malaga said, noting that the union would devise a special contract to accommodate the shorter shows and daytime-heavy performance schedules that are unique to childrens theater. Olneys managing director, Deborah Ellinghaus, said: Our mission is to be a Mid-Atlantic theatrical destination. The quality of our productions has increased. Thats been noted both in reviews and feedback weve gotten from our patrons. People are really enjoying the musicals. It makes perfect sense for us to go to the next level with a union contract. I see it only as helpful, and broadening our world of artists to work with, she said. The musicians new contract is valid until 2019 and calls for wages to gradually increase over the next 3 years. This gives the theater a chance to restructure its budget and do additional fundraising. We do not anticipate raising ticket prices, Ellinghaus said. We are not putting this on our audience. We plan to absorb the increase, and we feel good about where we ended up. A podcast for the record book Fans of musical theater may also be interested to learn that theres a new podcast devoted entirely to local performers talking about musical theater. The Original Cast, created by American University communications professor Patrick Flynn, debuted on iTunes in March. The podcast is about original cast albums and those who love them, is how Flynn describes the show. His guests have included Tracy Lynn Olivera, who currently stars in 110 in the Shade at Fords Theatre, talking about her love for Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Don Michael Mendoza, ringleader of the weekly Dupont Circle cabaret La-Ti-Do, endorsing The Hot Mikado. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect anount ot time for the months of negotiation. International Jazz Day Shows: Saturday, at various locations and times around the District. The opening ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. in Dupont Circle. Go to jazzday.com for the full schedule. International Jazz Day is indeed international but its also hyper-local. The first four years of the UNESCO-designated celebration were hosted in as many countries, each offering the best of its local jazz scene in addition to world-renowned headliners. Its designed to demonstrate how jazz has infiltrated, united and at times mingled with cultures around the world. Its fifth year finds International Jazz Day returning to the United States, where it began in 2012 in New Orleans. This year its centered in Washington, where the music has, almost from its inception, been woven into the fabric of the city. (Remember: Duke Ellington was born here.) The centerpiece of the Districts festivities is an invitation-only concert at the White House (which actually takes place Friday). That said, there are dozens of events taking place around the city and many are free, including the opening ceremony in Dupont Circle. Hosted by legendary composer Herbie Hancock, it will feature such nationally known artists as saxophonist David Sanchez and vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, plus performances by D.C.-based drummer Nasar Abadey; two local high school jazz bands (from Duke Ellington and Woodrow Wilson high schools); and the popular Dupont Brass Band. Elsewhere in the city are events for the whole family, such as an interactive performance and workshop for children, led by vocalist Rochelle Rice at the Petworth Recreation Center; another program of student jazz ensembles, this one lasting all day, at the Sylvan Theater on the Mall; and pop-up appearances by alto saxophonist Herb Scott, taking place throughout the day. The evening brings more traditional club and bar performances, including iconic bassist Buster Williams at Blues Alley; D.C. bassist/vocalist Nicole Saphos at Twins Jazz; and tenor saxophonist Jordon Dixon at Acacia Bistro. You also can get a pass of sorts to the White House concert: It will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Saturday on ABC. Correction: An earlier version of this story may have created the impression that the White House Correspondents Association was officially responsible for throwing a party earlier in the week, on a lobbyist's balcony, to celebrate its planning of the annual dinner. While a number of association members attended the pre-party, as well as a member of the WHCA board, it was a private function not organized by the WHCA. Once all the details of Saturdays sprawling White House Correspondents Association dinner were locked down this week, the people behind the party did what came naturally: They threw themselves another, more exclusive party. A group of Washington journalists gathered Wednesday evening on the balcony of a lobbyists swanky condominium overlooking the citys skyline to sip champagne from flutes garnished with blueberries to celebrate the upcoming gala. Staging a large hotel ballroom event might sound like prosaic business, but its no easy task, especially when the one in question attracts some of the most powerful people in Washington, New York and Los Angeles. Unbeknownst to the public, virtually every detail of the glitzy soiree at the Washington Hilton is determined by the White House Correspondents Association board and officers, all nine of whom cover the president by day. They choose the comic who tells the jokes after the president speaks, and they decide whether Wolf Blitzer or Bill OReilly sits closest to the dais or in the seating-chart version of Siberia. Theyre the ones, too, who decided to install a red carpet at the Washington Hilton some years ago so celebrities could swan and strut for the dozens of paparazzi and live TV cameras. [Why Larry Wilmore is the perfect comic fit for this years correspondents dinner] President Obama will make his final remarks at this year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner April 30. Here's a look back at some of his funniest moments. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post) Given that the demand for tickets outstrips the supply every year, the associations board and president have turned into powerful gatekeepers over a room filled with outsize egos and deep pockets. The nonprofit WHCA is made up of journalists who cover the White House, some 261 regular and 114 associate members. Its leadership comprises such organizations as the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, CBS News and Yahoo News. Its stated mission is to negotiate with the White House press secretary over such things as presidential press pools and photo opportunities. But the annual dinner, which began as a clubby get-together for a few dozen journalists in 1921, has long been its best-known endeavor, and nearly the entire source of its annual revenue of around $600,000. Unlike at many fundraising dinners, the most complicated task facing the association isnt filling the seats but fending off people clamoring for some of the 2,600 available tickets, which cost $300 per person. As a rule, only member news organizations can buy tickets, although not all news organizations are created equal. In practice, the WHCA gives priority to requests from news outlets that have members on the WHCAs board a kind of insider trading and a prime reason for joining the board in the first place. It also gives priority to news organizations whose journalists cover the president regularly and staff the reporting pools that travel to presidential events. (The Washington Post will have seven of the 260 tables this year.) The rest of the tickets are sold to organizations at the WHCA presidents discretion, according to a WHCA document. [The VIPs attending the 2016 White House Correspondents Association dinner] This makes the WHCA chief simultaneously one of the most and least popular people in the media world, depending on the decision, for a few weeks each year. Its very hard to say no when Rupert Murdoch calls up asking for more tickets, says one WHCA insider, with only slight exaggeration. This year, the ticket czar is Wall Street Journal reporter Carol Lee, the WHCAs president. Asked about how she decides who gets what for the dinner, Lee sighed. Its a very complicated thing, she said. President Obama and comedian Seth Meyers skewered Donald Trump at the 2011 White House correspondents' dinner. From the birther movement to his potential run for president, here's a look back at some of their jabs. (The Washington Post) Aside from the dinners optics problem (journalists cavorting with the people theyre supposed to cover), the most persistent critique of the dinner is that too few actual White House correspondents get to attend. Although tickets (sold by tables of 10 at $3,000 each) are technically offered only to association members, seats often are swept up by media company higher-ups and eventually doled out to celebrities, government officials, advertisers or FOPs friends of the publishers effectively cutting out the grunts who report the news. The problem, Lee says, is that although the WHCA sells the tickets, it doesnt control who the buyers invite. Lee said she has put out the word that the WHCA would like to see more of the actual White House press corps, including photographers and videographers, get tickets. We make that very clear, she said, but we cant force them to do that. [How to score a White House correspondents dinner ticket: Its complicated.] The organization is considering a few tweaks to its ticket-distribution policies. One is a proposal to set aside tickets that bona fide White House journalists could buy on a one-off basis. (The downside is that it would further restrict the number of tables that media companies could buy, intensifying headaches for the association). Another idea, moving the dinner to a larger venue such as the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, proved too expensive. A third possibility: raising the price of tickets, which would generate even more funds for the WHCAs annual scholarships. But at an effective price of $300 per head, the WHCA is already bumping up against the ceiling on gifts set by federal ethics rules, said Julia Whiston, the groups executive director. Setting the price higher might push past those limits and keep government officials from accepting invitations, she said. As the cost of the event climbs and ticket revenue remains static, the association faces the prospect of losing money. We have gradually made less and less on the dinner each year, said Whiston, who has been with the organization for 24 years. Will there be a tipping point where ticket prices dont cover our costs? I hope not. That scenario sounds like a fundraisers nightmare: The WHCA may wind up unable to afford its own dinner. Youre the court jester for the king, Larry Wilmore says of his gig cracking jokes before the president at Saturdays White House Correspondents Association dinner. (Peter Yang/Comedy Central) Keep it 100, says Larry Wilmore, the comedian and talk show host, repeating the catchphrase that has become his trademark and guiding principle. Be honest, he means, keep it real and true no matter what anyone else thinks. So on Saturday night, when Wilmore is the featured act at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, seated on a dais with President Obama and Washingtons media elite, how is he going to approach this? Youre court jester for the king, Wilmore says. But the king should expect to be skewered. Fifteen months into his stewardship of Comedy Centrals Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore, the comic has fine-tuned a strain of commentary that seems a perfect match for this moment the close of Obamas presidency amid both a burgeoning movement for the sanctity of black life and a presidential campaign electrified by racial politics. As Comedy Central comedian Larry Wilmore prepares to host the 2016 White House correspondents' dinner, here's a look back at his jokes about President Obama over the past eight years. (Nicki DeMarco/The Washington Post) Like Obama, Wilmore is 54 years old and African American, with a daughter heading to college this fall. He made a name for himself in Hollywood writing rooms in the 1990s, but it wasnt until he went before the cameras as senior black correspondent on Jon Stewarts Daily Show, deconstructing the black political and socioeconomic situation in America, that he made his name as a performer. As Stewart ended his long run as host of the satirical news show last year, he backed Wilmore for a late-night Comedy Central slot and suggested that the new show focus on marginalized voices and issues of race, gender and class. [Barack Obama, the first alt-comedy president] Wilmores nightly monologue often takes a tone of exasperation. He sets forth his point of view on the 2016 campaign in a regular segment called The Unblackening, a.k.a. the quest to de-Negro-fy the White House. That, he says, is what conservatives really mean by take our country back. America went black and they decided to go back, Wilmore jokes by phone from New York. They had a different opinion than what we always thought. Shenaz Treasury, Sen. Cory Booker, Bill Burr and Talib Kweli were guests on Wilmores Nightly Show debut in January 2015. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for Comedy Central) Bernie Sanders made his fourth appearance on Wilmores show in April 2016. (Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images for Comedy Central) He recently interviewed a half-dozen black Donald Trump supporters (key talking point: What the f--- are you thinking?). When Hillary Clinton surrogate Madeleine K. Albright declared that theres a special place in hell for women who dont support other women, Wilmore put up a photo of Monica Lewinsky and asked why women didnt have a certain young interns back during that scandal. Hes invited candidates onto the show for soul food sit-downs over fried chicken and cornbread. (Bernie Sanders took him up on the offer.) [Larry Wilmores take on the unblackening of the White House] Still, Wilmore, who is on the political left, calls it the irony of ironies that his ascension in late-night comedy comes amid a crushing wave of stories about young African Americans charging police brutality. Its both a curse and a curse, he says. The curse is that the stuff is happening, and the curse is that you have to try to find humor in it. He took his show to Baltimore last year following the death of Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody. There, Wilmore ate pie with members of rival gangs to discuss a truce they called during the upheaval that followed Grays death. There were few light moments in that conversation. One of the things I talked to Jon Stewart about was that we felt there should be a conversation about these things, especially from a comedic point of view, [but] its not the easiest way to do a comedy show. [The VIPs attending the 2016 White House Correspondents Association dinner] Wilmore started in comedy with observational humor about his own experience. One early riff: I would always get asked, Are you mixed with something? because Im light-skinned. Id say, If I was a beer, Id be Negro light, and Id be a third less angry. That got laughs, and Wilmore continued to develop his cerebral act, including an imitation of the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson that reliably killed with audiences. But his nerdy shtick fell out of favor in the Def Comedy Jam era of the 1990s. He left stand-up and got a job writing for Keenen Ivory Wayans on the sketch show In Living Color. The show brought hip-hop culture into American living rooms, the brashness and style not just comedy, says Wilmore, who still laughs aloud at the memory of characters such as Homey D. Clown, a grumpy ex-con forced to work as a childrens entertainer as part of his prison work-release program (Homey dont play that). It was material you didnt see that much in television at the time, he says. Wilmore also wrote for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Jamie Foxx Show. He created and executive produced The Bernie Mac Show, for which he won an Emmy. With Eddie Murphy and Steve Tompkins, he created the 1999-2001 animated series The PJs, which he likens to a black version of The Simpsons, set in an inner-city housing project. Its a curse and a curse, Wilmore says of doing a current-events comedy show at a time of so much dire news in the country. (Peter Yang/Comedy Central) The show was a class comedy and largely about the inequities that happen to people of color in this world, and Larry reveled in the satire and the commentary on the disenfranchisement and the inequities in society, says Tony Krantz, the studio executive who backed the program. One of its characters was a crack addict known as Smokey, whom Wilmore thought of as a descendant of Jim, the spaced-out druggie on the 70s sitcom Taxi. Hed say things like: I got to go. Crack dont smoke itself, says Wilmore, shifting into Smokeys raspy voice. Those kinds of lines got Wilmore an invitation to meet with the NAACP, which took offense at the show, but he pushed back. I wanted the right to be offensive, he told C-SPAN a few years ago. We can make fun of ourselves. . . . I dont want to be the noble Negro all the time. He was one of the few show-runners for whom I worked that I had to remind myself that he was the boss because he was so cool, so soft-spoken, says Shawn Michael Howard, the actor who voiced Smokey in The PJs. Wilmore has tried to maintain a family atmosphere on his late-night show. Its become a close-knit team, an important thing for Wilmore, who moved crosscountry last year and went through a split with his wife. They have two daughters. Theres always something in show business, he says of his personal life. At the outset you get something great like a show, but it can be tough. His show is still rebuilding its audience, which drifted from that time slot after previous host Stephen Colbert decamped to CBS. But Viacom brass have signaled their long-term support of both Wilmore and Trevor Noah, who took over Stewarts show last year. What sort of jokes does he have in store for the first black president? Does Larry Wilmore believe Barack Obama has kept it 100? You and I both know that the president cannot keep it 100, Wilmore says, laughing. The real question is: How close to 100 did he keep? Id say in the beginning he kept it about 60. He has gotten blacker and blacker in the last four years. Hes been at about 80. Obama dont care. Thats what we talk about around here. He doesnt care what you think. All the executive orders hes issued. At this point, hes decided to take matters into his own hands. Our readers share tales of their rambles around the world. Who: Ron Whiting (author) and his son, Matthew Whiting, both of Bethesda, Md. Where, when, why: Our trip was to St. Helena and Ascension, two remote islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, from mid-March to early April. Matthew had seen a program about the British Royal Mail Ship that regularly sails from Cape Town, South Africa, to the two British islands and asked whether I was interested in visiting. As it turned out, I was, especially because of the history of St. Helena. Napoleon was imprisoned and died there, and Charles Darwin and Capt. James Cook made stops there. Matthew Whiting snapped a picture from R.M.S. St. Helena as the ship approached Jamestown, St. Helena. (Matthew Whiting / ) [Interested in sharing your own What a Trip story? Apply here.] Highlights and high points: This was one of the last regularly scheduled trips of one of the last Royal Mail Ships in service, the R.M.S. St. Helena, a combination freighter and passenger vessel. We were the only Americans out of the 130-plus passengers. In the five days it took to sail to St. Helena, we never saw another ship, nor even a sign of an airplane. Once on the island, we toured Longwood House, where Napoleon spent his last years. Despite Napoleons complaints, we thought it was quite nice as housing for a prisoner of war in 1815. We hiked alongside a naturalist from the National Trust conservation group to the top of Dianas Peak, where we got a spectacular view of the entire island and learned about its native insect life. (Later in the trip, we also hiked to the highest point on Ascension Island, Green Mountain, a man-made forest in shocking contrast to the rest of the barren island of 44 inactive volcanos.) Cultural connection or disconnect: The islands are very British in character. Ascension had no inhabitants at all until 1815, when the English established a naval base there to protect St. Helena from any attempts to free Napoleon. St. Helena had been a sailing ship stop and supply port for centuries, since the time of the early Portuguese sailors. The British took over the island in the 1600s. Jamestown, St. Helenas capital, has a long history and looks like an old English village set at the bottom of a steep, narrow valley. Biggest laugh or cry: The residents of St. Helena are called saints, a lovely term for the islands approximately 3,500 inhabitants. After our hike to Dianas Peak, we stopped at a small local pub, where we met a bartender who had lived for a few years as a child in Bethesda and had gone to high school there. His mother was a saint. How unexpected: The contrast between the two islands is stark. St. Helena is lush and green, with cliffs surrounding the entire island, while Ascension is primarily jagged lava rock with a capital city (Georgetown) of only a few hundred people. Unless we took the boat back to Cape Town, a nine-day voyage, the only way off the island was a British Royal Air Force flight to Brize Norton military base in England, which we took. Many of the passengers on the flight were soldiers returning home from the Falkland Islands. Fondest memento or memory: Two of our best memories involve turtles. We saw Jonathan, a giant tortoise who is over 180 years old. He is thought to be the oldest living land animal in the world and resides on the grounds of the St. Helena governors mansion. On Ascension, we took a nighttime beach walk to watch a giant green sea turtle lay over a hundred eggs. Hundreds of these turtles find their way to Ascension Island every season to lay eggs, and the animals are protected there. It was a great experience for a father and son to share. To tell us about your own trip, go to washingtonpost.com/travel and fill out the What a Trip form with your fondest memories, finest moments and favorite photos. R. Calvin Lockridge called himself a race man, a warrior for black children, a political maverick who was as proud of his Chicago street tactics as he was of his three masters degrees. Starting in 1978, he spent 12 years on the D.C. school board and nearly four decades in the hurly-burly of District politics. He cut a tempestuous path, throttling a fellow board member by the neck and proposing to shut down most of the citys predominantly white schools. He also shared his familys home with neglected children and railed against the inadequacies of a failing school system. In 1993, he was convicted of stealing $20,000 from a 92-year-old retired school teacher who had turned her financial affairs over to him. Mr. Lockridge, who died April 22 at age 81 at a rehabilitative center in Bethesda, Md., fancied himself a politically incorrect truth teller in a city he viewed as deeply corrupt. He was a go-to source for generations of news reporters, always eager to share documents from the towering piles of papers he collected showing what he saw as wayward spending by an out-of-control bureaucracy. He was the rare elected official who laced even his public language with four-letter words, wore a gold earring and jeans to work, and littered the political battlefield with brash and bold accusations against his colleagues. Years before then-Mayor Marion Barry was arrested for smoking crack in a downtown hotel room, Mr. Lockridge publicly called him a habitual cocaine user. Mr. Lockridge, who represented Barrys home ward, Ward 8, on the school board, considered the four-term mayor a hustler and a phony, and Mr. Lockridge was field director of former Carter administration Cabinet member Patricia Roberts Harriss failed 1982 campaign against the mayor. Mr. Lockridges sharp tongue struck fear into some of his colleagues on the school board, especially in 1980, when he served a one-year term as president. The Washington Post editorial page called him public nuisance number one and said the board he ran was a bad joke that wasted its time on vulgar tirades, physical intimidation and verbal harassment. But Mr. Lockridge saw his behavior rather as that of an irascible maverick who would do anything it took to reduce unemployment and improve education in his chronically impoverished ward. I am an emotional, explosive person, Mr. Lockridge told The Post in 1988. I walk with a certain amount of arrogance. I can be gentle and human, but I can also be loud, boisterous and intimidating. But understand this, brother. I live for nothing but improving the schools and educating black children. Many of the controversies surrounding Mr. Lockridge boiled down to disagreement over the role of the school board. Most board members said the superintendent should choose school principals and staffs, but Mr. Lockridge saw it as his role to funnel jobs to Ward 8 residents who otherwise found it nearly impossible to get work. I do plead guilty to meddling in school affairs, Mr. Lockridge wrote in a memo to Ward 8 school administrators in 1988, after an accrediting agency limited Ballou High Schools academic certification because of what it called Mr. Lockridges interference in school management. Two former principals said he pressured them to hire, promote and demote staff members ranging from administrators to janitors. I plead guilty to hustling jobs for the Ward 8 constituents, he said that year. I have made no bones about the fact that my constituents are generally not qualified for professional jobs. So when opportunities for custodians, food services and other jobs become available, I demand that those positions be made available to my constituents. He tended to view the school systems shortcomings primarily through the prism of race. He led the fight against establishing the citys first selective academic high school, arguing that such a school would be elitist and populated primarily by white students. (The school, Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, was approved; it opened in 1981 and its student population has always been well over 80 percent African American.) Mr. Lockridges proposal in 1981 to improve the education of black children by closing most of the public schools west of Rock Creek Park then the only part of the city where the population was majority white was rejected by most school board members as blatantly racist. For decades, Mr. Lockridge advocated the notion that white power brokers in the District were behind The Plan, a drive to restore the citys majority white population and white political control. First youre going to hear all about how the blacks who run the city are just too incompetent, he said in 1987. Then Congress is going to have to take over the police to keep the unruly blacks in line. Then theyre going to take over the agencies, one by one. You watch this home rule mistake aint going to be around for long. The real estate boys wont allow it. In 1997, on the day when the White House and Congress agreed to strip Barry of much of his mayoral authority and deliver extraordinary powers to an unelected financial control board, Mr. Lockridge declared himself prescient. Ive always said theres a whole group behind the scenes the business world, the Republicans, the Board of Trade with a Plan to take it back, he told this reporter. Mr. Lockridges critics at times accused him of physical intimidation and the same kind of corruption that he so often railed against. In 1979, a fellow school board member asked police to arrest Mr. Lockridge for choking him during a closed-door board meeting. Police made no arrest. And in 1990, Mr. Lockridge was arrested after he punched the president of the D.C. Teachers Credit Union in the face. Mr. Lockridge was convicted of theft and tax violations after he kept more than $20,000 that a retired teacher, Mamie Lee, had entrusted him with when she entered a nursing home. Lee had once employed Mr. Lockridges mother-in-law as a housekeeper. Mr. Lockridge spent 10 months in prison following that conviction in 1993. Rufus Calvin Lockridge was born on a small farm in Columbia, Tenn., on Oct. 13, 1934. He worked on a tobacco farm to raise money to attend Morehouse College, a historically black college in Atlanta. He graduated in 1956, then joined the Army. He later worked on the docks in Tampa and as a salesman for pharmaceutical and marketing companies before becoming active in the civil rights movement in Chicago in the 1960s. He ran the Black Consortium activist group there and twice lost campaigns for city alderman before settling in Washington in 1973 to run a school reading and math program in the Anacostia neighborhood. In 1976, Mr. Lockridge earned masters degrees in education and labor education from Federal City College, a predecessor of the University of the District of Colombia. Three years later, he received a masters degree in political science from Atlanta University. Mr. Lockridge who died of congestive heart failure, according to his great-nephew and godson, Howard Miller is survived by his wife of 38 years, the former Mildred Jones, who worked for many years as a school principal in Alexandria, Va., and six siblings. Mr. Lockridge had no children; he and his wife often took in troubled neighborhood children for extended periods. Members of the robotics team Hope for Syria show off their robot named Robogee, a mash-up of robot and refugee. (Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post) Members of the robotics team Hope for Syria show off their robot named Robogee, a mash-up of robot and refugee. (Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post) Abdul Rhman Mawas, 17, said he was in math class when a bomb struck the building next to his school in Yabroud, Syria, two years ago. He escaped the school just before it, too, was struck, crumbling to the ground before his eyes. After that, there was no chance for anyone to return to school again, Mawas said. It was a very tragic and sad day for everyone for the students and the teachers. Like for many Syrian youths, the war that has torn apart Mawass homeland has also thrown his education into limbo. His family resettled in Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, and he now attends classes at a school run by the Multi Aid Programs, a non-governmental humanitarian organization. It is there that he and other refugees formed a robotics squad called Hope for Syria and helped build a robot they named Robogee, a mash-up of robot and refugee. Against long odds, Hope for Syria scored well enough at a national competition in Beirut to earn a spot at the international robotics competition VEX Worlds in Louisville, becoming the first Syrian team to make it to the international phase. Only Mawas and one other team member, 18-year-old Mohammad Mamdouh Kheshfeh, could get visas to attend the competition, and they faced teams with far more experience and resources. But judges, impressed by their perseverance, gave them a coveted Judges Award at the culmination of the competition last week. Abdul Rhman Mawas, left, and Mohammad Mamdouh Kheshfeh of the Hope for Syria team carry their robot in the Cannon House Office Building. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post) This week, Mawas, Kheshfeh and staff members from Multi Aid Programs took Robogee to Capitol Hill and the White House, where they met with members of Congress and staff from the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Robogee, which picks up balls and throws them into nets, shot colorful foam balls around congressional offices and the White House, to the great amusement of staff. They came to tell Hope for Syrias story and raise awareness of the barriers to education that Syrian refugees face. They hope to raise funds for Multi Aid Programs and to drive home the point that refugees, even with meager means, can do extraordinary things. With limited resources and very small opportunities, Syrian refugees can make a lot of things, Mawas said through a translator. Fadi al-Halabi, director of Multi Aid Programs, was a neurosurgeon in his native Syria before he fled. He believes education is crucial for displaced Syrian youths so they can return to rebuild the country when the war ends, and also to ensure they are not lured by extremism. Halabi runs several mobile schools that serve 3,000 students in refugee camps, but he said some 300,000 refugee children in Lebanon receive no schooling at all. He said refugee children have been turned away from public schools in Lebanon because there is no space for them. In some cases, when they have attended, they have faced bullying and discrimination, he said, and Syrian teachers are not allowed to work in Lebanon. Mohamad al-Hasan, a refugee who worked as an engineer in Syria before fleeing and is now a program associate with Multi Aid Programs, said he hoped to humanize Syrian refugees to lawmakers. Refugees are good people, not bad people. Were peaceful, he said. With limited resources, we can create success stories. Mawas and Kheshfeh said they hope the success of their robotics team will inspire other Syrian refugee youths, but they face long odds in their pursuit of education. The program where they take classes, the Continuing Education and Community Service Program in Bekaa, is not able to give out diplomas because it cannot get accreditation. Its part of my dream to continue my education in the United States, said Kheshfeh, who missed three years of school after fleeing the Damascus suburb of Daraya and wants to be a mechanical engineer. Syrians do need education and do want to make a difference and continue their education and do productive things. Mawas wants to earn a PhD at an American university and become a software engineer for Microsoft. My limit is the sky, he said, and I will keep dreaming. SAO PAULO, April 29 (Reuters) - Brazilian food processor BRF SA cannot recall a scenario more difficult than the first quarter of 2016, Chairman Abilio Diniz said on Friday, citing rising corn prices, high chicken output and Brazil's economic crisis. Chief Executive Pedro Faria said on a conference call he expected the challenging outlook to continue through mid-year, but that the company, also the world's largest poultry exporter, still planned to maintain investments of 2 billion reais ($571 million) in 2016. ($1 = 3.5 reais) (Reporting by Caroline Stauffer) April 26, 2016 Election official Jordan K. Johnson heads to open the doors at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md., a polling site. Mark Gail/For The Washington Post The loser of Marylands most heated Democratic primary race was a no-show at the partys unity rally Thursday, following a contest that revealed racial and gender tensions among Democrats. Rep. Donna F. Edwards, who fell short in her bid for a chance to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D), did not appear at the event at a Marriott in Hyattsville, even though the chairman of the state party reached out to her directly with an invitation. The congresswoman placed second behind Rep. Chris Van Hollen in a race that pitted a white, establishment candidate against an African American party maverick. Donnas hurting a little bit, and you can understand why, said Mikulski, who spoke with Edwards by phone before the event. Donna Edwards has a great voice and a lot of verve. We need Donna. We know Donna wants to take a break now, but we want her to know that she will always be welcome at the Democratic table. Some Edwards supporters have readily switched their allegiance to Van Hollen. Prince Georges County resident Angele Reid, a 71-year-old retired teacher who voted for Edwards and attended Thursdays event, wore a bright blue sticker bearing the congressmans name. He was my number two, she said with a laugh. I wanted to see a black woman in the Senate, but since shes not there, I have to give him my support, because we need the Democrats to be in there instead of the Republicans. Maryland Democrats said they sense momentum from the turnout which was the highest in decades at Tuesdays primary. They say they have a strategy to defeat Republicans statewide in November: tie them to Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner for president who swept the primary with 54 percent of the Republican vote. Van Hollen was quick to connect Trump to his next opponent, state House Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga (Baltimore County), saying after the rally that she and Trump share the same supporters. What we saw on Tuesday was that the Maryland Republican Party is the party of Donald Trump, Van Hollen said. The same people who supported my opponent are the people who were pushing Donald Trump to be president. I think Maryland will reject that whole worldview in a big way. Szeliga and Trump have vastly different styles and do not necessarily appeal to voters for the same reasons. But linking the two could make for an effective strategy, because of Trumps highly unfavorable ratings. A Washington Post-ABC News poll this month showed that 67 percent of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the billionaire business mogul. In Maryland, Trump picked up just 236,623 votes in the GOP primary compared with 533,247 for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and 444,262 for Van Hollen. Still, Democrats acknowledge that they cant take victory for granted. They learned that lesson again in 2014, when Republican businessman Larry Hogan defeated then-Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D) by a wide margin in the gubernatorial race. Rep. Chris Van Hollen defeated Rep. Donna Edwards in Maryland's heated Democratic Senate primary. Edwards criticized the state party for ignoring women and people of color after her loss. (WUSA9) The win in November is not guaranteed, Mikulski warned her fellow Democrats. Democrats must also defend Rep. John Delaneys seat. The health-care financier, who self-funded much of his last campaign, came within 2,700 votes out of 190,000 cast of losing his 6th District seat to former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino (R) in 2014. The state GOP has targeted Delaneys district as a priority in November, predicting it will be competitive again this year. Democrats have a registration advantage of 44 percent to 32 percent in the district, but more than 100,000 independents are also on the voter rolls. The challenger in that race is Republican Amie Hoeber, a former high-ranking Pentagon official during the Reagan administration who is making her first run for public office at age 74. Delaney, 53, subtly highlighted their age difference Thursday night by stressing that his campaign represents the politics of the future. He called himself a progressive business person. My values are rooted in the core progressive principles of opportunity for all, equality for all, investing in our people, investing in our country, and thinking about things that can really affect citizens, like climate change, he said. But I also understand probably better than anyone in Congress how the private economy of the United States works. Democrats also face the prospect of having to replace state Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (Montgomery), who won the partys nomination to replace Van Hollen in Marylands heavily Democratic 8th Congressional District. Raskin defeated a host of Democratic challengers in the primary, including former news anchor Kathleen Matthews and businessman David Trone, who spent $12 million the most of any U.S. House candidate in history. Raskin will face Frederick lawyer Dan Cox (R) in the general election. Democrats are already discussing who should fill Raskins seat should he win in November. The possibilities include freshman state Del. William C. Smith Jr. (Montgomery), who is 33 and black; former gubernatorial candidate and state delegate Heather R. Mizeur, who is 43, white and gay; former Montgomery County Council member Valerie Ervin, who is 43 and black; and former Obama White House aide Will Jawando, a 33-year-old black lawyer who finished fifth behind Raskin in the primary. Montgomery Countys Democrat Central Committee would ultimately make the decision. Maryland officials announced Friday that the state plans to spend about $700,000 to make residents aware of Zika and to prevent the mosquito-borne virus from spreading. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said during a news conference with officials from various state departments, including health, agriculture and transportation, that his administrations first and main priority is keeping Marylanders safe, and that all levels of government are working together to respond to threats to public health. . . . Were taking his very seriously. Hogans news conference followed reports on Friday of the first recorded Zika-related death in the United States. State officials were unaware of the death, which was announced moments before the governors news conference. Officials in Puerto Rico said a 70-year-old man died after initially recovering from Zika symptoms. He later developed an immune reaction to the virus and died from internal bleeding. [First Zika virus-related death reported in U.S. in Puerto Rico] The death comes after researchers announced this week that they have detected the virus in the Aedes albopictus, a mosquito species that is found as far north as the New England states. The discovery did not come as a surprise to U.S. health officials, who have been telling states that originally did not think the virus would spread to other regions to prepare for Zika. Earlier this month Hogan declared this week Zika Awareness Week, hoping to provide tips to residents on how to prevent the spread of mosquitoes that might carry the virus. Twelve people in Maryland have been infected with the virus, according to the most recent figures from the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. All of the cases involve someone who has traveled to areas outside the country where the virus is actively transmitted. Some of those cases involve pregnant women and some were sexually transmitted, according to state health officials. [New discovery means more U.S. states will face a risk from Zika] Symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. The symptoms are mild, so most people who have the virus are not aware that they are infected. It poses the most significant threat to pregnant women because it can cause a birth defect known as microcephaly, a condition where a babys head is much smaller than expected. The babies often have smaller brains that have not properly developed. State officials are urging residents to empty outside containers with standing water, to wear light-colored clothing and to use mosquito repellants. Transportation officials said they are not discouraging travel to areas where Zika is active, but are notifying travelers to take precautions and to be aware of symptoms. The state mosquito control program plans to begin spraying for adult mosquitoes in the next two weeks. Former U.S. Naval Academy instructor Mark Thompson has been accused by the military of persuading a fellow Marine officer to lie under oath about Thompsons sexual encounters with two female midshipmen, according to the criminal filing obtained by The Washington Post. Thompson, a Marine major who insisted that he had been unfairly convicted in 2013 of sexual misconduct with the students, faces new charges in the case, including making a false official statement and two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. His longtime friend, Maj. Michael Pretus a key witness for the defense offered false testimony about Thompsons threesome with the two women, authorities said in the charging documents. This week, Pretus was removed from his position as an instructor at the Naval Academy after being implicated in the sexual misconduct scandal. He told The Post on Sunday that he will now testify for the prosecution against his friend. [A Marine fights to prove hes innocent of sexual misconduct. Then a lost cellphone is found.] At Thompsons court-martial three years ago, Pretus testified that on the night of April 30, 2011, he and Thompson spoke several times over the phone about Pretuss crumbling marriage. During one call, Pretus said, Thompson told him that two drunk midshipmen had stopped by to use the bathroom, done so and left. That testimony was false, according to prosecutors. They allege that, in reality, Thompson told Pretus the two women were at his house, were naked, and had engaged in sexual contact with him. That is consistent with what the accusers, Sarah Stadler and a younger classmate, told the jury. They asserted that Thompson served them shots of tequila before they played strip poker and staggered to his bedroom, where he had sex with both of them. Stadler called the sex consensual and part of an ongoing relationship. Her friend said she had gotten too drunk to consent and was raped. Prosecutors allege Pretus also lied to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, falsely stating in a March 2013 interview that he was unaware of any dating relationship between Thompson and Stadler. In addition to allegedly soliciting Pretuss false testimony, Thompson has been accused by prosecutors of making a false official statement at a 2014 administrative hearing and of lying about the women to The Post. If convicted of lying under oath, Thompson could face up to five years in prison, a dismissal from the service and a total loss of his retirement benefits. The Marine Corps will hold an Article 32 preliminary hearing in May in Quantico, Va., to determine whether the case should proceed to a court-martial. Thompson, who served in Afghanistan, has long fought to prove that he was falsely accused of having sex with the women, but a Post investigation revealed that he had been dishonest when he testified under oath to the administrative board that was deciding whether he should be expelled from the Marines. Asked in January why he had lied to authorities, Thompson described the immense pressure he faced after Stadlers friend asserted that he had raped her. I simply had to, when they were coming after me for 41 years, Thompson said. I cant begin to say, you know, how terrifying that is. Thompson, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, was acquitted of the rape charge but found guilty of five lesser offenses. He served two months in a military prison and was fined $60,000. Midway through the trial at the Washington Navy Yard, Stadler spotted Pretus at a hotel where witnesses were staying and told authorities that she had once had a threesome with him and Thompson. The accusation led to a criminal investigation into Pretus, which ended, military records show, after he refused to cooperate and invoked his right to remain silent. One year later, Pretus became an instructor at the Naval Academy, teaching history and serving as a mentor to midshipmen who aspire to become Marines. [Naval Academy teacher is removed amid widening sexual misconduct scandal] In 2014, a year after Thompsons sexual misconduct convictions, his case was reviewed again at what is known as a board of inquiry hearing. There, three Marine officers were assigned to decide whether Thompson should be discharged for his crimes. Thompson, the charging documents say, made a number of false statements to the board members with intent to deceive. The combat veteran testified that he was never friends with Stadler outside the rifle team, a group with which he volunteered as military representative, insisting that his interactions with her were appropriate, professional and within academy guidelines. He told the board that Stadler had created a complete fiction about a relationship that never existed and specifically denied ever having any sexual conversations with her. The board members believed Thompson, allowing him to remain a Marine and even decrying his convictions as unjust. Soon after, Thompson asked The Post to examine his case, arguing that he was innocent. Among the lies prosecutors assert that Thompson told: his denial that he had a sexual relationship with Stadler and her friend or that he played strip poker and drank alcohol with them on April 30, 2011, and his insistence that the last time he remembered seeing Stadler was that night. Many text messages on Stadlers old phone which she discovered after being contacted by The Post strongly imply that the two were involved in an inappropriate relationship. One exchange was sexually explicit. The texts also revealed that Thompson had misrepresented to the board the last time he saw Stadler, who in 2014 was dismissed from the Navy for lying about her relationship with an enlisted sailor. She had alleged during Thompsons trial that they had sex a final time on the night of her May 2011 graduation, a time when Thompson had a compelling alibi. The texts, however, show that the two actually saw each other at 11:30 the following night. At his board hearing, Thompson testified that the last time he remembered seeing Stadler was nearly one month earlier. When confronted by The Post, Thompson acknowledged that Stadler had come to his house the night after graduation but insisted she did so only to give him a pair of commemorative glasses and her photograph. He still denied ever having sex with her. A reduced-price lunch costs 40 cents, according to Prince Georges County Public Schools. Full-price lunches cost $2.75 for elementary school students and $3 for middle- and high-school students. (iStock/iStock) A former Prince Georges County school board member was sentenced to three years probation on Friday for fraudulently obtaining free school lunches. A jury convicted Lynette Mundey of felony theft, welfare fraud and other related charges in February after a federal investigation found she stole more than $1,700 worth of subsidized lunches over about four years. Mundey is among several employees at the U.S. Government Accountability Office who were charged after an agency audit uncovered the fraud. Were disappointed that we had to bring charges against a public official, someone who was in a position of trust in a position of authority, said John Erzen, a spokesman for the Prince Georges County states attorney office. But at the end of the day, we treated Ms. Mundey as we would any other person who committed these types of crimes. Mundey earned an income of $70,000 to nearly $95,000 but falsely filled out applications to obtain free or reduced-price school meals, prosecutors said. Families typically receive federal school lunch benefits when their reported income, depending on household size, is between $11,600 and $40,000. A reduced-price lunch costs 40 cents, according to Prince Georges County Public Schools. Full-price lunches cost $2.75 for elementary school students and $3 for middle- and high-school students. Mundey says she plans to appeal the conviction, claiming that the charges against her were politically motivated. Mundey, who was an appointed member of the Prince Georges County Board of Education, said she was being attacked after she started becoming vocal about her concerns with the system. They did not like the fact that I became a little more independent than the rubber stamp that they thought I would be, Mundey said Friday. Mundey and her attorney argued that she didnt intend to defraud the government but simply turned in an incomplete form. Six other GAO workers were charged in 2015, following an agency audit, for obtaining a total of nearly $11,500 in reduced lunches, according to prosecutors. Despite salaries ranging from $55,000 to $78,000, some of those families underreported their income or reported having no income, county and federal officials said. Barbara Rowley, Jamilah Reid, Tracy Williams, Charleen Savoy and Terri Pinkney were convicted in connection with the case. Charges against James Pinkney were dropped after his wife, Terri, pleaded guilty to making a false statement on an application for public assistance. Many who have been convicted have been required to pay restitution or perform community service as part of their sentences. The judge in Mundeys case ordered her to also perform 100 hours of community service and pay the remaining restitution she has not yet submitted for the theft. Mundey is currently on paid administrative leave from her federal government job. We are following our internal process and that this point no final determinations have been made about her status as an employee, said Charles Young, a GAO spokesman. A 24-year-old Montgomery County man was convicted of first-degree murder Friday after jurors heard testimony that he stabbed and cut an acquaintance at least 89 times. Mauricio Morales-Caceres faces the possibility of life in prison with no chance of parole when he is sentenced later for the death of Oscar Navarro, 36, in December 2014 at Navarros townhouse on King Lear Court in the Bel Pre area of Silver Spring. Jurors also heard that a bloody palm print, found at the scene, matched Morales-Caceress print and a bloody shoe-print matched a pair of white Nikes that Morales-Caceres liked to wear. Jurors also heard that detectives found a large butcher knife, believed to be the murder weapon, at Morales-Caceress apartment. A body found in a drainage ditch on April 29 in Woodbridge, Va., is believed to be Lizeth Yadira Lopez, who was reported missing last week. (WUSA) A body found in a drainage ditch on April 29 in Woodbridge, Va., is believed to be Lizeth Yadira Lopez, who was reported missing last week. (WUSA) Prince William County authorities are investigating the death of a woman who police believe is the 36-year-old who was reported missing last week, a spokesman said. Investigators found a body Friday morning in Woodbridge that is presumed to be Lizeth Yadira Lopez, who was last seen leaving a store in the area on April 17. Police said they are investigating the death as a homicide. We are very confident its her, said Sgt. Jonathan Perok, a police spokesman. Perok said a neighbor called police to the area of Cotton Mill Drive and Griffith Avenue around 10:56 a.m. Friday. He said the body was found in a drainage ditch there, but authorities are not releasing further details about what investigators discovered. Lopez, who worked in Woodbridge, was reported missing to Alexandria police on April 19, Perok said. On April 20, authorities found her car near her Pond Run Drive office, but investigators said they did not find anything of note during searches in a nearby wooded area. Detectives said the last known contact with Lopez was on the night of April 17 after 10 p.m. Just an hour before, investigators said she left a CVS store on Touchstone Circle. She worked with older teens and adults as a youth counselor, Perok said. He said police have no suspects. Prince William police ask that anyone with information about the investigation call Prince William County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Jennifer Jenkins and Arelis R. Hernandez contributed to this report. After the brawl outside a College Park bar, it seemed that the two men had moved on with their lives. Jack Godfrey, who had been sucker-punched and knocked unconscious at 2 a.m., recovered from his serious head injuries and went back to his studies at the University of Maryland. Arasp Biparva, the fellow student who had punched him, pleaded guilty to assault, spent 10 days in jail, was sentenced to probation and paid more than $19,000 in restitution. But more than a year and a half after the two students crossed paths in 2013, Godfrey died suddenly. A medical examiner determined that he had suffered a seizure and had meningitis and injuries stemming from the night he was punched and hit his head on the ground. On Friday, their stories again intersected as Biparva, 24, was sentenced in Prince Georges County Circuit Court to an additional three years of probation for involuntary manslaughter in Godfreys death. Judge Albert W. Northrup did not sentence Biparva to additional prison time, a ruling that Godfreys father called infuriating, horrifying and unfair. Judge Northrup just told the world that my sons life is worth 10 days, said John Godfrey, Jack Godfreys father. I cant believe that my sons life meant so little. At his hearing, Biparva apologized for his actions. Its not lost on me now how lucky I am to be standing here, said Biparva, who was expelled from the University of Maryland after the incident but went on to earn a degree in New York, where he is an accountant. I do live with that regret every day. I never meant for any of this to happen. Godfrey, 21, and Biparva were outside Cornerstone Bar in March 2013 when a brawl involving 15 to 20 people broke out. Godfrey, who was not involved in the fight, happened to be standing in the area and was suddenly struck in the face. Godfrey recovered from the immediate serious injuries he had suffered. But it was a slow and painful comeback that drained the family emotionally and financially. Godfrey was missing a section of his skull and underwent multiple surgeries and physical therapy to regain mobility, said his mother, Nicola Bridges. Godfreys parents both live in California. During Fridays emotional sentencing hearing, Bridges said that despite the difficulty of his lingering problems, her son endured with a smile and optimism for nearly two years before dying in his sleep in November 2014. He was 21. Bridges tearfully explained that Godfreys death ended their familys legacy, as his only other sibling is unable to have children of his own. He was the wedding, the babies, the grandchildren, Bridges said. He was the future of our family tree. Biparvas attorney Barry Helfand said his client had been dragged, choked and kicked during the brawl that also included a friend of Biparvas being knocked to the ground by a passing car. Biparva threw the punch, reacting to the violence around him. Helfand said his client has no criminal record and has taken responsibility for his actions from the beginning. He didnt even remember . . . committing the crime, Helfand said. He went to the police and said, People tell me I struck this young man, and my fist hurts so I must be the one. That is how this all started. Prosecutors had requested that Biparva serve six years in prison. You have someone who ultimately died as a result of Mr. Biparvas actions, said John Erzen, a spokesman for the Prince Georges County States Attorneys Office. We felt there needed to be an accountability . . . for what the victim went through, not only on the night of the incident but also over the next 18 months and everything he had to endure. Before issuing his ruling, Northrup said he appreciated that Biparva dutifully served his first sentence for second-degree assault. Issuing a harsh sentence in the manslaughter case wouldnt bring Godfrey back or prevent future brawls among college students, Northrup said. Tragic situations cause tragic circumstances, Northrup said, quoting another judge. Its a lose-lose. Godfreys father said his son, who wanted to write screenplays, was the kind of person who would make friends with the kid who didnt sit at the cool kids table and helped others with homework. He was kind and took good care of his autistic brother. Above all, his father said, his son was a pacifist making the pain of his death even more difficult. Jack on the night of the attack was given a less than 10 percent chance to live, and it was frankly a miracle that he survived in the first place, John Godfrey said. And now because of that miracle . . . it granted him a stay of death. But Arasp Biparva killed him, and hes facing basically no punishment. It is infuriating and unfair. Mark H. Long, former mayor Vincent C. Gray's campaign chauffeur, leaves court in 2014 after pleading guilty to conspiring with businessman Jeffrey E. Thompson in the shadow campaign. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post) A D.C. judge ruled Friday that the campaign chauffeur for Vincent C. Grays 2010 mayoral bid can pull out of his plea deal after he raised concerns about uneven punishment for participants in the shadow-campaign operation. D.C. Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring acknowledged the significance of her decision in such a long-running case and promptly put her ruling on hold to give attorneys on both sides time to make additional arguments. Josey-Herring said it was fair and just to allow the campaign driver, Mark H. Long, to withdraw in light of the low legal standard for defendants to get out of plea deals before sentencing. I know it is an enormous thing to do in a case like this, she said after the nearly two-hour hearing. Long, 49, is one of a half-dozen people who pleaded guilty to felonies in the federal probe into the illegal financing of the former mayors campaign. Long pleaded guilty in September 2014 to conspiring to defraud the D.C. government by concealing campaign contributions that far exceeded legal limits. Longs salary and the Lincoln Navigator he used to shuttle Gray to campaign events were paid for, but not reported, by businessman and donor Jeffrey E. Thompson. In court Friday, Longs attorney, Charles E. Wagner, said his client was innocent and prepared to go to trial. Long was never formally part of the campaign finance conspiracy, Wagner said, because he had no money. Long specifically objected to the potential sentence of up to six months for Thompson, who admitted funneling $653,000 to a get-out-the-vote effort on Grays behalf and is scheduled to be sentenced in June. In contrast, Long faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, although federal guidelines suggest a sentence ranging from probation to six months. Long also noted that Gray, the focus of the investigation, will not be charged. A low-level pawn faces five years, while the driving force behind the conspiracy, who supplied over $600,000 in funds . . . is exposed to only six months incarceration for the same charge, Wagner wrote in court filings. In response, prosecutors said that Long fully understood and agreed in court papers he signed 18 months ago that the salary he received was being concealed from the Districts Office of Campaign Finance, other candidates and the public. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Hooks appeared perplexed by the judges decision; by Wagners legal arguments, which he called a fantasy; and by Longs assertion that he was not involved in the conspiracy. If a well-heeled donor pays someone to provide services . . . to a campaign, that is a contribution that has to be reported under D.C. campaign finance law, Hooks said. The people who agree to do that have conspired. Wagner also said his client should be able to tear up the deal because at the time of the plea, Longs attorney had not fully investigated the more-favorable deals cut by others in the scheme. Hooks, the prosecutor, said that he attended at least one meeting with Longs first attorney, William R. Billy Martin, and that he was fully aware of the other agreements. Martin said Friday that it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of a pending case but that the lawyers working with me provided Mr. Long with some of the best lawyering a person could receive in a criminal case. If Longs deal is withdrawn, Hooks said the government would probably file new charges against him. In court papers, prosecutors said during discussions of his plea deal, Long was told he faced felonies that would have been relatively easy for the government to prove, including obstruction of justice and tax evasion. The judge gave both sides 20 days to respond to Longs concerns about his attorney and set a hearing for June 3. Long and Thompson were expected to be among witnesses in the case prosecutors were building against the former mayor. The campaign investigation was shut down in December soon after U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips took over the office. Phillips said then that the evidence was likely insufficient to sustain a conviction against additional individuals. Gray has denied having knowledge of the shadow campaign. [Case against Gray stalled over claims key witness had credibility issue] Jennifer Jenkins contributed to this report. Catherine Greig, longtime girlfriend of former mob boss and fugitive James 'Whitey' Bulger, was sentenced to an additional 21 months in prison. (Reuters) MASSACHUSETTS Bulgers girlfriend gets more prison time The longtime girlfriend of Boston gangster James Whitey Bulger was sentenced Thursday to an additional 21 months in prison for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating whether other people helped Bulger while he was a fugitive. Catherine Greig is serving an eight-year sentence for helping Bulger while he was a fugitive. Greig spent 16 years on the run with him before they were captured in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2011. Federal prosecutors had asked the judge to add a little more than three years to her prison time for her conviction on a criminal contempt charge. Greigs lawyer asked for leniency and said she should not get any more than six months. Prosecutors said Greig refused to answer questions before the grand jury even after she was given immunity and after a judge issued an order compelling her to testify. They argued in a sentencing memo that she should be sentenced to a little more than three years for her conscious, considered, and unapologetic violation of the law. Greig already had nine months added to her prison time after she was found in civil contempt for refusing to testify before the grand jury. Bulger, 86, is serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2013 for playing a role in 11 murders. He has denied involvement in the crimes. Associated Press CALIFORNIA State seeks firefighting costs from utility California officials say they will seek more than $90 million in firefighting costs from Pacific Gas & Electric after finding that a deadly 2015 fire was sparked by a tree that came into contact with a power line. The amount is the largest recovery sought by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which released a report Thursday detailing the cause of the fire that scorched remote Calaveras and Amador counties, about 125 miles east of San Francisco. The blaze that started Sept. 9 burned for three weeks, killing two people and destroying more than 900 structures, including about 550 homes. The 110-square-mile fire caused an estimated $300 million in insured losses and is the seventh-most destructive wildfire in state history. Cal Fire said the states largest utility and its contractors failed to provide proper maintenance after removing two gray pine trees from a stand in January 2015, exposing a weaker, skinnier interior tree. The 44-foot-tall gray pine tree grew taller, seeking the sun, but it eventually slumped into a power line, according to the report. In a statement, a PG&E spokesman said the company was reviewing Thursdays report. The U.S. attorneys office that covers the Eastern District of California collected $102 million from Union Pacific Railroad in 2008 for a wildfire that torched Plumas and Lassen counties in 2000. Associated Press OHIO Teen pleads guilty in school shooting A 15-year-old boy accused of shooting students in a school cafeteria pleaded guilty Thursday to four counts of attempted murder and one count of inducing panic. In exchange, Butler Countys prosecutor agreed to drop four felonious assault charges against James Austin Hancock. Hancock was charged in the Feb. 29 shooting at Madison Local Schools near Middletown, north of Cincinnati. Authorities said Hancock, who was 14 at the time, took a relatives loaded gun to school and opened fire in a cafeteria, hitting two students. Two other students were injured either by shrapnel or while running away. Authorities did not give a motive. Defense attorney Charles Rittgers said Hancocks family was in shock after the shooting because the teen did not have a history of violence or of causing trouble. Hancock was indicted in March as a juvenile under a serious youthful offender classification on charges of attempted murder, felonious assault and inducing panic. His attorney entered not-guilty pleas on his behalf. Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser said the grand jury had the option of indicting Hancock as an adult but chose to charge him under the juvenile classification. The serious juvenile offender status results in a blended sentence with juvenile and adult charges, which is rare. Hancocks attorney said his client will be in a juvenile detention center until he turns 21, and if he stays out of trouble, the adult sentence would go away. If not, a prosecutor can file a motion to move him to adult court and he could face dozens of years in prison. Associated Press Running mates? Its not even May, and already were talking running mates? Then let me toss Elizabeth Warrens name into the mix. Im making several assumptions here in a year when assuming anything is dangerous. First, I believe Ted Cruzs desperate gamble of adding Carly Fiorina to his ticket will fail. He was right to throw some kind of Hail Mary, but I dont see how Fiorina attracts enough new support for Cruz to win the Indiana primary on Tuesday. And if he loses there, hes pretty much toast. Donald Trumps landslide wins this week in the Northeast gave him a bigger haul of convention delegates than even his most optimistic boosters had expected. If momentum still counts for anything in politics, Trump has it. And if he wins Indiana polls show him with about a six-point lead his path to the Republican nomination looks wide enough to taxi the rest of the way in his Boeing 757. Im also assuming that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee. The delegate math is just brutal: There is simply no viable way now for Bernie Sanders to catch up. Sanders appeared to acknowledge reality this week when he announced that his campaign would lay off hundreds of paid staff members. He will use his clout at the convention, he said, to put together the strongest progressive agenda that any political party has ever seen. Which is where Warren comes in. It is absurd to claim that Clinton does not merit the progressive label; she has the scars from decades of attacks by the vast right-wing conspiracy to prove her bona fides. But on most issues gun control being a glaring exception Sanders is well to her left. And, as his surprising campaign has shown, thats where the energy and excitement in the Democratic Party happen to be this year. If there is a specific issue on which Clinton is weak with the Democratic left, it is not the FBI investigation of her emails. It is her perceived coziness with Wall Street, highlighted by the six-figure speaking fees she was paid by investment bank Goldman Sachs. Sanderss central theme is that the rich and powerful have distorted our political and economic systems to favor their own selfish interests. He blasts Clinton not only for the Goldman speeches but also for mining Wall Street for campaign cash. My assumption is that Sanders, should he fall short of the nomination, will give Clinton his full-throated support. But will his most ardent supporters follow? As Clintons running mate, Warren could erase this potential weakness with the Democratic base. She has spent her Senate career becoming known as the scourge of Wall Street. No political figure is more closely identified with efforts to curb the excesses of the financial system. Warren would also help address another potential vulnerability. If the general-election matchup is Trump vs. Clinton and that seems increasingly likely it is becoming clear that on the question of U.S. military involvement around the world, Trump will position himself to the left of Clinton. The foreign policy speech that Trump delivered Wednesday was, for the most part, vague and anodyne. His overarching theme is America first, he said. To the extent the phrase means anything, it seems to promise that a President Trump would be extremely reluctant to deploy U.S. combat forces in any sort of worlds policeman role. Trump has even questioned the viability of NATO in its present form. Clinton is a foreign policy traditionalist. As secretary of state, she was more hawkish than President Obama she pushed for more vigorous intervention in Syria, for example. She has long since apologized for her vote to authorize the Iraq War, but Sanders continues to attack her for it. Trump would surely do the same. With Hillary Clinton leading in the Democratic presidential primary, The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza says these are the five people the former first lady might pick as her running mate if she makes it to the general election. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Warren wasnt in Congress when the Iraq War began, and national security isnt the issue with which she is identified. But her views fit squarely with those of the partys progressive wing. Warren also has a compelling personal story of having risen from modest beginnings to become a Harvard professor and then a U.S. senator. The fact that she and Clinton would be the first all-female major party ticket should be irrelevant, but isnt. To many voters, it would be thrilling. I can think of several other potential running mates for Clinton. Funny, but I draw a blank when trying to come up with a suitable partner for Trump. Maybe hell just go it alone. Read more from Eugene Robinsons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You can also join him Tuesdays at 1 p.m. for a live Q&A. Protesters lock arms during a Black Lives Matter May Day Action protest in support of of Freddie Gray on May 1, 2015, in Baltimore. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post) Stefanie DeLuca, an associate professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University, and Susan Clampet-Lundquist, an associate professor of sociology at Saint Josephs University, are co-authors of Coming of Age in the Other America with Kathryn Edin. Like many across the country, we watched the media coverage of Baltimore this time a year ago, eight days after the death of Freddie Gray, when reports surfaced of a midafternoon riot at Mondawmin Mall. Accounts differ as to who was responsible, but after police shut down city buses that high school youths relied on to get home, images of protesters went viral over the next several hours. Amid widespread condemnation, Baltimores mayor and President Obama called the Baltimore protesters thugs. This label distorts what youths in Baltimore are like. Their potential is significant and real. We spent more than a decade in Baltimores poorest communities, researching and talking extensively with millennial youths and their families. Far from the televised portrayals of inner-city youths as drug dealers and delinquents, 70 percent of the young people we met finished high school and about as many went on to college or trade school. Eighty percent held jobs in the years after high school. These levels of attainment are even more striking in contrast with those of their parents: Only 32 percent of their parents earned a high school diploma or GED, and only 13 percent enrolled in college. Almost two-thirds grew up with a parent who was suffering from addiction or involved in the criminal-justice system. While some neighborhoods had drug dealers and hustlers on the corner, most of the youths we met scorned them in favor of careers as nursing assistants, police officers, bus drivers, cosmetologists and business owners. As Larry, 21, explained, You see other people that was on the corners, and Im tryin to make myself better. Of the 150 youths we studied, only 27 got caught up in the street, and only eight did so past age 18. Most young people are hungry for education, work and meaning. They want to be somebody. How can we help them stay on track? When they were kids, these youths lived in communities where more than half of their neighbors were poor, representing levels of poverty that few Americans ever experience. Intergenerational disadvantage may seem inevitable; it doesnt have to be. Most of the youths in our book experienced significant drops in neighborhood poverty when they left public housing after housing policy shifts in the 1990s. In their new neighborhoods, twice as many of their neighbors were college-educated, and 30 percent fewer were single mothers or unemployed. Living in these communities helped youths envision brighter futures. These neighborhood improvements greatly contributed to the intergenerational gains we observed in education, crime and safety. Erica, a 22-year-old junior at Morgan State University studying health science, saw her new neighborhood as a place with more people with stuff to live for. Christopher, 21, a culinary school student, said of his former public housing high-rise development, I think if I wouldntve left Murphy Homes, I probably woulda been a disruptive kid . . . out running with people who had a record or maybe selling drugs because thats the lifestyle I was around . . . . So I believe that my move or my schools actually helped my life. Research by Stanford University economist Raj Chetty and his colleagues amplified three decades of evidence showing geography matters:. They found that neighborhoods profoundly affect life expectancy, earnings, college enrollment and marriage, and they actively contribute to social inequality in the United States. Our research also indicates that we can disrupt the process of neighborhood isolation and neglect by helping poor families move to opportunity-rich neighborhoods. Targeted housing mobility programs have a proven track record. The Baltimore Housing Mobility Program has helped more than 3,000 low-income families move to low-poverty neighborhoods, where their children attend higher-performing schools. Another strategy is to increase the supply of affordable housing in affluent neighborhoods. The low-income housing tax credit provides incentives to developers to build affordable housing in affluent communities. Developers who receive federal resources and tax credits must make efforts to racially and economically integrate housing. The Ethel R. Lawrence Homes in Mount Laurel, N.J., used the tax credit in an affluent area to create housing for poor, working-class and lower-middle-class families. Property values continued to rise after the building of Ethel Lawrence, and the families who moved in saw gains in economic self-sufficiency and academic achievement. Youths in poor neighborhoods in Baltimore and other cities are eager to contribute to society. The vast majority are trying hard to do so. Yet to succeed, they need access to the same schools and communities as middle-class children. Far from being rioters or criminals, they are the strivers our culture celebrates. To deny youths resources based on their geography and label them as thugs only hinders their enormous potential. SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwired - Apr 29, 2016) - ALL AMOUNTS ARE STATED IN CDN $ (UNLESS NOTED) Results reflective of quiet market during the first quarter Maintaining annual delivery and cost of sales guidance Undertook restructuring activities to support the long-term health and sustainability of the company Continued success ramping up Cigar Lake Lower uranium production guidance due to operational changes at Rabbit Lake, US ISR and McArthur River/Key Lake Cameco (CCO.TO)(CCJ) today reported its consolidated financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). "Although we believe there is a bright long-term future for nuclear power, we continued to experience challenging market conditions in the uranium space during the first quarter," said president and CEO, Tim Gitzel. Our results were influenced by a very quiet market with little contracting activity. While net earnings were up over the first quarter of 2015, after adjustments we reported a net loss, which is not considered indicative of our annual expectations. You've seen us respond by exercising our strategy of flexibility when it comes to both sales and operations in a weak market. And while that response has also contributed to the weaker first quarter results, we expect that the decisions to restructure NUKEM, to not force more mined production into an oversupplied market, and to purchase low-cost pounds where we see opportunities, will yield positive results over the medium to longer term. Until we see a sustained recovery in the uranium price, we have to prepare for a scenario where the market remains low for even longer. We believe the best way to do so, and to continue creating value for all of our stakeholders, is to maintain a strong balance sheet, and to remain focused on prudently expanding our tier-one capacity to be ready when the market calls for more uranium." Story continues THREE MONTHS HIGHLIGHTS ENDED MARCH 31 ($ MILLIONS EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED) 2016 2015 Revenue 408 566 Gross profit 118 129 Net earnings (losses) attributable to equity holders 78 (9) $ per common share (diluted) 0.20 (0.02) Adjusted net earnings (losses) (non-IFRS, see below) (7) 69 $ per common share (adjusted and diluted) (0.02) 0.18 Cash provided by (used in) operations (after working capital changes) (277) 134 FIRST QUARTER Net earnings attributable to equity holders this quarter was $78 million ($0.20 per share diluted) compared to net losses of $9 million (losses of $0.02 per share diluted) in the first quarter of 2015 mainly due to: mark-to-market gains on foreign exchange derivatives compared to losses in the first quarter of 2015 higher gross profit in our fuel services segment partially offset by: lower gross profit from our uranium and NUKEM segments higher administration expenditures higher foreign exchange losses On an adjusted basis, our losses this quarter were $7 million (losses of $0.02 per share diluted) compared to earnings of $69 million ($0.18 per share diluted) (non-IFRS measure, see below) in the first quarter of 2015. The change was mainly due to: lower gross profit from our uranium and NUKEM segments higher administration expenditures higher foreign exchange losses partially offset by: higher gross profit from our fuel services segment lower losses on foreign exchange derivatives ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS (NON-IFRS MEASURE) Adjusted net earnings is a measure that does not have a standardized meaning or a consistent basis of calculation under IFRS (non-IFRS measure). We use this measure as a more meaningful way to compare our financial performance from period to period. We believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate our performance. Adjusted net earnings is our net earnings attributable to equity holders, adjusted to better reflect the underlying financial performance for the reporting period. The adjusted earnings measure reflects the matching of the net benefits of our hedging program with the inflows of foreign currencies in the applicable reporting period, and has also been adjusted for NUKEM purchase price inventory write-downs and recoveries, impairment charges, and income taxes on adjustments. Adjusted net earnings is non-standard supplemental information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information prepared according to accounting standards. Other companies may calculate this measure differently, so you may not be able to make a direct comparison to similar measures presented by other companies. The following table reconciles adjusted net earnings with our net earnings. THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 ($ MILLIONS) 2016 2015 Net earnings (losses) attributable to equity holders 78 (9) Adjustments Adjustments on foreign exchange derivatives (116) 101 NUKEM purchase price inventory recovery - (3) Impairment charge - 6 Income taxes on adjustments 31 (26) Adjusted net earnings (losses) (7) 69 See Financial results by segment below for more detailed discussion. Also of note: RESTRUCTURING In response to depressed uranium market conditions and changes in the global nuclear fuel market, the following steps have been taken to support the long-term health and sustainability of the company. NUKEM restructuring In the first quarter, restructuring of the NUKEM group was announced. The changes involve downsizing of NUKEM GmbH in Germany and the transfer of essential support functions to NUKEM, Inc. in the US. The restructuring will be implemented in stages beginning in the second quarter of 2016, and will be completed by year end, resulting in the loss of about 15 positions within the NUKEM group. Operational restructuring In April 2016, in the context of weak market conditions and our tier-one strategy, production was suspended at our Rabbit Lake operation and curtailed at Cameco Resources' US operations by deferral of all wellfield development. We also decided to reduce our 2016 production target for McArthur River/Key Lake. In 2016, as a result of these operational changes, we expect: to produce 25.7 million pounds U3O8 (previously 30.0 million pounds) capital expenditures of approximately $275 million (previously $320 million) severance costs of about $19 million care and maintenance costs of about $35 million at Rabbit Lake The impact of the severance costs will be reflected in our second quarter results. Care and maintenance costs will be expensed to cost of sales in the quarters in which they occur. Additionally, as long as Rabbit Lake production is suspended, we will incur annual care and maintenance costs. Our preliminary estimate is for these costs to range between $40 million and $45 million for the first few years. We are also evaluating how the value of the assets will be impacted as a result of the changes. The carrying value of the assets in the US cash generating unit, net of the provision for reclamation, is approximately $62 million ($48 million (US)), while the carrying value of the Rabbit Lake mill and Eagle Point mine is approximately $108 million. Our strategy We are a pure-play nuclear fuel supplier, focused on taking advantage of the long-term growth we see coming in our industry, while maintaining the ability to respond to market conditions as they evolve. Our strategy is to profitably produce from our tier-one assets at a pace aligned with market signals to increase long-term shareholder value, and to do that with an emphasis on safety, people and the environment. Consistent with our strategy, on April 21, 2016 we announced the suspension of production at the Rabbit Lake operation and curtailment of production at Cameco Resources' US operations. In the context of continued depressed market conditions in the near term, these decisions will position our production to come from our lower-cost operations. In addition, we have continued to secure uranium at favourable market prices for delivery into our contract portfolio. As a result, at this time, it does not make economic sense to run our higher-cost operations purely to meet our sales commitments. We believe the best way to create value is to focus our investible capital on maintaining a strong balance sheet and on prudently expanding our tier-one assets based on market signals. This approach provides us with the opportunity to meet rising demand with increased production from our best margin assets, and mitigates risk in the event of a prolonged period of uncertainty. Going forward, we plan to: ensure continued safe, reliable, low-cost production from our tier-one assets - McArthur River/Key Lake, Cigar Lake and Inkai complete ramp up of production at Cigar Lake prudently seek to expand production capacity at McArthur River/Key Lake in conjunction with market signals continue to evaluate the position of the other sources of supply in our portfolio, including Rabbit Lake and the US operations, and retain the flexibility to respond to market signals and take advantage of value adding opportunities maintain our low-cost advantage by focusing on execution and operational excellence You can read more about our strategy in our 2015 annual MD&A. Uranium market update In the first quarter of 2016, uranium prices continued to soften and demand remained low, with only about 11 million pounds placed under long-term contracts by the end of March. This is in keeping with recent market conditions, and is, we believe, a function of the current state of oversupply. Making positive news for the industry were three new reactor startups - one in South Korea and two in China. China also released its new five-year plan, which reaffirms its target of 58 gigawatts of nuclear generating capacity in operation, along with a further 30 gigawatts of nuclear capacity under construction, by 2020. Reactor restarts in Japan remain an important driver of market sentiment, and two reactors are now operating - Sendai units 1 and 2. However, the restart process continues to take longer than expected, and not enough units have returned to service to have an impact on market conditions, which remain challenging. Longer term, strong fundamentals underpin a positive outlook for the industry. With over 60 reactors under construction today and additional units planned over the next decade, uranium demand is expected to increase as those reactors come online. In addition, as future supply continues to be negatively affected by current depressed market conditions and utilities refrain from contracting replacement volumes, we expect to see a shift from the currently over-supplied market we are experiencing today to a demand-driven market that requires more primary supply. Demand growth combined with the timing, development and execution of new supply projects and the continued performance of existing supply, will determine the pace of that shift. Caution about forward-looking information relating to our uranium market update This discussion of our expectations for the nuclear industry, including its growth profile, future global uranium supply and demand is forward-looking information that is based upon the assumptions and subject to the material risks discussed under the heading Caution about forward-looking information beginning below. Outlook for 2016 Our strategy is to profitably produce at a pace aligned with market signals, while maintaining the ability to respond to conditions as they evolve. Our outlook for 2016 reflects the expenditures necessary to help us achieve our strategy. Our outlook for uranium production, consolidated and uranium segment revenue, consolidated direct administration, tax rate, and capital expenditures has changed. We do not provide an outlook for the items in the table that are marked with a dash. See 2016 Financial results by segment below for details. 2016 FINANCIAL OUTLOOK CONSOLIDATED URANIUM FUEL SERVICES NUKEM Production - 25.7 million lbs 8 to 9 million kgU - Delivery volume1 - 30 to 32 million lbs2 Decrease up to 5% 9 to 10 million lbs U 3 O 8 Revenue compared to 20153 Decrease 5% to 10% Decrease 5% to 10%4 Increase up to 5% Increase 5% to 10% Average unit cost of sales (including D&A) - Increase up to 5% 5 Increase 10% to 15% - Direct administration costs compared to 20156 Increase 10% to 15% - - - Gross profit - - - Gross profit 4% to 5% Exploration costs compared to 2015 - Increase 15% to 20% - - Tax rate7 Recovery of 50% to 55% - - - Capital expenditures $275 million - - - 1 Our 2016 outlook for delivery volume does not include sales between our uranium, fuel services and NUKEM segments. 2 Our uranium delivery volume is based on the volumes we currently have commitments to deliver under contract in 2016. 3 For comparison of our 2016 outlook and 2015 results for revenue, we do not include sales between our uranium, fuel services and NUKEM segments. 4 Based on a uranium spot price of $27.50 (US) per pound (the Ux spot price as of April 25, 2016), a long-term price indicator of $44.00 (US) per pound (the Ux long-term indicator on April 25, 2016) and an exchange rate of $1.00 (US) for $1.25 (Cdn). 5 This increase is based on the unit cost of sale for produced material and committed long-term purchases. If we make discretionary purchases in the remainder of 2016, then we expect the overall unit cost of sales to increase further. 6 Direct administration costs do not include stock-based compensation expenses. 7 Our outlook for the tax rate is based on adjusted net earnings. We have decreased our uranium production outlook to 25.7 million pounds U 3 O 8 (previously 30.0 million pounds) to reflect the operational changes made at our Rabbit Lake, US ISR (in situ recovery), and McArthur River/Key Lake operations. See Uranium 2016 Q1 updates starting below for more information. We now expect our uranium revenue to decrease by 5% to 10% (previously a decrease of up to 5%) due to lower expected average realized prices. As a result of the expected decrease in uranium revenue, our outlook for consolidated revenue has changed to a decrease of 5% to 10% (previously a decrease of up to 5%). We have adjusted our outlook for consolidated direct administration costs to an increase of 10% to 15% (previously an increase of 5% to 10%) due to the impact of the NUKEM restructuring. See Restructuring above for more information. We have adjusted our outlook for the consolidated tax rate to a recovery of 50% to 55% (previously 25% to 30%) due to the expected impact of the changes to our revenue outlook noted above, and a change in the distribution of earnings between jurisdictions. We now expect capital expenditures to be $275 million (previously $320 million). The decrease is primarily due to reduced expenditures at our Rabbit Lake and US ISR operations as a result of the operational changes made. In our uranium and fuel services segments, our customers choose when in the year to receive deliveries, so our quarterly delivery patterns, delivery volumes and revenue can vary significantly. We expect uranium deliveries in the second quarter to be similar to the first quarter, and therefore expect remaining 2016 deliveries to be more heavily weighted to the second half of the year. However, not all delivery notices have been received to date, which could alter the delivery pattern. Typically, we receive notices six months in advance of the requested delivery date. INVESTING ACTIVITIES Capital spending We classify capital spending as sustaining, capacity replacement or growth. As a mining company, sustaining capital is the money we spend to keep our facilities running in their present state, which would follow a gradually decreasing production curve, while capacity replacement capital is spent to maintain current production levels at those operations. Growth capital is money we invest to generate incremental production, and for business development. CAMECO'S SHARE ($ MILLIONS) 2016 PLAN Q1 UPDATE Sustaining capital McArthur River/Key Lake 30 30 Cigar Lake 25 20 Rabbit Lake 25 5 US ISR 5 5 Inkai 5 5 Fuel services 20 20 Other 5 5 Total sustaining capital 115 90 Capacity replacement capital McArthur River/Key Lake 55 60 Cigar Lake 20 25 Rabbit Lake 10 - US ISR 20 5 Inkai 15 15 Total capacity replacement capital 120 105 Growth capital McArthur River/Key Lake 40 35 Cigar Lake 30 30 Inkai 10 10 Fuel services 5 5 Total growth capital 85 80 Total uranium & fuel services 320 275 Outlook for investing activities CAMECO'S SHARE ($ MILLIONS) 2017 PLAN 2018 PLAN Total uranium & fuel services 250-300 200-250 Sustaining capital 95-115 75-95 Capacity replacement capital 125-140 115-130 Growth capital 30-45 10-25 We previously expected to spend between $300 million and $350 million in 2017 and between $250 million and $300 million in 2018. Due to the continued market uncertainty, and the operational changes made at our Rabbit Lake and Cameco Resources' US ISR operations, we now expect to spend between $250 million and $300 million in 2017 and between $200 million and $250 million in 2018. This information regarding currently expected capital expenditures for future periods is forward-looking information, and is based upon the assumptions and subject to the material risks discussed below. Our actual capital expenditures for future periods may be significantly different. REVENUE AND EARNINGS SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS For the rest of 2016: an increase of $5 (US) per pound in both the Ux spot price ($27.50 (US) per pound on April 25, 2016) and the Ux long-term price indicator ($44.00 (US) per pound on April 25, 2016) would increase revenue by $73 million and net earnings by $58 million. Conversely, a decrease of $5 (US) per pound would decrease revenue by $45 million and net earnings by $35 million. a one-cent change in the value of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar would change adjusted net earnings by $7 million, with a decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar having a positive impact. Cash flow would change by $1 million, with a decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar versus the US dollar having a negative impact. TRANSFER PRICING DISPUTES We have been reporting on our transfer pricing disputes with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) since 2008, when it originated, and with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) since the first quarter of 2015. Below, we discuss the general nature of transfer pricing disputes and, more specifically, the ongoing disputes we have. Transfer pricing is a complex area of tax law, and it is difficult to predict the outcome of cases like ours. However, tax authorities generally test two things: the governance (structure) of the corporate entities involved in the transactions the price at which goods and services are sold by one member of a corporate group to another We have a global customer base and we established a marketing and trading structure involving foreign subsidiaries, including Cameco Europe Limited (CEL), which entered into various intercompany arrangements, including purchase and sale agreements, as well as uranium purchase and sale agreements with third parties. Cameco and its subsidiaries made reasonable efforts to put arm's-length transfer pricing arrangements in place, and these arrangements expose the parties to the risks and rewards accruing to them under these contracts. The intercompany contract prices are generally comparable to those established in comparable contracts between arm's-length parties entered into at that time. For the years 2003 to 2010, CRA has shifted CEL's income (as recalculated by CRA) back to Canada and applied statutory tax rates, interest and instalment penalties, and, from 2007 to 2010, transfer pricing penalties. The IRS is also proposing to allocate a portion of CEL's income for the years 2009 through 2012 to the US, resulting in such income being taxed in multiple jurisdictions. Taxes of approximately $320 million for the 2003 - 2015 years have already been paid in a jurisdiction outside Canada and the US. Bilateral international tax treaties contain provisions that generally seek to prevent taxation of the same income in both countries. As such, in connection with these disputes, we are considering our options, including remedies under international tax treaties that would limit double taxation; however, there is a risk that we will not be successful in eliminating all potential double taxation. The expected income adjustments under our tax disputes are represented by the amounts claimed by CRA and IRS and are described below. CRA dispute Since 2008, CRA has disputed our corporate structure and the related transfer pricing methodology we used for certain intercompany uranium sale and purchase agreements. To date, we received notices of reassessment for our 2003 through 2010 tax returns. We have recorded a cumulative tax provision of $51 million, where an argument could be made that our transfer price may have fallen outside of an appropriate range of pricing in uranium contracts for the period from 2003 through March 31, 2016. We are confident that we will be successful in our case and continue to believe the ultimate resolution of this matter will not be material to our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the year(s) of resolution. For the years 2003 through 2010, CRA issued notices of reassessment for approximately $3.4 billion of additional income for Canadian tax purposes, which would result in a related tax expense of about $1.1 billion. CRA has also issued notices of reassessment for transfer pricing penalties for the years 2007 through 2010 in the amount of $292 million. The Canadian income tax rules include provisions that require larger companies like us to remit or otherwise secure 50% of the cash tax plus related interest and penalties at the time of reassessment. To date, under these provisions, after applying elective deductions, we have paid a net amount of $263 million cash. In addition, we have provided $340 million in letters of credit (LC) to secure 50% of the cash taxes and related interest amounts reassessed to date. The amounts paid or secured are shown in the table below. YEAR PAID ($ MILLIONS) CASH TAXES INTEREST AND INSTALMENT PENALTIES TRANSFER PRICING PENALTIES TOTAL CASH REMITTANCE SECURED BY LC Prior to 2013 - 13 - 13 13 - 2013 1 9 36 46 46 - 2014 106 47 - 153 153 - 2015 202 71 79 352 20 332 2016 6 2 31 39 31 8 Total 315 142 146 603 263 340 Using the methodology we believe CRA will continue to apply, and including the $3.4 billion already reassessed, we expect to receive notices of reassessment for a total of approximately $7.0 billion of additional income taxable in Canada for the years 2003 through 2015, which would result in a related tax expense of approximately $2.1 billion. As well, CRA may continue to apply transfer pricing penalties to taxation years subsequent to 2010. As a result, we estimate that cash taxes and transfer pricing penalties for these years would be between $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion. In addition, we estimate there would be interest and instalment penalties applied that would be material to us. While in dispute, we would be responsible for remitting or otherwise providing security for 50% of the cash taxes and transfer pricing penalties (between $750 million and $850 million), plus related interest and instalment penalties assessed, which would be material to us. Under the Canadian federal and provincial tax rules, the amount required to be paid or secured each year will depend on the amount of income reassessed in that year and the availability of elective deductions and tax loss carryovers. Recently, the CRA decided to disallow the use of any loss carry-backs for any transfer pricing adjustment, starting with the 2008 tax year. This does not impact the anticipated income tax expense for a particular year, but does impact the timing of any required security or payment. For the 2010 tax year, as an alternative to paying cash, we used letters of credit to satisfy our obligations related to the reassessed income tax and related interest amounts. We expect to be able to continue to provide security in the form of letters of credit to satisfy these requirements. The estimated amounts summarized in the table below reflect actual amounts paid or secured and estimated future amounts owing based on the actual and expected reassessments for the years 2003 through 2015, and include the expected timing adjustment for the inability to use any loss carry-backs starting in 2008. We will update this table annually to include the estimated impact of reassessments expected for completed years subsequent to 2015. $ MILLIONS 2003-2015 2016-2017 2018-2023 TOTAL 50% of cash taxes and transfer pricing penalties paid, secured or owing in the period Cash payments 156 185 - 210 30 - 55 370 - 420 Secured by letters of credit 264 95 - 120 20 - 45 380 - 430 Total paid1 420 280 - 330 50 - 100 750 - 850 1 These amounts do not include interest and instalment penalties, which totalled approximately $142 million to March 31, 2016. In light of our view of the likely outcome of the case as described above, we expect to recover the amounts remitted, including the $603 million already paid or otherwise secured to date. We are expecting the trial for the 2003, 2005 and 2006 reassessments to commence in October 2016, with final arguments in March 2017. If this timing is adhered to, we expect to receive a Tax Court decision within six to 18 months after the trial is complete. IRS dispute We have received Revenue Agents Reports (RAR) from the IRS for the tax years 2009 to 2012. The IRS is challenging the transfer pricing used under certain intercompany transactions pertaining to the 2009 to 2012 tax years for certain of our US subsidiaries. The 2009 to 2012 RARs list the adjustments proposed by the IRS and calculate the tax and any penalties owing based on the proposed adjustments. The current position of the IRS is that a portion of the non-US income reported under our corporate structure and taxed in non-US jurisdictions should be recognized and taxed in the US on the basis that: the prices received by our US mining subsidiaries for the sale of uranium to CEL are too low the compensation earned by Cameco Inc., one of our US subsidiaries, is inadequate The proposed adjustments result in an increase in taxable income in the US of approximately $419 million (US) and a corresponding increased income tax expense of approximately $122 million (US) for the 2009 through 2012 taxation years, with interest being charged thereon. In addition, the IRS proposed cumulative penalties of approximately $8 million (US) in respect of the adjustment. We believe that the conclusions of the IRS in the RARs are incorrect and we are contesting them in an administrative appeal, during which we are not required to make any cash payments. Until this matter progresses further, we cannot provide an estimation of the likely timeline for a resolution of the dispute. We believe that the ultimate resolution of this matter will not be material to our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the year(s) of resolution. Caution about forward-looking information relating to our CRA and IRS tax disputes This discussion of our expectations relating to our tax disputes with CRA and IRS and future tax reassessments by CRA and IRS is forward-looking information that is based upon the assumptions and subject to the material risks discussed under the heading Caution about forward-looking information beginning below and also on the more specific assumptions and risks listed below. Actual outcomes may vary significantly. Assumptions CRA will reassess us for the years 2011 through 2015 using a similar methodology as for the years 2003 through 2010, and the reassessments will be issued on the basis we expect we will be able to apply elective deductions and utilize letters of credit to the extent anticipated CRA will seek to impose transfer pricing penalties (in a manner consistent with penalties charged in the years 2007 through 2010) in addition to interest charges and instalment penalties we will be substantially successful in our dispute with CRA and the cumulative tax provision of $51 million to date will be adequate to satisfy any tax liability resulting from the outcome of the dispute to date IRS may propose adjustments for later years subsequent to 2012 we will be substantially successful in our dispute with IRS Material risks that could cause actual results to differ materially CRA reassesses us for years 2011 through 2015 using a different methodology than for years 2003 through 2010, or we are unable to utilize elective deductions or letters of credit to the extent anticipated, resulting in the required cash payments or security provided to CRA pending the outcome of the dispute being higher than expected the time lag for the reassessments for each year is different than we currently expect we are unsuccessful and the outcomes of our dispute with CRA and/or IRS result in significantly higher cash taxes, interest charges and penalties than the amount of our cumulative tax provision, which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial position, results of operations and cash flows cash tax payable increases due to unanticipated adjustments by CRA or IRS not related to transfer pricing IRS proposes adjustments for years 2013 through 2015 using a different methodology than for 2009 through 2012 we are unable to effectively eliminate all double taxation Financial results by segment Uranium THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 HIGHLIGHTS 2016 2015 CHANGE Production volume (million lbs) 7.0 5.1 37% Sales volume (million lbs)1 5.9 7.0 (16)% Average spot price ($US/lb) 31.85 38.36 (17)% Average long-term price ($US/lb) 43.83 49.50 (11)% Average realized price ($US/lb) 42.22 43.42 (3)% ($Cdn/lb) 58.29 52.74 11% Average unit cost of sales (including D&A) ($Cdn/lb) 39.71 36.47 9% Revenue ($ millions)1 347 368 (6)% Gross profit ($ millions) 110 113 (3)% Gross profit (%) 32 31 3% 1 Includes sales and revenue between our uranium, fuel services and NUKEM segments (nil in Q1 2016, 15,000 pounds in sales and revenue of $0.5 million in Q1 2015). FIRST QUARTER Production volumes this quarter were 37% higher compared to the first quarter of 2015, mainly due to higher production from Cigar Lake, Inkai and McArthur River/Key Lake, which was partially offset by lower production from Rabbit Lake and our US operations. See Uranium 2016 Q1 updates starting below for more information. The 6% decrease in uranium revenues was a result of a 16% decrease in sales volume, partially offset by an 11% increase in the Canadian dollar average realized price. Sales in the first quarter were lower than in 2015 due to the timing of deliveries during the quarter, which are driven by customer requests and can vary significantly. The US dollar average realized price decreased by 3% compared to 2015 mainly due to lower prices on market-related contracts, while the higher Canadian dollar realized prices this quarter were a result of the weakening of the Canadian dollar compared to 2015. This quarter the exchange rate on the average realized price was $1.00 (US) for $1.38 (Cdn) compared to $1.00 (US) for $1.21 (Cdn) in the first quarter of 2015. Total cost of sales (including D&A) decreased by 7% ($236 million compared to $254 million in 2015) due to a 16% decrease in sales volume, partially offset by a 9% increase in the unit cost of sales. The increase in the unit cost of sales was mainly the result of an increase in the volume of material purchased in the quarter at prices higher than our average cost of inventory and an increase in the unit opening inventory rate, partially offset by lower production costs related to higher production from Cigar Lake compared to the first quarter of 2015. The net effect was a $3 million decrease in gross profit for the quarter. The table below shows the costs of produced and purchased uranium incurred in the reporting periods (which are non-IFRS measures, see the paragraphs below the table). These costs do not include selling costs such as royalties, transportation and commissions, nor do they reflect the impact of opening inventories on our reported cost of sales. THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 ($CDN/LB) 2016 2015 CHANGE Produced Cash cost 20.69 28.05 (26)% Non-cash cost 12.91 12.50 3% Total production cost 33.60 40.55 (17)% Quantity produced (million lbs) 7.0 5.1 37% Purchased Cash cost 51.06 47.95 6% Quantity purchased (million lbs) 5.1 2.7 89% Totals Produced and purchased costs 40.96 43.11 (5)% Quantities produced and purchased (million lbs) 12.1 7.8 55% The average cash cost of production this quarter was 26% lower than the comparable period in 2015, primarily due to significant progress in ramping up Cigar Lake, resulting in a 1.9 million pound increase in low-cost production from the Cigar Lake operation compared to the first quarter of last year. Although purchased pounds are transacted in US dollars, we account for the purchases in Canadian dollars. The average cash cost of purchased material in US dollar terms was $36.95 US per pound this quarter, compared to $38.79 US per pound in the first quarter of 2015. However, in the first quarter of 2016, the exchange rate on purchases averaged $1.00 (US) for $1.40 (Cdn), compared to $1.00 (US) for $1.24 (Cdn) in the first quarter of 2015. As a result, the average cash cost of purchased material in Canadian dollar terms increased by 6% this quarter compared to the same period last year. Cash cost per pound, non-cash cost per pound and total cost per pound for produced and purchased uranium presented in the above table are non-IFRS measures. These measures do not have a standardized meaning or a consistent basis of calculation under IFRS. We use these measures in our assessment of the performance of our uranium business. We believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate our performance and ability to generate cash flow. These measures are non-standard supplemental information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared according to accounting standards. These measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate these measures differently, so you may not be able to make a direct comparison to similar measures presented by other companies. To facilitate a better understanding of these measures, the following table presents a reconciliation of these measures to our unit cost of sales for the first quarter of 2016 and 2015. Cash and total cost per pound reconciliation THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 ($ MILLIONS) 2016 2015 Cost of product sold 203.2 204.2 Add / (subtract) Royalties (20.8) (13.8) Other selling costs - (1.6) Change in inventories 222.8 82.5 Cash operating costs (a) 405.2 271.3 Add / (subtract) Depreciation and amortization 32.8 50.1 Change in inventories 57.6 14.9 Total operating costs (b) 495.6 336.3 Uranium produced & purchased (million lbs) (c) 12.1 7.8 Cash costs per pound (a c) 33.49 34.78 Total costs per pound (b c) 40.96 43.12 Fuel services (includes results for UF 6 , UO 2 and fuel fabrication) THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 HIGHLIGHTS 2016 2015 CHANGE Production volume (million kgU) 3.3 2.6 27% Sales volume (million kgU) 2.3 3.0 (23)% Average realized price ($Cdn/kgU) 26.18 22.11 18% Average unit cost of sales (including D&A) ($Cdn/kgU) 20.38 19.56 4% Revenue ($ millions) 59 66 (11)% Gross profit ($ millions) 13 8 63% Gross profit (%) 22 12 83% FIRST QUARTER Total revenue for the first quarter of 2016 decreased to $59 million from $66 million for the same period last year. A 23% decrease in sales volumes was partially offset by an 18% increase in average realized price, primarily due to the weakening of the Canadian dollar compared to 2015. The total cost of products and services sold (including D&A) decreased by 22% ($46 million compared to $59 million in the first quarter of 2015) due to the decrease in sales volumes, partially offset by an increase in the average unit cost of sales. When compared to 2015, the average unit cost of sales was 4% higher due to an increase in the unit opening inventory rate. The net effect was a $5 million increase in gross profit. NUKEM THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 HIGHLIGHTS 2016 2015 CHANGE Uranium sales (million lbs)1 0.05 2.5 (98)% Average realized price ($Cdn/lb) 39.32 38.14 3% Cost of product sold (including D&A) 2 86 (98)% Revenue ($ millions)1 2 97 (98)% Gross profit ($ millions) - 11 (100)% Gross profit (%) - 11 (100)% 1 Includes sales and revenue between our uranium, fuel services and NUKEM segments (nil in Q1 2016, 0.5 million pounds in sales and revenue of $2.5 million in Q1 2015). FIRST QUARTER During the first quarter of 2016, NUKEM delivered 0.05 million pounds of uranium, a decrease of 98% from the same period last year due to very light market activity with a lack of profitable opportunities, and the timing of customer requirements. Total revenues decreased by 98% as a result of lower sales volumes. NUKEM did not record a gross profit in the first quarter of 2016, compared to an $11 million gross profit in the first quarter of 2015. Uranium 2016 Q1 updates URANIUM PRODUCTION THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 OUR SHARE (MILLION LBS) 2016 2015 CHANGE 2016 PLAN McArthur River/Key Lake 2.9 2.7 7% 12.6 Cigar Lake 2.2 0.3 633% 8.0 Inkai 1.1 0.6 83% 3.0 Rabbit Lake 0.4 0.9 (56)% 1.0 Smith Ranch-Highland 0.3 0.5 (40)% 0.9 Crow Butte 0.1 0.1 - 0.2 Total 7.0 5.1 37% 25.7 MCARTHUR RIVER/KEY LAKE Production for the first quarter was 7% higher compared to the same period last year, when we experienced several weeks of unplanned mill maintenance to repair the calciner circuit. Given the current state of oversupply in the market, we have decided to reduce our 2016 production target for McArthur River/Key Lake to 18.0 million pounds, 12.6 million pounds our share (previously 20.0 million pounds, 14.0 million pounds our share). The resulting available downtime will be used to advance work needed to increase the Key Lake mill's production capacity. In addition to a regular shutdown at the mill for our annual maintenance work, we are now planning downtime to make changes to the solvent extraction circuit, to bring some work on the crystallization circuit forward from 2017, and to transition to the new calciner. These changes will prepare the mill to increase production when the market signals it is needed. CIGAR LAKE During the first quarter, total packaged production from Cigar Lake was 4.5 million pounds U 3 O 8 ; our share was 2.2 million pounds. In the first quarter, we filed a technical report for Cigar Lake which reflects advancement of the operation and experience gained since the February 2012 technical report. The report can be found in the financial reporting section of our website, at www.cameco.com, on SEDAR at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov/edgar.shtml. INKAI Production for the quarter was 83% higher compared to the same period last year due to the timing of new wellfield development in our 2016 mine plan. The operation remains on track to achieve our planned 2016 production. Our application for an extension of the block 3 deposit evaluation period is still pending final approval from the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Inkai continues working on the final appraisal of the mineral potential of block 3 according to Kazakhstan standards. Qualified persons The technical and scientific information discussed in this document for our material properties (McArthur River/Key Lake, Inkai and Cigar Lake) was approved by the following individuals who are qualified persons for the purposes of NI 43-101: MCARTHUR RIVER/KEY LAKE David Bronkhorst, vice-president, mining and technology, Cameco CIGAR LAKE Les Yesnik, general manager, Cigar Lake, Cameco INKAI Darryl Clark, general director, JV Inkai Caution about forward-looking information This document includes statements and information about our expectations for the future. When we discuss our strategy, plans, future financial and operating performance, or other things that have not yet taken place, we are making statements considered to be forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under Canadian and United States securities laws. We refer to them in this document as forward-looking information. Key things to understand about the forward-looking information in this document: It typically includes words and phrases about the future, such as: anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, plan, will, intend, goal, target, forecast, project, strategy and outlook (see examples below). It represents our current views, and can change significantly. It is based on a number of material assumptions, including those we have listed below, which may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and events may be significantly different from what we currently expect, due to the risks associated with our business. We list a number of these material risks listed below. We recommend you also review our annual information form, first quarter MD&A, and annual MD&A, which includes a discussion of other material risks that could cause actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations. Forward-looking information is designed to help you understand management's current views of our near and longer term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. We will not necessarily update this information unless we are required to by securities laws. Examples of forward-looking information in this document our expectation that the decisions to restructure NUKEM, to not force more uranium production into an oversupplied market, and to purchase low cost pounds where we see opportunities, will yield positive results over the medium to longer term our expectations relating to the operational changes at our Rabbit Lake operation and Cameco Resources' operations the discussion under the heading Our strategy our expectations about 2016 and future global uranium supply and demand including the discussion under the heading Uranium market update our consolidated outlook for the year and the outlook for our uranium, fuel services and NUKEM segments for 2016 our expectations for uranium deliveries in the second quarter and for the balance of 2016 the discussion of our expectations relating to our CRA and IRS transfer pricing disputes including our estimate of the amount and timing of expected cash taxes and transfer pricing penalties our expectations for 2016, 2017 and 2018 capital expenditures our future plans and expectations for each of our uranium operating properties and fuel services operating sites Material risks we do not achieve the expected benefits relating to restructuring NUKEM, suspending Rabbit Lake production, curtailing US production, and purchasing low cost pounds when we see opportunities actual sales volumes or market prices for any of our products or services are lower than we expect for any reason, including changes in market prices or loss of market share to a competitor we are adversely affected by changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates, royalty rates, or tax rates our production costs are higher than planned, or necessary supplies are not available, or not available on commercially reasonable terms our estimates of production, purchases, costs, decommissioning or reclamation expenses, or our tax expense estimates, prove to be inaccurate we are unable to enforce our legal rights under our existing agreements, permits or licences we are subject to litigation or arbitration that has an adverse outcome, including lack of success in our disputes with tax authorities we are unsuccessful in our dispute with CRA and this results in significantly higher cash taxes, interest charges and penalties than the amount of our cumulative tax provision we are unable to utilize letters of credit to the extent anticipated in our dispute with CRA there are defects in, or challenges to, title to our properties our mineral reserve and resource estimates are not reliable, or we face challenging or unexpected geological, hydrological or mining conditions we are affected by environmental, safety and regulatory risks, including increased regulatory burdens or delays we cannot obtain or maintain necessary permits or approvals from government authorities we are affected by political risks we are affected by terrorism, sabotage, blockades, civil unrest, social or political activism, accident or a deterioration in political support for, or demand for, nuclear energy we are impacted by changes in the regulation or public perception of the safety of nuclear power plants, which adversely affect the construction of new plants, the relicensing of existing plants and the demand for uranium there are changes to government regulations or policies that adversely affect us, including tax and trade laws and policies our uranium suppliers fail to fulfil delivery commitments our McArthur River development, mining or production plans are delayed or do not succeed for any reason our Cigar Lake development, mining or production plans are delayed or do not succeed for any reason, including as a result of any difficulties freezing the deposit to meet production targets, or any difficulties with the McClean Lake mill modifications or expansion or milling of Cigar Lake ore the production increase approval at McClean Lake is delayed or not obtained, or there is a labour dispute at McClean Lake we are affected by natural phenomena, including inclement weather, fire, flood and earthquakes our operations are disrupted due to problems with our own or our suppliers' or customers' facilities, the unavailability of reagents, equipment, operating parts and supplies critical to production, equipment failure, lack of tailings capacity, labour shortages, labour relations issues (including an inability to renew the collective bargaining agreement with unionized employees at the Port Hope conversion facility), strikes or lockouts, underground floods, cave-ins, ground movements, tailings dam failures, transportation disruptions or accidents, or other development and operating risks Material assumptions our expectations relating to restructuring NUKEM, suspending Rabbit Lake production, curtailing US production, and purchasing low cost pounds when we see opportunities our expectations regarding sales and purchase volumes and prices for uranium and fuel services our expectations regarding the demand for uranium, the construction of new nuclear power plants and the relicensing of existing nuclear power plants not being more adversely affected than expected by changes in regulation or in the public perception of the safety of nuclear power plants our expected production level and production costs the assumptions regarding market conditions upon which we have based our capital expenditures expectations our expectations regarding spot prices and realized prices for uranium our expectations regarding tax rates and payments, royalty rates, currency exchange rates and interest rates our expectations about the outcome of disputes with tax authorities we are able to utilize letters of credit to the extent anticipated in our dispute with CRA our decommissioning and reclamation expenses our mineral reserve and resource estimates, and the assumptions upon which they are based, are reliable our understanding of the geological, hydrological and other conditions at our mines our McArthur River development, mining and production plans succeed our Cigar Lake development, mining and production plans succeed, and the deposit freezes as planned modification and expansion of the McClean Lake mill are completed as planned and the mill is able to process Cigar Lake ore as expected the production increase approval at McClean Lake is obtained, and there is no labour dispute at McClean Lake our ability to continue to supply our products and services in the expected quantities and at the expected times our ability to comply with current and future environmental, safety and other regulatory requirements, and to obtain and maintain required regulatory approvals our operations are not significantly disrupted as a result of political instability, nationalization, terrorism, sabotage, blockades, civil unrest, breakdown, natural disasters, governmental or political actions, litigation or arbitration proceedings, the unavailability of reagents, equipment, operating parts and supplies critical to production, labour shortages, labour relations issues (including an ability to renew the collective bargaining agreement with unionized employees at the Port Hope conversion facility), strikes or lockouts, underground floods, cave-ins, ground movements, tailings dam failure, lack of tailings capacity, transportation disruptions or accidents or other development or operating risks Quarterly dividend notice We announced today that our board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share on the outstanding common shares of the corporation that is payable on July 15, 2016, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2016. Conference call We invite you to join our first quarter conference call on Friday, April 29, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. The call will be open to all investors and the media. To join the call, please dial (800) 769-8320 (Canada and US) or (416) 340-8530. An operator will put your call through. A live audio feed of the conference call will be available from a link at cameco.com. See the link on our home page on the day of the call. A recorded version of the proceedings will be available: on our website, cameco.com, shortly after the call on post view until midnight, Eastern, May 29, 2016, by calling (800) 408-3053 (Canada and US) or (905) 694-9451 (Passcode 1322156#) Additional information You can find a copy of our first quarter MD&A and interim financial statements on our website at cameco.com, on SEDAR at sedar.com and on EDGAR at sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Additional information, including our 2015 annual management's discussion and analysis, annual audited financial statements and annual information form, is available on SEDAR at sedar.com, on EDGAR at sec.gov/edgar.shtml and on our website at cameco.com. Profile We are one of the world's largest uranium producers, a significant supplier of conversion services and one of two CANDU fuel manufacturers in Canada. Our competitive position is based on our controlling ownership of the world's largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations. Our uranium products are used to generate clean electricity in nuclear power plants around the world. We also explore for uranium in the Americas, Australia and Asia. Our shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. As used in this news release, the terms we, us, our, the Company and Cameco mean Cameco Corporation and its subsidiaries; including NUKEM Energy GmbH, unless otherwise indicated. Maxine Crump is the great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius Hawkins, one of the Georgetown slaves sold in 1838, and a member of the Georgetown Memory Project. Richard J. Cellini is an alumnus of Georgetown University and founder of the Georgetown Memory Project. In 1838, Georgetown University cheated bankruptcy by selling 272 slaves owned by the Maryland Jesuits to sugar plantations in Louisiana. Until just a few months ago, Georgetown folklore said that they all quickly succumbed to fever in the swamps of Louisiana. But in fact scores survived for decades. Thousands of their descendants are alive today. Last year, the Georgetown Memory Project was founded as an independent nonprofit to trace the Georgetown slaves and locate their living descendants. Our research confirms that slavery is a past that is not yet past. In some cases, it has evolved into subtler forms of social injustice and oppression. The 1838 sale involved real people, with real names and real families. Nace and Biby Butler were baptized by the Jesuits years before being sold. Nace Jr. escaped transportation to Louisiana and never saw his parents again. Nace is short for Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order. The Georgetown Memory Project owes its existence to dogged personal genealogical research by Patricia Bayonne-Johnson, a Butler descendant. Cornelius Hawkins was 13 when he was sold. He was later valued at $900 and counted as stock, along with cows, mules and hogs. Cornelius didnt choose his path. But he worked it. He remained a devout Catholic and kept his family together. To this day, divorces are scarce on his side of the family. These stories can no longer be overlooked. We must revisit history to tell the truth about slavery and its legacy. What should Georgetown do? First, lets make short work of the question of whether the slaves and their descendants are members of the Georgetown family. The Maryland Jesuits themselves called the slaves and their children the family. Welcome at Georgetown? They built Georgetown. They are the ultimate insiders. Lets also rebut any suggestion that many descendants seek involuntary reparations. Not a single descendant reached so far has asked for any such thing. They seek reconciliation and reunion, not reparations. As Pope Francis recently wrote in Amoris Laetitia, love can transcend and overflow the demands of justice. Too often, people think of love as a feeling instead of as a power. Love does not judge who is right or wrong; love is right and does what is right. Now lets talk about the future. Georgetowns president, John J. DeGioia, recently expressed his commitment to reconciliation, writing: This is the moment for us to find within each of ourselves and within our community, the resources of our moral imaginations to determine how we can contribute to responding to this urgent moment in our nation. Ours is not the first university to deal with a historical connection to slavery. Some have dealt with it poorly. Others have dealt with it adequately. Georgetown should deal with it magnificently. Lets work together as one family to change lives, for generations to come. Georgetown should honor its former slaves for their role in securing the universitys survival. If a single person had erased Georgetowns debt in 1838, that benefactors name would today occupy a place of honor. The names of each and every one of the Georgetown slaves should appear in a place of honor for their priceless sacrifice. Honoring them collectively as the GU272 the campus shorthand often used to refer to the group will only leave them unnamed once again. The descendants of Georgetown slaves should have the opportunity to receive a Georgetown education. When applying for admission, they should receive the same legacy status granted to the descendants of other major benefactors. Georgetown University and the Maryland Jesuits should promptly identify all recipients of the 1838 sale proceeds (worth more than $3.3 million in todays money, without compound interest). The Maryland Province recently acknowledged that sale proceeds provided financial support for Jesuit works in this period . . . including to Georgetown University. This statement openly raises the question whether other Jesuit institutions benefited financially as well. The Catholic Church and the Maryland Jesuits should be more forthright in acknowledging their part in this damaging legacy. The Catholic Church has been silent so far. The Jesuits have not yet agreed to speak directly with representatives of descendants seeking genealogical and sacramental records. Georgetown University and the Maryland Jesuits should jointly fund an independent nonprofit to assist scholars and living descendants seeking to trace the family trees of Georgetown slaves. Researchers should be granted full access to all relevant financial, agricultural and sacramental records free of republication restrictions such as those currently imposed by the universitys archives. Family histories must never be used as a bargaining chip. What else can we achieve as a family? We can raise money for dozens of scholarships for descendants of Georgetown slaves. We can support high schools serving African American communities in Maryland, Louisiana and the District. Together, we can achieve things literally unimaginable to the Georgetown slaves or their Jesuit masters. We cant erase the past. But together we can create the future. The very worst of Georgetown can summon forth the very best from Georgetown. To quote Pope Francis again: Every family, despite its weaknesses, can become a light in the darkness of the world. Donald Trumps damage to the Republican Party, although already extensive, has barely begun. Republican quislings will multiply, slinking into support of the most anti-conservative presidential aspirant in their partys history. These collaborationists will render themselves ineligible to participate in the partys reconstruction. Ted Cruzs announcement of his preferred running mate has enhanced the nomination process by giving voters pertinent information. They already know the only important thing about Trumps choice: His running mate will be unqualified for high office because he or she will think Trump is qualified. Hillary Clintons optimal running mate might be Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a pro-labor populist whose selection would be balm for the bruised feelings of Bernie Sanderss legions. Running mates rarely matter as electoral factors: In 2000, Al Gore got 43.2 percent of the North Carolina vote. In 2004, John Kerry, trying to improve upon Gores total there, ran with North Carolina Sen. John Edwards but received 43.6 percent. If, however, Brown were to help deliver Ohio for Clinton, the Republican path to 270 electoral votes would be narrower than a needles eye. Republican voters, particularly in Indiana and California, can, by supporting Cruz, make the Republican convention a deliberative body rather than one that merely ratifies decisions made elsewhere, some of them six months earlier. A conventions sovereign duty is to choose a plausible nominee who has a reasonable chance to win, not to passively affirm the will of a mere plurality of voters recorded episodically in a protracted process. Trump would be the most unpopular nominee ever, unable to even come close to Mitt Romneys insufficient support among women, minorities and young people. In losing disastrously, Trump probably would create down-ballot carnage sufficient to end even Republican control of the House. Ticket splitting is becoming rare in polarized America: In 2012, only 5.7 percent of voters supported a presidential candidate and a congressional candidate of opposite parties. This summer's political conventions could get heated but it certainly wouldn't be the first time. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post) At least half a dozen Republican senators seeking reelection and Senate aspirants can hope to win if the person at the top of the Republican ticket loses their state by, say, only four points, but not if he loses by 10. A Democratic Senate probably would guarantee a Supreme Court with a liberal cast for a generation. If Clinton is inaugurated next Jan. 20, Merrick Garland probably will already be on the court confirmed in a lame-duck Senate session and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony M. Kennedy and Stephen G. Breyer will be 83, 80 and 78, respectively. The minority of people who pay close attention to politics includes those who define an ideal political outcome and pursue it, and those who focus on the worst possible outcome and strive to avoid it. The former experience the excitements of utopianism, the latter settle for prudences mild pleasure of avoiding disappointed dreams. Both sensibilities have their uses, but this is a time for prudence, which demands the prevention of a Trump presidency. Were he to be nominated, conservatives would have two tasks. One would be to help him lose 50 states condign punishment for his comprehensive disdain for conservative essentials, including the manners and grace that should lubricate the nations civic life. Second, conservatives can try to save from the anti-Trump undertow as many senators, representatives, governors and state legislators as possible. It was 32 years after Jimmy Carter won 50.1 percent in 1976 that a Democrat won half the popular vote. Barack Obama won only 52.9 percent and then 51.1 percent, but only three Democrats Andrew Jackson (twice), Franklin Roosevelt (four times) and Lyndon Johnson have won more than 53 percent. Trump probably would make Clinton the fourth, and he would be a tonic for her party, undoing the extraordinary damage (13 Senate seats, 69 House seats, 11 governorships, 913 state legislative seats) Obama has done. If Trump is nominated, Republicans working to purge him and his manner from public life will reap the considerable satisfaction of preserving the identity of their 162-year-old party while working to see that they forgo only four years of the enjoyment of executive power. Six times since 1945 a party has tried, and five times failed, to secure a third consecutive presidential term. The one success the Republicans 1988 election of George H.W. Bush produced a one-term president. If Clinton gives her party its first 12 consecutive White House years since 1945, Republicans can help Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, or someone else who has honorably recoiled from Trump, confine her to a single term. Read more from George F. Wills archive or follow him on Facebook. THE DEVASTATING bombing of an Aleppo hospital on Wednesday night which killed at least 50 civilians, including six medical staff and a number of children was not an accident, and it should not have been a surprise to promoters of the Syrian cease-fire. For weeks the regime of Bashar al-Assad has been proclaiming its intention to recapture the rebel-held eastern side of Aleppo, with help from our Russian partners, as the prime minister put it. The bombing of hospitals and food markets, in turn, is a standard component of Mr. Assads military campaigns, intended to drive civilians out of rebel-held areas. By Saturday, the Aleppo offensive was in its ninth day; according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 226 civilians had been killed by bombing and shelling through Friday, including 50 women and children. Yet U.S. and U.N. officials were still clinging to the fiction that the cessation of hostilities they said began on Feb. 27, and which the Assad regime never fully observed, was still somehow alive. I think we would still maintain that it had largely held, State Department spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, as rescuers pulled children from the ruins of the hospitals pediatric ward. U.S. policy in Syria has devolved into a sickening routine. Secretary of State John F. Kerry negotiates with Russia on steps to end the violence, while insisting that the United States will turn to a Plan B if they fail. Russia and the Syrian regime then make a mockery of the agreements, continuing to bomb civilians and attack Western-backed rebels. Mr. Kerry duly denounces the atrocities, as he did on Thursday, when he pronounced himself outraged by the deliberate strike on a known medical facility. Then, forgetting his previous talk of a Plan B, Mr. Kerry returns to the Russians with another appeal for cooperation. Thats what happened after the hospital bombing: The State Department recommitted to the political process, according to Mr. Kirby, who went so far as to describe Plan B as mythical. On Friday, a new, partial cease-fire was announced, beginning Saturday in the Damascus suburbs and the coastal area of Latakia. Aleppo, where the regimes offensive is taking place, was excluded. In fact, there does appear to be a U.S. Plan B, according to the Wall Street Journal, which recently reported that it involved supplying more powerful weapons to the Syrian rebels, possibly including missiles that could shoot down Syrian planes and helicopters. It has been widely reported that Mr. Kerry himself has lobbied for more aid to the rebels as a way of gaining leverage over the Assad regime and Russia. And yet action has been held up, as throughout the Syrian civil war, by President Obama, who, fearing U.S. intervention will make the situation worse, rejects any steps that could make it better. The latest atrocities should prompt Mr. Obama to reconsider. Measures to strengthen the rebels, and ground the governments air force, are not only the morally right response to the deliberate bombing of hospitals and food stores. Pragmatically, they offer the only way to force the Assad regime and its allies to negotiate seriously about Syrias future. The president still has the chance to mitigate his past mistakes and create a path toward peace in Syria. He should seize it. Regarding the April 28 editorial Lessons from a Maryland primary: Underrepresentation of women and minorities in government is a national disgrace, and we must do better to elect qualified people who will make a difference. I felt the angst of women, especially African American women, regarding the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Maryland. So many women wanted to vote for a woman to succeed Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D). But in the end, they voted with their heads, not their hearts. The results of this campaign were refreshing. Rep. Chris Van Hollens campaign was about inclusion, not exclusion, as evidenced by the army of white, African American, Hispanic, young and old men and women who endorsed him and volunteered on his behalf. This election wasnt decided by race or gender. Instead, it was determined by individual records, reputation and accomplishments in elected office. It was not influenced by angry rhetoric and false representations. This is a message to all Maryland elected officials who wish to advance to other positions, whether at the local, state or national level. What you do and say matters. How you do it and say it makes a difference. And what you do for your constituents matters a lot. Prospective voters are watching and making their decisions based on your reputation and accomplishments in office. Isnt that the way it should be? This was a victory for the Democratic voters in Maryland. Connie Lynch, Ellicott City Parvez Mollah, security guard of the flat of Xulhaz Mannan, was injured during the April 25 assault in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in which Mannan and a friend were hacked to death. (Abir Abdullah/European Pressphoto Agency) KILLERS ARMED with machetes have been on a rampage in Bangladesh. This year they have slain at least nine people, including secular bloggers and liberal activists. Extremist religious groups accused the bloggers of ridiculing Islam and promoting homosexuality and promiscuity. On April 23, Rezaul Karim Siddique, an English professor at Rajshahi University, was hacked to death. Then, on April 25, according to witnesses, six men wielding guns and machetes forced their way into the home of Xulhaz Mannan, editor of Bangladeshs only gay rights magazine, Roopbaan, and murdered him and an activist friend. The bloody assault was a sickening reminder that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights the right to live and love as one wishes are viewed dimly in many nations and societies around the world. While the United States has its own vigorous debates about laws on marriage and protections against discrimination, menacing and regressive attitudes abroad are often enshrined by states and religious leaders who let bigotry and intolerance run riot. Mr. Mannan, who also worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development, was killed alongside Tanay Mojumdar, also of the magazine, which was set up in 2014 to spread tolerance and raise awareness. The BBC quoted a photographer friend as saying that both men were openly gay and believed that if more gay Bangladeshis came out, the country would have to accept them. Homosexuality is criminalized in Bangladesh. Discrimination, violence and hostility to LGBT populations flourish elsewhere, too. A decade ago, according to a global survey, 92 countries criminalized same-sex sexual acts between consenting adults. As of 2015, the number had fallen to 75 countries, but thats still more than a third of United Nations member states. Uzbekistan punishes homosexual acts by prison terms of up to three years, and its president, Islam Karimov, this year called homosexuality part of Western vulgar culture. In Indonesia, a parliamentary committee has suggested censoring media content about the LGBT community. In Morocco on March 9, two gay men were dragged from a house, cursed and bloodied by attackers, and then the injured men were put on trial for homosexuality. One has been convicted and sentenced to four months in prison, according to Human Rights Watch. Much of the bigotry is deliberately inflamed by dictators, from Russia to Uganda, who create and exploit divisions to distract from their own corruption and poor governance. In recent years, a disturbing new trend has cropped up in which governments attempt to go after speech about gay rights, such as the vaguely worded 2013 law in Russia that banned the spread of media or Internet material about nontraditional sexual relations to minors. In China, homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997, but there are still deep stigmas, and, in the first legal test, same-sex marriage was recently rejected by a provincial court. On so many levels, the killings in Bangladesh sound an alarm. Millions of LGBT people suffer from ignorance and prejudice, and their governments and societies enable the violence and pain. The writer was U.S. ambassador to Belgium from 2009 to 2013 and is managing director of the Gutman Group, an international consulting and investment group. The United States may soon have its first female president. And it may not be Hillary Clinton. Over the past few weeks, the best answer to the question of who will emerge as the Republican presidential nominee businessman Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), Ohio Gov. John Kasich, some other failed 2016 contender or even House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) has become none of the above. In each instance, the case for why any one of these candidates probably wont be picked has gotten much stronger than the one for why each of the individual candidates would. Despite Trumps big victories this week, hes not the presumptive nominee he claims to be. He faces much tougher challenges in Indiana and California, where poor showings would likely leave him short of the 1,237 delegates needed to end the upcoming Republican convention chaos with a victory in the first round of voting. Despised and feared by the Republican establishment, Trump almost certainly will do worse with each passing round. A stones throw is probably as close as hell ever get to the nomination. Cruz is on track to succeed as the spoiler of the Trump campaign. But with Trump romping on the East Coast, Cruz will likely finish hundreds of delegates and millions of votes behind. Thats too far back. The possibility of allowing a big loser to leapfrog over a clear front-runner has not polled well among the party rank and file. Its a good bet it will flop at the convention, too. If it could, the Republican establishment would settle for finding its way to Kasich, Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), new Cruz running mate Carly Fiorina or another one of the 2016 also-rans. But if the leap over Trump is too great for Cruz, the chasm will be prohibitive for a bigger loser. For these reasons, much of the inside money recently shifted to Ryan. The scenario is powerful and straightforward: You have a deadlocked convention; choosing one of the three finalists is sure to fracture the party; the last nominee, Mitt Romney, is more bad dream than fond memory; and there sits Ryan, offering appeal to a broad spectrum of Republicans. But even as this answer began to look better in recent weeks, the spotlight it turned on Ryan quickly became something of a glare. Whether or not it was of his own doing, Ryan began to look as though he was undermining the democratic process by angling for the job. Threatened with a damaging loss of credibility and harboring no great desire to be a sacrificial lamb in a losing year, Ryan shifted his denials from coy to resolute. Now, even if his heart still yearns for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., he may have slammed the door too forcefully to reopen it. Still, someone has to do the job. Someone with more to gain than lose. Someone whose star is still rising. And someone whos in the fortunate position of being able to avoid Ryans fate of looking as though shes trying to disrupt democracy by stealing the nomination from the voters. Enter Nikki Haley. Generally beloved by the establishment and the insurgent outsiders in the Republican Party, the South Carolina governor is among the few who seek out the cameras without looking like a 2016 subversive. She has license to engage with the media all the way to Cleveland. And since any eventual nominee is certain to see in her a strong asset on the campaign trail, a Cabinet official or even a potential running mate, her reputation will stay unsullied as the daggers continue to fly. She can in all good faith even continue to believe or at least act as though she believes that all she is doing is helping put the best face on her party in a moment of need. Ignorance can be such profitable bliss. But the understudy often fills in when the lead goes down. With none of the above becoming ever more obvious as Cleveland gets closer, Haleys convention speaking slot may need to be moved to Thursday night. An Iraqi soldier stands in a building damaged during fighting between Iraqi army and Islamic State fighters in the village of Mahana, near Mosul, Iraq. (Goran Tomasevic/Reuters) From a sandbagged hilltop outpost here, you can see the front line of the Islamic State in the muddy brown houses of Al-Nasr, a village on the next ridgeline, about a mile-and-a-half west. The Iraqi army was supposed to have captured this target a month ago. But the offensive was repelled. The battle for Mosul, about 35 miles north, must begin with the seizure of such Islamic State positions along the Tigris River. But the Iraqi army isnt ready yet to take a small, well-fortified village such as Al-Nasr. So its hard to imagine that Mosul itself could be cleared by the end of the year, as the Obama administration has hoped. The staging area for the Mosul battle is Makhmour, a few miles south of here. An Iraqi army division has set up its headquarters there, alongside Kurdish peshmerga fighters. U.S. combat advisers are in Makhmour, too, although they werent visible Thursday. I have limited forces, says Maj. Gen. Najim Abed al-Jabouri, the Iraqi commander for the Mosul offensive. He has about 5,000 troops but says that he needs a force six times larger and an attack plan that hits Mosul from all sides. The recent political chaos in Baghdad has hurt army morale and made planning more difficult, he says. We try to move toward the correct way, but the corruption in Iraq is very deep. U.S. air power helped the Iraqis capture the nearby village of Mahana this week. The Iraqis were able to walk in, virtually unopposed. We are a team, always, Jabouri says of the growing U.S. forces in Iraq. The day after in Mosul may be an even bigger problem than the assault itself. Gen. Najat Ali, the commander of Kurdish forces in Makhmour, says that a political agreement is needed now on governing the big, multiethnic city once the Islamic State is driven out. We are afraid, after we liberate Mosul, how we will rule, he says. Hes dressed in the baggy trousers and tunic that are the traditional Kurdish uniform. The Kurds are probably the toughest fighters in Iraq, and theyve had the best success against the Islamic State. But they are desperately short of heavy weapons and ammunition, as I discovered during my brief visit to their front lines. At the Kurdish hilltop observation post at Wadi Mashar, Lt. Col. Taher Argushi says his forces are hit almost daily with rocket and mortar fire from Al-Nasr and were attacked last year by mustard gas. But Kurds here have no heavy artillery or rockets, no chemical-weapons suits, and they lack enough ammunition to fire back regularly at the extremists. Asked whether the Kurds partners in the Iraqi army are good fighters, Argushi answers that with the Iraqis limited progress, despite having abundant weapons, ammunition and U.S. air support, you must say not good. The Iraqi regular army, trust me, they are not in a position to do this alone, says Masrour Barzani, the national security adviser and intelligence chief for the Kurdistan Regional Government, speaking at his headquarters in Irbil. He said that the Makhmour area must be cleared soon by the Iraqi army so that Mosul is surrounded from the south, as well as from the areas north, east and west of the city already captured by Kurdish forces. Barzani worries about slow preparation, on both the military and political fronts: We asked for a plan for taking Mosul. The Iraqi Army doesnt have a plan yet, or theyre not sharing it with us. While Kurdish forces are committed to the Mosul campaign, Barzani said they cant take the lead in Arab areas. He also stressed the future difficulty of governing a diverse city that has Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen; Sunni and Shiite Muslims; Christians and Yazidis. There has to be a political agreement so that all the elements of Mosul will be happy and able to live there. Some Iraqi officials talk hopefully of an uprising among the local population in Mosul to expel the Islamic State. This is wishful thinking, Barzani says. He explains that Mosuls residents wont stick their necks out unless they are certain the offensive will succeed. A dramatic sign of the Obama administrations stake in this fight came with Vice President Bidens surprise visit to Baghdad on Thursday. The attack on Mosul will be the decisive moment in this U.S.-backed campaign, but the evidence from the battlefront suggests that a successful assault is still many months away. Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. If the Supreme Court disallows the conviction of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell, it will bring us a fateful step further in public disillusionment with the establishment [Justices cast doubt on case, front page, April 28]. This man was convicted of using his office for personal benefit by a jury of his fellow citizens in Virginia. Arent they the ones who decide what the standard of proper political conduct is? What he did looked crooked to them, as it does to anyone who reads the list of loans, gifts and other benefits showered on this public servant and his family by a man who was promoting his business. If the Supreme Court defines this kind of behavior, which the citizens have already rejected, as standard operating procedure, then we are done for. If, indeed, Mr. McDonnells conviction means that all politicians are guilty of influence peddling, thats a message that could redeem our country instead of settling it deeper in the mire of corruption. Cathy Clary, Afton David O. Stewart is a writer in Maryland. His most recent historical work is Madisons Gift: Five Partnerships that Built America. Since Fawn Brodies tell-all (or tell-much) biography of Thomas Jefferson in 1974, the Master of Monticello has endured increasingly wintry seasons among the writers of history. The authors of this ambitious book, luminaries of the historians guild, acknowledge that the distance between Jeffersons words and his deeds . . . has led some critics to simply brand him a hypocrite and leave matters at that. That judgment, they warn, is ultimately shallow. They pledge to look beyond what we might think Jefferson should have done through his fascinating life, focusing instead on what Jefferson himself thought he was doing. Both Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter Onuf have written about Jefferson at considerable length before, so they bring deep learning and insight to the effort. Perhaps for that reason, Most Blessed of the Patriarchs cannot entirely avoid compiling the sort of despairing catalogue of the great mans hypocrisies that the authors set out to transcend. They note that Jefferson championed those who till the soil as the most virtuous of people, yet he found farming deadly dull, and his fitful agricultural efforts were largely unsuccessful. He denounced political parties as instruments of the small-minded and self-interested, yet he was the most skilled political partisan of his era. He co-founded Americas first political party, which annihilated its opponents and swept to a rarely replicated dominance of the government. Jeffersons party, considerably evolved, survives today as the Democratic Party. Most fundamentally, the author of the ringing commitment to equality in the Declaration of Independence built his economic and social life on human slavery. Jefferson bought and sold people. Rebellious slaves at Monticello faced whipping or being sold off. The hypocrisy meter nearly melts at the spectacle of Americas apostle of liberty co-habiting for decades with a woman he owned, Sally Hemings, while owning their children. That the Hemingses received special treatment from the master makes the relationships no less disappointing, even incomprehensible, to modern sensibilities. The overarching concept behind Most Blessed of the Patriarchs is that Jeffersons complexities may be understood as elements of his notion of mastery: that he aimed to be master of himself, master of his family, master of the slave community of Monticello and master of his political life, and that he hoped such mastery would serve as the model for the new nation. Rather than pursue this notion in a chronological narrative, the authors take up different subjects seriatim, moving forward and back through time. "Most Blessed of the Patriarchs": Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination" by Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter S. Onuf (Liveright) Their approach yields a stimulating graduate seminar on topics in Jefferson studies, shedding welcome light on subjects such as Jeffersons passionate attachment to music and his tenacious insistence that a persons religious beliefs are nobody elses business. For a reader coming to Jefferson for the first or even second time, however, the structure might be challenging. Gordon-Reed and Onuf rightly highlight Jeffersons ideas, words and charm, the strengths that brought him such success in his life and that have sustained his standing for centuries. Indeed, Jeffersons thinking, words and charm can divert attention from the long list of pivotal events and issues on which he had little impact. After writing the opening manifesto of independence, Jefferson was not a major force in winning it; he played no role in writing the Constitution or gaining its ratification; he did not secure enactment of cherished proposals to protect religious liberty (James Madison did) or create a legal structure for frontier lands (the Northwest Ordinance did) or for the new constitutional government (George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Madison did); he neither drafted nor assisted in the adoption of the Bill of Rights; he did not chart Americas foreign policy while secretary of state (Washington did); as president, he failed to defend U.S. ships and sailors when Britain and France savaged them during the Napoleonic Wars (Madison did through the War of 1812); and he never performed a public act that limited or challenged slavery. Jeffersons ideas, however, were powerful, beginning with the audacious insistence that America could be a self-governing republic in a world of empires and kingdoms. He also imagined legislation to protect religious liberty and foresaw the continental expansion of the nation. And his words were magnificent. When Americans struggled to explain why their refusal to pay British taxes was not simple stinginess, he wrote that they fought for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When he took office as president in 1801, he rang the curtain down on a decade of vicious partisan fighting by proclaiming, We are all Republicans; we are all Federalists. Gordon-Reed and Onuf trace much of Jeffersons success to his unfailing charm. A man who suffered the early deaths of his father, his wife and five of his six children, Jefferson nonetheless chose to be happy, or at least to appear happy. He was always gracious, often humming a tune to himself. In the authors words, Smile and song projected a happy disposition, putting others at ease. As Jefferson advised three of his grandchildren, It is a charming thing to be loved by everybody; and the way to obtain it is never to quarrel or be angry with anybody. Jefferson practiced what he preached. He declined to engage in arguments. He so disliked disputation that during his presidency, he invited only members of one party to any social event at the White House, dining with only Federalists one evening and with only Republicans on another. At those events, he demonstrated his mastery by serving his guests himself, cheerfully guiding the conversation to display his broad knowledge and relentless good humor. All of it, as Gordon-Reed and Onuf show, was the empire of his imagination, one that has survived for centuries. I wasnt playing the womans card, Donald Trump said Thursday when asked about his claim that Hillary Clinton was playing the woman card and that if she were a man, she would get only 5 percent of the vote. For once, I agree with Trump: He wasnt playing the woman card. He was playing the man card and he was dealing from the bottom of the deck. Trumps return to misogyny unveiled on Tuesday night, at the very moment when he seemed to have secured the Republican presidential nomination has been generally viewed as bumbling, a reprise of the days when he used slob, dog and piece of ass to describe women. But Trumps gender-based attack on Clinton, which he defended in subsequent days, was likely no accident. Research shows the attack is rational, and his repetition of it suggests its calculated. Trump orchestrated his primary campaign success on the basis of economic and racial resentment. Now hes building a general-election strategy against the first woman to lead a major partys presidential ticket on gender resentment. Alexandra Petri explains the perks that come from signing up for a "woman card." (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) It probably wont work. It definitely is ugly. But it may be the best card he has to play, with 7 in 10 women regarding him unfavorably. A man who has demagogically divided Americans by race and ethnicity now aims to finish the job by dividing us by views of gender roles. A fascinating new study by Dan Cassino, a political scientist at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, shows why. Just as Trump has exposed a surprising depth of racial animus in the United States, there is gender animus to be tapped as well. Cassino found that the gender role threat a perceived threat to male identity and masculinity leads to increased support for Trump among men, and lower support for Clinton. In a survey of New Jersey voters in late February, Cassino and his colleagues tried an experiment. Half of respondents, before being asked about their preference in the presidential election, were asked whether they or their spouse earned more money. The others were asked about their household income distribution after they were asked about their presidential preference. What they found was troubling and huge. Men who werent primed with the question about spousal income preferred Clinton over Trump, 49 percent to 33 percent. But those who were primed with the income question, reminding them about the upending of traditional gender roles, favored Trump over Clinton, 50 to 42 percent a 24-point shift. Removing any doubt that the issue is gender: The same experiment produced almost no shift in a hypothetical matchup between Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The priming of voters with the gender-role question caused women to support Clinton even more strongly, by an extra 12 percentage points. But this didnt offset the losses the experiment caused Clinton among men. Overall, she lost 8 percentage points when voters were reminded about changing gender roles. What this shows, and what Trump apparently recognizes, is that the gender gap cuts both ways. Trump has already lost the votes of liberal and moderate women (and of liberal men, who, like women, tended to be even more pro-Clinton when they were primed with the gender-role question). Playing the man card appealing to a male sense of feeling threatened by changing gender roles can help Trump boost turnout among conservative and evangelical Christian men, while peeling off some support from non-white men and older, anti-feminist women. The gender gap probably hurts him more than it helps him, but its close, Cassino told me. I dont think its a big loser in the general election. Cassino (who made waves a few years ago with a study showing that news outlets such as Fox News and MSNBC had a negative effect on viewers knowledge of current events) sees the man card as an extension of the implicit theme that has worked for Trump so far. It says white men used to run everything and now we dont and its terrible, he said. We were focusing on the white part before, and now were focusing on the men part. Its all the same appeal. After the presidency of an African American exposed more latent racism in post-racial America than many thought existed, the presidential nomination of a woman will bring out latent sexism. So the next time you hear Trump talking about how Clinton would get only 5 percent of the vote if she were a man, or about the blood coming out of Megyn Kellys wherever, or how both Clinton and Carly Fiorina give him headaches, or about the pain caused him by Clintons shouting even though you cant say that about a woman, consider this: Trump isnt boorish and bumbling. He is coldly calculating. Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Protesters rally across from the governor's mansion in Raleigh, N.C., to protest a new state law that requires people to use the public restroom that matches the sex on their birth certificate. (Harry Lynch/The News & Observer) Doug Lasdon is the founder and executive director of the Urban Justice Center in New York. Hugh Ryan is a development associate at the center. As the transgender community gains visibility across the country, one ugly issue keeps coming up: bathrooms. Theres a reason for this. Bathrooms are places where we feel vulnerable, where we literally have our pants down, and feeling vulnerable is one step away from feeling fearful. And fear is a useful emotion at least, it is for some politicians, who cynically manipulate the unfounded fears of their constituents in order to take a blowtorch to nondiscrimination laws. From North Carolina to Florida to Texas, the cry of no men in womens bathrooms has been used to demonize trans people, simultaneously mobilizing frightened voters into defeating or repealing local ordinances aimed at protecting everyone from veterans to the elderly to yes transgender people. If anyone is endangered in restrooms, however, it is trans people. A 2013 study by the Williams Institute found that 70 percent of trans people in the Washington area had experienced some kind of negative reaction while using a public bathroom, up to and including assault. When we bar transgender people from choosing the restroom that feels safest to them, we increase the dangers faced by a vulnerable population. Meanwhile, we do nothing to prevent sexual assault. If a felony charge wont stop a rapist, why does anyone think a fine for using the wrong bathroom would do the trick? Experience is the best way to counter irrational fear. Certainly, that was the case for the nonprofit Urban Justice Center in New York, where a decade ago we created gender-neutral bathrooms in our offices. We have thousands of visitors annually from the hardworking low-income New Yorkers who need our free legal services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people to supporters who work as partners at some of the top law firms in the world. As we prepared to move into a new office in 2006, we spent weeks discussing how to address this issue. We knew we needed to balance the well-founded fears of the trans community with the less-grounded, but no less real, fears of those who only knew transgender people from salacious media depictions. The approach we landed on was simple. We turned our womens room into a multi-use, all-gender restroom. In the mens room, we covered the urinals and declared the bathroom single-use, intended for one individual at a time. Our visitors can use whichever bathroom makes them feel most comfortable. The all-gender bathroom has no urinals, and each of the four stalls has floor-to-ceiling walls. Both bathrooms are publicly accessible, meaning individuals do not have to ask to be escorted to a special restroom (and risk outing themselves in the process). In this way, we made using the bathroom the easy, unobtrusive task it should always be. We instituted our gender-neutral policy to respect the needs and lives of transgender people. But others also benefit from having gender-neutral restrooms, including parents with young children, adults whose elderly parents may need assistance and people of all stripes who employ caretakers for one reason or another. It also means that we never have that ridiculous situation in which the line for the womens room is a mile long, while the mens room sits empty just a few feet away. As other organizations, such as Cooper Union college, begin to adopt gender-neutral restrooms, Im delighted to be able to share that our experiences have been wholly positive. To this day, we have not received a single complaint. Not one in a decade. Nor have any incidents of violence or harassment been reported. Leaving aside the issue of justice, from a pure management standpoint, creating gender-neutral bathrooms was, to us, a no-brainer. We employ some of the best and brightest New York has to offer; having accessible bathrooms helps us attract and retain these individuals, regardless of their gender identity. On a practical level, efforts to make people use one restroom or another are almost impossible to enforce, unless were ready to institute airport-style screenings in every public building in the United States which would make everyone feel oh-so-safe. Around the country, small-minded activists have made battlegrounds of what should be safe, quiet, clean places for people to do their private business quickly and easily. But pushing back against this prejudice can be as easy as changing a sign. In just a few minutes, you can make the world a little safer for some of our most vulnerable citizens. I urge business leaders and heads of nonprofits around the country to join us in taking a stand for transgender rights. You have nothing to lose but your urinals. Sally Satel is a psychiatrist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. She is co-author of Brainwashed: The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience. What made the acclaimed American writer David Foster Wallace doubt his talent so profoundly and, ultimately, take his own life? Why would a university president make obscene phone calls to prospective babysitters? How can we understand a beloved comic actor who relentlessly consumes cocaine, endangering himself, his family and his career? In his ambitious but problematic new book, Capture, David A. Kessler a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner and a retired medical school dean at Yale and the University of California at San Francisco tries to answer these questions. What happens when our rational minds feel as though weve been hijacked by something we cannot control? he asks. In other words, what happens when we are captured? Kessler defines capture as a triad of basic elements. The first is a narrowing of attention. This is followed by a perceived lack of control and then a change in emotional state. What we end up doing, he writes, may not be what we consciously want. Kessler says he was drawn to study the power of unbidden influence thoughts, feelings and behaviors that override reason and will through his earlier FDA-related work on tobacco and obesity; he has written three books on those subjects. Is it possible that the same biological mechanism that selectively controls our attention and drives us to chain-smoke and over-eat . . . is also responsible for a range of emotional suffering? he asks. "Capture: Unraveling the Mystery of Mental Suffering" by David A. Kessler (Harper Wave) Kessler concludes that it is, and in a section on the neural underpinnings of capture he explains the commonalities. These include the basic workings of brain circuits that enable us to selectively focus attention, couple sensory experiences with feelings, form and recall memories, and learn. The result is behavioral patterns that are sometimes useful and sometimes destructive. But this is not a book about the brain. It is mostly devoted to narratives of figures, famous and unsung, who illustrate capture and self-destruction. In a chapter called What Captures?, Kessler identifies about 20 forms of undoing. In Gambling he offers the 19th-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who wrote about and suffered from excessive gambling; in Drink, the late author Caroline Knapp explains her love affair with alcohol; under Brutish Father, there is Franz Kafka, whose demanding dad greatly distressed him; Rejection features an Edith Wharton character in her obscure novel The Reef whose romantic overtures are spurned; The Body is inspired by the hypochondriac Tennessee Williams; A Work of Art showcases Beat Generation artist Jay DeFeo and her obsession with painting; and Control revolves around an anorexic college student named Frances, among many others who are consumed with and shaped by traumatic experience, death, opiates and abandonment. Kessler also shows that people who embrace the qualities of capture sometimes find salvation. This theme is explorerd through the lives of notable individuals who fought their way back from depression, such as Winston Churchill and the writer William Styron. Cartoonist Chris Ware, for example, was mired in self-loathing until he was transformed by the birth of a daughter. Spiritual revelation led Bill Wilson, known as Bill W., to co-found Alcoholics Anonymous. Thandi Shezi, a brutalized political prisoner in South Africa, found peace in forgiveness for her captors. These essays, which combine the biography and psychology of their subjects, are impressively rich, even though most are only a few pages long. The prodigious amount of reading and research that went into the book is evident in more than 100 pages of detailed notes at the back. Kessler is an excellent storyteller, and Capture is bursting with human drama drawn from real lives rather than the bland, composite case studies that clinicians tend to favor. However, at the books core is a very slim thesis. Namely, that our emotional struggles and mental illness are driven by a stimulus a place, a thought, a memory, a person [that] takes hold of our attention and shifts our perception. Whether and how our perception shifts in response to stimuli we find meaningful is a function of personal history, temperament and culture, as Kessler tells us. Sometimes this process is overt, other times unconscious; typically it is a combination. But is this news? Short of gods, brain processes beyond our control (psychosis, compulsions, dementia, sensory distortions) or base survival instincts, what else drives human thought, feeling and action? Notably, there is rare mention of the work of contemporary researchers in psychology Timothy Wilson, the late Daniel Wegner and Jonathan Haidt, for example who have done important work on implicit cognition and the limits of introspection. This seems highly relevant to speculations on the art of self-sabotage. Why some people are captured obsessed, fixated, enthralled by particular events but others are not is one of lifes bigger mysteries. The capture theory does not shed light on this question. Without predictive power who will be captured, why or when the theory cant really serve as a basis for understanding or action. And that is because it is a description of what happens, not an explanation of why. The author hopes that by understanding capture, we might release those caught in its vicelike grip. But the most he can do the most anyone can is point out that people can undergo reverse capture by forming strong attachments to new ideas, people and causes. Even so, this is not something one can do readily, in part because its extremely hard and in part because we dont know in advance what kinds of commitments will come to be our salvation. After a long career in public health, government and academic administration, and the study of tobacco and overeating, the author seems to have been captured by literature and biography. And why not? These remain the best portals to insight into textured human experience. But the capture theory itself does not build meaningfully upon current knowledge, nor does it unravel any mystery of why, despite our best interests, we sometimes act as we do. Danielle Allen is a political theorist at Harvard University and a contributing columnist for The Post. Many things have made me sad during the long and difficult months of our presidential campaign, so many that it scarcely feels worth enumerating them. Still, for all that we have had to endure, now and then there comes something so low as to require comment. Id like to pause to consider what has become of the word presidential. Everybody appears to agree that Donald Trump needs to become, or appear, more presidential. The chorus includes the media, Melania and Ivanka Trump, Trump adviser Paul Manafort and even at least at times the candidate himself. Everybody also seems to agree on what being presidential requires: fewer swear words, fewer insults, a tone of decorum, speechwriters and teleprompters. How sad. All of that is cosmetic. Trump is, of course, an expert in cosmetics. He has a fragrance line, and his wife and daughter market beauty products. He has demoted the art of presidential leadership to skill at cosmetology. America, do you remember what presidential leadership ought properly to consist of? Linger with me for a moment on the question. Once upon a time, presidential leadership was about not appearances but statesmanship. So what is statesmanship? The Declaration of Independence begins with the phrase When in the course of human events. The committee that drafted that text liked the phrase course of human events because it conjures up the image of a waterway, a river or sea that must be navigated. The 17th-century political philosopher John Locke also used the image of a ship at sea to describe the problem of politics. The statesman is like the helmsman. First, he or she must understand choppy waters, see stormy weather on the horizon, and chart and navigate currents flowing deep beneath the surface. Human life is like this, too, a welter of swirling detail in which we must discern patterns, the directions that events are tending. Our capacities for discernment lead us to see the choices that we confront. Trump puts on a good performance of plotting out where we are heading, hence his insistent messages about trade, immigration and the Islamic State. But his diagnoses are wrong. We do have work to do to adjust trade policy to protect laborers in the United States, but closing our borders will not bring us prosperity. Similarly, building a wall along the Mexican border will not halt the flow of drugs into this country, which also enter through Canada and come by sea, not to mention through tunnels under our existing border barriers and steadily increasing domestic production. Pausing entry into the country by Muslims will leave us no basis for the cooperative relationships that we need to defeat the Islamic State. Trump is playing a part, grandiosely spreading out mock charts of the seas before us. But he is play-acting, America. He is not, in fact, diagnosing our circumstances accurately. Second, the statesman or helmsman must know not only how to read the seas but also how to set a direction for us. Where do we want to go? We need our North Star. Here we need principles. Here is where Trump falls farthest short. He has no principles other than protection of his tribe, his family, people who look like his family and fans who at some level yearn to have or be part of his life. We know he has no principles because of something that he said in his foreign policy speech last week. It was extremely odd. Here is the passage: I will work with our allies to reinvigorate Western values and institutions. Instead of trying to spread universal values that not everybody shares or wants, we should understand that strengthening and promoting Western civilization and its accomplishments will do more to inspire positive reforms around the world than military interventions. Here Trump contrasts Western values and universal values. This is bizarre in the extreme. The pride and glory of the Western tradition is the Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, which brought us a belief in universal reason and the universal rights of human beings, and in these gave us the foundations of the democratic republics we now inhabit. Or take the Western tradition all the way back to ancient Greece, if you want. Plato defended Truth, with a capital T, as a universal value. This is a value that Trump knoweth not. Trump is trying to convince us that the Western tradition amounts to no more than a set of ethnic habits, and the habits of white ethnics, at that. Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Kant, Hume, Smith, Rousseau, Adams, Jefferson and Washington are rolling in their graves. All aspired to something much bigger than tribalism. But I digress. My point is that statesmanship consists of joining accurate diagnoses of our circumstances to morally compelling accounts of where we should go. Trump currently earns a B-minus on the former and an F on the latter. Becoming presidential would require him to fix these two problems. So, America, please get a grip. Please take on board the difference between cosmetology and statesmanship. I admire my hairdressers. Each and every one of mine is a good friend. And I believe that any hairdresser can also be a statesman. But the particular hairdresser we have in front of us on the national stage doesnt have any but the shadowiest of ideas of what statesmanship requires. A cherub holding an open book adorns a flagpole on the plaza of the Supreme Court in Washington. The high court declines to block Texas voter-ID law but indicates that it will intervene if a lower court does not resolve the issue by midsummer. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) The Supreme Court on Friday declined to block the use of Texass voter-ID law in the November elections but indicated it is open to that possibility if a lower court has not settled the matter by midsummer. Civil rights groups and the Obama administration have been fighting Texas SB 14, the strictest voter-ID law in the nation, since it was passed in May 2011. They initially charged that it could disenfranchise 600,000 voters who lacked necessary identification and that the state had made it too difficult for those people to acquire it. [Supreme Court allows Texas voter-ID law in 2014 elections] Every judge who has examined the law has found it discriminatory. But it has been used in recent elections because courts have refused to block it until there is a final legal ruling on its legitimacy. The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit is scheduled to consider the law May 24. The Supreme Courts order puts pressure on that lower court to make a decision quickly. The Court recognizes the time constraints the parties confront in light of the scheduled elections in November, 2016, the order said. If, on or before July 20, 2016, the Court of Appeals has neither issued an opinion on the merits of the case nor issued an order vacating or modifying the current stay order, an aggrieved party may seek interim relief from this Court by filing an appropriate application. The Supreme Courts action was the first in what could be a busy summer and fall for the justices in deciding which rules will govern the November elections. A federal judge in North Carolina this week upheld a comprehensive law that changed voting regulations in that state. Challengers of that law, similar to the Texas plaintiffs, have appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond, and that court has scheduled an expedited review. [How North Carolina became the epicenter of the fight over voter-ID laws] The Supreme Courts order was a bit of good news for challengers of the Texas law, who so far have won the battles but lost the war. Every judge who has considered SB 14 has agreed that SB 14 has an impermissible discriminatory effect on minority voters, the plaintiffs application to the Supreme Court stated. They said that burdens were built into the law, which sharply reduced the number and location of ID-issuing offices by replacing voter registration offices (one or more in every county) with the far fewer offices of the Department of Public Safety (nonexistent in many counties). Texas countered in its brief to the Supreme Court that the results of elections conducted under the laws restrictions showed that opponents were wrong. Plaintiffs submitted no evidence of depressed voter turnout or registration much less that any such effect on voting was caused by SB14, the state said in its brief. Texas enacted a common-sense law to provide simple protections to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process in our state, said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. We appreciate the Supreme Court allowing the law to remain in effect at this time and look forward to defending the merits of our case in front of the entire Fifth Circuit next month. The groups had told the court that it needed to act immediately, even though the presidential election is months away. The process of returning the case to the district court, fashioning an interim remedy, and implementing that relief in time for the November 2016 election means that time is of the essence and further delay, even of two or three months, is perilous to obtaining any relief for the November 2016 election, they said. They added that Texas said it begins the process of preparing for the general election in June. The case has a tortured legal past. Even before 2011, Texas required voters to show some identification. But the bill, signed by then-Gov. Rick Perry (R), restricted the kinds of ID accepted, leading to charges that it was aimed at making voting harder for specific groups. Permits to carry concealed handguns sufficed, for instance, but college IDs did not. At the time, Texas, along with some other states, was covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which meant that federal officials or judges had to approve any changes to election laws that might hurt minorities. But the Supreme Court, in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, threw out Congresss designation of those states. The groups and the Obama administration then challenged the Texas law under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which forbids changes that discriminate against minorities. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos struck down the law in October 2014. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit lifted the stay Ramos had issued forbidding the law to be used in the November 2014 elections. The Supreme Court agreed with that action, over the strong dissents of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Ginsburg stayed up all night to write a blistering dissent that was issued before dawn on the weekend before early voting began in Texas. The greatest threat to public confidence in elections . . . is the prospect of enforcing a purposefully discriminatory law, one that likely imposes an unconstitutional poll tax and risks denying the right to vote to hundreds of thousands of eligible voters, Ginsburg wrote. Last August, a panel of the 5th Circuit court ruled unanimously that the law would have a discriminatory effect, although it did not agree with some of Ramoss more dramatic findings. Just last month, the legal wrangling continued. The full 5th Circuit said it would review the panels decision and set the May hearing date. The Senate has confirmed President Obamas nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Mexico, clearing the way for the first woman to hold what is considered to be one of the countrys most important diplomatic posts. Roberta Jacobsons nomination was approved by voice vote Thursday. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) had been blocking Jacobsons nomination. The former Republican presidential candidate had objected to her role in negotiations that led to the normalization of U.S. relations with Cuba. Jacobson is assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. The position gave her a prominent voice in talks with Havana on reestablishing diplomatic ties and reopening embassies after more than five decades of antagonism between the United States and Cuba. Secretary of State John F. Kerry chided Rubio in February for blocking Jacobsons nomination, saying the senator was punishing a highly qualified person who did nothing wrong. Jacobson is a career diplomat who previously served as deputy chief of mission in Peru, director of the State Departments Office of Mexican Affairs and deputy assistant secretary for Canada, Mexico and NAFTA issues. Obama selected Jacobson for the post in June, and she was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in early November by a vote of 12 to 7. Rubio voted against her in committee. President Obama speaks at the White House on April 28. The administration has announced new steps to curb gun violence, mainly by helping manufacturers understand what law enforcement agencies need from so-called smart guns. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) The White House issued a set of recommendations Friday aimed at curbing the illegal use of firearms by making it easier for federal, state and local agencies to purchase smart guns that would function only in the hands of specified users. The measures include a proposed rule that would allow the Social Security Administration to report beneficiaries with mental health problems to the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System. While seemingly modest, the proposals came under fire from some police groups and gun rights organizations even before they were publicly unveiled. But anti-gun-violence activists and administration officials described the measures as prudent steps aimed at preventing firearms from getting into the wrong hands. Speaking to reporters Friday, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that the auto industry routinely innovates to make its vehicles safer and that gun manufacturers should consider following that lead. I think what is true is that I couldnt think of another industry off the top my head that isnt interested in looking at new technology to make their product safer, he said. Its surprising to me that so many gun manufacturers shirk that responsibility. Under the measures, the government would define requirements that gunmakers need to meet for police departments to consider purchasing. White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said that local governments could apply for grants for guns equipped with the new technology. Although a German company tried to introduce a smart gun into the United States two years ago, most of the technology is at the prototype stage. The guns are designed to function only when used by those authorized to fire them. Manufacturers are pursuing a variety of authorization methods, such as fingerprints and wireless chips connected to rings or watches. [Can we develop the iPhone of guns?] Proponents argue that the technology would reduce suicides and cases in which stolen guns are used in crimes or in which guns taken from police officers are used against them. They also envision fewer school shootings by students using their parents guns. These advocates hope the presidents actions spur development of this technology by enticing manufacturers to enter the market and expanding private funding for smart-gun start-ups. Gun rights advocates have not supported the technology, worried that once it exists the government will mandate its use. Gun-control advocates have been working for months to get police agencies around the country to commit to adopting smart guns to prove they work and to create a sizable demand for them. Rabbi Joel Mosbacher, who co-chairs the Metro Industrial Areas Foundations Do Not Stand Idly By campaign, called the new actions real and well thought through. And we think they will send a clear signal to gun manufacturers that the largest gun purchaser in the nation the federal government is in the market for smarter, safer guns, he said. But some law enforcement groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police, have argued that its irresponsible to give these firearms to law enforcement agencies when they have not been fully tested. James O. Pasco Jr., the FOPs executive director, said in an interview Friday that he doesnt know anyone who has seen a smart gun in commercial use. Its a concept more than it is a technology, said Pasco, whose group has received funding from the gun industrys National Shooting Sports Foundation. To deploy an unproven concept or technology with law enforcement, using police officers as guinea pigs, is something that causes us great concern. Lizzie Ulmer, press secretary for the gun-control group Everytown for Gun Safety, said the technology could ultimately protect police officers from having their own guns used against them. At least 228 law enforcement officers who were killed or assaulted between 1980 and 2014 were harmed by their own firearm, according to the FBI. As part of Fridays announcement, Jarrett said that the Pentagon will continue to help manufacturers test smart firearms under real-world conditions at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland and that manufacturers may be eligible for cash prizes as part of the program. [For Obama, gun violence remains an emotional issue] The White House will also bring together state and local elected officials from across the country to Washington next month to explore how these leaders can use their own executive authority to control gun violence. Winnie Stachelberg, executive vice president at the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, said in a statement that these officials can take action now without waiting for recalcitrant legislatures to develop smart, effective approaches to reducing gun violence and saving lives. The rule the Social Security Administration published Friday, which allows the agency to report mentally ill beneficiaries to the FBIs background checks system so they can be prevented from purchasing a firearm, will be subject to public comment for 60 days. Earlier this month, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced a bill that would require a court or judicial officer to declare someone mentally incompetent before the SSA could report that individual to the FBI. People in Aleppo survey damaged buildings after airstrikes Thursday in the Syrian city. (AP) The battered Syrian city of Aleppo faced another wave of airstrikes and shelling Friday, activists said, killing worshipers at a mosque and damaging a clinic after an earlier air blitz left dozens dead, including patients and staff at a main hospital. The attacks apparently carried out by both sides further eroded efforts to rebuild a cease-fire and halt what a United Nations envoy described as a monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all factions in the conflict. More than 200 people have been killed in the past week in Aleppo by pro-government airstrikes and rebel barrages on regime-held neighborhoods, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain. Doctors Without Borders said the death toll in an airstrike on al-Quds hospital in Aleppo on Wednesday had risen to 50, including six medical staff members and one of the areas last pediatricians. The hospital was supported by both Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which also condemned the strike. The sky is falling in Aleppo, Muskilda Zancada, head of the Doctors Without Borders mission in Syria, said in a statement Friday. The city, consistently at the front lines of this brutal war, is now in danger of coming under a full offensive. No corner is being spared. 1 of 12 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The scene after an airstrike in Aleppo View Photos An airstrike on a hospital supported by the aid group Doctors Without Borders has been destroyed in the Syrian city. At least 14 patients and medical workers are reported dead. Caption A strike on a hospital supported by the aid group Doctors Without Borders has been destroyed in the Syrian city. At least 14 patients and medical workers are reported dead. April 27, 2016 A Syrian boy is comforted as he cries next to the body of a relative who died in a reported airstrike in the northern city of Aleppo. Karam Al-Masri/AFP/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue. [Aleppo hospital left in ruins] On Friday, rebel-fired mortar rounds slammed into a mosque in the government-controlled Bab al-Faraj neighborhood, killing at least 15 people, the Associated Press reported, quoting Syrian state TV. In opposition-held areas of the city, warplanes destroyed a medical clinic. Activists said there were casualties in other strikes across the city. The situation is getting worse, said Ameen al-Halabi, an activist in Aleppo, adding that strikes on rebel-held areas increased Friday. Religious leaders in opposition neighborhoods suspended public Friday prayers at mosques to avoid further casualties, the Religious Council of Aleppo said in a statement. The U.N. commissioner for human rights, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, said Friday that the violence is soaring back to the levels we saw prior to the cessation of hostilities. The partial truce began Feb. 27 under an agreement backed by the United States and Russia, which support rival sides in Syria. There are deeply disturbing reports of military build-ups indicating preparations for a lethal escalation, Hussein said in a statement. [Breaking down the Syrian conflict in 8 stories] Syrian officials have not given details of the apparent offensive on Aleppo, the nations largest city and a strategic prize for both the government and rebel forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad. On Thursday, Russias Foreign Ministry denied that the Kremlin had launched any airstrikes in the past few days. Russia on Friday also blamed the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra for a mortar attack on its abandoned consulate in Aleppo. [Gallery: Aftermath in Aleppo] In Berlin, meanwhile, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert directly blamed Syrian forces, accusing Assads troops Friday of blatant violation of humanitarian law for the hospital strike and other attacks. Rights groups have blamed Assads forces for hundreds of attacks on medical facilities and workers over the course of the five-year conflict. The World Health Organization and UNICEF, the U.N. childrens rights agency, said Friday that such attacks are clear violations of international law. We are outraged at the alarming frequency of attacks on health personnel and facilities in Syria, the WHO and UNICEF said in a joint statement. They deserve greater protection, the statement said of Syrias medical workers. Thousands of lives are at stake. Brian Murphy in Washington and Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul contributed to this report. Read more: The hidden hand behind the Islamic State militants? Saddam Husseins. How the battle against the Islamic State is redrawing the map of the Middle East A Syrian rebels slaying in Turkey points to the long, lethal reach of the Islamic State Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world A man gestures amid the rubble of destroyed buildings after a reported airstrike on the rebel-held neighborhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on April 28, 2016. (Ameer Alhalbi/AFP/Getty Images) The United States and Russia said Friday that they have arranged a renewed cease-fire in two parts of Syria where fighting escalated this month, but the area does not include Aleppo, site of the heaviest attacks and dozens of civilian deaths in recent days. Russias Defense Ministry said that a regime of quiet had been agreed to with the Syrian government in Latakia province, on the Mediterranean coast, to begin at midnight Saturday morning. A senior U.S. State Department official said the recommitment to a truce would also cover East Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus. For the moment, this is what we have to go forward with, but we are working constantly on Aleppo and other areas, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under guidelines imposed by the State Department. The agreement which Russia initially said would last 72 hours but the State Department said was open-ended came as another wave of airstrikes and shelling swept across Aleppo, where more than 200 people have been killed in the past week. While Syrian government airstrikes were blamed for bombarding a hospital Wednesday, killing at least 50, rebel barrages apparently also contributed to the violence. Russia reported that its consulate in Aleppo had also been hit by mortars it said were launched by Jabhat al-Nusra, the al-Qaeda affiliate, some of whose forces are interspersed in the area with opposition fighters supported by the United States and its regional allies. Renewed fighting has brought to a virtual collapse the partial cease-fire forged earlier this year by Washington and Moscow, supported by a group of nations with interests in Syria. In the first month after its Feb. 27 implementation, the cease-fire brought a welcome quiet after years of civil war, with Russia greatly reducing its airstrikes against opposition forces in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, although the Syrian government was accused of frequent violations. Most opposition groups stopped offensive actions, despite coming under government attack. Only two groups the Islamic State and Nusra, both deemed terrorist organizations by the United Nations were excluded from what the agreement called a cessation of hostilities. But in recent weeks, as renewed fighting escalated particularly in Latakia, the outskirts of Damascus and Aleppo Russia and the United States have publicly accused each other of undermining the truce, although they insist that they are continuing to cooperate to monitor its implementation. It has been particularly intense this week in and around Aleppo, a city divided between opposition and government forces since 2012, as Syrian government forces apparently have tried to cut off rebel supply lines from Turkey. Russian and Syrian forces have moved both troops and heavy artillery to the area after a recent successful offensive in the desert city of Palmyra, saying that Nusra forces are massing to take over the city. U.S. intelligence and outside experts tracking combatant movements acknowledge that Nusra and rebel forces are intertwined in areas in and around Aleppo, but they discount Russian claims that the militants are either massing or planning a new offensive. Instead, they say, Syria and Russia are seeking to attack opposition rebels under the guise of striking Nusra, as allowed under the cease-fire. A U.S.-Russia task force that is supposed to monitor the cease-fire and adjudicate violation claims met behind closed doors in Geneva on Thursday to revitalize the truce in selected areas. Although the United States and its allies in the region have said that Assad has been responsible for most violations overall, the task forces failure to publicly rule on any breaches has undermined opposition confidence in its efforts. The cease-fire was designed from the start both for its own sake and to provide a helpful environment for political talks, overseen in Geneva by the United Nations, between opposition and Assad representatives on a transition government. Although U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura said that progress had been made in two rounds of talks, opposition representatives formally suspended their participation last week because of the rising violence on the ground. On Wednesday, de Mistura said he hoped to restart them in May but that there was little point in setting a date until the violence decreased. He appealed for a U.S.-Russia urgent initiative at the highest levels and a new meeting of the International Syrian Support Group, the group of foreign ministers of European and Middle Eastern governments co-chaired by Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, that negotiated the original cease-fire in February. The State Department official said that Kerry and Lavrov had spoken by telephone Friday and that we need to bring the ministers of the ISSG back together. North Korea has sentenced a former Virginia man to 10 years in prison with hard labor for subversion, its official news agency said Friday, in the latest case involving an American being detained by Kim Jong Uns regime. Kim Dong-chul, 62, who was born in South Korea but became a U.S. citizen in 1987, was accused of perpetrating the state subversive plots and espionage against the DPRK, the Korean Central News Agency reported, using the official abbreviation for North Korea. The accused confessed to all crimes he had committed to overthrow the social system of the DPRK while viciously slandering the dignity of its supreme leadership and its political system and gathered and offered information on its party, state and military affairs to the south Korean puppet regime, which are tantamount to state subversive plots and espionages, said the state-run agency. [What its like to be an American held in North Korea] Kims sentence was, however, more lenient than the 15 years with hard labor handed down to Otto Warmbier, 21, a University of Virginia student convicted of subversion in March after a court found that he had committed a crime pursuant to the U.S. governments hostile policy toward North Korea. 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 Kims case, KCNA reported that the prosecutor demanded 15 years of hard labor but that the defense counsel asked the court to commute the demanded penalty, arguing that the crimes by the accused are very serious but he is old and may repent of his faults, witnessing for himself the true picture of the prospering DPRK. North Korea has no Western-style judicial process, but the KCNA report was written to suggest that a trial had taken place, complete with an independent defense counsel. North Korea has in recent years developed a habit of detaining U.S. citizens and using them as bargaining chips in negotiations with the United States, its avowed enemy. All detainees were eventually released after high-profile Americans, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, traveled to Pyongyang visits portrayed in the state media as signs of North Koreas strength. [North Korea sentences college student to 15 years of hard labor] In addition to the two Americans, three South Koreans and a Korean Canadian pastor are known to be held in North Korea. The Canadian, Lim Hyeon-soo, is serving a life sentence for subversion. Little is known about the case of Kim, who was arrested on espionage charges in October. In a highly scripted display, Kim was brought before reporters in Pyongyang in March and said that he had spied for South Koreas intelligence agencies, sought to obtain details of North Koreas military programs and tried to spread religious ideas a serious crime in the North. He described his alleged acts as unpardonable but appealed for leniency. A University of Virginia student confessed to a "severe crime" during an orchestrated news conference in North Korea on Feb. 29. Here's how other U.S. citizens detained in North Korea have apologized to the country in recent years. (Victoria Walker/The Washington Post) Such confessions have become part of North Koreas playbook for detainees. After their release, several detainees have described being told what to say by their North Korean captors. In a carefully controlled interview with CNN in January, Kim said he is a naturalized U.S. citizen and had lived in Fairfax County, Va., before moving in 2001 to the Chinese city of Yanji, a main gateway for trade with nearby North Korea. In the interview, overseen by North Korean officials, Kim said he worked in the Rajin-Sonbong special economic zone, just over the border in North Korea, as head of a trade and hotel services company. Warmbier was accused of trying to steal a propaganda banner during an organized tour over the New Years holiday. He was convicted and sentenced after a one-hour trial in North Koreas Supreme Court. [North Korea claims video shows student caught in act] Some analysts had speculated that North Korea would try to get a U.S. official to travel to Pyongyang to secure the release of Warmbier and Kim in the lead-up to a much-anticipated Workers Party congress starting May 6. Such a visit would doubtless be portrayed in North Koreas state media as a sign of the United States paying homage to Kim Jong Uns regime. However, two diplomats and a former government official with knowledge of the discussions, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, said that no plans are underway for a high-profile official to travel to Pyongyang. Separately, North Korea accused U.S. soldiers at Panmunjom, the truce village inside the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas, of dangerous provocations over the past month, including pointing their fingers, making weird remarks and mocking the North Korean side through disgusting expression and behavior. A simple concrete ledge marks the border between buildings in Panmunjom, meaning North Korean and South Korean soldiers might stand only a few feet apart. The U.S. and South Korean militaries are wrapping up two months of joint exercises aimed at preparing for the sudden collapse of, or an invasion by, North Korea. Every year, Pyongyang strongly objects to the exercises. The U.S. imperialists and their stooges should not forget even a moment what miserable end provocateurs met while going reckless in the area at the risk of death, KCNA warned in a separate report. Read more: QUIZ: Can you tell the real North Korean news service from the fake one? How the U.S. Army practices for a North Korean attack Just about the only way to escape North Korea is if a relative has already escaped This Aedes Aegypti mosquito photographed on human skin in a lab of the International Training and Medical Research Training Center (CIDEIM) on Jan. 25 in Cali, Colombia. (Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images) For the first time in the Western Hemisphere, researchers have detected the Zika virus in Aedes albopictus, the mosquito species known as the Asian tiger, a finding that increases the number of U.S. states potentially at risk for transmission of the disease. During the summer months when U.S. mosquito populations are at their peak, albopictus are more ubiquitous than the Aedes aegypti that have been the primary vector of the spread of Zika elsewhere in the Americas. Unlike the aegypti mosquito, which is mostly present in southern United States and along the Gulf Coast, the albopictus has a range as far north as New England and the lower Great Lakes. The discovery was reported recently by the Pan American Health Organization after researchers in Mexico confirmed the presence of Zika in Asian tiger mosquitoes captured in the state of San Luis Potosi and sent them to government labs for testing. [Zika funding battle steals states public health emergency money] U.S. health officials say they had anticipated the finding and have already encouraged states within the range of the Asian tiger mosquitoes to prepare for Zika. Scientists had previously identified the Asian tiger as the primary vector for Zika during a 2007 outbreak in the West African country of Gabon. U.S. health officials say the latest discovery should serve as a wake-up call to state and local governments that have assumed their populations were too far north to be at risk. There are officials who have been saying we dont have aedes aegypti, so we dont need to be worried or have a plan, said Janet McAllister, an entomologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What CDC is saying is: You need a plan in place because albopictus could transmit Zika in your area, and you need to take it seriously. While the methods for eliminating the aegypti and albopictus mosquitoes are similar, they are not identical, experts say, because the two species have significantly different behavioral and breeding patterns. Unlike the aegypti mosquito, which thrives in urban areas by laying eggs in discarded food containers and old tires, the Asian tiger mosquito lives outdoors, laying its eggs in tree stumps and holes, McAllister said. It doesnt try to follow humans indoors and prefers leafy forests to dense urban environments. Its especially fond of suburban back yards and sprawling city parks. Marcos Espinal, director of communicable diseases at the Pan American Health Organization, said researchers are still trying to determine how effectively the Asian tiger can spread disease in comparison to aegypti. Scientists will not be surprised if its a competent vector, but we need to find out more, Espinal said in an interview. CDC entomologist McAllister said there are several reasons to doubt that the Asian tiger mosquito will be able to drive the kind of Zika outbreak ravaging Brazil, where more than 1,000 infants have been born with undersize heads and severe brain damage probably caused by a Zika-related infection during the early stages of fetal development. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Zika virus and its spread across North and South America. (Daron Taylor,Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post) [CDC confirms Zika virus causes microcephaly, other birth defects] For one, the albopictus mosquito is a more aggressive biter, McAllister said, as it feeds on humans, raccoons, squirrels or any other warm-blooded mammal it finds. Once it starts taking a blood meal, it will stay on that person until its completely full, she said, instead of jumping from person to person precisely the promiscuous behavior that makes the aegypti species so effective at spreading infections. The aegypti variety is much more adapted to humans, she said, as it flies low around human ankles to avoid detection, then eats quick, short meals that reduce its chances of getting swatted. It wont take a complete blood meal if people are actively moving around, so thats what makes aegypti a super-spreader, McAllister said. Whereas the albopictus tends to stay put. Specimens of the Asian tiger species found in the United States have been traced back to northern Japan, reflecting the mosquitos ability to survive colder weather. With a distinctive black-and-white coloring, the species was first detected in North America at the Port of Houston in 1985, and later showed up in the Port of Los Angeles. In both instances, scientists suspect the larvae arrived in shipments of used tires. Albopictus eggs have also arrived from Asia in the ornamental plants sold as lucky bamboo in U.S. department stores. [Zika is the latest battle in a long war between humans and mosquito es] In Europe albopictus populations have increased so fast that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, a European Union agency, has labeled it the worlds most invasive mosquito species. Eliminating albopictus larvae can be more difficult than controlling aegypti populations because the species can reproduce in a variety of outdoor environments, said Thomas Inglesby, the director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers Center for Health Security. The discovery of Zika in the Asian tiger mosquito means states and counties in the insects range need to rethink their control plans, he said. We have a big country where the responsibility for this rests with a lot of little jurisdictions, so we dont have a lot of good data about how well states and localities are prepared, Inglesby said. Mosquito-control programs around the country are a patchwork. I think some states and local governments have been focusing on aegypti and less on albopictus, but this finding makes clear that both will require control measures, he added. [Spread of Zika virus appears to be slowing in parts of Latin America] The White House has asked Congress for nearly $1.9 billion to help state and local health officials prepare for a Zika outbreak in the United States this summer, including funds for spraying, larvacide and other mosquito control methods. The request has been stalled for two months, and Senate Republicans have countered with a $1.1 billion proposal. In the meantime, the Obama administration has been paying for Zika preparations using funds previously approved for fighting Ebola. According to the most recent CDC figures, 426 Zika cases have been reported in the 50 U.S. states by travelers who acquired the virus abroad or had sex with an infected partner. Another 596 cases have been tallied in U.S. territories, mostly in Puerto Rico, where mosquitoes are spreading the disease. There have been no reports of Zika transmission by mosquitoes in the 50 U.S. states, but the CDC has warned that is likely to change as insect populations increase with warmer weather. Read more: Zikas terrifying path As mosquito season arrives, is the U.S. ready for Zika? Zika exposes class differences in Brazil, where most victims are poor Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) has held a series of meetings in Bochum, Frankfurt and Berlin to oppose the return of German militarism and warn about the danger of a third world war. Over a hundred workers and students attended the meetings. Christoph Vandreier, spokesperson of the IYSSE in Germany, opened the meeting with a presentation on the danger of a world war. He delineated the most significant international conflicts on a map and showed how the US and its allies are encircling China and Russia militarily. All of these conflicts, from Korea to the South China Sea to the Middle East to Ukraine, are a possible starting point for a comprehensive military escalation, he said. Under conditions of a new competition for raw materials and export markets, German militarism is also returning to the world stage, Vandreier explained. He quoted Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who said, The situation is more dangerous than during the Cold War. The world is searching for a new order, Vandreier explained. This struggle for influence, for dominance cannot be exhaust itself in a peaceful discussion, but will also find violent expression. Vandreier explained that there has been a systematic militarization and buildup of arms in the past few years. The plans worked out in a 2013 strategy paper of the Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik-SWP) by representatives of the German elite and media in collaboration with the military, government and universities have been implemented. This has included an aggressive stance towards Russia through support of the putsch in Ukraine, the deployment of troops to Mali and Iraq and participation in the bombardment of Syria, which is a violation of international law. The German army is now involved in 16 foreign interventions with up to 8,025 soldiers. Since 1992, 106 German soldiers have been killed. In addition, Germany is providing logistical support with foreign deployments of the police and as part of interventions by the EU, NATO, and the UN. Vandreier also showed the astonishing scale of these interventions on a map. The maps of the Middle East, Africa and the Caucasus were covered with German flags. But the plans of the German government go far beyond this, Vandreier continued. Defense Minister von der Leyen plans to raise the military budget by 130 billion by 2030. On the weekend, German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised American President Barack Obama that Germany would massively increase spending on the armed forces and strengthen its troop presence on the border with Russia. The IYSSE spokesperson also discussed in detail the preparations for the occupation and colonization of Libya. Given the massive opposition to these plans in the population, they are incompatible with democratic rights, he explained. Consequently, all of the awfulness of German history is returning along with German militarism. Racism, chauvinism and wild hysteria are once again being used to implement policy. Since the beginning of the year, the media has been flooded with chauvinistic propaganda, which finds its reflection in the inhumane treatment of refugees. The attacks on refugees serve as a precedent for the abolition of basic democratic rights. They are directed against the entire population. In addition, the dregs of society are being mobilized to carry out war and social cuts, said Vandreier. Merkels inhuman policy is considered left, in official political circles in Germany, he continued. It is now only a question whether the German borders or the European borders will be closed. There is no longer a left opposition to this. This shift to the right was prepared by the Alternative for Germany (AfD). In addition, the antisocial and right-wing policy of the parties in parliament is leading to a situation in which the anger of broad layers can result in an increase in votes for the extreme right. The central question is why, in light of this development, there is no movement against racism and war. Although the development of war is far advanced, the former peace movement is silent. The explanation for this does not lie in a decrease in the opposition of the population, but in the fact that the organizers of the former peace movement have become organizers of a war movement: the Greens, the Left Party and their pseudo-left appendages. The Left Party led by parliamentary faction head Sahra Wagenknecht is at the forefront of this chauvinism. In the state of Thuringia, Left Party Premier Bodo Ramelow is faithfully carrying out the policy of incarcerating and deporting refugees. The party is also playing a central role in war preparations and the Greens have become the most vehement proponents of war. This development contains important political lessons, said Vandreier. It shows that one cannot fight against war without fighting against capitalism, which is its root cause. The deep crisis of capitalism leads to ever sharper social attacks and to growing rivalries between the great powers. Vandreier discussed Trotskys analysis of the Second World War and explained that all the unsolved questions of the twentieth century are emerging once again. The driving force of war is the contradiction between the global relations of production and the capitalist nation-state system. Twenty-five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, capitalism is showing itself for what it is once again: brutal class rule, Vandreier concluded. Consequently, in the struggle against militarism and war, one cannot base oneself on the parties and organizations that defend capitalism, he explained. The only social force that can overthrow capitalism and end war is the international working class. Vandreier then showed slides that impressively illustrated the enormous growth in the global working class to more than three billion people. This enormous social force is coming into motion once again, he said. He reported social struggles in France, the US and Germany. The most important thing is to develop a socialist perspective out of this growing movement of workers. This means joining together the fight against war and social cuts with the fight for a society in which the needs of human beings come before the profit interests of the rich and in which the economy is democratically planned, Vandreier explained. At the end of his presentation, he explained four principles that the International Committee of the Fourth International formulated in its statement Socialism and the Fight Against War. This movement must base itself on the working class, have a socialist perspective, be independent of all capitalist parties and organizations, and above all it must be international. In all the cities where the meetings were held, the audience was excited by the perspective that was presented. The lectures led to lively discussions. In Frankfurt, a young worker wanted to know how the IYSSE views US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and whether he could change US war policy. Several participants answered him and explained that Sanders called himself a democratic socialist, but actually defended capitalism. He supports both the private property of the banks and corporations and the aggressive foreign policy of the United States. Sanders is a reaction of the ruling class to the socialist mood in broad layers of the American working class. The aim is to suppress this opposition and channel it back into the Democratic Party, said a participant. In Berlin, a member of the audience wanted to know whether a military confrontation with Russia could be prevented if Russia were armed further. Ulrich Rippert, national secretary of the Partei fur Soziale Gleichheit (PSG), the German section of the ICFI, answered that this is a completely reactionary perspective. It is without question that the aggression in this conflict comes from the side of the US and its NATO allies, which want to turn Russia into a colony, he said. But it would be completely wrong to believe that the reactionary Putin regime is an ally in the fight against imperialism. Anyone who demands the arming of this regime is not an opponent of a Third World War, but is preparing it. The fight against war must be led by the international working class in Russia, Germany and the US. In all three cities, the question arose in one form or another whether the working class could become a revolutionary subject and whether media manipulation and the process of production make this impossible. Vandreier answered that the mobilization of the working class on the basis of a revolutionary program is not a psychological, but a political question. History has shown that the working class objectively comes into confrontation with capitalism, he said. He referred to the experiences in Germany in 1918 and 1933, Spain in 1936, France in 1968 and Egypt in 2011. The question has never been whether the workers are ready to fight. Rather, the decisive question has always been that of perspective and leadership, he explained. The betrayal of the leaders has brought about the worst defeats for the working class. In turning this into a psychological question and holding the workers themselves responsible for it, one avoids the political questions, said Vandreier. Entire generations of petty bourgeois intellectuals have thought up countless theories about why the workers are supposedly incapable of revolution. In reality, these theories only serve to demonstrate the hostility and arrogance of these layers toward the workers. For a revolutionary movement, on the other hand, the political questions are central: the betrayal of the SPD, the betrayal of Stalinism. These are the experiences on the basis of which the Fourth International was founded. It is necessary to study them in order to arm the workers. After the meeting, many members of the audience bought books at the literature table, registered for International May Day, and filled out contact forms. Chyna was planning a triumphant return to wrestling before she died in of apparent overdose last week, manager and longtime friend Anthony Anzaldo tells PEOPLE. The former WWE star who Anzaldo found unresponsive in her Redondo Beach, California apartment a week ago was eight months into filming a documentary called The Reconstruction of Chyna that would have culminated with her back in the ring this coming fall, Anzaldo says. "The goal was she has to go in gets her health, she triumphs, she wins," he says. "That was going to be her Rocky ending to this amazing documentary." Even though Chyna, real name Joan Marie Laurer, was in what Anzaldo calls "amazing shape," the emotional process of living life and in front of the lens and confronting her demons had led the 46-year-old to self-medicate with her prescriptions: " sleep aid Ambien and a form of Valium, an antianxiety pill," he says. "Chyna died from an accidental overdose that took place over a period of about three weeks of her unintentionally and inappropriately handling two legally prescribed, prescription medications," Anzaldo says. Authorities with the L.A. County coroner's office previously told PEOPLE that investigators have come to a similar conclusion, but the coroner has deferred ruling on a cause of death pending additional investigation. Anzaldo insists that Chyna who once appeared on Celebrity Rehab wasn't "out of control," and says there was no alcohol or illegal drugs at her home in the weeks leading up to her death. He believes her accidental over-medication was a coping mechanism for the issues Reconstruction had brought up. "We were getting into the emotional aspect of her [mind, body and soul]," he tells PEOPLE. "A lot of abandonment issues. Domestic violence. She was seeing a therapist." In addition, the WWE legend had recently rekindled a relationship with her family for the first time in nearly 30 years a process she had started with her mother a few years prior, after her father's death. Anzaldo explains that Chyna had a falling out with her parents at a young age over typical teenage rebellion. "The next thing you know... they don't ever speak." "The family aspect of it It's her facing a lot of her own emotions and issues," Anzaldo says. "So it was getting a little bit intense for her and she probably was just inadvertently taking her meds a little bit inappropriately. Once we found out that was happening, we knew that there was a problem, and four days later she was gone." Story continues Chyna Was Planning Triumphant Return to Wrestling When She Died: 'It Was Going to Be Her Rocky Ending,' Manager Says| Death, WWE Divas, Joanie Laurer Anzaldo says that he noticed Chyna's abnormal behavior and planned an intervention to help take control of the increasing substance abuse. With the help of television's Intervention which expedited the challenging process to a mere eight days Anzaldo was ready to get Chyna the help she needed, which included 90 days in a treatment facility. Unfortunately, it was too late. Despite her struggles, Anzaldo says she was "never happier than she was at the end," and spent her days doing yoga and practicing the cello in preparation for an upcoming recital. Traveling the country to meet her fans also renewed her energy after five years of living overseas. "The fans were her life, her pulse, they were her everything," Anzaldo says. "Everything to her." Part of her travels also brought the 9th Wonder of the World back into contact with the wrestlers she once sparred with. "She was really, really surprised and excited she started going to a lot of these wrestling autograph shows and she was seeing some of her old friends and they were giving her nothing but love. Roddy Piper: nothing but love. Bret Hart: nothing but love. Stone Cold Steve Austin: nothing but love. Mick Foley: crazy love. Billy Gunn: unbelievable. Kevin Nash: nothing but love. Pete Rose." Some of the former wrestling champions were among the first Anzaldo called when Chyna died last week. "She gave her heart and soul to everything she did and she loved the business and she was a pleasure to be around and she was a breath of fresh air," Austin said on his podcast. "And I was sorry to hear on April 20th, when I got that phone call, that she had passed away and it was indeed true." Anzaldo says Chyna's family, while "devastated," are "grateful for the time that they were able to spend together towards the end and rekindle their relationship." While he will handle Chyna's estate and cremation, and already donated her brain to Concussion researcher Dr. Bennet Omalu for study, Anzaldo says the star's mother has planned another way to honor her: through a special line of clothing for rescue dogs, a joint passion for the women. "I'm sad I'm not gonna see my best friend again. Her mother's sad she's never gonna see her daughter again, but we are so grateful that she was a part of our lives," Anzaldo shares. Anzaldo says that all fans will be welcome to a public memorial for the star, tentatively planned for June 9 in Los Angeles. By YKA Staff: Hardik Patel smiles during a news conference in New Delhi, India, August 30, 2015. Patel, a sword-wielding 22-year-old activist, has emerged overnight as the most pressing political threat to Narendra Modi, accusing the Indian prime minister of breaking a promise to provide jobs that helped him win last year's general election. Picture taken August 30, 2015. To match INDIA-PROTESTS/ REUTERS/Adnan Abidi - RTX1QDH8 Hardik Patel. Source: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi In July last year, the Patidars of Gujarat led by 22-year-old Hardik Patel, demanded reservation under the OBC category for Patels. The community agitated for a long time, but the state government did not seem to budge. Sedition charges were slapped on Hardik Patel and some of his associates, and they were sent to jail. Patel has been in jail for almost 200 days now, because of which the movement lost a lot of steam, along with the extensive media coverage that it had initially received. Then in February this year, the Jats in Haryana put forward a similar demand in front of the state, except their method of agitation was a lot more violent. Public property was destroyed vehicles burned down, rail tracks damaged, highways dug up. At least 20 people died and over 200 were injured. Eventually, the BJP-run state government relented and the community was given OBC reservation in government jobs. This provided a boost to the Patidar community, who voiced their demands with renewed vigour. Under this pressure, the BJP government in Gujarat has announced a 10 percent reservation for the economically backward among upper castes, which includes Patidars. Families with an income cap of Rs. 6 lakh per year will be eligible to avail the benefit. The reservation announced by the government will be over and above the cap of 50 percent reservation set by the Supreme Court, and may face legal hurdles. The state government already provides 50 per cent reservation to SC/STs and OBCs. When posed with the question, Gujarats BJP president Vijay Rupani answered, We are very serious about this and we will fight it up to the apex court for reservation of economically backward among the general category. This decision comes at a crucial point, with the state gearing up for assembly elections next year. BJP national president Amit Shah was at the head of the core group that deliberated the issue. Story continues The BJP had suffered heavy losses in the rural local bodies polls recently, which were blamed on the Patel quota stir. Therefore, the reservation announcement seems like a clever political strategy to pacify an important vote bank. With inputs from PTI. The post 10% Quota Declared For Economically Backward In Gujarat, Includes The Affluent Patels appeared first and originally on Youth Ki Awaaz, an award-winning online platform that serves as the hub of thoughtful opinions and reportage on the world's most pressing issues, as witnessed by the current generation. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out more. [All Photos: Pickled Plum] Theres nothing more liberating than the day you step outside and realize your drawer full of sweaters can safely be tossed into the box marked winter and stashed in the back of your closet. The sunshine and warm breeze reminds you its almost beach season - and maybe you indulged a little too much during those cold, winter months but not to worry! These 10 yummy and healthy meals will help you trim down so when its time to dig through the box marked bikinis, youll be in fine form! Asparagus Salad with Turkey Bacon and Catalan Vinaigrette Asparagus is in season right now and what better way to make the most of it than with this bright and easy salad. This hearty, healthy dish gets a savoury boost from the turkey bacon and a punchy citrus kick from the lemony Catalan vinaigrette. Its basically summer on a plate! Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Watermelon, Strawberry and Tomatillo Salad This sweet and tangy salad is as delicious as it is cleansing. Tomatillos add tartness and are a great counterpoint to the sweetness of the strawberries, while refreshing and juicy watermelon cools you down on a warm day. Healthy never tasted so good. Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Summer Turkey Meatloaf Just because temperatures are rising doesnt mean we dont crave the foods that kept us satisfied over the winter. Modify your comfort food by bringing a big dose of healthy and delicious veggies to the party. This meatloaf calls for turkey instead of red meat and has a center filled with vegetables and sweet, tangy peaches. Pro tip: push the flavour over the top by using Tonkatsu sauce (Japanese barbecue sauce) instead of ketchup as a dipping sauce. Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Green Goddess Smoothie Its no secret that smoothies are an excellent way to get an infusion of good stuff into your body super quickly. Perfect for those of us that tend to prefer chocolate bars over fruits and veggies. Mango and bananas bring sweetness, tofu brings a blast of fiber, vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids, and a little turmeric might just help squash those springtime allergies. Story continues Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Slow Cooker White Bean Chili Soup Sometimes the biggest obstacle to eating well is the time it takes to prepare healthy food. Being busy is no longer an excuse especially when you can whip up this delicious and healthy meal with just 10 minutes of prep. The secret? Use a slow cooker, rice cooker or crockpot to handle the heavy lifting on this savory and comforting chili soup. Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Soy and Sesame Edamame Not many snacks manage to be both delicious and packed with fiber and protein. Edamame crushes those categories without breaking a sweat. A dash of sesame oil, soy sauce and pepper manage to elevate an already healthy and tasty snack to new heights. Snack away! Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Japanese Cabbage Salad (Coleslaw) Utter the word coleslaw and a gloppy, mayo-laden mess (albeit a tasty mess!) usually comes to mind. Not so with this light Japanese version that packs a punch of umami flavor by using rice vinegar and bonito flakes. Salty, acidic, pungent and nutty - this is one delicious recipe where you can toss portion control out the window and simply dig in. Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Edamame Hummus with Cilantro Sub out traditional chickpeas for edamame beans when making this herbaceous green hummus. Tahini adds a smoothness to the mix so you can serve it as a spread for sandwiches or a healthy dip for veggies. Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Poached Chicken Breast with Sesame Sauce The texture of this poached chicken dish is reminiscent of a plate of juicy, tender Hainanese chicken rice. The savory and sweet sesame sauce, however, is decidedly more Japanese in flavor. Lean protein and veggies are a great combo for getting beach ready! Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Moms Tuna Salad Sandwich My Japanese mother taught me that finely chopped celery, tangy mustard and cornichons all go into making a tuna salad sandwich that is flavorful. Using a tiny bit of light mayo, a dash of turmeric and a whole wheat pita all go towards making sure that delicious tuna salad sandwich is healthy as well. Oddly enough, my mum always seems to be in beach-shape. Coincidence? Get the recipe from: Pickled Plum Follow Pickled Plum on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Interested in writing for us? Join our Yahoo Blogger Network! 618483 Drakes fourth studio album, Views, dropped last night, accompanied by an hour-long interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1. The album features Rihanna, Future, Pimp C, WizKid, Kyla, PARTYNEXTDOOR, dvsn, and Popcaan, while production comes from 40, Kanye West, Boi-1da, Southside, Murda Beatz, Nineteen85, Jordan Ullman of Majid Jordan, and more. While its still far too early to come to any major conclusions about whether Views is indeed #trash or #classic, there is a lot that stands out after just a few listens, including some pretty big surprises. These are 10 things we learned from Drakes Views. Drake is a pop star, not a rapper. Drake is a pop star, not a rapper. Dont get it twistedDrake can rap, but Views provide evidence that hes more of a pop star that raps. Even though IYRTITL had more Drake raps than most of his previous albums, Views represents a return to the melodic riffs Drake is so at home delivering. But its not just about singingthe notable features are meticulous power plays with top-tier talent. He covers all three bases of influencePimp C represents Drakes past and the influence of Southern hip-hop, Future and Rihanna are pops here and now, and Wizkid and PARTYNEXTDOOR represent Drakes ideal future. Were still unpacking Views, but there arent as many rappity-rap moments as on his previous albums and he is singing on at various points on over half of the tracks this time round. Maybe thats for the bestif OVOs recent releases are any indication, Drakes musical interests extend far beyond hip-hop, and labeling him a rapper doesnt do the artist justice. It's an OVO family affair. It's an OVO family affair. Image via SoundCloud Much of Drakes recent past has been spent building out the OVO brand. The labels last few months have been defined by albums from Majid Jordan and dvsn, a Beats 1 radio show, and plans for a collaborative album. His level of success as a label head depends how you feel about those albums, but theres no denying OVO has become a better-known name in music. Views is the culmination of that workfor all the grime and dancehall endorsements, Drake ended up making an album centered around his label mates. Besides the constant presence of 40, there are credits for dvsns nineteen85, Majids Jordan Ullman, and in-house producers Boi-1da and PARTYNEXTDOOR. Story continues In his own (Instagram caption) words, its a family ting. Still no sign of OB OBrien though. Family ting. A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Apr 28, 2016 at 4:40pm PDT Drake continues to look to the Caribbean for inspiration. Drake continues to look to the Caribbean for inspiration. Although were disappointed that Popcaan didnt make it onto the final version of Controlla, the influence of Jamaican music is still felt across the album. There is a prominent sample of Beenie Man in Controlla, Mavados Dying is sampled on 9, and Popcaans brilliant Love Yuh Bad is sampled at the tail end of Too Good, which also features Barbadian pop star Rihanna. And of course theres the slang and accentsbut thats a conversation for another time. Drake (probably) wants to squash the beef with DMX. Drake (probably) wants to squash the beef with DMX. Image via Wikipedia Drake and DMX have not, historically, been besties. Lets be honestDMX has always plainly disliked Drake. Remember this epic radio roast from 2012? slack-imgs But there are two DMX samples on VIEWS, both prominently featured on U With Me? Drake even raps about Earl Simmons, saying, On some DMX shit / I grew weak from my exes. The DMX shit may be a reference to Kanye Wests lamentation that modern rap lacked that DMX feeling, the raw, uncut power of peak Earl Simmons. But the question is whether Drakes invocation is a peace offering or a snide tauntDMXs exes have contributed to his current situation, thanks to a litany of unpaid child support. Since that Drake diss in 2012, DMX has been in poor health and worse financial straits, while Drake has morphed into the 6ix God we know today. In any event, Drake is reaching out to DMX. Whether thats in jest or in earnest remains to be seen. This is really 40's album. This is really 40's album. Image via Zulytheslg Before Views released, Drake thanked his producer/close friend Noah 40 Shebib in a lengthy Instagram post. The two have been working together since 2005 when 40 promised that they were going to take over the world together. The producer also was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, so Drake has had to stay aware of his friends health while they crafted his sound over the years. 40 is credited on 1o of the 20 songs on the album and mixed/engineered the entire project, and it shows in its cohesiveness. From the transitions between songs to the multiple layers of production to the samplesthis album sounds incredible. At times it feels as if the sounds are telling the story and the lyrics are supplements as you catch the message. It still may be too early to judge Views as a whole, but its definitely clear that 40 has outdone himself on the production end and showcased all of his range and abilities. Drake still raps clunky lines with 100% conviction. Drake still raps clunky lines with 100% conviction. Image via T-Mobile on Twitter You platinum like wrappers on Hersheys Like when Chrysler made that one car that looked just like the Bentley / I always saw you for what you couldve been Got so many chains they call me Chaining Tatum Drake has never been one to shy away from a corny punchline, and VIEWS is no different. Its spattered with cringeworthy lines that make you wonder whether hes really missing Quentin Miller, or whether this is just another opportunity for Drake to meme himself: DRAKE: "Alright, so you know Channing Tatum, right?" JAY-Z: "Yeah." DRAKE: "And you know chains?" KANYE: "I don't like where this is going." Boy Problem (@J_Rosenfield) April 5, 2016 "Got so many chains, they call me channing tatum" pic.twitter.com/xs81mofMyJ etnov (@3High_Tae) April 5, 2016 No new friends. No new friends. Drake and his team keep their ears to the street, staying up to date with whats hot and co-signing it via social media, remixes, or collaborative projects. With that in mind, we expected that there would be some interesting guest features on the album, whether that be from the artists Drake has been repping for recently like Skepta, Section Boyz, and Popcaan, or total surprises, like when we heard Sampha on Too Much for the first time. Instead, Drake largely keeps the features to his close OVO associates and frequent collaborators Future and Rihannaeven on One Dance Wizkid is barely present and Kyla is re-singing a hook from an old song. Drake has serious women problems. Drake has serious women problems. Image via Instagram Any avid listener of Drake knows that hes never been shy about dedicating his songs to women. However, Drake is a man that likes to get very specific about his odes and the muses that inspire them. Though there are no songs titled after anyone in particular on Views, he does manage to drop quite a few names back to back. Unfortunately, none of this name dropping sounds like a humble brag. Instead, it appears to be proof that the 6 God doesnt have a great track record with the ladies. On the albums seventh track Redemption, Drake dives head-first into his feelings. Though he says hes searching for these words to say to you, its difficult to know exactly who hes talking to when he lists multiple names within the song. He goes on to say, Sydney gave up on me when I went missin / Syn had a baby and treated me different / Erika sued me and opened a business. Ouch, it seems clear that Drake has some relationship issues to work on. Drake still struggles to match Future's energy. Drake still struggles to match Future's energy. For What A Time To Be Alive, Drake headed down to Atlanta and added his verses to a Future project that was already mostly finished, and it shows. Future has incredible chemistry with Metro Boomin and Southside, and for the most part Drakes style doesnt quite fit, although the two did come up with collaborative magic on Jumpman. When it came to Views, you might expect that Drake would bring Future into his world, maybe on a poppier track or a moody 40 production. In fact, 40 did work on Grammys, but he produced it alongside Southside, and the result sounds more like a Future track than anything else. The two artists are friends and upcoming tour mates, but, sorry Drake, you kind of got washed on this one. VIEWS. SUMMER SIXTEEN TOUR. FBGOVO A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Apr 28, 2016 at 4:18pm PDT Drake plans to retire at 35. Drake plans to retire at 35. Looks like Drake has six (SIX Six six!) years left as a rapper. While rapping on Weston Road Flows, Drizzy says: The most successful rapper 35 and under Im assumin everybodys 35 and under Thats when I plan to retire, man its already funded This isnt the first time Drake has mentioned 35 as the age hed like to hang it up. In a 2012 interview with i-D, Drake says: I dont know how long I necessarily want to make rap music for, you know? Theres artists that are 35 and up that still make rap and it still works for them. I dont know if Ill be that guy, you know? A lot of my music is about being young and figuring it all out, so I dont know if I can still make my brand of music when Im up there and maybe Ill just be acting or whatever it is. He also goes on to say: Thats really what my plan is, is to make as much music as I can until a story from Drake just doesnt impact you the way it used to and then I guess Ill find my way somewhere else. Yesterday in his interview with Zane Lowe, Drake again mentioned his desires to get back into acting after rapping, saying, Id love to go back to acting. I feel like I spent a lot of my life honing that craft. [Getting into movies] is the goal. Its all about the right decision. So it looks like Drake is set on stepping out of the booth and onto the red carpet in just a few years. The post 10 Things We Learned from Drakes Views appeared first on Pigeons & Planes. More from Pigeons & Planes OSLO, April 29 (Reuters) - Emergency services have found 11 bodies after a helicopter crashed off the west coast off Norway on Friday, a rescue official told broadcaster NRK. A search for the remaining two passengers was ongoing, a spokesman from the Rescue Coordination Centre for Southern Norway told NRK, adding that among the 13 passengers were one British and one Italian national. The others were Norwegian. The crashed helicopter is a Eurocopter model according to the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority. Eurocopter is made by a subsidiary of planemaker Airbus. "There have been challenges with this kind of helicopter model in 2012, when errors in the main gear box were identified," the authority said in a statement. "That model received flying restrictions in 2012 and 2013." (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen, editing by Gwladys Fouche) From Esquire May will be a great month for Netflix fans, at least on the expiring-titles front, as almost no A+ films are set to disappear from the streaming service. Yet while such welcome news means that you won't have to partake in any last-second all-night binge-watching sessions, there remain a few noteworthy selections that should definitely be seen-for the first time, or the tenth-before they vacate the service for the foreseeable future. As always, our carefully culled rundown will lead you to the best about-to-disappear movies to check out in the coming weeks. Beware of Mr. Baker (May 1) This warts-and-all documentary details the crazy career-and equally unique life-of Ginger Baker, the legendary drummer most famous for founding the rock super-group Cream. Broadway Idiot (May 1) Billy Joe Armstrong's efforts to mount a Broadway adaptation of his band Green Day's American Idiot is depicted in up-close-and-personal style in this behind-the-scenes documentary. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (May 1) Doofus California slackers Bill. S. Preston, Esquire (Alex Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves) take a madcap journey back in time via a phone booth-and with the aid of George Carlin-in this cult-classic comedy. Election (May 1) Reese Witherspoon exudes smug entitlement and cutthroat ruthlessness as a Nebraska high-school student trying to become class president-an endeavor opposed by one of her teachers (Matthew Broderick)-in this amusing political satire. Kiss of Death (May 1) Nicolas Cage is his usual magnetically gonzo self as an asthmatic criminal in this remake of the 1947 film noir, co-starring Samuel L. Jackson, David Caruso, Ving Rhames, Stanley Tucci, and Helen Hunt. Tears of the Sun (May 9) Training Day director Antoine Fuqua brings his flashy macho style to this 2003 military action saga, in which Bruce Willis stars as a badass Navy SEAL leading a rescue mission in civil war-wracked Nigeria. Story continues The Score (May 10) It may not quite live up to its potential, but this 2001 heist film is nonetheless energized by its pairing of three Hollywood heavyweights: Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, and-in his final big-screen role-Marlon Brando. The Ladykillers (May 12) Even though it's arguably Joel and Ethan Coen's weakest effort, this remake of the beloved 1955 Alec Guinness comedy about a group of bumbling thieves trying to pull of a job while living in a house owned by a little old lady has its considerable merits, including a Colonel Sanders-inspired lead performance by Tom Hanks. Blade Runner: Theatrical Cut (May 16) Ridley Scott's influential sci-fi masterpiece has gone through the re-cut ringer over the years, but the version to start with is the original, which layers narration over its futuristic story about a detective (Harrison Ford) in search of on-the-lam androids. Ida (May 22) One of 2013's best films, this bracing black-and-white import tells the tale of an orphaned woman who, before taking her vows to become a Catholic nun in 1962 Poland, goes on an odyssey alongside her aunt to uncover the truth about her parents. Black Hawk Down (May 23) Ridley Scott assembles an all-star cast (Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor, Sam Shepard) for this blistering adaptation of Mark Bowden's book about the disaster that befell American military forces during a 1993 raid in Mogadishu, Somalia. Clerks (May 31) Kevin Smith made himself not only an indie darling, but also a virtual patron saint of fanboys everywhere, with his low-budget 1994 comedy about two convenience store employees trying to make it through a hellish day at their New Jersey place of employment. Which red carpet is your favorite? If you said the Academy Awards or MTV Video Music Awards, that's cute, but you're wrong. Your favorite red carpet is the Met Gala, because it's the only red carpet that matters. It's an occasion to see stars wearing ensembles they could never get away with at any other awards show or black-tie event -- for better or worse. As we prepare for this year's event -- and all the looks inspired by the theme, "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between" -- look back on 20 of the most outrageous fashion choices that could only happen at the Met Gala. WATCH: Met Gala Documentary, 'The First Monday in May,' Goes Inside the Super Bowl of Fashion 1. Madonna in Givenchy (2016) Getty Images In the ever-present debate between showing T or A, the Material Girl chooses...both, giving you Regina George in the front and butt cheeks in the back. 2. Kanye West in Balmain (2016) Getty Images If you can look past Kim K.'s disco ball boobs and Yeezy's bedazzled jean jacket -- somehow, if you can look beyond all of that -- his contacts will haunt you for the rest of your life. 3. Rihanna in Guo Pei (2015) Getty Images A non-comprehensive list of things Rihanna looked like at the Met Gala: An omelet, a cheese pizza, Big Bird. Basically: Iconic. 4. Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs (2013) Getty Images The most shocking thing about this take on "Punk: Chaos to Couture" is that Miley didn't stick out her tongue once on the red carpet. 5. Madonna in Louis Vuitton (2009) Getty Images That year's theme was "The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion," and, yeah, we don't really know what that means either, Madge. 6. Kim Kardashian in Givenchy (2013) Getty Images Category is: Mrs. Doubtfire realness. 7. Beyonce in Givenchy (2015) Getty Images Queen B looking like the fiercest Mortal Kombat character ever. K.O. FINISH HIM! Story continues 8. Solange in Giles Deacon (2015) Getty Images And Solange looking like a shield. Her commentary on 2014's elevator incident? PHOTOS: Look Back on All the Stars Arriving at the 2015 Met Gala 9. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in Chanel and Christian Dior Haute Couture (2013) Getty Images Seems about right. 10. Nicole Richie in Topshop (2013) Getty Images Spray-painted hair apparently makes anything punk. 11. Katy Perry in CuteCircuit (2010) Getty Images Very...Katy Perry. 12. Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen (2012) Getty Images For anyone else, this dress would be avant-garde Met Gala couture. For Flo Welch, it's a Monday. 13. Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe (2012) Getty Images Just make every year's theme "Eleganza Extravaganza" and leave us gagging. 14. Anne Hathaway in Valentino (2013) Getty Images Remember when Anne Hathaway played Catwoman? If she has her way, YOU'LL NEVER FORGET. MORE: Filming the Met Ball: How Andrew Rossi Captured Candid Celeb Moments From Inside the Event 15. Lady Gaga in Balenciaga (2015) Getty Images Dress is "China: Through the Looking Glass." Eyebrows are emoji. 16. Amber Valletta in a Maggie Norris (2004) Getty Images Would it surprise you to learn the theme had absolutely nothing to do with Marie Antoinette? 17. Lupita Nyong'o in Prada (2014) Getty Images No disrespect to Chloe Grace Moretz, but this is the live-action Little Mermaid we want to see. 18. Katie Holmes in Marchesa (2014) Getty Images No disrespect to Katie Holmes, but this is not the live-action Beauty & the Beast we want to see. 19. Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen (2006), Giles Deacon (2013) and Philip Treacy (2015) Getty Images It's impossible to pick SJP's most iconic Met Gala look. SJP is the Met Gala. (And if her headdresses keep getting bigger every year, we will absolutely tune in when it's 2025.) 20. Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture (2008) Getty Images Say hello to your new supreme overlord, Space Admiral Anna Andromeda. All right, ladies, now let's get in formation: check out Beyonce and Jay Z's most fashionable moments as the queen and king of the Met Gala below. Watch Entertainment Tonight on Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android. Related Articles By Brendan O'Brien (Reuters) - Some 20 demonstrators were arrested on Thursday outside a Donald Trump campaign rally in southern California, where the Republican presidential front-runner vowed to his supporters to get tough on illegal immigration if elected. Demonstrators smashed the window of a police squad car, marched in protest and blocked traffic as police in riot gear tried to disperse the crowd outside of the county fair grounds in Costa Mesa, California, according to local media and the Twitter account of the Orange County Sheriffs Department. The department said on its Twitter account that about 20 arrests were made and that no major injuries were reported. Trump visited Costa Mesa, a city of more than 100,000 people, a third of whom are Hispanic or Latino, hoping to garner support in California where voters will go to the polls during the states Republican primary on June 7. A strong primary win in California for the billionaire could thrust him above the delegate count needed to secure the Republican nomination for president and avoid a contested party convention in July. SLIDESHOW Anti-Trump protests in Costa Mesa, Calif. >>> Police in riot gear form a line to begin to break up a group of protesters, one with a Mexican flag, outside Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign rally in Costa Mesa, Calif., April 28, 2016. (REUTERS/Mike Blake) During the campaign stop on Thursday, Trump promised to get tough on illegal immigration by building a wall on the border between Mexico and the United States, a popular theme of his presidential campaign, suggesting that a wall would stop drugs from coming into this country. The drugs are poisoning our youth and a lot of other people and we are going to get it stopped, he said, telling the crowd that he would force Mexico to pay for the wall. After the event, local news showed hundreds of demonstrators surrounding vehicles, waving Mexican flags and holding signs in protest of Trump outside of the Orange County Fair and Event Center. At least one demonstrator was shown jumping on the top of a police car while other demonstrators were seen shaking a police vehicle. A Los Angeles Times reporter posted a photo on Twitter of a man wearing a Trump T-shirt with a bloodied face. Trump has come under fire from rivals for fueling unrest with his rhetoric as several of his rallies around the country have been met by protests during the last several months. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee) When I graduated high school and left for a traditional college, it seemed like little had changed. I was older, yes, but I still had a fixed schedule, places to go and parking to battle for. I had lived the sheltered life of boarding school during high school, and I felt like I needed to catch up on life experiences. That need and the requirements of college conflicted, and I chose the former. Now that I've completed a bachelor's degree online, I realize how much richer my college experience would have been in the past if I had gone to school online in the first place. College felt to me like a time of exploration and adventure, yet I felt confined to the campus. Students today, with undergraduate online learning, have an opportunity to maximize their extracurricular lives while at the same time achieving their academic and scholastic goals. Here are three outside-the-classroom advantages to online bachelor's degree programs. Online school allows for travel: The student who backpacks across Europe has been a cliche of the college experience since at least the 1970s. Students would travel during the months between classes to explore the world and encounter foreign cultures. With online learning, a college student can do this throughout the year. Anyone can access the Internet throughout most of the world. Even buses, trains, and airplanes provide Wi-Fi access. Companies such as Amtrak, for example, provide students with the means to take school with them to every stop across the U. S. Discover how to [study abroad as an online student.] Time is what you make of it: For many online bachelor's programs, and depending on the class, there are pre-set deadlines for all assignments, and virtually no "synchronous" class schedules. It becomes necessary for a student to meet these deadlines, but the student decides how to do it. It doesn't matter if a student stays up late the night before and decides to sleep in, since, other than the deadlines, there are no other time constraints. Story continues A student builds the schedule based on motivation, instead of classroom time. This allows for room for more social interaction outside the classroom when attending school online. A student could, for example, surf every morning and do schoolwork at night, rather than daydreaming in a physical classroom about surfing or skipping class to hit the beach. Learn [four time management tips for online students.] You can skip housing fees: Online programs eliminate any fees associated with housing and living on campus. Plus, they typically don't require physical textbooks -- though students should keep in mind some of online learning's most common hidden fees, such as those relating to technology. Given all of these cost reductions for online school, the money that would have gone toward a brick-and-mortar education can now go toward experiencing life, traveling or relationships. The takeaway: Education during the college years goes far beyond what a student learns in the classroom. Online bachelor's degree programs can help students prepare for the world by giving them freedom to explore life outside of campus. Darwin Green, a Nebraska resident, received his bachelor's in psychology online from Pennsylvania State University--World Campus. As the first-quarter 2016 earnings season is well under way, results have not been as disappointing as widely apprehended. Are Low Expectations Helping Q1 Earnings Picture? With several pharma and major biotech companies having already reported their earnings results, the spotlight shifts to the Medical sector, which is anticipated to be one of the seven sectors to record earnings growth. Earnings in the Medical sector are expected to grow 2.3% on revenue growth of 9.1% from the year-ago period, per our Earnings Trends report. Beats and Misses So Far Several biotech stocks including Biogen Inc. BIIB, Amgen Inc. AMGN, Celgene Corporation, AbbVie Inc., and Baxalta Incorporated and pharma stocks like Johnson & Johnson JNJ, Abbott Laboratories, and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company have not only managed to beat earnings estimates, but some among these have also raised their outlook for the year. There were misses as well. While in the biotech sector Gilead Sciences Inc. GILD and Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. failed to beat expectations, pharma stocks like GlaxoSmithKline plc and Novartis AG lagged earnings estimates. Though label expansion and cost-cutting initiatives were catalysts to growth, unfavorable currency movements and macroeconomic factors held back performances. Eli Lilly and Company raised its outlook for the year despite an earnings miss while Glaxo expects core earnings growth of 1012% at constant exchange rate in 2016. Meanwhile, a number of pharma and biotech companies are yet to report first-quarter results. Lets see what awaits these three major drug stocks when they report on May 3, before the opening bell. Investors interested in the Medical sector will be keenly watching for beats and misses. What to Expect from these Drug Stocks? New York-based Pfizer Inc. PFE was recently in the news when it terminated its $160 billion deal to combine with Botox maker Allergan plc. Focus will now be on the companys cash utilization plans. Meanwhile, the company continues to face headwinds in the form of genericization, unfavorable currency movement including the impact of the Venezuelan financial crisis and the expiration of a few co-promotion agreements. However, its share buyback program should boost the bottom line. However, its share buyback program should boost the bottom line. Story continues Pfizer has been seen to consistently beat earnings expectations. Will this pharma giant be able to beat estimates this time around as well? This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% for the first quarter thereby making it difficult to predict a beat (read more: Pfizer to Report Q1 Earnings: Will the Stock Surprise?). Generic drug maker, Mylan N.V.s MYL Zacks Rank #3 increases the predictive power of the ESP, but it also has an ESP of -2.67%, making a surprise prediction difficult. Mylans track record has however been decent with the company surpassing expectations in two of the last four quarters. Though the companys Generics and Specialty segments should perform well in the first quarter, pricing dynamics that existed throughout 2015 would also continue in 2016. Mylan anticipates first-quarter earnings to be relatively flat with the year-ago period. Considering that Mylan is set to acquire a leading international specialty pharmaceutical company, Meda, focus will be on the deal (read more: Mylan Q1 Earnings: What's in the Cards for the Stock?). Specialty pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products manufacturer, Mallinckrodt plcs MNK track record has been pretty good with the company consistently beating earnings estimates. However, Mallinckrodts Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) which when combined with an ESP of -1.74% makes it difficult to predict an earnings beat when it reports its second-quarter fiscal 2016 results. Though the company will benefit from the Sep 2015 Therakos acquisition (this is the first full quarter in which Therakos will contribute to results), seasonality is expected to continue in fiscal 2016, which will hurt gross profit (read more: Mallinckrodt Q1 Earnings: Stock Likely to Disappoint). Stay tuned! Check later on our full write-up on earnings releases of these stocks. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PFIZER INC (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report JOHNSON & JOHNS (JNJ): Free Stock Analysis Report GILEAD SCIENCES (GILD): Free Stock Analysis Report AMGEN INC (AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report BIOGEN INC (BIIB): Free Stock Analysis Report MYLAN NV (MYL): Free Stock Analysis Report MALLINCKRODT PL (MNK): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Adds details of suicide, background) By Dan Whitcomb April 28 (Reuters) - The Apple Inc employee found dead at the company's California headquarters committed suicide, dying of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, police said on Thursday. The victim, who was found on Wednesday deceased in a conference room at Apple's campus in Silicon Valley, was identified as 25-year-old Edward Thomas Mackowiak of Santa Clara, California. "The Medical Examiner determined the manner of death was suicide and the cause was a gunshot to the head," the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said in a written statement. An Apple spokesman declined to comment on Thursday or say what Mackowiak did for the company, but a LinkedIn profile that has since been taken down listed him as a software engineer. There was no immediate word on what might have led Mackowiack to take his own life. "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented coworker," the company said in a statement issued late on Wednesday. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends, including the many people he worked with here at Apple." Apple's so-called Infinite Loop campus is the hub for the company's workforce in Cupertino, which numbers 16,000 employees, according to a 2013 report on the company's economic impact. The company is constructing another campus in the city, a massive loop of glass often likened to a spaceship. Apple on Tuesday reported its first-ever decline in iPhone sales and its first revenue drop in 13 years. (Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, Julia Love and Curtis Skinner in San Francisco and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Bernard Orr) Four women at different stages in their life cross paths as they explore, in different ways, the bond between mothers and daughters as Mother's Day approaches. Find out who's in "Mother's Day," one actress's connection with its director and early buzz during its week of release. -- Who's in it? -- There's a bit of an all-star tone to this one, with Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson and Britt Robertson leading. Aniston plays Sandy, a single mother of two boys, whose ex has just married a much younger woman. Bradley (Jason Sudekis) has two daughters to look after and meets her at the supermarket. Jesse (Hudson) receives a surprise visit from her own parents, while encouraging friend Kristen (Robertson) to seek out her biological mother -- who is actually Miranda (Roberts), in charge of the hotel where Sandy has applied to work. Aniston ("Friends"), Roberts ("Steel Magnolias," "Erin Brockovich," "Pretty Woman"), and Hudson ("Almost Famous") have five Golden Globe awards between them. Robertson picked up two Teen Choice Award nominations for "The Longest Ride" and "Tomorrowland." -- Who's behind it? -- For Garry Marshall, "Mother's Day" is the third film in six years to take its title from an annual celebration, after multithreaded 2010 film "Valentine's Day" (which had Roberts in one of its segments) and 2011's similarly interwoven "New Year's Eve." He's best known for 1990 smash "Pretty Woman." -- Is it any good? -- Certainly, users over at Rotten Tomatoes anticipate a good time at the movies with 91% of nearly 6,000 respondents wanting to see it on release. On IMDb, 250 early user ratings have resulted in an initial 5.4/10 score. Professional critics have not been so hot, with the Tomatometer at 13% approval (3.7/10 average score) and Metacritic's two early reviews both unimpressed. Story continues -- When's it out? -- In most territories, distributors appear to have targeted release a week or two in advance of each country's own Mother's Day, excepting those where the celebration has already passed. Debuting in Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Russia on April 28, "Mother's Day" then releases in the US and Canada on April 29. It opens in Brazil, the Philippines, Singapore, Norway and Sweden the week of May 5, with France and Belgium included from May 25. In the UK and Ireland, where Mother's Day was in March, "Mother's Day" is out June 10. 33 South American circus lions will be airlifted to a sanctuary in South Africa Friday. The airlift is being arranged by Animal Defenders International, an animal rights group, which rescued the animals and is raising money to pay for the flight. The cats will journey from Lima, Peru to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in Limpopo, South Africa. 24 of the lions were rescued in surprise raids from deplorable conditions in Peruvian circuses, according to the animal rights group, and nine were given up by a circus in Colombia. Almost all of the rescued lions have been mutilated to remove their claws, one has lost an eye, another is almost blind, and many have smashed and broken teeth so would not survive in the wild, said a statement by the group. These lions have endured hell on earth and now they are heading home to paradise, Jan Creamer, president of Animal Defenders International, said in the statement. sriracha Sriracha is old news in 2016. But what bold flavor will replace the sauce as the new trendy condiment? The experts at Technomic have a few ingredients in mind. The food and consulting firm named the "Sriracha effect" one of the top 10 trends to watch out for in the restaurant industry in 2016, drawing from sources including interviews, surveys, on-site visits, and a vast menu database. "What I find so interesting about Sriracha is that it was such an unknown ingredient just a few years ago [and] now everyone has heard of," Technomic menu-analysis editor Lizzy Freier told Business Insider. "Its moved very quickly from just independent restaurants to top chain restaurants in just a few years." Here are six ingredients from around the globe that Technomic believes could make a similar leap. 1. Ghost Pepper Ghost Pepper is one of the most mainstream of the "Sriracha 2.0" crowd, famous for being one of the hottest chili peppers in the world. Chains are already using the pepper as an eye-catching ingredient to attract risk-taking customers, with Buffalo Wild Wings bringing back a Ghost Pepper sauce in September and Taco Bell rolling out a limited-time Fiery Ghost Pepper Dare Devil Loaded Griller in August. taco bell 2. Sambal This Southeast Asian chili sauce is created from a combination of chilies, brown sugar, salt, and various other ingredients. According to Freier, the condiment can be utilized in a variety of ways, including as an aioli, in a puree and as a side dipping sauce. Recently, sambal appeared on the menu at Legal Sea Foods in a Raw Oyster & Tuna Crudo with sambal and sesame dressing. sambal powder 3. Gochujang Gochujang is "a spicy, salty paste that were seeing in both Asian and non-Asian recipes," says Freier. "Like sambal, it follows on the Southeast Asian sauce trend weve been noting aggressively as of late." Technomic began noticing gochujangs rise in independent restaurants in August, topping dishes such as New York City-based vegetarian restaurant Dirt Candys Korean fried broccoli. Now the flavor is moving into the mainstream, even appearing on the menu at P.F. Changs, which serves a Kim Chee Fried Rice seasoned with gochujang sauce. Story continues Chinese fried rice 4. Harissa This Tunisian hot sauce is commonly made with hot chilies, garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway, and olive oil, and used in dishes such as soups and stews. "Harissa has moved a bit quicker than some of these other spices and sauces to the mainstream," says Freier, who reports Technomic has spotted the condiment at chains such as Brick House Tavern + Tap and Hannahs Bretzel. Couscous harissa sauce 5. Sumac According to Freier, the Middle Eastern spice sumac has a "fruity, astringent taste." Technomic noticed sumac showing up on independent-restaurant menus last April, on salads, as a mix-in for yogurts, and sprinkled onto a variety of dishes. 6. Dukka This Egyptian spice blend is the most recent flavor on Technomics radar. Made up of toasted nuts, seeds, and other spices, dukka can be sprinkled over food or used as a dip, with the hottest recent trends being to serve it in soup, atop salads, or in crackers. "This may not move to the mainstream in 2016, but its definitely one to watch in independents and emerging chains over the next year," says Freier. NOW WATCH: We tried jackfruit the huge tree fruit that supposedly tastes like pulled pork More From Business Insider Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) announced Friday that it had offered to sell the Central and Eastern European operations of SABMiller (SBMRY), which could be worth an estimated $8 billion, as it seeks European regulatory approval for companys $100 billion-plus takeover of its closest rival. The SABMiller-Anheuser-Busch combination would create an enormous company in the beer industry accounting for about 30% of global beer sales. Anheuser-Busch has entered into a number of agreements to sell a variety of assets from the combined company in order to appease skepticism and regularity concerns about the merger. Earlier this month, for example, AB InBev accepted an offer by Asahi Group Holdings of Japan to buy the beer brands Grolsch, Meantime, and Peroni, as well as some of SABMillers European operations, for 2.55 billion, or about $2.9 billion. Anheuser-Busch hopes to close the deal for SABMiller in the second half of this year. SABMillers Central and Eastern European businesses have been a core part of our growth story since we first embarked on our international expansion strategy over 20 years ago, Alan Clark, SABMillers chief executive, said in a news release. Mr. Clark added, We are very proud of these businesses, their brands and the people that have made them the successes they are today, and we will continue to grow and support them throughout this process. In November, Anheuser-Busch agreed to sell SABMillers 59% stake in MillerCoors in the United States to SABMillers partner in a joint venture, Molson Coors Brewing (TAP), for about $12 billion. That deal includes the global rights to the Miller brand and would make Molson Coors the second-largest brewer in the United States, behind Anheuser-Busch. According to a report via Reuters, the European Commission, the European Union's antitrust regulator, is set to deliver its verdict on the SABMiller takeover by May 24. If the Commission chose to open an in-depth investigation into the SAB deal, it would not receive clearance for up to 90 working days, a delay AB InBev may be keen to avoid. Story continues Anheuser-Busch InBev has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MOLSON COORS-B (TAP): Free Stock Analysis Report ANHEUSER-BU ADR (BUD): Free Stock Analysis Report SABMILLER PLC (SBMRY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev plans to sell the eastern European assets of SABMiller , which could fetch almost $8 billion, as it seeks European regulatory approval for its $100 billion-plus takeover of its closest rival. AB InBev has already lined up Japan's Asahi Group Holdings <2502.T> to buy SABMiller's Grolsch, Peroni and Meantime brands for 2.55 billion euros ($2.90 billion), and said on Friday it had put up for sale SABMiller's business in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. AB InBev, maker of Budweiser and Stella Artois, has barely any business in eastern Europe outside Russia and Ukraine, so analysts say the sale is more about preventing regulatory delays and exiting weak spots than ensuring market competition. Beer consumption in eastern Europe has been on the decline, due to shrinking populations, weak economies and tighter regulation. That makes the region much less attractive than the growth markets of Africa and Latin America that are driving what will be the biggest deal in consumer goods history. "The eastern European markets may have provided an unwelcome and unnecessary distraction, and valuation notwithstanding, we regard this asset sale as a net positive" for AB InBev, said Morningstar analyst Philip Gorham. He estimates a sale could fetch $7.75 billion, based on a multiple of 11 times expected 2016 operating earnings of $705 million, with Carlsberg the most likely buyer, though it might face antitrust constraints in Poland. Molson Coors could have antitrust trouble buying the assets, following its purchase in 2013 of eastern Europe's StarBev from CVC Capital Partners [CVC.UL]. Heineken might also face hurdles from competition regulators. But SAB's business could be attractive to a private equity group or Asahi if it wanted further European expansion, analysts said. Story continues AB InBev has notified the European Commission, the European Union's antitrust regulator, which is set to deliver its verdict on the takeover of SAB by May 24. If the Commission chose to open an in-depth investigation into the SAB deal, it would not receive clearance for up to 90 working days, a delay AB InBev may be keen to avoid. AB InBev said in a statement the sale included a number of top brands in local markets, such as Pilsner Urquell in Czech Republic and Dreher in Hungary. It said it expected considerable interest from potential buyers. The sale is conditional on AB InBev concluding its purchase of SAB, expected in the second half of this year. (Additional reporting by Martinne Geller in London and Esha Vaish in Bengaluru; Editing by Jon Boyle and Mark Potter) * Puts SABMiller eastern European assets up for sale * Analyst sees assets fetching $7.75 billion * Carlsberg, private equity, Asahi seen as suitors (Adds more analyst comments, market share) By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, April 29 (Reuters) - Brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev plans to sell the eastern European assets of SABMiller, which could fetch almost $8 billion, as it seeks European regulatory approval for its $100 billion-plus takeover of its closest rival. AB InBev has already lined up Japan's Asahi Group Holdings to buy SABMiller's Grolsch, Peroni and Meantime brands for 2.55 billion euros ($2.90 billion), and said on Friday it had put up for sale SABMiller's business in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. AB InBev, maker of Budweiser and Stella Artois, has barely any business in eastern Europe outside Russia and Ukraine, so analysts say the sale is more about preventing regulatory delays and exiting weak spots than ensuring market competition. Beer consumption in eastern Europe has been on the decline, due to shrinking populations, weak economies and tighter regulation. That makes the region much less attractive than the growth markets of Africa and Latin America that are driving what will be the biggest deal in consumer goods history. "The eastern European markets may have provided an unwelcome and unnecessary distraction, and valuation notwithstanding, we regard this asset sale as a net positive" for AB InBev, said Morningstar analyst Philip Gorham. He estimates a sale could fetch $7.75 billion, based on a multiple of 11 times expected 2016 operating earnings of $705 million, with Carlsberg the most likely buyer, though it might face antitrust constraints in Poland. Molson Coors could have antitrust trouble buying the assets, following its purchase in 2013 of eastern Europe's StarBev from CVC Capital Partners. Heineken might also face hurdles from competition regulators. But SAB's business could be attractive to a private equity group or Asahi if it wanted further European expansion, analysts said. Story continues AB InBev has notified the European Commission, the European Union's antitrust regulator, which is set to deliver its verdict on the takeover of SAB by May 24. If the Commission chose to open an in-depth investigation into the SAB deal, it would not receive clearance for up to 90 working days, a delay AB InBev may be keen to avoid. AB InBev said in a statement the sale included a number of top brands in local markets, such as Pilsner Urquell in Czech Republic and Dreher in Hungary. It said it expected considerable interest from potential buyers. The sale is conditional on AB InBev concluding its purchase of SAB, expected in the second half of this year. ($1 = 0.8784 euros) (Additional reporting by Martinne Geller in London and Esha Vaish in Bengaluru; Editing by Jon Boyle and Mark Potter) ABCs Martha Raddatz chief global affairs correspondent and This Week co-host has done everything from covering the White House to moderating presidential debates, but its her war-zone experience that puts her in the running for TV News Biggest Badass. We recently profiled CNNs Clarissa Ward in a story headlined, Why CNNs Clarissa Ward May Be the Biggest Badass in Cable News, and then some die-hard Raddatz fans responded with comments such as, Thats because Martha isnt on cable. Shes fantastic, Raddatz said of Ward when TheWrap pressed her on who is the more hardcore journalist. I think shes phenomenal and shes a friend. We have certainly run into each other. Also Read: Why CNN's Clarissa Ward May Be the Biggest Badass in Cable News After praising her friend, Raddatz modestly offered what she considers among her most badass stories. It was just another day at the office back in 2010, except she became the first journalist to fly in a bomb-laden fighter jet on a combat mission with the U.S. Air Force. Those were incredible missions where it was three Air Force F-15Es. It took us about six years to get permission to do that. It was about 10 hours in combat, the French were calling for the pilots to drop 500-pound bombs and the pilots wouldnt do it, Raddatz said. They gave me all the cockpit audio and it tells a compelling story. It was a very dynamic, real story. The This Week co-host casually mentioned crazy times in Ramadi, Iraq and Afghanistan among past adventures in areas that would terrify the average American. She has a wall outside her office that is filled with mementos from those trips, including an American flag that was inside the cockpit of her F-15E. Raddatz, an expert in both politics and foreign affairs, admitted its become easier for her to pack for a trip to Baghdad than most U.S. destinations, because she has so much experience heading to war-torn areas of the world. She says the most dangerous thing shes ever done was cross a river near Jalalabad, a city in eastern Afghanistan, on a homemade raft that was constructed with wooden boards and a half-inflated tube. Story continues Also Read: Alec Baldwin to Host 'Match Game' Revival on ABC My guide was an eight-year-old boy, Raddatz said. We went up to Jalalabad and it wasnt exactly calm. We walked around where Osama bin Laden once lived and the only way to get there was crossing this river. Raddatz often revisits material from over a decade ago and credits her long tenure at one network, ABC, for the ability to follow up on stories year after year. It is where I have devoted such a huge amount of my life, my career, and it is not, to me, just a story, it is really part of what I care about, Raddatz said. Im not an adrenaline junkie but I need to cover those things that matter. Also Read: Can Prince's Estate Sue the National Enquirer for Saying He Had AIDS? We caught up with Raddatz as she prepares to host This Week on Sunday with guests including Ted Cruz and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who is expected to discuss Donald Trumps ISIS plan. What was it like being on the USS Truman during a mission against ISIS in Syria? I had also been out on the USS Bush when we first started going after targets in Syria. So this wasnt even your first time? It seems like non-military Americans would never have the opportunity to experience something like that. Because of my long experience covering the military, I know its not just all about sound, power and afterburners. I also went to Afghanistan in the fall and what I wanted to see was, we keep hearing its non-combat. I wanted to see what non-combat looked like. It looks an awful lot like combat. Is this still an area they claim is non-combat? Well, Afghanistan, you know, we still lose people. Its dangerous. Its always dangerous. At one point I started noticing that jets were coming back not having dropped their bombs. That tells you something. Like, Why arent you dropping your bombs? Its because they cant find the targets. OK, Im sold. Youre a badass. Whats it like to share a Sunday show with George Stephanopoulos? I love the combination because George just has politics in his DNA and approaches it in a fascinating way. We can both watch the State of the Union and hell see things that I dont see, and Ill see things that he wont see. We bring different things to the table. There is nobody in politics I respect more than George. How did you start to take This Week outside of the studio to report from the field, which is rare for a Sunday morning show? Right, which I love more than anything. I am a reporter and will always be a reporter. Thats my first love. There is no way Im ever giving that up. Related stories from TheWrap: Martha Raddatz Named Co-Anchor of 'This Week With George Stephanopoulos': Read Internal Memo Michael Douglas, Robert Shapiro Join Donald Trump on 'Megyn Kelly Presents' Fox News Shows, Ranked: Who Is Highest-Rated Between Megyn Kelly, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly (Photos) Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny addresses the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 15, 2016 (AFP Photo/Nicholas Kamm) Dublin (AFP) - Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny's Fine Gael party was on Friday poised to form a minority government after striking a deal with its longtime rival Fianna Fail, following inconclusive elections in February. "Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have reached a political agreement to facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority government," the two parties said in a joint statement. "Both party leaders are now being briefed, extensive drafting has to be done and then both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will hold separate parliamentary party meetings to outline the details of the confidence and supply arrangement." The statement came following several hours of negotiations. The final wording of the confidence and supply agreement has still to be finalised and talks are expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday. The Irish Independent newspaper reported that Kenny could be re-elected as prime minister or taoiseach on Wednesday. The outgoing coalition has remained in place in a caretaker capacity since a general election on February 26, in which neither party attracted enough votes to form a government on its own. Fine Gael won 50 seats and Fianna Fail 44 in the 158-seat Dail, or lower house of parliament. Anti-austerity Sinn Fein won 23 seats. Together, the two centre-right parties would have more than enough seats to form a stable government but Fianna Fail has ruled out a formal coalition. Instead, it had offered to support Fine Gael if agreement could be reached on key policy issues. Although both parties are considered centre-right, their relationship is riven by mistrust and historical enmities dating back to the 1920s Irish civil war. The issue of water charges had been a key point of contention in the negotiations amid tensions over the wording of legislation agreed to resolve the situation. - Historic foes - Acting Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe was quoted by the Irish Independent as saying there was agreement across a variety of areas. Story continues "Intense work will now continue in relation to the text of the agreement between both parties. That will then be shared with the Taoiseach and the leader of Fianna Fail and our respective parliamentary parties," he said. "Ill call it a historic deal when and if its concluded." The BBC reported that the deal would last over a period of three budgets and that it would mean Fianna Fail abstaining in key votes, allowing the government to pass important pieces of legislation. Fianna Fail, whose name means "Warriors of Ireland", was founded by Eamon de Valera, who was later president from 1959 to 1973. The party has its roots in opposition to the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty which granted Ireland limited independence from Britain and provided for the partition of Northern Ireland, which is still part of the United Kingdom. Fine Gael, meaning "Tribe of the Irish", grew out of the group that supported that treaty. Under de Valera's leadership, Fianna Fail became Ireland's dominant political force and remained so until 2011, when it suffered an election defeat of historic proportions after a brutal economic crisis and housing crash. Getty Images access hollywood billy bush going to today "Access Hollywood" cohost Billy Bush is expected to join NBC's "Today" show. According to Broadcasting & Cable's sources, Bush will join the morning show over the summer to cover the Summer Olympics in Rio, then join the 9 a.m. team currently cohosted by Willie Geist, Tamron Hall, Al Roker, and Natalie Morales full-time in September. NBC did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment, but speculation over Bush's move has been ongoing for months. In light of "Live" cohost Michael Strahan's exit to ABC's "Good Morning America," Bush is likely seen as an opportunity for "Today" to shore up its recently recovered lead in the morning ratings. NBC is currently leading in the news demographic important to advertisers, 25- to 54-year-olds, though "GMA" still attracts the most total viewers. Strahan is viewed as "GMA's" tactic for getting its news demo up. Bush joined "Access Hollywood," which is a syndicated show under NBCUniversal, in December 2001 as an East Coast correspondent. He's currently a lead cohost for the show. NOW WATCH: 'Hamilton' just won a Pulitzer Prize watch Obama's private performance from the show 6 years before it hit Broadway More From Business Insider From Road & Track Blame it on the Koyama SHOTEN. I spent my early teen years in a central-Ohio neighborhood that was known as "Little Japan" because it served as a temporary home for all the home-market Honda executives who were getting the new Marysville Assembly Plant up and running. About half of my little brother's classmates were Japanese. In the afternoons, we'd visit their houses and play burgundy-cased Nintendo Famicoms while their mothers served us a variety of incomprehensible snacks on silver trays. There were so many Japanese people in our two-square-mile subdivision that a bona-fide Japanese grocery store opened up there in 1984. Called "Koyama SHOTEN," it stocked a bewildering array of candy and toys. Some of those toys were cars. Although the store's owners were profoundly nervous about raucous six-foot-tall American children running around the aisles and buying random items, they treated us kindly and smiled when we bought the toys. And that's how I learned about the Honda Quint Integra, a badass sport-hatch with an exotic twin-cam engine and pop-up headlamps. About a year later, our neighborhood gained an Acura dealership right next to the Honda one. They had two cars: the hot Integra and the cool Legend. It was obvious to me, even at the age of 14, that the idea behind Acura was to bring us Hondas that, for whatever reason, were too awesome for regular Honda dealerships. A succession of ever-more-amazing Integras and sculpted Legend Coupes did nothing to dismiss that impression. Everybody knows what happened next. The Integras and Legends disappeared, replaced by a string of alphabet cars and SUVs that had most of the classic Honda virtues but which did not particularly stir the blood. Toyota's Lexus division, which upon its debut seemed almost criminally fuddy-duddy with its bland lineup of Mercedes-esque two-tone sedans, ended up eating Acura's lunch and then adding insult to injury by introducing some really neat sporting cars like the LF-A and RC-F. Story continues A quick survey of any Acura dealership lot shows that the brand is definitely out of the "JDM" business. A quick survey of any Acura dealership lot shows that the brand is definitely and thoroughly out of the "JDM" business. So what does the brand mean nowadays? To find out, I drove a new Acura TLX from the approximate vicinity of the Koyama SHOTEN all the way to Watkins Glen and back over the course of a long weekend. I own a 2014 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V6, which shares the TLX's platform, general proportions, and interior hard points. After 34,000 miles spent behind the Accord's wheel driving everywhere from New York City to the Putman Park racetrack west of Indianapolis, I know the car backward and forward. Much of this knowledge transfers seamlessly to the Acura sedan. Although the TLX costs a few grand more than my Accord, it's powered by the direct-injection 2.4-liter four that, in a slightly less tuned form, powers entry-level Accords. The primary powertrain difference is that you get an 8-speed DCT in the TLX against a prosaic CVT in the Honda-branded car. It's a worthwhile upgrade; a 2.4-liter TLX feels much faster and more alive than a CVT Accord. Of course, you can get the V6 from my Honda in a TLX, and you can get it with AWD, which can't be had in any Honda-badged sedan at any price. What you can't get, however, is the manual transmission that can be had in both four-cylinder and V6 Accords. For those of us who remember Acura as the "sporty Honda," that's a real let down. Some of the "Acuraishness" in the TLX makes little or no sense. The simple and easy-to-use mechanical trunk and fuel-door releases in the Accord are replaced by two hard-to-find small electronic buttons tucked under the dash. The Bluetooth and phone control system is basically the same thing you get in the Accord, but it has a few more menus and is more annoying to use. It also buzzes when you touch it. The center console offers a nicer cover but less storage space. The climate-control vents have separate flow regulator knobs but are a little smaller in consequence. The heated seats and temperature control have to be done through the infotainment screen instead of with simple, dedicated buttons. The TLX looks different from the Accord, but I'm not sure it looks any better or worse. This is differentiation for its own sake, from the same mindset that gave us Monte Carlo and Cutlass Supreme variants of the General Motors A-body coupe. It also costs money; some percentage of the TLX's additional sticker price no doubt goes to the expense of stamping different body panels. An Accord with all of the TLX's features would cost less and deliver the same experience. On the highway, the TLX is quieter than the Accord, and it has one absolutely killer feature: the brilliant sound system with the ability to place a center stereo image directly in front of both front-seat occupants. I'd pay somewhere between one thousand and one zillion dollars for this feature in my Accord; it has to be heard to be believed. I'd say that the stereo system, the dual-clutch transmission, and the LED headlamps are the primary upgrades from Honda to Acura. During the long night drive through Pennsylvania and western New York, I came to have a genuine fondness for the TLX. The fuel economy was a commendable 33.5 mpg on the open road. The lane-keeping auto-steering system, which I'd initially dismissed as a repugnant imitation of the "autopilot" features entering high-end sedans, is actually brilliant at reducing fatigue and keeping you alert. You keep your hand lightly on the wheel and your attention forward. All of those constant small steering motions that you perform to stay in the center of a winding freeway lane are handled by the car. It really makes a difference. As of this year, it's also available on the Accord in conjunction with laser cruise control. In many ways, the TLX really is a modern Cutlass Supreme sedan. In many ways, the TLX really is a modern Cutlass Supreme sedan. It's recognizably upscale yet bland. It swallows freeway miles and seats four in reasonable comfort. (In this case, our "four" was three people and my Rainsong carbon-fiber acoustic guitar.) It has all the features you could want and a few you probably don't need. I'm sure it will be flawlessly reliable; if it's not, the warranty is slightly longer than the ridiculous and anachronistic 36/36,000 Honda guarantee. The problem is this: I can't remember what it looks like, even though I just got out of it 72 hours ago. I can't remember the exterior, can't remember the interior without reference to a photograph. The TLX exists in my mind like the Predator aliens: There's a vague shape that blurs the background like hot air rising, but no well-defined features. I could sit down right now and draw you a 1986 Integra right down to the goofy stickers on the sides, but I can't really hold the TLX in my head. It's slippery. I'm told by the people who know about these things that Acura truly exists nowadays to sell the crossovers, the MDX and the RDX. They do huge volume, and they're very profitable, and they have outstanding customer retention. The sedans are an afterthought. The coupes and hatches don't exist at all, with the exception of the new NSX. The days when Acura was the enthusiast's Honda, the Honda for the cognoscenti? They're as dead as the ain't-braggin'-if-it's-true Legend nameplate. As an owner of one Honda car and three Honda motorcycles, I'd like to own an Acura that stood in relation to current Hondas the way the original Acuras stood in relation to their contemporaries. Maybe a TLX with a higher-revving variant on the V6, some serious suspension tuning, and some authentic JDM wackiness. Put some decals on it. Give me the impression that it's straight outta Roppongi. I'll pay extra. I want that stereo. But it has to be installed in a car that feels as special as the stereo it contains. Last week, I drove my Accord by the Koyama SHOTEN. I had my son with me, and I thought it would be fun to let him prowl through the aisles the way I did some 30 years ago. But it's gone. Closed. There aren't enough Japanese people left in the old neighborhood. The Honda plant is mostly run by native Ohioans now. Honda is a very American company nowadays. Maybe that's part of the problem. Or maybe it just means there's room for the next Acuras to be different in a completely new and totally American way. That, too, would be just fine with me. Born in Brooklyn but banished to Ohio, Jack Baruth has won races on four different kinds of bicycles and in seven different kinds of cars. Everything he writes should probably come with a trigger warning. His column, Avoidable Contact, runs twice a week. Washington (AFP) - The US personnel who bombarded a hospital in the Afghan city Kunduz last year and killed 42 people will not face war crimes charges, their commander said Friday. The attack on the Doctors Without Borders trauma center triggered global outrage and forced President Barack Obama to make a rare apology on behalf of the US military still deployed in war-torn Afghanistan. But General Joseph Votel, the head of US Central Command, said an investigation has found the troops involved made a series of mistakes under the stress of battle and had targeted the facility by mistake. This, he argued, does not add up to a war crime, and the 16 personnel found to have failed in their duties will face administrative suspensions or reprimands rather than courts martial. "The investigation concluded that certain personnel failed to comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict," he told reporters. "The investigation found that the incident resulted from a combination of human errors, process errors and equipment failures and that none of the personnel knew they were striking a hospital." This argument did not appease Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an international medical relief agency, which has condemned the strike on its facility as a crime, and has repeatedly demanded an international inquiry. "Today's briefing amounts to an admission of an uncontrolled military operation in a densely populated urban area, during which US forces failed to follow the basic laws of war," MSF president Meinie Nicolai said. "It is incomprehensible that, under the circumstances described by the US, the attack was not called off." Nicolai argued the threshold for deeming an attack on a hospital a crime should not be the soldiers' intent and lamented that the Afghan victims of the strike have no legal recourse against the US military. "The lack of meaningful accountability sends a worrying signal to warring parties, and is unlikely to act as a deterrent against future violations of the rules of war," she said. Story continues Last year, Obama called MSF to offer his apologies for the strike, but on Friday his spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that the president stood by the Pentagon's investigation. "This is the transparent, thorough and objective accounting that the president had asked for," he said. "The United States goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and when those casualties do occur ... the United States of America owns up to it." - Taliban victory - On October 3, 2015 US special forces were deployed to Kunduz alongside Afghan forces in order to recapture the northern city from the Taliban, who had overrun it in one of their dramatic successes of the war. At the time of the attack on the hospital the joint US and Afghan force had been engaged in a fierce street battle for four days and, according to Votel, was tired and running low on supplies. Coming under fire once again the troops called for air support from an AC-130 gunship, a powerful war plane based on the airframe of a transport but equipped with cannons and a howitzer. According to Votel, the air crew scrambled earlier than they had expected and failed to take list of protected sites with them. A radio that could have passed on the coordinates in flight malfunctioned. Once over Kunduz the plane was fired upon by a ground to air missile, a rare threat in the Afghan theater, and the crew had to take evasive action before returning to the scene of the fighting. The special forces on the ground attempted to describe the location of a Taliban-occupied building around 400 yards from the hospital. In the confusion, however, the war plane targeted the wrong site. "Our forces did not receive fire from the trauma center during the incident nor did the investigation find that insurgents were using it as a base for operations," Votel said. Despite no fire coming from the hospital, the AC-130 turned its enormous firepower on the target, pummelling it repeatedly over an extended period. Witnesses told MSF that the main central block of the facility housing the intensive care unit was targeted precisely, with nearby buildings unscathed, and many patients burned to death in their beds. Agence France-Presse on Friday launched the 2016 Kate Webb Prize to recognise exceptional Asian journalists doing difficult and dangerous work across the region. Photo and video journalists are strongly encouraged to apply for this year's edition as part of AFP's efforts to boost visual and multimedia reporting. The winner, who will be selected by a panel of experienced journalists, will receive 3,000 euros (approximately $3,400) in cash. The winner will be announced during the summer and will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony later in the year. The contest is open to locally hired Asian photo, video and text journalists, for work published during 2015. We would like to encourage more visual journalists to apply this year. Photographers and video journalists are producing outstanding work in Asia and they need recognition and encouragement," said Philippe Massonnet, AFPs regional director for the Asia-Pacific region. There are a lot of very brave unsung heroes doing fine journalism in sometimes very tricky situations across Asia; defying physical danger, political pressure and other difficulties to tell stories that people really need to hear, Massonnet added. Applications will be accepted until midnight in Hong Kong (1600 GMT) on Friday, June 3. Thai investigative journalist Mutita Chuachang of the non-profit online newspaper Prachatai received the 2015 prize for her fearless independent reporting on democracy, human rights and the environment. The Kate Webb Prize was first awarded in 2008 to Pakistani reporter Mushtaq Yusufzai. Other winners were multimedia journalist Patricia Evangelista from the Philippines, Indian journalist and photographer Dilnaz Boga, Indonesian journalist Stefanus Teguh Edi Pramono, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. The prize is named after Kate Webb, one of AFPs finest correspondents, who died in 2007 at the age of 64. Webb, who was born in New Zealand, earned a reputation as a fearless reporter while covering the Vietnam War and other historic events in Asia during a career spanning four decades. Story continues Applications will be accepted via email to katewebbprize@afp.com. Applicants should submit the following: 1. A letter to the AFP Kate Webb Prize Jury explaining why you deserve the prize. 2. A CV with two professional references. 3. For reporters and photographers, at least three (3) samples of work published on different dates in 2015. They can be sent in PDF format for printed work or via links to the web versions. 3. For video journalists, at least three (3) samples of work broadcast or published online in 2015 via links to YouTube or other hosting sites. 4. The jury will accept work in English or any Asian national language, provided that there is an English translation. Photo captions must be in English. The competition excludes AFP staff, stringers and their relatives. Pretoria (AFP) - A South African court will rule Friday on a bid to have more than 700 corruption charges reinstated against President Jacob Zuma, piling further pressure on the embattled leader. The charges, relating to a multi-billion dollar arms deal, were dropped by the chief state prosecutor in 2009 -- clearing the way for Zuma to be elected president later that year. Judgement in the case will be delivered in the Pretoria High Court. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), maintains that the prosecutor's decision to drop the charges was wrong. "We contend that the decision taken by the then acting national director of public prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe, was irrational, unreasonable and made with an ulterior political motive," the DA said Thursday. The prosecutor had justified dropping the charges by saying that recordings of tapped phone calls between senior officials in then-president and Zuma rival Thabo Mbeki's administration showed political interference in the case. The recordings, which became known as the "spy tapes", were kept secret but finally released to the DA in 2014 after a five-year legal battle. "This (Friday's court ruling) could have the effect of reinstating the charges against President Zuma," said James Selfe, the chairman of the DA federal executive. Friday's decision will likely be appealed in a higher court by whichever side loses. Zuma last month lost another major legal battle when the country's highest court found he violated the constitution over the use of public funds to upgrade his private residence. This led to an effort in parliament by the DA and other opposition parties to impeach him, but the ruling African National Congress (ANC) used its majority to easily defeat the motion. Pressure on Zuma to be ousted or to resign has been growing with several veteran leaders of the party that brought Nelson Mandela to power in 1994 calling for him to step down. Story continues "If the judgement comes out against him tomorrow it will be another stain to an already tainted reputation," said University of Johannesburg professor of political science Mcebisi Ndletyana. The "spy tapes" saga is one of many scandals "that have painted him as character who suffers from a lack of integrity," Ndletyana said. Zuma is due retire from office in 2019 when his second term ends. * Euro zone bond yields higher across board * Analysts cite stronger oil, hawkish Fed speaker comments * Portugal court suspends Novo Banco bond transfer * DBRS set to review rating Lisbon needs for ECB QE (Writes through) By John Geddie and Dhara Ranasinghe LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Germany's 10-year bond yield rose sharply on Friday towards six-week highs as stronger oil prices and hawkish comments from a Federal Reserve official triggered selling, on the first anniversary of one of the biggest Bund routs in history. Brent crude headed for its biggest monthly rise in seven years, touching 2016 highs as a weak dollar and falling U.S. production tempered concerns about an excess of physical oil. Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan meanwhile said he could back a rise in U.S. interest rates as soon as June or July, if U.S. economic data firms up as he expects. Against this backdrop, euro zone yields steadily moved higher, shrugging aside data that showed the region slipped back into deflation in April. "One way to explain the move in bonds is the comment from the Fed's Kaplan," said DZ Bank strategist Christian Lenk. "He's not a voting member of the Fed but his comments are still hawkish." Germany's benchmark Bund yield rose as much as 5 basis points to 0.305 percent, moving towards a six-week high. It held close to those levels in late trade. The move revived memories of a sell-off a year ago, when Bund yields surged away from a record low of 0.05 percent to more than 1 percent in a matter of weeks. Other euro zone 10-year yields were 2-5 bps higher on Friday, with French yields hitting their highest level since mid-February. As bond yields rose, so did a measure of the market's long-term euro zone inflation expectations. The five-year, five-year breakeven forward rate, which measures where the market expects 2026 inflation forecasts to be in 2021 , rose to its highest level in about six weeks at around 1.48 percent. RATINGS REVIEW FOR PORTUGAL Story continues Portugal's 10-year bond yield was up 4 bps at 3.02 percent, but off the day's peaks, ahead of a ratings review from DBRS after the market close that could edge Portugal closer to junk territory and exclusion from the ECB's asset purchase scheme. While few expect DBRS to downgrade the country - a move that would see it lose the last remaining investment grade rating it needs to qualify for the ECB's quantitative easing scheme - a change in the outlook of the rating is seen as possible. DBRS' head sovereign analyst told Reuters on Monday that Portugal's commitment to fiscal targets and a healthy relationship with its European partners were important supports for the credit rating. The firm ranks Portugal at BBB (low), one notch above junk. It has it on a "stable" outlook which some fear could be removed, raising the prospect of a downgrade later in the year. The next review is scheduled for Oct. 21. Portuguese bonds also came under pressure after a court late on Thursday provisionally suspended a central bank decision to transfer bonds from state-rescued Novo Banco to "bad bank" BES. The decision could complicate the sale of the lender and has reignited investor worries that the leftist government, already struggling to get its finances in order, could be on the hook for further bank bailouts down the line. "The broader picture is one where investors are worried about the fiscal outlook in Portugal," said Nick Stamenkovic, a bond strategist at RIA Capital Markets. (Editing by Andrew Roche) Jerusalem (AFP) - Reconstruction aid to over 1,000 families in Gaza has been suspended due to a lack of materials, the United Nations said Friday, after Israel banned the private import of cement over corruption claims. Israel suspended the imports of cement to Gaza early this month after some of the supplies were allegedly diverted. The ban has led to acute shortages that have brought much of the reconstruction to a halt, the UN said. "Organisations providing assistance have had to suspend cash assistance for house repairs to over 1,370 families as a result of scarcity and acute price increases," a statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. "In addition, payment to 1,550 families scheduled to start reconstruction are being delayed due to the lack of available cement." Cement imports are vital for the Palestinian enclave after a devastating 2014 war between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas which rules the enclave and other Palestinian factions. However, Israel accuses Hamas of using the cement to build tunnels and this month announced the ban after accusing Imad al-Baz, deputy director of the economy ministry, of diverting supplies. He denied the claims. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov warned that anyone misappropriating the cement was "stealing from his own people and adding to the suffering of the people of Gaza." Over 75,000 people whose homes were either destroyed or severely damaged remain displaced, according to the UN. An Israeli blockade severely restricts the movement of people and goods into and out of the territory, and Egypt's sole border with Gaza has also remained largely closed since 2013. kristen_griest There's about to be a, "Yes, ma'am," in an Army infantry unit. After earning the coveted black-and-gold Ranger tab in August 2015, US Army Capt. Kristen Griest, 26, will once again make history by becoming the first female infantry officer, the Army said. Griest will become the first woman to lead an infantry unit into combat. "I think it's awesome," US Marine Corps Cpl. Harlee Bradford told Business Insider. Bradford was one of the first women to train in the first gender-integrated, notoriously grueling Marine Corps' Infantry Training Battalion in 2013. "Are we supposed to be surprised that a woman can do what a man can do? I'm happy for her. My only advice would be don't let someone else tell you what the hell you're capable of," Bradford added. Screen Shot 2016 04 29 at 11.12.05 AM In December 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that the Pentagon would open all combat jobs to women. "I totally support women in combat, women being eligible to compete for any position in the military," former Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Business Insider in an interview earlier this year. "But I would agree with military leaders there can be no lowering of the standards of the requirements to perform specific jobs, lowering standards will put lives at risk," Gates added. 'Rangers Lead the Way' army rangers The motto of the US Army's elite regiment could not be more fitting: "Rangers lead the way." In April 2015, West Point graduates Griest and First Lt. Shaye Haver entered into the first gender-integrated Ranger School, alongside 380 men and 18 other female candidates. Story continues Ranger candidates arrive for the 62-day training in the best shape of their lives and survive on a meal a day and just a few hours of sleep all the while completing some of the toughest military training in the world. "Ranger School is a gut check," Jack Murphy, a Special Operations 75th Ranger Regiment veteran and the managing editor of the military-focused publication SOFREP, told Business Insider. "... When you see another soldier wearing a Ranger tab on his or her uniform you know that you have both slogged it out through some extremely challenging training, which automatically builds a certain amount of trust in each other," Murphy added. Each year, approximately 4,000 students attend Ranger School. Sixty percent of those candidates wash out of the course. Griest, a military police officer from Connecticut and Haver, an Apache helicopter pilot from Texas, completed the full Ranger course in four months and graduated in August 2015 with 94 of their male counterparts. Welcome to Ranger School Screen Shot 2016 04 29 at 11.10.45 AM The US Army divides the grueling course into three phases: "Benning," "mountain," and "Florida." During the Benning phase of Ranger School, which takes place in Georgia, a soldier's physical stamina, mental toughness, and tactical skills are evaluated and fine-tuned. On the last day of the Benning phase, Ranger candidates conduct an arduous 12-mile march while carrying a 35-pound ruck sack and without the luxury of drinking water. About 50% of students will pass this phase of the course, according to the Ranger School website. Screen Shot 2016 04 29 at 11.13.59 AM During the appropriately named mountain phase, Ranger students are sent to the northern Georgia mountains to continue to learn how to sustain themselves in adverse conditions. "The rugged terrain, severe weather, hunger, mental and physical fatigue, and the emotional stress that the student encounters afford him the opportunity to gauge his own capabilities and limitations as well as that of his peers," according to the US Army. army ranger school The last phase consists of fast-paced field-training exercises in which candidates are evaluated based on their execution of high-stress raids, ambushes, and close-combat attacks. All students must pass an intense physical fitness test that includes 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, a 5-mile run with a 40 minute time limit, six chin-ups, a timed swim test, a land-navigation test, several obstacle courses, three parachute jumps, four air assaults on helicopters, and 27 days of mock combat patrols. NOW WATCH: The 6 coolest phrases only people in the military use More From Business Insider Beirut (AFP) - The city of Aleppo, capital of the eponymous northern province, is strategically vital to all sides involved in Syria's five-year civil war and at the centre of escalating violence imperilling a landmark ceasefire. Syria's onetime economic powerhouse, Aleppo and its surrounding countryside has suffered some of the worst fighting in a conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people. The city has been split into zones held by the regime in the west, and opposition in the east, since July 2012. A spike in fighting has killed more than 200 people in the past week, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights -- the most serious violations of a truce agreed between the US and Russia that began on February 27. Among buildings hit in the flare up was Al-Quds hospital, where the city's last paediatrician was one of at least 20 killed, and another medical site was hit on Friday. The International Committee of the Red Cross warns that Aleppo is now "on the brink of humanitarian disaster." Meanwhile, jihadists from the Islamic State group, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, the regime and allied militias, Kurdish fighters and rebels are battling each other throughout the province. - An ancient city - Aleppo is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, dating back to at least 4,000 BC, thanks to its strategic position between the Mediterranean and present-day Iraq. The former manufacturing hub, renowned for its textiles, is situated at the crossroads of major trading routes. It was considered the second city of the Ottoman empire until its collapse after World War I. The city suffered the wrath of the regime of Hafez al-Assad -- former president and father of current leader Bashar -- after an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood between 1979 and 1982. But the city returned to prosperity in the 1990s thanks to its ability to develop commercial, industrial and cultural activities at a time of state-controlled economic liberalisation. Story continues - Aleppo enters the war - In April-May 2011, thousands of students demonstrated in Aleppo, which had so far been spared the pockets of unrest that Syria was experiencing. While the protests were brutally crushed, rebels took control of several parts of Aleppo province, which they would later use as launch pads for a massive July 2012 offensive on the city. The army fought back with tanks, leaving Aleppo divided between zones controlled by the rebels and those by the regime, with its province divided up between regime, rebels, jihadists and Kurds. - 'Every side has a stake' - Aleppo's residents have paid a terrible price during the conflict, with its pre-war population of 2.5 million reduced to just one million today. Some 750,000 are in regime-held areas, 200,000 in opposition areas and 100,000 in the Kurdish neighbourhoods. Multiple waves of displacement have followed round upon round of fighting and bombardment, including brutal barrel bomb strikes targeting opposition-held residential neighbourhoods. Most recently, 30,000 people were forced to flee as IS jihadists battled rebels near the Turkish border this week, according to Human Rights Watch. Fighting this week has also left over 200 fighters dead, according to the Observatory, a Britain-based monitoring group. Violence around Aleppo is the fiercest in Syria the ceasefire began, and is especially significant because all sides in the war are present in the province. "Aleppo is the key to war and peace in Syria," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. "Every side in the war has a stake in Aleppo." Syria expert Fabrice Balanche agreed. "The main battleground is Aleppo province. Assad must control Aleppo if he doesn't want to be president of half a country," he told AFP. - Cultural heritage destroyed - The historic centre of Aleppo housed many heritage sites including its renowned 13th-century citadel. In September 2012, a blaze swept through ancient shops in the city's souk, and in April 2013 the minaret of the historic Ummayad mosque collapsed during fierce fighting. Rebels using explosives to reach government positions in Aleppo's Old City destroyed the iconic Carlton Hotel on May 8, 2014. And in July 2015, a blast destroyed part of the ramparts that surround the citadel. Algiers (AFP) - Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika returned home to the North African country on Friday from Switzerland after undergoing "routine medical checks", the APS news agency said citing a presidency statement. No further details were given about the results of the checks in Geneva, where Bouteflika went on Sunday at a time of renewed speculation about his health. The Algerian leader, 79, suffered a stroke in 2013 that has impeded his mobility and speech. In December, he underwent two days of medical tests at a cardiology unit in the French city of Grenoble. On the rare occasions that he appears in public, usually to receive foreign dignitaries, he has been in a wheelchair and speaking with difficulty. Speculation over his successor has been rife in Algerian media and on social media since visiting French Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted a picture of a very weak-looking Bouteflika on April 10. Rumours of worsening health abound, and opposition leaders have spoken of a power vacuum in the country which they say is in effect run by relatives including the president's brother Said. Bouteflika has led Algeria for the past 17 years. In 2014, his decision to seek a fourth mandate sparked criticism from those who questioned his ability to rule. He did not campaign and voted from a wheelchair, but still won 81 percent of the vote. ALGIERS (Reuters) - Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 79, has returned to Algiers after a brief visit to Geneva for medical checkups, his latest since a stroke three years ago that has mostly kept him out of the public view. "The president of the republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, returned to the country on Friday," the presidency said in a statement on APS state news agency. Bouteflika, who has governed the North African OPEC state for more than 15 years, left a week ago for "regular medical checkups", state media said. He has visited Paris and Geneva several times since the stroke in 2013 that left him in a French hospital for several months. Since his re-election in 2014 to a fourth term, the veteran of the independence war against France has only been seen in periodic state television images and photographs, usually greeting visiting foreign dignitaries at his palace. Bouteflika's illness has prompted speculation about a possible transition from a leader who helped bring the country out of a 1990s war with Islamist fighters and into more economic stability during the times of high oil prices. He has steadily strengthened his loyalists' position since 2014 and reduced the Algerian military's long-running influence in politics by firing generals and revamping the DRS military intelligence agency. (Reporting by Patrick Markey; Editing by Tom Heneghan) Allison Janney briefly reprised her West Wing character during a real press briefing at the actual White House Friday. Janney channeled C.J. Cregg as she took the podium in the White House briefing room, informing real-life White House correspondents that Barack Obamas press secretary, Josh Earnest, was out getting a root canal. Lets be honest, Im better than he is at this anyway, she said. Also Read: 'West Wing' Star Bradley Whitford Joins Showtime's 'Happyish' The actress, who is at the White House Friday for a Mom even along with Chuck Lorre and Anna Faris, played President Bartlets (Martin Sheen) press secretary turned chief of staff on all seven seasons of NBCs The West Wing. During her brief gag at the podium, Janney also said she will be giving a performance of The Jackal, referencing one C.J.s most iconic and enduring moments. Watch Janneys takeover of the White House press briefing below, as well as C.J. doing The Jackal, in episode 18 of Season 1 of The West Wing. Also Read: 'West Wing' Reunion Goes Wrong in 'The Grinder' Cold Open (Exclusive Video) Allison Janney takes over White House press briefing as character 'C. J. Cregg' from 'The West Wing.' https://t.co/jdDgMDQbm5 ABC News (@ABC) April 29, 2016 Related stories from TheWrap: Allison Janney Lands in Emmy Record Book With 7th Acting Win 'Juno's' Ellen Page, Allison Janney to Reteam for Dramatic Comedy 'Tallulah' Ratings: Anna Faris-Allison Janney Comedy 'Mom' Hits Another High S A decade after the West Wing ended its seven-year run on NBC, Allison Janney returned to the White House on Friday to reprise the role of her character C.J. Cregg, who served as President Josiah Bartlet's press secretary It was Janney, not real-life Press Secretary Josh Earnest, who stepped up to the lectern in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room on Friday, joking that Earnest was out for a root canal "But let's be honest, I'm better at this than he is anyway," she quipped. "Allison Janney takes over White House press briefing as character 'C. J. Cregg' from 'The West Wing.'" "C.J." informed reporters that President Barack Obama (or is it Bartlet?) was still honing his routine for tomorrow's White House Correspondents Association dinner, promising his speech would be "very funny." "And second, it is Friday, which means at half-past five, ." Any West Wing fanatic, of course, remembers full well: Just when it came time for C.J. to meet the press once more, Earnest appeared. "This is not your show anymore!" he exclaimed. But if she was already at the lectern, he said, she'd might as well stay there. Janney then got to the real reason she was in Washington: to attend a meeting on addressing the epidemic of opioid addiction, an issue that has galvanized politicians across the political spectrum. "This is a disease that can touch anybody, and all of us can help reduce drug abuse through evidence-based treatment, prevention and recovery," Janney said. amazon jeff bezos chart Amazon is on a streak, with four consecutive quarters posting a profit. For investors in Amazon, who have become accustomed to the company's focus on revenue and user growth instead of on the bottom line, the newfound profits are a novelty. Here's how Amazon's three main businesses compare in terms of operating margins, including stock-based compensation: North America: 3.5% International: 1.3% Amazon Web Services: 23.5% In other words, Amazon's AWS cloud-computing business is very different in terms of profit potential versus its traditional bare-bones-margin e-commerce business. AWS posted operating income of $604 million on revenue of $2.6 billion in the first quarter. What's really striking, though, is that Amazon nearly doubled AWS's operating margin year-over-year. AWS's margin went from 12.5% in Q1 of 2015 to 23.5%. The improvement is basically the payoff from heavy data-center investment in 2014 and early 2015, says Mizuho analyst Neil Doshi. "They started to get more scale, and more efficiency throughout the business, and that's what you're seeing in the margins," says Doshi. Heavy lifting costs are done Amazon is planning to ramp up five new AWS zones this year, which means that spending should pick up again, but Doshi describes the spending as "incremental" rather than "heavy-lifting costs." Of course, the cloud market is a fiercely competitive business, full of hungry rivals like Google and Microsoft and prone to frequent price wars. Those price wars could put pressure on Amazon's margins. Still, the big spending going forward is likely to be in other areas, as Amazon builds out its global network of warehouse distribution centers and creates its own transportation network, including leasing airplanes. The company warned on Thursday's earnings call that video would also be a major investment thrust this year. Even as Amazon ramps up its spending on these initiatives, Doshi thinks that the company may be determined to show a new side to investors. Story continues "It seems like we're seeing a new Amazon that's kind of more focused on revenue growth but also decent margin expansion," he said. NOW WATCH: Amazon will open over 300 brick-and-mortar bookstores we visited the first one More From Business Insider What Do AMD's 1Q16 Earnings and Guidance Say about Its Future? (Continued from Prior Part) AMDs 1Q16 earnings beat analysts estimates Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), the only competitor of Intel (INTC) in the PC (personal computer) processor and server space, reported 1Q16 earnings that beat analysts estimates. Lets look at some key statistics of AMDs earnings. In 1Q16, the companys revenue fell 19.2% YoY (year-over-year) to $832 million, but it topped analysts consensus estimate of $818 million. The revenue figure includes $7 million recognized from its licensing joint venture with China (MCHI). On a quarter-over-quarter basis, AMDs revenue fell 13% in 1Q16 due to seasonal weakness in semi-custom processor sales. Even NVIDIA (NVDA) expects to report lower revenue on a quarter-over-quarter basis due to seasonal weakness. AMDs non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) loss per share worsened from $0.09 in 1Q15 to $0.12 in 1Q16, better than analysts estimate of -$0.13. Profitability Despite revenue falls, AMDs non-GAAP gross margin remained flat at 32% in 1Q16, largely due to a favorable product mix between various enterprise segments. The companys operating loss widened from $30 million in 1Q15 to $55 million in 1Q16. This is because the companys revenue fell faster than its opex (operating expenses). AMDs opex fell 7% YoY, while its revenue fell 19.2% YoY. Although the company reported better-than-expected earnings, its losses continue, and its interest burden of ~$160 million per year restricts its ability to invest in research and development. The company expects to post revenue growth in 2Q16 after reporting falls for the past six quarters. However, some analysts doubt this guidance, given the companys huge losses, tough competition, and heavy interest burden, along with the slowdown in PC sales. The slowdown forced Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) to split, Dell to go private, and IBM (IBM) to sell off its PC business to Lenovo. Story continues In the coming parts of the series, well look at the companys key business segments and the factors driving its growth. The PowerShares QQQ Trust, Series 1 ETF (QQQ) has exposure in the technology sector, including 2.9% in INTC. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Developer Plans Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Status to Accelerate National Expansion DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / AmeriCann, Inc. (ACAN), a company that designs, develops and owns advanced medical cannabis facilities, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved unanimously a plan for the company to pursue conversion to real estate investment trust (REIT) status. The Company expects to elect REIT status subject to completion of related preparatory work and the obtaining of necessary third-party consents. By Apeksha Nair and Arpan Varghese (Reuters) - Analysts are growing increasingly confident that a near-two-year rout in oil has ended, and raised their price forecasts for a second month running, as healthier demand and a drop in U.S. shale output balance the market by 2017. The inability of OPEC and non-OPEC producers to agree to limit oil output at a meeting earlier this month is not expected to slow the rebalancing of global demand and supply. The survey of 29 analysts projected a slightly more bullish outlook, raising their average forecast for Brent crude futures (LCOc1) in 2016 to $42.30 (28.92 pounds) a barrel, compared to $40.90 in the March poll. Last month's survey saw an upward revision in 2016 Brent forecasts for the first time in 10 months. Brent has averaged about $40 a barrel in 2016. Oil prices are headed for a fourth straight week of gains and a rise of around 20 percent in April, their largest monthly increase in a year. [O/R] Analysts said the failure of the Qatar meeting among the world's largest producers to reach an agreement to keep output at January's levels has had little or no impact on prices. "The status quo is already such that virtually all producers, except Iran, have little to no room to increase production from current levels," said Raymond James analyst Luana Siegfried. Since the April 17 stalemate in Doha, the oil price has rallied 21 percent to its highest since November. Iran's oil output will rise only modestly this year and next, but it will be enough to stop global supply and demand from rebalancing in 2016, according to a Reuters poll earlier this month. "In the meantime, volatility will remain high as investors intermittently switch focus from speculation about production cuts or freezes on the one hand, and existing oversupply, on the other," ABN AMRO senior energy economist Hans Van Cleef said. However, a better demand outlook - with some analysts projecting an improvement by about 1 to 1.5 million barrels per day - and falling U.S. production, should keep the market on track to reach supply-demand balance next year. Story continues "Solid global demand growth combined with declining production both domestically (in the U.S.) and globally, should lead to a meaningfully undersupplied global oil market by mid-2016," Raymond James' Siegfried said. Over the medium term, however, slower global economic growth could subdue the increase in demand for oil, analysts said. Analysts expect U.S. crude futures (CLc1) to average $40.50 a barrel in 2016, up 80 cents from the March poll forecast. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has averaged about $35.27 in 2016. Raymond James had the highest 2016 Brent forecast at $53 a barrel, while CRISIL had the lowest at $35.50. (Editing by Amanda Cooper and Dale Hudson) Globetrotting food raconteur Anthony Bourdain has released new details on a North American tour that will hit 15 cities and help promote his first cookbook in more than 10 years. To coincide with the release of "Appetites," Bourdain -- best known as the former enfant terrible of the food world and the irreverent host of the CNN series "Parts Unknown" -- has announced plans to hit the road this fall in a live tour and stage act. "The Hunger" tour kicks off on the east coast in October in Boston and New York, before heading out west to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Toronto will be Bourdain's only Canadian stop. Described as a book for the home cook, "Appetites" distills 40 years of travel and professional cookery into a repertoire of some of the chef's favorite recipes -- dishes he serves his own family and friends in his New York home. Expect comfort foods like roast chicken with lemon and butter, and candied sweet potatoes -- minus the marshmallows. Photos are taken by Bobby Fisher and the cover illustrated by British cartoonist Ralph Steadman, best known for his collaborations with Hunter S. Thompson. The book also features a bonus pull-out poster of a deconstructed burger, as seen by Nathan Myhrvold, the culinary scientist behind the encyclopedic series "Modernist Cuisine." Bourdain's cookbook is set to be released on the same day as Ina Garten's latest title "Cooking for Jeffrey," which refers to her husband. Incidentally, Bourdain describes himself as a "psychotic, anally retentive, bad tempered Ina Garten." "Appetites" is published by Ecco and out Oct. 25, 2016. The book retails for $37.50 and is now available for pre-order. Check out http://anthonybourdainontour.com/ for "The Hunger" tour dates. Its fairly grim to contemplate your own mortality - but you could already be displaying signs which show you might die young. Not all of these are as obvious as a hacking cough either. Here are a few signs that you are more likely to die early. If you fall into these categories, dont panic: most of these are indicators based on your level of overall fitness. If youre worried, ensure you follow a healthy exercise regime, and eat well. If you need advice, speak to a medical professional. Do you have a weak handshake? People who have weak handshakes dont just make bad first impressions - theyre at risk of dying young. A large study found that weak grip strength is associated with higher risk of heart attack and stroke - due, possibly, to it being an indicator of overall fitness. The statistics stand up even when adjusted for other factors such as smoking - with each 5kg reduction in grip strength being linked to a 9% increase in risk of stroke, and a 7% increase in risk of heart attack. The researchers, from McMaster University in Canada analysed data on 139,691 adults aged 35-70, using a handgrip dynamometer to measure grip strength. Is your resting heart rate over 80? If you wear a fitness wristband such as a Fitbit or Jawbone, youll probably know your resting heart rate. But its bad news for you if its over 80. People who have a resting heart rate of 80 beats per minute are 45% more likely to die in the next 20 years compared to those with resting heart rate of 45bpm, according to Medical College of Qingdao University. Researchers at the Medical College of Qingdao University used data from 46 previous studies involving 1.2 million people. Dr Dongfeng Zhang said, There is no doubt that elevated resting heart rate serves as a marker of poor health status. Our results highlight that people should pay more attention to their resting heart rate for their health, and also indicate the potential importance of physical activity to lower resting heart rate. Story continues Do you have trouble maintaining an erection? For men, problems with erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of heart disease. Doctors are increasingly warning that erectile dysfunction can often be an early warning sign of heart disease. Heart disease occurs due to arteries becoming clogged - and the effect is also seen in blood vessels carrying blood to the penis. Cardiologist Graham Jackson, of the Sexual Advice Association, said, A man in his 40s with erectile dysfunction has a 50-fold greater risk of having a heart attack over the next ten years. Can you do physical exercise without getting out of breath? A test based on how people perform on a treadmill can predict how likely they are to die within a decade, with a high degree of accuracy. A team of researchers analysed results of 58,000 fitness tests in Detroit, Michigan - then tracked how many of the testers died within the next decade. John Hopkins University found that gauging peoples heart rate and fitness on a treadmill can work out their risk of death - more accurately than looking at risk factors such as a family history of premature death. For example, a 45-year-old woman with a very low fitness score has a 38% risk of dying over the next decade, whereas a 45-year-old woman with a top fitness score has a 2% risk. Do you have a lot of friends - or only a few? Lonely people are more likely to die early - and the reason is that their immune systems are weaker. People who dont interact with others frequently are 14% more likely to suffer early death. They appear to have much lower levels of white blood cells in their bodies, according to University of Chicago scientists. Research on both humans and monkeys showed a link between levels of stress hormones and a drop in levels of white blood cells. Federal agents have arrested three relatives of one of the San Bernardino shooters in California. The AP reported Thursday that the brother and sister-in-law of Syed Rizwan Farook, as well as woman who is married to a friend of Farooks, have been charged in an investigation of marriage-fraud conspiracy. The two women are Russian immigrants, the AP says. The older brother is Syed Raheel Farook, a U.S. Navy veteran. The FBI searched his home in February and confiscated a computer and other items. The Los Angeles Times explains the family ties: Raheel Farooks marriage to a Russian national also came under suspicion in the weeks after the December attack. The elder Farook and Enrique Marquez a friend of Syed Rizwan Farook who has been charged with buying weapons used in the assault were married to a pair of sisters from Western Russia: Tatiana and Mariya Chernykh. Tatiana was married to Raheel Farook, while Mariya was wed to Marquez in 2014. The younger Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, shot and killed 14 people and wounded 21 others in a conference room last December in San Bernardino, California. The couple was killed in a shootout with police that day. U.S. officials determined soon after that the shooters were inspired by the Islamic State, which later praised Farook and Malik as followers but did not claim responsibility for organizing the assault. Late last year, federal prosecutors charged Marquez with immigration fraud over an alleged sham marriage; agents alleged Mariya Chernykh paid Marquez $200 a month for their union. Marquez was also charged with the illegal purchase of two rifles used in Farooks shooting and explosive material that was used to build a pipe bomb found at the center where it occurred, and with conspiracy for planning terrorist attacks with Farook in 2011 and 2012 that were never carried out. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. For a moment, think of every major event that has occurred in your life since 1986 (if youre old enough, of course). Many birthdays have come and gone, children have grown to become adults, and we went from listening to Rock Me Amadeus to well Justin Bieber. In a nutshell, things have changed quite a bit, but not for everything. In 1986, this Aston Martin DBS was rolled into a barn and locked safely away from prying eyes, and for the last 30 years, that is exactly where it has remained, until now. The dusty yet gorgeous Aston will cross the Silverstone Auctions block in May, where its expected to fetch upwards of 60,000 (about $87,000). New in 1968, it would have cost about 4,470. RELATED: See More Photos of this Barn Find Aston Martin DBS Few words can describe the emotional weight of these barn find images, but haunting seems to fit. The Astons three decades of shed isolation have written their story across its fastback bodywork, which now comes layered thick with dust, dirt, and a spot of bird dirt or two. Peer beneath the grime though and the DBS still wears its original coat of Mink Bronze paint. Inside the grand tourers cabin, time has stood equally still, however the elements have been a bit less fair. The rich leather front seats and upholstery have grown grey and mottled with age. And while no one has sat in the back seat of this DBS for ages, it would appear critters havent long given up roost there. Even so, its utterly jaw-dropping to see in its untouched state. RELATED: Check Out James Bonds Actual 1964 Aston Martin DB5 According to the auction house, the Aston Martin was sold new on November 5th, 1968, to its first owner in Surrey, England, who held onto it for a little under two years. In April 1970, the DBS passed to its second ownera Mr. Pasquawho relocated the car to the island of Jersey (the largest of the UKs Channel Islands). For the next 16 years it would accumulate a scant number of miles before getting tucked away in a barn on the island, and to this day, the odometer reads just 30,565 miles driven. Then again, how far can you really drive on an island thats only five miles wide and eight miles long. Story continues RELATED: This 66 Porsche Barn Find Looks Ravishing in Red As for its model history, the DBS was the rather radical successor to the storied and much more sweeping Aston Martin DB6. It arrived new in 1967, intended to receive a new V8 engine, but it wasnt ready in time for production so the first series housed the firms lauded twin-cam straight six. On May 20th the Aston Martin DBS will find a new owner, but the question is this: do you restore it to like-new condition, or keep it as is and untouched? RELATED: One of The Flintstones Flintmobiles is Up for Sale Attorney General Loretta Lynch has some disappointing news for Hillary Clinton foes and fans who hope her email drama will be resolved before the Democratic National Convention: The investigation has no deadline. Lynch says setting a hard stop date for "a full, thorough and independent review" would hamper authorities' ability to do a good job. "People have to have confidence that we treat every case the same, no matter whose last name is involved, no matter how much publicity it gets," Lynch said in an interview with Al Hunt on Charlie Rose, per Bloomberg News. Source: Alex Wong/Getty Images "We don't make predictions on the time because that essentially cuts off the independence of that and it cuts off the thoroughness." Private affair: Clinton's use of a private email address and server while running the State Department has proven to have staying power as an issue through the presidential campaign for both parties. Clinton's Democratic primary rival, Bernie Sanders, famously told the former secretary of state during an October debate that the "American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails." Sanders conceded at the time that taking that stance may not have been "great politics," though his dismissal of the email issue drew an ovation from the debate audience. But the Vermont senator's wife, Jane, revived the issue as recently as Thursday, saying in a Fox Business appearance that while Team Sanders doesn't want to politicize the investigation, "it would be nice if the FBI moved it along." Her position was sure to please Sanders fans who are keeping the faith despite their candidate's waning chances of overcoming Clinton and winning the presidential nomination. Republican pile-on: On the GOP side, frontrunner Donald Trump has pounded away on the email scandal. He started calling it a "criminal problem" for Clinton early in the cycle, and has maintained it could be her ultimate undoing although he said this month he's not confident she'll be indicted. Story continues Clinton has said she used the personal address as a matter of pure convenience. She turned over 55,000 pages of emails from her private account some of which contained secret information while deleting about the same amount. While Clinton has painted herself as eager to cooperate with the investigation, the State Department's own inspector general has said her responses to Freedom of Information requests for the emails were sluggish and incomplete. The upshot: For better or worse for Clinton and her opponents, Lynch has made clear this investigation is running on its own clock, independent of the approaching election. SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian court on Friday ordered British consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser (RB.L) to pay a penalty of A$1.7 million (887,852 pounds) for misleading consumers on painkiller marketing, prompting the regulator that flagged the case to say it would step up a campaign for heftier fines in future. The court ruled Reckitt Benckiser "contravened the Australian Consumer Law", saying its Nurofen Back Pain, Period Pain, Migraine Pain and Tension Headache products were identical. The firm had engaged in "misleading conduct" by labelling them for different ailments, the court said. Reckitt Benckiser representatives in Australia didn't immediately respond to requests for comment by telephone and email. Last December, the court had ordered the firm, worth $69 billion by market value, to pull several of its Nurofen pain relief products from the market. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), which had brought the proceedings to the court, said on Friday it was advocating for an increase to penalties for breach of consumer laws. "The ACCC had submitted that a penalty of at least A$6 million was appropriate in order to send a strong deterrence message," ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said in a statement. "We will carefully consider the judgement," he said. (Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Lawyers for 850 asylum seekers held in a controversial detention center in Papua New Guinea said on Friday they planned to seek potentially billions of dollars in compensation, as Australian officials prepared to travel to PNG for emergency talks. PNG announced this week the closure of the detention center it operates on behalf of Australia, which has pursued a hardline immigration policy criticized by the United Nations and international human rights organization. The closure of the Manus Island facility - which holds asylum seekers fleeing violence in the Middle East, Afghanistan and South Asia - has the two South Pacific neighbors at loggerheads at a politically sensitive time for Australia. Each says responsibility for the detainees' welfare rests with the other. The number trying to reach Australia is small compared with Europe, but immigration has long been a sensitive political issue. Under Australia's policy, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach the country by boat after paying people smugglers are sent for processing to camps in Manus Island or the tiny Pacific island of Nauru, which holds another 500 people in detention. They are told they will never settle in Australia. The harsh conditions and reports of systemic child abuse at the camps have drawn wide criticism inside and outside Australia and have become a major headache for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during campaigning for July national elections. Domestic opposition to the policy was stirred even more on Friday with confirmation that a 23-year-old man, who set himself on fire earlier this week in protest against his treatment on Nauru, had died. Turnbull has warned against being "misty-eyed" over immigration and Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton reiterated on Friday there would be no policy change. Dutton suggested one option was to transfer those held on PNG to the Nauru facility. "MARKETING OPPORTUNITY" New Zealand on Friday repeated an earlier offer to accept 150 of the refugees but that was again rejected. "Settlement in a country like New Zealand would be used by the people smugglers as a marketing opportunity," Turnbull told Australian radio. Lawyers in PNG will go the country's Supreme Court on Monday to argue for the immediate release of Manus Island detainees back to Australia, as well compensation for their detention. The legal action has support, at least in part, from PNG's High Commissioner to Australia, Charles Lepani, who said on Thursday responsibility for what to do with the men rested with Canberra. PNG-based lawyer Ben Lomai, who represents more than 300 of the detained men, told the Post Courier newspaper he would file a compensation case on Monday after the Supreme Court's ruling. "We can go straight to assessing reasonable compensation without having to prolong the case any further," Lomai said. Refugee advocacy group Human Rights Watch described the death of the man on Nauru as "senseless" and a result of "Australia's inhumane refugee policies". "Refugees who have fled persecution in their homelands dont deserve a life in limbo in a detention center or effectively imprisoned on a tiny remote island," said the group's Australian director Elaine Pearson. Confirmation of his death came as about 200 protesters, flanked by dozens of police, marched through central Sydney carrying signs and chanting slogans such as "refugees are welcome here". The fallout from the policy even extended into Australia's equities market on Friday. Broadspectrum Ltd, the operator of the Manus Island center, agreed to a A$769 million ($586 million) bid from Spain's infrastructure giant Ferrovial SA after PNG's decision to close the camp sent its share price soaring. Broadspectrum's board had previously urged shareholders to reject several offers from Ferrovial, most recently on April 6, but said late on Thursday the PNG decision had increased uncertainty over its future earnings. (Reporting by Colin Packham; Additional reporting by Jane Wardell and Matt Siegel; Editing by Paul Tait) Sydney (AFP) - An Australian woman working for a charity in Afghanistan has been kidnapped, the country's foreign minister said Friday. Julie Bishop said Canberra was working to secure the release of Katherine Jane Wilson, but insisted Australia does not pay ransoms for hostages. Wilson, who also uses the first name Kerry, was grabbed in the city of Jalalabad, close to the border with Pakistan, on Thursday, a government official in the area told AFP. "She visited the city of Jalalabad for a women's embroidery project," said Ataullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital. "And unknown masked gunmen abducted her from Police District 2 of Jalalabad city." He added that the kidnappers, disguised as police, took her at 4am from a home in which she was staying. Nangarhar police chief Zrawer Zahed confirmed the abduction by "unidentified gunmen" not long after she arrived on Wednesday evening. Bishop said she had been in contact with Wilson's family. "The details of the reports are still being confirmed but the Afghan authorities certainly believe she has been kidnapped," she told reporters. "Our priority is to ensure that she is well, that she's being treated well, and so that's what we're focusing our efforts upon, working with the local authorities. Our embassy in Kabul of course is deeply involved in this matter." Asked if Canberra would pay a ransom if one was demanded, she replied: "The Australian government does not, as a matter of policy, pay ransom for kidnappers." Wilson's 91-year-old father Brian Wilson said his daughter had worked in the region with charities related to women's rights and water security for more than 20 years, and made an emotional plea for her release. "I feel extremely worried indeed," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "But I presume she's a hostage, and that they'll do their best to keep her alive and not harm her, simply because they want to have something or other in return and it's not very good having a dead hostage." Vienna (AFP) - The head of Austria's anti-immigration far-right apologised Friday for claiming a newspaper faked a photo of an anti-refugee protest by his party, donating 9,000 euros ($10,300) to a migrants charity. "A close inspection of the matter has now shown that this claim was not accurate. With an expression of my regret I hereby withdraw it," Heinz-Christian Strache of the Freedom Party (FPOe) said on Facebook. Photographer Juerg Christandl, who had sued Strache after he claimed the picture was doctored, said that this meant that "for me, the matter is now closed". He said would not receive any money. The photo, published in the Kurier daily, was of FPOe sympathisers holding up signs saying "No to asylum shelter" as a Syrian family with a young child arrived in Vienna in June 2015. Strache's party, one several populist on the rise across Europe, is leading in opinion polls on the back of unease about the arrival of 90,000 asylum-seeker in Austria last year. On Sunday, the FPOe's candidate Norbert Hofer came a clear first in the first round of elections for the largely -- but not entirely -- ceremonial post Austrian president with 35 percent of the vote. Hofer will now face Alexander van der Bellen, former leader of the Greens, in a run-off on May 22. A Gallup poll released Friday, which surveyed 400 people, put both candidates neck-and-neck. The first round was a debacle for the two centrist parties in Chancellor Werner Faymann's coalition, which have dominated Austrian politics since 1945, with their candidates knocked out of the race. This is despite the government taking a harder line on migrants, with parliament this week passing one of Europe's toughest asylum laws and the country tightening border controls. Hofer predicted on Friday as he presented new campaign posters -- "The RIGHT comes from the PEOPLE", says one -- that he would win "significantly" more than 50 percent on May 22. Story continues The FPOe has toned down its anti-immigration rhetoric, with Hofer focusing more on issues like direct democracy and opposing a contentious mooted trade deal between Europe and the United States. But despite coming across as likeable and moderate, Hofer, 45, is nonetheless an important figure in formulating FPOe party policy who has said Islam "has no place in Austria". The Oesterreich tabloid described him this week as "a kind, nice protest politician who wraps the FPOe's brutal declarations against refugees in soft language". VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria's presidential race between an independent and a far-right candidate who secured a record share of the vote in the first round is too close to call, an opinion poll published on Friday showed. The Gallup poll for tabloid daily Oesterreich showed both candidates on 50 percent, but with a margin of error of 5.4 percentage points and based on a small sample of 400 people. The run-off election will be held on May 22. Far-right Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer unexpectedly garnered 35 percent of the vote in the first round on Sunday. Polls before the election had regularly shown him running second on less than 25 percent. Former Greens leader Alexander van der Bellen, who is standing as an independent, came second in the first round with 21 percent of the vote. Opinion polls had showed him as the front-runner, but the gap with Hofer narrowed in the closing stages. Austria's President is a largely ceremonial figure but can play an important role in the formation of governments and has the power to dismiss the cabinet. The President is also head of the neutral country's armed forces. (Reporting by Francois Murphy, editing by Ed Osmond) * Sees 2016 organic sales up more than 7 pct * Affirms 2016 margin outlook despite heavy spending * Q1 operating profit $205 mln vs forecast $196 mln * Shares rise as much as 8.3 pct (Adds CEO comment, detail, background, share) STOCKHOLM, April 29 (Reuters) - Auto safety gear maker Autoliv raised its sales outlook for the year and stuck by bullish guidance on profitability, sending its shares up as much as 8 percent after reporting forecast-beating quarterly earnings. Autoliv, the world's biggest maker of airbags and seatbelts, has been growing sales as carmakers move to replace millions of airbag inflators made by Japan's Takata in one of the biggest recalls to strike the auto industry. "We continue to experience solid growth in our business related to the current recall situation in the airbag market," Chief Executive Jan Carlson said in a statement. "This relates both to the sales of replacement inflators which is now higher than previously expected and the sustainable business we are winning." Autoliv, which is based in Sweden but reports in dollars, said operating income rose to $205 million from a year-ago $80 million, beating a mean forecast of $196 million in a Reuters poll of analysts. The Stockholm-listed shares in the company were up 7.3 percent by 1052 GMT, putting the stock on track for its biggest one-day gain in three years. The company said it saw like-for-like sales growing more than 7 percent this year compared to a previous outlook of more than 5 percent. It also stood by a forecast for a core operating margin of more than 9 percent, defying some analysts' expectations that a year of heavy investment could force it to scale back guidance. Autoliv also raised its forecast for delivery volumes of replacement airbag inflators due to Takata's crisis to as many as 30 million units in 2015 through 2018. It had previously seen deliveries of up 20 million units in 2015 through 2017. "If they decide to recall more cars than they have done so far, there is definitely an upside to that," Carlson told Reuters. Link to report: (Reporting by Niklas Pollard; Editing by Alistair Scrutton) PARIS (Reuters) - Some cars on French roads do not meet carbon dioxide limits, but the French government said on Thursday it had not found any equipped with software to cheat pollution tests. French Ecology minister Segolene Royal ordered tests on a random sample of about 100 diesel cars last year after Germany's Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) admitted that 11 million of its diesel vehicles had "defeat devices" which allowed them to meet emissions rules in test conditions. "Tests conducted in France on 52 vehicles from 15 different brands showed no cheating device. However, the tests highlighted significantly higher emissions (in CO2 and Nox) in real traffic conditions," the Ecology ministry said. The ministry said the vehicles that had failed to comply fully with French emissions regulations were made by Renault (RENA.PA), Fiat (FCHA.MI), Mercedes, Volkswagen, PSA Peugeot Citroen (PEUP.PA), Nissan , Opel (GM.N) and Ford (F.N). (Reporting by Matthias Blamont; Editing by Alexander Smith) From Seventeen "Stitches" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer" are both incredible songs, but once you've played them 9,000 times and your mom is begging you to please, just please play something else, it's only natural to start craving new music from Shawn Mendes. Luckily, his second album is closer to dropping than you might think. In a new interview with Norwegian radio station NRK MP3, Shawn announced that his sophomore album will drop this September! "After we finish in Europe, we're going to head to America to do the big American tour, and then release a new single and the new album in September," he said. The interviewer also had a couple ~personal~ questions for Shawn: Is he dating anyone? Who's the last person he kissed? What does he look for in a girl? Shawn answered the questions like a pro, not blushing or breaking into giggles once, the way I do when Grandma starts interrogating me. "I'm not dating anyone," he said, revealing that his last kiss was "probably a month ago." He declined to say who the kiss was with. He also said his favorite part about Norway was "the girls" because of their beautiful blue eyes. "Everyone looks like they're created, like handmade, like, perfectly handmade," he gushed. So, if you happen to be single and have blue eyes, perhaps you have a shot with Shawn. He even revealed what he looks for in a girl. "My biggest thing I think is a sense of humor, because 90 percent of the time I'm probably joking." Ladies, start practicing those jokes. Fox45 bomb threat 5th UPDATE, 6:30 PM: The 25-year-old man who walked into a Fox TV station in Baltimore this afternoon claiming to be wired with a bomb was in serious condition at a hospital tonight. The man was shot at least three times by police after he ignored instructions to take his hands out of his pockets as he exited the evacuated building, the Baltimore Sun reports. Ed Brizzi of nearby Elkridge, MD, told the newspaper the man is his son, Alex, who lives at home and recently had a breakdown. A security guard at the station said the flash drive the suspect wanted to use to broadcast contained video of someone talking about space and the government, the paper reported. 4TH UPDATE, 2:50 PM: Station staffer tweets bomb was made of candy bars, wire, tin foil: BPD: suspect's "bomb" was candy bars wrapped in foil connected with wires & some sort of motherboard looks like it's from fire extinguisher Shelley Orman (@ShelleyOFox45) April 28, 2016 He apparently did not obey commands as he exited the building, reported CNN correspondent Brian Stelter who was on the scene at the time, because shots were fired. We heard several rounds of fire. On the third or fourth round, he was hit and fell to the ground, Stelter said. This man was struck by something and then fell to the ground. The offices at the Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate station were evacuated after fire crews extinguished a fire set in the gas tank of a vehicle parked in the station lot. Someone came into the front of the building and they apparently said that they had some information they wanted to get on the air, Fox45 News Director Mike Tomko told reporters. I came down at one point not knowing the person was in the lobby, near the vestibule area. He talked to me and was wearing what appears to be a full body white panda suit, surgical mask and sunglasses. He had a flash drive, said he had information he wanted to get on the air. He compared it to the information found in the Panama Papers. I told him, I cant let you in, youre going to have to leave the flash drive here and slide it through the opening. He wouldnt do that. Apparently he had made some threats before. Story continues The incident brings to mind the plot of Money Monster, director Jodie Fosters drama starring George Clooney and Julie Roberts that is set to premiere at Cannes next month. In the film, an angry investor (Jack OConnell) takes over a TV studio and threatens a financial-show host (Clooney) on-air while his producer (Roberts) watches from the control room. Related stories 'Captain America: Civil War' Shoots To $84M In 3 Days At Offshore Box Office - Saturday Update 'Jungle Book' Tide Rises & Drowns 'Keanu', 'Mother's Day' & 'Ratchet & Clank' - Saturday Update Daytime Emmys Creative Arts Winners: PBS & CBS Dominate From his fourth-floor window, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis can see both the citys humming downtown and its scarred west side, where a series of events set off by a black mans death in police custody just over one year ago led, among many other things, to Davis sitting in this office right now. It was there in West Baltimore on April 12, 2015, that Freddie Gray was arrested and placed into a police van before dying under still-murky circumstances a week later, where police clashed with students at a mall following Grays funeral, where protests erupted into riots that played in a seemingly endless loop on cable news. Davis was then in his third month as Baltimores deputy police commissioner, and he remembers seeing images of the early unrest from command headquarters here and thinking: Our officers are not equipped for this. He was right. Grays death exposed the long-simmering mistrust between the citys cops and the African-American communities theyre sworn to protect. The resulting protestsand the national attention they attractedlaid bare the systemic inequalities between poor, majority-black neighborhoods like Sandtown-Winchester, where Gray lived his entire brief life, and the citys growing, majority-white neighborhoods surrounding the Inner Harbor. The anemic response to the unrest had another consequence: Davis being named police commissioner after his predecessor Anthony Batts, who was widely criticized for his handling of the violence, was fired July 8. All of which means Davis, 47, has one of the most difficult jobs in American policing. He oversees a department distrusted by many citizenssix officers face criminal charges in Grays death while others are scrutinized anytime they make an arrestand criticized for both over-policing and de-policing, all while trying to lower historic levels of crime and boost officer morale. The city and the police department had post-traumatic stress disorder after the riots, Davis says. And that trauma exists to this day. Read more: Whats Behind Baltimores Record-Setting Rise in Homicides Over the last few months, Davis has worked to reshape both the department and the way it polices the citys most violent communities. BPD now partners with federal agencies to focus on hundreds of suspects it believes are responsible for most of the citys crime. Hes increased arrests overall, which plummeted last summer as violence spiraled out of control. And hes tried to repair relationships with minority communities, something residents and community leaders say remains far from healed. Just this week, meanwhile, one of his officers shot a teenager carrying a fake gun and a local TV station was evacuated after a bomb threat. And on April 27, Maryland State Senator Catherine Pugh won the Democratic nomination for mayor after the once-popular incumbent, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, chose not to run for re-election. In this heavily Democratic city, Pugh is all but certain to be the next mayor. She has been complementary of Davis and said this week she wants to keep him on as commissioner. Looming over it all are the criminal trials of the six officers charged in Grays death. The indictments were credited by many protesters with helping temper the unrest last year, but the cases have stalled after the first ended in a hung jury. Amid this uncertainty, Daviss promises of a more understanding police force have been met with wariness by some. Its a delicate tightrope, says Jamal Bryant, pastor of Baltimores Empowerment Temple and a civil rights activist. Its like dating an abuser who says Im never going to do that again. Everyones walking on eggshells. Will there be a provocation? Has it really changed? Davis had dealt with a reeling police department before. In 2013 he was named police chief of Anne Arundel County in suburban Maryland after one previous chief resigned over accusations he gathered information on political opponents and another stepped down after making homophobic slurs. Before that, Davis served with Prince Georges County, another suburb in Maryland, for more than two decades, where he often oversaw the polices response to small-scale unrest and overly rowdy college students in College Park. But what he saw and felt on April 25 last year was different. That day, a brief skirmish involving police took place outside Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles, in the citys downtown tourist district. People threw water bottles at officers; police cruisers were damaged. Later, protesters threw rocks at police. Photographers covering the protests were roughed up. By the end of the night, six officers were injured and three dozen people had been arrested. That night at the Western [district], I really got a sense that there was some significant raw energy, emotions, anger that we werent going to see the last of, Davis says. That night proved to be a precursor. On April 27, after Grays funeral, a confrontation between police and a group of high school students outside the Mondawmin Mall touched off days of sometimes violent riots. A CVS pharmacy in West Baltimore was looted and then torched, becoming the physical emblem of the citys eruption. Drugs were stolen from two dozen other pharmacies, according to Baltimore police and the Drug Enforcement Agency. An apartment complex for seniors that was under construction was set on fire. For older residents, the riots were an echo of what occurred in 1968 after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Six people died and 700 were injured then, and the worst-hit neighborhoods still bare the scars of the unrest. Read more: Baltimore Sees Worst Month for Homicides in 40 Years Before Grays death, crime had largely stabilized. The number of homicides hit 197 in 2011 and remained in the low 200s each year after that, an improvement from the much more violent early 1990s. But in the weeks and months after Grays death, violence spiraled out of control. Shootings increased by 140% between April 20 and July 12 compared with the year before. Homicides increased by 92%, and Julywith 45 homicidesbecame the citys deadliest month on record. The crime spike coincided with a drastic decrease in arrests. During the period, arrests went down by 30%, including those for murder, attempted murder, burglary, and larceny. And the opposing directions that crime and policing took during that period have been enough for criminologists to re-litigate a common debate within the field: Does policing actually lower crime? It would seem intuitive that it does. You put more cops on the streets, crime goes down. Fewer cops, more crime. But that link has never actually been proven. For a long time, criminologists have tried to find a relationship between arrest patterns and crime, and its always been pretty weak, says Stephen Morgan, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Its frequently interpreted that policing behavior and tactics ultimately dont move the crime rate all that much. But were in a period where theres some important new data. Morgan studied the relationship in Baltimore and dubbed what occurred last summer as the Gray effect, which he describes as cops unwilling to proactively arrest suspects following the indictments in Grays death. Peter Moskos, a John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor and former Baltimore police officer, sees a similar link. There was less proactive policing, criminals were not being confronted by police routinely, and violence and murders went up, Moskos says, adding that he believes the charges against the six officers led to a chilling effect. Cops basically said, Why should I clear a drug corner when that could happen to me? Moskos says. Some criminologists, however, believe the spike in crime is due more to the looting of about 30 pharmacies throughout Baltimore, which police say allowed for an estimated 288,000 prescription drugs to flood a market with a history of violent drug wars. Read more: Baltimore Police Union Chief Says Criminals Empowered By Riots A considerable portion of homicides is connected to the drug trade, says Jeffrey Ian Ross, a University of Baltimore criminologist. Thats where you have to look. There were new players in the market, and the balance of power can change and lead to increased homicide because people are juggling for power. Davis, too, points to the looting of pharmacies as a key reason the crime rate rose, saying the abundance of supply led to violence over the possession of prescription drugs and the street corners needed to sell them. As far as de-policing is concerned, Davis says there was never a discussion to reduce proactivity but that many officers saw the indictments over Grays death and they couldnt rectify that in their mind. Since taking over, Davis has made moves aimed at reform both big and small. Hes allowed officers with visible tattoos to wear short-sleeves in the summer. He started an internal police newsletter highlighting members of the rank-and-file. He restored patrol posts, which require officers to walk specific sections of a neighborhood, and did away with patrol sectors, which clumped officers together. He says surprise inspections of prison transport wagons have shown 100% compliance for putting prisoners in seat belts, a policy instituted after it was shown that officers had not placed Gray in one. For too long we had a standard operating policy and then we had a standard operating practice, and they were too far apart, Davis says, acknowledging that that sometimes included so-called rough rides where a suspect was deliberately thrown about. Davis is also heading up a war room involving five federal agenciesthe FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, DEA, and the Secret Serviceto focus on more than 600 trigger pullers who Davis describes as violent, repeat offenders responsible for a majority of the crimes in the city. Since last year, 47 of them have been murdered. As tragic as that is, that convinces us beyond any other statistic associated with the trigger pullers list that these are the right, vulnerable people, Davis says. Daviss efforts, however, have critics within the ranks. Gene Ryan, a Baltimore Police Department lieutenant and president of the Baltimore City police union, says that following a honeymoon period after Davis was named commissioner, some of the rank-and-file feel Davis has spent more time on public perception and less on their needs. Our members are unhappy because it appears the commissioner is taking more time to keep his job than appeasing dissatisfied officers, Ryan says. They would prefer he be out in the field with them instead of doing certain functions. There has to be a balance in dealing with the community. Ryan describes the department as overworked, underpaid, and struggling to attract enough qualified officers to keep up with those who are retiring or leaving for better-paying jobs in surrounding counties. He says the police department lost 251 officers last year who either retired, took another job, or were fired, while only hiring 91 to replace them. In 2011, the department lost 203 but hired 202. Ive been here 33 years, and I have to say this is the worst morale Ive ever seen in my career, Ryan says. While morale may still be low, Davis has been able to get officers to make arrests again, which by the end of the year were up 20% from their post-Gray low. And while there have already been more than 70 homicides this year, it appears the murder rate wont reach the levels it did last year. The long-term question, however, is whether Davis can help repair the forces relationship in neighborhoods like Sandtown. Theres still a long way to go, says Harold Carter, Jr., the pastor at West Baltimores New Shiloh Baptist Church. But it seems to be at a point where it can now start to turn the corner. Many residents, however, get the sense that not much has changed since last year. Its gotten back to normal, but the people who didnt trust the police before feel the same way now, says Bamba Kane, 43, a West Baltimore resident. Looking out over West Baltimore, Davis says he believes the relationships there are stronger than they were this time last year. He acknowledges theres still much to do, but hes confident of at least one thing. The police department, the community, nobody wants to see a repeat of last April, Davis says. Im convinced were not going to see it. By Davide Scigliuzzo NEW YORK, April 29 (IFR) - Colombia's Banco de Bogota has hired banks to arrange investor meetings ahead of a potential subordinated bond sale, a source with knowledge of the situation told IFR on Friday. The bank has hired Credit Suisse, HSBC and JP Morgan to arrange meetings in London, New York, Los Angeles and Boston between May 3 and May 6. The potential offering, which is expected to be denominated in US dollars, will be of benchmark size and eligible for Tier 2 treatment under Colombian regulations. Its structure would resemble that of the bank's existing 5.375% February 2023 notes and will exclude loss-absorption provisions, the source said. (Reporting by Davide Scigliuzzo; Editing by Natalie Harrison) By Tom Bergin LONDON (Reuters) - When Barclays Plc sold a fund management business to U.S. financial group Blackrock Inc. in 2009, the larger-than-expected $15.2 billion price tag was not the only good news for the British bank's investors. The way Barclays structured the sale -- by booking part of the proceeds in Luxembourg -- allowed it to do something not possible under most tax systems: generate a tax loss from a tax-exempt transaction, a Reuters analysis of previously unreported company filings and statements shows. The move has helped Barclays to earn billions of dollars almost tax free. The entirely legal deal is the latest example of the ways in which some companies are able to benefit from tax regimes that regulators around the world are trying to crack down on so they can raise more tax revenue at home. The small European state of Luxembourg is among those coming under scrutiny for its tax regime that local authorities and lawyers say is a legitimate way to attract business. Barclays' tax loss was made possible because it sold its Barclays Global Investors (BGI) business tax free in Britain, but had part of the sale proceeds -- $9 billion in Blackrock shares paid to a subsidiary in Luxembourg. That way, Barclays was able to offset the risk of the shares losing value, something not normally possible in a tax-free deal. A rise would have netted Barclays profits. When instead the shares fell, Barclays used the loss to claim a tax deduction in Luxembourg that was not available in the UK. Barclays' subsidiary in Luxembourg, one of Europe's smallest states with just half a million people, lost $2.6 billion when the Blackrock shares fell, but has earned almost double the amount virtually tax free since 2012, partly by offsetting some of the Blackrock loss. Barclays spokeswoman Candice MacDonald said the structure of the BGI sale was not aimed at securing a tax reduction but intended to secure a simpler and more certain tax treatment and avoid volatility in the banks regulatory capital. Blackrock declined comment. Tax advisers say there is nothing wrong with companies organizing their affairs to take advantage of generous tax treatments offered by different countries. It would be very odd to criticize that or say its inappropriate, said Neal Todd, tax partner at Berwin Leighton Paisner. If governments arent happy with the law, they should change it. TAILS YOU DON'T LOSE The European Commission is investigating whether Luxembourg has broken EU rules by not applying its tax rules appropriately, offering companies an unfair tax advantage. Last year it said the state did break those rules in a deal with carmaker Fiat. The Grand Duchy, a founder member of the bloc, says it is making itself an attractive financial center using only legitimate means. Barclays is not part of the EU investigation, since the structure of the BGI sale involves using an unusual law in a straightforward manner rather than any inappropriate interpretation of the rules. The bank is one of hundreds of companies which lawyers say have benefited from Luxembourg's little-known 'Heads you win, tails you dont lose' tax treatment of significant shareholdings which Reuters reported on in 2013. http://reut.rs/1dKmKcG The treatment runs counter to the symmetry principle fundamental to most tax systems: where profits are taxable, losses are tax deductible, but if a gain or income is tax-exempt, corresponding losses cannot reduce tax on other income. What some politicians say sets Barclays apart is that, like all UK banks, it got significant support from taxpayers during the financial crisis. The government offered more than 600 billion in credit to the banking sector through support schemes and bought stakes in some banks, enabling them to pay their debts to others like Barclays. TAXPAYER SUPPORT Campaigners like Molly Scott Cato, member of the European Parliament for the Green Party, say this makes Barclays' tax savings unacceptable. They should have greater social responsibility after the financial crisis that we are all still paying for, she said. She also said the Grand Duchy's tax rules should not deviate from international norms like the symmetry principle and help companies shift profits and losses. It is creating an uneven playing field, she said. The Luxembourg Ministry of Finance did not respond to requests for comment but has previously denied using tax rules to unfairly attract investment and jobs. Barclays has said it does appreciate the taxpayer support it and peers received and it adopted a set of tax principles in 2013 that ensures it behaves in a socially responsible way. These principles bar artificial tax planning. Tax lawyers in Luxembourg say no other EU country offers the same asymmetric treatment of share sales and credit the law with making Luxembourg an attractive location for holding companies. Scott Cato and others say the Luxembourg law should be scrapped, but tax lawyers say it is very difficult for the EU to force countries to change laws covering income and capital gains taxes, since bloc rules give national governments sole responsibility in this area. FROM PROFIT TO TAX LOSS The sale delivered significant windfalls for senior Barclays executives although none of them benefited from the Luxembourg structure, because their gains were assessed under their personal income tax systems. Bob Diamond, the head of investment banking who would later go on to lead Barclays group, netted gains of $33 million, according to a 2009 bank filing. His deputy Richard Ricci was also one of the largest shareholders in BGI, but the head of BGI, Blake Grossman, was the largest beneficiary, as the second-largest shareholder in BGI after Barclays. In all, minority shareholders in BGI mainly BGI and Barclays executives received over 500 million pounds from the sale of BGI, according to Barclays 2009 annual report. The possibility that Barclays could benefit from the law was not a given when the bank began courting buyers for BGI in early 2009. Analysts predicted a $10 billion price tag but Barclays agreed a $13.5 billion sale to Blackrock on condition it accepted around half the money in shares, then trading at $180 each. The risk for Barclays was that, if those shares fell in value by the time the bank came to sell them, then the BGI windfall might not end up as large as it hoped. When the deal went through in Dec. 2009, Barclays sold BGI to Blackrock for $6.6 billion in cash and shares now worth almost $9 billion, thanks to a Blackrock share price jump to $227 each. Barclays told Blackrock to issue those shares not to BGI's UK owner Barclays Global Investors UK, but to a recently created Luxembourg company called Barclays BR Holdings Sarl. When Barclays decided to sell its shares in Blackrock in 2012, the U.S. asset managers stock had fallen back to $160. Even at this share price, the BGI sale had netted Barclays a profit of well over $10 billion, but the bank now had a paper loss of $2.6 billion in Luxembourg, filings show. And being Luxembourg, that loss was deductible against other income. Much of tax loss from the Blackrock share sale remains because Barclays also generated other tax losses from investments held in Luxembourg, the Barclays spokeswoman said. Barclays had no branch network and only 14 staff in Luxembourg. But it structured some of its most profitable deals so that it could also report large profits there. In the three years since selling the Blackrock stake, Barclays has made profits of 2.4 billion pounds in Luxembourg, its filings show. The tax it paid on this income totaled 24 million pounds. (Editing by Philippa Fletcher) SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A fire in a basement at the Shanghai Hongqiao airport that broke out on Friday and killed two people has been put out, China Central Television (CCTV) said on its microblog, while an airport official said there had been no disruption to flights. Four people were also injured, CCTV said. It said the fire started underground in a pile of insulation material. "There's been no impact on airport operations," an airport official, who only gave his surname as Wang and said he was responsible for traveler inquiries, told Reuters. The People's Daily said on its official microblog the fire broke out in the basement of terminal one at the airport at around 7 a.m. (2300 GMT on Thursday) during an underground renovation project. (Reporting by Brenda Goh and Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Paul Tait, Robert Birsel) Prince was living the good life until his untimely death. Ray and Juell Roberts of Peoples Organic restaurant were the late music icon's personal chefs. Following his death, the husband-and-wife team opened up to City Pages about what it was like working for a legend, Prince's high expectations and the last meal they ever cooked for him. Ray said the final meal he prepared Prince was a roasted red pepper bisque and kale salad, though the musician never got the chance to eat it. WATCH: Prince's Heirs: Meet the Late Music Icon's Family Members The couple says Prince was a vegetarian -- but not a vegan -- and loved roasted poblano peppers, veggie wraps, Indian food, minestrone soup and desserts. "Some nights that's all he had to eat," Ray said of the cakes and cookies he would whip up. As for Prince's dislikes, onions, feta cheese and mushrooms were among the banned ingredients. Ray also shared a funny story about a rare time he was scolded by the renowned perfectionist: "Once, there was a smudge on the outside of a package in which he had left an overnight meal. When he arrived to work the next day, Prince was in the kitchen waiting. He pointed at the smudge, and simply gave Ray the two-fingers-to-the-eyes 'I'm watching you' gesture." "I know he really enjoyed my cooking," Ray added of his boss. "It made him really happy. I don't think that [level of satisfaction] was easy for him to get." WATCH: The Real Prince, According to the People Who Knew Him Best Ray also pointed out that The Purple One had an excellent sense of humor. "Prince was always funny. He had funny interactions," he said. "He was a breath of fresh air. All the people around there have so much joy and life." Prince was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on April 21. Law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS News on Wednesday that prescription drugs were found in Prince's possession and at his home at the time of his death. Story continues Find out more in the video below. Related Articles From Cosmopolitan Yesterday, I voted for Bernie Sanders in my home state of Pennsylvania. I support Sanders for a lot of reasons, but mainly it's because he's the only candidate who understands that corporate power and inequality have not only hijacked American democracy but also jeopardize the well-being of our planet and its people. Before I cast my ballot, it was pretty clear he wouldn't be the Democratic Party's nominee for president. Sanders was already trailing by 277 pledged delegates, and forecasters said he'd need big wins in almost all remaining contests to change the course of the election. After his defeat in Pennsylvania and three other states, his destiny is all but written in stone. And yet I think Sanders should stay in the race. I think he should continue fighting vociferously for the issues he champions, not because he's my candidate of choice, but because it's healthy for our democracy. I moved back to the U.S. last year after living abroad for a decade, first in Bolivia and then in Vietnam. I returned with my German husband who had never lived in the States before. Soon after the presidential campaign got underway, I realized he had a go-to phrase for the U.S. electoral system. "That's just crazy!" he says with genuine incredulity each time he learns something new about our process. "How can that be?" Examples of U.S. craziness include the 18-plus months of campaigning (in Germany campaigns are limited by law to six weeks), media outlets endorsing candidates, the fact that Sanders is considered "far left" (most of what he proposes, such as universal health care and free college tuition are centrist European policies), caucus coin tosses, TV attack ads, "super PACs," superdelegates, our pathetically low average voter turnout, and pretty much anything related to Donald Trump. Also, of specific bewilderment to my husband, and other non-Americans I've spoken to recently, is our two-party system. Story continues As Americans, we are willfully blind to the idiosyncrasies of our electoral process. In part thanks to Sanders, our absurd campaign finance system is now at least a talking point. But everything else, we glaze over, rarely acknowledging that we are, for example, one of the only functioning democracies still clinging to a two-party system, or the harm that might come from that. We also judge others. We look down our noses at fledging democracies, when there are lessons we can learn from them - especially when it comes to truly representative politics. Take Bolivia, for example. In 1982, the country moved from military dictatorship to democracy. The nation's first political parties were controlled by the country's white elite, despite the majority of Bolivians being indigenous. So in the mid 1990s, a group of poor, mainly indigenous, coca farmers created a party named MAS (or Movement Towards Socialism). Over the next few years, they won several seats in Parliament including one for Evo Morales, a charismatic indigenous Aymara man who grew up herding llamas. In 2005, Evo, as he's known, became Bolivia's first indigenous president, winning with an historic majority of the electorate. On the MAS ticket in the years that followed, a flood of indigenous and common folk became mayors, governors, senators and court justices, transforming the face and essence of those who guide the nation's development. Evo has also won two more presidential elections. Though the MAS is not perfect, it's clear that the party filled a void in the country's political landscape, allowing everyday Bolivians to be more included in politics and policymaking. I'm not saying that we need a MAS party in the U.S. But wouldn't it be great to have a system where it's plausible that a true outsider - not a Trump outsider who can afford to bankroll his own campaign - could emerge as a national leader? Or that a party representing those who feel estranged from our current political system could form and grow and one day, in the foreseeable future, actually stand a chance against Democrats or Republicans? There are problems inherent in multi-party systems - if too many sprout up, you can have candidates winning elections with tiny percentages of the vote, for example - and by law there is nothing to stop new parties from forming in the U.S. They do, and historically there have been some influential third parties, such as the Whigs. But given the way our campaigns are financed and run, breaking dominance of the Democrats and the Republicans nowadays is a far-flung dream. Those who wield power in this country have too much invested in the binary model. And, just as important, too few Americans even understand the limitations of the system we've built. So, in light of that, the best option for a healthy democracy is that each party vigorously debate its ideals and platforms by way of competing candidates. On the Democratic side, that means Sanders must stay in. Every primary voter in this nation, not just those in the early states, should have the option of choosing between the contrasting visions of the future represented by Clinton and Sanders, so that the Democratic Party registers the views of the people it purports to represent. If I was able to cast a ballot for the candidate I believe best represents my political principals, why should a voter in California not have the same opportunity? There's another benefit of rabble-rousers within our stale political parties staying in it for the long haul: it helps us better understand our nation. Before Sanders's candidacy, who would have ever guessed that there were so many people in this country eager to support a self-avowed socialist? (On the other end: who knew that there were so many who'd be inspired by the racism and anger spewed by Trump? This is an ugly fact, but arguably it's better acknowledged and dealt with than kept invisible.) Maybe if we had had viable third parties long ago, the contours and nuances of our electorate would have emerged more readily. The United States claims to be a nation of proud democrats (small d). If this is true, then we wouldn't encourage a man who's energizing voters and vocalizing wildly popular views to drop out. We wouldn't even tell him to quiet down. So, stay in, Bernie. (After taking a moment to prioritize and slim down operations, that is.) Campaign loud and campaign hard, and force Hillary to do the same. She may have to spend more money than she'd like to on the primary, but hard primary battles lead to better general election candidates. And it's not Sanders's job to make Clinton a more appealing candidate - it's Clinton's. She should have to earn her place as the party's leader, and voters in every state should have the option of hearing both candidates' messages, so that they choose based on what they believe and not who is most likely to win. Force the Democratic Party to grapple with competing visions of the future. Our democracy will be better for it. Follow Jean on Twitter. (VATICAN CITY) Casting cancer as a scourge with no boundaries, Vice President Joe Biden came to the Vatican on Friday to call for a global commitment to fund cancer research rooted in appreciation for the real peoples lives that doctors and researchers hold in their hands. Biden, who lost a son to cancer last year, used his appearance at a Vatican conference on regenerative medicine to urge philanthropists, corporations and governments to increase funding and information-sharing in a bid to end cancer as we know it. He said the world is on the cusp of unprecedented breakthroughs but said the world still has not done enough. Cancer is a constant emergency, the vice president said. Cancers not a national problem, its an international problem. Its a human problem. It affects all races, all religions. Pope Francis spoke directly after Biden a particular treat for the Catholic vice president, Bidens aides said. With light streaming through stained glass into an ornate auditorium in Vatican City, the pope called for ensuring all have access to cancer care, stressing the need to combat a system that prioritizes profits over human life. Research, whether in academia and industry, requires unwavering attention to moral issues if it is to be an instrument which safeguards human life and the dignity of the person, the pope said. Before taking the stage, the pope greeted Biden privately in a room backstage, where the two exchanged small tokens, the White House said. The two were also seen smiling and chatting together as they greeted conference attendees after their speeches, joined by the vice presidents surviving son, Hunter Biden, and son-in-law Howard Krein, a physician whos been involved in Bidens cancer push. The popes focus on helping the less fortunate and the health of the planet have been welcomed by Biden and President Barack Obama, who have made common cause with the pontiff on climate change, rapprochement with Cuba and the refugee crisis. Story continues Last year, Bidens eldest son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, died from brain cancer after his familys hopes of a last-minute medical breakthrough fell short. Months later, his father declared a moonshot to cure cancer when he announced he wouldnt run for president. Since then, Joe Biden has launched a task force with Obamas blessing and the White House asked Congress for $1 billion over two budget years for research. Only a fraction has so far been approved. While at the Vatican, Biden met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, at the gold-adorned Treaty Room of the Apostolic Palace. Hell also sit down with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi in Rome at Palazzo Chigi, the prime ministers residence, before returning to Washington. The vice president traveled here from Iraq, where he paid a surprise visit Thursday to meet with Iraqi leaders about their political crisis and the campaign against the Islamic State group. INSIDER "When you listen to him on the range of issues from foreign policy to the virus to racial injustice, it's clear he did not know what to do," Woodward wrote in the Washington Post. By Nick Carey (Reuters) - When Chris Cox rolls into Cleveland in mid-July with other motorcycle-riding supporters of Donald Trump, he plans to celebrate the billionaire's coronation as the Republican presidential nominee. He also counts on joining protests if a battle over the nomination ensues. "I'm anticipating we'll be doing a victory dance," said Cox, 47, a chainsaw artist and founder of Bikers for Trump, thousands of whom he estimates will hit the Ohio city for the July 18-21 Republican National Convention. "But if the Republican Party tries to pull off any backroom deals and ignores the will of the people, our role will change." Bikers For Trump is part of a diverse array of groups coordinating to hold thousands-strong protests and marches if the real-estate mogul is denied outright victory at the Republican Partys nominating convention in Cleveland. The risks of confrontation and violence surrounding Trump events were highlighted again on Thursday, when around 20 people were arrested following clashes between anti-Trump protesters and police outside a rally for the candidate in California. It was the worst outbreak of violence since Trump was forced to cancel a rally in Chicago in mid-March. Anti-Trump protests are expected in Cleveland. In late March, the left-leaning National Lawyers Guild held a conference in the city to coordinate legal support to protesters in the event of mass arrests during demonstrations. Leaders and members of the pro-Trump groups told Reuters their main goal is to mount a show of support for their candidate, who after a series of primary victories this week looks increasingly likely to clinch the nomination outright ahead of Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich. But if he falls short of the required 1,237 delegates, raising the risk he could lose out in a contested convention, they said they plan to do all they can to exert pressure on party leaders to prevent someone else getting the nomination. Several Trump supporters suggested that tensions could escalate if the party was seen as trying to deny Trump the nomination despite his commanding lead in delegates won in primary contests. "The plan either way is send a message to the Republican establishment to respect our votes," said Ralph King, a member of the Cleveland Tea Party. "If the party tries to parachute in a white knight to steal the nomination, it's not going to end well." Trump has said that if he fails to get the nomination there will be "riots." Though there have been violent incidents at some Trump rallies, organizers insist they work closely with the authorities to avoid violence. The U.S. Secret Service is the lead agency for the convention. Its spokeswoman Nicole Mainor said protests or violence for such an event are "factored into all of our contingency plans that have been built up over many, many months." The Cleveland Division of Police also has a security plan in place as it does for all major events of this kind, a spokeswoman said in an email, without providing further details. Bikers for Trump, which Cox founded in August and which he claims has 30,000 members and rising, is just one of a mixed bag of pro-Trump groups that aim to be in Cleveland. Reuters could not independently verify Cox's membership claims for the group, which has provided unofficial security at Trump rallies around the country. Pro-Trump groups planning a presence in Cleveland include some Tea Party-affiliated organizations, a new group called Stop The Steal led by Trump ally Roger Stone, Citizens for Trump, and the Truckers for Trump group. King, a veteran of Tea Party rallies, is coordinating with other groups and local police to obtain permits for marches and protests during the convention, and to hold a major rally in downtown Cleveland that will then march on the convention site. "STOP THE STEAL" Stone plans to raise $262,000 through online donations to hire buses and is negotiations with colleges in the Cleveland area on sleeping space for activists. He says he wants Republican delegates Trump has won in primaries to sign a "voluntary pledge" to back him beyond the first ballot should there be a contested convention. He did not disclose how much money the group has raised. Citizens for Trump co-founder Tim Selaty says he will have activists filming events inside the convention center and broadcasting them live on social media "to document every move." "If Mr. Trump walks into the convention center a couple of hundred votes ahead of Cruz and loses the nomination, it will not be a pretty scene," Selaty said. Truckers for Trump says it has 4,000 members and that more than 1,000 are committed to driving their big rigs to Cleveland. The pro-Trump groups say they are not seeking confrontation but fear that opponents of their candidate might start trouble. "Our members will instructed that if there's trouble to stand back and let law enforcement do its job," said Matthew Heimbach, founder of the Traditionalist Workers Party, a "pro-white nationalist, pro-working class" party, which plans to have a few dozen members in Cleveland. It is unclear is how many nationalists or white supremacists might attend. Trump has adherents on the far right, including former Klu Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke, who told his radio show listeners in February that voting for anyone other than Trump was "treason to your heritage." The National Socialist Movement, a prominent white nationalist group, told Reuters it did not plan any events. Brian Culpepper, a spokesman for the Detroit-based group and a Trump supporter, said many members support the mogul. But it does not officially back Republican or Democratic office seekers as it wishes to replace the current system with a white nationalist power structure. "Our members are free to attend events in Cleveland as individuals," Culpepper said. "But we do not plan anything as a group." (Reporting By Nick Carey; editing by Stuart Grudgings) Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) has been in the auto dealership business for about a year now, and value investor Mario Gabelli said Friday that Warren Buffett might want to consider buying AutoNation (AN). "If you want a big elephant, there's a 100 million shares of AutoNation" with a market value of more than $5 billion, Gabelli told CNBC's " Squawk Box " in a wide-ranging interview from Omaha, Nebraska, a day before Saturday's Berkshire shareholders meeting. In 2015, Berkshire completed its acquisition of Van Tuyl Group, which at the time was the nation's largest privately held car dealership chain. The new company was renamed Berkshire Hathaway Automotive. When the deal was announced in 2014 , AutoNation Chairman and CEO Mike Jackson emailed CNBC to say congratulations to Buffett. Jackson wrote: "Welcome to the retail auto business." Gabelli, chairman and CEO of Gamco Investors (GBL), was quick to tell CNBC on Friday he's "not suggesting anything" between AutoNation and Berkshire Hathaway Automotive was in the works. "I'm observing," he stressed. Gamco owns more than 1 million shares of AutoNation, according to regulatory filings. The firm has owned a position in AutoNation since 2001. Gabelli, who's been attending Berkshire's annual meeting for years, started buying Bershire's Class A shares some 30 years ago, when they went for about $2,000 each. As of Thursday's close, the stock was worth more than $219,000 per share, up more than 10 percent this year. That far outpaces the 1.5 percent advance of the S&P 500 (.SPX) index in 2016. Programming note: Warren Buffett appears on CNBC's "Squawk Box" for three hours on Monday, starting at 6 a.m. ET. From 8 a.m. ET to 9 a.m. ET, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a Berkshire Hathaway director, and Charlie Munger, vice chairman of Berkshire, join the conversation. A haul of letters and files were seized by US Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011 when they descended on Bin Laden's hideout in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad and killed him. A number have since been declassified, shedding light on the mind-set of the Al-Qaeda mastermind. VIDEOGRAPHIC LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - A once-monthly injection for multiple sclerosis from Biogen and AbbVie has been recommended for approval by European regulators, paving the way for its launch in the coming months. The European Medicines Agency said on Friday its experts had endorsed Zinbryta, or daclizumab, for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), adding a new option to a range of modern MS therapies. The positive opinion will now be referred to the European Commission, which normally grants marketing authorisations for medicines recommended by the agency within a couple of months. The self-administered, under-the-skin injection is also currently being reviewed by regulators in the United States, Switzerland, Canada and Australia. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; Editing by Mark Potter) I cant live for long with what I feel inside. I dont see how anyone can. Raymond Reddington has said a lot of heartbreaking things on The Blacklist, but those 16 words, spoken while trying to sum up his sadness over Lizs death, might just be the gloomiest hes ever uttered. Those two sentences also encapsulate the general mood of Thursdays episode of the NBC drama, its second outing since Liz was unceremoniously (and only possibly) killed off. As the hour unfolds, we become privy to the ways in which each FBI task force member is coping with Lizs death and even though none of them are falling apart quite as badly as Red, none of them have quite reached the acceptance stage of grief, either. RELATEDBeckett! Abbie! McDreamy! Jon! Liz! Has a Lead Characters Exit Ever Prompted You to Abandon a Show? Still, only so much time can be dedicated to mourning Liz in public. After the team lays their friend to rest complete with eulogies from Cooper and Aram that probably had you ugly-crying all over the place their attention turns to investigating the anonymous group that hunted down Liz on her wedding day. Even though Aram is in emotional shambles and could seriously use a helping hand from Red, the task forces tech guru manages to pull himself together and zero in on who was surveilling Liz the day she died: a nameless team of mercenaries who use a global satellite network to keep track of their targets. In the days since Lizs death, it seems the mysterious mercs have shifted their focus to Benjamin Stalder, a powerful executive at the Energy Consortium Group. And because you likely have no interest in reading a 10,000-word recap, Im going to cut right to the chase with this Stalder business: Even though the mercs injure and/or kill a good chunk of Stalders security team, hes able to get out of the country before the anonymous baddies off him but his escape from the U.S. might not exactly be a good thing. Story continues The Blacklist Liz Dead During the episodes final acts, Cooper realizes that Stalder must somehow be connected to Lizs unfortunate demise, despite his initial statement that he had zero knowledge of who the fugitive was, outside of what he heard about Liz on the news. With the help of security footage from Stalders hotel, Cooper discovers that one hour before the energy exec was abducted by the mercenaries, he met with a mysterious, dark-haired woman (played by Famke Janssen, who makes her official debut in next weeks episode) for a conversation that, even via grainy security snapshots, seems intense. And thats not all. When Cooper recruits Tom to help out with the case, Tom begins to follow Cynthia Panabaker, the White House counsel. He stays on her tail as she heads to the airport that evening, and when Cynthia arrives on the tarmac, she too has a brief conversation with Janssens character. But who is this woman?! As Tom and Cooper look over their photos of her, Tom takes a wild guess that she is Lizs mother, Katarina Rostova but, as we all know from last weeks episode, that couldnt be further from the truth. (Hmm, if only there were a backdoor pilot coming up that explained her involvement in this whole ordeal. oh, wait!) Anyway, you might be wondering where Red has been during all of this, and the short answer is that he pays an unexpected visit to Lizs grandfather, Dom, to inform him of Lizs death. Dom is understandably devastated by the news, and hes even more bitter toward Red than ever considering Red was indirectly responsible for both his daughter and granddaughters lives being ended. RELATEDThe Blacklist Star Shocked By Tragic Twist: I Loved Working With Megan In a moment of desperation, Aram comes to Doms house, hoping to convince Red to rejoin the task force and assist with their investigation into Lizs adversaries. Red, to no ones surprise, flat-out refuses but when Dom tells Red a compelling story about the hopelessness he felt when Katarina died, Red has a change of heart, and he agrees to get back in the saddle alongside Aram and the FBI team. Other developments in the hour: * Tom finally learns how to swaddle baby Agnes, and Ryan Eggolds scenes with his on-screen daughter are some of the TV seasons most precious. * Having attended Lizs funeral together, Cooper and Charlene take baby steps toward rekindling their romance. Three cheers for Cooper (hopefully) not sleeping in his office soon! * Its official: The most gut-wrenching moments on The Blacklist are the ones when Aram cries. Cant. Deal. With that, I turn it over to you. What did you think of Thursdays episode? Tell us in the comments section below! Launch Gallery: Biggest TV Deaths of 2016 Related stories Quotes of the Week: The Blacklist, Veep, Kelly and Michael, The Flash and More Seth Meyers: Anti-Trans Bathroom Laws Undermine 'Concept of Self' Fall TV: 15 Pilots We Can't Wait to See! Simpson Marine. Having established a Hong Kong-based yacht brokerage in 1984, Mike Simpson has been around long enough to know what some of China's wealthiest clients want. Having established a Hong Kong-based yacht brokerage in 1984, Mike Simpson has been around long enough to know what some of China's wealthiest clients want. The Chinese "like things to happen fast and when they decide to buy a yacht, they don't just want to spend months looking around ...I think they want to get all the answers by the person they are going to do business with," said the founder and group managing director of Simpson Marine, a yacht dealership, brokerage and service company. Chinese consumers want all aspects of the transaction covered, from how to import the boat to getting the right crew, Simpson explained, adding that even tiny details such as producing the list of yacht-cleaning materials in Mandarin Chinese can make the difference. Yacht sales rose sharply up until Xi Jinping's 2012 campaign to curb corruption, Simpson told CNBC's " Managing Asia ." He added that China's uncertain economic environment and high import taxes of up to 45 percent for yachts are also hurting the industry. But still, there are many high net worth people who still want to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, said Simpson. "We have to facilitate that, make it easier for them ... For example, they can buy their yacht and keep it in the south of France or somewhere else in Asia." Chinese investors have not backed away from investing in this luxury space. Back in 2012, Reuters reported that Chinese industrial conglomerate Shandong Heavy Industry Group acquired top Italian yacht maker Ferretti. In 2013, the chairman of Dalian Wanda Group, Wang Jianlin, bought U.K's Sunseeker Yachts. Shenzhen-based Sundiro Holdings also bought a stake in Simpson Marine in 2015 in a bid to be a "major player in the yacht industry," according to a press release issued at the time. "There is certainly government encouragement for Chinese firms to be invested in major industries all around the world," he said. Story continues Despite the anti-corruption crackdown, China's yacht market is still expected to grow to about $8.16 billion, and reach 100,000 leisure boats and yachts by 2020 from just 3,000 in 2012, according to a Research and Markets report. The report revealed that while larger boats did not see much growth in sales in 2016, smaller boats maintained their growth momentum as yacht builders promoted more affordable yacht models in China. Simpson also said that wealthy Chinese have very adventurous traveling ambitions beyond yachting. "They are investing in all manner of exciting excursions off to the North Pole, the South Pole, off to jungle explorations and crossing deserts," he said. More From CNBC (Adds details on Hart and another recent portfolio manager departure) By Trevor Hunnicutt NEW YORK, April 28 (Reuters) - A BlackRock Inc managing director and portfolio manager has relinquished his role leading several debt funds to "pursue other interests," according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Thursday. Leland Hart, who has been with the company for seven years and has headed the company's bank loans team, will no longer oversee funds including the nearly $3 billion BlackRock Floating Rate Income Fund. Hart will maintain an advisory role with the company's infrastructure debt team "in the months ahead," according to the memo provided by the company. He joined BlackRock after the company's acquisition of his previous employer, R3 Capital Partners. Hart's departure from the funds comes at the same time as an earlier-announced exit by Paul Ebner, a director who was part of a different team that uses quantitative analysis to select stocks, according to a statement. Ebner's last day is Friday. Hart managed $10.8 billion in money and accounts at BlackRock as of last year, while Ebner oversaw $2.2 billion, according to earlier disclosures BlackRock made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "We are grateful for all he has done for the firm and our clients and wish him our best," said the memo discussing the succession plan for Hart, which was signed by BlackRock's Global Head of Fundamental Credit Jim Keenan. Institutional shares of BlackRock Floating Rate Income Fund are up 2.6 percent this year, through Wednesday, behind the 3.1 percent average of its peers, according to Lipper. Over five years, the fund ranks in the 13th percentile among its peers. New York-based BlackRock managed $4.7 trillion in assets as of March 31. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Bernard Orr and Tom Brown) So much for "cleaning up" the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. A top official with the notoriously brutal law enforcement agency is under fire this week for racist, sexist and Islamophobic emails he sent in 2012 and 2013, when he was one of the top cops with the nearby Burbank Police Department. His name is Tom Angel. Now chief of staff for Sheriff Jim McDonnell, Angel was hired in 2014 as part of a team meant to "clean up" a sheriff's office plagued by a reputation for violence and misconduct, according to the LA Times. Too bad he regularly forwarded emails that contained quotes like this: "I took my Biology exam last Friday. I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently, 'Blacks' and 'Mexicans' were NOT the correct answers." Source: YouTube And there's more where that came from. The 15-page email dump, which the Times obtained through a public records request and published on Wednesday, also contained forwarded jokes likening Muslims to terrorists, and one ridiculing a "fat girl" for her weight. A closer look: "How dumb is dumb?" one email read. "Everyone seems to be wondering why Muslim terrorists are so quick to commit suicide." The message went on to provide a "list of evidence," which included but was not limited to: "No hot dogs," "no beer," "towels for hats," "You can't wash off the smell of donkey," and "You cook over burning camel shit." Source: LA Times Another email contained a list of violent historical incidents involving Muslims, meant to suggest racial profiling is "common sense" to keep Americans safe. Yet another joke found a man encountering an overweight waitress, leading to the following exchange: "A fat girl finally brought out my food after a long wait at my favorite restaurant. She said, 'Sorry about the wait.' I said, 'Don't worry about it, you'll lose it eventually.'" Story continues Sheriff Jim McDonnell at a press conference in 2015. Angel has since apologized if he "offended" anybody. "Anybody in the workplace unfortunately forwards emails from time to time that they probably shouldn't have forwarded," Angel, who identifies as Mexican, told the Times. "I apologize if I offended anybody, but the intent was not for the public to have seen these jokes." McDonnell added he has no plans to discipline Angel at this point, since the emails predated his employment with the sheriff's office. "Everybody's got their own take on humor," McDonnell told the Times. "It's a shame the whole thing happened at all." Source: YouTube But bigger questions remain like can the people of Los Angeles County trust their sheriffs at all? The Los County Sheriff's Department has already rattled public faith through its violent and illegal conduct; so frankly, Angel's offensive emails are only the latest in a history of troubling behavior. Where to begin? In November, two former sheriffs Sussie Ayala and Fernando Luviano were sentenced to six and seven years in prison, respectively, for brutally beating a jail visitor, Gabriel Carrillo, in 2011. But they were just the tip of the iceberg: Ayala and Luviano were among 18 members of the department charged in 2013 for crimes including civil rights abuses namely beating inmates and corruption. In April, none other than former Los Angeles County Undersheriff Paul Tanaka was convicted of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, stemming from charges that he and other deputies tried to hide an inmate, Anthony Brown, from federal investigators. Brown had been feeding the FBI information about brutality and corruption in the LA County jail system. To date, seven deputies besides Tanaka have been convicted under the same federal probe. And in October, Sheriff's Deputy Jovanni Argueta was arrested and charged with sexually molesting a 12-year-old girl. You be the judge, America. h/t Newsweek * Quebec's Caisse backs call for more transparency at Bombardier * Bombardier board nominees all elected to company board * Share consolidation plan wins overwhelming approval (Adds details on Caisse stance, background) By Allison Lampert MIRABEL, Quebec, April 29 (Reuters) - Bombardier Inc's dual-class share structure is vital to protect the long-term interests of the Quebec-based aerospace and transportation company, and the Bombardier-Beaudoin family has no plans to relinquish its majority control, Executive Chairman Pierre Beaudoin said on Friday. "For the family, the success of this company has always been important. The family was there in good and bad times," Beaudoin said in response to a question at Bombardier's annual meeting. "The multiple voting right shares enable us to invest in the long term and allow us to protect the company against its dismantling, and we do not want to change anything." The share structure has long faced criticism, especially given the company's missteps around its long-delayed and over-budget CSeries passenger planes that won a reprieve with a big order from Delta Air Lines on Thursday. Several major investors, including the Quebec pension fund, have pressed the Bombardier-Beaudoin family to reduce its voting control of the company, according to sources. The family has resisted ceding control of Bombardier, founded in 1942 by snowmobile inventor Joseph-Armand Bombardier. It moved into train and plane building via acquisitions made by his son-in-law, Laurent Beaudoin. The company's founding family has a 53.23 percent voting stake, largely via the 79.5 percent stake of Bombardier's Class A multiple voting shares the family controls. Those shares carry 10 votes per share, while Class B shares carry 1 vote per share. Bombardier has conceded that the dual-class structure is a factor in negotiations for a $1 billion cash infusion from the Canadian government. Beaudoin on Friday declined to comment on the funding talks, saying only that he urged Canada to match Quebec's pledge to put $1 billion into the CSeries passenger jet program. Story continues Some influential minority shareholders, including at least three major Canadian pension funds, had called for greater transparency within Bombardier and opposed changes to its stock option plan and other proposals. British Columbia's main public sector pension fund has said it planned to withhold support from all five of the Bombardier-Beaudoin family members on the company's board. But Bombardier, as expected, easily passed all resolutions put forward by the company on Friday and won backing for all its board nominees despite the opposition from some shareholders. The company's stock consolidation plan, aimed at boosting its sagging share price, passed with 98.5 percent backing. A shareholder proposal seeking greater transparency was defeated. It would have forced Bombardier to separately disclose voting results on all resolutions by class of shares. The proposal, though, did win backing from Bombardier's third-largest shareholder and ally in its rail business, Quebec-based institutional investor La Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec. (Additional reporting by Euan Rocha in Toronto; Editing by G Crosse and Will Dunham) By Allison Lampert and Euan Rocha MIRABEL, QUEBEC/TORONTO April 29 (Reuters) - A major CSeries order from Delta Air Lines will likely hold investor attention at Bombardier's annual meeting on Friday, overshadowing discord between the company's founding family and disgruntled shareholders. Delta's order - the largest yet for the CSeries - is set to eclipse a mini-revolt by some influential minority shareholders, including at least three major Canadian pension funds, who are calling for greater transparency within Bombardier and opposing tweaks to its stock option plan and other proposals. The vote of confidence in the troubled CSeries program from a flagship carrier like Delta is a huge win for the long-delayed and over-budget passenger jet program. The widely anticipated order had boosted shares in the embattled company by roughly 50 percent, weeks before it was even inked on Thursday. The order did not, however, sway the views of a cadre of vocal minority investors like Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and British Columbia's top public sector pension fund BCIMC. All have voted in favor of a proposal requiring Bombardier to separately disclose voting results on all resolutions by class of shares. The company's founding family have a 53.23 percent voting stake, largely through the 79.5 percent stake of Bombardier's Class A multiple voting shares they control. Bombardier's Class A shares carry 10 votes per share, while Class B shares carry 1 vote per share. The company's dual-class share structure has faced criticism in the past, especially given Bombardier's recent missteps. Bombardier Chief Executive Alain Bellemare said on Thursday the dual-class structure was a factor in the negotiations over a $1 billion cash infusion from the Canadian government, but he defended the family's role. "People are under-appreciating the value of having a family that has a long-term commitment to developing an aerospace firm, which is the anchor of our aerospace industry," Bellemare said in an interview. BCIMC was the most scathing of the funds in it criticism and said it plans to withhold support from all five Bombardier-Beaudoin family members on the board, as the level of independence in the boardroom is low. With the founding family's majority voting control, however, the noise generated by the pension funds "is all academic," said Morningstar analyst Chris Higgins. "The family's going to vote as they see fit," he said. "Maybe this adds a bit of pressure, but I don't see the family caving on the voting structure and other issues." (Reporting by Allison Lampert and Euan Rocha; Editing by Leslie Adler) By Allison Lampert MIRABEL, Quebec (Reuters) - Bombardier Inc's dual-class share structure is vital to protect the long-term interests of the Quebec-based aerospace and transportation company, and the Bombardier-Beaudoin family has no plans to relinquish its majority control, Executive Chairman Pierre Beaudoin said on Friday. "For the family, the success of this company has always been important. The family was there in good and bad times," Beaudoin said in response to a question at Bombardier's annual meeting. "The multiple voting right shares enable us to invest in the long term and allow us to protect the company against its dismantling, and we do not want to change anything." The share structure has long faced criticism, especially given the company's missteps around its long-delayed and over-budget CSeries passenger planes that won a reprieve with a big order from Delta Air Lines on Thursday. Several major investors, including the Quebec pension fund, have pressed the Bombardier-Beaudoin family to reduce its voting control of the company, according to sources. The family has resisted ceding control of Bombardier, founded in 1942 by snowmobile inventor Joseph-Armand Bombardier. It moved into train and plane building via acquisitions made by his son-in-law, Laurent Beaudoin. The company's founding family has a 53.23 percent voting stake, largely via the 79.5 percent stake of Bombardier's Class A multiple voting shares the family controls. Those shares carry 10 votes per share, while Class B shares carry 1 vote per share. Bombardier has conceded that the dual-class structure is a factor in negotiations for a $1 billion cash infusion from the Canadian government. Beaudoin on Friday declined to comment on the funding talks, saying only that he urged Canada to match Quebec's pledge to put $1 billion into the CSeries passenger jet program. Some influential minority shareholders, including at least three major Canadian pension funds, had called for greater transparency within Bombardier and opposed changes to its stock option plan and other proposals. Story continues British Columbia's main public sector pension fund has said it planned to withhold support from all five of the Bombardier-Beaudoin family members on the company's board. But Bombardier, as expected, easily passed all resolutions put forward by the company on Friday and won backing for all its board nominees despite the opposition from some shareholders. The company's stock consolidation plan, aimed at boosting its sagging share price, passed with 98.5 percent backing. A shareholder proposal seeking greater transparency was defeated. It would have forced Bombardier to separately disclose voting results on all resolutions by class of shares. The proposal, though, did win backing from Bombardier's third-largest shareholder and ally in its rail business, Quebec-based institutional investor La Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec. (Additional reporting by Euan Rocha in Toronto; Editing by G Crosse and Will Dunham) (Adds plan to raise prices, quotes, details) SAO PAULO, April 29 (Reuters) - Brazilian food processor BRF SA plans to increase prices by about 7 percent in May to help it counter rising costs and a generally challenging market that is expected to continue through midyear, Chief Executive Officer Pedro Faria said on Friday. Faria told analysts on a conference call that the company's 10 percent price increase at the beginning of the year was not enough to offset cost pressures from the higher local price of corn, the main component of poultry feed. BRF, also the world's largest chicken exporter, reported a first-quarter profit of 39 million reais ($11.2 million) on Thursday, down 91 percent from a year earlier. Corn costs were about 60 percent higher than a year earlier because of a shortage of the grain, executives said. Chairman Abilio Diniz said excess poultry production in Brazil, combined with the rising costs and unfavorable foreign exchange rates that hurt its exports, resulted in one of the company's most challenging quarters ever. BRF also lost about 50 million reais on corn hedging in Chicago as local and international prices diverged. Despite the challenges, Faria said the company still expects investments of 2 billion reais ($571 million) in 2016. While there are concerns that a drought may affect a second annual corn crop that should come to market in May or June, BRF is counting on local prices of the grain to fall. "There could be a second corn crop a little better or a little worse, but the prices will fall," Faria said. BRF has imported corn from Argentina and Paraguay but told Reuters earlier in the week that it did not plan to take advantage of a new quote to buy tariff-free corn from outside the regional Mercosur trade bloc. BRF shares fell nearly 3 percent shortly after opening in Sao Paulo but then recovered to gain 2 percent. ($1 = 3.5 reais) (Reporting by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) A temporary restraining order filed against Charlie Sheen has been dissolved, ET has confirmed. Sheen's ex-fiancee, Brett Rossi (real name: Scottine Ross), filed the restraining order earlier this month, alleging that the former Two and a Half Men star attacked her and was caught threatening her life in an audio recording. Subsequently, a judge issued an immediate restraining order based on her claims. NEWS: Brett Rossi Files a Restraining Order Against Ex-Fiance Charlie Sheen Rossi neglected to appear in court for a hearing on Thursday surrounding the case, and the judge threw out the temporary restraining order, deeming that there was no immediate threat. While the restraining order was dissolved, as TMZ first reported, Sheen is still under criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department with regard to the alleged threats. A judge set a hearing for May 18 to determine if a permanent restraining order will be issued. WATCH: Charlie Sheen Under Criminal Investigation ET has reached out to Sheen's lawyer for comment. Related Articles LONDON -- As British voters consider the pros and cons of Britain's 43-year-long membership in the European Union, the one issue that's powered the campaign to leave the organization is immigration. That's because supporters of a British exit, or Brexit, from the EU claim that leaving Europe would allow the UK to greatly reduce the inflow of legal migrants -- an argument that resonates in a country where antipathy toward immigration has grown in recent years. But last week, largely thanks to U.S. President Obama's three-day trip to the UK, British voters had to grapple with a subject that underscores the risks of Britain going it alone: foreign policy. In public comments and in an op-ed piece in The Daily Telegraph, Obama focused on global security and trade to forcefully argue against a British withdrawal from Europe. "The Out campaign has not said very much about foreign policy," notes Spyros Economides, an associate professor of international relations and European politics at the London School of Economics, or LSE. That may be, he says, because Brexit proponents' arguments that a Britain unshackled from Europe would be more secure are weak. Economides is one of a large number of foreign policy experts who fear that Brexit could unleash a wave of instability across the continent that would ultimately leave Britain -- and the rest of Europe -- more vulnerable to global threats. "On balance, the UK would be less secure," says Jonathan Eyal, director of international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute, a London defense think tank. [READ: Learn how the world views the UK's place on the global stage] Brexit supporters cried foul over Obama's full-throated backing of the Remain campaign, claiming that he was interfering in British domestic politics -- the Brexit referendum is taking place less than two months away, on June 23. But Judy Dempsey, a senior associate at Carnegie Europe, a Brussels foreign affairs think tank, says that "the White House is right to speak out against Brexit" because Britain's membership in the EU gives the U.S. a stronger link to Europe. Story continues Economides agrees. "The UK is a solid allied voice within the EU," he says, one that ensures that the Anglo-American point of view is heard in Brussels. "If it is on its own, the UK is siloed." Obama echoed those sentiments in his Telegraph commentary. "The United States sees how your powerful voice in Europe ensures that Europe takes a strong stance in the world, and keeps the EU open, outward looking and closely linked to its allies on the other side of the Atlantic." The EU has in recent years been playing a greater diplomatic role on the world stage. For instance, it was ahead of the United States in pushing for the negotiations with Iran that led to last year's agreement to ease international economic sanctions on the country in exchange for Tehran mothballing its nuclear weapons program. And it took the lead in imposing crippling sanctions on Russia after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and supported anti-government rebels in Ukraine. [READ: Germany's growing role in global leadership] EU diplomacy ultimately needs to be backed by military muscle, Economides says, and Britain and France are essential to maintaining that threat, as they're the only two members with large armies, nuclear weapons and global reach. So losing the UK would be a blow to the EU's burgeoning foreign policy efforts. Pro-Brexit campaigners, however, discount that argument. When it comes to the defense of Europe, they say, it's NATO that really counts, and Britain would remain a member of that alliance. But Eyal says that if Britain were to leave the EU, it could engender hard feelings among the EU member states in NATO. "That could impact the cohesion of NATO," he says. Moreover, Economides says, NATO is a "hard security force," but "increasingly NATO is not able to deal with security issues in the traditional sense, and the main burden has fallen to the EU. There are issues NATO cannot deal with," including terrorism, migration flows and climate change. If Britain leaves the EU, it may be less hamstrung by the bureaucratic red tape that spins out of Brussels, Dempsey says, "but that ignores the argument that it needs the help of its neighbors" in containing security threats. While pro-exit supporters insist that policing, security and judicial agreements could be renegotiated, Eyal says that's an effort that could take years, especially given that Europe is already preoccupied with a host of crises, ranging from refugees pouring in from Syria, terror attacks, poor economic performance across much of the euro zone and ongoing efforts by Russia to reassert itself in Europe. If Britain votes to remain in the EU, Dempsey says the country should press for a stronger security regime there, including more intelligence-sharing. Indeed, on Monday, Obama met with the heads of Western Europe's four largest nations and urged them to blend their counter-terrorism efforts and share more intelligence. There are also worries that a British exit would encourage other EU members to either hold their own referendums on EU membership or use a referendum threat to force Brussels to renegotiate the terms of their membership. "It (Brexit) would be a very disruptive factor," Eyal says. "There might not be an immediate rush to the door, but ultimately it could lead to the disintegration of the EU." Both the Czech Republic and Hungary have indicated that a British departure might lead them to reconsider their membership, and France's far-right, anti-EU National Front wants a referendum so badly that its leader, Marine Le Pen, plans to visit Britain to campaign for Brexit. And a recent poll in Sweden showed that support for remaining in Europe would fall significantly there if Britain were to leave. A plurality of Swedish voters, 36 percent, said they would want out of the EU if Britain withdraws. And while 55 percent of Scots voted to keep Scotland within the UK in a 2014 referendum, Scotland is "emphatically pro-Remain," says Iain Begg, an expert on European political economics at the LSE. If the UK left Europe, he says, it would almost certainly resurrect a new push for another vote on Scottish independence -- which, if it succeeded, would break up the United Kingdom. [READ: Learn how European workers support the UK housing industry] The prospect of independence movements cascading across Europe in the aftermath of a Brexit would give Russia more influence on the continent, the analysts say, allowing it to play individual states off one another -- a gambit that's unlikely to work against a united Europe. Russian media outlets have been proselytizing for a Brexit. Having on its doorstep a Europe that's in chaos and being further undermined by machinations spun out of the Kremlin would certainly pose a grave threat to an independent Britain's security, Dempsey says. Will Obama's comments on the Brexit campaign and the focus it placed on foreign policy and security help give the pro-EU side an edge? Time will tell. Tracking polls here are still predicting a close result with the "In" vote marginally ahead and many voters still undecided. British bookies noted a jump of several percentage points in the odds for the UK remaining in Europe after Obama's visit, boosting the likelihood to around 73 percent to 75 percent. LONDON (Reuters) - It will be up to British voters on June 23 to decide whether the country stays in the European Union, but international bodies and foreign leaders have joined the debate, mostly to urge the country not to the leave the bloc. Below is a summary of comments ranging from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund to China's premier. U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA Obama told Britain on April 22 that it would go to "the back of the queue" for trade talks with Washington if it left the EU. He combined the blunt warning with praise for Britain's influence within the 28-nation bloc, something Washington considered important to its own interests. U.S. Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton also wants Britain to stay in the EU. U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP The Republican front-runner for the White House said on March 24 that Britons would probably decide to leave the EU because of concerns about high levels of migration. "With the craziness that is going on with the migration, with people pouring in all over the place, I think that Britain will end up separating from the EU," he said. GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER WOLFGANG SCHAEUBLE Schaeuble said on March 3 it would be extremely difficult or even impossible for Britain to negotiate a "special deal" on trade with the EU if it left the bloc. "Imagine the negotiations that would have to take place after a Brexit decision. For the years to come all this bureaucratic stuff. Good luck!" he said. FRENCH ECONOMY MINISTER EMMANUEL MACRON Macron said on April 15 that Britain would need to continue to pay into the EU budget if it wished to continue with tariff-free access to the bloc's single market after a Brexit. "Those who pretend that passporting will be preserved exactly following the same rules without any contribution to the budget, are making a big, a big mistake," Macron added. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND The global economy watchdog made an unusual incursion into a national political issue on April 12 when it said a Brexit could "do severe regional and global damage by disrupting established trading relationships." ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT The OECD said Britons would face a "Brexit tax" if they left the EU, equivalent to a month's salary by 2020, given the likely hit to the economy. Its secretary general urged Britons to think carefully about how they would fare outside the 28-country bloc. "Britain, look at yourself in the mirror, naked. Do you like what you see? Mostly I hope you come out saying: not too much," Angel Gurria said. CHINESE PREMIER XI JINPING China, which is sensitive to comments from abroad and usually does not talk about other countries' domestic affairs, issued a veiled call on Britain to stay in the EU when its leader Xi Jinping visited the country in October. "China hopes to see a prosperous Europe and a united EU, and hopes Britain, as an important member of the EU, can play an even more positive and constructive role in promoting the deepening development of China-EU ties," he said. DALLAS FEDERAL RESERVE PRESIDENT ROBERT KAPLAN Kaplan told reporters in London that uncertainty about Brexit could affect whether the Fed raised rates for the first time since December at its June 15 meeting. He said: "There is no question that if it were to occur, it would open up potential tail risk, including the sudden or rapid depreciation of the currency which might in fact have ripple effects in other countries." GROUP OF 20 ECONOMIES Finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 of the world's leading economies put Brexit on their list of dangers to the world economy when they met in February. G20 officials said Brexit was added on the insistence of Britain. SILENT SO FAR Supporters of Britain remaining in the EU have said that a decision to split the bloc would be welcomed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a weakening of the West. So far, Putin has not commented on the Brexit debate. "Russia is being dragged into the domestic debate on Brexit," the Russian embassy in London said in a statement in March. "Why is the 'wicked Russia' thesis used to explain a government policy?" In Brussels, European Commission economists have been banned from researching the impact of Britain leaving the bloc, or even talking about it publicly, for fear of getting embroiled in the debate, officials have said. (Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Dominic Evans) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen at the IMF headquarters building during the 2013 Spring Meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington, April 18, 2013. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas By Shihar Aneez COLOMBO (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday it has reached agreement with the Sri Lankan government for a $1.5 billion (1.02 billion pounds) bailout to help the island nation avert a balance of payments crisis. The three-year loan will require IMF board approval in June, the global lender said, and is subject to Sri Lanka implementing reforms, including streamlining the tax code and reducing a bloated deficit. "The Sri Lankan authorities and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement on a 36-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF)," for a $1.5 billion loan, Todd Schneider, IMF mission chief for Sri Lanka said in a statement. The agreement comes as debt-laden Sri Lanka faces a looming balance-of-payment crisis due to heavy foreign outflows from government securities and high external debt repayments. Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves have fallen by a third from their peak in late 2014 to $6.2 billion at end-March. The government will seek to raise the tax-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, which was 10.8 percent in 2014, to near 15 percent by 2020 through a new Inland Revenue Act, reform of the VAT and the customs code, Schneider said. The loan - the second bailout from the IMF since 2009 - will support the government's ambitious economic reform agenda aimed at fundamental changes to tax policy, reverse a two-decade decline in tax revenues, and put public finances on a sustainable medium-term footing, Schneider said. "Stronger revenue performance will enable smaller fiscal deficits and lower borrowing, reduce the overhang of public debt, and ease pressure on the balance of payments." Sri Lanka's 2015 budget deficit hit 7.4 percent of GDP, up from 5.7 percent in 2014. Schneider said the formal approval of the EFF was "expected to catalyze" an additional $650 million loans, bringing total support to about $2.2 billion. The majority of the $650 million loans will be from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, government officials told Reuters. Story continues "This (agreement) will boost the investor confidence," Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran told Reuters via telephone from Hong Kong. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said Sri Lanka is already well on the way to implementing reforms, including raising value added tax (VAT) by 4 percent, announcing restructuring plan for its loss-making state-run airline, and eliminating tax holidays granted by state-run investment body. Moody's Ratings agency said in a statement the loan will provide external liquidity to ease immediate financing pressures and could reduce Sri Lankas vulnerability to a sudden halt in capital inflows. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) By Sarah Marsh HAVANA (Reuters) - Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Friday praised Cuban President Raul Castro for embracing the realities of the modern world after a meeting with the Communist leader that marked a further step in Cuba's thaw with the West. He is the first British Foreign Secretary to set foot on the Caribbean island since its 1959 revolution, and his visit follows one by U.S. President Barack Obama in March. Hammond said he had a "long and interesting discussion" with Castro about the octogenarian leader's push to update one of the world's last Soviet-style command economies. "He is espousing a program of gradual change, embracing the realities of the world we live in," Hammond said in an interview at the British ambassador's residence in Havana. "I was very struck by the fact that he described the Internet as the reality of our world, spoke positively about the benefits the Internet could bring." Cuba still has one of the world's lowest Internet penetrations with access expensive and restricted. The state says it wants to expand access and has been installing Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the country. But change is slow and critics suggest the government fears losing control of media and seeing new avenues of political opposition open up. Castro has vowed to "update" Cuba's socialist model but market-style reforms have been implemented haltingly and even reversed in some areas. A Communist Party Congress this month proposed little new to tackle the country's economic woes. "Castro is seeking to position himself in the middle between those who are resisting change and those who want much faster, more radical change," said Hammond, adding that Britain hoped to foster reforms through cooperation in certain sectors. The Foreign Secretary said the government recognized its financial services sector was underdeveloped. "Castro said to me directly 'we lack management expertise in banking services' and this is an area where the UK (United Kingdom) has something very clear to offer," he said. The main sectors where Britain sees opportunities for its companies to do business in Cuba were financial services, tourism and renewable energy, Hammond said. Challenges to doing business in Cuba remain however, he said, not least due to the U.S. trade embargo. "We have also had discussions with the U.S. about the challenges for British and other European banks in doing business with countries that face U.S. sanctions," said Hammond. "There are some problems here but we are working through them with the U.S. and hope to make progress in a way that will enable British businesses to do more business with Cuba." Exports of British goods to Cuba rose 32 percent in 2015 compared with the previous year but the government deems there is scope for growth as other European countries export far more to the island. (Editing by James Dalgleish) By Sarah Marsh HAVANA (Reuters) - Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Friday he saw no immediate threat to Europe from Islamic State bases in Libya and did not expect the new Libyan government to ask for foreign troops anytime soon. Libya has been in chaos since Western-backed rebels overthrew President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Western states are hoping a new Libyan unity government, which arrived in Tripoli last month, will be able to make Libya's armed factions work together against the militant group, and have said they are ready to provide training for Libyan forces if requested by the unity government. The United States has already conducted air strikes against Islamic State militants in Libya. "I don't expect the Libyan government to ask for foreign troops either in a combat or a training role anytime soon," Hammond said in an interview during a visit to Cuba. "But we have made clear we will support this new government," he told Reuters. Hammond last week told The Telegraph newspaper that he did not rule out sending British troops to Libya to fight Islamic State militants. He reiterated that position, saying Britain would not rule out military action in Libya should there be a "real and substantive threat coming from terrorist bases" there. "I don't think we see that threat at the moment but I simply wanted to be clear that we can't rule out using the capabilities we have to defend our country and protect our people." Hammond met with Cuban President Raul Castro earlier on Friday and is the first British Foreign Secretary to set foot in the Communist-ruled island since the 1959 revolution that overthrew a pro-American government. (Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Frank Jack Daniel) London (AFP) - Britain's Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn on Friday faced intense pressure over alleged anti-Semitism in his party less than a week before his leadership is tested by local elections. Corbyn announced an independent review into racism after senior party member and former London mayor Ken Livingstone was suspended for linking Adolf Hitler to Zionism. "There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour Party, or anywhere in society," the veteran socialist said. "We will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all minority communities." The row exploded on Wednesday when Labour MP Naz Shah was suspended by the party pending an investigation into allegations that she shared anti-Semitic posts on social media before being elected. Defending Shah in a series of interviews on Thursday, Livingstone also said that criticism of Israel's policies was being confused with anti-Semitism. "When Hitler won his election in 1932, his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews," he said. "I have been in the Labour Party for 40 years and I have never heard anyone say anything anti-Semitic. "I have heard a lot of criticism for the state of Israel and its abuse of Palestinians, but I have never heard someone be anti-Semitic," he added. - 'Not dealt with properly' - The dispute has been simmering for months -- ever since Corbyn was elected party leader by grassroots supporters despite opposition from many MPs in September. He has been criticised in the past for referring to Lebanon's powerful Shiite militia Hezbollah as "friends" and urging dialogue with the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, as well as meeting representatives of both organisations. In February, Labour launched an investigation into its Oxford University student branch after the chairman stepped down complaining that many members "have some kind of problem with Jews". Story continues Last month Vicki Byrne, deputy chairwoman of a local party branch, was suspended after it was reported she had posted anti-Semitic remarks on Twitter. Corbyn's own brother was drawn into the row earlier this month when he dismissed complaints about anti-Semitic abuse as part of an argument about Israel. The remarks by Livingstone, a longtime Corbyn ally, were widely condemned within the party and some of those leading the charge are critics of the Labour leader, including members of his own shadow cabinet, leading some observers to suspect an internal power struggle. Former leadership contender Andy Burnham, now the party's spokesman on home affairs, has said allegations of anti-Semitism had "not been dealt with properly and quickly enough". The row has raised wider concerns in civil society. Jonathan Arkush, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, a representative body, told BBC radio that Livingstone had "crossed a line into certainly what most people would regard as distinctly anti-Semitic." Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard wrote a piece in the Daily Telegraph saying Labour "is now run by a cadre for whom anti-Semitism really is OK, so long as it is dressed up as anti-Zionism". - 'Perennial virus' - The row is particularly sensitive for Corbyn as it comes ahead of regional elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, English local elections and a mayoral vote in London that are being seen as litmus tests for his leadership. While Labour is tipped to win in London, it could face losses elsewhere. Sadiq Khan, Labour's London mayoral candidate, has spoken out against the party's failure to act on the issue more quickly. "The comments from Ken Livingstone are appalling and disgusting and there should be no place in the Labour Party for anyone with those views," he said. "Racism is racism." Khan, a Muslim, has faced a dirty mayoral race, fighting back against claims from Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives that he repeatedly shared a platform with an imam who Cameron claimed supported Islamic State (IS) jihadists. Commentators say Labour now needs to work hard on its reputation. "Certain forms of anti-semitism are a particular and recurrent danger among the left's ranks and it is as well to be vigilant," an editorial in the Guardian, seen as Britain's newspaper of record for the left, said. It added that Corbyn, while not anti-Semitic himself, had overseen "sluggish discipline" and must "demonstrate that he and his Labour party is as instinctively attuned to this perennial virus as to every other form of racism." BRASILIA, April 29 (Reuters) - Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc is in advanced talks to buy a controlling stake in the water and sewage unit of Brazilian engineering conglomerate Grupo Odebrecht for up to 6 billion reais ($1.72 billion), newspaper Valor Economico said on Friday. Valor, citing sources with knowledge of the talks, said the unit also attracted interest from several French groups. Odebrecht and Brookfield representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comments. Grupo Odebrecht, the largest of local engineering firms implicated in a sweeping corruption probe at oil producer Petroleo Brasileiro SA and other state companies, wants to sell 12 billion reais in assets to reduce debt. The scandal, which sent the family member who ran Grupo Odebrecht to prison, has curtailed access to capital markets and loan funding for the company's 15 subsidiaries. Odebrecht owns 70 percent of the unit, known as Odebrecht Ambiental, with a fund managed by state lender Caixa Economica Federal owning the remaining 30 percent. ($1 = 3.4842 Brazilian reais) (Reporting by Silvio Cascione; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farooks brother Syed Raheel Farook has been arrested along with wife Tatiana Farook and her sister Mariya Chernykh. U.S. prosecutors told Reuters and the Los Angeles Times the three were arrested on Thursday, April 28, on marriage fraud charges and for lying to federal investigators. PHOTOS: Stars at Court Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, were killed in a shootout with law enforcement after the couple killed 14 people in a mass shooting at a holiday party in December 2015 at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, at which the 28-year-old health inspector was an attendee. According to the Los Angeles Times, Syed Rizwans brother Syed Raheel, 31, Tatiana, also 31, and her 26-year-old sister have been charged in a five-count indictment filed in federal court alleging that Chernykh entered into a fraudulent marriage with Enrique Marquez Jr., who has been accused of providing weapons used in the deadly December 2 attack. PHOTOS: Celebrity Mugshots Marquez Jr. is accused of having purchased the two assault rifles that were used to carry out the shooting. Hes also accused of having conspired with Syed Rizwan, his childhood friend, in 2011 and 2012 to commit crimes of terrorism that were not carried out. As previously reported, Syed Rizwan didnt think hed pass the background check to purchase the weapons himself. Celebrity Health Scares According to Reuters, an investigation found that Marquez Jr. agreed to marry Chernykh so that she could obtain a visa. Authorities allege that Sayed Raheel, who is a U.S. Navy veteran, and his wife participated in their conspiracy by staging wedding photos, and also helped Marquez Jr. and Chernykh open a joint bank account, and, according to the Los Angeles Times, forge leases. Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics, and more delivered straight to your inbox! By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Three people linked to the couple responsible for December's mass shooting in San Bernardino, California were arrested on Thursday on conspiracy, marriage fraud and other charges unrelated to the massacre, U.S. prosecutors said. The trio included Syed Raheel Farook, whose brother Syed Rizwan Farook and sister-in-law, Pakistan-born Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people in a rampage authorities have said was inspired by Islamist militants. All three pleaded not guilty and will be released on bond, Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek said. Lawyers for the three did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Officials said the charges stemmed from an immigration-related investigation that came out of their probe into the massacre. U.S. Navy veteran Syed Raheel Farook, 31, his wife, Tatiana Farook, 31, and her sister Mariya Chernykh, 26, were arrested after being charged with conspiracy to make a false statement to immigration officials while under oath, the attorney's office said. The investigation found that in 2014 Enrique Marquez, who had been a friend of Syed Rizwan Farook, allegedly agreed in return for payment to marry Chernykh, a Russian citizen, so she could apply for permanent U.S. residency status, charging documents stated. Chernykh also was charged with fraud and two counts of making material false statements to federal agents. Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook, who like her sister is originally from Russia, staged photos of Marquez and Chernykh to make them look like a married couple and created a joint bank account for the two, according to the charging documents. The Farooks were arrested at their home in Corona while Chernykh was arrested in Ontario. "Today's arrests open a new phase in the process of bringing to justice all individuals who allegedly committed crimes that were uncovered during our exhaustive investigation," U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker said in a statement. Marquez was charged on Dec. 18 with conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook in 2011 and 2012 to support a militant attack in Southern California that was never carried out. He has pleaded not guilty. Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife died in a shootout with police hours after the Dec. 2 San Bernardino attack. The alleged sham marriage first surfaced in December, when Marquez also was charged with defrauding immigration authorities. Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook, who are both U.S. citizens, if convicted of conspiracy each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Chernykh faces up to 25 years, prosecutors said. Their trial is set to start on June 21. Under U.S. law, Chernykh could also be deported to Russia if convicted. (Additional reporting by Julia Edwards in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Tom Brown and Andrew Hay) Abidjan (AFP) - Judges in Burkina Faso will reinstate an international arrest warrant for ex-president Blaise Compaore, who fled the country after a popular uprising in 2014, the military prosecutor said Friday. They will also reinstate a warrant for the speaker of parliament in neighbouring Ivory Coast, Guillaume Soro, wanted over a short-lived coup in Burkina last year, prosecutor Colonel Norbert Koudougou told AFP. The move came a day after the Court of Cassation cancelled the warrants for the two men and a number of others. "The investigating judges will reissue the mandates," Koudougou said. "We had made the request to correct a procedural mistake, that being done, we don't see any particular obstacle to these mandates being reinstated." Chief prosecutor Armand Ouedraogo said Thursday the warrants had been cancelled over procedural irregularities, because they had been issued without first being formally requested by the state prosecution. But he said they could be reissued at any time so long as proper procedure was followed. Compaore has been living in Ivory Coast since he was overthrown in a popular uprising in October 2014 after ruling Burkina Faso with an iron fist for 27 years. Burkinabe authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in December for his alleged role in the mysterious 1987 killing of his comrade, ex-president Thomas Sankara. Separately, former Ivorian rebel leader and prime minister Soro is wanted by Burkina after telephone wiretaps allegedly revealed he supported a coup there last September. The attempted coup was staged by crack troops from a presidential guard loyal to Compaore but was thwarted by street protesters and the army, which attacked the plotters' barracks. At least 11 people were killed and more than 270 were injured in the demonstrations. Peacekeepers of the African Union Mission in Somalia. The Islamic State may be gaining a foothold in East Africa. The militant group took responsibility for an IED attack on a convoy of African Union peacekeepers traveling outside of Somalias capital of Mogadishu on April 25. African Union officials have said that ISIL may not have been behind the attack, which left no casualties. Still, there are worrying signs that the group is gaining traction in war-torn Somalia, where another extremist group, al-Shabaab, could serve as a ready pool of recruits for ISIL. ISIL, which has been competing with al-Shabaab for recruits in the little emirate since last year, appears to be ramping up its efforts. It released a propaganda video on April 14 in which a group of fighters trains in an undisclosed location in Somalia and pledges allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. A screenshot of a propaganda video released by Islamic State on April 14. (Furat) One of the fighters featured in that video is ex-al-Shabaab leader Abdiqadir Mumin, a cleric who defected to ISIL last year, reportedly taking 20 fighters with him. While the groups following is likely still small, its appeal may be growing among disenchanted al-Shabaab members who have seen their territory in Somalia taken back by African Union forces, supported by the United States and other African nations. (Al-shabaab, whose name means the youth, aims to oust the government and turn Somalia into an Islamist state. It declared allegiance to Al-Qaeda, ISILs rival, in 2012.) Earlier this month, a previously unknown group called Jahba East Africa, or the East Africa Front, came out in support of ISIL and called on fighters to desert al-Shabaab. We are telling the mujahideen in East Africa that al-Shabaab has now become a psychological and physical prison, it said in a propaganda video released on April 7. Analysts believe that younger al-Shabaab supporters might be attracted to a mission that goes beyond just Somalia. ISIL has pockets of support in northern and western Africa. When Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIL last year, it called on all sub-Saharan jihadists to join its forces. For ISIL, Somalias attraction may be that it borders key US allies in East Africa like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Story continues Sign up for the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief the most important and interesting news from across the continent, in your inbox. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: kate burns buzzfeed BuzzFeed's European general manager Kate Burns has left the digital media publisher a little over a year after she joined the company. Quite why Burns left the company is not yet clear. A spokesperson for BuzzFeed said it was Burns' decision to leave. The search is on for her replacement. In a statement, BuzzFeed said: "Over the last year, Kate has been an integral part of stabilizing and growing our business in the UK and Europe. We are grateful for the leadership role she has played and wish her the very best in the future." Burns sent Business Insider this statement: "The European business is doing exceptionally well thanks to the incredible job my team have done in the last year. I know they will go from strength to strength. I am very sad to leave, and I wish them all the best, and I will miss them very much." There are competing theories swirling around the context of her departure: Sources close to the company told Business Insider Burns had a difficult relationship with BuzzFeed management. One of those sources said she was not given much autonomy from BuzzFeed HQ in the US to run the region in her own style. Two sources close to the company suggested she left after BuzzFeed's European business repeatedly missed quarterly revenue targets. However, another source said this was categorically untrue and BuzzFeed Europe had in fact "doubled" revenue in the past year and is on track to do the same in 2016. That source declined to share actual revenue figures, though. Last September, Burns told Business Insider that BuzzFeed Europe had already pulled in "three to four significant programs worth more than 1 million," referring to upfront advertising deals the company had struck with media agencies. BuzzFeed has not ever publicly released its European revenues. Documents leaked to the Financial Times earlier this month suggested that globally, BuzzFeed had cut its 2016 revenue targets in half from $500 million to $250 million, having missed its $250 million revenue target for 2015 by $80 million. Story continues However, BuzzFeed chairman Ken Lerer dismissed the report saying: "Anyone who thinks that this isn't a terrific time to be in digital content is dead wrong, it's a fantastic time," according to Re/code. A source close to BuzzFeed also said there were some factual inaccuracies in the Financial Times report. BuzzFeed has a $1.5 billion valuation, having raised almost $246 million in funding from investors including NBCUniversal, Hearst Ventures, and Andreessen Horowitz. Burns is a European internet advertising veteran. Back in 2001, she was the first international hire at Google, joining as its UK managing director. She was promoted to become the company's regional director for UK, Ireland, and Benelux. In 2008 she became UK and Europe managing director at video site Dailymotion. After less than a year there she joined social network Bebo as its vice president and managing director for Europe. In 2009 she left to become AOL's European VP of sales and was promoted in 2010 to the role of CEO and SVP of AOL Europe. She had brief stints at ad tech companies Drawbridge and Shift, holding European VP roles at both companies, before joining BuzzFeed in March 2015. Burns told Business Insider in September last year she joined BuzzFeed after she "basically stalked" the company's president Greg Coleman on LinkedIn, after she heard he had joined the company from public ad tech company Criteo in 2014. Having "ignored" her at first, they eventually went for lunch and she was hired 10 days later. BuzzFeed has European editions in the UK, France, Germany, and Spain. BuzzFeed has consistently pulled in around 15 million monthly unique visitors in the UK, according to Quantcast data. buzzfeed NOW WATCH: 4.2 million Americans could be displaced by rising sea levels this century see if your county is at risk More From Business Insider Los Angeles (AFP) - California lawmakers voted down a resolution Thursday aimed at honoring legendary actor John Wayne, after opponents accused him of being a racist. The resolution would have declared May 26 -- the screen icon's birthday -- "John Wayne Day," but several Latino and black lawmakers objected to the proposal, citing comments by Wayne that they said were racist toward blacks and Native Americans. Assemblyman Matthew Harper had submitted the motion, which described Wayne -- nicknamed the "Duke" -- as the "prototypical American hero, symbolizing such traits as self-reliance, grace under pressure, resolve, and patriotism." Supporters of the resolution also noted that the actor, who died in 1979 and was known for his conservative views, was an avid supporter of the US military and had contributed to cancer research. However assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez complained that Wayne's movies included "a lot of slaughtering of Native Americans" and that the actor had sanctioned the white occupation of Indian lands, the daily Sacramento Bee reported. In a widely-reported 1971 interview with Playboy, Wayne also shared his thoughts on race relations and discrimination. "With a lot of blacks, there's quite a bit of resentment along with their dissent, and possibly rightfully so," he was quoted as saying. "But we can't all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks. "I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don't believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people." As the resolution to honor Wayne was voted down Thursday, one lawmaker appeared to downplay the actor's past comments saying "everyone of us is imperfect," the Bee reported. Harper for his part said it was unfortunate that the vote had gone in favor of "political correctness." Calpine Corporation (NYSE: CPN) disclosed that it suffered a wider net loss of $198 million or a loss of $0.58 a share in the first quarter. In comparison, the loss was $10 million or $0.03 a share in the preceding year quarter. The company blamed the wider loss to non-cash mark-to-market losses fuelled by the drop in forward power, as well as, natural gas prices. Calpine's adjusted net loss was wider at $104 million in the March quarter than $62 million in the year-ago quarter due to higher estimated income tax expenses. The company's revenue dipped 1.8 percent to $1.62 billion from $1.65 billion in the previous year quarter. Street analysts expected the company to suffer a loss of $0.06 a share on revenue of $1.3 billion in the first quarter. Calpine's President and CEO Thad Hill said, "I am pleased to report that first quarter Adjusted EBITDA increased $36 million year-over-year, despite mild winter weather across much of the country. This performance was due to solid operations and effective hedging, and has kept us on track to reaffirm our full year guidance." He continued, "Our first quarter results demonstrate the continued benefits of our geographically diverse, flexible and clean generation fleet. These modern, natural gas-fired power generation resources allow us to be resilient to low natural gas prices in the near term, while favorably positioning us for the long term." The CEO added, "We also remain focused on building and developing our customer relationships. Over time, we think our customer focus, through both our Champion Energy retail business and our wholesale origination efforts, will deliver better results than simply being a price-taker. Since our last call, we have signed a new five-year contract in the East, expanded our retail service territory in New England and reached an agreement to sell our South Point Energy Center in Arizona to a local utility. This is in addition to the new ten-year toll of our Morgan plant with the Tennessee Valley Authority that we announced in February." Story continues Going forward, Calpine reaffirmed its adjusted EBITDA of $1.8 - $1.95 billion for the full year 2016. Similarly, the company reiterated its adjusted free cash flow of $710 - $860 million. See more from Benzinga 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. PARIS Euro film-TV group Studiocanal, Europes biggest film production force, will introduce to buyers at Cannes both a new Ben Stassen movie, The Son of Bigfoot, and Back to Burgundy, from French dramedy maitre Cedric Klapisch (The Spanish Apartment trilogy, Paris). Sold robustly by Studiocanal at Berlin, Nicole Garcias Marion Cotillard-starrer From the Land of the Moon, produced by Alain Attal, plays in competition at Cannes. As so many companies struggle to put together high-profile movies and threaten to come to Cannes with projects that lack stars or U.S. distribution or pre-sales financing, Studiocanals early slate is one of the first Cannes line-ups unveiled by a top-echelon sales company. Fully-financing its productions, we know that when we come to a market with a film that its set and ready to go, said Anna Marsh, head of international film sales. The production-distribution-sales companys Cannes lineup also frames new productions from France Sara Forestier starrer Elementary, announced as a production last fall and from Germany, whose production operation is now hitting high-gear: My Blind Date With Life, a comedy directed by Marc Rothemund (Sophie Scholl). Produced by nWave Pictures, a Studiocanal company, and Waterman Ent. (Alvin and the Chipmunks, Stuart Little, Casper), 3D animated The Son of Bigfoot reteams the The House of Magics directorial duo of Stassen and Jeremy Degrusen in a film that is an older-skewing film and really speaks to both children and adults on two levels, said Marsh. Closer to a U.S. sensibility, it turns on a teen outsider who uncovers the truth that he is the son of the mysterious Bigfoot and as such has super powers, which he needs to save his family. Dynamic and very funny, The Son of Bigfoot takes an audience on a whirlwind, action-packed adventure ride, is a well-known IP around the world, and audiences will pick up on the father-son relationship, Marsh said. Studiocanal will show 3D footage at Cannes on The Son of Bigfoot, which is now in full-production phase, tracking for an end-of-summer 2017 release, she added. Story continues Studiocanal will release in France, U.K., Germany and Australia/New Zealand, where it runs its own direct distribution operations. Starring an up-and-coming French cast of Pio Marmai (The First Day of the Rest of Your Life), Ana Girandot (Next Time Ill Aim For the Heart) and Francois Civil (Five), the latest from Chinese Puzzle director Klapisch centers on a long-lost brother who returns to his inherited family vineyard to decide with his siblings on its future. Back to Burgundy has the entertaining balance between comedy and drama of Spanish Apartment, turns on heritage, transmission on land, how parents give you roots and wings, the notion that passage of time can mature for the better, Marsh said. New to Studiocanals sales slate, and billed by Marsh as a German Intouchables. the true-facts-based comedy My Blind Date With Life, is a buddy movie about a young man who is going blind but, with the help of close friends, disguises the fact when working at a top hotel in Munich. Director is Marc Rothemund, helmer of 2005s Oscar-nominated Sophie Scholl the Final Days, before moving into comedy with the Bernd Eichinger-produced Pornorama. My Blind Date With Life opens Nov. 24. Marking Helene Angels fourth feature after social-issue dramas La Vie Parisienne and Skin of Man, Heart of Beast Elementary stars Forestier as a devoted 30-year old school teacher at a crossroads in life, facing challenges at work where she has to shepherd her fifth grade students and on a personal level as her son wants to go live with his father. Giving so much, she finally falls in love, getting something back. Forestier stunned France with her performance in The Names of Love, which won her a French Academy Cesar. Elementary will be released in France on Nov. 17 by Studiocanal, which has also taken U.K. rights. Vincent Elbaz (The Hundred-Foot Journey, Would I Lie To You) co-stars. Related stories Cannes: Pyramide Intl. Takes 'The Girl Without Hands' (EXCLUSIVE) Vincent Cassel's 'Movie Life,' 'Attitude Test,' 'Butterflies' Make Guadalajara Goes to Cannes Cut Cannes: Ray Stevenson, David Oakes Star in 'Cold Skin' (EXCLUSIVE) On back of weak trading in Singapore, Maldives. CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDLHT)s net property income for Q1 came in at $33.7m, reflecting a 2.3% YoY pullback. This is due largely to soft trading conditions in Singapore and Maldives markets. CDLHT also saw lower contribution from Australia Hotels on back of weaker AUD and reduced full year variable income contribution. According to a report by OCBC, CDLHTs gross revenue for the quarter climbed 5.8% YoY to $44.7m, while distributable income sank 21.8% YoY to $21.9m. We note that the distributable income does not include contribution from the Japan Hotels, which will only become available for distribution in 2Q16, notes OCBC. Meanwhile, average occupancy rate dipped 3.8ppt to 83.9% while average daily rate to S$191. As a result, revenue per available room (RevPAR) dropped 6.9% to $161. OCBC further asserts that the groups hotels continued to be impacted by weak corporate segment demand, as well disruptions from ongoing asset enhancement initiatives (AEI). More From Singapore Business Review April 29 (Reuters) - A recovered cellphone at the center of a dispute between the families of two Florida teens who went missing during a fishing trip will be examined by its manufacturer, Apple Inc, in an agreement hammered out during a hearing on Friday, according to a local media report. If Apple is able to retrieve anything from the water-damaged phone that is pertinent to the day the boys disappeared - including photos, texts and social media posts - the data will be given to a judge, who will decide if it is evidence and whether it may be shared with the families, according to a report by WPLG television in Miami. The agreement puts to rest - for now - a row between the families of Austin Stephanos, 14, who owned the iPhone 6 model cellphone, and his friend Perry Cohen, also 14, who had borrowed it to communicate with his family the day they disappeared in July 2015 off the Atlantic Coast of South Florida, according to the report. The phone was recovered in March when the boys' abandoned boat was discovered by a Norwegian crew near the Bahamas, WPLG reported. The phone was inside a locked box and was heavily water damaged, the report said. Cohen's family wanted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to treat the phone as evidence in an open missing persons case, but the agency instead returned it to Stephanos' family, the station reported. Cohen's mother, Pamela Cohen, sued Stephanos' family to have the phone returned to the state and allow her access to the phone's contents, the report said. In an emergency hearing on Friday, the two sides agreed to turn over the iPhone to Apple and let the judge decide what to do with any data the company is able to retrieve, the station reported. The two boys, neighbors and fishing buddies in their Palm Beach County hometown, were last seen July 24, 2015, buying gasoline for their 19-foot, single-engine vessel before launching in Jupiter, Florida. Phone records indicate the phone went offline shortly after 1 p.m. local time and never came back on, the station reported. (Reporting by Karen Brooks in Fort Worth, Texas, editing by G Crosse) Cepheid CPHD posted first-quarter 2016 adjusted loss (considering stock-based compensation expense as a regular spending) per share of 4 cents, reflecting a year-over-year improvement of 33.3%. This adjusted loss figure also compared favorably with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 17 cents. Stronger-than-expected revenue growth primarily drove the bottom line in the reported quarter. Including one-time items, the companys reported net loss in the first quarter was $6.6 million or 9 cents per share, compared with the year-ago quarters net income of $0.9 million or a penny per share. Revenues in Detail Cepheid witnessed a 9% year-over-year growth (up 13% at constant exchange rate or CER) in revenues of $144.8 million in the first quarter. The revenue figure also managed to beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $139 million. The top-line improvement was driven by solid overall performance, with both of its segments reporting strong year-over-year growth. Geographically, Cepheid witnessed no change in its first-quarter North American revenues of $82.4 million as a substantial decline in non-clinical revenue neutralized growth in Cepheids Clinical business. On the other hand, Cepheids international revenues improved 24% to $62.4 million, driven by growth in both HBDC and commercial businesses. From the first quarter of 2016, Cepheids operating segments include Systems and Other and Reagents and Disposable. Revenues at the Systems and Other segment grew 30% year over year (33% at CER) to $24.3 million, contributing 16.8% to total revenue in the first quarter. Notably, the first quarter marked the highest revenue for systems in any first quarter in the company's history. Growth in this segment was primarily backed by strong placements of the GeneXpert system. Revenues at the Reagents and Disposable segment improved 6% year over year (10% at CER) to $120.5 million, contributing 83.2% to total revenue. This segment benefited from a severe flu season, which in turn boosted revenues. Story continues During the reported quarter, Cepheid delivered the milestone 10,000th GeneXpert System and substantially expanded its reach in the U.S. market with new agreements with three of the most significant, non-acute distributors. Operational Update Cepheid's adjusted gross margin contracted 420 basis points (bps) year over year to 50.4%, on account of a 19.3% hike in cost of sales. In the reported quarter, adjusted operating expenses spiked 12.6% to $73.4 million. Accordingly, adjusted operating loss incurred was $0.4 million, as against the prior-year quarter's adjusted operating income of $7.3 million. Financial Position Cepheid exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $292.3 million compared with $322.7 million as of Dec 31, 2015. As of Mar 31, 2016, Cepheid witnessed $9.1 million of cash outflow from operating activities compared with the year-ago cash inflow of $0.7 million. Capital expenditure increased 127.7% year over year to $22.7 million. Outlook Cepheid reiterated its financial guidance for 2016. The company continues to expect adjusted loss per share in the range of 2935 cents on revenues of $618$635 million (representing growth of 15%18% over 2015 or 18%21% on a constant currency basis, based on recent currency exchange rates). The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $624 million while that for the loss figure is 49 cents per share. Our Take Cepheid started 2016 on a compelling note with its first-quarter results exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate on both the top and bottom-line front. The year-over-year performance on both the fronts was also pretty decent. However, Cepheids declining margin raises concern. Nevertheless, the record placements of the companys legacy GeneXpert system buoyed optimism. Moreover, the company made solid progress in terms of its test menu expansion as well as potential pipeline development. However, despite depicting a shiny outcome in the first quarter, Cepheids unchanged 2016 guidance keeps us on the sidelines. On the flip side, management expects to witness a lower adjusted gross margin figure in the second half of 2016, compared to the first half; since a higher mix of HBDC sales, including another 200 GeneXpert system sales to India is expected to impact margin. Zacks Rank & Key Picks Currently, GNC Holdings carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked medical stocks are Baxter International Inc. BAX,Orthofix International N.V. OFIX and Boston Scientific Corporation BSX. While Baxter and Orthofix sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Boston Scientific carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CEPHEID INC (CPHD): Free Stock Analysis Report BOSTON SCIENTIF (BSX): Free Stock Analysis Report BAXTER INTL (BAX): Free Stock Analysis Report ORTHOFIX INTL (OFIX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research N'Djamena (AFP) - Six of Chadian President Idriss Deby's challengers in recent elections said Friday they had asked the country's Constitutional Council to invalidate his fifth-term win over voting irregularities. "We have sent a request for the invalidation of the April 10 election to the president of the Constitutional Council," one of the failed presidential candidates, former prime minister Joseph Djimrangar Dadnadji, told reporters. "The irregularities recorded during the vote, the count and the compilation of the results alone suffice to invalidate this vote," he added. Provisional results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission showed Deby winning with 61.56 percent of the vote, compared to 12.80 percent for his nearest rival, Saleh Kebzabo. The results have yet to be confirmed by the Constitutional Council. The opposition candidates branded the vote an "electoral stick-up" and said their own tally of results in the capital N'Djamena, in seven densely-populated regions in the south and in the eastern Ouddai region showed Kebzabo ahead in those areas. They said they were not, however, able to verify the results announced in the remaining 13 of Chad's 22 regions. By Harriet McLeod CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) - The white man accused of slaying nine black parishioners last year at a South Carolina church planned the shooting for six months and wanted to start a race war, said a friend who pleaded guilty on Friday to federal charges in a related case. Details about suspected gunman Dylann Roof's plot were revealed as his childhood friend, Joseph Meek, 21, admitted during a hearing in Charleston to concealing knowledge of the crime and lying to authorities investigating the massacre. Meek could be called to testify against Roof as part of an agreement with prosecutors and may be spared the maximum sentence of eight years in prison for cooperating. "He told me the week before it happened, that he was going to Charleston and do what he did," Meek said in court. Meek, who is also white, is the only other person to be charged in connection with the shootings, which sparked intense debate about race relations and gun control laws in the United States. He said Roof, 22, shared his plans to open fire during a June 17 Bible study at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Roof said he would conceal the pistol he planned to use in a fanny pack and would take his own life afterward, according to Meek. On the night of the shootings, Meek told others with him that he knew Roof was to blame but instructed them not to call the police, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Richardson said in court. Meek later contacted investigators but for several days denied previous knowledge of Roof's crime, the prosecutor said. Meek's defense lawyer, Debbie Barbier, told reporters that he was scared and shocked immediately after the shooting but now makes no excuse for his conduct. "He would like nothing better than for the families to forgive him, but he certainly does not expect their forgiveness," she said. More than a dozen family members of the Emanuel victims and two survivors of the shootings attended the hearing. "I am miserable and I have suffered," Gary Washington, 54, said of losing his mother, Ethel Lance. "Everything has fallen apart." Roof faces 33 federal charges including hate crimes, obstruction of religion and firearms offenses. Authorities have accused him of holding white supremacist views, saying he targeted the victims because of their race. Defense lawyers have said Roof would plead guilty if he did not face the possibility of execution. His federal trial has been repeatedly delayed while U.S. prosecutors decide whether to seek the death penalty. State authorities are seeking the death penalty against Roof, who is charged with nine counts of murder as well as attempting to murder three people who survived the rampage, in a separate trial scheduled to begin in January. (Reporting by Harriet McLeod Writing by Letitia Stein and Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Paul Simao and James Dalgleish) We have reached the midpoint of the first-quarter earnings season, having already seen a barrage of positive earnings and revenue surprises. Notwithstanding this positive trend, the overall earnings picture remains drab for the quarter. Per our latest Earnings Trend report, total earnings for the 209 S&P 500 members that reported as of Apr 27 were down 5.5% year over year on a 1.6% decline in sales. First-quarter earnings for the S&P 500 companies are expected to dip 8% year over year on 1% lower revenues. This, if it eventually materializes, will mark the 4th straight quarter of earnings decline for the benchmark index. Looking at the chemical space, a number of companies have racked up forecast-topping earnings despite a slew of macro-level and industry-specific headwinds. Among the chemical companies that have already come out with their results, we saw solid earnings beats from chemical bellwethers such as DuPont DD and Dow Chemical DOW and positive surprises from other prominent names like Eastman Chemical EMN, Air Products APD and PPG Industries PPG. The chemical industry is gradually gaining strength after being roiled by global economic crisis. The industrys recovery momentum is expected to continue in 2016, supported by continued strength in the automotive market, positive trends in the construction space and significant shale-linked capital investment. Chemical makers are gaining from strategic measures including expansion into high-growth markets, aggressive cost management and productivity actions as well as acquisitions. However, the industry is not devoid of challenges as a still weak agriculture market, a strong dollar, soft demand in the energy space (given low oil prices), lumpiness in Europe and slowdown in China continue to weigh on the performance of these companies. The chemical industry falls under the broader Basic Materials sector which is among the sectors that have experienced double-digit earnings declines in the first quarter based on the earnings scorecard as of Apr 27. Earnings for the sector participants in the S&P 500 index are down -20.7% from the same period last year on -13.3% lower revenues. The sector is among 9 of the 16 Zacks sectors that are expected to see negative earnings growth in the first quarter with an expected earnings decline of 18.4% on 8.5% lower sales. Lets take a sneak peek at two chemical companies that are scheduled to report their first-quarter results early next week. FMC Corp. FMC, which will report after the bell on May 2, remains hamstrung by several challenges including weak agriculture market conditions and significant currency headwinds. Agricultural market conditions in Brazil remain weak, reflected by still soft demand for crop protection products. Moreover, elevated channel inventory levels and low farm incomes are expected to affect agricultural markets in North America this year. A slump in the value of the Brazilian real has also created significant headwinds for the company's Agricultural Solutions segment. (Read more: FMC Corp.: Will It Beat Earnings Again Amid Woes?) FMC Corp.s Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) combined with an Earnings ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult. The company has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in 2 of the trailing 4 quarters while missing twice with an average earnings beat of 5.29%. Story continues Ecolab Inc. ECL, which will report its first-quarter numbers ahead of the bell on May 3, is expected to benefit from realization of targeted synergies associated with acquisitions. While the company is exposed to headwinds such as unfavorable currency translation and Venezuela deconsolidation, a robust product portfolio, new product launches and an expanding customer base should drive organic sales. (Read more: Will Ecolab's Earnings Surprise Investors in Q1?) Ecolabs Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) coupled with an Earnings ESP of 0.00% makes surprise prediction difficult. The company has posted negative earnings surprise of 0.71% on an average over the trailing 4 quarters. Stay tuned! Check back later for our earnings coverage of these stocks. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PPG INDS INC (PPG): Free Stock Analysis Report DU PONT (EI) DE (DD): Free Stock Analysis Report DOW CHEMICAL (DOW): Free Stock Analysis Report ECOLAB INC (ECL): Free Stock Analysis Report EASTMAN CHEM CO (EMN): Free Stock Analysis Report AIR PRODS & CHE (APD): Free Stock Analysis Report FMC CORP (FMC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Dawson is about to pop the question to Casey. But even though it's not that question, it's still one that could change their lives forever. After her devastating miscarriage at the beginning of this season of Chicago Fire, the couple have rarely brought up the topic of children ever since. However, as showrunner Matt Olmstead told The Hollywood Reporter last week, that is about to change after Dawson rescues an adorable foster child from a fire. In THR's exclusive video from Tuesday's episode, Dawson can't seem to get the kid, Louie, out of her mind after rescuing him. She confronts the issue head-on by talking with Casey about becoming his foster parents. "I have a feeling this was meant to be," she tells him. So what happens next? Watch the exclusive video below. Chicago Fire airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC. A Japanese child exemplifies honesty. A Russian one acts as a great friend. These character lessons, in a textbook produced by Chinas official academic publisher, have catalyzed an online controversy about whether state schoolbooks glorify foreigners at the expense of locals. An article on a news portal criticized the elementary-school textbook, published by Peoples Education Press, for featuring positive foreign characters while appearing to denigrate Chinese ones. But a defense of the textbooks appeared in the Global Times, a Chinese Communist Partylinked newspaper, on April 29: Such accusations are a reflection of narrow-minded nationalist sentiment and a lack of cultural confidence. Chinese textbooks arent exactly known for their objectivity. Many nations use textbooks to glorify national myths and circumvent embarrassing historical episodes. But the omissions in Chinese textbooks are particularly striking. While atrocities committed by invading Japanese troops during World War II are amply covered, the Chinese Communist Partys own excesses, such as the famine that followed the Great Leap Forward, or the 1989 massacre of student protesters around Tiananmen Square, receive little or no mention. On its website, the Peoples Education Press stresses that it adheres to the tenets of the CPC, or Communist Party of China, and aims to contribute to the construction of a harmonious socialist society. In recent months, Chinese education officials have intensified a campaign against so-called Western values, which they say have infiltrated local campuses. Last year, the nations Education Minister Yuan Guiren, a former president of Beijing Normal University, told a conference of college academics that they should by no means allow teaching materials that disseminate Western values in our classrooms. (The ideology of Karl Marx is, apparently, exempted from the anti-Western drive.) Professors at Chinese universities complain that they are being pressured to remove foreign material from their syllabi. Its excessive interference, says one Beijing history professor, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of criticizing the party directive. Just because something is Western doesnt mean it harms our students. Story continues The anti-Western campaign comes as an increasing number of Chinese students head overseas for study. Around 300,000 Chinese students have flocked to American schools. Chinese President Xi Jingpings own daughter attended Harvard University, while many offspring of Chinas political elite also study abroad. Still, the antiforeign rhetoric continues back at home. Earlier this month, cartoon posters in Beijing entitled Dangerous Love warned Chinese women off dating Western men, lest they turn out to be foreign spies. A video produced by the Chinese Ministry of State Security also portrayed Western comic-book characters, such as the Joker and Wonder Woman, as foreign moles. After just a months operation, Apples online book and film services were blocked in China earlier last week, a presumed victim of a mounting crackdown on Internet freedom and online publishing. On April 28, Chinas legislature passed a controversial law giving the Ministry of Public Security broad oversight of foreign NGOs starting next year. The assumption girding the law is that some foreign non-profits which fund everything from poverty alleviation and environmental awareness to health and legal initiatives may be national security threats. A minority of foreign NGOs, through the means of funds and some methods, are able to harm Chinas national security interests and [undertake] some other illegal criminal activity, Hao Yunhong, head of the Ministry of Public Securitys foreign-NGO-management office, said at a press conference on Thursday, according to state media. Hundreds of Chinas own civil-society activists have been silenced or detained since President Xi took power in late 2012. But do Chinese leaders much less the Chinese public really believe that foreign NGOS or textbooks lauding foreigners damage the nation? I think [Xi] believes that the West is irretrievably hostile both to the regime and to Chinas rise and tries every tricky way to undermine China and the regime, says Andrew Nathan, an expert in Chinese politics at Columbia University in New York City. As far as other slogans and the idea that Xi has a thought of his own, I would not expect he believes it any more than the admen in Mad Men believed what they wrote. Beijing (AFP) - One of China's top airlines will split $10 billion of new orders between European manufacturer Airbus and US-based Boeing, it said, as competition heats up for aviation market share in the world's second-largest economy. China Eastern Airlines said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange that the lion's share of the orders, nearly $6 billion, will go to Airbus for 20 A350 aircraft. It will also spend close to $4 billion on 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The bitter aerospace rivals have been in a fierce battle for orders in China, which is forecast to have 1.7 billion air passengers by 2034, and is poised to become the largest civil aviation market in the world in the next two decades. China Eastern is one of China's top three airlines, operating 560 aircraft and carrying around 100 million passengers annually. The Shanghai-headquartered company plans to use the long-haul planes for travelling between China, North America and Europe, and to replace retired aircraft. They were intended to build "a streamlined and efficient, well-constructed and industry-leading passenger aircraft fleet", it said, and "provide vast amount of passengers with more comfortable on-board services". China is now Airbus' largest market, accounting for nearly a quarter of the planes it delivered in 2015. In March, the company started construction on a new $150 million facility in the port city of Tianjin, northern China, to deliver wide-body planes in the country. Airbus says it has gone from 27 percent market share in the country in 2004 to roughly 50 percent today. Boeing also plans to open a completion centre in China, it announced last year. The company sold 300 aircraft worth a record $38 billion during President Xi Jinping's visit to the US in 2015. The China Eastern orders come a day after Boeing reported an 8.8 percent drop in first-quarter earnings to $1.2 billion, partly due to sluggish aircraft deliveries into a slowing global economy. Story continues But China hopes some of the massive civil aircraft market will go to its homegrown planes. State-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) has already delivered its first domestically-made regional jet, and rolled out a narrow-body C919 plane in November. In the long term COMAC aims to produce an even larger wide-body jet in cooperation with Russia's United Aircraft Corp, whose products include the Sukhoi Superjet 100. China Eastern's announcement late Thursday came alongside its first-quarter results, in which it said net profits rose 66.4 percent year-on-year to 2.6 billion yuan ($400 million). Dai Yaxiong, an analyst at Sinolink Securities, told AFP: "China Eastern bought the wide-body aircraft mainly to invest in its international routes as outbound travel is quite hot and the gross profit margins for international flights are much higher than domestic ones." Falling fuel prices were the main driver of the rise in profits, he said, adding: "The demand for civil aviation was also quite stable." China Eastern shares were down 0.81 percent in Shanghai by the break on Friday. By Ruby Lian and Manolo Serapio Jr SHANGHAI/MANILA (Reuters) - China's Baosteel Group said on Friday that accusations by U.S. Steel Corp against the company, including that it had stolen commercial secrets, were groundless and vowed to protect its legal rights. China's second-biggest steelmaker and the world's fourth is the first Chinese steel producer to respond to U.S. Steel, which launched a campaign this week to halt imports from China. "In particular, the charges claiming that Baosteel stole commercial secrets from U.S. Steel is rootless speculation and subjective assumption, and could even be described as an absurd statement," Baosteel said in an emailed statement. "Baosteel has not and will never steal to obtain technology," the company said, adding that it had consistently focused on original research and technology improvement. "The charges in the application violate the spirit of justice and fairness and were also disrespectful and besmirching to Baosteel and its research staff," it said. "Baosteel will protect its legal rights in accordance with related international regulations and laws." U.S. Steel on Tuesday filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC), calling on regulators to investigate dozens of Chinese producers and their distributors for allegedly conspiring to fix prices, stealing trade secrets and circumventing trade duties by false labeling. China's commerce ministry on Wednesday urged the ITC to reject U.S. Steel's call, saying there was "no factual basis" for intellectual property disputes over China's steel exports to the United States. In a statement later on Friday, the China Iron and Steel Association said allegations of intellectual property infringement were "completely baseless" and that it strictly abides by Chinese law and international norms. The United States, European Union and others last week called for urgent action to address global steel overcapacity, after China and other major steel producing nations failed to agree on measures to tackle an industry crisis. Story continues Britain in particular has been hit hard as its largest producer Tata Steel has announced plans to pull out of the country, threatening 15,000 jobs. Anger toward China has grown since last year as its steel exports surged to a record 112 million tonnes, but a domestic steel price rally could help limit shipments this year as producers sell more at home. Baoshan Iron & Steel, the listed unit of Baosteel Group, said the rapid increase in Chinese steel prices may deter government efforts to curb overcapacity in the sector in the short term by prompting once-shut mills to restart. "This will slow the reduction in overcapacity, but with mills reopening and supplies rising and the government strengthening monitoring on real estate and futures, steel prices will fall," Baosteel board secretary Zhu Kebing told a separate online briefing. Zhu attributed the spike in steel prices to previous big production cuts, low inventories and an improving Chinese economy. (Reporting by Ruby Lian and Manolo Serapio Jr, additional reporting by Megha Rajagopalan in Beijing; Editing by Ed Davies) By Adam Jourdan SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Armed with Beijing funds and friends in the right places, Chinese drug minnows are thriving, luring money from 'Big Pharma' majors struggling to restore the strong growth they once enjoyed in the world's second-largest medicine market. Chinese healthcare mergers and acquisitions nearly tripled last year to more than $50 billion, helped by giants like GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Eli Lilly and Co tapping small biotech and research innovators. The targets offer vital regulatory know-how as Beijing builds a domestic drug industry. For Big Pharma, acquisitions, licensing deals and joint ventures offer a back door into a market where Beijing expects healthcare spending to rise to $1.3 trillion by 2020. The majors need the opening: their China growth has stalled to low single-digit pace from over 20 percent just four years ago as branded generics have lost their shine. "As a China biotech (company) we have the advantage of knowing policy, understanding the environment and being able to mobilize resources to get things done," said Li Chen, 54, chief executive of Hua Medicine. Hua has a deal in place to develop drugs including a diabetes treatment licensed from Swiss giant Roche Holding AG. While firms like Hua can help global drugmakers navigate complex regulatory risks, speeding up approvals in treatment areas like diabetes and cancer, they get something in return - access to what Hua's Li calls "good assets" and in some cases potential partners to sell their wares overseas. For Li, a former Roche scientist, Hua's partnership deal brings the advantages of a tie-up with a global industry leader to a company with a staff of around just 25 people, which he founded himself in Shanghai five years ago. "We were looking for assets around the world so that's a really great match - and I know this asset really well," Li said. Among his firms peers, interest in such tie-ups is growing. M&A BOOM The buzz around China's healthcare industry has helped it outstrip hotspots like India to become the most active region in Asia for pharmaceutical tie-ups, said Wei Zheng, healthcare analyst at BMI Research. Story continues Chinese healthcare M&A last year surged to $54 billion from $18.8 billion the year before, according to Thomson Reuters data, not including the value of numerous joint ventures and licensing deals. There have already been deals worth more than $9 billion this year, the data shows, showing demand for the assets remains robust. As well as acquisitions, partnership deals are increasingly being sought after, industry executives say. "A lot of firms are coming here to tap into a cost-effective way of doing drug development," said Mireille Gillings, chief executive of U.S. firm HUYA Bioscience International, which has scouts around China hunting for drug development breakthroughs. At the same time, other small firms are keen to find overseas partners to push their drugs overseas. HUYA has in-licensed a Chinese immunotherapy cancer treatment that is undergoing trials in Japan and the United States. LOCAL NETWORKS Shanghai-based research firm WuXi AppTec is one company that may fit that bill. It now employees around 11,000 people worldwide and said this month it was setting up a joint venture with U.S.-listed Juno Therapeutics Inc to develop innovative cancer drugs - in China. "Honestly, if you manufacture locally, test local and file local, that will give you a time advantage," the firm's chief executive, Ge Li, told Reuters. "It's as simple as that." The tilt in strategy for the majors comes as Beijing accelerates efforts to promote a 'Made in China' drug industry. GlaxoSmithKline's China head, Herve Gisserot, told Reuters late last year that Beijing was putting pressure on off-patent generics, reining in prices and trying to cut out low-quality drugs - positive moves longer-term, but which created short-term challenges. "The only thing for pharma is that some of the things will happen sooner than others. Price erosion will likely be faster than the accelerated approval of new medicines," he said. 'SEA TURTLES' Chinese partners bring an extra dimension: The domestic start-ups aren't shy about their government backing and political connections, an important element to help attract funding and navigate complex regulations. Samantha Du, chief executive of Shanghai-based Zai Lab, which has in-licensed cancer treatment drugs from Pfizer Inc and struck a partnership in March with German pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim, said her firm had "lots of government funding". Du, 52, like Hua Medicine's Li Chen, is a so-called "sea turtle" - one of China's best and brightest, who has returned home after studying and working overseas. She has served on various government-linked committees, she said, noting this had done nothing to harm the firm's prospects. "Over 18 months, we've raised around $140 million and haven't even spent the first round," she said. Her firm, founded in 2013, employs 30 staff in-house. "There's plenty of money to spend." (Reporting by Adam Jourdan; Additional reporting by Brenda Goh in SHANGHAI and Elaine Tan in MANILA; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) Chinese director Zhang Wei, known for his candid depictions of the marginalized in his country, will shoot The Rib, about a transgender teen contending with Chinese society and his devoutly Christian family. The bold drama is likely to become a groundbreaking production for China. Zhang said in a statement that he was grateful to have obtained permission from Chinese authorities to shoot the film, which will allow him to tackle subjects that might have been taboo only a few years ago. He also added he is determined to tell this important story despite any roadblocks I might face. Billed as being drawn from real life, The Rib will depict a transgender Chinese teen born into a Christian family, whose mother becomes deeply destabilized when she discovers that he wants to transition from male to female. In the ensuing conflict they overcome their differences and together face the rife prejudice against the local underground LGBT community. The Rib is in pre-production with principal photography planned to start in early 2017. Zhang will produce via his Shenzhen-based production company, Huahao Film & Media. Earlier this month The New York Times reported that a labor arbitration panel in the southern province of Guizhou held a hearing in what is being described as Chinas first transgender job discrimination case brought my a man born as a woman who said his former employer fired him for wearing mens clothes. Zhangs previous films include Factory Boss, about an entrepreneur who desperately takes on low margin jobs to keep his business afloat, and Destiny (Xi He) the tale of an autistic boys struggle to get an education. Destiny will world premiere tomorrow (Saturday, April 30) at the Far East Festival in Udine, Italy. Boss won the best actor prize for actor Yao Anlian at the 2014 Montreal Film Festival. Hong Kong- and Amsterdam-based Fortissimo Films is handling worldwide sales on Factory Boss and Destiny, as part of a multi-year, multi-picture deal signed earlier this year with Zhang. They may board Rib further down the road. Story continues Also in Zhangs pipeline is upcoming big-budget Sound of a Dream, the story of four visually impaired children from Tibet whose dream is to appear on a TV talent show. Related stories Berlin: Fortissimo Strikes Two Film Deal With China's Zhang Wei Cruz, Binoche, Darin, Robbins in Spanish Academy Goya Running Fortissimo Picks Up Paula Ortiz's Epic Tragedy 'The Bride' By Paul Carsten BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese search leader Baidu Inc's first-quarter net income fell to its lowest level since 2012 and revenue grew at its slowest pace in more than seven years, as its long decline from previously heady growth continued. The Chinese Internet stalwart said it now expected revenue growth to slip even further in the April-June quarter, to 21.3-24.2 percent, once again underscoring the importance of its ongoing efforts to diversify away from its core search business. The company's strategic reassessment in recent months has involved selling off its online travel unit and considering an offer for its video streaming site as it grapples with China's economic slowdown. So far the effort has not paid off, even as costs continue to rise at a rapid clip. Net income fell 19 percent to 1.99 billion yuan ($307.41 million) in the January-March quarter from 2.45 billion yuan a year earlier, Baidu said. The company was expected to post a net income decline of 17.1 percent to 2.03 billion yuan, according to a Thomson Reuters survey of 8 analysts. Baidu's revenues rose 24.3 percent to 15.82 billion yuan ($2.44 billion) from 12.72 billion yuan a year earlier. That growth is its slowest in over seven years, and was just shy of analysts' estimate of a 24.7 percent gain. Swallowing up a chunk of Baidu's resources are services like food delivery and group buying. These contributed to a 33.5 percent year-on-year jump in selling, general and administrative expenses to 3.946 billion yuan in the first three months of 2016. Baidu has also touted its efforts to develop artificial intelligence, even as expenses for research and development in the first quarter fell 8.1 percent from the previous year. The company's shares fell 1 percent in early trade on Friday, having gained 5 percent in extended trading the day before. Baidu's online marketing revenue rose about 19.3 percent to 14.93 billion yuan. Excluding items, the company earned 6.80 yuan per American depositary share. Total operating costs rose 28.8 percent to 13.61 billion yuan. (Reporting by Paul Carsten in Beijing and Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates) By Lisa Baertlein LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In its struggle to win back customers after last year's food safety issues, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc is embracing strategies it once rejected. Executives at the formerly high-flying burrito chain announced plans this week to expand its menu, explore a loyalty program, spend heavily on traditional advertising and potentially put the brakes on some new restaurant deals - moves embraced by its competitors but not previously by Chipotle. Successful brands such as Starbucks Corp and Panera Bread Co used similar strategies after they saw slowdowns in once robust sales. "Chipotle is just falling in line with the way the rest of the industry operates," said Darren Tristano, president of food service consulting firm Technomic. After years of breakneck growth, now "Chipotle is just your average restaurant company," said Hedgeye Risk Management restaurant analyst Howard Penney. Before Chipotle was tied to E. coli, salmonella and norovirus outbreaks last year, it could raise prices with little to no pushback from diners. It also kept finding new ways to squeeze more sales and profits from its restaurants, fueling outsized share gains. This week the chain posted its first-ever quarterly loss as millions of dollars in free food giveaways failed to lure back enough paying customers to satisfy Wall Street. Shares are trading down more than 40 percent from their all-time high of over $742 on July 1. Chipotle executives appear willing to step outside their comfort zone to fix what ails the chain, "but we also question whether (Chipotle) will ever regain its lost luster," Deutsche Bank analyst Brett Levy said in a note. The company plans to put chorizo on the menu, only its second protein addition in more than 20 years, and will experiment with loyalty programs, something it once dismissed as unnecessary discounts for frequent customers. Chipotle is also investing heavily in traditional advertising focused on food quality, a major shift from is former dependence on offbeat marketing projects, such as quirky short promotional films. Story continues After adding about 200 restaurants annually in recent years, Chipotle is now carefully reviewing new restaurant projects it had previously green-lighted, co-Chief Executive Monty Moran said. "We might walk away from some of those deals," Moran said on an earnings conference call on Tuesday. (Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Sue Horton and Andrew Hay) COSTA MESA, Calif. Raucous protesters and supporters of Donald Trump took to the streets in California leading to some 20 arrests as the Republican presidential contender brought his campaign to conservative Orange County after sweeping the Northeast GOP primaries. Dozens of protesters were mostly peaceful Thursday as Trump gave his speech inside the Pacific Amphitheatre. After the event, however, the demonstration grew rowdy late in the evening and spilled into the streets. Approximately 20 people were arrested by Costa Mesa police, according to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriffs Department. One Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the arena. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented in and other protests sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venues marquee. Dozens of cars including those of Trump supporters trying to leave were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the venue. There were no major injuries and police did not use any force. The crowd began dispersing about three hours after the speech ended. Earlier in the evening, a half-dozen anti-Trump protesters taunted those waiting to get into the venue. Trump supporters surrounded one man who waved a Mexican flag and shouted Build that wall! Build that wall! a reference to Trumps call to create a barrier between the United States and Mexico to stop illegal border crossings. At one point, seven women wearing no shirts and Bernie Sanders stickers over their breasts entered the square outside the amphitheater. They said they were protesting Trumps lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and womens rights. I feel like he wants to make America great again, but certainly not for women, for the LBGTQ community or for the lower class, said one of the women, Tiernan Hebron. He has, like, done nothing to help with gender equality or womens rights or reproductive rights or anything. Story continues Trump has drawn large crowds across the country as he has campaigned for the White House and some of his events have been marred by incidents both inside and outside these venues. Earlier this week, a Trump rally in nearby Anaheim, California, turned contentious when his supporters and protesters clashed, leaving several people struck by pepper spray. Trump was not present. Trump has drawn large crowds to most of his campaign events, and Thursday was no exception. The Pacific Amphitheatre was filled to its capacity of about 18,000 and many hundreds more were turned away. Ly Kou, 47, of Ontario, said she likes Trump because he has vowed to put the country first. Its obvious that America loves Trump, said Kou, who is from Laos, as she pointed at the waiting throng. This thing about him being racist? Look around the crowd. Trump was traveling from the rally site to the states Republican convention in Burlington in the San Francisco Bay area. By Allison Martell NEW YORK, April 29 (Reuters) - Canada's biggest railway struggled to keep some heavily used track in adequate repair even after a string of derailments last year showed the danger of moving oil on poorly maintained track, documents obtained by Reuters show. Three trains derailed along one 296 mile (476 km) section of Canadian National Railway Co track in northern Ontario in February and March last year. The third train spilled crude oil in and around a river near the town of Gogama, igniting a fire that burned for days. More than 100 pages of correspondence and inspection reports obtained by Reuters under Canada's freedom of information law show that a March inspection by Transport Canada, the ministry responsible for rail safety, found a number of problems with the track. But the documents also show that during a July inspection, months after normal operations resumed, inspectors found new track problems, including rail that had been secured with too few bolts, and defective ties. CN brought its trains back up to normal speeds in late May. (Graphic: http://tmsnrt.rs/1reqKif) CN Rail told Reuters the July inspection ultimately uncovered 57 defects, including 10 that required temporary speed reductions. Seven of those 10 were on the main line. CN said the defects found in July were repaired by Sept. 3. Transport Canada lifted its March safety notice on Dec. 15, 2015, signaling that it believed safety problems in the area had been resolved. But the regulator has not conducted a track inspection since July. Evidence that problems persisted after the first inspection has one residents' group wondering how definitive the ministry's all-clear is. "Wow. It wasn't taken care of," said Natalie Sear-Beland, spokeswoman for the Gogama Citizens' Committee, a group formed last year, after learning about the July inspection results. Sear-Beland said the town has been "completely in the dark" about track conditions, and she fears there could be another accident. Story continues "We have heard nothing from Transport Canada," she said. "If Transport Canada were more hands on, more often, I think they wouldn't have as many problems." CN says it took "decisive action" after the derailments, adopting new procedures, audits and checklists to prevent maintenance errors, increasing inspections, raising some internal track repair standards, and increasing engineering supervision in the region. "We believe the citizens of Gogama should be reassured by Transport Canada's satisfaction with the current condition of the Ruel Subdivision," the railway said in a statement. The railway's overall accident rate improved in 2015, coming in below the industry average, CN said. "CN is investing heavily in people, process, capital and technology to minimize risk and continually reduce accidents and injuries," said Sam Berrada, vice-president for safety and sustainability, in an e-mailed statement. RAILS AND HUMAN FACTORS Transport Canada, made aware of the Gogama resident group's concerns said: "Canada maintains one of the safest rail transportation systems in the world as a result of shared efforts between numerous partners including governments, railway companies and communities." Investigations into last year's cluster of derailments are still ongoing, but CN said it believed they were "likely caused by a combination of track conditions, inadequate process controls and human factors." The documents show Transport Canada sent CN a safety notice on March 12, 2015, days after the Gogama derailment, saying that defective rail conditions may have played a role. "As such, there is risk that another derailment may occur before the root cause is found," it warned. Inspectors monitored CN's track repairs and the railway's work to determine causes in the months after the derailments. Last year, a Reuters analysis found that CN's safety record had deteriorated in 2014, as accidents in Canada linked to poor track conditions spiked. There was no similar pattern at the competing Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. CN blamed the trend on bad weather and heavy traffic, and later promised to spend C$500 million upgrading track in Western Canada. (http://reut.rs/1rnzkv5) The railway has not suffered a severe derailment since the Gogama accident, but the inspection reports describe defects that could have increased the risk of accidents along a line that carries oil trains from Western Canada to refineries on the east coast. Ian Naish, a former director of rail and pipeline investigations at the Transportation Safety Board, reviewed the inspection reports, and said they showed CN did not meet minimum track safety standards designed to prevent derailments. "There are lots of places where they weren't in compliance," he said. On the seven defects serious enough to require speed restrictions on the main line, Naish said: "It seems to me there shouldn't be any, if they are doing regular inspections." Of the 10 defects that required speed restrictions, CN said eight involved track geometry, and two involved ties. Frances Gelinas, the member of provincial parliament who represents the area, said Gogama, which depends on tourism revenue, is still feeling the effects of the derailment. "It is life before the derailment, and life after the derailment. Nothing is the same," she said. "Recruiting tourists to come and hunt and fish in Gogama is really tough." Some local residents have retained a civil litigator, James Wallbridge, but Wallbridge said they have not yet decided how to proceed. "We are going to review the cleanup efforts and we should be in a position to make some decisions by the end of May," he said. CN declined to comment on how the cause of the derailments might affect its liability, or whether any damages could be material. (Reporting by Allison Martell; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) lord bilimoria Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea was made a peer in 2007, largely because of the success of his beer business, Cobra. The drink, which mixes the smoothness of an ale with the refreshing taste of a lager, was designed specifically to go well with Indian food. It's now sold in more than 96% of curry restaurants across the UK. However creating a beer brand from scratch was not easy. "I nearly lost my business three times," Lord Bilimoria told Business Insider. "In the early days we were continually running out of money." The most recent occasion was in 2009, resulting from the global financial crisis, when Cobra went into administration. However the business stayed afloat: 50.1% of Cobra was sold to beer giant Molson Coors, with Bilimoria and other shareholders retaining the other 49.9%. Now the brand has a global retail value of around 250 million ($366 million.) Lord Bilimoria told Business Insider the three things that kept Cobra beer alive during its darkest days: 1. Branding Even though Cobra's bottom line has struggled at various points over the years, it managed to find a niche market which no other beer brand had exploited, allowing its top line to continue rising. "Not once during those crises did the sales of Cobra ever decline," Lord Bilimoria said. "They always grew, even if there was slower growth." For Lord Bilimoria "an extraordinary brand is a brand that has undeniable brand truth. A brand that has an instantly recognizable brand look." 2. A loyal team Lord Bilimoria explained that his strong team, who support both the brand and himself, were crucial. "I've got a very loyal team, some of them have been with me almost since the beginning," Lord Bilimoria said. "One of my team members has been with us for 25 years." The Lord of Chelsea also praised his wife and family "My wife and familys support helped see me through. [My wife] saw all the ups and downs and stood by me." 3. Values and integrity The final reason Lord Bilimoria gave for being able to survive crises was retaining honest "values and integrity." Story continues He said he "played with a straight bat" throughout times of difficulty, giving interviews and talking openly about the company's situation. Lord Bilimoria said:"The best definition of integrity that I've heard came from Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and now master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, who told me it comes from the Latin word integritas , which means wholeness." NOW WATCH: Heres why airlines ask you to raise the window shades for takeoffs and landings More From Business Insider Cohen Media Groups Cohen Film Collection has acquired director Julie Dashs seminal Daughters of the Dust, and will re-release it fully restored to theaters in Fall 2016 to mark the films 25th anniversary. The first feature directed by an African American woman to receive general theatrical release, Daughters of the Dust is set at the turn of the 20th century among South Carolinas Gullah community, descendants of slaves who settled on the coastal islands. Notably featuring heavy use of the Gullah dialect, the unconventional story, narrated by an unborn child, follows the women of an extended family who have long preserved their beliefs, language, and traditions, but face irrevocable changes as they prepare to move to the Industrial north as part of the Great Migration. Daughters of the Dust received enormous critical acclaim in its initial release, winning the Cinematography Award at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival as well as garnering a Grand Jury Prize nomination. It went on to greatly influence subsequent black cinema and most recently was referenced in Beyonces Lemonade special for HBO. Daughters of the Dust is a powerful and moving work of art that showcases an important period in Americas history, said Tim Lanza, Vice President and Media Archivist for Cohen Film Collection. We are thrilled and honored to be able to celebrate the talented Julie Dash and to bring this film to theaters across the country for a new audience to see. Im excited about the restoration of Daughters of the Dust being made available to the public, said Dash. And delighted to have the opportunity to engage with a new generation of people who have never seen the film. Daughters of the DustDaughters of the Dust at Marche Du Film in Cannes on May 11th at the Lerins 4. Liz Mackiewicz, SVP of International Distribution at Cohen Media Group will be handling territory sales. Following Cannes, the film restoration will have its domestic premiere May 20 at the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio in a screening attended by Dash. Story continues Related stories Bleiberg Joins BB Film To Produce Nate Parker Script 'Predilection' - Cannes George Miller Named Jury President Of Cannes Film Festival 2016 Peter Bart: Is There Life After Sundance? Billionaire Charles Cohen Builds Art House Empire By Keith Coffman BOULDER, Colo. (Reuters) - A Colorado woman was sentenced on Friday to 100 years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder for stabbing a pregnant stranger she had lured with an online ad for free maternity clothes, then cutting the fetus from her victim's womb. A Boulder County District Court judge handed down the sentence for Dynel Lane, 35, for the grisly 2015 attack, which renewed a national debate over whether a fetus is a person and if termination of a pregnancy can ever be considered murder. Michelle Wilkins, who was seven months pregnant, survived the attack in the town of Longmont, about 30 miles (48 km) north of Denver. But her unborn baby died. A coroner concluded the fetus did not take a breath outside the womb, so under Colorado law Lane could not be charged with murder. "I believe you've lost the privilege to live in our society," Wilkins, who had named her unborn child Aurora, told Lane at Friday's sentencing hearing. In February, jurors convicted Lane of attempted murder, four counts of felony assault and unlawful termination of a pregnancy. Judge Maria Berkenkotter called the 100-year sentence justified because the crime was "brutal, shocking and cruel" and said it was "miraculous" Wilkins survived. Wilkins, 27, testified at trial that she went to Lane's home after seeing a Craigslist ad for maternity and baby clothes. After talking for about an hour, Lane bludgeoned her, slashed her with shards of glass from a lava lamp, pummeled her with her fists and choked her into unconsciousness, Wilkins said. She then cut out the fetus with kitchen knives, according to trial testimony. "You left me to die multiple times," Wilkins said in court on Friday. Lane's court-appointed lawyers argued at the February trial that Lane did not plan the attack in advance. But prosecutors said her assault on Wilkins was part of a premeditated plot to steal a baby and convince her husband it was theirs, after faking her own pregnancy. Story continues Lane's attorney, Kathryn Herold, told the court on Friday that years ago Lane lost one of her three children, an 18-month-old son who drowned. "It was clear this loss is something Ms. Lane never got over," Herold said. District Attorney Stan Garnett said he was not aware of any similar attack in the United States on a pregnant woman in which the fetus was ripped out and the woman survived. (Reporting by Keith Coffman in Boulder, Colorado; Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and David Gregorio) SDP chief Chee Soon Juan at the partys by-election rally on Friday (29 April). (Photo: Yahoo Newsroom) Narrow it down and the Bukit Batok by-election is really about two questions that have implications not just for voters there but for all Singaporeans. Is Singapore a forgiving society? Is race a factor in its elections? Chee Soon Juans past political deeds still seem to be weighing down on him, if his teams performance in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC is any indication. Despite trying to show that he is a changed man, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) leader and his team could eke out only a 33.4 per cent vote share in the electoral fight for the constituency last September. Of course, his electoral performance has to be seen in the light of a national swing in favour of the ruling party. It showed that voters will use the ballot box to reward a party if it corrects itself quickly. Chee carries heavy political baggage, mainly because of his confrontational style politics in the past. In the last few years, he has tried very hard to shed that image. His speeches have been even-tempered, his initiatives more focused on tackling issues that resonate with the plight of many Singaporeans. Human rights and democracy are hardly mentioned in his new political narrative. The entry of respected doctor Paul Ananth Tambyah in the 2015 elections as an SDP candidate must say something about Chees attempt to bury his past. In fact, Tambyahs move did not come out of the blue. He was already a highlight in the SDPs rallies in the election before that. He said he joined Chee because the SDP was the party that was closest to his political ideals. My political weather man, a fruit seller, must have spoken for many when he said: Chee cannot lah. Many are not ready to give him a chance. Are you ready? I asked him. I dont know lah, he replied. The fruit man was spot on with his predictions of the 2011 and 2015 election results. In trouble, he said of PAPs fortunes in 2011 and sure win he said of the ruling party in 2015. Story continues Chees standing today Where does this leave Chee in this by-election? With a population generally still suspicious of his politics and a Peoples Action Party (PAP) machinery so powerful and in control of its message, the task is a herculean one. Even if there are people who have vague memories of the old Chee, there are politicians such as Goh Chok Tong to remind them of the events that happened many years ago. The Bukit Batok by-election is the best opportunity for Chee to show that he is changing. In rally speeches and house-to-house visits, PAP man Murali Pillai and his backers will stress test the Opposition candidate to see if the old Chee springs up. Will the former Anglo-Chinese School boy fall for the bait or soar above it to fight the battle on his new terms? Let me return to the point about a forgiving/unforgiving nation. If Chee can show clearly what he can do for the residents and why his presence on the ground is good for them, then he has a fighting chance. If he takes this approach, and if it gives him a 40 per cent or more share of the votes, then it will show that Singapore is on the path to becoming a more tolerant and mature society; one that gives people a chance to turn over a new leaf. Since 2005, records of former convicts are quashed. Isnt it time to forgive the political past of people like Chee? The PAPs by-election candidate Murali Pillai. (Photo: Yahoo Newsroom) What about Murali? Muralis entry into this by-election must reflect a growing confidence that the establishment is prepared to try out a minority race candidate in a single seat. And that, too, in a constituency that is heartland to the core with a Chinese majority and HDB flats aplenty. If he wins, and if he wins big, then it will be time for the PM to declare that the country is ready for a non-Chinese PM. P N Balji is a veteran Singaporean journalist who is the former chief editor of TODAY newspaper, and a media consultant. The views expressed are his own. Stay updated. Follow us on Facebook. ECB Stimulus, Brexit, and 12 Europe-Focused Mutual Funds (Continued from Prior Part) Performance evaluation of the Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund The Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund Class A (VGEAX) rose 1.3% in 1Q16. It was the only fund to post gains for the period, making it the best of the 12 funds in this review. In the past one year, VGEAX has risen 5.1%, which is also the best performance among its peers. Meanwhile, from the end of December 2015 until April 25, 2016, the fund has risen 0.6%. In the graph below, you can see its performance against two ETFs: the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU). Lets look now at what contributed to VGEAXs spectacular performance in 1Q16. Portfolio composition and contribution to returns VGEAXs very high exposure to consumer staples stocks worked for the fund in 1Q16. The sector powered the fund ahead. Philip Morris International (PM) was the biggest positive contributor in the sector and was closely tailed by British American Tobacco (BTI). There were a few negative contributors, but the amount was very minimal. VGEAXs stock picks from the materials sector did very well in the period, emerging as the second-highest sectoral positive contributor. The sector was led by one stock: Randgold Resources (GOLD). The fund was invested in the common stock and the ADR (American Depository Receipt), both of which were sector leaders. Novozymes (NVZMY) was a tiny negative contributor. Accenture (ACN) powered the information technology sector almost all by itself. Healthcare stocks emerged as the biggest sectoral drag on the fund. They were led down by Roche Holding (RHHBY). Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Bayer (BAYZF) also contributed negatively. Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) contributed positively, but its amount was too small to make any material impact. Financials was almost singlehandedly led down by UBS Group (UBS). Lloyds Banking Group (LYG) was a distant second. Story continues Investor takeaways Fund management has been spot on with its securities selection. Even with no exposure to the energy sector, which has done well recently, VGEAX was able to beat all its peers, whether actively or passively managed, hands down. Except for healthcare and industrials where VGEAXs stock picks did a little worse than those of passively managed VGK, the mutual fund beat the ETF convincingly. A note of caution, though. Just because a fund has done well in the recent past doesnt mean you should blindly flock to it. As you may have seen, VGEAX is quite concentrated, both in terms of the number of stocks it invests in and the high allocation to consumer staples. Its yet to be seen if fund management can continue the good run by judiciously picking securities once the situation in Europe changes. However, for those who dont mind concentrated funds, VGEAX could be a contender for your portfolio. In the last part of this series, well take a look at the overall picture that emerges from this analysis. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: HANOVER, Germany (Reuters) - Continental sees no signs that Volkswagen , one of its largest customers, is seeking price reductions to help contain the costs of its emissions scandal, Chief Executive Elmar Degenhart said. Degenhart, speaking on Friday at the auto supplier's annual shareholder meeting in Hanover, Germany, said Volkswagen's (VW) emissions scandal had no financially measurable impact on the company last year. Business with VW, one of Continental's five biggest customers by sales, will increase further over the course of the year, the CEO said, adding there is no indication that Continental was involved in irregularities at VW related to emissions issues. (Reporting by Jan Schwartz; Writing by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Christoph Steitz and Edward Taylor) A Santa Clara county Sheriff's Office vehicle is shown parked outside one of the main office buildings of the Apple campus in Cupertino, California, April 27, 2016. REUTERS/Julia Love By Julia Love CUPERTINO, Calif. (Reuters) - An Apple Inc employee was found dead on Wednesday at the company's Silicon Valley headquarters, police said, with local media reporting that the victim had suffered a head wound and a gun was discovered near his body. Sergeant Andrea Urena of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office told reporters at a press conference that deputies were called to Apple's main offices in Cupertino at 8:35 a.m. PDT (1535 GMT). "When deputies responded to the campus they found one individual male down and determined he was deceased," Urena said. "Further investigation determined that no other individuals were involved. We believe this to be an isolated incident and that nobody else on campus or in the public is at risk," she added. Urena said Santa Clara County Coroner's investigators would conduct an autopsy to ascertain the cause and manner of death. She said authorities were not searching for any suspects. The San Jose Mercury News, citing emergency dispatch calls, said initial calls to police reported a man with a head wound. Dispatch audio posted on the newspaper's website also shows that the unidentified victim was found in a conference room on the campus with a gun. Urena declined to comment on those reports at the press conference. "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented coworker. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends, including the many people he worked with here at Apple," the company said in a statement. The so-called Infinite Loop campus was calm on a cold and windy day in suburban Cupertino. A vehicle for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department could be spotted in the parking lot, as well as a handful of white Apple security vehicles with flashing yellow lights on top. The Infinite Loop campus is the hub for Apple's vast workforce in Cupertino, which numbers 16,000 employees, according to a 2013 report on the company's economic impact. The company is constructing another campus in the city, a massive loop of glass often likened to a spaceship. Apple on Tuesday reported its first-ever decline in iPhone sales and its first revenue drop in 13 years. (Reporting by Julia Love in CUPERTINO and Dan Whitcomb in LOS ANGELES; Writing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Alan Crosby) From ELLE The following was delivered before the Congressional Caucus for Black Women and Girls earlier today. I hold a professorship named for one of the most extraordinary Americans to live in the twentieth century. Born in 1928, Maya Angelou experienced childhood poverty and dislocation. She was raped by an adult man when she only seven years old. The brutality and unresolved trauma resulting from that early sexual violence stole her voice and shaped her young adulthood. Eventually she became an unwed teen mother. More than three generations after Maya's childhood, poverty, familial disruption, sexual violence, interrupted education, and teen pregnancy remain key barriers facing black girls in America's cities, towns, and rural communities. Maya Angelou's story does not end with her struggles; it only begins there. She was guided out of silence by the loving hand of an educator. Her teacher did not practice zero tolerance or call a school resource officer to slam young Maya to the ground. She saw the brokenness of a girl child who needed to be drawn gently back into the world. She helped Maya regain her voice through a love of literature and poetry. As a girl Maya was burdened with poverty and brokenness, but she also encountered meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and discover her talents while experiencing the care of her community. Maya transformed these opportunities into a life of singular accomplishment and remarkable contributions. Maya became a fierce advocate for voting rights and human rights, working first with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and later with both Coretta Scott King and Dr. Betty Shabazz. Recognizing the importance of race and gender health disparities, Dr. Angelou gave her name to the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. In Washington, D.C., she enthusiastically contributed her name to the Maya Angelou Public Charter School offering second chances to young people emerging from juvenile incarceration. Maya Angelou's path was not always pretty or polite, but it always affirmed that Black Girls Rock and Black Women Matter. Story continues Girlhood has never been a shield against the brutality of white supremacy. Indeed, Maya Angelou's story embodies the barriers and pathways for black women and girls we have gathered to discuss today. I believe she would be pleased by this unprecedented gathering of scholars, activists, artists, journalists, citizens, and lawmakers committed to eliminating injustices black women face. I believe she would commend each of the co-chairs for the visionary leadership to develop the first Congressional Caucus for Black Women and Girls. And I believe she would ask of the larger legislative body, "What took so long?" Vulnerability to Violence What took so long? After all, it is not safe to be a black girl in America. Black communities understand how unjust violence perpetrated against black boys is connected to our collective movements for racial justice and social change. We know how the horrific murder of Emmett Till galvanized the courage of black Americans in the battle against Jim Crow. Because we know these stories we draw on them again and again. When Oscar Grant or Trayvon Martin or Eric Garner or Tamir Rice were taken too soon, we understand their deaths in historical context of racial vulnerability. We can see the need to make changeto keep our brothers. We less frequently discuss historical violence against black girls and don't adequately connect these stories to movements for social justice. As a result we think our daughters are safer than our sons. We forget Elizabeth Eckford walking a racist gauntlet toward Central High School in 1957; or tiny Ruby Bridges requiring federal marshals to attend elementary school in 1960, New Orleans; or four little girls murdered in their Sunday school in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. Girlhood has never been a shield against the brutality of white supremacy. We cannot forget the vulnerabilities of black girls. Yes, we must keep our brothers, but what about our daughters? We must also say their names: Rekia Boyd, Renisha McBride, Mya Hall, Natasha McKenna, Sandra Bland. We are even more reluctant to acknowledge the violence black girls and women suffer at the hands of black men. According to the Black Women's Blueprint, approximately 60 percent of black girls will experience sexual assault before they are 18. A leading cause of death for black women 15 to 34 is homicide by an intimate partner. Debilitating injury resulting from intimate partner violence is a health crisis for black women. Yet African American women are less likely to report rape and sexual assault than their white counterparts. [ix] When they do seek protection, black women face unique challenges in family and criminal court because many judges perceive African American women as less vulnerable, more hostile, more sexualized, and less worthy of official forms of protection. Unequal Opportunity What took so long? After all, black women have less economic opportunity. Black women work more than all other women, but reap fewer economic rewards. According to a December 2015 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families, a state by state analysis shows black women's wages range from 48 to 69 cents for every dollar paid to white men. One in four black women live in poverty, a rate more than double white women's poverty. Perhaps even more shocking than black women's poverty is black women's wealth. According to a 2010 study by Mariko Chang, the median wealth for a single white man age 18 to 64 was $41,410. But the median wealth for a single black woman in the same age range was $5. Five dollars is the cushion between these adult black women and an illness, an unexpected expense, a family member who needs help. Five dollars. Education is not necessarily the answer. Neither the wage gap nor the wealth gap is resolved by educational attainment. Black women with a college degree earn more than black women with only a high school diploma, but the pay gap relative to their white male counterparts is wider. As a 2015 report by the Black Women's Roundtable states, "It would take nearly two Black women college graduates to earn what the average White male college graduate earns by himself ($55,804 vs. $100, 620)." Finishing college does not ensure long-term wealth accumulation for black women. Lower wages, higher student loan debt, and significant expectations for redistribution within family networks means studying and working hard are insufficient remedies for the systemic economic inequities black women face. Criminal Injustice What took so long? After all, the criminal justice system is unfair to black women. According to The Sentencing Project, the number of women in American prisons is increasing at nearly double the rate of men. These women are disproportionately black women according to statistics from the Department of Justice. The rate of incarceration is almost twice as high for black versus white women, 113 per 100,000 compared 51 per 100,000. Given that nearly 60 percent of these women are mothers who were caring for minor children before their sentencing, the jailing of black women has a devastating effect on black children and communities. Black girls are suspended, criminalized, pushed out of school and into a juvenile system where they receive disproportionally harsh sentences often in the wake of severe emotional and sexual trauma. Now consider this: Decades of research show the overwhelming majority of incarcerated women are survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, childhood trauma, poverty, and broken foster care systems. When black women are guilty of being victims our response is to lock them away; strip them of parental rights; permanently damage their ability to seek educations, secure housing, start businesses, and choose their elected representatives. And it begins when they are girls. Black girls are suspended, criminalized, pushed out of school and into a juvenile system where they receive disproportionally harsh sentences often in the wake of severe emotional and sexual trauma. Imagine if eight-year-old Maya Angelou had been sent to a correctional facility instead of to the head of the class. Health Disparities What took so long? After all, black women's health is suffering. Black women have higher rates of hypertension and diabetes. Black women are far more likely to suffer from fibroids and undergo hysterectomies. While HIV-AIDS infections have declined throughout the United States, black women account for 66 percent of new cases of HIV among women. And there is this shocking disparityblack women are less likely than white women to get breast cancer, but more likely to die from the disease. In 2010, the CDC reported breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for black women 45 to 64 years old, a death rate 60 percent higher than for white women. Babies born to black women remain twice as likely to die before their first birthday as those born to white women. Perhaps nothing so powerfully illustrates how the bodies of black women carry the burdens of racial injustice as the persistent racial infant mortality gap. Babies born to black women remain twice as likely to die before their first birthday as those born to white women. The gap is not closed by access to health insurance, prenatal care, or education. Black mothers with advanced degrees suffer higher infant morality than white mothers who have not finished high school. The most promising research in this area suggests that black infant mortality may be an intergenerational result of historical experiences of racial inequality. It may be that black women literally carry the legacy of American racism and sexism in our bodies, making both our infants and ourselves ill. Here I want to pause to note that despite important commonalities, all African American women do not share the same ideas, beliefs, and burdens. Age, region, queer identity, and skin color shape black women's lived experiences. Black trans women are uniquely vulnerable to public and state violence. Black women living with disabilities face barriers we frequently overlook. Black girls in foster care or struggling with episodic homelessness will have very different challenges than those with more stability. But these variations between and among us do not invalidate the importance of thinking about black women and girls as a group. I have offered up a lot of statistics. These are data you will hear more about, with more context, from other witnesses throughout the day. Together these data tell us that the intersections of race and gender strongly determine life opportunities for black girls and women. Therefore it is important to think about black girls and women as a meaningful analytic category and to target justice-oriented, community-centered, and culturally literate research and public policy toward addressing the challenges faced by black women and girls. The women you will hear from today represent organizations that have been doing this work for years, often without recognition or adequate support. Even as we map these profound injustices, don't get it twisted. Black women are more than the sum of their relative disadvantagesthey are active agents who craft meaning out of their circumstances and do so in complicated and diverse ways. The exceptional generative capacity of black girls and women in circumstances of deep inequality is so profoundly incomprehensible to so many they have little choice but to understand it as black girl magic. Don't get it twisted: Black women are more than the sum of their relative disadvantages. How else to understand that black women had the highest voter turnout of any category of voters in both 2008 and 2012, twice choosing an American president while no one asked a single black woman to moderate a presidential debate? How else can we understand that in 2014 black women candidates running statewide in Ohio and Georgia accumulated more than one million votes even though their state parties largely ignored their races? How else to understand that when black women picked up four Congressional seats in 2014, one of those seats was to the first black woman elected to congress from New Jersey, Representative Bonnie Watson-Coleman? And her first order of business was to come here to Capitol Hill and help form this first congressional caucus for black women and girls. Many call it black girl magic because it seems we can do what no one else can or will do. We seem to bear burdens heavier, run races faster, and absorb brutality more stinging than ought to be possible given how few resources are at our disposal. The legacy of black women's lives and labors show an unprecedented capacity to survive in hostile conditions. This is not magic. It is grinding work that exacts deep costs from black girls and women. Yes, black women have long made lemonade from the lemons life handed them. The problem is somebody usually sat down and drank it after she made it. That is not justice. We seem to bear burdens heavier, run races faster, and absorb brutality more stinging than ought to be possible given how few resources are at our disposal. I want to leave you with one final imperative. On July 9, 2014, Tianna-Gaines Turner, an African American mother from Philadelphia, became the only person living in poverty to testify before Representative Paul Ryan's House Budget Committee on povertythe only person living in poverty to address the lawmakers creating policy about poverty. Her statement was powerful and clear. She concluded by admonishing the committee with these words: My neighbors and I know what's going on in our own communities, more than anyone else. We know our own hardships better than anyone. We have the energy, the grit, the creativity, and the strongest interest in overcoming our struggles. We're fighting already for our families and our neighbors. We need to be taken more seriously by our state and federal governments. Nothing about us, without us. Congress should not make any decisions about programs meant to help families living in poverty without people who know poverty firsthand at the decision-making table. It's time to call in the experts. As the work of this historic caucus moves forward, let us follow this rule set by Tianna-Gaines Turner-nothing about us, without us. Black girls must be at the table. Black women must be at the table. Not just the college professors, celebrities, business leaders, and elected officials, but our cousins, our sisters, our grandmas, the girls who didn't make it out, the ones we locked away, the voices that have been silenced. Let us be the ones who find today's Maya Angelou while she is yet mute, who remind her she has something to say, and then let us listen while she tells us her story. Watch the full testimony: By Joshua Franklin ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse's (CSGN.S) leadership came under fire on Friday from shareholders disgruntled by a share slide amid a major restructuring of Switzerland's second-biggest bank. Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam and Chairman Urs Rohner faced criticism over a 40 percent share price drop since Thiam took charge last July, plans to cut 6,000 jobs and the decision to pay top management bonuses for 2015 despite posting a loss. Thiam has also faced scrutiny over almost $1 billion in recent write-downs in illiquid trading positions, the scale of which he has said were unknown to himself and other senior bank officials. "The situation has become extremely serious," Dominique Biedermann, chairman of shareholder advisory group Ethos, told the group's annual meeting. "Trust in the current leadership is shattered." Nevertheless, more than 80 percent of investors backed all of the pay proposals in binding AGM votes. Rohner was also comfortably re-elected as chairman. Thiam's blueprint for Credit Suisse has received a mixed response from the market. After its first full-year loss since 2008 last year, the bank has warned 2016 will likely be another tough year but Thiam said the strategy would eventually bear fruit. "We are building our platform for the future," Thiam told shareholders in Zurich at his first annual meeting since joining the bank, addressing them in a mixture of French and German. "That can seem like a tough task, and one that rarely wins many plaudits in the short term but it is the only path that will lead to success in the long term." Thiam wants to pare back Credit Suisse's investment bank and focus on wealth management. His strategy included a new management structure, raising about 6 billion Swiss francs ($6.2 billion) in fresh capital and a partial initial public offering of its Swiss business. Rohner said he was convinced the strategic plan, announced in October, had put the bank on the right track but that its implementation would place "considerable demands on all the parties concerned over the next two years". Story continues Its shares fell 4 percent to 14.59 francs by 1430 GMT (8:30 a.m. EDT) while the Stoxx European bank sector index (.SX7P) fell 2.7 percent. "WORST MONTHS EVER" Major shareholders have backed Thiam's strategy, but there are concerns that Credit Suisse is looking to expand in Asian wealth management just as Chinese growth is slowing. Some also fear Thiam's targets are too optimistic, including one to more than double pre-tax income from Asia Pacific in 2018. Tough markets prompted Credit Suisse to take an even bigger ax to its investment bank and cut more jobs. "The first quarter of 2016 has seen a continuation of the negative pressures experienced in the final quarter of 2015," Thiam said in his speech. "January and February were simply two of the worst months ever in international markets. As a result, we decided to accelerate our strategy of right-sizing and de-risking our market activities." He told the AGM that the recent share slide had been disappointing for him personally. "I believe that in the longer term," Thiam said, "there is only one way to improve Credit Suisse's share price: demonstrating the merits of our strategy and the value of our team through the delivery of strong and consistent results." (Additional reporting by Oliver Hirt; Editing by Michael Shields and Anna Willard) (Updates with result of pay votes, CEO quote, shares) By Joshua Franklin ZURICH, April 29 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse's leadership came under fire on Friday from shareholders disgruntled by a share slide amid a major restructuring of Switzerland's second-biggest bank. Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam and Chairman Urs Rohner faced criticism over a 40 percent share price drop since Thiam took charge last July, plans to cut 6,000 jobs and the decision to pay top management bonuses for 2015 despite posting a loss. Thiam has also faced scrutiny over almost $1 billion in recent write-downs in illiquid trading positions, the scale of which he has said were unknown to himself and other senior bank officials. "The situation has become extremely serious," Dominique Biedermann, chairman of shareholder advisory group Ethos, told the group's annual meeting. "Trust in the current leadership is shattered." Nevertheless, more than 80 percent of investors backed all of the pay proposals in binding AGM votes. Rohner was also comfortably re-elected as chairman. Thiam's blueprint for Credit Suisse has received a mixed response from the market. After its first full-year loss since 2008 last year, the bank has warned 2016 will likely be another tough year but Thiam said the strategy would eventually bear fruit. "We are building our platform for the future," Thiam told shareholders in Zurich at his first annual meeting since joining the bank, addressing them in a mixture of French and German. "That can seem like a tough task, and one that rarely wins many plaudits in the short term but it is the only path that will lead to success in the long term." Thiam wants to pare back Credit Suisse's investment bank and focus on wealth management. His strategy included a new management structure, raising about 6 billion Swiss francs ($6.2 billion) in fresh capital and a partial initial public offering of its Swiss business. Rohner said he was convinced the strategic plan, announced in October, had put the bank on the right track but that its implementation would place "considerable demands on all the parties concerned over the next two years". Story continues Its shares fell 4 percent to 14.59 francs by 1430 GMT while the Stoxx European bank sector index fell 2.7 percent. "WORST MONTHS EVER" Major shareholders have backed Thiam's strategy, but there are concerns that Credit Suisse is looking to expand in Asian wealth management just as Chinese growth is slowing. Some also fear Thiam's targets are too optimistic, including one to more than double pre-tax income from Asia Pacific in 2018. Tough markets prompted Credit Suisse to take an even bigger axe to its investment bank and cut more jobs. "The first quarter of 2016 has seen a continuation of the negative pressures experienced in the final quarter of 2015," Thiam said in his speech. "January and February were simply two of the worst months ever in international markets. As a result, we decided to accelerate our strategy of right-sizing and de-risking our market activities." He told the AGM that the recent share slide had been disappointing for him personally. "I believe that in the longer term," Thiam said, "there is only one way to improve Credit Suisse's share price: demonstrating the merits of our strategy and the value of our team through the delivery of strong and consistent results." ($1 = 0.9630 Swiss francs) (Additional reporting by Oliver Hirt; Editing by Michael Shields and Anna Willard) Photo: Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE In 2014, Swiss photographers Stephanie Borcard and Nicolas Metraux were in the Philippines documenting the stories of women trying to leave sex work when they learned about the children many call t isoy. Born to Filipina mothers, their fathers are foreigners, some of whom came to the Southeast Asian country as sex tourists and never returned again. "The children face bullying at school and have to grow up without a father. Some idealise their paternal figure and start posting YouTube videos to find their dads. But usually, they do not have enough reliable information about their fathers to get in touch or find them," Borcard and Metraux told Refinery29 by email. In the predominantly Catholic country, abortion is strictly illegal, contraception is expensive, and poverty drives many young women into sex work. In Angeles City, a red-light district full of brothels and bars caters to foreign tourists seeking a so-called "girlfriend experience" with young Filipina women. These paid sexual relationships can last for weeks or months. "There is an enormous wealth gap between the sex tourists and the girls," Borcard and Metraux explained. Often, the men the photographers met said they were lonely; some even seemed in denial that their "girlfriend" was someone they were paying for sex. "The problem is that most of these men are here for a set amount of time, usually months. All sorts of promises are made prior to their departure. The relationship often continues via social media until they come back," Borcard and Metraux added. But for many men, when they hear about the pregnancy they are responsible for, "their reaction is, 'How do you know I'm the father?'" the photographers said. If men consent to DNA testing and it confirms their paternity, they are responsible for monthly child support payments of about 10,000 Philippine pesos per month, or 145, until the child's 18th birthday, according to Borcard and Metraux. But many of the mothers they interviewed said the men refused to take responsibility, or stopped paying and disappeared. Story continues Women are left to raise their children alone and children are left to wonder who their fathers are. Borcard and Metraux sought to capture these children's stories with a photo essay entitled Dad Is Gone. Ahead, they share their portraits with Refinery29. Editor's note: All captions were provided by Borcard and Metraux and have been edited for clarity. Princess Ann is 1 years old. Her father, around 60, comes from Spain and spent one week in Angeles City as a "tourist." Her mother says he does not know that he has a child. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Samantha Elise is 6, and her half-sister, Briana Louise, is 3. Samanthas father is from India and Brianas father is from Canada. They are being raised by their aunt. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: An advertisement for a "girlie bar." Angeles City has become a hot spot for sex tourism. What started as a few girlie bars bordering the U.S. military's Clark Air Base grew bigger during the Korean and Vietnam wars. When Americans left the base in 1991, some bars closed, but many later reopened. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Mechelle, 19, works at a bar on Fields Avenue, a major street running through the centre of the red-light district in Angeles. While walking with her mother on this street when she was 9 years old, her mother pointed to a man and said, "Thats your dad." Today, she cant remember his face. She only knows his first name and that he is an American doctor from Santa Maria, CA. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Kayla Jolie is 6 years old. Her father, who is from Ireland, supported her and her mother financially for 10 months before vanishing. Since then, they have not received any news from him. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Hearty, 5 years old, and Jocelyn, 31. Heartys father, a 55-year-old Australian, had a three-month "relationship" with Jocelyn. Most men coming to Angeles City are looking for a "girlfriend experience" a paid sexual relationship. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Angela Paula is 4 years old. Her father is a 47-year-old Korean architect. It seems he wanted to meet his daughter, but her mother refused, saying that she was scared that he would take Angela to Seoul. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: The "Las Vegas" is one of the many nightclubs in Balibago, the red-light district of Angeles City. Many of the bars are owned by Americans, Australians, Germans, and, more recently, Koreans and Japanese people. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Benny is 3 years old. His father is from Australia and supports his son financially with 10,000 pesos per month (a little more than 145). Bennys mother continues to work on Fields Avenue. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Mitch, 28, is five months pregnant from an unknown foreigner. She works in a bar on Fields Avenue as a "waitress" to support her other two children. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: The neighbourhood that surrounds Angeles City. In the background is Mount Arayat, an extinct volcano. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Sara Jane is 20 years old. Her father is American. She has no information about him, and her mother says she doesnt want to talk about it. A relative living in Las Vegas has funded her education. After graduation from college, she studied computer programming at the University of Angeles. Now, she is looking for a job. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Annaliza, 22, was adopted by a friend of her mother's. She has never found her biological mother. Her father is a U.S. Navy soldier who was stationed in Olongapo, a costal city that is southwest of Angeles City. Annaliza says she suffers a lot from bullying because of her skin colour. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Antonia, 26, holds a paper with the address and phone number of her daughters father written on it. He is around 60 years old, comes from Spain, and spent one week in Angeles City as a "tourist." He does not know he is the father to her child. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Ritchell, 29, only knows that her father is German. She says she is seeking her spiritual path and plans to join the Jehovahs Witnesses. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Mary Grace is 16 years old. She never met her father, who is a Swiss citizen, but she knows his name. Mary used to have a picture of him, but the humid climate destroyed the print. She grew up with her aunt. Stephanie Borcard & Nicolas Metraux/INSTITUTE Photo: Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? These Women Lived To Tell The Tale Of Argentina's Dirty War A Survivor of Female Genital Mutilation Wants To End It Once And For All How Girls Manage Their Periods When Pads & Tampons Aren't Always An Option David Hasselhoff, whose show Hoff the Record airs on AXS TV Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET, shared 25 interesting things about himself with Us Weekly! 1. My first toy was a go-kart like a mini KITT! 2. I played Brutus in a high school production of Julius Caesar. 3. I broke the attendance record at a pantomime production of Peter Pan in the U.K. I played Captain Hoff the Hook. 4. I once went jogging with President Bill Clinton. Ive also had dinner with Ronald Reagan. PHOTOS: Surprise Celeb BFFs! 5. Ive garnered more than 40 gold and platinum records. 6. Ive sung with Sammy Davis Jr. and Lou Rawls. 7. I also once sang with Luciano Pavarotti on an airplane! 8. I had my own talk show in Finland and Sweden. 9. I was privileged to hang with Muhammad Ali. His first words were, Hey, Knight Rider, youre pretty, but not as pretty as me! 10. Ive sung to 1 million people on New Years Eve in Berlin. PHOTOS: Best and Worst Movie Remakes 11. I picked up my current girlfriend [model Hayley Roberts] for a date in Wales in an inexpensive rental car to show her Im just like everyone else. 12. I roomed with Pee-wee Herman and Katey Sagal at the California Institute of the Arts. 13. Ive held a 27-foot-long anaconda snake. 14. I played to more than 100,000 people at the Nova Rock Festival in Austria in 2015. 15. Ive given speeches at Oxford, Cambridge and Trinity colleges. 16. I got caught on a runaway camel in Morocco with my stunt double. It makes us laugh to this day. 17. I once had dinner with Michael Jackson. He talked to me about Knight Rider and how he owned a KITT car. 18. I also visited Neverland once for one of the Jackson kids birthdays. 19. Ive sold more records than Michael in Switzerland. PHOTOS: '80s Hunks: Then & Now 20. I once drove an Audi R8 at 204 mph. 21. I had my own racing team, Race for Life, in Indianapolis. 22. I received an honorable mention award for the success of the RTL TV network in Germany. 23. During apartheid, I went into Soweto, South Africa, to spread peace dressed as Knight Rider! Story continues 24. I was once charged by a bull elephant in Kenya. 25. I ran out of air while diving at Truk Lagoon at 80 feet. By Jeffrey Dastin ATLANTA (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL.N) said on Friday it has ordered 37 current-generation A321 aircraft from Airbus Group SE (AIR.PA) worth $4.25 billion at list prices, a move that will help it replace aging aircraft. The new jets, set to be delivered through 2019, add to A321s Delta already has on order, boosting the carrier's fleet of these planes to 82, the airline said. Airlines typically enjoy discounts of 40 percent or more on aircraft list prices. The announcement comes a day after Delta ordered 75 CSeries aircraft from Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO), boosting the Canadian planemaker's backlog, even as it faces a long road back to profitability. Delta also said on Friday it did not plan to buy Boeing Co (BA.N) planes in the near future. The Airbus purchase will help Atlanta-based Delta, the second-largest U.S. carrier by traffic, achieve its planned growth while retiring 116 old MD-88 aircraft, which seat 149 people. The new planes can seat 185 people, the airline said. "The order for the A321s is an opportunistic fleet move that enables us to produce strong returns and cost-effectively accelerate the retirement of Deltas 116 MD-88s in a capital efficient manner," Delta's incoming Chief Executive Ed Bastian said in a news release. Reuters reported earlier this month that Airbus was nearing a deal to sell Delta the 37 jets. Bastian told reporters in Atlanta that the airline had no current plans to buy Boeing planes. "At the present time, I'd say we're not in the market," Bastian said. "There's not a significant domestic need ... There's not an international need as well." While Delta talks frequently with Boeing, he said, "their product and the commercial offerings did not match what the CSeries was providing us, and they did not match the (Airbus) 321s, and Boeing was at the table at every one of the contests that we had." (Reporting By Jeffrey Dastin in Atlanta; Editing by David Goodman, W Simon and Alwyn Scott) (Adds executive comment, background, byline) By Jeffrey Dastin ATLANTA, April 29 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc sees opportunities for the airlines in which it owns equity stakes to cooperate more in the next five years, Delta's incoming Chief Executive Ed Bastian told reporters in Atlanta on Friday. Airlines have increasingly turned to buying stakes in carriers from other countries in order to acquire board seats and somewhat re-shape those airlines in their image. That way travelers experience similar cabin layouts and amenities on the partner airlines no matter which one they fly. When allowed by certain international aviation accords, the owning airline such as Delta also can coordinate its partners' prices, capacity and flight times to minimize the length of layovers. Delta owns stakes in Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd, China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd, Grupo Aeromexico SAB de CV and Brazil's Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA. Bastian said Delta remains committed to SkyTeam, a global airline marketing alliance, but there separately would be a chance for these specific airlines to cooperate more. Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways, in addition to Delta, has spearheaded the equity alliance model. Delta's incoming President Glen Hauenstein later told reporters sitting on one of the airline's widebody aircraft in Atlanta that Delta was thinking a lot about a new competitive challenge: low-cost airlines that fly across the Atlantic. Atlanta-based Delta said on an analyst call earlier this month that trans-Atlantic flights by the likes of low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA exceeded customer demand and threatened to lower fares to Europe. Hauenstein said on Friday that Delta would evolve its product in time if necessary to fend off the new competition, although he did not specify how. (Reporting By Jeffrey Dastin in Atlanta; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) * 1st-qtr EPS $0.40 vs est. $0.37 * Sales rise 4 pct to $1.31 bln * Shares rise as much as 8 pct (Adds CEO comments, details; updates shares) April 29 (Reuters) - Newell Brands Inc, which owns more than 160 brands including Sharpie markers and Rubbermaid food containers, reported a 4 percent rise in quarterly sales as more customers bought its products ranging from pens to prams. Shares of the company rose as much as 8 percent to $46.90 in morning trading on Friday. Newell said it plans to offload a number of businesses with annual revenue of $250 million-$300 million in the next two to three years, the majority of which will be from the Jarden portfolio. The company, previously known as Newell Rubbermaid, bought Jarden Corp for more than $15 billion in April to gain more leverage with retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Target Corp. The deal added about 120 brands to Newell's portfolio, including Sunbeam appliances, Yankee Candle and Crock-Pot cookware. The company also said its immediate goal was to get its debt ratio within the targeted range and free up cash to fund growth. "As we get through the first couple of years where we're paying down debt, we're going to become more acquisitive," Chief Executive Michael Polk told Reuters. Total sales rose to $1.31 billion from $1.26 billion in the first quarter ended March 31, helped partly by its business that makes Elmer's glue and Paper Mate pens. Sales in the baby and parenting category rose 9.2 percent on strong demand for car seats and for products sold under the Graco and Baby Jogger brands, the company said. Newell said it expected core sales growth of 3-4 percent for the year ending Dec. 31. Net income dropped 25 percent to $40.5 million, or 15 cents per share. Excluding items, the company's earnings rose 17.6 percent to 40 cents per share. Analysts on average had expected earnings of 37 cents per share and revenue of $1.45 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. (Reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva) There may not be enough artists to meet the every-increasing demand for visual effects shots, participants warned Thursday at the FMX animation and visual effects conference in Stuttgart, Germany. "The Matrix was only 420 VFX shots. These days, it's 2,000 [shots], certainly on a Marvel film, and they have gone up to releasing one more movie per year," said Diana Giorgiutti, executive producer of features at Luma Pictures and a former Marvel producer. "I'm starting to feel a little concerned about how all of the work is going to get done," she said, adding that numerous studios have increased their number of VFX-heavy releases. "I don't think there are enough VFX artists out there to do all of this work." Shawn Walsh, VFX exec producer and general manager at VFX house Image Engine, noted that knowing and managing capacity is critical. "You have to be able to do the work," he said. "Knowing your capacity is really one of the cores to running a company properly. Knowing when to say no is just as important as saying yes. We track our capacity; we look at it every week." Lionsgate's senior vp of VFX Kathy Chasen-Hay feels it's "hugely risky" to go to just one VFX facility if a film has more than 500 VFX shots. "You just don't know how much it will grow. You get a directors cut, and it's easily 1,000 shots. You risk not delivering." Read More: 'The Jungle Book': How Jon Favreau Juggled Walt Disney's Legacy and Digital Effects That Go Beyond 'Avatar' "There needs to be an understanding of how long things take; I try to keep an open dialog [on changes]," she continued. "There is such a huge benefit to the digital age, but also with the digital age, everything is instant. The director can keep changing things up to the DI [digital intermediate color grading stage]. We can even change the DCP [the digital equivalent of a film print], because we want to accommodate the creative. We want to accommodate the director." Story continues She added that a VFX project might start with a 30 percent profit margin "but when you're finished, you're lucky if it's 5 percent margin, because you can't control the creative. At the end of the day you have to make a call whether you are going to make changes [because you have a] relationship or go back and ask for overages. I think it's really tough for any VFX vendor." She stated that quality versus budget is the biggest challenge facing the VFX industry. Also discussed during the session was the move toward 4K "Ultra HD" resolution, which amounts to four times more data than regular HD. Speakers argued that there's no time or budget to go to 4K in VFX. "It will bring costs higher," Giorgiutti warned. "And cost is just one part; there isn't time." Agreed Walsh: "We are ready for it, but you can't deny the fact that it's more expensive. Eventually production will be expected to absorb [the cost]." "And you can't see the difference," Chasen-Hay admitted, adding that today there are only a limited number of cable or OTT channels that can even accommodate the 4K format, a fact on which Giorgiutti and Walsh also agreed. Read More: How 'The Revenant's' VFX Team Brought That Bear to Life In an ordinary presidential election cycle, most political analysts would have called it Mission: Impossible -- the idea congressional Democrats, swept from power in back-to-back midterm elections, could defy political gravity, and a Republican supermajority, to recapture the House of Representatives. But 2016 has been anything but an ordinary presidential election cycle. OPINION: [Whites Aren't the Only Voters Donald Trump Will Turn Out] Energized by Republican dysfunction on Capitol Hill and in the presidential primary, including the likelihood Donald Trump will lead the GOP ticket, Democratic Party officials say the House is now in play, and they're well-positioned to win it back. The Republicans' self-inflicted wounds -- from the real estate mogul's boorish behavior, to the party elites' half-hearted attempts to sabotage his march to the nomination, to the Senate's blockade of President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee -- have triggered a fundraising deluge for down-ballot Democrats. And, party leaders add, there's a fresh crop of liberal congressional candidates running this year who are waiting for them to make it rain. The Republican Party, meanwhile, is blaming an ongoing fundraising drought in part on the protracted political combat between Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, his nearest competitor for the GOP presidential nomination. Uncertainty -- or disbelief -- that the GOP nominee will be a divisive, outsider candidate has top donors sitting on their wallets, they say, forcing tough financing decisions on some down-ballot races. That, combined with trends showing independent voters won't choose the GOP if Trump or Cruz are at the top of the ticket, has the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which oversees House races, ready to surf back to power in a wave election that could feasibly give them control of both houses of Congress as well as the White House. "The DCCC is absolutely prepared to seize upon whatever political opportunities are before us in November," Meredith Kelly, a Democratic spokesperson, says in a recent email interview. "With strong Democratic candidates and well-oiled campaigns in over 60 districts, and recruiting still ongoing until the last filing deadline, there is no question that we will be ready to benefit from Republican dysfunction and win big in November." Story continues Yet while there are reasons for Kelly and the party to be bullish on retaking Congress this fall -- including generic polls that show the public has soured on the Republican brand -- some analysts say Democrats should curb their enthusiasm. READ: [Targeting White Voters in the North Is the New 'Southern Strategy'] Critics within and outside the party say the sudden instability on the right caught Democrats, resigned to long-term House minority status by redistricting, flat-footed, and without viable candidates in newly-competitive seats. Add in a few strategic missteps with unfavorable historic trends, the argument goes, and it's less probable that House Democrats can reverse a 30-seat Republican advantage, a difficult feat under most circumstances. "Republicans are sitting on their largest majority since 1928 -- 247 seats to 188 -- meaning Democrats would need to pick up 30 seats, a daunting challenge given the GOP's immense redistricting advantage and the vaporization of swing districts," analyst David Wasserman wrote in last month's Cook Political Report. The scale of that challenge is nothing new to Democrats: Last year, the party released an internal task force " autopsy," in part to explain what went wrong during the 2014 midterms, where they "suffered devastating losses at all levels of government since 2008," including 69 House seats. While the party energized young and minority voters in 2008 and 2012, according to the report, they still struggle with Southern white voters, can't get their base to turn out consistently in unsexy, off-year elections and their candidate pool badly needs an upgrade. Meanwhile, after trampling Democrats in 2010, newly-elected, state-level Republicans locked in power through redistricting based on that year's U.S. Census, leaving Democrats out in the cold for the foreseeable future. But the DCCC's Kelly says party leaders took the internal critique to heart, and had already recruited a high-quality field of congressional candidates even before the Trump phenomenon upended the GOP's presidential campaign. "Since January 2015, the DCCC's strategy has been to go on offense, recruit aggressively and expand the battlefield," she says. "The committee's goal was always to have great candidates and high-functioning campaigns ready to seize upon any opportunities or electoral winds that might exist in November." So far, "that approach has already yielded strong candidates in more than 60 congressional districts, and recruitment will not end until the very last filing deadline," Kelly says. "With Donald Trump or Ted Cruz at the top of the Republican ticket, the DCCC's offensive strategy will bear even more fruit in House elections." "A Trump, or Cruz, candidacy further expands our battlefield, makes more House races competitive and leans many of them in our favor," she says. "These beneficial dynamics will especially play out in suburban House districts, districts with a high number of minority voters, independent voters, highly educated voters, and/or millennials." Even Republicans are worried that the Trump effect at the polls could help liberals and progressives grab power in the chamber that's responsible for national spending and taxes. OPINION: [Sanders Is the Future for the Democrats, Even If Clinton Is the Present] A GOP super PAC dedicated to retaining the House majority recently hired a former senior adviser to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign to oversee fundraising for downballot races. House Speaker Paul Ryan personally recruited the operative, Mason Fink, to work for the Congressional Leadership Fund, beefing up its operations for what is expected to be a difficult cycle for Republicans. Out West, California Republican consultant Kevin Spillane recently told the San Francisco Chronicle that Trump would be "particularly devastating" in the Golden State "because he would spur an unprecedented Latino turnout, where you'd actually have Latino Republicans probably running 80 percent-plus Democratic,'' and drag down the rest of the ticket. Nationally, he said, the celebrity billionaire and novice politician is "unpopular with everyone, but he's extraordinarily unpopular with Latinos, women, younger voters, swing voters -- all the people you want in an election." Yet that doesn't necessarily translate into guaranteed wins for Team Blue. "It's impossible to know just how bad it could get for Republicans sharing a ballot with Trump or Cruz," even if they lose in a landslide writes Wasserman, the Cook Political Report analyst. "On one hand, past presidential blowouts in years like 1964, 1972 and 1984 haven't led to dramatic sea changes in House seats," he writes. "On the other, there hasn't been a true presidential blowout in 20 years." And history isn't necessarily on the Democrats' side: "Presidential elections tend to result in smaller changes to House partisan balance than midterms," according to Ballotpedia.com, the nonpartisan online political encyclopedia. "The last two presidential elections saw gains of only eight and 24 seats for Democrats," according to its House elections report. "While it is extremely unlikely that the Democratic Party will be able to gain control of the chamber in this election cycle, Democrats can still hope to reduce the majority that the Republican Party holds." Indeed, in Ballotpedia's list of 24 of the country's most competitive House races, 18 are held by Republican incumbents. Of those 18 seats, however, 14 are rated by Cook's Political Report as either toss-ups or leaning Democratic so far this election cycle, including districts in Republican strongholds like Arizona and Texas and battleground states of Pennsylvania and Florida. Andra Gillespie, a political scientist at Emory University, agrees with Kelly: Trump's inflammatory rhetoric and Cruz's hardcore conservative positions and the prospect of a once-in-a-generation Supreme Court shift to the left likely will boost Democratic turnout if either of them becomes the nominee. "It's the type of thing that could actually mobilize liberals and mobilize minorities out of a sense of fear," triggering massive party-line voting, she says. "I think the other thing to keep in mind is we don't have evidence yet that Donald Trump or Ted Cruz have coattails" that might help down-ballot incumbents. PHOTOS: [The Big Picture -- April 2016] Still, "you kind of have to wait to see what President Obama's [job-approval] standing looks like in a couple of months," Gillespie adds, noting that if the numbers are rising, voters are more likely to stick with Democrats. At the same time, she adds, the numbers don't lie -- 30 seats is a tough hill to climb, even if the leader of the other party's ticket is a drag for down-ballot candidates. "They can't change that Republicans control the House, and they can't change the number of seats the GOP has" ahead of the election, she says. But Kelly insists House Democrats have Republicans right where they want them. "The NRCC's own polling indicates that both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz will have a negative down-ballot impact on House Republicans," she says. According to POLITICO, an NRCC-commissioned poll indicates that "a plurality of respondents -- 48 percent to 40 percent -- would be less likely to vote for a Republican congressional candidate or incumbent if Trump were the nominee." Ultimately, "The dysfunction, uncertainty and hateful direction that Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have taken the Republican presidential primary is absolutely helpful to Democrats down-ballot in the House and Senate," Kelly says. "The entire Republican brand has been badly damaged in the eyes of voters and House Republicans will be inseparably tied to their Party and the top of the ticket." Joseph P. Williams is a news editor with U.S. News & World Report. E-mail him at JWilliams@usnews.com. We Brits are known internationally for our bad teeth - and with very good reason. According to new research, a 40-per-cent of Brits dont brush their teeth every day. A quarter are concerned about the colour and health of their teeth, however, while a third admit to noticing discoloured teeth on others. Age is a factor in dental habits, with over half of 26-34-year-olds not brushing at least once a day (50.87 per cent), compared to the more diligent over 55s, 68 per-cent of whom manage a daily clean. Residents of the North East have the best oral hygiene, with only 23-per-cent not brushing at least once a day, compared to 47-per-cent of Londoners and Northern Irish - the worst offenders. The study of 2000 UK adults by Australian teeth whitening company, White Glo found - not surprisingly, given the lack of tooth brushing going on - that 23-per-cent of respondents were ashamed of their teeth. 40-per-cent avoid showing their pegs while smiling, and 41-per-cent steer clear of toothy grins in photos as they feel too self-conscious. In fact, 10-per-cent never show their teeth in photos, ever. Dazzling: Were guessing Rylan Clark brushes his teeth at least once a day (REX) Dr George Sotiropoulous, Head of Dental Research from White Glo said: We were really shocked to find that so many Brits are not taking their oral hygiene seriously. "Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is important to keep teeth and gums healthy. Even if you only brush your teeth once a day, it should be at night to ensure food debris is removed from the day. Programmes such as TOWIE and celebrities like Simon Cowell and Rylan Clark have caused an increased awareness of the importance of having a bright, white smile. Using a low abrasion, daily whitening toothpaste is a safe way to gently return teeth to their former glory and lift the teeth a few shades whiter. The important thing is to ensure you brush your teeth at least once in the morning and once at night. Top image: Thinkstock By Jonathan Gould FRANKFURT (Reuters) - German exchange operator Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) has retracted comments by two senior executives about its planned $30 billion(20.5 billion pounds) merger with LSE Group (LSE.L) at the request of the British takeover authority. Britain's Panel on Takeovers and Mergers objected to comments by Chief Executive Carsten Kengeter in a newspaper interview and his statement on Deutsche Boerse's first-quarter results, the company said in a statement on Friday. The retractions highlight the need for the two exchanges to tread carefully while they work to obtain approvals for their merger against the background of a vote on Britain's membership of the European Union and as speculation mounts that U.S. rivals may seek to disrupt the deal. LSE Group issued clarifications on Monday and Wednesday of comments in relation to the merger by its chief executive, Xavier Rolet. The Takeover Panel viewed Kengeter's comment in German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel that the merger would create "a highly profitable business" as constituting a profit forecast, Deutsche Boerse said. Separately, Kengeter's comment on first-quarter earnings that the two exchanges had "received support from various stakeholders that the merger is the right step" was seen as constituting a statement of support under the UK Takeover Code. The Takeover Panel asked Deutsche Boerse to retract Kengeter's comments, Deutsche Boerse said. Deutsche Boerse also said comments by Chief Financial Officer Gregor Pottmeyer in an interview with Euro am Sonntag newspaper on the impact of Brexit on bidders for the LSE, were "founded on his own views and assessment". (Reporting by Jonathan Gould. Editing by Jane Merriman) ECB Stimulus, Brexit, and 12 Europe-Focused Mutual Funds (Continued from Prior Part) Performance evaluation of the JPMorgan Intrepid European Fund The JPMorgan Intrepid European Fund Class A (VEUAX) fell sharply by 5.4% in 1Q16, which placed it among the bottom three funds of the 12 funds in this review. In the past one year, the fund has fallen 8.1%, making it below-average among its peers. Meanwhile, from the end of December 2015 until April 25, 2016, VEUAX has risen 1.3%. In the graph below, you can see its performance against two ETFs: the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU). Lets look at what contributed to VEUAXs below-average performance in 1Q16. Portfolio composition and contribution to returns Financials had a forgettable 1Q16 and was mainly responsible for VEUAXs subpar showing in the quarter. French insurer AXA and Swiss financial services provider UBS Group (UBS) were the biggest negative contributors in the sector. Positive contributors couldnt make a dent in the negative contribution. Surprisingly, the consumer discretionary sector emerged as the second-largest negative contributor. Although the sector as a whole didnt do well in 1Q16, the negative contribution by VEUAXs stock picks from the sector was very high. Next and ITV led several decliners from the sector. Information technology and healthcare were also sizable negative contributors. Nokia (NOK) and Auto Trader Group held down technology stocks, while Roche Holding (RHHBY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) drove down healthcare. Consumer staples was the biggest positive contributor in 1Q16. British American Tobacco (BTI), Imperial Brands (ITYBY), Koninklijke Ahold (AHONY), and Nestle (NSRGY) helped the sector reduce some of the drag on the fund caused by negative contributing sectors. However, Suedzucker ate into some of that positive contribution. Industrials helped consumer staples reduce some of the drag on VEUAXs returns. French company Vinci and Germanys Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (SIEGY) were among the major positive contributors in the sector. However, German turbine manufacturer Nordex dragged down the sector. Story continues Investor takeaways VEUAXs stock picks from the consumer discretionary sector surprised on the downside in 1Q16. Coupled with financials and information technology, they ensured that the fund remained a below-average performer for the period. Even the positive contributing sectors couldnt have their full effect since all of them had a stock that dragged on their contribution. VEUAX underperformed passively managed VGK since its picks from the consumer discretionary, financials, industrials, and information technology sectors did worse than their peers in VGK. VEUAX hasnt been impressive. Its high turnover rate, which shows quick churning of the portfolio, hasnt rewarded investors. In the next part of the series, well take a look at the Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares (VEURX). Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: After more than two years and courts from California to Florida, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts today was exonerated in a lawsuit claiming it discriminated against families with children with autism and other developmental disorders in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment providing that Plaintiff shall recover nothing on his claims and that Defendant shall recover costs from Plaintiff, U.S. District Judge Anne Conway ordered on Thursday, granting Disneys motion for summary judgment and closing plaintiffs A.L. and D.L.s case. Plaintiff was given an opportunity to experience Magic Kingdom in a similar manner as guests that do not need accommodations, said the Orlando-based Conway today (read it here). Nondisabled guests visit Magic Kingdom for rides and attractions that most of them have to wait more than an hour to experience, the Sunshine State-based judge added. Comparing this to Plaintiffs experience, DAS (Disability Access Service) and readmission passes allow him access to those same rides in a fraction of the time. Giving Disney points, Conway concluded, thus, DAS and readmission passes afford Plaintiff a similar, or better, experience as those not needing them. The opinion is unsound, and we continue to evaluate our options, the plaintiffs Tampa-based lawyer Andy Dogali told Deadline today after the order was issued. The matter was set to go to trial on August 29 something that wont happen now regardless if there is an appeal or not. ADA logo Back in April 2014, 16 children and young adults with autism and other developmental disorders and their guardians and parents filed ADA violations in federal court in the Golden State alleging that Disneys October 2013 implemented Disability Access Service was completely unsuited to the needs of individuals with such special needs. The DAS was intended as a replacement for the longstanding Guest Assistance Card program in an effort to halt perceived scams such as well-heeled patrons hiring disabled individuals to travel around Disneyland and other parks with them so they could get on rides without waiting. Story continues However, the initial complaint claimed that the new system resulted in long waits for ride, which often led to meltdown behaviors. The filing also claimed that once-helpful Park and Resorts staff was now inadequate and robotic in dealing with such disorders, resulting in various cases of breach of contract and emotional distress. Additionally, the filing said that a supposed secret Magic List program, which allows patrons instant entry no appointment rides, could have solve a lot of the problems raised by the DAS. We fully comply with all ADA requirements and believe that the legal claims are without merit, said Disney in response. At the time, the House of Mouse also denied any such Magic List program existed. Failing to get the embarrassing and potentially massive case tossed, Disney did get it moved to highly favorable Florida as most of the instances in question occurred at facilities in the Sunshine State. More legal wrangling saw Conway decide in November 2014 that the big case would be divided into individual matters As with the dozens and dozens of other complaints then filed in late 2014, the paperwork by A.L. and D.L. detailed very specific instances of the horrible experiences they had at the companys parks under the new DAS system. As matters continued in the federal courts, the Florida Commission on Human Relations slammed one of the states largest employers in early 2015. There is reason to believe Respondent denied Complainants son the full enjoyment of the establishment because of a disability and a cause finding is recommended, the civil rights division said in a determination from February last year and made public that March. Obviously, Conway didnt see it that way. Attorneys represented Walt Disney Parks and Resorts from the West Palm Beach, L.A. and Washington D.C. offices of Kaye Scholer LLP. Related stories 'Captain America: Civil War' Shoots To $38.7M In 2 Days At Offshore Box Office 'Captain America: Civil War' Blasts Off With $14.9M On Day One Overseas More Mowgli Moola As 'Jungle Book' Cruises Over Three Wide Entries - Box Office Preview In the last year, there's been an upswell in anxiety across the Western world over the price of immigration. From Donald Trump's proposed 80-foot border wall to Czech police writing numbers on Syrian to be shot, mounting fear of foreigners is inspiring hostility among large swaths of society across the United States and Europe. A significant part of the phenomenon is an overt or thinly veiled expression of racism and xenophobia, but some if it is also driven by a fairly rational economic question: When immigrants enter a society, are they taking jobs from and driving down wages for native workers? How the economy absorbs an influx of new workers with substantially different backgrounds from native workers is a complex issue that's consumed policymakers and immigration experts for ages. In the U.S., the question often hovers around less educated and lower-wage native workers the segment of society that feels most threatened by migration from Mexico and Central America, and whose misgivings about it are key to Trump's ascent as a Republican presidential candidate. A new study by economists Mette Foged of the University of Copenhagen and Giovanni Peri at the University of California, Davis offers some light on the matter. They used longitudinal data to study the effect of low-skilled refugees, who have been mostly fleeing conflict zones like Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, on low-skilled Danish workers from 1991 to 2008. What they found was that native Danish workers didn't suffer from their arrival, but actually received a small economic boost from them. Foged and Peri found that low-skilled Danish workers didn't experience an uptick in unemployment, and in fact saw a small increase in wages by about over the course of four to five years. How did that happen? Story continues Middle Eastern migrants boarding a train to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2015. How it works: Part of the popular conception of how low-skilled immigrants operate is true. They often do take up jobs that are least desirable to native workers, and they often do them for lower wages. But they aren't a perfect replacement for unskilled native workers. If you're an Iraqi refugee with a high school degree looking for a job at, say, a coffee shop in Copenhagen, you don't offer the same things as a high school-educated Dane. You probably don't speak or read or write Danish well, if at all; you very well could have a weaker education, despite holding formally similar degrees; you don't have a friend who knows the manager of the shop who can put a word in for you. In other words, Danish-born workers have an edge over you. That edge played a role in the way that Danish-born workers adapted to the influx of refugees. They didn't simply get fired and replaced with cheaper labor, but rather over time were more likely to pick up work that actually complemented the work that immigrants were most likely to take on. They shifted away from manual labor to jobs that required language skills, more intensive customer service or had a managerial component. "The simple model that there is one type of labor where everybody is the same, and if you add more workers the wages go down simple demand and supply doesn't actually work, because jobs are not all the same," Peri said in an interview. "Native workers respond to immigration, and they adapt in the direction of taking jobs that are somewhat different." The new findings in Denmark provide some useful insight into the adaptability of low-skilled workers, but it's not a perfect piece of evidence, as refugees were distributed across the country through a policy that didn't factor in the demands of local labor markets. But research in the U.S. similar trends. A Peri thinks that the the same kind of dynamic in which low-skilled native workers move into jobs that complement the labor of low-skilled immigrants is at play. Source: John Moore/Getty Images It can be difficult to envision that transition being smooth, but it's important to remember that immigrants typically trickle into communities and workplaces gradually, and generally do so against the backdrop of a growing economy with increasing labor demands. "In the agricultural sector, 40 years ago, a lot of Americans were workers in the field, but now there are practically no field workers who are U.S.-born almost all the people in the fields are foreigners," Peri said. "But the agricultural sector has U.S.-born workers in other jobs, like supervisor, sales person and farm manager. We've seen similar things in the restaurant sector." Peri is not the only one to make these kinds of findings. David Card of the University of California, Berkeley famousl . Harvard University's George Borjas is the most influential critics of these findings, but his arguments against Card's study have been thoroughly debunked. Low-skilled immigrants are not only little threat to working class Americans, they're also not a big part of the immigrant population. The larger part of immigrants today are highly educated; immigrants new to the country are , and the arrival of less-educated workers has declined dramatically over the past decade or so. This isn't to say that low-skilled workers in the U.S. aren't feeling enormous pressure. They're suffering from decades-long trends in trade and technological innovation that have eaten away at industries that once held many more opportunities for them. It's not hard to see how someone might start to get agitated at their strange new neighbors as they struggle to find or hold down a job. But there's little evidence that newcomers are the real problem. (Adds details on financial results) MEXICO CITY, April 28 (Reuters) - Profit at Mexico's Grupo Televisa dropped by 59 percent in the first quarter, as the impact of a one-off payment a year earlier distorted results, the company said on Thursday. The broadcaster and Spanish-language content provider said net profit in the January to March period was 600.4 million pesos ($34.7 million), down from 1.45 billion pesos in the same period last year. The decline in profit was due in considerable part to the effect of the one-off cash payment last year of 1 billion pesos from U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster Univision, in which Televisa owns equity and convertible debt, the company said. It also said financial expenses were 147.6 million pesos higher during the first quarter of 2016. Televisa is restructuring its advertising business as more viewers switch from free broadcast channels to watch content on other platforms such as the Internet and pay TV. Sales of advertising in Televisa's content division were down by 3.1 percent in the quarter. Net sales at the group level rose 9.5 percent to 21.741 billion pesos, mostly due to its cable and satellite television businesses, the fastest-growing parts of the company. In the first quarter, operating income from the cable division increased 18.6 percent. Televisa narrowly avoided the imposition of tougher regulations for its pay TV arm in October, despite having a more than 70 percent share of satellite TV customers in Mexico and over 50 percent of the cable TV audience. ($1 = 17.29 pesos at end of March) (Reporting by Joanna Zuckerman Bernstein and Christine Murray; Additional reporting by Tomas Sarmiento) Where real estate mogul and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump goes, mayhem often ensues. That was certainly the case Thursday night in Costa Mesa, California, where the GOP candidate staged a massive rally in advance of the state's crucial primary on June 7. Police in riot gear and on horseback were seen corralling protesters who had gathered in opposition to Trump, whose comments about immigrants, Muslims and women have often incited outrage among his opponents. Roughly 20 people were arrested as numerous scuffles broke out amid the crowds, according to CNN and local law enforcement. A police car was also damaged. OCSDPIO Post Trump Rally Protest over. Approx 20 arrests by Costa Mesa PD. No major injuries. Crowd dispersed by 11pm. No further updates CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond was on the scene and posted updates on Twitter: A @realDonaldTrump supporter just got punched in the face as a scuffle broke out in the street:pic.twitter.com/3h3Fllm3V3 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChLy1hyUUAE3zVR.jpg:large More pictures from the chaotic scene outside the @realDonaldTrump rally tonight: http://cnn.it/1XXCYpK pic.twitter.com/cjXKNxAsFq https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChMT7JHUkAAW0dm.jpg:large People jumping on police car outside @realDonaldTrump rally. Window smashed few minutes earlierpic.twitter.com/SOsFarQEVr Police on horseback moving crowd down street:pic.twitter.com/6QVrOV8lne "I'm against Trump's nativist and nationalistic agenda, which divides people and is very hateful of the other," 26-year-old protester Rojelio Banuelos told CNN. Banuelos was also seen carrying a sign reading, "Liberation not deportation." With its 172 delegates, the Republican race is likely to come down to the Golden State. A significant win there holds the potential for Trump to put away the nomination on the first ballot during the party's July convention in Cleveland. Alternatively, a loss could leave Trump below the minimum threshold to win the nomination outright and pave the way for a brokered convention something that has not happened in either party since 1952. T businessman means business. After spending the better part of a year focused on tearing down his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, frontrunner Donald Trump is now training his sights on likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and he's signaling he'll be just as unsparing in attacking the former secretary of state as he was in going after "little" Marco Rubio, "low-energy" Jeb Bush and "lyin'" Ted Cruz. Exhibit A: The billionaire took to Twitter on Friday morning to slam "crooked" Hillary as "one of the all time great enablers" a revival of Trump's attack on Clinton earlier this year for her alleged role in covering up her husband's sexual misdeeds with other women. Crooked Hillary Clinton, perhaps the most dishonest person to have ever run for the presidency, is also one of the all time great enablers! The tweet comes on the same day that the New York Times reported, citing Trump aides, that the candidate was "likely" to ding his Democratic rival over Bill Clinton's sexual history. The former president admitted in 1998 to an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and has also been accused of harassment and rape. "She's not a victim. She was an enabler," Trump said of Hillary Clinton in January, per the Hill. "She worked with him. ... Some of the women have been totally destroyed. Some of these women have been destroyed. And Hillary worked with him." Those remarks came just days after Trump warned Clinton to "be careful" in lobbing accusations of sexism, hinting that he considered Bill Clinton's past fair game. Hillary, when you complain about "a penchant for sexism," who are you referring to. I have great respect for women. BE CAREFUL! Four months later, with Trump barreling toward the Republican nomination and looking to overcome Clinton's early lead in head-to-head polls, the Democratic frontrunner must now decide how she will respond to the no-holds-barred style of her likely opponent, who will test her in ways that primary rival Bernie Sanders hasn't. Story continues Bill Clinton's accusers may figure prominently in Trump's effort to bring down his wife. "It still hurts. It's still a very hurtful thing that they continue on in the pattern of denial to people of what this man is," Juanita Broaddrick, who alleges that Bill Clinton raped her in 1978, told Mic in a January interview. Hillary Clinton, Broaddrick said, is In the interview, Broaddrick said that shortly after the alleged rape, Hillary Clinton approached her at a campaign party to thank her "for all I was doing for them" a remark Broaddrick interpreted as gratitude for her silence. Broaddrick is now a supporter of Trump's campaign. Drake has released his highly anticipated fourth album, Views (formerly known as Views From the 6) on Apple Music. The Canadian rapper has teased the album's release since wrapping up his 2013/2014 tour in support of his third album, Nothing Was the Same. 2015: The Year in Drake Rihanna ("Too Good"), Future ("Grammys"), Pimp C ("Faithful"), WizKid ("One Dance"), Popcaan ("Controlla") and Partynextdoor appear on the album, with Kanye West and Boi-1da among the producers alongside Drake's longtime collaborator Noah "40" Shebib. Drake hinted at the imminent release of Views on New Year's Eve at a Miami party he hosted. "Views From the 6 coming very soon," he said to the crowd (via Vibe). He then released a pair of tracks in early April as a preview of the LP, including "Pop Style" featuring Jay Z and Kanye West (who are billed together as "The Throne"). Later, on his OVO Sound radio show, he confirmed the album's release date of April 29th and its exclusivity with Apple Music. Apple later revealed a special OVO Sound show on April 28th would serve as a listening party for Views. As promised during a surprise appearance at SXSW, the rapper announced a tour in support of Views. He'll be heading out on a joint trek with Future, who he had last toured with in 2013 for Would You Like a Tour? The Summer Sixteen Tour launches in June in Austin and wraps in September in Vancouver. Fans expected Drake to release his ode to Toronto back in 2015. Instead, he released two full-length mixtapes: If You're Reading This It's Too Late and his collaboration with Future, What a Time to Be Alive. Both mixtapes were released with little to no promotion beforehand. If You're Reading This It's Too Late, released in February and initially believed to be Views From the 6, was the first million-selling album of 2015 and broke Spotify's first-week streaming record with over 17.3 million times in its first three days. Story continues In between his two mixtapes, Drake also dominated the singles charts with three songs he debuted on episodes of OVO Sound Radio on Apple Music. The tracks included two diss records aimed towards Meek Mill, "Charged Up" and "Back to Back," along with smash hit "Hotline Bling," which reached Number Two on the Hot 100. His collaboration with Future, "Jumpman," is currently inching towards the Top 10 on the Hot 100. Related (Image: Embersandroses) Echo Fox has officially announced Texas Showdown winner Julio Fuentes as its first Street Fighter V player. The deal was first hinted at when Dreamhack Austin released a list of players registered to compete in Street Fighter V, with the Echo Fox tag next to Fuentes name. The team has since formalized it. Julio Fuentes is the perfect athlete to bring on as our first Street Fighter player, Echo Fox CEO Jace Hall told Yahoo Esports. He will not stop until he is the best player on Earth, and Echo Fox is committed as an organization to do whatever it takes to help Julio achieve his goals. This is an exciting day for all of us at Echo Fox as we officially enter the fighting games community. Fuentes has garnered a lot of attention since Street Fighter V launched. The NorCal native put himself in the spotlight by coming in second place at Winter Brawl X back in February. Since then, he won three Churning the Butters, a San Francisco weekly tournament, and placed 13th and fifth at CPT Premier Events Final Round and NorCal Regionals, respectively. Texas Showdown was his biggest breakthrough, however, as he finally won his first major Street Fighter V tournament. He also raised some eyebrows for taking a phone call in the middle of his grand finals set against Evil Geniuses Eduardo PR Balrog Perez. Im ridiculously excited to be a part of the Echo Fox family! Now I have the opportunity to express my play to a much wider audience across the globe. Im motivated more than ever to improve myself in every way imaginable. Ive been waiting forever for Street Fighter to get this big, Fuentes told Yahoo Esports. Fuentes continues to travel around North America in his attempt to qualify for Capcom Cup 2016. He will next be competing at this weekends CPT Ranking Event Northwest Majors in Des Moines, WA. Michael Martin will be at Northwest Majors and will keep an eye out for any phone calls to Julio during matches. Follow him on Twitter @Bizarro_Mike. A heated dispute between the families of two missing Tequesta, Florida teenagers over an iPhone belonging to one of the boys will take another turn Friday in a West Palm Beach, Florida courtroom. The family of Perry Cohen have secured an emergency hearing, seeking to have a judge order the family of Austin Stephanos to return the phone to law enforcement for forensics evaluation. Longtime friends and regulars on the water while growing up in South Florida, Cohen and Stephanos set out from Jupiter Inlet around 11 a.m. on the morning of July 24 for a day of fishing a something they'd done together many times, including the day before. Cohen's cell phone was broken that day, so the boys used Stephanos' iPhone to check in with their parents and post photos and messages to friends on social media. Cell tower records show that the phone lost connection at around 1:16, shortly before a storm hit. The boys were never seen again. Last month, nearly nine months after the boys' disappearance, their boat was discovered capsized and floating in a shipping channel about 100 miles off the Bermuda coast. Crewmembers of a Norwegian freighter hoisted the boat onto the ship's deck and soon found the iPhone and other personal effects in a locked compartment. The phone and other items were airmailed to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the boat is packed into a shipping container on its way to Port Everglades for inspection, FFWCC officials say. The discovery immediately raised hopes that the boys' families may finally get the answers they've desperately sought since they last held their sons close. But it also ignited a deeply emotional dispute. Because the case isn't criminal, state investigators announced that all items, including the iPhone, would be returned to the boys' families without a full forensics investigation. In an effort to block the return of the iPhone to the Stephanos family before an investigation could be completed, Perry's mother, Pamela Cohen, filed a lawsuit, naming Blu Stephanos, Austin's father, and the FFWCC as defendants. She also signed a written consent to have the FFWCC keep and investigate any items belonging to Perry and urged the Stephanos family to do the same. Despite the effort, the iPhone was returned and Blu Stephanos has publicly stated that it will be examined by the phone's manufacturer and independent IT specialists to see if any retrievable data still exists. "Of course, any relevant information that might be retrieved from Austin's phone will be shared with the Cohen family and the proper authorities," he posted on Facebook on April 25. "To me, this phone represents a connection with my son." "We are only asking for transparency," Cohen posted in response on Wednesday. "All I want is the information available, if there is any, pertaining to the fateful day of their disappearance." "It was irresponsible to take it out of law enforcement chain of custody," Guy Bennett Rubin, Cohen's attorney who filed the case and the motion for the emergency hearing, told PEOPLE on Thursday. "It's still a little amazing to us that the FWC is saying that this is not a criminal investigation, yet theyare going to forensically evaluate the boat. To me, thatas a little bit inconsistent." Judge Gregory Keyser will preside at the hearing, scheduled for 1:30 Friday. * Aims to sell 5 bln euros of assets in next two years * Part of goal to sell assets of 7 bln euros by 2019 * Mozambique could benefit from partner with strong skillset * Expects payment delays in Venezuela * Q1 operating profits beat expectations (Recasts lead, adds Venezuela, CFO comments) By Stephen Jewkes MILAN, April 29 (Reuters) - Italy's Eni is well on track to sell assets worth 5 billion euros in the next two years as the oil major looks for resources to fund high-profile projects in Egypt and Mozambique and offset the impact of lower oil prices. The state-controlled company, which has one of the best success rates in the industry in finding new reserves at one of the lowest cost bases, has tabled disposals of 7 billion euros ($8.01 bln) to 2019. "That will be front-loaded with 5 billion euros in the first two years," Eni CFO Massimo Mondazzi told analysts on Friday. With CEO Claudio Descalzi at the helm, Eni has been downsizing businesses like refining and chemicals to focus on the bread-and-butter job of finding oil and gas. Some analysts are worried the strategy could leave it more vulnerable to a downturn. BP, Statoil and Total beat analysts' expectations for quarterly results this week, reflecting in part resilient refining and petrochemical operations. Eni, the biggest foreign oil producer in Africa, has said it is ready to sell down stakes in fields it operates, such as the massive Area 4 gas field in Mozambique and the giant Zohr field in Egypt, to bankroll development. The group could benefit from a partner in Mozambique that has the right skillset to help it develop the project, Mondazzi said on a conference call on first-quarter results. "This contract is so big I guess we could take advantage from a strong additional partner, not only stronger from a financial point of view but also (with) a capability to run such a complicated project," he said. Eni has been in talks to sell down its 50 percent stake in Area 4, which holds 85 trillion cubic feet of gas that will feed a series of onshore LNG export plants, mainly supplying Asia. Story continues Reuters reported in March that ExxonMobil was in talks to buy a stake of varying potential sizes in Eni's Area 4 development, including a full operating stake. "Talks on disposals are under way and some are very well advanced," Mondazzi said. Eni's strategy of selling down oil and gas acreage, its large reserves and ongoing restructuring all helped support a "Buy" rating, Santander oil analyst Jason Kenney said. "These should differentiate it from peers no matter where oil prices settle in coming months/years," he said. VENEZUELA DELAYS Mondazzi expressed concern, though, about developments in Venezuela where state oil company PDVSA, the exclusive operator of the country's oilfields, owes energy companies billions of dollars in unpaid bills due to cash-flow problems. "The situation in the country is critical. So far we've been paid but we envisage some delays in payment," he said, adding the amounts would not be huge. The group was testing certain financial securitization tools to help secure payments, he said. A slew of major U.S. corporations have taken sizeable writedowns on their Venezuela operations due primarily to a steadily weakening currency. Eni produces 60,000 boed in Venezuela, mainly from its giant gas field Perla. In the first quarter Eni beat operating profit expectations despite swinging to a net loss because of weak oil prices and a charge on its Saipem holding. Adjusted operating profit fell 95 percent to 73 million euros but was above an analyst consensus of 22 million euros. "This is a good set of results, especially in the light of the unfavourable conditions in the E&P (exploration and production) sector," broker ICBPI said in a note. ($1 = 0.8738 euros) ($1 = 0.8734 euros) (Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by David Goodman and Susan Fenton) MILAN, April 29 (Reuters) - Italian oil major ENI could benefit from an additional partner in developing its giant Mozambique gas deposits, especially one with project-management skills in running such complex ventures, a senior company executive said on Friday. "This contract is so big I guess we could take advantage from (having) a strong additional partner, not only stronger from a financial point of view but also (with) a capability to run such a complicated project," Eni Chief Financial Officer Massimo Mondazzi said in a conference call. Eni has been in talks to sell a stake in its Area 4 gas development off the coast of Mozambique, containing 85 trillion cubic feet of gas - one of the richest discoveries ever. Area 4, in which Eni holds a 50 percent operating stake, will feed a series of onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants, mainly supplying Asian markets. Mondazzi's comment came in response to a question whether Eni would be willing to sell more than a 15-20 percent stake in its main Mamba project if it kept operatorship in the nearby Coral development. Reuters reported in March that ExxonMobil was in talks to buy a stake of varying potential sizes in Eni's Area 4 development, including a full operating stake. Eni has been in talks with several buyers including China's Huadian Corp, sources have said. Coral is a floating LNG export plant and all the supply has already been sold to British major BP. (Reporting by Stephen Jewkes and Oleg Vukmanovic) Expected Store Opening in Mid-Summer PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / Epic Stores, Corp. ("Epic" or the "Company") (EPSC), a second-hand goods retailer that operates retail stores in the United States, is providing an update on its presence in the San Antonio, Texas market where crews are currently putting the finishing touches on their latest location. Management currently expects the improvements to be completed by late May, and the grand opening is targeted within 60 days. Management has been meeting with regional and local charitable organizations to establish direct supply chains for sourcing inventory. Brian Davidson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Epic Stores Corp., commented, "The San Antonio market is an ideal location for our expansion due in part to current revitalization efforts in the area. We are also excited about neighboring with a local YMCA who could be a wonderful partner both due to proximity and mutual benefit across our organizations. We look forward to sharing more information about partnerships and location opening details in the next 60 days." About Epic Stores Corp. Epic is a second hand goods retailer that operates second hand retail stores in the United States. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, the company offers high quality, on-trend second hand clothing, accessories and household products at affordable prices. As of March 31, 2016, the company employed 165 employees and operated 10 retail stores in four states. Founded in 2010, Epic opened its first retail store in Phoenix, Arizona. Since that time, the company has opened additional stores in Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Texas. All of the retail stores sell products directly to consumers. The company also operates a leading wholesale business that supplies used shoes, books and clothing to distributors. Forward-Looking Statements The information in this press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often include words such as "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes" and words and terms of similar substance in connection with discussions of future operating or financial performance. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: (i) the adequacy of the Company's liquidity to meet its needs for the foreseeable future, (ii) the benefits expected to be recognized in connection with retail and whole sales, (iii) the Company's expectation that the current market conditions will continue. The Company's forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's business and performance, the economy and other future conditions and forecasts of future events, circumstances and results. As with any projection or forecast, forward-looking statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. The Company's actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in its forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise. Story continues Company Contacts Brian Davidson President and CEO Epic Stores Corp. Tel (623) 565-5758 Investor Relations Brett Maas Managing Partner Hayden IR Tel (646) 536-7331 brett@haydenir.com SOURCE: Epic Stores Corp. By Tom Koerkemeier BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A proposal by Germany and France to make it easier to suspend visa-free travel to the European Union from countries such as Turkey drew a frosty reception from the executive European Commission on Friday. In what was seen as a move to make visa liberalization for Turks, Ukrainians and Georgians more acceptable, Berlin and Paris wrote to EU partners this week calling for a tougher safeguard mechanism in case of a spike of asylum requests, overstays or readmission refusals. Under their plan, which would have to be formally put forward by the Commission, any member state would be allowed to suspend visa-free travel from any country for six months unless EU states voted by a qualified majority to overrule it. The proposal came in the midst of a debate about whether to extend visa liberalization to Ankara by the end of June under a deal to curb the flow of refugees and migrants to Europe. The Commission is due to report next Wednesday whether Turkey has met the 72 technical and legal conditions to qualify for visa-free travel. If so, member states and the European Parliament would have to approve the plan. Berlin and Paris want the tougher safeguards, which their joint letter seen by Reuters called a "snap-back mechanism", to be adopted at the same time. But a Commission spokeswoman said the EU visa regulation already contained a general suspension clause, which can be triggered for any country whose nationals are eligible for visa-free travel. "The Commission currently has no intention to propose a revision of the existing suspension mechanism," she said. The Franco-German letter, which diplomats said drew broad support at a meeting of EU ambassadors on Thursday, said the existing procedure took too long from the moment when a sudden increase in migration pressures or abuses was reported. "The whole procedure should be faster than the current one, which takes at least 9 months from the beginning of a substantial increase," it said. Paris and Berlin also suggested widening the criteria to combat what critics call "medical tourism", defined as a "substantial increase ... of the number of applications for residence permits with a low admission quota (e.g. for health reasons)." (Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Tom Heneghan) BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has agreed to extend the deadline for the sale of four small banks that Italy bailed out last year, saying on Friday that the extension was in line with EU state aid rules. The initial deadline was set to expire at the end of this month. The Commission said it would not reveal the new deadline "in order to protect the effectiveness of the sale process". A Bank of Italy official said earlier this week that 26 expressions of interest had been received from domestic and foreign investors for the four banks. He added that purchase offers were expected in a matter of days. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Writing by Crispian Balmer) By Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) - Clearing houses for derivatives in the European Union must use tougher assumptions when checking their daily resilience to market shocks and defaults by members, the bloc's securities watchdog said on Friday. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published the results of its first annual region-wide "stress test" that covered 17 clearing houses in the EU. The aim was to see how well the sector could withstand market shocks and many members - typically banks - defaulting at the same time, without destabilising the financial system or needing taxpayer bailouts. Clearing houses or central counterparties (CCPs) are set to grow as regulators make clearing in the $550 trillion (376 trillion pounds) derivatives market mandatory, raising concerns of a new breed of "too big to fail" institutions. Clearing houses like LCH.Clearnet (LSE.L), Eurex Clearing (DB1Gn.DE) and ICE Clear Europe (ICE.N) stand between two sides of a trade to ensure its completion even if one side goes bust. "The results of the test shows that the system of EU CCPs can overall be assessed as resilient to the stress scenarios used to model extreme but plausible market developments," ESMA said in a statement. However, the daily stress testing that clearers conduct on themselves is less tough than the minimum shocks set out in the EU test, ESMA said. Clearing houses will be asked to revise the "price shocks" they use for the daily tests, which could indirectly lead to higher margin or cash calls on members to back trades. No individual clearing house was named. Under more extreme test scenarios where more than 25 clearing members default, there were EU-wide losses of up to 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion). Clearing houses in the EU have in total more than 150 billion euros in funds to call on in a crisis. The results will be scrutinised by analysts to see if they affect the planned merger of Deutsche Boerse (DB1Gn.DE) and London Stock Exchange Group (LSE.L) which has raised the prospect of big savings for customers by linking their clearing houses. Story continues ESMA said that following the stress test, clearers will also be asked to check the creditworthiness of members who are also members of other clearers. Under EU rules, clearing houses must be able to withstand its two biggest members defaulting. "What these rules do not take into account is the possibility of the knock-on effect across CCPs," ESMA Chairman Steven Maijoor told reporters. "We think at this stage the rules are robust and there is no reason on the basis of this stress test to make changes to the rules," Maijoor added. No clearing house will be told by regulators to ask for more margin from customers. Margin makes up 75 percent of a clearing house's defences. (Reporting by Huw Jones, editing by Carolyn Cohn and Susan Fenton) BERLIN (Reuters) - The European committee in Germany's parliament has invited European Central Bank President Mario Draghi for talks, the committee's head said on Friday. German conservatives have sharply criticised the bank's loose monetary policy in recent weeks and on Wednesday Bild newspaper reported that Draghi was ready to appear at Germany's Bundestag lower house of parliament to defend the bank's policies. "The invitation has been made," Gunther Krichbaum, the committee's head and a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), told Reuters. He added that it was "an invitation, not a summons". Krichbaum said he was in favour of a meeting with the European committee, along with the finance and budget committees, as happened in 2012. A person familiar with the matter at the ECB told Reuters the invitation had been received and added that the meeting would probably take place after the summer recess, but the date had not yet been set. (Reporting by Matthias Sobolewski and Reinhard Becker; Writing by Michelle Martin; editing by Ralph Boulton) (Adds detail) BERLIN, April 29 (Reuters) - The European committee in Germany's parliament has invited European Central Bank President Mario Draghi for talks, the committee's head said on Friday. German conservatives have sharply criticised the bank's loose monetary policy in recent weeks and on Wednesday Bild newspaper reported that Draghi was ready to appear at Germany's Bundestag lower house of parliament to defend the bank's policies. "The invitation has been made," Gunther Krichbaum, the committee's head and a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), told Reuters. He added that it was "an invitation, not a summons". Krichbaum said he was in favour of a meeting with the European committee, along with the finance and budget committees, as happened in 2012. A person familiar with the matter at the ECB told Reuters the invitation had been received and added that the meeting would probably take place after the summer recess, but the date had not yet been set. (Reporting by Matthias Sobolewski and Reinhard Becker; Writing by Michelle Martin; editing by Ralph Boulton) The Belgian government says it will distribute iodine pills to all its citizens in case of an accident at one its aging nuclear reactors. The BBC reports that Health Minister Maggie De Block announced an update of rules that previously required the pills which prevent radioactive material from entering the thyroid, reducing the risk of cancer among those exposed to radiation to be given to those living within 12 miles of nuclear power plants. The radius where pills will be distributed has been increased to 62 miles, which means all of the country when nuclear reactors across the border in the Netherlands are taken into account. It may seem like a drastic step, but, as the BBC noted, Germany recently asked Belgium to shut down two of its oldest reactors over safety concerns. There were also fears following the terrorist attacks on Brussels in March that the countrys nuclear reactors could be targeted by extremists. De Block insisted it was no big deal that Belgium was taking such precautions. In the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, Every country has updated its plans for a nuclear emergency, she told Belgian TV. [BBC] michael pearson valeant ceo All at once, everyone wants to know more about the mysterious programs that Valeant Pharmaceuticals uses to help people buy its drugs patient assistance programs. The programs were mentioned in risk factor after risk factor in the company's long-delayed annual report, which finally dropped on Friday. And on Wednesday, when company executives and board member, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, went to the U.S. Senate to testify about Valeant's pricing practices, they were asked a bunch of questions about these programs. And indeed we don't know much. What we do know is that, on top of the US Senate and House of Representatives, State attorneys in Massachusetts and New York also want to know more about the hundreds of millions of dollars Valeant spends on the programs. The state of North Carolina has opened an investigation into them too. So what exactly do they want to know about these programs? No one's been clear about that, but we got a clue about it on Wednesday. Spend money to make money Ideally, patient assistance programs are exactly what they sound like they are funds that help make medication more affordable to patients. However, the government is concerned that at Valeant they have taken on a more sinister role. In fact, government insurance Medicare and Medicaid don't allow patient assistance programs at all. Here's what Sen. Elizabeth Warren had to say about them at Wednesday's hearing. Basically she was wondering why Valeant didn't just lower the prices of drugs that were too expensive for patients to access. "You double the price, even if you get a waiver to the customer, you make a lot of money," Warren said. "What is the return on investment to Valeant on the money you're currently putting into the patient-assistance programs?" Outgoing CEO Michael Pearson, present at the hearing, said he didn't know. "Don't tell me you've never done the analysis," Warren said in response. "By doing this you ... keep the patient on the more expensive drug and then you ... recoup whatever from the insurance company. What I'm saying is that this must be a profitable ... for you ... You're making more money." Story continues But Pearson stuck to his line, praising the programs for the good they do for Valeant's customers, but it was hard. The committee members kept pointing out that these programs allow Valeant to maintain price and that Valeant has a "captive audience." Plus, on the panel before Pearson, his former CEO Howard Schiller, and billionaire investor Bill Ackman, witnesses said that the patient assistance programs were purposely complex, and were very hard to qualify for. Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Susan Collins (R-ME), who led the hearing, both said they had contacted hospitals in their home states to see if they had received funds from Valeant. None had. An executive from St. Vincent's Catholic Hospitals, the largest Catholic hospital network in the world, also said his organization had not received funds from Valeant. elizabeth Warren Umm, show us the line item It's really hard to figure out how much exactly Valeant spends on these programs because it's not clearly delineated in its government filings. In its third quarter earnings filing, the company said that the programs were "administered by a reputable third party." More from that filing: "...and we fund outside foundations that have multiple donors. Eligibility is determined by the independent foundations. It is also important to note that eligibility for our in-house commercial access programs is limited to patients not covered by government programs. Looking at history, our commitment to patient assistant programs has grown at an annual compound rate of 128% from $53 million in 2012 to approximately $1 billion we expect to spend in 2016." That's a lot of money to spend on something your company doesn't track. We also know that the company talked about them in a letter sent to the Senate Committee on Aging back in October in which it said the company has these programs for 55 drugs in its product line. patient assistance programs As for the fund numbers in the paragraph above, they were not clearly delineated in the company's annual reports for 2014 or 2015. But perhaps we'll get more clarity soon. It seems everyone wants it. NOW WATCH: This hidden subplot of 'Game of Thrones' spells out the real trouble for the Lannisters More From Business Insider ECB Stimulus, Brexit, and 12 Europe-Focused Mutual Funds (Continued from Prior Part) Europe-focused mutual funds In this series, weve reviewed 12 Europe-focused mutual funds in terms of their sectoral changes over the past year. Weve also looked at the reasons for their performances in 1Q16. We looked at the sector and stock picks for each fund and pointed out which picks worked and which ones didnt. We also compared the performances of these funds with two ETFs: the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU). Portfolio positioning In our reviews, we saw that most of these funds favored financials as their top sectoral choice. Although stocks from the sector are still the largest holdings for five of these funds, exposure to the sector by no means is as large or as widespread as it was. There are several funds that have started leaning toward industrials (BIAHX) (IEOAX) (VEUAX). In Part 24 of the series, we also saw that the Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund Class A (VGEAX) is leaning toward consumer staples stocks. We assessed two passive mutual funds in this review. The Europe 30 ProFund Investor Class (UEPIX) is benchmarked to an index created by the fund in-house. The Vanguard European Stock Index Fund Investor Shares (VEURX) is representative of the European stock market across market caps. Observations Drawing from what we covered in the first part of this series, the ECB (European Central Bank) fired its biggest shot in terms of recent stimulus measures in March. Theres disagreement in Europe regarding the impact of those measures. One thing is for certain, though. Monetary stimulus alone cant keep powering equities ahead. Then theres concern about a possible BrexitBritain exiting the European Union. Some think Europe cant get through a year without at least one member being on the verge of exiting the European Union. Earlier, it was a Grexit when Greece was very close to having its membership annulled. Now Britain is threatening to leave. It feels that trade rules dont favor the nation and are holding it back. Story continues If a Brexit does occur, it would most likely have a cascading effect on other European Union members. They may want the European Union to come to the table to negotiate aspects that member nations dont find favorable for them. That could threaten the entire structure of the European Union. For now, chances of a Brexit are low. But it still points to one thing. European markets (FEZ) (IEV) have one more thing to worry about until at least the middle of this year. This will keep European stocks volatile, forcing investors to hang on tightly until the end of this bumpy ride. Youll have to decide if youll be going along for the ride or if youll take another patheither passive or activeto invest in the region. You might be interested in reading a similar analysis on US equity mutual funds. For more analysis on mutual funds, you can also visit Market Realists Mutual Funds page. Browse this series on Market Realist: This has been an incredibly difficult week for Apple. The company shed more than $40 billion in market capitalization on Tuesday evening following its fiscal first-quarter earnings report, which showed a much steeper decline than Wall Street was expecting in both profit and iPhone sales. Then, just one day later, tragedy struck Apple's Cupertino, California headquarters when one of the company's employees was found dead in a conference room on campus. The story is still unfolding two days later. DON'T MISS: Completely change the look of your iPhone with round folder icons, no jailbreak needed The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office responded to a 9-1-1 call placed from Apple's Cupertino campus at approximately 8:35 a.m. PDT on Wednesday. According to a brief press conference later that morning, the call came from an Apple employee who said that there was a person down on campus. Upon responding, police found the body of a young male who was later confirmed to be an Apple employee. On Thursday evening, the Santa Clara County coroners office identified the deceased male as 25-year-old Edward Mackowiak, according to Reuters. A LinkedIn page that has now been deleted listed Mackowiak as a software engineer at Apple, and the company had earlier confirmed that he was an employee. A cause of death was then released on Friday morning. In a written statement, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said: "The Medical Examiner determined the manner of death was suicide and the cause was a gunshot to the head." TMZ had reported soon after the story broke on Wednesday morning that a gun was found by police near Mackowiak's body. We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented coworker, an Apple spokesperson said on Thursday in a statement given to Matt Keller, a reporter with local ABC affiliate ABC 7. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends, including the many people he worked with here at Apple. We are working to support them however we can in this difficult time. Story continues Related stories Major tech breakthrough iPhone users have been waiting for is finally here 10 paid iPhone apps on sale for free for a limited time Developer gets Windows 95 running on an Apple Watch More from BGR: Captain America: Civil Wars post-credits scenes have been revealed This article was originally published on BGR.com Berlin (AFP) - A 94-year-old former SS guard on trial for complicity in 170,000 murders at Auschwitz broke his silence Friday for the first time since the war, telling victims: "I am truly sorry." More than 70 years after the end of World War II, Reinhold Hanning admitted to a German court that he knew prisoners were being shot, gassed and cremated at the death camp in occupied Poland. "I could see how the bodies were being transported here and there and then away. I could smell the burning. I knew that people were burning bodies," he said. "I believe that every guard knew what was happening. This is regardless of the duty that one was carrying out. "Of course some were closer to it than others. By close I mean close to the killings." Hanning said he had been "silent all my life" about the atrocities he witnessed at the camp where more than one million European Jews died, and had never spoken a word about it to his wife, children or grandchildren. "No one in my family knew that I worked at Auschwitz. I simply could not talk about it. I was ashamed," said the white-haired, bespectacled widower, who owned a dairy store after the war. "I want to tell you that I deeply regret having listened to a criminal organisation that is responsible for the deaths of many innocent people, for the destruction of countless families, for the misery, distress and suffering on the part of victims and their relatives. "I am ashamed that I let this injustice happen and have done nothing to prevent it. "I apologise formally for my behaviour. I am truly sorry," he said. - Can't talk about it - Hanning stands accused of having watched over the selection of which prisoners were fit for labour, and which should be sent to gas chambers. He is also deemed to have been aware of the regular mass shooting of inmates at the camp, as well as the systematic starvation of prisoners. At the opening of his trial in February, one of the witnesses, Leon Schwarzbaum, 90, made a plea for him to tell the truth. Story continues "We are almost the same age. We'll both face our highest judge soon," he told the defendant, urging him to explain the atrocities at Auschwitz. In the statement that detailed how at 13 he joined Hitler Youth, and at 19 years old, the SS at the urging of a stepmother who was anxious to get him out of his father's house, Hanning said no one dared to speak of what they experienced while at Auschwitz. "You saw what happened but could not talk about it with your comrades," he said, adding that at the camp, "I trusted no one." "Very little was spoken. No one knew if someone would repeat what one said to someone else," he said. He said he had applied for a transfer out of the camp, but failed on both tries. "I have tried my whole life to block out this period. Auschwitz was a nightmare. I wish I had never been there," he said. - 'Polished and calculated' - Christoph Heubner, executive vice president of the International Auschwitz Committee representing victims, told Bild newspaper however that Hanning's statement was "polished and calculated as if he had been a spectator at Auschwitz". "This is not an admission of guilt, but a statement from the perspective of a spectator," he said. Among the 6,500 former SS personnel at Auschwitz who survived the war, fewer than 50 have been convicted. Hanning's trial came on the heels of a high-profile case last year against Oskar Groening, dubbed the "Bookkeeper of Auschwitz". Groening was sentenced in July to four years in prison, even though he had previously been cleared by German authorities after lengthy criminal probes dating back to the 1970s. But the legal foundation for prosecuting ex-Nazis changed in 2011 with the German conviction of former death camp guard John Demjanjuk, solely on the basis of his having worked at the Sobibor camp in occupied Poland. Another case is currently being heard by a German court, against former SS medic Hubert Zafke, 95, who is charged with at least 3,681 counts of complicity in killings. That case has however been suspended twice due to the defendant's poor health, raising questions whether it can proceed. Washington (AFP) - A former TV news analyst who falsely claimed to have been a "deep cover" agent for the CIA pleaded guilty Friday to a series of fraud charges, officials said. Wayne Simmons, 62, had been a Fox News commentator on the basis of his claim that he spent 27 years working for the Central Intelligence Agency. As part of a plea agreement filed in federal court in Virginia, Simmons admitted he defrauded the government to gain access to a US Army training program in 2008 and to be deployed to Afghanistan as a senior intelligence advisor, the Justice Department said in a statement. He admitted that he was never employed by or worked with the CIA, or given a security clearance by that agency. "Mr. Simmons lied about his criminal history and CIA employment in order to fraudulently obtain government contracts, and separately, defrauded a victim through a phony real estate investment deal," said Paul Abbate, assistant director of the FBI's Washington field office. "With these criminal actions, Mr. Simmons abused the trust of others, both in and outside of government, for his own personal financial gain." Simmons, indicted on criminal charges last October, also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms, officials said. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the fraud against the government count, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on wire fraud charges. According to the indictment, Simmons falsely claimed to have worked as an "outside paramilitary special operations officer" for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1973 to 2000, and used that false claim to attempt to obtain government security clearances. He ended up working for three government contractors -- not identified in the indictment -- and was paid on the basis of "materially false and fraudulent pretenses," the indictment said. Simmons also co-authored a spy novel that appeared to have been loosely based on his purported exploits, which is sold on Amazon.com. His biography goes on to say he was "one of the first outside intelligence officers" to visit the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and "was given the distinguished honor to serve as a consultant to the Bush White House to assist in the construction of the Military Commissions Act of 2006." By Xiaowen Bi HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's securities regulator on Friday urged commodity futures exchanges to curb excessive speculation following a surge in prices that has sparked fears markets were heading for a dangerous boom-and-bust cycle. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said it would not allow the futures market to become a "hot-bed" for speculators. The CSRC comments confirmed a Reuters story earlier on Friday that the regulator had asked commodity futures exchanges in Dalian, Shanghai and Zhengzhou to bring speculative trading activity under control. Investors, including hedge funds and retail investors, have placed big bets on Chinese commodities futures this year, driving up contracts including in iron ore, rebar, cotton and even eggs. The rally has prompted many analysts to warn of similarities with a boom in the country's stock markets, which reversed into a sharp crash last summer. The futures market should stick to its fundamental purpose of serving the real economy, and regulators will "adamantly prevent the futures market from becoming a hotbed for short-term speculators," the CSRC said in a statement on its official microblog. "We will continue to guide the exchanges to take appropriate actions against excessive speculation and illegal behaviours," the regulator said. Three people with direct knowledge of the situation said the CSRC had issued its order to the exchanges to bring speculative trading under control on Monday. In response, the exchanges ordered major institutional investors that lack a commodities background to rein in their trading, the people said. They didn't define what was meant by a lack of background in commodities. "Many local media and researchers mentioned the huge volume and volatility," said one of the people. "The regulator felt nervous. They hope to keep stability." A spokesman at the Dalian Commodity Exchange declined to comment on the CSRC order, but said the exchange would further improve its mechanism for controlling risks. Story continues The Shanghai Futures Exchange did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange could not be reached for comment. The sources said the latest measures were partly aimed at cracking down on high-frequency trading, although they did not provide further details. The exchanges have made several public announcements this week of measures that increase the cost of trading, such as a rise in transaction fees and minimum margin requirements, action that has taken some of the heat out of the rally and traded volumes. Market trading limits have also been widened. At their peak this year, Dalian iron ore had risen 73 percent, and Shanghai rebar 62 percent. On some days, the trading volume in iron ore futures on the Dalian exchange exceeded China's total imports for 2015. The measures this week appear to have had an impact and broadly futures prices have calmed, although steelmaking raw materials iron ore, coking coal and coke ended April with their biggest monthly gain on record. Rebar, a construction steel product, posted its biggest monthly rise ever, with volumes in the most-traded contract in Shanghai hitting a record 1.4 billion tonnes - enough to build San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge more than 15,000 times over. Analysts said speculators have been betting that government plans for more infrastructure spending and signs of a pick up in the economy would fuel more demand for commodities. Others suggested commodities futures markets were the only place left for speculators to make quick profits given weakness in stocks, bonds and housing. The volatility in prices has already deterred some major industry players from using the futures market. It also marks a setback for attempts to give China's domestic markets more influence over global pricing, analysts say. The run up in steel prices has been blamed for encouraging some idled steel mills to restart production, adding to a production glut in the country and exports of the metal, which is upsetting other countries. The CSRC came under fire as China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets slumped as much as 40 percent in just a few months last summer. In a further blow, a stock index "circuit breaker" introduced in January to limit stock market losses was deactivated after four days of use because it was blamed for exacerbating a sharp selloff. In its attempts to stabilise stock markets last year, the CSRC instituted a flurry of blunt measures including halting short selling, suppressing trading in index futures and banning share sales by major shareholders in companies. The official state news agency Xinhua reported in February, without giving details, that the head of the regulator had been removed and succeeded by Liu Shiyu. (Additional reporting by Ruby Lian in SHANGHAI and Watson Zhang and Samuel Shen in BEIJING: Writing by Pete Sweeney; Editing by Jason Subler and Neil Fullick) There was the time in the jungle of Colombia where I turned around from examining a rock outcrop only to find a squadron of men in camouflage emerged from the trees, pointing machine guns at my team. There were two possibilities. They could have been army soldiers on regular patrol, checking to see what we were doing in this out-of-the-way area, in which case, things would be fine. But in this particular spot it was equally possible these were rebel troops of the FARC or ELN guerrilla movements -- both of which are known for kidnapping and holding prisoners in the jungles for months, years, or even decades. As they waved for us to come forward, we had a tense moment of decision -- go peacefully into what might be a trap or make a run for it up the hillside? The terrain was against us, so we chose to approach. Hearts in our mouths, we neared the group of men -- who then identified themselves as army. It was one of the greatest rushes of relief I've ever felt. They gave us a lecture on safety and sent us on our way. Not your typical investment newsletter fare. But neither is Dave Forest your typical Chief Investment Strategist. The excerpt above comes from the December 2015 issue of Scarcity & Real Wealth, where Dave went on to recommend a stake in Caledonia Mining (OTC: CALVF). At the time, shares were changing hands for $0.60. Four and a half months later, Dave sold Caledonia for a 44.4% profit. That's an impressive gain. But that's how it goes in the natural resources sector, where fortunes are made (and lost) in just a few short years -- and sometimes, months or even weeks. Individual investors have fallen asleep when it comes to this sector. It's understandable: many important commodities (most notably oil) have been in a slump. And in an environment where broader stock markets have steadily risen over the past few years, the idea of treading into this notoriously boom-or-bust corner of the market might seem like a fool's errand. Story continues But there's ample evidence to suggest we're about to witness a serious turnaround in a few key commodities. The question, then, is which commodities and which companies that produce or process them stand the best chance of handing investors market-beating gains? For answers, I turned to StreetAuthority's very own Dave Forest, Chief Investment Strategist of Scarcity & Real Wealth. What follows is the first part of an exclusive interview with Dave on everything from his thoughts on the commodities markets (including gold and oil) to how most investors completely miss out on the best profit opportunities -- as well as the names and ticker symbols of his recent favorite picks. Brad: There's a lot we can talk about in the commodities space, and I want to get to that in a moment. But first, please tell our readers about yourself. [More from StreetAuthority.com: The Single Best Place To Invest Your Money For Retirement] Dave: I call myself a "recovering geologist." My training is technical -- I spent a lot of time in the wilderness looking for big mineral deposits and oil and gas fields. The thing is, most geologists are wildly optimistic -- almost romantically so. They're dreamers, and the idea of a big find keeps them going. I've had the opportunity to transition from that life to being an analyst and working in public markets, which teaches you the harsh realities of business and project economics. Today I still love getting out in the wilds and exploring, but I always do it with a clear vision in mind of the qualities I'm looking for in a project. I'm very selective. And I bring the same approach to analyzing and selecting stocks. Many StreetAuthority readers might remember me from StreetAuthority's former Top 10 Stocks newsletter, the editorship of which I had to recently set aside because of increasing demands on my "day job." Scarcity & Real Wealth, however, is the perfect complement to my other business activities and areas of expertise. Resource companies can be immensely profitable. One of my last public ventures appreciated about 3,100% in three years from the price where the founders invested. A return like that is rare, of course. I have to be very disciplined in picking the best projects and management teams -- and stocks. Brad: I should also note that you spend a lot of time travelling to some pretty exotic places around the globe. Why do you do this, and how it is relevant to Scarcity & Real Wealth? Dave: Yes, I actually just got back from Thailand and Myanmar, where I've been spending a lot of time lately. Natural resources aren't like other businesses like tech or manufacturing. With those sectors, you can set up an office or factory almost anywhere on Earth. But in mining or petroleum, we have to go where the big deposits are located. And increasingly, the largest discoveries are made in frontier countries -- places where there hasn't been a lot of modern exploration. Myanmar is a prime example. It has a long history of mining in colonial times, but has been basically closed to foreign investment for half a century because of military rule. That's now changing, and I believe it will open the door for major profits from big discoveries there once people start walking around and looking. That's the kind of wave you want to be on the front lines for. It's easy money if you're willing to be a little bold. I've been in rebel camps and slept in grass huts out in the countryside looking for The Next Big Thing. It's not five-star for sure, but that's how you uncover big opportunities. And it's incredibly interesting. [More from StreetAuthority.com: The Big Myth About Beating The Market] All of this work relates back to Scarcity & Real Wealth in large part because I get a lot of information when I'm traveling on sites like these. I'm lucky to spend a lot of time with the world's best geologists, investors and other professionals, so I hear about a lot of important goings-on across the resource industry. For example, I didn't fully grasp the scale of copper demand in China right now until I talked to one government advisor who had just returned from there. This fellow stated emphatically that copper prices have to rise because of the amount of buying in the country -- and when I looked into the numbers he discussed, I realized he's absolutely correct. In the most recent issue of Scarcity & Real Wealth, I made a detailed case for copper based on this research, and I named what I believe to be the best single play on the red metal right now. Brad: So in general it sounds as if the time is right to revisit natural resource stocks... Dave: Most investors don't consider commodities until these markets are at their peak. Back when gold was breaking $1,700 and oil was topping $100, everyone loved these sectors. The people who bought in then lost their shirts. My experience is the exact opposite: when things get cheap, I get excited. I've seen how much money is made when downtrodden sectors have their inevitable bounce back. From that perspective, this is one of the most exciting times in recent memory -- today we can buy top-name mining and energy stocks for a fraction of the price they were going for several months ago. These investments are going to make a lot of money for the people who have the foresight to buy them while they're still cheap. Remember, I said that some of the gold stocks in my portfolio -- big names, major miners -- are up over 200% during the last three months alone. And that's come with a relatively small move in the gold price. If this market really starts to move, then the gains for the stocks are going to be truly spectacular. I'd urge investors not to wait until it's front-page news to start looking here. [More from StreetAuthority.com: A Potential 24% Gain In Two Months...] Editor's Note: I hope you enjoyed the first part of this exclusive interview. Stay tuned for tomorrow's StreetAuthority article, where we'll feature the second half of Brad and Dave's conversation, including Dave's specific thoughts on gold, oil and more (as well as names and ticker symbols of some favorites). In the meantime, we've made arrangements with our publisher to extend a special offer to StreetAuthority readers who want to get in on the next great commodities boom -- before the crowd catches on. Right now, we're offering a one-year subscription to Scarcity & Real Wealth for only $99. We normally charge $399 for this newsletter -- so it's a great deal if you want to give Dave's newsletter an absolutely risk-free trial. Along with your $300 savings, you'll also receive two free research reports. These special reports reveal exclusive insider information designed to help you prosper from the coming "gold boom" and more. If you'd like to take advantage of this limited time offer, simply follow this link (without having to watch a lengthy sales video). Related Articles From Road & Track Thanks to financial difficulty, the German Grand Prix hasn't been held at the Nurburgring since 2013, but that could change in the next couple of years. Russian billionaire Viktor Kharitonin, who bought a majority share of the 'Ring in 2014, reportedly increased his ownership to 99 percent and is aiming to host F1 at the track in 2017. The German Grand Prix was cancelled last year, and will be held at the Hockenheimring this year. Citing an article from Forbes Russia, Autocar reports that Kharitonin increased his ownership share of the Nurburging from 80 percent to 99 percent within the past week. Much of that money is said to be spent on safety improvements following a crash at a March 2015 race where a spectator was killed. The track imposed speed limits at certain sections after the crash, though it just removed those limits last month. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone cancelled the German GP last year over the Nurburgring's financial issues, but new ownership promises greater financial stability. Kharitonin is said to have extended an olive branch to Ecclestone in an effort to hold an F1 race at the track in 2017. (Reuters) - Global health officials are racing to better understand the Zika virus behind a major outbreak that began in Brazil last year and has spread to many countries in the Americas. The following are some questions and answers about the virus and current outbreak: How do people become infected? Zika is transmitted to people through the bite of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same type that spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Aedes mosquitoes are found in all countries in the Americas except Canada and continental Chile, and the virus will likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are found. How do you treat Zika? There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika infection. Companies and scientists are racing to develop a safe and effective vaccine for Zika, but the World Health Organization (WHO) had said it would take at least 18 months to start large-scale clinical trials of potential preventative shots. How dangerous is it? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that infection with the Zika virus in pregnant women is a cause of the birth defect microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities in babies. The CDC said now that the causal relationship has been established, several important questions must still be answered with studies that could take years. According to the World Health Organization, there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly in babies, a condition defined by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems. In addition, the agency said it could cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can result in paralysis. Conclusive proof of the damage caused by Zika may take months or years. Brazil has confirmed 1,198 cases of microcephaly, and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 3,710 suspected cases of microcephaly. Colombia has confirmed two cases of microcephaly linked to Zika. Brazil registered 91,387 likely cases of the Zika virus from February until April 2. Current research in Brazil indicates the greatest microcephaly risk is associated with infection during the first trimester of pregnancy, but health officials have warned an impact could be seen in later weeks. Recent studies have shown evidence of Zika in amniotic fluid, placenta and fetal brain tissue. What are the symptoms of Zika infection? People infected with Zika may have a mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain and fatigue that can last for two to seven days. But as many as 80 percent of people infected never develop symptoms. The symptoms are similar to those of dengue or chikungunya, which are transmitted by the same type of mosquito. How can Zika be contained? Efforts to control the spread of the virus focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites and taking precautions against mosquito bites such as using insect repellent and mosquito nets. U.S. and international health officials have advised pregnant women to avoid travel to Latin American and Caribbean countries where they may be exposed to Zika. Cases of sexual transmission have also been reported, prompting health officials to advise use of condoms, or abstaining from sex, to prevent infection between partners. How widespread is the outbreak? Active Zika outbreaks have been reported in at least 43 countries or territories, most of them in the Americas, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Brazil has been the country most affected. (http://1.usa.gov/1ovAJyh) Africa (1): Cape Verde Americas (35): Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela Oceania/Pacific Islands (7): American Samoa, Fiji, Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Samoa, and Tonga. What is the history of the Zika virus? The Zika virus is found in tropical locales with large mosquito populations. Outbreaks of Zika have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Southern Asia and the Western Pacific. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys and was first identified in people in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania, according to the WHO. Can Zika be transmitted through sexual contact? The World Health Organization (WHO) said sexual transmission is "relatively common" and has advised pregnant women not to travel to areas with ongoing outbreaks of Zika virus. The U.S. CDC is investigating about a dozen cases of possible sexual transmission. All cases involve possible transmission of the virus from men to their sex partners. The WHO has also identified Zika cases in Argentina, Chile, France, Italy and New Zealand as likely caused by sexual transmission. British health officials reported Zika was found in a man's semen two months after he was infected, suggesting the virus may linger in semen long after infection symptoms fade. The PAHO said Zika can be transmitted through blood, but this is an infrequent transmission mechanism. There is no evidence Zika can be transmitted to babies through breast milk. What other complications are associated with Zika? Zika has also been associated with other neurological disorders, including serious brain and spinal cord infections. The long-term health consequences of Zika infection are unclear. Other uncertainties surround the incubation period of the virus and how Zika interacts with other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, such as dengue. (Compiled by the Americas Desk) Although the use of financial planners is growing, most Americans still tend to take a do-it-yourself approach to building a portfolio and saving for retirement. Forty percent of respondents in a 2015 survey by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards say they utilized financial advisors, an increase from 28 percent in 2010. And while most people are handling their own finances, there are distinct advantages to hiring a professional. A financial advisor can give investors the discipline to resist investing or divesting reactively, says Angela Coleman, fiduciary investment advisor at Unified Trust Co., headquartered in Kentucky. "We take the emotion out of it," Coleman says. [Read: Lessons from 7 Women Who Broke Wall Street's Glass Ceiling.] With the Internet, the world is awash with financial advice, and professional financial advisors can act as a filter, says Andrew Barnett, relationship director at Global Financial Private Capital in Sarasota, Florida. Financial advisors are a good option for helping clients assess their risk tolerance and then build a portfolio that actually meets what they want, says Drew Horter, founder and president of Horter Investment Management in Cincinnati. He says many people who want to be conservative with their money actually have portfolios that are riskier than they'd like. Kimberly Foss, founder and president of Empyrion Wealth Management and author of "Wealthy by Design: A 5-Step Plan for Financial Security," recommends interviewing two or three advisors and having one to two meetings with each because this is a relationship that will last "hopefully for the rest of your life," she says. There are hundreds of thousands of personal financial advisors in America -- 249,400 in 2014 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics -- so how should retail investors pick an advisor, whether they are independent or work with a large brokerage, a regional bank or an insurance company? Story continues Consider the fiduciary standard. Barnett advises people to seek advisors who are fiduciaries, which means they are legally responsible to put the clients' best interest in mind before their own. Non-fiduciary advisors are required only to sell clients what they think is suitable for them. "Dealing with a fiduciary, I think, is critical," Coleman says. The Department of Labor recently approved a new rule that would require all financial professionals who offer investment advice for retirement accounts to follow the fiduciary standard. But while that rule covers investments in IRAs and 401(k)s, it doesn't impact advisors who are recommending investments for a taxable brokerage account. [See: The 10 Best Ways to Buy Tech Stocks.] Know the pay structure and fees. Coleman recommends that people not pick advisors that are paid solely on commission. An alternative is fee-based advice, where clients are charged a set percentage of assets under management, she says. Clients with fewer assets to manage may want to choose a fee-based advisor that charges by the hour or a flat annual fee, Coleman says. Barnett notes that there are now more products such as annuities or real estate investment trusts available as fee-based products. Opinions vary, but advisor fees could be anywhere from 1 to 2 percent of assets under management. If you have a lot with a financial advisor, that extra percent could be a tidy sum. This fee is separate from other fees, such as those that come with mutual funds that are disclosed in the prospectus, so it's important to ask advisors if they can break down all the costs of investing, which can include trading, custodial, accounting and sales fees, Barnett says. Do your homework. Investors should also check into an advisor's background, Coleman says. Know what certifications the advisor holds, and ask advisors for a list of current clients as references. If an advisor won't provide references, that is a sign of a problem, she says. [Read: 5 Facts to Know About Your 401(k).] In addition to references, investors should ask for an advisor's performance track record, Foss says. Because a client may have a financial advisor for decades, it's important to find someone they like and trust. Sometimes that can be accomplished by getting to know the advisor, Coleman says, "Find someone you've got a good rapport with." Matt Whittaker is a journalist specializing in natural resources coverage whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Barron's and other international publications. He has reported from the Americas, Europe and Asia. Follow him on Twitter @mattswhittaker. A group of cops in Missouri had to call 911 on themselves after they became stuck in an elevator on Wednesday. Read: Cops Finally Catch Big Foot... Sort Of Firefighters swiftly responded to the scene and rescued their fellow civil servants -- but not without pausing to snap a photo first. The Kansas City Missouri Police Department posted the image to Facebook showing its 12 tactical team officers stuck in the elevator, adding: Well, that was embarrassing. The elevator stopped working after the cops exceeded the weight limit, and it took Kansas Citys bravest 20 minutes to rescue the citys finest. Read: Talented Sanitation Worker Plays Piano Left in the Trash The police came out unscathed. The only injuries they sustained were to their egos. One of firefighters, Tony Pisciotta, clearly enjoyed the situation. "It was my pleasure to give my best cheese face for the boys in blue," he wrote on Facebook. "I love how some of the guys ducked their heads to prevent being noticed, and others Well, went with it. The Kansas City Police Department said it appreciates the help from the firefighters. Watch: Royal Family Photographer Reveals How He Made Prince George Giggle Related Articles: What it is: 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic Sedan Price Range: starting at $50,800 but the model we drove was fully loaded and came in at $69,125 Competitors: BMW 340i, Audi S4 Alternatives: Lexus IS F-Sport, Cadillac ATS Pros: Drool-worthy good looks, fantastic suspension, enough power to enjoy, all-wheel drive and enough room for two adults to sit comfortably in the back seat. Cons: All the best bells and whistles cost a pretty penny. Would I Buy It With My Own Money: Yep, where do I sign? A better question would be would I ever drive it on the Tail of the Dragon again. What a difference a (model) year makes. Just one model year after the Mercedes-Benz C400 made it to U.S. shores, it is being replaced. As of 2016 Mercedes-Benz will instead offer the more souped-up version of its gorgeous C-Class in the form of the C450 AMG 4Matic and it is just the right flavor for my tasteeven when driven in traffic on the Disneyland of best roads in America, the Tail of the Dragon. You know how you get to some new city and Yelp up a place for the best pizza with the hope that it will meet all of your earthly desires for the perfect pizza? Then, maybe you get there, chow down, pay up, and thinkWTF? Meet the Tail of the Dragon in all its disappointing, frustrating glory. With 318 curves in just over 11 miles its populated with turgid, blue-haired hog-riders rolling along at 20 miles per hour, ignoring the enormous line of traffic queued up behind them as they tick a box off their bucket list. Driving it in a fast car is equivalent to trying to hoon around in Monday morning commute bumper-to-bumper traffic. But driving it in the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic makes all that infuriating frustration dissolve. First, theres the engine. While it isnt hand-built like its faster C63 AMG brother, the C450 AMG 4Matic puts out ample power and torque in a more affordable package. It starts with the same 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine from the C400 but it gets an extra 30+ hp in the AMG Sport tune, bringing it in at 362 hp and 348 lb. ft. of torque. Thats still considerably less than the monster 503 hp of the C63 AMG S that I drove in Portugal earlier this year, but it leaves ample headroom to push the car hard. Combine that engine with the AMG 7-speed Speedshift automatic transmission with paddle-shift and Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel drive and youve got a fantastic sedan. Story continues Then theres the ride. The C450 AMG gets a magnetic suspension that is C63-derivedand it is spot on. Four different settings, including Individual, Sport+, Sport, and Comfort control ride and steering feel in the car. In Sport and Sport+ you get direct steering and a stiffer ride. In Comfort you get more play in the steering and a softer body feel. Individual is by far my favorite setting, however. Once I got off the Dragon and onto some not-to-be-named side roads (just use Google maps), and set the Dynamic Select to Comfort suspension, Sport steering, and Sport+ handling and engine/transmission management, the fun began. On downshift you get that wonderfully audible AMG blip and rattle. You can chose to let the transmission do the work for you, or push a button on the center console and put it into manual-shift mode where you have total control over gearing by using the paddles attached to the steering wheel. By the way, that annoying habit of shifting before redline that other manufacturers have, isnt a problem in the Mercedes C450 AMG. In manual mode, you can drive the car all day long in second gear if you wanted to (though really, we wouldnt recommend it). Torque split is rear-biased (33:67) making the C450 AMG a blast in the corners without making it unwieldy. The suspension easily absorbs the bumps on some of the rough, barely populated two-laners in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Mercedes says that the C450 AMG does 0-60 in 4.8 seconds and as a result, it gets an upgraded braking system that hauls the 3,700-lb. car to a stop in short order. The C450 AMG doesnt just get upgraded power, transmission, and suspension partsinterior and exterior cues abound, as well. While you can opt for more traditional Mercedes styling with subtle interiors in the form of open pore wood and monochrome seats you can also opt for my preferencethe AMG red seatbelts, AMG seats with contrast stitching, and a carbon fiber dash. Exterior touches also make the C450 AMG stand out and include a black diamond grille, a series of chromed accouterments like dual exhaust tips, AMG badging on the front fender, and more aggressive wheel designs. Under the hood you get the AMG red engine cover as well. Combine all this with Mercedes optional comfort and technology packages, including the best-in-the-business Intelligent drive system thats so good the car nearly drives itself, and youve struck gold. Then, why, you may ask, would Mercedes retire the really solid C400 for a slightly more powerful C450 AMG? The simple answer is that Mercedes sees an opportunity to entice more people into an AMG-flavored carparticularly the much sought after Millenials. As it turns out, AMG models are incredibly popular on the used marketyoung people in particular are snapping them up at a surprising (to Mercedes, anyway) rate. You have the base models, and you have the AMG models, General Manager of Product, Bart Herring, said. The current AMG cars were a bit out of reach in terms of budget for a lot of people. There is a clear position in between the top of the line AMG and the base Mercedes. There is room for a performance oriented car in a different price class as a way to keep people in the brand. To this end Mercedes created the AMG Sport linean AMG-light version of some of its cars (and SUVs). Some of the power, the handling and the suspension bits that all have been backed by years of development in Stuttgart are now offered at a more affordable price. That is, if more affordable still includes cars that cost well into the mid-$50,000 range. The C450 AMG Sport is only the third model to get the AMG Sport treatment, behind the GLE450 AMG and the GLE450 AMG Coupe that we drove recently. Mercedes-Benz is taking their AMG push so far as to create AMG pop-up stores in their physical dealerships across the country. CEO Steve Cannon said he wants them to be like Porsche franchises inside a Mercedes-Benz store, and plans to have at least ten up and running by the end of the year. We are reaching a point in the AMG trajectory where we need to take a different approach. We want to create a space where customers can go in and get under the skin of AMG, pull it apart and see where the $15,000 to $20,000 difference comes from, Cannon said. Mercedes isnt worried that the AMG Sport versions may dilute the sporty reputation of the full AMG brand, and after driving the C450 AMG, theres no reason they should be. While the Tail of the Dragon should be permanently stricken from any list of the Best Driving Roads in America, the C450 AMG makes driving any road, whether in traffic or not, thoroughly enjoyable. The Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG is on sale now. *All photos except the last are by Abigail Bassett. The last is courtesy of Mercedes Benz. It has been nine months since Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, both, 14, set out from Florida's Jupiter Inlet on a boating excursion and never returned. The months following the boys' July disappearance have seen intense searches, haunting discoveries, legal battles and two families' efforts to move forward. Here is everything we know about the situation involving the still-missing Tequesta teenagers: The Tragic Day Florida Teens Lost at Sea: Everything We Know So Far| Death, Personal Tragedy, Real People Stories Perry and Austin, longtime friends from South Florida, set out on their last boating trip on July 24. They were both last seen buying fuel for their 19-ft., single-engine fishing boat near Jupiter before taking off. The boys went missing during a burst of bad weather. Their boat apparently capsized nearly 70 miles of the coast of the Ponce de Leion Inlet. Perry and Austin remain missing. The discovery of the boat but not the teens left many worried and wondering about the boys' well being. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Gabe Somma said then that officials were "concerned" and planned to search "around the clock 24/7," NBC News reported. Intense Search Efforts Florida Teens Lost at Sea: Everything We Know So Far| Death, Personal Tragedy, Real People Stories A massive search for the boys from Florida to North Carolina ensued, with U.S. Coast Guard Spokesman Petty Officer Mark Barney telling PEOPLE then that the search had spanned tens of thousands of miles. "We are going to find them today. We are going to bring them home," Austin's mother told the South Florida Sun Sentinel then. The Coast Guard called its search for the boys a week after the disappearance. The families followed suit, calling off their private search last August. The families relied on volunteers, donations, boats and search dogs after the Coast Guard suspended its efforts. A spokesperson for the families told the Palm Beach Post then that continuing the search was "not practical." "Today, our hope becomes our prayer that one day Perry and Austin will be returned to us," the families of the teens said in a joint statement according to the Post. Moving Forward By the end of the year, the Stephanos family founded the AustinBlu Foundation, a nonprofit organization set up in the wake of the boys' disappearance. The family is now working to prevent boating accidents and fatalities by raising awareness, education and making tools and technology available. "I can't say that I feel strong every day. It comes in waves," Austin's father Blu Stephanos previously told PEOPLE. "But it gives me hope that something positive is going to come out of this, that we'll be able to protect someone else from ever having to feel the way I feel or be where he is." The family also met with state Sen. Joe Negron and state Rep. MaryLynn Magar and came out with two proposed legislative bills: SB 746 and HB 427. The bills would reduce boat registration fees by approximately 25 percent for boaters who purchase and register an emergency position indicator radio beacons or personal locator beacons. Perry's family founded the Perry J. Cohen Foundation in an effort to improve boater safety. Discoveries & Battles Story continues Florida Teens Lost at Sea: Everything We Know So Far| Death, Personal Tragedy, Real People Stories The boat the Tequesta teens set off in that fateful day was found in March, along with an iPhone and other personal items recovered from inside the seacraft. The boat and the items on board were turned over to the Florida branch of the Fish and Wildlife Commission, according to a statement posted to the Perry J. Cohen Foundation's Facebook page. Now, the families find themselves at odds over what should be done with the lone iPhone which belonged to Austin found on board the boat. Florida Teens Lost at Sea: Everything We Know So Far| Death, Personal Tragedy, Real People Stories While Perry's family is lobbying to keep the cell phone in the hands of law enforcement until it can be conclusively examined, the Stephanos family in agreement with authorities wants the items recovered from the boat returned to families. Earlier this month, Pamela Cohen, Perry's mother, filed a lawsuit with the Palm Beach County Court with the FWC and Austin's father named as defendants. Snapchats & Foul Play Florida Teens Lost at Sea: Everything We Know So Far| Death, Personal Tragedy, Real People Stories Before packing the boys' boat into a shipping container to send to Florida, those who spotted the floating seacraft took photos of the vessel, some of which showed the boat's battery switch and ignition key in the "off" position. Perry's family attorney, Guy Rubin, said the switch was likely disabled intentionally by either one of the boys or a third party because the location of the battery switch makes it near-impossible for the boys to reach in high-pressure situations like a storm. The lawsuit filed by Perry's mother also notes suspicions of foul play. "Plaintiff will continue to suffer irreparable harm if the iPhone is not properly handled as material evidence in a possible maritime crime or homicide," the complaint reads. Florida Teens Lost at Sea: Everything We Know So Far| Death, Personal Tragedy, Real People Stories Earlier this week, the FWC released 128 pages of social media reports, cell phone tower records, interview notes and FBI emails that shed light on the boys' day out at sea. Several friends reported receiving a Snapchat post from the boys with the words, "We're f'd," as the weather grew worse. The final known communication between Austin and his parents was a morning text message of the words, "What's up I'm checking in I'm just out here fishing." The reports detail Snapchats sent and Instagram posts uploaded by the boys throughout the day. Analysts Expect a Strong 1Q16 Earnings Report for Ford (Continued from Prior Part) Fords relation with innovation Ford Motor Company (F) is the oldest mainstream automaker in the US. Starting with the development of the Model T and the moving assembly line, the company is well-known for its efforts to lead the auto industry in manufacturing affordable mass-targeted vehicles. Currently, the rising demand for electric vehicles (or EVs) is grabbing the attention of mainstream automakers. In this part of the series, well take a look at Fords plans to invest in electric vehicle development. It will be interesting to discover whether Ford is ready to challenge the Tesla Model 3 (TSLA) and the Chevrolet Bolt (GM) in its upcoming earnings announcement. EV segment developments Recently, US electric vehicle maker Tesla unveiled its Model 3, its first mass-targeted vehicle. Tesla seems to be able to grab the attention of the auto industry by successfully demonstrating the growth potential of the EV segment. Tesla is likely to begin the deliveries of its Model 3 toward the end of fiscal 2017. Meanwhile, General Motors (GM) also jumped in with its upcoming mass-targeted EV Chevrolet Bolt. However, GMs decision to launch the Bolt looks to have been made in a hurry. First, both the electric cars are likely to have the nearly similar driving range and pricing. Second, GMs officials have suggested making the Chevrolet Bolt available in the market ahead of the Tesla Model 3. Fords plans in EV segment Currently, Fords electric vehicle segment presence is limited. The company produced its first full production electric vehicle, Ford Focus Electric, in late 2011. Nevertheless, Ford plans to invest $4.5 billion in electric vehicle solutions by 2020 looks quite impressive. In addition, Ford has already announced its plan to launch 13 new electric vehicles by 2020. Therefore, it wouldnt be a big surprise if Ford announces any of its new mass-targeted EV models during its upcoming earnings releases in 2016. Story continues Of course, developing an EV is not the only task that an automaker needs to undertake. To make an EV successful its also crucial for the companies to develop and maintain EV-related infrastructure, including charging stations. Going forward, it will be interesting to see whether Ford can challenge Teslas Model 3 and the Chevrolet Bolt. Investors should watch out for announcements and references regarding Fords plans to go big on electric vehicles. Among other automakers (XLY), Honda (HMC) also has expressed its intentions to expand its presence in the EV segment. Continue to the next article to take a look at Fords valuation multiples ahead of its 1Q16 earnings. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: By Elke Ahlswede DETMOLD, Germany (Reuters) - A 94-year-old former Auschwitz guard on trial in Germany apologized in court to victims on Friday, telling them he regretted being part of a "criminal organization" that had killed so many people and caused such suffering. "I'm ashamed that I knowingly let injustice happen and did nothing to oppose it", said Reinhold Hanning, a former Nazi SS officer, seated in a wheelchair in the court in Detmold. Hanning is charged with being an accessory to the murder of at least 170,000 people. Holocaust survivors, who detailed their horrific experiences at the trial which opened in February, have pleaded with the accused to break his silence in what could be one of the last Holocaust court cases in Germany. Hanning finally broke the silence he kept over the course of 12 hearings, each limited to two hours due to his old age. Reading in a firm voice from a paper he took out of his gray suit pocket, he said: "I want to tell you that I deeply regret having been part of a criminal organization that is responsible for the death of many innocent people, for the destruction of countless families, for misery, torment and suffering on the side of the victims and their relatives". "I have remained silent for a long time, I have remained silent all of my life," he added. Just before, his lawyer, Johannes Salmen, had given a detailed account of the defendant's view of his life and particularly his time in Auschwitz. In this 22-page long declaration, Hanning admitted having known about mass murder in the death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. "I've tried to repress this period for my whole life. Auschwitz was a nightmare, I wish I had never been there," the lawyer cited Hanning as saying. The accused was sent there after being wounded in battle and his request to rejoin his comrades on the front had been rejected twice, he said. "I accept his apology but I can't forgive him," said Leon Schwarzbaum, a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor and co-plaintiff. She said Hanning should have recounted everything that happened in Auschwitz and "what he took part in". Although Hanning is not charged with having been directly involved in any killings at the camp, prosecutors accuse him of facilitating the slaughter in his capacity as a guard at the camp where 1.2 million people, most of them Jews, were killed. A precedent for such charges was set in 2011, when death camp guard Ivan Demjanjuk was convicted. Accused by the prosecutor's office in Dortmund as well as by 40 joint plaintiffs from Hungary, Israel, Canada, Britain, the United States and Germany, Hanning is said to have joined the SS forces voluntarily at the age of 18 in 1940. Hanning on Friday said however that his stepmother, a member of the Nazi-party, urged him to join. A verdict is expected on May 27. Germany is holding what are likely to be its last trials linked to the Holocaust, in which more than six million people, mostly Jews, were killed by the Nazis. In addition to Hanning, one other man and one woman in their 90s are accused of being accessories to the murder of hundreds of thousands of people at Auschwitz. A third man who was a member of the Nazi SS guard team at Auschwitz died at the age of 93 this month, days before his trial was due to start. (Writing by Elke Ahlswede and Joseph Nasr; Editing by Angus MacSwan) COLOMBIA - - Colombia on Thursday prepared nine former circus lions for a long trip to South Africa where they will live out their days in a wildlife sanctuary. Workers from Animal Defenders International (ADI) adjusted cages in the early morning hours as they readied the lions for the first leg of the journey to Bogota from the north-central department of Santander. On Friday, an MD11F cargo aircraft will travel to Bogota to pick up the animals. It will then fly to Lima, Peru to collect another 24 lions before heading to Johannesburg, South Africa. The animals will be taken to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa where ADI officials said they will enjoy natural enclosures with drinking pools, platforms and toys. ADI worker Yani Mateus said the lions would be moved from one cage to another in Bogota. "The idea is that the lion will come out of the cage and go into the transport cage. The cages were designed to allow this easily and we hope that everything goes well," she said. According to reports, the lions had previously worked in circuses where they suffered from harsh training methods and food shortages. Over the next few months, animal specialists will monitor the lions' adaptation. Since 2015, the use of wild animals in Colombian circuses has been illegal. The lions are just the latest of a number of wild animals rescued and relocated by ADI in the South American country. Taking the long view is one of those easier-said-than-done propositions, right? For instance, while you might think that the economy has pretty much recovered from the Great Recession of 2008, one prominent financier thinks the problems that caused that big meltdown have been papered over and will come back to hurt us again. And then theres the little issue of Chinas economy surpassing ours soon. John Thornton, the former president of Goldman Sachs (GS), who likes to take the long view, says hes feeling uneasy about the global economy right now and thinks were living on borrowed time. After the events of 2008, really since then, the central banks either collectively or individually have tried to implement policies which would, in effect, buy time for individual governments to take the actions they should take to put their houses in order, Thornton says. By and large, the governments have not done that. So I feel as though we're sitting in 2016 with many of the same problems that we've had for the last eight or 10 years, they haven't been addressed very forcefully, we're living on borrowed time. And sooner or later, that ends in tears. I'm generally, sort of, uneasy with where things are. And I think by and large, if things don't make common sense, sooner or later, they come home to roost, he says. Thornton made these comments speaking at a reception for his son, J.R. Thorntons new book Beautiful Country, hosted at Yahoo in New York City on April 21. After leaving Goldman in 2003, Thornton followed a number of paths. He went to China to become professor and director of the Global Leadership Program at Tsinghua University in Beijingone of Chinas most prestigious universities. Hes also the chairman of Barrick Gold (ABX), which has had a tough go of it lately as the price of gold has swooned, and where Thornton has been under fire for the pay package hes received from the Canadian company. And Thornton is the chairman of the Brookings Institution, and has also served on the boards of Ford, Intel, HSBC and News Corp. Story continues Tapping into his China knowledge, I asked Thornton how the Chinese perceived U.S. politics and Donald Trump. He responded by saying he always thinks of China, not surprisingly, with a very long-term view. Since Nixon, policies haven't changed whole lot, he says. So the extent that he [an elected Donald Trump] takes a so-called tougher lineI don't think fazes the Chinese. But who would the Chinese prefer to be elected? A Democrat or a Republican? Conventional wisdom is the Chinese tend to like Republicans more than Democrats, because with Republicans, they know where they stand even if it's a harder line. I think by and large, that's probably true. [And] the degrees of freedom of a president in policy are not as dramatic as the verbiage would have you believe. I was curious as to what Thornton thought U.S. business leaders and political leaders could do to improve relations with China. Until the United Statesand I'm talking here about national leaders particularly, political leadersuntil they see and treat the Chinese as peers, until that occurs, the relationship will always be, by definition, imbalanced, he says. When the Chinese hear things expressions like 'global standards,' that is code language for American standards wrapped in a global package. And the Chinese want to have a seat at the table, as a peer. China is the rising power and the U.S., by definition, is the relatively declining power, says Thornton. He notes that this is a tough role for the United States because our "central animating myth is that we're an exceptional country, different than anyone else. And I think it's hard to get our mind around the idea that there may be another country that might not only be our equal, but in economic terms, will surpass the U.S. during our lifetime. And who knows what the long-term implications are of that? Frequent fliers have spoken and voted Marriott, Southwest and Air France/KLM among the best travel brands for their loyalty programs at this year's edition of the Freddie Awards. Winners of the awards were announced out of Las Vegas Thursday and are based on the results of three million ballots that are cast annually. For the 26th edition, Air France/KLM and Le Club Accorhotels emerged as the big winners, taking home five Freddie Awards each for Europe and Africa. Awards are divided by regions -- Americas; Europe and Africa; and Middle East, Asia and Oceania. This year, Southwest broke American Airlines' four-year winning streak, taking the award for Program of the Year for the Americas. Marriott took the title of loyalty program of the year for the ninth consecutive year. The awards are named after Sir Freddie Laker, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978 for his contribution to commercial aviation and the British economy. Laker's long list of accomplishments includes the founding of Britain's first all-jet air carrier Laker Airways Ltd. in 1966, which eventually became the largest individually and privately owned airline in the world. He is also credited with founding the world's first no-frills transatlantic service dubbed "Skytrain," which flew between London and New York in the late 1970s. Here is the full list of winners: AMERICAS Airlines Program of the Year: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Best Elite Program: American Airlines AAdvantage Best Promotion: Avianca LifeMiles Best Customer Service: Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Best Redemption Ability: Avianca LifeMiles 210 AWARD: Avianca LifeMiles Hotels Program of the Year: Marriott Hotels Marriott Rewards Best Elite Program: Hyatt Gold Passport Best Promotion: MGM M life Best Customer Service: Marriott Hotels Marriott Rewards Best Redemption Ability: Marriott Hotels Marriott Rewards 210 AWARD: MGM M life EUROPE & AFRICA Airlines Program of the Year: Air France/KLM Flying Blue Best Elite Program: Lufthansa Miles & More Best Promotion: Air France/KLM Flying Blue Best Customer Service: Air France/KLM Flying Blue Best Redemption Ability: Air France/KLM Flying Blue 210 AWARD (which honors an up-and-coming program among smaller operators): Norwegian Air Norwegian Reward Story continues Hotels Program of the Year: Accor Hotels Le Club Accorhotels Best Elite Program: Starwood Starwood Preferred Guest Best Promotion: Accor Hotels Le Club Accorhotels Best Customer Service: Accor Hotels Le Club Accorhotels Best Redemption Ability: IHG IHG Rewards Club 210 AWARD: IHG IHG Rewards Club MIDDLE EAST & OCEANIA Airlines Program of the Year: Virgin Australia Velocity Best Elite Program: El Al Matmid Club Best Promotion: El Al Matmid Club Best Customer Service: Virgin Australia Velocity Best Redemption Ability: Virgin Australia Velocity 210 AWARD: Jet Airways JetPrivilege Hotel Program of the Year: Accor Hotels Le Club Accorhotels Best Elite Program: Hyatt Gold Passport Best Promotion: Accor Hotels Le Club Accorhotels Best Customer Service: IHG IHG Rewards Club Best Redemption Ability: IHG IHG Rewards Club 210 AWARD: ITC Hotels Club ITC (CHARLESTON) A friend of the white man accused of fatally shooting nine black parishioners in Charleston last year pleaded guilty Friday to lying to federal authorities during their investigation. He also revealed that the suspect told him he planned to kill himself after the slayings, which he had planned for months. The plea by Joey Meek, 21, marked the first conviction in a mass killing that stunned the country, reignited discussions about race relations and led to the removal of a Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina Statehouse. Dylann Roof, who is charged with the slayings, had previously posed for photos with a rebel flag. Meek signed a deal with prosecutors under which he agreed to plead guilty to lying to authorities and failure to report a crime. He could face up to eight years in prison when hes sentenced later, although prosecutors say they will argue he deserves less time if hes helpful in their ongoing case. Meek admitted to key points of the governments case against him, saying Roof had told him he had planned for more than six months to shoot people at a black church in Charleston on a Wednesday night during Bible study. Meek also said Roof told him he had a gun and a fanny pack to carry extra ammunition, and that he intended to start a race war with the killings. Berlin (AFP) - Germany's federal and local governments reached agreement on Friday with public sector workers on a pay rise, settling a dispute that grounded hundreds of flights during a warning strike two days earlier, sources said. More than two million workers are to receive a pay increase of 4.75 percent over two years, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said after a third round of talks with Germany's biggest services sector union, Verdi. In a statement Verdi said the increase would be paid in two stages, with a first increment of 2.4 percent in March 2016 to be followed by another 2.35 percent in February 2017. The union, which had initially demanded a six-per-cent pay rise, hailed the result as "a compromise that clearly increases salaries, boosts purchasing power and helps make the public sector more attractive" to workers. On Wednesday, walkouts by Verdi members forced the cancellation of more than 1,200 flights in and out of the country's main airports, with flag carrier Lufthansa among the hardest hit. The union had also recently organised work stoppages in hospitals, town halls and child care centres. On Friday, the labour unrest spread to the automobile sector, with around 110,000 people taking part in strikes organised by the powerful IG Metall union aimed at pressing the wage demands of 3.4 million metal sector workers across the country. IG Metall is demanding a pay rise of five percent for its members. After a decade of enforced wage moderation, German workers have begun receiving more generous pay increases. The pay rises are helping drive domestic demand, which has taken over from exports as the main driver of Europe's largest economy, BERLIN (Reuters) - Italy must fulfill its obligations in the migrant crisis, including the registration and accommodation of new arrivals, a German government spokesman said on Friday when asked about tensions between Rome and Vienna over border controls. "The federal government has for months and months stood by it stance that we need collective and lasting solutions. This means that everybody fulfills his obligations," Steffen Seibert said at a government news conference. "And this naturally means in this specific case that Italy fulfills its obligations, for example registering the migrants and accommodating them appropriately," Seibert said. Austria has said it might reintroduce border controls at the Brenner pass with Italy to keep migrants out and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said the plan to build a fence there were "shamelessly against European rules". (Reporting by Michelle Martin; Editing by Joseph Nasr) Highlights of the SDP rally on Friday (29 April). (Video by Jeremy Ho) Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan pledged to run a town council that would take good care of Bukit Batok, even as his compatriots reminded residents of why a by-election was taking place in the ward. The veteran politician also made several jibes directed at his Peoples Action Party (PAP) opponent Murali Pillais desire to be a part-time Member of Parliament (MP), accusing the latter of a lack of heart. Speaking at the SDPs first election rally of the campaign on Friday (29 April), Chee elaborated on the partys plans to run the estate, pointing out that a four-man team had already been formed to take over the single-member constituencys (SMC) town council. Our goal is to run a transparent, competent and accountable town council. If we fail, you will be able to hold us accountable and kick us out at the next election, he said. Alluding to former MP David Ongs $24 million upgrading master plan that was proposed during the 2015 General Election (GE2015), Chee said: I will follow up on these plans and make sure that the projects come into fruition and completion, and residents in this town can look forward to a new hawker centre, eldercare and childcare centres. Speaking in a mixture of Mandarin, Hokkien and English, Chee argued that his pledge to be a full-time MP meant that he would be easily available to residents. If you make me your MP, when you have a problem, you can just look for me in Bukit Batok. If Murali is your MP, you have to take the MRT to Shelton Way - and hope the train doesnt break down, said Chee, referring to Muralis day job as a lawyer. SDP chief Chee Soon Juan. (Photo: Joseph Nair) Sadasivam Veriyah, who ran in Bukit Batok during GE2015, also spoke at the rally. He mocked Ong, who had disappeared from the political scene within six months of the election. Ong resigned from office last month, amid allegations of an extramarital affair, which triggered the by-election. Story continues Sadasivam accused the government of wasting public money by calling for a by-election. Please ask the PAP, why must they cheat you? he asked. His fellow party member Damanhuri Abbas said that the ruling partys attempt to entice voters with a $1.9 million package for the ward had failed, adding: In this instance, they were caught like David Ong - with their pants down. Chee meeting SDP supporters after the rally. (Photo: Joseph Nair) Chee was careful to emphasise that he thought of Murali and Ong as good men, but added that the former would be no different from the other 81 PAP MPs if elected. An MP must be able to raise your concerns and hardships in Parliament and bring (them) to the governments attention, and press it to act on your concerns. Hand on heart, how many of you think that Mr Murali will be able to do this better than I can in Parliament? he asked the crowd. The rally took place at the field opposite Bukit Batok Industrial Park A and was attended by around a thousand people. Missed the action? You can catch both parties rallies in their entirety here. Pictures of the SDP rally can also be seen here. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett yells Finance Insider is Business Insider's midday summary of the top stories of the past 24 hours. To sign up, scroll to the bottom of this page and click "Get updates in your inbox," or click here. Is this the top? In a note to clients on Friday, UBS strategist Julian Emanuel suggests that a few signs pointing to the "endgame" for stocks are coming into view. Valeant finally published its annual 10-K report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday morning, and announced five nominees for election to its board. The takeaway from the 10-K and the recent Senate hearing is that everyone now wants to know more about the programs that Valeant Pharmaceuticals uses to help people buy its drugs. On Wall Street, Goldman Sachs just made another big change to its trading business, and JPMorgan promoted 120 bankers to managing director. Elsewhere, the real identities of the men behind 'Tyler Durden' and Zero Hedge have been revealed, China's housing bubble is starting to look a lot like the US in 2006, and Wall Street is ecstatic about Amazon's blowout quarter Lastly, Berkshire Hathaway will hosts its annual general meeting on Saturday. It turns out that CEO Warren Buffett would rather not have small-time shareholders buying a slice of his company. Here are the top Wall Street headlines at midday: Amazon shares are soaring, and Jeff Bezos is a whole lot richer - Amazon shares jumped by as much as 10% in early trading Friday after the company reported its largest-ever quarterly profit. Rovi is buying TiVo for $1.1 billion - Rovi is buying TiVo for $10.70 a share in cash, or about $1.1 billion. Jim Bianco thinks negative interest rates could cause an 'accident' in global markets - Bianco is ill at ease with the state of global financial markets. WALL STREET PAYDAY: Banks could make up to $340 million from Takeover Thursday - Thursday was a huge day for deal makers especially those at smaller independent advisory shops. Story continues Carl Icahn is done with Apple - Icahn on Thursday told CNBC's Scott Wapner that he has exited his Apple position. Billionaire investor Chris Sacca told an amazing story about how obsessed Kobe Bryant is with being a successful investor in the start-up world - Kobe Bryant is currently an untested rookie when it comes to entrepreneurship, but his obsessive competitiveness certainly suggests that he could be in for a prolific career. More From Business Insider TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - Scotiabank is donating USD$20,000 to the Red Cross of Uruguay to assist with the rescue and relief efforts in the country, following widespread flooding and tornados. "The flooding in Uruguay has had a tremendous impact on the people of Uruguay, including our employees and customers," said Diego Masola, SVP & Country Head, Scotiabank in Uruguay. "As the country works to rebuild, we are committed to showing our support to customers, employees and communities affected by the severe weather conditions." Scotiabank is the only private bank in Uruguay with a presence in all 19 departments with 38 branches, more than 1,665 employees and 157 ABMs across the country. Scotiabank thanks the Red Cross of Uruguay and everyone assisting with the rescue and relief efforts during this difficult time. About Scotiabank Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 23 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 89,000 employees and assets of $920 billion (as at January 31, 2016), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS.TO) and New York Exchanges (BNS.TO). Scotiabank distributes the Bank's media releases using Marketwired. For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews. * Google likely to face first EU sanction in 2016 -sources * Google and European Commision unlikely to settle -sources * EU antitrust chief so far shows little interest in deal * Antitrust experts say Google may gain by dragging out case By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, April 29 - Google is likely to face its first European Union antitrust sanction this year, with little prospect of it settling a test case with the bloc's regulator over its shopping service, people familiar with the matter said. There are few incentives left for either party to reach a deal in a six-year dispute that could set a precedent for Google searches for hotels, flights and other services and tests regulators' ability to ensure diversity on the Web. Alphabet Inc's Google, which was hit by a second EU antitrust charge this month for using its dominant Android mobile operating system to squeeze out rivals, shows little sign of backing down after years of wrangling with European authorities. Several people familiar with the matter told Reuters that after three failed compromise attempts since 2010, Google has no plan to try to settle allegations that its Web search results favour its own shopping service, unless the EU watchdog changes its stance. Such a change of heart appears unlikely, with European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager -- a Dane whose team is leading the Google investigation -- showing little interest in reaching a settlement where there is no finding of wrongdoing or a fine against the company, other people said. Underpinning Vestager's tough approach, and the Commission's case, are scores of complaints from companies, big and small, on both sides of the Atlantic. MICROSOFT'S SHADOW For Google, which has denied any wrongdoing, the stakes are high. Some rivals are convinced that any fine is effectively a cost of doing business and it has more to gain in profit from its existing business model than conceding to complaints. Google and the European Commission both declined to comment. Story continues "From a pure profitability perspective, it is better off dragging out the competition case, continuing its practices for as long as possible, and ultimately paying a fine that will be smaller than the profits it generates by continuing the conduct," Thomas Vinje, a lawyer who advises several of Google's competitors, told Reuters. However, some sources said they see last week's low-key pact with arch-rival Microsoft to withdraw all regulatory complaints against each other as a signal that Google might in time choose to strike a deal with Brussels. By doing so it would avoid a repeat of Microsoft's damaging fight with the European Commission and by settling at least its dispute with the EU over Internet shopping might also head off possible actions by other regulators. To date, Google has a mixed record in taking on regulators globally, winning some battles and losing others. However, Microsoft offers a salutary lesson to those who want to take on the Commission, Ioannis Kokkoris, a law professor at Queen Mary University of London, said. Microsoft ended up with fines of more than 2.2 billion euros ($2.5 billion) after a decade-long battle with the Commission. "You are entering a long battle, an expensive battle. And if you go to court, the outcome would not necessarily be better," Kokkoris said. ($1 = 0.8810 euros) (Editing by Alexander Smith) Picking sides! Greys Anatomy's Thursday, April 28, episode was a teeny bit reminiscent of an installment of Survivor, with Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) locking down their alliances in advance of their impending custody battle. PHOTOS: Best TV Couples of All Time Caught With Their Pants Down Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Maggie (Kelly McCreary), with the Shepherd kids in tow, were about to head to the hospital to start their day when they found Owen (Kevin McKidd) and Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) on the couch asleep and without clothes. Naturally, Meredith had fun teasing her sister-in-law about Owens junk." Presumably, Grey Sloan's head of general surgery and viewers alike may remember similar instances involving Owen and Cristina (Sandra Oh). PHOTOS: TV's Most Shocking Deaths Were Not a Thing Wilmer Valderrama was back as musician Kyle Diaz, and there seemed to be trouble in paradise, with "paradise" referring to his current tour. He had developed another hand tremor, and it was looking like Amelia would have to perform brain surgery on him again. Amelia told Stephanie (Jerrika Hinton) she wouldn't be responsible for the operation, despite the surgical resident having "only slept with him twice." Love Is a Battlefield, in an Operating Room Meanwhile, in the land of the dueling Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Ben (Jason George), they were in the OR, and he was working as an anesthesiologist. During surgery, Bailey told the room a story about their son, Tuck, being too short to ride a roller coaster, and Ben wanting to let him ride anyway. This basically was a fun disguise for them to rehash their argument about following rules. Yes, feel free to use an operating room as your living room or as a therapy session! Classic Greys. PHOTOS: Celebrity Kids Just Like Us! Maggie later told Ben that "she has all the power" a.k.a. your wife is right, youre getting the punishment you deserve, stop with the backtalk. Story continues You Said Everything Was Fine! Arizona was about to start an ultrasound on April (Sarah Drew) as Jackson (Jesse Williams) accompanied her (yay! Japril!). The pediatric surgeon decided that since she had the the pair there, why not use the time to ask them to side with her in her custody battle? Just then, in walked Callie's girlfriend Penny (Samantha Sloyan), announcing shes on Arizona's service. Awkward. Arizona changed the subject back to the couple's baby, and it seemed there could be more bad news. Arizona studied the monitor, and after some hesitation, revealed there could be a problem with the babys brain. Later in the cafeteria, Penny spoke about the ultrasound to Arizona, who replied, Just back off, clearly dumping her anger toward Callie onto an unsuspecting Penny. Look, Penny isnt anyones favorite, but this situation has Us actually feeling a little sorry for her but only a little. As a huge relief to Us, Arizona found out that Baby Japril was OK and informed the parents-to-be, Its definitely nothing. But while everyone was ready to celebrate, Arizona added that she couldnt be Aprils doctor anymore: If Im gonna be your doctor, then I cant be your friend. And I wanna be your friend. Arizona then handed a list of OBs to the surprised trauma surgeon. Ouch. PHOTOS: Celebrity Health Scares Just when we were thinking Stephanie and Kyle's situation was starting to look like an old-school Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) thing, we found out that Kyles surgery went well. Andrew (Giacomo Gianniotti) passed the news along to Stephanie, who was in the waiting room as a loved one. Stephanie then dramatically slipped a note to a sleeping Kyle, which we discovered was a Sex and the City-style Post-it. Yep, she dumped him! On paper! As she later explained to Jo (Camilla Luddington), I chose me. This girl didnt want to be the one who sits in waiting rooms she belongs in the operating room! Poor Kyle, but we're sure the handsome rocker will find a way to manage without her. There was so much juiciness in this episode, but we also can't neglect the subplot surrounding an adorable older, closeted man hiding his love for his doorman from his wife of 50 years. The doorman was played by Robert Pine, veteran actor (and father to Chris!). Meanwhile, Callie got Meredith and Owen to side with her on the custody issue, as Meredith quickly said, "Absolutely." Callies encounter with Alex (Justin Chambers) wasnt as simple. She poured her heart out to him, only to hear him say, I like you both. Later, Arizona got a heartfelt pep talk from Richard. She cried to him, and he told her, If you want your daughter, youre gonna have to fight like youve never fought before. Yikes! Looks like were in for a juicy court battle next week. Tell Us: Were Arizona and Callie wrong to put their friends in the middle of their problems? And which of them would you side with? Grey's Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET. Hard to believe it's already been five years! April 29 marks the fifth wedding anniversary for Kate Middleton and Prince William. On this date in 2011, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had their widely publicized royal wedding at Westminster Abbey in London as the world watched. The fashion-forward Middleton wore a now-iconic Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen long-sleeve lace wedding gown as her proud hubby donned his official red uniform. (And who could forget Pippa Middleton's stunning display as maid of honor and Prince Harry's adorable role as Best Man?!) Getty Images RELATED: Prince William Talks Having a 'Normal Family' With Kate Middleton Five years and two adorable children later the couple have made a lot of memories with their family and in their royal duties. They attended the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, which London hosted, cheering on their country's athletes from the stands. Getty Images In July 2013 they welcomed their first-born son, Prince George, stepping out of the hospital to greet their subjects and present the little boy to the world. Almost two years later in May 2015, Princess Charlotte joined the family to the delight of Royalists everywhere. Prior to the little girl's arrival the couple brought a young George with them on the Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand, where he stole hearts all over the world, playing in his mom's arms and greeting animals at the zoo. Getty Images "I take my duties and my responsibilities to my family very seriously," Prince William said in a recent interview with BBC. "I want to bring my children up as good people if I can't give my time to my children as well, I worry about their future." Even without their kids, William and Kate have enjoyed themselves, trying out magic wands at the Harry Potter studios with Prince Harry in 2013 and most recently going on the Royal Tour of India and Bhutan. Getty Images MORE: Prince George Meets President Obama in His PJs They also recently hosted President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama on their visit to England, where a pajama-clad Prince George greeted the president. Story continues Getty Images After all their recent public events, Kate and William are having a private anniversary, but on Friday the Kensington Palace Twitter account posted several throwback videos and photos from their special wedding day. Getty Images To see how William and Kate honored the late Princess Diana, watch the video below! Related Articles (Recasts to add names) By William Schomberg and Guy Faulconbridge LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - More than 100 executives from Britain's financial services industry, including hedge fund managers Crispin Odey and Paul Marshall, have signed a letter backing Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, the main Brexit campaign group said on Friday. In a letter released by the Vote Leave group ahead of a June 23 referendum, the City bosses said getting out of the EU would help strengthen London's position as the only financial capital to rival New York. The investors said that while membership had been good for Britain and London since 1973, it no longer made sense as the EU had failed to support innovation and was now tied to a euro zone which many signatories feared was doomed. "There is scant evidence that the EU will foster or support the kind of innovation which is essential if Europeans are to compete with the rest of the world," the signatories said. "The EU is now shackled to the euro, a project doing damage to the social and economic fabric of member countries, including high youth unemployment. Many of us worry that the eurozone's problems may prove insurmountable." The list of signatories included Odey, a founding partner at Odey Asset Management, Marshall, chairman of Marshall Wace, Peter Hargreaves, a founder of investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown and Michael Geoghegan, a former CEO of bank HSBC. Other signatories included Dominic Burke, group CEO at Jardine Lloyd Thompson, Peter Cruddas, chief executive at CMC Markets, and Luke Johnson, founder of Risk Capital Partners. All 100 names were not supplied by Vote Leave. The message that London would prosper after a British exit contrasts with a host of warnings over recent months from U.S. investment banks, the Bank of England, the City of London Corporation and pro-EU British ministers that an exit would undermine London. "LONDON CAN THRIVE" Many financiers say a British exit would sap London of its wealth, hammer sterling, undermine the world's fifth largest economy and prompt some traders to move their business to other financial centres such as New York and Singapore. Story continues But the signatories of the Vote Leave letter said continued EU membership was now a threat to London's prosperity. "We worry that the EU's approach to regulation now poses a genuine threat to our financial services industry and to the competitiveness of the City of London," the letter said. "Assuming good political leadership and an effective regulatory environment, we believe that the City is most likely to strengthen its lead as the world's largest international financial centre, and continue to make a major contribution to the UK economy and employment, outside the EU but with continued access to its capital markets," the letter said. Since British exchange controls were scrapped in 1979, London has thrived as a centre for everything from foreign exchange and bonds to derivatives and fund management, making it the largest net exporter of financial services in the world. "Far from the picture of doom and gloom painted by the Government, it is clear that the City of London would not only retain its pre-eminence as the world's most important financial centre, but would also thrive after freeing herself from the EU's regulatory shackles," said Vote Leave boss Matthew Elliott. (Writing by William Schomberg; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Toby Chopra) Police received an astonishing 46 calls from Princes Paisley Park compound in Minnesota over the past five years. The long list includes calls about suspicious activity, disturbing the peace, property damage and the alarm going off apparently due to trespassers. Read: How Prince Met Beautiful Women and Made Them Into Stars Three of the calls were for unspecified medical emergencies. The last call prior to his death that was classified as medical was made on October 23, 2013. Only four of the calls resulted in actual incident reports. Among them was the April 21 call made by an employee who said an unresponsive adult male had been found in the elevator. Authorities arrived to find Princes body. "They tried to provide lifesaving CPR, but were unable to revive the victim. He was pronounced deceased at 1007 hours," the report read. Investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose, and whether he used drugs in the weeks before he was found dead inside his home, age 57. Read: Newly Surfaced Video Shows Prince Playing 'SNL' Afterparty As IE spoke to Leolah Brown this week, she responded to comparisons between Princes death and that of her sister-in-law, Whitney Houston. I'm gonna say one thing, she said. We gotta be careful who we surround ourselves with. Be careful who you allow in your circle. Be careful who you allow in your life. Watch: Who Could Inherit Prince's Millions? Related Articles: For a man whose films tackle the darkness of humanity, Ben Wheatley has a reputation as one of the nicest directors around. Actors constantly praise his kindness and some of the biggest names in the business are lining up to work with him. Thats a hearty endorsement, considering what he puts his cast through in High-Rise, his adaptation of the 1975 J.G. Ballard novel set in an apartment building that descends into chaos and anarchy. High-Rise features Tom Hiddleston, Luke Evans and Jeremy Irons amongst its tenants, and manages to be both a brutal and beautiful work of art. Though made on a relatively modest budget of under $20 million, its a considerable leap in scale for Wheatley, whose previous films like Kill List and Down Terrace were made for well under $1 million. It is currently available on demand before hitting U.S. theaters on May 13. The film opens with a pretty brutal scene involving a dog; has that earned you a lot of outrage? Not as much as I thought I would. Even in the U.K., which is internationally famous as a place for dog lovers, there hasnt been much. We thought it would be massively controversial. Not that we were courting it, we didnt put it in on purpose. It was in the book. Isnt it strange how people are okay with violence towards humans, but not animals? Youre used to that. if youd never seen a film before and you saw a human die, youd be much more empathetic. But its part of drama that humans get mangled in all different ways; its become abstract. Its different with animals. I mean, I used to cry at Lassie. High Rise is not only set in the 1970s, it looks like a film made then. Not that its aping a particular film, but it has the feel of a movie of that era. Laurie Rose, the DP, and I talked a lot about the choice to shoot on film or digitally and whether to ape more 70s styles or not. We realized in the end we didnt want to get too far away from the filmmaking grammar wed set in our previous films. We used mostly available light and it was lit in 360 so we could move around as much as we liked. We shot digitally because we are guys who owe our whole careers to digital filmmaking. We didnt feel the advantages film gives you visually outweighs the advantages of being able to shoot as fast as we can think. Story continues Theres a scene that feels like it could have come out of a Dario Argento movie, a really beautiful mirrored shot. And that was all done practically. We built a lens that was basically a triangular mirrored thing that was in a tube that had a crank handle. And we shot it on that. Its always better if you can do it practically. I dont know where we would have even started to make that in CG. The film also has a very real feel to it; it has humor, but the violence isnt cartoon or stylized. Thats what I like about cinema is seeing those gear changes in and out of things; there are elements that are slick and then suddenly its raw. It comes out of liking Paul Verhoeven and David Cronenberg and (Martin) Scorsese movies. In Taxi Driver, youre not always sure of the tone, which is like life. And youre not told how youre supposed to react. The way you react is how you find out things about yourself. Do you ever worry about losing your audience? I dont know what losing your audience is. Theres walkouts, but what kind of an idiot walks out of a film? I dont think Ive ever walked out of a movie. Ive always made the movies for me and that sounds arrogant, but I understand theres an audience thats like me and I play to that audience. My gamble is that its big enough to support the film. I know there were walkouts at its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Did that concern you? It can be bruising on the day, but its fine. I get worried that one day youll make a film nobody will go and see. But at least people are passionate about it. You have a reputation as being a really nice guy, and yet you make very dark movies that require a lot of your cast. The actual making of a movie is complicated and stressful and part of my job is creating an atmosphere that makes them feel they want to take risks and that they cant do anything wrong. When you get that right, you get these incredible performances out of people and you dont have to do any work. A lot of my work is hopefully done in casting. How did you go about casting this ensemble? Tom was cast first. Id seen Tom in Avengers and I knew who all these other actors were, but I dont know who this guy was and he was so brilliant. That film should be called Loki, theyre really just supporting characters in the story of this disaffected madman trying to please his father. The rest of them were people I really wanted to work with, like James Purefoy, who Ive been a big fan of or people Ive worked with before. Elisabeth Moss agent let us know she was interested and I never would have thought of her for this, but once I did, she was perfect. And I knew she could do accents because of Top of the Lake. Was she the only American in the cast? Yes, and its ballsy for her to sit in the middle of a massive U.K. cast and pull off this great British accent. But she did it. When you get an accent right, its impressive. I remember seeing The Wire and looking up Idris Elba and learning he wasnt American and just going What the f! What was the biggest challenge of making the movie? Having that level of cast was complicated. And having loads of children around a swimming pool is not much fun and makes me scared. But it was a shoot with little incident in terms of off-screen drama. Everyone was so sweet. One actor, his first day, was lying in blood and he basically realized he was going to be covered it in for the whole shoot. But he never complained. Would you be interested in ever making a big-budget studio feature? Yeah, Im a comics fan, I have been since I was a kid. Its all fine as long as you go into it with your eyes open, knowing what its going to be. Theres two ways of looking at it; one is you are a director for hire for a studio thing and you go in and do it. The other is kind of what Matthew Vaughn has done; you originate the material and are part of the production team that sets up the financing for it and youre involved from the start. That looks like a great way of working. What comics would you be interested in adapting? Im a big 2000 AD fan and Ive thought about those characters. A lot of my favorite stuff has been done, Im a massive Watchmen fan and a big Dark Knight fan. I guess Elektra: Assassin would be good, that hasnt been mined yet. Or Ronin. But I keep hearing that people are making Ronin. Hes quite bonkers that would make a good TV series. You have Free Fire coming out this year. Then whats up next? Im writing the Wages of Fear remake. Its terrifying because its been done twice before, brilliantly. But thats also why its interesting to me. Were making one of the central characters a woman, as well. Its trying to make those set pieces strong enough to match up to the other movies. My hot take is Im going to add more trucks. Related stories 'The Night Manager': Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston Put New Spin on Cunning Spy Tale Tom Hiddleston Soars With a Busy Career, Smart Fan Base and Daring Choices TV Review: 'The Night Manager' Well, here's a beautiful way to head into the weekend! Hilary Duff graciously took to Twitter on Thursday and flaunted her fabulous figure in a colorful bikini while also revealing a new gig on behalf of a very worthy cause. PIC: Hilary Duff Shows Off Smokin' Bikini Bod "Hiiii! I'm partnering with @Aerie to share #AerieREAL swim pics & raise $ for NEDA!! #aeriepartner," the 28-year-old actress wrote. The National Eating Disorders Association [NEDA] is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing awareness and education about eating disorders and negative body image. NEDA has partnered with Aerie in support of furthering body positivity in the media. PIC: Hilary Duff Flaunts Major Cleavage The yummy mummy of one joins an enviable list of gorgeous personalities, such as Emma Roberts and Iskra Lawrence, who once modeled for AerieREAL's body-positive ad campaign. MORE: Emma Roberts' 'Top Secret Project Revealed' The "Younger" star has become a paragon of toned abs, fit thighs and healthy living for her fans and fellow moms recently. From vacationing on the beaches of Hawaii to sharing sultry selfies, Duff continues to prove that she's all grown up and hotter than ever. Related Articles Australian actress Sarah Snook is set to narrate over heavily censored footage in an Aussie documentary, The Opposition, that will have its world premiere at the Hot Docs festival in Toronto on May 3. Festival organizers on Friday told The Hollywood Reporter that the screen at the Bell Lightbox theater in Toronto will go dark, except for scrolling text and Snook's voice work. The heavy redaction of The Opposition follows the film being slapped with an Australian court injunction sought by former Papua New Guinea politician Carol Kidu. Snook will narrate the words of Kidu, who plays a major role in the film directed by Hollie Fifer and produced by indie Media Stockade. Kidu's image and dialogue will be removed from the film until the Australian court case is settled, including during additional Hot Docs screenings on May 5 and 7. "We look forward to showcasing the redacted version of The Opposition and to the important conversation it will spark about the challenges documentary makers face," Hot Docs programming director Shane Smith said Friday in a statement. Kidu was granted the emergency injunction motion to stop parts of the film that show her from being screened at Hot Docs. The Opposition portrays a David-and-Goliath battle over a squatter settlement that must make way for a hotel and marina development in Papua New Guinea. "The court action seeking to injunct The Opposition raises serious issues of freedom of speech," the film's producer Rebecca Barry said in her own statement. "There are powerful forces who don't want this film to be seen, but we believe that audiences should have the right to make up their own minds," she added. The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, which got underway Thursday night, continues through May 8 in Toronto. Read More: 'League of Exotique Dancers' to Open Hot Docs Festival A slew of housing data reports in the last week painted a hazy picture of the overall national market. But one clear message emerges from the fog: The West is showing some cracks. Pending home sales increased for the second straight month in March nationwide. That followed a disappointing new-home sales report on Monday and a mixed report last week on existing-homes sales, which increased in March but failed to reverse a huge drop in February. Home values across the nation continued to rise, but the pace of increases moderated in February. But industry insiders caution about reading too much into the recent unevenness. Chris Christopher, director of U.S. macro and global economics at IHS Global Insight, hasnt changed his forecast for housing this year. And Jim Gaines, chief economist at the real estate center at Texas A&M University, noted that the year-over-year numbers remain positive. Related: 14 States With the Hottest Housing Markets On a month-to-month basis, theres more volatility and you can get too concerned, says Gaines. But there are some markets that are down. Hes talking about the West, which was the only region to experience a drop in pending sales last month. Thats not all. New-home sales there plummeted 23.6 percent versus the previous month. The Midwest recorded a double-digit gain and the South a 5 percent increase, while sales in the Northeast were steady. Sales of previously owned homes in the West did rise in March but clocked in a lower level than a year ago. Demand is starting to weaken in some areas, particularly in the West, Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, said in a statement. As a result, pending sales in the region have now declined in four of the last five months and are lower than one year ago for the third month in a row. Looking closer, Californias pending sales fell year-over-year in March for the third straight month, with the volume down in all major regions of the state. Pending sales in the Puget Sound area of Washington dropped about 4.5 percent in March year over year. Story continues Related: Heres What People Will Give Up to Find an Affordable Home "We're experiencing gridlock," said J. Lennox Scott, CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate in Seattle, in a statement. Its not exactly the lack of homebuyers creating the stalemate. There arent enough people selling their homes, which has pushed prices sky-high. That has made it harder for some buyersincluding move-up onesto find an affordable home. The median home price has risen 38 percent in the last three years in the West, according to the NAR. "Sellers want to find their next home before they list their current home, but because of the severe inventory shortage, it's hard to win in a multiple offer situation," Scott said. "It's a Catch-22 situation. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Nuclear war. Climate change. Pandemics that kill tens of millions. These are the most viable threats to globally organized civilization. Theyre the stuff of nightmares and blockbustersbut unlike sea monsters or zombie viruses, theyre real, part of the calculus that political leaders consider everyday. And according to a new report from the U.K.-based Global Challenges Foundation, theyre much more likely than we might think. In its annual report on global catastrophic risk, the nonprofit debuted a startling statistic: Across the span of their lives, the average American is more than five times likelier to die during a human-extinction event than in a car crash. Partly thats because the average person will probably not die in an automobile accident. Every year, one in 9,395 people die in a crash; that translates to about a 0.01 percent chance per year. But that chance compounds over the course of a lifetime. At life-long scales, one in 120 Americans die in an accident. Recommended: A DNA Sequencer in Every Pocket The risk of human extinction due to climate changeor an accidental nuclear waris much higher than that. The Stern Review, the U.K. governments premier report on the economics of climate change, estimated a 0.1 percent risk of human extinction every year. That may sound low, but it also adds up when extrapolated to century-scale. The Global Challenges Foundation estimates a 9.5 percent chance of human extinction within the next hundred years. And that number probably underestimates the risk of dying in any global cataclysm. The Stern Review, whose math suggests the 9.5-percent number, only calculated the danger of species-wide extinction. The Global Challenges Foundations report is concerned with all events that would wipe out more than 10 percent of Earths human population. We dont expect any of the events that we describe to happen in any 10-year period. They mightbut, on balance, they probably wont, Sebastian Farquhar, the director of the Global Priorities Project, told me. But theres lots of events that we think are unlikely that we still prepare for. Story continues For instance, most people demand working airbags in their cars and they strap in their seat-belts whenever they go for a drive, he said. We may know that the risk of an accident on any individual car ride is low, but we still believe that it makes sense to reduce possible harm. So what kind of human-level extinction events are these? The report holds catastrophic climate change and nuclear war far above the rest, and for good reason. On the latter front, it cites multiple occasions when the world stood on the brink of atomic annihilation. While most of these occurred during the Cold War, another took place during the 1990s, the most peaceful decade in recent memory: In 1995, Russian systems mistook a Norwegian weather rocket for a potential nuclear attack. Russian President Boris Yeltsin retrieved launch codes and had the nuclear suitcase open in front of him. Thankfully, Russian leaders decided the incident was a false alarm. Climate change also poses its own risks. As Ive written about before, serious veterans of climate science now suggest that global warming will spawn continent-sized superstorms by the end of the century. Farquhar said that even more conservative estimates can be alarming: UN-approved climate models estimate that the risk of six to ten degrees Celsius of warming exceeds 3 percent, even if the world tamps down carbon emissions at a fast pace. On a more plausible emissions scenario, were looking at a 10-percent risk, Farquhar said. Few climate adaption scenarios account for swings in global temperature this enormous. Recommended: Why So Many Smart People Arent Happy Other risks wont stem from technological hubris. Any year, theres always some chance of a super-volcano erupting or an asteroid careening into the planet. Both would of course devastate the areas around ground zerobut they would also kick up dust into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and sending global temperatures plunging. (Most climate scientists agree that the same phenomenon would follow any major nuclear exchange.) Yet natural pandemics may pose the most serious risks of all. In fact, in the past two millennia, the only two events that experts can certify as global catastrophes of this scale were plagues. The Black Death of the 1340s felled more than 10 percent of the world population. Eight centuries prior, another epidemic of the Yersinia pestis bacteriumthe Great Plague of Justinian in 541 and 542killed between 25 and 33 million people, or between 13 and 17 percent of the global population at that time. No event approached these totals in the 20th century. The twin wars did not come close: About 1 percent of the global population perished in the Great War, about 3 percent in World War II. Only the Spanish flu epidemic of the late 1910s, which killed between 2.5 and 5 percent of the worlds people, approached the medieval plagues. Farquhar said theres some evidence that the First World War and Spanish influenza were the same catastrophic global eventbut even then, the death toll only came to about 6 percent of humanity. Recommended: The Secret Shame of Middle-Class Americans Living Paycheck to Paycheck The report briefly explores other possible risks: a genetically engineered pandemic, geo-engineering gone awry, an all-seeing artificial intelligence. Unlike nuclear war or global warming, though, the report clarifies that these remain mostly notional threats, even as it cautions: [N]early all of the most threatening global catastrophic risks were unforeseeable a few decades before they became apparent. Forty years before the discovery of the nuclear bomb, few could have predicted that nuclear weapons would come to be one of the leading global catastrophic risks. Immediately after the Second World War, few could have known that catastrophic climate change, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence would come to pose such a significant threat. So whats the societal version of an airbag and seatbelt? Farquhar conceded that many existential risks were best handled by policies catered to the specific issue, like reducing stockpiles of warheads or cutting greenhouse-gas emissions. But civilization could generally increase its resilience if it developed technology to rapidly accelerate food production. If technical society had the power to ramp-up less sunlight-dependent food sources, especially, there would be a lower chance that a particulate winter [from a volcano or nuclear war] would have catastrophic consequences. He also thought many problems could be helped if democratic institutions had some kind of ombudsman or committee to represent the interests of future generations. (This strikes me as a distinctly European proposalin the United States, the national politics of a representative of future generations would be thrown off by the abortion debate and unborn personhood, I think.) The report was a joint project of the Centre for Effective Altruism in London and the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford. It can be read online. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. By Emma Batha LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Somaliland risks descending into famine amid a severe drought that has killed thousands of livestock, an international aid agency warned on Friday, adding there were reports of some women being set upon by hyenas after collapsing from hunger. "Many people are saying it's the worst drought in memory," said Mary Griffin, spokeswoman for Islamic Relief, who visited the region this month. She said malnourished mothers were unable to breastfeed their babies, and herders were feeding cardboard boxes to their surviving animals because there was no grass left for grazing. Adan Shariff Gabow, Islamic Relief's manager for Puntland, neighboring Somaliland, said there were cases in Somaliland of women attacked by starving hyenas. "They fell down, malnourished, and we understand they were then set on by the animals," he said. The United Nations says 1.7 million people - many of them nomadic - need aid in Somaliland and Puntland, Somalia's two semi-autonomous regions in the north. Griffin said there was a "terrible sense of deja vu" in the Horn of Africa where a 2011 drought in southern Somalia killed more than a quarter of a million people. Aid agencies were criticized then for responding too late to warning signs. Hany El-Banna, chairman of the Muslim Charities Forum, who also visited the region, called on the world not to repeat the same mistakes. "We cannot wait like we did in 2011 when we acted too late," he said. "We need to deal with this today - if we don't this drought will turn into a famine." CLIMATE CHANGE The drought has been caused by successive poor rainy seasons made worse by El Nino conditions in the Horn of Africa. Thousands of goats and cows have perished and even camels - which are more drought-resistant - are dying. Britain's shadow development secretary Diane Abbott, who accompanied aid agencies on the trip, plans to raise the issue in parliament next week. "I spoke to families who had 500 or more animals three months ago, and now are left with 20 or fewer," she said. "For people who rely on their animals for meat, milk and trade, it's the equivalent of losing your entire life savings." The United Nations says malnutrition-related deaths have been reported in Awdal region, bordering Ethiopia, where sprawling makeshift camps have sprung up as people wait for aid to arrive. Griffin who visited a camp at Qol Ujeed, in Awdal, said 1,200 people were living there without a single toilet. Many of their dead animals are buried around the camp. Nimo Mohamed Abdi, a mother of three, described how she had lost all her livestock - more than 180 animals including camels - in three months. "We were living by the coast then and the animals died so quickly, one after another, that we could do nothing with their corpses but throw them into the sea," Griffin quoted her as saying. The United Nations has launched a $105 million appeal. Abbott said conditions that pastoral communities would expect to see every seven to 10 years were becoming an annual occurrence. "With the increasing effects of climate change we need to look at how to build more resilience; more boreholes, dams, ways to collect and store rainwater." (Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, which covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories.) Its as if youve gone back in time. Clouds loom over Icelands prehistoric horizon and the Gulf Stream strikes icebergs like a slap to the face. In the ocean, a single person can be seen bobbing up and down. Thats Ingo Olsen, a first-generation Icelandic surfer who began riding waves as a teen in a borrowed wet suit and plastic-bag-covered wool socks and has mastered the turbulent waters of the fjord-ringed island, where temperatures can drop to 14 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts. This is not Bali, says the 35-year-old founder of Arctic Surfers, which accepts just four people at a time on its local surfing tours. Its not for everyone but when you have to work for it, it makes it all the more worth it. Many of todays surfers want waves, not crowds. And while many Californians, Hawaiians and New Yorkers are all too familiar with the hundreds of wet-suit-clad surfers who cluster like baby turtles on the shores of the West and East coasts, few know about the worlds emerging surf havens. Iceland is fairly new on the scene, and a surge of fascination with what was once considered a fringe sport has triggered interest in other unlikely places, including South Dakota, India, Norway and Russia. That has meant more, surprising options for the estimated 35 million surfing enthusiasts worldwide, a group that has grown 34 percent from 2001 and now contributes to a roughly $6 billion retail sector, according to the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association. Nine-foot wind swells on the Great Lakes have attracted adventurists, while others have tried staying up in the wake of passing barges on the Houston Ship Channel. Located some 4,000 miles from Moscow, the Kamchatka Peninsula was for a long time accessible mainly by small plane, helicopter or four-wheel drive, but its rising popularity with surfers has it being likened to a California beach in summer, minus the crowds. And in another cold-water destination Norway theres also no risk of overcrowding. As local surfer Marion Frantzen explains it, surfing etiquette dictates that only one person surf one wave at a time: It gets very boring if you have to wait your turn. The mother of three, whose children hit the waves at the age of 2, was influenced by her surfing prodigy of a father and experimented as a kid with homemade Styrofoam boogie boards; today, Frantzen manages the Unstad Arctic Surf camp in Norways mountainous Lofoten archipelago. Sometimes its a local enthusiast who starts a small business and inspires interest in a particular place as an emerging surfing hot spot. Other times its a natural phenomenon at play. Despite being hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean, Munich has built a reputation as a mecca for river surfing: The Eisbach river has attracted surfers because of an unusual gravitational force that creates ideal surf waves. Meanwhile, 9-foot wind swells caused by storms on the Great Lakes have attracted adventurists, while others have tried staying up in the wake of passing barges on the Houston Ship Channel in Texas. Technology is increasingly helping enthusiasts pinpoint new places as well. Former pro surfer Nick Romito, who frequents New Yorks Rockaway Beach, says Google Earth has become a valuable tool for hard-core surfers in search of isolated, jagged coastlines where there are good waves. Theres so much unbelievable coastline thats pretty much uninhabited, Romito says. But the unwritten rule of surfing, according to Fernando Aguerre, head of the International Surfing Association, is dont disclose it publicly. Thats the surfers world. Indeed, Aguerre has known some people to have at least 20 secret spots in countries as far removed from surfing as Switzerland. For a long time, one of those exclusive locations included a 24-acre private island in Fiji, where until 2010, only those paying up to $4,000 a day could ride one of the worlds best waves, dubbed Cloudbreak. Rumor had it that surfers had to imbibe a hallucinogen as part of an initiation, though guests now voluntarily sip a kava that may leave them mildly drunk or with a numb tongue, says Wendy Headlee of Waterways Surf Adventures travel agency, which manages listings for the island. Of course, sky-high costs and unpleasant weather could put a damper on some enthusiasts efforts to find new, unchartered waves. But the push to find increasingly peculiar spots continues. As of last year, surfers can now experience the remote, sandy beaches of North Korea. Yes, despite criticism that the country couldnt be more incompatible with surfings laid-back culture, it is very much open to the idea of surfing, says Andrea Lee, CEO and founder of Uri Tours, which handles surf trips to the closed state. Surfers just need to keep in mind, Lee says, that before they can hit the waves, they will be taken to several prominent monuments to pay their respects to Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung as part of official protocol. Related Articles ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A musher who has been charged in a domestic violence case has been banned from next year's Iditarod, race officials announced Friday in Alaska. The Iditarod Trail Committee Board said in a prepared statement that it ''will not accept race applications from Travis Beals in 2017 and for an indefinite period of time thereafter.'' Beals faces misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief charges filed in state court in Palmer for a Dec. 21 incident in Willow, Alaska, a small community about 50 miles north of Anchorage where the annual 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to Nome begins. Charging documents aren't available online, but the Alaska Dispatch News (http://is.gd/l8WLRH) reported that the documents allege Beals ''grabbed (the victim) in a headlock, picking her up off the couch, physically escorted her to the door and pushed her out of the (Willow) cabin (they shared) into the yard, causing (her) to be placed in fear of imminent physical injury.'' Beals, who owns a kennel and dog sled tourism business in Seward, Alaska, didn't immediately return messages or a text Friday to The Associated Press. Beals finished 18th in this year's 1,000-mile Iditarod race across Alaska. In an email to the AP, Beals' public defender, Windy Hannaman, declined to comment since the case is not yet resolved. Beals' case on April 14 was sent to therapeutic court. According to the state court's website, the therapeutic court is an alternative justice model in which participants choose treatment over incarceration and are monitored by a judge, district attorney, defense counsel, probation officer and a substance abuse or mental health provider. The Iditarod statement said the length of Beals' ban on participating beyond 2017 ''will depend in large part on documentation of successful completion of all court-ordered rehabilitation.'' Race officials became aware of the pending court case on Jan. 22. Story continues ''Early on, we felt as though we really needed to allow the legal system to run its course and base any disciplinary decision we might need to make as an organization on the outcome of that court case, and so that's why he was allowed to run this year's race,'' Stan Hooley, the race's chief executive office, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday afternoon. ''But in the end, I think the board wanted to take action that was a little more expedient than that,'' he said. Beals did not attend the Friday board meeting in Anchorage, but Hooley said they called Beals to let him know their decision simultaneous to the public announcement. ''As one might expect, it was hard news to take, but you know, hopefully as part of this process ... both parties are getting the help that they need and hopefully there's a better ending to this story,'' Hooley said. According to his biography on the Iditarod web page, Beals has participated in the race since 2013 and was named the race's most improved musher last year. His 11th-place finish in 2015 was a marked improvement over the identical 37th-place finishes he had in 2013 and 2014. The statement from the board of the world's most famous sled dog race notes that domestic violence is a ''pervasive problem in the State of Alaska and society in general.'' Race officials said they will ''immediately implement a process of reviewing its rules and policies, with the assistance of an advisory committee with the objective of revising those rules for future races to better address this serious societal issue.'' By Shihar Aneez COLOMBO (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday it has reached agreement with the Sri Lankan government for a $1.5 billion (1.02 billion pounds) bailout to help the island nation avert a balance of payments crisis. The three-year loan will require IMF board approval in June, the global lender said, and is subject to Sri Lanka implementing reforms, including streamlining the tax code and reducing a bloated deficit. "The Sri Lankan authorities and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement on a 36-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF)," for a $1.5 billion loan, Todd Schneider, IMF mission chief for Sri Lanka said in a statement. The agreement comes as debt-laden Sri Lanka faces a looming balance-of-payment crisis due to heavy foreign outflows from government securities and high external debt repayments. Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves have fallen by a third from their peak in late 2014 to $6.2 billion at end-March. The government will seek to raise the tax-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, which was 10.8 percent in 2014, to near 15 percent by 2020 through a new Inland Revenue Act, reform of the VAT and the customs code, Schneider said. The loan - the second bailout from the IMF since 2009 - will support the government's ambitious economic reform agenda aimed at fundamental changes to tax policy, reverse a two-decade decline in tax revenues, and put public finances on a sustainable medium-term footing, Schneider said. "Stronger revenue performance will enable smaller fiscal deficits and lower borrowing, reduce the overhang of public debt, and ease pressure on the balance of payments." Sri Lanka's 2015 budget deficit hit 7.4 percent of GDP, up from 5.7 percent in 2014. Schneider said the formal approval of the EFF was "expected to catalyze" an additional $650 million loans, bringing total support to about $2.2 billion. The majority of the $650 million loans will be from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, government officials told Reuters. Story continues "This (agreement) will boost the investor confidence," Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran told Reuters via telephone from Hong Kong. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said Sri Lanka is already well on the way to implementing reforms, including raising value added tax (VAT) by 4 percent, announcing restructuring plan for its loss-making state-run airline, and eliminating tax holidays granted by state-run investment body. Moody's Ratings agency said in a statement the loan will provide external liquidity to ease immediate financing pressures and could reduce Sri Lankas vulnerability to a sudden halt in capital inflows. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) By Ahmad Ghaddar LONDON (Reuters) - An Indian-flagged oil tanker is returning to Libya, the North African country's rival oil corporation said on Thursday, after its failed first attempt to export crude oil led to the ship being blacklisted by the United Nations Security Council. The Distya Ameya tanker is heading to the western Libyan port of Zawiya, said Nagi al-Maghrabi, chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) set up by Libya's rival eastern government in parallel to the Tripoli-based NOC. The Tripoli NOC is recognised internationally as the legitimate seller of Libyan oil. Magrabi told Reuters he would continue to fight for the right of the eastern NOC to export crude, describing the situation as "a legal issue and we will work on it." The Tripoli NOC and its international backers say that if the eastern government succeeds in its long-held aim of selling oil independently, it would undermine a U.N.-backed unity government that arrived in Tripoli last month and put the political and economic future of Libya at risk. The U.N. Security Council Libya sanctions committee blacklisted the Distya Ameya on Wednesday after receiving a request from the Libyan U.N. ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi. This requires states to ban it from entering any port. The ship left Libya's Marsa el-Hariga port late on Monday carrying 650,000 barrels of crude and was currently near Malta. A source close to the situation said the cargo was to be offloaded at Zawiya and processed for use within the country. Deepak Shetty, director general of shipping with India's Ministry of Shipping, said he had told the vessel's operator and the charterer to instruct the captain not to discharge the cargo "at all, anywhere." "They will follow the U.N. guidance which will come to them through us," Shetty said. "They are now staying put ... no oil will be discharged even if the charterer wants them to. They will wait for the U.N. to tell us where the vessel will have to go." Story continues However, the U.N. spokesman's office in New York said the U.N. Libya mission was not involved in the issue at all. Under U.N. Security Council resolutions adopted since 2014 on the illicit export of Libyan oil, it is up to states - not the United Nations - to direct designated vessels "to take appropriate actions to return the crude oil, with the consent of and in coordination with the Government of Libya, to Libya." (Additional reporting by Nidhi Verma in NEW DELHI, Libby George in London, Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau at the UNITED NATIONS and Aidan Lewis, writing by Jonathan Saul and Michelle Nichols, editing by Dale Hudson and Marguerita Choy) Former Indian airline boss Vijay Mallya said he is prepared to settle millions of dollars owed to banks after the collapse of his firm, in an interview published Friday in the Financial Times. "But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before," he told the business daily, which gave a figure of 440 million (565 million euros/$645 million). Mallya, a part-owner of the Force India Formula 1 team who used to run a liquor empire, left India on March 2 owing more than $1 billion, and an Indian court last week issued a warrant for his arrest. India also revoked his passport, after he repeatedly failed to appear before investigators looking into financial irregularities at Kingfisher Airlines, which ceased operating in 2012 leaving millions of dollars in unpaid bills. On Thursday, the foreign ministry said it had asked Britain to deport the 60-year-old. Mallya told the Financial Times he was in "forced exile" but had no plans to leave Britain, adding: "By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money." His massive debt has become a symbol of Indian banks' vast volume of bad loans -- meaning in default or close to it -- seen as a threat to financial stability in Asia's third-largest economy. Critics say the government has not done enough to tackle the issue of wealthy individuals such as Mallya, who obtain huge loans that they later fail to repay. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence endorsed Ted Cruz in the Republican presidential race, but still tipped his hat to Donald Trump. The endorsement comes just days ahead of voting in Indianas crucial Tuesday primary, where some 57 delegates are at stake, a key number if Cruz hopes to prevent Trump from winning the nomination outright. Im not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the Republican primary, Pence told local radio host Greg Garrison Friday. I see Ted Cruz as a principled conservative whos dedicated his career to advocating the Reagan agenda. Pence said he admired Cruz for his willingness to confront the establishment in Washington and that the two share the same valuesthose of Ronald Reagan. But he also said that he would support the Republican nominee, whoever it may be and gave a nod to frontrunner Donald Trump. I particularly want to commend Donald Trump who I think has given voice to the frustration of millions of americans with the lack of progress in Washington D.C. Im grateful for his voice in the debate, Pence said. Cruz faces a must-win situation in Indiana, where he looks at a possible last stand. An alliance between Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, which would have meant Kasich didnt campaign in Indiana in exchange for Cruz pulling out of Oregon and New Mexico, proved fickle after both seem to have fallen back on their earlier promises. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Indiana Governor Mike Pence said on Friday he would vote for Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz in the state's primary next week, calling him a "principled conservative" who represented the ideas of former Republican President Ronald Reagan. In announcing his decision to back Cruz, Pence praised Republican front-runner Donald Trump and said he would work hard to get the eventual Republican nominee elected in November. (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Tim Ahmann) Donald Trump Indiana Gov. Mike Pence opened up his big endorsement of Sen. Ted Cruz by praising Donald Trump at length in a radio interview. He told WIBC in Indianapolis that he "particularly" wanted "to commend Donald Trump, who I think has given voice to the frustration of millions of working Americans." Pence also voiced his pleasure with Trump's focus on Carrier, which has announced controversial plans to move many jobs in its Indiana plant to Mexico. The Indiana governor then announced his endorsement of Cruz. "I really admire the way Ted Cruz has been willing to stand up for taxpayers," he said. The endorsement of Indiana's chief executive was a significant get for Cruz, who is trailing Trump by an average of more than 6 points in the must-win state. Pence did say, though, that he'd work "his heart out" to help any of the three GOP candidates including his neighboring governor, John Kasich of Ohio should they become the GOP nominee this summer. Listen to Pence's endorsement below: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence commends Donald Trump but endorses Ted Cruz https://t.co/y9exGSXSAk https://t.co/2Ju8tgbeg7 CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 29, 2016 Mike Pence: "I really admire the way Ted Cruz has been willing to stand up for taxpayers" https://t.co/y9exGSXSAk https://t.co/FTAad7boiZ CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 29, 2016 NOW WATCH: Christie couldnt contain his enthusiasm after Trump named him as a possible running mate More From Business Insider (Reuters) - Embattled Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya wants a "reasonable" settlement with creditor banks to his defunct airline, he said in an interview in London published by the Financial Times on Friday. Mallya, 60, flew first class from Delhi to London on March 2 at a time when the Indian government and mainly state-controlled banks are trying to recover $1.4 billion owed by his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines Ltd (KING.NS). "We have always been in dialogue with banks saying: 'We wish to settle'. But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before," Mallya told the newspaper in London. "By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money," the newspaper quoted him as saying. http://on.ft.com/1ThQLnt Mallya said he was in "forced exile" and had no plans to leave Britain. The Indian government wrote to its British counterpart on Thursday seeking the deportation of the liquor tycoon and Formula 1 motor racing boss, who is the target of a non-bailable warrant in a money laundering investigation. He denied wrongdoing. "I am absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff like that," Mallya told the Financial Times. An India-based spokesman for Mallya's UB Group said he had no further comment to make when contacted by Reuters. (Writing by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Christopher Cushing) By Eveline Danubrata JAKARTA, April 29 (Reuters) - Indonesian online ride-hailing service Go-Jek is in talks with potential investors to raise fresh funds to expand the business, as the heavy subsidies it gives to drivers to keep rates competitive are unsustainable in the long run, its chief executive said on Friday. Go-Jek, a play on the local word for motorbike taxis, has become popular among commuters on the traffic-clogged streets of Jakarta as its phone app removes much of the hassle of finding a driver and negotiating fares. Go-Jek, which has a network of more than 200,000 motorbike taxi drivers, is battling aggressively with other ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Uber, driving rates lower to gain market share in the country of 250 million people. But Go-Jek cannot afford to continue relying on subsidies as "you end up where you run out of money", Go-Jek founder Nadiem Makarim told Reuters on the sidelines of an e-commerce industry conference in Jakarta. Raising funds from investors to expand the business is part of the solution, the Harvard Business School graduate said, adding that several venture capital and private equity firms have expressed an interest in Go-Jek because of its size and potential. Founded in 2010, Go-Jek has since increased its services to food deliveries, cleaning and even massages. The company, which already operates in big Indonesian cities like Bandung and Surabaya, also plans to broaden its reach and add more drivers. Its ambition, however, has been met with regulatory obstacles and strong resistance from established taxi operators such as PT Blue Bird Tbk and PT Express Transindo Utama Tbk. Taxi drivers' protests turned violent in the Indonesian capital last month, when they called for ride-hailing apps to be banned. Government ministers had also said the tech firms should be subject to the same regulatory and tax requirements as conventional public transportation companies. Yet Go-Jek's Makarim told a packed conference that regulations and demonstrations were not his "biggest headaches". "For me, the number-one challenge is building something to scale," he said. "It's the technology part that I think is the hardest, it's what keeps me up at night." (Editing by Greg Mahlich) Mark Cuban President Mark Cuban? The idea might sound crazy to some, but not to billionaire investor and "Shark Tank" guest Chris Sacca, who not only thinks that it can happen, but will. Sacca was a guest on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" and spent some time discussing his appearances on "Shark Tank" with Cuban. That's when he interrupted one conversation to make his bold prediction. "By the way, can I make a prediction for your audience?" Sacca starts. "I think [Cuban] is going to be president of the United States ... Mark Cuban will be president of the United States." Sacca went on to explain that he thinks Cuban will be elected in 2024 "as a very moderate Republican," after Hillary Clinton serves two terms. He then said why he believes Cuban will be next in line, and it basically comes down to this: Cuban is Donald Trump without all the stuff that people hate. That is, Cuban is a successful businessman who cares and is open-minded (emphasis added): Think about it: Donald Trump, one of things I have learned that has just been wild about my own personal journey and watching Cuban and watching Trump, is that the minute you are labeled a billionaire in this country, everyone takes everything you say as Bible. You can do no wrong. They just think, "Well, that guy is smart. He made a bunch of money. He must be a genius." And it is completely untrue, obviously. You know a lot of billionaires who are wrong about a lot of things. Like, I love Mark Cuban, but I think he happens to be wrong more than he is right, and that's why we've become good friends. But you listen to people who support Donald Trump and you see they just eat at the trough of his bulls---. But they think it is just all inherently true because, look, the guy is a billionaire, he made these businesses. The United States is a country that should be run like a business, so let's hire a really successful businessman to do it. I think Cuban has all that. Watch the engagement he has on Twitter and you'll see, people just take what he says as gospel completely. Story continues [Simmons interjects and asks if Cuban is just a benevolent Donald Trump.] That's exactly right! He's not an idiot and he actually does care and he does read and he is convincible on some things ... I think America loves that guy. I think he's not an idiot. People take him at his word because he's a billionaire. I think he's got crossover appeal. He's the American Dream. I'm putting it out there right now. Mark Cuban will be president of the United States. Presumably, when Sacca calls Cuban "the American Dream," he is referring to how he built his fortune from scratch and was not born into a wealthy family. Cuban has brought up the idea of running for president in the past, saying at one point that he could "crush [Trump], no doubt about it," but later added that he was not going to run for president. Still, he also called running for president "a fun idea to toss around," suggesting that he is open to the idea of doing it at some point in the future. It is still eight years away, but the 2024 election is already starting to sound very interesting. You can listen to the segment here, beginning at the 1:15:00 mark: NOW WATCH: Mark Cuban explains why downloading Snapchat is a huge mistake More From Business Insider The Donald Trump supporter who was left with a bloodied face after a rally in Costa Mesa, California turned violent on Thursday night says he was kicked and beaten. Read: More Than a Dozen Arrested As Protests Turn Violent Outside California Trump Rally Cole Bartiromo told INSIDE EDITION he needed six stitches after the incident outside the Pacific Amphitheater. "Blood was just flooding down my face. It drenched my shirt," he recalled. "I never saw a punch coming, just blood. I went down on the ground, put up my hands on the asphalt, got kicked in the sides and the ribs." More than 31,000 people showed up to the venue to hear the real estate mogul speak. According to Trump, thousands were turned away. Thank you Costa Mesa, California! 31,000 people tonight with thousands turned away. I will be back! #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/4P0tzvZn0e Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 29, 2016 Police said some 20 arrests were made at the demonstration. Officers on horseback, wearing riot gear tried to bring the protesters under control. Read: Them's Fightin' Words! John Boehner Calls Ted Cruz 'Lucifer' And A 'Miserable' SOB Trump supporters found themselves stuck in the melee as they tried to leave the amphitheater. On Friday, protestors broke through police barriers at the GOP state convention near Silicon Valley where Trump was a featured speaker. Trump was forced to get out of his limo and walk up an embankment surrounded by aides and secret service agents. Watch: Amal Clooney: I Am Perplexed By Trump's Popularity Related Articles: Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu addressing an audience during a seminar at the university in the Qatari capital, Doha, on April 28, 2016 (AFP Photo/Mohamed Sherif) Istanbul (AFP) - Turkey's leaders on Friday celebrated the 100th anniversary of a rare victory by the Ottoman army in World War I against British-led forces in today's Iraq, urging modern Turks not to forget the exploits of their Ottoman forefathers. The surrender by a British-led force at the garrison in Kut al-Amara (Kut in modern Iraq) is seen as the last Ottoman victory of the war, which ended in the defeat of the Empire and its German allies. "Turkey is changing. We are remembering again our history that was forgotten," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a major ceremony in Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the event he rejected any view of Turkish history that only began in 1919, the year of the start of the War of Independence that would culminate in the founding of the post-Ottoman Turkish Republic in 1923. "We throw a black blanket over our history which signifies disrespect to our ancestors and wrongs future generations," he said. "We have regulated our official history for years in the way that... the British wanted," he added. Turkey's rulers have been keen to use the 100th anniversary of World War I as a source of national pride, even though the war ended in defeat for the Ottoman Empire and would ultimately lead to its collapse. Last year, the Turkish government placed great emphasis on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli where Ottoman forces resisted a ground invasion by the Allies. - 'Foundation of the Republic' - The ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Erdogan are eager to show the Ottoman Empire, whose Sultan ruled as the caliph of all Muslims, as a source of inspiration for modern Turks. But Davutoglu denied that the celebration of the victory at Kut marked any rejection of the modern Turkish Republic founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923 in the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. "The spirit of Kut al-Amara is the most significant foundation on which our Republic has risen," he said. Story continues "Kut al-Amara is a victory of all of us. Kut al-Amara is the victory of all peoples of the Middle East." Some critics have expressed suspicion at the focus on a handful of Ottoman victories in the war, suggesting Turkey wants to overshadow darker pages such as the mass deportations and massacres of Armenians from 1915 that Yerevan considers genocide. But Erdogan, whose politics mixes political Islam with a growing streak of nationalism, said Turkey was still conscious of how the Ottomans had ruled over Muslim lands from the Balkans to Arabia. "Our physical borders might have been separated. But the borders in our heart have never been separated," he said. The Siege of Kut began in December 1915 when joint British and Indian forces seeking to take Baghdad decided to hold their position in Kut rather than fall back further against advancing Ottoman forces. With their food supplies running low, the Allied troops were besieged by the Ottoman forces for months as British troops sent to relieve them were beaten back in successive battles by the Ottomans. The commander of the British-Indian forces, Charles Townshend, surrendered on April 29, 1916 and thousands of Allied troops who survived were taken prisoner. Townshend however was held captive on a peaceful island off Istanbul, a notoriously luxurious incarceration where he was held as an honoured guest by the Ottomans. Up to his death in 1924, he faced accusations of betraying his troops. Olivier Knox, chief Washington D.C. correspondent for Yahoo News, has been covering U.S. politics for nearly two decades. He's also served on the White House Press Association board since 2013. The Hollywood Reporter checked in with the veteran journalist to get the scoop on what will be President Obama's final White House Correspondents' Dinner, taking place on April 30 at the Washington Hilton. &bullThe dinner, which typically features a "surf-and-turf menu," is completely sold out. Actually, Knox says 900 people have already been turned down. "We're booked up and we've returned those 900 checks," he says, adding that 105 media outlets will be represented. Lucky guests who did make the cut include 18 scholarship winners who will be honored at the event. Read More: Larry Wilmore on Hosting Obama's Farewell Dinner, How Many Trump Jokes Are Too Many &bullIn addition to featuring remarks from Obama, 2016 host Larry Wilmore and WHCA president Carol Lee, the organization honors its mission by presenting academic scholarships to aspiring journalists. (Sidenote: the WHCA's directive is to lobby for greater information, transparency and access to government policy makers, starting with the president.) Also doled out is special trophies for working journalists: the Aldo Beckman Memorial Award for White House coverage; the Merriman Smith Memorial Award for deadline work in print or broadcast; and the Edgar A. Poe Award for coverage of news of national or regional significance. &bullThe Washington Hilton is notable for the good - having the largest ballroom in the nation's capital - and the not-so-great - it's the same hotel where Ronald Reagan was shot on March 30, 1981. Furthermore, Knox explains, the "cell service is frequently intermittent in the giant cavernous ballroom," much to the dismay of social players. "For a lot of Twitter addicts, the dinner can be a difficult few hours," he laughs. Story continues &bullIn addition to a heavy Secret Service presence, security measures include requiring guests to go through magnetometers to gain access to the ballroom. "There's a long line of betuxed and begowned guests emptying their pockets. It's a fairly entertaining scene. Also there are crowds in the lobby - guests of the hotel and random tourists - looking to see if they can pick out celebrities of the Hollywood or D.C. variety. Olivier Knox and wife Jennifer Lewis attend the Yahoo News/ABC News White House Correspondents' dinner reception preparty at the Washington Hilton in D.C. on April 25, 2015. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Yahoo) &bullForget security and celebrities, one of the more buzzed-about topics that is the opposite of hush-hush is decibel level. "One thing you can't really tell by watching is how loud it is in that room," says Knox. "It gets very, very loud - possibly because of all the drinks consumed during the predinner cocktail hours." &bullThe main event may be on a Saturday night, but like any big awards show in Los Angeles, D.C. gets blitzed by a string of high-profile piggy-back events. "What used to be a sleepy office party has grown into a weekend event," says Knox. "There are events and parties as early as Thursday night, then definitely Friday night is a busy night, Saturday features the prereceptions, the dinner and afterparties, and there are brunches on Sunday." &bullSpeaking of afterparties, Knox says the toughest ticket in town is the joint bash thrown by Vanity Fair and Bloomberg. "That's the hardest one and the most packed with celebrities of the Hollywood variety," he says. &bullEven Washington insiders are on the edge of their seats awaiting Obama's final bow. "Considering the performance that he gave last year, with the anger translator, we're all wondering how he will top it," Knox dishes. "As they get closer to the finish line, presidents tend to get looser, more frank and a little more energetic and fired up. I think that will translate to a bravura performance from the president." Read More: Where Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and Other Presidential Candidates Vacation (CHICAGO) Princes final days and unexpected death at age 57 raise questions among experts familiar with prescription painkiller overdoses. Its possible the innovative musicians demise represents one of the most public tragedies in an overdose crisis now gripping America. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday that investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis. The law enforcement official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Whether Prince was addicted to painkillers is uncertain, but some are wondering whether the stigma surrounding addiction may have prevented Prince who built a reputation as a sober superstar from seeking help if he was becoming dependent. DOES PAIN TREATMENT LEAD TO ADDICTION? With good management and no history of addiction, opioids can help people find relief from pain with only a small risk of causing addiction, according to a 2010 systematic review of the available studies. If you do not have a past history of addiction and are in your 40s and getting pain treatment with opioids, your odds of becoming newly addicted are low, said Maia Szalavitz, author of Unbroken Brain, a newly published book about addiction. One study of thousands of ER visits for overdose found that only 13 percent of victims had a chronic pain diagnosis. If Prince had become addicted, Szalavitz said, he may have shunned seeking help. The stigma that is associated with addiction could well have been what killed him, she said. Maybe he was afraid to seek help. Maybe he sought help before and was treated in a disrespectful and unproductive way. WHAT IS NALOXONE? Story continues The overdose antidote naloxone has been saving lives for decades, reversing the effect of opiates since it was first approved in 1971. Hospital emergency rooms and ambulance crews use an injectable generic version to revive people whose breathing has slowed or stopped during a drug overdose. Needle-exchange programs in many cities distribute take-home naloxone kits to active drug users. Many experts consider these giveaways of generic injectable naloxone to be a public health success story that has saved thousands of lives. Newer to the market are brand-name versions of naloxone a nasal spray and a talking auto-injector that gives instructions. The syringe-free products have prompted new efforts to get naloxone kits to fire departments, police, parents, pharmacists and school nurses. One of the naloxone products, Narcan, was used after Princes plane made an emergency stop in Moline, Illinois, on April 15 and he was found unconscious on the plane, the law enforcement official told the AP. The official said the so-called save shot was given when the plane was on the runway in Moline as Prince returned to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta. Narcan is carried by Carver County sheriffs department officers, Sheriff Jim Olson said at a news conference Friday. But he added that the overdose antidote drug was not used by first responders as they tried to revive Prince at his home on April 21. HOW DOES NALOXONE WORK? Naloxone works by reversing the effects of opiates in the brain and at higher doses can immediately trigger withdrawal symptoms like nausea. Some drug users wake up cursing emergency personnel for ruining their high. Dr. Steven Aks, emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist at Stroger Hospital in Chicago, has seen it happen. Aks has revived many patients with a naloxone shot. Too many to count, he said. Its an almost daily occurrence in the Chicago ER. They will come into the emergency department not breathing, with small pupils. Theyre out of it. You cant wake them up. If you give an injection of naloxone, they start breathing better. They will sit up, Aks said. If you give them too much they can go into withdrawal and feel sick. Theyll feel nauseated, start having stomach cramps and pain throughout their muscles. After naloxone, its a good idea to keep a patient under observation for about four hours, Aks said. When naloxone wears off, a patient can stop breathing again from opiates still flooding their system. If you need multiple doses of naloxone (to revive a patient) they should stay overnight, he said. Aks also said more hospitals are educating overdose patients about naloxone and sending them home with kits, so friends and family can be ready with the life-saving antidote. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., Amy Forliti in Minneapolis and Michael Tarm in Chicago contributed to this report. Investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday. By Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iran asked U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday to convince the United States to stop violating state immunity after the top U.S. court ruled that $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be paid to American victims of attacks blamed on Tehran. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote to Ban a week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, calling on the Secretary-General to use his "good offices in order to induce the U.S. Government to adhere to its international obligations." Zarif's appeal comes amid increasing Iranian frustration at what they say is the failure of the United States to keep its promises regarding sanctions relief agreed under an historic nuclear deal struck last year by Tehran and six world powers. In the letter, released by the Iranian U.N. mission, Zarif asked Ban to help secure the release of frozen Iranian assets in U.S. banks and persuade Washington to stop interfering with Iran's international commercial and financial transactions. "The U.S Executive branch illegally freezes Iranian national assets; the U.S Legislative branch legislates to pave the ground for their illicit seizures; and the U.S Judicial branch issues rulings to confiscate Iranian assets without any base in law or fact," Zarif said. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's top adviser Ali Akbar Velayati was quoted by Iranian state media as saying that "Iran will never abandon its right and will take any necessary action to stop such an international theft." "This money belongs to Iran," he said. Ban's spokesman and the U.S. mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter or the accusations made against the United States. Zarif told Ban he wanted to "alert you and through you the U.N. general membership about the catastrophic implications of the U.S. blatant disrespect for state immunity, which will cause systematic erosion of this fundamental principle." The U.S. Supreme Court found that the U.S. Congress did not usurp the authority of American courts by passing a 2012 law stating that Iran's frozen funds should go toward satisfying a $2.65 billion judgment won by the U.S. families against Iran in U.S. federal court in 2007. "It is in fact the United States that must pay long overdue reparations to the Iranian people for its persistent hostile policies," Zarif wrote, citing incidents including the shooting of an Iranian civil airliner in 1988. Last week Zarif met several times with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in New York to discuss Iranian problems accessing international financial markets. Tehran has called on the United States to do more to remove obstacles to the banking sector so that businesses feel comfortable investing in Iran without fear of penalties. Some hardline lawmakers have called on the government of President Hassan Rouhani to consider the ruling a violation of the nuclear deal reached with the United States and other major powers in 2015. (Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Ankara) Tehran (AFP) - Voting was extended Friday in second round elections for almost a quarter of the seats in Iran's parliament, a crucial showdown between reformists and conservatives seeking to influence the country's future. The polls will decide who has the most power when lawmakers are sworn in next month, opening or potentially closing a politically delicate path to even limited social and cultural change in the Islamic republic. Tension over the vote's high stakes was dramatically underlined by a shooting involving supporters of rival candidates in a southern province. The rare political violence left four people wounded, a security official said. Iran's reformists -- who have encouraged foreign investment, support moves for greater diplomatic rapprochement and seek social reforms at home -- are allied with President Hassan Rouhani's government and made major gains in the first round on February 26. That came just six weeks after Tehran's implementation of a nuclear deal with world powers under the moderate Rouhani lifted crippling economic sanctions long blamed for hobbling the economy. Polling stations opened at 8:00 am (0330 GMT) for the second round which took place in 21 provinces, but not the capital Tehran, with 68 of parliament's 290 seats being contested. Around 17 million citizens were eligible to vote in constituencies where no candidate won the minimum 25 percent required in the first round. Voting had been scheduled to close at 1330 GMT but the interior ministry said polling stations would stay open two hours longer and then further time was added. No reason was given. There was no immediate indication of turnout after polling stations closed in the election for which final results could come as early as Saturday. Mehdi Saadatmandi, who voted in Robat Karim, a city southwest of Tehran, said he came to the ballot box "to finish what was done in the first round". "If the economy is fixed, the politics will be fixed also and if the parliament is in line with the government then things will move forward much better," the 50-year-old said, opting for the reformists. Story continues Conservatives, including vocal opponents of the nuclear agreement which reined in Iran's atomic programme, lost dozens of MPs in the first round, suffering a wipeout in Tehran where reformists took all 30 seats. - Rivals seek a majority - However Friday's voting -- the top two candidates from the first round are competing head to head -- covered 55 smaller towns and cities where conservative support held up. "We should protect the country from the arrogant powers and their infiltration," said Zahra Karimdoost, a schoolteacher in Robat Karim who voted conservative, referring to the United States. "They follow the leadership more seriously," she said, alluding to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other clerics at the top of the establishment who have warned that rising foreign interest in Iran must not be accompanied by the import of Western culture or social values. Nationally, reformists won 95 seats and the conservatives 103 in February with nominally independent candidates and minorities sharing other victories, meaning no faction reached a majority. The outcome of the second round could change that. Khamenei had urged a strong turnout and said Friday's voting was no less important than the first round. Mohammad Reza Aref, a partly US-educated engineer and leader of the reformist pro-Rouhani List of Hope, has set a target of at least another 40 lawmakers. Gains for the president's allies would make legislative reforms more likely. However, if conservatives perform more strongly amid concern over the nuclear deal -- officials including Khamenei have complained that the United States is not honouring its commitments -- Rouhani's hopes for a more supportive parliament could founder. Although the conservatives went backwards two months ago they have not changed tack, keeping up pressure over what they say is a silent agenda among reformists to give up the principles of the 1979 Islamic revolution. "We hope that people in this round can have a parliament in line with the goals of Imam and the leadership by electing principlists," said Gholam-Ali Hadad Adel, head of the conservative coalition. He was referring to revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his successor Khamenei, Iran's ultimate authority with powers that far outweigh Rouhani, who was voted into office in a landslide in 2013. Hadad Adel was a victim of the reformist surge in February, losing his own seat in Tehran. Vice published Wednesday gripping footage from a camera attached to the head of an ISIS fighter who went to battle Kurds in Northern Iraq. The opposing forces, peshmerga or the the traditional Kurdish troops have been battling the Islamic State forces in an attempt to weed them out of parts of Iraq and Syria. Source: Vice The video shows a group of fighters firing bullets and rockets at the peshmerga from a vehicle that ultimately gets hit by a rocket in retaliation, leaving one of the ISIS members dead. Source: Vice The fighter wearing the camera died in March, according to Vice. Source: Vice As Vice also notes, the footage is incongruous with the terrorists group's propaganda, which usually glorifies war and paints the picture of a well-organized network. Instead the video reveals disorder and panicked fighters who are neither sufficiently prepared nor trained, struggling to properly use some of the weaponry at points. h/t Vice News Watching his parents burn alive in a fire, and getting his real identity stolen was just part of the horrible past that Moo Myeong had. But with a new identity and career as a master noodle chef, can he gain enough ground to hunt down his parents murderer? Watch Chun Jung Myung in Master of Revenge A carefully planned trap leads to the death of Gook Chuls parents, and the loss of his own sight. In order to get away from some of his closest enemies, he undergoes surgery for a new face, new identity and new eyes. Reborn as Kang Gi Tan, he sneaks back into the company he was once the heir of, and struggles to work his way back up again - for revenge. Watch Kang Ji Hwan, Park Ki Woong and Sung Yu Ri in Monster now Two twins were separated at birth, and given two very different lives. But by a stroke of luck, Na Yeons journalist job leads her back to her twin, Do Hee - where Na Yeon finds out that her ex-boyfriends mother had landed Do Hee in a psychiatric hospital. When a huge fire engulfs the hospital that Do Hee is in and kills her, Na Yeon decides its time for her to step up as in Do Hees place and punish those who deserve it. Watch Lee Yu Ri pull off this double role in The Promise A man too in love with his girlfriend, decides to take the rap for a murder that she has committed. But after a couple of years in jail, he discovers that she has moved on - for money. Can he, with the help of a rich heiress, get the revenge that he so dearly desired? See Song Joong Ki in his hit drama, Innocent Man By Loucoumane Coulibaly KORHOGO, Ivory Coast (Reuters) - High global demand for cashews is pushing up prices in Ivory Coast, the world's leading producer of the nut, where local exporters are battling with smugglers for supplies, farmers and exporters said on Friday. Ivory Coast, already the world's top cocoa producer, surpassed India for the first time last year as production leapt more than 24 percent over the previous season to 702,510 tonnes of nuts. Cashews, a popular snack in Europe and North America, is an essential ingredient in Asian cooking and is increasingly used in products such as dairy-free ice cream. In the northern city of Korhogo, a purchasing hub where dozens of new warehouses have opened in the past five years, buyers said there was intense competition for supplies. "We're under pressure from our (exporter) clients," local buyer Meyeregue Soro said. "Unless you pay 500 CFA francs ($0.86) per kilogram, the farmers won't even look at you." Ivory Coast's government set a minimum farmgate prices of 350 CFA francs per kg for the 2016 marketing season, up from 275 CFA francs last year. But buyers said they were paying between 500 and 550 CFA francs per kg to secure stocks. An Abidjan-based exporter said the reasons for the rising prices were two-fold. First, he said Ivorian output was expected to drop by as much as 20 percent this year due to weather conditions despite a forecast from the Cotton and Cashew Council, the national marketing board, that production would rise to 725,000 tonnes. But he said new taxes on exporters amounting to 45 CFA francs per kg were also fuelling smuggling as some traders sought to circumvent the new levy by shipping Ivorian cashews via other regional ports. "The smuggling is continuing," the exporter said. "(The government) has been able to constrict the flow into Ghana, but now it's going into Burkina Faso. They're shipping out of Accra (Ghana) and Lome (Togo)." He said he expected to see around 40,000 tonnes of nuts illegally exported this season. The taxes do not apply to companies with local processing facilities. The trafficking was confirmed by local buyers in northern Ivory Coast, the West African nation's cashew-growing heartland. "We are aware that there is contraband towards the border with Burkina Faso where some people are sending cashews on moto-tricycles," said Korhogo-based buyer Abdoulaye Cisse as workers dried nuts in front of his warehouse. "We are hearing that sellers over there are earning 100 CFA francs (per kg) more than here," he added. Just a decade ago, Ivory Coast was a middling cashew producer, growing around 80,000 tonnes of raw nuts per year. But with output growing by an average of over 10 percent annually, the sector has attracted thousands of farmers in the impoverished north where many have abandoned cotton, the area's traditional cash crop, in favour of cashews. In the village of Sohouo, some 15 km from Korhogo, most local farmers now grow cashews. "The lives of farmers have changed a lot here in the village these last three years because cashews pay well," said Lacina Silue, standing front of a small, neat house with a satellite dish on the roof. "All my children go to school now with no problem. Growing cashews is even less physically tiring. We think lots of farmers will switch from cotton." ($1 = 578.8000 CFA francs) (Additional reporting and editing by Joe Bavier, editing by David Evans) ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Cotton exports from Ivory Coast totalled 151,779 tonnes to the end of March, up more than 3 percent from the previous year, provisional port data showed on Friday. Annual cotton output was about 400,000 tonnes before a 2002-03 civil war plunged the country into nearly a decade of political turmoil. Attractive prices in recent years have drawn farmers back to the sector. The main port of Abidjan is also the primary point of export for cotton produced in Ivory Coast's landlocked neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso. The following are figures for cotton exports for March in tonnes: Mar 2016 Feb 2016 Mar 2015 Abidjan 44,495 49,561 53,870 San Pedro 9,814 11,989 8,366 Total 54,309 61,550 62,236 Cumulative 151,779 97,470 146,769 (Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Editing by David Goodman) Fresh off its Tribeca Film Festival premiere, Jason Batemans The Family Fang, starring himself along with Christopher Walken and Nicole Kidman, begins its theatrical run. This is Batemans second directorial feature, following his 2014 debut, Bad Words. Fang joins a hefty crowd of Specialty newcomers this weekend, including IFC Films Toronto feature The Man Who Knew Infinity starring Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel, which had its theatrical premiere and party in New Yorks Chelsea Wednesday night. Two very different films set and filmed in Cuba are also hitting the big screen. Yuri Film Group is releasing its Key West Film Festival opener Papa Hemingway In Cuba in 300 theaters, while Magnolia is opening Irish-produced Spanish-language feature Viva in over a dozen locations. And Oscilloscope is heading out with Lattesa (The Wait) starring Juliette Binoche in a traditional rollout. Also heading into limited release this weekend are Focus Worlds Term Life, opening in 46 markets through a variety of AMC locations and independent theaters, along with Big World Pictures Viktoria. Abramoramas The Barber Of Seville opened on Tuesday, as did A Beautiful Planet from Buena Vista. And Zeitgeist bowed Eva Hesse on Wednesday. The Family Fang The Family Fang Poster Director: Jason Bateman Writers: Kevin Wilson (novel), David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay) Cast: Christopher Walken, Nicole Kidman, Jason Bateman, Kathryn Hahn, Marin Ireland, Harris Yulin, Eugenia Kuzmina, Jason Butler Harner Distributor: Starz Digital Starz Medias Ryan Heller and Michael Messina caught Jason Batemans sophomore feature directorial The Family Fang at last years Toronto International Film Festival. Based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Kevin Wilson, the feature centers on two siblings, Baxter and Annie Fang (Bateman and Nicole Kidman) who return to their family home in search of their world famous parents (Christopher Walken and Maryann Plunkett) who have disappeared. Initially, Annie believes her parents, who are performance artists, are engaged in an elaborate prank., though Baxter believes something else is afoot. During their investigation, the two begin to confront unresolved issues from their non-traditional upbringing. Story continues Ryan and I saw the premiere in Toronto and fell in love with it immediately as did the rest of the Starz team, said Messina. We thought Jason did an amazing job and we were impressed with Nicoles jobIt was a big priority title for us. Focus Features opened Batemans feature directorial debut, Bad Words, in six theaters in March, 2014 with a healthy $113,301 gross ($18,884 average). It went on to cume over $7.77 million. Heller said The Family Fangs core audience will be in the 35- 54 range with a good split, though skewing female. The feature had a high-profile U.S. Premiere at the recent Tribeca Film Festival, bringing out cast who gave it a push ahead of its theatrical rollout this weekend. Bateman appeared on the Today show and did other studio appearances. The title is also being featured in magazine spreads in both long-lead press as well as weekly and dailies. Its a good grown-up movie, which is evident in the theaters were playing, said Heller. Well have a quick VOD window, which will help us grab a broader audience for the movie. Start Digital will open The Family Fang exclusively at the Angelika in New York this weekend. Next Friday, the title will head to about another 40 markets, reaching around 50 markets by May 13. The feature will also be on-demand beginning May 6. Added Heller: Were also hoping for a strong performance at the Angelika this weekend, which should open the door to additional engagements. The-man-who-knew-infinity-poster The Man Who Knew Infinity Director-writer: Matthew Brown Writer: Robert Kanigel (novel) Cast: Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons, Malcolm Sinclair, Stephen Fry, Devika Bhise, Raghuvir Joshi, Toby Jones, Dhritiman Chatterjee Distributor: IFC Films Writer-director Matthew Brown and executive producer Tristine Skyler were visiting Browns aunt in Big Sur when Skyler noticed a book in her library. Thinking it would be of interest to Brown since he was researching the WWI era, she showed him The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel since it was set during the era. Brown was immediately intrigued by the story of the person at the center of the novel, mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, and reached out to the author with the idea of adapting it to the screen. After meeting, Brown took the project to producer Sofia Sondervan who submitted it to Edward Pressman, who boarded the project as producer. The Man Who Knew Infinity is the true story of friendship that forever changed mathematics. In 1913, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), a self-taught Indian mathematics genius, traveled to Trinity College, Cambridge, where over the course of five years, forged a bond with his mentor, the brilliant and eccentric professor, G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons), and fought against prejudice to reveal his mathematic genius to the world. This is Ramanujans story as seen through Hardys eyes. The movie plays great, said IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring at the films NYC premiere Wednesday night. Its an audience movie with two major stars and one who is up and coming. Jeremy Irons is art house catnip as [my colleague John Vanco] would say. [Irons and Patel] both are very supportive of the movie. Its a unique film that captures genius, and spirituality. IFC Films is expecting educated audiences including mathematicians, Silicon Valley-oriented groups and others who enjoy cerebral storytelling to find appeal in The Man Who Knew Infinity. The company first saw the title at last years Toronto International Film Festival where it had its World Premiere. I dont want to call it a rags to riches story, because I dont think Srinivasa Ramanujan ever enjoyed riches, but for someone of his background to end up at Cambridge during that [time period] is remarkable, said Sehring. And it has a producer like Ed Pressman behind it who had the vision to make it happen is special. The film had its theatrical premiere Wednesday night, hosted by New York publicist Peggy Siegal, who brought out a nice guest list including Gabriel Byrne, J.C. Chandor, Joanna Coles, Steve Kroft, Bennett Miller, Emily Mortimer and Lawrence ODonnell. at the Bow Tie Chelsea Cinemas, along with principles from the film. IFC Films will open The Man Who Knew Infinity in six theaters in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco this Friday. It will head out wider in the coming weeks. Papa Hemingway In Cuba Papa Hemingway in Cuba poster Director: Bob Yari Writer: Denne Bart Petitclerc Cast: Adrian Sparks, Giovanni Ribisi, Joely Richardson, James Remar, Minka Kelly, Mariel Hemingway, Shaun Toub, Anthony Molinari, Daniel Travis Distributor: Yari Film Group Papa Hemingway had its debut as the Opening Night film of the Key West Film Festival in November where the legendary writer lived part of his life. The feature then screened at the Havana Film Festival in December, not far from another place Hemingway called home. Filmmaker Bob Yari had first read the story a decade ago, and acquired the script from writer Denne Bart Petitclercs widow in 2009. Set during the onset of Cuban Revolution, Papa Hemingway In Cuba is the true story about the relationship between Miami journalist Ed Myers (Giovanni Ribisi) and Ernest Hemingway (Adrian Sparks). In 1959, Myers set out on a mission to meet his idol. Hidden away at a private estate with his wife Mary (Joely Richardson), the elusive author mentors Myers in fishing, drinking, and finding his voice, while the Cuban Revolution boils around them. In this turbulent landscape, beholding an icon in his twilight years, Myers discovers his strength, while recognizing that all of our heroes are human. Bob wanted to shoot this in Cuba, said producer Amanda Harvey who said that those leading the projects initial attempt had planned to shoot in Portugal. [Petitclerc] passed away in 2006 and the rights reverted back to his wife. After a year of passionately telling her he wanted to make this film, she agreed to let him take the reins around 2009. Bob decided hed direct Papa with Dennes vision untouched. By the time the filmmakers went to the Department of Treasury in 2012, more restrictions were in place for permission to be granted to film in Cuba than exist today. They made the case that it mirrored a documentary (an acceptable category for permission in 2012) because the script was a straight retelling of Hemingways life in Cuba. After an initial decline by the U.S. government, the filmmaking team brought on lawyers and were then given permission, though with the caveat of a restricted amount of money that could be spent in the Caribbean country. We had a Canadian financier, but because we had a cap, we decided to hire an international crew, said Harvey. So we ended up with a crew that was ten percent American and 90 percent Cuban and South Americans. The Cuban government reviewed the script and gave its blessing. Officials also arranged use of Hemingways estate, Finca Vigia for the shoot, a coup for the production. Since his death, the estate has been used as a museum, though visitors are normally only allowed to look through windows. We were honored that they gave us unprecedented access, said Harvey. We shot in the home for two weeks. We didnt change Dennes words. This really is the historical reenactment. Papa shot over six weeks, finishing in May, 2014 with locations in Cuba actually doubling for scenes set in Miami likely a first. Though production had access to the estate, infrastructure did pose a challenge, according to Harvey. Once you walk out of a hotel down there, theres no internet. It teaches you to find solutions with the resources that are right in front of you. You have to be very creative. The Cubans are very resourceful. Following its debut at Key West Film Festival (with a party at his home on the island), the title screened at the Havana Film Festival, filling the 1,600-seat Yara theater. Yari Film Group is releasing the title itself. The feature will open in more than 300 theaters in a traditional window this weekend. Viva poster Viva Director: Paddy Breathnach Writer: Mark OHalloran Cast: Hector Medina, Jorge Perugorria, Luis Alberto Garcia, Renata Maikel Machin Blanco, Luis Manuel Alvarez, Paula Andrea Ali rivera, Laura Aleman Oscar, Ibarra Napoles, Mark OHalloran Distributor: Magnolia Pictures Irish producer Rob Walpole went to Cuba in the mid-90s sowing the seeds for this weekends release of Viva. Walpole went with friends to a club and was suddenly transfixed by a drag performer who appeared. I was captivated, said Walpole. It was just one of those things. Our experience of drag in Ireland or England is of high camp. But in Cuba, there were these deep emotional songs. Homosexuality was still [little heard of] there at the time, so it was amazing that this was going on. We always knew there was something in this story. Viva follows Jesus who does makeup for a troupe of drag performers in Havana, but dreams of being a performer. When he finally gets his chance to be on stage, a stranger emerges from the crowd and punches him in the face. The stranger is his father Angel, a former boxer, who has been absent from his life for 15 years. As father and son clash over their opposing expectations of each other, Viva becomes a love story as the men struggle to understand one another and become a family again. After many years and many films went by, we got into contact with [writer] Mark OHalloran about the story. He went down to live in Cuba on and off for about a year before writing the first script. Hes not someone who turns around screenplays very quickly, but you can tell theres a lot of craft and ingenuity that goes into it. Walpole and producing partner Rebecca OFlanagan decided to make the film in Spanish, but although they had contacts throughout the industry through their previous projects, most were skeptical an Irish filmmaking team would be able to tell a Cuban story in Spanish. Rebecca and I decided maybe we could just make it form what we could raise from the Irish Film Board and [other] Irish sources, said Walpole. No international marketplace wanted to give us money. We are incredibly lucky we live in Ireland where its possible to get something funded when the marketplace says, No. So we went to the Irish Film Board and [received funds] from them along with Irish TV and others. The script went through several drafts to properly convey OHallorans English script in Spanish. In 2014, the filmmaking team headed to Cuba to find a producing partner and begin the casting process. They quickly began working with local outfit, Island Films, as co-producer. There was a process of script approval, though Walpole said that there was no question about material having to be altered. Aside from the producing team, director Paddy Breathnach as well as DP Cathal Watters and a designer, the crew were Cuban. Casting was done locally. We shot in November over four weeks, said Walpole. It was the most amazing experience. We were operating without email. We had a 1964 Chevrolet limousine, so fifteen of us would get into it and go to work every day. There was something joyous about pairing everything back to the bare essentials. Viva debuted at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival, followed by Palm Springs and Sundance. Walpole has a standing relationship with Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles, going back to the latters previous tenure at the Shooting Gallery. We have done maybe six films with him, added Walpole. Theyre very creative. The poster and trailer for [Viva] are absolutely fantastic in our view. Magnolia will open Viva in 16 locations in North America this weekend, including several theaters in the Los Angeles area as well as the Angelika in New York in addition to 8 runs in the Miami area. The title will head to several other cities the following week including San Francisco and Chicago, with further expansions throughout May and into June. Lattesa (The Wait) lattesa-poster Director-writer: Piero Messina Writers: Giacomo Bendotti, Ilaria Macchia, Andrea Paolo Massara, Luigi Pirandello Cast: Juliette Binoche, Giorgio Colangeli, Lou de Laage, Domenico Diele, Antonio Folletto, Corinna Locastro, Giovanni Anzaldo Distributor: Oscilloscope Oscilloscopes Lattesa (The Wait) boasts the attention to aesthetic evident in Paolo Sorrentinos The Great Beauty. Not coincidentally, Lattesas filmmaker, Piero Messina, served as Sorrentinos assistant director on the Oscar-winning film. Set in Sicily, Lattest navigates a range of emotions in telling the strange story of the relationship between two women from different generations. Academy Award-winner Juliette Binoche stars as Anna, who is meeting her son Giuseppes French girlfriend, Jeanne (Lou de Laage), in the lead-up to Easter festivities. Young and enchanting, Jeanne arrived with excitement before Giuseppe, whose continued delays and lack of presence cast a dark, mysterious shadow over the household. Why is Giuseppe not here and when will he appear? As Anna and Jeanne wait, they grow closer than either imagined they would, despite the secrets theyre harboring from one another. Its a very striking piece of filmmaking, said Oscilloscope exec Andrew Carlin. Piero Messina is a protege of Paulo Sorrentinowhich is obvious when you see the film. Juliette Binoche and Lou de Laage are great. The film encapsulates what we want to see when we go to the movies. Oscilloscope is going after the core art house audience who are loyal to French-born actress Juliette Binoche. The company is opening at the Royal in Los Angeles and at the Sunshine in New York this Friday. Lattesa (The Wait), as its officially titled stateside, will head to the Bay Area next Friday before heading to the top 20-25 cities in mid to late May. Added Carlin: Its going to have a very traditional theatrical platform release. Digital/VOD will follow this summer. Related stories Deadline Studio at Tribeca - Part 2: Jason Bateman, Jason Schwartzman, Danny DeVito, Zosia Mamet, Steve Aoki & More - Photo Gallery Jason Bateman Sinks His Teeth Into Directing 'The Family Fang' - Tribeca Studio 'Nine Lives' Trailer: Here Kevin Spacey Spacey Spacey... Ottawa (AFP) - Booze sales across Canada may soon be liberalized after a judge in New Brunswick province on Friday ruled that restrictions on the sale and movement of alcohol were unconstitutional. The case involved a retired steel worker who fought a $233 fine for bringing alcohol from Quebec into his home province in contravention of New Brunswick's Liquor Control Act. The measure -- similar to those in other provinces -- limits the importation of alcohol for personal use to one bottle of liquor or wine, or 12 pints of beer. Federal police charged Gerard Comeau in 2012 for transporting 14 cases of beer, two bottles of whisky and a bottle of liqueur across the border from neighboring Quebec province, where they are cheaper. Provincial court Judge Ronald LeBlanc dismissed the charge, ruling that the Fathers of Confederation had envisioned an economic union with unfettered trade between Canada's regions. The decision points to Section 121 of the Constitution Act, which says all goods from a province are to be admitted free into each of the others. Comeau told reporters outside the courtroom that he looked forward to having police return his seized booze, and travelling to Quebec to buy more. "After three years, I'm thirsty," public broadcaster CBC quoted him as saying. The provincial liquor restrictions have long irritated many Canadian drinkers and local vintners who complained they could not easily sell wine to other regions in Canada. Not long after his birth on April 30, 1916, it became clear that Claude Shannon was good with gadgets. As a youth, he fixed radios for nearby stores and converted barbed-wire fences into a telegraph line, through which he communicated with a friend. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1936, Shannon took a job as a research assistant at MIT, where he turned that talent toward research that would change the course of history. It was at MIT that he worked on a machine called the differential analyzer then the worlds leading computer but by modern standards a clumsy monolith of gears and motors that took a whole week to solve a single equation. There had to be a better way, and Shannon found it. What he envisioned was a computer built from electrical circuits instead of motors. By drawing on Boolean algebra which assigns the value of 1 to true statements and the value of 0 to false statements he applied the value of 1 to circuits turned on, and the value of 0 to circuits that were off. In this simple, brilliant method, digital computing was born. Shannon also pioneered the field of information theory, which addresses the issue of how to quantify information, as in bits and bytes. To express information in a bit, one uses a binary digit, either a 1 or a 0. These binary digits can describe everything from words to pictures to songs to videos to the most sophisticated gaming software. With the most elegant simplicity, Shannon had shown that all these types of media could be expressed in the same way. This was a truly radical concept that forever altered electronic communication. Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter But, while Shannon might have become one of the most famous names in computer science, his name never became common knowledgeand he became known for something different. Story continues Shannon, who had been famous for juggling while riding a unicycle around the halls of Bell Labs, left Bell in 1958 to join the faculty at MIT. He never taught much, and after a few semesters, told the university he didnt wish to teach at all. (Proof that he was a big deal: MIT didnt object.) No longer needing to worry about lectures or students, Shannon got down to the business of enjoying himself in the basement of his suburban Boston home. Here, in his specialized toy room, he designed a wide array of contraptions, many of them with dubious real-world viability flame-throwing trumpets, rocket-powered Frisbees, and plastic foam shoes that he used to navigate a nearby lake, where, to an observer, it would appear as if he were walking on water. He also designed more practical devices, such as a wearable computer, which he used for gambling purposes, making profitable trips to Las Vegas along with Edward O. Thorp, the card-counting mathematician and author of Beat the Dealer. Over the years, he became more reclusive and began to publish articles less frequently. From 1974 onward, he contributed just one article; it was about juggling. He worked on another article, about the Rubiks cube, that went unpublished, according to Fortunes Formula by William Poundstone. MORE: What the Digital Age Owes to the Inventor of Morse Code To colleagues, it appeared that Shannon had abandoned a brilliant scientific career so he could hang out in his toy room. Rumors of mental illness began to circulate, though they remained mere conjecture. Some wondered whether he was depressed, according to Paul Samuelson, an MIT professor and Nobel Prize-winning economist, in a letter quoted in Poundstones book. The 1980s would see the rise of personal computing but the personal decline of Shannon, who, left MIT in 1978 and was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. Shannon entered a nursing home in 1993. Ensuing years would see the dot-com bubble and Internet ubiquity. It was Shannons contributions that had made the Internet possible. And yet, in a cruel irony, just as the Internet revolution began to change the modern world, he fell into dementia. He died in February 2001, leaving behind an influence on everything from cell phones to the cyber world to high-definition TV. Outside of electrical engineering and computer science circles, Shannon has gone underreported on, given the depth of his influence on our daily lives. No full-length biography on him has been written. But that is perhaps changing: To mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is hosting the First Shannon Conference on the Future of the Information Age, and April 30 will see the launch of the Bell Labs Shannon web exhibit. A Shannon 100th Birthday Celebration will also be held at the Heinz Nixdorf Museum in Paderborn, Germany, in May. If he still were alive, chances are that he would celebrate by retreating to his toy room. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new budget plan in March, and with it he sent a powerful message to the indigenous peoples of Canada. The new budget promises $8.4 billion over five years to Canada's indigenous peoples. According to the Canadian government, in 2011, 4.3% of the Canadian population, or 1,400,685 people total, "had an Aboriginal identity." That number includes First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples. Trudeau reiterated his support for Canada's indigenous peoples Tuesday in a Facebook post. Source: Facebook In the United States, for comparison, there are 2.9 million American Indian and Alaska Natives, according to the National Congress of American Indians. The U.S. federal budget for the 2017 fiscal years allocates $2.9 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. According to Amnesty International Canada, "Indigenous families and communities in Canada continue to face widespread impoverishment, inadequate housing, food insecurity, ill-health and unsafe drinking water ... Government services needed to improve people's lives and address the legacy of past wrongs often fall far short of what is needed." With this new budget, Trudeau's government seems to be attempting to address a pervasive equality gap between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. "For too long, Indigenous peoples in Canada have experienced economic and social inequities that have compromised their chances for success," Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said Monday in a statement. "To achieve our goal of meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples we must work in genuine partnership to end these inequities to close the gap because healthy and thriving Indigenous communities contribute to a healthy and thriving Canada." (Reuters) - The 8,500-year-old remains of the so-called Kennewick Man whose almost complete skeleton was discovered in Washington state in 1996 are Native American, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has concluded after studying new information. Kennewick Man is one of just a few well-preserved North American skeletons that date back more than 8,000 years, and is one of the only good examples from the Pacific Northwest. It has also been at the center of a dispute over its fate. The Corps' determination means the remains are now subject to procedures outlined in the U.S. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), as a coalition of Native American tribes had demanded, the Corps said. "My decision ... has been an important one to make and is based on the best available evidence," Brigadier General Scott A. Spellmon, Commanding General of the Northwestern Division, said in a statement this week. "I am confident that our review and analysis of new skeletal, statistical, and genetic evidence have convincingly led to a Native American Determination." The Corps' findings echo those of international researchers published last year that were based on DNA evidence and contradicted a 2014 study of anatomical data which had suggested the skeleton was most closely linked to Polynesian or indigenous Japanese populations. The Kennewick Man was named for the site where the skeleton was discovered by two men on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' land at the McNary Dam Project on the banks of the Columbia River. It has since been at the focus of a legal dispute between scientists, who want to study the remains, and the coalition of Native American tribes, which argued for their reburial. NAGPRA requires that Native American remains be turned over to tribes that want to bury them. Following the determination, which was published on Wednesday, the Corps said its next step will be to review the priority of custody for any Native American tribe that submits a claim. Meanwhile, the Corps said, the remains will continue to be curated at the Burke Museum in Seattle. (Reporting by Daniel Wallis; Editing by David Gregorio) By Duncan Miriri NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya Airways pilots called off a strike on Thursday after the carrier met some of their demands, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) said, adding they would fully resume work on Friday. KALPA's members took the industrial action earlier on Thursday to push for the removal of the airline's chief executive, prompting Kenya Airways to cancel all but two of its evening flights up to 2300 GMT. Kenya Airways, which is one of the largest carriers in Africa and ferries 10,000 passengers a day with a fleet of Boeing and Embraer jets, had already cancelled 10 other flights. KALPA General Secretary Paul Gichinga said the airline had made some management changes that met the pilots' minimum demands, without giving more details. "We are happy with the information they have given us on the management changes we demanded but that is not for us to announce," he told Reuters. The pilots had taken the action despite an agreement reached a day earlier to defer the strike until June 1. The strike lasted from midday until late on Thursday, but for practical reasons full flights will resume on Friday. Pilots oppose Chief Executive Mbuvi Ngunze's planned measures to turn around the loss-making carrier, which is 26.7 percent owned by Air France KLM, and have demanded his immediate resignation. The association said they would operate as normal while talks continue until June 1 over the rest of their demands. Kenya Airways was not immediately available to comment. Instead of turning up for work on Thursday, scores of pilots attended a meeting of the association. The pilots later voted to go ahead with the strike. The airline said the strike had gone on even though it had obtained a court order the previous day barring any industrial action and the pilots' union agreeing to delay the strike. KALPA issued a two-day notice to the carrier on Tuesday saying its members would stop flying planes until Ngunze resigned over what it called "questionable" turnaround measures. The airline has been selling assets, including planes, and plans to lay off 600 people as it tries to stay in operation after three and a half years of financial losses. Transport Minister James Macharia and Dennis Awori, chairman of the airline's board had met with KALPA on Thursday but their pleas not to ground the airline's fleet were rejected. (Additional reporting by Humphrey Malalo and George Obulutsa; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Alexander Smith) A neon Google sign is seen in the foyer of Google's new Canadian engineering headquarters in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, January 14, 2016. REUTERS/Peter Power/File Photo By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Thursday approved a rule change that would let U.S. judges issue search warrants for access to computers located in any jurisdiction despite opposition from civil liberties groups who say it will greatly expand the FBI's hacking authority. U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts transmitted the rules to Congress, which will have until Dec. 1 to reject or modify the changes to the federal rules of criminal procedure. If Congress does not act, the rules would take effect automatically. Magistrate judges normally can order searches only within the jurisdiction of their court, which is typically limited to a few counties. The U.S. Justice Department, which has pushed for the rule change since 2013, has described it as a minor modification needed to modernize the criminal code for the digital age, and has said it would not permit searches or seizures that are not already legal. Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, and civil liberties groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Access Now contend the change would vastly expand the Federal Bureau of Investigation's ability to conduct mass hacks on computer networks. They say it also could run afoul of the U.S. Constitution's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. While Congress can reject amendments to the rules that govern federal courts, it rarely exercises that authority and is not expected to do so during a heated election year. And few lawmakers have shown interest in the subject. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, condemned the rule change as having "significant consequences for Americans privacy," and vowed to introduce legislation to reverse it. "Under the proposed rules, the government would now be able to obtain a single warrant to access and search thousands or millions of computers at once; and the vast majority of the affected computers would belong to the victims, not the perpetrators, of a cybercrime," Wyden said in a statement. Story continues The Justice Department's quest to broaden warrant jurisdiction has not drawn as much attention as other recent confrontations over government access to digital information. These included the FBI's standoff with Apple over encryption arising from the agency's effort to unlock an iPhone used by one of the shooters in December's San Bernardino massacre. A Justice Department spokesman said the change was necessary because criminals increasingly use "anonymizing" technologies to conceal their identity online, and remote searches are often the only way to apprehend such suspects. The change does not authorize any new authorities not already permitted by law, the spokesman said. Nanyuki (Kenya) (AFP) - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday demanded a total ban on trade in ivory to end trafficking and prevent the extinction of elephants in the wild. "To lose our elephants would be to lose a key part of the heritage that we hold in trust. Quite simply, we will not allow it," Kenyatta said in the keynote speech at a meeting which groups African heads of state and conservationists to boost awareness of the threat of poaching. "We will not be the Africans who stood by as we lost our elephants." Africa is home to between 450,000 to 500,000 elephants, but more than 30,000 are killed every year on the continent to satisfy demand for ivory in Asia, where raw tusks sell for around $1,000 (800 euros) a kilo (2.2 pounds). "The future of African elephant and rhino is far from secure, so long as the demand for their products continues to exist," Kenyatta added, speaking one day before he is to set fire to Kenya's nearly entire ivory stockpile. "Any sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn including within legal domestic markets is inherently likely to increase the risk to our elephant and rhino populations," he added. The bonfire will be the largest-ever torching of ivory, involving 105 tonnes from thousands of dead elephants, dwarfing by seven times any stockpile burned before. Another 1.35 tonnes of rhino horn will also be burned. - 'Iconic totem' - It is a grand statement: on the black market, that quantity of ivory could sell for over $100 million (88 million euros), and the rhino horn could raise as much as $80 million (70 million euros). Rhino horn can fetch as much as $60,000 per kilo, more than gold or cocaine. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the ivory trade in 1989. Activists say destroying the stocks will help put anti-trafficking efforts at the top of the agenda at the next CITES conference. Story continues China, which has tightened its laws on ivory imports, allows the resale of ivory bought before the 1989 ban, but activists say the trade in legal ivory acts as a cover for illegal imports and call for a complete ban on sales. Kenyatta said he will lead calls for a "total ban on the trade of elephant ivory" at the CITES conference in South Africa in September. "This will ensure Africa's elephant are accorded the highest possible level of protection," he said. The summit, in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki, has highlighted the multiple methods used in the fight against poachers, from the frontline -- where armed rangers combat poachers -- to the court room. President Yoweri Museveni from neighbouring Uganda said he had also taken a tough line against poachers. "We are very strict," Museveni said. "We send them to heaven prematurely." President Ali Bongo from Gabon, spoke of the "massacre" of forest elephants in central Africa. "Unless we take action now we risk losing this iconic totem from large swathes of our continent," he said. - 'Poaching wave' - In Kenya, the combined efforts of government and private game reserves have helped cut poaching, with the number of elephants killed in 2015 down to 93 from 164 the previous year. In the Ol Pejeta private reserve near Nanyuki, a rapid response team of armed rangers who travel by helicopter has been hard at work since 2011. Equipped with night vision gear, encrypted radio communications, guns and sniffer dogs, and trained by British ex-special forces, the teams have helped slash poaching. While the military-style approach is effective, it costs up to $2 million a year. Kenya is also trying to boost prosecution efforts, with five major cases against traffickers currently in court in the port city of Mombasa -- a key point on the smuggling route to Asia, according to Space for Giants' legal expert Shamini Janyanathan. But in a country plagued by corruption, the conviction of key figures involved in poaching and smuggling remains rare. Max Graham, head of the Space for Giants conservation group which helped organise the meeting, notes that anti-poaching efforts is only one part of the response, and that cutting the demand is the "ultimate solution." In the meantime, protecting elephants means they wont be wiped out before the demand can be stopped. "The challenge is we don't know how long it's going to take for that demand to drop off. Is it one year, is it five years? So what we need in the interim is a holding position," Graham said. "It means once this poaching wave has passed, once the demand for ivory and rhine horn has passed, we still have reservoirs for these magnificent animals". From Seventeen Though Kesha's court battle to be released from her contract with Sony and her alleged sexual abuser, Dr. Luke, was unsuccessful, it did spread awareness about the issue of sexual harassment and abuse in the music industry. Her highly publicized battle also prompted other artists to step up as allies to Kesha, like Zedd. He offered to produce a single with Kesha for free, and now that single has a release date. Kesha and Zedd will release their single called "True Colors" TOMORROW. It's the emotional song they sang when Kesha surprised everyone during Zedd's set at Coachella. It's going to be a Zedd track featuring Kesha, and it'll be her first single since she released "Crazy Kids" in 2013. According to TMZ, Sony and Dr. Luke's label, Kemosabe Records, signed off on the project, allowing Kesha to work with Zedd even though he's on another label (Interscope Records). It's a clear sign that Sony is following through with their promise to let Kesha work on music without interacting with Dr. Luke. Hopefully, there's even more music from Kesha to come. By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) - A stressful day may make a child more prone to an asthma attack that night - with worse than usual asthma symptoms the next day as well, a small U.S. study suggests. Nocturnal asthma is an area that patients often talk about but theres not a lot of research in child nocturnal asthma, said lead author Dr. Caroline C. Horner of the Department of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Childrens Hospital in Missouri. When people talk about stressors they usually talk about big life events, traumatic experiences, but she wanted to look at daily life and the anxiety of a bad day at school or an unexpected test, Horner told Reuters Health. For about 12 weeks, 46 children with diagnosed asthma and their caregivers filled out daily diary cards with 42 items addressing nighttime awakening for asthma or other reasons, and measures of parental and child stress. Children answered the question how was your day today? by choosing very bad, bad, good or very good, and rated their feelings during the day by circling happy or sad faces. The global question was really how was your day, based on things that would happen routinely that might add up to being stressful, Horner said. Caregivers recorded use of the asthma drugs albuterol and prednisone, school absences and doctors visits, and answered questions about their own family, home, job and financial demands. During the three-month study, about 60 percent of kids had at least one nighttime awakening due to asthma. Four out of five children had at least one nighttime awakening for another reason. Overall, younger kids and those who used an asthma controller more often had more frequent asthma awakenings, according to the results in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Kids rated their day as very bad on less than 2 percent of days most were good or very good. Awakening with asthma was more likely at night after days rated very bad, bad or good compared to very good days, regardless of medication use that day. Daily global stress was rated as very bad and bad on 1.4 percent and 4.2 percent of days, respectively, said Bhupendrasinh Chauhan of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, who was not part of the new study. I doubt that the questionnaire was not influenced by child's parent(s), at least in the pragmatic scenario, Chauhan told Reuters Health by email. The sample size was also very small, so this study may be a base to conduct a larger prospective clinical study to establish the association of stress with asthma, Chauhan said. The day after an asthma awakening, kids used more albuterol and prednisone, had more missed school days and more contact with doctors than on other days, the authors found. If you rated your day as anything other than very good, you were twice as likely to awaken with asthma symptoms, Horner noted. Stress may activate the steroids that turn on immune cells called mast cells in your lungs, she said. Mast cells release histamines during allergic reactions. It may be similar to an allergic reaction but not exactly the same, Horner said. Lung function is lowest in the middle of the night, and with the added factor of asthma lung function is even lower, she said. Though the nighttime awakenings in themselves arent dangerous, if you wake up at night youre more likely to have things the next day that signal difficulty, she said. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1VE3syU Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, online April 20, 2016. Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered a new pleasure squad of teenage girls to serve his every whim. The North Korean leader originally stopped the practice which has been employed in the country for decades following the death of his father and predecessor, Kim Jong-il, in 2011. However, he has now decided to resurrect the group, according to various reports, and has set about creating a new troupe. it is thought the girls, who reportedly must be tall and beautiful, are hand-picked by high-ranking authorities. It is believed some of the girls are as young as 13 or 14 and are examined by a doctor to check whether or not they are still virgins. They are taken out of schools, away from their family and forced to meet the North Korean leaders needs. Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor at Tokyos Waseda University and an authority on North Korean affairs, told The Telegraph, that at first Kim Jong-un stopped the practice because he didnt trust the girls. After he came to power, Mr Kim trusted no-one and ordered thorough investigations into every official in the regime, from the highest to the lowest, The women who entertained his father knew many secrets and they have now been ordered to promise not to reveal any information before being sent back to their home towns", he told the paper. According to the Chosunilbo newspaper, the women are apparently made to sign a pledge of secrecy in return for money. It is thought they are given 1,400 a large sum of money in the poor country but then forced into slavery. The group known as Gippeumjo, or pleasure squads was first introduced by Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea. (Credit: Xinhua News Agency/REX/Shutterstock) South Korean and US activists on Friday launched anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border where tensions have been running high since the isolated state's last nuclear test in January. Some 20 activists, including former defectors from North Korea, launched around 300,000 leaflets in packages tied to gas-filled balloons from a spot near the heavily-militarised frontier. The regular leaflet exercises have long angered Pyongyang, which has threatened military retaliation against the activists. In October 2014, North Korean guards attempted to shoot down some of the balloons, sparking a brief exchange of fire across the border. One balloon launched on Friday carried a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and a slogan calling for his overthrow. "The people of North Korea need to know the enemy of the North Korean people is Kim Jong-Un," said Suzanne Scholte of the US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been running particularly high since the North's nuclear test, which was followed by a long-range rocket launch a month later. There are growing concerns that the North may carry out a fifth nuclear test sometime over the next week, ahead of a rare ruling party congress that begins May 6. HONG KONG, April 29 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates' International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) said on Friday it had paid interest due on bonds issued by 1MDB Energy (Langat) to fulfil its obligation as guarantor under the bonds' terms. IPIC said the payment was made after Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) defaulted on the payments and that it would now demand indemnity for repayment of the $50.3 million interest. The coupon on the $1.75 billion bond was due on April 18. 1MDB is disputing its obligations to IPIC under a debt restructuring agreement reached last June. IPIC said on Monday it would make the interest payment only after 1MDB officially defaulted. An emailed request for comment to 1MDB was not immediately answered. (Reporting by Umesh Desai) Mind games! A new puzzle has gone viral online, and it's driving people crazy. The new challenge asks people to "find the mistake" in a simple image with the question and the numbers 1 through 9 written in different colors. The challenge from Playbuzz asks people to find the blunder in less than five seconds. PHOTOS: Stars With Weird Body Parts Stumped? The latest puzzle is slightly different from recent challenges online. Pandas have proven to be incredibly popular among puzzle solvers this year beginning with a graphic by Dudolf of a panda hidden among snowmen went viral this winter. PHOTOS: Most Stylish Instagram Pets! Matthew Merrill, an illustrator from Fresno, California, submitted another version of the image on April 20. In his challenge, Merrill asks people to find the panda hidden among a huge herd of yellow, orange, white and gray elephants. PHOTOS: Viral Stars: 2016's Biggest Internet Celebrities Flip below to find the answer. Tell Us: Were you able to find the mistake and the panda? By Lisa Barrington BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria called local truces near Damascus and in a northern province on Friday but no halt to combat on the main battlefield in Aleppo, after a surge in fighting the United Nations said showed "monstrous disregard" for civilian lives. A new "regime of calm" would begin from 1:00 a.m. on Saturday and last one day in the capital's eastern Ghouta suburb and three days in the northern countryside of the coastal province of Latakia, the army said in a statement. But by excluding the city of Aleppo, scene of the worst recent violence, the narrow truces were unlikely to resurrect a ceasefire and peace talks that have collapsed this week. In the worst recent attack, an air strike destroyed a hospital in a rebel-held area overnight on Wednesday-Thursday. The French charity Medecins sans Frontieres, which supported the hospital, said on Friday the death toll had risen to at least 50, including six medics. A Syrian military source said Aleppo was excluded from the newly announced truces "because in Aleppo there are terrorists who have not stopped hitting the city and its residents ... There are a large number of martyrs in Aleppo, which is why the situation is different there". Russia's Interfax news agency quoted the officer in charge of a Russian ceasefire monitoring centre as saying the truces meant all military action would cease in the covered areas. Damascus described the truces as an attempt to salvage a wider "cessation of hostilities" agreement in place since February. That ceasefire, sponsored by Washington and Moscow, allowed peace talks to start but has all but completely collapsed in recent days along with the Geneva negotiations. Violence was "soaring back to the levels we saw prior to the cessation of hostilities," said United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein. "There are deeply disturbing reports of military build-ups indicating preparations for a lethal escalation," Zeid said in a statement that described a "monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all parties to the conflict". "I DREAD MORE HORROR" The United Nations has called on Moscow and Washington to help restore the ceasefire to prevent the collapse of peace talks, which broke up this week in Geneva with virtually no progress after the opposition walked out. "The cessation of hostilities and the Geneva talks were the only game in town, and if they are abandoned now, I dread to think how much more horror we will see in Syria," Zeid said. The United States said on Friday that it was in discussions with Russia to renew the cessation of hostilities and was seeking a halt to fighting in Latakia and eastern Ghouta as a test case before trying to extend ceasefires throughout the country. "We are in touch with the opposition and it is our expectation they will comply," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said of the Latakia and Ghouta ceasefires. Asked why the United States did not try to get a halt to the violence in Aleppo, Toner said, In part it is a recognition that Aleppo is very complex and the fighting around there is indeed alarming. We need to start somewhere and were going to start with Latakia and east Ghouta. Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, has been divided for years between rebel and government zones. Full control would be the most important prize for President Bashar al-Assad, who has been fighting to keep hold of his country throughout a five-year civil war. U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura has said that up to 400,000 people have been killed. Since Russia joined the war last year with air strikes against Assad's enemies, battlefield momentum has shifted in the government's favor. Hundreds of thousands of people still live in rebel zones of Aleppo, and the countryside to the north includes the only stretch of the Turkish-Syrian border still in the hands of Assad's main opponents, Arab Sunni Muslim rebel groups. Opposition groups have accused the government of deliberately targeting civilians so they would abandon the area. "The aim of what is happening in Aleppo now is to put pressure on us to accept the smallest demands and conditions proposed by Bashar al-Assad," chief opposition negotiator Asaad al-Zoubi said in an interview with Al Jazeera television. "The truce which they are talking about today is so the regime can prepare its forces again, especially because it failed to take control of Aleppo." The leader of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, Riyad Hijab, wrote to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accusing the government of "horrifying daily massacres" and "the besiegement and starvation of cities, towns and villages". He demanded the U.N. Security Council force Assad to stop. Rebels have targeted government areas with aggressive shelling, which Damascus has said is proof that they are receiving weapons from abroad. AIR STRIKES, SHELLING Commenting on the hospital air strike, International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Ewan Watson told Reuters in Geneva, It is unacceptable ... But it is up to an investigator and it is for a court to take that decision on whether it is a war crime or not. Late on Friday, the organization issued a statement calling for an immediate halt in the attacks, saying another four medical facilities on both sides of the frontlines in Aleppo had been damaged extensively. It said dozens of people had died and were injured in "another day of relentless fighting in Aleppo today." It said the four healthcare facilities that had been hit were Al Marjah polyclinic, the Bustan Al Qassar polyclinic and Shawki Hill Dialysis Centre and the Ibn Rashid Cardiac Hospital. There can be no justification for these appalling acts of violence deliberately targeting hospitals and clinics, which are prohibited under International Humanitarian Law," Marianne Gasser, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria, said in the statement. "People keep dying in these attacks. There is no safe place anymore in Aleppo. Even in hospitals. For the sake of people in Aleppo, we call for all to stop this indiscriminate violence. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said air strikes and government shelling had killed at least 142 civilians including 21 children in rebel areas in the past eight days, while rebel shelling of government areas had killed 84 civilians including 14 children. The Observatory said at least 11 civilians were killed on Friday in rebel areas and 13 in government areas. In the rebel-held zones, more were trapped under fallen buildings destroyed in helicopter strikes. Bebars Mishal, a civil defense chief working in rebel-held areas of Aleppo, told Reuters there were a number of air attacks in the morning, many of them around mosques in rebel-held areas. Mishal said one hit a clinic in Aleppo's Al-Marja district. Syrian state media said a number of people had been killed and wounded and fires started during shelling of government-held quarters in Aleppo, which included a hit on a mosque as people were leaving Friday prayers. (Additional reporting by Omar Fahmy and Lesley Wroughton; Writing by Peter Graff and Andrew Hay, Editing by Peter Millership, Toni Reinhold) Toy company Lego said Thursday it was a mistake not to sell their bricks to Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei for an exhibit last year. The order was rejected very low in the organization by our consumer service department, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, Legos vice chairman, told The Wall Street Journal. It was an internal mistake, he continued. It is a typical example of what can go wrong in a big company. In October, Ai sparked an outcry when he posted an Instagram photo saying that Lego had refused his bulk order of bricks for an upcoming installation. At the time, Lego said it cannot approve the use of Legos for political works, according to another Instagram post by Ai that was taken down. Ai welcomed Legos new statement, according to WSJ, but lamented how long it had taken for them to respond. I think its positive but I think they recognized it a bit too late, he said. I have to respond to this incident because it is about freedom of expression. The Lego company has such a strong influence on every child so I think its not an issue to be ignored. Http%3a%2f%2fi.blueprint.mashable.com%2f_87qmr02xmpzyoc05dhkxwpot_0%3d%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f74508%2f475801cb8ee64b9d8a22a8bbd92b562f LEGO, ya blew it. The toy brick company has admitted that it was a "mistake" to not sell its product to Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, who requested a bulk order for an artwork last year. SEE ALSO: At long last, LEGO's first official Australian store is set to open Ai wrote on Instagram back in September 2015 that LEGO wanted no part of an artwork celebrating human rights champions for display at Australia's National Gallery of Victoria, as "they cannot approve the use of Legos for political works." It's a stance that's left the company rueing, according to a Wall Street Journal interview published on Thursday with Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, LEGO's vice-president and grandson of the company's original founder. Kristiansen told the outlet that the ordeal was an "internal mistake" and that the request was rejected "very low in the organization by our consumer service department." The bungle was the result of an employee which misinterpreted the company's stance on political neutrality, with no involvement from the company's board, Kristiansen said. "It is a typical example of what can go wrong in a big company," he told the publication. The saga dubbed #Legogate on social media, soon inspired donations of the toy brick from the public. Ai ended up building his work with knock-off LEGO blocks from China, according to exhibition curator Max Delany in an interview with VICE. The public LEGO donations are to be used for a separate project, Delany said. LEGO revised its policy on bulk orders in January, with the company no longer asking customers on the "thematic purpose" of their work when an order is placed, instead requiring the artists to display a disclosure that LEGO does not support or endorse the work. Ai told the Wall Street Journal that he welcomed the company's statement, but that it was perhaps too far gone. Story continues "I think it's positive but I think they recognized it a bit too late," Ai told the publication. "I have to respond to this incident because it is about freedom of expression. The Lego company has such a strong influence on every child so I think it's not an issue to be ignored." Ai has been critical of China's government and is an advocate for human rights, once detained by Chinese authorities due to supposed "tax evasion" in 2011. Ai's exhibition, pairing his works with those from pop artist Andy Warhol, recently broke a record at the National Gallery of Victoria. It was the most popular ticketed show in the gallery's history, clocking up 399,127 visitors in total, according to Fairfax Media. Turns out Ai didn't need LEGO's support anyway. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Escalating violence across Syria which has seen a fragile truce agreement unravel and peace talks collapse could release new levels of horror, the U.N. human rights chief said on Friday, saying all parties have shown a "monstrous disregard" for civilian lives. "The cessation of hostilities and the Geneva talks were the only game in town, and if they are abandoned now, I dread to think how much more horror we will see in Syria," Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said in a statement, urging all sides to step back from a return to all-out war. "The violence is soaring back to the levels we saw prior to the cessation of hostilities. There are deeply disturbing reports of military build-ups indicating preparations for a lethal escalation," Zeid said. Peace talks in Geneva aimed to end a war that has created the world's worst refugee crisis, allowed for the rise of Islamic State and drawn in regional and major powers, but the negotiations have all but failed and a cessation of hostilities agreement to allow them to take place has collapsed. Air strikes late on Wednesday destroyed a hospital and killed dozens of people in rebel-held areas of Aleppo, including children and doctors, in an attack that a U.S. official said appeared to be solely the work of the Syrian government. Violence over the past week has killed at least 202 civilians across rebel- and government-held areas of Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday. "Reports are coming in from Aleppo, Homs, Damascus and Rural Damascus, Idlib and Deir ez-Zour of mounting civilian casualties," Zeid said. "In the context of such an abysmal situation, the persistent failure of the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court is an example of the most shameful form of realpolitik," he said. "In the minds of many, the worlds great powers have in effect become accomplices to the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of human beings, and the displacement of millions. There is currently no disincentive for any of the many war criminals in Syria to stop contributing to the wild spiral of killing and destruction that has engulfed the country." (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Toby Chopra) Liam Hemsworth is rocking a scruffy beard and swoon-worthy drawl in his new film, The Duel, teaming up with his Hunger Games co-star, Woody Harrelson, for the intense Western. In the movie, Hemsworth plays Texas Ranger David Kingston, who is sent to a small town run by an eccentric preacher, Abraham Brant (Harrelson), to investigate the murders and disappearances of several townsfolk. But it turns out, the two have more history than they first expect. "By some strange twist of fate, Abraham is the same man that killed my father 20 years ago," Kingston discovers in the trailer. EXCLUSIVE: Woody Harrelson Reveals He Improvised 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2' Kiss: 'I Have a Crush on Elizabeth Banks' Brant, however, is far more than just a murderer. His religious zealotry seems to have the town under some kind of terrifying curse, causing people to speak in tongues and fall mysteriously ill. Plus, he's got a score to settle. "I've known you'd be coming for me David," the preacher says forebodingly. But Hemsworth's character isn't scared. "I'm a Texas ranger, I was sent by the governor himself," Kingston vows. "I've been chasing this man my entire life." The Duel hits theaters June 24. EXCLUSIVE: Miley Cyrus Clings to Liam Hemsworth After 'The Huntsman' Premiere -- See the Date Night Pics! Related Articles Tripoli (AFP) - The head of Libya's unity government has announced plans for a concerted campaign to drive the Islamic State group out of the North African country, but without foreign intervention. In remarks marking almost 30 days since his arrival in Tripoli to assert the authority of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj also appealed for a united Libya. He said there were many challenges facing his government, which in order to begin operating has yet to receive the endorsement of the country's elected parliament. A formal endorsement has been repeatedly postponed, although earlier this month dozens of parliamentarians in a statement expressed confidence in the new government. Sarraj has nevertheless pushed to assert the GNA's authority since arriving in Tripoli on March 30 under naval escort, and the new government has already taken control of several ministries. In a on Thursday speech addressed to the "great Libyan people" he said the jihadist IS would be routed by "Libyan hands and not through any foreign intervention". "We have begun to concretely implement a national strategy to put an end to this scourge," Sarraj said, referring to the Sunni extremist group which has fed on years of chaos to establish a stronghold on Libya's Mediterranean coast. His comments came hours after the unity government announced plans to establish a joint military command to tackle IS. It called on "all military forces" in Libya to await instructions and not to launch any unilateral offensive on Sirte, the hometown of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi that is now controlled by IS. The announcement of the joint military command was welcomed by the UN special envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler. - 'Operation to liberate Sirte' - The unity government fears that separate operations in Sirte could spark clashes between the multitude of different fighting forces in Libya and play into the jihadists' hands. Story continues Libya has been roiled by turmoil since the 2011 ouster and killing of Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising, with rival forces vying for control of the oil-rich country's wealth. Sarraj said contacts would be made with "all military commands" across the country, insisting on the need for a "united effort" to confront the jihadists. He said the military commands would be asked to "launch the necessary preparations to begin the operation to liberate Sirte". IS overran the coastal city 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli last June, and has transformed it into a training camp for Libyan and foreign militants. With its port and airport, there are growing fears that IS could use Sirte as a staging post for attacks on European soil. Western powers including the United States, Britain and France have openly considered international military intervention in Libya against IS. Experts have said that any future foreign strikes could target Sirte as well as the region around it. The jihadist group is estimated to have around 5,000 fighters in Libya, and is trying to attract hundreds more. Libya also currently faces financial challenges and bickering among rival politicians and militias. Sarraj warned on Thursday that internal conflicts threaten the country's unity and sovereignty. "The challenges still facing us are real," he said, adding that he had high hopes for the support of the Libyan people to overcome them. Tripoli (AFP) - Libya's new unity government announced Thursday plans to establish a joint military command to drive the Islamic State jihadist group out of the North African country. Its presidential council called on "all military forces" in Libya to await instructions after "a joint command" has been formed and not to launch any unilateral offensive on the IS stronghold of Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli. Martin Kobler, the UN special envoy for Libya, said in a tweet: "I welcome the initiative of #Libya Presidency Council to appoint a military joint leadership for operations" against IS. The council fears that separate operations in Sirte could spark clashes between the multitude of different fighting forces in Libya and play into the jihadists' hands. IS has transformed Sirte into a training camp for Libyan and foreign militants since overrunning slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi's hometown on the Mediterranean last June. With its port and airport, there are growing fears that IS may use Sirte as a staging post for attacks on European soil. By Ahmed Elumami TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's U.N.-backed unity government called on Thursday on military factions to hold off from any campaign against the Islamic State-controlled city of Sirte until a unified military command structure is created. The statement came amid signs that factions from both eastern and western Libya could be gearing up for an advance on Sirte, although such operations have repeatedly been announced in recent months without taking place. Islamic State has held Sirte since 2015, taking advantage of a conflict between loose alliances of armed brigades allied to Libya's rival governments to seize a 250-km (155-mile) strip of coastline around the central Mediterranean city, which lies between the eastern and western power bases. Western states are hoping the unity government, which arrived in Tripoli last month, will be able to make Libya's armed factions work together against the ultra-hardline militant group, and have said they are ready to provide training for Libyan forces if requested by the unity government. The United States has already conducted air strikes against Islamic State militants in Libya. The unity government's leadership, or Presidential Council, said on Thursday it welcomed the "push by various factions and armed forces to fight Islamic State forces in Sirte", but warned that an uncoordinated offensive could lead to civil war. "In the absence of coordination and unified leadership ... the Council expresses its concern that the battle in Sirte against Daesh (Islamic State) will be a confrontation between those armed forces," it said in a statement, adding such a conflict would likely benefit Islamic State. "Accordingly, the Presidential Council, as the supreme commander of army, demands all Libyan military forces wait for it to appoint a joint leadership for the Sirte operation," the statement said. 'BY LIBYAN HANDS' In a recorded statement later on Thursday, the head of the council and prime minister of the unity government, Fayez Seraj, said his ministers had started coordinating security arrangements with the army "to start liberating Sirte", and were looking to set up a national joint operations room. Islamic State would be rooted out "by Libyan hands and not through foreign intervention," he said. Since 2014, Libya has had two competing sets of governments and parliaments in Tripoli and the east. Both were backed by shifting coalitions of military factions and former rebels. The unity government has been gradually establishing itself in Tripoli, displacing the self-declared administration that had been set up in the capital. But it has failed to secure a vote of approval from the eastern parliament, or House of Representatives, amid opposition from hardline allies of Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the eastern military. The hardliners say they are worried the military will not be protected under the new government, and have opposed a clause that would give it power over military appointments. The military in the east has been making significant gains on the ground against Islamist and other opponents in Benghazi, Libya's second city. It said on Thursday it was "fully ready for the battle of Sirte and was waiting for orders" from Haftar. Witnesses told Reuters dozens of armored vehicles and ambulances had been mobilizing for the operation. Reports and pictures have been circulating on social media in recent days that brigades from the western city of Misrata were also mobilizing for a campaign against Sirte. No one from the military operations room in Misrata was immediately available to confirm the reports, but commanders from the city have previously said they intend to launch an offensive. Brigades from Misrata have been militarily strong since playing a major role in the NATO-backed campaign to topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Forces from Misrata abandoned ground operations against Islamic State in Sirte last year, but have continued to conduct air strikes over the city. Eastern military officials said there had not been any coordination with forces in Misrata over a new campaign against Sirte. (Additional reporting from Ayman al-Warfalli in Benghazi; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Dominic Evans and Peter Cooney) Qualcomm's Fiscal 2Q16 Earnings: A Mixed Bag (Continued from Prior Part) Licensing business financial performance at a glance So far, we saw that Qualcomms (QCOM) Chipset business reported earnings within the guidance range but the overall business posted declines owing to the weakness in smartphone sales, especially premium phones from Apple (AAPL) and Samsung (SSNLF). However, the scenario was different in the QTL (Qualcomm Technology Licensing) segment. In fiscal 2Q16, QTLs revenue fell by 12% YoY (year-over-year) to ~$2.1 billion. The operating margin fell from 89.6% in fiscal 1Q16 to 87% in fiscal 2Q16 but was up from 83% reported in fiscal 1Q16. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, revenues rose by 33%, indicating that fiscal 2Q16 was better than fiscal 1Q16. Reported device sales The total device sales reported to Qualcomm in fiscal 2Q16 fell by 8% YoY but rose by 16% quarter-over-quarter to $70.1 billion, slightly above the midpoint of the companys guidance. This is due to seasonally strong sales during the December 2015 quarter. QTLs revenues are reported one quarter behind, and the licensing revenue generated from the devices sold in fiscal 1Q16 is reflected in fiscal 2Q16. According to Qualcomms estimates, around 335 million339 million 3G and 4G devices were shipped in the December 2015 quarter for an ASP of $205$211. However, the number of unreported device sales also rose modestly, largely because OEMs, which have been avoiding licensing fees during ongoing negotiations with Chinas (MCHI) regulator, reported an increase in sales. Qualcomm has launched a compliance program to recover lost revenue from these unreported device sales. QTLs revenue also included a one-off revenue gain of $266 million from the merger of two infrastructure licensees. New licensing agreements Qualcomms (QCOM) YoY revenues fell as it took some time to secure licensing contracts from Chinese handset makers after the company reached a settlement with Chinas regulators. However, the company has now signed licensing deals with more than 100 Chinese manufacturers, including the top five handset makers, under the revised terms with the regulator. Story continues However, the demand for 3G and 4G devices is expected to slow in 2016, creating a need for more licensing deals in order to maintain QTLs revenue within the range. The company is already in talks with other Chinese OEMs that have not yet signed licensing contracts. The company signed contracts with Yulong and Hisense after the end of fiscal 2Q16, which will be reflected in fiscal 3Q16. Even Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has entered into the licensing business to earn profit amid slowing chip sales. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Protection Against Broken Screens; Package Endorsed by X-Games Gold Medalist Nyjah Huston Is Available Exclusively at RadioShack IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / Liquipel, LLC (http://www.liquipel.com/), an industry leader in device-protection technology, introduces its newest creation in its line of mobile device security today, the SafeGuard Protection Package - available exclusively at RadioShack stores and RadioShack.com for a limited time. The innovative package creates an additional layer of protection, by backing a product with the world's first and only 12-month limited warranty, which covers the customer's screen, rather than the screen protector only, for up to $150 with no deductible. The combination of the Liquipel nano-shock impact SKINS screen protectors and impact cases or bumpers are sleek, stylish and affordable. This concept has already caught the attention of someone who knows first hand how important impact protection is: gold-medal street skater Nyjah Huston. "My gnarliest tricks are when I'm skating big stuff," said Nyjah Huston, who has won seven consecutive X Games Street Skateboarding gold medals. "But perfecting those tricks means falling down -- a lot. With the Liquipel Safeguard Protection Package, at least now I don't need to worry about my phone every time I bail." TO SEE NYJAH AND LIQUIPEL SAFEGUARD IN ACTION, CLICK HERE: http://bit.ly/1TEw9Kr. PHOTOS CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE: PHOTOS CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE: http://bit.ly/1VOyhBq. With a MSRP of $39.99, the SafeGuard Protection Package provides a simple solution that not only looks great but also delivers on exceptional quality and value. Depending on the package, there may be two SKIN screen protectors, one each for the front and back of the phone, both acting as literal shock absorbers while also maintaining a smooth, glass-like surface. The SKIN is made from a hybrid of protective substances that are highly resilient to impact, which Liquipel combines in such a way that provides for amazing performance. These protective substances, which have important applications, including the military, were created with device owners in mind. Additionally, by using our bubble-release technology we are able to ensure a flat, bubble-free even adhesion. The third part is the Impact Bumper or Case that completely encases the phone's outer rim, guarding against possible damage if the device falls on its sides or corners. Liquipel is so confident in its technology that every SafeGuard Protection Package comes with a 12-month limited warranty. And while other screen protection warranties only cover the replacement cost of the failed film, if a SafeGuard-protected screen is damaged, Liquipel will pay for what really matters to the consumer: a brand new screen up to $150 (terms and conditions apply, see http://www.liquipel.com/ftc). "RadioShack understands the value our customers place on their electronics," said Bruce Hawver, chief merchandising officer at RadioShack. "The SafeGuard protection offering from Liquipel, sold exclusively at RadioShack, is a great example of the type of innovation our customers expect from us and we're proud to deliver. We encourage customers to stop by their neighborhood store for an interactive demonstration of the SafeGuard program before making their purchase decision." Liquipel's full line of screen protection products, including its SKINS and ION-Glass with blue light protection, are now available at all RadioShack locations nationwide and online at RadioShack.com. The SafeGuard Protection Package is available for the iPhone 5SE, 6/6S, 6 Plus /6S Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S6/S7. For more information, please visit Liquipel's website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To contact Liquipel, email info@liquipel.com. About Liquipel Liquipel (http://www.liquipel.com/) brings together patented and proprietary technologies, creating 360 device protection for mobile devices and other electronics. Liquipel Watersafe is an award-winning process that uses nanotechnology to protect smart phones and other devices from accidental exposure to liquids. SKINS by Liquipel is a screen protection technology that prevents broken screens by utilizing a unique Nano-Shock technology to provide protection for mobile devices against severe impacts and drops. Since its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show 2012, Liquipel Watersafe has won an Edison Award, a FierceWireless Fierce 15 Award, and was named by Popular Science as the Grand Award Winner in the Gadgets Category for the magazine's "Best of What's New" issue. It also has been included in Entrepreneur Magazine's "100 Brilliant Companies" list. The Liquipel brand incorporates aggressive pull-through marketing campaigns utilizing key celebrity partners, such as Pharrell Williams, Steve Aoki and Nyjah Huston, to maintain a fresh, exciting brand image. Liquipel 360 incorporates the patented Liquipel Watersafe technology, SKINS Impact Protection and device insurance to create a preemptive insurance protection offering that is unique to the mobile ecosystem. For more information, please visit Liquipel's website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. To contact Liquipel, email info@liquipel.com. About RadioShack RadioShack, the neighborhood electronics convenience store, is a leading national retailer of innovative personal and home technology products and services, and power supply needs. RadioShack offers top national and exclusive private brands as well as mobile services through its wireless partner Sprint, all within a comfortable and convenient shopping environment. Founded in 1921, RadioShack is owned today by General Wireless, Inc., which acquired the storied brand in March 2015. The new RadioShack has over 1,700 company-owned stores, including 1,400 Sprint Stores at RadioShack, and nearly 500 independent dealers located nationwide. Instagram: @radioshack | Twitter: @radioshack | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadioShack. CONTACT INFORMATION RadioShack Media Contact Alessandra Carriero The SPEAKEASY Agency Alessandra@thespeakeasy.agency 1-646-650-3570 Liquipel Contact Sam Winkler Liquipel, LLC info@liquipel.com 1-85-LIQUIPEL (855-4784) Media Contact Martin Stein TrizCom Public Relations martin@trizcom.com 1-972-215-6457 SOURCE: Liquipel, LLC Elegy might be described as a memory play not because it recalls the past but because it is a play that remembers. As in his earlier play Constellations (seen on Broadway last season with Jake Gyllenhaal), playwright Nick Payne uses form to reflect his subject and, by writing in reverse chronology, he restores a relationship that has been obliterated by amnesia. Payne keeps coming back to the brain. His last play, Incognito, which opens in New York next month with Charlie Cox (Daredevil) among its cast, was a study of Henry Molaison, a.k.a Patient HM, who lost the ability to form new memories as an unintended consequence of pioneering brain surgery. Elegy, debuting at Londons National Theater, presents something similar. Rather than the memory mechanism itself, Lorna (Zoe Wanamaker) loses a portion of her memory bank. Set in the near future, it imagines a procedure to cure an unspecified degenerative disease by removing a part of the brain, and with it, a set of memories. In practice, that means giving up a part of ones life, perhaps even a sense of ones self. In Lornas case, its the last 25 years years in which she met, fell in love with and built a life with her wife Carrie (Barbara Flynn). Whats going to happen to me? she asks her doctor (Nina Sosanya) a question that concerns her past, her present and her future all at once. A poem of a play, Elegy is more a situation than a story, more mood than plot. It runs backwards, a shape that, in essence, allows Payne to refresh our memories. Bookended by the same scene of Carrie and Lornas first meeting after her treatment, the play adds context to that encounter the second time around with color, feeling and even love. We see the meeting first as Lorna does, stripped of its emotional significance; later, through Carries eyes, aware of everything that has come before. Its a quiet, contemplative gesture, one that questions the relationship between feeling and thought. Love exists not in the heart, Payne suggests, but in the mind. It is itself, perhaps, a memory. Story continues The reverse chronology recalls Harold Pinters Betrayal, but here it becomes an examination of fidelity. As the play works back, Carrie and Lorna focus on the future, and whether or not to press ahead with surgery. Carrie has to trust that some memory of her, some trace of feeling, will survive in Lorna, and Flynn lends her a graceful patience, always standing back, giving Lorna space, supporting her. Her faith runs through the play in God, in science and in love so strong and certain it almost remains unspoken. They are a beautifully drawn couple, so ordinarily in love. Flynn is so solid, Wanamaker so airy, yet as Elegy rewinds, you watch the two of them re-entwine, planning poetry readings for their and sharing jokes. They wrap their arms around one another, climb on top of each other, only to end up sat, side by side, in a hospital room, contemplating divorce. Behind them, in Tom Scutts scorched-earth design, beautifully lit by Paule Constable, stands a vast tree trunk, split down the middle a single thing divided in two, not unlike the brain itself. Josie Rourkes production does its best to counter the glint of sentimentality in Paynes writing, inevitable in dwelling so squarely on death, endings and loss, but this is a mournful, minor-key delight: rich, still and ruminative. Related stories Jean-Marc Vallee and Bryan Sipe on Working With Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Demolition' Miranda Richardson Joins Jake Gyllenhaal's Boston Marathon Bombing Movie 'Stronger' London Theater Review: Lorraine Hansberry's 'Les Blancs' WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed President Barack Obama's nominee for ambassador to Mexico after a long delay and behind-the-scenes maneuvering that included renewing sanctions imposed on Venezuelans and a State Department authorization bill. Obama nominated career diplomat Roberta Jacobson for the Mexico City post in June, but she faced resistance from a few lawmakers for reasons including her role in helping negotiate Obama's relations with Communist-ruled Cuba and concerns the administration had failed to make human rights a priority. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee backed her nomination in November, but Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida placed a "hold" that kept her confirmation vote from going ahead. Rubio, who is Cuban-American and a former 2016 Republican presidential candidate, opposes Obama's moves toward normalizing relations with Havana and often pushes for the White House to take a stronger stand on human rights issues in Latin America. This month, Republican leaders and Obama administration officials came to Rubio to ask what would make him lift his hold on Jacobson. He asked for an extension of a bill he introduced last year imposing sanctions on Venezuelans for human rights violations in connection with the suppression of anti-government protests. The Senate approved a three-year extension of the sanctions measure on Thursday evening. The chamber also approved a State Department authorization bill that was being blocked by Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who is still in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. A Senate aide said Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would block Rubio's Venezuela bill if Rubio did not lobby Cruz to drop his hold on the State Department measure. Cruz dropped his opposition, and the State Department bill also passed the Senate by unanimous voice vote on Thursday night. Spokesmen for Rubio, Cruz and Corker declined to comment. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was pleased the Senate "finally" confirmed Jackson. "No one is more qualified than Roberta to represent the United States in Mexico," he said in a statement. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Peter Cooney) Meet Microsoft Flow: A free way to connect all of your cloud services including Slack, GitHub, Twitter, and Google Drive together in new and novel ways. You can have your Dropbox files automatically copied to a OneDrive account. You can have your Tweets saved to a spreadsheet. If you've ever used the mega-popular IFTTT service, it's exactly like that, with user-created "flows" for shunting data from one service to another. Even more interestingly, it looks like we first found out about Flow before Microsoft was ready: The annunciatory blog post, dated April 27th 2016, was publicly viewable as of Wednesday afternoon, but the main flow.microsoft.com site didn't yet work. Both the blog and the site were first noticed by Twitter user "h0x0d." Here's the key image from that blog post: microsoft flow It also includes example "flows," like this one: My manager emails me a lot, but with all the email I get, its easy easy to miss an email or. Luckily, its very easy to create a flow that sends me a text message whenever my boss sends me an email. Or this one: My friends will tell you Im not very adept at social media, so to help me keep on top of it Im integrating Tweets with a tool I am familiar with (Excel). I have a flow set up that searches for tweets about Microsoft Flow and saves them into an Excel file that I can review on my own time. You can even save tweets to SQL[...] That same blog post explains that Flow is based on a tool originally introduced alongside Microsoft PowerApps last November as a closed preview. Now, it's free and open to everyone, so maybe give it a shot. If nothing else, it's a great sign of Microsoft's continued willingness to work with outside companies. NOW WATCH: A Mesmerizing Lava Flow Is Swallowing Up Land On Hawaii's Biggest Island More From Business Insider With thrusting spears and thumping feet, the Philippines Higaunon tribe perform a frenzied war dance to celebrate this years Kaamulan festival, high in the emerald peaks of insurgency-wracked Mindanao Island. Eleven teams competed in this riot of pageantry; hundreds of performers clad in crimson-stripped native dress twirled shields and flourished flags, gamboling in consort under a cacophony of shrill percussion. Yet the several thousand spectators who braved the blistering April 1 sun were really gathered to glimpse a modern-day warrior: Rodrigo Duterte, the crime-busting mayor of Davao City, who received a rapturous reception when he dropped by to campaign for the nations presidential elections on May 9. In Mindanao people love me, Duterte told TIME after his speech, which was the profanity-laced medley of jokes and taunts that has become his populist trademark. Read More: The Next President of the Philippines Could Be the Punisher Duterte is not your typical politician. The crowds in Malaybalay town that day were not bemused yokels, politely clapping the least worst choice on the ballot paper. The throng that roared Dutertes name sees him as a messiah a demagogic visage he has cultivated through his hands-on approach fighting crime over three decades as mayor and prosecutor. Duterte will kill all the criminals and drive out all the corrupt politicians, said student Elmer Luiz, 22. If he doesnt win the election it will mean they have stolen it from us. Thats the only way he cant win. Such adoration is rooted in Dutertes record fighting crime. Once lawless Davao now has a reputation as the Philippines safest city, and there is a yearning for this transformation to be replicated across the 88-million-strong archipelago nation. I am a prosecutor thats why Im quite strict about crime, Duterte says. I have seen so many cases fall it makes me mad. Story continues However, human-rights groups insist that death squads controlled by Duterte are responsible for an estimated 700 extrajudicial executions. Upon hearing this, Duterte was aghast: 700? he queried on live TV. They miscalculated. 1,700. This mordant wit is central to the allure of Duterte, who appears incapable of giving a speech or interview without injecting one caustic soundbite, threat or taunt to fill headlines the next day. Speaking to an influential Manila business forum, Duterte joked about his philandering and love of Viagra. Challenged about the legality of his death squads, he goaded opponents that he would just sign his own presidential pardon for mass murder. Asked what he thought of U.S. Republican presidential nomination front-runner Donald Trump, Duterte gave typically short shrift: Hes a bigot. Duterte has had to shrug off similar allegations in recent weeks. During a campaign speech on April 16, he joked that he should have been first in the 1989 gang rape of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill during a prison riot in Davao City. She was subsequently murdered. The remarks drew widespread condemnation, which in turn drew scornful ripostes from Duterte, who told a womens-rights group to go to hell and the Australian ambassador to stay out. Even his eldest daughter, who in defending her fathers remarks said that she had also been a victim of rape, was dismissed as a drama queen by the presidential aspirant. Read More: Philippine Presidential Candidate Defends Remarks on Rape: This Is How Men Talk Yet polls dont lie. A Pulse Asia survey released Tuesday showed Duterte at 35% of the vote in the five-way race to the Malacanang Palace, well ahead of his closet rival, Senator Grace Poe, who has 23%. The last six years under President Benigno Aquino III may have seen growth hover at 6.5%, national debt fall drastically and glut of foreign investment, but for many Filipinos this boom lacks inclusiveness, and they hanker for a leader who can reestablish the nations international prestige. The big risk for the Philippines is that it does have a poor track record for electing decent leaders, says Gareth Leather, senior Asian analyst for Capital Economics. Dutertes campaign is shakiest on fiscal matters. His bawdy remarks at the Makati business forum did not woo the suited brigade looking for a sober stratagem for long-term growth. Asked by TIME how he would help provide jobs for the million or so young Filipinos entering the workforce each year, Dutertes unsophisticated answer was money and investment. Yet Duterte has twisted this unfamiliarity with big business to his advantage, playing up the image of the plain-spoken common man who isnt beholden to the entrenched dynasties that historically, and still, hold significant sway over the Philippines. However, Duterte is a scion in his own right his father was Vicente G. Duterte, who served as governor of the united Davao. A black-and-white photo of his father occupies pride of place in his living room, and he is proud of being born in the Visayas island chain, as opposed to the typical power brokers further north. Washington will hope that Duterte would at least follow Aquinos bullish approach regarding Chinese territorial expansions in the South China Sea, where both Manila and Beijing claim the resource-rich Spratly Islands. Satellite imagery in early 2014 showed Chinese construction of a landing strip on reclaimed reefs building work that has now grown into full-scale military bases with air-traffic-control towers, dredged seaport and defensive bunkers. Some experts contend these unsinkable aircraft carriers even have surface-to-air missile capability. Read More: The Philippine Election Front-Runner Says He Would Kill His Own Children if They Took Drugs But Duterte has actually made conciliatory overtures toward China, proposing a joint exploration of oil and gas under the reefs, and instead pointing the finger at the U.S for not challenging the Asian superpower earlier. Why the hell did the U.S. not send its Seventh Fleet to confront China from the outset when they knew they were building a structure in international waters? Duterte asked, emphasizing the benefits of dialogue over brinkmanship. If you militarize the waterway then freight insurance goes up, making goods leaving the Philippines more expensive. It is a conciliatory approach that chafes with his domestic reputation. After Duterte banned smoking in public places in Davao City, he once even made a tourist eat a cigarette that he refused to put out. A former smoker himself, his aversion to the habit comes from his personal battle. Asked by TIME about his health, he holds up a wizened finger. Buergers disease and I have a bad case of Barretts [esophagus], he says, referring respectively to a disease that blocks the blood vessels in the hands and feet, and a condition where the esophagus changes to tissue that resembles the lining of the intestine. Despite his health problems, Duterte has just celebrated his 71st birthday, though some worry whether the travel, late nights and stress of a full six-year presidential term might prove deleterious. Especially, as Duterte insists, he intends to remain as President in his current humble, three-bedroom home in suburban Davao, commuting to the capital each morning on a private jet. I can have breakfast on the plane, he says. That said, Duterte has repeatedly vowed to resign if he fails to eradicate crimes, drugs and corruption within six months, and hand the reins to vice-presidential front-runner Bongbong Marcos son of former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos. But should people be worried about having another Marcos in power? Bongbong would do a good job, Duterte, Jollibee hot dog in hand, bellows above the roar of helicopter rotor blades, before quipping, They should be worried about me! (Reuters) - A Louisiana man walked free from the state's notorious Angola prison late on Friday after serving 41 years of an unconstitutional life sentence over the shooting death of a white high school student during a violent and racially charged chapter in the state's fight to segregate schools. The high-profile case of Gary Tyler, 57, ended when he entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to 21 years - just over half of the time served - and told he could go home Friday, according to a statement released on behalf of Tyler and his attorneys. Tyler is among a generation of prisoners who faced harsh conditions and years or even decades in solitary confinement for convictions during racially charged events in Louisiana. Angola is considered among the toughest of the state's prisons, once a part of a Deep South plantation and known for seething racial tensions and harsh treatment of inmates. At age 16 in 1974, Tyler was the youngest person on Louisiana's Death Row, where an all-white jury sent Tyler, who is black, to die for the slaying of 13-year-old Thomas Weber, a fellow Destrehan High School student in St. Charles Parish in southern Louisiana. Tyler was aboard a bus filled with black students who were passing an unruly crowd of white students when Weber was shot, the statement said. Police found a gun on the bus and Tyler was charged with capital murder and tried as an adult. After his death sentence, white students who testified against him recanted their stories. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals called his conviction fundamentally unfair and said he was never given his right to the presumption of innocence. But he never received a new trial. In 1976, his death sentence was commuted to life after the state's mandatory death penalty was ruled unconstitutional. In the following two decades, the Louisiana Board of Pardons and Paroles voted three times to lessen his sentence. Still, Tyler served eight years in solitary confinement and more than 30 years in the general population, where he became a mentor and a leader. His case drew national attention as an example of the unfair convictions and over-the-top sentencing and treatment of minorities in the Louisiana justice system at the time. In 2012, life without parole for juvenile offenders was also ruled unconstitutional, and earlier this year, a court decided the ruling should be retroactive - giving prosecutors a legal avenue to reduce Tyler's sentence with a guilty plea on Friday. (Reporting by Karen Brooks in Fort Worth, Texas, editing by G Crosse) Luxembourg (AFP) - A whistleblower who helped expose the LuxLeaks scandal told a court Friday he had decided to do his duty as a citizen after he was "shocked" by Luxembourg's huge tax breaks for multinational firms. Raphael Halet, one of three people on trial over the theft of thousands of documents from accounting firm PwC, retracted an earlier statement that he was asked for documents by a journalist. Instead the 40-year-old Frenchman told the court in Luxembourg that had taken the decision by himself to carry out his "duty to alert" the tax practices in the tiny EU state as a "citizen". "I now take responsibility for my actions," said Halet, who appeared tired after repeated questioning. He said he decided to act after seeing a report by French journalist Edouard Perrin on state-owned France 2 television in 2012, which it later turned out was based on leaks by another PwC employee, Antoine Deltour. "In our team we were pretty surprised and shocked by the report," Halet said. "I was surprised that it was possible. After the report, I was able to better understand the content of the documents that we saw passing (at PwC). "These were practices that shocked me. I realised that my work went against my convictions." The whistleblower said he then made contact with the journalist. "It was me who decided which companies and which documents" were leaked, Halet said. - Confidentiality clause - He explained his earlier statements blaming the journalist by saying that under a confidential agreement with PwC in December 2014, after he was identified as one of the sources, he agreed to give details of the leaks. The agreement said Halet would have to pay the company 10 million euros if he broke the confidentiality clause. Deltour and Halet are both accused of stealing documents from the database of the firm, revealing business secrets, violation of professional secrets and money laundering. Story continues Perrin is charged with acting as an accomplice in those crimes. The three, who are all French nationals, each face up to 10 years in jail if convicted. The LuxLeaks of around 30,000 pages of documents from PwC exploded onto the world stage in November 2014, exposing "sweetheart" deals that saved firms including Apple, IKEA and Pepsi billions of dollars in taxes. They were particularly controversial as the deals were made when Jean-Claude Juncker, now president of the European Commission, was prime minister of Luxembourg. LuxLeaks was the biggest expose of its kind until this month's publication of the Panama Papers, which revealed links between a number of international leaders and offshore shell companies that can be used to hide or launder wealth. French finance minister Michel Sapin this week expressed "solidarity" with the whistleblowers. The man who was wearing a "onesie panda outfit" and surgical mask when he walked into a Baltimore TV station on Thursday and threatened to blow the place up was not wearing a bomb but chocolate bars wrapped in aluminum foil and duct taped to a flotation device, police have said. Read: Baltimore Cops Shoot 13-Year-Old Boy Carrying 'Replica' Handgun Alex Brizzi, 25, alleged to be wearing an explosive device when walked into a building for Fox affiliate WBFF on Thursday afternoon and was shot by the Baltimore police. He is now in serious but stable condition and is expected to survive. According to a police briefing Thursday night, Brizzi was wearing a red flotation device with chocolate bars wrapped in aluminum foil connected by wiring that were made to look like explosives. Running down the sleeve of his costume onesie, described as either a panda or a hedgehog, were wires connected to a mock detonator in his hand, police said. "It does not appear the device is capable of actual explosives," Baltimore Police representative T.J. Smith said. On Thursday afternoon, Brizzi allegedly walked into the lobby of WBFF with a flash drive. He handed the flash drive to the security guard and said he needed the station to broadcast its contents, "and then displayed what appeared to be wires and some other things inside of his jacket that appeared to be some type of explosive device," Smith said in a police briefing. The security guard then activated a silent alarm under his desk and the station was evacuated while Brizzi remained inside the lobby. Read: Federal Agents Arrest the Brother of San Bernardino Terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook Though police have not said what was on the drive, the security guard told CBS Baltimore that "it pretty much had to do with anything with astronomy -- black holes, the sun, about it being liquid and gas, and he just wanted to say that the government was wrong in thinking about the way they do when it comes to anything in space." Story continues As police, fire, arson, bomb squad and SWAT teams reached the scene, a car outside the station was engulfed in flames. Police said it was determined to belong to the man. "There was a rag inside of the gas tank area of the vehicle," Smith said and clarified that the car did not explode. "No type of explosion, no type of bomb detonated at any time." Brizzi later left the building and police reported that he ignored orders by the SWAT team outside. They were joined by bomb squad, police, fire and arson teams. He was then shot by a counter sniper. Smith said at least three shots were fired, though Brizzi's dad, Ed, told CBS Baltimore he was shot four times, including once in the neck. Brizzi was wounded, but not killed, and was still not taking orders when a bomb robot scanned him for at least an hour and removed the animal costume and mask. He can be seen in a harrowing Facebook picture wearing the same mask with the Chinese character "love" written across the front. It appears to be part of a costume from the Japanese anime, Naruto. Read: Sons Of Slain Couple Found With Grisly Message Arrested on Murder Charges "He's just had a mental break down," father Ed Brizzi told CBS Baltimore, "and probably what happened was ... he has no way of doing a bomb what he was doing was probably just putting himself out there and thinking that he wanted to die." Brizzi, who is still in the hospital, has not yet been charged by Baltimore Police. Watch: 'Barefoot Bandit' Wants to Freeze His Dying Mom: 'She Won't Be Alive When I Get Out' Related Articles: News of a New York man being attacked because he looks too much like Shia LaBeouf went viral this week and word got back to the actor. Mario Licato, 26, was sucker punched last weekend while on his way to a show on the Lower East Side. The suspect told Licato the attack happened "because you look like Shia LaBeouf." The real LaBeouf heard about the news and reached out to his injured doppelganger, Licato confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. "[LaBeouf] left me a voicemail and then I called him back and we chatted for a bit," Licato told THR. He did not say what the two discussed, but Licato told Cosmopolitan the first voice message was "pretty long." "He was like, 'Hey, this is Shia LaBeouf ... I just read an article that you were punched in the face because you look like me?' And he was like, 'Aw, man. That sucks. I'm so sorry. But I get it. It's happened to me before.' And then he was like, 'I don't know. I wish I was in New York. I'd come bring you soup'," Licato told Cosmo. A police report was filed and an official with the NYPD told THR the attack was misdemeanor assault. Read More: New York Man Attacked "Because You Look Like Shia LaBeouf" Before Manchester City can think about their second-leg Champions League semifinal match against Real Madrid next week, they must find enough focus to continue their undefeated stretch in the Premier League. City look to run that streak to six games Sunday when they try to do the double over host Southampton for a second straight season. Manuel Pellegrini's group might have felt they missed an opportunity to gain an edge over a Ronaldo-less Madrid side in their scoreless draw at the Etihad on Tuesday. The teams meet again Wednesday at the Bernabeu - where Real Madrid have outscored opponents 18-0 in Champions League play this season - but Manchester City (19-7-9) are poised not to let their Premier League obligations be secondary to reaching the final in Milan. "The Premier League is a competition where anyone plays against you from peer to peer," defender Nicolas Otamendi told the club's official website. "There's an intense pace. We play every three or four days and we can't just give the league away." That's because Manchester City enter the weekend third in the table, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. While they are determined to win the Champions League this season, a top-three finish will secure them a group spot in next year's competition. "We have to achieve the aim, which is to get qualified for next season's Champions League," Otamendi said. The Citizens, who have yielded one goal in their last five matches over all competitions, own a 14-2 scoring advantage while going 4-1-0 in the league this month. They've allowed only one goal during a 2-2-0 road stretch within the division. Backed by a pair of goals from starlet Kelechi Iheanacho, City rolled to a 4-0 home win over Stoke City on Saturday. "We're fighting for everything near the top so we knew those three points were important," Otamendi said. Though they managed only two shots on target and five overall against Real Madrid, the Citizens might be able to return to their aggressive offensive form this weekend. Story continues City have outscored Southampton 12-2 while averaging 7.0 shots on goal during a four-game Premier League winning streak. Kevin De Bruyne had a goal and two assists during the 3-1 home victory over the Saints (15-9-11) on Nov. 28. "Their mind will be on (Champions League) obviously but we can't rely on that," captain Jose Fonte told Southampton's official website. "We have to make sure we have a good plan for them, nullify all their weapons." If Manchester City are to continue their series success, they might have to do it without a couple of key contributors. Yaya Toure sat Tuesday with a muscle problem and David Silva exited in the first half with a hamstring injury, leaving both uncertain for this fixture. Either absence could bode well for the Saints, who are in the midst of a 4-1-1 stretch and have not allowed more than two goals in 21 league matches since losing to City. Entering the weekend eighth in the table, Southampton are holding out hope they can earn spot in Europa League next season if things play out in their favour over the final three matches. "We know at the moment it is not looking good," Fonte said. "We still believe. It is up to us, we need to win the next three games and we will give it all we have. "Obviously we believe we can win any game." Dusan Tadic snapped a nine-game league goal drought with a brace in the Saints' 4-2 victory over relegation-bound Aston Villa on April 23. The Washington Post Thursday night published a widely cited piece by Philip Rucker reporting on the level of resignation among Republican Party insiders to the idea of Donald Trump winning the partys presidential nomination. Indeed, with six straight victories in recent primaries, a substantial delegate lead and favorable polling in the key state of Indiana, the New York billionaires nomination looks almost assured. Republican stalwarts opposed to Trump remain fearful of the damage the unconventional and unruly billionaire might inflict on the partys down-ballot candidates in November, Rucker wrote. But many also now see him as the all-but-certain nominee and are exhausted by the prospect of a contested July convention, according to interviews this week with more than a dozen party figures from coast to coast. Related: Trumps Foreign Policy Speech Left Experts Puzzled, or Appalled Theres no question that many or even most Republicans would rally around Trump as the partys nominee if he wins the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the nomination at the Republican convention in July. Some will get behind Trump just because he is the GOP nominee. Some will fall in line in spite of Trump being the nominee, in order to do their best to protect down-ballot Republicans from general election disaster in the event of a catastrophic loss in the presidential campaign. But there is a very big question about how many will do neither. On Friday, with the primary in his state just days away, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence finally stepped off the sidelines and endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz instead of Trump. Pence had been criticized for failing to take a stand on such a key race, but in the end, even with Trump polling ahead of Cruz by more than 5 percentage points in Indiana, he apparently refused to surrender to the inevitability of a Trump nomination. Pence is not alone in declining to surrender to a Trump candidacy, and many of his fellow conservatives have been much more vocal about it. For months, the so-called #NeverTrump movement has been actively opposing the former reality television stars candidacy on the grounds that Trump is not worthy of leading the Republican Party. Story continues Related: John Boehner on Ted Cruz Lucifer in the Flesh Even as a Trump nomination looks more and more like a sure thing, at least some are glad to clarify that their position has not changed. The Trump campaign is a test of character, and many Americans are failing it, Tom Nichols, a professor at the Naval War College, wrote this week at The Federalist. A staunch conservative and strong critic of the presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Nichols nevertheless wrote, Yes, fellow conservatives: Trump is worse than Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Their policies are liberal, even leftist, often motivated by cheap politics, ego, and political grandstanding. But they are policies, understandable as such and opposable by political means. Trumps positions, he said, are not so much policies as feverish revenge fantasies...inviting us into a war of all against all over which he will preside as an amused dictator. Related: Trump Plays the Woman Card Against Hillary. Will It Backfire? He added, Most conservatives have already told Trump that we will not sell our character as Americans, and indeed our very souls, just to feel the pleasure of resentful anger for a few months. In The New York Times on Friday, conservative columnist David Brooks damned his fellow Republicans who seem willing to fall in line behind Trump. Theyre going down meekly and hoping for a quiet convention, he wrote. They seem blithely unaware that this is a Joe McCarthy moment. People will be judged by where they stood at this time. Those who walked with Trump will be tainted forever after for the degradation of standards and the general election slaughter. The question that the GOP as a whole now has to face is just how widespread the feelings of alienation Trump inspires really are and how that will affect the party in November. Maybe its unlikely that committed conservatives like Nichols and Brooks will skip the election altogether, allowing down-ballot Republicans to suffer because of their antipathy toward the man at the top of the ticket. But whether that can be said for the majority of the Republican voters unhappy with The Donald is not at all clear. Related: Trump Keeps Defying Predictions -- And His Own Advisers And thats causing some obvious concern. On Friday, for example, Oregon Rep. Greg Walden, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, felt the need to assure fellow Republican that the GOP will maintain its majority in the House of Representatives in the next Congress. A few months ago, that would have been about as necessary as promising that the sun will rise tomorrow. If Trump really does become the nominee, the onus will be on the GOP establishment to solve the problem of how to mount an effective get-out-the-vote operation in November, even as a significant segment of their voters are, as Brooks put it, appalled by Trump. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Http%3a%2f%2fi.blueprint.mashable.com%2f7jwofqic0-_3uv7xszligki6qf4%3d%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f75135%2fscreen_shot_2016-04-29_at_11.13.17_am When four veterans stood together on a Florida beach last Saturday, they hadn't seen each other in 50 years. The men Bob Falk, Dennis Puleo, Tom Hanks (not the actor) and Bob DeVenezia had been friends during their time in the Marine Corps, training together before they were each deployed to Vietnam. Right after basic training, they took a photo together on Cinnamon Beach. SEE ALSO: Elderly British veteran reunites with childhood sweetheart 70 years after suffering PTSD "It's a really funny picture, but one with a lot of heart behind it," DeVenezia told the Naples Daily News. Image: naples daily news After the war, the four friends lost contact. They'd been separated upon arrival to Vietnam, and the cold anti-war reception they returned to didn't exactly encourage them to reconnect. Things changed in 2011, when Hanks made an online memorial page for a friend all four of them knew. When Falk found the page, the friends began to reconnect, but they didn't all reunite until last week. After much logistical maneuvering, the four met in St. Augustine, Florida, each armed with the outfit they'd need to recreate their beloved beach photo. (They also borrowed a longboard from a kind stranger.) We'd say they nailed it particularly the facial expressions. Image: naples daily news After the shoot, they drove to a seafood shack for lunch and caught up, all wearing matching yellow shirts specially designed for the reunion. Image: naples daily news Since the reunion, the friends' story has received a huge wave of press. On Thursday, they even appeared on morning show Fox & Friends to discuss their experience. Now they're looking forward to the spotlight dimming a little but they hope to keep their friendship burning bright. The reunion was "one of the best days of my life," Hanks said. Nikhil Puthran Maruti Suzuki had revealed its plans to export the Baleno hatchback to over 100 countries. Recently, the Baleno had recently been exported to the Japan and European markets. Fresh reports have emerged that the India-made Baleno is now being exported to the US, New Zealand and Australian markets. Back in 2012, Suzuki had announced its withdrawal from the American market and with the Baleno entering the market, it can possibly help the brand regain its lost share. The US-bound model will be a left-hand drive model, while the Australian and the New Zealand markets will get the right-hand drive version. The international spec Baleno will be powered by a 1,373cc, 4-cylinder petrol engine. The hatchback will be offered in manual as well as in a CVT option. The international bound Baleno will comply with international safety norms. The India-spec Baleno comes with a 1.2-litre engine which puts out 83bhp of power. The diesel variant gets a 1.3-litre engine which puts out 75bhp of power. The hatchback in India comes mated to a five-speed manual, while CVT is optional only in the petrol variant. Source: Z For more news,reviews,videos and information about cars, visit CarWale.com. Check On-Road Prices | Find New Cars | Upcoming Cars | Compare Cars | Dealer Locator From Cosmopolitan Just one year after falling in love with feminism, Matt McGorry has become one of the most visible male feminist celebrities in media today. He dug into Piers Morgan for being sour over Beyonce's Lemonade, has raised funds for pro-choice group NARAL, and routinely schools internet trolls on intersectional feminism and Black Lives Matter. He's achieved "woke bae" status, but not without controversy. Some find it hard to overlook the fact that in just a year of learning about a mass, multi-generational movement, the fresh actor is already hobnobbing with the likes of Gloria Steinem and taking over a conversation that should be led by women, LGBT people, and people of color. Upon the eve of the Ms. Foundation's Gloria Awards, of which McGorry was an after-party host, Cosmopolitan.com wanted to get McGorry's take on how straight, white, male feminists can be better allies - and perhaps just as importantly, how to spot one of those less well-intentioned male feminists of Tinder. Do you think that, in some ways, it's easier or perceived as cooler for a man to be a feminist than for a woman? Yeah. I do. I think it's easier to occur to women to be feminists, but I think it's easier to be one as a man. I've had my feelings hurt a lot because I like to think I'm doing good work and I like to think I'm a good person, [but] sometimes people might disagree with what I'm doing or how I'm doing it - people who are within the movement - and that's hurtful. But it's also important for me to hear those voices no matter how it's said and to take it in and really weigh it out. Also, I wouldn't say I get more praise from people who would normally be attacking women for it - I would say they might go less hard on me and they would threaten me less. But it's not like misogynistic men are like, "Oh, you're a feminist, that's really cool." You know what I mean? Other feminist women are supporting other feminist women. Some feminist women support me and some don't; probably the majority [do], maybe? Hopefully? If not, I'm probably doing something wrong. I've had my feelings hurt a lot because I like to think I'm doing good work and I like to think I'm a good person, [but] sometimes people might disagree with what I'm doing or how I'm doing it. Give me an example of a time when you were corrected on your feminism and how you responded. There was a project called Get Cliterate. It was about how the clit is essentially another version of the penis but we don't talk about it ever, in big part because of the stigma around women's sexuality and how it's shamed. And I made a post for that. I said every woman with a clit deserves an orgasm as much as every man with a penis. And some people called me out and were like, "This is not inclusive, it's transphobic - not every man has a penis, not every woman has a clit. And some have vice versa." And at the time I was like, "Fuck, I can't win. What can I say that will ever be right?" But I talked to a really smart friend of mine, and she was like, "Well, they aren't wrong. So the question is really, How inclusive do you want to be?" You have a platform to show that you can be more inclusive in that way; it ultimately doesn't hurt you once you've learned that lesson and you know how to adjust. The response shouldn't be super-defensive. It should be like, "Where is the value in what they are saying? And is that true?" And it was true. And I just changed it and said every person with a clit deserves an orgasm just as every person with a penis. It's a simple adjustment but it's more inclusive. Women who come out as feminists or criticize sexism are faced with rape threats, death threats, and harassment. Do you receive any threats? You know, the threats against women, the level of violence is not really thrown at me. Most of the things men who are against feminism say to me, I don't really consider insults. Like, I understand that if you're a man who is wrapped up in toxic masculinity and what you think it means to be a man, then these things would be insults to you. But like, some guy was like, "You're gay and you can't grow a beard." And I was like, well, I'm not gay, but it's not an insult to me. It would be like, "Your shirt is brown." No, it's green, but OK. And I can't really grow a beard that well. I have a fucking spotty beard and I don't really care. That's not how I value my self-worth. My mom is Jewish and I'm technically Jewish and someone called me a Jew once and I thought that was interesting, like no one has ever like called me a Jew in a derogatory way. But yeah, the stuff that I get is not nearly as bad [as what women deal with]. And I get a lot of praise for saying the things I'm saying and I understand how that would upset some people. I feel like I might be upset if I was a person of color or a woman. I can imagine that every time I'm getting positive grace for this, it might remind people of the difference in how people of privilege are treated versus people who aren't [of privilege] are treated. Because in an ideal world, I wouldn't be getting the positive praise for it. Because it wouldn't be a rare thing. Hollywood continues to have a major diversity problem. If there is a producer or project that just strikes you as sexist, even if that is unintentional, is that something you would reconsider in the context of your feminism and anti-racism? Yeah. I think it kinda has to be a conversation. Playing a misogynistic character, for example, is not a problem to me, but it being a misogynistic project is a problem to me. So for example, my character [Asher] on How to Get Away With Murder, we sort of know he is the problematic one, but it's through a lens of basically everyone else on the show knows that. If you look at like, American Pie - it was on recently in a bar I was in - and the fact that they are all filming this woman naked on her webcam without her knowing, that's fucked up. And the perspective of the film doesn't portray that as [messed up]. If I had an opportunity to be in an enormous project with someone whose few points I didn't agree on but that could elevate my status more, to have more of a voice for these issues - and it would also give me the financial security to not have to worry about losing my ability to pick and choose jobs that would allow me to, again, speak out about these issues - that's something to weigh out too. If I had $10 million in the bank, I would say whatever the fuck I want because I would never have to worry about eating again. But the truth is that I'm still relatively new to this industry and I still don't get to say all the things I would want to say in a public sphere and call people out sometimes in a way that I would want to. I don't want to pretend that I'm completely fearless. The truth is that I'm still relatively new to this industry and I still don't get to say all the things I would want to say in a public sphere and call people out sometimes in a way that I would want to. There are a lot of dudes on Tinder who use feminism just to try to sleep with women. [Editor's note: Cosmopolitan.com editor Lane Moore is the creator of the Male Feminists of Tinder Tumblr.] How do women discern between these guys, and men who are actually committed to feminism? I haven't quite tested this in theory, but I think it's a pretty good theory: Look at how intersectional their feminism is. So if you're going on this date, ask about his issues. If all he's talking about is women, and he's not talking about trans people or has no knowledge or interest in that or the spectrum of gender, that's telling. If he has no understanding of race or class issues or ableism, that's a probably pretty good sign that his feminism is made to get laid. If your feminism stops at women - and when we say women, we say default "white women" - and the man has no interest in trying to parse apart what it might mean to be a woman of color versus a white woman or a trans woman or a trans woman of color, I'd say that's a pretty big red flag. It is probably about getting praise. Follow Prachi on Twitter. The Death Cure UPDATED, 3:50 PM: Dylan OBriens injuries have turned out to be far more serious than initially reported, and production on Maze Runner: The Death Cure has been suspended indefinitely while he recovers. The resumption of principal photography on Maze Runner: The Death Cure has been further delayed to allow Dylan OBrien more time to fully recover from his injuries, 20th Century Fox said in a statement. We wish Dylan a speedy recovery and look forward to restarting production as soon as possible. Production originally was scheduled to resume May 9; no new date has been set and reports hold that cast and crew have now been sent home. PREVIOUSLY, March 28: Dylan OBrien, star of 20th Century Foxs Maze Runner franchise, was injured on the set of Maze Runner: The Death Cure today in Vancouver, BC. Fox said he was sent to the hospital immediately but did not offer details. OBrien apparently fell off the back of a set that was supposed to look like the back of a train and fractured either his cheekbone or orbital socket (still not clear on the details) when he fell on his face. The production has been shut down while he recovers, the studio says. Fox has set a February 17, 2017, release for the latest pic in the franchise based on James Dashners YA series. No word yet on whether that will have to change, but Fox did put out a statement: Dylan OBrien was injured yesterday while filming Maze Runner: The Death Cure in Vancouver, Canada. He was immediately transferred to a local hospital for observation and treatment. Production on the film will be shut down while he recovers. Our thoughts go out to Dylan for a full and speedy recovery. OBrien also stars on MTVs series Teen Wolf, which is currently on hiatus. Related stories Stephen Merchant To Star With Hugh Jackman In 'Wolverine 3' 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Final Trailer Teases The Return Of Wolverine Fox Acquires Newbie's Sci-Fi Spec 'Man Alive' For 'Fargo's Noah Hawley To Direct BERLIN, April 29 (Reuters) - Remaining in the European Union will ensure that Britain remains a prosperous and economically successful country, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday, adding that a U.S.-EU free trade deal would also bring economic benefits. "One must realistically say which advantages membership of the European Union has and what advantages the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has, and what is being negotiated now is also clear," Merkel said. "Everybody says this from his perspective. I say it from my perspective. We want an economically strong and prosperous Britain in the European Union," she added during a news conference with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis. Kucinskis said he hoped that a referendum in June on Britain's EU membership would not weaken the bloc. (Reporting by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Michelle Martin) Week Ending April 23: North American Rail Traffic Fell US weekly rail traffic Every Wednesday morning, the AAR (Association of American Railroads) releases weekly rail traffic data for the previous week. The latest report is for the week ended April 23, 2016. In this week, total US railcars declined to just above 230,000, reflecting a double-digit fall of 17% from 278,000 units in the week ended April 25, 2015. In the reported week, US intermodal traffic slumped by 6.3% to 261,000 units from 279,000 units during the same period in 2015. Three out of ten carload commodity groups posted volume growth in the week ended April 23, 2016. These are miscellaneous railcars, chemicals, motor vehicles, and parts. Major weekly freight rail-spirit dampeners were coal, down by 40%, followed by petroleum products and grain. Canadian and Mexican rail traffic In the latest reported week, Canadian rail traffic recorded a decline in both railcars and intermodal. Canadian railroads reported a fall of 16.3% in railcars in the week ended April 23, 2016, compared with the corresponding period in 2015. Canadian freight rail carriers recorded a fall of 2.3% in intermodal traffic at ~61,000 units in the latest reported week of 2016, compared with last year. Mexican railroads fared better compared with their US and Canadian peers. Though their volumes of intermodal units went down by just 0.7%, the railcars were very marginally down by 0.1% in the reported week. The upside in Mexican intermodal volumes compared with the fall in US and Canadian intermodal traffic is noteworthy. North American freight traffic There are 13 railroads that submit weekly data. These carriers handle about 95% of the total US and Canadian freight traffic. Class I railroads account for the lions share in freight rail movement. These railroads include BNSF Railway (BRK-B), Union Pacific (UNP), Norfolk Southern (NSC), CSX (CSX), Kansas City Southern, Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), and Canadian National Railway (CNI). Story continues Investors interested in dividend ETFs can opt for the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG). All US Class I railroads are part of VIG. For information on the previous weeks rail traffic, visit Market Realists Week Ended April 16: US, Canadian Railcars and Intermodals Slumped. In this series, well take a look into all US Class I railroads rail traffic for the week ended April 23, 2016. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: cortana close up Every copy of Windows 10 comes with Cortana, Microsoft's virtual assistant. By default, Cortana opens links in the Microsoft Edge browser and performs searches using the Microsoft Bing search engine. It's a pretty shrewd bit of corporate synergy that's driving Bing to new heights. But that was just the default setting. With the help of some third-party tools and a minimum of fuss, you could change Cortana's browser to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, and Cortana's search engine to whatever you want, usually Google. But not anymore. Microsoft announced on Thursday in a blog post that Cortana will now be locked into Edge and Bing, shutting out those alternative tools. Why the change In that blog post, Microsoft says that switching up Cortana's defaults makes for "a compromised experience that is less reliable and predictable." The basic idea is that Cortana is supposed to help with "task completion." To use Microsoft's example, if you search for Pizza Hut in the Cortana search bar, it'll open the website. With that website open, Cortana will automatically prompt you with the closest locations. In the future, you'll be able to say stuff like "Catch me up on the election," and Bing will pop up with a curated news list drawn from your Microsoft account and Cortana habits. Or if you say, "Buy me Drake tickets," it'll be able to take you straight to the purchase page. All of that hinges on Cortana knowing that it's going to open in the Edge browser with the Bing search engine, Microsoft claims. Without that kind of known consistency, it's hard to pull off those tricks. cortana calendar early meeting It makes perfect sense from a technology standpoint. Microsoft is largely blazing a new trail here with personal assistants and AI, so having a controlled environment seems important. Not to mention that this will affect only those relatively few users who bothered jumping through the hoops of installing those workarounds. Story continues Plus, you can still have any search engine you want (Google) and any browser you want (Chrome) as the overall Windows 10 defaults across any other app just not Cortana. Microsoft did not immediately return a request for comment. NOW WATCH: 20 Easter egg questions you can ask Cortana to get a hilarious response More From Business Insider Donald Trump Microsoft said on Friday that it is not supporting the Republican National Convention with a cash donation this year. However, it is donating technology to the organization and will not withdraw that form of sponsorship. As for the Democrats' convention, Microsoft says that it is also donating technology as well as "some sponsorship of host committee activities" that is, more direct financial support. Earlier this month, a group called Muslim Advocates gathered 24 civil rights and faith groups to pressure Microsoft, Google and Apple to stop supporting the RNC. Groups representing African Americans, Latinos, Muslims, Arabs, womens groups and the LGBT community signed the open letters. They wanted Microsoft, Google and Apple "to withdraw from and decline any existing or future sponsorships, including in-kind contributions, to political party conventions where hateful and bigoted rhetoric is highlighted and supported." In a blog post on Friday, Microsoft VP of US governmental affairs, Fred Humphries, said that Microsoft's decision to give tech but not cash to the RNC was done last fall, and isn't a result of activist groups. He said Microsoft has no intention of changing its donation plans. It's not clear how much money Microsoft actually donated to the RNC in 2012. One widely circulated report said that Microsoft's contributions were around $1.5 million, but half of that came from direct donations of employees rather than the corporation. Reports by Microsoft and Open Secrets indicate that cash donations for the conventions were far lower. OpenSecrets pegs it at $30,000 to each convention, and another $30,000 apiece to each side's campaign committee. While Microsoft didn't reveal how much in technology donations it is giving either side, it did say that the contribution includes Office 365, access to its cloud computing services Azure, Surface tablet/PCs and other products. The Muslim Advocates group was pleased about the cash donation part but chastised the company for the rest, in a statement emailed to Business Insider: Story continues "Microsoft took an important step forward today by standing against Republican front-runner Donald Trumps bigotry and declining to provide cash support for the Republican National Convention. We, however, will continue to call on Microsoft and other current sponsors to also stop the promotion of their products and airing of commercials during the convention, and will continue to press them on in-kind donations." By the way, Microsoft isn't the only one the group is targeting. It had some sharp things to say about Google: "Tech companies like Microsoft and Google have poured millions of dollars into marketing themselves as diverse and inclusive brands, which is why were shocked that Google has proudly announced they intend to sponsor the Republican National Convention and align its brand with Trumps racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic rhetoric." NOW WATCH: Its surreal to watch this 2011 video of Obama and Seth Meyers taunting Trump about a presidential run More From Business Insider By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - For people with recurring depression, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may be more helpful than other treatments, according to a new analysis. Cognitive therapy focuses on substituting constructive patterns of thinking for maladaptive thought processes. Mindfulness meditation focuses on being aware of incoming thoughts and feelings and accepting them without reacting to them. Combining mindfulness techniques with cognitive therapy should be an option for patients, according to study leader Willem Kuyken of the University of Oxford in the UK. "It is about choice for patients and adding another choice for people at high risk of depressive relapse to stay well in the long-term," Kuyken told Reuters Health in an email. "When mindfulness is combined with cognitive therapy, one of the things we see is people being trained to regard their thoughts as just thoughts and not to get ensnared by them," said Richard Davidson, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study. The research team analyzed data on 1,258 participants from nine randomized controlled trials that compared mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to other treatments for recurring depression among people who were fully or partially in remission. Overall, people receiving MBCT were about 31 percent less likely to have depression again after 60 weeks, compared to people who received other treatments, including self help. After excluding self help, the researchers found that people who received MBCT were still 21 percent less likely to have depression again after 60 weeks, compared to people on other treatments. MBCT worked equally well regardless of age, sex, education, relationship status, age at onset of depression and previous episodes. However, in people with more severe depressive symptoms, MBCT worked especially well, compared to other treatments. "Depression is a recurrent illness," said Davidson, of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Relapse is a very significant problem with depression, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may be particularly valuable in reducing the risk of relapse." The researchers write in JAMA Psychiatry April 27 that MBCT teaches skills that help people with recurrent depression to stay well. Davidson said there is no one-size-fits-all approach to depression. MBCT may be a good choice for some people, but not all. "We need to better understand it and thats one of the important tasks of future research," he told Reuters Health. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1NGgFVo and http://bit.ly/1NGgMQy JAMA Psychiatry 2016. Mischa Barton might not have gotten very far on this season of Dancing With the Stars, but The O.C. alum got more out of the show than expected. A source confirms to ET that Barton and her DWTS partner, Artem Chigvintsev, have started dating. The pair were spotted out at The Little Door, a quaint French restaurant in Los Angeles, on Wednesday night. WATCH: Mischa Barton Eliminated From DWTS After Earning Her Highest Score Yet Theyve been in touch after the show and care about each other but this is the first proper date, a source told ET, adding that the pair are transitioning into more than friends." "He is the reason shes looking happier recently. She has become giddy when talking about him and quite smitten with him. The source added, Hes pursued her for a while, and shes coming around, calling their outing an official date." After the two shared a meal, they went to Chateau Marmont where the actress introduced the dancer to some of her pals. (Photo: Instagram) MORE: Olivia Wilde Calls Mischa Barton Her Best On-Screen Kiss Barton, 30, hasnt referenced the romance on her social media accounts yet, but on Wednesday she posted several solo shots of herself to Instagram, writing, "Sending you all love, light and laughter on this Wednesday night and Good Night, with a heart emoji. Barton was the second contestant to be eliminated from DWTS in early April. It was definitely, maybe more than I had bargained for in a lot of ways, Barton told ET at the time. But Im so happy I tried something thats that foreign to me, and you know, had this experience with these guys." Chigvintsev added, "I think thats why its tough to go home because I feel like weve been through so much in these past five weeks, [more] than people get in years." The week after her DWTS exit, Barton also admitted to ET that she and Chigvintsev keep in touch, saying, "Yeah, we talk. The revelation that Mitsubishi has been massaging its fuel economy test figures since 1991 has sent the company's stock crashing and left people around the world confused and concerned as to whether or not their car could be affected. However, the company has officially confirmed that all Mitsubishi-brand vehicles sold in the US and Europe fully comply with those countries' testing procedures. "After a thorough review of all 2013MY-2017MY vehicles sold in the United States, we have determined that none of these vehicles are affected," the company said in a statement. "Our findings confirm that fuel economy testing data for these U.S. market vehicles is accurate and complies with established EPA procedures." Despite the market launch of the world's first connected and semi-autonomous cars, 2016 is in danger of being remembered as the year of car companies cheating on emissions and fuel economy figures. Volkswagen's "dieselgate" scandal, whereby software was used to "ace" efficiency and emissions tests, rolls on and in recent months a number of other European marques, from BMW and Mercedes to Renault, have been accused of potentially fudging figures. However, to date, no corroborating evidence has been found. On April 20, Mitsubishi admitted that it had been "mishandling" fuel economy tests for 25 years but that the cheating was limited to cars destined for the Japanese market. The models in question are the Mitsubishi eK Wagon, eK Space and the Nissan Dayz and Dayz Roox (two cars it builds on Nissan's behalf). What makes the situation worse is that the 625,000 cars involved are 'Kei' cars -- vehicles built specifically to meet Japan's very stringent weight, size and fuel economy criteria and therefore qualify for lower taxation. An independent investigation is taking place and its findings will be made public. Mitsubishi is also working closely with the Japanese government to, in the company's words, "fully review the implications of this issue, and to discuss potential resolutions." Those resolutions could include refunding drivers or paying their increased taxes if the cars they own no longer meet 'Kei' car criteria when fuel economy tests are retaken. Hundreds of protesters -- some waving Mexican flags -- took to the streets of Costa Mesa, California outside a Donald Trump rally on Thursday night, bringing traffic to a standstill. Read: Ronald Reagan's Son Slams Will Ferrell Movie About His Dad's Alzheimer's Police said some 20 arrests were made as the demonstration turned violent later in the night. Officers on horseback and wearing riot gear tried to bring the protesters under control. Trump supporters found themselves stuck in the melee as they tried to leave the Pacific Amphitheater. According to the Associated Press, one Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the arena. One man jumped on a cop car leaving the hood and windshield smashed, according to AP. It has also been reported that protesters vandalized a cop car and the amphitheaters marquee with graffiti. Read: Them's Fightin' Words! John Boehner Calls Ted Cruz 'Lucifer' And A 'Miserable' SOB After the night came to an end, the sheriffs office tweeted: #OCSDPIO Post Trump Rally Protest over. Approx 20 arrests by Costa Mesa PD. No major injuries. Crowd dispersed by 11pm. No further updates OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSD) April 29, 2016 Inside the venue, Trump's speech was uninterrupted. He is in California ahead of the states June 7 primary. Watch: Man Who Says He Was Melania Trump's First Boyfriend Recounts Her Humble Teen Years in Slovenia Related Articles: By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) - A new review confirms that smoking has bad effects on a mans semen. Using the most up-to-date definition of abnormal sperm from the World Health Organization, the researchers found that smokers have lower sperm counts, poorer sperm movement, and more irregularly shaped sperm than nonsmokers. Ashok Agarwal of the American Center for Reproductive Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and colleagues reviewed 20 studies including almost 6,000 participants. Men exposed to cigarette smoke had notably fewer sperm per ejaculate, fewer mobile sperm and more irregularly shaped sperm, the researchers reported in European Urology. The extent to which male fertility is affected by smoking isnt clear yet, Agarwal told Reuters Health by email. However, accumulating data indicate that the ability of the sperm to fertilize and subsequently enable the development of a normal fetus is dependent on many other co-factors in addition to the basic semen parameters, like DNA breakage and genetic changes in the sperm, which cannot be diagnosed in a simple semen analysis, he said. None of the studies in this review evaluated what happened to semen quality when a man quit smoking, he said. We can say clearly that smoking alters male fertility, he said. Hence smoking cessation must be strongly advised to couples seeking fertility. Laypeople think of smoking as causing lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease, but likely do not link it to fertility, said Ajay K. Nangia of the urology department at the University of Kansas Hospital and Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, who was not part of the new review. Chemicals in tar and nicotine enter the blood and travel down into semen and can affect sperm, Nangia told Reuters Health by phone. Smoking can also cause erectile dysfunction in young men, he said. Even the risk of heart attack is less important than erectile dysfunction for some men, Nangia said. Semen characteristics may improve after quitting smoking, but neither heart disease nor erectile dysfunction will go away, he said. If you dont have good erections, thats a component of fertility, he said. As caregivers, we always say that smoking is harmful in general and it negatively impacts fertility in particular, Agarwal said. Smoking adversely impacts all bodily systems and it is well known serious hazard to health. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1TAEQDE European Urology, online April 21, 2016. The headquarters of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc is seen in Laval, Quebec in this file picture taken November 9, 2015. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi/Files By Caroline Humer (Reuters) - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (VRX.TO) on Friday issued a 2015 financial report that met an important deadline for creditors, revealing new details on a range of financial and legal issues, and it also announced changes to its board. Shares in Valeant fell 4.0 percent to $33.81 in midday trading in New York on Friday and are well down from their all time high of $263.70 in August. The company has been facing scrutiny from the U.S. Congress, prosecutors, and regulators over its drug pricing, business practices and accounting practices. Valeant's relationship with Philidor RX Services, which has been distributing its drugs, was terminated last year, hurting Valeant sales. The publication of the report satisfies demands from Valeant's creditors, but also shows the difficult road ahead for the drugmaker, Wall Street analysts and investors said. "We think investors should sell on this catalyst since the business is quite weak and faces a number of headwinds," Mizuho Securities analyst Irina Koffler said in a research note. The annual report does not answer some more basic questions about what strategy Valeant will adopt, said David Neuhauser, managing director of Livermore Partners, which is short Valeant. "They continue to dig out of a very troubled situation that will take time," Neuhauser said. In the report, Valeant restated its 2015 financial loss and 2014 earnings as it had forecast. The report also revealed new details about the poor sales of its Addyi sexual dysfunction drug, financial details about its Xifaxin gastroenterology treatment, and also disclosed possible inventory issues on its pharmaceuticals in Poland and Russia. The company also revealed it is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice in North Carolina. The regulators have requested material relating to the production, marketing, distribution, sale and pricing of three of its life-saving drugs, Valeant said. Massachussetts and New York are also investigating similar issues. Story continues In a separate statement, Valeant said that seven current board members would not be standing for re-election at its June 14 shareholder meeting, including Howard Schiller, the company's former Chief Financial Officer and G. Mason Morfit, who represents ValueAct. Robert Ingram will remain, along with ValueAct representative Robert Hale and several others including activist investor Bill Ackman. Ackman, one of Valeant's largest shareholders, had signaled the board changes at a Congressional hearing earlier this week where he spoke on Valeant's behalf. He vowed that the company would change its business model and revisit certain price increases, including on two heart treatments. Valeant had said it would file its report by April 29, although it had an extension agreement with its creditors to delay the filing until June 11 to stave off a possible default on its $30 billion debt. Valeant had also said in February that it would restate results for 2014 and 2015, and on Friday, the Laval, Quebec-based company said no further restatements were required. (This story has been refiled to clarify that board changes were announced separately from annual report) (Reporting by Caroline Humer in New York, Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Natalie Grover and Amrutha Penumudi in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza) More tigers have been killed in India already this year than in the whole of 2015, a census showed Friday, raising doubts about the country's anti-poaching efforts. The Wildlife Protection Society of India, a conservation charity, said 28 of the endangered beasts had been poached by April 26, three more than last year. Tiger meat and bones are used in traditional Chinese medicine and fetch high prices. "The stats are worrying indeed," said Tito Joseph, programme manager at the group. "Poaching can only be stopped when we have coordinated, intelligence-led enforcement operations, because citizens of many countries are involved in illegal wildlife trade. It's a transnational organised crime." Poachers use guns, poison and even steel traps and electrocution to kill their prey. India is home to more than half of the world's tiger population with 2,226 in its reserves according to the last count in 2014. The figures come after a report by the WWF and the Global Tiger Forum said the number of wild tigers in the world had increased for the first time in more than a century to an estimated 3,890. The report cited improved conservation efforts, although its authors cautioned that the rise could be partly attributed to improved data gathering. On the anniversary of Oliver Ellsworths birth, Constitution Daily looks back an important founder who helped forge a compromise that led to the Constitution, and later played important roles in the early Senate and Supreme Court. Ellsworth was born on April 29, 1745 in Windsor, Connecticut. From a prominent New England family, Ellsworth began his education at Yale and finished at Princeton, where he started the American Whig-Cliosophic Society along with fellow students Luther Martin and William Paterson. (Other early members included James Madison, Aaron Burr and Henry Lee.) He quickly became a successful lawyer and then became involved in the Revolutionary War, serving in the Continental Congress. Ellsworth was also a judge in Connecticut. Ellsworth played a very active role in the Constitutional Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia. According to Madisons records, Ellsworth spoke frequently at the Convention. And Ellsworth won a debate over dropping the term United States from the official name of the federal government. Ellsworth and Roger Sherman were involved in the Great (or Connecticut) Compromise that led to a House of Representatives with proportional representation and a Senate with fixed representation based on two Senators per state; he also supported the three-fifths compromise about slavery. Ellsworth then served on the five-person committee that wrote the Constitutions first draft, but he forced to leave Philadelphia for business reasons before signing the final document in September 1787. During the ratification battle over the Constitution, Ellsworth wrote Letters of a Landholder, a series of articles like the Federalist Papers that supported the proposed Constitution. Seven were written about Connecticuts ratification debate and six were targeted at a national audience. In the first national government under the Constitution, Ellsworth was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Connecticut, and he functioned as the de facto Senate Majority Leader until 1796. His biggest accomplishment was the drafting and passing of the Judiciary Act of 1789. Ellsworth personally wrote much of the Act along with William Patterson, which defined the structure and jurisdiction of the federal court system, and remains largely intact today. The Act also gave the federal Supreme Court the ability to hear appeals of cases decided by state supreme courts, which was an important step in the concept of judicial review. Story continues Ellsworth was also an important force in the Senate for promoting Alexander Hamiltons national debt funding and for starting the Bank of the United States. In 1796, Ellsworth left the Senate to become the third Chief Justice of the United States, and he also served as commissioner to France while he sat on the Supreme Court between 1796 and 1800. During his short time on the Court, Ellsworth tried to initiate the modern format of Supreme Court decisions, with Justices issuing joint majority and dissenting opinions. While in France negotiating with Napoleon to end an undeclared trade war with the United States, Ellsworth resigned from the Supreme Court, citing health problems caused by his travel schedule. Ellsworths replacement was John Marshall. Returning to Windsor, Connecticut, Ellsworth remained active in state politics until his death in 1807. Despite Ellsworths considerable contributions in the Founding period, little was been written about him, with few biographies available. The official Encyclopedia Britannica entry on Ellsworth was written by future U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Presidential Stories on Constitution Daily Forgotten facts about George Washingtons private life 10 facts about Presidents who were also Veterans 50 interesting facts about Abraham Lincolns life 10 little-known facts about President Theodore Roosevelt By Alan Baldwin SOCHI, Russia, April 29 (Reuters) - Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo tested a new Formula One head protection device on his car at the Russian Grand Prix on Friday with opinions divided on the aesthetics if not the effectiveness. The Australian lapped the Sochi circuit with the 'aeroscreen' fitted to the cockpit before pitting to continue regular practice without it. "The first impression seems OK," Ricciardo had told reporters before driving with it on track for the first time. "It doesn't really block any more vision than what we do have already." The reaction on social media was generally positive, with even champions Mercedes commenting on their Twitter feed that "it doesn't look half bad". Mercedes' triple world champion Lewis Hamilton was not a fan, however. "If they're going to do this, (then) close the cockpit like a fighter jet. That screen...looks like a shield that the police use, a riot shield," he had told reporters when shown a picture of the device. "You've got this cool, elegant, futuristic F1 car, and you've got a crappy riot shield sitting on top of it." "It is a good thing to see that the FIA do take safety seriously, it is a constant thing that always need to be worked on, as long as it doesn't affect hopefully the aesthetics and style and coolness of F1," added the Briton. Hamilton added that danger was part of Formula One's appeal and that drivers knew the risks that they were taking and were willing to do so. Improving head protection has become a priority in Formula One, however, after the deaths last year of Briton Justin Wilson, who suffered head injuries from debris in an IndyCar crash, and Frenchman Jules Bianchi. Ferrari tested another 'halo' version of the device, without a screen, in pre-season testing in Spain in March. This weekend also marks the anniversary of the death of Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna at Italy's Imola racetrack on May 1, 1994. The front wheel of the Williams bounced back in that impact with the wall, with the Brazilian's helmet penetrated by a suspension arm. Ricciardo said he was a firm believer in the need for a device like the 'aeroscreen'. "If it saves even one life over the next 20 years then you're going to take it," he said. (Editing by Amlan Chakraborty) Dog_on_motorbike LONDON Police in Gloucestershire have launched an enquiry after a dog was photographed riding on the back of a motorcycle. See also: Motorcycle-riding labrador gets a sweet custom Kevlar bike suit The photo was taken recently by a member of the public who notified Gloucestershire Constabulary. Here's the shot in full. Dog_on_motorbike_full Image: Gloucestershire Constabulary "A member of the public reported the incident near the Capita building in Bishop's Cleeve at 6.30pm on Wednesday 27 April after seeing a dog on the back of a motorbike," a spokesperson from Gloucestershire Constabulary told Mashable. "Enquiries are now ongoing into the incident." The dog in the photo appears to have been secured with a little jacket and some straps to fix it to the top of the motorbike's luggage box. So in the world of motorbike riding, how common is this practice? A quick search on eBay for motorcycle pet carrier shows that you can actually purchase special storage for motorbikes which allow a dog to be secured but still stick its head out for fresh air. Motorbike_pet_carriers_ebay Image: ebay.com This blog post titled "3 tips for motorcycle riding with your dog" also mentions the benefits of a pet carrier for smaller dogs. None of them look like the setup in this case, though. By Olivia Oran April 29 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc's co-head of global fixed-income, currency and commodities sales Dalinc Ariburnu, is retiring from the bank. Ariburnu will be replaced by Jim Esposito, the firm said in a memo on Friday, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. Esposito will also continue in his current role as chief strategy officer for the securities division. Tom Cornacchia will continue in his role as co-head of global fixed income sales. A Goldman spokesman confirmed the contents of the memo. Ariburnu joined Goldman in 2009 as a partner and head of European fixed income sales, prior to assuming his current role in 2013. He serves on several senior committees, including the partnership committee and the European management committee. Before joining Goldman, Ariburnu was global head of emerging markets within the global markets division at Deutsche Bank AG . Goldman, like other Wall Street banks, is grappling with weak performance from its unit that trades fixed income, currencies and commodities. New regulations introduced since the financial crisis have made bond trading less profitable and more capital intensive. Revenue from FICC trading at Goldman plunged 47 percent in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the year-ago period. (Reporting by Olivia Oran in New York; Editing by Frances Kerry) Maputo (AFP) - Police in Mozambique said Friday they were investigating reports of the discovery of a mass grave containing 120 bodies in a region which has seen clashes between the security forces and rebels. Local media reported Thursday evening that farmers in the central Gorongosa region had found a communal grave containing the bodies of villagers. A representative of Renamo, the rebel group that fought a 16-year war against the state ending in 1992 and later became an opposition party, confirmed the find to AFP. A police spokesman in the capital Maputo said a commission had been set up to search the area in question but that "at this preliminary stage, nothing has been found." Police spokesman Inacio Dina added that no resident had come forward to the police with any information as yet. The Renamo official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the grave was located in Canda, near Gorongosa National Park, in a zone known as "76". "The grave contains 120 bodies," he said, adding some were "in an advanced state of decomposition." The Renamo member said the area was close to the place where Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama is believed to have gone into hiding in October 2015. Dhlakama contested the results of October 2014 presidential and legislative elections, which were won by Frelimo, the movement which led the country to independence from Portugal in 1975 and has ruled ever since. Tensions between the security forces and Renamo members intensified in December after Dhlakama announced plans to take power in six of the country's 11 provinces. A spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva said Friday the agency had "received worrying information about ongoing armed clashes in Mozambique between national security forces and members of Renamo." Rupert Colville said the security forces in the southern African nation had been accused of "summary executions, looting, destruction of property, rape, ill-treatment, and other human rights violations" and that "at least 14 local Renamo officials" had been reported killed or abducted since the beginning of the year. The UN refugee agency UNHCR said the unrest had prompted more than 10,000 people to flee their homes to neighbouring Malawi over the past four months. R-rahman-santana Musical legends Carlos Santana and AR Rahman brought their contrasting styles together when they jammed at a concert in San Francisco. See also: Grammy-winner AR Rahman pays a moving tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks The highlight of the evening was the Mexican-American musician and the Grammy-winning Indian composer performing one of Rahman's most popular songs, "Chhaiya Chhaiya". Rahman later posted a picture of himself with Santana on his Facebook page. Many of the fans who attended and tweeted about the concert couldn't believe their luck either. The Washington Nationals don't seem overly concerned about their offensive struggles that resulted in them being swept in their most recent series. However, things might not get any easier Friday night when the Nationals face the Cardinals at St. Louis, where they've won three times in the regular season over the past eight years. Washington averaged 4.4 runs while winning 14 of the first 18 but totaled three - none in the last two - with 13 hits and 27 strikeouts while going 3 for 18 with runners in scoring position in being swept in a three-game home set by Philadelphia. Scoreless over the last 22 innings, the Nationals (14-7) have not gone three straight games without a run since April 2004 in the franchise's final season in Montreal. "We'll get it fixed," manager Dusty Baker told MLB's official website. "You have to work your way out of these things. ... You just gotta go back to work. It's simple." Baker's players, at least publicly, also won't panic. ''If every 21 games we went 14-7 I think we'd be all right,'' said veteran Ryan Zimmerman, who is 3 for 19 with seven strikeouts in the last four games. "I think everyone just needs to calm down.'' Bryce Harper is batting .314 after going 2 for 8 and walking five times against the Phillies. He struck out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of Thursday's 3-0 defeat. Harper is a career .357 regular-season hitter at Busch Stadium, but the Nationals are 3-20 there since the beginning of the 2008 season. They snapped a nine-game skid in St. Louis with a 4-3 win Sept. 2, and seem eager to open a potentially daunting 10-game trip that also includes stops at Kansas City and Wrigley Field. "We enjoy the challenge," Zimmerman said. "We get to see what we are really made of. We go out and play three really good teams. I think the guys in (the) locker room are excited for it." Story continues Perhaps because St. Louis' Mike Leake (0-2, 5.64 ERA) has allowed at least four runs in each of his four starts and 28 hits in 22 1/3 innings. The right-hander gave up five runs - three earned - and seven hits in five innings of Sunday's 8-5 win at San Diego. He's 3-3 with a 4.78 ERA in nine starts against the Nationals, last facing them in May 2014. Stephen Strasburg (3-0, 2.17) hopes to keep things close even if Washington's offense continues to struggle as he tries to go 4-0 for the first time. After yielding three runs in his first three starts, the right-hander gave up four - including a three-run homer - but struck out 10 over 7 1/3 innings of Sunday's 6-5, 16-inning victory over Minnesota. Facing the Cardinals (12-10) for the first time since June 2014, Strasburg is 0-2 in four starts against them despite posting a 2.81 ERA. Matt Holliday and Matt Carpenter are a combined 7 for 18 with three doubles against Strasburg. St. Louis totaled 45 runs and 66 hits while winning four of five before managing three hits and striking out 11 times in Thursday's 3-0 loss at Arizona. "These guys swing the bat pretty well, and we were just trying to make them uncomfortable," Arizona catcher Chris Herrmann said. Carpenter was 6 for 16 with five RBIs over the 4-1 stretch before going hitless in four at-bats Thursday. N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory makes remarks during an interview at the governors mansion in Raleigh, N.C., on April 12, 2016. (Photo: Gerry Broome/AP) North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory continues to defend the controversial bathroom bill he signed into law last month rousing anger and boycotts by LGBT activists. In an appearance on The Kelly File Thursday night, the much-maligned governor argued that the primary purpose of House Bill 2 (HB2) is to protect the privacy of children in locker rooms, showers and bathrooms. Its the basic expectation of privacy that I hear from mom and dads and families that when their daughter or son goes into a facility, a restroom, they expect people of that gender to be the only other ones in that. Thats the expectations that weve had for many, many years, McCrory said to Fox News host Megyn Kelly. House Bill 2 essentially requires a person to use only the public restrooms that correspond with his or her biological sex as indicated on their birth certificate and prohibits local governments from passing their own antidiscrimination ordinances. North Carolina is already feeling the economic consequences of having a law on the books that many consider discriminatory. PayPal called off an expansion plan in Charlotte. Bruce Springsteen and other musicians have canceled concerts. Some politicians have also forbidden work travel for government employees in the Tar Heel State. McCrory said he has no interest in being the bathroom police. He emphasized that the law was a response to what he considers government overreach by Charlotte when it passed an ordinance that would have allowed transgender people to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identities. I dont even know why were talking about this. This is not an issue that I started. This is an issue the left started, not the right, McCrory replied. And its not just womens bathrooms; its boys bathrooms. Kelly pushed back by saying that there is a misconception that transgender people are more likely to molest, and the bill reinforces that misconception. McCrory said he did not like those fear-based arguments either. LINTHICUM, MD / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / NFM Lending is proud to announce that it was ranked one of the 50 Best Companies to Work For by Mortgage Executive Magazine. This is the third year in a row that NFM Lending has been ranked in this accolade. Mortgage Executive Magazine conducted an extensive online survey of more than 10,000 Mortgage Loan Originators (MLOs) from over 200 mortgage companies and banks. The survey was limited to licensed MLOs who were presently employed by the companies they were rating. The survey asked participants to rate the company's culture, loan processing, underwriting, compensation, management, marketing, and technology. The winning selections were based on total MLO votes and average rating score. "It's easy to be recognized as one of the best work places when you employ the best people," said Jan Ozga, President. "The key to building a great work environment is to create a culture that makes your employees want to come into work. Imagine that: people at NFM want to come into work! How many companies can say that? Many business owners have asked me, 'How do you create and maintain a positive work environment?' My answer is always the same: go ask your employees." NFM Lending prides itself on its exceptional culture. The company has an open door policy which allows an open line of communication between management and staff. Employees are encouraged to voice their questions and concerns directly to management, so that they can be addressed promptly and correctly. In addition to a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, NFM Lending loan originators receive ongoing support and assistance from qualified support and operations staff, and opportunities for trips and giveaways. In addition to this most recent award, NFM Lending has been recognized many times for its exceptional company culture. It was named one of the 2015 Top 100 Mortgage Companies in America by Mortgage Executive Magazine; one of the Washington Post's Top Work Places in the Washington, D.C. area; a Top Mortgage Employer by National Mortgage Professional Magazine; and the Baltimore Sun's Top Midsize Company to Work For in 2015. NFM Lending is proud of these accomplishments, and looks forward to another successful year. Story continues For more information please contact: NFM Lending Toll Free: 1-888-233-0092 pr@nfmlending.com www.nfmlending.com Twitter: @nfm_lending About NFM Lending NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 27 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as "America's Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender." SOURCE: NFM Lending LAGOS (Reuters) - Shares in Nigeria's Fidelity Bank shed 2.5 percent on Friday after the financial crimes agency said it had arrested the lender's chief executive as part of an investigation into transactions made in the run-up to elections last year. Nnamdi Okonkwo, Fidelity CEO has been in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since Wednesday, the agency said on Thursday. Fidelity Bank said in a statement on Thursday that "the transactions were duly reported as required by the regulators" and it was cooperating with authorities. (Reporting by Oludare Mayowa; Editing by Mark Potter) (WASHINGTON)A U.S. gunship attack on a hospital in Afghanistan that killed 42 people occurred because of human errors, process errors and equipment failures and none of the crew knew they were striking a trauma center, a top U.S. general said Friday. No criminal charges have been leveled against U.S. military personnel for mistakes that resulted in lasts years attack on the civilian hospital in Afghanistan operated by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders. The group has called the attack a war crime. Gen. Joseph Votel, the new head of U.S. Central Command, said that the trauma center was on a no-strike list but that the gunship crew didnt have access to the list. The Pentagon was releasing the full report on the investigation on Friday, including details about what exactly led a U.S. Air Force special operations AC-130 gunship to bomb the hospital and how those mistakes were made. According to one senior U.S. official, a two-star general was among about 16 American military personnel disciplined because of the attack. A number of those punished are U.S. special operations forces. No one was sent to court-martial, officials said. However, in many cases a nonjudicial punishment, such as a letter of reprimand or suspension, can effectively end a military career. The officials were not authorized to discuss the case by name and requested anonymity. The U.S. airstrike in the northern city of Kunduz last October was carried out by one of the most lethal aircraft in the U.S. arsenal. Doctors Without Borders has called the attack relentless and brutal. The Associated Press reported in March that more than a dozen U.S. military personnel had been disciplined in connection with the bombing, and that the punishments were all largely administrative. The crew of the AC-130, which is armed with side-firing cannons and guns, had been dispatched to hit a Taliban command center in a building 450 yards from the hospital, the U.S. military said in November. 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. Story continues Officials have said the attack was caused by human error, and that many chances to prevent the attack on the wrong target were missed. A separate U.S. report on the incident, obtained last fall by the AP, 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. The attack came 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. North Korea on Friday sentenced a detained Korean-American, Kim Dong-Chul, to 10 years' hard labour on charges of subversion and espionage, China's official Xinhua news agency said. The announcement, which comes at a time of elevated military tensions on the Korean peninsula, followed an even harsher sentence of 15 years hard labour passed last month on a US student, Otto Warmbier, for stealing a propaganda banner from a tourist hotel in Pyongyang. The brief Xinhua despatch from Pyongyang said Kim's penalty was handed down by North Korea's Supreme Court. There was no immediate North Korean confirmation of the sentence. According to a prosecutor cited by the Chinese news agency, Kim carried out "reactionary propaganda" against North Korea "and injected into local people fantasies about the superiority of the United States, in order to shake the stability of the political and social system." The 62-year-old, who became a naturalised US citizen in 1987, was arrested back in October. - Espionage charges - Kim was paraded in front of media cameras in the North Korean capital a month ago, when he admitted to stealing military secrets and pleaded for clemency in a carefully orchestrated "confession". His detention first came to public attention when he was produced in January during an interview CNN was conducting with a detained Canadian pastor in a Pyongyang hotel. At that time, Kim said he had been living in China near the North Korean border for the past 15 years, commuting regularly to Rason -- a North Korean special economic zone. According to the North's state media, he had been arrested in Rason as he was receiving a USB stick containing nuclear-linked data and other military information from his source. The Supreme Court prosecutor said Kim started spying in 2013 after South Korean agents tasked him with collecting party, state and military secrets. South Korea has denied any involvement in Kim's case. Story continues Foreigners detained in North Korea are often required to make a public, usually officially scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing as a first step towards a possible release. Observers said the long sentences handed down to Kim and Warmbier reflected soaring military tensions 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 in March. 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. 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. The US State Department "strongly recommends against all travel" to North Korea and specifically warns of the risk of arrest. North Korea sentenced a Seoul-born U.S. citizen to 10 years of hard labor for alleged subversion and espionage activities, Xinhua, Chinas state-run news agency, reported Friday. Xinhua, one of the few foreign news organizations with a bureau in Pyongyang, reported that Kim Dong-chul of Fairfax, Virginia, was charged with plotting to subvert the DPRK system, slandering the supreme leadership of the country and gathering state and military secrets. It said Kim was born in Seoul in 1953 and emigrated to the U.S. in 1972, and later became a naturalized citizen. Heres more: Running a trade company in Rason, a special economic zone in the DPRK, Kim started espionage in 2013 after coming into contact with several South Koreans who tasked him with collecting top party, state and military secrets of the DPRK, including its nuclear facilities, nuclear tests and photographs of warships at repairing factories, according to the prosecutor. ... He was also accused of illegally buying a DPRK-made mobile phone in the capital city of Pyongyang via his local employee and providing the phone to South Korea. Kim received donations from a Canadian church, gave them to kindergartens in Rason and took pictures of the local children accepting the donations, according to the prosecution. Kim was detained last October, but his fate became public only in January when he was presented to CNN reporters as a spy. CNN added that he had lived in Yanji, China, which is on the border with North Korea. Kim is the latest U.S. citizen to be convicted in North Korea. Last month, the countrys 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. He is alleged to have stolen a propaganda sign from his hotel. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has tightened security ahead of a ruling party congress, South Korea said on Friday, with authorities keen to avoid any "mishap" at the gathering at which advances in the drive for nuclear weapons will likely be hailed. Thousands of delegates are expected in the capital, Pyongyang, from May 6 for the first congress in 36 years at which young leader Kim Jong Un is expected to cement his leadership and formally declare the country a nuclear-armed state. "Strengthening security can be seen as a measure to prevent mishaps over the party congress," Cheong Joon-hee, spokesman at South Korea's Unification Ministry, which oversees dealings with the North, told a briefing. North Korea has in the past taken such steps ahead of major events and has at times also shut down its border with China for the same reason, Cheong said. North Korea announced the Workers' Party congress in October but only confirmed the May 6 starting date on Wednesday. The Daily NK, a website run by defectors with sources in North Korea, said that since mid-April, free movement in and out of the capital has been stopped and security personnel have been summoned from the provinces to step-up domestic surveillance. The congress, expected to last four or five days, will be closely watched for any new policies and for how North Korea presents its pursuit of nuclear weapons, which has intensified since January when it conducted its fourth nuclear test. The nuclear test was followed with a string of missile tests, though not all successful. On Thursday, it tested what appeared to be two intermediate-range ballistic missiles but both failed, the U.S. and South Korean militaries said. South Korea, and others nervously watching the North's defiance of U.N. resolutions aimed at curbing its nuclear and ballistic missile technologies, expect another nuclear test before the congress. North Korean authorities have also enlisted people in Pyongyang and some other places in a 70-day campaign to ramp-up productivity and spruce-up the capital, the Daily NK reported. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel) (Adds chairwoman's comments, details, share price) OSLO, April 29 (Reuters) - The chief financial officer and legal director of Norwegian telecoms firm Telenor have resigned after a report by auditing firm Deloitte found weaknesses in the company's handling of corruption allegations at Amsterdam-based Vimpelcom, Telenor said on Friday. Vimpelcom, in which Telenor owns 33 percent, said in February it would pay $795 million to resolve U.S. and Dutch probes into a bribery scheme in Uzbekistan, in the second-largest global anti-corruption settlement in history. In November, Telenor said it had hired Deloitte to review the handling of its ownership in Vimpelcom, and announced a week later that it had suspended CFO Richard Aa and chief legal officer Paal Wien Espen for the duration of the probe. Telenor said on Friday the report did not find that any Telenor employees had been involved in corrupt actions or any other legal offences but it uncovered internal weaknesses in the company. "It (the report) gives Telenor partial credit for its handling of the ownership in Vimpelcom, but also points to weaknesses in organisational structure, communication and leadership in this matter. This is serious," Telenor Chairwoman Gunn Waersted said in a statement. Telenor said a central part of the report related to its handling of a "serious matter" in 2011, from an employee seconded to Vimpelcom. The person raised concerns of potential corruption with executives in Telenor and to Telenor-nominated board members in Vimpelcom, it said. This concern was not shared with Telenor's then-Chief Executive Jon Fredrik Baksaas until March 2014 and then to the Telenor Board of Directors in December 2014. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries was informed in October 2015, it said. Baksaas was not immediately reachable for comment. Two other employees, who had also been suspended, were reinstated in their jobs, Telenor said. Telenor also said it had uncovered two separate cases of possible misconduct at its Thai company Dtac and in another country, which it did not name at the request of local authorities as a police investigation is underway. Story continues "One case involves suspicions of financial crimes and has been reported to the local police. Due to the investigation, Telenor has been asked by local authorities to not comment any further on the case at this point," said Telenor. "The other case is from Thailand, where Dtac's internal audit uncovered deviations from the company's guidelines relating to some site lease agreements." Telenor will review those agreements and finalise its work by year-end, it said. Telenor will present the conclusions of the report at 0900 GMT in Oslo. By 0837 GMT, Telenor's shares traded 3.0 percent lower for the day, underperforming a 0.8 percent drop in European telecoms shares (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche and Terje Solsvik; editing by Susan Thomsa) OSLO, April 29 (Reuters) - Norway's $868-billion wealth fund is looking at excluding some 40 companies from its investments due to their use of coal, with these companies being mostly power producers and some already out of the fund's investments, its CEO said on Friday. "In practice ... they are mostly power companies. They are spread across all the countries we are invested in. A majority are in countries where we have had problems to get good information," fund CEO Yngve Slyngstad told reporters after a parliamentary hearing on the fund's management. Norway's parliament decided in June 2015 that the fund would divest from firms that derive more than 30 percent of their turnover or activity from coal. Some 52 companies have already been banned. He said the list of the additional companies would likely be published in connection with the fund's third-quarter results later this year. "It is reasonable to expect that we have sold us out from a number of those companies (already)," he added. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche, editing by Stine Jacobsen) NOW Inc. (NYSE: DNOW) revealed it struck a deal to acquire Power Service, Inc., Industrial Tool & Repair, Inc., d/b/a/ Power Service of Montana and Power Transportation LLC. The company indicated that it was all-cash transaction though terms were not disclosed. Now said the deal remained subject to customary closing conditions. That included regulatory approval. President and CEO Robert Workman commented, "We are excited about the opportunity to add Power Service's business to DistributionNOW. With their established position in the Oil & Gas turnkey tank battery solutions market, Power Service would provide a number of attractive synergies for DNOW. Similar to our previous large acquisitions since going public, Power Service would provide us with a unique, high value add solution for our existing customer base." He continued, "Additionally, this acquisition would broaden DNOW's global valve actuation offering by applying Power Service's core competencies around spooling and valve modification, solving our customer's needs for this service, in addition to a turnkey tank battery (facilities) solution." Workman concluded, "And, it would also give us the opportunity to leverage the infrastructure of Odessa Pumps, an acquisition we made last year, to continue to organically grow our customer participation by expanding product lines across several regions. Simultaneously, Power Service would benefit from our scale, international presence and PVF supplier relationships required in their modularized packages." Power Service offers rotating and process equipment engineering, design, and installation, fabrication and service solutions. The company employs approximately 400 employees. On Thursday, the stock shed 3.71 percent. See more from Benzinga 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. (Reuters) - The New York City Police Department said on Thursday a white powder substance found inside Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan was harmless. Five civilians and a police officer were isolated and evaluated by emergency personnel after authorities responded to the location for a report of a suspicious white powder around 8:05 p.m. EDT, New York Fire Department spokesman John Ryan said. About two hours later, a police spokesman said that authorities found that the white substance Trump Tower was harmless, but investigators were still trying to determine what exactly it was. Local broadcaster WNBC, citing law enforcement sources, said the powder was found on the fifth floor of the building, near the campaign offices of Donald Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner. Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks directed all questions to the U.S. Secret Service. A spokesperson for the agency could not be reached immediately for comment. Trump was campaigning in Costa Mesa, California at the time of the incident, according to his schedule online. Last month, a threatening letter containing a granular substance was sent to Trump's son, Eric, urging an end to his father's presidential campaign. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Tom Brown and Simon Cameron-Moore) People inspect the damage at the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo, April 28, 2016. Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad pounded the Syrian city of Aleppo in airstrikes on Thursday, targeting a hospital and killing at least 55 civilians in a new offensive that's believed to have been months in the making. The situation has resulted in a "catastrophic deterioration in Aleppo over the last 24 to 48 hours," Jan Egeland, the chairman of the UN humanitarian task force for Syria, told reporters Thursday. "Doctors have been killed, health workers have been killed, and medical workers have been blocked from coming to their patients," he said. "We can now refute allegations we heard from some government people and others that there are only fighters and terrorists in Daraya. We have seen with own eyes very many children, very many other civilians." Local truces were brokered near Damascus on Friday, but there was no mention of halting combat in Aleppo, further north. Both Moscow and Damascus have denied that their warplanes were responsible for airstrikes on Al-Quds hospital a facility supported by Doctors Without Borders and continue to insist that they are only striking terrorists. US Secretary of State John Kerry called it a "deliberate strike," one that "follows the Assad regime's appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders." But the Assad regime considers all rebels to be terrorists, making medical facilities in opposition-held territory "de-facto illegal" and therefore legitimate targets, according to The Guardian. aleppo Many analysts argue that the cessation of hostilities (CoH) brokered by the US and Russia in February has legitimized Russia and Assad's unwillingness to differentiate between Islamic extremists and more moderate, Western-backed opposition groups. The truce, they say, has allowed forces loyal to Assad to keep bombing rebel territory, as long as they can argue that terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra are present. Story continues As such, many are questioning the extent to which the agreement gave Assad and his allies cover to plan their onslaught on Aleppo. "I was told back in February that a full Aleppo offensive would take 2-3 months to prepare," The Washington Post's Beirut bureau chief Liz Sly tweeted on Thursday. "So the CoH just filled the gap." aleppo syria 'The administration is now giving full cover to the Russians' So far, Washington's response to the onslaught in Aleppo has been limited t0 official statements condemning the airstrikes that destroyed Al-Quds hospital. And most say it will stay that way. "If the US doesn't have a plan to roll out just after official end of CoH (and Obama's comments suggest it), the perception of collusion [between Russia and the US] will grow," saidEmile Hokayem, a Middle East analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Hokayem was likely referring to comments Obama made in a press conference from London last week, where, in reference to the CoH, he said "we are going to have to play this option out." "If, in fact, the cessation falls apart, well try to put it back together again even as we continue to go after ISIL," he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State terrorist group. "And its my belief that ultimately Russia will recognize that." aleppo But both the Defense Department and Kerry have begun using a new line that appears to validate Russia's continued attacks on Aleppo in the midst of the truce. Tony Badran, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, put it bluntly: "The administration is now giving full cover to the Russians." When asked last week whether the Russian airstrikes on Aleppo meant that Moscow was preparing to end the agreement, US Army Col. Steve Warren, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, responded that it was "complicated." He said that was because Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian Al Qaeda affiliate, "holds Aleppo" and is not party to the agreement. Some analysts, including Hokayem, wondered whether Warren had misspoken. While Nusra has indeed been building up its presence in Aleppo since February, the city is also occupied by civilians and armed opposition groups associated with the US-backed Free Syrian Army that agreed to abide by the fragile agreement. "Al-Qaedas affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra does not 'hold' Aleppo, but has a comparatively small force, dwarfed by the mainstream opposition," Syria expert Charles Lister pointed out shortly thereafter. aleppo But Kerry repeated the line in a later interview with The New York Times editorial board, saying Russia's military buildup around the city was primarily aimed at weakening Nusra's presence there. He added: We are not going to sit there and let [Putin] do his thing supporting the regime and hammer at the opposition and say, 'This is working,'" he said. "Obviously, were not stupid about it." But Badran believes that Washington's desire to stay out of the war will compel US officials to keep colluding with Russia in the negotiating room while turning a blind eye to its aggression on the ground. "The White House was always deliberately leveraging Russian military operations against the opposition, translating it into political concessions" for the regime, Badran told Business Insider on Thursday. Kerry made that clear in February, Badran added, when he blamed the collapse of the first round of peace talks in Geneva on the opposition. Kerry said, "'Dont blame me go and blame your opposition,'" a Syrian aid worker told Middle East Eye at the time. According to the publication, Kerry also told the aid workers that the rebels who left the talks were essentially paving the way for a joint offensive by Assad and Russia that would "decimate" the opposition. That statement, Badran says, was not difficult to interpret. He said: "Kerry was essentially telling the opposition: 'The United States wont lift a finger to help you fend off the Russians.' It behooves you, then, to accept what is being offered right now, because your position will only get worse." NOW WATCH: This 60-second animation shows how divided Congress has become over the last 60 years More From Business Insider TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Apr 29, 2016) - Xylitol Canada Inc. ("Xylitol Canada", or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:XYL) today announces that it has released its financial and operating results for the Fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 in addition to the 4th Quarter results for the period of October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. Highlights of the results include: Three months ended December 31, 2015 2014 Revenue $ 2,089,251 $ 2,201,822 Gross Profit $ 201,525 $ 264,517 Net Loss $ (1,285,695 ) $ (853,340 ) Loss per share $ (0.014 ) $ (0.008 ) Year ended December 31, 2015 2014 Revenue $ 8,863,994 $ 8,607,975 Gross Profit $ 1,464,844 $ 1,371,016 Net Loss $ (3,697,804 ) $ (2,848,680 ) Loss per share $ (0.040 ) $ (0.032 ) Mr. Daher, a director of the Company, Stated "Subsequent to the year-end we have raised $2.21m. This funding helps position us to begin restructuring and stabilizing the business in 2016. We look forward to an exciting year at Xylitol Canada." The Company also discloses that in the previously released statement of April 11, 2016, the secured convertible debenture financing ("Secured Financing") in the principal amount of $1,000,000 CAD was in fact $960,000.00 CAD as a result of a specific investor not closing the final paperwork in the required time periods. The full text of the Company's interim consolidated financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") can be found at: www.sedar.com. About Xylitol Canada Inc. Xylitol Canada operates two business units that address the growing xylose and xylitol markets. Xylitol Canada's consumer packaged goods division is based in Denver Colorado and has grown from under $500,000 in revenue in 2010, to over $8,800,000 in 2015. Xylitol Canada operates a 50,000 square foot xylitol facility where it produces and packages a full catalog of natural sugar free products, most notably its natural sugar alternatives. Through this Denver based facility, the Company services major retail customers such as Loblaws, Whole Foods, Costco, Sprouts, and many others. Xylitol Canada markets xylitol and xylitol based-products and is focused on becoming a major low-cost manufacturer of xylitol and related products, serving the global market from operations in North America. Xylitol Canada's business strategy is to leverage novel proprietary technology and processes to become North America's premier manufacturer of low cost, high quality xylitol from readily available environmentally-sustainable biomass. Xylitol is a natural sweetener which is marketed globally including Canada and the United States and is accepted by the American Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association. Xylitol contains 75% less carbohydrates and 40% less calories than sugar, has a myriad of oral health benefits including the prevention of tooth decay and is safe for diabetics. To date, wider spread use of xylitol has been limited by the lack of a reliable, low cost, high quality supplier. Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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. Newmarket (United Kingdom) (AFP) - With Rule The World's stirring Grand National triumph still fresh in the mind, racing's compass rotates towards Newmarket this weekend and the first English classics of 2016. Not for the first time, Aidan O'Brien holds the key with the betting for Saturday's English 2,000 Guineas and the 1,000 24 hours later dominated by blue blooded residents at his Ballydoyle training palace. O'Brien is aiming for an eighth 2,000 Guineas with Air Force One, who on all the evidence of his two-year-old form and breeding looks hard to oppose. The odds-on favourite was described by his master trainer as "something like we've never had before" after his stylish win in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October. He has reportedly wintered well, and should have the class and stamina to prevail on his first attempt at the mile trip. "I would say he is certainly the best two-year-old I've ever trained, by some way," O'Brien said after the Dewhurst. Air Force One's task was eased last week with the the news that Saturday's classic had come too soon for one of his main rivals, Emotionless, flying the flag for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin. Godolphin's royal blue silks will now be represented by Buratino, who had Air Force One two lengths adrift when landing the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last June. Champion jockey Ryan Moore put Air Force One's defeat that day down to his charge's physical immaturity. Air Force One turned the tables in no uncertain terms when the pair next met at the Curragh, and it should be a similar story of superiority for the Irish challenger on their third meeting. Sunday's 1,000 Guineas is also destined for O'Brien with Minding the hot favourite to supply him with a fourth success in the fillies classic. She is joined by another O'Brien Group 1 winner from last season in Ballydoyle, who impressed in a searching workout last Saturday at the training centre after which she is named, and Alice Springs. Story continues "We know that Minding handles the ease well whereas Ballydoyle is not as effective on easier ground. They were very close as two-year-olds," O'Brien told British media this week. "I would imagine Ryan (Moore) will ride Minding as he was very impressed with her last year. I think he was more impressed with Minding than Ballydoyle when he rode her."French trainer Criquette Head-Maarek, who has a fond association with the race having won it three times already, sends over Midweek. By Motivator, the same sire that produced Head-Maarek's two-time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve, she looks attractively priced at around 25-1 after impressing in her final workout in Chantilly. "I know she was beaten in the Prix Imprudence, but she will definitely be suited by stepping back up to a mile as she won over that trip last year," the trainer told racing channel, At The Races. "She was my best two-year-old last season, she was slowly away on her debut and should have finished much closer than fourth. "I've been lucky with Motivator as a sire in the past and I'm hoping I can be again. "She's a good filly and will appreciate any cut in the ground - it just depends if any of the other fillies are better than her." (Reuters) - An anonymous video posted on social media that threatened "American students" with death, prompting five Ohio school districts to close all their schools on Friday, has been dismissed by authorities as not credible. "Tomorrow American students will die. Some of u are ok. Don't go to school tomorrow," the post said, according to a still image from the video published by the Athens County Sheriff's Office. The image showed a pistol in someone's hand. The sheriff's office initially said the video was posted to the user group for Ohio University students on Yeti, a college-oriented and location-based social media app. The department later said the video was posted by somebody in Europe and was reported to campus police by an Ohio University group member. "Although the complainant belongs to the 'Ohio University' group, the video appeared in the complainant's feed based on key words, not location," the sheriff's office said in a statement, adding that there was no specific threat to the school or area. The video was reported to university police early on Friday morning, but officials kept the main Athens campus open and said the university's scheduled commencement would go ahead, the sheriff's office said. However, five area school districts - Athens City, Trimble, Alexander, Federal Hocking and Nelsonville-York - closed for the day, the sheriff's office said, affecting thousands of students. Athens, Ohio, is located about 75 miles southeast of Columbus. Last December, Los Angeles shut more than 1,000 public schools over a threatened attack with bombs and assault rifles, sending hundreds of thousands of students home as city leaders were criticized for overreacting to what authorities later said was apparently a hoax. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; editing by Leslie Adler) By Heide Brandes OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Oklahoma lawmakers will take up legislation next week aimed at ensuring sex crimes do not go unpunished in the state because the victims were unconscious or intoxicated when they occurred. In March, Oklahoma's highest criminal court ruled the state's rape law addresses sexual assault cases involving people who were either unconscious or intoxicated when they were victims of abuse. But the court ruled that Oklahoma's forcible sodomy law, which also pertains to oral sex, did not address such cases. The ruling was in response to allegations that a Tulsa teenager sexually assaulted a girl who had passed out after a night of drinking. A lower court judge had dismissed the case last year. Oklahoma Representative Scott Biggs, a Republican, said on Friday he is filing legislation to define forcible sodomy in a way that includes unconscious victims. The bill, which is widely supported, is expected to be heard by the Oklahoma legislature in the coming week, Biggs said. "The judges made a grave error, but if they need more clarification, we are happy to give it to them by fixing the statute," Biggs said in an interview. The state's highest criminal appeals court said in its ruling: "Sodomy cannot occur where a victim is so intoxicated as to be completely unconscious at the time of the sexual act of oral copulation." It added, "we will not, in order to justify prosecution of a person for an offense, enlarge a statute beyond the fair meaning of its language." The ruling in March had gone mostly unnoticed until the public interest journalism site Oklahoma Watch reported on it this month, sparking a public outcry. The case from 2014 involved two high school students who were drinking and smoking marijuana with friends. The boy testified the oral sex was consensual but the girl said it was not, according to Oklahoma Watch, which added that the teen's DNA was found on the girl. Story continues "Unfortunately, legal minds often get stuck on questions of semantics, when it is clear to most of us what the intent of the law is," Biggs said. I cant stress enough how sorry I am for the victim and that she was denied justice, he added. (Reporting by Heide Brandes; Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Tom Brown) Jerusalem (AFP) - Thousands of Orthodox Christians from across the globe marked Good Friday with a procession through Jerusalem's Old City, retracing the steps Jesus Christ is believed to have taken on the day of his crucifixion. The pilgrims, some carrying crosses and others praying, retraced the 14 Stations of the Cross and walked to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus Christ is believed to be buried. Hundreds of Israeli security forces were deployed inside the walled Old City, and around the church, which is in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, an AFP journalist said. Their presence was to regulate the flow of worshippers through the narrow streets rather than to calm fears of potential violence, despite weeks of renewed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Crowds of pilgrims queued to enter the Holy Sepulchre, many scribbling prayers on pieces of paper which they planned to recite inside the church. "We pray for the whole community," Otyrba Ilona, 36, told AFP, explaining she came in a group of 40 people from Abkhazia, a separatist region of Georgia in the Caucasus. "The Georgian Church does not give us our independence. All here are praying for it," she said. Dragan Ilic, 35, who had travelled from Switzerland and was among a group of around 50 Serbians, kept his prayer secret. But, like all the others, he said the visit was incredibly important to him. Thousands of pilgrims came from Egypt, which is the only Arab country besides Jordan to have diplomatic relations with Israel even if the ties are often strained. "This pilgrimage is not an obligation. But it is the dream of all (Coptic Christian) Egyptians,"said Christina Salama, who came with her parents. The majority of the Christians in the Holy Land belong to the Orthodox faith but traditionally do not play a major part in the procession. Eastern and Western Christians mark Easter according to different calendars. Paris (AFP) - Britain kept its coveted top-grade triple-A credit rating from Standard and Poor's on Friday, with the agency saying it expected the country to ultimately vote to remain in the European Union. Standard and Poor's said "our affirmation of the rating reflects our assumption that, by a small majority, the referendum will deliver a vote to remain in the EU", citing polls which show a slim majority planning to vote on June 23 to stay in the EU. However the ratings agency kept the top-grade rating, which generally allows a nation to borrow at lower rates, on negative outlook over the possibility voters would choose to leave the bloc, or "Brexit". Standard and Poor's said "...that a vote to leave would deter investment in the economy, decrease official demand for sterling reserves, and put the U.K.'s financial services sector at a competitive disadvantage compared with other global financial centers." It added Brexit could also dampen economic growth and curtail investment which has been critical in covering Britain's current account deficit, a key measure of whether a country is paying its way in the world. The deficit was over 5 percent last year. "Depending on the circumstances and consequences of a vote to leave, we could lower the rating by more than one notch if we reassessed our view of the UK's institutional strength and ability to formulate policy conducive to sustainable growth," said the ratings agency. But uncertainty around Brexit, combined with the weaker global outlook overall, already led Standard and Poor's to lower its growth forecasts for Britain. Assuming that Britain doesn't leave the EU, the ratings agency said it now expects the British economy to grow by a still-robust 2.1 percent per year in the 2016-2019 period. The other two leading global credit ratings agencies, Moody's and Fitch, both stripped Britain of its top rating in 2013. Los Angeles (AFP) - South Korean superstar Pak Se-Ri pulled out of the LPGA Texas Shootout in the second round on Friday with a burn on her leg caused by hot tea. Pak, the Hall of Fame-bound legend who has announced this will be her final season on the LPGA tour, opened the tournament with a one-over 72 on Thursday and was one-over for the tournament when she withdrew. The LPGA confirmed on Twitter that she had pulled out "citing an accidental hot tea burn to her lower leg". It was unclear exactly when Pak suffered the burn. Pak, 38, was the first of what is now an army of South Korean players on the LPGA tour. She has won five major titles and 25 LPGA crowns overall. Pak has more than $12.5 million in career earnings since joining the LPGA Tour in 1998. Patton Oswalt addressed his wife Michelle McNamaras sudden and tragic death for the first time on Friday, April 29, a little more than a week after she passed away. PHOTOS: Celebrity Deaths in 2016: Stars Weve Lost She wrote lines that stung & hummed. 13 years in her presence was happily humbling. #RIPMichelleMcNamara, the comedian tweeted, along with a link to make a donation in her name to 826LA, a nonprofit writing and tutoring organization that offers homework help and writing workshops for kids. McNamara, a writer and founder of the website True Crime Diary, died in her sleep at the age of 46 on April 21. Oswalts rep told the Associated Press at the time that her death came as a complete shock to their family. PHOTOS: Stars Gone Too Soon According to The Hollywood Reporter, it might be months until officials know why McNamara died. Ed Winter, spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner's office, explained to THR that the medical examiner's office is backed up with cases, but that tests, including a toxicology report, are ongoing. The Veep actor and crime writer married in 2005 and are parents to 7-year-old daughter Alice. Celebrity Health Scares Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics and more delivered straight to your inbox! From Esquire Speaker Paul Ryan, the zombie-eyed granny starver from the state of Wisconsin and first runner-up in our most recent vice presidential pageant, has been pretending to be the serious one again recently. He's been giving speeches in which he explains (again) his variation on the Catholic principle of "subsidiarity," for which the Jesuits at Georgetown kicked him around pretty severely back in 2012. He's also bringing his ideas regarding healthcare out for a walk again. But, before we get to all that, let's see how he's doing in his day job of wrangling the unruly fauna in the House of Representatives. The answer isnot well. As NBC News reports: The top U.S. health officials say it's an emergency and the White House has asked for $1.9 billion to pay for preparations, to develop vaccines, tests, treatments, to fight mosquitoes and to train health experts to recognize and deal with cases. Republicans in Congress say the money's not there and have urged the Health and Human Services Department to use money left over from about $7 billion allocated to fight Ebola. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and others there is not leftover money-that all of it is spoken for, and needed to help prevent another Ebola epidemic. They've scratched up $589 million for now but say it's not nearly enough. Because there's nothing more important than shortchanging an outbreak of a disease rampant in Brazil 100 days before the world shows up there for the Olympics. Earlier, Ryan said he was confident that a bipartisan plan to fight the outbreak would emerge from the House. Of course, this is very much like my claiming that I'll be going down to Cape Cod Sound this morning to have a chat with the tides. That's because Ryan no more controls his caucus than I control the Atlantic Ocean. From USA Today: House Republicans say they're open to an emergency spending bill-just not one as open-ended as the president is seeking. "So when the administration requested that $1.9 billion supplemental, which was just almost a slush fund across the government, the money could be used for any purpose," House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers said last week. "We said, 'Look, we don't do business that way. We appropriate the taxpayer's dollars in a responsible, direct way, with details we can all understand." Story continues This is the same kind of nonsense we heard over the proposed aid package for the victims of SuperStorm Sandy. If Hal Rogers "understands" the least fck-all about epidemic disease, I'll listen to him about this particular crisis. But this is the basic modern conservative political philosophy-announce that government can't do anything, arrange the funding so that it can do very little, and then refuse to finance any new thing that might come along to upset your mental bowling pins. Ryan then went across town to give a pep talk to some conservative millennial types at Georgetown-none of whom, we hope, have the Zika virus-about his plans to replace the Affordable Care Act with something more palatable to insurance companies. As reported by Reuters: In election-year remarks that could shed light on an expected Republican healthcare alternative, Ryan said existing federal policy that prevents insurers from charging sick people higher rates for health coverage has raised costs for healthy consumers while undermining choice and competition. The rule, a cornerstone of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, has been praised by patient advocates for providing access to medical care for people who previously could not afford private health insurance. The Affordable Care Act also bars insurers from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions. "Less than 10 percent of people under 65 are what we call people with pre-existing conditions, who are really kind of uninsurable," Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, told a student audience at Georgetown University. "Let's fund risk pools at the state level to subsidize their coverage, so that they can get affordable coverage," he said. "You dramatically lower the price for everybody else. You make health insurance so much more affordable, so much more competitive and open up competition." Once again, a brilliant "new idea" that is nothing more than implementing the status quo ante. It's not like there aren't a couple of million people in the country who had first-hand experience with that system before the ACA passed. If I don't accept Ryan's credentials as an economist, I'm sure as hell not accepting his credentials as a physician. First Do No Harm is not a principle that has guided his public career. Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page. The Pentagon announced Friday it has punished 16 members of the U.S. military for a mistaken aerial attack on a hospital in Afghanistan last fall that killed 42. It added that it has adopted new rules to prevent such calamities in the future. Unfortunately, as high-powered weapons too often demonstrate, bad decisions sometimes trump good policies. This tragic incident was caused by a combination of human errors, compounded by process and equipment failures, General Joseph Votel, chief of U.S. Central Command, said at a Pentagon press conference. We are fully committed to learning from this tragedy and minimizing the risk of civilian casualties during future combat operations. Votel added that none of those involved will face court martial, but the administrative punishments levied against themranging from removal from command, letters of reprimand, to counselinglikely mark the end of their careers in uniform. None was identified by name. Those involvedthe highest-ranking was a two-star generalincluded those aboard the AC-130 gunship that repeatedly fired on the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, as well as members of the Army Special Force team on the ground that called in the strikes. He released a heavily-edited 3,000-page probe into the attack. The medical group, also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres, had repeatedly told the U.S. military where the hospital was located. It frantically called the U.S. military once the strikes began, but they continued for a half an hour more. The group, which has labeled the attack a war crime, has called for an outside investigation into how it happened. Votel said that because the targeting was not intentional, there was no war crime. The U.S. will build a replacement medical facility for $5.7 million, and has paid the familes of those killed $6,000 per death and $3,000 for each of the 170 wounded. Todays briefing amounts to an admission of an uncontrolled military operation in a densely populated urban area, during which U.S. forces failed to follow the basic laws of war, said Meinie Nicolai of Doctors Without Borders. It is incomprehensible that, under the circumstances described by the U.S., the attack was not called off. The attack carries echoes of previous deadly snafus, including the 1988 shoot down of Iran Air 655, killing 290 innocent civilians over the Persian Gulf, and the 1994 destruction of a pair of U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters over northern Iraq, killing 26, including 15 Americans. Each happened in what might be called the haze of war, where one additional check, carried out correctly, should have averted catastrophe. To be sure, each mistake in that trio of tragedies had unique elements that make them risky to lump together. But they also share a similarity that needs to be acknowledged to reduce the chance of another one happening again. The hardware designed to kill performed flawlessly. It was the judgment of those pulling the trigger that was flawed. The USS Vincennes shot down the Iranian airliner 14 months after the Iraqi air force attacked the USS Stark in the Persian Gulf, killing 37 sailors. That put commanders in the Gulf on edge. After a skirmish with a pair of Iranian gunboats, the Vincennes crew said they feared the airplane approaching their vessel on July 3, 1988, was an Iranian F-14 fighter, and not an Airbus A-300. Five sailors sitting at five screens said they witnessed the Airbus descending toward their ship, as if on an attack mission. So at 10:24 a.m. on July 3, 1988, the Vincennes fired a pair of Standard surface-to-air missiles at the approaching aircraft. One hit the plane, destroying it. Data recorded during the shoot down showed the plane was climbing the entire time, after taking off from the Iranian airport at Bandar Abbas seven minutes earlier. It was on a routinely scheduled 28-minute flight across the gulf for the international airport at Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The official investigation concluded that the data from USS Vincennes tapes corroborate the fact that [Iran Air Flight 655] was on a normal commercial air flight plan profile, in the assigned airway, squawking Mode III 6760, on a continuous ascent in altitude from take-off at Bandar Abbas to shoot-down. In other words, the Vincennes crew overlooked or disregarded signs that the plane approaching their ship was not an F-14 fighter. The Navys official probe said the five sailors who thought their ship was under attack were engaging in scenario fulfillment caused by an unconscious attempt to make available evidence fit a preconceived scenario. How information is processed (and by whom) is at the heart of the problem, Navy Commander David Carlson, skipper of the U.S. Navy warship closest to the Vincennes, said a year after the shootdown. View it as you will, Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down for no good reason. Six years later, on April 14, 1994, a pair of F-15 fighters shot down two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, believing them to be Iraqi aircraft violating the U.S.-imposed no-flight zone over the northern part of the country. Once again, a string of errors led to the tragedy. Unlike the Iran shoot down, these choppersregardless of their nationalityposed no threat to the F-15s. The pilots decision to impose capital punishment on all aboard suggests they knew what they were shooting at. But they did not: while the two F-15 pilots said they thought they were targeting Soviet-built Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunships, they shot down a pair of Black Hawks, complete with U.S. flags painted on their sides. They were too far away, and flying too fast, to identify the aircraft they ended up destroying. Beyond the initial misidentification, the crew aboard a nearby AWACS command-and-control plane failed to intervene. The identification-friend-or-foe electronics that should have told the F-15 pilots that the UH-60s were friendlies also didnt work. And the poor integration of the Army choppers into the Air Forces no-fly-zone operations doomed those aboard the choppers. Air Force officials said the tactical environment did not warrant a rush to judgment, a 1997 General Accounting Office report said. The F-15 pilots had acted too hastily and should have asked more questionsthe pilots had an unnecessarily aggressive attitude toward the intercept and shootdown. Part of the rush to judgment, the Air Force found, was that a pair of F-16 fighters would soon arrive in the area the F-15s were patrolling. U.S. military officials overseeing the Pentagons operations over northern Iraq acknowledged that a rivalry existed between the F-15 and F-16 communities, the GAO report said. At the time of the shootdown the rivalry had become more pronounced and intense. Wait a minutewerent these pilots on the same side? The Combined Task Force Commander attributed this atmosphere to the F-16 communitys having executed the only fighter shootdown in Operation Provide Comfort and all shootdowns in Bosnia, the GAO found. Waiting for the F-16s arrival would slow downperhaps haltthe F-15s attack, ruining the pilots chances for a shootdown. Likewise, the Oct. 3 attack on the hospital by an Air Force AC-130 gunship happened only after a string of errors. Last November, Army General John Campbell, then commanding U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reeled some of them off: The aircraft launched without conducting a normal mission brief or securing crucial mission essential related materials, including the no-strike designations which would have identified the location of the MSF trauma center. During the flight, the electronic systems onboard the aircraft malfunctioned, preventing the operation of an essential command and control capability and eliminating the ability of aircraft to transmit video, send and receive e-mail or send and receive electronic messages. When the aircrew entered the coordinates into their fire-control systems, the coordinates correlated to an open field over 300 meters from the NDS [National Director of Security building, where Taliban fighters had been battling Afghan forces for five days] headquartersThis mistake happened because the aircraft was several miles beyond its normal orbit and its sensors were degraded at that distance. The aircrew visually located the closest, largest building near the open field, which we now know was the MSF trauma center. The aircrew concluded, based on the [U.S. Special Operations target spotters] description of a large building near a field, that the MSF trauma center was the NDS headquarters. One minute prior to firing, the aircrew transmitted to their operational headquarters at Bagram Airfield that they were about to engage the building. They provided the coordinates for the MSF Trauma Center as their target. The headquarters was aware of the coordinates for the MSF Trauma Center and had access to the no-strike list, but did not realize that the grid coordinates for the target matched a location on the no-strike list or that the aircrew was preparing to fire on the hospital. What all three tragedies share is what motorists call driving beyond your headlightsgoing so fast at night that you dont have time to stop if your headlights reveal something blocking the road ahead. These military accidents suffered from the same shortsightedness. Basically, the U.S. militarys firepower is so goodso lethalthat it must be used carefully, especially when there is no imminent threat to allied forces. And an imminent threatas Iran Air 655 showscan be in the eye of the beholder. In each case, technology that should have applied brakes to the deadly decision wasnt working properly, or wasnt interpreted properly by those involved. Each time, a human made the initial wrong decision that culminated in disaster. There is no known technology to prevent that. Http%3a%2f%2fi.blueprint.mashable.com%2fniimyycmcxh-tyqcswdmyagqirg%3d%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f74689%2fap_905580659838 Flower baths we've heard of before, but fruit baths? That's got to be a first. SEE ALSO: China launches new tourism campaign to combat uncivilised behaviour Guests at a hot spring resort in Luoyang City, China, can choose from soaking in baths filled with juicy apples, cool cucumbers or zesty lemons. Image: HUANG ZHENGWEI/ IMAGINECHINA/AP It's believed that the fresh fruit has multiple skincare benefits from anti-ageing to brightening. Image: Huang zhengwei/ Imaginechina/AP Some of the visitors were so fascinated by the experience, that they even heartily helped themselves by biting into the fresh fruit floating in their baths. Image: HUANG ZHENGWEI/ IMAGINECHINA/AP We're guessing there's no stopping these tourists from getting a good deal of what they're paying for. Image: Huang zhengwei/ Imaginechina/AP LIMA, April 29 (Reuters) - Peru's central bank chief on Friday called a recent court ruling "an outrage" for including the bank's employees in a merit-based labor regime for the civil service, saying it undermines the bank's autonomy. Julio Velarde, president of the central bank for the past decade, said he asked the Constitutional Court for a clarification after it said that a labor law passed in 2013 must also apply to the central bank and other autonomous entities such as the banking superintendence and the tax agency. The law, which aims to modernize the country's civil service, eased restrictions on the firing of employees and made hiring more competitive. The regime is overseen by a special bureau dependent on the president's cabinet, which could subject the central bank to the political whims of whomever is in office, Velarde said. "What's been done is an outrage ... it affects the autonomy of the central bank," Velarde told reporters. "It could really turn into tit-for-tat: Give me approval for this unthinkable thing for the central bank in exchange for that." Velarde said the bank was now evaluating next steps. (Reporting by Teresa Cespedes; Editing by Leslie Adler) Nickelback sucks There are few bands that get as much grief as poor, poor Nickelback, and now there's new research that explains why you probably hate the band's frontman, Chad Kroeger, so much. Salli Anttonen, a cultural studies PhD student at the University of Eastern Finland, studied the nickelbacklash in her amazingly titled paper, "Hypocritical bullshit performed through gritted teeth: Authenticity discourses in Nickelbacks album reviews in Finnish media." By examining reviews of the band published between 2000 and 2014, Anttonen determined that all the hatred is "not about the sound, but what values are attached to the sounds." Haters ride Nickelback for being inauthentic, faking their way through uninspired, uncool post-grunge for purely commercial purposes, Anttonen surmises. The Canadian group relies on tried-and-true soft rock tropes and rarely attempt to play anything innovative, sticking with what will reliably get radio play. Attacking Nickelback also makes critics look better, as she found that by "nullifying Nickelbacks authenticity, critics are actually authenticating themselves. Nickelback is too much of everything to be enough of something," she concludes. "They follow genre expectations too well, which is seen as empty imitation, but also not well enough, which is read as commercial tactics and as a lack of a stable and sincere identity. If you're looking for a Nickelback song that perfectly exemplifies Anttonen's findings, might we suggest their 2005 track "Rockstar" for your listening, um, pleasure? NOW WATCH: A father-son team is creating the next viral YouTube channel by melting things More From Business Insider (Recasts throughout with quotes, details about margins, gasoline output) By Kristen Hays HOUSTON, April 29 (Reuters) - Independent refiner Phillips 66 is looking to a buoyant summer driving season and distillate export demand to lift profits squashed by swollen inventories and dismal margins in the first quarter, executives told analysts on Friday. Phillips, the nation's fourth-largest refiner, reported more than a 40 percent drop in profit from the prior year as weak margins squeezed most divisions. It also has substantial operations in energy logistics and chemicals. But since March, gasoline margins have improved and distillate margins are "relatively stable," President Tim Taylor said during the company's quarterly earnings call. Executives expect strong U.S. summer gasoline demand to reduce brimming stocks and support high refinery rates, while "good" demand in China, India, West Africa and Latin America can siphon distillate inventory overhang, he said. "The summer driving season, that's going to drive the overall refinery utilization and certainly drives our thinking," Taylor said. Other refiners stung by lower first-quarter profits or losses after a robust 2015 also expect a rebound from the summer driving season, when gasoline demand is at its seasonal highest. The industry is experiencing fallout from running plants at high rates through January, filling storage tanks when gasoline demand was seasonally low. Phillips, like others, shifted to making as much gasoline as possible because the warm winter and economic uncertainty depressed distillate demand, pushing crack spreads to their lowest since 2010, Chief Executive Greg Garland said. By February gasoline margins retreated as demand lagged brimming stocks, prompting many refiners - Phillips included - to reduce output and try to rebalance markets. "We ran really hard in January and we slowed down in February. That is really the story," Garland said. He said Phillips expects its plants to keep running as much gasoline as possible for the rest of the year, about 43 percent and 45 percent of overall output. "I think we pretty much are running what we can," he said. (Reporting By Kristen Hays; Editing by Terry Wade and Steve Orlofsky) Pilgrims Pride Announced Dismal 1Q16 Earnings but Beat Estimates Earnings were hit hard On April 28, 2016, before the Markets opening bell, Pilgrims Pride (PPC) reported its financial results for 1Q16, which ended March 27, 2016. Later that day, management held a conference call to discuss the results. Pilgrims Pride started 2016 with lower earnings. As expected, its earnings declined 44% in the first quarter. However, it surpassed analysts estimates of $0.42 by 9%. Adjusted EPS (earnings per share) came in around $0.46 for the first quarter compared to $0.82 in 1Q15. Well take a look at those earnings results later in the series. What caused the earnings decline? As we saw in our earnings preview series, export market disruptions and unfavorable currency headwinds affected Pilgrims Prides earnings in 1Q16. Management mentioned that the diversity of its portfolio strategy, which is a product and customer mix, will allow the company to capture the strength of up markets. The effect from the weakness of down markets will be softened, which will ultimately translate to lower volatility and bring in consistent earnings and higher margins. Earnings for its peers Pilgrims Prides main competitors are Tyson Foods (TSN), Hormel Foods (HRL), and Sanderson Farms (SAFM). Tyson and Hormel saw positive earnings growth of 49% and 25%, respectively, in their last quarters. Meanwhile, Sanderson Farms saw declining earnings of 84% for its last reported quarter. The AdvisorShares TrimTabs Float Shrink ETF (TTFS) and the Victory CEMP US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd Index ETF (CDC) invest 1.2% and 0.46% of their portfolios, respectively, in PPC. What well cover in this series In this series, well be looking at Pilgrims Prides 1Q16 performance. Well include what drove the revenue increase and how the segments contributed. Then well look at its growth and brand expansion initiative, its outlook for 2016, and the special dividend it declared. Finally, well end the series with the stocks reaction to its earnings. Well also see its moving averages, valuation, and analyst recommendations for the stock. Story continues In the next part, well see why Pilgrims Pride continued its downward revenue trend in 1Q16. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: You probably know what to do in an emergency situation at home, but what if you found yourself in a similar position overseas? Experts say it's important for future international students to have some sort of response plan for emergency scenarios such as injury or a natural disaster. Gary Rhodes, director of the Center for Global Education at California State University--Dominguez Hills, says students and parents can approach international safety planning by thinking: "Okay, here's how I handle health and safety emergencies in the city, state, university or wherever I am. What do I need to do to be able to deal with things where I'm going at that same level?" Read about the [four questions students should ask about health care abroad.] Here are several things students headed overseas can do that will help them cope during a crisis. Do your research: Students should study up on the political climate and cultural norms in their destination country, experts say. "It's important for students to obey the laws and regulations of the country where they're visiting," says Robyn Prinz, a consular officer at the U.S. Department of State. Prinz, who supports the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management personnel at U.S. embassies in Belize, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala and Venezuela, says it 's particularly important to obey the laws that have to do with alcohol and other drug use. In some countries, drug-related charges have extremely severe penalties compared with the U.S. If students are imprisoned overseas, there may not be much home-country embassies can do to get them released. An extreme example is the case of American college student Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea for allegedly trying to steal a propaganda banner while visiting the country. Students can be proactive about connecting with their country's embassy by registering their trip online, if possible. Some countries, including the U.S., Canada and Australia, encourage globally mobile citizens to enroll their trips so that consular officers will know how to reach them. Story continues Have a plan: After researching their destination country, students can put together an emergency action plan detailing the steps to take in a crisis. Some items to include are numbers for emergency contacts; the hierarchy of who a student will call first, second and third in an emergency; and information about transportation options. Having important phone numbers written down or printed out -- not just programmed into a cellphone -- ensures students will know how to reach emergency contacts even if their phone gets lost, says Colin Chaperon, who manages the American Red Cross' international disaster team. Students and parents can check out a sample emergency action plan from the Center for Global Education. "You have this plan, you put it on your computer or your put it in your pocket, and suddenly you're like, okay, now I know what the incident is and here are the steps to solve it," says Rhodes, "as opposed to just entering into a state of confusion and freezing." Read about how to [prepare for medical emergencies as an international student.] Thinking about how you'll react in an emergency situation, such as a natural disaster, can be the difference between survival and not, says Niles Cole, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs. Information on natural disaster preparedness can be found on the bureau's website. "Be aware of what kinds of natural disasters you could potentially face and have a plan for how to deal with those," Cole says. Keep in touch: Families should have a communication plan for when a student is abroad. "It really helps both sides to know: Should they expect communication every week? Or every day? And then also the best way to get ahold of each other," says Prinz. Parents should also keep their student's university updated on any changes to their phone number or email address for emergency contact purposes, said Kazuko Suematsu, deputy director of the Global Learning Center at Tohoku University in Japan, by email. In March 2011, Tohoku University was severely impacted by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that hit eastern Japan and the tsunami that followed. Understand how to [consider mental health before earning a degree overseas.] If an emergency does occur, the State Department recommends that students reach out to their families to provide updates on their condition. One way to do this is via Facebook -- the social network has a check-in tool called Safety Check that is activated in affected regions after natural disasters or other large-scale emergencies, such as the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris. Students should have a plan for how they'll reassure loved ones that they are all right, but also for how they'll calm themselves. Chaperon, of the Red Cross, says he recommends packing a small item with sentimental value, something that -- in times of uncertainty or anxiety -- you can just look at and touch to reground yourself. For him, it's a set of pictures of his family, and for one of his colleagues, it's a teddy bear. See the complete rankings of the Best Global Universities. Kelly Mae Ross is an education staff writer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at kross@usnews.com. Kathmandu (AFP) - After 17 years of helping climbers reach the roof of the world, Argentinian Damian Benegas won't be returning to Everest this year, frozen out of the business by cheaper and some say dangerous operators. "It's impossible to convince clients to pay us $65,000 for an expedition when there are guys offering trips for $28,000 or less," the respected guide told AFP from California. As mountaineers ascend Everest this month during the spring climbing season, fewer Western companies will be leading the expeditions, with Nepal's sherpas increasingly running the lucrative business. Western veterans accuse some of the new operators of endangering lives by recruiting untrained sherpas and by accepting clients with little mountaineering experience. "The new lot, they hire these young boys who have never been on a mountain and their first trip is carrying loads to the South Col (around 7,900 metres)," warned Russell Brice, owner of top expedition company Himex. "How is that fair? Who is looking after them?" the New Zealander told AFP. An avalanche that ripped through Everest in 2014, killing 16 Nepalis, underscored the risks borne by sherpas who ascend icy slopes, weighed down by tents, ropes and food for clients. After the first summit in 1953 by sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary, Everest was dominated for decades by Western expedition companies. Western operators offered mostly foreign climbers a chance to fullfil their dream of scaling the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) high peak for $45,000 to $79,000. As the industry grew, sherpas, an ethnic group thought to be of Tibetan origin and known for their climbing skills, became indispensable as guides and porters. But over the last five years, local climbing companies, many run by former guides and porters, have shaken up Nepal's mountaineering market, offering cheaper, no-frills expeditions. Leading Western companies secured only 119 climbing permits this season -- which is resuming after a deadly avalanche hit base camp last year and which usually runs until end-May -- less than half the total number allocated. Story continues Nepali firms don't hire foreign guides and therefore avoid paying the $11,000 government fee for climbing permits, a cost that has traditionally been passed onto clients. Many have also scaled back on luxuries like WiFi and expensive batteries to power clients' smartphones and laptops. But according to some, operators are also lowering costs through using cheap labour -- by emptying remote Himalayan villages of young men who see a job on Everest as their way out of poverty. - 'Lethal cocktail'- Nepal's tourism department chief Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal said the government was not aware of such concerns, while some locals say the Westerners have sour grapes after years of earning large sums on Everest. Mingma Sherpa is one guide who uses inexperienced villagers on his expeditions to Everest, taking on up to 25 fresh faces every season. Sherpa, owner of local company, Seven Summit Treks, rejects the safety claims, saying his youngsters start at the bottom and meticulously learn from their peers, rather than undertaking formal training courses. "I am offering these young men a chance to learn... there is no safety issue because they are not going to guide clients, they are carrying loads," Sherpa said. "They will learn on the job from other sherpas like I did... all this technical training about safety and danger is of no use to us," he told AFP. Sherpa himself started carrying loads on trekking routes as a teenager before moving on to high-altitude work that saw him become the first Nepali to summit all 14 of the world's peaks above 8,000 metres. Sherpa is taking 45 clients to Everest this season and none are required to have high-altitude experience. Anyone "in good physical shape" can climb Everest because plenty of skilled sherpas are on hand to help, he said. "The only difference between climbing a small mountain and Everest is the need for oxygen, which we provide. Anyone can do this," he said. But Dawa Steven Sherpa, managing director of another local firm, Asian Trekking, among the oldest operators in the Himalayas, said he is increasingly worried. "The combination of untrained sherpas and inexperienced climbers is a lethal cocktail but luckily there are better-equipped companies to rally around in case of accidents," he told AFP. For Benegas, who has led many rescue efforts on Everest over the years, the situation is grim. "This is their country, their mountain -- they have a right to do what they want but we need to be honest about the cost," he said. By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Political divisions in Tunisia's ruling coalition risk undermining economic reforms and paralysing the government as it tries to revive the country's post-revolution economy and tackle Islamist militancy. Until recently, compromise between secular and Islamist parties in the governing alliance had helped keep Tunisia's transition on track after the 2011 overthrow of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, which inspired uprisings across the Arab world. But that consensus looks increasingly threatened by squabbling among secular allies and splits within the coalition. When lawmakers voted for part of an economic reform package last week, the ruling alliance managed to force the bill through by just two votes after many of its lawmakers opposed the motion or abstained. The vote on the bill to protect central bank autonomy was just one of the financial overhauls Tunisia's international lenders are demanding to set the North African state's economy on track after five years of upheaval. But for ruling coalition parties to muster only 73 votes of the 150 they control in the 217-member congress underscored how political splits are starting to undermine those efforts. Tunisia is struggling with lower tourism revenue after three militant attacks last year, protests over unemployment and slow economic revival. "There are some in the coalition that think they can be in the government and the opposition at the same time," said Ajmi Ourimi, a lawmaker with the Islamist Ennahda party, which is part of the coalition. "We're in a crisis of coordination." After elections in late 2014, Prime Minister Habib Essid's cabinet, including ministers from secularist Nidaa Tounes party, Ennahda and other minor parties, has struggled to make progress on economic reforms to match Tunisia's political progress. The International Monetary Fund this month reached a preliminary deal to assist Tunisia with a four-year loan program worth about $2.8 billion tied to economic reforms. That came after offers of aid from European partners. But IMF Tunisia mission chief Amine Mati urged the government to start work immediately. Splits in secular party Nidaa Tounes and its ally Afek Tounes have angered Essid, who felt the loss of political support as he seeks to pass more sensitive austerity-style reforms needing consensus to overcome any popular reactions. "I feel frustrated after I saw the result of the vote on the Central Bank law. I held meetings with the four coalition parties in order to avoid the same scenario," Essid told reporters. But it is far from clear whether their positions will unify for new bills, especially with widening political divides among the four, Ennahda, Nidaa Tounes, Afek Tounes and Free Popular Union UPL party. Nidaa Tounes, the party of President Beji Caid Essebsi, has already splintered over a dispute about the role his son might play in the party and its secretary-general and a group of lawmakers broke away to form a new political movement. In a sign of more rifts, Yassin Ibrahim, the leader of Afek Tounes party, has suggested the formation of a new parliamentary bloc which includes liberal parties but excludes Ennahda. Although Nidaa Tounes leaders rejected the proposal, Ibrahim's comments could further weaken the fragile government. "There has been a crisis in the coalition since the announcement of possible new front in parliament and after the central bank law vote," Abd Elaziz El Koti, a Nidaa Tounes lawmaker. "We're in talks over better coordination now." BAD TIMING Political infighting could not come at a worse time. Tunisia's economy has faltered since the revolt against Ben Ali and problems have been exacerbated by last year's attacks by Islamist militants who targeted foreign visitors and the tourism industry which accounts for 8 percent of gross domestic product. Economic growth in Tunisia was 0.8 percent last year and officials expect 2.5 percent this year, but unemployment stands at 15.3 percent and is far higher among young people. Protests and rioting over jobs and economic opportunities at the start of the year illustrated how sensitive any austerity reforms may be given the simmering social tensions. The rest of the reform package will be presented to parliament in the coming weeks, after a long delay, including the investment bill, retirement bill and banks project law. Analysts say the banks bill may cause controversy after financial experts criticised the Islamic finance portion for favouring Islamic banks over traditional banks. The government's proposal to raise the retirement age by five years - part of efforts to reduce public spending on pensions - is also facing a strong resistance from the powerful labor union UGTT. Labour union protests have already forced the cabinet to act. The government scuppered an attempt to apply a fiscal law obliging thousands of doctors and lawyers to give details on their income after their unions threatened strikes. "Prime minister Essid is now without partisan support, he is alone engaged in small and large wars," local newspaper Tunisie Telegraph newspaper said in a column. "Two lawmakers saved the central bank law and perhaps the country from early elections." (Editing by Patrick Markey and Dominic Evans) Some referred to Maryland's primary election as the most important in a century. Voters headed to the polls to select their candidate for president, a new senator to replace the outgoing Barbara Mikulski, and, perhaps most importantly, a new mayor to lead Baltimore one year after one of the city's darkest days. And we're pleased that so many of you wanted your voice to be heard. STUTTGART (Reuters) - Porsche SE (PSHG_p.DE), Volkswagen's (VW) majority shareholder, expects to swing back to profit this year after VW's historic 2015 loss inflicted a deficit on the investment firm. The family-controlled holding company that owns 52.2 percent of VW's common shares expects a net profit of between 1.4 billion euros (1.09 billion pounds) and 2.4 billion euros, after posting a 273 million euro loss in 2015, it said on Friday. Porsche SE said VW still had considerable potential for value improvement and reaffirmed its commitment to the role of VW's majority shareholder. (Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach; Writing by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Maria Sheahan) 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . Potash Corp. POT posted a profit of $75 million or 9 cents per share in the first quarter of 2016, down roughly 80% from $370 million or 44 cents per share earned a year ago. The bottom line was hurt by weak fertilizer prices and lower potash sales volumes. Earnings as adjusted, excluding one time items, came in at 15 cents per share and missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. Revenues for the quarter slumped 30% year over year to $1,076 million and lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,254 million. Segment Review Potash: Potash gross margin was $88 million in the reported quarter, down from $428 million in the year-ago quarter due to weaker realized prices and offshore sales volumes, along with costs of suspending production at the companys Picadilly facility in New Brunswick. Sales volumes for the segment were 1.8 million tons, down 21.7% year over year. Average realized potash price was $178 per ton, down from $284 per ton in the year-ago quarter. Nitrogen: Sales volumes for the quarter were 1.7 million tons, up 27% from the year-ago quarter, driven by strong demand and higher production at the companys recently expanded Lima facility. First-quarter gross margin was $107 million, 40.9% lower than the year-ago quarter. Average realized price for nitrogen products fell to $244 per ton from $351 per ton a year ago owing to weaker benchmark pricing. Phosphate: Sales volumes were 0.7 million, up 10% mainly due to fewer production constraints. Gross margin amounted to $39 million, adversely affected by weaker prices and a non-cash impairment charge of $27 million. Average realized phosphate price for the quarter was $499 per ton, down from $574 per ton in the prior-year quarter as weaker demand weighed on prices. Financials Potash Corp.s cash and cash equivalents were $74 million as of Mar 31, 2016 compared with $217 million as of Mar 31, 2015. Long-term debt was at $3,711 million as of Mar 31, 2016 compared with $3,709 million as of Mar 31, 2015. Story continues Guidance Potash Corp., which is among the top players in the fertilizer industry, along with Agrium AGU, Mosaic MOS and CF Industries CF, cut production and lowered its outlook for 2016 potash sales volumes to a range of 8.38.8 million tons due to weaker demand. Due to lower volumes and weaker prices, the company also lowered its expectations for full-year potash gross margin, which is now projected at $0.5$0.7 billion. Challenging market conditions led the company to lower its combined nitrogen and phosphate gross margin guidance to a range of $0.6$0.8 billion for 2016. In response to weaker cash flow projections, management also reduced its full-year capital expenditures guidance to a range of $0.7$0.8 billion. As a result of challenging market conditions Potash Corp. lowered its full-year 2016 earnings guidance to the band of 6080 cents per share. For the second quarter, the company expects earnings to range from 1525 cents per share. Potash Corp. is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report POTASH SASK (POT): Free Stock Analysis Report CF INDUS HLDGS (CF): Free Stock Analysis Report AGRIUM INC (AGU): Free Stock Analysis Report MOSAIC CO/THE (MOS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. A San Diego woman says she was fired from her job as an account manager at a PR firm less than two hours after telling her boss that she was pregnant. Tiffany Jackson, 38, filed a lawsuit against her former employer, CMW Media, on Tuesday, alleging that she faced sexual discrimination. She said her termination is symptomatic of a larger pattern of discrimination against pregnant women, but CMW Media reportedly said that she was dismissed because of the allegedly lackluster quality of her work. I feel very much discriminated against because I didnt deserve to be fired from that job, Jackson said in an interview with Yahoo News. CMW Media, a public relations firm that represents medical marijuana companies, hired Jackson in October for a 90-day probationary period. Her official start date was November 9, 2015. One day after that period ended, shortly before noon, she informed her boss that she was expecting a baby girl. The first words out of his mouth were Oh, is this a good thing? she told Yahoo. I looked at him and said, Are you kidding me? Its a great thing. Im ecstatic about it. According to Jackson, the boss reminded her that he told her when she started the job that CMW Media was a fast-moving train and that, if hired, she would need to jump on board. About 1:15 p.m., she said, her boss called her back into his office and fired her. He told her that her job performance during the probationary period had been unsatisfactory, she said. I was sitting there thinking, I cant believe this, this cant be happening, she said. This is the first time Im hearing that you are not happy with my performance. I never heard it. Tiffany Jackson says that she was fired from her job within two hours of telling her boss that she was pregnant. (Photo: Courtesy of Tiffany Jackson) Jackson said that she had thus far only received positive feedback verbally and via text and email and had enjoyed being part of the firms small, close-knit staff. Her boss, she said, claimed to take responsibility for not previously mentioning her allegedly poor job performance. According to the lawsuit, the boss told Jackson she was not up to speed and not a good fit. Story continues Jackson said she was handed an unemployment handbook and her last check and told to collect her belongings. When contacted by Yahoo News, a CMW Media representative replied, "We have no comment on this story at this time." Local ABC-affiliate KGTV, where Jackson once worked as an associate producer, was first to report on the lawsuit. The local station received a statement from CMW Media. "Ms. Jackson was terminated based solely upon job performance prior to the expiration of her 90-day probation period with the company," the statement reads in part. "The decision to terminate her was documented by management several days prior to the time she informed the company about her alleged pregnancy." The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to outlaw pregnancy-based sex discrimination. Under federal and California state law, companies can still fire pregnant employees legally but not because of the pregnancy. There have been many cases over the years where pregnant women have alleged wrongful termination against their employers. Just this week, a woman in Minnesota filed a complaint with the states department of human rights, saying she was fired because she was pregnant. San Diego-based lawyer Dan Gilleon, who is representing Jackson, said that the facts speak for themselves. This is a classic case of pregnancy discrimination where an employer fires a vulnerable woman in what was supposed to be one of the happier times of her life, all because the employer doesn't want its bottom line affected, Gilleon said to Yahoo News. A jury here in San Diego recently hit Auto Zone for $185,000,000 in a similarly egregious case. The lawsuit also lists General Hemp and Medical Marijuana as defendants. CMW Media represents the former and provides services for the latter, according to the lawsuit. Jackson reflected that pregnancy is supposed to be among the best phases of a womans life, but that the financial instability she is now facing has created unnecessary strain. Some women are afraid to speak up or fight back, she said. Im not going to put up with this. I dont want this company to be able to get away with this and do this to another woman. From ELLE This article originally appeared in the May 2016 issue of ELLE. It's always sunny in Victoria's Secretland, thanks to the handiwork of makeup artists Carolina Gonzalez and Colleen Creighton-two of the women behind that doe-eyed, tawny-skinned catalog glow. Here, they share the Angels' real secrets. How to: Get the Tan When the favorite self-tanner of New York Citybased makeup pro Carolina Gonzalez vanished in customs, she found a stand-in at a local boutique that "immediately turned the model Oompa-Loompa orange," she says. Since then, she's stayed true to a two-step system: The night before a big shoot, she has models exfoliate using Victoria's Secret Smoothing Scrub Wash-"every dead skin cell has to be off"-then coats them in St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Lotion, worked in with a mitt onto the body. The next day, she amps up the tan on the face using Benefit Hello, Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation, "two or three shades darker than the skin tone" to match it to the rest of the body. How to: Stay Protected On beach shoots, NYC-based Colleen Creighton might fake a hot-day flush on, say, Behati Prinsloo by dabbing RMS Lip2Cheek stain on "the features that get a little sun-kissed, like the nose, apples of cheeks, and hairline." When it comes to keeping the skin protected, Creighton's all business. For the face, a sunscreen-moisturizer hybrid like Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 is "a no-brainer," she says. It does double duty by "filling in pores to make the skin look smooth, and it has zinc to create a physical barrier against damaging rays." For models with oily or acne-prone skin, she likes "a matte formula such as Eau Thermale Avene sunscreen, which won't highlight bumps." For the body, Creighton trusts Neutrogena Ultra Sheer sunscreen. "I've never had a sunburn on set," she says. How to: Get Wide-Eyed Gonzalez spells out the essence of surf-inspired beauty: "The beach is about being undone and natural." Translation: It's not overdone (and it's all about the eyes). First, she uses Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow in Not Just Nudes to brighten lids, followed by "a coat of Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara." She finishes the dreamy look by placing individual false lashes (in varying lengths) along the lid with tweezers, focusing mainly on the center lid,near the iris, as opposed to a more retro look on the outer end. "It makes everyone look healthy and glowy when they have those sparkly eyes. It's universal." How to: Fake a Backside To shine a light on the beauties' considerable assets, Creighton reaches for glow-getting gleam cream. "Many of the models love making their bottoms look bigger, so I use Charlotte Tilbury Slimmer Shimmer on parts I want to stand out," she says. "If someone's in a thong, I'll put a little of the gold highlighting cream at the top of their bottom to accentuate it, like you'd highlight the cheekbones." The trick works for legs, too: Try a stripe on the front of the thigh, she says, and blend it outward to make your legs look longer, leaner, and sexier. PrimaDelis Facebook post on Friday (29 April) Bakery chain PrimaDeli has dismissed an employee for making discriminatory remarks at a job interview and apologised after a job applicant complained about the incident. The management of PrimaDeli said in a Facebook post on Friday (29 April) that it has zero tolerance policy for such behaviour. In a separate post on Facebook on the same day, PrimaDeli said, We would like to apologise to the wider community with regards to the circumstances. We take a very serious view andhence, serious disciplinary action has been imposed on the said employee after an immediate investigation was conducted. The applicant, Sarah Carmariah, who is said to be a Malay woman, took to Facebook on Thursday (28 April) to relate about her experience of the job interview on Monday (25 April) for the position of a cake decorator at the bakery. At the interview, she said that the head of the baking department asked her to show her cake-decorating skills. The employee allegedly commented about Carmariahs race and said, From what I see, and the way you look, and not trying to be racist ah, but you Malay, I think you cannot la. According to her, he also said, "You know ah, Malays ah they over promise, promise I can do this I can do that, in the end, cannot make it, after 2 days disappear. Carmariah said she was disgusted with the comments but she decided to proceed with the interview. The employee also asked her whether she can converse in Chinese. He allegedly said, "Anyways you speak Chinese not? Cos mostly all my worker speak Chinese. After baking a cake, Carmariah thanked him and another colleague of his and left the bakery. She said in her post, How can anyone judge another based on general racial stereotypes? In Singapore, of all places, a supposedly racially harmonious and fair country? Particularly in my case, what I thought was ironic as hell, was that this company actually prides itself on catering to the Muslim community. Story continues In its first Facebook post about the incident, PrimaDeli highlighted its hiring policy. At PrimaDeli we believe in fair and equal rights for all at our company; We assess performance and suitability based on merit and achievements, it said. Yahoo Singapore has contacted Carmariah but she could not be reached for a comment. The National Enquirers cover declaring AIDS Killed Prince! is deeply offensive to people living with HIV/AIDS because it reinforces a stigma theyve spent decades fighting, a prominent activist told TheWrap. The tabloid claimed this week that Prince died after refusing to take AIDS medications. But Peter Staley, a leading AIDS activist who was featured in the 2012 Oscar-nominated documentary How to Survive a Plague, says the Enquirer is shamelessly sensationalizing the disease for a quick buck. Theyre turning AIDS into Godzilla, Staley told TheWrap. These headlines are deeply offensive to the over 1 million Americans who are living with HIV. They reinforce the stigma that just beneath the surface, coursing through our blood, is a monster. Also Read: Can Prince's Estate Sue the National Enquirer for Saying He Had AIDS? The Enquirers article, ladened with more exclamation marks than a love-crushed teenagers diary, says Prince a Jehovahs Witness shrugged off doctors who advised treatment for the killer virus. The Enquirer did not respond to TheWraps request for comment. We can expect a wide range of coverage, from the responsible to the highly sensationalized, Staley said. And certainly the National Enquirer is on the stigmatizing end of that curve. This isnt the first time the supermarket rag has been criticized for its AIDS-related coverage Also Read: Police Reveal 46 Calls to Prince's Paisley Park in Last Five Years In November, actor Charlie Sheen was forced to disclose publicly that he was HIV positive after he found out the tabloid was about to reveal his status. The article, Charlie Sheen AIDS Cover-Up, ignited backlash from several media outlets, including The Daily Beast, which slammed the tabloid for stalking Sheen and taking us back to the ignorant 1980s. While the virus can kill if left untreated, activists point out that an AIDS diagnosis is no longer the death sentence it once was. Most HIV positive people today go on to lead long, healthy lives. In fact studies have shown that people who adhere to treatment have a full life expectancy. Story continues They make it sound like Ebola, said Staley. But while its hard to save someone with Ebola, thats not the case with HIV. The Enquirer is presenting the disease as a horrific plague, which it no longer is. Related stories from TheWrap: Prince Death Investigation: Search Warrant Issued for Paisley Park Home Prince and the Opioid Epidemic: 'These Are Essentially Heroin Pills,' Expert Says Prince's Muses: 8 Women Who Crossed Paths With the Music Legend (Video) Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman were childhood friends, lovers and founding members of Prince's Revolution band. If Prince had a musical family, they were it. So when the pair tried to put together a Revolution tour in 2000, they were hopeful, they told Minneapolis' Star Tribune in 2004, that their former bandleader would say yes. He didn't. "He declined because of my homosexuality and the fact I'm half-Jewish," said Melvoin. She was told he wanted her to give a press conference denouncing her homosexuality and announcing that she was converting to Jehovah. "I was like: I guess we'll never hear from him again." But just six years later she stood beside Prince onstage in London, playing for millions of viewers at an awards show. In matching white suits, Melvoin and Prince hammered shoulder to shoulder on their guitars, him lustily singing "Purple Rain." Coleman was on piano. The early acceptance of the gay couple - and then the rejection and acceptance all over again - is an example of the puzzling contradiction in Prince's attitudes toward sexuality and religion. For almost 40 years, Prince has been the embodiment of brazen sexuality, crooning about the many positions in which he would please himself, and you. His music has been a celebration of the hedonistic pursuit of pleasure. Read More: Legendary Artist Prince Found Dead at 57 Yet during the last decade or so, if Prince knocked on your door, he was more likely to tell you about God than invite you out to party. Fifteen years ago, when he committed himself to the Jehovah's Witnesses, Prince's fans were confused: How do you reconcile your music and image with a faith that doesn't just frown upon gay marriage but prohibits oral and anal sex? Like everything else in his life, Prince did the divine his own way, and as much as sex and pleasure, God and retribution have been a constant in Prince's music. "When I first met him he believed in God, but after that there was a time when it seemed like he didn't believe in anything," says his friend and collaborator Sheila E. "But then he became a Witness, and I felt, for him, that believing in something was better than nothing." Story continues Prince was raised in a chaotic home, but his parents were members of the Seventh Day Adventists, another socially conservative Christian group. "When you're talking about the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Seventh Day Adventists, they share a lot of the same core beliefs," says Professor Sally Barringer Gordon, who teaches religion and law at the University of Pennsylvania. "That we are working toward the end of time, that salvation is the key effort for every human being, and that bringing souls to God is the most important thing." By the early '80s, with the release of three consecutive albums - Dirty Mind, Controversy and 1999 - adherence to the faith of his childhood seemed to be behind him. Prince wore makeup and heels and performed in unbuttoned blouses. His lyrics pushed the boundaries of gender and sexual propriety. His song "Darling Nikki" was so raunchy that it inspired Tipper Gore to start the Parents Music Resource Center, a Washington, D.C.-based group that lobbied for greater oversight of the music industry. Still, Prince kept God in the picture. "Controversy" includes him reciting the Lord's Prayer, and "1999" narrates a judgment day where life is just a party, but parties weren't meant to last. "He created a cosmology and a spiritual outlook that made sense to him," says Toure, author of the Prince biography I Would Die 4 U. "His way of explaining that great blessing to himself was that he was blessed by God, he was anointed. His work and his creative life was proof of God and God working through him." Read More: Prince: Search Warrant Issued in Death Investigation Prince was introduced to the faith by Larry Graham, the bassist for Sly & The Family Stone. (Michael Jackson, Venus and Serena Williams, and the Notorious B.I.G. were all raised as Witnesses.) He described this transition of faith to me when I interviewed him in 2008 for The New Yorker as less a conversion and more of a realization, like Neo in The Matrix. "The more he said, the more I realized the truth," said Prince. While in Prince's telling this new religious commitment was simply a question of hearing the truth, the years leading up to it were tumultuous. He changed his name to a symbol. He married for the first time in early 1996. His son, Boy Gregory, was born eight months later, but died within a week from a rare disease. He was divorced in 1999 and he remarried in 2001. At the end of 2001, Prince released his 24th album, The Rainbow Children, recounting an apocalyptic/utopian sort of happening. In its review, Rolling Stone referred to Prince as the "Freak in the Pulpit." He cut a number of songs from his repertoire that he deemed too explicit, and even stopped swearing. Paisley Park, which always had been dry, felt to many more like a junior-high dance than the sex-drenched den of sin from years past. For many in the Witness community, having the Freak in the Pulpit as their most high-profile member was bizarre. "I wouldn't have been allowed to listen to Prince as a kid because he was so sexually charged," says Gregorio Smith, who made a documentary critical of the church in 2014 called Truth Be Told. "I remember learning the lyrics verbatim to 'When Doves Cry,' but only listening at school. I knew I couldn't sing those lyrics out loud at home." It seemed to Prince that the Jehovah's Witness faith helped explain the growing social injustice around him. When Mark Brown interviewed Prince in 2004 for the Rocky Mountain News, Prince told Brown he was interested in spirituality and answers, not strange ceremonies or theories. "I'm very practical," said Prince. "You go Trekkie on me, I got to go." When he left, Prince gave him a pamphlet and told him to call day or night. "It was a little uncomfortable for me, but it was very important to him," says Brown. "He got pretty intense." For Prince, the emphasis on evangelizing forced him to open up to a degree that he hadn't before. He went door to door in Los Angeles and Minneapolis, handing out pamphlets on salvation. "Sometimes people act surprised," he told me. "But mostly they're really cool." Read More: Prince's Estate: No Will Could Mean Chaos, Tax Bills and Lawsuits, Say Experts "It helped him with communicating with people more, reaching out and being connected," says Sheila E. "It opened him up to the world." One of the core beliefs of the Witnesses is the purity of the human body, and rumors swirled that it was a religious refusal of medical treatment that led to Prince's death. But Witnesses do accept many medical treatments, and there has not been enough information from officials to substantiate those suggestions. When I interviewed Prince, he told me he was against gay marriage. In his library, standing over the Bible, he said, "God came to Earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, 'Enough.'" The reaction to that statement from fans, and particularly the gay community, was angry and distressed. This wasn't the Prince they knew and loved. But for better or worse, he always was truthful about what he believed. Even when that changed. Claire Hoffman's first book, Greetings From Utopia Park, comes out in June. This article first appeared on Billboard.com. Read More: Prince's 40 Biggest Billboard Hits Debrecen Prison (Hungary) (AFP) - Friday is dog day at Hungary's Debrecen jail as Sergey, Cutie, Scottie, Tiny and Fatty, all abandoned canines from a nearby rescue home, happily lollop in for obedience training... with the inmates. Launched in 2014, the innovative project is of mutual benefit, helping prisoners and pooches alike gain valuable social skills to help their reintroduction into society. "Their two fates are very similar. They help each other develop on their own paths," says Annamaria Nagy, a trainer with a local dog school, as she watches the odd couples interact. "Let the lead out a little!" she shouts, watching one of the five prisoners navigate his dog through training cones in the basement of this prison in eastern Hungary. During the seven-week programme, the inmates -- some of whom are in for violent crime themselves -- work on 10 tasks with the animals like discipline, avoiding fights and accepting a muzzle. Sergey and co., a family of Caucasian sheepdog mongrels -- floppy-eared with clever eyes and honey-coloured tufts sprouting from their heads -- were found abandoned and shivering in a forest in November. "It was difficult to even approach them," recalls Agnes Nyuzo, the school's behavioural specialist. "They desperately needed to be socialised." The project applies a technique developed in Hungary called the mirror method. This puts the onus on the trainer to correct their own mistakes rather than the dogs, who only "mirror" what they see. Deliberately chosen for their extra difficulties -- people don't want to adopt mongrels, says Nagy -- just a few weeks into the latest course the dogs have already formed strong bonds with the inmates, bounding over to see them as soon as they enter. The feeling is mutual. "It does wonders for me, and him, I feel good for days after," says Roland, a prisoner, as he strokes and cuddles Cutie after managing to fix a muzzle on. Story continues "We don't know and we don't ask what the inmates did to get in here, all we know is that we see them here being so helpful," says Nyuzo. When one of the volunteers puts on a wolf's mask to present the dogs with a potential conflict situation, another prisoner, Laszlo, manages to distract and calm down a snarling Sergey. "Sergey was the most aggressive of the family, but we're working on that," he says. - Honest hounds - Prison staff said that the prisoners, usually withdrawn, also relax their hackles. "It helps them forget a little where they are, as well as break down their distrust. Dogs are more honest than humans," prison governor Sandor Peter Pancsusak tells AFP. He said a prized slot on the programme, which has a long waiting list of inmates, strengthens or at least maintains a prisoner's existing positive characteristics. "It helps them become more tolerant, understand others better and, ultimately, do better outside," he said while watching from a balcony as the prisoners return to their cells below. To date, more than 30 of the jail's population of around 300 -- most of whom are in pre-trial detention for charges ranging from assaults to white-collar crime -- have completed the scheme. No "graduate" has been involved in any conflict situation afterwards, prison staff told AFP. One prisoner even adopted the dog he trained after leaving jail, says Vanda Olga Toro, a telecom company employee and dog-lover who dreamt up the project after hearing about similar schemes in the United States. And so far, 12 out of 31 dogs who have completed the seven weeks and received a certificate of suitability for adoption have found new owners. "The prisoners work miracles with them," Toro, 27, tells AFP at the "Together for Animals" shelter on the edge of Debrecen, which also feels like a prison of sorts. Around 200 dogs and cats, abandoned or abused by owners and often missing data chips, are kept there behind bars in bleak concrete kennels. The average stay is three to four years. "If they aren't cute, it can be six or seven years, more, before someone adopts them," says Toro. A cacophony of barking breaks out when the dogs hear footsteps. "When they go to the prison it's like a huge adventure for them, someone is paying them attention at last," she added. One too many fixer-uppers? Property Brothers star Jonathan Scott reportedly got into a bar fight at Dempsey's Public House in Fargo, North Dakota, on Saturday, April 23. PHOTOS: Stars at Court According to TMZ, the HGTV hunk, 38, was placed in a chokehold by a bouncer after Scott intervened in an argument among some of his fellow patrons. According to the site, Scott called 911 at 1:57 a.m. and claimed he was assaulted by the bouncer. PHOTOS: Celebrity Mugshots A source close to the twin told TMZ that Scott was only trying to help and had nothing to do with the original fight. No arrests were made, but police are reportedly investigating Scotts assault claims. Celebrity Health Scares The TV personality has yet to publicly address the incident. On Thursday, April 28, Jonathan and his twin, Drew, celebrated their 38th birthday. Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics, and more delivered straight to your inbox! Demonstrators massed in California Friday to protest Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump . T ines of armed police were visible beyond a forest of handmade signs and Mexican flags. R Trump made light of the situation at the top of his remarks to the GOP, which were televised. Secret Service takes Donald Trump through back door amid protests http://cnn.it/23eeF8r http://cnn.it/1SznIiU "Wow. So nice. That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," Trump said. "We went under a fence and through a fence. Oh, boy. Felt like I was crossing the border, actually. You know? I was crossing the border." He continued: But I got here. They said, 'Mr. Trump, it would be much easier, sir, if you just didn't speak today and just left and go back immediately to Indiana.' And I said, 'You know, we can't let these people down. Right? Do we agree? We can't do it. But I appreciate it. But it was fun. It was a little different. The demonstration in Burlingame came a day after a chaotic anti-Trump protest in Costa Mesa that left Trump supporters bloodied and police cars smashed and resulted in about 20 arrests. The Burlingame protesters knocked over metal barricades meant to keep them corralled, making several attempts to rush the convention hotel: Trump protest at CA GOP Convention Burlingame just got real! Barricades are down! #nohateinthebay #nevertrumppic.twitter.com/Up9Ep5AH4D Unsurprisingly, this led to confrontations with police: Protesters pushed through barriers and have been facing off with police #CAGOPConventionpic.twitter.com/kii3EJUaUL Reporters tweeted that even eggs were being tossed around as demonstrators continued to try to get into the event: Story continues The eggs are flying and the protesters are chanting "hands up! Don't shoot!"pic.twitter.com/q7umdnaZaz https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChO56g0VEAEST87.jpg:large Also taking a serious beating: A Trump pinata: Remains of the Trump pinata #CAGOPConventionpic.twitter.com/RrMqqMXl4W https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChPGZPBUUAQSVs8.jpg:large Even the Hyatt itself wasn't immune to being draped in political messages: Stop hate sign just hung at CA GOP convention Hyatt Burlingame hotel!! #nohateinthebay #NeverTrumppic.twitter.com/z6JvIsGDSJ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChOru4eU8AEgt4G.jpg:large And demonstrators burned an American flag too. Protesters burn U.S. Flag outside #CAGOPConvention to protest Trump visitpic.twitter.com/KlkLA45J5J Some took a slightly more flippant and fashionable approach to taunting Trump: Captain Mexico at #Burlingame #Trump #Protest #Rally #Californiapic.twitter.com/4ArNVtXOPM https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChPOU1FUUAARa6h.jpg:large Trump wasn't the only person who had a hard time getting into the event. Some of his supporters got hassled en route, per a Los Angeles Times reporter's video: That's Trump supporter and mortgage broker Christopher Conway, 51 of Burlingame getting pushed thru crowd (1/ a few)pic.twitter.com/nzaIaVev7J A California GOP State Convention- Donald Trump taking pics and thanking attendees. #Trump2016 #TrumpTrain #CAPrimaryhttps://vine.co/v/iPpQ7hHVKDE BURLINGAME, Calif. A little over a month before Californias pivotal Republican presidential primary, Donald Trump began his official wooing of party delegates Friday, headlining a kickoff lunch at the states annual GOP convention. But Trumps appearance was nearly derailed by massive protests outside the Hyatt Regency hotel, where the convention is being held. More than a thousand protesters blocked surrounding streets, and at one point, knocked down police barricades as they attempted to storm the building before Trumps speech. The protests also blocked the candidates motorcade route, forcing him and his Secret Service detail to abandon their vehicles on a nearby highway, jump a barricade wall and cross a ditch to get to the hotels back entrance movements that were captured by television news helicopters. That was not the easiest entrance Ive ever made, Trump said when he finally took the stage nearly an hour late. We went under a fence and through a fence. It felt like I was crossing the border actually. Trump joked about wiping dirt and mud off his suit as he prepared to meet a roomful of nearly 600 California Republicans including many who will be on the June 7 GOP primary ballot as delegates to the national party convention in July. You guys got to come in through the lobby, he said. I come in under a fence. Donald Trump waves to supporters after a speech at the California Republican Convention on April 29 in Burlingame, Calif. (Photo: Stephen Lam/Reuters) The speech came just hours after massive protests erupted outside a Trump rally Thursday night in Costa Mesa in southern California, where at least 20 people were arrested and a police car was smashed by anti-Trump demonstrators. On Friday, Trump downplayed the violence, pointing out there had been no protesters inside the Costa Mesa event, which attracted at least 8,500 people. Addressing the party faithful here, Trump took yet another victory lap for his spate of recent wins and mocked his rivals, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, for sticking in the race even though, he said, they have no path to victory. Kasich, he said, was acting like a spoiled child for staying in, even though he still had fewer delegates than Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who dropped out last month. Story continues And, in what sounded like a greatest hits of Trump insults, the real estate mogul also went after former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who suggested in a television interview Thursday that he could never back Trump, his former GOP rival. Like I care, Trump said in response, describing Bushs appearance on CNN as low energy, very low energy. Slideshow: Scenes from the California Republican Convention Not to be harsh, Trump added, he didnt really need the support of any of his GOP rivals because its not going to have any impact on whether or not I beat Hillary Clinton. But, Trump insisted, the rest of the party has to come together. There has to be unity in our party, Trump said. We have to get together as a party, because its a tougher road for a Republican than a Democrat. While he predicted the Republican race would come to an end very soon, Trump asked supporters to campaign here for him ahead of the states GOP primary, where polls show him leading Cruz by more than 20 points. The world is watching, he said. As he exited the stage, Trump joked that hed have to climb under a fence again to escape the protesters who continued to surround the building. Nodding to the Secret Service agents who stood guard around the stage, Trump said, You have no idea the route they have planned for me. By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO, April 29 (Reuters) - Puerto Rico has 683 confirmed cases of the Zika virus, including 65 pregnant women with symptoms of the virus and one death, U.S. health officials said on Friday. Officials who have been tracking cases of the mosquito-borne illness since December, say five patients with suspected cases of the paralyzing nerve disorder Guillain-Barre syndrome have tested positive for the Zika virus, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also reported that one patient with a confirmed Zika infection died from severe thrombocytopenia, a disorder marked by abnormally low blood platelets, which are needed to help the blood clot. CDC said although deaths from Zika are rare, the death "highlights the possibility of severe cases, as well as the need for continued outreach to raise health care providers' awareness of complications that might lead to severe disease or death," researchers said in the report published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality weekly Report. Zika, a virus known to cause the birth defect microcephaly, first began spreading in Puerto Rico in December. In Brazil, Zika has been linked to 1,198 confirmed cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. Zika has also been linked to other severe birth defects and with stillbirth. The World Health Organization declared Zika a global health emergency on Feb. 1. In addition to microcephaly, the agency says there is a strong scientific consensus that Zika can cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome. U.S. health officials said Zika remains a public health threat in Puerto Rico, with more cases expected throughout 2016. Residents of and travelers to Puerto Rico are urged to take steps to avoid mosquito bites including the use of mosquito repellent, take precautions to reduce the risk of sexual transmission of Zika, and seek medical care for any acute illness with rash or fever. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Bernard Orr) Montreal (AFP) - Thieves in Quebec have staged an unusual heist of something that's becoming increasingly rare in North America these days: bees. Beekeeper Jean-Marc Labonte lost more than 180 beehives worth $160,000 earlier this week in what he says is a first for his family business. "It's very, very uncommon in Quebec," he told AFP. Labonte said he suspects the theft to be the work of another beekeeper who "lost many bees" last winter and is trying to get more free. The heist, which is being investigated by police, allegedly took place Monday in a locked apiary in the city of Victoriaville, 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of Montreal. "It sickens me because bees are very rare" and increasingly expensive as their numbers decline across North America, he said. The number of bees has dramatically dropped in recent years as a result of disease and pesticides. Labonte said each hive is worth about $500, not including bees' value as agricultural pollinators and the income generated from sale of their honey. His company, which owns 4,000 hives, rents them throughout Quebec to pollinate blueberry bushes and cranberry fields. LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland reported a widening first quarter loss on Friday as lower income, restructuring costs and sluggish asset sales showed the scale of problems still facing the lender. The bank reported an attributable loss of 968 million pounds($1.42 billion), up from 459 million pounds the year before and just higher than the 957 million pounds average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by RBS. Income dropped around 13 percent year on year to 3.06 billion pounds. The spike in losses were also driven by a one-off 1.2 billion pound payment to end the British government's priority over dividends and a 238 million pounds restructuring bill. That bill includes the mounting costs of separating its Williams & Glyn business, which the bank said it could fail to sell off before an end-2017 regulatory deadline. RBS is struggling to return to health amidst an unprecedented corporate restructuring and has not made an annual profit since 2007. RBS, which was rescued in a 46 billion pound taxpayer funded bailout during the 2007-09 financial crisis, is still 73 percent owned by the British government. This quarter's performance brings the total sum lost since the bailout to around 52 billion pounds. ($1 = 0.6825 pounds) (Reporting By Andrew MacAskill and Lawrence White, editing by Sinead Cruise) * Q1 loss 968 mln stg (2015:459 mln loss) * CFO cautions on timing of return to dividend (Adds investigation into former Swiss unit) By Andrew MacAskill and Lawrence White LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Scotland reported a sharp rise in losses in the first quarter on Friday and cautioned on the timing of a return to dividend payouts as lower income, restructuring costs and sluggish asset sales underscored the challenges still facing the lender. The Edinburgh-based bank, which was rescued with a 46 billion-pound ($67 billion) state bailout during the 2007-09 financial crisis, has still not made an annual profit since 2007. In the latest quarter the bank reported a net loss of 968 million pounds($1.42 billion), up from 459 million pounds in the same period last year and slightly higher than the 957 million pounds forecast on average by analysts, according to the bank. Income dropped 13 percent to 3.06 billion pounds. The shares were down 2.9 percent at 237 pence by 0837 GMT. Results were also hit by a 1.2 billion-pound payment to end the British government's prior claim on any dividends, a 238 million-pound restructuring bill and a 226 million-pound impairment charge in its shipping loan portfolio. That bill includes the mounting costs of separating its Williams & Glyn business, which the bank said it could fail to sell off before the end-2017 deadline imposed by EU regulators as a condition for approving the bank's receipt of state aid in 2008. "This is the most complex project I have seen in banking anywhere in the world," Chief Executive Ross McEwan told reporters on a call after the results release. Analysts are sceptical of the bank's ability to deliver on its promise to divest the business by the 2017 deadline. "With the excess capital now being tied to ... the W&G surgery where we have no option but to trust management's view on complications, we have decided to get out," analysts at Bernstein said in a note to clients. Story continues RBS did not record any major provisions for repaying customers mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) but it warned that it expected to shell out more than 1 billion pounds in restructuring charges this year. This would come on top of hefty penalties from the U.S. authorities for mis-selling mortgage securities. RBS also disclosed that the Swiss government had opened an investigation into transactions at its former international private bank, which earlier this month was accused by a Malaysian parliamentary investigation of handling $700 million in a multi-billion dollar graft scandal that has embroiled the country's prime minister. INCOME Total income at RBS's UK retail bank fell 3 percent in the first three months of the year to 1.28 billion pounds, reflecting the continued pressure on margins and lower fees, while its corporate and investment bank unit saw income plunge by 36 percent, due in part to volatility in global markets. The bank's common equity Tier 1 capital solvency ratio, a measure of its resilience against financial market shocks, fell to 14.6 percent of risk-adjusted assets from 15.5 percent at end-2015, after buying out the government's right to an enhanced dividend. RBS is still 73 percent owned by the British government. The latest quarter's results bring the total sum lost by the bank since the bailout to around 52 billion pounds. ($1 = 0.6846 pounds) (Editing by Sinead Cruise, Greg Mahlich) By Ernest Scheyder HOUSTON, April 29 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp posted sharp drops in quarterly results on Friday as an oversupplied fuel market shrank profits from their refining units, which until now had provided healthy margins that helped insulate them from a 60 percent slide in oil prices since mid-2014. In this downturn, large integrated energy companies have touted the virtues of a business model that both produces oil and refines it. Refiners typically see profitability increase when the price of their main feedstock - oil - falls. But growing fuel inventories and weak demand are now hammering the refining industry, turning a typical advantage for integrated oil companies on its head. First-quarter pain in the downstream units, which came after major U.S. refiners slashed the amount of cheap crude they were processing in February, is a sign the road ahead for oil majors may turn even more rocky. Their upstream exploration and production units have been reeling for months from the crude price crash. "Global refining margins weakened upon lower distal demand and continued surplus inventory," Jeff Woodbury, Exxon's vice president of investor relations, told analysts on a conference call. Lower profits from Exxon sand Chevron's refining divisions contributed to weaker overall results for both companies. Exxon reported net income of $1.81 billion, or 43 cents per share, down from $4.94 billion, or $1.17 per share, a year earlier. Chevron reported a net loss of $725 million, or 39 cents per share, compared with a year-earlier net profit of $2.57 billion, or $1.37 per share. For the past six years, U.S. refiners from Texas to Philadelphia have bought every barrel of crude they can lay their hands on to cash in on a golden era of healthy margins. But at least five U.S. refiners have voluntarily reduced output of fuels in the most widespread cuts since the global financial crisis. Independent refiners including Valero Energy Corp, PBF Energy Inc, Philadelphia Energy Solutions and Monroe Energy, a unit of Delta Air Lines Inc, have curbed output, capitulating to record stockpiles and sluggish demand. Story continues Exxon has also cut the amount of crude it processes at one Texas refinery. While so-called run cuts are common for maintenance, they are rare for purely economic reasons. If the closures gather pace and refineries curb their purchases of crude further, this will heap further pressure on prices for crude received by exploration and production companies. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Terry Wade and Lisa Von Ahn) Sagar Bhanushali Following its global unveil earlier this year, the Renault Kaptur has gone into production in Russia. The car, in fact, is being made at the French automakers Moscow facility. Its based on the smaller Captur sold in the European markets but has been designed keeping in mind the needs of the Russian car market. The Kaptur is 4.3-metres long and has a wheelbase of 2.6-meters. Given the road conditions in Russia, it features generous ground clearance of 204mm and approach and departure angles of 20 and 31 degrees respectively. Now although the exterior design is completely new for us Indians, the interior is reminiscent of other Renault models. The cabin has quite a few elements that we have seen in the India-spec Duster. Standard features on the top-spec model include climate control, touchscreen infotainment system and shift on the fly all-wheel-drive system. The Kaptur is definitely for the emerging markets. Its already on sale in Russia and is now headed for markets like India, Indonesia and China. Expect Renault India to slot it above the Duster sometime next year. For more news,reviews,videos and information about cars, visit CarWale.com. Check On-Road Prices | Find New Cars | Upcoming Cars | Compare Cars | Dealer Locator By Irene Klotz CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., April 29 (Reuters) - United Launch Alliance's workhorse Atlas 5 rocket will remain grounded until this summer while engineers fix a problem that triggered an early engine shutdown during its last flight, the space venture said on Friday. The Atlas 5 rocket that blasted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on March 22 successfully delivered an Orbital ATK cargo ship to the International Space Station for NASA. But its Russian-made RD-180 engine shut down 5.5 seconds early. The rocket's second-stage engine compensated for the shortfall, saving the mission. United Launch Alliance, or ULA, is a partnership of Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co.. Engineers have traced the problem to a fuel control valve in the RD-180 engine that reduced the amount of kerosene delivered during the boost phase of the flight, ULA said in a statement. "The ULA engineering team has reviewed the data and has determined an anomaly with the RD-180 Mixture Ratio Control Valve (MRCV) assembly ... In addition to analysis and testing, all RD-180 engines are being inspected," the company said. The work will keep the company's next launch of a military communications satellite, MUOS-5, which had been slated for May 5, grounded until early summer, ULA said. A new launch date was still pending, it added. ULA said new launch dates for the rest of its scheduled Atlas 5 missions this year are being coordinated with their customers. "All missions manifested for 2016 are expected to be successfully executed by the end of the year," ULA said. On Wednesday, ULA lost its decade-long monopoly on launching U.S. military and national security payloads when Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, was awarded an $83 million launch contract to launch a Global Positioning System satellite for the U.S. Air Force in May 2018. (Reporting by Irene Klotz; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Frances Kerry) Tripoli (AFP) - Spanish oil giant Repsol is ready to resume activity in Libya once the security situation allows it, Spain's foreign minister said Thursday during a visit to Tripoli. Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo was in Tripoli to demonstrate Spain's support for a new UN-backed Libyan government. "Repsol is ready to resume production as soon as an accord is finalised," Garcia-Margallo said during a press conference after meeting the head of the unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj. Libya's warring rivals have come under intense international pressure to rally behind the unity government at a time when the country is grappling with a growing jihadist threat. Prime minister-designate Sarraj's cabinet has taken control of eight government ministries including foreign affairs as it seeks to assert its authority over the violence-plagued country. But his government has still not been endorsed by a vote of confidence from the internationally recognised parliament in Tobruk. Repsol has operated in oil-rich Libya since 1975, and was pumping 340,000 barrels per day before it ceased activity in the country in 2014 due to security concerns. Garcia-Margallo said the company would be able to produce 100,000 bpd at the Al-Sharara plant in south Libya once the situation stabilised. Spain's foreign minister said he and Sarraj discussed"the intensification of cooperation in the fight against illegal migration and against terrorism". A host of Western diplomats have been to Tripoli to show support for Sarraj's fledgling administration. By Sharon Bernstein BURLINGAME, Calif. (Reuters) - Protests erupted in California for the second day in a row on Friday against U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is moving closer to winning the Republican nomination after a string of victories this week. The billionaire businessman was forced to halt his motorcade and go through a back entrance to a hotel to give a speech to the California Republican convention and avoid several hundred loud protestors gathered outside. "That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," Trump told the gathering in Burlingame, south of San Francisco, after weaving around a barrier and clambering across a road to get to the venue. "It felt like I was crossing the border actually." Demonstrators, some of whom held Mexican national flags, at one point rushed security gates at the hotel and police officers had their batons out. The mogul had already drawn protests in California, with chaotic scenes on Thursday outside a Trump rally in Costa Mesa. Anti-Trump protesters smashed the window of a police patrol car and blocked traffic and some 20 people were arrested. Protests have become common outside rallies for Trump who has earned ardent critics, as well as support from Republican voters, for his rhetoric against illegal immigration. His campaign abandoned a rally in Chicago last month after clashes between his supporters and protesters. He has accused Mexico of sending drug dealers and rapists across the U.S. border and has promised to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. Trump, who described himself this week as the party's presumptive nominee, would take a large stride toward knocking his Republican rivals out of the presidential race if he wins the Indiana primary next week. On Friday, he said he is approaching the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. Trump, who has run as a political outsider and only recently started making inroads to the Republican establishment, called for the party to band together behind him. But said he could win the White House without them if needed. "There should be and there has to be unity. Now with that being said, would I win, can I win without it? I think so, to be honest," Trump told the convention. His speech drew applause, though not the fervent reception of his usual campaign rallies. INDIANA FIGHT Trump's main rival, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, on Friday picked up the backing of Governor Mike Pence of Indiana in a rearguard battle to damage Trump's chances. "I'm not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming Republican primary," Pence said on an Indiana radio show. Cruz, from Texas, is trailing the former reality TV star in the Midwestern state after losing to him by a wide margin in all five Northeastern states that held nominating contests on Tuesday. A CBS poll earlier this week found Trump with about 40 percent of support in Indiana, compared to 35 percent for Cruz. The poll had a margin of error of 6.6 points. Other polls have also shown Trump ahead. The Republican front-runner was in California ahead of its June 7 primary, when the most convention delegates of the Republican nominating cycle will be at stake. After his speech, Trump made a similarly unconventional exit out of the hotel via the back door. Cheryl McDonald, 71, of Discovery Bay, said she had to pass through protesters to get inside the hotel. "They were yelling. I think the only words they know in the dictionary are profanity," said McDonald, who said she is a Trump supporter. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Timothy Ahmann in Washington and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Writing by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Alistair Bell) Guatemala City (AFP) - Rescuers in Guatemala searched Friday for 24 people missing in a massive landfill slide in the capital earlier this week from which four bodies have already been recovered, an official said. Recent heavy rains and seismic tremors caused the mountain of garbage in the open-air dump to come crashing down on the people at the site on Wednesday, said a spokesman for the Guatemala City government, Carlos Sandoval. The four bodies were pulled out the first day. Almost all 24 of the missing were trash pickers, operating with or without official permission, but a municipal policeman was also among them, Sandoval said. Guatemala's national disaster reduction coordination agency said there was virtually no hope of finding any survivors, given the huge amount of trash that had fallen. Around 250 rescue workers and public prosecutors were the only ones being allowed into the site, the main landfill for the capital. (Reuters) - Restaurant Group Plc (RTN.L) on Friday warned on full-year profit outlook as it does not expect any improvement in trading conditions in the short term. Shares in the company were down 22.8 percent at 289 pence in early trading on the London Stock Exchange. The stock was the worst performer on the pan-European Stoxx 600 (.STOXX). Restaurant Group, which operates chains like Chiquito and Frankie & Benny's, has seen its performance hurt by the growth of online shopping, resulting in lower footfalls and higher level of competition from food-led pubs and other branded restaurant chains in the UK. The company had said in January that it was more cautious than previously on its 2016 outlook. Restaurant Group now expects like-for-like sales to be down between 2.5 percent and 5.0 percent for the full year, resulting in profit before tax in the range of 74-80 million pounds. The company reported a profit before tax of 86.8 million pounds in the previous year. Restaurant Group said its chief financial officer, Stephen Critoph, would leave the company with immediate effect and that the board had commenced the search for a new CFO. The company said it had begun a comprehensive review of its operating strategy, which includes its property portfolio, site roll-out programme, brand positioning and overheads. (Reporting by Aastha Agnihotri in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair and Anupama Dwivedi) Rolls Royce Luggage Rolls-Royce is known for not doing anything half-baked. So when they created a new set of luggage pieces, that philosophy transferred intact. The six pieces of the Wraith Luggage Collection two "Grand Tourer" valises, three "Long Weekender" bags, and a "Garment Carrier" were designed by Rolls-Royce's Bespoke Design Studio to complement the company's cars. Each bag can be customized by the customer, with design features that mimic those found in the actual Rolls-Royce Wraith. Yes, it is possible for your car and luggage to match perfectly, down to matching thread in the identical leather. In fact, the collection got its name because it was "meticulously designed to be housed in the luggage compartment of a Rolls-Royce Wraith," Rolls-Royce told Women's Wear Daily. Basically, all the bags fit perfectly in the trunk. Like the cars themselves, the collection is no bargain. It will retail for a total of $45,854 for all six pieces which is more than the average entry-level car cost in 2015 (around $40,000, according to KBB). The pieces can also be purchased separately. Of course, if you're willing to drop close to four dozen G's on a set of luggage, you're probably not going to be the one handling it most of the time. With that in mind, Rolls-Royce conferred with the experts ("head butlers from some of the world's most illustrious hotels") to design the collection. The result is an entirely functional, as well as stylish, set of luggage. The collection is available at all Rolls-Royce dealerships. rolls royce luggage bags NOW WATCH: A former SpaceX exec has reinvented the high heel with the help of an astronaut and a rocket scientist More From Business Insider MOSCOW (Reuters) - A "regime of silence" agreed by Russia and the United States for several parts of Syria forbids military action and the use of any kinds of weapons, the Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian military official as saying on Friday. General Sergei Kuralenko, in charge of Russia's ceasefire monitoring center in Syria, was also cited as saying he saw no risk that the situation would slide back into a full-blown military conflict. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Andrew Osborn) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Russian jet fighter intercepted a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane on Friday in an "unsafe and unprofessional manner" over the Baltic Sea, the Pentagon said, and CNN reported the Russian pilot did a barrel roll over the U.S. plane. The U.S. Air Force RC-135 plane was flying a routine route in international airspace when it was intercepted by the Russian SU-27 fighter, the Pentagon said, in the latest in a series of similar incidents between the U.S. and Russian militaries. The Russian fighter came within about 100 feet (30 meters) of the American plane as it performed the dangerous, high-speed maneuver, CNN reported, citing two U.S. defense officials in the Baltic Sea region. "This unsafe and unprofessional air intercept has the potential to cause serious harm and injury to all aircrews involved," Pentagon spokesman Commander Bill Urban said in a statement. "More importantly, the unsafe and unprofessional actions of a single pilot have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries," he said. Earlier this month, Russian jets buzzed a U.S. guided missile destroyer, the USS Donald Cook, in the Baltic Sea. A photo released by the Pentagon appears to show the Russian jet passing at an extremely low altitude over the ship's bow. "There have been repeated incidents over the last year where Russian military aircraft have come close enough to other air and sea traffic to raise serious safety concerns, and we are very concerned with any such behavior," Urban said. Russia accused the United States of intimidation by sailing the Cook close to Russia's border in the Baltics and warned that the Russian military would respond to any future incidents. NATO plans its biggest build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War to counter what the alliance considers to be a more aggressive Russia. The Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which joined NATO in 2004, have asked the alliance for a permanent presence of battalion-sized deployments of allied troops in each of their territories. A NATO battalion typically consists of 300 to 800 troops. Moscow denies any intention to attack the Baltic states. (Reporting by David Alexander and Idrees Ali; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and James Dalgleish) From Popular Mechanics After a 24-hour delay because of a technical problem, a Russian Soyuz rocket made a successful blastoff from the nation's brand-new Vostochny Cosmodrome. The historic launch marked the beginning of a decade-long process to switch Russian space activities to its own territory from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. But it also marked the return to Soviet-era launch secrecy. Baikonur hosted most pioneering feats in the Soviet space program, from the launch of the first Sputnik in 1957 to the first human in space in 1961 to the first soft landing of a robotic probe on the Moon in 1966. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, thought, Russia and Kazakhstan often clashed on the terms of the Russian lease of the sprawling launch site. For years, the Russian government promised to build a new spaceport inside its own borders, but just started active construction at a disused missile site near the town of Svobodny in the Amur Region in 2011. (Read our full story on the construction here.) It reminded veteran observers of the Soviet era, when many historic launches would be "televised" only after they successfully began their journey into space. Despite numerous management and labor problems, the new launch site dubbed Vostochny (eastern) was completed just few months behind the original deadline. In the past few months, while construction teams were still putting finishing touches on various facilities of the center, a team of engineers was already laboring on the first rocket and spacecraft for this mission. This month the Soyuz-2-1a rocket finally arrived to the launch pad, to great fanfare from the official Russian media. Yet even though there was huge interest in the first mission to launch from Vostochny among the Russian public and countless space fans abroad, neither was able to see the spectacular liftoff live. On the eve of the original launch attempt, the Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared in a region with a huge entourage of security. According to witnesses in the journalistic pool in Vostochny, Kremlin officials suddenly imposed a 10-minute embargo on all live broadcasts of the liftoff. (In the world of astronautics, it was long enough for the spacecraft to rocket away and reach an initial parking orbit around the Earth.) Around the same time, a previously published live feed page on Roskosmos web site also disappeared. Story continues Foreign broadcasters were denied accreditation to Vostochny in the first place. Only one local TV channel attempted to conduct live broadcast during the historic liftoff, but its crew was confined to a train station around 20 kilometers from the launch pad and its Internet feed was reaching viewers several minutes late. All these extraordinary measures were designed to save Russian officials from embarrassment in case of the failure or a delay of the high-profile launch. In fact, trouble came during the first launch attempt on Wednesday morning, when the pre-launch countdown was aborted just a minute and a half before the ignition. The second launch attempt 24 hours later seemingly went off without a hitch. After the rocket had successfully entered an initial parking orbit, Roskosmos posted "live" video of the historic event on its web site. The actual mission is going well. The veteran Soyuz rocket successfully released its triple cargo into a proper orbit. The passengers included the Mikhailo Lomonosov satellite, named after the prolific 18-century Russian scientist and intended for probing cosmic rays and their interaction with the Earth's atmosphere. Also onboard were a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite and a tiny education satellite. Yet this weird launch situation reminded veteran observers of the Soviet era, when many historic launches would be "televised" only after they successfully began their journey into space. The episode also demonstrated the wide-ranging ability of the Kremlin essentially silence the entire broadcast media in the country at a moment's notice. Despite a firestorm of criticism and ridicule in the Russian-language social media, no Russian broadcaster dared to discuss the situation, let alone to complain. Anatoly Zak is the publisher of RussianSpaceWeb.com and the author of Russia in Space: the Past Explained, the Future Explored MOSCOW, April 29 (Reuters) - Russia's Novatek-led Yamal LNG project has signed loan agreements with Chinese banks worth 9.3 billion euros ($10.6 billion) and 9.8 billion yuan ($1.5 billion), Yamal LNG said on Friday. It said the loans were raised at EURIBOR 6-month plus margin of 3.30 percent at the construction stage and 3.55 percent after the full commissioning of the project, and at SHIBOR 6-month plus margin of 3.30 percent and 3.55 percent respectively. ($1 = 0.8790 euros) ($1 = 6.4840 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Jack Stubbs) KIGALI (Reuters) - Rwanda is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a short-term credit facility to help it support its foreign exchange reserves in anticipation of them dwindling in future, Finance Minister Claver Gatete said on Friday. "This is a stand-by short term credit facility. Our situation is still okay. It is still okay because we normally have four-months of imports in terms of reserves," Gatete told a news conference after presenting budget proposals to parliament. He did not say how much Rwanda is seeking from IMF, or when the deal might be finalised, but said a decision would be taken soon. (Reporting by Clement Uwiringiyimana; Writing by George Obulutsa; editing by John Stonestreet) Ryan Reynolds is paying tribute to one of his biggest fans. The 39-year-old actor first talked about Connor McGrath, a 13-year-old Canadian boy who was battling cancer, in February, when he surprised McGrath with a special screening of Deadpool. Sadly, Reynolds revealed on Facebook that McGrath died on Tuesday. "For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer... Not sure how... Maybe the cancer cheated... But the fight came to an end two nights ago," Reynolds wrote in an emotional post on Thursday. "He went way too early and it's impossible to reconcile. Connor was a great friend, a great son, and a light to the people lucky enough to know him. While repeatedly punching cancer in the balls, he made everyone laugh." WATCH: Ryan Reynolds Supports Cancer Patient With Sweetest Facebook Message Reynolds talked about the close friendship the two shared, recalling McGrath's smart and funny personality. "I called Connor, 'Bubba.' And he called me 'Bubba2,'" Reynolds shared. "We met because he loved Deadpool. In a certain sense he WAS Deadpool. Or, at least everything Deadpool aspires to be; balancing pain, fearlessness, love and a filthy (filthy!) sense of humor in one body. I wish he could've stuck around a lot longer." Still, Reynolds is thankful for the time the two spent together. "I'm grateful I got to orbit Connor's world for a brief time," Reynolds reflected, also revealing the two met through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "Grateful for the pages and pages of hilarious texts between us. Grateful to his parents for allowing Connor to spend time with a foul-mouthed child in the body of a 39-year-old." "See ya down the road, Bubba," he concluded. WATCH: Dwayne Johnson 'Grateful' to Meet Fan With Special Needs on 'Baywatch' Set In February, Reynolds traveled to Alberta, Canada to show Deadpool to McGrath at the hospital, making his pal the first person ever to see the Marvel film. Story continues "He's my friend," the actor wrote on Facebook. "I know lots of celebrities jump up and down touting a cause -- and maybe I'm no different. But holy frozen sh*t-slivers, I love this kid. He's the GREATEST." Watch the video below for more on Reynolds' and McGrath's special friendship. Related Articles Ryan Reynolds has written an emotional tribute to Connor McGrath, a 13-year-old Deadpool fan who died this week in Edmonton, Canada, after a three-year battle with cancer. Reynolds met McGrath through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, when Reynolds traveled to Edmonton to surprise the boy with a rough cut of Deadpool. Because of his wish, Connor was the first person to see Deadpool, Reynolds writes. I traveled up to Edmonton, Alberta to surprise him with a rough cut of the film. There were still huge sections with wires we hadnt yet painted out, jokes which werent working (and still arent) and green screens. Connor didnt seem to mind. And Id never felt luckier to get to be Wade Wilson. Read Reynolds full tribute below. Related stories 'Deadpool's Ryan Reynolds Kicks Off 'The Hitman's Bodyguard' With Patrick Hughes Directing 'Criminal' Review: Kevin Costner Steals The Show In Far-Fetched But Entertaining Crime Thriller 'Deadpool' Creators Were As Surprised By Success As The Rest Of Us 37cd11edb62d48f8a953e06ff4c3be59 Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds posted a moving note to Facebook Thursday in honor of a young fan who lost his battle with cancer. 13-year-old Connor McGrath, who had leukemia, died earlier this week. McGrath was a Deadpool fan and had become close friends with Reynolds after meeting him through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. SEE ALSO: Malia Obama giving Sasha and Ryan Reynolds the thumbs-up is peak sibling behavior "Connor was 13. But this kid... He was smart. He was funny," Reynolds wrote. "And not just funny 'for a kid' or funny 'for a person battling something awful'. He was unqualified funny. He had that ... thing." Image: facebook/ryan reynolds Reynolds reminisced about visiting Connor at his home in Edmonton, Alberta, where the teen was the first person to see Deadpool before its wide release. "There were still huge sections with wires we hadn't yet painted out, jokes which weren't working (and still aren't) and green screens," wrote Reynolds. "Connor didn't seem to mind. And I'd never felt luckier to get to be Wade Wilson." Image: facebook/ryan reynolds It's clear Reynolds thought of Connor not just as a friend or a fan, but as a role model. "We met because he loved Deadpool," Reynolds wrote. "In a certain sense he WAS Deadpool. Or, at least everything Deadpool aspires to be; balancing pain, fearlessness, love and a filthy (filthy!) sense of humor in one body. "I wish he could have stuck around a little longer," he added. Samsung might have one of the most accessible virtual reality headsets on the market with its Gear VR, even if it does need a Samsung smartphone to work. But the headset doesnt come close to more robust headsets like the PC-powered Facebooks Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, or Sonys upcoming PlayStation 4-powered PlayStation VR. But it looks like the company is looking to take on those headsets with a high-end system of its own. According to Variety, Samsungs head of research and development for software and services Injong Rhee announced that the company is, working on wireless and dedicated VR devices, not necessarily working with our mobile phone. Rhee said the company is also developing hand and gesture tracking, both of which the Gear VR lacks. From the sound of it, Samsung is working on two different headsets, one thats wireless and one with a separate, dedicated setup. Regardless, the fact that the company is developing any virtual reality headsets that dont require Samsung smartphones is big news. It also means that the headsets will likely be more expensive than the $100 Gear VR, as they will need to include their own displays and processors rather than rely on users smartphones as screens and for computing power. One of the benefits of the Gear VR is that because it's powered by your smartphone, it doesn't require you to wear a long wire that tethers you to your PC. Instead, you can move around completely unhindered. Hopefully Samsung will figure out a way to make its headsets both wireless and dedicated. As Variety correctly points out, the fact that Samsung is building dedicated VR headsets means that it will be competing directly with Facebooks Oculus and its Rift headset. That sounds like it could get messy as Oculus provides the software that powers Samsungs Gear VR. That said, while Oculus is keen on selling the Rift headset, founder Palmer Luckey told Yahoo during an interview at CES 2016 that he sees Oculus as more of a virtual reality platform, similar to how Googles Android operating system for smartphones and tablets. via: Variety Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley. Contrary to what her husband thinks, Jane Sanders does want to hear about Hillary Clintons damn emails. Right after the debate where he said, enough of your damn emails, he also said, theres a process its going forward, Sanders, the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, said Thursday night during an interview on Fox Business. Related: Why Democrats Need Bernie Sanders to Stay in the Race Its an FBI investigation, and we want to let it go through without politicizing it and then well find what the situation is. Thats how we still feel. I mean, it would be nice if the FBI moved it along, she joked. Sanders has largely held off from attacking the former Secretary of State over her homebrew email server. In one of the most memorable lines from the first Democratic presidential debate last year he declared, I think the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damned emails. The Justice Department has been in possession of the server, which Clinton claims has been wiped clean of data since late last summer. Related: While Clinton Braces for Trump, Sanders Sets Sights on Convention Platform Earlier this month FBI Director James Comey told the Niagara Gazette that his agency was in no rush to wrap up its investigation before the Democratic National Convention in July. He added that he was following the case closely "to make sure we have the resources to do it competently." "The urgency is to do it well and promptly," Comey said. "And 'well' comes first." It would be easy for Sanders, trailing Clinton by several hundred pledged delegates and laying off hundreds of field staff after he lost four of the last five primaries, to reconsider his position and make political hay out the email server controversy. Related: Bye-Bye, Bernie? Sanders Vows Hell Keep Fighting, but Clinton Is Moving On However, such a strategy could backfire badly on Sanders, who has vowed to continue campaigning through the last primary in California on June 7 and fight for a progressive platform at the convention in Philadelphia. Story continues If he goes after the former First Lady about her emails, he risks alienating Democratic leaders he will have to make deals with to ensure that his political revolution makes it into the partys platform. Sanders had already spent $166 million by the end of March on his dark horse presidential bid, more than any other candidate in 2016, including Clinton, according to the The Washington Post. The terrific burn rate obscures the fact that Sanders has put together a vast fundraising network and an energized base of supporters. But that might not matter if he gets down in the dirt at such a late date in the primary calendar and starts throwing mud at Clinton about the emails. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Geneva Reed-Veal is angry. July marks one year since a Texas state trooper pulled her daughter Sandra Bland over for a traffic violation, threatened Bland with a Taser and carted her off to jail, where she died days later. But weeks of national attention on Bland's case and pledges of support from activists affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement have yielded few answers about what happened to Sandy, her mother said. In an emotional speech, Reed-Veal said activists have lost their steam at a time when the mothers (and fathers) of African-American men and women victimized by the nation's criminal justice system need them most. "When the cameras and lights are gone, our babies are dead," she said Thursday during a symposium convened by the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. "So I'm going to ask you here today to wake up. Wake up. By a show of hands, can any of you tell me the other six women who died in jail in July 2015 along with Sandra Bland? That is a problem." In December, a jury declined to indict the Waller County jailers in connection to Bland's death, which authorities ruled a suicide. Brian Encinia, the trooper who arrested Bland, was charged with perjury for allegedly lying in police reports and investigatory interviews about his interaction with Bland. He was fired in January. Reed-Veal, as well other family members and friends of Bland's, have said they don't believe Bland, 28, would have killed herself. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in August, alleging Bland's constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure were violated. Source: Scott Olson/Getty Images The speech from Bland's mother happened at a time when she and other women, whose children's names became hashtags in a fledging social justice movement against nationwide police violence, hoped to leverage that spirit of activism in the upcoming general election . Reed-Veal, along with the mothers of Travyon Martin and Eric Garner, has endorsed and campaigned for Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, whose platform calls for policing reforms that are drastically different from policies she supported in the 1990s as first lady. Story continues Erica Garner, Eric Garner's daughter, endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2015. Sybrina Fulton, Martin's mother, Gwen Carr, Garner's mother and Lesley McSpadden, Michael Brown's mother, each appeared in Beyonce's Lemonade visual album that aired on HBO on Saturday. But Reed-Veal, in her speech Thursday, said the public should not think that what these women are doing is just for show. "The tears are real, the pain is real, the problem is real," she said. "So, I don't come here playing games with you all. I don't come to sit and be a part of a caucus where we talk and do nothing." Reed-Veal said she's not ready to "create a riot where I burn things down," but she is going to hold those accountable who promised to support her until she was satisfied that justice had been done for her daughter. "Movements move," she said. "Activists activate. We have got to stop talking and move. So I leave you with this: It is time to wake up, get up, step up, or shut up." h/t Huffington Post By Matthias Blamont PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi (SASY.PA) and its takeover target Medivation (MDVN.O) dug in for trench warfare on Friday, with the French drugmaker confident of winning over investors and the U.S. cancer firm insisting it was better off staying independent. Sanofi, which has a track record of winning hostile fights in the biotech sector, said it was ready to speak directly to Medivation shareholders about its spurned $9.3 billion (6.35 billion pounds) offer. "While to date Medivation has chosen not to enter into discussions regarding this value-creating transaction, Sanofi remains committed to the combination," it said. In its first pronouncement on the subject since Sanofi confirmed its approach on Thursday, Medivation rejected the $52.50-a-share proposed offer outright, which it said undervalued the company "substantially". "Our board strongly believes that Medivation's business plan will deliver value to our stockholders that is far superior to Sanofi's offer and unanimously rejects your proposal," it said. Sanofi went public with its offer for the maker of the blockbuster prostate cancer drug Xtandi after failing to get Medivation management to engage. "We are confident that Medivation shareholders will ultimately share our strong belief that our offer ... would provide significant and immediate cash value," Sanofi Chief Executive Olivier Brandicourt said on a conference call. He was speaking as Sanofi reported higher quarterly profit on Friday, boosted by its Genzyme division, another U.S. biotech business acquired after a protracted fight in 2011. Chief Financial Officer Jerome Contamine declined to say whether Sanofi was ready to engage in a bidding war for Medivation and raise its offer, as many investors expect it to do. Still, shares in Sanofi fell 5 percent, with worries about it getting sucked into a costly and lengthy takeover battle fuelling the decline, traders said. Industry analysts and healthcare bankers believe Sanofi will need to sweeten its opening offer if is to win its prey, since Medivation shares are already trading $4 above its $52.50 offer. Story continues "I imagine you'll see a fair bit of movement," said one banker not directly involved in the situation. "It's fairly typical to see an average 10 percent premium to the original offer - I think this is going to get much higher." CVRs, or contingent value rights, might also be deployed, the banker said, as happened when Sanofi bought Genzyme for $20 billion after a similar unsolicited approach. CVRs, which pay out in specific circumstances, are sometimes used in biotech to compensate shareholders in a target company if, for example, a drug sells particularly well. There is also potential for other companies to get involved, including Japan's Astellas Pharma , Medivation's partner on Xtandi, or Britain's AstraZeneca (AZN.L), which has a big focus on cancer. AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot declined to comment on Medivation in a post-results call with reporters on Friday but said he had a high bar for acquisitions, since his company's drug pipeline was now full. Officials at Astellas have also declined comment. Sanofi said first-quarter business net profit grew 3.5 percent at constant exchange rates to 1.72 billion euros ($1.96 billion), equivalent to a 0.2 percent drop on a reported basis. Sales rose 0.7 percent at constant exchange rates to 8.54 billion euros, down 1.9 percent on a reported basis, Sanofi said, adding that it was confirming its full-year forecasts. Analysts polled by Reuters had on average expected business net profit of 1.7 billion euros and net sales of 8.73 billion. Revenue at biotech arm Genzyme rose 20.5 percent, with a 134 percent rise in proceeds from multiple sclerosis treatment Lemtrada. Diabetes sales fell 4.5 percent, reflecting the trend of weaker revenue from blockbuster Lantus in the United States. Sanofi's "main diabetes franchise remains in flux, with the company lowering estimates twice for this business over the last 18 months," Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said in a note. "(Sanofi's) research and development track record is not great, and it is guiding for no meaningful earnings per share growth in 2016/2017," said Anderson, who downgraded the stock to market-perform in November. (Additional reporting by Freya Berry, Ben Hirschler and Andrew Callus; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and David Evans) * Medivation board unanimously rejects $9.3 bln Sanofi offer * Says $52.50/share undervalues cancer firm "substantially" * Sanofi commits to deal, ready to take case to shareholders (Recasts following new statements from both parties) By Matthias Blamont PARIS, April 29 (Reuters) - Sanofi and its takeover target Medivation dug in for trench warfare on Friday, with the French drugmaker confident of winning over investors and the U.S. cancer firm insisting it was better off staying independent. Sanofi, which has a track record of winning hostile fights in the biotech sector, said it was ready to speak directly to Medivation shareholders about its spurned $9.3 billion offer. "While to date Medivation has chosen not to enter into discussions regarding this value-creating transaction, Sanofi remains committed to the combination," it said. In its first pronouncement on the subject since Sanofi confirmed its approach on Thursday, Medivation rejected the $52.50-a-share proposed offer outright, which it said undervalued the company "substantially". "Our board strongly believes that Medivation's business plan will deliver value to our stockholders that is far superior to Sanofi's offer and unanimously rejects your proposal," it said. Sanofi went public with its offer for the maker of the blockbuster prostate cancer drug Xtandi after failing to get Medivation management to engage. "We are confident that Medivation shareholders will ultimately share our strong belief that our offer ... would provide significant and immediate cash value," Sanofi Chief Executive Olivier Brandicourt said on a conference call. He was speaking as Sanofi reported higher quarterly profit on Friday, boosted by its Genzyme division, another U.S. biotech business acquired after a protracted fight in 2011. Chief Financial Officer Jerome Contamine declined to say whether Sanofi was ready to engage in a bidding war for Medivation and raise its offer, as many investors expect it to do. Story continues Still, shares in Sanofi fell 5 percent, with worries about it getting sucked into a costly and lengthy takeover battle fuelling the decline, traders said. Industry analysts and healthcare bankers believe Sanofi will need to sweeten its opening offer if is to win its prey, since Medivation shares are already trading $4 above its $52.50 offer. "I imagine you'll see a fair bit of movement," said one banker not directly involved in the situation. "It's fairly typical to see an average 10 percent premium to the original offer - I think this is going to get much higher." CVRs, or contingent value rights, might also be deployed, the banker said, as happened when Sanofi bought Genzyme for $20 billion after a similar unsolicited approach. CVRs, which pay out in specific circumstances, are sometimes used in biotech to compensate shareholders in a target company if, for example, a drug sells particularly well. There is also potential for other companies to get involved, including Japan's Astellas Pharma, Medivation's partner on Xtandi, or Britain's AstraZeneca, which has a big focus on cancer. AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot declined to comment on Medivation in a post-results call with reporters on Friday but said he had a high bar for acquisitions, since his company's drug pipeline was now full. Officials at Astellas have also declined comment. Sanofi said first-quarter business net profit grew 3.5 percent at constant exchange rates to 1.72 billion euros ($1.96 billion), equivalent to a 0.2 percent drop on a reported basis. Sales rose 0.7 percent at constant exchange rates to 8.54 billion euros, down 1.9 percent on a reported basis, Sanofi said, adding that it was confirming its full-year forecasts. Analysts polled by Reuters had on average expected business net profit of 1.7 billion euros and net sales of 8.73 billion. Revenue at biotech arm Genzyme rose 20.5 percent, with a 134 percent rise in proceeds from multiple sclerosis treatment Lemtrada. Diabetes sales fell 4.5 percent, reflecting the trend of weaker revenue from blockbuster Lantus in the United States. Sanofi's "main diabetes franchise remains in flux, with the company lowering estimates twice for this business over the last 18 months," Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said in a note. "(Sanofi's) research and development track record is not great, and it is guiding for no meaningful earnings per share growth in 2016/2017," said Anderson, who downgraded the stock to market-perform in November. ($1 = 0.8782 euros) (Additional reporting by Freya Berry, Ben Hirschler and Andrew Callus; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and David Evans) By Ben Hirschler and Leigh Thomas LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) - French drugmaker Sanofi went public with a $9.3 billion offer to buy Medivation on Thursday, setting up what could be a lengthy takeover battle after the U.S. cancer firm rebuffed its approaches. The decision to target Medivation marks a return to the biotech takeover trail for Sanofi, which is looking to new cancer treatments to bolster its portfolio and help offset declining sales of mainstay diabetes drug Lantus. Sanofi's non-binding proposal is to buy Medivation for $52.50 per share in cash, representing a roughly 36 percent premium over Medivation's stock price one month prior to Thursday's offer. It is, however, only modestly above Medivation's Wednesday closing price of $52.05 and investors signaled they expected Sanofi to dig deeper, with the shares trading above $56 on Thursday. In 2015, the average offer price among life sciences deals was 40 percent above the target's stock price four weeks earlier, according to data from Thomson Reuters. Biotech deals saw even frothier premiums, typically around 50 percent. Reuters reported last month that Medivation had been working with investment bank J.P. Morgan to handle interest from companies regarding a potential acquisition, but it had no plans to sell itself. Bryan Garnier analyst Eric Le Berrigaud said Sanofi could now face a prolonged takeover fight with other players potentially getting involved, including Japan's Astellas Pharma, Medivation's partner on its prostate cancer drug Xtandi. Britain's AstraZeneca has also been reported to have looked at Medivation. Officials at Astellas and AstraZeneca declined to comment, although one person close to the British company said it was unlikely to enter a bidding war. Medivation, which has limited takeover defenses, said it would respond to Sanofi's offer following a board meeting on Thursday, with input from financial advisers Evercore and J.P. Morgan. Sanofi, which is being advised by Morgan Stanley, has a track record of pushing through unsolicited deals, after buying Genzyme for $20 billion in 2011. Story continues Sanofi's move comes on the same day that Abbott Laboratories agreed to buy medical device maker St. Jude Medical for $25 billion and AbbVie announced a $5.8 billion deal for cancer firm Stemcentrx, highlighting a pattern of healthcare companies snapping up smaller rivals. LOOKING FOR DEALS The French company, whose shares slipped 1 percent, said there was no certainty the deal would get done, but that if it did, it would boost earnings immediately. Deutsche Bank analysts said Sanofi likely had "significant flexibility" to raise its offer, given the current low cost of debt, while Bernstein calculated the deal would still lift earnings from 2017 even at $62.40 a share, or 20 percent above Wednesday's close. The premium to the unaffected price offered by Sanofi is below some other recent large biotech deals, with Roche paying a 63 percent premium for Intermune in 2014 and Alexion 140 percent for Synageva last year. Stepping up acquisitions fits with the strategy of Sanofi Chief Executive Olivier Brandicourt, who took over a year ago. He told Reuters in January that he was looking for deals to broaden its reach in areas such as oncology and could consider deals of up to $20 billion. France's biggest drugmaker is going through a tough patch, due to falling sales of Lantus, prompting it to warn of no meaningful profit growth over the next two years. Oncology is currently the hottest area of pharmaceutical research, thanks to advances in understanding the biological drivers of the disease. Sanofi has a long history in selling chemotherapy drugs but has been less successful at developing modern cancer medicines. 'COMPELLING' PROPOSAL Brandicourt first contacted Medivation about a deal on March 25 but he said Chief Executive Officer David Hung had declined to meet him and had told him the U.S. company's board was not interested in discussing a transaction. Sanofi then set out its $52.50-a-share offer in an April 15 letter to Hung, to which Medivation only acknowledged receipt without commenting on its contents. "We do not understand the delay in responding to our letter. The price we put forth represents a very substantial premium, and it would be all cash without any financing condition. In these circumstances we believe it is appropriate to make this letter public, which we are doing today," Brandicourt wrote in a follow-up letter to Hung on April 28. "We also strongly believe that Medivation shareholders would find our proposal to be compelling." Xtandi, which had worldwide sales of nearly $2 billion in 2015, is Medivation's only marketed drug. The high price of Xtandi has been criticized by some U.S. lawmakers, including Democratic Party presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. Medivation is also conducting clinical trials on two experimental drugs, talazoparib for breast cancer and pidilizumab for blood cancers. (This version of the story corrects spelling of billion in headline) (Editing by Keith Weir and Cynthia Osterman) Is Sara Ramirez ready to say goodbye to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital? The actress wrapped her work on the 12th season of Grey's Anatomy on Wednesday and sent fans into a frenzy with a celebratory tweet. "That's a wrap for Doctor #CallieTorres #Season13 #GreysAnatomy," Ramirez wrote. "#ThankYou all for an enriching & unforgettable #Rollercoaster ride!" EXCLUSIVE: Arizona Sobbing About Losing Her 'Little Girl' on 'Grey's Anatomy' Will Break Your Heart! The wording of Ramirez's tweet immediately launched speculation that she might not be returning for the next season of Shonda Rhimes' medical drama, despite the fact that she did add the "#Season13" hashtag. The actress joined the long-running ABC show in season two. ET has reached out to Ramirez's reps for confirmation, while an ABC rep declined to comment on the matter to TVLine. So what's going to happen? Was Ramirez just celebrating the end of her season with an introspective tweet? Is she attempting to build up some negotiating leverage? (The actress' contract is set to expire in June.) Or, in true Grey's fashion, is May's season 12 finale the last fans will see of Dr. Callie Torres? ABC WATCH: 'Grey's Anatomy' Stars Address Series' Future: 'This Show Is a Vampire, It Can't Be Killed' Story continues Related Articles By Rania El Gamal RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's oil output will edge up close to record highs in coming weeks to meet summer demand for power but is unlikely to be pushed to the limit and flood global markets, Saudi-based industry sources said. Production may rise to around 10.5 million barrels per day (bpd) during summer, the sources said. Supply in April has held steady to slightly lower at about 10.15 million bpd, said three industry sources who monitor Saudi output. The predictions may help ease market fears that Saudi Arabia could steeply add to a global glut after production-freeze talks in Qatar this month collapsed following Riyadh's refusal to sign the deal without participation by Iran. Days before the meeting, Saudi Arabia's top oil official, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said the kingdom could boost output immediately to 11.5 million bpd and go to 12.5 million in six to nine months "if we wanted to". Some analysts said the comments signalled a new phase in a battle for market share with Iran, which is ramping up its own exports after the lifting of international sanctions. But Saudi-based industry sources told Reuters that Riyadh does not plan to dump more oil into the market if there is no demand. They said the comments by Prince Mohammed were made to highlight the theoretical ability of the kingdom to raise output rather than its immediate plans. "Eleven million bpd? No, I don't see it," one source said. The sources said production would likely stay at 10.2-10.3 million bpd and could rise by some 200,000-300,000 bpd in the hot summer months to around 10.5 million. Production often rises briefly in summer, when the kingdom burns more than 800,000 bpd to generate power as demand for air conditioning surges. State oil giant Saudi Aramco has a stated production capacity of 12 million bpd and maintains 1.5-2.0 million bpd as a cushion in case of any global supply disruption. But production has never reached 11 million bpd. The kingdom pumped 10.56 million bpd, a record, in June last year. It kept output in March steady at 10.22 million bpd and has yet to disclose figures for April. Story continues Earlier this month, Aramco sold 730,000 barrels for June loading to Chinese refinery Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals, one of about 20 independent refineries nicknamed "teapots". This was Aramco's first spot sale to a teapot plant, but Saudi-based industry sources said such a deal should not be viewed as an escalation of any battle for market share. "It's not unusual to sell spot," one of the industry sources said. "It's basically pure demand-driven." (Additional reporting by Reem Shamseddine in Khobar; Editing by Dale Hudson) Like most people in America, the presidential candidates on Thursdays Scandal just wanted Annie Potts to give them her seal of approval. Well, Potts character, the morally corrupt Faye Resnick Governor Louise Baker, whose golden endorsement would practically guarantee a victory in Florida. I say practically because, even after Baker agreed to throw her support at Team Susan thanks to a little backroom deal with David Rosen the Vice President watched helplessly as Hollis Doyle won the Sunshine State. RELATEDAngela Bassetts Mysterious Scandal Season Finale Role Revealed Of course, just getting to Baker turned out to be half the battle for Mellie, whose plane sat on the tarmac for hours while Abby faked mechanical trouble on Air Force One. And it wasnt until Mellie physically stepped off her damn jet in front of a throng of gawking reporters, no less that Fitz would entertain the idea of letting her fly; ironically, they eventually found common ground over their mutual concern for Olivia. Speaking of Liv, shes unraveling faster than I dont know, yarn, I guess? Not only are her own Gladiators starting to turn on her I thought her head was going to explode when she was asked, Why are you here when you could be saving Jake? but even worse, shes starting to turn on herself. Her 11th-hour alliance with Abby against Hollis provided a glimmer of hope for the old friends future, but Im not convinced that Liv has (or will ever) come to terms with what she did to Andrew. RELATEDMay Sweeps/Finale Preview: Get 100+ Spoilers, Plus Exclusive Photos! Meanwhile, Michael kept things real interesting in D.C. by accusing Cyrus of cheating; honestly, Ive never seen Cyrus look more like Anger from Inside Out than when Michael mentioned Tom by name. Their relationship took a hopeful turn when Michael agreed to help oust Frankies brother from the campaign, but that peace proved to be short-lived when Cyrus came home and discovered that Michael ran away with their daughter. I didnt think this marriage could possibly turn out worse than Cyrus and James and thats not setting the bar very high, considering Cyrus ordered the hit that killed him but I was wrong. Story continues Other things we should probably discuss * Im not imagining the sexual tension between Marcus and Mellie, right? Like, I get that a man and a woman can be just friends even though this is television, not to mention Scandal but theres definitely a vibe there. When is that going to happen? * When I first heard that Doyle was being turned into Scandals version of Donald Trump, I was excited. And after seeing that plan come to fruition, Im elated. (Hey, if we cant take him down in real life, at least we can see Liv and Abby do it on TV.) * Speaking of Abby, she was way over the line when she yelled at Fitz, right? As much as I love her, Im not sure shes earned the right to put him in his place, Olivia/Cyrus-style. Shes getting there, but shes still nowhere near I run you! status. * Was anyone else surprised by Mellies reaction or lack thereof to the news that Liv killed Andrew? I get that he turned out to be a total creeper, but I find it hard to believe that she wouldnt seem at all fazed by her ex-husbands revelation. Your thoughts on this weeks particularly backstab-y episode? Predictions for the Scandal universes political climate? Drop em in a comment below. Launch Gallery: Scandal Season 5 Photos Related stories Scandal Season 6 Episode Order Cut Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Sneak Peek: The Kree Make a Splashy Entrance Kerry Washington's Pregnancy May Push Scandal Season 6 to Midseason You'd better think twice before you pick on a ginger. First off, red hair and freckles are beautiful. Second, it's mean to pick on people, you jerk. Third, they're scientifically proven to look younger than they actually are. Wait they are? You betcha. People carrying a variation of the gene MC1R tend to look young for their age, according to a new study in Current Biology. If MC1R sounds familiar, it's because the gene is also responsible for red hair and fair skin. "For the first time a gene has been found that explains in part why some people look older and others younger for their age," study co-author Manfred Kayser said, according to the Telegraph. Source: Evan Agostini/AP To conduct their study, researchers at Rotterdam's Erasmus University examined the faces of nearly 2,700 elderly Dutch Europeans, the Telegraph reported. They used a 3-D imaging system to analyze front and side views of the subjects' faces; then they ran an algorithm to determine the subjects' "perceived age," adjusting for factors like sun damage, skin color, age and sex. Those who carried a certain variation of MC1R looked, on average, two years younger than their real age not a massive discrepancy, but we'll take it. Source: Jon Furniss/AP Looking younger is a good thing and it's not because societal conventions equate beauty with youthfulness. According to one 2009 study, perceived age is a useful biomarker of how long you'll live. When they analyzed photographs of twins, researchers found that "the bigger the difference in perceived age within the pair, the more likely that the older looking twin died first." Long live gingers. Dutch scientists have identified a gene that keeps people looking younger, and its the same one that produces red hair and fair skin. The gene can make people appear up to two years younger than they really are, claims the new research. Published in the journal Current Biology, the study into perceived age was set up by Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands and Unilever. In the study, images of 2,693 peoples makeup-free faces were independently assessed and then compared with their real age. Scientists then searched the genomes of those who appeared younger, looking for any genetic mutations that they had in common. Evidence pointed towards a variation of the MC1R gene, which is responsible for skin pigmentation and protection adjacent UV rays from the sun. The research suggested that some variants of the gene can make people appear younger. More research is planned, and Unilever hopes that it will lead to a product to help people look younger. While the findings provide a compelling insight into the way that genetics influence the ageing process, scientists have yet to prove that the gene itself is responsible, rather than, for example, paler skin simply making people look younger. ECB Stimulus, Brexit, and 12 Europe-Focused Mutual Funds (Continued from Prior Part) Performance evaluation of the Europe 30 ProFund The Europe 30 ProFund Investor Class (UEPIX) fell 1.5% in 1Q16, ranking it fourth among the 12 funds in this review. In the past one year, the fund has fallen 10.5%, placing it second to last among the 12 funds. Meanwhile, from the end of December 2015 until April 25, 2016, the fund rose 3.3%. In the graph below, you can see its performance against two ETFs: the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) and the iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (EZU). Lets look now at what contributed to UEPIXs above-average performance in 1Q16. Portfolio composition and contribution to returns Financials is UEPIXs third-largest invested sector and one of its core sectors. It emerged as the biggest negative contributor to returns in 1Q16. Barclays (BCS) and HSBC Holdings (HSBC) hurt the sector equally and were primarily responsible for dragging its returns down. Other holdings such as Banco Santander (SAN) also contributed negatively. Healthcare stocks emerged as a distant second to financials in terms of negative contribution. AstraZeneca (AZN) contributed the most to the negative returns, followed by Sanofi (SNY). The high exposure to energy stocks, the largest invested sector, was instrumental in reducing the drag on UEPIX created by financials. Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and Statoil (STO) led the sectors positive contributors. Tenaris (TS) and Total SA (TOT) also helped the sector. Materials and consumer staples also did quite a bit to reduce the drag from negative contributors. The materials sector was led by ArcelorMittal (MT), while consumer staples was helped by British American Tobacco (BTI) and Unilever (UN). Investor takeaways UEPIX is uniquely positioned, which is what helped the fund in 1Q16. The high energy exposure helped after crude oil prices started rising on February 11, 2016. However, its composition in the financial sector created a drag that couldnt be overcome by positive contributing sectors. Story continues Its important for investors to note that UEPIXs holdings are quite concentrated with only 30 stocks in the portfolio. The rebalancing of the underlying index is done only once a year. So if its composition isnt favored by Market movement, it can have poor performance for a long period of time. The fund invests in ADRs (American depositary receipts), which means the impact of currency movement is built into its structure. It also means investors typically exercise caution when investing in the fund. UEPIX isnt a core holding of European equities exposure, but it can be an avenue for more adventurous investors. In the next part of this series, well look at the JPMorgan Intrepid European Fund Class A (VEUAX). Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: What to Expect from ETEs, ETPs, and SXLs 1Q16 Earnings (Continued from Prior Part) SXLs Crude Oil Pipelines segment Sunoco Logistics Partners (SXL) Crude Oil Pipelines segment provides crude oil transportation services. Crude Oil Pipelines is SXLs largest business segment. It alone accounted 49% of SXLs 4Q15 adjusted EBITDA. The segments 1Q16 performance is expected to be driven by recent projects and higher Permian throughput volumes. According to the EIAs drilling productivity data, the Permian Basins three-month average crude oil production rose 13.1% year-over-year to 2.03 Mbpd (million barrels per day) in 1Q16 compared to 1.79 Mbpd in 1Q15. However, this increase might be offset by a decline in the segments crude oil acquisition and marketing business, which provides crude oil purchase, sale, and exchange services. The business has been hurt by a decline in the WTI (West Texas Intermediate) Midland to LLS (Louisiana Light Sweet) spread in recent quarters due to a fall in crude oil prices (USO). NuStar Energy (NS), NGL Energy Partners (NGL), and Buckeye Partners (BPL) could experience similar declines in their crude oil acquisition and marketing businesses. SXLs Terminal Facilities segment Sunoco Logistics Terminal Facilities segment provides crude oil, NGLs (natural gas liquids), and refined products terminaling and butane blending services. The segments 1Q16 performance is expected to be driven by higher NGL volumes at its Nederland terminal and Marcus Hook Industrial Complex. SXLs Product Pipelines segment The Product Pipelines segment, which provides NGLs and refined products transportation, was SXLs best-performing segment in 4Q15. The segments adjusted EBITDA increased 194% year-over-year in 4Q15 versus 4Q14. The trend might continue in the first quarter of 2016, driven by recent pipeline projects, including the Mariner East 1 pipeline. SXL forms 0.12% of the PowerShares Dividend Achievers Portfolio (PFM). Story continues Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: Wall Street is stuck in the red as investors get ready to wrap up the week and the month. All three major averages (^DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC) are sharply lower across the board with technology and health care shares leading the declines. On the economic front, Americans made more money but remained cautious about spending it last month. Personal income rose 0.4% in March, while spending was only up a scant 0.1%, according to the Commerce Department. Sam Stovall, U.S. Equity Strategist at S&P Capital IQ expains to Yahoo Finance's Jen Rogers in the video above why his strategy would not be to sell in May, but to "rotate, rather than retreat." Amazon (AMZN) shares soared in early trading after it obliterated analysts' expectations on both its top and bottom lines for the first quarter thanks mostly to its growing retail business and new cloud services. More and more people are signing up for Amazon's Prime loyalty program. The subscription allows customers to stream movies and add better shipping options with their purchases. Amazon says they will start ramping up spending to entice more customers to sign up for prime. LinkedIn (LNKD) reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the first quarter as sales jumped 35% from a year ago, due to strong demand for its hiring services and robust ad revenue. The company also raised is outlook for the year. ExxonMobil (XOM), the world's largest publicly traded oil producer, delivered a beat on both its top and bottom lines for the first quarter. But profit and revenue fell sharply from a year ago, due to falling crude prices and refining margins. Expedia (EXPE), the world's largest online travel services company by bookings, surprised investors by swinging to a profit in the first three months of the year. Revenue rose nearly 39% from a year earlier as its acquisitions of Orbitz and Travelocity paid off. TiVo (TIVO) shares jumped in early trading. Rovi (ROVI),which provides on-screen guides for pay-TV listings is buying the DVR maker for about $1.1 billion in cash and stock, or $10.70 per share. The combined company will have 28 million customers. Story continues Apple buybacks to resume today The mandated quiet period is over for Apple (AAPL) and the tech giant will be able to start buying back shares. This comes as investor Carl Icahn says he no longer owns the company, sending the stock to its lowest level of the year. Should Apple investors be worried? Google lays out plan for the future The tech giant is looking towards the future with plans to focus on artificial intelligence, rather than handheld devices. Will Google (GOOGL) be able to dominate the AI space? The U.S. Congress doesnt look any closer to funding anti-Zika efforts now than it did last week. If anything, lawmakers appear to have taken steps back. After hours of speeches on Zika from the Senate floor on Thursday, lawmakers adjourned for a week-long recess still fundamentally divided on how best to combat the virus. It was an anticlimactic end to this weeks Zika debate, which was perhaps the most dramatic since the Obama administration sent lawmakers an emergency funding request two months ago. As late as Thursday morning, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid was insisting the Senate not break until lawmakers move on Zika. His demands came even as a previously in-progress deal hadnt materialized, and as Republican lawmakers continued to balk at a bill that would fully finance a White House funding request. We shouldn't be taking 10 days off as a dangerous virus threatens this nation, Reid said. And it is threatening us. Recommended: Zika Needed an Ounce of Prevention: It Didn't Get It How the administrations Zika offensive should be funded, and by how much, has broken down mostly along party lines. Generally speaking, Senate Democrats have supported separate, emergency funding for the virus, while Republicans have not. Some congressional GOP leaders insist on considering the money as part of the ongoing 2017 appropriations process, which would mean taking funds away from other parts of the budget to pay for Zika. In that case, funding would also not be available until October when the new fiscal year begins, months after Congress first received a funding request from the White House. In early February, the Obama administration asked Congress to quickly pass nearly $1.9 billion in emergency funds. It trotted out public-health officials to explain what they knew about the viruss potential effect in the Americas, and what they needed to develop: a vaccine, top-flight diagnostic tests, rapid-response teams for any Zika clusters that pop up in the United States, among other measures. Story continues So far, Congress hasnt allocated any new money. The White House grudgingly repurposed about $600 million in Ebola funds for Zika earlier this month, at House Republicans urging, but the administration and public-health officials maintain much more is needed. The number of cases in the continental United States and in the territories continues to grow. Scientists have confirmed the virus causes the birth defect microcephaly and the immune disorder Guillain-Barre, and are investigating a link between Zika and brain and spinal-cord infections. Officials are also concerned about the coming warmer months, particularly in warm-weather states. Everything we look at with this virus seems to be a bit scarier than we initially thought, said Anne Schuchat, the CDCs principal deputy director, at a White House briefing two weeks ago. Recommended: How to Save the Republican Party Congressional Republicans have said for weeks now that their questions on Zika funding havent been answeredan allegation the White House and Senate Democrats have refuted. Specifically, Republicans say they need to know how much money is needed before the 2016 fiscal year ends in late September; how much is needed in fiscal year 2017; and, of course, how exactly itll be spent. John Cornyn, the Senate Majority Whip, cautioned Thursday against writing a blank check to the administration without hearing the Zika plan of attack. Democrats have condemned the standstill. Too many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle still dont seem to see Zika as an emergency, Senator Patty Murray, the ranking member on the Senate Labor/HHS subcommittee, said Thursday. Some Republicans think it can wait weeks, or even months, she added. Republicans in Congress might be able to wait that longbut families across the country simply cant. We shouldn't be taking 10 days off as a dangerous virus threatens this nation, Reid said. Members of the House GOP have been especially, and predictably, hawkish about how money is doled out. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has said the administration has enough money for Zika as it is. Some have suggested more money can be gleaned from Ebola coffers, and House Speaker Paul Ryan has said the White House has a bit of a track record of over-requesting what they need. Representative Tom Cole seemed to push back Thursday on the notion that Republicans are unnecessarily blocking funds. I want to remind the White House, it was a Republican Congress that appropriated everything and more to combat Ebola just last year, said Cole, the chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that finances public-health agencies, in a statement. It was a Republican Congress that provided double the increase in funds for the National Institutes of Health requested by the White House. And it was a Republican Congress that appropriated more for the Centers for Disease Control than the White House requested. The debate in the Senate didnt look so dire last week. After months of no movement, lawmakers appeared to have a modest breakthrough: Senate appropriators announced at a markup meeting that they were closing in on a Zika deal. But the chief negotiators, Murray and Missouri Republican Roy Blunt, still needed to accomplish two difficult tasks: settling on an exact dollar figure and determining how to get the funding through Congress. Behind closed doors, though, some Democrats said any lower-dollar deal would be insufficient, CNN reported earlier this week: But when Democrats huddled in their weekly policy lunch in the Capitol Tuesday rank-and-file senators pushed back against the emerging deal and pressed their leaders to go back the table and insist Republicans approve Obama's full request, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussion. Those Democrats argued that any deal eventually cut with House Republicans would likely pare back Obama's original request even further so Senate Democrats should fight to preserve as much of it as they can in the Senate bill now. The same day, Senate lawmakers were publicly disagreeing on how far along the deal had gotten. Recommended: The Obama Doctrine A bill proposed by Florida Democrat Bill Nelson, which called for full funding of the White Houses $1.9 billion request, has perhaps an even bleaker outlook. Reid has repeatedly insisted that he wont support anything less than the full $1.9 billion. Nita Lowey, the top House Democratic appropriator, has suggested the same; she introduced a supplemental funding bill this week. Blunt, speaking on the floor Thursday, said theres almost no chance the Senate would pass that amount, and it absolutely wouldnt squeak by the House. This is something we can work out, I believe we will work out, Blunt said from the floor. But the goal is not for the Senate to pass a bill. The goal is for the Congress to pass a bill and the president of the United States to sign that bill and I believe that will happen and many people, including me, are working to see that that happens. On Thursday, as it became clear no funding would be passed before the recess, a succession of Democratic women were joined by Senator Marco Rubio in venting their frustrations from the chamber floor. Murray claimed that extreme right-wing conservatives have beaten back colleagues more willing to work on funding. Never one to mince words, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren accused Republicans of failing Americans and shirking their governmental duty to protect from serious threats. Rubio, Warrens ideological opposite, seemed to agree with her. The money is going to be spent, said the Florida senator, who broke from his caucus on Zika funding earlier this month and whoits worth notingisnt running for re-election. And the question is, Do we do it now before this has become a crisis, or do we wait for it to become a crisis? And maybe that crisis happens in August, when everyone is back home doing their campaign stuff, or maybe it happens on Monday when lawmakers are on recess. Its entirely possible that informal talks will continue while lawmakers are away; the House is in recess, too. Democrats are no doubt hoping their Republican counterparts get an earful from constituents back home. But the public wont know the product of those discussions until Congress is back May 9. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. (Reuters) - Women's world number one Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Madrid Open because of flu, the organizers said on Friday. "Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from Madrid because I've been battling the flu and I'm not at 100 percent. I look forward to returning soon," Williams said in a statement. Agnieszka Radwanska is now the top seed at the tournament staring on Saturday. (Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; editing by Amlan Chakraborty) By Guillermo Parra-Bernal and Tatiana Bautzer SAO PAULO, April 29 (Reuters) - Sete Brasil Participacoes SA will file for protection from creditors as early as Friday, two sources said on Friday, as months of tussling with the rig builder's sole client and looming debt payments weighed on the company. Sete Brasil declined to comment. Shareholders in Sete Brasil voted last Wednesday to allow the company to seek bankruptcy protection after efforts to secure a long-term contract with state-controlled oil producer Petroleo Brasileiro SA failed. Petrobras, as Sete Brasil's sole client is known, owns 5 percent of the rig leaser. A source familiar with the decision told Reuters last week that partners holding more than 90 percent of Sete Brasil approved the plan, without detailing a timetable or a strategy to do so. Any petition seeking bankruptcy protection would be filed in Rio de Janeiro, where Sete Brasil is based, said the two sources, who asked for anonymity to speak freely about the plan. The other shareholders, which have their combined 95 percent stake in Sete Brasil in an investment vehicle known as FIP Sondas, include pension funds Previ and Petros, investment firm EIG Global Partners and banks Grupo BTG Pactual SA and Banco Bradesco SA. There has been a fierce battle between Petrobras and Sete Brasil's shareholders, creditors and suppliers for a failed government-sponsored plan to build the world's biggest deep-water drilling fleet order. The $90 billion project began to fall apart in 2014 when Petrobras and Sete Brasil became engulfed in Brazil's worst corruption scandal. Sete Brasil's collapse would be devastating not only for the banks, pension funds and investment firms that backed the project, but also for dozens of shipbuilders and manufacturers supplying the company. More than 800,000 local shipbuilding jobs could be destroyed, sparking about $12 billion in losses for the economy, one of the sources said on Friday. Story continues Both Petrobras and state development bank BNDES abandoned the project as the corruption probe swelled, leaving Sete Brasil moribund. BNDES reneged on prior commitments to refinance the loans. Petrobras Chief Executive Officer Aldemir Bendine and officials at the company's exploration and production division are at loggerheads over the Sete Brasil contract, sources recently told Reuters. The tussle forced BTG Pactual and creditors to write off part of the value of their investments and loans to Sete Brasil. The standstill period for which 15 billion reais worth of loans to Sete Brasil were extended expires next month, the sources said on Friday. Lenders Itau Unibanco Holding SA, Bradesco, Banco Santander Brasil SA and state-controlled Caixa Economica Federal and Banco do Brasil SA renewed the credit lines in February in exchange for access to 4.3 billion reais in collateral at government-backed naval fund CDFMM. ($1 = 3.4471 Brazilian reais) (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal and Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Toni Reinhold) Seth Meyers on Thursday spoke out against recently enacted laws discriminating against the transgender community. RELATEDSamantha Bee Bashes Fragile White Men in Hysterics Over New $20 Bill The Late Night host took a Closer Look at Mississippi and North Carolinas controversial new bills designed to prevent transgender people from using the restroom for the gender with which they identify. Meyers, who has previously commented on the prejudicial legislation, was once again encouraged to comment on the ongoing injustice following recent remarks by presidential hopeful Ted Cruz, who has publicly supported the ethically questionable mandates. The most absurd impact of these kinds of bathroom bills is youre actually forcing transgender women, who are women, and transgender men, who are men, to use the wrong bathroom. RELATEDCaitlyn Jenner Books Transparent Role He also compared the legislations nonsensical nature to IKEAs instruction pamphlets in a nod to one of the many companies that support transgender rights. Watch the thought-provoking segment above. Related stories The Voice Top 10 Performance Recap: Rolling in the Deep End The Blacklist Recap: Mourning Glory Fall TV: 15 Pilots We Can't Wait to See! SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The Shanghai Hongqiao airport is operating as normal after a fire broke out early on Friday, an official at the airport said. "There's been no impact on airport operations," said an airport official who said he was responsible for traveler inquiries. He gave his surname as Wang but declined to comment further on whether the fire was under control. The People's Daily said on its official microblog that a fire in the airport's basement broke out at around 7 a.m. (2300 GMT Thursday) during an underground renovation project. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Robert Birsel) NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against TerraForm Power Inc. ("TerraForm" or the "Company") (TERP) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, District of Maryland, and docketed under 16-cv-00981, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased TerraForm securities between May 7, 2015 and March 15, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). If you are a shareholder who purchased TerraForm securities during the Class Period, you have until June 3, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. TerraForm owns and operates solar and wind generation assets serving utility, commercial, and residential customers. TerraForm was founded in 2014. The Company was formerly known as SunEdison Yieldco, Inc. and changed its name to TerraForm Power, Inc. in May 2014. TerraForm's controlling shareholder is SunEdison, Inc. ("SunEdison"), and there is significant overlap between the management of TerraForm and SunEdison and SunEdison's other affiliates: Brian Wuebbels ("Wuebbels"), TerraForm's former Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), has served as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") and Executive Vice President of SunEdison since May 2012 and as SunEdison's Chief Administrative Officer since December 2014; Rebecca Cranna ("Cranna"), TerraForm's CFO, has served as SunEdison's Senior Vice President and CFO of Global Asset Management since 2014; and defendant Carlos Domenech Zornoza ("Domenech"), TerraForm's former CEO, served as Executive Vice President of SunEdison from November 2009 to January 2014, and has held management positions at other SunEdison affiliates, including SunEdison Capital, LLC and SunEdison LLC. Story continues The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) TerraForm's Management Services Agreement with SunEdison exposed TerraForm to risks associated with SunEdison's internal financial controls and any deficiencies therein; (ii) consequently, TerraForm lacked effective internal financial controls; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, TerraForm's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On February 29, 2016, SunEdison announced that it was delaying the filing of its fiscal year 2015 Form 10-K with the SEC, citing "(1) the need to complete all tasks and steps necessary to finalize the annual financial statements and the other disclosures required to be included in that filing, and (2) ongoing inquiries and investigations by the Audit Committee . . . relating to allegations concerning the accuracy of SunEdison's anticipated financial position." SunEdison stated that it expected to file its Form 10-K by March 15, 2016. On February 29, 2016, TerraForm also announced that it was delaying the filing of its fiscal year 2015 Form 10-K with the SEC and also expected to file the Form 10-K by March 15, 2016. TerraForm cited only "the need to complete all steps and tasks necessary to finalize the Company's annual financial statements and other disclosures required to be in the filing." On March 16, 2016, SunEdison announced a further delay in the filing of its Form 10-K beyond the extended due date of March 15, 2016, after "the identification by management of material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting." On March 16, 2016, TerraForm also announced a further delay in the filing of its Form 10-K beyond the extended due date of March 15, 2016, after identifying material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting. On this news, TerraForm stock fell $0.83, or 7.87%, to close at $9.72 on March 16, 2016. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Platform Specialty Products Corporation ("Platform" or the "Company") (PAH) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, and docketed under 16-cv-80490, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased Platform securities between February 17, 2015 and March 14, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). If you are a shareholder who purchased Platform securities during the Class Period, you have until June 1, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. Platform was founded in 1922. Formerly known as Platform Acquisition Holdings Limited, the Company changed its name to Platform Specialty Products Corporation in October 2013. Platform is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Arysta had made improper third-party payments in West Africa; (ii) that the foregoing payments were unlawful under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"); and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Platform's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On March 11, 2016, Platform disclosed in its 2015 annual report that the Company had "discovered certain payments made to third-party agents in connection with Arysta's government tender business in West Africa which may be illegal or otherwise inappropriate" and had "engaged outside counsel and an outside accounting firm to conduct an internal investigation to review the legality of these and other payments . . . including Arysta's compliance with the FCPA." On this news, Platform stock fell $0.28 per share, or 3.16%, to close at $8.57 on March 14, 2016, the following trading day. On March 14, 2016, shortly before the end of the trading day, the Wall Street Journal published a story addressing these disclosures by Platform, entitled "Chemical Company Notifies U.S. of West Africa FCPA Probe." On this news, Platform stock fell $0.62 per share, or 7.23%, to close at $7.95 on March 15, 2016. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against PTC Therapeutics, Inc. ("PTC Therapeutics" or the "Company") (PTCT) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, District of New Jersey, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased PTC Therapeutics securities between May 6, 2014 and February 23, 2016 inclusive (the "Class Period"). This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). If you are a shareholder who purchased PTC Therapeutics securities during the Class Period, you have until May 2, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. PTC Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of orally administered, small molecule therapeutics targeting an area of RNA biology the Company refers to as post-transcriptional control. The Company's lead product is "Translarna," which is an oral, protein restoration therapy for the treatment of nonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy ("nmDMD"). The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (1) that the Company's New Drug Application ("NDA") for Translarna that it submitted to the FDA was not sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review of the application; (2) that, as such, the application would not be reviewed nor approved by the FDA; (3) that the impending non-approval of the NDA would have a negative material impact on the Company's operations and prospects; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing Defendants' statements about PTC Therapeutics' business, operations, and prospects, were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On February 23, 2016, the Company issued a press release entitled "PTC Receives Refuse to File Letter from FDA for TranslarnaTM (ataluren)." Therein, the Company stated that it received a Refuse to File letter from the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") regarding the Company's NDA for Translarna because "the application was not sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review." On this news, shares of PTC Therapeutics fell $17.42 per share, or more than 61%, to close at $10.84 per share on February 23, 2016, on unusually heavy trading volume. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP Washington (AFP) - The dwindling US troop presence in Afghanistan is hampering the Pentagon's ability to train and monitor local security forces, a government watchdog report warned Friday. Since local Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) assumed responsibility for their country's security, taking over from NATO forces at the start of 2015, US troop numbers have dropped to 9,800 -- and are set to fall further still to 5,500 by next year. "With fewer forces in theater, the United States military has lost much of its ability to make direct observations, provide tactical mentoring, and collect reliable information on ANDSF capability and effectiveness," John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), wrote in his quarterly report to Congress. Sopko's report comes at a dangerously fragile time for Afghan security. Despite 15 years of war, the Taliban remain a major threat and has hit local troops hard, including in the brief capture of the major city of Kunduz, jolting confidence Afghan government forces can hold their own. The United States estimates about 5,500 Afghan security forces were killed last year alone and, Sopko warned, no one seems to know exactly how many are left. "More troubling is SIGAR's assessment that neither the United States nor its Afghan allies know how many Afghan soldiers and police actually exist, how many are in fact available for duty, or, by extension, the true nature of their operational capabilities," the SIGAR report states. In addition, America's shrinking presence means US troops are less able to have an impact on the ground, while at the same time the capability of local forces has not risen to fill the gap. "The ANDSF will be increasingly left not only with their own capability gaps in air support, signals, intelligence, and other areas highlighted by US commanders, but without the ability to call on US and coalition military components for help," the report states. Story continues Sopko has been a vociferous critic of United States efforts to restore security to Afghanistan, especially through reconstruction. He has penned multiple reports blasting bureaucrats for shoddy record keeping and oversight, and has criticized the Afghan government for waste and corruption. Spoko said Congress has appropriated approximately $113 billion for Afghanistan reconstruction. About $10 billion remains to be disbursed. "The reconstruction effort in Afghanistan is in a perilous state," Sopko said. "Afghanistan has had the lead responsibility for its own security for more than a year now, and is struggling with a four-season insurgency, high attrition, and capability challenges." In all, the United States has spent about $1 trillion in fighting and reconstruction during the years it has been in Afghanistan. Some 2,200 US lives have been lost in the longest war in US history. A severe blow to the head may bring an unexpected consequence: disruptions in sleeping patterns that last for more than a year after the injury, a new study from Switzerland finds. In the study, researchers looked at 31 people who had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Scientists investigated how long the individuals slept, whether their sleep was fragmented and how rested they felt while they were awake. A TBI is a brain injury resulting from traumatic impact, in which the brain's day-to-day function is disrupted, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The researchers also looked at a control group of 42 uninjured people. Over a period of 18 months, the study participants reported their sleep patterns. For two weeks during the study, the participants also wore devices that tracked their body movements. And for one night, the individuals slept in a lab where researchers monitored the subjects' brain activity and other body functions during sleep. [Top 11 Spooky Sleep Disorders] Overall, the people with TBI seemed to require more sleep than the uninjured subjects an average of 8 hours per night, 1 hour more than subjects who were injury-free, according to the findings. The study also found that 67 percent of the people with TBI described feeling sleepy during the day, whereas only 19 percent of the healthy participants reported excessive daytime sleepiness. This investigation builds upon the results of many previous studies in recent years showing that people with TBI experience sleep problems, said the study's lead author Dr. Lukas Imbach, a senior physician and neurologist at the University Hospital Zurich. "But the severity, incidence and cause for [sleep] disorders was poorly understood," Imbach added. The new investigation is the longest prospective study about sleep quality and TBI done to date, he said. Most of the earlier studies followed participants for only six months after they had experienced TBI, "because it was assumed that the effect after TBI might wear off after a longer time," Imbach told Live Science. Story continues "However, we have learned from this study that sleep problems persist up to 18 months after TBI," he said. The researchers also noted that people with TBI tended to be inaccurate when recording and reporting their own sleep patterns. This is cause for concern, because sleep disruption can have a serious impact on how a person functions when they're awake, the researchers said. "The reason for this sleep misperception is unknown, but we plan to investigate in this direction," Imbach said. TBIs, mild or severe, affect 1.7 million people in the U.S. each year, the study authors reported. The injuries were associated with 2.5 million hospitalizations, visits to the emergency room or deaths in 2010, according to the CDC. The findings were published online today (April 27) in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Follow Mindy Weisberger on Twitter and Google+. 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. With a top hat and a penetrating grin on his perfectly round, luminescent face, Mr. Hamburger watches over 11th Street in Huntsville, Texas, from atop a 25-foot-tall signpost. Inside the eponymous fast-food joint, hungry visitors can order a variety of burgers whose names give a cheeky nod to the prison down the road: the Killer Burger, the Warden, Old Sparkythe latter referring to an electric chair used in the executions of 361 people between 1924 and 1964. Known by locals as the Walls for its foreboding 20-foot-high red-brick ramparts punctuated by corner watchtowers, the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville houses the states sole death chamber. Early prisoners at the Walls, the first penitentiary in the state, were put to work in a textile factory making uniforms for the Confederate army. Its one of seven correctional facilities in the Huntsville area that together employ 3,759 people. Twenty-five percent of Huntsvilles population is behind bars. The city of roughly 40,000 people, which includes the correctional institutions population of 15,429, is a prison town, through and through. Huntsville is also a locus of the nationwide movement to reduce the use of solitary confinement. Over the last several years, the issue has caught the attention of activists, civil rights litigators, state legislators, and the federal government. Reform bills, lawsuits, and prisoner-led hunger strikes are leading some to wonder whether corrections officers are over using the practice. A 2012 lawsuit that was settled in federal court last year argued that prolonged isolation of inmates at Californias notorious Pelican Bay State Prison violates the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The settlement required the state to end indefinite solitary confinement and to reduce the number of people in solitary by no longer isolating them on the basis of alleged gang affiliation. (In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a similar case brought by an inmate in Virginia.) Story continues Now, people inside the prison walls are joining the usual array of criminal justice reform advocates. Lance Lowry, lieutenant of correctional officers at a high-security prison unit in Huntsville that houses part of its population in solitary confinement, and president of the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, says the practice isnt just bad for prisonersits bad for guards too. As labor activists have done throughout history, Lowry is advocating for better, safer working conditions. Isolating fewer prisoners for 23 hours a day in 60-square-foot cells would go a long way toward achieving that goal, he believes. Punishing the Victim Prisoners who report rape are often penalized with solitary confinement. When you cut out social interaction, youre dealing with a person who has nothing to lose, and thats extremely dangerous, Lowry says of solitary confinement. If you were to build a sanitized version of hell, it would look a lot like the other side of a steel door at his workplace. Solitary confinement, he says, is where people lose their minds. The damaging effects of solitary confinement, also known as administrative segregation or secure housing, are well documented. Research has shown that such isolation can provoke or aggravate mental illness and increase the risk of suicide. Prisoners whove emerged from solitary tell stories of hallucinations, panic attacks, and paranoia. [Solitary] is there to dehumanize you, to break you physically, mentally, and spiritually, says Danny Murillo, who spent seven years in solitary confinement at Pelican Bay. Last March, New York City teen Kalief Browder took his life after spending two years in solitary confinement at the Rikers Island jail complex, where he was isolated after scuffling with another inmate. Arrested at 16, Browder waited without trial on charges of stealing a backpack and insisted on his innocence. Before his death, Browder described his time in solitary to ABC News as hell on Earth. Lowry is well acquainted with stories like Browdersand with the risks that come with the job of guarding people deemed too dangerous for a prisons general population. More than once, Lowry has been assaulted while working in the administrative segregation unit. Bodily fluids flung from confinement cells have sent him to the hospital. Its horrendous, says Lowry. You have to get tested [for hepatitis and HIV], and youre worried about taking something home to your family. But these confrontations with prisoners, along with the list of colleagues injured or murdered over his 20 years in law enforcement and corrections, have only cemented his belief that prisons need less isolation, not more. Assaults on staff have more than doubled in the last decade in Texas prisons, Lowry says. Part of it is the increased use of administrative segregation. I look at what were producing, and its not good. The number of prisoners in solitary confinement nationwide is difficult to track, because many states dont keep data on how many people are in isolation or for how long. Available data suggests the practice is widespread: Yale Law School and the Association of State Correctional Administrators estimated last year that between 25,000 and 80,000 people are kept in some form of isolation in the U.S. at any given time. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics says that around 20 percent of all inmateslocal, state, and federalhave spent time in solitary at some point during their incarceration. As the rate of incarceration in the U.S. (the worlds highest) has grown, the percentage of inmates held in solitary has climbed even faster. Typically used as a means of separating prisoners with histories of violence behind bars, or to prevent those with alleged gang affiliations from conspiring, solitary is now wielded as punishment, as a blunt tool for protecting the prison population from the unpredictable behavior of the mentally ill, or a means of protecting vulnerable prisoners, such as youths or transgender inmates. In January, President Obama issued an executive order banning the solitary confinement of juveniles in federal custody (of which there are few). The Department of Justice then called on state corrections departments to limit their use of solitary confinement, issuing guidance and asking the National Institute of Corrections to incorporate that guidance into officer training, The Guardian reported. Supreme Court justices have repeatedly gone out of their way to denigrate the practice in their opinions. In 2014 Lowry and colleagues at AFSCME, one of the nations largest labor unions, wrote an open letter to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice calling for reduced use of solitary confinement on death row. The letter recommended giving inmates who follow the rules in solitary access to television and computer tablets. Lack of visual or audio stimulation result in increased psychological incidents and in costly crisis management, wrote Lowry. The letter also called for more training for prison staff assigned to death row and a salary hike to incentivize officers to seek alternatives to solitary for misbehavior. Today, he and his union colleagues continue to push for reform. Prison conditions are working conditions, and when we have inhumane institutions, theyre inhumane for everybody, says Amy Fettig, senior staff counsel for the ACLUs National Prison Project. Thats part of the reason corrections officers have such high PTSD rates, lower life-spans, and terrible health indicators. Many prison guards, including some Lowry works with, dont share his view. His advocacy, he says, has meant a trade-off in his personal life: Im not the most popular man in town, but I can sleep at night. Some prisoners have even resisted being moved out of solitary, says Rick Raemisch, executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections, who initiated reforms to reduce reliance on administrative segregation three years ago: They were scared, dehumanized, and desocialized; they couldnt see themselves mixing with the general population. Raemisch and Lowry are not alone. When Bernard Warner, the former secretary of the Washington State Department of Corrections, began his corrections career 36 years ago, he was assigned to an administrative segregation unit at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. I saw firsthand the conditions and environment in those housing units, Warner says. It was pretty horrific. When Warner became the chief of the department in 2011, he invited the Vera Institute of Justice, a criminal justice research nonprofit, into the states prisons to assess the solitary confinement population. Warner says the results didnt surprise him: Isolated inmates were disproportionately mentally ill, gang entrenched, or bouncing back and forth between the general population and segregation because of behavioral problems. Warner and his staff developed a series of programs to help people return to the general prison population, remove the mentally ill from confinement, and address aggression issues among those who remained isolated. He converted a utility closet in an administrative segregation unit to a classroom, where eight to 10 inmates at a time, restrained to their desks, are able to interact with one another in classes led by corrections officers. Over the course of three years, the states solitary confinement population dropped by 50 percent. We havent had any assaults in these classrooms, says Warner. Were able to reach people who have not had any programming for a long period of timepeople who are returning to the general [prison] population or, often, being released back into the community. He says he was able to find common ground with the corrections unioneveryone wanted safe facilities, and staff were open to the possibility that solitary confinement was hampering that objective. The union understood that we have a shared goal: We dont want violence; we dont want staff assaults, Warner says. The success in being able to do this is getting buy-in from the people who work in that environment. Its not done most effectively with a top-down approach. Labor unions are beginning to weigh in on the broader picture of mass incarceration. Maria Robalino, senior program specialist for the Civil, Human, and Womens Rights Department at the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the largest federation of unions in the U.S., is working with union leaders around the country to mobilize corrections and justice system workers in reform efforts. Corrections staff are as much victims of this broken system as the inmates, says Robalino. They want to do their work with dignity, and they want to be part of changing the system. Raemisch took office in 2013, after a former inmate who had spent several years in solitary confinement and was released directly into the community shot and killed his predecessor. Like Warner, Raemisch undertook an assessment of who was in solitary and why and worked with staff to develop a series of programs to reduce the population and ensure no one was released from prison straight from solitarya common occurrence. Everybody can see the way the courts are going, Raemisch says. This old way of doing business is going to be a part of the past. Raemisch spent 20 hours in solitary confinement in one of his prisons with the hope that writing about his experience for the Department of Corrections newsletter would help garner the support of staff at all levels. I thought Id walk the talk, and that would help change the culture, says Raemisch. He says he is pleased with the programs success thus far and feels supported by most staff members, but shifting the tide of reliance on isolation in prisons saw opposition from a surprising group. As Colorado began the process of decreasing the states solitary confinement population, roughly 200 inmates refused to come out of segregation. It was too ironic to physically force someone out of a cell wed probably physically forced them into, Raemisch says. Using a combination of at-the-door therapy (in which a clinician speaks with an inmate through a cell door), promises of long-forbidden canteen items, and therapy dogs, Colorado prison staff were able to coax most of those prisoners out of isolation. Resistance from corrections staff and high-level administrators remains a roadblock to reform for many states. Staunch opposition from the New York City Correction Officers Benevolent Association, the largest municipal jail union in the country, to reducing the use of solitary persists. Following President Obamas executive order not to isolate juveniles, COBA President Norman Seabrook published an editorial decrying the decision as out of touch with the reality that correction officers face every day and criticizing the president for not bringing those officers into the conversation. Seabrook argued that teenage inmates in New York City became emboldened and even more dangerous after the city banned isolation for inmates 21 and under in 2015. Without this deterrentwhat would we do with the scores of inmates who throw feces, urine, and blood at officers? These inmates must be separated for the safety of everyone on the inside, wrote Seabrook. It is a common refrain. In New Mexico, Secretary of Corrections Gregg Marcantel has worked with organizations such as the ACLU to reform solitary confinement. (Marcantel made media waves when, somewhat like Raemisch, he went undercover in his own prison system as an inmate in solitary confinement in 2014.) But it hasnt been easy, in large part because he doesnt have support from guards. Hes having huge problems reducing the use of solitary confinement because of the resistance of unions who have relied on its use for so long, says Matt Coyte, president of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, which has long pushed for reform. Its harder to tackle a problem than it is just to carry on what youve been doing forever. (Marcantels office did not respond to requests for an interview.) Another obstacle has been the lack of mental health services behind bars. As prisons and jails are increasingly used as housing for the mentally ill, and funding mental health care outside the criminal justice system is cut, training for corrections officers hasnt caught up in most places. Corrections has evolved into more of a social work position, says Lowry, who advocated for a bill last year that would have created more mental health training for officers. It passed the state House and Senate, but Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed it, saying it unnecessarily micromanages the state prison system. The prison system has been tasked with being a mental health provider for the state of Texas, Lowry continues. Officers get hurt because they dont understand mental illness. Thats why a lot of people get put in administrative segregation. In late March, Lowry traveled to the state capitol in Austin for a Senate Criminal Justice Committee hearing on mental illness in the states jails. Spurred by the death of Sandra Bland in July 2015, the committee heard from county sheriffs, mental health providers, and police officers to better understand the prevalence of suicide in these facilities. Lowry testified at the hearing, describing the lack of information provided to the prison system by jails on the mental health status of inmates during transfers. That contributes to outbursts from untreated, unmedicated inmates who are then confined in administrative segregation cells, Lowry explained. Lowry concedes that mental illness aside, a few inmates are simply too dangerous not to be isolated. The Hannibal Lecters of the world really do exist, he says. Theyre diligent, and they just want to hurt people. When asked how many people in Texas solitary confinement cells fit that bill, Lowry estimated less than 1 percent. Raemisch and Warner agreed, noting that not everyone can function safely in a prisons general populationbut that description fits very few people. We have one inmate like that out of 20,000, says Raemisch. He has said, Ill come out if you want me to, but Ill kill someone. But that doesnt mean you give up on him. You keep trying. Sign the Petition: You Can Urge the Bureau of Prisons to Implement Pres. Obama's Recommendations on Solitary Confinement Sign the Petition: Click Here to Take Action to Reduce Solitary Confinement in Federal Prisons Related stories on TakePart: This Religion Is Backing Criminal Justice Reform but Helped Invent Solitary Confinement Sleepless Nights and Screaming: One Womans 2-Month Stint in Solitary Supreme Court Smoke Signals: Three Justices Aim to Take On Solitary Confinement Original article from TakePart Sony Pictures has pushed its Natalie Dormer, Stanley Tucci film Patient Zero off its 2016 release schedule and it is currently in limbo with only an unset 2017 date. In addition, the studio has set a title for its fifth Underworld film: Underworld: Blood Wars which bows for October 14, 2016. Patient Zero, which is a small drama/horror film about the search for patient zero in a global pandemic that has led to very few left on Earth. Underworld: Blood Wars, which stars Kate Beckinsale and Theo James in what is the fifth film of the franchises goes up against a number of films going wide on its same date: Focus Features drama/fantasy film A Monster Calls which stars Felicity Jones, Liam Neeson, and Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Hart: What Now?, and Anna Kendrick and Ben Affleck The Accountant. It also moved up its Blake Lively starrer The Shallows by a few days, from June 24 to June 29. Related stories 'Spider-Man' Reboot Loses One Superhero But Gains Another Nina Dobrev In Talks To Join Sony's 'Flatliners' Reboot Sony Acquires 'The Day Donny Herbert Woke Up'; Firefighter Emerged From 9-Year Coma By Tanisha Heiberg PRETORIA (Reuters) - South Africa's High Court ruled on Friday that a decision seven years ago to drop 783 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma was irrational and should be reviewed, another setback for the scandal-ridden leader who faces calls for his resignation. The decision in April 2009 to set aside the charges allowed Zuma to run for president in elections the same month. The South African leader has been beset by scandal during his tenure. This year's local elections pose a major risk for Zuma's ruling African National Congress, facing a strong challenge from opponents seeking to capitalize on what they see as the president's missteps. National prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe's decision at the time was based on phone intercepts presented by Zuma's legal team that suggested the timing of the charges in late 2007 may have been part of a political plot against him. However, Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said Mpshe's thinking and behavior was irrational, especially his failure to disclose his decision to prosecutors until the moment he announced it to the nation at a news conference. "If the decision had been rational and above board, why the secrecy?" Ledwaba said. The ruling adds pressure on Zuma, who has faced calls to quit even from within the ANC since a damning constitutional court judgment against him last month. The three-judge bench ruling does not automatically reinstate the charges against Zuma, a decision that can only come from the prosecuting authorities. It was unclear when such a decision would be taken. The rand hit a five-month high against the dollar after the ruling and government bonds also firmed. "Mr. Zuma should face the charges as applied in the indictment," Ledwaba said, summarizing the unanimous ruling. It was not immediately clear whether Zuma would appeal, but the presidency said he would weigh the judgment and its consequences, adding that Zuma faced no charges in court at present. The ANC said the ruling would not harm the party's image or its chances at the local elections in August. Shaun Abrahams, head of the National Prosecuting Authority, told Reuters he was studying the ruling. Opposition Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane, whose party brought the court application, demanded the charges against Zuma be reinstated. "Jacob Zuma is not fit to be the president of this country," he told reporters. "The decision that they took was irrational and we still maintain that Jacob Zuma is corrupt. Jacob Zuma must face the full might of the law. He has already violated the constitution. There is no debate about that." ARMS DEAL Analysts said the credibility of the president and the prosecuting authority were in question after the ruling. "The credibility of the Presidency and the NPA are at stake due this a very far-reaching decision," said Professor Shadrack Gutto, a law lecturer at the University of South Africa. "For the ANC it's a question of what to do ahead of the August elections. Is this the kind of leader they want to have as a symbol? It is going to have a negative on the ANC. Opposition parties are going to take advantage of it." The hundreds of corruption charges relate to a major government arms deal arranged in the late 1990s. Zuma said last week that an investigation into the deal had found no evidence of corruption or fraud. Critics denounced the findings as a cover-up and said they would continue to campaign for justice. Zuma, then deputy president, was linked to the deal through his former financial adviser, who was jailed for corruption. This almost torpedoed Zuma's bid for president until the charges against him were dropped. Earlier this month, Zuma survived an impeachment vote after the Constitutional Court said he breached the law by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his home. In December, he was widely criticized for changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting, alarming investors and prompting warnings that South Africa's credit rating is under threat of a downgrade to "junk" status due to policy and political upheavals and low growth. (Additional reporting by Johannesburg newsroom; Writing by James Macharia; editing by Giles Elgood) JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's trade balance swung to a 2.92 billion rand ($206.10 million) surplus in March from a revised 1.27 billion rand deficit in February, the national revenue agency said on Friday. Exports were up by 6.3 percent to 96.13 billion rand on a month-on-month basis, while imports rose by 1.6 percent to 93.22 billion rand on a month-on-month basis, the South African Revenue Service said in a statement. ($1 = 14.1678 rand) (Reporting by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by James Macharia) Juba (AFP) - South Sudan's transitional unity government was sworn into office Friday, with President Salva Kiir sharing power with ex-rebels in a key step in a long-delayed peace process. Under terms of an August 2015 peace deal, the 30 ministerial posts are split between Kiir, former rebel chief turned first vice president Riek Machar, opposition and other parties. "We are going to work together," Kiir said after the ministers were sworn into office, and he shook hands with Machar. "We must learn how to forgive and we must learn how to apologise." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the naming of the ministers was an "important milestone" in the peace process, urging the parties "to cease immediately all hostilities". The transitional government is to remain in place until October 2018. Machar returned to the capital Juba on Tuesday and was immediately sworn into the post of vice president -- a position he was sacked from five months before war broke out. Fighting erupted in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup, claims he always denied. The conflict, which has torn open ethnic divisions, has been characterised by horrific rights abuses, including gang rapes, the wholesale burning of villages and cannibalism. "Cooperation is important," Machar told the new ministers, saying people were still fearful and that leaders needed to show them the peace deal would work. "If we act as groups in the cabinet, we will fail the people of South Sudan." - 'Children are dying' - Kiir loyalists remain in key positions, with Kuol Manyang staying on as defence minister and David Deng Athorbei as finance minster with the job of rebuilding an economy left in ruins by more than two years of war. The all-important petroleum portfolio was handed to Dak Duop Bichok. The foreign ministry goes to Deng Alor, a post he held under a united Sudan, before South Sudan won its independence in 2011. Story continues Alor belongs to a group of influential politicians known as the "former detainees", who were jailed at the outbreak of fighting but later released following regional pressure. Opposition leader and outspoken government critic Lam Akol becomes minister for agriculture and food security -- a crucial job in a country where five million are in need of aid, and some areas are on the brink of famine. Ensuring they work together in a unity government, and that the thousands of rival armed forces now in separate camps inside the capital keep their guns quiet, will be a major challenge. Both sides remain deeply suspicious, and fighting continues with multiple militia forces unleashed who now pay no heed to either Kiir or Machar. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million driven from their homes in the conflict, which has reignited ethnic divisions and been characterised by gross human rights abuses. - Political prisoners - Dozens of political prisoners remain in detention, although a former regional governor and a university professor held for months were released this week, Amnesty International said on Friday. Both Joseph Bakosoro, former governor of Western Equatoria state, and Professor Leonzio Angole Onek from Juba University, were arrested in December by the widely-feared National Security Service (NSS). Speaking after his release, Bakasoro said he hoped the new government would work towards peace. "I hope those who will be in the government will do the right thing -- not for themselves, but for the people of this country," he told reporters. "The common citizens are the ones suffering, women are suffering, children are dying." Amnesty said the release of the two men "represents a mere fraction of people being detained by NSS and other security forces such as the military" and called for 33 other prisoners to be charged or released. "Some have been beaten, especially during interrogation or as a form of punishment," Amnesty added, saying their treatment may "amount to torture". (Adds details from call) By Alwyn Scott NEW YORK, April 29 (Reuters) - Aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc said on Friday that it is seeing no slowdown in demand from Airbus resulting from undelivered planes piling up at European factories, awaiting interiors. "We haven't seen any slowdown from the plan in terms of demand," Spirit Chief Executive Larry Lawson said on a conference call. Reuters reported last week that a number of undelivered Airbus jetliners are stranded outside the plants, including A350s awaiting cabin equipment in Toulouse. Lawson said Boeing is "very optimistic" about the prospects for so-called aftermarket parts, or those sold after an airplane is delivered. Boeing recently ending an agreement with Spirit for this production as part of a renewed effort by the jetmaker to build its own aftermarket business. As a result of the change, Lawson said Spirit will "sell all the parts to Boeing now and will provide our services to Boeing and our MRO business will continue," referring to maintenance and repair operations. "And I think Boeing is very optimistic about the aftermarket." Spirit sees scope to increase its defense business to about 20 percent of revenue in coming years, Lawson said, and that it would seek to do so through a combination of acquisitions and bidding on new work. The Wichita, Kansas-based company was recently picked as a supplier for the U.S. Air Force B-21 bomber being built by prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. Spirit earlier on Friday posted first-quarter earnings of $1.29 a share, beating consensus estimates of $1.07 a share from Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. (Reporting by Alwyn Scott; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) Store Here Self Storage Management Announces the Opening of Its Self Storage Call Center, Call Here ORANGE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / Call Here's goal is to give self storage owners and operators a cost effective method to drive more rental activity and process current tenant payments. Call Here's base offering is a free service to the storage owner. Storage owners using the free basic service incur no additional costs for using Call Here and its sales agents. Typical self storage call centers charge anywhere from $300 to $500 a month to offer a similar suite of services. Call Here represents a potential savings of $6,000 a year per property. Ryan Rogers, a managing partner of Store Here Management and the founder of Call Here, recently said, "Store Here is driven to innovate all aspects of self storage property management, and offering a free call center to clients and others in the industry is a big innovation. We are using a mix of innovative technologies, ground breaking billing strategies and a network of at-home agents to offer an alternative to traditional call center operations and traditional fee schedules." Tron Jordheim, Business Development Manager at Store Here Management said, "In my 16 years of running call centers I can say that we have married the best practices of the various call centers we used to be involved with and turned to whole model upside down to benefit storage owners. Not only does Call Here offer a free model we also offer a model that can make the client money." More info is available at http://www.selfstorage.management/. Or at booth 231 in the Inside Self Storage Expo April 26 and 27 at Paris Las Vegas. Http://www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com. Store Here Management LLC is a property management and investment company focusing on the self-storage industry. RHW Capital Management Group, the operating partner of Store Here Management LLC, was founded in 2012 by industry veterans, with over 70 years of combined experience, to provide a stable source of funding and management. Store Here currently has 33 self-storage facilities in their portfolio with over 2 million rentable square feet under management. RHW plans to expand the Store Here brand with an aggressive strategy, which includes acquiring additional assets and securing new management contracts. For more information call James J. Hanrahan (949)427.8311 or visit www.storehere.com. SOURCE: Store Here Management LLC On Tuesday, the Supreme Court handed down its opinion in Heffernan v. City of Paterson, a case that involved the First Amendment, political speech, and the innocuous actions of a police officer helping his bedridden mother. The main question the Court was tasked with answering was whether government employers violate the First Amendment if they punish subordinates for their political speech, even if a superior was mistaken and the subordinate was not actually engaging in political expression. The case was brought by Jeffrey Heffernan, a police officer in Paterson, New Jersey, who was seen by fellow officers holding a yard sign for Lawrence Spagnola, a candidate in the citys mayoral election. Heffernan picked up the sign at the behest of his mother and delivered it to her, but other officers who saw Heffernan with the sign quickly told his supervisors. Those supervisors believed that Heffernan was involved in the Spagnola campaign, and demoted him the next day for overt involvement in the election. So, Heffernan brought suit in a federal court in New Jersey, claiming that his First Amendment rights had been violated. The court rejected his argument, however, and reasoned that, since he was not actually engaging in political speech, his First Amendment rights were not violated, despite the fact that his supervisors believed that he was. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit agreed, maintaining that Heffernan could only bring suit if he was actually exercising his free speech rights. But in a 6-2 decision, the Supreme Court reversed the Third Circuits decision. The majority opinion, authored by Justice Stephen Breyer, looks to the text of the First Amendment and the relevant federal statute that governs when one can bring suit in light of a violation of ones constitutional rights. 42 USC 1983 authorizes that anyone who is deprived of a right secured by the Constitution can bring suit in federal court. Justice Breyer explains that the text of the law, and the relevant Supreme Court precedents, are not clear as to whether the right depends on actual activity, like Heffernans apolitical delivery of the sign to his mother, or the motive of the government agent that abridges the constitutional right, like the supervisor who believed that Heffernan was engaged in political expression. Story continues In light of this ambiguity, the majority looks to the text of the First Amendment, which says that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. The First Amendment, Justice Breyer explains, focuses on the activity of the government, and proscribes the supervisors constitutionally harmful policy whether Heffernan did or did not in fact engage in political activity. The decision ends with the Court remanding the case, meaning that it sent the case back to a lower court for further review. Throughout the opinion, the majority assumes that the supervisors interference with political speech was constitutionally impermissible, but the Justices note that there are exceptions that allow restrictions on the speech of government employees. If, for example the speech impedes the efficiency or effective[ness] of a government service, then a supervisor can legally punish a subordinate for that speech. The Court did not rule on whether, in this particular instance, this exception was applicable, instead instructing the lower courts to consider that question. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito filed a dissent, writing that nothing in the text of 1983 provides a remedy against public officials who attempt but fail to violate someones constitutional rights. They maintain that, in order to have a successful claim, Heffernan would need to have proven that his free speech rights were actually infringed upon. However, Heffernan did not actually support Spagnolas campaign; although Heffernan was harmed, it did not amount to the right kind of harm under 1983. Still, the dissenters seem sympathetic to Heffernan, noting that demoting a dutiful son who aids his elderly, bedridden mother may be callous, but it is not unconstitutional. The potential impact of this case on our understanding of the First Amendment is notable, as the Court expanded the notion of who can seek redress under a free speech claim. It determined that the actions and intentions of the government are more important than what aggrieved citizens are actually doing. It sent a signal that the Court is more interested in erring on the side of caution when it comes to fundamental constitutional rights. Jonathan Stahl is an intern at the National Constitution Center. He is also a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in politics, philosophy and economics. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily Podcast: Bob McDonnell, public corruption, and the Supreme Court Constitution Check: Can the Supreme Court compromise on corruption? Video: Randy Barnett on our Republican Constitution Baltimore police have detained the suspect of a bomb threat at one of the city's news stations, PEOPLE confirms. At around 1:20 p.m. on Thursday, the suspect who police only identified as a 25-year-old, white male entered the Fox 45 station's lobby area, wearing what police described as a panda onesie [though it appeared to be a hedgehog onesie] with a coat underneath and a surgical mask. In a press conference from Baltimore police department's Media Relations Director T.J. Smith and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, it was revealed that the suspect encountered a contracted security guard in the lobby and displayed what appeared to be an explosive device. Fox 45 employees all of which were accounted for and uninjured were able to evacuate the building as police were showing up. Upon arriving, officers also located a vehicle near the station that had been set on fire, which they determined was arson. They did not say if it was connected to the bomb threat. Once officers got to the scene, the suspect voluntarily exited the station and began advancing towards police. According to Smith, police were forced to open fire, as the suspect was not complying with officers' demands as he moved closer. At that point, three Baltimore police officers fired seven times, and hit the suspect at least three. The suspect is currently at a local hospital in serious but stable condition and is expected to survive. However, before authorities could detain the suspect who Smith said was alert and conscious, but uncooperative as he lie in the street after being shot a robot was used to disarm him, removing his hand from his pocket where it had stayed throughout the entire police encounter. When police were finally able to approach the suspect they learned the device he was wearing was actually a replica explosive made out of chocolate candy bars wrapped in aluminum foil with wiring connecting each bar. A small motherboard, made from something in a fire extinguisher was also attached. In addition to the parts on his body, the suspect had a wire running down his sleeve that Smith said appeared to be a detonation device. "It does not appear this was a device capable of actual explosives but the appearance of it was to be an actual explosive type device," Smith told reporters. So far, officers do not have a motive, but Smith did say that the suspect arrived at Fox 45 with a flash drive containing something that he wanted the station to air on the news. Police have not yet determined the contents of the flash drive, as their main priority was public safety. "The most important thing right now is not what's on that flash drive. It's the safety of the citizens and the people in this area," Smith continued. "That is the most important thing right now. Once we're able to say nothing is gonna blow up down there and the folks at Fox 45 are gonna be able to go back to work and nothing is gonna happen to them, then we'll start trying to figure out what's on the flash drive." As reporters learned of the situation, a few questioned the commissioner about his thoughts on the fact that Thursday's bomb threat is the second high-profile incident at a news station in less than two years. Last August, two reporters were shot live on-air in Roanake, Virgina. "Public spaces and places where people get their news from and government agencies that serve our communities are occasionally vulnerable, if not always vulnerable," Davis said. "I think it's particularly important to train employees in all of our workplaces; like Fox 45 seems to have done, that when they're in the midst of that critical event; that we have to act. "In this day and age these events seem to happen more and more across our country. They seem to happen more and more in places like news stations, police stations, government facilities and school. It's become all too common in America for us to gather like this to examine the bizarre, dangerous behavior of a singular individual. We'll learn more about this man as time goes forward and, unfortunately, we'll probably learn the same old, same old about him." An investigation involving both the state's attorney office and federal partners is underway. By Ed Stoddard JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Swaziland has submitted a proposal to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to sell its rhino horn stocks to help pay for anti-poaching efforts, according to a copy of the submission obtained by Reuters. Swaziland's bid is a surprise after neighboring South Africa, which will host the next major CITES conference in September, decided not to push to loosen a global ban in trade in rhino horn in force since 1977. It also comes against the backdrop of a surge in poaching of rhinos for the animal's horn, which is coveted in Vietnam and other Asian countries as an ingredient in traditional medicine. A record 1,305 rhinos were illegally killed in Africa last year. African leaders and environmentalists were meeting in Kenya on Friday to dnL5N17W47Biscuss ways of combating elephant and rhino poaching. For Swaziland's proposal to succeed, it will need to get two-thirds of the countries attending the September meeting to support it - a difficult task as the issue is a red-button one that sharply divides conservationists. Opponents of opening up the trade argue it could lead to more poaching by criminal gangs seeking to launder "dirty" horns in clean markets. Supporters of a regulated trade say it could stem poaching by bringing licit supplies directly to the source of demand. Currently that can only be met illegally. The Swazi proposal seeks "a limited and regulated trade in white rhino horn which has been collected in the past from natural deaths, or recovered from poached Swazi rhino." It also wants to sell horn "harvested in a non-lethal way from a limited number of white rhino in the future in Swaziland." Rhino horn grows back after it is cut off and the animals can be darted for such operations. "This proposal is for Swaziland to sell existing stocks of some 330 kg (700 pounds) to a small number of licensed retailers in the Far East ... The proceeds from the sale of stocks will raise approximately $9.9 million at a wholesale price of $30,000 per kg," the submission says. Swaziland also wants to sell 20 kgs on an annual basis of horn harvested from live rhinos. Funds raise will be used to help boost security in the parks where its population of 73 rhino reside, the submission says. "Proceeds will also be used to fund much needed additional infrastructure and equipment, and to cover supplementary food during periods of drought. Swaziland is currently enduring the worst drought in living memory," the submission says. (Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Syrian military source said on Friday the northern city of Aleppo was not included in the "regime of calm" temporary ceasefire agreement which covers areas around Latakia and Damascus. "The regime of calm does not include Aleppo," the source told Reuters. "Because in Aleppo there are terrorists who have not stopped hitting the city and its residents." "There are a large number of martyrs in Aleppo which is why the situation is different there," referring to dozens of civilians killed by rebel shelling of government-held areas in recent days. Air strikes on rebel-held areas of the city have killed 123 civilians in the last week, including 18 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said on Friday. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Dominic Evans) How Did AT&T's Wireless Component Perform in 1Q16? (Continued from Prior Part) AT&Ts postpaid customers in 1Q16 In this part of the series, well look at the growth of AT&Ts (T) wireless postpaid customers in domestic operations during 1Q16. Here, the telecom companys wireless postpaid subscribers grew by ~1.3% YoY (year-over-year) to reach ~77.1 million by the end of 1Q16. This postpaid subscriber growth was relatively low compared to that of Verizon (VZ) and T-Mobile (TMUS) during the quarter. Sprint (S) has not yet disclosed its results for the quarter. By the end of 1Q16, Verizons postpaid subscribers grew by ~4.4% YoY to reach ~107.2 million. Meanwhile, T-Mobiles postpaid customers increased robustly YoY by ~15.6% and reached ~32.7 million at the end of that quarter. AT&Ts postpaid net additions in 1Q16 Now lets look at AT&Ts postpaid customer growth in 1Q16. As you can see in the above bar chart, the telecom company added ~129,000 wireless postpaid subscribers on a net basis during the quarter. This net addition figure was significantly lower than the comparable figure of ~441,000 the carrier had in 1Q15. AT&Ts postpaid phone connections continued to decline YoY in 1Q16. The YoY reduction in subscribers in the feature phone category continued in 1Q16. On a net basis, the carrier lost ~363,000 branded postpaid phone connections during the quarter. Earlier in 4Q15, this net loss figure was at ~256,000. Instead of getting direct exposures to the US telecom industry, you can consider getting diversified exposure to the space by investing in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The ETF held a total of ~2.8% in some of the US telecom companies at the end of March 2016. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: AT&T Beats Estimates in 1Q16: Where Does It Stand among Peers? AT&Ts earnings in 1Q16 AT&T (T) reported its 1Q16 results on April 26, 2016. In this series, well look at the companys performance during the quarter. AT&Ts earnings beat Wall Streets expectations during 1Q16. On a YoY (year-over-year) basis, the companys adjusted EPS (earnings per share) rose ~10.8% and reached ~$0.72 during the quarter. For the same quarter, both Verizon (VZ) and T-Mobile (TMUS) witnessed growing earnings. Meanwhile, Sprint (S) has not yet reported its 1Q16 (fiscal 4Q15) results. As you can see in the above bar chart, in 1Q15, 2Q15, and 3Q15, the telecom company beat analysts expectations for EPS comfortably. However, in 4Q15, the telecoms adjusted EPS were slightly below what Wall Street expected. AT&Ts margins continue to improve in 1Q16 On the operating profitability front, the telecom companys adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) margin continued to strengthen YoY in 1Q16. The metric increased from ~32.7% in 1Q15 to ~32.8% in 1Q16, according to the company. Wall Streets analysts consensus for the telecom companys EBITDA margin was ~33% for 1Q16. In 4Q15, AT&Ts adjusted EBITDA margin was ~29.1%, compared with ~27.5% in 4Q14. Instead of taking on direct exposure to US telecom players stocks, you could consider taking on diversified exposure to the space by investing in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The ETF held a total of ~2.8% in some of the US telecom companies at the end of March 2016. At that time, AT&T and Verizon made up ~2.6% of the ETF. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: How Did AT&T's Wireless Component Perform in 1Q16? AT&Ts wireless revenue in 1Q16 In this series, well look at the performance of AT&Ts (T) domestic wireless operations in 1Q16. The carrier reported its results for the quarter on April 26, 2016. The telecom companys wireless revenue from these operations fell YoY (year-over-year) by ~1.3% to reach ~$18 billion in 1Q16. Earlier in 4Q15, the components revenue had decreased YoY by ~4.9%. YoY, the carriers service revenue was mostly flat in 1Q16. Meanwhile, equipment revenue continued to decline during 1Q16. AT&Ts wireless equipment revenue in 1Q16 AT&Ts wireless equipment revenue decreased by ~6.5% YoY to reach ~$3.2 billion in 1Q16. In 4Q15, this stream had declined by ~14.9% YoY. As per the company, the upgrades were lower YoY, negatively affecting this equipment revenue stream during the quarter. In the postpaid component, the upgrade rate declined from 6.6% in 1Q15 to 5% in 1Q16, as per the company. AT&Ts wireless service revenue in 1Q16 In terms of profitability, service revenue is a key revenue stream for mobile players like Verizon (VZ), T-Mobile (TMUS), and Sprint (S). During 1Q16, the YoY decline in the unit wireless service revenue negatively impacted the revenue stream of the carrier. With a positive impact from an increase in wireless customers and connections, AT&Ts wireless service revenue declined marginally by ~0.1% YoY to reach ~$14.8 billion in 1Q16. Earlier in 4Q15, this stream had decreased by ~1.7% YoY. For diversified exposure to telecom companies in the US, you could consider investing in the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV). The ETF held a total of ~2.8% in some of the US telecom players at the end of March 2016. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / The unrivaled Asian scene in Las Vegas' Chinatown boasts over 140 different Asian restaurants. But among them, only one gives you a menu so vast that it requires over 30 pages to detail the incredible selection of high quality imported teas from a variety of provinces in mainland China. That's Niu Gu for you, a new, spotless Chinese restaurant located in Chinatown that stands apart from the crowded strip. Niu Gu dazzles with dishes that showcase the authentic tastes of China and a tea menu designed to show the West, that Chinese tea comes in more flavors than just the typical pot of stale black tea that is served in almost every Chinese restaurant from here to New York. In fact, Chinese tea is much more complex than most people would ever guess. Niu Gu aims to give its guests a true taste of traditional Chinese tea culture by serving organically-sourced teas made by tea growing families and tea masters from the various regions of China. The extensive tea list is more than just page after page of tea - it details everything about each tea including the type, province, geographical location, information about the grower and tea maker, farm altitude, plus harvest and production dates. A farm-to-cup concept of this depth is the first of its kind here in the states and seeks to turn more people into tea connoisseurs. Most people don't realize the incredible health benefits fresh-from-the-farm tea can bring. In China, drinking the right tea in the right way is everything. Joe Muscaglione, managing partner, together with Niu Gu's owners renowned Chef Jimmy Li and his wife Jing Li created the tea service at Niu Gu to stand apart from other restaurants and give diners a taste of one of the most important aspects of Chinese culture tea. Pioneering something that will probably catch on like wildfire, Li and Muscaglione introduced the farm to cup teas and serve them in traditional Gong Fu ceremony at the restaurant. Li's wife hails from the Shandong province of China, a place that's big on tea culture, making her the ideal hostess of the restaurant's tea ceremonies which involve the presentation of tea leaves to the guests and table-side preparation. Story continues Niu Gu's tea list includes tasting notes, info and photos of Niu Gu's artisan tea producers and their tea making steps, including harvest and production pics. The list, quickly approaching 50 pages, features over 30 farm to cup teas, but Joe is quick to point out "It's not about how many teas we have. It's about being sure we know the direct source. That is the only way we are assured that every step, from farm to cup, our teas are chemical free and herbicide and pesticide free." Most teas on the market today are hit so hard with chemicals that they do the body more harm than good. Unless sourced directly from the farmer, one can never tell. Regulations in many tea growing regions are lax at best and the use of pesticides is wide spread. Even those who claim they are organic are often not. "Chef Jimmy Li's has tremendous culinary skill and his impeccable high standard for quality is something we mirror in our dining service and tea program," states Muscaglione convincingly. "Our teas are as carefully sourced as our kitchen ingredients. For our tea service we use bottled Fiji Waters and they are served to you in traditional Gongfu ceremony, you are drinking from authentic Chinese tea pots and cups and learning about about our Chinese history and culture too," adds Chef Li. The standard of excellence is threaded intricately like a fine Chinese tapestry through Niu Gu, from the spotless modern space and impeccable tea presentation to Chef Li's dazzling and eclectic menu of brilliant Chinese dishes. In addition to Chef Li uses only the finest ingredients, earning several highly-coveted accolades from foodies and food critics alike. Las Vegas Food Critic John Curtas declared, " They are the best new Chinese restaurant," then added, "I really feel that they are going to start to upgrade Chinese food all along Spring Mountain Rd and in that area. Jimmy Li is a serious Chef. This is serious Chinese food, for serious people who want to taste upscale stuff." Foodiehub.tv reports "Li dazzles," adding, "upscale Chinese restaurant with decidedly downscale prices. Niu Gu is soon to start showing up on all kinds of best of lists." Teas will be served in traditional Gong Fu Ceremony. This incredible tea experience is rather reasonably priced for these rare, hand-picked teas with costs ranging from $7 to $18 per pot for two people. Flavors go beyond basic, with delicate white teas, refreshingly meditative green teas, full-bodied oolong teas, sensual black teas, rare yellow teas, smooth pu'erh teas, and herbal teas including chrysanthemum and honeysuckle flower.. Tea aficionados indulge and look passionately at the tea menu, which reads like an encyclopedia on the tea of China. The deep tea program is brilliantly supported with knockout dishes from Niu Gu's kitchen. Standouts include Chef Jimmy Li's Cumin BBQ Rack of Lamb, his spectacular rice, meat or vegetable stir fry and fesh seafood dishes have had foodies raving. Other not to be missed items are the cold beef tongue and cucumber salad, chicken and scallion salad, garlic steamed oysters, the house made organic tofu and Niu Gu's signature slow cooked braised Angus beef short rib. Taste the true beauty of China at Niu Gu, from the end of your chopsticks to the bottom of your tea cup. Reservations are not required however, they are highly recommended. Call 702-570-6363 to reserve your dining and/or tea experience. SOURCE: Niu Gu BOSTON (AP) -- Six months to the day after undergoing a life-saving double lung transplant, a Boston school teacher who was born with a disease that robs him of lung capacity is running a 5K charity road race this weekend. Eamonn Kelly, a science teacher at St. Columbkille Partnership School in the city's Brighton neighborhood, plans to run the race Saturday to raise money for student scholarships and financial aid. ''After the operation I thought this would be a good milestone,'' said Kelly, 32, who has cystic fibrosis. ''But this is also a big event for the school, which has been so supportive of me and is such a wonderful community.'' Cystic fibrosis is a deadly disease that affects the digestive system and lungs, making it difficult to breathe. About 30,000 Americans have the condition, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Kelly was active as a child growing up in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, but it was never easy running, biking and participating in martial arts. Getting ready for Saturday's race was physically grueling. Kelly, a 2006 graduate of Boston College who is currently pursuing a master's in educational leadership at BC's Lynch School of Education, was encouraged by his doctors the day after the operation to get up out of bed and walk around. He soon started running for just 15 seconds at a time, and gradually worked his way up to three miles, making him confident he can complete Saturday's run. He figures his lung capacity is at about 85 to 90 percent. ''I know I can do it,'' he said. ''My best time for three miles is about 38 minutes, but I am not so concerned about time. My main goal is to run straight through without stopping to walk.'' He'll have help from his wife, Elana, who will run alongside him. In addition to proving to himself that he can complete the race and raise money for his school, he wants to honor the person who donated their lungs, and spur awareness about organ donation. Story continues ''If people see what I am doing, perhaps it will inspire them to become organ donors and give other people the same second chance as me,'' he said. --- Online: http://stcps.org/bcracetoeducate A spokeswoman for the FBI told Reuters on Thursday that three new warrants have been served in Corona and Ontario, California in relation to the mass shooting that occurred in San Bernardino last December. READ MORE: Apple issues statement following apparent suicide at Cupertino headquarters First reported by the Press-Enterprise out of Riverside, the warrant in Corona was served to Syed Raheel Farook, the brother of Syed Rizwan Farook, who opened fire on the Inland Regional Center with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, killing 14 people. Laura Eimiller, the FBI spokeswoman, was able to confirm that warrants had been issued, but said that the U.S. Attorney's office would provide more details later in the day. Reuters was not able to reach the U.S. Attorney for a comment. ABC News reports that a federal grand jury in California's Central District issued a five-count indictment on Wednesday against Farook as well as Mariya Chernykh of Ontario, California and her sister Tatiana Farook of Corona. Syed and Tatania are both accused of taking part in the conspiracy. If they are convicted, they could spend up to five years in jail. Mariya, on the other hand, is the wife of Enrique Marquez, a friend of Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife who has been accused of providing weapons and other items to the couple. If she is convicted of the charges leveled against her, she could face 25 years in prison. "Last years tragedy in San Bernardino showed yet again how our nations legal immigration system can be subverted and exploited," Joseph Macias, the head of Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles, said in a statement. Related stories Meet the new Cards Against Humanity The hilarious Star Wars: The Force Awakens 'outtakes' we've been waiting for How to reclaim the free OneDrive storage Microsoft is about to take away More from BGR: Apple issues statement following apparent suicide at Cupertino headquarters This article was originally published on BGR.com Authorities in California are investigating a death at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino after a body was found early this morning in a conference room. Details are extremely limited right now and local news channel KTVU broke the story. Apple has not yet commented and police have not released the identity of the person found deceased. It's not even clear at this point if the body has been identified at all. DON'T MISS: Making sense of Apple now that everything has changed Two tweets from KTVU's Maureen Naylor, who broke the story, follow below: https://twitter.com/MaureenKTVU/status/725356345143087105 https://twitter.com/MaureenKTVU/status/725361266852679680 The report was then confirmed by a reporter at a local ABC affiliate: https://twitter.com/MattKellerABC7/status/725357468000247809 At this point nothing is known about the deceased or about the cause of death, but we will update this post as soon as additional details are confirmed. UPDATE: TMZ is citing unnamed law enforcement sources in reporting that the call came into dispatch as a "possible suicide." From the developing report: According to the sheriff's dispatch call there was a female employee involved in an argument on the campus -- and she was being escorted out by security when she sustained a head wound ... possibly from a gunshot. As deputies were responding, they were unclear if there were multiple people involved. One portion of the dispatch exchange describes a body being found in a conference room, and that person had a gun. UPDATE 2: TMZ is now speculating based on its knowledge of the scene that at least two people were involved with the incident. One is believed to be a Hispanic male and the second is believed to be a woman who sustained a head wound. UPDATE 3: A spokesperson from the Sheriff's office has confirmed that the person found dead at the scene was a Hispanic male who worked at Apple. His identity has not yet been released, and no other person was believed to have been involved with his death at this time. The Sheriff's office also confirmed that a gun was found near the body. Story continues UPDATE 4: A video of the Santa Clara Countys Sheriffs Department addressing the media is embedded below. Watch the video here if the embedded video isn't working. Related stories Ultimate iPad speed shootout pits all 12 iPad models against each other Apple's iPhone 7 'Pro' design might not be a mystery anymore Samsung already has a fix for the worst thing about the iPhone 7 More from BGR: 12 paid iPhone apps on sale for free today This article was originally published on BGR.com From Cosmopolitan A man is suing both 18-year-old Christal McGee and Snapchat after the teen allegedly hit him with her car while trying to reach an impressive number on the app's speed filter, according to the official complaint. Wentworth Maynard spent five weeks in the ICU after the crash, which resulted in severe traumatic and physical injuries that left him unable to work. Maynard's lawyer Michael L. Neff wrote on the night of September 10, 2015, McGee pulled onto Hampton, Georgia's, Tara Boulevard going more than 100 miles per hour. The road's speed limit is 55 miles per hour. McGee allegedly told the passengers in her car who were concerned about her speed (one of whom is pregnant) that she was "just trying to get the car to 100 miles per hour to post it on Snapchat" while filming in selfie mode with the speed filter on. Maynard, who is an Uber driver who was just beginning his shift at the time, merged onto the street and was allegedly hit so hard by McGee's car that his Outlander (pictured below right) shot across all four lanes of the highway into an embankment. A reenactment of the crash estimated McGee was going about 107 miles per hour at the time of impact. McGee's father's Mercedes (pictured above left) spun out and she and her passengers were taken to a nearby hospital for minor injuries, which McGee allegedly documented on Snapchat (pictured top left) as well. Maynard is now completely dependent on a wheelchair or walker and is struggling with communication, memory loss, and depression. He may not be left alone, his lawyer explained, so he is suing McGee and the app for extensive damages. Neff told CBS News "This is a product liability case because Snapchat put something very dangerous in the marketplace without any warnings or safeguards." Neff also alleges the same speed filter has been responsible for some other recent deadly crashes as well. A Snapchat spokesman told KTLA he could not comment on the lawsuit, but that the app has always included a warning not to use it while driving. McGee has not yet spoken publicly about the allegations. Follow Tess on Twitter. (Adds details, background) MADRID, April 29 (Reuters) - Spain's Telefonica reported on Friday a 6.7 percent drop in first-quarter core profits to 3.376 billion euros ($3.85 billion), broadly in line with forecasts as lower currencies in key overseas markets more than offset slight growth in underlying revenue. But investors are now more focused on the steps the Spanish group may soon take to cut debt and appease ratings agencies if the EU blocks the sale of its British unit O2 to the owner of its rival Three UK, CK Hutchison Holdings. It said its debt stood at 50.2 billion euros at the end of March, up from 49.9 billion euros at the end of December and confirmed it would pay a 0.75 euro per share dividend against 2016 results although it stopped short of saying it would be paid fully in cash if the O2 sale went through. A source familiar with the matter said earlier this month that a wide range of options were being looked at in order to provide enough breathing space for Telefonica to review its options for O2. The first-quarter results showed signs of progress in Telfonica's avowed strategy of concentrating on fewer, stronger businesses worldwide and investing in high speed internet connections and premium television content. Underlying revenues rose by 3.4 percent to 10.784 billion euros as activity in Spain picked up, while core operating income before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) would have increased by 5.5 percent rather than dropped by 6.7 percent if it had not been for lower Latin American currencies and changes in the group's measures which made the comparison with last year less favourable. Both revenues and core profits fell just short of analysts' forecasts, with OIBDA expected to have come in at 3.4 billion euros on revenue of 10.9 billion euros. Margins were stable on the quarter, with a 3 percentage point increase in Brazil making up for a 4 percentage point fall in Spain, where Telefonica continued to offer discounts on its main television packages in a bid to increase its customer base. ($1 = 0.8776 euros) (Reporting by Julien Toyer; Editing by Paul Day, Greg Mahlich) BRASILIA (Reuters) - A government led by Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer would press ahead with the country's corruption fight by strengthening anti-graft institutions and enacting tougher controls over state-run companies, according to a document seen by Reuters. The 17-page document serves as a blueprint for policies on health, education and social issues under a future Temer government and is expected to be released next week. Temer could be leading Brazil in a matter of weeks if, as expected, the Senate suspends President Dilma Rousseff for allegedly breaking budget laws. The soft-spoken, 75-year-old constitutional lawyer is assembling his possible cabinet and mapping strategy with a small group of advisers. His critics have said Temer would try to hamper Brazil's biggest ever corruption probe, known as Operation Car Wash, which has involved many politicians from his Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). The investigation has unveiled a massive corruption scheme at state oil company Petrobras in which construction companies bribed politicians and executives to get lucrative deals. Temer himself is not under investigation. In the document seen by Reuters, the PMDB calls for guarantees of increased funding for the federal police, which is one of the institutions leading the Car Wash investigation. The document also calls for the government to grant more powers of oversight to the national comptroller's office and legislation to impose tougher penalties for corrupt executives at state-run companies. Infrastructure projects would be left in the hands of private companies under the new government, with measures ensuring enhanced scrutiny of major projects, the document says. Temer's aides have said his government would step up concessions for private sector companies for infrastructure, urban transportation, basic sanitation and housing projects. Rousseff, a leftist just over a year into her second term, has accused Temer of conspiring to oust her in a bloodless "coup." The lower house this month recommended that the Senate put Rousseff on trial for breaking budget laws by using loans from state banks to boost public spending to aide her 2014 re-election campaign. The leftist leader, whose approval levels are at record lows as the economy suffers its worst recession in decades, is preparing to announce a series of populist measures ahead of the Senate suspension vote, scheduled for May 11. On Friday, Rousseff announced the extension of a controversial program that hires Cuban doctors to work in poor regions of Brazil. Her government is also considering raising the budget of a popular cash-transfer program called Bolsa Familia, government sources told Reuters. (Reporting by Alonso Soto; Editing by Tom Brown) Tax season is stressful. Americans should not be further burdened or afraid that after they send over their taxes, they may face unnecessary and unconstitutional scrutiny by the IRS . With this in mind, I introduced legislation to protect Americans' First Amendment rights from IRS targeting. Americans have seen federal agencies abuse their powerand the IRS is one of the worst offenders. There is no denying that in the past, the IRS has specifically targeted conservative groups a direct violation of the First Amendment. My legislation, H.R. 4903, specifically protects Americans by prohibiting the use of funds by the IRS and its rogue bureaucrats to carry out government abuse on citizens for exercising their constitutional rights. We must hold the IRS and its unelected bureaucrats accountable especially since they have overstepped their Constitutional bounds before. My colleagues serving on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee have been investigating the IRS' unlawful targeting of conservative groups since 2012.They were dogged in their pursuit of justice for every American's fundamental right: freedom of speech. For 27 months, from February 2010 until May 2012, the IRS systematically targeted conservative tax-exempt applicants for additional scrutiny and delay. This is an egregious violation of the First Amendment rights of ALL Americans. The leader of this scheme was Lois Lerner, an IRS official at the time. For two more years, the IRS circumvented Congress' investigations. Lois Lerner time and time again, refused to cooperate with Congress in its investigation of targeting conservative groups, and instead hid behind the Fifth Amendment. Not surprisingly, the Obama Administration's Department of Justice unilaterally decided not to prosecute Lois Lerner for her unlawful actions. Thankfully, Congress vowed to continue to find answers and hold the IRS accountable for its actions. While it is disappointing that it takes an act of Congress to remind the IRS that the Constitution is the law of the land, we cannot let history repeat itself. I refuse to allow another American to be persecuted and targeted by IRS bureaucrats for expressing their First Amendment rights, no matter their beliefs. Story continues The House holds the power of the purse. As such, it is within our authority to gut the IRS where it hurts the most: their use of hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Although the IRS like all of this president's agencies may appear like the giant Goliath, with God on his side, David struck him down. Like David, we are not afraid to stand up to Goliath and will strike the wounding blow to the IRS. No American should fear persecution from the government for expressing his or her strongly held beliefs and convictions. Commentary by Representative Rick Allen, who represents Georgia's 12th Congressional district since 2015. Prior to his time in Congress, Rick spent his career starting and building his own business. He currently sits on the House of Representatives committee on Agriculture as well as the House Education and Workforce committee. Follow him on Twitter @RepRickAllen. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. More From CNBC In a few days the nominations will be announced for the 70th Annual Tony Awards, revealing the final candidates for top honors of the 2015-16 Broadway season. But one question tossed back and forth by theater pundits in recent weeks has already been answered. The Scott Rudin production Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, which opened Thursday night to strong reviews at the Music Box Theatre, will be considered in the field of new musicals, going up against presumptive frontrunner Hamilton. The decision was announced Friday following the final meeting of this year's Tony Awards Administration Committee to discuss eligibility. Word leaked out in recent weeks that the producing team, led by Rudin, was lobbying for the show to be classified as a revival. That was despite extensive new writing from director George C. Wolfe to contextualize the largely forgotten 1921 jazz musical comedy, recounting its backstage story and reclaiming its place in history as the first Broadway musical with an all-black cast and creative team. Read More: 'Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed': Theater Review The advantage of competing as a revival at the Tonys can be summed up in a single word: Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda's hip-hop historical juggernaut about the founding fathers has been considered a sure thing to take the top musical awards since even before its Broadway transfer was confirmed. In a statement given to The New York Times, Rudin said: "George and I are grateful to the committee for their careful consideration. The process is and always has been a fair one, and we're flattered to be considered a new musical. You'd be hard pressed to find two people who love new musicals more than George and me." While the four male leads of Shuffle Along - Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Joshua Henry and Brandon Victor Dixon - were placed in the featured actor category, the sole female above-the-title star, Audra McDonald, will compete as lead actress. Story continues McDonald is a one-woman Tony arsenal with six wins to her credit, more than any other performer in history. Her presence in the race promises to heat up one of the more competitive categories in this year's Tonys, and the one performance slot where a Hamilton win appears most uncertain. Read More: Audra McDonald Celebrates the Comedy and Forgotten Importance of Broadway's 'Shuffle Along' Phillipa Soo is a strong contender for her role as Eliza Hamilton, but she faces stiff competition from a raft of women who have drawn superlative reviews for their work this season. In addition to McDonald, that includes The Color Purple's Cynthia Erivo, She Loves Me's Laura Benanti, Waitress' Jessie Mueller, On Your Feet's Ana Villafane and Bright Star's Carmen Cusack. In other Tony Committee decisions announced Friday, Saoirse Ronan and Ciaran Hinds will be eligible as featured actors for their work in the revival of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, another Rudin production. Ben Whishaw and Sophie Okonedo, starring in the same drama, will be classed as leads. In the starry Roundabout revival of Long Day's Journey Into Night that just opened, Jessica Lange and Gabriel Byrne will be in the running as lead actors while Michael Shannon and John Gallagher Jr. will be considered in the featured actor category. The 2016 Tony nominations will be announced Tuesday. The awards ceremony is set to take place June 12, hosted by James Corden and broadcast live ET/delayed PT on CBS from New York's Beacon Theatre. Bordeaux (AFP) - American wine guru Robert Parker, whose ratings could make or break Bordeaux vintages for the past 38 years, is to turn his power over to a successor on Sunday, his magazine told AFP. It will be the end of an era for the 68-year-old oenologist, who has however been retiring in stages, in 2014 leaving his British successor Neal Martin to rate "en primeurs" (futures) while continuing to evaluate top Bordeaux vintages. It is this prestigious baton that will pass to Martin on Sunday, while Parker holds on to his role scoring northern California wines, such as those of the Napa and Sonoma valleys. Parker's extraordinary nose has earned plaudits from the likes of former French president Jacques Chirac, who said he was "the most followed and influential critic for French wines in the entire world. Parker will also stay on as president of Wine Advocate, even though he sold the market-moving magazine to a Singapore consortium in 2012. His parting Bordeaux evaluation will be the top score on his vaunted 100-point scale that he awarded recently to a Pape Clement 2009, a Graves "grand cru" created by the millionaire philanthropist Bernard Magrez. He leaves the Bordeaux perch with a reputation for having unwittingly caused the region to standardise its wines to conform with his preference for predominantly wood flavours, strong tannins and high alcohol content. Rome (AFP) - The Trevi fountain in Rome was bathed in red light Friday, symbolising the spilt blood of persecuted Christians, in a grim makeover for one of Italy's most iconic monuments. Tourists looked on as survivors and relatives of victims of attacks on Christians in Africa and the Middle East made emotional pleas for an end to religious violence next to the fountain in the heart of the Eternal City. "We are here to let persecuted Christians know they have not been abandoned, they are not alone," Nunzio Galantino, secretary general of the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI) said. "We also ask those who walk through these streets to not forget these people," he said at the dusk event, which was organised by the Aid to the Church in Need association. All lights in the surrounding square were switched off as the baroque fountain, made famous by a scene in Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" in which Anita Ekberg wades through its pristine waters in a strapless black dress, turned a brilliant red. Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo in Syria, who has repeatedly sounded the alarm over the devastating impact on the country's Christian population, was in attendance as witnesses to atrocities carried out in the name of religion told their stories. Among them was a nun from the Missionaries of Charity mission, who related an attack in March on a home run by the missionaries in Yemen, in which 16 people were killed, including four nuns. She was joined by Luka Loteng, a student from Garissa University College in Kenya, where 147 people were killed last year in an assault by the radical Islamist al-Shabab group that specifically targeted Christians. The nearly 300-year-old Trevi fountain, commissioned by Pope Clement XII in 1730, draws millions of tourists each year. Antonin Scalia Perhaps more than any other Supreme Court justice, the late Antonin Scalia cared a great deal about language, often spending time carefully consulting several dictionaries and usage books. He took pains to use words precisely. And if there's one phrase that exemplified his testy relationship with language and by extension originalism, the issue for which Scalia was most controversial it was "beg the question." Misuse of the phrase was Scalia's biggest pet peeve. According to a recent interview with Bryan A. Garner, a legal lexicographer and friend of Scalia, when anyone used anything but the traditional meaning of the phrase circular reasoning Scalia would insist that the phrase's original meaning was the only correct meaning. What's circular reasoning? As Garner notes in his new book, "Garner's Modern English Usage" which Scalia had seen not long before he died this is the strict, traditional meaning of "beg the question": to base a conclusion on an assumption that is as much in need of proof or demonstration as the conclusion itself The formal name for this logical fallacy, Garner writes, is "petitio principii," but in English it's often referred to as circular reasoning or circular argument. Garner gives some examples: "Reasonable people are those who think and reason intelligently." (This statement begs the question. What does it mean to think and reason intelligently?) "Life begins at conception, which is defined as the beginning of life." (This comment is patently circular.) But a lot of people just don't use "beg the question" that way anymore, Garner told Business Insider. For many, today the phrase means "invite the follow-up question": [T]he use of beg the question to mean raise another question is so ubiquitous that the new sense has been recognized by most dictionaries and sanctioned by descriptive observers of language. Still, though it is true that the new sense may be understood by most people, many will consider it slipshod. Story continues In a recent discussion on CNN about Donald Trump, Hadley Heath Manning said [emphasis added]: But it sort of begs the question: How can they control this? And isn't it really up to the voters as to whether they're going to stay with Trump or move away and try to find another Republican? Given the nature of the Supreme Court's work, you could imagine how such "misusage" could get on Scalia's nerves day after day. "He thought I was a little too soft on 'begging the question,'" Garner said. "He was insisting that 'begging the question' must always be about circular reasoning, but of course the empirical evidence is that very few people use it that way today." Problems with 'fixed meaning' Scalia's insistence on a single, correct meaning of "beg the question" is unsurprising when you consider his conservatism. He preferred old meanings, not newer ones originalism, fixed meaning. When it came to the Constitution, Scalia's view was that interpretation of the law should be based on what people living at the time of its adoption would have said the meaning was. But as is the case with "beg the question," words change their meanings. One rather famous example, which Garner revealed to Scalia, was "nimrod." The word means "great hunter" to people born before 1950. Thanks to Bugs Bunny, the cartoon character, to anyone born after 1950, it means "idiot" or "dummy." This astounded Scalia. You might think twice before using this troublesome phrase, especially in formal writing or public speaking. In lieu of "beg the question," you could skip it altogether and go with "evade the question" or "raise the question," depending on which meaning you want, the older or the newer, respectively. But if you want to carry on Scalia's legacy, you could insist on the "circular argument" meaning and even hand out little cards to abusers of the phrase. Read the full Business Insider interview with Bryan A. Garner here. NOW WATCH: 6 words to eliminate from your vocabulary to sound smarter More From Business Insider Republican Donald Trump swept to easy victories Tuesday in all five states, claiming Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Delaware primaries, keeping the brash billionaire on his narrow path to the GOP nomination. Hillary Clinton carried Maryland and Delaware's Democratic contests, the first wins in what her campaign hoped would be a strong night for the former secretary of state. Later, she took Pennsylvania and Connecticut, where she had been locked in a close race with rival Bernie Sanders. The Vermont senator edged out a win in Rhode Island, giving Clinton four-out-of-five wins. During his victory speech, Trump said he considers himself the "presumptive nominee" of the Republican party, despite being short of the delegates needed to claim the nomination. Speaking after his sweep, and after making an appearance at the annual Time 100 gala in Manhattan, the Republican front-runner reiterated his calls to rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich to get out of the race. He also addressed "crooked Hillary" while fielding questions. "I'm not a hateful person. I'm a person who loves people. I'll do far more for women than Hillary will ever do," he said. "If Hillary were a man, I don't think she'd get 5 percent of the vote." See More: See All the Looks From the Time 100 Gala With her victories, Clinton now has the delegates she needs to become the first woman nominated by a major party. She's already increasingly looking past Sanders, even as the Vermont senator vows to stay in the race until primary voting ends in June. For her part, Clinton replied to Trump's accusation that she plays the "woman card" during her victory speech: "If fighting for women's health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the 'woman card,' then deal me in," she told her cheering supporters. Sanders spent Tuesday campaigning in West Virginia, where he drew several thousand people to a lively evening rally. He urged his supporters to recognize that they are "powerful people if you choose to exercise that power." Story continues Still, there were some signs that Sanders' campaign was coming to grips with his difficult position. Top aide Tad Devine said that after Tuesday's results were known, "we'll decide what we're going to do going forward." Trump's victories padded his delegate totals, yet the Republican contest remains chaotic. The businessman is the only candidate left in the three-person race who could possibly clinch the nomination through the regular voting process, yet he could still fall short of the 1,237 delegates he needs. Read More: Megyn Kelly to Interview Donald Trump During Fox Special GOP rivals Cruz and Kasich are desperately trying to keep him from that magic number and push the race to a convention fight, where complicated rules would govern the nominating process. The Texas senator and Ohio governor even took the rare step of announcing plans to coordinate in upcoming contests to try to minimize Trump's delegate totals. Trump collected at least 105 of the 118 delegates at stake in his five-state win. His sweep raises the stakes for the anti-Trump effort in Indiana next week. If Trump can win the Indiana primary, he will stay the path to clinch the nomination by the end of the primaries on June 7. Kasich will win at least five delegates in Tuesday's contests - both in Rhode Island. Cruz, meanwhile, was contending for one or two delegates, also in Rhode Island. Eight delegates are left to be awarded. The AP delegate count: Trump: 950; Ted Cruz: 559; John Kasich: 153. Needed to win: 1,237.But that effort did little to stop Trump from a big showing in the Northeast. Going into the primary day, his campaign was hoping for a clean sweep of all five contests, with 172 Republican delegates up for grabs. Read More: Donald Trump: Lena Dunham Moving to Canada "Would Be a Great, Great Thing for Our Country" Cruz spent Tuesday in Indiana, which votes next week. Indiana is one of Cruz's last best chances to slow Trump, and Kasich's campaign is pulling out of the state to give him a better opportunity to do so. "Tonight this campaign moves back to more favorable terrain," Cruz said during an evening rally in Knightstown, Indiana. Trump has railed against his rivals' coordination, panning it as "pathetic," and has also cast efforts to push the nomination fight to the convention as evidence of a rigged process that favors political insiders. Yet there's no doubt Trump is trying to lead a party deeply divided by his candidacy. In Pennsylvania, exit polls showed nearly 4 in 10 GOP voters said they would be excited by Trump becoming president, but the prospect of the real estate mogul in the White House scares a quarter of those who cast ballots in the state's Republican primary. In another potential general election warning sign for Republicans, 6 in 10 GOP voters in Pennsylvania said the Republican campaign has divided the party - a sharp contrast to the 7 in 10 Democratic voters in the state who said the race between Clinton and Sanders has energized their party. The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks. Read More: Two Guys From Brooklyn: The Bernie Sanders Interview by Spike Lee Democrats award delegates proportionally, which allowed Clinton to maintain her lead over Sanders even as he rattled off a string of wins in previous contests. According to the AP count, Clinton has 2,089 delegates while Sanders has 1,258. That count includes delegates won in primaries and caucuses, as well as superdelegates - party insiders who can back the candidate of their choice, regardless of how their state votes. Clinton's campaign is eager for Sanders to tone down his attacks on the former secretary of state if he's going to continue in the race. She's been reminding voters of the 2008 Democratic primary, when she endorsed Barack Obama after a tough campaign and urged her supporters to rally around her former rival. Ahead of Tuesday's results, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said that while Sanders has run a "unique and powerful" campaign, he does not believe the Vermont senator will be the party's nominee. According to exit polls, less than a fifth of Democratic voters said they would not support Clinton if she gets the nomination. The exit polls were conducted in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Donald Trump repeated his debunked story about General John Pershing shooting Muslims with pigs blood at a large California rally Thursday. According to Trump, around the time of the Philippine-American War of 1899-1902, Pershing killed 49 Muslims with bullets dipped in pigs blood, and the fiftieth person, they said, Take this bullet and bring to back to all of the people causing the problem, said Trump in Costa Mesa, CA. And for 42 years they didnt have a problem. Read More: The Real Story Behind Donald Trumps Pigs Blood Slander For Muslims, ingesting pork is a sin, and pigs blood is considered unholy. But as I reported back in February after another rally where Trump told the tale, it isnt true. Brian McAllister Linn, a history professor at Texas A&M University who is an expert in the Philippine conflict, remembers looking into this story with Frank Vandiver, who wrote a biography of Pershing and passed away in 2005. We both checked our notes and found no evidence to support this, Linn told TIME. We also concluded it was out of character. Forget FuckJerry. Forget BeigeCardigan. Pretend TheFatJewish never existed. In fact, forget the whole business of running an Instagram that prides itself in repackaging old Reddit posts and claiming it to be one's own work. There's only one Instagram account that should be followed and it's the TSA. A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Dec 31, 2015 at 1:08pm PST The Transportation Security Administration can be considered somewhat of a public relations nightmare. Nary a frequent flyer can retell a story concerning the TSA that doesn't involve painfully awkward searches, "random" security checks of the least-random variety and the . So, what better way to combat the nation's ever-growing distaste for the TSA than by taking to the world of Instagram to show America that there's a softer, more self-aware side to the administration. T m a total rebrand of something you were sure you'd forever distrust. A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Dec 18, 2015 at 8:04am PST If you're not following TSA on Instagram, take a moment and do it now. Every single post, except for a few stray pics of explosive-detecting dogs, are of confiscated weapons of a fantastical sort: goodies that seem almost fictitious in their ridiculousness, but are, in fact, most certainly real. "One of the many reasons we share these images is to use them as a deterrent to show people that we're going to find these things; to educate on the disruption caused at a checkpoint as a result and to strongly discourage travelers from attempting to carry on these prohibited items," Curtis "Bob" Burns, the TSA's social media team lead, said in an email. Story continues So many weapons. You've got your guns, your knives and your grenades... but then you have your Batarangs, your enormous wooden mallets and your... knives encased in enchiladas? Yep. True story. Burns has seen it all, too. When asked about the weirdest encounters with illegal items, he whipped out this gem about "a traveler in Florida... who attempted to smuggle seven snakes and three turtles in his pants." He goes on to say that each of the snakes were "wrapped in hosiery." Knives and firearms tend to be the most common items confiscated by the administration, but shockingly, they're no strangers to the exotic animals that try, by their master's hands, to make it into different countries. Take the five dead endangered seahorses that were found inside a bottle of liquor in Detroit: Source: TSA/Instagram "We're equally as puzzled as you," Burns said when asked about the seahorses. "In the end, we can only speculate, which I'll refrain from doing. While one person scours his or her bag to ensure there are no small knives, another packs a battle axe. Go figure. We do our best with our social media accounts to educate travelers on what they can and can't bring." Why are they posting these pictures on Instagram, of all places? "In 2013, we became convinced that sharing images of prohibited items featured our blog would drive a lot of interest on Instagram," he explained. "The account's popularity took off immediately and was mentioned in a little over a week after it was launched. It hasn't slowed down since." It really isn't a surprise that the general public has received the account with such excitement and curiosity. Looking through the number of posts almost has the same effect as milling through an exhibit at a museum except, this exhibit is entirely crowdsourced. It also shows us how naive passengers can be in their hopes of getting things like a bag of weed hidden in a jar of peanut butter past the TSA. A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Oct 29, 2015 at 5:24pm PDT Is there anything they can't post, because of, well, the law? "At times, there are very interesting items that we'd love to post, but can't due to an ongoing investigation," he said. "We passed on posting images of smuggled bear paws and an alligator head. While these items would have likely created a lot of conversation, they were a bit too, let's say, graphic to post." The question that keeps popping up is, why? Why would someone feel the need to transport a whole alligator head from one state or country to another? For those wondering about what happens to these items after they're confiscated, Bob assured me that most items get moved along to different factions of the local and federal law enforcement but that all depends on the item. "It varies based on the item, circumstances and local laws. If it's an illegal item such as a firearm, it's up to local law enforcement officers at the respective airport to decide what to do. TSA's policy is not to handle or confiscate firearms. We notify law enforcement and they take the appropriate action." A photo posted by TSA (@tsa) on Aug 10, 2015 at 1:56pm PDT Still, one can't help but see this account as a double-edged sword not unlike the double-edged swords they find hidden in the luggage of angry Floridians. It's entertaining as all hell to scroll through the myriad illegal activities on the page, but also pretty shocking to know that people actually want to bring firearms, explosives and poisonous animal onboard planes. Here's to hoping that the TSA doesn't stop uncovering weapons and reptiles alike and continuing to showcase their skills however intrusive they may be on a medium we can all understand, appreciate and share. It sure as hell beats tirelessly looking through second-hand memes and pictures of goddamn breakfast bowls. Istanbul (AFP) - Turkey's leaders on Friday celebrated the 100th anniversary of a rare victory by the Ottoman army in World War I against British-led forces in today's Iraq, urging modern Turks not to forget the exploits of their Ottoman forefathers. The surrender by a British-led force at the garrison in Kut al-Amara (Kut in modern Iraq) is seen as the last Ottoman victory of the war, which ended in the defeat of the Empire and its German allies. "Turkey is changing. We are remembering again our history that was forgotten," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a major ceremony in Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the event he rejected any view of Turkish history that only began in 1919, the year of the start of the War of Independence that would culminate in the founding of the post-Ottoman Turkish Republic in 1923. "We throw a black blanket over our history which signifies disrespect to our ancestors and wrongs future generations," he said. "We have regulated our official history for years in the way that... the British wanted," he added. Turkey's rulers have been keen to use the 100th anniversary of World War I as a source of national pride, even though the war ended in defeat for the Ottoman Empire and would ultimately lead to its collapse. Last year, the Turkish government placed great emphasis on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli where Ottoman forces resisted a ground invasion by the Allies. - 'Foundation of the Republic' - The ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Erdogan are eager to show the Ottoman Empire, whose Sultan ruled as the caliph of all Muslims, as a source of inspiration for modern Turks. But Davutoglu denied that the celebration of the victory at Kut marked any rejection of the modern Turkish Republic founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923 in the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. "The spirit of Kut al-Amara is the most significant foundation on which our Republic has risen," he said. Story continues "Kut al-Amara is a victory of all of us. Kut al-Amara is the victory of all peoples of the Middle East." Some critics have expressed suspicion at the focus on a handful of Ottoman victories in the war, suggesting Turkey wants to overshadow darker pages such as the mass deportations and massacres of Armenians from 1915 that Yerevan considers genocide. But Erdogan, whose politics mixes political Islam with a growing streak of nationalism, said Turkey was still conscious of how the Ottomans had ruled over Muslim lands from the Balkans to Arabia. "Our physical borders might have been separated. But the borders in our heart have never been separated," he said. The Siege of Kut began in December 1915 when joint British and Indian forces seeking to take Baghdad decided to hold their position in Kut rather than fall back further against advancing Ottoman forces. With their food supplies running low, the Allied troops were besieged by the Ottoman forces for months as British troops sent to relieve them were beaten back in successive battles by the Ottomans. The commander of the British-Indian forces, Charles Townshend, surrendered on April 29, 1916 and thousands of Allied troops who survived were taken prisoner. Townshend however was held captive on a peaceful island off Istanbul, a notoriously luxurious incarceration where he was held as an honoured guest by the Ottomans. Up to his death in 1924, he faced accusations of betraying his troops. The opposition he might face, from his own party, the gun lobby, remote rural communities and his opponents did not deflect him, or the majority who wanted change-across all political parties and levels of government, he recalled. "The great majority of the Australian public ... wanted to do something, they really did ... there was always strong support for prohibition-there still is," he said. Twenty years on, Mr Howard says some of the statistics that came out of tighter gun laws are irrefutable. "I'm not saying people feel absolutely safe and I can't guarantee there won't be some kind of mass murder involving a gun in the future-I can't do that," he said. "All I can do is to point to the irrefutable statistics and that is if you measure a gun massacre by a factor of five in one incident by one person there were 13 before 1996 and there have been none since," Mr Howard says. By Jim Forsyth SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - A woman has been arrested in the San Antonio area and charged with child abuse after deputies found a 2-year-old child chained to the ground and another on a leash tied to a door in the backyard of her residence, officials said on Friday. Deputies arrived at the home late on Thursday after receiving complaints from neighbors about children crying in the yard, the Bexar County Sheriff's office said. A total of eight children were at the residence but sheriff's office spokesman James Keith said there were no adults present when deputies arrived. Porucha Phillips, 34, was charged with injury to a child by omission with serious bodily injury, the sheriff's office said. Phillips is the mother of the six children found inside the residence and was taking care of the other two children found bound in the yard. She may have been running an unlicensed day care operation from her home, the office said. "To say that this is horrific is an understatement," Keith said. The father of the six children was also being questioned by the office. When deputies arrived at the home they found a 2-year-old boy chained to the ground "like you would an animal," Keith said. "A few feet away we found a little girl who was tied to a door with a dog leash." Keith said deputies sent the two children to a hospital, where they were being treated for a variety of injuries. He said there was evidence indicating they had been abused before. "When deputies went inside the house, they found six more children. The youngest was 10 months old, the oldest was 13 years old. No parents, no adults," he said. "These kids had all been left to fend for themselves." (Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Bill Trott and Matthew Lewis) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies carried out 22 strikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria on Thursday, focusing on the Mar'a area of western Syria and the city of Fallujah in Iraq, according to military figures released on Friday. The U.S.-led coalition carried out five air strikes against the militants around Mar'a in northwestern Syria, destroying six fighting positions, four mortar positions and a vehicle, the military said in a statement. The coalition carried out four strikes against militants around the Islamic State-held city of Fallujah, about 40 miles (65 km) west of Baghdad. The strikes destroyed three fighting positions, a vehicle and two bridges, the statement said. The coalition also carried out air or rocket artillery strikes against Islamic State positions near Mosul, Qayyarah, Kisik, Al Baghdadi, Ramadi and Sinjar in Iraq. And it hit the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa in Syria. (Adds reaction from Association of American Railroads and Amtrak, details from ruling) By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - U.S. government-owned passenger rail company Amtrak wields improper and coercive regulatory power over private freight carriers under a law that lets it help set rules that competing railroads must follow, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down parts of the 2008 law, called the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, saying it infringes on the rights of private freight carriers. The court said the problem stems from the fact that Amtrak, a government-owned, nominally for-profit entity, has regulatory authority over the industry in which it participates. Freight carriers and Amtrak compete for the use of the same tracks, the court noted. The railroad law allows Amtrak and the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration to work jointly on the regulations. Freight carriers own the tracks that Amtrak uses. They have objected to Amtrak's regulatory role because they can be forced to pay damages if Amtrak trains fail to meet performance targets. Under the 1970 arrangement with private rail companies that led to Amtrak's creation, Amtrak trains get top priority on the tracks. In return, private railroads no longer had to provide passenger service. Judge Janice Rogers Brown wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel that "there are limits to how far Congress may go to ensure Amtrak's on-time performance." She noted that Amtrak is required to boost its own revenue while also developing metrics that others must meet. "Armed with coercive regulatory power, Amtrak wields a weapon of considerable advantage in its competitive battle for scarce track," Brown wrote. In another part of the decision, the court ruled against a provision of the law that allows a different government regulatory entity, the Surface Transportation Board, to appoint an arbitrator if Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration disagree over the performance metrics. Story continues Ed Greenberg, a spokesman for the Association of American Railroads, the industry group that brought the challenge, welcomed the ruling. Greenberg said the group "felt there was a fundamental constitutional flaw in allowing Amtrak to regulate freight railroads." Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods said the rail company was disappointed with the ruling, adding, "We hope that this legal morass will be resolved soon." The railroad association sued after objecting to 2010 regulations that freight carriers contend set unrealistic performance targets. Association members include BNSF Railway Company and CSX Transportation Inc. The appeals court backed the challengers on a different legal question in 2013. The Supreme Court reversed that ruling last year. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Tom Brown and Will Dunham) By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - Amtrak, the government-owned passenger rail company, wields too much power in setting regulations that private freight carriers must also follow, a top court ruled on Friday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down parts of a 2008 law called the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, saying it violates the due process rights of freight carriers. The court said there is a due process problem because a government-owned, nominally for-profit entity has regulatory authority over the industry in which it participates. Both freight carriers and Amtrak compete for use of the same track, the court noted. The railroad law allows Amtrak and the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration to work jointly on the regulations. The case was brought by the Association of American Railroads, which says the law gives Amtrak an oversized role in setting standards for railroads, including for on-time performance. Judge Janice Rogers Brown wrote on behalf of the unanimous three-judge panel that "there are limits to how far Congress may go to ensure Amtrak's on-time performance." The railroad association sued after objecting to 2010 regulations that freight carriers contend set unrealistic performance targets. Association members include BNSF Railway Company and CSX Transportation Inc. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Tom Brown) WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Commerce said on Friday it had launched trade investigations into imports of certain carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate from a number of countries, including Brazil, China and Korea. The investigations were launched at the request of ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corp and SSAB Enterprises, the department said. It said it initiated anti-dumping duty probes of so-called CTL plate from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Taiwan and Turkey. At the same time, it launched countervailing duty investigations into imports coming from Brazil, China and Korea. The department said the U.S. International Trade Commission was scheduled to make its preliminary determination of whether U.S. producers were injured on or before May 23. (Reporting by Timothy Ahmann, editing by G Crosse) The U.N. Security Council unanimously voted Thursday to remove 12-year-old arms embargo, travel and financial sanctions against Ivory Coast, welcoming the West African nations remarkable progress towards lasting peace, stability and economic prosperity. In a second resolution, the Security Council also voted to draw down its peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast by June 30, 2017, according to a statement, ordering its 6,900 uniformed personnel to leave by April 30, 2017. The mission was launched in 2004 after an attempted coup led to a civil war from 2002 to 2003, according to the Associated Press. The country fell into turmoil again in 2011 when incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down after losing an election to now President Alassane Ouattara. Gbagbo was eventually removed from power by U.N. forces and now faces trial at the International Criminal Court. Ivory Coast was struck by violence again in March in a terrorist attack that killed 22 people. But the former French colony has done much to emerge from its bloody past it now has the second fastest-growing economy in Africa, the Economist reports. It is the continued positive evolution of the situation in Cote dIvoire, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement on Thursday, using the French name for the country, which has enabled the U.N. to enter the final stage of peacekeeping. (UNITED NATIONS) Nearly 10,000 people have been killed and more than 20,000 injured since the Ukraine conflict began in April 2014, a top U.N. official said Thursday. Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the Security Council that the total number of casualties now stands at 30,729 including 9,333 people killed and 21,396 injured. He said the latest incident occurred on April 27 when shelling killed at least four civilians and injured at least eight people in Olenivka near the city of Donetsk. Zerihoun said that fighting has escalated in recent weeks to levels not seen since August 2014, when it was at its most intense and he called on all parties to cease hostilities. He criticized both sides for hindering access to an international monitoring mission put in place under the Minsk ceasefire agreement ironed out by the Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany on Feb. 14, 2015, but said that according to statistics provided by the monitors restrictions were more common in rebel-held areas. Read More: On Patrol With One of Russias Most Wanted in the Battle for Ukraine Thursdays Security Council meeting was the first to address the situation in Ukraine since December 2015. During the meeting representatives from Russia and Ukraine traded bitter accusations over who was to blame for the flare-up in hostilities. Russia has organized and deployed in Donbas a 34,000-strong hybrid military force consisting of the regular Russian troops as well as of foreign and local militants. Russian generals and military officers provide direct command-and-control of this illegal military entity impressively heavily armed, Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraines deputy minister of foreign affairs, told the council. Read More: Why Chechens Are Fighting Chechens in Ukraines Civil War He claimed this force is better armed than most NATO members despite the Russians claims that the weapons were acquired in local hardware stores. Story continues Last time I checked you will hardly be able to buy a decent knife in Ukrainian hardware stores not to mention the multiple launch rocket systems and jet flamethrowers, Prystaiko said. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin denounced the U.N. session as a play for time while Ukraines army occupies towns in the neutral strip stipulated by the Minsk agreement. Over the entire crisis the U.N. has been used as a propaganda platform, Churkin said, dismissing the Ukraine statement before the Security Council as very disappointing, and a lot of rhetoric. Russia tried to circulate a press statement that would reaffirm the U.N.s commitment to the Minsk agreement, but failed to gain consensus approval because it also called for an investigation into the killing of Russian protesters in Odessa, without mentioning violations of the ceasefire by rebel forces. The U.S., France and Britain all denounced Russian aggression for igniting the conflict. What is happening today is the result of Russias violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity which began with its occupation of Crimea more than two years ago and expanded with substantial military on the ground and weapons support for armed separatists in Eastern Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the council. OSLO/LONDON (Reuters) - The British civil aviation authority said it was suspending flights of Airbus Super Puma helicopters of the same type that crashed off the west coast of Norway on Friday. "Following the accident, the UK CAA has issued an instruction to stop any commercial passenger flights by UK operators flying the Airbus EC225LP helicopter," a spokesman for the regulator said in an email. (Reporting by Karolin Schaps; Writing by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Kiev (AFP) - Ukraine's government on Friday agreed a new truce with pro-Russian insurgents to take effect on Orthodox Easter this weekend, reinforcing a deal signed more than a year ago. The announcement comes a day after the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) warned that bloodshed in eastern Ukraine had reached levels not seen for months in the predominantly Russian-speaking war zone. A peace deal co-signed by France and Germany in February 2015 in the Belarussian capital Minsk was meant to end the fighting by providing rebel-held regions limited autonomy within a unified Ukraine. But the two-year war has now killed more than 9,300 people as the sides trade blame for violating the truce and not taking the political steps required to resolving one of Europe's deadliest crises since the 1990s Balkans wars. A spokeswoman for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's envoy to the OSCE-mediated talks held in Minsk said the new truce would go into effect at midnight Friday (2100 GMT) and cover the two separatist provinces of Lugansk and Donetsk. "It was agreed that instructions for full compliance with the ceasefire will be delivered to all the responsible officials on the ground," said a copy of the joint statement posted by Ukrainian spokesman Darka Olifer on Facebook. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Friday's agreement provided a chance "to prevent a further escalation of violence." "The situation must not spiral out of control again and result in even more people dying," he said in a statement. The Donetsk rebellion leaders' official news site said the OSCE had promised to monitor the pact's implementation and report any violations. "However, today's agreement is far from the first of its kind," the separatists' news agency wrote. "Since the autumn of 2014, when the sides of this conflict first began their negotiations in Minsk, there have been at least seven of them." Story continues Friday's deal comes ahead of Orthodox Easter Sunday and covers holidays that include international workers' day on May 1 and the ex-Soviet Union's May 9 commemoration of victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. - Major hurdles - Moscow adamantly denies charges of either stoking or backing the revolt in eastern Ukraine in reprisal for the February 2014 ouster of Ukraine's Russian-backed president and the country's subsequent decision to deepen ties with the West. But Kiev believes the main commanders answer to Moscow and step up their attacks whenever Russia wants to put the leadership in Kiev -- already hampered by financial woes and constant political infighting -- under renewed pressure. Both sides said Friday's meeting ended without an agreement on a prisoner swap that was being planned in time for Easter. The Ukrainian spokeswoman also reported no progress on the fate of possible local elections in rebel-run regions that the foreign minister of France had said should take place by the end of June. "We cannot address political issues, including the one concerning elections in eastern regions not under Ukraine's control, without first agreeing on a way to deal with the violence," Olifer wrote on Facebook. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is ready to help settle a dispute between Iran and the United States on Tehran's frozen assets, but only if both countries make that request, a UN spokesman said Friday. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on Ban to use his "good offices" to press the United States to release all frozen assets in US banks, in a letter sent Thursday. "The secretary-general's good offices are always available should both parties to whatever tensions or issue request it," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Zarif wrote to Ban in response to a US Supreme Court decision last week that said Tehran's frozen assets can be used to compensate victims of terror attacks. The foreign minister called the ruling "outrageous robbery disguised under a court order" and warned that Tehran reserves the right to take "counter-measures". The Supreme Court ruled on April 20 that Iran must hand over nearly $2 billion in frozen assets to the more than 1,000 survivors and relatives of those killed in attacks blamed on Tehran. The attacks included the 1983 bombing of US Marine barracks in Beirut and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia. "It is in fact the United States that must pay long overdue reparations to the Iranian people for its persistent hostile policies," wrote Zarif. He cited US involvement in the 1953 Iran coup, US backing for Baghdad in the Iran-Iraq war and the shooting down of an Iranian airliner by a US missile in 1988 as grounds for US compensation to Iranian nationals. Under a historic deal reached last year on curbing Iran's nuclear program, tens of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets are to be released. The Supreme Court ruling came after a New York tribunal in March ordered Tehran to pay $7.5 billion to victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon -- and $3 billion to insurers over related claims -- after ruling that Iran had failed to prove that it did not help the bombers. Zarif called the claim of Iranian involvement in the 9/11 attacks "absurd," saying it contradicts "even public statements as well as findings -- open or sealed -- of investigations by the US government and US Congress." Who would vote for a Spanish-speaking mom, an amateur politician who dont speak English fluently and needs a translators help to legislate? More than 22,000 people, apparently. Who would vote for her again? That remains to be seen. The mom in question is 43-year-old Patty Lopez, a California state assemblywoman representing San Fernando whose election story is the stuff of grassroots dreams. Two years ago, Lopez ousted establishment Democrat Raul Bocanegra with some $16,000 against the million-plus dollars he reportedly spent. Some of those thousands came from fellow moms selling pupusas and tamales. Lopez was the consummate outsider, says Assemblywoman Susan Eggman from Stockton. But now its 2016, and the election looms once more. In a familiar reprisal of so much at play in American politics, the question is for how long a story, a name and a narrative can power electoral victory. Over the past two years, Mexican-born Lopez has introduced 37 bills, five of which landed on Gov. Jerry Browns desk. She has passed four bills into law, including one that focuses on keeping foster families together and another on securing child care for working families. Among her hot-button issues are affordable housing, homelessness and adult education in a budget-strapped district issues, she says, that affect her working-class constituents. Lopez isnt interested in playing nice with lobbies or Hollywood, an industry she says her predecessor was cozy with, and calls heavily on her identity as the anti-establishment candidate. (Bocanegra did not respond to multiple requests for comment.) But flouting the party has caused something unusual to happen: In the upcoming race, the Democratic Party is endorsing Bocanegra. She can survive the struggle, says Edwin Ramirez, a 59-year-old community activist. Lopezs district, on the outskirts of LA, is nearly 70 percent Hispanic. San Fernando struggles with employment for its many workers who lack college degrees and need jobs accessible by the limited public transit route. The town is tinged with irony: The planned route of the states high-speed rail project will pass right by San Fernando, but it wont stop there. Lopez is emphatically against it. Story continues Patty02 Source: Sean Culligan / OZY Originally from Michoacan, Mexico, Lopez came to the U.S. when she was 12. She received next to no formal education because her mom didnt trust the U.S. government to educate her child; instead, Lopez stayed at home while her mom worked. In her 20s, Lopez decided to get her GED and signed up for English classes. Even now, her English is broken, but some say thats what makes her a good representative. While Patty may not be as articulate as others, thats one of the beauties of her speaking up she represents people who have been afraid to speak up in the past, says Lydia Grant, an education advocate from Lopezs district. Lopez worked on a factory assembly line for six years her husband still works there before getting a job with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Today, her house is paid off and she owns a car. When people say its a dream in America, I feel like I am one of those dreams, she says. Over the course of 14 years, that LAUSD job taught Lopez, who became a vocal attendee at public education forums, the inner workings of the school system. Then, a few years ago, looming budget cuts threatened to roll back the districts adult education programs the very programs that allowed Lopez and many fellow immigrants to get GEDs and learn English. Lopez felt Bocanegra wasnt acting. Nobody was really listening, says Ramirez. Lopez sat at home with family, bottled water and cookies, watching the votes roll in. When she won, by fewer than 500 votes, she couldnt believe it. Her record so far looks, to some, amateurish. Paul Luna, a self-described concerned citizen from the San Fernando area, wishes Lopez would focus on heavier issues rather than ones that have felt irrelevant. With all the stuff weve got going on, [she] wants to talk about butterflies? Luna asks, referencing a piece of legislation Lopez introduced pushing for monarch conservation. And her inexperience has gotten Lopez into trouble. In March, she settled with the California Fair Political Practices Commission after three constituents filed more than 200 pages worth of complaints alleging that Lopez improperly followed campaign finance laws by failing to file statements on time or into a single bank account, and by dealing in unreported cash when it came to those tamales, among other things. Max Kanin, Lopezs attorney, says that she made mistakes as a first-time candidate and someone who is unfamiliar with a complicated finance system. Lopez paid a $7,500 fine. In a funny way, it plays to her strengths, says Eric C. Bauman, vice chair of the California Democratic Party. She ran as an outsider and has continued philosophically to do that. Lopez has beaten the odds once or twice before. And this time around, shes backed by the California Nurses Association and labor union SEIU. When I ask about the butterflies displayed in a glass case on the chair next to me, Lopez tells me theyre a gift from a friend. Butterflies are like immigrants, she says. Many die, but I made it. Im a testimonial. Related Articles Zika mosquito Ana Rius, Puerto Rico's health secretary, just announced the first Zika-related death on the island. According to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a 70-year-old man who had been infected with Zika died in February from a drop in blood platelets, the part of the blood that is responsible for forming clots. This condition is called thrombocytopenia. It's still unclear if or how the two issues converged to be fatal. While a low-platelet count can be deadly on its own if untreated, Zika is rarely fatal in healthy adults. According to the CDC report, the man died "of complications related to severe thrombocytopenia." Puerto Rico, a US territory, has seen more than 600 cases of Zika. Seventy-three of those cases have been in pregnant women, which is of particular concern to health officials since the virus can cause severe birth defects like microcephaly, a condition in which babies being born with abnormally small heads. So far, 14 of the infected women have given birth to healthy babies, according to AP. Another 16 Puerto Ricans are currently hospitalized with the virus. Health officials say that four may have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, a temporary condition that can cause paralysis, as a result. Zika is a fairly new virus that's been spreading throughout South America and some US territories. While it's been documented among US travelers, local transmission has been reported only in US territories. So far, there's no rapid diagnostic test to detect Zika in a newly infected person. And it has no cure. Despite its severe potential consequences for babies, Zika is rarely deadly for healthy adults and typically causes only symptoms similar to those of having a cold or a fever. Nevertheless, some scientists are concerned about Zika in North America, especially since only about 20% of infected people ever show symptoms. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine and the director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, told NBC News in January that he was "very worried about Zika." Story continues While a single tourist is unlikely to be the cause of an outbreak in the US, some American cities could be vulnerable to Zika's spread, he said. As of Friday, April 29, 44 countries and territories have reported local transmission of the virus: BI_Graphics_Zika Spread Map_Apr 29 2016 Though unlikely, there is some cause for concern of Zika spreading in the US, as the World Health Organization has previously warned. The mosquitoes that can spread Zika are prevalent in many American states and thrive in tropical climates. This is why experts like Hotez have warned of it popping up in areas in the US with wet lowlands, warm temperatures, and species of mosquito that can transmit the virus. The first reported case of a traveler with Zika in the US was in Texas. Since then, travelers have tested positive for the Zika virus in New York, Los Angeles, and several other countries outside the Americas. NOW WATCH: An untreatable virus that's linked to birth defects is now affecting the US More From Business Insider Damascus (AFP) - The United States and Russia have agreed on a "freeze" in fighting along two major fronts in Syria, but not in war-ravaged Aleppo, the Syrian and Russian militaries said Friday. Fighting in the rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, and the province of Latakia is set to halt at midnight on Friday (2100 GMT). Syria's army said the freeze would come into effect at 1:00 am and would last for 24 hours in Eastern Ghouta and for 72 hours in coastal Latakia, the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect. There was no mention of Aleppo, where a week of fighting has killed more than 200 civilians. In February, the US and Russia brokered a partial truce in Syria between regime forces and non-jihadist rebels. The US special envoy for Syria, Michael Ratney, said Friday that the agreement was a "general recommitment" to that truce, "not a new set of local ceasefires." "Likewise, persistent violations in Aleppo have stressed the Cessation of Hostilities and are unacceptable," he said. "We are talking to Russia to urgently agree on steps to reduce violence in that area as well." A Syrian security source in Damascus said the deal had been reached in Geneva between US and Russian officials. "The Americans asked for Aleppo to be included, but the Russians refused," the source said. Russia is a key backer of Assad's regime, while the US has supported various opposition factions in the country. A diplomatic source quoted by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said that Moscow and Washington, co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, "are the guarantors of the 'regime of silence' implementation by the sides." Russian Lieutenant-General Sergei Kuralenko, based in the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia province, said that during the freeze, "all combat and using any weapons will be forbidden". "We call upon all parties interested in establishing peace on Syrian land to support the Russian-American initiative and not disrupt the 'regime of silence'," he said, quoted by RIA Novosti. Story continues Although the February 27 truce had seen violence drop across large parts of the country, fighting against jihadist groups continued in Latakia, the eastern province of Deir Ezzor and elsewhere. Eastern Ghouta is held by the powerful Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel group, which has signed on to the truce. But fighting there between Jaish al-Islam and regime forces has been building in recent weeks. Opposition factions in Eastern Ghouta and Latakia were not immediately available for comment on the freeze. More than 270,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests. A high school teacher in Jackson, Tennessee has been suspended after screening notorious horror movie The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence to a class of students. The age of the children has not been revealed, nor has any explanation been given as to why they were being shown the film. However Verna Ruffin, superintendent at Jackson Central-Merry High School, told The Jackson Sun, The matter has been addressed. Its inappropriate and unacceptable. The unnamed teacher reportedly remains suspended pending an internal investigation. The second and most controversial installment in the infamous series, 2011s The Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence is a meta-horror movie centred on a depraved fan of the original film, played by British actor Laurence R Harvey, who sets about constructing a human centipede of his own. It was initially banned in the UK by the BBFC, on grounds of sexual and sexualised violence, sadistic violence and humiliation, and a child presented in an abusive and violent context. Eventually the film was resubmitted and passed with an 18 certificate after cuts. Tom Six, writer-director of the Human Centipede trilogy, has praised the suspended teacher on Twitter, declaring, This awesome teacher gets a specially signed copy of THC2 from me!, and arguing, It should be mandatory to watch THC2 in school classes. It deals with a character that is bullied and what to do! This news comes roughly 15 months after Ohio substitute teacher Sheila Kearns was found guilty of child endangerment after showing horror movie The ABCs of Death to five separate classes, for which she was fired, fined $10,000 and sentenced to 90 days in jail. Picture Credit: Bounty Films Read More: Will Ferrell Refutes Attachment To Reagan Film The Omen Prequel Announced Watership Down remake to be less brutal Montreal (AFP) - Embattled Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals averted a debt default on Friday by finally filing overdue financial statements, while announcing sweeping changes to its board. Its fiscal 2015 reporting had been delayed after an internal review uncovered an error that forced the drug maker to restate its earnings. Amended filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed mistakes going back three years. The accounting errors included overstating revenues and earnings as shipments to mail-order pharmacy Philidor were wrongly recorded as sales before they had reached end customers. In its original 2014 filings, for example, revenues were overstated by $58 million, while earnings in the first quarter of 2015 were underreported by $12 million. Valeant also named three new board nominees for election at its annual general meeting on June 14, to join five current directors appointed in the last year, as well as new chair and chief executive Joseph Papa and two longtime members. Papa was picked on Monday to replace outgoing CEO Michael Pearson who had steered the company into a heap of scrutiny and criticisms over its accounting and drug-pricing policies. Valeant faces numerous government probes over accusations it gouged customers over the price of its prescription drugs. Bondholders had also warned the company of a risk of default, and against further delays in the release of its financial results. CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition-dominated Congress on Thursday ordered the dismissal of Food Minister Rodolfo Marco over chronic shortages of staple goods that have become the primary complaint about President Nicolas Maduro's government. The opposition majority used a constitutional censure vote to order that Maduro dismiss Marco. Legislators had previously summoned him for questioning over the shortages, but he declined to appear. "It cannot be that today in Venezuela, 3 million citizens eat less than twice a day, and the majority of them do not eat dairy, meat or eggs," said opposition deputy Carlos Paparoni. The ruling Socialist Party may simply ignore the censure vote or seek to have it shot down by the Supreme Court, which has routinely sided with Maduro in disputes with Congress since the opposition's legislative elections victory in December. Responding earlier this month to congressional criticism of Marco, Maduro said "nobody touches the food minister" and that "the revolution will not be censured by anyone, much less an immoral National Assembly," according to local media reports. The growing difficulties in obtaining staple goods has helped spur the opposition's efforts to seek a recall of Maduro. A combination of food shortages and electricity rationing contributed to dozens of incidents of looting around the country on Tuesday and Wednesday. Maduro attributed that violence to right-wing conspirators seeking to destabilize his government. He has criticized the assembly for continuing to hold sessions despite an executive order that the public sector should work only on Mondays and Tuesdays, to save power. Residents in the Caracas slum of Petare this month said they are eating more starches and skipping meals because they cannot find food or cannot afford to buy what is available. (Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Matthew Lewis) By Kim Palmer CLEVELAND (Reuters) - A vigil and fundraiser for eight family members shot execution-style in rural Ohio's Appalachian foothills, is expected to draw thousands of people on Friday evening, organizers said. The members of the extended Rhoden family, ranging in age from 16 to 44, were shot on April 22 at four separate homes in a preplanned, "sophisticated operation," officials said. A preliminary autopsy report showed all but one of the victims were shot multiple times and many were shot in the head as they slept, according to the Hamilton County coroner's office. Federal and state officials found three marijuana cultivation sites at one of the homes, but have declined to say whether that might be linked to the deaths. Investigators have said they are not assuming the massacre was committed by one person. Local media have quoted unnamed law enforcement officials as saying many theories are being considered, including a family feud or even the involvement of a Mexican drug cartel in the slayings. The vigil will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. local time and is meant to raise funds to pay for the family's burials, organizer Stephanie Brownfield said in a telephone interview. "We want to start the healing process for the entire county, she said. The event, "Pray for Pike County," will be held at the Pike County Fairgrounds, some 95 miles (150 km) east of Cincinnati. Estimates of the cost of the multiple funerals are in the tens of thousands and co-organizer Dennis Tschundy said in a telephone interview that he wanted to take the burden off the family. Some of the Rhoden family is expected to attend, as well as members of the Piketon Police Department, Pike County Sheriff Deputies and law enforcement from surrounding areas, Brownfield said. On Thursday, Gary Rhoden, 38, was the first of the victims to be buried, in South Shore, Kentucky. Six of the family members, including Christopher Rhoden Sr, 40; his ex-wife Dana Rhoden, 37; their three children Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden, 20, Hanna Rhoden, 19, and Christopher Rhoden Jr, 16; as well as Christopher Sr's brother Kenneth Rhoden, 44, will be buried on Tuesday in West Portsmouth, Ohio. Story continues Hannah Gilley, 20, Clarence Rhoden's girlfriend and mother of a 6-month-old boy who was not injured in the shootings, will be buried Saturday in Waverly, Ohio. In addition to Gilley's son, Hannah Rhoden's 5-day-old daughter, who was sleeping with her, and Clarence Rhoden's 3-year old son, survived. (Editing by Ben Klayman and Matthew Lewis) With Alica Vikander announced as lead of the next "Tomb Raider" film, there's a clutch of big money video game adaptations heading to theatres. Significant budgets and big names are already behind this year's crop of conversions, which include "Ratchet and Clank," "Angry Birds," "Warcraft" and "Splinter Cell." Ratchet and Clank Taking its lead characters from a 14-strong, 14-years-long PlayStation franchise about a heroic cat-alien and his robot friend, the film's cast that includes James Arnold Taylor ("Lego DC Comics Super Heroes"), David Kaye ("Up") and Vincent Tong ("Death Note") as well as Rosario Dawson, Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Bella Thorne and Sylvester Stallone. In theatres: the week of April 29 in most territories; since April 13 in France, from August 27 in Japan. The Angry Birds Movie Given the speed at which mobile gaming moves, it can seem like "The Angry Birds Movie" has taken ages to arrive. The first game in the catapult-centric series was released in 2009, spawning billions of downloads (and updates). Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Sean Penn and Peter Dinklage are among the stars attached. In theatres: the week of May 12 in most territories, and the week of May 20 in the US, Canada and China. Warcraft Adapting Blizzard's massively successful MMO, in which players can join one of two factions, "Warcraft" sees the physically imposing orcs flee into hostile human territory. Destruction seems inevitable unless the two sides can find common ground. It stars Travis Fimmel ("Vikings"), Paula Patton ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol") and Toby Kebbel ("Ben-Hur"), with Duncan Jones of the multi-award winning "Moon" as director. In theatres: the week of May 26 in much of Europe and beyond, the week of June 10 in the US, Canada, China and elsewhere. Story continues Assassin's Creed Michael Fassbender of "X-Men: Apocalypse" and Marion Cotillard of "The Dark Knight Rises" are leading this adaptation of the conspiratorial, artifact-hunting, time-travelling action adventure, with Justin Kurzel of "Macbeth" at the helm. The franchise has seen an astonishing 9 core entries in as many years, and the film is a major step further into the film world for French publisher Ubisoft. In theatres: the week of December 21 for most territories, including the US, Canada and France; UK, Ireland and Germany from December 30. From Cosmopolitan Hot on the heels of Rebecca Romijn's remark that social media stars aren't "true supermodels," Vine celebrity Cameron Dallas has just announced that he's landed a brand new major ad campaign. According to WWD, Cameron and 17-year-old Austrian model Stella Lucia are officially the new faces of Calvin Klein Jeans' all-white capsule collection, debuting online today. Shot by Jack Pierson, the campaign features Cameron and Stella modeling various street wear-inspired items on a beach in Malibu, California, with Cameron looking sexy and carefree in all of them. The collection ranges in price from $78 to $128, and will be available for wholesale starting in May. Of course, the Calvin Klein campaign is only the most recent of Cameron's accomplishments: To date, he has over 11.6 million followers on Instagram and over 2 billion loops on Vine. He's the definition of a social media superstar, and has managed to convert his online fame into multiple real-life gigs, including a role in the upcoming film Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. He's also not the first "social media star" to front a campaign for Calvin Klein. Most recently, queen of Instagram and reality TV star Kendall Jenner modeled for the brand's #MyCalvins campaign, and appeared in billboards and magazines around the world as a result. For this generation, social media stars are just as worship-worthy as any other celebrity, and it's safe to say the brand is one of many banking on the hope that these recognizable faces will sell more products. For more from the ad campaign, head over to WWD; and to shop the collection, you can visit Calvin Klein's website. Follow Gina on Twitter. Screen Shot 2016 04 29 at 9.02.00 AM Warren Buffett isn't that excited about the US economy right now. Speaking with CNBC's Becky Quick on Thursday from the parking lot outside his bridge game in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett said simply, "This economy is not booming." "On the other hand," Buffett added, "it's not falling apart either." On Thursday, the first reading on first-quarter 2016 gross-domestic-product growth showed that the economy expanded at a rate of just 0.5%. Buffett added that rail traffic had been quite disappointing this year, and while a major dent in the industry is being made by a decline in coal shipments, he said that across the 25 industries that Berkshire's BNSF railroad unit deals with, "a very significant percentage of those are disappointing." Asked whether he agreed with economists who say economic growth has picked up in the second quarter, Buffett said, "I wouldn't know," but, he added, the economists "don't know either." To the surprise of no one, Buffett told Quick that over the long term his optimism level about America was a 10. In his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders this year, Buffett wrote: For 240 years it's been a terrible mistake to bet against America, and now is no time to start. America's golden goose of commerce and innovation will continue to lay more and larger eggs. America's social security promises will be honored and perhaps made more generous. And, yes, America's kids will live far better than their parents did. Thursday's comments make clear he hasn't changed this position. Buffett has spent his whole business career betting on this same future for America. And given this view, Buffett said he was not really worried about short-term changes in the economy. "If I feel like a 10 on long-term optimism, why should I get depressed if I get a cold today?" Buffett said. As for what Buffett looks forward to most about the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting which will take place Saturday morning he said simply: "The biggest thing I really look forward to is hearing what Charlie [Munger] has to say. He never fails to surprise me." Story continues Watch the full interview below: NOW WATCH: FORMER GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: The single largest threat to the global economy More From Business Insider While teens across the country preen and primp for this spring's crop of high school dances, there's a group of adults in Washington, D.C., doing the same with no punch-spiking necessary. The White House Correspondent's Dinner has almost arrived, an annual political event that's increasing star factor has earned it the nickname "#nerdprom." Held at the Washington Hilton (this year on Saturday), the Correspondents' Dinner honors the reporters who cover politics from the front lines: in the White House Correspondents' Association's West Wing press room. Journalists from the country's top news organizations don their finest to be entertained by a comedic host this year, Comedy Central's Larry Wilmore and dine on things like smoked paprika rubbed filet and mascarpone cheese stone grits. And the prom king? President Barack Obama, of course who's relinquishing his title after 2016, his final White House Correspondents' Dinner. PEOPLE was Live with the Cast of Scandal in D.C. Ahead of the White House Correspondents' Dinner The president gets his chance to finally rib the reporters who cover his every move, taking the podium in front of a who's who of guests. "Of course the White House Correspondents' Dinner is known of the prom of Washington, D.C., a term coined by political reporters who clearly never had the chance to go to an actual prom," he once joked during his speech. What You Need to Know About a Contested GOP Convention The shindig isn't reserved for just Capitol Hill elites, however some of Hollywood's finest are bequeathed a seat at the pricy tables (ticket fees raise money for scholarships). Media organizations invite celebrities some of the big names this year include Kendall Jenner and Will Smith. But don't expect to see repeat guest Donald Trump, however. The Republican frontrunner won't be attending. "I was asked by every single group of media available to mankind [to attend this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner]," he told The Hill. "But I've decided not to go. Do you know why? I would have a good time and the press would say I look like I wasn't having a good time." This is the terrifying moment that the outer wall of a high-rise building appeared to peel off before crashing to the ground. The shocking incident was captured on a mobile phone camera by passing residents - who raised the alarm when debris began falling. A large section of the building can be seen effortlessly peeling from above, before collapsing to the ground as witnesses look on in sheer astonishment. The incident, which occurred at a neighbourhood in Shenyang, in Chinas north-eastern Lionising Province, seemed to suggest that inadequate building materials had been applied to the exterior of the building. Footage of the shocking incident has now gone viral - with many Chinese citizens citing the video as proof of apparent poor building construction in their country. Its unclear whether any local people were injured when the wall collapsed but video of the incident seemingly suggest that passers-by were lucky to stand clear of the area where insulation material crashed down to the pavement. It hasnt been confirmed whether authorities are investigating the incident, but property developers who initially developed the building could face heavy fines for endangering the lives of local residents when it collapsed. * EFG says will take Transamerica dispute to U.S. courts * Further premium hikes could lead to impairment on life portfolio * Reports "disappointing" net asset generation ZURICH, April 29 (Reuters) - Swiss wealth manager EFG International plans to contest what it called "unjustified" premium increases on its holdings of life insurance policies from Aegon NV's Transamerica unit, it said ahead of its annual general meeting on Friday. The company, which also described new net asset generation in the first quarter as disappointing, said it had recently been told of premium increases on 12 of its 48 Transamerica policies, which form part of EFG's held-to-maturity life insurance portfolio. More such increases could mean that EFG might face a significant impairment on its life policy holdings, the company said in Friday's statement. "EFG International intends to challenge the implementation of these increases in the U.S. courts," EFG said. A spokesman for Aegon did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment. An analyst in Zurich suggested that EFG would also be grappling with higher legal costs. "Today's update confirms our view that significant risks exist," Bank Vontobel analyst Andreas Venditti said in a note to investors. EFG shares fell 2.5 percent in Zurich, extending their decline this year to 43 percent. The Zurich-based company's "disappointing" generation of net new assets -- fresh money from clients minus outflows from its existing assets -- stemmed from what EFG called tough conditions in Latin America and its exit from an investment product in Asia. EFG did not give specific figures for new net assets, though it did say that its Asia business increased profitability substantially compared with the first quarter of 2015. It will report more detailed numbers when it publishes half-year results on July 27. EFG has been bulking up its wealth-management activities including with a planned takeover of Grupo BTG Pactual SA's Swiss private banking unit BSI, as well as UBI Banca International's private banking activities in Luxembourg. Friday's annual meeting will include a shareholder vote to approve the rights offering of 81.6 million new shares as part of plans to raise 500 million Swiss francs ($518.89 million) to finance the BSI acquisition. Shareholders will also vote EFG's plan to create nearly 76 million registered shares to be issued to BTG Pactual once the BSI transaction closes. ($1 = 0.9636 Swiss francs) (Reporting by John Miller; Editing by David Goodman) Philip Brasor and his wife Masako Tsubuku spent years looking for a house to buy in Japan, and after a fruitless search for a pre-owned home, they decided to build a new one. Like many other new homes in Japan, they expect it will be worthless in the next few decades. We have no expectation of gaining any value from our home, said Brasor. But, of course, most used homes outside of Tokyo will not have any value in forty years. And I think Japanese people have come to understand that, even if they dont admit it out loud. Unlike the U.S. and Europe, where houses are often viewed as investments and older properties can gain value for their historic nature, Japan places a premium on new properties that are only expected to last one generation. The estimated halflife ranges from 20 years to 40 years, said Jiro Yoshida, an assistant professor of business at Penn State University. Its much shorter than in the U.S. and other developed countries. The expectation that a property will have a short life has become a selffulfilling cycle, explains Yoshida. Since sellers cannot receive a high price for a well-kept house, owners dont spend much money on maintenance, and the houses tend to deteriorate faster. Its very unusual to see somebody doing work on their own home, even if its just like changing wallpaper or doing very cosmetic changes, said Alastair Townsend, a Tokyo-based architect. And because of this, A lot of Japanese interiors tend to be quite plasticky, he adds. This partly explains the trouble Brasor faced on his housing search. Home after home was built with cheap materials and falling apart. Frankly, we were very disappointed in what we saw in terms of quality, said Brasor. While the properties themselves were very cheap, the cost of upgrading them to a level wed want to live in would have been quite high. Beginning the short-life cycle How did the rapid cycle of housing destruction begin? There are many theories. Story continues Perhaps its a psychological phenomenon, Townsend suggests. The Japanese are very fixated on cleanliness and having things new. Thats why things are always individually wrapped and packaged and very sanitized, he said. And so the same thing is true with housing People dont want to live in a house that has been used by somebody else. Another explanation focuses on technological change. Approximately 20% of large earthquakes occur in Japan. After each earthquake, building codes are revised, which makes the existing buildings obsolete and outdated. Currently, about 9 million resident homes do not meet the earthquake-resistance regulations, according to a spokesman for Japans Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. "From a legal perspective, many existing buildings become illegal, said Yoshida. When technologies advance relatively rapidly like this, a product life cycle becomes short, just as for computers. Implications of rapid destruction On the bright side, the destruction allows for a lot of creativity. Since many home buyers dont have to worry about re-sale, they design houses however they want. Personalized structures can be found throughout Japan, from see-through homes to triangle-shaped houses. And this is great business for architects, which is why, on a per capita basis, Japan has nearly four times as many architects as the U.S. However, the rapid turnover has several downsides. Depreciation of housing is a particular problem for mortgage credit. To mitigate the issue from the banks perspective, Japanese mortgages are full recourse, which gives lenders the right to go after personal assets in case of mortgage default. This often means that homebuyers are stuck with the first house they own. If you go underwater, you cant just simply hand the keys back to the bank and just have them foreclose on you, said Townsend. The bank will go after other assets, including your savings account. Moreover, the high destruction rate wastes much needed resources. Its about time for a change, said Yoshida. Building technologies were proven to be robust to earthquakes in the last large one. I think it makes more sense to allocate more resources in R&D for an aging society than on new housing construction. Follow Justine Underhill on Twitter: @jj_under The aftermath of the Kunduz hospital bombing: The AP reports that about 16 U.S. military personnel have been disciplined for mistakes that led to the airstrike against a Medecins Sans Frontieres-run hospital in Afghanistan last year. The strike, which the U.S. has said was the result of human error, killed 42 people. The AP says the Pentagon will release a full report of its investigation of the bombing tomorrow. Lions on a plane: Thirty-three circus lions will be transported by airplane from Lima, Peru, to a sanctuary in South Africa tomorrow. These lions have endured hell on earth and now they are heading home to paradise, said Jan Creamer, the president of Animal Defenders International, which rescued the animals, earlier this week. This is the world for which nature intended these animals for. The royal family: Tomorrow marks the fifth wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, aka William and Kate. Expect the Internet to produce nauseating photo collections of the happy couple. News from this afternoon here Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Investors are always looking for stocks that are poised to beat at earnings season and UGI Corporation UGI may be one such company. The firm has earnings coming up pretty soon, and events are shaping up quite nicely for their report. That is because UGI Corporation is seeing favorable earnings estimate revision activity as of late, which is generally a precursor to an earnings beat. After all, analysts raising estimates right before earningswith the most up-to-date information possibleis a pretty good indicator of some favorable trends underneath the surface for UGI in this report. In fact, the Most Accurate Estimate for the current quarter is currently at $1.37 per share for UGI, compared to a broader Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.30 per share. This suggests that analysts have very recently bumped up their estimates for UGI, giving the stock a Zacks Earnings ESP of 5.39% heading into earnings season. Why is this Important? A positive reading for the Zacks Earnings ESP has proven to be very powerful in producing both positive surprises, and outperforming the market. Our recent 10 year backtest shows that stocks that have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better show a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and have returned over 28% on average in annual returns (see more Top Earnings ESP stocks here). Given that UGI has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and an ESP in positive territory, investors might want to consider this stock ahead of earnings. Clearly, recent earnings estimate revisions suggest that good things are ahead for UGI Corporation, and that a beat might be in the cards for the upcoming report. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report UGI CORP (UGI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Donald Trumps California kick-off was marred by scenes of violence Thursday night, as protesters smashed windows, stomped on police cars and scuffled with Trump supporters. The incidents have become all-to-familiar and are likely to continue as Trump moves closer to the GOP nomination. At his California rally, Trump showed no signs of adjusting his rhetoric to appeal to the broader electorate, repeating many of the same incendiary statements that have become a staple of his stump speechincluding a debunked story of General John Pershing shooting Muslims with pigs blood. The alliance between John Kasich and Ted Cruz is proving to be more of a distraction than a benefit, as the two candidates face questions about their tenuous truce daily and still lob barbs at one another. Kasich appeared at an Indiana fundraiser earlier this week, even though hes no longer campaigning in the state, and Cruz leads Kasich in a new Oregon polla state that the Texan traded to the Ohio governor. As his pathway to the nomination evaporates, Bernie Sanders is turning his focus to the Democratic platform, but hell face the same obstacles that have plagued his presidential run. Hillary Clinton will control all the key convention committees, making Sanders legacy play less likely to succeed. John Boehner blasts Cruz. Rubio warns on Zika. And Fiorinas missing California network. Here are your must-reads: Must Reads Bernie Sanders Looks to Promote His Ideas at Democratic Convention But hell run into a familiar foeHillary Clinton [TIME] Clashes Follow Trump Rally in California Violence following front-runners event [Associated Press] Trump Begins California Campaign With Raw Performance in O.C. No pivot to being presidential [LA Times] Cruzs Latest Fight With Fellow Republicans Is a Reminder: Many Dont Like the Guy The GOP outsider needs the insiders [Washington Post] Story continues Larry Wilmore Is Not Joking Around The 2016 White House Correspondents Dinner comedian is sharpening his barbs, mostly for use on Trump [Politico] Sound Off There is no alliance. Kasich and I made a determination where to focus our energies. Where to focus our assets, where to focus our resources. Ted Cruz on his alliance with John Kasich Sometimes both Josh and I probably have our disagreements with the press corps, and feel picked on or misunderstood, but the truth of the matter isand Ive said this beforewhat separates us out in part from a lot of other countries in the world is weve got this incredible free press that pokes and prods and calls into account our leaders. President Obama addressing college reporters at the White House Bits and Bites Boehner Calls Cruz Lucifer in the Flesh [Stanford Daily] Koch-Linked Vets Group Targets the Debt as Security Issue [TIME] Ted Cruz Says He Doesnt Actually Have an Alliance With John Kasich [TIME] Trump Repeats False Pigs Blood Story at California Rally [TIME] Carly Fiorinas Missing California Network [Politico] Its Time To Freak Out Over Zika, Marco Rubio Warns GOP [Huffington Post] Rolex High-end mechanical watches are expensive. But the reason why goes beyond the fact that they're just highly complicated mechanisms in a small enclosure. In the earlier part of the 20th century, watches were used primarily as tools, says Ben Clymer, founder and executive editor of watch expert site Hodinkee. For example: A diver needed something that was waterproof and would work at depths of up to 100 meters, a race car driver needed a method to time laps, and a surgeon would need something to reliably measure operating time. All that changed with the start of the "quartz crisis" (or the "quartz revolution", depending on who you ask). Quartz watches use an electronic motor powered by electric current going through quartz crystal to keep time, as opposed to a balance wheel or pendulum. This requires fewer parts, is much cheaper to produce, and is, by its nature, more precise than a mechanical watch. When quartz watches became cheap enough to be mass-produced, this presented a problem for the primary watchmakers of the time, largely Swiss companies who resisted the move to quartz that had primarily been spearheaded by Japan and Hong Kong. From 1973 to 1983, Swiss watch imports plummeted from 40 million to 10 million, according to a 1999 article in "The Freeman", a magazine published by the Foundation for Economic Education. Some Swiss companies died (from 1970 to 1980, the number of Swiss watchmaking companies fell from 1,618 to 861, shedding more than 46,000 workers, according to a 2014 presentation by the IFMA). Others pivoted into the new quartz trend by merging and creating Swatch (now the largest watch group in the world), battling the new threat from cheaper quartz watches made out of plastic. Still others, like Rolex and Patek Philippe, were chased up-market which is how they became the luxury brands we know them as today. "At that point, people didn't need a mechanical watch anymore," Clymer said. "They just wanted them." Story continues For example, Rolex in particular started making their watches in gold, and emphasized their quality in the marketing materials. The watches became symbols of prestige. "In the '70s is when the [Rolex] Day-Date ... really took off as a status symbol," Clymer said. Quartz has since become the world's primary time-keeping technology, and mechanical watches have been relegated to the realm of luxury. "It is a luxury object in the sense that none of us need them," Clymer said. But according to him, that's just part of the allure along with its durability and technical prowess. NOW WATCH: These are the watches worn by the smartest and most powerful men in the world More From Business Insider Two guns sat on a table at Baltimore Police Headquarters Thursday. One was fake, the other real. Police Commissioner Kevin Davis suggested that members of the press figure out which was which. Which ones the replica and which ones the firearm I think is indicative of the tough, tough job, the tough profession we have out here, Davis said Thursday. A day before, two Baltimore police officers shot Dedric Colvin, a teenager who police say refused to drop a BB gun that officers believed was the real thing. Colvin was shot once in the shoulder and once in the leg, injuries that have been described as not life-threatening. Read more: Toy Guns Create Deadly Problems for Police The shooting focused attention on guns that are often perceived to be real firearms but turn out to be toy, BB, or air guns, and in the last few years, several incidents have occurred in which boys and young men were shot carrying fake guns. In 2012, police in Texas shot an eighth-grader who was carrying a pellet gun that appeared to be a Glock. A year later, 13-year-old Andy Lopez was fatally shot after officers mistook his airsoft gun for an AK-47. The incident that caught the countrys attention occurred in 2014 in Cleveland when officers approached 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was carrying an airsoft rifle, which is a replica of an air gun and shoots non-lethal plastic projectiles. Officers fatally shot Rice. No one was charged in the incident, but this week the city settled with Rices family for $6 million. Rices rifle lacked an orange safety tip at the end of the barrel, a federal regulation put in place in 1989 to help officers discern when a gun is fake, but which can be removed or tampered with after the gun is sold. And there are no such federal regulations for BB guns, many of which look strikingly similar to the real thing. Read more: Toy Guns, Deadly Consequences Baltimore police say the gun carried by Colvin was a Daisy Powerline 340 BB gun that sells for $24.99 on Daisys website and even less on Amazon. Its one of several Daisy guns that appear similar to actual handguns. Officers said the gun is not sold in toy stores but can be found in hunting and sport shooting sections in sporting goods stores. Story continues Joe Murfin, a spokesperson for Daisy, says the company intentionally makes its guns appear like the real thing, rather than like toys, because even BB guns can cause serious injury. People want an air gun to function like and look like a firearm, Murfin says, adding that Daisys guns have a series of disclaimers warning consumers about careless use of the products or using them out in public. The issue of replica guns is one faced by police departments across the country. At the Arlington Police Department in Texas, Lt. Chris Cook says officers are not trained to try to distinguish between real and fake firearms, but instead assume all guns are potentially dangerous. It would be unrealistic to try to instruct an officer to make a split-second decision that this is a real gun or a fake gun, he says. From our perspective, we think theres no reason to manufacture these fake guns. We dont see a legitimate need to manufacture something that resembles a real gun. Arlington police say theyve seen an increase in the number of replica guns used in crimes recently because theyre often cheap and easy to find, and Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson is calling for legislation to address the problem. While police officers lament the difficulties in discerning real and replica guns, its possible that training could help, says Jon Shane, assistant professor at John Jay School College of Criminal Justice. There has to be more realistic training with fake and real handguns under all sorts of conditions that simulate what officers are going to be experiencing in the field, Shane says. But he adds that its also up to people who own the guns to use them responsibly. Its not the gun manufacturers fault per se, Shane says. Its more how individuals are taught to handle the gun. Some states have implemented local restrictions on replica guns that go beyond federal requirements. In 2014, California passed the Imitation Firearm Safety Act, which mandates that the exteriors of BB and airsoft guns be painted a bright color or include florescent strips so theyre distinguishable from real firearms. In New York, the states attorney general reached an agreement with Walmart, Sears and Amazon that they would no longer sell guns in the state that resembled real firearms. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 12 states, along with Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., prohibit residents from possessing imitation firearms. In most of the country, though, guns like the one Dedric Colvin was holding are perfectly legalif not perfectly safe. Competitive pressures persist as supply grows. Analysts are cautious on Far East Hospitality Trusts (FEHT) near-term earnings, as competitive pressures are expected to haunt the company in the coming months. According to a report by DBS, despite the majority of new hotel supply in Singapore largely concentrated within the Singapore River precinct away from FEHTs hotels, the 6-7% climb in overall industry room inventory may still put pressure on FEHTs operations. We have pencilled in a 4% y-o-y decline in RevPAR and combined with higher costs of debt, should translate into a 7% decline in FY16F DPU, DBS reports. Theres still light at the end of the tunnel for FEHT, however. Primarily, a rebound in demand absorbing the approximate 3,900 new rooms added in 2016 could provide a boost to FEHTs DPU. More From Singapore Business Review Chinas Industrial Profits Rose, but How Long Can They Sustain? (Continued from Prior Part) Yuan maintains its position SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is a global member-owned cooperative and the worlds leading provider of secure financial messaging services. According to the latest SWIFT RMB (renminbi) tracker, the Chinese yuan, also known as the renminbi, accounted for 1.9% of global payments in March. Thats slightly higher than Februarys share of 1.8%. The yuan came in at fifth position, one step behind the Japanese yen, which accounted for 3.3% of global payments in March 2016. In March 2016, the following were the top three international payment currencies: US dollar: 43.1% share euro: 29.8% share British pound: 8.0% share United Kingdom is second-largest offshore RMB clearing center According to the latest SWIFT RMB tracker, the United Kingdom has become the second-largest offshore RMB clearing center, surpassing Singapore. The United Kingdoms RMB payment value rose 21% between March 2014 and March 2016. Singapore overtook the United Kingdom in February 2014, but the trend has reversed since the beginning of January 2016. The United Kingdom lags behind Hong Kong in the ranking. Hong Kong remains the number-one offshore RMB center, processing 72.5% of all RMB payments. Its followed by the United Kingdom with a 6.3% share and Singapore with a 4.6% share. The SWIFT report shows that 40% of all payments made between the United Kingdom and ChinaHong Kong are exchanged in renminbi. Impact on funds The rise in use of the yuan in international payments doesnt directly impact the performance of China-focused funds (ALQAX) (EVCGX) (ASHR). These funds are invested in ADRs (American Depositary Receipts) of Ctrip.com International (CTRP), 58.com (WUBA), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM), CNOOC (CEO), and China Mobile (CHL). However, it does show that the Chinese currency is gaining importance in global markets for direct payments, which would benefit the entire country. Browse this series on Market Realist: It seems reports that Will Ferrell was set to portray deceased former US President Ronald Reagan were a little premature. Ferrells representatives say that the actor and producer never signed on to star in the controversial project Reagan, and has no intention of doing so. In a statement published by Deadline, a spokesperson for the comedy star explains, The Reagan script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered, but stresses, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project. However, while distancing themselves from the project, Ferrells people do defend the script, which they insist is by no means an Alzheimers comedy, as has been suggested. Written by Mike Rosolio, Reagan is reportedly set after the former actors re-election to the presidency in 1984, and as he is struggling with dementia, a White House intern is instructed to make him believe hes playing the President in a movie. Rosolios script had been named on the prestigious Black List, an annual Hollywood insider list of the best original, unproduced screenplays in town. However, reports of Ferrells attachment were met with outrage by the former Presidents children, in the belief that the film would make a joke out of their fathers years suffering from Alzheimers Disease. Reagans daughter Patti Davis stated in an open letter to Ferrell, Perhaps you have managed to retain some ignorance about Alzheimers and other versions of dementia. Perhaps if you knew more, you would not find the subject humorous. One audience member at a public reading of the script complained that it makes light of Alzheimers and undercuts President Reagans accomplishments in his second term. As Will Ferrell has officially denied any connection to the project, Reagan has no director, producer or studio attached at present. Picture Credit: NBC/WENN Read More: 10 New Movies To Watch In May Hollywood Wants To Make Elf 2 First Look: Scarlett Johanssons Ghost In The Shell Lilongwe (Malawi) (AFP) - Malawi's estimated 10,000 albinos face "systematic extinction" if they continue to be murdered for their body parts for use in witchcraft, a UN expert warned Friday. Ikponwosa Ero told journalists at the end of a 12-day assessment in the country that the situation "constitutes an emergency, a crisis disturbing in its proportions". Her call for action came as a court in Malawi slapped a 17-year jail term on two men arrested last week for murdering a 21-year-old albino woman. "The two pleaded guilty," police spokesman Kondwani Kandiado told AFP. Kandiado said the victim's uncle Gerald Phiri, 38, and an accomplice told the court they "blamed Satan for their action and pleaded for leniency". Ero, who is herself an albino from Nigeria and is the UN human rights council's expert on albinism, said Malawian police had recorded 65 attacks, abductions and murders of albinos since the end of 2014. Albinos were targeted because of beliefs that their body parts "can increase wealth, make businesses prosper or facilitate employment", she said. "Even in death, they do not rest in peace as their remains are robbed from graveyards." Albinos, who have white skin and yellow hair as a result of a genetic disorder, are regularly killed in several African countries including Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Ero said she was "particularly alarmed by reports from persons with albinism that they are being called 'money' as they walk the streets and their neighbourhoods." "Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries and the sale of body parts of persons with albinism is believed to be very lucrative." Albinos "are an endangered group facing a risk of systematic extinction over time if nothing is done to stem the tide of atrocities," Ero said. "It requires an emergency response from government, civil society and development partners working in strong partnership." Ero said there was "political will" to deal with the problem, but Lilongwe "does not score well on action". A general view of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiment is seen during a media visit at the Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in the French village of Saint-Genis-Pouilly near Geneva in Switzerland, July 23, 2014. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy The largest and most powerful atom smasher on the planet has been taken offline. And it's all thanks to a little weasel. According to internal documents, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, a 27-kilometer underground ring used to collide particles at nearly the speed of light, is experiencing some issues. I can confirm that we had some issues overnight with electrical trouble, CERN spokesperson Arnaud Marsollier told New Scientist. We suspect it might be due to a small animal. The culprit, a fatally curious weasel, was zapped to a crisp after chewing on a power cable. The weasel's tragic snack time caused a power outage throughout the LHC. This isn't the first time a long, furry animal has adventured into the tunnels of a powerful particle accelerator. Felicia the Ferret, who is somewhat of a low key celebrity in the physics community, was used to help physicists clean 300-foot-pipes in particle accelerators at Fermilab, a particle physics laboratory in Illinois. Felicia, it turns out, was much more lucky than the poor, furry sap at the LHC. Bridgewater Ray Dalio Principles weasel The mishap comes as the LHC was preparing to resume colliding protons again after a few months of action during its winter shutdown. Physicists are eager to get their hands dirty with particle collisions after earlier LHC data hinted at the existence of a new particle. They're also hoping to further investigate the Higgs Boson, an elementary particle discovered at the LHC in 2012 that accompanies the Higgs Field, which is thought to give mass to the fundamental building blocks that make up the universe. It will likely take a few days to bring the collider back online, Marsollier said, but the equipment is fine and should be easily fixed. NOW WATCH: How scientists uncovered a completely new world inside the tunnels of the most powerful physics machine on Earth More From Business Insider Yale Town Hall Students reacted intensely during a town-hall meeting on Yale University's campus Thursday, throwing fake $1 million bills at Yale's president, Peter Salovey, and hoisting Monopoly boards in the air, the Yale Daily News (YDN) reported. The town hall was called in response to the university's decision to retain the name Calhoun College for one of its 12 residential colleges. The college was named for John C. Calhoun, a 19th-century alumnus who was a fervent supporter of slavery. Coming on the heels of protests over racial tensions, the decision brought months of deliberation on the issue to a close, and many students remain frustrated and angry with Salovey and the administration. And as Salovey faced a barrage of questions and reactions from students at the town hall, the YDN reported, the president was "ashen-faced." "We spent the entire year discussing this with you, and you turned around and did nothing," Yonas Takele, a junior in Calhoun, said at the meeting, according to the YDN. "You had an opportunity to stand and do the right thing. It's on you, and I want you to know that. I have no respect for you." President's Salovey's welcoming are met with a shower of money symbolizing the influence of money. #WrongMoveYale pic.twitter.com/lm0LSktzEp DOWN Magazine (@DOWNatYale) April 28, 2016 In a Wednesday press release Salovey said the decision to retain Calhoun's name was made "to encourage the campus community to confront the history of slavery, and to teach that history and its legacy." That reasoning, however, drew harsh responses from students who said their painful history should not be made into an educational experience, according to the YDN. Story continues In the release, Salovey also announced that two new residential colleges were to be named by the university. One college is to be named for Anna Pauline "Pauli" Murray, a queer female of color and civil-rights activist who was the first African-American to graduate from Yale with a doctor of juridical science. The decision was met positively from students. The other college is to be named after Benjamin Franklin. This decision spurred students to call Salovey a "sellout" and throw fake $1 million bills and raise up Monopoly boards, according to the YDN. The assertion that Salovey sold out relates to a comment in Wednesday's press release that the school decided on the name to "honor ... the generosity of Charles B. Johnson '54 B.A., who considers Franklin a personal role model." Johnson donated $250 million to the school in 2013. Outside of the town hall, students also expressed their anger at the decision on social media, using the hashtag #wrongmoveYale. At the heart of the rancorous town hall, however, was a continuation of what students articulated in the fall. Racial tensions boiled over on Yale's New Haven, Connecticut, campus last year, exposing feelings that Yale was an unwelcoming place for students of color and that pervasive racism existed. That drew derision from some media sources, with the Yale protesters called "coddled" and "tyrannical." Those labels, along with a perceived lack of support from Yale's administration, still appear to be affecting some students. "We want you to give us an accountability plan for how Yale is going to address the fact that the media in the rest of the world is going to be laughing at black students for whining because we got one college ,"junior Rianna Johnson-Levy said at the town hall, according to the YDN. Johnson-Levy was referring to the fact that the college named for Pauli Murray was the only one named for a person of color. "We are not being coddled," she continued. To that, Salovey agreed, according to the YDN. "I reject the way you, Yale students, are treated in a lot of the mainstream media," he said. "I will fight always against this idea that somehow students of today are unappreciative or whiny or being coddled." Salovey told Business Insider in a statement that he was pleased students came and spoke at the town hall. "There were convictions and disagreements about the naming decisions expressed with great passion," he wrote. "There was also continued discussion about what we all need to do to make Yale more inclusive, including making the faculty more diverse and augmenting our scholarship on issues of race and culture," he continued. "I asked the students for their continued participation in the significant initiatives in these and other areas that we have launched." NOW WATCH: Here are the most elite boarding schools in America More From Business Insider For Immediate Release Chicago, IL April 29, 2016 Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Oil & Gas, (Part 2), including Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP), Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Spectra Energy Partners L.P. (SEP), Magellan Midstream Partners L.P. (MMP) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners L.P. (BWP). Industry: Oil & Gas, part 2 Link: https://www.zacks.com//commentary/79494/plenty-of-oil-gas-choices-for-bargain-hunting-investors Going by the past years track record of oil prices, the term energy stock probably conjures an image of a sharp fall in share prices and investment dollars going down the drain. However, that isn't necessarily the case there are a number of companies that are primed to outperform. While record high inventories and robust production could still push the commodity to the depths of multiyear lows, signs are emerging that oil prices are likely to stabilize and gradually pick up. Not only is global demand expanding but energy companies have significantly scaled back on plans to explore for and bring out more oil. This should lead to lower future production and supply/demand rebalancing. Nevertheless, one needs to have an appetite for risk in order to invest in the energy sector. For savvy investors though, there are opportunities to earn big returns. Invest in Companies with Little Debt It seems there is no end to the oil industrys woes. The number of defaults is mounting for the beleaguered sector and the latest victim of this trend is domestic oil and gas explorer Energy XXI Ltd. . Last week, it filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, which will erase a substantial amount for its investors. Several others are lined up for a similar fate. In fact, Moodys has rated 1 in every four oil and gas producer at B3 or lower, which emphasizes their junk status. However, some energy companies may still have the ability to withstand falling prices for a long period. These entities have restructured costs or taken other measures to deal with the prevailing situation. In this event, it may be a good idea to look at energy companies that have low debt capital ratios, which make debt servicing relatively easier for them. We advocate large-cap companies like Helmerich & Payne Inc. (HP). Integrated Majors to Benefit from Size and Diversification In this current turbulent market environment, we advocate the relatively low-risk energy conglomerate business structures of the large-cap integrateds, with their fortress-like balance sheets, ample free cash flows even in a low oil price environment and steady dividends. Story continues Thanks to their integrated structures, companies like Exxon Mobil Corp. ( XOM) have been able to withstand plunging oil prices better than the rest and protect their top and bottom lines to a certain extent on downstream strength. The companies financial flexibility and strong balance sheet provide them with a larger war chest to draw upon in this highly-uncertain period for the economy. Most of them remain in excellent financial health, with ample cash on hand and investment-grade credit ratings with a manageable debt-to-capitalization ratio. On top of this, managements have established quite a track record of conservative capital management and cash returns to shareholders. They also pay a safe dividend, yielding attractive returns. While all of them have suffered from the crude carnage over the past 18 months, holding on to them can still prove to be an astute move. Midstream Space Still Exciting A safer way of playing the sector would be to utilize Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), which offer considerable returns at significantly lower risk. Most MLPs are involved in storage, processing and transportation of energy commodities such as natural gas, crude oil, and refined products (like diesel and gasoline), under long-term contracts. As such, they have relatively consistent and predictable cash flows with minimal commodity price sensitivity unlike the E&P companies, whose profits are highly correlated with energy prices. Ramping up oil production during the past few years has caused the commodity market to enter oversupply territory. Still, there is no slowdown in the crude production as all the big players are competing for their own share. This definitely calls for storage and transportation services, especially when the analysts are expecting the oversupplied market to continue in 2016. Importantly, the collapse in crude has markedly reduced the average price of U.S. gasoline, the most widely used petroleum product. This has resulted in record gasoline volumes across pipeline systems and a boon for operators whose compensation is based on the quantity moving through their system. Given the current weaknesses in petroleum stocks, MLPs are probably the best method of investing in the sector. They also offer liquidity and tax benefits, which add to their appeal. This is why these stocks would make good additions to your portfolio. We suggest Spectra Energy Partners L.P. (SEP), Magellan Midstream Partners L.P. (MMP) and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners L.P. (BWP) -- MLPs with low cost of capital and an investment grade credit rating. Check out our latest Oil & Gas Industry Outlook here for more on the current state of affairs in this market from an earnings perspective, and how the trend is looking for this important sector of the economy. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today. Find out What is happening in the stock market today on zacks.com. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HELMERICH&PAYNE (HP): Free Stock Analysis Report EXXON MOBIL CRP (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report SPECTRA EGY PTR (SEP): Free Stock Analysis Report MAGELLAN MDSTRM (MMP): Free Stock Analysis Report BOARDWALK PIPLN (BWP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. This summer, Dweezil Zappa and his backing band will once again perform the music of his father Frank Zappa on a nationwide tour, but unlike the past decade, the guitarist will be playing under a different moniker. Instead of Zappa Plays Zappa, the touring unit will now be dubbed Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa, stemming in part from a bitter feud between Frank Zappa's children over their father's copyright, the New York Times reports. Frank Zappa Doc: Alex Winter Talks to Gail and Ahmet Zappa In the wake of matriarch and longtime estate executrix Gail Zappa's death in October, son Ahmet Zappa was tasked with handling the day-to-day operations of his father's estate with help from youngest daughter Diva Zappa. Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa are not trustees, but remain equal beneficiaries of their father's estate with their other two siblings. Earlier in April, Dweezil Zappa received legal notice from the Zappa Family Trust that continued use of the name Zappa Plays Zappa could result in copyright infringement damages of $150,000 per song performed. Gail Zappa had previously allowed Dweezil to use the Zappa Plays Zappa in exchange for an "exorbitant fee." "My last name is Zappa; my father was Frank Zappa," Dweezil said. "But I am not allowed to use the name on its own. I'm not allowed to use a picture of him. I'm not allowed to use my own connection with him without some sort of deal to be struck." Dweezil added, "I just hope people will understand that the only thing I'm changing is the name." The Zappa Family Trust issues have created a rift between brothers: Dweezil and Ahmet released a pair of albums together in the Nineties; now, they only communicate through lawyers. The siblings have also split over the upcoming authorized Frank Zappa documentary. Speaking to the New York Times, Ahmet Zappa said the trust's stance against Zappa Plays Zappa isn't personal and that they're only preserving the integrity of their father's legacy. "I am not standing in the way of Dweezil playing the music," he said. "He would just have to be in accordance with the family trust." Related MOSHI, TANZANIA / ACCESSWIRE / April 29, 2016 / This year's Geita Gold Mine Kilimanjaro Challenge expedition will take place on the 16th of July, celebrating its 15th year in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. A fundraising expedition up to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, this challenge aims to join government efforts in combating the pandemic of HIV/AIDS across the country. Trekkers, spectators, supporters, and government officials will meet at the Machame gate on 16th of July this year as they start the climbing toward the top of Africa. This climb will follow the Machame Route and end with a goal of raising awareness and funds to combat the virus and its effect to the communities. The country of Tanzania has been hard hit by HIV & AIDS, with around 1.5 million people living with the virus. While rates of infection have slowly declined in recent years, additional support is critical to making a real difference in halting it altogether. The Kilimanjaro Challenge has grown from humble beginnings since its' inception in 2002 to a multinational event, which has raised in excess of U$500,000 per annum in recent years. Working with other partners,The Geita Gold Mine Kilimanjaro HIV/AIDS Challenge has brought hope where there was none before. The building of orphanages, schools, clinics, counseling centers and refurbishing existing local and regional medical facilities has helped many communities across Tanzania to rebuild and flourish. The 2015 climb brought the total number of climbers to have participated in this great event to more than 500 from almost 20 countries across the globe. More than 30 (Non-government Organizations) NGO's countrywide have benefited from the Kilimanjaro challenge, with several of the smaller NGO's relying heavily on the support of the funds raised by the annual event. Since the inception of the Kilimanjaro Challenge in 2002, the percentage of HIV/AIDS infections in Tanzania has dropped from 13% to 5.1%, which is real evidence of how effective the joint effort has brought impact on combating HIV & AIDS in the country. Story continues Do you want to climb the tallest Mt. in Africa and the 2nd to the World? Kili Challenge is now giving opportunities to individuals. You will be able to be part of the team who are climbing this year...Why miss this lifetime opportunity with an impact to the communities? Join dozens of other climbers, both seasoned and brand new, this year in the trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Support this cause while experiencing one of the great wonders of the earth with a group of passionate and dedicated adventurers. For more information, visit www.geitakilichallenge.com or contact us through GGMkilichallenge@AngloGoldAshanti.com and zara@zaratours.com. About ZARA TOURS ZARA TOURS, founded in 1987, is currently the No. 1 Kilimanjaro outfitter in Tanzania and one of the largest safari operators in the country. Proud to be known as one of the best operators in the region with a reputation for providing an exceptional, unforgettable and safe experience, ZARA TOURS owns and operates two hotels and four tented camps, has 88 safari and climbing expert guides who speak English, German and Spanish, and a fleet of fully-equipped vehicles that take tourists on safari adventures or treks up Mt. Kilimanjaro. ZARA TOURS also runs ZARA Charity, which plays a vital role in the local community by supporting vulnerable groups such as orphans, maasai women group, and more. SOURCE: ZARA TOURS Funding to fight the ongoing Zika virus outbreak remains tied up in bureaucracy as the U.S. Senate adjourned for a week-long recess after hearing arguments over the best way to fund the fight against the virus. We shouldnt be taking 10 days off as a dangerous virus threatens this nation, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said, the Atlantic reports. And it is threatening us. The White House asked Congress for $1.9 billion in Zika emergency funding in February. Some funds that were allocated to the Ebola response have been repurposed to help with Zika, but health officials argue more is needed. As the Atlantic reports, Republicans have requested answers on how much funding is needed for fiscal year 2017 and how much is needed before the end of fiscal year 2016, as well as what the funds will be going towards. READ MORE: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Zika Former presidential candidate and Florida senator Marco Rubio, whose state is at a higher risk for Zika cases, called for quicker movement on the decision. My advice to my colleagues is, were going to deal with this, and I hope we deal with it at the front end, Rubio said on Thursday. Because not only is it better for our people, its better for you. Youre going to have to explain to people why it is that we sat around for weeks and did nothing on something of this magnitude. There have been other deals suggested, like passing a lower amount of emergency funding, but the Senate recessed without agreeing on any amount. Ive been saying it publicly for a very long period of time, the President asked for $1.9 billion because we needed it, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health told TIME on Friday. We are not going to be able to do what we need to do without the supplemental [funding]. So its really very critical. I think everybody agrees that we need it. The argument is under what mechanism are we going to get it and when are we going to get it. But we certainly need it as quickly as possible. Warning: This recap for the Leviathan episode of Legends of Tomorrow contains spoilers. There are two types of people in this world: People who were immediately sold on Legends of Tomorrow as soon as they saw that giant robot in the first trailer and people who arent currently reading this recap. For that first group of people, even the slightly silly, 80s Tron graphics fulfills the promise of the show, which is everybody having a fun time while good guys and bad guys punch the hell out of each other. Related: Catch Up on Legends of Tomorrow With Our Recaps The Plot The Legends show up in 2166 as Vandal Savage is at the height of his powers. They make contact with a refugee encampment and infiltrate Savages base. Kendra recognizes her own bracelet on the wrist of Savages lieutenant. They kidnap her when they learn shes actually his daughter, Cassandra (Jessica Sipos). Savage comes after her with a giant robot, threatening the encampment. Stein gets the refugees aboard the Waverider, just in time for the robot to cripple it. Ray figures out how to reverse his shrinkage and goes toe-to-toe with the robot. Meanwhile, Snart convinces Cassandra to turn on her father. Kendra melts the bracelet and pours it over Carters mace. She defeats Savage with it, but discovers that hes captured Carter and wiped his mind; if she kills him, she may never see Carter again. They lock him in the Waveriders brig instead. Reverse the Polarity Everythings goofy about this episode: The Leviathan, coating medieval weapons with magic bracelets, and, of course, Rays plan to reverse the polarity of the dwarf star matrix. Its a level of techno-babble that hasnt been seen since the heyday of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But if you buy into the idea of a bunch of superheroes (and villains) crammed into a time-traveling space ship to kill an immortal baddie, then thats not a negative: Its pure brain candy. Story continues Get Carter Its about time Falk Hentschel shows back up. The reveal of his face as Kendras about to bash his brains in is the most comic-booky thing in an episode full of comic-booky things. It set up a great split-second decision: Kill Savage and lose your soulmate or dont kill Savage and your friend loses his family. Add to that the talk that Ray and Kendra are about to have which surprisingly was avoided when Rays fiancee was on board last episode. Its a pulpy, over-the-top angst thats miles away from the handwringing of its parent show, Arrow. Dad Talk Yes, Snart swaying Cassandra with a few crying children and ten seconds of easily-faked video footage was an unreasonably quick change of heart, but the core of his argument was much more interesting. When it comes to crap fathers, there is no deep down. There isnt nearly enough time on this show to delve into the damage that bad parents do, but they hint at the interesting depths the show could delve into if theyre able to slow down in the second season. Legendary Thoughts * All kidding aside, though: His ultimate weapon is a giant robot? Have you ever tried to get rid of ants? Which works better? Stomping on them or nuking them from space/with a can of Raid? * That being said, if you didnt cheer when Ray punched through the head of the Leviathan, then why are you even watching this show? * How are we not done with the glass of water shaking to signify giant dinosaur/robot/monster of the week yet? Have we not developed the technology to just look out a window? * Heat Waves gun can make a wall of flame? Wouldnt that have been useful pretty much every single episode before this one too? * Um if Rips family is already dead at this point in the timeline, then none of this is going to bring his family, right? * Sorry, Carter. Twitter confirms it: Youre lousy at giving anniversary gifts. aaaaa Legends of Tomorrow airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on The CW. We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. The only way Tuesday's earnings call for Apple (ticker: AAPL) could've gone worse was if CEO Tim Cook made it on a Samsung Galaxy. And if there was a number to dial for the analyst conference, it might as well have been an unlucky 13. Here's why: The iPhone sales slump for the first quarter of 2016 reflected Apple's worst quarterly performance in 13 years. Apple stock opened Wednesday at $96 a share, more than 7 percent lower than Tuesday's close of $104.23. For naysayers, it was a field day. [Read: Why Fine Art Can Beautify Your Portfolio.] "Apple is a big-league professional catastrophe," says Eric Schiffer, CEO of Patriarch Group, a private equity firm with offices in Santa Ana, California. "It's a national embarrassment and the greatest failure post-Steve Jobs in tech history." Decline not unexpected. Apple's glum summary was no surprise to Wall Street or the tech digerati. When Apple released its earnings report for the last quarter of 2015, Cook acknowledged that iPhone sales would likely fall in the months to follow. But he never hinted at how much. And the Q1 tally of 61.2 million smartphones sold was off 16 percent from the same quarter in 2015. More than two-thirds of Apple's profits stem from the iPhone, so it's easy to see why some viewed the performance as more disaster than disappointment. "The earnings shortfall is a seminal event for a tech bellwether," says Robert Johnson, president and CEO of the American College of Financial Services in the Philadelphia area. "This is much more than an idiosyncratic, single company blip. This will shake the confidence of many tech investors beyond Apple." In terms of market capitalization (the total dollar value of Apple's outstanding shares), the tech behemoth has taken a hit for the history books. On Tuesday, that figure posted at $578.58 billion. By Wednesday, it was in free fall to $541.82 billion. To put that in perspective, the drop of close to $37 billion represents roughly 7 percent of Apple's market cap -- more than three times the worth of Twitter (TWTR) and twice that of LinkedIn Corp. (LNKD). Story continues While Apple still boasts a wealth store of Fort Knox proportions, you likely won't find execs at One Infinite Loop trading high fives. A week ago, Apple was worth $594 billion; two weeks ago, $621.55 billion; and in July of last year hit an astounding $745.63 billion. Beyond the numbers. So let's get out our iPads and review: Since that July 2015 apex, Apple has lost close to $204 billion in nine months, or more than a quarter of its value. But while the numbers tell one story, gut feelings and emotional exuberance on the trading floor tell another. And if the Q1 report cemented any fact, it is this: For all his formidable talents as a numbers guy, Cook isn't going to spearhead any product revolutions with the showbiz panache of Jobs, Apple's late co-founder. [See: 7 Ways to Tell if a Stick Is a Good Price.] Whether releasing the first iPhone in 2007 or overshadowing the likes of U2's Bono onstage, Jobs was a tech rock star who attracted hordes of groupies who bought anything and everything with his ubiquitous, delicious fruit logo on it. He also championed a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that transformed computers and smartphones from clunky, intimidating machines into sexy objets d'art. "As a long time Apple user, I can say that there's not only been a lack of innovation but also a lack of quality in their builds," says Eden Chen, CEO and founder of Fishermen Labs, an app development company. "A bunch of their software products are disasters -- take iTunes Connect -- and just look at the reviews of any of the other software they put out. They're amazing at seamlessly taking users from one computer operating system to the next. But Apple's lack of innovation is the classic problem laid out in the Innovator's Dilemma." Different leadership. Put another way: Jobs was a product visionary who beat the curve, while Cook is a corporate caretaker of legacy products. "There's a different feel about Apple since the loss of Steve Jobs," says Darren Hayes, an assistant professor and director of cybersecurity at Pace University's Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems in New York. "It has been many years since the company has released a product that has the public mesmerized. We've come to expect technology companies to surprise us and Apple has only surprised us with disappointing earnings growth." That observation, if you will, rings as too true. Apple's bulky iPhone 6 series certainly didn't inspire the oohs and ahhs of previous models, a fact underscored when it introduced the iPhone SE last month. For the first time ever, Apple unveiled a smaller phone as opposed to a larger one. Yet it was hardly revolutionary, as the SE is a throwback in size and style to the iPhone 5. Nor has the Apple Watch generated gotta-have-it enthusiasm. The product has been largely a bust, viewed by some observers as an attempt to enter a crowded field rather than forge a market all for itself. "Bullish investors might counter by saying the Apple Watch has been, despite some oddly negative press, a big success, with unit sales twice that of the iPhone in each product's first year of existence," says Barry Randall, a technology portfolio manager on Covestor and a Boston-based registered investment advisor. "But so what? Because an Apple Watch requires an iPhone to work, and there is now an installed base of 500 million iPhones worldwide, it would've been difficult not to sell 12 million Apple Watches." "Apple is at its core a product company, and this means that it must continuously hit home runs to continue its success," says Jerry Kim, assistant professor of management at the Columbia Business School in New York. "Coming up with one home run is challenging enough -- to generate a string of home runs is pretty much impossible, especially given the global nature of competition. Contrast this to platform companies like Google or Facebook that focus on building an ecosystem." A global bet. How to put a brave face on all this? Cook and crew made it clear they're betting on growing Apple's sales in India and China. India, for example, has seen iPhone sales increase by more than 50 percent. "I certainly wouldn't bet against Apple," says Anand Deshpande, CEO of Persistent Systems, a global technology company based in Pune, India. "India presents a huge market potential for them. And even though India is huge, we're in our nascent stages of growth. So as our economy gains momentum, that means more and more potential customers for Apple." But the iPhone's future overseas is far from a slam dunk, as Android-based products continue to infiltrate and compete in booming markets. [Read: 13 Ways to Invest in Summer.] And so, the inevitable question arises: WWJD, as in What Would Jobs Do? First he'd likely scream, in his legendary, tyrannical way, for his minions to hit the lab and whip up something new to make the masses salivate. "Investors aren't generally known for patience," Randall says. "And until that next game-changing product comes along, we'll see growth investors continue to sell shares of AAPL to value and income investors." But odd as it sounds, Jobs in all likelihood would also hold the course. Randall says: "Apple ought to be quite profitable for some time to come. Apple's relationship with its customers will always come first. And many of them don't care and might not even know the company is in Wall Street's penalty box." A former longtime staff writer, editor and columnist at the Chicago Tribune, Lou Carlozo writes about investment for U.S. News & World Report, and personal finance for Money Under 30 and GOBankingRates. He is based in Chicago. Connect with him at linkedin.com/in/loucarlozo. By Paul Carsten BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese search leader Baidu Inc's first-quarter net income fell to its lowest level since 2012 and revenue grew at its slowest pace in more than seven years, as its long decline from previously heady growth continued. The Chinese Internet stalwart said it now expected revenue growth to slip even further in the April-June quarter, to 21.3-24.2 percent, once again underscoring the importance of its ongoing efforts to diversify away from its core search business. The company's strategic reassessment in recent months has involved selling off its online travel unit and considering an offer for its video streaming site as it grapples with China's economic slowdown. So far the effort has not paid off, even as costs continue to rise at a rapid clip. Net income fell 19 percent to 1.99 billion yuan ($307.41 million) in the January-March quarter from 2.45 billion yuan a year earlier, Baidu said. The company was expected to post a net income decline of 17.1 percent to 2.03 billion yuan, according to a Thomson Reuters survey of 8 analysts. Baidu's revenues rose 24.3 percent to 15.82 billion yuan ($2.44 billion) from 12.72 billion yuan a year earlier. That growth is its slowest in over seven years, and was just shy of analysts' estimate of a 24.7 percent gain. Swallowing up a chunk of Baidu's resources are services like food delivery and group buying. These contributed to a 33.5 percent year-on-year jump in selling, general and administrative expenses to 3.946 billion yuan in the first three months of 2016. Baidu has also touted its efforts to develop artificial intelligence, even as expenses for research and development in the first quarter fell 8.1 percent from the previous year. The company's shares fell 1 percent in early trade on Friday, having gained 5 percent in extended trading the day before. Baidu's online marketing revenue rose about 19.3 percent to 14.93 billion yuan. Excluding items, the company earned 6.80 yuan per American depositary share. Total operating costs rose 28.8 percent to 13.61 billion yuan. (Reporting by Paul Carsten in Beijing and Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates) By Bernie Woodall DETROIT (Reuters) - Google and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV are close to agreeing on a partnership that could break boundaries between Silicon Valley and the auto industry in the race to develop self-driving cars, people familiar with the discussions said on Friday. The partnership could be announced soon, three people familiar with the situation told Reuters on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. The talks were first reported Thursday by the blog AutoExtremist.com. Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, and Fiat Chrysler declined to comment. Google has said that it does not want to build self-driving vehicles on its own and has explored alliances with auto companies, but none have been finalized. Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said this week the company was in talks with an advanced technology company, but offered no details. Executives at other auto makers, including Ford Motor Co, General Motors Co and Daimler AG, have expressed wariness about alliances with Alphabet or other technology companies that could relegate them to the role of hardware suppliers. Auto executives have said they do not want to stand by while Alphabet reaps richer profits from the data generated by vehicles and their passengers. GM has signaled that it plans to go its own way on driverless car technology, moving to buy self-driving vehicle startup Cruise Automation. On a conference call after Fiat Chrysler issued quarterly earnings on Tuesday, Marchionne repeated that he was interested in partnerships with Google or Apple Inc. "Dialogue continues with people who are interested in exploring their relevance in the automotive world and we will continue to help them find their way out," Marchionne said in response to a question about working with non-traditional automakers. John Krafcik, a former auto executive who heads Alphabet's self-driving car project, made a public pitch for partners in January at a conference in Detroit in January. Fiat Chrysler officials in Michigan and Italy have declined to comment on speculation that Google's technology could eventually be offered on the new Chrysler Pacifica minivan launched in February. Marchionne and other FCA officials are scheduled on May 6 to visit the Windsor, Ontario plant that builds the Pacifica. Auto and technology industry executives have said self-driving vehicles, possibly minivans, might hit the roads first in ride-sharing or shuttle fleets. Among the models that Alphabet has been using in its self-driving project is the Lexus RX450h, a hybrid sport utility vehicle, made by Toyota Motor Corp. (Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Richard Chang) By George Obulutsa NAIROBI (Reuters) - Online activists who claim ties to Anonymous said on Thursday they had begun to leak documents from Kenya's foreign ministry as part of a campaign to expose government and corporate corruption across Africa. HackRead, a cyber security news site, reported that a hacker affiliated with "Operation Africa" had told it: "In (a) few days you will receive full disclosure of the data We the Anonymous will stand against corruption, child abuse, and child labour!" A link to a sample of 95 documents was published to a widely known Anonymous Twitter account, part of what it claimed was a one-terabyte stash of date from Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The sample documents cannot be read using standard Web browsers but can be viewed using TOR. The documents, viewed by Reuters, appear to consist of mostly routine correspondence between Kenyan foreign ministry officials and other diplomatic missions, trade partners and international companies around the world. A news release in January by activists described Operation Africa as an effort to mount computer attacks on governments in Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Sudan and South Sudan and Ethiopia. The Kenyan government was not on the initial list. The Kenyan ministry documents leaked on Thursday included email discussions of security preparations for diplomatic trips, trade deals and a status report on the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan, dated from the middle of this month. One document, from last August, contains a warning to ministry staff of hacking attempts using phishing techniques containing links to malware. A spokesman for the ministry declined to comment on the alleged breach and referred Reuters to Kenya's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). "NOTHING TOP SECRET" The ICT Cabinet Secretary Joseph Mucheru told Reuters the attack was a phishing attack, as opposed to a hacking attack on the foreign affairs ministry's computer systems, and that no classified material had been accessed. "What they did is they managed to send emails to people, and people clicked the links to change their credentials, and as a result they were able to access emails," he told Reuters by phone. "Our systems have remained safe and stable." "What we have been able to identify is mostly on security clearance 'Open' as opposed to 'Restricted' or 'Top Secret'." Mucheru said they were working to alert government employees on how to avoid being tricked by phishers and hackers. In January, Operation Africa hackers said they were seeking the dismantling of corporations and governments in Africa they blamed for corruption, child abuse, environmental problems and Internet censorship. In February, hackers using the Operation Africa banner said they had breached a South African government database and leaked names, email addresses and passwords of some 1,500 government employees, security site Softpedia reported. Hackers also claimed credit that month for attacking the Ugandan Finance Ministry and a firm supplying video services to the Rwandan government, Softpedia reported. In February and March they claimed to have stolen data from employees of Tanzania Telecommunications and defaced the website of a Kenyan oil refinery, according to HackRead. In a separate incident, Qatar National Bank, the largest lender in the Middle East and Africa, said this week it was probing an alleged breach of bank records that exposed the names and passwords of clients. http:/reut.rs/1YVzC6Y (Writing and additional reporting by Eric Auchard in Frankfurt; editing by Andrew Roche) A hostess presents a watch "FiLIP" by Telefonica during the 2015 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica said Friday its net profit more than halved in the first quarter from same time last year when its results were inflated by the sale of its British operator 02. The company reported a net profit of 776 million euros ($879.7 million) during the first three months of the year, a 56.9 percent drop from the first quarter of 2015. However Telefonica, one of the world's top five telecoms groups, still missed by a wide margin the median profit forecast of 841 million euros of analysts polled by Factset. Telefonica's results in the first quarter of 2015 were boosted by tax breaks related to the proposed $14 billion sale of its British mobile phone operator O2 to Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa. That deal is still dependent on Brussels giving the green light to the transaction following a competition enquiry. Core operating income before depreciation and amortisation (OIBDA) dropped 6.7 percent to 3.38 billion euros due in part to the lower value of currencies in Latin America, a key region for the firm while sales rose 6.6 percent to 10.78 billion euros. "The results are in line with our expectations for the year-end and enable us to reiterate our guidance and the dividend of 0.75 euros per share for 2016," Telefonica's new head Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete said in a statement. Alvarez, 52, took over from Cesar Alierta, 70, who headed Telefonica for nearly 16 years. Telefonica said its debt stood at 50.2 billion euros at the end of March, up from 49.9 billion euros at the end of December. The company is banking on the sale of O2 to be approved to slash its debt. It has already started looking into alternative ways to cut its debt in case European regulators block the sale of 02, according to Spanish media reports. The company's high debt level and the global financial crisis in 2008 led it to concentrate on a few key markets: Spain, Germany, Brazil and former Spanish colonies in Latin America. Story continues Telefonica said its results were boosted by a recovery in its domestic market Spain where sales rose 8.6 percent. Last year, the Spanish economy, the eurozone's fourth largest, expanded by 3.2 percent -- one of the fastest rates of growth in Europe. The company's sales fell 13 percent in Brazil, which is suffering a recession and is engulfed in a political crisis. Telefonica reported annual net profits in 2015 of 2.75 billion euros, a drop of 8.5 percent, partly down to costs associated with voluntary redundancies in Spain. By Aditi Shah and Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A flurry of complaints from Uber drivers about an unusually high number of canceled bookings was the spark that ignited a bitter legal fight with Ola, Uber's rival for dominance of India's $12 billion taxi market, according to court documents and a source with direct knowledge of Uber's case. A seven-member internal team was set up to investigate the drivers' complaints in November, and its findings are the basis of a lawsuit filed by Uber accusing Ola of a campaign to disrupt its business and poach its drivers, said the source. Ola, an Indian company backed by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp <9984.T>, denies any wrongdoing. Uber is suing Ola for $7.5 million to compensate for lost revenue and goodwill, alleging the Indian market leader created about 94,000 fake user accounts with the ride-hailing service and used them to make more than 405,000 false bookings. The broad outlines of the lawsuit were reported when it was filed last month, but a Reuters review of court filings and interviews with sources close to both sides have uncovered new details about how Uber says it was able to trace fake bookings and calls to Ola employees, and Ola's response to the allegations. It paints a picture of a no-holds-barred corporate battle between the two start-ups in one of the world's fastest growing taxi markets, where both have been burning millions of dollars of investor money as they seek to undercut each other with cheaper fares. A source close to Ola said the case against it had been fabricated in retaliation for a lawsuit it had filed earlier this year accusing Uber of flouting a court order to switch to clean-fuel cars in the Indian capital. Uber said it could not comment on a matter that was still before the courts, and Reuters was unable to independently verify the allegations made by either side. SoftBank, one of Ola's largest investors, declined to comment on the case. FOUR-MONTH INVESTIGATION Uber's investigation identified locations and internet protocol addresses of tens of thousands of users who had booked and canceled rides, using information logged when a new customer account is created on Uber's platform, the source familiar with the company's case said. In court documents, Uber says it found 660 accounts used to make troublesome bookings came from a building housing Ola's office in the western city of Pune. Most of the rest were created near Ola's office in the tech hub Bengaluru, it said. In the court filings, Uber said more than 23,000 of its drivers quit due to "illegal and wrongful interference" between September 2015 and February 2016. The source close to Ola said the company had made its own checks and found no correlations in the thousands of data points submitted by Uber in its complaint, which included names and mobile phone numbers alleged to belong to Ola employees. The data could have been compiled in a few hours using names, business addresses and phone numbers linked to Ola that could be looked up online, the source said. The Delhi High Court has set a hearing on the latest case in September. Ola's case against Uber is before the same court. The backdrop to the legal sparring is a relentless price war between Uber and Ola, who also offer competing incentives to lure drivers. "The one which lasts the longest will eventually win and enjoy monopoly power," said Neil Shah, research director at Counterpoint Research. Counterpoint estimates Uber's growth has outpaced Ola over the last two years, when it doubled its market share to 26.5 percent. Ola, however, still leads with 52 percent share. LINKEDIN PROFILES, GOOGLE MAPS Uber's legal submissions included several images of LinkedIn profiles, locations pinpointed with Google Maps and hundreds of phone numbers it said belonged to people associated with Ola. Reuters called dozens of those numbers, but most were not operational. One number cited in court documents, from which 74 cancellations were made, belonged to a user identified as Kisan Kumar. When Reuters called the number, the person answering identified himself as college student Shashank Kumar in Pune and said Kisan was his brother. Shashank said he often used Uber and Ola but had not made repeated cancellations on the Uber platform. Reuters was unable to contact Kisan for comment. Another number Reuters was able to connect to belonged to someone identified as "Shiv D" in Uber's filings, which alleged he created 30 fake accounts to book and cancel dozens of rides. Shiv D said he had worked for Ola helping drivers get new cars, but denied Uber's allegations and said he had since left the company. The fake bookings are not the only accusation leveled by Uber against Ola. Uber says one of its biggest losses of earnings came on New Year's Eve, when drivers in New Delhi began getting calls around 5 p.m. telling them to shut off the ride-hailing app as there was a technical glitch that needed to be fixed. When they checked back hours later to see if they could get back online they were told Uber had made no such calls. Uber says in the court documents its investigation traced the source of the calls to two numbers registered in Ola's name. Reuters was able to confirm by dialing that one of the numbers identified in the documents was an Ola call center. The source close to Ola denied it made the calls and said the company's call center number was public information that Uber's team could simply have looked up. (Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Alex Richardson) If all you've seen is TV and movies, you probably think hacking a site, rooting a server or bringing down a URL looks like pink-haired hackers jacking into systems in order to crack their way into complex "mainframes" a patently ridiculous portrayal of a relatively boring activity. But now, Anonymous is giving us a taste of the real thing. Source: YouTube Ghost Squad Hackers, the faction of Anonymous that keeps taking down a major KKK website, leaked a video of the group taking down a series of Brazilian websites. The video is 10 minutes long and pretty repetitive, but it accurately shows what it looks like to use a simple tool to overload a site with fake traffic. The system of choice for the Brazil attack is Saphyra, a DDoS tool that Ghost Squad Hackers and affiliated groups used earlier this month to take down a NASA subdomain. As you can see below, using the tool is as simple as plugging in the name of the relevant website, and letting an invisible botnet of hijacked computers do the work for you. Source: YouTube Ghost Squad Hackers hasn't said exactly why it's been targeting this collection of Brazilian sites, except to say that it was attacking an internet censorship "hitlist." The recent news that the Brazilian lower house of Congress is getting ready to vote on a cybersecurity bill which activists claim is a threat to free speech on the internet is the most likely provocation. The vote is now set for Tuesday. Watch the full video below: Why Apple's China problem is likely to get much, much worse Apple (AAPL) is coming off a 26 percent sales decline in Greater China, the steepest drop among its five regions. More worrisome: The greatest risks lie ahead. That's the view of a growing chorus of experts and prognosticators concerned about the unpredictability of the Chinese government. Earlier this month, China shut down iTunes Movies and iBooks just six months after Apple introduced the services there. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn told CNBC on Thursday that he sold his Apple shares because "you worry a little bit and maybe more than a little about China's attitude." Analysts from UBS and Goldman Sachs have published recent reports discussing China's potential power to thwart Apple's growth, and Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer said earlier this week that China is very likely to limit Apple's access to the country's consumer base. Looking at the competition, it's clear that history doesn't favor Apple. Google (GOOGL), Facebook (FB) and Twitter (TWTR) are shut out of China, while enterprise vendors IBM (IBM), Cisco (CSCO) and Hewlett-Packard (HPE) have struggled in the world's second-biggest economy because of government-favored domestic rivals. For Apple, it's a massive overhang. Greater China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) accounts for 25 percent of revenue and has supplied the majority of its growth, thanks to the rapid expansion of the Chinese middle class. "It bears watching whether the recent ban of Apple's iTunes and iBooks stores in China has broader implications for how friendly the environment remains for Apple to grow its business in the country," Goldman Sachs analyst Simona Jankowski wrote in a report Wednesday following the company's disappointing second-quarter earnings release. Apple shares plunged 10.3 percent this week as of Thursday's close to $94.83 Jankowski, who still recommends buying the shares, pointed out that the dramatic drop in revenue from Greater China came after five-straight periods in which growth exceeded overall expansion. Story continues Apple CEO Tim Cook refused to sound the alarm. Hong Kong represented "the vast majority of the weakness," with sales in mainland China falling 11 percent, Cook said on the earnings call. When removing the impact of currency swings, mainland revenue was down 7 percent. Cook also reminded investors that comparable figures were particularly difficult in the quarter because mainland revenue a year ago surged 81 percent on iPhone and Mac sales. "And so as I back up from this and look at the larger picture, I think China is not weak as has been talked about," Cook said. We "may not have the wind at our backs that we once did, but it's a lot more stable than what I think is the common view of it. And so we remain really optimistic on China." However, Cook didn't address the geopolitical risks, which are very real. An Apple spokesperson declined to provide further comment. Apple has just been through a high-profile battle with the FBI over whether the company should be required to help law enforcement unlock an iPhone tied to the San Bernadino, California, terrorists attacks. The Justice Department, in attempting to refute Apple's claim that it won't compromise consumer privacy, said in a legal filing last month (citing Apple's data) that the company helped the Chinese on 74 percent of requests for iPhone data in the first half of 2015. Apple broadly disputed the claims as an "unsupported, unsubstantiated effort to vilify" the company. But coupled with the forced closure of two Apple services, it sparked a bigger debate about how far the Chinese are willing to go in pressuring the company and to what degree Apple would cooperate. Bremmer of the Eurasia Group said he could see Apple facing the same types of issues that have hampered Facebook, which like so many U.S. websites, is banned in China. "I'd be very surprised in five years' time if we see Apple having the kind of access to the Chinese consumer that they presently enjoy," Bremmer said. CNBC's Jacob Pramuk and Matthew J. Belvedere contributed to this report. More From CNBC The mortal remains of the late Nii Odoi Mensah is rumoured to arrive in Ghana on on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Kotoka international airport at 11 am. Hotfmonlinegh.Com reports that the Ghanas Embassy in Beijing has finished with all monetary process required to bring the body home, hence the arrival on Saturday. There were rumours that the family needed $68,000 to bring the mortal remains of the late actor back home from China, which the family dismissed as untrue. President John Mahama promised to do what it takes to ensure that the body of the late former veteran actor is flown home for burial. READ ALSO: In an interview during the week on Kasapa FM, Mr. Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah, Deputy Ambassador said the Embassy got the amount for the transportation of the late actors body reduced from $25,000 to $13,861.40 after negotiations with the hospital administrator. Ambassador Ankrah noted that per the agreement reached with the Family of the deceased the payment by the Embassy will be refunded by them (Family). Nii Odoi Mensah, who was the former president of the Ghana Actors Guild, passed away on Tuesday, April 12 in China where he had gone for a kidney transplant. Source: YEN.com.gh TORONTO - The hunt is on for two members of a violent street gang after a wild gun battle at a downtown condo that led to the kidnapping, torture and sexual abuse of two 17-year-old boys.This is basically a gang war kidnapping, Staff-Insp. Mike Earl, who heads up the Holdup Squad, said Thursday. This is what happens on the streets.Toronto Police say the cruel abduction story began early on April 19 when members of the Queens Drive Crips street gang attempted to crash a party hosted by members of the Young Buck Killas in a condo at Front St. and Blue Jays Way that was rented through Airbnb.YBK members allegedly caught wind of the pending attack and went looking for their rivals but came up empty. They rode an elevator back up to the rented condo, with guns in hand, unaware their enemies lay in wait on the 25th floor.Once they get to the top floor and exit the elevator, the members of the Queens Drive Crips gang were waiting for them and there was an exchange of gunfire, Earl said.He believes there were as many as a dozen handguns between the two crews involved.Security camera video, released by police, shows young men scattering as the gunfire erupted. One man is seen cowering in the corner of the elevator while another, who is believed to have had his head grazed by a bullet, drops to the floor as the doors close.Miraculously, none of the combatants were seriously hurt and cops only learned of the shootout when residents discovered empty shell casings in the hall later that morning.However, Earl said the more violent twist unfolded after the gang members, their associates and other partygoers cleared out of the condo.Two teen boys who had been at the party regrouped with their friends at a townhouse in Swansea Mews, near High Park, he said. Once there, YBK members blamed the boys for the ambush, accusing them of tipping off their rivals about the party.So they were kidnapped and tortured and held for ransom, Earl said.He said the two youths were tied to a chair and pummelled.During their beating, they were forced to play Russian roulette with a loaded handgun, Earl said, adding the boys were were also forced to perform sexual acts.While the victims were held captive at the townhouse, police responded to calls for a suspicious incident at the complex twice but found nothing out of the ordinary.Following the police response, the kidnappers moved the boys to other locations in Lawrence Heights.Earl said the victims families later alerted police after being contacted by the abductors with ransom demands.The boys were released by their captors last Sunday, but only after the ransom was paid by their loved ones, he said, unwilling to elaborate on the amount of cash involved.Police have since arrested three men and a boy who cant be named. They also seized a loaded handgun.Quinton Gardiner, 19, is charged with kidnapping for ransom and firearms offences while Akil Whyte, 23, Deshawn Walters, 18, and a 16-year-old boy face gun charges.However, the two suspects thought to be most involved in the abduction and torture of the boys remain on the loose.Police have sought judicial authorization to release a photo of one suspect, Thai-Shay Gordon, who is just 17 years old.Earl claims the teen, whose nickname is Pistol, was the alleged ringleader of the kidnapping.Lincoln Richards, 23, is also wanted for the abduction. Hes known to frequent the areas of Finch and Martingrove, Swansea Mews, Leamington, Ont., and Kingsville, Ont.Were also looking for his family members, Earl said, adding its thought Richards grandmother, mother and sister were present in the Swansea Mews home during the beatings. Sounds like what happened to Harper.Insiders: Clinton would crush Trump in NovemberIn the swing states that matter most in the presidential race, Donald Trump doesnt have a prayer against Hillary Clinton in the general election.Thats according to top operatives, strategists and activists in 10 battleground states who participated in this weeks POLITICO Caucus. Nearly 90 percent of them said Clinton would defeat Trump in their home states in a November match-up.Republicans are only slightly more bullish on Trumps prospects than Democrats: More than three-quarters of GOP insiders expect Clinton to best the Republican front-runner in a general-election contest in their respective states. Among Democrats, the belief is nearly universal: 99 percent of surveyed said will Clinton will beat Trump.In three of the biggest swing statesOhio, Pennsylvania and FloridaRepublicans were particularly downbeat about the prospect of a Trump-Clinton contest.There is positively no way for Trump to win in Pennsylvania, said a Republican from that state.Trump cannot and will not carry Ohio, a Republican from that state insisted. He will do well in Appalachia and in the Mahoning Valley but he will get killed in the rest of the state. The danger for the GOP is losing Rob Portman which is a very real possibility under this match-up.Added a Florida Republican, who like all participants was granted anonymity in order to speak freely, Trump is grinding the GOP to a stub. He couldn't find enough xenophobic, angry white Floridians to beat Hillary in Florida if he tried.Read more: Insiders: Clinton would crush Trump in November - POLITICO Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook More than 1,800 UNL students took part in the April 24 ceremony at Lied Center for Performing Arts. Honorees earned designations as Chancellors Scholars, Superior Scholars or High Scholars. All of the award winners either graduated in December or will graduate in May or August. Students who received Chancellors Scholar awards earned a 4.0 grade point average on all collegiate work at UNL or elsewhere. Students who received Superior Scholar awards were in the top three percent of their colleges senior class. They could also receive Superior Scholar awards if they had been recognized at the Honors Convocation in each of their previous years of enrollment at UNL. Students who earned High Scholar awards were in the top ten percent of their college class. They call it Come and See. On Sunday, the Rev. Russell McDowell and congregants of St. Timothy Lutheran Church are planning a celebration. The public is invited to come to the Fremont church, where special music, a reception and potluck meal will be part of an event that denotes the congregations 47th organizational anniversary. McDowell said the activities will be a celebration of what God, in Christ, continues to do through this place and through the people that are gathered here. The church also is reaching out and encouraging others to come and see the good things that are happening. Celebratory activities begin with videos of the congregation and church activities, will be shown starting at 8:30. At 9 a.m., the worship service with Holy Communion will start in the church at 16th Street and Nye Avenue. The service will be fun and festive, McDowell said. Member Karen Carstensen and her daughter, Wendy, have written a special musical piece. The choir will sing that as an opening to the service. It also will sing another number. The churchs choir of special adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities will present a worship piece as well. A coffee fellowship time will begin at 10 a.m. A video relating to current activities and members connected to the congregation will be shown. The potluck meal starts at 11:15 a.m. St. Timothy is situated in the four square block area what was once was home of the Western Theological Seminary, which started in 1893 in Atchison, Kan., and came with Midland College to Fremont in 1919. The Theron Nye home (now May Museum) was sold to the seminary in the early 1920s. The seminary became independent of Midland in 1949, McDowell said. That year, it became known as Central Lutheran Theological Seminary. The building that houses St. Timothy Lutheran Church was dedicated in September 1952. An apartment for married couples was built. It was dedicated in 1956. In the 1960s, the Lutheran Church in America (which later became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) decided to merge some seminaries and locate them in a university setting, states information from After Seventy Four Years: A History of Western Seminary and Central Seminary 1893 to 1967 by Thomas Rinde. The Central Lutheran Theological Seminary in Fremont entered a merger with other institutions which formed the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. As the seminaries were consolidated, plans were made to plant a new congregation in Fremont. St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Fremont was organized 47 years ago. Sundays date is the closest to that of the organizational anniversary, McDowell said. For more than 45 years, the church has had a ministry for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Approximately 30 people participate in three Sunday school classes for special needs adults each week. They participate in Servant Saturdays and activities such as preparing bulletins, cleaning the church and making cookies. They serve cookies and coffee for fellowship time. They make cards and table decorations for people in special situations such as nursing homes. McDowell said the church has strong connections to ENCOR (Eastern Nebraska Community Office of Retardation) and Mosaic International, Low Income Ministry of Dodge County, Midland University and the ELCA. We connect with the Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministry through Camp Carol Joy Holling as part of the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, McDowell said. The church also focuses with the ELCA on hunger and disaster response, reaching out to this area and beyond. McDowell said the traditional Lutheran congregation is grounded in liturgical worship services. Once month during the worship service, it does have a healing service where people can come forward and receive the healing word of God. There is strong participation in that service, he said. The church also works with other ELCA churches in the community. For instance, the last couple of years it has had vacation Bible school with Salem and Sinai Lutheran church in Fremont. It participates in ecumenical religious opportunities. Its usually involved in the Thanksgiving Eve service. Area residents are encouraged to attend the celebration and learn more about a congregation that continues to minister to Fremont and reaches out to others in the community to allow them to grow in Christian faith to share in Gods abundance and to serve in Jesus name. Parking is available on the west side (16th and Colson streets) of the church. Most people use the churchs west entrance. The business department at Fremont High School recognized its top students for the 2015-16 school year on April 27. The breakfast was invitation only and was attended by students, their parents and high school administration. The annual awards breakfast was highlighted by the induction of new members into the FHS chapter of the NBEAs National Business Honor Society. The chapter is the only one of its kind in the state of Nebraska. Students must have taken a minimum of three business classes, while maintaining a 3.5 GPA in those classes. They must also maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. There is an application process and students are selected by an advisory committee made up of individuals at Fremont High School. The following students made up the third group of inductees: Rylie Cascio Jensen, Melony Fiala, Zayne Foster, Velma Hauck, Kaden Hendrix, Mattiah Keenan, Tyler Knoepfel, Reese Mumford, Cade Niehaus, Isabela Peralta, Andrew Poulas, Kaitlyn Schutt, Sydney Voss and Tabitha Wies. Alex Rolhfs was named the Business Student of the Year. He took nearly every course offered in the department and excelled in all of them. Rolhfs is also president of FBLA and president of the Business National Honor Society. He plans to attend Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Megan Giese was named Accounting 1 Student of the Year, and Jenna Matzen received the same award for Accounting 2. These students were picked based on their classroom work, CRT score and overall attitude towards accounting. These two students have worked hard in the classroom to achieve this honor that has been given out since 1959. It was a pleasure to have both of these great students in my class said instructor Erich Whitemore. Lillie Norris was recognized with the FHS Young Entrepreneurship award for her outstanding work in Entrepreneurship class, which included an excellent business plan and elevator pitch. Cade Niehaus and Taylor Sorensen shared the award for Marketing Student of the Year. They both stood out for their coursework in the Marketing 1 and Marketing 2 classes, excelling in many of the projects displaying intelligence and creativity. Sorensen also placed first in the area of marketing at the Wayne State Business Competition. This is a great opportunity for us to recognize our students for all of the outstanding work they have done throughout the year. Its also nice to be able to interact with the students outside of the classroom setting we are so used to seeing them in all the time, said business instructor Matt Burg. The Fremont Area Community Foundation will welcome five new members to its Board of Directors beginning July 1. They are: Patti Beebe, Jennifer Bixby, Kate Heineman, Caryl Johannsen, and Steve Swanson. Beebe is the office manager for Beebe Seed Farms, and has previously worked for Mutual of Omaha and for the University of Nebraska Medical Center as an emergency room technician. She received her EMT-Paramedic certification from Nebraska Methodist College. She is also a member of O.E.S Ruth Chapter 119, PEO Chapter CT, both of North Bend, and treasurer for the Ames Diking and Drainage District. She and her husband, Greg, live in North Bend with their two children, Mia and Samuel. Bixby is a realtor and partner at Don Peterson and Associates. She graduated from Midland Lutheran College (Midland University) with a BSBA in business. She has served on various nonprofit boards including the PTA, Fremont Area United Way, Dodge County AMBUCS and Friends of the Parks. In 2008, Bixby was elected to the Fremont City Council to represent Ward 4. She and her husband, JJ, live in Fremont with their four children, Joey, Josh, Jackson and Jaelyn. Heineman is executive director of curriculum, instruction, assessment and federal programs at Fremont Public Schools. She is a graduate of Midland Lutheran College (Midland University), has a masters degree in educational leadership from Doane College, and is a student in the Educational Specialist Program at Doane College. She is involved with the Fremont Area United Way and Fremont Kiwanis. She and her husband, Paul, live in Fremont and have two children, Allison and Jake. Johannsen is the director of operations for Wealth Partners. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in business administration/communication from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Johannsen is currently involved with the Fremont Kiwanis Club and the Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity. She has also been involved with Rebuilding Together, the Fremont Area United Way and Fremont Health, and is a Leadership Fremont graduate. She and her husband, Chuck, live in Fremont and have three children, Emma, Reed, and Delaney. Swanson is a 1985 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After graduating from college, he joined his third-generation family business, Swanson Insurance/Real Estate Inc., serving as owner since 2012. He is involved with the Scribner Chamber of Commerce, Scribner Fire/Rescue (20 years as a fire-fighter/EMT), and serves on the board of the United Church of Christ (as treasurer), Fransican Care Services, and the Scribner Area Foundation. Swanson was elected mayor of Scribner from 2006-10. He and his wife, Morgan, live in Scribner and have two sons, Matt and Kyle. Four directors will complete their board terms on June 30: Dick Hendriksen (10 years), Martin Koopman (9 years), Cheryl Lamme (9 years), Kari Ridder (3 years) and Cathy Saeger (9 years). These retiring board members will be honored during the foundations annual dinner in November. Traveling westward, along US Hwy 30, a historical buff or environmental enthusiast might lose himself in the history of the Pony Express, or in vast shadows falling across highway during the spring migration of millions of Sand Hill Cranes. That particular route across the nation has transformed immensely with history. From the days of wagon trains to the modern road existing today, the curious travelers of historical byway can move through a rich story of antiquity. Once again, a 21-mile portion of US 30 is set to experience transformation. The plan will involve the relocation of the section of the highway between Rogers and Fremont, moving the road approximately 1.5 miles north of its current route. On Tuesday, May 3 the Nebraska Department of roads will host a public informational open house regarding the proposed improvements to the highway. The open house takes place in the North Bend City Auditorium at 741 Main Street from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. NDOR officials will be on hand to discuss project updates, present design information, and answer any questions regarding its development. Former Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman approved the project in 2014 as part of the Build Nebraska Act, a 20-year funding mechanism that allocates a small fraction of state sales tax to state and local roads. Most of those funds go to Nebraska Department of Roads for expansion and reconstruction. According to Tim Weander, an NDOR Engineer for District 2, those funds will generate approximately $60 million per year for the 20-year period for purposes of road expansion and reconstruction. In regards to this specific project, Weander said much history exists, starting as far back as 1988 with the Nebraska Highway Needs Study Report. The report designated the section of Hwy. 30 running from Columbus to Fremont as part the Nebraska Expressway system. In 2008 the project was suspended due to lack of funding but with the implementation of the Build Nebraska Act, funding became available. Weander said, once completed, the old Hwy 30 will be relinquished to Dodge County or other local municipalities for uses as a county road or city street. Weander identified some of possible benefits. It helps to connect the urban centers of Nebraska, alleviates traffic and provides for regional continuity which can provide economic momentum because it serves commercial traffic. At the open house, he anticipates questions from area businesses and the public regarding the expansion. The redevelopment is not without some concern, however. At another meeting in North Bend earlier in April, the North Bend Chamber of Commerce and members of the North Bend community voiced concerns about the effects of shifting traffic 1.5 miles north where the new route intersects with Hwy 79. Jason Saalfeld, North Bend Chamber president, told the Fremont Tribune that they are concerned because the new intersection lies in an area where a lot of school traffic exists. Busses and students will need to traverse the intersection without a stoplight or overpass. The biggest issue is safety, Saalfeld said. You dont want to see people die. In January, Saalfeld said the North Bend Chamber sent NDOR Director Kyle Schneweis a letter stating those concerns. However, according to the NDOR, current traffic counts along Hwy 30 in the North Bend area do not warrant the construction of an overpass or a stop light. Weander explained that when determining the necessity for a stoplight or an overpass, the NDOR uses an algorithm based on a 20-year projection of traffic counts. That forecast uses 10,000 vehicles per day as the threshold. The algorithm looks at numbers like current traffic volume, future estimates, truck volumes, crash rates and a variable called the sight distance, which basically is a measure of impediments to a drivers line of sight down a road. Those impediments could be curves in the road, hills or other factors. Current algorithmic projections show that by 2018 the vehicle count on the west side of North Bend will only stand at 7,000 vehicles per day. On the east side of the city, 2018 projections show the count at only 7,700 vehicles per day. In 20 years both those numbers are predicted to reach slightly over the threshold of 10,000 vehicle per day, at which point the need for an overpass will be reassessed. Troy Anderson, director of planning for Fremont, also pointed out that some concern might exist over a shift of traffic 1.5 miles north that could affect businesses currently residing along Hwy. 30. What I think the city is more concerned with is the long term effects because there are a lot of businesses along the current (road) that will get by-passed, such as the Fremont Lakes, the airport and others, Anderson explained. But he said more research needs to be done to determine specific impacts, if any. President Xi Jinping greets delegates at the opening ceremony of the fifth meeting of foreign ministers of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday. WU ZHIYI / CHINA DAILY How to deal with the unprecedented security threats that Asia faces tops the agenda at the two-day Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, which opened in Beijing on Thursday. In particular, the shadows of war looming over the Korean Peninsula, as a result of the repeated nuclear and missile tests by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in defiance of the latest UN Security Council resolution, and the tensions building up in the South China Sea as a result of the frequent "freedom of navigation" operations being conducted by the United States, which challenge China's maritime sovereignty, pose severe and worsening threats to regional peace and stability. They also risk compromising economic prosperity in Asia, which accounts for more than one-third of the world's GDP and is home to 60 percent of the world's population. Failures to solve these and other issues have partly stemmed from a lack of trust among the countries involved, and each pursuing its own national interests. Participants at the conference should make the best use of the platform to try and build up trust and explore ways to set up a new framework that defines regional security cooperation on a larger scale. Addressing the opening ceremony of the fifth CICA foreign ministers' meeting, President Xi Jinping stressed China's resolve to prevent "war or chaos" on the Korean Peninsula and to achieve its denuclearization through dialogue and consultation. And he reiterated that, while China will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, rights and interests, it is willing to engage in friendly consultations and dialogues to make the South China Sea "a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation". China, the largest country in Asia and a UN Security Council permanent member, now holds the rotating presidency of the CICA, and it is determined to play its due part in safeguarding and promoting security in Asia in a responsible way. As Xi said, China is committed to forging a new kind of international relations featuring cooperation and reciprocity. Which was reflected in the State Oceanic Administration's news the same day that it is working on a new plan for cooperation in the South and East China seas by focusing on partnerships between China and ASEAN and East Asian countries. Of course all the issues will not be resolved overnight. But efforts must be made right now to establish such partnerships and a rule-based crisis-control mechanism in Asia. Rather than military prowess, it will be agreements achieved through dialogue and mutual trust that will guarantee long-term peace and security in Asia. I once started touring town with a crown on my head, going from diner to gas station to 4-H festival to church breakfast, announcing myself as Miss Pennsylvania, perfecting my half-smile and perky wave along the way. I did this because, even though I never participated in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant and, in fact, never had a date in high school, I badly needed some momentum in my love life. I figured that if I acted like Id won a beauty contest, Id eventually meet a nice doctor. Or something. Of course, I didnt actually do this. Even if I had attempted to snatch a crown from the pedestal of history, I wouldnt win. One look at my hair and somewhat-lopsided eyes is a testament to the fact that I am the kind of woman grandmothers used to sit by their sides on Saturday nights to watch Lawrence Welk. The point I am inartfully trying to make is that one does not put the cart before the horse, especially if ones horse is three steps away from the glue factory. Which brings me to Ted Cruz. The GOP candidate who is, by all accounts, trailing Donald Trump in both delegates and the popular vote is not only not throwing in the towel, he is wrapping it around his head like a turban and pretending to be the Amazing Kreskin who will, poof!, extract a convention victory out of Carly Fiorinas mouth. On Wednesday afternoon, Cruz announced that Fiorina was going to be competing in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant. No, scratch that. What he announced was that Fiorina would be his vice president pick in the general election, which he has apparently convinced himself he will be running in against either Hillary Clinton or the person who hires a member of the Salvadoran drug gang MS-18 to kidnap the former secretary of state and keep her incommunicado until November. Because essentially, that is the only way that Hillary make sure you dont forget the Rodham Clinton is going to be AWOL come autumn. She is inevitable. Cruz, on the other hand, is far from inevitable. His numbers, while better than those of John Kasich, are nothing compared to the juggernaut, Trump. And while the political honchos are still weaving scenarios in which there could be a contested convention and Cruz could snatch the nomination from Trump, those of us who are not hitting our heads against the looking glass have sadly come to the realization that it will be a Trump-Clinton contest after the conventions. This is sort of like the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, only with more testosterone. So when I watched the senator from Texas get up to the podium and, after a long preamble, announce his VP choice, I was perplexed. It was just like my fantasy of pretending to have won Miss Pennsylvania, only my fantasy played out in my head while Cruz was exposing his to an audience of hopeful-but-ultimately-puzzled supporters. Dont get me wrong. I think Fiorina is magnificent. During the early debates, she wiped the floor with whoever else was on stage next to her, and she held her own with Trump when he went on one of his misogynistic rants about her face. I, for one, dont understand the insults because I think she is very attractive, but my judgment is suspect. I wore rayon well beyond the 1970s. And yet, that is an irrelevancy, which everyone except Trump seems to understand. The way a woman looks should have no bearing on the way she is perceived by voters, and I say this as a person who is frequently told that she needs a drastic makeover (so you could only imagine what Id get if I ran for public office). Many people have also attacked Fiorinas business record, continually pointing to the massive job losses suffered at Hewlett-Packard on her watch. But the majority of those who have examined her history at both HP and in the business world in general have a strong and positive opinion of her abilities. Furthermore, her intelligence is awesome, and she easily dwarfs 90 percent of the people still running in the election (her new running mate being the possible exception) when it comes to brain power. And yet, it is strange, and premature to be talking about what a great vice president Fiorina would be and I think shed be a great one when the person at the top of her purported ticket has a slim-to-none chance of actually being the presidential nominee in July. This does not mean that I dont want him to be the nominee. Id take anyone over Trump at this point, including the barista at my local Starbucks who finally figured out that my name is spelled with Ch and not a K. The kid clearly has a steep learning curve, but hes learning. I cant say the same for Trump. With Cruz, I know Ill be getting smart, and with Fiorina, I know Ill be getting tough. The two of them together would make a formidable team. But the premature announcement looks like a Hail Mary pass made by a kid in the Pop Warner league to his mother. It looks juvenile, amateur and desperate. Or, it could just be that magical thinking I was talking about, where you steal a crown and start parading yourself around as a winner despite all the evidence to the contrary. And that just makes you look crazy. Which doesnt usually win elections. At least, not up till now. Christine M. Flowers is a lawyer and columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News. Readers may send her email at cflowers1961@gmail.com. PASLANG, Nepal Within days of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that nearly wiped this hilltop hamlet off the map, Raj Kumar Sahi began building a shed to shelter his family, salvaging twisted metal sheets and splintered strips of wood from the rubble of their four-room home. A year later, the shed has taken on an air of permanence. A satellite dish crowns the tin roof and electrical cables snake through the panels that serve as walls. The dirt entryway is neatly swept. Above the door hangs a withered garland, a remnant of a festival several months ago. The house still lies in a heap of stone and bricks, a constant reminder that the family like nearly all of Nepals quake victims has not received funds the government promised for reconstruction. I knew it would be slow, so we built the shed right away, Sahi said. But I didnt think we would be here for a year. And the way things are going, I cannot say how many more months or years it will be like this. Despite a worldwide outpouring of grief and assistance that followed last years April 25 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and damaged or destroyed 1 million homes, Nepals recovery has barely gotten off the ground. The government agency charged with overseeing the biggest humanitarian operation in the Himalayan nations history has been stymied by political infighting and mired in bureaucratic delays. Work commenced only in January. Little of the $4.1 billion pledged at an international donor conference in June has been spent, triggering frustration among diplomats in the United States and other countries, some of which have signaled they might shave their contributions. Reconstruction officials said last week that they were still finalizing damage assessments in 11 of the hardest-hit districts, the first step toward releasing $2,000 grants for families to rebuild their homes. Across 8,000 quake-ravaged square miles, which include some of Asias most majestic and forbidding terrain, victims are facing the prospect of enduring a second consecutive summer monsoon in flimsy sheds, flood-prone and inviting to mosquitoes. Sadly, its quite simple: Reconstruction hasnt begun, said Chandan Sapkota, an independent analyst who until last year served as an economist for the Asian Development Bank in Nepal. The kind of urgency you saw in the months after the quake has been lost. The government is stuck in the process. The current environment is confusion at the planning level and uncertainty at the village level. In Paslang, a village of about 300 people just 12 miles from the quakes epicenter in north-central Nepal, 50 of 56 homes were flattened and two people killed, including a 1-month-old boy. When a Los Angeles Times reporter visited Paslang five days after the quake, residents were picking through the debris and had just received the first truckloads of blue tarpaulin sheets, medical kits and other emergency supplies from local and international relief groups. The village, overlooking terraced fields that tumble down to a forested valley, seems little changed since then. The blue tarps that sheltered people in the temblors immediate aftermath have been replaced by tin-and-timber shacks. The piles of stone and mud debris have yet to be cleared. A few stray possessions poke out from the detritus of the Sahi home a cotton jacket, a mosquito net, a mangled umbrella but most of the familys belongings remain trapped underneath. Sahi, a bank security guard in the capital, Katmandu, had to borrow money to build the shack that would house his wife and two daughters, a bamboo shelter for their two cattle and a chicken coop. The only space they had was the small plot next to their house where they grew maize and vegetables. With no sign that the government would quickly release reconstruction money, Sahi and his family made the agonizing decision to cover the plot in dirt so they could build atop it choosing shelter over a reliable source of food and income. That was disheartening, said Sahi, a slender man with deep creases around his eyes. But we did not have a choice. At every step they have faced delays and setbacks. An initial $150 government grant for temporary shelter took months to arrive, and Sahis mother, whose house next door was also destroyed, was declared ineligible because she did not hold a deed to the land. Sahi used his grant to build her a shelter. A second payment of $100 to help quake victims prepare for the winter did not reach them until last month. During the cold season, as the hillsides grew barren and temperatures hovered near freezing, the wind whipped through the tin walls as they slept. Sahis wife, Madhu, took ill and the family depleted its savings to pay for her medical care in Gorkha, the district headquarters a few miles away. She said she has lost count of the number of officials and engineers who have visited the village to survey the damage. A lot of people come, ask questions, take pictures and write down information, she said. But we havent received anything. Nepals government, fractious and often dysfunctional even in good times, responded to the quake by pushing through a long-delayed constitution that turned out to be extremely divisive. Protests paralyzed the government while India, which was unhappy with the new constitution, imposed a five-month, de facto blockade that deprived Nepal of its main fuel source and drove up the cost of construction materials. Parties squabbled over control of the newly formed Nepal Reconstruction Authority, which was not formally authorized until eight months after the quake. Even before it launched, its well-regarded chief executive was replaced by a compromise choice. Since then, analysts say, it has struggled to recruit staff because bureaucrats are reluctant to join an agency that is seen as highly politicized and saddled with a mammoth task. Housed in a low-slung, prefab building in a government complex in Katmandu, the agencys offices were nearly deserted on a recent morning. A young clerk sat at a desk, updating her Facebook page. The only sounds were the whirring of ceiling fans and the booming voice of spokesman Ram Thapaliya, who was defending the agency to a succession of foreign journalists. In the last three to four months we have done a lot, Thapaliya said, listing the guidelines it had approved for distributing the cash grants and rules published for building quake-resistant structures. But those moves only created more confusion. Quake survivors who began rebuilding months ago were told they wouldnt receive grants if their houses did not conform to the new rules. Thapaliya said about $650 million of the pledged foreign assistance is ready to be disbursed, but analysts say donors are raising questions about whether the government can spend the full $4.1 billion within five years, the life span of the agency. Theres great disappointment among the international community about the response to the quake, said Tim Johnston, Asia director for the International Crisis Group. All governments around the world are cutting budgets savagely, and it would be naive to think that Nepals slow response wont make it harder to get the money that has been pledged for reconstruction disbursed. Last month, several villages were cleared to receive the first of the $2,000 grants, which are to be distributed in three installments. Paslang was not on the list. Many villagers believe that politicians are directing aid money to their constituent areas first. Sahi noted that the surrounding district of Gorkha gave rise to Prithvi Narayan Shah, the 18th century ruler who united several kingdoms into what eventually became Nepal. These days, he said, Paslang and surrounding communities are forgotten by the political elites in Katmandu. We had historical importance to Nepal, he said. But today there is no one in this village who has access to the powerful. MEXICO CITY Six years ago Bernardino Hernandez boarded a plane to Mexico City with not much his high school yearbook, a printer and his college copy of Thomas Mores Magician, a novel about creating a utopian community in 16th-century Mexico. He had recently graduated from the University of California, Davis, but he felt limited by his lack of legal status in the United States. Hernandez was 21 years old and unsure whether hed ever reach his potential in a country that hed called home since he was a toddler but that now wouldnt allow him to work legally. Before he departed, his disapproving father gave him $1,000 in cash but warned him, I wont pay for a coyote to bring you back. No need. Though he gave up on his American dream in the U.S., he is now living it in Mexico. Hernandez, 27, is at the helm of a translation company he launched last fall, leading a team of 15 linguists who offer services in nearly two dozen languages to multiple businesses, including eight transnational companies. He regularly travels to the U.S. as a business executive. Until recently he had been a high-level manager for a Fortune 100 company. His career in Mexico allowed him to save enough money to attend university in Canada, where he earned his masters degree. Ive traveled to more places in the U.S. while living in Mexico than while I was living in the U.S. Im glad I did leave, he said. I wanted to find my own way. Hernandez is one of more than 500,000 people ages 18 to 35 who have returned to Mexico since 2005 after spending significant time in the U.S., said Jill Anderson, an independent researcher and activist in Mexico City who has studied the phenomenon. Although some were deported, others, like Hernandez, voluntarily returned. They are often called los otros dreamers, or the other dreamers. Hernandezs success story runs counter to the much-told narrative of hardship and challenges many so-called Dreamers people brought to the U.S. at a young age and who stayed illegally face upon returning to their place of birth after growing up American. Only a small percentage excel, Anderson said, but those who do are increasingly involved in a tight network, taking leadership roles and helping other former Dreamers. Their success is not a reflection of Mexico, but of their determination to clear hurdles in their path, she said. I think it speaks to the amazing potential of this population, said Anderson, who co-wrote a book, Los Otros Dreamers, on the subject. They are definitely beating the odds, and I think its because they are determined to do it no matter where they land ... despite the violence, despite the corruption and impunity that plagues many Mexican communities. Initially, it didnt come easy for Hernandez, who mistakenly believed that his U.S. education would automatically give him a leg up in Mexicos job market. As he struggled, he looked at his parents, still living in California, and what they accomplished as inspiration. A free-falling economy in the mid-1990s and minimal education had prompted Emilio and Sira Hernandez to strike out for the United States. The couple left Oaxaca, taking Hernandez, 2 at the time. They followed the harvests for farm work until settling in Santa Maria, along Californias Central Coast. Eventually they arrived at their American dream, renting and buying enough land to start their own large vegetable farm, selling tomatillos, squash and other produce. Hernandez led a comfortable life in Santa Maria, excelled in school, lettered in high school cross country. If he worked hard, teachers and his parents told him, he could accomplish anything. I remember pledging allegiance to the American flag when I was a kid. I didnt even know the Mexican national anthem, he said. For me, I was more American than Mexican. But slowly, Hernandez grew cynical. In high school, he soon discovered he didnt qualify for most scholarships because of his legal status. His parents could foot the bill for his undergraduate studies at UC Davis, where he earned a bachelors degree in international relations and Spanish, but he would have to pay for his masters at the schools Latin American studies program. He couldnt because he couldnt legally work. It was 2010 and Hernandez had no way to legalize his status. It would be two more years until the Obama administration announced an immigration program that gave young people like him a work permit and reprieve from deportation. Hernandezs feelings of disaffection with the U.S. are common among the Dreamer diaspora, Anderson said. They realize that they did everything right, and they still couldnt take advantage of that sort of mythical American dream, she said. When Hernandez arrived in Mexico City, he quickly realized that his American lifestyle of eating all the time and renting an apartment in a hip neighborhood, Condesa, was too expensive in the megalopolis he now called home. He scaled down, moved to a more affordable neighborhood and shopped at open-air markets instead of chain grocery stores. He eventually started to exploit his bilingual skills, approaching English-language schools to work as an instructor. He learned he could make more money on his own and eventually left, taking his clients with him. He built such a large network of clients that he was once again able to live like an American: going out to dinner and nights out on the town with friends. Still, his sights were on something more. He saved up and scored a scholarship for a masters program in modern languages and Latin American studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. After two years in school, he had the option to stay in Canada and become a resident there. He declined, wanting to return to Mexico to take advantage of what he said was a burgeoning startup scene. Christina Weidemann, who attended university and worked with Hernandez in Canada, said her friends ambition and smarts arent the only reasons for his success. He has the sense for taking advantage of being familiar with both cultures so perfectly, she said. When he is together with North Americans, his attitude changes and so does his personality. And when he is together with Mexicans, speaking Spanish with Mexicans, he changes in a way. He can adapt very well to both environments. I think thats a huge advantage. His ability to seamlessly navigate both work cultures, paired with his university degrees, helped him land a job as a translation contractor at Johnson Controls, a Fortune 100 company that produces automobile parts. He became something of a liaison linking American and Mexican workers within the company. I was able to communicate, for example, Mexicos business and learning needs to the U.S. headquarters, because often most of the programs or business models are U.S.-centric and do not consider the business culture in Mexico, he said. After only eight months, he worked his way up to management. It led to an opportunity to travel for business, and he was granted a U.S. business and tourism visa in January 2015. A month later, he flew for the first time to the U.S. for a business trip to Florida. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent at the airport did a double take when he looked at Hernandezs profile on the computer. What are you here for? the agent asked. Business, Hernandez said and smiled very much aware of the irony of the situation. He was taken to another area and questioned about where he had lived in the U.S. when he was in the country illegally, but he was eventually let go. Hernandez called his family from Miami to let them know he was stateside. They didnt believe me, he said and smiled. In November, he launched a startup called QuickTrans, which is something of an Uber in that it pairs translators, transcribers and interpreters with companies seeking those services. Some of his linguists are dreamers too. Hernandez runs the outfit from his kitchen table at home. His UC Davis diploma hangs on a wall above. He has traveled to the U.S. at least half a dozen times. The second time, he made a side trip to Californias Central Coast. He landed in Los Angeles and rode Amtrak to visit his siblings in Santa Maria a trip he often made when he attended summer school at UCLA. They greeted him with a big poster that read Welcome back home. Its funny, he thought to himself. Its not home anymore. Six Fremont High School students qualified to compete in the National SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky., by placing first in their given divisions during the Nebraska SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference held April 20-22 in Omaha. Thirteen FHS students competed during competition days April 21-22, and students competing in the Career Pathways Showcase and Welding Fabrication divisions were awarded gold medals for their efforts enabling them to compete at Nationals in June. Students competing in the Career Pathways Showcase were Wil Neuhaus, Noah Ondracek and Joe Keller. The trio explained to a panel of judges the extent of their work with the organization Rebuilding Togethor, and how they were able to build a handicap accessible ramp at a local man's home allowing him heightened mobility. The first-place winnng Welding Fabrication team which qualified for last years Nationals event was led by Hunter Gustafson, Morgan Mayer and Kyeler Tenezek. Additionally, Noah Kohl was awarded a second-place medal for his work with Electrical Construction Wiring. The additional six competing students are still waiting to hear their overall placement in competition, said Keith Cunnings, industrial technology instructor and SkillsUSA advisor and Rebuilding Together board member. Cunnings said that 80 different competitions took place during the Nebraska conference 114 will take place in June and that FHS students participated in eight. Cunnings was proud of his students ability to showcase a multitude of skills. We have a really diverse curriculum here, Cunnings said. So we can prepare these kids in the best ways. Brad Ryun, industrial technology instructor and SkillsUSA advisor, said that students participating in SkillsUSA which is an extracurricular activity, show a high level of dedication to their craft while also working hard to better their community through various projects. Not only have students bettered one residents life by heightening his mobility, they also help out with the Fremont Home and Builders Show by setting up, tearing down and educating the public about what they do. We are trying to get out into the community to make a positive impact, Cunnings said. This is an organization based on making the students productive citizens, and to be a productive citizen you have to be there for your community. Ryun praised the amount of support received from community and business leaders, much of what the SkillsUSA students do would not be possible without their support, he said. Cunnings said that the Nebraska Convention was great preparation for Nationals in June. Our kids did a really good job everything went really well, he said. Now we get to start preparing for Nationals. 'Dont Starve Together' is a standalone multiplayer spin-off of ' Dont Starve '. It has been in Early Access since December of 2014, with its own set of updates and content. The first expansion, 'Reign of Giants', has been incorporated into it, but it doesnt have anything from ' Shipwrecked ' at this time. The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take Ah, 'Dont Starve', my old ball and chain. I have been thoroughly hooked since the 'Together' early access started, frequently peer pressuring my friends to join in my starvation and then offering no sympathy when they also wound up addicted. This is much the same experience as 'Dont Starve: Giant Edition'. My merry band of homeless misfits is dumped unceremoniously into a harsh wilderness, with no civilization in sight. Together we collect resources, cook food, build things, and comfort each other in the darkness (by fighting off the shadow monsters, nothing scandalous!). 'DST' has none of the Adventure Mode content from the original game, but the suite of world settings is super comprehensive. As the server host/benevolent dictator, I carefully tweaked the spawn and refresh rates of various monsters and resources between each playthrough until we achieved just the right level of difficulty. My homies had to put up with several restarts, but once we were off and running, the world was our oyster. A deadly, toxic, horrible oyster, full of nasty creatures and brutal climates. Experiencing all four seasons is crucial to getting all of the content, so we braved the endless monsoons of spring, the deadly overheating of summer, and the frigid frigidness of winter. Autumn is peacetime (if such a thing exists in 'Dont Starve'), so we spend it engaged in vigorous crafting to prepare ourselves for the inclement weather and the inevitable appearance of the giants. My complaints about the original have almost all been addressed in 'DST'. Giants can be toned down or removed, and having more hands on deck means that when they do spawn, were more prepared to defend our home (of course, most monsters have seen a health buff to make them more challenging for a team). Seasons can be shortened to nerf their impact and let us focus more on progress than just survival. Feeding a whole family of survivors can be challenging, especially in the early game, but we soon developed a sustainable, organic farm and spider mill to generate enough raw food year-round. As the camp chef I am responsible for the menu and all meals, while Alexis is our farmer/tentacle enthusiast and Andy, well...he mostly burns things down. But sometimes pyromania has its own rewards, it turns out. Klei has been steadily increasing the amount of stuff in 'DST', most notably the addition of caves (one of the coolest parts of the original, and originally problematic for multiplayer servers) and beefalo taming. Caves especially are very time- and resource-intensive, and quickly fatal for the unprepared. They make the surface world look downright tame in comparison. However, death in 'DST' isnt necessarily a big deal, especially on Endless mode. Players can be revived through many means, with or without a maximum health penalty (which can be counteracted with booster shots). The host can even roll back the server by several in-game days in case of a catastrophic loss. In the base game, death could mean the end of many hours of play with little to show for it, except for perhaps enough experience for an unlockable character. Here its a minor inconvenience, and it happens less and less as we get better at not starving. Also, all characters are unlocked from the beginning, even the elusive Wes and Maxwell. I always play on friends-only servers, and I think that is the best way to experience 'Dont Starve Together'. Playing just about anything with friends makes it better, after all. Public servers are available and can have very different rules - some are genuinely cooperative, some are cooperative in name only, and others are full-on competitive PvP spectacles in the vein of a gothic 'Hunger Games'. Klei has been very good about player freedom this way. For cheaters or hosts who need to make changes to a server after it goes live (and world settings therefore cannot be altered), console commands can be used to accomplish nearly anything. Ohrtman of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources May 1-7 is being observed as Source Water Protection Week in Iowa communities, including 15 pilot projects, which are creating plans to guard their source of drinking water whether its an aquifer, lake or river. Source Water Protection Week is an opportunity to celebrate and provide awareness of ongoing SWP partnerships in Iowa, said Rebecca Ohrtman, the program coordinator at the Department of Natural Resources. Communities work with the department and other partners in the Collaborative, which can provide Iowans information and resources to protect their drinking water sources. For more information, visit www.iowasourcewater.org. The DNR is also encouraging Iowans to celebrate improvements in Iowas air quality during Air Quality Awareness Week May 2-6. Since 1990, sulfur dioxide emission have decreased by 60 percent and nitrogen oxides are down 43cent, the DNR reports. Des Moines Bureau HANLONTOWN | A man who was stopped with a pound of marijuana on Interstate 35 near Hanlontown last April was sentenced to up to five years in prison this week. Matthew Paulson, 31, of Stacy, Minnesota, pleaded guilty in February in Worth County District Court to possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, a Class D felony. A $750 fine was suspended. Paulson was stopped by a state trooper for speeding at Mile Marker 202, which is just south of the Hanlontown exit, about 9:30 p.m. April 20, 2015, according to court documents. Troopers say Paulson failed field sobriety tests. More than a pound of marijuana was found in a bag inside the vehicle, which troopers had towed from the scene, documents allege. Paulson allegedly told the trooper the drugs were his and that he was coming from a marijuana rally in Colorado. -- Mary Pieper MASON CITY The former owner of a now-closed juice bar in Nora Springs will not be prosecuted for a liquor law violation if he meets conditions approved by the court. An agreement filed Thursday in Floyd County District Court requires Dale Peterson, owner of a former juice bar called the Pole Barn Theater, not be charged with any Iowa liquor law violations within the county for 180 days. He also must pay court costs when the matter is resolved. Floyd County Attorney Randall Tilton agreed to defer judgment, or not prosecute the case, if Peterson complies with terms of the agreement. Peterson was cited March 10 for allegedly allowing liquor not covered by a liquor license inside a public establishment. Its a simple misdemeanor. It was alleged that dancers at the Pole Barn were spotted bringing in a bottle of hard liquor. Patrons at juice bars are only allowed to bring in wine or liquor. Peterson closed the Pole Barn in late March, citing need for extensive repairs. An inspection by the State Fire Marshals Office found 36 violations in the former juice bar, the two upstairs apartments and the corridor shared with the adjacent property. It failed due to exposed cable and other numerous alleged violations. Molly Montag Albany NY , April 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Personal care ingredients are the raw materials used in the manufacture of different personal care products. These can be classified on the basis of their formulation. Different product segments of personal care ingredients include surfactants, conditioning polymers, emollients, rheology control agents, emulsifiers, antimicrobials, and others (UV absorbers and hair fixative polymers). Surfactants accounted for over 30% share of the global personal care ingredients market in 2014. Surfactants are used in the manufacture of hair care and skin care products. Conditioning polymers are primarily employed in hair care products. Emollients are widely used in skin care and cosmetics products owing to anti-aging, softening and moisturizing properties, while emulsifiers are used in lotions and creams to mix water with oil. Antimicrobial ingredients ensure that personal care products are free of microorganisms during storage and usage. Hair fixative polymers are used in hair sprays and other hair styling products. UV absorbers are used in personal care ingredients to provide protection against UV rays. Personal care ingredients are primarily used in the manufacture of skin care, hair care, oral care, cosmetics, fragrances, and toiletries products. Increase in health awareness among consumers is likely to boost the personal care ingredients market in the next few years. Skin care and hair care applications have been driving the demand for personal care ingredients over the past few years and are likely to continue driving the market in the near future. Skin care application holds the major share of the global personal care ingredients market. Cosmetics, fragrances, and toiletries applications are likely to fuel the market for personal care ingredients in the near future. Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical insights: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=7349 Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing market due to rising demand for personal care products in the region. The personal care ingredients market in the region is anticipated to exhibit the fastest growth rate, expanding at a CAGR of over 6% between 2015 and 2023. In terms of demand, Asia Pacific accounted for more than 30% share of the global personal care ingredients market in 2014, primarily due to high consumption in China and India. Other countries in Southeast Asia also constituted significant share of the personal care ingredients market in 2014. Demand for personal care ingredients in North America and Europe is expected to be sluggish during the forecast period owing to stringent rules and regulations for personal care ingredients in these regions. However, the outlook for both these regions appears positive due to high demand for personal care products. Future potential for the personal care ingredients market in Latin America appears positive owing to rising usage of personal care products in Brazil. Demand for personal care ingredients is likely to be lower in Middle East & Africa (MEA), as compared to that in other regions. Browse Research Blog: http://www.tmrblog.com/2015/12/personal-care-ingredients-market-faces.html Key companies in the personal care ingredients market include BASF SE, Evonik, Akzo Nobel N.V., Ashland, Dow Corning Corporation, Lonza Group Ltd., Croda International Plc, Wacker Chemie AG, and Clariant. Apart from these global players, various local small-scale companies operate in the personal care ingredients market in their respective regions. Browse Research Article: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/article/personal-care-ingredients-market.htm Personal Care Ingredients Market - Product Segment Analysis Surfactants Conditioning polymers Emollients Rheology control agents Emulsifiers Antimicrobials Others (Including UV absorbers and hair fixative polymers) Personal Care Ingredients Market - Application Analysis Skin care Hair care Oral care Cosmetics Others (Including fragrances and toiletries) Personal Care Ingredients Market - Regional Analysis North America S. Rest of North America Europe Germany Italy Spain K. France Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Research PR: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/personal-care-ingredients-market.htm Browse Other Research Reports: Specialty Printing Consumables Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/us-specialty-printing-consumables.html Green & Bio-based Solvents Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/green-biobased-solvents-market.html About TMR Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. LOS ANGELES, April 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a declaration submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of SoCalGas, Mr. Robert Ettinger asserted that airborne chemicals from background outdoor sources, unrelated to the leak, cause eye and throat irritations. The chemicals identified by Mr. Ettinger include ammonia and formaldehyde. Attorneys for the residents of Porter Ranch learned that records submitted to the state by SoCalGas regarding the Aliso Canyon facility show massive historical releases of formaldehyde and ammonia. The records, however, are not current. There is sporadic data after 2006 and no data from 2015. The attorneys asked SoCalGas to provide copies of all historical and current test data regarding known toxins by Monday, May 2, 2016. For a copy of the letter, click here. For a copy of Robert Ettingers declaration and supporting exhibits, click here. About The R. Rex Parris Law Firm For over 30 years, R. Rex Parris has devoted his practice to protecting the rights of injured people and aggrieved workers. Rex and his dedicated team provide thorough, high-quality representation with integrity and compassion. These lawyers fight aggressively against corporate defense attorneys and insurance companies to ensure their clients get the compensation they deserve. For more information, visit rrexparris.com. The Board of Directors of NattoPharma ASA (the "Company") hereby convenes an Annual General Meeting 20 May 2016 at 15:00 hours (CET) at the Company's office in Kirkeveien 59B, 1363 Hvik. Please see enclosed Notice of Annual General Meeting and Agenda, supporting documents can be found at the company website, www.nattopharma.com. For further information, please contact; Kjetil Ramsy CFO - NattoPharma ASA Email: kjetil.ramsoy@nattopharma.com Phone: (+47) 906 12 943 Icelandic English The five-year Statement of Fiscal Policy and Fiscal Strategy Plan for the public sector, presented before Parliament today, entail that it will be possible in coming years to prepare even better for the well-being of coming generations by paying down public debt, reducing levies on individuals with lower and fairer taxes, building up social infrastructure, and significantly strengthening core government services with increased contributions, a stronger healthcare system, and enhanced quality of education. The Statement of Fiscal Policy is presented on the basis of new legislation on public sector finances. It provides for general objectives concerning developments in public sector finances i.e., the state and the local authorities while a more detailed description of the objectives of the policy can be found in the Fiscal Strategy Plan. With this, an important step is taken towards strengthening the fiscal framework and introducing greater integration and discipline in planning for the public sector, with emphasis on long-term economic stability. The Act on Public Sector Finances implements stringent rules on operational performance and developments in the debt level. According to the plan, these objectives will be achieved during the first two years of the plan, with a positive overall balance for the entire five-year period and a reduction in gross general government debt to 30% of GDP. The overall balance of the general government will be positive by at least 1% of GDP during the horizon of the plan, in order to maintain economic stability. In 2017, the central government primary balance is expected to be positive by ISK 26.5 billion. NEW YORK, April 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guggenheim Investments, the investment management division of Guggenheim Partners, today announced that the following Guggenheim exchange traded funds (ETFs) have declared distributions. The table below summarizes the distribution for each ETF. Distributions Schedule Ticker Exchange Traded Fund Name Ex-Date Record Date Payable Date Total Rate Per Share GSY Guggenheim Enhanced Short Duration ETF1 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0561 GTO Guggenheim Total Return Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.1094 BSCG Guggenheim BulletShares 2016 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0158 BSCH Guggenheim BulletShares 2017 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0243 BSCI Guggenheim BulletShares 2018 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0276 BSCJ Guggenheim BulletShares 2019 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0325 BSCK Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0388 BSCL Guggenheim BulletShares 2021 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0440 BSCM Guggenheim BulletShares 2022 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0439 BSCN Guggenheim BulletShares 2023 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0494 BSCO Guggenheim BulletShares 2024 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0509 1On September 30, 2013, Guggenheim Enhanced Short Duration Bond ETF changed its name to Guggenheim Enhanced Short Duration ETF. Distributions Schedule Ticker Exchange Traded Fund Name Ex-Date Record Date Payable Date Total Rate Per Share BSCP Guggenheim BulletShares 2025 Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0361 BSJG Guggenheim BulletShares 2016 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0547 BSJH Guggenheim BulletShares 2017 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0768 BSJI Guggenheim BulletShares 2018 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0931 BSJJ Guggenheim BulletShares 2019 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0947 BSJK Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0883 BSJL Guggenheim BulletShares 2021 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.0922 BSJM Guggenheim BulletShares 2022 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.1002 BSJN Guggenheim BulletShares 2023 High Yield Corporate Bond ETF 05/02/16 05/04/16 05/06/16 $ 0.1094 Past performance is not indicative of future performance. To the extent any portion of the distribution is estimated to be sourced from something other than income, such as return of capital, the source would be disclosed on a Section 19(a)-1 letter located on the Funds website under the Literature tab. Distributions may be comprised of sources other than income, which may not reflect actual fund performance. For more information, please visit http://www.guggenheiminvestments.com/products/etf. About Guggenheim Investments Guggenheim Investments is the global asset management and investment advisory division of Guggenheim Partners, with $199 billion1 in total assets across fixed income, equity, and alternative strategies. We focus on the return and risk needs of insurance companies, corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, consultants, wealth managers, and high-net-worth investors. Our 275+ investment professionals perform rigorous research to understand market trends and identify undervalued opportunities in areas that are often complex and underfollowed. This approach to investment management has enabled us to deliver innovative strategies providing diversification and attractive long-term results. Read a funds prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before investing. It contains the funds investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information, which should be considered carefully before investing. Obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) at http://guggenheiminvestments.com or call 800.820.0888. The referenced funds are distributed by Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC. Guggenheim Investments represents the investment management businesses of Guggenheim Partners, LLC (Guggenheim), which includes Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC ("GFIA") and Guggenheim Partners Investment Management (GPIM), the investment advisors to the referenced funds. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, is affiliated with Guggenheim, GFIA and GPIM. 1 Guggenheim Investments total asset figure is as of 03.31.2016. The assets include leverage of $11.4bn for assets under management and $0.5bn for assets for which we provide administrative services. Guggenheim Investments represents the following affiliated investment management businesses: Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC, Security Investors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Investment Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC, Guggenheim Real Estate, LLC, Transparent Value Advisors, LLC, GS GAMMA Advisors, LLC, Guggenheim Partners Europe Limited, and Guggenheim Partners India Management. HOUSTON, April 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR) announced today the results of its 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on Friday, April 29, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Based on the voting results from the meeting, stockholders re-elected Messrs. John F. Bookout, III, Roger A. Brown, David Dickson, Stephen G. Hanks, Gary P. Luquette, William H. Schumann, III and David A. Trice and Ms. Mary L. Shafer-Malicki, and elected Mr. Erich Kaeser, to McDermotts Board of Directors, all for one-year terms. In addition, stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, McDermotts named executive officer compensation, approved both the Companys 2016 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan and the Companys 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan and ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2016. About McDermott McDermott is a leading provider of integrated engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) services for upstream field developments worldwide. The Company delivers fixed and floating production facilities, pipelines and subsea systems from concept to commissioning for complex Offshore and Subsea oil and gas projects to help oil companies safely produce and transport hydrocarbons. Our customers include national and major energy companies. Operating in more than 20 countries across the world, our locally focused and globally integrated resources include approximately 11,200 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels, fabrication facilities and engineering offices. We are renowned for our extensive knowledge and experience, technological advancements, performance records, superior safety and commitment to deliver. McDermott has served the energy industry since 1923 and shares of the common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As used in this press release, McDermott includes McDermott International, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. To learn more, please visit our website at www.mcdermott.com. Re: The first English settlers to establish a permanent colony in America [ #permalink Vithal wrote: The first English settlers to establish a permanent colony in America did it not at Plymouth but along the shore of the James River west of Chesapeake Bay. A.it not at Plymouth but B.so not at Plymouth but C.not at Plymouth but instead D.not at Plymouth but did so E.it not at Plymouth but rather what does it refer to? no referent.yes "so" is used to present the action. gmat likes the usage of "do so".but and instead are redundant. we should use only one contrast word.not x but y. here x and y are not parallel."it" is wrong. not x but rather y is not idiomatic._________________ Veteran union organizers in New York City are launching a so-called "solidarity organization" for NYC Uber drivers this weekend, making the case that a united front will help drivers fight for higher compensation, even though they don't have the legal right to unionize or collectively bargain. The push comes more than two months after Uber, which was recently valued at $62.5 billion, reduced trip fares by 15% city-wide. Full-time drivers on the platform responded by launching a series of brief strikes, demanding a rollback of the fare cut and the option for Uber passengers to tip. The new association, which organizers say has amassed 1,000 drivers as of this writing, will be called Amalgamated Local Livery Drivers in Solidarity, or ALLES. Organizer Kevin Lynch explains the acronym references a line from the German national anthemtranslated into English, "uber alles" means "over all." "We feel we're the 'all,' and we're going to be over Uber eventually," Lynch said. Uber drivers in New York City and across the country are classified as independent contractors rather than employees, meaning the startup has no obligation to bargain with them. Speaking with us on Friday, organizer Kevin Lynch explained that his first goal is to rally as many drivers as possible. "It won't be a union, but it could be a self-help organization," he said. "If we band together we can keep them [the drivers] from getting picked on, and get the City and State to regulate them." How ALLES will go about achieving this goal is less certain. A settlement reached last week between Uber and its drivers in California and Massachusetts denied employee status in those states, but awarded up to $100 million to the plaintiffs. In a statement on the settlement, Uber also agreed to fund "drivers associations" in both states, to meet quarterly with the company and discuss "issues that matter most to drivers." Lynch, who helped organize New York livery drivers in the 1990s, said that the association aspect of the agreement was encouraging. "There is a strength when you bring thousands of people together," Lynch said. "In the absence of employee status in California, Uber has agreed to negotiate with an association out there." ALLES is also hoping to build solidarity with Uber riders, who, the organizers argue, are by-and-large young, part-time or freelance workers. "Drivers say that an awful lot of people they pick up are in a similar situation, are part of this gig economy," Lynch said. "So a lot of these passengers have the same sense of being ripped off." He declined to comment on how, specifically, drivers and riders would band together. Uber drivers striking in February (Max Rivlin-Nadler / Gothamist) Bhairavi Desai, founder of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, countered on Friday that anything short of full employee status and the right to organize as a traditional union would only hurt the drivers in the long run. "Uber saying that it will recognize Uber associations is just good old company unionism, which builds no power for the workers," she said. "We're not looking to legitimize that model when we think a real union can be built." The Taxi Workers Alliance, which helped organize rallies in NYC after Uber cut fare in February says that it currently represents about 5,000 Uber drivers. Desai said it is planning more actions for the next few months, but could not confirm if the Alliance was in talks with any union locals in New York City. To date, Seattle is the only city in the US where Uber and Lyft drivers have been awarded bargaining rights, albeit as independent contractors rather than employees. Desai argued that the victory was partial, because these drivers still lack the basic employee protections mandated by the federal government, like the right to a minimum wage. "Employee status gives you the protections of labor laws, which are the floor that you stand on," she said. "Collective bargaining helps you raise the ceiling. When you walk in to negotiate wages without even a minimum wage, the floor is lowered." A longtime Uber driver who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity said on Friday that the organizing efforts among the driver community have been hectic recently. "It'll make your head spin quick," he said. "Everybody is trying to organize but nobody is really supporting anything. There are so many organizations." ALLES will officially launch this Sunday at noon, during a press conference at Studio Vendome on Spring Street. Uber said in a statement that it "allows drivers to control where and when they work, earning money on their own terms," adding that, "of course there's always more we can doand we are always happy to talk with drivers about what they'd like to see next." In most of New York City, some 6.5 million people enjoy same-day delivery service from Amazon Prime, sparing them the inconvenience of having to enter a physical store to stock up on window cleaner or those little nubs that are always falling off of in-the-ear headphones. But one borough is conspicuously missing out on the e-commerce behemoth's offer of instant gratification: the Bronx is the only borough with no same-day delivery coverage, as a Bloomberg analysis revealed last week. Now, Bronx politicians are calling for change, arguing that Amazon's exclusion of the borough rests on outdated stereotypes. The Bloomberg report compared Amazon's own data on same-day delivery areas with U.S. Census Bureau data, and found that across the country, Amazon's coverage is spotty when it comes to predominantly black neighborhoods. In Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and D.C., black residents are half as likely as white residents to have access to same-day delivery. And in New York City, residents in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, most of Queens, and virtually every neighborhood between the city and Philadelphia can get their baby wipes and bathmats delivered within hours of placing an orderexcept for people living in the Bronx and eastern Queens. In a letter sent this week to Jeff Bezos, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. demanded that Amazon extend same-day delivery to his constituents. "In what is either an unfortunate coincidence or an act of digital redlining, the excluded areas tend to be minority communities," he wrote. "This is entirely unacceptable. While your company serves four of the five boroughs, my own constituents, largely Black and Latino in ethnic makeup, are excluded. Such a level of insensitivity, if not hostility, should not be an accepted business practice for the world's leader in online retail." Of the five boroughs, the Bronx has the lowest percentage of white residents33 percent, according to census dataand the omitted portion of Queens comprises primarily black and Asian residents. Earlier this week, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who represents the Bronx in the state legislature, called the Bronx's exclusion "simply outrageous," and said that he thinks Amazon should be investigated by the New York Attorney General. The AG's office didn't have any comment on whether that's something that it will be pursuing. "I find it completely implausible that Amazon is able to offer same-day delivery service from Manhattan all the way down to Philadelphia, but can't manage to offer the same service to a single neighborhood in the Bronx, a borough which has seen one of the fastest economic growth spurts in New York City history over the last seven years," Dinowitz said. "It's a real slap in the face to the 1.4 million proud Bronxites who might want to do business with Amazon...Amazon's failure to overcome decades of institutionalized segregation is a harsh reminder that we still have a long way to go before all Americans have the same opportunities." Diaz and Dinowitz are hoping that their public outrage will actually provoke changeand that's not out of the realm of possibility. Another neighborhood left out of otherwise spotless same-day delivery is Roxbury in Boston, where 59 percent of residents are black. After that conspicuous gap in coverage was revealed in last week's Bloomberg report, a number of Boston and Massachusetts politicians lashed out at Amazonand within a few days, the company announced that it would soon begin offering same-day delivery in Roxbury. Amazon didn't respond to a request for comment on whether it'll expand its service to the Bronx, but a spokesperson said that "we will continue expanding our delivery capabilities and are adding more zip codes rapidly." (Courtesy of Manila Social Club) Remember when you could buy a donut in Williamsburg for a buck? Then they started calling them doughnuts and adding hibiscus or some shit and the price went up to 3 bucks. Well now Chef Bjorn DelaCruz of Manila Social Club has risen the douche bar all the way up to $150. For a donut that you will consume in under 2 minutes. His latest creation has Patron in it and looks like a piece of jagged scrap metal. SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH OF DONUTS. (Courtesy of Manila Social Club) On his inspiration behind selling a $150 donut, we are told: "Bjorn was looking to up the ante after the success of their viral Golden Cristal Ube Donutand whats more precious than gold, Platinum. He created a limited edition, uber-luxury donut..." Okay we've heard enough. DelaCruz's latest attempt at food virality is described as a "rose petal donut filled with cream and a spicy ginger-jalapeno margarita jelly, covered in a sweet tequila frosting, and then finally topped off with sheets of edible silver and platinum." Each donut is about 6-inches, which comes to about $30 an inch (an amount of money that could get you six donuts at Doughnut Plant). If you would like a donut that tastes like a Spring Break hangover, you'll have to put in a special request during the week of Cinco de Mayo (which you can do here). If you got this far, we regret to inform you it gets worse: he's calling it The Patronut... and the people of New Williamsburg are actually going to buy it. Update: We are now told that the proceeds from the donutwhich will only be offered for one weekwill go to the American Cancer Society. A Brooklyn judge convicted an NYPD officer of misdemeanor assault for stomping on the head of a suspected pot smoker while he was being held face-down by other officers in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Officer Joel Edouard is facing as much as a year in jail after being convicted today following a judge trial in Brooklyn Supreme Court. "This police officer, in broad daylight and in front of a crowd of people, stomped on the head of a suspect while he lay on the ground, subdued and surrounded by other officers," Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson said in a statement. "That's why he was indicted, put on trial and convicted. His conduct was simply outrageous." Video of the July 2014 incident also showed Edouard pulling his gun and pointing it in the face of Jahmi-El Cuffee, who footage shot by a bystander shows struggling with the officers on a Malcom X Boulevard sidewalk. Edouard and others tried to cuff Cuffee for allegedly smoking marijuana in public. Agitated, Edouard paced the area after backup arrived, and as other officers continued to struggle with Cuffee, who was face-down on the ground, Edouard returned to his side and stomped his head into the pavement. Edouard "let down his fellow officers by losing his composure in an admittedly difficult decision," said Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Alan Marrus. Cuffee was initially charged with attempted tampering with evidence, obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest, all of which were ultimately dismissed. At trial, Edouard's lawyer Anthony Ricco, a seasoned defense attorney who has represented many high-profile clients, including accused terrorists, violent cops, and mobsters, argued that Cuffee caused his own injuries by resisting arrest. He said also that Cuffee alarmed officers by reaching for something in the small of his back. The witness who shot the video acknowledged under cross-examination that Cuffee and a friend made a hand-to-hand exchange moments before officers approached. Edouard was reassigned to desk duty after video of the arrest surfaced online in 2014, and has been suspended without pay now that he's been convicted, according to the NYPD. Ricco said that NYPD management should allow Edouard to remain on the force. "[Edouard is] of course disappointed with the verdict. We disagree with the court's conclusion," Ricco said. "He's a good cop, a good father, a good person, and we're hoping that the police commissioner will take a closer review of all the facts and allow him to continue to be a police officer." Asked what he makes of Thompson calling Edouard's actions "outrageous," Ricco said: That's rhetoric. People can look at all of our conduct and call it outrageous. I don't think that necessarily helps the important dialogue that should take place when events like that happen. The DA's Office would agree with me that police Officer Edouard has a good record and is a good police officer and a good person. So what do we do when a good person makes a mistake? This is not a situation where someone got shot, where someone was injured, where someone got stitches. I just find that an objective, less political review of this case would show this doesn't warrant this good policeman losing his job. Why do I say that? Because police officer Edouard is exactly the kind of person that this police department has been looking to recruit and have as a member of the force, to patrol the entire city but particularly in the inner-city neighborhoods. Ricco seemed to say that the conviction was unfair because Thompson had sought no jail time in the shooting death of Akai Gurley by officer Peter Liang, and suggested that I was too young to understand the way he does. He's calling it outrageous because he has to make statements to the public to get reelected, particularly when the public calls him not asking for jail time for an officer who accidentally killed someone outrageous. [...] I know the DA personally, so I don't have to guess about why he's saying things. Eric Garner got choked to death on a street in a chokehold that the police department doesn't even allow. Is that outrageous? How can that be defined the same way, if those officers are not even convicted? When I pointed out that Ricco seemed to be saying that Edouard is being held to a separate standard because he is African- or Caribbean-AmericanLiang is of Chinese descent and Daniel Pantaleo, the only officer for whom charges were considered for involvement in killing Garner, is white, and the NYPD has had widely publicized difficulty hiring black menRicco grew furious: That's not what I'm saying. That's your ignorance. That's your bias. Why would I not tell you what I meant and instead try to imply something like that? I'm not a politician. I don't work for anybody. I'm insulted that you would ask me that question. Call me back when you've grown up. Edouard's sentencing is set for June 10th. Next week, City Council will vote on whether or not shoppers should be required to pay five cents for plastic and paper bags. It's a controversial bill that's been batted around for a couple of years, and the tax has gotten watered down from 10 cents a bag to 5. The extra nickels will go directly back to the stores themselves. It's expected to cut down the nearly 10 billion plastic bags the city runs through per year by about 60 percent, and it's been backed by council members like Brad Lander, Margaret Chin, and more recently, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, who announced her support for the bill this week. Still, it's had its detractors. Critics say the fee will negatively impact poor New Yorkers, though people who use food stamps will not have to pay the extra charge for their purchases. Bags used for medication and prepared foods from restaurants will also be exempt, along with bags grocery store customers use to individually wrap produce, meat and the like. But City Council Member Robert Cornegy Jr. has taken his name off the bill for reasons unknown, and though the mayor's office seems to support the bill, announcing this week that "the City will be working with retail associations and retailers to provide free reusable bags to New Yorkers in advance of this fee going into effect," we've been down this road before. The United States disposes of about 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually, ten percent of which seems to come from this city alone, if the numbers are right. It's true that this is a walking city, and it's much harder to transport un-bagged groceries from place to place when you can't just throw your purchases in the trunk of your car. But when grocery stores are triple-bagging single jars of tomato sauce all willy-nilly, it's not insane to try to come up with a way to cut back on all that waste, even if it does cost you the odd nickel or two when you don't have a big enough reusable bag with you. Mark-Viverito offered the following statement regarding her support of the fee: New York City is a global leader in efforts to ensure a healthy and environmentally-responsible future. From dramatically reducing emissions to strengthening green building standards, we have never shied away from advancing these important goals. Our approach to reducing plastic bag waste must be equally bold, and we must join efforts by cities across the country and around the world to tackle this issue head-on. The legislation before the Council does just that, by incentivizing New Yorkers to bring our own bags - with commonsense exemptions for economic and logistical realities faced by consumers and retailers. For too long, plastic bags have clogged our storm drains, littered our greenspaces, and tangled in our trees. With this legislation, we can take a step toward a cleaner and sustainable city. The Council will vote on the bill on May 5th. Council Member Laurie Cumbo will host a Town Hall meeting at the Ingersoll Community Center, 177 Myrtle Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, on Tuesday evening if you're interested in having your voice heard. Next on the To-Do List: Ikigai Many moons ago, I worked as a career counselor, first for a college and then for a nonprofit in a... Voters need a third option at the polls I ran for a public office a few years ago. After winning a battle with Genesee County Parks the NRA... Wendy Wolcott best choice for Mott College We have a very special candidate running for Mott Community College Board of Trustees in Wendy Wolcott. Mrs. Wolcott is... Smith and Goyette are not fine men I am responding to Tamara Carlones editorial regarding Davison School Board members Matthew Smith and Nicholas Goyette. I disagree with... Renewable energy advocates and business interests launched a new campaign Wednesday focused on steering the statewide energy debate toward renewable energy opportunities in the face of weakening demand for Montana coal. Called Charge, the campaign includes a website, bumper stickers and plans for billboards displaying a wind farm with the slogan A Boom That Wont Bust. Speakers at Wednesdays launch held at Solar Montana in Helena focused on energy trends with an emphasis on seizing the potential of a growing renewable energy market. Montanas energy economy is in crisis, Jeff Fox, Montana policy manager for Renewable Northwest, a renewable energy advocate, told the crowd. West Coast states have made the decision to reduce or eliminate coal produced energy, and that means eventually Montana will either need to decide what to do without coal jobs and revenue or find a sustainable replacement, he said. Montana currently exports more than half its coal-produced energy, but the people that we sell that electricity to no longer want to buy coal power, he said. On the power generation side of the equation of the story it really is that simple. The question for us is, what do we want to do about it? Montanas energy future has been a major political topic at city, county, state and federal levels. With concerns over the future of mining and plant jobs at Colstrip and accusations of federal overreach with the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan, Republicans and some Democrats continue to rally behind an industry that has employed thousands of Montanans and produced millions of dollars in incomes. Although he emphasized the campaign is about a business reality rather than a political shift, Fox challenged the 40 people in attendance to be part of a proactive stance as opposed to those only interested in maintaining the status quo. West Coast states will either seek to generate their own renewable energy from wind and solar or look to other states prioritizing the transition. We have sympathy for coal workers and coal towns. Coal has been an important part of Montanas economy for a very long time and it will be for a while longer, Fox said. This isnt a debate about the best kind of energy, its a debate about what we can sell, whether wed like to sit around and do nothing or participate in the markets that are being formed. Montana is set to become a player in wind and solar energy with our climate producing the most renewables at the time of day and year when they hit peak demand, he added. Mark Haggerty with Headwaters Economics detailed a shifting energy market where coal peaked but has been on a downward trend in terms of demand and price. The energy market is in a transition, he said, and that means more volatility in the future with the onset of renewables and with natural gas recently surpassing coal in percentage of energy production. Montanas economy will continue to grow throughout any transition, but that growth has been largely disproportionate in favor of cities, he said. No matter what happens we need to start planning for our energy transition now so that we dont leave some communities without assistance if they are going to see their opportunities decline, but also so that we capture new opportunities across the state for communities that have those options, Haggerty said. Our job is to generate ideas and nurture them for the time when the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable. Shelby Mayor Larry Bonderud said his community aggressively sought wind energy development and the effort has paid major dividends. After four to five years of construction the utilities now employ dozens of permanent employees while spending millions of dollars in Toole County. Many people, especially youths, have trained to work at the sites and are now able to stay in their community, he said. This can occur in rural Montana and its a way to diversify the economy in rural Montana, Bonderud said. Diana Maneta, executive director of the Montana Renewable Energy Association, noted that nationwide there are more jobs in solar energy than in oil and gas extraction. The cost of solar panels has dropped and Montana has seen an uptick in community solar projects, and the first utility-sized installations are slated for the next year. Even with recent expansion, solar accounts for only 0.1 percent of Montanas energy production, but rooftop alone has potential to account for about 28 percent, she said. That means the opportunity is ripe for continued growth. In an interview after the launch, Fox said that currently the campaign has a single billboard site chosen in Helena but is looking for additional sites. The website Chargemt.org has already gone live. The slogan asserting that the renewable boom wont bust speaks to the nature of renewable installations, he explained. Theres really no reason to ever retire a successful renewable energy project, he said, explaining that once the installation is on the ground, it is a matter of maintenance rather than depleting resources to continue producing energy. When it comes to the boom, absolutely markets in California, Oregon and Washington are all moving away from coal and looking to consume and purchase renewable energy and we have that in plentiful quantities in Montana. Last September, John Andrews suffered a brain aneurysm and was airlifted via helicopter by Life Flight Network from Anaconda to Missoula. He was charged $34,200, his health insurer paid almost half, and Life Flight Network billed him the balance -- $18,678. Upon arrival in Missoula, St. Patrick Hospital decided John needed to be airlifted via airplane to Seattle, this time by its own affiliate, NW MedStar. He was charged $57,867, his health insurer paid about one-third, and NW MedStar billed him the balance -- $37,931. Two flights. Two companies. Two large bills. And one call to action. John and families like his across Montana are why I am chairing an Air Ambulance Working Group to come up with solutions to protect Montanans from exorbitant air ambulance bills. Far too many Montana families are enduring what Johns family is enduring, and State Auditor Monica Lindeens office is working with our hospitals, health insurers, air ambulance companies, and others to stand up for families like Johns. Many hospitals don't have their own air transportation. If they call Reach Air or Life Flight Network (which recently acquired NW MedStar), patients will receive a balance bill for their flight, sometimes more than $90,000. Reach Air will work with us in helping you. They recognize that even though it's not their legal obligation, it is their moral obligation. Life Flight Network does not. John's story is like every other story we encounter in our office, whether it's the air transport of a child or adult. They had medical emergencies, they have health insurance, none of them chose who provided their air transport, and yet they are being pushed to financial ruin. Their medical emergencies have become financial emergencies. It's wrong. It's unacceptable. And it must be fixed. Without question, in a rural state like Montana where distances separate us from our doctors, we need air ambulance companies because they save lives. But we don't need some of their billing practices. The problem lies in the hands of Congress and nothing is easy in Washington, D.C., even if the solution is obvious and has bipartisan support. That's what we have, though, with a common-sense amendment sponsored by our own Sen. Tester and his Republican colleague, Sen. Hoeven from North Dakota. Their amendment empowers states to rein in these out-of-control air ambulance bills. Many Montanans are strong advocates of state's rights, for good reason, but companies like Life Flight Network resist these efforts, putting Montanans at their financial mercy. Whether Congress acts or not, our Air Ambulance Working Group is working on solutions with the Legislature, which will end the ridiculous notion that whoever gets called dictates whether your family will be financially stable after an air transport. We need the help from our hospitals, health insurers, air ambulance companies, and you. Call Congressman Zinke and Sen. Daines and urge them to support Senator Tester's bipartisan amendment to give Montana the ability to help ourselves when it comes to air ambulance transports. Many of us are determined to get something done. The financial futures of families like John's depend on it. Jesse Laslovich is chief legal counsel to Montana State Auditor Monica J. Lindeen. Independent Record reporter James DeHaven was among seven journalists who won an Ancil Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism for reporting on the secret sale of their newspaper while working at the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2015. Presented Thursday by the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications, the award is intended to honor journalists for their commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the face of extraordinary pressures, the university reported in a story. The award comes with a $5,000 prize. Along with DeHaven, the award honored James G. Wright, Howard Stutz, Jennifer Robison, Eric Hartley, John L. Smith and Glenn Cook for exposing their newspapers buyer as casino mogul and major political financier Sheldon Adelson despite managements warnings to stay away from the story. When the newsrooms reporting turned up a trail of egregious business and ethics violations tied to Las Vegas casino owner Sheldon Adelson, the journalists focused on their professional obligation to readers and published the story, the university reported. As a result, the Nevada Gaming Control Board is now monitoring Adelsons use of the newspaper. DeHaven started work as the IRs business and state government reporter on Jan. 4. Associated Press reporters Margie Mason, Robin McDowell, Martha Mendoza and Esther Htusan also received an Ancil Payne Award Thursday for the Pulitzer Prize-winning Seafood from Slaves series. The AP stories investigated the alleged human trafficking in Thailands $7 billion seafood industry. Their series led to the release of more than 2,000 slaves and forced both the Thai government and the American retailers selling their catch to take action, the university reported. The winners were selected by a panel of journalists representing a variety of organizations including The Wall Street Journal, the Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The Oregonian, among others. WARRENSBURG -- Gavin Butts and Avi Sheth can solve a Rubik's Cube in less than a minute without lifting a finger. In fact, the two seventh graders at Warrensburg Grade School were able to talk about their skill while the cube was being solved in the background to the amazement of a small crowd that gathered at the table. With some computer programming, Legos and about what Sheth describes as "15 hours of failures," the two were able to create and program a robot to solve a Rubiks Cube with the speed that would put most people to shame. Their display was just one of the dozen that were showcased Wednesday night as part of the first Warrensburg-Latham 21st Century Learning Showcase in the high school cafeteria. Unlike the paper quizzes and textbooks of the past, students from second grade up to seniors filled the auditorium with their own projects, which ranged from detailed posters with research on topics like the Cambodian genocide to green screen effects, robotics controlled through smartphones and an operating 3D printer. With such varied and impressive work, Superintendent Kristen Kendrick-Weikle said it only made sense to invite families to see just what the students have been working on. We want to show parents, grandparents and community members that its not schooling how they may have experienced it, sitting in a chair and having a teacher watch you, Kendrick-Weikle said. Our students are really designing, creating things and expressing their creativity while also learning. The robotic booths drew a number onlookers, but even the less tech-heavy booths drew some wondering eyes. Among them was the work of Davis Brunbaugh and Ashlyn Davis, both freshman, whose booth focused on the history of the Cambodian genocide of the mid-to-late 1970s, Ashlyn Davis said the subject was passed along to them by their social studies teacher as a way to learn more about a somewhat-unknown part of history and to raise awareness of the horrors that occurred then and still to this day. Enthusiasm was high from many of the students as they were delighted to show off what they have learned over the past few months, and that excitement was palpable for parents. I had one parent come up to me and tell me how surprised they were to see students look so engaged in their education, Kendrick-Weikle said. Rupa Sheth, whose son Avi was one of the Rubik Cube solving robots creators, smiles as she talks about the burgeoning love of robotics and technology that her son has developed due to the program. Even when the work is difficult, Sheth said Avis passion comes through. One thing is hes not even disappointed when it doesnt work, she said. Hes just so enthusiastic working on it and finding out how to fix things. DECATUR Judith McPheeters, 69, of Sullivan was driving with her dogs to obedience training classes at about 6:30 p.m. on June 17, when a Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup truck ran a stop sign and crashed into her Chevy SUV. The impact, at her driver's door, resulted in numerous injuries, including a torn aorta, fractures of her pelvis, left foot and collarbone, traumatic brain injury, high blood pressure, low blood pressure and blood clots in her leg. McPheeters was driving west on Park Road, south of Warrensburg, as Ryan M. Maurer drove north on Glasgow Road. Maurer, 41, was convicted Feb. 25 at a bench trial of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, causing great bodily harm, aggravated driving under the combined influence of alcohol and a drug, cocaine, and driving under the influence of a drug. His blood alcohol content was .177 percent, more than twice the legal limit. He was sentenced to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections by Associate Judge Jeffrey Geisler on Monday. The sentence, which will begin May 6, will be served at a minimum of 85 percent, due to the great bodily harm enhancement. In her victim impact statement, read aloud to the court by Melanie Long, victim services coordinator for the Macon County State's Attorney's Office, McPheeters said she spent 80 days and nights in multiple hospitals. I only recall some things about my treatment time, McPheeters wrote. Knowing my health status was very serious, I was afraid that if I went to sleep, I would die. That was the most afraid I have felt in my life. She said she was always a healthy, active person, who had recently retired from her full-time job and had begun part-time work. But now she takes eight kinds of medications and sees several specialists. Assistant State's Attorney Diane Couri recommended a sentence of nine years. Defense attorney Greg Fombelle asked the court for probation or a community-based sentence. At the hearing, Maurer apologized to the victim. He said that he would change places with the victim if he could do so. He said he was sorry for the pain he caused to her, her family and his family. Before handing down his sentence, Geisler cited Maurer's prior DUI case, in 1999, as an aggravating factor. He received a two-year probation term in that Woodford County case. McPheeters, who regained her ability to walk through physical therapy after her hospitalizations, said she had to be extricated from her vehicle. Her dogs, which were not injured, ran from the scene and were recovered. She is driving again, but has changed her route to the dog training club. DECATUR Richard A. Rodgers, 33, of Effingham, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two of the four felony counts against him, in connection with a head-on collision resulting in the death of a 34-year-old man while Rodgers was under influence of multiple drugs and alcohol. Rodgers is facing three to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if convicted of one of the Class 2 counts, aggravated DUI alcohol, causing a death, and DUI drugs, causing a death. The victim was Justin L. Baker of Shelbyville, a father of two children. Rodgers is also charged with two Class 4 DUI counts, for causing great bodily harm to a 4-year-old boy, Baker's son. He is being held in the Macon County Jail on $1 million bond, pending his next pretrial hearing May 26. Rodgers was driving a Ford Explorer SUV west on Andrews Street Road, about two miles east of Macon, when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound Ford Focus, driven by Baker. Baker was pronounced dead at the scene. The boy was transported to St. John's Hospital, Springfield, by medevac helicopter with life-threatening injuries. Rodgers told police he had reached down for his coffee thermos, then looked up and saw the car, and then the collision occurred, said an affidavit by a Macon County Sheriff's detective. Dispatchers told police they received three calls about a white vehicle that was all over the roadway. In one of those complaints, the license number matching the Ford Explorer was provided, the detective's affidavit said. When blood was drawn for Rodgers at St. Mary's Hospital, these substances were present: opiates, THC (active marijuana ingredient), barbiturates, oxycodone, tricyclic and Ativan. Rodgers was arrested Aug. 11 and booked into the jail, where he has been held since then. At the time of his arrest, he was serving two 30-month probation terms for convictions of possession of a controlled substance, in 2013 and 2015 cases in Effingham County. Justin Baker, who was employed as a manager at the Kroger store in Fairview Plaza, was survived by his wife, Meghan, and their two children, according to his obituary. He was a 1998 graduate of Shelbyville High School and earned a bachelor's degree from MacMurray College, Jacksonville. He was known as a kind, caring man of faith who went out of his way to help others. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today A few isolated thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 89F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming mostly clear after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 56F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%. The Artsakh Ministry of Defense reports that last night Azerbaijan continued to violate the cessation of hostilities declaration by firing a variety of small arms and grenade/mortar rounds all along the Line of Contact. The ministry says its forces are closely monitoring the situation. By Melanie Nakashian A home can imply many different things for a woman. It may be the sphere where she exercises power, where she dominates. It may be the prison where she struggles, that she yearns to escape. It may be a nest for peaceful sanctuary or a box of painful secrets. It could be all of the above. The most private matters of womenwere opened for public discussion from April 8 to 18 at a house-turned-gallery in Kond, one of Yerevans oldest districts overlooking the rest of the city center. For these 10 days, a temporary art exhibit titled Lips of Pride aimed to foster conversation by confronting the taboo issues of womens sexuality, and served to amplify the voices of Armenian women who are silenced by collective shame. Lips of Pride was the sixth exhibition organized by the nomadic HAYP PopUp Gallery since its founding in 2014. It was also the first event to take place at the new Frigi Jiraff & The Echo Museum, a house on Frik Street that now operates as a recording and art studio. This particular topic was inspired by the Armenian colloquial term for labia ( /amotashurter) which translates to lips of shame. The words you apply to something influence the way you think, and we wanted to explore that, said Charlotte Poulain,who co-founded HAYP along with curator Anna Gargarian, from France and the US respectively. Throughout the 10 days, a mix of several hundred locals, diasporans and other internationals came to explore the work created by over 25 Armenian women artists, the vast majority of whom were born in Armenia. Mediums ranged from photography and video to paintings, street art and recycled art to interactive installations. In addition to the gallery being open to visitors 10 hours per day, a total of 10 events were also organized, including dance performances, workshops and discussions with experts all of which were free, and presented in both Armenian and English. Lips of Pride opening night / Nakashian Frigi Jiraff was often bursting at the seams during the evening events, with around 300 in attendance for opening night alone. 100 people attended the first discussion on Postcolonial Feminist Geopolitics with guest speaker Paniz Musawi from Iran. Another hundred, mostly locals, showed up for a panel on Shame & Sexuality. Experts on this panel included psychologist Lilit Avetisyan from the LGBTQ rights advocacy organization PINK Armenia, sexologist Dr. Narine Nersisyan and Ani Jilozian from the Womens Resource Center Jilozian talked about linguistic discrimination in the Armenian language. Several in attendance during the opening event expressed hope for a more diverse crowd, noting that everyone present seemed to already agree on the issues being discussed. I love the project but I really wish that they could reach the women who would say no to this, one Syrian-Armenian man commented. But as word about HAYP spread through Kond and beyond those who heard about it online, a truly unpredictable range of people turned up to see what all the hype was about. Though it is certain that not everyone who came agreed, the organizers were pleasantly surprised by how open people were to the topic. Gargarian recounted one of their first days when they had several older couples come in, an older man and his granddaughter, and two older women who came over literally in their bathrobes and slippers. A nine-year-old boy named Gevorg wandered in and returned nearly every day, sometimes staying for hours at a time. Two soldiers in uniform even passed by and, though seeming skeptical at first, turned out to be eager to discuss the issues and returned later for coffee. Gargarian leading a tour of the exhibit on the second floor balcony/ Nakashian Lips of Pride opened one day after the conclusion of Womens Month,which stretches from International Womens Day on March 8 to Armenias Motherhood and Beauty Day on April 7. This scheduling was intentional, both to make the statement that the conversation about womens issues should not be confined to an arbitrarily designated month, as well as to pose the question of how that month is commemorated specifically in Armenia. Seda Manucharyan, a 19-year-old student from Yerevan, argued that Womens Day in Armenia has become a commercial holiday about nothing more than buying flowers for women and girls, whereas it should be a time to address sexism and gender stereotypes. The government hangs nice banners and flowers all around the city but theres a lack of deeper meaning in any of those actions, explained Manucharyan. NGOs try to do the work [that the government should be doing] by speaking up about the issues, but the impact they have is not that big. Most believed that Lips of Pride played an important role in raising these issues. But naturally, not all felt the same. One 23-year-old woman, also from Yerevan said, This exhibition is not important. Whats important is that there is a war going on right now. Beginning on April 2, violence over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated to a level unseen since 1994. In this mood, HAYP considered postponing Lips of Pride but ultimately decided to stick to the original dates. Several factors informed this decision, such as the announcement of a ceasefire on April 6. But perhaps the most powerful reason for keeping on schedule was the following: Arts and culture should still happen in peacetime or in wartime, Poulain explained, and there is this idea that its even more important in times of war. Wall of Shame / Nakashian One highlight of Lips of Pride was the interactive Wall of Shame (/ Amotapat), created by Bella Shahnazaryan. This installation was located in its own windowless room which individuals entered one-by-one and anonymously wrote about a personal experience of shame on the back of apostcard featuring 1920s French pin-up models. Stories were not limited to sexuality but also included issues of lifestyle, emotion, abortion, assault and abuse. Both men and women participated. Shahnazaryan explained that writing these anecdotes produced a cathartic effect. Reading those of others produced a feel of being less alone in ones shame. In Armenia, a lot is happening in secret. Everyone has a story and its not easy to hide. Its like wearing a mask, said Shahnazaryan. She also mentioned that societal shame is even more powerful elsewhere in the country, suggesting that the Wall would look quite different if set up outside of Yerevan. Mischa Babak Rad, a 21-year-old from Tehran who was a back-up dancer in the closing evenings performance, felt that the Wall was empowering. The name is Wall of Shame, but its not about shame, she argued. Its about pride. It takes pride to be able to write about these things, especially in a place where people are scared to talk about this. Essentially, the project provided an opportunity for all to re-write the narrative about Armenian women, challenging the one that society has already constructed much like Lips of Pride as a whole. The Wall will remain at Jirafff, and the postcards will soon be digitized onto a website open to further contributions. Wall of Shame creator Shahnazaryan sitting at the kitchen installation by Mirzoyan / Gabriel Ouzounian Gargarian described the intention behind each carefully curated area of the home, a two-story building with plenty of outdoor space.Each installation in each specific room is meant for that space, she noted. For example, in the kitchen, an installation by Oksana Mirzoyan invited visitors to join the gossip that often occurs around the table, complete with a spread of fruits symbolizing different aspects of sexuality and an audio recording of women shaming other women an act seen as internalization of patriarchal judgment. Along the stairs leading up to the more quiet space that would be a bedroom, a series of paintings by Gayane Bakhudaryan featured a nude woman lying in her bed, portraying a deeply intimate and melancholy state of reflection. The walkway leading up to the front porch of the home was lined with three larger-than-life-size street portraits by Anush Babajanyan. The portraits featured middle to advanced-aged local women whose unusual, bold fashion styles defy social norms. These women are not afraid of who they are, said Poulain, so we wanted to put this in-your-face message right in the entrance. Babajanyans portraits greeted visitors upon entering the exhibit / Nakashian On the front porch, visitors were welcomed with Sona Manukyans piece made of distorted metal cans that once held baby milk powder. This came with a message against putting people into boxes,a message about individuality in the context of a collective exhibit of women artists. Even the photo series in the bathroom was full of meaning. Before digital photography, women photographers often developed their photos in bathrooms if they did not have studios, especially in Armenia, explained Gargarian. On another level, the bathrooms photos werepart of a larger project by Nazik Armenakyan that followed the lives of transgender women sex-workers. Selected pieces depicted the processes that happen in the bathroom, such as putting on makeup and shaving. Gargarian noted that some had questioned HAYPs decision to include transgender women in the exhibit. Transgender women are women. Thats how they identify, she said. Were trying to include a definition of gender that is multi-faceted, not just a binary model of a woman verses a man. Some of Armenakyans photography featuring a transgender sex worker / Gabriel Ouzounian Multiple members of the LGBTQ community, however, expressed a bit of disappointment with the stark contrast of masculinity and femininity in the rest of the exhibit, citing a Ruzan Petrosyans photo series of a woman dressed in drag with a caption that posed questions about ones feminine state versus ones male state. Some perceived this as emphasizing the binary rather than the idea that there is more about gender performance than the oppositional play between two extremes. As someone who identifies not as a woman but is read as a woman, I was a little disappointed coming here and seeing a lot of cisgendered portrayals of what a woman is, said 23-year-old Nikole Shahbazian from the US. Another recurring criticism pointed to the lack of body positivity, as seen in the artworks portrayal of femininity as very body-specific, representing mostly thin women. This begged the question: what do different body sizes and shapes mean for femininity? Zine format of Kamee Abrahamians essay on media portrayal of Kim Kardashian, originally published in Hye-Phen / Nakashian At the same time, for some, Lips of Pride was more than enough to digest. One man, a tour guide from Vanadzor, thought that the intimacy of the artwork was difficult to understand because he was not a woman. He also said that although HAYP was providing a great opportunity for locals, it seems little idealistic. Another man from Yerevan, researcher Aram Grigorian, argued that the people involved in [womens rights advocacy] are very biased yet even he couldnt stay away. He returned at least three times, he said, for the conversation. HAYP co-organizers Gargarian and Poulain / Gabriel Ouzounian It is precisely in this mix of reactions that Lips of Pride proves its impact: the number and diversity of people who showed up to this unprecedented eventmade it clear that a large segment of Armenian society, reaching far beyond the typical audience one might expect, feels the need to confront the repressed topic of womens sexuality and associated shame. Using art to bring these private issues into a public space, HAYP sparked a much-needed discussion that has not ended with the closing of the exhibit. Where it goes from here remains to be seen. P.S. This project was made possible by the sponsorship of the Swiss Development Fund, CUMA Lab, and Armenian International Women's Association." (Melanie Nakashian currently lives in Yerevan. She is from New York and has been involved with various international political, media and environmental organizations.) The application process is now open for those vying to replace Justice David Prosser on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Gov. Scott Walker announced Thursday he will accept applications, which include a resume, cover letter, judicial application and writing sample until 4 p.m. on May 19. Based on discussions with sources since Prosser's Wednesday announcement, here's a shortlist of likely contenders for the seat on the high court: Judge Brian Hagedorn, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II Hagedorn was appointed to the Court of Appeals, his first judicial appointment, by Walker in 2015. He previously served as the governors chief legal counsel from 2011 to 2015. He clerked for Justice Michael Gableman in 2009 and served as an assistant attorney general in the state Department of Justice for one year, from 2010 to 2011. He earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 2006, where he was president of the Federalist Society, a student group that promotes conservative and libertarian legal principles. Hagedorn is active in defending Act 10 in the courts and has said his faith informs his approach to the bench. Here is the application he submitted for his Court of Appeals position. He did not return a call for comment Thursday. Judge Jim Troupis, Dane County Circuit Court Troupis was appointed to the Dane County Circuit court by Walker last year, and has already said he does not plan to run for reelection when his term expires in August. Troupis is a longtime Madison attorney who worked with Republican legislators on redrawing the state's legislative district maps in 2010. Those maps are now being contested in federal court. He also represented Prosser during the justice's campaign recount in 2011. He earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. WisPolitics has reported that Troupis will apply. He did not return a call for comment Thursday. Judge Randy Koschnick, Jefferson County Circuit Court Koschnick ran unsuccessfully to unseat Justice Shirley Abrahamson in 2009 and told the Cap Times he plans to apply for Prosser's seat. His daughter, Katie (Koschnick) Ignatowski, currently serves as Walker's chief legal counsel. Randy Koschnick said his daughter has told him she will remove herself from the selection process. Koschnick has been a judge in Wisconsin for 17 years, since 1999. He is a circuit court judge in Jefferson County and has served as the chief judge for District 3, which includes Jefferson, Waukesha and Ozaukee counties, for three years. Before becoming a judge, he served as a public defender in Jefferson County for 14 years. He was involved in the effort to require mandatory e-filing for courts statewide, which the state Supreme Court adopted in February. He earned his law degree from Hamline University School of Law in Minnesota. Judge Thomas Hruz, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District III Hruz was appointed by Walker to the Court of Appeals bench in 2014. He was a private practice attorney and partner at Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols, S.C. in Milwaukee and clerked for Prosser at the state Supreme Court. At the time of his appointment, Prosser praised Hruz and said he "will quickly be recognized as a great judge. Hruz has written on voter fraud and is a former fellow at the conservative Wisconsin Policy Research Institute. Hruz earned his law degree from Marquette University School of Law. He did not return a call seeking comment. Judge Mark Gundrum, Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II Gundrum, a former Republican state representative, was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2011. He served in the Assembly from 1999 until he was elected as a trial court judge in Waukesha County Circuit Court in 2010. He reportedly commuted with Walker to Madison during their time in the Legislature. He was featured on the Netflix documentary "Making a Murderer" for his involvement in creating a criminal justice reform bill after Steven Avery was exonerated for a 1985 crime. WisPolitics has reported that Gundrum will apply. He did not return a call for comment Thursday. Mike B. Brennan, Attorney, Gass Weber Mullins Brennan is a private practice attorney at Gass Weber Mullins in Milwaukee and also serves as chairman to Walker's Judicial Advisory Selection Committee. Brennan served as a Milwaukee Circuit Court judge for nine years and was also a Milwaukee County assistant district attorney. He earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. He has written extensively on legal issues, including a piece on personal responsibility for the Marquette University Law Review and judicial activism for The Federalist Society. He charges $400 for mediation services, and is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, a trade association for professional mediators. Brennan did not return a call for comment Thursday. The Cap Times has profiled each of this year's six winners. You can find the collected Q&As here. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. The signs wont change until this fall, but starting Monday, when AnchorBank opens its doors, it will be AnchorBank, a division of Old National Bank. In a special meeting Friday morning, shareholders of Anchors parent company, Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin, went on record approving the purchase of the nearly century-old Madison bank by Old National Bancorp, of Evansville, Indiana, with 80.7 percent of the outstanding shares in support. Its bittersweet, said Chris Bauer, CEO and president, who was plucked out of retirement in 2009 to pull Anchor out of troubled waters from loans that failed during the Great Recession. Under the deal, valued at $462.6 million, Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin stockholders will get 3.5505 shares of Old National Bancorp stock or $48.50 for each Anchor share they own. Old National shares closed Friday at $13.40. About 15 people attended the 10-minute meeting at Monona Terrace, all Anchor executives or employees. The merger will take effect Sunday, said Bauer. He said Anchors name is expected to change to Old National by the end of September. After 95-plus years, sure, its sad to see the name will not survive. But its also gratifying that our acquirer is also a community bank, a Midwest bank. Were very happy with that, Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin board chairman Dave Omachinski said. Two Old National executives will take the reins. Len Devaisher, most recently in charge of commercial administration, cash management and indirect lending, will be CEO of the Wisconsin region. Kevin Anderson, most recently senior vice president, corporate relationship manager for the Louisville, Kentucky region, will be Milwaukee region president. Anchor was established in 1919 and has been the biggest bank based in Madison. It also is the fourth-largest full-service bank based in Wisconsin, with $2.2 billion in assets and 46 branches, all in Wisconsin. Old National, with roots dating back to 1834, is the largest bank based in Indiana with $12 billion in assets and 160 branches in Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. Number of job losses unclear Bauer said some of Anchors 570 employees will likely lose their jobs, but its not clear yet who or how many. He said no departures are expected before the end of September unless its by their own volition. Those who work in the bank branches are not expected to be among those laid off, Bauer said. Anybody who interacts with our customers those people are going to stay in place, he said. Bauer said he will stick with the bank after the transition, but not as a full-time employee. Under an agreement spelled out in the proxy statement to shareholders, Bauer will be in line for a total compensation package of nearly $3.1 million if he loses his job within three years of the merger. He said the status of other Anchor executives has not yet been determined by Old National but they, too, could qualify for golden parachute compensation packages ranging from nearly $670,000 to nearly $1.4 million. Background of the merger Documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said Anchor, working with representatives of J.P. Morgan, began considering strategic options in February 2015. Over the next several months, 11 potential partners were contacted informally. In late October, Anchors board asked J.P. Morgan to talk to five possible suitors and on Dec. 2, two written, non-binding initial indications of interest came in. Old National offered a cash and stock deal priced at $49 to $51 per share; the other party, unnamed in the filing, offered an all-stock transaction at $47 to $50 per share. By the end of December, though, the second suitor dropped out, citing an inability to pay a price above Anchors current stock price, then trading around $44 per share. The agreement with Old National came two weeks later. An Anchor shareholder, Paul Parshall, of Naples, Florida, filed a class action complaint in February trying to stop the purchase, alleging the boards process was defective and was for an unfair price on unfair terms. A memorandum of understanding has been reached in which the board denied the allegations but agreed to pay Parshalls attorneys fees and expenses. Ionic, a Madison startup whose software makes it easier for developers to create mobile apps, is getting a big funding boost. The company has clinched $8.5 million from investors, led by General Catalyst. Ionic provides a software platform for others to use to develop mobile apps. It is open source, which means it is available to the public for free. Co-founder and CEO Max Lynch said more than 2 million applications have been devised using the platform in the past 2 1/2 years not just by other startups, but also by some well-established companies such as Caterpillar and Morgan Stanley, and by Japanese fashion design firm Uniqlo. Lynch said Ionic, at 121 S. Pinckney St., will use the new money to add to its staff of 20, upgrade its technology and raise the level of customer service available to companies using the software. The idea is that in case of bugs with the platform or as youre building out your app, you have an Ionic expert that you can get in touch with whenever you need to, Lynch said. Already, some popular mobile apps have come from Ionics platform, he said, such as Sworkit, hailed in a column in Tech Insider last August as the best free fitness app in the world and Untappd, a beer-rating social network featured this week on CNBC.com. Lynch said existing companies also are using Ionics software to build their own internal apps. Though Ionics platform is free, the company is paid for its extra services, such as supplying security, data encryption technology and tracking data analytics. Ionic, founded in 2012 as Drifty Co., has now raised a total of $12.2 million, and getting General Catalyst on board is important, Lynch said. They have a history of investing in very well-known open source technology. With offices in New York; Palo Alto, California; and Cambridge, Massachusetts, General Catalyst has picked some players that have hit it big at least, to the public such as airbnb, Snapchat and The Honest Company. Previous Ionic investors Lightbank, Arthur Ventures and Founder Collective also participated in the round. Wicabs kitty grows Middleton-based Wicab has signed an agreement with investors in China for $4.3 million, of which the companys received $2.4 million so far, CEO Robert Beckman said. Wicab, with fewer than 10 employees, is working on a device that helps blind people perceive objects around them when shapes seen by a video camera are translated into bubble patterns on the persons tongue. The BrainPort V100 has been cleared for sale in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Beckman said an updated V200 version is being developed. He said he hopes to launch that version by the end of this year. The funds will help move the BrainPort through the approval process in China where as many as 5 million people may be able to use it, Beckman said. He said some of the money will go to potential BrainPort users to help support those people who are profoundly blind to be able to acquire our technology. Epic elaborates With questions raised in the last week about the U.S. Coast Guards decision not to extend a software contract with Epic Systems Corp., the Verona electronic health records developer is offering some rare explanation. Epic had signed on in 2010 for a five-year, $14 million agreement which was later expanded; toward the end some irregularities were found, the Coast Guard said. Epic said the contract was not canceled but instead was allowed to expire last fall. In a website post titled Epic and the U.S. Coast Guard: The Facts, Epic now says that while working with Leidos a national security, health and engineering firm based in Reston, Virginia and the Coast Guard, there were many unusual issues which were not initiated by Epic. They included extensive hardware procurement delays, changes in third-party vendors with subsequent re-contracting mid-install, a change in data center, an untimely request to the government to validate if payment was being made from the right account, each of which caused significant delays. Epic said the network that contained the software was inexplicably corrupted once and was deleted once, both times just before the system was ready to go live and with no root cause identified. We have never seen this occur in 35 years on installs, the company said. Epic said it was paid in full for its work, and the government did not ask for a refund. Two women in Dane County Jail were saved Thursday afternoon, one from a drug overdose and the other from an attempted suicide by hanging. The incidents happened a little more than an hour apart, at 3:24 p.m. and 4:43 p.m., said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Elise Schaffer. "These incidents highlight the increasing demands placed on both sworn and civilian staff caring for inmates in jail, many of whom are suffering from serious addiction and mental health issues," Schaffer said. In the first incident, a 31-year-old woman was unconscious in a female dorm at the Public Safety Building jail, the woman motionless and turning blue. Deputies started with CPR, then jail medical staff and Madison Fire Department paramedics arrived to take over. The inmate was given the opiate antidote Narcan and was transported to Meriter Hospital. She was returned to jail after going to the hospital. She had been booked into jail on a drug court sanction 24 hours before being discovered unconscious. In the second incident, a 53-year-old woman booked on a felony drunken driving charge used a TV power cord as a ligature in her attempt to hang herself. Deputies found her unconscious, freed her from the ligature and started lifesaving efforts. She regained consciousness and was taken to Meriter before going to Winnebago Mental Health Institute. Dane County has agreed to make a donation to a Monona food pantry as part of a settlement of a lawsuit over the response time to a fire that caused the death of a man in 2013. Sheila Sullivan, one of the lawyers representing Dane County in the matter, said Friday that under the terms of the settlement, the county will make a $5,000 donation to the St. Stephens Lutheran Church food pantry on behalf of the family of Christopher G. Williams. Williams, 51, died in a fire on Oct. 16, 2013, at his apartment at 6425 Bridge Road, an incident that highlighted the need for changes at the 911 center amid criticism that it failed to meet national standards for answering and dispatching emergency calls. Sullivan said the county maintains that it has complied with all applicable laws and regulations, but believes this settlement is in the public interest as it provides resolution for the family and community and saves further expense of ongoing litigation. She also said that the Williams family asserts under the settlement that it did not file the lawsuit against Dane County in order to recover money. Williams family lawyer Terrance Polich said he would have to consult with the family before commenting on the settlement. The lawsuit, which was filed in February 2015, alleged that 911 dispatchers were negligent in promptly sending firefighters to the fire at Williams apartment after the 911 center received calls about the fire. The cause of the fire was never determined. Since the fire, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi made a number of changes at the 911 center, including a pre-alerting protocol for more critical fire and emergency medical incidents. He wrote in a memo in June 2014 that it took Madison firefighters 10 minutes to get to the scene, while Monona firefighters were closer but were not sent. Cottage Grove police are investigating vandalism in the village's Community Park shelter area, in the form of graffiti sprayed on a variety of things. The park, at 460 Lori Lane, was vandalized this week with police reporting on it on Friday. Someone spray painted obscene and derogatory images on the park shelter, park equipment, the men's room sign and also caused damage to the shelter's roof. Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the police, 839-4652. On the day that Martez Moore was remembered at a funeral by his loved ones, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval renewed his call for information about his death from people who were present when Moore was shot and killed on April 19. At a news conference Friday, Koval released the names and photos of three men police want to talk to and have been told were present when Moore, 30, was shot to death about 1 a.m. outside Martin OGradys Irish Pub, 7436 Mineral Point Road. Koval said the three are all wanted for other crimes not related to Moores homicide, and are in no position to bargain their position when it comes to discussing what they saw happen in the parking lot outside the bar on the citys Far West Side. The three are: William D. Flowers, 25, and Billy Richmond, 35, both of Fitchburg; and Travis G. Smith Jr., 28, of Madison. Koval urged anyone who sees any of the three to call 911 and report it immediately, while they still are in sight and the caller can tell the dispatcher where they are at that moment. Koval said more than 20 people have been identified as having been present in the parking lot when Moore was shot. He said police are getting very little cooperation from witnesses. For some its the Wild West code of silence mentality, and Ive talked about the (code of) snitches get stitches, Koval said. But theres also the very real pragmatism of fear for their very lives in the event that they produce information. The investigation continues as detectives pursue leads and execute search warrants, Koval said. The results of searches that have been conducted have been sealed and have not been available. Koval said the significance of Moores funeral brings a greater sense of urgency, in part because of the concern that there will be retaliatory measures taken by friends of Moore. As we all know, the police are sort of the last bastion, if you will, of trying to bring some measure of comfort and justice to those who have lost a loved one, Koval said. Koval said there is also a great sense of anxiety for the community knowing that the person who killed Moore is still out there. Clearly, with each passing day, with each passing hour, Koval said, the more time that we have in the rear view mirror until the time we make this arrest is going to be difficult, is going to be a challenge because you have people that are going to be in the wind, you have forensics that are diminishing, you have the sense of recency of memories fading, and you have those who think that theyve pulled off this act with some measure of confidence that they think they can do it again. One of three men arrested for allegedly spraying white supremacist symbols near the UW-Madison campus will be charged with hate crimes. Timothy Arnold, 21, Madison, allegedly was the primary suspect in the spree that resulted in 10 to 15 buildings and walls getting sprayed or marked Downtown and near campus, Madison police said Friday. Three charges of graffiti against Arnold, including two carrying hate crime enhancers, have been referred to the Dane County District Attorney's Office. "The hate crime enhancers are for graffiti left on a concrete wall outside of the Jewish Experience of Madison and for graffiti found on signs posted near the Kappa Alpha Sorority where there are many Jewish members," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. The Jewish Experience is located at 233 Langdon St., and the sorority is at 108 Langdon St. The street is known as Greek Row, where many fraternities and sororities for UW-Madison are housed. Two other suspects, Frank Horton, 21, of Madison, and Adam Ritchie, 21, of McFarland, also have been arrested in the graffiti spree. None of the three are students or on the UW-Madison staff, UW-Madison Police Lt. Aaron Chapin said. The incidents include eight cases in which the symbol known as the Wolfsangel, an ancient symbol incorporated by the Nazis and more recently the Aryan Nation, or another symbol called the Valknut, was found in a number of locations around campus and off campus. Chapin said police were investigating whether the vandalism on campus amounted to a hate crime. A UW-Madison spokeswoman said the university received multiple hate/bias incident reports about the graffiti after it appeared on campus. Arnold was arrested by UW-Madison Police. Ritchie and Horton were arrested by Madison police. Arnold fought with an officer when found Wednesday night sleeping at Vilas Hall, Chapin said. He said the damage caused by Arnold was estimated at $2,600. The graffiti wasnt part of the $4,000 in damage attributed to Denzel McDonald, a UW-Madison senior arrested April 14 by campus police on suspicion of tagging multiple campus buildings with anti-racist, anti-white establishment messages. City Attorney Michael May, in an investigation directed by Mayor Paul Soglin, determined that two Madison City Council members recently ran afoul of the states open meetings law by discussing a plan to make changes to the structure of city governance without posting the required public notice. May said then-council president Denise DeMarb and Ald. Mark Clear engaged in a single clear violation of the law, while serving on a three-member Subcommittee on Strategic Plans and Priorities that developed the plan to shift certain mayoral powers to the council. In addition, May said, the actions of Ald. David Ahrens, co-sponsor of the plan along with Clear, may have broken the law when Ahrens polled each subcommittee member by phone about the developing plan, in an apparent attempt to circumvent the need for a public meeting. Both incidents, along with vague meeting agendas and other procedural problems, were part of a distinct pattern of avoiding public scrutiny, May charged, as a small group of members considered the proposal that would strip Soglin of some of his powers prior to the March 16 public announcement of the plan by Clear and Ahrens. The development of the (plan) shows a disregard for the publics right to know about a major proposal to change the operations of city government, May said in a memo released this week about the investigation, for which he interviewed council members and examined records. This is not consistent with Madisons history of openness. In response, Ahrens told the Wisconsin State Journal that the investigation was overblown and politically motivated. My view is that this whole thing is (for Soglin) to avoid discussion on the actual issue, Ahrens said. Soglin has made no secret of opposing the proposed changes which would shift his ability to appoint council members to city committees to the council president and remove the mayors seat on the councils finance committee. He has said the plan came in retaliation for his firm posture on finances since retaking office in 2011. Last week, Soglin countered with a proposal to appoint a citizen task force and hire a consultant for $250,000 to study how city government is structured. Before that, he directed May to investigate the actions of the subcommittee, which also included Ald. Ledell Zellers, for possible violations of the states open meetings law. A key problem was that the subcommittee developing the proposal had only three members. That gave it a legal quorum requiring advance public notice of a meeting any time two members discussed the issues together. May found that Clear and DeMarb clearly violated state law when they once spoke together about some of the proposals issues on a conference call for about 10 minutes with a city staffer, legislative policy analyst Heather Allen. In an interview with the State Journal, DeMarb noted that Clear realized the mistake he and DeMarb were making and didnt try to cover it up. Instead, he disclosed it and quickly ended the call, she said, and at a subsequent City Council meeting he also told May about it. Mays report references Clear doing that, but May did not appear to find the admission sufficient in his report. These are not new Alders who may still be learning the rule for open meetings, but veterans who have both served as (council) President, May noted, adding that the Dane County District Attorney could impose any fines provided under state law. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida gestures during a press conference at the International Media Center in Hiroshima, Japan on April 11, 2016 after Foreign Ministers meeting of G7 countries visit the Peace Memorial Museum. [Photo/IC] Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will pay an official visit to China from Friday to Sunday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Given the bleakness of bilateral ties in recent years, his visit will be closely watched as it is the first meeting between foreign ministers of the two countries in more than four years. While delivering a speech on Sino-Japanese relations on Monday, Kishida mentioned his first visit to Beijing since Shinzo Abe took office as Japanese prime minister in December 2012. He said, "the only choice" for the two countries is to try to contribute to the world through friendship and cooperation, and urged both sides to expand cooperation and improve understanding and trust between their peoples. Kishida's proposal is not new, though, because similar attempts have been made in the past to improve relations between the two neighbors. But that Beijing-Tokyo ties still worsened has a lot to do with some inescapable yet game-changing disputes over, for example, the territorial status of the Diaoyu Islands, how Japan sees its militarist past, and its increasingly clear military ambitions. On the one hand, these unsolved problems have dealt a major blow to the political trust between the two countries. On the other hand, the rigidness of the two countries' stances could lead bilateral relationship further astray. That the two governments think and act differently when it comes to defending their national interests is primarily responsible for the vicious diplomatic circle that continues. Basically, Tokyo refuses to compromise. Instead, Japan's senior officials keep requesting to meet their foreign counterparts to reiterate Tokyo's claim (and improve their approval ratings in the country), in the hope that the latter offer a compromise and save them from doing so. Although open to bilateral meetings, China believes that both sides should take a step back before the negotiation falls into a game of pointing fingers. Finding it difficult to understand Japan's refusal to compromise, the Chinese government has been questioning whether Tokyo is sincere in pushing for diplomatic dialogues and will fight back when it seeks to infringe on Beijing's legal interests. To put an end to the finger-pointing circle, Japan, first of all, must stop encroaching upon China's strategic interests like it did before and during World War II, because China is willing to and well capable of safeguarding its sovereignty. On its part, Beijing should neither shut the door to leadership meetings with Tokyo nor turn a blind eye to the significance of high-level communications, outcomes aside. When negotiating with an uncompromising state like Japan, it should not expect easy gains. Otherwise it may end up being forced to compromise due to the lack of patience. That requires Chinese decision-makers to look squarely at the need to hold diplomatic talks with Japan. Regular high-level exchanges can be a small leap for both countries, too, as long as they are candid and honest. The author is a professor on Japan studies at China Foreign Affairs University. With an eye toward increasing transparency and participation in the city budgeting process, Middleton officials are exploring the possibility of creating an open data portal on the citys website. The City Council on Tuesday will consider a $15,000 pilot project with Socrata, a Seattle-based software company that helps municipalities convert data into easily digestible charts and graphs that track government spending, performance measures, police reports and other information. Adoption of open data a movement that seeks to make the expansive amount of data collected and generated by government publicly available has become a growing trend in many large American cities, but it has been slow to catch on in smaller communities. Middleton city administrator Mike Davis said making the city budgeting process more open and understandable to the public has for the last several years been a priority of finance director John Lehman. Prior to Lehmans arrival in Middleton, the budget was not published on the city website. Now, city staff send out surveys to collect citizen input prior to drafting the budget. That all has made us more open and transparent, but still, as a layperson, when you read through a city budget, it can be hard to decipher, Davis said. After learning about Socratas software at a conference in Seattle, Davis and Lehman agreed open data might be a good thing for the city to pursue. We both felt that it would help us move to the next stage in openness and transparency, Davis said. If the council approves the pilot, Socrata would help the city develop a portal through its website that would graphically display departmental budgets and spending. Beyond public consumption, Davis said it has potential to be useful to city staff because it includes performance measures and benchmarks. Madison officials adopted an open data ordinance in 2012, which at the time was hailed as a way to increase transparency and potentially stir development of useful third-party web and mobile applications. A few apps have popped up that track city buses and map police and fire calls, but app development has been fairly stagnant. The city has published more than 100 data sets on its online portal, including some using Socrata, but its unclear how much interest there is in using the majority of the data available for app development. Police calls for service is Madisons most popular data set, attracting about 18,000 views since it was uploaded in December 2012. Other popular data sets include street tree maps and assessment information, said David Faust, applications development manager for Madison. Some other data may be extremely useful, but we have no way of knowing what people do with it once they have it, Faust said. Implementing open data can also be time consuming because there are challenges in getting data ready to publish. Madisons information technology staff have worked toward automated publishing to help limit the staff time it consumes, Faust said. Davis said Middleton would start incrementally, but its goal would be to incorporate open data for all city departments. Should Middleton continue beyond the pilot project, Davis said the software would cost $24,000 per year. Certainly Im not looking to establish great expectations to start, but to move us gradually in a direction which makes us more open, so when we look back five years from now we say, Yeah, weve done something that other small governments have perhaps not yet done, he said. Certainly Im not looking to establish great expectations to start, but to move us gradually in a direction which makes us more open, so when we look back five years from now we say, Yeah, weve done something that other small governments have perhaps not yet done. Mike Davis Middleton city administrator The Dane County Sheriffs Office is warning people who want to purchase telephone time for inmates at the Dane County Jail to be sure to use the correct website to establish and fund their calling account. The website for Inmate Calling Solutions is www.icsolutions.com. Another website, Inmate Call Solutions (www.inmatecallsolutions.com), offers calling packages for forwarded numbers. Any funds deposited with this company will not be posted to calling accounts for Dane County Jail inmates. Funds deposited with Inmate Call Solutions may not be refundable and the only recourse is to have the transaction cancelled prior to payment, the Sheriffs Office said. Calling accounts for Dane County Jail inmates can also be established and funded by calling Inmate Calling Solutions at 1-888-506-8407. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been revised to reflect updated information from the Dane County Sheriff's Office. WASHINGTON Foreign policy does not determine American elections. Indeed, of all Western countries, we are the least interested in the subject. The reason is simple: We havent had to be. Our instinctive isolationism derives from our geographic exceptionalism. As Bismarck once explained (it is said), the United States is the most fortunate of all Great Powers, bordered on two sides by weak neighbors and on the other two by fish. Two world wars, nuclear missiles and international terrorism have disabused us of the illusion of safety-by-isolation. You wouldnt know it, though, from the Democratic presidential race where foreign policy has been treated as a nuisance, a distraction from such fundamental questions as whether $12 or $15 is the proper minimum wage. But on the GOP side, foreign policy has been the subject of furious debate. To which Donald Trump has contributed significantly, much of it off-the-cuff, contradictory and confused. Hence his foreign policy speech Wednesday. It was meant to make him appear consistent, serious and presidential. He did check off the required box delivering a major address to a serious foreign policy outfit, the Center for the National Interest (once known as the Nixon Center). As such, it fulfilled a political need. As did its major theme, announced right at the top: America First. Classically populist and invariably popular, it is nonetheless quite fraught. On the one hand, it can be meaningless isnt every president trying to advance American interests? Surely Truman didnt enter the Korean War for the sake of Koreans, but from the conviction that intervention was essential for American security. On the other hand, America First does have a history. In 1940, when Britain was fighting for its life and Churchill was begging for U.S. help, it was the name of the group most virulently opposed to U.S. intervention. It disbanded totally discredited four days after Pearl Harbor. The irony is that while President Obama would never use the term, it is the underlying theme of his foreign policy which Trump constantly denounces as a series of disasters. Obama, like Trump, is animated by the view we are overextended and overinvested abroad. The nation that Im most interested in building is our own, declared Obama in his December 2009 West Point address on Afghanistan. This is also the theme of Bernie Sanders. No great surprise. Left and right isolationism have found common cause since the 1930s. Socialist Party leader Norman Thomas often shared the platform with Charles Lindbergh at America First rallies. Both the left and right have a long history of advocating American retreat and retrenchment. The difference is liberals want to come home because they think we are not good enough for the world. Conservatives want to wash their hands of the world because they think the world is not good enough for us. For Obama, we are morally unworthy to act as world hegemon. Our hands are not clean. Hes gone abroad confessing our various sins everything from the Iranian coup of 1953 to our unkind treatment of Castros Cuba to the ultimate blot, Hiroshima, a penitential visit to which Obama is currently considering. Trump would be rightly appalled by such a self-indicting trip. His foreign policy stems from a proud nationalism that believes these recalcitrant tribes and nations are unworthy of American expenditures of blood and treasure. This has been the underlying view of conservative isolationism from Lindbergh through Pat Buchanan through Rand Paul. It is not without its attractions. Trumps version, however, is inconsistent and often contradictory. After all, he pledged to bring stability to the Middle East. How do you do that without presence, risk and expenditures (financial and military)? He attacked Obama for letting Iran become a great power. But doesnt resisting that automatically imply engagement? More incoherent still is Trumps insistence on being unpredictable. An asset perhaps in real estate deals, but in a Hobbesian world American allies rely on American consistency, often as a matter of life or death. Yet Trump excoriated the Obama-Clinton foreign policy for losing the trust of our allies precisely because of its capriciousness. The tilt toward Iran. The red line in Syria. Canceling the East European missile defense. Abandoning Hosni Mubarak. Trumps scripted, telepromptered speech was intended to finally clarify his foreign policy. It produced instead a jumble. The basic principle seems to be this: Continue the inexorable Obama-Clinton retreat, though for reasons of national self-interest, rather than of national self-doubt. And except when, with studied inconsistency, he decides otherwise. Avalon Betts-Gaston contrived fraudulent real estate transactions to defraud homeowners and financial institutions. She and a co-defendant, Dimona Ross, arranged for the submission of materially false information on mortgage loan documents in four Cook County real estate transactions worth more than $725,000. CHICAGO A disbarred Illinois lawyer has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for her role in a mortgage fraud scheme that bilked lenders and vulnerable homeowners out of more than $725,000, the Northern Illinois U.S. Attorney's office announced Friday. A federal jury last year convicted Betts-Gaston, 47, of Naperville, on two counts of wire fraud. In addition to the 57-month prison term, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Norgle yesterday ordered Betts-Gaston to pay restitution in the amount of $239,550.48. This case demonstrates a sophisticated scheme to take advantage of the trust that mortgage lenders placed in the loan applications they received, and the trust that the homeowners placed in her, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Chahn Lee argued in the governments sentencing memorandum. The homeowners believed that she was there to help them, and instead she put their homes and equity at risk. Betts-Gaston graduated from law school and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 2000. Ross was a licensed real estate loan officer. Together they founded IJCN Investments, which was based in Chicago Ridge and purportedly helped distressed homeowners refinance their homes to avoid foreclosure. IJCN was involved in various Cook County real estate transactions, with Betts-Gaston handling the legal aspects and Ross obtaining the mortgages. Evidence at trial revealed that instead of refinancing the homes, the defendants arranged for the properties to be sold to a straw buyer. In doing so, the pair submitted false applications for mortgage loans, eradicated the homeowners legal rights in their properties, and obtained all of the homeowners equity. Betts-Gaston and Ross received fees for the deals, and the straw buyers were paid thousands of dollars. IJCN was dissolved in 2008, and Betts-Gaston was disbarred in 2012. Ross pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Norgle on May 11, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Brian Foitik, guest speaker at The Heartland Institute's event about "The Vaping War" on Wednesday, April 20 (see Part 1 ), linked the "war" on vaping to a happening 52 years ago when the Surgeon General recognized tobacco as a health issue, where upon tobacco was taxed at all levels of government. It was easy to levy a tax on tobacco because of the limited of individuals who smoked at the time. Nevertheless, even after a 52-year campaign of educating the public about smoking and related health issues through word-of-mouth, negative advertising, and marketing restrictions, there are still 40+ million smokers in this nation. 450,000 will die every years from tobacco-related illnesses. Although 70% of smokers want to quit; a majority have tried to quit but weren't successful. Even though many e-cigarette smokers begin vaping to wean themselves off tobacco products, why do e-cigarette smokers reap the same hatred from the non-smoking public as those who smoke tobacco cigarettes? Might it be because people are taught not only to hate cigarettes, but also to hate the one who smokes them? For these individuals a cigarette is a cigarette. It matters not that one is a tobacco product and the other a vapor product that is not comparable to the thousands of toxic agents formed when tobacco is burned. Vaping as a Consumer-Driven Business As more and more individuals desire a product that is a safe and effective smoking cessation aid, the number of consumer driven vapor shops are growing proportionally. There are 15,000 vapor shops. All are new businesses; people are employed and property taxes are paid. When there are people who want something, products are offered as a solution to the problem. This is the free market at work. Regulations and taxes only inhibit innovation in a free market system. Pharmaceutical companies are able to come up with new products to help people stop smoking, but each new product must receive FDA approval, which requires an expensive and lengthy process to be able to market and sell a new product. Pharmaceutical companies do get a break from taxes. As a result of ill-conceived tax breaks, the pharmaceutical industry pays just 5.6 percent of its profits in taxes. After one product doesn't work, repeat customers can be drawn back when a new cessation of smoking product is developed. In contrast, the vaping community could ill afford, with its limited resources, to have each vaping product approved by the FDA. Even a different vaping flavor would require new FDA approval at a great cost and with considerable approval time. The vaping industry enjoyed a bit of a victory in a report dated April 14, 2016, when the House appropriations committee voted to approve an amendment to the FY 2017 Agricultural Appropriations bill that would change the predicate date for newly deemed tobacco products. Products on the market since 2007 would not have to retroactively go through the PMTA process. As such vaping products would not be considered tobacco products. The bipartisan amendment by Rep. Tom Cole (R OK) and Rep. Sanford Bishop (D GA) passed by a 31-19 vote. Victoria Vasconcello, former long-time smoker and owner of Cignot Inc. As already noted in Part 1, Ms. Vasconcello, as a former long-time smoker, has been in the vaping business since 2009. She considers vaping as a consumer-driven solution to a problem; however, government is seeking to balance budgets by putting lives in jeopardy. Victoria Vasconcello graciously relinquished most of her allotted speaking time, noting that Brian Fojtik had covered the vaping topic so thoroughly in his prior comments, likewise expressing that she wanted there to be ample time for a productive Question and Answer session. In response to one of the question from the audience (questions were also submitted by those watching the live on-stream presentation) "What can the little guy do to have a presence in CASAA (Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternates)?" Ms. Vasconcello suggested joining the 135,000 member CASAA group and meeting with local legislators. The science is out there to support the use of e-cigarettes. Help legislators know what the science is. Genuine fear develops from not knowing the truth. Finally long time smokers have found something that helps them, and they are standing up and fighting with truth on their side. Consumers do have power! Concluding Thoughts Support for the vaping community can be broadened by minimizing the arguments of center left groups. Unfortunately, PR hasn't been on the side of e-cigarettes to enable them to become mainstream, unlike in England where the government backs e-cigarettes for smokers. There is limited money in the vaping community to get out the truth. This results in most of the studies being done by those who hold a con e-cigarette agenda. The minds of the American people must be changed. A New Poll Finds Americans Risk Perception of Vaping is All Wrong. The vaping community just wants to compete! As government is addicted to the money it receives from tobacco products, and this money is decreasing as smoking decreases, there are attempts being made to tax e-cigarettes to keep coffers filled. The good news is that there have been 500 pieces of legislation enacted which attempt to tax and restrict e-cigarette use, but only a few of them have passed. It is ironic, however, that the Omnibus Bill Will Protect Cigarette Markets & Harm Public Health. Letters to the Editor are a good way to educate the public about e-cigarettes. Below are three articles that show how Chicago is dealing with e-cigarettes. The e-cigarette tax referred to in the first article went into effect on January 1, 2016. Chicagos Deadly E-Cigarette Tax Takes Effect Tomorrow Chicago Vaping Tax is About Cigarette Tax Dollars, Not Health Rahm Emanuels E-Cig Tax Will Kill Smokers & Small Businesses Following are additional note-worthy e-cigarette articles: 1. Articles by Brad Radu, Heartland's Senior Fellow who holds the Endowed Chair in Tobacco Harm Reduction Research at the University of Louisville. http://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2016/04/e-cigarettes-seen-as-life-savers-by-uk.html Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - "E-Cigarettes Seen as Life-Savers by UK Government, But Condemned by US" http://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2009/07/fda-crusade-against-e-cigarettes.html This article examines and comments on scientific issues surrounding tobacco policies and fallacies. Friday, July 24, 2009 - "The FDA Crusade Against E-Cigarettes" http://news.heartland.org/editorial/2016/03/18/association-youth-e-cigarette-bans-increased-smoking-confirmedMarch 18, 2016 - "Association of Youth E-Cigarette Bans with Increased Smoking Confirmed" http://news.heartland.org/editorial/2016/02/02/its-too-early-prove-absolute-safety-smokers-shouldnt-wait-vape February 2, 2016 - "It's Too Early to Prove Absolute Safety, But Smokers Shouldn't Wait to Vape http://news.heartland.org/editorial/2015/03/12/sloan-kettering-corrects-e-cigarette-study March 12, 2015 - "Sloan Kettering Corrects E-Cigarette Study" 2. "Wall Street Journal" article published Monday, April 11, 2016. In the article "Are E-Cigarettes a Healthy Way to Quit Smoking?, both the pro and the con sides were presented. Even though e-cigarette sales have been growing, they remain dwarfed by the $100 billion tobacco market. Jim Lakely, Communications Director at The Heartland Institute, served as moderator, describing The Heartland Institute as a free market think tank that fights for policies that increase freedom and liberty and promotes the free market. Covering only domestic policies, Heartland is one of few think tanks that stands up for the rights of the smoker. An announcement was made by Jim Lakely to join Heartland for the Grand Opening of the largest freedom library in Chicagoland. The Michael Parry Mazur Library, named after an economist who passed away in 1987 by his family in Mazur's honor, is a rapidly growing research library containing an excellent collection of works on economics, history, political science, public policy, and related topics. The public is invited to attend on Wednesday, May 4, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 p.m. at Heartland headquarters, 3939 N. Wilke Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. Registration is free. See map: Google Maps. Check this link for free registration for the event. Thursday, April 28, 2016 - Part 1: "Thorner: E-Cigarettes a Healthy Way to Quit Smoking, Heartland Institute panel says": http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/04/e-cigarettes-a-healthy-way-to-quit-smoking-heartland-institute-panel-says.html#more The redi-Go is the third vehicle to be added to Datsun's portfolio of products. By India Today Web Desk: Datsun India made the global debut of the redi-Go hatchback on April 14 , with the launch to take place sometime in the first week of July. Moreover, Datsun will commence the pre-bookings for the small car at Rs 5,000 on May 1. The amount is refundable and can be cancelled later if the customer wants. advertisement ALSO READ: Datsun redi-Go not a concept anymore, production version revealed The redi-Go is the third vehicle to be added to Datsun's portfolio of products. It is based on the low-cost CMF-A platform, the redi-Go draws its styling from the redi-Go concept car. Interiors The Datsun redi-Go is also expected to offer decent knee room, spacious rear seats and best-in-class visibility. The interiors will come in full beige with black plastic centre console and fabric seats finished in brown and beige dual tone. Engine The redi-Go will come with a 0.8 litre three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission which, the company claims, will make for best-in-class fuel economy. ALSO READ: Datsun redi-Go unveiled, India launch in June The Datsun redi-Go is said to come with an automated manual transmission version later. Competition The Datsun redi-Go takes on the likes of Renault Kwid, from which it has borrowed some features as well as the design language. The Datsun redi-Go is likely to dent the market of its main competitors the Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 and the Hyundai EON Price ALSO READ: Comparison: Datsun redi-Go vs Alto 800 vs Eon vs Kwid It is likely to come with a price tag of between Rs 2.5 lakh (ex showroom, New Delhi) to Rs 3.5 lakh (ex showroom, New Delhi. --- ENDS --- Even though it is being touted as a compact SUV its profile is more like that of the Mobilio. The front is impressive though and gives the car presence on the road and could very well fool people to believe that it is a mean looking SUV. By Yogendra Pratap: On first looks the BR-V looks like a bloated Mobilio with a heavier stance, a prominent front-end and design cues we have seen before on the City and the Amaze as well. Even though it is being touted as a compact SUV its profile is more like that of the Mobilio. I have to give it the fact that it is actually taller, longer and wider than the Mobilio and in fact has a longer wheelbase as well. advertisement The front is impressive though and gives the car presence on the road and could very well fool people to believe that it is a mean looking SUV On the inside, the interiors are classy and neat, as would expect from a Honda. Like the Mobilio, the BR-V has three rows of seats with the third row comfortable only for children or for adults for short drives. The third row flips over to offer flat luggage space of 691 litres. Even with the third row up there is boot space comparable to mid-sized hatchbacks. Like on the Mobilio, the cabin of the BR-V is also quite functional with a one-touch access to the third row. The rear also gets a separate air-con with vents on the roof just like on the Mobilio. The instrument cluster is taken from the City and has all the information displays on the City along with fuel consumption data. The dash is classy with a woven aluminium look finish that makes it look premium. The climate control system is also fully automatic and easy to use, taken straight from the Amaze. However the centre console with the music system looks to be an afterthought with multiple rectangular motifs and is again taken from the new Amaze. Infact the full central console unit is exactly the same as on the Amaze. That the air-con controls are from the Amaze is actually a good thing as they are with buttons and much easier to use than on the City. The seating position though is much like that of a car and that leaves plenty of utilisable head space but does not provide a commanding view that one would expect from an SUV. The seats are comfortable with an armrest for the rear passengers. The BR-V will be launched with both diesel and the petrol engines, the 1.5-litre 16-valve SOHC petrol engine that powers the City and the Mobilio and the 1.5-litre 16-valve DOHC diesel that powers the Jazz, Amaze, City and the Mobilio. The diesel engine will be available with only a manual transmission while the petrol will have both a manual as well as a CVT. advertisement We drove the petrol engine BR-V with a manual transmission and the first thing that one notices is that the BR-V gets a 6-speed gearbox, first for the Honda range. The 6-speed features a shorter first gear and a taller final gear, done to compensate the heavier wright of the BR-V and also to add some pep to initial acceleration and on the other side, to increase fuel efficiency. The BR-V itself is unlike any of the other cars in the Honda range here. It feels heavier and more planted and one can feel its size while driving. However a 210mm ground clearance meant that we were confident of taking the car over most of the broken roads on our drove around Udaipur. The 16-inch 195 tyres means there is plenty of grip and straight line stability is perhaps the best of the Honda range made in India. The steering is not as light as on some of the other Hondas and that has to be a positive thing though some may complain about manoeuvrability in the city. The car feels zippy on start but getting to the sixth gear is virtually impossible in a city like Udaipur. But on the highways sixth is good for cruising but if you are out of the power band then you have to downshift to execute a quick overtaking and that can get bothersome. advertisement Overall, the BR-V I think will provide a good alternative for someone looking for a 7-seater as an alternative to the likes of the Mobilios and the Ertigas but cannot substitute an SUV or even the so called urban SUVs despite its high ground clearance and its impressive front end. --- ENDS --- Volkswagen is looking for ways to expand its offering in the area of digital mobility services. Mueller also said he could not estimate how long it would take to resolve regulatory issues with authorities in the United States. By Reuters: Volkswagen Chief Executive Matthias Mueller said the carmaker is in talks with external partners to start new digital mobility businesses but added these talks do not involve Apple or Google. ALSO READ: Volkswagen, US reach diesel emissions deal Speaking at a press conference to discuss full-year results in Wolfsburg on Thursday, Mueller said the company was looking for ways to expand its offering in the area of digital mobility services. advertisement ALSO READ: Volkswagen teases new SUV concept ahead of Beijing debut "Please understand if I cannot name these companies, but we are not in talks with Apple or Google," Mueller said. ALSO READ: Volkswagen India to begin Ameo deliveries by July Mueller also said he could not estimate how long it would take to resolve regulatory issues with authorities in the United States, who would first have to receive results of the internal investigation it has commissioned from law firm Jones Day, which is expected to finish its work by the end of the year. --- ENDS --- With the opposition hitting out at the Rajasthan government over the deaths, the Vasundhara Raje dispensation appointed a three-member committee to probe into the matter. By India Today Web Desk: Eleven people with special needs, including eight children, staying at a government-run home near Jaipur have died due to suspected bacterial infection after allegedly drinking contaminated water. With the opposition hitting out at the Rajasthan government over the deaths, the Vasundhara Raje dispensation appointed a three-member committee to probe into the matter. Twenty-seven residents of the government facility in Jamdoli had been admitted to SMS Hospital and JK Lone hospital. Eleven of them died between April 16 and 27. Eight persons were discharged while the others are still undergoing treatment. advertisement Though post-mortem report is still awaited, doctors are of the opinion that the people died due to suspected bacterial infection, Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi said today, PTI reported. He said the three-member committee headed by Principal Secretary Sudarshan Sethi would submit its report in 15 days. The minister said that after receiving complaints over hygiene in the facility, a team from SMS Hospital had visited it on April 23. "After receiving complaint, a team from SMS hospital visited the hostel on April 23 and gave necessary directions to the staff. The hostel staff has been directed to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Hand sanitizers have been placed outside every room in the hostel which has 20 rooms, 10 for boys and as many for girls," Chaturvedi said. The minister also ruled out possibility of food contamination initially and said the matter was being probed. "Reasons of the deaths would be clear in post-mortem report," he said. Superintendent of JK Lone Hospital, Dr Ashok Gupta said the children who were admitted to that hospital were suffering from septic shock - complication of infection where toxins can initiate a full body inflammatory response - and high blood pressure. "The children were admitted to the hospital between April 21 and 28. Seven of them have died, while four are undergoing treatment. Of them, three are critical," Gupta said. "All of them were admitted after they complained of vomiting and other problems," he added. Opposition Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the children were taken ill apparently after drinking contaminated water at the government home, and demanded action against those responsible for the tragedy. "It is very serious issue that the children who had special needs have died. The government should order a high-level inquiry into the matter," Pilot, who visited the hospital, said. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Fakir Hassen Pretoria, Apr 28 (PTI) Two Indian-origin South Africans, along with former president Nelson Mandelas ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and 29 others, were honoured with South Africas highest national award Order of Luthuli. A total of 32 people were bestowed with the countrys highest award by President Jacob Zuma at the National Orders Awards ceremony at the presidential guest house here. advertisement The Order of Luthuli was conferred on veteran political activist Sathyandranath Mac Maharaj, as well as posthumously on Late Suliman Babla Saloojee, who was killed by apartheid-era security forces in 1964. Winnies granddaughter Zoleka Mandela accepted the award on her behalf, as the veteran leader is recovering after hospitalisation. The Order of Luthuli recognises South African citizens who have contributed to the struggle for democracy, nation-building, building democracy and human rights, justice and peace as well as for the resolution of conflict. "The recipients of the national orders have each contributed in some way to the attainment of this goal. We reiterate that South Africa is a much better place to live in now than it was before 1994," South African President Jacob Zuma said. Maharajs citation acknowledged the long prison term on Robben Island which he had served alongside Nelson Mandela. He served as the Transport Minister in the post-apartheid government and also as Presidential Advisor in the fourth and fifth administrations? until his retirement in 2015. Maharaj also achieved fame for smuggling out of Robben Island Mandelas memoirs transcribed into tiny script, which would later become the basis for Mandelas best-selling biography Long Walk to Freedom. Legal clerk Saloojee was among the participants from the renowned Transvaal Indian Congress who joined the Defiance Campaign of 1952 against apartheid laws? and was killed in detention by apartheid forces in 1964. Saloojee was also a member of the Picasso Club that was known for painting anti-apartheid slogans around Johannesburg, and frequently helped exiles flee the country. Maharaj dedicated his award to his family and to all the other activists who according to him had gone through great difficulties on their own while he was in detention for so many years. Saloojees widow Rokaya said she had mixed feelings about the award and stated that her husband "paid the ultimate price for dedicating his life to fighting political injustice in South Africa. However, she felt that the recognition came a bit late in 22 years of democracy in South Africa. PTI FK RCB PMS RCB --- ENDS --- advertisement By PTI: Kathmandu, Apr 29 (PTI) Three people were arrested today from Nepal-China border for smuggling 18 kg of gold biscuits worth Rs 90 million to the country, police said. The police have seized 18 kg of gold biscuits worth Rs 90 million from them during a security check from Barhabise area of Sindhupalchowk district near Nepal-China border. A police team deployed from the Barhabise area police post nabbed the three from a car in which they had left to Kathmandu, police said. advertisement The police has initiated further investigation into the matter after taking them into custody. PTI SBP AJR AKJ AJR --- ENDS --- Sitting in the lap of nature, each of these monasteries is far from the madding crowd, and is a must-visit for those seeking peace. By Samonway Duttagupta: If peace is what you are seeking, there can't be a better alternative than hilltop monasteries. You are from the traffic jams, pollution and deadlines of the plains. Up there, there's no toxic smoke to choke you, no noise pollution created by the honking of cars and no racing against time to reach somewhere or to finish a job. Up on that mountains, within the lap of nature, and inside a monastery, there's nothing but peace. You can simply sit in silence, observe your thoughts and find your own happy space. advertisement The weather is also perfect to go up to the hills. We have compiled a list of some of the most beautiful hilltop monasteries that you must explore at least once in your lifetime. Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim A visit to this monastery is a must when you travel to Gangtok. In fact, it is one of the tourist sightseeing spots of the region. Surrounded by lush green mountains, the Rumtek Monastery is one of the oldest in India. Also known as the Dharmachakra Centre, this 18th century monastery was the seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage. The interiors of the monastery remain brightened up by some of the rarest and beautifully done Buddhist artworks in the form of wall murals and thangkas. There are as many as 1001 miniature Buddha statues made out of gold are kept inside the monastery. Picture courtesy: Wikimedia/Vikramjit Kakati/Creative Commons How to reach: The Rumtek Monastery is located at an easy driving distance from Gangtok. Bagdogra, at 123 km, is the nearest airport, while New Jalpaiguri, at a distance of 148 km, is the nearest railway station. Dhankar Gompa, Himachal Pradesh Reaching this monastery will be good enough to disconnect you from the rest of the world. After all, no worldly troubles can touch you in a remote part of the country, high up at an altitude of close to 13,000 feet. Surrounded by towering peaks and a stark-yet-stunning landscape, the Dhankar Gompa in Himachal Pradesh's Spiti Valley is a fort monastery, which was the capital of the local kingdom way back in the 17th century. Around the monastery is a small village with only a handful of huts, mostly inhabited by the monks. The only way of staying in this place is by taking shelter in a homestay. Also read: Three of the remotest villages in Himachal Pradesh you can visit this summer Picture courtesy: Flickr/Purushottam Pawar/Creative Commons How to reach: There can't be a better alternative to reach this place than a locally hired vehicle. Dhankar is located at a distance of 24 km from Kaza. Taxis are available from Kaza and charge around Rs 2,000 for a round trip. advertisement Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh It's almost impossible to miss out on this monastery when you are talking about some of the finest places of Buddhist worship in India. The Tawang Monastery is the largest monastery in the country and is believed to be the second largest in the world, after Potala Palace in Lhasa. Situated in the Tawang river valley of Arunachal Pradesh, the monastery was built in the late 17th century by Merek Lama Lodre Gyamsto, at the behest of the fifth Dalai Lama. Within the monastery complex, there are 65 residential buildings and a library housing some of the most ancient and valuable scriptures belonging to different canons of Tibetan Buddhism. Located at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the monastery offers unparalleled views of the valley. Picture courtesy: Wikimedia/Vikramjit Kakati/Creative Commons How to reach: Tezpur in Assam, at a distance of 143 km, has the nearest airport and railway station. Buses and taxis are available from this place. Hemis Monastery, Jammu and Kashmir A popular destination among those who travel to the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, the Hemis Monastery is located at a distance of 45 km from Leh. This old Tibetan Buddhist monastery is known among travellers from all parts of the world for the annual Hemis Festival. With traditional dance performances representing a riot of colours, this festival is a treat among tourists and an absolute delight for travel photographers. The festival is usually held in the fifth month of Tibetan calendar, which falls between the months of June and July every year. Picture courtesy: Flickr/sandeepachetan.com travel photography/Creative Commons advertisement How to reach: Hemis can be reached by road from Leh. Leh is connected to Delhi by air. Tabo Monastery, Himachal Pradesh Another monastery in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, the Tabo Monastery is believed to be the oldest continuously operated Buddhist monastery in India and the Himalayas as a whole. Founded in 996 CE by Rinchen Zangpo, who was the king of the Western Himalayas, the monastery is now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a national historic treasure of the country. Located at an altitude of 10,000 feet in the Tabo village, the monastery houses priceless collections of ancient thangkas, manuscripts, well-preserved statues, frescos and extensive murals that cover almost every wall of the monument. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Nivedita Ravishankar/Creative Commons How to reach: Tabo is 337 km from Shimla and 149 km from Reckong Peo. There's a daily public bus that departs Reckong Peo at 6:30am and reaches Tabo at 4pm. The most convenient way of reaching this place is by hired cabs from Shimla. advertisement (The writer tweets at @SamonwayDg) --- ENDS --- Divyanka Tripathi took away the maximum awards at Star Parivaar Awards 2016. She won six awards in categories like Favourite Bahu, Favourite Maa and Favourite Patni among others. By Indo-Asian News Service: It was a surprising moment for actress Divyanka Tripathi, who won six trophies at the Star Parivaar Awards 2016 for her role of Ishita Bhalla in popular daily soap Yeh Hai Mohabbatein. She said actors are "incomplete" without support from their fans. "I was surprised to see most of the awards coming to our show (Yeh Hai Mohabbatein). Every category in which we were nominated has won the title," Divyanka, who won awards for categories like Favourite Bahu, Favourite Maa and Favourite Patni among others, said after the awards function. advertisement "I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful team. Also, I want to thank my fans because we as actors are incomplete without them. Their love and blessings make us complete," she added. Also read: Divyanka Tripathi sweeps the Star Parivaar Awards with her 'six pack'; full winners' list Co-hosted by Harshad Arora and Karam Rajpal, the award show, which honours the best talent in the television industry, took place in Mumbai on Wednesday night. Divyanka also took home the trophies for Favourite Digital Sadasya (Female) and Favourite International Jodi and Favourite Jodi, both of which she shared with her Yeh Hai Mohabbatein co-star Karan Patel. The telecast date for Star Parivaar Awards 2016 is yet to be announced. --- ENDS --- This family knew they hadn't had a girl in many years, but when they realised it had been well over a hundred years, even they were pretty amazed. By India Today Web Desk: A family in the city of Post Falls, Idaho, US, recently welcomed its first baby girl in over 100 years. Yes. 36,500 days. 1,200 months. 100 years. 1 whole century. The Underdalh family from the city has reportedly not had a girl since 1914--until now! April 12, 2016 was the day when the family finally welcomed its first baby girl, marking a celebration that was long overdue. advertisement Breaking what had involuntarily become a tradition for the Underdalhs, Auerelia Underdahl's recent birth has obviously left the family extremely overwhelmed and excited. Also Read: Over 45,000 vendors in Rajasthan refuse to rent out wedding supplies to protest child marriages KREM2 reports that Auerelia's mother, Ashton Underdahl herself "wasn't mentally prepared for a girl." Ashton went on to say that the family did know that they hadn't had a girl in many years, but when they realised that it had been well over a hundred years, they themselves were quite amazed. New York Times' Women in the World reports that Ashton's father-in-law did his bit of research and realised that things in their family had been rather masculine during the past century. The birth of baby Auerelia has, however, come as a wonderful surprise for the family whose members had been, "sort of rooting for a girl." --- ENDS --- Highly placed government sources admitted that there was oversight while issuing visa to Isa, which was later revoked on "technical ground" as it was applied in the wrong category. By Ananth Krishnan, Abhishek Bhalla : After goofing up on the visa to World Uyghur Congress leader Dolkun Isa, India has denied permission to two more activists to attend a high-profile meeting of Chinese dissidents and exiles in Himachal Pradesh on April 28. Dolkun Isa, Lu Jinghua Highly placed government sources admitted that there was oversight while issuing visa to Isa, which was later revoked on "technical ground" as it was applied in the wrong category. advertisement "Keeping in mind the agreement between India and China that two countries will not allow any activity targeted towards each other to be carried on its land, visas to other activists were rejected," a top government official said. The official added that allowing rebels to be part of anti-China gathering on Indian soil would go against the spirit of the agreement between the two countries. There was a red corner notice pending against Dolkun Isa, which also led to the cancellation of his visa, a fact which apparently got overlooked when he was granted evisa. But the activists told Mail Today that they believed "Chinese pressure" was a factor behind the cancellations though officially India maintained that there were "inconsistencies" in their applications. To save itself of embarrassment in future, the government has decided to link the Red Corner Notice network with the electronic visa process. "If somebody is blacklisted or has Interpol notice against him or her it should appear on our e-visa network so that there is no embarrassment like in Isa's case," an official said. Earlier this week, a Uyghur exile, who was scheduled to speak at the same meeting, said his electronic tourist visa was revoked. On Tuesday, Lu Jinghua, a well-known Tiananmen activist and former 1989 protest leader, and Hong Kong activist Ray Wong, both said their electronic visas had been denied. Lu said she was about to board an Air India flight from New York when she was told her visa was cancelled. "At the airport, the Air India staff told me simply that I couldn't board as my visa was cancelled," she told Mail Today from New York. Official sources based on information available with the Ministry of Home Affairs said the reason for the denial was "her documents were illegible and there was inconsistency with the purpose of her visit." "In so far as Ray Wong is concerned," they added, "there was data inconsistency in his documents. As such visas were not issued to both these individuals." On the revoking of Isa's visa, the Ministry of External Affairs said he had applied for the wrong category of visa. advertisement A conference visa is required for those attending meetings, while electronic tourist visa is allowed only for tourism and casual business meetings. The MEA said information about the conference "was suppressed in the visa form and that the tourist visa does not permit." But despite the Indian government's explanation, the cancellation and visa denials sent a ripple through the community of Chinese dissidents and exiles, said activist and former Tiananmen leader Rose Tang, who has in the past travelled to India. "Countries like Thailand, Vietnam are already unsafe for Chinese dissidents. I am worried that India is becoming one more country not on the list of countries I can travel to," Tang said. --- ENDS --- Citing an interview of Modi with journalist Rajeev Shukla, where he gives details of his educational qualifications, the Information Commissioner said it generated lot of curiosity among the people. By Press Trust of India: In an unusual move, the Central Information Commission today directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information on degrees earned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had criticised the functioning of the transparency panel. Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu also directed the Prime Minister's Office to provide "specific number and year" of the degrees of Prime Minister to his alma mater-- Delhi University and Gujarat University-- to make it easy for them to locate these records. advertisement "Not prescribing the education (degree based) qualification for contesting electoral offices is one of the great features of Indian democracy. What needed is education and not degrees. However, when a citizen holding the position of Chief Ministership wants to know the degree related information of the Prime Minister, it will be proper to disclose," Acharyulu said in the order as he treated explanation from Kejriwal as an RTI application. The Information Commissioner said, "The Commission directs the CPIOs of Delhi University and Gujarat University to make best possible search for the information regarding degrees in the name of "Mr Narendra Damodar Modi" in the year 1978 (Graduation in DU) and 1983 (Post Graduation in GU) and provide it to the appellant Mr Kejriwal as soon as possible." The genesis of the case is in two previous CIC orders and a scathing letter from Kejriwal to Acharyulu where he demanded that while he was ready to share information sought by RTI applicants, the CIC must also order disclosure of educational qualifications of the Prime Minister. In the case of Hans Raj Jain, who sought the details of the students who passed in 1978 with names starting from N (Narendra) and M (Modi), the Delhi University had claimed that it will not be possible to search from lakhs of external students unless roll number was provided. The case was closed by Acharyulu as under "complaint proceedings" in RTI Act disclosure of information cannot be ordered by the CIC and to levy penalty there should be malafide on the part of the Central Public Information Officer which could not be proved. In another case related to one Neeraj Pandey, who sought information about electoral photo identity card of Delhi Chief Minister, Acharyulu had sought explanation from Kejriwal why he as an MLA be not declared as Public authority under the RTI Act and why his party too was not brought under the Act. Kejriwal in his response did not object to disclosure of information about him but raised a demand for information about Prime Minister's educational qualifications referring to Hans Raj Jain case, Acharyulu noted. "He stated that while CIC wanted Mr Kejriwal's information to be given, CIC was obstructing the information about degrees of Mr Modi, the Prime Minister. He expressed surprise over this and also doubted objectivity of the Commission," Acharyulu said. advertisement He said educational qualification related information about public authority or public servant or political leader occupying constitutional position is not hit by any exception under Section 8 of the RTI Act. "It cannot be stated as personal or private information also. In fact, the information about educational degrees of Prime Minister is already in public domain," he said. Citing an interview of Modi with journalist Rajeev Shukla, where he gives details of his educational qualifications, the Information Commissioner said it generated lot of curiosity among the people. "The curiosity cannot be equated with public interest.Just because public is interested in it, it does not mean that it is in public interest. There is no educational qualification prescribed for contesting any electoral position under law. The election to Lok Sabha or Prime Ministership cannot be questioned on the point of educational qualification," Acharyulu said. Acharyulu said where there is a prescribed educational qualification for a position and its existence was doubted, the disclosure will be in public interest which is not the point in this case. The Information Commissioner quoted a comment of his father MS Acharya, a freedom fighter, when Telugu University wanted his educational qualifications for being eminent journalist. advertisement "He took pride in saying,'I studied 'Raghu Vamsha' and 'Megha Doota', 'Kumara Sambhava' of Maha Kavi Kalidas. They are not degrees offered by Universities so what. They offer better education than many degrees awarded by the Universities," Acharyulu said. Quoting from Constituent Assembly debates, Acharyulu said H V Kamath noted the extent of illiteracy in the country and the dangers it presented, an expressed regret that the franchise itself had not been restricted on grounds of literacy. --- ENDS --- A Parliamentary committee has suggested that these monuments should be used for tourism promotion and generating revenue by allowing weddings and family functions to he held near them. By Siraj Qureshi: The Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort are one of the few world-renowned historical monuments that have become the icons of tourism in India. These three monuments of Agra have been included in the list of world-heritage monuments, making Agra the first India city to have three world-heritage monuments. Often tourists coming to Agra complain about the dirty surroundings of these monuments which has earned Agra the infamy of being one of the dirtiest tourist cities in the world. Now, if reports are to be believed, a parliamentary committee has suggested that these monuments should be used for tourism promotion and generating revenue by allowing weddings and family functions to he held near them. Reports of such recommendation by the committee have the local tourism industry raising concerns about the adverse effects such functions will have on tourism. advertisement A senior Archaeological Survey of India official told India Today that several such recommendations have been made to the government by a parliamentary committee headed by Member of Parliament KV Thomas after detailed study of these monuments. Talking to India Today, Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber Secretary Vishal Sharma said that if the reports are indeed accurate, this is a matter of grave concern as holding functions and weddings near the monuments would not only create unnecessary troubles for the tourists, but also result in sound and air pollution besides decrease in the level of cleanliness around the monuments. In fact, he said holding any such event close to the Taj Mahal was proscribed by the Supreme Court of India. He said that there was a provision of allowing documentaries, ad films and movies to be shot around the monuments and the tariff for that hadn't been raised since 1991. This tariff could be raised to generate revenue as documentaries, ad films and movies etc. were usually quite clean affairs and did not cause much discomfort to tourists. This was a much better proposition instead of allowing messy events like weddings to be held close to these monuments, he said. Agra Tourism Guild Vice Chairman Mahtim Singh said that already the lack of an international airport was causing serious damage to the tourism industry of Agra. If weddings and family functions were allowed to be held near the monuments, it will have a seriously detrimental effect on tourism and a lot of tourists will not even visit due to piled up garbage near the monuments following these weddings. He said that the Guild had made several suggestions to the Uttar Pradesh and Central government for increasing the night stay of tourists in Agra, but instead of following up on those suggestions and recommendations, if the government is planning to implement the suggestions made by the KV Thomas committee, the tourism organizations of Agra will vehemently protest any such move. Social activist Vijay Upadhyay said that on one hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting a 'Clean India', on the other hand, his own government is implementing measures that will broadcast a dirty image of India across the world through pictures taken by tourists of the garbage strewn near the monuments after such weddings etc. If enacted, such recommendations will be opposed by all residents of Agra, he said. --- ENDS --- advertisement Continuing his tirade against Sonia Gandhi, Amit Shah said that the Congress party was in power when the AgustaWestland deal happened. By India Today Web Desk: Asserting that the Congress party was misleading the people of the country over the Rs 3600 crore AgustaWestland chopper scam, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah today asked a series of questions and sought Congress president Sonia Gandhi's answer in the case. Continuing his tirade against Sonia Gandhi, Shah said that the Congress party was in power when the deal happened. advertisement "When this corruption scandal happened then Congress party was in power, they had their prime minister, Sonia Gandhi was the president of a very important committee and everything was happening under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led Congress Party's supervision," Amit Shah said. "And later the corruption which has already been proved by an Italy court, Congress party in different forms of questions wants to mislead the people of the country, " he added. Highlighting that the tender could be signed only by the original equipment manufacturers, the BJP president questioned AgustaWestland's signing the tender despite not being the original manufacturer. "First when the tender was out then in the paragraph two of chapter two of the tender there was a provision that tender can be signed by the original equipment manufacturer only. Even after that you gave AgustaWestland International Limited the permission to sign the tender technically qualified them, while in 2015 AgustaWestland report it was public that they are not the original equipment manufacturer," Shah said. "I would like to ask Sonia Gandhi that under whose direction the permission was given. Under whose directive AgustaWestland was found technically qualified. And under whom the tender was tempered with," he added. Shah also questioned that when the deal of the helicopters took place, the field evaluation trial was to be done in India but later it was changed. "Suddenly, the deal was changed and instead of conducting field evaluation trial in India, it was decided to conduct the field evaluation trial in the company's premises. Hasn't this been compromised with the gravity of the matter or hasn't this been tampered with the interest of the country," he said. James Christian Michel, the accused middleman in the chopper deal, has offered himself up for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Agusta Westland's Rs 3,600 crore contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force was scrapped by the UPA government over charges of paying kickbacks to Indian agents. In January 2013, India cancelled the deal and the CBI was assigned to investigate the matter. ALSO READ AgustaWestland scandal: Will CBI question Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh? Bribe takers in the AgustaWestland chopper deal must be named: Rajnath Singh --- ENDS --- advertisement The Enforcement Directorate today summoned former IAF chief SP Tyagi in connection with its money laundering probe in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal. The former IAF chief had reportedly admitted to CBI earlier that he had met middleman Guido Ralph Haschke. By India Today Web Desk: The Enforcement Directorate today summoned former IAF chief SP Tyagi in connection with its money laundering probe in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal. Tyagi, who is accused of swinging Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal in favour of Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland, has been summoned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. He has been asked to present himself for questioning next week. advertisement The agency even claims to have received crucial leads against Tyagi after it reportedly received documentary evidence of payoffs for the ex-air chief. India Today has accessed documents showing payoff to Tyagi from middlemen Guido Hasche and Carlo Gerosa. The former IAF chief had reportedly admitted to CBI earlier that he had met middleman Guido Ralph Haschke. He was also questioned by CBI last year. Earlier in the day, the Congress had dared government to come out with the truth on AgustaWestland deal in next two months instead of issuing threats and launching a "malicious" campaign against it . "If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when Monsoon session of Parliament will commence", Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said. Making light of the attacks on the party and its leadership, he posed the question whether the Congress and the UPA and their leadership would have taken several steps to unravel the truth in the matter if they had something to hide or if they had resorted to corruption. ALSO READ | Agusta scam: Govt junks middleman's claims, says no deal between Modi, Italian PM --- ENDS --- The centuries old Vetaal Bero temple in the highly-sensitive area that had been shut after most pandits were forced to migrate to Jammu and other parts of the country due to militancy in 1990, was reopened on Thursday. By Ashraf Wani: Jogi langar (canteen where food is served for sadhus) in Rainawari area of Srinagar, the locality in the heart of old city that was once home to a high number of Kashmiri pandits, is again reverberating with the sound of temple bells after 27 long years. The centuries old Vetaal Bero temple in the highly-sensitive area that had been shut after most pandits were forced to migrate to Jammu and other parts of the country due to militancy in 1990, was reopened on Thursday. advertisement "After the migration of Kashmiri pandits, the area of the temple was illegally sold by Dharmatma Trust to a local property dealer. When residents in the area came to know about it, they informed Kashmiri pandits of the locality in Jammu, who responded with swift legal action and the area was recovered from the property dealer," Rajindra, who resides near the locality, said. Another Kashmiri pandit Utpal Koul, who used to reside next to the temple, said, "This temple is centuries old, even I remember during early nineties special langar used to be organised here for Amarnath pilgrims. Today is the birth anniversary of Lord Bero and we came to celebrate this festival here from different areas of the country and even some families have come from US for this occasion." Koul suggested that those staying close to the temple could take care of it. Kashmiri pandits, who visited the temple, were greeted by the locals and together they cleaned its premises before offering prayers. It was an emotional moment for most as they reunited with their old neighbours. Habib Ulla, a local, was asked if those who returned will be welcomed back, and he said, "I pray to Allah that these old friends once again return to their homes." Some of the Kashmiri pandit families, who did not migrate during militancy, have formed a group to look after temples in Kashmir. They have formed an organisation by the name of KPSS. According to KPSS (Kashmiri Pundit Sangarish Samiti), there were 583 temples in Kashmir before militancy set in. Of these, 532, including the 52 which disappeared without a trace, were damaged in different militancy-related incidents. "The reopening of temples signifies our existence in the Valley. We want to restore our identity and blunt the tools of some other pundit groups which have unleashed a false propaganda against the Muslims of Kashmir," Sanjay Tickoo said. KPSS has decided to approach mosques for help to reopen temples. "We have constituted a three-member panel which will approach mosque managements seeking cooperation," it stated. --- ENDS --- advertisement The JD(U)'s statements come as a blow to the Congress, who is the party's coalition partner in the Bihar government. After maintaining an uneasy silence over the AgustaWestland scam for days, the Janata Dal (United) today said Congress president Sonia Gandhi must be arrested if found guilty in the case. Party spokesperson Ajay Alok asked why the Narendra Modi government is going slow in the case and why former Air Force Chief SP Tyagi has not been arrested yet? He went on to insinuate that there was a connection between Tyagi and the Central government. advertisement "Let investigations take place, even if it involves Sonia Gandhi. If she is found involved in the scam, she should be arrested. Centre should arrest her, who is stopping them?" Ajay Alok asked. The JD(U)'s statements come as a blow to the Congress, who is the party's coalition partner in the Bihar government. Alok also questioned Ajit Doval's appointment as National Security Advisor by the Modi government. He went on to accuse the government of 'silent corruption' in the case of SP Tyagi, who was made head of the Vivekananda Foundation, earlier headed by Doval. "One has to understand the connection... as soon as Ajit Doval was made NSA, he was replaced by SP Tyagi at Vivekananda Foundation... and all this shows that there is silent corruption at the top," Alok alleged. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday in a series of tweets questioned PM Modi's silence over the chopper deal and dared the BJP to arrest Sonia Gandhi. In another tweet, he accused the party of having wrong intentions and claimed that there will be only talks and no action from the party in 5 years' time. Earlier this week, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain had raised questions as to why Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was silent over the Rs 3,600 AgustaWestland scam. "Nitish had made his political career out of the public anger against Bofors controversy and has also been champion of anti-corruption movement. He should now break his silence on AgustaWestland controversy since the name of Sonia Gandhi has figured in documents related to it in an Italian court," Shahnawaz had said. ALSO READ AgustaWestland scandal: Will CBI question Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh? Bribe takers in the AgustaWestland chopper deal must be named: Rajnath Singh --- ENDS --- The Patna district civil court dismissed the bail pleas of the arrested businessmen, including three from Gujarat, and remanded them in 14-day judicial custody. By Indo-Asian News Service: A Bihar court on Friday refused bail to seven businessmen arrested on the charge of consuming alcohol in a posh hotel here despite the liquor ban in the state, a government lawyer said. The Patna district civil court dismissed the bail pleas of the arrested businessmen, including three from Gujarat, and remanded them in 14-day judicial custody. advertisement Police said the accused were consuming liquor when a raid was conducted at the hotel two days ago. Their medical examination confirmed the charge. Those arrested told the police that they were unaware of the liquor ban in Bihar and had purchased liquor from Mumbai. Chief minister Nitish Kumar has directed officials to ensure a complete ban on liquor and monitor its implementation. More than 900 people have been arrested in Bihar since a complete liquor ban was imposed on April 5. One of the main poll promises of the Grand Alliance in the Bihar assembly elections was to ban liquor. Experts say the ban would cost the state government a whopping Rs.4,000 crore in revenue annually. --- ENDS --- The second term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and addressed him as his "younger brother." By Press Trust of India: Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha today said if approached, he would be happy to promote Bihar as its brand ambassador. There are reports that the state is considering to rope in Bollywood celebrities as its faces. Sinha, however, denied anything is official yet. "There is nothing official about it so far. But, if and when I am considered for the responsibility of a brand ambassador by dear friend Nitish Kumar, I would lend my services for furthering cause of my home state as my duty as 'dhartiputra' (son of soil)," Sinha told PTI. advertisement "There will be no demand or command from my side for this," Sinha, popularly known as Bihari Babu, said over the phone from Jaipur. The second term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and addressed him as his "younger brother." "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, through his able leadership and 'sushaasan' (good governance), has brought Bihar on the forefront of the nation... Nitish deserves kudos for all the hard work he has done for the state," Sinha added. The actor-politician has caused furore in political circles many a times by warmly cosying up to Nitish and praising him, notwithstanding the hostility against Kumar within his party. Earlier, while launching Sinha's biography 'Anything But Khamosh', Nitish Kumar had called Sinha the "pride of Bihar" and had sought his service to promote film and culture in the state. There are reports that the state's tourism department is also considering the names of actor and MP Rekha, and noted poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar as brand ambassadors. ALSO READ Kanhaiya Kumar to write his first book Bihar to Tihar Avoid cooking and puja from 9 am to 6 pm: Bihar government advisory --- ENDS --- The building was allegedly constructed in total violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone rules and does not have a clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. By India Today Web Desk: The Bombay High Court today ordered demolition of high rise building - Adarsh - for violation of green norms. The court has also asked cases to be filed against leaders and bureaucrats for overlooking rules while allowing construction of the multi-storey building situated in Colaba area of south Mumbai. The demolition should be carried out at the expense of petitioners (Adarsh Society), ruled the court. advertisement However, on a plea made by the Adarsh Housing Society, a division bench stayed its order for 12 weeks to enable it to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, despite opposition by the Maharashtra government. The court also asked the Centre and Maharashtra Government to consider initiating civil and criminal proceedings against bureaucrats, ministers and politicians, if not already done, for various offences in acquiring the plot on which Adarsh Society stands and also for misuse and abuse of powers. The building was allegedly constructed in total violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone rules and does not have a clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The 31-floor building was supposed to house war veterans and widows but flats were allotted to leaders and bureaucrats at cheap rates. Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan had to step down from his post after the scam was unearthed . Chavan's three relatives reportedly own three flats in the building. In February, the Maharashtra governor sanctioned Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute former in the case. --- ENDS --- By Sneha Agrawal: When Kundan(name changed) turned four, his parents decided it was time for him to go to school. Weeks later, the boy finds himself stuck in an observation home, his young mind yet to comprehend the fact that the people he calls "Mom" and "Dad" merely adopted him and his biological mother wants him back after abandoning him when he was a few days old. advertisement The child's birth mother, who hails from Jharkhand, says she was brought to the Capital by a man named Raju who runs a job placement agency. His brother raped her following which she delivered a baby boy, she told police. The child was kidnapped and sold off, she added. The woman says she is now married and ready to take care of her son. "Raju, his wife and brother separated me from my baby without telling me," she said in her complaint. "When I tried asking them regarding his whereabouts, they said that when my son will grow up they will unite us. I was again employed as a domestic help in a house, but as I could not bear the separation, I left the job." Police registered a case of kidnapping, rape and child trafficking. An investigation led them to four-year-old Kundan living with his adoptive parents in west Delhi. About 135,000 children are believed to be trafficked in India every year, activists say, pointing towards a need to regulate the growing number of employment placement agencies that are often conduits for selling kids into domestic servitude and other forms of exploitation. The couple say they decided to adopt a child when they couldn't conceive after 10 years of marriage. "I never thought I would face a situation where I could lose my son to his biological mother. He was going to join school and has now ended up in an observation home," the adoptive mother said. Kundan was produced before a child welfare committee and was put in a shelter. His adoptive mother was taken into custody though she later got bail. The couple say they heard in 2011 that a woman wanted to give up her child for adoption as the baby was delivered while she was still unmarried. They took the boy home but never got the opportunity to meet the biological mother, leaving legal formalities incomplete. Their counsel, JK Tripathi, while arguing for the wife's bail told the court that as the child has been kept in good condition and is even being provided education at a reputed school, a case of trafficking cannot stand as exploitation of an individual is an important criterion. advertisement The court while granting bail observed that based on the child's statement that he was being kept suitably by the applicant and also a charge sheet had already been filed, no purpose would be fulfilled by keeping the woman in custody. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Chennai, Apr 28 (PTI) Noting that the relationship between the two nations is "highly constructive", British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith today said his country is looking forward to start new ventures in banking, textile and garments and other sectors with India. "UK and India are strategic partners and UK is a major trading for India. The relationship between the two countries is highly constructive and substantially economic," Asquith, who called on Governor K Rosaiah here, was quoted as saying in a Raj Bhavan release. advertisement "Britain looks forward to start new ventures in the field of banking, textiles and garments, leather, IT, education and allied areas," he said. Stressing that India and Britain were known for the "rich cultural heritage", he said the Indian diaspora in UK was the largest ethnic community. Deputy High Commissioner Bharat S Joshi, Governors Principal Secretary, Ramesh Chand Meena were among those who were present on the occasion, the release added. PTI VIJ BN AAR --- ENDS --- It is not tucked away in a corner as is its Indian outpost. Instead, its mid-town status (three blocks from Central Park and walking distance from The Met museum), at the extremely swish Le Parker Meridien hotel which epitomises this part of New York, immediately places Indian Accent in an extraordinary league, removed from the crowded house that is Curry Hill. The Burger Joint at the hotel is already legendary, as is the breakfast at Norma's, so there has clearly been some smart, calculated thinking that led to this move by Old World Hospitality's Rohit Khattar and ace Indian chef Manish Mehrotra. The interiors of Indian Accent, New York. Photo courtesy: India Today Spice In New Delhi, chef Manish Mehrotra has a certain stature and the evolved foreign traveller who chooses to stay at 5-star properties in the city, almost always pays India Accent, located at The Manor, a boutique hotel in South Delhi, a visit. It is one of those stops one must make as the fame and flavours of the modern Indian restaurant travel far and wide, earning it well-deserved fans. It was the only restaurant from India to be awarded the 'S. Pellegrino Best Restaurant in India' by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2016 for the second consecutive year, so it was only a matter of time before it spread its wings to newer shores; the forever food-hungry New York. advertisement Chef Manish Mehrotra is guiding Indian Accent's overseas debut. Photo courtesy: India Today Spice Mehrotra is a busy man these days but that does not stop him from picking up the phone and having an extended chat with us from New York over the weekend, well before the madness of Indian Accent takes over. "New York is the new hub for fine food and has given London a nudge but the reputation of Indian food is not so great here. The city has the capacity to have excellent Indian restaurants that go beyond chicken tikka and balti cuisine which has been popular in zones of England and parts of America as well. Slowly and steadily, all regions of India are beginning to get represented in cities like London and New York so we thought it was the perfect time for Indian Accent to make its overseas debut," he says. Also read: Farzi Cafe, Indian Accent, Sodabottleopenerwala and other big winners at the EazyDiner Foodie Awards LOCATION Both Mehrotra and Rohit Khattar have gone to great lengths to ensure their restaurant has Indian accents without being over-the-top, so you won't find any of the formulaic Indian motifs like the lotus or Ganesha dotting the restaurant. "We spent two years looking for the perfect location for Indian Accent and the moment we saw the property at Le Parker Meridien we knew it had to be here. The restaurant does not look Indian; in fact it has clean, modern lines and looks contemporary. It is spacious, easy on the eye and has a modern colour palette of grey, gold and black. We also have a skylight, which makes you feel like you are sitting under the stars and dining," says Mehrotra of the decor of the new space, adding that they were very conscious of the fact that Indian restaurants engulf you in a cloud of curry and spices, something international diners don't always appreciate, so the kitchen was designed accordingly. "I have a seat in one corner, against a beautiful, patterned gold wall, from where I can see everyone entering and exiting the restaurant. That's my favourite spot in the restaurant," says Mehrotra as he describes the new space. advertisement Chef Manish Mehrotra is infusing New York's local produce with his signature Indian dishes. Photo courtesy: India Today Spice BIG CHALLENGES He has been in New York since December, meticulously planning the March 2016 launch. "When I came to this city I was well aware of the fact that I was an unknown commodity. While everyone in India knows me, here I am anonymous and it was like starting from scratch," says the humble restaurateur who is today lauded as one of the finest Indian chefs in the world. But it has not been easy creating a version of Indian Accent so far from home. According to Mehrotra, "there were a lot of challenges since people here are culturally different and have a different way of working." All the people in the kitchen at the New York restaurant are from Mehrotra's original team in Delhi but while he had the luxury of working with a kitchen staff of 24 in Delhi, here the figure is much tighter with just eight chefs. The other big challenge setting up in New York posed was in terms of ingredients. For one, the salt in New York did not meet with the chefs exacting standards and he did not feel like it would work with Indian food. advertisement The signature Indian dishes at Indian Accent, NY are making an impression on the city's gourmands. Photo courtesy: India Today Spice Their hunt for home-branded Tata salt took them across New York but they finally managed to zero in on a supplier who could meet their demand. Similarly, sourcing Amul butter proved to be a big task, and given that most of the dals, butter chicken etc rely heavily on this ingredient for flavour, Mehrotra was quite adamant it had to be Amul butter above other locally available brands for his kitchen in the Big Apple. WHAT'S COOKING? "In this new restaurant I have had a chance to work with new produce like beef and foie gras that is not available readily in India, so it has been exciting to use these new ingredients and craft a menu accordingly," says Mehrotra of the menu in New York. So what does the menu at Indian Accent New York look like? For one, there is the addition of beef. For the first few months, the plan is to draw heavily on the existing Delhi menu and slowly tweak it depending on the response from diners. You have the menu which has been an instant hit as well as the signature achari sweet chilli ribs, blue cheese naan, butter chicken stuffed kulcha and doda barfi treacle tart which are from the Delhi menu. They also pay tribute to New York in the form of the pastrami kulcha. advertisement The decor at Indian Accent is contemporary. Photo courtesy: India Today Spice There is an emphasis on using local produce coupled with Indian spices and skilled techniques to create inventive dishes that are original and exciting. The menu can be enjoyed as a selection of two, three, or four courses, or a set chef tasting menu of seven courses. Additional accompaniments and shared plates are available a la carte for a supplement. While the kitchen will, in the long run, be helmed by Chef Vivek Rana who has worked alongside Mehrotra for the last 15 years and some of the kitchen staff will stay back, the front of house is being manned completely by locals. Famed restaurant Eleven Madison Park's Paul Downie and former Cosme assistant general manager Sarah Stafford are running the show here and its wine and beverage programme is being managed by wine & beverage director Daniel Beedle, who has created a bunch of exciting cocktails, wines, and teas. It has just been two weeks since Indian Accent, New York opened but the response has been fantastic. "We did 143 covers just last night, "says Mehrotra, explaining how that's two-and-a-half times the full capacity of the 60-cover space. In the initial days it will be crucial for him to meet diners personally and get their feedback and also understand the international diner better. Also read: Chef Manish Mehrotra reveals his most popular recipes in Indian Accent restaurant cookbook INDIAN CUISINE COMES OF AGE Indian Accent opens in New York at a time when there is growing space excitement to experience fine-dining Indian cuisine labelled 'modern Indian.' Till recently, Indian food's overseas prowess was restricted to London and pockets like Dubai where there was a large migrant population. This was the hunting and testing ground for Indian chefs who often unfairly shovelled spicy, greasy curry to diners, earning Indian cuisine the reputation of being heavy and often unpalatable. That is now changing across the world. New York is home to some of the best Indian restaurants. Photo courtesy: India Today Spice It is only in the last decade that a shift has taken place in order to accommodate the refined aesthetic of the new Indians through a cuisine that is definitely more evolved and palatable. From London restaurants like Gymkhana (Karam Sethi) which has a long waitlist at any time in the year to Vineet Bhatia's Rasoi where you can sample both the traditional and modern Indian food has finally arrived on the global gourmet map. In fact, Bhatia now has branches in Moscow, Mauritius, Dubai and Geneva and in 2009, Rasoi by Vineet at the Mandarin Oriental, the Geneva outpost, was awarded a Michelin star. With this award, he became only the second British chef (after Gordon Ramsay) to hold Michelin stars in more than one country. You also have two Michelin star chef Atul Kochchar who runs Benares in London and has been responsible in large part for changing the way people perceive Indian cuisine. Others like Vineet Singh of Cinnamon Club, Sriram Aylur of Quilon fame and Camellia Panjabi's Amaya are just some other examples of Indian restaurants that have bridged the food divide successfully. The London formula is now being replicated with success in other parts of the world as well. In fact, Gaggan, Asia's Number 1 restaurant for two years running now, is truly a cut above the rest and has revolutionised the idea of what stands for modern Indian cuisine. Others like Floyd Cardoz who successfully set up Tabla in New York in the late 90s are now looking to return to New York with a new brand, He plans to set up Paowalla, which will open in SoHo in the summer of 2016. The menu at Indian Accent offers options for one, two or three course meals. Photo courtesy: India Today Spice From the scientific kitchen experiments that Gaggan specialises in, to the more cautious approach of Chef Vikas Khanna who is happy popularising a refined version of existing Indian cuisine (no modern tag here), the western world is experiencing Indian food like never before. People who relish world cuisne and are keen to experiment, want to give Indian cuisine a good go, especially in its new, sophisticated avatar. As Mehrotra signs off he says, "Ours is real Indian food with a twist. The flavours remain authentic but how we conceive and present the dishes is modern. We think the diners in New York and the world are ready for this brand of Indian cooking now." Diners can opt for the two, three or four-course prix fixe meal ($55, $75, $95), or go with the chef's seven-course tasting menu ($110). Reservations 212-842-8070; nyc@indianaccent.com, 123 W 56th St, New York --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Popular television actress Shilpa Shinde has alleged that Cine & Television Artistes Association (CINTAA) does not work in the best interest of actors in the industry. Shilpa, best known for her role as Angoori Bhabhi on the show Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai, had sparked a controversy when she announced that she had quit the popular series and accused the makers of mentally torturing her. advertisement CINTAA had then sent the actress a letter asking her to bear the cost of financial loss incurred by the producers or channel. Also read: Meet the new Angoori Bhabhi "CINTAA is an artists association, but it doesn't help us at all. We had told the committee that artists who do episodic shows should be given conveyance and per day money on time. But nothing like that happened. Artists need work and these people are exploiting that and the association is of no use," Shilpa told reporters. Shilpa Shinde with former CINTAA member Arif Sheikh Photo: Yogen Shah The actress, along with former CINTAA member Arif Sheikh, alleged that the committee charges Rs 35,000 as membership fees, which is Rs 5,000 more, as opposed to the agreed charge of 30,000. Shilpa alleged that CINTAA always turned a deaf ear to her complaints regarding serious issues. "I had told CINTAA that we don't have make-up room for artists on set, the kids are being kept waiting for long at shoots without food, the producers are not giving kids the time to study, but CINTAA took no call. CINTAA is made for us and I want the people who are heading it to do something for us," she said. When asked if she spoke to CINTAA president--actor Om Puri, the actress said, "Om Puri is a very senior artist of our industry. Perhaps he is not aware of the matter. He is a senior member." Also read: All guns blazing: Shilpa Shinde lambasts producers of Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai in press conference Shilpa had earlier quit the show citing that the makers wanted her to sign a contract which would bar her from doing other shows. On the other hand, the makers alleged unprofessional behaviour on Shilpa's part and said she had demanded a pay hike and wanted her own designers on the show. CINTAA had then intervened between her and producer of the show Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai. advertisement When contacted, they dismissed Shilpa's charges as "baseless". "These are baseless allegations. Since the new committee has been formed I have received only one complaint from her which was that she was being harassed by the producers of her show. The producer, however, said she had stopped going for the shoot," Sushant Singh, General Secretary and spokesperson, CINTAA told PTI. "Shilpa got her raise thrice and in fact was under the exclusivity contract since day one. I don't know what the fuss is about," Singh said, adding there is no overcharging of membership fees. Shilpa had also held a joint press conference about the issue a week back, with Amey Khopkar, President of Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (cine wing of MNS) and MNS' Shalini Thackeray. "I didn't stop coming to the sets. I was told that I would be replaced. They asked me to stop coming and made me sit at home. When they started getting calls from media and channels, they called me back on the show. Meri bhi koi self respect hai. Kya main football hoon. Jab chaho bula lo, jab chaho bhej do," she had said in the press conference. (With inputs from PTI) --- ENDS --- advertisement Parents are using soda bottles as hair accessories to style their kids' hair for Crazy Hair Day. By India Today Web Desk: This picture of a little girl sporting a 'thirst quenching style', as it is being called, started doing rounds on the internet when a Twitter user by the name @_0k4y, shared the image. She wrote, "Today was crazy hair day at my lil cousins school and this is what her mom did to her she's so extra I love it (sic)" Picture courtesy: Twitter/@LilUgly advertisement Also read: DIY holiday hair: Six vacation hairstyles that don't require any products Similar images followed suit on social media with parents trying the little girl's hairstyle on their own daughters. Picture courtesy: Facebook/Angela Now, if you're wondering what drove so many parents to do this, here's your answer: Also read: To curb energy crisis in Venezuela, the President has asked women to not use hair dryers Picture courtesy: Twitter/@Carlos2316 Picture courtesy: Twitter/@Carlos2316 Parents (and their kids) are honouring Crazy Hair Day in America, which apparently is a national holiday for kids, and entails just-for-fun celebrations at elementary schools. Picture courtesy: Facebook/Kelly Ann On this day, kids are encouraged to come to school with the craziest and wackiest hairstyle designed by their parents, who also get a chance to put their creativity on display! --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) Japanese auto major Nissan has priced its compact car redi-GO, under the Datsun brand, between Rs 2.5 lakh and 3.5 lakh. The pre-booking orders for the model will begin from May 1, and deliveries to the owners will commence from June, Nissan Motor India said in a statement. "The Datsun redi-GO will be priced between Rs 2.5 lakh and 3.5 lakh; the ex-showroom prices and variants will be announced during the launch in June," it added. advertisement "With the new redi-GO, we continue to expand and enhance our product offerings for young people in India who are ready to take a step forward in their lives," Nissan Motor India Managing Director Arun Malhotra said. Currently, the company has 217 outlets covering 165 cities, with plans to establish 300 sales and service outlets by the end of March 2017. Customers can pre-book Datsun redi-GO with a fully refundable down payment of Rs 5,000 at Nissan dealerships across India. They can also book the Datsun redi-GO online through Snapdeal.com, Indias leading e-commerce platform, the company said. redi-Go will compete with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Alto and Hyundais Eon, which are priced between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 4.42 lakh (ex-showroom price Delhi). It is the Nissans third vehicle under the Datsun brand in India and has come up on a brand new platform. Last year, the automaker had launched a compact multi-purpose vehicle Go+ to add to the Go small car. In 2014, when Nissan launched the Datsun Go in India, marking the global comeback of the brand after nearly three decades, it had said it was aiming to garner 10 per cent share in the Indian passenger vehicles market by 2016. Both (Nissan and Datsun) now aim to garner 5 per cent market share in the said segment in India by 2020. PTI MSS ADI MKJ --- ENDS --- The BJP MP today said he will also seek breach of privilege proceedings against Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for "falsely" saying that the UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the manufacturer of AgustaWestland choppers. By India Today Web Desk: A defiant Subramanian Swamy has challenged the expunging of his comments by the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, calling the decision "arbitrary, unreasonable and against the House rules". The BJP MP today said he will also seek breach of privilege proceedings against Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for "falsely" saying that the UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the manufacturer of AgustaWestland choppers. advertisement On Thursday, the BJP MP had made comments targeting the Congress members while speaking on the minority status of the Aligarh Muslim University, forcing Rajya Sabha Deputy Dhairman PJ Kurien to expunge them following vociferous protests from the opposition MPs. Kurien told Swamy that he was "unnecessarily provoking others" and asked him to refrain from it. An unrelenting Swamy tweeted today, "I have filed a notice in the RS challenging the expunging of my words by the Dy Chairman since it is arbitrary, unreasonable and against the RS rules." In another tweet, he said, "Today I will seek to move a Breach of Privilege against Ghulam Nabi Azad for his falsely stating in the RS that the UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica." Swami's barbs at the Congress have sparked protests in the House since he made his entry as a nominated member and the Chair has expunged some of his remarks, mostly aimed at Sonia Gandhi. Azad on Thursday said Swamy is just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. "There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words?" he asked the Chair. The Congress leader said Swamy does not know the difference between street language and parliamentary words. "He does not allow his hair to grey so he can learn and mature. ALSO READ: The Chopper saga: Swamy warned against 'provoking' Opposition --- ENDS --- "People of this country, specially the youth, want to know about the life of Netaji, his contribution towards freedom. So, this is a big achievement," Dr Sharma said. By India Today Web Desk: Minister for State for Culture and Tourism Dr. Mahesh Sharma today said that a memorial for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose would be built in the national Capital. Releasing the third set of declassified files relating to Bose online, the minister said that that the long pending demand of the people for a memorial dedicated to the freedom fighter would now be fulfilled. The memorial would depict his life and freedom struggle. advertisement "The government will soon set up a memorial for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the heart of Delhi," Dr. Sharma said. 25 declassified files were released on web portal www.netajipaperas.gov.in. The documents consist of five files each from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Home Ministry, and 15 files from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), pertaining to the period between 1956 and 2009. "People of this country, specially the youth, want to know about the life of Netaji, his contribution towards freedom. So, this is a big achievement," Dr. Sharma said. --- ENDS --- Trupti Desai and her supporters after being prevented from entering Haji Ali were marching towards Fadnavis' residence where police arrested them under Mumbai police Act and detained them for almost 5 hours at Azaad maidan police station. They were later sent back to Pune under police custody at around 1:30 am. Trupti Desai and her brigade faced a fierce opposition while trying to enter Haji Ali. The brigade was later detained for 5 hours. By India Today Web Desk: Bhumta Brigade President Trupti Desai and her 50 supporters, who faced fierce protest at Haji Hali Dargah, were detained by Mumbai police while on their way to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' residence, on late Thursday. Desai and her supporters after being prevented from entering Haji Ali was marching towards Fadnavis' residence where police arrested them under Mumbai police Act and detained them for almost 5 hours at Azaad maidan police station. They were later sent back to Pune under police custody at around 1:30 am. advertisement Desai and her brigades after successfully entering Shani Shingnapur and Trimbakeshwar temples and establishing equal women participation in religious activities were hopeful of the similar results at famous Haji Ali, where woman are not allowed to enter main area. However, a high voltage drama erupted even before Desai turned up at the gates of Dargah. AIMIM's Haji Rafat Hussain on Thursday threatened to smear black ink on activist Trupti Desai if she attempts to enter Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah. While Hussain did not spared the smearing of ink, the staunch opposition from supporters of political parties like the Samajwadi Party, All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Awami Party and other Muslim social and religious organisations foiled Bhumta brigade's ambitious march. Police whisked her off to safety shortly after she reached near the dargah, as angry men and women laid siege to her vehicle. Undeterred, Desai and her supporters sat on a dharna on the main road leading to the narrow 500-metre sea route approach to the shrine situated on the rocks in the Arabian Sea off Worli coast. As tempers cooled down, Desai and her supporters again approached the dargah's entrance, but only to be greeted again with full-throated slogans, banners and placards asking her to stop her "political stunts" and leave. A minor scuffle took place between police and both pro- and anti-Desai groups near the entrance in the evening, following which the Haji Ali Dargah Trust decided to exercise caution and shut the main gates two hours before the scheduled time of 10 p.m. "All women are allowed inside the dargah on adhering to rules, regulations and traditions that concern respect for religious sentiments. What is the need for her to come in a procession when women have always been permitted in the dargah? But they cannot go to the tomb of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari," trustee Suhail Khandwani told IANS. After having a long-distance 'darshan' of the dargah from the entrance -- around 500 metres from the shoreline -- Desai left, promising to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demand women's entry to the sanctum sanctorum for gender equality. advertisement "We have come peacefully, with no intentions to hurt the religious sentiments of anybody, but only to ensure that women are accorded equality to pray at all religious places," Desai told the media. Earlier, Shiv Sena's Muslim leader Haji Arfat Shaikh threatened to welcome Desai with 'chappals' if she tried to enter the dargah, while AIMIM leaders warned of blackening her face. --- ENDS --- By Kumar Kunal: The second phase of odd-even scheme proved to be a failure as data released by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) showed no significant changes in the pollution level in the Capital. Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai indicated that the third phase would be implemented only after a thorough examination of the report released today. In its report, the DPCC, who collected data from 74 centres, said that the particulate matter (PM) level was found high on several days and in areas like Sunder Nagar, ITO, Pragati Maidan, Lodhi colony, India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Shivaji Stadium, Minto Road, Model Town, Shalimar Bagh, Bhogal, IIT Delhi, Kalka ji, CR Park and Chirag Delhi. advertisement Tikri Border, Noida Border and Anand Vihar border were found to be the worst effected. Interestingly, the report suggested that in certain areas, the PM level was higher during the odd-even phase, when compared to there was no odd even. Going by the overall average, it appears as though the Delhi government failed to curb the pollution level. However, sources say that DPCC officials are now planning to consult the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, to find out the weather conditions in the Capital during the odd-even phase. Gopal Rai said that it is only after examining the report that a six-member committee, headed by Special Transport Commissioner K K Dahiya, will decide the future of the scheme. Meanwhile, in its defense, the government has cited various reasons such as frequent fires, that have contributed to the PM level. Sources in the government also blamed the heat and several other contributory factors for reduction in the air quality. Experts believe that it is not wise to implement the scheme in the summer season since the northwest wind could have adverse effects in the Capital region. --- ENDS --- Fashion designer Masaba Gupta has yet another collaboration up her sleeve. This time she's venturing into kidswear with an online-only line that will debut this May. By Hemul Goel: She revolutionised womenswear when she made her fashion debut at Lakme Fashion Week in 2009. And if there was any doubt about her abilities, it was definitely tossed out of the window when she was appointed the creative director of Satya Paul in 2012. We're talking about Masaba Gupta, who is now all set to debut a kidswear line in collaboration with a Kolkata-based kidswear brand, Magic Fairy. To be available online, the collection will debut sometime in May. advertisement Also read: We are so excited about Masaba's collaboration with Clinique What was your inspiration for the line? What can we expect from the kidswear line? "Magic Fairy reached out to us and said they wanted to do a line in collaboration with us; they wanted everything that screamed Masaba. We have the cameras and we have the toffees, so the collection is a mix of all our bestseller prints. The idea was to keep it very fun and young and make sure that the fabric is nice, soft and easy to wear for children and the colours are bright and vibrant." Pictures courtesy: Instagram/@masabagupta Are we looking at a short-term collaboration or will the line be spread over seasons? "It's going to be a line over seasons and we have already started working on the Autumn/Winter line as well, but it's all going to be for the current season. We might do more than two lines a year, but for now it's two lines a year." What about branching out internationally with your own label? "It's not on my radar right now. We haven't tapped India as a market completely. Am not crazy about making my label international but once I sort out what am doing back home, we'll do this internationally. Why do you think your work resonates with the youth so well? "They firstly connect with me as an individual, because they see that am young and am working hard and doing well for myself. I didn't take the route of just settling down and not really doing anything with my life or my career--a lot of girls come to me and say that. So, that's one. Also read: Masaba Gupta just made fun of the dress she wore at her own reception The second thing is that when the label launched, there was a major need for a fresh perspective on fashion, where young people wanted a label they could identify with, which was affordable and also slightly edgy, so I think that really works for us. Also the kind of pieces that we do are very statement, so girls like it when they wear it and people ask them, 'What are you wearing?'. That's also a big connect." advertisement Your husband (Madhu Mantena) wore outfits designed by you during your wedding. Menswear in our country misses the 'Masaba' quirk. Is a menswear line in the pipeline? "That (Madhu's outfits) was very mainstream; very muted kurtas and ganjis in very masculine and manly colours like dark blue, red and off-white. The kind of vision I have for menswear, men aren't ready to wear stuff that's so over the top! Men aren't really conscious about what they wear. They are more interested in the fit and comfort and they don't want to wear anything that's too outlandish, so I think it will take me some time to start a menswear line. Maybe we'll do something with boyswear, which is something we have plans for immediately." Asian Paints, Clinique or Le15; how do you choose your projects? "Anything that excites me and fits with my label, I'll pick up and do it. We get six collaboration requests a day and we just have to be picky about the brands. If I couldn't use my aesthetic, I wouldn't do it." What collaborations are you currently working on? "There's not much I can talk about right now, but there's a lingerie collaboration coming up with the biggest online retailer in India for lingerie. Apart from the kidswear line, there's nothing that's been signed and sealed yet." advertisement With Mira Rajput expecting, will we see you design something special for Shahid and Mira's child? "I wouldn't want to talk about that right now. Her pregnancy is a very, very personal thing. Until Mira speaks about it, I won't speak about it." Picture courtesy: Instagram/@masabagupta --- ENDS --- By PTI: Katni (MP), Apr 29 (PTI) Former state minister and senior Congress leader Satyendra Pathak passed away here after a prolonged illness, family sources said today. Pathak (75) was undergoing treatment in Mumbais Hinduja Hospital since last one-and-a-half month for infection in his kidney and liver. When chances of his survival became remote, his son and BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak brought him back to Katni in an air ambulance yesterday morning via Jabalpur. advertisement He passed away last evening, the sources said. Pathak is survived by wife, son and three daughters, they said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reached Katni today to pay respects to the departed leader. Pathak had served as a Cabinet minister in the Congress government led by the then Chief Minister Digvijay Singh in 2000. Though his son Sanjay Pathak was also in Congress and won the 2013 election from Vijaraghavgarh seat in Katni district, he later quit the party following differences with leaders and won the same seat again as BJP candidate. Madhya Pradesh Public Relations and Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla also expressed grief over the death of Pathak. His last rites will be performed today with full state honours. PTI COR MAS GK SRY --- ENDS --- The Brisbane Supreme Court jury last week found that Melissa Leigh Shaw was guilty of killing Shyam 'Sam' Dhody at his Gilston based residence in Gold Coast. By Press Trust of India: A 30-year-old former sex worker has been jailed in Australia for life for murdering her India-born fiance. The Brisbane Supreme Court jury last week found that Melissa Leigh Shaw was guilty of killing Shyam 'Sam' Dhody at his Gilston based residence in Gold Coast. Justice Peter Flanagan said Shaw had been involved in a cowardly act. advertisement Shaw will be eligible for parole in 20 years. The prosecution case had alleged that Shaw procured her on-off lover Adam Gooley to kill Dhody, media reports said adding the crown prosecutor Dennis Kinsella likened her to Helen of Troy, calling Shaw the face that launched the murder. The court was also informed that Shaw's relationship with Dhody, whom she met while working at a Molendinar brothel, was violent and had started to sour in March 2013. Dhody was shot 10 times in his head while he was lying in his bed at his home in July 2013. Shaw denied any knowledge of the murder plot. Shaw, the mother of two, was also convicted of assaulting Dhody for an earlier attack. Gooley, a mechanic, had pleaded guilty to the shooting and was also sentenced to life in prison. "Clearly she's disappointed with the result, as anyone would be in her circumstances, and it's come as a big, big shock to her," said Shaw's lawyer Jason Jacobson. --- ENDS --- Our cover story addresses the points raised by the CJI. We crunch the Daksh data and look closely at ways in which the judicial system can be fixed, including a separate body that deals with judicial administration so that judges can concentrate on judging. Of the four pillars of democracy, it's the judiciary which is supposed to be the most dispassionate. While political leaders traditionally have a penchant for theatrics, bureaucrats for expediency, and the media for hyperbole, the judiciary applies the letter of the law and acts as a custodian of the Constitution. It is often the final, and the most trusted, port of call for any aggrieved citizen. But how does it reflect on the nation when the judiciary itself is aggrieved? This week, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) T.S. Thakur broke down while making an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-who was also present on the dais-bemoaning the lack of enough judges to handle the avalanche of litigation the courts face. With his voice faltering, Justice Thakur spoke about the stressful conditions under which judges work, and about the delays and rising cost of litigation. The sentiment and the content of his impassioned plea must be taken seriously. advertisement The judiciary and the executive have been on a collision course in recent times. The reason for this lies partly in increased judicial activism, which prompted the executive, with the help of the legislature, to try and rein in the judiciary through a National Judicial Appointments Commission to ostensibly make it more accountable. But its provisions, some jurists argued, ended up tilting the scales on the other side. Finally, the striking down of the NJAC Act by the Supreme Court last October put India in the middle of an embarrassing constitutional crisis. Notwithstanding the ongoing battle, the points made by the CJI must be taken on their own merit. A survey conducted by research organisation Daksh, accessed exclusively by India Today, underlines the ills that beset our judicial system. It shows that justice is delayed and costly for litigants, and the burden on judges extreme. In some cases, as with the Patna High Court, a judge gets an average of two minutes to spend on a hearing. The average pendency of a case in the 21 high courts that were studied is over three years, and the average time in which a decision is likely to be reached in a subordinate court is six years. If a case goes to the Supreme Court, an average litigant ends up spending up to 13 years in the legal system. The total amount of money spent by litigants, and the average wage and business loss add up to Rs 80,000 crore a year. These are alarming statistics that show the kind of stress the system is under. Our cover story addresses the points raised by the CJI. We crunch the Daksh data and look closely at ways in which the judicial system can be fixed, including a separate body that deals with judicial administration so that judges can concentrate on judging. We also have a column by legal educator N.R. Madhava Menon, who writes that "we operate a 21st century system with 20th century structures and a 19th century mindset". I've always believed that if India is to progress, our judicial system, particularly the criminal justice one, must be robust. This is even more important than the Big Bang reforms we keep yearning for. Justice delayed is justice denied, and having 2,80,000 under-trials rotting in jails is a shame. People continue to commit crimes knowing that conviction is a remote, faraway possibility. One of the biggest deterrents for corruption would be the knowledge that there will be a swift trial. Even in journalism, I must admit the media will be far more diligent if it knows that damages and convictions are a reality. We have known about the clogging of the judiciary for far too long and done nothing but pay lip service. Let not the tears of the CJI go to waste. End this blight that affects us all. advertisement --- ENDS --- By PTI: Hyderabad, Apr 29 (PTI) Gangavaram Port, a deep seaport on the east coast, today said it has created yet another historical milestone record by discharging 1,56,339 tonnes of non-coking coal from the vessel M V Cape Asia in 24 hours. According to a statement from the port, the feat stands out as the "fastest" discharge rate in the history of any port in India and possibly in the world. advertisement The vessel M V Cape Asia carrying 1,59,966 metric tonnes non-coking coal for Hindalco Industries called at Gangavaram Port on April 27 and the entire vessel discharge was completed within 27 hours, it said. Raj Dandu, Managing Director, Gangavaram Port Limited, said this "record" discharge rate yet again reaffirms the superior port infrastructure and operational efficiency at the port. "Gangavaram Port, in the past, has achieved numerous such operational milestones and has today redefined the port operational standards for the bulk cargo handling at Indian Ports," he said. With 9 berths with up to 19.5 m water depths, GPL has handled more than 112 MMT of Cargo till March 2016,it added. PTI GDK NP MKJ --- ENDS --- By PTI: Hyderabad, Apr 29 (PTI) Gangavaram Port, a deep seaport on the east coast, today said it has created yet another historical milestone record by discharging 1,56,339 tonnes of non-coking coal from the vessel M V Cape Asia in 24 hours. According to a statement from the port, the feat stands out as the "fastest" discharge rate in the history of any port in India and possibly in the world. advertisement The vessel M V Cape Asia carrying 1,59,966 metric tonnes non-coking coal for Hindalco Industries called at Gangavaram Port on April 27 and the entire vessel discharge was completed within 27 hours, it said. Raj Dandu, Managing Director, Gangavaram Port Limited, said this "record" discharge rate yet again reaffirms the superior port infrastructure and operational efficiency at the port. "Gangavaram Port, in the past, has achieved numerous such operational milestones and has today redefined the port operational standards for the bulk cargo handling at Indian Ports," he said. With 9 berths with up to 19.5 m water depths, GPL has handled more than 112 MMT of Cargo till March 2016,it added. PTI GDK NP MKJ SRE --- ENDS --- Chief Minister Anandiben Patel told the media that the reservation will be given to all those whose annual income is Rs.6 lakh or less. By Indo-Asian News Service: Gujarat government today announced 10 per cent reservation for all non-reserved categories on the basis of their annual income. Chief Minister Anandiben Patel told the media that the reservation will be given to all those whose annual income is Rs 6 lakh or less. The 10 per cent EBC quota will be implemented from this academic year. advertisement The announcement comes amid ongoing protests for reservations in jobs by the members of Patel community. --- ENDS --- Indian-origin Jitender Singh first met his victim while they both attended college in Delhi. Though merely classmates, Singh asked the victim to marry him in 2006. By Press Trust of India: A 32-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 19 years of prison in the US for stalking a woman from New Delhi to Texas for nearly a decade. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced the sentence for Jitender Singh on Wednesday. "The jury put an end to this victim's decade-long stalking nightmare," Willis said in a statement. advertisement According to Willis, Singh first met his victim while they both attended college in Delhi. Though merely classmates, Singh asked the victim to marry him in 2006. Willis said the victim, whose identity wasn't released by authorities, refused the proposal, which sparked Singh's anger. Singh then began following the victim home and threatened her with violence until she graduated. In 2007, the victim left India to study at a New York university. However, that didn't end Singh's obsession. Authorities say he continued his harassment and assaulted the woman's father in India. Singh was convicted for the crimes in India, but made an appeal and agreement with authorities to stay away from the victim. Singh eventually travelled to New York, where he attempted to enrol at the same university as the victim. He was denied and ordered by the university to stay away from the campus. When the victim moved to California for an internship, he tracked down her address and followed. When the woman moved back to New York, Singh followed. An information technology company hired the victim, and she moved to Plano in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Singh harassed the victim through phone calls and other electronic means, Willis alleged. In 2014, Singh located the victim's address in Plano by falsely creating a credit monitoring service account in her name. While the victim was away, Singh travelled to Plano and broke into her home by convincing a locksmith to unlock her door. Singh took her passport, social security card and other documents as well as several pieces of her jewelry. A suspicious neighbour called Plano police which located Singh in the parking lot of the victim's apartment and arrested him. --- ENDS --- Top Defence Ministry sources confirmed the IAF's representation to the government where it has expressed its discomfort over the 'stop gap' arrangement it has been forced into. Even before the cancellation of the VVIP chopper deal in 2014, the IAF had kept aside 11 Mi17V5 helicopters for upgrade. By Jugal R Purohit: Notwithstanding the scuttled acquisition process for VVIP helicopters and the drama surrounding the saga, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has once again asked the government to acquire specialised helicopters to ferry VVIPs. Signalling the end of an ambitious experiment of retrofitting helicopters into VVIP role, top Defence Ministry sources confirmed the IAF's representation to the government where it has expressed its discomfort over the 'stop gap' arrangement it has been forced into. advertisement The matter now lies at the doorstep of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS). Even before the cancellation of the VVIP helicopter deal on January 1, 2014, the IAF kept aside 11 Mi17V5 helicopters for upgrade. While those upgraded choppers are being tested, the IAF has opined that they can at best be used temporarily. With this, an ambitious attempt to indigenously retrofit the medium lift Russian helicopters has reached a dead end. "We have mooted a proposal so that this arrangement can end. It can hardly be called healthy," a source said. A top functionary aware of the development explained, "Converting a medium lift chopper into a VVIP configuration is not just about putting better seats and better air conditioning. We cannot divulge our exact objections with the retrofitted Mi17V5 given that VVIPs are involved. However, there is no doubt anymore that this experiment needs to be curtailed as a temporary measure. The government has been made aware. They have to decide." IAF's Chandigarh based 3rd Base Repair Depot (BRD) was entrusted with the task of retrofitting the planes early in 2014 following a detailed study. "A sizeable team of technicians have worked on it and have sought several certifications again since the task has been modified. Needless to say, there can be no chances taken given that VVIPs will be using these planes," added a source. While it was informed that 'some' of the retrofitted helicopters were already being used, a source said, "By June, at least five helicopters will be made available to the Communications Squadron which is the one that ferries the VVIPs." The helicopter wing of the Communication Squadron is manned by a mix of obsolete Mi8 helicopters and Mi17 V5s. The Mi8s, inducted 1971 onwards, have long exhausted the extended lives. It was anticipating the lapse of extended shelf life that the IAF had initiated the process of acquiring helicopters for VVIP travel way back in 1999, following the Kargil war. Also read: AgustaWestland: Congress shields its last bastion advertisement AgustaWestland scandal: Will CBI question Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh? --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) The results of the ICSE Class X and ISC Class XII examinations will be announced on May 6, two weeks earlier than previous years. The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, which conducts the exams, has for the first time used Live Ink Character Recognition (LICR) technology, which has helped in fast compilation of results. advertisement "The Council will announce the results at 3 PM on May 6. We are the first Examination Board in the world to introduce usage of LICR technology," according to a statement by CISEC Chief Executive and Secretary Gerry Arathoon. LICR captures and digitizes marks entered on the top-sheets of answer scripts, and instantly encrypts and transfers the captured data to the Councils cloud based servers directly from the evaluation centers. "This significantly reduced the time required for compilation of results as the system automatically totals the marks awarded by the Examiners and also applies the question-paper rubrics, hence eliminating any possibility of manual totaling and manual rubric application errors," the statement said. The results will be available on the career portal of the council and its website as well as through SMS. To receive the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or Indian School Certificate (ISC) results by SMS, the candidate will require to type ICSE or ISC followed by their seven digit unique ID code and send the message to 09248082883. PTI GJS RG --- ENDS --- "From a strategic perspective India is a potential counterweight to China's growing regional influence in Asia. They've become increasingly vocal on issues like freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean region," Congressman Eliot Engel said during a Congressional hearing on Thursday. By Press Trust of India: Asserting that India is a potential "counterweight" to China's growing regional influence in Asia, a top US lawmaker has urged the Obama administration to strengthen its ties with New Delhi. "From a strategic perspective India is a potential counterweight to China's growing regional influence in Asia. They've become increasingly vocal on issues like freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and Indian Ocean region," Congressman Eliot Engel said during a Congressional hearing on Thursday. advertisement Speaking during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Challenges and Opportunities in Asia, the Congressman from New York argued that the world's largest democracy, India, should be an integral part of America's Asia policy. "As the world's third largest economy, India has the potential to become a major economic player in East Asia, and is already playing a constructive role in maritime issues," he said. "It's the third largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity and is the largest democracy in the Asia region. "The US-India relationship is important, it's growing, in particular on the defense side, and Prime Minister Modi will be coming to Washington again in a couple of months to meet with President Obama," Engel said. In response Blinken said the Obama administration strongly shares lawmakers view on the importance of India both in and of itself but also as a part of the region and as an increasingly vital regional actor. "India has its own regional policy that dovetails very nicely with the work we're doing on the rebalance," he said. The US is "working increasingly to integrate India into these efforts," he said. "We are doing two things. We're building our own relationship with India as evidenced by the extraordinary level of high level engagement including Prime Minister Modi's return visit here, the President being received for the first time as the honored guest at Republic Day but also in very concrete collaboration across the board," Blinken said. "Everything from climate and smart cities to improving the business climate to defense cooperation to production cooperation even in the defense area. Intelligence sharing, information sharing, counter-terrorism, countering violent extremism -- across the board the relationship has been elevated," he said. "Critical to this is exactly what you're pointing to which is integrating India into these regional frameworks so that we're working together jointly. And again, the example with Japan is a very good but this is exactly the direction that we want to go in," the top American diplomat said. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Sumir Kaul Port Moresby, Apr 29 (PTI) India today offered Papua New Guinea its technology, financial wherewithal, skilled manpower and institutional support to harness the mineral-rich countrys abundant natural resources and establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures. Addressing the business leaders of Papua New Guinea, President Pranab Mukherjee underlined that the Pacific countrys economic growth does not truly reflect the potential of a country blessed with abundant natural and mineral resources, highly fertile soil, fresh water and an extensive coastline teeming with fish and precious seafood. advertisement "The challenge for Papua New Guinea is how to best utilise these abundant natural resources for value addition, generating employment and economically empowering her people," he told members of the Papua New Guinea Business Council here. Mukherjee, who arrived here on a two-day visit yesterday, becoming the first Indian President to visit Papua New Guinea, said the exclusive economic zone of PNG, spread in 3.1 million square kilometer is the guarantee of future growth of this region and would provide the opportunity to the island country to lead the Pacific Ocean. "From our experiences we can suggest to the government and policy makers of Papua New Guinea, that if you want to achieve self sufficiency in food production, you can achieve it with the application of appropriate technologies, by increasing yield per hectare, by the use of varieties of new fertilisers and an effective use of fresh water," he said. The President said Indias policies have created an environment for indigenous commercial, industrial and manufacturing entities to grow and sustain themselves. "Today our private sector has journeyed far and wide. In Britain, our former colonial masters, the largest industrial employer today is an Indian conglomerate. Our companies create value and not merely extract resources. India invites you to partner with them," he said. Mukherjee said economic and commercial relations between the two countries have not grown in proportion to the actual capabilities and capacities, but today both recognise that they stand at the cusp of a breakthrough. "Both India and Papua New Guinea are poised to build up on the synergies that exist between our two nations. India has the financial wherewithal; technological strength, skilled manpower and institutional support that can help establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures," he said. PTI ABS SKL SUA AKJ SUA --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Yoshita Singh New York, Apr 29 (PTI) Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India, but New Delhi has "signalled" it is only interested in talking about terrorism which does not bode well for the prospects of diplomatic progress between the two nations, Islamabads envoy to the UN has said. Pakistans permanent representative to the UN ambassador Maleeha Lodhis remarks came just a day before Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met in New Delhi on April 26 on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia regional conference. advertisement "While Islamabad has repeatedly urged Delhi to resume the broad based, comprehensive peace process, India has yet to agree and has instead signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism. This, she said, does not make the prospects of diplomatic progress too bright," she said. Lodhi addressed students and faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge on April 25as part of South Asia Week being held at the institutionand talked about Pakistans role in regional stability. According to a press release issued by Pakistans Permanent Mission to the UN here, Lodhi said that Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India by finding political solutions to outstanding disputes. In their first formal bilateral meeting after the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January, the Foreign Secretaries focused on a range of issues including probe into the attack and Kashmir, which the Pakistani side has asserted was the "core issue". Lodhi said that Pakistan?s priorities included economic revival, defeating terrorism and elimination of violent extremism in and around Pakistan. Another priority for Pakistan is building regional peace and stability, which required an end to the conflict in Afghanistan, and normalisation of Pakistan-India relations on an equitable and durable basis, she said. On China, Lodhi said the country is a "cornerstone" of Pakistans foreign policy and Islamabad?s relationship with Beijing is "strategic, historic, trouble free and pivotal to the countrys foreign policy." Lodhi said that the strategic evolution of the Pakistan-China relationship has accorded the bilateral partnership added significance at a time of a "fundamental change in the global balance of power brought about by Chinas rise as a global economic powerhouse." In recent years, she said bilateral ties with China have broadened and diversified from the traditional focus on defence and military cooperation toward a greater economic and investment orientation. On how Pakistan will balance its relations with China as well as with the US, she said "to those who ascribe a zero-sum nature to Pakistans relations with China and America, a recall of history would help to invalidate this flawed notion," according to the release. advertisement Citing Pakistans "good relations" with the US and China from the time of the Cold War, she said "Pakistan intends to play the same role in the future and maintain good relations with both even as the two engage in global competition". PTI YAS NSA --- ENDS --- The US-led coalition has targeted Islamic State's financial infrastructure, using air strikes to reduce its ability to extract, refine and transport oil and so forcing fighters to reportedly take significant pay cuts.Yet the militants, who seized a third of Iraq's territory and declared a caliphate in 2014, seem to be adapting again to this latest set of constraints, in some cases reviving previous profit-turning ventures like farming. By Reuters: Islamic State earns millions of dollars a month running car dealerships and fish farms in Iraq, making up for lower oil income after its battlefield losses, Iraqi judicial authorities said on Thursday. Security experts once estimated the ultra-radical Islamist group's annual income at $2.9 billion, much of it coming from oil and gas installations in Iraq and Syria. The US-led coalition has targeted Islamic State's financial infrastructure, using air strikes to reduce its ability to extract, refine and transport oil and so forcing fighters to reportedly take significant pay cuts. advertisement Yet the militants, who seized a third of Iraq's territory and declared a caliphate in 2014, seem to be adapting again to this latest set of constraints, in some cases reviving previous profit-turning ventures like farming. "The terrorists' current financing mechanism has changed from what it was before the announcement of the caliphate nearly two years ago," a report by Iraq's central court of investigation said, quoting Judge Jabbar Abid al-Huchaimi. "After the armed forces took control of several oil fields Daesh was using to finance its operations, the organisation devised non-traditional ways of paying its fighters and financing its activities," the report added, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. Fishing in hundreds of lakes north of Baghdad generates millions of dollars a month, according to the report. Some owners fleeing the area abandoned their farms while others agreed to cooperate with Islamic State to avoid being attacked. "Daesh treats its northern Baghdad province as a financial centre; it is its primary source of financing in the capital in particular," Huchaimi said. Islamic State carries out frequent bombings in Baghdad against security forces and Shi'ite residents. SELLING CARS, RUNNING FACTORIES Fish farms have supplied militants with income since 2007 when Islamic State's al Qaeda predecessor fought U.S. occupation forces but the mechanism only came to the authorities' attention this year, the report said. The militants also tax agricultural land and impose a 10 percent levy on poultry and other duties on a range of imports into their territory, it added. "Recently there has been reliance on agricultural lands in areas outside the control of the (Iraqi) security forces through taxes imposed on farmers." New revenues are also being generated from car dealerships and factories once run by the Iraqi government in areas seized by the militants. Those have helped offset the losses from lower oil income, though perhaps only partially. The U.S.-based analysis firm IHS said last week that Islamic State revenues had fallen by around a third since last summer to around $56 million a month. "In the recent period, Daesh has gone back to using government factories in the areas it controls - like Mosul - for financial returns," Huchaimi said, but added that oil smuggling from Syrian refineries remains the group's primary source of international financing. advertisement The Iraqi report, based in part on the confessions of captured Islamic State suspects, described how funds were funnelled to Bayt al-Mal, the group's finance ministry, in the northern city of Mosul and then distributed to its provinces. "The organisation distributes money to areas outside its control through hawala (transfer) offices first in Erbil and from there to Iraq's other provinces," Huchaimi said. The report said that in addition to salaries, Islamic State fighters may receive rent allowances, financial rewards for up to four children and occasional bonuses like one worth $1,000 distributed after the militants captured Mosul in 2014. --- ENDS --- Temperature in most part of the state have already started touching 40 degrees or more and the scorching sun is what the people witness more at a campaign location than their beloved leaders. Already, four people have died at two different public meetings of incumbent CM and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa's Virudhachalam and Salem, but nothing much has changed. The sun god has decided to spice up the battle ground in Tamil Nadu, and the leaders here are beating the heat to ensure a successful campaign season. Not everyday do the people in the state get to see their beloved leaders, and most fanatics don't miss the opportunity. While this once in a while chance makes many feel blessed, it has turned fatal for several others. advertisement Temperature in most part of the state have already started touching 40 degrees or more and the scorching sun is what the people witness more at a campaign location than their beloved leaders. Already, four people have died at two different public meetings of incumbent CM and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa's Virudhachalam and Salem, but nothing much has changed. It is alleged by opposition parties that Jayalalithaa is making it a point to return home to Chennai after every meeting, as late evening meetings are proving to be a problem, as the chopper cannot take off after sunset. A close aide of M Karunanidhi, and a DMK leader Subaveerapandian said, "I don't think she is capable of changing herself. This has a huge impact on the people of the state, she will sit with eight ACs facing her, she will be seated in an air-conditioned stage, while people will be seated under the hot sun and this has caused the death of so many people." It is reported that Jayalalithaa sits on a dais, where the temperature is around 18-19 degrees Celsius while the temperature in the public meeting arena will be around 40 degree Celsius. "I think it is appalling and unbelievable that someone can be so heartless. She has been the cause of four people dying just because it suits her and it is a convenient time for her helicopter to land and take off that she comes at this time. In this heat, how can people be made to wait for hours without any shade or water right under the sun?" questioned DMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi. But even as the opposition criticises Jayalalithaa for insensitivity, nothing really deters the devotion of the AIADMK cadres. While the opposition parties criticise, party followers have a different perspective. "This is the fault of the Election Commission. They are not supposed to keep election during the summer. If they do, there will be problems like this," said Abdul Rehman an AIADMK follower. Of course when the ladies want to see their Amma no one can stop them, is the opinion of the AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi. She adds, "Ladies are coming to see their Amma speak. Do you think we can compel people ? They are coming despite hot weather. Lakhs and lakhs are coming, they want to see Amma's face and hear Amma's speech." advertisement "In a temple, God will be inside the shrine and the public will be outside. We treat our Amma like our God," said an AIADMK activist. This though is not the opinion of the general public in the state, there are many who are critical about the whole sycophancy taking place in the state. "They need to know what people want. They need to feel the heat. Be with the people," said a disappointed Raghavan, a resident of Chennai. The system hardly pays heed to such voices of discontent and continue to run its own course. The widespread criticism has at least brought a slight change. Instead of the chopper Jayalalithaa now commutes via flight and susbsequently the meetings are being held in cities like Madurai which has an airport. With the temperature set to rise in the upcoming days, people are just praying that he battle for power does not turn fatal for the rest. --- ENDS --- Hollywood actor Jennifer Aniston has revealed that she stole money from her mother's purse as a child. By Bang Showbiz: Jennifer Aniston stole money from her mother's purse as a child. ALSO READ: People Magazine's World's Most Beautiful Woman - Jennifer Aniston awarded title at 47 The 47-year-old beauty has revealed she used to steal cash from her actress mother Nancy Dow to spend on video games and at the local arcade with her friends. Asked to name the worst thing she did as a child that she hid from her parents, Jennifer shared, "I don't know ... taking money from her purse, maybe a dollar. I don't think I would steal large sums of cash. advertisement "A dollar went a long way when we were kids. It was for video games, the arcade, nothing serious." Meanwhile, Jennifer claimed to have inherited her sense of humour from Nancy and her dad John, who was also an actor. She told HELLO! magazine, "She had a great sense of humour. And my dad." However, Jennifer also admitted to inheriting one less-then-helpful trait from her mother. The Friends actor - who married the movie director Justin Theroux last year - shared, "I'm a nervous driver. When I would drive she would always scream... maybe because I wasn't a good driver." Jennifer's confession comes shortly after she was crowned the World's Most Beautiful Woman of 2016 by PEOPLE magazine, beating off competition from previous winners Julia Roberts, Cindy Crawford and Courteney Cox to claim the accolade. On her win, Jennifer said, "It's funny, it's a really quick transition from not a care and now all of a sudden, we've got to really be mindful of what we put inside our bodies. "And how we sleep and take care of ourselves. You can get away with a lot in your 20s." --- ENDS --- Here are six outlandish cases from India and across the world, where people filed cases against or involving God. By India Today Web Desk: In the fictitious world of movies, on one hand we have a Gujarati atheist whose shop crumbles in an earthquake, and on the other, we have a lawyer-turned-fisherman whose boat is struck by lightning. Both Paresh Rawal in Oh My God! and Billy Connolly in The Man Who Sued God have one thing in common. They portray characters of men angry enough to file lawsuits against the Almighty. advertisement Now, here's where fiction becomes fact. Amid these reel characters, there exist real people who take time out from their daily lives and lodge cases involving God. No, we're not kidding. Here are six outlandish cases from India and across the world, where people filed cases against or 'in the name of the Almighty': 1. Bajrang Bali hazir ho: Lord Hanuman summoned to court In a recent case, a lower court in Bihar issued summons to Lord Hanuman himself. Wondering why? Well, you see, a temple established in his name in Rohtas district was obstructing traffic. When the Public Works Department filed a case of encroachment against the Hanuman temple, the court issued summons to the Monkey God to appear in the court. Uh, were they really expecting Bajrang Bali to turn up? Well, our sources at the court say he hasn't made an appearance yet. Contempt of court? In a much recent case, Hanuman was also accused of defaulting on payment of property tax worth Rs.4.33 lakh in Bihar town, which made authorities consider issuing notice to him. 2. Why God, why? Lord Ram accused of "banishing his wife" In February, a very miffed lawyer filed a complaint against Lord Rama in a court in Sitamarhi, Bihar. Charges? Complainant Thakur Chandan Kumar Singh accused Rama of allegedly banishing wife Sita to a lifelong exile "for no fault of hers". Singh, in his complaint, said it "was a hypocritical order from King Rama". "Lord Rama did not think for a single moment how a woman could live alone amid wild animals, including reptiles and mammals, in the forest," he added. Uh, Mr Singh, if benevolent sexism was a crime under the IPC, you'd have scores of lawsuits hanging over your head. 3. Heavy cross to bear: Israel and Italy sued for crucifying Jesus This one's a little different. In 2013, Kenyan lawyer Dola Indidis sued the two countries for human rights violations committed against Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago. We assume he might be a wee bit late to the party. In his petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), he asked the court to "declare that the trial of Jesus and the subsequent nailing on the cross went against the principles of fair trial and should therefore be declared a mistrial." advertisement To that, a spokesperson for the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi had this response: "Nobody can do justice to God". 4. Quakes ain't cool: God sued for natural disasters Ernie Chambers, a state Senator in Nebraska, was probably a little too peeved with 'Acts of God' and wanted to settle it once and for all. So, in 2007, he sued God, seeking a "permanent injunction against God's harmful activities". Here's the fun part: Chambers' suit was dismissed by the court because God, not having an address, "could not be properly notified". If this lawsuit had gone through and had Chambers won, would it mean the end of earthquakes and avalanches? Perhaps the only disaster in this case was the case itself. 5. Blame game: God sued for failing to keep Devil at bay Pavel M, a Romanian prisoner convicted of murder, was not pleased with how things had turned out for him in his life and sure enough, he blamed God for it. Let's face it, we all do so once in a while. But how many of us go to the extent of filing a lawsuit against God? advertisement Well, Pavel did. While serving 20 years in a jail in Timisoara, Pavel slapped the Romanian Orthodox Church, which he believed represents God, with a lawsuit for "failing to keep him from the Devil". "God received different material valuables from me, as well as prayers in exchange for promises of a better life. In reality, this did not happen - I found myself in the devil's hands," said the prisoner. Not to interfere with the court proceeding, but in this case, God could've just pointed to Pavel the sixth of the Ten Commandments and said, "I told you". 6. Omnipresent, but 'absent in court': God sued for "negligence " In a story from the '70s, that seems straight out of Paresh Rawal's Oh My God!, Arizona lawyer Russel T Tansie was probably unhappy about how his secretary Betty Penrose's house had gone down after a lightning strike. Like a good lawyer and doting boss, he filed a $100,000 lawsuit. But who did he file the case against? Of course, the One responsible for the lightening: God. advertisement The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Penrose, accused God of negligence in power over the weather for "He allowed a lightning bolt to strike her home". How did the court proceeding go? Penrose won the case as the defendant (God) failed to appear in court. There's no record on whether she collected or not. Again, not to poke our noses into court's business, but if the defendant is God, how could he not have appeared in court? Don't they say 'God is omnipresent'. --- ENDS --- "I am a student. Studying and teaching is a part of my life," JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar said. By India Today Web Desk: Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar, whose arrest on charges of sedition catapulted him to the centre stage of student's politics and ignited a nationwide debate on nationalism and free speech, is all set to come out with a book on his eventful journey from a nondescript Bihar village. Titled 'Bihar to Tihar', the book will tell the story of his journey from his school, his deepening involvement in student politics and his controversial arrest. advertisement The book will be published by Juggernaut publication. India Today's Rajdeep Sardesai on his show News Today asked a few poignant questions to the student leader on his author debut. Asked if he has turned into a celebrity from being a student leader, Kanhaiya said, "my basic job is to study and write books. I don't think this has anything to do with me creating a celebrity image for myself." "I am a student... Studying and teaching is a part of my life," he added. Kanhaiya, who is currently pursuing a PhD in African studies at the School of International Studies, said that it's not only 'Bihar to Tihar', but he has also been trying to get his thesis published. Countering allegations from his opponents, who say his focus now lies in publicity and not student's issues, Kanhaiya said that he is just another student and he had travelled across the country earlier as well. He said it is not the first time that he has been travelling to places. "This is not the first time that I have travelled to another university. I have visited universities in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Patna and other places to address student's issues," Kanhaiya said. "Coming to air travel, the organisers pay for my travel. Students usually contribute in masses to organise such functions. I can't travel by train due to fringe elements. Therefore, organisers have no way other than book air tickets for me," he added. Kanhaiya was arrested in February on charges of sedition in connection with a controversial event at the JNU campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. His arrest had triggered widespread outrage and protests. He was released on bail on March 3. He is from village Bihat near Barauni in Begusarai district of Bihar. He moved to JNU after completing his post graduation from the Nalanda Open University in Patna. WATCH FULL SHOW: ALSO READ JNU row: Kanhaiya Kumar burns inquiry committee report, students to go on indefinite strike Kanhaiya Kumar to write his first book Bihar to Tihar --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: If you're upset with the local Public Works Department, how do you protest? You could take out a protest march, sit on a dharna or even borrow from Munnabhai's book and start passing out red roses. However, protesters in the district of Buldhana resorted to something more unique. This motley group of locals stormed a PWD meeting and broke into an impromptu naagin (cobra) dance, complete with swaying motions and matching steps. advertisement The men were protesting the poor condition of roads near Chhatrapati Shivaji Market, and were angry with PWD for inaction despite several complaints. A sole security official can be seen in the video, trying to control the situation, without much success. A short video accessed by India Today shows the men in the PWD board room, presenting garlands and a coconut to the seated officials, before breaking out into a frenzy of hillarious steps. Their moves would have made even Sridevi proud. --- ENDS --- For the second time in the past ten days an anti-militancy operation was called off - this time in frontier north Kashmir - after massive protests erupted near the encounter site. By Naseer Ganai: For the second time in the past ten days an anti-militancy operation was called off - this time in frontier north Kashmir - after massive protests erupted near the encounter site. Police sources said protests started in Kanthpora Lolab, around 120 km north of Srinagar on Thursday evening, after a brief gunfight between militants and security forces. The protesters, according to the sources, threw stones at the police and security forces. advertisement The police retailed by resorting to tear-smoke shelling. As the clashes intensified, the security forces called off the operation and with it the holed-up militant escaped from the area, sources said. Earlier, police and Army had cordoned off the area around Jamia Masjid Kanthpora Lolab after a tip-off claiming a militant was hiding inside a mosque. As the police started their search operation around the mosque, the militant fired at the police and security forces in an attempt to break the cordon. On April 21, three militants were killed in Lolab in a gunfight. However, on the same day, massive protests broke out after militants opened fire towards a police party at Newa village in Pulwama, around 50km south of Srinagar. Soon after the police and security forces started cordoning the area, people in hundreds came out on the streets and started chanting slogans. Also Read: Kupwara encounter: 1 terrorist killed, AK 56 rifle recovered --- ENDS --- From speaking about those pesky panty lines to the things that keep her beauteous girl squad together, you'll love Malaika Arora Khan's candid avatar at the store launch of a lingerie brand. By Hemul Goel: After reserving a spot for itself in the lingerie drawers of Indian females, Sri Lankan lingerie brand Amante opened it's fourth store in India. Actress and popular telly judge, Malaika Arora Khan was the one to be blamed for raising the temperature in the Capital while inaugurating the store at DLF Mall of India, Noida. Applauding the brand for their products, Malaika said, "I believe this is the fourth store in quick succession, so I guess people are taking very well to the brand." advertisement Also read: These pictures prove that Malaika Arora Khan's back with a bang She added, "I think what really bowled me over about Amante is the choice, the selection and the use of fabric. Am just amazed by what they have in the store. You are so used to picking up your innerwear while travelling abroad because it was never really available. You were never really happy with the stuff that was around. You'd always be disgruntled, so I'd always pick up my stuff when I was travelling. Now, you don't need to. You have it right next door." The India's Got Talent judge expressed her happiness at being back in the Capital as she said, "Although it's crazy hot, it's always nice to be back in Dilli and I'll be very honest that I have never been to this mall, so that's another experience for me." At the launch, we also got a chance to be privy to Malaika Arora Khan's candid avatar when she answered all our questions ranging from her favourite #vacay hotspots, her lingerie essentials to her style tips. Watch her in action below: --- ENDS --- Modi ministers had a heated argument in the Upper House after an opposition lawmaker raised the issue of attacks on minorities in Jharkhand. By Himanshu Mishra: Two central ministers had a heated argument in the Rajya Sabha on Friday after an opposition lawmaker raised the issue of attacks on minorities in Jharkhand, pointing to the incident of two cattle traders being killed and hanged from a tree in Latehar district last month. Trouble broke out when a male minister said the state government will substantiate the facts of the case and JD(U) leaders trooped to the Well of the House. A female minister stepped in and said she would write to the Jharkhand government to get a detailed report on the incident. But the row raged on and the House was adjourned. advertisement The female minister then advised the male minister to be more tactful when dealing with parliamentarians. The male minister responded, saying, "Of course, you'll say this since you come from the Congress. I'm an old hand in the BJP and know how to deal with these people." Two central ministers seated nearby were also stunned by these remarks. The female minister then got up and said she no longer felt needed in the government and was going to hand in her resignation letter to the Prime Minister. The two ministers who overheard the conversation tried to pacify her but she walked out of the House. The female minister then called up Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as well as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and complained about her male colleague's behaviour. The senior ministers said they would speak to the concerned minister about the issue. The female minister is also likely to raise the matter before BJP chief Amit Shah. The minister facing the complaint had also raised objections to a former JD(U) leader being drafted into the BJP around the Bihar polls, raising a controversy that saw the party receiving a lot of flak. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Sumir Kaul Port Moresby, Apr 29 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee today paid homage to the soldiers, including many Indians, killed during World War-II while fighting along with the British forces and laid to rest at Bomana cemetery in Papua New Guinea. Mukherjee, the supreme commander of Indian armed forces, walked up to a pillar erected in memory of the troops and placed a wreath there. advertisement This was the second engagement of the Mukherjee, who arrived here yesterday on the first ever state visit from India to this largest island in the Pacific. Immediately after meeting the Governor General of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Sir Michael Ogio, President drove to the war cemetery, located 20-km from here. As he placed the wreath, a Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) sounded the "Last Post," signifying the end of the troops journey in life. A minutes silence was observed in their memory after which Mukherjee took a look at the cemetery. The cemetery contains 3,824 Commonwealth burials of the second World War out of which 699 of them unidentified. Around 250 of the unidentified soldiers are from undivided India who were fighting along with the British and allied forces. Indian High Commissioner to PNG Nagendra Kumar Saxena, who took over the office in October last year, has been extensively working on the role of Indians during the World War and other areas of the PNG. During the banquet hosted by the Ogio in honour of the President last night, the Governor General also said the linkages between the two countries go back to the second World War in which Indian servicemen, some 615 brave sons who were part of the British Army and Allied Forces, fought and died in PNG. "Their mortal remains lie buried in war cemeteries throughout the country," he said. The troops were fighting the Japanese forces who had landed at Lae and Salamaua in March 1942 with Port Moresby as their chief objective. MORE PTI SKL NES NSA --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today hit back at Opposition parties on VVIP chopper scam, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no meeting with Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi during UN summit last year. "See 2 wht levl our opponents hv stoop down. And no such meeting has taken place and meetings between Prime Ministers cn nver b kept a secret," Naidu said in a tweet. advertisement "The latest attempt is to divert the attention and defame our PM. Charge is our Prime Minister met Italian counterpart during UN summit and asked for information to implicate some congress leaders against release of Italian marines," he added. The minister said the "opponents are giving more creditability to the middlemen, broker, accused and convicted rather than our own agencies". "It is shocking media report suggests tht AgustaWestland spent Rs 50 cr to influence d decision making through media 2 get d choppers contract," he added. The comments came on the backdrop of reports mentioning that money was allegedly paid to middlemen for managing the Indian media to produce favourable news on the AgustaWestland deal. PTI MP VMN --- ENDS --- By Javed M. Ansari : The current vice-president's term will come to an end next August, 14 months from now. But some of the aspirants have already begun canvassing for themselves. Najma Heptullah, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs is one of them. That she has eyes set on the coveted post, for a long time, is no secret. What has surprised people is the alacrity with which she has started canvassing for herself, this early. advertisement She has been calling up some of the nominated MP's to ostensibly congratulate them on their becoming members of the upper house and in the course of the conversation suggested that they would get much more opportunities and time to speak if she was in the chair. "Nominated members hardly get a few minutes to make their point, if I was the chairman you will get much more time to have your say." In Parliament political parties are allocated time for debates based on their strength in the house. From their share of the time, political parties then decide the duration for which a particular MP will speak in that particular debate. The stronger parties like the Congress and the BJP get the lion's share of the time, while the others have to settle for much less .The nominated and independent MPs barely get a few minutes to speak during debates. Najma Heptullah coveting the chairman's post is understandable. This is her fifth term as a member of the Rajya Sabha and during her time in the Congress party, she was the deputy chairperson of the upper house for 16 years. Many believe that she decided to switch to the BJP in 2004, in the hope of becoming the vice-president. It's another matter that the NDA lost the 2004 elections and though the party did field her as its candidate, the BJP could not muster up enough votes and she lost the 2007 vice-president elections to Hamid Ansari. The BJP has already made an exception of sorts for her by continuing with her as a minister despite the fact that she is a year older than the 75-year age limit set by the party for its ministers. The BJP now has a majority in the electoral college, and is in a position to elect a vice-presidents of its choice. Najma Heptullah has her aspirations, but whether or not PM Modi oblige is left to be seen. --- ENDS --- A 24-minute video of a sting operation, which was released by a Kolkata-based news portal- Narada, purportedly showed 16 MLAs and 5 MPs and one senior police officer, close to the leaders, promising favours and accepting wads of currency notes from representatives of a fictitious firm. By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition seeking expulsion and CBI enquiry against Trinamool Congress MPs and MLAs shown in a sting taking bribe. The top court has asked petitioner Viplab Chowdhary to approach the Calcutta High Court in the matter. A 24-minute video of a sting operation, which was released by a Kolkata-based news portal- Narada, purportedly showed 16 MLAs and 5 MPs and one senior police officer, close to the leaders, promising favours and accepting wads of currency notes from representatives of a fictitious firm. The five TMC parliamentarians shown in the sting video are Saugata Roy, Sultan Ahmad, Suvendu Adhikari, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Prasun Banerjee. advertisement The video footage, which was released the firt part of the budget session had also shown TMC's Rajya Sabha member Mukul Roy, a close aide of TMC boss supremo Mamata Banerjee,. Trinamool had earlier denied any action against the leaders shown in the sting video. The TMC had called the footage a "manufactured video" and threatened to go to court while the Opposition demanded the resignation of Mamata Banerjee, TMC chief, though she does not feature in the footage. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan earlier last month referred the alleged bribery case involving the TMC leaders to the ethics committee for investigation and report. --- ENDS --- Citing genuine difficulties, the government had, in a U-turn, suggested that the first phase of NEET scheduled for May 1 be scrapped and all the students be allowed to take the exams on July 24. With just two days left for the first phase of the exams scheduled for May 1, the shortage of time for preparations is haunting students. By India Today Web Desk: Rejecting the government's petition to extend the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admission into medical courses, the Supreme Court today refused to modify its order and ruled that the exam will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday. Citing "genuine difficulties", the government had, in a U-turn, suggested that the first phase of NEET scheduled for May 1 be scrapped and all the students be allowed to take the exams on July 24. "We have passed our order. Let the exams go on", Justice Anil R Dave said during the hearing. advertisement Besides NEET, the medical entrance examination being conducted by some states including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and others will also take place separately. Saying that the examinations will go on, an apex court bench headed by Justice Dave asked Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand and others to file applications seeking whatever relief they want. Earlier in the morning, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi addressed the court seeking modification of its first day order contending that a large number of students who had their schooling in the regional languages not proficient in English will find it difficult to appear in the first NEET to be held on May 1. This would be discriminatory, the Attorney General said, making a strong plea that the court should allow the exam being conducted by states along with the NEET. The CBSE is conducting the NEET in the current year only in English and Hindi. On Thursday, the apex court had cleared the decks for the holding of NEET in two phases for the academic year 2016-17 in which around 6.5 lakh candidates are likely to appear. It had approved the schedule put before it by the Centre, the CBSE and the Medical Council of India (MCI) for treating All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) fixed for May 1 as NEET-1. It had said those who had not applied for AIPMT will be given the opportunity to appear in NEET-II on July 24 and the combined result would be declared on August 17 so that the admission process can be completed by September 30. The order implied that all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET and those examinations which have already taken place or slated to be conducted separately stand scrapped. The apex court had rejected the opposition for holding the NEET by some states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Association of Karnataka Medical Colleges, besides minority institutions like Christian Medical College, Vellore which had contended that the common exam cannot be imposed on them. advertisement Also read: MBBS, BDS aspirants to take two-phased NEET this year, rules Supreme Court --- ENDS --- By Anindya Banerjee: It was not 2016 when you have a sitting prime minister launching a fierce political attack on his predecessor. It was good old days when prime ministers showed immense respect for their predecessors. But if newly declassified files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose are to be believed, former Prime Minister Morarji Desai treated both Shahnawaz Committee and Khosla Commission, formed to clear the death mystery of Netaji, with utter contempt. Both constituted by Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi respectively. advertisement A newly released PMO file shows how Morarji Desai remarked, "Shahnawaz committee and Khosla Commission held the report of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's death as true. Since then reasonable doubts have been cast on the correctness reached in the two reports and various important contradictions in the testimony of the witnesses have been noticed." It goes on to add "in the light of these doubts and these contradictions, and these records, government finds it difficult to accept that the earlier conclusions are decisive." One may wonder what's wrong in it? After all, the then PM was talking about report findings. But the same file also shows the kind of aspersions the prime ministers office casted over the constitution of inquiry committees in the first place. The Khosla Commission, papers in the file say, 'concentrated as much as defending and eulogising Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and the government of the day 'under Indira Gandhi' as denigrating Netaji". Those were strong words, hidden from public knowledge till now. And understandably, Culture Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma while declassifying these files said, "It is big". Talking to India Today he said, "In a democratic country like ours we should ask why these files were hidden for so long ". Even without naming the Congress party, Sharma played his political cards quite well. Promising more files will open a Pandora's box. As far as the immediate political fallout, it may get reflected to a certain extent when Kolkata goes to polls tomorrow and Netaji's great grand nephew Chandra Bose and a BJP candidate will try his luck against the sitting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in south Kolkata. But the bigger factor is how the head of the first non Congress government in independent India junked reports of two celebrated inquiry commissions, which till then were accepted as gospel truth as far as Netaji's death goes. --- ENDS --- The latest North Korean accusation came a day after South Korean and US officials said two suspected medium-range missile launches by North Korea ended in failure. By AP: North Korea on Friday accused US soldiers of trying to provoke its frontline troops with "disgusting" acts and encouraging South Korean soldiers to aim their guns at the North. A North Korean military statement warned US soldiers to stop what it called "hooliganism" at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom or they'll meet a "dog's death any time and any place." advertisement "GIs hurled fully armed MPs of the South Korean puppet army into perpetrating such dangerous provocations as aiming at" the North Korean military side last week, said the statement carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency. It said US troops pointed their fingers at North Korean soldiers and made strange noises and unspecified "disgusting" facial expressions. North Korea occasionally accuses South Korean and US troops of trying to provoke its border troops and vice versa. After North Korea's first nuclear bomb test in 2006, the US accused North Korean troops of spitting across the border's demarcation line, making throat-slashing hand gestures and flashing their middle fingers. The latest North Korean accusation came a day after South Korean and US officials said two suspected medium-range missile launches by North Korea ended in failure. In recent weeks, North Korea fired a barrage of missiles and artillery shells into the sea in an apparent response to annual South Korea-US military drills that end Saturday. The US and South Korean militaries had no immediate official responses. About 28,000 American troops are deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice and not a peace treaty. Panmunjom, located inside the 4-kilometer- (2.5-mile-) wide Demilitarized Zone that bisects the Korean Peninsula, is where the 1953 armistice was signed. It remains one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints, but Panmunjom - jointly overseen by North Korea and the American-led UN Command - is also a popular tourist spot drawing visitors on both sides. Visitors from the southern side are often told by tour guides to be extremely careful about what gestures they make so as not to antagonize the nearby North Korean soldiers. --- ENDS --- All parties involved in the South China Sea issue should find common ground at a bilateral level and follow the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, Kazakhstan's foreign minister said on Thursday. Erlan Idrissov made the remarks when asked about the South China Sea issue by China Daily on the sidelines of the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia held in Beijing. He emphasized the need to find common ground at a bilateral level, to resolve all disputes through peaceful dialogue and constructive negotiations on the basis of the principles of equal responsibility for peace and security, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. Idrissov said his country welcomes China and ASEAN's effort to find an agreement on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in accordance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which was signed in 2002. "We hope that the parties will be able to determine the appropriate mechanisms for the settlement of territorial disputes in the region," he added. Arun Jaitley assured that the government is taking action and has already served notice on some named in the Panama Papers leaks on tax evasion and of stashing money overseas. By Indo-Asian News Service: The government is taking all necessary steps on the issue of tax evasion and notice is being served on those whose names figure in the Panama Papers leaks, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Lok Sabha today. The statement during question hour when members, including Nana Patole and Kirit Somiaya (both BJP) and B. Mahtab (BJD) asked supplementaries on the tax evasion issue. advertisement Jaitley, however, said any individual case could not be discussed in the house. He assured that the government is taking action and has already served notice on some named in the Panama Papers leaks on tax evasion and of stashing money overseas. Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said the appointment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in 2014 had helped in the purpose of tracking black money both in the country and outside. "SIT is doing a commendable job," Sinha said, adding that recommendations of the SIT had helped investigating agencies and the government, especially with regard to black money stashed overseas. "And for domestic black money also the SIT recommendations have been found helpful and necessary steps are being taken," he said. Biju Janata Dal floor leader B. Mahtab wanted to know if in the wake of reports from SIT and other agencies the government is proposing any changes in the law to keep an eye on tax evaders. BJP member Kirit Somaiya was pulled up by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan when he took the name of a popular Maharashtra leader, who is now in jail. "You know everything, then why are you taking someone's name," Mahajan told the ruling party member tersely. Minister of State Finance Sinha agreed that there are instances of tax evasion by moneyed people when they show their income as agricultural income. BJP member Nana Patole said the contention that agricultural income is growing cannot be true because, "If such is the case, then farmers would not be committing suicide". Sinha said there has been an increase of tax payers' network to 5.8 crore ever since the NDA government took over. "We should not analyse this number based on the country's total population. It is only among the 25 crore households and chiefly from seven crore eligible tax payers in the urban pockets," Sinha said. Also read: Aishwarya breaks silence over Panama Papers, says all info given to govt --- ENDS --- advertisement The hunger strike began at midnight after students took out a torchlight march from Ganga Dhaba to the administration block. JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and others at the university's admin block on Thursday. By Mail Today: After Jawaharlal Nehru University declared the punishment for students involved in the Afzal Guru show on February 9, two groups of students have gone on hunger strike protesting against the decision. While five protesting students are from ABVP, 20 others - including JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar - belong to different groups. The hunger strike began at midnight after students took out a torchlight march from Ganga Dhaba to the administration block, which has been their venue of protest ever since Kanhaiya was arrested in the sedition case. advertisement Kanhaiya, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who were arrested in the case, are now out on bail. The university had earlier this week announced punishments to various students on basis of recommendations of a five-member probe panel. While Kanhaiya has been slapped with a penalty of `10,000 on grounds of indiscipline and misconduct, Umar, Anirban and Kashmiri student Mujeeb Gatoo have been rusticated for varied durations. Fourteen students have been imposed with financial penalty, hostel facilities of two students have been withdrawn and university has declared the campus out of bounds for two former students. "The administration thought that if action is taken during exams there will be no protests from students. Please do not question our intelligentsia, we can write our thesis even while sitting on protest and clear our exams too," Kanhaiya said. "What kind of students does JNU administration want? The boot-licking, opportunist, pro-establishment, pro-administration types, who will stand against their own fraternity, in the hope of being favoured by the government of the day?" JNUSU Vice-President Shehla Rashid Shora said. The ABVP members, who are also on strike, are demanding withdrawal of penalty on Saurabh Kumar Sharma, the complainant. Also read: JNU row: Kanhaiya Kumar burns inquiry committee report, students to go on indefinite strike --- ENDS --- By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Apr 29 (PTI) Odisha Assembly was today adjourned till afternoon after opposition Congress and BJP members created a ruckus demanding a discussion on state governments alleged lack of interest in implementing Odia as the official language of the state. The issue was raised by the Congress members as soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour. The opposition Congress members rushed to well of the House and protested against Speaker Niranajan Pujari for not allowing a motion moved by them. advertisement While Congress members were gathered in well of the House, BJP MLAs stood near their seats supporting the demand for a debate over the issue. Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm. Congress MLAs alleged that the state government does not have any interest to develop the Odia language. "We wanted that Odia should be declared as the public language, not only official language, on the occasion of Madhu Babu Jayanti," Congress MLA N K Das said outside the House. "Activites report of departments is not presented in Odia in the Assembly whereas other states across the country are using their language as official one," he said. BJD member Dibya Shanakar Mishra claimed Congress is directionless and their main problem is they do not know what to present. "They are unnecessarily creating ruckus pressing for on adjournment motion," Mishra said. The issue relating to Odia language caused noisy scenes in the assembly yesterday also and the House was adjourned till afternoon. PTI AAM CR ASV PS --- ENDS --- By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Apr 28 (PTI) Opposition Congress and BJP in Odisha questioned the neutrality of the chitfund probe panel, headed by Justice (retd.) M M Das who attended a function organised by the ruling BJD in Cuttack today. The retired Orissa High Court judge has been heading the judicial commission probing matters relating to alleged cheating of investors by different chitfund companies. He attended BJD lawyers forum meeting as the chief guest on occasion of Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das birth anniversary. Law minister Arun Sahu also attended the meeting. advertisement "The head of the chitfund scam probe panel attending a political party meeting has cast doubt in the minds of the people over the outcome of the commissions judgement," said OPCC president Prasad Harichandan. Justice (retd.) Das, however, clarified that he addressed the meeting as it was attended by more than 200 lawyers and he did not consider the event as a function of BJD. "I believe there is no issue attending a lawyers gathering. I have attended the programme as a retired judge, not as a Commission head. What I have stated in the meeting is my personal opinion and the ruling party has nothing to do with it. I know my job very well," he said. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress, who is also an eminent lawyer, said, "I am not in favour of a judicial commission head attending the function of a political party. He should not have attended the programme." BJP legislator Pradeep Purohit said it is "unfortunate" that Das attended the meeting. "Since the event was organised by a political party, he should not continue as the head of the Commission investigating the chitfund scam," he said, adding the poor investors would lose faith in the government which has assured an unbiased investigation into the scam. BJD, however, defended Justice (retd.) Das. "Since he is a retired judge, I have nothing to say about his decision to attend a programme. I should not interfere in his meetings and schedules. Besides, the lawyers body is not a political institution but a social outfit. It provides legal aid to the poor and underprivileged. It is not a wing of BJD," BJD spokesperson Ananta Das said. PTI AAM SKN NN SMN --- ENDS --- By PTI: London, Apr 29 (PTI) The oldest pieces of rock on Earth - zircon crystals - are likely to have formed in the craters left by violent asteroid impacts that peppered our planet, rather than via plate tectonics as was previously believed, scientists say. Rocks that formed over the course of Earths history allow geologists to infer things such as when water first appeared on the planet, how our climate has varied, and even where life came from, researchers said. advertisement However, we can only go back in time so far, as the only material we have from the very early Earth comes in the form of tiny, naturally occurring zircon crystals, they said. Ten years ago, a team of researchers in the US argued that the ancient zircon crystals probably formed when tectonic plates moving around on the Earths surface collided with each other in a similar fashion to the disruption taking place in the Andes Mountains today, where the ocean floor under the Pacific Ocean is plunging under South America. However, current evidence suggests that plate tectonics - as we know it today - was not occurring on the early Earth. So the question remained that where did the crystals come from. Recently, geologists suggested these grains may have formed in huge impact craters produced as chunks of rock from space, up to several kilometres in diameter, slammed into a young Earth. To test this idea, researchers from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland decided to study a much younger impact crater to see if zircon crystals similar to the very old ones could possibly have formed in these violent settings. In 2014, the researchers and colleagues from Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland collected thousands of zircons from the Sudbury impact crater in Canada - the best preserved large impact crater on Earth and the planets second oldest confirmed crater at almost two billion years old. After analysing the crystals, they discovered that the crystal compositions were indistinguishable from the ancient set. "What we found was quite surprising. Many people thought the very ancient zircon crystals could not have formed in impact craters, but we now know they could have," said Gavin Kenny from Trinity College. "There is a lot we still do not fully understand about these little guys but it looks like we may now be able to form a more coherent story of Earths early years - one which fits with the idea that our planet suffered far more frequent bombardment from asteroids early on than it has in relatively recent times," said Kenny. advertisement The findings were published in the journal Geology. PTI SAN SAR SAR --- ENDS --- For all its pro-development talk, the Modi government has been woefully behind the UPA in parliamentary business done and bills passed. Why is this happening? Frustrated at being unable to pass the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in Parliament for two consecutive sessions, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said in January that the Congress brass get "sadistic pleasure" in obstruction. Though the pleasure quotient is debatable, the grand old party has been successful in blocking passage of several key bills, including the GST and land acquisition amendment, and Jaitley cannot be faulted for shifting the blame for the legislative logjam. But what the finance minister cannot blame the Congress for is his government's poor performance in terms of legislative initiative. Since the Narendra Modi government took oath on May 26, 2014, NDA-II has introduced 74 new bills, at an average of 37 per year, reveals a study done by PRS Legislative Research. But going by session, the number of bills introduced has halved in the last four-from 16 in winter session 2014 to eight in winter session 2015. In fact, in the current Budget session, the government has not introduced a single fresh bill in Parliament. In the last two years, the government has drafted only 23 new bills. When india today confronted Jaitley with these statistics, the finance minister had a one-liner to defend itself: "The country is not ruled by legislation alone." advertisement His colleague and Union minister of urban development, housing and urban poverty alleviation and parliamentary affairs Venkaiah Naidu maintains that the government's emphasis is "on quality and not quantity". "It's not a question of number of bills alone but also of political will and delivery of services as part of the legislative process.... Our ultimate aim is development and good governance." Jyotiraditya Scindia. Photo: Vikram Sharma According to Naidu, the government is in the process of examining and repealing obsolete bills in keeping with its aim of minimum government and maximum governance. "What is significant is that long-pending issues are being addressed and new bills are introduced only when absolutely necessary. We passed the Indo-Bangladesh Land Transfer Bill which had been pending since the 1970s. The National Judicial Appointment Commission Bill and the Real Estate Bill also fall in the same category," he says. But numbers don't substantiate Naidu's argument as only eight of the 60 bills pending from the previous Lok Sabha sessions have been passed in the 16th Lok Sabha. In the 14th Lok Sabha, six out of 30 pending bills and in the 15th, eight out of 37 bills were passed. His deputy, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, puts the blame squarely on the Opposition. "The business advisory committees have members from all parties. When there are already so many bills pending, they focus more on old bills, and fresh bills are not entertained," he says. The minister accepts that the government has been slow in legislation but says that it has not been introducing new bills because of the "politics of blockage" in the Rajya Sabha. "We can get them passed in the Lok Sabha, but they get stuck in the Upper House." Smarting under the "sadism" allegation, the Congress uses these numbers to take the attack to the saffron party. "These numbers only show that the Modi government lacks the ideas and will to legislate. They may blame the Congress, but we have always cooperated whenever they have tabled a smart and people-oriented piece of legislation in the House," says Congress RS member Ahmed Patel. He is also quick to point towards the PRS data on the UPA's legislative performance. UPA-I had introduced 245 new bills in the 13th Lok Sabha, at an average of 49 bills a year. The 14th Lok Sabha saw the introduction of 228 new bills by UPA-II, at an average of 46 bills per year. The dip in UPA-II's performance is mainly attributed to the 2010 washout of the Lok Sabha's winter session, when the Opposition BJP's demand for a JPC probe into the 2G- spectrum scam paralysed both houses (the Lok Sabha lost 94 per cent of its time and the Rajya Sabha 98 per cent). advertisement In fact, productivity in the 15th Lok Sabha under UPA-II was the worst in five decades, with the Opposition stalling business over issues such as the 2G scam, irregularities in coal block allocation, FDI in multi-brand retail and appointment of a central vigilance commissioner. According to PRS, the Lok Sabha functioned for 61 per cent of the time and Rajya Sabha 66 per cent. Though Jaitley had then justified his party's actions, saying disruption was part of the democratic process, his party, which enjoys a brute majorityof 282 seats in the Lok Sabha, now plays the victim card, alleging that the Congress stalls legislative functions, thanks to its numerical strength in the Upper House. But a close scrutiny of the functioning of Parliament since NDA-II came to power tells a different story. In the first five sessions of the Modi government, the Lok Sabha functioned for 704 of the 711 hours available. Now compare this to the first five sessions of UPA-II when the Lok Sabha recorded productive time of 549 hours against 768 hours of scheduled time. If we exclude the Budget session, the Lok Sabha has been more productive than the Rajya Sabha in the past four sessions, with average productivity being 97 per cent and 62 per cent respectively. The 2015 Budget session recorded the highest percentage of working hours, at 122 per cent in Lok Sabha and 101 per cent in Rajya Sabha over the past 20 sessions of Parliament. While the Congress certainly showed its might in the Rajya Sabha, reducing productivity by nearly 40 per cent, the House also passed six bills without debate. advertisement Though there have been some high performance sessions in the 16th Lok Sabha-the 2015 winter session saw 71 per cent of the bills being introduced and passed within the same session, the highest in the past 10 years-Parliament has seen a steady decline in legislative actions, irrespective of which government is in power. Pointing towards the fact that in the first eight sessions of UPA-II, "sitting time" lost to disruptions had reached 38 per cent, Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha Jyotiraditya Scindia draws a distinction between the legislative inertia of NDA-II and UPA's poor performance vis-a-vis NDA-I. "This is a government which is good at coining catchy slogans. Legislation needs concrete thinking and vision and this government is all about jingoism," he says. The former Union minister agrees with Jaitley that the country is not run by legislation only, but he challenges the government to come clean on the execution of its "much hyped schemes" like Make in India, Jan Dhan Yojana and Swachh Bharat. "All these schemes are just promotional, with little action on the ground," he says. advertisement With the Uttarakhand fiasco taking confrontational politics to a new low, the stalemate in the Rajya Sabha over major bills like GST is likely to continue. With little possibility of any dramatic change in the position of the BJP in the Upper House till 2019, a section in the saffron party propagates the tactic of "playing time out" there. "The Rajya Sabha cannot stall the bills indefinitely. If a bill is neither rejected nor passed and the Opposition plays the game of disruption, the government must call for a joint session where we will have the numbers. This will certainly improve our legislative record," says a BJP MP. Whether it's the sadism of the Congress or the Modi government's failure to reach out to the Opposition, Parliament is missing out on its primary job-making laws. with Uday Mahurkar Follow the writer on Twitter @KDscribe --- ENDS --- A core team of top officials in the ministry of defence is scanning through more than 40 files running into several thousand pages to highlight alleged irregularities in the Rs 3,500 crore deal. By Gaurav C Sawant: The government is planning to turn the heat on former defence minister AK Antony in Parliament on the Agusta Westland helicopter deal. A core team of top officials in the ministry of defence is scanning through more than 40 files running into several thousand pages to highlight alleged irregularities in the Rs 3,500 crore deal. The team will assist the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate wade through technicalities and complex defence procurement procedure. advertisement Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday held a two-hour-long meeting with this core group of officers while preparing for his statement in Parliament, sources said. "He is going through all the documents himself and is also scanning through the Italian Appeals court order. Why were air staff requirements (ASRs) tweaked, altitude ceiling changed, parameters altered - he wants to know the answers why and also wants to know on whose instructions were these changes made. Were the qualitative requirements tailor made to suit AgustaWestland? The team will help the CBI and the ED through the technicalities,'' sources said. The first question Parrikar asked the team was - when alleged irregularities were highlighted in 2012 itself why did MoD wait till January 2014 to terminate the contract? Why was the matter not handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation immediately and why did Antony/MoD wait till the arrest of Giuseppe Orsi, chief executive and chairman of Finmeccanica to do so. "It was the current government that referred the mater to the Enforcement Directorate. Why did the UPA government not do so when it was apparent bribe money was paid,'' sources said. At multiple levels the team will help CBI and ED seek answers. Parrikar's attack is also expected to focus on the timing of Antony's actions. "The order was finally terminated in January 2014 when the government was legally compelled to do so. From February 2012, when it became apparent money was paid, when Antony himself admitted to irregularities why was the 'Integrity Clause' not invoked immediately to cancel the deal and recover the money. Why were 3 helicopters accepted in November 2012?'' sources asked. The Agusta 'Hunt Team' has already started clearly identifying the irregularities in the deal. Its task is now to help CBI and ED probe if there was political interference in the deal and whether there were `waivers' for `favours'. The Congress on the other hand denied there was any delay on the part of Antony. "All procedure was followed and as Defence Minister Antony immediately handed over the case to CBI when irregularities were noticed. For the past two years, the NDA government did nothing to probe the matter,'' Randeep Singh Surjewala, chief spokesperson of the party said. ALSO READ | AgustaWestland chopper deal: ED summons ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi AgustaWestland: Congress shields its last bastion --- ENDS --- By PTI: London, Apr 29 (PTI) Drinking peppermint tea may significantly help improve your long term memory, working memory and alertness, a new study has claimed. Researchers at the Northumbria University in the UK randomly allocated a total of 180 participants to receive a drink of peppermint tea, chamomile tea or hot water. Before they consumed their drink they completed questionnaires relating to their mood. advertisement After a 20 minute rest, the participants completed tests that assessed their memory and a range of other cognitive functions. Following the tests, participants completed another mood questionnaire. Analysis of the results showed that peppermint tea significantly improved long term memory, working memory and alertness compared to both chamomile and hot water. Chamomile tea significantly slowed memory and attention speed compared to both peppermint and hot water. "Its interesting to see the contrasting effects on mood and cognition of the two different herbal teas," said Dr Mark Moss from Northumbria University. "The enhancing and arousing effects of peppermint and the calming/sedative effects of chamomile observed in this study are in keeping with the claimed properties of these herbs and suggest beneficial effects can be drawn from their use," said Moss, who collaborated with Robert Jones and Lucy Moss, also from Northumbria University, for the study. The study was presented at the British Psychological Societys Annual Conference in Nottingham, UK. PTI SAR SAR --- ENDS --- By PTI: Itanagar, Apr 29 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today advocated the need to develop close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and his state. During a meeting with envoy to Bhutan Jaideep Sarkar here at his office, Pul said Arunachal and Bhutan share not just boundary but cultural and religious history, particularly the communities in Tawang and West Kameng, a CMO release said. advertisement The Chief Minister stressed on the need to harness the historical, cultural and trade links between the two regions by establishing border trade centres. Pul called for building direct road connectivity from Tawang to Bhutan which he said would also provide the shortest connectivity to Guwahati via the Darrang land custom station in Nalbari district of Assam. He expressed hope that the development of this route would enable agriculture and horticulture export from Lumla sub-division along with the newly-created Bongkhar circle headquarters. The CM pointed out that the opening of the road from Tawang to Darrang via Tashigaon in Bhutan would bypass the Sela pass ? that often gets blocked due to heavy snow during winter and landslides in summer, cutting the travel time to Guwahati by almost six hours. Appreciating the success story of hydropower and tourism development in Bhutan, Pul stressed on initiative for study tour between the two regions to learn the process of planning and execution adopted in the country. The envoy said the embassy in Bhutan was ready to host delegates from Arunachal coming for study tour, the release added. PTI UPL SUS TIR PS --- ENDS --- Shahid Kapoor is playing a doting husband to his pregnant wife Mira Rajput. The expecting couple is quite excited about the latest development in their lives and the lovebirds have taken off to an undisclosed location for a holiday. By India Today Web Desk: Shahid Kapoor is playing a doting husband to his pregnant wife Mira Rajput. The expecting couple is quite excited about the latest development in their lives and the lovebirds have taken off to an undisclosed location for a holiday. ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor confirms Mira Rajput's pregnancy, says haan main baap banne wala hoon ALSO READ: Mira Rajput is pregnant, and Shahid Kapoor's ex Kareena Kapoor Khan was the first to know it advertisement Shahid has wrapped up the shooting of Vishal Bhardwaj's period-drama film Rangoon, and has taken the much-needed break from his busy schedule to spend some time with his 'baby wife'. The 35-year-old actor took to Instagram to share some holiday vibes. Drive time with Mrs Kapoor. #holidayvibes A photo posted by Shahid Kapoor (@shahidkapoor) on Apr 28, 2016 at 1:26pm PDT If reports are to be believed Mira is in her second trimester, and the couple is expecting their bundle of joy in the last week of September or early October. The rumours about Mira's pregnancy kept the fans and media curious all this while, but it was only recently that Shahid confirmed the news. During the trailer launch of his upcoming film Shahid said, "Haan main baap banane wala hoon. Shahid and Mira tied the knot on July 7 last year and since then the two have been the daily fodder for the media and the gossip mongers. From their selfies to public appearances at various events, Shahid and Mira have always managed to grab eyeballs. And this latest development is no different. On the work front, Shahid will be seen in a rockstar avatar in Abhishek Chaubey's Udta Punjab. The film revolves around drug abuse in Punjab and also stars Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh. Udta Punjab is set to release on June 17, 2016. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Patna, Apr 29 (PTI) Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha today said if approached he would be happy to promote Bihar as its brand ambassador. There are reports that the state is considering to rope in some Bollywood celebrity as its face. Sinha, however, said nothing is official yet. "There is nothing official about it so far. But, if and when I am considered for the responsibility of brand ambassador by dear friend Nitish Kumar, I would lend my services for furthering cause of my home state as my duty as dhartiputra (son of soil)," Sinha told PTI. advertisement "There will be no demand or command from my side for this (if chosen as brand ambassador of Bihar)," Sinha, popularly known as "Bihari Babu", said over phone from Jaipur. The second term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and addressed him as his "younger brother." "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar through his able leadership and sushasan (good governance) has brought Bihar on the forefront of the nation... Nitish deserves kudos for all the hard work he has done for the state," Sinha added. The actor-politician has caused furore in political circles many times by warmly meeting with the CM and praising him notwithstanding hostility against Kumar by his partymen. Earlier, while launching Sinhas biography "Anything but Khamosh", Kumar had described Sinha as "pride of Bihar" and had sought his service to develop film and culture in the state. There are reports that the state Tourism department is also considering the names of actress and MP Rekha and noted scriptwriter Javed Akhtar as brand ambassador. PTI SNS CR BK NDS PS --- ENDS --- With just two days left for the first phase of medical exams scheduled for May 1, the shortage of time for exam preparations is haunting students. With just two days left for the first phase of the exams scheduled for May 1, the shortage of time for preparations is haunting students. By Mail Today: In a significant decision benefiting lakhs of students aspiring to become doctors, the Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the decks for holding of National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), a single common entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses, in two phases for the academic year 2016-17 in which around 6.5 lakh candidates are likely to appear. advertisement While the decision threw open the doors of several prestigious private colleges for all-India students, it has also left the medical students in lurch. With just two days left for the first phase of the exams scheduled for May 1, the shortage of time for exam preparations is haunting them. The students feel that injustice has been done. The second phase of the common entrance test will be conducted on July 24. The result will be declared on August 17, followed by counseling and admissions. "We are not against NEET but we want whole exam in the second phase which is being conducted on July 24. With just two days left for the first phase of exam (which is on May 1), the government can't put extra burden on us. Every student deserves equal time for the preparation," said Sudhanshu Sharma, one of the aspirants. The decision will have a remarkable impact on the student's career as now no private institute can hold any individual entrance test. The new decision will force the private institutes to give admissions to all-India students. The move will help the students to get rid of the donations demanded by the institutions. Health Ministry sources said the private institutes in last recent years have become money-minting machine as they charge huge sum from the students by offering them a single seat. But on the other hand, students who had already applied for the entrance exams of the private colleges and did not enroll themselves for AIPMT are stumped. "Our career and life is not a joke. They have come out with the decision in such short notice that we don't even have any time to enroll. These people are making fun of the education system. NEET is a very good move. But students preparing for state-level exams like CET are at big loss. They should be allowed to appear for phase 2 of AIPMT," said Ritika Singh, another aspirant. Health Minister JP Nadda has welcomed the order "The order of SC will significantly strengthen the efforts of the ministry to achieve this aim (to conduct common entrance test). It is a milestone judgment. Despite the challenges to conduct the exam this year the Ministry is geared up to work with the other partners and stakeholders to ensure that the entrance exams are successfully held," he said. advertisement Also read: MBBS, BDS aspirants to take two-phased NEET this year, rules Supreme Court --- ENDS --- The top court's order came a day after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi suggested that parties, especially the corporate giants, should be made to bear the costs before the court hears their appeals. By India Today Web Desk: Days after Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, in an emotional appeal, pleaded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help upgrade judicial infrastructure and address shortage of judges in courts, the Supreme Court has come up with a plan to discourage frivolous litigations. In an unprecedent order, the apex court, while hearing a copyright case between BCCI and Star India, asked the parties to deposit Rs 50 lakh each before the matter is heard by the court. A bench headed by CJI TS Thakur asked the parties to deposit 50 lakh within 4 weeks. advertisement "Tell us how much you are willing to deposit (the money). It should be ideally 10 times the fees charged by you (senior advocates) for one hearing... it should be Rs 1 crore since you take 10 lakh," CJI Thakur told the lawyers that included Abhishek Manu Singhvi. After Singhvi suggested 25 lakh, the court finally settled for Rs 50 lakh. The top court's order came a day after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi suggested that parties, especially the corporate giants, should be made to bear the costs before the court hears their appeals. Senior lawyer and former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee has welcomed the Supreme Court move but pointed out that the amount charged should not be too heavy. "It's a good thing as it will discourage frivolous litigations. But the court should also see that it does not cause undue hardship to the parties. A balance has to be struck," Sorabjee said. Last week, speaking at a conference of chief ministers and chief justices of high courts, CJI Thakur almost broke down in front of PM Modi while discussing India's overworked judiciary. Justice Thakur had said that cases were piling up but there just weren't enough judges to hear them. He appealed to the government to increase the number of judges to 40,000 from the current 21,000. "This is the reason the judiciary is unable to handle the avalanche of litigation. And therefore, it is not only in the name of a litigant or people languishing in jails but also in the name of development of the country, its progress that I beseech you to rise to the occasion and realise that it is not enough to criticise. You cannot shift the entire burden on the judiciary," the Chief Justice said. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Mumbai, Apr 28 (PTI) Thailand today sought more investment from Indian companies as it looks to increase the volume of bilateral trade and position itself as a regional logistics hub. "We are a leading economy in Asean region and invite Indian companies to invest for our growth. "Nearly USD 200 million has been invested by Indian companies in the last two years and Thailand has positioned itself as a regional logistics hub for Indian companies to help them cater to the needs of Asean countries," Consul of Commercial Affairs at Royal Thai Consulate-General, Mumbai, Suwimol Tilokruangchai, told reporters here. advertisement Thailands Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is likely to visit India in June and discuss ways to increase bilateral trade, apart from resolving pending issues like full-fledged Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. The two countries have a partial FTA with 83 items being traded at present, Consulate officials said. Bilateral trade is growing at a "tremendous" rate and stood at USD 8,815 million in 2015, Tilokruangchai said. The total trade between India and Asean countries in 2015 was worth USD 6.8 billion. "Besides the trilateral road highway connecting India and Thailand via Myanmar that will connect the Asean region, Thailand has a clearly defined strategy to enhance its connectivity with India though infrastructure links, for example, the development of Pak Bara port on the Andaman Sea, while a private Thai company has obtained a concession to develop Dawei port in Myanmar to act as a gateway to India, the Middle East (West Asia) and Europe," Tilokruangchai said. Thailand is organising Tilog-Logistics 2016, an exhibition on logistics service providers and intra-logistics technologies and solutions for Asean countries between September 21-23 in Bangkok. Indian companies have been invited to participate in the trade conference, the organisers said. Unifying the powers of Asean+6 Logistics can boost logistics opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs through business networking and best practices in supply chain management, said Reed Tradex Companys Senior Manager-Portfolio Duangrat Udomsomporn. PTI AP RSY ABM BAS --- ENDS --- Journalists have come under the scanner following revelations that the firm AgustaWestland paid British businessman and alleged middleman Christian Michel Rs 50 crore to manage the Indian media. Youth Congress members demand resignations of BJP CMs Raman Singh and Vasundhara Raje, alleging that purchases from Agusta by their govts led to losses of Rs 65 lakh & Rs 1.14cr respectively. By Mail Today: Politicians, officials and agents are not the only ones defending smeared reputations while battling charges of kickbacks in a VVIP helicopter deal. Even journalists have come under the scanner following revelations that the firm AgustaWestland paid British businessman and alleged middleman Christian Michel Rs 50 crore to manage the Indian media. The money was allegedly paid to handle bad press on the Rs 3,500-crore deal. BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi expressed concern in Parliament over the alleged misuse of media. advertisement Little is known about how the money was spent and investigators have a job at hand to unearth the truth. Arms companies, in the hunt for defence contracts, are known to engage journalists and even organise foreign junkets. Document A document has surfaced showing AgustaWestland paying 6 million Euros to Christian Michel from January 2010 onwards for handling the media. The deal was finalised in 2009. Keeping the heat on the issue, the government dismissed the offensive launched by the Congress to defend its leader Sonia Gandhi as "trivial technicalities" and claimed it was determined to "bring to justice the corrupt and the wrong-doers in this case". Even as the issue was still to come up for discussion in Parliament, BJP president Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi saying she should clarify who received bribes in the chopper deal. Constitution "You say you are not scared of anything. We in the BJP fear the Constitution, rule of law and societal norms," said Amit Shah taking a dig at the Congress chief for saying she was not afraid of anyone as she sought an inquiry into the allegations. The government said that contrary to claims made by the Congress, all the procurements from AgustaWestland, its parent company Finmeccanica and other affiliates were put on hold when NDA came to power. On the allegation that AgustaWestland was allowed to do business by entering a joint venture with Tata Sons, the government clarified that the proposal was approved in September 2011 and it has already been expired. The government also noted that the investigating agencies - the CBI and Enforcement Directore - are probing the deal and pursing extradition of Carlo Gerosa, Guido Haschke Ralph and Christian Michel James, the three alleged middlemen. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to reply in Parliament next week. The government has countered allegations made by the Congress leaders that no action was taken against AgustaWestland as they sought speeding up of probe. The government said that the delay in investigation is "largely because some of the key perpetrators of this misdeed are outside the country." advertisement "It is the present government which through its order dated 03 July 2014, put on hold all procurement / acquisition cases in the pipeline of six companies figuring in the FIR registered by the CBI, namely: M/s AgustaWestland International Ltd, UK, M/s Finmeccanica, Italy and its group of companies, including subsidiaries and affiliates, M/s IDS, Tunisia, M/s Infotech Design System (IDS), Mauritius, M/s IDS Infotech Ltd., Mohali and M/s Aeromatrix Info Solution Pvt Ltd, Chandigarh," said officials. "On the core issue of corruption, the two concerned agencies, namely CBI and Enforcement Directorate are vigorously pursuing all aspects of the investigation, including the arrests and/or extradition of three foreign nationals. Red Corner Notices were issued in December 2015 and January 2016 through Interpol under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Prevention of Corruption Act," the government clarified. Also read: AgustaWestland: Congress shields its last bastion AgustaWestland scandal: Will CBI question Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh? --- ENDS --- Just two days old in the Upper House, Swamy's comments forced the Chair to expunge his remarks for the second day consecutively. By Amit Agnihotri: A Day after a high-decibel war of words between the treasury and Opposition benches over the AgustaWestland deal in Parliament, both Houses were back to normal as part of a truce between the two sides barring uproar by the Congress over nominated member Subramanian Swamy's provocative remarks. Just two days old in the Upper House, Swamy's comments forced the Chair to expunge his remarks for the second day consecutively. Chaos resulted after Chaudhary Munavver Saleem of the SP in a Zero Hour mention referred to Swamy being part of the movement in the 1970s to protect the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University. advertisement Swamy got up to clarify saying he had no objection to minority education institutions but the Constitution prohibits the state from financing them. While Swamy had incensed Congress members by naming party chief Sonia Gandhi in the AgustaWestland scam on Wednesday, on Thursday he provoked the opposition party by saying while they may have a good understanding of the Constitution of another country (an indirect reference to Sonia's country of birth) he knew the Indian Constitution better. As angry Congress members protested, the Chair immediately ordered expunging of Swamy's remarks and warned him of action for unnecessarily provoking members on the other side. "I will take action against you. Subramanian Swamy you are unnecessarily provoking. I will have to take action against you... you are provoking," Kurien said. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad taunted the BJP leader saying Swamy, 76, had not matured with age. "It is only his second day in Parliament. In two days you have expunged his remarks twice and there are 365 days and how many times you are going to expunge his words? This man has aged but does not know the difference between street words and Parliament words," said Azad. Taking a dig at the ruling party, Azad said Swamy was BJP's gift to the House and would force the Congress to disrupt the House. The Congress has a strong dislike for Swamy who is a known Congress and Gandhi family baiter. Though he was shouted down by the Congress members on Wednesday, Swamy did not give up and tried to raise the chopper deal issue several times, to be interrupted by the Congress members each time. "I am not going to mention that lady's name," Swamy said in an apparent reference to Sonia Gandhi. As he again stood up to speak, Kurien asked Swamy to sit down and directed him to meet him in his chamber. Swamy also submitted a notice on Thursday for a debate on the AgustaWestland chopper deal in the Upper House and wanted to raise the issue in the Zero Hour but was not allowed by the Chair saying such issues were not allowed in that hour. advertisement Later, minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi pointed out to the Chair that Swamy was not being allowed to speak even though his name figured in the list of members who had submitted a request. Kurien explained that as Swamy had asked for a debate on the AgustaWestland chopper deal under Rule 167, which entails voting, it was the prerogative of the chairman to allow or reject the notice. Also read: AgustaWestland: Congress shields its last bastion AgustaWestland scandal: Will CBI question Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh? --- ENDS --- Sir Ian McKellan has revealed he has an ambition to star in a musical on the stage. Sir Ian McKellan in a still from The Lord Of The Rings By Bang Showbiz: Sir Ian McKellan wants to star in a musical. The 76-year-old actor has had a stage, movie and TV career which has spanned over six decades and has included roles in The Lord Of The Rings and X-Men franchises and numerous Shakespeare productions. McKellen is now keen to challenge himself in a musical on the stage and sing in front of a live audience. advertisement In an interview with ShortList magazine, he said, "It would be a challenge to be in a musical. The main challenge would be to make intimate contact with the audience and get their attention so they'll enjoy the material you're presenting as much as you do as an actor. That can happen anywhere and with anything. But by my age, you're just glad you've got the energy and physical ability to act at all." McKellen also has other theatre ambitions and is keen to appear in another pantomime - a type of children's comedy show traditionally performed in the UK over the Christmas period. He said, "I hope I do (panto again) because it's very, very enjoyable. Everything the theatre can do is contained in pantomime." McKellen's next stage commitment will be in a new London revival of No Man's Land with his close friend Sir Patrick Stewart and he can't wait to work with his X-Men co-star again. He said, "We did No Man's Land on Broadway about 18 months ago and knew it would work in London, so we decided to revive it." --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Kapil Sharma, who's getting mixed reviews for his newly launched show, The Kapil Sharma Show (TKSS), says reports that are suggesting his show has garnered low TRPs, are incorrect. "The Kapil Sharma Show has failed to get the momentum. The rating has been somewhere between 2 and 3, which is low considering the hype that was created before the show debuted. Comedy Nights With Kapils ratings on Colors every week would usually be 4-4.5, and was the highest non-fiction show on the TRP charts. The anticipation for the new show was huge as Kapil came back to TV after a long time. But it did not match up," said a media report. advertisement Reacting to the reports, Kapil said: "There are very few people who have disliked my show. Twitter India ke head ne kaha IPL ke first day par bhi itne tweets nahi the jitne The Kapil Sharma Show ke premiere ke din the. TRP same day nahi aati agle hafte aati hai (Twitter India head has said that the premiere of TKSS was discussed more on Twitter than IPL premiere. TRPs don't come on the same day, they come a week later)." He was addressing the media at Subhash Ghai's acting institute Whistling Woods. The comedian was there for a workshop on comedy, organised for the students of the institute. Subhash Ghai and Kapil Sharma interact with media at Whistling Woods Photo: Yogen Shah Also read: Wasim Akram and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to grace the upcoming episodes of The Kapil Sharma Show "This weekend, fans across India expressed their joy with Kapil and his team's comeback, sharing real-time tweets, images and videos on Twitter while they watched the show. The show generated over 1,08,000 conversations in two days, one of the most spoken about TV premieres in recent times," Viral Jani, head, TV Partnerships, Twitter India, had said. The comedian also revealed how reality shows happened by chance while he was happy doing theatre in Amritsar. "I was 27-years-old when I participated in a reality show--Laughter Challenge. 26-27 saal tak maine diploma karne ki nahi sochi. Main theatre karta tha wo bhi Amritsar mein jiske humein paise nahi milte the; shauk ke liye karta tha. But destiny had some other plans and I got selected for Laughter Challenge. Thereafter I started getting more offers." Also read: The Kapil Sharma Show fails to live up to the hype; here's what the second episode was all about The Kapil Sharma Show premiered on April 23 on Sony TV. Kapil and his Comedy Nights With Kapil gang--Ali Asgar, Sunil Grover, Sumona Chakravarti, Chandan Prabhakar, Kiku Sharda among others, are seen in a new avatar on the brand-new show. Till now Shah Rukh Khan, Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor have graced the show. Yo Yo Honey Singh, Aishwarya Rai, Wasim Akram, Emraan Hashmi and Randeep Hooda are some of the upcoming guests on TKSS. --- ENDS --- advertisement Three buddhist monks got into a fist fight outside a Chinese monastery. So much for inner peace. By India Today Web Desk: This viral video shows three buddhist monks getting into an all-out brawl outside Ningguo Temple in China's Jiangsu Province. Probably the last place anybody would expect a fist fight to take place. The head monk of the Ningguo temple has dismissed all three monks. Speaking to CCTVNews the head monk said, "We insist on following the principal of quality over quantity." The head monk added that they broke the principle of Buddhism and set a bad example for society. advertisement One commenter on CCTV's Facebook page said that many normal people are more pious and religious than the monks in the monasteries. Many have turned out to be frauds and have left a very bad impression among the wider public. Another commenter added,"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger." --- ENDS --- The three-day IIFA weekend, as every year, will be about multiple activities aimed at popularising the Bollywood brand of cinema in a foreign shore. Actors Anil Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar announced that the 17th edition of the IIFA will be held in Madrid. By Mail Today: Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Sonakshi Sinha will be among the showbiz power list lined up to perform at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA), when the 17th edition of the annual Bollywood gala is hosted in the Spanish capital of Madrid from June 23-26, actor Anil Kapoor announced in the city on Thursday. advertisement "It looks like this will be the biggest IIFA ever, going by the scale of events being planned. IIFA has always strived to showcase the best of the Indian film industry, and Spain is a beautiful country. It is going to be special year for us," said the actor. Accompanying Kapoor in Delhi on Thursday was Farhan Akhtar, who will host the Madrid gala along with actor Shahid Kapoor. The duo had regaled earlier as co-hosts at IIFA 2014 in Tampa Bay, Florida. "Shahid and I had a wonderful time hosting IIFA in the US, so I am excited to live that experience again in Madrid. IIFA widens the horizon for the Indian film industry and we eagerly wait for the annual celebrations," said Akhtar. The three-day IIFA weekend, as every year, will be about multiple activities aimed at popularising the Bollywood brand of cinema in a foreign shore. Among activities planned are the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum, IIFA Stomp and the musical extravaganza IIFA Rocks, besides the grand awards gala. "2016 is an exciting year for IIFA to be hosted in Madrid, as this year also marks the 60th anniversary celebration of India and Spain's diplomatic relations. IIFA Madrid will be magical," said Andre Timmins, Director, Wizcraft International, which organises the IIFA weekends. Also Read: Farhan Akhtar, Shahid Kapoor, to host IIFA 2016 --- ENDS --- Speaking to Karan Thapar on a special episode of To The Point, former Pakistan envoy, Ashraf Jehengir Qazi, said that India-Pakistan relationship was at the crossroads. Former Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Salman Bashir, stressed on the need of more communication between the two countries. By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan's envoy to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, today said that her country seeks to normalise relations with India and wants to discuss every issue, but New Delhi is only interested in talking about terrorism. Earlier this week, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar met his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry in New Delhi. The 90-minute meeting was the first senior-level conversation between the neighbouring countries after January's deadly terror attack at the Pathankot air force base by a group of terrorists from across the border. advertisement During the meeting on April 26, New Delhi emphasised that it expects Islamabad to act against Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, who India believes masterminded the January 2 Pathankot attack. Following the meeting, both sides issued intriguingly different statements. India's statement stressed on Pathankot and terror and there was no mention of Kashmir. Pakistan's statement talked about Kashmir and the comprehensive bilateral dialogue but made no mention of Pathankot and terror. What is the state of relationship between India and Pakistan? Big Questions Where does India-Pakistan relation stand today? Pakistan deliberately ignored Pathankot issue? Why is Pakistan pushing the K-agenda again? Tit for tat diplomacy at play? Relations inching forward? Relations standing still or sliding backwards? Nawaz and Modi under Western pressure to talk? Constructive dialogue to sweeten ties? Will Pakistan take action against Masood Azhar? Will Pakistan conduct fair probe into Pathankot? Will NIA be allowed to visit Pakistan? Speaking to Karan Thapar on a special episode of To The Point, former Pakistan envoy, Ashraf Jehengir Qazi, said that India-Pakistan relationship was at the crossroads. He pointed out that the two nations should continue the dialogue process despite attempts to derail it. "It's extremely important for us to be able to continue the dialogue. India-Pakistan relations are inching forward, sliding backward and standing still - all at the same time," Qazi said. Former Indian envoy Shivshankar Menon also pointed out that there is potential that things between the two neighbouring nations move forward. "But it's too early to describe Pakistan's response on some of the issues, including Pathankot, that India has raised. There are some positive signs like the JIT's visit to India and reported arrest of Masood Azhar. There is enough scope for both sides to move forward of the will exists," Menon said. "India-Pakistan relation has been accident prone but that doesn't mean we stop making efforts," Menon added. Former Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Salman Bashir, stressed on the need of more communication between the two countries. "We are at a loss to understand if there is a Pakistan policy for India at this point," Bashir said. advertisement Commenting on the row surrounding the arrest of a former Navy official, Kuldeep Singh Jadhav, who Pakistan claims was caught in Balochistan for "subversive activities", ex-Indian envoy to Pakistan, G Parthasarathy, said, "The fact is he (Jadhav) is not a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba massacring people in Mumbai. He is certainly not Jaish-e-Mohammad member coming to Pathankot airbase to kill people." Aziz Ahmad Khan, who was Pakistan's High Commissioner to India from June 2003 to September 2006, countered Parthasarathy, saying there was no doubt that Jadhav was a R&AW agent. Watch the special To The Point debate here: --- ENDS --- By PTI: New Delhi, Apr 29 (PTI) CBI today questioned a journalist as part of its preliminary enquiry into the alleged sting operation in which the then Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat was purportedly seen talking to middlemen in a bid to strike a deal with dissident Congress MLAs. CBI sources said Umesh Kumar, the journalist allegedly involved in the sting operation, was questioned by the agency for nearly two and half hours at the CBI headquarters here. advertisement "CBI has asked me to provide raw footage of the sting which I will give tommorow," Umesh said, coming out of the CBI office. The sources said the preliminary enquiry was registered on the instructions of the state government which is under Presidents rule and further notification from the central government. Two days before Rawat was to face the vote of confidence on March 28, rebel Congress MLAs led by former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna alleged that they were offered bribe by Rawat for support during the floor test in the Assembly and released video of a "sting" operation purportedly showing Rawat who called it "fake". Congress had alleged that the "dirty tricks department" of BJP president Amit Shah is at work, while the saffron outfit had demanded "immediate dismissal" of the Rawat government. "The sting CD being shown on news channels is fake. The reputation of the man behind it who is associated with a private news channel is not hidden from anyone. His antecedents must be probed," Rawat had said. PTI ABS PRM PAL PRM --- ENDS --- Russia's backing for Syrian government forces has helped swing the war in favor of Assad, although Russia previously denied hitting civilian targets in Syria where it launched air raids late last year to bolster its ally. An injured woman reacts at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Old Aleppo, Syria, April 28, 2016. ( Photo: Reuters) By Reuters: Indications are that Syria's government was solely responsible for an air strike on a hospital in Aleppo, the US State Department said on Thursday, urging Russia to use its influence to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the attacks. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Washington was still learning more about the attack on Wednesday night that killed children and doctors at the hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders. advertisement "The indications that we have now are that these strikes were conducted solely by the regime," Kirby said. He denied statements by the Russian Defense Ministry that a plane belonging to the U.S.-led coalition was seen over Aleppo on Wednesday evening. Russia's backing for Syrian government forces has helped swing the war in favor of Assad, although Russia previously denied hitting civilian targets in Syria where it launched air raids late last year to bolster its ally. Asked whether the strikes on the hospital were conducted with the backing of Russian forces, Kirby added: "Not from any measure that we can tell at this point." But he said Moscow still wielded influence over Assad. "We're not at the point where we'd say they don't have influence over Assad," Kirby said, adding: "What's curious and what we'd like to know more is to what degree are they actually assertively, aggressively using that influence right now because on the face of it ... it would appear that influence isn't being asserted as energetically as we believe it could be." The city of Aleppo has been at the epicenter of a military escalation undermining peace talks in Geneva to end the five-year-old war. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura appealed to the presidents of the United States and Russia to intervene. Kirby said the Syrian cessation of hostilities was "very much in peril" because of the violations and urged Moscow to use its influence over Assad to halt the attacks. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Apr 29 (PTI) The US is working with India on countering violent extremism in Bangladesh, a top American diplomat has said linking recent spate of attacks on secular bloggers and minorities to the rise of ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Muslim-majority country. "We have been both engaging with the government on this problem but also for example with India, given the relationship between India and Bangladesh to raise the concern and to try to work together with them on countering violent extremism before it takes root in Bangladesh," the Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing yesterday. advertisement "Thats the last thing we want," he said during a hearing on Asia organised by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "Weve seen a series of attacks, terrorist attacks, in Bangladesh over the last several months which DAESH or Al- Qaeda have taken credit for," he added. Blinken disagreed with the Bangladeshi governments assessment that opposition parties are responsible for these acts of violence. "Now the government has sometimes claimed that these attacks were actually the work of the opposition in one fashion or another but what weve seen based on the evidence to date is in fact that extremist groups whether they are indigenous or whether they really are affiliated with ISIL or DAESH are responsible," he said. "This gives us concern about the potential for ISIL, for DAESH, to take root in Bangladesh, which has been an important country in terms of having a Muslim country with a moderate orientation that can be an important player in dealing with the problem of violent extremism," Blinken said. The top American diplomat was responding to a question from Congressman Steve Chabot on the recent killing of secular bloggers in Bangladesh. "They (Bangladesh) clearly deserve more attention than they often have received either by this administration or a whole range of things but first of all, as we all know, an election was held a while back and Sheikh Hasina of course was re-elected," he said. "Khaleda Zia and her party boycotted the election and so the political situation is a bit iffy there, but let me ask you this Bangladesh has long been considered a moderate Muslim country in resisting Islamic radicalism," he added. There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent months specially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners. Last year, four prominent secular bloggers were killed with machetes, one inside his own home. A Hindu head priest was on February 21 hacked to death by gun-and-cleaver wielding Islamists. In September last, Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was murdered by unidentified assailants in Dhaka, and within five days of that incident Japanese farmer Kunio Hoshi was killed. Also, moderate Sufi saint Khizir Khan, progressive book publisher Faisal Arefin Dipon, and a Sufi shrine worker were murdered while two Christian pastors, one an Italian doctor, narrowly escaped attacks. PTI LKJ SUA AKJ SUA --- ENDS --- advertisement In the last few months, Modi has made several visits to different cities in Uttar Pradesh to launch various government projects. In the last few months, PM Modi has made several visits to different cities in UP. Recently, he was in Noida to launch his govt's ambitious project, Stand Up India. By Kumar Vikram: Ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls, Uttar Pradesh has become the launching ground for flagship schemes of the Narendra Modi government. This time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Ballia, in eastern UP, on May 1 to launch the `8,000 crore Ujjawala scheme to provide free LPG connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. In the last few months, Modi has made several visits to different cities in Uttar Pradesh to launch various government projects. Recently, he was in the National Capital Region (NCR) city Noida to launch his government's ambitious project, Stand Up India. This scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women. Before this, he had launched a major road project from Noida. advertisement Strategy BJP leaders said that Ballia has been chosen strategically to launch the major project aiming economically weaker sections. Ballia is considered one of the most backward districts in the state. "Generally, people from this place migrate to metropolitan cities in search of jobs and better livelihood. BJP wants to send out a message about the Modi government's initiatives for people belonging to economically weaker section," said a party leader. Modi is likely to address a rally in the city after the launch of the scheme. Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and many parliamentarians will also be there. Moreover, geographically Ballia is on the UP and Bihar border. Selection of Ballia to launch the scheme also shows that purvancali voters are in the priority list of the saffron party. A party leader said that this event has also been seen as kick starting the campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls slated to be held in 2017. Many more big programmes are expected in coming months by senior ministers and PM for the crucial state polls where regional parties - Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party - have considerable presence. The party has already appointed Keshav Prasad Maurya as the state unit chief who has been asked to target 265 seats of 403 Assembly constituencies in the state. According to state BJP leaders, the party is in the process of finalising the first batch of nearly 200 candidates who will contest the upcoming UP elections. Party chief Amit Shah might visit the state in May and the first list will probably be announced by the end of May. BJP has already directed its party lawmakers and ministers to spend time in the poll bound state and to reach out to people with the achievements of Modi government. Last Sunday, many Cabinet ministers and senior BJP leaders had camped in various districts of UP and organised public meetings. They also listened to PM Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme with villagers. Under the Ujjawala Scheme, Rs 8,000 crore has been earmarked for providing five crore LPG connections to BPL households in this fiscal. The scheme provides a financial support of Rs 1,600 for each LPG connection. While the connection including a LPG cyclinder and regulator would be distributed for free, the cost of the oven and the pipe would be deducted from the subsidy given on cylinders in installments. advertisement This has been done using the money saved from Rs 1.13 crore LPG gas users who have voluntarily surrendered their subsidies. Also read: Owaisi lashes out at Akhilesh Yadav, says power is not eternal --- ENDS --- In Dehradun, Governor KK Paul chaired an Advisory Council meeting to address the problems of forest fires and drought in the state. The fires have reportedly been raging for a week now and social media seems to be abuzz with the news, along with anger at government inaction. Photo: ANI By Press Trust of India: Taking serious note of the raging forest fires in different parts of the state, Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul today decided to double the number of personnel engaged to douse the flames from 3,000 to 6,000. The state administration summoned three companies of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) comprising 150 personnel to fight the fires. The fires have reportedly been raging for a week now and social media seems to be abuzz with the news, along with anger at government inaction. A Facebook user, Ela Smetacek, wrote: "This is a National emergency. The forests of Uttarakhand have been burning for over a week now, with no media coverage what so ever. advertisement The fires are engulfing thousands of hectares of forest, destroying wild life and killing trees in 100s of thousands, the toll is estimated to be in 10s of crores, and higher." In Dehradun, Governor KK Paul chaired an Advisory Council meeting to address the problems of forest fires and drought in the state. The decisions included deploying 500 personnel from the fire brigade as well to help control the fires. Fire broke out across 1600 ha of forest area in Uttarakhand, 1500 villages in Kumaon & Garhwal division under threat pic.twitter.com/P4ZB3ikcEu ANI (@ANI_news) April 29, 2016 In every district, 100 PRD personnel will be posted for the safety of revenue forests. This number may be increased later, an official release here said. The council also decided to release Rs 5 crore to buy fire fighting equipment for the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Tankers will be sent to provide water in wildlife parks and DMs have been instructed to arrange for extra tankers according to the requirement in their respective districts. All officials concerned have been directed to work under an action plan on a war footing to deal with forest fires and drought conditions. For immediate relief, tankers should be arranged and on a long-term basis, traditional water sources should be revived and preserved, the council ordered. All Van Panchayats, Mahila Mangal Dals, self-help groups and Yuvak Mangal Dals must support the efforts to check forest fires, the governor said. Police and homeguard personnel have already been activated. The SDRF Commandant has also been asked to provide help to DMs, who in turn have been told to monitor the situation on a daily basis. The DMs have been instructed to immediately provide compensation to families affected by the forest fires. --- ENDS --- "By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money," the 60-year-old businessman has told the Financial Times. By India Today Web Desk: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, wanted by the Indian law for money laundering and other cases, has said he remains an Indian patriot, but has no plans to leave the UK. "By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money," the 60-year-old businessman has told Financial Times from his house in Mayfair in central London. advertisement "We have always been in dialogue with banks saying we wish to settle. But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before," Mallya is quoted as telling the newspaper. Interestingly, Mallya blames the "Indian political climate" and the media, and not the Narendra Modi government for revoking his passport or issuing a non-bailable warrant against him. "I am perfectly happy with a stable government [with a majority in Lok Sabha]. I will be happy when there is a majority in the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) too," he told the British daily. "It is important to understand the environment in India today. The electronic media is playing a huge role not just in moulding public opinion but in inflaming the government to a very large extent," he added. Four days after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) revoked the liquor baron's passport, the government on Thursday asked the UK to deport Mallya , whose Kingfisher Airlines has been accused of defaulting bank loans of over Rs 9,400 crore, citing the revocation of his passport and a non-bailable warrant against him. "The ministry has written to the High Commission of the UK in Delhi requesting the deportation of Vijay Mallya so that his presence can be secured for investigations against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. He further said that the Indian High Commission in the UK will also be issuing a similar note verbale to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. "Mallya's passport was revoked last week in view of these (PMLA) investigations and non-bailable warrant issued by the Special Judge, Mumbai. We will continue to pursue this matter with UK authorities," Swarup added. Mallya, who had left India on March 2 for the UK, can approach the British authorities to grant him permission to continue his stay in that country or challenge the revocation of his passport. READ MEA writes to UK High Commission, seeks Vijay Mallya's deportation advertisement --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Aditi Khanna London, Apr 28 (PTI) Tata Steel UK "cannot continue to bleed" from its loss making steel units in the country and a buyer needs to be found soon, the companys CEO Bimlendra Jha today told a British parliamentary committee. Jha told the House of Commons Business Select Committee that structural disadvantages in the UK, such as extremely high energy costs, were largely the reason for the crisis in the steel industry. advertisement "There is no dead drop time that has been given, though you will appreciate with the kind of losses that there are, urgency is important. What if no buyer emerges? We cannot continue to bleed," Jha said. "We have seen over a period of time that manufacturing in Britain has been on a decline. If we were at the same electricity costs as Germany, then (Tata Steel UK) would be 40 million pounds better off ? we would not be having negative numbers. We would not be selling the business if we were not losing money," he added. He also clarified that the company did not want to split up its UK business by selling it to different buyers. Jha warned that splitting off Port Talbot in south Wales would cause damage to the pension scheme because more than 4,000 workers would stop making contributions. "We would not deal with somebody saying leave alone Port Talbot and give us the rest. That is not a solution thats acceptable," Jha explained. He warned the MPs thatthe companys 15 billion pounds pension liability needed to be addressed to help find a buyer. The UK government has said it is looking at the pension scheme, which any buyer would have to inherit, to see if it could be separated from the business. "If we dont solve it [pensions], we are staring at some very bad consequences for the taxpayer...We are staring at a huge economic and social disaster," Jha warned. The pension fund has more than 130,000 members and a deficit of around 485 million pounds. UK business secretary Sajid Javid told the committee that pension fund trustees were in talks with the pensions regulator. He reiterated that the UK government would not take a stake of more than 25 per cent in Tata Steels UK assets. "Twenty five per cent was the limit that I thought was necessary to show that on the one hand youre serious about helping...but also not to put off potential investors by saying this is something the government seeks to control," he said, adding that the government was keen to secure the sale of Tata Steel?s UK units soon. advertisement Javid admitted that "with the benefit of hindsight" he should have gone to Mumbai in late March for a Tata board meeting which concluded it should sell its UK business, rather travel to Australia on a business trip with his daughter. This one decision has attracted a lot of media flak for the minister over his handling of the steel crisis. PTI AK ZH AKJ ZH --- ENDS --- The Marxists were down and out, but are now on a late surge, thanks to a jhot in the arm from Surjya Kanta Mishra. As morning breaks on the horizon, Amdanga in North 24 Parganas, some 50 km away from Kolkata, is awash with the orange red of a rising sun. On the ground too, it's soon a sea of red-red bandanas, caps, flags and festoons. A couple of months ago, the colour would have been a no-no-it could get you into serious trouble with the ruling Trinamool Congress in this part of the state-but it's now being flaunted with flourish, throwing a challenge, as it were. For the Left has finally found a leader who is willing to take the fight to the TMC and its supremo Mamata Banerjee's "inch by inch" revenge call. "I tell her (Mamata), you may go on measuring inch by inch, but by then the jote (the people's alliance) will have travelled far and wide," Surjya Kanta Mishra says assuredly, and the 10,000-strong crowd bursts into loud cheers. Mamata's infamous speech about taking revenge on her opponents "inch by inch" drew the Election Commission's ire, but it's also getting lots of negative traction here. advertisement The reason for all this, of course, is daaktar babu, as Surjya Kanta Mishra is fondly called (he is a qualified medical professional). He has given a new lease of life to the CPI(M) which had gone on life-support since its poll debacle in 2011. The chief minister-in-waiting-that's how the Left's jote-sangi (alliance partner), the Congress, prefers to address him-steps out of his white Mahindra Bolero and is soon engulfed in a sea of red heads. Flashes from selfie sticks and mobile phones shine like little stars as people cross over the bamboo barricades and jostle to get close to him. Surjya Kanta had travelled for over an hour, quietly with just one pilot car, for the meeting. The low-key campaign speaks volumes about this composed and slightly shy leader who, in his 39-year-long political career, was never known to raise the pitch, even as his more flamboyant and popular peers strode the stage. "I remember when he was a doctor practising in Midnapore. He used to visit patients on a second-hand motor-cycle. He could afford a car, but he hated flamboyance. He had a good practice, though in a majority of cases he treated patients free of cost. I have seen ailing people waiting at rallies to speak to daktar babu and get a prescription," says friend and CPI(M) leader from West Midnapore, Anil Patra. Surjya Kanta's emergence in the political arena happened in the late 1970s, when party stalwart Biman Bose heard the then SFI leader deliver a speech in Midnapore. "Bimanda was so impressed he wanted Surjya to join politics full-time. In the late 1980s, he became the zilla parishad sabhadhipati of Midnapore and continued in the post for 12 years before shifting base to Kolkata. Bimanda has continued to back him. He was the happiest man the day Surjya stepped into his shoes and became state secretary," says a CPI(M) leader. Surjya, known to be a hardliner, was initially not well-received in the party as a mass leader. "He was part of the team that voted against Jyoti Basu becoming prime minister of a Left supported Congress-led government in 1996 (the "historic blunder", in Basu's own words). Again, Surjya babu was the one who, like the Karats and other hardliners, thought withdrawing support to UPA-I in 2008 over the US nuke deal was right, even though it turned out to be a political blunder for the party in Bengal, creating space for TMC," says the same CPI(M) leader. advertisement Naturally, some comrades were sniggering when former CPI(M) chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee promoted Surjya in the cabinet, giving him plum portfolios like panchayat, rural development and health and lauded him for being the "party's asset" on the floor of the House. It was the rout of the Left Front in the 2011 assembly elections and fall of high-profile leaders such as Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Asim Dasgupta, Nirupam Sen and Mohammed Salim and the leadership vacuum it created in the assembly that brought Mishra to the fore. By default, he became the leader of the Opposition. Even his own party colleagues had doubts on whether the reticent and gentlemanly Surjya could match up to the rabble-rousing politics of the treasury benches. But Surjya Kanta grew into the role, targeting the government on specific issues, taking on Mamata at the slightest slip. So much so, he forced the chief minister, a habitual absentee, to attend the Assembly during sessions, at least on the days she was supposed to face questions of the Opposition. advertisement Around 2013, the Left Front chairman, Biman Bose, who was doubling up as the CPI(M) state secretary, sought to retire from the latter post, citing his advanced age. Which is how, in March 2015, Surjya Kanta became a consensus candidate for the party's top post in the state. "His name was decided on in a snapshot's time," Left Front chairman Biman Bose had said on March 14, 2015, indicating how the entire party was behind him. Hard line to soft Meanwhile, Surjya was evolving. As party secretary he made it a point to hit the streets, reach out to people, stand beside the cadre, victimised and facing the brunt of the ruling party. "The Communist theoretician realised the need to be flexible, to be amenable in practical life, if it served the interests of the people at large," says a central committee member of the party. Incidentally, in 2016, when the hardliners and the south Indian lobby of the CPI(M) put their foot down on a possible Left-Congress tie-up to take on the "anarchist TMC", it was Surjya who reasoned out the need for the coming together of the two parties, not just as a political compulsion or a battle for survival in Bengal but for the sake of the thousands of cadre who were being relentlessly hounded, charged with false cases and fined. He argued at the central committee and politburo that not being with the people at this hour of crisis and not respecting their demand for a coalition would be suicidal. advertisement "We have lost 175 comrades, over 2,000 are permanently disabled and several thousands are facing false political charges. Enough is enough, it's time to face them head-on," Surjya was reported to have said. "He is the reason the Kerala unit, despite being in a majority, gave in," says a politburo member, asking not to be quoted. The alliance architect Justifying the tie-up of the five decade-old enemies, Surjya had said: "Such has been Mamata's misrule that a massive alliance of people had to take shape. Nobody wants to be on her side, even her own men are leaving her. This is her biggest achievement," the doctor says with a smirk as the audience breaks into peals of laughter. No wonder, then, that Mamata has pleaded with the voters of Narayangarh, Surjya Kanta's home turf where he is contesting, to ensure his defeat! "If you vote Surjya out of power, I will give you whatever you want. If I come back as chief minister, my victory rally will begin from here. I will be your guest and have the special daaler-bora (lentil fritters),"the TMC chief said at her campaign meet here. (Surjya, in turn, has welcomed Banerjee's wishes and said that he would love to play host and arrange for a treat, but only if she shows up in Narayangarh after losing the polls.) Mamata Banerjee's wrath is understandable. As an "architect of the alliance which is breathing down the neck of the Trinamool" (in terms of vote share from 2014, the Left-Congress combine got 38 per cent, the TMC 39 per cent), Surjya babu is naturally at the receiving end of her barbs. Banerjee has been unrelenting, hammering away at the "unethical alliance". "This is no jote (alliance), it's a ghont (gang-up). The CPI(M) have lost their ideology, their direction and now having befriended the Congress, they will lose even their address," she says. Playing to the gallery Surjya too has upped his game. From the shy leader of yesterday, he's now even picking up catchy lines from popular Hindi songs and turning them into slogans-"One-two-three-four/ Trinamool e shob chor (Everyone in the Trinamool is a thief)." Even Mamata's pet slogan, "Thanda matha, cool-cool, abar ashbe Trinamool", has not been spared. "Thanda matha cool-cool, jaile jabe Trinamool," is his take on the alleged involvement of TMC leaders in the Narada and Saradha scams. And the people are lapping it up. In tea stalls, local trains, the people are riffing, "Thanda-thanda cool, cool/ ebar harbe Trinamool." "We never thought Surjyada could play to the gallery so well, something the hysterical Trinamool chief does so well," says a senior state committee member of the CPI(M), requesting anonymity. As the star campaigner of the Left, Surjya Kanta Mishra is criss-crossing the state and will be covering close to 100 rallies. "Leaders come and go, but the people are sovereign. I am here because you are here," the leader keeps exhorting the crowd rally after rally. And with each rally, the buzz gets a little louder, a little stronger. Surjya has also made the "People's Alliance" (Left Democratic Secular Front got too complicated, hence the new name) a lot more open, sending an open invite to everyone, irrespective of their political colour, to come under its roof. Poll analyst and professor of political science at Rabindra Bharati University, Biswanath Chakrabarty, says Surjya Kanta's acceptability as a leader can be gauged by the spontaneous response he evokes at rallies. "The Left cadre who had gone into a shell following the attacks on them by the TMC are again coming out in large numbers. They are not scared anymore. The huge turnout, despite the heat and the terror only goes to prove that people are desperate for change," says Chakrabarty. The jote will be hoping this holds true on counting day too. The doctor is in The quintessential Marxist Bhadralok, Surjya Kanta is known for his simplicity and refined tastes As a medical student in Cuttack University, Surjya Kanta had dabbled in politics, but it was nothing serious. "He was a good writer and would draft matter for political pamphlets and journals. His interest in politics grew gradually when he was a practising doctor in Midnapore and came under the influence of freedom-fighter Sukumar Sengupta," says an old friend in West Midnapore. Surjya Kanta Mishra Once on the Assembly floor, deputy speaker Sonali Guha, who is known for bad-mouthing the Left MLAs, fell unconscious. Surjya was the first to rush to the well and give her preliminary treatment. So there is this quintessential Bengali bhadralok hold-no-ill will image about him. Even after shifting base to Kolkata and becoming a heavy weight minister in Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee cabinet, Surjya stuck to his roots. He would take long puffs of the bidi, savour a simple meal of rice and leafy vegetables or muri-chop, the quintessential snacks of Midnapore, and move around in loose fitting kurta-pajama or bush-shirts and trousers. Old friend and comrade from West Midnapore Anil Patra says, "Surjya has the head of a computer. He can recollect things 30 years back as if they happened just the other day. He also loves to hear poems and songs and catch up on good films and books. In fact, he's interested in everything under the sun, provided the subject matter is of a refined taste." For the People's Alliance, he's certainly been a class act. --- ENDS --- Varun Gandhi, who is generally seen taking sharp digs at his cousin Rahul on various occasions, was seen supporting the Congress vice-president during a standing committee meeting. By India Today Web Desk: Days after Union Minister Maneka Gandhi cited the example of her estranged sister-in-law Sonia Gandhi while suggesting ways to fight corruption in her Uttar Pradesh constituency, her son seems to be following in her footsteps by supporting cousin Rahul during a parliamentary standing committee meeting. Varun Gandhi, who generally doesn't miss the chance to unleash sharp jibes at his cousin Rahul, was seen supporting the Congress vice-presidenton the subject of giving medical and legal aid to women married to NRI men. advertisement The Gandhi cousins, who are on the opposite ends of the political divide, even greeted each other during the meeting on Thursday. The cousins are not supposed to be on good terms and in the last Lok Sabha elections even Rahul's sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had attacked Varun. In another coincidence of sorts, while Rahul attended the meeting for more than an hour and left citing important work, Varun too left early. They shared another similarity -- both were attending their first meeting of the year. Other MPs attending the meeting included veteran Congress member Karan Singh, NCP leader Supriya Sule, Sharad Tripathi, etc. Rahul visits Sushma at AIIMS Meanwhile, in another show of courtesy, Rahul Gandhi visited External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was admitted at AIIMS after she complained of chest congestion. Swaraj has had a good rapport with Gandhi since she was the Leader of Opposition in the last Lok Sabha. The hospital had said on Thursday that Swaraj continued to show rapid improvement and would be discharged soon. - With inputs from Kumar Vikrant Singh and Ashok Singhal --- ENDS --- Five years into power, Singur perhaps represents Mamata Banerjee's biggest setback today - her failure to return 400 acres to the unwilling farmers who supported her movement. "I'm aware that people are still waiting for the return of their land. We had promised that we will give their land back. Let me remind, my government has already taken over the land but it is the Tata's who have gone to court," Mamata Banerjee said. By Indrajit Kundu: The anti-land acquisition movement in Singur had once propelled Mamata Banerjee to power in West Bengal. It even led to a re-think in the land acquisition policy in this country. But five years into power, Singur perhaps represents Mamata's biggest setback today - her failure to return 400 acres to the unwilling farmers who supported her movement. In Singur to address an election rally, Mamata claimed, "I'm aware that people are still waiting for the return of their land. We had promised that we will give their land back. Let me remind, my government has already taken over the land but it is the Tata's who have gone to court." Mamata may have shifted the onus on the Tatas, but the burden of expectation is clearly weighing heavily on the Trinamool this elections. advertisement Eight years down the line, unwilling farmers who had opposed land acquisition continue their struggle. With the case pending before the Supreme Court, it is unclear when they will get their land back. Neither did they take the compensation money then nor do they have their land with them now. "We lost more than a bigha to the factory. I don't know what the government is doing. The land is no more fertile. They have changed its nature so even if we get it back, it is of no use," laments Badrinath Kole. Kole had participated in the agitation against the Tatas in 2008. His entire land lies inside the Tata Nano project site. At 50, he is paralysed and depends solely on the government stipend of Rs 2,000 per month and 15 kg rice announced by Mamata. Eight years on, in hindsight, Kole says he perhaps made a mistake. "If we had taken money instead, things would have been better now. If the factory had been built, many would have got jobs. It's very difficult to run the household on just Rs 2,000 a month." Not just Kole, several others like him in Bajemelia village, just off the Tata Nano site echo the same. After coming to power Mamata had enacted a new legislation and ''took over'' the 400 acres belonging to unwilling farmers. But the Tatas challenged the decision in Calcutta High Court which subsequently struck down the legislation terming it ''unconstitutional''. However, a defiant Mamata moved the Supreme Court where the case is still pending. Since 2008, Singur has been divided between those who support the factory and gave land willingly and those who oppose it. However, with time the fault lines seems to have somewhat blurred. Those who willingly gave their farmlands believe that they atleast have something to fall back on. Like Sadanada Santra, who had taken the compensation money from the Left government in return of his land. "Yes, I did accept the compensation. I needed money for my daughter's wedding then. Those who did not take money are suffering the most. They can't get their land back and are mostly jobless. If the factory had come up things could have been better. The next generation is only interested in jobs," Santra says. advertisement Singur may have become a symbol of agrarian resistance to forceful land acquisition, but the youth here are not too inclined to get back to farming. 21 year-old Tanmoy Ghosh, a third year graduation student at Singur's Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya is the son of an unwilling farmer. His family has ten cottahs inside the Tata Nano site. While his father may have opposed the factory once, Tanmay says he does not see a future in farming. "If the factory had come up, our lives would have changed. Now the situation is grim. Neither can we farm nor do we have jobs here. We don't see a future in farming anymore." Much has changed since the Tata's left Singur in 2008. Mamata became the chief minister, Tatas shifted the factory to Gujarat and Nano itself failed to capture the imagination of Indian consumers. But nothing seems to have changed for the farmers on the ground. Five years back the question on their mind was, "When will we get the land back?" advertisement Let down by the political system, today they ask, "Will we ever get our land back?" ALSO READ | Slap me if I'm wrong, but don't call me a thief: Mamata --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: With due regards to flights and the time they save, a train journey is one of the best ways of travelling. Especially because it lets you enjoy the beauty of an entire journey before you reach your final destination. May be that is the reason, train tickets are always hard to get, even to this day. Also read: 5 most picturesque train journeys in India advertisement But there can be a sudden change in your travel plans, leading to the need of cancelling a hard earned train ticket. You might have even taken a day off from work and stood at the counter for getting that coveted ticket, but your current circumstances are forcing you to cancel that ticket. Don't worry, there's no need to go through the hassle of taking time off and going back to the counter. In a bid to improve customer experiences, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has launched a facility by which you can cancel confirmed train tickets booked at counters through phone call or SMS to 139 and claim refund for the same. All you need to do is 139 and select option 6 from the main menu of Interactive Voice Recorder (IVR). The moment you do this, you will get a one-time password (OTP). On validation of the OTP, the cancellation will be processed. The other option is to do it through SMS by sending PNR number and train number to 139. Although this is very convenient, a person would still need to visit to counter, just to receive the refund. This facility will be available for only those who provide their mobile numbers at the time of booking the ticket from the counter. Also, no refund would be given after the expiry of the stipulated time limit. Initially, this facility will not be applicable to Tatkal and premium train tickets. This is not all. As a pleasant surprise for Non Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreigners, a facility to book train tickets with any international credit and debit card has also been launched. As of now, only American Express international credit cards are accepted at Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)'s portal. --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Apr 29 (PTI) A 22-year-old Indian-American Muslim woman has won a key primary election in the US state of Maryland, upsetting a veteran in the process. Raheela Ahmed, received 9,624 votes as against incumbent Jeana Jacob (6,004 votes) in the Board of Education District 5 primary elections held on Tuesday. She along with her runner up Cheryl Landis who got 8,072 now advance to the November general elections. advertisement Her win is considered to be significant given the anti-Muslim rhetorics coming from top Republican candidates in particular its presidential front-runner Donald Trump. "If Mr Trumps views were a true reflection of Americans beliefs, I would not have won this election decisively. My district has around 56,000 voters and Muslims are less than one per cent of that. "Mr Trump can make outrageous and offencive statements for political reasons, but I am a strong believer that Americas diversity is our strength," Raheela said, who attributed her win to Americas diversity. If elected in November general elections, she would be the youngest Indian-American to be elected to this top education post in Maryland. "The plan of action is to win the general election, which I lost by 3 per cent in 2012. I will be engaging all sorts of stakeholders over the next several months. I love grassroots campaigning...its the core of my candidacy," she told PTI. Raheelas father, a technology entrepreneur immigrated from Hyderabad at the age 25, while her mother moved to the US when she was five years old from Pakistan. "By attacking aspects of peoples identity like gender, ethnicity and faith, Mr Trump is dividing the masses. Strength comes from unity, collaboration, trust and understanding. If he really wants to make America great again, he needs to stop dividing and start uniting!" she added. She said she believes that no religion condones violence, extremism, or terrorism. Islam is no exception. "The majority of Muslims are peaceful people. The word Islam itself means peace. Terrorists that act under the name of Islam are twisted in their understanding of the faith," she said. "Im representing individuals that largely do not identify with my faith, ethnicity, youth and gender, in a time where Islamophobia, racism and discrimination are around every news corner. However, this election win shows that people see what they want to see," she said. "I won because more people connected with my shared values and aspirations than those turned off by my differences," said Raheela , who is currently an Advisory Associate with the Global Public Sector at Grant Thornton LLP. PTI LKJ AMS AKJ AMS --- ENDS --- advertisement By Sahil Mohan Gupta : Apple continues to be the top seller of tablets with a 25.9 per cent share of the market according to the latest survey by research firm IDC. This has happened despite iPad sales shrinking down to 10.3 million units in Q2 2016 from 12.6 million units in Q2 2015. In fact, IDC claims the entire tablet category has slowed down as sales of tablets fell by 14.7 per cent totalling to just 39.6 million units. Apple's sales for the iPad have slumped by 18.8 per cent in the last year. advertisement After Apple, Samsung continues to be the second highest seller of tablets in the world. It has a share of 15.2 per cent of the tablet market. Samsung's sales plunged even more than Apple with a drop of 28 per cent. Also Read: Apple sales decline for the first time in 13 years Amazon, interestingly, managed to leapfrog Android OEMs like Xiaomi, Asus, Lenovo and Huawei to the third spot by selling 2.2 million units in the quarter. Amazon managed this by selling a large number of Kindle Fire devices which start as low as $50. Amazon's jump in terms of market share is quite a substantial. It made a jump of 5,400 per cent from the same quarter last year which gives it a 5.7 per cent share of the market. Chinese brands like Huawei and Lenovo are fourth and fifth with 5.5 and 5.2 per cent share of the market. IDC cites the introduction of detachable and convertible devices as one of the reasons for the drop in sales of the tablets. Sales of these devices doubled to 4.9 million units in the quarter. "The introduction of detachables from traditional smartphone vendors is only beginning and they pose a real threat to traditional PC manufacturers," said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research director for tablets at IDC. "Their understanding of the mobile ecosystem and the volume achieved on their smartphone product lines will allow them to aggressively compete for this new computing segment. It is likely that those smartphone vendors will utilize the detachable segment to create new mobile computing end-user experiences if customers are using their detachables in combination with their smartphones." Overall, traditional 'slate' style tablets dominate the market claimed IDC in the survey. It claims 87.6 per cent of the tablets were still standard slate style devices. IDC believes that with the decline in the market for the traditional PC and laptops, detachable devices will gain in popularity and sell more. Devices like the Microsoft Surface and iPad Pro which come with keyboard attachments have done pretty well. advertisement "Microsoft arguably created the market for detachable tablets with the launch of their Surface line of products," said IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani. Also Read: 9 reasons why Apple's sales declined "With the PC industry in decline, the detachable market stands to benefit as consumers and enterprises seek to replace their aging PCs with detachables. Apple's recent foray into this segment has garnered them an impressive lead in the short term, although continued long-term success may prove challenging." --- ENDS --- An autopsy later confirmed he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. By AP: Authorities say a young Apple employee took his own life at the company's headquarters this week. The 25-year-old Santa Clara, California, Also Read: Apple employee found dead in conference room "man was found dead Wednesday morning inside a conference room at Apple's world headquarters in California. An autopsy later confirmed he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Sgt. Andrea Urena of the Santa Clara County sheriff's department said Thursday. She said a handgun was used. advertisement Sheriff's deputies were called to the Apple campus about 8:35 a.m. Wednesday for a report of "a person down" and found the man dead, Urena said. "They determined there were no other individuals involved and they believe it was an isolated incident and that there was nobody else on campus or in the public at risk," she said. The sheriff's department provides police services in the town of Cupertino, where Apple is based. In a statement on Wednesday, Apple said its employees were "heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented co-worker." An Apple spokeswoman declined further comment Thursday. --- ENDS --- It's the phone's atrociously low price that makes it stand out and raise quite a many eyebrows as well along the way. By India Today Web Desk: A good phone isn't enough these days. What you need is a great phone. And if Jaipur-based start-up Docoss is to be gone by, then the Docoss X1 is that great phone. What really makes it great has nothing to do with what's inside (or on the outside, for that matter). It's the phone's atrociously low price that makes it stand out and raise quite a many eyebrows as well along the way. advertisement The Docoss X1 is a fully-functional Android-based smartphone and it costs just Rs 888 to own one, or so claims the company. Not long ago, a company of the name Ringing Bells promised a phone, called the Freedom 251 at a ridiculously low Rs 251 price tag. And the rest as they say is controversy. The Freedom 251 had 'scam' written all over it right from the word go. Quite obviously then, people are a little iffy about the Rs 888 smartphone. Can you really blame them? --If you head over to Docoss's official website -- that's where all the action is happening by the way -- and check out the 'About Us' page you'll be greeted by a very vague description. "Docoss Multimedia Private Limited is a smartphone seller company with the lowest price but with fully loaded features. We are starting our brand with Model Docoss X1." That's all that there is to it, that and the fact that it is a company based out of Jaipur with 'more' (devices?) coming soon. --Docoss announced the X1 on April 27. At least that's when its Facebook (and Twitter) page went live. Bookings for the phone began the same day (6AM) and will close on April 29 (10PM). --Potential buyers can book the phone (up to a maximum of 3) on the company's official website, or via SMS. -- Deliveries of the Docoss X1 will begin from May 2. Cash on delivery option is also available. Also Read: The Rs 888 smartphone is real, clarifies Docoss --Let's take a look at the phone's spec sheet: Display: 4-inch IPS (unspecified resolution) Software: Android 4.4 KitKat Processor and memory: 1.3GHz dual-core Cortex A7 processor with 1GB RAM and 4GB internal memory which is further expandable by up to 32GB via microSD Connectivity: DualSIM, 3G Camera: 2-megapixel rear (with flash) and 0.3-megapixel front Battery: 1,300mAh battery --Honestly, that's a lot to ask from a Rs 888 smartphone and if it were to be true, well, it could spark a revolution. -- Docoss has taken to social media and YouTube to claim the genuineness of its debut phone. The company has asked people not to panic, and shared what it claims are 'real' images of the Docoss X1. advertisement We will be keeping a close eye on Docoss to see if the company can actually deliver on its promise of an ultra-affordable phone. --- ENDS --- The partnership would be the first to match an automaker with Google's 7-year-old autonomous car project. By AP: Fiat Chrysler and Google's self-driving car project are in advanced talks to form a technical partnership. The talks were confirmed Thursday by a person familiar with the discussions. The person asked not to be named because the discussions are private. The partnership would be the first to match an automaker with Google's 7-year-old autonomous car project, which is now part of the so-called X lab at Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company. advertisement Details haven't been revealed. But Google has repeatedly said it doesn't intend to make self-driving cars and would prefer to license its technology to carmakers. Google has been testing versions of self-driving cars on highways since 2009 and on city streets since 2014. It has a fleet of Lexus SUVs specially outfitted with autonomous software as well as a pod-like prototype vehicle it designed. "We want to partner to bring self-driving to all the vehicles in the world," Google co-founder and Alphabet President Sergey Brin told media at a self-driving car event last spring. Last fall, Google hired John Krafcik, an auto industry veteran and former executive at Ford Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co., to be the CEO of its self-driving car project. Google said Thursday that the company doesn't comment on speculation. Fiat Chrysler - which has lagged bigger, richer rivals like Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co. in the development of self-driving cars - might welcome the chance to test Google's technology. The Italian-American automaker also has manufacturing expertise and factories that Google lacks. Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has been vocal about seeking a partner to share the cost of research and development. But other automakers, including GM, have so far rebuffed him. A tie-up with Google would help his company leapfrog competitors in the race to develop self-driving cars. Google has set a goal of having self-driving cars in the public's hands by 2020. Earlier this year at the Detroit auto show, Marchionne said, "Consolidation, in my view, is unavoidable, especially if you lend any credence at all to all this noise and buzz that has been created about the fact that we're really not into the car business anymore we're all transportation companies who are interested in connectivity and autonomous driving." --- ENDS --- Reportedly, Osterloh is going to be leading a hardware unit where he will oversee a galaxy of products that Google makes and is working on. By Sahil Mohan Gupta : Just about a month ago Lenovo-owned Motorola announced that its long time president Rick Osterloh was leaving the company. Now, according to ReCode, Osterloh is going to Google, which is a homecoming of sorts for him as before Lenovo, he indirectly worked at Google which owned Motorola at the time. In fact, under ex-Googler and Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside, Osterloh grew up the ranks at Motorola and ended up heading it. Also Read: Motorola chief Rick Osterloh quits advertisement Reportedly, Osterloh is going to be leading a hardware unit where he will oversee a galaxy of products that Google makes and is working on. These include the Nexus smartphones, Chromecast, Chromebooks like the Pixel and the Pixel C tablet, OnHub wireless routers and even Google Glass. This also includes the ATAP division which is behind the modular smartphone programme project Ara. Interestingly, this is the first time Google will have a senior VP for hardware. Till recently, Regina Dugan was in charge of ATAP, but she left to join Facebook. Google Glass was under Nest CEO Tony Fadell, who is known the world over for his work at Apple for the iPod and the iPhone. For the Nexus smartphones, Osterloh, will take over some of the responsibilities of Android senior VP Hiroshi Lockheimer. He will take charge of hardware development and OEM partnerships while also working with Lockheimer for the software integration. Also Read: Sundar Pichai brought Android closer to Google In the last few years, Google has flip-flopped around hardware. It bought Motorola, but kept it seperate from the rest of Google, only to sell it to Lenovo in little over 2 years. It has showed shades of hardware brilliance with the ChromeBook Pixel, but has never made a big push in the hardware space. Apart from the Chromecast, Google really hasn't had a successful hardware product. Osterloh, who left Lenovo's owned Motorola as a part of a broad reshuffle, will be tasked at creating a family of hardware products in line with a new 'living room' concept. --- ENDS --- By Javed Anwer: For a company that is riding high, churning out record revenue numbers quarter after quarter, a bit of slump may come as a shock. May be Apple, after its latest quarterly results that bucked the trend and for the first time in 13 years showed a revenue decline, is in shock. Only that explains some of the weird excuses the company has put forth for the relatively poor performance of the iPhone. advertisement In particular, one statement from CEO Tim Cook stands out. The iPhone growth in developed countries is slowing down. But at the same time, it has not picked up pace fast enough in countries like India. That is creating a problem for Apple. But when investors asked why Apple's iPhone hasn't done as well in India as expected, Tim Cook blamed it on the poor 4G rollout in the country. "From an India point of view, the thing that have held us back is that the LTE roll-out with India just really begins this year. And so we'll begin to see some really good networks coming on in India. That will unleash the power and capability of the iPhone in a way that an older network, 2.5G or even some 3G networks, would not do," said Cook. Now that is a very strange argument to make. And it has no basis whatsoever in anything. How does it even matter for consumers if the iPhone is using 4G or 3G connectivity? If it is the better phone for a person, he or she will buy it irrespective of the network problems because those network issues affect all phones. Also Read: Apple's iPhone SE price in India is kind of crazy, in a not so nice way In fact, the iPhone has been one of the laggards when it comes to adopting the LTE networks. And that didn't diminish its appeal earlier. The first iPhone to properly support LTE was the iPhone 5, which came out in 2012, almost two years after the Android phone with support for LTE networks became available in the US. At the time when Apple was lagging behind others in support for LTE in its phones, it never argued that the lack of high-speed connectivity was making it less useful. In fact, it hinted that the opposite was true. So why is Tim Cook now saying that India's poor networks are affecting the iPhone sales in India? The reason is he doesn't want to acknowledge that the problem for the iPhone in India is the one created by Apple, with its ridiculous pricing. advertisement If you want to buy an iPhone, India is the worst place to do it because the price here is the highest in the world. In fact, even the iPhone SE, which has been billed as a cheaper iPhone, costs Rs 39,000 (around $585) in India. This is a lot of money to pay for a phone like the iPhone SE and it is also fairly arbitrary. In India, most smartphones are sold in a mainstream price bracket -- Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 -- and Apple doesn't have any product there. No, this is not to say that Apple should have a Rs 15,000 iPhone. But it can definitely have a more rational and reasonable price for its phones in India. When a company like Samsung can sell the Galaxy S7 for around Rs 49,000 why should Apple try to sell the iPhone 6S at Rs 62,000? You may say, it is the company's choice. And you are right. But then when people don't buy your phone, don't blame it on the lack of the 4G in the country. It has nothing to do with the 4G. It's all about the silly prices. --- ENDS --- advertisement The platform, that brings machine learning together with 'deep knowledge of an organisation', will enable businesses to continuously reinvent their system landscapes and lower maintenance cost of assets. By Press Trust of India: Software services major Infosys has launched an artificial intelligence platform 'Mana' that will help clients drive automation and innovation. The company said that the platform, that brings machine learning together with 'deep knowledge of an organisation', will enable businesses to continuously reinvent their system landscapes and lower maintenance cost of assets. Coupled with Aikido service offerings, Mana will help clients capture knowledge while delivering new and delightful experiences to their end users, it said. advertisement "Over the last 35 years, Infosys has maintained, operated and managed systems with global clients across every industry. Building on this deep experience, Infosys has recognised the need to bring artificial intelligence to the enterprise in a meaningful and purposeful way," Infosys CEO and Managing Director Vishal Sikka said at Infosys Confluence 2016. Mana leverages the power of automation for repetitive tasks and lower cost of maintenance, freeing people to focus on the higher value work and on breakthrough innovation, he added. Last year, Infosys announced new services --- Aikido --- that focusses on design thinking, platforms and knowledge- based IT to differentiate its offerings from rivals like TCS, Wipro and others. Infosys has already started working with clients for Mana, including telecom major Telstra, a company with a large fleet of field engineers and a global food and beverage maker. "The word mana, from the Polynesian word for a pervasive spiritual force and used in many languages, is an excellent inspiration," he said. Sikka said the company has been working on educating and training its workforce in areas like design thinking and AI. About 90,000 of its employees have already undergone at least basic day-long workshop on design thinking, Sikka said. Also Read: Robots and AI will affect five million jobs by 2020: Study Since joining Infosys in August 2014, Sikka has focussed on adding new-age technologies like artificial intelligence and automation to drive revenues for the Bengaluru-based firm. Under Sikka, the company acquired US-based automation technology company Panaya for an enterprise value of $200 million last year. It also picked up stake in a number of startups, the latest being data wrangling software provider, Trifacta yesterday. Infosys, along with Amazon Web Services and Silicon Valley leaders like Tesla's Elon Musk and Peter Thiel (PayPal co-founder) have committed $1 billion investment to OpenAI, a non-profit artificial intelligence research company. --- ENDS --- This is the first time that Xiaomi has acknowledged the existence of the Mi smartwatch. By Saurabh Singh: Xiaomi will launch its first wearable smartwatch in the second half of 2016. According to Gizmo China , the Mi smarwatch is apparently ready, but delayed for now. It will launch sometime after May, the report quotes Liu De, co-founder and Vice President of Xiaomi as saying. Meanwhile, the company will launch the next-generation Mi Band on May 10 at an official event in Beijing. advertisement The report cites that this is the first time that Xiaomi has acknowledged the existence of the Mi smartwatch, something that was until now talked about in hush tones. Notably, Xiaomi has just launched a new smartwatch for kids in China that it calls the Mituwatch at a price of 99 Yuan ($46 or Rs 1,015). The Mituwatch comes with a food grade silicone strap (FDA approved) along with an LED dot matrix display. There's also an SOS button on-board for emergency that sends a seven-second recorded audio and real-time location of the child to his/her parents. The Mituwatch is compatible with devices running Android 4.2 upwards and iOS 8 and more. It offers up to six days of standby, and up to two days of regular use, according to Xiaomi. Also Read: Xiaomi to launch Mi Max, Mi Band 2 and MIUI 8 on May 10 Moving on, Xiaomi has no plans to launch any automobiles like LeEco, at least not for now says the Gizmo China report. Having said that, short travel devices like electric bikes and more Ninebots are still on the cards. Xiaomi is also looking to establish at least 60 offline outlets by the end of the year, adds the report. Xiaomi will officially launch the Mi Max phone, the Mi Band 2 fitness wearable and the next iteration of MIUI operating system aka MIUI 8 on May 10. The next-generation Mi Band will come with a display, unlike the first Mi Band that was lacking one. --- ENDS --- New war commanders After the death of Askeri, Colonel Nurettin Bey (known as Nurettin Ibrahim Konyar after 1934), who later played an important role during the Turkish War of Independence as well, assumed command of Ottoman troops as the General Commander of the Iraq area. The colonel, also known as "Bearded Nurettin", reached Baghdad on May 19th, 1915. British forces under General John Nixon's command, on the other hand, increased their number of troops, upgrading their military presence in the region to corps level. Nixon appointed Major General Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend to the command of the Sixth Indian Division of the British army. Townshend was ordered to chase the withdrawing Ottoman troops and if possible, capture Baghdad. Being aware that the number of regular troops in the region was insufficient, Colonel Nurettin Bey withdrew his soldiers towards Baghdad in a controlled manner through tactical battles that would slow down the advance of British forces. British army captured Amara and Nasiriyah in June and July, respectively. Ottoman troops, which retreated without any losses, formed a new line of defence to the north of Kut al Amara. A German pasha in command of Ottoman army The British campaign was increasingly becoming a serious problem both for the Ottoman Empire and their ally, Germany. Secretary of War Enver Pasha gathered the forces in Iran and Iraq, with new reinforcements, under the name of the 6th Army and appointed 72-year-old German Field Marshall Volmar von der Goltz to its command. British forces attacked the Ottoman line of defence above Kut al Amara on April 27th 1915. After two days of fighting, the city fell to the British. Major General Townshend fortified the city with ditches, high trenches and artillery as this location was going to be the operating centre for his Baghdad campaign. Townshend's miscalculation Colonel Nurettin Bey withdrew his soldiers to the Ottoman army's last line of defence in Salman Pak, south of Baghdad. Colonel Khalil Bey, commander of the 3rd Army's Right Wing in Eastern Anatolia, which was dispatched to the region for support purposes on Enver Pasha's order, came under Colonel Nurettin Bey's command on November 15thwith two divisionshe was in command of. Khalil Bey was Enver Pasha's uncle although he was actually one year younger than him. British Major General Townshend ordered his troops to attack the Ottoman forces on November 22nd 1915. Unable to advance after a day-long fierce fighting, British troops started to retreat. Ottoman forces followed the fleeing British soldiers. Nurettin Pasha's cavalries frequently attacked withdrawing enemy units, which forced Townshend to take refuge in Kut al Amara. The British general estimated that they could withstand a siege for two months with the ammunition and food they have, and thought they could launch an attack on Baghdad again once they received help from Basra. However, things did not turn out the way he expected. Adjusting the camera not to include any copyright material Game of Thrones? House of Cards? Forget them. The battle around what until recently was an area of copyright not many cared knew about, ie freedom of panorama, has now become one of the most eventful sagas ever. The relevant provision in this sense is Article 5(3)(h) of the InfoSoc Directive , which allows Member States to introduce national exceptions/limitations to the rights harmonised by that directive to permit the "use of works, such as works of architecture or sculpture, made to be located permanently in public places". Along with discussion of a new neighoubring right for publishers (whether in the press sector alone or also in other sectors), r [running until 15 June 2016] on this very topic eaders will remember that last month the EU Commission launched a public consultation on this very topic here] In parallel with policy discourse, also national courts and legislators alike are contributing to the overall debate around freedom of panorama. Recent case law: that Swedish ruling here , and here for an English translation] On the one hand, earlier this month the Swedish Supreme Court issued a ruling in which it held that online publicly accessible databases like Wikipedia cannot rely on the Swedish panorama exception within Article 24(1) of the Swedish Copyright Act . This provision states that: " Works of fine art may be reproduced in pictorial form Works of fine art may be reproduced in pictorial form 1. if they are permanently located outdoors on, or at, a public place 2. if the purpose is to advertise an exhibition or a sale of the works of fine art but only to the extent necessary for the promotion of the exhibition or the sale or 3. if they form part of a collection, in catalogues, however not in digital form." The Swedish Supreme Court ruled that the making available of images of artworks through publicly accessible online databases would unreasonably prejudice the rightholders' legitimate interests, in that it would deprive them of potential commercial revenue arising from the exploitation of such dissemination channels. To this end, the public interest underlying the non-profit and open nature of Wikimedia's database would not offset the prejudice caused to rightholders. Oscar Wilde's tomb at Pere Lachaise Recent legislative debate: the French Senate Moving from courts to parliamentary assemblies, as readers will remember not all Member States have implemented a panorama exception into their own national copyright laws. Among those that have not taken advantage of the possibility under Article 5(3)(h) of the InfoSoc Directive there are Italy and for the moment still France. [which, I understand, to become law has now to be adopted also by the Assemblee Nationale] aimed at introducing into French law a (fairly restrictive) panorama exception [see here for a recap (in French)] . As reported by Numerama yesterday the French Senate voted in favour of an amendment aimed at introducing into French law a (fairly restrictive) panorama exception The text of the exception as adopted yesterday would allow " reproductions et representations duvres architecturales et de sculptures, placees en permanence sur la voie publique, realisees par des personnes physiques, a lexclusion de tout usage a caractere directement ou indirectement commercial." Basically, what will be permitted is [WARNING: Kat-translation!] the reproduction and representation of architectural works and sculptures, permanently located on public roads, made by physical persons, with the exclusion of uses having direct or indirect commercial character. If adopted in its current form, the French panorama exception would come with significant limitations which - incidentally - do not appear to have any basis in the formulation of Article 5(3)(h) of the InfoSoc Directive [whether this is permissible under EU law is doubtful, as I argued here . And the most significant limitations do not really appear to relate to the prohibition of commercial uses: First, the panorama exception would only apply to individuals, not also legal persons. As such, taking from the Swedish example, Wikipedia et similia would not be covered by it. Secondly, the exception would only apply to works located permanently on public roads: what about all those works located permanently elsewhere (eg public parks, stations etc)? The French panorama exception in practice: an example Let's assume that the panorama exception in France is adopted in its current form. Recently I have been to Paris and returned to the beautiful Pere Lachaise cemetery . Among those who rest there, there is Oscar Wilde . His tomb is likely to be eligible for copyright protection in the first place [at the end of the day, it's France, not the UK , so subject-matter categorisation is not really an issue] and be still protected by copyright, since the sculpture who realised it, Jacob Epstein , died in 1959. If I took a photograph of Wilde's tomb would I be covered by the panorama exception? That's not so certain - I would argue - as it may be doubtful whether a cemetery, with free access yet opening hours, could be regarded as part of the 'voie publique'. But things could be worse for other subjects, ie Google. Currently Google Street View allows me to see Oscar Wilde's tomb right from my laptop's screen. However, this reproduction by Google would be likely regarded as unlawful under the new exception, since Google is certainly not a 'personne physique' falling within the scope of the exception. As such, could this mean that in France Google would have to seek a licence to reproduce images of architectural works and sculptures, no matter where permanently located [ this might not be the only image-related headache for Google in France: see here]? A few days ago the US Supreme Court refused here] to grant certiorari in the long-running battle between the Authors Guild and Google over the latter's Books Library Project [Katposts here Shalini Bengani (Competition Commission of India) explains what happened. Katfriend(Competition Commission of India) explains what happened. Here's what Shalini writes: " Authors Guild has been on a collision course with Google Book for over a decade since they first filed their copyright infringement suit on 20 September 2005, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief and statutory damages on behalf of a purported class. Authors Guild has been on a collision course with Google Book for over a decade since they first filed their copyright infringement suit on 20 September 2005, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief and statutory damages on behalf of a purported class. opinion by Judge Leval, the 2nd Circuit explored the facts of Google Books digital copying, its search function and limited snippet display of petitioners works. The arguments in favour of Google Books project were overwhelming. Therefore, the 2nd Circuit concluded that Google Books is entirely consistent with the purposes of copyright law and fair use in fact, advances the interests of authors. In effect, this means that as users we can continue to benefit by scrounging for books of interest online, and this appears in line with the needs of digital age. In a thoroughby Judge Leval, the 2nd Circuit explored the facts of Google Books digital copying, its search function and limited snippet display of petitioners works. The arguments in favour of Google Books project were overwhelming. Therefore, the 2nd Circuit concluded thatGoogle Books is entirely consistent with the purposes of copyright law and fair use in fact, advances the interests of authors. In effect, this means that as users we can continue to benefit by scrounging for books of interest online, and this appears in line with the needs of digital age. So what is Google Books? Not that you dont know but just in case...... In response to a search query, Google Books provides the user with a list of books that contain the chosen search term and (in many cases) information about the immediate context in which the term appears. It also informs the user where they can buy or borrow the book. In 2004 Google entered into bilateral agreements with 11 major research libraries to make digital copies of books in their collections. Those collections included novels, childrens books, and books of poetry, but the vast majority of selections were nonfiction, and most are out of print. Many of the books are in the public domain, but Google also made digital copies of books that remain in copyright. For each book, Google made a digital scan and extracted machine-readable text by using optical character recognition technology. By doing so, Google was able to create a comprehensive index of the books texts that can be searched by users. All of the files involved in the process are securely stored on servers that are not accessible from the Internet and are protected by the same security systems that protect Googles own confidential information. After entering a query, a user can click on a particular search result to see an About the Book page for the chosen book. About the Book pages include links that allow the user to buy the book and to find the book in a nearby library when that is possible. Those pages do not contain advertising (other than bookseller information), and Google receives no payment in connection with the buy the book links. For certain titles, Google Books displays up to three short snippets of texteach approximately one eighth of a book page in response to user queries. Those tiny segments give users some minimal contextual information to help the searcher learn whether the books use of that term will be of interest to her. By reviewing snippets containing the searched term, a user can often determine the relevance of a book to his/ her interest in a way not possible with earlier methods such as a card catalog or bibliographic index. Google Books places several restrictions on snippet view that ensure that the snippets cannot be used as a substitute for buying or borrowing the book itself. No more than three snippets are displayed in response to a search query, even if the same search term appears elsewhere, and Google Books always displays the same snippets in response to a given search term, no matter how many times the search is run. Google also blacklists (ie, makes unavailable for snippet view) at least one snippet per page and one page out of ten per book. And there are additional technological restrictions to prevent automated downloading of snippets. These features substantially protects against its serving as an effectively competing substitute for Plaintiffs books. Google Books does not offer snippet view for certain types of books, such as dictionaries, cookbooks, and short poems, where there is a risk that access to a small portion of the book could be a substitute for the book itself. Authors/right holders wary of Google Books have a choice to opt out. The agreements between Google and each library permit the library to download and retain a digital copy of each book it has submitted for scanning. Judge Pierre Leval The decision The Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit analysed Google Books project under the fair use factors articulated in 17 U.S.Code 107, both separately and in combination, noting that the statutes four factors are not to be treated in isolation but are to be weighed together, in light of the purposes of copyright. Further it noted that the first and fourth factors warrant greater weight. First factor: Purpose and Character. The court analyzed whether Google Books supersedes the objects of the original creation, or instead adds something new, with a further purposethat is, whether and to what extent the new work is transformative. The court explained that a transformative use is one that communicates something new and different from the original or expands its utility and accordingly, concluded that Google Books search and snippet functions are highly transformative. The court analyzed whether Google Books supersedes the objects of the original creation, or instead adds something new, with a further purposethat is, whether and to what extent the new work is transformative. The court explained that a transformative use is one that communicates something new and different from the original or expands its utility and accordingly, concluded that Google Books search and snippet functions are highly transformative. Second factor: Nature of the copyrighted work. On its own, this factor did not influence the court's analysis; the court might have weighed that factor in favor of Google, since most of the works in Google Books are factual, not fiction, but it did not do so. On its own, this factor did not influence the court's analysis; the court might have weighed that factor in favor ofGoogle, since most of the works in Google Books are factual, not fiction, but it did not do so. Third factor: Amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole. The court explained that digital copying of the totality of the original is literally necessary to achieve Googles transformative purpose of enabling search. If Google were to copy less than the totality of the originals, then its search function could not be able to advise searchers reliably whether their searched term appears in a book. In fact it was noted by the 2nd Circuit that in spite of the plaintiffs counsel employing researchers over a period of weeks to do multiple word searches on plaintiffs books, in no case were they able to access as much as 16% of the text. Further, it was observed, that Google has constructed the snippet feature in a manner that substantially protects against its serving as an effectively competing substitute for plaintiffs books. Moreover, the snippets collected were usually not sequential but scattered randomly throughout the book. The court explained that digital copying of the totality of the original is literally necessary to achieve Googles transformative purpose of enabling search. If Google were to copy less than the totality of the originals, then its search function could not be able to advise searchers reliably whether their searched term appears in a book. In fact it was noted by the 2nd Circuit that in spite of the plaintiffs counsel employing researchers over a period of weeks to do multiple word searches on plaintiffs books, in no case were they able to access as much as 16% of the text. Further, it was observed, that Google has constructed the snippet feature in a manner that substantially protects against its serving as an effectively competing substitute for plaintiffs books. Moreover, the snippets collected were usually not sequential but scattered randomly throughout the book. Market assessment Fourth factor: Effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work . The ourt found no evidence of any significant harm to the market for petitioners books, since they were unable to show that any amount of searching could yield more than a small fraction of a books text. The court explained that the petitioners copyright interest in their books does not include an exclusive right to supply information (of the sort provided by Google) about their works. The ourt held that although snippet view may from time to time satisfy the searchers need for access to a text, an occasional lost sale does not constitute a meaningful or significant effect upon the potential market of the copyrighted work. The court noted that in nearly a decade of litigation the Petitioners had failed to introduce evidence of a single lost sale attributable to Google Books. Finally, the ourt rejected petitioners claims that permitting the libraries to download digital scans of their own books constituted infringement: Googles provision of digital copies to participating libraries, authorizing them to make non-infringing uses, is non infringing, and the mere speculative possibility that the libraries might allow use of their copies in an infringing manner does not make Google a contributory infringer. Hence, the Court of Appeals properly rejected petitioners assertion that they suffered economic harm because Google Books somehow preempted their right to license their books for search uses. The court clarified that the exclusive right that the petitioners sought to preserve is not one that copyright protects: The copyright that protects Plaintiffs works does not include an exclusive derivative right to supply information about their works through query of a digitized copy." Review under Campbell v Acuff-Rose framework s framework. It drew a distinction between providing information about a book and appropriating the content of that book. The Court was of the view that Google Books is a well-intentioned project as is highly beneficial to all since it augments public knowledge without providing the public with a substantial substitute for matter protected by the plaintiffs copyright interests in the original works or derivatives of them. Further, snippet view enables identifying of books of interest to the searcher by way of revealing just enough context surrounding the searched term to help a user evaluate whether the book falls within the scope of his/her interest. The court reviewed the purpose and character of Google Books uses under Campbell s framework. It drew a distinction between providing informationabout abook and appropriating the content of that book. The Court was of the view that Google Books is a well-intentioned project as is highly beneficial to all since it augments public knowledge without providing the public with a substantial substitute for matter protected by the plaintiffs copyright interests in the original works or derivatives of them. Further, snippet view enables identifying of books of interest to the searcher by way of revealing just enough context surrounding the searched term to help a user evaluate whether the book falls within the scope of his/her interest. Campbells warning against simplification with bright-line rules. Drawing a parallel with the Campbell case, the court held that a poetic parody may be new creative expression, but so is a search tool that tells would-be readers what books are relevant to their interests in light of their own search terms. Petitioners contention that no use can be transformative unless it alters the content of the original work did not find any support in the court and it was held that this rigid approach to fair use ignoress warning against simplification with bright-line rules. Google Books is nice and everything, but what better place to sleep while in the library than an actual book? Commercial character is not conclusive in a fair use determination Campbell case that the more transformative the new work, the less will be the significance of other factors, like commercialism, that may weigh against a finding of fair use. The court was also of the view that the 2nd Circuit rightly concluded that the fact that Google is a commercial business does not outweigh the dramatically transformative character of Google Books. It was rightly explained in thecase that the more transformative the new work, the less will be the significance of other factors, like commercialism, that may weigh against a finding of fair use. My take While I was a law student in India, I was required to search for books in a physical library and the resources therein were few and far between. Searching manually took a lot of time but with Google Books, every student, researcher, lawyer, academician stands to benefit as it brings them to the book at the click of a mouse and also the authors close to their target audience. Therefore, I for one, cannot extol enough the virtues of the Google Books project. This perception was supported by the fact that the arresting authorities presented the journalists as members of a vaguely-defined infiltration network that was connected to Western governments. These accusations contributed to the sentencing of four out of five journalists on charges of acting against national security, although no clear evidence was given of the existence of an infiltration network. Two of the defendants, Ehsan Safarzayi and Afarine Chitsaz, were sentenced to five years in prison. Another, Ehsan Mazandarani, was sentenced to seven years, and the fourth, Davoud Assadi, was given 10. A fifth defendant, Issa Saharkhiz, was also arrested and tried alongside the other four, but no sentence for him has been made publicly known as yet. He may face a lengthy sentence, owing to the fact that he has previously served time as a political prisoner. One report notes that Saharkhiz has served as the head of media at the Ministry of Culture under President Mohammad Khatami from 1997 to 2005, but was subsequently imprisoned for three years, beginning in 2010, on charges of insulting the supreme leader and spreading propaganda. His new case and those of his co-defendants serve as the latest reminder of Irans longstanding reputation for criminalization of independent journalism. The Committee to Protect Journalists routinely ranks Iran as one of the worlds worst jailers of journalists. And the website Journalism is Not a Crime estimates that there are currently 58 reporters in prison, with another nine still awaiting trial. Of course, journalists are far from being the only group that is subject to regular and systematic repression in the Islamic Republic. Others include human rights activists, labor unions, and persons with professional ties to the West, and recent instances of repression of each of these groups were highlighted on Tuesday by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. In the first place, the International Campaign reported upon the latest developments in the case of prominent Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi. In addition to being a leader of human rights activism inside the country, she has also long been the subject of international activism, owing to her being subjected to pre-trial detention despite the fact that she is reportedly in dire need of medical attention for a pulmonary embolism and nervous paralysis. According to her husband, Taghi Rahmani, the doctors say prison conditions are like poison for her. As such, Mohammadi is legally qualified for medical furlough, and indeed she received this on a short-term basis in the past, but was prematurely returned to prison in what many activists view as a punitive measure by regime authorities, after she continued her activism outside of prison. It is not the only punitive measure meted out to Mohammadi, who has also been barred from virtually all contact with her family and her own children. Now, the latest development in her case indicates that this isolation is being enforced in both directions. That is, neither the public nor her family has been a party to information about her trial proceedings, which began on April 20 after four postponements, and nearly a year after the originally scheduled date. Mohammadis trial is taking place on charges of collusion and assembly against national security and membership in [the now shuttered activist organization] Step by Step to Stop the Death Penalty. Such secrecy is reminiscent of other high-profile cases, including those of journalists like the American-Iranian dual citizen and Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, who was released in January as part of a prisoner exchanged between Iran and the US. In other cases, however, the regimes punishment of its political targets takes place entirely in the open, and not solely through the judicial system. The International Campaign points out, for instance, that instances of workers being fired after their participation in [labor union] protests are numerous in Iran. Labor unions are effectively illegal in Iran, even though the right to form such unions is upheld by international law and more vaguely by the Iranian constitution, which states that the populous has the right to form parties, societies, political or professional associations. Still, labor union leaders are a frequent target of repression and political imprisonment. One of the latest examples of this is the recent prosecution of labor activist Ebrahim Maddadi, who is a leading member of the Iranian bus drivers union. Maddadi was tried on April 16 and is currently awaiting sentencing for collusion and assembly against national security. His case is indicative of the International Campaigns observation that punishment for any kind of organized labor protest is swift and severe. As open-ended as is the criminalization of such affiliations, any affiliation with Western entities opens up the door for even more free-wheeling prosecution by Iranian authorities. The prosecution of the journalists who were arrested in November is indicative of this fact, especially since the specific nature of their connections to the West were never clearly established. Another example of the same phenomenon emerged five years ago with the case of Omid Kokabee a case that has regularly been revisited by human rights activists. Kokabee was reported arrested just before returning to the United States, where he was studying post-graduate physics, after he had refused to participate in an Iranian military project. As punishment for the snub, Iranian authorities changed him with contact with enemy states and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. His case has become a human rights cause not only because of the nature of the arrest but also because of his treatment in prison, which has been characterized by neglect of medical ailments, similar to Mohammadi and other political prisoners. Recently, Kokabee had a kidney removed following a long-delayed cancer diagnosis. A source close to the prisoner said, If he had been transferred out of the prison to receive a routine sonography in November 2011, when he first experienced bleeding and pain caused by kidney stones, [the issue] would have been noticed. Even a simple sonography would show a tumor. Omid had repeatedly gone to the prison infirmary, complaining of kidney and stomach pain. Now that the kidney has been removed, Kokabees medical ailments, including stomach inflammation and internal bleeding, are still ongoing, but so too is his denial of medical treatment. Fortunately, in the midst of all these reports of persistent abuses, there are occasional reports of Iranian authorities drawing back from former punitive measures against their political targets. IranWire pointed to one such case on Monday when it reported that Atena Farghadani had had her sentence reduced from a staggering 12 years to only 18 months, meaning that she is scheduled to be released on May 11. Her lengthy sentence had been based solely upon her drawing a political cartoon and posting it online, and then publicly discussing her mistreatment following her initial arrest. After her sentencing, authorities also attempted to charge her with non-adultery illegitimate relations because she had shaken hands with her male lawyer. The reduced sentence was explained as follows by the appeals court: Miss Farghadani has been acquitted of the charges of gathering and colluding with counter-revolutionary elements and acting against national security. The three-year prison sentence for Insulting the Supreme Leader has been replaced by a four-year suspended sentence. Moreover, she has received a fine for insulting members of parliament and the president and insulting prison guards. She has been sentenced to 18 months in prison on the charge of propaganda against the regime. It remains to be seen, however, whether her newly scheduled date of release will actually be upheld. Other political prisoners have been arbitrarily held in detention after the date that their sentences were supposed to be completed, and some have been subjected to new charges in order to keep them behind bars, presumably out of fear of continued activism. With or without Farghadanis release, her activist causes face an uphill battle in the Islamic Republic. The cartoon that resulted in her prosecution depicted Iranian officials and members of parliament as animals in order to protest their efforts to restrict the rights of women. Many activist groups find that the situation for women in Iran has only deteriorated in recent years, as evidenced by increasingly strict enforcement of gender segregation and Islamic dress codes. In line with this criticism, the Arkansas Republican added a last-minute amendment to a Department of Energy spending bill that Congress was set to vote on this week, in which he specified that taxpayer money could not be utilized for similar such purchases in the next budget year. As a result, Senate Democrats blocked the bill on Wednesday, in spite of the fact that its other provisions had reportedly had strong bi-partisan support. Those Democrats described Cottons amendment as a poison pill, but CNN points out that his Republican supporters countered that the Democrats had refused a simple majority vote on the amendment, possibly out of concern that fellow Democrats would side with Cotton on the issue. Indeed, a number of Democrats have joined the Republican Party in opposing or generally criticizing the Iran nuclear deal and the Obama administrations overall Iran policy. Despite this fact, the Democratic minority succeeded in preventing a vote of disapproval on that deal last year, by utilizing congressional filibuster rules. Similarly, this weeks budget bill was blocked by minority opposition, as it needed 60 yay votes to advance but received only 50, as compared to 46 votes of nay. Cotton has been a particularly strong voice of opposition to the White Houses Iran policy, having previously drawn stark criticism for convincing 46 of his fellow congressmen to sign a letter to the Iranian government announcing that the US government in the near future might elect to simply not enforce the agreement reached between the Obama administration and its Iranian counterpart. The newer controversy over the purchase of heavy water comes close on the heels of largely Republican accusations that the Obama administration was considering a change in Treasury Department rules which would effectively give the Iranians access to the US dollar and the American financial system. The administration had previously promised Congress that this would not happen as a result of implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The perceived betrayal of that promise was viewed as potentially giving away virtually the last bit of leverage that the US government had over Iran and its nuclear ambitions. The Iranian regime had publicly taken issued with the retention of that leverage in recent weeks, with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accusing the US of implementing the JCPOA only on paper, while still scaring away international banks and some European businesses from reentering the Iranian market. Officials from the administration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have echoed these criticisms, apparently prompting two meetings last week between Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry. It is recognizably true that the ongoing separation of the Iranian and American financial systems is a contributing factor in keeping some investors and potential partners out of Iran. But many analysts have also observed that such decisions are also based on the legitimate fear that Iranian behavior will justify or even necessity the re-imposition of US-led economic sanctions at some point in the future. This assessment of the situation was repeated on Thursday by Economy Watch, which reported that the Washington-based World Bank was still noticeably reluctant to reengage with Tehran following the implementation of the nuclear deal. The organizations president, Jim Young Kim says that the World Bank has no specific plans at the current time, but Economy Watch says that the World Bank is not exploiting the lack of official restrictions yet because it wishes to remain on good terms with its host country, the US. The article adds that the lending institution is no doubt aware of the possibility that relations between the two countries could rapidly deteriorate from the current climate of rapprochement. To be sure, the push-back from Cotton and other critics of the deal is a contributing factor in this, but so too is the anti-Western sentiment that is regularly being expressed by the Iranian regime, which arguably justifies a Republican response. The World Bank and other international businesses may feel even more reticent in the midst of reminders of the possible consequences of falling afoul or lingering or re-imposed economic sanctions. As outstanding issues continue to be resolved and other instances of tension continue to develop between Iran and the West, these are not difficult to come by. The most recent such reminder comes in the form of the arraignment of Reza Zarrab, who was the key-figure in a scandal that emerged three years ago involving Turkish evasion of sanctions on Iran. Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty reminded readers of the details of that scandal on Thursday, noting that the case involves hundreds of millions of dollars worth of transactions. The fresh memory of such illicit activities no doubt serves to underscore Western critics concerns about Irans behavior and the possible danger of providing money to a financial system that remains the State Department continues to regard as being of primary money laundering concern. [April 28, 2016] Fitch Places St. Jude Medical on Rating Watch Negative Fitch Ratings has placed St. Jude Medical, Inc. (STJ, St. Jude) on Rating Watch Negative. The rating action follows Abbott Laboratories' (ABT, Abbott) announcement of its intention to acquire St. Jude. Fitch will resolve the Rating Watch as more details regarding the transactions become available. However, given the currently available information and assuming Abbott acquires both Alere and St. Jude, Fitch will likely downgrade St. Jude to 'BBB'. St. Jude had approximately $6.43 billion in outstanding debt at Jan. 2, 2016. A full list of rating actions follows at the end of this release. KEY RATING DRIVERS Sound Acquisitions/High Leverage: Abbott's planned acquisition of St. Jude for an equity value of roughly $25 billion ($46.75 in cash and 0.8708 shares of Abbott common stock per share of St. Jude) plus approximately $5.7 billion net debt (which will be assumed or refinanced) is a good strategic fit. St. Jude will expand Abbott's market presence in segments that Abbott currently operates, by providing it with broader product offerings. The acquired portfolio, in aggregate, will also offer organic growth potential. The acquisition will significantly increase Abbott's debt, with leverage forecasted (assuming Abbott also acquires Alere) to remain above 3.0x through 2019. Fitch expects Abbott will reduce leverage to durably below 3.0x thereafter, through a combination of debt reduction and increased EBITDA. Operating margins will likely improve because of favorable shifts in sales mix, good cost control and synergies. FCF should stay significantly positive (excluding one-time restructuring costs). The potential 'BBB' post-transaction rating for St. Jude assumes that Abbott will pursue a more conservative approach to capital deployment, with share repurchases, dividend increases and acquisitions remaining modest. The transaction is likely to close near year-end 2016, pending regulatory approvals and St. Jude shareholder approval. The addition of St. Jude's products will significantly expand Abbott's medical device portfolio, particularly in the area of cardiovascular disease. The deal will position Abbott as the number-one or number-two player in many of the sub-segments of the cardiovascular device market. The combination provides minimal overlap in product categories and offers Abbott a larger presence in the faster growing device areas of atrial fibrillation, structural heart and neuromodulation. Abbott estimates it will realize roughly $500 million in annual synergies by 2020 from the St. Jude acquisition. Broader portfolios within the sub-segments of cardiovascular should provide Abbott with increased bundling/shelf space opportunities when contracting with hospital management and purchasing groups. Cost-related synergies in the areas of sourcing plus some overlap in sales force and administrative functions should be attainable. In addition, Abbott has a demonstrable record of accomplishment of acquiring and successfully integrating acquisitions. Thoratec Acquisition Strategically Sound: St. Jude's entered the mechanical circulatory support market through the acquisition of Thoratec on Oct. 8, 2015. The transaction will help to expand St. Jude's presence in treating heart failure patients. Thoratec's device platforms are adjacent to St. Jude's current cardiovascular platforms. Potential sales and technological synergies exist between the two's product platforms. St. Jude forecasts only modest operating cost synergies, but it should also be able to augment the growth in Thoratec's products through its scale. The acquisition was a cash transaction valued at approximately $3.4 billion, net of cash acquired. The transaction further stressed leverage, and Fitch believes that leverage will remain above 1.7x during the intermediate term. Growth Expected: St. Jude will likely generate mid-single-digit organic revenue growth during the next 12-24 months. Growth will be supported by new product introductions, growth in recently introduced products, and expansion into faster growing product and geographic markets. These factors should more than offset a soft CRM market and foreign exchange rate headwinds. St. Jude has recently launched, or will soon launch devices in all four of its business segments (CRM, Atrial Fibrillation [AF], Cardiovascular [CV] and Neuromodulation[NM]). A number of these devices are differentiated by their clinical effectiveness and safety profiles, as well as by their ability to reduce medical costs compared to competing devices. Fitch believes the company's new product development and commercialization efforts will continue to support favorable pricing and potentially incremental market share gains. Improving Margins: Fitch forecasts improving margins for St. Jude, despite some persistent headwinds. They have remained relatively strong, owing to mix shift to newer and higher margin devices and its ongoing focus on cost control which offset a more challenging hospital reimbursement environment. Longer-term, Fitch expects margins will benefit from continued gains in operational efficiency and favorable shifts in product sales mix. Reliable FCF: Increasing revenue with improving margins should result in St. Jude generating $800 million - $1.1 billion of annual FCF (cash flow from operations minus capital expenditures of roughly $250 million minus dividends of roughly $320 million) during the next two years. Cash generation should be sufficient to fund roughly $2.3 billion of debt reduction. KEY ASSUMPTIONS Fitch's key assumptions within the rating case for standalone St. Jude Medical, Inc. include: --Mid-single-digit organic revenue growth; --Stressed leverage in the intermediate term mainly due to the proposed Thoratec acquisition; --Improving margins of 50-75 basis points by 2017 with consistently positive and solid FCF of $800 million - $.1 billion annually; --Adequate liquidity from balance sheet cash and adequate access to the bank and credit markets; --Roughly $2.3 billion in debt reduction within approximately two years of the acquisition. RATING SENSITIVITIES Fitch will resolve the Rating Watch once more details regarding the transaction are available. However, given the currently available information and assuming Abbott acquires both Alere and St. Jude, Fitch believes St. Jude's ratings would likely move to 'BBB'. The following rating sensitivities are for standalone St. Jude. Positive: Future developments that may, individually or collectively, lead to positive rating action include the following: An upgrade is not anticipated in the near to intermediate term. However, St. Jude would need to commit to and operate with leverage stronger than 1.6x-1.7x while maintaining relatively stable operations and solid FCF, in order for Fitch to consider a positive rating action. Negative: Future developments that may, individually or collectively, lead to negative rating action include the following: --Debt sustained above 2.0x-2.1x EBITDA without the prospect of timely deleveraging. --Stressed leverage could result from a scenario in which revenue and margins are significantly stressed (more than Fitch anticipates), resulting in weakening FCF, and capital deployment not being adjusted to reduce the company's need for debt financing. --As such, significant debt-financed share repurchases or acquisitions in the near term would likely prompt a negative rating action, given the limited flexibility associated with the company's forecasted leverage during the next two years. LIQUIDITY At Jan. 2, 2016, St. Jude had adequate liquidity, comprising approximately $667 million in cash plus short-term marketable securities and roughly $996 million (net of $504 million commercial paper [CP] borrowings) in availability on its $1.5 billion bank revolving credit facility, which expires in August 2020. St. Jude generated approximately $531 million in FCF (net of $186 million of capital expenditures and $322 million of dividends) during latest 12 months (LTM), ended Jan. 2, 2016. The company had approximately $6.43 billion in debt with (including $504 million in CP outstanding) approximately $1,163 million maturing in 2017, $173 million in 2018, $658 million in 2019 and $4.32 billion thereafter. Fitch expects St. Jude to refinance the majority of its non-bank-loan maturities, utilizing its anticipated access to credit markets. FULL LIST OF RATING ACTIONS Fitch has placed the following ratings on Rating Watch Negative: St. Jude Medical, Inc. --Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) 'A-'; --Senior unsecured bank debt 'A-'; --Senior unsecured debt 'A-'; --Short-term IDR 'F2'; --CP 'F2'. Fitch expects that Abbott would pay down St. Jude's outstanding CP upon the close of the transaction. Fitch has made no material financial adjustments that are not disclosed within the company's public filings. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com. Applicable Criteria Corporate Rating Methodology - Including Short-Term Ratings and Parent and Subsidiary Linkage (pub. 17 Aug 2015) https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=869362 Additional Disclosures Solicitation Status https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=1003550 Endorsement Policy https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON (News - Alert) THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160428006979/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 28, 2016] Gold Struck on OpenLedger With Ethereum Based DigixDAO Asset (DGD) BLOKHUS, Denmark, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenLedger, the CCEDK owned transparent decentralized exchange now allows users to trade DigixDAO (DGD) assets on its platform. The DigixDAOcryptocurrency protocol is used for trading DigixGlobal's gold backed digital tokens (DGX) on the Ethereum platform. Recently mentioned in Forbes, the event is one of the most significant recent developments in the cryptocurrency industry. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160428/361382LOGO The gold backed digital token is a gold standard of cryptocurrency where the value of each DGX is hedged against a specific amount of real gold stored in the company's reserve. The DGD asset allows the platform to operate like any other cryptocurrency platform, enabling the transaction of digital gold tokens over DigixDAO. The digital gold asset created by DigixGlobal (DGX) is backed by actual gold, and is currently available for purchase with Ethereum only. All sales are registered as Ethereum smart contracts, recording the value, transactions and other information on the Ethereum blockchain. The DigixDAO (DGD) assets are similar to shares and are held by members who have contributed to the DigixDAO platform. They are entitled to receive a portion of the proceeds made by the platform through DGX sales and transaction fees. Anyone can trade DGD with ETH, BTC or any other cryptocurrency at: https://openledger.info Once DGD coins are released at launch time April 29th 00.00 UCT 2016, the same IOU asset (OPEN.DGD) currently trading during pre-launch will become freely transferrable and withdrawable. Users will also be able to make DGD deposits to OpenLedger at that time: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1437366.msg14541487#msg14541487 It is now also possible to access OpenLedger in the far east region much more quickly using the new server located at www.openledger.hk Gold has been the standard of value exchange for centuries. Even the early fiat currencies were based on the actual value of gold. However, with the growth of global economy and increased demand for money, the gold standard in fiat currency was gradually abandoned. The same system is now brought back to life in the form of digital currency by DigixDAO. As a part of this platform, all he digital gold tokens (DGX) ever created are backed by the corresponding amount of LBMA gold purchased by the platform. Each DGX is equivalent to 1 gram of gold and its value at any time is same as that of the equivalent amount of yellow metal at any given time. DGX is highly divisible, allowing people to buy and transact as less as one-thousandth of a gram of gold, which is priced at around $0.04. The platform charges a transaction fee of 0.13% per transaction, with a cap of 1 DGX per transaction. DGX holders can also redeem their digital gold token on the Digix platform for the equivalent in gold whenever they want. While speaking about gold, DigixDAO assets and volatility, DigixGlobal's co-founder and Director of Business Development Shaun Djie says "Gold has been one of the better-performing commodities since the start of this year, albeit with a volatile range-bound trading range. Extrapolating it over a longer period of time, the stability of gold as a hedge against geopolitical and economic risks is undisputed." DigixDAO attempts to make the best use of the both the transactional functionality possessed by virtual currencies and the stability of gold. DGD and OpenLedger are a perfect fit for each other as DGD makes use of Ethereum based smart contracts to register the value and transactions associated with digital gold tokens. At the same time, OpenLedger is offering a platform to list such Ethereum based assets for trading. Most of the Ether used by DigixDAO, over which DGD is created is ultimately owned by the people who contributed Ether during DGD crowd sale. The ether 'investment', resulting in DGD and the digital gold tokens (DGX) are all registered and governed by smart contracts to ensure value as well as to maintain proper records of all transactions on the blockchain. OpenLedger is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange based on BitShares 2.0 MIT licensed Graphene blockchain technology. The platform allows users to trade various existing cryptocurrencies and also offers an option to create their own digital assets. These digital assets are created using OpenLedger's underlying Graphene blockchain technology and sold on the same platform as well. Even though DigixDAO is initially making use of the OpenLedger's Ethereum assets listing feature to list its DGD assets, it eventually intends to list DGX, the digital gold tokens on OpenLedger. This will allow people to buy DigixGlobal's gold backed tokens directly from OpenLedger. Meanwhile, the DGD bought over OpenLedger can be transferred to the buyer's Ethereum wallets. With such collaboration, it will become easier for people to buy any amount of gold directly over the cryptocurrency exchange platform using any digital currency. About OpenLedger: OpenLedger is a decentralized financial crypto-platform created by CCEDK, a well-known Danish cryptocurrency exchange. It allows users to covert bitcoin to fiat pegged SmartCoins which can then be withdrawn in multiple ways. OpenLedger is powered by Graphene blockchain technology, based on BitShares 2.0 MIT License. About Digix: Digix is an Ethereum based decentralized platform for gold backed peer-to-peer digital assets. The platform leverages upon Ethereum smart contracts and InterPlanetary File System hypermedia distribution protocol to facilitate the creation of transferable crypto assets on the blockchain. Learn more about Digix platform at: https://dgx.io Learn more about OpenLedger DGD trading on bitcointalk: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1437366.msg14541487#msg14541487 Trade DGD with ETH, BTC or any other cryptocurrency at: https://openledger.info Users can also trade DGD with any cryptocurrency they like on OpenLedger's innovative platform Read more about DigixDAO and OpenLedger on Forbes at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2016/04/23/digital-gold-done-right-with-digixdao-crypto-trading-on-openledger/#21a24c6f4cf6 To view an introduction video about OpenLedger decentralized smart trading please go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG_XiOdbum8 Media Contact: Name: Ronny Boesing Email: [email protected] City and Location: Blokhus, Denmark CCEDK is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to FDIC and other consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gold-struck-on-openledger-with-ethereum-based-digixdao-asset-dgd-300259834.html SOURCE OpenLedger [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] anterior Entrevista. Presidenta de la Mesa Directiva del KKL Mexico: Me gustaria brindar mas conocimiento sobre el KKL actual y sobre como transmitirlo MATTOON -- First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust announced via a press release that Bethanie Cougill has been promoted to the position of Mattoon branch manager. In her new role, she is responsible for daily operations, including management of all functions, banking activity, risk management and services provided at three First Mid banking centers in Mattoon. Were excited to have Bethanie step up as branch manager for our Mattoon locations, said Barb Marquis, regional deposit manager. With 18 years in the banking industry, Bethanie brings a vast amount of knowledge, experience and maturity to her management position. Cougill joined the First Mid team in 1998 as a teller, customer service representative and most recently branch manager at First Mids Cross County location. She is a recipient of the 2014 Chairmans Award for Excellence. Not surprisingly, the response to our best pizza survey for Jeff's Top Five: Second Edition has been our most popular. Nearly 1,100 readers voted, showing that people in Lincoln have a passion for their pies. Also not surprisingly, the readers and I agree about our favorites. My top choice is Yia Yia's, the downtown pizzeria known for its creative menu. Readers had it as No. 3. Their favorite was The Isles Pub & Pizza, the north Lincoln pizza joint that has a long, tasty tradition. It was No. 3 on my list. Here's a rundown of my favorites: 1. Yia Yias, 1423 O St. -- Hands down, Yia Yias has the most interesting and delicious pizza in town, by the slice or pie. Our favorite is the Polynesian, a pie with a marinara and BBQ sauce with cranberries, jalapenos, black olives, pineapple, bacon, pepperoni, cream cheese, provolone. 2. Mellow Mushroom, 601 R St. -- This is where I find my favorite crust. In my review of it in October 2013, I wrote that I could eat it without any toppings or sauce. That hasnt changed. The crust is rich, buttery, flavorful and enhances anything atop it. 3. The Isles Pub & Pizza, 6232 Havelock Ave. -- The Leaning Tower of Pizza, made with hamburger, pepperoni and pepperoncini and onions, is my go-to pie here. 4. Piezanos, 2740 South St. -- I, like many Piezanos fans, was saddened 18 months ago when Diane Burner, who started the neighborhood pizzeria with her husband, Dick, passed away. Back in the day, Burner answered the phones and always had a knack of convincing me to order a slice of cheesecake to go along with my tasty pepperoni pizza. 5. Valentinos, multiple locations -- Since moving to the north side of Lincoln in 2010 near Vals Holdrege Street store, Ive gained a new appreciation for Lincolns oldest pizzeria, especially after the rebuild, which turned Vals into a quaint neighborhood restaurant. We like to order the specialty pies such as the spinach and artichoke or Vals version of a Chicago-style pizza. Readers chose The Isles as their favorite, with only two votes separating it from Valentinos and four from Yia Yias. Nearly 1,100 readers responded to our online survey. Heres a breakdown of their totals: 1. The Isles -- 16.13 percent 2. Valentinos -- 15.95 percent 3. Yia Yias -- 15.77 percent 4. Piezanos -- 8.93 percent 5. Lazzaris -- 6.65 percent Gov. Pete Ricketts on Friday endorsed Steve Halloran of Hastings in his bid to unseat Sen. Les Seiler of Hastings, chairman of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee. Ricketts, who was joined in the endorsement by Lt. Gov. Mike Foley, said Halloran is "a conservative Republican who is committed to growing Nebraska, reducing the growth of government spending and easing our tax burden." Reacting to the announcement, Seiler said Ricketts' opposition to him is based on his nonpartisan votes to override several of the governor's vetoes. Seiler pointed to veto overrides enacting legislation to repeal the death penalty and bills that grant access to driver's licenses and eligibility for professional and occupational licenses to young immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents when they were children. "I guess he doesn't like me," Seiler said during a telephone interview from Hastings. "I do what I think is right," he said. "I never do check on whether who is on my side is Republican or Democrat." Both Ricketts and Seiler are Republicans; Seiler serves in a nonpartisan Legislature. Whether Ricketts intends to oppose any other incumbent senators who are Republicans remains an open question. Seiler, an attorney, was appointed to the Legislature by Gov. Dave Heineman in December of 2011 and elected to a four-year term in 2012. Seiler and Halloran are the only two candidates for the 33rd District seat in the Legislature, so both will move on to a general election showdown in November. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's leading right now," Seiler said, because Halloran has had time to campaign while Seiler was occupied in the legislative session that adjourned earlier this month. "We'll see what happens," he said. Halloran is a fifth-generation farmer and small-business entrepreneur. "We can do better," he said in announcing his candidacy earlier this year. "We have a tax problem because we have a spending problem," Halloran said, pointing specifically to a need for property tax reduction. During an interview with the Hastings Tribune at the time, Halloran mentioned Seiler's votes to repeal the death penalty and to override the governor's veto of that legislation. Ricketts said "Steve's fresh perspective and background in agriculture and business is needed in the Legislature." Seiler said the governor phoned him a couple of days ago to inform him of the endorsement. "I voted for the DACA youth (who have been granted lawful presence in the United States by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive action taken by President Barack Obama) because I thought they were getting screwed," Seiler said. "The governor said that was against the rule of law," Seiler said. "Hey, we make the law." A continuing stream of murders in Omaha demonstrates that the death penalty is not a deterrent, he said. Southwest Lincoln voters can find clear differences among the trio of candidates vying to represent District 27 in the state Legislature. Deb Andrews, 65, is a longtime education activist who describes herself first and foremost as an independent. Dick Clark, 35, is a former policy adviser to Gov. Dave Heineman who says he's the guy who is used to looking at the evidence. And Anna Wishart, 31, is a former legislative staffer who says walking neighborhoods in the district has helped put a face to the issues. Two of the three will advance from Nebraska's May 10 primary to compete in the Nov. 8 general election. The winner there will succeed term-limited Sen. Colby Coash in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. District 27 is economically and politically diverse, encompassing essentially all of west Lincoln south of Oak Creek, along with a strip of south Lincoln bounded by 14th and 27th streets. Its neighborhoods include Capitol Beach, West A, South Salt Creek (South Bottoms), Everett, The Ridge, Wilderness Ridge, The Knolls and parts of Irvingdale, Indian Village and Country Club. Wishart says Medicaid expansion is key to the well-being of people in the area, and that public health has emerged as the No. 1 issue during her two door-to-door walking tours of the district so far. Some people have wept as they told her about their health problems and resulting medical bills, she said. Lawmakers rejected a measure again this year that would have allowed Nebraska to access federal Medicaid funding available under the Affordable Care Act. Caring for senior citizens and people with mental health issues is also key to preventing their homes and neighborhoods from becoming blighted through neglect, Wishart said. "I have met people where I'm the first person they've met in a week." Wishart is chairwoman of the Lincoln Airport Authority Board and is a policy consultant for the advocacy group Beyond School Bells. Her husband, Joe Coleman, is a Lincoln police officer. Clark, an attorney, helps people establish gun trusts to acquire heavily regulated firearms. And he is research director at Creighton University's Institute for Economic Inquiry, a role he also held at the Platte Institute For Economic Research, an Omaha-based think tank. His wife, Justina Clark, is director of undergraduate research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They have three children. People in District 27 care about taxes, Clark said, and he would push for uniformity in the state's tax code despite compelling stories about how certain perks might benefit specific groups when viewed in isolation. "It's not just about anecdotes," he said. "We have to look at statistics. We have to look at trends." Clark says he supports school choice, including charter schools in Lincoln and Omaha and state incentives for opportunity scholarships that allow more children to attend private schools. Those initiatives don't need to come at the expense of good public schools, he said. Yet state lawmakers have long rebuffed school choice measures, which have met opposition from public education groups including the state teachers' union, the Nebraska State Education Association. For Andrews, education reform is fundamental to her political activity. The semi-retired Internet columnist has spent two decades battling teachers' unions and school officials following her son's negative school experience in the 1990s. She believes parents should have direct access to money now used to fund public schools, allowing them to choose whether that money should go toward a public or private education, or to help ease the financial burden of homeschooling. Andrews says she is accepting no campaign contributions and is generally concerned about government entities including school boards being accountable to citizens. For example, she worries that the joint public agency created to oversee Pinnacle Bank Arena makes it easier for decisions to be made quickly and with less public scrutiny. "I thought we had three branches of government to slow things down," she said. District 27 is split almost equally between Democrats and Republicans. Each represents about 38 percent of registered voters, but Democrats hold a slight numerical edge. About 23 percent of registered voters are nonpartisan. Andrews is a registered nonpartisan, Clark is a Republican and Wishart is a Democrat. Peace does not come through tolerance. It comes through compassion and acceptance. Peace does not come through healing. It comes from mending, learning to be whole -- and perhaps even stronger -- through all of our scars. Peace does not come from working against something. But from working for. These are just a few of the lessons Terry Cozad Taylor -- author, artist and activist -- learned through a decades-long journey on his Interfaith Paths to Peace, a nonprofit interreligious organization based in Louisville, Kentucky. Taylor will be the keynote speaker at Thursdays 32nd Mayors Interfaith Prayer breakfast at the Cornhusker Marriott. Following the prayer breakfast, Taylor will take part in a free, open-to-the-public roundtable discussion at Saint Paul United Methodist Church. Before Taylor was an interfaith peace worker, he was a public relations administrator at various universities and colleges. His peace work didnt take root until 1973 when a friend introduced him to the works of Catholic author Thomas Merton. Eventually, Taylor became assistant director of the Merton Foundation in Louisville and ultimately director and executive director of Interfaith Paths to Peace. He has since retired and is now the organizations executive director emeritus. My work is shaped by the model of Thomas Merton, Taylor said in a telephone interview from his Louisville home. Specifically, Taylor draws from three Merton ideals: * Contemplative prayer. * Peace and justice work. * Interfaith dialogue, teaching Catholics that it was OK to look at Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Zen. (Merton) was the pioneer in interfaith dialogue and set the standards for the things I became interested in, Taylor said. Most world religions share the basic tenets: something or someone to revere; a body of teachings about how to live a healthy and meaningful life; and a community of followers or believers. The biggest difference between western and eastern religions is focus, Taylor said. Western religions seem to be more prophetic; Eastern religions more mystical, he said. Western religions often focus on right versus wrong, good versus evil, whos going to heaven versus who is going to hell. Eastern religions tend to focus more on ways of reliving our own suffering and that of other creatures, while we strive to become one with God (or the ultimate reality), Taylor said. What is clear to me is that even though we may practice either an Eastern or Western religions, we still need to have our spiritual lives spiced with wisdom and intention from the other, he said. During Thursdays prayer breakfast, Taylor will share stories and lessons from his interfaith journey. Key among them: that is useful to be positive in your efforts, something Interfaith Paths to Peace picked up unconsciously from the Dalai Lama, Taylor said. We are for things, rather than against, he said. He shared a story from Mobile, Alabama, where a minister had urged people to wear their guns to church. Rather than protest, Taylor and his organization held a picnic and rally at the same time urging people of all faiths to bring your peaceful heart and leave your gun at home. Ironically, the pro-gun minister even helped promote Taylors event, encouraging people to check it out. Its not that protesting is bad, Taylor said. But if you can find a positive way to address the issue, you will find that people feel more comfortable taking part. Work for peace at every level, Taylor said. When we oppose things, we start to divide people, Taylor said. Still, being positive doesnt mean we cant address troubling issues or problems. We address them -- but with alternatives. Interfaith work does not mean forsaking your own religious beliefs but learning and understanding one another, Taylor said. The walls that separate religions are becoming more porous. Spiritual practices are beginning to flow back and forth between religions. This means that even if you are rock solid in your faith in one religion, you can still learn from the spiritual practices in another. ... There is something in each religion that can improve our spiritual lives, he said. We are all in this together and we are all trying to make the world a better place for everybody, Taylor said. A Lincoln judge has found a 50-year-old Hartington man's 10-year habitual criminal sentence void and said he is entitled to be released from prison. But Barney Meyer isn't going anywhere just yet. Lancaster County District Judge Jodi Nelson stayed her decision pending an appeal by the Nebraska Attorney General's Office. At a short hearing Tuesday, Nelson set a $25,000 bond, meaning Meyer would need to post $2,500 to be released now. According to Nelson's decision, the issue comes down to how Meyer was charged and sentenced. In 2011, after he was arrested for burglary, the Pierce County Attorney's office charged Meyer with a separate count of being a habitual criminal. But, according to prior Nebraska Supreme Court cases, Nelson said, being a habitual criminal isn't a separate offense; it's an enhancement that bumps a defendant's sentence range up to 10 to 60 years, with no good time. In the order issued last week, the judge cited an old Supreme Court case nearly identical to Meyer's. "While the Kuwitzky case is from 1938, it appears to this court to be applicable today," she wrote. Had Meyer been sentenced properly, he would have gotten 10 years on the burglary charge, she said. Instead, on March 29, 2012, a Pierce County district judge sentenced him to two to four years in prison for the burglary and 10 years for habitual criminal, plus another two to four years, concurrent, for felony theft. Without the 10-year sentence, Meyer would have been eligible for parole after serving one year and for absolute discharge after two, if he lost no good time. In 2015, he filed a civil case seeking his release. Nelson had a hearing on the case in January, when an attorney for the state argued that Meyer should not be permitted to sit idly by and serve the lawful sentences and then seek his discharge. In her order last week, Nelson said the Attorney General's office cited no authority for the proposition or any rationale why the burden should've been on Meyer to point out he had been sentenced incorrectly. Quite frankly, she said, "it is superb lawyering if the decision not to appeal was made intentionally by defense counsel." If the state had noticed the error itself and appealed soon after his sentence, Meyer could have been resentenced. Prison records Wednesday still listed Meyer's parole eligibility date in August 2022 and his release a year later for the 2011 crimes. He was caught that April after burning stolen scrap wiring at a rural property east of Pierce in northeast Nebraska and admitted he was working with others who would take copper wiring off irrigation of pivots and that he'd pick it up and sell it. Six months later to the day, out on bond on the theft case, Meyer got caught stealing a 5-gallon bucket of copper plumbing from a rural Pierce home. He ran when a sheriff's deputy arrived, but a Nebraska State Patrol dog helped find him. Margaret Reist Local government reporter Margaret Reist is a recovering education reporter now writing about local and county government and the people who live in the city where she was born and raised. Follow Margaret Reist Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today A policy on how Lincoln Public Schools handles controversial issues in the classroom has gotten considerably more attention than usual. In fact, a veteran teacher and district curriculum specialist said the policy that defines controversial issues is hardly ever used in social studies classes, including those government and politics courses in which high school students discuss news events being debated by the public. My understanding is this policy is very, very rarely used, said Randy Ernst, who has been the social studies curriculum specialist for the past eight years and an educator for three decades. That could be partly a matter of definition. Critics who wanted to revise the policy last year during a controversy over gender identity issues were concerned about topics they felt delved into the realm of spiritual or moral belief. The policy covers a much broader spectrum, defining controversial issues as those where people "urge conflicting courses of action and "for which society has not found consensus, and where proposed ways of dealing with them arouse protest. A parental advocacy group created last year during the gender identity controversy wanted the policy to require parental notification of any educational practices that deal with human sexuality, family planning and graphic violence. Later a member of that group asked the board to revise the policy so parents would have to opt in rather than allowing them to opt out -- of controversial topics. The district has traditionally notified parents before sex education classes -- and now does so before each unit. But the school board this week rejected the opt-in proposal and instead clarified the policy to make it clear LPS has a responsibility to develop critical thinking skills through discussion of controversial topics. The amended policy says teachers should give adequate notice of those topics but also says if controversial issues arise during class discussion teachers can address them. And classes that discuss current issues -- such as senior-level government and politics classes -- regularly touch on topics upon which society hasnt found consensus. Thats why theyre in the news. Such discussions are intended to teach the art of civil discourse, researching both sides and looking at issues from multiple perspectives, Ernst said. The importance of that cant be overstated, he said. Teachers approach issues through the lens of legislative action or how states are dealing with them. Gay marriage or transgender issues might come up in that context, he said. Schools rely on documents such as court cases to research both sides of an issue and see how it's being handled differently. What issues might arise -- or be considered controversial -- changes over time. This fall, for instance, high school government and politics classes will likely spend more time on the death penalty. Its going to be on the ballot and were going to have students who are voting and we want them to make informed decisions based on hearing both sides of an issue, Ernst said. He met with teacher leaders in middle and high schools to discuss the policy -- and what issues most often concern parents -- when the board began reviewing it. In middle school world history classes, one of those issues is teaching Islam as a world religion. Most of the time, he said, parents worried the class taught about Islam but not Christianity. Thats not true, Ernst said. It's all about timing. Because world history is taught chronologically, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism fall earlier on the world timeline and therefore are taught in sixth grade. Islam doesnt come up until seventh grade. In the end, he said, the teachers concluded teaching the tenets of world religions helps create informed citizens. So this was not a controversial part of what we do -- its what we do, he said. Life and libraries Sometimes life brings you full circle, or at least creates connections that make you smile. Case in point: East High librarian Jane Holt and that one time she got kicked out of the very library she now runs. Holt, who spent most of her career teaching journalism to East High students, decided last year to do something different. Shed dabbled in the world of libraries for some time, earning her masters in library science a decade ago. Then this year, she decided to finally exchange all the craziness that comes with helping students create a yearbook and publish a school newspaper for the relative quiet of the library. Not that Holt is the shushing type. She wants to draw students in, make the library a place where everybodys welcome to read or study or make a robot out of Legos (now available, along with coloring books and bridge-building kits and Uno, in a new maker space). Turns out, libraries are less hushed than they were back when Holt was an East High student whose friends liked to hang out there. They liked to play cards. They were not especially quiet about it. And one day, Holt pulled the chair out from under her friend Barb. She hit the ground and we were invited to leave, Holt said. The only way to get back in was to get my library degree and get hired here. Spreading the news I learned about Holts wayward youth on a recent visit to interview East library technician Helen Cooper, who has a way with display windows and made a prom-inspired dress out of pages of old books. I dubbed this the amazing dress because, really, it's amazing, and as it turns out I'm not the only one who thinks so. The national School Library Journal does too, and plans to run a picture of it in its online publication. Ten of the 21 seats on the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District are up for election this year, but only one has enough candidates to warrant a primary election. Three Lincoln men are vying for a four-year term to represent Subdistrict 8: Paul Morrison, Dennis Macek and incumbent Larry Hall. The top two vote-getters in the May 10 primary will move on to the general election in November. Four of the district seats up for election have two people running and the remaining five have a single candidate. The Lower Platte South NRD and its 21 directors play a significant role in the region, dealing with a wide variety of issues that generally fall under the broad categories of water quantity and quality, soil erosion, flood control, recreational lakes and trails and environmental education. The district has a $25.25 million budget this fiscal year, of which $9 million comes from local property taxes. Hall is finishing his second term on the board. In a recent phone interview, he said he wants to continue contributing to the good work done by the district. Ive worked recently on land resources and recreation and wildlife, education information and getting (the NRD) to be more interactive with the public, he said. A former insurance business owner, Hall had his insurance provider and agency licenses revoked in May 2014. Macek, a writer and retired air-conditioning mechanic, moved to Lincoln in 2012 from Odessa, Texas, when his wife, Judith Kay Wilson, got a job as a literacy professor with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Macek said that if elected, he'd bring to the board a stark view of the implications of climate change and push to amend the districts master plan to address the issue. His focus would be on increased monitoring and development of specific measures to address climate change effects including water scarcity and extreme weather events, he said. Morrison said he fondly recalls the time he spent on the NRD board from 1989 to 2000 and would like to serve again. Water has always been a big issue, and I think it is going to be a little bit bigger issue (for the NRD), he said. He also said its important for the district to be mindful of cost-benefit ratios when dealing with issues of land development. Half of the boards directors are elected every other year and one at-large candidate is elected every four years. Directors get a $60 per diem for going to meetings and performing other duties, capped at $3,600 a year. The Lower Platte South NRD, one of 23 natural resources districts in the state, is headquartered in Lincoln and covers 1,500 square miles of Southeast Nebraska including most of Lancaster and Cass counties and parts of Otoe, Seward, Butler and Saunders counties. The state Department of Correctional Services is caught in a self-perpetuating cycle of high turnover among corrections officers. The Legislature recently put $1.5 million in the state budget for new measures to stop the cycle. Nebraskans should hope that the extra money is enough and that Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes can use it effectively. Sen. Bob Krist described the situation earlier this month: How long can staff keep a professional edge working 12 hour shifts and how long can an inmate deal with a particular personality before snapping? Theres a real human dynamic in psychology going on here thats dangerously getting to a flashpoint, he said. The strain and pressure of the long hours, combined with overcrowded conditions, make it more likely that violence will ignite. The increased likelihood of assault and long hours make it more difficult to retain and hire new corrections officers. So the cycle continues. Inmate assaults of corrections officers almost tripled over the past three years, going from 32 in 2013 to 59 in 2014 to 94 in 2015. The statistics include nine assaults that resulted in injuries that required urgent medical treatment and restricted the officers usual activity. The totals are on track to rise again this year. There were seven serious assaults in March and several in April. Three corrections officers were taken to a hospital and treated recently when they tried to subdue inmates who were fighting. One of the three employees sustained a cut on the forehead that required stitches. During the past fiscal year turnover among corrections officers was 33 percent. Overtime hours among guards are currently about 13 hours per employee per week. Some of the recommendations by a work group on how to use the $1.5 million in retention money include one-time longevity bonuses, reimbursement for continuing education and training to develop a better work environment. But Frakes faces a formidable challenge. Workers in Nebraska have other options. Employers are competing for workers. Nebraskas unemployment rate of 3 percent in March was the fourth lowest in the nation. Lincolns unemployment rate was even lower at 2.8 percent. Frakes said told the Legislatures investigative committee that he did not want to disclose strategies he is pursuing with the departments collective bargaining team. Thats understandable. But its important that the strategies show results. The cycle of high turnover has years of momentum. It wont be easy to slow it, let alone end it. After almost two years in office, it is clear that Gov. Pete Ricketts has a fundamental misunderstanding of and a callous disregard for the democratic process. His arrogant, dismissive, and autocratic style of governing is inappropriate and offensive to anyone who understands the spirit of pragmatism and compromise that is the intent and mandate of the American political system, and which has generally been the norm in Nebraska. It is hard to grant him the benefit of the doubt after his unfounded and self-serving veto of LB 580, the redistricting bill, which was passed by a solid, bipartisan majority, after a lengthy and thorough process of study, deliberation, and compromise ("Ricketts vetoes redistricting reform," April 19). This veto raises concerns of voter suppression. Another example of his overreach is his refusal to abide by the will of the Legislature in the death penalty matter, even after his veto was overridden. His self-funded campaign to obstruct this mandate is ongoing. Gov. Ricketts' rigid opposition to Medicaid expansion, rejecting all of the evidence supporting its economic and social benefits with the flimsy contention that "we can't afford it" is disheartening and no doubt played a major role in the Legislature's failure to pass that bill this year ("Health reform bill shelved," March 31). Even though the Legislature rose to the occasion in overriding his veto of the DACA bill, a troubling pattern is emerging ("Ricketts' immigrant veto defeated," April 21). Gov. Ricketts' overuse of the veto pen in effect imposes the requirement of a "supermajority" to enact legislation, instead of the simple majority intended by our democratic political system. This creates an onerous and unnecessary burden for the task of doing the people's business. This is unacceptable, and this pattern should not be continued. Theresa Hayden, Lincoln As a resident of legislative district 25, I'm voting for Jim Gordon for legislature ("Endorsements for legislature," April 24). Jim is the most qualified candidate seeking that office. He is a lifelong resident of Lincoln and a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. When Jim came back from Vietnam, he began to serve the community as a volunteer in numerous capacities. In his law practice, Jim has acted as a mediator in contentious divorce cases and found common ground. That kind of experience will serve LD 25 well in the Unicameral. Please join me in supporting Jim Gordon on May 10. OMAHA A 75-year-old woman has confronted a man who was cruising around an Omaha park in her stolen motorized wheelchair. Reva Murrell said her chair was stolen Monday from her senior citizens home. Viewing security recordings later, Murrell saw a man enter through a door that's normally secure, get in her chair, drive around and then roll out. A friend of hers spotted the chair and a man a few hours later at Adams Park. Murrell said she and her friend then went to the park and found him. She said she told him, "Hey, that's my chair! You stole my chair!" Murrell said the man stood up and didn't say a word while she called police. He was arrested on suspicion of theft. MOUNT PLEASANT The building at the corner of Mead and 24th streets may never again have lasagna day every Wednesday, but it may indeed serve food again just as Toteros did for 76 years. Jeff Cady, owner of Zion, Ill.-based A.R.C. Contractors, bought the former Toteros last week and plans to do a complete rehab, inside and out. Meanwhile, hell look for an operator to open a restaurant at 2343 Mead St. again. Toteros, which had an Italian restaurant at that location since 1939, closed last June with the retirement of co-owners Albert and Angela Totero, brother and sister and third-generation owners. Theirs had been an iconic diner where each weekday featured a different type of pasta such as the most-popular lasagna Wednesdays. And where customers walked their plates over to the kitchen where Angie Totero served them their food. In April, when the Toteros announced their restaurant would be closing, Albert said, The place is old, and it needs some work. Cady, whose company does mostly commercial work, said hes done numerous building rehabilitations in Waukegan, including one that won an award. He came across the old Toteros building on Craigslist, where First Weber had posted it. I took a ride, and I saw a commercial building in a unique location, he said. He called it a nice, solid building, albeit not a pretty one. I bought it as a total rehab project, he said. For example, it will need lots of updating and four new electrical systems for the first floor and three apartments above. The asphalt, fake-brick shingle siding will have to go, and Cady doesnt know what hell find underneath. After hearing about the draw that Toteros had been, Cady said, I wanted to keep it a restaurant. He has already put for rent signs on the building to start his search for a restaurateur. I think the idea of a barbecue restaurant would be perfect there, he said, but Cadys not locked into that. He can imagine a Cuban, Korean or seafood restaurant there, as other examples. He said he wont get a liquor license and just wants a family restaurant. As for timing, Cady said, Im ready to jump on this; I have the funding. Hell start rehabbing the apartments, which are all empty and should take about four months then move to the first floor. However, he said, If I got a viable restaurant tenant, I would get another crew and start on that too. RACINE The former Western Publishing Co. headquarters and manufacturing plant has been sold by Johnson Redevelopment Corp. for $2.35 million to Milwaukee-based Phoenix Investors. Phoenix bought the approximately 800,000-square-foot building, now called Mound Avenue Business Center, from Johnson Redevelopment, SC Johnsons real estate arm. According to Phoenix, the mixed-use building at 1220 Mound Ave. currently has about 30 tenants. They include 21st Century Preparatory School, Next Generation Now, several industrial tenants and offices. With the sale, SCJ executed a new lease for the 36,000 square feet of space that it occupies there. Company officials declined to talk about the use of that space. Phoenix Managing Director David Marks said about 260,000 square feet of space is currently leased, or about one-third. Phoenix said its first priority is solidifying the current leases which will be followed by renovation of the complex under the direction of Phoenixs in-house construction department. We plan to immediately work on lease extensions for several of the existing tenants and work with additional tenants on expansion of their current spaces, stated Javonni Butler, a development associate for Phoenix. Marks said there are no specifics on renovations yet, but Phoenix will immediately work on energy-efficiency upgrades. There will also be some build-outs for tenant expansions. With acquisitions, he added, Phoenix often redoes the roof and parking lot. According to Phoenix, the four-story industrial and office complex was developed in 1928 as a new modern headquarters and printing plant for Western Publishing. It served in that capacity until shortly after Western Publishing was sold in 2001. The deal was financed by Marine Bank and brokered by RFP Commercial, Milwaukee. Mound Avenue is at the edge of the area the City of Racine is trying to improve as part of the Root River Redevelopment Plan. We are supportive of the City of Racines redevelopment efforts and are looking forward to helping the community continue to redevelop this area, Marks stated. We are looking forward to a close working relationship with the city. RACINE It was cold, cloudy and windy on Thursday afternoon, but hundreds of fans braved the unseasonable temps for a chance to meet rapper 50 Cent at Twins Food Mart, 1812 16th St. By 12:45 p.m. fans were lined up around the block for the opportunity to toast to the good life with the hip-hop artist best known for party hits like In Da Club and P.I.M.P. There to promote Effen Vodka, the internationally known rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer, spent roughly two hours at the convenience store signing bottles of the liquor. Fans who bought a $20 bottle of the vodka were guaranteed a spot to meet the artist and get it signed. Those who spent $120 for a six-bottle case about 60 fans as of 1:30 p.m. were put in a VIP Line. The media was not allowed into the event to talk to 50 cent or photograph him, but fans carrying out vodka verified he was in fact there. Luis Gomez, 23, was among those who shelled out the extra cash for a case of the vodka, which he admitted never having tried. Im trying to get this signed, he said pulling a C.D. of the rappers 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin from the pocket of his sweatshirt. The factory worker and Racine resident said he has been a fan of 50 Cent since he was in the fourth grade. In line behind him was Katherine Maluska. Dressed in a sparkly top and white jeans, the Winthrop Harbor, Ill., resident also said she hadnt tried the vodka, of which the rapper is a minority stakeholder. But the 19-year-old bakery worker said she came out for the event because meeting 50 Cent was a once in a lifetime experience. Bashar Quedan, an owner of Twins Food Mart, noted that any person under 21 who was in line to see the rapper, had to be accompanied by a parent, and could not walk out of the store with the liquor or take pictures with 50 Cent or the alcohol. Quedan estimates 700 people took part in the event, buying 1,296 bottles of the vodka. Amanda Aviles, 33, a Racine waitress, said she had tried the vodka, and liked it. Plus, she added, I get to meet him for $20. This isnt the first time the owners of Twins Supermarket have hosted an event for a famous rapper. In August 2010, the store hosted an appearance by rapper Ludacris, who signed bottles of Conjure, a brand of cognac that he co-owns. RACINE Leroy Bailey left his home in Virginia two years ago with a pretty big goal to walk the perimeter of the entire United States to help draw attention to the plight of homeless veterans. With a 40-pound pack strapped to his back, the wiry then-52-year-old started out from 15th Street in Virginia Beach on June 30, 2014. I was complaining to God that no places were being built for the homeless We care more about housing stray animals in this country, than we do about people, Bailey said. He said if you want to build hope centers (for the homeless) around America, you have to walk around America. On Wednesday afternoon, more than 8,000 miles through his 11,500-mile trek one that has taken him through the Everglades, the deserts of the southwest, and the hills of California he arrived in Racine County, by way of Highway 32. Landing first at Mocha Lisa Coffee Shop, 2825 4 1/2 Mile Road in Caledonia, he met a customer who put him in touch with local nonprofit Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin. Later the Veterans of America Motorcycle Club in Caledonia put him up in a hotel for the night. He called the help received here the best community assistance hes received on his trek that was organized by a church. A long walk On Thursday morning, the soon-to-be 54-year-old was sipping coffee once again, this time at Divino Gelato Cafe, 245 Main St. Ready to set back out on his track, the contractor and recovering alcoholic took a few minutes to talk about his journey thus far, which has been equal parts grueling and uplifting. Basically this is a faith walk. I have no idea what the next city is going to look like. Where I am going to sleep, he said. I sprained my ankle in Louisiana. I had stress fractures in my left foot diagnosed in Lordsburg, New Mexico. I had my backpack stolen in San Francisco. I lost my wallet in Seattle. But for all the hardships he has suffered, including being turned away by churches in some towns, Bailey has met numerous good Samaritans. There was the man he met in Crosby, Texas a fellow member of Alcoholics Anonymous who drove more than 100 miles in December 2014 to make sure Bailey had a place to be on both Christmas and New Years without having to disrupt his trek. He was also touched by the homeless veteran he met in Portland, Oregon. Bailey spent five days with the man, who let him sleep in the same spot under the bridge that the mans father a World War II veteran had spent many a night. This guy had a grocery cart full of blankets that he guarded with his life in case someone came to town who had nothing to keep warm with, Bailey recalls. Meeting the homeless Bailey isnt the first person to set out on a countrywide trek to raise awareness for the homeless or another cause, but he does believe he is the first person to as closely as possible given various restrictions walk the actual perimeter of the U.S. with the goal of helping homeless vets. Bailey, who himself was once homeless, has been working with the homeless for 32 years. With many nights spent sleeping in the same places where the homeless sleep, Bailey got a sense of how the homeless are treated in communities across the country, from the stifling conditions of a cramped shelter in Florida, to the men he met in Baton Rouge, Louisiana who told him that New Orleans police gave them the option of 90 days in jail or a bus ticket out of town. His plan is to use any money he raises during his travels to support Servants of God Ministry, which is dedicated to raising money to build homeless shelters across America. Heading home But before he can work building shelters he has to get home. On Thursday afternoon he left Racine hoping to make Zion, Illinois, by supper time. He tries to walk 20 miles a day, he said. From there he plans to walk along the lake, to Grand Rapids, Michigan, eventually reaching Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence Seaway, before crossing Maine, and heading back down the East Coast. My wife is hoping Ill be back home by October, he said. Correction: The total number of miles on the trek was incorrect in the initial story. It has been corrected. 2 Nepalis held in Greece over abduction Two Nepali nationals have been arrested in Greece on charge of abducting a fellow citizen. Asylum seeker dies in Australia from self-inflicted burns A 23-year-old Iranian asylum seeker who set himself on fire at Australia's detention centre on the island of Nauru has died. Biometric ID gets House panels nod The deck has been cleared for the much awaited biometric national identity card that replaces the citizenship paper and will carry personal information of every citizen. Black market fuels crisis of cooking gas: DoSM Even though supplies have gradually improved, rampant black-marketeering and hoarding of cooking gas have plagued the market, according to the Department of Supply Management (DoSM). Boom times revisit hotel sector Indias most celebrated luxury hotel chain Taj re-entered Nepal this year by signing a management contract with Chaudhary Group (CG) Hotels and Resorts to operate the Meghauli Serai Jungle Lodge in Chitwan. Colombia legalises gay marriage Colombia's top court has legalised same-sex marriage, making the country the fourth in Latin America to do so. Conflict victims caught in a catch-22 situation Growing interest of security agencies in the complaint registration process initiated by the transitional justice bodies has put conflict victims on the horns of dilemma whether they should register cases at the LPCs, as they fear retribution. And if they don't file cases, they might never get justice. Dadeldhura fire under control after 2-hrs The massive inferno which threatened to ravage Bagbazaar downtown of Dadeldhura has been taken under control after two hours. DPM seeks UK aid through Nepal government channel Nepal has asked the United Kingdom to provide all its assistance to the government. Fading hopes Some families that lost their loved ones during a decade-long Maoist insurgency in Kavre district do not believe that the transitional justice bodies formed to investigate into the conflict-era cases will offer them justice. Caravan actor Thinley laid to rest at Pachalighat The mortal remains of Caravan actor and social activist Thinley Lhondup were laid to rest according to Buddhist tradition at Pachalighat in Teku on Friday. He was 72. Five more bogus engineers held A day after three fake engineers were arrested, the Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) on Thursday made public five more individuals for possessing bogus engineering degrees. UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations on Thursday said that the latest launch of ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is "extremely troubling," and urged Pyongyang to stop any "further provocative action." "We would just repeat that these type of actions by the DPRK are extremely troubling and we would yet again encourage the DPRK to cease any further provocative actions and return to full compliance of its international obligations," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. The DPRK on Thursday fired what was believed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile, but it appeared to have failed, South Korea's defense ministry said. A South Korean Defense Ministry official told Xinhua on the phone that the DPRK launched a projectile, estimated to have been a Musudan missile, at about 6:40 am local time from the Wonsan area in northeastern DPRK. The official said the launch appeared to have failed as the projectile was believed to have crashed several seconds after liftoff. If confirmed, it would mark the DPRK's second test-firing of a Musudan missile after the launch on April 15. South Korea's military saw the April 15 launch as failure as the missile exploded in mid-air several seconds after liftoff. Also on Thursday, the UN Security Council met behind closed doors on the DPRK's latest missile launch at the request of the United States, diplomats and UN officials said here. Forest fires continue to rage across country Raging forest fires have become a major cause for concern, as they are not only resulting in fast depletion of trees but also are greatly affecting humans and wildlife. Govt change is common in democracy: PM Oli Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has ruled out the possibility of toppling the government anytime soon. But this government will not remain at the helm forever. Change in government is a common in democracy, said the prime minister. Gucci warns Hong Kong shops on paper fakes for funerals Italian luxury goods maker Gucci has sent warning letters to Hong Kong shops selling paper versions of its products as offerings to the dead. Handicraft Trade Fair slated to open May 5 The 13th Handicraft Trade Fair and 11th Craft Competition will be held concurrently from May 5 for four days. Helicopter crashes on Norway coast A helicopter has crashed near the Norwegian city of Bergen with at least 14 people on board, and there are reports of people in the sea. Korea-Nepal hospital brings cardiology unit into operation The Korea-Nepal Friendship Hospital in Madhyapur-Thimi Municipality on Thursday launched its cardiology unit for heart patients conciding with the institutes seventh anniversary. Massive fire at Dadaldhura headquarters destroys properties A fire ripping through the Bagbazaar of Dadeldhura is spiraling out of control as fire fighters dispatched from Dipayal are struggling to douse the blaze. MPs for increasing budget for edu sector Parliamentarians representing different political parties have expressed commitment to take initiative to allocate at least 20 per cent of the total budget for the education sector to ensure quality of public education. NC president Deuba and Speaker Gharti hold meeting President of the Nepali Congress, the main opposition party in parliament, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Speaker Onsari Gharti have held discussions on forging consensus for the passage of the parliament regulation. Panchase an ideal place for visit The enticing flowers of Panchase have not just taken up space within a lyric of a famous Nepali song, but also been a boon for the tourism industry. Parties ask cadres to help in house reconstruction The major political parties have decided to mobilise their cadres at the local level in order to assist government officials in the reconstruction of peoples homes in the 14 worst earthquake affected districts. PM concerned over House rule delay Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed concern over the delay in finalising the parliamentary regulations by the Regulation Drafting Committee (RDC) of Parliament. Police arrest Salyan family murder suspect Police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection to the murder of four people of a same family in Ranagaun, Salyan. Political commitment needed to end syndicates, says Karki Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Arjun Kumar Karki told the parliamentary Development Committee on Wednesday that political commitment was required to eliminate the pervasive transport syndicates that have made life hard for the general public. Poor show Nepal has not been able to make sustained progress in bringing down the poverty rate US man Kim Dong-chul jailed for spying in North Korea North Korea has sentenced a US man to 10 years of hard labour for spying. Walking the talk Paris agreement could become operational earlier than expected; but will it be meaningfully implemented? Copperas Cove, TX (76522) Today Light rain this morning with thunderstorms developing for the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 78F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mainly clear skies after midnight and gusty winds. Low 51F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible. Killeen, TX (76540) Today A few showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving for the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 79F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming mostly clear and windy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible. Yes, its hard to to tell when one enters the city limits Yes, they will make the city more inviting Maybe ... does it really matter? No, the signs in place are fine No, it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars Vote View Results The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) is today set to hand over a petition asking the president not to assent to the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2016to the Prime Minister. The group says it has collected over 3.5 million signatures from citizens. Mr. Julius Mishambi the Director of Programmes at Uganda Debt Network, one of the organisations under CSBAG, describes Members of Parliament (MPs) as fortune seekers following their demands for tax exemption. The MPs say if the law is not passed then they will not pass the 2016/2017 budget. Civil society organizations are concerned that if the MPs facilitation is not taxed, the country would lose atleast Shs40 billion in taxes annually. Meanwhile statehouse has refuted reports that the president had given a tacit approval for the MPs tax exemption deal. Presidential Press Secretary Ms.Lindah Nabusayi says the president cannot be held at ransom, after the MPs threatened to block the budget if the exemption is not approved, an act which she describes as treasonable. Nabusayi has also challenged the MPs who were claiming that the president new about the disputed tax exemption deal that resulted into the passing of the Income Tax Amendments Bill, 2016 to produce evidence. State Minister for Finance in charge of Planning David Bahati who tabled the bill explained that the amendment was an adjustment to exclude some of the facilitation allowances for constituency but that the MPs agreed that only their basic salary, totaling about Shs 2.5 million be taxed. Story By Judith President Yoweri Museveni has described the late Lucy Kibaki, former Kenyan First Lady as a strong woman who greatly contributed to the development of her country. In his condolence message to former Kenyan president MwaiKibaki, Museveni has asked the younger generation to emulate her legacy as a relentless campaigner for womens rights, the disadvantaged and disabled persons, girl child education and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Museveni said it was with a deep sense of loss and sorrow that he learnt of the death of Mama Kibaki, and asked that the Almighty God provides solace and strength to the family and the Kenyan people. Mama Lucy Kibaki died on Tuesday at London hospital where she receiving treatment. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Low around 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. A nearly century-old Fox Lake property has made Indiana Landmarks 10 Most Endangered, an annual list of Hoosier landmarks in jeopardy, thanks in part to a former Indiana Landmarks board member and a willingness of property owners to work toward preserving the home. Pryors Country Place on Fox Lake near Angola is one of the 10 sites. Built in 1927 as a vacation home and later converted to an inn, Pryors Country Place provided lakeside accommodation and recreation to black vacationers at a time when blacks couldnt vacation at the popular resorts that attracted whites. The long-vacant Pryor home occupies a five-acre lakefront site thats for sale, and land is now at a premium on the lake an equation that puts the landmark in jeopardy. The home was owned by Albert Pryor, a retired railroad porter. Carol Karst-Watson, an Angola native and Fox Lake cottage owner who now lives in Noblesville, started working on getting attention for the Pryor home with the hope that it could be restored. Ive seen whats happened around Angola with the lake homes and became immediately involved when the property went on the market, Karst-Watson said. Karst-Watson, a member of the Fox Lake Association, said she contacted the property owners, heirs Hal and Joy Parker, who agreed to allow Indiana Landmarks to promote the possible sale of the property to someone who might restore it. Karst-Watson herself is in the process of restoring a mid-century cottage west of the Pryor property that hasnt been altered since its original construction. Thats the reason I bought it, because its original, said Karst-Watson, a former Indiana Landmarks board member. Places that land on the 10 Most Endangered often face a combination of problems rather than a single threat, says Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks, a nonprofit preservation organization. A bid for demolition is a loud signal, of course, but many of these sites suffer abandonment, neglect, dilapidation, obsolete use, unreasonable above-market sale price, sympathetic owners who simply lack money for repairs, an out-of-the-way location or its opposite, encroaching sprawl that makes the land more valuable without the landmark. Indiana Landmarks populates the 10 Most list with important structures that have reached a dire point. Calling attention helps, says Davis. These places are not lost causes. All have the potential for revival and reuse. These landmarks preserve connections to community heritage. Time and again, we find that restoring one important place spurs broader revitalization in a community, Davis adds. Indiana Landmarks uses the Most Endangered list to bring attention to the imperiled sites and find solutions that will ensure their preservation. For much of the 19th century and well into the 20th, blacks couldnt vacation at popular resorts that attracted whites. Segregation limited their opportunities to enjoy lakeside summers. In Indiana, white Fort Wayne businessmen in the 1920s saw a financial opportunity in this inequality and bought land around Fox Lake near Angola. They marketed Fox Lake as a resort destination for affluent blacks. Built in 1927 as a vacation home and later converted to an inn, Pryors Country Place provided lakeside accommodation and recreation to black vacationers. The rustic charm of the cobblestone-and-clapboard exterior conveyed a connection to nature. Rumor and physical evidence suggest that liquor flowed from a lakeside still through a pipe into the inn/speakeasy during prohibition. Indiana Landmarks announced the first 10 Most Endangered in 1991. Since then, 112 historic places in severe jeopardy have appeared on the list, with only 13 lost to demolition. This years list includes eight new entries and two landmarks making repeat appearances (see addendum for more on each site). The new 10 Most Endangered in 2016 are: 1. Beech Church, Carthage vicinity 2. Hazelwood, Muncie 3. Speakman House, Rising Sun 4. Washington County Courthouse, Salem 5. Monon High Bridge, near Delphi 6. Pryors Country Place, Fox Lake near Angola 7. Ford Motor Company Assembly Branch, Indianapolis 8. Southside Turnverein Hall, Indianapolis 9. Camp Chesterfield, Chesterfield 10. Rivoli Theatre, Indianapolis Camp Chesterfield and Rivoli Theatre are carried over from 2015. The fates of several landmarks named to the 10 Most Endangered in 2015 have improved dramatically, demonstrating the effectiveness of the list. Indiana Medical History Museum in the 1895 Old Pathology Building in Indianapolis received donations and a grant to replace the leaking roof. McCurdy Hotel in Evansville has gone from vacant to active with construction workers converting it to apartments. United Brethren Block, three interconnected buildings on the courthouse square in Huntington, won a demolition reprieve with a redevelopment prospect Bedford Elks Lodge is now watertight, thanks to the Bedford Urban Enterprise Association, which is exploring reuse options. This June, the Bangor School District will lose one of its senior faculty members. After 27 years as a second-grade teacher, Julie Weber will retire from the Bangor School District this spring. Each year Weber, much like the beloved Miss Frizzle from the famed childrens show The Magic School Bus, took her students around the world through clever lessons and plenty of cardboard boxes. Her classroom is hard to miss. This year, its the one with great big pirate ship in it. Long before things like Pinterest were around for teachers to share ideas, Weber would transform her classroom into an immersive learning environment. She made props from cardboard and other household crafts to get her students excited about learning. Every year it was a little different. Shes had everything from dinosaurs to airplanes to jungles complete with toy spiders fill her room each year to stimulate the minds of her students. I dont know where I got the ideas, she said. For her final year, she constructed a large pirate ship for her students to read in. Every day, three students would get to read in the ship during class reading time. Weber got her start in education a little differently than most. In high school she began kicking he idea of being a teacher around. She said figured out that she wanted to be a teacher in eighth grade. I had good teachers, she said. I loved school ever since I was little and I loved little kids, she said. When you put the two together you get a teacher. Out of high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where she received her bachelors degree, not in education but in music. She said somewhere in her music education she decided it was going to be too difficult finding a music education job and instead focused on music. In 1982, she received her degree, and that same year her first child was born. Fast forward a few years and another child, Weber returned to school, this time to be a teacher as she had always dreamed about being. She finished her second round at UW-L in 1989, this time with her teaching license. She said it was the best decision she ever made. Out of school Weber jumped at the first opportunity that presented itself, and so that same year she started teaching second grade for the Bangor School District. Its a great place to teacher, she said. Im been fortunate to work with some of the finest students and faculty. Weber, who lives in Onalaska, had numerous opportunities to work closer to home, but something about the Bangor School District appealed to her. She said she liked working in a smaller school district. Its a home away from home, she said. The people here are great. Over the past 27 years, the political climate has changed the face of education across the nation, but for Weber politics wasnt her business, watching the eyes of her students light up was. I am who I am, and my job is to teach and I am not letting anything get in the way of that, she said. Its not been an easy job by any means. She said in her mind there isnt a job more important than teaching the next generation to be good citizens. Instead for Weber the biggest change and challenge to education has been the introduction of technology in the classroom. They learn research skills earlier on, she said. She said it can motivate kids and it can be a great asset for teachers. I think one of the negatives is it hinders their ability to communicate face to face, she said. Sometimes I think that takes away from problem solving skills. Weber said the next step wont be an easy one. She said the idea of retiring didnt come easily for her. It was her husbands retirement that got to her. Weber said she has four grandchildren all under 22 months that she would like to see more of. This September Weber wont be traveling to Japan with her class on an imaginary journey aboard a cardboard airplane, instead shell be on her way to Ireland to learn about another culture. However, Weber might not be quite done in Bangor just yet. She hasnt ruled out substitute teaching from time to time, but how often she hasnt decided. I loved school ever since I was little and I loved little kids. When you put the two together you get a teacher. Julie Weber, retiring Bangor teacher Nearly eight years after graduating from Onalaska High School, longtime friends Nathan Melby and Alec Bronston have launched their new Sunsoma alcohol brand. Sunsoma, which its owners say is a blend of fermented citrus fruit, cane sugar and fruit flavor, began appearing in La Crosse-area grocery stores, bars and restaurants in early February. It comes in three flavors grapefruit, apple and apricot ginger in a 3-liter plastic bag in a box. Sunsoma entered the Madison market in early April and now is available in about 75 locations in the two markets. Melby and Bronston hope Sunsoma will be available throughout Wisconsin and in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market by next spring. They plan to introduce it to the Milwaukee market this summer. We want to be very methodical in how we expand, Melby said. Melby lives in Onalaska, while Bronston lives in Minneapolis where he continues to work full time for a management and technology consulting firm. Bronston received a bachelors degree in management information systems from the University of Minnesota in 2012. Melby received a bachelors degree in business management from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2012. In January, he left his job at La Crosse Beverage LLC in Onalaska to start Sunsoma. He began working at La Crosse Beverage part-time 10 years ago, when he was doing such things as mopping floors and cleaning up broken beer bottles. For the past three years, he sold craft beer brands to area retailers. Friends since grade school, both men are 26 and run their new business from wherever they can find an Internet connection, Melby said. Alec runs most of the logistics and business side of things, Melby said. He keeps things organized, tidy and running. My job is to sell, deal with distributors and market the overall brand. Melby and Bronston use multiple distributors, and keep their inventory at the La Crosse Beverage warehouse. After selling other peoples brands, I wanted to start my own, Melby said of beginning Sunsoma. Bronston wanted to get into physical products and I wanted to start an alcohol brand that fit a gap in the market that I felt was there. He and Bronston began developing Sunsoma in the summer of 2014. Sunsoma is a blend of many trends going on in the beverage industry, Melby said, adding that todays consumers are interested in trying new products. Its noncarbonated, naturally flavored, boxed and less sweet than conventional fruity alcohols. Response has been very positive. Sunsomas alcohol base is made by fermenting orange juice in Florida. They turn orange juice into a very clear and clean alcohol thats more vodka-like than anything, Melby said. The alcohol is sent to an Indiana plant, where fruit flavors and cane sugar are blended in, and where Sunsoma is packaged. Sunsoma is unique and isnt as sweet as flavored malt beverages or wine coolers, Bronston said. Its kind of a hard citrus blend and most retailers sell it for $13.99 to $15.99 per box. So far, grapefruit has been the most popular of the three Sunsoma flavors. Were working on new flavors, Melby said, and they welcome suggestions. We try to come up with fun and offbeat flavors, Bronston added. Melby and Bronston chose bag-in-box packaging over bottles partly because the former will keep Sunsoma tasting fresh longer (for up to four weeks) after the package has been opened. And we think it tastes better in a box, Bronston said of Sunsoma, which has a 5.5 percent alcohol content. By a vote of 84-46, the Minnesota House of Representatives has approved legislation that continues last sessions historic investment in K-12 Education and includes a number of provisions that assist Greater Minnesota schools. Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston) voted in favor of the measure. In 2015, the legislature approved $525 million in new funding for our schools, and now through some cost savings in other areas we are able to allocate another $56 million to our education needs, Davids said. Among the Greater Minnesota priorities in the bill, Davids said the legislation helps reduce the funding disparity between rural and metro-area school and addresses the teacher shortage. It also provides $7 million in rural education broadband programs to boost access for students and teachers; $1 million for career and industrial certification incentives; and $900,000 for mobile career and technology education labs bringing resources directly to rural students. The comprehensive education legislation also includes a provision sponsored by Davids that would allow the Caledonia School District to make an early repayment of a capital loan. This is a good bill that prioritizes schools from all corners of the state including southeastern Minnesota, Davids said. The education legislation now heads to the Minnesota Senate for further debate. KENDALL Tourism generated $19.3 billion for Wisconsins economy in 2015, Gov. Scott Walker said during a stop Friday along the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail. The governor, along with Department of Tourism secretary Stephanie Klett, spent nearly an hour at the Kendall Depot. It was one of four stops to promote tourism and the states efforts to attract tourism dollars. Walker said tourism in Wisconsin has grown by $4.5 billion, or 30 percent, since 2011. Walker credited the gain to an increased state tourism budget, which has risen steadily during his five years as governor. A few years ago, we made a significant investment ... and it has paid off, Walker said. When times are challenging, thats exactly the time when you need to put more into advertising and promotion. Walker said every $1 spent on tourism promotion brings $8 into the state. He said tourism supports 190,000 jobs, directly or indirectly, in Wisconsin. Many of those jobs are full-time, year-round, family-supporting jobs, Walker said. Klett said tourism is a very competitive industry. She said Hawaii and Florida have tourism promotion budgets of $100 million. Wisconsins Department of Tourism budget is $17 million. Tourism a lot of time is taken for granted, said Klett, who described Walker as a massive advocate for tourism. She praised local governments and businesses for the work they do to promote the industry. Its a tremendous credit to the tourism industry in all 72 counties and the innovative work they do to create exciting vacation experiences, market their destinations ... that makes travelers want to return to Wisconsin time and again, she said. Walker said there are no plans to privatize or sell any of Wisconsins state parks. The parks and trails system were stripped of general revenue funding last year and now rely solely on user fees. We have no interest in privatizing, Walker said. Most of it is tied into user fees so people like myself and others who use the state parks system are the ones who provide the support. He said Wisconsins user fees remain economical compared to those in other states. Walker and Klett also visited MillerCoors in Milwaukee, Mobile Marketing Center in Eau Claire and and Heritage Hill State Historical Park in Green Bay. SPRING LAKE PARK, Minn. John Swanson was trying to please his grandson and was failing miserably. How about some cookie-dough soda? said Swanson, who lives in Coon Rapids. Oooh, here is some pumpkin-pie soda. Eww! said 9-year-old Logan as he wandered among the 1,200 varieties in Minnesotas largest soda shop, Blue Sun Soda in Spring Lake Park. How about Wizard-of-Oz soda? No. Bug Barf? No. Finally, the boy found something he liked Martian Soda, with a little green alien on the can. They joined Blue Suns customers on a recent Saturday, gawking at the labels and marveling at the inventiveness of an exploding market for exotic sodas. Owner Mark Lazarchic manned the cash register as customers wandered through his library of fizz. The No. 1 word from people walking in the door is: Overwhelming, said Lazarchic, who opened the store in November. He plans to open a second store in Bloomington this year. This is going great! I sell sugar for a living! he crowed. Blue Sun is riding a wave of popularity of niche-market sodas, similar to the craft-beer movement that is energizing beer sales. Today, dozens of countries make and market sodas around the world, along with several Minnesota companies. For shoppers, it means the dawn of the era of strange flavors and head-scratching labels. Whats impressive is not that the store has rhubarb soda. Whats impressive is its entire section of rhubarb sodas. If there is a flavor out there, someone is putting it into soda, said Lazarchic. We have cucumber soda, ranch-dressing soda, buffalo-wing soda. Lazarchic has been accused of being politically and nutritionally incorrect. Overconsumption of sodas has been linked with obesity, heart disease and tooth decay. I tell people: Dont be stupid, he said. Some people take two liters of Coke to work and drink the whole damn thing. That is because mainstream brands are made to be consumed in volume, he said. They are watered-down and flavorless, so you are supposed to keep drinking them. But not his sodas, he said. They are supposed to be sipped and savored. This is a dessert. You do not drink a 12-pack a day, Lazarchic said, holding a can of dandelion-and-burdock root soda. That herbal concoction is from England, and a few of Blue Suns other international highlights include: Irn Bru from Scotland. It tastes like the white powder that they used to put on the Bazooka bubble gum, Lazarchic said. Ramune from Japan. The bottles are opened by pushing a marble in the cap through a seal. Kazouza Tamarind-flavored soda from Lebanon. Its unclear who, exactly, some of the sodas were made for. Some of the cans look like winners of a second-grade gross-out contest, such as Gross Gus Bloody Nose with a suitably disgusting illustration. If that doesnt sound yummy, you could try Pirate Piss, Dog Drool, Zombie Brain Juice, Kitty Piddle, Alien Snot or Brainalyzer. For your undead friends, you could serve the zombie-themed Grisly Swill or Rot-berry. For anyone who enjoys licking car engines, try the sodas inspired by automotive fluids: Green Cooler resembling radiator fluid and 10-30 motor-oil soda. For your Communist friends, try Leninade. Named after the father of Soviet communism Vladimir Lenin, the soda cans sport a hammer-and-sickle symbol. Or they might enjoy seeing Fidel Castro on a can of Havana Banana, or Muammar Gaddafi, former prime minister of Libya, hawking the cryptically named Cream My People. People who dont have TV sets might enjoy watching sodas instead such as Judge Wapner, inspired by the 1980s star of the show Peoples Court. For your fair-haired friends who drink two liters of soda at a time, there is the blonde-joke in a can, So Duh! illustrated by a confused-looking blonde. Swanson, the grandfather shopping with his grandson, kept on looking past all these. Alternately grossed-out, amused or puzzled, he was looking for the ultimate believe-it-or-not flavor. In the back of the store, his quest finally ended. Now, he said, I have seen it all. The can? Bacon-flavored soda. If there is a flavor out there, someone is putting it into soda. We have cucumber soda, ranch-dressing soda, buffalo-wing soda. Mark Lazarchic, owner, Blue Sun Soda WASHINGTON Oh, puhleeze, no! The Trumpster is going to run a totally chauvinistic campaign against Hillary Clinton. Its going to be, She wouldnt be here if she werent a woman, and, She just wants to be the first woman president. After the voters of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut voted for Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, he said, I think the only card she has is the womans card. Ever gallant, Trump continued, She has got nothing else going. Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I dont think she would get 5 percent of the vote. Clinton then responded. Well, she said, if fighting for womens health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in. ... We want America to be in the future business. Not content with past gratuitous insults against Clinton, Trump added: And the beautiful thing is women dont like her, OK? Oh, and do they like him? Seven out of 10 women say they have an unfavorable opinion of Donald Trump. We knew Trump adviser Paul Manaforts wink-wink-nod-nod assurance that Trump would soon switch to presidential mode would not happen. Indeed, Trump quickly assured the world that he had no intention of toning it down. Clearly, Trump and Clinton already have each other in their sights for the fall campaign. Its going to be as painful as we feared. With Clintons latest post having been secretary of state, weve been waiting to see how Trump will attack her on that front. We found out the day after Tuesdays primaries. Outlining his foreign policy, Trump displayed a panoply of contradictions and vacuousness. He promised his foreign policy would be popular with all Americans, simple and focused on one factor America, first above all else. Then he said the United States has not put Israels interests first and foremost. He said, The power of weaponry is the single biggest problem we have in the world. He wants to modernize Americas nuclear weapons stockpile and promote its edge in cyberwarfare. Oh, yes, and 3-D printing. He doesnt want to defend other countries unless they appreciate what we do, pay for their defense and not tie us up in alliances that restrict Americas ability to make its own decisions. But he wants us to stand by the agreements we have made. He will deal with the national debt by not wasting one dollar. He wants to beef up the military but doesnt say how he will pay for it, since Congress has been steadily cutting the defense budget. He wants to end the theft of American jobs. He does not say how. While Trump says he is the only one who knows how to fix Americas problems, he offers no details. He pledges to get rid of the Islamic State quickly, but wont tell us how, in order to avoid tipping them off. He vows to get rid of the Iran deal signed with six countries to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons but says Iran absolutely must not be permitted to get nuclear weapons. How? We dont know. We have to stop China from becoming the new economic powerhouse, he warns, but also says we have to sign deals with China that benefit us more than China. If not, we simply walk away from the table. Ditto Russia. Ah, now were in territory Clinton knows well. But that debate is complicated and will show Trump up as a know-nothing on how the world works. So much easier to swipe at Clinton as being a woman unqualified to be president. Says Trump, Watching her on television ... she just gives me a headache. Trump has been successful in knocking out his rivals by exaggerating a personal trait and demeaning them for it. John Kasich has disgusting eating habits. Ted Cruz is a liar. Jeb Bush had no energy. It was Little Marco. He didnt like Carly Fiorinas face. A bully, he dissed everyone in the race. Now hes going after Clinton. For being just a woman in pantsuits. For a man who insists the United States must be less predictable in foreign policy, Trump is oh, so, predictable. Businessman Paul Nehlen, a Republican primary challenger to U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, said the Republican Party of Wisconsin is barring his campaign from setting up a table at the upcoming state party convention. But the party calls Nehlen's claim "incredibly misleading," saying his campaign is at fault for blowing a deadline to register for the event. Nehlen, R-Delavan, is challenging Ryan, R-Janesville, in the Aug. 9 primary. A post at Nehlen's website claims the state GOP "barred my campaign from having a table at its state convention," which is May 13-15 in Green Bay. "My campaign committee, Volunteers for Nehlen, was perfectly willing to pay the $400 table fee RPW asked for convention weekend," the post said. "Apparently, though, the idea of a challenger to Paul Ryan was so threatening to his RPW buddies that they turned us down flat. Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman Pat Garrett said no one in the party is trying to stand in Nehlen's way. "He missed the deadline for table registration, and he was not granted space just like other campaigns who missed the very same deadline -- no campaign was treated differently," Garrett said. "Tickets to our state convention are still available and he is welcome to purchase and attend." Nehlen campaign spokeswoman Kirsten Lombard said that state party officials didn't mention anything about a missed deadline. One other Republican, Spencer Zimmerman of Janesville, also has filed to challenge Ryan in the primary in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District. Thursday was the first time Kerrie Baures spoke publicly since her daughter Brooke died almost 18 months ago. Kerrie was one of three guest speakers at the annual Workers Memorial Day, celebrated each year on April 28. During the ceremony, the Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO honored the more than 80 workers in the region who have died since 1950. Brooke, a student at Winona State University, died in December 2014 from head trauma after she became trapped in the dumbwaiter at the WingDam Saloon in Fountain City, Wis. The restaurants owners were fined $7,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration last year for violating safety regulations. Workplace safety has increased in the decades since Workers Memorial Day was first celebrated, AFL-CIO President Bill Brockmiller said during his remarks, but even one death on the job is too many. This sentiment was echoed by many of the speakers, including Kerrie Baures, who said in the aftermath of her daughters death the family still had a number of questions. Why was the faulty system not reported, she asked? Why was it not reported in inspections? No one asked these questions until after our Brooke was killed, she said. Not until a beautiful daughter was taken from us. Brooke was 21 when she died and was close to graduation, her mother said. A gymnast at WSU, Brooke had wanted to work with disabled children and the elderly after college. She was always a leader, Kerrie said. She lived a life of true character. Kerrie ended her speech by calling on policymakers to do more to regulate safety inspections and to promote worker safety. Retired firefighter and La Crosse Common Council member Fran Formanek remembered former Assistant Fire Chief Edward Sciborski, who died from burns from a broken steam line. Deb Reidt Marsolek, a former law enforcement officer whose younger brother Michael Reidt died during a construction accident at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, also spoke. During her career as an officer and her work teaching future police officers, Marsolek said, she knew many classmates, friends and students who died in the line of duty. But nothing was as hard as having to tell her nieces and nephews in 2001 that their father had died. Today is for them, she said of those who died on the job. It is to say thank you and that we remember. Today is for them. It is to say thank you and that we remember. Deb Reidt Marsolek, speaking at La Crosses Workers Memorial Day event Afghanistan wants to benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative and to provide connectivity between South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, said an Afghan diplomat on Thursday. "We want to make sure that we are part of this (initiative)," said Hekmat Khalil Karzai, deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan, who was in Beijing attending the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures. "We want to make sure the infrastructure, the logistics and everything else is looked after and dealt with so (the countries in) the region can further connect to one another," he said. He emphasized that regional security is an issue that needs to be addressed for the initiative to be successful, and said his government looks to China to offer more support in improving the security of his country. "Various different militant groups", including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a terrorist group targeting China, he said, are operating in Afghanistan. "An investment in Afghanistan now is an investment in the security of China," Karzai said. China and Afghanistan have started to strengthen exchanges and cooperation to cope with the threat of terrorism. On Feb 29, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met in Kabul with Fang Fenghui, member of China's Central Military Commission and chief of the Joint Staff Department under the CMC. Ghani was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying that the ETIM is an enemy of both Afghanistan and China, and that he hoped to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism. On April 20 in Beijing, Fang met with Mohammad Hanif Atmar, national security advisor to the Afghan president, saying that China hopes to strengthen cooperation between the two countries' militaries in fields including counter-terrorism intelligence and joint drills. Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier The board earmarked $1.54 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for the dredge, designed to keep channels open and supply sand to nourish eroding beaches up and down the York County coast and beyond. Our National Parks journey this week takes us to New Orleans, Louisiana, the city many consider to be the birthplace of jazz. New Orleans is a port city at the mouth of the Mississippi River. It holds one of the most famous cultural celebrations in America: The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, called Jazz Fest for short. This year, the event opened April 22 and continues through May 1. It is the 47th festival. Famous performers this year include Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon. The first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival took place in 1970. That year, about 350 people attended the five-day celebration. Five years later, about 80,000 people attended the festival. Today, attendance is measured in hundreds of thousands. The festivals original organizers said the event could only be held in New Orleans, because here and here alone is the richest music tradition in America. And, only in New Orleans could you find a whole national park honoring jazz. Today, we are exploring the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. The park includes sites important to jazz history in New Orleans. Visitors can walk around the city to see these sites. They include places located in the oldest part of the city -- the French Quarter -- as well as in the Louis Armstrong Park. Louis Armstrong is one of the greatest American jazz musicians. His voice, trumpet-playing skill and creativity continue to influence jazz artists today. Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. Jazz was just beginning to develop when Louis was a boy. It grew out of the blues songs and ragtime music that had been popular at the turn of the century. Louis Armstrong discovered music early in life. He was surrounded by it. By the time he was 18, he joined the Kid Ory Band, one of the finest bands in New Orleans. In the 1920s, Armstrong moved on to Chicago, and then New York, which had become major centers of jazz music. The trumpeter soon became one of the most famous musicians of his time. In the 1930s, he had his own big band, called Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra. But, his biggest hits came later in his life. In 1964, his version of the song Hello Dolly was the top hit around the world. And the song What a Wonderful World, recorded in 1968, was his final big hit. Armstrong died in 1971. In 1980, the city of New Orleans opened the Louis Armstrong Park to honor one of the citys most famous sons. Among other sites, the park includes a statue of Armstrong himself and a place called Congo Square. Throughout history, the square had many names. Congo Square was once used as an area where slaves were permitted to perform African and Caribbean dances and drumming. The sounds played a role in the development of jazz. Today, the city holds the annual Congo Square Rhythms Festival there. Another stop within the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park is the J&M Recording Studio. It lies just south of Louis Armstrong Park, on Rampart Street. The studio operated from 1945 to 1955. Cosimo Matassa, a recording engineer, was the owner of the studio. He recorded some of the greatest jazz and rhythm and blues artists of the time. Today, the spot is a laundromat. But a small sign on the building points out its important place in music history. Next, we visit the Mint. A mint is a place that produces coins. The Mint started out as a place where U.S. and Confederate currency was made. But today, the Mint is a famous performing arts center and a museum full of jazz history. That museum is the Louisiana State Museum. Here, visitors can see Louis Armstrongs first cornet -- a brass instrument similar to a trumpet. He bought it in New Orleans when he was 15 years old. The National Park Service holds live educational performances at the Mint most days of the week. Many of those performances are streamed live online for viewers around the world to enjoy. Another park site is Preservation Hall, in the French Quarter. The word preservation means keeping or protecting for the future. By the early 1960s, traditional New Orleans jazz music was in danger of disappearing. Young people wanted to hear the music of Elvis Presley and other rock and roll stars. Not many young people were interested in listening to jazz. In 1961, Allan and Sandra Jaffe began using a small, old building on St. Peters Street as a music hall. Musicians there played traditional New Orleans jazz, sometimes just for their own enjoyment. Allan Jaffe was a tuba player. He played with what became known as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The Jaffes created Preservation Hall to protect and preserve the citys traditional jazz sounds. Today, different bands play at the hall each night. Musicians also still play in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They play in concert halls around the United States. They will even be playing on April 30 as part of this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Im Ashley Thompson. And Im Caty Weaver. Ashley Thompson wrote this report, with material from the VOA Learning English archives and the National Park Service. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Italy says an international force aimed at limiting the number of people sailing from Libya to Europe could be ready by July. Some observers are worried that the number of people arriving in Europe could jump because travel by land through Greece and the Balkans remains blocked. Most of the new arrivals are migrants. They have fled their home country and chosen to go overseas, usually for economic reasons. Libyan security forces raided a home in the city of Tripoli last week. They detained more than 200 migrants from across Africa. They also captured a suspected smuggler. More than 16,000 people sailed from North Africa to Italy in the first three months of 2016. That is almost two times as many as the number who traveled across the Mediterranean during the same period in 2015. The United States has offered to support a proposed naval operation off the coast of Libya. The international force would be under the command of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization). But it is not known what the ships would do if they find migrants in boats sailing for Europe. Riccardo Fabiani is a policy expert at the Eurasia Group. He said some observers say the migrants will be returned to their home countries in Africa. But he said it is clear that the African governments do not support that plan. And he said that returning them to Libya is not under consideration because the Libyan government does not have the ability to care for them. Western nations hope to increase Libyas ability to feed and house the refugees by supporting a new unity government in the country. It is known as the Government of National Accord. Its goal is to persuade competing groups from the eastern and western parts of the country to work together. Fabiani said the unity government is taking over ministries and taking over departments and taking over government buildings, and there is backing at most levels for it; however, the situation in the east is very different. And that is where I think we are facing a stalemate. The new government welcomed British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to Tripoli last week. Libyan officials showed him the countrys naval patrol boats. Hammond said British troops could be sent to train Libyan security forces. Recently, U.S. President Barack Obama said he would not send American troops to help train Libyan forces. I do not think it would be welcomed by this new government. It would send the wrong signal. This is a matter that Libyans (must) come together on, he said. Im Christopher Jones-Cruise. Henry Ridgwell in London wrote this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story smuggler n. a criminal who moves (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly stalemate n. a contest, dispute, competition, etc., in which neither side can gain an advantage or win Scientists believe a species of monkeys used a raft to cross 160 kilometers of ocean from South to North America about 21 million years ago. The monkeys are similar to todays capuchins, small monkeys that often perform with humans at the circus. Scientists found seven monkey teeth that became fossils in an area near the Panama Canal. The teeth were more than five million years old. Scientists think that is when the continents of North and South America came together. They said the teeth belonged to a species they call Panamacebus transitus. When the species lived, South America was not in contact with other continents. For that reason, South America has a strange variety of mammals. The animals grew and changed in interesting ways because they were separated from other animals. Jonathan Bloch works at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus. He said that Panama was farther south than any other place in North America. He said the monkeys might have swum, but probably rode on some kind of a raft. Surprising discovery Bloch believes these monkeys were the only mammals that were able to cross the waterway from South America to reach present-day Panama. The strip of land, known as the Isthmus of Panama, was formed about 3.5 million years ago. That land bridge permitted large numbers of animals to begin walking between the continents in one of the biggest mixing of species on record. Bloch said learning that monkeys lived in North America that long ago was a surprising discovery. For a long time, scientists thought that monkeys simply did not exist there. It would be like learning that Australia's kangaroos and koalas live in the wilds of Asia today. This story is from the Reuters news service. The news first appeared in Nature magazine. Jill Robbins adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story monkey - n. type of animal that is closely related to apes and humans and that has a long tail and usually lives in trees fossil - n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin raft - n. a flat structure that is used for floating or sailing on water sloth - n. a type of animal that lives in trees in South and Central America and that moves very slowly kangaroo - n. an Australian animal that moves by hopping on its powerful rear legs koala- n. an Australian animal that has thick gray fur, large hairy ears, sharp claws for climbing, and no tail Now its your turn. What do you think of this discovery? Write to us in the comments section. A North Korean court has sentenced a Korean-American man to 10 years of hard labor. Kim Dong Chul was given the sentence on Friday after the court found him guilty on subversion charges. Kim is a naturalized citizen of the United States. He admitted last month that he had attempted to steal North Korean military secrets. His confession took place in front of reporters in Pyongyang. He was arrested in October 2015. His confession came a week after a North Korean court sentenced Otto Warmbier, an American college student, to 15 years of hard labor. The court acted after Warmbier said he had attempted to steal a propaganda banner. Observers note that North Korean officials likely pressured the confessions of both men. Tensions between the United States and North Korea have risen in recent months because of the Norths nuclear weapons and long-range rocket tests. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have increased their defense readiness in response to the tests. U.S. and South Korean forces held their yearly joint military exercises in March. Those exercises were described as the largest ever. Also in March, the United Nations Security Council approved the strongest sanctions yet on North Korea for its nuclear and missile activities. Im Mario Ritter. Fern Robinson reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story confession n. a written or spoken statement in which a person admits to something, usually something wrong sanctions n. action is taken to force a country to obey international law Media reports say police discovered prescription drugs with Prince when the entertainer was found dead at his home last week. Several news organizations, including ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC, are citing law enforcement sources as the basis of the information. They do not further identify the sources, however. The reports say prescription painkillers were found on the 57-year-old artist and in his home. The Minneapolis Star Tribune also reported that it was not clear whether the drugs were prescribed to Prince. Prince died April 21. Doctors have completed an examination of his body but results are not expected for several weeks. Several news groups also reported that Minnesota investigators have asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help. However, A Carver County police official Wednesday night said the DEA "is not part of the investigation at this time." DEA officials have not commented. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. You can also post a message on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story prescription n. a medicine that a doctor officially tells someone to use cite v. to write or say the words of (someone) painkiller n. a drug that removes or reduces pain This is Whats Trending Today. The bald eagle is the only national animal of the United States. But that could soon change. The U.S. government may soon recognize the bison as the national mammal. This week, both houses of Congress approved a bill called the National Bison Legacy Act. The bill would officially recognize the wild animal as the national mammal. The measure now goes to President Barack Obama. If he signs the bill, it becomes a law. Bison, also called buffalo, are the largest land animals in North America. They are hairy and have a big head and short horns. U.S. lawmakers called the bison a sign of American strength. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico spoke in support of the bill. He said that recognition of our new national mammal will bring a new source of pride for Americans -- just like the bald eagle and bring greater attention to protecting the species. Many years ago, bison were almost extinct in North America. On social people, many people expressed support for the move. They also praised Republican and Democratic lawmakers for being able to agree on something. But, one reporter joked on social media that choosing the bison as the national mammal was bad news for humans. Human beings, of course, are also mammals. Bison already appear on the state flags of Kansas and Wyoming. Bison are also on the official seal of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Tens of millions of bison once lived throughout an area stretching from central Canada south through the Great Plains and northern Mexico. After many years of hunting, the population fell to about one thousand or fewer by the late 1800s. Now, there are about 30,000 wild bison. The largest population lives in Yellowstone National Park. Efforts to give the bison special recognition began about five years ago. Native Americans on the InterTribal Buffalo Council joined with wildlife groups to create a National Bison Day. The observance recognizes the importance of the animals role in providing food, shelter, and clothing for many Native Americans before European settlement. National Bison Day is held on the first Saturday in November. And Thats Whats Trending Today. Im Dan Friedell. Ashley Thompson adapted this report from an Associated Press story. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin species - n. a group of animals that are similar and can produce young animals extinct - adj. no longer existing seal - n. an official mark that is stamped on paper or on a small piece of wax to show that something (such as a document) is genuine and has been officially approved role - n. the part that someone or something has in a family, society, or other group The Lexington City Council opened the way for a daycare to open in downtown Lexington at their regular meeting Tuesday. The council voted unanimously to conditionally grant a conditional use permit for 619 N. Washington to Nuridan Nur. Nur owns the African International Market. His attorney, Luke Simpson of Kearney, told the council that Nur observed that there is a need in Lexington for a daycare in Lexington that 1) has staff who are familiar with the Somali language, and 2) can work around the schedules of Tyson employees, specifically the B shift. He saw there was a need to fill, and thought he had the resources and willingness to fill it, Simpson said. Hes going to remodel the building and put in an outdoor area so the kids can play outside. He hopes to have up to 30 kids in the daycare eventually. Simpson continued that his client has been working with Health and Human Services to make sure everything is in order. The council granted the conditional use permit on the property, provided that Nur meets all the zoning requirements and the daycare gets licensed by the state. In other business, the council approved a rezoning for the property at 210 W. 17th Street. The property was zoned as a single family residence. Applicant Jose Gomez wants to turn the property into a tri-plex. The council voted unanimously to call the Combined Utilities Revenue and Refunding Bonds, Series 2011 for redemption, and authorize the issuance of the Series 2016. The move was made to take advantage of more favorable rates and shorten the term of the bond by one year. The council heard the annual report from the Library board, and closed the meeting with an executive session. LEXINGTON, Neb. Lexington Regional Health Center announced the hiring of a new marketing director during the monthly board of directors meeting on Tuesday night. Jill Denker, executive director of human resources and physician liaison, announced that Meredith OHanlon was hired as the new director of marketing. OHanlon will replace former marketing director Laura Robbins. Nicole Thorell, chief nursing officer with LRHC, said during the nursing service report that staff has received a lot of positive feedback about the patient rooms during community tours. The new comfortable beds and modern call system for patients are very popular, she said. During his service excellence report, Jim Hain, addressed comments made at two previous forums for candidates for the board of directors about the culture at LRHC. Referring to the culture that has changed in the last few years, Im proud to say its been for the better. We are much more open to change, we have more multi-disciplinary teams. This improves our quality and improves relationships. We encourage our staff to come to us with their concerns and resolutions. This administration values our staff, Hain said. Board member Amber Ackerson said she was one of the first people to receive treatment from a new operating room in the Outpatient Specialty Clinic. It was awesome considering it was just opening. Dr. Bryan Scheer said the new Outpatient Specialty Clinic is hands-down the best he works in and he helped build a new one in Wyoming, Ackerson said. She said Scheer told her he could have had his pick of hospital to practice in, and chose LRHCs new clinic because its a strong hospital that is contributing to a strong community. No quality report was given. Don Young, executive director of ancillary services, gave a brief construction report. Young said construction and renovations had gone well for the East Wing of patient rooms, which would be opened for service next Tuesday. After the completion of the East Wing of patient rooms, construction would shift to the South Wing of patient rooms, with construction expected to be completed by June 4, Young said. Denker gave a virtuous organization update. She said the April topic for LRHCs virtuous organization program was happiness. Denker said the staff training promotes deeper collaboration and the importance of teamwork. Morale is stronger than ever, Denker said. As a human resources worker, Denker said she is concerned about the shortage of nurses nationally. Two big factors contributing to the shortage of trained nurses are the impact of the Affordable Care Act and the retirement of baby boomer era nurses. Thorell echoed Denkers concern about the future pipeline of nurses, but stressed LRHC is well staffed with the needed amount of nurses. We are one of the few facilities in the area not using traveling nurses. We have two new RNs and two new LPNs, Thorell said. Due to the high demand of nurses nationally and in Nebraska, Thorell said nurses can practice wherever they want to and ask for whatever they want to. The easiest way for hospitals to have a supply of nursing talent is to grow your own or snatch them up from others, Thorell said. Although money is important, having nurses enjoy where they work made a difference in retaining and recruiting nurses, Thorell said. Wade Eschenbrenner, LRHCs chief financial officer, gave the board members a financial report for March. Financial data for March includes: 96 acute patient days, 92 swing bed days, 13 newborn days and an average daily census of 7.65. Average age of plant was 16.55. The average age of plant measures the average accounting age of a hospitals capital assets. The days in net accounts receivable for March was 80.88 and days cash on hand was 135. The days in net accounts receivable measures the days that it takes an organization on average to collect its receivables. Days cash on hand measures the number of days an organization could operate if no cash was collected or received. The operating profit margin for March was 1.97 percent and total profit margin for the month was 1.99 percent. Year-to-date operating profit margin for March was -1.89, with total profit margin for the year-to-date was -0.73 percent. Tara Naprstek, a LRHC board member with accounting experience, noted that the financials showed a 10 percent increase in operating revenue compared to last year. Toward the end of the meeting, Leslie Marsh, chief executive officer of LRHC, gave a brief overview PowerPoint presentation about the role and responsibilities of a member on the hospitals board of directors. A board member has a fiduciary duty for and through the hospital, of loyalty to avoid conflict. Every decision you make is for the best interest of the hospital, Marsh said. Board members would be expected to support the hospital amidst the growing burden of healthcare regulations and be actively involved in crafting the hospitals mission, vision and overseeing strategic planning. Board members also were involved in organizing the hospitals agenda around the pillars of: people, service, excellence and quality. An open house with ribbon cutting for the Outpatient Specialty Clinic at LRHC will be held Monday, May 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The event is open to the public, with Sen. Matt Williams set to attend. On Tuesday, May 3, LRHC will host an open house for its Elwood Clinic from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public. A suspect wanted in connection with a homicide in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was arrested Wednesday night after a pursuit on Interstate 80. South Dakota authorities alerted the Nebraska State Patrol on Wednesday evening that the man, wanted in connection with the April 22 homicide, could be driving westbound on the interstate. Authorities believed he was driving a white Oldsmobile 88. A trooper spotted a vehicle that matched that description just after 8:30 p.m., on I-80 near Lodgepole in Cheyenne County. The trooper attempted to pull over the Oldsmobile. The car stopped, two women and an infant left the car and then it sped off, said Deb Collins, public information coordinator for the Nebraska State Patrol. A pursuit then ensued westbound down I-80, spanning 65 miles and reaching speeds up to 100 miles per hour. The suspect fired shots out of the drivers side window at the patrol units attempting to stop the vehicle, Collins said. Troopers did not return fire, and officials notified the Wyoming Patrol that the suspect was nearing the Wyoming state line. Spike strips flattened the Oldsmobile 88s tires as it drove across the border, which then came to a stop west of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, Collins said. Jared J. Stone, 21, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was taken into custody by the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and detained in the Laramie County jail. No troopers were injured in the pursuit. The two females and infant who were let out of the vehicle were later released, Collins said. The situation could have had a tragic outcome as this individual was determined to evade authorities at all costs, said Captain Jamey Balthazor, Commander Troop E, Scottsbluff. He noted that various agencies across three states contributed to the effort. The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZiCA), has become the third organisation to join Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW) as an associate member. President of ZiCA, Wesley Beene, says: Working together with other like-minded organisations will add value to the quality of our work. It will also give our members international recognition and access to opportunities and services being offered by Chartered Accountants Worldwide. During its 33 years of existence, ZICA, which currently has 5,858 members, achieved international recognition for its high quality standards of accountancy education and practice, including a robust regime of continuous professional development and practice monitoring. It is a historic moment to us as it demonstrates our commitment to making our qualification among the best in the world. We are delighted to be the second institute in Africa to be part of this premium group, with South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) being one of the founding members, Beene comments. SAICA, a founding member SAICA is delighted to have another African institute join CAW. This demonstrates our commitment as an African profession, to contribute to world class accountancy. With ZiCA joining CAW, chartered accountants will have a stronger voice in Africa, Dr Terence Nombembe, CEO of SAICA, says. CAW brings together like-minded institutes which continuously contribute to the enhancement of the value of the brand and the profession. Associate member status is recognition that ZiCA has demonstrated a commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards. Bringing something new to the table Pat Costello, chairman of CAW says: We are delighted ZiCA has joined the CAW family. Every member brings something new to the table and we look forward to benefitting from ZiCAs insights and ideas. We are also glad to expand our network and support even more members around the world. The rest of CAW comprises founder members; Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Chartered Accountants Ireland, ICAEW, ICAS, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), which joined as an associate in June 2015 and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, which joined (also as an associate member) in February 2016. Baaghi is a slickly packaged empty vessel. The action choreography is striking, the locations are exquisite, the camerawork polished, the art design impressive, the cast well dressed. Scratch the attractive surface though, and you get a dated, cliched storyline that compartmentalises hero, heroine, villains and comedians in the way Hindi films of the 1970s and 1980s did. The story begins in the menacing Bangkok den of a rogue called Raghav Shetty, who is on the lookout for Sia Khurana. Cut to Hyderabad, where she is shooting for a film directed by her Daddy, when the numero uno baddies goons abduct her. Martial arts expert Ronnie Singh is called in to rescue the damsel in distress. Ronnie and Sia have a past. Time for explanatory flashback. Cut to Kollam railway station in Kerala where boy and girl met, girl pretended to resist boy, they fell in love, fate split them up, reunited them, Raghav split them up again and so on. It is a formula that is so dull and dusted that even Sunny Deol has stopped revisiting it. Baaghis writer Sanjeev Dutta seems to have a thing for antiquity though. This is the sort of film where the hero is omnipotent and successfully bashes up dozens of men single-handedly, as did male leads of pre-1990s Hindi cinema who sought to replicate and cash in on the success of Amitabh Bachchans Angry Young Man formula. Here, like it was back then, the heroines only role is to be good-looking, charming and if possible dance sweetly/sexily enough to make the hero fall in love with her, thus providing him with a motivation to bash the bad guys in the end. The villains here too are uni-dimensional cardboard cut-outs. Comedians are slotted in to relieve tension even in the middle of a hectic chase. Love happens at the first sight of a pretty face who fakes disinterest in the hero though of course she is keen on him because, well, you know, after all he is the hero. What else was she created for but to fall for him? Besides, do we not also know that when a woman says no she means maybe? Ronnie, an absolute stranger who just met Sia a few minutes back on a train, blows a kiss to her from a station platform. She shows irritation but turns away to hide a smile. This film may not be as aggressive or overt as the song Koi haseena jab rootth jaati hai from Sholay, Jumma chumma de de from Hum, Jumme ki raat from Kick or Tu hi to hai from Holiday, but it does make that regressive point all the same. The films only selling points are its only novelties. First, it is set almost entirely in Kerala, which translates into an eyeful of stunning locales, the famed snake boat race (vallam kali) in scenic backwaters and miles of greenery all around. Second, Ronnie is in Kerala to learn the states traditional martial arts form Kalaripayattu, which has a way of transforming men into Rudolf Nureyev and Birju Maharaj while they smash and slice other human beings to bits. Tiger Shroff as Ronnie gets the bulk of the films fights and has clearly worked hard to learn Kalari. Many points to him for that and what he has achieved with his body. He must, however, control the tendency to pose about, which is never more evident than in scenes where he replicates his Gurus moves and comes across as a mannequin, while the old man looks like a battle axe and a ballet dancer rolled into one. In terms of acting, Tigers exaggerated expressions are one with the films penchant for overstatement. To be fair, he seems like he would do better with better direction, even if it is hard to ignore the fact that his Caucasian facial features make him a bit of a misfit in Indian cinema. He absolutely does not look Punjabi, although that is what he is meant to be in this film; he looks European. Perhaps he will figure a way around that. And while Im all for men showing off their beautiful bodies on screen, could someone explain why so many Hindi film heroes these days make it a point to rip off their shirts before a fight? Sure they look good, but is there a scientific logic here that has escaped me? Just asking. Shraddha Kapoor as Sia is well turned out and gets a couple of fight scenes of her own. It is nice to see the actress throwing punches and kicks with such elan. Her acting in the early scenes though, is over-cutesified. Time to cross over into the adult world, girl. You are too good to waste yourself playing and replaying a child-like innocent who is an appendage to the hero. Of the remaining performers, Sudheer Babu Posani merits a mention for his Kalari moves as Ronnies bete noir Raghav Shetty. It is curious though that Sudheer, who is a Telugu actor, manages his Malayalam diction so poorly in the film. He keeps addressing his father as Aachan when it should be Achchan, a word that even a north Indian might easily get right if you point out that the chch is pronounced precisely as it is in Bachchan. Simple, no? Veteran Sanjay Mishra and Sumit Gulati (who we saw last year in Talvar) enter the picture at one point to provide what is conventionally called comic relief. If a blind man bumping into things or mistakenly feeling up a womans legs makes you laugh, then the director has got what he wants. Some people, hopefully, have better taste. Director Sabbir Khan made his debut with Kambakkht Ishq in 2009 starring Kareena Kapoor and Akshay Kumar, which he followed up with Tiger and Kriti Sanons debut Hindi film Heropanti in 2014. Both films revealed his love for bombast. In Baaghi, he adds to his shoulders the burden of targeting Salman Khan and Akshays traditional audience. And so, Tiger is given an old-style punchline to repeat through the film: Itni bhi jaldi kya hai? Abhi toh maine start kiya hai. (Whats the rush? Ive only just begun.) It is hard to imagine why the producers thought this ordinary writing would be as memorable as, say, Salmans Ek baar jo maine commitment ki, toh apne aap ki bhi nahin sunta (Once I make a commitment, I do not allow myself to hold me back) or that Tiger has the panache to elevate it. More triteness comes in the form of Baaghis effort to cash in on the prevailing tension between India and our neighbour China, as Hindi cinema once did with Chinese-looking villains around the time of the 1962 war or before that in the just-post- Independence era when seemingly Western Roberts were the bad people. Here, Raghavs henchman Yong tells Ronnie: You killed my brother, you Indian. You think you can fight? We fight. Chinese fight. Ronnie beats him to pulp before replying grandly, Sorry, China ka maal zyaada tikta nahin hai (Chinese goods do not last long). Might as well have gone a step further with a crowd-pleasing, sarkar-pleasing Bharat Mata ki jai! yelled out by the hero. The chest-thumping suits the films emptiness. Gloss sans substance tends to make a lot of noise. For all their steadfast refusal to talk about it, the relationship between Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover took place in the full social media glare. Denials and just good friends quotes notwithstanding, the couples individual Instagram accounts were flooded with photos of them enjoying exotic getaways and socialising with their circle of friends. Happy Birthday @iamksgofficial ! Happiness happiness and more happiness for you foreverStay the way you are:) Love love love A photo posted by bipashabasu (@bipashabasu) on Feb 22, 2016 at 10:42am PST In much the same vein, Bipasha and Karan have also been posting regular updates about their wedding on Instagram and Twitter. Serendipity A photo posted by bipashabasu (@bipashabasu) on Apr 15, 2016 at 9:28am PDT After the duo issued a joint statement about their intention to tie the knot on 30 April, there have been a series of images from all the pre-wedding festivities on their social media accounts. We are happy to finally share the good news with everyone . 30th April 2016 is the big day and we cannot thank our family,friends, fans and well wishers enough for all their love and support. The wedding will be a private intimate affair .Our deepest gratitude for respecting our privacy this far .We hope to have your continued blessings and warm wishes as we embark on this new journey together. A photo posted by karan singh grover (@iamksgofficial) on Apr 7, 2016 at 7:06am PDT About a week ago, Bipasha had her bachelorette bash/bridal shower while Karan took off with his guy gang for his bachelors party. Thank you! The Rockstar @mamtaanand10 and my dearest , funniest, cutest @deannepanday for all your love . A photo posted by bipashabasu (@bipashabasu) on Apr 17, 2016 at 10:11pm PDT Then, the couple did a pre-wedding photo shoot together, for which Bipasha donned a white bridal gown while Karan was in a black tuxedo and bow-tie. At the same time, the bride-to-be even shared a poem that her beau had written for her. On 28 April, there was a briddhi puja (held according to Bengali rituals) at Bipashas home. Bipashas father blessed her, even as close friends Deanne Pandey, Suzzane Dadhich and Rocky S posed for selfies with the much-in-love couple. Priceless moment when dad Basu gives blessings to his daughter @bipashabasu #BestFriendsWedding #pooja #bengali #traditional #SoHappy #letthecelebrationbegin A photo posted by Deanne Panday (@deannepanday) on Apr 28, 2016 at 5:42am PDT A day before they will tie the knot at their Khar residence, Bipasha and Karan also had a mehendi ceremony at a venue in the suburb of Juhu. The theme for the event was pink and Bipasha donned a gauzy pink lehenga and flowers for the occasion, while Karan kept it cool in white Indianwear. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while Cuz, girl you're amazing, just the way you are... A photo posted by karan singh grover (@iamksgofficial) on Apr 15, 2016 at 9:09pm PDT Bipasha and Karan met when they worked together on the horror film Alone in 2015. They have been inseparable ever since. It has been reported that there was some opposition from the Basu family initially, to Bipasha and Karan's relationship. Monkeying Around ! Thank you for such a wonderful birthday A photo posted by bipashabasu (@bipashabasu) on Jan 7, 2016 at 9:26am PST Bipasha, who previously had high-profile relationships with Dino Morea and John Abraham, had been dating Harman Baweja in 2014 before she started seeing Karan. Karan, on the other hand, was married to TV actresses Shraddha Nigam and Jennifer Winget previously. His divorce from Jennifer came through in March this year. You're a dream come true... @bipashabasu A photo posted by karan singh grover (@iamksgofficial) on Apr 28, 2016 at 6:42am PDT Both Harman and Jennifer have extended their best wishes to the couple. Shah Rukh Khans Raees has found itself in hot water after Mushtaq Sheikh the son of Abdul Latif, on whom the superstars character is reportedly based has asked for a stay on the films release. Sheikh has said that while he and his family were consulted by the Raees team while the film was being researched, they were not aware of what the treatment would be. Sheikh contends that his father has been shown in a negative, defamatory light in the film and has sued Shah Rukh, producer Farhan Akhtar, director Rahul Dholakia and four others for Rs 101 crore in damages. Sheikhs main point of contention seems to be that Raees shows Latif running a brothel and using women bootleggers in his business. Harsh Gajjar, a lawyer for Sheikh, told The Indian Express: There were 97 cases lodged against Latif in his life time. These cases were for bootlegging and serious offences under TADA, however, at no point he ran a brothel or used women for delivering liquor. By attributing such false claims in the movie trailer the respondents have defamed the familys image in the society. Who really was Abdul Latif? During the 80s, Latif ran a flourishing bootlegging business in the Popatiyawad area of Gujarat and rose to become a don. It is said that he worked in gambling dens, serving liquir, from a very young age. This may have had something to do with his getting into the bootlegging business later in life. As his profile rose, so did the scale and scope of his illegal business interests. It is reported that Latif was involved in hawala, land deals and contract killings. The charge of receiving smuggled arms in India, through the villages on the western coast of Gujarat, has also been laid at his door. He was also said to be a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim which led to him being considered a prime suspect in the 1993 Mumbai blasts. At the same time, numerous stories are also in circulation about Latifs altruistic deeds. Robin Hood-esque anecdotes about the don, claim he helped underprivileged Muslim youth get jobs, and provided the poor with financial and other aid. Latif was killed in an encounter with the police in Naroda Patiya in 1997, allegedly while trying to escape (he had been incarcerated at Sabarmati Jai since 1995). Raees is not the first film to be inspired by the don: Encounter Latif by Sharique Minhaj was released in 2014. Previously, the makers of Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai found themselves at the receiving end of a defamation suit after the kin of Haji Mastan on whom Ajay Devgn character in the film was said to be modelled took umbrage at his portrayal. The producers, Balaji Motion Pictures, were asked by the court to include a disclaimer in the film stating that it was not based on Haji Mastans life. Watch the Raees trailer here: https://youtu.be/8iv3ksZs0hk Advitiya Sharma, co-founder, Housing.com has started his next venture: A hyperlocal services venture named Genius Micro Schools, just a month after leaving the real estate portal. This time around, Sharma has turned his focus to education, leveraging technology to make it a 'learning' experience for students, and to create a new breed of teachers he terms as 'entrepreneur teachers'. After quitting Housing.com that Sharma co-founded with 11 others, he took off on a 10-day retreat for a bit of Vipassana a Buddhist meditation technique. In the 10 days of complete silence that he had to observe as part of the course, the 27 year-old says that he plumbed the depths of his subconscious. A childhood memory came up during meditation of my grandfather with whom we lived in Jammu. He was a writer who won the Sahitya Akademi award, who would teach students from 5 am to 9 pm daily to supplement the family income. He was fluent in English and Urdu. When I asked him why he chose to teach instead of focusing on his passion to write plays, he smiled at my naivete. He said, that people forget plays after some time. However, when a student is given lessons, he is kept out of mischief and it opens doors to a better quality of life. I decided then that that was a good option for a start-up. In less than a month after working on the idea with like-minded people who were eager to be part of it a couple of whom worked on the algorithms, the project was ready to be launched. As he did with Housing.com, Sharma took on 18-hour days to execute his plans. I am very passionate about what I take up. I realised that parents and students are largely unhappy with the kind of education they receive in schools and the option is to go for private tuitions, where they have to pay huge fees too. The middle path would be have tuition classes that are like a school with fewer students, and have the technology to help both student and teacher. Genius Micro Schools is an after-school project similar to a student enrolling for tuition classes or opting for private tuitions at home. However, Sharma envisions a combination of both a classroom with more than five students and a teacher who takes the classes at her home with technology providing a vital assist. Our technology has been devised by people at Silicon Valley and is customised to each student, the pace of his progress and interest, says Sharma. Co-founded by Sharma and four others, the Genius Micro Schools is now talking with teachers. The classes are open for students from Kindergarten to Class VIII. The venture scouts for teachers in each locality, who are roped in only after taking 'rigorous' test to ascertain the individuals capability. Each class will take only five to eight students. The start-up will hire 500-800 teachers in different cities and are hoping to have 8,000 students. The venture will operate in five cities Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The fee structure is still being worked out and it will differ according to the locality. It will run on a revenue-sharing model with the teacher. "We are working on a new concept, micro-schools that will evolve as it goes along. Scaling up will not be an issue," says Sharma confidently. London: Embattled tycoon Vijay Mallya has said he is in a "forced exile" and has no plans to return to India where things are flying at him "fast and furious". Mallya, whose passport was revoked this month, said he wants a "reasonable" settlement with creditor banks for his defunct airline, but they "are not getting any money" by taking his passport or arresting him. "I definitely would like to return to India. Right now, things are flying at me fast and furious. My passport has been revoked. I don't know what the government is going to do next," he told the Financial Times. Mallya, 60, said he remains an Indian patriot, who is "proud to fly the Indian flag", but as the outcry around him continues, he is more than happy to stay safe in the UK and has no plans to leave that country. "It is important to understand the environment in India today. The electronic media is playing a huge role not just in moulding public opinion, but in inflaming the government to a very large extent," he said in what FT termed as a four-hour interview in Mayfair, Central London. The Indian government on Thursday wrote to Britain seeking deportation of the liquor baron against whom a non-bailable warrant has been issued in a money-laundering investigation. Mallya, who flew first class from Delhi to London on 2 March as a group of state-owned banks knocked on the door of the Supreme Court to recover about Rs 9,000 crore owed by his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, said he was "absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff like that". The government, he said, can appoint the world's best forensic auditor to audit the accounts of Kingfisher and audit how banks loans were utilised. "I am sure they are not going to find anything, because that's the truth." He said he has always maintained that "notwithstanding anything else", he was interested in settlement with Kingfisher bankers. Asked who was behind his woes, he said, "I wish I knew." Pressed if the people after him were bureaucrats or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "All I can say is the manner in which my passport was first suspended and then revoked was done in an extraordinary haste." "First, notice of suspension came on a public holiday last week... I replied. And my reply was not considered and the passport was revoked on Saturday," he said. In an interview given to UK-based Financial Times, beleaguered liquor-baron Vijay Mallya said something that wouldnt be music to the ears of 17-Indian banks, to whom Mallya owes Rs 9,000 crore money borrowed by Kingfisher Airlines that was grounded in October, 2012. By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money, Mallya told the paper in his first interview after leaving the country on March 2, with seven bags and an unidentified woman to UK and shortly after receiving a Rs 500 crore parting pay from Diageo, after stepping down as the chairman of United Spirits. Mallya is currently chased by the Narendra Modi-government, banks and investigating agencies on charges of loan default and alleged financial irregularities. Mallyas thought process is abundantly clear. The man is least shaken by the actions of the government that cancelled his passport and is now pushing for his deportation or that of investigating agencies and even the Supreme Court that has asked him to return to India and repay the money he owes to banks. In the interview to FT, Mallya said he remains an Indian patriot who is proud to fly the Indian flag, but as the outcry around him continues, he is more than happy to stay safe in the UK. Further, Mallya blamed the electronic media for inflaming the government against him and moulding public opinion. More importantly, the industrialist once hailed as the King of Good Times and Indias Richard Branson finds the amount banks are seeking from him an inflated figure. It is grossly unjust to apply compound interest and artificially inflate this figure, Mallya told the reporter in the interview. Mallyas defiance What one should note here is this: The dominant mood of the former Kingfisher chief is that of defiance in a battle versus banks. Moreover, he is in no mood to give in to the pressure. Going by the course of the case, it is doubtful if the governments pressure tactics with Mallya, to get back the money he owes the banks, will work. Even Mallyas deportation from UK wouldnt be easy to implement for the Ministry of External Affairs given the strong human rights laws and the nature of the legal system of that country, where it is highly difficult for a foreign country to convince the local authorities on extradition requests. Mallya would fight the case with his battery of lawyers to prove his point that he is facing an unfair treatment from the Indian government. Mallyas argument that it is 'unfair' on the part of the banks to charge interest on the principal amount is baseless. Any relaxation that banks may consider offering to Mallya in the repayment of his dues will set a precedent in other cases of default where the banks chances of recovery are even more less. As former RBI deputy governor, K C Chakravarty pointed out in an interview to New York Times, Mallya is only the symptom of the underlying problem and the not the problem. Not an easy battle for banks/government Going by the current indications, it is very unlikely that Mallya would return willingly to India. As far as the deportation plans go, it wouldnt be easy for the Modi-government to win this herculean task, unless it puts it foot down and requests the UK-authorities keep their promise on bilateral cooperation in dealing with offenders. But, for that the government will need solid proof of financial irregularities by Mallya in the Kingfisher case. Charges of loan default can be easily contested by the millionaire in the UK courts as something caused by business failure, which is part true in the Kingfisher case. One should note that (and as Firstpost has highlighted in a previous article) the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has not yet found any strong evidences against Mallya on fund diversion even though the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claims otherwise. The only way to nail Mallya in the court of law is to gather foolproof evidence against the King of Good Times through a thorough investigation. The Indian banking sector, neck-deep in bad debts, has almost 11 per cent of the total bank loans given under the stressed category. The Mallya-Kingfisher episode assumes as the first major case, where banks, government and judiciary are acting together in a loan default case that makes recovery possible. For that same reason, success in the battle against Mallya assumes critical significance. For either way, it will send out a strong signal to the other large defaulters. Lets admit that Kingfisher is a classic example of a case where both banks and investigating agencies have acted too late. But, its better late than never. Is India losing the plot on Vijay Mallya, the failed airline entrepreneur who has lost some of his crown jewels in the booze business while trying to make Kingfisher fly long after it was time to say quits? As things stand, Mallyas diplomatic passport has been revoked, the government has asked Britain to deport him, the Rajya Sabha may expel him, the Supreme Court has taken a tough line by asking him to declare his foreign assets, and banks for fear of being seen as conciliatory to a flamboyant businessman have been rejecting his offers to settle out of hand. Mallya owes them Rs 9,000-and-odd crore, including accumulated interest. This is self-defeating. And Mallya has been taking his sob story to the British, and some of the things he has said to the Financial Times in an extended interview make eminent sense. The key point we have lost sight of is the money. Sending him to jail or bringing him back in chains is hardly the point. As things stand, Mallya is believed to have offered to pay up around Rs 4,000 crore, and while banks may say it is too little, too late, the question they need to ask themselves is whether they want to salvage some of their money or none at all? Are they getting enough vicarious pleasure out of Mallyas humiliation to compensate for they monetary losses? One would think not. It is fair for banks to ask whether Rs 4,000 crore, and the composition of the offer (some money now, most of it later) is fair to them. So this amount is worth haggling over with the playboy-turned-fugitive entrepreneur. But if they are declining to talk to him purely because they are afraid of being targeted later for doing a sweetheart deal with him, it is time for politicians to step in and clear the air. In the current climate, where businessmen are seen as having got away with murder and politicians are trying to prove they are holier-than-thou, banks do not want to be seen as trying to help a businessman in trouble. Not talking to Mallya when he wants to settle is double stupidity. First, for allowing political influence to determine how much money they should lend to a business going steadily downhill after Mallyas ill-fated purchase of Air Deccan. Second, for not trying to claw back any of that money back, when, at last, Mallya has been forced to make some offer of repayment. You can doubt if the payment is enough, but a settlement is what banks should go for now. So when Mallya tells the Financial Times that by taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money, he is surely right. We need to get out of this mindset that every business failure is only the result of crookery or deep financial conspiracy. This may be true of some crony relationships, which India has not lacked, but unless it is possible to prove this beyond doubt, we have to assume that businesses can flop, and money lost by banks. Mallya is surely stretching the truth when he claims that we have always been in dialogue with banks saying we wish to settle, as he told FT. The fact is he was evasive and used every legal loophole to delay the inevitable, including moving the Calcutta High Court against United Bank, which had declared him a wilful defaulter. But then delaying tactics are available to everyone. One can hardly fault Mallya alone for using the law to keeps bankers at bay. It was suspected that political influence helped keep them away earlier; now it is banks own wariness that may be preventing the recovery of some money. Neither the government nor banks nor courts should lose sight of the main issue: the money. The Supreme Court made a huge mistake when, instead of going after Subrata Roys money (he owes Sebi over Rs 36,000 crore, which is to be returned to investors in two illegitimate schemes that were scrapped), they incarcerated him in Tihar. The court is still trying to figure out how to get the money in and him out. With Mallya too, the focus should first be on the money and if the payment is inadequate, the banks can always request the courts to freeze his domestic assets for recovering whatever else they can from a sale. If Mallya has broken the law, which could be in terms of delayed provident fund payments or non-payment to employees or the taxman, he can be proceeded against with evidence. Trying to get him into jail first is pointless. We should be getting at his money. Ask Subrata Roy. The court went for him and his money is still out there, in assets of every kind. What a waste of time and effort when the money was always there for the courts and banks to target! Reacting to the Bombay High Court's scathing judgment directing the demolition of the Adarsh housing society in Cuffe Parade, an activist who helped expose the alleged scam said that the verdict is a very positive one. Simpreet Singh of the National Alliance for People's Movements (NAPM), said, "The Adarsh society has irregularities and illegalities on several fronts. The environmental issues involved are very important. We had been demanding the demolition of the society for several years, and I am very happy with the court's order." In August 2008, the NAPM had filed a complaint with the department of defence, government of Maharashtra, Union environment department and Mumbai civic authorities alleging irregularities in 31-storey Adarsh society structure in the plush Cuffe Parade area in Mumbai. Subsequently, Simpreet Singh had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, demanding that it should supervise investigation of the case. The plea was part of a group of petitions which were jointly heard by the high court. Speaking to Firstpost, Singh said, "The Environment Protection Act, 1986 provides for both civil compensation as well as criminal proceedings for people responsible for causing ecological damage. At present, the FIR in the Adarsh case deals with the aspects of fraud. However, the people responsible for the environmental damage also need to be taken to task." In its judgment, the Bombay High Court recorded its appreciation for Singh, saying that if it weren't for him, the 'gross violation' by the Adarsh society would not have been detected. However, to a question whether the Adarsh case would lead to better compliance with environmental regulations, Singh said, "The present government is trying to dilute the very laws which are aimed at protecting ecology. The present environment minister takes pride in stating how many projects he cleared in how many days, rather than how he has taken steps to protect the environment. This is very unfortunate and in such a scenario, I am not very hopeful." The Adarsh housing society is mired in controversy for alleged environmental violations, conflicts of interest, a dispute over ownership of land and benami transactions. Mumbai: The BJP and Shiv Sena on Friday welcomed the Bombay High Court's order on scam-tainted Adarsh Housing Society in south Mumbai terming it as "historic" while the Congress, which was haunted by the multi-crore case leading to the resignation of Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra Chief Minister, said the ruling has nothing to do with the party or its leaders. "This is a historic decision by the High Court. This is the first time the Court has ordered the demolition of the building, almost 30 years after 'Pratibha' (a housing society off Warden Road) was demolished. This is a heavy blow to corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Now (ex-CM) Ashok Chavan will have to face and answer more tough questions as he had given the required sanctions to construct the (housing) society," BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said. However, Chavan, who had to step down as CM in 2010, in the wake of the controversy and is facing prosecution in the case, told PTI, "I have not received the copy of the order. Unless I get it in my hand, I cannot comment on the issue." BJP leader Prem Shukla said, "Adarsh tower was erected on the corruption culture which was rampant in the Congress and today High Court has stamped it. Also, it should not be forgotten that it was the Congress which appointed Ashok Chavan, who lost his chief ministership on account of Adarsh scam, as the party's state unit chief later." Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said the court order has "exposed the cancer of corruption" during the previous Congress-NCP regime. "While in Opposition, we had raised this issue time and again in the State Legislature. The Commission set up by the previous government just before elections had tried to give them a clean chit against which we had raised our voice," Gore said. "HC has been very clear in its decision. It reaffirms the irregularities and has exposed the cancer of corruption prevalent during the Congress-NCP government," she added. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said his party will continue with its legal battle to prove innocence of its leaders. "The Congress party and our leaders have nothing to do with the demolishing of the building. The matter is between the petitioners and the High Court. As far as our leaders are concerned, we will fight the legal battle to prove we have not been involved in any wrongdoings," Sawant said. However, former Union Minister Milind Deora tweeted, "Adarsh verdict sends a strong message to bureaucrats & ALL political parties: the days of profiting from government land are long gone." Adarsh verdict sends a strong message to bureaucrats & ALL political parties: the days of profiting from government land are long gone Milind Deora (@milinddeora) April 29, 2016 NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said nobody is above law and if rules have been broken, the guilty should be brought to justice. "If there are irregularities by bureaucrats or ministers, there should be action within the frame of law. Let the government take its decision. If anyone has violated rules, the court's decision should be welcomed. Nobody, whether it is minister or bureaucrat is above law. If power has been misused, nobody should be spared," Malik said. IPS officer turned advocate Y P Singh also hailed the HC order and said that its a half judgement and officers and politicians are yet to tried and sentenced. "High Court has ordered to demolish the tower that was built owing to corrupt practises due to nexus of politicians and bureaucrats. This is a very important step and nobody would be spared now," said Singh who drafted the pleas on the behalf of petitioners. Days before the Parliament session was about to start, it was more or less taken for granted that the sessions would be dominated by the issues like the President's rule in Uttarakhand and the Ishrat Jahan controversy. Congress was all prepared to, as they say, bring the House down. BJP had other plans. A week into the session, the only topic that has dominated the 'debates' is that of the AgustaWestland deal under the UPA government. After an Italian courts observed that the UPA government showed "substantial disregard" in arriving at the full truth behind the multi-crore scam, BJP grabbed the opportunity to counter Congress in the parliament. In 2010, the Indian government agreed to buy 12 choppers for VIPs from the Italian manufacturer Finmeccanica. A deal, worth just above Rs 3,500 crore was signed. In 2013, Italian investigators, while probing connections between the mafia, local companies and their government, stumbled upon the chopper deal and discovered that bribes in excess of Rs 120 crore were paid to Indian middlemen to seal the aforementioned deal. In a April 2016 judgment, the Italian court trying Finmeccanica officials, alluded to a note from a middleman reportedly describing Sonia Gandhi as the "driving force" behind the deal. Here are the key players involved in the chopper deal who have been dragged into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Ahmed Patel (Senior Congress leader) "If anything is there against me, they should find out and hang me." Taking a cue from his fellow Parliamentarians, this was Ahmed Patel's response to BJP's allegation of his involvement in the AgustaWestland chopper deal. In early 2014, prosecutors in an Italian court asked the key middleman in the chopper deal whether the initials AP in an alleged budget sheet for bribes to politicians referred to Ahmed Patel, then political secretary of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, reported The Indian Express. The middleman, Guido Haschke, said that he did not know who or what AP stood for. In the Parliament session on the Thursday, Patel rejected BJP's contention that "AP" mentioned in the notes is Ahmed Patel, saying just the initial "AP" cannot serve as an indictment. He also denied meeting any middlemen in the deal. "What proof is there that AP is Ahmed Patel? There are many APs out there. They said they have found out from internet..." The Times of India reports him saying. Giuseppe Orsi (former boss of Italian aerospace and defence group Finmeccanica) The former boss of Italian aerospace and defence group Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, was sentenced by the Milan appeals court to 4.5 years in jail for false accounting and corruption following the investigation launched in 2012 into the sale of 12 luxury helicopters to India's government. Orsi was arrested in 2014 and resigned as chief executive of the aerospace group a short while later. Also handed a four-year jail term on the same charges was Bruno Spagnolini, former head of AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica. The aborted deal was a severe setback for Finmeccanica, having already been hammered by the global financial crisis. SP Tyagi (Former IAF chief) In 2010, the Indian government was keen to buy the choppers but only if they had capability of flying over a certain height, and the Finmeccanica birds failed to cross the height barrier. According to reports, however, the then Air Force chief SP Tyagi allegedly relaxed the conditions and allowed Finmeccanica compete for the tender. When the allegations first surfaced, the UPA government cancelled the deal, recovered the advance paid to the chopper manufacturer and instituted a probe against the alleged middlemen, Guido Haschke, and beneficiaries including Tyagi and his family. Haschke revealed that while AW101 did not meet the technical requirements of the IAF, the deal was signed after Haschke tweaked the contract with the help of his Indian contacts. A CBI report said that prior to Tyagi being appointed as Air Force chief, the IAF had "vehemently opposed" the lowering of the altitude requirement. This changed after Tyagi came into the picture and the IAF "conceded to reduce" altitude requirements, allowing AgustaWestland to re-enter the bidding process. Initial investigations by the Italian prosecutor said that Tyagi had personally met Haschke before, and that the bribery took place via Tyagis cousins Julie, Sandeep and Dosca. I got the preliminary information from the Tyagi family that the flying ceiling for the helicopter would be lowered; that in the tender offer, the altitude ceiling would be reduced, Haschke is quoted as saying on Page 209 of the Milan Appellate Courts 7 April judgment, reports The Indian Express. Tyagi, however, has denied any claims of having met Haschke. "They have blamed me for corrupt practices in which I changed the height to assist AgustaWestland, although this decision was not against the public interest. But I was nevertheless being (called) corrupt," the former IAF chief said. "SPG was not happy with the cabin height. SPG guards will not be able to stand with their guns to protect VVIP. These were issues and they discussed at length. Then decision was taken. IAF was asked to redo them. Now you are saying chief of AIF changed to assist Augusta. It was a collective decision," he asserted. But, in investigations by the Milan Court of Appeals, Tyagis name appeared more than once in the 225-page judgment. The judgment said, "So, in the absence of contrary indications, it must be concluded that the reward bestowed to 'Tyagi family' for their work in support of AW in relation to the race of the Government (of) India for military helicopters amounts to 10,500,000." Sonia Gandhi (President of Indian National Congress) The Milan Court of Appeals, in its judgment, took note of the conversations between the three middlemen Carlos Gerosa, Christian Michel and Haschke who mention Mrs Gandhi as being the driving force behind the VIP and her close aides Ahmed Patel and Pranab Mukherjee the latter is referred to as being the British High Commissioner. In a letter dated 15 March, 2008, Christian Michel wrote to Peter Hulet, the then head of India region sales and liaison for AgustaWestland, saying "Dear Peter, since Mrs Gandhi is the driving force behind the VIP, she will no longer fly with MI8 Mrs Gandhi and her closest advisers are the aim of the High Commissioner, senior adviser Prime Minister Manmohan Singh obviously the main figure, then theres Ahmed Patel Secretary". AK Antony (Former defence minister) In a briefing given by the BJP on the AgustaWestland on the sidelines of the Parliamentary session, Union Telecommunication Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad bought up the former defence minister AK Antony. He said "Now that the bribe-givers have been convicted, what should happen to the bribe-takers? Will Mr (former defence minister, AK) Antony publicly give a statement on this? Will he accept that his partymen are involved in the scam?" Antony argued that when the allegation surfaced in the media, the UPA immediately ordered a CBI inquiry. "We cancelled the contract and fought the case in the Milan court. We won the case and got back all the money we paid in advance by bank guarantee. The Indian government has gained more (information) now. My request to the Indian government is that the probe has been going on for a long time, and so please speed up the inquiry and find the truth," he said. On Friday, Union Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda made it clear that government did not want to name any person without a conclusive proof. "I do not want to make any statement against anybody...unless I get conclusive proof," he said when asked whether Antony was linked to the issue. New Delhi: NIA has filed a charge sheet against an NSCN-IM militant in connection with the ambush on an army convoy in Arunachal Pradesh on 2 April, 2015, in which three jawans were killed. The charge sheet was filed before a National Investigation Agency Special Court for Arunachal Pradesh at Yupia on Thursday in which NSCN(IM) militant Kapai alias Singmayo Kapai, a resident of Nagaland, has been named as the key accused. NIA told the court that it would continue further investigation in the case as certain other accused are yet to be apprehended, a release issued by the agency here said on Friday. According to NIA, militants belonging to NSCN(IM) ambushed the convoy of army soldiers on 2 April on Khonsa-Longding road near Tupi village, about 15 km from Khonsa Police Station in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. Three army personnel were killed and three others were seriously injured in the incident. During the course of investigation, NIA collected evidence from the field as well as technical and forensic evidence, which was submitted along with the charge sheet to the Special Court. In an order that will send shockwaves through Maharashtra politics, the Bombay High Court on Friday directed the demolition of the controversial Adarsh Society in the plush Cuffe Parade area of Mumbai. While giving the direction, the high court upheld an order that was passed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in the matter. The high court said that there was no Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) clearance for the society, and that flats meant for Kargil war widows and defence personnel were illegally procured by politicians and bureaucrats, CNN-News18 reported. However, on a plea made by the Adarsh Housing Society, a division bench stayed its order for 12 weeks to enable it to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, despite opposition by the Maharashtra government. The demolition should be carried out at the expense of petitioners (Adarsh Society), ruled the court. The court also asked the Centre and Maharashtra Government to consider initiating civil and criminal proceedings against bureaucrats, ministers and politicians, if not already done, for various offences in acquiring the plot on which Adarsh Society stands and also for misuse and abuse of powers. On 16 January, 2011, the then environment minister Jairam Ramesh had ordered the demolition of the 31-storey building that has been at the centre of controversy for, among other things, violating of CRZ regulations. However, in April, the Bombay High Court had stayed the demolition, observing that it would be a 'drastic step'. The controversy broke out when NGO National Alliance of People's Movements filed a complaint with the department of defence, government of Maharashtra, the union environment department and the Mumbai civic authorities alleging irregularities in the structure. Thirteen people, including former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, have been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case. Chavan had resigned from his post in 2010 after the alleged scam broke out. Reacting to the judgment, Chavan said that he did not wish to react to the court verdict, ANI reported. The allegations of the Central Bureau of Investigation against Chavan refer to his role as revenue minister, on the issue of proposing to include civilians in the society, which was initially said to be meant for retired defence personnel. Three of his relatives were allotted flats in the society. All three resigned from the society and their resignations were been accepted by the society, the society's chief promoter RC Thakur had told a commission probing the controversy in September 2012. With inputs from PTI Editor's note: This article was originally published on 29 April, 2016. It is being updated in light of Isro's successful launch of 104 satellites on Wednesday. After India launched its own space shuttle on 23 May 2016, and Isro launched 20 satellites from Sriharikota in June 2016, the space research organisation launched 104 satellites on Wednesday. Flashback to June 2016 Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on 22 June, lifted off successfully with the country's earth observation satellite Cartosat, Google company Terra Bellas SkySat Gen2-1 and 18 other satellites from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. The PSLV rocket standing 44.4 metres and weighing 320 tonnes, tore into the morning skies at 9.26 am, breaking free of the earths gravitational pull. The 20 satellites weighed 1,288 kg. Andhra Pradesh: ISRO launches record 20 satellites from Sriharikota pic.twitter.com/t5FnVjfzq4 ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2016 The rocket's main cargo is India's 725.5 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation. This satellite is similar to the earlier Cartosat-2, 2A and 2B. The other 19 satellites weighing totally around 560 kg are from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as one each from Chennai's Sathyabama University and College of Engineering, Pune. The whole launch mission will be completed in around 26 minutes. Wednesday's mission is the first time Isro will be launching more than the 10 satellites with a single rocket. For the first time, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched a winged-flight vehicle, called the Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) that can launch satellites, which will orbit around the Earth. Also known as hypersonic flight experiment, the RLV-TD then glided back onto a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal. What's interesting is that this can be considered India's own 'space shuttle': it can help with low cost, reliable and on-demand space access, according to Isro scientists. ANI, on its Twitter feed, also included a video of the launch: WATCH: India launches its first indigenous space shuttle, the RLV-TD from Sriharikota(Andhra Pradesh)https://t.co/G0SxiQbJgw ANI (@ANI_news) May 23, 2016 The RLV-TD was a 6.5 m structure that weighed 1.75 tons (approx 1,600 kg) and resembled an aeroplane. It was elevated into the atmosphere on a special rocket booster. India now has a constellation of its own seven satellites that make up the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) that will work together to provide accurate services including terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, mobile phone services, mapping and land surveying data, voice navigation for cars and disaster management. The satellite launch, which took place on Thursday, was hailed by the prime minister as a "great gift to people from scientists", ANI quoted him as saying: We will determine our own paths powered by our technology with this successful launch. Its a great gift to people:PM pic.twitter.com/sl989oZmu4 ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2016 Dedicating this to Indian sailors & fishermen' courage of exploring the unexplored, it will be known as 'NAVIC'-PM pic.twitter.com/GyjuCGuApV ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2016 Dubbing the system as Navic (Navigation with Indian Constellation), Narendra Modi invited the Saarc nations to navigate with Indian constellation of satellites, reported The Financial Express and added that "this is an example of Make in India, made in India and made for Indians." According to the officials of Isro, the total cost of the project amounts to around Rs 1,420 crore. So what will be the benefit of this satellite navigation (satnav) system? In simple terms, such satnav systems are employed as a global positioning system. The Wire explains that these are "used the world over to accurately track and know the location and positioning of... pretty much anything with an appropriate receiver and transmitter on it." Our satnav system will be similar to the United States' GPS (which has 24 satellites) and to those of China, Europe and Russia, according to The Hindu. We've all heard of space being the final frontier (with due credit to Captain James Tiberius Kirk). And it looks like the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is taking its steps, slowly but surely, to the destination. Isro has launched 57 foreign satellites from 20 countries: Six from Singapore, including the 400 kg TeLEOS-1, the primary satellite, in September 2015, four American, one Canadian and one Indonesian satellite, along with Indias Astrosat as the primary passenger. The feathers in its proverbial hat, of course, are the missions Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan, the Mars orbiter. According to Isro, the former, which is the country's first Lunar Exploration Mission, was a "high-resolution remote sensing of the moon in visible, near infrared (NIR), low energy X-rays and high-energy X-ray regions". But the key takeaway was that water was detected in the form of vapour in trace amounts. Chandrayaan also helped in the historical Mars Orbiter Mission. Mangalyaan, the $74 million mission, that took place in September 2014, put India on the map making it the first country in the world to have successfully launched its mission to the Red Planet on the very first attempt and joining Europe, Russia and the United States in successfully sending probes to orbit Mars. This helped Isro win the 2015 Space Pioneer Award presented by the National Space Society of the USA. The Hindu BusinessLine reported that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests recommended a 50 percent increase in Isro's annual budget, a necessary addition considering the organisation's efforts to join the global space market, which is valued at more than $200 billion and growing. Space has never been this interesting before and Isro's future possible missions, such as the Chandrayaan-2 and even one to Venus, promise to get even any non-geek excited. With inputs from PTI The rise of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar and his band of comrades will have enhanced the prestige and underscored the significance of the social sciences-humanities. This is because these are precisely the subjects Kanhaiya and his friends study. They have not only upturned the stereotyping of the social sciences-humanities, which have been stigmatised in the popular consciousness for long, but will likely inspire students in high schools and colleges to emulate the leaders in studying the subjects that have given them such a sharp edge. Ironically, their rise will turn parents apprehensive of the social sciences, to which will be ascribed the radical politics of JNU, perceived dangerous by the more conservative older generation. It wont just be because of what the social sciences taught Kanhaiya and his band, but also because these subjects are perceived to provide ample time to students to while away. Parents will invoke that asinine cliche an idle mind is the devils workshop to justify their fears There are two principal reasons for the stigmatisation of social sciences. One, it is considered a risky proposition to study these subjects, which do not ensure a job, let alone a high-paying one. By contrast, engineering or medical or management studies are said to guarantee a livelihood. From the first reason flows the second. Since there exists a hierarchy of subjects, on the pinnacle of which are the sciences, it is presumed a student opts for the social sciences only in the absence of any other choice. After all, a student, it is argued, can switch from the science stream to the humanities in college, but cannot do it the other way round. In this debate, therefore, the factors of aptitude and inclination are discounted. These are seen as dubious arguments to portray compulsion as choice. From this perspective, the intelligent or brainy students are the science types, the rest less so. This popular belief, or stereotyping, of subjects and their students have been left shattered as Kanhaiya and his comrades hop from one campus to another, critiquing not only the government but also society and polity. Their critique, no doubt, is from the perspective of the Left, but it does have the intellectual heft and style many of our seasoned politicians, including Rahul Gandhi, do not possess. Their critique is intelligible and engaging and full of mirth. They are what they are also because they are students of the social sciences, evident from their speeches. It is more likely for a non-science student than a science one to point out to journalists, as Kanhaiya did after his release from incarceration, the difference between deshdrohi (anti-national) and rajdrohi (anti-state or anti-government). But what is even more significant is that they are socially-conscionable and sensitive to the suffering of masses. Their empathy appears real to their listeners. But they also possess the rare analytical skills, acquired through their years of doing their respective PhD programmes, to deconstruct the social system to explain the appalling socioeconomic inequities of our society and existing structures of dominance. Partly, their sensitivity as also rage arises because some of them have experienced a paucity of resources. But a large part of it is because of their grounding in the social sciences and the humanities. These are the subjects that create and preserve collective memory. It is our collective memory that contributes to our identity of what we were, and what we are, and what we wish to become. Its successive layers tell us tales of dominance and subjugation, hope and hopelessness. It outlines the contours of change and locates us as a group, as also an individual, in driving it. From the experiences coded in collective memory, we have evolved a sense of what policies and actions are inimical to our communitarian living and those that are beneficial. This is one reason why in the speeches of Kanhaiya and others you have glimpses from the past. You hear of BR Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, Sant Tukaram, and Kabir and, in the same breath, you are told of how the caste system shackles social groups. It is because of their social science background that Ambedkar is linked to Karl Marx, Phule with Vladimir Lenin, caste with class a linkage the veterans of Left could never forge so effortlessly with such panache, and eliciting such a response. The sciences, commerce, engineering or medical studies, and commerce do not inculcate in the students the same sense and sensitivity to the past as the social sciences do. Technical education, for instance, has as its obsession the present, the here and now. Its theme is efficiency through changes technological in nature. Technological changes transform the material life of human beings as also them. But studying this change in human beings and how they organise themselves as a collective is the staple of social science studies. It creates a register of who gains and who loses out in the transformation and why the losers languish on the margins. It asks the question: Who enjoys better access to technology, and why? These issues do not overly concern the sciences, though there are exceptions among some of its students. It doesnt, for instance, interrogate the distribution of power and wealth in society. Rather it adjusts to it for achieving its goals. In this sense it is status quo-ist, not so the social sciences. It isnt, therefore, a coincidence that Kanhaiya and other JNU students who have been in the limelight recently have a non-science background. Kanhaiya is in International Studies, Anirban Bhattacharya and Umar Khalid are doing their PhDs in history, Rama Naga is writing his MPhil thesis on agrarian relations and the role of the corporate sector, and Ashutosh Kumar is engaged in Russian Studies. You have Mujeeb Gattoo doing a PhD in education he is one of the two who was surprisingly punished by the JNU authorities. Even the ABVPs Saurabh Sharma, an opponent of Kanhaiya and his friends, has a social science background. A little different from them is Shehla Rashid, who did her engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, then embarked on a management course and worked in the private sector. But reportedly finding her job meaningless, and therefore dissatisfying, she entered JNU to take a course on Law and Governance. So perhaps, among them all, Shehla symbolises the meaning social sciences give and which the study of the sciences cant. The sciences, very broadly, seeks to discover laws behind the working of our physical world. The social sciences seek to change the laws governing society, laws which are malleable and a human construct. This is why social science students obsess with change and social justice. The sciences, too, engage with change, arguably in a more verifiable way, but the driver of this change is efficiency, of doing the same thing in quicker and fewer steps. It is because the social sciences judge change whether or not it is just and their students become protesters and dissidents, raising the banner of revolt. This is what has made Kanhaiya Kumar and his comrades who, in the process, have given value to the social sciences in a context in which studies of any kind too have been commodified, with their worth measured in terms of the money they can generate. The author is a journalist in Delhi. His novel The Hour Before Dawn is available in bookstores A parliamentary committee has lifted the lid from the goings on in the scam-infested countrys sole medical regulatory body, Medical Council of India (MCI), which it says is a club of influential medical practitioners who act without any fear of governance and regulations. No wonder the Working Group on Tertiary Care Institutions for the 12th Five Year Plan says nearly one million Indians die every year due to inadequate healthcare facilities, 700 million people have no access to specialist care and 80% of specialists are working in urban areas. The MCI, which is supposed to regulate and monitor the medical profession from granting approval for setting up a medical college to allocating seats and later monitoring the conduct of doctors has failed in its duties in setting up high standards of health care. Massive money changes hand in granting approval for setting up a medical college and also in the inspection of functioning of these institutions which thrive on mammoth of capitation fee up to Rs 50 lakh a seat in MBBS. All these gory details are listed in a report of a 31-member Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare led by Prof Ram Gopal Yadav. The report is already before Rajya Sabha but the government is yet to take a call on it. If the committee finds MCI hugely responsible for the prevailing pathetic state of health care and low standard of conduct among a large section of medical practitioners and hospitals, it also takes the government to task for being indifferent to the dire need for putting in place an appropriate law that should have put regulated the working of MCI, which hitherto is an unregulated body. The composition of MCI at present doesnt represent professional excellence nor follows medical ethos. The current composition of the Council reflects that more than half of the members are either from corporate hospitals or in private practice." The committee is surprised to note that even doctors nominated to MCI by state and central governments have been nominated from corporate private hospitals which are not only highly commercialised and provide care at exorbitant cost but have also been found to be violating value frameworks." They indulge in unethical practices such as carrying out unnecessary diagnostic tests and surgical procedures in order to extract money from hapless patients and meet revenue targets and flouting government rules and regulations, especially about treating patients from underprivileged backgrounds," the committee expresses its anguish. It is also astonishing that government succumbed meekly to an amendment in the regulations introduced by MCI in February last deleting the words and professional association of doctors", thus exempting professional association of doctors from the ambit of MCI Code of Ethics Regulations, 2002. This amendment encouraged corruption among organised medical professionals. The committee says, Exempting professional association of doctors from the ambit of Ethics Regulations is nothing short of legitimizing doctors associations indulging in unethical and corrupt practices by way of receiving gifts in cash or kind under any pretext from the pharmaceutical industry or allied health industry." Terming the action of MCI as ethically impermissible, the high-powered panel says, it seems the MCI has become captive to private commercial interests, rather than its integrity in public interest." But all the questionable decisions by MCI never attracted the attention of government. The government in fact meekly surrendered to MCI," the parliamentary panel says. MCI has become an exclusive club of medical doctors as it comprises selectively chosen doctors by ignoring the legitimate expectation of diversity. The committee has asked the Union Health Ministry to take immediate action to ensure that the illegality committed by MCI in granting immunity to medical bodies from ethical standards is nullified. The evil effect of the amendment by MCI is grave. Doctors in medical institutions like hospitals and clinics indulge in unethical practices such as carrying out unnecessary diagnostic tests and surgical procedures in order to extract money from hapless patients and meet revenue targets and flout government rules and regulations, especially about treating patients from underprivileged backgrounds, the committee unveils the motive behind introducing suspicious amendment by MCI. The effect is evident as 63 million people are faced with poverty every year due to health care costs alone which clearly indicates that health care is moving away from the reach of the people in general and the poor in particular," the panel laments. The committee also pulls up MCI for not plugging the loopholes in the system by checking corruption in enhancing the seats in medical colleges, for approval of setting up these colleges and during their inspection, which are conducted by a select few manageable inspectors every year. Therefore, the committee favours bifurcation of the functions of MCI and recommends that different structures be created for discharging different functions. This opaqueness in the inspections of medical colleges give enormous scope for money to exchange hands, the committee affirms and finds it ironical that the evaluation of quality of teaching and training and the final product, ie the doctor, does not figure in inspection report." The Committee also expresses shock at the fact that despite hundreds of faculty members from 183 government medical colleges being available, certain 'serial inspectors' were part of almost half the inspections conducted in the year 2014 and of the 261 inspections done during 2014, inspectors from medical colleges in Gujarat were involved in as many as 100 inspections and another 40 involved faculty from Bihar. Cannot be a mere coincidence but reeks of a serious scam," the committee slams the MCI and health ministry as it recommends that in order to unravel the truth, an in-depth probe may be conducted into the arbitrary appointment of inspectors in 2014 and an action taken report within three months. It also stresses on implementation of the report by Prof Ranjit Roy Chaudhury committee which was set up by NDA government in July, 2014 that suggested reforms in the regulatory framework of medical profession. It is imperative that a National Medical Commission (NMC) through a new Act is constituted to do away with MCI. There is need for formation of a National Advisory Council consisting of members from the State Governments, Union Territories, State Medical Councils, Medical Universities and members of NMC. Srinagar: A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara in north Kashmir early on Friday. The militant, who was holed up in a mosque since last night, was killed as he tried to escape, an Army official said. Security forces had launched an operation in Kanthpora village of Lolab following information about the presence of militants in the area. "After a brief exchange of firing, at least one militant took shelter in a local mosque," the official said. The operation was yesterday hampered by local residents who pelted stones at security forces. Several policemen, including an officer, were hurt in the stone pelting, a police official said. In a decision that can impact lakhs of medical aspirants, the Supreme Court on Wednesday told the Centre to implement the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) from the academic year 2016-17 itself. The decision comes in the wake of the 11 April verdict in which the bench headed by Justice Dave recalled the 2013 directive scrapping the NEET, and directed the Centre to administer it for admission into all medical colleges across the country. The apex court bench headed by Justice Anil R. Dave gave its nod to two-phase holding of the NEET by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as it declined the submission by certain states and associations of private medical colleges not to thrust NEET on them. The decision has had a impact on the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), which is conducted for admission into many MBBS and Dental colleges across India. The court approved the CBSE schedule for holding NEET exams on May 1 and July 24, the declaration of results on August 17 this year, and counselling and admissions later. AIPMT will be considered as the first phase. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by an NGO called Sankalp Charitable Trust. "A student seeking admission in a medical college has to shell out lakhs of rupees in taking an examination and most of the tests are not conducted in a fair manner. There is no impediment in way of implementing NEET after the Constitution bench verdict and the Centre should be directed to enforce the order in association with MCI and CBSE," The Times of India quoted advocate Amit Kumar as saying. From 2013 onwards, private and minority medical institutes had their own entrance exams. This was made possible after a group of institutions, including the Christian Medical College in Vellore, moved the Supreme Court, contending that having a common entrance test violated the rights of minority institutions to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice, as guaranteed under Article 30 of the Constitution. The hearing in the case, resulted in the Supreme Court quashing a notification by the MCI for the 2013 NEET. With the NEET back, the competition for securing the 52,000 plus seats in the MBBS course may get a lot tougher for lakhs of students across the country. With inputs from Agencies. A point of confusion for lakhs of medical seat aspirants across the country is the National Eligibilty Entrance Test (NEET), which will be the single entrance exam for all medical colleges in the country. The Supreme Court has approved the schedule decided by the Centre, CBSE and the Medical Council of India (MCI). According to the order, the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) fixed for 1 May is to be treated as NEET-1. The order had said those who had not applied for AIPMT will be given the opportunity to appear in NEET-II on 24 July, and a combined result will be declared on 17 August, so that the admission process can be completed by 30 September. With the Supreme Court refusing to entertain the Centre's plea to stay first phase of NEET, which is to be conducted on 1 May, it is most likely that NEET will happen according to SC's order this year. Why NEET could be a bad idea On 11 April, Supreme Court ordered all medical colleges, including deemed institutions, to take admissions on the basis of NEET. With this decisions, institutions like AIIMS were no more permitted to conduct private entrance tests. This invoked confusion among students, who were looking forward to appearing for the medical entrance exams, and their parents. Since the syllabus of NEET is covered by CBSE but not by other state boards, students could A parent, Mr M. Manik Reddy, whose daughter has applied for AP-Eamcet was quoted by Deccan Chronicle as saying, This will favour students from central syllabi like CBSE and ICSE, which cover the NEET syllabus, while state boards lag behind." The order had come out less than a month before the students would be appearing for the entrance exam. By bringing all colleges under one NEET, experts fear that it will affect the students as they earlier could fare well in one while scoring low in the other. Speaking to Firstpost, Vimala Ramachandran, former professor at National University of Educational Planning and Administration said, "I think putting all the eggs in one basket is not every good for all the students. For example if there is only one entrance for all medical colleges, then my fear is that it may actually adversely affect children from different parts of the country." She felt that a single entrance exam for medical would not give us quality results. "There should be more than one exam because it depends a lot on which board you are coming from. If JEE was the only entrance exam for engineering, that'd be quite sad because students can go to Kota and get trained to give the exam. That does not necessarily mean they do better. I know a lot of very bright young people who have done well in life and who could not get through JEE because they could not go through this rigorous coaching," she said. "The Pilani (BITS) entrance test is administered online and you can give the test in multiple attempts to improve your score. Maybe those kind of exams would have greater value than having pen and paper exams," she added. Why NEET could be a good idea According to a report by The Hindu, the MCI is of the opinion that NEET would avoid multiple entrance tests and minimise corruption and irregularities in admissions to medical courses, while the IMA has welcomed the apex courts decision, saying it will help safeguard the sanctity of the medical profession. Since NEET will be held in two phases this year, students who had not applied for AIPMT will be able to appear in the second phase in July. However, Ramachandran stressed that there is only one positive aspect of NEET. "There would be some standardised benchmark. We also know that there multiple exams and the quality is fairly variable. This could be the only positive aspect," she said. Another reason why NEET could have a positive effect is that it will stop colleges from conducting malpractices during admission process. "With NEET, unscrupulous and money-minded businessmen entering and operating in the field of education will diminish," Supreme Court lawyer MR Shamshad was quoted saying by Financial Express, On Friday, the Centre moved Supreme Court to seek approval on keeping separate exams for MBBS and BDS courses. If that is brought to effect, students would face further problems in getting a seat in either of the fields. "Students who give the common test, they mostly have aim of getting into MBBS. If they don't(get into MBBS), then go for BDS. If they only give exam for MBBS and not score enough, they'll be stuck," Sanjana Uppal, a final year MBBS student from Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, told Firstpost. To cut a long story short, even though NEET was declared illegal and unconstitutional by Supreme Court of India in 2013, it is the current reality for lakhs of medical aspirants in the country. With inputs from Vishnupriya Bhandaram Bhopal: Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar on Friday demanded that report of Justice Jha Commission that probed the alleged fake land registries and other issues related to the oustees of Sardar Sarovar dam project be made public. She also demanded that people of Madhya Pradesh who were affected due to the project, whose construction is on in Gujarat, be rehabilitated without delay. Patkar launched a hunger strike three days back with over 30 people at Neelam Park here demanding rehabilitation of the oustees of the dam project. "Jha Commission report should be made public as oustees of the Sardar Sarovar dam have not been rehabilitated yet. Madhya Pradesh government is sitting tight on the report and not taking any action against the corrupt officers who had siphoned off huge money meant for rehabilitation," the activist told reporters. She said that around 50,000 people displaced by the project have yet to be rehabilitated. "But water level of the Sardar Sarvor dam is increased further, which will spell a doom for the people living in the catchment area," she said. Jha Commission was set up by the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 21 August 21 2008 to probe allegations of over 3000 fake land sale registries, corruption in rehabilitation sites, issuance of livelihood grants, allotment of plots for construction of houses to oustees of the project in Alirajpur, Dhar, Khargone and Barwani districts of Madhya Pradesh. Sardar Sarovar dam is built in Gujarat on river Narmada which originates from MP. Thiruvananthapuram: Amid a debate over permitting women of all age groups to worship at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, BJP in Kerala feels that political parties should not interfere in the issue and it should be resolved through consensus among the stakeholders. BJP state President Kummanam Rajasekharan said that while customs and rituals "should change in accordance with time", political parties should not take sides on the issue. "Those having faith in the religion should be the ones who decide the matter," he said. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has already made it clear that government will not interfere in traditions and customs of the hill shrine. However, the BJP leader said customs and rituals should change in accordance with time. "There is no doubt, customs and rituals should change in accordance with time, but it should be after arriving at a consensus." "As the issue regarding entry of women in the age group of 10-50 at Sabarimala is religious, it should be resolved through a mechanism within the religion," Rajasekharan told PTI in an interview. "As it is a religious issue connected with rituals and traditions, it should be resolved through consensus, through a mechanism within the framework of the religion," he said when asked about BJP's stand on the matter. He was speaking to PTI during a hectic campaign tour of Vattiyoorkavu, from where he is making his electoral debut. "With regard to Sabarimala hill shrine, situated in in Pathanamthitta district, Travancore Devaswom Board is the administrator. There are Tantris (Chief Priests), vedic scholars, priests, organisations of devotees. They are the people who have the say on tradition and practises." "This issue has to be discussed by them and consensus arrived at," said Rajasekharan, a former president of Viswha Hindu Parishad, adding, "we have to hear what they have to say also." "This type of practise is not only in Hindu religion. It is also prevailing in Islam," he said. "Political parties should not interfere and take sides on this type of practises and traditions," he said, reiterating that efforts should be to arrive at a consensus. "Because faith is the backbone of religion. Spirituality is different from religion. Tradition and practise has no place in spirituality.... But the base of all religions is faith. Practises, rituals, customs and traditions were made to retain the religion," he said. Nashik: A 40-year-old woman and her minor daughter were killed after they allegedly got buried under a 50-ft high garbage heap which collapsed on them at a dumping ground here, police said on Friday. The incident took place on Wednesday but the bodies of the duo were pulled out of the dumping site last night by Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) authorities after a five-hour-long search operation, they said. The victims, Poonam Mali and Komal Mali (8), who had gone to collect firewood for cooking at the civic body's garbage depot at Vilholi Naka died of asphyxiation after getting trapped under the waste, according to an official at Indira Nagar police. The matter came to light when the duo, both slum dwellers of Kavathewadi, did not return home till Wednesday evening following which their family approached NMC officials and Sena activist Sudam Demse, police said. Subsequently, civic officials with the help of JCB machines rushed to the spot yesterday and succeeded in tracing the bodies last night, police said, adding an offence has been registered under CrPC section 174 besides a case of accidental death. Speaking to reporters, Demse alleged that the incident happened due to negligence of NMC administration and demanded construction of a compound wall for the garbage depot. Jaipur: Eleven people with special needs, including eight children, staying at a government-run home near here have died due to suspected bacterial infection after allegedly drinking contaminated water. With the opposition hitting out at the Rajasthan government over the deaths, the Vasundhara Raje dispensation appointed a three-member committee to probe the matter. Twenty-seven residents of the government facility in Jamdoli had been admitted to SMS Hospital and J K Lone hospital. Eleven of them died between 16 April and 27. Eight persons were discharged while the others are still undergoing treatment. Though post-mortem report is still awaited, doctors are of the opinion that the people died due to suspected bacterial infection, Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi told reporters on Friday. He said the three-member committee headed by Principal Secretary Sudarshan Sethi would submit its report in 15 days. The minister said that after receiving complaints over hygiene in the facility, a team from SMS Hospital had visited it on 23 April. "After receiving complaint, a team from SMS hospital visited the hostel on 23 April and gave necessary directions to the staff. The hostel staff has been directed to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Hand sanitizers have been placed outside every room in the hostel which has 20 rooms, 10 for boys and as many for girls," Chaturvedi said. The minister also ruled out possibility of food contamination initially and said the matter was being probed. "Reasons of the deaths would be clear in post-mortem report," he said. Superintendent of J K Lone Hospital, Dr Ashok Gupta said the children who were admitted to that hospital were suffering from septic shock complication of infection where toxins can initiate a full body inflammatory response and high blood pressure. "The children were admitted to the hospital between 21 April and 28. Seven of them have died, while four are undergoing treatment. Of them, three are critical," Gupta said. All of them were admitted after they complained of vomiting and other problems, he said. Opposition Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the children were taken ill apparently after drinking contaminated water at the government home, and demanded action against those responsible for the tragedy. "It is very serious issue that the children who had special needs have died. The government should order a high-level inquiry into the matter," Pilot, who also visited the hospital, said. New York: There is bad news for marine life as a new study has found that loss of oxygen in oceans due to climate change which is already discernible in some parts of the world should be evident across large regions of the oceans between 2030 and 2040. Large scale ocean deoxygenation could leave fish, crabs, squid, sea stars, and other marine life struggling to breathe. "Loss of oxygen in the ocean is one of the serious side effects of a warming atmosphere, and a major threat to marine life," said lead author of the study Matthew Long from US National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). "Since oxygen concentrations in the ocean naturally vary depending on variations in winds and temperature at the surface, it's been challenging to attribute any deoxygenation to climate change. This new study tells us when we can expect the impact from climate change to overwhelm the natural variability," Long pointed out. The study was published in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles. The entire ocean - from the depths to the shallows--gets its oxygen supply from the surface, either directly from the atmosphere or from phytoplankton, which release oxygen into the water through photosynthesis. Warming surface waters, however, absorb less oxygen. And in a double whammy, the oxygen that is absorbed has a more difficult time traveling deeper into the ocean. That's because as water heats up, it expands, becoming lighter than the water below it and less likely to sink. To investigate the impact of climate change on deoxygenation , the research team relied on the NCAR-based Community Earth System Model. The scientists used output from a project that ran the model more than two dozen times for the years 1920 to 2100 on the Yellowstone supercomputer, which is operated by NCAR. Using the simulations to study dissolved oxygen gave the researchers guidance on how much concentrations may have varied naturally in the past. With this information, they could determine when ocean deoxygenation due to climate change is likely to become more severe than at any point in the modeled historic range. The research team found that deoxygenation caused by climate change could already be detected in the southern Indian Ocean and parts of the eastern tropical Pacific and Atlantic basins. They also determined that more widespread detection of deoxygenation caused by climate change would be possible between 2030 and 2040. New Delhi: The government on Friday rebutted allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had struck a deal with Italy on AgustaWestland case and said the Central issue was corruption and any other effort to divert from it was "misleading". It also termed attempts to link NSA Ajit Doval and Principal Secretary to PM Nripendra Mishra to one of the accused as "totally baseless assertion and indicative of malicious intent". "Those who cannot see Prime Minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prime Minister Modi did not cut any deal of any sort," the government said in a late night statement. It added that a few have even sought to link one of the accused with Doval and Mishra. "This is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent. In reality, there is no such connection," it said. The statement said it is indeed tragic that a small section of the Indian polity has attempted, "unsuccessfully", to divert and defuse the public discourse on this matter. They question the speed of the government processes, especially the investigation but, they do not ask how the corrupt influenced the process of acquisition in the first place and bled the nation, it said. "They do not admit corruption; they instead boldly proclaim, 'catch us if you can'," it said adding that government has taken effective action to bring out the truth and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing all means to bring to justice the corrupt and the wrong-doers in this case. "The investigative agencies remain determined to bring to justice the key perpetrators of this misdeed, both inside and outside the country," it said. In the matter pertaining to acquisition of AgustaWestland helicopters, the undisputed central issue that stands out is corruption, especially bribery, the statement said. "Any other line of assumption, approach and effort, as is being attempted in some quarters, is misleading, tries to hide the wrong-doers and is driven by instincts of self preservation," it said. On opposition allegations about helicopters purchased by the governments of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the statement said the Centre has been proactive in seeking response. "They ask as to whey did Modi government not take any action against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Dr Raman Singh despite an indictment of Chhattisgarh government by CAG in purchase of AgustaWestland Helicopter, which led to loss to public exchequer (according to CAG) of Rs 65 lakh? "But, the government has been proactive in seeking response from the State governments also. As per the State Government of Chattisgarh, the Public Accounts Committee of the Chattisgarh Vidhan Sabha took cognizance of the CAG report regarding the acquisition that was done in 2007, and took the evidence of State Government officials. After analyzing the evidence of officials and the report of the State Government, the PAC closed the matter," the statement said. Similarly, as per the Rajasthan government, the alleged loss to public exchequer according to CAG was not on account of any irregularity in the procurement process, but due to the expenditure incurred on account of lack of planning and basic infrastructure prior to procurement, such as pilot training and maintenance, it said adding that in this case too, the acquisition was done in 2005. "The government appeals to the countrymen to recognize the nature and depth of corruption in AgustaWestland case. The investigative agencies will stay their course in unveiling the corrupt and holding them accountable to our public," it said. Seeking to counter Opposition allegation, the government said ever since it was given the responsibility to serve the people, it has acted with speed, drive and purpose to empower the country's masses. "It continues to relentlessly pursue fearless and transparent governance. One of the core goals of our governance has been to unearth and uproot corruption, and punish the corrupt," it said. PTI Late Friday night, the Modi government issued a longish official statement, stating that it was proactively pursing the AgustaWestland bribery case to bring the wrongdoers to book. While doing so it has made a point by point rebuttal of arguments made by Congress including what the BJP government has done for the past two years, since the time it came to power. It went at length to state facts where some of them speak for themselves. It also clarified on misinformation of AgustaWestland being allowed to participate in Make in India programme and strongly rebutted the Congress charge that AgustaWestland was allowed to bid in 2015 for 11 Naval utility helicopter. The statement also takes strong objections to the insinuations that disgraced former air chief SP Tyagi was close to NSA Ajit Doval and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Nripendra Mishra. The Vivekananda foundation has already issued a clarification to that effect. Following is the full text of the government: "In the matter pertaining to acquisition of Agusta Westland helicopters, the undisputed central issue that stands out is corruption, especially bribery. Any other line of assumption, approach and effort, as is being attempted in some quarters, is misleading, tries to hide the wrong-doers and is driven by instincts of self preservation. Ever since the new government was given the responsibility to serve the people, it has acted with speed, drive and purpose to empower the country's masses. It continues to relentlessly pursue fearless and transparent governance. One of the core goals of our governance has been to unearth and uproot corruption, and punish the corrupt. It is indeed tragic that a small section of the Indian polity has attempted, unsuccessfully, to divert and diffuse the public discourse on this matter. They question the speed of the government processes, especially the investigation. But, they do not ask how the corrupt influenced the process of acquisition in the first place and bled the nation. They donot admit corruption; they instead boldly proclaim, "catch us if you can". The present government has taken effective action to bring out the truth and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing all means to bring to justice the corrupt and the wrong-doers in this case. The investigative agencies remain determined to bring to justice the key perpetrators of this misdeed, both inside and outside the country. The government has acted proactively and with alacrity against Agusta Westland International and Finmeccanica. It is the present government which through its order dated 3 July 2014, put on hold all procurement/acquisition cases in the pipeline of six companies figuring in the FIR registered by the CBI, namely: M/S Agusta Westland International Ltd., UK, M/S Finmeccanica, Italy, and its group companies, including subsidiaries and affiliates, M/S IDS, Tunisia, M/S Infotech Design System (IDS), Mauritius, M/S IDS Infotech Ltd, Mohali and M/S Aeromatrix Info Solution Pvt Ltd, Chandigarh. In doing so, we did not let the preparedness of our defence forces suffer. At the same time, we also ensured that no new capital procurement was made thereafter from these companies in the tenure of the present Government. The factually misinformed have also made a mention regarding clearance of a joint venture involving Agusta Westland by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. This proposal was approved on 2nd September 2011 based on an application by Indian Rotorcraft Ltd a joint venture of Tata Sons with Agusta Westland NV, Netherlands. This was later changed to Agusta Westland S.p.A Italy due to reorganization within the group. On 7th February 2012, an industrial licence for the manufacture of helicopters was granted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion to Indian Rotorcraft Ltd. However, the validity of licence has since expired. In their drive to divert the public attention from their own corruption, some have said that the Modi government permitted Augusta Westland to bid for 100 Naval Utility Helicopters in April, 2015. The fact is that a techno-commercial Request for Proposal (RFP) for Naval Utility Helicopters was issued to eight vendors on 4 August 2012. In response to the RFP, M/S Eurocopters, France and M/S Agusta Westland S.p.A Italy submitted their techno-commercial proposals on 4 March 2013. RFP of the procurement case was retracted by the Government on 13 October 2014. The Indian Navy has hosted on the website a Request for Information for more than 100 Naval Utility Helicopter in October 2014. No Request for Proposal has been issued, therefore the question of permitting Agusta Westland to bid for the Naval Utility Helicopter in April 2015 does not arise. The government is exploring whether their manufacturing can be pursued under "Make in India". On the core issue of corruption, the timeline of actions taken by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate clearly shows due rigour and diligence with which these agencies have pursued all aspects of their investigations, including the arrest and extradition of three foreign nationals namely Mr. Carlo Gerosa, Mr. Guido Haschke Ralph and Christian Michel James. CBI has so far investigated over 100 witnesses. In September and November 2014, couple of accused have been arrested and their property attached. A criminal complaint was also filed. Letter of Requests were sent out by ED and CBI to Mauritius (July 2013), Tunisia and Italy (December 2013), British Virgin Islands, Singapore and U.K. (September 2014), UAE and Switzerland (December 2014). The agencies are continuing to pursue responses to the LRs from the countries concerned. Further, an open ended non bailable arrest warrant was issued by CBI against Mr. Christian James Michel on 24 September 2015. Red Corner notices were issued in December 2015 and January 2016 through Interpol under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Prevention of Corruption Act on charges of conspiracy and abuse of official position in giving favours to M/s AWIL. Extradition request has also been made for Christian Michel James. A request for provision arrest for the purpose of extradition was made to the U.K. authorities on 4 January 2016 by CBI. Enforcement Directorate, another autonomous agency to handle private money laundering and Foreign Exchange irregularities, has also separately sent a Red Corner seeking arrest and a request for his extradition from the U.K. on 29 February 2016. By asking why did Prime Minister and BJP government not take any action on the alleged offer dated 08.11.2015 made by James Christian Michael to be questioned by CBI and ED including on Indian soil, some have even tried to side with a wanted criminal. It is well known that any understanding/agreement with an accused outside the frame of law is a criminal act in itself. James Christian Michael is a criminal wanted by the Indian law enforcement agencies. We are pursuing all legal means to arrest him and have him extradited to India. Mr. Michel should submit himself to the Indian legal system rather than make elliptical references to offers that are suspect in intent and reality. We are determined that the law must take its course against Mr. Michel and his associates in this matter. Those who cannot see Prime Minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prime Minister Modi did not cut any deal of any sort. His only goal and priority is the development of comprehensive national power, and empowerment of our masses. A few have even sought to link one of the accused with Shri Ajit Doval, present NSA, as also Shri Nripendra Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. This is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent. In reality, there is no such connection. Individuals in some quarters have even gone to the extent of ascribing intent to the technicalities of the CAG audit of the state governments of Rajasthan and Chattisgarh. They ask as to whey did Modi government not take any action against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Dr. Raman Singh despite an indictment of Chhattisgarh government by CAG in purchase of Agusta Westland Helicopter, which led to loss to public exchequer (according to CAG) of Rs.65 lakh? But, the government has been proactive in seeking response from the State governments also. As per the State Government of Chattisgarh, the Public Accounts Committe of the Chattisgarh Vidhan Sabha took cognizance of the CAG report regarding the acquisition that was done in 2007, and took the evidence of State Government officials. After analyzing the evidence of officials and the report of the State Government, the PAC closed the matter. Similarly, as per the State Government of Rajasthan, the alleged loss to public exchequer according to CAG was not on account of any irregularity in the procurement process, but due to the expenditure incurred on account of lack of planning and basic infrastructure prior to procurement, such as pilot training and maintenance. In this case too, the acquisition was done in 2005. The Government appeals to the countrymen to recognize the nature and depth of corruption in Agusta Westland case. The investigative agencies will stay their course in unveiling the corrupt and holding them accountable to our public." Ahmedabad: Intensifying his attack, BJP President Amit Shah on Friday targeted Congress chief Sonia Gandhi once again over the VVIP chopper scam asking her to explain a "number of relaxations" given to AgustaWestland which, he alleged, compromised India's interests. Posing questions to Gandhi before the media, he said reports of bribery in the deal appeared in the Italian media soon after the it was finalised but the then UPA government went ahead with it instead of invoking a tender clause, which enabled it to be put on hold. The deal was "put on hold" only in 2013 after corruption was "proved", he said adding the Congress chief should answer who was behind the delay. Shah said the tender for the purchase of choppers allowed only original equipment manufacturers (OEM) but AgustaWestland was allowed to compete even though it was not an OEM. "I want to ask the Congress President as to who was behind the change? Who ensured that the company was found technically qualified? Who was behind the changes in the tender conditions?" he asked at a press conference. Raising another question, he said when the deal was done, one of the conditions was that the field evaluation trial of the choppers would be carried out in India but it was later changed and the firm was allowed to do so in its premises. "Conditions were changed abruptly. Did it not play with India's interests? Did it not compromise the seriousness of trial? Did the then Defence Minister give the permission? On whose behest did it happen? Sonia Gandhi should answer it too," he said. He also refuted the claim of Congress that all the money given by AgustaWestland under the ban guarantee has returned to India and said only a part of it has been encashed. "Congress chief should herself answer these questions be appearing before people, by appearing before the media," he said. The Congress should come out of the mindset of "thief scolding a cop". Yesterday, Shah attacked Gandhi and asker to name the bribe takers in the Rs.3,600 core chopper deal but Congress hit back saying his demand was a "no confidence vote" in the Modi government which has "failed" in its job of investigating it properly in last two years. In what looks to be a major breakthrough for reservation demands in India, the Gujarat government, on Friday, announced 10 percent for all non-reserved categories on the basis of their annual income. Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said that the reservation will be given to all those whose annual income is Rs 6 lakh or less, the report added. The new rules, according to NDTV, will be applicable from 1 May and may include the Patidar community that have accelerated the protests by demanding affirmative action. The new quota will add to the existing 49.5 per cent reservation for minorities in the state. Even as this exceeds the reservation limit of 50 percent set by the Supreme Court, the state government said it will "fight it" out legally as it is "serious" on the issue. It is to be noted that the state already offers 50 percent reservation to SC/STs and OBCs. In a report by PTI, BJP state president Vijay Rupani said that "a notification will be issued on the Gujarat state formation day on 1 May," and "EBCs among general category will be able to take the benefit of the reservation in education and jobs from the next academic year". According to Zee News, the government had taken this step after the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and Sardar Patel Group announced the launch of a major ''jail bharo andolan'' to agitate for reservation. The report adds that the chief minister, in the recent past, held a meeting with a committee of ministers helmed by Health Minister Nitin Patel, where this plan by these two major groups mentioned above were discussed and strategies to tackle their initiatives were discussed. This movement was led by the controversial Hardik Patel, who gathered around 6 lakh people to press for the inclusion of the Patels in the OBC pool of reservation. The announcement comes amid ongoing protests for reservations in jobs by the members of Patel community. With inputs from Agencies For the past few months the Gujarat government was stuck between the Constitution and Hardik Patel. It has finally found a solution by getting on the right side of Patel and on the wrong side of the Constitution. On Friday, the Gujarat government announced a ten percent quota for economically backward classes in the state. The new category of proposed beneficiaries is aimed at pacifying the Patidars, whose leader Patel had launched a violent agitation for reservation in 2015. According to the state government, the new category would include members of all general categories (the ones not included in SC/ST and OBC) with family income less than Rs 6 lakh. Chief minister Anandiben Patel has promised to issue an ordinance on 1 May for the new quota. Prima facie the BJP formula for appeasing the Patidars is a replica of the solution it had proffered for Gurjars of Rajasthan. In 2008, the Vasundhara Raje government had extended 5 percent reservation to a special category of backwards that included Gurjars and another 14 percent quota to economically backward classes. Pushed into a corner by Patel and his supporters, chief minister Anandiben Patel had no other option but to find a please-all solution before the assembly elections in 2017. Patidars are almost 15 percent of Gujarat's population and their support could be decisive in the polls, especially because they are among the BJP's core vote bank. The BJP's problem was that it could not have placated the Patidars without annoying other communities in the state. While the OBCs were opposing any change in the existing quota pattern, various other caste currently out of the reserved category had started their own movements for being included in the list of beneficiaries. Over the past few months, a movement seen as a counter to the Patidar stir had started gathering momentum under Alpesh Thakor, an OBC leader. In January, Thakor had organised a huge convention in Ahmedabad, ostensibly against bootlegging and liquor addiction in the dry state. But he also founded a forum comprising OBC, SC and ST groups seeking to protect the existing reservation system. Many believe that Thakor, 39, has been propped up by the Gujarat CM as a counter to Hardik Patel who is currently in jail on sedition charges slapped on him by the state after the violent agitation by Patidars last year. Others believe Thakor is backed by the Congress, which is eyeing a comeback in the state by stoking the quota fire. Thakor's father Khodabhai is a Congress leader. By floating the idea of ten percent reservation for the economically backward, the BJP is trying to appease both the Patidars and the OBCs. Will the solution work? Gujarat currently has 49 percent reservation, the same as in Rajasthan before the Gurjar stir. So, the recent decision, if implemented, is bound to be challenged in the court since it would breach the 50 percent ceiling imposed by the Supreme Court in its 1992 Indra Sawhney vs Union of India judgment. To avoid being challenged legally, the Gujarat government would try to get the new law once it is passed by the state in the Ninth Schedule by the Centre. The Constitution provides protection from judicial scrutiny to any legislation placed in this schedule. But, similar attempts by various governments to breach the 50 percent ceiling have failed in the past. The Gujarat government's decision is likely to meet the same fate. The 14 percent reservation for EBCs and 5 percent for Special Backward Classes, including Gurjars, passed by the Rajasthan government in 2008 was stayed by the high court. Earlier attempts by Karnataka and Orissa assemblies to provide quota in excess of 50 percent were also foiled by various courts and tribunals. The SC is also reviewing the decision of the Tamil Nadu government to provide 69 percent reservation in the state. The BJP, however, may not be too concerned about the fate of its recent decision. Just like in Haryana where Jats were recently promised reservation after a violent stir and Rajasthan, it has bought some time from quota activists by taking a political decision. By the time the courts review the decision and announce their verdict, the 2017 elections would have been held in the state. And the outcome of the election, not its new promise, is the only thing that matters for the BJP. Patna: On Friday the BJP flayed NCP chief Sharad Pawar for suggesting that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was the most credible face of an anti-BJP alliance and reminded the Maratha strongman that he too had left Congress to "nurse his own dream to become the PM, but it remained a pipe dream only". "Pawar has needlessly fuelled Nitish Kumar's prime ministerial ambition by describing him as a leader with right credentials for the top executive post," BJP national spokesman Syed Shahanwaz Hussain told PTI over phone. In an interview on Thursday, the NCP chief had said Nitish Kumar would be the most credible face of an anti-BJP alliance. "...he (Pawar) should remember he too had dreamt for the same post and left the Congress to nurse his ambitions that ended up being a pipe dream only," Shahanwaz said. He said the prime ministerial ambition of the NCP chief and his JD(U) counterpart remained unfulfilled despite change in political situation over the past two decades. "Like Pawar's dream ending up being a 'pipe dream' only, Kumar's identical aspiration will too fall far short given the strength of his party - JD(U) - which has only two members in the Lok Sabha," the BJP leader said. He said one has right to nurse whatever ambitions (he has) in a democratic system but a leader must take a realistic look at the strength of his party before nursing prime ministerial ambition. Asking Nitish to strengthen his party in Parliament before staking claim over the post, he said, "The JD(U) does not represent entire Bihar let alone being a national party." "Like the JD(U), the BJP too had two MPs in the eighth Lok Sabha, but it worked hard in subsequent years to make its presence felt on the political turf before its stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee could become Prime Minister in 1996," Hussain recalled. "Like us, Nitish Kumar will have to work hard to build his party and enhance its appeal among the people not only in Bihar, but other parts of the country to gain numbers in Parliament...he should throw his hat in the prime ministerial race after doing hardwork on the ground," he said. Hussain said the Bihar Chief Minister will have to overcome strong challenge from the BJP which has a strong leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Even otherwise, Kumar will have to withstand challenges from the UPA and other regional parties whose leaders, like Rahul Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav also nurse the ambition," he said. New Delhi: The three major national parties - Congress, BJP and CPM - should give details about their "unknown sources" of income as huge funds are said to have been collected by them in the last few years, a Trinamool Congress MP said on Friday. "I was most surprised when it came to light that a party like CPM could collect a staggeringly high amount of Rs.417.26 crore from 2005 to 2011 as accounted by the Marxist party itself in their audit report submitted with the Election Commission," Swagat Roy told IANS. Of the amount the CPM, by its own admission, told the Election Commission that 53.8 percent of this amount was from "unknown sources". Earlier, Roy raised the issue during zero hour in the Lok Sabha and also levelled similar charges against Congress and BJP. "The Congress audit accounts submitted to the Election Commission said of its Rs.598 crore shown as income in 2013-14, 82.5 percent earning was from unknown sources. For BJP out of Rs.673 crore and Rs.959 crore earning in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively, 73 percent of the amount was from unknown source. So I raised it during zero hour today that these parties should come clean and reveal their unknown sources," he said. The five recognised national parties - BJP, Congress, CPM, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - were asked by the Election Commission in 2014 to submit details of audit accounts of their respective income. Roy said, "The commission had also said that actions could be taken for non-submission of the audited account. So I raised the issue today." "I have the list of CPM contributors and they include the likes of promoters, resort owners and hoteliers," he said. In fact, CPM and other left party members clashed with Roy in the Lok Sabha when the submission was being made. Among others, left members MB Rajesh and PK Teacher told Roy that they have contributed to the party fund. Responding to this, Roy said,"My objection is not to their contribution. I want to know who are unknown sources." Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Mallikarjun Kharge were also present in the Lok Sabha when the Trinamool member was speaking. Trinamool sources later said that Kharge also sought more details from Roy on the matter. Two apparently disconnected incidents point to the depths of hopelessness that a demographically young West Bengal has been forced to plumb faced with nearly four decades of ruinous rule. One, a decision by the Calcutta High Court on Thursday to issue an interim stay on recruitment of civic police volunteers across the state. Two, the collapse of the Vivekananda Road flyover in Kolkata on 31 March. Why did HC term govt's job scheme a 'scam'? Dealing a body blow to Trinamool Congress government's quick fire job solution, that too flush in the middle of Assembly polls, Justice Sanjib Banerjee of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday issued an interim stay order on the recruitment of civic police volunteers, calling the move "a great scam". Civic police volunteers are youth who have been inducted into the state's police force to aid the cops and administration. The scheme, which was launched almost as soon as Mamata Banerjee took over the reins of the state in 2011, has been instrumental in recruiting well over a lakh of youth. It is one of the most popular projects in a state where jobs are as scarce as water in Marathwada. Trouble is, most of the recruitment was done in an ad-hoc manner. There have been long-standing allegations that party members or sympathisers are preferred over more eligible candidates. In a petition filed last month in the Calcutta High Court, 10 youth from Bankura (one of the seven districts in the state's Burdwan division) alleged irregularities in the appointment and submitted that they have been discriminated against despite being eligible for the job. On being directed by the court, the state government filed an affidavit on Thursday admitting that instead of proper procedures, appointments were made only on the basis of oral interviews conducted by a five-member committee set up by the district SPs comprising additional SP, deputy SP and three cops from the local police station. Incidentally, recruitment in the police force involves mandatory clearance of physical and written tests. The court observed that hiring youths who would serve in police stations on the basis of just an interview was a scam. It directed the state to file a detailed report by 9 May. "The process adopted by the government during the recruitment of civic police volunteers was not only illegal, it seems to be a scam. The government had adopted pick-and-choose policy I want to know the details about the criteria for recruitment and the actual process adopted by the state. "The government is directed not to recruit any civic police volunteer in the state until further orders," a report carried by The Telegraph quotes Justice Banerjee, as saying. The green-clad volunteers, about 1.3 lakh of whom were appointed on a contract basis between 2011 and 2013, drew a salary of just over Rs 2,000 per month. It was subsequently revised to Rs 5,000 last year. There have been allegations that the criteria for these jobs were party connection, not competence and that these were handed out as doles to TMC workers. TMC took cash for jobs, says CPIM Calling the high court decision the latest "in a series of slaps" on the face of Mamata Banerjee government, CPIM MP and politburo member Mohammad Salim said the ruling party is cavorting with the future of Bengal and its youth force. "Mamata Banerjee has said people should slap her if she has committed mistakes. The high court has delivered a series of slaps. This is the latest," Md Salim told Firstpost on Friday. "But the TMC regime is shameless and has failed to draw a lesson. In its magnitude and deviousness this is right up there with the Vyapam scam. Instead of taking exams while recruiting the civic police volunteers, the TMC distributed quotas among its leaders and raised money through it. Jobs were handed out in exchange for cash. "The government is playing around with the future of the state's youth. We will see to it that action is taken against those who paid up to get appointed," the CPM leader said in a telephonic conversation on Friday. Truth behind the collapsed flyover According to a report carried in Times of India on Friday, the steel used in the collapsed Vivekananda road flyover was of inferior quality, different from the type mentioned in the tender. A police investigation into the incident, which happened on 31 March and caused the death of 28 and injured 67 others, reveals steel frames of 28mm thickness were used instead of 32mm. Reports had emerged earlier how the flyover construction was being carried out by unskilled labourers supplied by TMC's feared 'syndicates' who had been charging for trained personnel. Shuttering and binding construction of the scaffoldings on which concrete slabs are laid, which according to engineers are a specialised job, were being carried out by untrained workers, according to a recent report by The Telegraph. What these two developments tell us At the heart of the two seemingly disparate incidents lies a common theme lack of jobs. Mamata Banerjee was forced to recruit lakhs of untrained youths in state's police force via a perfunctory interview because she needed a quick solution to the debilitating joblessness plaguing the state. Over three decades, the Left front slowly but surely destroyed the state's educational institutions, filling them with party apparatchiks, celebrating mediocrity and putting indoctrination over merit. Mamata inherited these and made it worse. Every year lakhs of youth are injected into the system, mostly untrained and crippled by a rotten paradigm. In absence of even a single big-ticket industry, there are no jobs and consequently, it is this aimless workforce which then forms an easy platform for the 'syndicate raj' to thrive. Bidhannagar mayor Sabyasachi Dutta, who was caught in a Times Now sting owning up to his links with TMC-controlled syndicates, later brazenly admitted his links. He defended his stance, saying that he will always stand by unemployed youths. The statement is also a staggering admission of the state's failure to secure the future of its youth. The 'job scam' and collapsed flyover are its inevitable side effects. Pretoria, South Africa: South African President Jacob Zuma should face almost 800 corruption charges that were dropped in 2009, a judge said on Friday, piling further pressure on the embattled leader. The charges, relating to a multi-billion dollar arms deal, were dropped by the chief state prosecutor in a move that cleared the way for Zuma to be elected president. "The decision... to discontinue the charges against Mr Zuma is irrational and should be reviewed," Pretoria High Court judge Aubrey Ledwaba said. "Mr Zuma should face the charges as applied." The prosecutor had justified dropping the charges by saying that tapped phone calls between senior officials in then-president Thabo Mbeki's administration showed political interference in the case. The recordings, which became known as the "spy tapes", were kept secret, but were finally released in 2014 to the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), after a five-year legal battle. DA leader Mmusi Maimane said Friday's court ruling was a major blow to the president, who has faced months of criticism over various corruption scandals and the country's dire economic outlook. "Today is a great victory for the rule of law. Ultimately, Jacob Zuma must face prosecution," Maimane said, after attending the court hearing. "We are deeply, deeply delighted. We believe it's a significant judgement. "Jacob Zuma must have... his day in court." The DA called for the National Prosecuting Authority to immediately revive the 783 charges of corruption dating back to 1999. But the legal wrangling is set to continue, with the ruling likely to go to appeal. The president, last month, lost another major legal case when the country's highest court found he violated the constitution over the use of public funds to upgrade his private residence. The so-called "security upgrades", which cost taxpayers $24 million, included a swimming pool, chicken run, cattle enclosure and an amphitheatre. The DA and other opposition parties attempted to impeach him in Parliament, but the ruling African National Congress (ANC) used its majority to easily defeat the motion. Zuma has also been beset by allegations that a wealthy Indian migrant family had such influence over him that it could decide ministerial appointments. Pressure on the president to be ousted or to resign has grown with several veteran leaders of the party, who brought Nelson Mandela to power in 1994, are calling for him to step down. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who is contesting as the Congress-led UDF candidate from Puthupally constituency for 11th time in a row, filed his nomination papers for the May 16 assembly polls on Friday. Chandy, who has represented the constituency 10 consecutive times in the Assembly, is once again trying his luck from Puthupally in the central Travancore district of Kottayam. Chandy, the face of Congress in Kerala, was accompanied by his son Chandy Oommen, Kottayam MP Jose K Mani and thousands of party and UDF workers. He arrived to file three sets of nomination papers before the Block Development Officer Sreelekha, at Pallikathodu in Puthupally. The Chief Minister, who is making the 11th bid from the constituency, was greeted by 11 children with roses. He offered prayers at the local church and at the graves of his parents before proceeding to file his nomination papers. State Excise Minister K Babu who had faced bribery allegations in the bar scam, and is the Congress-UDF candidate from Tripunithura assembly segment, also filed his papers on Friday, the last date for filing nominations. The unprecedented heat wave sweeping across Kerala has made door-to-door campaigning tough for political parties and their candidates ahead of the 2016 Kerala Assembly polls. Yet, the severe heat wave and its effects on the people find no mention in their campaigns. This is just one of several issues conspicuous by their absence on the campaign front, that is dominated by corruption scams and sleaze. The other issues that are glossed over by the parties is the rapid aging of the population, low participation of women in work places, return influx of migrants from Middle East in the wake of the fall in the prices of crude oil etc. The attempts by the rivals of the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to cash in on the anti-incumbency sentiments prevailing among the voters, and the latters bid to counter them, have drowned these issues of importance for the common man. The lack of mention of climate change in the manifestos of both the UDF and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is being viewed by environmentalists as an unpardonable miss at a time when temperatures hit a 29-year high in the state this week, leading to acute shortage of drinking water and destruction of crops in several parts of the state. Even repeated warnings from scientists about the rising sea levels caused by global warming, that could submerge large swathes of the states most populous city of Kochi within 100 years, has not spurred the parties into action. This has forced several groups of people in the state to take proactive action instead of waiting for politicians to solve their problems. While leading actor Mammootty has launched a programme called 'Own Your Water' to provide water to people hit by drought with the help of voluntary agencies, some online groups have come out with novel protests against the neglect of various issues by the parties. Notable among them is a Facebook groups initiative to field a candidate against a leader who has refused to give way to youngsters and an online campaign by a womens collective protesting against the failure of mainstream parties to give adequate representation to women in their candidate list. The Facebook group called 'Irikkur who will bell the cat?' has proposed their candidate at the Irikkur constituency in the northern district of Kannur, to register their protest against the neglect of the constituency and the people by the sitting MLA and minister K C Joseph, who is a native of the Kottayam district. The online campaign against Joseph who has been representing the constituency for the last 35 years, has spurred many including some from his own party, forcing them to enter the fray either as rebels or independent candidates. Shaji Kuriakose, the candidate proposed by the Facebook group, said that their attempt is aimed to divide votes so that a better candidate can win the election. The campaign by womens collective consisting of prominent women activists calling on women to vote Nota in the constituencies where there are no women candidates has become a big hit on social media; though the major parties have not taken notice of it so far. The male-dominated political parties are deliberately trying to keep the women away from power. Though the women outnumber men in population in Kerala, their representation in the assembly was always below 6 percent, said Sulfath, an activist supporting the group, adding that it was meaningless to wait for the parties to give women their due. The total number of women candidates fielded by the three major political combinations in the current election is 37. While 17 women candidates figure in the LDF list, the Congress and the BJP list contain seven and twelve women respectively. The activists said that most of the seats given to the women were tough political seats where they have little chance to win. The results of the past elections show that more than 60 per cent of the women candidates fielded by major parties had lost the election. This, they say, is a clear indication that the parties do not want women in the Legislature. The activists said that the issues faced by the women in the state can be solved only if they are represented by one. The biggest problem faced by women in the state is low participation in work places. The manifestos of both the fronts have not proposed any concrete steps to increase womens work participation," they said. Though Kerala has the highest female literacy rate in the country, it stands 25th among states in terms of female work participation. The work participation rate of women in the state has been hovering around 15 percent for the past several decades. While the UDF manifesto is silent on the issue, the LDF manifesto promises to increase the work participation rate to 18 percent in the next five years. Women activists take that promise with a pinch of salt since similar promises made in the previous manifestos have remained just that, promises on paper. The LDF promise to create 25 lakh jobs in the next five years supports their apprehension. The target is in fact more than the number of unemployed people in Kerala. According to the state economic review, the current unemployment rate in the state is 7.4 percent. This works out to 24.71 lakh jobless people. If the LDF succeeds in fulfilling the promise, there will be no need for Keralites to go out in search of jobs after five years. But even die-hard supporters of LDF find it difficult to swallow the promise. Joseph Mathew, who served as IT advisor to V S Achuthanandan when he headed the government between 2006 and 2011, said that creation of 25 lakh jobs, including 10 lakh jobs in the IT, Tourism and knowledge sectors, was highly unrealistic in a state like Kerala where investors dread to come due to labour militancy. He pointed out that concerted efforts by the successive governments to promote IT in the last two decades could not even create one lakh jobs so far. The LDF seeks to create 2.5 lakh jobs in the IT sector by creating an additional one crore sq ft built-up space. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) secretary Jyothi Kumar said that the promise, which has become the butt of all jokes on social media, was meant to hoodwink the people. The manifesto has promised to create space but it does not say how they will bring IT companies to occupy the space. This is considered to be a significant problem in the light of the failure by the Dubai-based TECOM to attract major IT players to the SmartCity they set up in Kochi. Out of 22 companies that have booked a space in the 6.5 lakh sq ft first phase of the 8.8 million sq.ft project inaugurated in February this year, only one is a recognisable IT firm. The remaining are banks, hospitals and telecom service providers. The UDF manifesto does not lack on far-fetched promises either. It promises to bring down unemployment to 4 percent a promise it had made during the previous election following which the five-year-rule of their government saw the number of employed in the organised sector show a sharp decline. As per the economic review, it came down from 12.26 lakh in 2000 to 11.36 lakh in 2015. Both the manifestos are also generous in other sectors. Food for all, house for all and health for all figure prominently in the manifestos of both the UDF and the LDF. Economic experts are doubtful how these promises could be fulfilled at a time when the state is already living on borrowed money and remittances from the Middle East, which have been the mainstay of the economy for long, are coming down. B A Prakash, Professor, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram said that the promises were not backed by any suggestion to mobilise resources for fulfilling them. In the absence of this, people tend to take the manifesto as an electoral stunt. Experts consider the remittances of expatriates, which touched Rs 1 lakh crore last year, as a big source that could be tapped for the development of the state. But the manifestos do not make any attempt to suggest any productive use of this massive resource lying idle in the banks, or being spent on building mansions and buying luxury items. Sharjah-based Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust chairman KV Shamsudheen said that, "NRIs were ready to invest the money in economically sound projects as it will ensure them a steady income on their return to the country. A study done by the Trust showed that 95 percent of the expats in the Middle East were spending their entire earning, leaving nothing for the future." If the government takes an initiative then they will invest part of their earning in economically viable projects. This will secure their future as well as ensure the development of the state. Unfortunately, no one has made any serious efforts to channelize the remittances into productive sectors, Shamsudheen said. He pointed out that more than 10,000 NRIs had participated in building the countrys first green field airport in Kochi. If the government comes up with more such projects, the NRIs would be prepared to invest their earnings in them. Shamsudheen said that the manifestos of both the UDF and the LDF had not inspired confidence among the expatriates. In fact, even resident voters have not taken the manifestos seriously as they believe that they are promises to be forgotten right after the elections. Its not so important whether Narendra Modi has the educational qualification he claimed he has. The furore created by his detractors, especially Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging Modi to show his bona fides, while undignified and a bit late in the day, still stays a legit demand. Whether the 'educational qualifications' are fabricated or not is an issue. It should be an easy answer. It isnt as though Modi has set a very high standard. There is no IIT or IIM or some Phd from a prestigious university involved. He went to school in Vadnagar where he completed his high cchool. He was an average student. Then, like a lot of people who are denied opportunity because they are put to work to augment a family income, he got a B.A. degree in political science from Delhi University (1978) by doing a long distance course and then obtained a masters from Gujarat University in 1983. Even if he wangled the last one by using clout as an upcoming politician in that state, it is a pretty ordinary scholarly record. Also, it seems odd that the Chief Minister of Delhi cannot just find out for himself by communicating with the vice chancellors of the two varsities so mentioned. Why all this table thumping and the screaming and shouting in this unedifying manner? The channels for demanding the information exist, so why not use them and then expose the lie, if it is indeed so? Think about it. If you had to lie, would you really settle for producing a second rate academic career like this? Surely, Mr Modi could have been a lot more imaginative and thrown in a couple of more certificates in a land where you can buy any sort of diploma with all the scrolls and seals for a price. I mean, if you are fibbing about your school would you really elect Vadnagar as a first choice? It is hardly St Columbas or Sherwood or Mayo. Also, in a country like ours where people can stand in for candidates to answer papers and we have the Vyapam scam as a testament to our tolerance for cheating across the board, surely the Modi bandwagon could have created a pretty decent set of credentials. Exam papers are leaked, invigilators are converted into instant tutors in examination halls, answer sheets get lost and it is not rare to have helpers outside the hall dispatching answers with supervisors under dire threat to look the other way. Okay, fine. None of this is justification for a prime minister being caught in a lie. The point that arises is whether, having officially stated his educational achievements, he is duty bound to go around proving it to every person who questions it. Rather, should it be the interrogator who should set about disproving it? You cannot be heckled into responding to every charge. Let Kejriwal prove that Modi did not go to a school in Vadnagar. Let him and his cohorts also give evidence that he never did a long distance course in Delhi University or get a Masters from Gujarat. After the evidence is put in the public domain. then you can make political capital all you want. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet is soon likely to take up a bill to provide recognition to transgenders and protect their rights, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has finalised the framework of the bill and a cabinet note has already been circulated, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot said during a discussion on a private member's bill on the Rights of Transgender Persons, which has been passed by the Rajya Sabha. He said he hoped that the Union Cabinet would soon take up the draft official Bill on the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill for consideration, while observing that the government was committed to protect the interest of transgenders and sensitive towards the issues. The minister said the bill passed by the Rajya Sabha had some procedural difficulties and "we have also filed a review petition in the Supreme Court". He said there were also demands that transgenders should get all the benefits of SCs, STs and OBCs. Participating in the discussion, BJP MP Ajay Mishra said the government should take steps to protect the interest of transgenders who faced discrimination in many fronts, including societal, educational and healthcare. "We have to protect them from the torture and agony they face in the society. They should be treated equally. We need to do something so that they live a respectful life," he said. Mishra also said the bill passed by the Rajya Sabha had several shortcomings and "I am not in favour of passage of the bill here". Supporting the bill, Saugata Roy (TMC) said "transgenders should be treated with sympathy and compassion. They have been deprived of their rights. So it is very essential to move forward with this bill. They are forced to live in slums and beg for their livelihood." He asked the government to include them in the next Census in 2021 as there was no clarity about their numbers. "The bill has talked about setting up of national and state commissions. They would look into the issues of transgenders. It is important to provide education to them so that they stand on their feet. Educational institutions should see that they are not discriminated," Roy said, adding that they were living in inhuman conditions in slums. Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD) interrupted Roy to say that if the central government has already circulated a cabinet note, then what was the need for discussing a private legislation. Anurag Thakur (BJP) claimed that in the last 66 years, nothing has been done for transgenders and wanted the government to come out with details in terms of their actual population and literacy rate. On providing reservation to the community for uplifting their status, he said the government should carefully study the issue as reservation in past has resulted in limited success. There were some legal issue involved in this as to which category they should belong to, he said, asking whether they should be part of SCs, STs or OBCs. His party colleague Kunwar Bhartendra Singh said a law was needed to end their discrimination while pointing out that many transgenders were also affected by HIV and AIDS. Supporting the private member's bill, Pandula Ravindra Babu (TDP) said the transgenders faced "pathetic and pitiable" situation and lot of caution needs to be exercised to dealt with their issues. Enlisting several shortcomings in the 2014 bill, Nishikant Dubey (BJP) said the previous governments have not done anything for these people. "This bill has so many issues," he said, adding that clauses relating to education and reservation for them were difficult to implement and would lead to litigations. Puducherry: All India NR Congress (AINRC) leader and Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Friday filed his nomination papers for the 16 May Assembly polls seeking re-election from the Indira Nagar constituency. He was elected in the 2011 Assembly polls simultaneously from the Indira Nagar and Kadirkamam constituencies. However, he vacated the Indira Nagar seat and retained Kadirkamam. AINRC stormed to power in the 2011 Assembly polls in alliance with AIADMK months after it was founded by Rangasamy, who broke away from Congress. But the alliance did not last long as Rangasamy ditched the AIADMK and formed the ministry with outside support of a lone Independent member. AINRC is contesting without any alliance this time. A defiant Subramanian Swamy has challenged the expunging of his comments by the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, calling the decision as arbitrary, unreasonable and against the House rules. The BJP MP said on Friday that he will also seek breach of privilege proceedings against Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for "falsely" saying that the UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the manufacturer of AgustaWestland choppers. The BJP MP had made certain comments targeting Congress members yesterday while speaking on the issue of minority institution and Rajya Sabha Deputy Dhairman P J Kurien expunged them following vociferous protests from the opposition MPs. He had told Swamy that he was "unnecessarily provoking others" and asked him to refrain from it. An unrelenting Swamy tweeted today, "I have filed a notice in the RS challenging the expunging of my words by the Dy Chairman since it is arbitrary, unreasonable and against the RS rules." I have also filed a Notice in RS challenging the expunging of my words by Dy Chmn since it is arbitrary unreasonable and against RS Rules Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 29, 2016 In another tweet, he said, "Today I will seek to move a Breach of Privilege against Ghulam Nabi Azad for his falsely stating in the RS that the UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica." Today I will seek to move a Breach of Privilege against Ghulam Nabi Azad for his falsely stating in RS that UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 29, 2016 Swami's barbs at Congress have sparked protests in the House since he made his entry as a nominated member and the Chair has expunged some of his remarks, mostly aimed at party chief Sonia Gandhi. Azad on Thursday said Swamy is just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. "There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words," he asked the Chair. The Congress leader said Swamy does not know the difference between street language and parliamentary words. "He does not allow his hair to grey so he can learn and mature. Washington: China is challenging respect for international law, freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes which is a cause of concern for many Asian countries, forcing them to reach out to the US, top American officials have said. "There are certain aspects of Chinese behaviour that are very disturbing to us. They're deeply disturbing to countries in the region, which has them all coming to us and is having the effect of causing self-isolation by China," Defence Secretary Ashton Carter told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing. Carter has just returned from a trip to India and the Philippines. "We are reacting ourselves and we're being increasingly invited to work with countries, long-standing allies and strong allies like the Philippines, and that's where the sites you see and correctly have on the map here come in, but also new partners like Vietnam. I was in India a week-and-a-half ago. Many of them concerned about Chinese behaviour," Carter said. At another Congressional hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US is intensely focused on maritime issues especially China's assertive and provocative behaviour in the South China Sea. China is challenging respect for international law, freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes, he alleged. "We've also deepened our commitment to the US-Australia- Japan trilateral strategic dialogue, hosted the inaugural US-Japan-Indian trilateral ministerial dialogue," he said. "These bilateral, trilateral and multilateral relationships are not aimed at any particular country. They are not exclusive. We welcome any kind of flexible geometry of collaboration among countries that share important goals including steps towards greater China- Korea-Japan cooperation and the growing unity of the ASEAN community," Blinken said. At the same time, Blinken said the US is not looking for conflict with China in South China Sea. "We're looking to prevent conflict. What's at stake here is not just the transit of oil, energy, goods, as important as there are larger principles at stake. These principles go to the entire foundation of the international order. If we don't defend those principles everywhere where they're being challenged the entire order that we've invested so much in building over seven years is at risk," he said. Blinken said there has been a significant buildup in China's military capacity over the last couple of decades, and in recent years. "Some of that I guess on one level is not surprising. As China grows and is more engaged in the region it wants to protect those expanding interests, and what we've seen though are two things," he said. Los Angeles: The FBI have arrested three people, including the older brother of San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, on charges of marriage fraud and lying to investigators, authorities said. Syed Raheel Farook, 31, was arrested in the early morning at his home in the California town of Corona, along with his wife Tatiana Farook, also 31. Mariya Chernykh, Tatiana's 26-year-old sister who lives in the nearby town of Ontario, was also arrested. The five-count indictment against the trio centers on Chernykh's alleged sham marriage to Enrique Marquez, who is awaiting trial on charges of aiding the 2 December attack carried out by Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik. The pair were later killed in a dramatic shootout with police. "This is the latest step in the comprehensive investigation into the horrific attacks in San Bernardino last year that took the lives of 14 innocent Americans and deeply affected so many more," US attorney Eileen Decker said in a statement. "As I have said previously, we owe the victims, and the entire community of San Bernardino, a thorough investigation that uncovers all criminal activity surrounding these events." The trio appeared in federal court after their arrest on Thursday and entered not guilty pleas, a Justice Department official said. They were all given bail but were ordered to turn in their passports and banned from travelling outside Southern California pending their trial which was set for 21 June, the official told AFP. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison on a charge of lying to immigration officials. Chernykh also faces up to 25 years in prison on charges of fraud and misuse of visas as well as lying to federal agents. Marquez told investigators after his indictment in December on charges of buying weapons used in the San Bernardino assault that he had entered into a fake marriage with Chernykh in November 2014 and had lied about living with her. Chernykh and her sister are both from Russia and Syed Raheel Farook's marriage to Tatiana has also come under scrutiny. Investigators have executed several search warrants at his house since the massacre, the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001. Syed Raheel Farook served in the US navy between 2003 and 2007 and is a decorated veteran. His attorney Ron Cordova underlined before the judge at Thursday's hearing that the case against Syed Raheel Farook and his wife was about a "misrepresentation in an act of marriage, it's not about an act of terror." Beijing: Nearly five decades after he drove three intellectuals to commit suicide, Chinese leader Mao Zedong's propaganda aide in his memoir regretted branding them as traitors and blamed the influential leader for his tirade against them. Qi Benyu, who died at 85 in Shanghai last week, was the last surviving member of the ultra-left Cultural Revolution Group which superseded the Communist Party's Politburo and Secretariat to emerge as the country's top power organ at the height of the Cultural Revolution turmoil between 1966 and 1976. His death comes amid debate on Mao's rule and the Cultural Revolution, which marks its 50th anniversary on 16 May. Qi was among the few writers Mao trusted with key documents and commentaries essential to the start of the Cultural Revolution. Intellectuals targeted in his articles faced persecution, often with deadly consequences. Qi later wrote that he regretted the suicides of historian Jian Bozan and his wife and journalist Deng Tuo. "Jian and his wife did not commit suicide because of our article, but our article did exert pressure on them. Ive always regretted it," Hong Kong based South China Morning Post quoted him as saying his memoir. Jian and his wife killed themselves in 1968 while under pressure to confess in a state-led purge. In December 1966, in the magazine Red Flag, Qi and two other writers accused Jian of "sheltering his landlord family" and of being an "alien class element". Deng, a former editor of People's Daily, killed himself in 1966, a week after Qi wrote that he was a 'traitor'. Jian and his wife killed themselves two years later while under pressure to confess in a state-led purge. Qi wrote that Mao encouraged him to write the article, which was based on unverified accusations by lower-level cadres. But by the time of Jian's suicide, Qi was himself behind bars after a row with Mao's wife Jiang Qing. "Speaking from my heart, I felt responsible for the death of Deng Tuo," he wrote in his memoir. Colombo: Hundreds of journalists and media rights activists protested on Friday to demand Sri Lanka's new government start a fresh investigation into the abduction and killing of a prominent ethnic Tamil journalist 11 years ago, during the country's civil war. Those demonstrating in front of Colombo's main railroad station said Dharmeratnam Sivaram was targeted because of uncompromising coverage of political and military matters. Media rights activist Lasantha Ruhunage said even 11 years after, the law enforcement authorities have failed to find the killers and "therefore they should start a fresh investigation and bring the culprits before law." Sivaram was found dead on 29 April, 2005, in the capital, Colombo, after being abducted the previous evening. The 30-year civil war ended in 2009 after government troops defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels, who fought to create a separate state for minority Tamils. Scores of journalists and media workers were killed during the war, and several dozen journalists fled the country. The government has promised to implement a compensation plan for 44 journalists and other media workers killed under the former government, but Ruhunage said "more than compensation, the attacks on journalists, media workers and media institutions should be properly investigated and those responsible for the attacks should be punished, in order to ensure justice to the media community." The new government that came into power last year promised to ensure media freedom and to investigate attacks on media under the previous government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who lost last year's presidential election. While Rajapaksa was in power, a prominent opposition newspaper editor and scores of journalists were killed and some others were assaulted while some private TV stations were attacked. Washington: Pakistan on Thursday said the F-16 jets provide precision strike capability to its on-going campaign against terrorism, a day after top American lawmakers expressed concern over the decision to sell eight fighter jets to Pakistan, saying the aircraft could be used against India. "F-16s provide precision strike capability to Pakistan's on-going campaign against militancy and have proven to be an effective platform during Operation Zarb-e-Azb," Pakistan's Embassy in Washington said in a statement in response to concerns raised by several US lawmakers on Wednesday on the potential use of F-16 against India and its utility in the fight against terrorism. "The US Administration has stated it supports the sale of F-16s to Pakistan. This is in line with bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation that both sides have pursued in mutual benefit," the statement said. "Pakistan believes that threat from terrorist networks requires continued capacity building and both governments continue to work together towards this objective through a range of measures including sale of these air crafts," it said. During a Congressional hearing at the Capitol Hill on Wednesday, top US lawmakers expressed concerns over Barack Obama administration's decision to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying the aircraft could be used against India rather than combating terrorism. They also urged the Obama administration to review its decision in this regard. The US Senate has currently put a hold on the decision to give eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan at an estimated cost of USD 700 million. During the Congressional hearing Congressman Matt Salmon said, "Many members of Congress, including me, seriously question the judgement and timing of such a sale. Additionally, Indo-Pak tensions remain elevated and some question whether the F-16s could ultimately be used against India or other regional powers, rather than the terrorists as Pakistan as asserted." Another Congressman Brad Sherman said, "We have got to be concerned what military assistance and whether the F-16s constitute the least expensive, most efficient way for the Pakistani air force to go after the terrorists and the least disruptive weapon system to the balance of power between India and Pakistan." BERLIN A 94-year-old former Auschwitz guard on trial in Germany over accusations that he was an accessory to the murder of at least 170,000 people is on Friday expected to have a statement read out by his lawyers in court. Holocaust survivors, who detailed their horrific experience at the trial which opened in February, have pleaded with Reinhold Hanning to break his silence. Hanning showed no emotion on the second day of his trial on Feb. 12 as three survivors spoke of the smell of burnt bodies and piles of corpses at Nazi Germany's Auschwitz death camp. He was heard only once in court in the western town of Detmold when asked how he was doing by judge Anke Grudda. "Fine," he replied. Accused by the prosecutor's office in Dortmund as well as by 40 joint plaintiffs from Hungary, Israel, Canada, Britain, the United States and Germany, Hanning is said to have joined the SS forces voluntarily at the age of 18 in 1940. Although Hanning was not directly involved in any killings at the camp, prosecutors accuse him of facilitating the slaughter in his capacity as a guard at the camp where 1.2 million people, most of them Jews, were killed. More than a dozen people have testified in the trial and a verdict is expected on May 27. A precedent for such charges was set in 2011, when death camp guard Ivan Demjanjuk was convicted. Germany is holding what are likely to be its last trials linked to the Holocaust, in which more than six million people, mostly Jews, were killed by the Nazis. In addition to Hanning, one other man and one woman in their 90s are accused of being accessories to the murder of hundreds of thousands of people at Auschwitz in Nazi-occupied Poland. A third man who was a member of the Nazi SS guard team at Auschwitz died at the age of 93 this month, days before his trial was due to start. (Reporting by Elke Ahlswede; Writing by Joseph Nasr, editing by Ed Osmond) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Bogota: Colombia became the fourth South American country to allow same-sex marriage when the constitutional court definitively legalized it on Thursday. The Catholic country follows Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay in formally recognizing the rights of same-sex couples to marry. "The judges affirmed by a majority that marriage between people of the same sex does not violate constitutional order," presiding Judge Maria Victoria Calle told the court. "The current definition of the institution of marriage in civil law applies to them in the same way as it does for couples of the same sex." Although previous rulings allowed gay couples to formalize their unions before notaries and judges, same-sex marriage had remained a legal gray area and appeals had been launched against it. Many officials had refused to register such marriages since congress failed to pass legislation enshrining equal marriage rights in law, prompting protests from gay-rights campaigners. On 7 April, the constitutional court dismissed a petition against equal marriage rights for heterosexual and homosexual couples. That paved the way for Thursday's ruling, which definitively establishes that the constitution guarantees such equality, giving gay couples the legal right to marry. The decision is set to be recorded as an irrevocable constitutional ruling within a month, making it legally valid. Six of the court's nine judges approved the ruling that "all people are free to choose independently to start a family in keeping with their sexual orientation... receiving equal treatment under the constitution and the law." State judges, notaries and clerks "must ensure that citizens' fundamental rights are observed and that they are all granted equal treatment," the court ruled. Honeymoon at last Some 70 unions previously registered only as civil partnerships will now be automatically converted into full marriages under the new ruling, the judge who presented the motion, Alberto Rojas, told reporters. Same-sex marriage supporters applauded the decision. "Today we can say with certainty that the Colombian courts have approved equal marriage rights," Marcela Sanchez, leader of the campaign group Colombia Diversa, told AFP. "We are very happy because Colombia has taken a step toward diversity," said Adriana Gonzalez, who had campaigned for the right to marry her female partner. "These have been difficult years of uncertainty and frustration, but at last we are going to have the honeymoon we have longed for." The constitutional court had already ruled last year that same-sex couples may adopt children even when neither member is the biological parent. Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage in July 2010 with a vote in parliament. Lawmakers in Uruguay followed in 2013. Brazil authorized same-sex marriage under a court ruling the same year. In Mexico, gay marriage is legal in the capital and a handful of states. The Supreme Court there has also offered its de facto backing by making it unconstitutional for Mexican states to ban same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriages are also legal in various other countries elsewhere, including Britain, Canada, South Africa and the United States. Australia's attorney-general said last month that the government would hold a plebiscite on legalizing same-sex marriage this year if re-elected. Washington: The White House is in talks with Indian officials on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to the US, a presidential spokesman said on Thursday after House of Representative Speaker Paul Ryan announced that Modi has been invited to address a joint meeting of the Congress on 8 June. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, however, did not indicate if a final decision has been taken in this regard or if the formal invitation to Modi by President Barack Obama has been sent. Obama, he said, "enjoys his relationship" with Modi. "The President appreciates the important role played by Prime Minister Modi in the success of Paris Summit on Climate Change last November," he said. "The White House has been in close touch with a range of Indian officials to discuss a potential visit by Prime Minister Modi to Washington. We're still engaged in those discussions. Obviously the President has a strong working relationship with Prime Minister Modi," Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference. "President Obama has complemented the important role that Prime Minister Modi played in Paris in ensuring the successful completion of the Paris climate talks. The President had a long meeting with Prime Minister Modi in the context of that international meeting," he said. Modi participated in the Nuclear Security Summit that was convened in Washington just last month, he noted. "And of course, President Obama at the beginning of last year had an opportunity to be the guest of honour at India's Republic Day celebration. That obviously was a memorable visit for the President and he was the first President to be so honoured," Earnest said. "They obviously have a strong working relationship and, you know, we're in conversations with them about scheduling a visit," the presidential spokesman said. Modi, who was invited by President Barack Obama for a bilateral visit when he was here for the nuclear summit, will be the fifth prime minister of India to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since 2005. Earlier, Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh (19 July, 2005), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (14 September, 2000), PV Narasimha Rao (18 May, 1994) and Rajiv Gandhi (13 July, 1985) addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress. Port Moresby: India offered Papua New Guinea its technology, financial wherewithal, skilled manpower and institutional support to harness the mineral-rich country's abundant natural resources and establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures. Addressing the business leaders of Papua New Guinea, President Pranab Mukherjee underlined that the Pacific country's economic growth does not truly reflect the potential of a country blessed with abundant natural and mineral resources. "The challenge for Papua New Guinea is how to best utilise these abundant natural resources for value addition, generating employment and economically empowering her people," he told members of the Papua New Guinea Business Council here. The first Indian President to visit Papua New Guinea, he said the exclusive economic zone of PNG, spread 3.1 million square kilometer, is the guarantee of future growth of this region and would provide the opportunity to the island country to lead the Pacific Ocean. "From our experiences we can suggest to the government and policy makers of Papua New Guinea, that if you want to achieve self sufficiency in food production, you can achieve it with the application of appropriate technologies, by increasing yield per hectare, by the use of varieties of new fertilisers and an effective use of fresh water," he said. The President said India's policies have created an environment for indigenous commercial, industrial and manufacturing entities to grow and sustain themselves. He noted that economic and commercial relations between the two countries have not grown in proportion to the actual capabilities and capacities, but both recognise that they stand at the cusp of a breakthrough. The President said India fully supports the developmental aspiration of Papua New Guinea and that a country's natural resources should be used to support its people. Mukherjee said there are mutual complementaries in many fields between India and Papua New Guinea which both countries can work together to improve industry practices and productivity. "India has the agricultural knowledge and technology to boost agricultural productivity, Papua New Guinea has an abundance of fertile lands and ideal conditions for agriculture along with the availability of fresh water," he said. The President said while India has one of the biggest jewellery industries in the world, Papua New Guinea has gold; India has a huge energy requirement, Papua New Guinea has huge resources of Natural Gas and petroleum. "Rice is a staple food in Papua New Guinea, as it is in large parts of India; not only is India one of the largest producers of rice in the world, but we are also the world's largest producer of fruits, vegetables and milk," he said. The President said close co-operation between the two countries could bring opportunities, growth and progress as well as prosperity to the peoples of both countries and a globalised world economy provides the two countries an opportunity that should be seized. "Let us commit ourselves to realise the potential that exists between our two countries, which will not only bring both countries closer, but in doing so will also uplift the condition of our peoples," he said. Pyongyang: North Korea on Friday sentenced a US citizen of Korean heritage to 10 years in prison after convicting him of espionage and subversion, the second American it has put behind bars this year. Kim Dong Chul had been detained in the North on suspicion of engaging in spying and stealing state secrets. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor after a brief trial in Pyongyang. North Korea's Supreme Court found Kim guilty of crimes and espionage and subversion of under Articles 60 and 64 of the North's criminal code. Further details were not immediately available. Kim's sentencing comes on the heels of a 15-year sentence handed down on Otto Warmbier, an American university student who the North says was engaged in anti-state activities while visiting the country as a tourist earlier this year. 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 entire Korean Peninsula. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt they later said were coerced. Most of those who are sentenced to long prison terms are released before serving their full time. 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. Both had crossed North Korea's border from China illegally. It took a visit in November 2014 by US spy chief James Clapper to bring home Mathew Miller, also arrested after entering the country as a tourist, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012. Jeffrey Fowle, a US tourist 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. Washington: President Barack Obama says the US can meet his goal of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees by 30 September, the end of the federal budget year. Obama says the goal he set last year has been challenging, partly because of the need to assure the US public that refugees are being thoroughly checked out. He says processes are in place to speed up the resettlements. Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both called for blocking Muslims from being admitted to the US following terrorist attacks last year in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Obama says accepting Syrian refugees is "the right thing to do" because they are victims of terrorism, violence and suffering caused by Syrian President Bashar Assad. Obama commented at a news conference with college reporters. Washington: 32-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 19 years of prison in the US for stalking a woman from New Delhi to Texas for nearly a decade. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced the sentence for Jitender Singh on Wednesday. "The jury put an end to this victim's decade-long stalking nightmare," Willis said in a statement. According to Willis, Singh first met his victim while they both attended college in Delhi. Though merely classmates, Singh asked the victim to marry him in 2006. Willis said the victim, whose identity wasn't released by authorities, refused the proposal, which sparked Singh's anger. Singh then began following the victim home and threatened her with violence until she graduated. In 2007, the victim left India to study at a New York university. However, that didn't end Singh's obsession. Authorities say he continued his harassment and assaulted the woman's father in India. Singh was convicted for the crimes in India, but made an appeal and agreement with authorities to stay away from the victim. Singh eventually travelled to New York, where he attempted to enrol at the same university as the victim. He was denied and ordered by the university to stay away from the campus. When the victim moved to California for an internship, he tracked down her address and followed. When the woman moved back to New York, Singh followed. An information technology company hired the victim, and she moved to Plano in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Singh harassed the victim through phone calls and other electronic means, Willis alleged. In 2014, Singh located the victim's address in Plano by falsely creating a credit monitoring service account in her name. While the victim was away, Singh travelled to Plano and broke into her home by convincing a locksmith to unlock her door. Singh took her passport, social security card and other documents as well as several pieces of her jewelry. A suspicious neighbour called Plano police which located Singh in the parking lot of the victim's apartment and arrested him. If you thought Indian politicians were disruptive and the Parliament proceedings rife with drama, then you haven't seen Turkish politicians squabble brawl, rather during a vital debate on the migrant issue in Europe. Even Subramanian Swamy's stinging barbs at the Congress that have supposedly caused an uproar in the Rajya Sabha, seem mild in comparison. Here is the video: The Turkish ruling party has been trying to push through laws that are crucial to get the European Commission's approval in allowing Turks visa-free travel across the European Union. However, talks on the important migration deal reached a deadlock after Turkish lawmakers started yelling and throwing punches at each other during the Parliament session. In fact, in the first few minutes of the video, people are heard yelling "Terrorist, terrorist!" The committee meeting began with people arguing and pushing each other in a room that turned out to be too small to hold scores of journalists, lawmakers and employees who wanted to observe the proceedings. The meeting grew tenser in the afternoon with lawmakers throwing punches at opponents and others trying to stop the brawl. The chaos forced committee leaders to postpone the discussions until Monday. Five people were hurt in the fighting, a news agency reported. Three ruling-party and two HDP lawmakers sought medical help after the brawl. A parliamentary committee began initial discussions on the proposed constitutional amendment, which was drafted by the ruling party after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, HDP, of being an arm of the outlawed Kurdish rebels, and repeatedly called for the prosecution of some party leaders. An HDP lawmaker accused the security forces of "massacres" against Kurds in the southeast, sparking anger in the ruling party. According to Express UK, the laws have to be passed by 4 May so that it goes to a vote in front of EU member states. The move comes amid a surge of violence in Turkey's southeast after a fragile, more than two-year-old peace process with the rebels collapsed. Hundreds of people, including close to 400 security force members, have died in the renewed fighting, which also displaced tens of thousands of people and left some towns and districts in ruins. The HDP, which backs Kurdish and other minority rights, denies accusations that it is the political arm of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. It has called on the government to end security forces' operations in the southeast to resume peace efforts. The PKK is considered a terror organization by Turkey and its Western allies. Although the measure would lift the legal immunities of all lawmakers who have legal cases pending against them, critics say the proposed amendment particularly aims to oust HDP lawmakers from Parliament. The party's two co-leaders, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, face possible prosecution for making statements last year in support of calls for Kurdish self-rule in southeastern Turkey. With inputs from AP United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the bombing of a hospital in Syria's northern city of Aleppo and said attacks that target civilians are "inexcusable" violations of humanitarian law. "There must be accountability for these crimes," Ban said in a statement on Thursday. The city's last remaining pediatrician and three children were among the 20 people killed in the air strike overnight on the Al-Quds hospital, which was supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Ban called on the warring sides to "immediately renew their commitment" to a ceasefire that had been in force since late February. He encouraged the international powers backing Syria's peace process, in particular the United States and Russia, to "ensure credible investigations of incidents such as the attack on Al-Quds hospital." "Instead of bombing civilian areas, all Syrian parties must renew their focus on a political process," he added. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien separately appealed to world powers to revive the ceasefire and put an end to the "massive human suffering" in Syria. "We must all be ashamed this is happening on our watch," O'Brien told the Security Council during a meeting on the appalling humanitarian crisis stemming from the five-year war. Five Security Council members Egypt, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and Uruguay are drafting a new resolution condemning attacks on hospitals in war zones such as Syria, but also Yemen, Afghanistan and South Sudan. The draft resolution is expected to come up for a vote next week in a move that will send "a very strong message about this issue," said New Zealand's Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen. "We are trying to shine a spotlight on this issue because it's clearly a fundamental problem in the way in which modern warfare is being conducted in these horrible situations," said Bohemen. More than 270,000 people have been killed in Syria and millions forced from their homes since the conflict erupted in 2011. The US Special 301 report continues to put India, along with a few other countries, under its Priority Watch List for its intellectual property rights (IPR) regime and directs its chief trade negotiator to hold foreign governments 'accountable' for IP-related trade practices that go against the interests of American innovators and creators. The special sub-committee that reviewed 73 trading partners of the US placed India, China, Russia, Ukraine, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Algeria, Indonesia, Kuwait, and Thailand under its Priority Watch List (PWL) category and Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, Pakistan, Egypt among other countries under its Watch List (WL) category. The USTR has listed a total of 34 trading partners under PWL or WL. India has been under the PWL category for more than a decade now. No new country has been added under the Priority Foreign Country (PFC) category. The US Trade Representatives (USTR's) Special 301 report -- a Congressionally-mandated annual report that has been issued every year beginning in 1989identifies trade barriers to US companies and products in foreign shores due the host countrys intellectual property laws, including trade marks, patents, copyright, trade secrets etc. PWL is defined as a trading partner with "serious intellectual property rights deficiencies" that require increased attention of the USTR while WL is a trading partner also with "serious intellectual property rights deficiencies" but which has not yet been placed under PWL. PFC is the most serious classification under the USTRs scheme of things and is applied to a country which is perceived to cause the most egregious IP rights violations that harm American competitiveness abroad. Placing a country under PFC may indicate the possibility of the US unleashing unilateral sanctions on the country. In 2014, influential American businesses, in particular the pharma and manufacturing sectors had urged the Obama administration to list India list as a PFC, but that did not happen. The USTR report complains about an array of issues that include, the deterioration in IPR protection and enforcement in a number of trading partners, reported inadequacies in trade secret protection in China, India, and elsewhere; 'troubling' indigenous innovation policies that may unfairly disadvantage U.S. right holders in markets abroad, issues around online copyright piracy. The 77-page report expends quite a bit of its attention on India under the Country Reports section. It states that the manufacture and distribution of pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients bearing counterfeit trademarks as problems especially in countries like India, Brazil, China, Guatemala, Indonesia, Lebanon, Peru, and Russia. While it is impossible to determine an exact figure, studies have suggested that up to 20 percent of drugs sold in the Indian market are counterfeit and could represent a serious threat to patient health and safety, states the report. The report alleges that 97 percent of all counterfeit pharmaceuticals seized at the US border in 2015 were shipped from only four economies of China, Hong Kong, India, and Singapore. It also complains of unfair market access and states that India maintains highest tariffs on medicines, pharmaceutical inputs, and medical devices as compared to other WTO members who are mentioned in the report. The US trade chief argues that Indias National Manufacturing Policy encourages compulsory licensing of patented technologies to bring about technology transfer of green technologies. Such policies, which India has sought to multilateralise in United Nations (UN) negotiations, will discourage, rather than promote, investment in and dissemination of green technology innovation, including those technologies that contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation, states the report. The report points out to the Indian pharmaceutical industry as a particular area of concern for the US business set-ups. It directly attacks section 3 (d) of the Indian patent law. According to Section 3(d), in order for a new form of a known substance to be patentable, it must show an enhanced efficacy as against the known efficacy of the substance concerned. The Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement under the WTO has sufficient flexibilities says the US and thus, section 3(d) is over and above international agreements. It cites irregularities in the application of 3(d) leading to the rejection of innovative pharmaceutical products, and lack of clarity on standards for sections 85 and 92 compulsory licenses and revocation under section 66. Indias proposed Patent Rule Amendments would pressure patent applicants to localize manufacturing in India and has thereby raised new areas of concern for the US. The United States continues to have concerns that Section 3(d) of Indias Patents Act, as interpreted, may have the effect of limiting the patentability of potentially beneficial innovations, it states. India has rejected many patents that were accepted in other parts of the world, the US says. The Supreme Court of India rejected Novartiss Glivec patent in 2005 because it failed the therapeutic efficacy test, among other cases when Indias highest court had taken steps for enhancing access to medicines to the public. Similarly, a decision by the Indian Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) upholding the grant of the compulsory license over Sorafenib, a drug to treat primary kidney cancer, had ruffled feathers of the US administration. Rulings such as these have left the powerful pharmaceutical lobby fuming. It also calls the Patents Acts requirements under Section 8 as out of step and out of date with other countries. India is the worlds most important manufacturer of affordable generic drugs supplying them to developing countries, including to US-funded programmes for TB, malaria and HIV drugs. It's clear that India will keep facing intense pressure to undermine its role as 'pharmacy of the developing world', Nirmala Sitharaman, the Indian union minister for commerce and industry said in a statement recently. Sitharaman had called the Special 301 report in the same statement a unilateral measure to create pressure on countries to enhance IPR protection beyond the TRIPS agreement. She called it an extra-territorial application of the domestic law of a country and said that the government remains committed to utilize flexibilities under the TRIPS agreement to protect domestic pharmaceutical sector from pressure exerted by the foreign countries. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority implemented pricing restrictions on 509 drug formulations, effective 1 April, 2015 while exempting certain medicines manufactured in India and developed using indigenous R&D, to be priced higher. This, the US says, is a competitive disadvantage to US companies. On the one hand, USTR says it is supports "access to medicine for all." But then USTR sets out a series of complaints about anything that would make medicines more affordable, said Jamie Love, Director of Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), and an American expert in several compulsory licensing cases and an advocate of delinking R&D costs from drug prices. President Obama has never been able to rein in the pharmaceutical or publisher lobbies, and his administration has been behind the curve or in opposition to efforts to change business models for drug development, so that innovation and access would not be in conflict with each other, he said. There is growing concern even within the US on spiraling drug prices that makes health care steep or out-of-reach for the average citizen. The US pharmaceutical industries use the report to push governments to open their IPR regime more to accommodate their interests. Indias compulsory licensing provision under law is problematic to the US since India uses it as an important tool of industrial policy for green technologies, with the potential to be applied more regularly across economic sectors. The Special 301 report also views localization requirements by India that favour Indian IPR owners or local manufacturers as flouting rules by distorting the competitive landscape and stifling new and innovative foreign industries. The US had slapped a case on India in 2014 at the WTO relating to domestic content requirements under the governments Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (NSM) for solar cells and solar modules. India lost the case at the Dispute Settlement Board but filed an appeal on 21 April this year regarding certain legal interpretations by the panel. The promotion of local manufacturing by reinstated or increased custom duties on 45 items in 2016 including for, medical devices, lifesaving drugs, information and communications technology products, solar energy equipment etc. go against international patent norms, according to the US. Since 2010, the US government as part of the Special 301 report has a Notorious Markets List that includes examples of online marketplaces reportedly engaging in commercial-scale piracy online, including sites hosted in, operated by, or directed toward parties located in Brazil, Canada, China, India, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and elsewhere. According to the report, the cost of piracy for the creative Indian industry is massivelosses from piracy of music and movies in India are approximately $4 billion per year and the commercial value of unlicensed software approaches $3 billion. Quoting a 2013 study conducted by the Motion Pictures Distributors Association of India, the USTR says that India has one of the highest rates of video piracy in the world. The high incidence of camcording in India indicates the need for effective legal regulations, the US stated. KEI reports that trade secrets are mentioned 57 times in the report, illustrating the increased emphasis on broader definitions to trade secrets and expansions of corporate secrecy as a trade policy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Washington to address a joint session of the US Congress on June 8. IPR issues are certain to figure in the discussions between Modi and US president Barack Obama. The report praises some plurilateral trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)a series of secret trade deals between the US and the EU --as having among the highest levels of IPR protection and enforcement in the world. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz recently described the TPP as the worst trade deal ever. The proposed TTIP deal has also caused much uproar from human rights experts, civil society and NGOs for its system of establishing private arbitration systems through which governments could be potentially sued for legislating in public interest in case such measures go against foreign trade interests, among other concerns. The US has promised to work on the issues mentioned in the Special 301 report through the High Level Working Group on Intellectual Property (IP Working Group), established by Obama and Modi. The United States is working with India to foster an environment that will enable India to achieve its important domestic policy goals of increasing investment and stimulating innovation through, not at the expense of, IPR protection and enforcement, the USTR report states. It recently hosted the Indian Government for a Copyright Workshop in April 2016 and is holding a Trade Secrets Workshop in India later this year to have discussions on the Indian IPR regime and share new legislative approaches. In February 2016, Obama amended the Special 301 statute directing the USTR to develop action plans for each country that the US identifies as PWL for more than a year and holding foreign governments accountable for intellectual property-related trade practices that disadvantage Americas creators and innovators. The legality of 301 is questionable. It is a classic case of using bilateral threat. Developing countries should not be cowed down but rather should go to multilateral platforms like the WTO and challenge this. Countries have the absolute right to use flexibilities. This is illegal under the current WTO framework, said K.M. Gopakumar of Third World Network and an expert on patents. New Delhi: US and India topped the list of countries which sought Facebook account details during July-December 2015. "We respond to valid requests relating to criminal cases. Each and every request we receive is checked for legal sufficiency and we reject or require greater specificity on requests that are overly broad or vague," Facebook said in a report on Thursday. While the US made 19,235 requests seeking details of 30,041 accounts, India forwarded 5,561 requests refering to 7,018 accounts. In case of the US, Facebook provided details of 81.41 per cent requests, while it rejected half of the requests made by Indian authorities. The social media giant also restricted access to 14,971 content in India. "We restricted access in India to categories of content in response to legal requests from government agencies, including law enforcement agencies," Facebook Head of Global Policy Management Monica Bickert told PTI. Facebook also restricted access to content in categories these agencies have identified as illegal that have been brought to attention by non-government entities like NGOs and members of the Facebook community, she added. She further said: "Unless we receive a binding court order and/or a notification by an authorised agency which conforms to the constitutional safeguards, we will not remove any content brought to us by non-government entities like NGOs and others if it does not violate our community policy." "The majority of the content was restricted as alleged anti-religious and hate speech that could cause unrest and disharmony within India," she said. Technology firms have been pushing for greater transparency on government data requests, seeking to shake off user concerns that their data are being shared with government agencies in violation of user privacy. India ranked second globally in restricting content on social networking platform Facebook, with 14,971 pieces of content restricted in the second half of 2015. India stood next only to France, which restricted 37,695 pieces of content in July-December 2015, according to Facebook's Government Requests Report. Facebook received 5,561 requests for user data and 7,018 user accounts were referenced from India in the said period, it added. India is home to the second largest user base with over 142 million users. Facebook has about 1.59 billion monthly active users as of December 2015. Washington: A top US lawmaker has alleged that China was helping Pakistan with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and claimed that it was also engaged in bullying its neighbours in Asia. "They (China) are thieves. They steal our intellectual property. Cyber attacks, I believe they're responsible for those, they're bullying Asia, trying to make new sovereign territory in the South China Sea and then claim the area around it," Congressman Ted Poe alleged during a Congressional hearing on Asia on Thursday. "They're helping Pakistan with ICBMs, and then you get to human rights, they're the worst offender I think in the world," he alleged. "They persecute Christians and other religious minorities, and then they have this practice of putting people they don't like, like the Falun Gong, in prison and charging them with trumped-up political crimes and then harvesting their body organs and sell those on the marketplace," he said. "That's probably the worst type of crime in the world, in my opinion," Poe said during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Challenges and Opportunities in Asia. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before the committee but did not respond to the allegation of Poe that China is helping Pakistan with intercontinental ballistic missile. Earlier this week Poe and Congressman Mike Rogers in a letter to US Secretary of State, John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper sought more information on report that China has enabled a Pakistani nuclear missile capability. Rogers is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and Ted Poe is Chairman of Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-proliferation and Trade. In their letter Rogers and Poe referred to a recent research by well know Chinese military technology expert Richard Fisher who has noted the design similarities between the Shaheen III TEL (transporter erector launcher), the Sanjiang Special Vehicle Corporation of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) WS51200 TEL, and a Chinese provided TEL North Korea's new KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This led Fisher to conclude, "CASIC has again enabled a Pakistani nuclear missile capability," the two lawmakers wrote in their letter to Kerry, Carter and Clapper. "We are deeply concerned that the TEL displayed in Pakistan was acquired from China," Rogers and Poe said in the two-page letter. The transfer of an item as advanced and significant as a TEL, even if only transferred as a truck chassis known to be capable of modification to a TEL, would require the approval from the highest levels of China's government if not also the People's Liberation Army, they noted. "Such cooperation between the governments of Pakistan and China would represent a threat to the national security of the United States and its allies," Rogers and Poe said and asked a set of six questions to the Obama Administration. "Is there any evidence that China or Chinese entities have supplied TELs, or trucks capable of being modified to TELs, for a Pakistani medium-range nuclear ballistic missile? If so, how many? And when did the Administration learn of the possibility that such TELs would be transferred to Pakistan? And of the transfer(s)?" they asked. "What, if anything, has the Administration done to ensure China halts such cooperation and demands the return of these TELs? What entities in Pakistan and in China were conduits for the transfer of funding involved in this transfer?" the lawmakers asked. Damascus: The United States and Russia have agreed on a "freeze" in fighting along two major fronts in Syria, but not in war-ravaged Aleppo, the Syrian and Russian militaries said on Friday. In a statement carried on state television, Syria's armed forces said the freeze would begin at 1:00 am on Saturday (2200 GMT Friday). It would last for 24 hours in Damascus and the nearby rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta, and for 72 hours in the coastal province of Latakia, the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect. There was no mention of Aleppo, where a week of fighting has killed more than 200 civilians. "This announcement came after a request from the Americans and the Russians, who met in Geneva to calm down the situation in Damascus and Latakia," a security source in Damascus told AFP. "The Americans asked for Aleppo to be included, but the Russians refused," the source said. Russia is a key backer of Assad's regime, while the US has supported various opposition factions in the country. A diplomatic source quoted by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said that Moscow and Washington, co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, "are the guarantors of the 'regime of silence' implementation by the sides." The source said the freeze would take effect at midnight Friday. The reason for the discrepancy was unclear. Washington: Bangladesh's government denies that transnational jihadist groups have been behind a spate of bloody attacks on secular writers, bloggers, foreigners and religious minorities. But the Bangladeshi branch of al Qaedada on the Indian Subcontinent claimed Monday's killing of USAID employee and gay rights activist Xulhaz Mannan. That claim has not been verified, but it adds to fears that local extremists with international aspirations could enable groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group to gain a foothold in a country wracked by prolonged political turmoil because of a bitter divide between the ruling party and the opposition. The No. 2 US diplomat said Thursday that despite the government blaming the political opposition for the attacks, evidence to date suggests extremist groups, either local or affiliated with IS or al-Qaida, are responsible for the killings. "This gives us concern about the potential for ISIL or Daesh to take root in Bangladesh," Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, using alternative acronyms for IS. "That is the last thing we want." The assaults on minorities and moderates, typically by young men wielding knives or machetes and spewing hateful language, began in 2013 and have increased in frequency in the past year. Among the fatalities was Bangladeshi-American writer Avijit Roy, who was attacked on a street in the capital, Dhaka, in February 2015. Human rights groups fear for others facing militant death threats as the Bangladeshi government has appeared unsympathetic to their plight perhaps because it does not want to alienate Muslims offended by the atheistic writings of some bloggers. While authorities have arrested suspects in some of those cases, none has been prosecuted, and authorities have yet to identify the masterminds. The State Department says the US is considering providing sanctuary to some individuals at risk, although it remains unclear whether that will happen. Human rights groups have been calling for that since December. A broader concern for Washington as it struggles to counter Islamic State worldwide is that Bangladesh could become a hotbed for religious extremists, despite its traditions of secularism, free speech and respect for its Christian and Hindu minorities, and successes in reducing poverty and raising life expectancy among its 160 million people. "Bangladesh has always been this country that we have upheld as a model Muslim democracy and that seems to be falling apart," said Lisa Curtis, an expert on South Asia at the Heritage Foundation think tank. She described the assassinations as attempts to change the complexion of Bangladeshi society or Islamize it. In February, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper gave an unusual mention to Bangladesh in his congressional testimony on worldwide threats. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's efforts to undermine the political opposition "will probably provide openings for transnational terrorist groups to expand their presence in the country." Hasina has become the country's dominant force, marginalizing the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, which boycotted the last national elections held in 2014. She has pursued war crimes prosecutions leading to death penalties for several leaders of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party, which is allied to the BNP, over alleged involvement in atrocities committed during its 1971 war of independence, when Bangladesh separated from Pakistan. The opposition denies involvement in the attacks and says it is being scapegoated for security failings. Hasina blamed the opposition for Mannan's killing, but hours later, Ansar al-Islam, an affiliate of al-Qaida on the Indian subcontinent, said it had killed the activist and his theater actor friend because they were "pioneers of practicing and promoting homosexuality." U.S. officials say they cooperate well with Bangladesh on counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing, and that despite Bangladeshi denials of the involvement of transnational jihadist groups, in recent months U.S. and Bangladeshi officials have discussed how to alleviate the risk of those groups establishing themselves in the South Asian country. Both al-Qaida and IS have made clear they want to assert themselves in Bangladesh. In 2014, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri issued a call for jihad there, and Bangladesh has been a focus of recent articles in the Islamic State group's online magazine, Dabiq. This month's edition includes an interview with the purported leader of IS fighters in Bangladesh, Sheikh Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif, who says Bangladesh has a "strategic geographic position" for global jihad. He says a strong base there will facilitate guerrilla attacks inside India, and provide a "stepping stone" for jihad in Myanmar. Beijing: China has passed a law that enables it to tighten its grip on foreign NGOs which have often been accused of meddling in its domestic affairs. The Foreign NGO Management Law was passed on Thursday by the National People's Congress (NPC) According to Xinhua news agency, the law was passed by the NPC's Standing Committee, which acts for Parliament when the latter is not in session. The law, likely to be implemented from January 1, 2017, restricts foreign NGOs from raising funds in China. It also makes it mandatory for them to register with China's security agencies. Besides, any foreign NGO can be barred from operating in China for five years if found violating the rules. Proposed around two years ago, the law has been described as draconian by overseas NGOS operating in China. The Chinese government is said to be worried over growing dissidence in the country. "In general, China encourages the development of domestic NGOs and the exchanges between them and their foreign counterparts (through such laws), while it wishes to handle some organisations and activities in a more careful manner," Global Times quoted He Lijun, a New York-based professor on public administration at Pace University, as saying. In an interview to IANS this month, Chinese lawmaker Hu Zhengyue had said that foreign NGOs were often used by Western countries to interfere in the domestic affairs of developing nations. He also likened the Chinese scenario to that of India, saying the two countries had something in common in regulating NGOs. The Indian government had come under attack from civil society for cancelling the license of some 9,000 foreign charities. "The Chinese government has no problem as long as their (NGOs) work is proper, legal and beneficial. The law is to promote healthy development of NGOs," Hu had told IANS. Darren Saunders was developing a cure for pancreatic cancer when he gave up his medical research job to find one that was more secure. The constant stress of going from contract to contract each year and spending precious time applying for research grants finally took its toll. Dr Saunders left his contract work at the Garvan Institute in Sydney last year to get a full time job as a lecturer in medicine at the University of NSW, where he still conducts research. A new report by Professionals Australia has found that only one in five medical researchers are permanent full-time employees. More than nine out of 10 investors bought a property worth under $1 million, compared with about eight out of 10 owner-occupiers. These figures are national and the contrast would be greater in Sydney and Melbourne. To fit the bill for negative gearing, it first must be the type of dwelling that will attract tenants go too upmarket and you'll be trying to rent to people who can afford to buy. Second, you have to be able to afford the losses. A 10 per cent loss on a $2 million home will hit harder than a 10 per cent loss on an $800,000 home, even if it's tax deductible. If you think about it, the properties that make the best investments are the same ones that make the best first homes. Finally, you need to believe the property will increase in value. Negative gearing usually means you deliberately make losses for years in the hope of a big profit at the end to make up for it. That brings us to capital gains tax. Negative gearing has been around a while, but it really took off as a tax strategy after 1999 when the Howard government heavily discounted capital gains tax for investors. Negative gearing gets all the attention, but you could probably leave it untouched and reinstate full CGT and get the same outcome. The current system fuels property speculation. If you don't think the market will rise, then the way to make money is to ensure the rent exceeds your costs also known as positive gearing. Or you could settle for neutral gearing aiming for break-even. When Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison held their press conference with the Mignacca family in Penshurst last week, they were trying to paint negative gearing as something that ordinary people do to get ahead. It stuck in the craws of many Australians that taxpayers are subsidising an investment property for the Mignacca baby when many other families are struggling to break out of renting. The Mignaccas aren't to blame but that doesn't mean the underlying tax policy is fair. Turnbull argues that negative gearing is a bog-standard tax deduction; it's "income tax 101". Yet it's either not allowed, or heavily restricted, in most OECD countries. It's true that it's supposedly a principle of the tax system that you can deduct expenses incurred in the course of earning income from your taxable income. (I say "supposedly" because if that were really true we'd be able to deduct the cost of childcare and business clothing). If you're a doctor with an investment property, it's reasonable to deduct interest and maintenance expenses from your rental income. But if your costs exceed that, should you be allowed to deduct the deficit from your doctor's salary? It is less clear cut because the activities of being a doctor and being a landlord are not related. Plus your loss is deliberate, something the Tax Office takes a dim view of elsewhere. Take the so-called Collins St cockies or Pitt St farmers - city professionals with a farm as a weekender who claim a loss as a primary producer to offset against their salary. The Tax Office states the farming activity must be done to make a profit, otherwise it's a hobby. Turnbull says curbing negative gearing would hurt property prices and discourage investment. He's probably right. After all, that's the point. You can't improve housing affordability without prices either coming down or at least staying steady. The question is by how much. Wiping 30-40 per cent off home values might sound appealing to frustrated first time buyers, but only if they haven't thought it through. The property market is too big to fail and buying a home would be just as unaffordable at half the price if you no longer had a job. It's important to avoid a hard fall. That's why Labor plans to end it for new purchases, while letting existing investors keep the perk. Turnbull is stretching the truth when he says this would remove one in three buyers from the market. Many investors earn rental income and pay tax. And those who want to keep negative gearing would hang on to their existing properties, so supply would also soften and security for renters would increase. My reservation is Labor's plan entrenches the advantage of older generations. Yes, young people would be better able to afford their first home, but they'd never be able to enjoy the same tax breaks on investment. I'd prefer to see modelling to keep negative gearing open to anyone but with a limit of five years. Investors could claim a loss to get started, but they'd need a clear strategy to eventually break even. Just as incentives for start-up businesses don't last forever. Turnbull also claims negative gearing would push up rents. The Grattan Institute disputes this because many current renters are would-be buyers. There are already signs more people are buying their first homes, as the property market slows. Credit reporting agency Veda says the proportion of mortgage applications by the youngest group, 18-24 year-olds, had steadily decreased from late 2012 to late 2015 but enjoyed a healthy uptick in the first quarter of 2016. The proportion of mortgage applications by people in the 25-34 age category also increased. Long may that continue. Brussels: The entire population of Belgium is to be issued with a ration of iodine tablets, months after warnings about the threat of Islamic State building a dirty bomb. Iodine pills, which help reduce radiation build-up in the thyroid gland, had previously only been issued to people living within 20km (14 miles) of the Tihange and Doel nuclear plants. Maggie De Block, the health minister, said that would be extended to 100km, covering the whole country of 11 million people, following advice from an expert council. The pills will be sent to pharmacies, and the public would be ordered to collect their ration in the event of a meltdown. ST. CHARLES COUNTY The two-century-old Daniel Boone Home, which has been operated by Lindenwood University as a tourist and educational site since 1998, is becoming part of the fast-growing St. Charles County park system. County Executive Steve Ehlmann and Lindenwood president Michael Shonrock on Friday announced that the school is donating the home, the adjoining 66-acre historic village and more than 200 surrounding acres to the county. The overall tract will be called Lindenwood Park. I am thrilled that we will be part of sharing this rich history of our region with others, Ehlmann said. He said the donation also allows the county to provide additional green space for outdoor activities in coming years. The limestone-walled house, begun in 1803 and completed in 1810, was the home of the famed frontiersmans son, Nathan Boone. Daniel Boone spent part of his final years at the home and died there in 1820. The village includes more than 20 other historic structures moved there from other sites over the years. The site is off Highway F in the semi-rural southwestern part of the county, about five miles south of New Melle. After the county takes over, the university will continue its various classes and activities at the site in field biology, archaeology, history and recreation leadership. The County Council on Monday approved the agreement, which is expected to become final in a few weeks. Ehlmann said the deal also calls for the school to give the county a significant amount of maintenance equipment at the site, such as tractors and backhoes. In return, he said, Lindenwood will get a $500,000 credit relieving it from paying rent for the next few years for commencement exercises held at the county-owned Family Arena in St. Charles. The rent has been about $60,000 a year for three ceremonies a year, a Lindenwood spokesman said. In 2010, Lindenwood and the county held talks on the university acquiring the arena, possibly in a trade for the Boone Home. But the school decided then against the arena acquisition, and Ehlmann said there are no current discussions on that front. Councilman Joe Brazil of the Augusta area, whose district includes the site, called the Boone Home the countys crown jewel. Brazil said the county and Lindenwood began new discussions about taking over the Boone Home after a proposal to transfer the site to the state parks system was turned down by state officials. The new Lindenwood Park will be the 12th park in the county system, which began almost from scratch in 1997. The most recent, the 80-acre College Meadows Park, opened in 2014 next to St. Charles Community College in Cottleville on land owned by that school. The county park system also has acquired 542 acres in reserve land over the years, but the tracts have yet to be turned into parks. That will be done gradually. Most of the parks and planned parks are on the periphery of the countys population centers and avoid duplicating more intensive activities such as swimming pools and ball fields already offered by cities. Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 79, has returned to Algiers after a brief visit to Geneva for medical checkups, his latest since a stroke three years ago that has mostly kept him out of the public view. "The president of the republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, returned to the country on Friday," the presidency said in a statement on APS state news agency. Bouteflika, who has governed the North African OPEC state for more than 15 years, left a week ago for "regular medical checkups", state media said. He has visited Paris and Geneva several times since the stroke in 2013 that left him in a French hospital for several months. Since his re-election in 2014 to a fourth term, the veteran of the independence war against France has only been seen in periodic state television images and photographs, usually greeting visiting foreign dignitaries at his palace. Bouteflika's illness has prompted speculation about a possible transition from a leader who helped bring the country out of a 1990s war with Islamist fighters and into more economic stability during the times of high oil prices. He has steadily strengthened his loyalists' position since 2014 and reduced the Algerian military's long-running influence in politics by firing generals and revamping the DRS military intelligence agency. Arguing about education with Pakistani children who don't attend school has become his hallmark. Master Mohammad Ayub, the title now a permanent part of his identity, was an Islamabad firefighter who made it his business to teach any child who could not go to class. He started with one child in 1982. "I saw you cleaning cars all day. Why didnt you go to school?" Ayub asked a boy he had been watching for a couple of days. The boy responded that he was an orphan with five brothers and three sisters. That struck a nerve. Ayub himself had been an orphan with five brothers and three sisters. "When my father died, everyone who came to the funeral said they were sorry, but no one helped," Ayub remembered. He sold newspapers, bound books, glued paper envelopes anything to make enough money to pay for his siblings to continue their education. At night, he would study. Ayub wanted to help the young boy who washed cars but did not make enough money to pay for lessons. So he offered to teach the boy for free. One boy became a few, then dozens. Today, Ayub runs a makeshift school in a public park in Islamabad. Many of his students come from nearby slums. Some go to regular schools in the morning but come to him for help with homework. Others have never been to school. Thousands of poor children have benefited from his services over the years. An education crisis Ayubs story is heartwarming, but his efforts only highlight what one local nongovernmental organization, Alif Ailaan, calls "an education crisis of unprecedented proportions." Pakistan has the worlds second-worst number of out-of-school children, exceeded only by Nigeria. Nearly half of the countrys school-age children almost 25 million do not attend classes. Most of those who do go to school receive a poor education. Data collected by another local NGO, Annual Statistics of Education Report (ASER), show nearly half of all fifth-graders are unable to solve a simple, two-digit math division problem or read a story in their local language. Another report, issued recently by the Islamabad-based Institute of Social and Policy Sciences, said the countrys education expenditure is the lowest in South Asia. At the launch of this the report, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Mohammad Balighur Rehman was heartened by "a visible increase in education budgets for all the provinces in 2015-2016," and encouraged a "healthy dialogue" on the state of education. Meanwhile, Master Ayub is not waiting for the government to fix a broken system. He has taken matters into his own hands. The U.S. military has disciplined 16 service members for their role in a deadly airstrike in Afghanistan last year that killed 42 people and destroyed a hospital run by the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, and it has concluded the incident was not a war crime. General Joseph Votel, the commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters Friday at the Pentagon that an investigation into the incident found the tragedy was a result of an "extraordinarily intense situation" that included multiple equipment failures. He said the airstrike was not deemed a war crime because "the personnel involved did not know they were targeting a medical facility." "The fact that this was unintentional, an unintentional action, takes it out of the realm of actually being a deliberate war crime against persons or protected locations," he said. That finding is consistent with a preliminary investigation released by the U.S. military in November, when commanders emphasized that U.S. forces both on the ground and in the air did not intentionally target the hospital. The military punishments include letters of reprimand, which could lead to "denial of promotion" and "possible separation from the service," according to Votel. The 16 U.S. service members found at fault include a two-star general. MSF reaction Doctors Without Borders, also known as or MSF or Medecins Sans Frontiers, said it was examining the U.S. findings to determine whether the account answers the many outstanding questions they still have seven months after the attack. "With multinational coalitions fighting with different rules of engagement across a wide spectrum of wars today, whether in Afghanistan, Syria, or Yemen, armed groups cannot escape their responsibilities on the battlefield simply by ruling out the intent to attack a protected structure such as a hospital," said MSF President Meanie Nicolai on Friday. MSF also has consistently said that it cannot be satisfied solely with a military investigation into the Kunduz attack. MSF's request for an independent and impartial investigation by the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission has so far gone unanswered. "Today's briefing amounts to an admission of an uncontrolled military operation in a densely populated urban area, during which U.S. forces failed to follow the basic laws of war," Nicolai said. "It is incomprehensible that, under the circumstances described by the U.S., the attack was not called off." Tragic errors The investigation revealed the U.S. force on the ground was fatigued from fighting and running low on supplies when the airstrike was called up. The AC-130 gunship was, therefore, launched 69 minutes earlier than originally planned. "As a result, the crew did not get all of the preparatory information they would normally have received before a mission, to include an identification of no-strike areas,'" Votel said. Once in the air, a satellite radio antenna failed, which would have allowed them to receive that information and send out pictures of the target. The AC-130 gunship was then shot at by enemy forces using a surface-to-air missile. "That's a very significant thing. That does not happen a lot in Afghanistan," Votel told reporters. The attack forced the gunship to move several kilometers away from the city center, and when the crew plotted the coordinates of the Taliban target, it directed them to an open field. The nearest building that matched the physical description of the target was the hospital, which the crew mistakenly concluded was the Taliban-controlled building that they had been sent to hit. "They were trying to support our Afghan partners. There was no intention on any of their parts to take a shortcut or to violate any rules that were laid out for them," Votel underscored. The barrage on the hospital lasted about 30 minutes, the military said in its investigation of the incident. MSF notified the U.S. military about the attack approximately 10 minutes into the strike, but Votel said it took several minutes to run through the military layers and reach the ground commander. As soon as the commander made the determination that they had mistakenly targeted the MSF hospital, the AC-130 gunship crew stopped firing, Votel added. Changes made About 9,000 U.S. Forces-Afghanistan personnel underwent training designed to minimize the risk of another U.S-caused tragedy as a result of the hospital bombing in Kunduz. In addition, U.S. aircraft systems are now pre-loaded with key information, including the "no-strike list data base," Votel said, in order to "minimize the reliance of post-launch communications." U.S. Forces-Afghanistan has also provided the leadership of Doctors Without Borders with a way to contact U.S. command centers directly. Afghan government The Afghan government welcomed the release of the report and the assurances that measures have been taken to prevent such incidents in the future. However, survivors and relatives have demanded harsher punishments and financial assistance. Hamdullah, who did not want his last name used, said he was in the laundry section of the hospital on the night of the attack. When the attack began, the windows broke and the glass shards hit him as he took refuge against a wall. His uncle, a doctor at the hospital, died. "We were treating patients. Whoever they were, they were human beings," Hamdullah said. "We didn't differentiate, if they were Americans, soldiers, Taliban or somebody else. We were just treating human beings. They killed doctors. This [hospital] is a place which is given protection everywhere. They bombed this place. Removing them from their positions is not enough, they should be executed. They should also financially support the children of those who were killed." Saeed, a colleague of Hamdullah's at the MSF Hospital, said, "I am not even one percent satisfied with this punishment. They should be tried in open. This punishment is making a joke of us." Months before Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded retired Canadian mining executive John Ridsdel in the tropical jungles of the southern Philippines, they showed him pleading for life in a video with three other hostages that demanded a record-high ransom. The scene was all too familiar in a Southeast Asian nation that has struggled with ransom kidnappings by the Islamic militants for years, except for two things. In the video that appeared in November, two black flags with Islamic State group symbols were displayed by the heavily armed Abu Sayyaf fighters in the backdrop of lush foliage. Then after a deadline for ransom lapsed on Monday, they killed the 68-year-old Ridsdel instead of waiting patiently for the money as the mostly impoverished rural fighters have done in the past. Shocked by the outcome, many in the largest Roman Catholic nation in Asia are asking if this is the same band of militants the government has long dismissed as ransom-seeking bandits. Or, has the Philippines fallen into a growing list of countries that are now grappling with the spread of influence from the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq? The Philippine government has insisted the IS still has no presence in the countrys south, homeland of minority Muslims who rose up to seek a separate state in the early 1970s. In his first remarks following Ridsdels killing, President Benigno Aquino III, whose term ends in two months, gave a history of the Abu Sayyafs brutal attacks, describing it as a group of outlaws and vowing to devote all my energies toward ensuring that, at the very least, this will be a very seriously degraded problem. A major offensive is believed to have killed about 14 Abu Sayyaf militants in southern Sulu province this week, the military said. Even as it poses as a group of Islamic freedom fighters, the Abu Sayyaf has behaved as criminals focused on enriching themselves by taking hostages for ransom, Aquino said, describing them as opportunists who want to align themselves with ISIS to gain access to the funds and resources of ISIS, using a different abbreviation for the Islamic State group. Terrorism experts, however, believe that a key Abu Sayyaf faction and at least two other small armed groups have gone beyond pledging allegiance to the Middle East-based jihadis on video and have struck a new alliance under the IS flag. Some foreign militants from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Middle East helped forge the union under an overall leader, Isnilon Hapilon, a senior Abu Sayyaf commander on southern Basilan Island, said Rodolfo Mendoza, a retired police general who helped lead counterterrorism efforts. Its not yet clear if the foreign militants, three of whom were killed in military offensives last year and this year, were IS fighters or sympathizers who wanted to recruit Filipinos into the IS fold, according to the Philippine military. In November, Abu Sayyaf gunmen beheaded a Malaysian hostage despite ongoing ransom negotiations. It happened while Manila was hosting an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit attended by world leaders, including President Barack Obama and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Another armed group, which has brandished the IS groups black flag in southern Butig town but is not yet known to have joined Hapilons alliance, recently posted a picture online of two kidnapped villagers in orange garb before they were beheaded as suspected military spies. Its the first known instance in which local militants dressed their captives in orange, as IS extremists do. An unusual surge in kidnappings, including daring attacks on three tugboats in and around the Sulu Sea that captured 18 Indonesian and Malaysian crewmen beginning last month, along with recent beheadings, may be an effort by the emerging bloc of militants to dramatize their capability and brutality and convince the IS group to fully recognize them as an affiliate entitled to funds and training support, Mendoza told The Associated Press. Earlier this month, an Abu Sayyaf ambush in Basilan killed 18 soldiers in the militarys largest single-day combat loss so far this year. Theyre now able to project internationally that they deserve the serious recognition of mother ISIS, Mendoza said. The kidnappings that they do shouldnt only be seen as plain banditry. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, the militants tried to forge a formal alliance with al-Qaida but those efforts failed. The Abu Sayyaf group tried for years to foster an impression that it was formally allied to al-Qaida for survival, said Abu Muslim, a former Abu Sayyaf ranking member who has been captured and now cooperates with the government. There was really no direct connection between the ASG and the al-Qaida then, he said. But the impression that there was gave the group stature and a veil of notoriety that was important in raising funds. Jim Gomez, Manila, AP In response to animal welfare group Animas call for a publicized debate over the merits of a renewal of greyhound racing, the Abandoned Animals Protection Association of Macau (AAPAM) has notified the Times that it will not be participating in the debate. Earlier this week, the Times gained access to a series of letters penned by Anima President Albano Martins, who challenged Josephine Lau, the Vice-President of contender animal rights group AAPAM, and representatives of the Canidrome Company to go head-to-head in a televised debate. Martins notified the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, of his desire to have the debate broadcast on TDM. A representative of AAPAM wrote to the Times to say that the association cannot spare any time or resources for the debate due to limited manpower in our association, and therefore AAPAM will not be participating. The point of contention between the two organizations stems from Animas claim that AAPAM collaborates with the Canidrome facility, where as many as 30 underperforming dogs are killed each month. Disturbing business enterprises is not our preference and there is no point in it, the AAPAM representative wrote in relation to claims of collaboration with the facility. The organization added that for the past few years it has been focusing on the promotion of the Animal Protection Law, which, once laid down, will better protect animals not to our ideal [level] but at least better than [with] no law. Without a law, cases of abuse cannot be controlled, the note read. AAPAM will hold a walk this Saturday in promotion of the Animal Protection Law. The association said that the walk is to be held in conjunction with other activities that has been planned for the same cause. DB zhuhai fines for keeping extra dog On April 14, a Zhuhai resident was fined RMB2,000 for owning two dogs, according to a report by Journal Va Kio. The owner, surnamed Li and living in Nanping town, a district subordinated to the city center, was permitted to own only one dog under Zhuhai regulations, which stipulate that residents from Hengqin district and from the city center may keep only one dog. The Gongbei police took the unauthorized animal to the citys official dog shelter after the owner had failed to resolve the problem within the three days notice given by the police. This marks the first time that the mandatory fine has been issued by Zhuhai since the implementation of a dog management regulation, which came into effect last June. China passed a law yesterday tightening controls over foreign non-governmental organizations by subjecting them to close police supervision, a move officials say will help the groups but critics charge is the latest attempt by authorities to clamp down on perceived threats to the ruling Communist Partys control. The law, adopted by the national legislature, states that foreign NGOs must not endanger Chinas national security and ethnic unity. It grants police the power to question NGO administrators, search residences and facilities and seize files and equipment. The move to pass such a law has drawn criticism from U.S. and European officials and business and academic organizations. They are concerned it will severely restrict the operations of a wide range of groups, further limiting the growth of civil society in China and hindering exchanges between China and the rest of the world. The law includes a clause that allows police to blacklist unwelcome groups and prevent them from operating in the country. Groups can be blacklisted if they commit violations ranging from illegally obtaining unspecified state secrets to spreading rumors, slandering or otherwise expressing or disseminating harmful information that endangers state security. The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders denounced the law as draconian, saying it allows police to exercise daily supervision and monitoring of foreign NGOs. The law will have a profoundly detrimental impact on civil society in China, it said. The group said the most alarming aspects include the ability of police to end foreign NGO-organized activities that they deem to endanger national security, a term that is not clearly defined. Police will also be able to more closely monitor foreign organizations funding sources and expenses, which has the chilling effect of intimidation, the group said. The law appears to be an effort to utilize of the resources and expertise of foreign NGOs as China struggles with problems including environmental pollution and mental health, while preventing them from competing with the Communist Party for hearts and minds. Still, the final version of the law eased many of the restrictions included in an earlier draft, including exempting foreign schools, medical facilities, and academic and research groups in natural sciences and engineering technology. It also allows foreign NGOs to set up multiple representative offices in China, removes restrictions on hiring volunteers and staff, and eliminates a requirement that they reapply for permission to operate in China every five years. However, in an apparent attempt to limit their influence, the law bans foreign groups from setting up regional chapters, recruiting members from among the public at large or raising funds within China. It also subjects them to closer financial scrutiny, requiring that they submit annual reports detailing their sources of financing, spending activities and changes in personnel. You are here to do deeds, not to build up your troops, Guo Linmao, a legal inspector for the legislature, said at a news conference following the laws passage. Guo sought to offer words of assurance, saying the law aims primarily to welcome foreign non-governmental groups, help promote their activities and protect their lawful interests while filtering out those few organizations that may hurt Chinas national security and interests in the name of NGO work. And, despite a relentless crackdown on domestic legal aid and civic society groups, Guo said international organizations working on human rights issues are welcome in China, as long as they comply with Chinese laws. He said the law shifted the authority to register and supervise foreign groups from civil affairs bureaus to the police in part because Chinese police already have responsibility for managing and overseeing foreign nationals. Many overseas organizations have partnered with Chinese academic and social groups, but still operate in a legal gray area that leaves them vulnerable to crackdowns by security forces. In one recent example, China in January deported a Swedish man it accused of training and funding unlicensed lawyers in the country. Didi Tang, Beijing, AP Representatives of Love Macau, the Macau Gaining Industry Frontline Workers Union and the Association of Rights of Gaming Industry Employees () announced yesterday at the office of lawmakers Ng Kuok Cheong and Au Kam San, that the three entities will make a demonstration on May 1. According to Lei Man Chao, vice president of Love Macau, the aim of the demonstration is to represent the demands of local employees, especially those working for casinos. A large number of facts are telling us that workers are facing, or will face, unfair employment treatment, said Lei, adding that we appeal to gaming companies to increase salaries, to largely reduce the number of expat workers, as well as to prohibit smoking everywhere in the casinos. The representative further explained that casinos allow smoking in VIP rooms, which share the same ventilation system as the rest of the rooms in the casino. Around 500 members from the three organizations will participate. This group will assemble at the Iao Hon Park at four in the afternoon, and will depart to the government headquarters at 4.30 p.m. A gathering might take place after the demonstration, according to Cloee Chao, from the Association of Rights of Gaming Industry Employees. She said that not all members will join the demonstration due to work shifts. Three letters will be delivered to the Chief Executive. Chao, who is also a casino dealer, noted that expat workers havent been hired as dealers so far as a consequence of a promise made by the government, which assured the public that only locals would work in those positions. Leong Lei Kan, an engineer representative, noted that half of his co-workers are not local residents. Moreover, lack of experience, of degrees or qualifications has been the reasons companies use in order to explain why their employees were not promoted, according to Leong. Tomorrow night and Sunday night, the Shakespeare Theatre Company will perform productions of the playwrights famous A Midsummer Nights Dream as part of the kick-off for the Macao Arts Festival. Five guests from the Shakespeare Theatre Company spoke with the media yesterday to share their excitement over what is the companys first production in China. A Midsummer Nights Dream is a comedy portraying the events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta. The events that unfold include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors, known as the mechanicals, who are controlled and manipulated by fairies. It remains one of Shakespeares most popular works for the stage and is widely performed around the world. The play has three themes, or worlds, said Ethan McSweeny, the director of the production. The world of fairies, the world of lovers and the court, [along with] the world of the mechanicals, including the working class people who [in the play] are preparing an amateur theater production. My goal was to make the show work well across all three rings of the circus, he explained. Canadian performers Sara Topham and Dion Johnstone, who portray the characters of Titania and Oberon respectively, were present at the meeting. American actor Adam Green, who plays the notorious and mischievous character, Puck, and is described by McSweeny as absolutely irreplaceable in the role, also attended. This [invitation] is an incredibly exciting opportunity for us, said Green. Coinciding with the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeares death this year, the performance tomorrow night will mark the companys debut in China. Macau is so multicultural and our production will be translated into Cantonese and Portuguese, said McSweeny in response to a question about the accessibility of the play to non-native English speakers. Shakespeares plays are universal so its our job to just perform them and not to try to adapt it for the local culture. There is a universality of A Midsummer Nights Dream, and there are some comic aspects that I think you dont need to speak English to understand. You could watch it on mute and understand what is going on. To be able to watch it with the sound off is very possible, said actor Adam Green. Speaking in response to the same question, Sara Topham said: I think the reason that we keep doing Shakespeare across cultures is because every girl has had the experience of having a boy not love her back. This is true of girls in Canada, China and Washington D.C. Unrequited love is the same around the world. But whether the performers will get the same reactions from the plays humor in Macau as they do in the United States remains to be seen, McSweeny said. I think on Saturday we will learn a lot. Maybe some things that we thought were funny might turn out not to be he joked. Recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, the Shakespeare Theatre Company is a leading classical production house in the U.S. Today it is synonymous with artistic excellence, according to a statement from the IC, and renowned for making classical theatre more accessible to audiences around Washington D.C., where the company is based. The company performs through 48 weeks of the year from late-August to mid-July, annually producing three Shakespeare plays and four adaptations by American writers of European plays and historical plays from around the world. IC representatives say that the show has been sold out during the early period, within the first week or so. Daniel Beitler It has become a recent trend for affluent Chinese to travel overseas more often and now the luxury goods market has to keep its fashion offerings up to date, according to Andy Hou, general manager of Chanel Limited Hong Kong and Macau. Hou conducted a seminar titled Will the luxury goods industry thrive again? as part of the third France Macau Business Associations (FMBA) monthly meeting, which was held at the Sofitel Hotel this week. What we can do as a brand is to equip our staff and have the best of services, and personalization will be the key, commented Hou on the sidelines of the seminar. The speaker emphasized that Macau is a remarkable cultural destination, however, the city still has to learn how to infuse this culture into the luxury brand offerings The risk is not to be connected in the industry and to be left out. Fashion goes so fast and we have to always [] be on the ball, he cautioned. Meanwhile, Hou admitted that Hong Kong and Macau retail trends are likely to continue to deteriorate due to weak visitor arrivals. He mentioned that depreciating currencies in different countries have enticed affluent Chinese customers to travel to other destinations, adding that the changes in Chinas consumption taxes could further decrease Hong Kongs pricing advantage over China. Raising the brand Chanel as an example, the expert said that the Chinese are its main consumers worldwide, accounting for 35 percent of sales. However, only 8 percent of such clients purchase the products in China due to the countrys price discrepancy. Increased online competition has also weakened luxury sales in the two SARs, however Hou said the market is striving to improve its product quality and customer service. Of course, theres a downturn but it will come back. I would say people will spend money on brands they think are valuable, so each brand has to work harder; which is good for the industry, the speaker explained. Hou admitted that the industry should also aim to equip local employees in retail industry in Macau with communication and empowerment.. Moreover, there is no difference in terms of spending between Hong Kong and Macau consumers of luxury goods, claimed the expert, emphasizing that residents have enormous spending power. Despite the recent recession in Macau, Hou revealed Chanel is expecting more retail outlets to come with the introduction of the new hotels and casinos opening in 2017. Its a transition period for all [industries]. Theres a very good opportunity for an industry like us to retain, to develop, and to go further to prepare for the next openings in 2017, he said. So we have to equip ourselves first before we go to the next level. Staff reporter Presented this week, Macaus first ever MSAR five-year plan aims at building a smart city. But what does that exactly mean? Experts from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Barcelona and London debated the concept yesterday during a seminar organized by the Science and Technology Development Fund. On the sidelines of the event which took place at the Macau Science Center, the president of the fund, Frederico Ma, said that the regions development should feature smart tourism, smart traffic, smart government and smart medicine. According to some of the experts, developing a smart city could involve big data analysis i.e. data sets that are analyzed computationally to assess patterns and trends, especially those relating to human behavior and communication by government departments. However, Frederico Ma noted that authorities are concerned that this involves rules and regulations related to privacy. The president claimed that open data is the backbone of the construction of a smart city and stressed that as technology develops, data assessment could release anonymous data. So we can know the flow of the people but not identify them. [] We just want the quantity, he explains. Representing Londons Urban DNA Solutions, Graham Colclough said that a smart city should be described as one that dramatically increases the pace at which it improves its sustainability and resilience. It should improve how it engages in society, how it applies collaborative leadership methods, how it works across disciplines and city systems, Mr Colclough stated, in order to transform services and quality of life to those involved in the city. Mr Ma admitted that there is still no master plan for the smart city development, but he did say he may cooperate with institutions in Macau to develop a feasibility study in the second half of the year. The plan will not only focus on the infrastructure of the city but will pursue the development of the publics living standards. We need to focus on the people, the smart citizen. How could we also serve the best purpose for them and not only on infrastructure? he asked. Cheng Dazhang, from Tongji University in Shanghai, discussed the topic of Smart Mobility, claiming that a smart city will take advantage of technology to solve problems including transportation. We dont only need to use information technology, but we also need each individuals intelligence, he insisted. Staff reporter Visitors on package tours totaled 564,000 in March, down by 36.2 percent (pct) year-on-year and down slightly by 0.6 pct month-to-month. According to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), package tour visitors from mainland China (446,000) decreased by 37.4 pct year-on-year, and those from the Republic of Korea (20,000) and Taiwan (31,000) declined by 44.3 pct and 38.9 pct respectively. In the first quarter of 2016, visitors on package tours totaled 1,701,000, down by 34.3 pct year-on-year. DSEC indicated that outbound residents using travel agency services totaled 108,000 in March, down by 18.3 pct year-on-year. Residents traveling on package tours decreased by 20.3 pct year-on-year to 45,000. Those traveling to mainland China dropped by 35.6 pct, while those to the Republic of Korea and Taiwan soared. In the first quarter of 2016, outbound residents using travel agency services totaled 314,000, down by 17.6 pct year-on-year. Statistics also indicate there were 106 hotels and guesthouses operating in Macau at the end of March 2016, an increase of 7 year-on-year. The number of guest rooms totaled 32,000, up by 4,000 (+13.6 pct) year-on-year, with rooms of 5-star hotels (20,000) and 4-star hotels (8,000) rising by 11.7 pct and 28.4 pct respectively. A total of 893,000 guests checked into hotels and guesthouses in March, up by 12.7 pct year-on-year. Guests from mainland China (557,000) increased by 9.8 pct, while those from Hong Kong (145,000) surged by 44.7 pct. The average length of stay of guests held stable at 1.4 nights, as it was in March 2015. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses was 76.5 pct, down by 0.9 percentage points year-on-year. In the first quarter of the year, guests staying in hotels and guesthouses totaled 2,660,000, up by 13.4 pct year-on-year. The average occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses stood at 77.2 pct and the average length of stay of guests was 1.4 nights. It seems like a logical pairing: Republican donors who despise Donald Trump, and two GOP presidential hopefuls sticking it out to keep him from the nomination. Yet such a financial cavalry never arrived for Ted Cruz and John Kasich, ignoring their impassioned pleas for financial help. Donors who gave as much as allowed by law to establishment darlings Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio have mostly disappeared from the political landscape, according to an Associated Press analysis of campaign finance records. Less than 3 percent of the nearly 14,600 donors who gave the USD2,700 limit to Bush or Rubio have also ponied up the maximum amount to Kasich or Cruz. By not writing those checks, theyre depriving Cruz and Kasich of as much as $39 million each in their final push to topple Trump, who has formidably deep pockets and has loaned $36 million to his own campaign. Trump trounced his competitors in Tuesdays elections, putting him in a stronger position to win the nomination outright in the next six weeks of voting. The quest to stop him has grown so dire that Cruz yesterday took the unusual step of announcing a running mate, Carly Fiorina. Earlier, he and Kasich agreed to divide up some remaining primary states to improve their chances of beating Trump. But donors continued shunning of Cruz and Kasich is one reason they havent had more success. There are a significant number of major fundraisers in the Republican Party whose networks are exhausted and donors who are worn thin emotionally from the effort they made for a candidate who is no longer in the race, said Wayne Berman, a longtime Republican fundraiser. That combination has led to many, many people sitting on the sidelines. Hes speaking from experience. Berman was the national finance chairman for Rubio and chose not to raise money for any other candidate after the Florida senator dropped out March 15. Both Kasich and Cruz have feverishly pitched themselves to donors as the candidate best able to unify the party. It has been a particularly tough fit for Cruz, a first-term Texas senator who has made his name as an unrelenting conservative fighter even against those in his own party. Hes had a healthy core of his own donors, including roughly 3,900 who have given the maximum amount. In fact, Cruz is the best Republican campaign fundraiser of the 2016 cycle, and started April with $8.8 million cash on hand. Still, this critical stage of the race has called for extra outreach, particularly with expensive contests such as California coming up and Cruz in need of better primary performances to derail Trump. Cruz has stepped up his requests of donors who might not have otherwise considered him. He and his wife, a Goldman Sachs manager on leave, talked to New York financiers last week at the Harvard Club of New York City. Theyre seldom responding, APs analysis shows. Through the end of March, just 186 Bush-Rubio maxed-out donors gave the maximum to Cruz. Fred Zeidman, a Houston-based fundraiser for Bushs failed bid, is one of them. He said he felt he owed the donation to Cruz because of his strong support of Israel, Zeidmans top issue. I wanted to show him my appreciation for that, Zeidman said. Still, Zeidman said he can understand why lots of former Bush and Rubio donors are reluctant. At this point, many of them feel like the main objective should be to beat the Democratic nominee, so theyre keeping their powder dry until the general election, in effect just letting the primary system sort itself out, he said. Kasich, the governor of Ohio, has attracted 174 maxed-out donors who also gave the maximum to Bush and Rubio. Hes won over some of the partys top female donors, including Anna Mann, Rupert Murdochs ex-wife; Lynne Walton, a Wal-Mart heiress; and Helen DeVos, wife of Amway founder Richard DeVos. But Kasich has been in desperate need of more donors willing to give as much as they can. He started April with just $1.2 million cash on hand. The AP analysis is based on reports of campaign contributions filed with the Federal Election Commission from the beginning of the 2016 presidential election cycle through the end of March. Julie Bykowicz & Chad Day, Washington, AP But the true shareholding structure of EMATUM can be readily found in the official gazette, the Boletim da Republica. The majority shareholder is the governments Institute for the Management of State Holdings (IGEPE), with 34 percent. The fishing company Emopesca holds 33 percent. 80 percent of Emopesca is owned by the Mozambican state and 20 percent by the Fisheries Promotion Fund, which is a state body. On the second day of a parliamentary debate on the matter, Borges said that, contrary to opposition claims on Wednesday that the state owns 85 per cent of EMATUM, in reality the figure is only 67 percent. EMATUM is mired in controversy because of the purchase of 24 tuna fishing vessels and six patrol boats from a shipyard in Cherbourg, France. This was financed by EMATUM issuing bonds to the total value of US$ 850 million on the European markets. Repayment of the bonds, at 8.5 percent interest, has been guaranteed by the Mozambican government. The Mozambique Tuna Company (EMATUM) is not a ghost company, as claimed by Renamo, but has been legally set up, with offices, company bodies and a tax identification number, declared Fisheries Minister Vitor Borges on Thursday in the country's parliament, the Assembly of the Republic. Ocean Eagle, one of the controversial patrol boats now under construction in France for a Mozambique company The third EMATUM shareholder, with 33 percent, is GIPS (Management of Investments, Holdings and Services), which is a limited company, but when it was set up in January 2012, 70 percent of its shares were held by the social services of the State Intelligence and Security Agency, SISE. A minority shareholder, Joia Haquirene, sold his 30 percent to GIPS itself in March this year. Borges said that while the boats only cost US$ 300 million, the rest of the money would be spent on radar equipment, satellite communications, onshore installations, transfer of technology, licence fees, training, and the running costs and payment of interest on the loan for the first year. He denied that there was any risk that EMATUM would default on its repayments and that the government would be obliged to bail it out. A viability study had been undertaken which showed that the purchase of the boats was economically viable, the Minister stressed, From the second year of EMATUMs operations onwards, the company would be able to pay for its own running costs and service its debt. Borges predicted that when the fleet is fully operational it will bring in revenue of US$ 200 million a year. We want to assure you that the fiscal risk has been taken care of, he told the deputies. Contrary to Renamo claims, there was nothing secretive about the deal, Borges added, since it was a public bond issue. Nor did it have anything to do with acquiring military equipment. Operations on this market do not provide military material, Borges said, insisting that nothing in the bond issue was intended to purchase weaponry. He said the patrol boats are not combat vessels, but would be equipped with state-of-the-art technology to provide early warning of any threats. The opposition was not convinced. Jose Manuel de Sousa, of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), said that while he was all in favour of tuna fishing being done by Mozambican rather than foreign vessels, he queried the legality of the governments guarantee. He pointed out that it vastly exceeds the limits on government guarantees set by the 2013 budget law. Article 11 of that law sets a maximum limit to government guarantees of 183.5 million meticais (about US$6.1 million). Sousa noted that the EMATUM bond issue was equivalent to six percent of Mozambiques gross domestic product, and that the governments Economic and Social Plan (PES) for 2013 did not mention acquiring a tuna fleet. He added that the original bond issue was only for US$ 500 million. It was oversubscribed, and so EMATUM issued a further $ 350 million worth. He calculated that the annual payments to the bondholders, in interest alone, will be $ 53.6 million. Renamo deputy Alberto Sabe claimed that EMATUM is run by SISE, and asked why an intelligence service should be involved at all. Summing up the debate, Prime Minister Alberto Vaquina said the government was determined to diversify the economy. Its strategy was for an integrated and balanced development of all the countrys resources, so that the economy will still be viable after the minerals have been exhausted. Currently tuna fishing in Mozambican waters is undertaken almost exclusively by foreign vessels. Of the 130 ships licensed to fish for tuna, only one flies the Mozambican flag. Furthermore, Vaquina believed that the catches by the 129 foreign ships are understated because we are not able to undertake effective inspection. The only benefit Mozambique currently obtains from tuna fishing is the million dollars a year paid in licence fees. Vaquina thought that the fears that EMATUM would not be able to service its debt were unfounded. He pointed out that there were similar fears when, in 2007, Mozambique took a majority stake in HCB, the company that operates the Cahora Bassa dam on the Zambezi. This involved debt of 700 million dollars to a banking consortium. Six years had passed, Vaquina said, and Mozambican had proved they could run the dam. Since the takeover, there has been an enormous improvement in HCBs contribution to the economy. Mozambicans can do what others do just as well, or better. source AIM In http://ports.co.za/news/news_2013_12_03_01.php#two The Twin Falls native who is taking on Mike Crapo for U.S. Senate this fall put out a news release Thursday announcing his candidacy and introducing himself to voters. I will bring a new approach to the Senate, Jerry Sturgill said. My leadership experiences in business, our community and my church have taught me that being a leader means bringing people together to solve problems. Leadership, respectful dialogue and creative problem-solving are sorely lacking in todays politics. Public service has been replaced with self-interest. Its time for the career politicians to go and for new voices to be heard. Sturgill, a Democrat, will be unopposed on the May 17 primary ballot, as will Crapo, the Republican incumbent who is seeking his fourth term in the Senate. They will face each other in November. The only primary for that U.S. Senate seat is the one for the Constitution Party, between Pro-Life and Ray Writz; the winner of that will face off against Sturgill and Crapo in the November election. Sturgill has an uphill climb the last Democrat to represent Idaho in the U.S. Senate was Frank Church, who lost his re-election bid to Republican Steve Symms in 1980, and Republicans have dominated state-level elections here for the past few decades. Sturgill, 63, went to public schools in Twin Falls and then to Brigham Young University. According to his news release, he is a managing director at the Denver-based financial advisory firm Headwaters MB and has a resume of other jobs and experiences in the corporate world and with Idaho nonprofits. IDAHO FALLS (AP) Cities in eastern Idaho will not see water curtailment this year as they reached a deal with the Surface Water Coalition. The Post Register reports that the Idaho Department of Water Resources on Wednesday approved a one-year plan to cover a coalition of cities in eastern Idaho including Idaho Falls and Pocatello. The decision comes before the May 3 deadline set by the state that would have cost the cities 44,200 acre-feet of water. TWIN FALLS Officers from six agencies in two states used undercover detectives, confidential informants, secret tracking devices and an impromptu sting operation to seize more than 10 pounds of methamphetamine bound for the Magic Valley, half a dozen guns, two pounds of heroin and thousands of dollars on Saturday, police said. The operation in Idaho and Washington also resulted in the arrest of two people, including a Washington mother with ties to a Mexican drug cartel trafficking methamphetamine into the Magic Valley with her 12-year-old son, police said. The two arrested Saturday were Brenda Trinidi Sainz, 34, of Yakima, Wash., and Mauro Morales-Jimenez, 32, of Buhl. Sainz was charged earlier this week in Twin Falls County in separate cases on two counts of felony trafficking in methamphetamine. Morales-Jimenez was arraigned Monday in Gooding County on the same charge. Details pieced together from the three court cases paint Sainz and Morales-Jimenez as large-scale providers and distributors of methamphetamine to the Magic Valley, with Sainz bringing the drugs from Washington to sell at whole-sale prices to Morales-Jimenez, who stored drugs, money and guns in a Wendell storage shed. Officers said Morales-Jimenez is not a U.S. citizen and was deported at least once before, in 2012, while Sainz is a native of Sinaloa, Mexico, with ties to a drug cartel. An undercover investigation into Sainzs drug activities began earlier this month when Idaho State Police detectives asked a confidential informant to contact the Washington woman about buying methamphetamine from her, court documents said. During the conversation, Sainz agreed to deliver two pounds of the drug on April 17 and referenced a previous deal made April 1. During the controlled purchase April 17, an undercover ISP detective and confidential informant each paid $5,000 for a pound of methamphetamine, court documents said. Sainz made the sale with her 12-year-old son in her car outside a restaurant on Blue Lakes Boulevard North and agreed to sell four more pounds to the detective and informant the next week. That same night, detectives got a warrant and attached a GPS tracking device on Sainzs car before she left Twin Falls, court documents said. When Sainz called the informant a few days later to say she was on her way from Yakima with four pounds of methamphetamine, officers monitored her movements using the GPS device. Police stopped Sainz on Saturday in Payette County shortly after she crossed from Oregon into Idaho on Interstate 84 and found 10 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk of her car, court documents said. She was again accompanied by her son, who was taken into custody by child protection services. After her arrest, DEA agents in Washington raided the Yakima home where she was staying and seized more than two pounds of heroin, one pound of methamphetamine and three guns, court documents said. Sainz was taken to ISP headquarters in Jerome where she told detectives four pounds of the drug found in her trunk were bound for the informant and detective in Twin Falls, and the other six pounds she planned to deliver to Morales-Jimenez, a regular customer whom she typically met in Wendell. Sainz agreed to help police in a sting operation and follow through with the sale of the drugs to Morales-Jimenez under the supervision of undercover detectives. Accompanied by an undercover Blaine County Sheriffs detective Saturday night, Sainz met with Morales-Jimenez at a Wendell storage facility and exchanged six pounds of methamphetamine for a large amount of U.S. currency. After the purchase was complete, the undercover Blaine County detective alerted other officers who raided the storage shed and arrested Morales-Jimenez. Inside the shed, officers found $16,500, a drug ledger, a Glock .40-caliber pistol, a Marlin .22-caliber rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun with the serial number removed, court documents said. Officers said Morales-Jimenez does not have a permanent residence but was living in the Siesta Motel in Buhl. Court documents did not specify whether police before Saturday were monitoring Morales-Jimenez, but his name had come up in a previous investigation in Twin Falls earlier this year. Brooke Elena Gee, 26, of Pocatello was one of two women arrested in January after fleeing from police in a Dodge Charger and leading a high-speed chase into the South Hills. In the trunk of the Charger, police found three guns, and Gee said one belonged to her and two belonged to Morales-Jimenez. The chase involving Gee and the driver of the Charger, 22-year-old Sinthia Ramirez, of Kimberly, was also connected to guns and drugs, which were found in a Jerome hotel room where the women were staying. As for the investigation into Sainz, detectives and agents from ISP, Gooding County Sheriffs Office, Blaine County Sheriffs Office, Twin Falls Police Department, the DEA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were all involved. Sainz is being held in Twin Falls County Jail in lieu of a combined $600,000 bond on her two charges and preliminary hearings on each charge are set for May 6. Morales-Jimenez is being held in lieu of $150,000 bond and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 12. TWIN FALLS | The College of Southern Idaho Foundation is offering a free retirement planning workshop. The event is slated for 5:30 7:30 p.m. May 12 at the Herrett Centers Rick Allen Room. David Turner of Boise, a certified financial planner with U.S. Bank, will provide an overview of retirement planning, followed by breakout sessions to address age-specific information. This workshop will cover tips and strategies for all ages, whether youre just starting your career or retirement is coming up quickly. The CSI Foundation would appreciate hearing if you plan to attend so organizers can provide enough refreshments and seating. Reserve a seat by calling Tamara Harmon at 208-732-6249 or at tharmon@csi.edu. TWIN FALLS The Twin Falls School Districts kindergarten registration will begin Monday and continue through May 6. Families who live within the new Pillar Falls and Rock Creek elementary school zones should register their students at the schools they would have attended if they entered school during the 2015-16 school year. Parents can register in school offices: Bickel: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Harrison: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Lincoln: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Morningside: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oregon Trail: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Perrine: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sawtooth: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Call your neighborhood school for more information or to determine which school your child will attend. You will need to bring your childs original birth certificate, proof of immunizations and residency (current utility bill, rental agreement or house sales agreement). Students must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2016. Your child may need to be present during the registration process to do a pre-kindergarten screening. Check with your school for more information. Kindergarten open houses are also slated for May: Bickel: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10 Harrison: 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 4 Lincoln: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5 Morningside: 3:45-4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5 Oregon Trail: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5 Perrine: 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5 Sawtooth: 9:30-10 a.m. Wednesday, May 4 Attendance zone maps can be found on the Twin Falls School Districts website: http://www.tfsd.k12.id.u/tfsd/Twin_Falls_Elementary_Schools_Final_36x48.pdf WENDELL Thanks to a nearly $180,000 grant, the Wendell School District will launch a new after-school program in August. The Idaho Department of Education announced nine grant recipients Wednesday including Wendell and Cassia County that will receive a total of $1.38 million in federal funding through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. Wendell offers some tutoring for students, but not a full after-school program. The new offering will allow students in the high-poverty district to have access to academic help, physical activities and enrichment such as nutrition and cooking lessons. Superintendent Greg Lowe said hes excited about the new offering for kindergarten through eighth-graders. We felt like it was a perfect fit for the Wendell School District. The district will get $179,550 for next school year, renewable for up to five years. Wendell school officials applied for the grant last year, but werent selected. They decided to try again this year. In Cassia County, the school district will get a $121,413 grant. Money will be used to start after-school programs at Dworshak Elementary School in Burley and Burley Junior High School. The district already has 21st Century Community Learning Centers which started this year at White Pine Elementary School in Burley, Declo Elementary School, Declo Junior High School and Mountain View Elementary School. Wendell About 80 percent of the approximately 1,200 students in Wendell schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. With a high poverty rate and many working parents, the after-school program will allow students to get access to homework help and extracurricular activities. This is great for kids, Lowe said. And its free for parents, and includes busing and food. Parents can sign their child up during school registration in August. Wendell schools are on a four-day week, with Fridays off. The after-school program will serve about 90 students for two hours after school Mondays through Thursdays, and for four hours on Fridays. The school district will partner with community groups: Gooding County 4-H, University of Idahos Eat Smart Idaho program to teach children about nutrition and cooking, Junior Achievement of Idaho to provide finance and entrepreneurship lessons, the American Heart Association to provide physical education and Wendell Recreation District for swim lessons. The district will also put aside some grant money so students can use Imagine Learning a language arts program. Things like that have been written into the grant, Lowe said. The after-school program will provide intensive reading and math interventions, he said, plus recreational, cultural and social activities for students. Theyll go on field trips to places such as City of Rocks National Reserve and Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve. Cassia County Parents and employees at Dworshak Elementary and Burley Junior High noticed after-school programs at other schools, program director Katie Muir said. They heard really good things and thought, we want to bring the program into our school. The main way for a student to sign up is through a teacher referral. Teachers recommend students who, for example, need help with homework, social skills or have working parents. Up to 30 students at each participating school are signed up. Students receive homework and tutoring help, access to enrichment activities and a snack. And theres more focused help offered in some subject areas. Declo Junior High, for example, has a math tutoring program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We try to have open communication with teachers to see what the students need help on specifically, Muir said. Community partners include the College of Southern Idaho, Burley Public Library, 4-H and the Idaho Foodbanks Cooking Matters six-week program. Students also do crafts and go on field trips. We try to do enrichment activities, Muir said, and that can be any type of activity to stimulate (their) brains more. DECLO Interstate 84 will be closed to traffic and all vehicles detoured for a series of concrete pours on the westbound Snake River bridge at milepost 216 near the Declo interchange. Detours of I-84 will begin at about 10 p.m. on Monday, May 5, May 12 and May 16 and will last about six hours each night. During nighttime closures, all traffic will be detoured between the Heyburn interchange, exit 211, and the Declo interchange, exit 216. Westbound traffic will be detoured off I-84 at exit 216, go south to Declo on Idaho 77, west to Burley on Idaho 81 and return to I-84 through Heyburn. Eastbound traffic will leave I-84 at Exit 211, detour north on Idaho 24 to Rupert, then east and south on Idaho 25 to I-84. Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction of Draper, Utah, is the contractor for the $17.88 million project to replace the two I-84 bridges crossing the Snake River. The westbound bridge is expected to be open to traffic by mid-summer and will be followed by the demolition and construction of the eastbound bridge. All work is expected to be complete by July 2017. BURLEY | Armed Police Officer on Campus. Surveillance Cameras in Use. Visitors at White Pine Intermediate School are met by fliers with warnings in bold letters taped to the glass adjacent to the front doors. Although the fliers aren't new, they have more meaning for parents and visitors after reported attempted kidnappings involving students on April 11. In the aftermath of the incidents, the school and district came under fire by parents who questioned whether the correct policies and procedures were in place and followed that day. Cassia County School District officials are taking a second look at policies and procedures and say constant efforts are made to ensure schools are safe for children. What Happened April 11? Two men were arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping after three girls on the playground said they were grabbed by a man before school and a fourth child reported she was grabbed by the arm by a man as she walked to school, police say. The men told the children to come with them and offered them money and candy. The district posted a warning to parents on Facebook after school the day the incidents occurred but no emergency notification was sent out to parents. Burley parent Adam Brower told the school board last week that he was concerned that parents were not notified earlier in the day by White Pine Principal Matt Seely. He took every active step he could by calling law enforcement and alerting staff, district spokeswoman Debbie Critchfield said. Early that morning, Seelysaid, some girls notified their teacher and also told him they had seen the man from a distance and that he beckoned for them to come over to him. Seely notified the whole staff about the incident and asked them to be alert. He also checked with the teachers who were on duty that morning to see if they saw the man and they had not. At lunch recess, Seely was approached by some different girls who told him the man touched them. Seely took the girls aside one by one and asked them what happened. He then called law enforcement and called the other schools to alert them about what was being reported. I was considering different options, including notifying parents," he said. "But you have to have definite information before doing that. If you jump to conclusions it can be problematic." A Look at Safety Policies Seely said the girls who reported being grabbed were late coming back into the building from breakfast and they were in an area with no supervision because the bell had already rung, and the teacher on duty already went inside. It is school policy for students to go through the halls from the lunch room rather than going around the building after the bell ring, he said. Kitchen staff didn't realize that the girls had gone outside instead of through the building. The policy has since been reinforced with staff, Seely said. In hindsight, he said, he could have issued a measured statement to parents through the districts emergency notification system about the reported encounter that was worded to prevent panicking students and parents. Yes, I wish I would have done that but I didnt have all the pieces and facts yet, Seely said. Staff has patrolled the playground more since the incident and he has been outside every day. Im confident that it is safe, he said. Chris James, fiscal manager and the districts safety committee chairman, said each school principal has an emergency response handbook that covers protocol for emergencies regarding dangerous weapons, school disturbances, child abuse, suicide, death or critical injury, child custody issues among others. And the district was in the process of updating the handbook before the April 11 incidents. As soon as it is complete, the safety committee will get updated information to all the schools, James said. District personnel along with area law enforcement and fire fighters will also attend safety classes in Pennsylvania this summer to learn more about keeping schools safe, a plan, Critchfield said, that was in place long before the April 11 incident. School safety is really a community partnership, Critchfield said. Critchfield said the district is also using more resources from the state to analyze problem areas. Working toward Safer Schools The district has made many changes geared to safer schools in the past couple of years, James said, including installing keyless entry systems at four of the districts schools Cassia High School, Raft River Elementary School, Oakley Elementary School and Cassia Regional Technical Center. White Pine, Declo High School and Albion Elementary School are on the list to receive keyless systems this summer, and Raft River High School and Oakley High School will get them after remodeling projects are complete. This year, doors with one-way locks were installed at the entrances to both hallways near the front office at the school, which prevents people from walking down the halls without checking into the office. Other outside doors at the school are kept locked when school is in session, except recesses and lunch. The school has a functioning camera system, Seely said, but it could use some additional cameras. The schools parent-teacher organization offered to purchase vinyl fencing and gates to surround the portable classrooms to further protect students but the school opted not to purchase the vinyl product, because it would not wear well. It would have been tattered in a year, he said. Other options to secure the annexes are still being assessed, Seely said. The district has 15 portable classrooms in Burley, which were placed at the schools as students populations grew. White Pine is the second-largest school in the district with about 900 students. Because children leave the school building to attend classes in the portables, it creates a safety hazard, Critchfield said. Part of the reason we wanted to build a new Burley elementary school was to reduce crowding in these schools and eliminate the portable classrooms, she said. After the elementary school is built, the district plans to make White Pine, Mountain View Elementary School and Dworshak Elementary School kindergarten through sixth grade and move students out of the portables. White Pine houses all of the city's fourth, fifth and sixth graders and the two elementary schools have kindergarten through third grades. Call me unpatriotic, but whenever I hear people prating about the American Dream, it sets my teeth on edge. The thing about dreams, see, is that theyre imaginary. A figment of your imagination. So you have a dream. Good for you. I had a dream, too. When I was 12. I was going to be a major league pitcher. Over the ensuing years, however, it became gradually apparent that the fastball that wowed them in Little League might not carry me to World Series stardom. To me, thats one of the big lessons of sports: realism. How good you are, how good youre not. How to deal with it. Its when people bring unfettered illusions into the economic and political realm, however, that the trouble starts. One such example is a provocative essay in the May issue of The Atlantic by Neal Gabler. Despite five well-received books and hundreds of magazine articles in all the prestigious places, Gabler finds himself dead broke at age 66 ducking creditors, driving a 19-year-old junker, in thrall to the IRS and having to borrow money from his adult daughters to pay the heating bill. Financial impotence, he calls it. While he says hes not looking for sympathy, Gabler identifies with economically squeezed Americans who told pollsters for the Federal Reserve Board that they would have to meet a $400 emergency by either borrowing, selling something or worse. Four hundred dollars! Gabler writes. Who knew? ... Well, I knew. I knew because I am in that 47 percent. Well, Mitt Romney knew, if you recall. He expected GOP voters to be angry that a near-majority of Americans didnt earn enough to pay Federal income taxes (although many end up remitting a greater proportion of their wealth to the government than Romney himself). However, Gablers point isnt really political in the electoral sense. He professes concern about the aforementioned American Dream. He thinks its a pity that only 64 percent in a 2014 New York Times poll professed belief in this phantasm, defined as that great, glowing, irresistible American promise that has been drummed into our heads since birth: Just work hard and you can have it all. Actually, no you cant. And you never could. Respectfully, Gabler appears to have spent too much time on planet Hollywood. He worries that peoples money problems have perhaps begun to diminish our national spirit. People want to feel, need to feel, that they are advancing in this world. It is what sustains them. Some would say that defining the national spirit entirely in material terms can only lead to sorrow. But lets not get metaphysical in a newspaper column. The author of biographies of Walt Disney, Walter Winchell and Barbra Streisand, Gabler appears to have fallen into what my friend Gwen Moritz aptly defines as the fatal trap of believing that (he) deserved a lifestyle (he) simply couldnt afford. To somebody like me whose professional career roughly parallels Gablers, the mans personal choices are mind-boggling. As he correctly points out, writer ... is a financially perilous profession. To keep your head above water, its important to keep your wits about you. Without my wifes steadfastness and hard work, Id never have made a go of it. But if wealth and status are your primary goals, youre probably in the wrong game. Gabler appears to have made one financially ruinous decision after another hiding the truth from himself and his family with equal facility. Even his confession sometimes conceals as much as it reveals. Moritz says she actually screamed when Gabler mentioned cashing out his retirement account to pay for his daughters wedding this after spending his fathers savings to send his children to costly private colleges. He wanted them to be winners. Me, I was flabbergasted when he mentioned buying a house in East Hampton, New York, the most exclusive CEO- and celebrity-enclave on the East Coast. A visit to the yacht club there could make an ordinary peasant nostalgic for the age of piracy. This two years before selling his familys Brooklyn co-op. His combined mortgage payments must have rivaled Portugals national debt. Then there was Gablers stretching out a lump-sum book advance by failing to pay taxes. Slates Helaine Olen says I dont believe there are 10 people in the United States who couldnt tell you that would end badly. Equally bewildering is the personal angle. See, when they left the city, Gablers wife gave up her career as a film executive. (W)ith my antediluvian masculine pride at stake, I told her that I could provide for us without her help another instance of hiding my financial impotence, even from my wife. I kept the books; I kept her in the dark. So what can she have been thinking? The wonder is that they havent divorced. Its a fascinating confession, but few will find it ultimately persuasive. American Dream, indeed. The Syrian talks in Geneva that had been ongoing for two weeks ended with the UN special Envoy Staffan de Mistura releasing a seven-page document highlighting that although the rival parties have common grounds, there continues to be differences in the matters related to a political transitional government. He hinted that such a government could include members of the present government and the opposition, independents and others. Diplomatic sources familiar with the talks said the next round is expected to take place around the middle of next month. It is however unclear if it will be held due to the increasing hostilities in Syria with the ceasefire that was in place since February practically inexistent especially in Aleppo. The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Aleppo, Valter Gros, explained that there is no neighborhood of the city that hasnt been hit and the future is uncertain with people living on the edge. The ICRC-supported Quds hospital was bombarded and Gros highlighted that wherever you are, you hear explosions of mortars, shelling and planes flying over. The role of Assad in a post-war Syria has been a key issue in the talks as opposition groups request that he must be excluded. The upcoming talks are also expected to be affected as Russia prepares to ask the UN Security Council to consider Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham as terrorist organizations because of their activities. Jaish al-Islam is close to Saudi Arabia and the head of the Riyadh-based High Negotiations Committee is led by one of its leaders Mohammed Alloush. The Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham are not participating in negotiations and theyre not participating in the cessation of hostilities so its time to call a spade a spade. The PLO Executive Committee Chairman Saeb Erekat reacted to Prime Minister Netanyahus statement against the French peace initiative saying that the rejection of the International Conference is a ratification of the Israeli governments decision to continue on with their crimes and offenses. Netanyahu said on Thursday that direct bilateral negotiations without any precondition or initiative is the best solution to the conflict. Erekat said the negotiation urged for by Israel isnt a call to come to an agreement for two states, but is an attempt to legitimize the development of the settlements, and is coercion by an apartheid government. According to him, Netanyahus statement is in line with the official response the Palestinian authorities received from the Israeli delegation during the sixth Israeli-Palestinian dialogue session held in February. Palestine had requested that Israel stops its military actions, daily raids and incursions into the West Bank especially Area A and reaffirm its commitment to the signed agreements or else they would be obliged to review their ties and security coordination. The PLO Chairman linked the conflict to terrorism and the Islamic State warning that getting rid of the Islamic State and ending terrorism can only be done by the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The French initiative seeks to revive the talks between Israel and Palestine but with Tel Aviv finally rejecting it on Thursday, after several months of doubts, hopes to end the conflict fade away. Erekat said Palestinian authorities are still looking forward to the international peace conference and renewed their call for international recognition of Palestine as an independent state. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said during his visit Thursday to Doha that the deployment of Turkish troops to the military base in Qatar, the countrys first in the Middle East, was not directed at against any nation but it is rather a move that would help to counter threats to both countries. Expressing the strength of ties between Ankara and Doha, Davutoglu said there has been exceptionally high-level strategic cooperation in the defense and military fields between Turkey and Qatar and the security and stability of Qatar is like the security and stability of Turkey since they have the same destiny and face the same threats. The Turkish Prime Ministers remarks also hinted that Ankara is not interested in contesting other military powerhouses stationed in the Gulf or member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Davutoglu said their presence is for stability. For Ankara, the deployment of Turkish troops to a military base in Qatar, under a military deal signed in December, is meant to fight common enemies. The number of troops to be deployed is yet unclear although it is claimed to be around 3000 when the construction of the base is completed. Qatar will also have a base in turkey as part of the agreement. Qatar is hoping that trade between the two countries will be reinforced as its Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed told the 11th Turkish-Arab Economic Forum that free trade agreements between Arab countries and Turkey would have a big role on investment opportunities. The Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Presidency Council (PC) have called on military groups in Libya to halt any planned actions on the Islamic State (IS) in Sirte until a unified front is formed. The PC describing itself as the supreme commander of the army demanded that all Libyan military forces wait for it to appoint a joint leadership for the Sirte operation. It warned that in the absence of coordination and unified leadership the assault could end up being a confrontation between those armed forces fighting IS. Prime minister-designate Fayez Serraj said ministers are coordinating security arrangements to start liberating Sirte and promised that IS will be overcome by Libyan hands and not through foreign intervention. The UN-backed government does not have control over major military forces in Libya and few militia groups are loyal to it. The Libyan National Army (LNA) loyal to the Tobruk-based government in the eastern part of the country and commanded by the renegade General Khalifa Haftar said it was fully ready for the battle of Sirte and was waiting for orders. In the west, Brigades from Misrata are also reportedly mobilizing their resources but it is unclear if they are planning to attack Sirte. They abandoned ground operations against the Islamic State in Sirte last year but have continued to conduct air strikes over the city. GNA has ruled out foreign intervention but it doesnt have the military capability to attack IS making analysts think that the extremist group will reinforce its potentials before a unified front is formed. With the Tobruk and Tripoli based governments sidelining the GNA and past announcements of assaults on Sirte not being fulfilled, the Islamic State is expected to continue operating in Libya for a while. Morocco and Qatar, bound by a long-lasting friendship, are both resolved to bolster their strategic partnership and enhance their mutually beneficial cooperation. This shared resolve was renewed by King Mohammed VI and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at a meeting they held Thursday in Doha, shortly after the Moroccan Kings arrival on a friendly and working visit to Qatar. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and ways of enhancing cooperation at various levels. The talks also dealt with a number of issues of common interest, particularly the developments in the region, including the situation in Palestine, Syria and Yemen. Moroccan-Qatari strategic alliance is not only political but is also characterized by evolving economic and investment relations as evidenced by the participation of several Qatari businessmen and groups, such as Diar Investment Company, in Moroccos development projects, mainly in tourism and real estate. Morocco and Qatar are linked since 1975 by a number of agreements and cooperation protocols, which helped give new impetus to their economic, trade and cultural relations over the years. Trade between the two countries increased significantly from 517 million dirhams in 2010 to 681 million dirhams in 2014, recording an annual increase of 21%, due mainly to Qatars growing imports of Moroccan products, primarily food products and furniture. Moroccos imports from the Gulf country are mainly made up of aluminum and plastic products. The Moroccan Kings visit to Qatar is part of a tour he is undertaking in several Arab Gulf States, following the first Morocco-GCC summit held in Riyadh, on April 20. The summit, described by some analysts as an epic summit, was an opportunity to seal the strategic partnership biding Morocco and the GCC member States, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab emirates. Although Morocco is located at the farthest end of the Arab world, on the Atlantic coast, the Kings Arab-oriented diplomacy and his friendship and close ties with the leaders of the oil-rich monarchies of the Gulf prompted the GCC members to invite Morocco to join their council. Besides, the joint statement released at the end of the Riyadh summit stressed that the GCC and Morocco have a common destiny and both face the dangers of terrorism and partitions threatening the Arab region. The Summit also expressed a clear support to Morocco regarding the Sahara issue and to the autonomy initiative it presented as the basis for any solution to this artificial regional dispute. They have thus expressed their total ejection of any act that may affect Moroccan supreme interests, on top of which the Moroccan Sahara issue, the joint statement had said. (HealthDay)There is a lack of data relating to the prevalence of workplace violence in health care and how to address it, according to a review article published in the April 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. James P. Phillips, M.D., from Harvard Medical School in Boston, discusses workplace violence in various health care settings, including the prevalence across professions, potential risk factors, and ways to prevent violence. Phillips notes that workplace violence in the health care environment has often been underreported, and is a ubiquitous and persistent problem that has been tolerated. The health care sector is considered among the industries most subject to violence in the United States; however, universally applicable methods of risk reduction have yet to be discovered. Most research to date has been related to quantifying the problem and efforts to profile perpetrators and victims. Few studies have focused on interventions, and these have highlighted the problems in finding a simple solution to address the issues. "In the absence of data that define effective steps to prevent workplace violence, approaches to the problem may be considered at various levels," Phillips writes. "Future research efforts should be devoted to unbiased data collection, experimental designs, and improved reporting processes." Explore further Violence is a public health problem Copyright 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved. While millions of adults consume several hundred calories in sugary drinks every day, most of the messages about the dangers of overconsumption of sweet beverages focus on the risks they present children. A University of Kansas researcher has co-authored a study showing an intervention aimed at educating adults about the dangers of sugary beverages and improving their health and media literacy is effective at improving their health, knowledge and helping reduce the amount of beverages they drink. Yvonnes Chen, associate professor of journalism, was part of a team that tested two methods of reducing sugary drink intake among adults living in rural areas in southwest Virginia. An intervention known as SIPsmartER, which educated participants about the dangers of excess consumption, proved to be an effective method in helping individuals reduce their daily intake while also improving health measures such as body mass index, known as BMI, weight, cholesterol and quality of life measured in the number of unhealthy days per month. MoveMore, a program designed to encourage increased physical activity, showed much smaller improvements in those areas. Most interventions in sugary drink consumption focus on children, assuming adults have choices in the drinks they consume. "That's not always entirely true, especially for people living in medically underserved communities and who have a low health literacy," Chen said. "We wanted to test a practical solution that people can use in their own, everyday lives." The researchers worked with nearly 300 adults who all consumed higher-than-average amounts of sugary drinks per day and were able to exercise. The SIPsmartER participants averaged 496 calories and 43 fluid ounces of sugary drink consumption per day at the start of the study. After six months, those numbers reduced to 268 and 24, respectively. Chen co-authored the study with Jamie Zoellner, Valisa Hedrick, Wen You, Brenda Davy, Kathleen Porter, Hannah Lane and Ramine Alexander of Virginia Tech University; Angie Bailey of Rowan University; and Paul Estabrooks of the University of Nebraska. It was published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Participants in both interventions took part in three face-to-face classes in six months and took part in 11 phone calls discussing various aspects of sugary drink consumption, health and media literacy, based on goals they set. The SIPsmartER in-person lessons discussed health risks of excessive consumption, analysis of media messages regarding sweetened beverages and the financial toll of consuming large amounts of sweet drinks. The MoveMore lessons focused on exercise, understanding the financial investment of sugary drink manufacturers and understanding persuasive tools used in media messaging. After six months, media literacy scores for both groups improved, with SIPsmartER participants improving their scores by 8.2 points on average, compared with a 2.9 point average improvement in MoveMore. "They see these messages trying to sell sugary drinks everywhere in their lives," Chen said of participants. "With the media and health literacy training they became more skeptical about how pervasive these messages are and how they could talk back to the industry." Physical improvements abounded as well, as SIPsmartER participants reported having fewer unhealthy days per month after six months, as well as reducing their BMI, weight and cholesterol levels, as well as sugary drink intake at higher rates than MoveMore participants. "We concluded SIPsmartER is a more effective intervention, and it's reflected in the BMI, sugary drink intake and weight reduction. All showed a significant difference," Chen said. The researchers recently collected data from participants 18 months after the study began and will analyze data to see how well the improvements were maintained at longer intervals. They also hope to adapt the successful intervention for easier implementation at clinical sites, for use with smaller groups of individuals. The media literacy and health components work well together for individuals looking to improve their health through reduced sugary drink consumption. "I think, especially for medically underserved communities, this approach is effective. In this part of the country, many people were concerned about water quality and safety of well water vs. city water and thinking sugary drinks were a safe alternative," Chen said. "We know media has become very pervasive in daily life, and showing participants ways to be critical of media messages can help manage what they experience. It's a very practical approach, and we know it can reach underserved populations who deserve a better quality of life." Explore further Moderate consumption of sugary drinks has little impact on adolescents' metabolic health The spinal cord has its own system for sensing changes in pH, according to a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet. The new findings, which are published in Current Biology, show that cells in the central canal of the spinal cord detect and regulate pH, if it deviates from normal levels. Such changes may in turn impair the function of the neural networks of the nervous system. The spinal cord conveys nerve signals between the different organs of the body and the brain, and it controls all our movements. Running in the midline through the cord is a thin tube called the central canal, which extends from the brain all the way down to the caudal vertebrae. The canal contains the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which flows around the brain and the spinal cord, and is coated with ciliated cells. The function of these cells has long eluded researchers and has been the object of much speculation. "We have now shown that they operate as sensors that detect the acidity the pH, that is of the CSF," says Sten Grillner at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Neuroscience. "These pH sensors in the central canal demonstrate an elegant mechanism of detecting fluctuations in pH." Two types of molecules Each cell has two types of molecules in its cell membrane that detect pH levels, one reacting to acidic pH (called ASIC3) and the other to alkaline pH levels (called PKD2L1). The normal pH of the body is 7.4. These ciliated neurons are highly sensitive to even small deviations from the norm and disruption of the acid-base balance. The researchers behind the current study show that at a pH of 7.4, the cells have a very low level of activity, but as soon as the pH deviates from this value, in either the acidic or the alkaline direction, the activity level increases markedly through the activation of either the ASIC3 molecules (acidic) or the PKD2L1 molecules (alkaline). Deviations in pH lead to changes in the highly regulated micro-circuits of the nervous system, and an impairment of their normal function. It is therefore vital that it can sense pH levels. Inhibitory effect When the nerve system is active, it releases lactic acid metabolically, and at high levels of activity, such as during intense exercise or epilepsy, this causes the pH in the nerve system to become more acidic. Under certain circumstances that affect the metabolism, there can instead be an increase in pH in the alkaline direction. The researchers show that both a lower (more acidic) pH and a higher pH (alkaline) has an inhibitory effect on the motor activity in the spinal cord. This occurs through the secretion of a neurotransmitter called somatostatin from nerve terminals of the pH-sensing central canal cells distributed within the spinal cord itself. "When the central canal cells detect a change in pH, it thus gives rise to inhibition of the spinal cord's motor circuits, which results in a depression of the motor activity," says Professor Grillner. "This, in turn, helps the pH levels to return to normal." The study was financed with grants from the Swedish Research Council, the EU's Seventh Framework Programme, Karolinska Institutet's research funds, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and the Museum National dHistorie Naturelle. Explore further Role of adaptor protein CD2AP in neuron sprouting discovered More information: The Spinal Cord Has an Intrinsic System for the Control of pH, Elham Jalalvand, Brita Robertson, Herve Tostivint, Peter Wallen and Sten Grillner, Current Biology, published online April 28 2016 doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.048 Journal information: Current Biology The Spinal Cord Has an Intrinsic System for the Control of pH, Elham Jalalvand, Brita Robertson, Herve Tostivint, Peter Wallen and Sten Grillner,, published online April 28 2016 doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.048 @MichaelAuslen It looks like Bill Clinton brought in a good chunk of cash for his wife's presidential campaign Friday morning in North Florida. About 200 people showed up for a Hillary Clinton fundraiser at the Tallahassee home of Florida Democratic Party chair Allison Tant and trial lawyer Barry Richard, where the former president spoke. At $500 a person -- or $2,700, the legal maximum, for a photo -- that adds up quickly. The campaign did not allow reporters in to the event, and attendees were instructed not to record it. But in a 30-minute outdoor speech, the former president reportedly touted the would-be president's experience, know-how and vision for the future, pivoting toward a general election where Clinton is likely to faceDonald Trump, the Republican frontrunner. Among those in attendance were Tant (of course) and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who spoke before Clinton. State Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, whose district is to the south of Tant's home was there, as was Loranne Ausley, who's running for the House in another Tallahassee district. Florida has become a favorite spot for the Clinton campaign to send the former president, who was himself a Southern governor in Arkansas. Last month, he held a campaign rally -- this one open to the public -- at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, and he's spending the rest of the day Friday at similar closed fundraising events This afternoon, Bill Clinton will be at the home of Nancy and Chuck Parish in Sarasota, and he ends the day at superlawyer/big Democratic fundraiser John Morgan's home in Heathrow. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said President Barack Obama had been disrespected during his recent trip to Cuba -- the first visit by a sitting president since 1928, as well as a landmark step in the evolving relationship between bitter Cold War enemies. "Our rivals no longer respect us," Trump said during a major foreign policy speech on April 27, 2016. "In fact, they're just as confused as our allies, but in an even bigger problem is they don't take us seriously anymore. The truth is they don't respect us. When President Obama landed in Cuba on Air Force One, no leader was there, nobody, to greet him -- perhaps an incident without precedent in the long and prestigious history of Air Force One." He sent this tweet the same day Obama landed in Cuba: Is Trump right that this is an unprecedented snub? After checking with diplomatic and presidential historians, we found that Trump has a point, but his claim is far from airtight. See what Louis Jacobson of PolitiFact found and check out Trump's Truth-O-Meter record. @PatriciaMazzei It happened with little fanfare Thursday: The U.S. Senate agreed to three more years of sanctions against key officials of the Venezuelan government, a law pushed by South Florida legislators to punish President Nicolas Maduros government. The extension passed in the Senate by unanimous consent. The back story of how it happened, however, is far more interesting than the easy vote suggests. Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio took to the Senate floor Wednesday to ask his colleagues to extend the 2014 sanctions, co-sponsored with New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and set to expire at the end of this year. The law lets the U.S. freeze assets and deny visas for Venezuelan officials deemed responsible for violence and political arrests that roiled the South American country in 2014. It prompted Maduro and his government to brand Menendez, Rubio and other South Florida lawmakers terrorists and ban them from Venezuela. Because the Maduro regime continues to violate human rights and expand its political oppression, the U.S. must continue doing our part to address this growing crisis in Venezuela, Rubio said in a statement late Thursday. The Maduro regimes abuses of power and violations of human rights are hurting innocent people in our hemisphere and threaten the national security interests of the United States, and we have a responsibility to stand with the Venezuelan people by extending these sanctions. The extended sanctions became part of a four-part deal that resulted in the confirmation of a new U.S. ambassador to Mexico. Heres what took place, according to a Senate aide who briefed the Miami Herald: More here. Photo credit: Roberto Koltun, el Nuevo Herald @MichaelAuslen A super PAC supporting Republican Ron DeSantis for the U.S. Senate is stockpiling cash -- and much of it is coming from the major donors to national conservative groups. Of the $1.2 million raised by Fighting for Florida Fund since last August, more than $1 million has come from just three donors: * $350,000 from John Childs, chairman of private equity firm J.W. Childs Associates. * $200,000 from Robert Mercer, a financial consultant. * $500,000 from Spring Bay Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm in Ponte Vedra Beach, DeSantis' hometown. Childs is a prolific donor to major conservative super PACs. Since 2010, he has given more than $8 million to groups like Karl Rove's American Crossroads, Koch brothers-backed Freedom Partners Action Fund and Club for Growth, a conservative group that has endorsed DeSantis. Mercer, who lives in New York, is a major contributor to Club for Growth, American Crossroads and to Keep the Promise, which supports Ted Cruz for president. In total, he's given more than $29 million to conservative super PACs. Spring Bay has contributed only to Fighting for Florida Fund. Super PACs are allowed to raise unlimited funds to support or oppose candidates, but they cannot coordinate with candidates or their campaigns. No other super PAC in the crowded race to replace Sen. Marco Rubio has had that degree of large-donor support. Outside of Fighting for Florida Fund, the largest contribution to a super PAC in Florida's Senate race is $300,000 given by Coastal Construction to Floridians for a Strong Middle Class, which backs Democrat Patrick Murphy. The Miami-based company is run by Murphy's father. Among Republicans, Reform Washington, which supports Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera has received $200,000 from Rubio backer Norman Braman. FloridAmerican Conservatives, the David Jolly super PAC, brought in $100,000 from Miguel Fernandez, who heavily funded Jeb Bush's failed presidential run. Carlos Beruff's super PAC hasn't received donations yet. Two candidates, Republican defense contractor Todd Wilcox and Murphy's main Democratic opponent, Alan Grayson, do not have super PACs. BILLINGS Profits for First Interstate BancSystem Inc. dipped to $20.1 million, 45 cents per share, for the first three months of 2016 as the company continues to struggle with loans in the oil and gas industry, bank officials reported Monday. Officials at Billings-based First Interstate said the amount of criticized loans to oil and gas companies grew to about $40 million in the first quarter, up about 10 percent from $36.4 million the previous quarter. Generally, criticized loans are defined as those that may or may not be currently accruing interest. We are closely monitoring the entire region for softening, considering the impact from not only oil and gas, but from the most recent announcements from coal companies in the region, CEO Kevin Riley said in a conference call with investors. Riley was referring to layoffs last month of 460 workers in Wyoming from Peabody Energy and Arch Coal, two of the nations largest coal companies. Shares of First Interstate dipped to $28.24 Monday morning in reaction to the news, down from $29.11 at Fridays close. Riley said First Interstate, which has 79 branches in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota, is closely monitoring the energy sector and adjusting its portfolio. Outstanding loans to the oil and gas industry totaled $69 million the last quarter, down from $75 million at the end of 2015, he said. Last quarters profits were down both from the the last quarter of 2015 ($23.4 million) and first quarter of 2015 ($21 million). Nevertheless, Riley said First Interstate remains in largely good condition because of strong loan performance in other regions, including Billings, Rapid City, S.D., Gallatin Valley and Flathead Valley. About 54 percent of the First Interstate loan portfolio is in Montana. Another 27 percent is in Wyoming, and 14 percent is from South Dakota. The remainder is from other origins, such as credit cards, according to the bank. First Interstate is one of the two largest native banks in Montana and a top lender in Wyoming. It has about 1,700 employees in the region. First Interstate Bank, which is wholly owned by First Interstate BancSystem, reported April 18 a dividend of 22 cents per share, payable May 13 to owners who held stock as of May 2. Total loans increased year-over-year by 6.4 percent to $5.2 billion on March 31, the end of the quarter. Excluding acquisitions, the organic growth was 5.7 percent. Commercial loans increased $33 million, or 4.1 percent, to $825 million over the quarter. First Interstate also announced last quarter the $34.2 million acquisition of Flathead Bank, which would add $231.6 million in assets and seven branches to First Interstate. The deal is expected to close in mid-to-late summer. The deal would put First Interstate at roughly $9 billion in assets and a step closer to new federal regulation under the Dodd-Frank act. Riley said the bank has implemented new stress tests and regulatory compliance measures to meet the Dodd-Frank benchmark and continue to grow. If a deal comes around by the end of this year, we probably will do it. ... We feel good that wed be able to digest an acquisition that would be closing in 2017. He added that the banks overall business looks positive for 2016. We continue to think and act like a larger financial institution, which we are destined to become. ... We feel good about where we are, Riley said. "There is so much in that brief time that I can't describe," Leanna Ross said. She was recalling the 18 minutes her son, Tyler David Ross, spent with her and his father, Travis. "Tyler looked up at me with eyes that captured my soul. He reached up, he touched my face, and he held onto Travis' fingers with both hands before quietly and peacefully taking his last breath. Eighteen minutes," Leanna said. Tyler was born in early August, weighing only 3 pounds and 6.5 ounces. The little boy had lethal skeletal dysplasia, a form of dwarfism that they knew would likely take him early. "His lungs didn't have room to develop, so he was fine until he was born," Travis said. His condition couldn't support life outside the womb, he said. They knew that he might not live after birth. "It was very heartbreaking," said Mark Ross, Travis' father and Tyler's grandfather. "They were determined to carry the baby to term, and go through the whole process. As hard and as painful as it was for them, and for us to watch them go through it, they were determined to see his life through from conception to birth and 18 minutes afterward. I have a lot of admiration for them." *** Leanna, nurse manager at the Providence St. Patrick Hospital's clinical neurobehavioral unit, described those moments on Thursday. The occasion was an artistic celebration of Tyler's life that was unveiled outside St. Pat's Family Maternity Center. Artist Kay Langland of Moondance Art created the trees, painted on four panes of plexiglass, that bear 200 leaves parents can purchase in honor of their child. All of the proceeds go to families receiving care at the maternity center. Mark reached out to Providence Montana Health Foundation about making a donation in honor of Tyler, and the concept for the tree developed. He and his wife, Linda, live in Texas and Virginia, and came to town for the unveiling. Mark commented on the "light and airy" feeling of the art. "It speaks of life to me, of children," he said. "It's not to just to remember a loss; it's to remember a life and to celebrate a life, even though the life lasted 18 minutes," he said. "But Tyler lives on a lot longer in our memories and hearts. "It's so hard to demonstrate the things inside us. This is a way to do that," he added. Travis and Leanna, too, said it was beautiful. They hadn't seen the artwork before Thursday. Neither had Tyler's older brother, Cash, 5, or his older sister, Walker, 8. Walker was passing out small cards that encouraged people to spend 18 minutes on a random act of kindness, "doing something to make the world a better place." At the unveiling, Tara Vinson, the foundation's development officer, read aloud some thoughts from Travis and Leanna to a full room of attendees. The tree "reminds us that not every birth has a happy ending. While Tyler's birth brought many good things to many people, it did not end as we wanted. But other families have the same story. Hopefully, the tree will serve the hospital staff as a symbol of something they live with every day: life and death, joy and sorrow, but most of all, hope. Knowing that Tyler's Tree will help families for years to come means everything in the world to our family," she said. They thanked everyone for their thoughts and help, and for creating a way for others to celebrate both Tyler and their own children. VALLEY CREEK Louis Wilbur Adams completed his journey through this world on Monday, April 25, 2016. Wilbur, his middle name, holds significance as it was given to him as a result of generations of family relationships to Wilbur Vaughn of Placid Lake. As a Cultural Leader, historian and avid writer, Louie recently wrote the following in his own handwriting, and left it where he knew it would be found after his passing. It is presented here exactly as written. "My dad Lomie Romaine Adams (1907-1984) was born on the north end of Salmon Lake, and my mom Susan Irvine Adams (1918-1959) was born near Arlee. I was the only child of this union and was born in 1933 in Sam Resurrections house in Schley. During the depression years my folks struggled for many years, but they never gave up. When they finally got a foothold my dad was a bronc rider, calf roper, relay race rider and numerous other things. My mom was a race horse rider, and we had a lot of cows, work/saddle and race horses. I had a good childhood, and I also rode race horses in my youth. I joined the Navy in 1951 during the Korean conflict, and when I came out in 1954, my girlfriend Nadine and I got married and had many good years together with eight beautiful children. My life story!" There is, of course, much more to his story. In 1956 Louie began working at a saw mill in Superior, and after suffering a devastating house fire and losing everything, he moved his family back home to the Valley Creek area in 1960. It was then that he started a 42-year career in forestry with the BIA and Tribal Forestry Department, retiring in 2002. During his career, Louie also represented the Arlee district on the Tribal Council for over 20 years where he worked on a number of important issues on local, state, and national levels. Upon retirement Louie remained very active with the Salish Elders Committee, the MSU Montana Elders Council and many other groups and organizations, sharing his living history and knowledge throughout the northwest. This work was recognized when he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Montana in 2015. Louie loved family gatherings in the mountains, ranching, jogging and riding horseback along many of the same trails his ancestors took in what is now the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. Louie was preceded in death by his parents, Lomie and Susan Adams; his yaya Caroline Vanderburg; his uncle Pascal Charlo and his son Ray Adams and many other family members too numerous to mention. Louie is survived by his wife Gertrude Adams; children, Myrna (Greg) DuMontier, Jim Adams, Brenda (Randy) Morton, Maxine (Roger) Pablo, Arleen (Bill Tanner) Adams, Andrea Adams, and Jason (Autumn) Adams. He was also blessed with 34 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren and six great-great- grandchildren. A traditional wake started at his home and moved to the Arlee Community Center where Mass/closing will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 29. Burial will follow in the Adams Cemetery where military honors will be presented. BILLINGS Former U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns died at home in Billings on Thursday. The folksy Montana Republican icon was 81. A former livestock auctioneer, traveling salesman and agriculture news broadcaster, Burns skyrocketed from political obscurity to the U.S. Senate in 1988 unseating Democratic incumbent John Melcher. He had been elected Yellowstone County Commissioner only two years before winning his Senate seat, where for 18 years, he became a powerful lawmaker. Shortly after being elected, Burns told the capital press it was only a matter of bigger zeroes separating his old Yellowstone County budget and the $1 trillion federal one. The difference was actually six zeroes. Prone to chewing tobacco and occasionally picking his teeth with his pocket knife, Burns stuck out in the Senate. He was an underdog, without any question, but of course Conrad was an auctioneer. He was a farm broadcaster, and he knew people all over the state," said Jack Ramirez, Burns' original chief of staff. "If you ever met Conrad, he knew you and you knew him. Burns had been a mainstay of AM radio in Montana for years before running for office. His Northern Ag Network played across Montana and into neighboring states. It was impossible to go anywhere with Burns without running to someone he knew, said former Congressman Denny Rehberg. Rehberg praised Burns for his work on telecommunications legislation in the early 1990s, focusing on rural access. He described Burns as a man of faith, an active advocate for youth and a loyal personality. In 1994, he was the first Republican U.S. Senator in Montana to be re-elected. He taught me a lot, said Rehberg. One was to have fun, work hard and enjoy yourself. Rehberg said that many in the nations capital, from police to maintenance, have asked him in recent years how Burns was doing. He always had an anecdote to tell, Rehberg said, even if they werent always appropriate. He had a sense of humor that would allow him to enjoy life to the last moment and thats what people knew Conrad best for, Rehberg said. *** Burns strong personality earned him regard among his followers, though sometimes his comments preceded apologies. He had been quoted at times saying inappropriate things about African Americans and Native Americans, women and people from the Middle East. His comments to a wildfire crew fighting a fire near Billings in 2006, in which he told them theyd done a poor job, hurt him politically. In 2006, Burns mounted his final campaign for the Senate. He was hit hard by his opponent, Sen. Jon Tester, for his relationship with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was convicted of conspiring to bribe public officials, among other things. Throughout the 2006 election, Burns opponents suggested that the incumbent also would be investigated. However, he never was. Burns did return $150,000 in contributions from Abramoff, clients and friends. Burns lost the election by 3,562 votes. After the election, Burns took a lobbying job with Gage Business Consulting in Washington, D.C. In 2009, Burns suffered a stroke at his home in Virginia. He was 74 years old. More recently, those who saw Burns noticed that his mobility was fading. He'd use a cane and eventually a wheelchair, but he was still very much himself. Rehberg said that he saw Burns a couple weeks ago at a fundraiser, looking well and still sharp. Ramirez thought the same when he met with Burns at his home in Billings last fall. He said that he would remember Burns for his jokes and for his patronage. He lost a daughter years and years ago," Ramirez said. "And before he became a senator, long before, whenever he would see an article in the paper or hear or learn about someone who had lost a child, he would write them a letter. Thats the kind of guy he was. Maybe of the last people to see Burns alive was Dwight Mackay, a former chief of staff. Mackay had coffee with Burns in Billings on Thursday morning. Afterward the senator returned home to rest in his living room easy chair. His wife Phyllis made Burns a sandwich. He never awoke to eat it. Thank God he didnt have another stroke, Mackay said. I miss the hell out of the old guy. He was a wonderful friend, one of the best I ever had. My name is Jessica Guse and I am a senior at Big Sky High School. I am doing my senior project on prescription medicine abuse and prevention in the form of a prescription drug take-back. It is with a great amount of help from the Missoula Police Department, the Missoula County Health Department and the Missoula Prescription Drug Task Force that I am able to make all of this happen. On Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. at the Southgate Mall, an MPD officer, a University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy student and l will be hosting a Drug Enforcement Administration Prescription Drug Take-Back. We will be located under the clock tower with a prescription drug drop box for any unused, expired or unwanted medications no questions asked. Every day 2,000 U.S. teens try prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. In Montana alone, we are seeing over 300 prescription-related deaths per year, an increase in homes being burglarized for medications and an increase in prescription drug addiction. Growing up with a mother who struggled with addiction, I am living proof that addiction doesnt just affect the individual abusing drugs. It affects the whole family. It is my hope that by spreading awareness of proper use, proper storage and proper disposal of prescription medications, we can protect Missoula citizens and youth and raise awareness of the prescription drug epidemic facing our community. Please bring any unused, expired or unwanted medications to the Southgate Mall on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. If you are unable to attend the prescription drug take-back, there is a permanent 24/7 drop box at the Missoula Police Department, located at 435 Ryman Street, or during business hours at Granite Pharmacy, and the pharmacy at Curry Health Center. For more information go to Choicesmattermissoula.com. Jessica Guse, Missoula Regarding the recent junior high protest of the dress code, I propose a simple yet progressive solution. To avoid the current bickering and brouhaha over a silly dress code, I propose a clothing optional mandate for students and faculty. Females could write I am not a distraction with a magic marker on their chests, and males could write I am not distracted on their chests, although outward signs may prove that to not always be true. This mandate would prepare students for real-life jobs, whether it be at McDonalds, as a teacher, doctor or lawyer, where appropriate dress will no longer be required, because employees have a right to wear or not wear what they want. This would be a first for Progressive Missoula, where naked bike riding is promoted. Dress code stress would be gone forever! Gary Niklas, Seeley Lake KALISPELL (AP) A Columbia Falls man has been given a one-year deferred jail sentence for shooting in the direction of other duck hunters last October after he had warned them against traveling through duck decoys he had set up along the Flathead River. The Daily Inter Lake reports that 44-year-old Brad Lee Bell was ordered Wednesday to pay nearly $1,900 in restitution for damages to a cellphone and boat from the shooting. Attorney Thane Johnson said he had an expert who would testify that Bell was too far away from the men to actually harm them. However, he said a felony conviction would have serious implications for Bell's employment. Bell entered an Alford plea to misdemeanor criminal endangerment. Under the plea, he maintains his innocence but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to gain a conviction. ___ Information from: Daily Inter Lake, http://www.dailyinterlake.com GREAT FALLS (AP) Police arrested a Great Falls woman on suspicion of felony endangerment in the death of her 10-month-old daughter, who prosecutors say had been exposed to methamphetamine and whose body was found in a "freezing cold" room in January. Misty Marie Cutburth was arrested Thursday, the Great Falls Tribune reported. Court documents say the state Division of Child and Family Services received two reports in October 2015 from people concerned about drug use by the mother. Court records say the girl had been seen by a doctor on Jan. 7 for croup and had been prescribed steroids. She died five days later. The girl was not identified in court records. An investigation has not been able to determine the girl's cause of death, which complicated the charging process, County Attorney John Parker said. "We have laws in the state of Montana to establish criminal liability for extreme child neglect, even when there is not medical evidence establishing an exact cause of death," he said. The investigation began when someone called 911 on Jan. 12 to report that a child was not breathing. Responding officers found the baby unresponsive in a cold room where the window was wide open. A medical responder couldn't register the girl's skin temperature on a thermometer, court records said. The girl and her 2-year-old sibling were covered in "white nail polish," court records said. An autopsy determined the girl had eaten earring backs and sunflower seeds. Her hair samples indicated she had been exposed to chronic methamphetamine use in the final weeks of her life. Cutburth's boyfriend and his brother also were at the apartment. The brother told police that everyone in the home was an addict and that no one pays attention to the children, court records said. The two men likely won't face criminal charges, Parker said, because a Montana Supreme Court ruling determined that to charge criminal endangerment regarding a child, prosecutors have to establish a duty of care. "They don't have a legal duty of care," Parker said. Cutburth was scheduled to make an initial appearance Friday in District Court in Cascade County. Prosecutors said she would be appointed a public defender. The Division of Child and Family Services did not immediately return an email request for comment on the child's death. BILLINGS A 2-year-old child was rescued from the Yellowstone River on Friday morning, after the child and a 5-year-old sibling went missing from their home, said Capt. Bill Michaelis of the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office. The children were reported missing from a home in the 200 block of Buena Vista Drive at 9:20 a.m. The boys father had driven the childrens mother to work and when he returned, the children were gone. At 9:43 a.m. Yellowstone County Sheriffs Deputy Adam Lauwers spotted the two children along the river bank. At about that time, the 2-year-old fell in the river, Michaelis said. Lauwers jumped in and rescued the child. Im glad he risked himself jumping into the river, Michaelis said. The water in the river is about 40 degrees, he said. Were happy with how it turned out, Michaelis said. Billings Gazette BILLINGS - A Yellowstone County Sheriffs deputy is on paid administrative leave after being cited for driving under the influence in Columbus. Deputy Chad Fehr was cited March 18 and three days later was placed on leave pending an investigation into whether any county or Sheriffs Office policies were violated, said Undersheriff Kevin Evans. Evans said a driving under the influence charge does not automatically call for termination. The situations are rare, and circumstances dictate how they are handled. Fehr has been a deputy for 18 years and served several years as the Yellowstone County deputy coroner. Sheriff Mike Linder said Fehr was off duty and driving a personal vehicle when the incident occurred. Fehr will be held to the same level of accountability as any citizen, the sheriff's office said. Hamburg TRAVELING through the chilly landscape around the arctic city of Murmansk, Russia, it quickly becomes clear that this barren region is, in fact, a strategic centerpiece in President Vladimir V. Putins vast armory. The overland road from the Norwegian border passes by miles and miles of double-row fences of ice-crowned barbed wire, warning signs and surveillance cameras. Many of the gray, silent settlements along the way appear to be less towns than military installations, with soldiers in long, thick coats trotting through the streets. But to grasp the full military import of this place, the Kola Peninsula Russias northwestern-most territory you would have to look down on it with thermal imaging from high above. Instead of ice, you would see a long stretch of land bathing in the relatively warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The Kola Peninsula is a gigantic marine pier, guaranteeing Russias naval fleet access to the Atlantic and offering a hub for operations in an area of the world that might well become the next crisis zone between Russia and NATO: the North Pole. The area around the pole is not yet divided up among its adjacent states. Its waters and potentially rich natural resources are claimed by Russia, as well as by three NATO members: America, Denmark (via Greenland) and Canada. Many of these claims overlap. Its not a purely lawless region: The United Nations Law of the Sea includes rules for settling such claims, largely based on how far the continental shelf of the respective country extends below the sea. These rules are supported by the White House, but they have yet to be ratified by the United States Congress, because Republicans are reluctant to leave the decision over Americas economic borders to a United Nations body. Butte police reports FOUND METH A small bag of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine was found on a counter at the Town Pump, 2711 Harrison Ave., about 2:15 a.m. Friday. Police are reviewing video surveillance. DUI CHARGE Thomas Anderson, 24, of Butte was charged with felony DUI in Butte justice court Friday. Police say he was pulled over for not having a license plate on his motorcycle in the area of Missouri and Kaw about 7:45 p.m. Thursday. He reported he may have had a few beers. A warrant was sought for a blood draw after he refused a Breathalyzer test. He has three prior DUI convictions. CHARGES AMENDED William Wingate, 70, of Butte was released on his own recognizance Friday. An amended complaint filed by Butte-Silver Bow County prosecutors accuses him of misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child in connection with a 15-year-old girl who had been living with him. A felony charge of custodial interference was dropped. HIT-AND-RUN David Gonzales, 39, of Butte was arrested Thursday for allegedly driving a friends car through a fence and hitting a parked 2001 Mazda Tribute on the 1600 block of North Main Street. Police arrested him in front of his home on the 1600 block of Dunn Street. Hes facing four misdemeanor traffic offenses and a felony probation violation. FAKE NAME William Merrick, 63, is facing a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a peace officer and a parole violation after police responded to a report of suspicious activity on the 2100 block of Silver Bow Boulevard on Thursday. He allegedly gave police a phony name. WALK-AWAYS CAUGHT Shaun Church and Daniel Deming, who walked away from the Butte Pre-Release Center on April 27, were both apprehended in Missoula on April 28. They were placed in the Missoula County jail. They will face felony escape charges in Powell County District Court and will be placed in Montana State Prison. A Ravalli County sheriffs deputy and Montana Highway Patrol Trooper are being credited with saving the life of a suicidal Missoula woman two weeks ago. Kaitlyn Fay Rocco, 26, was charged last week with two felony counts of criminal endangerment and four counts of negligent endangerment after she allegedly fired a Rossi snub nose .38 Special pistol while the officers were attempting to pull away from her. The Ravalli County 911 Center received a report from the Missoula Police Department at about 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, that a woman was threatening to commit suicide. A Missoula police officer made phone contact with the woman and determined her approximate location in the Sweeney Creek Trail area southwest of Florence. Ravalli County Sheriffs Deputy Jason Jones responded to the call. On the way to the scene, he requested assistance from Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Scott Bennett, who was closer to Sweeney Creek at that point. Bennett found Rocco shortly before Jones arrived and engaged her in a conversation. According to a charging affidavit, Rocco said she would shoot herself if he came any closer. That conversation continued after Jones reached the scene. Rocco was sitting about two feet away from the edge of a cliff that was several hundred feet high. She had a revolver sitting next to her on a rock. She was talking on her phone and continued to tell the officers that if they came any closer she would jump or shoot herself. At some point, she became aware that other law enforcement officers and emergency responders were approaching the scene. Rocco told Jones and Bennett that if any other law enforcement people arrived, she would kill herself. Jones told those arriving on the scene to stage farther down the hill and to remain out of sight. Over the course of an hour, Jones and Bennett continued to talk with the woman, asking her to move away from the cliffs edge and offering her help. The woman finally moved away from the cliff edge and sat down to text her sister. The handgun remained fairly close to her. After watching the scene unfold, the two officers agreed that the woman had reached the point that she was going to end her life, and they saw an opportunity to attempt to take her into custody. When they rushed her, Rocco rolled over on top of the handgun and a struggle ensued, the affidavit said. Bennett got his hands on the firearm with it still pinned in Roccos hands. Rocco told the officers that she had the pistol in her hands. She then stated that I will fire it, the affidavit said. Bennett yelled back: Dont fire it. You will hit one of us. Rocco fired a round. At that point, Jones head was less than a foot away from the firearm. He saw the muzzle blast that indicated the gun had fired away from the three on the cliffs edge. Jones was treated later for an injury to his knee that occurred during the struggle. He did not suffer any serious injury to his inner ear from the noise of the blast. Rocco was not injured in the incident. She was seen by mental health professionals once she was in custody. Ravalli Sheriff Chris Hoffman credited Jones and Bennett with saving the womans life. Jones told Hoffman that he relied on his Crisis Intervention Team Training during the incident. The training program is used in a number of states to help law enforcement officers react appropriately to situations involving mental illness or developmental disability. Hoffman commended both officers for acting with patience and courage. He said both used their training to recognize the valid nature of the threat and respond to it positively when given the opportunity. Ravalli County Justice Jim Bailey set bail at $50,000. A Butte district court judge on Thursday sentenced a Kalispell man to a two-year deferred sentence for negligent endangerment and ordered him to pay nearly $13,000 in restitution to the victim. Ian Lenders admitted as part of a plea agreement with Butte-Silver Bow County prosecutors that he was negligent when his Kenworth semi-truck hit a black Chevrolet S10 in June 2015. The original felony charge of criminal endangerment, which the defendant previously denied, was amended to a misdemeanor offense. The crash caused the pickup truck to flip and hit a utility police at Excelsior and Platinum. The driver suffered significant injuries, according to prosecutors. Judge Brad Newman also ordered Lenders to pay a restitution of $1,815 to NorthWestern Energy. The defendant said the semi-trucks brakes were faulty and that he believed he was not the aggressor. Newman said rather than an intent to harm, the incident was due to a lack of attention to the condition of Lenders semi-truck. Where you go from here depends entirely on your conduct during probation, he said. In other action in Butte district court on Thursday: Cory Pettersen, 43, pleaded guilty to felony DUI, a fourth or subsequent offense, at his arraignment. He was arrested March 18 and released later that day. A pretrial hearing was set for May 26. Thomas Fury III, 29, of Butte pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon. He has previously denied the allegation along with three counts of felony criminal endangerment. He admitted to concealing brass knuckles at the Flying J truck stop in Rocker in October 2015. A presentence investigation was ordered. Fury is being held at the county jail on $51,000 bond. In a plea deal with county prosecutors, Meaghan Brisbo, 20, of Butte pleaded not guilty to one felony count of assault of a peace officer in connection with a December incident at the county jail in which she kicked and hit a detention officer. Sentencing was set for May 12; prosecutors intend to dismiss three other charges. Brisbo is free on $100,000 bond. David Robertson, 57, pleaded not guilty to felony DUI, a fourth or subsequent offense, and a misdemeanor improper turn violation. The judge granted a motion to cease alcohol monitoring. The defendants attorney said pain medication was involved, not alcohol. A pretrial hearing was set for May 26. A clerical error could cause the results of an upcoming school levy to be challenged in court, the Butte School District business manager said Thursday. On Tuesday, Butte residents will vote on several public school issues: a $45,110 high school mill levy, an $88,643 elementary mill levy, and four vacancies on the districts board of trustees. In accordance with state law, the district placed public notices and took out advertisements notifying the public about the ballot measures more than 10 days prior to the election. However, district officials mistakenly omitted the $88,643 elementary levy from the advertisement placed in The Montana Standard. This error, said Dennis Clague, the district's business manager, could put the levy in jeopardy. A registered voter could challenge the election, said Clague, pointing out that a voter could contact the Silver Bow County attorney and have the results of the election challenged in court. It would have to go before a judge, he said, adding that the challenge would need to prove that the omission impacted the election's outcome. Any challenge, Clague continued, would not impact the high school levy or any of the board elections. To see what a potential challenge might look like, Clague said he consulted the Montana Office of Public Instruction and an attorney with the school district. When asked how the error took place, Clague said he failed to see the omission while proofreading the ad among a handful of other public notices. It was an oversight on my part, said Clague. On Wednesday the district issued a press release about the botched advertisement to media organizations, who originally became aware of the issue on Monday after an anonymous letter was sent to the district and multiple outlets. I think once we were notified we took all of the actions that we could, said Clague. We are moving forward. If passed, money from the elementary levy would go toward a 2-percent wage increase the teachers union negotiated last summer, said Clague. The money would also go toward the maintenance of elementary schools. It just helps us pay our salaries and maintain our buildings, said Clague. It helps make sure we have a nice, sound, solid education system. Superintendent Judy Jonart agreed. (The levies) are absolutely critical to continuing our programs in the district, both at the high school and the elementary level, said Jonart, adding that the money helps keep class sizes down. As for now, Jonart said, the district does not plan to take the elementary levy off the ballot. The election will be followed as originally planned, she said. However, if the levy fails to pass or if it is challenged and invalidated by a judge, Clague said the elementary schools will have to reevaluate their budgets and defer some of their maintenance. Similarly, if a judge strikes down the elementary levy, Clague said the district will be able to present the issue before voters again 85 days after the May 3 election. However, Clague added that the district hasnt come up with a concrete strategy for the hypothetical scenario, nor has anyone come forward to challenge the elementary levy. As for Jonart, she said she is thankful for Butte voters who she says have been generous toward the schools in the past. We are really appreciative of the Butte community and its support of our schools, said Jonart. The University of Montana has appointed Beverly C. Edmond to serve as provost and vice president for academic affairs for the 2016-17 academic year. Edmond retired from Albany State University in Georgia in 2015 after an extensive career in higher education. In her new role, she will succeed Provost Perry Brown, who will retire this June after 21 years at UM. The provost serves as the Universitys No. 2 administrator. As chief academic officer, the position oversees UM academic operations and efforts to promote student success. The provost answers directly to UM President Royce Engstrom and serves on the presidents cabinet. Dr. Edmond will bring experience, deep expertise and a warm personality to UM, Engstrom said. I feel fortunate to have her as part of UM. We will learn a great deal from her. The University selected candidates for interim provost using the Registry, a service that provides senior-level administrators who are pre-screened and immediately able to serve on a temporary basis. Four candidates interviewed on campus April 22. The University of Montana is one of this nations premier research institutions, and I am honored to have been selected to serve in this position, Edmond said. President Engstrom and his executive team have provided a level of transformative and progressive leadership that has successfully moved the University forward, and I am thrilled to become a part of this team. Edmond launched her career in higher education at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, where she served in several positions from 1994 to 2006. While at CAU, she chaired the Public Administration Department, as well as serving in the positions of associate provost and vice provost. She joined Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama, from 2006 to 2010, serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs, as well as interim president for one year. At Albany State in Albany, Georgia, she was provost and vice president for academic affairs during 2013-14 and served as special adviser to the president from 2014 to 2015. Prior to her career in higher education, Edmond held several administrative positions in the public sector. Edmond holds a doctorate in political science with a concentration in public administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta. A prison inmate serving time for stabbing a man to death in 1994 in Boulder died Friday at the Lewistown Infirmary in Lewistown, according to Montana State Prison. William Patton, 56, died following an extended illness, the prison reported in a news release. A jury in 1995 found Patton guilty of stabbing Aubrey Sonny Bradley eight times in a motel room they were sharing in Boulder on June 12, 1994. Patton received a sentence of 75 years for deliberate homicide, and would have been eligible for parole in 2019. Editor's note: This is the first in a series of public-information articles on environmental cleanup work associated with the Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit site under the Superfund program. The Residential Metals Abatement Program (RMAP) is perhaps the most important activity associated with the Butte Hill cleanup and certainly the most directly related to human health. The program was initiated in 1992 after a number of studies found that nearly 10 percent of Buttes children had lead levels in their blood that exceeded the safety guideline (10 micrograms per deciliter, or 10 g/dl). Today, after nearly 25 years of work, this problem has been almost completely eliminated it is now rare that even one child in Butte tests higher than 10 g/dl. Although the program is now a major component of the Butte cleanup, it wasnt always that way. In the early 1990s, the studies found no direct correlation between blood lead test results and exposure to lead from mining operations. Yet many children and pregnant mothers were testing high for lead, and of course, removing waste from mining operations was, at the time, the only type of cleanup action eligible for funding under the Superfund program. Undaunted, a dedicated citizens advisory committee designed and pressed for a multi-pathway approach to child lead poisoning whereby all potential sources including mining operations, interior and exterior house paint, water pipes, house dust, and soil could be addressed as part of the cleanup. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took note and sanctioned a five-year pilot project in 1995. The Atlantic Richfield Company stepped up to fund the pilot project. Butte-Silver Bow agreed to run the program through its Health Department, where most other child health protection and assistance programs are operated. Todays program is still based on that original, innovative, comprehensive model, which has become a unique national prototype to address childhood lead poisoning. Under the current program, there are a number of standard work activities that are ongoing and addressed each month, including: Education and outreach to residents regarding risks associated with heavy metal exposure. Residential assessments including soil, attic, interior dust and paint sampling. Residential abatements of identified sources during assessments. Re-insulating attics previously abated. Loaning HEPA vacuums to residents for do-it-yourself home construction projects. Blood lead sampling through the Health Departments WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. Database and GIS tracking system. Deed attachments for completed abatement projects (for permanent record). RMAPs current annual work performance standards are: 240 properties sampled, 30 soil abatement projects, and 30 attics abatement projects. In 2015, Butte-Silver Bow crews and contractors sampled 262 properties and completed 32 soil projects and 102 attics. Since the program started, 2,749 properties have been sampled and 1,074 abatement projects completed 447 attic projects, 427 soils projects, 120 paint abatements, 43 interior cleanings and 37 basements. There are approximately 3,700 properties in the RMAP target areas, and based on sampling results over the past 20 years, about 40% of those properties may require soil abatements and up to 90 percent may need attic abatements. The residential local action levels for abatement are: 1200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) for lead, 250 mg/kg for arsenic, and 147 mg/kg for mercury. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control lowered the blood lead reference level in 2013 to 5 g/dl. The blood lead reference level is used by physicians and the RMAP to identify individual children who may need to be prioritized for additional attention for example, an immediate, multi-pathway inspection to identify where the sources of lead may be present in the childs daily routine. Importantly, during the programs existence, 7,506 blood samples have been collected and analyzed through the partnership with the WIC program on average, 600 to 700 children per year. All elevated blood lead (EBL) cases that were confirmed by a venous confirmation test have been addressed through the RMAP by environmental assessments and necessary abatements. Currently, the annual budget for the RMAP is $1,114,270 with $631,893 for wages and benefits for the folks working directly in the program and $482,377 for materials, supplies, professional services and construction contractors. From 1994 through June 2016, more than $12.3 million has been spent to implement the program, and a trust account has been established and funded to pay for program activities until all work is complete (expected over the next several decades). All funds are provided by Atlantic Richfield Company to Butte-Silver Bow with oversight provided by the US EPA. Following are the employees of the RMAP: Eric Hassler, Program Operations Manager. Chad Anderson, Program Coordinator. Brandon Warner, Sampling/Outreach Coordinator. Michele Bay, Data Coordinator. RMAP technicians: Eric Burke, Eric Dunmire, Kiel Ferko, Rob Hagen, Jared Mihelich, and one position open. The Residential Metals Abatement Program offers its services free of charge on a voluntary basis to property owners. Please contact an RMAP Program Coordinator, Chad Anderson or Brandon Warner, at 406-497-5040 or by email at canderson@bsb.mt.gov. Animal control picks up dogs, cats These are animals that have been picked up by Butte Animal Control. For details, call the Chelsea Bailey Butte-Silver Bow Animal Shelter at 406-497-6528 or stop by between 1 and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. DOGS: Chocolate lab cross, female, 9 years old, picked up Monday on the 5100 block of South Warren. Chesapeake cross, light brown, female, 2 to 4 years, picked up April 19 on Five Mile Road by the airport. Heeler cross, red and white, spayed female, 6 to 8 years, picked up April 19 near Continental and Highway 2. Lab cross, black, female, 1 to 2 years, picked up April 18 on the 1000 block of Granite Street. CATS: Dilute torti tiger, female, 8 to 10 months, short hair, picked up April 28 on the 5100 block of South Warren. Short hair, tan and black tiger, 2 to 4 years, neutered male, picked up April 19 on the 2000 block of Arizona. Arbor Day flag-raising event on Friday An Arbor Day celebration starts at 11 a.m. Friday, April 29, outside of the Butte-Silver Bow County courthouse, 155 W. Granite St. Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive Matt Vincent, MSU Extension Butte-Silver Bow, the Urban Forestry Board, and community volunteers are spearheading the event. Vincent will raise the Arbor Day flag and deliver remarks encouraging all citizens to take advantage of the parks system and world-class natural areas that can be found throughout our community. Details: Butte-Silver Bows MSU Extension Agent Kellee Anderson at 406-723-0217. Canvas, cocktails event set in Dillon DILLON The Southwest Montana Arts Council is hosting a Canvas and Cocktails event on Saturday, May 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Vibrant Lives yoga studio, 36 N. Idaho Street, Dillon. The council will provide the art supplies, and the class will be taught by Colleen Howe. At the end of the night, you will have completed a one-of-a-kind piece of art. The class is $25, there are 20 spots available, and you must be 21 to participate. Call or text 406-683-6208 or email SMACarts@gmail.com to sign up, or sign up in person at Wildwood Floral. The National Park Service campaign to Find Your Park is expected to bring more visitors to Americas parks this summer and fall. What will those vacationers find in Yellowstone, Glacier, Big Horn Canyon and other parks? Were going to do everything we can do to make their visit the best that it can be, but were not going to sacrifice the resources of the park to do that, Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said in an interview earlier this year. Wenk is back in Yellowstone after a stint as interim CEO of the National Park Foundation where he helped plan and organize the 2016 National Park Service centennial celebration. With the theme Find Your Park, centennial publicity already succeeded last year in bringing a record 4 million recreational visitors to Yellowstone. We hope were bringing a new generation of park advocates and parks stewards to our national parks, Wenk said. Yellowstone saw an increase in funding of about $3.5 million last year because of an increase in visitors and a boost in the entrance fees. The multiday private vehicle fee is still a bargain at $30. Entrance fees that Yellowstone was allowed to keep for park operations totaled about $8 million last year, Wenk said. Altogether, for 2015 the park had a budget of about $70 million, including park-generated revenue (entrance fees, fishing permits, concession fees), federal funding for operations and federal funding for roads and other infrastructure. That sounds like a lot of money, but its stretched thin in a 2.2-million-acre park that is open year-round. Wenk said the park is working to increase earned revenue for park support and also depends on private gifts for specific projects, such as cutthroat trout restoration, wolf research, youth education and scholarships for underprivileged children. GATEWAY SPENDING $16.9B Last week, the NPS released a report on the value of park contributions to local economies: $16.9 billion was spent in 2015 in gateway communities of the 411 NPS locations. In Yellowstone gateways alone, spending was nearly $500,000, according to the NPS. Glacier generated nearly $200 million in gateway spending. Consider another set of NPS data: Deferred maintenance in our national parks. According to information provided to Congress, as of Sept. 30, deferred maintenance totaled $11.9 billion nationwide. Fully 10 percent of that is in Wyoming and Montana. Yellowstones deferred maintenance is among the highest of any national park: $603.5 million in Wyoming and $28 million in Montana. The NPS reports deferred maintenance at other Wyoming units, including $207 million in Grand Teton and $3 million at Devils Tower National Monument. The Wyoming side of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area needs $5.5 million while the Montana portion is in need of $34 million. Glaciers deferred maintenance totals $17.8 million while Little Bighorn National Battlefield needs $18.3 million. President Barack Obama has requested an increase of $250 million for parks in his 2017 budget. Last week, the U.S. Senate included authorization for $150 million from offshore mineral leasing revenues to address the maintenance backlog. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., cited that provision in his numerous reasons for championing the Energy Modernization Act. This bill strikes a balance that will protect energy jobs and improve outdoor opportunities for sportsmen, as well as boost Montanas energy portfolio, invest in our outdoor economy and increase access to our public lands. Republican Sens. Steve Daines of Montana, and Mike Enzi and John Barrasso of Wyoming all voted for the Senate energy bill. However, the park deferred maintenance measure isnt in the House version that must be reconciled with the Senate version. SHRINK THE BACKLOG We call on Wyoming and Montana House members Ryan Zinke and Cynthia Lummis to be leaders in starting to address the park maintenance backlog through the energy bill. Like the Land Water Conservation Fund authorization in the energy bill, the national park maintenance funding would still have to appropriated in budget bills for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Both states delegations should push for park repair appropriations. We must care for the parks that boost quality of life in Montana and Wyoming. We must invest in the parks that drive our regional tourism industry. Even if $150 million was appropriated from offshore royalties, and Congress appropriated $250 million from other funds, that wouldnt cover even 3 percent of the need. Congress should fund a plan to significantly reduce our park repair backlog while todays kids are still kids. A shrinking backlog would be a great NPS birthday gift to Americans. The NPS centennial year is the time to start. -- The Billings Gazette Gov. Steve Bullock said Thursday he'll take another run at a major infrastructure bill when Montana's legislature convenes next year. Bullock is up for re-election this fall and called for $200 million in cash and bonds to fund infrastructure needs across Montana. He also proposed a new infrastructure trust account, funded with coal severance taxes to pay for infrastructure in future years. The proposal is $50 million more than one that fell one vote short of passing in the 2015 legislature. The Democratic governor vetoed a Republican infrastructure bill in 2013. The governor blamed partisanship by Republicans for killing past efforts. "For two legislative sessions in a row I've proposed significant, if not historic, infrastructure investments that would strengthen our communities, create jobs and grow our economy," Bullock said. "And in both of those sessions, a small group of legislators were able to stop thousands of Montanans from going to work, thousands of jobs dead in their tracks for no other reason than political gamesmanship." The announcement was both policy and gamesmanship. In hours leading up to the press conference at the construction site of Medicine Crow Middle School, Bullock's campaign issued an email with the names of Republican lawmakers who voted against the 2015 infrastructure bill, Senate Bill 416. The governor's campaign also noted that Bullock's GOP challenger, Greg Gianforte, donated to the campaigns of those Republicans. Donation records show Gianforte also donated to Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill. "This is a campaign stunt, and honestly it's offensive to Eastern Montanans," Gianforte said. "This is more talk and not action. The governor has had four years to work on infrastructure. In fact, he vetoed infrastructure in '13. And because of his lack of leadership, we didn't get anything in '15." Gianforte said water, sewer, bridges and roads would be priorities. The biggest push for state infrastructure spending this decade has come from Eastern Montana. Communities enduring the wear and tear of the Bakken oil boom have lobbied the state to invest in the overwhelmed roads and public utilities maxed out by growth and traffic. Bakken communities overwhelmed by oil activity accused the governor and lawmakers on the west side of the state of benefiting from oil and gas taxes, while investing little in Bakken region communities. Bullock said he was confident Montana could rely on coal money to pay for infrastructure moving forward. His "Build Montana Trust" would take 75 percent of the revenue from the state's coal severance tax fund and create an infrastructure spending account. The governor pointed out several times that more coal had been mined in Montana during the first three years of his tenure than in the same period for any previous Montana governor. Republicans have accused Bullock of being anti-coal. "Montana sits on 28 percent of our nation's coal, and coal will be part of our energy future in any form, in some form, well, well into the future," Bullock said. Most recently, Montana coal production has slid dramatically. Montana has produced a million fewer tons of coal each month since last December when compared to numbers from a year earlier, according to the Montana Coal Council. Monthly tonnages have averaged less than 2.5 million tons, the lowest monthly production rates in 17 years. Cheap natural gas, a global oversupply of coal and concerns about climate change have lowered demand for U.S. coal. "The world changes and will continue to change," Bullock said. "There's a natural resource there that continues to be utilized." Billings Republicans who voted against the 2015 infrastructure bill indicated they would support future spending if non-infrastructure projects were excluded. The last bill was one vote short of passage in the House and received overwhelming support in the Senate. The 2015 effort fell apart when some Republicans objected to projects included in the bill, namely the renovation of Romney Gym at Montana State University in Bozeman and the acquisition of space for the Montana Historical Society in Helena. Combined, those two projects consumed a third of the infrastructure funding. "That bill was not a good infrastructure bill," said Rep. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings. "It was an expensive, pork-filled piece of legislation, and over a third of it was for two buildings that were pet projects. It would not have solved many problems. It would have been a very costly bill that was more pork-filled than anything." Zolnikov, who voted against the bill, said Eastern Montana infrastructure projects would have had to have applied for funding and were not guaranteed support, while MSU and the Historical Society buildings were guaranteed money. In 2013, Bullock and Republican legislators had a bonds-versus-cash standoff over public works projects. The governor wanted to borrow the money to pay for the infrastructure through low interest bonds, while Republicans wanted to spend surplus tax revenue. In the end, many of the bonding projects were funded, but the legislature's insistence that other projects be paid for out of pocket failed. The 2013 legislature adjourned with several of its spending bills still needed the governor's signature. Bullock later argued that those spending bills exceeded the legislature's budget by $22 million. He said he vetoed the session's infrastructure bill for Montana's Bakken communities because approving it would have cut into the state's "rainy-day fund" of surplus tax money. One of two people shot during the execution of a police search warrant in Morrison, IL., Friday was struck by a trooper's bullet, police say. MUSCATINE, Iowa Muscatine Power and Water is joining water professionals across the country in recognizing and celebrating the vital role water plays in their communities quality of life and inviting consumers to get to know and value their local water supply and Water Utility. Muscatine is really fortunate to be sitting on one of the best sources of drinking water in the country, said Erika Cox, employee and community relations director. Unlike Flint, Michigan, and other cities in the news recently, our community does not need to worry about dangerous chemicals and pollutants in our water supply. Year in and year out for over 100 years, MP&W has consistently delivered safe and plentiful water and it tastes great too, right out of the tap. Using the slogan Enjoy H 2 O on the Rocks, MP&W hopes to encourage people to drink plenty of water because its good for their health. The body is 90 percent water, and the old adage, drink eight glasses a day is just as important as ever according to medical professionals. MP&W waters high quality, great taste and low price, makes it easy for folks to get all the water they need, said Cox. We say, skip the bottle and enjoy your water right from the tap. As part of the annual celebration, Water Department employees in the field and Customer Service agents will be handing out free drinking water cups to customers they meet this week while supplies last. MP&W is also encouraging groups and organizations to take advantage of the Utilitys new Hydration Station The multi-tap drinking water station may be borrowed for outdoor events to provide a convenient place to refill water bottles and cups it even has a dog dish. MP&W continues to study the Muscatine Island aquifer and conducts scheduled water quality and quantity tests throughout the year. The Utility also has in place an ongoing program to replace aging water mains, fire hydrants and valves along with a semi-annual flushing program which all serve to keep the pipeline to consumers free of contaminants. The soon to be published 2016 Consumer Confidence Report will summarize the quality of the water provided over the last year including where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. National Drinking Water Week has been sponsored for more than 35 years by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) as a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve. To learn more, visit www.mpw.org. MUSCATINE, Iowa Laura Liegois, the solid waste manager, updated the Muscatine County Solid Waste Management Agency on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources solid waste comprehensive plan, ground water remediation plan, the landfill operations contract, and the landfill tonnage and budget. Adam Reinhardt, of West Liberty, Patrick Baker, of Stockton, Dwayne Walter, of Fruitland, and Matt Bonebrake, of Muscatine, were present. The Iowa DNR solid waste comprehensive plan has been in process, and was turned in to the Iowa DNR in March. Liegois said that the DNR came back with several questions, and they are waiting for the DNR to review Muscatine, Scott, Jackson, and Cedar counties and are expecting a letter of approval, which she said should be good for three to five years. Things are moving forward, we are working on master plan development, and are going to continue testing it will all be done within the next few months, Liegois said. Work is ongoing with the master plan for Muscatine. The master plan, probably wont be ready until August, but if we have something come up, and if we want to meet as an individual group we can certainly accommodate that, she said. Muscatine County Supervisor Matt Bonebrake, Chair of the Muscatine Solid Waste Management Agency, said he was grateful for the work Leigois had done. You do a nice job and Im sure we're not alone when I say we appreciate all our hard work, he said. Liegois said work is continuing with the ground water remediation plan, and reports from the monitoring wells show there is still work to be done. We have put a monitoring well on the neighboring property, Lyndall Winters, and were testing that, we are still receiving some hits over there, arsenics one of them, which can be found in Iowa, but we are above the standard, so theres also other items were having issues with. So basically this is common in older landfills, Liegois said. She said that the well on the property next to the landfill was put in place last fall, and after another sample they will be able to move forward, which will most likely include another monitoring well on the property. There was some initial controversy with putting testing wells on the Winter property, which Liegois said has been solved through and agreement with the City of Muscatine. The City of Muscatine and the Winter property have an agreement to put the well on site, the current well, and we will then move forward Another section in the back corner that we feel could be possibly some methane gas issues versus leeching issues, and were still investigating that so were still in the evaluation process, and until we get through the third sampling, which would be this coming fall, that gives us a little bit more time to see where were at, because some of these are getting to a borderline situation, Liegois explained. She also said that the landfill operations contract was awarded to Dick Doyle Excavating as the lowest bidder, and the City approved the very detailed contract We have a lot of things going on and so far during this process [Dick Doyle] has been very much in agreement with what we need to have done, Leigois said. Dwayne Walter, of Fruitland, asked why the agency does not have any say in who is chosen for the contract with the landfill, and Bonebrake agreed that they should have the ability to make a recommendation to the City Council. While she said that she did not disagree, Liegois said that is not the way things are currently written. The agency contracted out with the landfill, and city used to operate it themselves, it is written in the original contract, Liegois explained. She updated the agency on the landfills tonnage and budget, and said that things appear to be going well financially. We went from being a negative 2.5 to a positive, and that will go to our next landfill cell which we will build next summer, she said. The next Muscatine County Solid Waste Management Agency meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at the Muscatine County Landfill, 3700 N. Highway 61, in Blue Grass. MUSCATINE, Iowa Children and their moms (or grandmothers, aunts, neighbors) are invited to celebrate Mothers Day with a special party in the "Framed: Step into Art" exhibit at the Muscatine Art Center. The afternoon of Saturday, May 7, will be filled with tasty treats, games, dress up, photo ops in the Framed exhibit, and a craft to commemorate mom. For reservations, call 563-263-8282 or stop by the Muscatine Art Center at 1314 Mulberry Ave. The tea party is offered on the next to last day for the Framed exhibit, explained Muscatine Art Center Director Melanie Alexander. The exhibit has offered wonderful experiences for adults visiting with kids. Toads and Tea Cups is a little different than any other kids event offered in recent years. The party will take place in the middle of the exhibit with a giant step-on chicken on one side and a re-creation of Grant Woods Dinner for Threshers on the other. The exhibit appeals equally to boys and girls, and the theme Toads and Tea Cups was selected to signal that boys, as well as girls, are the intended audience for the tea. The treats, games and crafts are suitable for kids up to age 12. The event is a fundraiser to support Friends of the Muscatine Art Center and their efforts to provide funding for educational programs at the Muscatine Art Center. The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Ave. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays until 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure. MUSCATINE, Iowa The Muscatine Community YMCA will hold expansion information meetings to provide updates to the public at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 16, and Tuesday, May 17, and 12 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. The meetings will include what specific additions will be included in the project, how the changes will impact members, and an estimated timeline for when construction will begin and the duration of the project. There will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions, and an update will be provided on the fundraising efforts and how to get involved. Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] 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 [] While WhatsApp has not released its official user numbers for South Africa, there is no doubt it is the most popular social service in the country. It takes the number one spot in the Android, iOS, and BlackBerry app stores and is big enough to worry Vodacom and MTN. South Africans love WhatsApp to the point where they are already thinking of going to the mattresses as trouble between the messaging app and mobile operators brews. WhatsApp is popular mainly because messaging on cellphones has evolved in the past 10 years, while SMS hasnt changed much since it was first introduced in the 1990s. This is how WhatsApp grew to the powerhouse it is today in SA. 20052009: The Era of Mxit When Mxit launched in 2005, it gave many their first taste of cheap mobile instant messaging. Even though data wasnt cheap in 2005, Mxit brought the cost of 160-character messages down from roughly 30c80c, to under 1c. However, complex network billing systems meant that if you only sent a single message with Mxit, you would actually be billed 1c or 2c as a minimum. Mxit wasnt perfect, though. It only ran on devices that had a Java ME runtime, and mobile developers might remember the fragmentation horror that was. Chat participants also had to be online at the same time to send messages to one another, which meant that Mxit wasnt a complete replacement for SMS. 20092013: The Epoch of BlackBerry Messenger Although BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) was first released in 2005, the service really took off in South Africa after the release of the BlackBerry 8520 in 2009. With is launch, BlackBerry had all the elements needed for a runaway hit: BlackBerry Internet Service: a cheap, flat-rated mobile Internet package BlackBerry Messenger: a store-and-forward text messaging service that was streets ahead of SMS BlackBerry 8520: an affordable, 2G-only mid-range smartphone BBM was also not a drop-in replacement for SMS, though. You had to have a BlackBerry to use it, and you had to swap BBM PINs with people you wanted to communicate with. However, it did have features such as picture messaging, read receipts, and group chats which SMS could not offer. 2013 onwards : The Aeon of WhatsApp WhatsApps rise in SA actually overlapped with BBMs period of popularity. Unlike those that came before it, though, WhatsApp was a replacement for SMS. Instead of making you create a username or swap PINs, WhatsApp used your phone number to identify you. Like Mxit, and unlike BBM, WhatsApp was also available on many different devices. By 2013, WhatsApp was estimated to have unseated BBM as the most popular mobile instant messenger in South Africa and quickly grew to surpass even Facebook in number of active monthly users. Why do we love WhatsApp? SMS is expensive and rubbish What SMS would cost, if it was billed like data Per MB price SMS Amount of data 1MB 140 bytes Vodacom prepaid ad-hoc R2.00 0.0267c Other prepaid ad-hoc R1.00 0.0134c Vodacom 30MB bundle R0.40 0.0053c Telkom SIM-Sonke ad-hoc R0.29 0.0039c Vodacom 20GB bundle R0.05 0.0007c MTN 5GB+5GB Dataaa! R0.04 0.0005c Telkom Internet Starter Pack R0.04 0.0005c Cell C Giga 100 R0.02 0.0003c Compared to instant messaging services, SMS is extremely limited and expensive. Services like WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram, and others also offer voice and video messaging on top of picture messages and group chat. Many of these, including WhatsApp, also let you make Skype-like voice over IP calls to other users. All this considered, its easy to see why we love WhatsApp so much. It is simply better than anything mobile networks have to offer. More on WhatsApp and mobile messaging WhatsApp ending BlackBerry and Nokia support WhatsApp, Gmail, and Facebook Messenger eat your mobile data in the background SA mobile networks dirty secrets about WhatsApp and Facebook WhatsApp vs SMS: how much a message costs Why BlackBerry lost its cool-factor in South Africa South Africas Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) believes discrimination should not feature in the countrys online or real-world environments. The Association says there should therefore be no blocking or prioritisation of lawful websites, content, applications or services. Net neutrality affects every one of South Africas Internet users, said ISPA regulatory advisor, Dominic Cull. An independent judiciary, regular elections, and a free press are traditionally seen as some of the most important hallmarks of a functioning democracy, he said. To this list should be added net neutrality, or the inability of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), government or major corporations to discriminate against Internet traffic or content they dont want you to access. South Africa currently exists in a net neutral environment that requires protection, ISPA said. Taking away net neutrality could radically slow the connections of local web users as Internet sites that require lots of streaming data are blocked due to cost concerns. Censorship, too, could flourish in an online world without net neutrality. ISPA said that it was encouraged that the importance of net neutrality was explicitly recognised by the Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Hlengiwe Mkhize, at a speech given at the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Summit, held in Barcelona on 24 February 2016. All Internet traffic must be treated equally, without discrimination, restriction or interference, regardless of the sender, receiver, content, device, service, or application, Mkhize said. A net neutrality policy does not preclude reasonable and transparent network management by ISPs, but must prevent anti-competitive behaviour where selected data traffic is prioritised because of its low cost, or because its content pleases those in charge, Cull said. ISPA said that network management practices, performance and commercial terms of broadband Internet access services, including any shaping or capping of bandwidth-hungry services, must be clearly advertised. This lets consumers make informed choices about the services they sign up for, and how they use them. Subscribers must also be informed of any fair use policies, the emphasis being on fairness to other network users, rather than the operator, ISPA said. The recommendations set out in the National Integrated ICT Policy Review Report published in March this year advocate South Africa adopting an Open Internet policy incorporating the broad principles of net neutrality centered on the non-discrimination of Internet traffic, with the detail being left to be dealt with by ICASA. ISPA said that it is looking forward to the next local net neutrality milestone which is the drafting of a white paper that was supposed to be published by the end of March 2016. The Internet was born neutral and that single most important founding principle should always be top-of-mind, concluded Cull. More on net neutrality Fibre-to-the-home in South Africa what is open access? SA net neutrality rules could boost Netflix SA government wants net neutrality Someone should sue the President for ... When the Groove Awards nominees were unveiled Tuesday, April 26 at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi, two big names Bahati and Willy Paul were conspicuously missing. As a result, a lot of speculations have emerged on why the two seasoned nominees missed out. Popular word on the street has it that they missed out for not living a Christian life. Well, according to a Groove Awards nominations panelist, they did not necessarily miss out because of their unchristian ways. Speaking to Mambo Msetos Mzazi Willy M. Tuva, Andrew Alovi, said that nominees are chosen on four criteria: Eligibility period, Music quality, Content and Godly Character. Therefore, Willy Paul and Bahati and a lot more gospel artists may have missed out on the nomination list because they did not fulfill all four criteria. Willy Tuva also reached out to both Bahati and Willy Paul to respond to being left out. According to Bahati, he did not expect to be among the nominees as his sights were not set on Groove Awards 2016. He said that when he started music, he envisioned being Kenyas top artist for only two years before spreading his wings to the larger African continent. He added that he is now on another level and is targeting MTV Awards and Channel O Awards. Willy Paul on the other hand said that he was okay with missing out, adding that he was too gifted to be worried about being left out. He further said that Groove Awards was trying to set the gospel industry straight after lots of issues. Here is that interview: Weeks after a group of Kenyan atheists were officially registered as a society under the society rules of Kenyan Law, the organization is now throwing a party like no other this weekend. The organization, Atheists In Kenya, will on Saturday 30th April host the party dubbed The Atheists Party at the Gravity Lounge on Kimathi Street, Nairobi. Besides celebrating their recent registration as a legal society, members will meet to socialize, discuss and also welcome new members into the fold of non-believers. From a poster released by the group, the partys theme is Without God. Doors open from 5.00 pm, entry is free and you can bring your own booze. Through their website, they state: We are not affiliated with any political party, and we accept any person as member, who declare themselves atheist and non-religious, provided that he is a Kenyan Citizen (18 years and above). We are the only Atheist Society in Kenya! We are also the most vibrant atheist society in Africa. We want you to join us, and become a part of the transformation that we seek in Kenya. Ugandan songstress Cinderella Sanyu popularly known by her stage name Cindy Sanyu is the newest member of Grandpa Records. Grandpa Records founder and creative director Refigah made the announcement on Thursday after putting pen to paper on a two year contract on Monday. The two parties have been negotiating for a deal for close to an year. It is now official that the East African sensation Cindy Sanyu is now signed at Grandpa Records. We have been negotiating the two-year contract for close to a year now and pen was finally put to paper on Monday the 25th of April, 2016 at Serena Hotel, Kampala. On behalf of the entire Grandpa Government we are happy and proud to welcome Cindy to our label, A statement released by Refigah read. 30 year old Cindy was one of the original members of the all girl group, Blu3 together with Lilian Mbabazi and Jackie Chandiru. In 2008, she embarked on a solo career after she was dropped from the group. Meanwhile, Refigah has stated that the the record stable is taking necessary measures to avoid working with mediocre artists. He said it is no longer going to be easy to sign with Grandpa no matter the amount of talent and how big a name in the industry an artist is. Here is the full statement: #Finally Cindy sanyu signs with GrandPa Records;Over the years, we as a stable have learnt that when it comes to signing an artist you dont just rush and sign any name. You do a proper background check, get to know what this artist has been up to before you, where they are from and why they left. This is just to be careful as an investor in this industry. It is no longer going to be as easy to be signed at Grandpa Records. No matter the amount of talent and how big a name in the industry, a thorough background check will be done to avoid working with mediocre artists. With that being said, it is now official that the East African sensation Cindy Sanyu is now signed at Grandpa Records. We have been negotiating the two-year contract for close to a year now and pen was finally put to paper on Monday the 25th of April, 2016 at Serena Hotel, Kampala. On behalf of the entire Grandpa Government we are happy and proud to welcome Cindy to our label. Cindy Sanyu is currently the most talented female in East Africa with numerous massive hits and awards and we at Grandpa records have what it takes to take her career international and hit the global market. She is the first female Ugandan artist to do an official Kenyan tour, courtesy of Grandpa Records. She will be performing at Deep west Resort in Nairobi on saturday the 30th of april club one on one in Mombasa on the first of May, Sixty four Lounge in Nakuru on the 6th of May, Twenty Four Resort Eldoret on the 7th of May, then Voi, Kisumu, and Machakos-dates to be announced later. Phase two will start in July after a tour of the U. S. Cindy is currently ridding high with the big collabo Tempo remix with Dufla and Ndi Mukodo ft Navio. Her song Selekta is still a big tune! Born Cindrella Sanyu, she was originally a member of the all girl group Blu 3 together with Jackie Chandiru and Lilian Mbabazi before they went separate ways. She is so far the most successful of the former group and Grandps Records will most definitely work with her to soar even higher. Popular Television personality Jeff Koinange has assured Kenyans that his family is safe after armed robbers broke into his house. The armed robbers raided his home in Nairobis posh Kitisuru estate on Thursday morning and made away with home appliances of unknown value. Confirming the 2.30 am incident, Nairobi CID boss Ireri Kamwende said the armed men shot in the air, beat up and tied the watchmen at Jeff Koinanges home. The unknown number of thugs who were armed with crude weapons and guns are said to have made away with several electronics including computers. Jeff Koinange was in the house at the time of the incident. The robbers came on foot through the river side, stole property and disappeared. They were an unknown number armed with guns and other crude weapons, said the Nairobi CID chief. Taking to twitter, the talk show host thanked Kenyans for their concern and said Police are handling the matter. Thank you very much for your concerns & prayers. My family & I are safe. The police are handling the situation. Asanteni Sana (Thank you very much). Thank you very much for your concerns & prayers. My family & I are safe. The police are handling the situation. Asanteni Sana. Jeff Koinange, MBS (@KoinangeJeff) April 28, 2016 TEHRAN, Iran Iranians voted Friday in the countrys parliamentary runoff elections, a key poll that will decide how much power allies of moderate President Hassan Rouhani will have in the next legislature after the landmark nuclear deal with world powers. Though Rouhani continues to have popular support after the deal, its promised economic effects have yet to trickle down to the Islamic Republics 80 million people, something hard-liners have belabored in the time since. That political tension, once only reflected in newspaper columns and angry speeches, boiled over into rare political violence Friday that saw four people wounded in a shooting in a rural region of the countrys Fars province. The vote was for the remaining 68 positions in the 290-seat chamber that were not decided in Februarys general election, in which Rouhanis allies won an initial majority. Though the parliamentary vote isnt expected to herald large-scale change in Iranian policies, it may strengthen Rouhanis hand and make it easier for him to deliver in areas such as promoting social freedoms and reforming the economy. In February, a bloc of reformists and moderate allies of Rouhani won an initial majority 106 seats in a vote that saw a 62-percent turnout. The bloc needs to win 40 seats Friday to ensure its control over the parliament, which begins work in late May. But hard-liners, who have in the past controlled the chamber and who only won 64 seats in February, are also hoping to boost their presence in the next parliament. The political affiliation of the other 52 winners in Februarys election, among them five members of Irans religious minorities, remains unclear. That makes the runoff important to cement the control of reformists and moderate conservatives. Polls opened at 8 a.m. Friday and nearly 17 million Iranians were eligible to vote in 55 constituencies, including cities and towns across the nation. In Tehran, Irans capital and major political powerhouse, moderates won all 30 seats there outright in the first round of voting. The moderate-reformist bloc is fielding 58 candidates in the runoff. The rest of the candidates 78 include hard-liners and several independents. Lawmakers serve four-year terms. Under the law, two candidates compete for every seat in the runoff and the one who wins a simple majority of votes wins the seat. Poll initially were to close at 6 p.m., though election officials extended voting until 9 p.m. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli earlier told reporters that election results are expected on Saturday. Iran does not allow international election observers to monitor its polls, which the Interior Ministry conducts. Mohammad Hossein Moghimi, the head of Irans election headquarters, told reporters that participation in the vote was very remarkable, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. He added that authorities sent helicopters to collect ballots from villages in remote mountains. He offered no immediate turnout figures. The voting largely took place in more rural areas where conservatives hold sway, as well as larger cities like Ahvaz, Shiraz and Tabriz. State television aired video of orderly lines of voters casting ballots in schools and mosques, including women wearing the traditional black chador. However that peacefulness was broken in the city of Mamasani in Fars province. There, an argument between supporters of different political candidates escalated into a violent confrontation, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency. ISNA quoted Hossein Zolfaghari, Irans deputy interior minister for security, as saying police had already identified those responsible and were searching for them. He did not say where the shooting happened or name the candidates involved. Everything is calm in Mamasani now, he said. There were two candidates opposing each other in the area: reformist Masoud Goudarzi and Abdolreza Moradi, an independent believed to be more conservative than his opponent. Neither could be immediately reached for comment. Mamasani is a rural area in Iran where gunfire is common at weddings and other celebrations. Politically motivated shootings, however, remain rare, as across the rest of the country. Also in February, voters picked members for an 88-seat body of clerics officially charged with selecting the replacement for the supreme leader from high-ranking clerics, including its members. The Assembly of Experts is elected every eight years and there is a chance its members may need to find a successor for the ayatollah, who is 76 years old and underwent prostate surgery in 2014, renewing speculation about his health. In the time since, Khamenei has appeared in good health in weekly meetings and reportedly was seen hiking near the capital. Napa County's Public Works Department warns motorists to be on the lookout this weekend for cyclists and runners participating in three events. On Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Women's Gran Fondo cyclists will travel through north Napa County from Calistoga through Lake Hennessy, Pope Canyon and Pope Valley. On Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Organs R Us Golden Gate Relay runners will travel on Silverado Trail from Deer Park Road to Yountville Crossroad and then through Yountville onto Solano Avenue, Lincoln Avenue and First Street in Napa, continuing onto Freeway Drive and exiting Napa County by way of Old Sonoma Road. On Sunday, The American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure will be held on north Napa County roads from 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Cyclists will enter and exit Napa County at the Sonoma County line and travel through Calistoga, Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville and Napa extending to Oak Knoll Avenue. Visit countyofnapa.org/roadevents for updates on Napa County roads. Its back to square one for Napas historic downtown post office. An offer to buy the earthquake-damaged building has fallen through and bids are once again being accepted. Even faced with the costly task of redeveloping a historic building, the city and those familiar with the project remain optimistic a new buyer can be found. As of late March, a buyer had made an offer and was taking the time to kick the tires and review the property, according to Gus Ruiz, United States Postal Service spokesman. However, after doing so, The buyer terminated the contract, said Ruiz. He did not elaborate on who the buyer was, how much the buyer had offered for the property or why the bid was withdrawn. Napa County Landmarks spokeswoman Juliana Inman said shed been in talks with the first buyer. She declined to name the party, saying only it was a local business, not a developer. I think the project was outside of their core business area expertise, she said, explaining why the prospective buyer dropped out. Im hoping one of the previous bidders comes forward with another proposal, Inman said. She believes that those other bidders were local or regional buyers, people with knowledge of the Napa market. The deadline to submit new proposals is Tuesday, said Inman. Previous bidders must resubmit their bids if they would like their offer to be considered. The post office, which was built in 1933 in the Art Deco style, was badly damaged in the August 2014 earthquake and has remained closed since then. In early July, the USPS first proposed demolishing the structure at 1351 Second St. The agency said that it would cost $8 million to repair quake damage, while it would cost only $500,000 for demolition. After considerable public outcry, the agency decided to try selling it to a buyer who can repair the structure and preserve its architectural integrity. The USPS has since consolidated operations at a new location across the street and at a larger facility on Trancas Street. Inman said the possibility that the building could be demolished still concerns her. We need to keep moving in the direction of preservation and rehabilitation and adaptive reuse, said Inman. I think it will sell, she said. Its in the heart of downtown Napa, a very hot market right now. Its going to be a lot of work for somebody, but there are great opportunities for redevelopment of the site. Sometimes these things do take a couple of tries, she said. Chris Jonas, a partner at ZFA Structural Engineers, toured the post office on Tuesday to do an assessment for a client. Jonas said only one or two other people attended the tour. About a dozen people were at a tour earlier this year. Jonas was representing a potential buyer he declined to name. The project is a challenge, he acknowledged. On top of the structural repairs, which are, in itself, a challenge, so is the retrofit of this building. In addition, other criteria have to be met because its listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its extra work and extra cost, Jonas said, and in the end it has to be financially viable. Likely uses of the property include a hotel, restaurant, apartments or office space. It is possible to add underground parking, Jonas said. The best-case scenario, according to Jonas, is that the deal is made and that we create a project that fits downtown, and the developer can make some money at it. The worst case is that nobody takes an interest because its not financially viable and the Post Office ends up demolishing the building. Napa real estate broker Joe Fischer toured the historic post office earlier this year. On Tuesday, he said the latest 30-day due diligence period to review the property is highly problematic. There is no certainty from the city on what could be built on the property, he noted. Therefore, the USPS is effectively asking a well-intentioned developer and capital to acquire the property on faith and hope, he wrote. City planning manager Ken MacNab said that the city understands that once the parcel is sold and no longer used for government work, the zoning needs to be updated. We are supportive of re-designating that site to what we call downtown mixed-use, said MacNab. The city is meeting with prospective bidders in advance, said MacNab. We can talk about approaches. Developers who meet our development standards and allowed uses should have a level of comfort theres a good chance their project will be approved, he said. According to Fischer, a 30-day close really only works for cash-rich buyers that like to speculatively buy, then hold properties, said Fischer. I dont think the city really wants that kind of buyer for such an important property, Fischer said. The city wants to see it preserved. Well do what we can to help that happen, said MacNab. There is a lot to do and process in a short time, but I dont think its insurmountable. In Fischers view, I think something needs to change or we will wind up with fencing around (a) dilapidated property for a long time. There has to be some creativity applied to get what I think the community and preservationists want to see happen. When the Post Office first had the property out for bid, I talked to a number of prospective parties who had ideas for future reuse and preservation, said MacNab. None I spoke with were thinking it would be a post office but they had other conceptual ideas for commercial use. I hope that those parties will be excited they have another opportunity to bid for the property, he said. MacNab said he doesnt think its a white elephant. There are certainly challenges with the preservation and damages. Its a challenging situation. However, I am optimistic we will have a successful bidder who will bring us a project that preserves the building and adds a great use to downtown, said MacNab. We were close before, and I think there are other groups out there, he said. Im optimistic someone will come forward and make this work. Rep. Mike Thompson is another advocate of saving the old post office. Im determined to see the Franklin Station Post Office remain standing for future generations, said Thompson in a statement. Im pleased that the USPS will continue to pursue the sale. Candidates for two Napa County Board of Supervisors seats and the local Assembly seat tried to make their marks in 60-second bursts. They took part in a Thursday evening forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Napa County before about 40 people at the Napa Senior Activity Center. Audience members submitted questions. Candidates had 30 seconds to 60 seconds to put an exclamation point on their bids for office and leave a lasting impression with voters. Incumbent Supervisor Mark Luce is trying to hold onto his 2nd District supervisor seat. Challenging him are business consultant Derek Anderson, civil engineer Ryan Gregory and longtime political observer James Hinton. Anderson described Luce and Gregory as being establishment politicians and Hinton as being to the left. He stressed his conservative credentials, saying job creation and not a $15-an-hour minimum wage or housing programs is the real answer to income inequality. No matter what people tell you, this is not a problem government can fix, Anderson said. Gregory talked about his technical experience and how he could bring this to bear on such issues as affordable housing for the areas workforce. His job has led him to work on both for-profit and nonprofit housing projects. Roofs over heads and as many of those as we can get, he said. Hinton called himself the working persons candidate, the one who during his 2014 Congressional bid ran the most pro-worker campaign in the nation, the one who will open the door to medical cannabis in the county. Congress represents Wall Street and the Board of Supervisors represents the vintners, he said, presenting himself as the one to make a change. Luce talked about his 20 years of experience on the Board, his engineering background and the need to weigh facts when looking at such issues as reported, high local cancer rates. He also stressed issues of governance. The bottom line is still the bottom line the county is one of the best run fiscally in the state, Luce said. 4th District Board of Supervisors Incumbent Alfredo Pedroza is trying to keep his 4th District seat, with county mental health professional Chris Malan and Napa Vision 2050 co-founder Diane Shepp challenging. In light of the cancer rate reports, Malan urged more farms to go organic. She called herself the longest-standing watershed activist in Napa County, a claim that her rivals didnt challenge. A lot of local traffic problems come from a quantum leap in the burgeoning tourist industry that the Board of Supervisors doesnt want to do anything about, Malan said. Pedroza said traffic is caused not just by tourists, but by people driving to local jobs because they cant afford to live here. He presented himself as the one who has forged relationships to work with the cities to solve regional problems. The only way were going to continue to make Napa County work is to work together, Pedroza said. Shepps Vision 2050 group is in the thick of battles over winery growth and saving hillsides. But she sketched an expansive environmental view, saying our environment is all of us, and stressed such issues as having more programs to benefit children. I am a coalition-builder, Shepp said. 4th District Assembly All five 4th District Assembly candidates appeared at the debate. They are Winters Mayor Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Davis physician Elmer Mark Kropp, Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor, and Davis Mayor Dan Wolk, all Democrats; and Esparto farmer Charlie Schaupp, a Republican. Aguiar-Curry brought a twist to a talk on traffic infrastructure by advocating broadband Internet for everyone. That would bring to rural areas such possibilities as distance learning. Accessibility is the No. 1 thing were looking for in this district, she said. When pondering traffic issues, Kropp noted the infrastructure benefits that Brazil is receiving from holding the Olympics. He suggested some type of celebratory event could bring light rail to the area. Saylor tackled the issue of education funding. He supported extending Proposition 30, having an oil severance tax, seeing what adjustments might be made to Proposition 13 and legalizing cannabis to generate tax revenues. He stressed a 20-year resume that includes serving on the Davis Joint Unified School District Board, the Davis City Council and the Yolo Board of Supervisors. Wolk also supported an extension of Proposition 30 taxes that he expects to see on the ballot. He supported enacting an oil severance tax and making measured changes to Proposition 13, such as lowering the two-thirds threshold for special taxes. He stressed endorsements from such people as Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St Helena, and each Napa County supervisor. He will be a Napa County advocate, he said. Schaupp said that money being used for a bullet train the train to nowhere could instead be used to construct light rail, such as extending BART to Napa. People could take light rail to airports, making it easier to fly between Northern and Southern California. He stressed an approach to prisons that includes both trying to reduce recidivism and having a return to American ethics. If kids want to join a tough gang, let them join the U.S. Marine Corps, said the Marine veteran of Desert Storm and the Battle of Fallujah. Two men have been indicted for their possible connection with the $300,000 wine theft from The French Laundry restaurant in Yountville dating to 2014. Alfred Georgis, 53, of Mountain View and Davis Kiryakoz, 44, of Modesto were arrested on Wednesday. Each was charged with one count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods and two counts of transportation of stolen goods in federal court in Fresno and San Jose on Thursday. The stolen goods are alleged to include a number of bottles of high-end wines stolen from The French Laundry in Yountville and Alexanders Steakhouse in Cupertino. Georgis and Kiryakoz are accused of transporting stolen wines across state lines. Thefts began as early as March 2013 when 142 bottles were stolen from a San Francisco wine merchant, according to the indictment. The indictment also describes the alleged theft and transportation of additional wines including the November 2014 burglary of 39 bottles of wine from Alexanders Steakhouse and the December 2014 burglary of more than 70 bottles of valuable wines from The French Laundry. Most of the wine bottles stolen from The French Laundry were recovered in Greensboro, North Carolina by Napa County law enforcement and returned to the restaurant in January 2015. The wine, with an estimated retail value of about $300,000, was reported missing Dec. 26 after an employee discovered someone had broken into the famed Yountville Michelin-starred restaurant. Investigators reported that the building was broken into sometime after 2 p.m. Christmas Day while the restaurant was closed for renovations. The stolen wine was considered among the best in the world, including dozens of bottles of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti and five bottles of Screaming Eagle cabernet from the 1990s and 2010. Kiryakoz was released, but Georgis was detained pending a bail hearing scheduled for May 4 before United States Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins. SAN FRANCISCO -- A 56-year-old woman killed in a two-vehicle collision on The Embarcadero in San Francisco on Wednesday has been identified as Napa resident Janet Gelow, according to the medical examiner's office. Three people were transported to the hospital after the crash on The Embarcadero and Bryant Street, which was first reported at 12:09 p.m., according to fire officials. Police reported Gelow's death on Twitter at 2:43 p.m. Wednesday. Gelow and her husband, Mark Gelow, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary last year. She was described by friends as a loving wife, mother and grandmother who grew up in Napa. Police on Thursday described the injuries of the other two people injured, men ages 59 and 22, as life-threatening. It was bound to happen once Republican presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz began building their campaigns on a foundation of anti-illegal immigrant rhetoric and policy proposals: Many thousands of legal Latino residents all around the nation began seeking U.S. citizenship so they could become registered voters and cast ballots against either Cruz or Trump, should either become the GOPs nominee. So far, the numbers are not staggering, the way they were in California after the easy passage of the 1994 Proposition 187, which sought to deprive the undocumented and their U.S. citizen children of taxpayer-funded services from public schooling to emergency room care and vaccinations. Even as federal courts were throwing out virtually all of that ballot initiative, which passed with a 2-1 margin, 2.5 million new citizens were minted by the end of 1997 just three years after passage of Prop. 187. The reason, many told poll-takers, was fear that if illegal immigrants could be targeted, legal ones might be next. Their only safety, they figured, was in citizenship. No similar movement occurred in other parts of America, where an estimated 10 million legal immigrants are now eligible for citizenship if they complete the application process. But something began to happen in the second half of 2015, as Trump, Cruz and other hard-line Republican candidates like Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee and Carly Fiorina made calls for deportation essential to their stump speeches and television debate mantras. The more they talked, even though most of them eventually dropped out, the more worried many legal Latino residents became. When Trump spoke of building a bigger and better wall along the Mexican border, many quietly began filling out naturalization papers. At the same time, almost all Latinos who already are voters decided to vote Democratic. One late-April survey showed only 11 percent likely to vote Republican. If this trend accelerates and enough legal immigrants follow through toward citizenship, they could change politics in states like Texas, North Carolina, Colorado, Georgia and Florida, just as the citizenship flood of the late 1990s turned California from a swing state and an election battleground into a solidly Democratic state not carried by any GOP candidate since George H.W. Bush did it in 1988. No one knows exactly how many new citizens have been registered to vote this year, but in the latter half of 2015, naturalization applications rose by 14 percent nationally over the previous year or about 100,000. That number is nowhere near enough to change election outcomes in any state. But the increase began early in the presidential campaign, before anyone had yet voted for Trump. As the year started, 2.7 million immigrants from Mexico were eligible to apply for citizenship, just under one-third of the potential citizenship pool. Approximately 1 million more from Central American countries like El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala were also eligible. Its far too late for very many of these possible future voters to register this year. But if they eventually do and if they act like their fellow Hispanics in California, the vast majority will become Democrats. Even though they cant vote this year against either Trump or Cruz, they could change the future. In Texas, where elections are commonly decided by less than 1 million votes, the sudden appearance of about 1 million new Democratic voters could vastly alter things. It would take far fewer new Democrats to make swing states North Carolina and Florida firmly Democratic or to turn solidly Republican Georgia into a battleground. South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, an early dropout from the GOP nomination derby, summed it up this way: Weve dug a hole with Hispanics. We went from 44 percent of the Hispanic vote in the 2004 presidential election to 27 percent in 2012, and it could be much lower this year... Its because of the immigration debate. Graham is dead-on right. And if Republicans, whose party nomination could be clinched in Californias June primary, maintain their focus on deporting as many of the undocumented as they can find, they might still win this years vote, but would most likely set themselves up for decades of future defeats in both presidential elections and those in many states they now count as their turf. Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. In the recent case of Vergara v. California, the California Court of Appeal effectively sentenced many public school students to substandard education. Nine students had sued the state and state officials, seeking a judgment declaring several sections of our state Education Code unconstitutional. The students contended those provisions, which govern how K-12 teachers obtain tenure, are terminated, and are laid off on the basis of seniority, violate our state constitutions guarantees that public education is a fundamental right and that all citizens are entitled to equal protection of the law. The case went to trial in Los Angeles in 2014. After months of testimony, Judge Rolf True ruled in favor of the students, finding five sections of the Education Code unconstitutional because of their disparate impact on poor and minority students who were more likely to be assigned to schools with grossly ineffective teachers. Vergara reversed the trial court decision. It did not find that the statutes in question were a good idea. In fact, it conceded that those statutes may lead to hiring and retention of more ineffective teachers than other systems. Nevertheless, in spite of evidence showing otherwise, Vergara held that the trial evidence did not establish the challenged statutes inevitably caused any student group to receive an education inferior to the education received by others. Vergara is wrong for several reasons. First, trial evidence showed that current law provides that probationary teachers receive tenure after completing two consecutive years. However, because probationary teachers automatically receive tenure if not notified otherwise by March 15 of their second year, decisions to retain or dismiss probationary teachers are made within 16 months of their hiring. Witnesses for both sides testified this short time frame is insufficient for making the important decision of whether tenure should be granted. The trial court noted that 45 other states require a lengthier period before a probationary teacher could receive tenure. Second, the students presented evidence at trial that the process for dismissing teachers for unsatisfactory performance can take up to 10 years and can cost up to $450,000. As a result, school districts rarely initiate such proceedings. Although the state has approximately 277,000 K-12 public school teachers, only about 20 were terminated statewide for unsatisfactory performance between 2003 and 2013. However, a Los Angeles Unified School District representative testified that, if termination proceedings were streamlined, the district would have terminated 350 teachers in the 2012-2013 school year. Third, highly effective teachers are dismissed while grossly ineffective teachers keep their jobs due to difficulties caused by premature tenure decisions, the procedural and fiscal nightmare of performance-based terminations, and laws requiring that seniority rather than effectiveness governs when a school district must decrease its faculty for budget reasons. This leads to what is colloquially known as the dance of the lemons. The dance begins when, to improve their own schools, administrators transfer poorly performing teachers to schools in less affluent communities, usually serving minority students, where families may be less knowledgeable about teacher quality and less likely to complain. Such transfers result in a disproportionate accumulation of inexperienced and ineffective teachers in poorer schools, as well as disproportionate turnover in faculty and staff because of the challenges of working there. Fourth, Vergara misunderstood that students cannot be assured of educational equal opportunity unless they have equal access to effective teachers. The mission of our public schools is to teach students. That is the reason schools open their doors each morning. Teachers are the vehicle for that learning. Even the California Department of Education, one of the many defendants in the case, acknowledged that teacher quality is the single most important school-related factor in student success. Vergara conceded that Education Code provisions may force school districts to retain ineffective teachers, but impliedly found that most teachers provide students with an adequate education. This, however, overlooks the legal principal that a statute is not constitutional because only a minority suffers from unequal treatment while a majority is treated just fine. Finally, Vergara turned a blind eye to earlier California Supreme Court decisions that recognized the harm caused to vulnerable poor and minority students from unequal treatment by state laws. Serrano v. Priest (1971) 5 Cal.3d 584 held the public education financing system was unconstitutional because it created disparities in per pupil spending, penalizing students in poorer school districts. Butt v. California (1992) 4 Cal.4th 668 similarly upheld a state bailout loan to the Richmond School District because, otherwise, its schools would have closed six weeks early, depriving students of their right to basic educational quality. The best hope for K-12 students is that our Supreme Court reverse Vergara. If that does not happen, there will be two groups of losers: high school graduates who cannot read or write, and taxpayers who will pay for more college remedial reading courses. Mike OReilley is an adjunct professor of criminal justice at California State University East Bay. A Sonoma County resident contracted Sonoma Countys first case of Zika virus while traveling in Central America, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services said Thursday. The traveler was bit by mosquitoes and had traveled to Central America many weeks ago, spokesman Scott Alonso said. The virus primarily spreads through infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that are present in the Caribbean and Central and South America. The Aedes mosquitoes have been found in 12 California counties but not in Sonoma County, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services said. The virus also can spread from a mother to her unborn baby, and transmission by infected males to their partners has been documented, health officials said. When present, signs and symptoms of the virus are typically mild and include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis. Rare neurological syndromes of the virus can lead to early pregnancy loss, microcephaly, absent or poorly developed brain structures and eye defects. We anticipate more cases, Sonoma County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Karen Hollbrook said in a news release. Even though there is no risk for local transmission, our residents could be exposed to Zika virus through travel, sexual contact with travelers, and from mothers to their unborn babies, Hollbrook said. If you must travel do it safely; if you have sex do it safely too, Hollbrook said. The Napa Valley Vintners recently announced the recipients of its 2016 Napa Valley Wine List Awards at a community celebration at Goosecross Cellars in Yountville. The event included restaurant award recipients, local vintners and community officials. More than 85 restaurants, from the pioneering All Seasons restaurant in Calistoga to newcomer Basalt in Napa, were recognized for their emphasis on serving local wines. The NVV started its Wine List Awards program during the economic recession as a way to help bolster business and to emphasize the importance of eating and drinking locally sourced products. To be recognized, each wine list must feature 50 percent or 50 selections of Napa Valley wines. When chef Morimoto opened the Napa restaurant, he wanted an all-California wine list with a focus on Napa. It was easy to build this list as the wines of Napa Valley are so diverse, said Eduardo Dingler, beverage director of Morimoto Restaurants. Chef Morimotos philosophy is when you go to Bordeaux you dont drink Chilean wine; when people travel to Napa, they want to drink Napa Valley wine. The local wine industry and related businesses provide an economic impact of more than $13 billion annually to the local economy, while creating approximately 46,000 jobs in Napa County. Napa Valley is home to many extraordinary restaurants, said Emma Swain, chair of the NVVs board of directors and CEO of St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery. When they pour our high-quality local wines every day, it creates a true community partnership. Diners can view the list of Napa Valley Wine List Award recipients at napavintners.com/restaurant. International vintner Alejandro P. Bulgheroni will soon start work on a renovation project for his new winery, Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate at 500 Meadowood Lane in Saint Helena. Taking place at a site initially developed by Nena and Jim Talcott, of Talcott Vineyards, the enhancement project will include updates to both the hospitality and production facilities. Projected to open in spring 2017, Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate will produce small lot cabernet sauvignon wines from the estate and other select sites within the Napa Valley. The inaugural release of Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate wines the 2014 vintage will coincide with the winerys opening. Winemaking operations are led by winemaker Philippe Melka and blended with consulting enologist Michel Rolland. It has long been my goal to establish a winery here in Napa Valley, said Bulgheroni. The remarkable lithology of the rocky hillsides, diverse microclimates and unique topography make it the ideal location to make a classic cabernet sauvignon. Im very pleased to be a part of the Napa Valley wine community, and I look forward to working with the valleys best growers to craft unique wines of great personality. In keeping with Bulgheronis agricultural values, the Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate vineyard is farmed sustainably and is certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Bulgheroni recently celebrated the grand opening of Bodega Garzon Winery in Uruguay, the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified winery in South America. Alejandro P. Bulgheroni is an Argentinian and Uruguayan-based international vintner and a successful entrepreneur in agriculture and energy. His winery properties include Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate (Napa Valley), Bodega Garzon (Garzon, Uruguay), Argento (Mendoza, Argentina), Bodega Vistalba (Mendoza, Argentina), Sarmiento Vineyard (Patagonia, Argentina), Dievole (Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy), Podere Brizio (Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy), Poggio Landi (Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy), Chateau Suau (Bordeaux, France), Chateau De Langalerie (Bordeaux, France), and Renwood (Sierra Foothills, California). In addition to grapegrowing and wine production, Bulgheroni is a lifelong rancher and agriculturist whose enterprises encompass olive oil production, berries and nuts, powder milk production, forestry and cattle raising. Nothing formal, certainly not fancy, my wine education prior to landing in the Napa Valley was all about Europe. Actually, France. Working in retail on New Yorks Fifth Avenue, I had numerous opportunities to prop myself up on a bar stool of a nearby French restaurant not far from St. Patricks Cathedral. Ambling over after work, I found I could chat with and receive the counsel of a seasoned bartender who gladly shared his palates preferences for French wine. I think an Italian bottle was mentioned on occasion especially if a patron had left a little in the bottle which I often got to share with the genial barman. I learned right away that my newfound friend was all about red wine in particular, Chateauneuf du Pape. I recall him telling me the wine was a blend of some dozen varieties with grenache serving as the predominant grape. I seem to recall him mentioning Burgundy once or twice but dont think he ever addressed Bordeaux. Curiosity prompted me to do a little homework, just so Id know where these grapegrowing regions were located and the variety of grapes grown for the wines they produced. Uncle Sam interrupted my erstwhile research, and the next time I was inquiring about wine was in the restaurant of Saigons Caravelle Hotel. That restaurant had lots of French wine. I quickly learned I couldnt afford French wine, but could at least once a month pay for a wine made in the French style from Algeria. A post-Vietnam year in the nations capital didnt improve my wine knowledge so I was more than ready to soak up what was offered when I moved to the Napa Valley in late spring 1967. Id already heard about Brother Timothy as hed shipped some Christian Brothers wines to my Public Information Office unit in Vietnam, as the Napa Valley Register editor was embedded with us for a month or more. Quickly learning a bit about Beringer, Charles Krug, Louis Martini, Beaulieu and Inglenook, I received my first invitation to an event from the new kid on the block, Robert Mondavi. At that point, I didnt know about his history with Charles Krug and the familial rift that prompted him to open his own winery a year earlier. I cant recall if that invitation was for an event other than a tasting of Mondavi wines. I would soon learn that vintner Mondavi didnt budget for advertising preferring instead to pull some corks and let word of mouth spread the gospel. From the pulpit of his very attractive, very California winery on Highway 29, the gregarious vintner preached Golden State wine truths. At first, he told us he believed California wines could keep company with the best in the world. In less than a decade, he assured us that California wines which, of course, included those made in the Napa Valley belonged in the company of the worlds best. There were a number of occasions in those early days when I visited the growing Mondavi wine operation in Oakville. There were not only invites from the vintner but also from his new public relations director, Margrit Biever, who, years later, would become his second wife. While vintner Mondavi concentrated on wine production and grapegrowing, Margrit focused on cultural endeavors that fit well with enjoyment of wine. One particular tasting hosted by Mondavi remains a most vivid memory. Not afraid to pour the best wines in blind tastings side-by-side those made in the Oakville cellar, he brought together a number of writers and industry folks for a tasting in the Vineyard Room one spring afternoon. There must have been at least eight wine glasses set out before each place, all containing red wine. I was afraid Id be asked to identify the wines in each glass and I suspect there was more than one of us that day who had similar trepidation. No. We were asked to offer opinions about the wines and to select one we liked best. Whew! No one would know how little I knew about the worlds top wines. Indeed, when the bottles were removed from their brown paper sacks, a majority of First Growths were present and others from top-flight producers of France. I had enjoyed all of them, but, for me, one stood out. I cant recall now why I liked it better than the others just that I did. I listened as other seasoned journalists expounded on the virtues of this one and that one as the unveiling proceeded. Then the last bottle came out of its bag a Mondavi reserve cabernet sauvignon. That was the wine that had been my favorite. Should I this neophyte from Jersey speak up? I opted to hold my tongue. But as the participants left the room, I sidled up to our host and showed him my scorecard, as it were. I liked your wine best, I volunteered. I think your palates been Mondavi-ized, he replied, with that unforgettable twinkle in his eye that wed see again and again over the years. Kind, generous, friendly Bob Mondavi took me under his wing. I didnt ask for help but I think he knew I needed it. Sure, I was a journalist, but in those early days of discovery I was covering county government. Perhaps the fact that I sat through all those rancorous hearings preceding enactment of the valleys landmark ag preserve had made an impression. Perhaps the fact that his PR director had made a new friend helped as well. Over the years, he introduced me to his three children, Michael, Marcia and Tim, and they included me in projects and events on their respective agendas. Fast-forward two decades. I decided it would be nice to celebrate my 20 years at the Register with a wine tasting. Of course, I wanted to feature wines of my arrival year. The first person I asked about a bottle from 1967 was Margrit. With a look of disappointment, she informed me that the year I landed my newspaper job was not a good year for wine in the Napa Valley, owing to killer frosts and heavy rain during bloom. The wines werent all that good and Mondavi had cellared very little. However, she and Bob would be happy to provide wine from another vintage and they would gladly attend my backyard gathering of a few friends. I lucked out by visiting restaurateur Alex Dierkhising in Calistoga a man with a great palate and extensive wine collection who provided me with three bottles from the 67 crush Inglenook, Beaulieu and Louis Martini. Grower Nathan Fay had given me a bottle of 1965 Charles Krug cabernet sauvignon, the last vintage Bob Mondavi took part in at Krug prior to launching his own brand some 10 miles down the road. I also had a bottle of Nathans own 68 cab, which he produced in the tiny cellar adjacent to Cabernet Cottage, the cozy accommodation he and wife, Nellie, offered visiting fireman. For years, growers and winemakers alike championed the 1968 crush as the vintage of the century, and those fortunate enough to taste Nathans cab from that year will never forget it. That was the wine that inspired Warren Winiarski and John Shafer to launch wine brands in the Stags Leap District. It was a glorious late afternoon/early evening and my friends and I were all ears as Bob talked about the growth of the Napa Valley wine industry, its place in the world of wine and the terrific young people bitten by the wine bug working in local cellars. The opening of the Charles Krug cabernet prompted questions of our honored guests about the Mondavi familys purchase of the Krug operation, of Margrits groundbreaking turn as one of the first female tour guides in the valley, and Bobs family. We heard heartwarming stories about his parents, their emigration from the rolling hills of Italys Le Marche and, of course, Rosa Mondavis role as hostess and amazing cook. When it came time open the wines from 1967, Bob wouldnt hear of it. He pointed out that wed already enjoyed some outstanding wines, including the Fay bottle, and insisted I keep the 67s to share with others on another day, for another occasion. I acquiesced. One friend had not been able to join us that evening, so I took the 67 Inglenook to dinner with him at a Napa restaurant a few days later. But I kept the Beaulieu and Louis Martini for another five years. Wouldnt you know it Margrit and Bob invited me to their new home on Wappo Hill for a birthday dinner with the same group of friends who attended the backyard tasting. So I took those two bottles, and 10 of us enjoyed them with a cheese course. When hed presented me with those 67 wines, Alex Dierkhising quipped: Drink them within 20 minutes of pulling the corks otherwise the fruit will be all gone. I repeated his admonition at that birthday dinner table. I think he exaggerated a bit, dont you, is what I recall Bob responding. For Bob Mondavi never spoke ill of others and he certainly didnt want to give the impression that he was less than impressed with wines made by Louis Martini and Andre Tchelistcheff, even if the harvest hadnt been memorable. On the occasion of my celebrating 30 years in the valley, and on the Register staff, a good friend, Roberta Quick, teamed up with one of the talented winery chefs, Gary Jenanyan, and Margrit to stage an incredible food and wine pairing on the lawn of the Oakville winery. They invited several dozen chefs to prepare tasty food, fare complemented by not only Mondavi wines but those from other valley vintners. Although they should have been in New York receiving an award for a book Margrit had written with daughter, Annie, Margrit and Bob attended my celebration. Bobs kind words about my career gave me more than enough reason to continue for what is fast closing on another two decades. While Blake was in San Diego for his show he did something extra cool. Like really, really cool. He made a surprise visit for a military family and hooked them up with a JC Penny gift card. Blake said: Met an awesome military family & surprised the USO with a JCPenney gift card at my #SanDiego concert last weekend! Pretty awesome move there Mr. Shelton! Artsakh ombudsman shows Azerbaijan destruction of Armenian cultural heritage Man, 38, dies after being hit by car in Armenia Foreign cyclist, 38, dies in Armenia road accident Marukyan: Why are you so nervous about expected international presence in Armenia if you aren't planning new aggression? Driver dies in hospital 25 days after Armenia road accident 231 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia past one week Komsomolskaya Pravda: PM Pashinyan is handing over Karabakh in order to take Armenia to the West Vedomosti daily: Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia leaders to hold face-to-face talks Kanye West says he will love Kim Kardashian 'for life' Russia to evade G7 plan to cap oil prices, export 90% of its oil? Russia military forces announce reason for fighter jet crash in Yeysk OSCE fact-finding mission visits Armenias Syunik Province (PHOTOS) US dollar may be closer to peak than markets think Mbappe to get 630M from PSG in 3 years? La Liga: Barca win big Serie A: Napoli beat Roma, are current leaders Syunik governor in Frances Vienne, sister city of Armenias Goris, discusses implemented projects, future cooperation Climate protesters throw mashed potatoes at Monet painting in Germany museum There is chance for peace in Ukraine, Macron says Serie A: Lazio beat Atalanta, climb to 3rd place US, Russia defense chiefs discuss Ukraine situation for 2nd time in last few days Salman Rushdie becomes partially blind after New York attack in August Premier League: Tottenham lose to Newcastle Armenias Arsen Harutyunyan wins world title 2nd time La Liga: Atletico beat Betis, are 3rd Turkey plans to set up 2 more military bases in northern Syria Germany wants to use Israel UAVs to protect its key infrastructures Bundesliga: Union Berlin lose to penultimate team but are still current leaders UK defense secretary holds phone talk with Russia counterpart US to attempt set Russia oil price cap above $60 per barrel? Premier League: Arsenal play draw with Southampton Russia, Turkey defense ministers confer about Ukraine situation Armenia official: Terms for buying, building houses for those displaced from Artsakh have improved Saudi Arabia forum set to draw American business leaders despite existing tensions Barca to part ways with 4 captains Iran plans to increase natural gas exports to Turkey Iran army ground forces holding exercise in West Azarbaijan Province Sovereignty renunciation to be punished in Armenia with 12-15 years of imprisonment, as per justice ministry draft 2 pilots killed in Russia fighter jet crash Russia, France defense ministers discuss Ukraine How AI offers dating based on a person's preferences: Igor Khalatyan talks about his project Kanye West hires Johnny Depp's attorney to save his business Fighter jet crashes into house in Russias Irkutsk 150 residents of 3 Karabakh settlements handed over to Azerbaijan get compensation certificates Rishi Sunak confirms UK premier bid Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson hold talks Biden slammed for 'scary' long pause during interview John Lennons final letter sells for nearly $64K Elite US troops conducting exercises on Ukraine border Inzaghi: We believed to the end Iran MP: Military exercises on Azerbaijan border are decisive response to Israel Xi Jinping elected Communist Party of China Central Committee general secretary Haaland: Special game ahead Armenia envoy presents credentials to Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency chair Mkhitaryan: I had no energy left in final 15 minutes but I wanted to keep going to fight to the end 5 anonymous games you might be interested in Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz dies aged 78 Hungary to approve by years end Sweden, Finland petitions to join NATO Ancelotti: Benzema will not be ready for Reals game against Leipzig US researchers debunk main theory for origin of life Alexis Ohanian: We will never stop thriving, it will be a daily reminder that you failed La Liga: Real beat Sevilla Serie A: Mkhitaryan goal in extended time brings win to Inter Iranian MP: Iran will conduct military exercises wherever it deems necessary Finnish delegation to visit Ankara to discuss NATO membership Jurgen Klopp: The performance I can explain, the result not Social media giants are likely to oppose Turkey's new law Pastor steals $900,000 to buy stocks and car in U.S. Lithuanian President Nauseda is named most popular politician in country Charles III will embark on longest tour of world in history of royal family Deputy Director of Institute of Oriental Studies of RAS: Baku's goal is that Karabakh has no Armenian population Hurricane Roslyn in Pacific Ocean intensifies to third category Study: We need to eat according to circadian rhythms Italy's new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, begins forming government U.S. Treasury Department records budget deficit of over $429 billion in September Why does Baku need aggravation on border with Armenia? Skakov assesses likelihood of new aggression Iranian Foreign Minister: I had important meeting with Pashinyan in Armenia Johnson spotted in economy class on flight from Dominican Republic to Britain Armenian PM and European Parliament Resident Rapporteur for Armenia discuss Karabakh situation Authorities in Kherson urge residents to immediately leave city 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 Blood tests can help treat childhood cancer Artak Beglaryan: You will see me in new position Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds pick name for their fourth child already? 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 Sensational defeat for Liverpool (video) 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 'A Walk to Remember' star Mandy Moore becomes mother for second time Private jet goes missing off coast of Costa Rica Benzema will not help Real Madrid in match against Sevilla 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 Gas stoves can be hazardous to health World Championship U-23: Impressive start by Arsen Harutyunyan, Arman Avagyan will fight for bronze Deputy PM of Armenia and Head of Sharjah Heritage Institute discuss strengthening of Armenian-Emirati relations US Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a senior member of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, called for a Leahy Law investigation into reports that the Azerbaijan armed forces, which annually receive millions of dollars in US military aid, committed gross violations of human rights during Bakus April 2nd offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In remarks during an Armed Services hearing Thursday on the National Defense Authorization Act, Sanchez noted that she has reviewed credible allegations that units of the Azerbaijani military have committed gross violations of human rights. I believe that these blatant human rights violations warrant action on our part to direct our Secretary of Defense to work with our Secretary of State on an investigation on possible human rights violations. And I believe the US should conduct an investigation on whether the Leahy Law is being violated by the Azerbaijani military, stated Sanchez. We, the United States, we are a leader on human rights and we cannot afford to support militaries that commit human rights violations. In her remarks, Sanchez cited sharp criticism of Azerbaijans human rights record and called attention to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyevs pardon and praise for Azerbaijani military officer Ramil Safarov, who axe-murdered Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan while he slept during a NATO peacekeeping training program in Hungary, in 2004. YEREVAN. The court ended the interrogation of the defendant Valery Permyakov accused of the Avetisyans murder. The defendant, who had previously refused to give a testimony, pleaded guilty. However, he gave succinct answers to the clarifying questions -- "do not know", "I do not remember", "I do not want", "yes" or "no", reported the radio station Freedom. As before, he replied no to the question of his lawyer if he made a testimony under pressure. However, he said that it was not him who made notes in the social network Classmates. As earlier reported, the notes in the social network are linked to the version of "a satanic sign" of the crime. Valery Permyakov reiterated that he killed the Avetisyans, however, as earlier, he refused to answer to the question whether he was alone and under pressure. To the question of Mihran Poghosyan, the lawyer, what he would think about a man who killed seven people Valery Permyakov said he would consider him person an insane . "But I am not like that," he said. Earlier, it was reported that Valery Permyakov refused to make a testimony. In this regards the interrogation of the Armenian and Russian investigators were promulgated at several sessions. According to the indictment , Valery Permyakov, a Russian base soldier, on January 12 of 2015 entered the house of the Avetisyans and shot the family members Aida Avetisyan, Hasmik Avetisyan , Sergei Avetisyan, Armen Avetisyan , Araks Poghosyan, and little Hasmik Avetisyan. Later, he hit little Sergei Avetisyan five times. The child died in the hospital seven days later. Artsakh ombudsman shows Azerbaijan destruction of Armenian cultural heritage Man, 38, dies after being hit by car in Armenia Foreign cyclist, 38, dies in Armenia road accident Marukyan: Why are you so nervous about expected international presence in Armenia if you aren't planning new aggression? Driver dies in hospital 25 days after Armenia road accident Komsomolskaya Pravda: PM Pashinyan is handing over Karabakh in order to take Armenia to the West Vedomosti daily: Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia leaders to hold face-to-face talks Russia to evade G7 plan to cap oil prices, export 90% of its oil? Russia military forces announce reason for fighter jet crash in Yeysk OSCE fact-finding mission visits Armenias Syunik Province (PHOTOS) US dollar may be closer to peak than markets think Syunik governor in Frances Vienne, sister city of Armenias Goris, discusses implemented projects, future cooperation Climate protesters throw mashed potatoes at Monet painting in Germany museum There is chance for peace in Ukraine, Macron says US, Russia defense chiefs discuss Ukraine situation for 2nd time in last few days Turkey plans to set up 2 more military bases in northern Syria Germany wants to use Israel UAVs to protect its key infrastructures UK defense secretary holds phone talk with Russia counterpart US to attempt set Russia oil price cap above $60 per barrel? Russia, Turkey defense ministers confer about Ukraine situation Armenia official: Terms for buying, building houses for those displaced from Artsakh have improved Saudi Arabia forum set to draw American business leaders despite existing tensions Iran plans to increase natural gas exports to Turkey Iran army ground forces holding exercise in West Azarbaijan Province Sovereignty renunciation to be punished in Armenia with 12-15 years of imprisonment, as per justice ministry draft 2 pilots killed in Russia fighter jet crash Russia, France defense ministers discuss Ukraine Fighter jet crashes into house in Russias Irkutsk 150 residents of 3 Karabakh settlements handed over to Azerbaijan get compensation certificates Rishi Sunak confirms UK premier bid Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson hold talks Biden slammed for 'scary' long pause during interview Elite US troops conducting exercises on Ukraine border Iran MP: Military exercises on Azerbaijan border are decisive response to Israel Xi Jinping elected Communist Party of China Central Committee general secretary Armenia envoy presents credentials to Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency chair Hungary to approve by years end Sweden, Finland petitions to join NATO US researchers debunk main theory for origin of life Iranian MP: Iran will conduct military exercises wherever it deems necessary Finnish delegation to visit Ankara to discuss NATO membership Social media giants are likely to oppose Turkey's new law Pastor steals $900,000 to buy stocks and car in U.S. Lithuanian President Nauseda is named most popular politician in country Charles III will embark on longest tour of world in history of royal family Deputy Director of Institute of Oriental Studies of RAS: Baku's goal is that Karabakh has no Armenian population Hurricane Roslyn in Pacific Ocean intensifies to third category Italy's new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, begins forming government U.S. Treasury Department records budget deficit of over $429 billion in September Why does Baku need aggravation on border with Armenia? Skakov assesses likelihood of new aggression Iranian Foreign Minister: I had important meeting with Pashinyan in Armenia Johnson spotted in economy class on flight from Dominican Republic to Britain Armenian PM and European Parliament Resident Rapporteur for Armenia discuss Karabakh situation Authorities in Kherson urge residents to immediately leave city 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 Im surprised by the fact that the Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is convened in Baku this year. Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly of Bashkiria Rafail Zinurov, who is also a member of the Russian Federal Council, told the aforementioned to Tert.am, noting that AzerbIjan did receive adequate response from Armenia during the four-day war. According to Zinurov, war will be inevitable if any of the Nagorno-Karabakh territories are ceded. To the question as to the non-justification of Armenias expectations from Russia as an ally states, and the criticism regarding Russias arms sales to the adversary, Rafail Zinurov said: I can only refer to Russias official position announced by President Vladmir Putin: the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can only be settled by peaceful means, without use of force. He declined to comment on the issues related to arms sales, saying that it is an international practice and a most delicate political question. Regrettably, all the states are selling and buying weapons. We are well aware that the situation does not allow Russia to take sides with one of the conflicting parties, and it is seeking to be neutral. The very fact of Armenia being Russias strategic partner and a CSTO member-state prevents strong-worded statements, Zinurov said. To the journalists statement that Armenia was the first to support Russia when the Russian-Turkish relations worsened, but Russia didnt act similarly in Armenias case, member of the Russian Federal Council said that Armenia is Russias strategic partner and the only ally among the post-soviet states. According to him, Armenia should have supported Russia, given the history of its relations with Turkey. In any case, you can be sure Russia is doing its best to prevent bloodshed or war. You know, I am greatly surprised that Baku is hosting the Seventh Forum of UN Nations Alliance of Civilizations. They have killed people, and now look! As a Mount Vernon Leadership Fellow, Ben Goldfein, a rising junior at Emory College, will live and study this summer at George Washington's historic estate near Washington, D.C. Ben Goldfein, a rising junior at Emory College, has been named one of 16 Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows for this summer. Goldfein, a philosophy major, will be the first Emory College student tapped for the honor, and part of just the second class in the competitive leadership program that calls for students to live and study at George Washingtons historic estate near Washington, D.C. My goal is to facilitate the integration of international student life into more aspects of the American college experience, while simultaneously positioning Emory University as an international global powerhouse that sets the example for other collegiate institutions, Goldfein says. Becoming a Mount Vernon Leadership Fellow will give me the time, inspiration, guidance and support I need to bring my ideas to fruition and develop a viable action plan, he adds. The cohort will meet with nationally recognized corporate, government and military leaders during the five-and-a-half week program that focuses on Washingtons character, leadership and vision, as a statesman and military leader. This program is designed for college students who are leaders and influencers on their campuses, Mount Vernon president Curt Viebranz says in a statement. They will take their experience at Mount Vernon back to their universities and put it into practice when they enter the working world. Goldfein was selected from about 200 applicants from 40 states and the District of Columbia for the honor. Members of the 2016 class are pursuing a variety of degrees, from neuroscience to accounting to political science, at several top universities. Goldfein, who is from Atlanta, will be a visiting student at the University of Oxford next year as one of 25 students in the St. Peters College Visiting Student Programme. He will study philosophy, politics and economics (PPE), with a focus on analytic and moral philosophy. On campus, he is involved with Emorys satire magazine, The Spoke; serves as the vice president of recruitment for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity; and is a sophomore adviser in Turman Hall. He is also a professional magician and black belt in Tae Kwon Do. For more information about the program, visit mountvernon.org/fellows. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] SIU Business College Honors Jason Greene, left, the interim dean of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale College of Business, stands with (from left), Teresa Katubig of Marion, the colleges Southern Illinois Business Leader of the Year, and the 2016 College of Business Hall of Fame inductees: Reina Irene Mejia-Chacon, Maria Hughes, Sunil Sinha, and Drew Stoker of St. Louis. (Photo by Steve Buhman) College of Business recognizes alumni by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondales College of Business recently inducted four accomplished alumni into its Hall of Fame. Reina Irene Mejia-Chacon of Honduras, Maria Hughes of Louisville, Ky., Sunil Sinha of Richmond, Va., and Drew Stoker of St. Louis were recognized for their professional achievements and contributions to the College of Business. The first awards ceremony took place in 1986 and the Hall of Fame induction is the colleges highest honor. The 2016 ceremony and reception was April 22 at Morris Librarys John C. Guyon Auditorium. The college also honored Teresa Katubig of Marion as the 2015-2016 Southern Illinois Business Leader of the Year. Mejia-Chacon, a 1992 MBA graduate, has been the chief operating officer for Citibank Honduras and commercial international bank leader for Honduras and Nicaragua since September 2013. During her 19 year career with the financial institution, she has held a variety of positions. Prior to accepting her current post, Mejia-Chacon was director for the Institutional Client Group (ICG) Honduras and Nicaragua for six years. She is a founder of the Operation Smile Honduras program and serves as a board member, representing Citibank. The countrys only program treating children with cleft lips and cleft palates, Operation Smile Honduras has helped more than 4,000 children since it began in 1998. A participant in the colleges Executive in Residence program, Mejia-Chacon met with and mentored students and conducted mock interviews with them while on campus recently. Hughes, a 1990 marketing graduate, is vice president of Enterprise Solutions for Humana, a Kentucky-based health insurance business with more than 13 million customers nationwide. She provides consulting and business services expertise to the company and her responsibilities include acquisition integration, internal consulting and program management, corporate procurement and operations shared services. Her previous professional experience includes about 15 years in executive leadership roles with Ford Motor Credit Co. A founding president of Humanas African-American Network Resource Group, Hughes is a former board member of the National Safe Place organization. She was named to the Women to Watch in Health Care program in 2013 by Deloitte Consulting and is a member of the College of Business Minority Affairs External Advisory Board. Sinha, 1998 MBA graduate, is a director of Clinical Quality and Patient Safety for ChenMed Inc. During his career, Sinha has held numerous positions in the business world including vice president for medical affairs at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center, Maryland regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives and associate chief resident at the Loyola University Medical Center. Appointed by President Barack Obama to a three-year term as a judge for the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award program, Sinha is an American College of Physicians fellow. He is also a senior fellow for the Council for Excellence in Government and the Health Research Education Trust. Stoker, who earned his finance degree in 1975, is a senior contracts manager at Boeing Co. A longtime company executive, his responsibilities include preparing, evaluating, proposing and negotiating direct commercial sales contracts to foreign governments and companies for Boeing defense and security products and services. In addition, he helps Boeing contracts personnel develop international contracting capabilities via training and mentoring programs. A former Navy pilot, Stoker participated in numerous carrier deployments to the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. He also trained new officers to become naval flight officers before taking a position with McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis in 1992. The company merged with Boeing in 1997 and Stocker has been with the company since. Stoker is active in the Boy Scouts of America organization. He is a volunteer leader, assisting scouts advance through the ranks up to Eagle Scout, and helps organize and lead Boy Scout high-adventure trips. Stoker was also the keynote speaker for the April 9 College of Business student honors day event. Current College of Business students announced inductees and participated in the awards presentation. The students announcing the Hall of Fame inductees were Trevor Pederson, a senior marketing major from Batavia; Farah Naomeshie, an MBA student from Cotonou, Benin Republique in Africa; Savannah McCord, a senior management major from St. Louis; and Yazmin Celaya, a senior finance major from North Aurora. Southern Illinois Business Leader of the Year Katubig, a 1993 accounting graduate, is the founder, president and CEO of HireLevel Powered by Extra Help. She founded the business in Johnston City as Extra Help Inc., a small temporary placement company, in 1995 and has expanded in services and scope since that time. With eight locations in six states, the agency now provides full-service workforce management, including employment and staffing services and payroll management. Katubig is a member of various professional and public service organizations, including Rotary International and the National Association of Women Business Owners. She is also involved with volunteer and humanitarian agencies including United Way, Nights Shield Childrens Center in West Frankfort, and the Lighthouse Shelter for the Homeless in Marion. Southern Illinois University Carbondale engineering students Emily Waldon (front) and Emily Peterson compete in the concrete canoe and steel bridge competition held recently at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Waldon, a junior in civil engineering and team captain, from Horn Lake, Miss., and Peterson, a senior in civil engineering from Mulberry Grove, took second place in the womens endurance portion of the concrete canoe contest. (Photo provided) Steel bridge, concrete canoe teams win contests by Tim Crosby CARBONDALE, Ill. Students from Southern Illinois University Carbondale made history last week, winning the top spot in two regional competitions aimed at testing their abilities and creativity as up-and-coming engineers. The SIU teams took first place in both the steel bridge and concrete canoe design competitions, held April 22-23 at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. It is the first time the SIU teams have both won first place in the two competitions. The American Society of Civil Engineers sponsors the event; the American Institute of Steel Construction co-sponsored the steel bridge contest, as well. Sanjeev Kumar, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at SIU, said the students on both teams worked extremely hard. Participating in these competitions is not only good for us to get great visibility at the national and even international stage, it helps our students learn skills that are not taught in a classroom, Kumar said. Winning these competitions, of course, gives us bragging rights. But more importantly it shows that our students are prepared and ready to handle real-world challenges. Kumar said the accomplishments will help students greatly when they graduate and enter the workforce in the competitive engineering field. Employers in the civil and environmental engineering arena look for students who are leaders, which is exactly what these competitions prepare them to be, Kumar said. I am proud of what our students have accomplished. Everyone associated with civil engineering at SIU is excited. The win means the teams next will compete at the national competitions. The steel bridge competition is slated for May 27-28 at Brigham Young University in Utah. The concrete canoe competition will take place in June at the University of Texas in Tyler. In the steel bridge contest, the team starts each year by researching possible designs and types of steel for their bridge, looking at factors such as deflection, stress and bending moments to create the best bridge possible. The team then researches, designs and fabricates a scaled simulation of a steel bridge before the competition. During the contest, the team must build the entire bridge from the ground up while considering display, construction speed, lightness, stiffness, construction economy, structural efficiency and overall performance. William Eichfeld, professor of civil and environmental engineering at SIU and faculty adviser to the teams, said hard work made the difference. We are all very happy and these students worked so hard on this, Eichfeld said. This group in particular really had an organization and really stuck to it and remained very focused on the details. And I think they really enjoyed what they were doing. In the steel bridge competition the SIU team cleaned up, winning top marks in bridge stiffness, lightness, economy, efficiency and display. The team also took third place in the construction time contest. Mansor Sufran, senior in civil engineering from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and captain of the team, said the win was especially sweet as it marked the first time in 10 years a bridge team advanced to the national competition. So the victory is a big thing for the team and the college, he said. Building a canoe out of a heavy material such as concrete is an obvious engineering challenge for the canoe team. To do so, teams must experiment with different types of concrete mixes and designs. Judges rate canoes based on appearance, aesthetic qualities, speed and other characteristics. To win first place overall, the SIU concrete canoe team competed in such events as the design report, oral presentation and aesthetics, as well as racing the canoe in mens, womens and co-ed endurance and sprint competitions. Also as part of the canoe contest, Jacob Palmer, from Washington, Ill., placed third in the technical paper presentation. His paper addressed the question on an engineering ethics topic: When working in a foreign location, what defines the design standard which the engineer can rely on to have met his or her ethical obligation to provide a safe and sound engineering solution or design? Members of the concrete canoe team included: Illinois Antioch Christian Peterson, junior in forestry Bloomington Joseph Dewerff, sophomore in civil engineering Carlyle Nicole Hanke, senior in civil engineering Chrisman Dana Mitchell, junior in computer engineering Danville Carrie Zillman, senior in civil engineering Dieterich Alex Kreke, senior in civil engineering Evergreen Park Arno Blazys, senior in civil engineering Herrin Mark Sutton, senior in civil engineering Kankakee Alyssa Davis, senior in civil engineering Mulberry Grove Emily Peterson, senior in civil engineering Nashville Jordan Dalaviras, senior in civil engineering Odell Cody Bauer, senior in civil engineering Ottawa Jessica Wignes, sophomore in civil engineering Plainfield Marissa Campobasso, freshman in civil engineering Sigel Travis Walk, senior in civil engineering Teutopolis Tyler Windel, senior in mechanical engineering Brandon Hemmen, senior in civil engineering Waterloo Colton Miskell, junior in civil engineering Mississippi Horn Lake Emily Waldon, junior in civil engineering and team captain Missouri California Addison Jobe, graduate student in civil engineering Kansas Overland Park Mardi Buchanan, senior in civil engineering International Daniel Lee, a sophomore in civil engineering from Tawau, Malaysia Members of the steel bridge team, their year and major at SIU, and hometowns included: Illinois Bensenville Johnathan Stitgen, senior in civil engineering Chicago Thomas Fitzpatrick, senior in civil engineering Effingham Dillon Ruholl, junior in civil engineering Grand Ridge Alexis Bower, sophomore in civil engineering Le Roy Erik Woelfle, junior in civil engineering Mount Prospect Jacob Brown, junior in civil engineering Jimmy Schumann, junior in civil engineering New Lenox Patrick OSullivan, junior in civil engineering Robinson Nicholas Berty, junior in civil engineering Tamms Austin Caldwell, senior in civil engineering Vergennes Jared Linze, senior in civil engineering Warrenville Philip Williams, junior in civil engineering Missouri Cape Girardeau Elijah Greer, sophomore in civil engineering International Mansor Sufran, senior in civil engineering from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Engineering students from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, foreground, work to assemble their steel bridge during the annual steel bridge and concrete canoe competition, held recently at Missouri University of Science and Technology. (Photo provided) The delegation reportedly arrived in Pakistan this week to address problems faced by Afghan refugees. The Kabul reaction comes close on the heels of President Ashraf Ghani's speech this week that peace talks between some factions of the Taliban were off the table. "The Taliban delegation's trip to Pakistan from our prospective is totally questionable. A terrorist group does not have the right to travel to countries. We expect Pakistan to have government-to-government relations with Afghanistan," TOLONews quoted Shahussain Murtazawi, deputy spokesman for Ghani, as saying. Kabul has also urged Islamabad to honour its pledge and suppress militants engaged in violence in Afghanistan. "Action should be taken against the militants involved in terrorist activities from Pakistan's soil in Afghanistan. This is the demand that our allies have as well," said a spokesman for the National Security Council. --IANS ahm/mr ( 171 Words) 2016-04-29-15:12:05 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said that the Indian economy has the potential to grow at 8-10 percent per year over the next couple of decades. India today stands poised for another leap forward that is predicted to be around Indias GDP growth 7.6 percent in 2016-17 and going to have higher growth rate in the coming years, Mukherjee said here. The President was addressing the Papua New Guinea Business Council on the second and concluding day of his official visit to this Pacific island-nation. In fact, the Indian economy has the potential to achieve 8-10 percent GDP growth per year over the next couple of decades, the Presiden, himself a former finance minister of India, said. Mukherjee said that the world today saw the Indian economy as a bright spot in an otherwise gloom and bleak economic environment all over the world. In fact, since the financial crisis in 2008, world economy had never fully recovered, he said. One after another the crisis came but despite the unfavourable environment in the international world of money, finance, trade and commerce, India continued to achieve higher GDP Growth rate except a couple of years as the aftermath of this adverse impact in international scenario. On Papua New Guineas economic growth, he said it did not truly reflect the potential of a country blessed with abundant natural and mineral resources, highly fertile soil, plenty of fresh water and an extensive coastline teeming with fish and a splendid variety of precious seafood. The exclusive economic zone of Papua New Guinea, 3.1 million sq. km, is the guarantee of future growth of this region and would provide the opportunity to Papua New Guinea to lead the Pacific Ocean, the President said. He said the challenge for Papua New Guinea was how to best utilise its abundant natural resources for value addition, generating employment and economically empowering its people. For Papua New Guinea to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, Mukherjee suggeted the application of appropriate technologies, by increasing yield per hectare, by the use of varieties of new fertilisers, and an effective use of fresh water. Our government policies have consciously created an environment for indigenous commercial, industrial and manufacturing entities to grow and sustain themselves, he said. "Today our private sector has journeyed far and wide... Our companies create value and not merely extract resources. India invites you to partner with them." The President said that bilateral trade between India and Papua New Guinea for the year 2014-15 stands at $209.48 million. "The balance of course is in favour of Papua New Guinea, but I am not satisfied with this figure because potentiality is much more," he stated. "We can offer to each other much more than this. There is scope -- not only for increased exports from here to India, but also from India to Papua New Guinea." Stating that there were mutual complementarities in many fields between India and Papua New Guinea, Mukherjee said that while India has the agricultural knowledge and technology to boost agricultural productivity, Papua New Guinea has an abundance of fertile lands and ideal conditions for agriculture along with the availability of fresh water. "While India has one of the biggest jewellery industries in the world, Papua New Guinea has gold; India has a huge energy requirement, Papua New Guinea has huge resources of natural Gas and petroleum," he said. "In all these sectors, India and Papua New Guinea can work together to improve industry practices and productivity. Our close cooperation could bring opportunities, growth and progress as well as prosperity to our people." he stated. --IANS ab/vt ( 610 Words) 2016-04-29-17:28:05 (IANS) Actress Michelle Keegan has admitted she doesn't mind being away from her husband Mark Wright while she carries out work commitments. The couple have been married for less than a year but have been spending long periods apart because of their work commitments, but the 28-year-old star -- who is filming military drama "Our Girl" in South Africa -- says she and her spouse are determined to make things "work", reports femalefirst.co.uk. "It's not that bad being away for so long. When Mark was filming recently, he was away for three weeks at a time, then came back for five days and was off again for three weeks. I think it just comes with the job. As long as we're happy that's all that matters. We'll make it work," Keegan told Closer magazine. The former "Coronation Street" star doesn't mind getting recognised when she's out and about but she hates being treated "differently" because of her fame. "I don't mind when people stare or do a double take because I do it too, as long as people are polite. The only thing I don't like about being famous is when people start to treat you differently. People presume because you're in the public eye, you change," she added. --IANS ank ( 217 Words) 2016-04-29-05:26:06 (IANS) "The friendship between the United States and India is a pillar of stability in an important region of the world," Ryan told the mediapersons during his weekly press conference. "This address presents a special opportunity to hear from the elected leader of the world's most populous democracy on how our two nations can work together to promote our shared values and to increase prosperity. We look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to the US Capitol on June 8," he added. This visit will be Prime Minister Modi's fourth visit to the U.S, since assuming office.Prime Minister Modi will become the fifth Indian to address the Congress after Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. (ANI) South Korea's March industrial output decline was due to chipmakers reducing their inventories through exports, a finance ministry official told Reuters on Friday after data showed output sharply missed market expectations.The official added although the economy is improving gradually, weak exports continue to cap production while domestic consumption is doing well. He said this trend would continue for some time.REUTERS PS PR0504 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0137-706253.Xml Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has filed a defamation suit against Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan for making a defamatory statement against him.During an election campaign, Achuthanandan alleged that Ommen Chandy is facing 31 corruption cases and the colleagues of his Cabinet are facing 136 corruption cases before the Supreme Court of India.The defamation suit filed before the Municipal Court, sought a compensation of Rs one lakh from the Opposition leader.UNI DS PS PR0548 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0137-706256.Xml Official sources said on a tip-off about the presence of militants in village Kanthpor in Lolab in Kupwara, a search operation was launched by security forces last evening. However, when the security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there fired at them with automatic weapons. Security forces retaliated, ensuing in an encounter, the sources said, adding the militants had reportedly taken shelter in a mosque. However, large number of people, mostly youths took to the streets raising slogans against security forces for laying siege around the Jamia Masjid. Security forces resorted to lathicharge to disperse the demonstrators who were pelting stones, they said, adding the siege was later lifted. Security forces exercised restraint to avoid any civilian casualty. The sources said local residents today recovered body of a militant from a distance from the site of encounter. The body of the slain militant was taken away by police for identification, they said adding one ak rifle, one magazine and a hand grenade were also recovered. UNI BAS SW PM1017 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-706326.Xml Mr Geelani had appealed to people to hold peaceful demonstrations at their respective places in the Valley against alleged "State Terrorism". A spokesman for the Hurriyat Aiyaz Akbar said the authorities have put under house arrest a number of amalgam senior leaders, including Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayee, Raja Mehrajuddin, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrayee and Nayeem Ahmad Khan. He said a large number of security forces and state police personnel had been deployed outside his Malroo house and he was not being allowed to move out. Mr Geelani also remained under house arrest since his return from New Delhi on April 6. Security forces remained deployed outside his Hyderpora residence and he was not being allowed to move out. He said Shabir Shah also remained under house arrest since his release from Rajbagh police station last week. UNI BAS SW PM1022 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-706329.Xml Emotional scenes were witnessed when migrant Pandits meet Muslims on the reopening of a 200-year-old temple after more than 25 years in the downtown Srinagar. It was an emotional reunion when Pandits who had migrated to different parts of the country, particularly Jammu, were joined by local Muslims at Rainawari in the downtown, when a Vaittal Bhairav temple at Motiyar was reopened for puja. "Because of the help and assistance provided by local Muslims, we could repair and renovate the temple which was damaged during all these years," said Pandits. "We are very happy to be in our birthplace in the Kashmir valley," said the migrant Pandits adding in fact their wish has been fulfilled by 'bagwan" (God). They said many elderly persons of the community had died without getting any chance to visit their birthplace. But because of encouragement by local Muslims they are here. "Nothing has changed, we find Muslims, including women, very helpful," said a group of women devotees who had come from Jammu to participate in a "havan". "We prayed for peace and prosperity in the valley so that we return to this heaven on earth," they said, adding local Muslims had taken care of the temple during all these years. Muslims also turned emotion when they met their neighbours after more than two decades. Members of all the religions were living in the Valley with peace, joining in each others sorrow and joy. But things suddenly changed and everything was destroyed, they said and expressed hope that situation would become normal again and all people will live together. The temple had remained closed since early 90s when majority members of the Kashmiri Pandit families migrated to different parts of the country following eruption of militancy.UNI BAS SW 1026 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-706342.Xml Ruling Samajwadi Party MLA from Sitapur Rampal Yadav was arrested along with eight others for attacking policemen when the personnel were demolishing his four-storied illegal building here last night. Authorities of the Lucknow Development Authority(LDA) was given order by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to pull down the four-storied under construction building of the MLA in the Jiamau area on the Lohia Path at around 0100 hrs.Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajesh Pandey said today that nine people, including the SP MLA, were arrested last night after they attacked the policemen who were accompanying the LDA demolition workers. An FIR was also registered against them and all the accused would be produced in the court today. Presently, they are being kept in the police lines station.A licence pistol was also sezied by the police, when the supporters of the MLA tried to open fire to terrorise the LDA workers. The supporters of the MLA reportedly slapped the LDA secretary Sirish Chandra Verma.The SP government has suddenly gone against the MLA after he revolted during the panchayat polls leading to defeat of the official candidate in the block pramukh elections. Rampal along with four other MLAs were suspended by the party for their anti-party activities in the panchayat polls but the order was later revoked before the budget session of the assembly. Meanwhile last night, the Sitapur district authorities have also demolished an illegal guest house of Rampal.UNI MB SW PM1144 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-706408.Xml Mehta, late on Thursday. Meghalaya Police said that these militants were affiliated to the Rakkam Command of the GNLA in the Nangalbibra area of the state. Rakkam is the GNLA's finance secretary and operates from the Nangalbibra area. These militants were involved in several kidnapping and extortions. At the time of their surrender, they had a large number of arms and ammunition in their possession. The surrender ceremony was held at the DGP headquarters in Shillong. During the surrender ceremony, the GNLA militants handed over four AK-47 assault rifles, one American made G-3 rifle, carbine machine guns and explosives. The GNLA is one of few Garo rebel groups fighting for the creation a separate Garoland in western Meghalaya, and is headed by police officer-turned-rogue R. Sangma. Sangma is presently lodged in the Shillong Jail following his arrest from the India-Bangladesh border last year. The GNLA, which has over 100 rebels, including a few women cadres, operates in the East, West and South Garo Hills, and has been declared a terrorist outfit. (ANI) Police Inspector (PI) Anil Honrao of the Thane ACB told UNI that Y S Reddy (48) was arrested late last night while handing over a bribe of Rs 25 lakh to the corporator. He said there were numerous complaints about the irregularities done by the director. Shiv Sena corporatorDhananjay Gawde lodge complaint to police station. The Virar corporation and the accused were wanted to withdraw the complaints, for that director had offered him a bribe of Rs 1 crore. The corporator was not willing to accepting a bribe, therefore lodged a complaint with ACB. The ACB sleuth laid a trap and arrested the director while handing over bag of Rs 25 lakh as first instalment ofbribe amount to the corporator. Reddy was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and further investigation is on, the sources addd. UNI XR ST SW NS1233 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-706443.Xml AICC has appointed Mr Roy as next CLP leader after resignation of incumbent Congress legislator Sudip Roy Barman from the post protesting against the decision of Congress high command over electoral understanding with CPI-M in West Bengal.Accordingly, Tripura Congress president Birajit Sinha requested the Speaker to appoint Mr Roy as CLP leader in the assembly. Meantime, a dissident faction of Congress MLAs, led by Mr Barman, issued their note of decent against Mr Roy as their leader in the assembly. Six congress MLAs Sudip Roy Barman, Ashis Saha, Biswabandhu Sen, D C Hrankhwal, Pranajit Singha Roy and Jiten Sarkar-- signed a letter to the Speaker which alleged that the PCC president did not discuss with them before nominating Mr Roy as CLP leader and they will accept him in the house. In a letter to Mr Sinha, the Speaker today informed that six of ten legislators had written against Mr Roy's appointment. As a result, he does not enjoy the support of majority of the Congress MLAs. The Speaker, however, requested the PCC president to bring an unanimous resolution from the Congress legislators regarding appointment of CLP leader. So that he is able to appoint the next CLP cum opposition leader without any further delay. However, Mr Sinha said he has forwarded the letter to the AICC.UNI BB KK SW NS1221 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-706460.Xml The Samajwadi Party today walked out of the Rajya Sabha to protest against Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh's reply to agrarian crisis. SP leader Naresh Agrawal wanted to know what steps are being taken by the Centre to check farmers' suicide during Question Hour.In his reply, Mr Singh said relief provided by the Centre is meant to alleviate farmers' distress and that it cannot fully compensate farmers' losses resulting from crop failures.Keeping that in mind, he added, the NDA Government has come out with Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme, under which farmers' losses would be fully made up for.The SP Members were not satisfied with Mr Singh's reply and walked out of the House.UNI NM AE/RSA 1420 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0426-706666.Xml A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel posted in Jammu was killed on the spot when his motorcycle was knocked down by a speeding truck in Gormi police station limits when he was going to Gwalior, police said. Kalyanpura-resident Kamlesh Narwaria, who came here at Gwalior's Panihar with his former company's Kabaddi team two days ago, met with the accident last evening. Kamlesh was recruited in the CRPF 17 years ago. He was cremated at his native village with military honour and his 10-year-old son lit the funeral pyre, the sources said. UNI XC-BDG SW NS1312 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-706543.Xml This International Labour Day, May one, will be special for the labourers in Uttar Pradesh when the Samajwadi party government will formally launch the pension and subsidized lunch packets for the labourers. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, would also do a first, by joining a community lunch with the labourers on the day to express his concern for the community. Earlier former chief minister Rajnath Singh had joined a community lunch with the Coolies on Makarsankranti in 2003. Official sources here today said that this May Day, the government is slated to announce several sops for the labourers and other workers. This will include a pension scheme besides distribution of free bi-cycles and launching of the first phase of the subsidized lunch packets for the labourers in four places in the state capital. "No other CM has joined community lunch with the labourers and it would be an unique one," sources claimed. Meanwhile, the subsidized lunch packets for the labourers would cost just Rs 10 each where they would be provided fresh dal, subji, four rotis along with acchar and salads. Though the cost of each food packet would be of Rs 48 but the state government would bear the rest cost of the packet. On May one, CM would launch the lunch packets for labourers working at Awadh Vihar, Vrindavan Enclave, Amausi Metro station and New secretariat building in the first phase of the scheme. Later in the day Mr Yadav is also expected to visit the new secretariat building to meet the labourers and review the progress of the building which is expected to be completed by this year end.UNI MB ADG NS1321 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-706472.Xml Two employees of the restaurant were rescued by the fire services sleuths even as properties worth several lakhs were destroyed in the fire, which broke out at 0400 hrs. Fire department officials said five fire tenders were put in service to control the inferno. An investigation has been ordered to find out the reason behind the fire.UNI MB SW NS1331 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-706559.Xml The youngest daughter of Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh passed away after battling cancer, early today.Karnika Singh, breathed her last at 0515 hrs at the Max Hospital in Saket in the Capital. She was earlier being treated in the US.According to family sources, her body has been taken to Ahmedabad, where her in-laws reside.The 68-year-old leader has one son and four daughters from his first wife Asha, who died in 2013. According to Mr Singh's private secretary Sachin Vyatsa, Karnika (38) was suffering from cancer for a long time. Karnika was born in Raghogarh royal family in Guna district on April 27, 1979. She is survived by an eight-year-old son. The last rites would be conducted at Karnika's in-laws' place at Badwan in Gujarat's Surendranagar district, the sources said. A report from Raghogarh said that a condolence meeting was held after the news of Karnika's demise came here while markets remained closed in Raghogarh town to mark as a respect to the departed soul.UNI Team-BDG RBE CJ 1551 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-706781.Xml With sugarcane crushing season almost ending, the farmers in Uttar Pradesh are yet to get Rs 3571.38 crores from the sugar cane mills with majority of Rs 3307.36 from the private mill owners during the current crushing season of 2015-16. The mills only paid 75.73 per cent of the total dues so far. However, the dues have been calculated at the rate of Rs 230 per quintal against the State Advisory Price(SAP) of Rs 280 per quintal. Uttar Pradesh Sugar Mills Association(UPSMA) in a press release today said that of the total 118 sugar mills in the state, 94 in the private sector, paid Rs 11143 crores to the farmers which was 74.73 per cent. Similarly the 23 mills of the cooperative sector paid Rs 1160.71 crores, which was 81.51 per cent of the farmer dues and still Rs 263.23 crores are pending. The one corporation mill has paid Rs 72.12 crores which was 98.92 per cent of their dues. The total dues of the cane farmers in the state was Rs 14714.38 crores and the total payment made till April 27,2016 was Rs 11143 crores which was 75.73 per cent. UPSMA said that the sugar mills crushed a total 6407.91 lakh quintal of cane and produced 679.45 lakh quintal of sugar this season with a good recovery percentage of 10.60, but the Association admitted that if the mills had agreed to give the SAP rate to the farmers then they would have to pay Rs 17948.72 crores against the present due of Rs 14793.38 crores on the rate of Rs 230 per quintal of cane. However surprisingly, Rs 1.25 crores cane dues for 2014-15 in the private sector is still pending till date.UNI MB CJ AN1514 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-706733.Xml A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnelposted in poll bound South 24 Parganas district todayallegedly shot himself dead with his service rifle, the West Bengal Police said. The incident occurred in the wee hours at Mondolpara in Gosaba blockwhere CISF constable Jasai Hansda, aged about 32, and aresident of Jharkhand, allegedly shot himself dead. The CISF is guarding the polling booth where voting for the 5th round will be heldtomorrow.SP, south district, Sunil Chowdhury said the body was sent for postmortem.The CISF authorities have informed the bereaved family. UNI PC PL CJ BL1509 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-706739.Xml The Health and Family Welfare department of the Odisha government today signed an MoU with four private hospitals to provide health care to poor cancer patients with the assistance of the State Treatment Fund (STF) Director Medical Education and Training P Mohapatra signed the MoU with the authorities of Sparsh Hospital, Hemalata Hospital (both in Bhubaneswar), Panda Curie (Cuttack) and Mahatma Gandhi Cancer and Research Institute (Visakhapatnam) in the presence of Minister for Health and Family Welfare Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak. Earlier the state had also signed MoU with 20 private hospitals for providing treatment to patients with STF assistance. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said the process for the pre-detection of Cancer in the state has started. Arrangements had also been made to provide day-care chemotherapy to the cancer patients in various district Headquarter hospitals. Mr Nayak urged the private hospitals who signed the agreement with the government to provide treatment to the patients as per the STF guidelines.UNI BD DP PL CJ -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-707064.Xml After completing work-up phase, a 272-member strong contingent of the Indian Air Force, along with a mixed component of fighter and transport aircraft, is set to begin the main phase of the high profile exercise 'Red Flag' with the US air force in Alaska. The US air force is going to field some of its best aircraft, including most modern fifth generation fighter F-22 Rafter as well as F-16s, which the Obama administration is going to supply to Pakistan. As part of the operational support platforms IAF's IL-78 refueler and USAF's KC-135 will be deployed, an official statement said here today. Work up phase for Ex Red Flag concluded on April 27 at Eielson AFB Alaska."During this phase, the team was able to systematically achieve all the objectives laid down for this phase and is shaping up well to participate in the main conduct phase which will commence from May 3," the statement said. After inducting and deploying successfully earlier, the contingent has flown a variety of missions during the Work-up phase termed as 'Distant Frontier'. The team adopted a philosophy of 'Crawl, Walk and Run' signifying a progressive build up in the effort, pace and complexities of training sorties that were flown through the Work-up phase. The intent during the distant frontier phase was to expose the participating members, especially aircrew, to an international environment and familiarize then with local flying procedures, radio telephony terminologies, NATO brevity codes and Airspace as well as environmental peculiarities. "It is noteworthy that the local F-16 aggressor squadron has appreciated the performance of the Indian Air Force crew in the multiples missions conducted so far," the statement said. Eielson AFB, where the contingent is presently deployed, is located 26 miles south east of Fairbanks town and it boasts of having one of the best operating environment in the USA. The base apart from housing the elite 18th aggressor squadron of the USAF which is flying the F16 aircraft. In addition, the base also has a KC-135 Squadron and the Air National Guard element apart from a host of other facilities. For the main exercise, the IAF fighters will be fielded alongside the best aircraft the US Air Force and the US Navy such as F-22, F-15 and F-18.The IAF contingent had set off for exercise Red Flag from Air Force Station Jamnagar, on April 3 with SU-30 MKI, Jaguar,C-17 and IL-78 refueling aircraft. The exercise, which will culminate on May 13, formally commenced yesterday with an opening welcomeaddress by Lt General Russell, Commander Alaskan Command at at the Red Flag Ops Complex.UNI MK DJK RJ 1838 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-707374.Xml The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation today approved an investment of Rs 9,005 crore for the construction of 73,205 more houses for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in urban areas under the Prime Minister's Awas Yojana in the states of Maharashtra, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. An inter-ministerial Central Screening and Monitoring Committee chaired by Dr Nandita Chatterjee, Secretary (HUPA) approved the first batch of housing proposals during the current financial year. These were also the first affordable housing proposals of these three States sanctioned under PMAY (Urban). Maharashtra has been sanctioned a total of 71,701 houses in 10 cities at a total project cost of Rs 8,932 crore with Central Assistance of Rs 1,064 crore. Houses sanctioned include -61,946 under Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), 7,399 for Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) and 2,356 for In-situ Slum Redevelopment. Houses sanctioned city-wise in Maharashtra are: Virar-61,946, Kalyan-30,378, Thane-8,184, Gothegar-3,822 and the rest in Mumbai Metropolitan Region areas of Wave, Palghar, Pen, Nilaje Pada, Raygad and Kelawali. For Punjab, construction of 1,280 houses for In-Situ Slum Redevelopment in Bhatinda was approved with a total investment of Rs 57 crore for which central assistance of Rs 12.80 crore was sanctioned.For Jammu and Kashmir, construction of 224 houses under Beneficiary Led Construction component of PMAY (Urban) has been approved with a total investment of Rs 16.07 crore with central assistance of Rs 3.36 crore. This includes construction of 141 houses in Udhampur and 83 in Baramullah.Under the components of AHP and BLC of PMAY (Urban), Central assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh per house is provided, while under In-situ Slum Redevelopment to be taken up, private developers through monetisation of the existing land, Central assistance of Rs 1.00 per each house is provided.With these approvals, the total investment approved for affordable housing under PMAY (Urban) so far has gone up to Rs 43, 922 crore for construction of 6,83,724 houses for urban poor with total Central assistance commitment of Rs 10,050 crore. Under PMAY (Urban) launched in June last year, construction of two crore houses for urban poor by 2022 is targeted.UNI NY DJK RJ 1914 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0099-707448.Xml According to sources, the RBI Governor also came to know about the changing scenario of the village. District Panchayat sources said that there are more than 5,000 families in the village. Four years ago, the educated youths remained unemployed and they used to shift base to the state capital for limited employment. Later, the villagers formed the self help groups (SHGs) by availing bank loans. Meanwhile, a Mandideep-based private company also extended help to them. Now, several youths returned back to the village and working with SHGs. Mr Rajan also met such youths during his visit, the sources said.UNI XC-BDG CJ AN1819 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-707143.Xml At least five people on board including the driver and conductor of MSRTC, were killed and some other passengers were injured in collision with a dumper on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway near Vasai today. A Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus was proceeding from Boisar towards Swargate of Pune on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway at around 1530 hours this afternoon when it collided with the dumper coming from opposite direction near Maljipada village between Vasai and Ghodbunder of Palghar district, police said. The bus driver, conductor and three other passengers died on the spot. Some other bus passengers were injured and rushed to a nearby hospital, sources added. The MSRTC officials have identified the bus driver as Ishwar Akram and conductor Vishal Jadhav. The identity of other victims is yet to be ascertained.UNI XR SS DJK RJ RAI1845 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-707330.Xml Ruling Samajwadi Party sacked the MLA from Biswa, Sitapur, Rampal Yadav, who has been sent to jail by a court today along with eight others for attacking policemen and officials when the personnel were demolishing his four-storied illegal building here last night, has been also expelled from the party. SP spokesperson and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Rajendra Choudhury today said that chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the state party president ,has expelled the MLA for six years from the party. Mr Choudhary said that the party would not tolerate any indiscipline and anyone violating the law would be dealt with strong hands. The action was necessary as the legislator was earning a bad name for the party, he added. "CM is committed to maintain rule of law in the state and no one will be spared for breaking the law," Mr Choudhury told UNI. Meanwhile, the Chief Judicial Magistrate(CJM) court has sent the MLA along with eight others to jail for 14 days. CJM Gyan Prakash Tiwari, rejected the bail plea of the legislators and others ordering them to go to jail under judicial custody. Now the legislators and others would move their bail applicant in the district judge court. On the other hand the district authorities of Sitapur, today demolished the legislators Sparsh Hotel in Sitapur. The authorities claimed that the hotel was contructed without approval of the map besides the land use was also not changed. Sitapur District Panchayat chairman Jitendra Yadav, son of the MLA, here has alleged that the government was acting in vengeance against their family." All the papers of our properties of Sitapur and Lucknow are in order but the district authorities are not even ready to see them." Sitapur ADM Sarvesh Kumar said that they have all powers to demolish the illegal building as their is no stay from any court. MORE UNI MB CJ RAI1824 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-707151.Xml The undisputed central issue in the Agusta Westland choppers deal is corruption, especially bribery, and any other line of approach and effort is misleading, said the Centre on Friday. "In the matter pertaining to acquisition of Agusta Westland helicopters, the undisputed central issue that stands out is corruption, especially bribery. Any other line of assumption, approach and effort, as is being attempted in some quarters, is misleading, tries to hide the wrong-doers and is driven by instincts of self preservation," the government said in clarification issued here on the Agusta Westland choppers scam. "Ever since the new government was given the responsibility to serve the people, it has acted with speed, drive and purpose to empower the country's masses. It continues to relentlessly pursue fearless and transparent governance. One of the core goals of our governance has been to unearth and uproot corruption, and punish the corrupt," the statement added. The statement further said that it is indeed tragic that a small section of the Indian polity has attempted, unsuccessfully, to divert and diffuse the public discourse on this matter. "They question the speed of the government processes, especially the investigation. But, they do not ask how the corrupt influenced the process of acquisition in the first place and bled the nation. They do not admit corruption; they instead boldly proclaim, 'catch us if you can'," the government said. "The present government has taken effective action to bring out the truth and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing all means to bring to justice the corrupt and the wrong-doers in this case. The investigative agencies remain determined to bring to justice the key perpetrators of this misdeed, both inside and outside the country," the statement added. The Centre also stated that it has acted proactively and with alacrity against Agusta Westland International and Finmeccanica. "It is the present government which through its order dated July 3, 2014, put on hold all procurement/acquisition cases in the pipeline of six companies figuring in the FIR registered by the CBI, namely: M/S Agusta Westland International Ltd., UK, M/S Finmeccanica, Italy, and its group companies, including subsidiaries and affiliates, M/S IDS, Tunisia, M/S Infotech Design System (IDS), Mauritius, M/S IDS Infotech Ltd, Mohali and M/S Aeromatrix Info Solution Pvt Ltd, Chandigarh," the statement said. "The factually misinformed have also made a mention regarding clearance of a joint venture involving Agusta Westland by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. This proposal was approved on September 2, 2011 based on an application by Indian Rotorcraft Ltd a joint venture of Tata Sons with Agusta Westland NV, Netherlands. This was later changed to Agusta Westland S.p.A Italy due to reorganization within the group. On February 7,2012, an industrial licence for the manufacture of helicopters was granted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion to Indian Rotorcraft Ltd. However, the validity of licence has since expired," the statement added. The NDA Government also said that in their drive to divert the public attention from their own corruption, some have said that the Modi government permitted Augusta Westland to bid for 100 Naval Utility Helicopters in April, 2015. "The fact is that a techno-commercial Request for Proposal (RFP) for Naval Utility Helicopters was issued to eight vendors on August4, 2012. In response to the RFP, M/S Eurocopters, France and M/S Agusta Westland S.p.A Italy submitted their techno-commercial proposals on 4 March 2013. RFP of the procurement case was retracted by the Government on October 13, 2014," the statement said. "The Indian Navy has hosted on the website a Request for Information for more than 100 Naval Utility Helicopter in October 2014. No Request for Proposal has been issued, therefore the question of permitting Agusta Westland to bid for the Naval Utility Helicopter in April 2015 does not arise. The government is exploring whether their manufacturing can be pursued under 'Make in India'," the statement added. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government said that on the core issue of corruption, the timeline of actions taken by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate clearly shows due rigour and diligence with which these agencies have pursued all aspects of their investigations, including the arrest and extradition of three foreign nationals namely Carlo Gerosa, Guido Haschke Ralph and Christian Michel James. "CBI has so far investigated over 100 witnesses. In September and November 2014, couple of accused have been arrested and their property attached. A criminal complaint was also filed. Letter of Requests were sent out by ED and CBI to Mauritius (July 2013), Tunisia and Italy (December 2013), British Virgin Islands, Singapore and U.K. (September 2014), UAE and Switzerland (December 2014). The agencies are continuing to pursue responses to the LRs from the countries concerned," the statement said. "Further, an open ended non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by CBI against Christian James Michel on 24 September 2015. Red Corner notices were issued in December 2015 and January 2016 through Interpol under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Prevention of Corruption Act on charges of conspiracy and abuse of official position in giving favours to M/s AWIL," the statement added. "Extradition request has also been made for Christian Michel James. A request for provision arrest for the purpose of extradition was made to the U.K. authorities on 4 January 2016 by CBI. Enforcement Directorate, another autonomous agency to handle private money laundering and Foreign Exchange irregularities, has also separately sent a Red Corner seeking arrest and a request for his extradition from the U.K. on 29 February 2016," it further said. "A few have even sought to link one of the accused with Ajit Doval, present NSA, as also Nripendra Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, which is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent. In reality, there is no such connection," the Centre said. The Government said the investigative agencies will stay their course in unveiling the corrupt and holding them accountable to our public. AgustaWestland's Rs 3,600 crore contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force was scrapped by the UPA government over charges of paying kickbacks to Indian agents. In January 2013, India cancelled the deal and the CBI was assigned to investigate the matter. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a large congression of religious and spiritual leaders of the world who are gathering at the banks of Kshipra river as part of the Sinhasth Maha Kumbh being held in Ujjain. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today held a meeting of foreign diplomats to personally invite them to the Vaicharik Mahakubha, a confluence of spiritual and religious leaders which will be held from May 12 to 14 in makeshift village near Ujjain, where a month long Sinhasth is underway from April 22. After meeting the with diplomats, which was attended by about 70 envoys, the Chief Minister said he had invited them to come to the spiritual conference and have feel of "mini India" which is gathered at the banks of Kshipra. Representatives of around 100 countries, including Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari is expected to attend the Vaicharik Maha Kumbha, said Mr Chouhan. UNI MK SHS RJ 2322 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-707668.Xml The Nagaland Hotel and Restaurant Association (NHRA) has appealed to all the "National governments, Undergrounds and NGOs" to exempt it from any form of annual taxes or collections for the fiscal year 2016.In a statement NHRA acting secretary Vikie Nagi strongly affirming its support to the stand of Nagaland Medical Dealers Association (NMDA) and the ACAUT's stand on 'One Tax One government,' and said the association at its general meeting held on April 24 in Dimapur reiterated its objective to continue promoting hotel and restaurant industry in the state. The association, however, expressed apprehension that all of its genuine effort and motives in this direction was threatened "when unscrupulous manifestations prey-on to tax and burden its members."Pointing out that hotel and restaurant industry in the state was of the most viable businesses, the NHRA, however, maintained that the business was under serious depression and depreciation since 2013 to 2015 till date. "Our Members cannot continue business as most of the firms are under stressing Bank Finances and under extra pressures, and to fulfill any demands at this crucial juncture will be to force close down of businesses," stated NHRA. At the meeting, NHRA said the members present shared their numerous witnesses and testimonies of bankruptcy of businesses, families, companies, individuals in the state. The members unanimously resolved to stand by the above points and decided that any intimidation or threat to its members would invite no other option, but indefinite course of action to protect its legitimate right. Further, the meeting jointly pledged to stand by the coherent gesture "threats and demand of any form is sheer cowardice and denial of one's right to live and prosper in dignity," the statement said. UNI AS BM RJ PR2320 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-707838.Xml E-cigarettes are likely to bring benefits for public health and should be widely promoted to smokers to help them quit tobacco, Britain's Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said today.In a report likely to further fuel a debate over electronic cigarettes, the influential British doctors group stressed that tobacco smoking is both addictive and lethal, and concluded that e-cigarettes are "much safer than smoking".E-cigarettes are not a gateway to smoking, the RCP said, and do not lead to the normalisation of the habit - two issues often cited by critics who fear the devices can lure children and young people into smoking habits."None of these products has to date attracted significant use among adult never-smokers, or demonstrated evidence of significant gateway progression into smoking among young people," the RCP's 200-page report said.E-cigarettes, which heat nicotine-laced liquid into vapour, have rapidly grown into a global market for "vaping" products that was estimated at around 7 billion dollars in 2015.Tobacco smoking kills half of all smokers, plus at least another 600,000 people a year non-smokers via second-hand smoke. This makes it the world's biggest preventable killer, with a predicted death toll of a billion by the end of the century, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).Many public health experts think e-cigarettes, or vapes, which do not contain tobacco, are a lower-risk alternative to smoking, but some questions remain about their long-term safety.Linda Bauld, a professor at Stirling University, deputy director of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies and a co-author of the RCP report, said that unlike tobacco, nicotine does not cause cancer, heart and lung diseases."The ideal is for people to use nothing," she said, but when the alternative is smoking, people should be encouraged to use nicotine "delivered in a cleaner form than in deadly cigarettes"."This is what tobacco harm reduction is - it reduces the harm from tobacco while recognising that some people will still use nicotine in other safer forms."John Britton, chair of the RCP Tobacco Advisory Group which published the report, acknowledged that e-cigarettes were "a topic of great controversy" but said his group's analysis "lays to rest almost all of the concerns over these products".The anti-smoking group ASH UK welcomed the report, saying it showed "that switching to vaping is a positive and sensible life choice" for smokers."Electronic cigarette vapour does not contain smoke, which is why vaping is much less harmful," said Deborah Arnott, ASH's chief executive. REUTERS PS PR0543 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0137-704560.Xml Kim Dan-bi's brother is the model of the establishment North Korean: an army veteran and member of the ruling Workers' Party, he is now a manager at a state enterprise.But when he has the time, according to Kim, a defector now living in South Korea, her brother helps trade goods such as TVs and bedding smuggled from China, a sideline lucrative enough for him to have recently bought a car."Being in the Party doesn't really help financially," she said. "It is even burdensome to those who are running their own businesses."His story illustrates the challenge posed to ruler Kim Jong Un by the nascent grey market economy that has taken hold in the isolated and authoritarian country, as his government prepares for a rare Workers' Party Congress set to begin on May 6.For the thousands of delegates who will gather in Pyongyang, attendance at the event will affirm their status among the ruling class. For a growing number of North Koreans, however, money has overtaken Party membership when it comes to getting ahead, according to defectors who have fled to rival South Korea."If you join the Party, you lose free time which could be spent selling in the markets because of the Party events you're obliged to attend," said a former Party member and senior state official from Pyongyang who defected in 2014."Ordinary people think: this has got nothing to do with me," he said, referring to the preparations for next month's event.He declined to be to be identified by name to protect family members still in North Korea.PARTY CULTUREWorkers' Party culture remains omnipresent in North Korea, where most villages have a building where lectures are delivered by Party officials on Saturdays, often to distribute centralised propaganda in areas out of reach of traditional state media.Some members, fearful of losing their membership card, keep it in a crimson pouch emblazoned with the gold hammer, sickle and paintbrush motif of the Party. One pouch obtained by Reuters was designed to be worn like a concealed gun holster, with an elasticated band across the chest that pulls the card close to the wearer's heart.Party members are also obliged to attend Wednesday lectures after work, said Seo Jae-pyoung, who belonged to the Party before leaving North Korea in 2001 and maintains regular contact with sources inside the country.The lectures have become more strictly controlled under Kim, he said, with a campaign under way to mobilise people ahead of next week's Congress. Kim used the Party's 70th anniversary last year to promise to introduce a "people-first" politics.Once a regular event, the Workers' Party Congress was last held in 1980.Some Pyongyang-watchers take the meeting as a sign that young leader Kim is transforming a country his father Kim Jong Il ruled through back-channel dealings into a more "normal" state, where formal Party processes are ingrained.But defectors and academics say the importance of membership has dwindled since the devastating famine of the 1990s, which paved the way for a bottom-up and informal network of markets that now provides for most North Koreans in place of the state."The difference between being a Party member or non-member used to be the difference between being treated like a human or not," said Seo, who works with defectors in South Korea."The pride people got from being a member of the Party has weakened. People only care about money now."MONEY AND POWERNo data on party membership in North Korea is available, although estimates have put the number at between 3 million and 4 million out of a population of roughly 25 million.Party membership used to be the key to better jobs and status in North Korea, defectors said.Obtaining a coveted place in the hierarchy often entailed shows of loyalty, such as cleaning the areas around statues of Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, the current leader's grandfather and founder of the state, or planting flowers at revolutionary or historical sites.For the few at the top, membership can now be a route to riches as, fearful of losing its traditional grip over society, a Party that still officially espouses a Soviet-style command economy is starting to embrace the market."At the top end of the economic scale, Party people are among those making the most money - using their political connections to get access to resources," said Christopher Green, a researcher at Leiden University, in the Netherlands, specialising in North Korea's economy.But for the majority, getting on in private business is more important than working your way up the Party ladder.One defector who was a doctor and Party member in North Korea and arrived in Seoul in 2014, said medics at the Party-controlled hospital where he worked were not formally paid, but received bribes for treating patients.He supplemented that income by trading small electronics and jewellery smuggled from China in his off-hours, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity."At hospitals, doctors work out their shifts so half of them can go out to sell things, and half can stay to treat patients," he said.REUTERS PS PR0554 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0137-704561.Xml The Yonhap news agency quoted a military official, as saying, "The missile, presumed to be a Musudan, was fired around 6.40 a.m. (local time) from the vicinity of Wonsan, but it appears to have crashed a few seconds later." "It is highly likely that the launch failed. With that in mind, South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed assessment," he was further quoted, as saying by the agency. Others said the missile seems to have plunged into the coastal area, and the failed launch was caught by a U.S. surveillance satellite. This was the second missile launched by North Korea in the month of April, which failed. The first missile fired earlier in the month exploded a few seconds after liftoff, even before entering its flight phase, reportedly due to engine problems. The two failed launches represent the country's first-ever test-firing of these longer range missiles. The back-to-back failures also indicate the unreliability of the communist country's untested IRBM capability. With a targeted range of 3,000-4,000 kilometers, the missiles are designed to reach as far as Guam, where a large number of United States military forces are stationed. North Korea is believed to have deployed some 50 Musudan missiles since 2007. (ANI with inputs) The fatwa mentions Ahmediyas as infidels 'Kafirs' with whom the Muslims should not have any contact. The locals have also been urged not to purchase numerous consumer goods manufactured by Ahmediya owned factories and industrial units. These goods among others, includes Shezan Salt, Zaika Ghee, Pearl Banaspati, Beta Pipes, Table Salt, Shah Taj Sugar, Zaika Cooking Oil, Shezan Restaurant and Bakers, all branches of Qaid-e-Azam Law College, Ear Hospital Daska, Hakin Nizam Jan Dawakhana (Gujrawalan), Shah-Nawaz Textile Mills, Punjab Oil Mills, Samarqand Sharbad and Universal Stabilizers. Anti- Ahmediyas pamphlets were distributed and pasted at various common places under Chobara Police Station in Pakistan's Layyah district about a week ago. The government's apathy has added to the woes of the local Ahmediyas community, which is feeling highly insecure and expecting an attack on them by the majority Sunni radicals. (ANI) A court of appeals in Burkina Faso has rescinded a series of international arrest warrants, including those against deposed leader Blaise Compaore and neighbouring Ivory Coast's parliament speaker, a senior court official said.A military tribunal in Burkina Faso investigating the murder of former President Thomas Sankara nearly three decades ago as well as a failed coup that took place last September had issued a total of 18 international warrants in December and January.However, the appeals court public prosecutor, Armand Ouedraogo, said the tribunal had failed to follow proper procedure when issuing the warrants."The military court can take these warrants back and correct them," Ouedraogo said.Sankara, an African folk hero, disappeared and is believed to have been killed during the 1987 coup that brought Compaore to power.Compaore himself was ousted in 2014 by crowds opposing his bid to change the West African nation's constitution and extend his 27-year rule.Ivory Coast granted him citizenship and he currently resides there.Members of an elite unit loyal to Compaore attempted a coup against the transitional government that replaced him in September, but the putsch was put down by the regular army.One of a series of recorded telephone conversations later linked Guillaume Soro, a former rebel leader who is now the speaker of Ivory Coast's parliament, to the coup attempt. He has denied any involvement. REUTERS PS PR0426 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0137-706250.Xml China and Russia urged the United States today not to install a new anti-missile system in South Korea, after Washington said it was in talks with Seoul in the wake of nuclear arms and missile tests by North Korea.The United States and South Korea have begun talks on possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system after North Korea tested its fourth nuclear bomb on January 6 and conducted missile tests.The nuclear test and missile launches are in violation of UN resolutions against North Korea backed by Russia and China. U.S. and South Korean officials have expressed concern that the North could attempt a fifth nuclear test in a show of strength ahead of its Workers' Party congress, which begins on May 6.North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two intermediate range ballistic missiles on Thursday, but both failed, the US military said.Speaking at joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the United States should respect "legitimate concerns" of China and Russia over the missile system."This move goes beyond the defensive needs of the relevant countries. If it is deployed it will directly impact China's and Russia's respective strategic security," Wang said."Not only does it threaten the resolution of the peninsula nuclear issue, it quite possibly could pour oil on the fire of an already tense situation, and even destroy strategic equilibrium on the peninsula."North Korea's actions should not be used as an excuse to make moves that would escalate tensions, especially the US deployment of an anti-missile system, Lavrov said, according to an interpretation in Chinese.North Korea's drive to develop a nuclear weapons capability has angered China, Pyongyang's sole major diplomatic and economic supporter. But Beijing fears THAAD and its radar have a range that would extend far beyond the Korean peninsula and into China.Chinese President Xi Jinping said yesterday that Beijing would not allow war and chaos to break out on the Korean peninsula.North and South Korea remain technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, rather than a treaty. The North routinely threatens to destroy South Korea and its major ally, the United States.REUTERS SW PM1116 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-706402.Xml President Pranab Mukherjee has stressed that the cooperation between India and Papua New Guinea at the UN and other multilateral fora has been fruitful and that India counts on the Pacific country for continued support in its bid for a permanent seat. "India appreciates Papua New Guineas steadfast support for Indias candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and also the reforms of this world body, Mukherjee said while addressing a gathering at the University of Papua New Guinea. At the present time, seven decades after the United Nations was created, we are agreed on the urgent need for reform of its organs to make them relevant and effective in the significantly altered world of the 21st century, he said. We count on Papua New Guineas continued support and co-operation in the United Nations and other multilateral fora, the president said. President Mukherjee is on a six-day trip to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, his first state visit to the two countries. On Thursday, Mukherjee had a busy day with bilateral talks with Papua New Guineas Prime Minister Peter ONeill, and later spoke at a banquet hosted by the Governor-General, Sir Michael Ogio. --IANS mak/rn/vm ( 215 Words) 2016-04-29-13:28:05 (IANS) North Korea's Supreme Court today sentenced a Korean American man to 10 years of hard labour for subversion, North Korean media reported, in the latest conviction of a foreigner for crimes against the isolated state. Kim Dong Chul, 62, was arrested in North Korea in October and had admitted to committing "unpardonable espionage" including stealing military secrets, the North's official KCNA news agency reported earlier. "The accused confessed to all crimes he had committed ... and gathered and offered information on its party, state and military affairs to the south Korean puppet regime, which are tantamount to state subversive plots and espionage," it said. State prosecutors sought a 15-year sentence. His defence attorney requested leniency considering his old age, KCNA said. Kim was shown in photographs handcuffed and wearing a tie and blue jacket. He looked distressed and was flanked by uniformed guards. North Korea, which has been criticized over its human rights record for years, has used detained Americans in the past to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations. It has previously handed down lengthy hard labour sentences to foreigners, though eventually freeing them before they served their full terms. Six foreigners, including Kim and three South Koreans, are known to be detained in the North. Kim, who has said he is a naturalised American citizen, had confessed to committing espionage under the direction of the U.S. and South Korean governments and apologised for his crimes, according to the North's KCNA news agency in March. He told foreign media in March that he was born in 1953 in Seoul and moved to the United States when he was 19. He said he set up a business in the North Korean special economic zone of Rason in 2008. China's Xinhua news agency on Friday said his business was a trading company called Dongmyong. Kim said his two daughters lived in New York and he had siblings in South Korea, KCNA said in March. Some foreigners held by North Korea have said after their release that their sometimes-elaborate confessions were made under pressure while in captivity. The North is holding an American, Otto Warmbier, who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in March for trying to steal a propaganda banner. It is also holding a Korean-Canadian Christian pastor, who is serving a life sentence for subversion. North Korea has tightened security ahead of its first ruling party congress in 36 years, which will begin on May 6. It has also intensified its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles since its fourth nuclear test in January.REUTERS SW VP1331 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-706587.Xml Lawyers for 850 asylum seekers held in a controversial detention centre in Papua New Guinea said today they planned to seek potentially billions of dollars in compensation, as Australian officials prepared to travel to PNG for emergency talks. PNG announced this week the closure of the detention centre it operates on behalf of Australia, which has pursued a hardline immigration policy criticised by the United Nations and international human rights organisation. The closure of the Manus Island facility - which holds asylum seekers fleeing violence in the Middle East, Afghanistan and South Asia - has the two South Pacific neighbours at loggerheads at a politically sensitive time for Australia. Each says responsibility for the detainees' welfare rests with the other. The number trying to reach Australia is small compared with Europe, but immigration has long been a sensitive political issue. Under Australia's policy, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach the country by boat after paying people smugglers are sent for processing to camps in Manus Island or the tiny Pacific island of Nauru, which holds another 500 people in detention. They are told they will never settle in Australia. The harsh conditions and reports of systemic child abuse at the camps have drawn wide criticism inside and outside Australia and have become a major headache for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during campaigning for July national elections. Domestic opposition to the policy was stirred even more on Friday with confirmation that a 23-year-old man, who set himself on fire earlier this week in protest against his treatment on Nauru, had died. Turnbull has warned against being "misty-eyed" over immigration and Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton reiterated on Friday there would be no policy change. Dutton suggested one option was to transfer those held on PNG to the Nauru facility. "MARKETING OPPORTUNITY" New Zealand on Friday repeated an earlier offer to accept 150 of the refugees but that was again rejected. "Settlement in a country like New Zealand would be used by the people smugglers as a marketing opportunity," Turnbull told Australian radio. Lawyers in PNG will go the country's Supreme Court on Monday to argue for the immediate release of Manus Island detainees back to Australia, as well compensation for their detention. The legal action has support, at least in part, from PNG's High Commissioner to Australia, Charles Lepani, who said on Thursday responsibility for what to do with the men rested with Canberra. PNG-based lawyer Ben Lomai, who represents more than 300 of the detained men, told the Post Courier newspaper he would file a compensation case on Monday after the Supreme Court's ruling. "We can go straight to assessing reasonable compensation without having to prolong the case any further," Lomai said. Refugee advocacy group Human Rights Watch described the death of the man on Nauru as "senseless" and a result of "Australia's inhumane refugee policies". "Refugees who have fled persecution in their homelands don't deserve a life in limbo in a detention centre or effectively imprisoned on a tiny remote island," said the group's Australian director Elaine Pearson. Confirmation of his death came as about 200 protesters, flanked by dozens of police, marched through central Sydney carrying signs and chanting slogans such as "refugees are welcome here". The fallout from the policy even extended into Australia's equities market today. Broadspectrum Ltd, the operator of the Manus Island centre, agreed to a A769 million dollars (586 million dollars) bid from Spain's infrastructure giant Ferrovial SA after PNG's decision to close the camp sent its share price soaring. Broadspectrum's board had previously urged shareholders to reject several offers from Ferrovial, most recently on April 6, but said late on Thursday the PNG decision had increased uncertainty over its future earnings.REUTERS SW VP1344 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-706615.Xml Migrants should no longer be able to get to Germany and Europe via the Balkan route, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Friday, adding that was concerned refugee numbers would rise with people now coming via Libya and Italy."It's clear that the Balkan route is a thing of the past and no longer will or should be a place again from where people will be waved through to Germany and Austria and to the centre of Europe," he said at a news conference in Potsdam."Now the issue is alternative routes - on the Balkan route and also we are of course concerned that we'll get rising refugee numbers again as they come via Libya and Italy," he added.REUTERS SW NS1350 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-706629.Xml China's police have arrested the former general manager of CITIC Securities and several other executives from the brokerage, the official Xinhua news agency reported today, citing the police department of Qingdao city, in eastern Shandong province. Cheng Boming, who used to head China's largest securities firm, was suspected of being involved in criminal activity, Xinhua reported, without further elaboration. The company had previously said Cheng and other executives were being investigated for possible insider trading and information leakage in September 2015. A spokesman for CITIC Securities declined to comment on the arrests when contacted by Reuters. Qingdao police also detained Xu Xiang, general manger of Shanghai based Zexi Investment for suspected insider trading, saidREUTERS SW VP1404 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-706636.Xml Russia is open to contact with all countries interested in the continuation of Syrian peace talks in Geneva and especially the United States, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today, saying the necessary channels of communication were being used. REUTERS JW NS1514 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-706799.Xml The fate of the passengers onboard a helicopter that crashed off the coast of Norway is as yet unclear, a rescue coordination official said today."Rescue services are doing all they can to find people alive," a spokesman for the Rescue Coordination Centre for Southern Norway told private broadcaster TV2.The helicopter was on its way back from the Gullfaks B oil and gas platform in the North Sea, operated by Statoil. Statoil said in a statement it had mobilised its emergency response team. The company declined to comment further.Separately, Norwegian news agency NTB reported that 13 people were on board the helicopter, citing local police.REUTERS JW BL1739 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-707195.Xml A "regime of silence" agreed by Russia and the United States for several parts of Syria forbids military action and the use of any kinds of weapons, the Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian military official as saying today.General Sergei Kuralenko, in charge of Russia's ceasefire monitoring centre in Syria, was also cited as saying he saw no risk that the situation would slide back into a full-blown military conflict.REUTERS JW BL1740 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-707209.Xml Syria declared brief local truces near Damascus and in one province today but made no mention of halting combat on the main battlefield in Aleppo, after a surge in fighting the United Nations said showed "monstrous disregard" for civilian lives.The new "regime of calm", to begin from 1:00 a.m. tomorrow, would last just one day in the capital's eastern Ghouta suburb and three days in the northern countryside of the coastal province of Latakia, the army said in a statement.Both districts have seen intensified fighting in recent days. The statement made no mention however of the city of Aleppo, scene of the worst violence, which is divided between rebel-held and government areas. An air strike on an Aleppo hospital killed at least 27 people this week.Russian news agencies quoted an opposition figure saying the new truce would also apply to Aleppo, but there was no separate confirmation of this.The Syrian military statement gave no details of the meaning of the term "regime of calm", but Russia's Interfax news agency quoted the officer in charge of a Russian ceasefire monitoring centre as saying it meant all military action would cease.Damascus described the truces as an attempt to salvage a wider "cessation of hostilities" agreement. That ceasefire has been in place since February to allow peace talks to take place but has all but completely collapsed in recent days along with the Geneva negotiations.The U.N. human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, said violence was "soaring back to the levels we saw prior to the cessation of hostilities"."There are deeply disturbing reports of military build-ups indicating preparations for a lethal escalation," Zeid said. The reports revealed a "monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all parties to the conflict", he added.The United Nations has called on Moscow and Washington to help restore the ceasefire to prevent the collapse of peace talks, which broke up this week in Geneva with virtually no progress after the opposition walked out."I DREAD THE HORROR""The cessation of hostilities and the Geneva talks were the only game in town, and if they are abandoned now, I dread to think how much more horror we will see in Syria," Zeid said.Air strikes on rebel-held areas of Aleppo and shelling of government-held areas of the city resumed on Friday after a brief dawn lull.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said air strikes and government shelling had killed at least 131 civilians including 21 children in rebel areas in the past week, while rebel shelling of government areas had killed 71 civilians including 13 children.At least six people died and more were injured and trapped under fallen buildings in air strikes on Friday on rebel-held areas, the Observatory said.Bebars Mishal, a civil defence chief working in rebel-held areas of Aleppo, told Reuters there were a number of air attacks in the morning, many of them around mosques in rebel-held areas. Mishal said one hit a clinic in Aleppo's Al-Marja district.Syrian state television said people had been killed and wounded and a building set on fire during shelling of government-held quarters in Aleppo, which included a hit on a mosque as people were leaving Friday prayers.The war in Syria has killed more than 250,000 people, with the UN envoy giving a toll as high as 400,000.REUTERS SHS SB1840 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-707391.Xml An air strike on a hospital in the city of Aleppo that killed dozens of people was probably the work of Syrian government forces, a spokesman for the German government said today.A US official has also said the attack on Wednesday night appeared to be solely the work of the Syrian government. Syria's military has denied its warplanes targeted the hospital.German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told a news conference the destruction was targeted and therefore constituted the "murder of a huge number of civilians"."The available information suggests that this attack can, with some degree of probability, be traced back to the troops of (President Bashar al-Assad's) regime," Seibert said, adding that it was a "blatant violation of humanitarian law".The German government warned that the escalation of fighting in Aleppo and elsewhere threatened to undermine peace talks in Geneva."That must be avoided," said Seibert, adding that Russia had a duty to prevent the ceasefire and the political process from failing.The Geneva talks aim to end a war that has created the world's worst refugee crisis, allowed the rise of Islamic State and drawn in regional and major powers, but a truce intended to allow negotiations to take place has collapsed.German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement today: "The Syrian government must decide - does it want to take part in negotiations seriously or does it want to continue to reduce its own country to rubble?" REUTERS JW BL1755 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-707268.Xml The United Nations today suggested it would be willing to assist in a dispute between Tehran and Washington after Iran requested UN help in convincing the United States to stop what the Islamic Republic has described as violations of state immunity.Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday to ask him to intervene with his "good offices" after the top US court ruled that 2 billion dollars in frozen Iranian assets must be paid to American victims of attacks blamed on Tehran.UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed receipt of Zarif's letter."We'll obviously take a look at it," he told reporters. "As a matter of principle ... the Secretary-General's good offices are always available should both parties to whatever tensions or issue request it."It was not immediately clear whether Washington would accept the idea of mediation by the UN chief."We're aware of the letter," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "To the extent that this letter was prompted by the recent Supreme Court decision in the Bank Markazi v. Peterson case, we believe the US laws and the application of those laws by the courts ... comport with international law."Zarif's appeal comes amid increasing Iranian frustration at what Tehran has said is the failure of the United States to keep its promises regarding sanctions relief agreed under an historic nuclear deal struck last year by Iran and six world powers.In the letter, released by the Iranian UN mission, Zarif asked Ban to help secure the release of frozen Iranian assets in US banks and persuade Washington to stop interfering with Iran's international commercial and financial transactions.The US Supreme Court found that the US Congress did not usurp the authority of American courts by passing a 2012 law stating that Iran's frozen funds should go toward satisfying a 2.65 billion dolalrs judgment won by the US families against Iran in US federal court in 2007.Last week Zarif met several times with US Secretary of State John Kerry in New York to discuss Iranian problems accessing international financial markets. Kerry said Washington was not preventing anyone from doing legitimate business with Iran.Tehran has called on the United States to do more to remove obstacles to the financial sector so that businesses feel comfortable investing in Iran without fear of penalties. REUTERS SHS PR2300 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-707886.Xml The British civil aviation authority said it was suspending flights of Airbus Super Puma helicopters of the same type that crashed off the west coast of Norway today."Following the accident, the UK CAA has issued an instruction to stop any commercial passenger flights by UK operators flying the Airbus EC225LP helicopter," a spokesman for the regulator said in an email. REUTERS SHS PR2316 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-707907.Xml Dollar bill device to sniff cocaine Ronald Ramdass, 50, of Gasparillo, was fined yesterday for the offence in the San Fernando Magistrates Court, when he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, marijuana and possession of a device for the purpose of smoking cocaine. The device, Magistrate Brahmanand Dubay was told by the court police prosecutor, Sergeant Gordon Maharaj, was a dollar bill which was rolled into a cyndrical tube into which the cocaine was packed. Ramdass pleaded guilty to possession of two grammes of cocaine, 16 grammes of marijuana and possession of a device for smoking cocaine. Dubay was told by Maharaj, that at about 7.45 pm on Wednesday, Police Constable Lyndon Ramcharan of the Gasparillo Police Station was on patrol together with other police officers, when he spotted Ramdass walking along the road. When he confronted Ramdass about the contents of a black bag he had in his hand, Ramdass threw something inside his mouth. On ordering him to open his mouth, the court heard, out popped a rock of cocaine. The defendant, however, kept the other rock of cocaine inside his mouth. Magistrate Dubay also heard from the police prosecutor, that PC Ramcharan examined the cyndrical object and realised that it was a one dollar bill of Trinidad and Tobago currency, but it was rolled into a cyndrical shape. At one end of the bill, was a piece of foil attached. It looked charred and constituted a device for the purpose of smoking cocaine. Ramdass was not charged with the offence of defacing a Central Bank note in accordance with the Central Bank Act. It is a summary offence to deface or cut, burn or destroy in any way, a note issued by the Central Bank, without the banks permission. Ramdass, the court heard, had over 20 convictions for larceny and drug offences. Dubay fined him $800 and $1,600 for possession of the marijuana and cocaine respectively. For the smoking device, he was fined $500 and given 60 days to pay all the fines. Evidential objections begin in UNC petitions Attorneys for the Peoples National Movement (PNM), which won the seats being contested, have argued that the petitioners cannot now supplement their petitions by presenting new claims. According to Douglas Mendes, SC, who leads the case for the PNM, the petitions were presented and published in the Gazette, and it is only on the basis of what was contained in the petitions, can the UNC petitioners present in evidence. They cannot now claim otherwise, he said. Among the evidence the PNMs attorneys are arguing cannot be led includes claims of persons who said they were prevented from voting from the extended hours of the polls from 6 pm to 7 pm on September 7. Mendes said the petitioners have argued, as presented in the gazetted petitions, that the extension of the polls by one hour was illegal. That is all they can argue, Mendes submitted. His submissions were similar to that of the Elections and Boundaries Commissions lead counsel, Russell Martineau,SC, who also held that the pleadings in the case of an election petition was structural in nature. The parties are bound by what was presented. They cannot lead evidence not pleaded, he maintained. Martineau also submitted that election legislation was mandatory in nature and was clearly set out in the legislation. In his reply, Ramlogan noted that the pleaded case could not be simplified to the extension of the polling hours but also the court must look at the effect it had on the voting public. Justice Mira Dean-Armorers ruling on the evidential objections have been reserved. Before the court are the petitions of aggrieved losing candidates and voters in the constituencies of Toco/Sangre Grande, Tunapuna, St Joseph, San Fernando West and Moruga/Tableland. A similar petition filed for the La Horquetta/Talparo constituency, which was also won by the PNM, has been thrown out by the judge, who ruled that it was served out of time. The UNC was granted leave to present the petitions on September 18, of last year. Retired army officer among six held in police raids During the exercise officers seized a quantity of army camouflage uniforms, kits, vest, a quantity of marijuana and prohibited animals. The former soldier retired in 2007 as a corporal and, when detained at his La Plata, KP Lands home early yesterday, he claimed that he was entitled to be in possession of the army items he had in his possession. However Inspector Ken Lutchman, who led the exercise, detained the retired soldier and took him to the Sangre Grande Police Station where he remained detained up until yesterday. The items seized from his home included one camouflage jacket, one camouflage vest, army under vest, one army pullover, one sack for camouflage kit, an ammunition pan, one gas mask bag, an army ground sheet, one army jumper, and one engineering belt. Yesterday senior army officials confirmed that the retired officer should not have been in possession of the items found at his home and added that an investigation will be carried out to ascertain why he was still in possession of the items, having retired nine years ago. Officers then went to a house at Rampersad Trace, Vega De Oropouche and detained two men, ages 51 and 29, for possession of marijuana which was allegedly found in the living room of the house. The men allegedly told police officers that they had the marijuana for their personal use. The CID and Task Force officers assisted by their colleagues from the K-9 division then journeyed to another house at Rampersad Trace detained a 29-yearold woman and two men men, ages 27 and 41, for possession of marijuana. A further search in the bedroom of the house revealed a baby macaw, a yellow head parrot and a howler monkey. OH HAPPY DAY At 48, Edwards yesterday walked out of the Port-of-Spain prison a free man, having been ordered released. He immediately went into the loving embrace of his daughter Tina, who was just two, when he went to jail after being convicted in 1988 for the murder of Laventille shopkeeper Faustin St Louis. She celebrated her 30th birthday on Monday. Interviewed outside the prison walls, Edwards said he was feeling very, very happy. It hasnt soaked in as yet but I can tell you that I am feeling very happy, he said. Edwards said he just wants to go home to his family and be a model family-man and citizen. He shared some advice to young people saying, you have to be serious with the choices you make, because you could take one chance and that chance could cost you your life. It could cost you many, many years away from those you love. His mother Iris was emotional when she got the news of her sons release. I cry, I cry, I cry! Oh God! Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord. I feel happy, the devout Roman Catholic gushed, as she struggled to hold back tears. Those tears were tears of joy. He went in when he was about 19 or so, she recounted in an interview at her Laventille Road home yesterday. She intends to hold a prayer service to thank God for her sons release. HE SMILED EVEN IN JAIL I am a praying woman. I prayed and prayed all these years. I thank God for his mercies, Iris said with a wide smile on her face. She said although her son was cognisant of what he had done, he was optimistic and used the opportunity in prison to continue his education. He attained four OLevel passes and regularly attended Bible classes. He had no bad record against him in jail, she said. When I visited he would always have a smiling face, she said. Iris also said she was very happy when she heard of Archbishop of Port-of-Spain Joseph Harris appeal for Presidential pardons for prisoners found worthy of mercy in celebration of the Catholic Churchs celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, from December 8, 2015 to November 20. While she admits that Trinidad and Tobago is not the same society as the one her son left behind when he first went to jail, she is optimistic that notwithstanding the current crime situation, he will easily reintegrate into family life and carve his unique niche as a citizen. I will make sure of that, she said, confidently. As a mother she knows very well how difficult it is to control the actions of children. Some guys are mislead. My child ended up the same way, she said. Iris noted that while her family is not rich, they had the basic necessities that what happened to Albert was not done out of poverty but because he had been misled by peers. The old people have a saying, Friends can carry you but they dont bring you back, and that is so very true, she said. Now, she says, He is a full man now. Hes got to realise his mistakes and pick up the pieces...but thank God for life. She does not believe that her son will stray again as he did when he was a young man having paid for youthful misdeeds, by losing 28 years of his life to prison. He met, for the first time yesterday, his granddaughter Nakiyah, nine. MURDER CHANGED TO MANSLAUGHTER Edwards was freed yesterday by appellate court judges Justices Paula Mae Weekes, Alice Yorke- Soo Hon and Mark Mohammed who held that his murder conviction could not be upheld and instead, substituted it with one of manslaughter in accordance with recent principles handed down in the UK House of Lords ruling on the law of joint enterprise. According to their ruling, it was clear there was nothing in the prosecutions case against Edwards capable of allowing the finding of fact that he intended that St Louis be killed or caused grievous bodily harm. They also agreed that since the offence of robbery was inherently dangerous as it contemplated violence, manslaughter was an appropriate substitution. They also held such a conviction (manslaughter) carries a sentence ranging from 15 to 25 years, Edwards - having been in custody for 28 calendar years - spent far in excess of any sentence that would have been properly imposed by the court, and they ordered that the 28 years he spent in prison be deemed as time served, for his manslaughter conviction. At the appeal, the State conceded that Edwards murder conviction should be set aside. Edwards and another man, Angel Thomas, were convicted on May 15, 1992, for the murder of St Louis on October 14, 1988. St Louis was killed during a robbery at his supermarket at Laventille Road in Morvant. Thomas died in prison. Edwards did not receive leave to challenge his conviction at the Privy Council but sometime later, his attorneys approached the President asking that his case be remitted to the Court of Appeal, after it was discovered that a Justice of the Peace who was involved in his case, had been convicted of fraud. Edwards was represented by Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, Imran Ali and Michael Bullock while Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson and Amerelle Francis appeared for the State. PNM stalwart dies Hope. Khan said Reid served in the Senate during the period 1981 to 1986 as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the then Prime Minister George Chambers. He was well known in the political arena as a humble man who was extremely passionate about the welfare of his community and the country as a whole, Khan said. At the party level, Reid was chairman of the St Anns East Constituency for over a decade. It was under his leadership that the St Anns East constituency spearheaded the movement in 1973 towards Trinidad and Tobago gaining Republican status. Khan noted that Reid spearheaded many community activities in the St. Anns Constituency because he had a good relationship with then Prime Minister, George Chambers. He described Reid as a dedicated and loyal member of the PNM who found no job too hard. Reid was a member of the campaign team for ANR Robinson when he contested the Scarborough/ Roxborough area for the PNM in 1956. He also served as President of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union (SWWTU). In the memorable 1981 general elections when the PNM won 26 seats, including Caroni East (Manic Ramsaran), Princes Town (Amoy Mohammed) and Fyzabad (Dr Winston Williams), Reid was the Campaign Manager for the partys Political Leader the late George Chambers. He will be remembered as a disciplined individual who was always available to assist the young Parliamentarians and party members in several areas. Rowley: Abortion discourse ongoing This is an issue you will never get consensus on, because the views are so strong and polarised, he said. Asked about Deyalsinghs comment made last week, that he was ending discussions on abortion because it is illegal, Rowley yesterday said discussions are continuing. Deyalsinghs position, Rowley said, may have been rooted in the law and in order to to uphold the Constitution. However, the PM noted the point raised that if the law on slavery was not challenged, we would still be slaves. Sometimes the laws have to be challenged so that they could be more meaningful in solving societys problems, he said. It was not surprising, he said, the issue was spurred on by the arrival of the zika virus which is known to cause microcephaly in the babies. But the law of the land states that abortion is illegal and we are all law abiding citizens, he said. While discussions were taking place and will continue to take place as to what happens with a womans body, he said, that discussions will also take place on what we know is happening in backyard abortions. Let is not bury our heads in the sand and pretend that in this country there are not thousands of women who take part in abortions and sometimes at the risk of their own lives, he said. The conversation on the legalisation of abortion, he said, is something that our society needs to treat with, and if so, how? QRC principal: Media only care about selling its papers Simon was speaking at Sagicors Visionaries Challenge, hosted at the schools compound, and also congratulated the students present for their hard work in the programme. His critique of the media amounted to nothing less than a tongue lashing, in which he asserted that the media had no other interest than to sell its papers. He also criticised TV media, saying that yesterdays programme was not going to be the first news announced on the local TV news. After extending a warm welcome to students from schools across the nation, Simon wasted no time in expressing his disappointment with the local media. I just want to say one thing, I doubt very much that your achievements are going to be on the front page of our newspapers. I doubt very much that any of our national television stations will open with your great achievements. Instead, our press loves to sell their papers, and they love to focus on that which is negative, especially when it applies to you young people. I have the honour of being in charge of 750 young men, so I know the capabilities, the capacity and the goodwill of you youngsters. I thank you for your hard work. You are all winners. Simon addressed an audience of teachers, sponsors and student representatives from nine schools: Bishops Centenary College, which undertook three projects; East Mucurapo Secondary School, which undertook two projects; El Dorado West Secondary School, which undertook two projects; Five Rivers Secondary School, which undertook two projects; Holy Cross College, which undertook one; Holy Faith Convent, Penal, which undertook two projects; St. Josephs Convent, San Fernando, which undertook two projects; St. Stephens College, which undertook one and Siparia West Secondary, which also undertook one. Assistant Director of the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF), Lewis Oliver, said that students could actually gain SBA marks for their Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificates through the programme. The idea of the competition is to stimulate the interests of the students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Several of the projects presented focused on ways to preserve the environment. For instance, one of the projects done by Bishops Centenary was Resolution for Air Pollution; another was Reducing Soil Erosion Using Coconut Fiber, by El Dorado West Secondary. Others focused on advocating patronage of local foods, like Eat Local, presented by Holy Faith Convent. Ag CoP to attend grannys funeral today We are speaking with our attorney. That police killed our mother and we are not leaving that so. He has to answer for what he did. We want a full investigation and no cover-ups. I love my mother and I remained with her right through in this house. I never left, Lalloos son, Jamere Lollie Lalloo, 43, told Newsday. The funeral service for the mother of 10 takes place at the familys home located at Polly Ben Trace , Rancho Quemado, near Erin, from 11.30 am under Christian rites. The body will then be taken to the Erin Public Cemetery for burial. Yesterday Jamare noted that among the mourners expected to attend the funeral service is acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams. A police officer telephoned the family yesterday and informed them that Williams will attend the funeral service this morning. Lalloo succumbed to her injury at the San Fernando General Hospital on Wednesday, having sustained a bullet wound to the head on Monday during a police pursuit of armed bandits near her home. In a statement issued yesterday by the Public Affairs Unit of the T&T Police Service, Williams expressed sadness and sympathy over the death of the pensioner . The release stated that an autopsy performed at the Forensic Sciences Centre, St James, confirmed that death was due to a single gunshot wound to the head. Commissioner Williams has also extended his deepest condolences to the relatives of the deceased and has undertaken to assist with the funeral expenses through the Police Services Award Fund. Reports are that three police officers, one corporal and two constables, of the South Western Division Task Force (SWDTF) responded at about 7.45 pm on Monday to a report from a resident that two men were seen at Johnson Trace, Rancho Quemado, brandishing firearms. Police said when the officers arrived at the scene, their informant flagged down the vehicle and pointed to the suspects. A chase ensued and two shots were fired at the officers while there was an accidental discharge from one of the officers service revolver after he fell to the ground while trying to negotiate his way over a wire fence. The investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of Ms. Lalloo is continuing, the statement read. A bereaved Jamere maintained that he was in a hammock in the gallery of their wooden home on Monday night when he heard two loud gunshots. Shortly after, Jamere saw a policeman who ran in his direction and enquired if he saw someone running near the house. Jamere responded in the negative but found it strange that his mother did not leave her room to ask what the noise was about. Upon checking in on her, Jamere discovered his mother in a pool of blood on the floor of her bedroom with a gunshot wound to the back of her head. The pensioner was taken to the Siparia Health Centre and transferred to the hospital where she later died Mahabir: Raise car duty now He addressed yesterdays Senate debate on two bills taken together to levy the hikes proposed in Finance Minister, Colm Imberts, recent mid-year review of the Economy. Arguing against a moratorium, Mahabir said buyers should simply negotiate with car dealers to share the extra costs and negotiate with their financiers to be given a bigger loan for these costs. He empathised with Imbert, who joined in his contribution to lament that the Customs Divisions data on vehicle imports does not give a breakdown of type but simply lumps all together, such as maxi-taxis, trucks and private cars. We need data. Whats the state of demand for these luxury cars? said Mahabir. He suggested such sales are based on an inelastic demand whereby a price-hike does not depress demand. He said TT has a peculiar group of individuals who each possess $1 million to buy a car, and will not be dissuaded by any duty- hike. However Mahabir also warned that highend buyers might try to take advantage of an existing tax-break in the import-duty of environmentally- friendly hybrid vehicles. He said most of the luxury-car brands now produce such hybrids, such as BMW I-8, Mercedes- Benz E-40 Sport, Audi Q5 Hybrid and even a Porsche 918 Spider costing $845,000, set to come in duty-free. But all luxury hybrids should be liable to the same taxes. We are facing a financial crunch. Khan supports increased CNG use Khan, a former minister of works and transport, made the case for CNG but also pointed out several obstacles that must first be overcome. He said CNG could not have succeeded against competition from cheap diesel selling at $1.50, and also warned of the dangers of cheap diesel. He contrasted the economic fortunes of nearby Venezuela with diesel sold at one US cent (six cents TT) per litre the worlds cheapest price to that of Norway which has the worlds costliest diesel at US$1.60 per litre which has helped put US$850 billion of savings into their Sovereign Fund. In addition to competition from cheap diesel, Khan listed two other impediments to the adoption of CNG in TT as being the cost of conversion of vehicles, the countrys poor national grid of service stations supplying CNG, and the inefficiency of the filling- up process. He recalled once witnessing vehicles having to wait in-line for an hour to fill up at a CNG station, with eachvehicle taking ten to 15 minutes to fill up. Khan listed the locations where new CNG stations would be established. Otherwise, Khan defended Finance Minister, Colm Imberts, recent meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials whom he said were in TT chiefly to advise on transfer pricing in the energy sector (where companies shift overseas their tax liabilities). So its nothing todowith cutting social services, or taxation, he assured of the IMF visit. Khan also said it is absolutely untrue that TT-made goods are being taken off grocery shelves in Jamaica, but said Trade Minister, Paul Gopee-Scoon, had met her Jamaican counterpart to discuss sensitive issues. What you need to know about the Octagon Art Festival on Sunday in Ames news Ever heard of the naval militia? Its real, and its one of our most under-utilized national security assets (NationalSecurity.news) Unless youve been associated with the U.S. military in any capacity, you likely have never heard of the naval militia. In fact, even if you have been in, chances are good youre hearing about this particular branch of service for the first time. But, as noted by LTC (OH) Deano L. McNeil, MPA, MCP in a piece for InHomelandSecurity, not only is the naval militia a real entity, but it is one of the most underused of all Pentagon assets, and at a time when terrorism threatens our homeland and great powers increasingly threaten global stability, now is a perfect time to revitalize this forgotten branch of service. The United States government and the governments of the states and territories utilize a multi-tiered military and emergency management force structure to prepare and respond to issues pertaining to homeland security and domestic military operations, McNeil writes. This force structure includes active and reserve federal military forces, the United States Coast Guard, National Guard forces, state defense forces, and state emergency management agencies. However, within the area of state defense forces, one of the most overlooked and underutilized homeland security assets are naval militia forces. He notes that the naval reserve and naval militia forces date back to before the country was formally founded 1775 when the Navy was created by the Continental Congress, each colony, and later state, possessed armed naval vessels under the control of the state government. McNeil notes further: Today, there are two types of naval militia within the United States. The first type is considered a component of the Organized Militia of the United States, under United States Code (USC) Title 10, Section 311(b)(1), along with the National Guard. Naval militias formed under Title 10 are able to receive various forms of federal military materials and facilities support, in accordance with USC Title 10, Section 7854, provided that a minimum of 95 percent of the militias membership are Navy and Marine Corps reservists and the militias organization, training, and administration meets Department of the Navy standards. Currently, the New York Naval Militia and the Alaska Naval Militia are the only two Title 10 naval militias active in the United States. The other type of naval militia is one that is formed under USC Title 32, Section 109 (c), which is the provision of federal law that allows the states and territories to maintain other military forces, in addition to their National Guard. This type of naval militia is exclusively under state control and is financed, regulated, trained, and equipped by the state operating it. Unlike a Title 10 naval militia, a Title 32 naval militia is prohibited from utilizing active Navy and Marine Corps reservists. Currently, there are two Title 32 naval militia organizations operating in the United States: Ohio Naval Militia and the Maritime Regiment of the Texas State Guard. He also says that naval militias can be formed and maintained at minimal cost, while giving state Adjutant Generals more flexibility and mission capability. A naval militia is exclusively under an Adjutant Generals control and could be ordered into service directly by the Adjutant General without having to go through a request and approval process necessary to gain access to federal assets, such as Coast Guard watercraft or watercraft from other state agencies, he writes. Nor would an Adjutant General have to worry about whether those watercraft would be available when needed, as would be the case with watercraft from other sources. Continuing, he notes: Unfortunately, some states that have had naval militia assets disbanded them. Certainly any number of reasons, including cost, could have contributed to the decisions to disband these units. However, I would suggest that any military, first responder, or emergency response organization is organized, trained, and maintained in the hope that it will never have to be used. Naval militia can provide a state military department with trained personnel capable of performing a variety of emergency response options at a minimal cost to a state or territorial government. These forces have the advantage of being portable, of being able to respond to an emergency or disaster situation in a short period of time, and they provide a state Adjutant General with exclusive control of response tools that otherwise may not currently be available to him or her, or may not be available quickly when they are needed the most. Read the full column here. More: NationalSecurity.news is part of the USA Features Media network. Submit a correction >> The radical Greenies are really todays Reds and they are out to destroy the working class (Freedom.news) Reds was a term used to describe communists who were aligned with the Soviet Union and its authoritarian policies during the Cold War. Today, many of communisms ideological soul mates can be found in the Left-wing green movement which is infested with radicals who are more concerned about phony global warming/climate change than they are about whether you are able to earn a decent living. There was a time in Americaand it wasnt even so long agothat liberals actually cared about working class people. They may have been misguided in many of their policy solutions (i.e., raising the minimum wage) but at least their heart was in the right place, writes Stephen Moore, a distinguished visiting fellow for the Project for Economic Growth at The Heritage Foundation. Then a strange thing happened about a decade ago. The radical leftwing environmentalists took control, Moore continued. These are people who care more about the supposed rise of the oceans than the financial survival of the middle class. The industrial unions made a catastrophic decision to get in bed with these radicals and now theyand all of usare paying a heavy price. One of the industries that has been ravaged by the green/red movement is the coal industry. Just last week, Moore notes, another coal giant Peabody Energy Corp. declared bankruptcy, the same fate that befell Arch Coal Inc., Alpha Natural Resources Inc., and other coal producers who have filed for court-ordered bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11. Peabody has stated that the lower cost of natural gas may have been a factor in their decline, and I am all for market competition, Moore wrote, but this isnt a result of free market creative destruction. This was largely a policy strategy by the White House and green groups. Clean Power Plant rules issued by President Obamas EPA were designed to force many of these coal companies (and coal-fired plants) out of business, and thats precisely what is happening. And while you may personally find the use of cheap coal for the production of power offensive, these were good-paying jobs in parts of the country that have been devastated by the lousy Obama economy and now those jobs are disappearing, as are the prospects for a better life for the American families affected by these company closures. Ideas have consequences. Obama has succeeded in decimating whole towns dependent on coalin Wyoming, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, Moore notes, adding: Progressive liberals dont seem to care that an estimated 31,000 coal miners, truckers, engineers, construction workers and others have lost their job since 2009 as a result of this global warming fanaticism. Another 5,000 or so could be given pink slips at Peabody. To the left, the families whose lives are ruined are collateral damage to achieve their utopian dream of saving the planet. The Stalinists who now run the green movement believe the ends justify the ruthless means. And of course, investors in coal have been equally decimated. Since 2009 the coal industry has lost tens of billions of dollars, and much of that loss has affected union 401(k) retirement plans. Whats really maddening about all of this is that according to the governments own EPA, the air we breathe today is cleaner than its ever been, with emissions of sulfur, lead, carbon dioxide and smog from coal plants having fallen 50 to 90 percent over the past four decades. Oh, and for the uninitiated, carbon dioxide is not a pollutant we have to have it in our atmosphere so that life on our planet doesnt end. Not only that, but the greenies ought to think about what it is theyre really accomplishing other than destroying American industries and jobs. For every coal plant that shuts down in the U.S., China and India are building 10, writes Moore. In addition, our coal is much cleaner and our environmental regulations much stricter than those in the other two countries. In terms of coal, the U.S. is like the Saudi Arabia of global coal supply. We have something like 500 years worth of it in the ground, meaning we could corner the global coal market bringing wealth and prosperity to our people. But no; radical green/reds insist we impoverish ourselves rather than develop smarter ways to utilize a plentiful, affordable resource (all while complaining about their monthly electric bills, most likely). But Republicans have much to answer for, as well. They have held a majority in the House for five years and have controlled all of Congress since January 2015, but they refuse to act against the EPA and reign it in. Combine what the green/reds are doing to the energy sector with other land use regulations and you can begin to see why poll after poll shows Americans care much more about jobs and opportunity than phony baloney climate change. It isnt too late to revive the coal industry and others affected by all of this lunatic activism, but that will mean putting jobs first, Moore writes something both parties claim to want. More: Freedom.news is part of the USA Features Media network. Submit a correction >> Share It was just a few years ago that the distributed antenna system (DAS) market seemed to be experiencing a renaissance. But now IHS (News - Alert) Technology is reporting that worldwide DAS equipment revenue is on the decline, having ended 2015 at $1.9 billion 12 percent lower than the prior year. The picture was worse yet in North America, where DAS revenue saw a 20 percent year-over-year drop last year, the research and consulting firm suggests. The move by prominent carriers to small cells, and Chinas slow growth, are to blame for this trend, said IHS. Not only are large companies like AT&T (News - Alert) and Brazils America Movil opting for small cell infrastructure over DAS deployments, but IHS says theres also been a shift of DAS from large venues like stadiums to smaller ones like shopping malls, tall buildings, and railway and subway stations. Source (News - Alert): IHS DAS Equipment Biannual Market Tracker, Typical DAS solutions consist of an existing macro base station that sits somewhere within the venue; that connects to a DAS hub that propagates and/or converts, processes or controls the communication signals transmitted and received through the DAS nodes, each including at least one antenna for the transmission and reception of a wireless service providers RF signals and one remote radio head; and on-site fiber is used to distribute signals to remote radios heads throughout the defined area. Although IHS noted that AT&T is now opting for small cells over DAS, the company has used DAS equipment in multiple venues including airports, convention centers, high rises like Rockefeller Center, and stadiums. However, were now starting to hear about more small cell deployments. For example, it was recently announced that more than 1,000 Ericsson (News - Alert) Radio Dot Systems will be deployed in airports, and commercial buildings including shopping malls in Mexico City as part of a Telefonica Mexico initiative. The systems, which support 4G/LTE (News - Alert) and 3G/WCDMA mobile broadband indoors, will allow for better coverage. Thats important given 90 percent of our time is spent indoors, and only three in 10 smartphone users are satisfied with indoor voice quality, coverage, and reliability. Edited by Peter Bernstein By the early 2020s, rail commuters in Asia will be able to travel by rail between Kunming, a major transportation hub in southwestern China, and the tiny city state of Singapore in just 10 hours. Construction has begun on several parts of the Pan-Asia Railway Network, a mega plan that will see three 4,500-5,500 kilometer (2,800-3,400 mile) railway lines link China with mainland Southeast Asia, carrying passengers and freight services. (H/T to reader Godfree Roberts) Construction of the Kunming Shanghai leg was completed last week. In southwest Chinas Yunnan province, construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital city of Kunming with Shanghai has just been completed. The high-speed railway is the first for Yunnan. The route is about 380 kilometers and connects the remote southwest with the prosperous eastern China. Engineers say there were great challenges during construction, but they were overcome. Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, but engineers managed to build nearly 130 bridges and 40 tunnels. Test runs of the railway will be conducted in June, with plans open to the public by the end of the year. It will allow people who live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to take a 55 minute flight to Kunming then board a 4 hour train to Shanghai, which will connect them to the rest of Chinas 20,000 km High Speed Rail network. The Kunming-Singapore central line will cross Laos and Thailand before heading south towards Malaysias capital Kuala Lumpur and then Singapore. The eastern line will run through Vietnam and Cambodia before linking up with the central line in Bangkok. The western line will cross more of southwestern China and much of Myanmar before joining up in Bangkok. The cities of Kunming and the Thai capital, Bangkok, will serve as the main hubs for the network. High and medium-speed rail services are expected to connect 10 major cities between Kunming in China and Singapore. China is negotiating with seven Southeast Asian countries. Transport analyst Dr. Ruth Banomyong thinks the economic benefits of a modern railway network are now too tempting for many poorer Southeast Asian countries to pass up. High speed rail is very expensive and none of the countries Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, or Cambodia can really afford one, Banomyong, who is a professor at Bangkoks Thammasat University, told DW. He added that there is also a question mark over the cost of the proposed route through Thailand, a middle income country. Although the costs for the whole project havent been revealed, the Thai section alone is estimated to be worth 20 billion euros ($23 billion.) Construction has already finished on the Vietnam stretch of the rail link, while work got underway last December to connect landlocked Laos to Kunming. China is also bidding to build high speed railway lines in India and has proposed a direct rail link to the Iranian capital, Tehran. The rail route between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur already exists but the contract to upgrade to high-speed lines is expected to be taken by the end of the year. Local media reports suggest that Singapore prefers a Japanese or European bidder but Malaysia favors a Chinese firm. Construction of sections connecting China with Vietnam, China with Myanmar and Laos with Vietnam are under way. SOURCES Deutsche Welle, Wikipedia, Some are suggesting that Sanders is now trying to exert influence over the democratic platform in 2016 rather than actually win the election, which may explain the layoffs. More Indiana residents have cast their votes early for the state's primary election than any of the previous nomination contests during the same time period in at least two decades. Meanwhile his competitors, John Kasich and Ted Cruz, seem to be scrambling about what to do. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump obtained the majority of votes on the Tuesday presidential primaries. I think that the only thing she's got going is that she's a woman. Soon after his victory, Trump argued that the unbound delegates had moral obligation to vote for at the convention in the first ballot respecting the mandate of the people of the State. NY judge rejects Cosby's request to get journalists' notes The ruling by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania came in response to a motion by Steele to quash Cosby's appeal. Most of the allegations were too old for the alleged victims to pursue criminal charges or civil claims. "The only thing she has got going is the woman's card", Trump said. While that task is essentially impossible given that the Democrats do not hold winner-take-all primaries, Sanders has said he believes he should continue campaigning in order to give Democratic voters in every state a voice in the nominating process. "She's got nothing else going". He added: "She's woman and she's playing that card like I have never seen anyone play it before". In an interview Wednesday with The Washington Post, Sanders said he thinks the odds are against him but that he still has a "narrow" path to the nomination. He said the move was not a reflection of a slowdown in fundraising - one area of the campaign where Senator Sanders has been outpacing Mrs Clinton in recent months. US Fed leaves door open for June hike And I suspect that a significant part of the assessment will be influenced by the behavior of the financial markets themselves. That level, it said, was partially due to recent "declines in energy prices and falling prices of non-energy imports". Sanders' chances at winning the nomination are increasingly slim, and he has done little prepare his staff or organizing operations for a general election against a Republican. "Many of them are already signed". US PRESIDENTIAL front-runners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton tightened their grip on their respective parties' campaigns yesterday after resounding wins in north-eastern states' primaries. It's pretty obvious that Clinton will be the eventual Democratic presidential nominee, but her attempts to bring supporters of the Vermont senator into her camp are falling on deaf ears. (AP Photo/John Minchillo). A small memorial stands beside the entrance on Union Hill Road at the outer perimeter of a crime scene, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in Piketon, Ohio. Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader speaks to the media alongside Ohio State Attorney General Mike DeWine during a news conference, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in Waverly, Ohio. A coroner's report released Tuesday showe. The funeral for Gary Rhoden will be at 12 pm Thursday at the Crockett L. Reed Funeral Home in South Shore, Kentucky. DeWine has said there were marijuana-growing operations found at three of the four places where bodies were found in Pike County, a rural Appalachian Mountain region roughly 80 miles east of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. That was only the beginning. OH authorities on Wednesday refused to disclose details of their investigation into the execution-style murders of eight family members in order not to help the killer or killers evade capture, although they said federal drug enforcement agents are aiding in the probe. A coroner said seven members of the Rhoden family were shot multiple times, and one had nine gunshot wounds. The attorney general also cited the need to keep from "polluting" the thinking of witnesses as they continue to submit information to the authorities. Investigators have interviewed more than 50 people in the case but have made no arrests. DIPP moves cabinet note on 100% FDI in food processing Apple already has Apple-owned retail stores across the world, including the UK, Germany, France, China and Japan. The government allowed 100% FDI in single-brand retail in January 2012. "I assume the person or the people who committed these murders are watching the news reports about Pike County", said DeWine, "I do not intend or want to broadcast any information that would let them know details about this investigation". "This was not something that just happened", said Reader, noting most victims were targeted while they were sleeping. Some neighbors said they had heard rumors. Authorities said none of the deaths appeared self-inflicted and whoever was responsible might be at large. But Angie Tolliver, a home health aide, said that whatever connection drugs may have had to the slayings, "Nobody deserves that". In the meantime, authorities are coming to Pike County from as far as Lake Erie to assist local authorities. Authorities said it was unclear what, if any, role the marijuana discovery would play in the investigation. As the Two-Way previously reported, three children in the homes survived: a 4-day-old, a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old. But Beekman and others hanging out there midday Saturday said they weren't concerned for their own safety because it's an area where residents know and look out for each other. Apple may be exempted from local sourcing norms Apple already has Apple-owned retail stores across the world, including the UK, Germany, France, China and Japan. But, Apple is reportedly being granted an exemption because they are creating 'cutting-edge technology'. Mike DeWine said the Piketon killer or killers used "calculation, design, and prior thought" to murder the Rhoden family, according to the Chillicothe Gazette. OH and Pike County authorities are leading the investigation, with help from some two dozen other agencies including other county sheriffs. Dozens of officers from outside the county have come to town, helping the beleaguered sheriff's office with patrol duties. A GoFundMe account set up to help with funeral expenses for Gary, Kenneth and Chris Rhoden Sr. had raised $355 as of Wednesday afternoon. Family members "really want their privacy". Statoil swings to Q1 profit partly offset by cost cuts Adjusted exploration expenses in the quarter were US$280 million, down from Dollars 351 million in the first quarter of 2015. In the case of earnings surprises, if a company is suggesting a negative earnings surprise it means there are more to come. Rhoden lost two brothers, his former sister-in-law and a cousin in the slayings. Hurting him, she said, "was like kicking a dog". She described Dana Rhoden as a woman with "a heart of gold" who gave her clothes and money when her home burned down past year. "It's been incredible what's been happening". PROVIDENCE, R.I. | Donald Trump says an extraordinary collaboration between Ted Cruz and John Kasich aimed at unifying the anti-Trump vote in some remaining primaries is a desperate move by "mathematically dead" rivals. U.S. Representative Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania, a Trump surrogate, said the campaign had taken some steps, including printing cards naming its preferred candidates for delegates so that voters going to the polls would know who backs Trump. Then, his campaign would have to sway some of the more-than 100 "unbound" delegates, including 54 from Pennsylvania. "They should get out of the race, and we should heal the Republican Party". A total of 1,237 delegates are needed to clinch the Republican nomination. The Republican race now turns to IN, where next week's primary marks one of Mr Cruz's last chances to slow Mr Trump and push the race towards a contested convention. "Donald Trump doesn't have the support of a majority of Republicans - not even close, but he now does have nearly half the delegates because he's benefited from the existing primary system". Leicester City Boss Claudio Ranieri Felt 'Light' After Spurs Draw The video was filmed all over the city, with fans of all ages taking the time to send a message to Ranieri and thank him for everything he's done. This video includes images from Getty Images. Clinton leads Sanders in the pledged delegate count by about 250, and will likely expand on that lead after Tuesday's primaries in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. He skipped the Iowa caucuses, for example, never a successful decision for any presidential candidate, and has emphasized his moderate credentials instead of positioning himself as a mainstream conservative. Trump also argued during the rally that the pact between Kasich and Cruz showed they are "pathetic". "It shows how weak they are". Kasich, the OH governor, and Cruz, a USA senator from Texas, agreed not to compete against each other in three upcoming nominating contests that could prove to be pivotal: Indiana, Oregon and New Mexico. White Sox blank Blue Jays for sixth win in a row The Sox had been held to one hit through six innings, but they have scored 23 runs scored in the seventh inning this season. Estrada did not get a decision in a 3-2 defeat at Baltimore with a run allowed on six hits and four BB in five frames. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign stop, Monday, April 25, 2016, at City Hall in Philadelphia. The Vermont senator won Rhode Island. The former secretary of state ignored Sanders as she campaigned in DE, assailing Trump as being out of touch with average Americans. It took them almost two months to do so, but John Kasich and Ted Cruz are finally taking Mitt Romney's advice. But that effort did little to stop Trump from a big showing in the Northeast, where he picked up at least 105 of the 118 delegates up for grabs. Asked whether he expects a contested national Democratic convention, Weaver told reporters in Connecticut, "Absolutely, 100 percent". The testy tycoon Trump strides far ahead of his competition, as the mendacious madame Clinton leads the bellowing bureaucrat. Unless Trump manages to change those numbers and the perception that he would be an unreliable ally in the Oval Office if he somehow managed to win, his opponents are going to try to find ways to block him. "We need to make sure the people that filled those delegate slots for the national delegate spots truly support those two candidates". White House to 'ramp up' pressure on North Korea over nuclear activity A Musudan has a reach of 3,500 kilometres, putting far-off USA military installments in Asia in range. Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, who died in December 2011, never held a ruling party congress. "Kind of sneaky", is how Joe Conder, a 75-year-old retired civil engineer from Scottsville, Indiana, described the Kasich-Cruz deal. The order is effective immediately and applies to "any felon who has completed any term of incarceration and completed any period of supervised release, probation or parole, for any and all felony convictions". That's according to the office of Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who signed a bill on Friday that would allow convicted felons who had completed their sentences to vote. But in recent years, both McAuliffe and his Republican predecessor, Robert F. McDonnell, have used their executive authority to try to restore voting rights to ex-offenders. The New York Times notes that Virginia is one of four states, including Kentucky, Florida and Iowa, with the harshest restrictions on voting rights for felons. In a statement, John Whitbeck, Republican Party chairman in Virginia, said voting rights shouldn't have been restored to people who "committed heinous acts of violence". The ACLU lays out a full picture in this map. The measure could sway the upcoming election, given that Virginia is a swing state and the majority of people who will get their voting rights back are African-American, who are more likely to vote Democratic. O'Malley endorses Van Hollen in Maryland's US Senate primary Edwards has represented the state's 4th District, comprised of parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties, since 2008. Together with TV anchor Kathleen Matthews, the three contenders spent more than $12 million by of the end of March. NAACP President Cornell William Brooks said he hopes more states follow Virginia's lead. "This is the essence of our democracy and any effort to dilute that fundamental principle diminishes it, folks, for all of us", McAuliffe said on the steps of Virginia's Capitol, before a crowd of more than 100 people that included many ex-felons. In 2014, he also reduced the number of years that Virginians convicted of violent felonies had to wait before they could apply to vote again. Voting rights should be a partisan issue, keeping people away from the polls is the only chance that Republicans have to win. His decision to issue a blanket restoration, without regard to the nature of the crimes committed, doesn't speak of mercy. "I am not surprised by the lengths to which he is willing to go to deliver Virginia to Hillary Clinton in November", Howell said in a statement. Charles wishes Mummy 'the happiest of birthdays' as Queen turns 90 Royal fans are gathering in Windsor ahead of Thursday's celebrations for the 90th birthday of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Holbrook's Royal Hospital School kicked off the Queen's birthday celebrations by raising the Royal Ensign this morning. Advocates of restoring voting rights say it is a way of promoting racial justice, as African-Americans are convicted of crimes and sent to prison at about twice the rate of the overall US population. To underscore that point, the governor said he consulted with state Attorney General Mark Herring and other legal experts before moving forward. Only two states, Vermont and ME, permit felons to vote even when they are in prison, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Other states have been gradually been changing their laws to provide that voting and other civil rights are automatically restored upon completion of a sentence, including any conditions of probation or parole. The first reported Zika case in OH was identified in Cuyahoga County in February. A CDC review published online Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine describes evidence of what US health officials now call a causal relationship between the virus and a severe form of microcephaly and intracranial calcifications. Despite the large number of confirmed cases of Zika in South America, Colombia is only the second country to confirm related cases of microcephaly. In the first reported case of gay men contracting the virus through sexual contact, scientists have said this has added to the understanding of how Zika can be transmitted. The most common symptoms include fever, joint pain, rash or conjunctivitis (red eyes). People usually don't get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. His partner (who had not recently traveled abroad) became sick after a week. In both cases, authorities are clear: the virus can be spread via unprotected sex. The Agony of a Trump Delegate He will now focus most of his resources in California, which is among the last state to vote on June 7. Speaking from IN before polls closed on Tuesday, the Texas senator argued his best states are ahead. According to the CDC, Zika virus is contracted primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Dr. Anne Schucat, the deputy director of the C.D.C., said on Monday at a White House briefing said that more than 700 people have been infected by the Zika virus in the United States and this included 69 expectant mothers. Dallas County has six confirmed Zika cases. World Bank optimistic on oil averaging at $41 this year Oversupply in the global crude oil market is expected to recede, according to the quarterly Commodity Markets Outlook report. Oil recently surged to just over $45 a barrel last week after previously hitting a 12 year low of $28 a barrel in Janurary. Doctors in Brazil have been linking Zika infections in pregnant women to a rise in newborns with microcephaly - an unusually small skull - since previous year. While mosquitos are still the primary vector for spreading Zika virus, the new report hints that we have more to learn about other modes of transmission. The virus is spread through mosquito bites. Now, U.S. federal officials have finally confirmed: the infection causes abnormalities in babies who were born to infected mothers. The CDC now recommends that men use condoms for vaginal, anal and oral sex for at least eight weeks after traveling to a Zika outbreak area. Researchers are also investigating the possibility that the virus can be transmitted through blood transfusion. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Hundreds of journalists Thursday marched through Cairo, from the Press Syndicate headquarters in central Cairo towards the attorney generals office where they filed a complaint against the interior minister for the arrest of their colleagues during the Monday protest and against police brutality. The marchers holding up pens and cameras chanted slogans against security forces and filed a complaint against Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar and the head of Cairo Security Directorate for police misconduct against journalists on April 25 planned protest. Some 46 journalists were arrested during the police crackdown on the protesters on Monday, the Press Syndicate said at a press conference. More than 230 people were also arrested and carried away by security forces, reports say. What happened during April 25 demonstrations cannot be tolerated, and those responsible for it must be held accountable, said the Journalists Syndicate Chairman Yehia Qalash. The journalists also complained about security forces raids on activists and journalists in the build-up to the protest. Police forces rounded up coffee shops in downtown Cairo and homes of activists in a move to head off the Monday protest. More than 60 journalists and activists were reportedly arrested days before the Monday protest. Hundreds of Egyptians defied the governments warnings on Monday and protested against the transfer of the Red Sea Tiran and Sanafir strategic islands to Saudi Arabia. Egyptians accuse the President of trading the Islands for Saudi aid. Al-Sisi slammed the accusations saying he only returned to Saudi Arabia what belonged to it. The Egyptian cabinet argued that the Islands were placed under Egypts protection in 1950 for fear Israel might attack them. The Mauritanian army Wednesday snatched 475 kilograms of drugs from a group of traffickers after a chase and gun battle. According to army sources, the incident took place in the area of Al Hank, more than 250 km, north-east of the town of Zouerate. The traffickers were tracked by an army unit and a military aircraft and were later arrested and their shipment seized, but the army did not disclose the type of drugs they seized nor did they reveal the nationalities of arrestees. They had also seized light and heavy weaponry as well as a GPS device and a satellite phone. Pierre Lapack, UNs Regional officer for the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism in Central and West Africa, warned at a meeting Dakar (Senegal) earlier this month that drug trafficking and terrorism constitute real threats to peace and security in the Sahel region including Mauritania. The army has been put on the alert in the northern part of the country which has become the main route used by traffickers. According to several reports and experts, these traffickers are linked to terrorist groups including al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb. Tunisias Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub revealed that they have gathered intelligence indicating that terrorist groups linked to the Islamic State operating in Libya are planning to launch attacks in the country. The attacks are to be carried out by suicide bombers against security officers, the official said during a hearing with the Security and Defense committee of the parliament. Other spots in the Greater Tunis area may also be targeted, he said. As part of efforts to counter the attacks, Madjoub said they are coordinating with neighboring Algeria and Libya over border security. He said coordination with Algiers is stronger than that of Tripoli because of the state of affairs in the war torn country. Attacks claimed by the Islamic State in 2015 have worsened Tunisias economic and financial situation as it was just starting to recover from the effects of the protests that led to the end of the Ben Ali regime. Around 1400 people stood trial on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. Tunisia established a buffer zone along its border with Libya, dug trenches and built a wall as security measures to limit illegal crossing between the two countries. Photo: KCNA via AFP A month and a half after sentencing University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier to 15 years of hard labor for stealing a propaganda poster, North Korea has handed down another harsh punishment to an American. According to the dictatorships official news agency, 62-year-old Kim Dong Chul has received a ten-year sentence for perpetrating the state subversive plots and espionage against the DPRK. A native of South Korea and former resident of Fairfax, Virginia, Kim became an American citizen in 1987. According to a (heavily monitored) interview he gave after he was arrested last October, Kim moved to the Chinese border town of Yanji in 2001 and ran a company that does business around North Koreas borders with China and Russia. During that interview, he confessed to spying for South Korean conservative elements, presumably because thats what his captors told him to say. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images NYPD officer Joel Edouard is now facing up to a year in prison, having been convicted of misdemeanor assault on Friday afternoon. The charges against Edouard stemmed from the July 2014 arrest of Jahmi-El Cuffee, who was drinking outside and carrying a small amount of weed. In a widely viewed video, Edouard can be seen pointing a gun and stomping on Cuffees head as he lies facedown on the sidewalk, having already been subdued by several cops. The incident took place about a week after the death of Eric Garner. Admittedly it was a difficult situation, but he gratuitously stomped on the head of a man being restrained by other police, said Brooklyn Supreme Court justice Alan Marrus before announcing the verdict. The New York Post reports that, during testimony earlier this week, Edouard said he merely restrained [Cuffees] hand with my foot. Meanwhile, his lawyers claimed that prosecutors doctored pictures showing injuries to the victims head instead. The prosecution offered a simpler explanation, saying that Edouards behavior was the result of blind and uncontrolled anger. Photo: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Finance LP/Getty Images Donald Trumps campaign is having one of its best weeks so far, and its momentum seems to be catching. After sweeping the five northeastern primaries Tuesday night, Trump won almost all of Pennsylvanias unbound delegates, giving his total delegate count an unexpected boost. Hes also the favorite to win Indianas May 3 primary, and hes polling much higher than expected in California and Oregon if those numbers hold, hes all but certain to clinch the required 1,237 delegates to become the Republican nominee. His nomination is beginning to feel not only possible, but inevitable. And his relentless popularity is beginning to sway Republican party elites. People are realizing that hes the likely nominee, Tim Pawlenty, a former Minnesota governor who previously endorsed Senator Marco Rubio, told the Washington Post. The hysteria has died down, and the range of emotion is from resignation to enthusiasm. Growing acceptance of Trump is due in part to Republicans fear that a contested convention will damage the party beyond repair. Dick Wadhams, the former Colorado party chairman, told the Post that More and more people hope he wins that nomination on the first ballot because they do not want to see a convention that explodes into total chaos. People just want this to be over with, and we need a nominee. Some are worried that, if they wait until July to settle on a nominee, the Democrats will have a fundraising advantage not to mention the advantage of a party thats been united behind a single candidate for a longer period of time. (Although, if Sanders stays in the race, the Democrats probably wont be able to nail down a nominee until June either.) But the apparent inevitability of a Trump nomination is a strong factor in swaying party elites in his favor, too. Is it a done deal? Its certainly looking that way, Reed Galen, a political consultant, told the Post. Youll hear people say they never thought hed end up being the nominee, but for the most part people think he will be the nominee. That same sentiment that a Trump nomination is a done deal is seeping into Capitol Hill, where The Wall Street Journal says a new attitude among some Republicans is emerging. Trump scored two strong endorsements yesterday from Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller; in his endorsement, Schuster called for the party to unite behind Trump and focus its attacks on Clinton. Youre not having to stick your neck out quite as far as a few months ago, Representative Duncan Hunter, who endorsed Trump early on, told WSJ. Its less of a stretch now. People like to be with the winner. Representative Chris Collins, another Trump supporter, said other Republicans are actually coming to him with questions about Trump: Theyre reaching out, I want to support him, Im going to support him, help me understand theres definitely a mood shift, an energy shift. Of course, a number of Republican lawmakers still oppose Trump Lindsey Graham, for example, called his foreign-policy speech pathetic and unnerving. But Trump, who declared himself the presumptive nominee on Tuesday, doesnt seem to be listening. Thanks, Little Marco. Photo: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images For a brief period of time, #NeverTrump was practically Marco Rubios presidential-campaign slogan. Rubio made slashing attacks on Trump as a con artist. Rubios campaign website sold anti-Trump swag, like a #Never Trump bumper sticker. #NeverTrump, of course, the hashtag slogan of a movement of Republicans who have vowed to withhold their support from Trump even if he wins the party nomination (which is the straightforward and, in fact, only understood meaning of the word never). But last month, Rubio conceded that #NeverTrump merely meant that he wouldnt vote for Trump in the Republican primary. And now, appearing on Univision, Rubio sounds ready to rally around Trump: Look, lets not divide the party. You have someone here who has all these votes, very close to get 1,237, lets not ignore the will of the people or theyre going to be angry. Delegates may decide on that reason that they decide to vote for Donald Trump, but if they dont its not illegitimate in any way, he told Miami radio host Jimmy Cefalo. Ive always said Im going to support the Republican nominee, and thats especially true now that its apparent that Hillary Clinton will be the Democrat nominee, Donald Trump is a con artist and he cannot be our nominee. #NeverTrump https://t.co/3ZYQZraCfNhttps://t.co/8wm9ToY7El Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 27, 2016 Donald Trump will never be the nominee of the party of Lincoln and Reagan. #NeverTrump Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 27, 2016 So maybe a con artist can be the Republican nominee after all. Perhaps we should have paid more attention to the fact that Rubios campaign page advertising the #NeverTrump bumper sticker used the word removable. Twice. Police on horseback and on foot clear the anti-Trump demonstrators after a Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rally at the Pacific Amphitheatre on Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Costa Mesa, California. Photo: Michael Goulding/AP Things got violent outside a Thursday night Donald Trump rally in Orange County, California, with anti-Trump demonstrators fighting with the Republican candidates supporters, damaging police vehicles, and engaging in other not-great behavior. At least 20 people were arrested. The Los Angeles Times reports that as Trump addressed a crowd in Costa Mesas Pacific Amphitheatre, hundreds of young, mostly Latino protesters assembled outside of the venue to criticize his anti-immigration policies and racism. Jessica Mendoza-Amin, 34, came out to denounce #DonaldTrump racist rhetoric. "People are losing sight of humanity." pic.twitter.com/juMdKF2nGN Ruben Vives (@LATvives) April 29, 2016 Arianna Perez, 19, with the sign: "We could be peaceful & do things different, but we wouldn't get our voice heard." pic.twitter.com/xjkDOUY3et Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016 While local law enforcement had prepared for the possibility of a large protest, officers were apparently overwhelmed as taunts between anti- and pro-Trump people gave way to demonstrators [carrying] benches and [blocking] the entrance to the 55 Freeway along Newport Boulevard, with some tossing rocks at motorists near the on-ramp. Post Trump Rally protests in street at Fair&Fairview CM- law enforcement attempting to disperse crowd. No arrests pic.twitter.com/aJT4HGzepK OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSD) April 29, 2016 #Trump sheriff deputies keep protesters from Trump supporters pic.twitter.com/wlX52yejT9 Gina Ferazzi (@GinaFerazzi) April 29, 2016 #Trump protesters just took over the intersection at Fair Dr and Fairview Rd. pic.twitter.com/EAbP981f4J Gina Ferazzi (@GinaFerazzi) April 29, 2016 Elsewhere, a man jumped on top of a police cruiser, smashing some of its windows, while others attempted to flip another car over. Some video I shot of a police car being smashed by a protester: pic.twitter.com/aqHm5jP9y3 Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) April 29, 2016 From earlier, when protesters were trying to flip the police car pic.twitter.com/6tY3dzMOgx Jim Dalrymple II (@JimDalrympleII) April 29, 2016 By 11 p.m., riot-gear-clad officers had mostly cleared the area. According to the Associated Press, There were no major injuries and police did not use any force, though at least one male Trump supporter left with a bloodied face. Bernie Sanders is sweating this math problem. Photo: John Sommers II/Getty Images If Democrats want to build a generous welfare state like Denmarks and they should! theyll have to find a way to convince most Americans to pay higher taxes. Because the political willpower for higher middle-class taxes currently does not exist, Democrats instead rely on tax hikes exclusively on the rich, which helps, but doesnt provide enough potential revenue to fund a full-scale social democracy. One partial solution to this problem is to increase revenue through public-health-related taxes on things like tobacco or sugary soda. I recently pointed out the oddity of Bernie Sanderss opposition to such a tax, given that Sanders is a proponent of both a Danish-style social democracy in general and a health-care plan that raises taxes on low-income earners in particular. Matt Bruenig takes issue, focusing on the question of how much higher taxes are in Denmark. I wrote that the Danes do not tax the rich all that much more heavily than the United States does. Bruenig counters, This is simply untrue. The Nordic countries do tax the rich much more heavily than the US does. Its not untrue, and Bruenig does not really support his claim. He produces a chart showing that the top labor tax rate in Denmark is about 56 percent, compared with 47 percent in the United States. If that data did fully answer the question of how much the rich are taxed, it would hardly make my claim simply untrue after all, I concede that Denmark does tax the rich at a higher rate, just not all that much more heavily. Bruenig is resting an awful lot of rhetorical weight on just how large of a difference qualifies as all that much. In any case, his numbers do not settle the question. Labor taxes are only one way in which the rich are taxed. There is also taxation of business income, capital gains, dividends, and inheritances. Denmarks high rates on personal income, as Jonathan Cohn wrote in 2007, mask relatively low rates on investment capital and corporate earnings. The overall difference in tax rates on the rich is less than the figure Bruenig displays. I was unable to find a comprehensive comparison of the total effective tax rate faced by the rich in the U.S. and Denmark, which is why I fell back on the loose terminology that nonetheless set off Bruenig. Following up on Bruenigs dissent, I asked Lane Kenworthy an economist who has argued for bringing social democracy to the U.S., and whose work on the topic has influenced me if he had more precise data. He replied: What we need for Denmark (and other rich countries) is the effective tax rate paid by the top 1% and at other points in the distribution, with all types of taxes included as CTJ has done for the US at http://ctj.org/ctjreports/2015/04/who_pays_taxes_in_america_in_2015.php#.VyEoAWbmlu4. To my knowledge we dont have that. Your piece made the point, assuming I understand you, that Denmarks tax system isnt more progressive than ours. Bruenig is making the point (though he doesnt have the data) that Denmarks effective tax rate on the 1% is higher than ours. Both are true. As best I can tell, Denmark taxes everyone at a higher rate than we do, and their tax system is no more progressive than ours probably a bit less progressive (the tax wedges Bruenig looks at dont include consumption/VAT taxes). A 2008 post by Kenworthy shows that the Danish tax code does not redistribute income more aggressively than the American tax code. (Differences in redistribution through taxes are represented by the white circles.) The difference is all on the spending side (the black diamonds): Again, given the political constraints posed by public opinion in the U.S., it makes sense to focus on heavier taxes on the rich. It also makes sense to find opportunities for other sources of revenue to fund worthy investments, like prekindergarten education in Philadelphia. The point of my post was that it is ideologically self-defeating for Bernie Sanders to oppose such an effort. Do Bruenig and other Sanders enthusiasts disagree? Photo: Erik Snyder Nightmare is kind of a weird word, etymologically speaking. The night part is obvious enough, but mare has more of an unexpected history: In old English, it was the word for demons who were thought to possess people as they slept. The compound word, nightmare, was originally a term for the spirits themselves, only later coming to refer to the dreams they caused. The term has stuck, but nowadays, psychologists have a few other ideas about what causes nightmares. Writing in New Scientist earlier this week, psychology PhD candidate Michelle Carr, who studies dreams at the University of Montreals Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, explained the two dominant theories: One is that theyre a reaction to negative experiences that happen during waking hours. The other is threat simulation theory, or the idea that we evolved to have nightmares as a sort of rehearsal for adversity, so that when the real thing rolls around were better equipped to handle it. Whether or not they function as a training ground for real-life situations, though, nightmares do have some real benefits for the people who thrash and sweat their way through them, as Carr noted. One 2013 study, for example, found that frequent nightmare sufferers rated themselves as more empathetic. They also displayed more of a tendency to unconsciously mirror other people through things like contagious yawning, a phenomenon thats been studied as an indicator of empathy. Carr, meanwhile, has found that people who have constant nightmares also tend to think further outside the box on word-association tasks. Other research, she explained, has found support for the idea that nightmares might be linked to creativity: Sleep researcher Ernest Hartmann, while a psychiatrist at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston in the 1980s, found that people seeking therapy for nightmares were not necessarily more fearful or anxious, but rather had a general sensitivity to all emotional experience. He concluded that sensitivity is the driving force behind intense dreams. Heightened sensitivity to threats or fear during the day results in bad dreams and nightmares, whereas heightened passion or excitement may result in more intense positive dreams. And both these forms of dreams may feed back into waking life, perhaps increasing distress after nightmares, or promoting social bonds and empathy after positive dreams. The effects go further still. Hartmann realised that this sensitivity spills over into perceptions and thoughts: people who have a lot of nightmares experience a dreamlike quality to their waking thoughts. And this kind of thinking seems to give them a creative edge. For instance, studies show that such people tend to have greater creative aptitude and artistic expression. Jess and Chris [two of Carrs research subjects] scored highly on a test to measure this, called the boundary thinness scale, and both are artists: Jess is a painter and photographer, Chris a musician. And, in a satisfyingly tidy stroke of cosmic balance, Carrs research has found that people who often have nightmares also tend to have more positive dreams than the average person. The evidence points towards the idea that, rather than interfering with normal activity, people who are unfortunate in having a lot of nightmares also have a dreaming life that is at least as creative, positive and vivid as it can be distressing and terrifying, she wrote. Whats more, this imaginative richness is unlikely to be confined to sleep, but also permeates waking thought and daydreams. Even after people wake up and shake off the nighttime demon, in other words, a trace of it stays behind, possessing them throughout the day. Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Rush/Dallas Observer It turns out that a state doesnt need to pass a transphobic bathroom bill to get its citizens to police public restrooms. Jessica Rush, who was born as and identifies as female, but has short hair and dresses androgynously, attempted to use the womens room at the Baylor Medical Center in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday. Rush was followed in there by a man who wanted to make sure she wasnt a man. She taped the encounter, which you can watch below: Rush told the Dallas Observer that shes been stopped in the womens room at Hobby Lobby and at her gyms locker room before, for similar reasons. Devon Bostick (The 100) But will his character be as annoying as Jasper is on The 100? Bye, Glenn.But will his character be as annoying as Jasper is on The 100? #killjasper Reply Thread Link Literally means nothing. Maggie is still here and she filmed that stupid scary doll movie. Reply Parent Thread Link hey i liked that movie as much as you can like a B horror movie Reply Parent Thread Link Wow, what great representation of Celtic actors! I mean Asians! Reply Thread Link Welp, rip Glenn Reply Thread Link nah, it's obviously a tiny role and they're already like WE'RE DOING NEGAN-CENTRIC EPS THIS SEASON so it's probably a part he shoots in a week and he's done. Reply Parent Thread Link this is a film not a tv show so why would he need to be killed off. Reply Parent Thread Link maybe he needs some new gigs now. Glenn's death would cause the most devastation. After that bullshit finale, they better do something drastic. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Synopsis sounds dumb Reply Thread Link Gamera 3 Reply Thread Link bong joon ho and park chan wook both hitting me with all of this movie news...i'm blessed Reply Thread Link If only Steven was the lead <3 :/ I'll take it tho. Reply Thread Link hire 4 asian actors but make sure the leads are all mediocre white people k Edited at 2016-04-29 06:02 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link There's a summary that literally says "The story centers on a girl (Seohyun An)..." Reply Parent Thread Link It sounds like the lead is Asian tho?Lol, you wanted to be the first to make the "...but the white people!" statement huh? Edited at 2016-04-29 06:06 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link lmao no it centers on the kid's fucking pet and the corporation that created it/took it, it's obviously taking place in seoul (since that's where they're filming) and the three adult, lead characters are all white. try again tho. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The lead is Asian. The article makes it out to seem like Tilda and Paul are the actual stars... Reply Parent Thread Link nnnnnn when does this start filming? rip glenn but get those roles steven bb <3 Reply Thread Link Choi Woo-Shik on the come up. Reply Thread Link I'm glad there's going to be more Asian actors than usual although the white actors weren't needed at all for this Reply Thread Link Lead is Asian and not just the token and the director is Korean. Pretty good from what I see. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean it's decent but after all the controversy over "diversifying" movies like Big Hero 6, I can't help but think the white actors are because Netflix doesn't want something that's all or almost all Asian. Netflix did give us the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon sequel, but I think people are more tolerant of all Asian casts when the genre is martial arts. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The main three were tho. The synopsis got them looking like the evil Americans they probably are. That ratio of white to Korean actors is high considering this is being filmed in Seoul tho. Edited at 2016-04-29 06:10 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Glenn better not be dead SERIOUSLY Reply Thread Link i can never decided if hes cute or not. Reply Thread Link He went to Medieval Times, you do the math. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link well, he's certainly the most attractive guy in that video. Reply Parent Thread Link I love how he was about to describe what Medieval Times was and Conan was like all you had to was just mention Medieval times lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link oh my gosh he's so cute Reply Parent Thread Link I love him so much. Reply Parent Thread Link he should marry me Reply Parent Thread Link He is adorable, imo. Reply Parent Thread Link he's beautiful tbh Reply Parent Thread Link he's fine af Reply Parent Thread Link Choi Woo Shik <3333 and Ahn Seohyun is one of those child actors that's just been in everything, she pops up all the time and is always fantastic~ Reply Thread Link In the latest key figures from the oil and gas industry we see that oil rallied throughout the week, ignoring the fact that U.S. crude oil stocks have risen to over 540 million barrels. (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) Friday 29th April 2016 Oil prices continued their gains this week, breaking out of a trading band that could mark a new period for the market. As of early trading on Friday, WTI was above $46 per barrel and Brent traded above $48 per barrel. There are some warning signs that the oil rally may not last the EIA reported another uptick in storage levels but for now, traders are feeling optimistic. Related: Why Canadas Oil Industry May Never Be the Same ExxonMobil loses AAA rating, reports earnings. It has been a busy week for ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM). The worlds largest publically-traded oil company lost its sterling AAA credit rating by S&P earlier this week, a perfect rating that it has held for more than 80 years. S&P was concerned about rising debt levels and a hefty shareholder dividend that weighs on cash flow. A day later, however, ExxonMobil appeared unfazed when it announced an increase in its dividend by 2 cents per share, or a 3 percent increase. Exxon has hiked its dividend every year for a quarter century. On Friday, Exxon reported its first quarter earnings, revealing a profit $1.8 billion, down from $4.9 billion a year ago and its lowest result in more than a decade. But the news was not all bad. The company saw production rise on by 1.8 percent year-on-year on an oil equivalent basis. Its downstream unit performed well, and the oil supermajor reduced spending by 33 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015. Exxons share price rose on the news. Chevron announces a loss. Chevron (NYSE: CVX) reported a first quarter loss of $725 million, compared with a $2.6 billion profit a year earlier. But the company feels more optimistic because it recently completed several large projects including the massive $54 billion Gorgon LNG export facility in Australia which should improve cash flow moving forward. Eni swings to a loss. Italian oil giant Eni (NYSE: E) reported a 792 euro loss ($897 billion) in the first quarter, down from a profit of 832 euros in the first quarter of 2015. Although it sounds bad, the result was largely in line with expectations and the companys share price barely budged. Related: Weaker Dollar Continues To Drive Oil Prices Up ConocoPhillips loses $1.5 billion. ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) reported a quarterly loss of $1.5 billion, down from a profit of $272 million in 2015. It also cut 2016 spending from $6.4 billion to $5.7 billion the company said that bringing its debt below $25 billion would be a top priority. The companys CEO Ryan Lance also said that Conoco would not grow for growths sake. PetroChina reports a loss as well. Chinas state-owned oil company, PetroChina, reported a quarterly loss of 13.8 billion yuan ($2.13 billion), which was its first quarterly loss on record. The company has many aging and expensive wells, with production starting to decline. Saudi Arabia to boost oil production. In order to meet a spike in summer demand, Saudi Arabia is expected to increase its oil production in the coming weeks, with some analysts expecting output to rise to 10.5 million barrels per day (mb/d), up from 10.15 mb/d in April. Since the increase is expected to be consumed domestically, it may not add to global supplies. Still, Saudi Arabias Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said just before Doha that the oil kingdom had the ability to ramp up output by an additional 1 mb/d if we wanted to, which was perceived as a veiled threat towards Iran. But analysts interviewed by Reuters do not expect them to follow through on that threat. Floating oil increases. There is a rising number of oil tankers holding crude at sea, a glaring symptom of an oversupplied market. Oil traders have bid up oil prices by more than 70 percent since early February, and there is a clear sense of bullishness throughout the oil markets. However, if the presence of oil sitting in tankers at sea is anything to go by, there is still a large glut of crude. "We...see worrying parallels to 2015, when oil prices rose sharply well into May before collapsing in the second half of the year," Commerzbank analysts concluded. There are reportedly oil tankers off the coast of West Africa and the North Sea that are going unsold. Reuters reports that shipping data shows 7 million barrels of North Sea oil sitting in tankers, and 10 million barrels unsold off the coast of Nigeria. This situation could foreshadow oil price declines in the weeks ahead. Related: How Microgrids May Transform The Future Of Energy Analysts not revising price forecasts up. The WSJ reports that despite the more than 70 percent increase in oil prices over the past three months, analysts are not substantially increasing their price forecasts for the rest of the year. With so much crude sitting in storage, and output rising in places like Iran, there are still some bearish signals that should give traders pause. Many investment banks were burned last year when oil prices briefly rose to $60 only to fall back again. They appear to be cautious in predicting a rebound this time around. Russias Yamal LNG receives financing. Russia inked financing deals with two Chinese banks, capping more than a years worth of discussions. The project sits on the Yamal peninsula north of the Arctic Circle, and the massive LNG export facility could cost $27 billion to build. Yamal LNG secured two 15-year credit facilities, according to Bloomberg, for 9.3 billion euros ($10.6 billion) and 9.8 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). When completed with a target date of 2017 the project will produce 16.5 million tonnes of LNG per year. Libyan oil tanker returns. After trying to defy the international community, an oil tanker that left Eastern Libya is set to return to a Libyan port, following a failed attempt to unload in Malta. The United Nations blocked its delivery when it imposed international sanctions on the delivery. Libya is torn in half, with governments in the East and West. But the national oil company is situated in the West, and the Easts attempt to export its own oil threatens the fragile reconciliation process. With the international community blocking the exports, the East will struggle to get its own national oil company up and running. By Evan Kelly of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Channel 10 auction is a Milwaukee tradition that started in 1969 and, consequently, one that many of us grew up watching on fat TVs in the '80s and '90s. It was the precursor to the Home Shopping Network and something I know my mom looked forward to every year and, over time, I did, too. Almost 50 years later, the Channel 10 Great TV Auction remains a fundraising event which airs live on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. Broadcast to Southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, the auction offers new merchandise, certificates, services, art, antiques and collectibles to viewers who bid by telephone or via the internet. This year, it runs from Friday, April 29 through Saturday, May 7. On Friday, April 29 it airs from 5 p.m. to midnight, and from 1 p.m. to midnight every day after. In its inaugural year, the auction raised $50,000 with a volunteer staff of 250. Last year, it took in more than $1,000,000 with more than 3,000 volunteers. All of the money thats raised goes to purchase programming and maintain equipment for Milwaukee Public Television, which relies almost entirely on community support to exist. Each year, individuals, businesses and local artists donate more than 15,000 items. Artwork from five Wisconsin artists will be featured this year: the work of Ramona Audley of Pewaukee, Terry Doughty of Colgate, Tom Kubala of Cedarburg, James Meyer of Port Washington and Chuck Weber of Waukesha. For me, because I grew up in Milwaukee and spent umpteen hours in front of Channel 10, there is something very familiar and comforting about the auction. Recently, I perused the available items and found five that I think are delightfully quirky and would consider bidding on. 1. Daily Philly Way cheesesteak sandwich for a year (PHOTO: Philly Way) I dig a steak sandwich, but I certainly could not eat one every day. However, it would be super fun to gift lunches from this Walker's Point-based local business either to a friend, family member or someone whom I admire and support from afar. (Or from Facebook.) Random acts of kindness are the best, especially when they involve meat and cheese. Check it out. 2. Spooky Town Collection Halloween called Samhain by the witchy types is my favorite holiday and one that I like to celebrate more than one day a year. I already have a plethora of skulls and bones in my home, and if I owned this, it would be one display for more than just the month of October. Go here, if you dare. Boo. 3. Mosquito Squad bug treatments I am really not a fan of chemicals, but I'm also not a fan of bugs of any kind. Particularly mosquitoes and ticks, which this treatment would eradicate from my yard. The only summertime buzzing I want in my backyard is from the beers, not the bugs. 4. Dog doo clean-up service Never want to clean up dog poop again? I know I dont. (Maybe thats why I had kids.) Peteys Poop Patrol will come and clean up a winter's worth of doggie doo before you have to mow the lawn. This service continues and will come to your home twice a week until the snow falls next winter and clean up every last scrap from your yard. Here's the full scoop. 5. Comedy party Comedian Jake Johannsen. (PHOTO: Kelsey McCullouch) The older I get, the more I value laughing and, therefore, comedy performances. I watch a lot of comedians and try to attend live comedy events as often as I can. (Thanks, Chapelle!) Hence, I think this would be a fun package: a comedy theater party for eight people by the Memories Dinner Theater in Port Washington. Let's keep the real LOLs rolling, can we? Jesus Skates! (Image by markheybo) Details DMCA The trouble with this mantra is that it raises the question, Which Jesus? Whose Jesus? The Jesus of St. Francis of Assissi, the Berrigan Brothers, and Chris Hedges is not the Jesus of the born-again President George W. Bush, who participated in daily Bible study in the White House but casually started two wars. Yes, Jesus did in fact banish the money changers from the Temple--an act one can envision the non-Christian Bernie Sanders emulating--but he did not issue orders that resulted in the deaths of many tens of thousands of people. (If we ignore, as is commonly done, Luke 19:27.) So "WWJD" remains an insoluble problem. Far less inconclusive is "What did Jesus do?" He brought to mankind the values enshrined in the Sermon on the Mount. These values are partly Judaic, partly original: Performing rituals is meaningless unless deeply felt; proclaiming morality is hypocritical if not accompanied with action; forswearing violence is the new definition of manliness and heroism. These spiritual mandates truly raised the bar on pious behavior, raised it so high, in fact, that hardly anyone has followed suit. As Nietzsche said, the last Christian was crucified at Calvary. Nay, instead of improving human behavior, Jesus's message became the occasion and the excuse for worsening it. Consider the many early Christian sects with their bitter disputes over who are the true disciples of the Founder. Consider the violence that erupted among Christians over such matters as homoousian versus homoiousian, a dispute at once abstruse, insoluble, irrelevant, and absurd. Consider the Crusades, meant to liberate the Holy Land (itself more a Judaic than Christian concept), which degenerated into occasions for butchering Jews. (As in Mort Sahl's joke about Werner Von Braun, "I aim for the stars, but sometimes I hit London.") One of the Crusades was even about killing an exclusively Christian sect in the south of France. Or how about the Inquisition, addressed mainly to Jews and heretics in order to coerce them into the true faith, when Jesus emphasized that piety must come from faith within, not from mumbled words, above all not from coercion, as even Islam acknowledges. And as if all that is not bad enough, we have the great religious wars of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries between Catholic and Protestant (and then in England among Protestants), wars fought by factions proclaiming themselves the true followers of the Prince of Peace. Wars in which killing was not enough but had to be preceded by torture in the name of Jesus. And then there is the Church either presiding over or blessing the vast atrocities perpetrated in South America. What is going on here? The answer may be found in Monotheism, the supposed advance in Western Civilization. A conflation of remarks by Gore Vidal and Salman Rushdie is, One God results in One Truth, which in turn results in heads rolling. Voltaire first pointed out that the pagan societies with their silly polytheism had one powerful virtue that Christians lacked: They never fought a war over religion. Each people had its own god(s) and understood that the others were entitled to their different deities. Only Christianity was guilty of what Montaigne called supercelestial ideas begetting subterrestrial conduct. Granted, had Jesus never appeared, there would have been wars aplenty, but these would have been fought over the usual suspects--greed, power, lust, revenge, never over a person's private connection with an alleged numinous power. Christians will, of course, rush in to say that one cannot hold Jesus responsible for what others did in his name, just as, for example, a gunmaker or car factory cannot be held responsible for someone using these products to deliberately kill others. But that is a poor excuse. By way of a response, two, and only two, possibilities present themselves. [1] That Jesus is, as proclaimed by devotees, God or the son of God, in which case His entry into the human narrative is part of God's plan to make human existence even more miserable with the aim of divorcing us from this world and throwing us into the bosom of God and the Hereafter. As these evils could not have taken place if the omniscient Jesus had not appeared, he must have favored what he brought about, or else why bother coming down from heaven? If that is indeed the project of the God of Love, He has turned "tough love" into a reductio ad absurdum. [2] Jesus is no relative of God nor any sort of supernatural being but, as Tolstoy put it in his later years, a simple human being with such profound insights that people felt compelled to assign divinity to him, at least metaphorically. But the latter explanation results in the definitive condemnation of Jesus. He was a naive bumpkin, a (to use conservative terminology) "bleeding heart" hopelessly out of touch with reality. He came to improve our lives, yes, but he had no understanding of how depraved human nature was ("original sin" was Paul's idea), of how beyond improvement we were, of how we would gorge ourselves on his ideas not to in order to live by them but in order to reinforce our basest instincts. He is therefore the classic example of how good intentions alone are dangerous, of the road to Hell being paved by them, of how pathetic it would be of him to declare, with Romeo, "I thought [=meant] all for the best." The fact remains that without Jesus's intervention, this world would have been a better place. However noble his message and pure his motives, has anyone--wittingly or not--caused greater harm? As for the hereafter, let those who believe in it take what comfort they can. Steve Nimmons with Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, Former Prime Minster of Malaysia (Image by Stone Owl) Details DMCA Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled Malaysia as a dictatorial strongman beginning in 1981, claimed when he stepped aside in 2003 that he was removing himself from political life. After over two decades in power that featured ruthless stymieing of his opposition, antagonizing his people and the international community with racist policies and comments, and massive building projects that helped create equally massive debt, the controversial prime minister stepped down and said: "I've had my day. It's other people's turn now. I had 22 years. I can't complain." Complain, however, is what "Dr. M" (as Mahathir is known in Malaysia) has done since leaving office. For the second time since stepping down, the ex-prime minister has put himself at the head of a campaign to unseat a successor. In 2008, it was Abdullah Badawi who got on Mahathir's bad side by refusing exorbitantly expensive building projects conceived during Mahathir's tenure. This time, Najib Razak (whose rise to the premiership Mahathir engineered in 2009) has been put on the defensive by a Dr. M campaign. Over the past several months, Mahathir has brought himself out of retirement to lead the opposition's campaign against Najib, turning the controversy over Malaysia's embattled 1MDB development fund into a personal political battle between the two men. The former prime minister, who was infamous in his own time for his refusal to brook dissent and his hostile attitude toward outside partners, is now waxing poetic about the importance of democracy and free expression (neither of which were of much import during his own time in power) and gone so far as to call for foreign interference in Malaysia. Such a direct appeal for outsiders to meddle in Malaysian internal affairs would have been unthinkable during Mahathir's own time in power, especially taking into account his accusations of "Jewish financiers" bringing about the Asian financial crisis. One needs only look at the memorable spat between Mahathir and billionaire financier George Soros, in which the then-Prime Minister called for an end to currency trading and labeled Soros a "moron." Soros, in response, called the firebrand Malaysian leader a "menace to his own country." The tensions between the two men had deeper roots, particularly in the clash between George Soros's financial support of free societies and Mahathir's competing vision of "Asian values." During his tenure, Malaysia's government used the levers of state power to enforce obedience and engineer a race-based political and economic system, actively discriminating in favor of the ethnic Malay majority. The call for foreign interference is, as The Australian points out, a supremely ironic stance for a leader who dismissed all outside criticism of his own abuses and wrongdoings. When Mahathir's deputy and finance minister Anwar Ibrahim was forced out of power and convicted of sodomy and corruption in 2000, the premier took to the airwaves to insist on Anwar's guilt and (falsely) denying he had been abused in prison. Then-vice president Al Gore rightly pointed out that the trial was a mockery of international standards of justice, but Mahathir deigned only to thumb his nose at the United States and rejected outside involvement in Malaysian affairs--precisely the kind of involvement he is trying to invoke now. Irony on this scale has become a trademark of Mahathir's re-entry into the Malaysian political scene. Speaking just last month, he embraced the accusations of autocracy he himself faced while in office. "They can do what I did, I was also a dictator before, but that is all right. People did not demonstrate like this against me before," Dr. M quipped, claiming his behavior was acceptable at the time. What he failed to mention is what happened to the few people who did stand up to him. While the criticisms of Mahathir's tenure are well documented, the question remains as to why a 90-year-old man who left power over a decade ago is getting involved in Malaysia's current political disputes. One widely reported theory, advanced by Najib's government among others, is that the former leader is trying to pave the way for his son Mukhriz to become Prime Minister. Mukhriz used an interview with the South China Morning Post to deny he had any ambitions to become to Malaysia's leader, although Najib soon pointed out that he had stood for the vice presidency of Umno in 2013. Election to that post would have been a stepping-stone to leadership of both the party and the nation. For all of his attacks on the government, Najib's allies have pointed out that Mahathir has not named another candidate to be prime minister if Najib were to step down, adding fuel to the allegations that he wants his own son for the job. While Mahathir is doing his utmost to unseat Najib, the campaign is highly unlikely to succeed. The sitting prime minister still enjoys the overwhelming support of the Umno leadership, a break from the era where Umno served as Mahathir's "personal fiefdom." For the aging leader who once ruled Malaysia with an iron fist, this struggle may finally expose the limits of his power. Tuesday, Donald Trump declared himself the "presumptive nominee" of one of this country's two major parties. He has said in the past that his behavior, his name calling reality-show performance, was what allowed him to vanquish the competing candidates, and that when this is done, he would become "Presidential." Here is the full transcript of his speech from the New York Times. Now it can be fairly evaluated, and let me say, that while I could not support either of the Republican candidates, a part of me wanted Donald Trump to actually do the transformation that he has promised. He does have a chance, based on unknown events, to actually become our next President, to represent this country to the world, and be the commander in chief of our military. I wanted very much to see a different person. As a performer he does a single. Like a stand up comedian, he has a theme, a persona, and an audience who loves him. He did not have to give this speech now. He could still be in performance mode and wait until he gets the nomination, but this was a preview of whether he had the will and the capacity to make the transition he promised. The world would be watching. He was Donald J. Trump that Americans love"...and fear"".and hate. He has now confirmed that what you haveseen is what you willget. There will be no chief executive who is eager to become more than the showman. Here's an example of what this speech was, more of the over the top castigation of the current administration that may be the way we do politics, but it is NOT of the idiom of a statecraft. "".. the humiliation of the United States with Iran's treatment of our ten captured sailors -- so vividly I remember that day. In negotiation, you must be willing to walk. The Iran deal, like so many of our worst agreements, is the result of not being willing to leave the table. The implication is that the second sentence follows from the first. That the "humiliation" of the seamen was associated with inability to negotiate. Here's the reality, from this timeline released from the U.S. Navy. Initial operational reports indicate there was a verbal exchange between the Sailors and the Iranians but no exchange of gun fire. Armed Iranian military personnel then boarded the RCBs, while other Iranian personnel aboard the Iranian vessels conducted armed over-watch of the boats with mounted machine guns. At gunpoint, the RCBs were escorted to a small port facility on Farsi Island where the U.S. Sailors disembarked and were detained for approximately 15 hours. At this point there are no indications that the Sailors were physically harmed during their detainment. Most importantly we now know there is no Trump V 2.0, At times I actually had hope (after all this is a world class con man who made a good living on people like me) He has upped the ante, having adopted the practice of the "Big Lie" defined in Wikipedia, including Joseph Goebbels succinct definition: The essential English leadership secret does not depend on particular intelligence. Rather, it depends on a remarkably stupid thick-headedness. The English follow the principle that when one lies, one should lie big, and stick to it. They keep up their lies, even at the risk of looking ridiculous.[2] Trump's version of this, has already repeated endlessly at campaign speeches, and we now know it will be continued in his Presidential Persona: Although not in government service, I was totally against the war in Iraq, very proudly, saying for many years that it would destabilize the Middle East. Got it now? It was because he wasn't in government service that his opposition to invading Iraq is still undocumented. As a simple citizen, just a guy in the construction business, there was nothing he could do. Of course he found a way to express himself when he wanted to -- from the Guardian " He paid a reported $85,000 to take out advertising space in four of the city's newspapers, including the New York Times." The article begins: Yusef Salaam was 15 years old when Donald Trump demanded his execution for a crime he did not commit. Nearly three decades before the rambunctious billionaire began his run for president -- before he called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, for the expulsion of all undocumented migrants, before he branded Mexicans as "rapists" and was accused of mocking the disabled -- Trump called for the reinstatement of the death penalty in New York following a horrific rape case in which five teenagers were wrongly convicted. What makes this big lie that he opposed the Iraqi war so egregious is that he did have the capacity to have been a major figure of opposition. Just as he went full bore to have five black kids convicted, he could have possibly energized the opposition, and actually done something productive that would have given him credence as an activist. He didn't. So he uses a hackneyed propaganda device to pretend that he did, demeaning all of us who actually did march, and fight against this war. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). It's hard being a news junkie and something of a political activist, especially in an election year. Despite my daily resolutions to divert from rehashed polls reported ad nauseam on CNN and MSNBC to the pleasures of Turner Classics, or recordings of Jon Oliver's brilliant show Last Week Tonight, I still can't resist channel surfing back to presidential pundit-speak and crawlers, which invariably get my dander up. One thing that drives me bonkers is the frequency with which major news stories from here and abroad are totally overlooked, or texted in crawlers by American networks and cable news outlets. You'd think there was no world out there. With Aljazeera America gone, there's only the BBC to turn to, and often their coverage is questionable. Here's an example of something that unnerves me when I click on the news, which segues with my disillusionment with Democrats. A crawler reads, "Toddler kills mother with handgun." The next day it's "Four-year old shoots two-year old sister." Gun violence is a major crisis and an urgent public health issue in this country. So why aren't the Dems -- and media's talking heads -- addressing the issue more urgently? Why haven't interviewers held Bernie's feet to the fire on the matter? We already know he has a D- rating with the NRA. That's irrelevant to the question of why his voting record on gun legislation is so inadequate, nor does it tell us what he plans to do to address gun violence if elected. Why, too, does Bernie keep harking back to Hillary's Wall Street speeches along with other redundancies? How about they cut a deal: she releases her speeches when he releases his tax records, so we can all move on to the really important issues. (According to Facebook, Jane Sanders proposed this idea last month, putting the onus on Hillary first.) And where was Bernie's condemnation of his spokesperson's term "Democratic whores"? Or his strong statement admonishing supporters for throwing dollar bills at his opponent? Given that his adversary is a woman, these were particularly insulting and troubling terms and actions; they smacked of the kind of misogyny Hillary Rodham Clinton is routinely subjected to and they should be roundly rejected by anyone vying for leadership. It is not going too far, I think, to suggest that such language and actions smack of Trump tactics. Hillary Clinton also has some explaining to do to this Democrat. Why, for example, did she make no mention of Israel's responsibility toward peace in the Middle East when she addressed -- or pandered to -- AIPAC? It's one thing to be a supporter of or an ally to Israel, but surely their government should be called out by ours for continuing to build illegal settlements, and for their brutal behavior toward Arabs living in ghettos in Gaza and the West Bank. Further, according to many of her supporters, she has donated her Goldman Sachs speaking fees. Why then has she not been able to say that during the debates? If it's true I'd also like to know to whom funds were donated. And while I agree that it's important to support "down stream Democratic candidates," how smart was it to hold a Hollywood fundraiser in primary season that cost over $300,000 to sponsor and over $30,000 to attend? Could you shout "one percent" any louder? The escalating negativity and hostility on display during recent Democratic debates was also deeply troubling. What ever happened to the promises of civility and mutual respect that both candidates promised and deserve? I'm tired of sandbox politics overall, but I'm especially distressed to see two people I respect in my party behaving like children throwing temper tantrums, being on the shady side of the truth, making false or hyperbolized accusations, and generally acting as if they are willing to win at the cost of their own integrity. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). My vastly shortened letter made today's USA Today, even though I offered them an update that included the moveon.org petition, now signed by 1360 of the smartest people in the United States here. I hope you will forward it on to some of your groups: >>>>>>from USA Today p. 6A Some New Yorkers seem to believe that because Hillary Clinton won that state, it's all over for Sen. Bernie Sanders. What balderdash! Many state primaries remain. But more important is an issue few people seem willing to address: The problems faced by voters at the polls in New York City could have figured into Sanders' loss. Polling places didn't open on time, and thousands of voters were purged from rolls. The New York primary was a disgrace. Our democracy is at stake. Stephen Fox; Santa Fe >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This below was the version that didn't run. Maybe it had too many "teeth" in it for the readers of USA Today. Us congressmen questioning govt on Pakistan policies WASHINGTON: Several members of the US Congress launched on Wednesday a multi-pronged attack on Pakistan, questioning its policies and priorities. Pakistan had to bear this humiliation for the $742 million that the Obama administration has proposed for the country in the next fiscal year. The lawmakers suggested using this money somewhere else. Two US officials, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson and US Agency for International Developments Donald Sampler, made feeble attempts to defend the proposed aid but they could not match the angry legislators. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who chaired the hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, set the tone, with a frontal attack on Pakistan. The Taliban operate freely because Pakistan refuses to take action against them inside its borders, she said while calling Pakistan a direct contributor to the Taliban success. It makes little sense to continue giving Pakistan billions of dollars if its going to continue to work against our interests, she said, urging the US administration to leverage our aid to make Pakistan a better regional partner with Afghanistan. Ambassador Olson reminded the lawmaker that Pakistan was at a strategic crossroads and had made great progress over the past couple of years in addressing its domestic counter-terrorism priorities. Pakistan had also taken robust action against those groups, principally the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, that threaten Pakistanis, he added. But the US administration had made very clear at the highest levels that there is considerable room for improvement in the application of targeting all terrorist groups without any discrimination, said the senior US diplomat. We believe in particular that Pakistan has not taken as vigorous action against groups that threaten its neighbours as it has against those that threaten it domestically. Ambassador Olson said that Pakistan now had to make a strategic choice, with the Taliban having refused to come to the table, it seems to us that it is time to address more robustly the question of groups that threaten Afghanistan. But Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen disagreed. We need to leverage our military sales to Pakistan in order to get some more cooperation within the region, she said. Congressmen Matt Salmon and Brad Sherman reminded the administration that Congress had, in the recent past, withheld US aid to Pakistan because it was still holding Dr Shakil Afridi, who assisted US efforts in tracking down Osama bin Laden and later was jailed for 23 years for alleged links to terrorist groups. By keeping Dr Afridi in prison, the Pakistani government was thumbing their nose to the United States and the people of the United States, said a third lawmaker, Dana Rohrabacher. Should we look for any other possible restrictions? asked Mr Salmon, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. What would be the Pakistani response if we cut all aid until Dr Afridi was released? asked Mr Sherman. Mr Sampler told the lawmaker that the administration shared his sense of outrage with regard to the plight of Dr Afridi and had raised this issue at the very highest levels. We have requested the release of Dr Afridi and we continually request updates on his health and his status, he said while reminding the lawmaker that the tactics he suggested had not yielded any results. But the congressman said that Pakistan should take a second and third and fourth look at the incarceration of this man and look to his expedited release, if it wanted to improve its ties with the US. Congressman Salmon also raised the issue of the Panama leaks at the hearing, noting that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs family was named in those papers. Mr Sampler refused to offer direct comments on Panama papers, but assured the lawmaker that the US was in favour of greater financial transparency. Ambassador Olson said that the US had established a hotline in Pakistan to ensure that American financial assistance was not misappropriated. Congressman Sherman asked why had the US administration routinely declined to certify that Pakistan was cooperating with the United States on action against the Haqqani Network and others. We have long had concerns about the fact that despite Pakistan having a stated policy of not discriminating between terrorist groups and the application of that policy, they have in fact not moved against actors that threaten their neighbours, Mr Sampler replied. The Spargelpanther, developed in a previous project, will also be harvesting cauliflower and leaf lettuce in the future. Credit: Photo ai-solution GmbH Machines that harvest vegetables pick everything at once even unripe heads when harvesting cauliflower. This is why human helpers often perform this tedious job. In the future, a machine will make selective harvesting possible fully automatically. Fraunhofer researchers are developing this smart harvester together with industry partners. Harvesting cauliflower is a science unto itself because the white heads are hidden beneath numerous leaves. This means that pickers have to pull back the protective leaves head for head to look at the cauliflower and decide whether it is ripe for harvesting. Pickers comb a field approximately four to five times in intervals of two to three days until the very last head of cauliflower has been harvested. This work is strenuous and backbreaking. Another challenge for farmers is their need for numerous pickers at once for a short time when harvest season is pending. Finding enough hands for this hard work is often difficult, though. Machines on the other hand would harvest the entire field at once and, since cauliflower heads ripen at different rates, thus even heads that are still too small or unripe. A Smart Harvester In the future, a machine will harvest cauliflower just as selectively as human workers would. This machine is called VitaPanther. It is being developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF and and their colleagues at ai-solution GmbH together with five other partners: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Steig GmbH, Beutelmann Gemuseanbau, Konig Sondermaschinenbau GmbH and Inokon GmbH. A prototype of VitaPanther will be finished and tested in 2017. This machine will benefit farmers in several ways: It will harvest cauliflower heads significantly faster than human pickers and could additionally work at night, too. Another plus is that farmers will be able to dispense with troublesome searches for workers. Martin Steig, farmer and CEO of Steig GmbH and and one of the future potential users of the harvester is convinced it is needed. "Farming is the last profession in which the necessary profits can only be made with a large workforce. Automation is essential for us farmers, because the minimum wage is making vegetable harvesting unfeasible. Harvesting is sustained by two components: the availability of a seasonal workforce and the pay. A shift in one of these components jeopardizes the structure. The demand for technology is thus very great." A Hyperspectral Camera Detects Ripeness How can a machine detect the vegetable's ripeness without seeing its "whiteness", without weighing it, without knowing its size? These are the questions on which the researchers at the Fraunhofer IFF are working. They are researching and developing the necessary sensor systems along with the software that analyzes and preprocesses the data obtained so that the machine receives clear information on whether to harvest or to wait. "We are taking advantage of an effect we discovered in preliminary tests: The leaves of ripe cauliflower have a different biochemical composition than those covering unripe heads," explains Prof. Udo Seiffert, Manager of the Biosystems Engineering Expert Group at the Fraunhofer IFF. Hyperspectral cameras mounted on the harvester scan the heads of cauliflower. Whereas a conventional camera only works with visible light and produces a color picture consisting of red, green and blue tones, a hyperspectral camera scans a defined range of wavelengths beyond human vision and also encompassing infrared and ultraviolet light. Applying a mathematical model, the researchers can determine the biochemical composition of the leaves and thus the ripeness of the cauliflower based on the intensity of the light reflected in the different wavelengths scanned. The researchers are not analyzing the exact biochemical composition of the leaves, however, because the machine is only supposed to receive a yes-no command to harvest. The mathematical model that decodes the camera images into exactly this command is based on algorithms that originated with machine learning. The researchers are using examples to teach it. They "show" the camera different heads of cauliflower, which are simultaneously being inspected by a human expert. Following such a teaching phase, the system is able to decide autonomously which cauliflower should be harvested or not, even when the heads of cauliflower are unfamiliar. A Harvester for Different Vegetables While the researchers from the Fraunhofer IFF are attending to the sensor systems and data analysis, their colleagues from ai-solution GmbH in Wolfsburg are working on the harvester unit that will be harvesting cauliflower heads in the future. They are building upon their asparagus harvester "Spargelpanther" for this. "We also intend to use this this asparagus harvester for other vegetables cauliflower and head and leaf lettuce. Then, other harvester modules for other vegetables could be added in the future," says Christian Bornstein, CEO of ai-solution GmbH. "Our goal is to build a module that can be adapted to the existing unit." Farmers will only have to purchase one "vegetable harvester" in the future. Explore further Machine harvesting may increase apple supply for hard cider market One possible implementation of the logical qubit. The qubits are in the blue boxes and the resonators are in the red boxes. Credit: Kapit. 2016 American Physical Society (Phys.org)It might be said that the most difficult part of building a quantum computer is not figuring out how to make it compute, but rather finding a way to deal with all of the errors that it inevitably makes. Errors arise because of the constant interaction between the qubits and their environment, which can result in photon loss, which in turn causes the qubits to randomly flip to an incorrect state. In order to flip the qubits back to their correct states, physicists have been developing an assortment of quantum error correction techniques. Most of them work by repeatedly making measurements on the system to detect errors and then correct the errors before they can proliferate. These approaches typically have a very large overhead, where a large portion of the computing power goes to correcting errors. In a new paper published in Physical Review Letters, Eliot Kapit, an assistant professor of physics at Tulane University in New Orleans, has proposed a different approach to quantum error correction. His method takes advantage of a recently discovered unexpected benefit of quantum noise: when carefully tuned, quantum noise can actually protect qubits against unwanted noise. Rather than actively measuring the system, the new method passively and autonomously suppresses and corrects errors, using relatively simple devices and relatively little computing power. "The most interesting thing about my work is that it shows just how simple and small a fully error corrected quantum circuit can be, which is why I call the device the 'Very Small Logical Qubit,'" Kapit told Phys.org. "Also, the error correction is fully passiveunwanted error states are quickly repaired by engineered dissipation, without the need for an external computer to watch the circuit and make decisions. While this paper is a theoretical blueprint, it can be built with current technology and doesn't require any new insights to make it a reality." The new passive error correction circuit consists of just two primary qubits, in contrast to the 10 or more qubits required in most active approaches. The two qubits are coupled to each other, and each one is also coupled to a "lossy" object, such as a resonator, that experiences photon loss. "In the absence of any errors, there are a pair of oscillating photon configurations that are the 'good' logical states of the device, and they oscillate at a fixed frequency based on the circuit parameters," Kapit explained. "However, like all qubits, the qubits in the circuit are not perfect and will slowly leak photons into the environment. When a photon randomly escapes from the circuit, the oscillation is broken, at which point a second, passive error correction circuit kicks in and quickly inserts two photons, one which restores the lost photon and reconstructs the oscillating logical state, and the other is dumped to a lossy circuit element and quickly leaks back out of the system. The combination of careful tuning of the resonant frequencies of the circuit and adding photons two at a time to correct losses ensures that the passive error correction circuit can operate continuously but won't do anything to the two good qubits unless their oscillation has been broken by a photon loss." The new method can correct photon loss errors at rates up to 10 times faster than those achieved by active, measurement-based methods. In addition, the passive method can partially suppress noise, so that there are fewer errors in the first place. In its current version, the method can correct only one error at a time, so if a second photon loss occurs before the correction is complete, the method cannot fix the resulting error. All of this error correction leads to a significant increase in the qubit coherence time. The new method can improve this time by a factor of 40 or more compared to without any error correction, and this improvement is greatly needed in order to construct quantum computers. As Kapit explains, qubit coherence times are currently so short that millions of qubits would be required to build a useful quantum computer. Increasing the coherence times can reduce this number to something more feasible. In the future, Kapit plans to integrate the new passive method with active, measurement-based methods to create a hybrid quantum error correction strategy, and investigate how the two methods might work together. He is also currently working with an experimental team to try to build, test, and optimize the device in the next few years. Explore further Scientists track quantum errors in real time More information: Eliot Kapit. "Hardware-Efficient and Fully Autonomous Quantum Error Correction in Superconducting Circuits." Physical Review Letters. DOI: Journal information: Physical Review Letters Eliot Kapit. "Hardware-Efficient and Fully Autonomous Quantum Error Correction in Superconducting Circuits.". DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.150501 2016 Phys.org If widely adopted, a new approach to making cement could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, help address global warming, produce a more durable concrete, and save industry time and significant costs. The findings of a recent study show great potential for a type of cement that gains strength through carbonation, rather than the use of water. Concrete made with this cement also appears to better resist some of the most common de-icing salts that can lead to failure and dramatically reduce the lifespan of roads. The research was published in Construction and Building Materials, by engineers from Oregon State University, Purdue University and Solidia Technologies. This work was supported in part by Solidia Technologies, which licensed core technology from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. "Instead of water reacting with cement, this carbonated cement reacts with carbon dioxide and calcium silicate," said Jason Weiss, the Miles Lowell and Margaret Watt Edwards Distinguished Chair in the OSU College of Engineering. "This new product at first blush looks like conventional concrete, but it has properties that should make it last longer in some applications," Weiss said. "In addition, use of it could reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which is an important goal of the cement industry." Crude cement was used by the Egyptians to build the pyramids, improved during the time of the Roman Empire, and reached its modern form around 180 years ago. When used to make concrete a combination of cement, sand and crushed rock - it's one of the most proven building materials in human history. This is actually part of the problem concrete works so well, for so many uses, that 2-4 tons per year are produced for every person on Earth. It's popular, plentiful, cost effective, and research is continuing to reduce its environmental impact. Production of the cement used in concrete is believed to be responsible for 5-8 percent of the global emissions of carbon dioxide, largely just because so much concrete is used. The cement industry has committed itself to the goal of cutting those emissions in half, and this new approach might help. Beyond that, the new research shows the ability of this "carbonated calcium silicate-based cement," or CCSC, to be far more resistant to degradation from deicing salts such as sodium chloride and magnesium chloride. "In places where deicing salts are routinely used, they can cause damage to roadways that cost about $1 million a mile to fix, and can reduce a 40-year lifespan of a surface to as little as 8-10 years," Weiss said. "By using a type of cement that requires carbon dioxide to make, and in turn greatly extend the lifespan of some roads, the environmental benefits could be enormous." These products are just now being developed and tested, Weiss said, and some obstacles exist to their widespread, global use. New construction codes and standards would need to be developed. However, the new approach has already been adapted to existing raw materials, formulas and equipment. Some of the first uses of these products, Weiss said, will be in pre-cast concrete products that can be created in a factory and transported to where they are needed. More ambitious and widespread use of the new approach may take longer. Other technologies, such as topical treatments to resist deicing salts, or the use of waste products to produce supplemental cements, may gain earlier use to address some of these issues. In the latest research, the new CCSC concrete was shown not to react with deicing chemicals in the way that conventional concrete does. Such chemicals can cause a serious and premature deterioration in concrete pavements, even if the concrete does not experience freezing and thawing. Explore further How defects influence efficiency in concrete manufacture The Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array (LLMDA) will be on board the International Space Station. Image courtesy of NASA. A biological detection system developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists that has found more than a dozen applications soon will be used in tests reaching a new frontierouter space. The Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array (LLMDA) is a versatile tool that has been employed for all kinds of studies, from analyzing the purity of infant vaccines to detecting plague in a 14th century tooth, to learning more about combat wounds from soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now a team of scientists from LLNL and three NASA research centers will use the LLMDA to study microbes that are associated with astronauts and found inside the closed environment aboard the International Space Station. Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena; NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California; NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and LLNL have received a three-year, $1.5 million NASA grant for characterizing microbes using state-of-the-art molecular techniques. "The aim of the project is to provide a survey of the microbial profiles inside the International Space Station and to evaluate the possibility of the presence of pathogens that could be harmful to the astronauts' health," said LLNL biologist Crystal Jaing, the project's principal investigator. The project, called Microbial Tracking-2, is a follow-on to NASA's Microbial Tracking-1 (MT-1) that is currently sampling and studying airborne and surface-associated populations of microorganisms aboard the International Space Station. The third and final experiment in the MT-1 series was launched to the space station on April 8 on a SpaceX cargo resupply mission. The Livermore LLMDA technology is a DNA-based detection system that does not require the culturing of samples, compared to traditional techniques that may require days. Additionally, many bacteria have trouble growing in culture at all or require unique culture media. Processing samples in a day "The LLMDA can process samples in about a day. And while traditional culturing often only covers 1 to 10 percent of the microorganisms present, the LLNL array provides about 50- to 100-fold greater coverage of microbes," Jaing said. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a senior research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), sees the use of the LLMDA as a way to ensure that there aren't microbes in the space station that could be harmful to the crew's health. "We can have countermeasures once we know what astronauts are breathing in and breathing out," Venkateswaran said. "Beyond the microbes affecting the crew, we need to know what's in the environment and is riding on the cargo." The vast majority of microbes, upward of 80 percent, are innocuous to people, while only somewhere around 10 percent to 20 percent are harmful, according to Venkateswaran. Some bacteria look for the opportunity to cause disease, Venkateswaran said, adding that microbes that are innocuous on Earth may behave differently under the extreme environment of space. Space can affect the presence of bacteria Among the bacteria that have been detected via gene sequencing on the space station are Corynebacterium (bacteria that could cause respiratory infection) and Propionibacterium (bacteria that could cause acne). Since the genes of these opportunistic pathogens were only detected from the space station samples, their virulence characteristics need to be confirmed. Humans naturally play host to tens of billions of mainly innocuous bacteria. And one study has found that when a person enters a room, the individual adds 37 million bacteria to the air for each hour they remain there. The LLNL and NASA research scientists anticipate gathering preflight, inflight and post-flight samples, with the preflight crew samples expected to be taken this fall and the inflight samples planned for spring 2017. As envisioned, 18 air samples and 24 surface wipes will be taken for the space station environment and some 264 crew samples, including mouth, saliva and skin samples, will be gathered. Previous NASA microbe studies have focused on either the crews or the environment inside the space station; this will be the first study to merge the two areas. Previous investigations of viruses in crew and the environment also have been conducted. During the research effort, JPL researchers will receive all of the space station and crew samples for pre-processing to extract DNA and then distribute the biomolecules to LLNL and Johnson Space Center (JSC) for analysis. JPL scientists will perform the microbiological analysis of the samples, using traditional culturing techniques and DNA sequencing to determine which microbes are alive. LLNL's researchers will focus on the molecular detection of microbes in the DNA samples, as well as any virulent or antibiotic resistant genes, using the LLMDA and DNA sequencing. The latter technology analyzes the genetic makeup of the DNA and the order of the material's four basesadenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine. In addition to Jaing, the Livermore scientists working on the research include biologists Nicholas Be and James Thissen, computer scientist Jonathan Allen and biostatistician Kevin McLoughlin. JSC researchers Satish Mehta and Duane Pierson will analyze the viruses in the samples and determine which viruses might be harmful to the crew. An Ames Research Center scientist, David J. Smith, will be responsible for developing the air sampler that will be utilized for capturing microbes. Already, LLNL scientists have been using the LLMDA and DNA sequencing to study previously collected air filter and dust samples from the International Space Station in preparation for the research. Developed in 2008, the LLMDA permits the detection of any virus, bacteria or other microbe that has been sequenced and included among the technology's 400,000 probes on a one-inch wide, three-inch long glass slide within 24 hours. The LLMDA version to be used for the space station analysis can detect 12,609 species, including 6,906 bacteria, 4,776 viruses, 414 fungi, 143 protozoa and 370 archaea. After the study is completed, NASA could potentially consider miniaturizing the LLMDA or a similar instrument to use on deep space missions with human habitation, Venkateswaran said. "The crew could use the system before consuming food, drinking water or working in a closed area. If a crew member becomes ill, they could also use the system to help determine whether they've become sick through bacteria, fungi or viruses. This would enable NASA flight surgeons to administer the right kind of medicine to treat the illness." Once the LLMDA-type system is miniaturized, the system could be deployed in remote parts of the world and in extreme environments to assist scientists, emergency first responders and public health, Venkateswaran suggested. Explore further How clean is the International Space Station? Rice University engineering students are helping to maximize the promise of magnetic nanoparticles to find faint traces of cancer in patients. From left: Brian Ho, Eric Sung and Rachel Hoffman. Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University Nanoscale magnets offer a new way to find faint, early traces of cancer in patients, according to Rice University students working on a method to capitalize on the magnets' properties. Three Rice computational and applied mathematics students are refining a program to analyze magnetic relaxometry signals from iron-oxide nanoparticles that find and attach themselves to cancerous cells. Rice seniors Brian Ho, Rachel Hoffman and Eric Sung have developed a novel way to analyze data for cancer researchers who hope to use magnetic nanoparticles to locate signs of cancer that X-rays would never spot. All magnets (or materials prone to magnetism) have magnetic "moments," like invisible needles that can move and react to magnetic fields, even if their physical hosts can't. These ghostly needles align when exposed to an external magnetic field; when the field is removed, they "relax" once again. Relaxometry measures this latter characteristic. It turns out the moments relax at a very different rate when they belong to nanoparticles that are bound to cancer cells. The students are working with Rice adviser Beatrice Riviere, the Noah G. Harding Chair and a professor of computational and applied mathematics, and doctors at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to develop computer programs that analyze "traces" of these moments as they relax. Albuquerque, N.M.,-based Senior Scientific, in collaboration with MD Anderson, is developing a commercial relaxometry platform for the early detection of cancer. The 25-nanometer superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles are enhanced with antibody proteins that target biomarker proteins produced by cancer cells, Sung said. "Once they bind to the cells, their range of motion is severely restricted, and this restricted movement is pretty important," he said. "Once you apply an external magnetic field, the particles' dipoles will align to counteract the field. Once the dipoles face each other, then you have a magnetic field of essentially zero. But the interesting part to us is what comes after." The students and the MD Anderson team are working to quantify this relaxation phase because it marks the location of cancer cells in lab samples and in mice. Unbound nanoparticles will randomly reorient themselves in less than a millisecond, but because antibody-associated nanoparticle complexes that are bound to cancer cells are restricted in their movement, their magnetic relaxation is a lot slower up to a second, Sung said. "We're figuring out exactly what that means." he said. The team noted today's best cancer detection methods only catch tumors with more than 10 million cancer cells. The new approach has the potential to detect tumors with as few as 20,000 cells. The students expect methods that rely on relaxometry will also be safer than current methods that expose patients to ionizing radiation. The students' software addresses two problems that can corrupt relaxometry data. One is that physical motion like a patient's breathing can displace the target signal and skew the results. The other is what the students call "flux jumps," a recording artifact that causes a wholesale shift in the data. "The flux jump has to do with the way it's measured," Sung said. "But we've figured out an algorithm to take care of both these things. And it looks pretty nice." Hoffman said the Rice team brought new perspective to the problem recognized by MD Anderson's David Fuentes, an assistant professor in the Department of Imaging Physics, and his colleagues. "They were looking at it very theoretically, whereas we look at it more pragmatically," she said. "We researched what we can do with this particular data, as opposed to trying to develop an algorithm that could be applied to any data set." "Indeed, the senior design team's contribution to motion correction and flux-jump detection will have a lasting impact and will be incorporated into future analysis pipelines," Fuentes said. Ho said the Rice team's next step is to create a way to generate synthetic data traces to test the program. "Once we're able to put in some flux jumps and breathing spikes, we can quantify how good our algorithm is," he said. Explore further Nanoparticles to kill cancer cells with heat Credit: University of Michigan Newspaper readership has been in a freefallbetween 2006 and 2011, print dailies lost 20 percent of their paid subscribers thanks to wide access to other news sources. So what did publishers do in the face of this lower demand? Raise subscription prices. Though it may seem counterintuitive, it's the right move, said S. Sriram, associate professor of marketing at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. That's because newspapers also rely on advertising revenue, which also is declining. This two-sided market is what makes pricing more dynamic when demand shifts, he said. Sriram and colleagues Adithya Pattabhiramaiah of Georgia Tech and Shrihari Sridhar of Penn State developed a model that explains the rationale behind the counterintuitive pricing by publishers. "Readers are less willing to pay for the print product so you'd wonder why newspapers would raise prices, but you have to consider that advertisers also are less willing to buy print ads," Sriram said. "In the past, high advertising rates subsidized low prices for readers. But with advertisers less willing to pay for print ads, the economics change." In the past, as much as 87 percent of newspaper revenue came from advertising. Now, it's about 65 percent, Sriram said. When publishers could charge high advertising rates, it made sense to prop up readership to justify those prices. The nature of newspaper readers also has changed to a more loyal, hardcore audience that's less price sensitive, according to the research. "Newspapers are becoming a niche product, and what they're doing now with pricing makes sense," Sriram said. Their pricing model could also be applied to other two-sided markets such as credit card companies and dating websites. "By studying what happened with newspapers we might be able to understand other markets with similar conditions," Sriram said. Explore further Newspaper web ads not to blame for print advertising decline, research says ClearSale Launches International Fraud Protection for US Merchants MIAMI, FLApril 27, 2016ClearSale (http://clear.sale), an international leader in CNP fraud prevention, now offers its Total Guaranteed Protection solution to US-based e-commerce merchants. Total Guaranteed Protection allows merchants to fully outsource fraud management and eliminate chargeback costs while reducing false declines, increasing approval rates and improving customer retention. Merchants only pay for approved transactions, and ClearSale covers 100% of the cost of any chargebacks. ClearSale was the first to offer fully outsourced fraud mitigation with chargeback protection in one of the top 5 e-commerce markets. The company is unique in offering both leading-edge automated fraud detection and the worlds largest in-house CNP fraud department with over 500 seasoned analysts. This combination of machine learning, manual review, and actionable problem solving deliver real-world solutions that put merchants back in control of their businesses. Over the past decade, weve seen fraud tactics evolve much more quickly than the average merchant can respond, which is why we developed our fully outsourced solution. Its important also to have a neutral agent in the process, always targeting the best risk exposure for each business, said Pedro Chiamulera, ClearSale founder and CEO. Our approach relieves merchants of a costly and time-consuming fraud-management burden so they can focus on their core business. ClearSales Total Guaranteed Protection delivers: real-time insights and decisions within minutes, comprehensive fraud protection even during sales peaks, service customized by segment and market, manual pre-decline review and customer contact to reduce false declines, and flexibility and quick adaptation to solutions that combat changing fraud behavior patterns. ClearSales Total Guaranteed Protection is PCI-DSS compliant, fully integrates with the major platforms including Magneto, Shopify, Prestashop and SAP, and covers web, mobile and telesales. ClearSale uses a Level 4 US-based data center to secure its infrastructure and protect client data. Learn more at http://clear.sale or email contact@clear.sale. About ClearSale ClearSale is a Card-Not-Present (CNP) fraud prevention enterprise that protects e-commerce merchants against chargebacks. The companys flagship product is Total Guaranteed Protection, an end-to-end fraud detection and management solution that combines advanced technology with a passionate team of seasoned, in-house fraud analysts that take personal care to understand and work with every clients unique needs. Founded in 2001 by two-time Olympic athlete Pedro Chiamulera, ClearSale has offices in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Miami, Florida. Find more information at http://clear.sale. Other Point of Sale blogs that may interest you: Constitution Day This year marks the 225th anniversary of adoption of the Constitution of May 3 the first written constitution in modern Europe and the second in the world, after America's. The Constitution was adopted on 3 May 1791. Its authors are considered to be king Stanisaw II August Poniatowski, Grand Marshal of Lithuania Ignacy Potocki and priest Hugo Koataj, clergyman and philosopher. The enacted constitution drew inspiration from the European Enlightenment and the American Constitution of 1787. Creators of the Polish Constitution recognised that the government must serve the good of the whole nation. The document consisted of 11 articles. The first one defined the Roman Catholic religion as the dominant, at the same time providing for freedom of religion and practices of the followers of other religions. Article V of the Constitution divided power into legislative, executive and judicial. The bicameral Sejm adopted laws, the executive power remained in the hands of the king and the Guardians of the Laws, and the judicial power was in the hands of independent courts. The Constitution of May 3 abolished Liberum veto, which allowed ceasing the adoption of a bill by opposition of at least one deputy since then all decisions were to be taken by a majority of votes. The king had no legislative sanction. In order to become applicable law royal decisions had to be signed by the competent ministers, who in turn were responsible to the Sejm. A new form of parliament, Ready Sejm, to which deputies were elected for two years and could be called to the session at any moment, was created. The Constitutional Sejm was to convene every 25 years in order to revise the Constitution and introduce changes to it. The national army was created, and the government care of the Constitution included peasants. The privilege of the Law on the Cities, adopted earlier in April 1791, considered to be integral to the Constitution gave the townspeople the right to own estates, hold officer's positions and positions in the state administration, and the right to acquire nobility. The Constitution of May 3 was a reflection of the Polish spirit which enabled the Polish people to survive 123 years of partitions, and then long years of communist repression. May 3 was a public holiday until 1939. By the end of World War II and in the times of the Polish People's Republic celebration of the Constitution Day was prohibited, but every year this anniversary became the pretext for mass anticommunist demonstrations. Currently, the Constitution of May 3 is treated by Poles as one of the most crucial events in the history of Poland. Source: MFA Press Office For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The most recent issue at ARDA saw media reporting Turkish workers beat a Ghanaian worker so badly he was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries. The Akim Oda Police said they arrested a Turkish expatriate for allegedly assaulting a Ghanaian worker. Ambassador Bayazit had spoken with the Turkish project manager who told her there had been a fight between two workers, one Ghanaian the other Turkish. It was over a forklift, she was told. Unfortunately there was a physical clash, the [Ghanaian] person was in the hospital as far as I know and then he was discharged. She tried to find information on the arrest but authorities told her there had been none. If any Turkish citizen is arrested we should have been informed, we haven't been informed at all, so I assume that is not true. She thought issues had been blown out of proportion and inaccurate information surrounded them. Repeat calls by Pulse Ghana to police in the area for clarification on the alleged assault went unanswered. Regardless, this is not the first time there have been issues at ARDA. I have been here a year and a half and dealt with this issue from time to time. First there were some strikes there was a problem with the trade union, there was a problem with the subcontractor, Ambassador Bayazit said, adding that recently there were a couple of workers who tried to ransack ARDA's site. In March a Turkish worker was attacked at ADRA. The project is coming to an end, and Ambassador Bayazit believes the company hired too many people for it, and so have had to let some go. She said the management policy was a little bit faulty as there are many agitated people losing their jobs. At the moment they have 720 Ghanaian workers and 185 Turkish workers so in a couple of months they will have to let go of more Ghanaians, Turks are also coming and going all the time this is such work, you need manpower to a certain extent then you don't need them anymore. She believed these issues, and others between foreigners and locals through Ghana showed there was more that could be done in working environments that have both local and foreign workers. Both need to make sure there is labour peace at the place and introduce social programmes, cultural sharing, to talk about each others cultures, even the gestures. Maybe this is one thing lacking. I think the Ghanaian authorities should advise the Ghanaian workers that they should also compromise with the foreign workers - it shouldn't be a one way thing it should be both ways. She also said it was important to understand in developing nations, to have access to foreign assets and investments foreign workers would be part of the parcel. She added there seemed to be fears of foreigners working in Ghana and taking local jobs. Shippers in Ghana have rejected the CET and accused government of selectively applying the law which came into force in January. The workshop was the third in a series, according to Mr. Seidu Yakubu, Assistant Commissioner of Import and Export at the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS). The Authority is mandated to promote import and export, and this CET affects importers and exporters -- following the implementation this year, we realised there has been some misinformation from our own shippers, hence the need for this workshop, he said According to him, if there is no confrontation between traders, custom and government, it will boost business in the country. Yakubu added that shippers could take advantage and enjoy some benefits of the CET if they understand what it is about. The second day involved expert discussions on the practical use of cloud computing in solving some of Africas basic problems. Mensah Sitti, a panellist from the Methodist University presented a paper on how cloud computing can be used to upgrade the countys National Health Insurance Cards to better serve the needs of the Ghanaians. According to Mr. Sitti, a smart card system can be deployed to increase the amount of information that can be easily accessible from the NHIS card to healthcare workers attending to a patient. With the smart card system, the patient can carry the card to the hospital, which is then swiped in a receiver to retrieve not just basic information but detailed information about the patients medical history. This according to him will make it easy for the next doctor to know what medication and treatment to administer to a patients. Use of Cloud for efficient customer service in the provision of electricity Using the power companies in Nigeria as a case study, presenter of the paper, Femi Akunlaguda, an energy analyst said cloud computing provides immense opportunities for data capture, analysis and solution provision. We must come to the realisation that a distributed service delivery system can only be made better with software. And we can prove that the Information Technology Infrastructure Library- ITIL and cloud computing will be the best way. Several experts delivered papers ranging from advertising, inventory management for public institutions using cloud computing, and other ways cloud computing can be deployed in everyday life. At a press conference in Accra, the Chairman of the Supreme Consultative Council of COCOBOD, Alhaji Idriss Alhassan, accused the ICU and the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of failing to protect the welfare of COCOBOD workers. Some time ago we negotiated for a 30 percent salary increment with our management and because of the role ICU and GAWU played, they rather went and asked our management if they can pay the increment and pressed on them not to agree, Alhassan said. According to him, ICU fought against workers of COCOBOD when they were pushing for allowance to improve their lives, stating that there was no justification for the allowance. Can you imagine this, we are explaining to our superiors why we need allowances to improve our lives and the ICU and GAWU rather fight against us that we dont deserve it, he said. What broke the camels back is their effort to privatize a strategic company like the Cocoa Marketing Company, he added. Alhassan defended the workers decision to break away, saying the ICU itself broke away from the TUC to form the ICU. "We are breaking away, the constitution guarantees freedom of association. The ICU itself broke away from the TUC to form the ICU. Nobody can force us to join an association we do not want to belong to we are now the Cocoa Industry Workers Union, he said. But ICU said the move could create a labour burst and frustrate labour negotiation with government. According to Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah, General Secretary of GAWU, the break way is nothing short of fraud. He also accused the leadership of COCOBOD of fueling the breakaway for their selfish gains. The ICU is however challenging the decision of the workers to leave the union at the Human Rights Court in Accra. According to the ICU, the decision of the executive of the Union of COCOBOD if allowed to stand would amount to a breach of the fundamental human rights of its members and the ICU as a whole. It further claimed that the executives of of the COCOBOD workers Union took the sthe decision without the approval of their members. 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 Limited Voters Registration exercise which began on Thursday, April 28 is aimed at capturing the details of Ghanaians who have turned 18 since the last election in 2012. However, some new voters have so far been unable to register at various centers especially in the Ashanti, Eastern and Volta regions. At some polling centres, EC officials were having difficulties with new voters who come without proof that they are of age. Apart from some polling centres experiencing faulty machines or shortage of voter registers, people who have lost their ID cards and want a new card is another challenge the officials in some polling stations are grappling with. In an interview with Pulse.com.gh, the Acting general secretary of the NPP, Mr, John Boadu said the challenges were "expected". According to him, having scaled down the number of polling centres from close to 6,000 in 2014 to 3, 500, the challenges that were encountered in the past will still be there. "The old problem of where somebody registers and he is not put on his own polling station is also coming up. There is a polling station in Abossey Okai, Ablekuma Central where close to about 50 people who registered that had about 6 polling stations under, they were all put in one polling station. And I think that is something to be worried about. And places where the distances are huge, it is going to cost a lot of problems for voters. "The other thing is about where people registered and the date on the cards is yesterday, and the day before, and I think that is also worrying," he said. Mr. Boadu also accused the government of bussing in people across neighbouring countries to come and register. He believed that publicity about the limited voter registration exercise was "worse", and has therefore called on the EC to intensify communication about the exercise. The party's supervisor for the limited registration exercise, Paa Kow Cole, told 3FM that people from Elimina and other palces are being bussed to come and register, adding that the centre was scheduled for the second phase of the exercise May 3-8.So we were prepared for that and concentrating on other centres only to hear that people were being bussed from Elmina and other places to come and register, that is why the people alerted us, he said. Her candidacy is being challenged by incumbent Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Nii Armah Ashitey, whom she beat to the partys ticket for the November 2016 parliamentary poll. According to Nii Armah Ashietey, Zanetor is not a registered voter and thus her election must be declared null and void. Lawyers for Dr Rawlings have subsequently filed an application at the Supreme Court arguing that the High Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case.The lawyers are seeking "an order of prohibition directed to the His Lordship Kwaku T. Ackah Boafo of the High Court restraining him from proceeding to hear the dispute between the applicant and the interested parties pending a decision in the apex court." RELATED: Zanetor becomes a registered voterThere are views that Dr. Zanetor being a registered voter now will give the case in court a different twist. But, lawyer for the plaintiff has told Accra-based Adom FM that her registration cannot validate her candidature and will therefore not affect the case in court. "What she [Zanetor] has done is commendable but it can only take prospective effective," he added. Publicity has been very low in this particular exercise. They [EC] have not come out [to do publicity]. In the first place they were late in coming out to do publicity. And then when they started, it was just on the radio and little bit on the television, National Coordinator of CODEO Kofi Arhin told Joy News channel on Multi TV. However, some new voters have so far been unable to register at various centers especially in the Ashanti, Eastern and Volta regions. At some polling centres, EC officials were having difficulties with new voters who come without proof that they are of age. According to a family source's social media posts, the "Hitch" actress and her family had a celebration of life service at the Church of the Recessional in Glendale, California, on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Carlos had first been diagnosed with throat cancer almost two years ago, before he had finally lost his battle with the deadly disease. Eva's younger brother, Carlo Mendez also shared an emotional Instagram post, describing his brother as: The funny charming genius comedian creative hot tempered crazy calm person that he was. I still cant believe this happened. Im crying as I write this and I have no idea how to cope with him being gone. My life will never be the same without him. Eva had also shared a sweet photo of herself with Carlos from the Hollywood Stands Up to Cancer event last January via her Instagram page on April 1, with a simple heart emoji as the caption. The expectant mother had introduced Katie Couric at the event, dedicating the evening to her brother who had accompanied her to the event, during her speech. Tonight Im here with my family and my brother Carlos, who had [cancer] treatment today, the actress revealed to the audience. Carlos is survived by his siblings, parents, Juan and Eva, and his wife and their children, Matthew, 13, and Mia, 5. May his soul rest in peace. In the video, yes we can see an emotional woman who has been broken by a man who has treated her badly, made wrong accusations about her and called her honour into question. However, most importantly we can see a Tiwa Savage rising from the ashes of her failed marriage, and breaking the chains tradition and society has placed on women in insufferable unions. Wiping away her tears Tiwa Savage admitted to two years of emotional abuse from a man she loved with all her heart. She spoke on his alleged drug use, wild and expensive lifestyle and his infidelity. Tiwa Savage told a tale of a woman who was determined to make her marriage work at great costs. She funded her husbands expensive lifestyle, paid his debts and ignored his infidelity until she was choked by his unfaithfulness. Not only did she fund Tee Billzs lifestyle she was the sole breadwinner of the house. Before Tee Billz made damning accusations about his wife and tried to commit suicide, the singer had already given up on her marriage. She had called it quits. Why do I call Tiwa Savage bold, courageous and strong? It takes a woman with a solid spine and guts in Nigeria to call it quits on her marriage that was bringing her more pain than joy. She was the one bringing money to the home but still put up a front that her husband was in control. There are millions of Nigerian women in this situation. They are suffering in silence, their cries are unheard because the Nigerian society has placed a yoke on them that they must endure pain in their marriages. The burden of whether the marriage works lies solely on them. This is wrong. There are so many women who are the ones supporting their families. Many men have abandoned their roles as the head of the home because the society allows it, and the wives have to work extra hard to make ends meet for the entire family. The society places a stigma on women who leave their marriages. We call them sluts and shame the women who have the courage to end their suffering by leaving these hell holes. Why does the Nigerian society hold back women in bad marriages? Why is the blame placed on them and not the man? Before her interview, Tiwa Savage was slammed online for being allegedly sexually promiscuous. With tears in her eyes she defended her honour. Kudos has to be given to her for having the strength to end her marriage. She admitted that she was tired of it all. One quote in her interview struck me deep. Tiwa Savage said I dont care at this point if I dont ever get married again. This statement is a liberating one not only for her but for Nigerian women as well. 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! Perak police reveal that the suspect, who reportedly hails from Kampung Stesen, Kuala Kangsar allegedly committed the offence on September 7, 2015. The suspect had, according to reports, used a pseudonym when uploading the statements on social media, which is assumed to have been aimed at sparking racial tension in the state. His statement had reportedly prompted the Malaysia Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, to order his arrest by the police in a tweet. Bakar revealed that Bukit Aman's Classified Crimes Unit had nabbed the suspect at his home at 10am, yesterday. "Police have also confiscated three handphones and a pouch bag from him," He added in a statement issued today. According to Manica Post, the police got to know about Sithole's acts when one of the victims made a report on how he had sex with her without using protection and infecting her and many other women in the Mutare area. The police confirmed receiving a report from one of the victims and declared that Sithole is still at large after bolting from a meeting where some of his alleged victims had approached the Member of National Assembly for Dangamvura-Chikanga, Comrade Isau Mupfumi, for a solution. Sithole is alleged to have lied that he was hard-pressed to relieve himself when he realised that police had arrived to pick him up and disappeared in the darkness before scaling a precast wall. Deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda, confirmed receipt of the report and said a manhunt for Sithole had been launched as he has been on the run since he escaped police arrest. I can confirm that we are investigating the case and we are keen to interview Sithole over the case of deliberate HIV infection reported last week, Chananda said. The woman who reported the matter to the police had written in her statement: I fell pregnant in October 2014, but we could not get married because his parents would not accept me. In 2016, I fell pregnant in January and I went for HIV tests. I tested positive. I had a miscarriage on April 10, 2016. I called him to bring money for me to do the evacuation, but he refused. I borrowed money to pay the hospital bills. One day, I took his phone and I discovered he was in a relationship with a married woman. I then contacted the married womans husband. Liberty had since denied that he is HIV positive. But later on, I discovered that he had gone for testing with another girl from Dangamvura. Read his letter: "My name is Anthony and I have been married for six years to a woman I thought was my world until I made a shocking discovery some months ago that has effectively shattered the trust and love I had for my wife, . This has also gone to affirm the fact that no matter how long you know a woman, you may not fully get to understand her. Before we got married, Blessing and I had dated for two years and I dare say those years were that of bliss because she was all a man would want in a woman. I had noticed that during the time we dated, there was a young boy of about four who was mostly with her and she dotted on the child. When I asked her who the boy was, Blessing told me he was her late sister's son and that since the sister died, she had been taking care of the child. Being that loves children, I became attached to the boy and even when we got married, I allowed the boy to stay with us and even out two children saw him as their brother. So you can imagine my shock when a strange man came to my house to claim that he is the father of the boy and that Blessing was his mother. At first, I did not believe the man and called Blessing who had gone to her office to hurry back home. When she came, she was equally surprised to see the man. When I told her what the man said, she broke down and confessed that she was actually the boy's mother and was afraid I would leave her if she had told me. It is not as much as her having a child before we met that bothers me because I would still have married her but hiding the fact from me for eight years. She has begged me to forgive her but even though I have forgiven her, I will never trust her again and that can be dangerous for the marriage. My mother wants me to send her packing but my father has warned me from taking such a step. What do I do now? Anthony." The teaser for the day was: How Nigeria voted: 37% - Yes, I will divorce him/her as there will be no more trust 38% - No, I will forgive him/her knowing everyone has a past 23% - I will forgive him/her but I will never trust again According to the anti-graft agency, the money that the trio cornered for their own use was the terminal benefit of one Clement Udemba, who had died while in the service of the former national telecommunication outfit. All efforts by the son of the beneficiary, Emmanuel Udemba, to collect the money meant for his father was met with a brick wall until he wrote a petition to the EFCC and after a thorough investigation, it was found out that the suspects had cornered the money fraudulently. It was realised that the said money had been paid into a certain account opened by the accused persons in the name of the late man. One Ahmed Soye posted the photo of a young girl he reportedly found in front of his house yesterday morning, April 28, 2016, revealing that the only information she has, is her name. Mr Soye reveals that the young lady identified as, Ummul Khairi, is married but does not know where she came from nor the names of her husband or her parents. He adds that Khairi has now been handed over to men of the Civil Defence Corp, while imploring with Nigerian citizens with any information on where she might has come from, to reach out to the department in Gombe State. Mr Soye shared the photo, commenting: "This girl was found in front of my House early this morning. She said her name is Ummul Khairi and that she is married. She was asked where she came from she said she did not know. She did not know her husband name nor her parents name. I called Civil Defence Corp who took her to their office here in Gombe. Any body who knows this girl should please contact the Gombe State office of Civil Defence" This was revealed to newsmen by the Governors spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, on Thursday, April 28, 2016, after the Kaduna State Security Council meeting. A statement issued by Aruwan reads The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has directed all hospitals in the state to, with immediate effect, start treating persons with gunshot wounds and accident victims without demanding Police Report as a basis for attention. Lives must be saved first, before the formalities of demanding Police Reports from victims. After saving lives, hospitals and other agencies can start making inquiries regarding how the gunshot wounds and other injuries were sustained. We consider it a gross abdication of responsibility if any hospital leaves injured patients unattended because of the absence of Police Reports." Governor El-Rufai also said the primary duty of the hospitals should be to save lives. The hospitals can comply with reporting requirements to the police after providing the care the patient needs. This is the unanimous resolution of the Kaduna State Security Council. As Governor, I have communicated this decision to the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and Human Services and other concerned agencies operating in the state. A moment of trauma is not the time to put paper before lives. All our healthcare agencies have been advised that it will amount to criminal neglect to deny or delay critical care to such patients,' the statement said. El-Rufai also revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari forced him to contest for the Kaduna state governorship seat. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. He commended Buhari's for his purposeful leadership to restore the nations place in the comity of nations, noting that the his recent trip to China and the profitable discussions will go a long way in moving Nigeria forward. Ambode said that investment agreement signed with the Chinese Government will benefit the people of Lagos, especially with the coming of the Lagos-Kano Rail Project and the Lagos Metro-rail project expected to cost about $2.5billion. He said the union is left with no other option than to embark on strike. Dutse said Polytechnic lecturers ordinary believe in dialogue, which is why the issues have been lingering for all this while. "However, we are now being pushed to resort to extreme measures in resolving industrial dispute and we shall act accordingly. We have decided to place this position before Government and the Nigerian public for the benefit of the sector and to challenge government to act now in order to avert another industrial disharmony in our polytechnics." "We are aware that the issues between Government and ASUP have lingered for years. We are also cognisant of the fact that this government came to power about one year ago but then Government is a continuum. What is particularly worrisome to our union is the approach of officials of Government to the need of our sector and the pre-eminence of dialogue in resolving the impasse. In September, 2015 we had addressed a press conference, drawing attention of the then incoming government to these issues and proposed ways of resolving them. Our expectation was that the re-constitution of the Federal Executive Council by Mr. President will nip the issues in the bud considering the quality of the appointees and the magnitude of the problems at hand. Our hope in this direction is gradually fading away as no concrete step has been taken to address the issues," He said. According to him, The last signed agreement between the Federal Government and ASUP made adequate provisions for re-negotiation which had been due since 2012. Government has reneged on this provision and showed unwillingness to renegotiate a new Agreement with the union. This attitude has further widened our gap of trust and entrenched mutual suspicion about governments commitment to promoting technological development in the country," ASUP President added. According to Dutse, other issues include failure to release white paper of visitation panels to federal polytechnics; non-implementation of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadres and other academic allowances; underfunding of the sector and lop-sidedness in funds interventions by TETFUND. He also explained that the non- implementation of the report of the NEEDS assessment of public polytechnics as well as dichotomy between HND and degree graduates poses grave risk to maintaining industrial peace in the sector. "In 2014, after intense agitation by our union, government constituted the Needs Assessment Committee that undertook the critical assessment of needs of infrastructure and administrative competence of all public polytechnics in Nigeria. The intention was to address the decay of infrastructure in the sector. It is appallingly disheartening however that government has, since the conclusion of that brilliant assignment, reneged on the release and subsequent implementation of its own report despite repeated appeals by our union," he added. Dutse said the dichotomy between the university and Polytechnic graduates places needless limitations on HND graduates in job engagements and remunerations as well as career progression in public service. This was disclosed by French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Adrian during a meeting with his Nigerian counterpart, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali in Abuja on Thursday, April 28, 2016. I am pleased with the cooperation between the Nigerian Defence Ministry and the French Ministry of Defence. I will like to salute the bravery and courage of the Nigerian Forces in the fight against Boko Haram, Adrian said. I will be visiting the headquarters of the Multi National Joint Task Force in Ndjamena which is also headed by a Nigerian General, to see how things are going and can be improved upon. The fight against the barbaric organization, Boko Haram in Nigeria is the same fight that we have in France because these terrorists groups that are hitting Nigeria are the same that we have in France. The second phase that we are looking into is about maritime insecurity. We are extremely happy to help Nigeria in this area which is going to be a much longer term effort in order to guarantee security in the Gulf of Guinea, he added. President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier expressed his appreciation to France for its support. ------------------------------------------------------- She also said that the terrorist sect has committed worse atrocities than the abduction of the Chibok girls. According to the Associated Press, Ozolua is taking a step toward raising awareness and money to assist displaced victims of Boko Haram at her inaugural "Rise Above Terror" African Art Gala at the Besharat Gallery on Saturday in Atlanta. When people hear about Boko Haram, you think about 'Bring Back Our Girls' only, but it's much bigger than that. Figures are being thrown around about how many people are being killed. It's bigger than that, she said. There are millions of people who have survived these attacks, seeing their families killed in front of them. Their lives are completely traumatized. Nobody is giving much attention to them. Our focus is on them. They should be assisted," she added. ------------------------------------------------------------- It described the reports as mischievous." According to the acting director of media relations, Sani Usman, the soldiers in battle front and those who participated in other missions abroad are fully paid allowances due to them. The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to some stories going round the media circles with the title Disquiet in the war front as soldiers complain of unpaid allowance alleging that there was problem in the Nigerian Army due to non-payment of allowances to some soldiers serving in the North East. In particular, they were alleging non-payment of outstanding peacekeeping operations allowance of troops that served in Guinea Bissau under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States and operation allowances to some troops in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, among others. The issues contained in such publications are not true nor correct. While some media treated the matter professionally, giving the military benefit of doubt and sought to know the truth, others mischievously went to town with the false story without recourse to ethics of the profession and bothering to find out from the military, the statement said. The effort of the former is quite commendable and really appreciated, while that of the latter is quite unfortunate. However, Usman said that unpaid operational allowances to troops was a minor internal military administrative matter which had already been resolved. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to inform the public that the issue of non-payment of peacekeeping operations allowance is a minor internal military administrative matter which was treated and resolved accordingly and has no bearing on the fight against terrorism and insurgency as they mischievously alleged. It should be reiterated that the alleged non-payment of operations allowance among the returnee peacekeepers was due to administrative hitches which was solved to the point that all outstanding peacekeeping operations have been paid and the last batch payment was done last Tuesday. As regards to payment of operations allowances, it is borne out of deliberate mischief and failure to comply with the new measures aimed at ensuring probity and accountability in the Service. All officers and soldiers are now paid their operations allowance directly into their account. The Army said some soldiers that were not paid allowances was due to lack of compliance to directive and duplication of names. All those that did not receive theirs was due to non-compliance with the directive of giving correct account details or duplication of names due to recent postings. This has been explained to all those affected and efforts were on to rectify same shortly. We wish to state further that those soldiers involved or complaint to the media are very few compared to the soldiers in the operation area who are working assiduously to finally clear the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists. Majority of our troops have been receiving their allowances regularly. The very few undisciplined ones cannot be used to distract us, neither should they be used as yardstick to measure troops general wellbeing and performance, Usman said. The Zamfara state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, who also is the chairman of the NGF led the Governors to the State House, Abuja to present their demands to Buhari. Yari said the move will help cushion the harsh economic challenges the states are currently facing. The Excess Crude Account was put in place to save any funds above a set crude oil price benchmark. Reports say the ECA currently has a balance of about $2.259b. Speaking to newsmen, Yari said For the short-term, we are looking at a situation whereby our debts that are hanging from 2005 right from Obasanjos exit of the Paris Club are paid. There are some money that was not paid before. If it is paid, states that are having difficulties can get money from there. We are also looking at loan restructuring, bailout and the ECA. We are asking for an 18-month moratorium before we can start paying, so that we will able to strategise. To develop the IGR is not overnight, it is a long-term programme that one has to plan for. Also, our service has exploded and there is nothing we can do about it because people are getting their daily bread from there and we cannot say we are going to cut salaries and wages. The Governors also told Buhari that they will also work out ways to increase their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said Buhari is even more concerned about the difficulties the workers and their families are facing as a result of the non-payment of salaries. The Nation reports that the President said The government will strive to make more funds available to the states by expediting action on refunds due to them for the maintenance of federal roads and other expenses incurred on behalf of the Federal Government. Mr. President also said he will set up a committee that will look into the Fiscal Restructuring Plan proposed by the Governors, and make recommendations on its implementation. Buhari also reminded the Governors that the Federal Government also had financial obligations to meet. He said You all know the problems we have found ourselves in. You have to bear with us. This is coming on the heels of the Presidents meeting with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). The Governors reportedly asked Buhari to share the funds in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) among the 36 states. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. Kazaure also promised the corp members that their outstanding salaries will be paid. You will recall that some states reportedly suspended payments of monthly allowance to corp members due to the economic crunch affecting the country. He also said medical personnel and other professionals will be sent to meet the needs of the IDPs. Kazaure also announced the donations of 700 bags of rice and 800 bags of Garri to IDP camps. Also, the NYSC has officially launched its Nigerian Students and Youth Corpers Discount cards (NS&YCDC). The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who was the special guest of honour at the event, said the development was cause for celebration. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. The group made the accusation on Thursday, April 28, 2016, via a statement released by its Media and Publicity Officer, Emma Powerful, according to Vanguard. The statement reads: The first attack by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu state that resulted to the arrest of over 76 persons who were searching for the whereabouts of their loved ones after the attack, and their subsequent arrest by the security agents, particularly the police and detaining them at Police Zone 9 Umuahia and subsequently arraignment was not condemned by the South East governors and politicians, and that emboldened them for the next attack in the state of Ukpabi Nimbo community in the state. IPOB worldwide therefore is constrained to raise accusing fingers on the Governors and politicians in the South East over the killing of our people. The Governors and the politicians used the life of their brothers and subjects to play game of politics, trading them off to the APC government for crumbs they are expecting from the government that has nothing to offer Nigerians let alone Igbo Governors and politicians. If that is not the case, how do you explain a situation communities were attacked and instead of the people that attacked them being arrested, the relations and victims of the attacked were arrested and detained by a government that claim to be responsible. Yet, the state Chief executives and their politicians kept quiet and were clapping and praising the government that is humiliating their people. IPOB, other Biafra actualization agitating groups expected these politicians, the governors, the National Assembly members and other South East political appointees and others close to the corridors of power to stoutly react against the injustice, but they never did. Today, we are talking about another attack that claimed the lives of over 40 persons in the same state and nothing is being done to assuage the pains of the people, while a blatant lie by the Department of State Service, DSS, that five Fulani herdsmen were killed and buried in Abia State. This unsettled the country, and the South East governors, and politicians were never moved by the killing of over 20 and arrest of their over 76, and now the recent killing of over 40 people at Nimbo. --------------------------------------------------------------- This is coming on the heels of the recent killings carried out by suspected herdsmen in a community in Enugu state. Punch reports that the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said The ideas of joint operation will always be there because it is a common knowledge that it is not a one service business. It must involve all other security agencies. Each and every one of us has a role to play: physical security, giving information, synergising with other stakeholders. That is what we are doing in the North-East and the Niger Delta and other parts. It would involve not only the military. Abubakar said the operation will be the same as others set up to fight against terrorists in the North-East and militants in the Niger-Delta. He also said The current resurgence of this issue of herdsmen is something which must be given a priority now that there is a glaring security threats to lives and property which the Armed Forces and other security agencies cannot close their eyes to. All efforts are now on towards ensuring that there is security of lives and property in the general area where such activities of herdsmen are being carried out. The defence spokesman also said the military is acting on President Buhari's orders. Just of recent, the President has given us a directive and it is something which we must comply with and in other cases, we deploy our men through operations such as the one against cattle rustling, Operation Sharandaji, which is to ensure that no herdsmen involved in criminal activities are spared, Abubakar said. Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has also condemned attacks by Fulani herdsmen. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. According to ACF National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, Nigeria cannot afford to graduate from Boko Haram insurgency to an unwarranted attack by unknown gunmen alleged to be Fulani herdsmen. The traditional Fulani nomads have coexisted peacefully with their host communities and have been grazing their cattle for decades all over Nigeria without any such attacks. ACF is therefore disturbed and seriously concerned with this recent development. The Northern group also said It therefore calls upon the security agencies to do a thorough investigation into the identities of the suspected gunmen in order to stop this dangerous generalization of labelling certain tribe or people of certain faith as responsible for these attacks. This will cause mistrust and likely incite people of different tribes and faith who have lived together peacefully for decades. Criminals hiding under whatever guise and committing heinous crimes against innocent people and the state should be treated as such and in accordance with the law. Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has also accused President Muhammadu Buhari of aiding and abetting attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the country. Buhari has however ordered the Inspector-General of police (IGP), Solomon Arase and security agencies to stop the killings by suspected herdsmen across the country. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. The monarch had been rumoured dead following his disappearance from public functions since 2015, but the palace authorities dismissed his death reports. Confirming the monarch's passing on Friday, April 29, 2016, the State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, described it as a huge loss. Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo NOba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institution in Edo state and the country at large, he said in a statement. His carriage comes with an elan that was peculiar with the reverence of royalty. His uncommon courage was symbolic of the can-do spirit of the Edo mind. His unity of purpose was not in doubt even as he used his revered position to promote constructive engagement amongst all shades of opinion and culture in Edo state. The Governor, who was said to have a close relationship with the monarch, said the vacuum the king left behind would be felt by his eldest son. As a thorough-bred bureaucrat, rising to the pinnacle of his career as a federal permanent secretary, he understood the dynamics and intricacies of governance, he said. He was the alternative voice to the many voiceless in our society, calling government attention to issues of development and transparent governance, without minding whose ox is gored. He was brave, fearless, punchy and instructive in his verbal and written messages. To us at the Edo state government, he was our strongest supporter; both in his uncommon faith in our ability and his readiness to offer uncommon advice to sharpen public discourse in our shared commitment to transform Edo state. It gladdens our heart, therefore, that our revered Oba was alive to witness the positive transformation of Edo state under his reign, and for standing with us through thick and thin in the course of making the Edo economy a treasure to behold. Being part of that eloquent history of transformation before his reunion with his ancestors gives us further reassurance that he will occupy a special pride of place in the hereafter. We are enveloped with a deep sense of nostalgia that our great Oba, a great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle and iconoclastic royal father of exemplary carriage and conduct, who sustained the dignity of the average Edo mind, has joined his ancestors. We are, however, encouraged by the fact that another great son of the Great Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Edaiken NUselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, who is already showing manifest quintessential attributes of his great father, will step into his fathers big shoes. Edo people will miss our iconoclastic royal father of the great Benin Kingdom. Nigerians and Nigeria will miss this great exemplar of a Royal Father, an Oba of distinction and integrity. Adieu until we meet to part no more, the Governor said. He also accused the former President of giving N2b from Ecological Funds to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors to share. Oshiomhole said this after a meeting of the 36 state Governors with President Buhari at the State House. He said We are very lucky to have President Buhari at this time. I have been here now for seven-and-half years and I have had the opportunity to work with three Presidents, that is the truth. Under the last President, it would have been impossible for us to approach Abuja to give us support because we have personal challenges. The Edo Governor also said We would have been given lectures on fiscal responsibility and all those kind of talks, even though the wastage was more here (federal level) than any other place at that time. We now have a President who recognises that he is not just President of the Federal Government, he is the President of the federation of which the states are part and regardless of our political affiliations. Reports say the state Governors were at the State House to speak with President Buhari about the poor economic situation in the states. The Edo state Governor also said This is very important. Everybody is able to ask this President to give him support and he is giving, whereas in the recent past, some PDP governors got N2bn from the Ecological Fund. We the APC governors were not given but we promised to be different and I am happy this President is showing that difference." The Governors also asked President Buhari to share the funds in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) among them. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. The new charges against Saraki includes falsefully acquiring a property from the Implementation Committee of the Federal Government Landed Properties. Another count accuses the Senate President of abuse of office while he was the Governor of Kwara state, between October 2006 and May 2007. He is also accused of failing to declare his American Express Service Card. The Federal Government is also accusing the Senate President of receiving salaries after leaving office as a the Governor of Kwara state. Saraki, who was re-arraigned before the CCT, on Thursday, April 28, 2016, on the fresh 16 count charge, has however pleaded not guilty. Reports say the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman, Justice Danladi Umar has also dismissed the application presented by Sarakis lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, calling for Umar's withdrawal from the Senate Presidents trial. Also, 20 opposition political parties have expressed their support for Saraki's corruption trial, and urged him to use the opportunity to clear his name. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. Kaigama said going by the current economic realities, Nigerian workers should have demanded between N90, 000 to N100, 000 as minimum wage, stressing that workers are fair for demanding N56,000 as minimum wage. "About N27, 000 is being use monthly to feed each prisoner. This does not include the fact that the prisoner does not pay rent as well as other utility bills like water and electricity." "They will be inviting trouble if they did not accept the N56,000 as new minimum wage, " Kaigama said. "What we are saying is that we have followed the due process. The law says after five years, there will be a review and we have followed that law. No government that is responsible will throw that issue away. You will be inviting trouble. But like we are saying, N56, 000 is the barest minimum we have considered. Otherwise, if you relate it to what government spend on prisoners, then Nigerian workers should be asking for between N90, 000 to N100, 000. We are even being reasonable," Kaigama said. "If the other side (government) does not behave reasonable, we will wake them up. If they don't react positively, they should expect reactions from us," Kaigama said adding that any state that cannot afford to pay their workers should merge with other states that are more viable. What better way to ease off the stress of the week than watch a good movie. With that in mind, check out our list of movies currently showing in cinemas across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Jessica Chastain, Charlize Theron Synopsis: As a war between rival queen sisters Ravenna and Freya escalates, Eric and fellow warrior Sara, members of the Huntsmen army raised to protect Freya, try to conceal their forbidden love as they combat Ravenna's wicked intentions. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 10:00am, 12:05pm, 2:45pm, 6:30pm, 8:05pm Friday - Thursday: 12:40PM, 6:05PM, 9:15PM 12:55 pm, 3:20 pm, 5:45 pm, 8:15 pm, 10:40 pm Thu: 12:55 pm, 3:20 pm, 5:45 pm Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson Synopsis: Political interference in the Avengers' activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America and Iron Man. Showing: Thursday: 6:50PM, 9:10PM Thursday: 7:20 pm, 8:10 pm, 8:45 pm Wed: 6:45pm[2D & 3D] Thur: 6:00pm[2D], 7:45pm[3D] Starring: Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman Synopsis: Col. Katherine Powell, a military officer in command of an operation to capture terrorists in Kenya, sees her mission escalate when a girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute over the implications of modern warfare. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 2:50PM Friday - Thursday: 4:25pm Friday - Thursday: 10:20 pm Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gaddot. Synopsis: Fearing the actions of Superman are left unchecked, Batman takes on the man of steel, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs. With Batman and Superman fighting each other, a new threat, Doomsday, is created by Lex Luthor. It's up to Superman and Batman to set aside their differences along with Wonder Woman to stop Lex Luthor and Doomsday from destroying Metropolis. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 8:15PM Friday - Thursday: 12:00pm Friday - Thursday: 2:25 pm, 10:05 pm Genre: Drama, Biopic Starring: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree Synopsis: Jesse Owens' quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 11:00AM, 8:55PM Sunday: 8:55PM Fri-Thur: 10:15am Fri & Sat: 11:00 am, 10:55 pm Sun - Thu: 11:00 am Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley Synopsis: The man-cub Mowgli flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan. Guided by Bagheera the panther and the bear Baloo, Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, though he also meets creatures who don't have his best interests at heart. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 12:45PM, 4:55PM Fri-Thur: 12:20pm, 1:55pm, 2:25pm, 4:00pm Fri - Wed: 12:30 pm, 2:45 pm, 5:00 pm, 7:15 pm Thu: 12:30 pm, 2:45 pm, 5:00 pm Starring: Keenan Kampa, Nicholas Galitzine, Jane Seymour Synopsis: When a hip hop violinist busking in the New York subway encounters a classical dancer on scholarship at the Manhattan Conservatory of the Arts, sparks fly. With the help of a hip hop dance crew they must find a common ground while preparing for a competition that could change their lives forever. Showing: Tues-Thur: 10:25am, 12:35pm, 2:30pm Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman Synopsis: In London for the Prime Minister's funeral, Mike Banning discovers a plot to assassinate all the attending world leaders. Friday - Thursday: 4:25pm, 6:30pm Saturday - Thursday: 9:10PM Genre: Starring: Dakore Akande, Bryan Okwara, Alexx Ekubo, Osas Ajibade, Wale Ojo, Wole Ojo, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Sadiq Daba, Kemi Lala-Akindoju, Femi Jacobs, Stephanie Coke. Synopsis: Sharon is a young executive who owns a growing consultancy firm in Lagos. She is in an open secret relationship with Tunde, one of her staff. Tunde loves Sharon but hes not very sure if she will be totally humble and respect him as the man in the relationship. After a night out together, they had an argument over who should have settled the bill, and the argument resulted in a quarrel which took Tunde away from the office and separated them for some days. In a bid to resolve the issue, Sharon went to Tundes house and there she found something more interestinga script; which Tunde has been working on privately. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 11:20am Friday - Thursday: 1:35PM, 2:20PM, 3:45PM, 6:35PM Friday - Thursday: 1:45 pm, 4:15 pm Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure Starring: Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman Synopsis: Continuing his "legendary adventures of awesomeness", Po must face two hugely epic, but different threats: one supernatural and the other a little closer to his home. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 11:10 am Friday - Thursday: 10:00am, 10:30am Genre: Romance Starring: Ice Cube, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson Synopsis: As their surrounding community has taken a turn for the worse, the crew at Calvin's Barbershop come together to bring some much needed change to their neighborhood. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 10:30AM, 2:35PM, 7:00PM Friday - Thursday: 12:05 pm, 2:25 pm, 4:45 pm, 7:05 pm, 9:25 pm Friday - Thursday: 2:15pm, 4:20pm, 6:40pm, 8:45pm Genre: Romance Starring: Uche Jombo, Chioma Akpotha, Ufuoma McDermott, Kehinde Bankole, Kalu Ikeagwu, Julius Agwu, Kenneth Okonkwo. Synopsis: The movie is a hilarious comedy about a group of market women who decided to take matters into their own hands against their husbands in a bid to stir them into standing up for a young girl whom they wanted to protect from the wishes of her own father. The women, who hilariously interpret their roles, set a series of events in motion to give the movie many moments of laughter without missing a beat on the reason for everyone to know why they are on strike. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 4:35 pm, 6:40 pm Friday - Thursday: 12:25PM, 4:55PM Friday - Thursday: 2:50pm, 9:10pm Genre: Starring:Rykardo Agbor, Kehinde Olorunyomi- Odukoya, Bayray Mcnwizu, Ifeanyi Kalu, Labelle Vitien, Frank Paladini. Synopsis: The Novelist is an African Romance Drama about a best-selling authors seemingly perfect life which is turned upside down when he leaves his wife in the bedroom with his tape recorder on. He is suddenly faced with secrets he would rather not know and truths he would rather remain buried. The film is written by Kehinde Olorunyomi the acclaimed writer of the award winning Finding Mercy and In the Cupboard. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 10:30AM, 4:40PM Genre: Starring:Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot Synopsis: In a last-ditch effort to stop a diabolical plot, a dead CIA operative's memories, secrets, and skills are implanted into a death-row inmate in hopes that he will complete the operative's mission. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 12:20PM, 4:50PM, 9:10PM Fri - Wed: 11:45 am, 2:10 pm, 8:45 pm Thu: 11:45 am, 2:10 pm Friday - Thursday: 6:20pm, 8:30pm Starring:Emma Watson, Daniel Bruhl, Michael Nyqvist Synopsis: A young woman's desperate search for her abducted boyfriend that draws her into the infamous Colonia Dignidad, a sect nobody ever escaped from. Showing: Friday - Thursday: 11:50am, 4:40pm Friday - Saturday: 1:35PM Starring:Shraddha Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Sudheer Babu Posani Synopsis: An ex-military agent (Tiger) goes in hiding for a mission. He has bounty on his head, and the best hunter in town (Shraddha) is on the chase. But they do have a common enemy. Who lives? Showing: Written and directed by Richard Tanne, the upcoming stars Tika Sumpter ("The Have and the Haves Not") as the young Michelle Obama, while Patrick Sawyers plays the young BarackObama. ALSO READ: Michelle Obama famously rejected Obama's advances when they met at Sidley and Austin law firm in Chicago. She was a 25-year-old attorney and he was a 27-year-old summer associate. From the Chicago Art Institute to a screening of Spike Lees "Do The Right Thing'", to their first kiss, 'Southside is definitely one worth seeing. A young associate (Barack Obama) tries to win the heart of a young lawyer (Michelle Robinson) in Chicago in 1989. On their first date, they visit the Art Institute of Chicago, view a screening of Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing", and have their first kiss outside an ice cream parlor. The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and received positive reviews from critics. He also faulted a report purportedly made by his colleague, Mohammed Bala Farouk, that the Federal Government allocated N100m to each Rep. Namdas also expressed optimism that Buhari will sign the 2016 budget into law by next week. The Reps spokesman also said no money has been disbursed to the lawmakers, adding that the funds for the constituency projects could only be released after the President assents to the budget. Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami and House Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila were locked in an argument over the House of Representatives decision to take over the Kogi state House of Assembly. Members of the House of Representatives have also opposed the Federal Governments request to float a N360b bond for the financing of the power sector. See Pulse Photo-News gallery below. We are very lucky to have President Buhari at this time. I have been here now for seven-and-half years and I have had the opportunity to work with three presidents, that is the truth, he said. Under the last President, it would have been impossible for us to approach Abuja to give us support because we have personal challenges. We would have been given lectures on fiscal responsibility and all those kind of talks, even though the wastage was more here (federal level) than any other place at that time. We now have a President who recognises that he is not just President of the Federal Government, he is the President of the federation of which the states are part and regardless of our political affiliations. This is very important. Everybody is able to ask this President to give him support and he is giving, whereas in the recent past, some PDP governors got N2bn from the Ecological Fund. We the APC governors were not given but we promised to be different and I am happy this President is showing that difference, he added. Meanwhile, Buhari has expressed concern at the inability of some states to pay their workers despite receiving a Federal Government bail-out. -------------------------------------------------------------- The management directed the school to be shut down on April 11, following a protest embarked upon by students of the school. Students have now been directed to return to the school as a statement was published on the school's information portal. The statement said: ""Following Senates approval, the University Management wishes to inform all Returning Students that the Registration Portal will be open for two (2) weeks, from Tuesday, 3rd to Monday, 16th May, 2016. This is to enable the students concerned to conclude their registration for the 2015/2016 session.The students concerned are to pay their School Charges at the designated Banks (outside the University environment). However, for the UniPort-Choba (U & C) Microfinance Bank, students concerned are to use the Branch at the College of Continuing Education, University of Port Harcourt, Nkpolu Orowurukwo, Port Harcourt." On Monday, April 11, a group of UNIPORT students took to the streets to protest the increase in tuition fees by the school management. Things took a turn for the worse when it was alleged that a member of the police force shot dead one of the students at the school. This escalated the protest, shifting the focus to the death of their colleague. The school ordered the closure of the campus after students staged a protest against the rustication of a 500 Level student of Petroleum Engineering, Tunji Ekpeti Michael, on Tuesday, April 26. They have now chosen to camp outside the school gate with one student revealing that they are cooking food. On Wednesday, April 27, the students stated that they were still on campus and decided to organise communal cooking. Students took to social media yesterday where they posted several pictures of the cooking session. In a hilarious post, the students invited Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka to partake in the meal. One of them wrote: Since the school management told us to vacate the halls of residence for staging a peaceful protest against the rustication of a student (Mote)because he participated in a peaceful protest in one of the halls (Independence Hall) and poor state of electric and water supply, UItes have also decided to stay back in school. We dont have any plan of going anywhere!" In fact, we are currently at the school gate where we are actually cooking something really delicious Tell the vice chancellor to join us, theres always love in sharing,you are also invited! While the protest lasted on Tuesday, students, who expressed their dissatisfaction over poor electricity and water supply in the university and alleged rustication of a Petroleum Engineering student, Mr. Tunji Epeti Michael, locked the varsity gate, sang and beat drum to air their views. They prevented lectures from holding, hindered free vehicular movement by blocking the roads in the campus, but ensured they did not engage in violence. On Wednesday, the student union denied the accusation by University management that the students' protest led to the destruction of school properties as stated by the school management. A statement released by the union partly stated,The UI management should tell the world why it has chosen to forcefully disperse almost 30,000 students to go home over diplomatic reinstatement of a SINGLE student back on campus in the face of bad Nigerian roads and economic realities. They should also tell the world why it has consistently failed in providing light and water to the University community, a situation which aggravated the protest. At the inception of my tenure as NiRA President, I made the commitment that we will increase our outreach and improve the quality of registration and membership services at NiRA. I am sure you will agree with me that we have walked the talk. We will hold the 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM) tomorrow, 29th April 2016, at the NiRA Office Complex. This is the first AGM I will be presiding over as your President. I am sure you are ready to join us tomorrow, to direct the affairs of our dear organization. Looking back in the last year, all I see is progress, support and commitments of unified entities," said Sunday Folayan, NiRAs president, speaking on the AGM. According to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, the agenda shows that the Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, as well as the report of the Auditor thereon, would be presented. The Business Plan and Budget for the financial year ending December 31, 2016 would also be presented at the meeting. According to Innovation Village, Nova-Lumos is partnering with MTN to provide residential solar systems under a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model across Nigeria. Consumers use mobile payments and transfer cash via text messaging to pay for power in advance. There is definitely a need for some more risk-orientated financiers, whether it would be DFIs or multilateral development banks or impact funders to come and take the initial risk of financing. The biggest challenge of this sector would be eventually how to [get] commercial oriented and institutional investor funders, said Ron Margalit, principal, impact financing at Nova-Lumos. A military tribunal in Burkina Faso investigating the murder of former President Thomas Sankara nearly three decades ago as well as a failed coup that took place last September had issued a total of 18 international warrants in December and January. However, the appeals court public prosecutor, Armand Ouedraogo, said the tribunal had failed to follow proper procedure when issuing the warrants. "The military court can take these warrants back and correct them," Ouedraogo said. Compaore himself was ousted in 2014 by crowds opposing his bid to change the West African nation's constitution and extend his 27-year rule. Ivory Coast granted him citizenship and he currently resides there. Members of an elite unit loyal to Compaore attempted a coup against the transitional government that replaced him in September, but the putsch was put down by the regular army. Signalling its commitment, Kenya will burn 105 tonnes of seized ivory on Saturday, seeking to send a message that the real value of tusks when they are on the live animals that draw tourists to Africa's savannas and forests, where herds have been decimated. From 1.2 million in the 1970s, the number of elephants roaming Africa has plunged to around 400,000. Poaching exceeded 30,000 a year between 2010 to 2012, threatening to wipe them out in some African regions. The future for Rhinos, now numbering less than 30,000, is even more bleak if poaching is not checked. "The poachers do not care about national borders, nor do the criminal gangs who smuggle illegal wildlife parts out of the continent. There is no solution to this struggle that can be implemented by one country alone," Kenyatta said in a statement before the Giants Club summit which he is due to address. This is a continental issue," Ian Craig, director of Kenya's Northern Rangelands Trust, told the gathering, saying Africans needed to build on successes made since a 2012 poaching peak. "As Africa, we need to coordinate our efforts." In Kenya, 93 elephants were killed in 2015, down from 384 in 2012. But conservations say the East African nation remains a transit point for poached wildlife parts from other countries. Leaders from Uganda and Gabon also joined the summit to outline their efforts to curb illegal hunting by poachers, who in some regions have in the past used belt-fed machine guns to mow down dozens of animals at a time. Botwana's president had been due to attend. It was not immediately clear why he did not turn up. While supporting the battle against poaching, Botswana has opposed burning ivory. Conservationists have called for action ranging from improved prosecution of poachers to slashing demand for ivory and rhino horn abroad, most of it coming from Asia. His group seeks to share techniques to combat poaching and protect habitats for elephants and rhinos. Ol Pejeta Conservancy has been at the forefront of those initiatives, protecting and slowly starting to rebuild Kenya's rhino numbers. Airborne rapid reaction rangers, a helicopter with night vision and better intelligence in the local community helped. But it seems too late for the northern white rhino. Just three individuals of the species remain, guarded 24 hours at the Ol Pejeta site. Scientists are racing against time to work out ways on reproductive techniques for the aging animals. There have also been gains made in stemming international trade in ivory and rhino horn. China and the United States, two of the biggest ivory markets, announced plans last year to enact almost complete bans on imports and exports. The ivory price in Hong Kong, a major trade route to China which also announced plans for a sales ban, has fallen to about $380 per kg from $1,500 per kg in 2014, Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid which campaigns to end the trade, told Reuters. "It's clear that the Balkan route is a thing of the past and no longer will or should be a place again from where people will be waved through to Germany and Austria and to the centre of Europe," he said at a joint news conference with Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka in Potsdam near Berlin. "Now the issue is alternative routes ... we are of course concerned that we'll get rising refugee numbers again as they come via Libya and Italy," he added. De Maiziere said he agreed with Austria that the situation at Italy's northern border should not replicate the situation on the Balkan route last year. Austria has said it might reintroduce border controls at the Alpine Brenner pass to keep migrants from coming from Italy and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said Austria's plans to build a fence there were "shamelessly against European rules". Sobotka said the measure was necessary to prevent the route from turning into a major corridor for migrants seeking to reach northern Europe after they arrive to Italy through the Mediterranean from Libya and other north Africa nations. He added: "This border management that has been in place since February is effective and we have applied this on the border with Hungary ... and we are preparing for this on the border with Italy." De Maiziere and Sobotka both piled pressure on Italy to take responsibility. Earlier gunmen in plain clothes had opened fire on around 200 students as they protested against government plans to sell off buildings belonging to the historic Khartoum University, the eyewitnesses said. They identified the dead student as 20-year-old Mohammed al Sadek. Police could not be immediately reached for comment on the shooting and no other details were immediately available. President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who took power in a 1989 coup, brooks little dissent in Sudan, which has been suffering from an economic crisis since South Sudan seceded in 2011, costing Khartoum more then 70 percent of its oil revenues. Bashir is wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court to face charges of masterminding genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during Sudan's Darfur conflict. He denies wrongdoing. The statement came amid signs that factions from both eastern and western Libya could be gearing up for an advance on Sirte, although such operations have repeatedly been announced in recent months without taking place. Islamic State has held Sirte since 2015, taking advantage of a conflict between loose alliances of armed brigades allied to Libya's rival governments to seize a 250-km (155-mile) strip of coastline around the central Mediterranean city, which lies between the eastern and western power bases. Western states are hoping the unity government, which arrived in Tripoli last month, will be able to make Libya's armed factions work together against the ultra-hardline militant group, and have said they are ready to provide training for Libyan forces if requested by the unity government. The United States has already conducted air strikes against Islamic State militants in Libya. The unity government's leadership, or Presidential Council, said on Thursday it welcomed the "push by various factions and armed forces to fight Islamic State forces in Sirte", but warned that an uncoordinated offensive could lead to civil war. "In the absence of coordination and unified leadership ... the Council expresses its concern that the battle in Sirte against Daesh (Islamic State) will be a confrontation between those armed forces," it said in a statement, adding such a conflict would likely benefit Islamic State. 'BY LIBYAN HANDS' In a recorded statement later on Thursday, the head of the council and prime minister of the unity government, Fayez Seraj, said his ministers had started coordinating security arrangements with the army "to start liberating Sirte", and were looking to set up a national joint operations room. Islamic State would be rooted out "by Libyan hands and not through foreign intervention," he said. Since 2014, Libya has had two competing sets of governments and parliaments in Tripoli and the east. Both were backed by shifting coalitions of military factions and former rebels. The unity government has been gradually establishing itself in Tripoli, displacing the self-declared administration that had been set up in the capital. But it has failed to secure a vote of approval from the eastern parliament, or House of Representatives, amid opposition from hardline allies of Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the eastern military. The hardliners say they are worried the military will not be protected under the new government, and have opposed a clause that would give it power over military appointments. The military in the east has been making significant gains on the ground against Islamist and other opponents in Benghazi, Libya's second city. It said on Thursday it was "fully ready for the battle of Sirte and was waiting for orders" from Haftar. Witnesses told Reuters dozens of armoured vehicles and ambulances had been mobilising for the operation. Reports and pictures have been circulating on social media in recent days that brigades from the western city of Misrata were also mobilising for a campaign against Sirte. No one from the military operations room in Misrata was immediately available to confirm the reports, but commanders from the city have previously said they intend to launch an offensive. Brigades from Misrata have been militarily strong since playing a major role in the NATO-backed campaign to topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Forces from Misrata abandoned ground operations against Islamic State in Sirte last year, but have continued to conduct air strikes over the city. Police Duty Officer of the Bergen Vest police district, Terje Magnussen, confirmed that 11 bodies have been retrieved so far. The Joint Rescue Coordination for southern Norway said that it had given up its search for the remaining two bodies. Earlier, Anders Andersen, spokesman for the Coordination team, said that the search was still underway for the two missing people. The spokesman had said that 11 on board the helicopter were Norwegian nationals, one British and one Italian, but that their individual identities were unclear. The joint rescue coordination centre had coordinated a large search and rescue operation, partly at sea and on land. "The rotor blade has been found, while parts of the helicopter have been located six, seven metres under the water line," Andersen said. Local broadcaster, NRK, earlier showed images of smoke billowing from the crash site near Turoy, about 40 kilometres from the city of Bergen. The fire was later extinguished. The helicopter was heading for Bergen from the Gullfaks B oil platform, which is operated by Norwegian energy company, Statoil. A Statoil spokesman said that the company had mobilized its emergency response team, and had set up an emergency hotline. Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, said on Twitter that she was being briefed about the accident. A witness, Jon Sekkingstad, told NRK that he heard a loud bang, and saw the main rotor blade fly off from the helicopter, and an explosion when it hit the ground. Helicopters and boats have been deployed to the scene. Part of the wreckage was located on a small island, and also in the sea. The Norwegian defence forces deployed three vessels and four divers. Jay Davis has spent hours sitting in saddles as an avid lover and rider of horses, but he has also logged many hours in custom-making saddles. Jay Davis has spent hours sitting in saddles as an avid lover and rider of horses, but he has also logged many hours in custom-making saddles. While living in Virginia in 2001, Davis decided to take the reins and learned the trade of making saddles. He traveled to Loveland, Colorado for an intense, one-on-one, two-week course taught by well-known saddlemaker Dusty Johnson at his Pleasant Valley Saddle School. It took over 40 hours to make that first saddle, everything was done by hand: drawing the patterns, cutting and shaping the leather and hand-stitching all the parts. Davis then opened up his own business, Cedar Run Saddlery, in Bristow, Virginia, which he operated prior to moving to Pahrump several years ago. Its not one size fits all, when it comes to making saddles. Precise measurements are taken for the riders thighs, waist, buttocks, similar to those in custom-making a dress or a suit. Different saddles are made for a specific breed of horse and its intended use. For example, a hand-crafted saddle for an Arabian horse, which has a shorter back, would be different than one for a quarter horse, a warm blood or a thoroughbred, which have longer backs. If its too short, it cuts in the kidneys, it hurts the horse, Davis said. But, if you use a regular saddle tree on an Arab, youre up on its rump and hurting it because its too long. The basic structure of a saddle begins with a frame, or saddle tree usually composed of wood. The leather is then cut and fitted over the top and underneath the tree and bars which lay up against the horses back, almost like a backpack. This frame is balanced on the horse for a proper fit so its not uncomfortable. There are also different kinds of trees for saddles based on the horses role, to carry people or packs. A pack tree would be used on a saddle for a packhorse. Saddle leather comes in various weights and degrees of thickness. Davis said it depends on what kind of riding a person plans and their upper body strength. A saddle can weigh anywhere from 40-45 pounds. Can you lift a 40-pound saddle, if not, are you going to get somebody to tack up your horse for you, or at least put it on your horses back, Davis said. The leather is rolled and delivered in one large piece, 6-feet long or more. Davis then places wooden patterns for the saddle parts on the leather, outlines them, and cuts them with a round knife. Its a tedious process cutting through the leather in layers. Then he starts the process of shaping and placing the pieces to the saddle tree. The leather has to be wet to make the parts pliable. There can be about 100 separate parts and it can take close to 40 hours to make a normal work saddle, or longer if it is hand-stamped with intricate designs, or dyed a different color. Davis sews most of the parts with a special leather sewing machine, but some have to be hand-stitched, including the saddle horn which is the handgrip on the front of the saddle and the cantle, or the backrest of the seat. He has crafted about 30 saddles during his career and can sometimes repair them, but depending on the problem, the time and materials involved, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a new one. Its a time process; its a job that you cant rush, Davis said. You cannot rush building a saddle because if you do, youll mess up the leather and then you have to start all over and that costs money out of your pocket. Basic factory-made saddles can cost several hundred dollars compared to custom-made ones, which can be quite pricey since they are made specifically for the rider and his or her own wishes. Davis said, You have to look at saddles, in the respect of, how much time are you going to spend on it? He compared it to the type of car one would want to travel in going cross-country. If youre going to spend a lot of time in the saddle, riding, then you want a saddle that youre comfortable in and that once you get out of the saddle, you dont feel beat up, Davis explained. A custom saddle is built for an individual. There are no two saddles that are exactly alike, none. Davis explained that horses change body masses and configurations several times a year affecting the way a saddle fits. Thats why sometimes blankets are used. In humans, the body structure usually stays about the same unless there are big changes in gaining or losing weight. But for the most part, their hips and legs pretty much stay the same. Aside from his passion for horses and saddles, Davis is also an ordained minister for the Church of the Nazarene. Saddlery is a way to help spread the gospel, Davis said. You can talk about saddles and how that equates to understanding salvation and having a relationship with God. The body of Christ is made up of a variety of different people, different parts, like a body. A saddle is made up of well over 100 parts. It comes in together as one piece that can be utilized. Davis mentor, Dusty Johnson, taught saddlemaking for over 25 years to students from all over the United States and the world. He is currently retired in Prescott, Arizona and is no longer accepting students or taking orders for saddles. His focus is on restoring solid silver saddles like those used in the Rose Bowl Parade. I have a business card that says saving historic parade saddles for posterity, Johnson said. And that really defines what Im doing. Johnson, also a silversmith, explained that no one has built these silver parade saddles since about 1974, originating in the early 30s. Then, my main objective in that is to sell them to people who will put them in their local museums, he said. Theyre very expensive, but they are also an American icon. He said these saddles are from the golden era of the West as seen in the movies and they are disappearing due to the time and expense of restoring them. Johnson has written two books, Saddle Savvy A Guide to the Western Saddle and Saddlemaking Techniques, and produced several instructional DVDs which can be purchased through his website pvsaddleshop.com. Contact Jay Davis by email at redgus454@gmail.com. With their win, Pahrump Valley has clinched a playoff spot in the 3A southern regional tournament. The Trojans need just one more win or a tie by Equipo Academy to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Mountain League. This is the part a series of profiles looking at Nye County Commission candidates in the June 14 primary election. The Pahrump Valley Times will release its Election Section on May 27, the day before early voting. Editors Note: This is the part a series of profiles looking at Nye County Commission candidates in the June 14 primary election. The Pahrump Valley Times will release its Election Section on May 27, the day before early voting. Nye County Water District Governing Board Chairman Greg Dann wants to make sure Pahrump well owners have their say in a conversation about water rights, if he gets into the seat in Nye Countys District III. I want to be effective. Ive got two and a half years of my life into this (water issue). Im not happy where its at. I feel I can be more effective at the next level, he said. Dann chairs the Nye County Water District Governing Board and was a member of the Basin 162 Groundwater Management Plan Advisory Committee before it was dissolved. The Pahrump Valley has 11,000 domestic wells, the largest concentration in Nevada. Most of those wells are junior in priority to water rights in the valley. Im looking for resolution to this (issue). I dont want this water thing (to be) continually on the agenda. I want us to come to some kind of resolution, some policy, Dann said. He said he will resign from the Nye County Water District Governing Board, if elected as a commissioner. Ill try to get along with everybody. Water quality in this town is not something that Im going to compromise. Water quantity I may compromise. People have to have guaranteed clean water and they have to have guaranteed clean water forever, he said. The district contains a large amount of the areas retail commerce, running along Highway 160 from Bell Vista Avenue in the north to Winery Road. It also includes the north side of Highway 372 west to Barney Street. Several candidates for the seat said they want to bring more business to Pahrump. Dann said he wants focus on water first and then drive down crime and work on a possible code compliance. My primary consideration right now is water, so to me growth is secondary to the issue of water, he said. Once the water is controlled and we have some agreement or policy set, I think the business will fall into place where it falls, he said. Greg has been a resident of Pahrump for over 30 years. He was previously a member of the Local 525 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union. He worked in the construction industry and as a pipefitter at the Nevada Test Site, that was later renamed the Nevada National Security Site. During those years, he said, he had developed problem-solving skills. He said that he feels obligated to help domestic well owners. Im partial to domestic well owners, hoping to balance this whole thing out and give them some representation in these meetings, he said. Dann said he also wants to find a compromise for rapid infiltration basins or RIBs: I think we can have RIBs as long as rapid infiltration basins put in potable water into the aquifer. If we dont put potable water into the aquifer, the ground will load up and will develop issues, he said. Potable water in, potable water out, he said. Thats the only way we can look at it. On June 14, Dann will compete in the Nye County District III primary against incumbent commissioner Donna Cox, businessman Leo Blundo and Pahrump residents Antheny AJ Dodd and Louie DeCanio. The candidate receiving the most votes in the June 14 primary will be placed on the General Election ballot unopposed. No Democrats or small-party candidates filed. Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77 Readin, writin and rithmatic used to be a mantra when it came to educating veterans and others. Readin, writin and rithmatic used to be a mantra when it came to educating veterans and others. But today when it comes to educating veterans, and veterans educating others, the challenges regarding funding and adequate personnel are much more complicated. Veterans who are interested in taking classes to earn a pilots license are currently up in the air (pun intended) about the future of such training. The House is currently studying H.R. 3016, the Veterans Employment, Education and Healthcare Improvements Act, which some general aviation groups are opposed to. If passed, the act would cap flight training tuition and fees at $20,235. According to press reports and comments by civilian leaders of several air transportation associations, that amount of money provide challenges to advanced flight-training benefits. The average cost to just to earn a basic pilots license is around $10,000. To continue advanced training that could lead to a professional position for a scheduled airline is easily in the area of $75,000 or more, although there are minor exceptions that could reduce the cost to a somewhat lesser degree. U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-NV, has introduced an amendment (H.R. 636), titled the Federal Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016. The stated purpose of that legislation is to improve employment opportunities for veterans by requiring the head of the Federal Aviation Administration to determine whether occupations at the agency related to unmanned aircraft systems technology and regulations can be incorporated into the Veterans Employment Program. Hellers amendment does not address the contentious funding cap. But he issued a statement about his amendment claiming that passage of H.R. 636 would provide for more employment opportunities for veterans in the field of unmanned aircraft system technology. Veterans who are more concerned with earth-bound employment might consider applying to be an educator for the Clark County School District. Known by the dual names of Troops to Teachers and Troops to Education, the district is seeking veterans for full-time or part-time positions, noting that many veterans have special skills and talents. Meg Nigro, the executive director of recruitment and development for the Human Resources Unit of the Clark County School District, told me those talents can be demonstrated through the ability of veterans to work in teams; to relate to individuals from a wide range of age groups and economic, ethnic and educational backgrounds; and by a sense of community along with their willingness to support the nation. Nigro said that individuals with Bachelors degrees in any subject area may be eligible for state-approved teacher preparation programs leading to licensing and full-time employment in local area schools. Individuals without a BA can be eligible to become accredited substitute teachers. And there is also a large demand for support staff including such positions as instructional aides, bus drivers, custodians, electricians, food service workers, mechanics and school safety/police officers. Nigro is assisted by Dr. GeorgeAnn Rice, the retired assistant superintendent of Human Resources for the district. Rice encourages interested veterans to go to troopstoeducation.eventbrite.com. Teachers and candidates for other positions are currently being interviewed and trained for the upcoming school year that begins in August. Approximately 2,000 new teachers are needed for the coming school year, along with 400 support staff individuals. Chuck N. Baker is an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and a Purple Heart recipient. Every other Sunday he discusses veterans issues over several Lotus Broadcasting AM radio stations in Southern Nevada. An alumni-driven effort has created a new fellowship to enhance the future and raise the visibility of St. Ambrose University's Doctor of Business Administration program. At a news conference Thursday on the Davenport campus, university officials announced that more than $150,000 has been raised to establish a Doctor of Business Administration Fellowship in the College of Business. Launched with a $50,000 anonymous donation, the fellowship became a reality thanks, largely, to the doctorate program's alumni. The fellowship will help the Doctor of Business Administration, or DBA, program to sponsor conferences, bring in additional invited scholars and business panels as guest speakers, advance faculty research and recognize the students' academic and research achievements. The fund will be distributed over a 10-year period. "I saw in the program so many successful students graduating that I thought we need to get a way to make the program more visible in the community so others can take advantage of it," said Dick Kleine, who became a 2013 DBA graduate after retiring as Deere & Co.'s vice president of global quality. Kleine, who originated the fellowship idea and then assisted St. Ambrose's development director Ed Finn in raising the donations, said the goal is to distribute $15,000 a year. Half of the yearly distribution will go to a DBA faculty member for research and the other half will be used to enhance and promote the program. As a result of the Fellowship endowment, Monica Forret, a professor in the doctorate program, will be the Doctoral Alumni Research Fellow for the next two years. Forret has served as the DBA program's director for many of the program's 14 years. She is an internationally known scholar for her research on networking, mentoring, job search processes, gender issues and work attitudes. "This was alumni driven ... we did not ask for it," she said, adding that the fellowship is a huge boost to the program. "This is providing for a lot of opportunities to do things you'd like to do, but didn't have the funding to do." Impressed by the alumni's financial support, she said "The alumni said 'This is such a great program, what can we do to help it grow and increase its visibility?'" Forret said one of the strengths of the program is it is designed to help students earn a PhD. while maintaining their career and balancing family and other obligations. "Very few doctorate programs are designed for the working professional." Dave O'Connell, the program's current director, said graduates come from a wide range of professions, including banking, education, engineering, marketing, manufacturing, government contracting and IT consulting. He added that "changes are being made in the curriculum so students can complete the program in a more timely way." The program has had nearly 50 graduates and more than 130 conference papers or publications authored by its students and graduates. O'Connell said the fellowship will enable the College of Business to host a conference next year featuring research from its faculty and students. "We'll be providing a great tool for people in the business community." For more information on the DBA program, visit www.sau.edu/dba or call 563-333-6266. A B-17 bomber that landed Thursday at the Davenport Municipal Airport was an opportunity for Bob Fitts to get together with old friends. The 85-year-old Korean War veteran from Rock Island realizes there are not many left who can share his kind of experiences. "You start to feel secure again," Fitts said about sharing war stories with those who can relate. "Once you speak it out, there is a lot of healing that goes on. You find you're not alone. You're part of a brotherhood that's very deep." Fitts was one of several veterans who toured the B-17 bomber, which was making a return visit to the Quad-Cities from its home in Oshkosh, Wis. The plane will be around until Monday, when it is supposed to fly off to Nebraska for the next stop in its multi-state tour. Rain and overcast skies kept the plane grounded Thursday. About 75 people have pre-paid tickets to ride in the plane this weekend, and event organizer Ralph Stephenson said there are plenty of seats left. The hangar near where the plane was parked was filled with memorabilia from multiple conflicts. Fitts, a national director with the Korean War Veterans Association, thumbed through books with old photographs as he shared a few of his war stories. Growing up in Mount Vernon, Ill., Fitts joined the Illinois Army National Guard and served from 1952-53 with H Company, 7th Division, 32nd Infantry as a mechanic. He pounded a fist on the hood of an Army jeep parked in the hangar, saying he maintained 13 similar vehicles in the war. This particular one carried the flag of his war-time crew, called the "Buccaneers." He donned his old uniform, complete with the "combat infantryman" badge. "This meant I stood toes to toes, nose to nose with the enemy for at least six months," Fitts said, pointing to the badge. Asked if he experienced any close calls, he winced and then recalled how he had to retrieve a vehicle after a young driver was shot in the back of the head. "I had to go up on the line," Fitts said. "Someone yelled, 'In coming!' The blast came, and I bounced. No one could believe I was alive. That was the closest, I guess." Bob Jones, who was raised in East Moline and lives in Bettendorf, stood in the municipal airport's hangar Thursday and remembered running scout missions as an Army combat helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. He said his job was to hover his AH-1 Cobra low over trees and draw out enemy fire. Then someone on his crew would drop a smoke grenade, and "we got the heck out of there." He added, "We were expendable, and I was so young we didn't know the difference." Jones returned home and became a flight instructor. Fitts returned to southern Illinois and was ordained a minister in a local Methodist church. Both experienced the same lack of a warm welcome coming home. "I hung my uniform up, and for 30 years nobody said boo," Fitts said. "At least we didn't get spit on." After moving to Rock Island about 35 years ago, Fitts joined a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post and began opening up to other veterans about his experiences. He has gotten together with a group of local veterans every week for breakfast for the past 13 years. In his work with the Korean War Veterans Association, Fitts educates the public about veterans services and what happened during what he called the "forgotten war." "I do this to carry on the legacy," he said. A Rock Island teenager accused of fatally shooting another teen had plans to flee to coastal Georgia when he was arrested in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday night, according to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Service. Kire G. Carr, 17, was arrested without incident around 8:45 p.m. Thursday in an apartment on Columbus southwest side by the U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team, or SOFAST. A "female accomplice," her infant child and others were at the apartment at the time of Carr's arrest but were not taken into custody, Deputy U.S. Marshal Brad Fleming said. He declined to say if a weapon was found during the arrest. Carr has been charged as an adult in Rock Island County Circuit Court with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Jescie J. Armstrong, 15, of Rock Island. Bond on the warrant, which was issued the day Armstrong was shot, is set at $1 million. Carr appeared in court Friday morning in Franklin County, Ohio, and waived extradition, said Christy McCreary, public information officer for the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Rock Island County States Attorney John McGehee said Friday that Rock Island police and Rock Island County Sheriffs deputies will head to Columbus Monday and bring Carr back to the county on Tuesday. He is expected to make his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon. Although he has been charged as an adult, he will be held at the Mary Davis Detention Home in Galesburg, Ill., McGehee said. Rock Island police were dispatched just before 2 p.m. Wednesday to the 500 block of 20th Avenue after receiving a report of shots fired inside a home. Armstrong, who was found inside the home with an apparent gunshot wound, was taken to Trinity Rock Island, where he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy was conducted Friday in Rockford, Ill. Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said the preliminary cause of death is a gunshot wound to the head. Toxicology is pending, he said. According to the marshals' news release, Carr and the female accomplice were involved in a dispute with several others, which led to the shooting of Armstrong. The release did not say what the dispute was about. Carr, accused of being the trigger man, reportedly was staying in Columbus briefly and had plans to flee to coastal Georgia, according to the release. Columbus-based deputy marshals and SOFAST task force members, working closely with deputy marshals from the Central District of Illinois and Rock Island police detectives, tracked down Carr at the apartment. McGehee declined to comment on whether charges are pending against the female mentioned in the marshals news release or anyone else. This is an ongoing investigation, and I dont really want to give any other details related to the investigation, he said. No other information, including a possible motive, has been released. A teen wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of another teen in Rock Island was arrested in Ohio on Thursday night. Rock Island Police Chief Jeff VenHuizen announced Friday morning that Kire G. Carr, 17, of Rock Island, "was arrested without incident in Columbus, Ohio with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service." Details to come. EARLIER UPDATE Police name suspect in Wednesday shooting death Tara Becker at 9:31 a.m. April 28 The fatal shooting of 15-year-old Jescie J. Armstrong Wednesday afternoon left many who knew him reeling as the person wanted in connection with the shooting, also a teenager, remains at large. It just sucks to think about it because he was always laughing, he was always smiling, he was always happy, Martin Miller, also 15, said Thursday of his friend. Rock Island police say Armstrong was shot in his home in the 500 block of 20th Avenue in Rock Island just before 2 p.m. Wednesday. He was pronounced dead at Trinity Rock Island, Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson said. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning, Gustafson said. A $1 million arrest warrant for first-degree murder has been issued for Kire G. Carr, 17, of Rock Island. Carr is described as a black male, 6 feet tall, 135 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was not in custody as of Thursday night. Police say he is considered to be armed and dangerous. A criminal complaint filed in Rock Island County Circuit Court states that Carr, knowingly and without justification, shot Armstrong in the head. No other information, including a motive or whether the two knew each other prior to the shooting, has been released. Armstrong, who turned 15 in February, wrote on his Facebook page that he studied at Rock Island High School. Holly Sparkman, spokeswoman of the Rock Island-Milan School District, said both Armstrong and Carr at one time attended the high school but neither was enrolled at the time of the shooting. Sparkman did not know their exact enrollment dates. As word spread of Armstrong's death, counselors throughout the district focused on the high school Thursday. For the students who were really upset this morning, they immediately made sure that they had what they needed, Sparkman said. Teachers, too. Jay Morrow, superintendent of the United Township School District, said Armstrong attended the high school as a freshman until late November. Morrow said staff members were notified about Armstrongs death and counselors were available to students who needed to talk. Miller, a freshman at United Township, said he met Armstrong in August and the two had become close. Armstrong had been a good wrestler, although he did not participate in the sport prior to his death, Miller said. On Monday, they had gone fishing near Geneseo. Miller said Armstrong was using a piece of his grandfathers shirt and dangled it in front of frogs just to get their attention. He was catching frogs for frog legs, and he was all kinds of proud, Miller said. The two had made plans that day to hang out later in the week. Late Wednesday afternoon, a friend texted Miller and told him that Armstrong had been shot. "I didnt think it could be true because I had just seen him two days ago, he said. I was like, out of anybody, its not going to be Jescie. I didnt think Jescie would get shot. Many took to social media following Armstrongs death to share their grief and memories. Some used the hashtag, #GreenForJescie. Green was Armstrongs favorite color, Miller said. Robert C. Fick, CEO of the Mel Foster Co., Davenport, has been dropped from a lawsuit that was refiled on behalf of a group of Florida investors who claim they were fraudulently induced into an investment scheme involving the failed Valley Bank. In a complaint refiled Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the investors, known as the Fernandez Group, refined their allegations against River Valley Bancorp, the holding company of Valley Bank, and its president, Larry C. Henson. But Fick, who was a director of Valley Bank, and another former director who lives in Florida, were not named in the amended complaint. The complaint was amended after the original suit was dismissed in April as being too vague. Regarding the directors no longer named, Jorge Guerra, a Coral Gables, Fla., attorney representing the Fernandez Group, said "there is a heightened requirement now in pleading complaints in federal court ... and we don't think we'd be able to satisfy the court's requirements (regarding the two directors) at this time." "If we come across evidence as the case moves forward, we can revisit it later," he said. The original suit claimed Fick and the other director were involved in a civil conspiracy with Henson to defraud the Fernandez Group. Neither Fick nor his attorney returned phone calls seeking comment. Henson could not be reached for comment. The suit states the Group ultimately lost $1.85 million in the scheme, and they ask for compensatory damages, as well as court costs and interest. Valley Bank, headquartered in Moline, had offices in numerous Iowa and Illinois locations, as well as in Florida. It was closed in June 2014 by financial regulators as financially insolvent. The Fernandez Group claimed in their suit originally filed in May 2014 one month before the bank was closed that in late 2012, Henson approached them with a fraudulent scheme to raise $2.5 million. At the time, both Valley Bank Moline and Valley Bank Florida were struggling financially and operating under "cease and desist" orders from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that required them to raise their capital ratios, among other things. "As 2013 rolled in, River Valley Bancorp and Henson found themselves desperate to sell the Florida bank and needed to improve its appearance to potential suitors and regulators, i.e., to 'window dress' Valley Florida," according to the amended complaint, filed Thursday. Henson told the investors that Valley Florida's capital problem would be solved if it received a $4 million equity infusion, the suit states. That amount would clear the way with regulators, allowing for a merger with another bank and that would, in turn, earn the investors a healthy return. Henson asked the investors for $2.5 million to purchase stock in River Valley Bancorp and River Valley "would, in turn, invest ('downstream') the subscription proceeds into Valley Florida," the suit states. When the merger went through, the investors could exchange their River Valley stock for Florida bank stock. In a meeting between Henson and Nelson Fernandez in Fernandez' Florida office on Jan. 30, 2013, Fernandez said he didn't have the cash. Fernandez is an owner of ANF Group, a South Florida-based construction management firm, according to the company's website. He also had been recruited by Henson to be a Valley Bank Florida director when the bank expanded into the state in 2004. Less than two weeks after that meeting, Henson told Fernandez and two other investors, also meeting in Fernandez office, that he would loan them the money to buy shares in River Valley and that the loan would be recorded as a mortgage on 3.9 acres of property in Broward County, Fla., that they otherwise owned free and clear of liens. The investors "expressed their reservations about the contorted structure of the transaction," the suit states, but ultimately agreed on March 28, 2013. The Group never received its loan money it was wired directly to RVBC and then "streamed down" to Valley Florida, according to the suit. But the mortgage was recorded, so when the FDIC took over as receiver, "the Fernandez Group was forced to pay the FDIC $1.85 million." The Group claims Henson and River Valley Bancorp violated the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 by using instruments of interstate commerce (mail, email, wire transfer, etc.) for a fraudulent transaction. The Group also claims violation of state securities laws. The suit states fraud occurred when, as part of the deal, Henson prepared or caused to be prepared a memo about the financial condition of River Valley Bancorp that contained "materially false and misleading information." The memo states, for example, that the offering price of River Valley Bancorp shares was $140 when Henson knew that "the actual value was necessarily materially less" "almost one-half" that, according to the suit. In addition, "having been involved in the banking industry for over 35 years, Henson knew, or reasonably should have known, that financial institutions are prohibited from lending funds for the purposes of financing capital investments in themselves ... (and) that the transaction he structured did not qualify as Tier 1 capital for Valley Florida." (Tier 1 capital is a certain mix of capital that a bank is required to keep under FDIC regulations.) The Group also claims Henson was looking out for himself. "Henson had invested in and exhausted all of his resources in River Valley stock. His personal finances were dependent upon River Valley's continued survival and fortune and he stood to lose a significant portion of his net worth if the regulators were to step in and take over Valley Florida, Valley Illinois or both," the suit states. "Henson therefore had every interest and motivation to find a way to raise capital for the River Valley Bancorp enterprise, wherever and however he could," the suit adds. Throughout their dealings with Henson, the Group "believed they were dealing with someone of integrity," the suit states. "Unbeknownst to them, however, Henson had a criminal conviction and a troubled career history." Davenport public works officials and several of the citys aldermen got an earful Thursday about proposed bike lanes to go along Tremont Avenue, Jersey Ridge Road and 46th Street. During a hearing Thursday on the proposed lanes at the Davenport Public Works building, many voiced opposition to or at least doubts about the plans, while a few supported the city's investment. Before the work can begin on Tremont Avenue and Jersey Ridge Road, Brian Schadt, one of Davenports deputy public works directors, told the crowd of about 80 people that aldermen must approve the creation of no parking zones on the streets. When the crowd of about 80 people heard that the approval of the no parking zones had already passed through a second reading in City Council, some became angry. Have you already made up your minds, several in the crowd asked Schadt, as well as aldermen Jason Gordon, At-large, Mike Matson, 7th Ward, and Jeff Justin, 6th Ward. Matson assured the crowd that no final decision has been made and that aldermen could table the motion until city staff gets all the information before the council. Many in the crowd voiced concerns about traffic issues in their neighborhoods and safety for the bicyclists. Kathy Storm, an avid bicyclist, said she lives along Jersey Ridge Road. Bike lanes are planned along Jersey Ridge from Kimberly Road to Jersey Meadows Drive. In order to do that, the city will be cutting the lanes on Jersey Ridge from four lanes to two lanes, one in each direction, and adding a turn lane. Im glad the city of Davenport is investing in bike lanes, but Im not sure taking Jersey Ridge Road between Kimberly and Jersey Meadows from four lanes to two is the best solution, she said. Several in the crowd said a better solution may be to have a 10-foot sidewalk along that area of Jersey Ridge that can be used by both cyclists and walkers. What is necessary, Storm said, is that police must enforce the traffic laws on bicyclists who are supposed to obey the traffic laws just as if they were in a car. Proposed bike lanes also would go along Tremont Avenue from 46th Street to Veterans Memorial Parkway and on 46th Street from Marquette Street to Tremont Avenue. On Tremont, the current no parking zone will need to be extended from 54th Street north to Veterans Memorial Parkway to make way for the changes. On Jersey Ridge Road, the no parking zone will need to be extended from 46th Street north to Jersey Meadows Drive. Already there are bike lanes painted in downtown Davenport on 3rd and 4th streets. Schadt said the total cost of the striping project will be a little more than $206,000 and it will add about 6.8 miles of on-road lanes. Several people spoke of the heavy traffic volume already on Jersey Ridge Road and said it will get worse once the new casino is open. Donnie Miller, a bicycle safety consultant, said that in reality, bike trails are not as safe for cyclists as people think because when a cyclist has to cross a street or major thoroughfare, they are out of sight of drivers. If Im on the street and Im making a left hand turn, Im in the queue along with all the other cars, Miller said. I can be seen. If there are 12 cars ahead of me, then Im the 13th car even though Im on my bike. He also stated that this area of Iowa and Illinois is the epicenter of the national trail system. Miller told the crowd that the young people we are trying to attract to and stay in this area want alternative forms of transportation, so adding bicycle lanes is a must. Cindy Jacobson, who lives in the Jersey Farms neighborhood, said that when Madison, Wis., for example, was making its city bicycle-friendly, the lanes were in the plans for the streets and infrastructure. Were trying to retrofit our streets for the bike lanes, she said. Jerry Skalak said he would rather see the money being spent on the bike lanes spent instead on connecting the sidewalks throughout the city. Everything here is so disjointed. I think that would be good for everybody, walkers and cyclists included. Linda Beard said traffic needs to be slowed along the thoroughfares, especially where cyclists are going to be. Were going to have to learn to share the road, Beard said. DES MOINES Mental health care funding will not be as robust as Scott County officials hoped, and a Davenport hospital expansion project will not get the state tax break it hoped for, under measures approved Friday by state lawmakers. The state will send $500,000 to help the five-county mental health care delivery region that includes Scott County and extend by one year the mental health property tax levy under a compromise agreement reached by legislative leaders on the states health care budget. Legislators also devoted $2.5 million to Polk County for mental health care services. The deal was approved by legislators on the final day of the 2016 legislative session. They head now to Gov. Terry Branstad, who could veto the provisions. Lori Elam, who works in the Scott County community services department and is the disability services coordinator of the Eastern Iowa mental health care region, said the $500,000 funding and levy extension will not provide enough help for the region, which has a $2 million budget shortfall. Elam and other region officials hoped lawmakers would approve a different proposal that would have allowed counties to increase their mental health property tax levy to match their funding level with other counties in the region. Were disappointed, Elam said. We really wanted (the levy increase proposal) passed because that was the long-term funding solution. So by appropriating money one year again, its a Band-Aid. I think legislators are aware of that. Its just disappointing. Iowa Rep. Linda Miller, a Republican from Bettendorf who was on the health care budget committee, said she knew Scott County mental health officials would be disappointed but insisted she got as much funding as she could for the region. Miller said she hopes funding in other areas of the health care budget, such as money for home health agencies, will help lessen the burden on the Eastern Iowa mental health regions budget. Miller, who is retiring from the Legislature, also said she hopes the body can develop a long-term solution when it reconvenes in 2017. I wasnt happy, but I have to compromise with the Senate, and I have to get a deal, Miller said. School funding formula A proposed short-term solution to the Davenport Community School Districts budget concerns was stripped out of a catch-all state budget bill after cross-chamber negotiations. The House put in the standing appropriations bill a provision that would permit Davenport schools to use its cash reserves for one year to add general funding to the maximum per-pupil level allowed in other school districts. The measure also required the district pay back those funds in the following fiscal year, a provision that led Davenport Superintendent Art Tate to call the proposal no help at all. Legislative leaders said the proposal was removed from the budget bill, in part, because of Davenport school leaderships reaction. Genesis expansion tax break A key state lawmaker said the House will not consider a sales tax break for the Genesis Health System expansion project in Davenport. The Senate late Thursday approved a refund of up to $2 million on sales taxes paid during construction of the Genesis expansion. But Rep. Tom Sands, R-Wapello, who chairs the Houses tax policy-writing committee, said the House will not consider the bill because of its major fiscal implications. Naturally, were disappointed by chairman Sands position, said Ken Croken, vice president of corporate communications with Genesis Health System, saying the company is at a disadvantage because other hospital projects have been awarded sales tax breaks. Unfortunately, this places us in a less than competitive position, makes it all the more difficult to fulfill our mission to the people of Scott County. Genesis is in the midst of a $148 million expansion in Davenport. Croken said the project, which officials hope to complete in 2017, will allow Genesis to consolidate its short-term and acute care services on its east campus in Davenport, which would enable the company to expand its mental and behavioral services on its west campus. Croken said he did not immediately know how the lack of the sales tax break would affect the project. The Iowa State Legislature spoke resoundingly with the passage of legislation that rejects bigotry, rejects anti-Semitism, and prevents state agencies from working with companies that unjustly discriminate against one of Americas closest allies Israel. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Terry Branstad. We commend Iowa for taking a strong stance in passing legislation that combats the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement a deceptive effort aimed at delegitimizing Israel. At its core, the BDS movement is virulently anti-Semitic, and calls for the destruction of Israel the only Jewish state. This hate-fueled initiative seeks to undermine the longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Israel, and ultimately derail peace in the Middle East region. That Iowas lawmakers refused to engage in the discriminatory BDS effort lobbed at Israel is a testament to the shared values embodied in the U.S.-Israel friendship values that oppose bigotry in all its forms. Through the BDS movement, Israel has been unfairly singled out for years and held to a disgraceful double standard. BDS supporters wave the flag of human rights, but they rely on anti-Semitic rhetoric and deceptive storytelling to demonize the Jewish state. BDS attempts to mislead businesses, educational institutions and more into boycotting Israel while turning a blind eye to the worlds most egregious human rights violators, such as Iran. While Israel has emerged as one of the most dedicated countries to upholding ethical standards and human rights, Iran continues to hang gays and execute women, while it reaps the benefits of the Iranian nuclear accords dismantlement of economic sanctions. The people of Iowa are clearly intelligent enough to see the difference. Iran continues not only to attack Western values, but most recently, their very own hackers have been attacking Americas critical infrastructure. The U.S. Justice Department recently charged seven hackers linked to the Iranian government with cyber-attacks on 46 major American financial institutions and a New York dam. Last year, economic sanctions were working to cripple the funding of Tehrans nuclear, terrorist and hegemonic aspirations. The elimination of these economic sanctions through one of historys most poorly negotiated deals, the Iranian nuclear accord, has only served to embolden Iranian aggression. In stark contrast with Iran, Israel is a peace-seeking nation and an essential contributor to innovative discoveries that have transformed the fields of health and technology worldwide. The notion of boycotting, divesting and sanctioning a nation such as Israel the only true hope for peace in a region plagued by terrorism and extremism demonstrates either a failed understanding of humanity or outright bigotry. This victory in Iowa is just the latest in a series of states including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Florida and South Carolina to support Israels battle against BDS. The Israel Project is proud to have a played an instrumental role along with so many other critical partners in advocating against this dangerous movement. We agree wholeheartedly with the people of Iowa: anti-Semitism and duplicitous anti-Israel movements have no place in the United States, and they dont belong in Iowa. PIERRE | Just as Rapid City and Meade and Fall River counties are set to receive state money for bridge improvements, Minnehaha County officials lost out on state money because they didnt conform to the guidelines set by the state Department of Transportation. So Moody County got the Minnehaha money instead from South Dakotas new program of providing counties and municipalities with bridge improvement grants. The state Transportation Commission approved more than $8 million of grants for bridge preservation and bridge replacement Thursday. The grants are the first made from a new program established in 2015 by the Legislature and additionally funded by the commission. DOT staff set a 100-point scoring system to rank projects. There were 20 applications from cities and counties for the improvement grants and 11 applications for replacement grants. Fourteen projects won approval Thursday for improvement grants and five won grants for full bridge replacements. The grants cover 80 percent of the projects in all but one instance. Originally Minnehaha County was in line for bridge money. Minnehaha received 62.49 points on DOTs scoring scale. Moody received 62.46. But Minnehaha County already opened a bid for the project. DOT guidance said all bids needed to go through DOT. In an attempt at compromise, DOT offered to recommend the Minnehaha County bid but the project would need to wait until 2017 and use DOTs bid process. Minnehaha County was willing to accept the smaller award its project, replacing the Split Rock Creek bridge north of Brandon, would cost an estimated $2.5 million but wanted to proceed this year. The state commissioners debated for more than an hour how to handle the situation. Ultimately they turned down Minnehaha County and chose Moody County. Here are details on the local projects: Fall River County: $237,106 of improvements on County Road 21 bridge near Burdock over creek. State grant of $189,684.80. Meade County: Three improvement projects. $302,000 of improvements on Nemo Road bridge over Boxelder Creek near Tilford; state grant of $241,600. $595,000 of improvements on Alkali Road bridge over Belle Fourche River west of Hereford; state grant of $476,000. $353,764 of improvements on New Underwood Road bridge over Belle Fourche River north of New Underwood; state grant of $283,011.20. Rapid City: Three improvement projects. $230,000 of improvements on Twelfth Street bridge over Rapid Creek; state grant of $184,000. Improvements of $150,000 for Cherry Avenue bridge (Cherry / East St. James) over Rapid Creek; state grant of $120,000. Improvements of $357,500 for Cambell Street bridge; state grant of $286,000. Nine people lost their jobs this week at Regional Health amid an ongoing staff shakeup instigated last year by a new top executive at the Rapid City-based health system. Seven full-time and two part-time workers in the Marketing and Public Affairs Department at the hospital in Rapid City were "impacted" by the layoffs on Wednesday, a hospital official confirmed Thursday. Regional Health has restructured its Marketing and Public Affairs Department in order to support our business and clinical goals, said Denise Dancy, communications manager. The restructuring comes about a month after Regional Health President and CEO Brent Phillips, while speaking to the Black Hills Forum and Press Club, acknowledged significant turnover in the organization since he came on board Jan. 1, 2015. He told the audience that the turnover was related to his efforts to make Regional Health the No. 1 health care system in the nation. Weve had some on our team that have elected not to be a part of that, Phillips said at the time. Some said the middle of the road, being on an 8-8 team is fine. They dont work with us anymore. The Journal requested an interview Thursday with Phillips, but Dancy said he was on vacation. Dancy declined to say how many people remain in the Marketing and Public Affairs Department. "We are growing the department as we are restructuring," she said, adding that the employees who lost their jobs Wednesday are welcome to apply for jobs in the restructured department or anywhere else with the Regional Health system. That seems unlikely based on a Journal interview with one of the affected employees, who declined to speak on the record because the employee received a severance package on the condition that the employee not speak publicly about the situation. Regional Health, headquartered in Rapid City, describes itself as the largest private employer in western South Dakota. With locations in more than 20 communities, it operates five hospitals and 24 clinic locations and employs nearly 5,000 people. Moscow court to consider Google appeal in anti-monopoly case on July 2 MOSCOW, April 28 (RAPSI) An appeal filed by Google against a ruling that the company broke Russian anti-monopoly legislation by abusing its dominant position with its Android mobile platform, has been set for July 2, RAPSI learnt in the Ninth Commercial Court of Appeal. Yet in March, the Moscow Commercial Court dismissed Googles petition requesting to abolish the FAS decision and order issued in February 2015, which stated that the company restrained competition and abused its dominance on the Russian market of mobile applications in violation of the Federal Law on Protection of Competition. FAS has requested Google to remedy the detected breeches by amending agreements the company made with producers of devices until December 18. The case was opened at the request of Yandex, one of the largest internet companies in Europe, operating Russia's most popular search engine and a website. Google filed a lawsuit against the FAS order but it was dismissed by the Moscow Commercial Court. At the end of March, FAS informed that Google had submitted the complete set of data with regard to the companys operations on the Russian market in 2014, including information about earnings on the part of Google Play and related products. At that time the antimonopoly watchdog stated that it could calculate the amount of fine, but did not make it public. On April 19, Igor Artemyev, FAS Head, said that Google was to be fined for its operations on the Russian market; however, the amount of the fine would be much less than in Europe. Earlier, a Google representative said that the company had lodged an appeal against this decision. According to this representative, Google continued to cooperate with Russian authorities and explain how Android ecosystem operated. [It ed.] actively encourages competition allowing consumers to get mobile devices of superior quality across the price range, the Google representative noted, adding that the platform permitted consumers and producers of gadgets, as well as carrier service providers to make choices. In its turn, Yandex claimed that Google was trying to deflect attention away from the main issue of the case, since the FAS decision and order have nothing to do with Android merits as a platform and in no way restrict its development and potential. According to a Yandex representative, the question was primarily about anti-competition practices, i.e. bans and restrictions on the distribution of competitors applications Google used to prohibit them preinstall applications and to gain unjustified advantage. Russians related to San-Bernardino terrorist arrested in U.S. - report MOSCOW, April 29 (RAPSI) A brother of San-Bernardino terrorist, Syed Raheel Farook, his Russian wife Tatyana Farook as well as her sister Maria Chernykh have been arrested in the U.S. and pleaded not guilty to violation of visa regime charges, Reuters reported on Friday. All three are to be released on bond, Reuters reported. Earlier the United States Attorney's Office for Central District of California reported that Farook, his wife and her sister are charged with sham marriage conspiracy. Allegedly Chernykh fictitiously married Enrique Marquez, a friend of the San-Bernardino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook in order to get the U.S. immigration documents. Marquez himself fell under investigation for alleged fraud against the U.S. immigration authorities in December 2015, Reuters reported. According to Reuters, Syed Raheel and Tatyana Farooks are accused of making a false statement to immigration officials while under oath. Chernykh is accused of fraud and making material false statements to the U.S. authorities. The Farooks face 5 years in prison each, while Chernykh faces a 25 year sentence based on the charges against her, as well as potential deportation to Russia, Reuters reported. On December 2, 2015 Syed Rizwan Farook, along with his wife Tashfeen Malik, launched a terrorist attack in San-Bernardino, California. 14 people were killed, 22 were injured. Vostochny Cosmodrome contractor's ex-head convicted of embezzlement MOSCOW, April 29 (RAPSI) Igor Nesterenko, ex-General Director of TMK (Pacific Bridge Building Company), a former contractor in the Vostochny Cosmodrome project, has been sentenced to 3 years and 3 months in prison for embezzling about 104.5 million rubles ($1.6 million), RIA Novosti reported on Friday. According to investigators, a chairman of the board of TMK from September 2014 to April 2015 organized embezzlement by Nesterenko of funds belonging to the company. The defendants siphoned the embezzled money off to shell companies. A criminal case against Board Chairman Sergei Yudin, has not been considered yet. During the investigation assets belonging to Nesterenko and Yudin estimated at 60 ($921,500) and 100 million rubles ($1.5 million) respectively have been seized. Earlier, Nesterenko was suspected of embezzling 55 million rubles ($ 844,700) worth of corporate assets while working with other suspects. Since December 2014, Nesterenko allegedly failed to pay the salaries of 730 corporate employees. Although he supposedly could have paid the workers scheduled salaries, he instructed his managers to spend the available cash on other corporate projects, according to the case files. The wage arrears exceeded 19 million rubles ($291.800) when the case against Nesterenko was opened. In April, Nesterenko was charged with wage arrears and fraud. Earlier, Dalspetsstroy, a construction company working on the Vostochny launch site in the Amur Region, terminated its contract with TMK and filed a lawsuit to recover a debt. The construction of the space center, due to become Russia's main launch site, began in 2012. The facility is planned to be completed in 2016. Apple demands two more Russian companies to pay about $228,000 MOSCOW, April 29 (RAPSI) Apple Inc. has filed two more lawsuits with the Moscow Commercial Court demanding 7.5 million rubles ($114,000) from each defendant, according to the courts database. Defendants in the first lawsuit are Gun company and Valentin Yegorov. Second one lists Avenue company, Eduard Ignat and Viktor Valyanov. Earlier Apple filed two lawsuits demanding $246,000 from several Russian companies. Defendants listed in the first lawsuit are Computer, Ivanhoe and Pavel Sukhachev who is the head executive of the Computer company, according to government registration records. Apple demands to retrieve 9 million rubles ($138,000) from defendants in this lawsuit. The second lawsuit lists Riona Plus, Daniil Hovratovich and Ilya Chistyakov as defendants. Apple demands 7.25 million rubles in this case ($108,000). In total, Apple Inc. demands from Russian companies 31 million rubles ($470,000). The court has not agreed to hear the respective cases as yet; the grounds for the claims remain confident at the moment. The claims were set to be examined by judges focusing on disputes regarding to intellectual property rights and cases pertaining to protection of business reputation. Nadezhda Savchenko fills in petitions for extradition to Ukraine lawyer MOSCOW, April 29 (RAPSI) Ukrainian national Nadezhda Savchenko, convicted in Russia over the murder of two Russian journalists, has filled in petitions, necessary for her extradition to Ukraine, her lawyer Nikolay Polozov, wrote in his Facebook on Friday. According to the lawyer, the formulation of petitions details were carefully thought out, in some cases Savchenko rejected wordings contained in the model applications under the convention on extradition, replacing them with her own phrases. All petitions were addressed to Gennady Kornienko, the head of Russias Federal Penitentiary Service. In his Facebook post Polozov has stated that from now on Savchenkos transfer depends on the promptness of Russian authorities. Ukrainian retired officer Nadezhda Savchenko was sentenced to 22 years in prison for involvement in the murder of two Russian journalists and illegal border crossing. A court in Donetsk, a town in southern Russia, has established that Savchenko was responsible for conducting concealed observation and directing mortar fire in an attack against a roadblock held by militias of the self-proclaimed Lugansk Peoples Republic and a group of civilians there, including three Russian journalists, near the village of Metallist, the Lugansk Region, on June 17, 2014. The attack killed Two Russian television journalists, Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin. April is kite month and the Ravalli County Museum is having a free kite building and flying workshop on Saturday. This years event will include whats been reported to be the worlds largest production windsock. Tamar Stanley, executive director, said last years kite event was a success. Everyone enjoyed it so were doing it again, Stanley said. This is a day when we invite everyone to come build model kites. The activity is part of the museums Learning Adventure Series with a focus on STEAM activities, which includes science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Everyone will learn the aerodynamics, physics and geometry about making a kite, Stanley said. Everyone can create a kite to take home. We will provide all of the kite-making supplies and helpers to assist in the building. They can color or paint it and well provide an opportunity to fly the kites and test them out. Stevensville residents Bruce and Beth DeFoor will bring worlds largest production windsock to the museum event. The couple has been flying kites for 30 years. They were members of the American Kitefliers Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing kite flying with the world. Bruce DeFoor recommends the website of the American Kitefliers Association for kite information, kite.org. Ive always been interested in wind power and I used to fly hang-gliders, Bruce DeFoor said. There are two-line stunt kites shaped like hang gliders and I was naturally drawn to them. There are one, two, three and four line kites, but single line kites are my favorite. I also love to do anything with a sail like sail boating. The DeFoors retired from their university jobs in New Mexico and moved to Stevensville nearly three years ago. They are painting here and giving private art lessons. We have hundreds of kites and well bring six or so to Saturdays event, said Bruce. Well bring the worlds largest production windsock. People have custom-made windsocks that are larger but this is the biggest factory-produced windsock. It is 88 feet long and the mouth is 13 feet tall. They advertised it saying you can drive a minivan through it. Bruce said the windsock is too big to fly in town so it will be set up on the lawn of the museum for children to go through. Well call it a time tunnel because you go in one end and come out the other at a different time, he said. Its a great ground toy and kids love it. The DeFoors will also bring miniature kites and a giant kite called Ollie the Octopus. He is 90 feet and his eyeball is taller than I am, Bruce said. Well do a kite festival in the valley sometime. Attend the free kite-making activity at the Ravalli County Museum 10 a.m. to noon on April 30. People can drop in anytime, Stanley said. Come as you are, leave when you want. Its a great family activity. I remember parents having a ball with their children and their kites last year. It was raining, but it didnt matter. Everyone had a blast. The Ravalli County Museum is located at 205 Bedford St. in Hamilton. For more information, call 406-363-3338 or online visit ravallimuseum.org. 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. The Daily Star - April 24, 2016 by Chaumtoli Huq Three years ago, the world witnessed the Rana Plaza building collapse - one of the most horrific workplace accidents that could have been prevented but which led to the death of over 1,134 garment workers, and left over 2,500 injured. Behind these numbers is a story: a mother who lost her daughter, a child who has lost his mother, and a wife who has lost her husband. To this day, vivid images of workers being pulled out of the rubble and dead bodies entangled with the debris of the building haunt me. The tragedy clearly revealed safety concerns in the physical structure of buildings that housed garment factories and the need for improved building safety code and safety inspections. The Accord and Alliance are two safety inspection programmes that are seeking to accomplish this but they are only a 5-year programme and are set to expire in 2018. We need to have long-term and sustainable solutions to labour rights especially as Rana Plaza recedes further back into our global consciousness and other issues grab our attention. The tragedy also revealed a profound gap in what I call the human rights infrastructure for workers, and their vulnerabilities in the global supply chain and high potential for human rights violations. In other words, when such a tragedy occurs, we clearly see where the State and relevant stakeholders have not created adequate laws or protections that workers could have accessed to prevent a similar tragedy or avoid other labour rights violations. For example, had the workers had a trade union in place that could have advocated for workers to refuse to enter the unsafe building, it is possible that we may have avoided this catastrophe. Or if laws existed that allowed a worker to refuse to work in unsafe conditions, and protected such worker from any retaliation from the employer, then workers may have been able to refuse to enter the building after observing cracks. Rana Plaza demonstrates the critical role trade unions can play in shoring up this rights infrastructure gap, and we need to move beyond an unproductive polarising discussion around trade unions, and move towards policies that develop robust trade union rights so workers can have a vehicle to raise their concerns. The Government of Bangladesh should work towards removing barriers for workers to form unions. The process to forming a trade union is cumbersome and bureacratic, and often leads to rejections from the Department of Labour without adequate cause. While employees no longer require permission from an employer to file for registration, employers often find out that a unionisation process is underway and intimidate workers from going through the process. One worker shared that when she was organising in her factory and filed for registration, the Labour Department contacted the employer to averify whether the list of workersa were in fact employees there. This was a ruse to inform employers of the list of workers who were unionising. Then, prior to registration, those workers were terminated and it undermined the organising process. There are countless other examples of thwarting efforts of unions, even after workers get around the already difficult process of having to collect signatures of 33 percent of the workers. Beyond the Governments role in ensuring that workers are able to form trade unions, the global brands have a key role to play here. When asked what brands could do, workers consistently said that brands should only source from factories where there exists a trade union or give preference to companies who have a worker formed trade union in place. This preference would incentivise owners to allow trade unions to exist. There is in fact support for corporate brands to proactively support trade unions and the exercise of freedom of association as per the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights that advises transnational businesses to address human rights impact of their business. While not binding, the UN Principles provide a blueprint from which to address labour rights issue. The Guidelines explicitly refer to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work that includes the right of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. The right to collectively bargain is one of the fundamental rights that businesses should also protect. It is therefore good corporate practice for global brands that source from Bangladesh to ensure that workers who produce their garments are able to collectively bargain for labour rights. At present, in factories I have visited last year, some brands have posters and signs that communicate this right, but that is not enough as most workers are not aware of their rights under trade unions. Global brands need to make a more proactive effort. The Indonesian Freedom of Association Protocol with unions, factory management and international brands, including Nike and Adidas that bind the parties to a set of standards and procedures to ensure that factory workers have the freedom to form unions and organise for their rights, is a good place to start for some ideas. There, the factories set forth some clear guidelines to ensure that workers can form a union, and also bargain collectively with their employer. UN Guidelines also advise businesses to create remedies for human rights violations. Where trade unions are not able to form due to employer obstruction or retaliation, or government delay, global brands should create an alternate dispute settlement mechanism for workers to bring those concerns to their attention. Having some dispute settlement mechanism in place, even an informal one, will allow brands to know what is happening at the factory level, and will clue them into any human rights issues in advance of it progressing to a more alarming level. No longer can brands turn a blind eye to labour rights violations, and having a proactive approach is not only right in terms of upholding human rights but also protects their business interests, and the integrity of their brand. Slogans like aclothes to die fora or ablood on your shirtsa do nothing to build consumer confidence to purchase clothes that may have been produced in violation of labour rights. When the global brands signal to garment factory owners that they value trade unions and workers ability to organise, owners will feel incentivised to follow suit. It is an incentive worth promoting, especially if it can save lives, protect workers, and promote a business that values the labour of its workers, and not view them as expendable commodities. As we mourn those who died in Rana Plaza, let us remember they have human rights because they are human beings. Behind every worker is a story, a family that is struggling to provide a better future for their children. Lets commit not only to inspect the building structure to avoid another Rana Plaza, but also to institute the human rights infrastructure needed for people to live with respect and dignity. The writer is a human rights attorney and editor of online platform Law@theMargins (www.lawatthemargins.com) PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) The News - April 15, 2016 by Afiya Shehrbano The Islamists in Pakistan are not impressed by sympathetic scholarsa defence of their politics over the last decade. These religious groups refuse to comply with the scholarly renditions of them as moderate, reformist and rational. In an admirable gesture of setting aside their sectarian hate for each other, Islamist groups have regrouped out of mutual love for the anti-state murderer, Mumtaz Qadri, and their communal hate for any democratically legislated initiative for the protection of womenas or minoritiesa rights. The grand aim of these forces is to blackmail the government into preventing any reform of a blasphemy law that everyone recognises is disposed towards a travesty of justice against the poor and vulnerable. The Islamists know it too. Apologists offer their hand-wringing explanations of blasphemous speech as moral injury that Muslims are always prone to. But the Islamists are unapologetic in their plan to exploit the fear instilled by their criminal proxies who murder in the name of religion. They reward murderers with grandiose titles such as, aghazia. They refuse to condemn the murders of those who have been accused. They threaten lawyers who defend or judges who do not convict the accused and even those who propose repeal or reform of the law. These Islamists are also aware that domestic violence is rampant in the country. Yet, they intend to pressurise the Punjab government to retract the law on domestic violence against women and amend it according to their non-representative, aShariaha alternative. These are unambiguous efforts to resist any legal and social improvement in the protection of minorities and women. This will likely appeal to the instinctive conservatism of the PML-N. The ruling party is all too ready to appease Islamists or at the very least, they fear their power to disrupt. Unlike parliamentary parties, unelected Islamic parties have no democratic ground to lose. Meanwhile, some claiming to be neutral observers review the old debate about the place of religion in Pakistan and refill it in new academic bottles. For example, in a recent debate on the role of the Federal Shariat Court on these pages, one proposal advocated ahybriditya between divine and secular legal regimes. This is no original thought, given that this has always been the case in Pakistan. However, rather than seeing the contradictions and points of conflict between parallel systems, such bids contend that Islamists and their institutions represent the majoritarian Muslim sentiment. Opposed to challenging the Islamistsa coercive hegemony, it is advised that state and society must surrender the Islamic discourse to them. The proposal to graft a new genetic coding of socio-legal regimes into happy compatibility in contemporary Pakistan is flawed on some very basic levels. The proposal of a aMiddle Patha (Dawn, April 6) offers to arbitrate between Pakistani liberals a who apparently all celebrated Qadrias hanging as a atriumph of reasona a and the Islamists who (unreasonably?) declared him a martyr. Interestingly, the advice offered here is not to seek democratic consensus to resolve this impasse. Instead, the solution to consult and include the amadrassah-educated Ulemaa attributes legitimacy to Islamists as righteous populist representatives or, authorities of religious reasoning. The first contradiction in the argument for accommodating religious political agendas on the issue of the blasphemy laws has to do with the interpretation of the crime itself. Just because the amadrassah-educated ulemaa consider blasphemy to be a crime punishable by death does not mean that the state has to accept their non-democratic legal view on this (although, it has legislated just so). It is only through another round of democratic consensus that this can be amended and not through blackmail negotiations on the streets. Secondly, the idea that if one supports murdered governor Taseeras right to life then the same should be true of his murderer presumes innocence of both. Such equations make criminals like Qadri the victim even before he was executed, while they make victims like Taseer and hundreds who have been accused for hearsay, to be the culprits who inflict amoral injurya (even if they didnat). One is quite happy to support the end to the death penalty and the (liberal) principle that the state should not have the right to kill. But to propose that the illegal act of murder by an individual citizen based on a divine motivation is equal to the legal execution of the criminal by the state is an absurd starting point. The third contradiction is equally deceptive. On the one hand, the brokers of Islamist rationality argue that the blasphemy law is misused for material greed. They argue that blasphemy accusations have nothing to do with faith-inspired love for religions and their prophets. On the other hand, they justify the importance of this law. They do not support its repeal because people are easily morally injured by perceived or alleged blasphemy. How can one define blasphemy as a amoral controversya (Dawn, April 6) and at the same time argue that it is a rational tool of oppression and extortion? Further, the class-bias behind all laws is historical. But the unregulated nature of religion in the public realm makes faith-based, divine or the fluid category of aShariaha laws open to far more manipulation and interpretation. How can one be equal in the bid for hybridity or seek the middle ground when one flank has divinity on their side and the other doesnat? Blasphemy cases are not neutral. While it is accurate to say that there are as many if not more intra-Muslim cases than against minorities, the vulnerability of the accused depends on their affiliation with any organised religious outfit. The Dawn article (April 6) defended the Islamistsa objection to Taseer asking for presidential pardon in the Aasia Bibi case, since they donat believe individuals can exonerate such crimes. However, if the author had studied enough cases, she would have discovered that in many cases, mullahs arbitrate and settle aforgivenessa amongst themselves (other mullahs) before and even after the registration of a case. But, they make it their mission to accuse and offer false evidence against those they donat consider Muslim enough. Finally, the faith invested in encouraging the role of the FSC and the CII on such issues must be based on some kind of institutional memory. Specific cases, deliberations and pronouncements of these defunct bodies should be cited to support the case that they will steer us to some balanced, representative and responsible outcome of justice. So far, they have simply been reflective of stripping women and minorities of their precarious rights. So, the question is: why should we rely on either the blackmailing Islamists or the regressive religious bodies as beacons of hope, equality and justice in Pakistan just because they deploy intimidation and promote archaic views? The writer is a sociologist based in Karachi. [Posted below are select editorials on the April 2016 killing spree by muslim fundamentalists in Bangladesh, from daily newspapers in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan ] The Daily Star - April 27, 2016 Editorial Killing spree continues Catch the masterminds We are left speechless with horror at the coldblooded killing of Xulhaz Mannan, an official of USAID and rights activist and his friend Mahbub Tonoy, a university student. In what seems like a well organised, targeted assassination, the unidentified miscreants carried out their assignment with precision. The behaviour and ruthlessness with which the murderers killed and then left the scene shouting religious chants make it clear that they belong to militant groups that are carrying out terror attacks in the name of religion. Only two days before, a professor of Rajshahi University who had a passion for music, was killed in a similar fashion, indicating that the motives behind the heinous crime were the same. What is most disturbing is that, except for the Rajib murder case, no other accused has been brought to trial. There has been little headway in the investigations of the murders of writers, bloggers, publishers, religious leaders and terror attacks on congregations of religious minorities. The continuous killings of individuals that terrorists deem to not confirm to their particular ideology is a result of the law enforcement agencies failure to catch not only the assassins who carry out these deadly attacks but also the masterminds who give the orders. Unless those behind the terror are identified and brought to book, it will be difficult to stop these organised killings. As citizens we are living in fear and it is the governments duty to allay such apprehensions, especially of the targeted groups, by ensuring a vigorous, investigation and putting an end to the apparent impunity with which these terrorists operate. It is also time for us as a society, to retain our traditional values of tolerance and social harmony and resist bigotry that manifests in terrorism. o o o New Age - 27 April 2016 Editorial Yet another fatal machete attack by Mubashar Hasan JUST three days after the brutal killing of Rajshahi University professor Rezaul Karim Siddiquee in a machete attack near his house in Rajshahi on Saturday, an editor of the countryas first LGBT magazine, along with his friend who was a theatre activist, was killed in a similar manner inside his flat in the capital Dhaka. As New Age reported on Tuesday quoting witnesses, a group of youths, all aged about 25, entered the flat by introducing themselves as courier service people hacked the victims to death on Monday afternoon. Similar machete-wielding groups earlier killed more than a dozen bloggers and writers and a publisher in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. What is more important to say is that all the victims were involved in creative activities while the government has failed to protect them. Moreover, the government has so far failed to even find out the perpetrators of most of the previous murders. It is true that a number of people have already been convicted by a Dhaka trial court of killing blogger Rajib Haider in the city in February 2013. But it is also true that the victimas family still waits for justice as the case awaits hearing by higher courts. Besides, the convicted mastermind of the murder still remains at large. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the evident lackadaisical handling by the police of the earlier murder cases has emboldened the perpetrators of the double murders in question to proceed with the killing mission. As seen on all the previous occasions, meanwhile, the police have blamed some unnamed Islamist extremists for the killings at hand even before starting an investigation. One may tend to believe the police claim, particularly when different Islamist groups reportedly claimed the responsibilities of all the previous incidents. Also, the manner in which some of the victims reportedly became critical of religion, especially Islam, might have angered different Islamist groups. But it cannot be denied that, as indicated above, the police have failed to fully corroborate the accusations against the Islamist groups through credible and acceptable investigations till date. In any case, it is crystal clear from the efficiently calculated way the victims have been killed that the perpetrators of the killings were adequately trained before completing the killing missions. And it is hard to believe that despite their sincere efforts, the police are unable to find out the training camps/grounds or the trainers in question. Under the circumstances, perhaps, there are speculations in society as to whether any other well-trained force/s involved in the murders are passing the responsibility on to the alleged Islamist groups. It is high time that the government took effective measures to prevent any recurrence of murder, not to mention end the apparent culture of impunity to the killers and thus, at the same time, put an end to the confusing speculations about these gruesome murders. For this to happen, of course, conscious sections of society need to mount pressure on the government in a sustained manner. o o o Dhaka Tribune - 27 April 2016 These targeted killings are a crisis. Please treat them as such Tribune Editorial Will the government now start taking seriously its duty to protect citizens with the urgency it requires? And will it forthrightly declare that there will be zero tolerance for hate crimes, and that those who are guilty of such wanton murder will be hunted down and brought to justice with the full force of the state? Let us make no mistake: Mondayas brutal murders of Roopbaan editor Xulhaz Mannan and Tanay Mojumdar in Kalabagan were hate crimes, and they were targeted for their brave championing of LGBT rights. Whether you support LGBT rights or you do not, the one thing that we must all agree on is that there can never be any justification for murder, and that those who are guilty of such savage slaughter are enemies of the state and of everything that is decent in humanity. The government must understand that first and foremost this is a law and order issue, and that it cannot tolerate gangs of murderous fanatics killing with impunity. The governmentas first responsibility is to keep all of us safe and secure, and it is failing signally in this task. This failure is only compounded by the governmentas risible claims to have matters under control or that these kinds of targeted killings are isolated incidents. Nor is it helpful to point the finger at its political enemies before any kind of investigation has taken place. Worst of all, when the government feeds the mind-set that people need to watch what they say and write, by questioning what victims wrote or believed, it only emboldens and encourages the killers. When the police refuse to take action on threats made against LGBT activists, and discriminate against, harass and threaten them themselves, and when they have been utterly unable to bring those who committed such crimes previously to justice, is it any wonder that killers feel safe to target the community with impunity? The government must uphold the rule of law and safeguard the public. These killings must stop, and the government cannot rest until they do. No effort can be spared to ensure that all of us are safe from slaughter in our own homes. o o o The Indian Express - April 27, 2016 Editorial Law and disorder Bangladesh government must see the murders of bloggers as a matter of national security, not politics. Two days after Rezaul Karim Siddique, a professor, was hacked to death in Bangladesh and within weeks of social activist Nazimuddin Samad being murdered, machete-wielding attackers have claimed two more lives: Xulhaz Mannan, a leading gay rights activist and editor of the countryas first LGBT magazine, Roopbaan, and his colleague Tanay Mojumdar. They join a lengthening list of so-called secular and atheist bloggers and activists killed brutally. The Bangladesh government insists that the Islamic State (IS) doesnat exist in the country, even though the IS has claimed responsibility for some of the killings. There was considerable public support for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinaas Awami League government when it embarked on the war crimes trials to bring to justice collaborators responsible for genocide in the 1971 liberation war. That popular support was extended to the crackdown on the Islamist allies of the opposition, especially when the latter took violently to the streets. However, the same administration that has increasingly used the crackdown to shrink the democratic space, has adopted a softer, helpless tone now towards extremists after failing to fulfil the stateas most fundamental duty towards citizens a of providing security. Hasinaas home minister, and even the PM herself, have made remarks tantamount to blaming the bloggers for their own deaths, presumably fearing the extremist constituency in the electorate. These murders take place against a backdrop of increasing Islamist attacks on minorities, whether Shia or Ahmadi Muslims, Hindus or Christians. Itas imperative for the government to confront the full extent of the militancy and not view the unfolding carnage through the prism of politics and the political identity of the perpetrators. It should begin by providing security to the remaining bloggers on the Islamistsa widely circulated alist of 84a , four prominent bloggers of which were killed last year alone. o o o Daily News and Analysis - 27 April 2016 dnaEdit: A killing spree in Bangladesh The bodies of two gay rights activists who were hacked to death are brought down from an apartment in Dhaka (Getty Images) One by one, rights activists are being eliminated by shadowy groups while the Bangladesh government fumbles for a measured response The spectre of terror that has haunted and hunted secular activists in Bangladesh has returned with a vengeance in April with the hacking to death of four people in separate incidents. The macabre similarity with the fatal stabbing attacks on bloggers, publishers and activists in 2015 will be lost on no one. Those killed this month include a popular university professor, a student activist and blogger who campaigned for secularism, and the editor of a gay rights magazine. The five men killed last year were secular bloggers, all of whom rose to prominence during the 2013 Shahbag protests demanding capital punishment for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla and others convicted for war crimes by the International Crimes Tribunal. Many of these murdered bloggers, who professed atheist or secular views, were also named in a ahit lista of 84 bloggers put out by Islamist radicals in 2013. The April attacks have come at a time when the Bangladesh government has faced criticism for failing to convict anyone yet for the 2015 attacks. It has aggressively prosecuted Jamaat members who took part in the 1971 genocide and enforced the ban on political parties with religious links after the Shahbag protests. It is possible that these attacks on secular bloggers and activists are a retaliation over the execution of Jamaat leaders. The inability of the government to protect todayas liberals even as it goes about punishing those who assassinated nationalists and liberals 45 years ago reveals the paradox in the stateas actions. There is also much confusion in Bangladesh about the role of religion in the State. In 2010, the original Bangladesh constitution that included secularism in its major tenets,was restored, but Islam was allowed to continue as the state religion. Nevertheless, these constitutional changes allowed progressive voices a platform. It is quite clear that the intimidation of secular bloggers is aimed at silencing them and forcing them out of social, cultural and political spaces. Their attempt to spark a debate on the primacy of the countryas Bengali identity over the Islamic identity has also been sought to be set at nought. With the government and the police displaying a lackadaisical attitude towards bringing the guilty to book, many activists have applied for asylum in foreign countries or chosen to shut down their blogs and social media accounts. The passivity of the government to the attacks reveals its unease with tackling religious extremism at a political level. Responding to the attacks, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has attempted to strike a balance between free speech and tolerance. She has criticised atheist bloggers for hurting religious sentiments but rejected calls for a blasphemy law. However, her calls for tolerance are misplaced. The attacks are clearly being perpetrated by an extremist fringe with no allegiance to political processes, rule of law or the Constitution. The weaknesses of Bangladeshi intelligence and police forces are evident in the repeated attacks that have taken place. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack on Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique. The Al Qaeda has staked credit for hacking gay rights activist Xulhaz Mannan and for two of the killings last year. However, the Bangladesh government has linked Jamaatul Mujahideen to most of the attacks. Amid these claims, there are also allegations that many officials in the state establishment harbour sympathies for extremist ideologies. It has not helped that the legitimacy of the ruling Awami League has been questioned over a rash of executions, flawed trials in the war crimes cases, and the boycott of elections by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The Shahbag protests marked the finest moment for the countryas civil society in several decades. The retribution faced by these civilians since then is a disconcerting throwback to the countryas tragic past. o o o The Times of India - April 28, 2016 Murders, repression: Bangladesh government must tighten security and let civil society breathe TOI Edit in TOI Editorials | Edit Page, India | TOI The horrific spate of murders of intellectuals, bloggers and activists by Islamists in Bangladesh continues apace. In the latest killings Rajshahi University professor Rezaul Karim, editor of an LGBT magazine Xulhaz Mannan, and theatre artiste Mahbub Tonoy were hacked to death in two separate incidents. While the Islamic State terror group has claimed Karimas killing, a branch of al-Qaida has taken responsibility for the Mannan and Tonoy murders. However, the Bangladeshi government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina continues to deny the presence of the transnational terror groups in the country and blames the violence on home-grown extremists. Thatas cold comfort when the government is unable to control the spate of killings. Even more bizarre is Hasinaas and her ministersa repeated assertions that secular writers and bloggers should refrain from hurting religious sentiments. The victims cannot be blamed for bringing the attacks upon themselves. Taken together, an impression is growing in Bangladesh that the Hasina administration is in denial about ground realities and giving in to autocratic tendencies in dealing with criticism. The filing of sedition cases against Mahfuz Anam, respected editor of the Daily Star, for publishing stories critical of Hasina eight years ago exemplifies this point. Add to this the fact that thereas no real opposition in the Bangladesh parliament today a the official parliamentary opposition Jatiya Party has three members in the Hasina cabinet. This has allowed criticism of Bangladeshas ongoing 1971 war crimes trials as targeting leaders of only the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami a the actual opposition to the ruling Awami League. Itas in this situation that groups like IS are threatening to turn Bangladesh into their hub for launching attacks even inside India. To counter this Hasina must rein in her governmentas autocratic tendencies, enforce law and order and permit pluralism. Thatas what New Delhi ought to be telling her as well. o o o The Statesman, 28 April 2016 Mortal fundamentalism Editorial Bangladesh is under attack from religious fundamentalists. The recent killing of a leading gay rights activist is a brutal reminder of how frail constitutional freedoms are, particularly the freedom of expression. The United States has rightly condemned the killing as a abarbaric attacka . There have been a series of attacks on Bangladeshi bloggers and activists in recent months. It is one thing to disagree with a personas view, and quite another to kill a person for his beliefs and lifestyle. The tenor of Islamist fundamentalism in Bangladesh is clear; it will not tolerate any move towards civilisational or contrarian values. To many in the West and developing societies, mindless killing of a person seems to be astounding. Apart from satiating fundamentalist blood lust, such killings do little to change either conditions of living or the point of view for which the murder was committed in the first place. Perhaps every democracy must decide where it will draw the line between barbarism and tradition. Killing innocent citizens in the name of religion is barbaric; it cannot be a part of any religious thought in the 21st century. Thus to equate the variant of Islamist fundamentalism shackling many parts of the globe with the peaceful Islam of more than a billion practitioners is to fall into the fundamentalistas trap. Bangladeshas government has been weak-willed and irresponsible even after the spate of killings. Many of the bloggers, an innocuous internet species by any measurable democratic benchmark and therefore vulnerable, are under threat and keen to relocate to safer shores. The United States and most right-thinking people in developing societies are outraged by the activistas murder. The murder is stark and inhuman. While murder in any form is reprehensible, to hack a human being to death is brutal to the point of butchery. The Bangladesh government must ensure the safety of its citizens. Condoning a so-called religious crime is an invitation to fundamentalism. A society that does not give space to its intellectuals is forced sooner rather than later to accept extremism. No great religion, including Islam, allows brutal attacks on innocents. Thus bereft of religiosity, these are just crimes and it devolves on the state and its law-enforcers to identify the criminals and subject them to the rigours of the law. Such attacks have become frequent because Bangladesh has failed to ensure the most basic of human freedoms the right to live. o o o Dawn - April 27, 2016 Bangladesh killings Editorial EVENTS in Bangladesh do not augur well. The recent past has seen a number of horrifying killings in the country. The latest incident occurred on Monday when two people, one of them a leading gay rights campaigner, were hacked to death in an apartment in Dhaka, while a third was injured. These murders came soon after the killing of a professor of English at the Rajshahi University, who was similarly set upon by men wielding machetes as he left home to go to work. And while affiliates of the militant Islamic State group claimed the killing which they said they carried out for the murdered manas acall to atheisma, the professoras colleagues say that he was neither an atheist, nor had he written anything controversial. That said, the role of religious extremism in this string of murders seems to have hardened into a pattern. Over the last year, as many as four prominent bloggers who professed a secular ethos were hacked to death. Taken together, these attacks betray a deadly push against tolerance, plurality, and the freedoms of expression and religion in Bangladeshi society. Unfortunately, matters are not helped by the political climate in the country, where the government is heading in the direction of intolerance and authoritarianism as it apprehends and executes political opponents after farcical trials. Caught between the two sides a religiously motivated elements that have no qualms about killing for their beliefs and a government that is increasingly turning to repressive tactics in order to stifle dissent a is the public and its fast-vanishing hopes of tolerance and democracy. The task before Sheikh Hasinaas government is clear: encourage freedom of thought and expression in the country while protecting the right to life of all its citizens, and refrain from contributing to the culture of intolerance by cracking down on political opponents. Much like Pakistan a which has also experienced militancy and repressive tactics by rulers a Bangladesh stands at a crossroads. Only wise decisions by its political leadership can propel the country in the right direction. sacw.net - 29 April 2016 Are the ideals of secularism and humanism being upheld by mainstream and separatist politicians in our pluralistic state? How constructive a role is the civil society playing? The growth of nationalism or an autonomous Kashmiri identity certainly doesnat involve supporting obscurantism or deliberately preventing the growth of knowledge and information. The identity of a state or a nation cannot be built on unquenchable hate and certainly not on cashing in on the pain and grief of other people, some of whom will not have the luxury of closure. It is or, at least, should be inconceivable, in the day and age of a global economy, to spurn the concepts of reason, rationality, and political and moral ethics. The perpetuation of a politics that emphasizes, reinforces, or creates cultural myopia and monocultural identities, in a society as diverse as ours, would be the bane of our existence. This damaging short-sightedness results in intolerance, arbitrary justice, tyranny, and ignorance. The contemporary political discourse in the state, particularly the Kashmir Valley, doesnat have to be limited to the framework of the two-nation theory. Nor should dissatisfaction with the policies of the Governments of India and Pakistan vis-A -vis Kashmir encourage the glorification of reactionary politics. The last thing that Jammu and Kashmir needs is Taliban ideologues in any guise, either civil, or political, or military. Such an extremist ideology or even a mild form of it confuses local, national, and international observers, and ends up encouraging reductive interpretations of the politics of Kashmir. It is interesting to me that a lot of Kashmir observers in the Indian subcontinent as well as in the West reduce the Kashmir conundrum to the dispute between India and Pakistan over sharing the waters of the Indus basin, which originates in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Disappointingly, in the discussion that followed my presentation at Salisbury University, Maryland, in May 2012, some very well-read academics and career diplomats reduced the entire issue to the water dispute between India and Pakistan. My editor and colleague at Oxford Islamic Studies lamented that most Americans couldnat find J & K on the map. There are some other observers who circuitously see the issue in terms of the religious versus secular binary. Interestingly, there is a new breed of writers and columnists in the subcontinent, particularly in Kashmir, who, erroneously, labor under the delusion that pre-and post-1947 Jammu and Kashmir was a haven for pan-Islamism, which is completely anachronistic. Such interpretations, willy-nilly, obliterate the legitimacy of regional political aspirations across party, religious, cultural, and linguistic lines. Much to my amusement, in response to an article of mine on the autonomous status of J & K, a British-Indian academic labeled me an aIslamist,a probably because he thought about autonomy only in religious terms, not political ones. But that didnat deter me from emphasizing my world view. I cannot emphasize enough how foolish it would be to smirk at the religious, provincial, and sectarian violence or growing obscurantism in either India or Pakistan, because that simply doesnat bode well for a peaceful resolution and developmental politics in our neck of the woods. Sanctioned extremist political and religious ideologies in either of the two countries wouldnat enable J & K to move forward. Sloganeering, rabble rousing, demanding the incorporation of articles in constitutions, and other theoretical issues are all very well, but the real test is whether these theories have a real impact in institutions, instead of being just hollow words. So, belittling the importance of institution building and stoking a state of disorder would be highly irresponsible. After reading a recent essay of mine on the issue, my editor pointed out that, athe recent victories in the Egyptian and Tunisian constitutions brought the same issues to mind.a The public disappointments that Kashmiris have had to face over the years shouldnat dilute democratic aspirations, and extremist ideology, perpetuated either by civil society, or politicians, or the military must, at all costs, be kept at bay. In 2008, probably traumatized at the assassination of his wife, Benazir Bhuttos widower, Asif Ali Zardari, claimed to be agonized by the strained relations between the two nuclear powers in the Indian subcontinent. While emphasizing the importance of creating bonhomie between India and Pakistan, Zardari had said that the Kashmir conflict could be placed in a state of temporary suspension, for future generations to resolve. The current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, has mastered the art of public and political volte face. As Iave pointed out before, subsequent to the initiation of the composite peace process by then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, no substantive measure was taken to hold a substantive dialogue and negotiations with Pakistan. Efforts at the aQuiet Diplomacya heralded by one time Indian Minister for Home Affairs, P. Chidambaram, were intermittent and interspersed with pugnacious responses to regional demands for greater autonomy. A resolution to the Kashmir imbroglio, which promises peace, prosperity, and progress, requires unprecedented strong political will from leaders, policy makers, and civil society members on both sides of the Line of Control. Despite the several letdowns, we need to remember that the process of democratization is an evolutionary one and does not provide instant solutions. To further this process, it is just as important to maintain the pluralistic regional, religious, cultural, and linguistic ethos of J & K. If the institutions of state do not function transparently or are unable to deliver, it is important to hold state actors accountable, particularly elected representatives who, ideally, are answerable to their constituents. But it is just as important to hold those non-state actors accountable who thrive and build their careers on the agony of the less fortunate. State and non-state actors who want Kashmiri masses to wallow in grief for eternity, while they climb their way to the echelons of power and a new-found elitism should be called to account. Although the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be brushed off, the bitter truth is that it is time to summon up the courage to initiate a politics of construction. Can we begin the process of developing a cohesive society with coherent state policies? A fragmented society cannot accomplish anything, either politically or socioeconomically. As Abraham Lincoln said in 1858, aa house divided against itself cannot stand.a (Nyla Ali Khan is a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma, and member of Scholars Strategy Network. She is the author of Fiction of Nationality in an Era of Transnationalism (Routledge 2005), Islam, Women, and Violence in Kashmir (Palgrave Macmillan 2010), The Life of a Kashmiri Woman (Palgrave Macmillan 2014), and the editor of The Parchment of Kashmir (Palgrave Macmillan 2012). She is editor of the Oxford Islamic Studiesa special issue on Jammu and Kashmir.) If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). "Senators Announce New Provisions & Cosponsors to Bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act" | Main | With nine months left in Obama Administration, apparently it is time for a clemency last call April 28, 2016 Senator Jeff Sessions (and thus Donald Trump?) comes out swinging against revised SRCA Alabama's US Senator Jeff Sessions, whom I believe was the first notabe elected federal official to endorse Prez candidate Donald Trump, has wasted no time condemning, in intricate detail, the just-released revised version of the Senate's Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (noted here). This press release, which runs over 1500 words and has too many criticisms to readily summarize, includes these passages: The changes made to the criminal sentencing bill fail to fix the bill and leave us with legislation that still would release thousands of violent felons and endanger millions of Americans whose safety is increasingly threatened by rising crime rates. While visiting concern on prisoners is an important and valuable act, we must understand a core responsibility of the government is safety of the public. The wise approach is to slow down and evaluate the trends before accelerating prison population decline. Since 2011, the federal prison population has decreased by over 20,000 (over 9 percent), bringing it to its lowest level since 2006. It will continue to decline by another 10,000 over the next year, bringing it to its lowest level since 2004. Drug prosecutions have dropped 21 percent since 2011. The Sentencing Commission recently ordered the release of 46,276 federal drug trafficking felons from federal prison, including those who carried semi-automatic weapons, participated in international heroin smuggling rings, and have violent criminal histories. And just last year, the Obama Administration released 90,000 criminal illegal aliens from custody. Meanwhile, homicides in the 50 largest U.S. cities rose nearly 17 percent in 2015 the largest single-year increase since at least 1960. In medium-sized cities, violent crime increased 5.3 percent. The country is in the midst of a historic heroin epidemic where 120 people die each day from overdoses. Federal drug and sentencing laws have already been considerably relaxed. Congress must examine the potential far-reaching consequences of what has occurred before going any further. It is counterintuitive to further weaken penalties for drug traffickers, especially heroin traffickers, and to enable the release of several thousand more incarcerated drug and gun felons, particularly at this time.... According to Gallup, Americans are more concerned about crime than they have been in 15 years. If ever there was a time to release more violent felons into our communities, it most certainly is not now. Passing this legislation would not only be unwise, it would be unsafe.... Despite assurances otherwise, the revised bill still shortens mandatory minimums for repeat drug traffickers, including those who carried a gun, and would allow for early release of those currently in federal prison.... Moreover, this proposal would provide for leniency for illegal alien drug traffickers.... The revised bill adds a provision to shorten mandatory minimums for drug traffickers who smuggle drugs into the U.S. by boat or submarine. These criminals have never been eligible for such leniency and are rarely if ever U.S. citizens. This provision has already been tagged as the Scarface provision. Attorney General Loretta Lynch recently testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that other than the Southern border, the majority of drugs come into the U.S. by maritime routes.... Before, the bill had a pro-law enforcement provision described by the sponsors as expanding the reach of the enhanced mandatory minimum for firearms offenses to those with prior state firearms offenses. That provision was removed entirely. The revised bill further expands the statutory safety valve to major drug traffickers, including those with multiple prior criminal convictions.... The bill still provides leniency for illegal alien drug traffickers. I am not sure if this criticism will keep the revised SRCA from being brought up for a vote, but I do think the connection between Senator Sessions and presumptive GOP Prez candidate Trump provides yet another significant impediment to this bill becoming law. Prior related post: April 28, 2016 at 10:35 PM | Permalink Comments Sessions is clueless, hes just grand standing and likes the attention. Posted by: MidWestGuy | Apr 29, 2016 12:12:47 AM Professor: That fact that what Session said was true, should have some reconsidering. No one doubts that we can be more efficient with our incarceration problems. Nietiher does anyone doubt that release of criminals equals more crimes on the streets. So far, California, as seems required, is a stark example of how to get it wrong with mass release. The non violent moniker for drug dealers seems like a late night show joke. Everyone knows that violence and threats of violence are how drug dealers protect their business.. And, as about 95% of all state cases are pled out, meaning of course, they are pled down from their original sentence, which may mean that either violence or gun possession was removed from the charge to accommodate the plea. Posted by: Dudley Sharp | Apr 29, 2016 7:16:24 AM given that over 25% of the beneficiaries of this idiotic lenience will be illegal aliens, I am totally wondering why the GOP would help the Democrats get voters . . . . Posted by: federalist | Apr 29, 2016 10:10:10 AM My understanding is that the Bill, as originally conceived,, was supposed to provide some relief from mandatory minimum sentences. While making some progress toward that goal, the revised Bill, according to an earlier posting,"now includes a new mandatory minimum sentence for crimes involving the opiate fentanyl, mirroring parallel sentencing reforms that await a floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives." I've always subscribed to the maxim that the best is the enemy of the good, but I'm beginning to rethink my views. Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Apr 29, 2016 12:48:13 PM Michael, anyone who thinks this will get any easier after the election does not understand reality and thus I continue to think all sentencing reform advocates should embrace whatever can get passed. I say this in part because even very modest Congressional reforms (e.g., the FSA in 2010) can and will create important ripples via work by the USSC and judges and DOJ --- e.g., lowering the crack guidelines after the FSA made it easier to lower all the drug guidelines a few years later and to make them all retroactive. In addition, the corrections part of the SRCA still is the biggest and most consequential aspect of all of this and should have the most important long-term impact and value for a healthy federal criminal justice system. Long story short, I understand why so many wanting more will find this latest proposal not what they want/hope. But if getting something more done was easy, it would already be done. Everyone, in my opinion, should be pushing to get something done --- anything done --- ASAP as we still have thousands of folks beeing subject to the current problematic sentencing system every week and have hundreds of thousands in federal prisons who need been corrections laws. Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 29, 2016 1:12:41 PM I agree with Doug. Baby steps are better than no steps at all. Posted by: xafpd | Apr 29, 2016 1:49:34 PM I have not been able to find the amended version of the bill on the judiciary committee website. Can you post a link to it if you have it? Posted by: defendergirl | Apr 29, 2016 1:57:07 PM O.K. The other maxim is that the Professor is always right. So, I'm back on board: I agree with XAFPD that a baby step is better than nothing. Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Apr 29, 2016 4:52:54 PM I also agree that any steps forward is great. But I think if they pass this, it wont get looked at for a very long time. Posted by: MidWestGuy | Apr 29, 2016 7:58:39 PM So guys, why should we be hooking up illegal aliens? Especially when many will walk our streets at some point after their release . . . . Posted by: federalist | Apr 29, 2016 9:21:37 PM federalist: this is not about "hooking up illegal aliens," but rather about modifying federal investments in imprisonment. MidWestGuy: If something does not pass, and we have an election, and we have continued stalemates in Congress (which seems likely no matter how the election goes), I doubt that this will be a priority for anyone again until at least 2019. And if it does pass and proves "successful" (especially the corrections pieces), I would expect additional useful baby steps to be taken by DOJ, USSC, BOP and the states to follow. Notably, the echoes and impact of the VERY BABY steps of the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA) has helped reduce the federal prison population from a 2013 max of about 220,000 to the current level of just over 195,000. Passage of the SRCA in just about any form makes getting this down to 150,000 by the end of the decade a real possibility, I think. Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 30, 2016 11:53:11 AM it may not be about hooking up illegals, but it will inexorably lead to more of them on our streets, which we don't need. Posted by: federalist | Apr 30, 2016 3:29:46 PM And, Doug, they are hooking them up--just a side benefit for the Democrats. Posted by: federalist | Apr 30, 2016 3:51:49 PM defendergirl: The proposed amendment was entered into the Congressional Record on April 28 -- which you can access via Congress.gov. Posted by: Jeremy | Apr 30, 2016 6:34:16 PM Post a comment Senator Jeff Sessions (and thus Donald Trump?) comes out swinging against revised SRCA | Main | "Louisiana Death Sentenced Cases and Their Reversals, 1976-2015" April 29, 2016 With nine months left in Obama Administration, apparently it is time for a clemency last call Regular readers know I am a long-time critic of how modern presidents have (failed to) use their historic clemency powers and that I am not an especially big fan of how the Obama Administration and others have approached trying to do things better of late. Another frustrating piece of this story is captured by this new Politico piece headlined "Obama team making last-ditch push on commutations: Top Justice official says non-violent drug offenders are running out of time to apply for reduced sentences." Here are excerpts: The Obama Administration is pressing hard to keep the clock from running out on thousands of federal drug convicts hoping to get their prison sentences shortened by President Barack Obama before he leaves office in January. Earlier this week, the No. 2 official at the Justice Department pleaded with volunteer lawyers working on those cases to get the commutation applications filed right away. "Time is of the essence and the inmates who raised their hands for your assistance still need your help," Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates wrote in the unusual letter, dated Monday and obtained by POLITICO. In the message to attorneys working through a consortium known as Clemency Project 2014, Yates noted that the group has set internal deadlines for most cases as soon as Monday of next week and for other cases in mid-May. "I cannot stress how important it is [to] meet those deadlines," Yates wrote. "If those deadlines cannot be met, we need to ensure that inmates have sufficient time to file pro se petitions, and that the Department of Justice has enough time to process and review them." Obama launched his so-called "Clemency Initiative" in early 2014, seeking to identify thousands who have served long drug-crime sentences that would likely have been shorter under current law. The effort was aimed at granting commutations to those who met certain criteria, such as being non-violent, low-level offenders. The announcement triggered a flood of clemency requests from close to 30,000 inmates more than 10 percent of the federal prison population. The level of interest swamped the handful of lawyers in the office of the Justice Department's Pardon Attorney and overwhelmed the newly-created Clemency Project. While the group has said nearly 4,000 attorneys were recruited to prepare applications, the process has been a tough slog, slowed by bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining paperwork and the reliance on lawyers who usually have no prior experience seeking clemency. Yates' letter to the Clemency Project lawyers says they have submitted "more than 850 petitions" thus far. That's a dramatic increase from the roughly 30 the group's lawyers had handed in about a year ago, but still far short of the number likely to yield the thousands of commutations some Obama administration officials expected at the outset. The applications are also backlogged at the Justice Department, which had more than 11,000 commutation requests of all types pending at the end of March, according to Justice's website. In January, the Justice Department official who'd overseen the effort since the spring of 2014 resigned, complaining of a lack of resources and that her recommendations were not always being relayed to the White House. "The Department has not fulfilled its commitment to provide the resources necessary for my office to make timely and thoughtful recommendations on clemency to the president," Pardon Attorney Deborah Leff wrote in her resignation letter, obtained by USA Today through a Freedom of Information Act request. White House Counsel Neil Eggleston said at a POLITICO Playbook Breakfast earlier this month that the Pardon Attorney's office has gotten a boost in resources and that some of the concerns Leff raised have been addressed. "The pardon attorney's office has a little more resources, which is good, and I have regular dealings with the pardon attorney directly, so to the extent that Ms. Leff was complaining about that, that was solved. Actually, it was solved before she left, Eggleston said. And so I think that we're moving forward in a pretty good way here."... Last year, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) questioned whether the Justice Department had essentially outsourced its role in the process to the Clemency Project 2014 lawyers. A Justice Department official rejected that idea at the time, saying that the volunteer project backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and others was "completely separate" from Justice. However, Yates' letter this week highlights the Clemency Project's internal deadlines and thanks the group for having "screened out ... 20,000 ineligible applicants." Critics, noting that Obama has granted commutations to some applications who did not appear to meet all the criteria, have expressed concern that some of those prisoners may have compelling cases for commutations but will be dissuaded from applying by having been screened out. In addition, in a less-noticed portion of Leff's letter, she said she had "been instructed to set aside thousands of petitions for pardon and traditional commutation." I have got tired of being tired of hearing these stories of too many clemency applicants and too little ability to procees them all. But I will continue to note (and lament) all this, and continue to hope that Prez Obama will vindicate all the energies and excitement advocates devoted to these matters by granting at least a few hundred more commutations and some significant number of pardons before he passes on the keys to the Oval Office next January. April 29, 2016 at 01:02 PM | Permalink Comments Even without the petitions from CP-14 there are thousands at the Pardon Attorney's office that should be considered and sent to the White House. I do hope that the Pardon Attorney's office and the White House have not forgotten that Clemency is not about criteria in the inmates case, but it is about Mercy and Compassion. There should be some acknowledgement of redemption. I hope that Clemency does not morph into a process that looks like some criteria from a regulatory agency. That was not what the founding fathers envisioned. If the flood-gates for Clemency do not open, the promise made, but unfulfilled, will leave a cruel legacy. Posted by: beth | Apr 29, 2016 6:46:07 PM awwwww the jailbreak, apparently, won't be as big as the criminal coddlers would have liked . . . . Posted by: federalist | Apr 30, 2016 7:26:04 AM I am a criminal defense lawyer who has accepted the cases of two inmates via the Clemency Project, on a pro bono basis. One inmate was serving a mandatory life sentence (he had two prior drug felonies, involving small amounts of drugs) and the other was serving a 324-month sentence (and had no priors). Both were convicted of drug offenses. On review, neither individual met the stringent requirements of the Clemency Project, whether because there was a finding of "manager or organizer" and thus, the person was a leader, or because there was a suggestion of threatened violence. One of my issues about the Clemency Project process is the lack of clarity with regard to the treatment of illegal aliens serving long sentences -- a question that arose in my mind as I was dealing with the two inmates I just mentioned. Is clemency intended for U.S. citizens only? Is Obama less willing to grant clemency to Mexican nationals who will be deported when their sentences are cut, knowing that there is a risk that they will re-enter the U.S.? Has he done it thus far? When I've raised this question with the powers that be at the Clemency Project, I've been told "treat them as you would anyone else. Don't concern yourself with the immigration part." Does the fact that an inmate is here illegally and will be deported make granting him a sentence reduction less dangerous for the public (because he won't be here to break the law again) or more problematic (at least politically) because he could return and commit further crimes? My impression is that in the fanfare that accompanied the announcement of the clemency initiative, the status of alien inmates was not given sufficient attention. And it would be interesting to know what percentage of the "backlog" of inmates seeking clemency consists of inmates who will be subject to deportation when they have completed their sentences. I suspect it's substantial. Posted by: Allen Bentley | May 3, 2016 12:27:15 AM Thanks for this interesting and important comment, Allen. If I had to guess, I would bet not a single non-citizen will get clemency because of the potential optics (and especially because plenty have gotten relief via the drugs -2 retroactive guidelines). Posted by: Doug B. | May 3, 2016 9:18:18 AM Post a comment It's not the crime, it's the cover-up that gets you. Or so it seems in the case of UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, who The Sacramento Bee reports has been placed on leave following revelations that she paid two companies upwards of $175,000 in an attempt to improve the UC Davis brand by scrubbing the infamous pepper spray cop incident from Google search results. UC President Janet Napolitano made the decision last night, saying serious questions needed to be asked regarding the chancellor's actions. "Information has recently come to light that raises serious questions about whether Chancellor Katehi may have violated several University of California policies, including questions about the campuss employment and compensation of some of the chancellors immediate family members, the veracity of the chancellors accounts of her involvement in contracts related to managing both the campuss and her personal reputation on social media, and the potential improper use of student fees, reads a statement issued by Napolitanos office. The serious and troubling nature of these questions, as well as the initial evidence, requires a rigorous and transparent investigation. Details of the paid, 90-day leave were laid out in a letter addressed to Katehi, which also notes that the chancellor may have misled the public as to her involvement in the University's efforts to erase its digital footprint of wrongdoing. "[There] are concerns regarding whether you have made material misstatements regarding your role in the social media contracts," writes Napolitano. "Despite public statements to members of the media, as well as to me, that you were not aware of or involved with these particular contracts, documents prepared in response to a Public Records Act request indicate multiple interactions with one of the vendors and efforts to set up meetings with the other." Katehi, of course, has hired a lawyer and through her lawyer denied any wrongdoing. This smacks of scapegoating and a rush to judgment driven purely by political optics, not the best interests of the university or the UC system as a whole, attorney Melinda Guzman explained following the announcement. Previously: UC Davis Spent $175K To Scrub Pepper Spray Cop From Google Pepper Spray Cop Nabs $38K In Workers' Comp UC Davis Pepper Spray Cop Claims He Suffered 'Psychiatric Injury,' Wants Workers Comp $1 Million Awarded To Pepper Sprayed UC Davis Students UC Davis Chancellor Apologizes For Pepper Spray Incident UC Davis English Department Calls For Chancellor Katehi's Resignation UC Davis Pepper Spraying Cop Turns Into Meme UC Davis Police Brutally Pepper Spray Student Protesters [Video] Earlier this month, roughly 37,000 drivers for Uber and Lyft were mailed letters from San Francisco City Treasurer Jose Cisneros indicating that, as contractors, they must apply for business licenses to operate within city limits. Those licenses go for $91 each, but might possibly be more expensive than that with additional fees of $155 and back penalties for every year operated without a license. While the number of Lyft and Uber drivers who do register will likely be far fewer than 37,000, the revenue could still be significant. And it follows a pattern: The Treasurer's Office tells SFist that Airbnb users, who must already register with the city in what many describe as a Byzantine process, were mailed a similar order to additionally seek business licenses some time ago. For example, a letter from the Office of Short Term Rentals forwarded to the Glen Park Association explains that business registration is also a requisite for short-term rental owners like those who rent through Airbnb and VRBO et al. "You first must obtain a San Francisco Business Registration from the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector," the letter reads, one item on a long list of requirements. The registration process and tensions surrounding it aren't getting any easier. San Francisco's Assessor-Recorder recently (absurdly) insisted that hosts itemize and pay taxes on their every household item and stick of furniture that a guest might conceivably use. Concurrently, Airbnb is increasing its financial presence in its host city of San Francisco. According to 48 Hills, the Committee to Expand the Middle Class, which is set up by the company, has injected $245,000 into local politics. As Supervisor Wiener checks up on the Short Term Rentals office and Supervisor Campos proposes a law to directly fine Airbnb for any illegal, unregistered listings it allows on its site, the company can literally afford a few more allies in local government. The causes they're supporting: $100,000 to Prop A, $100,000 (Lee's $350 bond for safety and homelessness) to Prop B (Farrell's $3 million for parks and recreation from the general fund), and $10,000 to Prop D (Malia Cohen's police accountability initiative). The Committee is also dropping $20,000 on the Democratic County Central Committee. In a statement to Re/code, an Airbnb representative wrote that "This is one part of our growing effort to stand with those who fight for the middle class in San Francisco." Related: Campos Proposes Law To Fine Airbnb Directly For Unregistered SF Listings SF's 37,000 Lyft and Uber Drivers Will Be Ordered To Get Business Licenses Three men arrested last Friday stand accused of terrorizing the Bay Area with a string of 23 separate armed robberies of bars and restaurants. Police have yet to confirm if they believe that the same men robbed a bar on 17th and Folsom on the April 15, but outwardly it appears to be the case (although in that incident there were two reported robbers, not three). So reports Bay City News, which notes that the men were nabbed when they attempted to rob the same bar for the third time in less than a month. According to a report issued by the Berkeley Police Department, businesses subject to the "take-over" style robberies were spread throughout Berkeley, San Francisco, San Leandro, Albany, Oakland, and Hayward. "It became clear based on the suspects calm demeanor, and video evidence obtained from the victim businesses that a comprehensive effort would be required to apprehend them," reads the report. "A task force was established involving Police Departments from the cities listed above with support from the Oakland Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Police say that the men attempted to rob The Bar on Dolores Street for the third time in under a month on the evening of April 22. The Bar was first robbed on March 27, and then a second time a few days later. SFPD, thinking the group might come back, had the bar under surveillance. They were then able to apprehend the men when, perhaps thinking their third time would be the charm, they reportedly returned. The three men arrested are 18-year-old Kristoffer Jones of Albany, 40-year-old Shawan Spragans of Oakland, and 46-year-old Merl Simpson of Oakland. Chris Nobbie, who works at Bernal Pizza one of the restaurants robbed appeared happy to know the alleged robbers are off the street. "It's definitely a relief they caught them and we don't have to worry about them coming back," Nobbie told Bay City News. Related: Armed Raiders Storm Mission Bar, Hold Patrons At Gunpoint The front desk worker at a Union Street hotel got an early wakeup call this morning, when an armed robber stormed the inn. According to the San Francisco Police Department, the 20-year-old front desk worker at a hotel on the 1500 block of Union Street, which is between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street, was "looking at his computer" at 3 a.m. today. That's when he heard a crash, and looked up to see a suspect described only as "male" "pointing a gun at him demanding money," police say. The desk worker handed over "all the money in the cash register," and the motel mugger fled in an unknown direction. According to the SFPD, the desk worker "heard a car leave the front of the hotel but was too scared to see if [the robber] was in it." Police confirm that as of noon Friday, the suspect remains at large. The Pacific Heights Inn is located at 1555 Union Street, but SFPD declined to name the scene of the crime. When reached by phone, a worker at the Inn declined comment. An employee at a Mission District restaurant was rushed to the hospital this morning, after a customer stabbed him over a burrito. According to the San Francisco Police Department, a man entered a taqueria on the 2200 block of Mission Street, which is between 18th and 19th Streets, at 12:30 this morning. He ordered a burrito. So far, so good, right? Wrong. Police say that once the man got his burrito, he "fled on foot without paying." A 19-year-old worker from the restaurant gave chase, but when he caught up to the snack snatcher, the miscreant "brandished a knife" and "slashed" the taqueria staffer "in the chest." The tortilla thief then fled west on 19th, police say. The restaurant employee, police say, was transported to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening "small puncture wound" to his torso. The bladed burrito burglar, police say, remains at large. #Trump protestor told me she's willing to get arrested blocking traffic to get her message across pic.twitter.com/quVqeMIAhP Maria Medina (@mariaCBS5) April 29, 2016 Ladies and gentlemen, the Donald has landed. Prominent misogynist and presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to speak today at the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame, where he will attempt to woo members of the California Republican Party ahead of the party's June 7 primary. Republicans are excited, but so are protesters ABC 7 reports that in anticipation of crowds, Burlingame police have not only asked for assistance from every law enforcement agency in the county, but have also looked to state and federal agencies. Officials' attempts to cordon off the Hyatt Regency may not be working, however, as reports are coming in that ahead of Trump's scheduled 12:00 p.m. speech, protesters have broken through. SFist correspondent Joe Kukura is on the ground in Burlingame and will be bringing us some better details this afternoon. Protesters at #CAGOPConvention have broken through barriers, marched toward Highway 101 off ramp. pic.twitter.com/UJkjHdjh5g KQED News (@KQEDnews) April 29, 2016 Protesters blocking access on both ends of Old Bayshore Highway, trying to block #CAGOPConvention #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/hMOhdbZCvR Christien Kafton (@CKaftonKTVU) April 29, 2016 First fight breaks out. Protesters move to freeway. Police getting in a line #CAGOPConvention pic.twitter.com/Bv7BRXsYwx Andrew Nixon (@CPR_Andrew) April 29, 2016 The California Republican primary is of unusual importance this year, as Trump struggles to reach the 1,237 needed to secure his party's nomination for president. Update: As word comes in that Donald Trump's speaking slot has been pushed from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m., we now learn that protesters are blocking the freeway in an attempt to prevent him from even reaching the Hyatt Regency. We were just informed protestors won't let Trump on the freeway. #chp refused to help. #CAGOPConvention Marcelino Valdez Jr. (@MarcelinoValdez) April 29, 2016 A livestream of the protest outside the hotel shows a lively crowd. Second Update: It appears Trump made it around the protesters and into the hotel, but he had to jump a highway median to make it happen. Donald Trump just had to jump over a highway median to avoid protesters on his way to #CAGOP pic.twitter.com/N55mL13cmP GIF The News (@NowThisGIF) April 29, 2016 Previously: Trump, Coming To Bay Area, Tells Zuckerberg To Leave After two women were attacked in separate sexual assaults on Sunday, April 24, the San Francisco Police Department has released photos of the suspects in the hope that members of the public will recognize the men and come forward. The first assault took place around 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning, police say, in a Financial District hotel. According to police, the 23-year-old victim was in the area when she met a man who said his name was "Sergio." After the two "walked around the area" for a bit they eventually entered a nearby hotel. It was inside that hotel, the name of which SFPD has declined to disclose, that police say that "Sergio" sexually assaulted the woman. She fled the hotel and contacted police, who searched surveillance video in the area and found the photo of "Sergio" you see on the above left. Police say they believe "Sergio" might also be responsible for another sexual assault "that occurred on 3/26/16 in the same area." As of publication time, they did not provide any additional details on that attack. "Sergio" is described as "having a medium complexion," police say. He's 25-30 years old and stands about 5'8'. Then, between 1:50 and 2:20 p.m. Sunday, police say the man you see on the upper right entered the apartment of a 74-year-old woman who lives on the 800 block of Pacific Avenue, which is between Stockton and Powell Streets in Chinatown. According to the SFPD, this man sexually assaulted the elderly woman, then fled. Police say that area surveillance video caught the suspect on tape, and are hopeful that a member of the public might recognize him and come forward. Do you recognize either of these guys, or have any information on either of these assaults? If so, please contact SFPD's Special Victims Unit at 415-553-9225 or their Anonymous Tip Line at 415-575-4444 you can also text a tip to SFPD at Tip411, just remember to add "SFPD" to the start of the message. Just like they did eight years ago during the Milk shoot, Hollywood has returned to San Francisco to reenact the famous White Night Riot, when an army of very pissed off gay men threw rocks and bottles at City Hall on May 21, 1979, threw rocks at police, and then lit a few SFPD cruisers on fire. They were reacting to the manslaughter verdict in the Dan White trial for the assassinations of George Moscone and Harvey Milk, and the chaotic scene was recreated and shot for the 2008 Gus Van Sant film, though most of that footage never made it into the final cut, which Van Sant decided to end on a more somber, less vengeful note. Tonight, it will be done again for the When We Rise version of the riot, and as CivicCenter.org explains, crews will be shutting down streets in the vicinity starting at 7 p.m. Parts of Polk, Grove, and McAllister Streets will be shut down between 7 and 8 p.m. and pedestrians may be held up as well, while cameras are rolling. Obviously most of the action will be happening around the steps of City Hall on the Polk Street side, after sundown. According to the SF Film Commission, there will be "large billowing smoke effects" and "lighting that will mimic flames in the basement windows of City Hall." As I discussed before, When We Rise is an eight-part docu-series coming to ABC television either later this year or early next, penned by Milk writer Dustin Lance Black and produced by Van Sant, who's also directing a couple of the episodes. It chronicles key moments in the fight for LGBT civil rights, and thus much of it will center on San Francisco both during the Harvey Milk era and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, as well, presumably, as the first gay marriages taking place here in 2004 and the subsequent fight over Prop 8. I was previously mistaken in saying that the White Night Riot had already been fully shot consultant Cleve Jones posted pictures from the set in Vancouver, where some of the riot was already shot, but clearly they needed to get some real exteriors at the actual City Hall where it took place. For a first person account of what happened that night, albeit from a cop, check out this excellent piece on Found SF by former Deputy SFPD Chief Kevin Mullen, who became somewhat of a scholar of crime during his retirement, and who actually grew up in the Castro when it was an Irish neighborhood. "The White Night Riot has evolved into one of the founding legends of modern gay San Francisco sort of a West Coast version of New Yorks Stonewall riot," he writes. "If Harvey Milks assassination was the Boston Massacre, White Night was Concord Bridge." He even admits, tacitly, that a police raid on a gay bar in the Castro, The Elephant Walk (where Harvey's is now) that took place the night of the riot, in the early morning hours of May 22, 1979, was essentially retaliatory, and it led to the SFPD forever ceasing to harass gay bar patrons as they had for years in what was dubbed Mullen's Retreat. Previously: Dustin Lance Black And Gus Van Sant Return To Familiar Turf With SF LGBT History Doc Series In 2014 Keanu Reeves starred in a movie called John Wick, which was essentially two hours of Keanu killing gangsters because they killed his puppy. It's a good movie, but a hell of a downer. Two years later, we have Keanu, a comedy about two very un-tough guys who must infiltrate a gang to get back a stolen kitten. I'm going to toss out this spoiler up front, to those who might choose to avoid a movie in which harm comes to a cute little animal: The kitten lives. Stars Jordan Peele, (who co-wrote the script), and Keegan-Michael Key insist that any similarity between the two movies is entirely coincidental, but I'm not sure I buy that. Keanu seems like exactly the kind of story a comedian would write after watching John Wick while stoned. Fortunately, you don't have to be stoned to find the resulting film funny. Peele is Rell, a depressed stoner who hasn't left his couch for days following a breakup. Key is his cousin Clarence, a slightly uptight family man who loves to listen to George Michael when he drives around in his minivan. When a kitten shows up on Rell's doorstep, it snaps him out of his depression. He names it Keanu, ("I think it means 'cool breeze' in Hawaiian"). But unbeknownst to Rell, that kitten has a gangster past, and when it's stolen by the "17th Street Blips," (rejects from the Crips and the Bloods), Rell and Clarence decide to fool the gang's boss Cheddar, (Method Man), into believing they're killers willing to make a trade for the cat. ("We're in the market right now for, like, a gangster pet.") Much of the humor lies in Rell and Clarence trying to pass their decidedly un-gangster selves off as the toughest guys in the hood, and it's a shtick fans of the five-season sketch show Key & Peele might recognize. But when comedians step away from successful television careers in search of big screen stardom, the results can often be mediocre, with movies that feel like sketches stretched way beyond the breaking point. And sure, Keanu sometimes feels a little padded. But it manages to avoid the TV-to-movies curse by focusing its jokes on movie conventions. It's a parody of gangster movies like New Jack City, while also being a legitimate buddy comedy. And throughout the film I was impressed by how it was able to maintain real tension people DO get shot in it by having Rell and Clarence realistically react to the crazy shit going down around them. It's also got some clever cameos, (including Keanu Reeves himself), a club called Hot Party Vixens, (or HPV for short), and of course, that kitten, which is perhaps the cutest and most talented kitten, (well, kittens; they used seven in the filming), to ever appear on film. And don't think the filmmakers don't know it! A silly twist near the end, (and after the credits; stick around), insures us that if we want a Keanu 2 that includes that kitten, we're gonna get it. SIOUX CITY | Alex Wakefield was likely a baby when he started watching races from his dads lap. First, it was NASCAR, and then, Formula 1, Superbikes and MotoGP. His eyes grew wide as he watched wedge-shaped cars wind through tunnels and turns along the south coast of France and saw motorcycle riders lean so far into the curves that their knees grazed the pavement. It was one thing to play with little toy cars on the living room floor. It was another to see the real thing speeding around exotic tracks on TV. Watching the races unfold only fueled his interest in the drivers and destinations. Even today, the thought of travel brings back fond memories of spreading out maps with his grandmother and putting their fingers on the places they could go. Hes turned his love of all things that go "vroom" into works of art that show the animation of the greatest moments in racing history, whether drivers are cruising on two wheels or four. Following that dream offered him the opportunity to travel. Wakefield, 37, spent five days in Portugal and met with a crowd of art-loving motorheads in March during the opening reception of Speed Lines, a solo exhibition featuring 10 recent works seven of which he made within four weeks. The exhibition, which is on display through June 19, demonstrates an exercise in imagination, offering different points of view. Many angles in his paintings would be impossible to photograph or even see as a spectator in the stands. Months ago, Wakefield received a suspicious-looking message from a museum in Portugal. It seemed like one of those internet scams where a Nigerian prince wants to give you loads of money, right after you send identifying information and bank account numbers. But that wasnt the case. A curator saw Wakefields work on Petrolicious, a website for classic car enthusiasts, and wanted him to show a selection of pieces at the Museu Do Caramulo, a motor museum in the hills of central Portugal. Through his paintings, the Sioux City transplant takes viewers inside the races, in a tangle of colors, capturing the speed, sounds and excitement as if they had actually been there for these historical moments. His painting of Mercedes-Benz factory driver Sir Stirling Moss with navigator Denis Jenkinson in the 1955 Mille Miglia places the viewer directly above the winning duo that completed the 992-mile course in 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds, averaging 99 miles per hour. In another painting, the headlights of a bright blue and orange Porsche 917 barrel straight out of the canvas as Brian Redman careens around the fearsome Masta Kink, part of the old Spa-Francorchamps circuit in 1970. Historic racing is a little more interesting to me right now and finding out more stories whether its the cars or the teams, he said. Ultimately, thats what I try to get through in my art. SCREENINGS Elk Point blood Drive, 1-6 p.m. May 10 at St. Jospeh's Catholic Church, 605 E. Main St. Schedule an appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800-287-4903. Sloan Community Blood Drive, 3:30- 6:30 p.m. May 18 at Community Hall, 423 Evans St. Schedule an appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800-287-4903. Free blood pressure screenings, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays at Countryside Senior Living, front lobby. No appointment necessary. Free skin cancer screenings, 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 12 at June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Appointment required, call 712-279-2507 or email mercyeducation@mercyhealth.com PROGRAMS/SELF-HELP GROUPS Al-Anon Information Center, call 255-6724. Al-Anon and Alateen, meetings locally. For times, dates and locations of area meetings, call 255-6724. Alcoholics Anonymous, beginners information, call 252-1333. Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at Mid-Step Services, 4303 Stone Ave. For families and interested persons. Child Care Resource and Referral, provides resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, and child care providers. Assists in child care needs. For more information, call 712-277-1180. Co-dependence Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at First Lutheran Church, Fireside Room. Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA), 10 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. Compassionate Friends, 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of each month (third Thursday in November and second Sunday December) in Mercy Medical Center's Leiter Room. For families who have lost children. Contact Nancy Webb 712-212-4032 or Don Mulder 712-541-5512. Children of Divorce, to help children cope with the challenges of parental separation or divorce. Call 712-279-2373 for more information. CLINICS Siouxland District Health immunization clinics, call for appointment, 712-279-6119 or 1-800-587-3005. INFORMATION Family and Addictive Illness series, for more information, call 234-2300. Iowa Fathers, 6 to 8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month at Hope Lutheran Church, Education Building, 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, Neb. Support group to help single, divorcing and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa. Mercy Pathways Outpatient Program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on the third floor, Mercy's Central Medical Building, 801 Fifth St., Suite 360. Provides hope, help, opportunity to connect through group therapy for individuals experiencing personal, relationship, psychiatric issues. For more information, call 712-279-5991. Narcotics Anonymous, meetings daily, various times, dates and locations. For more information, call 712-279-0733. Overeaters Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays at Floyd Valley Hospital, Lower Level, 714 Lincoln St. NE, Le Mars, Iowa; 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3700 Indian Hills Drive; 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 402 Lane Ave., Storm Lake; 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Nazarene, 226 N. Main St., Viborg, S.D.; 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at Newman Center, 320 E. Cherry St., Vermillion, S.D.; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. A 12-step recovery program for people who have problems with food and weight. No fees. St. Lukes Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on fifth floor of St. Luke's, located at 2720 Stone Park Blvd. Offers several levels of outpatient care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. This program provides support and integrated treatment to individuals experiencing personal or relationship issues as a result of their mental illness. For more information and admission criteria, call 712-279-3906. Sobriety By Faith, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For more information, call James Mothershead at 712-577-9715. The Link-Recovery and Freedom, at PMA Building, 6000 Gordon Drive; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday workshop, and Christian 12-step meeting 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For all ages. Call Dee at 389-7432. Women in Recovery, meets monthly at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For details, call 712-255-4623. Tarahouse Meditation Center, 8 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all at 3112 Rebecca St. Three easy 10-minute sessions in small group; beginners welcome. For more information, call 490-6410. Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the lobby at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Free to public. SUPPORT GROUPS Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hawkeye Club basement, 420 Jones St. For more information, call 277-5935. Celebrate Recovery, Bible-based 12-step recovery group. Thursdays at 6:30 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Daycare provided. 712-490-3343. PFLAG of Siouxland, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 7 p.m., fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. St. Mark ELCA Church, 5200 Glenn Ave., in the upstairs meeting area. 712-258-3116. Singles widowed and divorced, all ages, 4 p.m., Sundays. McDonald's at Sixth Street and Lewis Boulevard. 712-252-2675. HIV/AIDS Support Group, meets weekly. For more information, call Darla or Teri at Siouxland Community Health Center, 712-252-2477 or 888-371-1965. La Leche League of Siouxland, breastfeeding support group meets every third Thursday at 11 a.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church. Children are welcome. For more information, call Mary at 712-546-7280 or Jacquie at 712-255-2998. Living Each Day Cancer Support Group, 7-8 p.m. second Thursday of the month, Floyd Valley Hospital, Conference Center Room 2, Le Mars, Iowa. Open to all cancer patients, cancer survivors and family members. No charge. Pre-register by calling 712-546-3441 or 800-642-6074, ext. 441. Mom and Baby Support Group, 10-11 a.m. last Monday of the month at the Orange City (Iowa) Hospital, lower level. For new moms and babies. 712-737-5260. Tri-State Sober Project, 12-step meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Friendship Community Church, 305 Sergeant Square Drive, Sergeant Bluff. 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, Transitional Services of Iowa, 1221 Pierce St., Sioux City. Doug's Donors Support Group, information for organ donors and recipients, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 5:15-6:30 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Mercy Cafeteria Woodbury Room. 712-277-1050. Divorce Care, noon Sundays starting Jan. 10; GriefShare, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 12; Single & Parenting, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays starting Jan. 14; all at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814. Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, 1:30-3:30 p.m. first Saturday of the month at the CNOS, Dakota Dunes. For anyone with MS and/or their families. Call Janet Limoges at 605-217-2726 prior to attending. The NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group, will meet from 7-9 p.m. on May 3 in the Fireside Room of Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center. The DVD "Minds on the Edge," will be viewed and discussed. Individuals and family members coping with mental illness are invited to join. For information, call Shirley Matheis at 722-4462. Nebraska Polio Survivors Association, will host their May meeting at 2 p.m. on May 1 at Bloomfield Forum, 98th & Nicholas. If you are a polio survivor or a supporter of one, please join. New Life Life Support Group, 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 2929 W. Fourth St. Spiritual 12-step program. For more information, call Donald at 712-574-1744 or James at 712-255-7624. Post Polio Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant by Menards. 712-490-8213. Relationship Support Group, 7 p.m. Fridays at Marketplace Mall. For more information, call 239-3129. Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Individual and Support Groups. For more information, call CSADV in Sioux City at 712-258-7233; Plymouth County at 712-546-6764; Monona County at 712-423-3443. Advocacy and support available 24 hours a day at 1-800-982-7233. All services free of charge and confidential. Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, 11 a.m. third Saturday of each month at St. Luke's Hospital, meeting room 1. For patients, their family and any concerned member. Call La'Keshia Rainey at 712-203-2019 for more information. Sioux City Association of the Deaf, 7 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Morningside Church of Christ, 5015 Garretson Ave. Regular meeting, September-May; no meeting, June, July, August and December. Siouxland Autism Support Group, second Thursday of the month at Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave. For more information, call Julie Case at 712-490-8939. Siouxland Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Prestwick Apartment Clubhouse, 4230 Hickory Lane. For anyone diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy and family or friends. For more information, call Steve at 274-6927. Siouxland IC support group, meets quarterly in Sioux City. For patients struggling with interstital cystitis. For more information, call Jacque Dundas 316-641-9766. Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind, 2-5 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Northern Hills Retirement Community, 4002 Teton Trace. For more information, call 712-266-8926 or 258-8151. Grief support group, 5:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 5 for 13 weeks (may join at any time), Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., Sioux City. Scott, 712-899-6315. Siouxland Ostomy Association, 2 p.m. first Sunday of each month (except September, which will be second Sunday; and no meetings June, July, August), in Room 300 at Mercy Medical Center, 801 Fifth St. For more information, call Dick Lindblom at 251-2453. Siouxland Parkinson Disease Support Group, 1 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at Siouxland Center for Active Generations, 313 Cook St. For more information, call at Jack Scherrman at 712-277-9337. Sojourners, support group for families of persons with life-threatening illness, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Room 416. For more information, call Marjorie Jarvill at 402-241-8637. South Sioux City Weight Support Group, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City. For more information, call 494-1401 or 494-2133. Support groups at Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, 520 Nebraska St., Suite 101: Women's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month; LGBT Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Friday of the month; Adult ADHD, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; Advocacy Group, 1:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call (712) 255-1065. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, group meetings various times, days and locations in Siouxland. For information on the chapter in your area, call 1-800-932-TOPS. Voice Disorder Support Group, meets as needed at Mercy Medical Center, Buena Vista Room. 712-279-2686. Women's Peer Support Group, in Wayne and South Sioux City, Neb., for those who have experienced domestic abuse. For more information, call the Wayne office at 402-375-4633 or 1-800-440-4633; in South Sioux City, call 402-494-7592. Help and support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services free and confidential. Woodbury County D.M.D.A., noon-2 p.m. first Saturday of the month at Country Friendship Acres, 4501 West St.; 7-8 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at 515 Court St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at 441 W. Third St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at 409 W. Third St. in the Community Room. Support group for people with disabilities and mental disorders. Natural Mamas in Siouxland, 1 p.m., third Tuesday of each month in the Garretson room of the Morningside Public Library. All ages of children are welcome to come with moms. For sharing natural living tips, recipes, natural remedies and health, homemaking, mothering, etc. For more information, call 402-913-0038 or visit their Facebook page. A Step Beyond support group, 3:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, except for August, November and December when it meets at 5:30 p.m. (no meeting in January) at the Christy-Smith Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. For more information, call 712-276-7319. Divorce care, 5 p.m., Sundays. Fireside room, Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha St. Gamblers Anonymous meetings, 4 p.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd.; 7 p.m. Wednesday, Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave.; 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church. 712-277-2901. Art therapy support group, 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Registration required, call 252-9387. After Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call Brenda, 252-9370. After Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:15 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call 252-9426. Alzheimer's Association Big Sioux Chapter Support Group, 2 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; 4 p.m. third Tuesday of the month (under age 65) at 201 Pierce St., Suite 110 (Famous Dave's building); and 6 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. For more information, call Emily Lord at 712-279-5802. Christy-Smith Funeral Homes of Sioux City, extensive grief library at the Morningside location. Open to the public during weekday hours. For more information, call 276-7319. Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness Support Group, 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month in the lower level of the Orange City Hospital. For more information, call 712-737-5260. Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Mercy Medical Centers Older Adult Services Welcome to Medicare, 1:30-4 p.m., the first Friday of every month at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce Street. To pre-register, or for more information, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-279-6900. SIOUX CITY | Trinity Heights Marian Center, at 33rd Street and Floyd Boulevard, will host the North American Volunteers Virtual Pilgrimage of Lourdes at 7 p.m. May 11. Weather-permitting, there also will be a Rosary procession. All ages and faiths are welcome; the Marian Center is wheelchair accessible. For information, call 712-239-8670. GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas | As an ambulance rushed him to Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital in December 2012, Erick Martinezs future was suddenly in grave doubt. The then-26-year-old truck driver had been sitting in the parking lot of an Arlington, Texas, Wendys when he suffered a seizure caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm. He had bleeding in the space around his brain a subarachnoid hemorrhage. A ruptured aneurysm occurs in just eight to 10 people out of 100,000 annually, but it is particularly deadly. Forty percent of the cases are fatal, and more than half of those who survive suffer permanent brain damage, according to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. So its with a grateful heart that Martinez, now 30, rebuilds his life. Sitting in his comfortable home in Grand Prairie, he is asked how he beat the odds. God, Martinez answers matter-of-factly. Theres nothing more but God. Friends tell him that his story makes them take stock of their own day-to-day challenges. One in 50 people has an unruptured brain aneurysm, according to national statistics. For most people, the condition sort of a blister on a blood vessel is not discovered unless doctors happen upon it during a medical scan for another reason, said Dr. Frederick Todd II, the neurosurgeon who treated Martinez at Arlington Memorial. But for those whose aneursym ruptures, the effects are often devastating. Symptoms include a sudden very severe headache, loss of consciousness, seizures and blurred or double vision. He was very, very bad off when he got to the emergency room, Todd said. Martinez doesnt remember the first month he was in the hospital, though he was conscious and talking with family. His first memories begin in mid-January, when he felt as if he was waking up. He looked around the white hospital room and saw his mother, who told him what had happened. She said, Erick, you had an aneurysm, and I was like, What the heck is an aneurysm? Martinez said. Martinezs youth and physical fitness helped him in his recovery after he left the hospital that February. Despite having some confusion remembering family members and friends and what happened before the aneurysm, Martinez said his challenges were more physical than cognitive. During his ordeal, his mother and members of her church prayed for him. Later, in answer to his own prayers, he felt that God spoke to him directly. I was there with you, Martinez said God told him. I was there whenever the aneurysm ruptured. I was there inside the ambulance with you. I have been there your whole life. I am very blessed and glad to be alive, Martinez said. MIAMI | Her whole life, 2-year-old Nicolly Pereira couldnt see or hear her mother. The deaf and blind toddler from rural Brazil knew her mothers love mostly through touch, when she hugged Nicolly or stroked her light brown hair. But last month, Nicolly gazed into her mothers teary eyes for the first time. A wide smile filled her face and she instantly pressed her forehead against mamas, her tiny hands on her mothers shoulders. The only word that can be used to describe the feeling is God, Nicollys mother, Daiana Pereira, 26, said at Miamis Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. My daughter is free now. She now shines more than before. She has now become a reference for people who didnt believe in miracles. Nicolly was diagnosed with pediatric glaucoma shortly after birth. Doctors confirmed that she couldnt even see light. Back home in Santa Catarina, Brazil, Nicolly received seven surgeries; they were unsuccessful. But when Pereira posted her story on Facebook, it went viral more than 30,000 people started to follow Nicollys mission to one day see. Eventually, a Miami viewer contacted the Jackson Health Foundations International Kids Fund (Wonderfund), which partnered with the local Kevin Garcia Foundation. Together, the organizations raised more than $17,000 to pay for Nicollys surgery at Bascom Palmer. Alana Grajewski, director of the institutes pediatric glaucoma center, performed a three-hour surgery on March 17 and was able to restore little Nicollys sight, an achievement she had not thought likely. When she arrived, I felt I had made a mistake, because normally when they have the children arrive, they have some sort of vision thats measurable, Grajewski said. We have a technician look at them initially and they wrote down that Nicolly couldnt see anything, not even a light. Eye pressure in children is normally from 10 to 20. Nicollys was at 50. Grajewski said she felt discouraged but still had hope. After surgery, Nicollys eye pressure decreased to 12. It was amazing, she said. Everything came together. The first day after surgery she had eye patches on both eyes. Even with the patches, though, Nicolly knew something had changed. She was smiling ear to ear and singing, Grajewski said. I loved the feeling of first seeing her moms face. That just moved me so much . Then all of a sudden, she realized: Oh my gosh, thats my mom. And her mother could tell the recognition. It was just one of those moments priceless. For months, Pereira believed her lively child was also deaf and developmentally disabled since she didnt talk or walk. But after arriving in the U.S., Nicolly was examined by University of Miami doctors, who discovered she had water buildup in her inner ears. The doctors donated their time and performed surgery to drain the water, which took about 30 minutes. Both procedures were done on the same day. Nicolly can now hear, see, sing and stand on her own. Although she is nearsighted, the little girl giggles and rolls around, all while sporting her new rose-colored glasses. Twinkle, twinkle little star, she sang in English. With her new sight, she was fixated on the screen of an iPhone. Nicollys sight is still changing as her eyes heal from the surgery. Grajewski says that although she cant tell for sure how Nicollys vision will pan out, it will improve. How it ends up, though, is contingent on continuous follow-up care back home in Brazil. She will return to Bascom Palmer in a year for a checkup. Doctors at Bascom plan to train the eye doctors who performed the girls surgeries in Brazil so that they have more up-to-date techniques and can recognize the signs of glaucoma to treat it early and prevent the loss of sight. SIOUX CITY | City leaders planted a Canadian tree, known for its vibrant summer and autumn colors, in Sioux City on Arbor Day. "They have some interesting leaf colorations," said Kelly Bach, the city's park maintenance field supervisor. Two Regal Petticoat maples were planted Friday morning at the city Field Services Department, 1723 18th St. Crews will monitor the trees, native to Eastern Canada, which can grow 40 to 70 feet tall. The planting was made possible by a $20,000 donation from MidAmerican Energy. In total, the utility provided $205,000 to 56 cities and community organizations throughout Iowa. Mayor Bob Scott, City Manager Bob Padmore, Brad Howard with MidAmerican and other Field Service workers attended the event. In 2015, Sioux City received the 2015 Tree City USA Award at the 26th Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines. The city was one of 81 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status, which requires a city to have a forester, an active city tree board, a tree ordinance, and a tree planting and maintenance plan, and spend at least $2 per capita per year for community forestry. STORM LAKE, Iowa | St. Marys Elementary in Storm Lake has a new principal with local experience. The Storm Lake St. Marys school district announced Thursday that Diane Jones has been hired as the pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade principal. Jones recently served as an administrator at Storm Lake Middle School for 11 years before retiring. She also has experience in the district as a media specialist and special education instructor. She has served as the media director at Storm Lake Elementary School. Jones also has served as a teacher at St. Marys early in her career. Jones said she is excited to work in the school system. The Rev. Timothy Friedrichsen, president of the school system, said the school will benefit from Jones leadership. St. Marys School is blessed to have (her) joining our school family, he said in a news release. I am very grateful and happy that she has accepted the position. SIOUX CITY | Tickets for American Airlines' new routes between Sioux City and Dallas have been selling well, in what local leaders are calling a step forward for the tri-state area. Local marketing efforts have helped build excitement for the non-stop flights to the Lone Star State, which start Thursday, said American spokeswoman Lakesha Brown. "It's been a diligent effort," Brown said. "We know how important this is to the local economy and supporting the community." American, the lone carrier at Sioux Gateway Airport, currently offers two daily flights to and from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The Chicago-bound planes are usually 80 percent full, leaving small doubt that Dallas trips will be successful, said Barbara Sloniker, executive vice president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. Sloniker said the new connection is a cause for celebration. "The new service seems well-received from what Ive seen. American Airlines is competitive on fares, she said. Sloniker and other area business leaders have secured seats on the inaugural flight to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Thursday afternoon. To celebrate, local leaders will hold a "First Flight Fiesta" beginning at 2 p.m. in the Sioux Gateway terminal, with a ribbon-cutting before the regional jet departs. Mike Collett, airport director, said the new connection is much needed, giving travelers more direct connections to southern and western destinations without commuting to nearby airports in Omaha or Sioux Falls. It makes a lot more sense, too. Some people dont like to fly east to fly west. They dont want to go to Chicago to go west, he said. The flights represent an opportunity for the airport, with more flights and hubs a possibility in the future predicated upon the success of the Dallas routes, Collett said. "Success builds success, he said. Were always looking for more destinations but have to be realistic within the market. The Dallas/Fort Worth hub is American's largest, offering access to 800 daily flights with connections to more than 200 markets in the U.S. and other 24 countries. Flights will be offered by American Eagle, a regional partner with American Airlines, which will fly 50-seat jets. The first flight from Dallas is scheduled to land in Sioux City at about 2:46 p.m. Thursday, with the first return trip to Dallas set to depart Sioux Gateway at 3:25 p.m., according to the airline's website. Sioux Gateway has been without routes to a western or southwest hub since Frontier Airlines ended its three flights per week to Denver in the fall of 2014, just two months after entering the Sioux City market. Chris Camenzend, owner of Premier Travel and Cruise in Sioux City, said while American's new Dallas service is still somewhat limited for those who wish to fly to Denver or Mexico, it will go a long way towards showing capabilities of someday supporting another carrier. Its fabulous were getting this service. It shows others were more likely to handle a bigger workload, she said. Local officials noted that American's Dallas fares are comparable to those at Omahas Eppley Airport and the Sioux Falls Regional Airport. A round-trip ticket from Sioux City to Dallas, departing May 13 and returning May 16, for example, was priced as low as $499 each way, according to the airline's website. The same trip on American was listed at $363 at Omaha and $502 at Sioux Falls. Local officials say the convenience of being dropped off at Sioux Gateway and not worrying about traffic and paying for long-term parking was well worth a slightly higher fare. SPENCER, Iowa | As rains continued Thursday, with more precipitation in the forecast through the weekend, the threat of flooding in parts of Siouxland rose slightly. The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, which issued flood warnings for the Big Sioux, Little Sioux and Ocheyedan rivers earlier this week, adjusted upward projected water levels. The Little Sioux in Milford was estimated at 12.3 feet Thursday morning, already above the 12 feet flood stage. At stages near 12 feet, minor flooding of low-lying agricultural lands begins. In Spencer, the Little Sioux was estimated to be at 10.8 feet Thursday, past the 10 feet flood stage. The river is expected to crest near 11.9 feet by Friday, flooding the city park and some rural agricultural areas before receding around Monday. Meanwhile, the Ocheyedan River near Spencer is also bloated due to rainfall, passing its 8-feet flood stage Thursday morning to 8.1 feet, with an expected crest of 8.9 feet by Friday. At 9.5 feet, significant amounts of farm land and pastures begin flooding. The Little Sioux River at Linn Grove reached 18.5 feet Thursday morning, past the flood stage of 18 feet. The river is estimated to crest near 19.1 feet by Sunday, flooding the city park. At Cherokee, the Little Sioux was estimated at 17.2 feet Thursday morning, past its 17-feet flood stage. By Friday, the river is expected to crest to 17.9 feet. At levels above 18 feet, the city park will begin to flood on the south bank of the river. The Big Sioux River in Akron, measured at 13.4 feet Thursday, is expected to rise above the 16 feet flood stage Thursday, and creast at 17.2 feet by Sunday. At 17 feet, nearly 6,500 acres of farmland in Plymouth County would be flooded. In Hawarden, the Big Sioux on Thursday morning was estimated at 11.4 feet, with a flood stage of 15 feet. By Friday, the waters are expected to crest at 16.1 feet before receding, flooding agricultural land on the South Dakota side of the river. Friday holds a 40 percent chance of rain in Northwest Iowa, growing to a certainty of rain in the evening and chances of thunderstorms. More rain is in store Saturday and Sunday, with an 80 percent chance of precipitation coupled with thunderstorms Saturday. Fields is one of three men arrested in connection with the Jan. 25 incident in which, according to court documents, Fields, Tykell Robinson and Keegan Ingram forced their way into a home in the 4300 block of Springfield Street. Ingram is accused of pointing a gun at the occupants, and all three are charged with taking a AR-15 rifle, ammunition and electronics. SIOUX CITY | While issuing body cameras to Sioux City's police officers would increase transparency and provide valuable evidence, the ongoing expenses and potential problems with Iowa's open records laws pose concerns for the department, Sgt. Jeremy McClure told a group of officers, civilians and media Thursday evening. McClure's presentation was part of the Sioux City Police Department's annual town hall meeting, held Thursday at the Sioux City Public Museum. About 50 police officers, civilians and media personnel attended. Topics included community policing, the department's project lifesaver initiative and local crime statistics. The most discussed item, however, was the prospect of supplying each Sioux City Police officer with a body camera, a move the department is currently researching and planning. Purchasing cameras remains voluntary for Iowa law enforcement agencies. Cedar Rapids and portions of the Des Moines police departments currently use body cameras. In 2014, the Woodbury County Sheriffs Office began using 75 body cameras for deputies and correctional staff. Police Chief Doug Young said the department is considering purchasing cameras to equip 90 officers. He said the purchase of the cameras themselves which are about the size of a deck of cards and can range from $50 to $1,000 in price would be manageable. But an ongoing financial burden would be storage of the cameras recordings through a cloud system or local setup, which could cost thousands of dollars. "The storage will be the killer here," Young said. McClure said an additional concern is Iowa's current open records law, where some but not all of the recordings would be classified as public record. Facilitating open records requests might require paying employees to redact portions of the recording, and potential court costs would also require funds. McClure said advantages of body cameras would be increasing the amount of objective evidence, aiding in potential court cases. McClure added the cameras would help officers with training, showing how to act during situations shown on camera. In the end, he said, hes in favor of adding them. "I think nationally, with everything that's going on, there has been some erosion of public trust. People question what we do, and I don't think our word stands as strong as it used to, McClure said. I'm for it just for the simple fact that it's going to show that we are doing what we're supposed to be doing, and that we are an agency that you can trust. DES MOINES | State leaders praised Sioux City Thursday for creating a positive environment for small businesses. The city was honored with the 2016 Iowa Small Business Administration Community of the Year award during a luncheon as part of the Iowa Smart Conference in Des Moines. Sioux City is the second recipient of the award, which recognizes community efforts to support small business City Councilmen Dan Moore and Keith Radig, city economic development director Marty Dougherty, city economic development specialist Renae Billings and Ken Beekley, executive vice president of Siouxland Economic Development Corp., represented the city at the conference, co-sponsored by the Iowa Utility Association and Iowa Economic Development Authority. "I think the award is a recognition of the city's and our partners efforts over the past couple years to make a positive environment for small businesses and entrepreneurs," Billings said. She added the city provides small businesses with technical and educational assistance. The SBA cited the city's small business initiatives such as Start-Up Sioux City, a collaborative effort between private and public interests to nurture and encourage entrepreneurship. The city's leveraging of federal, state and local government, higher education and community resources was also recognized for helping the city create an ideal small business culture. "Due to our collaborative efforts and everything we have going on, we've really taken a leadership role in helping our entrepreneurs and our regional partners," Billings said. The group also recognized Sioux Citys leveraging of federal, state and local government, higher education and community resources. Sioux City also will be recognized by the Iowa SBA during its annual Small Business Week reception on May 6 in West Des Moines. INDEPENDENCE, Mo. | William Shakespeare once wrote, Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. It can be said that our 33rd president, Harry S. Truman, had greatness thrust upon him. Truman had only been vice president for 82 days when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died suddenly on April 12, 1945, instantly making Truman president of the United States. But within six months Truman was able to announce Germanys surrender and later end WWII with the surrender of Japan after making the tough decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Truman also signed the charter ratifying the United Nations during his first six months in office. The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum tells the story of the feisty president who was famous for such statements as The buck stops here and You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog. Harry S. Truman was born on a farm in Independence, Missouri, on May 8, 1884, the first of three children born to John and Martha Truman. Harrys parents couldnt decide on a middle name for their child so they simply used the letter S as a tribute to both his maternal grandfather, Solomon Young, and his paternal grandfather, Anderson Shipp Truman. After high school Truman held a variety of jobs and then returned to farming and also joined the Army National Guard. He helped organize his National Guard regiment and ultimately volunteered for duty when WWI broke out, even though he was two years older than the age limit for the draft and also eligible for exemption as a farmer. His unit was called into duty with the 129th Field Artillery. After his arrival in France Truman was promoted to captain and led his men through heavy fighting during the Meuse-Argonne campaign. After the war Truman returned home and married his childhood sweetheart, Elizabeth Bess Wallace, in 1919. They had one daughter, Mary Margaret. His first business venture ended in failure when he and partner Eddie Jacobson set up a hat shop in Kansas City. America was in an economic downturn and the shop failed, leaving Truman with a $20,000 debt. He refused to claim bankruptcy and insisted on paying back his creditors even though it took more than 15 years. It was about this time Democratic boss Thomas Pendergast, whose nephew James served with Truman during the war, contacted Truman and later appointed him overseer of highways. Pendergast then chose him to run for one of three county judge positions in Jackson County. He was defeated when he ran for reelection but ran again in 1926 as a presiding judge, a position he held until he ran for senator. Truman was elected to the United States Senate in 1934. While serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee Truman began investigating railroads, and in 1940 he initiated legislation that imposed tighter federal regulation on the railroads. This helped him establish a reputation as a man of integrity. By the time Truman was up for reelection in 1940 Pendergast had been convicted of tax evasion and was associated with voter fraud. Truman never tried to hide his association with Pendergast and earned a reputation as a forthright and ethical man. He won the election but narrowly. His chairmanship of a special committee to investigate the National Defense Program to prevent war profiteering and wasteful spending in defense industries caught the attention of colleagues and President Roosevelt. When Roosevelt went looking for a vice presidential running mate for the 1944 election he chose Truman. Roosevelt and Truman were elected in November 1944 and they took the oath of office on Jan. 20, 1945. Just 82 days later Roosevelt died of a massive stroke and Truman was sworn in as president on April 12, 1945. After ending WWII Truman was faced with another crisis when the North Korean Army invaded the South in June 1950. He quickly committed U.S. troops to the escalating conflict because he firmly believed the invasion of South Korea was a challenge from the Soviet Union and if left unchecked would lead to WWIII. The fighting ended in July 27, 1953, but as recent events have shown, tensions in Korea are still high. After his presidency Truman returned home to Independence where he wrote his memoirs, oversaw the construction of his presidential library and took his famous long walks usually with reporters and photographers in tow. Harry S. Truman died Dec. 26, 1972, and is buried next to Bess in the courtyard of the Truman Library. Their daughter, Margaret, and her husband, E. Clifton Daniel Jr., are buried nearby. The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum has artifacts from Trumans early life right up to his post-presidential years in Independence. Included in the collection are galleries showing life during the 1950s with cars and a buggy once owned by Truman and even a reproduction of the Oval Office during his administration. Medicare wants more doctors and patients to talk about the tough care decisions that must be made if a person becomes seriously ill or incapacitated. The federal entity, which covers health care for people over age 65, has started reimbursing doctors for having face-to-face, advance care planning discussions about a patient's treatment preferences should they become unable to speak for themselves. Only 17 percent of adults say they have had these discussions with a health care provider, according to the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. Here's what you need to know. WILL EVERYONE HAVE COVERAGE NOW? That can still depend on the insurer. If you don't have Medicare, check before scheduling an appointment specifically for one of these discussions. If there is no coverage, doctors may cut you a discount to have the talk. A half an hour of a doctor's time could cost you $125 or more, depending on where you live. But don't think a lack of coverage means you can't talk to your doctor. Doctors have been reimbursed for years for discussing treatment options with patients during the course of care or an office visit. Some have done it without reimbursement. By offering reimbursement specifically for this discussion, the government aims to encourage more of these conversations to take place. This might make it easier for more people to have the conversation with their doctors if they are not facing a terminal illness. WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS TALK? The range of patients isn't limited to the elderly or people with a serious condition. These voluntary discussions can be crucial if someone later winds up critically injured from a car accident and unable to communicate. Even healthy younger adults should think about an advance care plan, according to said Dr. Peter Hollmann, chief medical officer of University Medicine in Rhode Island. "The odds of you needing it tomorrow are very, very small, but they're not zero," he said. These discussions can last a half an hour or more and may require another visit. WHAT WILL THESE DISCUSSIONS INVOLVE? There's no set format for how they unfold. Hollmann says they should largely be directed by the patient. The conversation may involve how you would want to be treated if you have a terminal illness. That could include exploring whether you would want a ventilator or CPR performed in certain situations. It also could include talking about nutrition and whether you want treatment that's focused on comfort or prolonging your life. Your doctor will probably want to discuss who you have chosen to act as your health care representative in case you become incapacitated and need someone to make decisions based on your wishes. Think carefully about the spouse, family member or close friend you select for this role and make sure they know your wishes. ARE THESE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT STIRRED CONCERN THAT THEY WOULD LEAD TO FEDERAL 'DEATH PANELS'? Yes. More than six years ago, a provision for Medicare to cover this sort of counseling, which includes discussing end-of-life care, touched off an uproar that threatened President Obama's still-developing health care overhaul. Former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin's accusation that voluntary counseling could lead to government-sponsored "death panels" dictating the fate of frail elders was widely discredited. But the counseling still stirs concern among some right-to-life advocates that it could be used to nudge patients into forgoing life-saving treatment and cannot be adequately monitored for bias. WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER TALKING TO MY PHYSICIAN? Write an advance directive. This documents in your own words instructions about future medical care. That means you won't have to depend on your doctor being present in an emergency and having notes from your discussion. Advance directives don't expire, so patients don't have to worry about writing one too soon. But people should periodically review them to make sure they still reflect their wishes, said John Mastrojohn III, executive vice president with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. "They basically remain in effect until you change it," he said. These are legal documents, and their form can vary by state. You won't need a lawyer to complete one, but you may need a witness or notary to sign it. Mastrojohn's organization offers a website with links to copies of each state's advance directive form: http://bit.ly/1cgFdvW. WASHINGTON, D.C. | Flora Yang is small, spry and not afraid to tell you her age: "90-something." She walks twice a week at Mazza Gallerie in Northwest Washington, D.C., and says mall walking keeps her young and fit. Health officials are starting to notice that effect too and say more malls should open their doors to walkers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put out a guide saying the mall is a perfect place for seniors to get in their steps. It's no secret that getting up and moving makes people healthier and reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. But unpredictable weather and unsafe streets sometimes get in the way, especially for seniors. That's where shopping malls come in. Mall walking began decades ago, when heart doctors began recommending it to their patients, said Basia Belza, a professor at the University of Washington's nursing school. She estimates that hundreds of programs exist around the country, but they aren't widely known. "They are the best-kept secret," Belza said. The CDC's resource guide, for malls, released last year, encourages malls to expand walking clubs and set up new ones. The guide, co-authored by Belza, said indoor shopping centers are ideal for walking because their level surfaces make seniors less likely to slip and fall. Malls are also well-lit and have water fountains, restrooms and places to rest. And seniors can walk in malls regardless of the weather. The surgeon general cited mall walking last year in a national call to action to improve the nation's walkability and to get more people moving. Mall walking clubs are often partnerships between a shopping center and providers, hospitals and community groups that serve seniors. They are typically free for walkers, and some include organized warm-up exercises, health screenings and lectures about healthy eating. Sibley Memorial Hospital runs the walking club at Mazza Gallerie. In addition to helping seniors get exercise, participating in the club reduces their isolation, said Marti Bailey, director of the hospital's senior association. "It's so much more than walking," Bailey said. "It's walking, talking, sharing life together in a real way. It's the beauty of the walking club." Bailey said such clubs are more important now than ever, given the aging of the population and the number of seniors living with chronic diseases. Yang believes she was the first member of the Mazza Gallerie walking club. She said she started walking there in 1992, back when she could carry her granddaughter in her arms. Soon, she said, people started walking with her, and the numbers grew. She has benefited greatly, she said. "Still I can fight you," she said, giggling. Members of the club come and go. Ann Morales, the secretary of the group, pulled out a photo of its walkers from several years ago. "This is the doctor who used to be here," she said. "He passed away ... Marlene, Flora are here. We haven't seen this lady for a long time." On the mornings that they gather, the seniors start with a blood pressure check by a retired doctor. "Let's take a peek," Aric Schichor said as he wrapped the cuff around Yang's arm. "140 over 80." Then Yang stood up and headed down the hall, holding hands with another longtime walker, Marlene Jordan. "My doctor says I need a cane," Jordan said. "I don't think I need it." "I'm her cane," Yang said, giving her a squeeze. The group strolled past a T.J. Maxx and a jewelry store and turned the corner at a Subway sandwich shop. Seven times around made a mile. Helga Fox, 87, has been walking with the group for a few years. She lives in a condo with a fitness center, but she prefers to come here. She likes the company. "It's a nice way to start the day," she said. Most of all, Fox said, she appreciates being able to visit with the doctor. She has hypertension and feels better after having her blood pressure checked. Walking groups also benefit the malls, which have struggled to attract traffic as more consumers turn to online shopping. Nicole Schade, a spokeswoman for Mazza Gallerie, said the walkers there often visit the stores, see a movie or grab breakfast. "We have seen an uptick in business thanks to the mall walking program," Schade said. Jagannathan Murli, for example, always heads to McDonald's afterward. He and a friend always order the same thing: two coffees and two hash browns. "It's not healthy, but it's allowed," Murli said. But, he added, only after walking. Small businesses are leveraging Facebook more and more to engage their customers and prospects. A growing number of SMBs are posting videos on Facebook, and millions of them are advertising on the platform. And small businesses are investing more in Instagrams advertising platform as well, which leverages Facebooks targeting tools to help them connect with the right prospective audience. With next being National Small Business Week, Facebook is holding a small business event in Atlanta, GA. We caught up with Ciara Viehweg of Facebook as she shares with us how small businesses are leveraging Facebooks platform to build deeper relationships with customers and prospects to grow their businesses. Ciara, who is part of Facebooks SMB Community Engagement Team, also shares a few tools SMBs can use to get the most out of Facebooks platform from a customer engagement perspective. * * * * * Small Business Trends: Before we start talking about the cool event Facebook is going to be doing in my home town, Atlanta, maybe you can give us a little bit of your personal background. Ciara Viehweg: Ive been at Facebook for the last year and a half, which has been incredibly exciting. Both of my parents were small business owners, so Im very passionate about working with small businesses and I absolutely love to get to speak to small businesses all the time. Im originally from San Francisco so I havent moved too far at all. Im still based in San Francisco today. Small Business Trends: How many small businesses are using Facebook today? Ciara Viehweg: Were actually seeing really incredible momentum with small businesses using Facebook. Theres already 50 million businesses who have Facebook pages and 3 million of them are advertising on Facebook. What were really hearing from small businesses is that theyre on there because it works; its incredibly easy to use; and its mobile, which is where the world is today. Small Business Trends: Thats a lot of small businesses. Does that provide Facebook with some interesting insights about whats going on in general when it comes to small business today? Ciara Viehweg: I would say there are three major trends that weve been seeing with small businesses using Facebook. The first is mobile; businesses are telling us there is no better place than Facebook and Instagram to reach their customers because it is a mobile-friendly platform and people are spending more time on their mobile devices. The mobile world is here and if businesses are not mobile-friendly, then theyre not where their customers are. 1 out of 5 mobile minutes are being spent on Facebook and Instagram so its so important for small businesses to be where their customers are, which is why so many of them are really leveraging Facebook to reach their customers. The other really interesting thing about mobile is that its not just their customers who are using mobile devices. Were actually seeing a lot of small businesses using mobile devices to reach their customers. There is over a third of active advertisers who are exclusively advertising using just their mobile device, which is a really cool trend to see. I would say the other really cool trend were seeing is video. Businesses are telling us they absolutely love video because its providing them a really cool and unique way to show behind the scenes whats going on in their business; invite their customers into their actual stores to see whats going on. There are over a million and a half of small businesses that posted videos in the last month alone, which is really exciting. I would say that maybe the third trend were seeing is Instagram. Some people dont know that Instagram is part of Facebook. Small businesses have always been a really important part of the Instagram community. Its where people go to get inspired and discover new things, including businesses. Now what were hearing is that they are pumped to be using Instagram advertising, which also leverages Facebook targeting, so its a really unique combination of using this great, visual platform and using Facebook targeting to find their exact customers on Instagram. Small Business Trends: Are there some underutilized tools that SMBs could really be taking advantage of that they just dont seem to be doing right now? Ciara Viehweg: I would say measurement is a huge thing that is sometimes underutilized by businesses. We know businesses have very limited time and money, and our goal is to be the best marketing minute and dollars that businesses spend. Its really important for businesses to ensure that theyre using the page insight and ad insight tools that we do offer. Theyre free products and services that give them such a wealth of information of who are the people who are interacting with their page; the actual ROI theyre receiving on their ad. Were finding that the businesses that are really leveraging these insights and targeting on Facebook are the ones that are having the most success. Small Business Trends: Could you talk a little bit about Facebook Chatbots and how would a small business be able to take advantage of that kind of capability? Ciara Viehweg: Facebook Chatbots, I can say, are incredibly early. Right now were really focused on getting the experience right for people. We do think that Bots can help businesses and people find the things that they are really looking for and connect with businesses in meaningful ways. Again, its incredibly early so were really looking forward to seeing what happens with it. Small Business Trends: One last thing around video, you talked about how it seems to be getting adopted in really rapid fire. Is Facebook Live driving that? Ciara Viehweg: Weve seen businesses are absolutely loving Facebook Live. I actually had a couple of businesses just emailing me the other day because they were just so excited to use it. Theyre using Live to connect with their customers in authentic ways. I think they love Live because it gives them the ability to bring their customers literally into the store and show them whats happening right there in that moment. There is a business called the Chefs Roll thats based out of San Diego, California, and they always do these chef competitions with these really famous chefs from all around the world. Now what theyre able to do is they turn on their Facebook Live and suddenly, their 92,000 fans who follow them on Facebook have the opportunity to tune in and watch the competition happening live. It allows the fans to root on their absolute favorite chefs from all around the world. Its been an incredibly exciting journey. Were really excited to see where Facebook Live goes. Again, its really early but businesses have been very excited about it and jumping on it right away. Small Business Trends: Is there any advice you would like to give any small businesses about how they can get started using Facebook from a business perspective? I think there are still a lot of small businesses out there that are still trying to figure it out and havent made the jump yet. Ciara Viehweg: The first place, I would say, is our Facebook for Business page. There are tons of videos; great articles; lots of success stories that you can sort by vertical to see what businesses like yours are having success on Facebook. Its a great place to also get support and ask questions, if you do need help. I would also say Facebook Blueprint. There are over 50 courses that you can take that teach you everything you need to know about marketing on Facebook and Instagram, and every single course is absolutely free. Its all self-paced so its a really great resource for people who are just getting started or even wanting to take the next step and learn a little bit more about some of our advanced targeting tools. See Also: Animoto Renews Commitment to Small Businesses After 10 Years and 20 Million Users Businesses are telling us that they are so excited about Instagram, so we also have an Instagram for Business page, a great resource to see some of the trends; to learn a little bit more about hashtag; get some support; and see what other businesses are doing well on Instagram. Small Business Trends: Next week is National Small Business Week and you guys are coming to my town, Atlanta, to have a small business event. Maybe you could tell us a little bit about that. Ciara Viehweg: Small businesses are the bedrock of this economy and we thought what better way to celebrate them than during National Small Business Week. Were finding that a lot of businesses we talk to dont realize how many tools that exist on Facebook to succeed. The whole goal of this event is to really highlight a lot of these tools; put them at the forefront and give businesses the opportunity to interact with people from our team to learn more about these tools. For example, our Facebook Creative Shop Team will be there. Theyll be showing businesses how to find unique and easy ways to create really compelling content on Facebook and Instagram. Our Facebook Blueprint Team will be there so that online eTutorial that I just spoke about, theyre going to be speaking to businesses and showing them how to take these learnings into their own hands and do them when they get home, as well as take courses right there at the event. Then, of course, were going to have Instagram there, which were very excited about. As I mentioned, businesses are so excited to get started with Instagram, so Instagram will be there to inspire and connect businesses and teach them more about how to use the power of visual storytelling to reach new customers on Instagram. Small Business Trends: Where could people learn more about this event? Ciara Viehweg: The event is actually sold out. But I would also say even if you cant attend, using those resources that I talked about before is a great way to learn more about marketing; targeting; creating content on Facebook and Instagram. This is part of the One-on-One Interview series with thought leaders. The transcript has been edited for publication. If it's an audio or video interview, click on the embedded player above, or subscribe via iTunes or via Stitcher. 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 Justice Chikod Ezuokeaba, age 28, was arrested in connection with an online scam. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (April 28, 2016)An online scam which robbed over $23,000 from a victim in Kentucky has led to a man in Prince Georges County. When a search warrant was executed Wednesday, 11 individuals from Nigeria were identified inside the residence.In February, 2016, the Maryland State Police, Criminal Enforcement Division-Central South Region, was contacted by investigators from the Lexington Kentucky Police Department, Bureau of Investigation-Financial Crimes Unit, regarding a bank fraud scheme.MSP-Central South investigators learned in November 2015, Kentucky investigators initiated an investigation into the alleged fraudulent transfer of funds to a bank whose account owner is in New Carrollton, Maryland. According to the victim, she was contacted by the suspect, Justice Chikod Ezuokeaba, 28, of the 7800 block of Riverdale Road, New Carrollton via social media. The suspect requested money from the victim to ship a package from London to Maryland. Over $23,000 in wire transfers were sent to the suspect.On April 22, 2016, investigators met with an Anne Arundel County District Court judge and received a search warrant for the suspect's New Carrollton residence. Investigators applied for and received an arrest warrant for the suspect through Prince Georges County for theft and theft scheme over $10,000/under $100,000.Early on April 27, 2016, investigators from MSP-Criminal Enforcement Division-Central South Region, Prince Georges County Financial Crimes Unit, Department of Homeland Security Investigations and a uniform trooper from the College Park Barrack served a search warrant at the Riverdale Rd address.Investigators secured the residence where 11 individuals from Nigeria were identified. Warrant, citizenship, and residency checks were performed by the Maryland State Police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSI). All wanted checks were negative. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations will follow up on additional residency status.The suspect, Ezuokeaba, arrived at the residence prior to investigators departing. He was placed under arrest and transported to the College Park Barrack for processing. Later, Ezuokeaba, was served with an additional open warrant from Kentucky. He was transported to the Hyattsville Detention Center, Prince Georges County.If Ezuokeaba is found guilty on the Maryland charges, he could face up to 15 years in jail and/or up to $15,000 in fines. Wayne Besen was 18 years old when he first experienced an attempt to rid him of his homosexuality. It was 1988 and his parents bought him a self-help tape called Gay and Unhappy, which claims to use self hypnosis and subliminal persuasion to turn someone straight. Decades later, he would use this experience to help fight all forms of conversion therapy. Instead of my parents dealing with the issue, that was the first thing they turned to when they saw that in the store, this tape, he said. So I understood intuitively how this works, how that dynamic works within families, because it happened to me. Besen is the founder and executive director of Truth Wins Out (TWO), celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It was when former President George W. Bush invited the leaders of Exodus International, a religious conversion therapy group, to the White House that Besen saw that work needed to be done. He had published the book Anything but Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth in 2003 and was already in advocacy work. That was a very dangerous message to send young people, Besen said of Bushs guests. This whole ex-gay message has found its way into the highest office of the land, and that has to be countered because its a very insidious lie, being one of the worst around. It denies people their very existence and its very effective, too. It allows people to believe that their own child can pray away the gay, therefore they dont have to accept them. Its something of a temporary phase, so why go for acceptance if you can start that process? So he founded TWO in 2006, pouring his savings into the cause and receiving generous donations from other LGBT activists. The group identified its foes as Focus on the Familys Love Won Out program, Exodus International, Love in Action, Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality, now for Healing (JONAH), and other conversion therapy groups. Conversion therapy and the ex-gay movement are practices, typically rooted in religious belief, that ones homosexuality can be removed through prayer, fasting, reading scripture, and even going as far as torture and exorcism. The therapies are performed at houses of worship, therapist's offices, and camps. TWOs mission was to conduct research into groups, which helped scholars, lawyers, and other LGBT groups with their own work. Much of this is done through TWOCARE, the organizations Center Against religious Extremism. In 2007, TWO made waves when it exposed reparative therapy going on in the clinic of Marcus Bachmann, the husband of Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. TWO sent in an undercover patient armed with a hidden camera and recorded multiple sessions where he was told that no one is born gay and that he could be cured. Love in Action ended its camp, Refuge, in 2007 and started the Family Freedom Intensive, another camp for adults and their children, a month later. Love Won Out was sold from Focus on the Family to Exodus International, which disbanded in June 2013. In the summer of 2015, JONAH was at the center of the nations first trial on conversion therapy. The Southern Poverty Law Center claimed that not only was their work unethical, but it was also consumer fraud. I call it malpractice because every respected medical and mental health organization says it doesn't work and gay people aren't mentally ill, Besen explained. [These groups] start talking about what they do and how they do it and even conservatives aren't buying it. I mean thats how you beat them: the question of how. Thats when people see it for the fraud it is, for the danger it truly is, and for the deceptive practice that should be banned. Its really a con artists game. The jury found that JONAH was guilty of misrepresentation and the courts required that it pay $72,400 in damages and $3.5 million in legal fees, according to Slate. In December 2015, it was ordered that the group disband and could no longer practice conversion therapy in the state of New Jersey. I think weve been enormously successful even beyond what I had hoped and expected given the results of how that movement is now in tatters, Besen said. They're all gone now and were still standing, and thats exactly what I promised we pound(ed) them relentlessly for a decade into oblivion. While legislation to illegalize the practice for minors is underway in multiple states, religious freedom has made it hard to ban it for adults. Besen believes it should be illegalized completely because of consumer fraud, but admits that TWOs energy is best spent on helping youngsters forced into conversion therapy. Make no mistake, its extraordinarily damaging when people are put under this practice at any age, he said. I think we should just focus right now on youth. You cant stop everybody from being harmed, but we certainly though can protect our kids. Also, with the internet, TWO putting out its research and Besens books -- he wrote Bashing Back in 2007 the priority is helping those considering therapy to not enter, or for those who are already in it, to leave. If someone stays in it for two years instead of 10, thats a victory and we've helped them enormously, he said. Today, Besen is also taking his message to the airwaves as the host of The Wayne Besen Show on Chicagos Progressive Talk. TWO continues working with other groups working to ban conversion therapy, sharing its expertise and research on the topic. In fact, because of the success of TWO, every year they have evaluated whether it is needed any longer. At this point, weve put most of these groups out, he said. We always assess, is there more we can do? Are we needed? And then go from there. ESA Mars Rovers ESA In a live space-to-ground test of humanrobot cooperation, ESA astronaut Tim Peake will control a rover on Earth on Friday from the International Space Station, helping prepare for future exploration missions. On 29 April, ESA astronaut Tim Peake will operate a terrestrial rover nicknamed Bridget from the Station as part of a series of experiments investigating how humans interact with robotic systems and vehicles. The 154 kg rover will be driven by Tim starting at 10:00 GMT (12:00 CEST) over simulated Mars terrain in Stevenage, UK, as though he were searching for scientific targets such as rocks. The 30 x 13 m Mars Yard is split into lit and dark areas to simulate, for example, roving into a cave or a shadowed crater. The rover was developed by Airbus D&S, who are working with ESA and the UK Space Agency to investigate controlling robots on simulated planets. Tim will drive it for about 90 minutes, says Jessica Grenouilleau, of ESAs Robotics and Future Projects Office. Interestingly, he will only be provided with basic training on how to react to situations that the rover encounters, as the experiment aims in part to study how humans interact extemporaneously with robotic systems. On board the Station, Tim will connect via video and data links to the rover at Stevenage using a sophisticated delay-tolerant network, a sort of Internet in space, which is itself part of the experiment. This network enables experiment controllers to simulate losses in connections, delays in responding to commands and other disruptions that are expected in future when an astronaut in orbit operates a rover on Mars or an asteroid, for example. It also allows for comparing different modes of rover operations and handover of control between ground and the astronaut. Future missions into the Solar System will include humans working hand-in-hand with robots as our scouts and proxies, gathering scientific and physical information that will make human exploration feasible, says Philippe Schoonejans, Head of Robotics and Future Projects and coordinator for ESAs Meteron project, under which the rover-driving experiment is being conducted. The experiment involves teams at the Mars Yard in Stevenage, ESAs ESOC operations centre, Darmstadt, Germany, which will serve as the mission control centre for the experiment, and Belgiums Station User Support and Operation Centre in Brussels, which will serve as the interface to the ISS. Airbus will hand Bridget over to controllers at ESOC at about 12:35 GMT (14:35 CEST), who will drive it to the edge of a simulated cave or crater the shaded area at the Mars Yard. Control will then be passed to Tim, at about 14:20 GMT (16:20 CEST), who will command the rover to drive into the dark, avoiding obstacles and identifying potential science targets, which will be marked with a distinctive fluorescent marker. Once the targets have been identified and mapped, Tim will drive the rover out of the shaded area and hand control back to ESOC to drive the rover back to its starting point. Realtime updates will be provided via the links below. Links to live video showing experiment progress will available on 29 April. Twitter @esaoperations @esa_meteron Blogs Tim Peake mission Meteron China takes a firm stance in its partnerships with African countries that can be summarised as follows: you have obtained independence, but remain dependent on western countries. China can offer true liberation and genuine economic development: a win-win partnership. Undoubtedly Brazil, Russia, India and Turkey provide alternative options. Establishing competition between suppliers and service providers is an advantage for African countries. Another advantage is access to the Yiwu Grand Bazaar, which supplies Africa with cheap manufactured goods its traditional partners cannot offer African consumers. However, these advantages are useless if Africa does not take the opportunity to make practical use of its links with China in other words, to positively exploit China. The Chinese presence in Africa is particularly evident in the construction, oil exploration and mining sectors, as well as in the importation of goods. However, Chinese companies have little input in material production on the continent. Furthermore, the Chinese presence is very different in qualitative terms from the industrialising presence of western countries in China at the root of the Chinese miracle. Undoubtedly more serious is the range of projects carried out by Chinese companies. In the case of a build, operate and transfer (BOT) contract, the company selected to implement the project is an investor that is compensated by exploiting the infrastructure it has created in a country. The investor company must also take account of the running costs to guarantee the return on its investment and to make a profit. However, in the case of an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, the company selected is only a service provider paid a fixed amount (in kind or in cash) on completion of the work. In this second case the prime contractor is not required to look ahead; the cost of a BOT contract is therefore higher than that of an EPC project. This latter solution is consequently more popular given the low cost and speed of execution presumably at the expense of quality that takes precedence when choosing a contractor. Favouring the short-term over the long-term could mean that China is a better opportunity for the powers in place who purchase social peace and guarantee their continued existence through projects that are effectively mortgages on the future than for the economies of these countries. It is not enough for African governments to exploit Chinese (or other foreign) companies, they must also ensure that foreign companies participation forms part of a development strategy that accounts for the real costs of investments and their long-term impact. Then and only then can we consider whether China is actually an opportunity for African countries or whether the financial support granted to Chinese companies during the last Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will benefit African development. And finally whether this really is a win-win partnership. Whether it will be is ultimately more dependent on Africa than on China, as suggested by Lamido Sanusi in 2013 in his much talked about letter to the Financial Times. As Deborah Brautigams investigative research has so effectively shown, the assumptions about Chinas role in Africa are often not borne out in reality. The level of investment and linked aid flows, the numbers of imported Chinese workers, and the areas of land grabbed for investment are much lower. And, as her recent book shows, Africa will not be feeding China or China feeding Africa any time soon. Working with African, Chinese and European colleagues, our team investigated Chinese engagements in agriculture in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, reported in a new open-access Special Issue of the journal World Development. It proved surprisingly difficult to find information. The data on land acquisition, investment flows and aid projects is limited and confusing. The Chinese role in agriculture in terms of business investment, technology transfer, demonstration efforts, training and more is growing, and shaping perceptions. The Chinese Agricultural Technology Development Centres are flagship investments. There are now 23 across Africa, funded in their first phase by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce under their aid programme. They are run mostly by companies, and linked to a commercial model for training and technology demonstration and sale. However, as Xiuli Xu and colleagues show, the centres performance depends on who is running them, demonstrating that there is no singular Chinese model of development or statebusiness partnership. We also explored a number of cases of business investments in agriculture, primarily led by Chinese state-owned enterprises. For example, as Jing Gu and colleagues explain, in Xai Xai in Mozambique, the Wanbao agricultural development company from Hubei province took over 20,000 hectares on a state farm to grow rice and develop a contract-farming arrangement with surrounding farms. It has not been easy. Kojo Amanor and Sergio Chichava describe the changes in company leadership, disputes with local communities, and shifting alliances with local elites. The training of government officials is an important aspect of the Chinese engagement in Africa. Over 10,000 are trained in China each year, many in agriculture. This far exceeds any training initiative of any western aid programme. Henry Tugendhat and Dawit Alemu explored the impacts of these courses. While there have not been many immediate impacts, the longer-term building of relationships and the exertion of soft power diplomacy is important. Perhaps the most far-reaching but least understood dimension of Chinese involvement in African agriculture is the growing number of migrants involved in the agri-food sector, from farming and processing to retail and restaurants. Seth Cook and colleagues discovered a growing investment in supplying specialist Chinese foods to burgeoning expatriate Chinese populations. Those involved often came as part of Chinese government contracts, established businesses and then encouraged others to join them from China. Through our work, we were able to gain a snapshot of the early stages of Chinese engagement in African agriculture, which is certainly not yet at the scale sometimes assumed. In the longer term, activities may accelerate, as more opportunities open up. But China is also changing. As its economy restructures to a new normal, there are different demands. Food will certainly remain one, but this will not likely come from Africa. As a new global power, however, China will want to maintain business, aid and diplomatic relations with Africa, and sustaining relationships will be important. China plays the long game, and our studies were observing just the opening stages. In the bustling neighborhood of Roncesvalles, a primarily Polish community located in Toronto, Canada, Reunion Island Coffee Roasters opened their flagship location on a prime corner lot in July 2015. Reunion Island has been in wholesale operations for 20 years, but the company wanted its very own flagship to show new and old customers alike just how great our coffee can be, according to the companys Director of Relationships Adam Pesce, whose family started the business in 1995. Everything about the cafe is minimal, bright, and inviting. From the moment coffee goers step foot into the cafe, each moment is striking. Customers are welcomed with a now internet-iconic black and white tile floor that spells out COFFEE. Pesce says, Some people have welcome mats, we have coffee. The whole space seems thoughtful and, well, highly Instagrammable, with tables adorned with succulents and air plants, and stark white walls filled out by commissioned art pieces by longtime friend and artist Steph Hung, dedicated to the Roncesvalles neighborhood. The minimal focus of the shop was something that was not lost on Pesce and his team. We want to make it very clear, this is a place for coffee. Inside the shop, General Manager Derek Hamers oversees the day-to-day of the coffee bar where guests can saddle up to the pour-over station at any time of day, or enjoy the latte art offerings from barista Yuna. The roasting side of the business stays heavily involved in every step in the chain, from the farm level to brewing parameters at the shop. Reunion Island wants to ensure that everyone gets a chance to drink their coffees at their best, and that care shows through in the cup. Beyond the roasting, sourcing, and attention to brewing and presentation that are Reunion Islands visible focus, the company maintains a strong commitment to sustainability. The company is a certified B Corp, which Pesce says is telling of who we are as a company. The companys carbon-neutral operations are powered by renewable energy, and sourcing focuses on relationship-traded coffees with organic, Fair Trade, and/or Rainforest Alliance certifications. For the espresso program, Reunion Island uses both a washed and a natural processed coffeewashed for espresso and Americanos, and natural for milk-based drinks made even sweeter with Harmony Organic whole milk. It took a bit of explanation at first, says Pesce, but our customers have really taken to it and have totally come to accept and love the flavor of naturals. Single-origin filter offeringslike a recent experimental coffee lot from Guatemalas Finca La Soledadchange regularly, every four to six weeks. The coffee bar has become a bit of a testing ground of sorts for the roastery. Over the past year, they have started working hand-in-hand with their direct trade partners to do some mixed processing. Starting this May at the cafe, not only will Reunion Island offer two different processes of the same coffee but also from the same farm. Were hoping thatll really give customers a wicked experience and the opportunity to taste what effect processing can have on coffee. Equipment-wise, the shop has found the Mythos Clima-Pro grinder keeps shots running smoothly on their two-group Modbar espresso system alongside a Mahlkonig EK 43 for their batch-brew and pour-over offerings, a Marco under-the-counter water boiler, and one of Canadas first Marco Jet brewers. Peeking out the gorgeous front window that opens out into the community and in turn keeps the staff cool during the summer months, the cafe staff has started thinking of some creative signature drinks to add to the warm-weather menu. Taking ordinary seasonal drinks known to be super sweet, they have created drinks such as the Dulce de Leche Flat White using ingredients made from scratch to create a balance of flavours while still offering something fun and irreverent. As Pesce tells me, We enjoy taking the piss out of the larger coffee industry. Amanda Scriver (@amascriver) is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. This is Amanda Scrivers first feature for Sprudge.com. Photos by Britney Townsend. According to the media outlet, Libya's UN-backed unity government is against Hiftar's offensive over concerns that his forces may clash not only with jihadists but also with forces loyal to the Tripoli-based General National Congress. "We ask all military forces to wait for [the government] to appoint a joint command for the Sirte operation. Any infringement of this order will be considered against military law," the unity government's administration said as quoted in the publication. After Libyan long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011 by Western-backed rebels, two rival governments were formed in Tobruk and Tripoli. The instability triggered the rise of numerous Islamic militant and terrorist groups, particularly Daesh, outlawed in Russia, which has been carrying out attacks on Libyan oil and other infrastructure. In December 2015, Libyas rival governments (the internationally-recognized Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress) agreed to create a Government of National Accord and end the political struggle. Fayez Sarraj currently heads Libya's Government of National Accord. "Considering the state of the US defense budget and the expected modernization of US strategic systems, it seems difficult to envision an appetite for an expensive [GLCM] program with relatively limited operational utility," St. Johns University Professor of Government David Kearn told Sputnik on Thursday. Kearn, author of "Facing the Missile Challenge: US Strategy and the Future of the INF Treaty," said developing a GLCM would be expensive because of the requisite capabilities involved and the fact the United States has not built such a program in 30 years due to industrial base constraints. "If it is a conventional missile, it will require relatively high accuracy and a fairly significant payload," Kearn noted. "A cruise missile option may be cheaper, but it is unclear what value a land-based GLCM would have over Tomahawks launched from other platforms." In terms of basing, Kearn suggested, Central and Eastern European members of NATO would be more willing to host intermediate range missiles than the traditional Western European partners, but that alone would constitute a significant diplomatic effort on the part of Washington. Orlando Bloom visited schools where he was photographed with students and signed autographs in the Kiev-controlled part of Donbass , where he met with children who had fallen victim to the Ukrainian conflict. The star of Pirates of the Caribbean, who is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, ate lunch at a local cafe in Kramatorsk. In the town of Slavyansk he paid a visit to a school. According to a Ukrainian TV channel, there was a big buzz in school 13 in Slavyansk because of the arrival of the Hollywood actor. During the dinner, Daniela's interest in Africa and her desire to help children didn't leave anyone indifferent. "There were officials from over 25 African countries at the dinner party and they were all fascinated by little Daniela," Yambasu told Spuntik during a phone interview. Daniela told the Ambassador of Sierra Leone that she dreams about riding on elephants. Unfortunately, a civil war during the 1990s in Sierra Leone pushed all the elephants out of the country, but Yambasu and his fellow African officials couldn't leave the little girl's dream unfulfilled. "Daniela said she wants to ride on elephants and see crocodiles. But since we in Sierra Leone don't have elephants, the ambassadors of Rwanda and Uganda invited her to visit them," Yambasu said. The girl and her parents were invited to visit Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, next year. According to the ambassador, the little Russian girl could bring more attention to the fate of underprivileged children around the world. "Children are the symbol of love and unity. Children are the same, everywhere in the world. When the girl visits Africa, she can become symbol of peace and humanity," Yambasu shared his thoughts with Sputnik. After the end of a brutal civil war that destroyed much of the country's economy during the 1990s, Sierra Leone was quickly recovering before 2014, when the West African nation hit by the Ebola epidemic that killed close to 4,000 people. Fortunately, with the help of the international community, the government in Freetown managed to curb the deadly virus. According to Ambassador Yambasu, Ebola is "now completely over in Sierra Leone." The Ambassador thanked Russian scientists and medical professionals, in particular Anna Popova, Russia's Chief Sanitary Physician, who helped to develop a vaccine to cure Ebola, providing major help to Sierra Leone. The notorious Pleasure Squad' was revealed by North Korean defectors who fled the isolated country for China or South Korea. A group of about 2000 girls is said to be chosen from across the country and trained to serve the North Korean military elite. Their duties range from singing, dancing and giving massages, to performing sexual favours. According to the reports, some of the girls are barely 13 when they are selected for their future "job." When picked, schoolgirls are thoroughly examined to make sure that their lineage is clean, that they are in good health and, naturally, virginal. Defectors say they also must meet strict physical requirements. After the inspection they are separated from their families many relatives never learn where they go to be trained. Often they go abroad for months to study massage or learn to sing and dance professionally. Sundarpur, in the eastern state of Jharkhand, which also happens to be the native village of Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha, is also facing a severe water crisis. Sputnik talked to some of the villagers and found out that parents are shunning marriage ceremonies as there is not enough water for daily chores. Usha Devi of Sundarpur told Sputnik that, "We have to postpone the marriage as we cannot guarantee the availability of drinking water for our guests. To fetch a bucket of water we have to travel a distance of more than 5 to 6 km." Schools in many parts of drought-stricken Marathwada and Budelkhand are closed due to the severe heat wave and water crisis. Due to the drought children have to walk miles to fetch a bucket of water. One 12-year-old girl lost her life while fetching water due to exhaustion and the intense heat in the Beed district of Marathwada region. In another freak accident, an 11-year-old boy fell into the well while fetching water in the same area. Maharashtra: People in Nagpur forced to survive on muddy &contaminated water as #drought situation prevails in state pic.twitter.com/lgDqHfaNsg ANI (@ANI_news) April 28, 2016 Better late than never, Central government will now send a team to study the water situation in drought-affected areas in the country and prepare a long-term plan of possible actions to tackle the drought. Further, Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Board teams have been asked to analyze the causes leading to the drought and identify challenges to the water resources. Central team will also find out long-term solutions and suggest measure for protection, management and restoration of water bodies. The Central fact finding team will submit its report to the Water Resources Ministry till June last. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to media reports, the man set fire to himself on Wednesday when UN officials were visiting the refugee detention facilities on Nauru, where over 450 refugees are currently living as their asylum applications are being processed by Australia. "A 23-year-old Iranian man who set himself on fire in Nauru has tragically died today from his injuries," the statement reads. The current outbreak of the Zika virus originated in Brazil last year and soon spread across Latin America. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, since 2015 the virus has been detected in 42 countries. On February 1, WHO declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency. The virus primarily affects humans and monkeys and is transmitted by mosquitoes. It reportedly can also be transmitted through blood transfusions and sexual intercourse. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance returned the 440-pound piece, valued at $1.1 million, to Pakistan's Deputy Chief of Mission Rizwan Saeed Sheikh at a ceremony on Wednesday. Mr. Sheikh said it was "an important element of the cultural history of Pakistan," and would likely be kept in New York for the short term and possibly put on display. The second-century stone-carved artifact depicts ancient religious symbols and "Buddhapada" footprints of the Buddha, symbolic reminders that Buddha once walked the earth. It was taken from an archaeological site in Pakistan's Swat region and eventually smuggled into the US. Seventy-year-old Japanese antiques dealer Tatsuzo Kaku brought the sculpture to the US from Tokyo and tried to sell it during a popular arts event, Asia Week New York, but the sale was intercepted by New York authorities. New Delhi (Sputnik) In a balancing act Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has invited Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping to take part in the upcoming Buddha Jayanti Celebrations. Nepal's government is celebrating Buddha Jayanti with much fanfare on May 21 in Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha. This year is the 2,560 th birth anniversary of Buddha and the Government of Nepal has invited a large number of world leaders including top Indian political and religious leaders. The Nepali government's decision to invite Modi and Xi is being regarded as an act to make a fine balance between its two close neighbors. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On October 3, 2015, a US AC-130 gunship aircraft shot 30mm cannon shells for 30 minutes into a MSF hospital in Kunduz, killing more than 40 medical staff and patients, including children. Earlier on Friday, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) Army Gen. Joseph Votel announced that Washington had taken administrative and disciplinary measures against the individuals involved. "The administrative punishments announced by the U.S. today are out of proportion to the destruction of a protected medical facility, the deaths of 42 people, the wounding of dozens of others, and the total loss of vital medical services to hundreds of thousands of people," the organization said in a press release. According to MSF, the "lack of meaningful accountability" sends a signal to the conflicting parties and is unlikely to deter "future violations of the rules of war." MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russian government acknowledges the lack of mutual trust between Russia and a number of Western countries, but notes that many foreign companies and entrepreneurs have not left the Russian market despite the sanctions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. "So far, indeed, we acknowledge that our relations with a number of countries are going through a turbulent period, a period with a deficit in mutual trust," Peskov told reporters. According to Peskov, it is too early to talk about any possible improvement of relations between Russia and the West. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The 2016 SPIEF is due to be held in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on June 16-18. The forum is attended annually by business and official representatives from dozens of countries. "Regarding the message that the president plans to deliver to foreign participants of the St. Petersburg forum, I can say that work on the president's address has just begun, and it is too early to make predictions. However, I can say with a large degree of confidence that the president will, as he has done at every forum, focus on our interest in foreign investment and a continued broadening of cooperation with foreign companies," Peskov said. ANKARA (Sputnik) According to the minister, trade between Iran and Turkey reached $10 billion in 2015 with plans to increase this figure to $30 billion in the short-term. We believe the economic relations between Turkey and Iran will gain significant momentum with the lifting of the sanctions, Tufenkci noted, as quoted by the Anadolu Agency. Tufenkci pointed out that the Gurbulak-Bazargan customs border point, the largest overland crossing between Iran and Turkey, will be rebuilt soon. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Tuesday and Wednesday, a Russian-Chinese working group on high-speed railway cooperation met in Beijing. Russian and Chinese delegations were led by Russian Railways First Vice-President Alexander Misharin and China Railway Vice General Manager Huang Min respectively, according to Russian Railways. "The Chinese side will provide a financial loan equivalent to 250 billion rubles for the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod section and an amount equivalent to 150 billion rubles for the Nizhny Novgorod-Kazan section. The sides discussed possibilities of financing the project in US dollars and in yuan," the company said in a statement. In late March, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich attended the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), where he invited Chinese business to take part in the implementation of high-speed rail projects in Russia, including the MoscowKazan railway and a high-speed railway between Samara and Tolyatti. MUNICH (Sputnik) Zubkov said that Russia offers Europe a number of solution to this problem, including the implementation of the Nord Stream-2 pipeline project and the supplies through the so-called "Southern Gas Corridor." The Nord Stream 2 is the gas pipeline joint venture, which is expected to provide an additional route for the Russian gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea, bypassing the three Baltic countries and Poland. Gazprom started the project with a consortium of five largest European energy companies, including Shell and E.ON. "The implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project would be a great contribution to the strengthening of energy security of Europe. Russia offers a commercial project which is beneficial both to Europe and Germany. It must be implemented," Viktor Zubkov told RIA Novosti. "The reason why it is being done in secrecy is that if people know what is being traded away here then there will be absolute outrage," explained Hilary. "We already have seen huge demonstrations across Europe and I think we increasingly seeing anger in the United States about what people are seeing is inside TTIP because TTIP is not your traditional trade deal." The pundit explained that, unlike recent 20th century trade deals that primarily codified commodity trading, TTIP is about getting rid of regulations on environment, worker protection, food safety and wages. "What they are trying to trade away in New York are all of these standards that we think are so important but that big business wants to see disappear," said Hilary. Why has the TTIP taken so long to negotiate? When the TTIP was initially floated years ago, EU and US officials expected that the trade agreement would be finalized by the end of 2014 but now analysts suggest that, if it happens at all, a finalized deal may not come forward until 2019 or 2020. The fact is that the niche in various fields has already been filled by other countries and Russia may not be willing to return to some European countries because it has seen what it can easily get from other countries. For example, Russia is now buying garlic from Iran and radishes and fruit from Israel. Well, the European companies will try to go back, but it wont be the same market. I still believe that it would be good for Russian consumers because a big offer means lower prices, he added. When asked whether trade restrictions had proved a strong instrument of political pressure, he said that in his opinion Washington had wanted to build a new Iron Wall between Russia and the rest of Europe. It was a stupid idea, Xavier Moreau emphasized. Answering the question on whether European companies would try to get back to Russia after the sanctions had been lifted, Moreau said he was positive about that. Yes, they will try but, like I told you, there will be new companies, Russian companies that will be very competitive, so if I were a French producer I would try to produce some high quality products, which are still lacking in Russia, Xavier Moreau said in conclusion. The ICRC also intends to keep the same budget in place for humanitarian operations in conflict-torn Ukraine in 2016 as in the proceeding year, Daccord added. "Its true last year we had a sharp increase in our operation," Daccord told RIA Novosti in an interview, adding that last year's budget was around $73 million. "This year <> we want to maintain that." According to the commitee head, the humanitarian needs of the local population in Ukraine have not increase this year compared to 2015 so the budget should be sufficient to the organizations activities in the country. "I think that the critical question for us is to be able to sustain that [current budget] over time <> I have a plan to also convince donors to support us to be able to do that," Daccord said. Parts of eastern Ukraine have been experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis since Kiev launched a military operation there in April 2014, in response to local residents' refusal to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities. Kiev launched a special military operation in Ukraines southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities, which came to power as a result of a coup. The confrontation has claimed over 9,000 lives, according to UN estimates. In February 2015, a peace agreement was signed between Ukraines conflicting sides in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. The deal stipulates a full ceasefire, a weapons withdrawal from the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, an all-for-all prisoner exchange and constitutional reforms, which would give a special status to the brake-away regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. MOSCOW (Sputnik) French police detained at least 27 protesters of whom at least 24 have been charged with violence against police during riots in the capital on Thursday night, the Paris Police Prefecture said in statement. "Till 3.30 a.m. [01:30 GMT] protesters were throwing different items at the security forces. Neither police officers nor demonstrators received [any] injuries. 24 people of 27 detainees have already been accused of violence against police," the statement reads. Hanning, who led the German BND foreign intelligence agency from 1998 until 2005, said that he had no doubt that the majority of the population of Crimea voted to become part of Russia. He added that the manner in which the Black Sea peninsula rejoined Russia inn 2014 was unacceptable to the West. Hanning said he felt that that Russia was ready move forward and find solutions, including on Crimea. He also called to keep the search for a compromise away from the public eye. We should do this more circumspectly publicity will only harm, August Hanning noted. Hong Kong was leased to Britain until 1997. After its return to China it received the status of a special administrative region with rights of broad internal autonomy for a transitional 50 years, i.e. until 2047. Under the agreement, Beijings authority is limited to the representation of Hong Kong in international relations and defense issues. When attending the Asian Economic Forum in January 2016, Russias Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said that Moscow was ready to discuss the possibility of creating a free economic zone between Hong Kong and the Eurasian Union. He added that such an agreement had already been concluded with Vietnam and that similar talks were now in progress also with Israel. Crimea rejoined Russia in the spring of 2014 according to the results of a region-wide referendum. Ukraine, backed by the US and the EU, does not recognize the results of the March 16, 2014 plebiscite. In January the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it made the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions conditional on Crimeas return to Ukraine. The agreement has been under negotiation for months ever since the European Court of Justice ruled in October 2015 that the previous EU-US data agreement Safe Harbor was invalid. The issue arises from the strict EU laws enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to the privacy of their personal data. #UmbrellaAgreement will help EU and US justice and police authorities fight crime+ terrorism w/ high #DataProtection standards for citizens Vera Jourova (@VeraJourova) April 29, 2016 The Safe Harbor agreement was a quasi-judicial understanding that the US undertook to agree that it would ensure that EU citizens' data on US servers would be held and protected under the same restrictions as it would be under EU law and directives. The data covers a huge array of information from Internet and communications usage, to sales transactions, import and exports. Facebook Judgement The case arose when Maximillian Schrems, a Facebook user, lodged a complaint with the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, arguing that in the light of the revelations by ex-CIA contractor Edward Snowden of mass surveillance by the US National Security Agency (NSA) the transfer of data from Facebook's Irish subsidiary onto the company's servers in the US do not provide sufficient protection of his personal data. The drive to modernize Denmark's aging stock of F-16 fighter jets has become even more relevant in light of the country's recent decision to expand its air force operations in both Syria and Iraq. This decision came under fire from the Red-Green Alliance and the center-left Alternative, which also rebuked the air force update, advocating a boost to the country's public sector instead. "Danish air forces must not drop bombs out in the world. And when it boils down to territorial defense, opportunities to extend the lifetime of the existing F-16 should be considered," Eva Flyvholm of the Red-Green Alliance she told Berlingske. In her earlier interview with Berlingske, she said that the Defense's top marks to F-35 "reeked of match-fixing." Earlier this week, estimates for economic growth were revised downwards. Therefore, Denmark may find it hard to maintain its current level of social welfare and living standards, Berlingske's analysis says. With both the number of the elderly Danes and the immigrant population on the rise, most Danes would rather see a long-term investment in healthcare and education rather than a costly purchase of new fighter jets. "We do not know exactly how events unfolded and why the helicopter crashed," the official of the center, Bjrn Jarle Amlid, told local TV-2 channel. #BREAKING A helicopter has crashed near Fjell #Norway. At least 15 passengers feared dead ~NRK pic.twitter.com/exeXkE72tV Yannis Koutsomitis (@YanniKouts) 29 2016 . According to a representative of the local police, there were at least 13 people aboard the helicopter that crashed off the island of Turoy. "I now have updated figures from the Civil Aviation Administration that there was 11 plus 2 people on board," operations manager in Hordaland Police told the Dagbladet newspaper. Witnesses said that they heard an explosion and saw smoke at the crash site. Debris of the helicopter are seen in the water. Rescue coordination center confirmed to Aftenbladet that the helicopter that crashed came from Gullfaks oil field and was going into the Flesland and there were 11 passengers on board. Statoil company operates the Gullfaks field. According to Aftenbladet, the helicopter was on its way to the Brage offshore oil field in the North Sea. The Eurocopter EC225 that crashed near Bergen was flying from "Gullfaks B" oil platformhttps://t.co/a8Oiff3AqD pic.twitter.com/DFVaF0cjOH Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) 29 2016 . Spokesperson for the rescue coordination center for southern Norway, John Sjurs, said the helicopter is "totally destroyed." "It lies partly on land and partly in the sea. Now it is done a thorough job on the spot." "There is a huge, and I mean really big, the number of rescuers at the site." According to the center, the rotor and some other parts of the helicopter have been found on the islet. Parts of the helicopter's hull can be seen 5-7 meters under water, about 20 meters away from shore. The helicopter involved is probably an Eurocopter EC225 from CHC Helikopter service. The helicopter involved is probably an Eurocopter EC225 from CHC Helikopter service https://t.co/a8Oiff3AqD pic.twitter.com/Sk5G2IoMaz Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) 29 2016 . Media reports said the helicopter crash occurred around 12:20 local time. According to FlightRadar24, the helicopter fell from the altitude of 640 meters before crashing on a small islet. Statoil grounded all Eurocopter 225 helicopters in 2012 after these helicopters had had a few emergency landings in Scotland and Shetland (archipelago of Scotland that lies northeast of the island of Great Britain). However, in 2013 they set the affected helicopters into traffic again. In Sweden, it is only a matter of time before the Sweden Democrats (SD), currently labeled as political outcasts, will be invited to cooperate in the government, German political scientist Timo Lochocki of the US think tank German Marshall Fund, who has studied the spread of right-wing ideology in Europe, told Swedish Radio Lohocki believes the developments in Sweden are some kind of litmus test for the rest of Europe. "It is a kind of test lab, as what happens in Sweden today, will almost certainly also repeat itself in Germany in about 5-10 years. Both Sweden and Germany are strong economies, but the public debate of today rather concerns migration and the EU than questions of wealth distribution, as before," he said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The service offers a collection of Dutch television programs and news programs, subtitled in English and Arabic, including educational shows for children. Net in Nederlands also provides links to other kinds of information, such as announcements from the Dutch Refugee Council, the Foundation for Refugee Students, On File and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers. Europe has been beset by a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants fleeing their crisis-torn countries of origin to escape violence and poverty. Responding to widespread criticism the country's Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka noted that Austria was left with no choice, saying other European countries did not do anything to limit the number of refugees. The EU has been unable to come up with a common approach to the migrant crisis. This made the situation much worse. "Our government believes that fences can stop refugee movements, but it [will be] defeated. Never in history have fences been able [] to prevent refugee movements," Genner said. Commenting on the question of whether other neighboring countries may follow in the footsteps of Austria, he mentioned such possibility exists, but it depends on the reaction of the local society. "It depends on the mobilization of civil society and public opinion. But there is a danger that one country after another will follow." At first Austria and Germany favored the open-door policy, accepting all asylum seekers. But as the number of arrivals kept increasing, the opinion of the public and the politicians gradually shifted, especially after media reports of mass attacks by refugees during Christmas in the German city of Cologne. Another issue that prompted the European Union to drastically change its stance on the migrant crisis are terrorist attacks in Paris, which claimed the lives of more than 130 people. All of the assailants were immigrants who were born in Europe and became radicalized by Islamist ideology. Many relief agencies including Medecins Sans Frontieres, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Save the Children and Red Cross have joined the UN refugee agency UNHCR in saying the EU-Turkey deal is either immoral or illegal as the "hotspots" have become detention centers. They also say Turkey is not a "safe country" for migrants to be returned to, under the Geneva Convention. More lives lost. Safe pathways needed for #refugees, many & quickly: resettlement, scholarships, fam reunification. https://t.co/AYsT2rxP5r Filippo Grandi (@RefugeesChief) 20 April 2016 "The EU-Turkey deal is not an agreement, it a decision made by EU Member States, loosely agreeing all sorts of things which bypass all normal democratic procedures, flouting international law. The UN has repeatedly expressed its doubts about the conformity of this arrangement with international law and human rights obligations, even in this chamber, not long ago," In' t Veld said. Human Rights Fears Another controversy is that the deal includes a provision that Turkish citizens will be given visa-free access to the EU by the end of June and that Turkey's accession into membership of the EU would be accelerated. However, critics say Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's record on human rights particularly freedom of speech and the media makes the country incompatible with EU principles. Missed yesterdays debate on the legal aspects of the #EUTurkey deal? Recap in our Storifyhttps://t.co/CA1Hv7xqHV pic.twitter.com/aFyArGpUgd European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) 29 April 2016 Moreover, his battle against the Kurds has drawn major criticism from human rights groups and many EU leaders. "We hear recurring reports from human rights organizations about refugees being returned from Greece to Turkey, without being able to apply for asylum. We also get reports on the disgraceful conditions in Greek detention centers. Does the European Commission go and see for itself if the reports are accurate? And what does the Commission do about it?" In' t Veld said. Gerard Deprez, substitute member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee, said: "We all know that the agreement between the EU and Turkey is the consequence of the inability of European government leaders to agree on a responsible asylum policy, based on solidarity. The reality is that we have agreed to outsource the refugee crisis to Turkey, in exchange of a lump sum." MOSCOW (Sputnik) Germany's local authorities should monitor the content of sermons in mosques throughout the country, as some of them promote ideas contradicting the secular character of the state, the leader of the ruling German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Volker Kauder, said Friday. "We need to talk about the fact that in some mosques sermons do not correspond to our understanding of the role of the state The state must control them [mosques]," leader of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Volker Kauder, told the Berliner Zeitung. ANKARA (Sputnik) According to the Hurriyet daily, Niemela, who had a Finland-issued press card, was detained on Thursday as she attended the funeral of a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), considered to be a terrorist group by Turkey. She was subsequently taken to a deportation center. Last week, the chief editor of Sputniks Turkish bureau, Tural Kerimov was denied entry to Turkey and stripped of his press accreditation and residence permit for the country before being deported. Several other reporters, including from Germany and Greece, have been denied entry to the country, while others were detained and subsequently deported. On Friday, German Defense Ministry spokesman Jens Flosdorff confirmed media reports about German military's readiness to engage more broadly in protecting NATO's eastern frontiers. "There are various models under discussion within NATO. One of them envisages entrusting Germany, as a framework nation, with deploying forces to Lithuania," the spokesman said, adding no final decision had been taken yet. According to Der Spiegel, the Bundeswehr is currently planning to send some 1,000 soldiers to take part in the NATO mission in Lithuania. The article noted that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed such proposal on April 25 at the Hanover meeting with the leaders of Britain, France, Italy and the United States. "There are early discussions on the issue taking place as well as the voting in NATO," a representative of Germany's Defense Ministry told dpa. "Decisions will be made during the NATO summit in Warsaw." Earlier, Der Spiegel wrote that in this regard Berlin has been a subject to a strong pressure from Washington. At the same, Germany is trying to follow a cautious stance on military issues, since the Bundeswehr has already been involved in the formation of the NATO Response Force. Pork Pies? Meanwhile, there are fears that locally protected foodstuff in the EU such as Parma ham, Feta cheese, Champagne, Melton Mowbray pork pies and Stilton cheese may be the subject of legal action. Under the TTIP, any restrictions on US foodmakers importing their versions into the EU, could lead to the producer taking action against the EU or member state governments. #TTIP State of Play report just published-Find out where we stand in all the different areas https://t.co/e0TDhfqhaW pic.twitter.com/aHDE1Ii6OG European Commission (@EU_Commission) 27 April 2016 That would trigger the controversial Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism, which critics say is a controversial trade tribunal system, separate from EU member states judiciary systems. Similar cases have involved tobacco giant Philip Morris suing Australia for introducing plain packaging on cigarettes and Uruguay for printing a health warning on cigarette packets. According to US sources, the current protection of EU foodstuffs has led to a US$12 billion annual food trade deficit with the EU, US$ 1 billion of which is in cheese alone. The negotiating teams are now under pressure to reach agreement over the deal, which US President Obama wants signed before he leaves office in January 2017. Why #TTIP will be a bad deal for EU #farming. Our NEW REPORT: https://t.co/E14ia5R73s pic.twitter.com/13FGemNwca Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) April 28, 2016 Suggestions that the trade deal could be quickly wrapped by settling for a limited Transatlantic free trade deal that ignores deep divisions on agricultural products and other matters, including the ISDS mechanism, have been refuted. "We are not going to shoot for or accept a 'TTIP light.' It has to be comprehensive, it has to be ambitious and we do think we have the time that we need this year to complete such an ambitious deal," a US trade representative official told Reuters on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. Mr Livingstone's comments refer to what was known as the 'Haavara Agreement' grudgingly supported by Adolf Hitler during the late 1930's designed to facilitate the emigration of German Jews to Palestine. Though the policy was agreed with German Zionists, it is important to note that it was highly detrimental to emigrating Jews, as it forced them to surrender their possessions to the German state in the process. Ken Livingstone orders his dog to "attack" reporters and avoids questions on the Labour Party's anti-Semitism row.https://t.co/a6Ug5SvRBs Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) April 29, 2016 Following the former mayor's comments, over 20 MPs including Sadiq Khan, Luciana Berger and Jess Phillips called for Ken Livingstone to be suspended from the Labour Party for anti-Semitism. The Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron weighed in on Thursday, saying that "anti-Semitism is like racism, it is unacceptable in a modern political party and every political party facing this problem has got to deal with it." Utterly wrong for Cameron to use Ken row to score political points. Anti-semitism & racism aren't just a Labour, but a societal problem Sunny Hundal (@sunny_hundal) 28 April 2016 Ironically, the original reason Mr Livingstone took part in the interview was to diffuse the situation regarding MP Naz Shah's suspension earlier in the week, due to social media posts which were also deemed anti-Semitic. During the same interview for the BBC, Mr Livingstone said: "I've been in the Labour party for 47 years, I've never heard anyone say anything anti-Semitic." Though many within the Labour Party as well as the wider Jewish community have expressed unease, there is concern that legitimate criticism of Israeli policy is being unfairly conflated with anti-Semitic views. The Jewish Socialists' Group (JSG) for example, released a statement addressing this issue yesterday: "Current fearmongering about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party [is] a conscious and concerted effort by right-wing political forces to undermine the growing support among Jews and non-Jews alike for the Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, and a measure of the desperation of his opponents," the statement reads. George Galloway calls Labour anti-Semitism row "an entirely synthetic crisis. Ken Livingstone said nothing wrong" https://t.co/k2ezZlJUg3 Sky News (@SkyNews) 29 April 2016 "Anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism are not the same. Zionism is a political ideology which has always been contested within Jewish life since it emerged in 1897, and it is entirely legitimate for non-Jews as well as Jews to express opinions about it, whether positive or negative. Not all Jews are Zionists. Not all Zionists are Jews." The Tabanovce train station turned into a spontaneous refugee camp last summer. From there, migrants traveled along the railroad tracks toward Serbia bypassing visas or passport controls. Seeking to somehow organize the spontaneous process, authorities in Macedonia provided temporary accommodation in the village. They erected tents, cabins, bathrooms, installed electricity and wireless internet for the migrants to communicate with friends and relatives back home, or those who had reached Germany or the Netherlands. The temporary accommodation turned into a permanent camp after Serbia sealed its border, with the 800 stranded migrants. "I got here with my family on March 8, the very next day after the border was closed," an elderly native of the Syrian city of Aleppo says. His friends have been able to cross the northern frontier, reach Serbia and trek further north, leaving him behind, he adds. "This camp is crowded. It was not designed for so many people to live here for long. It was built as a transit site for people to spend the night before crossing the Serbian border," a Red Cross employee working at Tabanovce admits. Indeed, migrants are forced to cram inside small four-person trailers up to 12 people in each. Hard to Complain, but Boredom Ensues The shabby conditions at Tabanovce and scores of illegal migrant camps scattered across the Balkans are no comparison to life in Aleppo. The camps inhabitants have a roof over their heads and heaters, while Macedonian authorities provide the camps canteen with food and Red Cross and other non-profits monitor the migrants health. "We have absolutely nothing to do here. All day long, we do nothing and browse the internet," 25-year-old Javad Najafi from Afghanistan complains. He fled the third-largest Afghan city of Herat, where he obtained a decent education and speaks very good English, but was unable to apply his talents. "I spent $4,000 and two months to reach Europe, from Afghanistan to Iran, then Turkey, Greece. But I came here not to sit in a camp I want to get a job, then get married and become a normal citizen," Javad explains. So far, the government is not yet able to say whether the migrants would be allowed to cross into the EU, sent back to their homelands or allowed to stay in Macedonia. The Macedonian Interior Ministry tells the RIA Novosti correspondent that the issue is being resolved at a high level and vows that the migrants would be taken care of. Meanwhile, Javad admits that they are "bored to death sitting here." "We are fed with dry rations, some cookies and juice. One shower for 800 people, we have to wait for hours for our turn to wash. We are even thinking of organizing a hunger strike to be let into Serbia and then further to Germany," he says. Last year saw a dramatic jump in the number of asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa crossing into Norway via the Storskog Borisoglebsk border checkpoint with an estimated 5,500 making their way in. This forced the Norwegians to toughen their immigration laws, and this notably reduced the migrant flows, but authorities fear a repetition of last years influx of migrants seeking asylum in Europe. If the flow of migrants starts getting out of control the fence will not help, NRK quoted the local police chief as saying. The police anti-terror unit said it could not establish which one of the brothers was involved. The watchdog pointed out that both already featured in the police database. "Nothing was done with the dossiers <> Consequently, up until the attacks in Paris nothing happened," the report said. Commenting on the revelation, former US intelligence contractor and surveillance critic Edward Snowden said police were too busy spying on everyone else to prevent the Paris attacks, which killed 130 people and injured hundreds. LONDON (Sputnik) The United Kingdom exiting the European Union may be the countrys last chance to defend its borders and control the refugee influx, UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage said Friday. " we know that EU membership and uncontrolled migration are synonymous This [Brexit] may be the last opportunity we get to be a normal country once again," Farage said in a speech in Westminster. Farage also expressed concern over Turkey's accession into the European Union, warning that "Turkey is asking for more and more [funding]." In particular, the fatwa was linked to notorious imam Abo Raad, who is known for previously voicing support for Daesh, running a website advocating the death penalty for gay men and lashing out against a traditional Swedish Christmas song as "deviating from Islam's creed." The fatwa also expressed concern for the possible advancement of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats and urged Muslims to take action in order to prevent them from "jumping into a pivotal position." In addition to the latest exposures, Islamists of the AlMaghrib Institute, which advocates a hardline Salafist version of Islam, were revealed to have held courses in "Muslim feminism" in the venues of Stockholm University. The course, held March 4 to 6, was reported to have answered the popular questions regarding whether a woman may look at male teachers or keep close to her husband when he is hanging out with his pals. Far kvinnor titta lange pa en man, t. ex sin larare? Sadana fragor diskuterades nyligen pa @Stockholms_univ #svpol pic.twitter.com/6wmt5b04gM Hanna Gadban (@HannaGadban) March 28, 2016 Recently, the Green Party has found itself in a deep existential crisis following Islamist connections, with its leaders coming under increasing pressure. The party's recent quandaries began as the then Housing Minister Mehmet Kaplan was revealed to have kept company with Turkish supremacists and allowed himself anti-Semitic slurs, whereupon he was forced to step down. Kaplan's fellow party member Per Gahrton claimed his resignation to be the result of an Israeli smear campaign. Later, Yasri Khan, a junior party member, quit politics altogether after causing a major media storm with his refusal to shake hands with a female reporter. This series of media rows and Islamist exposures resulted in the public support for the Greens dropping down to record levels and the party leadership teetering on the verge of resignation. In Home County Cambridgeshire, police recently rescued more than 12 victims of modern slavery from a car wash. Workers mainly from Eastern Europe were being forced to work long hours hand washing and valeting cars for as little as US$4.3 (3) per hour while living in conditions described by police as "Dickensian." It was the fifth raid by police in the area as part of Operation Puffin, aimed at rescuing workers who were being exploited having been trafficked to the UK from Eastern Europe. "Over the last year we have visited a number of hand car washes across the south of the county and managed to safeguard a number of people who were sadly being trafficked, living and working in very poor conditions and for very little pay," Chief Inspector James Southerland, area commander for South Cambridgeshire police said. Nearly 50 percent of slavery victims in Britain are in London and the Home Counties, according to a report which claims Londoners are never more than a few hundred yards away from a victim of trafficking. Slavery and human trafficking is illegal in Britain after the Modern Slavery Act was introduced in 2015. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The German Interior Ministry estimates that the country received around 1.1 million registered migrants last year alone. According to the local media, German authorities estimate that the number of undocumented migrants currently staying in the country amounts up to 500,000. "We need a proper registration, we have more than 100,000, may be even few hundred thousand of people that crossed our border without any registration. Seventy percent of migrants do not have any ID cards and, as we have witnessed in Brussels and Paris, Islamic State has used refugee routes to infiltrate and to import terrorists from Syria via Turkey," August Hanning said. According to the former head of BND, Germany has done a lot in the past and keeps on "doing its best" to tackle the terrorist threat that a mass migration can pose. "I don't know what they expected from me That I say I didn't write this article with my name on it and that it was a mistake? That I would beg them to forgive me, promising never to do anything like that and behave like a good student? Never in my life have I sacrificed my principles and betrayed my profession," Cetinkaya said. Both Cetinkaya and Karan were charged with "insulting religious values" and "inciting people to hatred and enmity." The court found them guilty and sentenced to two years imprisonment. "This decision once again proved that there can be no room for freedom of expression and media in political Islam," Karan told Sputnik. "This is a tactic of pressure and intimidation of citizens who act in defense of Turkey's secular and republican values. We are not afraid, we have nothing to fear, because we have not done anything to be ashamed of," she added. At the same time, Ahmet Abakay, Chairman of the Turkish Union of Journalists, viewed the court's decision as a sign of support for terrorism. "This trial means that the judicial system and claimants who filed a complaint against the journalists are supporting the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo. Otherwise they would not have started the proceedings. The decision in this case means support for the terrorist attack. Turkish justice system failed the test of strength," Abakay said. Earlier, the lawyer of the two said he will move for a new trial and, if necessary, take their appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. WARSAW (Sputnik) Members of the Night Wolves motorcycle club were planning to commemorate the victory in World War II by performing a motocross from Moscow to Berlin. Poland refused to grant entry permits to the bikers. On April 29, Polish Ambassador to Russia Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry over the refusal. The Russian Foreign Ministry deemed Polands entry ban to be a cynical and malicious act aimed at aggravating bilateral relations. The cause of refusal was the provision of public order, a statement on the ministry website reads. Focus on Article 5: "one for all, all for one" According to the study, Russia's war against Georgia and the takeover of Crimea has once again stressed the importance of the famous Article 5, which refers to the principle of collective defense. As NATO partners, neither Finland nor Sweden is covered by the mutual defense clause. United we stand Investigators proceed from the scenario in which Finland and Sweden seek NATO membership simultaneously. Other scenarios may incur various difficulties whereas by working together, the two Nordic countries may achieve a greater influence, be it in inside or outside NATO. He discussed how there are various conventions whose primary aim is to deal with humanitarian crisis and how these conventions need to step up and not dismantle their regulations. One of the principles of the European Union is solidarity so we have to come to a solution where all 28 member states agree to a common asylum system with common standards and then I think that even if 1.5 million try to reach the European Union which has a population of 500 million we should be able to shoulder this burden. If we have a fair system of distribution, in our view, from a humanitarian point there is no reason why we should declare a state of emergency in Austria, Kerschbaum said. The secretary-general further spoke about how the overall population of Austria increases only by 1% with the arrival of these refugees and according to him that doesnt amount to a heavy burden for a country like Austria, as it has good infrastructure, health care and education system. Earlier, while addressing the Austrian parliament, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said such restrictive measures didn't fall in line with the international duties of the Union and its members. His comments came a day after the Austrian parliament passed new legislation to stem the migrant inflow. The highly disputed law allows the government to declare a state of emergency and reject most asylum applications right at the border. It also prevents all accepted asylum seekers from spending more than three years in the country. Austria also shed more light on the controversial plan to build a fence at a border crossing with Italy. As previous media reports suggested, construction began about two weeks ago at the Brenner Pass in the Alps. The pass is a key transport corridor between northern and southern Europe. Earlier in April, Austrias defense minister said troops could be deployed in the area amid concerns that migrants would seek alternative routes into the European Union. Austria received 90,000 asylum requests in 2015, the second-highest figure in the EU. When President Obama visited the UK, his goal was clear he did not want to see the UK leave the EU. His reason stems from the deeply close and strategic relationship that the UK and the US have had for decades. @AmbroseEP Didn't you write an article about that when the docs were declassified by Us administration? Time to exhume it! Romain J (@Romtin_) April 27, 2016 Telegraph columnist Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, wrote an article on the 'deeper than deep' love that the EU and the US have for one another, stating that the 'Leave' campaign has misjudged how important international allies are to the debate. "The leave campaign need to develop a policy that will reassure the international community that Brexit is a good idea. If they can't, they will lose the vote," Mr Evans-Pritchard told Sputnik. Since Abdeslam can't afford a lawyer, the French government decided to accommodate him and provide him with a lawyer using funds from the government's budget. After meeting his client, the French lawyer immediately described Abdeslam as a "little moron from Molenbeek," possibly trying to let everyone know his true feelings towards the jihadist. By taking such a high-profile case, Berton is nervous and fears the public's anger. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The United States planned to contribute two of the battalions, while the United Kingdom and Germany would provide one each at the military alliances eastern flank, according to The Wall Street Journal. "The Russians have been doing a lot of snap exercises right up against the borders, with a lot of troops From our perspective, we could argue this is extraordinarily provocative behavior," Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work told the media during his visit to Brussels confirming the scope of the reinforcement. German officials reportedly said they were deliberating plans, ahead of the July 8-9 NATO summit in Warsaw, to lead a battalion based in Lithuania. A final decision has not yet been reached, the newspaper claims. In their book, journalists not only revealed the fact that the German company illegally delivered G36 assault rifles to Mexico, but also accused German authorities of negligence and complicity in the deal. "In our latest book, [] we've published highly sensitive documents as proof for our assumptions that not only Heckler & Koch is responsible for this, but also the Federal Office on Export and the Federal Ministry of Economics," Grasslin said in an interview with Sputnik. According to the journalist, both authorities made the deliveries to Mexico possible, although the German Foreign Ministry had initially prohibited the supply of weapons to the country. In 2010, Grasslin filed an application with a request to start an investigation into the case, but as a result only employees of the company, and none of the authorities were prosecuted. "The Stuttgart public prosecution office still refuses to prosecute those in the Federal Ministry of Economics and the Federal Export Office responsible and co-responsible for it, and this is a scandal," Grasslin said. Instead, surprisingly, the Munich public prosecution office is currently considering an option to prosecute journalists themselves. Under paragraph 353d of the Criminal Code, the journalists might be charged with "violation of professional and special secrecy". The law prohibits disclosing messages, documents or any other information from a criminal case. The violation is punishable with a fine or imprisonment of up to one year. I deeply regret having been part of a criminal organization responsible for the deaths of so many innocent people and destruction of countless families, he said as quoted by The Guardian newspaper. Hanning is reportedly charged for having played a role in the killing of some 170,000 people imprisoned at Auschwitz camp where he worked as a guard between January 1943 and June 1944. The defending lawyer read out loud his statement tracing back engagement in the SS since early years as a member of the Hitler Youth and admitting his awareness of what was going on around in the concentration camp. "Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have reached a political agreement to facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority government," the party of acting Prime Minister Enda Kenny announced in a statement on its Facebook page. The parties will now hold separate parliamentary meetings to draft the final agreement and outline the details of confidence arrangements, the statement continued. The head of Irans Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, Saeed Ohadi, claimed that the Saudis are failing to give clear responses to Tehran regarding the security of Iranian pilgrims during this years religious rituals, IRNA reported. Recently, Tehran sent to Riyadh a list of 20 proposals aimed at improving security for the Islamic Republics nationals making a hajj. We have informed Saudis of our conditions for ensuring the [Iranian] pilgrims safety, [and treating them with] respect and dignity, in addition to some other issues, Ali Jannati, Irans Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, said as quoted by Tasnim News Agency. "The groups that want to join the cessation of hostilities must sign relevant documents, report their exact location and disengage from Nusra Front units because, at present, they are, unfortunately, heavily mixed on the battlefield," Borodavkin told reporters. According to Borodavkin, "certain progress" has been observed in the US work with illegal armed groups in Syria. "Contacts and cooperation between Russian and US militaries have recently intensified. Phone conferences between Hmeymim [Russian air base in Syria], Amman, Moscow and Washington are regularly held. Our militaries are meeting at the negotiating table with maps and necessary intelligence data that help to prevent violations of the cessation of hostilities and strengthen it. I think that in the near future many issues will be resolved within this US-Russian military cooperation," Borodavkin told journalists. No Evidence Jaish al-Islam, Ahrar ash-Sham Join Truce "We heard statements from these groups that they have allegedly joined the cessation of hostilities [in Syria] but we have no official confirmation [of these statements]," Borodavkin told journalists. The envoy recalled that the leadership of Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar ash-Sham had repeatedly stated they were fighting "shoulder to shoulder" with al-Nusra Front militants and called on the jihadists to unite in their fight against government forces. "If Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam are serious about finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria, they have to radically change their positions," Borodavkin emphasized. On Tuesday, Russia requested to add the two groups operating in Syria to the UN sanctions list that already contains Daesh. The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) of the Syrian opposition includes representatives of both Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam. The Chinese diplomat noted that the crisis "did not crop up overnight, so we should not expect to solve it overnight." He reaffirmed the United Nations role as the main channel of mediation and called on all parties to engage in inclusive dialogue to find a solution "suited to the actual conditions of the country and that accommodates concerns of all parties." "The negotiation is going to be an incremental process, and it is all very natural to experience some twists and turns and setbacks," Xie added, echoing Special UN Envoy for Syria Staffan de Misturas assertions. Xie urged the sides to "stay on track" with the political process, and follow the principle of starting with "relatively easier issues first before moving on to the more difficult ones" to gradually build consensus and move forward. "Russia, as you know, is Chinas comprehensive strategic partner of coordination, therefore China is ready to compare notes on a regular basis on the Syrian issue with Russia, and work closely together to make positive efforts to promote the political solution," Xie said. The envoy added that his discussion with Vershinin was "very intensive and pleasant," and that the two reached consensus on key issues. Speaking at a confidence-building measures conference in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping upheld the "common goal of the international community" to resolve the Syrian conflict in its fifth year. "We appreciate Russia in its unswerving efforts in fighting terrorism and promoting the [intra-Syria] talks," Xie said. Russia, together with the United States, brokered the cessation of hostilities between Syrian government and rebel forces that took effect on February 27 and excludes designated terrorist groups active on the ground. Russia additionally co-chairs the International Syria Support Group, an international format of regional and global powers including China aiming to resolve the five-year Syrian crisis. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The latest UN Security Council resolution adopted last December by a group of regional and global powers upholds previous assertions that Syrian people alone hold the responsibility to decide the future of Syria. "China always believed that whether President Assad should stay or go is an entirely domestic affair of Syria and is not our focus on the Syrian issue," Xie said after talks with the Russian Foreign Ministrys envoy for Middle Eastern settlement Sergei Vershinin held on Thursday. On issues concerning Syrias future as a country, the Chinese diplomat affirmed Beijings position that "the Syrian people should have the largest say, and it is their decision to make." When asked who should take responsibility for the shellings, Daccord said he has the feeling that "all the parties fighting are really not respecting international humanitarian law. He noted that even though the cessation of hostilities in Syria is in place it is fragile, but "this is good news as it makes life in Syria already better than in the last five years." "The first thing we need to say is that it needs to be maintained, and we would really hope we'll have a continuation of the cessation of hostilities," he said. Daccord said all of the sides of the conflict need to focus on the regions where the situation is particularly difficult. "The most difficult area right now are besieged villages, towns, and hard to reach towns. There is still today hundreds of thousands of people in besieged areas on both sides, and we absolutely need to be able to have access, Daccord said. He said that it is not just one side of the conflicting parties doing the wrong thing, but access to hard-hit areas is needed. "We don't see one side doing only the wrong things, it doesn't exist like that. When it comes to humanitarian in what we do, we are transparent. We ask every single group and the government for access and we're transparent about what we do, they can check, then what we expect them [to do] is they'll allow us to carrry on what we do." GENEVA (Sputnik) Al Hussein called for the conflicting parties to step back so as not to return to all-out war. In short, the violence is soaring back to the levels we saw prior to the cessation of hostilities. There are deeply disturbing reports of military build-ups indicating preparations for a lethal escalation, Al Hussein said. GENEVA (Sputnik) Russia and the United States have agreed to enhance the cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30, a source in the ceasefire task force told Sputnik on Friday. "At 00:00 on April 29-30 Russia and and the United States, as co-chairs of the task force on ceasefire in Syria, have agreed to introduce state of regime of silence in northern regions of Latakia and Damascus suburbs. This is an extra measure to resolve local problematic instances," the source said. The "regime of silence" will be introduced for 24 hours in the capital city of Damascus and for 72 hours in the province of Latakia. ANKARA (Sputnik) According to the Hurriyet daily, two rockets fell on a field near the Oncupinar-Kilis motorway at about 6 a.m. local time [03:00 GMT]. No injuries were reported. Since the beginning of the year, the city of Kilis, host to a large number of Syrian refugees, has experienced a lot of shelling from the Syrian territory, which is party controlled by Daesh. At least 18 people have been killed in such incidents in Kilis since January. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the regime, but were refuted by a different source. "Aleppo also [will be included]. This is the first step to recover the reconciliation and it is very important," Jamil told reporters. Qadri Jamil added that he suspected a conspiracy to derail ceasefire efforts in Syria. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the regime, but were refuted by a different source. With the goal of sustaining the ceasefire regime that was reached by an agreement, from April 30, a silence regime extending to the regions of Eastern Ghouta and Damascus for 24 hours, and to Latakia and its northern suburbs for 72 hours will be implemented, the news agency cited the General Staffs announcement as saying. DUBAI (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the regime, but were refuted by a different source. Theres talk about a ceasefire in Aleppo reached between the United States and Russia, but we have not yet received any information on this. Were ready to comply with the ceasefire in line with the agreement, but not in the interests of [Syrian President Bashar Assads] regime, the source told RIA Novosti by telephone. The 'silent' period in the northern parts of Syria's Latakia region will be implemented for 72 hours starting April 30, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday. "Overall, the work that is being carried out leads to a constant reduction of the amount and intensity of shelling. In this regard, the Russian and US sides, in agreement with the leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic, are introducing a 'silence regime' for 72 hours in the northern areas of the Latakia region, starting 00:01 on April 30, 2016," the head of the Russian center for reconciliation, Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, told reporters. The ceasefire in Syria, worked out by Russia and the United States, took effect on February 27. Terrorist groups are not part of the agreement. Russia and the United States are in constant contact analyzing facts of ceasefire violations in Syria, added. "There are violations and shellings tied first of all to the mistrust between the sides to one another. In order to lower the number of clashes between the sides of the conflict, the Russian Federation and the United States are in constant contact analyzing the facts of the violations and are working with the sides of the conflict for them to stop." "During the operations of the Russian center for reconciliation, 52 militarized groups numbering 6,500 individuals operating in the provinces of Suweida, Kuneitra, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Darayya, and Aleppo have joined the cessation of hostilities regime." The attack took place on Thursday, according to the ministry. No casualties have been reported. "On April 28 at around 15:00 Moscow time [12:00 GMT], the building of the Russian Consulate General in Aleppo come under mortar fire. One mine fell in the territory of the consulate, three more exploded near the fence outside of the building. No one was killed or injured." "According to reports, the attack on the Consulate General was intentional and carried out by al-Nusra Front militants and allied groups, who have become significantly more active recently in the Aleppo province" the statement reads. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US-led coalition against Daesh carried out 22 airstrikes on Thursday on the terrorist groups positions and infrastructure in Syria and Iraq, the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve said in a press release. "In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL [Daesh] targets," the release said on Friday. "Additionally in Iraq, Coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and bomber, ground-attack, and fighter aircraft against ISIL [Daesh] targets." In Syria, the coalitions airstrikes were waged near two locations, Raqqa and Mara, and destroyed three Daesh vehicles, six fighting positions as well as four mortar positions. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the regime, but were refuted by a different source. "No one has been in contact with us officially. Perhaps there are some communication channels, but unofficial. We will not be ready to adhere to the silence regime in Syria while airstrikes are being carried out against civilians in Aleppo. Excluding Aleppo from the silence regime is very dangerous," Zeid said. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The US government is in talks with its Russian counterparts on implementing steps to curb violence in the Syrian city of Aleppo, US Special Envoy for Syria Michael Ratney said in a statement on Friday. "Persistent violations and attacks on civilians in Aleppoare unacceptable. We are talking to Russia to urgently agree on steps to reduce violence in that area as well," Ratney stated. He also called urged all parties involved in Syrian crisis to adhere to the cessation of hostilities. BEIRUT (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the "silent period," but were refuted by a different source. "Confirmation of the regime of silence introduction has been declared by the General Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces starting early April 30. The regime of silence will come into force in due time, the source said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the "silent period," but were refuted by a different source. "The regime will not succeed without instruments to control it or UN-led observers," Hossam Salah Alian, from the Martyrs of Islam Brigade, told Sputnik. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Haddad estimated that over 50,000 fighters from 80 countries are currently fighting on the side of extremists in Syria, backed by global and regional powers. He specified that the Persian Gulf states finance the militants who undergo military training in Turkey. "Of course, Syria could have defeated terrorism long time ago, but it had required closing the border with Turkey. Nearly all terrorists are crossing through the Turkish border," Haddad told RIA Novosti. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the "silent period," but were refuted by a different source. "We are working on Aleppo. We are talking with the Russians, so we are working on that," the State Department official stated. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the "silent period," but were refuted by a different source. As to how far, how long it would last, we obviously want it to continue to last. Lets see how this goes. This is all something of a test obviously that we want to work and we are working hard to make sure that it works. Hopefully in the end it will be open-ended, the official stated. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Washington announced on Monday additional deployment of 250 US military personnel in Syria to provide support to local forces fighting terrorist groups in the war-torn country. "From the US side, it will be a new step into the danger of the Syrian crisis, and it may take this crisis into the direction where it will be hard to resolve it," Ahmad said. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov decried the step saying the US-led coalition's actions in Syria are illegal, and entering the country without consent from its legitimate authorities was a "big mistake." He added that the US decision reflects the desire to be able to use the coalition to attack not only terrorist positions, but perhaps also governments forces later on in order to overthrow it, as it happened in Libya. At this moment, the most important thing to do is to clarify who is responsible for this attack and for that reason the MSF Middle East Program has extended its support to the hospital. We really need to find out who is behind this attack and behind similar attacks on hospitals that have occurred in the past few months in Syria. Meanwhile, MSF is supporting ten hospitals and thirteen other medical facilities in Aleppo now. Our goal is to support these facilities so they can cope with the extra number of wounded because this hospital has been destroyed and also because there is a high number of wounded people because of the bombing in other states. Blanco further spoke about how the doctors working in Aleppo at the moment are the real heroes because they risk their lives and they know that they can be killed at any moment. According to our data 95% of doctors that were living in eastern Aleppo before the war either they have fled or they have been killed. There are just a handful of people still available in the city. "This week, the main speaker of parliament, from AKP, the government party, declared that in the new constitution, we dont need the principle of secularism and there should be, somehow, Islam inside the constitution. "He declared their intention is to change Turkey into an Islamic state." Historically, Turkeys secularism was crucial, following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. "One of the countries that has some secular identity was Syria," Okuyan says, though its future is far from certain. "Turkey was also one of the secular countries, starting from the republic period since 1923." But since the end of World War II, Islam has been used to attack progressive forces within the country. Blumenthal calls the White House capitulation to Israels demands "a boon for the military-industrial complex." He suggests that the US government seeks to protect the profits of US defense contractors, who the political establishment is beholden to. "When Israel tried to create their own attack jet, the Lavi, Washington brought down the wrath of God on Israel because they want Israel to continue buying US jets to sustain the weapons industry," said Blumenthal. The Lavi was a fourth-generation jet fighter developed by Israel in the 1980s after which the US dramatically increased military-aid to Tel Aviv to ensure their dependence on US weapons. "Israels perspective is the same as Saudi Arabias, which is to import as many weapons systems as possible to increase and consolidate a qualitative military edge over all possible rivals and to use those weapons to crush all challenges and in Israels case that is challenges to its illegal occupation," said Blumenthal. Does the push for expanded military aid suggest that the US-Iran Nuclear Deal will fail? A bipartisan letter signed by 81 US Senators in favor of expanding weapons aid to Israel stated that Iran may soon resume its quest for nuclear weapons, suggesting that Israel must have the means to defend itself in the event that the US-Iran nuclear deal fails. Secretary Carter continued with the verbal "somersaults" that Sullivan described. Saying that he agreed with Dunfords assessment, he stressed that US troops are "not to try to substitute for local forcesbut to try to get them powerful enough that they can expel ISIL with our support. "And when we provide that support, we put people in harms way, we ask them to conduct combat actions." On Tuesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest reiterated President Barack Obamas official stance. "[US troops are] not in a combat role, but they are in a role that puts them in harms way," he said. "They are armed for combat. They are armed to defend themselves if necessary. But the role that they have is to offer advice and assistance to forces on the ground fighting ISIL in their own country." The move comes after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi excluded Washington from talks between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel regarding the islands. US officials perceived the move by the Egyptian president as a significant diplomatic slight that may signal a strain in future relations. General Dunford, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly informed the Egyptian president of the withdrawal of US security forces during a Saturday, April 23 meeting in Cairo. The US believes that if Riyadh, Cairo, and Tel Aviv refuse to report their military steps in the region then Washington has no reason to collaborate with those countries in the Sinai. "We are expressing serious concern in connection with US intentions to deploy the [THAAD] system in South Korea. The move goes far beyond actual defense necessities and damages the strategic security of China and Russia," Wang Yi told reporters on Friday. The United States has been in dialogue with South Korea over the proposed deployment of the THAAD system over the past year. THAAD is capable of shooting down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier, Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia would respond in military-technical terms on its northern borders if Sweden decides to join NATO. Currently the development is being finalized on a new modern generation of missiles that have not been announced. They will be impregnable to NATO weapons, including air defense systems, Evgeny Serebrennikov told RIA Novosti. Russia will increase its military capabilities on its northern and northwestern borders, including a buildup of its Northern Fleet, if Sweden joins NATO, he elaborated. . If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the Access to the chat has been blocked for violating the rules . You will be able to participate again through:. If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the feedback form The discussion is closed. You can participate in the discussion within 24 hours after the publication of the article. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russias Caspian Flotilla has successfully completed military exercises in which the Kalibr cruise missile system, recently used to fight terrorists in Syria, was used, Russias Southern Military Districts press service said Friday. "The naval forces of the Caspian Flotilla conducted test-tactical exercises at sea, using the Kalibr cruise missile system. A naval strike group fired missiles at naval targets. During the combat training the naval targets were successfully eliminated," the press service said. The exercises, which ran from April 24 to 28, rounded out the drills in the Caspian Sea, which formed part of the final exercises after the winter training. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Russian Defense Ministry has commenced flight tests of the UAE-made United 40 military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a source familiar with the situation told RIA Novosti Friday. "Tests of the UAE United 40 drone have started in the Chkalov State Flight Test Center of the Russian Defense Ministry," the source said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Four UK Typhoon fighter jets are set to take part in NATO's air patrol mission in the Baltic states for the next four months, a statement on the UK governments website indicated Friday. "The Defence Secretary has announced today that four Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoons, flying from the Amari airbase in Estonia, will join the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission until the end of August," the statement reads. According to the statement, the UK jets, pilots and engineers will be on 24/7 stand by to launch a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) in response to any aggression directed from Russia, or others. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Sweden stands firm about its principle not to join any military alliances, the country's foreign minister said in her tweet Friday. Sweden decides it's own security policy: staying militarily non-aligned, a stronger defence and cooperation. Margot Wallstrom (@margotwallstrom) 29 2016 . The statement came in reaction to an interview given by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter published on April 28. When asked about Russia's possible retaliatory measures if Sweden decides to join NATO, he told reporters that Moscow would have "to take the necessary military-technical measures on our northern boundaries". MOSCOW (Sputnik) The official who spoke on condition of anonymity told the BBC broadcasters Hindi desk that the Obama administration "is still very much in favor" of selling the F-16s to Pakistan. Islamabad would however have to bear the full cost of the eight fighter jets, the State Department official added. The original arrangement required Pakistan to pay $270 million for the aircraft, with the remaining $430 million paid by the US taxpayer. "We condemn this kind of behavior. It is reckless. It is provocative. It is dangerous. And under the rules of engagement that could have been a shoot-down," US Secretary of State John Kerry said in an interview with the Miami Herald. While the US has filed formal protests against these actions, many have pointed out that the Pentagon could avoid these situations by not encroaching on foreign borders. "We send naval warships, equipped with the latest equipment, 50 miles from Russian territory in the Baltic Sea, conducting military exercises. The Russians are annoyed and irritated, and we say 'Oh my goodness, how aggressive, how dare you,'" Daniel McAdams, director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity told Radio Sputniks Loud & Clear. The US has had similar responses to instances in the South China Sea and the Korean peninsula. "Theres no sense that theres a reaction to our actions, that were responsible for our actions." "Work met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and ambassadors from the United States' 27 NATO allies to discuss the Third Offset Strategy," the statement said. Work also delivered a speech at the European Policy Center, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the United States and other nations to defeat terrorism, the statement noted. The leaders discussed the need to improve intelligence sharing with and within Europe in the wake of recent terrorist attacks, as well as the attack recently thwarted by Italian security forces, the release said following the meeting between Biden and Renzi. According to earlier media reports, six suspected extremists were arrested in the northern region of Lombardy. The detainees allegedly planned to join Daesh jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq. According to the report prepared for Prime Minister Juha Sipila, NATO membership would incrementally strengthen Finlands national security posture initially, but would likely trigger a harsh reaction from the Kremlin in light of the ongoing militarization along Russias border by the Western alliance. Militarily-neutral Finland shares an 833 mile-long (1340 km) border with Russia. The report did not dash all prospects of the Nordic country joining the Western military alliance, suggesting that a joint Finnish-Swedish application for NATO membership may be a better strategic option than either country joining alone. PKK leader Cemil Bayik said earlier this week his group would intensify the fight against Ankara if Turkey continued its military operation against the Kurds. Bayik added that if the Turkish government gave up its genocidal policies, issues could be resolved through peace talks. "Counselor Kenney and Mr. Demirtas discussed the urgency of ending the fighting between the PKK and the [Turkish] government," the spokesperson stated, adding that the meeting took place in Washington, DC. [Ban] encourages the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), in particular its two co-chairs, the Russian Federation and the United States of America, to exert pressure on all concerned to stop the fighting and to ensure credible investigations of incidents such as the attack on Al Quds hospital, the statement said. In the UN statement, Ban cited reports of at least 20 deaths, including three children and the areas last remaining pediatrician. International lenders want Greece to adopt a package of contingency measures that will be enforced if Athens goes off the track in reducing budget deficit. The Greek economy has been severely strained for several years, because of the countrys multibillion debt accumulated after the 2008 world economic crisis. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Wednesday, de Mistura closed the April round of intra-Syrian peace talks and summarized commonalities between the positions of the Syrian government and opposition delegations. "I've been with the UN for 45 years and I've never seen a conflict which has become so complicated by so many countries and so many entities involved in it," de Mistura said in a Thursday interview with RT, adding that the parties involved must not forget that "behind all of this is ISIS [IS], who are waiting to take advantage of the hesitation of international community." An investigation into the case was initiated after 1,280 individuals filed complaints. The Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul asked for a sentence between 1.5 and 4.5 years in jail for both journalists for "insulting religious values" and "inciting people to hatred and enmity." As Turkeys friend and NATO ally, we urge the Turkish government to ensure that official bodies, law enforcement and judicial authorities are not used to undermine the Turkish democracy, Kirby stated. Media organizations should have the freedom to use their independent professional judgement when determining what they publish. YEREVAN (Sputnik) The latest wave of violence in Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region, mostly inhabited by Armenians, intensified on April 2, leading to multiple casualties before Armenia and Azerbaijan reached a shaky ceasefire deal three days later. "What Azerbaijan allowed itself does not indicate the possibility of an early return to the negotiating table," Sahakyan told the Artsakh Public Television. He stressed that the talks should not be conducted without NKR participation as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot be resolved in such a format. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988, when the autonomous region sought to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. The region proclaimed independence when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The move triggered a war that lasted until a Russia-brokered ceasefire was signed in 1994. "The last report of the [OSCE] Special Monitoring Mission notes that only 9 percent of the declared weaponry remains at Ukrainian warehouses. In other words, 91 percent of what should be in the warehouses, they have taken out. Most of the missing weaponry has been spotted on the frontline," Churkin said at the UN Security Council on Thursday. Kiev launched a special military operation in Ukraines southeast in April 2014, after local residents refused to recognize the new Ukrainian authorities, which came to power as a result of a coup. "Despite certain external negative factors, we believe that Russian-Chinese practical cooperation is highly complementary," Wang Yi told reporters on Friday. According to the foreign minister, last years fall in the trade turnover between China and Russia is linked to a drop in prices on goods on the international market. "We believe that the possibility of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in contributing to the improvement of the situation in the country should still be used actively. The SCO is a unique format where Afghanistan itself and all of its neighbors actively participate and work as member-states or observers," Lavrov said. Afghanistan is experiencing political, social and security instability, as the Taliban Islamic movement and other radical extremist organizations, such as Daesh, continue to stage attacks against civilian and state targets. The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) claims that Turkey impedes its participation at the talks because of its assumed links to the pro-independence Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is active in southeastern Turkey and is considered to be a terrorist organization by Ankara. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura expressed hope after the April round of Syria peace talks concluded on Wednesday that Kurds would have a voice during future negotiations. International Syria Support Group Russia does not oppose a high-level International Syria Support Group (ISSG) session but does not foresee a tangible outcome of the meeting, according to Alexei Borodavkin said. "We are not opposed to an ISSG meeting in principle. But the event at this level should provide tangible added value. That kind of result is not yet visible," Borodavkin told reporters. The diplomat concluded that further work was needed to ensure that the gathering of regional and global powers that make up the ISSG co-chaired by Russia and the United States "met the expectations of the international community." Suggestions to convene a ministerial ISSG meeting have come from a number of figures, including UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, who stressed on Wednesday that such a meeting would contribute to better adherence to the ceasefire regime in Syria. Lavrov-Mistura Meeting UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on May 3 the results of the latest round of Syria proximity talks in Geneva and prospects of future negotiations between Damascus and the opposition, Russias Envoy to the UN Office in Geneva Alexei Borodavkin said. "There is an agreement that Staffan de Mistura will visit Moscow on May 3 to discuss the results of the latest round of talks and prospects of future negotiations. He will be received by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov," Borodavkin told reporters in Geneva. Ribal al-Assad, the cousin of the Syrian President and the founder of the Organization for Democracy and Freedom in Syria, also noted that although Washington launched its anti-Daesh campaign long before Moscow sent its military aircraft to the Syrian battlefield, it failed to achieve much. "The Americans came but did nothing," Spain's daily newspaper ABC quoted Ribal al-Assad as saying. The activist described Russia's military engagement in Syria as important. Moscow carried out a limited counterterrorism campaign in the war-torn country following an official request from Damascus at the end of 2015. Russian forces were largely withdrawn from Syria in March after key goals of the operation were achieved. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Serbia is a neutral country that relies on the development of multidirectional foreign policy to maintain rapport with all global powers, Serbian Defense Minister Zoran Djordjevic told Sputnik. "Our foreign policy rests on four pillars Moscow, Brussels, Washington and Beijing. Also, our military cooperation is built on a principal of neutrality. We try to maintain good relationships with all states." Russia is consistently holding the line so that the negotiations process in Geneva continues. We believe that it is extremely important and there is no alternative in solving the Syrian settlement. Russia is completely open to cooperation with other interested countries, primarily with the United states, Peskov told journalists. The Kremlin spokesman also stressed that the negotiations process is tense. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The bikers are members of the Night Wolves motorcycle club and were set to take part in a Victory Day rally. "The Polish ambassador to Russia has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry due to an entry ban for a group of Russian bikers," the source told RIA Novosti. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source in the ceasefire task force told Sputnik that Russia and the United States have agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. [We call] to putting an end to those avoiding punishment from committing crimes of war by placing clear sanctions on those [responsible] for any type of violation in the cessation of hostilities regime; forward material on the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, HNC coordinator Riyad Hijab said in a letter published by the committees press service. In February, Russia and the United States reached an agreement on a ceasefire in Syria, which took effect the same month. The decentralization of the state and the elections in Donbass were the two main issues on the agenda during Nuland's April 25 trip, the web site Apostrophe reported. All major sponsors of the Minsk peace process, including Russia, have long insisted that the civil war in Ukraine could only be brought to an end if the accords are fully implemented, but Kiev has been slow in carrying out the necessary reforms. Nuland's visit was meant to speed up this process. Kiev was "strongly encouraged" to prepare a bill on elections in Donbass by mid-May. "If President Petro Poroshenko does not make sure that the bill is passed, the European Union will not extend sanctions imposed on Moscow," the media outlet noted. BEIJING (Sputnik) Chinese President Xi Jinping ratified the new legislation requiring foreign organizations to receive official approval to operate in mainland China on Thursday, after its approval in the third and final hearing in parliament. US State Secretary John Kerry said he was "deeply concerned" that the law would "negatively impact important people-to-people ties between our two countries." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying noted at a daily briefing that the new law "must be suitable to the conditions that exist in China." "We hope that the countries concerned will respect Chinas right to enact laws in their country and will see the law in an objective and positive point of view," Hua told reporters, commenting on Washingtons criticism. The oil kingdom has been unhappy that sanctions against the Islamic Republic were partially lifted following the nuclear deal. Barack Obama's overtures towards Tehran are also not helping to allay Saudi fears at a time when relations between Washington and Riyadh are going through a rough patch As a result, Saudi Arabia is trying to prevent its archenemy from reaping any inadvertent benefits from the kingdom's decisions. Iran does not want to freeze oil output, but instead is trying to regain its market share. "Saudi Arabia's U-turn in Doha shows that the kingdom's oil policy is becoming increasingly polarized," Perrin said. "Riyadh's oil policy has been very predictable and professional for a very long time, but it is becoming increasingly hard to decipher." This is a new and unnecessary factor that contributed to the uncertainty of the global oil market and the world economy. Most likely, it will also hamper any deal at the upcoming OPEC meeting in June. Meanwhile, on Friday, Venezuela urged Qatar to invite non-OPEC oil producers to the Vienna Ministerial Conference as observers in a bid to breathe new life into the initiative to freeze output and stabilize oil prices. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The European Commission on Friday proposed signing the EU-US data protection Umbrella Agreement, bringing the sides closer to establishing a framework for cross-Atlantic data protection. "Today, the European Commission proposes to the Council the signature and conclusion of the EU-US data protection Umbrella AgreementThe Council shall now adopt a decision authorising the signing of the Agreement. Once the agreement is signed, the decision concluding the Agreement will be adopted by the Council after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament," the Commission said in a press release. The agreement was finalized by the European Commission and the United States in September, and is designed to ensure a high level of protection for the personal data used by EU and US law enforcement, including criminal records. RIGA (Sputnik) Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs claimed this week that the subject of a cartoon he posted on social media, committee chair Ruta Pazdere, threatened him with a 5-year prison sentence. The cartoon depicted a female cyclist falling over after lodging a stick in the spokes of her own bicycle and demanding 185 billion euros ($209 billion) from Russia, the amount her commission found it was owed in reparations during the Soviet period on April 18. "The received application will be evaluated," Security Police spokeswoman Liga Petersone said as quoted by the leading Latvian press. Two Latvian lawmakers, one of them a member of the European Parliament, requested the Latvian Prosecutors Office and the Security Police to investigate Usakovs cartoon following its publication last week. The society for the study of the occupation of Latvia has also turned to the prosecutors office to investigate whether the mayors caricature violated the section of the criminal code that bans the justification of genocide and crimes against humanity. Mosayeb Na'imi believes that this is not the best way to proceed if Washington truly wants to defeat the terrorist group. Obama's decision "leaves questions that have no answers," he observed. "Would this deployment be able to drastically alter the balance of power in the region? Where will [the US special forces] be sent to territories seized by militants or to areas controlled by the government? Was this move coordinated with Russia and other allies, who are actively engaged in counterterrorism efforts in Syria?" The US launched its anti-Daesh airstrike campaign in late 2014 in Iraq and then expanded it to Syria, but Washington has never been authorized to operate in Syria. Instead, Damascus requested formal assistance in its counterterrorism campaign from Moscow. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Syrian government delegation has been negotiating a political settlement to the Syrian crisis with several opposition delegations, including the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC). "Russia is the only country that has the ability to influence all sides. From one perspective, it is good, but from another, the fact that other sides do not want to listen is bad," Jamil said at a press conference at the Rossiya Segodnya International News Agency. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Berlin wants the United Kingdom to remain a strong and prosperous member of the European Union, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday. "We are seeking strong, economically prosperous Great Britain in the European Union," the chancellor said following a meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis, commenting on the upcoming referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the 28-nation bloc. "Current ESI Chairman directly responsible for the final Merkel Plan document is Istanbul-based Austrian sociologist, Gerald Knaus. Knaus is also a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and an Open Society Fellow," Engdahl elaborated. Remarkably, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is sponsored by American multi-billionaire George Soros. And it is George Soros who is the creator of the Open Society Foundations (OSF). A further analysis of ESI's list of funders shows Soros' Open Society Foundations, the Soros-tied German Stiftung Mercator, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the European Commission and the United States Institute of Peace all as donors. "Already it becomes clear that the 'Merkel Plan' is the Soros Plan in fact," Engdahl noted. In his article for The New York Review of Books published on April 9, 2016, George Soros continued to push ahead with "the plan." According to the American billionaire, Europe absorbs between 300,000 and 500,000 asylum seekers each year, spending about 30 billion ($34 billion) a year to carry out this plan. "Thirty billion euros might sound like an enormous sum, but it is not when viewed in proper perspective. First, we must recognize that a failure to provide the necessary funds would cost the EU even more," Soros warned. Engdahl believes that there is something really sinister about the plan championed by Soros, and his counterparts. There is something in this plan "which threatens to destroy the social fabric of the very core of European civilization." "Is Germany, as former US presidential adviser and Rockefeller crony, Zbigniew Brzezinski called her, a 'vassal' of US power in the post-1990 world?" the researcher asked. Whatever the answer will be, the ESI's Merkel Plan has shed light on how the US and NATO-linked think tanks are controlling Europe from behind the Atlantic curtain, he concluded. BEIRUT (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the "silent period," but were refuted by a different source. That [silent period] will have a positive effect on the peoples reconciliation process. It is necessary to note that the ongoing regime of cessation of hostilities also effectively influences the reconciliation. The 'silent' regime will give new opportunities. We support this agreement backed and coordinated by the Russian side, Muhammad told RIA Novosti. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The announcement follows US Senate vote on Thursday night to confirm the nominations of Scaparrotti to assume leadership as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). "The US presidents nominee as the 18th SACEUR, General Scaparrotti, is a great friend and a superb officer with exactly the right skills and experience for working in international collaborative environments," the outgoing SACEUR, US Air Force General Philip Breedlove, said. Secondly, the much praised SpaceX rockets, which were recently certified for military launches, "can't reach four of the eight critical military orbits." It means that 40 percent of the Pentagon's launches will have to go on much more expensive Deltas and again it will require billions of taxpayer dollars. Thirdly, by banning the Russian RD-180 engines "too soon" Washington will shoot itself in the foot: "Any problems with Delta would leave the US with no way to get missile warning and spy satellites into orbit," Thompson and Baroudos emphasize. And fourthly, much to the Pentagon's regret "rockets don't grow on trees, they take time to build." Indeed, if Russian engines were jettisoned, the US Defense Department would need more Deltas which have not been budgeted. Needless to say, it will take considerable time to build new Delta rockets. In a word, "banning Russian rocket engines too soon will cost taxpayers billions of dollars for no good reason, make our nation less safe and maybe unravel the whole military space program," the US scholars insist, adding that although Washington needs to get rid of the RD-180 engines in the long run, banning them right away "makes no sense." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are expected to discuss the situation in Syria on Friday, a senior US Department of State official told journalists on Friday. "The Secretary [Kerry] has just spoken or is speaking with [Russian Foreign] Minister Lavrov," the official said. Earlier on Friday, Russian and Syrian militaries announced that a "regime of silence" would come into being in the western Latakia province and Damascus suburbs on April 30 at midnight. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The United States has been in dialogue with South Korea over the proposed deployment of the THAAD system over the past year. THAAD is capable of shooting down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. "Ill just point out that equipment would be oriented toward the threat that is posed by North Korea, not oriented toward China or Russia," Earnest stated when asked about the Chinese response to a possible deployment of the system. Indeed, the US-backed "democratic transitions" in Ukraine, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Iraq, not to mention the Obama administration's recent attempts to oust Syrian legitimate leader Bashar al-Assad , have not borne any positive fruit. Commenting on Washington's repeated attempts to "shape" the Middle Eastern region, Andrew J. Bacevich, Professor of International Relations and History at Boston University, wrote in his Op-Ed for Politico magazine: "The tendency to see the region and Islamic world primarily as a problem that will yield to an American military solution is, in fact, precisely the problem. To an unseemly and ultimately self-destructive degree, we have endorsed the misguided militarization of US foreign policy. As a consequence, we have allowed our country to be pulled into the impossible task of trying to 'shape' the region through martial means." US-based scholar and journalist Dr. Arshad M. Khan nails Washington for shameless hypocrisy, stressing that what the American regime change practice has nothing to do with bringing "freedom and democracy." "Why is the US so enamored of regime change? From coups (too many to count) in Latin America, to destroying democracy in 1950s Iran, to now and the present chaos in the Middle East. For anyone with basic knowledge of this history, the shameless hypocrisy accompanying the familiar trope of bringing 'freedom and democracy' appears callous and outrageous in light of all the human suffering and lives lost," he writes in his analysis for ModernDiplomacy.eu entitled "The Hypocrisy of Regime Change." WASHINGTON (Sputnik) The legislation, dubbed the Stability and Democracy (STAND) for Ukraine Act, would forbid NATO members from exporting arms containing US technology to Russia. [The bill] tightens existing US sanctions on Russia for its violation of Ukraines territorial integrity by authorizing a strict sanctions-evasion framework, the release stated. The Committee said the bill would also require a regular report on foreign financial institutions illicitly controlling Ukraine state-owned assets namely Russian banks in Crimea. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, a source told Sputnik that Russia and the United States had agreed to introduce state of cessation of hostilities in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus in Syria from midnight on April 30. Following the announcement, media reports emerged claiming that Aleppo would also be involved in the "silent period," but were refuted by a different source. We are in touch obviously with the opposition right now. I cant report on what theyve said but it is our expectation that they will comply, Toner said, when asked whether the Syrian opposition has agreed to stop fighting in those two areas. "The delegation will be there for several days. One member will be going with a leader of the Mothers Committee [for May 2] to Brussels on Tuesday to speak to the European Parliament about conducting an investigation into the events of May 2, 2014," Lombardo said. The US State Department has expressed support for the commemoration. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Thursday, the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, supported a resolution calling to lift the sanctions imposed on Russia. The resolution was opposed by the country's government and the lawmakers from parliamentary majority. "These sanctions were imposed in order to give effect to the Minsk agreements, and what do these agreements stipulate? The need to provide autonomous status to the eastern regions of Ukraine, the electoral law, the ceasefire everything that relates to the Ukrainians. It seems to me that these restrictions have nothing to do with Russia," Dupre said. "Yes, definitely this [Brexit vote] has security dimensions," Schulz stated at a Friday symposium on Transatlantic security hosted by the US Institute of Peace. Schulz explained that the United Kingdom is one of the few EU nations that brings "particularly relevant high end military capabilities into the pool of the European Union." DUBAI (Sputnik) During the April round of Syria proximity talks, the HNC walked out over continuous fighting in Syria and a lack of progress on humanitarian issues. "It is early to make a decision on the participation in the talks," Riyad Naasan Agha said, adding that there will be no meeting on the issue on Saturday. The situation in front of the building escalated after Trump made his entrance, with dozens of protesters rushing barricades placed in front of the hotel, forcing officers to scramble to the building doors in a desperate but successful effort to secure the facility. Local police began swinging clubs at the protesters to drive them away, with several fist fights with protesters ensuing before a semblance of peace could be restored. Bill Disbrow (@bdisbrow) April 29, 2016 The peace did not last long, however, as protesters made a violent second offensive, knocking down barriers and flooding toward the entrance outside the hotel. Police successfully prevented the second attempt to rush the facility as protesters screamed, "get him out," in reference to Trump. California boasts the countrys largest Mexican population, with over 12 million people of Mexican heritage, or some 31% of the states population. Despite the states massive Latino population, the candidate who opened his campaign by referring to Mexican immigrants as "murderers and rapists" received 49% of Republican primary support in the last two polls of likely California Republican voters. Riya Bhattacharjee (@loislane28) April 29, 2016 One protester, Adrian Olivares, took particular exception to what he views as Trumps hateful rhetoric. "I came out here to support my people and my father," said the 23-year-old college student draped in a Mexican flag. I came here to display my countrys flag as loud as I can." The young mans father came to the United States from Mexico in the late 1980s. "My father is very successful and for Trump to come out and say were a bunch of racists, f##k him." Despite being a symbol of racial intolerance in the eyes of most Latin-Americans, Trump often boasts that "the Hispanics love me, its true, because Im going to bring jobs back, they love me." People of Mexican or South American heritage have not used the sobriquet 'Hispanics' to describe themselves in over a decade; most simply say 'Latinos.' Social Media Reaction Twitter erupted during the protests, with anti-Trump haters and Trump apologists squaring off. European Americans (@EuroAmericans) April 29, 2016 Those who oppose Trump largely celebrated the protest as a successful act of civil disobedience, showing the Republican frontrunner that the public denounces his rhetoric and that he shouldnt rely on California to propel him to the Republican nomination. However, others pointed out that hours of effort by hundreds of protesters to inconvenience Trump by a few minutes will likely not dent the billionaire candidates inexorable ascension. Libertine Dreamer (@Bastille1791) April 29, 2016 Those who support Trump pointed to acts that they felt proved the candidates point to call for greater border security and caution, especially regarding providing safe haven to Syrian refugees. They pointed to incidents of flag burning and bloodied Trump supporters to call into question the civility of the supposed peaceful protest. The mule (@that_darn_mule) April 29, 2016 Still others questioned the legitimacy of the protests altogether, suggesting that a foreign provocateur, a man who has experience profiting by stoking the flames of civil unrest throughout the world may be to blame, suggesting that the mastermind behind the protests is none other than billionnaire financier George Soros, whose group MoveOn.org has routinely paid individuals to protest at Trump rallies. In the end, social media remained as divided as so-called 'democratic' America, where the voting population will get to choose who they dislike least between the two people that polls suggest are the most hated in America Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. So, at the White House briefing this last week, Spokesman John Kirby caught everyone by surprise when in a heated exchange, he said there was never this, No boots on the ground. I dont know where this keeps coming from. The person responds with a But yes there well, yes, yes, there was. Kirby replies There was no there was no there wasnt. The person simply retorts What? To which Kirby answers by saying Were not going to be involved in a large-scale combat mission on the ground. That is what the President has long said. But it gets better! The person then continues to push by attempting to ask The point is that for months and months and months that the mantra from the President and everyone else in the Administration has been, No boots on the ground and now Here he was quickly cut off by Kirby when Kirby answers flatly, No, that is not true. The man, in shock, looks up in disbelief What? As if he, as well as everyone else in the room, knows something to be commonly understood, but quickly finds out that apparently it is not. Kirby flatly said Its just not true, Matt. The dialogue quickly heats up now and becomes even more blunt It is, Mr. Kirby Kirby Its just not true. The man Its true. Finally, Kirby, with a tired look of exasperation, as if he were explaining something to a 3 year old for the umpteenth time said No, its not. I just flatly, absolutely disagree with you So, bada bing, bada boom, just like that, there will be American boots on the ground in Syria and to quote Groucho Marx Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes? And speaking of lying eyes, in the fallout of the Panama papers, which basically let the entire world know how rich people either avoid paying taxes or cheat on them out right, since really, it is a very fine line, but one in which extremely smart and well-paid lawyers get to tread, Hillary Clinton, said in a speech this week Some of you may have just heard about these disclosures about outrageous tax havens and loopholes and superrich people across the world are exploiting in Panama and elsewhere. We are going after all these scams and make sure everyone pays their fair share here in America. Thats right. Hillary Clinton, the supposed defender of the poor and weak, is going after tax cheats. Which sounds pretty good, right? Except, as the Guardian noted both of the leading candidates for president Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have companies registered at 1209 North Orange, and have refused to explain why. Thats right. In Delaware, which is essentially an off-shore-on-shore tax haven. In fact, the title of the article at the Guardian was Trump and Clinton share Delaware tax 'loophole' address with 285,000 firms. The article goes on to note that the unassuming building at 1209 North Orange Street has become, famous for helping tens of thousands of companies avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in tax. Reportedly dozens of Fortune 500 companies Coca-Cola, Walmart, American Airlines, and Apple, to name a few use Delawares strict corporate secrecy laws and legal tax loopholes by registering the North Orange Street address for official business. To shed further light on this story, the New York Times, back in 2012, described it as Big corporations, small-time businesses, rogues, scoundrels, and worse all have turned up at the Delaware address in hopes of minimizing taxes, skirting regulations, plying friendly courts or, when needed, covering their tracks. Its easy to set up shell companies here, no questions asked. In response to this new allegation, a Clinton spokesman explained, ZFS [Holdings, LLC] was set up when Secretary Clinton left the State Department as an entity to manage her book and speaking income. No federal, state, or local taxes were saved by the Clintons as a result of this structure. But then, the question must be asked, why at this location? and why at all? As Arsenio Hall used to say It is just one of those things that make you go hmmmm. So, what do you think dear listeners Do Politicians in America Fence Off from Taxes? President Obama made his statements while in Hanover, Germany on a trip to promote the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnerships, but Moscows response was swift. In his key-note address to Moscow security forum Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that an unprecedented information war is underway against Russia, and that the US is inventing a false Russian threat in order to justify NATOs military buildup. Building off of his remarks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged unnamed countries, contextually inferred as the US and its allies, from using terrorist groups for regime change purposes, and warned about the growing trend of conflict in international relations. The way that Russia sees the world, its Washington, not Moscow, thats responsible for global destabilization. Sergei Utkin, head of Department of Strategic Assessment, Centre for Situation Analysis, Russian Academy of Sciences (studio guest); Richard Sakwa, professor of Russian and European Politics, Kent University, Associate Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House; and Carl Osgood, analyst at the Executive Intelligence Review joined us to discuss the agenda of the Conference. In an article titled CIA Operation "Wizard of Oz": Terminate VMRO Leadership, written by Mirka Velinovska and carried by one of the countrys leading daily outlets "Dnevnik" the author writes that: Things began to unravel when Macedonian president Gjorge Ivanov, the only functional official with Constitutional prerogatives gathered the courage to cut the Gordian knot by dealing a major blow to the coup planners. Ivanov's pardoning of all politicians materialized into snow which unveiled to everyone the tracks of the monsters that are waging a hybrid war in Macedonia. Mirka Velinovska then goes on to reveal that: Then, I'm joined by longtime election integrity champion Emily Levy, who worked with the transpartisan EI group AUDIT-AZ on the lawsuit filed just after Arizona's disastrous March 22nd Primary, when voters across Maricopa County (Phoenix) faced hours long lines to vote. The problems occurred after County Recorder Helen Purcell radically decreased the number of polling places from 211 in 2012, to just 60 this year. The suit also sought to obtain answers to reports by some voters that registrations had mysteriously switched from Democratic to independent (thus, preventing those voters from casting a normal ballot in the state's closed Primary). After two days of disturbing testimony "in a courtroom packed with voters and elections officials," including Purcell, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge David Gass dismissed the case on the basis that plaintiffs didn't offer proof that the election results would be overturned if they were allowed to proceed with discovery and a full trial. Levy tells me the judge failed to rule on the Constitutional issues raised in the suit, and focused only on the state's Election Code "which apparently requires that we be able to in the 5 days we have between certification of the election and the deadline to file a case prove exactly what the problems were, and that they would have affected the outcome of the election." "The election code really needs to be changed, because we need to have the ability to contest elections in meaningful ways," she says, adding: "I've seen the same thing in other states." As have I. Both the AZ and DE stories discussed on today's show underscore why it's so important to get election procedures and processes right before an election, rather than waiting until afterword, when it's generally too late to do anything about it. It's also another reminder why the Voting Rights Act which used to allow for that in some locations, like Maricopa needs to be restored after being gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. In the meantime, the legal complaint filed by the DNC, as joined by both the Clinton and Sanders campaign, along with a separate investigation by the DoJ, both continue to move forward. AUDIT-AZ's official response to the dismissal is posted, along with declarations and other documents from the case, on their website, ElectionNightmares.com. Finally, we close today with Donald Trump going "nuclear" over climate and much more in our latest Green News Report with Desi Doyen. You can find Brads previous editions here. And tune in to Radio Sputnik one hour a day, five days a week. "Open burning has been eliminated, according to preliminary information, no people were injured," the representative said. An emergencies task force has been sent to the site, where a fire has erupted, the representative said, adding that local residents are leaving fearing that the blaze will spread. Before being sent to the scrapping plant, all weapon systems and nuclear elements were removed. There is no threat to the ecology. The fire at the plant has been localized and there "was neither technologic nor ecological threat", the scrapping plant's representative told RIA Novosti. "The fire was inside [the plant], that is why extinction lingered. We have wetted it down, there is no open fire. There was fumigation, but now everything is in order." The Project-949 Krasnoyarsk submarine was built in 1983 and decommissioned in 1998. The winners received their well-deserved awards during a ceremony in St. Petersburg. Addressing the young inventors, Colonel Oleg Vorobyov, the acting chief of the Ministrys intellectual property and supply assessment department, said the contest reflected a growing interest in science and technology and helped popularize Russian scientific achievements abroad. Russia has never been short of inventive young minds. Like, for example, Astrakhan schoolchildren Danila Reshetnikov and Dmitry Ulevsky who invented a robot that can be controlled by the power of thought. It has been experimentally proven that the device recognizes mental commands and converts them into data signals. It consists of a mobile wheeled platform that can be remotely controlled and a controller that receives the signals generated by the brain of the operator. This creation has multiple uses, but is especially beneficial for people with disabilities. In military terms this device can help enhance combat effectiveness. For example, the operator cab control several systems at the same time, such as driving a military vehicle and shooting from different types of weapons simultaneously. ANKARA (Sputnik) In early March, both outlets have been placed under receivership by the ruling of the Istanbul court. Turkish journalists union condemned the authorities actions against opposition media, describing the rulings as the new method of censorship. Zaman office in Ankara has been shutdown, everyone is fired. Altogether, more than 400 people including foreign correspondents were fired from Zaman and Cihan," the reporter told RIA Novosti. Private TV channels Kanalturk and Bugun TV, newspapers Bugun Gazetesi and Millet Gazetesi, radio station Kanalturk Radyo, all part of the Koza-Ipek holding, were shut down earlier this year over alleged unprofitableness. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Work on the contract will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the US state of Ohio, and is expected to be completed by January 31, 2023, the announcement added. "L-3 Communications Corp., Link Simulation & Training Div., Arlington, Texas, has been awarded a $200,337,000 contract for warfighter readiness and training research," the announcement stated on Thursday. The company will provide research, development, evaluation and validation of training approaches over a period of seven years, the Defense Department noted. Tatiana is a double-citizen of both the United States and Russia, and her sister Mariya has claimed that she also holds Russian citizenship, according to the consulate. At present, Mariya faces 25 years in prison for marriage fraud, while the Farooks could spend five years in prison for aiding her, according to the US Justice Department. In December 2015, US-born Rizwan Farook and his Pakistani wife Tashfeen Malik attacked the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, killing 14 people and injuring more than two dozen others. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Mackowiaks body was found in a conference room at Apples Cupertino headquarters in Californias Santa Clara County on Wednesday. The man reportedly suffered a head wound. According to Matt Keller, a gun was found nearby. #Apple employee found dead in conference room at Cupertino headquarters identified as 25 yr old Santa Clara resident Edward Mackowiak. Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) 28 2016 . Apple said in a Wednesday statement that it was "heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented coworker." A spokesperson of the Santa Clara County Sheriff Office has confirmed to ABC7 that the person found dead at Apples Cupertino headquarters was indeed an employee of the company. According to Keller, no one else was involved in the incident. "The investigation concluded that certain personnel failed to comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict, however, the investigation did not conclude that these failures amounted to a war crime," Votel said. The United States has taken administrative and disciplinary measures against the individuals involved in the Kunduz hospital bombing in Afghanistan, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) Army Gen. Joseph Votel announced on Friday. "The investigation identified 16 US service members whose conduct warranted consideration for appropriate administrative or disciplinary action, including a general officer." The Temple points out that Cruzs lack of human decency disqualifies him from keeping company with true Satanists. Boehners comment is illustrative of how well-past-time it is to adjust our mythologies to reflect our realities. Cruzs failures of reason, compassion, decency, and humanity are products of his Christian pandering, if not an actual Christian faith. It grows tedious when pedophile priests and loathsome politicians are conveniently dismissed as Satanic, even as they spew biblical verse and prostrate themselves before the cross, recruiting the Christian faithful. Satanists will have nothing to do with any of them, said spokesman for the church, Lucien Greaves, in a statement to the Friendly Atheist. Followers of the Satanic Temple are generally agnostic or atheist, and dont believe Satan actually exists, using the concept of an anti-Christ symbolically. Members of the group are fierce proponents of freedom, including the freedom to offend. At this point, her Twitter followers lost their minds, and journalists begged for someone who could explain what she was talking about. It seems, however, that the music legend was referring to her animal friends, and the fact that Trumps sons are big game trophy hunters, judging by the photos she subsequently tweeted. In an interview with Chris Thomas of the local NBC affiliate, the groups boss, who styles himself as a Grand Imperial Wizard, stated that society today is more racial [sic] than we are," and complained that the hate group label is unfair to his organization. "This flag right here is the Confederate Battle Flag. This is not the flag of the Ku Klux Klan, said the self-styled Wizard, who then pointed to an American flag hanging behind him. That is the flag of the Ku Klux Klan. This all started over a little punk thug who went in a church and murdered a bunch of innocent people. That was wrong, the KKK boss told Thomas, speaking of Dylann Roof, a young unemployed white man who entered a Charleston church and killed nine black community members. He was later shown in photos waving a Confederate flag. About 3,000 people are included in the list, with State Department and Homeland Security employees among them. Federal agents, along with NY police officers, have been notifying those identified in the list. A source claims that law enforcement doesn't believe the threat should to be taken seriously, and regards it as a fear tactic that may not even be affiliated with Daesh. "While our standard practice is to decline comment on specific operational and investigative matters, the FBI routinely notifies individuals and organizations of information collected during the course of an investigation that may be perceived as potentially threatening in nature." the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. A study recently conducted in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa and Mozambique revealed that a widespread parasitic disease may be responsible for the disproportionate rates of HIV in the region. Picked up in contaminated water, the worm can drill through people's skin and lay eggs in their bodies, including genital areas. Sores caused by the worms make women three times more vulnerable to HIV, experts in the tropical disease said, prior a conference on HIV in London. "It's going completely under the radar," Marianne Comparet, director of the London-based International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD), said in an interview, as cited by Reuters. They know this is a killer amendment. And they do it, Churkin added. A mission to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons was announced after a deadly gas attack that killed hundreds outside Damascus in August 2013. The Syrian government placed its chemical weapons under international control following pressure from Russia. On January 4, the OPCW announced that all chemical weapons in Syria have been destroyed. Earlier in April reports emerged about Islamists' use of chemical weapons in the country. He added that in May, the UN is planning to have the most ambitious plan so far to reach people in besieged areas and cross-fire areas in Syria. So this is very good news indeed, Egeland added. Russia and the United States should send a united signal to international parties and armed groups on the ground in Syria to respect their efforts in introducing a so-called regime of silence in northern Latakia province and suburbs of Damascus, accordin gto Jan Egeland. "My strong appeal to the two powers is that they really need to get all other international parties to send a united signal to all of the armed groups on the ground to respect this effort to silence guns and fighting. Because one thing is to declare it, and a whole different thing is to make it happen in reality," he said. The senior adviser also added that the United Nations is now getting horrific reports on civilian suffering on the ground. "We are also getting tremendous reports now on eight workers and medical workers being targeted and being killed. The way it is now, it cannot continue," he said. BERLIN (Sputnik) Germany warns that such escalations of violence in Syria could have the potential to hamper the peace negotiations in Geneva, Steffen Seibert said Friday. These moves, the clashes which broke out again in Aleppo, as well as in other hotspots, put the ceasefire in danger and ruin the Geneva negotiation process, which required so much effort to be launched. These developments should be prevented, Seibert told journalists in Berlin. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the uncalled-for buildup of US forces in Syria. The Russian top diplomat said that the US-led coalition's actions in Syria were illegal as entering a country without consent from its legitimate authorities was a "big mistake." "The Americans didnt ask an authorization from the Syrian authorities because they want to overthrow the regime but also they are trying to maintain a few of so-called moderate Islamist groups in the region," Nicolas Dhuicq, a lawmaker at the lower house National Assembly, said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Last week, media reports emerged claiming that Germanys intelligence BND believed Snowden was cooperating with the Kremlin and Russian intelligence services. "There are no proof and no evidences. From my point of view, these are still rumors," Hanning said on the sidelines of the fifth Moscow Conference on International Security. On Monday, Snowdens lawyer Anatoly Kucherena denied corresponding media reports adding that Edward has never broken his principle of not cooperating with any governments or any structures of any states. There is no place like home, especially when it can lead to so many places elsewhere. Trace Tetrick has enjoyed success racing at Indianas Hoosier Park -- he recently became the tracks all-time winningest driver -- which has led to opportunities to race across North America in Grand Circuit stakes. Last year, for example, Tetrick captured a Breeders Crown at Torontos Woodbine Racetrack and an American-National Stakes at Chicagos Balmoral Park with Indiana Sire Stakes champion male pacer Freaky Feet Pete. In addition, he visited Canada last year with female pacer Colors A Virgin, who in 2014 was an Indiana Sire Stakes champ and also won the Jugette in Ohio and competed in the Breeders Crown in New Jersey. Ive been fortunate to make a good living here and have the opportunity to drive some really good Grand Circuit horses, said the 29-year-old Tetrick, who is a four-time Hoosier Park driving champion. A lot of guys dont get that opportunity because theyre not in the right place to get that ride. Usually you need to be on the East Coast to get those types of mounts. I consider myself very lucky to have those opportunities here in the Midwest. The success of the Indiana breeding program gives you a great opportunity. The last few years theyve put out some really good racehorses. They can go anywhere you want to take them and compete at almost any level. The horses give you the chance to be there and be a real contender. Tetrick will be at home this weekend -- and Colors A Virgin and Freaky Feet Pete will be right there with him. Five-year-old Colors A Virgin, who won last years Breeders Crown Mare Pace, makes her seasonal debut as the 2-1 morning line favourite in Fridays Invitational for fillies and mares at Hoosier Park. The next day, four-year-old Freaky Feet Pete looks to go 2-for-2 this season as the 1-5 morning line choice in the tracks Invitational Handicap for pacers. Last week, Freaky Feet Pete won the Invitational Handicap by 2-1/2 lengths over Nitro in 1:49.4. He paced his final quarter-mile in :26.4 despite getting a little rough gaited in the final turn. He was nice and relaxed and I kind of smooched to him there and I think he got out of gear too fast, Tetrick said. He wanted to go a thousand miles-per-hour. They let his hobbles out some, so theyll tighten them up a little bit more. But he was very good; well in hand. I was very happy with him; he did it pretty easily. Freaky Feet Pete, a homebred son of Rockin Image-Skyway Lori owned by Mary Jo Rheinheimer and Marty Rheinheimer, has won 25 of 28 career races and earned $1.12 million. The two-time Indiana Sire Stakes champion, trained by Larry Rheinheimer, has been driven by Tetrick in all of his career starts. Freaky Feet Petes 2015 campaign included winning two of three starts against Indiana-sired Wiggle It Jiggleit, who was named Horse of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. I think hes poised for a good year, said Tetrick, who entered Thursday with 3,407 career wins. He matured a lot over the winter. He tries hard and hes very versatile. You can do whatever you need with him. The four-year-old year is always the toughest. There are a lot of good horses out there, but I think hell be able to hold his own. So far hes done everything weve asked him to do. It should be a lot of fun. Tetrick got his first win as a driver in 2003. Last May, he became the fifth-youngest driver to reach 3,000 victories, a feat he accomplished at Hoosier Park. Incidentally, Tetricks brother, Tim, was the fastest driver to reach 3,000, at the age of 25 in 2007. On April 8, Trace picked up Hoosier Park win No. 1,481 to become the tracks winningest driver. Its pretty nice, Tetrick said. I didnt realize how close I was. Its a great feat. Im very happy to do it; very honoured. This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com. A pair of three-year-olds that are eligible to the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup were victorious in their qualifying miles Friday morning (April 29) at Mohawk Racetrack. The 10-race session also featured the charted return of one of the speediest glamour boys from the 2015 season. The Gregg McNair-trained and Doug McNair-driven Magnum J was the first of the NA Cup eligibles to record a win during the session. The black Big Jim gelding started from Post 7 and cut all the fractions (:28, :57, 1:25.3) in Race 3. Magnum J closed with a 27-second final quarter for the wire-to-wire triumph. He posted a three and three-quarter-length margin of victory and stopped the clock in 1:52.3. The 2015 Battle of Waterloo winner has qualified four times so far this year, and his 1:52.3 clocking on Friday morning was the fastest of his 2016 campaign thus far. Gregg McNair (of Guelph, Ont.) co-owns Magnum J along with Tony Lawrence and William Brown of Hanover, Ont. Magnum J was assessed as a 42-1 shot in Trot Magazines 2016 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. Race 5 saw the Cup-eligible Arsenic come from off the pace and get up for a nose victory in 1:55.4. Doug McNair was in the sulky for conditioner Scott McEneny. The mile was the second qualifying performance from Arsenic this year. He started from Post 4 and was charted in sixth through the opening quarter (:28) and half-mile call (:58.3). McNair had Arsenic out and on the move three-wide along the final turn. The duo was charted as such at the three-quarters of a mile pole (1:28.3), where they were almost 10 lengths off the pace. Arsenic had reduced his deficit to six lengths by the time he hit the head of the homestretch. He capped off his scintillating :25.1 closing quarter by getting up on the pacesetter to notch the nose victory in 1:55.4. Arsenic is owned by Brad Grant and Teresa Davidson of Milton, Ont. and Michelle McEneny of Waterdown, Ont. Arsenic has been assessed as a 50-1 shot in Trot Magazines 2016 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. Those who followed the glamour boys in 2015 are surely familiar with the name Reverend Hanover. The now-four-year-old son of Sportswriter made his 2016 charted debut during the Friday qualifying session for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Steve Condren. After having started from Post 7 in Race 8, Reverend Hanover was charted third through the fractions (:29, 1:00, 1:28.4). Like Arsenic a few races before him, Reverend Hanover showed a fleet turn of foot in the final quarter. Reverend Hanover came on in the final stages with a :25.2 final quarter and posted a half-length victory in 1:55.1. Reverend Hanover is owned by the West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Ont., Steve Calhoun of Chatham, Ont. and Anthony Beaton of Waterdown, Ont. To view the harness racing results for the Friday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Friday Results Mohawk Racetrack (Qualifying). This Saturdays 12-race card at the Meadowlands Racetrack features a solid group of eight older pacers in Race 7, which will be contested for a purse of $17,500. Art History has captured the fancy of the morning line oddsmaker. He has been pegged as the 2-1 early choice and will start from the outside Post 7. Art History has won three of his ten starts this season. He seems to do his best racing over the mile oval. Jimmy Marohn Jr. has the driving assignment for trainer Steve Elliott and owners Ken Klein and Old Block Stables. Mel Mara will race for new connections on Saturday. He was purchased privately by Robert Cooper and J&T Silva following a couple of impressive starts this season. Dylan Davis is the new trainer and Corey Callahan has retained the drive on the talented but delicate seven-year-old son of Lis Mara. The Meadowlands will host the final of the World Harness Handicapping Challenge on Saturday night. It is the largest of the harness contests and a few openings remain if you feel like taking a shot. First-race post time for the Meadowlands Saturday card is 7:15 p.m. (With files from the Meadowlands) Do you eat, sleep and breathe harness racing? Are you an expert or advanced user on Social Media tools? Do you have ideas and opinions on how to engage people in harness racing? If this sounds like you and you feel like you have the potential to be an outstanding Ambassador for Canadian harness racing, read on! The Industry Marketing Department of Standardbred Canada is seeking a summer student/intern to assist with various marketing activities. Knowledge of harness racing is required. This position requires an energetic self-starter with strong interpersonal and computer skills, outstanding organizational and presentation skills, and experience in social media applications. The work environment will be a combination of SCs office in Mississauga, Ontario, events at Ontario racetracks and community outreach events. Some of the duties include: Assist with special events and promotions as required Assist with website and portal update Writing for Websites and blogs Assist with industry research Data entry Assist with off-site events Administrative duties Photography taking photos at special events Qualifications Knowledgeable about harness racing Past hands-on experience with Standardbreds Currently enrolled in a Marketing, PR, Event Management, Journalism, or business program Computer Skills Required Excel/MS Office/Power Point Experience with Social Media Tools Experience working with InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop an asset Applicants must be returning to a post secondary program in the fall of 2016, have reliable transportation and be willing to work some evenings and many weekends. Duration: May end of August / early September Please submit applications apply in writing no later than Monday, May 9 at 5 p.m. to: Industry Marketing - Kathy Wade Vlaar Standardbred Canada 2150 Meadowvale Blvd. Mississauga, ON L5N 6R6 e-mail [email protected] We thank all those who apply, but only those applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted. Contact: Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director, China Aid, 432-553-1080 cell, 888-889-7757, 432-689-6985, r.ritchie@chinaaid.org WENZHOU, Zhejiang, China, April 29, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Authorities in China's coastal Zhejiang province incarcerated a pastor, his wife and son on Tuesday for contacting U.S. Consulate officials in Shanghai and foreign journalists. Wen Xiaowu, a pastor, and his wife, both of whom provided legal defense counsel for churches affected by an ongoing cross demolition campaign, were criminally detained on April 26 and charged with "gathering a crowd to disturb social order." His son, Wen "Eden" Yidian was taken into police custody on the same day for "obstructing public service." Family members, however, believe that the detentions are in response to the couple's meetings with officials from the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai and a number of foreign journalists, during which they released developments on the cross demolitions. Zhang Kai, a prominent human rights lawyer, experienced a similarly sudden detention in August 2015 just a few days before he was scheduled to meet with U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, David Saperstein. Wen Xiaowu and his wife are currently being held in the Rui'an Detention Center in Zhejiang. They have not been allowed to meet with family members. Authorities also confiscated various personal items, including computers, from their home in Wenzhou. "Arresting Pastor Wen and his family members for these meetings is a direct slap in the face to the U.S. government and the American people," said China Aid president Bob Fu, who is a friend of the Wen family. "He is a man with integrity and passion who is always ready to help others. Despite the constant threats state security agents posed to him and his family in the past few years, he and his wife have been boldly providing legal counsel for churches and persecuted human rights defenders in Zhejiang. I urge the U.S. government to work with the Chinese authorities for the immediate release of the Wen family and other innocent church leaders who are under arrest." China Aid will update this story as more information becomes available. China Aid exposes abuses such as those experienced by Wen Xiaowu and his family in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China. One incumbent is running in the five-candidate race for two open seats. Scarface is dead. No, not the character from the 1983 movie starring Al Pacino. This Scarface was the real deal a 25-year-old Yellowstone National Park grizzly bear who received his nickname from the extensive scarring on the right side of his head. Scarface the bear and Scarface the movie character do have one other thing in common besides their name, though: they both died of gunshot wounds. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks confirmed in a press release that the male grizzly bear shot in late November 2015 north of Gardiner was the bear known to researchers as No. 211 Scarface. No. 211 was killed in the Little Trail Creek drainage north of Gardiner on the Gallatin National Forest, an event under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency doesnt comment about ongoing investigations. Scarface was well known in Yellowstone by biologists and photographers. He was first collared after being captured when he was 3 years old and had been recaptured 16 times after that, unprecedented for the average grizzly. In his prime, he was about 600 pounds, said Kerry Gunther, bear management biologist in Yellowstone National Park. Thats about as big as they get in Yellowstone. Wyoming photographer Sandy Sisti remembers seeing him for the first time in 2011. After that she photographed the bear or saw him at least once a year, not surprising since male grizzlies have an average home range of 338 square miles and that Scarface spent most of his long life inside Yellowstone. I saw him along Yellowstone Lake in October, she said. I was concerned about him. He looked terrible and was very thin. Sisti was upset that Scarface had been shot instead of dying a natural death, especially since it was evident that his health was declining. Im just really kind of choked up, she said. He was an icon in the park. There was just something about him. He had so much character and, oh my gosh, hed been in the park since before the wolves were introduced. No. 211 probably got his scars from fights with other male grizzlies for females during mating season or when claiming deer, elk or bison carcasses. The scars were first noted by bear researchers in 2000 when he was 11 years old which is the average age at which most male grizzlies in Yellowstone die, Gunther said. If youve ever seen bears fighting they bite to the head and neck a lot, Gunther said. His scarring was more severe than many others. At his last capture in 2015 Scarface had lost nearly half of his body weight, weighing in at only 338 pounds. His weakened condition was probably linked to his advanced age, although even at 25 he isnt the oldest bear ever documented in Yellowstone. That went to a 31-year-old. Less than 5 percent of male bears born in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem survive to 25 years. Grizzly bears are protected by the federal government and the state of Montana as a threatened species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service routinely investigates incidents affecting threatened and endangered species and is conducting an investigation with the assistance of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Even when I would only see him cross the street I would get so excited, Sisti said. To live all of that time in Yellowstone is pretty amazing. The government Friday released an immense and long-delayed draft environmental impact study of a proposed $680 million Longview coal terminal, finding that the project would have significant effects on global warming, shipping traffic, rail safety and other human and natural activities. The draft study evaluates 23 environmental resource areas using analytical methods and information from multiple studies. The areas include the natural environment, the man-made environment, and transportation, the Department of Ecology wrote in a press release. Ecology and Cowlitz County are co-leads in conducting the study. The study ... found the proposed project could have environmental impacts in 21 of the areas some of them significant. Mitigation that could reduce or offset impacts is also proposed in the study, the press release said. The study identifies impacts from construction and operations to water quality, fish and wildlife, groundwater, and the local communities. The study evaluates the possible impacts to rail and vehicle traffic by adding eight loaded trains plus eight empty trains (each 1.3 miles long) daily. Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview LLC is proposing to build a 44 million-ton coal export terminal on former Reynolds Metals Co. aluminum plant west of Longview. The coal will come by rail from mines in Wyoming and Montana and then shipped to Asia. The EIS says the terminal would increase potential for rail accidents and congestion without significant rail improvements, like those planned for the Industrial Way/ SR 432 corridor in Longview. It also raised questions about increasing ship traffic, but it also found that coal dust levels at the site and along rail lines would not violate federal air quality standards but could be a nuisance. The full EIS, which totals about 3,000 pages, can be found online at www.millenniumbulkeiswa.gov or picked up in DVD format in multiple locations throughout Washington state (see sidebar). The public has until June 13 to comment either online at the above website, at a public hearing (see sidebar for dates) or by mail Millennium Bulk Terminals EIS, c/o ICF International, 710 Second Ave., Suite 550, Seattle, WA 98104. The project has been among the most controversial ever proposed in Longview. Opponents say the terminal will cause coal dust to blow into the community, create backups at rail crossings and contribute to global climate change. Millennium says it will control dust and that it is offering developing Asian nations cleaner Powder River coal, adding that those nations are going to burn coal one way or the other. The terminal, according to Millennium, would create 1,325 direct construction jobs and 1,300 indirect construction jobs. At full build out, it would support 135 direct jobs and 165 indirect jobs, according to Millennium. This major milestone moves us one step closer to creating family-wage jobs in Longview, while meeting Washingtons strict environmental standards. We will build this project right and honor the longstanding support we have earned from labor and the Longview community, Bill Chapman, CEO of Millennium, said in a prepared statement. Proponents welcomed the release of the study, but criticized the county and state for previous delays. Washingtons regulatory process has become longer and more uncertain, which sends the wrong message to employers. We are glad to see todays release of the draft EIS for Millennium, but remain concerned other companies will not be willing to tolerate the delays of Washingtons permitting system and will not bring the needed investment to our state, said Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business, in a press release. Opponents pointed to areas of significant impact in the study, and they questioned the validity of the proposed mitigation plans. The Department of Ecology acknowledges that moving over 44 million tons of coal in uncovered trains and stockpiling it along the Columbia would harm peoples health and the river. The bad news is the review falls short, relying on unproven mitigation. Now is the publics chance to weigh-into say no to coal export in Washington, said Jan Hasselman, attorney for the Power Past Coal Coalition, in a statement. Look for a more comprehensive look at the EIS in Sundays print and online editions of The Daily News. KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp.s paper mills had a record quarter for productivity, and the companys top leader complimented the Longview mill for its contribution. However, low prices and debt payments dragged down profits, and earnings per share dipped 23 percent, from 30 cents to 23 cents. KapStones operations performed very well in the first quarter, with our mills recording record first-quarter production, CEO Roger Stone announced Wednesday. The company as whole produced 690,000 tons of paper product in the first quarter, an increase of 33,000 tons year over year. Our strong operating performance and benefits ... though, were mostly offset by lower prices and less favorable product mix, Stone added. Longview was big player in the increased productivity, in spite of the fact that the labor union here still is working without a ratified contract. The people there are terrific. Theyre working safely, theyre working productively. I mean you could see in the (first quarter) numbers, Longview contributed significantly to our record production, Stone said in a conference call to investors Thursday. He noted that the company won some favorable decisions in labor disputes with the Longview union and declined to predict when labor conflicts here would be resolved. But, he added, everything is running very well, and we anticipate that will continue to happen as we move forward. KapStones net sales hit $738 million in the first quarter, up 35 percent from the same quarter last year. The boost primarily came from increased productivity, plus contributions from Victory Packaging, a Houston firm KapStone acquired last spring. But the average sales price per ton of paper sank to $625, or $58 lower than in the first quarter last year. The company blamed the decline on weak export markets and a reduction in domestic container board prices. KapStone announced it paid off $6 million more in debt in the first quarter, related to the purchase last May of Victory Packaging. That also dented first-quarter profits. Net income was down 38 percent, dipping to $10 million fot the quarter. But profits could have been worse off had the company not been as productive. First quarter was an exceptional year in productivity and this was able to offset the rather step deterioration in prices and product mix more heavily weighted in exports, said CFO Andrea Tarbox. The companys workforce shrunk 280 people in the past year, and more staff reductions are expected this year, the company said, without elaborating. In the remainder of the year, KapStone expects sales to perk up as Victory enters a stronger season. Anirudh Regidi Docoss Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. is a company that's become quite popular since Wednesday. Like Ringing Bells, the company is claiming to offer a 3G-ready, 4-inch smartphone for under Rs 1,000. Unlike Ringing Bells and its Freedom 251 however, the company is offering to take pre-orders on 29 April and ship the phones just 4 days later, on 2 May. If you look at the specifications of the device and compare it to the Freedom 251, you will notice that they're largely similar. You get a slightly lower resolution screen and rear camera on the X1, but it makes up for it by offering dual-SIM support. At 4GB, the internal storage is also very lower than on the Freedom 251, but you do get a microSD slot. Freedom 251 Docoss X1 Display 4.0 inch IPS 4.0 inch IPS Resolution 960x540 800x480 RAM 1GB 1GB Processor 1.3GHz dual-core 1.3GHz dual-core Storage 8GB 4GB Camera (F/R) 3MP / 0.3MP 2MP / 0.3MP OS Android 5.1 Android 4.4 Battery 1450mAh 1300mAh SIM Single (3G) Dual (3G+2G) We're pointing out the specs because we want to examine the Bill of Materials (BoM) and since the two devices are largely similar, we can expect the BoM to be in the same ball park. In an earlier story, we spoke to Vijay R. K., GM Technology, Operations, Pre-sales at Sakri Group, who mentioned that a more typical BoM of a phone like the Freedom 251 would run to Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500. This doesn't include tax, shipping and handling and other such extras. But he did add that economies of scale and Make in India would eventually push prices down to the Rs 1,000 range. What this means is that Docoss will need to find a way of shaving upwards of Rs 1,000 from just the cost of manufacturing each device if they hope to sell it at Rs 888. Ringing Bells claimed to be relying on economies of scale and "Make in India" policies to bring the cost of the Freedom 251 below Rs 1000. They also claimed to be reliant on "outside investors" to supply the Rs 200 500 crores that they'd need to bring the cost down to Rs 251 per deviceassuming they're actually going to sell 50 lakh devices by June, which they claim they will. In theory, it's possible that Docoss has managed to bring the price of the device down to below Rs 888. Considering that they're planning to accept pre-orders on April 29 and ship by May 2 however, we don't see how they've taken advantage of economies of scale unless they already have thousands of units in stock and are prepared to ship at the drop of a hat. If the folks behind the Docoss X1 did indeed put this much thought into planning the launch, it's disturbing to see how unprepared they actually are. Docoss has not had an extensive advertising campaign, the first ads appeared in papers on April 27 and even the domain wasn't registered till a little before 3PM on the same day. The website, docoss.co, couldn't be accessed and none of the 15 listed call-centre numbers that we tried seemed to work. The website does seem to be live today, though we can't seem to be able to place an order for the device just yet. Even the company was only registered March. Giving Docoss Multimedia Pvt Ltd the benefit of doubt, I think we can say that it's actually is possible to sell and ship a smartphone like the X1 at Rs 888. However, considering that they plan to do all of that in just 4 days with no apparent preparation, something certainly does indeed smell very fishy. We've reached out to industry experts for comment and will update the story as and when something happens. tech2 News Staff Google has hired Rock Osterloh as senior VP of a shiny new hardware division. Osterloh used to be president of Motorola, a company that Google sold to Lenovo. A Google representative confirmed the appointment to re/code. There is a shakeup in Google's hardware division. Osterloh will report directly to Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Osterloh will be in charge of the Nexus hardware line now, and will co-ordinate with original equipment manufacturers. Currently the hardware side of the Nexus line was managed by Google Senior Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer. Lockheimer will continue to manage the software side of Nexus, and development of the Nexus platform. Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, which was also being overseen by Lockheimer till now, will be Osterloh's responsibility. He will also be handling the Chromebook series of laptops. OnHub is a Wi-Fi router focused on streaming and sharing capabilities. OnHub belonged to Google's parent company, Alphabet, but now these devices come under Google and Osterloh's umbrella. ATAP was a Motorola division, in the news for the development of modular smartphones. Osterloh should be comfortable managing this department as well, considering his experience at Motorola. The final technology product under Osterloh in this reshuffle, is Glass. Google Glass no longer makes products for direct consumption by consumers anymore, but the project is till active for enterprise partners, most notably working with emerging medical technologies. hidden Facebook said that government requests for account data increased by 13 percent in the second half of 2015, with the United States and India topping the list. Government requests for account data increased to 46,763 from 41,214 in the first half of the year, the company said in a biannual report. The number of requests jumped 18 percent in the first half of the year. Government access to personal data from telephone and internet companies has become a bone of contention since former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified details of a program to collect bulk telephone metadata in 2013. Governments often request basic subscriber information, IP addresses or account content, including people's posts online. Facebook has about 1.65 billion regular users, or about one in every four people in the world. Facebook said about 60 percent of requests in the United States had a non-disclosure order prohibiting the company from notifying the user of the government request. This was the first time Facebook has included details on non-disclosure orders since it started issuing the global requests reports in 2013. Reuters tech2 News Staff So, it is true after all. The smartphone market is stagnating across the globe or at least the most recent figures from IDC say so. According to the new report, a total of 334.9 million smartphones were shipped worldwide in the last quarter, which is just 0.2 percent increase from the 334.3 million units seen in Q1 2015. It is being recorded as the smallest year-over-year growth. We've already seen that Apple has witnessed its first ever sales drop in nine years. However, Samsung is believed to continue to dominate the space. The report claims that Samsung shipped more than smartphones than Huawei and Apple combined. Take a look at this IDC chart for a clearer view of the numbers. The report also shows how Lenovo and Xiaomi have slipped from their positions, and do not come within the top 5 smartphone brands. They have been replaced by Chinese vendors Oppo and Vivo. "Outside of China, many of these brands are virtually unknown and the ability of these rapidly growing Chinese vendors to gain entry into mature markets such as the United States and Western Europe will be essential if they have aspirations of catching Apple or Samsung at the top," said Anthony Scarsella, research manager with IDC's Mobile Phone team. "Huawei has proven that it can sell increasingly premium devices. In China, Huawei is already recognized as a premium brand, but it is now going toe-to-toe on build quality with premium devices like the Nexus 6P that are available worldwide. While Huawei is furthest along in terms of international recognition, selling equally impressive volumes outside of China remains a challenge for many of these brands, whether it is Xiaomi, Lenovo, OPPO, or vivo. Their ability to drive local growth no longer applies when it comes to international expansion, where premium branding quickly turns to price competition," Scarsella adds. Aditya Madanapalle Micromax seems to be polarising users almost as virulently as Apple. Some feel pride that Indian company is hiring a white actor (none I have spoken to), others are furious that the company is spending on marketing instead of research and development. The ad proposes that you buy the Micromax Canvas 6, because you should care or will start to care about your phones. The ad has one powerful visual, a roadroller destroying a pile of smartphones. This just appeals intuitively to your inner sense of justice and beauty in the world, in a subconscious manner, without even being aware about why. Perhaps the feeling is similar to seeing a new toy from Apple in the 2000s. But they are right, so right. The basic proposition, of needing to care about your devices. This is what you would do to all the smartphones in the market, if you actually care about your devices. You should care about your phone, use a device that you are comfortable with in every small way. It is the device that you use the most, a device that you use all the time. There should not be a single shortcoming in a device, and the discourse around a device should not be reduced to its price point. Like sure, you can buy a TV at the same price, but that is not an excuse, because as Micromax says, you should care about your phones, and if you do not, you will. (Also read:Nuts. Guts. Glory. Micromax is the bold new Indian brand!) There were feature phones by Sony and even Samsung before the smartphone "revolution" aimed at executives that were costlier than what the iPhone is now. The original Xperia series was beautiful and eye catching, even though they were compass boxes. The Nokia lineup had such weird and wacky form factors. Now OEMs seem to be outsourcing their design to Jony Ive for free. Oh also, they all seem to have hired the same web developer who seems to extremely talented at making simple single scroll web pages. Feature phones even now fit easily in the pocket, and leave some room to share space with keys and coins. The batteries last longer, they have email, Whatsapp and maps. They are cheap to fix and it is no big deal if one gets stolen or lost. On the other hand, smartphones just keep taking our money for devices that get outdated in months, and that push out the hardware prematurely, and promise the software eventually. I am confused about what part in the product life cycle do you actually have the entire device in your hands. I have one exercise to propose. Make a list of requirements in a mobile phone. Find a device that satisfies all these requirements. Is there a device in the market that you can buy that needs absolutely no compromises on your end? I don't think so, but please do post in the comments section below. High school football playoff pairings announced Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, 7:20 p.m. -- AREAWIDE -- The high school football playoff pairings are being announced as you read this posting. In Div. 1, Reg. 2, Lapeer will play at Clarkston and Grand... 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... Truck, pickup collide hurting 28 cops in Barisal Twenty-eight members of Armed Police Battalion (APBn) were injured when a pickup van carrying them slammed into a roadside tree after a head-on collision with a truck on the Dhaka-Barisal highway in Chhoymile area of Babuganj upazila on Friday. Asaduzzaman, senior assistant superintendent of police of Barisal APBn, said the accident took place in the area around 7am when a police van carrying 28 members of the force collided head-on with a truck and hit a roadside tree, leaving all the policemen inside injured. The injured were rushed to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. The APBn members met the accident while going to Gopalganj from Barisal for performing duty ahead of the Prime Ministers visit there, said the official. -- Barisal, Apr 29 (UNB) Robi- SEU students discuss digital lifestyle Robi organises an interactive session titled \"Internet4U\" for the students of South East University (SEU) on Thursday in the city. A good number of students and faculty members joined in a discussion with the Robi officials on the rapid evolution of dig Economic Reporter : Robi has organized an interactive session titled "Internet4U" for the students of South East University (SEU) on Thursday in the city under its Corporate Responsibility (CR) initiative. Around 120 students and faculty members joined in a discussion with the Robi officials on the rapid evolution of digital lifestyle in our society. Internet has surely been one of the greatest inventions of the decade. With the increasing demand for data, it is evident that our lifestyle has now become more reliant on it. However, many of us, especially the youth, have not been able to fully capitalise on the potential of internet owing to lack of awareness on the proper and effective use of internet. As a responsible operator, Robi has endeavored to address this gap with the CR initiative named "Internet4U". The initiative attempts to introduce the college and university students across the country with "proper and safe" use of internet as a tool for networking, learning and self- development. Previously similar sessions were conducted in Amrita Lal Dey College at Barial, University of Barisal, Daffodil University and Presidency University and in the Internet Corners set up by Robi at the Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal divisional public libraries. Settling service seniority of temporary post holders when regularized Appellate Division : (Civil) Surendra Kumar Sinha J Md Abdul Wahhab Miah J Hasan Foez Siddique J AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury J Judgment May 4th, 2014. Director General, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution. ......Petitioner vs Matiur Rahman and others ....... Respondents Constitution of Bangladesh, 1972 Articles 102(2) and 103 Service Matter-Observations -In the leave petition though it has been stated in a general way 'that the writ-petitioner was appointed in a temporary post under a development project under CTL on purely temporary basis and had not been regularized", the memos relied upon by the High Court Division in 'coming to the finding that the petitioner and 11 others were transferred to the revenue budget from the development budget with effect from 1-7-1989, have not been specifically controverted. The writ respondents took similar stand before the High Court Division, but it rejected their contention with reference to the memos. In the leave petition, no attempt has been made to attack the finding of the High Court Division in that respect. . ..... (15) Sheikh Awsafur Rahman Advocate instructed by Sufia Khatun, Advocate-on-Record-For the Petitioner. Sheikh Muhammad Murshed, Advocate instructed by Md Zahirul Islam, Advocate-on-Record-For the Respondents. Judgment Md Abdul Wahhab Miah J: This petition for leave to appeal has been filed by Writ Respondent No.3, the Director General, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) calling in question the judgment and order dated the 17th day of May, 2010 passed by the High Court Division in Writ Petition No. 2710 of 2010 disposing the Rule Nisi with "findings and observations" made in the judgment. 2. Respondent No.1 herein as petitioner (hereinafter referred to as the writ-petitioner) filed the writ petition for 'issuing a Rule Nisi calling upon the writ-respondents to show cause as to why a direction should not be given upon them to consider the case of his promotion in the post of Deputy Director (Textile), Physical Testing Wing, from the present post of Assistant Director (Textile), Physical Testing Wing, according to the common seniority list published in 1998 as per the conditions of service under the schedule of the BSTI Service Regulation, (sic, it would be Rules and hereinafter shall be referred to as the Rules), 1989 "and not to supersede him in this regard." Accordingly, the Rule Nisi was issued. 3. The case of writ-petitioner as made out in the writ petition is that he is an Assistant Director (Textile), Physical Testing Wing of BSTI. BSTI was created by operation of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Ordinance No. XXXVII of 1985 (the Ordinance) upon abolishing Central Testing Laboratories (CTL) and dissolving Bangladesh Standards Institution (BDSI) for standardization, testing, metrology, quality control, grading, making of goods and overall administration and management of the institution. The functions, nature of jobs and qualifications of the employees/ officers of CTL and BDSI were different. Initially, BSTI was constituted with two wings, but considering the difference of the nature of jobs to be performed in different sectors, the Government with the approval of the Ministry of Finance by Memo dated 1-6-1994 divided the functions of BSTI in six wings, namely: (1) Administration, (2) Standard Wing, (3) Certificate/ Marks Wing, (4) Metrology Wing, (5) Physical Testing Wing and (6) Chemical Testing Wing. Among others, there are provisions under different sections of the Ordinance relating to the terms and conditions of service of all the employees / officers of BSTI. 4. In 1985, CTL authority published an advertisement in the daily newspaper seeking applications from different individuals for different posts. On 14-4-1985, the writ-petitioner applied for the post of Examiner (Textile), Physical Testing Wing. He was selected for the post and on 21-5-1985, CTL authority issued an offer letter. The writ-petitioner having accepted the offer letter joined the service on 1-6-1985 and on 10-6-1985, CTL authority issued an appointment letter to him. The writ-petitioner underwent probationary period for 1 (one) year as per the appointment letter dated 10-6-1985 issued by writ-respondent No.2. After successful completion of the probationary period, the writ-petitioner's appointment became regular. On 30-5-1989, the writ-petitioner was promoted to the post of Senior Examiner (Textile), Physical Testing Wing. Lastly on 12-1-1997, the writ-petitioner was promoted to the post of Assistant Director (Textile), Physical Testing Wing. On 25-10-1998, BSTI authority published a common seniority list of all its regular officers and employees as required under Section 36(2) of the Ordinance. In the common seniority list, the writ-petitioner's name appe'ared at serial No. 51 while, the name of one Md Abdul Mannan at Serial No. 52 and one Shamim Ara Begum at serial No.68. But on 11-3-2009, Md Abdul Mann who is 2 (two) years junior to the writ-petitioner, was promoted to the post of Deputy Director (Electricity), Physical Testing Wing, by superseding the writ-petitioner. On 19-5-2009, BSTI authority gave the overall charge of Director (Physical) to the Deputy Director (Textile), Physical Testing Wing. The writ-petitioner by an application dated 24-5-2009 addressed to the Director General, BSTI prayed for his promotion to the vacant post of Deputy Director (Textile), Physical Testing Wing. But he did not receive any response thereto. On 7-3-2010, the selection Board of BSTI held its meeting wherein it was decided to give promotion to Shamim Ara Begum, who is more than 4(four) years junior to the writ-petitioner, again by superseding him. In the circumstances, the writ-petitioner finding no other equally efficacious remedy provided by law filed the writ petition and obtained the Rule Nisi. 5. Writ-Respondent Nos.2 and 3 and added respondent No.6 contested the Rule by filing affidavit-in-opposition separately,' but contending more or less same facts and raising similar question of law. 6. Writ-Respondent Nos. 2 and 3 in their affidavit-in-opposition contended, inter-alia, that the writ-petitioner was appointed as Examiner under a development project, namely; "Modernization' and Development of Central Testing Laboratory" purely on temporary basis as apparent from the appointment letter. There are some procedures for transferring any service from development budget to revenue budget, but in the instant case, no such procedure was followed and the service of the writ-petitioner had not been regularized. At the time of promotion of the writ-petitioner to the post of senior examiner and Assistant Director, the service records of the writ-petitioner were not properly and correctly produced and discussed in the meeting of the previous selection boards. The question of the seniority list of 1998 was discussed in Writ Petition No. 470 of 2005. A Division Bench of the High Court Division by the judgment and order dated 3-1-2006 discharged the Rule Nisi issued therein with finding that the writ petition was pre-mature as it was a draft list and no final list was prepared. The judgment and order was upheld by the Appellate Division in Civil Petition for Leave to Appeal No.613 of 2006. The promotions of the officers and the employees of BSTI are made as per the provisions of the recruitment schedule to the Rules. Under the Rules, the writ-petitioner is not entitled to be promoted to the post of Deputy Director (Textile), Physical Testing Wing. The promotion case of the writ-petitioner was placed before the Selection Board and the matter was thoroughly discussed on the basis of his service record. The Selection Board found that the ser.vice of the writ-petitioner was not regularized. So, he was not entitled to get the relief prayed for and the Rule Nisi was liable to be discharged. 7. Added respondent No.6 contended that the service of the. writ-petitioner had not , been regularized in the post of Examiner under the revenue budget; on the other hand, she was appointed in 1989 as an Examiner of BSTI under the revenue budget on regular basis and in that view of the matter, the writ-petitioner could not claim his seniority over her. 8. The writ-petitioner filed an affidavit-in-reply to the affidavit-in-opposition filed by added respondent No.6 asserting that the statements made in the affidavit-in-opposition that his service was not regularized under the revenue budget, was absolutely false and incorrect. With the approval of the President of the Republic by Memo No. wki/^m-5/weGmwUAvB-4/87/316/1/1(4) dated 29-3-1989 (annexure-F to the affidavit-in-reply), the services of the writ-petitioner and 11 others were transferred to the revenue budget with effect from 1-7-1987. Then by Memo Nos. weGmwUAvB/2(4)/72-LU-1/3117(2) dated 12-4-1989 and weGmwUAvB/2(4)/72-LU-1/3188(2) dated 10-1-1996, the fact of transfer of the writpetitioner to the revenue budget and regularization with effect from 1-7-1987 was further confirmed. 9. A Division Bench of the High Court Division on hearing the writ petition by the impugned judgment and order, disposed of the Rule Nisi with the findings and observations made therein. 10. Mr Sheikh Awsafur Rahman, learned Advocate, appearing for the petitioner, submits that the High Court Division was wrong in giving finding that the writ-petitioner was illegally superseded inasmuch as he was, in fact, not regularized in his service in the revenue budget and therefore, he could not claim promotion. In the context, the High Court Division failed to consider rules 7(2), 14(2) and 14(3) of the Rules in its proper perspective which contemplate that the promotion of the employees is to be considered by the authority with their full satisfaction and one cannot claim promotion as a matter of right. He submits that the High Court Division acted illegally in giving direction upon BSTI to give promotion to the writ-petitioner in the post of Deputy Director, BSTI inasmuch as it did not compare the personal file performance, merit and other attending circumstances of both the writ-petitioner and the person who has been promoted. 11. Mr Sheikh Muhammad Murshed, learned Advocate, entering caveat, on behalf of the writ-petitioner-respondent, on the other hand, supported the impugned judgment and order. 12. From the impugned judgment and order, it appears that the High Court Division gave clear finding that the writ-petitioner was regularized in his service on and from 1-7-1987, but the respondents perversely and arbitrarily found at least twice that the service of the writ-petitioner was not regularized and thus the respondents in colourable exercise of their power illegally refused to recognize his status and seniority, earned in course of his employment in the service. (To be continued) In coining to the said finding, the High Court Division relied upon Memo No. wki/^m-5/weGmwUAvB-4/87/316/1/1(4) dated 29-31989 and also Memo Nos. weGmwUAvB/2(4)/72-LU-1/3117(2) dated 12-4-1989 weGmwUAvB/2(4)/72-LU-1/3188(2) dated 10-1-1996. The High Court Division observed that the contention of the contesting respondents that the service of the writ-petitioner was not regularized, had no factual and legal basis, any failure/refusal to recognize the seniority with effect from the date of appointment or regularization of service amounts to deprivation and denial of opportunity in the matter of employment and thus, violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 29 of the Constitution. The High Court Division further found that "the service and promotion of the petitioner were not considered" in accordance with the provisions of sections 36(1)(c) and 36(2) of the Ordinance respectively and thereby his fundamental rights to equal protection of law and to be treated in accordance with law as enshrined in Articles 27 and 31 of the Constitution have been infringed. The High Court Division further observed that the term "all officers and other employees" as used in clause (c) of section 36(1) of the Ordinance does not make any difference or divisions as to permanent or temporary officers or employees or officers and employees under any development project of the abolished CTL and thus the same also includes both temporary officers and employees or officers and employees under any development project of the abolished CTL. Moreover, there is no controversy that along with the services of other officers and employees under the development project of the abolished CTL, the service of the writ-petitioner was also transferred to BSTI. The High Court Division further held that section 36(2) of the Ordinance has stipulated that for the purpose of promotion, the common seniority list prepared by the Institution shall be considered. The High Court Division further held that as per the principle of :'Expressio unius est exclusio alterious" only seniority being exclusively mentioned in section 36(2) of the Ordinance, the same would exclude suitability or merit which is not mentioned therein for consideration for promotion of all the officers and other employees of BSTI; in respect of promotion, section 36(2) of the Ordinance being the substantive law, the same shall prevail over any provision of the Rules contrary thereto or overlapping thereof. Rule 7(2) of the Rules read with rule 14(2) thereof at best stipulates that along with seniority, one has to have other qualifications for promotion, otherwise he/she would be disqualified for promotion. The High Court Division further observed: "It is well settled, even where the promotion post is to be filled up on seniority-cum-merit/ suitability basis, the guarantees of Articles 27 and 29(1) of the Constitution require that an employee fulfilling the qualification of the promotion post should be considered for promotion. Thus if a junior employee is promoted without considering the case of the senior employee, who fulfils the qualification of the promotion post, the guarantee of equality of opportunity in the service of the Republic or in that of a local authority is violated." 13. The High Court Division came to the further finding that in the present case, without properly examining the writ-petitioner's service records, the promoting authority upon wrong and arbitrary inference that his service was not regularized, did not consider his claim for promotion, while the contesting respondents including BSTI even did not allege that the writ-petitioner was otherwise disqualified for consideration for promotion. The High Court Division concluded that the seniority of the writ-petitioner is to be counted from the date of regularization of his service, i.e. 1-7-1989 and he was illegally superseded in giving promotion to his juniors, he is entitled to be promoted to the post of Deputy Director (Textile) from his present post of Assistant Director (Textile), Physical testing Wing, BSTI in accordance with the Ordinance and the Rules made thereunder and he is also entitled to seniority over his juniors who have already been promoted to the posts of Deputy Directors by superseding him. 14. Mr Sheikh Awsafur Rahman failed to show with reference to the materials on record that the observations made and the findings given by the High Court Division as noted down hereinbefore, particularly, the fact that the service of the writ-petitioner and 11 others was transferred to the revenue budget with effect from 1-7-1987 with the approval of the President of the, Republic by Memo No. wki/^m-5/weGmwUAvB-4/87/316/1/1(4) dated 29-3-1989 and this was further affirmed by Memo Nos. weGmwUAvB/2(4)/72-LU-1/3117(2) dated 12-4-1989 and weGmwUAvB/2(4)/72-LU-1/3188(2) dated 10-11996, are the result of misreading and misconstruction of those memos or any other document filed before the High Court Division as affidavit evidence non-consideration of any such affidavit evidence or other materials or on no affidavit evidence or materials. 15. We have considered the provisions of sections 36(1), 36(2) of the Ordinance, relevant rules of the Rules; we find that the High Court Division took correct view in the matter as to the right of the writ-petitioner in getting promotion to the post of Deputy Director in BSTI. The submission of Mr Awsafur Rahman that the writ-petitioner is not entitled to be promoted to the post of Deputy Director in BSTI as he was not regularized in his service, appeared to us a bit grotesque inasmuch as on the basis of an offer letter dated 21-5-1985, the writ-petitioner joined the service on 1-6-1985 as Examiner (Textile) and then he was given the formal appointment letter on 10-6-1985 and in course of time, he was promoted to the post of Senior Examiner (Textile), Physical Testing Wing and lastly, on 12-1-1997, he was promoted to the post of Assistant Director (Textile), Physical Testing Wing. Had he not been regularized in the first post of Examiner (Textile) in the revenue budget then the question of promotion to the next higher posts would not have arisen. In this regard, it is necessary to state that in the leave petition though it has been stated in a general way that the writ-petitioner was appointed in a temporary post under a development project under CTL on purely temporary basis and "he had not been regularized", the memos relied upon by the High Court Division in coming to the finding that the petitioner and 11 others were transferred to the revenue budget from the development budget with effect from 1-7-1989, have not been specifically controverted. It may further be stated that the writ-respondents took similar stand before the High Court Division, but it rejected their contention with reference to the memos as already mentioned. In the leave petition, no attempt has been made to attack the finding of the High Court Division in that respect. In view of the above, we find no merit in the leave petition. Accordingly, the same is dismissed. Without date there cannot be subsequent happenings (From previous issue) : 10. Fourthly, the learned Advocate submits that the last occurrence of this case allegedly took place on 25-7-2008 at Kallyanpur, Mirpur, Dhaka but Complaint was filed after a reasonable gap on 2-9-2008. So the complainant got ample opportunity to include all the relevant facts of the case in her allegations but the petition of complaint is totally silent in respect of any salish between the parties but the whole evidence is surrounded regarding a Salish between the parties. Infact, no such salish was taken place as stated by the witnesses at trial. The fact of salish is a subsequent embellishment which has been introduced in order to strengthen the prosecution case. 11. Lastly, and finally the learned Advocate submits that the appellate Court below was pleased to find that the prosecution could not prove the date of occurrence but at the same time came to a conclusion that prosecution was able to prove the place and the manner of occurrence. But where there is no any date of occurrence there cannot be any corresponding place and manner of occurrence. In fact, the trial Court on a proper assessment of the evidence on record acquitted the accused but the appellate Court below without considering the evidence and other materials on record very arbitrarily and whimsically found the accused guilty although there was no any evidence in the record of demanding of dowry to the accused. So, the judgment and order of conviction and sentence passed by the appellate Court below is liable to be set aside acquitting the accused from the charge. 12. On the other hand, Mr Md Ashaque Momin, the learned Assistant Attorney-General appearing for the opposite party No. I and Mr TM Shakil Hasan, the learned Advocate appearing for the opposite party No.2 almost in a chorus voice opposing the Rule submits that admittedly Most. Razia Akter was the married wife of accused Anwar Hossain and at the time of marriage in a very customary way the guardians of the complainant had expended a lot of money to satisfy the accused but he was so greedy that nothing was sufficient to satisfy his greed. As a result immediately after marriage the accused raised his voice for Taka 3,00,000 (three lakhs) as dowry and the accused was making continuous pressure for realisation of the said amount and the complainant categorically articulated the date of the said demand of dowry on 30-5-2008 and 13-6-2008 and the same has been proved by the cogent evidence of the prosecution witnesses and when the complainant in order to save her life from the physical and mental torture of the accused took shelter in the house of her cousin at Kallyanpur, Mirpur, Dhaka, the greedy accused also stormed on her on 25-7-2008 and assaulted her and since the consequence of the occurrence of this case had ensued at Dhaka, the case was well maintainable in the Court of Dhaka. 13. They next submit that the complainant when filed the appeal in the Court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Dhaka accused Anwar Hossain was made respondent No. I with the state in serial No.2 and the record will go to show that notice was served upon the respondent No. 1. 14. They also submit that when the accused demanded dowry to the complainant, the common relations of both the parties took some initiative for a reconcilation of them and at trial the witnesses who were present in the said salish stated the said fact before the trial Court. Since that is the matter of evidence which did not require to state in the petition of complaint and for non-mentioning about the salish, the accused had not been prejudiced in any way and for that reason the prosecution case cannot be disbelieved at all. 15. They also submit that the trial Court totally failed to appreciate the evidence on record and thereby committed serious error of law and fact in acquitting the accused from the charge but the appellate Court below on proper consideration of evidence and other materials on record came to a very sound conclusion finding the accused guilty under Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1980. So the judgment and order of conviction and sentence of the appellate Court below did not call for any interference from this Court. So the Rule is liable to be discharged with cost. 16. I have considered the above submissions and arguments of the learned Advocates of both the parties with profound attention and have gone through the materials on record. 17. It is admitted that complainant Most. Razia Akter was the married wife of accused Anwar Hossain which took place on 2-1-2007. In a revision under sections 435 and 439 of the Code the law empowers the revisional Court to examine the correctness, legality or propriety of any finding and sentence or order recorded by the appellate Court below. 18. The record of the criminal appeal No. 866 of 2011 goes to show that the appeal was filed on 12-10-2011 which was admitted by the appellate Court on 20-10-2011 fixing 1-3-2012 for LCR and SR. On the following date on 1-3-2012 a order has been recorded in the following manner: 19.A` LCR, SR ????? ??????, ???????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ??-?-???? ?????? ??????? The record thus shows that the appeal became ready for hearing on 1-3-2012. On a meticulous perusal of the record there appears no issuance of the notice upon the respondent No.1. There is nothing in the record to show that any notice was served upon the respondent No. 1 Md Anwar Hossain and without issuance of any notice how the appellate Court below got the service return. However, it is evident from the materials on record that no notice was issued and served upon the respondent No. 1 Md Anwar Hossain in connection of the criminal appeal and without service of notice and informing him the appeal was heard in his absence and the judgment was pronounced on 24-5-2012. Section 422 of the Code provides the clear provisions of serving notice upon the accused in an appeal filed under Section 417 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Most. Razia Akter preferred the criminal appeal against the order of acquittal invoking Section 417 of the Code but no notice was served in view of the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, thus, the appellate Court below committed a serious error of law hearing disposal of the appeal without notifying the accused respondent No. 1 Md Anwar Hossain. 20. The learned Advocate for the petitioner raised serious objection as to the jurisdiction of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court in trying the case. Section 170(1) of the Code provides that every offence shall be inquired into and tried by a Court within the local limit of whose jurisdiction it was committed. That is where an offence is committed the same will be tried by a Court fixed for that jurisdiction. Of course Section 179 of the Code also provides that if in consequence of any occurrence is ensued to any other place, the case can be tried by the Court of that particular place. From the trend of petition of complaint it appears that the definite demanding of dowry took place in the house of complainant at Saturia Upazila, secondly in the house of the accused and consequence of the said occurrence allegedly took place at Mirpur in the house of the cousin of the complainant on 25-7-2008. In view of the above provisions of law had there been any occurrence on 25-7-2008 at Mirpur, the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court was justified to try the case. But on a meticulous perusal of the evidence on record there appears no evidence that any occurrence as alleged in the petition of complainant took place on 25-7-2008 in the house of the cousin of the complainant. 21. The complainant as PW I though uttered the date 25-7-2008 but the same has been uttered to serve other purpose. PW 1 stated that on 30-5-2008 and on 25-7-2008 the accused assaulted her at Kamarpara, Dhamrai in order to realize Taka 300,000 from her. PW 7 Md Abu Bakar Siddique who happens to be the cousin of the complainant and whose residence is at 1/5 Kallyanpur, Mirpur, stated that the complainant took shelter in his house. On going through the evidence of Abu Bakar Siddique it is found that there is nothing in his evidence that accused Anwar Hossain at any point of time rushed to his house inquest of Most. Razia Akter. Abu Bakar Siddique simply said that once Razia Akter came in his house and he took initiative for the treatment of Razia Akter but this evidence does not mean that the consequence of the occurrence of demanding dowry was ever ensued at his residence at Kallyanpur, Mirpur, Dhaka. So it is difficult to find that the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court had at all jurisdiction to try the case. 22. The learned Advocate for the petitioner argued that there was no evidence in support of the case of demanding dowry although the learned Advocate for the opposite parties submitted that immediate after marriage the accused was demanding dowry continuously. PW I Razia Akter in her evidence stated that the accused was demanding dowry from 2007 and on 30-5-2008 and 25-7-2008 the accused assaulted her at his residence at Dhamrai for Taka 3,00,000. PW 2, Abdul Alim deposed to prove a Salish. PW 3, Kabiluddin deposed to prove the quarrel and bad relation between the husband and wife. PW 4 Mostafa is a hearsay witness in respect of Salish. PW 5 Mojibar Rahman, the full brother of the complainant did not depose to support the definite date of demanding dowry by the accused to his sister. He stated that immediate after marriage, the accused raised his voice demanding dowry. PW 6, Mainuddin deposed to prove the Salish between the parties. PW 7, and the last witness Abu Bakar Siddique also a witness of demanding dowry continuously by the accused. He also failed to support the accurate date of demanding dowry on 30-5-2008 and 25-7-2008 as stated by the PWl. The prosecution though examined 7 witnesses but none of the witness among 2-7 have supported the evidence of PW I that on 30-5-2008 and 25-7-2008 accused demanded dowry to her in presence of any witness. So in view of the evidence given by the prosecution it is found that though the complainant as PW I had marked two days of demanding dowry but none of the remaining prosecution witnesses could have supported the said evidence of PW 1. 23. At trial most of the witnesses highlighted the salish between the parties. In many cases it has been held by this Court that the FIR cannot be treated as the first and last word of the prosecution case rather weight is to be given to the legal evidence adduced by a witness before the Court at the time of trial but in the case of 45 DLR 142 Nazrul Islam vs State it has been held that where FIR does not contain an important fact deposed by the witnesses it is clear that there has been subsequent embellishment of the prosecution case which make it untrustworthy. 24. The last occurrence of the case took place allegedly on 25-7-2008 whereas the petition of complainant was filed on 2-9-2008. The complainant got more than clear one month time to lodge the petition of complaint as such she had the ample opportunity to include the fact of salish reportedly taken between them but the well drafted petition of complaint is totally silent regarding the salish between the parties. In my consideration had there been any occurrence of salish on the burning issue of demanding dowry between the parties that could have been found place in the petition of complaint. The appellate Court below in his judgment opined that the event of Salish is a matter of evidence which need not be required to state in the petition of complaint but this findings of the appellate court below cannot be considered as legal and fair. The manner of salish or the other particulars about the same need not be required to state in the petition of complaint but the so called salish is an important fact between the parties on the burning question of demanding dowry, that should have been found place in the petition of complaint. Since that did not find place in the petition of complaint, the obvious decision would be that infact there was no any such Salish between the parties and had there been any Salish that would have been revealed in the petition of complaint and the very introduction of Salish appears to be a subsequent embellishment which has been introduced in order to strengthen the prosecution case. 25. Now, the last argument of the learned Advocate for the petitioner in respect of the judgment of the appellate Court below that the appellate Court below rightly found that the prosecution could not prove the date of occurrence although at the same time found that the prosecution has been able to prove the place and manner of occurrence. When the prosecution fails to prove the date of occurrence the question of proving the place and manner of occurrence cannot raise at all. There is strong link among the time, the place and manner of occurrence. Where there is no date of occurrence there cannot be any time, place and manner of occurrence. The appellate Court below without proper appreciation of the evidence on record found the accused guilty under Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. 26. Having regards to the above discussion find that the disposal of the appeal without notifying the respondent No. 1 Anwar Hossain was illegal. On that count and also for the other reasons stated herein above the judgment of the appellate Court below has been suffering from gross illegality which cannot be maintained at all. 27. In the result, the Rule is made absolute. The judgment and order of conviction and sentence passed by the appellate Court below in criminal appeal No. 866 of 2011 is hereby set aside and the convict-petitioner is acquitted of the charge levelled against him. Let a copy of the judgment be sent to the concerned Court along with the lower Court's record. (Concluded) Sons of BD couple murdered in US sent to jail bdnews24.com :Two Bangladeshi-Americans arrested for their suspected involvement in the murder of their parents at San Jose, in California, have been sent to jail.San Jose Police Department (SJPD) said a court ordered non-bailable detention for Hasib Bin Golam Rabbi and his 17-year-old brother, whose name has been withheld for being underage. Hasib, 22, was arrested in Tracy, California, and his brother in San Jose on Wednesday, SJPD said in an updated media release on Thursday.The elder brother was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail, while the other into the Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall, for murder. The couple - Golam Rabbi, 59, and Shamima Rabbi, 57 - were found murdered in their San Jose home in the United States a few days ago. Bangladeshi community members said they would be buried at Five Pillar Farm graveyard in Livermore city after the funeral prayer at Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara on Friday noon. People close to the family said the two siblings might be paroled for the funeral. Rabbi, a younger brother of Imdad Sitara Khan Foundation Chairperson Sitara, was an engineer and Shamima an accountant. They had been living in the United States for decades.The Rabbi couple were members of the Evergreen Islamic Center and were described as "simple, gentle souls" by friends. A note was found in the house that read, "Sorry, my first kill was clumsy."Police also found a longer note on the wall that read, "I can't be like you, telling a lie. I can't love someone without telling them." This note led police to the conjecture that the couple were murdered by someone they knew. After speaking to their younger son, who was not a suspect until then, police learnt that the elder son had been out of reach. Finally, they arrested both the brothers on Wednesday night.ed in US sent to jail US man Kim Dong jailed for spying in N Korea BBC Online : North Korea has sentenced a US man to 10 years of hard labour for spying. Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old naturalised US citizen born in South Korea, was arrested last October. Kim had made an apparent confession in Pyongyang last month in front of reporters, saying he was paid by South Korean intelligence officers. The US has previously accused North Korea of using its citizens as pawns in a diplomatic game. Pyongyang denies the accusations. At the time of Kim's arrest, the US State Department had said it would not be commenting on the case as speaking publicly about detained Americans can complicate the process of getting them released. In March, US student Otto Frederick Warmbier was jailed for 15 years for stealing a propaganda sign and "crimes against the state". North Korea has previously said Kim had a USB stick containing military and nuclear secrets on him when he was arrested in the special economic zone of Rason. Kim, who used to live in Virginia, had said he was introduced to South Korean spies by US intelligence officers. Forced public confessions by foreign prisoners are common in North Korea. Kim's imprisonment comes amid a period of high tensions. North Korea has recently conducted a series of missile tests following its fourth nuclear test in January, both of which break UN sanctions. Pyongyang attempted to launch two mid-range ballistic missiles on Thursday which crashed shortly after their launches, prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. It is believed it will attempt a fifth nuclear test soon. The recent burst in activity is thought to be a ramp-up to a rare party congress due to be held on 6 May, where leader Kim Jong-un is expected to consolidate power. Diploma nurses vow to continue hunger strike Unemployed nurses begin hunger strike unto death in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding cancellation of test-based recruitment. About 20 nurses fell ill on Friday. Staff Reporter : The unemployed diploma nurses on Friday vowed to continue their hunger strike unto death in front of the National Press Club, demanding recruitment of the nurses on the basis of year of graduation, merit and seniority. On the 26th day of the movement, the nurses also urged the government to take initiative to resolve the crisis. The nurses began the hunger strike under the joint auspicious of the Bangladesh Diploma Bekar Nurses' Association (BDBNA) and the Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses' Society (BBGNS). They also chanted slogans against the recruitment process and called for protecting the nursing sector. About four hundred nurses took part in the hunger strike programme on Friday. BBGNS General Secretary Nahida Akhter told The New Nation on Friday that they would continue their hunger strike until their demands were met. "We want to ret from the street. We want to save our sector. Our demand is logical. The authorities should meet our demand as early as possible. Otherwise they will be responsible for any untoward situation," she said. BDBNA President Rina Akhter said the nurses have been to go on hunger strike unto death as they didn't get any response from the government even after the 26th consecutive day movement. "Everyone knows that what is the actual scenario of job market in the country now. A good number of job seekers have to pay a handsome amount of money to get jobs. The nurses were appointed on the basis of year of graduation, merit and seniority in the past. Public Service Commission decided to appoint the diploma nurses through examinations instead of existing system which disappointed the nurses," Rina Akhter said. Mokammel Hossain, a demonstrator, said, "The police charged batons, lobbed tear gas canisters, and used pepper spray and water cannons to stop our movement. But the process was wrong because we will never go back before realising our demand. We were ready to soak our white dresses with our blood. Now we are ready to die. It may be mentioned that the nursed started their demonstration on April 4 and they started hunger strike from April 28 in front of the National Press Club. Drought may continue for a few more days Heat wave affects agro products Kamruzzaman Bablu : The severe heat wave across the country may affect production of agricultural commodities, specially crops, seasonal fruits and fish farming. The drought may continue for few more days, worsening the situation. Experts said, most of the farmers in the country having no scientific knowledge about modern cultivation depend on rain to a great extent for watering their plants. So, if some more days continue without rain, overall productions may suffer. "We are advising farmers to use sufficient surface water for irrigating their crops and fruit trees," said Chaitanya Kumar Das, Additional Director (Monitoring), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). He told The New Nation on Wednesday that prolonged drought has been hampering cultivation. Decline in rainfall by 75 percent contributed to the drought-like situation in the country. Chaitanya Kumar Das also said, 'Boro paddy is being harvested excepting for some late varieties, but the Aus paddy farming will face the problem.' The IRRI cultivation needs a huge quantity of water. If the drought continues, he said, production will suffer heavily. Agriculture officials also said litchi fruit suffered terribly due to heat wave, while green mangoes are withering. Quoting farmers, another Official of DAE said, many farmers are depending on underground water for irrigation due to the absence of normal rainfall. This adds to the cost of production excessively. Fish experts and specialists said, the prevailing heat wave is posing a serious threat to fish species, particularly small ones, as most water-bodies are now drying up in different areas. Meteorological Officials said there was no normal rainfall in the month of April as heat wave swept the country during the period, causing a scarcity of surface water. According to official statistics, the heat wave has been continuing for the last three weeks since April 6. "A mild-to-moderate heat wave that has been sweeping over Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and the regions of Dhaka, Tangail, Faridpur, Dinajpur, Syedpur and Chandpur may continue for 2 to 3 more days," said Sadequl Alam, Senior Meteorologist of Dhaka Met Office. On Thursday, the highest temperature was recorded in Jessore. It was 49.6 degrees Celsius, while 37.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Dhaka, he said. Campaign of terror against BD's liberal voices The Economist : THE KILLERS came as couriers, a suspicious-looking group of five or six. The parcel they carried, to a flat in Dhaka on April 25th, was filled with machetes. Once inside they hacked to death Xulhaz Mannan, a gay-rights activist, and a friend. Across the capital, Bangladesh's prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, blamed the murders on the opposition alliance. A more plausible explanation emerged a few hours later when a local group affiliated with al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. Mr Mannan was the editor of Roopbaan, the country's first magazine for gay and transgender readers, and worked for America's aid agency. He had been receiving death threats since trying to organise a "Rainbow Rally" earlier in the month for gay and transgender youth (the police cancelled it, saying it would offend religious sentiment). The latest deaths brought to four the number of liberals killed in similar attacks this month. Just two days earlier a professor of English at Rajshahi University in the north-west had been cut down, also in broad daylight. A group professing allegiance to Islamic State (IS) had claimed that killing. Last year there were at least five such murders of intellectuals, bloggers and members of religious minorities. No one has been punished for any of the crimes, although an activist from a fundamentalist group has been arrested for suspected involvement in the professor's death. Sheikh Hasina has said her government will not take responsibility for "untoward incidents" that befall people who express objectionable opinions. On April 17th she likened the slain bloggers' writings to "porn" (newspaper editors, browbeaten by government censorship, omitted this word from accounts of her speech). Her stance on religious issues appears to have won over Hefazat-e-Islam, a radical Islamic outfit that used to denounce her party. Ali Riaz of Illinois State University says the killings may have gained momentum because of the state's weak reaction. International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based NGO, describes a "deeply politicised, dysfunctional criminal-justice system". The government's response is rooted in the country's turbulent history. In 1971 Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, claimed its independence from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and set up a secular state. But coups in Bangladesh brought to power a series of military regimes, which invoked Islam to broaden their support. One of them made the religion the country's official one in 1988. Subsequent civilian governments have continued to use Islam in an attempt to shore up their legitimacy. Sheikh Hasina, lacking a popular mandate (elections in 2014 were deeply flawed), has become increasingly deferential to religious conservatives. In March a court took just two minutes to dismiss a petition that challenged Islam's role as the state religion. The opposition, however, led by Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has been tacking in the opposite direction-partly, it appears, to shore up its credibility in India and the West. It has distanced itself from its main Islamist ally, the Jamaat-e-Islami, and no longer protests against the hanging of Jamaat-e-Islami's leaders for war crimes committed in 1971 (the executions have been widely supported). A Hindu, Goyeshwar Roy, has risen within the BNP hierarchy, which would have been unthinkable only last year. Mr Riaz of Illinois State University says it "might be too early to write the obituary of a secular Bangladesh". If only the same could be said for secular Bangladeshis. 2 shot dead in Laxmipur Staff Reporter :The overall law and order situation has deteriorated as a series of killing, including rights activists, bloggers, professors and rival political workers, are taking places almost everyday across the country.As a result, a sense of insecurity, triggered by miscreant's attack on the one hand and police access on the other, has been created among the people. According to police sources, at least 1220 people have been killed in around last four months in the country. Though the law enforcing agencies are trying their best to counter the attacks, they could not control the situation yet. In January, 267 people were killed, while 291 in February, 307 in March and the rest 355 up to April 29. In the latest incident, a gang of unidentified criminals shot dead two people at Rajibpur village in Sadar Upazila in Laxmipur district on Friday.When contacted Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Nasim Mia said bullet-riddled bodies of Syed Hossain Manik, 45, son of late Sekandar Mia, and Kamrul Islam, 40, son of Shamsul Karim of the village, were found in the area early in the morning. On information, Police recovered the bodies from near the house of one Dr Yusuf around 8:00am.Police suspected that they were killed following internal feud over drug peddling. The bodies were sent to the Laxmipur Hospital morgue for autopsy.Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Friday said it is a big challenge for the members of law enforcing agencies to tackle the targeted and secret killing.Replying to a query about any development in connection with Kalabagan double murder case, he claimed the investigation is being carried out in a proper way."I'm unable to make comment whether anyone has been detected in connection with the double murder. I shall inform you later," he told journalists at his Dhanmondi residence. Health Minister Mohammad Nasim on Friday said those who want to capture the state power in unconstitutional way, they are committing big crimes like secret and targeted killing.Meanwhile, the government and police have denied the existence of any international militant group in Bangladesh.While the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claims the country is in 'danger' in the wake of the murders of a number of writers, publishers and online activists by suspected militants over the past one year.BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman at a function on Friday said this government is committing crimes against humanity through murder and forced disappearances of men. "Those who have remained missing will never comeback," he said. However, the Prime Minister in her Parliament speech on Wednesday hailed the police and other law-enforcing agencies for their 'successes' in solving the recent terrorist attacks in different parts of the country.Writer-blogger Avijit Roy, online activist Oyasiqur Rahman Babu, bloggers Niladri Chatterjee Niloy, Ananta Bijoy Das, and Avijit's Publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan were killed in a similar fashion last year.Online activist Nazimuddin Samad,, Prof Rezaul Karim Siddiquee of Rajshahi University and gay activists Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Mahbub Tonoy were hacked to death this month. Probe on right track, says Asad Xulhaz, Tanoy murders UNB, Dhaka : Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Friday said the investigation into the killing of USAID staff Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Mahbub Tanoy has been on the right track. Xulhaz Mannan, who is an editor of lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender (LGBT) magazine Roopbaan, and Tanoy, an activist of theatre group Loknatya Dal, were hacked to death by miscreants at an apartment in the capital's Kalabagan area on Monday. "We're on the right trackwe'll let you know this later," he told reporters when asked about the progress of investigation into the double murder after inaugurating a showroom at Elephant Road in the city. Asked whether any of the killers has been identified, the Home Minister declined to make any comment, saying: "I'll inform you later." Talking to reporters over the issue at his Dhanmondi residence earlier in the morning, Asaduzzaman said they will reveal everything after several days. About the killing of bloggers and teachers in recent times, he claimed that most of the killers involved in 'target killings' have been identified. "Many of them are now in jail facing trial and others will be arrested soon." Two cases-one by Xulhaz's elder brother Minhaz Mannan and the other by police-were filed with Kalabagan Police Station in connection with the double murder. The cases were later transferred to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Iranian refugee in Australia dies after self-immolating albawaba News : An Iranian refugee who set himself on fire at an offshore Australian detention center on the Pacific island of Nauru died at a Brisbane hospital Friday. The 23-year-old, known as Omid, had poured petrol on himself and ignited it Wednesday in front of United Nations representatives visiting the detention center. Under its immigration policy, Australia detains asylum seekers who arrive by boat at offshore detention centers including Nauru, where conditions have been described as appalling by rights advocates. While at the detention center, the status of the asylum seekers is evaluated. Omid had been classified as a refugee. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton confirmed Omid's death in a statement Friday, saying that "appropriate support" was being provided to Omid's wife and friends. Omid was airlifted to Brisbane yesterday, more than 24 hours after the incident, with third-degree burns to 80 percent of his body. "The man was taken to Republic of Nauru Hospital for medical treatment by the Nauruan authorities," Dutton said. "He was then transferred to Australia by air ambulance for medical treatment," he added. "The department expresses its sympathies to his wife, family and friends." News broadcaster ABC reported that the death will be conveyed to the Queensland coroner. Refugee Action Coalition spokesperson Ian Rintoul blamed the conditions on Nauru for Omid's death, saying that "there was a criminal delay in Omid obtaining the treatment and care he needed". Speaking to Anadolu Agency, he slammed "the lack of experienced staff; the lack of medical supplies; the lack of attention; the shocking conditions in the Nauru hospital and the hideous delay in arranging for Omid to be medivacced from Nauru". "Those responsible must be held to account," he said. Dutton, however, disputed the accusation of a delay. "Obviously people realise that Nauru is 4,500 kilometers or so from Australia," he told media Friday. Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young issued a statement describing Omid as another victim of "the cruel detention camps on Manus Island and Nauru." Omid is the third asylum seeker who has died at Australia's detention centers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island. 28 cops hurt in Barisal truck, pickup collision UNB, Barisal : Twenty-eight members of Armed Police Battalion (APBn) were injured when a pickup van carrying them slammed into a roadside tree after a head-on collision with a truck on the Dhaka-Barisal highway in Chhoymile area of Babuganj upazila on Friday. Asaduzzaman, senior assistant superintendent of police of Barisal APBn, said the accident took place in the area around 7am when a police van carrying 28 members of the force collided head-on with a truck and hit a roadside tree, leaving all the policemen inside injured. The injured were rushed to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. The APBn members met the accident while going to Gopalganj from Barisal for performing duty ahead of the Prime Minister's visit there, said the official. KL to resume foreign workers' recruitment UNB, Dhaka :The Malaysian government will soon announce its decision on the recruitment of foreign workers saying the government understands the need for certain sectors who are in need of foreign workers."An important decision on this will be announced in due course," Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted by Malaysia state news agency Bernama as saying. While addressing the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) Council Installation Night 2016 Petaling Jaya on Thursday night, he said for the time being the Malaysian government was open to suggestions and proposals from businesses on the matter while employers had also requested for the freeze to be lifted. On February 18, Bangladesh Expatriates' Welfare Minister Nurul Islam and Malaysian Human Resources Minister Richard Riot signed a memorandum of understanding on recruiting 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers through G2G Plus mechanism over the next three years. In February last, the Malaysian government decided to suspend the recruitment of all foreign workers for Malaysia, including those from Bangladesh, while the government reviewed the two-tier levy programme for foreign workers. 21 sued over Kushtia AL activist killing UNB, Kushtia : A case was filed against 21 people in connection with Thursday's clash that left an Awami League activist dead and 15 others injured. Mahbubul Karim Mollah, brother of deceased Masud Karim Laltu, filed the case with Kushtia Model Police Station on Thursday night, said police. Akhteruzzaman Biswas, incumbent chairman and also the general secretary of Sadar Upazila unit Awami League, his two sons---Sabuj and Biplab have been named as accused in the case. Police also arrested five people in connection with the incident, said Shahabuddin Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Kushtia Police Station. Earlier, Masud Karim Laltu Molla, a supporter of AL rebel candidate Sheikh Siraj Uddin, a former chairman of the Alampur union, was killed and 15 others were injured in a clash with the rival party Akterazzuman Biswas over the ensuing union parishad election at Dhakula village in Sadar upazila on Thursday morning. `We are not a colonial police' Editorial Desk :When a high ranking police officer like the chief of a very special force called Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Mr Benazir Ahmed says emphatically that there should not be any mistake in knowing that the police we have are police of a free country and they should not be taken as colonial force he deserves plaudits. He further asserted the position of the police for their high qualifications and specialised knowledge in policing.Mr Benazir was participating in a talk show of RTV few days back. The talk show was though on the whole an informative one but not altogether pleasant. But we are not discussing the moments of unnecessary tension or flashes of arrogance which became visible to the audience during the talk show.Many were to be inspired to know from Mr Benazir that our police are very much the people's police and not a colonial force. He was quite boastful in clarifying that police persons come from the people and they are part of the people and nobody should think otherwise. Naturally, he wanted the role of the police not to be undermined by those who are not specialists. But the specialists are kept at a heavy cost to the people for the benefit of their special knowledge and training.Mr Benazir has also received special education and training abroad so he should also be knowing that during the British colonial rule the rulers also wanted the police to be seen as the people's police. It was understood by the British Raj that the police must enjoy the trust of the people to be effective for maintaining peace and order. They could not just be the gun power of the rulers for ruling the country. They knew that the ruling part is a much higher and wider political responsibility.The country could not be run by the police, so the question of them becoming masters of the people was not in the consideration of the British rulers. The idea that the police should be the people's police was in use when the people were not even the citizens of a free country.We achieved Pakistan to be free from the bureaucratic dominance that made the country govern like a colonial power. Our people learned the bitter way that to free a country does not necessarily ensure the people's freedom unless the government and public servants can be made accountable to the people. Unless the government servants forming the permanent government accept their responsibility as public servants of a free country it is not simply possible for the people to live in freedom and peace.So when such a high police officer claims with full vehemence that they are not police of a colonial power but the people's police of a free country such spirit should be reflected in their behaviour toward the people. They have to make good use of their special knowledge and training for which the people pay to make their life safe and easy. Politics is not their specialty and must not be dragged into it. The people and not the police keep a government in power. It goes without saying that police are holding their high positions for special knowledge and training. And that is why the people get frustrated for the mismanagement in dealing with crimes and security in public life.It is also not new to be told that the police alone cannot do the policing without the cooperation of the people. If the police conduct themselves as the people's police then it is a contradiction not to get the cooperation of the people. We must not take the people as fools. These are the words of Mr Benazir Ahmed in one way or another. It should be known to knowledgeable police officers that people's cooperation cannot come when the police have not been able to offer a sense of security. The people are living in fear of thugs and killers roaming freely and can strike anybody anytime. Contrarily, the people are told they cannot be given protection in their homes and they should arrange their own security.Any police officer true to his profession knows well that it is against the professionalism for police to talk politically. They are law enforcers and not politicians. Not only that they belong to a discipline force. The people are supporters of various political parties but the police are to serve the whole people without political bias.It is not enough to say that our police are not colonial police, for the police to be the people's police they must enjoy autonomy from the biases of the government. Our successive governments have become habituated to think that the police are government's police, not the people's police. The police have to earn the rightful image to be known as the police of a free country.To say we are the people's police should not be misinterpreted to assume that they (Police) are the people and they know what is best for the people. The police as public servants, are friends of the people and not the people. The slogan of the autocracy is that the autocrat himself is the people.The most disappointing thing about us is that we have many highly competent and knowledgeable persons among us and yet as patriots we have to admit we are terribly failing the people to ensure good governance as if we do not know how to provide good governance. Our competent ones must know when things are not competently and honestly done.When police high-ups say they cannot alone manage peace and order, everybody will agree. But that should not mean that the people will have to take the blame for the police not doing their job professionally or the government relying on police power to save them from their wrong politics.A people's government must be a government freely elected by the people. If this is not accepted then violence for power becomes part of public life. The task of the police to maintain peace and order is made next to impossible for the police. Because the violence that follows is not a law and order situation but politically invited violence.Mr Benazir must have also seen police management in other democratic countries, but surely he did not see police so much under the grip of the government. So let our competent and well-trained professionals in all spheres of our national life, not only in the police alone, prove their ability and commitment to do their best for the people and the country while not forgetting that hypocrisy has done its worst to our people. Our image is that greed is everything. The face is one of the first places that shows signs of aging. Fine lines and wrinkles can appear as early as your twenties, and by the time you reach your forties, you may start to see more pronounced changes such as sagging skin and deeper creases. But did you know that the face shape can also affect how you age? How Face Shape Affects the Aging Process The shape of your face can impact the aging process in a few different ways. First, certain face shapes are more susceptible to sagging skin and wrinkles due to gravity. Second, the thickness of your skin can also affect how quickly fine lines and wrinkles appear. And finally, the placement of your features can also play a role in the aging process. Different Face Shapes and How They Age There are seven different face shapes: oval, round, square, oblong, heart, diamond, and pear. Each face shape ages differently due to the inherent characteristics of that particular shape. Oval Oval faces are considered to be the ideal face shape because they are well-proportioned and tend to age very well. The skin on oval faces is of medium thickness, which allows it to retain its elasticity and resist wrinkles and sagging skin for a longer period of time. Round Round faces tend to age a bit quicker than oval faces because the skin on round faces is thinner and not as resistant to gravity. Additionally, round faces tend to have fuller cheeks, which can sag over time. Square Square faces are similar to round faces in that they also have thinner skin that tends to age quicker. However, square faces are less susceptible to sagging cheeks since the cheekbones are more pronounced. Instead, square faces tend to develop wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. Oblong Oblong faces have a longer shape with less width, which can cause the skin to sag and wrinkles to form around the mouth and eyes. Additionally, the thinner skin on oblong faces makes them more susceptible to sun damage, which can further accelerate the aging process. Heart Heart-shaped faces are characterized by a wide forehead and narrow chin. This face shape ages well overall, but the skin around the chin is thinner and can sag over time. Diamond Diamond-shaped faces have a narrow forehead and chin with wider cheekbones. This face shape also has thinner skin, which can cause wrinkles to form around the mouth and eyes. Additionally, the thinner skin around the chin can cause it to sag over time. Pear Pear-shaped faces are characterized by a narrow forehead and wide chin. This face shape is similar to diamond-shaped faces in that it has thinner skin and can experience wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. However, pear-shaped faces are less susceptible to sagging skin since the chin is not as pronounced. So, which face shape ages the worst? While there is no definitive answer, square, oblong, and diamond-shaped faces tend to show signs of aging sooner than other face shapes. This is due to the thinner skin and less pronounced features of these face shapes. However, all face shapes will eventually show signs of aging. The best way to combat the aging process is to take care of your skin by cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing on a regular basis. You should also wear sunscreen every day to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. By following these simple steps, you can help keep your skin looking its best no matter what face shape you have. Forbrukslan er et lan uten sikkerhet, og iflge en artikkel pa nettsiden abcnyheter, har disse lanene hyere rente en vanlige lan, siden det er strre risiko med disse lanene. Men ofte er renten hyere pa kredittkort og andre type smalan. Refinansiering av gjeld er en veldig vanlig grunn til a ta opp forbrukslan. Andre grunner kan vre oppussing, uforutsette utgifter eller at man rett og slett bare vil realisere noe man drmmer om eller har planer man nsker a gjennomfre. Du kan se flere grunner pa blant annet forbrukslan.no. Lanene har en fastsatt rente, men det er ofte ogsa gebyrer som fakturaavgift. Det er derfor viktig a merke seg hva den effektive renten er, siden den inkluderer alle kostnader med lanet. Innvilges innen rimelig tid Teknologien har utviklet seg pa en mate som gjr at flere av de som tilbyr forbrukslan kan innvilge dette samme dag som man sker om a fa det. Det vil si at man kan fa svar pa sknaden innen rimelig tid, som f.eks. innen 24 timer. Det vil ta litt mer tid fr man far pengene. Radet til de som trenger penger raskt, er at man sker sa tidlig pa dagen som mulig. Da br man fa svar i lpet av samme dag. Man kan ske om lan hos flere tilbydere, slik at man kan sammenligne tilbudene man far. Far man lanet i en bank man allerede er kunde av, kan pengene bli overfrt relativt effektivt. Behov for penger oppstar Det hender man kommer over gode tilbud man nsker a benytte seg av, men ikke har penger. Da kan forbrukslan vre en lsning. Mange har sikkert opplevd at det er mbler, elektronikk eller andre ting man nsker seg, men hadde ikke pengene tilgjengelig akkurat nar det rette tilbudet kom. Da hjelper det a fa innvilget et lan. Det kan oppsta ogsa andre ting som en uforutsett verkstedregning, hy tannlegeregning eller andre ting som dukker opp, som gjr at man trenger penger for a betale. Skal man fa et lan behandlet pa dagen, er det viktig at man ikke har noen aktive inkassosaker eller betalingsanmerkninger. Har man det blir sknaden avvist. Gjeldsgrad At man har gjeld, forhindrer ikke at man kan ta opp nye lan. Mange bruker forbrukslan til a refinansiere dyr kredittkortgjeld eller andre type smalan. Dette gjres for a fa samlet all gjelden med bedre vilkar og lavere manedlige avgifter. Men skal man lane mer penger, er det viktig a vurdere om privatkonomien taler hyere gjeldsgrad. Det kan vre lurt a sammenstille gjelden med den inntekten man har, og om vurdere om man klarer a betjene den sammen med de andre kostnadene man har. En lanegiver av forbrukslan vil alltid gjre en kredittsjekk av deg, og sjekke om lantaker har som vane a opprettholde forpliktelsene de har i forbindelse med gjelden sin. Nye krav fra Finanstilsynet I 2019 kom en rekke nye regler fra Finanstilsynet nar det gjelder forbrukslan. De som laner ut penger skal gjre en sakalt stresstest av skerens konomi, og det er et krav at den som sker skal kunne tale en rentekning pa 5 %. Videre skal total gjeldsbelastning ikke overstige fem ganger arsinntekten til den som sker. I denne summen inkluderes alle lan, inklusive rammen pa kredittkort. I forskriften star det ogsa at nedbetalingstid ikke br overstige 5 ar. Refinansieringslan kan fortsatt ha en nedbetalingstid pa inntil 15 ar. Denne forskriften kom etter det viste seg at flere misligholdt forbrukslan og kredittkortgjeld. Malet er at ingen tar opp mer gjeld enn det de klarer a betjene. nsker man lan pa dagen, ma man huske pa: Ske sa tidlig som mulig Lan kan fas innen rimelig tid, men utbetaling kan ta lengre tid Bankene som tilbyr forbrukslan har som regel ogsa en del krav til de som skal lane uten sikkerhet. En god del av dem laner bare ut til de som har passert 23 ar, men det gjelder ikke alle. Det er mulig a fa lan helt fra man er 18 ar. Noen banker krever at man er norsk statsborger. Pre-purchase property inspection is a relatively new thing in the United Kingdom. Its not something that most people have heard about, but it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with the rise in property prices and increased demand for high quality homes. What are the benefits of pre-purchase building inspection? What can you expect to find out when you pay someone else to inspect your home before you buy it? And what should you look for during an inspection? Many people want to know if theyre buying a house thats been well maintained or if its had any serious problems. If youve found a place on the market that seems attractive, but then discover some issues after moving in, you may not be as excited about buying it as you thought you were. Its important to do your due diligence when looking at properties. A lot goes into making a property appealing to potential buyers, from the landscaping to the flooring to the kitchen appliances. The same applies when inspecting a property there are many things that need checking over to make sure everything is running smoothly. Here are some of the benefits of performing a pre-purchase inspection: You get to see exactly what will happen to your money When you go shopping for a new car, youll probably be shown several different models. You might even be shown one that looks like a great value, but doesnt fit around all of the extra features that you want. When it comes time to actually buy the vehicle, however, you wont have seen how your money will be spent on it once you drive it off the showroom floor. Likewise, when you shop for a new home, you dont really know what youre getting yourself into until you move in. In order to get a feel for whether the home youre considering is what you want, you normally have to spend quite a bit of time inside it. This allows you to learn more about everything that youre going to be spending your hard-earned cash on. A pre-purchase building inspection gives you much the same kind of experience without having to spend thousands of dollars. Since youre paying for the service, you can expect to see exactly what youre paying for, instead of just seeing a vague idea of what you might end up with. You find out about potential major repairs Some buildings are very expensive to maintain, which means that owners often neglect them for the sake of saving money. While youre paying for a building inspection, youre also paying for a professional who knows how to spot signs of trouble and repair work that needs doing. If you notice that a particular area of your new home needs fixing right away, you can call in an expert to take care of it quickly. If you find that theres something wrong with your boiler, you wont have to wait weeks for a plumber to come over and fix it. Instead, youll have access to a solution immediately. You can save hundreds of pounds by finding out about potential problems early on One of the biggest expenses when you first buy a home is the cost of moving in. Many people dont realize this until its too late. Buying a home involves not only paying for the actual house, but also for moving costs, furniture, and other items that have to be moved along with the home. Having a good idea ahead of time of what youre likely to encounter can help you avoid these kinds of costs. If you know youll need to replace the plumbing system, for example, youll be able to put together a budget for the expense and plan accordingly. You can protect your investment by finding out if the homes been well cared for While there are plenty of people who think that houses always look better when theyre newly built, youd be surprised at how well maintained older residences can still look nice. Sometimes, though, those homes need some additional maintenance to keep them looking their best. This could involve repairs that arent so noticeable or small improvements that you wouldnt consider otherwise. Even worse, some houses have fallen into disrepair without anyone noticing. This is why having a professional perform a building inspection prior to purchasing a home is such a big benefit. Not only will it give you insight into the state of the property, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing youre not getting taken advantage of. As long as youre aware of the potential pitfalls, youll have less reason to worry about the state of your new home. You can use information gathered during a building inspection to negotiate a lower price If youre worried about buying a home because you suspect that it may need extensive renovation work, you may already have a rough idea of how much work youll need to do to bring it up to scratch. That knowledge can come in handy if you decide to buy the home. You can use all of the details that you gather during a building inspection to present a realistic picture of what the home is worth to prospective buyers. If a potential buyer thinks that the home is worth more than what you paid for it, you can try negotiating a lower price. You can sell your home faster and for more money If you decide to list your home on the market soon after buying it, youll need to price it accurately in order to attract buyers. But if youve already done a thorough building inspection, youll know exactly what work is needed and what the current market conditions are. In other words, youll be able to make a more accurate estimate of the amount of money youve invested in the home and how much its worth. If you find that youre selling your house for close to its full market value, you can use this information to convince the potential buyer that your home is worth the asking price. Even if youre planning to stay in the home for a while before you decide to sell, the fact that you did a thorough building inspection will give you more confidence when listing it. Prospective buyers will know exactly what theyre paying for. Your home will hold its value longer As mentioned earlier, the value of a home depends heavily upon the condition of the building itself. If your home is in bad shape, potential buyers wont be interested in buying it. On the other hand, if youve performed a thorough building inspection and know what sort of repairs are necessary, you can offer your prospective buyer a compelling reason to invest in your property. When you buy a home, youre essentially agreeing to have it inspected periodically to ensure that it stays in top shape. Not only does this allow you to avoid expensive repairs down the road, but it can also increase the value of your home. You can make smart decisions about property investments Buying real estate isnt as simple as just driving a couple of minutes to pick up a house. There are lots of considerations involved, ranging from location to cost. The same is true when youre investing in property. If you find a house that meets all of your requirements, youll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of where it stands with regards to the rest of the market. If you havent spent enough time researching the area, you could inadvertently end up with a bad deal. There are lots of resources available online that can help you determine the overall level of competition in your area. They can also help you figure out if there are any properties that meet your requirements that you didnt know about. If you own rental property, you can use the information to identify tenants who might cause damage If you own rental property and youve noticed that certain tenants consistently cause damage, you can use the results of a building inspection to identify them. You can then contact them directly to let them know that youre watching them closely and that you dont appreciate the problem theyre causing. They might start taking better care of their homes, which would be good news for everyone. It could also be the case that youll find out that theyre responsible for previous damages that werent caught during a previous visit. You can make smarter decisions about hiring contractors If youve hired contractors to build or repair your home, you might want to ask them for references. However, unless you perform a thorough building inspection, you might not know exactly what to look for. For instance, maybe you only checked the roof for leaks or the walls for cracks. You might not have looked underneath the foundation for anything that could cause a future issue. By performing a building inspection, you can ensure that you hire reputable contractors who will be trustworthy with your money. You can avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition Of course, the main benefit of structural inspections perth is that it helps you avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition. Before you make the decision to buy a home, you should do whatever you can to find out about the state of the building. You can also ask your realtor about what sorts of inspections are typically recommended. Some agents say that its standard practice to check the heating system, the roof, the electrical wiring, and the floors. Others will tell you that they recommend that you check the entire structure. Either way, if you choose to hire an inspector, youll find out exactly what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost to do so. As a result, it can be concluded that a pre-purchase building inspection is highly important for the buyers because it provides transparency regarding the current conditions of the structure. Additionally, the building owner is made aware of any upgrades or repairs that are required, which could lead to a fair deal throughout the purchasing and selling process. Paris, TX (75460) Today Rain. Thunderstorms possible...mainly in the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 73F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low near 50F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%. CARBONDALE The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution's nominee for Outstanding Veteran Volunteer has won the group's national award. Charles Schryer, of Flora, won the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Veteran Volunteer Award, according to a news release from the Daniel H. Brush Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The award acknowledges the contributions of a veteran in meeting the needs of other veterans. Schryer is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was nominated for the award by Dorothy Rudoni, a member of the local chapter and volunteer at the Marion VA Medical Center. Schryer worked with the Disabled American Veterans and has helped raise awareness and funds to provide transportation for veterans to and from medical appointments, according to the news release. He has volunteered thousands of hours and has logged more than 250,000 miles insuring that veterans are transported to their medical appointments. He continues to recruit volunteer van drivers. Schryer won the award at the state and district levels before he was selected as the top national winner. Schryer will receive the National Award in June at the DAR Continental Congress in the District of Columbia. A Hurst man was arrested Friday in connection with a homicide earlier in the morning, according to the Williamson County Sheriff Bennie Vick. Benjamin Howell, 34, of Hurst has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Chad E. Jones, 40, of Lockport. At about 2 a.m. Friday morning, the Williamson County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call that a male was lying on the ground outside of a pick-up truck at 446 N. Bush Ave. in Hurst. Authorities said the man appeared to have been badly beaten. He was taken to Herrin Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Williamson County Coroner Michael Junior Burke said the autopsy took place Friday afternoon, and found that Jones died from blunt force trauma. He said he knew Jones was working in the area, but didnt know what work he was doing or any other reason as to why he was in Hurst. According to Illinois statute, a person commits first-degree murder when performing the act that caused the death, that person either intends to kill or do great bodily harm to an individual or another, or knows that such acts will cause death to that individual. The statute also says a person can commit first-degree murder if they know the act creates a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm to the individual. Howells bond has been set at $1 million and he is being held at the Williamson County Jail. The sheriffs office said no additional information would be released from its office Friday in a news release. Vick said he could not comment about whether or not Jones and Howell had a relationship before this incident. According to Judici.com, Howell was fined for disorderly conduct misdemeanor in October 2005 in Williamson County Circuit Court. In June 2014, he was dismissed on a domestic battery misdemeanor, also in Williamson County. A Denmark man is facing multiple drug charges after deputies went to his home to serve a warrant, according to Bamberg County Sheriff Ed Darnell. Wesley D. Hanberry, 27, of 408 Pinckney St., has been charged with trafficking crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine within proximity of a school or playground, resisting arrest, simple possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute cocaine within proximity of a school or playground, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, unlawful prescription drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. On April 22, Bamberg County deputies went to Hanberrys home with an arrest warrant from the city of Bamberg. Hanberry answered the door and it was explained to him that law enforcement had an arrest warrant for him. A deputy requested Hanberry turn around and place his hands behind his back. He turned around and acted as if he was going to comply but then bolted further into the residence, according to a sheriffs office press release. Deputies say Hanberry dropped a CVS bottle with the label removed. As deputies secured Hanberry and backed out of the residence, they noticed that the card table outside had marijuana, marijuana seeds, stems and residue, the release said. A search warrant was obtained for the residence. Deputies said they returned to the residence and inspected the bottle to find that it contained two separate plastic baggies with a white powder believed to be cocaine and four rock-like substances believed to be crack cocaine. What does it mean to be an American? To me, it means to exist at all. A family friend recently sent my mother an article from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, published Nov. 25, 1910. It describes a Wolf Izwasczikow waiting desperately at Ellis Island to hear from his brother in Chicago, or sister and brother-in-law in Brooklyn. In order for immigration officials to admit him to the United States, Wolf needed his relatives to prove that they had enough money to support him. When Wolfs sister found out, she raced to grab her husband and then sped to the immigrant station to produce the monetary evidence. By the time the Daily Eagle went to print, it was unclear if she had acted in time and if Wolf would be admitted or deported back to Russia, where he faced certain execution for having fled being drafted into the Russian Imperial Army. As a child, I never knew anyone by the name Wolf Izwasczikow. But the fact that my Great-Grandfather Willie Essikoff (sometimes also endearingly called Grandpa Mustache) wasnt deported back to face Russian execution, and instead found refuge in the United States, means that I exist at all today, along with my siblings, mother, uncle, cousins and so on. I exist because the United States gave my family refuge. I am certain ours is not the only family that literally owes our lives to our country. Especially as Passover approaches, and Jews across the United States celebrate the ancient Hebrews escape from slavery in Egypt, I hope Jewish (and non-Jewish) Americans pause to reflect on the past years debates regarding the Syrian refugee crisis. The traditional Passover ceremony, called the Seder, follows a guidebook called the Haggadah. One of the iconic stories in the Haggadah tells parents how to teach four types of children of the story and meaning of Passover. To the youngest child, parents are to fulfill the commandments of Exodus 13:8: You shall tell your son on that day, saying, It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt. Thus the Seder tasks us to live as if we ourselves were rescued from Egypt, not just on that day, but instead, as Deuteronomy 16:3 elaborates, to remember the day when you went out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. This mandate is a (if not the) central lesson of one of the most important events in the Jewish calendar. However, many if not most of us Jewish-Americans (as well as millions of other Americans) dont need to reach back 5,000 years through the mists of time, and latch on to the words of ancient texts. Instead, we can just remember the very tangible significance of the Statue of Liberty and the United States to our great-grandparents, grandparents, or even parents to realize our solemn obligation to continue fulfilling our countrys exceptional mission in history. If America had turned away my Great-Grandfather Willie, he would have been deported and killed. I wouldnt have been born. How can I how can we the immediate progeny of Jewish (and Irish, Chinese, Ukrainian, Cuban, Salvadoran, Sudanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Afghan ) refugees do anything but ardently support America as a refuge for todays Wolf Izwasczikows? Without America, I wouldnt exist at all. But with a deep sense of what makes the United States, America if the United States werent the welcoming home for all of us children of refugees otherwise doomed to death America wouldnt exist at all, either. PITTSBURGH -- Not the beginning of the end. But maybe the end of the beginning. With victories in a string of Eastern states, including the industrial-and-agrarian empire of Pennsylvania, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton took giant steps toward their respective presidential nominations Tuesday night. They swept away most of the uncertainty surrounding their drives to their conventions, and they did so convincingly. They're not all the way there yet, to be sure. Clinton has a commanding lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, but cannot afford to permit the 74-year-old unlikely avatar of the Democratic youth movement to regain the momentum he had only a fortnight ago. For his part, Trump must continue his relentless push, state by state, but especially in the next six days in Indiana, where Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas may be making his last, desperate stand. The greater drama is in the Republican Party, roiled as it has been for 13 months by a rebellion in its ranks that, now that it is in full flower, has substantially altered those ranks, changing the very definition of what it is to be a Republican and what the party, once the guardian of stability and the repository of steady habits, stands for. Indeed, Tuesday's results in this state and across the Eastern Seaboard underscored how the American political world has turned upside down -- even though all five states that voted Tuesday voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1992, when Clinton's husband first won the White House. Wednesday morning, despite the continuing battle between the Sanders and Clinton loyalists, the party of stability is the Democratic Party, which only a generation ago was torn asunder by generational and cultural warfare; was suffering an identity crisis so severe it commissioned study after study to find its political gyroscope; and witnessed established political figures enduring pitiless critiques from outsiders who viewed the governing strictures and prevailing culture of the party as hopelessly outmoded and fatally corrupt. Today that very description applies, syllable for syllable, to the Republican Party. And, more startling still, those Democratic rebels -- make no mistake: Clinton was one of them, as anyone who witnessed or has read her Wellesley College commencement address will attest -- comprise something of an establishment of their own. Now "the Clintons" are as powerful a brand, as an important a factor in history, as "the Kennedys" and "the Bushes." It is true that the major meaning of the Sanders campaign, along with an attack on the campaign-finance system and a withering critique of the wealth gap, was an assault on the party establishment. While the campaign still rages -- Sanders insists he'll continue to fight -- the bitterness between the two camps persists. But it is friendly fire compared with the ballistics within the Republican Party. Indeed, in a victory statement in Philadelphia, Clinton said of her rival, "There's much more that unites us than divides us," and she cited a string of issues that were more in Sanders' palette than in hers, including the sins of Wall Street. The Republican nomination is not a settled matter, yet, even if Trump said Tuesday night, "I consider myself the presumptive nominee." Cruz and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio have undertaken an arranged marriage that is less one of convenience than of necessity. Its honeymoon lasted less than 24 hours, and so an alliance that looked as if it were a vote-diversion agreement -- Kasich would ask his supporters to back Cruz in Indiana, and the Texan would ask his legions to back Kasich in Oregon and New Mexico -- now looks like something different entirely. It is now more akin to a no-fly zone, with Cruz agreeing not to campaign in the Western states and Kasich agreeing not to campaign in Indiana. In his victory speech Tuesday, Trump said, "The Republican Party needs something much different than that." He described the alliance as "a faulty deal that was defaulted on before it was even started." The focus of the next week will be on two elements: the GOP party rules and the state of Indiana. If nothing else, the struggle in Pennsylvania only intensified the importance of both those elements. Trump triumphed in this state, even sweeping the Philadelphia suburbs. And yet he came away with a paltry prize; more than two-thirds of the delegates distributed in this state will be unpledged -- the largest portion of any state to be so distributed. Trump is well positioned to claim many of those unpledged delegates, but the gap between that harvest and his big victory will only add fuel to his fiery commentary. Now the campaign moves to Indiana, where the Trump forces face a more congenial set of circumstances. If Trump wins Indiana overall and prevails in each of its congressional districts, he will win every one of the 57 delegates on offer. That's the kind of delegate-distribution scheme the Manhattan businessman believes should be applied nationwide. Moreover, the unemployment rate is at about the national average, making the state fertile territory for his criticism of trade agreements, especially the North American Free Trade Agreement. The state has lost 113,000 manufacturing jobs since 1994, when NAFTA was implemented, and though all the job losses cannot be attributed to the trade agreement, unemployment remains a sensitive issue in the state. Other important primaries remain, especially California's, which has a prize of 172 delegates. The GOP contest almost certainly will continue until that confrontation, on June 7, but if Trump continues at this pace he may end the primary and caucus season with the delegate total he needs -- or well within striking distance of the 1,237 required for the nomination. ----- David M. Shribman is executive editor of the Post-Gazette (dshribman@post-gazette.com, 412 263-1890). Follow him on Twitter at ShribmanPG. Retired High Court Judge Frederick Bruce-Lyle is remembered as a learned but down to earth human being. The late former Magistrate and retired Senior High Court Judge Frederick Bruce-Lyle has been described as being "rootical but ethical. The remarks came from Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche who had known Bruce-Lyle personally for just over 27 years, and had developed a very close friendship with him. Bruce, as he was affectionately called, died on Thursday, April 21 in Trinidad, where he was undergoing medical attention. He was in his early sixties at the time of his death. Some members of the legal fraternity and many persons outside those circles, whose lives Bruce-Lyle had touched in one way or another, were reduced to tears on receiving the spine-chilling news of the retired judges sudden passing. Delpleche will always remember him for his simple, humanistic and down to earth character. "He was a Magistrate and a Judge of a difference. He was a down to earth person. He was rootical but ethical, the Senior Prosecutor told THE VINCENTIAN during an interview on Tuesday. Delpleche recalled that Bruce-Lyle, during his tenures here as a Magistrate and High Court Judge, used to walk the streets of Kingstown without security, and hold conversations with persons on the street. "He could have spoken on any topic, and had a strong sense of humour, Delpleche recalled. "Bruce-Lyle was a humanist; he never thought that he was better than anyone. He would treat every human being with love, respect and dignity, added the Prosecutor. He stated that Bruce-Lyle was a loving and caring person who helped persons in need. Delpleche had first met Bruce-Lyle in 1989 in Kingstown, less than 24 hours after he (Bruce-Lyle) had arrived here to take up the appointment as Magistrate. Then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Oscar Ramjeet, had introduced the Ghanian native to Delpleche who was at the time a young police constable, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). "I had not known or heard of him (Bruce-Lyle) before. We spoke for a brief moment, but it was as if we had known each other before. From then right up to his passing, we were like brothers. Delpleche said Bruce-Lyle loved socializing, and had many friends. "He was a very interesting person. There was never a dull moment being around him. According to the Senior Prosecutor, a trained lawyer, Bruce-Lyle was one of the driving forces behind him pursuing studies in law, and had always been supportive and helpful along the way. "Of course, like any human being, he was not perfect. He had his strengths, weaknesses, limitations and possibilities; but when his balance sheet is written, he would have a lot more credit than debit, he underscored. Bruce-Lyles retirement had taken effect from February 17 last year, but he had proceeded on 249 days vacation leave prior to his retreat. The learned judge had told THE VINCENTIAN during a telephone interview on March 13 last year, that his legal mind would always be available to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Caribbean, but at the moment he was enjoying his retirement. Editors Note: The management and staff of THE VINCENTCIAN extend sincerest expressions of sympathy to the wife, children and other family members of the late High Court Judge, Frederick Bruce-Lyle. THE VINCENTIAN enjoyed an open relationship with the learned jurist, a relationship characterised by mutual respect and trust. We will miss him, especially his readiness to be of assistance. Police escort the man taken into custody in connection with Carlos Richardsons murder. Police have confirmed that they have taken a man into custody in connection with the shooting death of 36-year-old Carlos Bob Richardson of Ottley Hall. Richardson was shot at around 6:30am on Tuesday 26th April, in an area referred to as Fire Hill, in Ottley Hall. At around noon on the said day, police were seen escorting a man, while another officer carried what appeared to be a homemade gun and other items apparently related to their investigations. Commissioner of Police Michael Charles confirmed later that one man was in police custody, but he has not been charged. He was not charged up to press time Wednesday, according to information received by THE VINCENTIAN. Commissioner Charles informed that ballistic testing would have to be carried out to determine whether the gun the police recovered from the scene, was the weapon involved in the crime. Charles said that while some persons are blasting the police for the work they have been doing, criminal activities have declined in the area since the placement of a mobile unit, and the subsequent setting up of a sub-station there. Some residents with whom THE VINCENTIAN spoke, expressed favourable impressions of Richardson, describing him as a very humble and friendly person. Persons gathered in a shop which Richardson is said to have frequented, cried openly, with many calling for justice. "We want justice for Bop because he na deserve to die so, cried Javana Mama Baptiste, a well-known resident. Commissioner of Police Michael Charles has defended his men, in the face of allegations from some Ottley Hall residents, that the police presence in the area has become ineffective. According to some of the residents, since the removal of a police mobile unit, and the officers being placed into a permanent sub-station, police presence is not being felt as was the case a few years ago. The concerned residents made their concern public on Tuesday, April 26, following the shooting death of 36-year-old Carlos Bop Richardson, which occurred in the area. Hot Spot Ottley Hall and surrounding areas have had issues in the past, with respect to violent crimes and crime generally, prompting Ottley Hall in particular to be declared a (crime) Hot Spot, and necessitating the placement of a 24- hour mobile unit there. The escalating situation occasioned a visit to the area by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and the then Commissioner of Police, Keith Miller, back in 2012. During that interaction, Prime Minister Gonsalves addressed the issues affecting the residents, and identified two measures that have since been implemented: the installation of street lights at strategic points in the community, and the setting-up of a permanent sub-station. Police presence not sufficient COP Charles confirmed that the officers assigned to the area moved into the sub-station (rented quarters) about two years ago. But one resident told THE VINCENTIAN: "Before 10 (oclock), you seeing that door lock in, adding, "When the mobile unit was here, we used to see them right through. The irate resident further added that it became apparent that the officers attached to the Ottley Hall sub-station were now living in luxury, saying that when residents reported a matter, they would often be referred to the Central Police Station in Kingstown. A female resident told THE VINCENTIAN that there was a recent shooting in the area, but none of the officers came out to investigate. "We fraid fo we life over here. Time it 6 (oclock) we have to look fo go home, she said. "Long time days, we used to see dem patrolling, but now we not seeing dem, she echoed. She expressed some concern on the time of day that the shooting death of Richardson occurred, saying that at after 6:30am, young ones are making their way to school. "People children could have been coming out - anything happen over here, dey sending you go town, and queried, "What sense it mek to have ah station over here? It make no sense. COPs differing view COP Charles told THE VINCENTIAN that contrary to what was being expressed by some residents, the presence of the police was having a positive impact on the Ottley Hall community. "The claims that are being made are absolutely not true, the COP said. He said that the officers did in fact patrol the area, covering areas including Fort Charlotte and sections of Edinboro. According to the COP, while there were complaints made of police brutality during the time the mobile unit was stationed in Ottley Hall, he assured that the Police Oversight Body was currently investigating these reports. With respect to the claims that residents are often referred to Kingstown when wanting to make a report, he said that the Ottley Hall unit was a sub-station, but once the report was filled out, it is then referred to Kingstown for further investigation. He also spoke of the seeming lack of interest shown by the police last Friday when a shooting incident was alleged to have occurred in the Ottley Hall area. He cited that the number of officers at that communitys sub-station were limited, and that there were at least two other gun related incidents that occurred in Kingstown on the said night, to which the police were required to dispatch resources. COP Charles affirmed that the officers will not be removed from the area, but that the sub-station will be strengthened. Retired Judge Frederick Bruce-Lyle shares a moment that brought a smile to himself and his fellow judge Gerthel Thom. Kay Bacchus-Browne, defence lawyer and former president of the local Bar Association, says the late former Magistrate and retired Senior High Court Judge Frederick Bruce-Lyle, was not aloof and arrogant. "He was down to earth and very easy to get along with, Bacchus-Browne told THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday, adding that she had a long professional relationship with him from since he was a Magistrate. "He presided over many of my matters, both criminal and civil, too numerous to mention. I consider him to have been a very dedicated and hard-working Judge, the veteran lawyer added. She indicated that she had some great successes before Justice Bruce-Lyle, but specifically applauded him for his ruling in the murder trial involving the death of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves former press secretary, Glenn Jackson. Bacchus-Browne, who had represented the accused Francis Williams in that matter, pointed out that Bruce-Lyle had upheld her submission to throw out an alleged confession by the accused. She noted that the alleged confession was the main plank of the prosecutions case and, after it was thrown out, the prosecution withdrew the murder charge, resulting in her client being acquitted. Bacchus-Browne recalled that during the period of her colleague Nicole Sylvesters illness, and subsequent death on July 2 last year, Bruce-Lyle was very concerned and supportive. In an interview with THE VINCENTIAN shortly after Sylvester died, Bruce-Lyle had said, "I was shattered, I was stunned when I heard the news. I thought she was coming along good. He had ranked Sylvester as one of the best lawyers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and probably the Caribbean. Bacchus-Browne said she considered him to be a friend. "Even after he had retired, he would call me to discuss general issues. I also had a good relationship with his wife and children, Bacchus-Browne disclosed. Bruce-Lyle was called to the Bar in his homeland Ghana in 1979. He took up duties here as Magistrate in 1989 following a stint in Belize, and was subsequently elevated to Senior Magistrate. He left for the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in the early 1990s, and served as the only Magistrate in Tortola until 1997. He was then appointed Chief Magistrate in Antigua/Barbuda, serving in that position until 2002, before being appointed High Court Judge there. Bruce-Lyle served as High Court Judge for 15 years, doing stints in Antigua/Barbuda, St Kitts/Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Anglo-Azerbaijani Society has organized a lecture on Dunsterforce allied military force at the British Parliament. The event was attended by Professor Nargiz Pashayeva, co-chair of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society on behalf of Azerbaijan, Lord German, member of House of Lords, co-chairman of the society on behalf of the UK, members of the Executive Committee of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society, Azerbaijani and British public figures. Lord German said that as Anglo-Azerbaijani Society we are most concerned to hear of the loss of life, distress and injury caused by recent actions in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone. We very much hope that there will be a speedy peaceful resolution of this conflict in order that your people can live a life free of fear, he said. Lord German highlighted the military operations of Dunsterforce allied military force, saying these operations had a special place in the Azerbaijani and British history. The lecture was given by lawyer and historian Alum Bati, who told of the role of Dunsterforce British division in the South Caucasus. This unit was created in 1917 and got its name thanks to Major General Lionel Charles Dunsterville. Dunsterville was a British general, who led the so-called Dunsterforce across present-day Iraq and Iran towards Caucasus and oil-rich Baku. Professor Nargiz Pashayeva and Lord German expressed gratitude to the historian for the lecture. /By Azernews/ By Nazrin Gadimova The situation on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops has remained tense as the Armenian Armed Forces shattered ceasefire a total of 116 times throughout the day. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported that the enemy shelled Azerbaijani positions using 60, 82 and 120-millimeter mortars, grenades and large caliber guns. The Armenian military units fired at the Azerbaijani positions located in the villages of Gizilhajili and Gushchu Ayrim (Gazakh region), villages of Alibeyli and Kokhanebi (Tovuz region), as well as the nameless heights of Gadabay region. Given the operational situation, Azerbaijani Armed Forces inflicted 122 strikes upon Armenian positions. Armenia breached a Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement on April 24. Over the next five days, Armenian military forces breached truce and shelled both Azerbaijani positions and villages neighboring the frontline by using heavy artillery and prohibited weapons. One resident of Azerbaijans Agdam region, which is adjacent to the front-line area, was killed, while eight injured on April 28. Ragub Mammadov, the head of executive authority of the region, has today informed that one of those eight wounded a resident of the Chamanli village, Ali Huseynov, died in the hospital as a result of his injuries. Health state of the second wounded, Elnur Mammadov, is also critical. Mammadov added that health state of the rest wounded is serious, but stable, as doctors say that there is no threat to their lives. The Armenian militaries also destroyed dozens of houses, a secondary school and other social facilities, while private farms and property of the population were seriously damaged in the mentioned settlements, as well as in the villages of Gapanli, Hasangaya, Gaziyan and Gaynag of Azerbaijan's Terter region. The prosecutors offices in the Agdam and Terter regions have initiated criminal cases upon the abovementioned facts. Considering the situation, Azerbaijans State Commission on Prisoners of War has informed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) of these acts that are contrary to the norms of international law and rules of war, and called on the Armenian side to avoid doing these actions. Moreover, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has sent letters to the UN and OSCE urging the heads of international organizations to strongly condemn Armenia for violating the ceasefire agreement and to demand Armenias complying with the undertaken commitments and withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry, in turn, said that in case Armenia continues shelling Azerbaijani settlements, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces will inflict retaliatory strikes on Armenias military facilities located in residential areas. Armenia captured 20 percent of Azerbaijans internationally recognized territories as a result of 1992-94 war. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations and signing of another agreement on truce in 1995. However, Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Romanian State Secretary for Global Affairs Daniela Gitman attended the 7th Alliance of Civilizations Forum, held in Baku between 26 and 27 April 2016. The visit agenda also included political consultations with her Azerbaijani counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov on issues of bilateral and multilateral interest. The two officials hailed the very good level of Romanian-Azerbaijani political relations provided for in the Strategic Partnership and strengthened by its associated Action Plan. The meeting occasioned an exchange of views on how to enhance cooperation between Romania and Azerbaijan within the UN on topical issues on the international agenda and related to mutual support for the candidacies of the two countries to the UN system. The interlocutors also tackled important files such as the conflict in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, in the light of armed tensions along the line of contact beginning with early April, the developments in the Middle East and in North Africa, migration, regional energy and transport projects. Gitman reiterated Romania's support for the development of Azerbaijan-NATO partnership relations, also reflected by the fact that during 2015-2016 the embassy of Romania to Azerbaijan holds the fourth consecutive term as NATO Contact Point Embassy (CPE). Azerbaijan and Romania have a long history of relations dating back to the 15th century. While the two sides enjoy good cooperation in multiple areas, the main focus has been on trade and energy links. Romania also has been a strong advocate of Azerbaijan's future membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), pointing out the strategic importance of the country for trade and shipping, particularly with a view towards Afghanistan. Kind-hearted Blue gives his match tickets to young Leicester fan , 29 April, As prices for what could either be the decisive match in the 2015-16 title race or a coronation for Claudio Ranieri's unlikely title winners have sky-rocketed, John announced on Twitter his intention to donate his tickets to a Leicester fan who otherwise couldn't afford to go and urged other Evertonians to do the same. An unnamed Leicester fan and his father are the recipients of his generosity. I actually started crying," the father said. I was basically weeping and I still can't believe someone can be so generous. I've been trying to buy tickets for the last home game for ages but it's impossible. John, an Evertonian from Liverpool said of his decision: I hope lots of other Everton fans will think about giving their tickets away. It's a brilliant underdog story and everyone is willing Leicester on now except for Spurs fans. Quotes or other material sourced from The Mirror via MSN Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer About these ads ToffeeWeb The Austrian government plans to set up joint ventures with Iran in the industrial and mineral sectors, a senior Austrian official said in a report. Economy minister of the Austrian Federal Government Petra Bohuslav made the remarks in a meeting with members of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, added the Iran Daily News report. She said that there are thousands of companies in Austria, including those in the industrial machinery and environmental technologies, seeking to do business with their Iranian counterparts. Her remarks follow the signing of deals worth over $2 billion in Vienna between private Iranian and Austrian companies, said the report. The April cooperation agreement includes eight documents in the fields of automobile, steel, medicine and engineering services, added the report. A fire in a basement at the Shanghai Hongqiao airport in China has killed two people and injured four, the People's Daily said on Friday. The fire broke out in a pile of insulation material in the basement of the airport's terminal one at around 7 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday) during an underground renovation project, the People's Daily said on its official microblog. "There's been no impact on airport operations," said an airport official who said he was responsible for traveller inquiries. The fire has been extinguished and the Shanghai Hongqiao airport is operating as normal, the airport official said. - Reuters Ultra Petroleum, Wyomings largest natural gas company, said Friday it has substantial doubts over its ability to stay in business. That statement, made in a financial filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, came amid predictions that the Houston-based company could file for Chapter 11 protection as early as Friday. Ultra was once one of the shining stars of Americas resurgent natural gas sector. The company played a key role in the expansion of western Wyomings gas fields and was active in the Marcellus shale play in the eastern United States. But a historic price decline has left Ultra struggling to pay its debts. The company has delayed payments to pipeline operators and sought extensions on a series of loans in recent months. The grace period on those loans effectively ended Friday, leaving Ultra with little room to maneuver. Due to our current financial constraints, including the likelihood of the occurrence of events of default under our debt agreements, there is a substantial risk that it may be necessary for us to seek protection from our creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the company wrote in a quarterly filing to the SEC. Ultra has long been one of the most productive drillers in the Pinedale Anticline. But moves to acquire more acreage in the western Wyoming gas field, as well as properties in Utah and the eastern United States, prior to the downturn in natural gas prices has weighed heavily upon its balance sheet. The company had $3.7 billion in debt at the close of the first quarter, including $84 million in interest payments. The company missed two interest payments totaling $102 million on March 1, but negotiated a waiver to defer the payments until April 30. It then missed a $26 million interest payment on April 1. Ultras deteriorating finances have left it at odds with pipeline operators. Rockies Express Pipeline notified Ultra in late March that its transportation agreement with the natural gas producer had been terminated. That notice followed a demand for payment of $303.2 million by April 20 from the pipeline operator. Rockies Express filed a lawsuit against Ultra in Harris County, Texas, on April 14. Natural gas prices have been stuck in the doldrums for much of 2016, averaging less than $2 per million British Thermal Units. The company has said it needs roughly $2.50 per million BTUs to earn a 25 percent return. Ultras finances have suffered accordingly. The company had $281 million in cash at the end of the first quarter. Gas revenues fell from $183 million in the first quarter of 2015 to $138 million in the first quarter of 2016. And the company posted a $21.8 million loss for the first three months of the year. That compared to a $25 million profit the same time last year. Wyomings natural gas drillers find themselves squeezed by lower cost competition to the east and west. Cheap natural gas from Canada is displacing Cowboy State production in California while expanding production from the Marcellus is beating out Rockies gas in Chicago, said Sam Andrus, a natural gas analyst at IHS Energy. Rockies is caught, Andrus said. What you see today is basically what youve got for the balance of the year. Natural gas inventories ended the winter at record levels, tempering demand at a time of year when storage injections typically bolster gas sales. But with bulging surpluses, injections have all but come to a halt, resulting in 4 billion cubic feet per day of lost natural gas demand, Andrus said. Ultras troubles mark a sharp reversal in the companys fortunes. In 2011, the Houston firms stock was valued around $50 a share. However, the company embarked on a series of acquisitions that ultimately left it saddled with debts it could not afford at a time when gas prices are depressed. Ultra paid $650 million for oil producing properties in Utahs Uinta Basin in 2013. The next year the company paid $925 million for Royal Dutch Shells acreage in the Pinedale Anticline. The transaction made Ultra the largest natural gas producer in Wyoming. On Friday, the company said it continued to pursue negotiations with lenders to restructure its debts, but noted it was highly unlikely to receive another waiver from its creditor. We have not been successful at accomplishing our plan, the company said. Russian troops abandoned a key Ukrainian city so rapidly that they left the bodies of their comrades in the streets. The scene offered more evidence Tuesday of Moscows latest military defeat as it struggles to hang on to four regions of Ukraine that it illegally annexed last week. Russias upper house of parliament rubber-stamped the annexations Tuesday after referendums that Ukraine and its Western allies dismissed as fraudulent. Responding to the move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally ruled out talks with Russia. Meanwhile, the U.S. announced it would provide an additional $625 million in military aid to Ukraine, including more of the advanced rocket systems credited with helping Ukraine's military momentum. First Interstate Bank employees from Casper presented Joshuas Storehouse this week with a $20,000 donation a combination of employee contributions, a double match from the corporate foundation and about 5 percent from the Casper bank itself. The money will support the local food pantrys mission to provide short-term hunger relief to local, low-income families and individuals in the Casper community. Bill Huppert, Wyoming regional president for First Interstate, said of the approximately 135 employees in the Casper branches, a little more than 100, stepped up and donated to the cause. They felt so fortunate that were OK when people are losing their jobs, Huppert said. The plea to help Joshuas came at the same time that many employees received raises and small bonuses, according to Huppert. If their bonuses are about $250, then they get roughly half of that after taxes, and some of the donations to Joshuas were $100, he said. People who received the least gave the most percentage-wise. Huppert said he would never pressure employees to give to a charitable cause, because he doesnt know their own family situations . We just asked if they would do it, if you think it is the right thing to do, he said. Huppert said originally they had hoped to get $5,000 from employee contributions, and planned to request a double match from the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation to get to $20,000. But the employees themselves kicked in closer to $6,300, and the foundation still was willing to double-match because of the recent spate of Wyoming layoffs in the energy sector putting pressure on Joshuas and other social service agencies. Because of those two numbers, First Interstate Bank in Casper actually contributed just about $1,000 to get to that $20,000, Huppert explained. In 2014, Joshuas Storehouse distributed over 660,000 pounds of food to families in need. That number increased in 2015 to over 750,000 pounds of food, with the needs of the community anticipated to increase yet again in 2016. According to Joshuas Storehouse executive director Jay Martin, First Interstates donation will allow the organization to purchase a 5-month supply of food to be distributed throughout the Casper community. This generous donation from First Interstate Bank and their employees equates to $60,000 in distributed goods to the Casper community a significant contribution, especially during these challenging economic times, Martin said. An unusually brief slate of activities includes an early childhood celebration, a themed basket auction and two different theater opportunities. Here is a summary, as provided to the Star-Tribune. The Casper College Veterans Club annual rifle shoot for all veterans currently attending Casper College was postponed to May 21 due to muddy conditions. The event will still take place at Stuckenhoffs Shooting Complex from 9 a.m. until complete. Families are invited to Natrona Countys Early Childhood Celebration for the Month of the Young Child from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Center Court at Eastridge Mall. Preschools, childcare providers and community organizations involved with children to 5 years old will be sharing information about their programs that support young children and families. Grab your girlfriends and join local home-based businesses for a day of shopping from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, at Glitzy Chicks, 1980 E. First St. Enjoy soda and cookies while you browse, shop and make new friends. The Meals on Wheels Foundation presents the Baskets for Love family-friendly auction from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Casper Shrine Club, 1501 W. 39th St. There is no admission fee. View beautiful baskets perfect for Mothers Day, Fathers Day or any gift giving. There will be a live auction and a raffle as well. Enjoy music from Sue Morrison & Friends, a cash bar and light snacks. Scrappy No-Sew Quilt Blocks Workshop will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., at The Atrium Plaza, upper level, 201 E. 2nd St. The Table hosts Brenda Evans for a workshop on quilt blocking using scraps. All are welcome. No materials or sewing experience required. $5 donation will be given to charity. A Womens Cards Workshop will be held at 1 p.m. at the Natrona County Library. Make any-occasion cards for ladies and learn card design ideas and stamping techniques taught by Kay Capps. All supplies provided. A free youth event for ages 12 to 18 will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., at Sunrise Bowling Lanes, 4370 S. Poplar St. Enjoy free bowling, pizza, prizes and learn how you can prevent suicide. For more information, visit the Facebook event for the Youth Empowerment Council, https://www.facebook.com/YECNC The Central Wyoming Skating Association presents Fedoras and Fringe, the annual skating show, at 6 p.m. at the Casper Ice Arena. The show features Central Wyoming skaters with world professional pair skating champions Anita Hartshorn and Frank Sweiding. The annual event is a showcase of choreographed musical skating performances that are enhanced by theatrical lighting and individualized costumes. Tickets available at the Casper Ice Arena at the door. Adults 13+ $10, Seniors 65+ and children 5-12 $5, under age 5 are free. Fools, a Neil Simon comic fable, will be presented at Stage III at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors over 65 and students. Purchase tickets online at stageiiitheatre.org or at Cadillac Cowgirl, 147 S. Center. Season-ticket holders may call 234-0946 to make reservations. Tickets are available for the final performance at 7:30 p.m., of Jim Olms musical Mulberry on the McMurry Mainstage in the Gertrude Krampert Center for Theatre and Dance at Casper College. Directed by Richard Burk, the show stars Richard White, the voice of Walt Disneys Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. The production of Mulberry includes mature language, adult identity issues and simulated war violence, including realistic sound effects and strobe lights. The musical is not recommended for those younger than 12 years old. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students 12-18 and can be purchased online at caspercollege.edu/theatre or one hour before each performance. Saturday is the last day to purchase tickets for Casper Civic Chorales spring gala featuring the music of George Gershwin at 6 p..m. Tuesday at the Parkway Plaza. The evening will begin with dinner and dancing to live music, followed by the concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 each or $250 for a table of 8. Tickets must be purchased in advance at Donells, Hill Music or WY Music at Sunrise Mall. The principal of Park Elementary School has been placed on administrative leave in the wake of allegations that she failed to warn staff, parents and students of indecent exposure incidents reported in the neighborhood. The move comes after a parent of a Park Elementary student accused principal Dawn Dewald of not sharing information about a man seen exposing himself in the area, including at the nearby Natrona County School District bus hub. Amanda Huckabay, whose daughter said a man exposed himself to her while she walked home from school, made the allegations Monday at a Natrona County School Board meeting. Kelly Eastes, spokesman for the district, said he couldnt release further information, but confirmed that the principal was on leave. The news came after prosecutors filed a more serious criminal charge against the Casper man suspected of exposing himself to Huckabays 9-year-old daughter as she walked home from school. Brenden Nicholes Day now faces a felony charge of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Dressed in a green jail uniform, Day appeared Friday afternoon in Natrona County Circuit Court, where a judge set his bond at $15,000. If Day is convicted of the felony, it could result in up to 15 years in prison. The 20-year-old was charged last week with indecent exposure, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. However, the less serious charge has been dropped in favor of the felony. Prosecutors declined to comment on the reason for the change. Police said Day was released from custody earlier this week after posting a $2,500 for the misdemeanor. He was at home when officer re-arrested him, this time on the felony charge. On April 18, the Park Elementary student told officers a man exposed himself to her as she passed an alley near the intersection of Beech and Milton streets while walking home from school. She said the man shook his penis at her when he saw her. The girl ran home and called her mother to tell her what had happened. Her description of the suspect helped authorities act quickly to apprehend a man theyd known about for months, Huckabay said. After Days arrest, DeWald came under fire after Huckabay accused her of failing to warn parents about concerning incidents in the neighborhood. She informed me that the Casper Police Department had informed her that there was someone in our neighborhood doing this, Huckabay told the Natrona County School Board on Monday. Had I known that someone was hanging out in my neighborhood, masturbating and targeting children, you can guarantee my daughter would not have been walking home. DeWald hasnt commented publicly about the incident. Natrona County School District officials say they are investigating the situation and that they were unaware of the event until Huckabay told the school board. The Natrona County School District lacks a policy for how schools should respond to an incident involving a possible sexual predator, a district spokesman told the Star-Tribune this week. The district plans to hold a meeting next week to discuss possible policy changes related to the incident. A date hasnt been set. Police say Day initially denied being the man who had exposed himself. However, he then stated he had urges and that the rage he was experiencing caused the impulse to masturbate in public, according to his arrest report. He also told officers he had fantasized about abducting a person. Casper City Councilman Ray Pacheco announced Friday he is running for the Wyoming Legislature on a platform of strong education and local government and the belief that the best solutions will not be found if communication among lawmakers breaks down. The 39-year-old Republican is running for House District 57 in central Casper. The district roughly spans between Beech Street to Kelly Drive and Fifth to 25th streets. The seat is held by Rep. Tom Lockhart, also a Republican, who is retiring from the Legislature after 16 years. Pacheco will face Casper conservative radio host Chuck Gray in the Aug. 16 GOP primary. The general election is Nov. 8, and the Natrona County Democratic Party is talking with several potential candidates, but no one has yet agreed to run, said Eric Nelson, a member of the partys executive committee. Pacheco works at Casper College as a regional director for the federal GEAR UP program, which provides tutoring, college guidance and other educational support for students in the seventh grade through freshman year of college. Pacheco hasnt decided whether he supports expanding Medicaid to 20,000 low-income Wyoming adults. The Obamacare measure could amount to federal intrusion, he said. On the other hand, the state would be turning down over $100 million a year in federal funds at a time when state revenues are down and energy workers are losing their jobs, he said. Nobodys offering an alternative to (expansion), he said. We do have 20,000 people without health care coverage, so what is our idea of protecting those people and helping them? Its going to get worse as our economy gets worse. If were going to say no to Medicaid expansion and were going to keep saying no, then what is our alternative? Im going to say straight out, I dont have one. Having served on Casper City Council, Pacheco said he knows firsthand that local governments are responsible for essential services such as snow removal, garbage collection, operating a regional landfill and police and fire protection that Wyomingites depend on each day. During the session that ended in March, the Legislature cut funding to local government by 42 percent. Cities, towns and counties also raise money through sales and property taxes, but those are down across the state. Casper is trying to avoid city staff layoffs by offering longtime employees early retirement. And in spite of Caspers woes, Pacheco said there are there are communities that are struggling even more. The city of Casper is actually much better off and has been set on a good path because we have such a good rainy day fund, he said. CHEYENNE A Colorado man will remain jailed while a federal grand jury weighs charges that he tried to hire a Cheyenne teenager for sex, a judge ruled Friday. U.S. Magistrate Kelly Rankin of Cheyenne on Friday denied a request from a lawyer representing Leif Bjorn Jourgensen of Ft. Collins, Colorado, that he be released from custody. A criminal complaint charges Jourgensen, 31, with attempted enticement of a minor and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Conviction could carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Jim Barrett, a federal public defender representing Jourgensen, asked the judge to release his client while the case is pending, allowing Jourgensen to continue to work. He said Jourgensen had been arrested at his home in Colorado and hadnt tried to flee despite knowing that Wyoming law enforcement was searching for him. Federal prosecutor Thomas Szott urged that Jourgensen remain locked up, saying he poses a risk to children. Rankin ordered Jourgensen detained. The criminal complaint charges that Jourgensen posted an online advertisement in Wyoming on April 14 seeking to hire a girl to perform a sex act. The complaint states the following: A law enforcement investigator responded to Jourgensens advertisement and identified himself as a 14-year-old girl. Jourgensen offered to pay the girl $400 for sex and arranged a meeting at a store on Cheyennes south side on April 15. Agents with the Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force approached Jourgensen after he arrived at the store but he sped away in his Dodge pickup. He drove through red lights and stop signs and drove at more than 50 miles per hour through a mobile home park as police pursued him. Jourgensen abandoned his truck at the Frontier Refinery in Cheyenne. He later hitched a ride from the refinery to a local restaurant. He borrowed the restaurant managers phone to call for a ride. Investigators later identified the phone number he called as belonging to sprinkler service and cleaning businesses operated by Jourgensen and his wife. Investigators identified Jourgensen from surveillance camera images at the restaurant. Court records state that federal marshals arrested Jourgensen at his home in Ft. Collins on Tuesday, eight days after abandoning his pickup truck in Wyoming. Jourgensen on Friday gave up his right to have a preliminary hearing at which Rankin could have weighed whether the governments case was strong enough to merit keeping him in custody. Rankin said the matter will now head to a federal grand jury. ROCK SPRINGS The Wyoming Legislatures Joint Judiciary Committee discussed Wednesday how to define edible marijuana in a way that helps law enforcement. Legislators are considering whether law enforcement should weigh edibles or measure the potency of the marijuana they contain. Theyre also considering what standard should be used to determine misdemeanor and felony amounts of THC. Sweetwater County Attorney Dan Erramouspe, speaking on behalf of the Wyoming Prosecuting Attorneys Association, recommended maintaining the 3-ounce marijuana edible standard for felony arrests. He said Wyoming is not able to test the quantity of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in any edible product. We need to deal with this in a rational, reasonable way with what we already have on the books, Erramouspe said. A bill that would have made it a felony to possess more than 3 ounces of marijuana edibles died in the past legislative session. Sen. Dave Kinskey, R-Sheridan, said legislators couldnt get past the possibility of sending a college student to prison for a pan of brownies. When a suspect is stopped, the edible is tested and weighed at the scene. If it tests positive for marijuana, the initial charge is determined by that weight. Erramouspe said if law enforcement is required to wait for THC test results, which could take a week or more, then the arrest might be delayed or not happen at all. While most of the committee members agreed testing was in the future, logistics and specifics were harder to nail down. Byron Oedekoven, executive director of the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, said many labs can test but not to a legal standard helpful to law enforcement. The current focus is labeling and serving size. Rep. Kendell Kroeker, R-Evansville, suggested increasing the felony amount to 3 pounds of an edible. Rep. Nathan Winters, R-Thermopolis, said he thought the issue was weight vs. potency and wanted to know which was more useful for law enforcement. Erramouspe said he had no answer for that because THC concentrations vary by product. Testimony Dr. Elina Chernyak, who is in charge of inpatient detoxification at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and outpatient drug treatment, told legislators about the effects of marijuana use and the testing process. Chernyak said testing edibles was impossible because the THC typically isnt evenly distributed. She also cautioned against legalizing marijuana. Chronic daily marijuana users exhibit impaired psychomotor functions and have irreversible loss of brain function and increased risk of psychosis, she said. Chernyak said cannabinoid, the therapeutic chemical in marijuana, is much different than THC, the hallucinogenic chemical. It can help with nausea in cancer patients. However, she said there are new drugs that are considered more effective. Much of the testimony presented to the committee spoke in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. Sweetwater County resident Casey Fletcher said he has struggled with depression and is bipolar, and prescription drugs made him feel worse. However, he said once he started smoking cannabis in flour form, he changed for the better. Ive never felt so normal, he said. Amber Sparks, public relations officer for several Wyoming pro-cannabinoid groups, praised the benefits of CBD oil for pain and cancer relief and for the regeneration of brain cells. She called it a viable medicine and suggested that the production of hemp in Wyoming could bring in much-needed revenue. Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, recommended the committee take up marijuana edibles as a standalone issue at its next meeting. The committee also asked to hear from the states crime lab about testing. SEATTLE A coal-export terminal proposed along the Columbia River in southwest Washington state could have unavoidable, significant impacts on greenhouse gases emissions, vessel traffic and rail safety, according to an environmental review released Friday. The analysis by the Washington Department of Ecology and Cowlitz County found that greenhouse gas emissions from facility operations to when the coal is burned in Asia would increase by 2.5 million metric tons each year when the project is fully running. While measures can be taken to significantly reduce those emissions, the impact would still be significant and adverse, the study noted. Other concerns include increased vessel traffic as 840 ships a year are added, and a potential for train accidents along rail routes in Cowlitz County and other parts of Washington as up to 16 mile-long train trips are added each day. The study found the project could impact 21 of 23 areas reviewed, and that some of those consequences are significant, Ecology said in a statement. The review looked at fish habitat, water quality, local communities and other issues, and proposed ways for the project developers to reduce those effects. Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview is proposing a terminal that would handle up to 44 million metric tons of coal a year. Coal would arrive by train from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming and the Uinta Basin in Utah and Colorado to be stored and loaded on ships for export to Asia. Construction could begin in 2018. Lighthouse Resources Inc., formerly known as Ambre Energy, owns 62 percent of Millennium and Arch Coal Inc. the other 38 percent. Lighthouse owns the Decker Mine in Montana and the Black Butte Mine in southwestern Wyoming. Millennium CEO Bill Chapman said in a statement Friday that the project is a step closer to creating family-wage jobs in Longview while meeting the states strict environmental standards. Business and some labor groups also expressed support, saying the project would create jobs, boost the local economy and strengthen the states trade capacity. This is an important project for Washington state, and for the people of Cowlitz County and Southwest Washington searching for good paying jobs, said Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Businesses. But environmental, citizens and other groups said Friday that the review confirms their concerns about wide-ranging impacts, such as coal dust blown from uncovered trains, from moving millions of tons of coal through the Northwest and burning it in Asia. Opponents said the review acknowledges the negative consequences of the project but falls short because it relies on mitigation measures that arent proven. The report paints a bleak picture for people who live near the coal terminal, Roy Staples, a Longview resident with Landowners & Citizens for a Safe Community said in a statement. Coal dust hangs in the air and coats homes, he added. The study said coal loaded on trains must be sprayed with a substance at the mine site and in Pasco, Washington, to reduce coal dust. Steve Charter, a Montana rancher, said the Washington coal port is also bad news for his state. He said rail towns would have to deal with traffic delays, diesel exhaust and other consequences. The study found that without rail and road improvements, the increased train traffic would create long vehicle delays during rush hour at railroad crossings in Cowlitz County and beyond. It said crossings in Spokane County would have the largest increases in vehicle delays. The public can comment on the study through June 13, and at three public hearings scheduled in May and June. Regulators plan to incorporate those comments into a final review, a process that could take a year or longer. The state and county got a record number of comments, more than 215,000, earlier in its review. The Army Corps of Engineers, meanwhile, is doing its own separate environmental review. A spokeswoman said a draft is expected in September. As a parent, I want what is best for my daughter ShaiLyn. Sure, there are others like teachers, neighbors, pastors, and friends who care deeply about her well-being, but none of their concern holds a candle to mine. I am her mother. She is my baby. You can imagine my heartbreak when ShaiLyn was first diagnosed with apraxia. First off, it is hard for people to pronounce. Secondly, it is hard for others to understand. And last, but certainly not least, it is hard for all of us her father, myself, and her to truly grasp the many ways this will affect our lives. The best way to describe the effects of apraxia is that ShaiLyn knows what she wants to say, but when she tries to speak, it does not come out right. She is beyond bright. She has the biggest heart. She also has a learning disability. After further testing, doctors told us that ShaiLyn also fell on the autism spectrum. I have come to learn that apraxia and autism go hand in hand. Both of these conditions affect hand and eye coordination. This makes learning to read quite tough, since words are not as clear to ShaiLyn as they are to you and me. While some students can concentrate in a room full of their peers, my daughter is distracted and unable to communicate what she sees, feels and hears. Virtual school has been a blessing for my daughter. Our public virtual school, Wyoming Virtual Academy, organizes ShaiLyns curriculum to her individual needs. Not every student has to be on the same page so she can work ahead where appropriate and spend more time on subjects where she struggles. She is receiving unmatched lessons from state-certified teachers who meet her where she is academically. We have weekly one-on-one lessons scheduled with her teacher and her special education instructor. We are on a first name basis, know each other well, and have grown incredibly close. These teachers treat us like family, not just a number on the attendance sheet. Upon reflection of their time working together, ShaiLyns teacher Khris Looney said, With the constant support of her family and the freedom to learn in an environment where she was completely comfortable, safe & able to focus solely on the task of learning, ShaiLyn began to take baby steps. Before long she was able to take great steps toward her goals. She has come such a long way from that terrified, painfully shy little girl. Virtual school is the best option for my daughter. I am not anti-traditional brick-and-mortar school. I simply believe that parents like me should be trusted to choose the school setting that best fits my childs needs. I am immeasurably thankful for the option to choose the best school for my child. It has changed our lives. WASHINGTON (AP) Insurers will seek significant premium hikes under President Barack Obama's health care law this summer - stiff medicine for consumers and voters ahead of the national political conventions. Expect the state-by-state premium requests to reflect what insurers see as the bottom line: The health law has been a financial drain for many companies. They're setting the stage for 2017 hikes that could reach well into the double digits, in some cases. For example, in Virginia, a state that reports early, nine insurers returning to the HealthCare.gov marketplace are seeking average premium increases that range from 9.4 percent to 37.1 percent. Those initial estimates filed with the state may change. More than 12 million people nationwide get coverage though the health law's markets, which offer subsidized private insurance. But the increases could also affect several million who purchase individual policies outside the government system. Going into their fourth year, the health law's markets are still searching for stability. That's in contrast to more-established government programs like Medicaid and Medicare Advantage, in which private insurers profitably cover tens of millions of people. The health law's nagging problems center on lower-than-hoped-for enrollment, sicker-than-expected customers, and a balky internal stabilization system that didn't deliver as advertised and was already scheduled to be pared back next year. This year, premiums for a benchmark silver plan rose by a little more than 7 percent on average, according to administration figures. A spike for 2017 would fire up the long-running political debate over the divisive law, which persists despite two Supreme Court decisions upholding Obama's signature program, and the president's veto of a Republican repeal bill. Of the presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton is the only one promising to build on the Affordable Care Act. She's proposed an aggressive effort to increase enrollment along with measures to reduce consumer costs. The Republican candidates all want to repeal "Obamacare." Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders would incorporate it into a bigger government-run system covering everyone. The health law is "likely in for a significant market correction over the next year or two," said Larry Levitt of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. "There have been a lot of signals from insurers that premiums are headed up." Standard & Poor's health insurance analyst Deep Banerjee said he expects premium hikes to be higher for 2017 than in the larger, more stable market for employer coverage. Insurers are facing higher medical costs from health law customers, and some companies priced their initial coverage too low in an attempt to grab new business. "What they are doing now is trying to catch up," said Banerjee. Aetna chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini said Thursday the nation's third-largest health insurer still sees a good business opportunity, but Congress needs to provide leeway for companies to design lower-cost plans tailored to young, healthy people. "We will see the dynamics of the market get tougher as we go forward if we don't get those kinds of structural changes," he said. How that would happen in a politically polarized atmosphere, Bertolini did not explain. Aetna lost more than $100 million on its health law business last year but hopes to break even this year. The administration says talk of premium increases is premature and overblown. Initial requests from insurers will get knocked back in some states, officials say, aided by a rate-review process strengthened under the health law. Most significantly, more than 8 out of 10 customers in the health law's markets get subsidies to help pay their premiums, and that financial assistance will increase as premiums rise. Many have also shown they're willing to shop around for lower-priced coverage. "Marketplace consumers would do well to put little stock in initial rate filings," spokesman Ben Wakana said in a statement. "Averages based on proposed premium changes are not a reliable indicator of what typical consumers will actually pay." Also mitigating the pressure for higher premiums is a one-year moratorium for 2017 on a health law tax on insurers, part of last year's federal budget deal. Still, it's hard to ignore the litany of insurer complaints. Last month, an analysis of medical claims from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association concluded that insurers gained a sicker, more expensive patient population as a result of the law. The "Blues" represent the most common brand of insurance. Recently, UnitedHealth, the nation's biggest insurer, said it will radically pull back from the health law markets, citing estimated losses of $650 million this year, on top of $475 million it lost last year. Many insurers struggled because they didn't know how much medical care their new customers would use. Some patients had been out of the health care system for years and had been holding off getting needed care. Insurers also say they've been hurt by customers who signed up outside the regular enrollment period and then used a lot of services. Insurers who are more bullish on the program tend to be ones that expanded slowly into the markets and have a lot of experience working with low-income Medicaid recipients. ___ Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Richmond contributed to this article. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Raytheon Co. on Thursday reported a lower first-quarter profit of $429 million, but both its earnings and revenues beat Wall Street estimates and it raised its profit forecast for 2016. The companys Tucson-based Raytheon Missile Systems business unit posted net sales of $1.72 billion, up 17 percent, while its operating income slipped 7 percent. The Waltham, Massachusetts-based parent company had net income of $1.43 per share, compared with earnings of $1.78 per share in first-quarter 2015. First-quarter earnings were cut by 8 cents per share for accounting adjustments related to the acquisition of cybersecurity products maker Forcepoint. The defense contractor posted revenue of $5.76 billion in the first quarter, up 9 percent from the same period a year ago. Analysts on average had forecast earnings of $1.37 per share on revenues of $5.45 billion. Raytheon shares were down about 2 percent in midafternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Raytheon said it expects full-year 2016 earnings to be $6.93 to $7.13 per share, up from an earlier forecast of $6.80 to $7 per share. The company maintained its projection of annual revenue in the range of $24 billion to $24.5 billion. Raytheon said the increase in net sales at Missile Systems was mainly driven by higher sales of Paveway guided-bomb kits and Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). The decrease in Missile Systems operating income compared with first-quarter 2015 was mainly due to higher net program efficiencies and a favorable resolution of a contractual issue in 2015, along with lower incentive fees on a missile defense program in the first quarter of 2016. During the quarter, Missile Systems booked $646 million for AMRAAM for the Air Force, U.S. Navy and international customers, $272 million for the Standard Missile-6 for the U.S. Navy and $225 million for Paveway for the Air Force and foreign allies. BEND, Ore. A routine jog Saturday by the Deschutes River nearly turned tragic for Garrett Bergby when his 10-year-old Llewellin setter suddenly bolted for a flock of ducks. Kaya managed to get out of her leash and collar and went into the river, Bergby, 34, said, where she soon struggled to stay above water in the fast-moving current and eventually became marooned on an island. Steve and Kari Strang happened to be nearby with their sons Jack, 12 and Ben, 10. The family was holding a solemn ceremony to remember two of their dogs who had recently died. Bergby and the Strang family managed to rescue Kaya and are still amazed by the circumstances that brought them together. "It's a terrible feeling to look at somebody you love and feel helpless," Bergby said Tuesday. "The fact that Kari and Steve and their kids came to the rescue without a doubt, that's just really cool community." Bergby, originally from Eugene, moved to Bend 10 years ago at about the same time he got Kaya as a puppy. About twice a week he runs with her on the Central Oregon Canal Trail in southwest Bend. Kaya went into the river Saturday in an area south of the South Canyon Trail Bridge, he said, which is about 1 miles upriver from the Bill Healy Memorial Bridge. "It was an area where there wasn't a ton of rapids, but the current was enough to where she got caught into the bad rapids," said Bergby. He said he couldn't get to her because it was too dangerous to wade out into the water. She got caught on a log in the river and started to struggle. "If she would have gone under she wouldn't have come back up," he said. "The way the water was, she would have drowned. I felt completely helpless because I couldn't get to her." Although it was a weekend afternoon, it was a cool day, in the high 50s, and Bergby hadn't seen many people on the trail. He said he didn't want to lose sight of Kaya, so he did his best to watch her from the shore and ran back across the trail bridge to the other side of the river. Kaya made it onto an island, but "she was dead tired from trying to deal with the water," he said. As Kaya ran around the island, desperate to jump off and swim to safety, she got caught in some branches in the middle of the island over a pool of water, Bergby said. "It was just holding her down and she was struggling up and down and bobbing in the water," he said. "I thought she was going to die right then and there." She barely got back onto the island and out of the branches, he said, when his cellphone died and he decided to run downstream and try to contact somebody. It was then that he ran into the Strang family of Bend, who had gathered near the river to mourn the loss of their two chocolate Labs. The Strang's 14-year-old dog, Sierra, had died two months ago. Their other dog, McKenzie, would have turned 3 on Saturday , but was struck and killed by a car two weeks prior. "After losing Sierra and then to lose McKenzie that closely together, when she was so young, and in a traumatic way, for our family, was really sad," said Kari Strang, on Wednesday. Kari Strang, 43, was running with McKenzie in the Good Dog! Trail off-leash area in the Deschutes National Forest southwest of Bend. The young dog ran after something suddenly toward Century Drive. McKenzie tried to dart across the road but was run over, Kari Strang said. "We were there as a family to grieve," she said about being near the river Saturday. "We picked that day and planned on doing a birthday celebration for McKenzie." Bergby and the Strangs knew each other from serving together on the board of Healthy Beginnings, a local nonprofit that provides healthcare to young children and their parents. Kari Strang said she saw the panic in Bergby's eyes and the leash without a dog attached. "I tell them what's going on and they immediately spring into action," Bergby said. "There's no question." "All of us were like, 'Of course, what do you need?' It was never a thought when something like happens and somebody needs your help," said Kari Strang. "You just go." After considering different options, Bergby and Steve Strang, 44, decided to use a log and place it across rocks and logjams to wade out to the island where Kaya was stranded. The cold water was chest deep in some areas, Bergby said. Steve Strang and Bergby managed to take Kaya across from the island and reach the shore. Bergby described the ordeal and the Strang's help in a Facebook post the next day. As of Thursday morning, the post had dozens of comments and more than 250 "likes." "This town is full of so many good people," said Bergby. "The fact that they're mourning the loss of their dogs and then they're able to be in a position to help save another dog, that's just so cool." Bergby said Kaya is a little sore, but for the most part has acted like nothing happened. Kari Strang said the opportunity to take part in the rescue of Kaya has helped her family heal. The loss of McKenzie was personally devastating, she said. "That accident is going to haunt me the rest of my life, but I think somehow this has somehow calmed a little bit of that pain," said Kari Strang. She said she doesn't feel any less guilty about losing McKenzie, but the rescue of Kaya has brought a sense of peace and comfort. "I come away with it seeing it as a sign of faith and hope and finding some light out of a pretty dark time for our family," Kari Strang said. "Regardless of your faith and belief there are some things that happen that don't just happen. I think it was something that we have had a hard time even explaining." ___ Information from: The Bulletin, http://www.bendbulletin.com When the local branch of Christians United for Israel met Tuesday night, the scheduled topic was narrow: A bill passed by the Legislature regarding boycotts of Israel. The conversation strayed a fair distance from that. Three Republican members of the state House attended the meeting at New Life Bible Fellowship, 4900 W. Cortaro Farms Road: Speaker David Gowan, Rep. Vince Leach and Rep. Mark Finchem. It was Finchem who left quite an impression. I did not attend but heard about the meeting soon after it ended from people who were there and alarmed by what they heard. The lawmakers did talk about HB 2617, which requires any company that does business with governments in Arizona to certify that it is not involved with boycotts of Israel. The bill, which Gov. Doug Ducey signed, strikes me as an awkward way to deal with a touchy topic the movement to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel for its treatment of Palestinians. The so-called BDS movement is popular among some on the left, so supporters of Israel came up with this largely symbolic gesture to counter the movement. Gowan, Leach and Finch were familiar with the law they passed, but not intimately, four attendees told me. Only one, Marty Johnson, spoke for the record. I dont think anyone did a particularly good job or had a particularly nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Johnston, 41, who attended with a few Israeli friends. What Finchem did have a grasp of is a vast conspiracy linking Palestinian terrorist groups, La Raza activists, training camps in northern Mexico, drug traffickers and Muslim student associations in Arizona, Johnston and others said. The upshot of Finchems comments, Johnston said: An amorphous them is working to turn Southern Arizona into a Palestine-type situation. It was so bizarre to hear him talk about that, Johnston said. He tried to connect Yasser Arafat to La Raza, and the Muslim Brotherhood with Muslim student associations. Finchem made specific mention of the existence of Hezbollah training camps in northern Mexico and alleged some connection between Hezbollah and other Islamist terrorist organizations and the drug trade from Mexico, Johnston said. I wrote Finchem an email Wednesday night detailing the comments I was told he made. He did not respond. However, they are in keeping with the views previously espoused by Finchem, who represents Legislative District 11 along with Leach in the House. Both are up for re-election this year. If we do not recognize that there is a threat coming across our border we will see another 9/11, but it will be much smaller and in multiple locations, Finchem said at a candidates forum in July 2014. Finchem is a member of Oath Keepers, a group of current and former members of military, law enforcement and other first-responder organizations that claims to defend the Constitution from overreach, especially by the federal government. Its concerned, for example, that the federal government may try to force Americans into concentration or detention camps. Finchem retired and moved to Arizona after a career as a police officer in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His presentation left Johnston and his Israeli friends shaking their heads. It was embarrassing, he said. Gowan accepts lobbyist money Some reporters were anxiously awaiting April 15 not because its Tax Day (it wasnt this year anyway), but because it was the deadline for congressional candidates to file their quarterly financial reports. The rumor was, Gowan, a Sierra Vista Republican whose district stretches up to eastern Tucson, had been taking quite a bit of money from lobbyists for his congressional campaign. That idea raised eyebrows because it is illegal for lobbyists to donate to legislators' campaigns during the legislative session. However, it is probably legal the question has not been decided for state legislators to take donations from lobbyists if the money goes toward campaigns for federal office. Hank Stephenson of the Arizona Capitol Times checked the names on Gowans financial report and found that his campaign had accepted $2,700 from registered lobbyists. That was less than rumored but more than any of the three other state legislators running for Congress accepted. Sens. Andy Biggs and Carlyle Begay are running for Congress, as is Rep. Justin Olson, but their reports show they took no donations from lobbyists. Both Biggs and Gowan, as leaders of their chambers, were in a position to wring a lot of money out of lobbyists if they chose, but Gowan apparently took relatively little. The $2,700 is a tiny portion of the $169,390 he reported receiving in the last quarter. Complaint against Winchester A supporter of Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller has filed a complaint against her primary opponent, John Winchester, alleging hes campaigned during work hours at his UA job. Shaun McClusky sent the complaint to the Arizona Attorney Generals Office April 10. In it, he lists five instances when he says Winchester did campaign work during his work hours at the UAs Judaic Studies Department. Three of the appearances were radio interviews; two were instances when he filed campaign paperwork with Pima County. As I said 18 months ago, if anybody came out against Ally I was going to make life difficult, McClusky told me Thursday. Hes obviously trying that with Winchester. However, Winchester is a contract employee and salaried, not an hourly employee, so the likelihood of the complaint sticking is pretty small, though of course that may not be the point. Its not based in anything factual, largely because he doesnt understand my contract with the University of Arizona, Winchester said. World View and Ducey Ive been wondering about the governors offices perspective on the lawsuit by the Goldwater Institute against Pima County over its deal to build a headquarters with World View Enterprises. Gov. Doug Ducey has made recruiting companies to Arizona and retaining promising ones a cornerstone of his governorship, but he hasnt spoken out against the lawsuit that could restrict Arizona governments ability to offer incentives. World View founder Taber MacCallum told the Bill Buckmaster Show Thursday that the governors office was integral to the deal in the first place. This was a deal that was put together by the governors office and the ACA (Arizona Commerce Authority) working with Sun Corridor and the county, he said. So the question remains, Which side are you on, Gov, which side are you on? Public education is in crisis in Arizona, and right now Prop. 123 is the only way to make sure more money gets to schools. Its a first step. A Tucson teen who takes part in an annual program that helps homeless children capture hopes and dreams in photos moved closer Thursday to realizing one of hers: a college education. Leiliani Martinez, 14, was surprised by a full scholarship to Blackburn College a liberal-arts school in Carlinville, Illinois, with about 600 students by the schools president. He made the offer after watching a news report about the program, Pictures of Hope. It struck me that she was working with promising young people who would face significant financial challenges that could prevent them from going to college, John Comerford, the schools president said about the programs founder, Linda Solomon. In other words, she was working with the same population we seek to serve. Leiliani has lived with her mother and two siblings in housing provided by Our Family Services for five years. Her mother, Lupita Martinez, a billing specialist at Tucson Orthopedic, said she worried about how she would pay for college for her daughter. She wants to be a lawyer or doctor and that takes a lot of years and money to pay for it, she said. Leiliana has participated in Pictures of Hope for four sessions. She was chosen for the scholarship by Solomon and Comerford. After speaking with Comerford, Solomon said she immediately thought of Leiliani for the scholarship. I have watched her through the years and I admire her so very much, Solomon said. One of the first dreams she captured as a child was to help those who are homeless. Her heartfelt dreams are so unselfish. This is inspirational and we can all learn from her. Her dream to believe in herself expressed on her Pictures of Hope card last year will come true by the granting of a full-ride scholarship at the age of 14. Comerford and Solomon flew to Tucson to surprise Leiliani with the announcement at the Our Family Services annual luncheon at the Tucson Convention Center. After giving a speech about Pictures of Hope and Our Family Services, Solomon called Leiliani and her mother to the stage. The two stood nervously, as they listened to what Solomon had to say in front of a crowd of nearly 300. When you were 12, you said your dream was to be a doctor, Solomon began. Last year you shared this dream: My dream is to believe in me. Well, I believe in you. I have a special gift for you and your mother. This bag says dreams never end and they dont. Solomon presented Martinez with a framed card and necklace, then introduced Comerford. There are many people, Leiliani, who believe in you. We have a very special guest that I want you to meet, John Comerford, who came here all the way from Illinois, Solomon said. Hes the president of Blackburn College and he wishes to grant one of your dreams. He is granting you a four-year, full college scholarship. Roaring applause followed. Leiliani and her mom wiped tears from their eyes. Leiliani shared the same worries as her mother, when thinking about college: money, grades and choosing a school. Im excited and happy. I dont know how I feel, really. I started crying, Leiliani said. I thought they were playing with me. Leiliani, an eighth-grader, is the youngest person offered a Blackburn College scholarship, Comerford said. Its worth about $100,000. Leiliani is still several years away from college, but Linda described her spirit, drive and personality in such compelling ways that we decided to offer her a scholarship now that she can use when she graduates high school, Comerford said. The scholarship will cover tuition, room, board and required fees, so long as Leiliani qualifies for admission to Blackburn and continues to do well. Offering Leiliani the scholarship now shows how much others believe in the eighth-grader hoping to become a doctor or lawyer some day. California High-speed rail board approves new plan SACRAMENTO The board that oversees Californias high-speed rail project approved a revised $64 billion plan Thursday that calls for the train to go from the Central Valley to the San Jose area before it heads to Southern California, acknowledging the political reality that federal and private financing has fallen far short of what backers had hoped. The board gave its approval at a brief meeting in Sacramento, a week after postponing a planned vote to make changes to the revised business plan. Central Valley lawmakers and activists complained after a planned stop in Merced already under construction was left out of the most recent proposal for the bullet train released this winter, prompting officials to reverse course again last week and restore the stop. Illinois Alleged El Chapo associate pleads guilty CHICAGO A reputed associate of Mexican cartel leader Joaquin El Chapo Guzman has pleaded guilty to helping move more than $1.5 million in drug money between the U.S. and Mexico. Edgar Manuel Valencia Ortega entered the plea Wednesday in Chicago federal court. The Chicago Tribune reported that he admitted to laundering money related to the sale of cocaine in Chicago and Los Angeles. Prosecutors say Ortega isnt expected to face other charges in connection with importing the drug. U.S. authorities say the 28-year-old Ortegas nickname was the Fox. He faces up to 20 years in prison and is to be sentenced Aug. 3. Michigan Suit: Principals stole from school district DETROIT A dozen Detroit principals and an administrator are accused of finding a way to bleed their struggling public schools of $900,000 ordering chairs, writing paper and other supplies that in most cases were never delivered, even as investigators doggedly battled fraud in a district that lacks textbooks and even toilet paper. Federal authorities say the bribery and kickback scheme started as early as 2002 and ended earlier this year. They stole from the children, said an angry Ida Byrd-Hill, who had two children attending a Detroit high school in 2009 during the height of the alleged kickbacks. South Dakota Tribe sues federal govt over ER closure SIOUX FALLS A Native American tribe in South Dakota sued the federal government Thursday over the nearly five-month closure of the only emergency room on its reservation. The federal lawsuit filed Thursday by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe asks that federal officials be forced to re-open the emergency room at the hospital administered by the Indian Health Service. The agency shuttered the ER in early December, two weeks after federal inspectors uncovered serious failures that they said put patients lives at risk. The lawsuit, which The Associated Press obtained ahead of it being filed, contends that the Indian Health Service an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services broke the law because an evaluation of the impact of the closure wasnt submitted to Congress at least a year before it was shut down, as required. OPINION: "As a parent and teacher, I know the best way to address discord is to listen first and establish trust. As a neighborhood leader, I know how to work through differences by treating people with dignity and respect. As a mathematics teacher, I always taught my students that there is more than one way to solve problems," writes Theresa Riel, a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Pima Community College Governing Board. Help India! By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net, New Delhi: The India Islamic Cultural Centre, the most sought-after modern address of the Muslim community in Indias National Capital, today rolled out red carpet for its distinguished guest Farah Pandit who is on her maiden visit to the country as United States Special Representative to Muslim Communities. IICC president Sirajuddin Qureshi and whos who of the Delhi Muslim community gave warm welcome to Farah, Kashmir-born Indian-American Muslim who is now holding a coveted post in President Barack Obamas administration. Support TwoCircles One-fourth of the world population is Muslim, so United States wants to build partnership with Muslim communities across the planet on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect, said Farah in her 5-minute speech. She reiterated President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clintons vision for building long-term relationship with the Muslim communities. Since I assumed office last September I have been crisscrossing the Muslim world. I have visited Nigeria, Indonesia, Iraq and many other Muslim countries. For us New Delhi is as much important as any Muslim country because India has third largest Muslim population in the world, said she who had reached the venue after visiting Jamia Millia Islamia where she gave a lecture on Muslims in the US. As more than 25% of the world population is below the age of 30, we want to engage youth of the Muslim community, she said. L-R: G N Qazi, V-C, Jamia Hamadard, Mahmudur Rahman, ex-AMU V-C, Sirajuddin Qureshi, IICC president, Farah Pandit, Uzra Zeya, political affairs head, US Embassy in Delhi Earlier welcoming Farah Pandit, IICC President and businessman Sirajuddin Qureshi said that turning clash of civilizations into dialogue between civilizations is the hallmark of Obamas regime. If the US could play effective role in resolving Palestine-Israel conflict, it will be welcomed by the Muslim world. I am proud of being Indian and Muslim. I assure you of our full support to Obamas vision, he said. Prof. Akhtarul Wasey of Jamia Millia Islamia said the world Muslims have now high expectation from President Obama after his speeches in his inauguration, in Turkey and Egypt where he gave clear indication of shift in US approach to the Muslim world. Now they are awaiting the day when Iraq and Afghanistan will be completely free of foreign occupation, he said. Ghulam Nabi Qazi, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, said that he being a scientist wants evidence to accept anything. If things are changing because of Obamas outreach efforts, they must be seen happening, he said and urged the Obama Government to normalize visa process for Muslims in India who want to visit US. He narrated his personal incident wherein he, despite holding a diplomatic passport, was not given visa last year because he was Ghulam Nabi Qazi. If President Obama could do something on this front, it will bring great change, he said. Yesterday evening Farah Pandit had held a roundtable with Muslim journalists and talked about President Obamas vision. Earlier in the day she had met Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmed Bukhari. As Special Representative to Muslim Communities, Pandit is executing Secretary Clintons vision for engagement with Muslims around the world on a people-to-people and organizational level. Prior to this appointment, she was Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. In this role she was focused on Muslim communities in Europe where she was responsible for policy oversight for integration, democracy, and Islam in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Farah Pandit is among top Muslims of Indian descent in President Obama administration. Ebu Patel and Rashid Hussain are other prominent officials of Indian origin. Help India! New Delhi : Activists of the Congress youth wing protested here on Thursday against the NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the AgustaWestland chopper deal issue. The activists accused the government of seeking to weave a web of lies to hoodwink the people of India. Support TwoCircles The protest march was taken out from the Indian Youth Congress office on Raisina Road to the Prime Ministers Office (Raisina Hill) where they were stopped by police before the barricades. Police resorted to use of water cannon and to disperse the crowd, as the Youth Congress members tried to jump over the barricades. The Youth Congress, in a statement, said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is seeking to perpetuate falsehood and weave a web of lies to hoodwink the people of India over the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. It also alleged that the Modi government is indulging in a cover up conspiracy to hide its sinister role in helping and promoting a banned company AgustaWestland and its parent company Finmecanica. It said the most intriguing part of the conspiracy is the undisclosed reason on the part of the Modi government for permitting a blacklisted company to get clearances from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and permit its entry as partner or sub-contractor to various Indian corporates. Male factor contributes to 50%-60% of overall infertility but is solely responsible in only 20% of couples. Although most male factor infertility is ascertained from an abnormal semen analysis, other male factors can be contributory especially if the sample returns normal. Male infertility can be due to identifiable hormonal or anatomical etiologies that may be reversible or irreversible. This manuscript will highlight existing guidelines and our recommendations for hormone evaluation for male infertility and empiric therapies including multivitamins, estrogen receptor modulators (clomiphene), estrogen conversion blockers (anastrozole), and hormone replacement. Asian journal of andrology. 0000 [Epub] Joshua D Ring, Aye A Lwin, Tobias S Kohler Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL 62794, USA. PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27098657 Low-dose aspirin has been shown to reduce the incidence of cancer, but its role in the treatment of cancer is uncertain. We conducted a systematic search of the scientific literature on aspirin taken by patients following a diagnosis of cancer, together with appropriate meta-analyses. Searches were completed in Medline and Embase in December 2015 using a pre-defined search strategy. References and abstracts of all the selected papers were scanned and expert colleagues were contacted for additional studies. Two reviewers applied pre-determined eligibility criteria (cross-sectional, cohort and controlled studies, and aspirin taken after a diagnosis of cancer), assessed study quality and extracted data on cancer cause-specific deaths, overall mortality and incidence of metastases. Random effects meta-analyses and planned sub-group analyses were completed separately for observational and experimental studies. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed in sensitivity analyses and appropriate omissions made. Papers were examined for any reference to bleeding and authors of the papers were contacted and questioned. Five reports of randomised trials were identified, together with forty two observational studies: sixteen on colorectal cancer, ten on breast and ten on prostate cancer mortality. Pooling of eleven observational reports of the effect of aspirin on cause-specific mortality from colon cancer, after the omission of one report identified on the basis of sensitivity analyses, gave a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.76 (95% CI 0.66, 0.88) with reduced heterogeneity (P = 0.04). The cause specific mortality in five reports of patients with breast cancer showed significant heterogeneity (P<0.0005) but the omission of one outlying study reduced heterogeneity (P = 0.19) and led to an HR = 0.87 (95% CI 0.69, 1.09). Heterogeneity between nine studies of prostate cancer was significant, but again, the omission of one study led to acceptable homogeneity (P = 0.26) and an overall HR = 0.89 (95% CI 0.79-0.99). Six single studies of other cancers suggested reductions in cause specific mortality by aspirin, and in five the effect is statistically significant. There were no significant differences between the pooled HRs for the three main cancers and after the omission of three reports already identified in sensitivity analyses heterogeneity was removed and revealed an overall HR of 0.83 (95% CI 0.76-0.90). A mutation of PIK3CA was present in about 20% of patients, and appeared to explain most of the reduction in colon cancer mortality by aspirin. Data were not adequate to examine the importance of this or any other marker in the effect of aspirin in the other cancers. On bleeding attributable to aspirin two reports stated that there had been no side effect or bleeding attributable to aspirin. Authors on the other reports were written to and 21 replied stating that no data on bleeding were available. The study highlights the need for randomised trials of aspirin treatment in a variety of cancers. While these are awaited there is an urgent need for evidence from observational studies of aspirin and the less common cancers, and for more evidence of the relevance of possible bio-markers of the aspirin effect on a wide variety of cancers. In the meantime it is urged that patients in whom a cancer is diagnosed should be given details of this research, together with its limitations, to enable each to make an informed decision as to whether or not to take low-dose aspirin. CRD42015014145. PloS one. 2016 Apr 20*** epublish *** Peter C Elwood, Gareth Morgan, Janet E Pickering, Julieta Galante, Alison L Weightman, Delyth Morris, Mark Kelson, Sunil Dolwani Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom., Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom., Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom., Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom., Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom., Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom., Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom., Cochrane Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27096951 As the poaching of elephants and and rhino soars and the poaching war escalates, more highly trained military forces are about to deploy to help fight poaching in Africa. The African Press Organisation distributed a release by the UK Ministry of Defence yesterday, which announced that the latest anti-poaching operations by British Army forces will come from the Northern Ireland 2 Rifles. Other specialists, including American military will accompany them on their mission to train rangers and tracking units in Gabon. This is the second time the unit has been sent to Gabon. US Marines were the first in. The US Marines sent a first unit of 15 personnel on a similar operation in Chad in 2014. Shortly after the Marines went into Chad, the first contingent of 2 Rifles went into Gabon. Both the Marines and the British Army are not actually shooting and fighting poachers. The Dodo reported in 2014 that the Marines were there to teach parks rangers in Chad military tactics" At the time James Stenger, the force spokesman mentioned that the Marines would also be used to combat trafficking and assist with border security. The Army was requested by Gabons President. The UK Government Blog reported that the previous deployment last year arose from a request by the President of Gabon in an effort to stop the poaching of the severely threatened forest elephants. The team engaged in military style training with the Gabon rangers, which involved lessons on live firing, intelligence gathering and other operational experience. The blog dairy explains that the unit worked with some very skilled Gabonese trackers and with some army personnel who accompany parks ranger on patrols in known poaching areas. Specialist tracker training The current team of soldiers to assist in Gabon are expected to carry out much the same mission as the previous one. The Commanding officer of 2 Rifles said in the press release that his soldiers have trained hard and are looking forward to this experience in Gabon, where they will help with anti-poaching training. One of the units special members is a highly trained tracker from the "Royal Ghurkha Rifles." His task will be to train about 60 people in advanced tracking techniques. US team and British army will work together Organised wildlife crime is rampant in the country and the poachers operate in groups of up to fifty.Ivory poaching is of particular concern and it is vital that the Gabonese are enabled to provide the best protection for their wildlife that they are able to muster. The British Army and American soldiers will work through the British department of Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the government of Gabon to achieve the training objectives. They are expected to be in the rain forests of West Africa for six weeks. Xi: Talks key to resolving differences Updated: 2016-04-29 02:25 By An Baijie, Zhang Yunbi(China Daily) President Xi Jinping greets delegates at the opening ceremony of the fifth meeting of foreign ministers of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday. WU ZHIYI / CHINA DAILY Countries outside region 'welcome to make a positive contribution to peace and stability' President Xi Jinping, speaking on the South China Sea issue on Thursday, said China upholds the peaceful resolution of disputes through friendly consultation and negotiation with the countries directly involved. The president said that for some time developments in the South China Sea have attracted extensive attention. China "unswervingly safeguards its own sovereignty and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea," the president said. Xi made the remarks in Beijing as he addressed the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. Observers said Xi's remarks come at a time when the US is worsening the situation in the South China Sea by boosting its military presence there, and after the US and the Philippines embarked on joint military drills recently. Outlining his ideas to increase security in Asia as a whole, Xi said, "We welcome countries outside the region making a positive contribution to peace and stability here and working with Asian countries to promote the security, stability, development and prosperity of Asia." Su Xiaohui, a researcher of international strategies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Xi's remarks on the South China Sea illustrate two of China's key strategic goals championing State sovereignty and safeguarding regional stability. Xi is also sending a message that "China does not accept any attempt to ruin the big picture", and such attempts include the international arbitration sought unilaterally by the Philippines against China, Su said. The "countries outside the region" mentioned by Xi include the US, which is partly responsible for tension in the South China Sea, Su added. Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said that the US has recently "grouped" with countries such as the Philippines to "muddy the waters" by staging joint military drills in the South China Sea. "This is a root cause that prompts militarization of the South China Sea region and rising tension there," Zhang said. In Singapore on Thursday, China and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed to "properly control and manage differences", according to a Foreign Ministry release. The consensus was made as Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Zhenmin and Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong co-chaired the 22nd China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Consultation. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. All parties agreed that China and ASEAN countries should use the anniversary as an opportunity to "strengthen strategic communication, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and properly control and manage differences", the release said. Contact the writer at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn New law adopted on overseas NGOs Updated: 2016-04-29 03:16 By CAO YIN(China Daily) China adopted its first-ever law on overseas NGOs on Thursday to facilitate their legal operations on the mainland but to combat any activity that might harm national security. The 54-point law, passed at the bimonthly session of the top legislature, clarifies the registration process, operational rules and liabilities of overseas NGOs, as well as measures for their operations in China. The law, which takes effect on Jan 1, requires all overseas NGOs operating in China to be registered and regulated by central or provincial-level police authorities, a stipulation that has caused concern among some NGOs over whether their operations and activities will face restrictions. "Such worries are totally unnecessary if they follow Chinese laws," said Zhang Yong, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He said overseas NGOs have made a great contribution to China's development. There is no specific figure on how many overseas NGOs are in China. Chinese media have estimated there are more than 6,000, and most are engaged in environmental protection, education and poverty relief efforts. The adopted law includes many changes to the previous draft version. For example, the earlier draft required exchanges between Chinese and foreign colleges, hospitals, and science and engineering research institutes, but the adopted version exempts this. The law also removes the restriction limiting each NGO to a single office on the mainland, but the number and locations must be approved by regulatory authorities. Guo Linmao, a member of the commission, said the rights of NGOs will be fully protected, but those that break China's laws will be punished accordingly. "A very limited number of overseas NGOs have conducted activities in China that harm our national security or interests," he said. Behavior that damages China's territorial integrity, regime and people's interests is defined as harming state interests, he said. The new law gives police the authority to talk with representatives of overseas NGOs and ask them not to conduct such activities, or even blacklist or deport them. If they are found to have broken China's Criminal Law, they are also subject to criminal punishment. Beijing sees US moves as 'provocations' Updated: 2016-04-29 07:15 By Wang Xu(China Daily) Ministry of National Defense spokesman Colonel Wu Qian addresses a news conference in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily] Beijing views Washington's "freedom of navigation" operations as both political and military provocations, and it will continue to monitor air and sea activity closely and take any necessary measures, Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Wu Qian told a regular news briefing on Thursday. Wu made the remarks in response to media reports that the United States was planning to carry out a third "freedom of navigation" operation to challenge China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. "We think the US's so-called freedom of navigation operations pose political and military provocations against China, which could easily lead to mishaps in the sea and air, and are extremely dangerous," Wu said. "Freedom of navigation" has become an excuse for the US to meddle in South China Sea disputes, Wu said, adding that free navigation of the South China Sea has never been a problem. The US operations are promoting militarization and endangering stability, he said. Asked about calls by some US senators for stepped-up naval activities in the South China Sea, Wu said: "No matter how frequently US ships come to the South China Sea, that will not change the fact that the islands and adjacent islands are China's inherent territory. It will not stop the pace of China's growth and development. And even more, it will not shake the will of the People's Liberation Army to resolutely safeguard the sovereignty and security of China." On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that even public opinion in the US sees Washington as deliberately enlarging the so-called China threat in the South China Sea. For example, Hua said, The National Interest, a US international affairs magazine, questioned Washington's assertion that China's claims over the South China Sea are affecting international trade in the region, and it asserted that China's activities in the South China Sea have not damaged US national security. Jia Duqiang, a Southeast Asian studies researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said "freedom of navigation" operations are aimed at provoking China, which serves Washington's "pivot to Asia" strategy. Escalating tensions in the South China Sea are something that Washington wants, Jia said, because by stirring up trouble between China and some ASEAN countries, these countries will depend on the US for security, which facilitates implementation of the US strategy. Hunting resort may encroach on reserve land Updated: 2016-04-29 08:15 By Zhao Xinying(China Daily) The State Forestry Administration is investigating the legality of a hunting resort established jointly by a city in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region and the United Arab Emirates to find out whether the land the resort uses is part of a nature reserve and therefore illegal, a forestry official said on Thursday. Yan Xun, chief engineer at the administration's Department of Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management, said at a news conference that the authorities are looking into whether the hunting resort is partly located in a 26,700-hectare national nature reserve close to Guyuan city. The reserve was established in 1988. The resort would be illegal if it is found to be using part of the national reserve because the "building up of hunting resorts within a national nature reserve is strictly forbidden", Yan said at the conference. The construction of the 817-hectare resort started in June and was criticized by animal rights activists because they saw it as threatening local wildlife. The resort boasts a range of leisure activities, including hunting. It was among efforts made by the Ningxia government to boost cooperation with the UAE in areas including trade and tourism. Similar resorts in the UAE offer people the chance to hunt gazelle and deer. It is not known which animals are hunted at the resort in Ningxia. (China Daily 04/29/2016 page5) National parks to protect rare species Updated: 2016-04-29 08:15 By Su Zhou su(China Daily) Conservation experts working to consolidate habitat management to encourage reproduction Habitat fragmentation remains the major factor threatening the survival of giant pandas in the wild, a senior official from China's wildlife watchdog agency said. Zhang Xiwu, director of the Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management Department of the State Forestry Administration, said on Thursday that, in the next five years, China will complete the establishment of four national parks to protect the giant panda, Asian elephant, Tibetan antelope and Amur leopard and tiger. In June, the National Development and Reform Commission of China and the Paulson Institute announced a three-year partnership to develop China's emerging national park system. The partnership will pilot the park system in nine provinces by exploring models that fit the Chinese context and reflect international standards. "Protecting habitat is the key to protecting wildlife," Zhang said. "However, 87.7 percent of wild animals are seeing their living spaces squeezed or their communications split, along with the effects of human activities." That's according to the national wildlife resources survey, Zhang said. For example, although the number of giant pandas in China reached 1,864 in 2014, their habitats contained 319 hydropower stations, 1,339 kilometers of roads, 268 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines, 984 districts with more than 50 residents, 479 mines and 25 scenic spots. Due to geographic isolation and human intervention, wild giant pandas are fragmented into 33 isolated populations. Twenty-four of those have fewer than 100 pandas. Wang Hao, senior scientist at Peking University's Center for Nature and Society said fragmented habitats increase the risk that small, dispersed populations will become cut off, limiting their chances to contact each other and reproduce. Zhang said wildlife habitat in China is managed by different government agencies, which hampers habitat improvement. "For example, we have nature reserves, scenic spots, forest parks, geological parks and wetland parks. Those are all in different regions and have different administrative bodies," Zhang said. "That's the reason why we are speeding up the establishment of national parks to integrate one species' habitat under a united management system." The first national park for the Tibetan antelope was established in the Tibet autonomous region in September. zhou@chinadaily.com.cn A wild female giant panda is restrained by farmers worried that she would be hurt by hunting dogs after she burst into a village in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province, in early April. The panda had been released from captivity.Ake Jiushe / For China Daily (China Daily 04/29/2016 page5) Kazakhstan adds voice to growing support Updated: 2016-04-29 08:09 By Wang Xu(China Daily USA) Beijing is getting ever-increasing backing from the international community for its stance on the South China Sea issue, with Kazakhstan adding its support on Thursday. Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that Kazakhstan fully understands and respects China's stance on the South China Sea and believes that related disputes should be resolved through negotiations by countries directly concerned. He made the remarks during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, which started on Thursday in Beijing. On Wednesday, top diplomats from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus also said they fully understand and support China's stance on and approach to handling the South China Sea issue. In the past few weeks, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Russia, India, Poland, Gambia and Fiji expressed support for Beijing's wish to resolve disputes in the South China Sea through dialogue and consultation by those directly concerned. In January 2013, the Philippines unilaterally initiated an arbitration case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague regarding its disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. A ruling by the arbitration court is expected this year. China said it will neither accept nor participate in the "tainted" arbitration. By taking this position, China is upholding international law and protecting the law's spirit, said Fu Kuenchen, dean of Xiamen University's South China Sea Institute. Zhu Feng, executive director of the China Center for Collaborative Studies of the South China Sea at Nanjing University, said that as more people understand what really has happened in the South China Sea, a growing number of countries will support China. The United States and the Philippines are trying to start a diplomatic battle to force China to accept the arbitration ruling unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, Zhu said. "I think what the US and the Philippines are doing only accelerates tensions and is not conducive to resolving the problem," he added. wangxu@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily USA 04/29/2016 page3) HNA acquires US-based Radisson hotels Updated: 2016-04-29 11:26 By Ai Heping in New York(China Daily USA) Country Inn & Suites in Springfi eld, Illinois. Provided To China Daily In the latest Chinese investment in overseas hotel properties and in an apparent attempt to tap into China's growing global tourism market, HNA Group is acquiring the Minnesota-based Carlson Hotel Group, one of the largest in the world. Carlson Hotels has 1,400 properties under operation and development in 115 countries and territories. It operates seven brands of hotels across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, ranging from middle market to upper mid-scale and luxury. But its biggest business is Carlson Wagonlit Travel, which generated revenue of $24.2 billion in 2015, compared with $7.3 billion from the hotels. Carlson said will retain Wagonlit Travel. Company officials declined to provide terms of the deal that was announced on Wednesday, but Bloomberg News, citing unnamed sources, reported it could be worth $2 billion. The family-owned Carlson Hotel Group said HNA's tourism and hospitality arm, HNA Tourism Group, is also acquiring its 51.3 percent majority stake in the Rezidor Hotel Group AB, Carlson's Brussels-based master licensee for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and may begin a takeover offer for all of Rezidor, the companies said. Carlson, founded by Curt Nelson in 1938, said it chose HNA Tourism over other suitors because the breadth of HNA's operations and its Asia ties made it the best fit. "They have a significant presence in China. As hundreds of millions of Chinese tourists come to the Americas and Europe, we think there's an opportunity that they can help in securing reservations for those folks, arranging flights on their airline, providing tours and staying in the Carlson-branded hotels," Carlson Hospitality Group CEO David Berg said in an interview with the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis. Berg will remain as chief of the company, which will keep its headquarters in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka. HNA Hospitality Group chairman and CEO Bai Haibo said in a statement the acquisition aimed to "establish our presence in the US market and expand our footprint in hospitality internationally". In 2015, HNA acquired a 15 percent stake in the Red Lion Hotels Corp, an owner of mid-scale and full-service US hotels, for an undisclosed sum. It is the biggest shareholder in Spanish hotel company NH Hotel Group SA. In 2012, HNA purchased the 165-room Cassa Hotel in midtown Manhattan from Assa Properties for $130 million. Chinese tourists spent $215 billion outside of the Chinese mainland in 2015, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, 53 percent increase over the $140 billion in 2014. The number of Chinese tourists traveling internationally has more than doubled to 120 million people over the last five years, according to data from the China National Tourist Office and the tourism council. The HNA-Carlson deal comes weeks after Anbang Insurance Group Co bid $14 billion for US-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, but it walked away from the deal, enabling Marriott International Inc to go ahead with a takeover. Anbang bought the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City for $2 billon in 2014. HNA Group is a Fortune Global 500 company. It reported $29.3 billion in revenue in 2015 and employed almost 180,000 people, according to its website HNA owns Hainan Airlines Co, China's fourth-largest publicly listed airline by fleet size. It has agreed to buy a stake in a Brazilian airline, Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras SA. In February, HNA also was a bidder for London City Airport, but lost to a group led by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board. In that same month, HNA bought airport luggage handler Swissport International Ltd for $2.81 billion. In mid-April, HNA agreed to an all-cash deal to buy Gategroup Holding AG for $1.5 billion. aiheping@chinadailyusa.com Tibet delegation meets Pelosi on Hill Updated: 2016-04-29 11:26 By Cai Chunying in Washington(China Daily USA) Qizhala (second from right), deputy of China's National People's Congress and secretary of CPC Lhasa Municipal Committee, talks to American scholars including (from left) Cheng Li, director of Thornton China Center at Brookings Institution, Susan Lawrence of the Congressional Research Service and Jamie Horseley, executive director of the China Law Center at Yale University, at Brookings Institution in Washington on Thursday. Duojicaiwang (third from right) is vice-chairman of Committee of Financial and Economic Aff airs of Tibet Peoples Congress, and Jiangbai (right), director-general of Tibet's Poverty Alleviation Offi ce. Cai Chunying / China Daily A delegation of government leaders from China's Tibet autonomous region told US congressional leaders and China experts that Tibet welcomes exchanges and stands ready to deepen the understanding between China and the United States. The delegation, led by Qizhala, secretary of CPC Lhasa Municipal Committee and deputy of China's National People's Congress, met with US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Pelosi visited Tibet last November, along with six other Democrat lawmakers, before going to Beijing to meet with the head of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress. Qizhala praised Pelosi's efforts to understand China and enhance US-China relations and called for more communication, exchange and practical cooperation between the two countries. Pelosi described her previous visit to Tibet as an impressive trip that helped her group's understanding of the region and built a bridge between the two countries, saying the US will adhere to the One China principle and acknowledge Tibet as part of China's territory, according to people attending the meeting. Qizhala also expressed hopes that the US will keep its promise of respecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and not support activities aimed at separating China, including a visit by the Dalai Lama. The delegation was received earlier by Cheng Li, director of the Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, along with other scholars, including Susan Lawrence, specialist in Asian affairs at the Congressional Research Service, Jamie Horseley, executive director of the China Law Center at Yale University, and Katharine Moon, senior fellow of Brookings' Center for East Asia Policy Studies. "We are grateful to have the opportunity to exchange our views with government officials, academia and the public whom we have met during our trip in the US. The discussion has been candid, comprehensive and productive," said Qizhala, whose delegation also included Duojicaiwang, vice-chairman of the financial and economic affairs committee of the Tibet People's Congress, and Jiangbai, director-general of Tibet's poverty alleviation office. "We are all indigenous Tibetans, born and raised in Tibet. Our delegation members all have worked in key social sectors including economic development, environmental protection, and women's rights. We therefore have a rather comprehensive view of Tibet," Qizhala said. Li said Brookings welcomed the opportunity to exchange views directly with leaders and people from the Tibet autonomous region. According to Li, it has been a tradition for Brookings to receive similar delegations from Tibet since 2013. Qizhala used five words to describe the land of Tibet: ancient, high-altitude, pure, sacred and new, among which he stressed "new" because the "new developments in Tibet have yet to be widely known to the outside world". charlenecai@chinadailyusa.com Leona Reed, associate vice-president of global marketing with Visit California, says "a continued, collaborative and innovative dialogue will allow for further opportunities of tourism development" for both the United States and China. Lia Zhu / China Daily Editor's note: This story is one in a series by China Daily USA that marks the 2016 US-China Tourism Year. President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama declared the year-long program of activities during Xi's state visit to the US in September 2015. The United States and China, the world's two largest tourism economies, should foster a "continued, collaborative and innovative dialogue" to allow for further opportunities of tourism development, said a California-based tourism industry expert. "Partnerships are an effective way to develop tourism. Visit California will continue to collaborate with our travel trade partners in China to increase product expansion and education of consumers," said Leona Reed, associate vice-president of global marketing with Visit California, a non-profit organization committed to developing and maintaining marketing programs in partnership with the state's travel industry. In February, China and the US launched the China-US Tourism Year, as an outcome of President Xi Jinping's visit to the US last September. The program aims to increase travel and tourism between the two countries by enhancing travelers' experience and increasing their cultural understanding of the other. "Visit California supports the US-China Tourism Year partnership between President Obama and President Xi, as it is a fantastic example of the value of tourism," Reed said. China is the largest source of overseas visitors to California, which is projected to receive 1 million visitors from China in 2015. That number is expected to exceed 1.8 million by 2018, which would be a 78 percent increase over 2014. As part of the efforts to strengthening the partnership with China's tourism industry, Visit California joined the China National Tourism Administration, Brand USA and the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board to serve as a host of the US-China Tourism Leadership Summit last fall. "This alliance helped to foster a dialogue between US and China tourism industries, a relationship that is crucial to both California and China's economic health," said Reed. "The collaborative, mutually beneficial objectives of this annual summit contributed to strengthening tourism business between both regions." Visit California has been increasing its investment in Chinese tourism by opening two new offices in Chengdu and Guangzhou this year in addition to Beijing and Shanghai. It has committed $9 million in its 2015-16 fiscal year budget to Chinese marketing - an 80 percent increase from the previous year. Reed also noted that California is the first state to partner with UnionPay International, a subsidiary focusing on international business of China's most widely accepted bank card network UnionPay, on a statewide "China Ready" initiative. The educational series was created to prepare the state's tourism industry for the increasing number of Chinese visitors, with the aim of maintaining California's status as the top US destination for Chinese travelers and promoting UnionPay's acceptance at businesses throughout the state, she said. Next month, China will hold the First World Conference on Tourism for Development in Beijing. Reed said both the US and China are expected to contribute the world's economic growth through tourism development. "Travel is a great equalizer. Now, with more than 1 billion people traveling internationally every year, the tourism industry has the ability to generate economic growth, promote local culture and generate shared understanding," she said, adding that "tourism is a pillar of the global economy". According to Visit California, travel and tourism expenditures totaled $121.2 billion in 2015 in California, supporting jobs for more than 1 million Californians and generating $9.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. In China, the tourism industry has become one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, said Reed. "China is now the second-largest tourism economy behind only the United States. Like the United States, China has distinct regions that offer their own culture, cuisine and tourism destinations," she said. liazhu@chinadailyusa.com Pirate radio poses surprising challenge in internet age Updated: 2016-04-29 03:17 (Agencies) In the age of podcasts and streaming services, you might think pirate radio is low on the list of concerns of US federal lawmakers and broadcasters. You'd be wrong. They are increasingly worried about its presence in some cities, as unlicensed broadcasters commandeer frequencies to play anything from Trinidadian dance music to Haitian call-in shows. They also complain that the Federal Communications Commission can't keep up with the pirates, who can block listeners from favorite programs or emergency alerts for missing children and severe weather. Helped by cheaper technology, the rogue stations can cover several blocks or larger areas. Most broadcast to immigrant communities that pirate radio defenders say are underserved by licensed stations. "The DJs sound like you and they talk about things that you're interested in," said Jay Blessed, an online DJ who has listened to various unlicensed stations since she moved from Trinidad to Brooklyn more than a decade ago. "You call them up and say, 'I want to hear this song,' and they play it for you," Blessed said. "It's interactive. It's engaging. It's communal." Last year, nearly three dozen congressional members from the New York City area urged the commission to do more about what they called the "unprecedented growth of pirate radio operations". The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters made a similar appeal, saying that pirates undermine licensed minority stations while ignoring consumer protection laws that guard against indecency and false advertising. The New York State Broadcasters Association estimates that 100 pirates operate in the New York City area alone, carrying programs in languages from Hebrew to Gaelic to Spanish. Commission chairman Tom Wheeler cited a stagnant budget and the smallest staff in 30 years. He said fines and seizures are not enough, because pirates often refuse to pay and quickly replace transmitters and inexpensive antennas. Artist challenges social conventions Updated: 2016-04-30 03:04 By May Zhou(China Daily USA) Pixy Yijun Liao discusses her life and creating art at a dialogue with curator and writer Barbara Pollack. MAY ZHOU / CHINA DAILY To escape pressure from the expectations of her family working a 9-5 office job, getting married and having kids, like many others, Pixy Yijun Liao came to the US to find her own path. That self-searching has turned her into an artist, she said during a talk with curator and writer Barbara Pollack at the Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC) on Sunday in Houston. A few pieces of Liaos conceptual photography are among the current exhibition We Chat: A Dialogue in Contemporary Chinese Art. It showcases 10 young Chinese artists, some based in China and others living abroad. All of the artists were born after 1976. Their art offers a break from the past, looking toward a future that is rooted in internet culture and new media. Most importantly, raised in a period of rapid globalization, the young artists tend to focus more on their individuality rather than their cultural identities or geographic boundaries. Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. Older shoppers choose clothes at a fashion fair. The ageing population has led to a tremendous demand for products and services required by that age group, but the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry admitted products and services targeting that demographic are limited. VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet Viet Nam News -HCM CITY Nguyen Thanh Truc of HCM Citys Binh Thanh District was looking to buy porridge for her sexagenarian parents at a supermarket. But after spending more than 15 minutes to read the information on the packaging of several products, she could not find even one suitable for instance, containing less salt and sugar and less or no fat -- for people aged 56 or above. The same is the case with bottled nutritional beverages, she said, adding only dairy products are available for a wide range of customers. Nguyen Thi Thao, 73, of District 11 said she is unable to find a place that sells clothes for people her age, since most fashion companies only make products for people aged up to 50. For the past decade she has had to go to tailors, she said. Pham Xuan Hong, chairman of the HCM City Association of Garment, Textile, Embroidery and Knitting, said for long the garment industry has not made products for older people and its product segments are for children, teenagers, males, females and the middle-aged. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Viet Nam entered the ageing phase in 2011 and is in fact among the most rapidly ageing countries in the world. For the moment it is in a golden demographic period, with two-thirds of its population being of working age, but the over-60 population is expected to double from 10 per cent in 2011 to 20 per cent in 2030 and increase to 30 per cent in 2050, it said. The ageing population has led to a tremendous demand for products and services required by that age group, but the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry admitted products and services targeting the segment are limited. Le Thanh Lam, deputy general director of Saigon Food, said the few food products in the market for older people are mostly imported. Local products, even if good for older people, do not state so clearly since their producers are often afraid this would turn away people of other ages, she said. Saigon Food has bird nest porridge that is suitable for older people, but the label does not say so. VNS According to a press release published by the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam on Wednesday, fresh dragon fruit is one of the agricultural products given top priority for gaining access to the Australian market. Photo nld.com.vn Viet Nam News -HCM CITY Australia has officially commenced a review to import fresh dragon fruit from Viet Nam. According to a press release published by the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam on Wednesday, fresh dragon fruit is one of the agricultural products given top priority for gaining access to the Australian market. Earlier, the country completed its preliminary evaluation of pests and diseases associated with the fruit through cooperation between the two governments, it said. In the coming months, the two sides will join hands to identify risks, with the participation of Australian experts, judging dragon fruit production and export processes. A draft report outlining these risks will be announced at the end of this year for stakeholders consultations. The Australian Embassy in Viet Nam also said their country was promoting the review process for shipments of other fresh fruit from Viet Nam. Last year, some 28 tonnes of fresh Vietnamese lychees were sold in the Australian market. The first batch arrived in the country in May 2015. Australia also completed the risk evaluation for Vietnamese mangos last November. VNS HA NOI Viet Nams total exports saw a year-on-year increase of 6 per cent in the first four months of this year to US$52.87 billion, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). Of this, the domestic economic enterprises saw a year-on-year surge of 2.9 per cent in export value to $15.11 billion in the first four months, while the foreign direct invested firms had a year-on-year growth of 7.3 per cent in export value to $37.76 billion. GSO experts said this was a result of the positive growth of national exports, in the face of a drop in crude oil exports by 52 per cent to $678 million in the first four months, due to the strong reduction in world oil prices. Meanwhile, 30 key export products saw a strong increase in export value in the first four months. These included vegetable and fruit with a growth of 43.3 per cent to $741 million; telephone and its components, up 23.8 per cent to $474 million; gemstone and precious metals, up by 22.8 per cent to $260 million; and machine and equipment, up by 15.8 per cent $2.86 billion, in addition to petrol products, up by 12.6 per cent to $259 million; and handbags, hats and umbrellas, up by 10.8 per cent to $1.36 billion. However, some other key export products faced low growth or even reduction in export value such as seafood (up by 3.8 per cent), bamboo and rattan (up by 2.6 per cent), footwear (up by 4.8 per cent), and tea (down by 14.2 per cent), in addition to cassava (down by 23.5 per cent). The GSO also reported in the first four months of this year, the national import value reduced 1.2 per cent year-on-year to $51.4 billion, including $20.7 billion from domestic enterprises and $30.7 billion from FDI enterprises. Therefore, the nation gained a trade surplus of $1.46 billion in the first four months of this year. The products which witnessed a big reduction in import value included animal feed (down by 17.7 per cent), petrol (33.3 per cent), and completely built-up automobiles (23.5 per cent). The office said value of imports from China fell strongly to $14.7 billion in the first four months, reducing trade deficit with China by 12.7 per cent year-on-year to $8.9 billion. VNS HCM CITY A photo exhibition has opened at the HCM City Book Pedestrian Street on Nguyen Van Binh Street in District 1 to celebrate the 41st anniversary of Reunification Day. Organised by the Viet Nam News Agency (VNA), Viet Nam - The Country and People features 60 black-and-white and colour photos selected from collections by six photographers of the VNA. The works are the result of their hard work over years, with each picture representing a report on culture and lifestyle. Highlighted photos feature children and women in remote provinces such as Lai Chau and Thai Binh. The works tell stories about the beauty of Vietnamese, who work hard every day to develop their land, said Nguyen Thuy Dung, who visited the opening ceremony. Half of the money raised from sales of the photos will go to the Vietnam News Agencys Fund for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. The exhibition ends on May 9. VNS HCM CITY The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan will host Japanese Cooking Seminars in HCM City on May 4-5. The event will be conducted by Chef Kimio Nonaga, a third-generation chef who works at the famous Japanese restaurant Nihonbashi Yukari. The chef will introduce basic knowledge about Japanese cuisine and Japanese traditions of hospitality. There will be also cooking demonstrations using ingredients grown in Japan, including yellowtail, scallops and wagyu. Nonaga, 44, was trained at Japanese restaurant Roan Kikunoi by grand chef Yoshihiro Murata after graduating from Hattori Nutrition College. In 1997, he returned to Nihonbashi Yukari, and in 2003 was chosen as one of the top five young chefs in Japan by the New York Times. The cooking seminars will take place from 1:30 pm 4:30 pm at Netspace Cooking School in District 1. Participants can register for the event via info@greencreate.jp. The ministry will also launch a similar culinary event in Malaysia from May 18-19. VNS U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (Right) speaks with historian and filmmaker Ken Burns -- who is about to release an 18-hour retrospective about the Vietnam War -- about the past and future of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship while addressing the audience at the Vietnam War Summit held on April 27, 2016, at the LBJ Presidential Library at the University of Texas at Austin. Photo flickr.com WASHINGTON D.C US State Secretary John Kerry delivered a keynote address at the Viet Nam War Summit at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, late on Wednesday. Speaking to an audience of nearly 1,000 war veterans, politicians, journalists covering the Viet Nam War and professionals, he said an important lesson of the Viet Nam War is that Americans should put themselves in the shoes of other people and see their country as they see their country. In other words, he said, We cannot look at other countries and see them only through an American lens. The official noted the incredible openness of the Vietnamese people, who helped us search for the remains of our fallen troops even as the vast majority of theirs, a million strong probably, would never be found. He said the process of reconciliation is not about forgetting because if we forget, we cease to learn. Kerry added that relations between the US and Viet Nam have changed drastically since they normalised ties 20 years ago. While the number of US visitors to Viet Nam has risen from 60,000 to half of a million, nearly 19,000 Vietnamese students are pursuing their studies in the US, up from 800. Bilateral trade revenue has also rocketed from US$400 million to $45 billion. He also acknowledged the differences between the two countries, but the difference is that we actually talk about them. The US and Viet Nam are enhancing cooperation, especially in security issues and in the army-to-army relationship. They are also members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which accounts for over 40 per cent of global GDP, and are working closely on the Mekong River problem. Additionally, the Fulbright University will be opened in Ho Chi Minh City later this year, the US top diplomat said. John Kerry received many medals while being on active duty in the US Navy during the Viet Nam War. After returning from military service, however, he became an anti-war protestor and joined in a series of large-scale demonstrations against the war in Viet Nam in 1971. The Viet Nam War Summit that runs April 2628 is to shed light on the war, its lessons and legacy. It took place just days before the 41st anniversary of the end of the war and on the threshold of US President Barack Obamas official visit to Viet Nam in late May. The Secretary of State will also accompany the President during this visit. Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh is expected to give a speech on Thursday (US time). VNS President Tran ai Quang meets with the liaison board for the former volunteer soldiers and military experts who had been in Laos, in Hanoi on April 28. Photo VNA Viet Nam News HA NOI President Tran ai Quang appreciated the valuable contributions made by former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts to the traditional amity and special solidarity with Laos. Meeting the liaison board for the former volunteer soldiers and military experts who had been in Laos, in Hanoi on April 28, he stressed that the two neighbours relations have been nurtured by the sacrifice of many generations, including the former volunteers. The Vietnamese and Lao leaders are resolved to intensify bilateral ties and have agreed to strengthen educating the young about the significance of that relationship, he noted. The President also praised the former soldiers and experts current efforts to build a grassroots political system, in preventing crime and imparting sound traditions to young people. At the meeting, the liaison board reported that Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts were present in Laos from 1949 and finished their tasks in 1987. More than 500,000 soldiers went to Laos to assist the local army and people during the wars against the foreign colonialists and imperialists to gain their independence. About 40,000 of them laid down their lives in the country. The Lao Party and State have bestowed nearly 10,000 orders and medals of different types upon the former soldiers and specialists. Many volunteer military units have also been presented with the title Hero of the Peoples Armed Forces by the Vietnamese Party and State. At present, the liaison board has affiliates in 32 provinces and cities across Vietnam involving about 75,000 former volunteers. Over the past years, the board has applied itself to educating young people in Viet Nam and Laos about the countries friendship, searching for the remains of the volunteers sacrificed in Laos, and supporting the veterans and their children. VNS Viet Nam News Moscow Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich stressed the need to boost links among countries worldwide and promote the role of security mechanisms within the Asia Pacific region to deal with security challenges. In his keynote speech at the second session of the 5th Moscow Conference on International Security on Wednesday, the Vietnamese official said the Asia Pacific region faces increasing security risks such as the threat of conflicts, nuclear weapon dissemination, territorial disputes, and violations of international law, along with global non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism, cyber attacks and migration. These are threatening the peace and stability in the region and the world, he said. Enhanced cooperation among regional countries is needed to cope with the problems, Lich said, adding that ASEAN should take a central role in the issue. He asserted Viet Nams principle of ensuring national interests in line with international law and on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, stating that the country is pursuing a consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, international integration, and being a reliable partner of all countries as well as a responsible member in the international community. Lich said he hopes Russia will further bolster bilateral and multilateral relations with countries in the Asia Pacific region, thus facilitating cooperation particularly in trade and economics. He called for Russians greater responsibility in the region on the basis of international law, through participating more in regional security mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+), where ASEAN plays a central role; as well as the Shangri La Dialogue.VNS BEIJING Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs ang inh Quy stressed the need for countries to come together to promote honest, constructive dialogue and have specific and pragmatic measures to build confidence. He was speaking at the fifth foreign ministerial meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Beijing on Thursday. The deputy minister said the CICA needs to focus on resolving all disputes via peaceful measures in line with the UN Charter and international law. He also highlighted the increasing adverse impact of climate change on water resource security and called on countries to boost cooperation in sustainably managing cross-border water sources. He also appreciated Chinas and Laos efforts in increasing the water volume in the lower-reaches of the Mekong River, easing water shortages, saline intrusion and drought in the region. This years CICA focused its discussion on traditional and non-traditional security challenges in Asia. Participating nations agreed that international terrorism and violent extremism are common threats and the international community needs to cooperate to prevent and eliminate these threats. In order to solve hot spots, disputes and regional conflicts, countries emphasised the conformity of the principles of the UN Charter, international law and CICA. The conference mentioned the correlating relationship between security and development and affirmed development is a common goal and security is a shared responsibility of all countries. Delegates said that the CICA needs to play a more active role in building and strengthening confidence via dialogue and specific actions to ensure peace and security, and create favourable conditions for the development of the region and world. The conference passed the ministerial statement confirming commitment to maintaining and protecting the principles of the UN Charter and international law, including opposing the use of force or threat to use force, respecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and resolving disputes via peaceful measures as stipulated in the UN Charter. The statement also welcomes the formation of the ASEAN Community, the blocs role and effort in promoting cooperation, boosting confidence, peace, security and stability in the region; and welcomed the ratification of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris climate change Accord. VNS HCM CITY Subdividing land into housing-sized pieces to sell off is rampant in HCM City, especially in suburban areas, but according to analysts and officials, it is a violation of the law and undermines urban planning. This has become common practice especially in rural districts like Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon, Thu uc, and District 9, where large holdings of cheap agricultural lands are common. The small pieces are then sold at modest prices of VN150-300 million (US$6,650-13,300). Since most lands remain designated as agricultural, there are no roads, only small, winding alleys. Analysts pointed out that smaller lots are easier to sell and this increases the overall value of the land. The director of a real estate company on Nguyen Duy Trinh Street, District 9, who declined to be named, said he has bought 9,000sq.m of agricultural land for VN15 billion and expects to pay another VN10 billion for levelling it and completing the paperwork. I intend to subdivide this land into 40 lots and sell them at least VN13 million per square meter, he said. Planning Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the HCMC Real Estate Association (HoREA), said divvying up lands remains widespread and shows no signs of stopping. Many of them are not converted into residential lands and lack infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals, he said. Buyers have difficulty obtaining ownership deeds -- or land-use right certificates, as they are called in Viet Nam -- since the existing deed covers the undivided land. The buyers also have difficulties getting a licence to build housing since most of the lands remain agricultural, Chau said. Tran uc Phuong, director of Hop Viet Law Company, blamed the phenomenon on poor management by official agencies, pointing out that it has an adverse effect on urban planning. The municipal Peoples Committees Decision No 33 allows households or individuals owning large pieces of land to subdivide them into small lots as long as their use does not change. Many people take undue advantage of this provision, Phuong said. Subdividing lands into small residential lots without conforming to the citys plans means people who live there have a difficult life because of lack of essentials like electricity, schools, hospitals and even markets. Chau agreed with Phuong but blamed it on slow social housing development. The city has a serious shortage of low-cost houses while there is a great need for housing, meaning many people are ready to accept the risk of buying land without title deeds and the inconvenience of living without any infrastructure, he said. This trend has seriously affected the citys planning. Vo Van Hoan of the city Peoples Committee said Decision 33 was intentionally misunderstood by many local authorities who allowed land owners to subdivide their lands. This violates the law. All violations are now being investigated and violators will be punished. VNS The debt recovery Tribunal (DRT) on Friday directed British liquor major Diageo Plc to give by May 12 a copy of the agreement it had signed with Vijay Mallya and back it with evidence on June 2, when the final arguments would be heard. "Why haven't you given a final agreement copy as directed by the court earlier?," the DRT asked the counsel for Diageo. The DRT said the Supreme Court had directed faster completion of the case and wanted the documents and the evidence when arguments resume on June 2. In February, Diageo had signed a 75-million (around Rs 500 crore) deal with Mallya, making him to commit that he would not compete with Diageo or United Spirits Ltd (USL), the liquor company he built. The British liquor firm paid 40 million immediately to Mallya, who is under "forced exile" in the United Kingdom. The DRT is hearing a petition by a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India over unpaid loans by Mallya, which he took to run the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. The DRT had directed Diageo and USL to deposit the money owed to Mallya with the tribunal. Mallya, who owes over Rs 7,200 crore to a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India, has objected to the plea by India's largest public sector bank seeking the money saying that the payments are being made to him as a person not to compete with Diageo in the liquor business. "The payments from Diageo Plc to myself are towards my personal non compete obligations globally except in the UK. In effect, I have given up my interests in the spirits business globally at considerable cost," Mallya had said in March. Mallya had taken the loans to run the defunct Kingfisher Airlines that led to him losing control over his liquor empire to global players Diageo in spirits and Heineken in beverages. He claimed that his UB Group has pumped over Rs 4,000 crore into Kingfisher Airlines. Mallya claimed that since April 2013, banks have recovered Rs 1,244 crore in pledged shares and Rs 1250 crore has been deposited in Karnataka High Court belonging to United Breweries (Holdings) Ltd The plea by the banks in the DRT maintains that SBI should have the first right of the funds from United Spirits as Mallya had stepped down from the company's board. Gems and jewellery (G&J) exports declined in 2015-16 to the lowest in six years, due to a slowing global economy which reduced the demand for luxury goods. Data from the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) showed India's net G&J export at almost $32 billion (Rs 2.1 lakh crore), as compared to $36.2 bn the previous year, down 5.3 per cent in dollar terms and 11.7 per cent in rupees. With an estimated employment of 3.5 million in this sector, both domestic and export, G&J claims to be the second largest employer in India, after the petrochemical. Demand for luxury goods, including G&J, has slowed globally. In response, Indian diamantaires cut their manufacturing activity proportionately, as evident from lower import of rough diamonds. For the first time since 2008, cut and polished diamond exports witnessed such a sharp decline of 13.7 per cent in value terms in FY16. In fact, a slight upward price adjustment in both rough and polished diamonds created a crisis of realisation, said Praveen Shankar Pandya, chairman of GJEPC. The fall in G&J shipment was largely driven by a sharp fall in export of cut and polished diamonds at almost $20 bn as against $23.2 bn in 2014-15 (a fall of 7.5 per cent). In rupee terms, however, the slump was 13.7 per cent to Rs 1.31 lakh crore, from Rs 1.41 lakh crore the previous year. The decline was partly compensated by a sharp upsurge in export of gold medallions and coins, and silver jewellery. The former jumped 84 per cent to $5.2 bn (Rs 34,243 crore) and of silver jewellery by 44.2 per cent to almost $3 bn (Rs 19,407 crore) from $2.1 bn (Rs 12,569 crore) the previous year. Ironically, gold jewellery is available in every nook and corner but bullion was not available for making ornaments. Buying gold from the open market at such a high duty is not feasible for exporters to compete with players from other countries where gold is available duty-free, said Pandya. Ironically, gold jewellery is available in every nook and corner of the country but bullion was not available for making ornaments. Buying gold from the open market at such a high duty is not feasible for exporters to compete with players from other countries where gold is available duty-free, said Pandya. Ironically, Dubai and Thailand are emerging as a major manufacturing hub with lots of Indian businesses setting up units there, says the trade. We therefore, urge the government to extend some incentives like interest subvention and MEIS (Merchandise Exports from India Scheme) to promote jewellery export. Since such facilities are already extended to some export oriented sectors, it should have no problem in extending the same to us, said Russell Mehta, vice-chairman of GJEPC and promoter of Belgiumbased diamond jewellery producer Rosy Blue. Indias export of G&J are likely to remain under pressure in the current year, too, despite improvement in business sentiment from the worlds largest consumer, America, which takes nearly half of Indias diamond jewellery production. It was a day when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah launched a direct attack on Congress counterpart Sonia Gandhi on the AgustaWestland issue. The Congress attacked Shah for irresponsible statements but, for a change, chose not to obstruct legislation in . The Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority, deliberated and passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill and The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015. Fireworks between the ruling BJP and the Congress took a backseat on Thursday. Both benches deliberated the matter of a one per cent excise duty on gold jewellry and then went on to discuss the SC amendment. The Congress strategy appears to be a shift from the hard stance of Wednesday, when former defence minister A K Antony gave a spirited argument for the decisions taken by the then Congress-led government on the helicopter deal with AgustaWestland. Sonia Gandhi had said she was not afraid of any probe. BJP president Amit Shah said on Thursday that Sonia Gandhi should name those who received the kickbacks. All I want to ask her is that those who gave a bribe are in jail in Italy; then, where are those who received the kickbacks? Who were in power at that time? They are responsible and they should bring out the truth. It should be disclosed before the people of the country, he said. On Gandhi saying she does not fear anybody, Shah said she was right and that is why such news items keep coming out. That is why when the Herald corruption case happens, you say you do not fear anybody. When the AgustaWestland case occurs, you say you do not fear anybody... I want to tell her that we in the BJP are afraid of the Constitution, rules and public norms. Congress Pramod Tewari who had moved a notice for discussion on the Agusta Westland deal yesterday and then today as well, chose to withdraw his notice this morning. Sources within the party said, Parliamentary Affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu had reached out to Congress leaders and urged them to allow legislative business to be transacted in the house. It also suited the Congress to not appear to be too obstructionist; the Congress thinking was that as long as the ruling party did not raise the issue and provoke them, the Congress too would not take it up. Furthermore, the Congress would not oppose any non- controversial legislation, like the Scheduled Caste bill which pertained to a large section of the public. On Friday, the upper house would be devoted to discussing private members bill. A controversial issue like the GST bill however is not on the cards. The Westland issue is, however, likely to be taken up on Monday in the Lok Sabha by the BJP. Three of its members have moved notices for discussion. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will reply. A call-attention motion was also moved on the issue by BJPs Bhupendra Yadav in the Rajya Sabha, yet to be decided by the chair. The major item for this session is to be the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Code. After the Lok Sabha wraps up its discussion on the Finance Bill, the Code will be taken up. On Thursday, a joint committee of presented its report on this. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Wednesday that he expected passage in this session. As the issue of stressed loans and willful default is in the public eye, all political parties could cooperate. More so as the committee report has been adopted without any dissent notes, with all the amendments suggested by opposition members having been taken on board. Later, he also took a dig at Gandhi's Italian origin, saying she should at least have faith in an Italian court's decision. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi questioned why the BJP did not complete the probe into the matter within two years and identify the culprits. Why should Sonia Gandhi explain? In the Lok Sabha, the BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi alleged middleman Christian Michel had been given Rs 50 crore by the Italian company to manage the media and clinch the deal. Congress members protested and their leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, pointed out that their demands to put the record straight had been denied by the Speaker but Lekhi was allowed to speak. Lekhi, however, continued with her Zero Hour mention; amid the protests, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for the lunch recess. Later speaking to journalists, Singhvi said, \"In every case, the BJPs objective is sensationalism and to keep the pot boiling. Labor warned energy prices to rise by up to 50 per cent in 2023 A source told Sky News Australia in the lead-up to Tuesday's federal budget the conflict in Ukraine was "99 per cent" responsible for the looming increases in the cost of energy. Sydney soaked by wettest October ever recorded A Sky News Australia meteorologist has predicted how much rain Sydneysiders can expect for the rest of 2022 as two weather systems lash almost every inch of New South Wales. Jurors in rape trial make request amid ongoing deliberations The 12-member jury of the Bruce Lehrmann rape trial have requested extra time to come to a unanimous decision on whether the former Liberal staffer sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins. Lambie prays for Netball Australia after sponsorship mess Senator Jacqui Lambie has thrown her support behind Gina Rinehart as she slammed Netball Australia for losing a major sponsor while local sports clubs struggle to stay alive. WATERLOO Members from local unions and their families held a Worker Memorial Day observance Thursday afternoon at the Black Hawk Labor Temple, 1695 Burton Ave. During the short program, the names were read of Iowa workers who died on the job in 2015. A carnation was placed on the permanent worker memorial outside the Labor Temple as each name was read. As much as we try to make the workplace safer, accidents still happen. But people are trying to make the workplace safer, said Rich Kurtenbach, president of the Waterloo Building Trade Council and delegate to the Black Hawk Union Council AFL-CIO. The reality is, there are people who go to work and for whatever reason do not make it home that night, Kurtenbach said. Our whole goal is to honor them at least one more time, to reflect on the individuals that lost their lives on the job. According to the Iowa Federation of Labor, 39 Iowa workers died on the job in 2015, including, locally: Dwight Conway, 62, of Hot Springs, Ark., and Phillip Core, 56, of Pleasantville, cattle buyers killed in a motor vehicle accident in Tama County on Feb. 4. Jeffrey Graham, who died in an on-the-ground helicopter maintenance accident June 5 near Hudson. Matt A. Steele, 35, of Cedar Falls, a roofer who died in October at University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City from injuries from a fall. Alan Kimm, 56, of Keystone, killed in a Benton County grain bin accident Dec. 29. Some years theres more than others, Kurtenbach said, but its never to the point where we want it to be. Zero. Its an important day. One worker (lost) is too many, said Tom Ralston, president of United Auto Workers Local 838 in Waterloo, representing thousands of John Deere workers. Workers are trying to earn a living for their families. Companies and unions want every worker to return home safe. This year marks the 46th anniversary the landmark federal Occupational Safety and Health Act proposed by President Lyndon Johnson in January 1968 and adopted by Congress and signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970. It created the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, within the U.S. Department of Labor. OSHA and related mine safety legislation promise workers the right to a safe job, Union Council members said in a statement. Unions and our allies have fought hard to make that promise a reality winning protections that have made jobs safer, saved hundreds of thousands of lives and prevented millions of workplace injuries and illnesses. Barbershop: The Next Cut has a lot of heart, a talented cast and little else. The main problem for The Next Cut is a script that weaves a ham-fisted message into a tangle of tangents and asides. Its not that the movies message is bad. Few would argue against the films assertion that gang violence is a bad thing. But such social ills deserve better than a propagandists broad depiction. The profusion of side stories in The Next Cut distracts from its message and prevents the film from ever gaining a sense of coherence. The plot lurches from one topic to the next. Theres heavy-handed moralizing about the evils of gun violence. Theres goofy exploits of two different small-time hustlers. Theres vague allusions to heartless and ineffective urban government. Theres a love triangle, battle-of-the-sexes workplace debates, Twitter trending topics and much more. The silly scenes constantly undercut the films meager attempts at drama and the drama often sours the humor. For example, after the barbershop orchestrates a 48-hour ceasefire between the neighborhoods two gangs, Anthony, a good kid who helped out around the shop is shot and killed. Everyone at the barbershop is upset, but a few scenes later they are literally counting down the seconds for the ceasefire to end. When the last second ticks past and the neighborhood gangs can return to their usual violence, everybody in the barbershop cheers, apparently forgetting why they ever wanted a ceasefire or that Anthony was still dead. To make matters worse, whenever any of the films major characters have a close shave with real trouble, the writers let them off the hook. Calvins son Jalen nearly joins a gang. Calvin almost loses thousands in a bad business deal. Rashad and Terri nearly destroy their relationship. But each time, everything works out magically for them. There are literally no consequences. This isnt to say The Next Cut is without its charms. It has a genuinely solid ensemble cast. Many of the movies lighter scenes are enjoyable. You can feel the cast almost settling into a groove before theyre derailed by the script. The tragedy of it all is that hidden in this tangled mess, there are highlights of good movies that could have been. The love triangle between Rashad (Common), Terri (Eve) and Draya (Nicki Minaj) could have been a charming, if generic, romantic flick. The harebrained business dealings of One-Stop (J.B. Smoove) and charitable hustling of J. D. (Anthony Anderson) could have been the foundation of an excellent madcap comedy. The barbershop banter of Jerrod (Lamorne Morris), Raja (Utkarsh Ambudkar) and Bree (Margot Bingham) could have been the basis of for a light meander through a day-in-the-life film. If you dont expect too much, Barbershop: The Next Cut is a mostly entertaining diversion, but a lot more of the movies bad ideas should have ended up on the cutting room floor. WATERLOO -- A homecoming celebration for Amy Garretson is planned for 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the historic Brown Derby Ballroom- 604 Lafayette St. Sponsored by the Brown Derby and The Mix 93.5, the event will feature live performances by Tropicante (Latin dance music), additional musical artists, a silent auction and light hors doeuvres. Salsa Cedar Falls will provide a 30-minute Latin dance lesson prior to the event at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Garretson was struck by a car while walking in downtown Waterloo in February and airlifted to University Hospitals in Iowa City. friends, and family. Garretson is the Phelps Youth Pavilion manager at the Waterloo Center for the Arts and the wife of Courier reporter John Molseed. MASON CITY The former owner of a now-closed juice bar in Nora Springs will not be prosecuted for a liquor law violation if he meets conditions approved by the court. An agreement filed Thursday in Floyd County District Court requires Dale Peterson, owner of a former juice bar called the Pole Barn Theater, not be charged with any Iowa liquor law violations within the county for 180 days. He also must pay court costs when the matter is resolved. Floyd County Attorney Randall Tilton agreed to defer judgment, or not prosecute the case, if Peterson complies with terms of the agreement. WATERLOO A Waterloo man has pleaded to reduced charges in connection with the release of a video that cost a teacher her job last year. Quallan Dayqunn Phillips, 19, had been arrested for dissemination of obscene material to a minor for allegedly forwarding a sexual video involving the teacher. The video was sent to a 17-year-old male student at her school, according court records. On April 14, Phillips pleaded to misdemeanor third-degree harassment and was sentenced to 30 days in jail suspended to one year of informal probation and court costs. Phillips told police the East High teacher had sent the video to him when he was 18 and a former student at the school, according to court records. Police said he then sent the video to the 17-year-old student Nov. 12. Waterloo police received a tip about the video Nov. 20. Investigators seized Phillipss phone, and he was arrested in January. The teacher was placed on administrative leave Nov. 18 and given the option of resigning or being terminated, according to records from Iowa Workforce Development. School officials told her they didnt think she would be able to continue her duties because of embarrassment from the video, records state. She resigned later that month. Following a January unemployment insurance hearing, an administrative law judge found the teacher hadnt authorized release of the video. Someone had gotten a hold of the video and sent it to students at the school. The person had gotten it off the claimants cell phone without her knowledge. The person did not have permission to access claimants cell phone or release the video, the administrative law judges ruling states. The judge found the teacher had been discharged for no qualifying reason and authorized the unemployment benefits. WATERLOO Impending budget cuts in Waterloo Community Schools wont lead to layoff notices this spring for any teachers. Bev Smith, associate superintendent for human resources and equity, told the Board of Education earlier this week that is due to increased efforts to communicate with the Waterloo Education Association. In light of our budget concerns and issues, we have worked under a lot more stringent parameters in terms of our staffing, she noted. Im happy to say that, although a number teachers will be issued an involuntary transfer to a position that they are qualified to serve in, no teachers will be issued a pink slip. And that was not the case a couple weeks ago. During the past few weeks, the district has heard from teachers who are retiring or plan on leaving their position for other reasons. I want to publicly thank the WEA leadership, she said. They communicated with the members that if there were individuals that were planning on leaving the district, they asked that they go ahead and turn in their resignations earlier than they normally would so that we would not have to disrupt our staff. And we have accomplished that. Teachers in Iowa must be notified by April 30 their contract could be terminated. Recommendations to terminate contracts must come to the board by May 15. Teachers are sometimes rehired after their layoff is approved if enough other staff resigns before the next school year. Superintendent Jane Lindaman said officials have heard from about 15 teachers who are leaving, half of which are retirements. The personnel resignations approved by the board Monday included six teacher resignations and three retirements. In a year of budget cuts, it has really been helpful in the systems planning, she said of the increased communication. Lindaman called it a pretty smooth year despite the fact that were cutting significant dollars. Earlier this month, as the board was approving its 2016-17 budget, she said officials would need to make about $3 million in cuts. CEDAR FALLS Crumbled bricks and scorched timber are all that remain of a College Hill restaurant following a raging fire Friday morning. Its a total loss, said John Schilling, chief of Cedar Falls Fire Rescue. By afternoon, with the flames out, city earth moving equipment knocked in what remained of the walls of the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, 2125 College St., as a safety measure. It being such a pedestrian area, being on The Hill and being Friday night, we wanted to make sure it was completely safe, Schilling said. A fence will be placed around the rubble to keep out the curious. A neighboring business also suffered smoke and water damage, Schilling said. The blaze started around 10:50 a.m. Friday as employees began prep work for the coming lunch hour. Employees reported a fire in cooking equipment in the kitchen, officials said, and the flames moved out an exhaust vent into the void between the ceiling and the roof. The two people who ran the business fled, said neighbor Cory Denton, who watched from his second-floor apartment next door. Moments later, he noticed the smoke. Cedar Falls firefighters noticed the heavy smoke when they arrived and started an interior attack, battling the flames from inside the restaurant. The fire condition quickly changed and the interior environment became untenable even for firefighters, Schilling said. The crews were evacuated. They took up positions outside and continued to fight the blaze with the help of a water cannon mounted on a fire truck. This was the first one weve had were we had to use defensive tactics, Schilling said. As flames continued to tear through the buildings roof, the department brought its aerial truck, which blasted the fire from above. During the fight the front overhangs and the roof collapsed. The fire was under control in about 90 minutes, Schilling said. Firefighters doused Gingers Pub on West 22nd Street to keep the flames from spreading. The two businesses are separated by a narrow alley. While Gingers didnt catch fire, the business did take some smoke and water damage, Schilling said. Smoke travels around water and gets into every nook and cranny you can think of, Schilling said. He estimated the department dumped 200,000 gallons of water on the fire. Dentons landlord, Youri Dimitrov, said his basement was flooding. Schilling said the fire department will now begin an investigation into the fires cause. DES MOINES Lawmakers in the split Iowa Legislature continued to negotiate over the state budget as they struggled to adjourn the legislative session, but key differences remain. The Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-majority House have approved more than half the bills that make up the roughly $7.35 billion budget that goes into effect in July. But Thursday they were still seeking agreement on legislation dealing with health and human services and transportation. The health and human services bill backed by GOP lawmakers would remove Medicaid funding for facilities that provide abortions. Democrats dont support the defunding, which is aimed at the organization Planned Parenthood. Lawmakers also disagreed about funding for staff at the transportation department. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Clear Lake Republican, was optimistic adjournment is near . Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, agreed. Our goal is to finish yet this week, Gronstal said. Well stay here until the job gets done. Lawmakers spent limited time in floor debate, idling away most of Thursday waiting for breakthroughs in closed-door talks on the four budget bills left to be resolved. Pro-life legislators insisted the $1.84 billion health and human services budget bill not include money for womens health-care providers that perform abortions. Questions about state oversight of newly privatized Medicaid services largely had been resolved, Gronstal said. Upmeyer said there are 211 federally qualified womens health care clinics that can serve as an option to 13 Planned Parenthood providers. Gov. Terry Branstad said Thursday he favors defunding Planned Parenthood. That position is being pushed by social conservatives incensed by videos released by an anti-abortion group that purportedly show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of organs from aborted fetuses. Investigations in several states cleared Planned Parenthood of any wrongdoing. No state money goes for abortion services. GOP lawmakers want to halt any government money going even indirectly to Planned Parenthood in Iowa. Gronstal said the attempt to defund Planned Parenthood is a fundamental issue for the Senate majority. Peoples access to contraceptives and reproductive health care we think is critical and worth fighting for. Negotiators also worked on finishing the states roughly $370 million transportation department budget. A final sticking point was nearly $10 million the department says it needs to fund salaries. Without the funding, the department would have to cut more than 150 jobs in the coming fiscal year, the department director said. House Republicans did not include the $10 million for salaries in their budget proposal. Leaders questioned whether the department truly would have to eliminate 150 jobs. Branstad said he wants the issue resolved to keep transportation projects running smoothly, especially after last years 10-cent increase of the state gas tax created more road projects. Lets be careful that we have the staff to be able to do the work we need to do to move forward with these projects, Branstad said. Erin Murphy of Lee newspapers and James Q. Lynch of The Gazette contributed to this story. CEDAR RAPIDS -- An Iowa man accused of abducting a teenage girl is in police custody in Tennessee. The Washington County Sheriff's Office said police in Tennessee found Dominique Lloyd, 17, and Michael Knuth, 24, on Friday. Lloyd was not harmed. Law enforcement in Tennessee is working to make travel arrangements to get her back to Iowa. Lloyd was reported missing to the Washington County Sheriffs Office on April 23. Five days later, Iowa DPS issued an AMBER Alert at 5:46 p.m. which said Knuth took Lloyd from her hometown and the two could be heading to Florida or Georgia. Police believe the two are driving a black Mazda, license plate "DXL 519." Georgia police stopped Knuth for a minor traffic violation before the alert was issued, according to Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar. Dunbar would not clarify where in Georgia or what day the traffic stop happened. Neither Georgia or Florida issued an Amber Alert for Lloyd, which is a state-by-state decision. Every investigation is different, but this is an ongoing investigation said Department of Public Safety spokesman Alex Murphy. As new information is developed and learned, it's the same in this case. Washington county learned information to meet the criteria to issue an Amber Alert and we agreed and issued the alert. Murphy said Amber Alerts in Iowa expire after five hours if police dont receive new information, but Lloyds disappearance is still an ongoing investigation. Micheal is a registered sex offender in the state of Iowa. Micheal was charged with third-degree sexualaAbuse for an incident on March 13, 2014, in Washington County, involving a victim between the ages of 14-17. Micheal is wanted for violating a no-contact order, involving Dominique Lloyd, and failure to comply with the Sex Offender Registry. IOWA FALLS Shawna Stewart-Lowther and John Stewart, her husband, describe themselves as regular folks. Were not fancy people, John, 55, says. Friends and neighbors in Iowa Falls might know Shawna, 49, better as an artist who paints murals. They might recognize John as the guy who holds the ladder. A few perceptions changed when Stewart-Lowther published Wretched, a twisted tale involving torture. Her lead character, Lue, endures quite a lot of things not generally discussed in polite society. Where the sinister themes come from is something of a mystery to Stewart-Lowther. I dont know. Because Im a really nice person, ... I dont know why this dark comes out of me, she says. I thought this was a love story. I still do, Stewart-Lowther adds. Director Christopher Forbes saw Stewart-Lowthers novel a bit differently. He adapted the book into a horror film of the same name. Wretched will premiere at 4 p.m. May 8 in the Metropolitan Opera House, Iowa Falls landmark theater. The author created this universe, very compact. Absolutely real in a terrifying way, Forbes says. He is based in Augusta, Ga., but some scenes were filmed in and around Iowa Falls and Clear Lake. Forbes has a number of films to his credit. Out of necessity, he serves as director, writer, composer, editor, actor, producer or some combination of all of the above. You pretty much have to. The films are on the low-budget end, Forbes says. He receives a number of books and screenplays each year, so picking which project to pursue requires some thought. Wretched is more or less a labor of love. ... It really takes a lot for me to say, Hey, I want to do this. This was one of them, Forbes adds. Lions Gate released some of Forbes films, but most have traveled below the mainstream. Even so, he has worked with recognizable names and faces. Those include actors David Carradine, Michael Madsen and Parker Stevenson. Another, Linnea Quigley, a native of Davenport, has a more specialized following. Unless youre a horror fan, you may not know who Linnea Quigley is. ... Shes been described as the No. 1 scream queen, Forbes adds. Stewart-Lowthers plot features a limited number of locations and characters, meaning Forbes needed few sets and a small cast and crew. Forbes team filmed in a wooded area south of Iowa Falls, property owned by Tracy Wildeboer and Kelly Bailey, Stewart-Lowthers cousin. The actors also worked in town. We had them sprinting, actually, through downtown Iowa Falls, Forbes says. Iowa Falls residents will recognize places in the movie. And some familiar faces, too. Stewart-Lowther, her husband and a few other locals have roles. But the R-rated film wont appeal to everyone. It has pretty much everything you would expect in a horror film. ... It is not happy subject matter, Forbes adds. For Stewart-Lowther, the book has a deeper meaning. It represents overcoming an obstacle, which she hopes might inspire others. In 1995, Stewart-Lowther suffered eclampsia, a life-threatening complication of pregnancy. She says she almost died and blames several lingering aftereffects on the harrowing experience. Those include memory loss and difficulty walking. She says she didnt realize how much of her former self disappeared until her son, Jeffrey, posed a simple question. My son came to me and asked, Why dont you ever write any more? Stewart-Lowther says. Before her health failed, Stewart-Lowther had authored a few books for kids. She says she forgot even having an interest in writing. While thinking about her sons challenge, something like a vision developed. She imagined not so much a book, but a character, a heroine with a story. She put pen to paper. I started doing it, and I thought, Wow, I love this, Stewart-Lowther says. Within about six months, her novel, Wretched, was complete. Though not initially meant as a series, the story kept going. Two more volumes followed, Iniquitous and Annihilation. A fourth book, not part of the series, should be ready in about two months. The working title is E-52. The E stands for experiment. The novel will feature creatures from the undead realm. Stewart-Lowther says she was never a horror fan and only recently figured out what the genre includes. Oh, thats horror? Im not afraid of that. Its just words. DES MOINES The list of must-do items for Iowa lawmakers to resolve before adjourning the 2016 legislative session perhaps later today is getting shorter, according to House Speaker Linda Upmeyer. There are fewer things up in the air, so I am perhaps even more optimistic today, the Clear Lake Republican said Friday morning about the prospects of adjourning the session that was scheduled to end 10 days ago. However, Upmeyer said agreements have not been reached on two key sticking points funding for family planning services and Department of Transportation salaries. Shes optimistic that when lawmakers return to the Capitol this theyll come to the floor and be ready to move a fair amount of paper. Much of that paper would be the $1.836 billion health and human services budget bill that pro-life legislators insist not include taxpayer money going to womens health-care providers in Iowa most notably Planned Parenthood -- that perform abortions. Upmeyer indicated that House Republicans, who had a long, loud caucus Thursday evening, recognize that as much as we would like to expand the opportunities for womens health services in a much broader fashion, (Democrats) feel just as strongly they dont want to take that approach. House majority Republicans are trying to draft a bill both chambers can pass. Thats our job, she said, but added that it wont be the end of the discussion. For sure, that will be on the table the next time we have the conversation. She also believes agreement can be found on a $9.7 million line item in a $370 million transportation budget. The House GOP has balked at the funding the DOT is necessary to avoid as many as 100 layoffs next year. Lawmakers are researching the need for the funding and how it will be used as well as the impact on transportation projects if staffing levels are reduced, Upmeyer said. If the line item is strictly for salaries, lawmakers likely will look at it in the same way as salary requests from other state agencies. The Legislature has not approved a stand-alone salary bill in several years. The reluctance to fund the DOTs request stems, in part, from reservations some lawmakers have about the 10-cent-a-gallon motor fuel tax increase the Legislature approved last year, Upmeyer said. The caucus, the chamber, I think, wants to be very sure that we are devoting every dollar that can be to the roads and bridges we committed to Iowans we are going to maintain, repair and, in some cases, build, the speaker said. However, we recognize you need people to facilitate, to inspect, to design, to go through contracts in order for those things to take place. Despite her optimism, Upmeyer conceded that any number of things, especially the family planning funding, could delay adjournment. This is something that we feel strongly about, we absolutely want to fight for, she said, but we also recognize that Iowans sent two different political parties in charge of two different chambers. We both have very strong opinions, but they are not the same opinion. It Takes An Iowan, focuses on Iowans as leaders in the ongoing endeavor of providing food for the nation and the world. The exhibit features interviews and commentary from Iowa farmers, educators, inventors and agriculture leaders including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. WAVERLY People got a peek Thursday at what it would look like to live it up in downtown Waverly. The Waverly Chamber of Commerce hosted a tour of 18 newly renovated loft apartments in six downtown buildings. The $4 million project is nearly complete. New water lines being installed to serve each building will be completed in June. I think people are going to appreciate the blend of the old and the new, said Travis Toliver, executive director of the Waverly Chamber of Commerce. Thats what Zach Beschorner, owner of 112-114 E. Bremer Ave., heard from people taking the tour. Each of the four lofts he had renovated are unique and fit the space. The front ones have arched windows, one rear one has a deck, the other has an interior brick wall and plenty of windows. Everybody seems to have a favorite unit, Beschorner said. Its a huge improvement using buildings that havent been used upstairs for years, which was such a shame really, said Moira McCluney, of Waverly, who took the tour. The renovations took more than two years to plan, secure funding for and complete. It shocked the heck out of me how long weve been at this, said Paula Stevenson, member of the Waverly Downtown Development LLC, which coordinated the projects. Stevenson said building owners initially hired architects in August 2013. The work was paid for through a combination of out-of-pocket expenditures from the building owners and a $3 million grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The chamber applied for the grant funding. Its not anything I could ever imagine being able to do myself, said Ann Seggerman, who renovated two upstairs spaces and a basement apartment at 118 E. Bremer Ave. and another basement space at 104 E. Bremer Ave. The upstairs space at 118 Bremer Ave. used to house a Masonic Temple. The project features original floors and windows. We tried to keep the look and the feel as original as possible, said Rich Seggerman. The seven spaces upstairs at 106 W. Bremer Ave. all feature original hardwood floors. Revenue from the tours went to the Waverly Historic Preservation Commission. Commission members said the funds would likely fund a celebration this summer if Waverlys downtown earns official designation as a national historic district. It would be the third year in a row the city can celebrate a section earning the designation, said Mary Meyer, secretary of the Waverly Historic Preservation Commission. Much of that work was funded by FEMA following the flood in 2008. The new downtown residential spaces are part of the recovery effort. We lost a lot of housing after the flood, Meyer said. This should help with that. The projects also will help Waverly move forward, Toliver and project leaders said. I think its going to really propel downtown, Beschorner said. This is the sign of the times, said Audrey Lage, a Waverly resident for more than 50 years. Young people like to live where they can walk to work. Lage and her friend Dorothy Hertel, a lifelong Waverly resident, toured the spaces to see how the citys future intersects with its past. This had a restaurant on the second floor years ago, Hertel said as she toured 98 E. Bremer Ave., a corner building that originally housed a bank. Its nice to see these old places are getting some use again. WAVERLY -- A Waterloo woman was treated and then released from Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls Thursday after a crash on Highway 218 in Bremer County. The single-vehicle crash was reported near the 199 mile marker of Highway 218. The Bremer County Sheriff's Office said Marsha Corwin, 63, had a medical issue and lost control of her vehicle. She crashed into cable barriers, totaling her vehicle. The northbound lanes of Highway 218 were shut down for about an hour and a half. Where would you be without great teachers? For those who take that question to heart, there are a lot of possible answers some not so positive. Thats why weve come to anticipate this time of year, when area educators are honored for their expertise in, and their passion for, teaching. Last week, the winners for the 2016 Gold Star Awards for Outstanding Teaching were announced. Those educators are: Tim Bartie, a math teacher at George Washington Carver Academy School in Waterloo. Louis Beck, an agricultural education instructor at Union High School in La Porte City. Vanessa Ebling, an English teacher at Valley Lutheran School in Cedar Falls. Lori Frost, a kindergarten teacher at Blessed Sacrament School in Waterloo. Dawn Frye, a Spanish teacher at Hudson High School. Eliana Garcia, a first-grade teacher at Sacred Heart School in Waterloo. Amy Jimmerson, a first-grade teacher at Poyner Elementary School in Waterloo. Sherri Larson, a second-grade teacher at North Cedar Elementary School in Cedar Falls. Richard Strike, a math teacher at Cedar Falls High School. Frederick (Zach) Zimmerman, a fifth-grade teacher at Irving Elementary School in Waterloo. Now, those who have an interest in K-12 education in our local communities are looking forward to the program honoring these teachers at 7 p.m. May 24 at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa. Its an event that has evolved over the years into an exciting and lively ceremony that is an encouraging display of honoring our area teachers. These educators have been noticed for their expertise and passion in delivering education and support to Cedar Valley students. They have been nominated by students, parents, community members and colleagues. The Gold Star program was developed in 1989 by the R.J. McElroy Trust and KWWL-TV as a way to help improve education in Northeast Iowa by encouraging outstanding teachers. Each Gold Star Award winner receives $1,000. For nearly three decades now, this annual event has placed special attention on our educators. It is attention that is well-deserved and we also look forward to them being honored in front of their families, friends, colleagues, community leaders, education supporters and the largest benefactors of all their students. Perhaps the most engaging facet of the ceremony is hearing the youthful screams of students from the various schools involved who obviously love their respective teachers. Like every year, these outstanding teachers are representing the hard work and dedication of all the teachers in the Cedar Valley. Their impact on our children and on society in general is immeasurable. 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29 (1) May 11 (1) Jul 11 (1) 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. Bonus: 100% Match Bonus up to 100 Register Now Betway: 100% Match Bonus up to 100 Claim Now Coral Casino: 25% Cash Back on Deposits Claim Now Ladbrokes Casino: 35% Cash Back on First 3 Deposits Claim Now Paddy Power Casino: 100% Match Bonus up to 200 Claim Now William Hill Casino: 100% Match Bonus up to 200 Claim Now 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. DV geri al LeoBank COVID-19 ? COVID-19 ? - , - , , - - -??? : 100% - : - : UNDP 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; Mobilbahis Tempobet Bets10 Bahigo 1xbahis Betboo Youwin Superbahis 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. Apr 29, 2016 | By Tess 3D printing technologies have offered a number of small design startups and individuals the means to produce unique products on a small scale. From jewelry designers wanting to create exclusive but affordable products, as well as for eyewear brands wanting to offer custom frames, 3D printing has opened the doors for possibility. Of course, one of the primary concerns of marketing and selling 3D printed wearable products has been the quality of the finished product, and whether it really stands up against products made through more traditional manufacturing methods. Fortunately, to lessen the quality gap and to make 3D printed wearables even more viable than before, 3D printing company Materialise has launched their most recent product: Luxura. Luxura, a premium consumer-grade finishing degree, was developed by the Belgian 3D printing company to offer makers a finish for their products specifically designed for wearables. That is, the Luxura finishing product offers a silk-like surface texture, smooth to the touch, and an in-depth color permeation, ensuring that your wearables color stays true. The product is available in 15 colors (each of which is on trend), including charcoal, ultramarine, ruby, lemon and many more. Additionally, the Luxura finish, which is marketed by Materialise as being the difference between a print and a product, ensures durability, UV resistance, stain resistance, safe contact with skin, and resistance against perspiration. When considering that your skin and body will come into regular contact with the 3D printed wearable, whether it is a bracelet, necklace, or a pair of glasses, these safety and resistance features are very important. Alireza Parandian, Materialises Business Developer says of the latest release, We understand that when creating consumer products the look and feel is of absolute priority. It needs to attract attention and draw the consumer, reflecting the high-end quality of the brand. With Luxura we have created a finish that engages the senses and can stand out in the competitive landscape of wearables and consumer products. There is a perception with 3D printing that the finished products cannot compete with products made via traditional manufacturing methods and materials. We have worked hard to dispel this view, and demonstrate how, through collaboration, we can deliver solutions that blend the traditional craftsmanship approach with the cutting-edge innovation of 3D printing to make desirable products. Luxura was developed in line with the growing interest in 3D printing from a number of different wearable companies, including jewelry makers, and eyewear specialists. The new and innovative product was created to help make these 3D printed wearables as viable as their traditionally manufactured counterparts, and to help further the market for customized, uniquely designed, small batch products. The finishing product is reportedly available through Materialises website, and if one of the prescribed colors does not suit you, Luxura can be color matched on request to best suit your product. Posted in 3D Printing Service Maybe you also like: Apr 28, 2016 | By Benedict Rick Pollack, founder and CEO of 3D printer manufacturer MakerGear, has met with US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss additive manufacturing. Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor organized the meeting at Hannover Messe, a trade fair for industrial technology. Photo: Christian Charisius Hannover Messe, one of the worlds largest technology fairs, takes place each year in Hannover, Germany, and its 2016 edition is being seen by some as a milestone in German-US relations. Every year, a leading industrialized nation is selected as the Partner Country of Hannover Messe. In 2016, for the first time in its history, the fair is welcoming the United Stateswhose delegation consists of more than 390 businesses and organizationsas its chosen Partner Country. One company taking full advantage of the US being placed center stage at Hannover Messe is Ohio-based 3D printer manufacturer MakerGear, which is demonstrating, amongst other products, its latest open-source desktop 3D printer: the M2. To demonstrate the power of the M2, the company is displaying a number of 3D printed items made with the flagship machine, such as product packaging, dental models, prosthetic limbs made by high school students, and a heart printed for pediatric research. MakerGear M2 3D printer Despite the exciting display of 3D printing technology and 3D printed items on display at the MakerGear stand, it was perhaps not the hardware itself that has had so many visitors talking about the company today. The M2 certainly looks impressive, but a meeting between MakerGear CEO Rick Pollack, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and US President Barack Obama drew a great deal more attention to the 3D printing company than anything at its stall did. President Barack Obama, the first President of the United States to attend Hannover Messe, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony about transatlantic trade, the importance of the European Union, and areas of technology on which the US is currently focused, including 3D printing, which Obama has previously described as a revolutionary tool. Obama addressed the top priorities the United States government has in the technology sector, including "next-generation manufacturing," 3D printing and electric vehicles. Given this nod to additive manufacturing, it seemed fitting that the leader of the free world was invited to talk with an important figure in the American 3D printing scene. "To be able to share our story with President Obama and Chancellor Merkel is such a rare opportunity, Pollack commented. President Obama has taken additive manufacturing seriously, and he sees the positive effect it is having on so many different industries. Lt. Governor Mary Taylor, who used some serious political clout to make the three-way meeting happen, expressed her pride at MakerGears success. "MakerGear is leading the industry in additive manufacturing, and I'm glad they are able to showcase their successes here in Ohio to the rest of the world, she said. President Obama is no stranger to 3D printing, having been involved with the opening of several manufacturing hubs and witnessed the power of 3D printed prosthetic devices at the 2015 White House Science Fair. Posted in 3D Printer Company Maybe you also like: Andrew Lawler in Science: The medieval Silk Road brought a wealth of goods, spices, and new ideas from China and Central Asia to Europe. In 1346, the trade also likely carried the deadly bubonic plague that killed as many as half of all Europeans within 7 years, in what is known as the Black Death. Later outbreaks in Europe were thought to have arrived from the east via a similar route. Now, scientists have evidence that a virulent strain of the Black Death bacterium lurked for centuries in Europe while also working its way back to Asia, with terrifying consequences. At the Society for American Archaeology meetings earlier this month in Orlando, Florida, researchers reported analyzing the remains of medieval victims in London; Barcelona, Spain; and Bolgar, a city along the Volga River in Russia. They determined that the victims all died of a highly similar strain of Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium, which mutated in Europe and then traveled eastward in the decade following the Black Death. The findings are like pearls on a chain that begins in western Europe, said Johannes Krause at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, an author of a soon-to-be-published study. (The lead author is Maria Spyrou, also at Jena.) That chain may have stretched far beyond Russia. Krause argues that a descendant of the 14th century plague bacterium was the source of most of the worlds major outbreaks, including those that raged across East Asia in the 19th and 20th centuries and one afflicting Madagascar today. More here. Evgeny Morozov at The Baffler: Rosss tenure at the State Department was, by and large, a failure. His efforts to promote twenty-first-century statecraftClintons lofty vision for American power that would put Internet freedom and digital technologies at its corefloundered after the State Department was confronted by Cablegate, the release of a massive library of leaked diplomatic cables that began in late 2010 and was coordinated by WikiLeaks. Ross, who claimed the twenty-first-century-statecraft concept as his own and hoped that it would become a major part of [Clintons] legacy, was suddenly forced into damage control. Few would find his pronouncements on Internet freedom credible after the State Departments reaction to WikiLeaks. An even more unglamorous picture of his activities emerges from Clintons email trove. The good news is that Ross did innovate on at least one frontspin. In 2012, Ross wrote to Cheryl D. Mills, Clintons chief of staff: Hillary Clinton is the most innovation-friendly American diplomat since Benjamin Franklin. Thought youd enjoy that line. It appears in minute 10 of show I did on CSPAN. Im going to continue to use it. Rosss brief moment of national fame had more to do with his penchant for self-promotion than innovation. In summer 2010, Ross and Cohen took a delegation of American technology executives from the likes of Cisco and Microsoft to Damascus to meet with Bashar al-Assadstrange are the twists of twenty-first-century statecraft. Never missing an opportunity to show off, the pair tweeted all the fun they were having in Syria. (Cohen: Im not kidding when I say I just had the greatest frappuccino ever at Kalamoun University north of Damascus; Ross: Creative Diplomacy: @jaredcohen challenged Minister of Telecom to cake-eating contest.) By Rosss account, though, the trip pursued the much nobler objective of fomenting regime change via social media. As he wrote in another email to Mills, When Jared and I went to Syria, it was because we knew that Syrian society was growing increasingly young (population will double in 17 years) and digital and that this was going to create disruptions in society that we could potential [sic] harness for our purposes. more here. It's hard to believe anyone involved read the script cobbled together by three first-time screenwriters and one whose sole previous credit is the abysmal 2005 Jane Fonda comedy Monster-in-Law before setting foot on the set. As in Marshall's two earlier holiday-themed romcoms, Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve, we are presented with a dozen or so main characters in four or five intertwining and depressingly lame stories. For instance, when a legendary QVC-type sales personality (Julia Roberts) comes to town, we quickly learn she is a lonely, career-driven Ice Queen. So when a young mom (Britt Robertson) informs her baby daddy (Hugh Grant sound-alike Jack Whitehall) that she's just discovered who her real mother is, well, is there any doubt that she will soon turn up face-to-face with the one character in the movie who is most demonstrably non-mom material? Then there's the gay mom couple who construct a gigantic uterus for their Mother's Day Parade float (this film operates in a universe where, rather than go out for a nice brunch, mothers prefer to stand on hot sidewalks cheering marching bands). Of course, the stupid float exists solely for the purpose of participating in a sadly forced car chase. (In a cameo as a traffic cop, comedian Larry Miller, truly one of the world's funniest men, is given the sad duty of saying, "Does anyone here have a license for that uterus?") Similarly, Mother's Day goes to great lengths to arrange what might be called the Great America's Sweetheart Summit as Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston play an entire job interview scene together. It's interesting to see the stars compete in the Widest Eyes and Most Winsome Smile categories, but if you have any doubt that Jennifer is going to get the job then you should perhaps be seeing another movie. Bill Newcott is a writer, editor and movie critic for AARP Media. Rating: R Run Time: 1 hour 38 minutes Stars: Sarita Choudhury, Tom Hanks Director: Tom Tykwer The best thing about A Hologram for the King is that we get to have fun with Tom Hanks again. As fine an actor as Hanks is witness his two Oscars not since You've Got Mail way back in the last century have we been able to sit down in a movie theater and have a good laugh with him. A Hologram for the King isn't a comedy per se; it's the straightforward story of a U.S. businessman named Alan (Hanks) stuck in Saudi Arabia while he awaits the chance to pitch his company's new holographic conferencing system to the country's king. But because nothing much happens in the film the humor and the minimal action arise largely from Alan's increasing exasperation in the face of Middle Eastern bureaucracy we can focus on how pleasant it is to hang with the most likeable man in the movies. Northern football player donates hair to Wigs for Kids Zach Bohnenkamp has been growing his hair out since he arrived at Northern. Thursday he had 12 inches of hair cut and donated to Wigs for Kids. Canadian-focused lithium and precious metals explorer Ardiden Limited (ASX:ADV), is pleased to advise that discussions with the Mishkeegogamang First Nation with regard to drilling operations at the Kasagaminnis Gold Prospect near Pickle Lake Ontario, Canada are proceeding positively. Analysts Briefing Sydney, April 28, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackmores Limited ( ASX:BKL ) Third Quarter Financial Results to the Nine months ended 31 March 2016 Record 9 Months- Delivering Group Profit up 145% - Strong sales performance across the Group with all businesses and regions delivering sales growth - Group Sales $532 million, up 63% - Our 10th consecutive quarter of year on year growth - Growth is from all businesses and regions across the Group - Excluding impact of Chinese consumers, Asia in-market direct sales up 11% and Group revenue up 14% - Further operating leverage delivered EBIT of $110m, up 134% & improved EBIT margin to 21% - Record NPAT of $76 million, up 145% YOY Blackmores Australia Australia delivering strong profitable growth - Australia Sales up 71% to $369m - Chinese consumers influencing Australian retail, underlying double digit growth - Continued support for community pharmacy, accredited education programs and new product development - NZ & Pure Animal Wellbeing both experiencing strong growth, combined sales up 40% at $16m including PAW launch in Japan Blackmores Asia - strong & increasingly important - Asia in-market sales of $98 million for the period, up 64% - Asian shoppers estimated to account for 50% of Group revenue - Established markets continue to perform well - Now in 15 countries and all regions growing - Blackmores event in China for Heart Ali charity supported by Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing and Mrs Lucy Turnbull AO Doing Business in China - Recently announced regulatory changes on Chinese cross border e-commerce are a positive reflection of the Chinese government's commitment to the free trade zones - Additional ingredients approved for in-market sales are a future opportunity for Blackmores - Regulatory evolution is a characteristic of this market and we have a highly experienced local team and numerous channels to reach the Chinese consumer - Blackmores will host shareholder events in three locations (Sydney, Shanghai & Melbourne) in May so shareholders can better understand this complex market that is rich with opportunity BioCeuticals - an important platform for Product Leadership - BioCeuticals continues strong third quarter performance: - YTD sales of $50m, up 24% - Strong pipeline of new product development, backed with recognised education and research underpinning performance - New agreement with leading distributor in the United States - Clear market leadership affirmed Operational Effectiveness delivers further benefits - Record production output to support growth and further investment in building capacity and inventory levels - Forged stronger supplier partnerships to ensure access to quality ingredients - Improved efficiency of operational facilities has partially off-set impact of increased raw ingredient prices and currency volatility - Continued focus on efficient management of cash whilst paying healthy dividends and further investing in growth Outlook - Continued focus on delivery of strategic priorities - Board maintains its confidence in our strategy and ability to deliver a strong full year profit result and improved returns for shareholders and staff. To view the analysts briefing, please visit: http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/O3I23089 About Blackmores Limited Blackmores Limited (ASX:BKL) (OTCMKTS:BLMMF) is Australia's leading natural health brand. Its quality range of vitamin, minerals, herbal and nutritional supplements, and continued support of the community and environment, are among the many reasons Blackmores is the most trusted name in natural health. Term Sheet Executed For Sale of Sokoria Perth, April 29, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Xped Limited ( ASX:XPE ) ("Xped" or "the Company") wishes to announce that it has executed a binding Term Sheet along with its JV partner PT Bakrie Power ("Bakrie") to sell down its stake in the project to PT Dalle Geothermal Energy and/or affiliates ("Dalle"). Highlights - Binding Term Sheet signed with Indonesian Power Group for sale of Sokoria project. - Xped to receive up to USD $1.3m subject to due diligence - Xped to retain a small free-carry position in project and will focus on its technology related business. Dalle is part of an Indonesian group of companies with a focus in the energy sector and currently manages around 2,820 MW of power plants in Indonesia. Dalle wishes to acquire up to 95% of the issued capital of PT Sokoria Geothermal Indonesia through payment of up to USD $2.885m for incurred costs related to the project, with Xped due to receive up to USD $1.3m. PT Energy Management Indonesia will retain its existing 2%, and the remaining 3% split between Bakrie (1.65%) and Xped (1.35%) as free-carry shareholding in the company. Following the execution of the Term Sheet, the parties will work towards completing a Conditional Sale and Purchase Agreement ("CSPA") by end of May. Once the CSPA has been satisfied, Dalle will take control for all ongoing and related project costs and Xped and Bakrie will be free of all incurring costs. "We are pleased to be working with Dalle Energy to advance the Sokoria Geothermal project." says Xped joint CEO, Athan Lekkas. "Both Xped(formerly Raya Group) and Bakrie had been seeking a Strategic partner in this project to help fund the project development costs and welcome the opportunity and timing it brings to Xped as it transitions its business." He added. About XPED Ltd XPED Ltd (ASX:XPE) is an Australian Internet of Things (IoT) technology business. Xped has developed revolutionary and patent-protected technology that allows any consumer, regardless of their technical capability, to connect, monitor and control devices and appliances found in our everyday environment. Xped provides technology solutions for Smart Home, Smart Building, and Healthcare. At Xped, were Making Technology Easy Again(TM) The Securities and Exchange Commission has agreed to settle charges with Maryland-based accounting firm Santos, Postal & Co. PC and one of its partners that their surprise examinations of an investment advisor were inadequate. According to the SECs order, the surprise custody examinations conducted by the firm and partner Joseph A. Scolaro of client assets at investment advisor SFX Financial Advisory Management Enterprises did not adequately consider fraud risk factors, as the advisors president had secretly stolen money from some of its professional athlete clients. The commission said that Santos Postal and Scolaro twice filed paperwork with the SEC that contained untrue statements, once to the effect that they had complied with certain procedures to verify client assets when they had not, and once to the effect that client assets were held with a qualified custodian when they were not. Surprise custody exams of investment advisers serve a critical role in protecting against the misuse of client assets and uncovering such misuse when it occurs, said Anthony Kelly, the chief of the SEC Enforcement Divisions Asset Management Unit. Santos, Postal & Co. failed to confirm with SFXs clients the contributions made to and from their accounts and then made untrue statements about its custody exams. Santos Postal and Scolaro consented to the SECs order finding that they violated Section 207 of the Advisers Act and engaged in improper professional conduct pursuant to Section 4C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 102(e) of the commissions Rules of Practice. Without admitting or denying the findings, they agreed to be suspended from appearing and practicing before the SEC as an accountant, which includes not participating in the financial reporting or audits of public companies. The SECs order permits the firm to apply for reinstatement after one year and Solaro after five years. The firm also agreed to disgorgement of $25,800 in profits that it obtained for performing the exams plus interest of $3,276.76 and a penalty of $15,000. Scolaro agreed to pay a $15,000 penalty. The SEC previously announced charges against SFX president Brian J. Ourand, who was later found by an administrative law judge to have misappropriated funds from client accounts, ordered to pay disgorgement of $671,367 plus prejudgment interest and a $300,000 penalty, and barred from the securities industry. The extension of the exclusion for gains on qualified small-business stock by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 may change the way some small businesses are funded. Although the exclusion has existed in a variety of forms since 1993, it was in 2010 that it came to the forefront of startup planning when the exclusion rate was increased to 100 percent. And despite the 100 percent exclusion rate, it has not been widely used as a vehicle to fund startup businesses because of its uncertainty it was one of the extenders that were periodically re-enacted, sometimes retroactively. The enactment of PATH has changed that by making permanent the Section 1202 exclusion, adding certainty to the planning for new ventures and small businesses, according to CohnReznick partners Dave Logan and Asael Meir. Now, founders and investors can plan their investment activities with this in mind, said Logan. Until now, the vehicle typically used by investors was convertible debt. Historically, in the early stages, investors would come in with formal convertible debt, Meir said. It takes the form of a loan to the company with the right to convert it into stock at a discount. If an investor holds convertible debt for four years and then converts it, they wont be able to take advantage of the exclusion, but if they had bought it as stock from Day One and then sell it more than five years later, it will meet one of the qualifications for the exclusion. Its important to be in equity from Day One. For example, an investor comes in with $10 million as convertible debt, Meir said. Five years later the company sells, and the investor will receive $100 million. The investor will be taxed on capital gain at a 25 percent rate. But take the same scenario, except that from Day One the investor put in $10 million for stock and sells for $100 million. Potentially, the whole $100 million is excluded, said Meir. BUILDING, NOT BETTING Section 1202 encourages holding and not speculating, noted Marty Davidoff, of E. Martin Davidoff and Associates. This is good for small businesses, and small businesses are the economic locomotive. Whats really good is that Congress is starting to add certainty throughout the Tax Code, he added. The constant rush to legislate extenders at the end of the year has been silly making these permanent is a good thing. Although this is not targeted at the mom-and-pop businesses, at some point when a business becomes large enough that outside investors may be interested in it, any benefit helps, observed Roger Harris, president of Padgett Business Services. The excludible amount is the greater of $10 million or 10 times the aggregate adjusted bases of qualified small-business stock issued by the corporation and disposed of by the taxpayer during the tax year. In order to qualify for the exclusion, the stock must be qualified small-business stock, and it has to be held for more than five years, Logan noted. The company has to be a C corp, and the stock has to be acquired by the taxpayer at original issue, and at all times prior, including the transaction when the acquisition takes place, the gross assets of the corporation have to be $50 million or less, he said. That includes the transaction, so when you acquire the stock, that funding is included. It can grow afterwards, but at the date of the acquisition, the assets have to be $50 million or less, including the amount contributed. Specifically, the requirements under Code Sec. 1202 to qualify for the exclusion include: The qualified small-business stock must be from a C corporation. The taxpayer must be a non-corporate taxpayer. The qualified small-business stock must be held for more than five years. The stock must have been acquired by the taxpayer at original issue, either directly or through an underwriter, in exchange for money or property, not including stock or as pay for services provided to the corporation (other than services performed as an underwriter of the stock). The C corporation must have total gross assets of $50 million or less at all times after August 9, 1993, and immediately after it issues the stock. In addition, there is an active business requirement. During the taxpayers holding period of the stock, at least 80 percent of the corporations assets must be used in the active conduct of one or more qualified trades or businesses. It cant be a service organization, such as an accounting firm, or a law firm relying on members expertise to provide to clients, Logan said. It has to be held for more than five years, and the entity that owns the stock must be a non-corporate owner. Theres a special rule for partnerships, but it is limited to what happens afterwards. If youre in a partnership and the partnership buys stock, it can qualify, but the exclusion would not work for any new partner. Other businesses that are not qualified trades or businesses are banking, insurance, financing, leasing, investing, or similar businesses; any farming business; any business involving the production or extraction of products for which percentage depletion can be claimed; or any business of operating a hotel, motel, restaurant, or similar business, Logan indicated. To preserve the possibility of the exclusion, care should be taken in the form that the financing takes, he noted. Equity should be considered versus other forms because of the potential exclusion. Often, founders are not aware that theyre holding qualified stock. Theyre not aware of the exclusion, he said. On exit planning, make sure it is the stock that is being sold for value, as opposed to selling the assets in the C corporation. For example, if I own a software company and sell the code, I pay tax on it as an asset sale, but if I sell the stock in the corporation it can quality for the exclusion, Meir said. This provision has been under the radar, so its important to advise your clients that may have such holdings to see if the stock would qualify. If they sell if after four and one-half years, they wont get the exclusion, but if they hold it for an additional half year they could possibly exclude all their gain. How to Get Organized at Home and at Work Getting organized is a key step toward reaching your goals. No secret there. So why do we put up with chronic disorder at home, at work, and in our personal lives? Judith Kolberg suggests its a matter of perfectionism: Were unable to do what it takes to get even a bit more organized because we worry that we wont become perfectly organized. And as Kolberg, author of Conquering Chronic Disorganization, points out, there is no such thing as perfect organization particularly for those living with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD). Life is capricious, and get-it-done strategies that work well today may prove useless tomorrow. The good news, says Kolberg, president of FileHeads Professional Organizers, is that seemingly small changes and ADHD organization tools can bring big improvements in your life less clutter, fewer hassles, and greater tranquility. Getting Organized in 33 Easy Steps 1. Set time limits for decision-making. Individuals with ADHD can spend days agonizing over decisions that others make in minutes. Speed the process by setting a time frame or a budget cap. If youre choosing a summer camp for your child, for example, set a deadline, and make the best choice you can by that date. If youre deciding which new cell phone to buy, pick a price cap and ignore more costly phones. Always identify the most important factor to consider in making any decision, whether its price, convenience, aesthetics, practicality, or something else. Focus solely on that factor when considering your decision. [Self-Test: Is Your Clutter and Disorganization Out of Control?] 2. Fight the tendency to over-commit. For each new commitment you make, give up an old one. If you agree to join the school fund-raising committee, for instance, give up the neighborhood watch committee. Adults with ADHD tend to spread themselves too thin. 3. Keep your to-do lists brief. Using big, bold letters, make a to-do list of no more than five tasks on an index card. (List any additional items on the back of the card.) Once you have done those five things, refer to the back of the card to create a new to-do list and discard the old one. Youll accomplish more, feel less frustrated, and manage your time better. 4. Fight hyperfocus. Set an alarm clock, kitchen timer, or computer alert or arrange for someone reliable to call you at a specified time or times. If you tend to lose yourself on eBay for hours at a time, you need this kind of help. 5. Use a body double. This is a friend or family member who sits with you as you tackle mundane chores, like balancing a checkbook, filling out a job application, or reviewing financial statements. Your body double will create a productive atmosphere by sitting quietly and doing an unobtrusive task, like affixing stamps to envelopes or clipping recipes from a magazine. [Free Download: 73 ADHD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life Now] 6. Keep extra medication on hand. Each time you fill a prescription, write in your planner the date on which youll need to renew it (or set your computer to issue an alert or generate an e-mail reminder on that date). Ask your pharmacist if he can call to remind you when its time to refill. Your renew date should be at least one week before the date on which youll run out of medication. 7. Build socializing into your schedule. That way, your desires to meet new people, have interesting conversations, and keep up with friends are taken care of automatically. Take a class, join a book club or a lecture series, or start a dinner club. 8. Join an ADHD support group. Support groups provide more than emotional support. For example, the members can get together online when its time to tackle boring tasks, like filling out tax returns or filing: One at a time, each person leaves the computer, dedicates 15 minutes to the task at hand, then returns to instant messaging to joke, commiserate, and congratulate one another. 9. Carry a colorful wallet. Its harder to misplace a red wallet than an ordinary black or brown one. The same goes for your checkbook. 10. Buy experiences, not objects. Theres nothing wrong with a little retail therapy to reward yourself for your accomplishments. But think twice before buying some new object (which may become just another bit of clutter in your home). Instead, use your money to buy a pleasant experience, such as a massage or a night out with friends. 11. Stop agonizing over insignificant items. What to do with greeting cards youve received, batteries of dubious power, unidentified cords, orphaned screws, and so on? Toss them into a ripening drawer. Once the drawer is full, quickly sort through it. Use what you can, and discard the rest. Then start the process anew. 12. Get a clutter companion. This is a (nonjudgmental) friend or family member who will help you get rid of all the stuff thats cluttering up your house. A few times a year, you and your companion should sort your clutter into four piles: keep, toss, donate, and age. Discard the toss items at once before you have a chance to change your mind. Place donate items in heavy-duty garbage bags, and drive them to the nearest donation bin. Place age items in a cardboard box marked with a date three months hence. In your calendar, mark the same date as the time to review age items. When that date rolls around, give those items another look. If you feel comfortable discarding them, do so. If not, renew the date for another three months. 13. Fight financial-statement overload. Do you really need to keep monthly account statements? Ask your accountant if you can get by with keeping only quarterly or annual statementsand toss the rest. 14. Dont let unread magazines pile up. If the next issue arrives before youve read the last one, place the last one in a small basket (measuring no more than six inches high and two magazine-widths across). Once the basket fills up, sift through the magazines. Read what you can, and discard or recycle the rest. (You might drop off the best magazines at a hospital or womens shelter.) If you are habitually unable to keep up with the issues of a particular magazine, cancel the subscription. 15. Make use of wasted minutes. Dont wait to find long blocks of uninterrupted time to tackle organizational chores. In one minute, you can sort mail, remove lint from the dryer, or water the plants. In five minutes, you can empty the dishwasher or write an email. While you wait for your laundry to dry, you can mate socks and gather clothes for dry cleaning. 16. Create a launch pad near the front door. This is the place to stash things that family members need each time they leave the house umbrellas, school backpacks, briefcases, pocketbooks, keys, scarves, and so on. The launch pad might have cubbies, pegs, hooks, containers anything that makes it easy to find and grab things as you head out the door. 17. Ditch those receipts. Each evening, empty your pockets, wallet, purse, and briefcase of all ATM slips and receipts. Put them in with your stack of bills to be paid and financial statements to review. Too much loose change? If coins pile up on your dresser, get a jar to put them in. At the end of the month, youll have an extra $15 or so to spend a reward for keeping your pockets free of clutter. 18. Simplify your wardrobe. The more clothes you have, the harder it is to decide what to wear each morning. So continually winnow out extra clothing. If you get a new shirt, for instance, consider getting rid of an old one. In spring and summer, coordinate all your clothing around only two colors, plus white. In fall and winter, coordinate all your clothing around two other colors, plus black. Youll feel liberated by having fewer outfits to choose from and youll save money on clothes. 19. Pre-assemble your clothes into complete outfits. Hang them on sturdy hangers in your closet. Youll get dressed faster each morning, with less confusion and second-guessing. This strategy works for men and women alike, and is especially helpful for organizing business attire. Women can slip a baggie with matching jewelry onto the hanger. For items to help organize childrens clothes and toys, take a look at this days of the week closet organizer. 20. Take it one project at a time. Having to tackle several big projects at once is stressful for people with ADHD. Set one priority, and get it done, tying up all loose ends before moving on to a new project. For instance, get new eyeglasses before cleaning your gutters. Or take your car in for maintenance before revising your resume. 21. Use sticky notes to stay on track. If youre often sidetracked by interruptions as many with ADD are make it easy to return to the task at hand once the interruption is over. How? Keep a supply of sticky notes with you, and jot down where to pick up again. For instance, if you must take a phone call while reading, post a note on the text that says, resume reading here. When the call is over, youll know exactly what to do. 22. Double up on tasks. If you can make it a habit to do two small things in concert, youll get more done. For example, you might reset your clocks and change the batteries in your smoke detectors upon the end of Daylight Saving Time each autumn. You could change your oil and balance your investments on the same day. Or reorganize your pocketbook each time you water the plants. 23. Organize your garage like a professional. That means separating your stuff into zones of the sort you see at home-improvement stores: tools, painting supplies, gardening supplies, sports equipment, automotive, and so on. If this job is too big to tackle on your own, dont be reluctant to ask for help. 24. Rethink your filing system. Adults with ADHD often have trouble with filing because they create too many categories. Better to keep your categories broad, and use subfolders where necessary. For instance, you might label one folder insurance, and fill it with subcategory folders for life insurance, car insurance, and health insurance. Read this article for ideas on updating your filing system and keeping track of paperwork. 25. Create a document hot spot. This is a red, see-through folder for important, time-sensitive documents. In this folder, which should be kept on your desk, you should place papers representing up to five different tasks that must be attended to within the next 24 hours an overdue bill, a client file, a phone message to return, and so on. Clear out your hot spot daily. Active papers that arent yet urgent should be kept in transparent file folders arranged vertically in a file holder. A hot spot is a great tool for dealing with the out of sight is out of mind problem. 26. Stanch the flow of junk mail. Add your name to the do not send list maintained by the Direct Mail Association. 27. Process the mail every day. That will keep you from feeling overwhelmed. Throw out junk mail immediately. The rest of the mail should be kept in one place, with a wastebasket nearby. Bills to be paid should be placed inside your checkbook or if you use online banking on the desktop beside the computer. Stick everyone elses mail into nearby cubbyholes, slots, or shelves with their names on them. 28. Schedule a quarterly review of investments with yourself. Write the date and time to review these on your calendar or in your planner, and go over your bank accounts, investment accounts, and retirement plans. 29. Switch to online banking. How much time do you spend each month writing checks, addressing envelopes, and affixing postage (not to mention mailing the checks)? Its faster to do your banking online especially since you can set up recurring bills to be paid automatically and you wont have to pay for postage. If youre intimidated by the computer work required to open an online account, ask a computer-savvy friend or family member to help. 30. Use a single checking account. Keep your checkbook in your purse or briefcase and return it there immediately after using it. Keep your check register and a few emergency checks (but not another checkbook!) in another location, in case you lose your checkbook. 31. Keep plastic to a minimum. The more credit cards you have, the more statements and receipts youll have to contend with. Better to stick with one or two major cards and avoid the high-interest store and gas cards. Consider new card offers only if the terms of the card are clearly superior to the terms of your current cards. 32. Get a debit card. Keep it in your wallet, and use it instead of a personal check whenever possible. Each time you use the card, make an entry in your check register as if you had written a check. That way, your checking account stays balanced. 33. Keep some extra cash on hand. Put several hundred dollars in a waterproof plastic bag and place it someplace safe but easy to locate (maybe your freezer). That way, you wont be caught empty-handed if a storm, power outage, or some other natural or man-made disaster makes it impossible to use ATMs. For more on preparing for a disaster, go to www.redcross.org. [Free Download: 22 Clutter-Busting Strategies for Adults with ADHD] Kimberly-Clark (K-C), global leader in hygiene products, in association with not-for-profit partner Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India, launched the Toilets Change Lives campaign today at a primary school in Chandanhola, New Delhi. This campaign is part of K-Cs global sanitation initiative under the aegis of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation and is being implemented in partnership with CAF India. Under the project over 100 toilets across schools and anganwadis in Delhi/NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Maharashtra will be restored. With a focus to fix dysfunctional toilets rather than build more toilets, the company aims to positively impact the lives of nearly 1 million people directly and indirectly across these states. In a country where ~600 million people still practice open defecation, construction of ~ 10 million new toilets with toilet facilities in~ 90 per cent schools in one year, is no small feat. However reports suggest that 4 out of these 10 school toilets are non-usable or dysfunctional due to lack of regular maintenance. In rural India, 1 out of 2 toilets in schools is unusable leading to continued open defecation. India reports the highest number of diarrheal deaths among children under-five, open defecation being the main reason. Further research suggests that ~ 23% girls drop out of school on reaching puberty and access to safe & hygienic toilets can increase their attendance by up to ~11% .Through Toilets Change Lives Kimberly-Clark is taking a unique approach of repairing dysfunctional toilets in schools to restore hygiene, safety and dignity for children. At the inauguration of the program , Achal Agarwal, President Kimberly-Clark Asia Pacific Region said, Sanitation is inherently linked to the nature of our business and in response to global sanitation crisis, we developed a multi-country program Toilets Change Lives to provide access to sanitation across Latin America, Africa and India. In India, since much progress is being made by the Swacch Bharat campaign in building new toilets we decided to address the lacuna of dysfunctional or unusable toilets. Further we will focus on school toilets as it not only impacts childrens attendance and quality of education, but also influence their families and reduce the incidence of open defecation in communities at large. Meenakshi Batra, Chief Executive, CAF India, said, We are proud to be associated with Kimberly-Clark as a partner in Toilets Change Lives and we would like to laud them for considering the sanitation issue beyond just building new toilets. Maintenance of toilets and generating awareness among students, parents, community representatives and teachers are equally important components, which will help in long-term sustainability of the program and contribute to the behaviour change aspect of the Swachh Bharat campaign. Initiatives like these highlight how socially responsible organisations like Kimberly-Clark are willing to go the extra mile to address gaps that exist in the sanitation infrastructure. In its endeavor to focus on children as future change agents, K-C and Huggies is addressing specific barriers children face in using existing toilet facilities. These range from fixing a door latch for privacy, attaching soap dispensers in wash basins or replacing broken commodes to more fundamental interventions like paving the floor to prevent slips and falls, changing the water pipes that bring the water to the basins, removing water clogging, repairing flushing systems or regular cleaning of septic tanks. K-C is engaging school authorities, deploying resources for specific repairs or renovation and setting up hygiene clubs where children learn and advocate good toilet habits. Kimberly-Clark Professional took its first step in 2014 to build household toilets in Karjat, Maharashtra, India in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Further, Kimberly-Clark is also a cofounder and key member of the Toilet Board Coalition, which is working towards building a self-sustaining demand-based sanitation model in Orissa. LocoVida is a boutique digital technology and media company that enables brands and publishers to reach online audiences in Tier 2 and 3 cities and towns. It also helps news portals and publishers with revenue and tech solutions. With over 100 vernacular sites on board across multiple Indian languages and strategic tie-ups with the Colombia Traffic Network, LocoVida is helping advertisers reach a larger audience base. The vernacular focused network also claims to be reaching 33 per cent of total online unique visitors in India. The network has been helping publishers monetise advertisement positions on their website without having to employ a sales team of their own. LocoVida receives campaigns in multiple formats from different countries and its ad operations team plans ad campaigns so that the revenues for publishers are optimised without compromising on the advertisers expectations. In this interaction with AdGully, Anil Kumar, Founder and CEO, LocoVida, talks about the shift in interest in Tier 2 and 3 markets, the rise of vernacular publishing online, scale in 2016 and beyond. Excerpts: AdGully (AG): How exactly does LocoVida help brands and publishers? Anil Kumar (AK): India can be divided into two clear demographies metros and non-metros. While the metros comprise of the top 10 cities in the country, a large chunk of the population resides in the non-metros, which is also classified as the Tier II or III cities. The growth story of the non-metros is not hidden any more and it is this sizeable the market of the non-metros that brands need to tap into. With the advent of technology and the increased mobile penetration, consumers across Tier 2 and 3 cities have access to new information and an increased interest in ecommerce and also sensitisation of newer brands, hence it has become imperative to tap into regional markets for all marketers. Also, it is interesting to note that many times the most relevant and even HNI target consumers are based out of regional markets, therefore leveraging the same is now crucial. As LocoVida, we help brands as well as regional publishers to interact on a digital platform which has a much wider reach. We bridge the gap between advertisers interested in reaching the audiences in Tier 2 and 3 markets and in turn giving the regional publishers quality advertisers, which in turn helps increased monetisation. LocoVida aspires to be the default gateway to vernaculars for brands. We already have more than 45 regional publishers across India working with us, where we are monetising their inventory, helping them with website development and bringing traffic to their sites. AG: What are the key growth drivers for vernacular publishing online in India? AK: There are a variety of factors that are helping the exponential growth of digital vernacular publishing. Few of the key growth drivers are smartphone boom in the regional markets, increasing internet penetration and the rapid growth as well as consumption of vernacular content on the Internet. Also, with majority of the population having access to mobile devices, digital is the platform people are headed towards. Even when online browsing the web people like to read content/ news in their native language. AG: What is driving the shift in advertiser and publisher interest in Tier 2 and 3 markets? AK: The driving shift in advertiser and publisher interest in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets is primarily because there has been an increased focus on innovative interplay and the digital readership. It can be clearly seen that there has been a steady increase in the digitisation of vernacular content. Let us also not forget that there is a substantial amount of spending power in the smaller towns which brands are now becoming aware of. Also, with the increasing sales of smartphones and rising e-commerce in Tier 2 and markets, there is a definite interest amongst the advertisers and publishers. With more audience joining from regional markets, vernacular publisher ad inventory is very promising for advertisers. With native and contextual advertising, advertisers are able to specifically target their audiences on these vernacular publisher partners of LocoVida at a fraction of the cost. It is a win-win for everyone. For example, IFFCO Tokio, a leading general insurance company, is reaching HNIs in Tier 2 markets and educating them about adequate coverage using native advertising. Not only the large national brands, but regional brands like Bansal Classes from Jaipur are able to reach their specific audience in their respective markets using native advertising format. With our strategic tie-ups with publishers and The Colombia Traffic Network, we help brands reach over 150 million consumers. AG: What will drive traction and scale for vernacular publishing in India in 2016? AK: Diversification of markets has always been the driver to scale vernacular publishing and shall continue to be so. Besides this, the increased interest of the biggest brands in the regional markets has also lead to phenomenal growth in revenues for these publications. There are over one lakh newspapers and periodicals registered with the Registrar of Newspapers in India. All of them will have to embrace online publishing since their audience is rapidly shifting online. Those that have their strategy in place will gain the first movers advantage and leverage this huge readership that consumes content many times a day now (compared to newspaper reading habit of morning only). Brands will follow this audience and are likely to have more budgets allocated for vernacular media. AG: Which sectors have been seen to be very bullish on vernacular media in recent times? AK: We are witnessing higher education, real estate, e-commece, BFSI, automobile, and travel being very bullish at the moment and are expecting more increase in the coming times. AG: Traditionally, for brands English media has been the stronger player and they have been investing more on this. Do you see a change in this English-vernacular equation any time soon? AK: Yes, certainly there has been a change. English prints growth has dropped from 5.8 per cent in 2013 to 5.2 per cent in 2014. The reason being the shift of subscribers to the online platform, regional print markets still remain largely isolated from this trend. English print is estimated to lose its market share over the years to digital media in the overall advertising spend. A few examples include vikatan.com, dinakaran.com, keralakaumudi.com, deshabhimani.com. It is difficult for a new player to start a vernacular news portal, since you need a strong news collection last mile network. The entrenched print or TV channels, though, are either upgrading their websites or redesigning them for the mobile audiences. On an average, we receive at least two calls a week for a new website or news app. AG: What does the future roadmap of vernacular publishing look like? What are the trends that you foresee? AK: Since vernacular publishing is perceived as an economical way of reaching target audiences by advertisers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, it is likely to grow at 10.5 per cent CAGR during 2014-18 and will eventually constitute nearly 36 per cent of the total revenue pie by 2019. LaFayette Escadrille A B-52 Stratofortress flies over the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, France, April 20, 2016, during a ceremony honoring the 268 Americans who joined the French air force before the U.S. officially engaged in World War I. In addition to the B-52, four F-22 Raptors, four French Mirage 2000Ns and a World War I-era Steerman PT-17 biplane performed flyovers during the ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Layfette Escadrilles formation. Men of the Lafayette Escadrille and Lafayette Flying Crops were critical to the formation of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joshua DeMotts) May 20 is the deadline to apply for the 2016 Air Force Club Scholarship Program.During the past 17 years, the program has provided college tuition assistance to more than 440 Air Force Club members and their eligible family members.As in the past, applicants must be club members or their eligible dependent ID card holders. They must complete an online application form, submit an essay, and supply a college or university letter of acceptance or admission (for their first associate or bachelors degree). Also, this years applicants must upload two letters of recommendation: one from their high school principal, university or college dean, civic leader or military leader; and one from their community service leader detailing work the applicant has performed.Also new for 2016 is the essays may be five-minute video essays or traditional 1,000-word written submissions. Also, instead of 25 $1,000 scholarships, there will be three winners in the video essay category and three in the written essay category. The first-place award in each category is a $5,000 scholarship; second place $4,000; and third place $2,500.We wanted to make the process more interactive and enhance the program by adding the video category, said Jonathan Boyd, the Air Force Services Activity operations branch chief for Air Force clubs.This years essay topic is My Air Force story.We want to hear how youve been impacted by the best Air Force on the planet, said Col. Mike Lamb, the director of operations for AFSVA. Some Air Force stories, such as telecommunications and achievements in aeronautics and space, are broad and monumental. Others are personal, smaller but still very impactful.A panel of judges will score essays on material content, presentation and adherence to the required number of words for written essays and length for video essays.The program will also award the two Air Force installation clubs that produce the most eligible entries in either format $1,000 each to help pay for their efforts to encourage applicants.We hope that raising the individual amount of the scholarships will encourage more Airmen and their families to participate in this years program, Boyd said.For complete eligibility and entry requirements, click here . To receive a scholarship, all entry and eligibility requirements must be met, and all documentation must be provided by the required date. Public Service Recognition Week, which runs from May 1-7, provides an opportunity to recognize more than 2 million public employees who protect the nation through service in the armed forces. More than 176,000 of them are Air Force civilian full-time, part-time, term, temporary and non-appropriated fund Airmen.In todays Air Force, civilians contribute to every facet of the mission alongside their active-duty, Reserve and Guard service members. The Air Force civilian workforce comprises an incredibly diverse number of Airmen in various missions located in all 50 states and multiple overseas locations. Below are a couple of ways the critical component of the total force continuously serves the Air Force and nation.Herb Mason, an Air Force Special Operations Command historian, spent more than 50 years preserving the Air Forces story for generations to come. As the longest-serving historian, he chronicled his first Air Force history in 1965 and then spent the next 50 years providing hindsight to leaders for years to come. Mason retired in 2015 at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Click here to read the full story.Meanwhile across the Atlantic Ocean, civilians work 24/7 as switchboard operators at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, providing service not only to the base and U.S. Air Forces in Europe, but also to Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and State Department personnel all over the world. Click here to see how they facilitate approximately 1.5 million calls per year.Back in the States, Pat Lee, a multiservice execution team office lead engineer, works with his team on the Distributed Common Ground/Surface Systems Integration Backbone. The DCGS will provide a common set of services and standards to facilitate the sharing of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information with the warfighter. Click here to see how this team enables warfighters to get intelligence information quicker and easier.While the Civil Air Patrol may not have been part of the traditional mindset of civilian Air Force members, that old paradigm shifted in August 2015 when the Air Force updated Doctrine Volume 2, Leadership, expanding the Air Forces descriptions of the total force to include active-duty, Guard, Reserve, civilian, and auxiliary members. Click here to see why Air Force leaders should consider each part of the total force, including the auxiliary, when determining the most effective and efficient ways to complete the mission.Saving money is always of importance when considering any new acquisition, reconstruction or taking care of Airmen. Therefore, when engineers from the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, were able to ensure todays readiness with tomorrow's modernization and saved $8 million along the way, they deserve a little recognition. Click here to see how teams of military and civilian personnel enabled the Air Force to invest those dollars in other areas across the service's wide gamut of operations.Erik Straus began his Air Force career in 1987 as a security forces member then cross-trained into the space field where he joined 4th Space Operations Squadron in 2000. He led the launch teams for the final two Milstar satellites, before returning to the 4th SOPS as a civilian. To read more about Straus, click here This week, take time to thank all the civilians whose work contributes to the Air Force mission -- Global Reach, Global Power and Global Vigilance. In a major development, the Bombay High Court on Friday ordered the demolition of scam-tainted Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society building located in south Mumbai. Adarsh is a 31-storey building in Colaba in South Mumbai whose apartments were intended for war veterans and widows, but were allegedly grabbed by politicians, defence officers and bureaucrats. Congress Ashok Chavan was forced to quit as Maharashtra Chief Minister the same year, after it was revealed that three of his relatives had also been given apartments in the building. The court, however, gave the housing society 12 weeks to appeal in the Supreme Court. The state and environment authorities objected to the stay. The court also directed the state to initiate criminal prosecution against officers involved in the scam and to restore the plot. The order to raze the building comes after the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) passed an order to demolish the scam-hit society in 2011, following which its members approached the Bombay High Court challenging it. The ministry had on January 16, 2011 directed the Society to demolish within three months the unauthorised building for violating coastal regulations. The Adarsh Commission report which was partially accepted by the government in December 2014, had indicted several top bureaucrats, politicians and defense persons. The BJP has welcomed the decision calling the building a symbol of corruption. Originally, conceived as a six storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and widows, Adarsh was accorded additional Floor Space Index, taking the total number of flats to 102. The list of violations includes cases of 22 benami flats. For instance, there was no environmental clearance for the scheme. The report said, The Adarsh CHS had never applied to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance through the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. As per an RTI query filed by activist Anil Galgali, the Maharastra State has spent Rs 7.04 crore on the Adarsh Commission which was functional for 842 days. The establishment expenditure of the Commission was Rs 83, 605 per day, including salary paid to final report. Galgali who is also one of petitioner in Adarsh Commission is trying to scrutinize the MMRDAs role in Adarsh Scam. He inquired with the General Administrative Department of Government of Maharashtra about the total expenditure incurred including salary, vehicle, telephone, xerox and fees paid to Sr Counsel. General Administrative Department under Secretary R G Panchal said that Adarsh Commission was formed on 8th January 2011. The Commission submits its final report to Maharashtra government on 18 April 2013, 12 days before the deadline. The commission, headed by retired High court judge justice J A Patil with retired Chief secretary P Subaryamanyam including 14 other staff members. The salary bill incurred on all staff members from Jan 2011 to April 2013 is Rs 1,88,33,321. Rs 7,99,604 was spent on Telephone and Electricity expenditure. Other expenditure Charges was Rs 8,84,525. Eight fourty two days after Adarsh commission submitted Final Report, state government spent Rs 3,96,80,581 on Sr Counsel and lawyers fees. The counsel was paid Rs 1,15,000, lawyer 40,000 and Rs 25,000 for each appearance, while his assistant received Rs. 5,000 on appearance. Adarsh Commissions Senior Counsel Dipan Merchant was paid Rs 1,48,40,000 and Junior Counsel Bharat Jhaveri received Rs 17,90,000. Sr Counsel Anil Saakhare got Rs 1,39,92,539 by various department like UD, Revenue and Forest. Adv U B Nigot received Rs 51,37,849. Adv R M Vasudev received Rs 39,07,193 and Adv Vinay Masurkar received only Rs 13, 000. Under pressure due to Patel quota agitation, BJP government in Gujarat today announced 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward among upper castes, which include Patidars, with a family income cap of Rs 6 lakh a year to avail the benefit. The decision, taken in the state partys core group meeting in which BJP national president Amit Shah was also present, comes after the recent reverses in the civic polls left the party jittery in the state where Assembly election are due next year. The reservation limit of 50 per cent set by the apex court will be breached with this decision, but the state government said it is serious on the issue and will fight it out legally. It may be noted that the new reservation will add to the existing 49.5 percent for minorities in Gujarat. The community began a mundan programme, where Patel men across north Gujarat got their heads tonsured as a sign of their regard to the cause. The chief minister recently held a long meeting with a committee of ministers, led by health minister Nitin Patel, where the strategy to tackle the movement were discussed in detail. Gujarat Government has also announced to continue Mukhyamantari Yuva Swalamban Yojna(MYSY) for the youth to give subsidy in higher education fees who could not get benefit under the 10% reservation. When asked about the sudden change of mind, Rupandi said that, considering the feeling of the Patidar community and all other communities we decided to give 10% EBC reservation. Congress just tried to encash the issue for political gain. We ask them why they did not gave any reservation to general caste for 60 long years. BJP has done it. We will demand from Congress to implement EBC reservation in Congress ruled states. We will fight for the 10% EBC reservation if required in High Court and Supreme Court also. He also said that the party high command (Amit Shah) had consulted PM Narendra Modi on this issue. CM Anandiben Patel when asked about her pet scheme of MYSY, she said that, the scheme will continue as an additional benefit for those who do not get benefit under the reservation. The UN Security Council is weighing a response to North Koreas failed test-firing of ballistic missiles, diplomats said Friday following emergency closed-door talks in New York. The consultations were urgently requested by the United States following North Koreas unsuccessful launch of two missiles and as fears grow that the regime is preparing to conduct a fifth nuclear test. We are looking at a response, said Chinas Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who holds the council presidency this month. Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said his government condemns the series of grave and very clear violations of Security Council resolutions. This is a threat to Japans national security, he said. Yoshikawa added that council diplomats were unanimous in condemning the latest launches during the closed-door meeting and that they were preparing to issue a statement. North Korea has made three unsuccessful bids in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan medium-range missile, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam. The first effort on April 15 the birthday of founding leader Kim Il-Sung ended in what the Pentagon described as fiery, catastrophic failure, with the missile apparently exploding just after take-off. South Korean military officials say the North is desperate to register a successful launch ahead of next weeks ruling party congress, at which leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to take credit for pushing the countrys nuclear weapons program to new heights. The Security Council has repeatedly condemned the missile launches and stressed that they violated UN resolutions that bar Pyongyang from developing nuclear and ballistic missile technology. In March, the Security Council imposed the toughest sanctions to date on North Korea after it carried out its fourth nuclear test and fired a rocket that was seen as a disguised ballistic missile test. It was the fifth set of UN sanctions to hit North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. To me, this is like asking, are you alive? Are you awake? Are you a thinking person? Do you care about the world? Almost all of us we have been critical at some point for some reason of the UN or the US, because these are complex institutions with varying actions and inactions of all kinds on many issues. And how many of you have ever been critical of the United States of America, for any reason? Foreign policy, domestic policy, role at the UN. OK. So you are all here, at the United Nations, in the United States, but the vast majority of you have been critical of these institutions at one time or another for one reason or another. I want to start by asking a couple simple questions by a show of hands. How many of you have ever, for any reason, been critical of the United Nations? Security Council, peacekeeper, budget issues come to mind. For any reason. OK. Health and Environment: Global Partner for Global Solution 30 Years of Chornobyl Legacy for the Nuclear Safety of the World Panel discussion on Health and Environment: Global Partner for Global Solution 30 Years of Chornobyl Legacy for the Nuclear Safety of the World. Organised by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine, in collaboration with the World Information Transfer, Inc. On Tuesday, April 26, many of us in the vaccine safety/autism community attended a conference at The United Nations in New York City. We were there to hear Professor Mary Holland, Dr. Martha Herbert and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speak during the second half of this conference, which was devoted to children and toxicity. Kevin Barry presented in lieu of Mr. Kennedy, who was called away due to family obligations. Below is the video from the 3 hour event. Professor Holland's presentation begins at 1:12 - 1:27 and she appears again during the Q&A from 2:09 - 2:18. Her written presentation is below the video.Also, If you have the time, we invite you to watch the exchange with Dr. Bernard Goldstein during the Q&A. He is the head of the U Pitt School of Public Health and was a panelist. He took umbrage with most of what Professor Holland had to say about vaccines and legal and medical rights. He wiggled in his seat, rolled his eyes and made faces to express his dismay while she spoke. It was a strange display to be sure. But now if I ask you, have you ever been critical of your countrys vaccine policies, you may be reluctant to raise your hand. And for good reason, because in the supercharged public discourse about vaccines, were you to have answered, Yes, I have been critical of some aspect of vaccine policy at some time, you would likely be branded anti-vaccine, that fundamentalist bogey-man term. And not by a militant or fringe publication or spokesperson. You might be branded anti-vaccine by the likes of the New York Times, the New England Journal of Medicine, the World Health Organization and by spokespeople from national centers for disease control and national pediatric associations. Your views on vaccines might be considered outside the mainstream, and equivalent to the views of those who deny climate change. You might be considered a flat-earther. No matter if your critique were categorical, and that you truly oppose all vaccines for all people at all times, or if you simply believe, as Bobby and I and many others do, that mercury should never be a preservative in any vaccine anywhere in the world because there are better and safer alternatives. Many in the audience here today are branded anti-vaccine, although that is a gross distortion. We are called this primarily to marginalize and dismiss our views. But just as most of you are critical of some aspects of the UN and the US but think they are important institutions, most of us have views that are nuanced, pro-health and pro safe, affordable, necessary and effective, or sane, vaccines. My focus today is on the role of law in protecting human rights when it comes to vaccines. How can we balance the rights of the collective vs. the rights of the individual? Vaccines, by their very nature, are a population-based medical intervention. If enough people take this medical intervention, then the so-called herd will be protected from the circulation of a communicable disease, based on the theory of herd immunity. Although individuals receive vaccines, the rationale for vaccines is for the good of the individual and the society. One of the core purposes of the United Nations, set forth in Article 1 of its Charter, is to achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all. So the UN and the international community have obligations to respect human rights related to vaccination. How must nations and the UN do this? That is an important question that deserves scrutiny, as it profoundly affects both individual and global public health. Since World War II, the international community has recognized the grave dangers in involuntary scientific and medical experimentation on human subjects. In the aftermath of Nazi medical atrocities, the world affirmed the Nuremberg Code which stated that the voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights further enshrined this prohibition against involuntary experimentation in its 1966 text, stating no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation. Such a prohibition is now so universally recognized that some courts and scholars have pronounced the right to informed consent in experiments as a matter of customary international law. In other words, it applies everywhere, whether or not a country has specific laws on its books, as customary norms now prohibit slavery, genocide, torture and piracy. But what about informed consent in the area of medical treatment, including preventive medical treatment? What about informed consent to vaccination? This is a controversial issue today in many countries, including the United States. In 2005, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, addressed this issue, adopting the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights on the consensus of 193 countries. The participating countries hoped this Declaration, like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights before it, would become a set of guiding principles. On the issue of consent, the Declaration states that any preventivemedical intervention is only to be carried out with the prior, free and informed consent of the person concerned, based on adequate information. It further notes that the sole interest of science or society does not prevail. This pronouncement is an extension of the medical oath, attributed to Hippocrates 2500 years ago, that doctors must work for the good of their patients and never do harm. Abbreviated as the first do no harm principle, this credo embodies the precautionary principle in medicine, clearly placing the interests of individual patients above the interests of the collective or the herd. This precautionary principle in medicine leads directly to the view that vaccination policies must be recommended, not coerced. The doctor-patient relationship depends first and foremost on trust, and coercion undermines it. When the doctor-patient relationship is based on coercion, trust is a casualty, and doctors then serve the state, and by extension the society, above their individual patients. This is a slippery slope, where civilized medicine has too often derailed in the past. Dr. Leo Alexander, the chief U.S. medical consultant to the Nuremberg Trials, warned in 1949 that From small beginnings the values of an entire society may be subverted. He pointed out that long before the Nazis came to power in Germany, a cultural shift in the medical community had already paved the way for the adoption of a utilitarian, Hegelian point of view, with literature on the euthanasia and extermination of those with disabilities as early as 1931. Following the medical precautionary principle, the default position for vaccination must be recommendations, not compulsion. Individuals, for themselves and their minor children, should have the right to accept or refuse these preventive medical interventions based on adequate information and without coercion, such as the threat of loss of economic or educational benefits. Informed consent must be the default position because compulsion, on its face, not only undermines trust, but limits the fundamental rights to life, liberty, bodily integrity, informed consent, privacy and to parental decision making. Many developed countries vaccination policies embody this principle of childhood vaccination recommendations, including conference co-sponsors Ukraine, Germany and Japan. Other developed countries that achieve impressive public health without resort to compulsion, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, South Korea, and Spain, among others. Nonetheless, the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights Article 27 permits limitations on fundamental rights, but these limits must be imposed by law and must be for the protection of public health or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. Furthermore, any such law needs to be consistent with international human rights law. International courts have developed a test to assess whether restrictions of fundamental rights are legitimate and lawful. The test studies whether the measure is lawful, strictly necessary and proportionate to the risk. The State enacting such a restriction bears the burden of proof that the compulsory medical intervention is lawful, strictly necessary and proportionate. Generally, the strict necessity element must be the least restrictive alternative to achieve the public health objective, and non-coercive approaches must be considered first. Thus, the State must show that a less restrictive alternative is not feasible before adopting a highly restrictive one. In addition to these criteria, if a State does mandate vaccination, then it has an affirmative obligation to provide an effective remedy for those who may be injured as a result. Like all prescription drugs, vaccines carry the risk of injury and death to some. The guarantee of an effective remedy is a basic pillar of the rule of law in a democratic society. And the remedy must actually be an effective one; it cannot be an illusory remedy, which in fact provides no relief. Vaccination policies have changed drastically since the early twentieth century when they were primarily emergency medical interventions for the whole population in times of smallpox outbreaks to the policies of today, when they primarily target infants and young children for non-emergency prevention of many diseases of differing severity. Legislatures and courts have had to grapple with many issues flowing from these policies, including vaccine injury compensation, religious exemptions, philosophical exemptions, the right to education, the right to informed consent, and the right to parental decision making. I provide a few examples of court decisions related to vaccination and human rights from different countries. In Japan, in 1992, the Tokyo High Court heard a case from 159 survivors of vaccine-induced injury or death. The Court concluded that the Ministry of Health had been negligent in failing to establish a screening program to exclude people with contraindications to vaccination. The court noted that the Ministry of Health had focused on measures to raise the vaccination rate at the expense of attention to vaccine adverse reactions. Furthermore, the court noted that the Ministry had not provided sufficient information about vaccine adverse events to doctors and the public. The court concluded that the injured victims were entitled to compensation as a matter of state redress. In Ukraine, in 2004, its Constitutional Court interpreted its Constitutional guarantee of the right to education on the principle of equality. It found that its Constitution guaranteed every individual the right to education. Thus in Ukraine, no child, vaccinated or unvaccinated, may be refused the right to attend school. The Turkish Constitutional Court in 2015 upheld the principle that parental consent is necessary for the vaccination of infants and children. It found that despite its Ministry of Healths assurances that childhood vaccinations are in the best interests of the child, that an infants interest in bodily integrity may only be violated for medical necessity and based on law, and that routine childhood vaccination required parental consent. On the other hand, a January 2015 judgment of the Czech Constitutional Court upheld a public health law prohibiting young children from attending preschool without vaccinations against nine diseases unless the children have permanent medical contraindications. But the judgment was issued over a stinging dissent, arguing that the Courts decision was more politically motivated than based in a rigorous constitutional legal analysis. The dissent found that the majoritys decision had turned a blind eye to the unconstitutionality of its public health law and that as a result, the Courts decision ultimately would undermine rather than advance the legitimacy of vaccination mandates. In the United States, the legitimacy of school vaccination mandates came into sharp focus in 2015, when almost twenty states introduced legislation to limit or prohibit altogether exemptions from vaccination except very limited medical ones. Only in the state of California did blanket legislation pass, which prohibits all exemptions save limited medical ones, although similar laws already exist in two other states, Mississippi and West Virginia. We are likely to see in the near future whether California courts will uphold or reject this new law which directly contradicts the California Constitutions guarantee of a right to a public school education to all children. We will see whether the courts are prepared to endorse a new kind of school segregation against 225,000 children whose vaccination status does not conform perfectly to Californias mandates. With over 270 vaccines in the global research and development pipeline, the role of law and courts in upholding or rejecting vaccination mandates and in compensating the victims of vaccine injury is critical. As we all understand, healthcare is big business the world over, and vaccines represent a growing medical market with increasingly high profit margins. If we dont adhere to first principles of the rights to life, liberty and bodily integrity of the individual, and of the right to prior, free and informed consent in medicine, we may find ourselves with known and unknown harms. To conclude, I paraphrase President Eisenhowers farewell address to the United States in 1961 when he was addressing the risks posed by the military-industrial complex. I substitute the term medical-industrial complex, which I believe today poses many of the same risks he foretold: The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this complex endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and medical machinery of health with our methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.[I]n holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite. So let us be alert, knowledgeable and properly integrate the interests of global health security with global liberty. WASHINGTON, April 29, 2016 Top negotiators for the U.S. and the European Union say the two sides made good progress this week as they continued efforts to complete the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Speaking in New York, where the latest round of T-TIP negotiations was held, U.S. chief negotiator Dan Mullaney cited progress in sectors including autos, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics. He said they also continued to make progress on a key U.S. goal of tariff elimination. We had agreed earlier to eliminate tariffs on 97 percent of tariff lines, and at this round, we worked to increase the number of those tariff lines that would be zeroed out upon entry into force of the agreement," Mullaney said. In the months ahead, we will discuss elimination of the remaining tariffs, and we will seek to accelerate the pace of reductions for tariff lines we have already phased out. Joining Mullaney at todays press conference, EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero, agreed that the tariff talks had been fruitful, with great promise for the citizens on both sides of the Atlantic. Here consumers and companies would feel an immediate impact, as the prices of imported and exported products could fall, he said. Indeed, European Union firms pay over 3.5 billion euros a year in customs tariffs when exporting to the United States. However, he said the two sides did not discuss the remaining 3 percent of tariff lines, which he said were the most sensitive. We still have significant work left to do, Mullaney acknowledged, particularly in key areas like technical regulations, standards and services." Still, Mullaney expressed optimism that the treaty can be completed in 2016. We believe there remains sufficient time to complete an ambitious, comprehensive and high-standard T-TIP agreement this year, if we continue our intensive engagement and we mobilize the necessary political will, effort and determination on both sides, he said. The two men also suggested that President Barack Obamas visit to Germany this week had given the talks added impetus. Speaking at an industrial fair in Hanover, Obama said, The time to complete T-TIP is now and Im here to say that the United States is prepared to make every effort to reach an ambitious, comprehensive and high-standard agreement this year. Garcia Bercero said Obamas visit to Europe gave us a strong political boost. Following trade? We cover it on Agri-Pulse. Sign up today for a four-week free trial subscription. The EU negotiator agreed that the talks could be concluded in 2016, but only if the substance of the deal is right. He said the two sides are planning for another round of talks this summer, most likely in July. The objective for this round would then be to continue to work on consolidation in all areas, so that we only have a very limited number of open issues that will ultimately need to be resolved at the political level. We need to achieve an agreement that will be the most ambitious, balanced and comprehensive agreement ever concluded by either the European Union or the United States. #30 For more news, go to: www.agri-pulse.com April 29, 2016 CAIRO The debate concerning Egyptian Coptic Christians traveling to Jerusalem arises each year in the lead-up to Easter, which is celebrated on May 1 this year in the Orthodox Church. Copts who decide to travel to Jerusalem to visit the holy sites are often accused of "normalization with Israel" and of violating the orders of the Egyptian Orthodox Church, which opposes their travel to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, other churches in Egypt including the Catholic and Evangelical ones do not oppose such trips and consider the issue a matter of personal freedom. The decision to forbid Copts from traveling to Jerusalem dates back to the 1960s during the days of Coptic Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria, and stems from the conflict with Israel over Deir El-Sultan monastery in East Jerusalem. Israel handed the monastery over to the Ethiopian monks after expelling the Egyptian monks in the wake of the June 1967 war. The decision remained applicable in the days of Pope Shenouda III during the session of the Holy Synod on March 26, 1980. The decision noted that "the Holy Synod has decided not to allow members of the Coptic Orthodox Church to travel to Jerusalem this year during the Holy Week and Resurrection Day until the [Egyptian Orthodox] Church officially gets back Deir El-Sultan in Jerusalem. This decision is automatically renewed as long as the monastery has not been restituted or as long as the synod did not issue a different order." But the decision took on a political dimension when Pope Shenouda III objected to the Copts' visit to Jerusalem because of his rejection of any normalization with Israel. After Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Tawadros II traveled to Jerusalem to head the funeral prayer for Metropolitan Archbishop Abraham of Jerusalem and the Near East on Nov. 26, he faced accusations that his presence there constituted normalization. He responded by asserting that his visit was merely to pay his respects, and insisted that the Orthodox Church has not changed its mind regarding the ban on Copts' travel to Jerusalem. Pope Tawadros II noted in press statements April 6, "We will not visit Jerusalem unless our Muslim brothers are with us. In the 1967 war and after the 1973 victory and the peace treaty as well as the church's stance in this regard, the Holy Synod issued a ban on traveling to Jerusalem. This is when the idea of not visiting Jerusalem without our Muslim brothers was enrooted." Pope Tawadros II added, "There are two sides to this story. First, there are almost 3,000 Copts who live in Jerusalem and work in handcrafts. How are these crafts marketed? There are definitely Coptic pilgrims buying these products. Moreover, any visit is a contribution to Palestine's existence. Visiting Jerusalem is good for the Palestinian people and supports them economically. "The other side of the story is that there are humanitarian cases. For instance, a family whose children live abroad and have non-Egyptian nationalities and I don't judge them because of that visit Jerusalem and want to take their parents with them. In such cases, I cannot turn them down. Besides, some elderly people who have humanitarian conditions are allowed to visit Jerusalem." Yet the question remains, did the pope's visit encourage Copts to follow his lead and face accusations of normalization with Israel? Visits by Copts to Jerusalem have taken off in the past few days in the lead-up to Easter. The security authorities are imposing certain conditions on Copts who want to travel to Jerusalem. They should be at least 37 years old, have a security approval to allow them to travel to Jerusalem and stay there from one week to 10 days. Wajih Rizk, owner of a travel agency for Copts' traveling to Jerusalem, told Al-Monitor, "Around 6,000 Copts are traveling to Jerusalem [this year] and the security measures were better last year." Rizk said, "Although Pope Tawadros II traveled to Jerusalem in 2015, this did not affect the Copts' travel to the city because Copts already have a strong affinity to visiting holy places. The numbers are constantly rising because the places they can visit are plentiful and amazing for Copts." Rizk noted, "Due to security measures, young Copts cannot travel to Jerusalem. Most travelers are old. Palestinians mostly benefit from the Copts' visits to Jerusalem that do not have a religious or political purpose. Copts have the right to visit their religious sites." In statements made prior to Easter 2012, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Arabs to visit Jerusalem and said that such visits are in the interest of the Palestinian cause. Coptic analyst Gamal Assad said in a statement April 20 that the Copts who traveled to Israel doubled in number in 2015. He noted that the pope's visit for Jerusalem to participate in the funeral of Archbishop Abraham pushed this further. Assad added, "The Copts' visit to Jerusalem clearly degrades the Palestinian cause and is an open normalization with the Zionists. The stance of former Pope Shenouda III to ban travel to Israel supports the Palestinian cause." Spokesperson for the Orthodox Church Rev. Boulos Halim said April 19, "The church hasn't changed its stance regarding the Copts' travel to Jerusalem. There is a spiritual punishment for those who breach the churchs orders." He added, "The church only allows travel for the elderly for humanitarian purposes. It does not grant permits otherwise." April 29, 2016 Egypt is deeply polarized, and nowhere are the divisions more evident than they are in the country's politicized and biased media. Rather than accurately reporting on the country's issues to help the public better understand the complexities of the current political situation, Egypt's media itself reflects the ongoing political and ideological conflict, and has at times fueled the conflict, fanning the flames of intolerance and inciting violence against "the other" those opposing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, or who are even remotely critical of the regime. On April 26, the day after protests were held to denounce the handing of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, the headlines of the main state-sponsored and pro-government, privately owned newspapers on the one hand, and those of independent papers on the other, vastly contradicted each other, offering opposing narratives. It was as if the journalists and editors from the two camps were reporting from entirely different realities. While a few newspapers, such as the privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm and El-Shorouk, did try to maintain balance and a degree of professionalism and objectivity in their reporting, highlighting the grim reality of the heavy-handed crackdown on opposition activists by security forces, most media outlets were in lockstep with the authorities and chose to downplay the anti-government protests, describing them as "small" and "insignificant." "The Squares Are For Loyalists and Security Forces Await the Opposition Activists," was the almost identical headline in the independent Al-Masry Al-Youm and El-Shorouq. In stark contrast, Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhouria (both of which are state-sponsored), the semi-official Al-Ahram and some pro-government newspapers such as Al-Youm7 and Al-Watan painted a bright picture of revelers joyfully celebrating: "Sinai Liberation Day." They cheered the "patriotic" regime supporters who had danced and raised the national flag at pro-government rallies staged in various parts of Cairo the day before. Meanwhile, they demonized the angry activists denouncing the surrender of the islands, branding them "instigators of chaos" and "traitors." "The people have defeated the evil forces!" read the front page banner in Al-Gomhouria. The latter term was in reference to the opposition activists demanding that the land deal be scrapped. Meanwhile, the headline in Al-Akhbar dismissed the anti-government protests as "insignificant," stating, "The people are building as the army defends them lavish celebrations and low-key protests." The pro-government Al-Youm7 and Al-Watan went further, carrying these headlines respectively: "the Muslim Brotherhood has failed to incite protests," and "April 25: The People Celebrate As The Army Confronts Terrorism." Pro-government talk show host Ahmed Moussa, appearing on the privately owned satellite channel Sadda El Balad on the evening of April 25, was in a festive mood, cheering the "people's victory" over the "traitors," "foreign agents" and "criminals." Heaping praise on the "patriots" and "heroes" supporting the army and the police, he said the patriotic citizens who celebrated on the streets, had taught the "enemies of the state," who tried to "spoil the celebrations by spreading chaos and protesting" a lesson in citizenship and dignity. He launched an Arabic hashtag that translates into "Kudos to the Egyptian People," which according to him were "those exposing and confronting the traitors," urging viewers to use it to tweet "patriotic slogans." "Hail to those celebrating! Long live Egypt," he cried. The media's binary narrative is not new; it has been the norm in Egypt since the 2011 mass uprisings that forced the authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak to step down. In the early days of the uprisings, state media and then-majority pro-government, privately owned channels and publications had turned a blind eye to the street protests. Halfway through the 18-day uprisings, the media changed its discourse, vilifying the opposition activists and branding them "thugs" and "foreign agents." Toward the end, when it became clear that the demonstrators would not let up until the regime fell, the media made an abrupt turnabout, this time siding with the protesters. The headline in the semi-official Al-Ahram, on Feb. 12, 2011, declaring victoriously that "The People Have Toppled the Regime!" remains imprinted in the minds of the youth revolutionaries who had aspired for media reform. More than five years on, there has been little change; the media today is in a state of anarchy. Despite articles in the new constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression, and claims by Sisi that "Egypt enjoys unprecedented freedom of speech," the stifling of the press continues through restrictive legislation and a host of intimidation tactics practiced by the regime and its security arms. A controversial anti-terrorism law decreed by Sisi in August 2015 imposes a hefty fine of up to 500,000 Egyptian pounds (the equivalent of $50,000) on journalists for reporting news that contradicts or strays from the official narrative on security operations in Sinai Peninsula and other terrorist attacks. Arrests and detentions of journalists and assaults on those trying to cover protests by security officers, "thugs" and "patriotic citizens" have become all too common in today's Egypt and are being used to silence critics. 43 journalists were reportedly among the dozens arrested from protest sites on April 25, with seven of them still in custody, according to the English-language Ahram Online news website. Meanwhile, the Committee for the Protection of Journalists has stated that 33 journalists were arrested, with two remaining in custody. There have also been reports of attacks on journalists, including a member of the BBC's TV camera crew who were assaulted by a pro-Sisi crowd under the watch of uniformed police who did not intervene, according to the BBC's Orla Guerin. In a message posted on her Twitter account April 25, Guerin decried the fact that "supporters of President Sisi were free to gather in downtown Cairo unlike critics who faced a huge crackdown." Danish journalist Stefan Sigaard Weichert was also molested by a mob before being handed to police in the impoverished Cairo district of Nahya, the privately-owned Sadda El Balad reported on the night of April 25. The assaults and detentions of journalists prompted a small but angry protest rally outside the Press Syndicate on April 26. The nearly 100 journalists participating in the protest denounced the latest wave of "police intimidation and harassment of journalists" which some of them described as "politically motivated." Moreover, the Press Syndicate has declared its intent to file lawsuits against both Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar and the Head of Cairo's Security Directorate in the wake of the recent "police violations." If indeed this happens, it would be the first such move of its kind, pitting the media against an institution it has traditionally aligned with and respected. Some of the journalists protesting outside the Syndicate told Al-Monitor, "Enough is enough!" It appears that a small number of members of Egypt's long repressed media are finally waking up to the realization that the return of Mubarak's security state and the authoritarian legacy of three former military presidents are standing in the way of any real media reforms. With many other journalists and editors still closely aligned to the various security agencies that make up the "deep state," it may be a while yet before there are any tangible reforms in the country's media. I choose to believe, however, that it is this small group of thoughtful, committed journalists who will bring about the badly needed changes. As Margaret Mead once said, such a group is the only thing that can change the world. April 28, 2016 Some in Egypt believe the state, which claims to fight terrorism, rather is creating it through its obsession with security and its quest to preserve a regressive structure in society. The government has tightened the noose on society, taking a variety of measures against innovative minds such as isolating people, silencing them, limiting their imaginations, confiscating their dreams and basically draining the life out of them. In Egypt, as in some other Arab countries, the state fears every free voice that calls for fighting tyranny. Why do dictatorships fear imagination? asked a number of prominent Tunisian intellectuals in a statement issued March 9 in the wake of verdicts against novelists and authors in Egypt. Signed by 58 intellectuals, the document expressed support for Ahmed Naji, an Egyptian novelist handed a two-year prison sentence in February on charges of offending public decency after he published several pages from his explicit novel The Use of Life (also called "Using Life) in Akhbar al-Adab weekly magazine. Several political parties and rights organizations condemned Naji's incarceration. Then, less than a month later, journalist Fatima Naoot was accused of contempt of religion after she expressed on Facebook her objection to the slaughter of sheep on Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Rights activist Negad el-Borai criticized Naoots three-year prison sentence and tweeted March 31, The [Muslim] Brotherhood and politicians are no longer the only ones who have to flee from the prison for all policy. Meanwhile, Hafez Abu Saada, a member of the National Council for Human Rights, demanded on Twitter the annulment of Article 98 of the Penal Code and said that it leads to the imprisonment of intellectuals, authors and poets and fills Egypts human rights record with more violations. Gamal Eid, head of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, tweeted April 1 that talk about enlightenment or progressive culture under military or religious rule is a waste of energy. Young novelist Osama el-Shazly, author of "August," expressed his distress over these verdicts and said he considers the accusations against novelists unfounded. He told Al-Monitor that the state is generally prone to legally pursuing authors in Egypt, as it honors the notion of a paternalistic, Big Brother state. In a call with Al-Monitor, Shazly added that the religious contempt law in Egypt only punishes those who offend Muslims as radical imams openly use language offensive to Christians but aren't accused of religious contempt. Shazly also wondered how public decency is determined, let alone offended. He said what is characterized as offensive often is actually just dark humor. He rejected the notion of a Big Brother state dictating virtue, saying, We will not write our novels on prayer mats! In February, Shazly posted on his Facebook page that he would quit publishing literary works in Egypt, in coordination with Naji. When asked whether he had any intention of taking back his decision, he said he is in the process of completing a new novel, but has not made up his mind about publishing it in Egypt. He added that he is observing the public situation and that might change his mind. Novelist and journalist Ahmed al-Fakhrany told Al-Monitor that some laws are not fit for the 21st century. Fakhrany noted that the laws regarding contempt of religion are imprecise, making their interpretation subject to judges' moods. He illustrated his point with Najis case, as one court had pronounced him innocent, while another sentenced him to jail. Such verdicts are intimidating and threaten public expression, Fakhrany said. He added that laws should be structured so that decisions are reached objectively. Egyptian novelist Mohamad Rabie, who wrote the novel "Mercury," agreed. He told Al-Monitor that these verdicts stem from generally conservative public prosecutors and the judiciary, and this atmosphere enjoys a public support. He said that if the objective behind these trials is to push Egyptian authors to practice censorship, they will not succeed. In fact, Rabie said he considers such decisions challenges, making him even more insistent on proving his point of view. He said that, unfortunately, Egypt's cultural minister is not dedicated to culture, but rather the state. Rabie described Minister of Culture Helmy Namnam's stance on free expression as inconsistent. Rabie downplayed the importance of Namnam taking a stance of solidarity with intellectuals at a conference involving the Syndicate of Journalists' Freedoms Committee in the wake of intellectual freedom cases. He said such displays of solidarity do nothing tangible to solve the crisis. Al-Monitor tried to contact Namnam several times for a comment, but he did not respond. Ibrahim Abdel Maguid, author of "No One Sleeps in Alexandria," "The Other Place" and "Birds of Amber," among other novels, told Al-Monitor the contempt of religion law conflicts with the 2014 Egyptian Constitution. He said he has seen such convictions against authors backfire. For example, after Naji was sentenced to jail, his novel received wide attention from more than 1 million readers. Before that, he had only sold 50 copies. Abdel Maguid expressed his conviction that such an atmosphere will not affect literary or creative production, because writing is based on artistic sincerity. April 28, 2016 "My three-year-old son was sexually assaulted by the security guard at his school," a mother posted on Facebook April 12 as a cry for help, only to discover that the same security guard had molested five children inside the school. After the Ministry of Education conducted an investigation, the security guard was fired and school officials were referred to the Legal Affairs Department. Meanwhile, the case as a whole was referred to the General Prosecution of Nasr City, a district of Cairo, which ordered the imprisonment of the security guard, summoned school officials for questioning and requested a forensic examination for the child to confirm he was subjected to sexual assault. The child's mother told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that school officials tried to cover up the incident at first, but as a result of the escalating media coverage, they took the initiative to question the truth behind it after the school was called upon to undergo strict security procedures to prevent security guards from entering the school buildings. The school in question issued a statement on its Facebook page April 14 noting that the claims had yet to be proven and were still under investigation. The child's mother added that she and a number of parents were planning to organize a protest in front of the school to demand the prosecution of school officials, but they failed to obtain permission for the sit-in. According to Article 80 of the Egyptian Constitution, "The state shall care for children and protect them from all forms of violence, abuse, mistreatment, and commercial and sexual exploitation." Meanwhile, the so-called Child Law stipulates that the state shall protect children from all sorts of violence, physical, moral or sexual abuse, neglect and all other sorts of mistreatment or exploitation. Kamal Mghaith, a researcher at the National Center for Educational Research, believes that the state of chaos plaguing society makes many feel that the law is worthless and that there is an absence of ethical standards that governed peoples actions in decades past. Speaking to Al-Monitor, he stressed that it is not possible to separate between the cases of rape taking place in schools from all crises that Egyptian society as a whole suffers. "Chaos has made its way into schools and the educational process started to go downhill," Mghaith noted, adding that the negative impact of this chaos has spread into public, private and international schools, after the latter started to only care about financial profit without paying attention to the security of students. Meanwhile, those in charge of these schools failed to recruit employees who are qualified at the educational, psychological and scientific level, and who can be trusted with children. Mghaith stressed the need for specialized research centers to examine and determine the rates of child safety in public, private and al-Azhar-affiliated schools, due to increased incidents in which children are exposed to physical and psychological abuse inside their schools. He warned that such incidents could force parents to resort to private lessons instead of sending their children to school, which threatens the educational process as a whole. Mghaith believes that the laws that punish the perpetrators of these crimes do not present an effective deterrent, saying that the Ministry of Education has only administrative penalties that take a lot of time to apply. He also stressed the need to amend the child law, speed up the justice procedures and not limit the penalties to administrative ones, but rather treat the matter as a criminal case from the beginning. He called on making all educational institutions in Egypt follow policies to open clear channels of communication with children through psychologists and social workers whose role would be to talk to the children about their problems without fear. "There should be a background check for the staff who deal with children and they should only be hired following psychological and behavioral tests." The head of the Children's Defense Network in the Egyptian Bar Association, Ahmad Mosilhi, told Al-Monitor that between January and April 2016, his network received information on about 20 cases of rape and harassment of children in schools. "The slow pace of court proceedings is resulting in the loss of the concept of justice as a whole," said Mosilhi, who believes that some parents of victims of such crimes resort to individual revenge because court sentences take a long time to issue. At the same time, he criticized the work of forensics who sometimes cannot find proof of assault on the victim because they use old devices that can only prove if a complete rape was committed and not an assault. The Egyptian penal code imposes heavy punishments on those convicted of raping and assaulting a boy or girl. Article 267 stipulates the death penalty for anyone who rapes a girl, whether they are the victims relatives or are in charge of rearing or observing the victim, while anyone who assaults a boy or girl without force or threat shall be imprisoned for no less than seven years. Despite the harsh penalties, Mosilhi said that the law differentiates between male and female in this regard; when a girl falls victim to assault, it is considered rape. But when the victim of the same assault is a boy, it is considered sexual abuse. He also demanded to amend the penalty, so those who assault a boy or girl would receive the same penalty, which could be the death sentence in certain cases. "There is no clear list for the protection of children in schools," noted Mosilhi, who added that despite the repeated decisions taken by the Ministry of Education to protect children at all schools in Egypt, there is no clear list of sanctions for those who commit psychological or physical assault against children. In addition, he said, parents do not have clear means to complain should their children fall victim of assault. "Himaya" (Protection) is a campaign launched by Iman Ezzat, professor of philosophy at the Faculty of Specific Education in Cairo University, to educate children and their parents about sexual harassment. The campaign was first launched in 2011; it employs approximately 50 volunteers and has organized several training sessions in all Egyptian governorates. Ezzat told Al-Monitor that she uses songs and games to teach children how to protect themselves if someone tries to approach them or touch their body; she also seeks to train parents on how to use educational and scientific ways to protect their children from harassment. The campaign organizes training sessions in schools during which professors meet with children and their parents, but Ezzat stressed the difficulty of organizing these sessions in public schools, which need a permission from the departments of education and security at the Ministry of Education, noting that about 80% of the schools that hosted the campaign activities were private schools. "Dozens of children are subjected to sexual harassment by their peers, teachers or workers in both public and private schools, noted Ezzat, adding that they receive dozens of complaints on their Facebook page from mothers asking for advice after their children fall victim to sexual harassment. April 28, 2016 With Passover approaching, Israeli volunteers held a symbolic Passover seder outside the Holot refugee detention center. At the gathering, during which the story of the Jews' exodus from Egypt was told, one of the refugees asked if he could take a moment to speak. "Israel has experienced many tragedies," said Ayeli Ergai to hundreds of imprisoned asylum seekers, Israelis and human rights activists. "The Jews suffered as slaves in Egypt and during the Nazi regime. Israel of all places should understand what we are experiencing." Since 2007, a symbolic seder for refugees has been held every year on Passover, the Festival of Freedom. For the last three years, it has taken place outside the walls of Holot, where 3,300 asylum seekers from Eritrea and Sudan are being held indefinitely in subhuman conditions. Ergai's case is just one example of the way Israel is treating Africans who reach the country in search of asylum. Ergai said that he arrived in Israel at age 13, together with his parents and brothers and sisters. During his almost 10 years in the country, he completed his high school matriculation exams and began studying at the Sapir Academic College. Half a year ago, he was arrested and sent to Holot. "The Jewish people received its freedom twice," Ergai remarked after the seder, referring to the Exodus and the establishment of the State of Israel. "Yet, it still doesnt understand what the poor people here are facing." Ergai identifies as Israeli and is well versed in its history. "Israelis are a racist nation," he said candidly. "You were racist toward the Mizrahi and Ethiopian Jews, and you are racist toward us." It was obvious that the detainees are well acquainted with certain key features of Passover: the longing for freedom, the comparison to the Holocaust and the duty to remember and share the story of Egyptian oppression with the next generation. "Passover is the Festival of Freedom, the Festival of Liberation, when the Israelites were freed from Egypt," said Omar Issa, an asylum seeker from Darfur. "We fled here seeking protection. We thought that people would understand us here. Yet here we are, imprisoned and expelled. When will our Passover holiday finally arrive? When will we have our Festival of Freedom?" Osman Mohammed Ali, also from Darfur, has been detained in Holot for half a year. "Why am I here? For the same reason you are here," he said. "I fled genocide." Ali is not optimistic. He remarked, "This event wont change anything, but the least we can do is remember." The theme of this year's ceremony is the opening line of the Passover Haggadah, which reads, "Let anyone who is hungry, come and eat," signifying the tradition of inviting guests who have nowhere else to celebrate the seder. The theme represents an attempt to protest the poor nutrition provided at Holot. The prisoners used their smartphones to share pictures of the food they are typically served to emphasize how bad the situation is. Rabbi Arik Ascherman of Rabbis for Human Rights, who helped organize the seder, announced, "With this grape juice, we will sanctify the event that brought us together to celebrate the freedom of the Jewish people and all peoples. We raise the first glass to mark the struggle against hunger here in Israel and around the world." The Alternative Haggadah distributed at the event condenses the history of the Israelites in Egypt. While the Haggadah recounts the misery of the Israelites in Egypt, the revised version reads, Asylum seekers have yet to leave the country "of their own volition." Thus said the regime: "It is good for them here, and there is food aplenty." And the regime ordered the prison guards, saying, "You shall not increase their calories, nor shall you allow them to amass food." But the asylum seekers overcame this and built themselves stands to store food, so that they could eat it outside of the facility. Then the regime came at night and destroyed the stands. And the asylum seekers woke the next morning, and they sighed and cried out. The selection is referring to food storage stands set up and maintained by the detainees outside the facility and also to the Israeli authorities' destruction of them. The refugees sleep at the facility and eat breakfast and dinner there. Some leave during the day to work, so they created the stands as a solution to the problem of hunger. "There is malnutrition in Holot. The food is inedible, and there is a shortage of it," said Ascherman before beginning the Haggadah song "This Is the Bread of Our Affliction." Activists claim that keeping food from prisoners is a form of coercion, designed to get them to sign papers saying they agree to leave Israel "of their own volition." Then they can be returned to their native countries, where they often find themselves in life-threatening situations. "We are Christians," said Haddish Qahas, from Eritrea. "We know the story of the Exodus, the story of Moses. You were refugees once, just like us. You know what we experienced more than any other nation on Earth. You know what is happening in Eritrea, and yet you still put us under unbearable pressure. I dont understand you. I haven't seen my mother in nine years. No one here wants Israeli citizenship. Everyone wants to go to their own country, their own home, their own mother. I'm wasting my life in this place. Why? I haven't killed anyone. I just want to work and learn." Tali Etzion, a Tel Aviv resident, took part in the ceremony. She said, "Why dont we follow the adage 'The poor of your own city take precedence' [Babylonian Talmud Baba Metzia 71a]? These are the poor of my city. I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors, who were refugees. My country is involved in an injustice in my name, and I am trying to correct it." Victor and Katie Markowitz live in the United States, but are in Israel visiting Katie's mother. They also came to the ceremony. "Even overseas, we care about what happens in Israel," Victor said. "We cant begin to imagine what these people have been through." Ascherman remarked that the salt water used in the Jewish ritual to symbolize the tears of enslavement represents the "many tears that were spilled in this place," the bitter herbs recall the bitterness of oppression and the traditional green vegetable on the seder plate symbolizes the spring season. "Even in the harshest winter, we know that spring will come. After all the difficulties, change will come," said Ascherman. Mishael Lulai from Beit Shemesh ended up at the event by chance, as a driver in the convoy that brought the seder volunteers to Holot. He supported having such a ceremony. "The Jewish people have gone through so much suffering," Lulai said. "There was the Exodus from Egypt. They suffered as slaves. We should understand the refugees. We shouldn't put them in prison. We should let them work and earn a living with dignity." Ascherman closed the ceremony by stating, "As the Jewish and Israeli people, we cannot experience redemption as long as there is still oppression." Then, everyone roared, "Let this be the last seder in Holot!" It seemed, however, that many believed they would meet again in the same place next year. April 28, 2016 Tens of thousands of Gaza Strip residents, Palestinians who used to work in Israel, bear scars from the Erez crossing. They used to call it the barrier of death because the passage to Israel through the crowded crossing was life threatening. Hundreds required medical treatment after suffocating there or being trampled in the cruel battle for survival at the antiquated, congested security checkpoints. Injuries were par for the course. There isnt a single Palestinian laborer who traveled from Gaza to work in Israel who has not experienced the travails of this crossing, with its notorious and nightmarish carousels revolving steel barriers through which they passed to the Israeli side. More than 10 years ago, I arrived at the Erez crossing with a camera crew. The footage shot that night deeply shocked television viewers and decision-makers in Israel. The film crew and I barely escaped being trampled by the thousands of Palestinians who stormed the revolving turnstiles, rushing not to miss a day of work. We climbed onto the roof of the revolving barrier and the masses charged forward below us. The Israeli soldiers stationed at the facility controlled the barrier by pressing a button, every so often allowing small groups of laborers to push through the narrow passages leading to the turnstiles. Anyone not fast enough to slither through to the other side risked being trapped against the iron rails along the sides of the passageway. Two Palestinians laborers were crushed to death in this manner in 2004. Being stomped on, injured and humiliated was a daily routine for tens of thousands of Gaza residents for whom working in Israel was the only way to make a living. Similarly horrifying spectacles reminiscent of the terrible years at the Erez crossing occur daily at the other crossings between Israel and the West Bank, including the one north of Bethlehem, known as the 300 Checkpoint, and the one at Qalandiya near Ramallah. The humiliation and horrendous conditions that the West Bank Palestinians endure at the crossings even riled Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel of the right-wing HaBayit Hayehudi. Ariel said April 15, The State of Israel and its defense agencies should be ashamed of this disgrace: People standing there under inhumane conditions in the heavy summer heat and the winter rains. The West Bank roadblocks are run by the Israel Defense Forces and the police, but the Erez crossing was handed over in 2006 to the Ministry of Defense, which reopened it with a new terminal in 2007. Palestinians now call it the good crossing. Erez today has become like the Good Fence that we used to have on the border between Lebanon and Israel, said Lt. Col. (res.) Shlomo Tsaban, who has been running the facility since it was revamped some nine years ago. Shock at the conditions that prevailed at the Erez crossing in the past led Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to order it widened into a humane crossing with effective and innovative security checks, able to accommodate tens of thousands every day. The large new building was erected on the foundations of the old crossing, and it looks more like an airport or seaport passenger terminal than a border crossing between enemies. About two months after the new crossing was inaugurated, Hamas carried out a coup in the Gaza Strip and the residents have since been banned from working in Israel. Today, the Erez crossing serves mostly sick people, traders and the staff of welfare and aid agencies operating in Gaza. This reality is surreal and the crossing operates in a surrealistic manner, Tsaban told Al-Monitor. Hamas officials stand on one side, Israeli soldiers on the other in a state of preparedness along the border fence and in the middle the crossing serves travelers. But the calm inside the terminals is misleading. There, there is no sense of tension, no war or fear of violence between the sides. Only the sounds of the Israeli Air Force planes circling overhead and the shrieks of artillery shells fired from the Strip into Israel every few days provide a reminder of the true state of things. Some 1,000 people come through the Erez crossing daily. Ambulances from Gaza transport high-risk patients to hospitals in Israel. On a tour of the area last week, I heard Tsaban addressing the soldiers and civilians who had convened in the staff dining room for a toast ahead of the Passover holiday. He spoke about how things should be run at a border crossing between two warring sides. According to him, they should go about their business as if there were no war, no violence and no tension. They should take all possible precautions, but not at the expense of those passing through the crossing. We see the scenes at the West Bank crossings and we can only regret the conditions and the suffering [the Palestinians] endure there every day on their way to provide for their families, Tsaban told his staff, adding, Everyone remembers that things here were different once, nothing we should be proud of. But theres been a change. Every worker here knows that a Palestinian coming to us from the other side has the right to the best treatment he deserves. Tsaban laid down a basic rule for dealing with those passing through from Gaza to Israel: A ten-minute wait is longer than the service goal we set for ourselves. With many of those passing through being sick people on their way to life-saving medical treatment in Israel, a lengthy wait is dangerous. We have to enable them to make their way from Gaza to Israel in the easiest, most convenient way. Given that Gaza has been under blockade for nine years, meetings between Palestinians from the Strip and Israelis are fairly rare. Some of those crossing at Erez are seeing an Israeli for the first time in their lives, and the encounter confuses them. This is not the Israeli they have grown used to seeing on Hamas television, and these are not the Israelis they saw in clashes with the IDF in Gaza. Israeli defense officials have recently started granting permits to young Gaza residents to cross into Israel accompanied by their parents. Whether children of merchants or young men and women accompanying sick people heading for treatment in Israel, the idea is for the young Palestinians to meet Israelis. Such meetings might change their conception of the neighbors on the other side of the Erez crossing that has been largely molded by Hamas media. The plan is perhaps a drop of sanity in a sea of hostility between Israel and Gaza, but its a step in the right direction and part of the process that has turned the Erez crossing from a death trap to a gate of hope. The Erez model should be applied at the West Bank crossings. Although the number of those passing daily through Erez cannot compare to the flow at the overloaded West Bank crossing points, the IDF should hand over responsibility for the crossings to the Ministry of Defense and the Port Authority. April 28, 2016 Israel will issue identification cards indicating permanent residency status to 2,000 Palestinians living in Jerusalem and the West Bank who meet certain criteria. The cards will allow Palestinian families to reunite, some for the first time in 13 years. However, there are complications, many involving the Israeli Nationality Law of 2003, which is still in effect. The law prevents family reunification when one spouse is a resident of an Israeli city and the other is a Palestinian from the West Bank or Jerusalem and can only visit by obtaining temporary Israeli permits. The decision to allow the reunification of 2,000 Palestinians living in Israel and Jerusalem is a wonderful yet insufficient step, knowing that the number of Palestinians who have permits to stay in Israel is estimated at 1.46 million people. They are denied the Israeli identity card that allows them to enjoy all of their social and legal rights, namely family reunification," said Jamal Zahalka, an Israeli Knesset member for the joint Arab List and leader of the parliamentary National Democratic Assembly bloc. Authorities will grant 2,000 blue Israeli identity cards only to those Palestinians living in Jerusalem and the West Bank who have held, since 2003, permits to stay in the Israeli cities and regions of Jaffa, Haifa, Acre, Jerusalem, the Triangle, the Galilee and the Negev. The current blue identity card is granted by Israel to the people of East Jerusalem alone. Most owners of the blue card are permanent residents of Israel. However, Arab Palestinians living in the country hold, along with the blue card, an Israeli passport and are considered Israeli citizens, but not residents even though they reside in Israel. Zahalka told Al-Monitor he is calling on Israel to abolish the Nationality Law. He said the government, "which claims to be democratic," keeps renewing the law, preventing tens of thousands of Palestinian families from leading normal lives. Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri officially notified the High Court on April 14 of the decision, which was issued in response to a petition submitted by the Israeli Human Rights Center for the Defense of the Individual and a number of lawyers. However, no timeline for implementing the decision has been disclosed. Palestinian petitioner Najib Zayed, who is a lawyer and a notary public living in Israel, told Al-Monitor, The decision came following eight years of continuous work and great efforts. We protested against the racist Israeli Nationality Law and [fought for] Palestinians' right to nationality and identity as native residents who are entitled to all the rights and privileges. He stressed, My fellow lawyers, legal experts and I will do our best to have all the families reunited and abolish the racist Nationality Law." Once that is done, his group will work to keep the Israeli government from subsequently reneging on its decision by citing security concerns, he said. Speaking to Al-Monitor, Omar Shibli, a father of six from Jerusalem, hopes his wife "will be among those who will be allowed to get reunited with their families and granted a blue card instead of a temporary residence permit that is renewed annually. He added, There are a quarter of a million Palestinians who have been waiting for the implementation of this new decision ever since they obtained family reunification permits pursuant to several previous decisions, which Israel [later] revoked under false pretexts." Ziad Hammouri of Jerusalem, director of the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights, told Al-Monitor, The decision submitted by the interior minister Deri may face several objections within the Israeli Knesset" because Israel's policy "consists of limiting and putting an end to the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem and Israel. If the proposal is adopted, Hammouri said, its implementation "will face many obstacles, because there are several conditions" people will have to meet. In addition to the 13-year residency requirement, "those seeking to obtain the said identity should also have a stay permit in Israel and a clean record. Therefore, security pretexts may be invoked in a bid to avoid giving anyone the blue card. Add to this that the decision is restricted to humanitarian and difficult cases, whose number is limited" compared with the number of Palestinians seeking to be reunited with their families in Jerusalem and Israel. "These are estimated at about 60,000 people. Ayman Qandil, a representative of the Civil Affairs Authority in the Palestinian government in Ramallah, said the authority would not provide Al-Monitor with any information about the decision. The Israeli decision was primarily political and the Palestinian government has nothing to do with it," Qandil said. April 28, 2016 Many Libya experts expected the arrival of Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli to trigger violence between militias supporting it and those opposing it, but nothing serious has yet occurred. The government, brokered by the United Nations and headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, has installed itself with minimum trouble. That said, since its establishment on March 30, the GNA has been confined to temporary headquarters, an old naval base a few kilometers west of the capital, for security reasons. The GNA is completely dependent on local, supportive militias for protection, such as the Tripoli Revolutionary Brigade (TRB). It helped to secure its arrival and provides security details for its headquarters. Hashim Bishr, a TRB leader, told Al-Monitor, [We are] working within the Ministry of Interior, making sure that nothing serious happens and the capital remains safe. No single armed group or alliance has moved to establish itself as the dominant force in the capital, where security remains shaky and uncertain in terms of who controls what. The GNAs strategy appears to be to gain as much political and bureaucratic support as possible before engaging the militias in the hope of integrating them into the armed and security forces. The good news is that no militia opposing the GNA has thus far shown any inclination to use force against it Since its arrival, the GNA has gained the support of numerous municipal councils in western Libya as well as many district councils, the grassroots of political power, at least in the capital. The most serious political hurdle, however, remains the endorsement, through a vote of confidence, of the internationally recognized House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk, as required by the Libyan Political Agreement, signed Dec. 17, giving birth to the GNA. The Speaker of the HoR, Agila Saleh Issa, has consistently stressed that the parliament cannot vote on the government unless it presents itself to the deputies in Tobruk, a basic requirement in the democratic process. The GNA has, however, failed to do so, without explaining why. Its reluctance, it seems, stems from security-related fears and the situation its members might face in eastern Libya. A high-ranking military source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to Al-Monitor that Gen. Khalifa Hifter fears that after the GNA gains full authority his official role as chief of staff of the Libyan National Army could be scraped, because many militias and Islamist political leaders in western Libya do not like him. The mufti of Libya, Sadiq al-Ghariani, has called for jihad against the army led by Hifter, but at the same time, refuses to accept the GNA. Hifter is unlikely to disappear anytime soon, however, given the popular and political support he enjoys, thanks to his recent gains on the ground in his fight against Islamist groups, particularly in Benghazi. More than half of HoR deputies have voiced support for the GNA, but they have been unable to assemble a quorum. A two-thirds majority is needed for a vote of confidence to be legal and binding. Some people, including UN envoy Martin Kobler, blame Issa for delaying the vote. This view is shared by the European Union, which has imposed sanctions, including a travel ban and assets freeze, on Issa and other politicians including Nouri Abusahmen, former speaker of the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli, along with GNC-affiliated, self-proclaimed prime minister, Khalifa al-Ghweil for obstructing implementation of the political accord and thus obstructing the GNA from carrying out its duties. Abusahmen and Ghweil consider the GNA illegal, claiming that it does not represent the wishes of the Libyan people. Both men, however, lack international standing. Meanwhile, the GNA has so far failed to translate the political support and endorsement of Western and regional powers into action. France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy expressed their support in strong terms when their foreign ministers visited Tripoli and met with GNA members on April 16. They also promised financial and military support and made it clear that they would only deal with the GNA, ignoring any other party claiming to be the legitimate government. Some Western ambassadors, including from France, the United Kingdom and Spain, have visited Tripoli for the first time since the summer of 2014, when war broke out between the GNC, backed by a coalition of Islamists, and Zintan militias, forcing them out of the capital. Thus, the political and security wrangling continues as the daily lives of Libyans become even more difficult, stemming from the banking system's lack of liquidity, skyrocketing prices and lack of security. Cash withdrawals from banks are limited to no more than 500 Libyan dinars (approximately $366), which doesn't last long for a middle-class family averaging five persons. The only cheap thing these days is gas and local phone calls. This setting, with the government in Tripoli being far from safe, to the extent that it is operating from an old naval base, demonstrates how dangerous it is to go to the official government building, less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) away. The Islamic State (IS) is one of the serious sources of danger. After taking control of Sirte, IS has imposed horrific punishments on anyone daring to oppose it and has forced thousands to flee their homes, helping create nearly half a million internally displaced Libyans and more than a million emigrants. Stemming the surge of migrants making the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean to Italy is another complex issue the GNA must attend to to satisfy its Western backers. The number of people making the journey is set to rise given increasingly calm seas and restrictions on the Turkish-Greek route. The GNA faces a multitude of urgent problems with very little means to solve any of them, thus adding to Libyas already combustible status as a country ungovernable for the last five years. April 29, 2016 Oman shares the Strait of Hormuz with Iran and maintains cordial relations with Tehran, despite the formers membership in the mostly anti-Iranian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). As Iran gradually reintegrates into the global economy, Oman is becoming a stepping stone for Iranian companies seeking to penetrate new African, Asian and Arab markets. Omans emergence as a critical trade hub linking Iran to several continents is consistent with the sultanates independent foreign policy, which often operates outside the GCC framework. Omans commercial, cultural and geospatial links to non-Arab lands are rooted in its history as ruler of an empire that stretched across portions of modern-day India, Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, Mozambique and Tanzania. Omans pan-Indian Ocean identity often transcends its Arab/Islamic identity and its membership in the Saudi-led GCC. Now that Iran is shedding the sanctions it has borne for years, Oman has new opportunities to position itself as an increasingly important trade corridor. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was implemented Jan. 16. Six days later, Gulf News reported that Tehrans ambassador to Muscat, Ali Akbar Sibaveh, declared that Iran will repay Omans capital, Muscat, for its influential role in getting the nuclear deal passed and the sanctions lifted. Sibaveh said, Friends at times of need are few and Oman stood with us through thick and thin, and we do not forget our friends. Iran made good on that promise in March when it announced it is establishing a $200 million joint venture with Oman. The venture, Orchid International Auto, will build an automobile plant in Duqm, situated along Omans Arabian Sea coast. Omans state-owned investment fund will share ownership with Iran Khodro Co. Irans largest car company and an Omani investor. The Iranian automotive group intends to begin production next year to produce 20,000 units before mid-2018. Iran Khodros chief executive, Hashem Yekke-Zare, announced that only 5,000 units are intended for Oman and that the other 15,000 are destined for Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Yemen. Iran also plans several other projects in Oman, including a nanotechnology plant, a hospital complex and the inauguration of flights between Oman and Chahbar, Iran. In January, Iran Khodro also signed a $436 million deal under which Frances PSA Peugeot Citroen will produce 200,000 cars annually at the ventures peak. The companies are to be equal partners, Irans Financial Tribune reported. Plummeting oil prices have severely damaged Omans state finances, pushing the Gulf Arab nation into a financial squeeze. Like other GCC states, Oman is determined to diversify its sources of revenue. In fact, 21 years before Saudi Arabias Deputy Crown Prince announced the kingdoms Vision 2030, Oman outlined its Vision 2020, which was also aimed at growing the nations private economy, increasing revenues outside of the oil sector and investing in the countrys human capital. During Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis visit to Muscat in March 2014, Omani and Iranian officials agreed to establish a 124-mile-long undersea gas pipeline connecting the two countries. As Oman turns to liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports as a means of decreasing dependence on oil, importing Iranian gas for the sultanates domestic consumption can free up the Gulf Arab state to sell more of its LNG to foreign countries. Oman offers Iran a stepping stone to Africa, but the lifting of sanctions on Iran also enables the sultanate to deepen energy relations via Iran with gas-rich Central Asia. The passage of the interim nuclear agreement in November 2013 marked an important step toward building a Central Asian-Iranian-Omani trade nexus. In August 2014, the foreign ministers of Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan met in Muscat to sign a memorandum of understanding Establishment of the International Transport and Transit Corridor within the framework of the Ashgabat Agreement, signed in 2011 to establish a corridor among the four countries. (Since then, India and Kazakhstan have joined.) The foreign ministers also reviewed principles for opening up the Omani ports of Sohar, Duqm and Salalah to Central Asia. Prospects for this trade corridor unquestionably prompted Omani officials to diplomatically pursue the unfreezing of Irans trade with the outside world and to ease tensions between Iran and its adversaries. From the perspective of Saudi Arabia and other GCC states, Irans reintegration with the global economy is a troublesome, albeit expected, outcome of the JCPOA. The Saudis were angry when they learned that their Omani counterparts were hosting secret talks on the nuclear deal between American and Iranian officials and pursuing such diplomatic avenues independently from the council. As Oman continues to play an integral role in Irans efforts to develop new markets across the Indian Ocean and the greater Middle East, the issue of deepening Muscat-Tehran ties will likely remain a source of tension within the GCC. The council is certainly wary of Oman pursuing an independent foreign policy that could weaken the framework and collective security of the Gulf Arab states. Yet as Omani-Iranian trade grows, and ports such as Duqm offer Iran myriad opportunities, Omans fellow GCC states also have much to gain from the sultanates enhanced infrastructure and its access to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. When the Omanis began constructing the Duqm port in 2013, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recognized a chance to decrease their dependence on the Strait of Hormuz for transferring their own oil and initiated plans to connect their roads, railways and pipelines to Duqm. As a politically stable country on the Arabian Peninsulas southeastern corner, Oman is surrounded by some of the worlds most sensitive geopolitical fault lines and important trade corridors. Under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Muscat has cautiously and pragmatically navigated through the regions geosectarian divisions to maintain positive relations with all powers. A key pillar of the sultanates foreign policy has been to balance the interests of its more powerful neighbors off one another to advance its own. The Omanis have long seen Saudi Arabia as an overbearing neighbor, and today Muscat and Riyadh officials harbor strong disagreements about numerous issues, ranging from oil production to Saudi Arabias military intervention in Yemen. The deepening ties with Iran allow Oman to secure geopolitical independence from Riyadh, which will continue as more sanctions against Iran are lifted, offering the sultanate new opportunities in the global economy. The growing Omani-Iranian trade corridor will facilitate Omans assertion of an independent foreign policy rooted in the nations unique history as the center of an Indian Ocean empire. Indeed, as the Omanis plan for their future, they are looking, at the same time, to their past. April 29, 2016 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas took two decisions that caught his opponents by surprise. On April 3, he issued a presidential decree, announcing the formation of a constitutional court, which some see as a prelude to prevent Hamas from taking over the presidential seat in case of his absence; Hamas leader and Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Abdel Aziz Dweik is authorized to handle the tasks of the Palestinian Authoritys (PA) president according to the Palestinian Basic Law in case of the presidents death, resignation or incompetence. On April 11, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) announced that Abbas has suspended the fronts financial allocations disbursed by the Palestinian National Fund, which acts as a Ministry of Finance at the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Within a short period, the decision was also applied to the other leftist opponent: the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP). The amount allocated to each front is estimated at $80,000 per month and is disbursed for meeting various expenses and salaries. Similar amounts have been spent since the 1970s for all national forces at the PLO so that they would not pledge allegiance to foreign parties that might support them, according to a leader in the leftist local party who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Talal Okal, political journalist at Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayyam, considered the decisions to form a Constitutional Court and to suspend the financial allocations a reflection of an individual system of rule. He told Al-Monitor, Tyranny has become the political rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Okal said that the Supreme Court in Palestine fills in for the Constitutional Court; therefore, forming a Constitutional Court at this time with certain privileges stems from a desire to control. Okal noted that the president recently signed several laws that were later suspended due to the public protest, such as the Social Security Law and the Law of the Palestinian Supreme Council for Media. This indicates monopolization of decisions and lack of democratic mechanisms. Hamas also objected to the decision to form a Constitutional Court and condemned the fact that most of its members are from Fatah, which makes it a partisan court. Head of the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, Salah Abdel Ati, told Al-Monitor that the constitutional principles narrow down the cases in which the executive authority can intervene in the Constitutional Court. Resorting to this privilege should be exceptional. He said, The executive authoritys intervention is an exception that should not be overdone. It only happens to face an imminent threat that cannot be addressed without taking quick and exceptional measures. This is known as an urgent situation that cannot be delayed. In 2014, Abbas expanded his special privileges to form a Constitutional Court when he introduced amendments to the 2006 Constitutional Court Law No. 3. The amendment text read: The president of the court and its judges are appointed through a decision taken by the president of the Palestinian National Authority [PNA] in consultation with the chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council and the minister of justice. The formation of a court and the suspension of allocations sparked angry official and public reactions. The most violent was when youths affiliated with the PFLP burnt Abbas photos in the park of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza City on April 13, to object to the suspension of allocations. The DFLP had a less violent reaction, as it thought the financial allocations were delayed as usual, according to member of the political bureau Talal Abu Zarifeh. But the Palestinian National Fund soon asserted to the front that the allocations were suspended, and Zarifeh told Al-Monitor during a meeting at his office, This is an erratic and erroneous decision that aims at disturbing national relations. Zarifeh considered these allocations a right acquired through a decision from the Palestinian National Council rather than a donation. He said that the decision to suspend the monthly stipend stems from disputes with Abbas and aims at pushing the front to make compromises, especially after it sided with the people in the teacher strikes and opposed the social security law. Abbas had taken over the presidency after winning in the 2005 elections and succeeding Rawhi Fattouh who was speaker of the PLC and interim president of the PA in the wake of Yasser Arafats sudden death. Abbas has been president ever since, and no new elections were held after the end of his first four-year term. Political journalist at NPAA Press Akram Atallah told Al-Monitor, The president is categorically getting rid of his opponents. Member of parliament Mohammed Dahlan, former Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and former Secretary of the PLO Executive Committee Yasser Abed Rabbo are a few examples. Abbas is casting the same spell now on the two fronts and on Hamas through a constitutional decision. However, Atallah is at peace with the decision to form the court. He justified this by saying, If anything happens to the president, the worst is yet to come. According to the law, Dweik would be president, but he is detained by Israel. As a result, his deputy Ahmad Bahr in Gaza would become president. But Bahr is a member of Hamas, and the West Bank authority will not acknowledge a president from Hamas. As a result, there would be two presidents most likely Saeb Erekat in the West Bank, as he is a member of both the central and executive committees in the PLO, and another president in Gaza. Moussa Abu Malouh, dean of the faculty of law at the University of Palestine, considered the decision to form the Constitutional Court unjustified. He told Al-Monitor, We should have held elections first. Everybody now, including the president, is illegitimate since their terms have expired and elections are yet to be held. He explained that the Constitutional Courts competencies include supervising the constitutionality of the laws and regulations, and interpreting the texts of the Basic Law and other laws in case of a dispute between the executive, judicial and legislative authorities. He said hat the Constitutional Court is required to rule on disputes as to the legal competence to hold office of the president of the PNA. He said, Perhaps the president wanted to guarantee that the head of the Constitutional Court would replace him in case of his death, or maybe he wanted the Constitutional Court to decide on pending cases such as the case of Dahlan and the effectiveness of his immunity as a member of the PLC. Malouh called on the president to protect justice rather than oppose it, amid several complaints against many judges that Abbas chose to be part of the court. But it seems these calls will fall on deaf ears. Abbas is still strongly adopting the Big Brother policy in punishing his opponents. This brings back what Julius Caesar said while invading the Gaul region, upon receiving the Roman senates decision to dismiss him: The die is cast. With his decisions, Abbas has indeed cast the die and things may have passed the point of no return. April 29, 2016 Like so many accomplished students, Benaz Someir, a Palestinian from Gaza, chose to attend Birzeit University. While pursuing her degree in journalism, Benaz met and later married Walid Batrawi, a fellow BA journalism student from Ramallah. For family and professional reasons, Benaz, a resident of Khan Yunis in Gaza, requested and was given permission to change her residency to the West Bank. Having successfully convinced the Israelis to change her residency to the West Bank, Benaz was now able to travel to different parts of the world using the King Hussein Bridge, which was easier than returning to Gaza. The choice was hard, but Benaz felt that it was best for her and her career as a media trainer and for her new family in Ramallah. That decision was made more than 20 years ago. But despite being married to a Palestinian and having proper residency in Ramallah for two decades, Benaz is being treated by Jordanian border control officers as a Gazan. Like all other West Bank and Gaza residents, Benaz holds the same Palestinian passport, yet she is treated differently than her husband. Walid is allowed to travel to Jordan or via Jordan without any restrictions, while Benaz needs to get prior Jordanian approval. This practice began when Gazans carried Egyptian travel documents and West Bankers carried Jordanian travel documents. However, since the 1993 Oslo Accords, this changed, and all Palestinians have the same passports. Nevertheless, Palestinians deemed by Jordan as Gazans (namely, if they were born in Gaza or are children of Gazan parents) must apply for a special permit called an adam mumanaa a no-objection document issued by the Jordanian Ministry of Interior. This is costly, nonrevocable and time-consuming. The process takes weeks and sometimes months without any clarity of the rules. Despite this inconvenience, most Gazans with a legitimate reason to travel are granted this permit until recently. Wafa Abdel Rahman, founder/director of Filasitynat, a leading womens nongovernmental organization, is also a Gazan who has been living in the West Bank for decades. Abdel Rahman told Al-Monitor that the Jordanian authorities have in the past three months almost completely stopped approving these coveted permits. They have turned down almost every application without any explanation or justification. Abdel Rahman, who married a Jordanian citizen, was able to make it to Jordan this week and has launched a series of meetings with Jordanian parliamentarians and government officials. She has also been speaking in the media about the problem. Living in Ramallah as a Gaza-born means you are stuck, you cant return to see your family in Gaza, and now you cant travel outside the West Bank for work or pleasure, she told Al-Monitor. Students, workers, individuals invited to conferences and businesspeople are among the many types of people who have been unable in recent months to obtain permits to enter Jordan, said Abdel Rahman. She estimates that about 50,000 Gazans are now residents of the West Bank. Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah told Al-Monitor that the Palestinian government is pursuing the case of Gazans with their Jordanian counterparts. We are in constant touch with our Jordanian partners, and we have excellent cooperation at all levels, he told Al-Monitor. Abdel Rahman and others affected are not convinced of the ability of Ramallah to do anything and have created a movement called Haraka with the express goal of pursuing the freedom to the right to travel and to choose your residency. While in Amman, Abdel Rahman joined forces with a group of Gazans living in Jordan who also face different kinds of discrimination in work and employment. They will meet with senior Jordanian officials to seek a change to the current policy. Jordanian sources are extremely quiet on the subject. A reliable security source told Al-Monitor that in Jordan the bridge policy is a sovereignty issue and is considered a red line not open for discussion. The problem is further complicated because Jordan is trying to organize its huge migrant population and deal with the international pressure to allow Syrian refugees to work in Jordan. Syrian refugees have been recently allowed to take up jobs in Jordan, and thus the opportunity for Jordanian workers is narrowing. The concern (although unsubstantiated) is that somehow if Gazan Palestinians make it to Jordan, they will drive unemployment among Jordanians even more. Abdel Rahman told Al-Monitor that some Jordanian officials have indirectly hinted that some Gazans come to Jordan and never left. The lukewarm relationship between Ramallah and Amman has also meant that there are few top-level meetings between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah during which such sensitive issues could be dealt with. This week, Benaz was invited to a family wedding in Jordan. She had to stay in Ramallah while others were able to attend the celebrations because she was unable to obtain the permission that Palestinians of Gazan origin need in order to enter Jordan. For years, Palestinians have been fighting repressive Israeli travel restrictions. But for Palestinians who have fought and succeeded in finding an alternative by moving to the West Bank, to get restricted now from traveling by a nearby Arab country is hard for many to fathom. What is further frustrating is that they are being discriminated against based on their birthplace, even though they carry the same passport as their fellow Palestinians. April 28, 2016 The Palestinian arena has recently been dealing with the repercussions of an incident that suggests the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel exchange information on prisoners in order to prevent armed operations against Israel. On April 9, three Palestinian men were arrested in Ramallah by the Palestinian security services in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which brought back to the minds of the Palestinians the issue of security coordination between the PA and the IDF. On March 31, Bassel al-Araj, 33, from Bethlehem; Haitham Siyaj, 23, from Hebron; and Mohammed Harb, 19, from Jenin, who were living together in an apartment in Ramallah, went missing. On April 1, a cleaner working for the city's municipality found a bag in a garbage bin that contained a laptop, mobile phones and the mens identity cards. A relative of one of the men told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Before arresting them, the Palestinian security forces had raided their apartment in Ramallah and did not find anything unusual. The Palestinian security investigations confirmed that they were not detained by Israel and that they did not leave the West Bank. This raised more doubts and caused the public to become concerned about their disappearance. Following searches and investigations, the Palestinian General Intelligence Service arrested the trio April 9 in a remote mountainous area in the village of Aroura, north of Ramallah. On April 10, the Israeli Radio announced that the three men had probably been preparing themselves to attack one of the settlements near Ramallah, as they were caught in possession of a locally manufactured Carlo assault rifle and grenades. Louay Zreikat, spokesman for the West Bank police, told Al-Monitor, The families of the three young men had informed the Palestinian police that their sons disappeared under mysterious circumstances. We immediately started the appropriate search and investigation procedures. We even issued a circular with their names to all Palestinian cities in the West Bank, until we tracked them down in the village of Aroura north of Ramallah. The three men are subject to investigations by the competent authorities to find out the details of their disappearance. Within the scope of the security dimensions of this incident, the critical role of surveillance cameras deployed in the West Bank was brought to the public's attention. The cameras had taken photos of the three men in one of the stores near their apartment as they were packing up large quantities of food, supposedly in preparation of their mission. Yasin Izz al-Din, a Palestinian writer specialized in armed resistance affairs, told Al-Monitor, "Interestingly, the three members of this group have multilateral political orientation. Bassel al-Araj is a leftist activist, Mohammed Harb is pro-Hamas and Haitham Siyaj is a released prisoner of unknown political orientation. This is uncommon in armed action; usually the members of the same group are affiliated with the same organization and share the same intellectual level. He said, The three men got rid of their mobile phones and their identity cards in a garbage bin in Ramallah before heading out to execute their operation, so as not to be tracked down. They did not think that someone would sift through the garbage bin and find their identity cards. Although the Palestinian security service remained silent on the intentions of the arrested men, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported April 9 that they were planning a shooting or an abduction of settlers or soldiers near Ramallah. While Israel said that the motive for the armed operations against the Palestinians is the deteriorating economic situation, the economic conditions of these men is relatively good, with Araj being a pharmacist and Harb an engineer. Muhannad Karajeh, a lawyer at Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association in Ramallah, told Al-Monitor, In the early days of the investigation at the Palestinian security services headquarters, the men were subjected to different methods of torture, such as stealth torture, sleep deprivation and continuous questioning. They were beaten, insulted and not allowed to take showers, which is contrary to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment signed by the PA. We are clearly facing an issue related to political arrests. Palestinian reactions came successively on the arrest of the men as a continuation of previous arrests of resistance members. On April 14, members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, such as Basem al-Zaarir and Samira al-Halaika from the West Bank and Marwan Abu Ras and Mushir al-Masri from the Gaza Strip, indicated that the arrest of the three men falls within the scope of the revolving door policy. Under this policy, the PA would arrest a Palestinian suspect, and upon his release he will be arrested shortly thereafter by Israeli security services. The families of the three detainees and other activists staged a sit-in April 17 in front of the headquarters of the General Intelligence Service in Ramallah, calling for their release. Hamas spokesman Husam Badran told Al-Monitor, Hamas considers the PA responsible for the arrest of the three young men, as it is working publicly on aborting the intifada and halting resistance operations against the Israeli occupation which detained dozens in the past few days after they were detained for days and weeks by the PA. [This] requires a Palestinian position against the blatant security coordination with Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said April 19 in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel that the PA arrested three men because they had plotted attacks on Israel. This is while Majid Faraj, head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Services, told Defense News Jan. 18 that Palestinian security foiled 200 attacks against Israel during the last three months of 2015. Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported April 23 that there are prevailing convictions in the Palestinian street that the arrest of the three men is an outcome of the security coordination between the Palestinian security services and Israel, and that these services are competing with each other to provide security information and intelligence to the Israeli army on the resistance and its activities. Sometimes, the Palestinian national security forces provide their Israeli counterparts with confessions made by Palestinian detainees interrogated in Palestinian prisons. This suggests that there is a joint computer network, as noted by B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in a report in February. Although the arrest of the three men raised the ire of the Palestinians, the PA does not seem to halt its policy to prevent armed operations against Israel. It may be determined to continue to arrest and prosecute those who plan to attack Israel, fearing the Israeli reaction and Hamas benefiting from these operations. April 28, 2016 Samira Ayyash and her family are refusing to return to Ramadi in Anbar province after having fled to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Ayyash fears that she and her two sons and daughter could fall victim to a landmine or bomb in the Ramadi streets or inside their house, which they deserted June 8, 2015, to escape the oppression of the Islamic State (IS). Ayyash told Al-Monitor, "Returning to Ramadi right now is impossible as long as the city is not clear of landmines. Our neighbors and friends who are currently in Ramadi tell us that there is a major threat to civilians from landmines, and this is worrying. We fled death when IS controlled Ramadi; we cannot risk our lives again. We will stay in Baghdad so as not to fall victim to a landmine or bomb." According to the estimates of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, Ramadi is the city with the most landmines in the world, and most of the city neighborhoods are unsafe because of these explosives. Lisa Grande, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, said in a statement after visiting Ramadi March 24 that civilians risk their lives in the city because of landmines and booby-traps everywhere. She said that the Iraqi government should make clearing landmines its top priority to ensure the security of the civilians living in the city, because Ramadi is unsafe for the displaced to return and it is difficult to ensure their safety there. Grande called on the international community to end the suffering of the displaced families of Ramadi at a time when the UN mission recorded that only a few hundred displaced people out of 250,000 families have returned. Landmines are hindering the return of the displaced, particularly since most of the mined areas are civilian, not military areas. Asma al-Ani, a member of the Anbar provincial council, told Al-Monitor, "The city of Ramadi has not been cleared yet because Iraq does not possess modern mine-clearing equipment." But Anbar Governor Sohaib Alrawi told Al-Monitor that he will soon contract a US company to clear the mines. Ani said that the displaced must not return to Ramadi right now because their lives will be put in danger which areas are mined and which are safe have not been specified yet. IS has booby-trapped everything, even electricity poles in the streets. She added, "Ramadi needs an international effort to get rid of the landmines and to help the reconstruction, because Ramadi is now a city without the life necessities." On April 5, Reuters quoted two US officials and an unidentified diplomat as saying that "a US de-mining company is removing explosives and training Iraqis to dismantle the devices planted by IS in the largest Iraqi city retaken from the militants. The article continued, "Hundreds of IEDs planted throughout the streets and buildings of Ramadi, 100 kilometers [62 miles] west of Baghdad, have delayed the return of around half a million displaced residents. Thaer Kanani, the director of the Iraqi al-Khibra al-Fanniya company for clearing mines and unexploded ordnance, told Al-Monitor that his company entered Ramadi March 1 and performed volunteer work there, managing to clear 5,000 explosive devices planted on the streets. He said, "The return of the civilians at the moment is a big risk because the city has been cleared completely and the engineering teams are facing major challenges in dismantling and neutralizing the explosive devices. There is still a danger to everyone, especially civilians. On April 5, the US Embassy in Baghdad announced that $5 million in new US assistance will be allocated to help safely clear explosive hazards in Ramadi. An embassy statement said, Under this new initiative, U.S. Embassy Baghdad and the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Political-Military Affairs have awarded a contract to Janus Global Operations, one of the worlds leading demining companies. The statement continued, Working in partnership with Iraqi Prime Minister [Haider al-] Abadi, Anbar Governor al-Rawi, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and the United Nations Development Programs Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization (FFIS), Janus will begin initial efforts to survey unexploded ordnance, abandoned explosive ordnance, and IEDs in several Ramadi neighborhoods as well as the citys main water station in Tamim. In an interview with Al-Monitor in Baghdad, Ali al-Mashhadani, a journalist and activist from Ramadi, said that it is difficult to survey the landmines in Ramadi, which pose a real threat to civilians. On April 7, landmines caused 11 families to return to Iraqi Kurdistan after they found their homes in Ramadi to be booby-trapped. He added, "The lives of civilians are in danger, and it is difficult to create suitable conditions for their return in the near future, especially since there is a political power struggle in Ramadi. He did not identify the parties and the causes of the struggle. Given the risks posed to those who return to Ramadi, the Anbar local council decided to stop bringing back the displaced to the city of Ramadi at the present time. Yet, those who return before landmines are removed from their neighborhoods and houses remain at great risk. April 28, 2016 If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Congress is inching closer to handing the Pentagon another $349 million to train and equip a new group of Syrian rebels after last year's effort ended in abject failure. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., released his hold on the money April 27 just as the House Armed Services Committee was voting to reauthorize the program as part of its defense bill for fiscal year 2017. "On the issue of the reprogramming, yes I was, quote, blocking approval of the reprogramming until yesterday when I had a very excellent briefing from [Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph] Dunford that cleared up the concerns that I had," McCain said at an April 28 hearing on the Islamic State (IS) with Dunford and Defense Secretary Ash Carter. "And why did I have those concerns ? It's because when we spent a couple of hundred million dollars the last time, the commander of Central Command testified before this committee that we had four or five people left." The gradual reassessment in Congress follows a Department of Defense lobbying blitz to convince skeptical lawmakers that the US-trained forces are crucial to defeating IS in Syria. Carter in particular has made clear his frustration with congressional "micromanagement" through a funding process that requires approval by the House and Senate Defense authorization and appropriation panels, which have been sitting on the Pentagon's latest reprogramming request since last month. "We're required to submit reprogramming requests, as you all know, to the four congressional defense committees. And so far, on these funds, we've received differing responses, on differing timelines. Sometimes with conflicting demands. We must get this working better going forward," Carter told McCain's panel. "I would also urge you and the other three defense committees to consider ending the reprogramming request for Syria, so that it's on equal footing with how you've structured your oversight of our train-and-equip programs in Iraq and Afghanistan. As it stands, the current setup invites troubling micromanagement of a wartime effort and risks inhibiting results." The secretary delivered a similar message the day before at a Senate Appropriations Committee defense panel hearing on his budget request. President Barack Obama's recent decision to send 250 more US troops to Syria "will help expand our ongoing efforts to identify, train and equip capable, motivated local forces inside Syria to help isolate and pressure Raqqa," Carter said at the April 27 hearing. "I should note, however, that Syria is an area where we need your help, particularly in releasing $349 million in funds to help train and equip our partners on the ground. It's the centerpiece of our strategy there." Specifics of the new mission for the Syrian rebels haven't been made public, but during the April 28 hearing Carter described them as "battle-hardened, proven anti-[IS] leaders whom we can make more capable as enablers and amplifiers of our effects." "We made a disappointing start with that. No bones about that. We have changed the approach to that fundamentally," Carter told McCain's committee. "We were trying, when that program was initiated, to make brand-new forces to counter [IS] in Syria. Our approach now is to identify and this is where the [US] special forces are of value to us forces already fighting [IS] whom we can enable with the great might of the American military. That's our new approach." Congressional skepticism remains deep, however. The House Armed Services Committee on April 27 defeated 52-9 an amendment by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, to strike the train-and-equip program from the annual Defense bill. But the bill still requires an update on the strategy to "retake and hold" Raqqa as well as assurances that enough US troops have been deployed to ensure that the US-trained rebels are able to defend themselves against both IS and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Panel Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, made it clear that just because the committee has reauthorized the program doesn't mean it will sign off on funding it. "We want, obviously, a plan on what's going to happen. I don't think all the questions have been answered yet," Thornberry told Al-Monitor. "There have been a series of reprogramming requests. As you heard in the debate last night, there are lots of concerns about the program. Because of the problems the program has had, because of the whole circumstances, I think extra oversight and extra vigilance in oversight is important." Even McCain still has concerns despite allowing the funding to go forward. He pressed Dunford on whether the rebels would have anti-aircraft systems to protect against Syrian or Russian warplanes, and received a negative answer. Providing the rebels with air defense systems would reassure their prime backers, such as McCain, that they won't be slaughtered as soon as they leave their training sites in Jordan. On the flip side, it would make the program an even tougher sell among lawmakers who have been skeptical all along. "If a political solution to the Syrian conflict continues to elude diplomats in Geneva what will become of the weapons and the equipment that we have provided to these rebel groups?" Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who voted against the program back when it was launched in 2014, asked during the Armed Services Committee hearing. "Will we simply have dumped hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of equipment and worth of weapons into a volatile situation?" Carter's less-than-reassuring answer: "In everything we do, there as elsewhere, we always think ahead when we're providing weaponry to a group about what's the future, what's the next step. So we certainly have thought about that." April 29, 2016 Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman unexpectedly sparked controversy in Turkey when on April 25 he declared that Turkeys new constitution should forgo mention of secularism and instead be a religious constitution referencing God. His words reignited Turkeys always tense secularism debate, which has been amplified since 2002 when the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power. Kahraman's remarks led to protests in a number of cities, a call by the main opposition leader for him to resign and allegations by secular pundits that the Speaker had shown the AKPs true face, its real intentions. Because Kahraman is a known confidant of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, many also suspected that his statement was part of a scheme being orchestrated by Turkey's leader. In the next two days, however, the major figures in the AKP disowned Kahramans position on a religious constitution. The AKPs Mustafa Sentop, chairman of parliament's constitutional commission, said that Kahramans view was not a party stance and that secularism is preserved in our constitutional draft. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu asserted, In the new constitution that we are preparing, the principle of secularism will be included. He added that it would be a liberal interpretation of secularism, not an authoritarian version. In also addressing the controversy, Erdogan not only professed support for secularism, but even offered an inspired defense of the principle. Defining secularism as the state's obligation to stay at an equal distance to different faith groups, he explained why it is a good idea: If the faith of all religious groups in this country is guaranteed in the constitution, and the states equal distance to all religious groups is a foundation, why do you need to emphasize Islam? If I can live my faith as a Muslim the way I want to, the issue is over. If a Christian can live his/her Christianity, if a Jew can live his/her Jewishness or an atheist can live his/her atheism, the issue is also over for them. Will Erdogan's powerful statement ease the tensions over secularism? Probably not, because many secularists fear that they have not yet seen the AKPs true face. A common view in opposition circles is that Kahramans statement on doing away with secularism and introducing a religious constitution did not reflect his personal views, as he claimed, but was in fact part of a plan cooked up by Erdogan. Accordingly, Erdogan wanted to test the waters by having Kahraman float the idea of a religious constitution, but then defended secularism after the reaction it elicited. An Islamic state, however, remains Erdogan's long-term goal in their thinking. Another, more persuasive interpretation of events would be as follows. Erdogans ambitions are more about power than doctrine. For power, he needs to sustain popular support, and for popular support, he needs to use religion, but only to a certain extent. While religious symbolism has broad appeal in Turkey, a Quran-thumping Islamic state does not. Various polls bear this out. The most recent survey of the political inclinations of Turkish society was conducted in 2013 by the Pew Research Center, which found that only 12% of all Turks support making Sharia the official law in their country. In contrast, 84% of Pakistanis and 74% of Egyptians supported the idea. Erdogan likely has the support of this hardcore, Islamist minority of 12%, who probably do expect him to create their utopia. At the same time, he also has the support of a much larger block of conservative voters who are religious and like reference to religion, but who still prefer to live under secular law. This is why Erdogan would want to retain secularism in the Turkish constitution, albeit while not shying from venerating religion in the public square or perhaps even in the constitution. A journalist with access to the AKP recently wrote in an insider report that there is a chance that the new constitution will preserve secularism laiklik, from the French laicite but the preamble might make reference to Allah and the religion of Islam, along with some historical figures such as Rumi and Ataturk in other words, something for everybody. Another rumor is that the preamble will make reference to the Creator, a possible inspiration from the US Declaration of Independence. The more likely future for Turkey is not a Sharia-imposing Islamic state, but a more conservative state re-designed in the image of the AKP. Keep in mind that the latter-day ideology of the party is not simply Islamism after all, but Erdoganism, in which Islamism is indeed an important theme, but not the only theme. This would not put Turkey on the path to becoming another Iran or Saudi Arabia, as Turkeys secularists fear, but it could lead in the direction of another Russia, where a similar ideology, Putinism, rules. As the journalist Fareed Zakaria astutely observed, Putinism consists of five fundamentals: religion, nationalism, social conservatism, state capitalism and government media control. Returning to the values of religion in particular Orthodox Christianity is a powerful theme in Putins agenda, with a global vision of protecting persecuted Christians all over the world. Replace Christian with Muslim, and one has Turkeys ruling ideology. April 28, 2016 A distinctive trait that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has displayed over the years is the ease with which he switches between diametrically opposed positions on the same issue. When the Justice and Development Party (AKP) was created in 2001, he disavowed his Islamist roots only to later declare with pride that he had never changed. In another instance, democracy for him was at first a means, but then it became an end. Such contradictions were initially seen as part of his political style, but during his 13 years in power, the AKP has had such startling changes of heart that many now wonder whether Turkish society is plagued by some sort of collective amnesia on which Erdogan and his party prey. The most striking examples of this tendency emerged during the mass, anti-government protests over Gezi Park in summer 2013. In a bid to discredit and vilify the protesters, Erdogan, then prime minister, and the pro-government media made two inflammatory claims that they repeated for months. First, they said the protesters had desecrated an ancient mosque by boozing and kissing inside the building. According to the second claim, at Istanbuls Kabatas pier, dozens of male protesters, half-naked and wearing leather gloves, assaulted a young moth er with her baby because she was wearing an Islamic headscarf and then urinated on her. The claims included assertions that video of both incidents would be released soon. Three years on, the public is still waiting for the video evidence. Meanwhile, security camera footage from Kabatas revealed that the alleged victim was never attacked. Neither Erdogan nor the pro-government media has felt the need to correct themselves or apologize. Months after the Gezi protests, the government was rocked by corruption allegations that led four ministers to resign. The corruption probes revealed in December 2013 shattered the AKPs 11-year alliance with the movement headed by Fethullah Gulen, as the police and prosecutors leading the investigation were accused by the AKP and its backers of being Gulenist plotters seeking to unseat the party. Soon after, those involved in the probe were relieved of their jobs. A few years earlier, these same police and prosecutors had been the much-lauded architects of a sprawling case against the purported terrorist Ergenekon, a group that allegedly conspired to plunge Turkey into chaos by paving the way for a military coup against the AKP. So the corruption probes suddenly woke up Erdogan! The Gulen community was now branded the Fethullahist terrorist organization (FTO), although only months earlier Erdogan had spoken of how he yearned for Gulen to return home from the United States. Erdogan grumbled that he had left no wish of the Gulenists unanswered, called them ingrates and claimed he had been deceived. In the ensuing onslaught, dozens of alleged FTO members prosecutors, policemen, academics and bureaucrats ended up in Silivri prison, near Istanbul. Since 2007, Silivri has hosted dozens of soldiers, journalists and intellectuals accused of being Ergenekon members. Erdogan and his associates backed the arrests and encouraged narratives vilifying the army, claiming the military tutelage was being dismantled. After the corruption probes, however, Turkey's soldiers were no longer putschists, but brothers, sons and co-workers to Erdogan, and all the blame for the yearslong trials was put on the FTO. In the freshest example of such contradictory behavior, this month Erdogan began denying the existence of the agreemen t that representatives of the government and the Peoples Democratic Party had reached Feb. 28, 2015, as part of efforts to resolve the Kurdish issue. In 2012, Erdogan admitted that he had personally instructed Turkeys intelligence chief to initiate secret talks with Kurdish rebel leaders, although he had previously challenged the opposition to prove its claim that such talks were underway or face being labeled dishonorable liars. So, how can Erdogan and the AKP be thriving politically given such glaring contradictions and discrepancies on vital issues? Binnaz Toprak, a political scientist known for her social research and a former opposition lawmaker, outlined three main reasons. First, she told Al-Monitor, This countrys people have a very short memory, because every morning they wake up to such staggering news that they forget previous [episodes]. This is something unseen in established democracies. Second, Toprak pointed to the extraordinary loyalty of Erdogan's supporters. Those who love Erdogan love him madly. Thats why they didnt bat an eye over the [corruption] probes despite all the evidence and audiotapes and the safe boxes and dollars [discovered in suspects homes], she said. In this case, its not forgetting, but keeping silent. Female supporters treat Erdogan like a pop star. You cant explain this only through sociology. Erdogan provided a sense of being [true] citizens to all those people ostracized by the republic and those who felt like underdogs for wearing the headscarf. Thats how he earned their fanatical loyalty. Counting on this, he came to believe that they will support him whatever he says. The third factor, according to Toprak, stems from the intense polarization gripping Turkey. In polarized environments, people cling tightly to their poles, hate the others and keep silent on daily problems, she said. At the time of the [corruption] probes, I talked to people in the streets. To those who said they would still vote for the AKP, I brought up their religiosity. They said 'Never mind that. Who isn't corrupt?' The journalist Muyesser Yildiz, who spent 15 months behind bars as an Ergenekon suspect, believes there is more to the issue. She spoke to Al-Monitor days after the High Court of Appeals on April 21 overturned all the convictions in the Ergenekon trial, effectively debunking the case in its entirety. Gross legal violations were committed. The courts functioned like a 21st-century inquisition. Now, they cant wash their hands of it simply by saying they were deceived. If you are so easily deceived, how do you run the country? Yildiz said. The memory of a society cant vanish, of course. The answer lies in this logic: Weve intimidated society to a sufficient extent, and now there is no one left to speak up. And when you also nourish despair along with fear, you can comfortably say all the things you like. The pro-government media played a crucial role in the Ergenekon trials, spreading disinformation and mercilessly maligning the defendants. A lieutenant colonel, Ali Tatar, committed suicide out of dignity, and after that, a pro-government columnist wrote, Where are you going without answering [for your crimes]? The same media attacked and bullied colleagues and jurists who exposed the legal breaches and the fabricated evidence. Being played for a sucker is more offensive to me than being branded a terrorist, Yildiz said. Both Erdogan and the media said we were not journalists but terrorists. Well never forget those headlines. The Appeals Court has now made its decision. It turns out there was no Ergenekon. We are still here, but what about the others? Yildiz asked, citing Tatar and other defendants who died in prison or while on trial. Put aside what we went through, what about the rights of the deceased? Yildiz vowed to pursue accountability for those who played a part in the police-judiciary-media triangle the state used to frame its citizens. The debate on how short Turkey's collective memory is could go on, but one thing is for certain: The victims of the Ergenekon case, including the deceased and their families, expect a convincing apology from the state, the government and the media. April 29, 2016 The Kurds have no friends but the mountains. This well-worn adage conveys the Kurds isolation in the face of centuries of suffering under successive rulers. In Turkey, Iran and Iraq, where the largest concentration of Kurds live, there are plenty of mountains that have provided sanctuary to Kurdish civilians and rebels alike. Not so in Syria, where some 2 million Kurds are largely confined to the arid plains bordering Turkey, putting them at the mercy of their oppressors and the flat terrain. Yet, in recent times, the Syrian Kurds have seemed invincible. Fighting under the banner of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), they are at the vanguard of the US-led campaign to eradicate the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. Since 2011, when the Syrian conflict erupted, they have gone from being a systematically suppressed minority to a significant player, simultaneously allied with Russia and the United States. Despite their gains, however, the constantly shifting dynamics of the conflict have left the Syrian Kurds once again feeling vulnerable. In off-the-record conversations with Syrian Kurdish fighters and politicians, a constant theme emerged whether their newfound partner the United States has an end game for Syria, and if so, where the Kurds fit into it. Barzan Iso, a local analyst with close ties to the Syrian Kurdish administration, summed up growing concerns in a question: Is the United States alliance with the Syrian Kurds part of a broader strategy, or will they dump us and pack up once Daesh [IS] is defeated? The question gained urgency on April 20, when Syrian government forces arrested several Kurdish youths in the northeastern border town of Qamishli, where the regime continues to maintain an uneasy presence alongside the Kurds. YPG sources said the youths were detained for avoiding mandatory service in the Syrian army. The ensuing clashes between regime forces and the Asayish (a local Kurdish police force) left dozens dead, but the Kurds prevailed, seizing control of several government positions and dictating the terms of a truce declared April 24. The regime of Bashar al-Assad remains squarely opposed to Kurdish self-rule. Some speculate that the Qamishli dustup was linked to last months declaration of the Federation of Northern Syria, uniting the three Kurdish-majority regions into a single entity. The government and members of the Syrian opposition swiftly denounced the declaration as illegal. Washington said it does not recognize the new federal entity either. Many analysts believe that so long as defeating IS remains the Obama administrations primary goal, it is unlikely to reverse its policy of avoiding military confrontations with the regime, not even in defense of its Kurdish allies. The United States has little interest in engaging the Syrian regime militarily, said Aaron Stein, a senior resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, in an interview with Al-Monitor. Such an escalation would run counter to the current strategy, particularly the narrow focus on the Islamic State. Daniel Neep, an assistant professor at Georgetown Universitys Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, agrees. If YPG militias were to come under sustained attack from the Assad regime, the US would presumably provide arms and equipment, but chances of air strikes or boots on the ground are effectively zero, he told Al-Monitor. US officials, however, have tried to reassure the Kurds that their concerns are unfounded, reminding them that without US military intervention in Kobani, they would not be where they are today. President Barack Obamas recent authorization for the deployment of 250 additional Special Forces personnel to the 50-member contingent already operating in YPG-controlled areas ought to be proof of the US commitment, officials contend. In any case, the Syrian regime is unlikely to mount a full-scale attack on the Kurds any time soon. It can ill afford to open a new front against the Kurds while it remains bogged down by rebels elsewhere. The presence of US Special Forces in the Kurdish-controlled areas is another big deterrent. The US would not allow its forces to be targeted, so there is obviously a line that the regime cannot cross, Stein said. Such arguments offer scant comfort to Syrias Kurds, however. The United States continues to ignore the Kurds' calls for diplomatic recognition. Unlike Russia, Washington refuses to back the Syrian Kurds demands to take part in the Geneva peace talks. Just as critically, Washington refuses to support the YPGs long-running ambition to punch a corridor through the Manbij pocket, a 60-mile strip of territory IS still holds on the Turkish border. The corridor would connect Kurdish-controlled areas east of the Euphrates River with the mainly Kurdish Afrin enclave to the river's west. Turkey has threatened to intervene militarily to stop the Syrian Kurds from doing so on the grounds that the YPG is no different from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKK is on the State Departments list of terrorist organizations, but the YPG is not. Washington seized on this loophole to deepen its partnership with the Syrian Kurds. That distinction has been wearing thin since last August, however, when a two-year cease-fire between the Turkish army and the PKK collapsed, together with peace talks between the Ankara government and PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. The conflict has since been escalating, with hundreds of casualties on both sides. In February, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, a PKK-linked group, mounted two successive suicide bomb attacks, leaving scores of Turkish security personnel and civilians dead. Unless Turkeys Kurdish problem is resolved, and without a distinct Syrian Kurdish leadership apart from the PKK, Syrian Kurdish autonomy will continue to be constrained, predicted Denise Natali, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies in comments to Al-Monitor. The YPGs cozy ties with Russia havent helped either, Natali added. In an effort to show support for Turkey in the face of PKK attacks, the United States has resumed support for Turkish-backed rebels in recent weeks, sending a clear signal to the YPG that it is no longer the only game in town. Despite sustained coalition aerial support, however, the Turkish-backed groups have failed to make a dent. IS wrested back much of the territory the rebels had captured in an offensive in early April. Not only that, the extremist group has stepped up cross-border attacks against Turkey, shelling Kilis, killing 18 civilians so far. It is little wonder then that Washington, with the help of the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is pressing ahead with plans to capture the city of Manbij, thought to be the operational nerve center of IS. The SDF was established last year in part to address Turkish fears of Kurdish hegemony along its borders. Although the YPG remains the dominant force, the SDF includes Arabs, Christians and Yazidis. The number of Arabs within the SDF is growing, which makes strategic sense, because only Arabs can hold Arab-majority population centers like Manbij and more critically Raqqa, the capital of IS self-declared caliphate. There is some speculation that newly arrived US Green Berets will train the SDF to become the moderate rebel force that Washington long dreamed of establishing in Syria but has failed to achieve. Where does all this leave the YPG, which says it will take part in the battle to retake Raqqa only if the United States helps it link up the areas under its control? Much hinges on whether Turkey and the YPGs PKK mentors find a way to settle their differences. The rhetoric emanating from both sides suggests neither is so inclined. April 28, 2016 WASHINGTON The United States expressed outrage at what it initially assessed to be a deliberate Syrian regime airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders-affiliated hospital in Aleppo that killed dozens of people, and the United Nations has warned of a catastrophe if the United States and Russia dont quickly restore Syrias partial cease-fire that has badly degraded in Syrias largest city in the past week. "We are outraged by yesterdays airstrikes in Aleppo on the al-Quds hospital which killed dozens of people, including children, patients and medical personnel," Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement April 28. While we are still trying to gather the facts surrounding the circumstances of this attack, it appears to have been a deliberate strike on a known medical facility and follows the Assad regime's appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders," Kerry continued. "The United Nations today assessed the situation in Aleppo to be catastrophic Russia has an urgent responsibility to press the regime to fulfill its commitments." The rapidly escalating violence in Syria which in the past 48 hours has been killing one Syrian every 25 minutes, UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said April 28 came as US officials said they were engaging intensively with Russian counterparts on how to restore the Syria cease-fire, but were oblique about at what level those discussions were taking place. US officials also acknowledged that Syrian opposition groups ostensibly abiding by the cessation were still "intermingling" with al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra militants in the wider Aleppo area, making delineating no-go areas more difficult. "We are intensively engaged with Russia on the urgent need [of] all parties to respect the cessation of hostilities," a senior US administration official speaking not for attribution told Al-Monitor April 28. "We call on Russia to use its influence with the Assad regime to urge it to cease its attacks on the Syrian people." Kerry has not spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a few days, State Department spokesman John Kirby said April 28, but he anticipated that a meeting of the 20-member International Syria Support Group (ISSG) would be arranged in the next few days to try to re-establish the cessation of hostilities. UN officials implored the United States and Russia to redouble their efforts to restore the cease-fire or see a humanitarian catastrophe in Syria and a breakdown in the Geneva talks on a political transition, which wrapped up its latest round April 27. "The catastrophic deterioration in Aleppo during the past 24 to 48 hours, also in the Homs area, was reported live to the members of the ISSG today," UN Syria humanitarian chief Jan Egeland told reporters in Geneva April 28. "No one doubted the severity of the situation, and now no one is uncertain about the consequences." "I could not in any way express how high the stakes are for the next hours and days," Egeland said. "The stakes are so incredibly high because so many civilian lives are at stake. So many humanitarian health workers and relief workers are being bombed, killed, maimed at the moment, that the whole lifeline to millions of people is now also at stake." "This round of talks has instead been overshadowed, lets be frank, by a substantial and indeed worrisome deterioration of the cessation of hostilities," de Mistura told journalists early April 28 in Geneva. "We cannot ignore the fact that, during these talks, we have been having incidents, one after the other. A few hours ago, we had an airstrike on a hospital in Aleppo the last doctor, pediatric doctor, was killed." "In the last 48 hours, we have had an average of one Syrian killed every 25 minutes. One Syrian wounded every 13 minutes," de Mistura said. While de Mistura emphasized that he aimed to continue the talks, he would not schedule another round until the United States and Russia had re-established the cease-fire. "What we need to do and to hear is that the cessation of hostilities is salvaged and saved from a total collapse," de Mistura said. "It's still alive, but barely. And the perception is that it could collapse at any time." "We need that [the cessation of hostilities] to be urgently revitalized," de Mistura said. "And only the Russian Federation and the United States need to come back again and relaunch it." De Mistura was expected to travel to Russia to meet with Lavrov next week to discuss resuming the Syria peace talks, Russias RIA Novosti News Agency reported April 28. Regarding reports that Lavrov had been resistant to schedule another ministerial level meeting with Kerry on restoring the cease-fire, a diplomat involved in the Syria talks said it made sense that an understanding needed to be reached between the United States and Russia before a face-to-face meeting between their foreign ministers. "It makes sense that both sides reach an understanding to salvage [the cessation of hostilities]," the diplomat, speaking not for attribution, said April 28. "Only then does a meeting make sense. Otherwise the meeting will slide into mutual recriminations and thus undermine the Vienna process." "Let's see what happens over the next few days," the diplomat said. Richard Woodruff bridge.jpg In 2010, at 97, Richard Woodruff was busy as technical director of the Village Creek Society, looking for solutions to flooding. (AL.com File/Linda Stelter) Richard S. Woodruff lived in Mountain Brook, but he devoted much of his retirement to cleaning up Village Creek and making Ensley a better place. Woodruff, a civil engineer who retired from Alabama Power Co. in 1978 after a career focused on building dams, turned his attention to flooding problems on Village Creek, the 44-mile waterway that stretches from its source near Huffman High School westward to the Black Warrior River. He became the technical director and resident engineer for the Village Creek Society and devoted much of his retirement to helping alleviate flooding on Village Creek. Woodruff died on April 23. He was 103. "When he retired, his love of civil engineering never stopped," said John Meehan, who worked as a volunteer alongside Woodruff for the Village Creek Society. "He came up with plans. He worked hard. He proposed a walking trail that's now coming to fruition." Mable B. Anderson, executive director of the Village Creek Society, said Woodruff was "tenacious" and woke up every morning "thinking about Village Creek" and "gets it done." Flooding along the creek has for decades vexed residents threatened by the rising waters that follow heavy rain. Hundreds of families and some busi- nesses in a flood-prone section of the creek from Ensley to near Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport have been relocated since the late 1980s. Woodruff said he had been reading about flooding on Village Creek for 50 years. ''I wondered why in the world Village Creek made news and they did nothing about it,'' he said. His curiosity, and his background with Alabama Power Company in hydrology - the study of water and its movement - led to his eventual involvement with the Village Creek Society. ''I felt I wanted to help the city do something about the flooding,'' he said. In his years of studying its waters, Woodruff said he traveled its length and crossed every bridge over the creek. Three measures would prevent flooding in Ensley, he said: replacing the Avenue F bridge over Village Creek, relocating under the creek a 3-foot round sewer pipe that runs alongside the bridge and building a Gabion retaining wall along both sides of the creek between Avenue F and Avenue W. The Avenue F bridge sits on piers, and those posts trap trees, tree limbs and litter, as does the sewer pipe. As trash and debris collect and the water gets high, flow is impeded, which causes flooding. A single-span bridge without piers and an underground sewer pipe would alleviate flooding, he said. Woodruff drew up plans for the Gabion wall, which he said would improve the stability of the creek banks and stabilize water flow in that area. That's yet to be built for lack of funding. The society has applied for $3.5 million in federal stimulus funds to pay for a new bridge and the Gabion wall. It has also applied for $4.8 million in federal funding to relocate the sewer pipe. Woodruff worked with Birmingham city and Alabama Department of Transportation officials on plans for a greenway trail along the creek between Avenue F and Avenue W. These plans also call for a park in Ensley with an outdoor classroom and other amenities, such as a picnic area. It would be built on 75 acres cleared of houses due to the Village Creek relocation. Woodruff described his career in civil engineering as the fulfillment of a childhood dream. He said he always wanted to be a civil engineer and hoped to study civil engineering at Cornell University. After graduating from high school in 1931 in Binghamton, N.Y., he didn't have the money for Cornell, which charged $400 a semester. So he joined other recent high school graduates who took an extra year of classes at the high school, such as advanced math. One of his friends passed around a college catalog from the University of Ala- bama. Three things caught his eye: the civil engineering courses were very similar to Cornell University's; the dean of engineering was a Cornell civil engineering graduate and tuition was about $88 a semester for out-of-state students. ''I thought, 'Thabt sounds good to me,''' he said. Richard S. Woodruff looks off a bridge over Village Creek in Pratt City in 2010. He and three Binghamton friends also accepted at Alabama arrived at the Capstone in the fall of 1932 following a three-day trip in a Ford Roadster. His education at Alabama led to a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1937 and two weeks after graduation, a job with Alabama Power. He worked for the power company for a total of 36 years, with a two-year break during World War II when he worked on modifying B24 bombers for Bechtel McComb Aircraft Corp. in Birmingham. He'd tried to join the Navy but was rejected because at about 135 pounds, he was underweight by 20 pounds. ''They told me to eat bananas and chocolate milkshakes,'' he said. ''I knew there was no way I was going to gain 20 pounds.'' After he retired from Southern Company Services, he worked as a hydroelectric consultant at Hendon Engineering Associates for 20 years. He volunteered with the Village Creek Society for the last 16 years of his life. Woodruff and his late wife, Gwendolyn, from Selma, raised two sons, Michael and Richard L. Woodruff. He was an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a professional organization he joined in college. He also enjoyed stamp collecting, a hobby he picked up as a teenager, and for years kept a boat on Guntersville Lake. But Village Creek turned out to be one of his favorite places. "He didn't live in Ensley, but his heart was out there," Meehan said. Orthodox irises.jpg At Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Birmingham, the women of the church prepare over 750 Irises to be placed on the "Epitafio" or entombment of Jesus. This weekend is the celebration of the Greek Easter. (AL.com File/Bernard Troncale) Eastern Orthodox churches around the world, including Greek and Russian Orthodox churches in Alabama, will celebrate Easter this Sunday, more than a month after Catholics and Protestants celebrated Easter on March 27. Orthodox churches around the world observe Good Friday today by taking an icon of Christ off a wooden cross, symbolic of Jesus' being taken down after the Crucifixion. The burial of Christ is reenacted by placing a cloth shroud in a carved wooden tomb. The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Holy Trinity-Holy Cross, 307 19th St. South, will celebrate Easter on Sunday, May 1, 2016. Birmingham-area churches that celebrate Orthodox Easter include the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Holy Trinity-Holy Cross, St. Symeon Orthodox Church in Southside and St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Brookside. All three will have Easter vigils beginning about 11 p.m. Saturday night with Easter services beginning after midnight that last into the early hours on Sunday morning. The Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. based its calculations for Easter on the Julian calendar and said it must come after the Jewish Passover, and the Orthodox still follow that formulation. Eastern Orthodoxy and the Roman Catholic Church parted ways in the schism of 1054 A.D., with the pope and the Eastern patriarch excommunicating each other. The Gregorian calendar in use today through most of the world was established in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, but most Orthodox do not use it. Rather than Easter, the Orthodox prefer the term Pascha. It's a Christian version of the Jewish holiday of Passover, with Christ serving as the Paschal lamb. The death of Christ substitutes for the blood on the doorposts that protected the Hebrews from the plague of death in Egypt, as recorded in Exodus, when the first-born sons of Egyptians were killed. The Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. ruled that Easter would be held on the Sunday following the 14th day of the Passover moon - the moon that appears on or after the vernal equinox, March 21. Modern calendar changes, including the establishment of the 16th century Gregorian calendar and adjustments of the lunar cycle in the West, have caused a divergence between the dates observed by the two largest branches of Christianity. Randall Marshall didn't know about Oxford's ordinance affecting public restrooms until he heard about it on the radio Wednesday morning driving into work. Marshall, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Alabama, said the organization is "definitely looking at a challenge" to the law. Oxford's Target at Oxford Exchange. On Tuesday, Oxford's city council made it a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine or six months in jail to use a bathroom opposite the person's biological sex at birth. City officials said the action was prompted by the policy change of Target. The retailer, which has a location in Oxford, announced it would allow transgender employees and shoppers to use the restroom that matches their gender identity as opposed to the gender with which they were born. The City Council president, Steven Waits, had a press conference Wednesday along with other officials, saying the ordinance was not meant to be discriminatory. Marshall said the ACLU is seeing more legal action regarding transgender rights around the country, citing the recent example of North Carolina's law requiring people to use public bathrooms matching their biological sex. "The City of Oxford has raise the ante, though, by criminalizing it," he said. A lawsuit, for example, might challenge the legality of the ordinance, though Marshall would not go into any specifics. On Wednesday at a news conference, Oxford City Attorney Ron Allen said he preferred not to speculate as to whether the ordinance would be challenged in court, but that he felt it could withstand any court action. The ordinance was drafted by looking at laws in a couple of states, Allen said, but "we are in rather uncharted waters. There's not a lot to go on." Earlier this month, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a Virginia high school discriminated against a transgender teen by forbidding use of the boys' restroom. That case, Marshall said, cited Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination in schools. A challenge to Oxford's law might come through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which has previously ruled that gender identity discrimination is sex discrimination under federal law. Regardless, other cities considering similar ordinances might wait to see how any legal challenge turns out, Marshall said. "I would think anyone advising other cities might say they ought to stand on the sidelines," he said. "It can become quite expensive." The Cullman Times is reporting that Hanceville is considering its own restroom ordinance. Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said deputies Thursday recovered a stolen truck used in a robbery and assault in Whitfield County, Ga. The incident should serve as a reminder to residents to be careful when buying or selling items online, he said. Shaver said investigators found the stolen truck near Pruett's Fish Camp after someone bought it on Wednesday. The truck was taken during an incident in Georgia. That case involved a female victim who said a man and woman arranged to meet at her home to purchase a truck advertised for sale on Craigslist. The couple arrived in a dark-colored passenger car, with the woman staying inside the car. The man came into the house to speak with the victim about the truck. When the victim started walking with the man outside to look at the truck, the suspect pulled a knife, stabbing her. The man then grabbed the keys, ran out of the house and left in the truck, followed by the woman in the car. The man, identified as David Wayne Williams, 47, of Walton County, Ga., was arrested the following day in Rome, Ga., after leading police on a chase, Shaver said. Two of Williams' family are believed to have assisted him. Williams was turned over to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office on warrants for aggravated battery and armed robbery. Shaver said residents should practice good judgement when attempting to sell or buy an item online and suggests arranging to meet strangers at a public place, such as the Sheriff's Office or a police department. American Motel.jpg One person was shot at the Motel American on First Avenue North April 29, 2016. A suspect is in custody. One man was injured and another is in custody after an early-morning shooting at a Birmingham motel. The shooting happened after 2 a.m. at Motel American in the 5900 block of First Avenue North. Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Bryan Shelton said officers were dispatched to the scene on a report of a person shot. When they arrived, they learned both the victim and the suspect were still inside the motel room. Officers approached the room and communicated with the suspect, who refused to come out. More shots were then fired inside the room, Shelton said. As officers prepared to rush in, the door opened. The victim came outside, and the shooter then surrendered. Shelton said the victim had been shot once, prior to the officers' arrival, and is expected to be OK. The suspect was taken into custody. No one else was injured. The investigation is ongoing. The motel was the scene of another morning shooting nine months ago. One man was injured there in a July 7, 2015 incident. That shooting happened just before 7:30 a.m. The victim was found in the motel parking lot with serious injuries. A 20-year-old Birmingham man is charged in this week's shooting death of another man outside a Birmingham store. Birmingham police today announced a formal murder charge against Martez Kelley. He is charged in Tuesday's shooting death of 30-year-old Timothy Anthony. The shooting happened just before 4 p.m. in the 4500 block of Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North. Police said Anthony was shot at least four or five times. Officers from the East Precinct responded to scene on a report of a male shot. When they arrived, they found Anthony suffering from the multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to UAB Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Detectives learned Anthony went into the store to purchase some items. Kelley then entered the store a short time later. It is not clear what happened inside the store between both men, but police said Kelley shot the victim multiple times and left the scene. "This case is clearly not a random shooting,'' Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said on Tuesday. "The suspect knew exactly who he wanted to shoot." Court records show Kelley was arrested in 2012 on three counts of first-degree robbery, but those charges against him were ultimately dismissed. Kelley is now being held in the Jefferson County Jail with bond set at $75,000. Four suspects were taken into custody early this morning after an armed robbery in a UAB parking deck. The holdup happened after midnight in the 16th Street Parking Deck on 16th Street and 10th Avenue South. The masked men were armed with a shotgun, according to one of several campus alerts issued during the incident. The suspects fled the scene in a brown van. The victim wasn't injured. Both UAB police and Birmingham police responded to the scene and eventually gave the all-clear. UAB police reported just after 3 a.m. that all four suspects were in custody. Police officials said they expect to release more information later this morning. The parking deck where the robbery happened today is the same deck where four UAB students were attacked in 2014. In that Oct. 13 incident, two female students and two male students were sexually assaulted at gunpoint. The students were leaving a residence hall on their way to get something to eat when the gunman approached them. One shot was fired during the holdup, but no one was injured by a bullet. A 27-year-old suspect was arrested on Oct. 20, 2014 in connection with that incident. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday re-affirmed the death sentence for Anthony Lane, who claims he is intellectually disabled and shouldn't be executed for his conviction in the 2009 robbery and shooting death of an Indiana man who was in Birmingham on business. The U.S. Supreme Court in October had vacated Lane's sentence and ordered the Alabama Criminal Court of Appeals to take another look at Lane's sentence and his claims of intellectual disability. The Equal Justice Initiative, which represents Lane, had not responded to a request for comment prior to publication of this story. Anthony Lane was convicted in 2011 of capital murder during the commission of a robbery in the death of 57-year-old Frank Wright, who was killed off Messer Airport Highway while en route to pick up his wife at Birmingham's airport. Following the jury's recommendation, Circuit Judge Clyde Jones sentenced Lane to death. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Lane's conviction and sentence and the Alabama Supreme Court denied Lane's request to review his conviction on Jan. 30, 2015. On Oct. 5, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated Lane's sentence and remanded it back to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama for further consideration. The high court asked the Alabama appeals court to look at the case in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2014 ruling that declared unconstitutional Florida's method of determining whether a capital murder defendant is intellectually disabled. Under Florida law, the definition of intellectual disability required an IQ test score of 70 or less. If a prisoner was deemed to have an IQ above 70 then any further investigation of whether the inmate was intellectual disability was abandoned. But the supreme court justices held that that Florida's "rigid rule ... creates an unacceptable risk that persons with intellectual disability will be executed, and thus is unconstitutional." Lane had a full-scale IQ of 70. A hearing had been held after Lane's conviction, but before sentencing, to determine whether he was intellectually disabled, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals stated in Friday's order. The hearing included experts that discussed Lane's IQ score and evidence of deficits in his adaptive behavior, the appeals court stated. "As he did on direct appeal, Lane takes issue with the trial court's determination that Lane failed to demonstrate deficiencies in two or more areas of adaptive functioning," according to the state appeals court ruling. "According to Lane, the trial court's decision was 'in direct opposition to the definitions used' by the medical community." However, the Alabama Court of Appeals states the Florida ruling "is not as broad as Lane contends and does not require this court to revisit that issue." Instead, the Florida case centered only on the medical community's interpretation of the significance of an IQ test score, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals stated. Because Lane was afforded a hearing on his intellectual disability, the trial court was not barred from considering other evidence in determining whether Lane was intellectually disabled, the appeals court stated. Therefore, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals ruled, Lane is due no relief under the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Florida case. Dissent The ruling by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals wasn't unanimous. Appeals Court Judge Samuel Welch was the lone dissenter in the opinion and believes Lane shouldn't face execution. "Considering the case in light of Hall (the Florida case), as the United States Supreme Court has directed this Court to do, I continue to believe that the trial court's rejection of all expert testimony about Lane's substantial deficits in adaptive functioning constituted an abuse of discretion," Welch stated in his dissenting opinion. "Based on the parameters the United States Supreme Court has established for determining intellectual disability, it is my opinion that Lane is ineligible for the death penalty." Other issue Judge J. Elizabeth Kellum concurred with the majority in rejecting Lane's claims of intellectual disability and affirmation of his capital murder conviction. But she dissented from the affirmation of Lane's death sentence without the court first addressing the impact, if any, of the United States Supreme Court's recent opinion in Hurst v. Florida on Alabama's capital-sentencing scheme. In the Hurst case, the U.S. Supreme Court had in January ruled unconstitutional that Florida's system that allowed judges to override jury sentencing recommendations in capital punishment cases. Alabama also is one of the few states that allow judicial overrides. Alabama also has been the only state where judges in the past two decades have used it to override jury recommendations for life without parole and impose death sentences. Alabama officials have argued that Alabama's override law is different that Florida's. A number of attorneys have asked local judges on behalf of their clients facing capital murder charges to also rule Alabama's capital punishment sentencing scheme unconstitutional. So far, only one judge, Circuit Judge Tracie Todd in Jefferson County has ruled Alabama's sentencing scheme unconstitutional. That ruling, however, is on appeal by the Alabama Attorney General's Office. The decision in Lane's case was among four appeals by Alabama Death Row inmates upheld by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday. The others included: John Russell Calhoun, convicted in the 1998 death and robbery of a Talladega man and the rape of his wife; Nathaniel Woods, the man convicted in the 2004 shooting deaths of three Birmingham police officers; and Alfonzo Morris, convicted in the 1997 beating death of an 85-year-old woman. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch is in Alabama today to review and discuss programs that help inmates successfully re-enter society once their sentences have ended. Lynch is visiting the Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional facility at Talladega this morning, according to a Department of Justice statement. She will visit Mobile this afternoon. While at the Talladega prison Lynch is to receive an overview of educational services for inmates, tour a UNICOR prison industry factory, hold a roundtable discussion with inmates, learn about the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), and visit with prison staff. U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance of the Northern District of Alabama and prison officials are accompanying Lynch on the tour. While in Mobile, the attorney general will visit the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Alabama where U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown will host a panel discussion with community leaders on mentorship and housing programs for "justice-involved" individuals, according to the statement. Immediately afterwards, Brown will hold a Fair Chance Opportunities event to recognize business owners who have committed to hiring formerly incarcerated individuals, according to the statement. Lynch is to deliver keynote remarks at that event. Lynch's trip to Alabama closes out National Reentry Week, a series of events throughout the week in all 50 states "highlighting steps the Obama Administration has taken to make our criminal justice system more fair, more efficient and more effective at reducing recidivism and helping formerly incarcerated individuals contribute to their communities," according to the statement. Removing barriers to successful reentry helps returning citizens compete for jobs, attain stable housing, and support their families, according to the statement. An important part of that commitment is preparing those who have paid their debt to society for substantive opportunities beyond the prison gates, and addressing collateral consequences to successful reentry that too many returning citizens encounter. As part of the Alabama events, Daryl Atkinson, a White House Champion of Change and the Department of Justice's first Second Chance Fellow, was in Alabama for a reentry simulation on Tuesday at the National Alumni House on the University of Alabama at Birmingham Campus. Atkinson is an example of someone who served his sentence, faced many obstacles when he left prison, but overcame them and now works to shape reentry policy and practice at the federal level, according to the DOJ statement. The reentry simulation is a role-playing exercise designed to give participants an understanding of the often overwhelming day-to-day barriers that someone coming out of prison faces in seeking a job, a driver's license, housing, or transportation. Atkinson, an Alabama native, served three and a half years in an Alabama prison after pleading guilty in 1996 to a first-time, non-violent drug crime, according to the DOJ statement. Atkinson is now an attorney at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice in North Carolina, where he focuses on criminal justice reform issues, particularly removing the legal barriers triggered by contact with the criminal justice system, according to the statement. "As Alabama struggles to reform its prison system, we should use proven methods to support people returning to the community from prison find employment and lead law-abiding lives," U.S. Attorney Vance stated in a prepared statement. "Our events this week are designed to educate the community about barriers to successful reentry and the benefits to society when we help overcome those barriers, including reduced crime, lower prison costs and an expanded work force." Another Alabama event was a reentry and employment roundtable at The Dannon Project on Thursday. The Dannon Project is a Birmingham non-profit organization that provides services, including counseling and job training, to people coming out of prison. Dannon also works with employers to find appropriate job placements and provides support to both employer and employee to encourage success on the job. Jasmine Nixon Homicide.jpg Jasmine Nixon, 23, was shot to death April 28, 2016 went authorities say she went to this Center Point home for a confrontation about an earlier dispute involving her teen sister. (jon grass/jgrass@al.com) Authorities today identified a woman shot to death outside a Jefferson County home Thursday night, a woman they said had gone to the house looking for a confrontation. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the victim Jasmine Lashenay Nixon. She was 23. Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the house in the 500 block of 16th Terrace N.W. about 5:45 p.m. When they arrived on the scene, they found Nixon on the front porch with a gunshot wound to the chest. She was taken to UAB Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. Chief Deputy Randy Christian said detectives have learned Nixon went to the home for a confrontation after her teenaged sister had an altercation with a teen boy at the home earlier in the day. She was accompanied by several other people when went she went to the home. "It went downhill from there,'' Christian said today. The teen boy is the son of the suspected shooter, Christian said. The shooter fled the scene, but Christian said detectives are expected to question him later today. "We will be able to release more information when we have the truth of what happened and why sorted out,'' he said. Brandon Foster and Heather Abbott live nearby and said they saw the shooting. Foster said they were playing with their dogs in the backyard when they saw multiple vehicles drive up and a fight ensued. Foster said the victim's two young children were in her car near the crime scene. "It's a little bit traumatizing for real,'' Foster said. "I've never witnessed nothing like that." Nixon is the 48th homicide victim in all of Jefferson County this year. Of those, 31 have been in the city of Birmingham. Her slaying is the fourth investigated by the sheriff's office. HudsonAlpha fundraiser Guests at the annual spring fundraiser for the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology in Huntsville, Ala., mingle at a reception before dinner. (Lee Roop/lroop@al.com) Genetic researchers at Huntsville's HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology are joining the fight against Alzheimer's disease with a plan to study the genomes of 1,500 patients with the brain disease. The institute announced a new Memory and Mobility (M&M) Fund to raise funds for the research at its annual spring benefit Thursday night. Researchers believe the data from the institute's fast and powerful new gene sequencing machines can lead to new targets for medication to slow the onset or progress of Alzheimer's and other brain diseases such as ALS, Parkinson and Huntington. "These neurological diseases are all connected," HudsonAlpha President and Science Director Dr. Rick Myers said. The number of people getting them is "phenomenally large and scary," he said. "It's horrible to see somebody who's productive and healthy start to decline because their brain cells start to decline," Myers said. "It happened to my father. It happened to my mother, and it happens to many, many others. It's very common, and the human impact, the economic impact is big." The diseases all involve cells that start to die in different parts of the brain, Myers said. They can have similar or differing symptoms, but "there are precious few treatments for any of them." Drug companies are working on medications, he said, "but fewer and fewer of them because it's just so hard. It takes so long. "But with new targets we identify because we understand the cause rather than just the symptoms," Myers said, "we think we might help to turn that around." "We chose the name Memory and Mobility Fund because these diseases rob people of their memories or their mobility," said Lynne Berry, executive director of the HudsonAlpha Foundation. More information about the fund is available here. Dave Mack McGlathery, who at age 27 became the first black student to integrate the University of Alabama in Huntsville, died Thursday. It was the day after his 80th birthday. Ray Garner, a spokesman for UAH, confirmed McGlathery's death Friday morning. McGlathery was a trailblazer for the rights of African-Americans in Alabama. After graduating magna cum laude with a math degree from Alabama A&M University in 1961, he landed a job at Marshall Space Flight Center, working among the German rocket team that put man on the moon. In an 2003 interview for the Marshall Star, MSFC's newsletter, he said he was the first black man hired to a full professional position there. It was that job that led him to seek graduate courses at UAH. He was the first black man to try to integrate the University of Alabama system. "I wanted to take graduate courses to try and be a better engineer, a better mathematician - a better scientist," McGlathery said in the 2003 interview. In a 1993 interview with the Birmingham News, McGlathery said he was not looking for trouble. "I didn't want a high profile," he said. "I was just a person who wanted to go to school." McGlathery had first applied to UAH in late 1962 and had some support from inside NASA, but was asked by the university to withdraw his application for that term. He agreed and applied again the following spring. McGlathery nearly beat James Hood and Vivian Malone, who were the first black students to attend the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, at integrating the University of Alabama system, but delays pushed his enrollment back. On June 13, 1963 - two days after then-Gov. George Wallace took his infamous stand in the schoolhouse door, trying to block Hood and Malone's entrance into the building - McGlathery quietly ended segregation at the Huntsville campus. McGlathery eventually earned a master's degree in systems engineering management from the Florida Institute of Technology campus at Redstone Arsenal. In 2003, on the 40th anniversary of his role in desegregating the university, he was described as a senior aerospace engineer and the longest-serving black employee at Marshall. He also spent more than 40 years serving as pastor of Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Harvest. The Alabama man touted as the prime benefactor for the now-defunct Shoals theme park project ignored a lawsuit and the judge found him in default. That translates into Bryan Robinson of Lauderdale County owing $287,470.87 cents for not responding to a lawsuit over a flawed land investment deal. Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Mike Jones entered the default ruling against Robinson on Wednesday. The lawsuit was filed by Allan Neill of Florence on March 15 - an investor in a land deal with Robinson who claimed in the lawsuit that Robinson never delivered on a promised return. According to the suit, Robinson accepted $250,000 from Neill with the promise of returning a $25,000 profit within eight days. Robinson never paid anything back to Neill, the suit said. The land deal with Neill, as well as two other investment projects orchestrated by Robinson, has come under the scrutiny of the Alabama Securities Commission, which sent him a cease-and-desist letter in December. According to the ASC, Robinson collected $600,000 from three investors for land in Madison County that Robinson's company - Robinson Capital Investments -- didn't own. Robinson's company then issued promissory notes to those investors that specified the payment of monthly interest computed on 11 percent return per year and each note was purportedly secured with a mortgage on a parcel of real estate in Madison County. The judge ruled Robinson in default and broke down the money owed: $275,000 in principal balance $10,541.48 in interest $369.39 in court costs $60 in private process server fee $1,500 in attorney's fees. Robinson has been named as the defendant in two other lawsuits in recent weeks and, according to the court files, has not filed a response in either of those cases. With the Republican presidential nomination seeming to be more of a certainty, the talk of who might be Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate is heating up. The Washington Post has weighed in with five people it thinks are most likely to be the businessman-turned-politician's running mate. Here are the five: Marco Rubio - The Florida Senator may have dropped out of the presidential race - in part due to his failed attack on Trump - but if the two can mend fences, Rubio could help the Republican front runner with the Hispanic community. John Kasich - The Ohio Governor is still in the presidential race and has vehemently denied he would consider being Trump's running mate. Stranger things have happened, however. Joni Ernst - The Republican Senator from Iowa would be a good foil to those who say Trump is hostile to women. Rick Scott - The Florida Governor has been expressing his support for Trump for months. He's from an important swing state and that's a plus for those wanting to see him on the presidential ticket. Chris Christie - Since dropping out of the presidential race, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has become one of Trump's most vocal supporters. Christie may bring the political savvy that Trump's campaign has needed. And what about Alabama's Jeff Sessions. Sessions, who has advised Trump on everything from foreign policy to immigration, said he has no intentions of being the vice presidential nominee. And, with the region pretty much sewn up, it's not likely Trump will pick a VP candidate from the deep South. A cabinet post? Now that's a real possibility. capitol mug 2 dec 1.jpg (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) After some nine hours of debate about state prisons and the BP oil spill settlement, the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday night turned to another topic: naming the official state dessert. A bill Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, would give the Lane Cake that designation. He's proposed it before. His two-page bill simply says the Lane Cake originated in Clayton. Rep. Elaine Beech, D-Chatom, spoke for Beasley's bill in the House Thursday night and urged her colleagues to pass it. Rep. John Knight, D-Montgomery, stepped up to the mic opposite Beech and offered an amendment: Make it the E-Lane Cake. Or Elaine Cake. House members stopped laughing long enough to table Knight's amendment, but barely, 46-42. Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, leader of the effort to remove Gov. Robert Bentley from office because of the Rebekah Mason scandal, warned his colleagues that the public would frown on time spent on a frivolous bill. House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, suggested that Henry propose an official state fruit: Im-peach-ment. Over more laughter, Henry responded by asking something like, "What about indictments," a reference to the ethics charges pending against the speaker. The House then passed the Lane Cake bill 57-16. There was no immediate word on whether Bentley would sign it into law. state house mug by julie.JPG (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com) The Alabama House of Representatives passed a plan tonight that would use a $1 billion oil spill settlement from BP to pay off debt and cover most of Medicaid's funding request for next year. The compromise proposal, worked out in recent days, also would provide enough money for road projects in Alabama's coastal counties to win the support of House members in those districts. It remains to be seen how it will do in the Senate, which passed a much different plan three weeks ago. The Senate could take up the issue next week, during the final two days of the legislative session. The House passed the bill by a vote of 82-12 tonight after about two hours of debate. BP is scheduled to pay the state the $1 billion over 18 years, starting this year, to compensate for economic damages from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The plan passed tonight, by House budget chairman Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, would authorize a bond issue of about $640 million and dedicate the BP payments to retire the debt. Clouse's plan would allocate $448 million to repay money transferred from the Alabama Trust Fund to prop up the General Fund budget in recent years. It would allocate an estimated $191 million for road projects in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Clouse said the plan would free up $70 million that could go to the Alabama Medicaid Agency. That would bring Medicaid much closer to its funding request for next year, which was $85 million more than what lawmakers allocated in the budget passed three weeks ago. Clouse said he thought that would be enough to sustain Medicaid through next budget year, which starts Oct. 1. Medicaid Commissioner Stephanie Azar has said the agency would have to cut services because it did not receive its requested funding. With revenues to the General Fund falling short of the rising cost of Medicaid and some other state services in recent years, the state has taken about $600 million from the Alabama Trust Fund since fiscal year 2010 to balance the budget. The state has paid only a fraction of that back to the ATF. "This bill takes care of 80 percent of the debt we still owe," Clouse said. Earlier this month, the Senate approved a different plan for the BP money, by Sen. Bill Hightower, R-Mobile. Hightower's plan, a proposed constitutional amendment, would also have called for a bond issue and for retiring the bond debt with the BP payments. But instead of using the bulk of the bond proceeds to repay the debt to the ATF, Hightower's plan would have spent most of it on road projects. Hightower's plan would have provided $260 million for road projects in Mobile and Baldwin counties and about $230 million for road projects in the rest of the state. It would have repaid $162 million to the ATF, a portion that is constitutionally mandated to be repaid by 2020. The House budget committee, led by Clouse, rejected Hightower's plan. Hightower, however, has said the plan offered by Clouse is a good compromise. Rep. Randy Davis, R-Daphne, said he expected the $191 million to be applied to two major road projects, improvements of U.S. 98 between Mobile and the Mississippi line, and a connector between Interstate 10 and Interstate 65 that would extend the Baldwin Beach Express, which runs to Orange Beach. Davis said those projects would relieve the two key "pinch points" for Gulf Coast visitors. "What we're trying to do is get people in and out of the beach as quickly as possible," Davis said. Clouse's bill had to pass the House tonight or it would have been dead because it would not have had time to pass the Senate. House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said he expected negotiations with the Senate on a final plan. Hubbard said he did not think the House would agree with any plan that applies less than the $448 million toward the debt to the ATF. "I don't think we will agree to anything less than that," Hubbard said. "The Medicaid money is also very important." Only two days remain in the legislative session to reach an agreement on the BP money. "I think it would be a real tragedy if we didn't pass something that would allow us to turn that money into cash that we can pay down on our debt," Hubbard said. Founders of the newly launched Alabama Sweet Tea Company are taking the South's quintessential beverage back to its roots. "We wanted to stay true to what a true glass of southern sweet tea is without all of the crazy flavorings and preservatives - no bad stuff," explained co-founder and Montgomery native Wes Willis. The company's other co-founder, Golson Foshee, of Montgomery, said Alabama Sweet Tea is a traditional black tea, "but what makes our tea different is that we are using the best part of the tea." The tea is custom-blended in Alabama's capital city using the highest quality loose-leaf tea leaves, pure cane sugar and hand-squeeze fruit juices, they said. The Alabama Sweet Tea Company officially launches Saturday at the annual Southern Makers event in Montgomery that brings together the top makers of products in the South. Besides having the best sweet tea around, Willis and Foshee want the company's story to be one of family tradition and southern pride. "We are very proud of Montgomery," Foshee said. "We grew up here. Our families are from here. We are raising our children here. We are very proud of Montgomery. We want to do what we can as a company, as individuals to make this a better community." Willis, who serves as vocalist for Christian rock group Rush of Fools, added he always misses Montgomery and Alabama when he is away on tour. Their families grew up on sweet tea, they said, and Foshee and Willis used their friends and family as their "test dummies" for many months. "We have been through a lot of real bad gallons of batches of tea," Willis said, laughing, "and some that were way too sweet. "It has been very healthy for us to have this balance of family members and friends to say this is what I like. This is what I don't like. This is good. This is not good," he added. When asked why start a sweet tea company with all the competition out there - namely Milo's, Willis admitted he and his partner are "huge fans of Milos" and some other sweet tea brands. "I think what we are trying to do is a little different in a sense, that a lot of companies just bottle tea ... and that is kind of their main thing," he said. "We kind of wanted to start it from the bottom up." The Alabama Sweet Tea Company is brewing and bottling in small batches - 16-ounce bottles and gallon jugs - in the hope of being in area grocery stores within the next month or so. They are also selling boxed tea that can be brewed at home. But, they wanted to launch with a more grassroots operation. They are using a vintage van -- complete with a custom-built bar made of reclaimed wood - to peddle their tasty drinks to festivals, markets and other special events. They also plan to cater affairs. Willis said that's how he envisioned the company, when he began thinking about a establishing a sweet tea brand a few years ago. And, it's what lead him to approach Foshee, whom he met through a mutual friend more than 15 months ago. The pair has taken that same mentality to its branding, which has a "historical, class-style," Foshee said, and in the naming of the teas, the Southern, for its sweet tea; the Yankee, for its unsweet tea; and the Mason-Dixon for its half and half. The company is also toying with a lemonade and a cinnamon-flavored tea. Alabama Sweet Tea Company's merchandising already has a life of its own - T-shirts and glass drinking jars are selling on the business' website. Willis said they took their time designing the glass jar. "We wanted our jar to be something that would outlive us, and be around dinner tables, be in people's houses, and something they want to send to friends as gifts," he said. As for the future, Willis said they would love to see their teas being sold by the box, bottle and jug in regional Whole Foods and Publix stores. The company will open its first retail store at The District 36 Shoppes in The Montgomery Market District later this year. Under the Army has announced it will retain a decorated Green Beret it planned to kick out after he confronted an Afghan commander for raping a child. Fox News reported that Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland will remain in the Army. The announcement came eight months after it said it would force Martland out of the Army over the incident, which occurred in northern Afghanistan in 2011. According to Martland, he and team leader Danny Quinn confronted a local police commander accused of raping an Afghan boy and beating his mother. The police commander allegedly laughed off the incident and Martland and the other man shoved him to the ground. Martland and the other man were later removed from the base and sent home from Afghanistan. An Army spokesman said Thursday that Martland's status has been changed, allowing him to stay in the Army. Quinn has since left the Army and is living in New York. He said the Army is a better place for having Martland remain in the service. "Charles makes every soldier he comes in contact with better and the Army is undoubtedly a better organization with SFC Martland still in its ranks," Quinn told Fox News. Two San Antonio, Texas area toddlers were rescued early Friday morning after sheriff's deputies found them chained up in the backyard of a residence. Bexar County Sheriff's deputies found a 2-year-old boy chained by the ankle to a tree, News 4 reported. A 3-year-old girl was tied to a door by a dog leash. The girl is being treated for a broken arm, according to the report. Six other children were found alone inside the residence at around 12 a.m. Deputies responded to the residence after receiving a call from a neighbor who said a child was crying loudly in the backyard of a residence. The parents of the six children were arrested after returning home hours later, according to the report. The adults aren't the parents of the children found outside. The names and charges of those arrested haven't been released. All eight children are now in the care of child protective services. Elton Bouldin, Mark Stephens From the left, Elton Bouldin and Mark Stephens (Cullman County Sheriff's Office) Cullman High School's principal and assistant principal are returning to work Friday. The announcement came on the same day their charges were upgraded from third-degree to first-degree criminal trespassing. Principal Elton Bouldin and Assistant Principal Mark Stephens have been on administrative leave since their arrests on April 20. Court records filed by Julee and Jason Butts allege the pair went to their home on April 15 and remained on their property without permission. They allegedly went there to talk to their son. Cullman City Schools Superintendent Susan Patterson issued the following statement confirming their return to work: "The internal investigation has been completed in relation to the student home visit which resulted in the administrative leave for Dr. Bouldin and Mr. Stephens. The issues related to the school system have been addressed, appropriate action taken, and both administrators will return to their positions effective Friday, April 29, 2016. If further action becomes necessary, it will be taken at the appropriate time. The mission of CHS is "Inspiring students for lifelong success through Character, Citizenship and Scholarship." As we enter the final month of school, it is vitally important that our faculty and students continue in their work to fulfill that mission. The support of our community is a driving force in the success of our schools and the tradition of excellence Cullman City Schools is known for, and that is what we want to ensure continues." At the time of their arrests, both were charged with third-degree criminal trespassing. Bouldin got an additional charge of failure to report an incident of school violence. This referred to allegations he didn't report an assault on the Butts' son on April 9. The trespassing charges were upgraded to first-degree on Thursday. Bouldin's attorney, Perry Knight, said the upgrade refers to the wording of the complaint, which was amended in paperwork filed Thursday. The complaints were amended to say the defendants "did within the above named county and did on or about April 14, 2016, knowingly enter or remain unlawfully in a dwelling of another, to-wit: the residence of Julee and/or Jason Butts, in violation of Title 13A-7-2 of the Code of Alabama." Knight said the upgrade from third-degree to first-degree refers to the wording in the complaints, specifically the use of the word "dwelling." The original complaints used the word "premises" instead, which warranted third-degree charges. "Dr. Elton Bouldin is a great school principal. Reinstating him is the right thing to do and I look forward to defending Dr. Bouldin in this manner," he said. Foul play may have played a part in the disappearance of two Florida teenagers last year while they were fishing off the Jupiter coast, according to a NBC News report. Court documents and investigative records examined by the news agency show that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been pursuing the case for several months. In December, state investigators requested subpoenas for phone records in connection with "an official investigation of a suspected felony" involved in the disappearance, NBC News reported. Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, then 14 and from Tequesta, Fla., went missing July 24, 2015 after leaving the Jupiter Inlet in a 19-foot Seacraft boat. A vessel traveling to Norway discovered the teenagers' small capsized boat on March 18, about 100 miles off the coast of Bermuda, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. NBC News reported the FBI became involved in September after Austin's stepfather, Nick Korniloff, contacted the FBI and a Fish and Wildlife Commission criminal investigator saying he believed the boys were abducted. Included in the 128-page investigative file are reports from two of Austin's friends claiming to have received Snapchat messages from him on or about July 24 that read: "we're f'd." Guy Bennett Rubin, the attorney for Perry Cohen's mother, told WPBF-TV of West Palm Beach that photographs of the teenager's vessel show "the boat was disabled intentionally." According to the report, the photos allegedly show the ignition switch and the battery -- both of which were in hard-to-access parts of the boat -- in the "off" position." "So we don't know whether foul play was involved or not," Rubin told the station. An iPhone belonging to Stephanos and a tackle box were found in the boat, which is on its way back to Florida. According to the report, the teenagers' parents are battling over the phone. Pamela Jill Cohen has sued Austin's parents, Carly Black and William Blu Stephanos, demanding that the phone be turned over to third-party investigators for professional examination. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission turned the phone over to Austin's parents this week, according to the report. Perry's mother claims her son's phone was broken and he also used Austin's phone. In her lawsuit, she claims she "will continue to suffer irreparable harm if the iPhone is not properly handled as material evidence in a possible maritime crime or homicide." A hearing is scheduled for today. Embattled Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday compared himself to President Obama, suggesting that he's a political target much like the second-term president. Bentley made the comparison when asked for an explanation behind his frequently-used explanation that there are political motivations behind the articles of impeachment that have been brought to the state House of Representatives. "Everybody ran against Obama in (2012)," said Bentley, referring to the common campaign ads from lawmakers painting Obama as the enemy. "Well, he's leaving. Even people in your own party have to run against somebody. Unfortunately, right now, I may be the one they are running against." The terms of state legislators don't expire until 2018. Bentley spoke following a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Scottsboro that opened a new bridge across the Tennessee River in northeast Alabama. He reiterated that he has done nothing "illegal or unethical" in reference to the articles of impeachment. On Thursday, 23 lawmakers - 20 of whom are Republicans like Bentley -- sponsored a resolution making two charges against Bentley as cause for impeachment: Willful neglect of duty and corruption. "They don't know the story," Bentley said. "They really don't know the story yet. All of this will come out. There is no basis whatsoever for any of this. Once they hear the entire story, once they hear everything, there's a lot going on that really has nothing to do with me. When they hear all of it, they will change their mind. I have done absolutely nothing wrong and I want to really let the people of this part of the state, they know what I've done for them in this part of the state. I've never done anything illegal or unethical. I want to assure them of that. "My interest only is trying to help the lives of the people of this state, try to educate people and create jobs. It's not even for me. I've never gained anything. I don't even take a salary. I've never gained anything from being here except for the joy and the privilege of serving the people of this state." Asked if he was concerned that legislators weren't buying his explanations, Bentley referred back to "political grandstanding." "A lot of this is political grandstanding, I will say that," Bentley said. "You can't charge somebody with something they have not done. There are no charges out there. There really are none out there." Talk about your anti-social media. Almost a month after blocking comments from public view, Gov. Robert Bentley's official Facebook page continues to keep up the social media blackout. The page allows people to read Gov. Bentley's posts and to make comments but you can't read what others have written. The change occurred earlier in April after Gov. Bentley admitted to having an improper relationship with his former chief advisor, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. Bentley, who faces ethics investigations and possible impeachment in connection to the relationship, has been routinely criticized and mocked on social media. At the time of the change, Facebook confirmed that page administrators have the option of blocking comments from view and that figures like those seen on Bentley's page reflect the total number of comments. The governor's Facebook page is often used to post information about the his activities, including this week's commemoration of the April 27, 2011 tornadoes that ravaged parts of Alabama. There were 19 comments on the story about the anniversary but none are available for public view. Another story on Alabama's March unemployment rate has 27 comments, none of which are available to read. Gov. Bentley's spokesperson Jennifer Ardis did not respond to requests on when the governor's Facebook page might return to its original state and allow people to read comments. According to Dennis Bailey, attorney for the Alabama Press Association, the governor isn't required to display comments on his Facebook page but said the posts are considered public record. "Therefore, regardless of whether comments are displayed on the Facebook page, comments by citizens would be public records subject to disclosure under the Open Records Act," he said. ULA Tour The United Launch Alliance facility in Decatur. (The Huntsville TImes/Bob Gathany) The House Armed Services Committee approved a defense policy bill early Thursday morning that would increase the cap on the amount of Russian-made rocket engines to be used in U.S. national security satellite launches handled by a Decatur-based joint venture. But the bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, faces a number of obstacles before it can become law. In this year's NDAA, which sets the budget for the Defense Department and includes provisions such as requiring women to be registered for a military draft, the committee also approved the Air Force to buy as many as 18 Russian-made RD-180 engines, an increase from the nine engines the Pentagon can currently purchase. The engines are used on Atlas rockets built by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin that supplies about 1,000 jobs in the Huntsville area. The use of the engines has sparked heated debate in Congress because the Russian company that builds the RD-180 has close ties to Russian Presidents Vladimir Putin, and even proponents of the engine, including U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., want to end the reliance on the Russian engines. But the Air Force and Defense Secretary Ash Carter have said that there is no current American alternative and that national security would be compromised if the satellites were delayed. During a Senate hearing Wednesday under questioning from Shelby, Carter said the Defense Department's budget calls for buying the RD-180 "for a time" until there could be two American companies capable of building an engine. "In the meantime, we have to launch our national security pay loads. And where -- there's two ways we can do that," Carter said, according to a transcript of the exchange provided by Shelby's office. "We can hold our noses, buy RD-180s until that situation is created. Or -- and fly Atlases with RD-180s. The alternative is to fly our payloads on Delta [a ULA launch system], which is technically feasible, but much more expensive. And so, that's the choice. And we have chosen the choice of going Atlas, recognizing the distasteful fact that that necessitates purchases of up to 18 more RD-180 engines. The alternative being Delta, but the alternative being much more expensive. It's that simple." Shelby urged his colleagues to consider Carter's expertise to approve the RD-180 purchase. "I am a strong advocate for the development of an all-American rocket engine that can launch our national security assets into orbit," he said. "However, time and time again, our military leaders emphasize the need for the United States to have the ability to purchase additional RD-180s to safeguard assured access to space and protect American taxpayers while we transition off of foreign-made engines. I was pleased to hear Secretary Carter address this important issue today, and I will continue to assert that Congress should provide the policy guidance and legal flexibility that our military leaders say they need in order to launch critical national security missions. While we all agree that the U.S. should reduce its dependence on Russia as soon as possible, it should not come at the expense of keeping Americans safe." The NDAA that passed the House Armed Services Committee still needs to be voted on by the full House, and there may need to be a compromise with the Senate if the upper chamber's passes a different version of the bill. U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is a strong opponent of the RD-180. McCain had feuded with Shelby over budget language last year involving the RD-180, accusing Alabama's senior senator of "taking care of Vladimir Putin's cronies." By Amy Julia Harris | Reveal This story was produced and written by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. Learn more at revealnews.org and subscribe to the podcast, produced with PRX, on iTunes. Robert Eugene Frost The day care owner was arrested in 2010 in Birmingham. Three young girls said Robert Frost, the owner of Christian's Day Care and Learning Academy, had molested them for years at his church day care. They reported that Frost would sit them on his knee, slip his hands beneath their clothes and violate them. The consequences for Frost came quickly. At trial, he was criminally charged with first-degree sexual abuse, convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The family of one of Frost's victims then sued the organization they thought was in charge of the day care: Wooten Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. They had good reason to think the church was responsible. Frost's day care was registered under Wooten Chapel's name. The church's pastor was the day care's contact person. Several of the day care workers were longtime Wooten Chapel congregants and taught Bible study at the church. Frost offered parents discounts if they attended the church's worship services. And kids were transported to the day care in the church's white van. But after the abuse scandal, the church's pastor, Curtis Todd, said Wooten Chapel had nothing to do with the day care. "We didn't know nothing about it," Todd said. "Frost gave us no money. We gave him no money." Frost's victim was trapped. The state of Alabama had provided almost no oversight for the day care because officials thought it was part of a church. But the church took no responsibility when it came time for accountability. Alabama is one of 16 states that exempts faith-based day cares from certain licensing rules designed to protect children. The 900 religious day cares in Alabama don't have to train their workers, hire a minimum number of staff or be regularly inspected. An investigation by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting found that these laws meant to help religious day cares can lead to tragic results for children and parents. Alabama parents reported their children were hit, slapped and punched dozens of times at church day cares - but state officials had no jurisdiction to investigate because the centers' religious status shielded them from oversight. To obtain an exemption in Alabama, all applicants must do is send the state Department of Human Resources a piece of paper saying the day care they want to open is an integral part of a religious organization. State regulators rubberstamp the applications and don't verify whether there is a real religious connection. Unscrupulous day care owners with flimsy connections to churches have exploited that. One woman has been able to use Alabama's religious exemption to operate a dozen dangerous day cares around the state by declaring that she runs a church, despite the fact that it has no worship services or congregation. Her religious status makes her virtually untouchable. At least three other secular day care operators in Alabama were shut down for putting children in danger, only to reopen as church day cares - this time with no oversight. Eventually, the question of whether Robert Frost's day care was truly tied to a church made it all the way to the Alabama Supreme Court. Last year, the court ruled that the church had nothing to do with Frost's day care. That meant he never should have received a religious exemption in the first place. And it makes it unlikely that Frost's victim will ever see a cent in damages. Frost's young victim - known in court documents just by her initials, K.D. - attended Frost's day care from 2008 to 2010. Soon after K.D. started, her mother noticed that the usually independent child was suddenly clingy. The little girl would urinate on herself, burst into tears and break into hysterics if her mother raised her voice at her daughter, according to court documents. She became afraid of the dark and couldn't sleep in her room alone. One day in late January 2010, K.D. told her mother that she hated her and was going to run away. Desperate to understand what was wrong, K.D.'s mother took her daughter to Alabama Psychiatric Services. It was then that K.D. revealed what was wrong. Frost, known to the children at his day care as "Mr. Bob," had abused her, she said. She told psychiatrists that Frost would sit her on his lap and fondle her and touch her genitals, according to court records. Frost warned K.D. not to tell her mother what had happened. If she did, he said, her mom would hate her and people would think she was "a liar" and "a bad kid," according to court records. So K.D. kept silent. But she wasn't alone. Two other girls also came forward to say Frost had sexually abused them at his church day care. Frost was arrested Jan. 29, 2010, and charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse, according to court records. He was convicted of molesting one girl, but the jury failed to reach a verdict on felony sexual abuse charges involving K.D. and another child. Frost was sentenced to 20 years in prison. K.D. and one other victim - R.C. - then sued the church. In civil court filings, R.C.'s family argued that Wooten Chapel acted with "negligence and wantonness" by allowing Frost to "use their legal status as a non-profit religious organization so as to avoid regulation and oversight by state agencies." One parent later testified that Frost admitted to aligning himself with a church to "save money and avoid state laws and regulations." Wooten Chapel denied any connection. The church's pastor, Todd, testified in February 2015 that the church "has never operated or been affiliated with any daycare." But there's plenty of evidence that the church and day care were connected. An official with Alabama's child care licensing division testified that it was Wooten Chapel that applied to the state for a religious exemption to operate a day care. She produced documents listing Wooten Chapel as the owner and Todd as the day care contact. Because the church applied to run a day care outside Alabama regulations, she said, Wooten Chapel "had voluntarily undertaken a duty to ensure that no harm resulted from its actions." Three teachers at Frost's day care had deep connections to Wooten Chapel. Mollie Freeman was the church's director. Patricia Smith and Roberta Thomas, who worked at the day care, taught a Sunday Bible study class at Wooten Chapel. Frost himself was employed by Wooten Chapel as a maintenance man. Frost even offered a $100 day care discount to parents who agreed to go to church at Wooten Chapel. K.D.'s mother testified that she attended the church services just to receive the $100 discount. She said she remembered a time when Frost asked the church's pastor for permission to offer the discount, according to court records. Frost also transported children to and from the day care in a white van owned by the church - which Wooten Chapel had purchased specifically for Frost to use for the day care, according to court records. A church representative said the church sold the van to Frost, but the van's title said it belonged to the church. On the day Frost's day care closed, court records say his employees approached parents of the children and told them that the day care's operations would continue. The new location? A five-minute drive down the road, at Wooten Chapel. But in May 2015, the Jefferson County Circuit Court found that Wooten Chapel was not legally responsible for what happened to K.D. and would not have to pay. K.D.'s family appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court. The other victim's civil suit is still pending. The Alabama Supreme Court also ruled that Wooten Chapel had no connection to the religious day care using its name. In November, the Supreme Court ordered Frost and his now-shuttered day care to pay $4 million in damages to K.D. for the abuse she suffered. But it's unlikely she will get any money. Ed Odum, the lawyer who represented Frost, said Frost is broke and the day care had no insurance. And Wooten Chapel Baptist Church won't have to pay a penny. Update: Earlier story: A north Alabama family is trying to pick up the pieces after six children lost their parents to separate circumstances in the same weekend. Jennifer and Toby Norsworthy were known as a loving and generous couple who put their family above all else. That family is quite extensive, with many of them traveling to Huntsville to be with them during this time. "Toby and Jennifer were all about family," said his mother, Tami Norsworthy. Jennifer Norsworthy, 40, had a history of blood clots. The family said one formed in her sleep last Friday. She was rushed to Madison Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Toby succumbed to a heart attack in his sleep early last Sunday. His sister, Tabitha Washburn, suspects it was from the stress of losing his wife. He was pronounced dead at the same hospital. Washburn said the same doctor and nurse worked on both him and Jennifer. The family said the tragic and unexpected loss has been devastating, especially for the children. Washburn said the kids have been resilient through it all. Family members have traveled from Maine, Michigan, California, Alaska, Illinois, Missouri and other states to be with them during this time. The three oldest are from Jennifer's previous marriage. They are Quinten, 20, Riley, 17, and Bradley, 13. Their children together are Mickey, 11, Aurora, 9, and Lainie, 6. Washburn said the couple met while living in Eagle River, Alaska about 13 years ago. They married about three years later. After living in Alaska and Tennessee, the Norsworthys moved to Huntsville where Toby worked as a computer programmer and developer for Coilplus. He also did remote part-time work for Alaska Communications. Jennifer stayed at home with the children. They were also very active with Pineview Baptist Church in Harvest and throughout the community. "They were very charitable, always giving. They volunteered all their time to church and different community events," Washburn said. "The number of people have been coming in and saying how they touched their lives is overwhelming." Leslie Plunkett, a childhood friend of Toby's from when when they were kids in Maine, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help the family. Click here for the link. "Toby was a very selfless person. He adored his wife and absolutely loved each and every one of the children," Plunkett said. "He always put community, friends, family and church first." The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pineview Baptist Church. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. We could be entering the homestretch in the 2016 race for the White House. Republicans Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are on the ballot in Indiana for its Tuesday, May 3 primary. There are 57 Republican and 92 Democratic delegates available. Indiana's delegate process is pretty straight forward. For Republicans, three delegates will be awarded from each of the state's nine Congressional districts with the candidate who receives the most voting taking them all. The 30 other delegates will be awarded to the candidate who wins the most votes statewide. On the Democratic side, all but nine of the delegates will be awarded to candidates based on the percentage of vote they receive. The nine are "superdelegates," generally party leaders who aren't bound by the stateside vote. According to the Associated Press tally, Trump now has 994 delegates, 243 short of the 1,237 needed to capture the Republican presidential nomination. Cruz has 566; Kasich is at 153. If Trump sweeps Indiana - and that's a large if - his delegate count would go to 1,051. With that pace, Trump could secure the nomination by the May 17 primaries in Kentucky and Oregon, though it's more likely it will take him until California. The New York Times estimates that two more state wins could be enough to give the businessman-turned-politician the nomination. Clinton currently has 2,165 delegates, only 218 short of the nomination. Polling has been scarce in Indiana. A recent CBS News poll shows Trump leading the pack by 5 points. A Fox News poll has his lead at 8 points. Polls show Clinton ahead of Sanders by a margin ranging from 3 to 13 points. After Indiana and the May 7 Democratic primary in Guam, the contest will go to Nebraska and west Virginia. Here's the rest of the primary season: Nebraska Republican primary - 36 delegates West Virginia - 37 Republican delegates, 34 Democratic Tuesday, May 17 Kentucky Democratic primary - 61 delegates Oregon primary - 28 Republican delegates, 72 Democratic, delegates awarded proportionally Tuesday, May 24 Washington Republican primary - 44 delegates, delegates awarded proportionally Saturday, June 4 Virgin Island Democratic caucus - 12 delegates Sunday, June 5 Puerto Rico Democratic caucus - 67 delegates Tuesday, June 7 California - 172 Republican delegates, 546 Democratic, delegates awarded proportionally Montana - 27 Republican delegates, 27 Democratic, winner-take-all New Jersey - 51 Republican delegates, 142 Democratic, winner-take-all New Mexico - 24 Republican delegates, 43 Democratic delegates, delegates awarded proportionately North Dakota Democratic caucus - 23 delegates South Dakota - 29 Republican delegates, 25 Democratic, winner-take-all Tuesday, June 14 District of Columbia Democratic caucus - 46 delegate 1978 Slaying Confession In this undated photo, Charlie Smith poses for a photo in Florala, Ala. Smith's father Ed Smith was shot to death at his gas station in Florala in 1978 and a state inmate has confessed to the murder. (Bryan Henry/WSFA-TV via AP) (Bryan Henry) A family in south Alabama was beginning to believe justice delayed meant justice denied, but a jailhouse confession changed everything a few months ago. It all started on Jan. 3, 1978 in Florala. Thirty-eight years later, Charlie Smith remembers that horrible phone call from his sister like it was yesterday. "She was hysterical. I couldn't believe it at first," Charlie Smith said. Charlie Smith's father, Ed Smith, was 73 and the proud owner of a filling station in downtown Florala on a corner spot he occupied for 53 years. He was gunned down just inside the front door on a winter's night right before closing. "Why would anybody shoot my dad? Robbery was the obvious motive," Charlie Smith said. Florala police charged David Bonner with what was the equivalent of capital murder. Bonner was 18 at the time. Ed Smith knew Bonner as one of his costumers. It's believed David Bonner targeted Ed Smith because it was well known in town he had a dangerous habit. "My dad had a money clip. He would make change and carried his money in his pants pocket. It turned out to be $150," Charlie Smith said. Two shots later, Ed Smith, a Florala fixture, was gone. It turned out police took no fingerprints at the scene, didn't even secure the scene, and David Bonner ended up being acquitted by a Covington County jury. "It was a tremendous shock to me. I just didn't see how it was possible. Just a lot of holes his defense attorneys had punched in the case," Charlie Smith said. Court records show David Bonner never took the stand and walked out a free man. For the next 38 years, Charlie Smith and his family went about their lives. Smith opened up his own pharmacy while maintaining his dad's old gas station across the street. David Bonner still had some legal issues to contend with. Before Ed Smith was killed, Bonner was a suspect in a burglary case in 1975. He was convicted and served 11 years in prison and paroled. In 1995, Bonner killed a man in Montgomery. Convicted in that crime, David Bonner was sentenced to life without parole and remains at Holman prison near Atmore today. "We hadn't given up hope," Charlie Smith said. That patience was rewarded. One year ago, the Covington County District Attorney's Cold Case team took a look at the case. State Bureau of Investigations investigator Chris Inabinett became the lead agent on the case and knew he had a challenge. "Little progress was made back then. I didn't know if Bonner would talk. He had been locked up for the better part of 20 years, so I requested to see his prison records," Inabinett said. The prison records turned out to be a major break. Inabinett noticed David Bonner had voluntarily taken courses in prison on empathy and how crime affected victims' families. The veteran investigator saw that as a potential opening and went for it. "So to me, that got me to thinking after all these years, that was still on his mind," Inabinett said. During a lengthy interview inside prison in November, David Bonner initially denied everything and then finally - a confession. "David didn't show any emotions at all," Inabinett said. But the case wasn't over. With prison guards in the room, David Bonner told Charlie Smith the truth beginning with an apology. Smith described Bonner as solemn and demur. "It was a confession because he told the story. He said I know nothing can bring your father back. I think he was sincere," Charlie Smith said. Bonner claimed he was only going to rob Ed Smith of his money clip and be done with it but alleged Ed Smith grabbed the gun and it fired. Charlie Smith doesn't necessarily accept that notion. Remember, David Bonner was 18, young and strong. Ed Smith was 73 and small framed. "I don't know. It doesn't sound like my dad would take a gun from somebody. I think what really hurts is the fact Bonner admitted my dad was nice to him and treated him like any other customer," Smith said. Regardless, what matters is the Smith family got the closure it had hoped for after so many years. It just didn't come in the way they expected. David Bonner cannot be tried again for Ed Smith's murder because of double-jeopardy. However, Bonner will remain in prison for the rest of his life because of his 1995 murder conviction. "We've all done things we're accountable for. We all need forgiveness," Charlie Smith said. David Bonner declined an interview request but released this statement through the Alabama Department of Corrections: "I said all I had to say to the investigator." BRYAN HENRY, WSFA-TV The Rhythm Future QuartetThe Evening MuseCharlotte, NCApril 23, 2016The Rhythm Future Quartet plays Gypsy jazz with one eye towards the past and the other towards the present. They've got the style, they've got the chops, and they're not afraid to try new things. As one of a series of shows billed as album release parties for their second release Travels, much of the program was taken from there. Bassist's "Iberian Sunrise" opened the show, as it does on the album. It makes a great introduction to the band, with its sly, gentle opening that gradually builds to a lightening-fast bridge. They sound good playing slow, and they're absolutely jaw-dropping when playing fast. Guitaristis not called "the Finnish Boy Wonder" for nothing, and violinistis his equal in speed, articulation, and soul. After another fast number Anick introduced the band (with Soikkeli returning the favor by introducing Anick). It wasn't mentioned from the stage, but 2nd guitaristwas filling in for regular 2nd guitaristand indeed there was nothing about the sound or the group interaction that made the substitution apparent. The rhythm guitar part is really the rhythmic engine in this music, and Pena performed that role to perfection, as well as doing a bit of lead playing.After Soikkeli's "For Paulus" the band pulled out their first surprise of the night, their cover of John Lennon's Beatles tune "Come Together." Anick said it needed no introduction, and he was right. Driven by Loughman's bass, the arrangement made the song sound like it was written for this instrumentation. The crowd loved it as much as the band seemed to enjoy playing it. Then the international flavor implied by the title "Travels" came to the fore with Anick's "Vessela," an exciting exploration of Balkan rhythms and harmonies. After another really fast number Anick joked that it might have been the last song the group would ever play. But of course they came right back with a version of "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" which featured solos from the 2nd guitar and the bass. They wrapped up the first set with "Bushwick Stomp" (in honor of Finnish guitarist Soikkeli's move to his present Brooklyn home). Anick was proud to announce that the Facebook video of the song has topped a million views.The second set delivered lots of traditional Gypsy jazz energy, like the cover of "Don't Tell Me." But there was also a guitar duet, a medley of "Moscow Windows/La Gitane" (which is included on the group's 2013 debut album). How did a violinist from Massachusetts and a Finnish guitarist meet? Anick explained that they had both been instructors at the "Django in June" music camp, and when Soikkeli moved to the United States they jumped at the chance to work together. Then they played a remarkable mashup, an arrangement that combined the Gershwin standard "Summertime" with Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" (another selection from the debut album). It's amazing how well the tunes worked together: an absolute hoot. It would have been fascinating to witness the slow burn from the audience as they recognized the two songs if they had not been announced beforehand. The show ended as the album does, with more straight-ahead Gypsy jazz, a cover of's "Made In France."This group has really got something: a sound and presentation capable of appealing to an audience far beyond Gypsy jazz aficionados (although anyone who is not a purist will find plenty to love there as well). They have something to offer to fans of jazz and swing music generally, and to fans of virtuosic acoustic music. Maybe not "something for everybody," but as close as an instrumental group gets.Photo Credit: Mark Sullivan AR's Editor Joe Shea Talks About Elections On Iranian TV Bear Stearns Saved By Fed As Lehman Bros. Falters; Major Bank Failure Looms Over Wall Street, Sends Markets Into 200-Pt. Dive Lie Upon Lie Five Years Into the Iraq War The Administration Still Churns Out Lies by Randolph Holhut A Small Tragedy Even at 90, As Friends Turn Cool She Knows the Show Must Go On by Joyce Marcel I'll Take Me Imagine John Wayne or Arnold In Heels, Silk and a Girdle by Elizabeth Andrews Sen. Nelson Calls For New Fla. Primary; Gov Crist Backs 'Do-Over' Who'll Win? Ask Spock Spock.com Engine Predicts Winners By Site Searches; It Can be Wrong by Jay Bhatti Chatting Up The Cat God Gave Me Dominion Over Him But I Think He's a Non-Believer by Constance Daley Death of a Thug The Life and Horrors of Suharto by Andreas Harsono ___________________________ This Just In Sierra Club: McCain Ducked All 15 Key Votes On Green Laws (AR) A Work By AR's T.S. Kerrigan Is Chosen As 'Best Poem' By Wordpress Site Murder At Mile 63 The Deadly Assault and Bush Administration Cover-Up by S. Eben Kirkesby and Andreas Harsono 5427 14th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34207 $6.99 Fish Fridays! Manatee Co.'s Only 24-Hr. FREE Wi-Fi Paid Advertisement On Native Ground AFTER 5 YEARS, WE'RE STILL LIED TO ABOUT IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Next week is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And it is likely that sometime in the next couple of weeks, the 4,000th American soldier will die in Iraq. [MORE] Momentum OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - It's 1931, and a 14-year-old girl is standing alone on a stage. She's small and lively with dark curly hair, widespread hazel eyes, slender wrists and an open, eager face filled with the wonder of performing. Her name is Rose, and one day she will be my mother. But now she is performing an Eugene O'Neill monologue called "Before Breakfast" for a ladies' club in a wealthy suburb of Long Island. [MORE] One Woman's World COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I'm not sure but I think I may be socially incorrect. [MORE] On Native Ground ENOUGH FOR A WAR, NOT FOR A PEOPLE by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Last week, the National Governors Assn. met in Washington, D.C. One of the tasks the NGA had on its agenda was to ask President Bush to increase federal spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects as a way to stimulate the economy. He rejected their pleas out of hand, claiming that infrastructure projects wouldn't offer any short-term economic boost. [MORE] Brasch Words BEWARE THE SELF-REVERENTIAL PRESS by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Shortly before the primary votes this past week, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter called Sen. Barack Obama's surge to the Democratic nomination "inevitable." It also called for Hillary Clinton to "start her campaign for Senate majority leader." [MORE] Constance A CONVERSATION WITH MY CAT Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Normally, when the cat starts his evening rant of meowing continuously until he makes his point, I just take it as long as I can, pick him up, and put him in the garage for the night. He doesn't want to go, but the meowing stops and I don't care if he likes it or not. [MORE] Momentum OUT OF STRUGGLE, ART by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Here we are again at the crossroads of art and social change, having the opportunity to watch good and great films about the lives of women in support of the Women's Crisis Center. [MORE] Campaign 2008 HOW TO PREDICT SUPER TUESDAY II WINNERS? ONLINE SEARCH by Jay Bhatti NEW YORK, March 4, 2008, 7:00PM ET -- With the outcomes of the Texas, Vermont, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries to be decided tonight, how possible is it that online searching can predict who will win tonight's primaries? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T VOTE; IT ENCOURAGES THEM by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Call me angry and disgusted but don't call me un-American because I won't be voting come November. [MORE] On Native Ground BUSH AND THE KEYBOARD COMMANDOS by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- As the days tick down toward the eventual departure of President George W. Bush from the White House, it's a hopeful sign that most Americans are no longer moved by his Administration's constant exploitation of terrorism for political gain. [MORE] Momentum WHICH AMERICA DO YOU LIVE IN? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- It's a little confusing. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] On Native Ground FIDEL RETIRES: NOW THE COLD WAR IS REALLY OVER by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Maybe now, we can finally say the Cold War is over. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] One Woman's World POLITICS IS NO PARTY by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Are you having a hard time focusing your eyes? Do you have faint red spots all over your body? Is there a ringing in your ears and do you see wavy lines when you look at your television set? Do your hands shake when you try to hold a cup of coffee? And have you recently been forgetting what day of the week it is - or what year? [MORE] Make My Day FOR BETTER OR WORSE ... A LOT WORSE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- "Marriage: It's Only Going to Get Worse." [MORE] Constance YOU CALL THESE RIGHTS? by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- When you express an opinion you hope to persuade others to your point of view. It doesn't always happen but still, opinion writers try. [MORE] Momentum THE BRIDGE WOMAN by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - Out there in America - yes, still - is a generation of women who were born in the 1940s, raised in the 1950s, and who came to radical consciousness in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I am one of them. Hillary Clinton is one of them. [MORE] On Native Ground 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] When people hear the term money laundering today, they envision the most evil of acts, in which gangsters process satchels of cash through a fabricated company to show it as business revenue. Words and semantics are very important in this post-9/11 world, and as far as creating a negative connotation, that parlance has been extremely effective. At its essence, money laundering is the act of concealing money or assets from the state to prevent its loss through taxation, judgment enforcement, or blatant confiscation. However, as the late J. Orlin Grabbe wrote: "Anyone who has studied the evolution of money-laundering statutes in the U.S. and elsewhere will realize that the 'crime' of money laundering boils down to a single, basic prohibited act: Doing something and not telling the government about it." Protecting one's wealth is interwoven with the history of trade and banking which has existed since the dawn of commerce. Sterling Seagrave's Lords of the Rim describes how some 2,000 years before Christ, merchants in China would hide their wealth from rulers who would simply take it from them and subsequently banish them. This concealment involved moving the wealth and investing it in remote provinces or outside China. Part myth, part rumor, the plausible tale of Mafia gangsters running huge amounts of cash from extortion, prostitution, gambling and bootleg liquor through existing Laundromats accounts for the phrase money laundering. Also during this period, Al Capone was convicted in October 1931 for tax evasion, which is what earned the prosecutor's conviction rather than the predicate crimes that generated his illicit income. Capone's episode inspired Meyer Lansky, the mob's accountant, who structured elaborate international and Swiss financial facilities for safely securing money and vowed never to suffer Capone's fate. Lansky is credited with designing one of the first real laundering techniques, the use of the "loan-back" concept, which disguised allegedly illegal money within "loans" provided by compliant foreign banks. The money could then be justified as revenue and a tax deduction for interest expense obtained in the process. Without any method of tracking cash or bank activity, Congress passed the Bank Secrecy Act in 1970, heralding the age of transaction reporting, including the Currency Transaction Report (Form 4789), the Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments (Form 4790), and the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (Form TD F 90-22.1). In the United States, the Money Laundering Control Act formally made money laundering a federal crime. Internationally, the elements of the crime of money laundering are set forth in the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Also, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, founded in 1989 on the initiative of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, is an intergovernmental organization whose purpose is to develop policies to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. From President Roosevelt's 1933 seizure of personal gold to the Nazi confiscation of Jewish wealth to the recent deposit theft at Cyprus banks, asset plundering by governments has a long and colorful tradition. Protecting wealth from oppressive regimes continues to this day. It's highly political and also a matter of perspective whether protection from confiscation is a justifiable activity. Government access to wealth is at the heart of the issue and it matters not if it's hiding money or cleaning money. Therefore, the artificial crime of "money laundering" had to be invented, mainly because more direct and traditional methods of enforcing certain laws yielded little result. Think of it as driving without a lightbulb above the license plate being a felony because thieves might drive away in the night. All must participate in illuminating the way to be tracked. More than anything, this is a clear sign of regulatory desperation. Money laundering has been called the thoughtcrime of finance. Isn't it really just banking with someone's possibly nefarious intentions attached to the act? It's like buying a drive-thru donut in a stolen vehicle. The theft of the vehicle may have been illegal and immoral but the act of purchasing a donut is not. Money laundering is not pre-crime but post-crime. And, it's difficult to identify the victim, other than the bank shareholders that must expend millions of dollars for the proactive compliance required as the state's deputized enforcers. Moreover, money laundering is guilt by association. If the monetary flows resulting from associated businesses are deemed illegal, then the banking activity is defined as money laundering. But, in the absence of victimless crime laws against drugs, gambling, and prostitution, the majority of banking labeled as money laundering would simply be banking. According to the International Money Laundering Information Bureau, "Money Laundering is also the world's third-largest industry by value." Apparently, it happens in every country in the world. Well, breathing by humans also happens in every country in the world. If money laundering is actually the third-largest industry in the world then it's either being calculated wrong or it's too easily defined. In his Rolling Stone article "Gangster Bankers: Too Big to Jail," Matt Taibbi mocks the anti-money-laundering regime as being hypocritical because large commercial banks like HSBC receive a light slap on the wrist and the blind-eye treatment as smaller fish are routinely scooped up in the net. Taibbi correctly distinguishes between an arrestable class and an unarrestable class. However, he misses the point of the law's arbitrariness in the first place. Thank you for the analysis, Mr. Taibbi, but dispensing enforcement of an immoral law more evenly is not a solution for justice. Even as the money-laundering laws are said to exist for the fight against terrorism or drugs or gambling, the cashless utopia is simultaneously being thrust upon us as the monetary architecture of the future. Expect ever more increasing thoughtcrime enforcement as the international money flow tightens. Jon Matonis is an e-money researcher and crypto economist focused on expanding the circulation of nonpolitical digital currencies. His career has included senior posts at Sumitomo Bank, Visa, VeriSign, and Hushmail. Currently, he serves on the board of the Bitcoin Foundation. Follow him on Twitter @jonmatonis. When people say "application programming interfaces will transform banking," they usually mean "by making it easier for banks to connect with fintech startups." But PNC is looking at what it can do with APIs on the inside. The Pittsburgh-based bank recently held an API Fest where it asked employees from across the enterprise to team up to submit ideas for customer-facing innovation. Thirty-seven teams totaling 184 employees participated in the event, which took place in early April. Each team had to have one developer, but nontech employees were encouraged to participate. The overall winning idea was for a card-free ATM solution. The four team members won $3,000 each and three paid days off. Other finalists used APIs for mobile geolocation to detect fraud, hands-free banking via Amazon Echo, a mobile app that maximizes customer rewards and an instant mobile bill-pay app. The entire company voted on the best ideas, and the winner and four finalists will see their ideas move on to development at PNC's innovation lab. "We look at this as the start of a journey," said Steve Van Wyk, head of technology and operations at PNC. "APIs can recreate the way we bank. There are a lot of new and interesting ways of innovating on top of the bank platform." With the API Fest, PNC joins a growing list of banks experimenting with APIs. In February, the Spanish banking giant BBVA announced it had rehired Shamir Karkal, co-founder of the digital-only "neobank" Simple, to the newly created position of head of open APIs. (Simple was acquired by BBVA in 2014.) In 2015, Citigroup appointed longtime executive Andres Wolberg-Stok to a new role overseeing a wholesale shift to an application programming interface model for all Citi consumer channels. And Capital One launched a developer portal, called DevExchange, last year along with three new open APIs. The portal will act as the home base for all the bank's open-source projects. PNC has future API events planned, Van Wyk said, and will likely start inviting outside developers to participate, like the "hackathons" some banks have begun sponsoring. Banks such as these that embrace APIs early will be much better prepared for the future than their competitors, argues Peter Wannemacher, a senior analyst with Forrester Research. APIs "will be, in the near future, a necessary and valuable means by which banks will do their jobs," he said. "There's a component of inevitability." Wannemacher added that APIs and open platforms will enable financial firms to build "dynamic ecosystems of value, reconnecting a fragmented value chain." This will be part of a wider, and longer-term, shift to open platforms as the foundation of a digital financial services strategy. And while banks tend to think of consumer-facing services and products as the use case for APIs, they shouldn't neglect corporate customers, noted Linda Coven, a senior analyst with Aite Group. "A lot of large and midmarket companies are asking how they can incorporate APIs," she said. "There's an opportunity to create a better customer experience for corporates as well." For instance, SVB Financial Group last year hired the team behind the digital-banking startup Standard Treasury to help the bank create a channel for customers to tailor the way they share data with the bank via APIs. For instance, SVB customers would be able to program the way the bank handles payments on their behalf. And although much of the discussion about APIs is related to how outside firms, such as personal financial management companies, might access bank data, the PNC experiment is a good reminder that they are just as much an opportunity to drive internal innovation. "Interoperability is the goal across the organization," Van Wyk said. "As you consider benefits across the bank it is more than just the APIs the API Fest allowed people to propose ideas in disciplines not their own." Getting to that environment of "interoperability" that Van Wyk describes will be a slog. There is the technical side to that end, PNC is in the midst of a five-year overhaul of its technology systems. There is also the decidedly nontechnical side the part that explains what APIs are to its roughly 50,000 employees. To do so for the competition, the company created videos that described in nontechnical terms what an API does and used everyday examples of how APIs are already used in many mobile applications. The bank is also plotting its strategy for working with others, such as whether apps created by third parties would have to become branded as PNC products or would be offered under the branding of the developer (as in Apple's app store). "That's something to figure out down the road, but it won't prevent us from starting to go down this path," Van Wyk said. "These things will be solved." PNC, he said, is seeking to adapt quickly to "all the competition that's out there," both in the form of fellow banks and tech startups. "A lot of people have trepidation about the fintech companies, but we respect them," he said. "I think many of them will fade, but they will have made a lasting impact on the industry. Like with the dot-com boom, we are in the midst of a technology cycle. How you manage yourself through the cycle is very important in coming out in a strong position at the end of it." Van Wyk said the bank is mindful of security concerns about opening itself up with APIs. Just as Apple strictly vets the products in its app store, Van Wyk said PNC would put any third-party app through a thorough review process "to ensure nothing would jeopardize the bank or customer data." Some banks fear embracing APIs would turn them into an app store. But Van Wyk says that prospect shouldn't be viewed negatively. "If you think of an iPad, Apple applications are only a few of many apps that might be on it," he said. "Why not become the 'iBank' with an app store where people can bank in many different ways?" WASHINGTON Compliance officers are terrified of a New York State Department of Financial Services proposal that could make them criminally liable for failings in their firms anti-money-laundering programs, according to industry representatives. "You might go to jail. Who wants a job like that?" Nelson Everhardt, a consultant and former compliance executive at Bank of America, said in an interview. The proposal would impose new guidelines on transaction monitoring and filtering to ensure that financial institutions adhere to the Bank Secrecy Act. A financial institution's chief compliance officer or equivalent would be required to sign yearly certifications declaring they have complied with the new requirements. In theory, the plan does not depart from federal requirements and guidelines already in place. But critics said it may add another layer of requirements that raise compliance costs and potentially subject officers to criminal penalties. The proposal's requirements are "already in the examination manuals," Everhardt said. "Why do you need to put something on top of this?" In its Dec. 1 proposal, the New York regulator said the plan results from investigations that turned up "shortcomings in the transaction monitoring and filtering programs" of several New York-chartered financial institutions. Modeled after the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the plan aims to reduce Bank Secrecy Act violations by targeting compliance executives. But industry representatives argue that it is draconian and that it could backfire. "It may be a cannon blast when a surgical knife would do," Jorge Guerrero, chief executive of the compliance consultancy Optima Compass Group in Austin, Tex., said in an interview. A spokesman for the state regulator declined to comment, noting that the comment period for the plan has been extended until March 31. On the one hand, the proposal's intended targets financial institutions with subpar anti-money-laundering practices are likely to respond swiftly if it is implemented. Banks will also be encouraged to improve their advanced testing, a growing arm of AML compliance practice. "Algorithms behind the system and the data that goes into the system are critical," said John Caruso, a principal at KPMG. "I would expect that banks would have to step that up and increase both manpower and expertise in that area." But the proposal could also impose unrealistic standards on compliance officers, who worry they could be subject to lawsuits even for mistakes made in good faith. AML compliance failures should be evaluated "when you're in the heat of battle, not in hindsight, when you have more facts and more knowledge about possible risks and specific details as to what" transpired, Guerrero said. Everhardt agreed. "It's kind of like nailing jello to the wall," he said. "There's not one product in any of the financial institutions that hasn't already been compromised." It could also be a counterproductive exercise for banks that already have solid anti-laundering arms, industry representatives said. Instead of marshaling their resources toward an AML infrastructure tailored to their needs, financial institutions will be forced to follow the DFS's guidelines to the letter. AML programs are "supposed to be flexible, and not prescriptive," said Robert Rowe, vice president and associate chief counsel for the American Bankers Association. "The New York proposal goes in the other direction." Experts also said that the regulatory straitjacket could drive compliance officers away. "I had a few compliance officers from large banks say that if this goes through, they are going to find something else to do," Rowe said. Banks are already worried about a growing chorus demanding "heads on a plate" since the financial crisis, said Brian Monroe, director of content at the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists. Lee Kurman, a former general counsel of Morgan Stanleys largest bank subsidiary who is now a managing director of the consulting firm Exiger, said, "There's a lot of pressure to say, 'OK, the banks have been fined [but] few, if any, people in the banks have been held personally responsible.' " The record $1.92 billion money-laundering settlement with HSBC in late 2012 sparked outrage in the public at large because it did not lead to any indictments of executives. The courts may already be moving in the same direction as the New York rule. In January, a U.S. District Court judge in Minnesota ruled that corporate officers could be held personally liable for Bank Secrecy Act compliance failures. The case involved MoneyGram's former chief compliance officer, Thomas Haider, who was fined $1 million for wire fraud and anti-money-laundering violations that occurred under his watch. As the perceived risks shouldered by compliance officers have grown, so has their income. According to a Robert Half salary guide, compensation for compliance directors is set to increase 5.8% this year, making it among the fastest-growing in the legal field. "It has become more challenging than ever to attract top-tier compliance officers," said Justin Mandel, the managing director at the New York headhunting firm JW Michaels & Co. Salaries can now range from about $400,000 to $1 million, said Mandel, who expects to see seven-figure incomes become more common. Financial institutions could see other indirect costs stack up if the proposal comes to pass from personal liability insurance for compliance officers to outside consultants hired to kick the tires on a firm's AML program. You might say I was for Ann Coulter before I was against her. Or maybe that Coulter was for conservatism before she was against it, or before she was for Northeastern moderates Chris Christie, or Mitt Romney -- and certainly before she was for northeastern liberal Donald Trump. That was before she started her rants against one of the most conservative senators in the land in decades, the last being the straw that broke this camel's back. Ann has changed. Ann has abandoned long-held principles to invest emotional hope in a man who has spent several decades funding opposition to everything she stands for. Lets' start our Coulter v. Coulter -- which could be called Coulter v. Trump -- contest with the economy. I begin with this issue because A: limited government conservative economics and free markets are a major foundation of conservatism and B: Barack Obama has won two elections with almost precisely the same percentage of voters who still blame Bush (and all Republicans by extension) for the economy. Or to be exact, Obama got the votes of those who agree with him, as Trump does, about Bush, the economy, and the proper blame for the 2008 collapse. Now, Ann didn't used to think this way. From a couple of her own syndicated columns comes this: "You know what really irritates me about liberals? They always think liberalism fixes the problem -- even when it was liberalism that caused the problem in the first place! Case in point, the Financial Meltdown of 2008 (and counting). To hear liberals tell it, it all goes back to Ronald Reagan -- who with his seductive "B-actor" charm fooled America into thinking that by slashing taxes, regulation, and government spending we could unleash free enterprise and create a new wave of prosperity Unfortunately, the facts -- as always when you're talking about liberal theories -- tell a different story. A story in which all the major villains, it turns out, have one thing in common: government." Unfortunately for Ann today, Trump parrots those very liberal talking points. And I mean recently. In July, he explained to Morning Joe (another conservative sellout) when the economy crashed so horribly under George Bush, because of mistakes they (Republicans) made with banking and a lot of other things I dont think the Democrats would have done that. Yes, he blamed Bush and not Reagan here, but that's because he had already blamed Reagan in the 90s calling Reaganomics "an absolute catastrophe for the country". More on that in a minute. First, keep in mind his last sentence -- about not thinking the "Democrats would have done that." Donald, dude, it was precisely Democrats who did it. This is not theory. It's history. Ann used to know this. From the same column above, she writes: "From the "Community Reinvestment Act" (Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton) that pressured banks into affirmative-action lending, to those "government-sponsored enterprises" Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- who bought up all the resulting subprime loans and repackaged them as "investment grade" securities -- the greasy thumb-prints of government were all over this fiasco from beginning to end. But those, as I say, are facts. And facts have no place in the fantasy world of Democratic policymakers. Nor does history -- true history." Ann, neither does truth have a place in the Trump campaign. On this major transformative issue, Trump throws in with Chris Dodd and Barney Frank and the liberal media. On an election defining issue, Trump parrots Barack Obama. And Ann dispenses with her long-held principles to throw in with Trump. And less you think these were nonconsequential comments from Trump, you need to hear Ann from 2010 quoting a Leno bit to explain the fanciful PR around the disastrous Dodd Frank Act. " 'The head of Goldman Sachs was going through security and was asked to empty his pockets -- and five Republican senators fell out.' How out of touch with reality would you have to be to laugh at that joke? Its not just untrue, its a perfect inversion of the truth. Why didn't Barack Obama or Chuck Schumer fall out? Why not Rahm Emanuel? The fact that anyone laughed at that joke proves that Republicans have a serious PR problem. It's almost as if we have a liberal media." Yeah Ann, and it's almost as if we have a liberal candidate that you support who is adding to our "serious PR problem." Ann was also at one time an opponent of government bailouts, saying in late 2011 when the bets go bad and they go running to their Democrat friends in the White House from Bill Clinton to President Obama and get bailed out by the American taxpayer, that is not a free market. I think all Americans should be angry about that crony capitalism. For some reason now, however, Ann thinks our solution is to hire the quintessential crony capitalist who not only applauded and supported TARP and the Stimulus, but all bailouts. Speaking of the Stimulus, Coulter wrote in 2009 "Obama's stimulus bill is the mother of all pork bills for friends of Congressional Democrats of O and friends of O." Uh Ann, that would also be friends of DT -- your boy -- who was a big Stimulus supporter as well. In that same column, Ann deftly swerved into Reaganomics and liberal lies about Reagan saying "the perfect bar bet with a liberal would be to wager that massive government deficits in the '80s were not caused by Reagan's tax cuts. Casually mention that you thought Reagan's tax cuts brought the government more revenue they did and you could get odds in Hollywood and Manhattan." And as we know from Trump's "expert witness" testimony to Congress, he would have taken Ann's bet in 2009. He even went so far into nonsense as to say "the incentive was taken away (for real estate investment) when the tax rates came down for high income people." Huh? He doubled down, saying those tax cuts caused us to be "no different right now than the Soviet Union." Huh huh? I don't care if that was 1990. It was nonsense then and it's nonsense now, and when you see that in 2016 he still exonerates all Democrats for the 2008 meltdown, his thinking has not become any more coherent, or conservative. He called Reagan a catastrophe, and today many Trump sycophants compare him to Reagan as in, he is today's Reagan. And yet Coulter, who has written widely and positively on Reagan and Reaganomics, insists on supporting a man who decries Reaganomics, and has yet to utter the words "limited government" and "liberty" in a single debate or speech. He is a man who routinely and recently launched into liberal talking points while donating to Democrats like Chuck Schumer running against Republicans and Republicans like Mitch McConnell when they were running against Tea Party challengers. This all matters greatly, too. Coulter said above, and she was right, that we have a major PR problem when it comes to what government policies and which political party has ruined the economy. She is right. Remember the stat about Obama voters being the universe of voters who believe Bush (all Republicans) are still to blame for the economy? And yet, she supports a PR wizard who advances the ball greatly in the wrong direction. Ann, what gives? Edmund Wright is a contributor to American Thinker, Breitbart, Newsmax TV and Talk Radio Network - as well as bestselling author and conservative speaker. He is currently working on a book about the fracturing of the conservative media in the 2016 election cycle. Almost all counterarguments against allowing transgender individuals into sex-segregated spaces focus on the high likelihood of what harm will be caused to girls and women. However, to my knowledge there have been very few if any well-developed cases regarding the ramifications of allowing female transgender individuals into male sex-segregated spaces and what could happen to boys and men. Furthermore, the vast majority of rebuttals to allowing transgenders into sex-segregated spaces have focused almost solely on private areas such as restrooms and locker-rooms without further emphasis on incidents of privately owned, male-only businesses that have been coerced into accepting transgender individuals. On the contrary, there exists a strong case for how boys and men have been negatively affected by the inclusion of females who identify as transgender into both private, sex-segregated spaces, and sex-segregated spaces of privately owned businesses. There are at least four main areas where boys and men are put at risk in regard to transgender laws. Such areas include cases of false accusations of rape, assault, and harassment, the trampling of freedom of association in male-only private businesses, and exposure to exhibitionism to name just a few. Although not well known, there are actually many incidents of females who identify as transgendered who have entered into private, male, sex-segregated spaces. For example, in December of 2012, a female who identified as transgendered (Levi Pine) sued Kings Spa and Sauna because the manager asked her to use a private shower or leave due to customer complaints. Ms. Pine, was transitioning with hormones but had not undergone surgical transition which made some men uncomfortable. The male customers complaints in this event should not be trivialized as nonsense or as they should just get over their discomfort. Rather, the males privacy rights in single-sex spaces should be upheld just as the same rights for women should be upheld in situations where women have complained of male transgendered exhibitionists. Another event occurred when a woman who identified as trans named Bryan Ellicott sued NYC Department of Parks and Recreation because its employees kicked her out of the males locker room. Ms. Ellicott was on masculinizing hormones, but she had neither top nor bottom surgery to disguise the fact that she is a woman which led her to be reported by a male in the locker-room to city employees. How does Ellicotts case taken in the context of trans-affirming legislation hurt boys and men? For one, little boys will have to be exposed to confusing pseudo-metamorphic bodies like Ellicotts. The risk for adult men, is being charged for harassment if they reflect a look of disgust or looking too long at such an individual as Ellicott. Moreover, the employees would also risk being fired for reporting or acting to remove an individual such as Ellicott. Such a false accusation did indeed occur in March, 2014 at Hercules High school in which a transgendered identifying female lied about being sexually assaulted by three boys in a bathroom. Here we have an argument unique to female transgenders being included into private, male, sex-segregated spaces as opposed to the contrary. While males dont have to be worried about being raped or assaulted by transgenders, as is the case with women, males however are put at a much higher risk of false allegations of sexual assault and harassment by female transgenders. There have been many cases where males have been falsely accused of rape by women, and women who identify as transgendered will be no exception as more pro-trans legislation is enacted. There are surveys and testimonies by females who are transgendered that have reported being raped, bullied, and harassed by men at work, in schools K-12, and universities. How many of those reports are false is difficult to know. In addition, if heterosexual males are as violent and patriarchal as female transgenders make them out to be, then why do they reject solitary, gender-neutral alternatives? The inclusion of females who are transgender into private male spaces creates problems for themselves and men. There is a non-gender binary case from March 2016, where a girl who describes herself as having no gender defiantly used the boys restroom and then accused the boys of bullying her because they took pictures of her washing her hands. When offered to use a single-stall bathroom, the girl rejected. How will boys be affected if a gender-fluid girl is allowed to use their private spaces due to transgender affirming legislation? As can be seen from the above incident, they could easily be accused of bullying and suffer the consequences under anti-bullying regulations even from something as small as a disdainful grimace at the non-gendered female. An even more bizarre situation occurred when a woman who identified herself as neither male nor female sued the management at Bon Appetit for $518,682 because coworkers used female names in reference to her despite the fact she had communicated the desire to be addressed only with gender neutral pronouns. The pronouns the coworkers called her by included little lady, lady, and miss. New York City recently enacted policy that fines individuals up to $250,000 for intentionally failing to use an individuals preferred name, pronoun, or title in regard to transgenders. Recently, a woman named Seamus Johnston, who identifies as a man, settled a lawsuit against her university who banned her from the mens locker room. Noteworthy is that Ms. Johnston had taken no steps to transition into a male at the time she filed her lawsuit. The risk of false accusations against men in the presence of Johnston is multiplied due to the high numbers of rape hoaxes in university settings perpetuated by women. Over a week ago, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has expanded Title IX to include transgender people as seen in the case of a female who identifies as transgendered. The result of this decision changes the meaning of law and basic biology for everyone in five states. Privately owned businesses that only extend their services to males have also been challenged by females who identify as transgendered. In March, 2016 a woman who identifies as a male filed a lawsuit against Hawleywood's Barber Shop & Shaving Parlor because the manager told her that they dont cut womens hair. Whats the risk to men here? They lose a male-only space to frequent, the manager loses clientele and is forced to buy equipment for womens hairstyles or risk a lawsuit. Most importantly the private owned business loses its freedom of association to choose to do business with whom it pleases, and property rights. Should a privately owned business be fined or coerced by the state to provide a service which it does not provide? Moreover, in a free market should freedom of association be atomized due to the demands of an instigator who only represents maybe 0.3% of the total population? Furthermore, there are countless examples of privately owned female-only services such as Curves gym, womens only Lifetime Fitness, Pretty Woman Day Spa, womens only cabs, womens rape shelters, etc. Why should men not have male-only spaces and businesses as well? Taken together as a cumulative case, the arguments for how pro transgender legislation harms girls and women, and how this same legislation hurts boys and men, not just in private spaces but also in privately owned businesses, is more than enough to settle the issue against enacting such policies. On April 18 Abd al-Hamid Abu Spour, a 19 year old Palestinian Arab, destroyed two public transportation buses in Jerusalem. There were numerous injuries, two of whom remain hospitalized, one with severe burns. This was the first bus attack during the 7+ month long intifada being waged against Israelis, which has resulted in at least 34 deaths to date. The one person killed in the attack was the perpetrator himself. All Palestinian factions welcomed the attack. In the eyes of many Muslims, dying while committing a terror attack means Abu Spour is a shahid, or martyr for Allah. His family has lashed out saying he acted in self-defense, and only you Israelis are guilty. Such inflammatory rhetoric while disturbing, is not unusual from many Arab Muslims. However in this case reaction to the attack has gone beyond the family. It has taken on an official flavor. On Monday, a week after the attack, a gathering took place at the UNRWA refugee camp in Aida, near Bethlehem. The location has a huge monument of a lock and key, symbolizing the defiant goal that the Palestinian Arabs will one day root out the Jews and take over the land they believe belongs to them. The festivities of the martyrs event took place under the aegis of UNRWA (United Nations Relief Works Agency). To think the official body representing the worlds community of nations is celebrating terrorism is bad enough. However, that is not the worst of it. The number 1 financial donor to UNRWA is the US, by far. The EU and UK are #2 and #3 in financial support. Their combined total represents over 50% of UNRWAs donor support. Virtually no media coverage US and UK citizens should ask themselves how they feel about having their hard earned taxes paying for events that honor terrorists. Aside from this there is another troubling element to the UNRWA sponsored event. One might think a public event honoring terrorism sponsored by a branch of the United Nations would be widely covered by the media. Yet, when it comes to the Arab-Israeli conflict most of the worlds media seems to come under a spell of double standard. The abnormal becomes normal, the unacceptable turns into acceptable, and the victim is often seen as the bully. There was virtually no media coverage of this publically supported terrorist-honoring event. One journalist, David Bedein who runs the Jerusalem based Israel Resource News Agency, did send a crew to cover it. According to Bedein, the crew didnt just cover the event; they were interviewing the family of the terrorist. Soon they plan to release a film that will be screened at a forthcoming session of the Middle East Subcommittee of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, when the debate on further US funds for UNRWA will be discussed. On March 22, Bedein appeared in a closed session of that Middle East Subcommittee and suggested an UNRWA REFORM POLICY INITIATIVE formula as a new funding framework. This would make US financing for UNRWA contingent upon them taking concrete measures to assure transparency. It would also require a crackdown on UNRWA hosting terror entities in its midst, and the re-education for UNRWA residents. Currently they are promised the right of return to villages that existed before 1948. The committee is chaired by Rep. Ilena Ros-Lehtinen (R) FL. Senator Jim Risch (R- Idaho), chairman of the US Senate Subcommittee for the Near East, also met with Bedein in Washington. This week Senator Risch issued a statement that we are looking to write a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to get them to update the audit of US monies that go both to UNRWA as well as funding for education related issues that the GAO had performed several years ago. Double standard Regarding media coverage, Bedein sent out a press release to over 600 journalists throughout Israel, informing them of the UNRWA event honoring the terrorist. Incredibly he received a reply from only one. This yawn by the media is yet another disturbing reminder of the double standard Israel receives from most of the world. Picture this: Suppose there was an event held in the US at a public school, sponsored by the Department of Education (using taxpayer money) honoring the Muslim couple who murdered 14 people in San Bernardino last year. How much media coverage do you think there might be? Not only that, but those who were responsible for holding the event might be have some serious explaining to do, even in this era of political correctness. Not so in the Arab-Israeli conflict, where it appears the media seems to have largely taken up the narrative of the perpetrators of terrorism. The US provides the Palestinian Authority over $400 million annually. Concern about the Palestinian educational system is growing in Congress. US taxpayers have an opportunity to send a strong message opposing their tax money being used to honor terrorists who target innocent citizens of Americas strongest ally in the Middle East. They can contact the members of the Middle East Subcommittee in the House of Representatives, as well as the Near East Subcommittee in the Senate. There is no moral equivalence between terror and justice. Its high time the UN stop making an exception when it comes to Israel. Dan Calic is a free-lance writer, history student and speaker. For more of his articles visit his Facebook page. Bernie Sanders, the Socialist senator representing Vermont as an independent and who is now running for president of the United States as a Democrat, blusters about evil millionaires and billionaires who selfishly keep all their money, which is why necessities and wants aren't free, has been "bernt" by reality. Battered by four defeats in Tuesday night's primaries, Bernie Sanders is planning to lay off hundreds of campaign staffers across the country and focus much of his remaining effort on winning the June 7 California primary. (snip) The Vermont senator revealed the changes a day after Hillary Clinton's victories widened her delegate lead and left her all but certain to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Despite the changes, Mr. Sanders said he would remain in the race through the party's summer convention and stressed that he hoped to bring staff members back on board if his political fortunes improved. But political experts say the layoffs signal Mr. Sanders is beginning to accept that he will not be the Democratic nominee and is now focused on pulling the party toward a more progressive agenda. Oh, so the laid off staff members are now useless fluff to be discarded when not needed in this case, Socialist Sanders not winning but some will be brought back if his political fortunes improve? And what are these fired staff members to be doing in the bleak interim continue in a state of suspended animation? Or will he continue to pay them until he knows more about his plans? Sanders explained further: "We want to win as many delegates as we can, so we do not need workers now in states around the country," Mr. Sanders said in an interview. "We don't need people right now in Connecticut. That election is over. We don't need them in Maryland. So what we are going to do is allocate our resources to the 14 contests that remain, and that means that we are going to be cutting back on staff." When asked how many people would be let go, Mr. Sanders did not give an exact number but did say, "It will be hundreds of staff members." "We have had a very large staff, which was designed to deal with 50 states in this country; 40 of the states are now behind us," he said "So we have had a great staff, great people." (snip) Michael Briggs, a spokesman for Mr. Sanders, said in a statement that the campaign would keep on staff more than 300 workers focused on the remaining contests. Oh, those lucky 300. But just a few weeks ago Sanders roared about large evil corporations such as General Electric, which employs hundreds of people in his state, destroying the moral fabric of America. "If the CEO of General Electric (GE) wants to know how his company is destroying the fabric of America, he should take a good look in the mirror," Warren Gunnels, policy director for the Sanders campaign, told CNN on Thursday. The Sanders team criticized GE CEO Jeff Immelt over his retirement package, which it claimed was worth tens of millions of dollars, and for being a leader of "a business group lobbying Congress to slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid." That's likely a reference to Immelt being involved in Fix the Debt, a group pushing Congress to reduce the debt by cutting spending and raising taxes. As the head of GE calmly replied: We create wealth and jobs, instead of just calling for them in speeches. We take risks, invest, innovate and produce in ways that today sustain 125,000 U.S. jobs. Our engineers innovate every day to build hardware and software solutions that meet real-world challenges. Our employees are proud of our company. I meet second- and third-generation employees whenever I travel across the country. I am one myself. Our suppliers and partners are proud of our company. Our communities are proud of our company. Our pride, history and hard work are real the moral fabric of America. The senator has never bothered to stop by our aviation plant in Rutland, Vt. Or as media strategist Stu Loeser, former spokesman for New York's Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, put it: "By the math, it's been impossible for Senator Sanders to catch up for quite some time," Mr. Loeser said. "Now it looks like he's finally looked down, realized there is no ground underneath him, and is starting his descent." Minor correction: Sanders is not starting his descent he's been at the bottom for a long time and is still digging. Back in the 2000 debates, I recall then-Governor Bush taking a very cautious approach toward intervention and nation building: If we don't stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road, and I'm going to prevent that. Well then 9/11 happened and everything from the 2000 debates and speeches were thrown out the window. Also, one had to see Saddam Hussein's WMDs in a different context, as most Democrats reminded us when they enthusiastically voted for the Iraq War. Yesterday, Mr. Trump delivered a good speech that should please a lot of voters who feel that the U.S. needs to look out for its interests rather than those of others. I agree with the NY Post that voters will like it: He started by identifying the key problems: Too few resources, with a weakened military and a weakened US economy. Allies who arent stepping up in part because they no longer trust Washington to have their backs. Enemies who dont fear us, and rivals who dont respect us. Above all, America no longer has a clear understanding of our foreign-policy goals. And we havent since the end of the Cold War. Mr. Trump will get good reviews but time will tell whether we will or not remember what he said. On nation building, I agree that we shouldn't intervene unless there is a national interest. Well, I think that there was a national interest in Iraq and the "nation building" worked rather well until President Obama pulled the plug for political reasons. As for NATO countries, it's fair to say that many are not paying their way. My guess is that every president from Truman to GW Bush has told our NATO allies that they should do more. At the same time, having a military presence in Europe was in our national interest as a check to the USSR. It may not be anymore and Mr. Trump may be right in seeking a different direction. Mr. Trump wants to destroy ISIS quickly and come home. However, leading is more than dropping bombs and coming home. We would have lost Korea and Germany if we had not done some nation building in the past. We often have to stay around to make sure that our gains are preserved. We did in Korea and Europe. We didn't in Vietnam and Iraq. The first two are success stories of "nation building" but the last two are not. It was not the nation building that failed but U.S. weakness. Mr. Trump will remember, or be reminded of, what he said. It depends on what lies ahead and no one has a clue of what that will be. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. President Obama is using Whig history to shape the narrative arc of his economic achievements. In 1931, Herbert Butterfield, an Oxford University don, wrote a short book entitled The Whig Interpretation of History. Its not on todays NYTs Best Seller list, but it does describe President Obamas efforts to frame the economic policies of his tenure as POTUS in a favorable light. Back in the 30s, Butterfield argued that historians who addressed English history from the 17th Century forward often did so with a bias for Protestants and Whigs, and against Catholics and Tories. Butterfield labeled the product of Whig historians as abridgements that reflected the impact of current politics on past events. In other words, Whig historians, he argued, were prone to bend the narrative arc (one of POTUS candidate Obamas favorite phrases) to fit their political template. Weve heard several renditions of Whig history methodology during the Obama regime signaled by lead-ins such as history proves that, its settled science that, its the law of the land Its all language that intends to close any further discussion in a debate its done, over, case closed. Whig historians dont like facts contrary to their bias. In Butterfields own words: The whig historian has the easier path before him and his is the quicker way to heavy and masterly historical judgments; for he is in possession of a principle of exclusion which enables him to leave out the most troublesome element in the complexity. By seizing upon those personages and parties in the past whose ideas seem the more analogous to our own, and by setting all these out in contrast with the rest of the stuff of history, he has his organisation and abridgement of history ready-made and has a clean path through the complexity. This organization of history will answer all questions more clearly than historical research is ever able to do. It will enable him, even before he has studied anything very deeply, to arrive at what seem to be self-evident judgment concerning historical issues. (pp. 28-29, 1950 edition, London, G. Bell and Sons, LTD) A recent zerohedge.com article, entitled Obama Admits Couldn't Convince Americans Of Recovery, Bashes 'The Big Short', outs Obamas campaign to shape his economics legacy. Despite his proclamation that he saved the world from a Great Depression, the fact is that Obama will be the first President ever to not see a single year of 3% GDP growth - but only cynical fiction-peddlers would mention facts at a time like this. In yet more legacy-defending narrative, Obama told The NYTimes today that his biggest failure was being unable to sell his success in putting the American economy back on track to the American people (no matter the actual realities) careful to blame Republicans for slowing growth by a percentage point or two. And then in a final affront to fact, Obama dismisses the conclusion of "The Big Short" proclaiming that he reined in Wall Street, overhauled the banking system, and made water from wine the financial system substantially more stable. (highlighted in the on-line source) Obamas efforts to shape his economics legacy will, according to Butterfield, be hard to deconstruct because this whig tendency is so deep-rooted that even when piece-meal research has corrected the story in detail, we are slow in re-valuing the whole and reorganizing the broad outlines of the theme in the light of these discoveries (p. 5) Point: Its hard to un-write Whig history. So its likely that high school economics textbooks twenty years from now will report how President Obama saved America from another Great Depression. And, how he would have accomplished substantial economic growth had it not been for the deep-seated, race-based opposition of his detractors. And so it goes. Far from being benign, or even positive, as some commentators in the liberal media claim, a new survey of Canadian Muslims should give many pause for thought. Keep in mind that there are already more than one million Muslims in Canada, and their rate of population growth is doubling every 10 years, meaning that -- if century-long trends continue -- Canada will be a majority Muslim nation by 2050. Since the last census of the Muslim population was in 2011, the current number is likely in the neighborhood of 1.5 million, or more than 4% of the total population. It is clear that Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party of Canada is the political home for Muslims. Among those surveyed, 65% said they voted for Trudeau, versus 10% voting for the far left NDP and 2% for the Conservatives. Since 21% of respondents refused to answer how they voted, if we normalize the voting preferences among those answering the question, then almost 85% of Muslims voted Liberal. A majority (50%) of Muslims said being a Muslim was the most important part of their personal identity, far more than the percentage saying that being a Canadian was most important (15%). For non-Muslims in Canada, the loyalty is reversed -- with 43% of non-Muslims stating that being Canadian is most important versus their religious following (28%). Another majority (52%) of the Canadian Muslim population say they are worried about violent extremism among their ranks, a percentage that is effectively unchanged from 2006. Conversely, only 40% say they are either not worried or only a little worried about the radicalization of their community. When asked whether they want to adopt Canadian customs or remain distinct, just 53% of Muslims indicated they wanted to adopt Canadian customs, meaning the remaining 47% do not clearly want to adopt Canadian customs. The number saying they want to adopt Canadian customs has declined from 55% to 53% over the past decade, showing a trend away from assimilation. A full 75% of Canadian Muslims believe they should have the right to pray in public schools, which violates the separation of church and state and also leads to large costs for renovations as these public facilities are forced to accommodate the corresponding demands for space and facilities. For example, the University of Regina recently spent $35,000 in scarce public funding to install foot-washing stations for Muslim students. When asked whether they agree or disagree with the statement that "[t]he father in the family must be master in his own house," 40% of Canadian Muslims agreed and only 32% totally disagreed. By comparison, among non-Muslims in Canada, just 21% agree with the view of a patriarchy. Nearly half (43%) of Muslims feel that homosexuality should not be accepted by society, and just 36% say it should be accepted. Around 7% of Canadian Muslims feel that at least some, and perhaps most/many, Muslims in their community support violent extremists abroad. Given the large domestic population of Muslims, these numbers should cause alarm. As AT reported yesterday, University of California, Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi was suspended over serious questions about her dubious contracts to scrub negative information about her on the internet and possible nepotism involving her immediate family members. However, Katehi came from the University of Illinois where she was on the periphery of a scandal where the politically connected helped friends and family gain admission despite not being qualified. As the Chicago Tribune reported in 2009 on the eve of her appointment as Chancellor. The University of Illinois admissions scandal has rippled to the West Coast, where U. of I. Provost Linda Katehi is to become chancellor at the University of California-Davis in August. But questions about Katehi's involvement in, or knowledge about, the so-called Category I clout list has prompted calls there for an investigation. In an e-mail to UC-Davis officials last week, Katehi denied any involvement in Category I, though she has overseen the admissions department since 2006. "I want to be clear to you and others at UC-Davis that I was not involved in the admissions decisions that were the subject of the Tribune's 'Clout Goes to College' investigation," she wrote in an e-mail. "The so-called 'Category I' admissions process was not part of the regular admissions system and was handled at a higher level in the institution." A California State Senator (who is no stranger to corruption himself), Leland Yee, raised questions about Katehis involvement. California state Sen. Leland Yee (D- San Francisco) said he finds it implausible that Katehi would not know about the clout list. Yee himself (a gun control advocate) was recently convicted of accepting cash from an undercover agent in return for helping to import illegal firearms from the Philippines, including automatic weapons. One of Yees causes as a legislator was gun control. But in his guilty plea, Yee admitted agreeing in a March 2014 meeting with Jackson, an undercover agent and the now-deceased Wilson Lim, a Daly City dentist and Yee supporter, to illegally import weapons, including automatic firearms, from the Philippines. Yee said the agent paid him $6,800 in cash. Yee was sentenced to five years in federal prison. It is not clear if Katehis apparent flouting of California laws will result in any criminal prosecution, but it is amazing that someone so close to corruption in Illinois and whose conduct was questioned in that scandal, would later get embroiled in her own corruption controversy. Perhaps Linda Katehi should apologize to Leland Yee. Thugs advocating the mass lawless invasion of the United States attempted to shut down a rally of those who demand the law be enforced. That is the true nature of what happened last night in Costa Mesa, California, in Orange County. But a quick scan of media headlines about the event makes it clear that the media is doing its best to obscure the nature of the aggression, and portray the incident as the inevitable outcome of Trumps vicious message of intolerance. All but overlooked is that a venue with an official capacity of 18,000 was packed, with many more unable to get in, and the rally inside was entirely peaceful. When I woke up in the early hours, I heard a CNN teaser along the lines of Violence erupts at Trump rally, which was my preview of the medias bias. Google provises many examples. Protest Turns Violent at Donald Trump Rally in Costa Mesa, Calif., headlines the New York Times. US election 2016: Clashes near Trump rally in California, claims the BBC. This sort of deliberate obscuring of aggressor and victim is not far removed from portraying Nazi Germanys Kristallnacht as Jews and Germans battle as protests erupt. Fortunately, pictures of the violence make it clear who is the aggressor and who is the victim. And local Southern California media did a much better job of telling the truth, perhaps because their audience is in a better position to hold them accountable. The Los Angeles Times: Hundreds of demonstrators filled the street outside the Orange County amphitheater where Donald Trump held a rally Thursday night, stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and forcefully declaring their opposition to the Republican presidential candidate. Traffic came to a halt as a boisterous crowd walked in the roadway, some waving American and Mexican flags. Protesters smashed a window on at least one police cruiser, punctured the tires of a police sport utility vehicle, and at one point tried to flip a police car. "Dump the Trump," said one sign. Another protester scrawled anti-Trump messages onto Costa Mesa police cruisers. "I'm protesting because I want equal rights for everybody, and I want peaceful protest," said 19-year-old Daniel Lujan, one of hundreds in a crowd that appeared to be mostly Latinos in their late teens and 20s. "I knew this was going to happen," Lujan added. "It was going to be a riot. He deserves what he gets." Twitter also told the story in some detail, with Matt Pearce of the LA Times doing an outstanding job. Couple hundred people here blocking the streets outside Trump rally. Mostly younger. Almost entirely Latino/Latina. pic.twitter.com/ly85Qr4Yyj Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016 Back window has been smashed out of a Costa Mesa police cruiser. Protester: "I think Donald Trump did it!" pic.twitter.com/FTj4JoiAdN Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016 Baishuitai, also known as the White Water Terraces, is located in the foothills of the Haba Snow Mountains, 101 kilometers (about 62 miles) southeast of the Shangri-la County. Snugly carved into a mountain slope some 2400 meters above sea level, Baishuitai, from its base to its top, measures 140 meters and spans some 160 meters in width at its widest place, making Baishuitai the biggest limestone terraces in China. Water from the higher reaches of Haba Snow Mountain seeps down into the uppermost terraced basin then spills over to the basin below, which it fills up before spilling over to the next basin, and so on and so forth, until the water spills over the outer rim of the last of this set of terraced basins. The basins themselves have been hollowed out over time by the erosive action of the acidic water, which in earlier times, drew out certain minerals from the limestone, creating weak carbonic acid. Photo credit Besides being a beautifully scenic spot, the Baishuitai is also the birthplace of Dongba culture of the Naxi Minority Group. According to legend, the first saint of the Dongba Religion was attracted by the fascinating scenery of this place on his way back from Tibet. He stopped there and started spreading his beliefs. Since then, people regard the Baishui Water Terraces as a shrine. Each year, on the eighth day of the second lunar month, the Naxi people will gather here to celebrate their traditional festival by singing and dancing all day and night. Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Sources: Tour Yunnan, China Travel Microsoft has been producing and supporting a mobile version of Windows for decades now. The first versions of mobile Windows were called Windows CE, which was followed by a range of PocketPC operating systems. PocketPC was followed by Windows Mobile, which reached version 6.5. Windows Mobile was replaced by Windows Phone 7, through to 8.1. Microsoft now have Windows 10 Mobile but support for the platform has been very much reduced. Microsoft has learned many painful lessons during the last twenty something years: early mobile versions of Windows were relatively power hungry and complicated compared with competitor platforms such as Palm OS, which meant the hardware was often considerably more expensive. Windows Mobile had some success and was adopted by businesses and consumers across the world, but lacked the consistency of approach compared with more modern operating systems. Customers had to ensure to install the right version of a given application depending on the processor type in their device as one example. Early in the current decade, Windows Phone 7 arrived and was supported by a number of manufacturers including Samsung and HTC. The operating system was smooth, performed well and offered strong Facebook integration at a time when other platforms could not. Microsoft opened an app store and poured millions to encouraging developers to write applications, but the platform was restricted and controlled, which did not encourage developers to use it. The world had also moved on: like BlackBerry OS, the Microsoft platform had turned up to the party too late. Android and iOS have largely carved up the smartphone arena between them and Windows Phone typically doesnt merit its own slice of the pie, instead is lumped in with Others. Manufacturers and developers do not want to support a platform that has limited users. Users did not want to buy into a platform that has few third party supporters. It even looked as though Microsoft bought Nokia to ensure that at least one manufacturer supported the platform! Advertisement Essentially, Microsoft was doing it wrong. It was using the mobile platform as a route into getting customers to stick with its products. With such small numbers of people using Windows Phone devices, restricting a good Office 365 experience to Windows Phone was not working. Microsofts logic appears to be that if a customer used Microsoft Office but wanted to work on the go, he or she would have to use the Windows Phone platform. For consumers who have used a competitor platform for a few years, switching to an alternative is not an easy decision. Thankfully, since buying Nokia, Microsoft have now realised that the way to encourage customers to use its services is not to try to lock them in via a platform but instead, make the service available on as many platforms as is viable. This is why Office 365 on the Android platform in 2016 is a good experience. Where next for Microsoft? Weve seen how the company had plans to allow Android applications to run on the Windows 10 Mobile platform, which have now been shelved: instead, Microsoft have build an application bridge to allow developers to port iOS applications quickly and easily to the Windows 10 Mobile platform plus the universal Windows application idea, that means an application written for the desktop optimised flavour of Windows can also run on a smartphone or tablet. We have seen Microsoft working with Cyanogen for a year now you remember the fork of Android where the developers have pledged to wrestle control of Android away from Google? Microsofts aim with the Cyanogen platform is to integrate and distribute Microsofts consumer apps and services across core categories, including productivity, messaging, utilities, and cloud-based services. Microsoft are working on integrating their services into Cyanogen OS, including Cortana, the Microsoft digital voice assistant. Weve seen Microsoft buying up technology and software companies that could be putting together the building blocks of designing their own fork of Android, in a similar vein to Amazons Fire OS, Cyanogens platform and a whole host of Chinese companies. One of the foundations of Microsofts project to allow Windows 10 Mobile to run Android applications is to allow Android developers to design their applications to use either the Google Services embedded into most devices or Microsofts competitor services. This experience could prove useful for the Cyanogen division. And we have seen BlackBerry take Android and modify if for their own purposes, deliberately hardening the device against attack with emphasis on security. Advertisement Microsofts recent applications for the Android work well, and Android as a platform is supremely flexible. It doesnt have to be Google Android to work well; a Microsoft Android device could very well be on the cards. Perhaps the Microsoft Surface Phone, the vapourware smartphone that was rumoured to be the showcase device for Windows 10 Mobile, will instead be released running on the Cyanogen platform with deep-rooted links to Microsofts existing platforms and services? Boston-based American Tower Corporation today published its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, revealing a bumper revenue of $1.29 billion which is a 19.4 percent jump over its revenue in the previous quarter. The revenue figures indicate that even though smartphone sales have slowed down a bit in the past few months, the demand for increased bandwidth from network operators hasnt shown any signs of slowing down. American Tower Corporations favorable financial results followed that of Crown Castle who revealed that it generated $934.4 million in revenue in the second quarter and also earned up to $395 million from its existing operations. The global proliferation of smartphones is driving significant growth in subscriber demand for higher bandwidth applications. As a result, during the first quarter, we continued to experience solid leasing demand across our served markets as mobile operators invest in their networks to manage key performance factors, including coverage, capacity and peak network speed, said Jim Taiclet, CEO at American Tower Corporation. Aside from its services in the United States, the tower company is also investing heavily in assets abroad. During the first quarter, the company acquired 1,350 communications sites from Airtel Tanzania for $179 million and also acquired a 51 percent stake in Indias Viom Networks Limited by spending $1.2 billion in the process. Advertisement Taiclet has also indicated that just like it did in its recent acquisition in Africa and India, the company will continue to work towards diversification of its operations in free-market democracies around the world. In its financial outlook for the rest of the year, the company estimated up to $5.5 billion for property revenue, including $515 million from its acquisition of Viom. In the United States, the company recently entered into a deal with Verizon to lease over eleven thousand cell towers for a period of 28 years for a sum of $5 billion. Verizon has also sold its wireline assets in three states to Frontier Communications for $10 billion. The picture has not always been rosy for tower companies in the United States with investors living in a constant state of concern that if any of these companies invested heavily in any new technologies, the move could threaten the entire industry. Recently, shares of both Crown Castle and American Tower Corporation slipped when it was rumoured that Sprint was moving its equipment to leased government land and was overhauling its network. With 5G networks threatening to take over existing 3G and 4G networks in the coming years, investors will need to prepare themselves for several ground-breaking decisions that may be taken by the respective managements of tower companies. Last week saw a very interesting report coming out about Google. Specifically, about the EU and Google and how the EU are leveling antitrust charges at Google. If this all sounds somewhat familiar, then it should as this is not the first time that the EU has taken aim at Google. However, this particular firing seems to be a little skewed and highlights little understanding of how Android works. In fact, I would almost argue that those who thought up these charges are likely not Android device owners and heres why. The bulk of the argument against Google seems to be that they have exerted a dominance over Android. It is widely known that Android is open source and it is. You can take Android and do what you want with it. Customize it, change it, repackage it, call it something else, even try and sell it. But what the EU seems to have a problem with is Googles Android and this is where it gets really interesting. In the shortest of terms, the EU does not like how Googles Android pushes Googles services. Like for instance, the Play Store, Maps, Google Search, Chrome and so on. Pretty much, that entire Google folder which comes pre-installed on your device. To be even clearer, it is that Google folder that the EU really has a problem with as they see that as Google dominating Android. Why? Because it appears on pretty much every Android device that is sold. And fair enough, it does. But, and this is a rather big but that folder is essentially the reason as to why people are buying an Android smartphone to begin with. It is the value behind Android. Advertisement We all often talk about stock Android and how it is better than other forms of Android. One of the reasons it is perceived as better is that it is as Google intended. After all, if you were defining better as more features, then it would be clear that Samsungs take on Android is better as it comes with all the Google-intended features and more. Likewise, MIUI would be EVEN better as that comes with pretty much every feature ever created. So the value of the Android OS is not defined by its quantity of features or even the quality but the fact that it is as Google intended. What the EU seems to have a problem with is that Google forces Samsung, HTC, LG, and the rest, to legally include and give preference to Googles apps and services. Hence the permanently homepage positioned Google folder. And Google does do this. They do. And yes, it does benefit Google as their driving source of revenue (more now than ever) is reliant on people opening up that folder, clicking on Chrome (or the Google app, or Maps, or YouTube) and coming into contact with their ads. And if you cut through all the rhetoric, it is that what the EU has a problem with Google making money off of the services that it creates for its version of Android not the actual Google apps dominance. Now keep in mind that none of the manufacturers have to use Googles version of Android. They dont have to. They can take the source code and go off and build their own completely independent and Google-free version and pack it full of Microsoft, Cyanogen or whomever apps they want. But they do not want to do that. They want what Google is selling and largely because consumers want what Google is selling. In fact, we have routinely heard about companies who do want to create a Google-free version of Android and in time, those versions will come through in their totality and will offer the competition which currently lies at the heart of the EU criticisms of Google. So on the face of it, those leveling these charges already do not understand that the Android competition is there, is growing and will be an issue for Google later on in life. More to the point though and this is where the EU are really showing their lack of Android consumer knowledge is that they are essentially talking about bloatware. Removing the emphasis on Google apps in lieu of generating an environment where carriers and manufacturers can include any apps they like or more to the point apps from whomever pays them a big enough licensing fee. Advertisement To further this point and for the sake of clarity, we will discuss an AT&T Galaxy S7 branded smartphone. Not for any reason other than it is a smartphone which already comes with a fairly decent number of pre-installed apps from Samsung and AT&T separately. But if we take the EUs suggestions on board then this would mean that the AT&T Galaxy S7 would not come with all of the Google apps installed (or at least it would not be compelled to come with them). However, this does not mean that you will get a cleaner AT&T Galaxy S7 with less apps, but instead the same Galaxy S7 but with the already heightened level of pre-installed apps, as well as more third-party apps. A third-party browser, maps app, video app and so on. Ones that you did not choose to download or ask to be installed, but ones which have commercial relationships with the manufacturer, in this case Samsung. So the end-user will not be better off in terms of lesser apps and instead we will find ourselves in a murky market where not only the specs, design cues and prices are likely to affect purchasing decisions, but also the apps. Go to Best Buy, check out the latest LG phone, realize this comes with Bing as the search tool, Firefox as the browser and Here as the maps app and decide thats not for you, that is not what you like, you like Google Search, Chrome, and Maps. Of course, you could still download these from the Google Play Store and this is where the EU claims become almost laughable, as they are not actually talking about the Play Store. If you are unclear on this, you only have to read the fine print of the announcement the EU made on April 20th. The part which highlights this particular aspect reads as follows requiring manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Googles Chrome browser and requiring them to set Google Search as default search service on their devices, as a condition to license certain Googles proprietary apps. For reference the bolding of Search and Chrome is the EU doing and not mine and is the first indicator of what they really have a problem with ads and money. The second indicator is the line which reads as a condition to license certain Googles proprietary apps. Because what they are really talking about is the fact that manufacturers and carriers are forced to install Chrome and Search if they want to install the Play Store. So they have no issue at all with the Google Play Store having a dominant stance over Android (even though the Play Store is not the only Android app store available) as they understand that it is the heart and soul of the Android app world in truth, much like the rest of the Google apps including Search and Chrome. Not to mention that the Play Store is also the place where you can already download an alternative search app like Bing, or a browser like Firefox, or a mapping app like Here. The place which offers users an unparalleled app selection including all the competitor apps to the dominant Google apps. And that is if you actually want to download and use any of these competitor apps instead of the Google options, which in reality, is not likely to be the majority of Android device owners. If you need anymore proof that the EU is OKAY with the Play Stores dominance then check out this neat infographic they put together highlighting their argument. Advertisement Now, I know some people who prefer Samsungs version of Android and make use of S Health and a couple of the other dedicated features. But these are few and far between. Android in general, is an operating system which is flooded with app choices and most average Android smartphone device owners are not going to be as app-savvy or even as app-interested in looking for the absolute best app to do something. They want what they know and when it comes to searching the internet it is Google Search, when it comes to accessing the internet, it is Chrome. While there are plenty of arguably better browsers out there, Chrome is the default go-to Android browser app for many and for one simple reason it is what they are used to. Replacing this with an app from a browser company who have paid to be included on the latest smartphone from a manufacturer (under the EUs dominance-free view of Android) will lead to one of two outcomes. Either the user simply uses the app that comes pre-installed (which in reality is just another form of paid prioritization) or it will be replaced by the user for something they already know like Chrome. Either route does not open up a more competitive approach to Android as the EU suggests. Another criticism raised by the EU reads as follows giving financial incentives to manufacturers and mobile network operators on condition that they exclusively pre-install Google Search on their devices. Now, this one is also somewhat amusing as it points out that manufacturers and/or carriers are benefiting from Google incentives. So this point is not based on Google forcing them to include their services but the fact that manufacturers/carriers opt to include the services because it is better for them. Am pretty sure Google could stop any behaviors that are associated with this particular complaint quite easily and the same manufacturers will still include the same Google apps but not receive the financial incentives. And maybe even pass on those costs to the end-user? There is further evidence of just how biased these criticisms are. For instance, Google+ used to be one of those bundled apps in the forsaken Google folder up until last August, when it was no longer required to be a pre-installed Google App. If Google was really dominating by pre-installed apps, then Google+ would have been used by far more people than it currently is and would not have been the subject of continuous reports of how dead the service is. Which leads to the point that the force exerted by Google to include such apps on Android smartphones does not automatically correlate with levels of usage which is what the EU is alluding to. Advertisement What that Google folder and those Google apps (including Search and Chrome) does do, is standardize the Android phone experience. It ensures that at the very least and beneath all the already in use bloatware, there is a selection of core apps which Android device owners will know, likely apps they will want. It allows Android device owners who buy from the biggest manufacturers to be assured that the device they purchase is one which will come with Search as its main internet powered app, as Maps as its main mapping tool, as Chrome as its main browser and YouTube as its main video provider. While that does benefit Google, it should. Not only are they a great suite of apps, but they work seamlessly with Android in general. What they do not do is hinder, hurt or prohibit the Android device owner or the Android experience and they certainly do not stop them from downloading any competitor apps and using them instead. And this is where the crux of the argument for this article lies. While the EU does likely mean well with this latest charge, they are either extremely unfamiliar with what Android device owners want on their smartphones or they are simply bound to make such accusations in spite of knowing that there is nothing wrong here, due to the EUs one rule for all policy. For instance, if this was the restaurant, retail, aviation or other business, they would be making the same allegations because it falls within a select group of guidelines. If that is the case, then this is even worse as they are acting while knowing that what they are claiming is incorrect, inaccurate and at the very least, ill-informed. They or you could easily argue that this is an Android-focused site or the person writing this is biased towards Android and therefore would have this opinion and I would agree with you. I am biased about Android, because I am an Android device owner and therefore, do have some understanding of what I, as a consumer, want from Android and it is Google Search, Chrome, Maps, and the rest. Already in 2016 weve seen Apple square off against the FBI, messaging apps like WhatsApp come under fire outside of the US, and an uptick in attention paid to such issues. Law enforcement agencies the world over will continue to maintain that they need access to messaging accounts, social media profiles and so on in order to do their job. With that in mind, its unsurprising to see familiar faces at the top of Facebooks recently released Global Government Requests list. The entire report is available to download for yourself, but weve gone through it and highlighted some of the more interesting reports. Firstly, its important to remember that this report is for July to December of 2015, so these arent the most recent figures. In terms of the sheer amount of requests for data, the top five is made up of the United States, India, the United Kingdom, Germany and then France. The United States came in with almost four times the amount of requests as second place India with 19,235 requests for data, compared to Indias 5,561 requests. Our cousins across the pond in the UK came third and racked up 4,190 requests. Facebook have added a percentage for when data is actually produced, and despite 19,000 requests, only 81.41% of requests led to the production of any data, which is not the highest, either. That honor goes to Nigeria, which had just 1 request and led to 100% of requests producing data, behind that however was Croatia with 11 requests and 90.91% of requests producing data. Advertisement Facebook writes in their accompanying post that compared to the previous report, which covered the first half of last year, requests in total rose 13% from 41,214 requests to 46,763 requests. These are interesting figures, but the context behind the raw data also paints a picture. In November 2015, a photo appeared on Facebook that the French felt violated their laws protecting human dignity, which led to 32,000 copies of the photo being taken down and gave France the top spot in the content restrictions column with 37,695 restrictions. While the whole report is worth taking a look at, it paints a picture of more of the same, with the United States leading the figures in terms of sheer amounts of reports, along with other big names in the West. In the tech space, it seems like theres always some sort of patent war going on, with somebody either looking to block the sale of a competitors products or impose monetary damages due to patent infringement. From the infamous Samsung vs. Apple battle to Googles tiff with Oracle over Java, no space in which there is innovation or competition is completely immune to patent wars breaking out. Obviously, the wearable space would be no different. Specifically, industry veteran Jawbone, citing some of their core patents being violated, sought an injunction against relative newcomer Fitbit, looking to bar their products from being imported into the United States, a huge market for both of them. U.S. International Trade Commission Judge Dee Lord made a ruling that essentially wiped out all current cases against Fitbit brought by Jawbone on patent grounds, saying that some of the patents cited were invalid and that Jawbone was looking to seek a monopoly on the abstract ideas of collecting and monitoring sleep and other health-related data. The ruling came down Thursday, at which point Jawbone had already rescinded some of their claims against market leader Fitbit. Jawbone claims, however, that their portfolio of device patents and thus their possible case against Fitbit is still quite massive, leading to the possibility of additional court dates in the future along the same lines as the recently closed case. Advertisement On another front against Jawbone, however, Fitbit is still in hot water. The same judge that dismissed the latest patent ruling between the two companies is allowing proceedings to go forward in a case brought by Jawbone that involves former Jawbone employees. Allegedly, Fitbit courted these employees specifically and did so for the secrets about the enemy that they may hold, rather than for their talent and experience in the wearable space. Jawbone is looking to formally charge Fitbit with misappropriation of corporate secrets, which could lead to heavy fines and other punishments for both the company at large and those involved in the dissemination of said secrets. The trial for those claims is set to begin ten days from Thursdays ruling on the patent case. In spite of protests from civil rights activists, Google has reportedly confirmed that it will go ahead with its decision to livestream the Republican National Convention from Cleveland, Ohio this July. The company also said that it will provide virtual reality tools and real-time data on election trends during the convention much like it has done during the televised debates over the past few months. Even though Google has come under increasing pressure in recent times to withdraw its association with the RNC because of all the controversies surrounding the GOP frontrunner, Mr. Donald Trump, the company has steadfastly maintained that its role in the Republican Convention will be strictly that of a neutral and nonpartisan observer, much like that of the media outlets covering the event. Its worth remembering that just yesterday, a few left-leaning organizations had petitioned Google asking the company not to attend the 2016 GOP Convention because of the possibility of the anointment of Mr. Trump as the partys Presidential candidate for the November elections. According to Federal Election Commission reports, Google had donated at least $350,000 to the RNC in 2012, but the company has refused to divulge how much money it has donated to the party this time around, if any. Other companies that are being asked to reconsider their decision to sponsor the event includes Microsoft, AT&T, Cisco, Coca-Cola and Xerox, among others. Advertisement Even as Mr. Trumps popularity has soared within certain sections of the American population, a lot of younger and well-educated voters have expressed their distaste for the New York real estate tycoon in no uncertain terms. Many establishment Republicans have also questioned his understanding of international geo-politics and his grasp of the free-market economy, while a lot of progressive organizations and activists have been up in arms over the attention hes been getting in the mainstream media. A lot of that aversion stems from the fact that Mr. Trumps vision for the future of America and his various observations on women, immigration, minorities and the disabled, not to mention his advocacy for torture of POWs and families of suspected terrorists have made many Americans highly uncomfortable about the direction the country might take if he was actually elected to the White House. When Samsung announced the Gear 360 at the Developer Conference held in San Francisco earlier this week, they promised to launch the device in Korea. They also made the same promise in MWC 2016 when they talked about the first 360-degree virtual reality camera. Today, the Samsung Gear 360 has finally launched in Korea along with its pricing details. The Gear 360 is a virtual reality camera with dual fish-eye lenses with an image sensor of 15-megapixels. The camera is able to capture high resolution videos at 3840 x 1920 and footage of 360-degrees. At the same time, the camera is able to take 30-megapixel still photos. The VR camera will also be able to shoot 4K video footage quality. Each of the lens is equipped with a 195-degree angle. The overlap removes gaps when the 360 images get stitched together. Users are able to shoot 180-degree wide-angle videos as well as images using only one side of the camera lens. Storage-wise, the virtual reality camera has a microSD card slot that supports up to 128GB memory expansion. Theres also a micro USB port underneath a removable flap as well as a 1,350 mAh battery pack. The Gear 360 VR camera has been given an IP53 dust and water resistance rating. Advertisement On top of the device, a small screen can be found sitting right next to a record button. This display is where users get to see what mode they are on while using the VR camera. Currently, the Gear 360 is compatible with select Samsung smartphone models such as the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6+, Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge and the Galaxy S6. Interested individuals in Korean may start purchasing the Gear 360 online for 399,300 Korean Won or approximately US $350. Starting next month, the VR camera will be carried in 450 stores as well. As part of its launch, each Gear 360 VR camera purchase comes with a free 64GB Samsung EVO Plus microSD card. The offer is only available for a limited time. Aside from Korea, there are reports that the Gear 360 VR camera will be available in Singapore too really soon, so stay tuned, well report back as the availability expands. Dolby Vision was first introduced in the spring of 2015 as a new HDR (high dynamic range) standard, and up until now several movies supporting Disney Vision have been released in theaters, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens. At CES 2016, a handful of TV manufacturers including LG have also showcased their latest Dolby Vision TV sets, but interestingly enough, Samsung has yet to adopt Dolby Vision for its products. In fact, recent reports suggested that Dolby got in touch with Samsung Electronics and offered to supply the tech giant with its Dolby Vision technology. However, according to industry sources cited by Business Korea, Samsung Electronics turned down Dolbys proposal in favor of using its own HDR 10 solution. Samsung Electronics continues to be one of the largest and influential TV manufacturers in the world, and for this reason, Dolby would have been in a very favorable spot if Samsung Electronics would have agreed to adopt Dolby Vision for its products. However, according to recent reports, Samsung Electronics has no desire in using Dolby Vision due to a number of things. For starters, the company now relies on HDR 10 an open-platform HDR standard used by the UHD Alliance, formed in 2015 by Samsung, Netflix, Disney, and Technicolor. Furthermore, HDR 10 is an open platform standard, meaning that manufacturers using it can properly respond to consumers picture quality needs, according to the manufacturer. Samsung Electronics also added that using both HDR 10 and Dolby Vision in a single product would ramp up (double) the costs of TV and content production. Lastly, it may be that HDR 10 surpasses Dolby Vision in certain areas. In fact, while Dolby Vision has yet to achieve its target brightness of 1,000 nits, Samsung products using HDR 10 can top that figure. Furthermore, while Dolby Vision supports 12-bit colors, at the moment there are no 12-bit LCD panels available on the market. Advertisement Samsung also previously refused a request from Neflix to add a dedicated streaming button on Samsung-branded remote controllers, but egardless, at CES 2016 Neflix announced that the platform will support both HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, demoing Daredevil in Dolby Vision on a 4K LG OLED TV. Qualcomms newest Snapdragon 820 Soc is already used by a handful of flagship phones released in 2016, but this is only the beginning. At the recent Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) in China, Qualcomm revealed that, as yet, an additional 115 devices powered by the Snapdragon 820 SoC are already in development and planned for a market release by the end of 2016 and throughout 2017. Some chips will end up powering smartphones and tablets while others will be employed by car manufacturers and other industries. Last year Qualcomm found itself in a difficult spot after launching the controversial Snapdragon 810 SoC. Numerous reports claimed that the Snapdragon 810 chipset wasnt too efficient in spreading heat, which led to overheating and some performance issues. This year, however, Qualcomm has done things differently. It went back to a quad-core configuration as opposed to using an octa-core CPU, it partnered with Samsung in order to manufacture the chipset in the Korean companys facilities using 14nm FinFET nodes, and the chipset was built using Qualcomms newest proprietary Kryo cores instead of Cortex-A53 / Cortex-A57 cores. Needless to say, the Snapdragon 820 is currently the best chipset powering Android devices. Thanks to the Snapdragon 820s popularity, Qualcomm revealed that the chipset is now being used by no less than 115 devices already in development. Some products fit in the smartphone and tablet categories while other manufacturers have adopted Qualcomms top-tier SoC for robotics, virtual reality headsets, vehicles, and car infotainment systems. The Snapdragon 820 already powers a number of flagship phones including the Samsung Galaxy S7 series and the LG G5, as well as the LeEco Le Max 2, the Lenovo ZUK Z2 Pro, the Vivo Xplay 5 Ultimate and the Xiaomi Mi 5. For the automotive industry, Qualcomm demoed another SoC variant called the Snapdragon 820A, designed to power tablet dashboards with support for Apple Car Play, Google Android Auto, and QNX. Qualcomm says that some of these upcoming products will launch in the second half of 2016 others will hit the market sometime in 2017. Evidently, the Snapdragon 820A is expected to debut at a later date, as the automotive industry moves forward at a slower pace than the smartphone market. WIND Mobile customers in the Calgary area should soon notice better call quality and faster data speeds as WIND completes its second major network upgrade in that region. WIND just finished a major coverage update in Greater Vancouver and has just now finished work to get Calgary the additional wireless spectrum it needs for a better network coverage and faster data speeds for WIND mobile customers along with improved call quality. From there, WIND is moving on to upgrade the Edmonton network. Alek Krstajic, President and CEO, WIND Mobile said, We are really pleased to have completed the second Western market in our continuing network upgrade journey. It is so exciting to hear customers tell us that they are experiencing a noticeable improvement in their service. Although it has no LTE service as of yet, WIND says that it will continue to expand capacity and enhance its network, including bringing LTE service to the markets it serves across Canada. A little less than a year ago, WIND Mobile hired their new Chief Commercial Officer, Glen Campbell, who came by way of Bank of Americas Merrill Lynch. Campbell said at the time I am really pleased to be joining WIND Mobile at this exciting stage in its development. WIND has carved out an important position within the Canadian wireless marketplace providing affordable, unlimited wireless service to consumers. WIND was also in the news because of Rogers buyout of Mobilicity, because part of the buyout agreement included Rogers having to sell off some spectrum to WIND. For being one of smaller, regional carriers, WIND has reached out to expand and improve their business. Last year, they partnered with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and BIA Canada and received a $25 million contract to install wireless services in each of Torontos subway stations. This now allows WIND mobile customers to make calls, text and use data in 15 TTC subway stops. Advertisement As WIND continues its goal to be a strong fourth place contender in Canadas wireless market, in December it signed a five-year agreement with Nokia Corporation to be its sole provider of network infrastructure and equipment to help WIND rollout LTE services for its customers. This deal had the backing of three major Canadian banks this arrangement is expected to double its network capacity and speed and allow WIND to start its LTE network. Mr. Krstajic said these were just more proof that WIND is here to stay. He also said, This new partnership with Nokia Networks as our sole source LTE network provider allows Wind to bring the most advanced technologies available to our customers. YU is Micromaxs subsidiary, and one of the most interesting India-based companies. This smartphone manufacturer has introduced a handful of devices thus far, and their latest smartphone is the Yureka Note which was introduced less than two weeks ago. That being said, the Yureka Note is a solid mid-range smartphone, but it seems like YU is preparing to release yet another device which will sport an even better spec sheet, read on. The YU5530 handset has surfaced on Geekbench, and basically revealed its partial specs. According to the listing, the YU5530 will be fueled by MediaTeks Helio P10 (MT6755) 64-bit octa-core processor, which is a very popular mid-range chip at the moment, especially when it comes to Asian smartphone manufacturers. The device will also pack in 4GB of RAM, and Android 5.1 Lollipop will come pre-installed on it, quite probably with Cyanogen OS 12.1 on top of it. Keep in mind that it is possible YU opts to ship out this phone with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Cyanogen OS 13 instead of Lollipop and Cyanogen OS 12.1, but well see what happens. Anyhow, the YU5530 has managed to score 816 points in the single-core test on Geekbench, and 3,059 points in the multi-core test. If youd like to check out more benchmarking details, make sure to follow the source link down below. Advertisement Unfortunately, we still dont know what will the YU5530 look like, nor what will the company name the device in the end. If we had to guess, wed say that it will ship with a fullHD panel, and the company might use metal here, at least for the phones frame. The YU5530 will be quite affordable once release, like every other YU-branded device released to date. This surely wont be the companys flagship device, considering the fact that YU Yutopia is still more powerful in terms of specs, even though it hasnt been available for purchase for quite some time now. Either way, stay tuned for more info, well let you know if anything pops up in the near future, and if YU unveils this handset sometime soon, of course. (ANSA) - Rome, April 29 - Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Friday urged Egypt to collaborate "seriously" on the Cairo torture and murder of student Giulio Regeni so that relations can return to normal after Italy recalled its ambassador after a probe stalled. "For us, a return to normality of relations depends on serious collaboration" on the Regeni case, Gentiloni said on RAI radio. Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge doctoral student researching Egyptian trade unions, disappeared on January 25, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that toppled former strongman Hosni Mubarak. His beaten, burned, slashed, and mutilated body turned up in a ditch on the city's outskirts on February 3. Egypt has repeatedly dismissed speculation that its security forces may have been involved in Regeni's death. Italy has complained of a lack of cooperation from Cairo in getting to the bottom of the case and recently recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations after the investigation into Regeni's death stalled, with Egypt proffering versions of his death that stirred disbelief, included a car crash, a gay lovers' quarrel, and a kidnapping for ransom gone wrong. On Wednesday prosecutors in Cairo extended the detention of Ahmed Abdallah, a consultant for the Regeni family, by 15 days. The prosecutors had ordered an initial four-day detention two days ago in a probe into alleged incitement to demonstrate illegally against a border deal ceding two islands to Saudi Arabia. The family of Regeni, who are seeking the truth about his brutal murder, have voiced concern over Abdallah's detention. On Tuesday they said that they were "anxious" over the arrest of Abdallah, president of the board of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedom (ECRF), an NGO that is providing consultancy work for the Regeni's lawyers. Amnesty International confirmed Abdallah was arrested along with activist Sanaa Seif and lawyer Malek Adly. Egyptian special forces took Abdallah from his home on the night of April 24 and he stands accused of instigation to violence in order to overthrow the government, adhering to a terrorist group, and promotion of terrorism, Amnesty said. In light of Amnesty's communique, the Regeni family expressed "concern over the recent wave of arrests in Egypt (of) human rights activists, lawyers and journalists, some of them directly engaged in the search for the truth about the abduction, torture and murder of Giulio", their statement said. On Monday, which was a national holiday in Italy, Lower House Speaker Laura Boldrini reiterated the call for truth and justice for Regeni. "We will never tire of calling for the truth. A democracy does not compromise," she said during celebrations to mark Italy's liberation from the Nazi occupation in World War II. (ANSA) - Rome, April 29 - Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Friday urged Egypt to collaborate "seriously" on the Cairo torture and murder of student Giulio Regeni so that relations can return to normal after Italy recalled its ambassador after a probe stalled. "For us, a return to normality of relations depends on serious collaboration" on the Regeni case, Gentiloni said on RAI radio. At the same time, while Italy remained dissatisfied with the level of Egyptian cooperation, Gentiloni revealed that contact with Cairo prosecutors has been restored. "The Rome prosecutor's office has sent a new request (for information) and I know that contacts between the prosecutors' office are ongoing," he said on RAI radio. Gentiloni voiced the hope that Rome Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Pignatone's "activity can revive some useful contacts". But in the meantime, he stressed, Italy was "maintaining a position of dissatisfaction". Italy broke off judicial collaboration and recalled its ambassador on April 8 after a summit in Rome failed. Rome has repeatedly called for records of phone calls made in the areas where Regeni disappeared and where his body was found 10 days later. Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge doctoral student researching Egyptian trade unions, disappeared on January 25, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that toppled former strongman Hosni Mubarak. His beaten, burned, slashed, and mutilated body turned up in a ditch on the city's outskirts on February 3. Egypt has repeatedly dismissed speculation that its security forces may have been involved in Regeni's death. Italy has complained of a lack of cooperation from Cairo in getting to the bottom of the case and recently recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations after the investigation into Regeni's death stalled, with Egypt proffering versions of his death that stirred disbelief, included a car crash, a gay lovers' quarrel, and a kidnapping for ransom gone wrong. On Wednesday prosecutors in Cairo extended the detention of Ahmed Abdallah, a consultant for the Regeni family, by 15 days. The prosecutors had ordered an initial four-day detention two days ago in a probe into alleged incitement to demonstrate illegally against a border deal ceding two islands to Saudi Arabia. The family of Regeni, who are seeking the truth about his brutal murder, have voiced concern over Abdallah's detention. On Tuesday they said that they were "anxious" over the arrest of Abdallah, president of the board of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedom (ECRF), an NGO that is providing consultancy work for the Regeni's lawyers. Amnesty International confirmed Abdallah was arrested along with activist Sanaa Seif and lawyer Malek Adly. Egyptian special forces took Abdallah from his home on the night of April 24 and he stands accused of instigation to violence in order to overthrow the government, adhering to a terrorist group, and promotion of terrorism, Amnesty said. In light of Amnesty's communique, the Regeni family expressed "concern over the recent wave of arrests in Egypt (of) human rights activists, lawyers and journalists, some of them directly engaged in the search for the truth about the abduction, torture and murder of Giulio", their statement said. On Monday, which was a national holiday in Italy, Lower House Speaker Laura Boldrini reiterated the call for truth and justice for Regeni. "We will never tire of calling for the truth. A democracy does not compromise," she said during celebrations to mark Italy's liberation from the Nazi occupation in World War II. Ship carrying Tobruk oil returning to Libya After UN blacklisting (ANSAmed) - MALTA, APRIL 29 - The Distya Ameyda oil tanker on Friday morning left the area around Malta, where it had been stuck after being blacklisted by the UN, and headed towards Zawiya. The port west of Tripoli is under the control of the Libyan government lead by PM Fayez Al-Sarraj and the oil onboard - which left from areas under control of the rival government based in Tobruk - will be offloaded and given back to the legitimate authorities, Malta government officials said. Libya had in recent days asked for the Indian-flagged ship to be blacklisted, which requires ports to ban it from entering, and the UN Security Council granted the request. The sources said that the ship owners had granted a request by the Libyan National Oil Company, under the new government in Tripoli. Following a 72-hour halt some 18 miles from the Maltese coast, a risk of a ''humanitarian crisis'' was rising.(ANSAmed). Union for Mediterranean meeting on job creation in Jordan Ministers to discuss Med4job initiative for youngsters and SME (ANSAmed) - ROME, 29 APRIL - The Union for the Mediterranean's Secretariat organises a high-level expert group meeting on job creation within the framework of its Med4job initiative. Ministers of Employment from the 43 UfM Member States will meet at the 3rd UfM Ministerial Meeting on Employment and Labour on September 26, in Amman, Jordan. The Mediterranean Initiative for Jobs (Med4Jobs) is currently targeting more than 100,000 young beneficiaries and supporting the development of over 800 SMEs from the region. More than 20 international high-level experts from international organisations, international financial institutions, European institutions, the private sector, technological centres and industrial clusters met at the UfM headquarters, in Barcelona, to discuss the next steps of the initiative. Fostering youth employment is a key priority for the UfM as it is essential for regional human development, stability and integration. (ANSAmed). ROME - A campaign called #MedFish4ever launched by the EU calls on the fishing sector to bring in measures to solve an unprecedented crisis of fish stock over-exploitation in the Mediterranean. European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella presented the strategy in recent days. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) backs the initiative, which aims to bring forces together for the future of fish stocks and fishermen in the area. ''The Mediterranean Sea has reached crisis point, with 93 per cent of assessed fish stocks over-exploited and trends still declining, so this EU initiative comes at a critical time. Only if all stakeholders act together can we build a new future for fish stocks, transform Mediterranean fisheries, help fishermen craft their future, and achieve improved and sustainable seafood markets,'' WWF International director Marco Lambertini said. ''This focus on the Mediterranean is an encouraging sign that the implementation of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is taken seriously. Now we need Member States in the region to step up their efforts not only to achieve full implementation and also better enforcement,'' added Genevieve Pons, Director of the WWF European Policy Office. (ANSAmed) - MALTA, APRIL 29 - The Distya Ameyda oil tanker on Friday morning left the area around Malta, where it had been stuck after being blacklisted by the UN, and headed towards Zawiya. The port west of Tripoli is under the control of the Libyan government lead by PM Fayez Al-Sarraj and the oil onboard - which left from areas under control of the rival government based in Tobruk - will be offloaded and given back to the legitimate authorities, Malta government officials said. Libya had in recent days asked for the Indian-flagged ship to be blacklisted, which requires ports to ban it from entering, and the UN Security Council granted the request. The sources said that the ship owners had granted a request by the Libyan National Oil Company, under the new government in Tripoli. Following a 72-hour halt some 18 miles from the Maltese coast, a risk of a ''humanitarian crisis'' was rising.(ANSAmed). BEIRUT - Airstrikes and artillery have killed over 200 civilians this past week, including about 50 children and 20 women, in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 202 civilians had lost their lives between April 22 and April 28 in the worsening violence in the city, which was Syria's industrial capital and largest city prior to the conflict and is located in the northern part of the country, and the surrounding area. On Thursday, regime planes targeted and destroyed a hospital in the eastern part of the city under the control of opposition forces, killing about 30 people. Insurgents responded by shooting rudimentary artillery rounds at government-controlled areas, killing 33 people according to reports by state-run news agency SANA. SOHR noted that 123 civilians, including 18 children and 10 women, were killed in areas out of government control in regime airstrikes in the eastern and southern areas of the city. Some 71 others, including 13 children and 10 women, were killed in the central and western areas of Aleppo, hit by mortars and rockets shot by anti-regime forces. Syrian regime airstrike hits more medical facilities Second time this week in Aleppo (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, APRIL 29 - A Syrian regime airstrike hit a clinic in an opposition-held district of Aleppo on Friday, the second time this week a medical facility has been targeted in the city. Seven people including a nurse were injured, reported Al Jazeera in quoting activist sources. The outlet said that 20 airstrikes had been carried out in the morning on areas controlled by opposition forces. (ANSAmed). ANSAmed - Weekly diary from May 2 to May 8 (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 29 - Weekly diary of the main events scheduled in the Euro-mediterranean area from May 2 to May 8: MONDAY MAY 2 NAPLES - Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 'Culture, Anti-Semitism and Racism' between the Campania region education office, the Valenzi foundation and the Jewish community of Naples. ROME - Conference entitled 'What memory, for what society: the role of the Holocaust in the Contemporary World'. ABU DHABI - 26th International Book Fair (until 3/5). TUESDAY MAY 3 VARIOUS CITIES - World Press Freedom Day WASHINGTON - Visit by EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini (also 4/5). WEDNESDAY MAY 4 ANTALYA - regional conference on the 'Agenda 2030' organized by FAO, wit EU commissioner Phil Hogan (also 5/4). GENOA - Cycle of meetings between young Muslims to discuss identity. THURSDAY MAY 5 ROME - Roundtable discussion between European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, Italian PM Matteo Renzi, European Parliament chief Martin Schulz and European Council president Donald Tusk. FRIDAY MAY 6 ISANBUL - Hearing in a trial against two prominent journalists of the Cumhuriyet newspaper, Can Dundar and Erdem Gul, on charges of revealing state secrets in relation to a report on weapons transfers from Turkey to Syria. ROME - Opening of the photo exhibit by Greek artist Stratos Kalafatis (to May 22). ROME - European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will be taking part in the bestowing of the European Charlemagne Prize 2016. JERUSALEM - Celebrations for Israel Independence Day SATURDAY MAY 7 CAIRO - Verdict expected to be handed down in a trial on espionage charges against former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, ousted on July 3, 2013 by the army following popular protests. SUNDAY MAY 8 TUNIS - Visit by Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni as part of the opening of the Italy-Tunisia Business Forum (also 9/5). VARIOUS CITIES - World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. (ANSAmed). Italy not scared of migrant fence, says Alfano No Brenner barrier unless strictly necessary, Sobotka says (by Denis Greenan). (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 29 - Italy is not afraid of an anti-migrant fence at its border with Austria, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said Friday. At the same time, his Austrian counterpart Wolfgang Sobotka said that Vienna would only erect a barrier at the Brenner Pass if it felt it was strictly necessary. Italy isn't scared at the prospect of Austria building a fence at the Brenner Pass but there is no reason for Vienna to build one, Alfano said. "Italy certainly isn't a country that lets itself get scared by a (fence)," he said. He said "we are working hard to control Italian itineraries so there is neither the motive nor the excuse, nor the pretext to build that fence". Alfano added Italy will do everything possible to prevent the fence going up. "It would damage our hoteliers, our entrepreneurs, our import-export trade," the minister said. Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said earlier that "we are preparing structures at the frontier but we will not introduce barriers as long as the situation does not require that". He was speaking with German counterpart Thomas de Maiziere of the "highly sensitive border" at the Brenner Pass with Italy. Italy is "far from" being overwhelmed by asylum seekers and would only need help if some 350,000 were to arrive, de Maiziere said. Earlier, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said there are no masses of refugees pushing at the Italian-Austrian border at the Brenner Pass, Speaking a day after Italy averted the closure of the pass and the erection of a fence, for now, at a meeting between Sobotka and Alfano in Rome, Gentiloni said: "It's not that there are masses of refugees in Alto Adige pushing on the Brenner frontier". "Therefore the message that we have been sending Austria for days is that they cannot take a decision like this, especially on a border so charged with history, with symbols". On Thursday Sobotka said after his Rome talks with Alfano that for now there will be no fence at the Brenner Pass, only more controls, if necessary, in the event of a large influx of migrants and refugees. In other migrant news out of Italy Friday, Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin announced that Italy will be starting a project to issue healthcare cards to migrants. "The cards," she told ANSA, "will contain the migrant's health data and will enable us to track the healthcare of those entering Europe. From a security standpoint, it will increase the traceability of people." The card is part of the EU's Care project - led by Italy with its National Health Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP) - and will be issued first in the Lampedusa and Trapani hotspots starting from July. Lorenzin underscored that the card will make it possible to ensure that unnecessary healthcare measures are avoided when migrants go from one country to another as part of the broader EU Care program, which Italy, Greece, Malta, Croatia and Slovenia are taking part in. Italy is the programme leader through the INMP. Care coordinator and INPM project management director Gianfranco Costanzo said that the card will be issued to migrants beginning in July in the Lampedusa and Trapani hotspots and in those of "partner countries". INMP medical teams have already begun work in recent days in Lampedusa and Trapani. The Care project includes exams to determine the age of the migrants and a statistics-based software system making it possible to assess the risk of certain illnesses in migrants on arrival at the hotspots. (ANSAmed). ROME - There are no masses of refugees pushing at the Italian-Austrian border at the Brenner Pass, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Friday, a day after Italy averted the closure of the pass and the erection of a fence, for now. "It's not that there are masses of refugees in Alto Adige pushing on the Brenner frontier," he said on RAI radio. "Therefore the message that we have been sending Austria for days is that they cannot take a decision like this, especially on a border so charged with history, with symbols". On Thursday Austrian Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said after Rome talks with Interior Minister Angelino Alfano that for now there will be no fence at the Brenner Pass, only more controls, if necessary, in the event of a large influx of migrants and refugees. President Klaus Iohannis sent on Thursday to the Jewish Communities of Romania (FCER) President Aurel Vainer a message of congratulations on Passover. "With the occasion of Passover 2016 it gives me great pleasure to tell you and all the members of the Jewish communities of Romania, 'Hag Pesah Sameah!', together with my most sincere wishes of prosperity and joy, under the sign of hope and peace. Traditional holiday and cornerstone of Jewish spirituality, the Passover commemorates the saving of the Hebrew people from its bitter slavery and its new birth as a people called to embrace freedom," the message by the head of state reads. President Iohannis also sends to Vainer "his warmest thoughts of friendship and good luck" in the latter's activity. Sursa: Agerpres Romania was ordered by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to pay to 23 members and supporters of the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA) the sum of 12,000 euro each and to other three supporters amounts ranging from 6,000 euros to 4,500 euro in two cases for abuses they were subjected during a police operation deployed March 18, 2014, informs a press release of the institution. According to the release, the case concerns the complaints filed by 26 people decrying abuses during a police operation in which 16 apartments were searched. The operation deployed on 18 March 2014 concerned individuals suspected by the Prosecution office attached to the Court of Appeal of fraudulent use of various computer programs to produce and disseminate pornographic images on the Internet and that they sent members of the association abroad for prostitution. The operation was performed by around 130 members of anti-terrorist and military units, according to the complainants, they intervened in force by breaking doors and windows, while most of the MISA supporters were asleep. Moreover, the supporters also complaint that the heavily armed special forces broke into their homes and forced them to sit down until the coming of prosecutors, who then refused to show a warrant or to inform them about the reasons for the operation. During the assault, the supporters mobile phones were confiscated along other personal items while being 'insulted, humiliated, deprived of food and water, "reads the press release on the ECHR website. Also, they were allowed to go to the toilet only accompanied by a member of the security forces and were forced to leave the door open. They also charged that the operation was filmed and then pictures with the operation were released. That same afternoon, the MISA supporters were taken to the prosecution for questioning, and there they were threatened and insulted in order for them to give statements in part dictated by prosecutors related to their intimate life and involvement with the leader of MISA, Gregorian Bivolaru. The applicants have also complained that they were not informed of the reasons for their detention and that they were denied access to a lawyer. They were released after several hours of detention without being subsequently charged. The communique also notes that the Romanian government denies their version of the events, noting that no physical violence was used during searches or interrogations by the prosecution. The applicants subsequently submitted upon various dates, complaints decrying the abuse that they had been submitted on the day of the operation, the behavior of prosecutors and of members of the armed forces and that they were detained. However, the competent courts in Romania have decided not to prosecute anyone in the case. In their legal approach before the ECHR, the applicants claim under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights that they were subjected to mistreatment during the operation on 18 March 2014 and decry the lack of an effective investigation. Also, under Article 5 1 concerning the right to liberty and security, they said that they were arbitrarily detained during the search, during the transfer to the prosecution and during the interrogations. Last but not least, under Article 8 on the right to privacy and family life, the applicants complained of the house and bodily searches to which they were subjected about the confiscation of their personal items and of the media broadcasting of videos shot during the police operation. ECHR ruled that Article 3 on degrading treatment and lack of effective investigation had been violated in the case of 23 people, which applies to Article 5 1 concerning the right to liberty and security. At the same time, the court ruled that Article 8 on the right to respect for private and family life had been violated in the case of all 26 applicants. Le CBD, cette molecule active du cannabis a aujourdhui le vent en poupe. Et cela est en grande partie du au fait quil permet... Best Technology Products and Services Would you like to submit an article in the Technology category or any of the sub-category below? Click here to submit your article. Would you like to have your product or service listed on this page? Contact us. Best Health Products and Services Would you like to submit an article in the Health category or any of the sub-categories below? Click here to submit your article. Would you like to have your product or service listed on this page? Contact us. Best Internet Products and Services Would you like to submit an article in the Internet category or any of the sub-category below? Click here to submit your article. Would you like to have your product or service listed on this page? Contact us. Secunderabad (AsiaNews) - The Christian community of Andhra Pradesh is again under attack. This time, one of the local Church leaders has been targeted: Msgr. Gallela Prasad, bishop of the diocese of Cuddapah. The bishop was attacked by unknown assailants as he returned from Karunagari (in Kadapa district), where he celebrated Mass. The Federation of Churches Telugu (FTC), the apex body of various Christian denominations in the United Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, strongly condemned "the cruel aggression" against the Catholic bishop. The incident occurred on April 25, but it was made public only yesterday. It was reported by the news site Matters India, quoting the statement of Archbishop Thumma Bala of Hyderabad, chairman of the Christian Federation. The Archbishop said that Msgr. Prasad was attacked while he was in the car, returning from Kadapa, about 425 km south of Hyderabad (the capital of Telangana). The car carrying the bishop was stopped by unknown persons, who blindfolded the religious and his driver and then locked them in an unfamiliar place. Here they were beaten for hours throughout the night. Msgr. Bala said: "It's amazing that such violent atrocities have been perpetrated against a senior member of the minority community." The President of the FTC has condemned "the merciless attack against a person who has devoted his whole life to God and to the service of the needy and the marginalized." The archbishop then asked the police and the authorities to register the case and arrest those responsible for "this heinous crime, in order to ensure justice and security for minorities and protect the lives of the leaders of religious communities." The aggression against the Catholic bishop is not the first incident of violence against Christians in Andhra Pradesh, even though it is the first perpetrated against religious leaders. For some time the Christian minority has been the target of Hindu extremists, who in 2014 also killed a Protestant pastor. At least 202 people have been killed over the past week in Syrias northern metropolis, including civilians (and many children). A MSF-supported hospital in a rebel-held area and two under government control are hit. People are scared," but they "still want to stay, according to Caritas Aleppo. The latters operatives visit hospitals to "respond to emergencies." Aleppo (AsiaNews) Aleppo is "under attack". Many parts of the city have been shelled and bombed. Two bombs have hit an area under government control where "the Caritas headquarters and my house are located, said Joseph Yeghia, head of communication for Caritas Aleppo. Speaking to AsiaNews, the Catholic charity official confirmed that the capital of northern Syria is going through an escalation of violence. According to the latest estimates by the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has an extensive network of contacts on the ground, at least 202 people were killed in the past week. Government and rebels have blamed each other for violating the truce by carrying out air raids and shelling civilians. UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura warned that the ceasefire agreed a few weeks ago is now "barely alive". UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on both the United States and Russia to exert pressure to stop the violence. The upsurge in violence is centred in northern Syria, in Aleppo province whose main city, Aleppo proper, is the countrys second largest urban area, and is currently divided between a western sector under government control and an eastern part, which is in rebel hands. The renewed violence has endangered the fragile ceasefire in force since 27 February, which has improved the humanitarian situation and raised hopes for a quick end to the hostilities. Local witnesses said that rebel shelling into government-held areas killed 71 civilians, including 13 children. Government air raids have killed 123 people, including 18 children. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said the al-Quds hospital, which is in a rebel-held area, was also hit, and some of the citys last paediatricians killed. The spiral of violence and terror continues to tear Syria apart. Since March 2011, at least 270,000 people have died and millions have been displaced, creating an unprecedented humanitarian emergency. Aleppo is one of the most affected areas as Jihadi groups like the Islamic State and the al Qaeda-affiliated al Nusra Front are fighting other rebel groups as well as government soldiers. Civilians are the main casualties in this fight without quarter. In a press release, Caritas Syria reports that in the last few days more than 1,300 mortar shells fell on the city, hitting various neighbourhoods in violation of the truce. The citys hospitals are on the verge of collapse as the number of wounded rises and medical, blood and other supplies dwindle. Deprivation is widespread. Lorries and other vehicles run along city streets "full of wounded, many of them children" and the horizon is "obscured by a thick blanket of black smoke. The sound of ambulances is nonstop." Violence, attacks, and bombs are everywhere in the city," Joseph Yeghia told AsiaNews. People are scared," and yet they "want to stay and get on with their lives. There is hope to live here; no one wants to leave." We Caritas activists visit hospitals, and collect information to see how we can help, heal the wounded, and respond to emergencies, the Caritas official explained. However, "We do not know the exact number of dead and wounded. Not even hospitals have a precise idea." In addition to the MSF-supported hospital hit in a rebel-held area, two hospitals in a part of the city controlled by the government were also shelled, Yeghia said. It is unclear which wards were affected. "We just want peace for our country, Syria, the Caritas official said, because we cannot go on living like this after five years. We call [on the international community] for an end to the war. Addressing western Christians, he said, We ask you to pray for us. We only need your prayers. All we want is for God to grant us peace. Until now, the Ministry of Civil Affairs handled applications and paper work. Nearly 10,000 foreign NGOs are present on the mainland. For the German ambassador, the law is too restrictive. For NGO official, it damages charitable activities. Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) China has granted police the power to regulate foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Adopted yesterday, the Law on Domestic Activities of Overseas Nongovernmental Organisations will come into effect on 1 January 2017. The new legislation stipulates that all foreign NGOs must register with police rather than with the Ministry of Civil Affairs like their domestic counterparts. Foreign NGOs with temporary projects have to seek approval and register with police as well. Nearly 10,000 foreign NGOs are present on the mainland, authorities say. The law lists fields in which foreign NGOs will be allowed to work, including economics, education, science and technology, culture, health, sports, environmental protection, disaster and poverty relief, and other areas. It is not clear whether the religious aspects of some of these activities will be allowed. The Ministry of Public Security said it would take time to draft a catalogue defining the areas for foreign NGOs. Hao Yunhong, director of the Ministry of Public Securitys Foreign NGO Management Office, said many fields would be included in the catalogue and that the ministry held an open, tolerant, active and supporting attitude towards foreign NGOs. But for those supporting or orchestrating illegal activities in China, we would certainly deal with them in accordance to the law, Hao said. Guo Linmao, an official with the National Peoples Congress Standing Committees Legal Affairs Commission, said the law was an affirmation of foreign NGOs contribution to China. Yet it also took into account the small number that conducted illegal and criminal activities, and empowered police to deal with them. He added that the law granted police extra powers because they were already handling foreigners activities and immigration. Foreign governments and NGOs are not reassured. Despite a number of improvements, the law does not dispel our concern that it could make cooperation with German partners more difficult in the future, said the German Ambassador to China, Michael Clauss. The law, he added, continues to focus strongly on security and contains numerous approval and documentation requirements, as well as other norms restricting activities. For this reason, Germany would have welcomed . . . another opportunity for consultations. Lu Jun, founder of Yirenping, which campaigns on health and employment, said the law would damage the course of charity and public interest in China severely. by card. Oswald Gracias The archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference condemns the attack against the bishop of Cuddapah. He calls on the authorities to act quickly. He also prays that God may touch and turn the hearts of those who committed this sacrilegious assault. The attacked bishop is closely involved in empowering the poor and women. Mumbai (AsiaNews) We are deeply saddened by this sacrilegious attack on Bishop Prasad. We assure him of all our support and prayers, and we appeal to the authorities to apprehend the culprits as soon as possible. The bishop has selflessly served the Diocese of Cuddapah. Through his tireless ministry as shepherd, he has given hope to the hopeless. Without discriminating, he has always helped the poorest of the poor and the communities neglected by the caste system, which is remains deeply rooted in India. Still today, there is little chance for those born into poverty to escape it. Mgr Gallela Prasad, bishop of Cuddapah, was abducted and beaten last Monday (25 April) afternoon, when he was returning from a church service in his district on behalf of the poor. Cuddapah is home to 5.8 million people, including 80,000 Catholics. The diocese is divided into 56 parishes. Two priests celebrate Mass at the main station and visit the various parishes to administer the sacraments. The fact that this attack was perpetrated as the prelate was performing his duties is a source of anguish and grief. Mgr Prasad has always been concerned for the poor and for women. One of the major commitments of his ministry is in favour of womens empowerment. Since most girls in rural India do not attend school beyond the age of 15 years, the diocese offers an 11-month training programme that culminates in the gift of a sewing machine worth US$ 100. This allows graduates to go on to earn a living. Mgr Prasads diocese also offers healthcare for the poor, and runs child-and-mother care programmes that focus on nutrition and general health. For the Indian Church, this attack is a source of great sadness. We pray for the bishops quick recovery and call on Gods merciful love to touch and turn the hearts of those who committed this sacrilegious assault. The fate of almost a thousand people held in a detention camp on Manus Island has not yet been decided after PNG authorities decided to close the facility. With Port Moresby and Canberra expected to hold emergency talks, lawyers for the asylum seekers plan to go straight to assessing reasonable compensation in the billions. Port Moresby (AsiaNews/Agencies) Lawyers for almost a thousand asylum seekers held in a detention centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG), said that they plan to seek potentially billions of dollars in compensation after the PNG Supreme Court ruled against the facility, prompting the government to close it. The sea between Papua New Guinea and Australia is a prime route for refugees mostly from Southeast Asia and the Middle East seeking to reach Australia. The Manus island facility is infamous for the tensions it has created in Australia whose government is bent on rejecting asylum seekers even when they are bona fide refugees. Immigration is a political hot potato in Australia where Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is in the middle of a general election campaign set for July. Successive Australian governments have steadfastly said that people who attempt the dangerous sea crossing will never be allowed to settle in Australia. PNG-based lawyer Ben Lomai, who represents more than 300 of the detainees, told the Post Courier, a PNG newspaper, that he would file a compensation case. We can go straight to assessing reasonable compensation without having to prolong the case any further, Lomai said. To settle the impasse, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has suggested that one option was to transfer the Manus Island detainees to another facility on tiny Nauru, another South Pacific island. Nauru already houses about 500 people and has been similarly criticised for harsh conditions and reports of systematic child abuse. Two days ago, a 23-year-old man from Iran set himself on fire at the centre in protest against his treatment. He died today from his injuries. The archdiocese of the city-state has organised a series of meetings on the family and its problems in a society increasingly focused on productivity. The last meeting is set for 21 May. For one of the organisers, Christians are called to be the alternative voice, the counter-culture. Each year, 21,000 marriages take place; 7,000 end in divorce. Singapore (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Archdiocesan Commission for the Family (ACF) organised a Family Partners Empowerment meeting at the Catholic Spirituality Centre on 16 April. The event was a follow-up to an ACF networking session on 19 March aimed at synergising the Archdioceses outreach efforts towards families under stress in Singapores hyper-competitive society, where work and productivity trump everything. One of the participants in the April meeting was Ramona Olsen. Speaking about her own experience, she noted, a tendency to rely on our own strength and that is how we grow tired and weary, forgetting that God is in control and that He is always there for us. However, Christians have a special role to play. We have all been called to be the alternative voice, the counter-culture, said Ms Cyrine Gregory, Marriage Encounter co-ordinator. We need to bring Gods healing love to hurting marriages and families. Fr Terence Pereira, episcopal vicar for the new evangelisation, led the 16 April meeting, which was attended by hundreds of couples and volunteers. In his address, he stressed the importance of the personal encounter with Christ as a real base to help families in need. Even though Singapore has pro-family policies, and is considered to be the "best country" in which to become a mother in Asia, the city-state suffers from some weaknesses with respect to certain vulnerable groups, like senior citizens and people with special needs. Fr Pereira focused on the fact that, increasingly, marriages end in divorce, noting that there are 21,000 marriages and 7,000 divorces each year, a ratio of one divorce for every three marriages. Yet, citing the burning bush in Exodus, he explained that although the bush was burning, it was not burnt. The series of events for ACFs Family Partners will culminate with another meeting on May 21. Titled Love Matters, it will see some couples celebrate their wedding anniversary as some priests celebrate the anniversary of their ordination. Singapores Catholics number more than 200,000, or about 5 per cent of the total population. Buddhism has the largest following with 33 per cent, followed by Christianity with 18 per cent, Islam with 15 per cent, and Taoism and Hinduism with 11 and 5 per cent respectively. The local Church is going through a phase of growth and dynamism illustrated by the opening of a theological seminary, a real "milestone" for the local community. by mons. Thomas Menamparampil The apostolic administrator of Jowai comments on Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation. He believes that the papal document is applicable to the condition of the Indian tribal families. Amoris laetitia talks about "irregular" situations, marriages, divorces, abandoned children. All of this is also found in India where, as the Pope recalls, we must not give in to easy judgments, but to discern each situation case by case. Jowai (AsiaNews) - The post-synodal Exhortation "Amoris laetitia" of Pope Francis, "affirms the Indian and Asian family values", says Msgr. Thomas Menamparampil, Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati and current apostolic administrator of Jowai. Referring to the model of "extended family" mentioned by Francis, which also includes "parents, uncles, cousins and neighbors," the Bishop recalls that this family model is well established in Indian villages, where tribal mothers have many children but continue to "adopt more and more." Msgr. Menamparampil speaks of the everyday reality of Jowai families, which are also discussed in the Apostolic Exhortation. Families that are poor and landless, often forced to relocate for work; the partner who remains in the village leading to "forms of depression, infidelity, new relationships; abandoned children; mixed marriages. The bishop recalls the words of the Pope, who invites us not to judge these situations but act as guide in suffering. And remember that if there is love, everything "can be solved. Below, the full text of his message: I see the Apostolic Exhortation as a reaffirmation of Asian, Indian family values firmly rooted in our cultures. If these cultures have stood pressure for centuries, it is because they were preserved, cherished and handed down in families and communities. The Document says that "Large families are a joy for the Church" (167). It speaks of "parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours" (187) constituting "wider families" (38), friends and other families composing a "larger family," in-laws and other relatives (196-98). We are familiar with such large extended families in Indian villages. The Pope refers with respect to the cultural diversity of situations (3). Tribal mothers are not embarrassed about the size of their families; they adopt a few more children. Every day we meet with mothers holding babies in both hands and screaming children around. They generally live in a neighbourhood community that has a strong sense of solidarity. It is in such contexts that cultures and traditions are diligently fostered and faith carefully handed down. In India we have the advantage of living amidst a majority community, even though not belonging to our faith, whose culture gives great importance to family values and frowns upon deviations. Hindu society as a whole finds it hard to accept cohabitation, abortion, divorce, or same sex marriage. Further, most of our Christian communities live in agricultural and unsecularised contexts. Not that there are no difficulties. Many of the anxieties of poorer families are concerned with their struggle for life. If they are landless labourers, their family life is reduced to brief encounters between periods of intense labour. Thus, shared life in family is greatly impoverished. If they move to the town or to another region in search of jobs, the partners live lone lives most of the time with the danger of depression, infidelity, new alliances; broken bonds and abandoned children (241-43). However, the Pope's advice to avoid judging people in such situations and to discern the right approach to different problems provides a guidance in all such anxieties (296). With young people studying or working away from their homes and living among people of other cultures, inter-cultural marriages are becoming more common. Every culture has its own categories of thought, modes of expression, styles of communicating, wisdom for guidance, symbolisms that give meaning, norms that regulate relationships, ways of manifesting joy, displeasure, acceptance or rejection. In a family context, there is every possibility that one partner misreads the mind of a partner of another culture when differences of opinion, taste, vision for the future or plans for the children arise. If, of course, the love between them is genuine and deep-rooted, they will recognise and appreciate "differences," and solve their problem through sensitive dialogue (139). Inter-faith marriages are even more complex, not easily finding common sources of inspiration between partners. Marriage with an agnostic or atheist can be more challenging still. However, if love prevails and there is a readiness to appeal to one's partner's convictions and to whatever he/she believes is conducive to human good, there are always possible approaches to solution. There are many instances of alcoholism, dowry-related tensions, and domestic violence. The Document admits that in life everything is not just black and white (305). It refers to "the law of gradualness" (295), the "pedagogy of love" (211). It invites pastoral leaders "to be attentive...how people experience distress" (296). It is when pastors understand couples in pain in contexts of intimacy and share their inner agonies, and manifest the "power of tenderness," does healing come and discernment bear fruit (308). There is always abundant room for "missionary creativity" in difficult situations (57). The culture of the Khasi-Pnar community of Jowai is generally considered matri-lineal, the family property being inherited from the mother to the youngest daughter. The mother's position in the family is considered precious. People here would agree with the statement that "The weakening of maternal presence with its feminine qualities poses a grave risk to our world" (173). Society would be dehumanised (174). For, a mother shares in the mystery of creation. "You have knit me together in my mother's womb" (Ps 139:13) (168). But even here the father figure is greatly desired. He should prove himself to be truly a responsible person. The Document descends to practical suggestions: to seek the help of psychology, sociology, marital therapy and counselling; of professionals with practical experience (204). It gives realistic suggestions, leaving freedom to search for solutions in contexts. Let families in difficulties be exposed to people who take their Christian life seriously. It will be precisely "missionary families" that give rise to similar families (289). In all these cases, everyone ought to remember that human beings are "unfinished products," always a "work in progress" (218). "Each marriage is like a salvation history" searching for fuller answers (221). What is expected of pastors is to remain constant learners and keep reaching out to the "outermost fringes of society" (312) with "love and tenderness" (59) and unfailing faith. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Christian must say no to lies, to "saying one thing and doing another," to taking "dark streets", but even we make a mistake, we can count on the forgiveness and gentleness of God, that restores us to a life of "light." "This is the Christian life, said Pope Francis at Mass this morning in Casa Santa Marta, taking a cue from the passage of the Letter of St John where the apostle warns believers against leading a life of duplicity lightness on the outside and the darkness in the heart - because God is only light. "If we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar," said Francis, emphasizing mans eternal struggle between sin and grace. "If you say you are in communion with the Lord, walk in the light! Do not lead a double life! That no! We are so used to seeing this lie, we even fall into it ourselves. To say one thing and do another, right? There is always the temptation ... We know where lies come from: in the Bible, Jesus calls the devil 'father of lies', the liar. And for this, so gently, with such gentleness, this grandfather says to the 'teenager' Church, the girl-Church: 'Do not be a liar! You are in communion with God, walk in the light. Accomplish things in the light, do not say one thing and do another, do not lead a double life". "My little children" is the beginning of St. Johns letter, it has the tone of a grandfather speaking to his "young grandchildren" and echoes the "sweetness" of the words in the Gospel of the day, where Jesus calls his yoke "light" and promises "relief" to the tired and oppressed. Similarly, John's appeal is not to sin, "but if someone does, do not be discouraged". "We have a Paraclete, a word, a lawyer, an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He justifies us, He gives us grace. One feels the urge to say to this grandfather who advises us so: 'But is it not a bad thing to sin?'. 'No, sin is ugly! But if you have sinned, He is watching and waiting for you to forgive you! '. Always! Because He - God - is greater than our sins. " This, concluded Francis, "it is the mercy of God, is the greatness of God." He knows that "we are nothing", that "He" alone has the power and therefore "He always waits for us". Let us walk in the light, because God is Light. Do not have with one foot in the light and the other in darkness. Do not be liars. Whats more: we have all sinned. No one can say: 'This is a sinner; This is a sinner. I, thank God, am just'. No, only One is righteous, because He paid for us. And if anyone sins, He is waiting for us, He forgives us, because He is merciful and knows how we are formed, and remembers that we are dust. What joy that gives us this reading, we make progress in the simplicity and transparency of the Christian life, especially when we turn to the Lord. With the truth". by Kamran Chaudhry More than a hundred women marched yesterday in front of the Lahore Press Club, holding banners, calling for their wages to be raised to the national minimum. Some 12 million workers are employed in this area, and are denied the same rights that other workers enjoy. Since 2013, a draft bill has been before the Punjab cabinet waiting for approval. See the video of the protest. Lahore (AsiaNews) More than a hundred women gathered yesterday in front of the Lahore Press Club, shouting "better wages, our right", from the government of Punjab, guilty in their view of failing to ensure state recognition for home-based workers of the rights that other workers enjoy. The activists, who held banners and shouted slogans, want the province to pass a bill that the cabinet has not approved even though it has been pending since 2013. This would bring the basic wage for home-based workers up on par with the rest of the country. We work till seven in the evening but only get a quarter of what factory workers are earning, said Yasmin, one of the protesters. The government should think of the poor; we are also workers". Since her husband died, Yasmin has had to work in six houses every day. She is concerned about the future of her children and grandchildren. "I worked hard and learnt to stitch clothes after my husband died six years after the marriage. I married my daughter in her teens, but the boys need education for better jobs, she explained. Yasmin gets 500 rupees (US$ 5) at each house where she works. Her chores include dishwashing, sweeping, dusting furniture, washing clothes and ironing. Every month, she takes home about 3,000 rupees per home. Thus, she earns more than what is the minimum wage in the other three provinces and Islamabad, the federal capital, which is 13,000 rupees. However, this has taken a toll on her health since she contracted hepatitis B. In Pakistan, the home-based workforce can count on an army of 12 million members, who want the recognition of their rights. In 2013, the Punjab provincial government came up with a draft bill to regulate home-based work. However, it has not yet approved it. As a result of this delay, civil society groups have mobilised to demand that home-based wages be set under the minimum wage law. HomeNet Pakistan, a network of organisations working for the recognition of the labour rights of home-based workers, has called on Punjabs chief minister to approve the draft bill and announce it on 1 May, International Workers Day. Yesterdays protest action is the third demo in one month, HomeNet Pakistan said in a statement. Millions of workers are awaiting for the legislation [. . .] to give them the rights of a worker. We have been waiting for many years, and [yet] the government is not ready to listen to us. In so doing, They are neglecting workers, whose rights are not taken into account. Seoul (AsiaNews) - North Korea has sentenced an American citizen to 10 years hard labor, finding him guilty of espionage, reports Chinas Xinhua news agency. The condemned man is Kim Dong-chul, he was born in South Korea and arrested in October 2016. The man was brought in front of a group of North journalists in March to "confess" he was paid by the Seoul government to export State secrets from the Stalinist country. Also in March a young American student, Otto Warmbier, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of stealing Workers Party propaganda and other "crimes against the state". Kim was instead found in possession of a USB memory stick containing military and nuclear secrets. The man was arrested during a visit to the Special Economic Zone of Rason. The sentencing comes in one of the most tense periods in the history of foreign relations for Pyongyang. After the fourth nuclear test in January, the Kim Jong-il regime carried out a series of missile tests, condemned repeatedly by the United Nations. Yesterday the Northern army tried to launch two missiles, which exploded shortly after takeoff. The UN Security Council has called an emergency meeting to discuss the matter. The arrest of foreign citizens has long been one of the North Korean government's key tactics for easing economic sanctions or other benefits from the nations involved. In addition to the young Warmbier, arrested in March 2016, others recently arrested are: Hyeon-Soo Lim, Canadian Christian pastor sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2015; Sandra Suh, American, stopped and expelled in April 2015; Matthew Todd Miller, American, sentenced to six years in September 2014 and released in November of the same year; Kenneth Bae, born South Korean American, who was sentenced to 15 years in May 2013 and released along with Miller; Jeffrey Fowle, released in October 2015. Alicia Vikander Picked To Play Lara Croft In Tomb Raider Trending News: The Gorgeous Alicia Vikander Will Be The Next Lara Croft Why Is This Important? Because Alicia Vikander is the perfect choice. Long Story Short Swedish actress Alicia Vikander has been selected to star in the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot as a young Lara Croft. Long Story Alicia Vikander is really on the up and up. The Swede has been all over the silver screen, most famously in her Oscar-winning roll for The Danish Girl, but also in Ex Machina (one of the best movies of 2015 in my humble opinion), Burnt and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. We already know we're going to see her in the drama The Light Between Oceans and the highly anticipated Jason Bourne, but now we've got another movie starring this drop-dead gorgeous actress to look forward to. Vikander has signed on to star in Tomb Raider, according to The Hollywood Reporter. There were some rumors of Star Wars: The Force Awakens star Daisy Ridley getting the roll, but apparently the people over at MGM, Warner Bros. and GK Films liked Vikander better. The new Tomb Raider is going to show "a young and untested Croft fighting to survive her first adventure," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Roar Uthaug (The Wave) is set to direct and Graham King is producing. Vikander's got some big boots to fill as the first actress to play Lara Croft since Angelina Jolie did it so well in the 2001 and 2003 movies. Those flicks were some of the best video game to movie adaptations ever, so it'll be tough, but judging by Vikander's past work it's a good bet she'll be able to handle it. Whether the filmmakers will be able to avoid a flop is another matter entirely. Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Would Daisy Ridley have been a better choice? Disrupt Your Feed Can't wait to see Vikander kick some a**. Drop This Fact By the age of 15, Vikander was already living on her own. Artificial intelligence software specifically designed for the legal industry has hit the market this week, helping lawyers to be more effective and efficient. The technological breakthrough, Kim, was developed by UK firm Riverview Law. Chief executive Karl Chapman said while the tool manages data to distribute work and save lawyers time, the next step will be to roll out a tool that can actually perform legal work. These Process Assistants focus on managing instructions coming into a legal function and capturing the data that helps legal functions ensure that the right work is done in the right place by the right people at the right price, Chapman told Australasian Lawyer. The Advisory and Smart Assistants we launch later this year will do lower level legal work and provide suggestions for what advice should be given. His prediction for the rapidly changing legal market is that offshoring will become increasingly less competitive as technology continues to develop. Computers and Assistants like these work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said. As a result they provide customers, in-house teams and law firms with more choice as to how they organise themselves. They provide customers with different ways of accessing legal advice. Virtual Assistants will increasingly become a part of the overall service delivery solution. Available in all English speaking countries, the firm has seen interest from both law firms and in-house legal teams in Australia, Canada, US, NZ, Spain and the UK. A Spanish version will be rolled out later this year. As for the declining job prospects for lawyers, Chapman said students shouldnt be too worried just yet, but he did warn that just being technically proficient would not be enough as technology evolves. Law students shouldnt be worried but they should think about what skill-sets they will need going forward, he said. They will need better communication and inter-personal skills, they will need to be technology literate and they will need to understand data and how to interpret it. The most valuable hat for a GC will soon be strategic, rather than legal, a new survey has found. Seventy-per cent of Canadian company directors surveyed in a new report predict that by 2020, in-house counsel will be more valuable as an adviser to the board and CEO, rather than serving as an ethical sounding board or ensuring best governance practices. In the past decade, the number of GCs sitting on the executive team has risen from 81% to 93%, the report by Canadian company BakerGilmore said, predicting that the role of in-house counsel will continue to evolve. Tanya Khan, ACC vice president and managing director, Australia and Asia-Pac said that in Australia now, only 11% of GCs are responsible for only the management of legal risk. It is widely accepted that general counsel must offer much more than sound legal advice, Khan told Australasian Lawyer. Their knowledge of the law, along with commercial acumen, means they can meaningfully contribute in the areas of risk, strategy and compliance. GCs have a unique skill-set where they are effectively looking around corners at the external environment, and facilitating the exchange of ideas and resolution of challenges within the organisation. Due to this they may spot opportunities and enhance their organisations position in many areas not traditionally seen as legal responsibilities. According to the report, the traits and competencies for GCs will need to change. The top trait listed by company directors for GCs is sound judgement followed by integrity, ahead of legal expertise. What companies look for in a general counsel goes beyond a high level of legal skill, said Lisa Gazis, Mahlab managing director. Companies want general counsel who are able participate in decision making at the highest levels and can be involved in strategic initiatives from inception. This has had a lot to do with the ever increasing regulatory environment which has made business more complex has increased business risk as well as, greater competition and globalisation which has meant greater overlays of complication. A lawyer has threatened to sue a restaurant in Texas because it ran out of the soup listed on the menu as part of the Saturday special, but then provided no discount or substitutions. Dwain Downing accused the restaurateur of deceptive trade practices saying if he was not compensated for the soup or heard from the restaurant owner, Benji Arslanovski in 10 days, he would sue. Arslanovski then took to social media with the letter Downing had sent him. Downing is asking for US$2.25 plus US$250 in attorneys fees, his hourly rate, Stuff reported. The letter states that when he ordered the Saturday special, which was an entree, two sides and soup, he was then told by a waiter that the restaurant was out of soup. But when Downing asked for a price reduction or a substitution for the soup, the manager told him that it was against the owners policy to offer any change of to discount prices. The menu is an offer for a contract by you, Downing's letter says. I accepted the offer. This action ... created a binding contract which is legally enforceable in a court of law. You then breached the contract by not providing the soup as promised by you on the menu. In addition, Downing's letter said, I demand that you change your policy and if you don't have an item, either offer a substitute side or a reduction in price. Arslanovski said his attorney will send a letter in response but that he doesnt plan on paying up, saying hell take the matter to court. Isn't it amazing? he said. This could have been solved with a simple phone call, and he could have come by and gotten a free cup of soup. Arslanovski said the soup is considered free with the meal, and is only available while it lasts for that day. Downing has since backed down from the threat, partly because of cyber bullying resulting from letter going viral after the restaurant posted it on Facebook. I didn't put it on social media," Downing said. I didn't intend for it to become this way. This place was rude, very rude. He put it on social media. Cyber bullies have threatened my life. yep in the same boat. Completed all documents on 25th January. Haven't heard anything. I did email them and asked them, and they said that they have everything they need, they are currently doing background checks. Does anyone know how long does background checks take ? Mish said: Yes DIBP can question the genuineness of the relationship if you are living apart for a long period ie. 6 or 12 months etc. A few weeks I don't imagine that they would worry as long as you show communication while apart. Click to expand... thanks very muchif her contact details remain the same, does she still need to email immig and inform them of travelling?and when she comes back then we need to email them our communication evidence? do we need to upload it?also in letter of grant they say prior to granting pr they will ask for further info, what do them mean by further info?thank you so much Heres a look at how the baby Datsun stacks up against the Maruti Alto 800, Hyundai Eon and the Renault Kwid. The Maruti Alto is still Indias best selling car by a comfortable margin, but its safe to say Renaults latest hot-cake, the Kwid, is encroaching on its territory. As of March 2016, the Alto outsells the Kwid by a factor of about 2:1, which says quite a lot about the Kwid, which has been around for only a little over six months. When the Santro started getting long in the tooth, Hyundai introduced the Eon to take on the Alto. Unfortunately, it was never able to achieve the same kind of success, selling fewer units than even its more expensive stablemate, the Grand i10. And now with the upcoming Redigo, Datsun has the Alto in its cross-hairs too. Built on the highly indigenised CMF-A platform that also gave us the Kwid, the Redigo is Datsuns bid at sales success in India, given the lacklustre performance of its first two launches, the Go and Go+. While an all-out head-to-head comparison between the Redigo, its French cousin, the Eon and Marutis stalwart wont be too long from now, heres how the baby Datsun stacks up against its rivals on paper. Design The Redigo sticks to the design of the original concept that was showcased at the 2014 Auto Expo. In the process, it looks a lot more expensive than its expected Rs 2.5 lakh price suggests. Also, its urbane, mono-volume, tall-boy styling is a marked departure from the Kwids muscular design. Datsun has also given the Redigo a planted stance by pushing its wheels out to the extremities of the body, and in the process, leaving very short overhangs. The short bonnet too hints at the carmakers attempts at maximising interior space. It was the Hyundai Eon that first offered a truly attractive design in the budget hatchback segment. It challenged the Altos basic looks with its fluidic design, replete with curves, and broke the mould for the class. However, it was the Kwid that wowed Indian buyers with its SUV-esque looks, thus far unheard of in this segment. The square shape and big chrome grille give it such an upmarket appeal, that you can ignore some of the budget details like the very basic wing mirrors and the small, three-nut wheels. As for the Alto, on the design front, theres little to write home about as with most Marutis, its very safe and unadventurous with a view to appealing to the widest possible audience; a strategy thats clearly worked all these years. Dimensions The Kwid, at 3,679mm and 1,579mm, is the longest and widest among the three. Its a close fight between the Redigo and the Eon; the Eon being marginally longer at 3,495mm, with the Redigo being wider of the two, spanning 1,560mm. Despite its small foot-print, intelligently liberates space vertically with its 1,541mm height, which makes it the tallest in the segment. Measuring 1,500mm high, the Eon comes in at a close second. The Alto is the smallest of the three in all dimensions, spanning 3,395mm long, 1,490mm wide and 1,475mm tall. Between the axles too, the Kwid spans the longest at 2,422mm. The Redigo sports a wheelbase approximately 70mm shorter than the Kwid, making the Datsun a close match for the Alto and Eon, that measure 2,360mm and 2,380mm in the wheelbase. Dimensions Datsun Redigo Renault Kwid Maruti Alto 800 Hyundai Eon Length 3429mm 3679mm 3395mm 3495mm Width 1560mm 1579mm 1490mm 1550mm Height 1541mm 1478mm 1475mm 1500mm Wheelbase 2350mm (approx) 2422mm 2360mm 2380mm Ground clearance 185mm 180mm 160mm 170mm Boot Space 220 litres 300 litres 160 litres 215 litres Weight 645kg 670kg 695kg 715kg The Kwid famously has a 300-litre boot, which is as much as cars from two segments above. Here too, the Redigo is second to the Kwid, packing a 220-litre boot, just five litres more than the Eon. The Alto follows at a distant third with a boot capacity of 160-litres. Though the Kwid is the one that looks like an SUV, its the Redigo that has slightly more ground clearance; it sits 185mm off the ground, 5mm higher than the Kwid. The Eon has a ground clearance of 170mm, while with 160mm of clearance, the Altos the lowest slung of the three. The Redigo and the Kwid run on 13-inch wheels, while the Alto and Eon get smaller 12-inchers. At 645kg, the Redigo is also the lightest car here, the Kwid and the Alto weighing 670kg and 695kg respectively. The Hyundai meanwhile tips the scales at 715kg. Engine and Gearbox The Kwid and the Redigo share the same powertrain, namely a 799cc, three-cylinder petrol motor mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This motor churns out 54hp and 72Nm of peak power and torque. Given the small weight advantage that the Redigo has over the Kwid, expect the Datsun to be the sprightlier of the two. However, if there is a difference in the way the engine and gearbox are tuned, that might not hold true, because as weve seen, despite the Altos 796cc, three-pot petrol motor making just 48hp and 68Nm and the car having a weight disadvantage, its actually quicker to accelerate than the Kwid. The Eons 814cc three-cylinder is the largest and boasts the biggest numbers, 56hp and 74.5Nm. However, we found its performance to be a middle-ground between that of the Alto and the Kwid, and well just have to see how it fares against the Datsun. Engine and Gearbox Datsun Redigo Renault Kwid Maruti Alto 800 Hyundai Eon Displacement 799cc 799cc 796cc 814cc Power 54hp 54hp 48hp 56hp Torque 72Nm 72Nm 68Nm 74.5Nm Gearbox 5-speed manual 5-speed manual 5-speed manual 5-speed manual Safety & Equipment The touchscreen was a real selling point on the Renault Kwid, since the feature was unheard of in a car at its price point. Datsun will, however, skip the touchscreen with the Redigo, at least at launch (which is in May), to eke out the price advantage over the Kwid. Both the Kwid and the Redigo come equipped with a driver-side airbag, albeit only on their top-end variant. The Alto and Eon on the other hand offer a driver-side airbag as an option across their variant ranges, with only the base variant of the Eon missing out on the safety feature. All four cars though, miss out on ABS. At the outset, the Datsun Redigo has the makings of a hot-selling entry-hatchback. With prices expected to start around the Rs 2.5-lakh mark, the Redigo will undercut both the Maruti Alto and the Renault Kwid, both of which start upwards of Rs 2.6-lakh ex-showroom. With prices starting at Rs 3.24 lakh, the Hyundai Eon is the priciest in the lot, and by quite a margin at that, considering this segments cost-conscious buyers. However, its unique style quotient might make it worth the premium for some. Coming back to the Redigo, despite being a promising prospect, it wears a badge that India hasnt exactly warmed up to. And so, it remains to be seen if the baby Datsun can repeat the Renault Kwids success and make life more difficult for the Maruti Alto. Carmakers forced to rethink strategies over diesel ban; SIAM calls for uniformity in policy making. Coming out strongly against the Supreme Courts decision to ban registration of large diesel vehicles in Delhi, automotive industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) today said that the move would render Indias policy regime erratic and discourage automakers from investing in the country. It also gives an impression that there is no stability or predictability in the policy regime, which will deeply dent the countrys global image as an investment destination, SIAM said in a statement, adding that many carmakers have halted further investments until clarity on the matter is achieved. Carmakers have been forced to reorganise their strategies in the wake of the ban on sale of diesel cars and SUVs with engines over 2,000cc in Delhi-NCR. The ban was first imposed in mid-December till March 31, 2016 and then extended until next hearing, even as some of them trudge on a revival path. SIAM also said that the ban on sale of large diesel vehicles will vilify diesel technology and compliant vehicles can never be considered as polluting unless there is a violation of the notified emission norms. Automakers have called for rational decisions to be taken and a uniform approach in the implementation of government policy, even as some of them look at ways to evade the ban by resizing their 2.0-litre engines. Mahindra & Mahindra announced sub 2.0-litre variants of its popular SUVs such as the Scorpio and the XUV500 and Tata Motors, too is looking at a similar approach for its vehicles. However, others such as Mercedes-Benz India and Jaguar Land Rover have been hit hard by the ruling. The task before government now is to arrive at a unified stand on major policy issues like the diesel case and clarify the policy to the courts, the automotive body said in the statement. Interestingly, the ban has resulted in a shift in consumer preference to petrol cars. Data revealed by SIAM showed that the share of diesel among the total sales of passenger vehicles during 2015-16 declined to 48 percent from 52 percent in the previous year, while that of petrol increased to 52 percent from 47 percent. MD of Piaggio Vehicles talks about the company's plans for India. Stefano Pelle, managing director of Piaggio Vehicles, speaks to our sister publication Autocar Professional about bringing the Aprilia brand to India, expanding both the premium Motoplex stores and Vespa sales network, and also bringing the Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber and Roamer cruisers to this part of the world. The Aprilia SR 150, the first product from the brand, will be locally manufactured at PVPLs plant in Baramati, Maharashtra. Is the SR 150 straight from your global portfolio or is it designed for India? Its both. It already exists internationally but has been adapted for India with specific requirements that we have got from the consumer. When we showed the scooter, we received a very good consumer response. Secondly, the engine is our engine. Its not some part that we are importing from somewhere. Is the 150cc engine in the Aprilia SR 150 the same unit that powers the Vespa 150 scooters? Yes, but it is tuned differently. The transmission is also tuned differently. It (Aprilia SR 150) shares a lot with the Vespa 150 models. Will the Aprilia SR 150 be made on Vespas assembly line at the Baramati plant or is a different production line being set-up for the Aprilia scooter? It will be made in the same factory but not necessarily on the same assembly line. We are in the process of setting up an all-new assembly line for the new Aprilia scooter. We have not yet built an actual scooter model here so far. The first scooter is expected to come out within a couple of weeks. So the first batch of production scooters is expected to roll out in March? When will mass production begin? Yes, the first batch is expected in March and the mass production will begin in July 2016. The commercial launch is scheduled for August later this year. Since the Aprilia SR 150 will be yet another premium scooter from Piaggio, do you see any brand cannibalisation between this model and the Vespa 150 models already on sale? I dont see any brand cannibalisation between Aprilias SR 150 and Vespas existing 150 models. The segments are completely different. Though they both belong to the premium segment, Vespa is more of a style statement and the Aprilia SR 150 is a sporty, stylish scooter which would certainly appeal to the youth. Unlike Vespa, which has a wider targeted age group, we will target the age group of 18-28 years with the Aprilia SR 150. Now although the core target customers remain the same for the Vespa brand, it is also bought by customers in their late 20s or even 30s. That said, the Vespa models are universal and the Aprilia SR 150 is more male. This (Aprilia) would also appeal to buyers who today use a bike and might want to use a scooter tomorrow. The Aprilia SR 150 is not as bulky as the regular scooters you see on the Indian roads. This is a relatively very sleek, slim, stylish scooter which is equipped with good power with utility space for storage too. What price range should we expect for the SR 150? What would you expect? (laughs). All I can tell you is that it will be a premium scooter but it will be priced competitively in context to the Vespa models. Piaggios global annual report mentions India as one of its key markets for future growth. The plan to roll out the Aprilia SR 150 is absolutely in line with that. What strategy are you chalking out to make this work? Correct. Our primary focus is on setting up a decent network, which is increasing as per our plans. By the time the Aprilia SR 150 will hit the roads, our distribution network would have considerably grown. At the same time even the Motoplex stores will grow. We have recently opened our flagship (Motoplex) store in Pune, and we have three more Motoplex stores lined up in cities such as Hyderabad, Kochi and Chennai. These three new stores will come up over the next two months. Then some more will come later. Is this a strategic move to focus more on the southern region first? Yes, as of today our focus is on the southern and western regions for scooters. However, we also want to expand to the rest of the country. We want to first have our Motoplex stores in markets where we see good demand. But that does not mean that we can afford to not be present in Delhi or Mumbai. How come there is no Motoplex store in Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country? It will come. You see when you appoint a dealer you need to have a certain kind of relationship with him. But when you appoint a dealer for a Motoplex store, you need to be very sure that you are doing the right thing. This is because we are very particular about the Motoplex stores around the world. What would be your key priorities for 2016? Setting up the distribution and the launch of the Aprilia scooter. I would say that it would go hand-in-hand. To launch this scooter on the road, we have to increase our distribution. Vespa, on the other hand, continues to be our main brand, so that remains our priority. As of today our network is around 80 dealers (concentrated towards the southern and western markets). We are looking at having up to 40 percent more dealerships (32) by end-2016. Do you plan to bring new products under the Vespa brand? Yes. We are looking at bringing the Vespa limited edition. We plan to bring the Vespa 300GTS and the Vespa 946, which will come as completely built units (CBUs). They will come by the second quarter of the ongoing calendar year. Is the company looking to bring the Moto Guzzi V9 (Bobber and Roamer) cruisers to India? Yes, they will also be brought to India as CBUs, most likely this year. The Moto Guzzi V9 cruisers are not launched yet. Their global launch is scheduled within a few months time. (The company had showcased V9 cruisers at the 2016 Auto Expo as production-ready models.) The Moto Guzzi V9 is an all-new line-up of cruisers with light, nimble handling. They will be powered by the 850cc powertrain, which is considered to be a medium size engine. The V9 motorcycles will be positioned below the bigger Moto Guzzi models such as the California. What is the status of the CKD operations (for assembling Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycles) at the Baramati plant? The moment we press the button, it wont take too long to get it done. But as of today it is not really our first priority. We have a factory here and it can be done easily. However, the focus of the company today is on the scooters. What do you think about the awareness of the Aprilia brand in India? In your global portfolio, you have a number of midsized motorcycles under the Aprilia brand. Given the outstanding growth in the midsized motorcycle market in India, are you not considering bringing a few of those models here? I knew that the people in India, those who ride, would know about the Aprilia brand. But frankly the awareness about the Aprilia brand here is higher than what we had anticipated. That said, it still remains a brand that needs to be developed. Yes, we are evaluating (bringing in) midsized Aprilia motorcycles. It is still in the study phase where we try to understand what could be the different segments where we should be. The perception of midsized motorcycles in India is the ones with engine displacement of 300cc-500cc. This is something which could be interesting for us in the future AWD HP According to the Environmental Protection Agencys website, Hondas 2017 Ridgeline provides a fuel economy rating of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway in its front-wheel drive form.The all-wheel drive version of the Ridgeline is just a tad less economical, as it announced 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.The combined mpg estimate sits at 21 for the all-wheel drive Ridgeline, while the front-wheel-drive model has an extra point, topping out at an estimated 22 mpg.The 2017 Ridgeline has maintained the use of a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, but it has been improved since the previous generation of the model.As Autoblog notes, the figures fare well compared to the competition, and theRidgeline beats rear-wheel drive four-cylinder rivals in the highway mode.However, the biggest change of the Ridgeline can be found on the platform, which has been borrowed from the Honda Pilot. The link to the Pilot means the Ridgeline is front-wheel drive based in the case of the cheapest version, an element that is not found on any other model in the segment.Customers buying the all-wheel drive version get Hondas torque-vectoring i-VTM4 system, which has Terrain Management settings for improving behavior depending on the surface you are driving on (snow, sand, mud, road, etc.)Hondas Ridgeline has skipped the 2015 and 2016 model years with the launch of the second generation, and the new truck comes as a 2017 vehicle. It also features a six-speed automatic gearbox instead of the five-speed of the previous model. The transmissions mate, the V6 gasoline engine, has yet to have its specs released, but it is expected to be close to those of the Honda Pilot, so we predict about 280and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm) of torque.Hondas pickup truck offering is not unique in the segment, but it comes as a lifestyle alternative to many other models designed for hardcore use. Instead of traditional ruggedness, the 2017 Ridgeline proposes a cozy interior with lots of tech features, as well as features for day-to-day practicality. tuning specialist Elio Motors is known to bite off more than it can chew. However, the latest announcement made by the Phoenix, Arizona-based company seems credible. With the completion of the chassis design, prototypes of the 3-wheeler vehicle will be used to complete real-world vehicle validation and ride dynamics testing and calibration, as well as safety validations, in advance of commercial production. So far, its very likely that Elio Motors will make 100 pre-production cars by year-end.Initial production, on the other hand, is slated for 2017. Once our E-Series vehicles emerge from the pilot build, the Chassis team will conduct ride and handling development tuning to refine the vehicle's driving characteristics prior to commercial production, declared Jeff Johnston, VP of engineering at Elio Motors.Believe it or not,automotive company Roush Performance is partly responsible for the design of the chassis and suspension. Jack Roushs team started collaborating with Elio Motors in January. Paul Elio highlights that the team has managed at what seems like lightning speed. Cracking job from Roush, then, albeit we would rather wish for Roush to focus on tuning Mustangs and F-150s.Up to this point, Elio Motors has racked up 52,404 reservations for the trike. As mentioned time and time again , the 3-wheeler will be built at a former General Motors plant in Louisiana (Shreveport Operations), will hold a starting price of $6,800 excluding destination fee, and will return a scarcely believable 84 miles to the gallon (2.8 liters per 100 kilometers). Performance-wise, the ultra-economical Elio 3-wheeler is projected to hit 62 miles per hour (100 km/h) in 9.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).Oh, and another thing: the ePlus: My Elio. My Way. configurator is up and running. Since all Aygos have a big X shape at the front, somebody must have thought of the X-Men. And what better way to spruce up the first car many teens will be driving than with a Wolverine theme.The 2016 Toyota Aygo X-Cite is not officially themed after the guy with chest hair and metal claws. But it certainly looks like it, right? The black should have been blue, but at least this way it can also mascarade as Bumblebee from Transformers (it wishes).Toyota describes the X-Cite Special Edition as being "the most extrovert variant of the range." It's got a new shade of paint called Yellow Fizz and accents in glossy piano black for the bumpers, mirrors, and roof frame. Also new are the 15-inch 5-double-spoke alloy wheels with Bold Black colored center caps.The interior hasn't been left out either and is as bright as a sneaker. Neon yellow inserts have been added to the doors, air vents, carpets, and the gear lever. Meanwhile, the center console, instrument panel, and gear lever surround feature Bold Black inserts.For the record, this isn't a new car. The X-Cite was available in 2015 as well, but it was blue. The powertrain is also the same and consists of a 1-liter VVT-I three-cylinder petrol engine that makes 69 horsepower. You can have it with a manual or an X-shift automatic. We are not making this up!Toyota says the littlest of its special edition cars will drink 3.8 liters/100 km and emit 88 grams of CO2, down from 95 grams in 2015. Deliveries will start in June, and every Aygo remains covered by a 5-year warranty. Prices change according to the market, but we found one in France for 13,200. SUV FAW Automotive of China is a state-owned automotive manufacturer that has fully fledged joint ventures with General Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen. One of the Big Four in China alongside SAIC Motor, Changan Motors, and Dongfeng Motor, FAW Automotive struck a joint venture with Volkswagen in 1990.Before this deal, Volkswagen teamed up with the SAIC Group in 1984. The result of that partnership is the Volkswagen Santana, the car of choice of Chinese taxi drivers. Today, the joint venture sells lots of cars adorned with a Volkswagen badge, including the Phideon . But that is that and the subject we're interested in is the low-cost brand, so lets focus on it.Winterkorn told the German media that we should expect an SUV, sedan, and hatchback" from the yet-unnamed brand. According to AutoCar.co.uk , current head honcho Muller implies that there will be two SUVs, one of which will be a mid-sized offering. Make no mistake about it: that's an intriguing turn of events.In China, we are working full steam on the budget car with our joint venture with FAW-Volkswagen. We plan for it to be an independent brand there, Muller also declared. Theres no info available on the second, sorry.The Chinese brand will be the thirteenth in Volkswagen AGs portfolio. To my mind Ive expressed [that] thirteen brands is not a weakness but a strength, added a surefooted Muller. On an ending note, it remains to be seen if the no-frills sport utility vehicles will cost between 8,000 and 11,000 ($9,110 to 12,520 at current exchange rates), as Winterkorn said when he was the numero uno at Volkswagen. Crew Cab XDs are the first models to be offered. Single and King Cabs will come later this year. Photos: Nissan North America Nissan North America says list prices for 2016 Titan XD Crew Cab pickups powered by an advanced 5.6L Endurance V-8 gasoline engine will range from $35,290 to $55,520. They went on sale April 15, executives said at a press event this week at its headquarters near Brentwood, Tenn. The Titan XD Gas joins the XD (for eXtra Duty) with the Cummins 5.0L Turbo Diesel V-8 released this past December. Diesel-powered XDs cost roughly $10,000 more than the gasoline models. With either engine, the XD is a 5/8-ton pickup that falls between - and -ton pickups in capacity and ride quality, they said. Endurance gasoline V-8s are made in Tennessee and Titans are assembled in Mississippi. The XD Gass engine is rated at 390 hp and 401 lb.-ft., compared to the diesels 310 hp and 555 lb.-ft. As with the diesel, the gasoline model will initially be available in five four-door Crew Cab trim levels in 4x4 and 4x2 drive configurations. The lowest-priced XD Gas has 2-wheel-drive and the basic S trim. The highest is a 4x4 with Platinum Reserve trim. Between them are SV, Pro-4X and SL trim levels. A 2-door Single Cab version will be available this fall, and later will come a 4-door King Cab. This summer, the -ton Titan pickup will go into production, and also be powered by the 5.6L V-8 and a 4.0L gasoline V-6. All Endurance V-8s are mated to a new 7-speed double-overdrive automatic transmission with adaptive shift control and downshift rev matching. Titan is very much an American truck, executives said. It was designed in California, engineered in Michigan, and assembled in Mississippi with components made mostly in Tennessee. Recent news and updates revealed of the forthcoming prowess, the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado. As the specs and features are unveiled, many are wondering what to expect for the new segment and if the segment is worth buying for. A new and powerful muscle will soon hit the road with its brute force. The 2017 Chevrolet Colorado is projected to reign absolute in regards to strength, muscle and horsepower. A post from Bangkok Post showcased the different features that are embedded into the new segment. The pick-up truck that has made American lives easier in terms of mobility is now returning with full packed additions. Ranging from exterior and interior designing, up rated 2.5-litre diesel engine as well as enhancing comfort features for more at ease expeditions. The new 2017 Chevrolet Colorado is displaying grandeur and ruggedness in its entire design. The chassis have also been modified. Other modified specs are the LED daytime-running lights, a new grille, solid bumper and bonnet design as well as the 18-inch wheels firmly in placed. More report from Stuff stated that the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado was made with Australasian engineering so that it can weather any markets and meet the requirements from the varying customers in distinctive markets. To prove the latter, "The Chevrolet Colorado revealed by our Brazilian colleagues is the result of ongoing work between Holden, Chevrolet Brazil and Chevrolet Thailand and is a clear indication of where the Holden Colorado is heading, said Holden New Zealand's managing director, Kristian Aquilina. She also implied and affirmed that redesigned Colorado is molded with sophistication, new highly developed connectivity features, safety elements, and distinctive styling in mind. Also, in terms of technological advancements, the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado boasts of an Apple CarPlay, Siri Eyes Free, parking assist, and other safety warning measures. Moreover, according to Marcos Purty, Managing Director of GM and Chevrolet Sales Thailand as cited by GM Authority, "The all-new Colorado is not just another pickup truck. Like all Chevrolet trucks before it, it has been developed to respond to specific market requirements. It is as tough and powerful as a truck should be, yet has enough comfort and refinements for the urban environment." As the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado hits the road with its specs unveiled, buyers can expect more greatness and prowess that it has once showcased in the past and it remains uncertain on how varying markets would accept the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado and if its really worth buying for. Delta Air Lines decreed there is a viable competitor to the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing in the single-aisle airliner market with a major deal with Canadas Bombardier. The airline ordered 75 of Bombardiers 110-seat CS100 airliners and took options on 50 more with a further option to upgrade those orders to 737-esque CS300s with 160 seats. In a news conference announcing the deal at Bombardiers facility in Mirabel, Quebec, incoming Delta CEO Ed Bastian called the Canadian company a third competitor for the small end of the mainstream airliner market. And were thrilled to have that choice in the marketplace, he said. By Boeing and Airbus standards, the order is significant but doesnt threaten their dominance, considering their decade-long backlog for single-aisle aircraft. However, Delta will have its new CS100s in 2018 and capitalize on the 20 percent fuel burn reductions per seat mile they offer before its competitors can get their hands on new A320 Neo and 737 MAX airplanes that will offer similar savings. The new Bombardiers are also quieter than existing designs. The order was a huge boost to the Bombardier program, which has struggled with delays and budget overruns. Its home province of Quebec has taken a $1 billion stake in the program to help see it through production and the company has also asked Canadas federal government for a similar investment. After meeting DPDK at our Amsterdam Conference they agreed to show us what lifes like in a Dutch Creative agency. They reveal what fuels their creativity and how they stay ahead in the digital world. DPDK Office 9.00 AM Good morning to this fresh new week full of opportunities. Late for our morning coffee? In that case youd better have your rap performance ready! Morning Vibes 09.45 AM Never a dull moment! Going from coffee straight into a stand-up to take our projects to the next level. In between, some creative experimental time in our self-proclaimed drone zone. Sharing Ideas 11.30 AM Pim, Paul and Michael jumped on a plane to visit a client in another cool European city. Meanwhile in Amsterdam, motion designer Joris presented one of our cases to an international group of young talent. We are also very fond of having our bikes ready whenever we need them for a client visit. Kicking off the afternoon 01.00 PM Work hard, play hard. Lunch means fish at our favorite food truck followed by sharing inspiration and knowledge during our weekly 'Chemistry'. Second Home 04.30 PM Since our office feels like a second home, were always trying to make the vibe even better by making adjustments to the place. Late Night Sessions 07.15 PM First Monday of the month means Hackaton, to make sure we adapt just as quickly as the digital space changes. Fast Forward Time flies when youre having fun. Wed like to take you with us to Berlin for the rest of the week, where we celebrated DPDKs 15th anniversary with the entire agency. Berlin, we love you We visited some cultural must sees, enjoyed the lovely terraces and - of course - we danced the nights away. During our flight back to Rotterdam the pilot did a little detour to show us the view of our office from the sky ;-) 29 April 2016 17:27 (UTC+04:00) By Nazrin Gadimova The latest developments on the frontline and shelling of Azerbaijani civilians have once again shown inadmissibility of preserving existing status-quo and proved the necessity to resolve the long-lasting ArmeniaAzerbaijan conflict. Baku has repeatedly called on Yerevan to abstain from violence and to sit at negotiating table to resolve Karabakh conflict, but the Armenian criminal regime ignored Azerbaijans appeals and what is more resumed military actions targeting Azerbaijani civilians. On the background of the recent tensions, the international community urged the parties to observe ceasefire, failing to propose any new methods of the settlement. Moreover, even the OSCE Minsk Group, which was created to resolve the crisis, failed to keep Armenia from demonstrating aggression towards neighboring Azerbaijan. Recently, the OSCE has suggested creating a new international platform to prevent military incidents. Lamberto Zannier, the OSCE Secretary General, made the remark as part of the Moscow Conference on the International Security on April 28, RIA Novosti reports. We can use the organization for the countries to interact on a unilateral basis, on a regional basis; but most importantly is to prevent this escalation, he stressed, adding that this platform may include specific procedures for the investigation of incidents and this would make the process more institutional. Expert Ilgar Velizade believes that the proposal of creating the new platform and possibility of its testing in the area of the conflict seems to be far from reality and incompatible with more important and urgent problems that the OSCE is engaged in. In accordance with its functions, the OSCE must ensure the interests of the member countries and in particular to ensure the measures to build relationships of trust and security, Velizade said. How is it possible to speak about the effectiveness of additional features if the organization cannot cope with these functions effectively? The OSCE MG was the first to express its concern after the situation on the front-line has aggravated in early April this year. The MG called the parties to the conflict to observe truce, but they did not propose any effective method to deter Armenia, which has once again breached ceasefire agreement reached through the mediation of Russia on April 5. Despite monitoring, held by the OSCE MG representatives on the front-line area, few days later Armenia has once again breached ceasefire. Up to date, Armenian Armed Forces continue shelling Azerbaijani positions and villages adjacent to the contact line of troops regardless of commitments and international conventions. The group's activities were subjected to criticism many times Azerbaijans government has repeatedly stated about dissatisfaction with the work for pushing the conflict from the dead point. Despite the fact that three permanent members of the UN Security Council lead the OSCE Minsk Group, there is no breakthrough in this long lasting confrontation, some experts believe. Ali Hasanov, Azerbaijani Presidents Assistant for Public and Political Affairs, has recently stated that the OSCE Minsk Group, including its member states, did not express any attitude regarding the heavy shelling of Azerbaijani settlements by Armenian armed forces and the civilians killed as a result of it. The silence of these structures in the current situation gives grounds to say that the international organizations, especially the OSCE Minsk Group, have directed all their efforts at safeguarding the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh and war criminals who lead [this regime], and preserving the status quo in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the top official said. Azerbaijan is not going to tolerate other provocations by Armenian leadership and the armed forces of this country, including destruction of settlements and murder of civilians, Hasanov added. If the international community will continue to remain silent, Azerbaijan will have to take decisive action to protect the civilian population and to put an end to provocations, the official concluded. -- Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 12:03 (UTC+04:00) By Nazrin Gadimova The situation on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops has remained tense as the Armenian Armed Forces shattered ceasefire a total of 116 times throughout the day. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported that the enemy shelled Azerbaijani positions using 60, 82 and 120-millimeter mortars, grenades and large caliber guns. The Armenian military units fired at the Azerbaijani positions located in the villages of Gizilhajili and Gushchu Ayrim (Gazakh region), villages of Alibeyli and Kokhanebi (Tovuz region), as well as the nameless heights of Gadabay region. Given the operational situation, Azerbaijani Armed Forces inflicted 122 strikes upon Armenian positions. Armenia breached a Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement on April 24. Over the next five days, Armenian military forces breached truce and shelled both Azerbaijani positions and villages neighboring the frontline by using heavy artillery and prohibited weapons. One resident of Azerbaijans Agdam region, which is adjacent to the front-line area, was killed, while eight injured on April 28. Ragub Mammadov, the head of executive authority of the region, has today informed that one of those eight wounded a resident of the Chamanli village, Ali Huseynov, died in the hospital as a result of his injuries. Health state of the second wounded, Elnur Mammadov, is also critical. Mammadov added that health state of the rest wounded is serious, but stable, as doctors say that there is no threat to their lives. The Armenian militaries also destroyed dozens of houses, a secondary school and other social facilities, while private farms and property of the population were seriously damaged in the mentioned settlements, as well as in the villages of Gapanli, Hasangaya, Gaziyan and Gaynag of Azerbaijan's Terter region. The prosecutors offices in the Agdam and Terter regions have initiated criminal cases upon the abovementioned facts. Considering the situation, Azerbaijans State Commission on Prisoners of War has informed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) of these acts that are contrary to the norms of international law and rules of war, and called on the Armenian side to avoid doing these actions. Moreover, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has sent letters to the UN and OSCE urging the heads of international organizations to strongly condemn Armenia for violating the ceasefire agreement and to demand Armenias complying with the undertaken commitments and withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry, in turn, said that in case Armenia continues shelling Azerbaijani settlements, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces will inflict retaliatory strikes on Armenias military facilities located in residential areas. Armenia captured 20 percent of Azerbaijans internationally recognized territories as a result of 1992-94 war. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations and signing of another agreement on truce in 1995. However, Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. -- Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 14:51 (UTC+04:00) The situation on the frontline of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops is currently stable. Vagif Dargahli, spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry stated about this while talking to reporters on April 29, Trend's special correspondent said. Dargahli, who is currently in the country's Aghdam region, added that Azerbaijani armed forces are controlling the operational situation on the frontline. The Armenian Armed Forces shattered ceasefire a total of 116 times throughout the day. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported that the enemy shelled Azerbaijani positions using 60, 82 and 120-millimeter mortars, grenades and large caliber guns. The Armenian military units fired at the Azerbaijani positions located in the villages of Gizilhajili and Gushchu Ayrim (Gazakh region), villages of Alibeyli and Kokhanebi (Tovuz region), as well as the nameless heights of Gadabay region. Given the operational situation, Azerbaijani Armed Forces inflicted 122 strikes upon Armenian positions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 16:39 (UTC+04:00) A group of local and foreign journalists have visited Azerbaijani residential settlements shelled by the Armenian troops along the frontline. The journalists, accompanied by Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Hikmat Hajiyev first visited Barda Diagnostics Center in Barda region and met with the civilians, who were wounded by the Armenians in the recent fighting. The journalists also reviewed the houses, which were damaged as a result of shelling by the Armenian armed forces. Later, the journalists have arrived in Sarijali village, Aghdam. They viewed Sarijali local school which was damaged as a result of the Armenian shelling, Azertac reports. School principal Aybeniz Maharramova said the school was damaged after the Armenian armed units shelled it on April 2. She said none of the teachers and pupils was wounded as shells fell on the school in the afternoon on Saturday. The school is now being repaired. The journalists then viewed a destroyed house in Mahrizli village. We did not expect the Armenian army to shell civilians from heavy weapons, resident of Chamanli village in Aghdam Ahmad Ahmadov has told the journalists who visited the district. Ahmadov said his close relatives, Chamanli residents Ali Huseynov and Famil Mustafayev were killed as Armenian units shelled the residential areas. Armenians started to shell our village with heavy artillery at midnight. Both Ali Huseynov and Famil Mustafayev received severe wounds and died as a result of the shelling. None of them left the village. Our patience is running out. How long can we live like this?! How can one call it a ceasefire? We are waiting for an order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to free our lands from occupation. The journalists then met with the wounded people at Aghdam District Central Hospital. They were informed that three residents were receiving treatment here. Other wounded residents are under ambulatory care. Wounded resident Shebnem Garashova said the village was shelled suddenly. We did not had an opportunity to go to a safe place as the shelling started suddenly. We tried to flee by car but they hit it. The explosion of the shell threw me into a channel, and I was wounded in my leg. Another Chamanli resident Arif Mammadov, who was also wounded in his leg, said: We were subjected to shelling before, but it has never been this intense and heavy. Local resident Shahmal Qahramanov said that around 100 shells fell in the village on the night of April 27-28. Twenty-nine houses were damaged, while three houses were completely destroyed in the village. Some 57 houses were damaged from April 1-5. He said local residents were unable to run their farms because of the constant shelling. The situation on the contact line of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops has again aggravated on April 24 despite the ceasefire agreement that was reached with the mediation of Russia on April 5. The long-lasting Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict remains unresolved due to the continuation of Armenias occupant policy. Yerevan has not yet implemented the UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, proceeding talks based on the renewed Madrid principles. However, the statements promising a sincere contribution to the peaceful resolution of the conflict have become frequent, but declarative in essence. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 18:26 (UTC+04:00) By Nazrin Gadimova Armenia has violated the international law and committed crime against the Azerbaijani civilians. Foreign Ministry's spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev made the statement while answering questions of journalists in the Aghdam region. Therefore, Armenia and its leaders are directly responsible for these actions, he added. A group of local and foreign journalists have visited Azerbaijani residential settlements shelled by the Armenian troops along the frontline on April 29. Residential areas in Aghdam have been considerably damaged as a result of Armenian armed forces` shelling on the night of April 27-28. One civilian was killed, while eight others were injured in the shelling. Twelve houses and a shop were fully destroyed, while a house was burnt, 59 other houses were damaged. Some twelve heads of cattle and a horse have been annihilated, one car was destroyed. Ahmad Ahmadov, the relative of the killed Agdam resident, believes that Armenian armed units target civilians because they do not have enough strength to cope with the army of Azerbaijan. If the talks on Karabakh are accompanied by such provocations, then we are against such negotiations. If there are peace negotiations, then such incidents should not occur. All of us are ready to take part in the fight against aggressor. We will never leave our native lands, Ahmadov said. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry announced that in case Armenia continues shelling Azerbaijani settlements, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces will inflict retaliatory strikes on Armenias military facilities located in residential areas. Under the instructions of the management of the Ministry of Defense, Azerbaijans army takes resolute retaliatory measures to silence the enemys fire, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense Vagif Dergahli told the journalists visiting the frontline. Armenian units have shelled our residential areas close to the frontline from the occupied territories during last three days, he said. "The shelling was carried out from mortars, howitzers, BM-21 (Grad) and BM-21 (Grad) multiple rocket launchers." It is not the first time, when Armenia targets peaceful population of Azerbaijan. Over the whole existence of the conflict, Yerevan has resorted to the provocations towards civilians. Shortly before the so-called four-day-war Armenian Armed Forces have injured 17-years-old Joshgun Mammadov, a resident of Azerbaijans Agdam region. Moreover, the Armenian military forces have wounded three residents of Azerbaijans Terter region. The hostilities in the contact line of troops renewed on April 24 as a result of the Armenian provocation. Despite the Russia-brokered agreement achieved on April 5, Armenia violated ceasefire with Azerbaijan by shelling its positions and civilians using prohibited weapons. Azerbaijan has repeatedly called on Armenia to abstain from violence, but Yerevan keeps ignoring all the appeals. Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the occupied territories. -- Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 10:23 (UTC+04:00) Armenian armed units, stationed in Azerbaijan's occupied lands, continued the aggression and once again shelled the territories populated by civilians and the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces along the frontline, thereby grossly violating the international humanitarian law, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office stated on April 28. Armenian armed forces shelled the Aghdam and Terter districts from Azerbaijan's occupied territories on April 27-28 using artillery and large-caliber weapons, and staged a provocation to deliberately kill civilians and destroy the property owned by citizens. As a result, Famil Mustafayev, a resident of Chamanli village of the Aghdam district was killed, while 6 residents of the Chamanli, Garadaghli and Afetli villages were wounded. The health condition of one of the wounded is critical. Dozens of houses, a secondary school and other social facilities were destroyed, while private farms and property of the population were seriously damaged in the mentioned settlements, as well as in the villages of Gapanli, Hasangaya, Gaziyan and Gaynag of Azerbaijan's Terter district. The prosecutor's offices in the Aghdam and Terter districts have initiated criminal cases upon the abovementioned facts. An investigation is underway. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 00:10 (UTC+04:00) By Trend A global conference convened by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) concluded today, with delegations, who gathered in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, making a renewed commitment to creating inclusive societies. Among the major outcomes from the Global Forum Baku 2016 was the adoption by consensus of the Baku Declaration, a political document that will guide future efforts towards achieving the goals of UNAOC - a body mandated to promote harmony among nations. The Forum, which kicked off yesterday, brought together more than 4,300 participants, including Heads of State and Government, political officials, civil society representatives, religious and youth leaders, who exchanged their perspectives under the main theme on 'Living Together in Inclusive Societies: A Challenge and A Goal.' The Baku Declaration calls for the implementation of the commitments made there so that Governments, with the support of the civil society, can overcome challenges and move forward towards the goals of living together in inclusive societies for sustainable development. "Through the Baku Declaration, the Group of Friends reaffirmed its support to UNAOC and expressed its conviction that UNAOC plays an important role as a global platform for sharing good practices for living together in inclusive societies," UNAOC High Representative Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser said at the closing session. The outcome document condemns any advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, whether it involves the use of print, audiovisual or electronic media or any other means. It also stresses the importance of implementing UNAOC's goals at the national level and supports the High Representative in his efforts, including the advancement of UNAOC programming as an instrument to address conditions conducive to the spread of violent extremism. Advisory Council to provide recommendations to UNAOC After presenting brief summaries of plenary sessions and other events, Mr. Al-Nasser announced several new initiatives, including the launch of the advisory council composed of leaders from politics, religion, civil society and academia, which will provide guidance and recommendations to him and the Alliance. In an interview with the UN Radio, Mr. Al-Nasser said that the dimensions and causes of violent extremism and measures to prevent such a scourge in the future were examined in plenary and breakout sessions, stressing that this Forum was of "great importance" to the Alliance, particularly because UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had mandated UNAOC to contribute to the implementation of his plan of action to prevent violent extremism. He also noted the 'breakout sessions' held during the Forum addressing the issue of women in peacebuilding in conflict zones and creative storytelling about migrants, and paid tribute to the youth participants who gathered in Baku to create their narratives of tomorrow. "I would like to note that our theme this year, 'Living together in inclusive societies: a challenge and a goal' converges with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," he said, adding that inclusivity is addressed directly in Sustainable Development Goal 16. Also speaking in the closing session was Abulfas Garayev, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the UNAOC 7th Global Forum, who said that the more than 4,300 people representing 147 countries registered for the conference, during which 40 discussions and panels were conducted. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 10:37 (UTC+04:00) The Anglo-Azerbaijani Society has organized a lecture on Dunsterforce allied military force at the British Parliament. The event was attended by Professor Nargiz Pashayeva, co-chair of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society on behalf of Azerbaijan, Lord German, member of House of Lords, co-chairman of the society on behalf of the UK, members of the Executive Committee of the Anglo-Azerbaijani Society, Azerbaijani and British public figures. Lord German said that as Anglo-Azerbaijani Society we are most concerned to hear of the loss of life, distress and injury caused by recent actions in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. We very much hope that there will be a speedy peaceful resolution of this conflict in order that your people can live a life free of fear, he said. Lord German further highlighted the military operations of Dunsterforce allied military force, saying these operations had a special place in the Azerbaijani and British history. The lecture was given by lawyer and historian Alum Bati, who told of the role of Dunsterforce British division in the South Caucasus. T his unit was created in 1917 and got its name thanks to Major General Lionel Charles Dunsterville. Dunsterville was a British general, who led the so-called Dunsterforce across present-day Iraq and Iran towards Caucasus and oil-rich Baku. Professor Nargiz Pashayeva and Lord German expressed gratitude to the historian for the lecture. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 10:29 (UTC+04:00) A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on April 29. The new edition includes articles about that Armenia violates Geneva Convention, kills civilians on frontline, WB increases forecasts on oil demand and prices, Spanish companies can take opportunity of doing business in Azerbaijan, Eros Ramazzotti mesmerizes Bakuians with amazing musical and visual show, 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. 29 April 2016 12:20 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Azerbaijani citizens will get access to Croatia, a colorful Mediterranean country of Southeastern Europe, easier, since the country has simplified the rules of entry into the country for Azerbaijanis. Under the new rules, Azerbaijani citizens holding a double or a multiple entry Schengen visa, will now be able to enter Croatia without visiting the country that issued the Schengen visa. Thus, the citizens of Azerbaijan, receiving the Schengen visa, for example, in the embassies of Lithuania, Latvia or France, may visit Croatia without having to enter the country that issued the visa, as it was before. Croatia is one of the countries that attract Azerbaijani tourists with magnificent nature and captivating culture. Before entering the European Union, Croatia used to abolish the visa regime with a number of countries including Azerbaijan for a tourism season. Azerbaijanis could enjoy the country without a visa for up to 90 days then. After the country entered the EU in July 2013, a visit to Croatia for Azerbaijanis became not so convenient. Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Croatia in recent years has intensified. The relations between the two countries develop dynamically in various areas, especially in the political sphere. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 12:52 (UTC+04:00) Romanian State Secretary for Global Affairs Daniela Gitman attended the 7th Alliance of Civilizations Forum, held in Baku between 26 and 27 April 2016. The visit agenda also included political consultations with her Azerbaijani counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov on issues of bilateral and multilateral interest. The two officials hailed the very good level of Romanian-Azerbaijani political relations provided for in the Strategic Partnership and strengthened by its associated Action Plan. The meeting occasioned an exchange of views on how to enhance cooperation between Romania and Azerbaijan within the UN on topical issues on the international agenda and related to mutual support for the candidacies of the two countries to the UN system. The interlocutors also tackled important files such as the conflict in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, in the light of armed tensions along the line of contact beginning with early April, the developments in the Middle East and in North Africa, migration, regional energy and transport projects. Gitman reiterated Romania's support for the development of Azerbaijan-NATO partnership relations, also reflected by the fact that during 2015-2016 the embassy of Romania to Azerbaijan holds the fourth consecutive term as NATO Contact Point Embassy (CPE). Azerbaijan and Romania have a long history of relations dating back to the 15th century. While the two sides enjoy good cooperation in multiple areas, the main focus has been on trade and energy links. Romania also has been a strong advocate of Azerbaijan's future membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), pointing out the strategic importance of the country for trade and shipping, particularly with a view towards Afghanistan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 15:37 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Aghsu for a visit on April 29, Azertac reports. The head of state laid flowers at a monument to national leader Heydar Aliyev in the city center. Head of Aghsu Region Executive Authority Anvar Seyidaliyev informed the head of state of extensive landscaping work carried out in the Heydar Aliyev Park. Later, President Aliyev attended the opening of a new building of Aghsu District Central Hospital. President Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the building. Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev informed the head of state that the construction of the 160-bed hospital started in 2012 and was completed late in 2015. The hospital occupies a total area of three hectares. The hospital consists of the main building, a 15-bed tuberculosis prophylaxis center and an infectious diseases block. There are surgery, pediatrics, anesthesiology and intensive care departments in the hospital, which is supplied with modern medical equipment. President Aliyev met with local residents. Then a picture was taken. President Aliyev attended the inauguration of the newly-reconstructed Mughanli-Yevlakh part of the Baku-Shamakhi-Yevlakh highway. The head of state was informed that the total length of the two-lane road section was 115.15 kilometers. The overall width of the road is 12.5 meters, while the lane width is 7.5 meters. Six bridges were reconstructed, a number of facilities and electrical poles were installed along the road. Thirty-nine bus stops were built here. The reconstruction of the highway started in March 2010 under the relevant order of President Aliyev. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the road. Then a picture was taken. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 15:21 (UTC+04:00) By Nazrin Gadimova Azerbaijan has never renounced the negotiation process for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister made the remark during the briefing following the talks with his Maltese counterpart George William Vella in Baku. Commenting on the remarks made by Armenias President Serzh Sargsyan about the conditions for resuming the negotiations, the foreign minister said that it is impossible to achieve peace by putting forward conditions. "If anyone in Yerevan believes that it will be possible to continue the negotiation process and maintain the status-quo by putting forward conditions, he is mistaken," he added. Mammadyarov believes that with its actions, Armenia puts under threat the ceasefire agreement reached in 1994 and 1995. Armenians should understand that it is impossible to resolve the conflict by military means. But it does not mean that the talks can continue eternally, the FM said. Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war. Peace talks over the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that emerged over Armenias territorial claims against Azerbaijan are underway on the basis of a peace outline proposed by the Minsk Group co-chairs and dubbed the Madrid Principles. However, as Armenia continues to follow non-constructive position, the negotiations have been largely fruitless so far despite the efforts of the co-chair countries over 20 years. Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal. Azerbaijans Foreign Minister further stressed that Baku firmly adheres to its position. "The UN Security Councils resolutions should be fulfilled unconditionally. First of all, Armenian armed forces should be withdrawn from the occupied territories," he said. "Only after this, the negotiations can start on other remaining issues, such as the return of the IDPs [to their homes], restoration of communications and so on," he said. Mammadyarov also said that the meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group is expected. We plan to meet with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in one of European cities, likely in Brussels, next month, Mammadyarov said, adding that the exact date and time will be determined later. Last time Azerbaijans Mammadyarov met the OSCE MG in late 2015, as part of 70th Session of the UN General Assembly. The sides discussed the negotiations process to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. - Nazrin Gadimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @NazrinGadimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 14:55 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev received Maltese Foreign Minister George Vella on April 29, Azertac reports. President Aliyev highly appreciated participation of President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca in the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Baku. The head of state said that during the visit of the Maltese president, the two countries discussed development of cooperation in political, economic, energy, investment making and other fields, as well as Azerbaijani-EU relations. President Aliyev said Malta was actively involved in Azerbaijan-European Union cooperation. The head of state recalled the last year visit of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to the country, and described the trip of the Maltese FM to Baku as a sign of dynamic continuation of cooperation. The head of state said Azerbaijan and Malta enjoyed active partner relations, and stressed the importance of boosting these ties. President Aliyev expressed hope that the Maltese FM`s visit would contribute to the strengthening of the current cooperation format. George Vella conveyed the greetings of President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to the head of state. He said the Maltese president expressed satisfaction with her Baku trip and meetings. Vella said Malta was interested in further expanding ties with Azerbaijan, adding there was good potential for strengthening bilateral relations not only in energy sector but also in several other fields to the benefit of both sides. He stressed the importance of exploring the opportunities in this regard. President Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the greetings of President and Prime and asked George Vella to extend his greetings to the President and Prime Minister of Malta. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 14:53 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan is an example of tolerance for the whole world, Jean-Francois Mancel, member of the National Assembly of France, president of Azerbaijan's association of friends in the country told Trend. "Unfortunately, nowadays there are transnational, inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts in various regions of the world," Jean-Francois Mancel said. Speaking about the conflicts in the today's world, Mancel mentioned the VII Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations as one of the forums of global importance dedicated to tolerance and peaceful settlement of such conflicts. The VII Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations was held in Baku April 25-27. "Holding the VII Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations in Baku is of crucial importance," Mancel said. "Carrying out an event of such a scale in current conditions namely in Azerbaijan is a bright example of the fact that the international community considers Baku the center of tolerance. I don't know any other country where people of different nationalities and religions would peacefully coexist for centuries." He went on to add that Baku's election as the venue for holding the regular Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations itself shows the recognition of the Azerbaijan's prestige in the world. "The realities of Azerbaijan must be brought to the attention of the international community, and that's namely the purpose of the association headed by me," Mancel said. "All our efforts are aimed at promoting Azerbaijan in France, and we still have a lot to do in this direction," he said. "Azerbaijan and France have a lot in common: both countries cherish their independence. Azerbaijan is an original country known worldwide for its tolerance and peacefulness. These qualities are of particular importance in today's world." Mancel said that the association carries out wide activities to acquaint the French public with the realities of Azerbaijan, regularly holds colloquia, international conferences with the participation of politicians and public figures from both countries, familiarizes French society with the social and political life of the country, the priorities of its foreign policy. Of course, the main topic of these meetings is the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which Azerbaijan has faced, its consequences, said the head of the association. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France has set a task for itself to influence the policy of France in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in order for a faithful and fair way for its settlement to be found in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, Mancel said. The association will continue making efforts to attract the French public's attention to this problem, Jean-Francois Mancel said. "I would like to express my special gratitude to the first lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva for the support of our mission to raise awareness about Azerbaijan among the French public," said Jean-Francois Mancel. "Azerbaijan is a country with rich traditions, and my fellow citizens show great interest in its culture and history," said the president of the association. "Azerbaijani music touches the soul of the French, no matter whether it's mugham, jazz or ethnic music, etc.," he said, adding that recently, the performance of a dance group was organized in France at the association's invitation, and the audience loved it. "The association also held events on the occasion of the Novruz holiday in three cities of France," he said. "Thus, we try to acquaint the French with rich culture and art of Azerbaijan." Jean-Francois Mancel also mentioned the project "Azerbaijani Village", which has been implemented jointly with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the past two years. "The main purpose of organizing the village is that Azerbaijan become more popular abroad, particularly in France and the country's capital," said the president of the association. "Throughout all the time of its activity, the "Azerbaijani Village" is transformed into a space that reflects the culture, history, art, music, cuisine, traditions, the past and present of Azerbaijan. Both inhabitants of Paris and tourists get complete information about Azerbaijan." Mancel said that the implementation of the project "Azerbaijani Village" has already become a tradition. In 2014, first such village was created on Saint-Sulpice Square in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, and the public met it with great interest. Last year, such village was opened in the 1st arrondissement of Paris on the famous Parisian Palais Royal Square in front of the Louvre Museum. "The aim of all these projects implemented with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is to bring our peoples closer, strengthen friendly relations and bring the truth about Azerbaijan to the French public," said Jean-Francois Mancel. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 16:28 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova Caspians energy-rich Azerbaijan and Mediterraneans tiny island country Malta have discussed the existing relations in various fields, as well as future prospects of the bilateral cooperation. The discussions were held during Maltese Foreign Minister Minister George Vella's visit to Azerbaijan on April 29. President Ilham Aliyev received the minister on April 29. During the meeting, President Aliyev said that the two countries enjoy active partner relations, and stressed the importance of boosting these ties. President Aliyev highly appreciated participation of Maltese President Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca in the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which was held in Baku on April 25-27. The head of state said that during the visit of the Maltese president, the two countries discussed development of cooperation in political, economic, energy, investment making and other fields. President Aliyev said Malta is actively involved in Azerbaijan-European Union cooperation. The head of state recalled the last year visit of Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to the country, and described the trip of the Maltese Foreign Minister to Baku as a sign of dynamic continuation of cooperation. Vella, in turn, said Malta is interested in further expanding ties with Azerbaijan, adding that there is good potential for strengthening bilateral relations not only in energy sector but also in several other fields to the benefit of both sides. Vella also stressed the importance of exploring the opportunities in this regard. Malta supports Azerbaijan As part of the visit to Baku, Vella also met his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov and the two top diplomats discussed the future cooperation matters, including the prospects for cooperation in energy sphere. Later, speaking at the press conference, Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan and Malta signed documents on cooperation in customs sphere, youth policy and an agreement on consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries. Vella, in turn, announced that a new stage of relations will start in the Azerbaijani-Maltese relations. "There are many promising areas for cooperation that could be mutually beneficial for both countries," he said, adding that Malta is an appropriate country for cooperation in the economic field. He also invited Azerbaijan's entrepreneurs to set cooperation with Malta. Vella went on to add that Malta supports the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "We are concerned over the escalation of the situation on the line of contact and support the continuation of the peace talks," he said, adding that the military operations should be stopped. Malta supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group in the conflict's settlement, Vella added. 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 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Malta was established in January 1995. Trade turnover between Malta and Azerbaijan amounted to $142 million in 2015, and almost the entire amount accounted for the exports to Malta, according to Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee. Azerbaijan's trade turnover with Malta totaled almost $13.3 million in the first quarter of 2016, which is almost twice more than in January-March 2015. -- Follow Aynur Karimova on Twitter @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 11:05 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova Azerbaijan's insurance companies can take upon the reinsurance of risks of Iranian insurance companies, expert in the field of insurance Khayal Mammadkhanli believes. The President of Training and Consulting Center Consultant told Trend that Azerbaijan's insurance companies are not so big to take a rightful place in the Iranian market and to collect a large portfolio in a short time. "Azerbaijani companies can also insure the cargo transportation and the growing goods' turnover between the two countries," he said, adding that several Azerbaijani insurance companies have already showed interest in the cooperation with Iranian companies. "I know that the representatives of several insurance companies of Azerbaijan have visited Iran and suggested the Iranian insurance companies their reinsurance services, both in the face of the insurance companies and brokers," the expert noted. Mammadkhanli believes that another opportunity for the development of relations between the Azerbaijani and Iranian insurance companies is the fact that the Iranian companies lack international connections due to the long lasting international sanctions. "Currently, a large part of the Iranian market accounts for four large insurance companies. Despite the fact that Iran's domestic insurance market is very developed, Iran's companies have no relations with the world's major insurance and reinsurance companies because of the different sanctions and embargo. This is a very good opportunity for expansion of relations between the insurance companies of the two countries," he stressed. There are 27 insurance and 2 reinsurance companies in Iran. Some 25 insurance and one reinsurance company operate in the insurance market of Azerbaijan. Previously, a joint Azerbaijani-Iranian Insurance Company Azer-Asia operated in Iran, but it was closed in 2008 due to the refusal of the Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan to extend its license. The company operated on the Azerbaijani insurance market since 1997. Today, 164 foreign insurance and reinsurance companies and 80 insurance brokers are working with Azerbaijani insurance companies, through which the country's companies carry out insurance, reinsurance and brokerage operations. Commenting on the possibility of entering of Iranian insurance companies to the Azerbaijani market, Mammadkhanli said that this is not a pressing issue. He said despite the reality of such a possibility and interest of the Iranian companies in the Azerbaijani market, it will not bring a significant growth to the market. Noting the steps of the Azerbaijani government taken for improving the investment climate in the country and encouraging the establishment of joint ventures, Mammadkhanli said that establishment of joint Azerbaijani-Iranian insurance companies could help Azerbaijan's insurance market only in financial terms. "Direct access of the Iranian insurance companies to the Azerbaijani market will not bring any new technologies or significant growth," the expert noted. Mammadkhanli believes that Iranian insurance companies' entering the Azerbaijani market will be useful in terms of making Iranian investments in this sector. "The emergence of Iranian insurance companies on Azerbaijani insurance market will be helpful in terms of making Iranian investments in the sector, as well create opportunities for the activities of Azerbaijani insurance companies in Iran," he said earlier. He also noted that there are several insurance companies in Azerbaijan that are in a difficult situation. It would be great if the Iranian insurance companies that want to start operating in Azerbaijan acquired these companies and invested in them. -- Follow Aynur Karimova on Twitter @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 16:22 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova Azerbaijan has invited U.S. companies to invest in the Free Trade Zone to be established in the country and open permanent representative offices in the FTZ. Such a proposal was made by Taleh Ziyadov, Director General of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, during a forum titled "The Trans-Caspian East-West trade and transit corridor" held in Washington on April 28-29. The forum was organized by the embassies of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey in the U.S. and the Silk Road studies of the Central Asia-Caucasus University of the U.S. Addressing the event, Ziyadov informed the event participants about the FTZ, which will be established under a decree of President Ilham Aliyev. He said that transport and logistics infrastructure, petrochemical and pharmaceutical clusters will be established in the area of the FTZ. A wide range of products will be produced there. Also, packaging, labeling operations will be carried out in the area of the FTZ. President Aliyev signed a decree on March 17 on measures to establish a special economic area in the Alat settlement, which will also include the territory of the new Baku International Sea Trade Port. This document on establishment of the FTZ type special economic area in the Alat settlement of Bakus Garadagh district represents a milestone of Azerbaijan's policy to strengthen the country's position as a regional logistics and transportation hub. Once established, the FTZ will bring huge revenues to Azerbaijan's state budget. The profitability of FTZ has many examples in the world; FTZ in Hong Kong or in Dubai turned both cities into a center of attraction for investors from all around the world, and paved the way for inflow of huge funds to the countries. The establishment of FTZ will also bring a large amount of foreign investment into Azerbaijan, as well as open the country's doors to new investors. This free trade zone is expected to attract up to $1 billion just in the first few years. This will become possible thanks to the special tax and customs policy, which will be pursued in the territory of the FTZ. The privileges can cover the income tax, VAT, tax of profit and property tax. Azerbaijan is also building a new state-of-the-art port complex. Located at the strategic crossroads of Europe and Asia and near sizeable markets like China, Turkey, Iran and Russia, the new Port of Baku is poised to become the leading trade and logistics hub of Eurasia. Earlier, Baku International Sea Trade Port and Singapores SMRT International and Ectivise Solutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding on technical cooperation, aimed at enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Baku Port. The two Singapore-based companies will provide support to Azerbaijan in its efforts to introduce new technologies and innovative solutions in the port and free trade zone operations. Thus, Singapore will advise Baku in adoption of such technologies as Group Rapid Transit (GRT) System, Integrated Operation Control Centre (OCC), Auto Warehousing Storage and Retrieval System and other security systems. Thanks to this cooperation the Baku International Sea Trade Port will be the first in the region to introduce driverless transportation smart cars. -- Follow Aynur Karimova on Twitter @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 15:42 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP) continues to attract new players, and Azerbaijan's MST Engineering LLC has entered the list of the parks residents. The company to produce hydraulic trunks and fittings has become the 7th resident of the Park. Deputy CEO of SCIP Zaur Mammadov said that the products, which the company will manufacture, are widely used in oil and gas, engineering, food and other industries. He made the remarks during the presentation of the park's new resident MST Engineering. He noted that about 40 new jobs will be opened in this regard, adding that the products produced by MST Engineering will be exported to neighboring countries in the future. Currently, Azerbaijan imports the above-mentioned products and in the future the country will be able to provide both the domestic market, and to export them to neighboring countries, said Mammadov. At the initial stage, raw material for the production of trunks and fittings will be imported, but after commissioning SOCAR Polymer Plant, it will also be produced within the country. Deputy Economy Minister Niyazi Safarov, for his part, stated that the number of residents of the Park will increase soon. The work on attracting residents to the Chemical Industrial Park continues and several more companies will receive the status of resident in the near future, according to the deputy minister. The Park established in 2011 covers an area of 167.66 hectares and resides nearby Sumgayit city that is 32.5 km away from Baku. The Park is able to accommodate 35-40 companies, which provides the opening of 10,000 new jobs. The appropriate external and internal infrastructure (electricity, heating, water supply, communication and other systems) with offices, training centers, offices, laboratory, etc. were established within the Park to enable profitable activity and development of entrepreneurs and produce competitive products and render services through the application of modern technologies. To make the Park more attractive for investors its residents are exempt from paying income, land and property taxes for seven years. Moreover, equipment and technology used in the park are also exempt from value-added tax. Overall, the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park now includes the following residents: Azertexnolayn, SOCAR Polymer, Azerfloat, Azerbaijan Fibro Cement, SIKA company, and Baku Non-Ferrous Metals & Ferroalloys Company. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 17:05 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayiloav The National Museum of Azerbaijans History has opened the exhibition titled Shah Ismayil commander and king, Trend Life reports. The event aims to provide information about statehood and military activity of Shah Ismayil I - one of the notable figures in the Azerbaijani history. The exhibition features more than 130 exhibits - weapons, coins, tiles and fabrics. Data panel has been used due to open nature of the exhibits, and to show its commitment with historical events. The official opening brought together scientific figures, representatives of culture and art centers, including members of Charity Society Derbend. The ceremony started with rhythmic Azerbaijan dance tunes, performed by members of drum group Peshekarlar led by Rauf Zeynalov. Director of the museum, Academician Naila Valikhanli, addressing the event, drew attention to the statehood tragedies of the country and rich heritage of Azerbaijan Safavids. Making speech on statehood activities and governance of Shah Ismayil the Safavid, she stressed out his merits in history, literature, and policy as well. President of ANAS, Academician Akif Alizadeh, for his part, stated that the exhibition concept was organized based on book dubbed Shah Ismayil the portrait of commander and king by Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev published in 2014. Later, Ensemble of Ancient Music Tools chaired by Honored Artist Munis Sharifov performed Huseyn beste, Nakhish beste and Ancient Turk plays of XIV century composer Abdulgadir Maraghayi. The exhibition aroused a great deal of interest among Azerbaijani citizens. During the first days, the exhibition was visited by more than one thousand people. The exhibition will run until December 15, 2016. The Founder of the Safavid dynasty, Shah Ismayil I was born in Ardabil. Shah Ismail Khata i(1501-1524) realized his grandfather Uzun Hasan's wish and united all the territories of Azerbaijan under his control. He created a centralized Azerbaijan state -Safavi; the capital was Tebriz. During the reign of the Safavis state system establishment in Azerbaijan progressed. Azerbaijani had been the state language. Reforms carried out by Shah Ismail, Shah Tahmasib and Shah Abbas and other Safavi rulers, their internal and foreign policy changed the state of Safavi to one of the greatest empires of Near and the Middle East. Shah Ismayil is also considered an important figure in the literary history of Azerbaijan. He wrote in the Azerbaijani, Turkic and Persian languages. He is an author of approximately 1400 verses in these languages. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 17:30 (UTC+04:00) April provocation of Armenia in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan is yet a topic of hot political discussions on the level of experts. Armenia decided to break the armistice after 20 years of gradual silence on the contact line with Azerbaijani troops. They targeted both military positions and civilians in the nearby regions of Azerbaijan. Why now and why civilians? While discussing the real motives of such scaly violation of truce the experts drew attention to a number of evident goals that the aggressor had. They in particular mentioned Armenia's intention to continue occupation, to provoke the Azerbaijani army on the other side of the frontline, and to spread misinformation in an effort to conceal the true development of processes. However, it is worth to pay much more attention to the hidden objective of Sargsyan regime's maneuvers. Indeed, Armenia has never concealed that its targets are not only military facilities. Separatists and Armenian armed forces intensively fire at civilian objects, in particular individual houses and schools, in the frontal zone. What is attracting in the last skirmishes the directions they choose for active operations -- the severest shelling was fixed in the Terter direction. Because this is the very shortest way to Armenia's next criminal plan, which really threatens to undermine the situation not only in the region, but in Europe in whole. Azerbaijani pipelines designed to bring oil and gas to the world markets through Georgia and Turkey are the major artery for economic activity in the region. These pipelines are running not far from the contact line and they are the true target that the Armenian army attempted to achieve by staging the April provocation. Large aggression against Azerbaijan indeed blocked the way for Armenia to join the scaly economic and different regional projects, in fact leading to the formation of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey strategic alliance. The fact really disturbs Yerevan, making it take more radical steps. Armenian armed forces have intensified the shelling of the civilians in the frontline areas in an effort to raise panic. They expect to repeat the scenario realized exactly 25 years ago and displace the local population to leave their lands. That would facilitate their attacking the Azerbaijani pipelines in line with the plan they mentioned in their statements few years ago. One can suppose the results of such adventure for the entire continent and energy security of Europe. Sargsyan and his sidekicks, immersed in hatred toward Azerbaijan, do not even realize that such an attack on Azerbaijan will mean an attack on the major part of Europe, whilst the result of this energy terror will be suicidal in all respects for Sargsyan and his country. The last retaliation of the Azerbaijan army to Armenian provocations of course showed that this plan is doomed to failure. Utter defeat, loss of strategic heights and huge human losses should make the occupant cool and think deeply about the consequences of such vicious plan. That should urge one not to be on a passive position in this matter: Armenia and terrorists on the state power of this country are the major threats to peace and stability in the European scale. 29 April 2016 10:00 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli This summer thousands of foreign tourists will be flocking to a wintry Baku, since the speediest race of the Grand Prix of Formula 1 will be taking place in Baku between June 17-19. Now foreigners are intrigued of what this sunny country or as it called here the Land of Fire can offer them for having unforgettable experience alongside the exciting royal race. Baku, is a city of contrasts, which changes with cosmic speed, but still does not lose its face. Probably, nowhere else in the world modern architecture and heritage of the Middle Ages do not mix so harmoniously as here. Located on the crossroad of Europe and Asia, the city collected the best of Western and Eastern cultures. One feel so safe walking in the old city and along the wide Bulvar both day and night and with an increased focus on tourism the city will become ever-more friendly to visitors. Here are some 5 adventure destinations and activities, which travelers can visit to explore more about this ancient and mystic country. Torgovaya Nizami Street is home to various outlets, from banks to fashion stores and is one one of the worlds most expensive shopping streets. Its many boutiques are definitely worth a visit between races, whether looking to splash out or just window-shopping. Being one of the central streets of Baku, closed to public traffic, Nizami Street or Torgovaya is the most popular place for many Bakunians. Boulevard Bakus pearl and hallmark is its Boulevard. What attracts guests here is gorgeous landscaping, shady alleys, cozy cafes serving delicious ice cream, desserts and snacks of any kind, and numerous attractions for children and adults. Moreover, the Park Bulvar mall and a contemporary style International Mugham Center, as well as the new building of the Azerbaijani Carpet Museum are also located here. Boulevard also has a mini Venice, since there is a small area on the Boulevard crowded with waterways, small bridges and Venetian style arcades. Even taking a ride in gondola is an option in this romantic area of Azerbaijan. Icherishher (Old City) This unique historical ensemble, located right in the heart of Baku, is the pride of the capital, and the first place where foreign tourists keep the way. Exactly, here -- on a hill near the sea- ancient Baku was born. Here you will be amazed by vineyards, mosques with proud minarets, caravanserais with a unique atmosphere, little artists' studios and buildings, each of which has its own history. The most majestic and the most mysterious monument of Baku -- Maiden Tower, as its called here Giz Galasi, stands in the south-eastern part of the Old City. It is considered a symbol of the city. For many centuries, this unique construction not only perfectly preserved its appearance, but was subject of many legends, which make the construction even more attractive and charming. Atashgah Atashgah Fire Temple is a real Azerbaijani exotic, known almost all over the world. Located 30 km away from the capital, on the Absheron Peninsula, the place has mesmerizing power. Built in the 17-18th centuries, the temple is located on a place well known for its natural burning-gas phenomenon. Included in the UNESCOs preliminary World Heritage list, its considered as one of the most interesting monuments due to its historical value. The temple is also an ancient Hindu castle-like religious edifice in a suburb of greater Baku, which was initially recognized as a Zoroastrian fire worship place. National cuisine Azerbaijani cuisine is another reason to pay a visit to the Land of Fire. "Nush Olsun!" ("Bon Appetite!") begins every meal time in Azerbaijan with rich and delicious national cuisine, delighting both soul and flesh. The Azerbaijani cuisine it is one of the most varied and tastiest cuisines with an abundance of different types of meat, fish and vegetables, served with herbs and spices. Famous Azerbaijani pilaf, soup with small dumplings dushbara, kababs, pakhlava, stewed quince, qutabs with local yogurt are an incomplete list of things that you can taste in Baku. A variety of vegetables and fruits, as well as spices could make the Azerbaijani cuisine distinguished, making it unforgettable. There is a lot to say about Azerbaijani cuisine. The best thing is to try the taste and aroma of this rich cuisine. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 10:51 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Ismayilova Wood Group has signed a $500m contract with BP to service its offshore Azerbaijan project, Azertac reports. The five-year contract for Wood's PSN division continues the group's 40 year history of working with BP and is effective immediately, with the option of two, two-year extensions. David Buchan, WGPSN's eastern region managing director, said the new contract award reflected the strong relationship with BP. "Our focus is on leveraging our knowledge across this portfolio of assets and our expertise in engineering, procurement and construction, to ensure their efficient, effective and safe productivity," he added. "We are committed to hiring and developing local personnel, building partnerships and supporting supply chain companies in the communities where we operate. This is reflected on this contract where more than 50 per cent of the workforce will be from the region with a focus on increasing local employment opportunities further, as the contract progresses." PSN will support the following platforms: Chirag, Central Azeri - Production Drilling Quarters, Central Azeri - Compression and Water Processing, East Azeri Production Drilling Quarters, West Azeri- Production Drilling Quarters, Deep Water Gunashli - Drilling & Utility Quarters, Deep Water Gunashli - Pressure Compression and Water Utilities and Shah Deniz Stage 1. Wood Group's Kenny arm is already providing subsea engineering services to BP's eight offshore Azerbaijani platforms under a multi-million dollar contract announced in October 2015, which also includes support of BP's existing subsea infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, UK and Norwegian continental shelves. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 12:42 (UTC+04:00) By Fatma Babayeva The closing ceremony of international conference titled Caspian Basin and Central Asia: Trade, Logistics, Refining and Petrochemicals was held in Baku. The conference dedicated to the 93rd anniversary of former president of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev was realized with the support of the state owned energy company SOCAR and the joint organization of Baku Higher Oil School and British company Confidence Capital. The conference aimed to promote the success of oil strategy, to attract the attention of professionals to the developments of Azerbaijan, to establish relations between representatives of different countries and to ensure mutual exchange of information between SOCAR and international partners. The event was attended by government officials, MPs, representatives of SOCAR, as well as, the heads of various sub-structures of SOCAR, representatives of various companies of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Georgia and experts invited from different countries. On the closing day of the conference, several reports were presented. Sarvar Agayev, the Deputy Executive Director of the Azerkimya production association submitted a report on Azerkimya and its projects on modernization and restructuration, while Rauf Nagiyev, the Deputy Director of the oil refining and petrochemical complex of SOCAR presented innovative approach to the creation of oil and gas processing and petrochemical complexes. In addition, Mehman Huseynov, the director of Hazar Oil submitted overview of refining capacity of Turkmenistan and other participants. In general, 70 specialists and experts from 19 countries came to Baku in order to participate in the international conference. More than 150 participants attended the event including 23 specialists and experts from Azerbaijan. The conference lasted for three days, and 9 sessions were carried on various topics. In addition, visits to SOCARs production facilities were organized for foreign experts. The latest progress with the Shah Deniz-2 and Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli fields was discussed during the conference as well. --- Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 16:48 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova Europe is interested in supplying the U.S. natural gas, but this gas will have a lot of competitors, including Azerbaijan's Southern Gas Corridor project. This was stated by Valeriy Nesterov, the senior analyst of the Russian Sberbank CIB, who was commenting on the decision of the World Bank to allocate $1 billion to the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP). "There is no doubt that the Southern Gas Corridor project will be implemented consistently. The production capacity is sufficient - the second stage of development of the Shah Deniz field. There is a pipe expansion project. There is economic, political and strategic interest of the transit countries, first of all of Turkey," he told Moscow-Baku portal. The expert further stated that TANAP is enjoying and will continue to enjoy the support of all participating states and the EU. "We know what efforts are made - not only for economic reasons - to limit the share of Gazprom in the European market. Therefore, the World Bank's decision was expected. I think the project will be implemented in accordance with the schedule," he added. TANAP is designed to transport Azerbaijani gas to the European markets as part of the Southern Gas Corridor. The TANAP pipeline project envisages transporting Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas from the Georgian-Turkish border to the western border of Turkey. Shah Deniz gas will be supplied to Turkey in 2018, and after the completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, the Azerbaijani gas will be transported to Europe roughly at the beginning of 2020. SOCAR owns 58 percent stake in TANAP project while Botas and BP have 30 and 12 percent stakes, respectively. Nesterov believes that today, the importance of the project is increasing. "On the other side, Western Europe understands that there is a need for new sources of supply besides Russia, Algeria, Qatar and Norway. Today, the EU wishes to receive the U.S. gas. Most importantly, it is clear that not only the Azerbaijani gas becomes the rival for it. A lot of efforts are being made to ensure the supply of gas from Turkmenistan and now Iran to southern Europe," he said, adding that the number of potential sources of gas supply is increasing. In this regard, he believes, the capacity of TANAP can be boosted in the future. The Southern Gas Corridor project, aiming to bring the Caspian gas to Europe, is one of the biggest construction projects of our time. This project envisages the transportation of the gas extracted at the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea. Shah Deniz Stage 2 gas will make a 3,500 kilometer journey from the Caspian Sea into Europe. This requires upgrading the existing infrastructure and the development of a chain of new pipelines. The existing South Caucasus Pipeline will be expanded with a new parallel pipeline across Azerbaijan and Georgia, while TANAP will transport Shah Deniz gas across Turkey to join the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which will take gas through Greece and Albania into Italy. The first gas supplies through the corridor to Georgia and Turkey are given a target date of late 2018. Gas deliveries to Europe are expected just over a year after the first gas is produced offshore in Azerbaijan. Fitch Ratings predicted that the Southern Gas Corridor projects net financial needs for operations and capex will be close to $8.4 billion in 2016-2019. -- Follow Aynur Karimova on Twitter @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 17:03 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR will additionally produce more than 3,600 tons of oil per year thanks to the commissioning of a new horizontal well at the Western Absheron offshore field in the Caspian Sea. The company reported that oil is extracted from the well bore at the interval of 771-688 meters at a flow rate of 10 tons per day. SOCAR is currently implementing the program to stabilize and increase oil production. SOCAR produced 1.9 million tons of oil at Azerbaijan's onshore and offshore fields in the first quarter of 2016 versus 2.1 million tons in the same period of 2015. SOCAR produced 8.16 million tons of oil in 2015, as compared to 8.32 million tons in 2014. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 11:35 (UTC+04:00) Turkmenistan and Switzerland have discussed the cooperation in political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry reported. The discussions were held during the meeting with the Swiss ambassador to Turkmenistan Philip Stadler. Noting the positive dynamics in the development of political relations, the sides expressed commitment to the further development of cooperation. Stadler said that the Swiss companies are interested in developing the relations in the sphere of agriculture and food industry. The parties also emphasized the necessity of continuing the cooperation in the rational use of water resources. The fuel and energy sphere, transportation and communication, investment making and tourism are considered the promising areas of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Switzerland. Turkmenistan is interested in partnership with Switzerland in such spheres as mechanical engineering, chemical, processing and food industry, pharmaceutical and biochemical production. The visit of Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to Switzerland in October of 2012 gave an impetus to the bilateral relations. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 12:01 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova Iran, which plans to attract 20 million tourists to the country over the next 10 years, has drafted an investment package for developing tourism sector, which includes 1,500 projects worth $30 billion. This was announced by the head of Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Massoud Soltanifar on April 26. He told Trend that the plan envisages $25-$30 billion in revenue per year. The Iranian government is interested in cooperation with the domestic and international investors for developing the country's tourism sector, according to him In this regard, the government has taken several measures to draw the attention of tourists to the country. In particular, visa regime has been facilitated, and projects for the construction of new hotels have been launched. "Several projects for constructing hotels in historical and religious cities are underway," Soltanifar said, further calling on Azerbaijani entrepreneurs to invest in Iran. Tourism is undoubtedly one of the industries with the most promising growth prospects in Iran. Being one of the largest countries in the Middle East and one of the top 20 largest economies in the world, Iran is expected to see significant tourism growth following the lifting of sanctions that previously have restricted foreign investment since 2006. Currently, the Islamic Republic's share in the world tourism stands at 0.24 percent and such a result does not meet the countrys interest. Today, the country is in focus of American and European tourists, who are planning to beat a path to the long-isolated countrys door to explore whatever is beyond it. The World Bank reported that 4.96 million tourists arrived in Iran in 2014. The World Bank statistics indicate 1.175 billion inbound tourists across the globe in 2014 with an expenditure of $1.426 trillion. Iran's Tehran and other locations around the Caspian Sea are key tourism destinations that will be of great interest to tourists. Currently, there are about 1,100 hotels throughout Iran, but only 29 of them are listed as five-star and 75 as four-star hotels. This will require the development of additional hotel capacity, estimated at least 150 hotels to cater to the increased demand. Taking this requirement into account, the country plans to triple the number of hotels. Statistics show that Iran has earned at least $6.1 billion from tourism during the past year and Tehran intends to achieve the development of its tourism industry in a short term. The Islamic Republic needs to lure 20 million visitors a year to generate $30 billion in revenue. Apparently with its plan to draw the attention of tourists, Tehran is going to compete with regional tourism spots, such as Turkey and UAE. -- Follow Aynur Karimova on Twitter @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 11:49 (UTC+04:00) Kazakhstan has established diplomatic relations with Liberia, Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service reported on April 29. A joint communique on establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries was signed on April27 in New York by Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the UN Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Charge d'Affaires of the Republic of Liberia, Ambassador George Patten. During the signing ceremony the two sides exchanged views on prospects of cooperation and relevant issues on the UN agenda of mutual interest for Kazakhstan and Liberia. Realization of sustainable development goals, environmental protection, health, peace-building and post-conflict development were among them. The parties expressed mutual interest for creation of an intergovernmental commission for strengthening bilateral cooperation. Republic of Liberia is a country on the West African coast with a population of more than four million people. The country has large mineral (ore, gold, diamonds), agricultural, forestry, hydropower resources. Liberia's main export products are coffee, cocoa and diamonds. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 11:40 (UTC+04:00) By Fatma Babayeva Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia is a real threat to the region, as well as, for Turkey, said Berat Albayrak, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey, reported TRT Haber channel on April 28. Metsamor NPP is not a subject to reconstruction since it was constructed more than 40 years ago, Albayrak added. Metsamor is the only atomic power plant operating in the South Caucasus which was built in 1970s during the Soviet period. The plant is located 36 kilometers in the west of Yerevan close to the seismically active area. After the devastating earthquake in Spitak in 1988 it was closed. In 1995, despite the international protests the nuclear plant was reactivated. Moreover, its second reactor was launched. Environmentalists and scientists assure that seismic activity of the given area makes operation of the Metsamor NPP an extremely dangerous, even if the new type of reactor was installed. This plant has been referred to as one of the most dangerous and ill-equipped nuclear power plants in the world. The EU made several proposals to Armenia to shut down the Metsamor Plant. However, Armenia decided to continue using it until the new one is built as it is very important for Armenia to meet domestic demand for electricity. The radiation that the outdated plant emits creates problems for surroundings, environment and population. --- Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 29 April 2016 18:34 (UTC+04:00) By Fatma Babayeva Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the assistance in solving the issue on the release of the frozen Iranian assets in US banks and urged to convince Washington to stop interfering in international commercial and financial transactions of Iran, Reuters reported. Irans assets were frozen after the sanctions were imposed by the Western countries because of nuclear policy it pursued. In the letter to Ban Ki-moon, Zarif urged him to use his influence to persuade the U.S. government to adhere to its international obligations. "The U.S Executive branch illegally freezes Iranian national assets; the U.S Legislative branch legislates to pave the ground for their illicit seizures; and the U.S Judicial branch issues rulings to confiscate Iranian assets without any base in law or fact," Zarif said. Earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to the Iranian Central Bank to return $2 billion of frozen Iranian assets by stating that this amount should be given to the American families whose relatives were victims of explosions happened in Beirut in 1983 and other terrorist attacks. More than 1,000 Americans demanded compensation for the terrorist attack which they thought Iran get involved in organizing. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's top adviser Ali Akbar Velayati was quoted by Iranian state media as saying that "Iran will never abandon its right and will take any necessary action to stop such an international theft." Tehran announced that it will take every lawful measure against the court which authorizes the seizure of $2 billion of its frozen assets in the U.S. The money confiscated through the verdict belongs to the Central Bank of Iran. --- Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3.0 ( - - ): editor [at] bahrainmirror.com Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Staff at the CSM Bakery Solutions-owned Kates Cakes sites in West Sussex and Surrey were given a letter on Wednesday (27 April) informing them that the outlets are to close by the end of 2017. John Lindsay, vice president of modern trade Europe for CSM, told British Baker: We are now entering a period of consultation with the workforce about a proposal to close down the Ashington and Esher sites. Both the Sussex and Surrey sites are set to close by the end of 2017, according to the company. CSM, a bakery ingredients firm, employs around 425 people at Ashington and 170 at Esher. Lindsay added that it had been prompted by a global 150m (117m) investment, and that the UK part of that is quite significant. As well as closing the two sites in the south-east of England, CSM is to develop a new site next to its existing Daventry operation in Northamptonshire, and extend the Bradford premises in West Yorkshire. Lindsay said that the company needed to be prepared for future growth. Of the 600-strong workforce that will be affected, Lindsay said: At the moment we are offering one-to-one consultations, out-placements and training. There will be the offer of employment at alternative sites if appropriate. CSM employs 1,800 people across the UK. Last year, the company relocated its global headquarters to the US from Amsterdam. STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Lantmannen Unibake, a global bread and baked foods supplier, has sold 51% of its Japanese sales company to Nichirei Foods Inc. and all of its Korean sales company to a local management team, moves Lantmannen said will allow it to focus its investments in Europe and North America. Nichirei Foods Inc. is one of the largest distributors of frozen foods in Japan and expects to double Lantmannens Japanese sales within the next two to three years. The agreement with Nichirei Foods means that the products of Lantmannen Unibake will be marketed through the network of Nichirei Foods, supplying products to the major retailers, food service industry and the major international convenience store chains. This is the best possible setup for us in Japan, said Bent Pultz Larsen, chief executive officer of Lantmannen Unibake. We will have access to a much wider and stronger customer base than we would be able to establish ourselves, and our new partner has profound knowledge of the Japanese market. Furthermore, we will be able to take advantage of Nichirei Foods strong competencies in marketing and distribution in Japan as well as in other Asian markets. Our expectations to the cooperation are high, and we feel that Nichirei Foods is a perfect match to our business approach and fundamental values. In Korea, Lantmannen Unibake sold its Korean sales company to the local management team, which will continue the business as sole agent of Unibakes products. We decided that it was time to take the next step in the development of our activities in Asia, and with the new business setup in Japan and Korea we have strengthened our position, Mr. Pultz Larsen said. Our experience from Asia has been valuable and contributed to increasing our competence. For instance, the Japanese customers very strict requirements to food safety have brought us to the very top of the bread industry as regards food safety. We have implemented the Japanese standards in most of our bakeries and in this way moved ahead of the competitors. Owned by Swedish farmers through the Lantmannen group, Lantmannen Unibake operates bakeries in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States. The companys U.S. site is located in Lisle, Ill. The companys brand portfolio consists of: Hatting, Schulstad, Schulstad Bake Off, Schulstad Royal Danish Pastry, Pastridor, Korvbrodsbagarn, Paaskebrod and Skoga. The Settlement Company Celebrates 25th Anniversary La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico - Real Estate in Mexico, and especially in Baja California Sur, has come a long way since the turn of the millennium. One woman can be credited with being the catalyst for this change. Real estate writer, educator and 40-year veteran of real estate practice in two countries, Linda Neil is that woman. Linda's first exposure to real estate was conducting real estate bus tours in the San Francisco Bay Area and later working with her husband, Peter Neil, in development in California. From California, the Neils moved to Uruapan in Michoacan where their two daughters were born. The couple opened the first real estate company in Michoacan. After Peter's death, Linda returned with her daughters to California, where she opened a real estate brokerage. The magic of Mexico never lost its place in Linda's heart and she returned to Mexico. In 1991 Linda, established the first U.S. style title and escrow company in Mexico, the settlement company. The industry did not have a neutral third party depository for buyer and seller documents and funds. Linda reflected on the 'old days': "In those days, sales contracts were literally being written on the back of cocktail napkins. Many agents did not know the elements of a contract. Buyers feel more confident now being able to deposit funds in an escrow account." The company introduced the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) concept to the Baja Peninsula and to Mexico. Using Yardi Systems programs, listings were available online and a monthly hard copy MLS book was produced and distributed. Today, the BCS/MLS is identical to the systems used in the US. In 1994, Linda introduced the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) to Los Cabos. And in the first part of the new century she founded the La Paz chapter of AMPI. She and her husband, John Glaab, hold the title of Consejero Emeritus with the La Paz chapter. Since then, she has served three, two-year terms on AMPI's National Advisory Board, and has headed up its International Commission. She was appointed to a three-year term as the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Presidential Liaison to Mexico. Twice each year, the liaisons from the 60 associations affiliated with NAR meet to report on market activities and share information. Linda's work with NAR resulted in a historic agreement where all members of AMPI are members of NAR's International group. La Paz attorney, Jose Luis Gaytan, Regional Coordinator and past president of AMPI La Paz had this to say, "Linda Neil has been a remarkable representative of AMPI throughout Mexico and North America, the results of her efforts have guided and elevated real estate practice in our state of Baja California Sur." Linda has been a passionate pioneer in real estate education in Mexico. In the early years of her company, she conducted three seminars annually. One for new agents that included updates on any changes in the law, one for the general public, and another one for A.M.P.I. members. Linda has earned several accreditations, and is certified to teach classes for NAR and the Real Estate Negotiation Institute of Arizona. Linda is co-author of the NAR course, "Doing Business in Mexico," which she has edited and re-written as "Mexico A to Z." As well, she has had speaking engagements in all three North American countries. Jeffrey Hornberger, Executive Vice President of The Women's Council of Realtors and former Director of Global Business Alliances at NAR said, "I have worked in organized Mexico real estate since 2000. Industry players come and go, but the Settlement Company stays. Linda Neil has worked tirelessly to educate thousands of Realtors on Mexico real estate. She is a globally recognized speaker and trusted industry expert, and has volunteered tirelessly her time and expertise to organizations such as NAR and AMPI. Congratulations on 25 years, and being such an integral part of the international real estate market." During her years in BCS, Linda has been a wealth of knowledge and source of inspiration for many real estate agents. "Linda was one of the founding members of AMPI La Paz, and presented many educational courses to help raise the professionalism of local real estate agents. Happy Anniversary to the settlement company. Thank you, Linda," so says Gordon Herpst, broker of Omni Services, one of the longest lived real estate companies in La Paz. Because she worked tirelessly for AMPI and to cement relations with all three countries of North America, Linda and her husband were awarded, in 2012, the first International Realtor of the Year award by NAR. The Energizer Bunny could take a lesson from Linda. Along with three other Mexican real estate agents, she has founded the Global Mexico Real Estate Institute, which is focused on international real estate education. And in 2015, the by-invitation-only American Real Estate Association (AREA) extended their hand to Linda. This is an elite group of the top 400 most influential members of NAR. Most importantly, Linda has profoundly affected the workings of real estate in La Paz, and has inspired many young people to enter real estate. Victor Granados, broker of South Baja Realtors and present president of AMPI La Paz sums it up like this, "Happy Anniversary Linda, and mil gracias. You were one of the people that encouraged me to make a career in real estate. I consider you my mentor. I look forward to many more years working with you in our chosen field." Retirement does not seem imminent for Linda Neil. We look forward to her next projects. 6 top reasons to save your money Most people know they should be saving a portion of their income, but they might not grasp all of the benefits of doing so. Saving is an important habit to get into for a number of reasons it helps [...] Selling a home isnt hard if youve got the right guidance and approach. Here we break down the process to sell your housefrom deciding if you really should sell, to finding a real estate agent wholl be your partner through it all, to pricing your home and negotiating offers. Several businesses along Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach are facing an uncertain future after their landlord gave them two months to vacate the property. Property possibly to become parking lot for neighboring hotel One tenant, Washboard Beach Coin Laundry, has been there since the 1950s Some tenants will move, others are going out of business For the owners, the song lyrics "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot" take on a whole new meaning. Their landlord has given them two months notice that they need to vacate the property. They also say the company plans to possibly use the land to build a parking lot for its Postcard Inn Hotel next door. Caleb Jenkins owns the Washboard Beach Coin Laundry. He bought it almost 20 years ago, and said it's been at the same location since the 1950's. "This laundromat means everything to me," said Jenkins. "It's my livelihood. It's what I do for a living. And where I'm going from here, I don't know." "We weren't happy but we kind of saw it coming," said Kim Louvell, the owner of Lou's Florist, another business affected by the landlord's decision. "Still, we weren't really ready to go. i don't think any of us were." Louvell says they were hoping to keep the flower shop in St. Pete Beach, where it's been for 60 years. Instead, they're renting a new space down the road in South Pasadena. "I feel pretty lucky compared to my neighbors here," she said. Other businesses affected include a surf shop, a consignment store, a photo shop and a tattoo parlor. Some said they will be moving to new locations, others said they plan to go out of business. We did call a representative for the landlord. They could not be reached for comment. Jenkins said it will cost him thousands of dollars to move all of the laundry equipment, and he's still looking for a place to go. "Everybody is scrambling looking for places, and then all of the sudden everybody knows they're scrambling, and it's like all of the sudden things are starting to fill up," said Jenkins. A suspect has been arrested in the murder of a Maine woman who had not been seen since March 14. Timothy Johnson, 25, was taken into custody Thursday in connection with the death of Judith Therianos, 52. Timothy Johnson charged with murder of Judith Therianos Therianos had traveled to Bay area in February, vanished in March Therianos' body was found on April 7 Johnson, who jail records say is homeless, was charged with premeditated homicide and was booked into the Land O' Lakes Detention Center. Investigators say Therianos and a friend had traveled to the Bay area on Feb. 15 to visit some friends. At some point, Therianos was taken to a friend's house in Tampa, then traveled to a different friend's house in New Port Richey. Detectives say the last time she was seen alive was March 14. PREVIOUS STORIES On April 7, deputies found the body of a decomposing white woman in a wooded area near 6633 U.S. 19 N. That woman was later identified as Therianos. Sheriff Chris Nocco will release more information about the case during a press conference later today. Detectives say a St. Petersburg man was busted running a drug operation involving more than $1 million worth of marijuana. Vaughn "Nino Breeze" Matthews, 24, is facing charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Police say they found 23 pounds of marijuana, guns and cash in his apartment Investigators say they found 230 pounds in total of marijuana, worth more than $1 million One man arrested, additional arrests pending Detectives say they had been aware of Matthews for several years. They received a tip that he was storing large quantities of marijuana in his apartment on Ibis Walk Place N, which led them to obtain a search warrant. On March 23, investigators went into his apartment and found 23 pounds of high-grade hydroponic marijuana that was packaged and ready for distribution inside his kitchen cabinets, the report said. Detectives say they also found three guns and $87,000 in suspected drug money. For the next month, detectives continued to investigate Matthews, and they say ultimately they were able to identify about 230 pounds of marijuana - including the 23 pounds found his house apartment - and $168,000 case associated with his operation. Police say 230 pounds of marijuana has a street value of $1,150,000. The U.S. Postal Service assisted police with the investigation. Police say additional arrests of Matthews' associates are pending. Lamar University's College of Engineering hosted their annual senior design symposium for seniors to display their design projects on Friday. The university's chemical, electrical, mechanical, industrial and civil engineering students showcased the work they've done. Mechanical engineering students worked on projects including a fuel efficient car, a dune buggy for off-road racing and human powered vehicles, which are recumbent bicycles with aerodynamic shells. A team of electrical engineering students created an eye-tracking system that adjusts a car's side mirrors to prevent blind spots. Another group designed a police body camera that automatically turns on when the officer removes their firearm from the holster. The City of Beaumont held a free screening of Prince's "Purple Rain" Thursday night at the Jefferson Theatre. Prince passed away last week at the age of 57. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A vacancy on the Sabine River Authority board likely will be filled by someone from the same area as a Longview woman who resigned this week after an embarrassing email was made public. That's because a state law passed in 1999 to make geographical representation on the SRA board fair drew its boundary line 80 miles north of the reservoir. The measure, authored and sponsored by local legislators, passed as Southeast Texas fought for the river's water rights. Record river flooding last month has renewed scrutiny on the SRA, the guidelines under which the spillway gates are opened and the managers who oversee its operations. Board member Kimberly Fish resigned this week, days after an email she sent referring to Southeast Texas flooding as an "economic development initiative" for her northeast Texas city was uncovered through a public records request. Last week, Fish apologized for the March 15 email and said it was "not appropriate." On Tuesday, she emailed Gov. Greg Abbott's office, which appointed her in December, to say she would immediately step aside "due to circumstances beyond my control." Abbott has accepted the resignation, a spokesperson said. "Ms. Fish has rightly apologized for her inappropriate comments, and our office has accepted her resignation," an Abbott spokesman said Thursday. "Our office thanks Ms. Fish for her service on the Sabine River Authority." The SRA's spillway gates unleashed a record amount of water ahead of catastrophic Southeast Texas flooding last month. The spillway openings came after up to 20 inches of rain left the reservoir brimming. The ensuing flood submerged Deweyville for several days, prompted evacuations and infiltrated homes in downtown Orange and required a days-long closure of Interstate 10 at the Texas-Louisiana border. About 500 homes in Orange and Newton counties sustained at least $17,000 each in damage, according to the latest estimates. President Barack Obama issued a federal disaster declaration, and millions of dollars in grants and low-interest loans have been approved for Southeast Texans. Most Deweyville residents were displaced for weeks, and many are still unable to live in their homes. The town's elementary school was ruined, and the district missed 15 days of school before resuming April 11. Fish's exit leaves a vacancy on the board that must be filled by someone in the river's upper basin. Five of the eight remaining SRA board members live in what state law considers the lower Sabin River basin. Of those five, three live south of Toledo Bend. The law says at least four members should live in the upper basin, meaning Fish's replacement must come from that region, SRA assistant general manager Ann Galassi said. When that law was passed in 1999, just one board member lived south of the reservoir. Whether the Legislature should reconsider the board's composition - and if that would make a difference on how the dam is operated - is worth examining, said state Rep. Dade Phelan, a Republican whose district includes Orange County. "Reworking the structure of the board is an interesting thought," Phelan said. "If that's something the people of East Texas want, we will look at it." Earl Williams, of Orange, who has served on the SRA board since 2001, said he doesn't believe the structure needs to be changed. "Since we have three dams we look after, we need some representatives in the north part of the basin (too)," Williams said, referring to lakes Tawakoni and Fork east of Dallas. The upper basin also has a significant stake in the SRA's operations. About 60 percent of SRA-Texas water sales last year went to three municipalities in or near the river's upper basin. That list is the North Texas Municipal Water District and the cities of Greenville and Dallas, who collectively bought $8.6 million of the $14.5 million in water sold by SRA-Texas, according to last year's annual report. That sum represented the majority of the authority's $24.1 million in total revenue and was more than twice the $6.4 million from power sales. EBesson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/EricBesson_news The world of joint ventures is changing as healthcare trends toward higher quality outcomes at lower costs. A panel of ASC industry leaders discussed the evolution of physician-hospital joint ventures at Becker's Hospital Review 7th Annual Meeting on April 28. Within the last 10 years, some hospitals have starting seeing ASCs as a prime avenue to save money by moving lower acuity cases to the outpatient setting. "There are some health systems that have seen ASCs as an effective strategy," says Luke Lambert, CFA, CASC, CEO of Ambulatory Surgery Centers of America. "They are a tool used opportunistically to address certain issues including capacity." Hospitals can accrue substantial cost savings by moving surgeries to the outpatient setting, but this approach has met some resistance. Jeff Simmons, chief development officer at Regent Surgical Health, explained joint ventures between hospitals and physicians were not plausible when he first joined Regent, and it took the company almost seven years for such ventures to truly start gaining traction. Smaller health systems may be stark adversaries who view ASCs as a competitor rather than an asset. "We found the larger the health system, they more prominent position they have in the community," Mr. Simmons says. "They will want to move lower acuity cases into ASCs." Larger health system often may view ASCs as a part of their overall cost-saving strategy as ASCs will save hospitals both operating room time and capacity. For successful joint ventures, alignment between both parties is essential to reap the full benefit a partnership offers. "I am seeing quite favorable alignment from both parties. The health system gets to expand their footprint and become more aligned with a productive physician base," said Vince Kickirillo, CFA, CVA, managing director of VMG Health. "Physician groups can get better contract rates so they can focus on performing surgeries rather than dealing with the business side and reimbursement pressures which are first and foremost in the industry." Successful hospital-physician joint ventures thrive due to strong physician practices combined with effective payer contracting. ASCs look to hospitals to improve their contracts, as hospital reimbursement is slightly improving and ASC reimbursement dwindles. Mr. Lambert explained a high case volume in combination with a solid contract with payers will ensure a joint venture's success. Planning ahead is essential, especially when negotiating with payers on rates. Health system executives who engage in discussions with payers prior to joint venturing with a surgery center on why they are transitioning cases to the outpatient setting will likely receive better rates than those who buy the ASC prior to negotiations. An ASC partnership is an economic decision for the hospital and its effect on payers must be weighed carefully. If payers can see tangible savings from an ASC, the hospital will likely receive better rates. Technological advancements allow ASCs to perform higher acuity cases, which present health systems an opportunity. Rather than taking cases from their own ORs, health systems can drive higher acuity cases out of their competitor's OR rooms, making the ASC attractive to payers. "There is an interesting thing happening where some payers are taking a very forward view. They are setting up incentives for physicians to take cases in what I call a quality narrow network of facilities," Mr. Lambert explains. "Historically, while health systems have had concerns about costs, it hasn't been overwhelming imperative. As cases get steered away from hospitals, those costs will become imperative." More transactions/valuation news: Orthopaedic Institute for Children holds ribbon-cutting for new pediatric orthopedic ASC: 4 highlights Tenet short interest falls 10.4% 5 points Jennison Associates cuts position in AmSurg by 14%: 5 things to know Here are six gastroenterologists who recently made headlines. Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia named Benjamin Krevsky, MD, MPH, chief of the section of gastroenterology. The American Gastroenterological Association gave Steven J. Ayres, MD, a gastroenterologist with Benefis Health System in Great Falls, Mont., the designation of fellow. Blessing Physician Services in Quincy, Ill., added gastroenterologist Asad Rafiq, MD, to its medical staff. The Savannah Book Festival board of directors elected Mark E. Murphy, MD, as its new president. Joel R. Montbriand, MD, gastroenterologist and CEO of Gastroenterology of the Rockies in Boulder, Colo., was inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame. DeltaStyle Magazine honored Brian T. Levatino, MD, as a 2016 Health Care Hero. The new CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health could make up to $950,000 in his or her first year. That's according to the terms of a contract with Diversified Search approved Wednesday by the public hospital district's board, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Diversified Search, a national executive search firm based in Philadelphia, has been hired to find a replacement for Nabil El Sanadi, MD, who committed suicide last January. According to the Sun-Sentinel, terms of a contract with Diversified Search propose a minimum retainer of $299,250, or 31.5 percent of the projected cash compensation of $950,000 for the successful candidate's first year, including salary, bonus, signing bonus and any other incentives. Dr. El Sanadi's salary was $675,000. Pauline Grant, Broward Health's interim CEO, told the Sun-Sentinel the salary was in line with the pay for CEOs of health systems of comparable size nationwide. More articles on executive compensation: Northwell Health CEO's compensation climbed to $9.6M in 2015 No pay raises for Community Health Systems CEO and CFO in 2016 Tenet CEO and CFO compensation slashed in 2015 When the U.S. government rallies against an enemy, it often turns to its citizens for help in some way. In World War II, Americans were asked to turn over metal that could be repurposed for artillery and ration their gasoline and household staples like sugar and coffee. Now, in a war of attrition that has mostly taken place in laboratories and hospitals against foes such as cancer and other diseases, the White House has asked for a different kind of sacrifice. Its one some Americans would never think twice about giving up, but that others may view as an unacceptable forfeit. Uncle Sam wants your health data. In January 2015, the Obama administration announced the Precision Medicine Initiative, a rallying cry to drive research and treatment of chronic disease. One component of this action plan is the creation of the largest cohort program in the nation's history. It will call for at least 1 million Americans to volunteer their personal health information, including data from electronic health records, genomes and fitness and health tracking devices. Much of this data will be collected in collaboration with hospitals and healthcare organizations. But hospitals have contended with privacy concerns stemming from the inappropriate access, sharing or use of patient data for decades. More recently this breach of patient trust has cost providers millions of dollars in HIPAA fines and settlements. But data volunteered as part of the Precision Medicine Initiative study cohort is accessible to the public and would be continually added to the database over the course of a lifetime. Why would patients be willing to share such comprehensive personal health information for a project like this? For one, collecting this kind of data from the largest group of people in history would enable researchers to look at genetic variants related to the risk of specific conditions, says Kathy Hudson, PhD, deputy director for science, outreach and policy for the National Institutes of Health. "Being able to do that across many, many, many people means you have a higher probability of seeing rare events," Dr. Hudson says. "And rare events can tell you about mechanisms and pathways that can become targets for interventions." The NIH is hoping to conscript volunteers by having partner healthcare organizations reach out to patients who may opt-in to participate. The NIH is also in the process of setting up an infrastructure that will allow anyone who wants to volunteer their data to submit it. "Even people who want to share information for research purposes are still concerned about their privacy," Dr. Hudson says. "Making sure that participants understand we'll do everything we can to make sure their information is secure is an important part of it." Dr. Hudson says she doesn't think patients' opinions about publicizing personal information public are necessarily changing, but their relationship with researchers is. One recent study indeed found that while patients desire control over who sees their medical information and how it is used, they express a desire for granular control they can use to share certain aspects of their records more openly than others. Dr. Hudson suggests that when a researcher or clinician can explain to a patient why sharing their data would be advantageous to them, or to the community overall, they're more likely to see the value in volunteering it. Technology has made data sharing easier on patients as well, and the way people have acclimated to sharing personal information through smartphones and the Internet may offer insight into how patients will adapt to being more flexible with health information in the future. John Halamka, MD, CIO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and dean for technology at Harvard Medical School, both in Boston has experience with the to-share-or-not-to-share decision process: In 2015, he and his entire family opted to make their medical records and genomes publicly available online. In a column for Politico, he delved into the reasoning and pointed out that having his medical information available for free online automatically alleviated concerns about hospital employees or hackers getting hold of it. Although not all patients may be as comfortable sharing as Dr. Halamka, considering his medical background, there are experimental measures that could help people warm up to the idea. "If you use the [smart]phone as a receiver for healthcare data, then the patient can say, 'I want to be a medical altruist and contribute all of my data to precision medicine research or not,'" Dr. Halamka. "They could choose to send their diagnosis, but not the medication they've been prescribed, or everything but their HIV status." Dr. Halamka says giving patients control over what is and isn't shared might change their perspectives on just how private health data should be. Telling a patient that their data is going to be used in a clinical trial or put into a database creates a very different scenario than asking them whether they'd be willing to volunteer their data for research. "My experience has been as long you give patients a choice, they feel pretty good about it," Dr. Halamka says. "For example, in Massachusetts, we are an opt-in rather than opt-out state. So imagine the difference in the dialogue: 'I'm going to share your data until you tell me to stop.' Or, 'May I have permission to share your data for a certain purpose?' I think patients in general feel the latter is much more friendly. And in effect, what precision medicine hopes to do is enable patients at their discretion to contribute their data for a specific purpose. And I think many will." The two ways patient health data is exchanged between providers is physician-to-physician, or physician-to-patient-to-physician. More often than not, when hospitals share information in a health record, it's all or nothing. But when that control is transferred to a patient, whether they manage their sharing preferences through a smartphone or some other system, they have a more granular say over what is and isn't shared. Dr. Hudson says the NIH plans to confront issues that patients have with privacy as they arise, and they'll learn much more about the reservations patients may have about privacy as the project rolls out this year. The cost of genomic sequencing has fallen exponentially: In 2010, mapping the genome cost roughly $15,000. In the past two to three years, the cost fell to the $1,000 to $4,000 range, and innovators are consistently trying to develop mapping solutions with the lowest price tags. For example, last fall, one genome scientist made news for developing a $250 test. This means collecting a near-complete picture of an individual's health is becoming a more realistic endeavor in healthcare. The willingness to be more flexible about sharing sensitive data may ultimately be the tradeoff for knowing more about individual health and the health of populations and communities overall. If and when the cohort reaches one million people, Dr. Hudson says the size of the group, the fact that volunteer data will be around after the volunteers themselves are long gone, and the diversity of richness of the information collected will provide unprecedented power to ask scientific questions that couldn't be addressed any other way. Dr. Halamka says he sees differing opinions on personal data privacy as generational, too, which could mean a shift toward more relaxed attitudes is only a matter of time. A young adult who uses Facebook, or various other social media to talk about their innermost thoughts and details about their lives, including their health, could very likely grow up to live in a generation where sharing information that was once taboo is completely normal. When younger people who are at lower risk for serious health problems become accustomed to speaking about their health openly, they will likely take less issue sharing more sensitive information in their later years. If so, then developing the technology to give patients more granular control over who sees what when could be the ideal solution. But sharing information that ranges from the basic, such as height or weight, to the deeply personal, might just always have to be handled on a case by case basis, Dr. Halamka says. I think you have to ask what's the benefit? What's the risk and what are your personal preferences?, Dr. Halamka says. I do believe that as we move forward, my daughter's generation and beyond people will feel much more comfortable about sharing data because they do it everyday without a lot of negative consequence." More articles on health IT: How bitcoin's sister technology could change the future of healthcare The end of the password is near, human bodies the 'next security frontier' EHRs fall short on capturing complete patient mental health data, researchers say The following healthcare layoffs were reported by Becker's Hospital Review in April. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent. 1. Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, Calif., part of Redwood City, Calif.-based Verity Health System, is implementing a workforce reduction to decrease labor costs. Here are three things to know about the layoffs. 2. Dameron Hospital in Stockton, Calif., closed its labor and delivery and postpartum units, neonatal intensive care unit and pediatrics. Seventy hospital workers face layoffs due to the closures. 3. Payer EmblemHealth plans to cut 250 IT jobs because it is changing its IT provider. The 250 IT workers whose jobs will be cut represent approximately 8 percent of the payer's workforce. 4. Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration ordered 89 layoffs at University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington as part of an expected 2,000 or more layoffs to help balance the state budget. The layoffs primarily involve employees who work with the Department of Correction's inmate care program. 5. A restructuring of Dartmouth College's Geisel School of Medicine, based in Hanover, N.H., will eliminate about 30 jobs, but also include job offers to hundreds of Geisel employees who will be losing their places on the college payroll. Here are six things to know about the restructuring. 6. A number of employees will be laid off at ValleyCare Health System of Ohio's Northside Medical Center, based in Youngstown, Ohio. Here are four things to know about the layoffs. 7. The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, S.C., will cut jobs and leave vacant positions unfilled. Here are five things to know about the layoffs. Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week. 1. Michigan hospital set to lose Medicare status over patient suicide CMS warned St. John River District Hospital in East China Township, Mich., that it will lose its Medicare funding May 7 unless corrections are made at the hospital, according to The Times Herald. In an April 14 letter to the hospital, CMS said it found serious deficiencies at the facility that "constitute an immediate threat to patient health and safety." Specifically, CMS said the hospital failed to properly monitor a suicidal patient and follow procedures for suicide prevention. The patient committed suicide at the hospital Jan. 8. 2. Moody's preliminary numbers show nonprofit healthcare profitability margins at multi-year high The nonprofit hospital annual median revenue growth rate increased to 7.4 percent in fiscal year 2015, surpassing the median expense growth rate for the second consecutive year, according to preliminary FY 2015 nonprofit and public hospital medians from Moody's Investors Service. 3. New Jersey hospitals to receive $33M in extra Medicare funding Twenty New Jersey hospitals are expected to receive an extra $33 million from federal officials to help cover the costs of treating Medicare patients, Democratic Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker announced Wednesday. 4. Baystate Health asks for $10M to save 200 jobs Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health is experiencing financial strain and may have to lay off up to 200 employees if it does not obtain an additional $10 million through the annual state budget process, according to The Republican. 5. HCA Holdings CEO and CFO see big pay raises in 2015 Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Holdings CEO and CFO saw their base salaries and total compensation increase in 2015. 6. UnitedHealth to leave Iowa ACA marketplace The approximately 9,000 Iowans who purchased UnitedHealth policies on the Affordable Care Act exchanges are out of luck for next year, as the Minnetonka, Minn.-based insurer will not sell policies in the state for 2017, according to The Des Moines Register. 7. Nearly 2,800 nurses at Stanford Health Care authorize strike Thousands of nurses at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford (Calif.) and Stanford (Calif.) Health Care voted to authorize their union's leadership to call a strike after failing to reach a deal in three days of mediation with hospital administrators over wages and benefits, according to a report from The Mercury News. 8. Patient dies after jumping from window at Florida hospital Police are investigating the death of a Winter Haven (Fla.) Hospital patient who died Saturday after jumping from a window on the hospital's third floor, according to The Ledger. 9. CMS releases Theranos letter, inspection report with more information CMS decided Monday to release a previously unpublished 45-page letter to Palo Alto, Calif.-based Theranos and a more lightly redacted version of its inspection report, according to The Wall Street Journal. 10. Sutter Health to close Berkeley hospital Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health will close Alta Bates Summit Medical Center's campus in south Berkeley, Calif., sometime between 2018 and 2030, according to the East Bay Times. Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services has reached agreements with three labor unions that represent employees at Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, N.J., according to an NJBIZ report. Here are five things to know about the agreements. 1. The agreements cover more than 780 of the hospital's approximately 1,400 employees. 2. Employees covered by the agreements are represented by District 1199J, Operating Engineers Local 68 and JNESO. 3. One union has ratified the collective bargaining agreement, another will do so Friday and a third intends to follow suit next week, Saint Michael's said, according to the report. 4. Prime announced the agreements just days before it expected to finalize its acquisition of the bankrupt Saint Michael's May 1. 5. While Prime announced the agreements, it also cut 29 positions half of which were management positions representing less than 2 percent of the hospital's workforce, Saint Michael's said, according to the report. More articles on workforce and labor management: Stanford Health Care, Lucile Packard reach tentative union agreement covering more than 3,000 RNs PeaceHealth workers in Oregon ratify 1st union contract: 4 things to know Barlow Respiratory Hospital hiring nurses Stanford (Calif.) Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford (Calif.) have reached a tentative agreement with the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement on new three-year agreements covering more than 3,000 registered nurses working at the hospitals. CRONA, which represents the workers, and its bargaining team are unanimously recommending ratification of the tentative agreement. A ratification vote will be held on May 11. The union said the tentative agreement includes wage increases, improved retirement benefits, differential pay for precepting, pre-approved vacation and education time, limitations on mandatory on-call and pre-designation of sleep rooms and limitations on excessive floating. Earlier this month, the nurses voted to authorize their union's leadership to call a strike after failing to reach a deal in three days of mediation with hospital administrators over wages and benefits. However, a strike was not formally called. More articles on workforce and labor management: Telemedicine advocates lobby for nurse licensing compacts: 6 things to know Nearly 2,800 nurses at Stanford Health Care authorize strike Butler Memorial Hospital nurses ratify new contract: 4 things to know K2M hosted more than 120 spine surgeons for its annual Meeting of Minds in Chicago, April 22 to April 23. Here are five highlights: 1. The meeting involved spine surgeons from around the world discussing the latest techniques for treating spinal disorders. 2. The surgeons participated in more than 60 hands-on product demonstrations and presentations. 3. Presentations covered various topics including pediatric and adult reconstruction; minimally invasive techniques; sagittal plane balance correction; trauma; tumor and scoliosis. 4. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, MD, of FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital in Ghana; Harry Shufflebarger, MD, of Miami Children's Hospital; Thomas Errico, MD, of New York University; and Peter Newton, MD, of Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego chaired the meeting. 5. K2M also highlighted its product portfolio. Physician computer use during appointments may negatively impact patient satisfaction, based on a JAMA Internal Medicine study, according to MDNEWS. University of California, San Francisco Center for Vulnerable Populations conducted the study, gathering data from 71 physician-patient interactions. Here are five observations: 1. About 83 percent of patients reported excellent care with low computer use. 2. Approximately 48 percent of patients reported excellent care with high computer use. 3. While the researchers don't suggest cutting out computers during appointments, as EHRs are useful, they suggest physicians prioritize personal connections with their patients. 4. When talking to patients, researchers suggest physicians don't multi-task and type data into the computer. 5. Pay attention to patients and hold eye contact, as it indicates empathy and interest. Samuel S. Jorgenson, MD, joined the Spine Institute of Idaho in Meridian in 2002. He previously practiced in California. Dr. Jorgenson serves as a diplomate for American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and American Board of Medical Examiners. He is a member of the American Medical Association, California Medical Association and Almeda Contra Coast Medical Association. After obtaining his medical degree from Philadelphia-based Hahnemann University, he completed his general surgery internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Los Angeles-based University of Southern California Medical Center and Affiliated Hospitals. He completed his spine surgery fellowship at Denver-based University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. To continue following the latest news and information for Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, simply enter your full postcode below Barclay Bell is an eighth-generation Co Down farmer who is now head of the UFU Northern Ireland has "too much to lose" to consider backing a Brexit, the newly appointed head of the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has claimed. Barclay Bell (59) is an eighth-generation Co Down farmer who has been with the organisation for around 35 years. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph about the possibility of leaving the EU, he said there was an absence of compelling absence supporting an exit. "We are open to the debate, and we would wait until after the local elections so that we don't get Brexit mixed up with that," Mr Bell added. "We intend to have an open debate with the In and Out campaigns. In absence of any compelling argument to leave, we would have to be saying to stay in." The UFU chief claimed there were "huge concerns" over what would happen to the hundreds of millions of pounds farmers receive from the EU each year in the event of a Brexit. "As it stands, we have to say, in the absence of real compelling arguments, there is too much to lose," he said. Mr Bell also discussed the current crisis in farming. He said it had been exacerbated by a range of factors including the Russia import ban, a slowdown in China and the overall price being paid for goods, including milk. While Mr Bell's farm has some sheep and cattle, it is mainly arable. He also diversified into flowers 10 years ago, with his business selling top-end roses to retailers including Marks and Spencer. Mr Bell became deputy president of the UFU four years ago, and previously held several roles with the organisation. He replaced Ian Marshall as chief of the farmers' body. "We are down at Rathfriland, and are eight generations on this farm, dating back to the early 1700s," he said of his family. "We are largely an arable farm, and we do have sheep and a few cattle. We diversified into flowers 10 years ago. With a lot of farmers, the main streams weren't profitable." While the flower business has taken off, the farm's main income comes through traditional streams. It is also very much a family affair, with Mr Bell's wife, Lesley, and two sons, Elliott (29) - who also works for the UFU - and Jonathan (27) heavily involved with the 200-acre farm. Daughter Gina (24), meanwhile, works as an accountant. "Both boys are very passionate about farming," Mr Bell said. "Both still are involved and any spare time they have, they are on the farm. It's great they have the interest. In the role I'm in, it's full-time, so you do need back-up." Speaking about what he called the continuing crisis in farming, he predicted there would be "casualties" along the way. "I think it has been well documented, the crisis that farming is in," Mr Bell added. "It's been highlighted now for a year or 18 months. We will come out of it, but I'm worried there will be some casualties." Setting out his stall, he also claimed that tough times meant new thinking was needed. And he urged farmers and processors to be more open to co-operation. With the looming Assembly election, Mr Bell said the new minister must "hit the ground running" to improve the sector. BA owner IAG has fared better than its key European rivals over the last few years The owner of British Airways boosted profits on the back of its takeover of Aer Lingus, despite the effects of the Brussels terror attacks. International Airlines Group (IAG) said its operating profit jumped more than five times to 155 million euro (121 million) in the three months to the end of March compared with a year ago, boosted by the purchase of Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus completed last September. The group, which also owns Iberia and Vueling airlines, beat City expectations of 145 million euro (113 million) of operating profit and shot past last year's 25 million euro (19 million) outcome. It said revenue in January and February was in line with last year, but in March sales were affected by the Brussels attacks and the timing of Easter. IAG chief executive Willie Walsh added that the effect of the Brussels attacks had continued from the first quarter into the second quarter of the group's year. Mr Walsh said: "March revenue was affected by the timing of Easter and the Brussels terrorist attacks, with the latter continuing into quarter two." The group added that it has also seen softer underlying demand for its key business and first-class seats. It said as a result the firm would "moderate its short-term capacity growth plans". But it added that it expected fuel costs to fall by around 1% this year. Due to oversupply, Brent crude has slumped by some 70% since its peak in the summer of 2014. IAG said it expects to generate a similar increase in operating profit to that seen in 2015 thanks to continued cost savings. Last year IAG spent 1.4 billion euro (1.1 billion) to acquire Aer Lingus. Over the last few years, IAG has fared better than its key European rivals - Lufthansa and Air France-KLM - which have been hit by strikes over cost-cutting plans and heightened competition from Middle Eastern and budget airlines. A former head of the BBC who weathered an ageism and sexism storm at the broadcaster is facing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over alleged discrimination in his new job. Mark Thompson, who stepped down as director-general shortly before the broadcaster was engulfed by the Savile scandal in 2012, faces a string of allegations concerning his tenure as CEO of the New York Times, including presiding over a workplace that has become "rife with discrimination based on age, race, and gender". In legal papers filed in New York, the newspaper is said to have been "engaging in deplorable discrimination" by pursuing a young, white and wealthy readership with a staff increasingly made up of young, white and single employees. The complainants, Ernestine Grant and Marjorie Walker, who work in the New York Times's advertising department, are both black women in their 60s who joined the company before his arrival. Mr Thompson's leadership at the BBC is also raised in the papers, with lawyers highlighting a row at the broadcaster over the lack of older women on television. At the time he said there were "manifestly" too few older women broadcasting on the BBC, but denied the broadcaster had a culture of ageism and sexism. Ms Grant, 62, and Ms Walker, 61, launched the class-action lawsuit against Mr Thompson, the newspaper's chief revenue officer, Meredith Kopit Levien and the New York Times Company on Thursday, demanding a trial by jury. In a statement to the BBC, Eileen Murphy, a spokeswoman for the daily newspaper, said the lawsuit contained a series of "recycled, scurrilous and unjustified attacks on both Mark Thompson and Meredith Levien". She added: "We strongly disagree with any claim that the Times, Mr Thompson or Ms Levien have discriminated against any individual or group of employees. The suit is entirely without merit and we intend to fight it vigorously in court." On its website the company says it relies on having a diverse workforce "as wide as it is deep, broad in perspective, backgrounds and experiences". Mr Thompson spent eight years as director-general of the the BBC and left after overseeing its coverage of the 2012 London Olympics. His departure came after rows over executive pay and the allegations that older women were under-represented on BBC channels. At the time Mr Thompson acknowledged the corporation "had a case to answer about the way it treats older women on the air" but stressed there was a growing number of women in executive roles. It came after former Countryfile host Miriam O'Reilly won an employment tribunal against the corporation when she was rejected for a role on the revamped prime-time version of the show. Mr Thompson said the case was an "important wake-up call for the whole BBC". After leaving in September 2012 Mr Thompson was succeeded by George Entwistle. He lasted in the post for just 54 days before resigning amid allegations he had failed to handle the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal appropriately. The Skunkworks team (from left) of Stephen Murray and Thomas Taylor along with brothers Ricky and Chris Martin A Co Londonderry surfboard firm run by two brothers has secured a huge 500,000 cash injection aimed at sending the business global, and creating up to 18 jobs. Ricky and Chris Martin have been making waves for the last two years building surfboards at their Skunkworks Surf Company firm in Coleraine. Now, the business has received a major investment from private investors, including Andrew and Jillian Marsden and Co-Fund NI. They've already pitched to Sir Richard Branson as part of the Virgin boss's Pitch to Rich scheme. But now the pair have finally secured financial backing for the business, with plans to grow and expand this year. The brothers have come up with a fresh solution which will eliminate the wear and tear of 'foamies' by designing and manufacturing the 'next generation' surfboards. Co-founder Ricky Martin said the new deal was a "landmark investment for Skunkworks and one which will play a major role in helping us realise the ambitious targets we have set ourselves". "We have recently returned from a trade mission in California where the interest in, and demand for, our products is huge - this funding can help us make inroads into the US market. "We have just taken on a 10-year lease on new and bigger premises in Coleraine harbour and plan to employ 15-18 people in the next three years. "This investment is a major vote of confidence, not just in Skunkworks, but in the local SME sector in general." Law firm Arthur Cox acted on behalf of Skunkworks in the deal, which closed this week. "Skunkworks is one of Northern Ireland's most dynamic recent start-ups, having been recognised with a host of industry accolades," Alan Taylor, partner at Arthur Cox in Belfast, said. "We look forward to seeing the firm continue its upwards trajectory as it seeks to establish its products in new markets." "We are delighted to see completion on an equity finance deal which we know will help facilitate the company's exciting growth plans." Founded in 2014, the Skunkworks Surf Company manufactures its own recyclable surfboards and stand-up paddleboards. And they will be on sale throughout the UK and Europe from September. Skunkworks is also now hoping to use the investment to grow its manufacturing capacity, as well as breaking into other markets, such as the US. Skunkworks employs five people, with that number set to grow to eight by the end of June. The original concept was developed as Ricky, who owns Alive Surf School in Portrush, believes surfboards could be made in a way which doesn't require the time, money and maintenance after every season, as foam boards get damaged. The brothers have received support from Invest NI and have previously been to California on a fact finding trip. The co-founder of Pinterest has dismissed speculation the firm is gearing up to go public as the US technology giant unveiled plans to boost overseas earnings. Pinterest chief creative officer Evan Sharp said remaining private gives the firm more room to innovate because it does not have to meet the short-term financial targets that comes with an initial public offering (IPO). Mr Sharp, who worked for Facebook before later co-founding Pinterest with chief executive Ben Silbermann, told the Press Association: "We have no plans to go public right now. "We raised quite a bit of capital a year back and the idea of that was to be able to have the resources to invest in an aggressive expansion of our offices and our revenue products. I think that will sustain us for quite a while." The company has raised more than one billion US dollars (687 million) from investors since it was founded in 2009 and it has a reported valuation of up to eleven billion US dollars (7.5 billion). He made the comments as the company moved to bolster its international business by putting "significant investment" into a UK advertising campaign. The company is also launching its "featured collections" tool for the British market, which provides bespoke content from Pinterest editors, brands and "local tastemakers" including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton, Topshop and Burberry. The global push comes after it recently began offering companies the chance to buy advertising on its UK site through "promoted pins" in an effort to increase the amount of money it makes outside the US market. Mr Sharp added: "Because Pinterest is a unique service, we are not like another messaging app, we are a catalogue of ideas for discovering things relevant to your everyday life. "It means the play book for how we grow and monetise is one we have to develop from first principles rather than hiring people from similar businesses and copying other company's play books, which is a totally valid way to build a business. "What that means for us is that we want to give us slightly more time to develop and innovate on how we grow and how we make money, so when we do achieve a level of strategic stability then we can start thinking about getting to a place where our numbers become public every quarter. "But for now it's the wrong focus. If we start focusing the company on the logistics of going public and quarterly goals, I am worried it is going to get in the way of our medium and long term strategy and vision. So for now, it is not something we think about." He said Pinterest could finally be considered a global business because the majority of its users now come from outside the United States. The company, which allows people to share content with each other through online pin boards, said its UK users grew by more than 50% in the past year. It added that UK companies John Lewis, B&Q and Tesco are among firms which have paid for promoted pins. But while Pinterest beat its revenue target for last year - growing five times compared to 2014 - Mr Sharp declined to give specific financial information about the firm and how many users it has in the UK. Mr Sharp said its international expansion will be a success when the website is equally useful to people no matter where they are in the world and what device they are using. He added: "In terms of user numbers, I do think Pinterest will be useful in every country in the world and so I think we need to not only look at the US growth. We need to treat the United States as just another country, rather than half of our business." The company employs more than 700 people across the globe and around 15 people in the UK. Sam Duff jnr and his father Sam snr outside their old S&R Electrics store on the Holywood Road in east Belfast A shop that once housed one of Northern Ireland's best-known independent retailers before the company went bust last year has reopened its doors. S&R Electric's famous jingle "Sam's yer man for a bargain" has clearly inspired the name of the new limited company. Just over a year after S&R Electric shut its doors - leaving behind a mountain of unpaid debts - the chain's former Newtownards store is open again, but this time under a new company, Sam's Electrical Superstore. The company was incorporated in December with Sam Duff jnr as its sole director. Twenty staff lost their jobs when S&R Electric's Newtownards and Belfast branches closed in April last year. Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association chief executive Glyn Roberts said: "I'm absolutely delighted to hear that "Sam's yer man" is back. It was a very iconic and well respected business in east Belfast. "I'm not sure how many customers were affected, but I hope that first order of business would be to address that issue." In August, a report by the administrator stated that the firm had started legal action "in respect of an alleged fraud committed by a former employee." It was suggested that the alleged incident had cost the company more than 250,000. The fraud case is still said to be ongoing. It is understood to not involve any members of the Duff family. S&R Electric owed just under 670,000 to unsecured creditors thought to include at least 60 customers and other businesses. However, the actual figure for unpaid debt is expected to be higher as some creditors have yet to submit a claim for the money they are owed. The administrator's report showed the firm owed around 820,000 to the bank as well as a further 23,500 in unpaid wages and holiday pay. However, the November report stated that "it is expected there will be insufficient funds generated from the sale of assets to pay a dividend to unsecured creditors". S&R Electric had been one of Belfast's most famous retailers, having traded for more than 30 years. It was set up by Sam Duff and incorporated as a limited company in 1984. At the time of the administration, the business's founder, Sam Duff snr, told Belfast Telegraph he was confident the store would reopen in the future. However, a report released in November by accountancy firm BDO, which was appointed as administrator, said it would not be possible to rescue the firm. Stock owned by S&R Electric has yet to be sold off and remains under the control of the administrator. The company declined to comment on the latest development. The mother of a baby born with a heart defect who died aged two has vowed to continue fighting for an all-Ireland surgical cardiac unit. The call came after campaigners voiced serious concerns over delays in establishing the vital congenital heart service - a year after plans were announced. It is estimated around 120 sick children are still being flown outside Northern Ireland every year for heart surgery. Last March, the then health minister Jim Wells formally accepted proposals for a single, all-Ireland children's heart surgery centre based in Dublin. It meant surgical services at the RVH would end. However, the Dublin unit cannot currently cope with demand. Planning approval for the new National Children's Hospital in the Republic was granted yesterday but the Department of Health said all urgent patients will not be transferred to Dublin until the end of 2017 and all elective patients by the end of 2018. Julie Flaherty, from Portadown, has been campaigning with the Children's Heartbeat Trust since her son was born with a congenital heart defect in 2011. Jake, died aged just two years old, but received his treatment in Northern Ireland. She said the promises that have been made by politicians have not been fulfilled. "I made a promise to my son that I would not let this go," she said. "I'm so disappointed it has taken so long. This began in 2012 when Jake was still here. We had to take it at their word that this would be delivered but it breaks my heart that there are families who have to get in a plane to follow their vulnerable baby and fly to England, many without emotional and financial support." A DHSSPS spokesman said:"It is anticipated the plan will be approved by June of this year. In addition to maintaining the current transfer of emergency patients to Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, the plan envisages completing on a phased basis the transfer of all urgent patients to OLCHC by the end of 2017 and all elective patients by the end of 2018." Northern Ireland soldier and war veteran Doug Beattie has been told he must quit the military if he is to challenge for a seat in the Assembly. The Upper Bann UUP Assembly candidate has served in the army for 34 years. He has been awarded the Queens Commendation for Bravery for his actions in Iraq, the Military Cross for his bravery in Afghanistan and the NATO Meritorious Service Medal for his peacekeeping contributions in Bosnia. He is now a reservist. However, military top brass have told him he must resign because of his bid for a seat at Stormont. Mr Beattie has not commented on the matter, however UUP Chairman Lord Empey said the veteran was "bitterly disappointed". He said: Having completed 34 years in the Army, Doug, who is now a reservist after a twenty-seven year regular career, informed the military he would be standing for election and was informed he could continue with his service until the outcome of the election was known. "However with just three weeks until the election Doug was informed he had to resign with immediate effect from his position as a full time reserve service officer - in effect leaving him unemployed if he is not elected in May." More: Lord Empey added: "After 34 years serving his country in some of the most dangerous parts of the world, never from behind a desk but at the sharp end of the fight, I have to ask why they could not find it possible to give him just three weeks grace in order to safeguard his job if he is not elected. "This is a poor decision and indicative of how soldiers and veterans from Northern Ireland are treated. The other issue it raises is what sort of message does this send out to others who may have been thinking about making the move into politics. "Northern Ireland politics needs people with life experiences. MLAs will receive "generous" payments from the Assembly should they be retiring or fail to win their seat in the forthcoming election. Retiring MLAs and those that lose their seat in next week's election are in line for hundreds of thousands of pounds from the taxpayer. The BBC reports that 15 MLAs who have opted not to seek re-election will share a pot - or resettlement grant - of almost 500,000. Depending on length of service and age, the MLAs will receive between 16,000 and 44,000, totalling 440,000. They will also receive pension - with the first 30,000 tax free. Only the DUP's Gregory Campbell is not entitled to the grant as he is an MP. Also those MLAs who are unseated after the May 5 vote will receive a redundancy-type payment. In the forthcoming mandate, those payments will be capped to a maximum of 24,000. Former MLA Seamus Close - who received the resettlement allowance in 2007 - said the payment offered financial security "in the uncertain world of politics". Outgoing MLA David McNarry of UKIP who is in line for 32,000 under the scheme told the BBC the payments were "too generous" and that he didn't see the point. Chair of the Independent Financial Review Panel, which sets pay rates for public representatives in Northern Ireland, Pat McCartan said the current system was designed to encourage people into politics during a "very, very difficult time". "That situation no longer pertains. It is time now to look at what we should have for the foreseeable future for comparison with other legislatures," he told the BBC. Mr McCartan said the new rates are similar to those in parliaments in Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland are appealing for information Two cars and a house have been damaged in an arson attack in Co Armagh. The incident happened shortly before 11.30pm on Wednesday when a vehicle was set alight at Sandringham in Craigavon. The fire spread to another car and nearby house. The Police Service of Northern Ireland have appealed for anyone who noticed activity in the area in the days and hours leading up to the attack to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the non emergency 101 number and quote reference 1354 270416. BBC bosses have been accused of giving bigger parties an unfair broadcasting advantage by changing the corporation's election rules BBC bosses have been accused of giving bigger parties an unfair broadcasting advantage by changing the corporation's election rules. The Workers Party said the Beeb is effectively consolidating the dominance of the bigger parties and letting down voters. The complaint came ahead of BBC NI's debate involving the leaders of the five main parties - DUP, Sinn Fein, Ulster Unionists, SDLP and Alliance - next Tuesday. In a change to criteria, parties must now have a minimum of 12 candidates across six constituencies to qualify for a television or radio election broadcast. Workers' Party candidate Lily Kerr said it "clearly disadvantages, and effectively disenfranchises, smaller parties in Northern Ireland". "The BBC's decision consolidates their position at the expense of smaller parties, restricts the political discourse and reduces the information available to the electorate," she said. Mrs Kerr, who is standing in South Belfast, added: "As Northern Ireland's public service broadcaster, the BBC has duty to provide a platform for the entire political spectrum - not just the larger parties." In February, the BBC Executive proposed changes to the criteria for Northern Ireland so that a registered political party had to stand 18 candidates across a minimum of three constituencies - bringing the province into line with the rest of the UK. But following submissions from parties and the Electoral Commission and following further consultation, the figure was changed to 12 across a minimum of six, rather than three, constituencies. A BBC statement said: "The amended proposal was sent to all relevant parties in Northern Ireland and no further comments were received." Belfast's Waterfront Hall has reopened after a major overhaul. The 29.5 million investment will bring in 100 million for the local economy over the next five years. The city centre venue has doubled in size to create an international venue capable of attracting major conferences for up to 5,000 delegates a day. Thirty international and national conferences have already been secured for the next three years - among them the BBC Good Food Show, the World Council of Credit Unions and the Royal College of Nursing. Belfast Lord Mayor Arder Carson said: "The new-look Belfast Waterfront in 2016 will elevate our city's global profile, bringing growth, prosperity and opportunities to Belfast and its people. "It is a cornerstone of our vision for city centre regeneration and will add to our reputation as a vibrant global brand." He expected conference delegates would spend 50,000 days in the area each year by 2020 because of the new facilities, and two-thirds of those are expected to be from outside Northern Ireland. From 2020, it is thought the expanded facility will bring in 45 million per year for the local economy. Cllr Carson added: "The boost for our hotels, bars and restaurants will potentially create 1,500 jobs in the hospitality sector, bringing opportunities, particularly for our young people." The 29.5 million investment was made by Belfast City Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund, through the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland. Kilkeel harbour needs to expand urgently to accommodate a new multimillion-pound fishing vessel and seize future investment opportunities, industry leaders warned. Sea Source, a collectively owned fishing company, believes private investment is needed to extend the port. Chief executive Alan McCulla said: "Unless we grow our port, we will miss out on the future investment which is about to take place here. "Already we are seeing a strong and sustainable renaissance in fishing. In addition to this, there now exists a fleet of specialist vessels and crews who can undertake all sorts of work on behalf of offshore developers, particularly those in cable-laying and renewable energy. "The risk is that other ports in the Irish Sea basin could benefit from our success if we don't expand." Mr McCulla added: "Investment in the fishing industry has been very healthy in the last two years. "One example is the multimillion-pound investment in a new fishing vessel which is too big to dock in Kilkeel harbour." Chaired by fisherman Trevor Annett, Sea Source is extending its reach beyond fishing to offshore marine developments. Mr Annett said: "As one of the top three landing locations for langoustines in the UK and Ireland, the County Down port has developed international export markets and has diversified into other areas of the marine economy including commercial offshore developments. "Kilkeel is seeing a resurgence in the fishing sector with the industry securing more than 800 jobs on shore as well as on the boats." The firm is already branding seafood and fish products available in supermarkets and aims to expand its market throughout the UK and Ireland. A lawyer said that solicitor David Annett was now a broken man A Co Down solicitor defrauded a bank of 400,000 to help buy a partnership in a legal practice and an apartment in England, a court has heard. David Annett (38), from Church Road, Dromara, pleaded guilty at Craigavon Crown Court to four charges that spanned a five-year period. The father-of-three admitted defrauding First Trust Bank, two counts of theft and transferring more than 110,000 of criminal property out of his employer's business account. Nicola Auret, prosecuting, told Judge Patrick Lynch QC that the offences came to light in August 2012 when Annett walked into Lurgan police station. She told the court that in 2007, while working for Portadown-based JP Hagan Solicitors, he was "approached by a senior partner who asked him if he wanted to become a partner in the firm". "The offer came at a cost - 250,000," the lawyer added. "The defendant remortgaged his home at Church Road with First Trust Bank/Allied Irish Bank." In December 2007, First Trust Bank received his application for a 400,000 remortgage. Mr Annett, the court heard, already had an existing mortgage that totalled 220,000. Ms Auret said that another solicitor in the practice signed the mortgage applications to say that he was doing the conveyancing on the property when in fact Annett was doing the conveyancing. The defendant also applied for an unsecured loan of 80,000. Judge Lynch QC was told that by agreeing to the remortgage and by releasing the funds, First Trust Bank believed that "they would be the first charge on the property". In February 2008, the funds were released to JP Hagan's solicitors with the monies to be used to settle the home loan mortgage and to "pay the 250,000 to up take up the partnership in his firm". However, Ms Aurett said that the home loan mortgage "was not discharged" and "the defendant accessed the business account and transferred the entire amount of monies into his personal account". Defence QC Alan Kane told the judge that Annett was now a "broken man". Judge Lynch QC said he needed time to reflect on the large amount of evidence and told the court that he would pass sentence on May 6. The couple were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation Damaged Caused after an arson attack in the Coolnasilla Park West area of west Belfast. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker A couple in their 50s have escaped injury after an arson attack in west Belfast. The man and woman, both aged 53, were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but were not admitted to hospital. Police said two cars in the Coolnasilla Park West area were set on fire shortly before 3am. A nearby house was also damaged . Detective Constable Philip Cummings from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area in an around the time of the fire, or anyone who may have information about the incident, to contact detectives from the Reactive and Organised Crime branch at Musgrave Police Station on 101." A former Protestant pupil of Portora Royal School in Enniskillen is on the way to becoming a Catholic saint. Pope Francis has approved the beatification of Fr John Sullivan, who was raised as a Protestant but later became a Catholic before he entered the Jesuit Order in 1900. Fr Sullivan, who died at St Vincent's Nursing Home, Dublin, in 1933, was honoured in recognition of his work with the poor, vulnerable, ill and dying in the villages of Co Kildare in the early 20th century. The Holy See confirmed that the pontiff had approved the attribution of a miracle to the Jesuit priest and teacher, enabling him to be beatified - a step that involves being officially recognised as blessed and that can lead to sainthood at a later date. Fr Sullivan was associated with a number of miraculous cures throughout his lifetime. Supporters of the former teacher at Clongowes Wood College in Co Kildare have been campaigning for him to be made a saint since the 1940s. In 1960 he was declared a "Servant of God" and in 2014 was made "Venerable" by Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope. Born in Dublin in 1861 to a Catholic mother and a Protestant father, Fr Sullivan was educated at Portora, a non-denominational school, governed by the Fermanagh Protestant Board of Education. Portora headmaster Neil Morton said it was one of the "great ironies" of the school that it had produced a beatified Jesuit priest who could be on the way to becoming an Irish Catholic saint. Mr Morton told the Belfast Telegraph he "loved that idea". "We are delighted about John Sullivan," he added. "He marks our cross-community, cross-border initiative as Clongowes is our partner school in Co Kildare. "We have very regular events with them and are very proud of that. John Sullivan was a Church of Ireland Anglican and spent the other half of his life as a Roman Catholic Jesuit Priest. It is quite a story." Growing up in Victorian Ireland in a wealthy family, Fr Sullivan was the son of Sir Edward Sullivan, a Dublin barrister who later became Lord Chancellor of Ireland, the highest judicial office in the country. Sir Edward attended Portora and sent his sons to his alma mater. The school has a notable alumni, including Fr Sullivan, playwright Oscar Wilde and Nobel laureate Samuel Beckett. Mr Morton said this inspired present-day pupils who come from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds. "The school has gone through all sorts of incarnations and it was quite an elite institution in the 19th and early 20th century," he added. "We got all these kids from Irish ascendancy families. The school now is Fermanagh's boys' grammar school and has a very wide intake. All the kids are motivated by the past the history. They belong to Portora as much the present guys do." Fr Sullivan is one of 39 clerics granted papal approval for beatification on Wednesday. Enda Dolan playing the guitar on stage at his old school Enda on the couch with all of his younger siblings Enda Dolan with his girlfriend Sarah Graham before their school formal Student Enda Dolan was killed as he walked back to Queens Elms village William Ross Casement was a passenger in the car which knocked down the student This is the face of killer driver David Lee Stewart who was given just three-and-half years in jail for mowing down 18-year-old student Enda Dolan Last month, Stewart (31), of Gray's Park Avenue, Belfast, pleaded guilty to causing Enda's death by dangerous driving, as well as four other motoring offences, including dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen of blood. Further Reading Read More On Wednesday he was handed a seven-year sentence, half of which will be served behind bars. Stewart had consumed six pints of beer and four Jagerbombs and had taken drugs when he killed 18-year-old Enda Dolan in October 2014. William Ross Casement (21), who was a passenger in the car with Stewart in the accident, escaped a custodial term and was given 50 hours' community service. Releasing the picture of Stewart to the Belfast Telegraph, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: Our thoughts and condolences are with Endas family. "Endas death was the catastrophic result of someone who decided to drink and drive. "There is absolutely no excuse for drinking and driving and there is no such thing as a safe amount. It ruins lives. Not just those of the people who are killed, injured or left to deal with the consequences, but also for those responsible." Prosecutors have been urged to appeal the sentence given to Stewart. A decision on whether to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal will now be taken by Barra McGrory, Northern Ireland's chief prosecutor. The Dolan family said they were "disappointed and disgusted" at the sentences. Read more: Read More Yesterday, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) confirmed it had been asked to investigate. A PPS spokesperson said: "The PPS can confirm that we have received correspondence outlining concerns over the sentences passed in this case. "The matters raised will be examined carefully in line with our protocols around unduly lenient sentences in the Crown Court." It is understood that the request did not come from the Dolan family. Enda, from Killyclogher in Co Tyrone, was an architecture student at Queen's University. He had been walking to his student accommodation at Elms Village when a van driven by Stewart mounted a footpath and hit him. Stewart drove on for 800 metres with the teenager on the roof of his vehicle. Stewart admitted a series of charges linked to the teenager's death, including causing death by dangerous driving. He will spend three-and-a-half years in prison and the same amount of time on licence. He was also banned from driving for five years. Outside court, Enda's father, Peter, said Northern Ireland's legal system was "a disgrace". "We have been left with a life sentence," Mr Dolan added. "So many parents have stood in our shoes... and many more will in the future unless something is done to deter individuals from driving under the influence of drink and drugs." Road safety campaigners also voiced their anger at the sentences. Gary Rae from the charity Brake said: "We share the disgust of Enda's family at the paltry length of this sentence. "We must see tougher sentences to fully fit the crime to give families justice and also act as a proper deterrent." The school at Playa Prieta, Ecuador, where Sister Clare was working when she was killed in the earthquake The body of Sister Clare Crockett, the Londonderry nun killed in an earthquake in Ecuador, will be returned to her family tomorrow ahead of her funeral next Monday. It is understood members of the Home of the Mother Order that Sister Clare joined when she was just 18 will accompany her remains to her family home in the Brandywell area of Derry. Sister Clare (33) was among 600 people who lost their lives when an earthquake hit Playa Prieta. She died trying to save the students she was giving guitar lessons to. The repatriation of Sister Clare was taken care of by the Kevin Bell Trust, set up by Colin Bell in memory of his son who died abroad in 2014. Mr Bell told the Belfast Telegraph confirmation that the unexpected delay in returning the body was over came through yesterday morning. He said: "It took a while longer than we had hoped because of the situation in Ecuador since the earthquake but Sister Clare will be repatriated to Dublin Airport tomorrow evening. Her remains are being flown from Ecuador to Madrid and then onto Dublin. Her family are understandably very relieved by this news." Sister Clare's story of how she heard the call to religious life as an 18-year-old self-confessed "party animal" has spread across the globe since she died. Fr Roland Colhoun, a friend of Sister Clare and her family in Derry, said that while the delay in getting her back to her family has been painful for them, it did allow them extra time to adjust to their loss and grief ahead of their final goodbye on Monday. He said: "It is an enormous relief for the family that the waiting for Sister Clare's repatriation is almost ended and they have a definite day for her funeral. "The delay was due to the practical demands on Ecuador dealing with over 600 deaths in the aftermath of the earthquake, but a delay is not always a bad thing because it allows time to grieve and prepare and pray. "People right across the globe have heard of Sister Clare and watched her video on YouTube in the days since she died. Her message is global and even I have learnt so much more about her and I knew her." Sister Clare's remains will be taken from her parent's home in the Brandywell at 11.20am for 12pm Requiem Mass in the Long Tower Church on Monday, May 2 before burial in the City Cemetery. Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Pictured is emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Pictured is emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Pictured is emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) The search for a man who fell in the Lagan has been stood down and is to resume at dawn on Saturday. Authorities were called to an incident at Donegall Quay in Belfast city centre at around 5pm after a man was spotted in the river. A passerby entered the water in a rescue attempt before the emergency services arrived. His rescue was unsuccessful and the passerby was able to safely get out of the river. Search operations continued late into the night and the Lagan Bridge was shut to the public. An Ambulance Service spokesman said they were called to the area at 5.10pm to a report of two people in the water. He said the man who attempted the rescue was able to get himself out of the water and was not in need of treatment. Expand Close Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emergency services at the scene of an incident at Donegall Quay ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph ) Paramedics remained at the scene and the Coastguard also attended. However, at 11pm the Coastguard said the search had been stood down and would resume at first light on Saturday. Actors Glenn Wallace and Genevieve OReilly as Trevor and Hazel Buchanan in ITVs The Secret Jimmy Nesbitt as dentist Colin Howell and Genevieve OReilly as Hazel Stewart carrying out the double murder Genevieve OReilly as Hazel Stewart in The Secret Jimmy Nesbitt as dentist Colin Howell and Genevieve OReilly as Hazel Stewart carrying out the double murder Genevieve OReilly and James Nesbitt in The Secret Jimmy Nesbitt as dentist Colin Howell and Genevieve OReilly as Hazel Stewart carrying out the double murder A scene from The Secret showing the Buchanans in church Jimmy Nesbitt as dentist Colin Howell and Genevieve OReilly as Hazel Stewart carrying out the double murder The long-awaited drama starring James Nesbitt as respectable dentist turned double murderer Colin Howell aired on Friday night - with many taking to Twitter to offer their thoughts. The first in the four-part drama series about Colin Howell and Hazel Stewart who murdered their partners in 1991 was on UTV. While there were a few to tweet criticism, in the main the reaction was good with many praising James Nesbitt for his portrayal of the good dentist and faithful Christian who would turn to murder. Just watched #TheSecret on @utv was really good! James nesbitt never disappoints Laura Taylor (@LauraLou104) April 29, 2016 Am I the only person who finds Jimmy Nesbitt disturbing whatever he's in? #TheSecret S C Richmond (@sc_richmond3) April 29, 2016 The number of people watching #TheSecret who think the title refers to an affair, shows how few news stories from here, make it over there. Laure James (@LaureJames) April 29, 2016 'The Secret' with james nesbitt was a really good show.People truly are awful. Christopher (@ghostdance3000) April 29, 2016 @barrabest Thought I'd see you as an actor on The Secret or was it you in charge of getting the windeys steamy in the car?! Netmums Jill (@netmumsjillh) April 29, 2016 So chilling to think #thesecret is based on a true story #rollonnextweek well done @ITV Wizz (@wizzly88) April 29, 2016 They didn't really show how their relationship/affair developed at all #TheSecret Caroline Lee (@Lady_Carolina_) April 29, 2016 What a twisted man he is!what if we could end their suffering? I think you find your causing it pal! #TheSecret Donna le p (@DonnaLePrev) April 29, 2016 @BelTel Jimmy is great, as always. Gary McAllen (@garymcallen) April 29, 2016 Some quite odd depictions in #TheSecret . But still an horrific story. Feeling for the fine folk of those congregations. Mark Thompson (@MarkThompDesign) April 29, 2016 @utv Actors in #TheSecret look scarily like their real life characters and esp. loving the 'vintage' props and cars!! Laura Morrow (@morrowlaura25) April 29, 2016 @BelTel poor casting. No chemistry between the 2. especially with Nesbitt Jenny Wilson (@jenailsa) April 29, 2016 Half an hour has passed n I'm already gripped by #TheSecret this is already looking fantastic Samantha Friar (@friar_samantha) April 29, 2016 #TheSecret making one hour of a Friday night bearable Aisling McGroggan (@AislingMcGro) April 29, 2016 OK, lads, could do without the singing. Nesbitt singing is worrisome, unless its The Hobbit. (And now wet Nesbitt, sweet lord.) #TheSecret Anna (@travellinwriter) April 29, 2016 Jimmy Nesbitt is a superb creep #TheSecret #KillerDentist Tra Ghearr (@TraGearrFear) April 29, 2016 Whenever I see a programme based in #NorthernIreland it makes me realise how much I miss the place. #Thesecret James Carlyle (@jacnw6) April 29, 2016 #thesecret I know what happens in the end (he was my dentist IRL) Sam Campbell (@SC3L) April 29, 2016 Behind 'entertainment' of #thesecret are two innocent victims & those who loved them. Remembering them all tonight. pic.twitter.com/7qlU1XENYN Stuart Buchanan (@big_stu1977) April 29, 2016 The Secret tells the real-life story of how Coleraine Sunday school teacher Stewart and her lover Howell turned into murderers. Howell and Hazel, who then went under her married name of Buchanan, became embroiled in an affair and plotted to kill their spouses, Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan. Read more: Read More The Secret tells the dramatic story of how the Ballymoney dentist and lay preacher gassed his wife and Stewart's husband to make their deaths look like a suicide pact. For almost 20 years they lied to families, police and friends until Howell confessed in 2009. The couple each received a life sentence for their roles in the Castlerock murders. Nesbitt appears alongside Genevieve O'Reilly, who plays Hazel. Dublin-born actress Genevieve (39) says that when she read the script she was immediately drawn into the Stewart/Howell web of deceit and lies, and ultimately murder. She said: "We are not working with fiction - this is the truth and there are real lives and real people involved here." While there has been a lot of anticipation around the programme, some commentary and opinion has voiced that it is being aired too soon. However, one of Trevor Buchanan's best friends told the Belfast Telegraph he had no issue with it. Kevin McAuley, now a freelance photographer first met Trevor in 1986 as the police officer and his wife, Hazel, were transferred from Omagh to Coleraine. He said: "There are many people who knew the victims and the killers - leaving aside even their families - and they may be upset that this drama is being screened. "However, people have to live in the real world and accept that a television series has been made. I don't have any issue with this drama, but others may have a different opinion." The drama is based on the book, Let This Be Our Secret, by Deric Henderson, the former Ireland editor of the Press Association. The first episode airs tonight (Friday April 29) at 9pm. Madeleine McCann vanished at the age of three while on holiday with her parents in Portugal in 2007 British police believe Madeleine McCann could have been taken by a gang of thieves during a botched robbery, according to reports. Three-year-old Madeleine McCann disappeared from the family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007. She would turn 13 next month. The investigation into Madeleine McCann's disappearance could finish in the next few months. Scotland Yard boss Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said investigators are following one remaining line of inquiry and unless any new evidence comes forward, that will spell the end of the British probe. The Sun reports that the botched robbery could be that line of inquiry. Read more: Read More The newspaper reports British police have revealed Madeleine may have been snatched during a break-in at the apartment where she was sleeping. Mobile calls between the men on the night of her disappearance placed the men at the scene. One of the gang of thieves worked for the resort, police believe the man who drove a tourist bus for the Mark Warner complex was also working with a 16-year-old and two other men. Now British police want to quiz the three suspects further, having already questioned them previously. They were arrested on the request of British police but have been released. They have previously denied being involved in Madeleine's disappearance. The Home Office has granted 95,000 funding to keep the investigation - which now only has a handful of officers working on it - going for another few months. Sir Bernard said: "The size of the team has come down radically, we are now down to two or three people in that team, at one stage there were about 30 officers in it. "There is a line of inquiry that everybody agrees is worthwhile pursuing." When asked when the probe, called Operation Grange, will end, the Met chief added: "At the moment it would be at the conclusion of this line of inquiry unless something else comes up. An ambulance driver was killed in the crash Northern Ireland colleagues of an ambulance driver killed when his vehicle collided with another ambulance in north Wales have extended their condolences. Three people are receiving treatment in hospital after the fatal crash in Pwllheli, Gwynedd, on Thursday. The Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust (WAS) said an urgent response ambulance collided with a patient care service vehicle on a stretch of the A499 shortly before 3pm. Seven teams of paramedics were scrambled to the crash site, including two air ambulances, three ambulances by road and two rapid response cars. The driver o f the patient care service vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, the WAS said. Three people travelling in the urgent response ambulance were taken to the Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital with serious injuries, they added. WAS head of operations in North Wales, Sonia Thompson, said: "We were all absolutely devastated to hear about this tragic accident, and our thoughts are with everyone involved. "We're doing everything we can to support our affected colleagues, and are working hard to understand what happened." Richard Lee, the WAS's director of operations, added: "As an ambulance service we deal with road traffic accidents on a daily basis. These are always difficult for our staff to deal with, but even more so when they involve our colleagues. "We have plans in place to support our staff in Pwllheli and the wider Gwynedd area over the coming days." News of the tragedy was met with messages of support from emergency service providers from across the country and further afield. The WAS said it had been overwhelmed by the "humbling and deeply touching" reaction adding: "Out of adversity comes strength. We are truly stronger together. Thank you." London's Metropolitan Special Constabulary tweeted that their thoughts were with all those involved at the WAS as part of the "#999family". The Northern Ireland College of Paramedics said it was "very tragic news", tweeting: "Our thoughts are with our @WelshAmbulance colleagues and their families this evening." West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Our deepest sympathies go out to our colleagues in @WelshAmbulance who lost one of their own in a crash today. #RIP." Jim Hancox, aircrew supervisor at Midlands Air Ambulance's Strensham base, wrote: "Words can't express the sadness and loss our @WelshAmbulance colleagues will be feeling tonight. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you..." The Dublin Fire Brigade tweeted: "Thinking of our colleagues in @WelshAmbulance and everyone affected by today's tragic events #999family." North Wales Police appealed for witnesses with information to contact the Roads Policing Unit on 101, quoting reference number U060780. One of the world's most complex machines has been temporarily immobilised - by a weasel. The world's largest atom smasher, the Large Hadron Collider at Cern outside Geneva, has suspended operations because a weasel invaded a transformer that helps power the machine and set off an electrical outage on Thursday night. Authorities say the incident was one of several small glitches that will delay plans to restart the collider by a few days. Spokesman Arnaud Marsollier said that the weasel died - and little remains of it. Officials of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, known by its French acronym Cern, have been gearing up for new data from the 17-mile circuit that runs underground on the Swiss-French border. Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he[a] came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. (Ezekiel 43:1-5) As we countdown the days to inaugurationthere is a sense of hope with the arrival of a new administration to take the White House. While the focus is primarily on the new president and the political agenda, over the years, the First Lady has become a topic of conversation as well. It has become tradition for the First Lady to step in, roll up her sleeves and fight to keep the American Dream alive right beside our newly elected fearless leader. A tradition that I, along with many, would like to see continue with the election of another president in 2016. And, yes, I am aware that it could be a First Man in Washington (Bill Clinton), but that is another feature. Heidi Nelson Cruz, the wife of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas and GOP candidate, is the daughter of missionary parents where faith created a solid foundation and a path to the present. Heidi Cruz was raised in a Seventh-day Adventist household and identifies with the Baptist faith. My parents were strong believers and they were very active in their church. They practiced what they preached and lived a principled life. They were missionaries in their free time, she stated. Heidi Nelson traveled to Kenya and Nigeria with her parents to provide dental care for people as part of that missionary work. I was so intrigued by what we saw abroad and what makes America work so well, she shared. America always has been an aspirational political system that was relatively free of corruption. As I went through school as an adult, I realized if we dont keep those [traits] alive in our countrylike freedom of religion, and freedom of speechour country will be so different, like those I visited as a kid. No First Lady agenda is publicized during primary season, but it is obvious Heidi Cruz is passionate about education. Every child needs to have access to a quality education as public schools have failed us she offered. The opportunity to go to a private school is just too expensive for most Americans. Heidi and her brother learned the value of education and hard work. As kids they had their own business making breada reported 200 loaves per week. This was done before they headed to school in the morning. We learned how to produce something, how to change it to what a customer wants, we had to pay for our ingredients, and with some of our money we tithed, she reflected. With this, shes interested in seeing more entrepreneurial programs for kids. Shes a businesswoman (she was previously an investment manager at Goldman Sachs, but paused her career as together they pursued Teds political career) and knows the political chess game. Mrs. Cruz was a political advisor on George W. Bushs presidential campaign from 2003-2004now she campaigns with her husband. Heidi Cruz has previously said that our country was built on Judeo-Christian valuesand that there is an assault taking place on God and the unborn. Should Senator Cruz be elected, she would become the sole First Lady to firmly and publicly hold a 100 percent prolife viewpoint. And, virtually unheard of in politics these days, Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson has recently endorsed her due to this very public stance. Its interesting that the majority of this country is now prolife, depending where you live. I think a lot of it has to do with the advancement of [technology] and doctors [being] able to take pictures of the baby in the womb. People can see how incredibly early the cells form. You have to make the argument, to win the argument, to win the vote. The prolife movement has been very active and making the argument for a long time and started to win the argument [to] protect life, liberty and happiness. Not only is protecting life from conception imperative to Heidi. The pivotal grassroots movement that the Ted Cruz campaign waging by going house-to-house to talk with discontented and disfranchised voters is making an impact she said. Heidi Cruz believes that many evangelicals and conservatives are done with GOP party and its compromises made with President Barack Obama. They cant solve the issues of the day without catering to Obama over and over. Whether its on Obamacare or on Iran, or the debt deficit where an overwhelmingly majority in this country are against whats going onvoters are tired of do-nothing politicians. Dont discount Heidi Cruz from running for public office, as this is not completely off the table, she said as the team campaigned in New Jersey in April. Regardless of what happens in the coming months, you will hear again from Mrs. Cruz. Her vigor for politics has taken root and she is determined to make a difference. Corine Gatti is a Senior Editor at Beliefnet.com. Talks with Deep South rebels are alive but a limited ceasefire must be in place before Thailand can agree to terms for advancing the peace process, Bangkoks chief negotiator said Friday. If there continues to be violence on the ground, the public will not have trust in peace talks, Gen. Aksara Kerdpol said two days after leading a Thai delegation in a meeting in Kuala Lumpur with negotiators from the rebel side. Therefore, it is a must to cease violence in certain areas, and then we can join together to prepare a comprehensive TOR [Terms of Reference] spanning over the trust-building stage, he told reporters in Bangkok. But as Kerdpol assured the public that the talks were still on, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha appeared to send a different signal about the state of southern peace talks. Prayuth told reporters at Government House that the peace talks were not successful because both sides had different intentions. If the other side has the same intention as us, the problems can be solved, the prime minister said Friday. As he put it, Thailand could not negotiate with members of banned groups such as insurgents. Such organizations are all outlawed, Prayuth said, adding, [T]he government cannot bargain with them using domestic laws. Thailand cannot talk to wrongdoers. They do not have a clear status Aksara was responding to a statement issued Thursday by MARA Patani a panel representing various southern rebel groups and factions which claimed the Thai side was not ready to agree to the reference terms that the insurgents see as ground rules for opening formal peace talks. Since the Thai junta launched its efforts last year to open formal peace talks, violence associated with the decades-long separatist insurgency has kept simmering in the Malay-speaking and predominantly Muslim Deep South. A surge in attacks by suspected rebels has killed at least 35 people since early February. On Thursday a spokesman for MARA Patani said negotiators from technical sub-committees on both sides had mutually agreed to those terms which have not been made public during previous discussions. The one thing that we and the dissidents differed on is that I had a technical panel to discuss setting up safety zones so that people have trust [in the process], but the dissidents wanted to sign the TOR, Aksara said of Wednesdays meeting in Kuala Lumpur, referring to zones for a limited ceasefire in the Deep South. Lt. Gen. Nakrob Boonbuathong, the only Thai official involved in negotiations with rebels since 2013 and who headed the technical panel to which Aksara alluded, has been dismissed as secretary of the Thai delegation. According to Aksara, it also is unclear whether MARA Patani has legitimate standing as an umbrella body negotiating on behalf of rebels and whether the rebel ranks are united behind it. Like I have said before, they do not have a clear status while we do have an order from the Prime Minister office [to conduct negotiations]. So, I said, we should continue to build mutual trust, Aksara added. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. Nicht personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung werden u. a. von Inhalten, die Sie sich gerade ansehen, und Ihrem Standort beeinflusst (welche Werbung Sie sehen, basiert auf Ihrem ungefahren Standort). Personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung konnen auch Videoempfehlungen, eine individuelle YouTube-Startseite und individuelle Werbung enthalten, die auf fruheren Aktivitaten wie auf YouTube angesehenen Videos und Suchanfragen auf YouTube beruhen. Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Armenia says 13 incidents of ceasefire violations occurred in the northeastern part of the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border. The ministrys statement reads: 13 incidents of ceasefire violations occurred overnight April 28-29 in the northeastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. Azerbaijani forces opened irregular fire from various caliber weapons and sniper rifles at Armenian positions. The Armenian Armed Forces took countermeasures only in case of strict necessity and continue monitoring the border. According to the Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh Azerbaijani forces continue violating the ceasefire agreement. The ministrys announcement reads:Azerbaijani forces continued violating the ceasefire agreement overnight April 28-29, firing various caliber weapons, including 60mm (19 shells), 82 mm (128 shells), 120mm (5 shells) mortars, RPG-7 (2 grenades), AGS-17 (27 grenades) and SPG-9 (2 grenades) grenade launchers. The Karabakhi forces are in control of the situation and continue monitoring the borders. For Immediate Release, April 29, 2016 Contact: Justin Augustine, (503) 910-9214 or jaugustine@biologicaldiversity.org Forest Service Approves Habitat Destruction in Sierra Nevada Roadless Area Decision Allows Post-fire Logging in Habitat Occupied by Rare West Coast Fishers FRESNO, Calif. The U.S. Forest Service this week issued a decision approving more than 1,000 acres of post-fire logging in a roadless area in the Sierra National Forest that U.S. Forest Service surveys, conducted post-fire, show to be occupied by rare West Coast fishers (Pekania pennanti). Photo courtesy Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This photo is available for media use. The Forest Services decision to log the area comes just weeks after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied protections to West Coast fisher populations under the Endangered Species Act. Instead of listing the species, the Fish and Wildlife Service bowed to pressure from the timber industry and withdrew its 2014 proposal a proposal that had recommended protecting fishers on the basis of overwhelming scientific evidence showing threats to their survival from logging, toxic chemicals used by illegal marijuana growers and other factors such as climate change. The Forest Services action to approve logging in fisher habitat further demonstrates why fishers need Endangered Species Act protection to recover in the Sierra. Its appalling to see the Forest Service allowing important wildlife habitat to be destroyed, especially in a roadless area, said Justin Augustine, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. Roadless areas represent some of the last, best places for wildlife like fishers to survive. The Forest Service needs to be protecting these places, not logging them. Late last year a court found the Forest Service in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act for failing to properly address the impacts of logging in roadless areas within the footprint of the 2014 French fire. The court sent the Forest Service back to the drawing board, but the Service has now issued yet another decision authorizing the same logging it had illegally approved. The Center will head back to court to ask that the existing prohibition against logging remains in place, especially given the presence of West Coast fishers. Fishers are cat-like, medium-sized members of the weasel family with slender, brown bodies and long, bushy tails. They once roamed from British Columbia to the southern Sierra in California, but due to intense logging and trapping pressure, today only two naturally occurring populations survive there are about 300 fishers in the southern Sierra Nevada, including Sierra National Forest, and a population of 250 to a few thousand fishers in southern Oregon and Northern California. In the Sierra fishers are found in mature, dense conifer forest, as well as in burned forest such as that created by the French fire. Post-fire logging, however, removes the vast majority of the trees and prevents the natural regeneration of trees, shrubs or other vegetation, thus rendering the area unsuitable for wildlife. This logging project will destroy the very complex forest ecosystems that fishers need to survive and ruin the roadless character of these beautiful public lands, said Augustine. The Forest Service should be maintaining the integrity of roadless areas and wildlife habitat, not logging them. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. Emma Thompson is in the news again with her mobile bake off protest against fracking in Lancashire. Cartoons by Josh In addition to her role as creative director at FCB Africa, where she's the creative lead on Famous Brands' Wimpy and Coca-Cola South Africa, Suhana Gordhan is a member of the Loeries board. Gordhan entered the advertising industry in 2001 and has worked on some of the countrys much loved brands, at agencies like Ogilvy, Black River FC and Net#work BBDO. Shes passionate about the art of copywriting, building client relationships and working together to make iconic South African work. Some of her award wins include a Loerie Grand Prix, Black Eagle, Gold Pendoring, Creative Circle Ad of the Year, a Silver Pixel at The Bookmarks and a Cannes Silver Lion. Shes proud of African creativity and has a strong commitment to growing creativity in this country and on this continent. She was nominated onto the Loerie Committee by Neo Mashigo, current Chairman of the Loeries, and at the start of this year, was nominated on to the board Sometimes you need to put your head in the clouds. 1. Where do you live, work and play? Gordhan: I live in Morningside, work at 164 Katherine Street and play at Sloane Square (behind the Chicken Licken) where I do capoeira a Brazilian martial art. 2. Whats your claim to fame? Gordhan: Pissing off a dictator, and winning a Loerie Grand Prix for it. This was a piece of work called Last Dictator Standing that was created with the brilliant Ahmed Tilly and a very talented team at Black River FC while working on the Nandos brand. It was one of the most interesting pieces of work Ive ever been involved in because even Robert Mugabe saw it, and I had no idea that dictators have time to watch TV. Anyway, he didnt like it very much but thats a story for another day. More importantly, it was a chance for us to do brave work with a client that was willing to buy brave work. Even though the ad was pulled a week into flighting, we still achieved our targets in what was one of Nandos most successful December periods. 3. Describe your career so far. Gordhan: Fear and Loathing. Love in the time of Cholera. My career started out with me sitting at my first Loerie Awards ever, wondering how the hell I would survive in an industry that seemed so crazy. My first job as a copywriter was at the university of advertising Ogilvy & Mather, Rightford Searle-Tripp and Makin. Back then, it was very much a boys club with old-school creative directors who were scary, chauvinistic and somewhat cruel. I used to call my mum and dad from the office every night in tears. Then the opportunity came to be a professional dancer with a company in Durban called Flatfoot Dance Company and so I ran away and danced my heart out. Eventually, I returned to advertising and started to let go of the fear of this mad industry and under the right leadership, I started to love copywriting and building brands and relationships with clients. 14 years later, Ive realised that advertising has coloured my world with the unpopular Crayola colours I might not have initially selected, and it has offered me some of my most memorable experiences. There are still days when I want to call home and ball my eyes out, but mostly there is an understanding that while what we do is incredibly hard, there is great reward in making and creating, and a simple love in seeing your ideas grow and find a space in the world. 4. Tell us a few of your favourite things. Gordhan: I love words and one of my favourite things is the secret joy that comes from picking the best words like picking coconut chocolate in the All Sorts box, and not orange creme. I love the mountains specifically a hike to Policemans Helmet in the Northern Drakensberg (where my selfie was taken). It is pure peace and beauty. I love capoeira (even though everyone teases me because they think its a dance). It is a martial art that is over 400 years old, started by the African slaves in Brazil. It involves strength, flexibility, creativity, strategy, music and what is called manginga trickery. 5. What do you love about your industry? Gordhan: I love this industry because there is something new to learn every day. It keeps you young. I love the brains trust in this industry. And I love that you can say things like Puppy Monkey Baby and people will know what you mean. There is a power in creativity to solve problems and there is a beauty in making the things that were born in your mind. 6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists. Gordhan: Coffee. Diary. Freak out. Coffee. Reviews. Reviews. Meetings. Meetings. When will I pee? Crisis. Crisis resolved. Brown rice and lentils. Walk talk eat. Hello client. Heres my idea. You dont like my idea? I have more! Traffic. Phone calls. Phone calls. Home. Ping. Whatsapp. Zzzz. Ping. 7. What are the tools of your trade? Gordhan: I think we live in a time where people who enter this industry have to be multidisciplinary. They have to be experimental and fast learners. You become so much more marketable if you can do more than writing or art direction. Having said that though, you still need to have exceptional skill at your core form writing, design or art direction. And it also helps if you love your skill. Apart from the artisanal tools, I believe that in this industry, you also need emotional intelligence and a spirit of resilience. 8. Who is getting it right in your industry? Gordhan: I think its a really tough time in the industry. Were facing many issues like transformation, finding talent, integration between agency partners, and of course, an economic slide that has made our clients incredibly nervous, grumpy and fearful. The ones that are getting it right are the ones that have let go of the silos called ATL, BTL, digital and PR. Theyre the ones who are integrating seamlessly. Theyre the ones who arent afraid to make truly South African work. They also have clients who are less clingy and more trusting, clients who respect expertise and who are willing to be partners in the process of making great work. 9. What are you working on right now? Gordhan: Right now, Im working on an Olympics campaign for Coca-Cola and some very exciting global work for Coca-Cola in 2017. Im also working on a new product launch for Wimpy. 10. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry at the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself. Gordhan: I hate catchphrases so I try to avoid using them but sometimes catchphrases are like unannounced guests and suddenly phrases like take this offline and unpack further barge out of my mouth. Some of the buzzwords floating around that need to be swatted are content, storytelling, engagement, ROI and relevant. 11. Where and when do you have your best ideas? Gordhan: When Im truly relaxed in the shower, occasionally in my sleep and while walking. Basically, the best ideas come when you arent wearing a hat that says, Im looking for a big Cannes Grand Prix idea. 12. Whats your secret talent/party trick? Gordhan: I can do the cancan and the moonwalk with my fingers. 13. Are you a technophobe or a technophile? Gordhan: Im a technophobe when there are too many cords involved and the UX sucks, and a technophile the rest of the time. 14. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone? Gordhan: More than one to-do list. Random quotes that I like. Random pictures. My new favourite meditation app. And my inbox that has a red label over it reading 4,284. What?! I dont have time to delete emails. 15.What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack into the industry? Gordhan: Dont be afraid of hard work. Dont be afraid to learn from people around you. Dont sit down in an agency and become one with the wallpaper. Cynicism is your enemy. Find bits of yourself that you want to put into your work. And dont do this if you dont love it. Simple as that. You can read more about Gordhan by clicking here, tracking her blog, following her fortnightly column in the Business Day and interacting with her on Twitter Remember to visit the Loeries website and our special section to keep your finger on that creative pulse if you cant wait for Loeries Creative Week Durban from 15 to 21 August. The late termination of pregnancies displaying severe foetal anomalies is both an ethically and morally challenging dilemma. The outbreak of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in South America last year is a good example of this dilemma faced by under-resourced countries. What started out as a question about containment and the causal relationship between the Zika virus and microcephaly, quickly escalated into an issue about access to reproductive health and womens right to abortion. Declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that the Zika virus is indeed directly responsible for the exponential birth of babies born in South America with severe neurological defects. Legal and ethical obligation According to Sylvester Chima, professor of medical ethics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and speaker at the 6th annual Health Exhibition & Congress 2016, doctors have a legal and ethical obligation to provide an accurate antenatal diagnosis to enable informed decision making. With a duty to protect womens autonomy and preservation of scarce healthcare resources on one hand, but the foetuses right to personhood and the doctors moral obligation to society on the other, counselling women to make an informed decision is a real challenge. Zika prognosis not a good one Prof. Chima explains that, based on MRI scans, the brain stem and the cerebellum of babies born with microcephaly are severely deformed, as has been the case with the Zika virus. These parts of the brain oversee bodily functions that dont require active thought. Affected children will need constant care for the remainder of their lives. Health professionals are unable to confirm the life expectancy of a baby with microcephaly who is severely intellectually impaired, and the prognosis is not a good one. Right of abortion a human right Abortion is illegal under any circumstances in seven South American countries, including El Salvador which has been the hardest hit by Zika after Brazil. In addition, abortion is not permitted for any reason in 11 African countries. With regards to South Africa, the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act 1996, allows women in South Africa to terminate pregnancies with severe congenital anomalies such as those caused by the Zika virus, if diagnosed before delivery up to 40 weeks of pregnancy. In countries with restrictive laws, women carrying an abnormal foetus will be forced to deliver the baby, says Prof. Chima. In these cases, developmentally challenged babies and children generally require extensive and lifelong support, which can add greater resource allocation issues to already under-resourced healthcare systems. He adds there is a moral obligation on doctors to prevent waste of healthcare resources. This may occur when scarce technological modalities such as artificial ventilations and incubation is deployed in the futile management of commonly lethal foetal anomalies, thereby denying access to other neonates who maybe are amenable to treatment. African Charter on the Rights of Women Prof. Chima is however hopeful. The United Nations has called access to abortion a human right. Termination of pregnancy for severe foetal anomalies is supported by international laws against cruel and inhuman punishment and is enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In Africa, the United Nations Human Rights Committee findings are consistent with the protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women. This obligates African countries as signatories to the African Charter, to liberalise abortion law and provide mechanisms for easy access, so that women can exercise the right to terminate. While some signatories to the African Charter display relatively liberal abortion laws, African women unfortunately still suffer under the unfair burden of restricted access to contraception and safe abortions. Only 3% of African abortions safe According to the WHO, a safe abortion is deemed one performed by a medical professional with the necessary skills and in an environment that conforms to minimum medical standards. Of the 6,4m abortions carried out in Africa in 2008, only 3% were performed under safe condition. While the Guttmacher Institute says unsafe abortions resulted in at least 9% of maternal deaths of African women in 2014. Its argued that many African countries would benefit by liberalising abortion laws and minimising the incidence of unsafe abortions. This way African countries can improve maternal mortality and morbidity associated with restrictive abortions laws, says Prof. Chima. Access to reproductive health Furthermore, he says that, while diagnostic modalities have drastically improved prenatal diagnosis in developed countries, the availability of these resources and expertise remains scarce in poorer nations. The situation is exacerbated in Africa, where women in certain countries suffer limited access to reproductive healthcare. The issue raised by the Zika virus is that the womens right to reproductive health and the denial of abortion in these extreme cases impacts on fundamental human rights. We should look at this case and reflect on our approach to the allocation of healthcare resources, the management of foetal abnormalities in Africa and our ethical and legal approach to late termination of such pregnancies, he concludes. Prof. Chima will be speaking at the ethics, human rights and medical law conference, which will form part of the 6th annual Africa Health Exhibition & Congress 2016 taking place 8-10 June 2016 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of Armenian National Committee of Sweden Arshak Gavafyan told Armenpress that the Armenian community of Sweden will provide financial assistance to the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. When the situation escalated in Nagorno Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijani provocative actions, we organized a meeting here and decided to send a letter of complaint to the Swedish Government by the name of the Armenian National Committee. Our demand was to conduct steps to stop Azerbaijani operations. We have also successfully organized a protest with cooperation of Embassy of Armenia to Sweden, Scandinavia Armenian Church and Armenian Associations Coordination Center. Moreover, we understood that we need to support Artsakh people and we decided to financially help them. Now the process of allocating financial resources is underway, everyone contributes how much he can. The money will be sent to Artsakh in the upcoming weeks, Arshak Gavafyan said. He informed that they havent decided yet for what the money would be spend. Maybe it can spend on the families of victims, families of wounded or killed soldiers. Maybe they need to buy equipment for Army defense or to restore the destroyed houses. However, one thing is clear that we will provide financial assistance to Artsakh people, Arshak Gavafyan added. Drinking that glass of orange juice is the healthy thing to do, right? Not always. Not all South African orange juices in the shops are equally healthy. It depends on where the oranges come from, which variety used, what was added and whether the juice was freshly squeezed or made from concentrate. JESHOOTS via pixabay This is according to Dr Cindy Hunlun, who did the first investigative study of its kind in South Africa on the content and health value of locally produced orange juice. Dr Hunlun was awarded a doctorate in Food Science on this subject by Stellenbosch University (SU) in March. Dr Hunlun worked in the juice industry for five years before being appointed as a lecturer at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and thereafter starting work on her doctorate. Her supervisor was Dr Gunnar Sigge of the SU Department of Food Science. He was assisted by Dr Dalene de Beer and Prof Jessy van Wyk. According to Dr Sigge, quite a lot of work has been done in the agricultural industry on the cultivation and packaging of citrus fruit, but local research into its health value has been minimal. As much as two million tons of oranges are harvested annually for the export market and local consumption. Some of these are also processed into value-added products, such as orange juice. Comparing oranges As part of her research, Dr Hunlun carefully investigated the chemical and phenolic content (which influences nutritional value) of three orange varieties that are cultivated on a large scale in South Africa. These are the varieties Mandarin, Navel, and Valencia. She also compared the content of frozen orange concentrate, the juice which is eventually made from it, and freshly squeezed juice. The antioxidant levels, which are a measure of good health value, were also ascertained for each. She collected orange juice samples from two cultivation areas (the Western and Eastern Cape) over three seasons. It was analysed to ascertain what influence variety, seasonality and cultivation area can have on fruit content. The way in which the fruit was handled after harvesting can also have an influence. Dr Hunlun found, among other things, that the antioxidant levels of Eastern Cape oranges are higher than that of fruit produced in the Western Cape and that it, therefore, has more nutritional value. These aspects are also higher in locally produced Navel and Valencia oranges than in Mandarins. Fresh is always better Most orange juices in South African shops are made from concentrate which is frozen and then sold to juice producers. Dr Hunlun found that such juice had appreciably less health value than a glass of freshly squeezed juice. The freshly squeezed option enjoyed higher phenolic levels and contained more antioxidants than concentrate versions. If you are in search of the maximum amount of health value in a glass of orange juice, it is best to drink freshly squeezed juice, Dr Hunlun advises. Diluted juices In addition, it was found that the health value of orange juice made from frozen concentrate is also affected by the extent to which it is diluted with the juice of other fruits. The formulation of juice is determined by legislation, according to which the juice of a specific fruit type (like orange) may be diluted with the juice of another (for example apple, pear or grape), but may still be sold as the original 100% orange juice blend. In the process, however, this drink loses many of the healthy characteristics which consumers assume are part of the juice made from a specific kind of fruit, says Dr Hunlun. She, therefore, believes that legislation should change to protect consumers. This is because not everyone sufficiently understands how to read and interpret the product labels on which dilution is indicated. "When the stakes are high, competition is fierce and change is rapid; market intelligence becomes crucial for success," said Nomzamo Radebe, president of the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) and CEO of JHI, speaking at the sixth annual SACSC research conference in Sandton recently. The one-day conference offered a line-up of new ideas, insights, cutting-edge solutions and best practice for the retail and property industry. Getting to know the consumer, identifying new trends, and harnessing the value of technology are among the top challenges for todays innovative retailers and shopping centres. Trends in technology and consumer patterns will shape retail in new and interesting ways well into the future as the lines between physical and digital retail continue to blur. In all areas of retail, change is the new normal, noted Radebe. Know your shoppers better As innovation and adaptability become ever more critical, and omni-channel retail becomes omnipresent, Radebe believes that prospering in this new era of retail requires shopping centres and retailers to know their shoppers better than ever before. Technology-driven change in the retail environment is compelling us to become more flexible and open to new retail concepts, ways of working, store formats, customer services, rental models, reporting systems and marketing channels. And, this is only the beginning, she said. Around 270 delegates were in attendance this year, making the event even bigger than the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) research conference. Radebe added: The popularity of the research conference shows the value that modern retail places on keeping pace with new developments and applications in technology, the latest world-class solutions and ever-changing consumer trends. SACSC is the official umbrella body of all involved shopping centres, including: owners, developers, managing agents, brokers, professionals, retailers, marketers, service providers, financiers and researchers. It was officially launched in 1991 to advance the retail and retail property sectors of South Africa. SACSC promotes the interests of the sector both in South Africa and internationally, while addressing issues and meeting challenges within the industry. It engages with associated sectors and other stakeholders on behalf of its members and highlights the role of shopping centres as a major resource for all communities in South Africa. Most online merchants focus on listing as many products on their website rather than focusing on their website's ranking on search engines... This is the prime mistake merchants make and it ends up costing more than using traditional methods. If you are contemplating on using an e-commerce website to market your products and services, there are a few SEO mistakes you should avoid. Most online merchants focus on listing as many products on their website rather than focusing on their websites ranking on search engines. This is the prime mistake merchants make and it ends up costing more than using traditional methods. If you are contemplating on using an e-commerce website to market your products and services, there are a few SEO mistakes you should avoid. Lack of product descriptions No matter what you wish to offer on your website, content is always king. It is what contains the relevant keywords that search engine crawlers look for when ranking a website. The complete lack of a description virtually keeps your web page from getting in the top queries of search engines. In addition to that, the graphical representation of your products can only do so much in winning the hearts of prospective clients. Read more on Ventureburn.com. The new building of the Rainbow Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Masiphumelele near Fish Hoek in Cape Town was officially opened on Tuesday, 26 April. The purpose-built centre has four spacious and fully furnished classrooms, ablutions, an office, and kitchen, as well as two jungle gyms in a play area for up to 120 children. Previously, Rainbow ECD was located in a cramped makeshift structure that was not suitable for adequate developmental opportunities for the number of children attending. PenBev, Medicor Foundation and Heat Pump International partnered with Rotary Club of Newlands to build the centre. Ablutions and a rainwater harvesting system were provided by The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation. Children will benefit It is a great joy for us to move the Rainbow children into this building, knowing that they are the ones who will benefit the most. All the parents have been eagerly awaiting the move into the new premises and this opening is a much anticipated celebration for a new beginning, says Steve Zimri, chairman of Rainbow ECD Centre. Rainbow ECD cares for children between one and five years old, providing them with a healthy meal each day and age appropriate social and learning opportunities. According to UNICEF, good nutrition, health, consistent loving care and encouragement to learn in the early years of life help children to do better at school, be healthier, have higher future earnings and participate more in society. What happens during the early years is crucially important for every childs future development. The new Rainbow ECD Centre is our 30th brick and mortar corporate social investment project. We are extremely proud of this long-term investment in the lives of many young children living in Masiphumelele, says PenBev commercial director, John Joubert. Tower Property Fund's 382 Jan Smuts Avenue in Johannesburg recently received a solar PV installation which features a bank of 300 highly efficient solar panels on its roof. These panels will supply approximately 26% of the building's electricity requirements. The project was managed by Spire Sustainable Solutions, part of Spire Property Management, on behalf of the Tower Property Fund. Simon Penso, managing director of Spire Sustainable Solutions, says that initial results are very exciting after the system went live at the end of February 2016. The 382 Jan Smuts solar PV installation is being monitored through a roof top weather station that feeds results through to an online portal that allows Spire Property Management to check how the system is performing at any time. In addition to the solar installation, 382 Jan Smuts also received a lighting retrofit and underwent a functional renovation that involved a facelift of the facade, new bathrooms throughout the three storey office block as well as a complete repaint for the entire building. Other installations In addition to the installation at 382 Jan Smuts, other buildings within Spires portfolio have also received solar installations. Amongst these are the Cape Quarter and the DeVille Shopping Centre in the Western Cape, as well as at 6-8 Sturdee Avenue in Johannesburg. These installations are expected to supply approximately R1.2m worth of electricity in the first year of operation. The value of this power will increase in direct proportion to electricity price increases, says Simon Stubbings, property manager for 382 Jan Smuts. This power is resold to the tenants and so will no longer need to be purchased from Eskom. Spire Sustainable Solutions utilised the services of well-known installation company, Weave Energy, to undertake the installation at 382 Jan Smuts as well as at the DeVille Centre and 6-8 Sturdee Avenue. We are very proud to see the roll-out of another sustainable project within our growing portfolio, says Gregg Huntingford, CEO of Spire Property Management. We have a committed philosophy of working with our clients to reduce the energy footprint of our buildings to the betterment of our clients. We look forward to seeing more in the future. On 21 April, Minister Senzeni Zokwana delivered the budget speech for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. It needs to be kept in mind that a number of entities such as the Agricultural Research Council, the National Marketing Council, and the Veterinary Council all fall under the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and have to share the same budget. Unsplash via pixabay Dan Kriek, deputy president of Agri SA attended the budget speech in Parliament. Kriek pointed out that the budget allocation of DAFF for the 2016/17 financial year is R6.3 billion, which represents a decline of R65.8 million from 2015/16. The portfolio committee stated in its report on the budget that the budgets of priority programmes such as agricultural production, Health and Food Safety and Food Security and Agrarian Reform are declining over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period in real terms. Limited financial resources for crucial industry The budget cuts will also have a negative impact on the allocations to the Departments public entities, particularly the Agricultural Research Council and the Marine Living Resources Fund. This the sector cannot afford, stated Dan Kriek. The ARC plays a crucial role and is already struggling to fulfil its mandate due to limited financial resources. Agriculture is such a crucial sector, not only for the economy, and for enduring food security, but also for ensuring social stability, and it needs more support because of the very severe drought, not less, said Kriek. He added that the portfolio committee stated in its report on the budget that it will be difficult to achieve the laudable goals that the National Development Plan set for the sector, with the continuing reduction in the budget allocation to the Department. The budget allocation to Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is, completely disproportionate to what national policies expect from the sector. There was not enough appreciation of the role of agriculture and the food sector in the countrys economy and society, Kriek said. Drought relief On the subject of drought relief, Kriek said that whilst the assistance from the Land Bank and the IDC, as well as the programmes of DAFF and DRDLR aimed at addressing the impact of the drought, were welcomed, it fell far short of the estimates of what was required to help the sector get back on its feet. Agri SA supported all the assistance aimed at smallholder farmers, but it needed to be recognised that there was an interdependence of all farmers in the sector, big and small, and that, if the bulk of medium and bigger commercial farmers were to disappear, it would also impact negatively on the sustainability of smallholder farmers. High input costs and protection of agriculture land Kriek welcomed the fact that minister Zokwana pointed to the importance of addressing high input costs, and indicated that Agri SA would like to further engage with the Minister on this subject. He also welcomed the intention to better protect agricultural land. It is indeed true that this country is losing productive and arable land at an alarming rate, said Kriek. Whilst Agri SA had some concerns about some of the powers granted to the Minister in the preservation and Protection of Agricultural Land Framework Bill, we do very much welcome the intention to protect our resource without which we cannot farm, he said. Two years after Transnet signed a historic R50bn deal with four manufacturers for 1,064 locomotives, it has hit a snag. The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) says it has not yet received satisfactory information from the manufacturers, as it prepares for local content verification of the project. Tracy Fox via 123RF It is understood that China South Rail Zhuzhou and China North Rail, which won 56% of the tender, are the main culprits. This is the first time local content verification would be done on rolling stock, says the SABS. Canadian firm Bombardier, General Electric (GE) from the US and the two Chinese companies - which have since merged into China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation - are the suppliers. Last year, Transnet became the first state-owned company to secure significant financing from China with a R30bn loan agreement from the China Development Bank to fund the locomotive programme over 15 years. The locomotives are needed to increase capacity in Transnet's general freight business, the most important area of its strategy to shift rail-friendly cargo from road to rail. A waiting game This week two of the four manufacturers - GE and Bombardier - offered details of their progress on localisation to the SABS. But the Chinese manufacturers, which are ahead in terms of the number of locomotives produced, have not responded. GM of government services at SABS, Desmond Govender, yesterday said it had been trying to get information from manufacturers for four weeks, without naming the errant ones. The local content target was more than 69%, said Transnet. If targets were not met penalties would become payable. "We have engaged with the winning bidders and response has not been satisfactory. "We are still waiting for certain information to even start local content verification," said Govender last week at a rail industry summit. Yesterday he said that e-mail addresses for the Chinese manufacturers were not in use when the SABS had tried to make contact. This could have been due to the merger, he said. Localisation targets Govender said the SABS, Transnet, the Treasury and the Department of Trade and Industry had to meet to ensure localisation targets were being met. Transnet executive manager for enterprise and supplier development, Mmadiboka Chokoe, said at the summit that localisation was currently at 9%, which was in line with expectations. There would be a ramp-up as the project continued. GE spokeswoman Thulisile Phiri said the company had agreed to provide the required information to the SABS. "GE is currently in the process of signing a nondisclosure agreement with the SABS and this should be complete by next Friday," said Phiri. GE was approaching 55% local content, she said. It is expected to manufacture 233 locomotives and six had already been built at its US facilities. The remaining 227 would be built locally with 30 completed. Bombardier has set up a facility in SA to build its share of the 240 locomotives. "Bombardier has for several years had ongoing discussions with Transnet and the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) regarding local content and is now engaged with SABS on the topic," said spokeswoman Sandy Roth. A representative for China South Rail Zhuzhou and China North Rail did not respond to requests for comment. At least 40 of their 591 units have already been built in China. Source: Business Day The drop in the number of holidaymakers over the summer holiday season in the Bay and the consistent decline in market share in the Eastern Cape over the last decade indicate that a new inclusive strategy is urgently needed to build both domestic and international numbers to destinations throughout the Eastern Cape. Downward momentum is a difficult trend to reverse and we need to maximise the potential of all areas of our tourism offering. Embracing the meetings market I believe that one of the segments with the highest potential to regain our tourism market share and numbers is the meetings and incentives sector. The potential is clear when considering that 22% of the global tourism business comes from the meeting industry. Not only is this a significant figure, it increases its strategic importance when considering that those on business spend five times more than the spend by leisure tourists. We need to embrace the authentic conference and incentive product variety that the Eastern Cape has to offer and showcase these to our country and the world. The traditional destinations around the country offer a decreasing attraction in a market where creating memorable and fresh experiences are the key to this segment of the tourism market. Companies invest millions in developing a new product or service and then need to stand out in a market that is totally over-communicated. I believe that the meetings market is changing dramatically at the moment. Markets want to be blown away by every aspect of the experience of the get-together and the unauthentic same old venues traditionally used by corporates no longer excite the new generations of businesspeople and consumers. As an industry, we need to reconnect with our target markets and discover what matters most in their lives. Then we need to package our offerings to meet their needs and market them aggressively. Competitive advantage While Nelson Mandela Bay and East London are the main regional hubs for local and regional meetings in the Eastern Cape, its a shame that many of national and international corporates within the provinces borders hold their big events in the larger business centres only. So, we need to rethink our competitive advantage and package it effectively so that we offer authentic experiences that mitigate our competitive challenges such as airfares. Access for international delegates is also more convenient and cheaper to Cape Town and Johannesburg and we need to develop and market compelling meeting experiences to be competitive. Exposure for the province Working within the industry for 35 years, Magnetic Storm has forged long-term relationships with national and international businesses operating in the Eastern Cape and we mostly work with the internal communications departments or HR teams. Most larger organisations have their marketing teams in larger centres and often this results in the big product launches and meetings being held in these destinations. We need Eastern Cape corporates to lead the exposure of our province as an authentic business destination that offers an attractive alternative to the established product experiences that no longer inspire wow. It is time for radical innovation in tourism in the Eastern Cape. We need a solution where all marketing agencies and private enterprise role players develop a common, desirable vision and have a team approach to taking our packages to market. An important element of this is that our corporates start using our authentic gems for their national and international business get-togethers. We have the opportunity to create the momentum that will boost the economic future and provide opportunities for our communities in the Eastern Cape. I believe that this possibility should be enough to excite us and drive the regeneration of the partnerships between the role-players that created our successes and prosperity of the last decade. Potential buyers of the RMS St Helena might have to wait to set sail aboard the vessel. The mail ship, which has plied its trade between Cape Town and the remote Atlantic island of St Helena since it was built in 1990, is being replaced by an air service. But it was announced yesterday that the airport's opening has been delayed indefinitely after test flights revealed dangerous wind conditions. RMS St Helena via Wikimedia Commons Britain's Prince Edward was due to open the airport on May 21, St Helena Day, after arriving on the first Comair passenger flight from Johannesburg, but that plan has now been scrapped. The R5.25-billion airport, built by South African construction company Basil Read between soaring mountains and the South Atlantic Ocean, was designed to boost tourism and revive the community in the British territory. A spokesman at the RMS St Helena office in Cape Town said no decision had been made yet on extending its life. - AFP/Staff reporter Source: The Times Ashton Nyte, the South African frontman for Gothic rock band The Awakening and a prolific solo artist, celebrated his birthday this week and released a new video for A Halo In The Dirt, from his latest album 'Some Kind Of Satellite'. The video, which had its premier with the alternative fashion and culture site Auxilliary Magazine (New York) yesterday, is the third video single from the album, following the cinematic melancholy of Dressing Like You and the faux 'B' movie new wave of See Me Cry. Ashton refers to the new single as not only his favourite song on the album, but also one of the most personal offerings of his stylistically diverse career. But thats not all that Nyte is celebrating. He has written lyrics and recorded vocals for two tracks on British guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite's (Peter Murphy, The Mission, Gary Numan, Tricky) new album, to be released in June on top independent label SPV. The album features what Team Rock has referred to as the star-studded line-up of Ville Valo (HIM), Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Julianne Regan (All About Eve), Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff) and many more. Nyte was introduced to Mark Gemini Thwaite by Adrian Skirrow (ASP Records) last year after Thwaite saw Nyte perform live, supporting Wayne Hussey in South Africa and headlining Skirrows Le Club Reunion Party to a capacity crowd at Barnyard Theatre Rivonia in May 2015. The first single, a cover of the ABBA classic, Knowing Me, Knowing You, featuring Ville Valo on vocals has just been released with a video that has gone viral, achieving over 300,000 views in its first week. Release in China Nyte, who began his career with a haunting version of The Sound Of Silence with The Awakening in 1997 and has topped the charts with hits like Glam Vamp Baby, Maree, and See Me Cry, has also just confirmed that his two most recent albums, 'Some Kind Of Satellite' and 'Anthology XV' (by The Awakening) will be released in China this year as well, with negotiations to perform in the country currently underway. Buy/stream 'Some Kind Of Satellite' Official site | Facebook | Twitter YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR) Bako Sahakyan said in an interview that without the participation of NKR the conflict settlement is impossible. There is no possible development that the issue will be solved without our participation. We have concrete position on the settlement, and we have announced that continuing negotiations in the upset format is more preferable for us than war. However this doesnt mean we are renouncing our position on the conflict settlement. Just like the previous times, we are going to try to become a full part of the possible negotiation process. Currently we do not see this possibility, because the Azerbaijani actions do not show that we can return to negotiations in the near future. Nevertheless, during these years the international community had the chance to see that the Armenian side wants the conflict to be settled by negotiations, the President said. The President also spoke about the rumors regarding territorial concessions: I am aware of those rumors, and I would like to end those senseless discussions. They do not contribute to our works. During the years we have repeatedly stated that return to the past will not happen, including related to territories. We have stated that the powers relating to the current situation and territories are granted to the people and the people only. It is necessary to stop searching for contradictions between the positions of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, because such thing is impossible. We are dealing with an issue of national importance, and we cannot have differences. We carry out consistent work and until now we havent received the first and foremost answer from Azerbaijan does it accept our independence or not? If not, then all that is being discussed and spoken about are void. I want both our strategy and policy to be built on this reality and truth, the President said. Speaking on the consequences of the recent Azerbaijani attacks the President said the most painful are the losses of soldiers, which are irrevocable. They are our children, our family, he said. The President said the visit of President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to Nagorno Karabakh was very important. He said during the visit many decisions were made. Sahakyan also said he will meet with former President Levon-Ter Petrosyan soon. I was sick for a week and on my return to the land of the living I found out that we were getting Civil War on 27 April (Freedom Day). I just wasn't ready though, you guys. I was still working with that 7 May release date and I am still reeling from the first episode of Season 6 of Game of Thrones. Can the old gods and the new please give a nerd a break out here? But it's all good, I got my game face and Marvel fanboy underwear on and got ready for the biggest cinema spectacle of the year! Civil War is the best Marvel movie to date Captain America: Civil War is the third Captain America movie and the thirteenth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the huge success of the second Captain America movie, The Winter Soldier, the Russo brothers returned to the helm for Civil War and they made a movie that hits all the right notes. I am going into full fanboy mode here. This movie is perfect and it seems that every year I say this about a new Marvel movie, but its Odins honest truth every time. What especially makes Civil War great is that it taps into all of the history and lore of the universe it takes place in. This movie is not here to accommodate anyone by explaining too much. It is simply the culmination of all Marvels Earth-based movies to date. Plot overview Civil War is set in a universe where all the actions of every hero in the Avengers team have led to this point in time. The world owes the Avengers a great deal for the amount of times they have saved it, but at the same time, who watches the watchmen? Who takes the Avengers to task when innocent people die in the collateral damage of their battles? This is the overarching question that Civil War poses and it is a fair question and difficult to deal with. Civil War takes a lot of beats from Winter Soldier in that it is a political spy type of thriller, but it borrows tonnes from other Marvel movies like Iron Man 3 that shows that superhero characters dont have to be in their suits the whole time - they can deliver powerful, emotional performances just as themselves. After an incident gone wrong in Lagos, Nigeria the US Secretary of State, General Thunderbolt Ross, calls the Avengers in to inform them that the world cannot tolerate them operating unchecked and that the United Nations has come up with what they refer to as the "Sokovia Accords", which will establish an international governing body to monitor and regulate all enhanced individuals like the Avengers. The battle lines are drawn in a response to this development. Captain Americas response is that he does not agree to having the team effectively being run by the UN, which is a political entity and has its own agenda. By signing the act, the Avengers would only be able to work according to the say-so of the UN. Since waking up in the modern world, Captain America has had to deal with quite a lot. The guy is Marvels ultimate boy scout and is usually the sort of team player who would never question orders. Unfortunately politics is a messy business and the Cap has been burned on many occasions dealing with organisations like SHIELD/HYDRA and he is loath to allow the team to become puppets of such agendas. Cap thus rallies the members of Team Cap to his side, because they share the same belief, or in Hawkeyes case, because he called first. Tony Stark is also carrying a huge load on his shoulders since the incident in New York and even more with the incident with Ultron, which he was directly responsible for. The man has been having panic attacks and sleepless nights, because he knows there are dangers outside of our planet that the Avengers might not be able to deal with (we know that Thanos is lurking out there, after all. Does that guy just sit in his space chair all day by the way? I digress though). Ultron rose from these fears and Scarlett Witch didnt help by giving him visions of a bleak future where everyone dies either. Tony is almost on the opposite journey that Cap is on in the sense that he starts off as this carefree character who doesnt adhere to rules and picks up a lot more responsibility on the way to the events in Civil War. It's difficult to decide whose stance is right. This is just the simplistic view of the plot, because there are other forces at play and there is an actual villain in the movie. Batman v Superman takes itself very seriously and Civil War finds a sweet spot between the seriousness of everything that is happening with friends fighting each other, but there are many moments where you can just laugh and have fun. The movie is long at 147 minutes, but it never feels like it and it is cut in a beautifully economic way. Enter new characters All your favourite characters are back and are all running around punching, kicking and shooting each other and the bad guys in super cool ways. All of them are there ... well, except for Thor, because he is doing Asgardian things and Bruce Banner is doing hiding out things. The highlights in terms of characterisation are the new people though. Chadwick Boseman makes his debut as T'Challa / Black Panther, the prince of Wakanda, the technologically advanced African Nation that is known for living in isolation and being the place where vibranium comes from. Marvel is pretty much done with long and windy introductions, so they just throw Black Panther in there with a brief but powerful introduction and the character then hits the ground running. The character is intriguing and I cant wait for his solo movie and to explore Wakanda where, interestingly enough, they seem to speak Xhosa. I died of laughter in the cinema when TChalla shares a moment with his father, King T'Chaka (played by South African actor, John Kani) and they just kick it in Xhosa, but with an East African accent. Our favourite neighbourhood Spidy also gets a quick and punchy intro. Peter Parker is played by Tom Holland and he is the witty, funny, awkward Peter Parker we love from the comics. The movie also makes fun of the fact that his aunt, May, is so attractive (played by Marisa Tomei) in response to people freaking out on social media last year, because Aunt May is too hot. Marvel just keeps winning and Civil War is just great. I can find zero fault with this movie. It delivers solidly on everything and all the characters are given their due in terms of screen time and personality. The action sequences are a feast, but the times where there is no fighting are also intense and while youre still reeling from an emotional reveal they offset it with humour that provides the comic relief you need while not taking away from the gravitas of the situation. The new characters fit in and their roles arent just as cameos. All the Earth-based stories in the Marvel universe have led to this movie and it draws from and builds on the history and lore from the previous titles beautifully. Just go out and watch this one a few times. Just do it. Vuyani Dance Theatre stages Luyanda Sidiya's theatrical work SIVA (Seven) at the South African State Theatre from 2 to 14 May 2016. SIVA premiered at the 2015 National Arts Festival after Sidiya was named the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist for dance. It has since played to standing ovations around the country and has even toured to Beijing. Now, this proudly African contemporary dance piece is heading to Pretoria. Sidiya, the choreographer and director of the work, served as the artistic director at Vuyani Dance Theatre until 2015. Vuyani is known for its contemporary dance works that give powerful expression to the African idiom and experience. During its State Theatre season, SIVA will be performed by Vuyani dancers Lulu Mlangeni, Otto Nhlapo, Phumlani Mndebele, Phumlani Nyanga, Nomasonto Radebe, Xolisile Bongwana, Julia Burnham, Roseline Keppler and Edwin Ramoba. The dancers will be accompanied by a band of live musicians, under the musical direction of Xolisile Bongwana. SIVA was inspired by the completeness we all seek and the void we experience as human beings, explains Sidiya. The number seven is associated with perfection and wholeness, and is regarded as a holy or lucky number. But SIVA is not blocked in a religious or traditional context. Rather, its grounded in social issues, enabling audiences to relate to it in various ways and enter into conversations with themselves. Book to see SIVA at the Momentum Theatre at the South African State Theatre, from 2 to 14 May 2016 at 8pm. Tickets are available at Computicket or visit www.statetheatre.co.za. Vuyani Dance Company | Twitter | Email az.oc.inayuv@ofni WOLFSBURG: Embattled German carmaker Volkswagen vowed on Thursday, 28 April, to overcome its current crisis triggered by the engine-rigging scandal and that it would not allow itself to be slowed down by the affair. "Volkswagen is far more than crisis," chief executive Matthias Mueller told the group's annual news conference after the emissions-cheating scandal pushed VW into its first year-end loss in more than 20 years last year. As already reported last week, VW announced it set aside 16.2bn ($18.2bn) in provisions to cover the potential fines, lawsuits and recall costs it could sensibly foresee from the scandal so far. VW was plunged into its deepest-ever crisis last September when it came to light that the carmaker had installed emissions-cheating software into 11-million diesel engines worldwide. The huge charge pushed VW to a bottom-line loss of 1.58bn in 2015, its first loss since 1993. The year before it had chalked up a profit of 10.8bn. CEO Mueller told the news conference that the provisions would cover the "technical measures related to the diesel engines." VW has started recalling the affected cars in Europe to replace the rogue software, known as "defeat devices" because they deliberately skew a car's emissions when undergoing testing. But it has also set aside 7.8bn to repurchase the affected vehicles and another 7bn for potential legal risks, with the carmaker facing regulatory fines and compensation claims. Mueller also said VW was doing everything within its power to identify the masterminds behind the scam via an internal enquiry. "We ourselves have the closest interest in learning everything possible about both the causes and the responsibilities," he said. Looking ahead to the current year, Mueller acknowledged that "2016 will again be very challenging." Nevertheless, "we are not letting the crisis slow us down, but are stepping on the gas -- in all of our brands, and in all relevant markets," the CEO said. "All in all, from today's perspective we have good chances of again recording solid growth in our operating business in 2016." Volkswagen would emerge stronger from the current crisis, Mueller insisted, "because we have a solid position on the operational side. Because our financial substance is strong. Because we know what needs to be done. And because we will do whatever is necessary," he said. Source: AFP SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook has fielded a plan to tighten Mark Zuckerberg's grip on the helm as the booming social network reported stellar profit. Profit in the first quarter tripled from a year ago to $1.5 billion as revenue jumped to $5.4 billion from $3.5 billion in the same period a year earlier. "We had a great start to the year," said Facebook co-founder and chief executive Zuckerberg. Mark Zuckerberg onstage at F8 2016. http://newsroom.fb.com/ The key metric of monthly active users rose to 1.65 billion, up 15 percent from a year ago. And those using Facebook daily rose 16 percent to 1.09 billion, with strong gains in numbers of people using mobile devices. The report shows Facebook is using its dominant position in social media to boost advertising revenues as it connects more people with new services such as live video.Click here for more. Facebook also announced that its board of directors approved a plan to create a non-voting class of stock intended to raise capital while leaving Zuckerberg in control of the company's vision and direction. Shareholders will get to vote on the proposal at an annual stockholders meeting on 20 June, according to Facebook. The move aims to allow Zuckerberg to remain in charge even as he gives away the bulk of his holdings to charity as he announced last year with his wife. Long-term focus "We are focused on the long-term, and that is the main reason for today's proposal," Zuckerberg said during an earnings call. "Facebook has been built by a series of bold moves. And when I look out at the future, I see more bold moves ahead of us than behind us... I am committed to seeing this mission through." Zuckerberg noted that Facebook has always been a founder-led company, and that has allowed it to focus on long-term goals without succumbing to takeover offers or critics. Facebook, like Google, went public in a way that kept control in the hands of founders instead of putting it in the grasp of shareholders. "Today's board proposal will allow us to do what we do well, and fund the Chan (Zuckerberg) Initiative," he said. The initiative takes aim at global challenges such as curing diseases, improving education, and protecting the environment from climate change, according to Zuckerberg. "If you want to increase your control, now is the time to do it so people won't fight you," analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group said of the share structuring move. "If you buy into Facebook, you are buying into Zuckerberg and his team; and they are executing very well right now." Facebook shares were up more than nine percent to $118.81 in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings report. Revenue that the California-based social network took in from advertising alone soared 57 percent in the quarter. "Facebook just keeps getting stronger and stronger every quarter. Its share of digital advertising is continuing to grow, and it is steadily adding new revenue streams," said eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson. Facebook-specific advertising "Two years after Facebook rolled out premium ads in the news feed, we see advertisers moving past the experimentation stage and beginning to craft advertising specifically for Facebook -- rather than simply repurposing TV spots." The market tracker forecast that Facebook would capture $10.2 billion in display ad revenue in the United States this year to claim 31.2 percent of the money spent. Mobile was expected to account for the bulk of Facebook's digital ad revenue in the US this year, with Instagram and video formats aimed at smartphones or tablets driving growth. Facebook has been cautiously optimistic about the potential for money-making advertising on its popular services such as Instagram, Messenger and Live real-time video streaming. "As we expected, Facebook is putting a lot of emphasis on Messenger this year, and the announcements at f8 earlier this month show that it is on a path toward monetizing that service," Williamson said, referring to the social network's annual developers conference. "Instagram remains popular with advertisers, and the ad rollout appears to be going smoothly among Instagram users." Facebook has moved beyond its role in social networking to ramp up its messaging platform, and has also moved into virtual reality with its Oculus headsets for which orders have begun. "They are focused on business, and their side projects aren't big enough to drag on profits," analyst Enderle said of Facebook. "A nicely run company with no big surprises." Zuckerberg's long-range vision could help Facebook handle the danger faced by young Internet users leaving the social network for a hip new online scene, taking others with them, according to the analyst. Source: AFP The launch of South Africa's first measurement currency for out of home advertising is just around the corner. What does this mean for the industry? Here's how the introduction of similar currencies has impacted on the industry in other countries. Like many of the local out of home industrys key players, Primedia Outdoor is eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of the Outdoor Measurement Councils first measurement currency for South Africa. This marks a milestone for local out of home advertising, rendering it more accountable, and enabling media planners and buyers to use the medium with greater assurance and insight. So far, countries where effective measurement tools have been introduced have typically experienced a surge in growth. For example, when Postar (now Route) was launched in the UK in 2000, out of home took in around 3-4% of British adspend. In 2014, this was up to around 10% to 11%, with the use of common currency held to be a significant contributing factor. In Australia, the OOH industry launched MOVE (Measurement of Outdoor Visibility and Exposure) in September 2011. Fast forward to 2016, and the industry has recently announced its sixth year of consecutive revenue growth, recording a 17% overall increase on net revenue year-on-year. This takes the Australian OOH industrys net revenue to an all-time high of $677.8 million, up from $579.3 million in 2014. And in Singapore, following the launch of a three-year OOH currency in 2012, Nielsen estimated that marketers spent US$187.6 million in outdoor advertising in 2011 and US$106.4 million in the first six months of 2012, suggesting a similar trend. In the US, the Traffic Audit Bureau (TAB) launched an audience measurement currency in 2010, initially known as Eyes On. Eyes On measured how many people were likely to see a billboard, using technology to track how many eyeballs actually engaged with a specific ad (rather than simply being in its general vicinity). This information, combined with demographic and ethnographic data, as well as circulation and travel survey data, was used to produce the final Eyes On rating allowing for major improvements in the accountability of OOH. By 2015, OOHs share of total adspend in the US was up to 7.0%, and forecast to increase by +3.4% in 2015 and +4.3% in 2016. Although recent growth has been largely due to the strength of DOOH media, advances in targeting and accountability have also played a key role. All of which indicates a trend that PwC has noted countries with measurement tools lead the way in growth in the OOH industry. And so, with the launch of the OMC measurement currency around the corner, bringing media metrics of a global standard to South Africa for the first time, Primedia Outdoor is confident that the future of OOH is South Africa is looking bright. The Star newspaper's photography team has compiled a photo series to be featured in today's newspaper to commemorate Worker's Day ahead of the public holiday. Snapped across Johannesburg, the series features the type of workers that are often overlooked, such as cigarette vendors and shoemakers, with a special focus on women doing those jobs that are still stereotypically viewed as mens jobs, such as firefighters and Gautrain drivers, explains IOL. Watch the video embedded below for a preview of the #Iamaworker photo series: What makes advertising stand out amid the clutter of all the different channels and devices on offer to consumers today? It isn't just one thing, but a medley of virtues that have authenticity at the top of the list. Natalie Otte Authenticity is up there with relevance, which includes functionality and that emotional hook, says Natalie Otte, head of Millward Brown South Africa. I wish I could tell you that it was one thing. Lately its about being relevant. So if youre using humour, babies, a slice of life it is about being relevant to the target audience. Is it functional? Does it emotionally grab my attention? Does it pull at the heartstrings or use humour? Authenticity is even more important. It really is a variety of things, but you have to be relevant to the consumers lives, as well as the brand. Millward Brown released its latest Best Liked Ads list this week from its database of 90 000 television ads released in South Africa over the 32 years since it started tracking television ads. This is probably the biggest advertising database in the world, says Otte, and one of the best repositories of advertising data, containing 1.1 million interviews. Publishing the list gives Millward Brown the opportunity to celebrate the importance of creativity as seen by the consumer. This aspect is often forgotten amongst all the industry awards (peer assessment). It also allows marketers a clearer understanding of the current media environment and helps them drive their media effectiveness and efficiencies to maximise their media ROI. The top ads are as follows (Q4 2015): Vodacom: Wedding Ogilvy & Mather Johannesburg Coca Cola: Share a feeling. Share a Coke. FCB Johannesburg Telkom: Summer Unlimited DDB South Africa Toyota: Make your mark in the all new Aygo FCB Johannesburg Cremora: Derby Publicis Machine And the top ads for Q3 are (2015): Telkom: The Works for Business - DDB South Africa Rama Margarine: Crush - Mullen Lowe Johannesburg Spur: Main Attraction (rugby) - The Haas Collective Ultramel Custard: Taste of Sunday - Y&R KFC: Emzini Wezinsizwa O&M Johannesburg To get to the Best Liked ads each time (Millward Brown release their findings to the industry every six months), every single new brand ad flighted in South Africa - whether locally produced or from an international brand is tracked two weeks after launching on South Africa television, whether they are a client of Millward Brown or not. The Best Liked Ads list is based on its Adtrack newcomer measure, which is the first in-market measure approximately two weeks post-launch for all new brand commercials flighted, with each ad being tested against a weekly sample of 200 people, recruited from major metropolitan areas with strict demographic quotas to ensure a good representation of the TV viewing population. Fragmentation The past three decades have of course seen significant changes in SA audience demographics and needs as regards TV viewership, says Otte. Most South Africans have access to television now across South Africa and the audience is a lot more homogenous. The big change has been to the number of channels and that you cant target on television as well as you could, as everyone is likely to see it, wherever you put it. You have to really think about how you plan your media. Then there is fragmentation. The amount of new executions out there is immense. It makes it harder to cut through the clutter and get noticed. This is evident, she says, in the fact that peoples recall of ads theyve seen has gone down from 20% a couple of decades ago, to 15% on average. However, in contrast to that, the liking of ads has gone up. This can be attributed to the fact that those ads that are liked and recalled, really connect with consumers. The research house started tracking consumers best liked ads in 1984 when it was still Impact Research and there were only about 500 television ads released each year on the three or so TV channels available to South African consumers. Cue 2016 and its 2500 television ads released each year across a multitude of television channels available to consumers and an advertising and marketing environment that is cluttered with all types of advertising and new marketing channels. Africa Millward Brown is well aware of the amount of devices out there that consumers are watching multi-media content on and have produced a study on multi-screening. This multi-screen trend has been a big learning for their partners and clients, says Otte, as most TV ads do not necessarily just work on another screen. Advertisers need to think about the screen to make it work on. You have to be a lot more attention grabbing. It is a different way of thinking about video on the different screens. Millward Brown is looking into adding online dashboards for clients and adding other media channels to their tracking tool, like mobile, online, radio and outdoor. At the core we need to keep our research consistent and up to date because of our database. The continent is also on their radar and they do track ads for clients in various African markets. We would love to measure the rest of Africa. We do use some of the learnings gained in the South African survey for some of our clients. We have built up knowledge on what works in the different African markets. But what we found was that you need to be careful as only a very small proportion of TV ads are able to travel to transcend cultural barriers. Otte says ads that can transcend country borders are those where the brand is at the same life stage across borders, for example, established in the various markets; it has to tell a universal truth that is recognisable anywhere; and the brand promise needs to be functional in the need it is fulfilling. Global car and soft drink brands are often examples of global advertising that transcends borders in need fulfilment and aspiration. *Millward Brown's Best Liked Ads list celebrates South Africa's favourite TV commercials. The full list of winners, with links to view, is available in the Millward Brown press office on Bizcommunity.com. MSD, known as Merck & Co in the United States and Canada, has added its voice to the World Health Organization (WHO) campaign to promote the use of vaccines against some of the world's deadliest diseases, and for countries to strengthen immunisation services and systems. World Immunization Week, a global awareness campaign launched by WHO in 2012 and commemorated in the last week of April, aims to promote the use of vaccines to help protect people of all ages against disease. For the second year running, the Close the Immunization Gap campaign will be celebrating the achievements to date with an emphasis on the unmet need amongst adolescents and adult vaccine uptake. The theme for African Vaccination Week 2016 is Close the immunization gap. Stay polio free! (#AVW16), focusing attention on the need to attain universal immunization coverage in the African region. The theme also marks the celebration of the important polio eradication milestone that has been reached in the African region, and calls on African countries to stay vigilant in the fight against polio, and stay polio free. Vaccines are one of the greatest public health success stories in history. For more than 100 years, our scientists have been discovering vaccines that have been impacting lives. By helping healthy people stay healthy, vaccines remove a major barrier to human an economic development, said Farouk Shamas Jiwa, sub-Saharan Africa director for Policy and Corporate Responsibility at MSD. Africa has made several gains beyond increasing reach of immunisation; some diseases have been eliminated through wide-scale immunisation programmes. Vaccines are available in public vaccination programmes in the vast majority of African countries, thanks to sustained political will, international support and innovative public/private partnerships. Despite recent progress within African countries, there are still significant opportunities provided by immunisation, particularly to help protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. We must continue to build on the wonderful momentum we have. It will take a collective, collaborative effort involving governments, donors, patient organisations, healthcare professionals, NGOs, multilateral organisations and others in the private sector to increase access to life-saving vaccines and to strengthen immunisation programmes. Preventing disease though vaccination is about securing the future - in particular for African women and girls. Our goal is to sustain and improve the quality of life and health of communities and countries across Africa. Our commitment is steadfast as we work to increase access to vaccines now and in the future, Jiwa added. MTN, through its social responsibility vehicle called 'MTN Foundation' has donated sh109 million to boost a Rotary health project designed to avail free medical treatment to needy communities. The project dubbed the 'Rotary Family Health Days' (RFHDs), was launched yesterday in partnership with Rotary Uganda, Centenary Bank and the Ministry of Health. MTN CEO, Brian Gouldie (far left) hands over a dummy cheque worth UGX 109,150,000 to the Rotary Uganda Team lead by Stephen Mwanje ( 2nd left) to avail free treatment for all in the Rotary Health Days project RFHDs are meant to avail free treatment to communities and start on the 29 April to 7 May 2016 through different camps. This years theme is Good Health, Happy Families. Through the MTN Foundation, MTN Uganda is constantly committed to improving the lives of its customers and communities. The Rotary Family Health Days are a great opportunity for MTN Uganda to give back to our communities. We believe our contribution to this noble cause will go a long way in changing the lives of many communities where Rotary Uganda will be setting up the different camps, MTN CEO, Brian Gouldie explained. The health program is employed in six countries, including Uganda, South Africa, Lesotho Swaziland, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania The medical camps will offer both specialised and general services in areas of cancer screening (cervical and breast); child immunisation and nutrition; family planning and maternal health; HIV/AIDS counselling and testing; dental services; optical and many other common community health concerns. The Rotary Family Health Days are not only meant to provide free medication to communities but also help solve the common health issues suffered by communities like Malaria, HIV/AIDS, family planning and so on. According to Steven Mwanje the board chair of the Rotary Family Health Days project, the program is employed in six countries which include Uganda, South Africa, Lesotho Swaziland, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania. This program has reached over 470,000 people in Uganda and 1 million worldwide and is implemented in areas with inadequate medical facilities like limited drugs and majorly the hindrance to proper medical care, he said. Over 82 camps will be set up all over Uganda and these will be deployed with 23 medical personnel from 10 health centres. There will be a team of 5 experts from USA, Canada, India and Uganda that will be deployed at Laaro Health Centre IV to specifically attend to maternal and child health issues. YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. The Syrian Army plans to launch an attack on Islamic States de facto capital Raqqa and its other stronghold of Deir ez-Zor with the help of Russian air support. The announcement was made Russia's envoy to the UN Office in Geneva Aleksey Borodavkin, RT reports. Borodavkin, who is also the permanent representative to other international organizations in Geneva, said it is imperative that the fight against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and other terrorist groups, such as Al-Nusra Front continues. This is what the Syrian Army is doing with support from the Russian Air Force. As a result of these actions, Palmyra has been recaptured and now they are planning to launch an operation towards Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa. Fighting is taking place against groups like Al-Nusra Front in Aleppo and a few other places, Borodavkin said, as cited by RIA. Deir ee-Zor is located in the north east of Syria and has been under IS control for months. It is an important location for the terrorist organization, due to the number of oil fields in its vicinity. In January, the Russian Defense Ministry said that around 2,000 IS fighters had been deployed to the area, due to its important strategic location, citing data received from Syrian opposition. The Russian Air Force has carried out a number of sorties in the Deir ez-Zor region, with all jihadist targets, which had been reconfirmed via a number of channels, as well as through drone surveillance and cooperation with the Syrian opposition, being successfully hit. GYUMRI, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS. Valery Permyakov refused to testify on the April 29 trail the Court decided to review Permyakovs preliminary interrogation. Pemyakov stated that he accepts all accusations against him, he committed the murders alone. He also said he had Armenian friends with whom he had normal relations. Permyakov refused to explain his tattoo meaning. Concerning his posts in Odnoklassniki social network, Permyakov said that those posts do not belong to him. Serving in the army Permyakov did not have the right to bear army fo three months, as it was written in the criminal case, however, Permyakov said he didnt know about that. He stated he doesnt remember the route of Avetisyans home. He also doesnt remember how he entered Avetisyans house, and he refused to answer why he entered their house. In response to the question by lawyer Lusine Sahakyan to describe his actions in Avetisyans house, Permyakov stated that he doesnt want and cannot answer this question. Permyakov responded mainly to all questions that he doesnt remember and cannot answer. Valery Permyakov murdered 7 members of the Avetisyan family, including a 6 month old baby, on January 12 of 2015 in Gyumri, Armenia. Permyakov is a soldier of the 102nd Russian Military Base. He was apprehended when trying to cross the Turkish border. On August 12, The Russian side sentenced Permyakov to 10 years of imprisonment for desertion and illegal possession of a firearm. The Investigative Committee of Armenia filed a criminal case against Permyakov for the murder of the family. This problem of service delivery is well summed-up in Why we give aid to PNG?, an article published by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In a country of difficult geography, resources disparity, diverse cultures and lopsided infrastructure, the delivery of government services like transport, education and basic health care will continue to be a challenge for many years to come. THE efficacy of government services delivery in PNG is a continuing vexatious issue. An entry in the Crocodile Prize PNG Chamber of Mining & Petroleum Award for Essays & Journalism Delivering Aid in PNG poses enormous challenges, it says. Providing basic services to very small, diverse, scattered and often isolated communities across extremely rugged terrain is a difficult task. Difficulties in reaching rural locations, weak governance and a lack of commitment to improving service delivery means many people still lack access to basic services such as education, transport and primary health care. Amidst these challenges, Simbu Province has managed to out-perform the other 21 provinces in service delivery for three consecutive years. The National Economic and Fiscal Commission ranked Simbu as performing better in the delivery of services to her people in 2011, 2012 and 2013. So what is Simbus secret for this consistent out-performance? The province is located in the central highlands of PNG and has a land area of about 6,000 square kilometres. It is one of the densely populated provinces, the 2011 national census reporting 376,000 people with a population density of 62 a square kilometer. Simbus terrain is extremely rugged and undulating - full of mountains, steep canyons and fast flowing rivers. Economically, Simbu is one of the poorest provinces. Apart from smallholder coffee plots of 1-2 hectares scattered down the sides of precipitous hills, there is no major economic resource base such as is found in other provinces. There was much talk early this year about a Chinese company wanting to mine the provinces abundant limestone, however that talk seemed to evaporate into the thin Simbu air. If the project ever happens, it will be the first large-scale revenue earner for the province. Otherwise Simbu will remain poor. In terms of transport infrastructure, most districts of Simbu are connected by road except Karimui where you need to take a plane. The upgrading and sealing of trunk roads namely the Kundiawa-Gumine and Chuave-Siane (completed) and Kundiawa-Gembogl (in progress) have to some extent facilitated service delivery. Otherwise many hamlets are scattered in isolated and remote areas and have no direct road links. Added to these obstacles are the frequent landslips along the Highlands Highway between the Daulo Pass and Miunde which are a constant threat to human life and property and pose an obstacle to the smooth flow of trade and services. Despite this inauspicious milieu, Simbu managed to be rated top in service delivery for those three consecutive years. Sceptics claim it was mere paperwork and there was nothing on the ground to show for it. So I decided to chat with the Simbu head of education, Essy Walkaima, and seek his views. Essy was cautious. I dont want to engage in talks that have a political flavour, he said. If anyone is interested in knowing how my division delivers its services, he or she must come to my office. Otherwise its politics and it doesnt affect our service delivery credibility. I persisted. But Simbu has beaten the resource rich provinces for three consecutive years. Is there a magic formula? There is no secret or magic formula for the success, Essy replied. It is plain common sense. In this country, there is not one uniform service delivery model that is ideally suitable for all the provinces. Every province has to identify its own strengths and weaknesses and develop its own modus operandi that suits its own needs because the problems, obstacles and challenges faced by one province are not the same as those that are faced by others. Of course Waigani can develop national development policies and programs but when it comes to the nitty-gritty of implementing them, each province will have to decide for itself as to how best each can get the services through successfully under the prevailing circumstances on the ground. Essy reminded me of casual conversations wed had with Jimmy Drekore, Mathias Kin, Ware Mukale and others about the same matter. We had concurred that Simbu would have to solve her own problems. The centre of government at Waigani could not solve Simbus problems. I believe the paramount reason for Simbus success is her ability to innovate when the going gets tough. The popular free tuition policy of the national government was the brainchild of Simbu. Simbu was the first province to introduce tuition free education in 1991 when the late David Mai Goro was premier. The driving factor was hardship faced by parents in finding school fees. It was critical that something be done about it. The initiative relieved many parents of the school fee burden. Simbus now working in PNG and abroad are the product of the fee-free concept. The policy propelled David Mai to a landslide victory for the Simbu Regional seat in the 1992 national elections. The poor internal revenue base meant that the policy placed an enormous strain on the health and transport sectors. Hence it was abolished a few years later. Karimui has always been the greatest challenge in service delivery. Because of lack of road accessibility, remoteness and related hardships, public servants, especially teachers and health workers, used to abscond from duty. After a month or two, they sneaked away and never returned. Thats when innovation came into play. In 2007, the provincial education authorities and the former MP for Karimui Nomane, Posi Menai, entered into an agreement with Madang Teachers College to train Grade 10 school leavers from various parts of Karimui to become teachers. Under the agreement, the school leavers were sent them to Madang Teachers College and, after graduation, they were sent back to Karimui to teach children in their own community. The tuition fee for this project was paid by the Karimui Nomane District. The only benefit this group of teachers gets is salary. There is o housing and leave airfares provided as they live in their own house in their own home village and teach. More than 30 Karimuians graduated through the scheme and are currently teaching in schools in Karimui, Essy told me. One of them was terminated for running away and teaching in the Eastern Highlands Province. This signalled a warning to others and they have all been very committed. In health, all positions including community health workers, nurses and health extension officers in Karimui Nomane are two grades higher than health positions elsewhere. The additional benefit did the trick. The national government recently introduced a Local Level Government Services Improvement Program (LLGSIP) to assist service delivery. Its effectiveness will be seen in future, however council presidents are seen in clubs indulging in alcohol at very odd hours and state-allocated motor vehicles are purchased with taxpayers money. Looking at Simbu, it is not the Waigani service delivery models that produce desired results. Instead it is the creative approach taken by public servants in the province. If Simbu can do that and achieve top results for three consecutive years then the methodology has something going for it. Prague appeal court has found a left-wing student activist not guilty of "attacking a policeman" 29. 4. 2016 cas cteni 1 minuta Prague police is unhappy The Municipal Court in Prague found student Katerina Krejcova, an activist who tried to defend her boyfriend from police attack during a right-wing anti-refugee demonstration which took place in Prague in July 2015 not guilty of "attacking a policeman". The court's decision is final. "The original verdict cannot stand," said Judge Vaclav Kasik. "We do not agree that the action for which the student was sentenced was socially harmful," he added and continued: "We do not think it is reasonable to classify her action even as a minor offence. The accused cannot be punished for sitting on a pavement while the police remained inactive with regard to much more serious criminal activity committed by the participants of the other demonstration," said the judge. The commanders of Prague police expressed displeasure with the decision of the Prague Municical Court to quash the guilty verdict against Krejcova, which was issued earlier by a lower court. The Prague police chiefs have criticised what they see as "impermissible interference with the work of the police". "Any activity, whether verbal or physical, which interferes with the actions of the police is absolutely impermissible," said the Commander of the Prague Police Milos Trojanek. "In this respect, I fully support the work of the police and will continue to do so." Sources in Czech HERE HERE There are stories like this in the Czech Republic every day that never make it to the outside world because of a lack of translation. You can support us and help reveal what's happening in Central Europe today. Please make a contribution today on www.paypal.com and send your donation to redakce@blisty.cz. We fully rely on crowdfunding in our work. Thank you. 0 Czech deputy ombudsman for human rights: "We have to rethink the concept of human rights" 29. 4. 2016 cas cteni 2 minuty "The concept of human rights requires a 're-start'," says Stanislav Krecek, the deputy of the Czech Republic's human rights ombudsman in his article published in the Pravo daily. "We no longer have a clear idea what the concept of human rights means in Europe." "Surely it is wrong to regard the Tibetan flag as a symbol of human rights, since slavery was not abolished in Tibet until 1958. Some human rights 'defenders' call the current Chinese president 'a tyrant', yet China has given its citizens an unprecedented amount of human rights and has enormously increased the wealth of its citizens." In Krecek's view, human rights are always defined by communities and by states. "Defending human rights of some people by ignoring the rights of other people, which seems to be the current practice in Europe, threatens to undermine the whole concept of human rights as such. How can the authorities agree that Anders Breivik is subjected to 'an inhuman and degrading treatment' considering that the inmates in most European prisons do not live is such conditions of luxury as he does." "It is wrong to try to protect human rights by grossly disrupting public order in society," says Krecek, implicitly referring to recent pro-human rights demonstrations which took place in Prague during a visit by the Chinese President, "ignoring the fact that people have not only rights, but also duties. This kind of practice leads many people to the conclusion that what is now being presented as 'human rights' is something far fetched and exclusive which has nothing to do with the lives of ordinary people." Stanislav Krecek was nominated for the position of the Deputy Ombudsman of the Czech Republic by the Czech Social Democratic Party. He is in an almost permanent conflict with the Czech Ombudsman, Anna Sabatova, a former dissident from the pre-1989 era. Source in Czech ZDE There are stories like this in the Czech Republic every day that never make it to the outside world because of a lack of translation. You can support us and help reveal what's happening in Central Europe today. Please make a contribution today on www.paypal.com and send your donation to redakce@blisty.cz. We fully rely on crowdfunding in our work. Thank you. 0 Situated on the Huon Peninsula and named after three main rivers, the Yopno, Uruwa and Som, the 1,500 square kilometre YUS area harbours more native birds and mammals than any like-sized area in mainland New Guinea. The ceremony was held at the Royal Geographical Society, London, and honoured his work in bringing together landowners to ensure protection of the YUS conservation area, home to many diverse and endangered species including tree kangaroos and birds of paradise. THE Princess Royal has presented the prestigious international Whitley Award, a nature conservation prize valued at K160,000 in project funding, to Papua New Guinean conservationist Karau Kuna. It is one of only three major tropical wilderness areas worldwide and is so remote it can only be reached by foot or boat and extends from spectacular mountain ridges to dazzling coral reefs. For over a decade Karau Kuna and the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program have been working with village landowners to develop resource use plans that are now recognised in national policy. With his Whitley Award, Karau will create community plans to manage and carry out conservation actions in the YUS landscape. Pressure from logging and mining companies is threatening the traditional culture and the project is working to help them to conserve their rich natural heritage for future generations and act as a beacon for other communities to emulate. Empowering local people, who understand what the problems are, and who have the local knowledge, determination and vested interest to find the solutions is the very best way to ensure long term protection for the natural world, said Sir David Attenborough, a trustee of the Whitley Fund for Nature. It looks like you have reached this page in error ... The content you are looking for has either moved, or if you typed in the address there might have been a mistake. If you believe there has been a technical error please let us know. Most Popular Destinations The Chicago Business Barometer declined 3.2 points in April to 50.4 led by weaker orders and employment. Three of the five Barometer components decreased between March and April, New Orders, Order Backlogs and Employment. Supplier Deliveries and Production rose month over month, though the latter only by a small margin. The Barometer's decline was mainly due to an 11 point fall in Order Backlogs to 38.7, the lowest level since December 2015. This was in line with buying policy measures that showed lead times to purchase capital equipment shortened. The decline in Backlogs was not anticipated by purchasers but the softening in New Orders, which ended the month just a shade above neutral, was expected after the start of the month, according to data collected in the March report. Order pattens continued to be plagued by a lack of large orders and absence of international demand, purchasers said. Softer ordering led to a decrease in the Employment component, which fell back into contraction, where it has been in 10 of the last 12 months. Despite lower ordering and employment levels, Production posted a small increase as special projects, and a plethora of low volume high margin orders kept companies busy. The most surprising element of the report was an unusually large 20.2% surge in Supplier Deliveries to the longest since October 2014. Purchasers feared extensions in lead times could be telegraphing the beginning signs of major supply chain disruptions on the horizon. Insufficient inventories of components at the supplier level were cited for lengthening in lead times, purchasers said. To a lesser extent some minor global strikes and transportation issues added to longer lead times as well. Outside of the barometer components, Prices Paid was up over 25% to the highest in 17-months and its first expansionary read in 9 months as commodities moved higher in April. Inventories added 5.6 points to 49.6, the highest since October as some companies noted difficulty in restocking from offshore suppliers. Comments from the survey panel remained mixed with strong players continuing on a solid footing while others barely broke even. Others remained very weak and needed "way more orders". Those on a solid footing reported higher backlogs and higher revenues. Others were slow and continued to note a lack of larger orders, and an ongoing focus on grabbing market share on low volume, high margin orders. The latter may have boosted production levels along with seasonal factors. What was uniform was a lengthening in Supplier Lead times with many citing capacity issues at offshore facilities. This led to some inventory builds, purchasers said. The survey period for the month spanned from April 4 to April.25. Top rated municipal bonds were steady to stronger at mid-session, according to traders, as they once again look ahead to a healthy new issue slate. Total volume for next week is estimated by Ipreo at $8.17 billion, up from a revised total of $7.25 billion sold this week, according to Thomson Reuters. Next week's calendar is composed of $6.45 billion of negotiated deals and $1.72 billion of competitive sales. Secondary Trading The yield on the 10-year benchmark muni general obligation was as much as one basis point weaker from 1.62% on Thursday, while the 30-year muni yield was unchanged from 2.58%, according to a read of Municipal Market Data's triple-A scale. U.S. Treasuries were narrowly mixed on Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 0.78% from 0.79% on Thursday, while the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 1.84% from 1.83% and the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was unchanged from 2.70%. The 10-year muni to Treasury ratio was calculated at 88.3% on Thursday compared with 88.5% on Wednesday, while the 30-year muni to Treasury ratio stood at 95.9% versus 96.5%, according to MMD. MSRB Previous Session's Activity The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board reported 37,021 trades on Thursday on volume of $12.35 billion. The Week's Most Actively Traded Issues Some of the most actively traded issues by type in the week ended April 29 were from California issuers, according to data released by Markit. In the GO bond sector, the California 3s of 2036 traded 26 times. In the revenue bond sector, the California SCDA 5 1/4s of 2056 traded 56 times. And in the taxable bond sector, the Riverside USD, Calif. 4 1/4s of 2036 traded 27 times, Markit said. The Week's Most Actively Quoted Issues California issues were also among the most actively quoted names in the week ended April 29, according to Markit. On the bid side, the California taxable 7 1/2s of 2034 were quoted by 14 unique dealers. On the ask side, California taxable 7.55s of 2039 were quoted by 15 unique dealers. And among two-sided quotes, California taxable 7.55s of 2039 were quoted by 12 dealers. Primary Market Healthcare issues dominated the week's new issue calendar. Municipal bond traders said all the healthcare deals met with good reception. Morgan Stanley priced Ascension Health Alliance's $1.2 billion healthcare deal through four conduit issuers for the Ascension Senior Credit Group. The bonds were rated Aa2 by Moody's Investors Service and AA-plus by Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings. Bank of America Merrill Lynch priced the California Statewide Communities Development Authority's $947.62 million of Series 2016A revenue bonds for the Loma Linda University Medical Center. The bonds were rated BB by S&P and BB-plus by Fitch. Barclays Capital Markets priced Scioto County, Ohio's $123.64 million of Series 2016 hospital facilities refunding revenue bonds for the Southern Ohio Medical Center. The bonds were rated A2 by Moody's. JPMorgan Securities priced St. Cloud, Minn.'s $192.53 million of Series 2016A healthcare revenue bonds for the Centracare Health System. The issue was rated A1 by Moody's and A-plus by S&P. Wells Fargo Securities priced the Colorado Health Facilities Authority's $114.59 million of Series 2016 hospital revenue bonds for the NCMC Inc. project. The deal was rated A-plus by S&P and Fitch. Citigroup priced the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency's $221.07 million of Series 2016 I revenue bonds for CareGroup. The deal was rated A3 by Moody's and A-minus by S&P. BAML priced the Harris County, Texas, Cultural Education Facilities Financing Corp.'s $139.92 million of Series 2016 medical facilities mortgage revenue refunding bonds for the Baylor College of Medicine. The deal was rated A by S&P. Elsewhere, Citi priced the Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corp.'s $271.3 million of tax-exempt senior lien revenue bonds for the Blueridge Transportation Group's SH 288 Toll Lanes Project. The deal was rated Baa3 by Moody's and BBB-minus by S&P. Citi also priced the Mission Economic Development Corp., Texas' $202.89 million of Series 2016B senior lien revenue bonds for the Natgasoline project. The deal has a preliminary rating of BB-minus from S&P. BAML priced the Public Power Generation Agency, Neb.'s $136 million of Series 2016A revenue refunding bonds for the Whelan Energy Center's Unit 2. The deal is rated A2 by Moody's and A-minus by Fitch. JPMorgan Securities priced the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's $149 million of Series 2016B housing mortgage finance program bonds. The deal was rated triple-A by Moody's and S&P. Piper Jaffray priced the Ohlone Community College District, Alameda County, Calif.'s $155 million Election of 2010 Series C GOs. The deal was rated Aa2 by Moody's and AA by Fitch. In the competitive arena, Miami-Dade County, Fla., sold $350 million of Series 2016A general obligation refunding bonds under the Building Better Communities Program. Wells Fargo Securities won the bonds with a true interest cost of 3.04%. The bonds were rated Aa2 by Moody's and AA by S&P. The Horry County School District, S.C., competitively sold $125 million of Series 2016 GOs. BAML won the deal with a TIC of 1.35%. The bonds were rated Aa1 by Moody's and AA by S&P. Rhode Island sold a total of $125.81 million of tax-exempt and taxable consolidated capital development loan of 2016 general obligation bonds in two separate sales. Wells Fargo Securities won the $112.64 million of tax-exempt Series A GOs and tax-exempt Series C refunding GOs with a true interest cost of 2.39%. JPMorgan Securities won the $13.17 million of taxable Series B GOs with a TIC of 1.39%. Both sales were rated Aa2 by Moody's Investors Service and AA by Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings. The Illinois Regional Transportation Authority competitively sold $150 million of Series 2016C taxable GO working cash notes. Wells Fargo won the notes with a TIC of 1.43%. The deal was rated AA by S&P and Fitch. Bond Buyer Visible Supply The Bond Buyer's 30-day visible supply calendar increased $2.85 billion to $13.15 billion on Friday. The total is comprised of $5.55 billion of competitive sales and $7.60 billion of negotiated deals. Muni Bond Funds See Inflows for 30th Straight Week For the 30th week in a row, municipal bond funds reported inflows, according to Lipper data released Thursday. Weekly reporting funds saw $1.173 billion of inflows in the week ended April 27, after inflows of $555.910 million in the previous week, Lipper said. The four-week moving average remained positive at $674.752 million after being in the green at $577.356 million in the previous week. A moving average is an analytical tool used to smooth out price changes by filtering out fluctuations. Of course, Sydney is not the only place in the world to build hideous monstrosities completely out of whack with its surroundings. And they are still at it thanks to casino mogul James Packer. I havent changed my mind. Maybe if they painted it another colour, blue or brown maybe? To my mind it looked completely out of character with beautiful Sydney Harbour; it was lumpy and looked unfinished. Another horrible example of 1960s post-modern architecture. WHEN I first saw the Sydney Opera House in early 1974 I thought: what a hideous building! Elsewhere, Im not sure whether anyone has noticed but beautiful Fairfax Harbour, where Port Moresby sits, is slowly being filled up and lined with big RH Vision City-style concrete boxes. Mosbi has never been a pretty town but the harbour is its saving grace. Now that the town has turned into a burgeoning city the opportunity should be there to complement the harbour with sympathetic structures. There are some nice buildings in Mosbi and its environs but there are an increasing number of shockers too. One of the most pleasant-looking structures is the Haus Tambaran, otherwise known as Parliament House, out at Waigani. The only thing that it possibly needs is something to cover up that bare lintel over the door some nice Sepik carvings maybe? Oh, and they need to get rid of the fetid smell coming from its interior very nasty that one. St Marys Catholic Cathedral is a nice building too and so was the old Burns Philp building before it was burnt down. Not sure about the new version. These buildings fit in nicely with the Local Development Plan (LDP), to wit: The main aim for the future, and objective of the Local Development Plan, is to address the many and varied problems of the urban environment that impact on the quality of life. At the core of this is social, environmental and economic well-being. Sustainable development, to maximise and maintain [the] quality of human urban life, is the focus of the Plan. While, from the current perspective, this may seem optimistic and difficult to achieve, the vision for Port Moresby Town must also be to fulfil potential in terms of: Enjoying the best of a tropical lifestyle; Showcasing the magnificent hilly, seaside setting; Promoting landscaping with shade, colour and tropical lushness, which can be visually magnificent, and pleasure to enjoy; Encouraging building design that is responsive to the environment, promoting tropical architecture which contributes to urban character, human comfort and energy-efficiency; and Supporting the public participation in cultural programs and practices, to encourage a wide base of community support. In short, the vision is to create a unique jewel of the western Pacific region, with a distinctive physical presence and character, and a standard of living to match. Download Port Moresby LDP The monsters, like the new Papua Hotel, and the concrete bricolage scattered over the reclaimed land between Paga Hill and the Yacht Club just dont seem to reflect the spirit of the LDP. As Sean Dorney has noted, Mosbi has always been a ramshackle affair. Colonial architecture consisted mostly of World War II Nissen huts and temporary fibro-cement things thrown up in haste, typical Australian fencing wire architecture. When you compare that to the beautiful old colonial buildings in Fiji or New Caledonia it looks pretty awful. Its not too late though. The LDP supports getting the tatty old government buildings out of the city centre as a good move and the new Paga Hill development doesnt look too bad. That Chinese stuff creeping up Touaguba Hill, perched as they are on precipitous slopes, isnt exactly aesthetic but I imagine they will all fall down in a few years anyway; just pity the people underneath. On the other side, Ela Beach could do with a makeover. Colonial style buildings along there would look great I think. So far the major architectural feature seems to be the roundabout at Koki. The Ela Beach Hotel is nice, especially the Beachside Brasserie. Some people regard poor old Mosbi with disdain, a bit like the barbarians regarded ancient Rome; the quicker we get in there and burn it down the better. But it is the gateway to Papua New Guinea after all and for that reason alone sprucing it up with a measure of good taste might be a good idea. Each review score is between 1-10. To get the overall score that you see, we add up all the review scores weve received and divide that total by the number of review scores weve received. In addition, guests can give separate subscores in crucial areas, such as location, cleanliness, staff, comfort, facilities, value for money and free Wi-Fi. Note that guests submit their subscores and their overall scores independently, so theres no direct link between them. 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Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, said the story, which features two inmates accusing guards at Ogdensburg Correctional Facility of assault, is one-sided. Along with the Watertown Daily Times, Powers said NYSCOPBA members at eight northern New York correctional facilities should also boycott the Carthage Tribune, Fort Drum Mountaineer, Lowville Journal and Ogdensburg Journal the Daily Times' sister publications. "Their investigative journalism is extremely lacking in this particular piece," Powers said. "Their sole basis for the article are the claims of a career criminal who has no credibility and another inmate who violated the rules inside the prison, couldn't accept the consequences of the disciplinary hearing, so he fabricated a story that could have severely impacted the lives of our hardworking and dedicated members." While the story shares accounts from two inmates, it also includes statements from Powers and a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. DOCCS said the agency's Office of Special Investigations reviewed the allegations and they "could not be substantiated," according to the report. In the story, Powers said he spoke to four people about one of the inmate's claims and the allegations were "unfounded." The article is getting plenty of attention. As of this publication, it's the most-read story on the Watertown Daily Times' website. "NYSCOPBA clearly recognizes the importance of reporters and news agencies in our communities as our conduit to keep us informed," Powers said. "What we will not stand for is a constant stream of baseless accusations that are carried by any news agency for the sole purpose to be salacious or to drive ratings or sell newspapers." The team behind the hit History series "American Pickers" is planning to visit New York state in the summer but they want to know where, specifically, they should go. Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and the team behind the hit documentary series are looking for leads on valuable antiques to pick in the Cayuga County area, among others. Some of the items they look for are vintage bicycles, toys, unusual radios, movie and advertising memorabilia, military items, folk art, early firefighting equipment, vintage musical equipment, automotive items and clothing. The team only picks private collections stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions and anything else open to the public will not be considered. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection you'd like considered for "American Pickers," send your name, phone number, location and a description of the collection, with photos, to americanpickers@cineflix.com, or call (855) old-rust. Things are busy at the Seneca Meadows landfill. The facility is up for a 10-year permit renewal, but with space estimated to hold just seven more years worth of waste. That, combined with talk of the Finger Lakes Railway working on a potential agreement with New York City to transport municipal trash to the landfill, has some residents and local businesses up in arms. Protesters plan on gathering at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Geneva Recreation Complex Ice Rink and Turf, 666 South Exchange St., Geneva. They will march through the tunnel under Routes 5 and 20, cross at Lake Street ending the march at Bicentennial Park where they will hold a rally from 11 a.m. to noon. Katherine Bennett Roll, secretary for the Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition and coordinator of the rally, said what spurred the march was contract negotiations with New York City to bring its municipal trash to the landfill. While the contract has not been finalized or approved, Bennett Roll believes were it to be accepted, it would guarantee expansion of the landfill. "The reason that this is so heinous, in our minds, is that the dump only has capacity for seven more years," Bennett Roll said. "It's supposed to be full by 2023, but the contract is for 20 to 30 years, and the point about that is it implies the expansion of the dump is a foregone conclusion." Officials from the Finger Lakes Railway and Seneca Meadows, however, said moving waste by rail is more environmentally friendly than people may realize. "We hope to participate in the movement of waste by rail, which will take trucks off of local roads, reduce carbon emissions by 75 percent, and create good-paying, local jobs," said Kyle Black, spokesperson and district manager for Seneca Meadows, Inc., in a press release. "Seneca Meadows supports positive, responsible progress in our community." Gas Free Seneca, a group representing 368 regional businesses, issued a press release on April 25 and a letter to the Seneca Falls Town Board urging officials to reject expansion of the landfill and set a date to stop accepting trash at the landfill. The group argued that the smell and sight of the landfill affect tourism and that there could be health implications to residing near the landfill as well. Deb Najarro, local rail industry consultant for the Finger Lakes Railway, said in a release that wine and tourism industries are seasonal, and the region needs to be creative to economically survive. "Every asset we have that is currently generating economic impact should be embraced, enhanced, and utilized to its fullest potential to help communities survive and thrive," Najarro said in the release. "I am encouraging the opposition groups to find leaders who will think outside of their environmental-fear-box and to engage in conversation with the business community about how to move the region forward together." Roll Bennett said she expects between 500 and 1,000 people to attend Saturday's protest. The Finger Lakes Railway said they will be postponing rail traffic during the morning hours, and plan to be present to answer questions and hand out informational pamphlets. SEMPRONIUS A Cayuga County man will spend the next several years in prison for manufacturing meth in Sempronius. Richard D. Casterline, II, of 2287 Route 41A, Moravia, plead guilty to third-degree unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in February 2014. He was charged Nov. 11, 2013, when state police discovered a meth lab run by Casterline in a relative's garage. While awaiting sentencing on that case, Casterline, 40, was arrested again in April 2014 and charged with first-degree unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Casterline was sentenced on the original charge to four years in prison plus two years post-release supervision. He was later sentenced to seven years in prison plus two years post-release supervision for the charges arising from his April arrest. Casterline claimed that he was entitled to a previous plea offer; however, the Appellate Division rejected his appeal Friday based on the fact that the defendant appeared in court and rejected that offer. "Casterline was a significant contributor to the methamphetamine scourge in this community," Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said. "He did not get the message the first time he was arrested, and this office secured additional convictions and an enhanced sentence based on his reoffending." Casterline's sentences will run concurrently. Also in court: The Appellate Division confirmed the conviction and sentence of an Auburn man involved in a burglary case. William I. Walter, 41, plead guilty to third-degree attempted burglary in 2014 for burglarizing a commercial van and stealing computer equipment belonging to a local business in July 2013. Walter, of 5966 South St. Road, was sentenced to 1 1/2 to three years in prison last year. The court upheld that sentence Friday on appeal. PITTSBURGH Not the beginning of the end. But maybe the end of the beginning. With victories in a string of Eastern states, including the industrial-and-agrarian empire of Pennsylvania, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton took giant steps toward their respective presidential nominations Tuesday night. They swept away most of the uncertainty surrounding their drives to their conventions, and they did so convincingly. They're not all the way there yet, to be sure. Clinton has a commanding lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, but cannot afford to permit the 74-year-old unlikely avatar of the Democratic youth movement to regain the momentum he had only a fortnight ago. For his part, Trump must continue his relentless push, state by state, but especially in the next six days in Indiana, where Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas may be making his last, desperate stand. The greater drama is in the Republican Party, roiled as it has been for 13 months by a rebellion in its ranks that, now that it is in full flower, has substantially altered those ranks, changing the very definition of what it is to be a Republican and what the party, once the guardian of stability and the repository of steady habits, stands for. Indeed, Tuesday's results in this state and across the Eastern Seaboard underscored how the American political world has turned upside down even though all five states that voted Tuesday voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1992, when Clinton's husband first won the White House. Wednesday morning, despite the continuing battle between the Sanders and Clinton loyalists, the party of stability is the Democratic Party, which only a generation ago was torn asunder by generational and cultural warfare; was suffering an identity crisis so severe it commissioned study after study to find its political gyroscope; and witnessed established political figures enduring pitiless critiques from outsiders who viewed the governing strictures and prevailing culture of the party as hopelessly outmoded and fatally corrupt. Today that very description applies, syllable for syllable, to the Republican Party. And, more startling still, those Democratic rebels make no mistake: Clinton was one of them, as anyone who witnessed or has read her Wellesley College commencement address will attest comprise something of an establishment of their own. Now "the Clintons" are as powerful a brand, as an important a factor in history, as "the Kennedys" and "the Bushes." It is true that the major meaning of the Sanders campaign, along with an attack on the campaign-finance system and a withering critique of the wealth gap, was an assault on the party establishment. While the campaign still rages Sanders insists he'll continue to fight the bitterness between the two camps persists. But it is friendly fire compared with the ballistics within the Republican Party. Indeed, in a victory statement in Philadelphia, Clinton said of her rival, "There's much more that unites us than divides us," and she cited a string of issues that were more in Sanders' palette than in hers, including the sins of Wall Street. The Republican nomination is not a settled matter, yet, even if Trump said Tuesday night, "I consider myself the presumptive nominee." Cruz and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio have undertaken an arranged marriage that is less one of convenience than of necessity. Its honeymoon lasted less than 24 hours, and so an alliance that looked as if it were a vote-diversion agreement Kasich would ask his supporters to back Cruz in Indiana, and the Texan would ask his legions to back Kasich in Oregon and New Mexico now looks like something different entirely. It is now more akin to a no-fly zone, with Cruz agreeing not to campaign in the Western states and Kasich agreeing not to campaign in Indiana. In his victory speech Tuesday, Trump said, "The Republican Party needs something much different than that." He described the alliance as "a faulty deal that was defaulted on before it was even started." The focus of the next week will be on two elements: the GOP party rules and the state of Indiana. If nothing else, the struggle in Pennsylvania only intensified the importance of both those elements. Trump triumphed in this state, even sweeping the Philadelphia suburbs. And yet he came away with a paltry prize; more than two-thirds of the delegates distributed in this state will be unpledged the largest portion of any state to be so distributed. Trump is well positioned to claim many of those unpledged delegates, but the gap between that harvest and his big victory will only add fuel to his fiery commentary. Now the campaign moves to Indiana, where the Trump forces face a more congenial set of circumstances. If Trump wins Indiana overall and prevails in each of its congressional districts, he will win every one of the 57 delegates on offer. That's the kind of delegate-distribution scheme the Manhattan businessman believes should be applied nationwide. Moreover, the unemployment rate is at about the national average, making the state fertile territory for his criticism of trade agreements, especially the North American Free Trade Agreement. The state has lost 113,000 manufacturing jobs since 1994, when NAFTA was implemented, and though all the job losses cannot be attributed to the trade agreement, unemployment remains a sensitive issue in the state. Other important primaries remain, especially California's, which has a prize of 172 delegates. The GOP contest almost certainly will continue until that confrontation, on June 7, but if Trump continues at this pace he may end the primary and caucus season with the delegate total he needs or well within striking distance of the 1,237 required for the nomination. A file photo. NEW DELHI (PTI): China has conveyed to India that it wants to resolve its boundary dispute as early as possible, the way it claimed to have done with 12 of its other neighbours. This was conveyed to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval by his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi when they met in Beijing last week during the annual 19th round of boundary talks. The Chinese side has said that they have resolved their boundary dispute with 12 countries and they were keen to settle all differences with India once for all and as early as possible, sources privy to the discussion said. The Chinese side was very assertive in their approach and they were very categorical in the meeting, the sources said. After the April 20-21 meeting, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had said that China and India should "meet each other halfway" to reach a "fair and reasonable" political solution to the border dispute acceptable to both sides, an indication of Beijing's willingness to make concessions on the vexed issue. China has rarely publicly talked about meeting India "half way" on the vexed boundary dispute. The reference to both the countries to stay on track for a political settlement is seen as significant as officials on both side say negotiations have reached a stage for the political leadership on both sides to take a decision to reach a solution. Doval and Yang had an "extensive, deep and candid" discussion on the 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), which remains undemarcated resulting in tensions between the two sides. Doval's predecessor, Shivshankar Menon, who represented India in several rounds of the border talks, had said in 2014 that all the technical work has been done and it is for the leaders of both the countries to take a call. Sources said during the Doval and Yang meeting, both India and China reiterated their commitment of not allowing any activities inimical to each other on their soil. India recognises one China policy and similarly Beijing does not allow any anti-India elements in its territory. Sources said Tibetans living in India are not allowed legally to carry out any anti-China protests and whenever they do it, they are arrested immediately. These were part of the agreement signed by India and China in 1980s, sources said. A file photo. WASHINGTON (PTI): Pakistan on Thursday said the F-16 jets provide precision strike capability to its on-going campaign against terrorism, a day after top American lawmakers expressed concern over the decision to sell eight fighter jets to Pakistan, saying the aircraft could be used against India. "F-16s provide precision strike capability to Pakistan's on-going campaign against militancy and have proven to be an effective platform during Operation Zarb-e-Azb," Pakistan's Embassy here said in a statement in response to concerns raised by several US lawmakers yesterday on the potential use of F-16 against India and its utility in the fight against terrorism. "The US Administration has stated it supports the sale of F-16s to Pakistan. This is in line with bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation that both sides have pursued in mutual benefit," the statement said. "Pakistan believes that threat from terrorist networks requires continued capacity building and both governments continue to work together towards this objective through a range of measures including sale of these air crafts," it said. During a Congressional hearing at the Capitol Hill yesterday, top US lawmakers expressed concerns over Barack Obama administration's decision to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying the aircraft could be used against India rather than combating terrorism. They also urged the Obama administration to review its decision in this regard. The US Senate has currently put a hold on the decision to give eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan at an estimated cost of USD 700 million. During the Congressional hearing Congressman Matt Salmon said, "Many members of Congress, including me, seriously question the judgement and timing of such a sale. Additionally, Indo-Pak tensions remain elevated and some question whether the F-16s could ultimately be used against India or other regional powers, rather than the terrorists as Pakistan as asserted." Another Congressman Brad Sherman said, "We have got to be concerned what military assistance and whether the F-16s constitute the least expensive, most efficient way for the Pakistani air force to go after the terrorists and the least disruptive weapon system to the balance of power between India and Pakistan." A file photo. BEIJING (PTI): The militaries of China and India are conducting research and trying to reach consensus on how to establish hotlines between their headquarters at an early date, a top Chinese defence official said here on Thursday. Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Colonel Wu Qian said that both sides should actively take efforts to push for the establishment of the hotline between their militaries and to enhance exchanges between the border troops on both sides to maintain peace and tranquility of the border areas. "So far the competent department of the two sides are conducting research study and discussion on this matter and are trying to reach consensus on the relevant arrangement at an early date so as to enrich exchange and cooperation between the two sides in border areas," he added. Colonel Wu said that the issue was discussed during Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's recent visit to China. Wu said Parrikar's visit has given a "great boost" to the ties between the armed forces of the two countries. "The two sides have agreed to enhance strategic communication and to further deepen practical cooperation and exchange in various fields, enhance mutual understanding and the integration of interests so as to seek win-win and mutually beneficial cooperation," he said. "So this visit by the Indian defence Minister to China was a great boost to the bilateral relations especially to the relations between the two armed forces," he told a media briefing here while replying to question on how China viewed Parrikar s visit which took place between April 16 to 20. During his visit, Parrikar met his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan, Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission Gen Fan Changlong and Premier Li Keqiang. Parrikar told them that India attaches highest priority to relations with China and it was committed to further developing friendly and cooperative relations with China. "The two sides exchanged views on wide ranging issues including the relations between the two countries and the two armed forces, cooperation in the defence field, the exchanges in border regions, cooperation and management of the border situation as well as regional and international issues of common interest," Wu added. A file photo. MUMBAI (PTI): Two Indian Naval Ships 'Veer' and 'Nipat' were decommissioned at the Naval Dockyard here this evening. The ceremony involved traditional last lowering of the ensign and commissioning pendents with playing of 'last post', an official release said. "INS Veer was the first ship of the 1241 RE class missile vessels. INS Veer and Nipat are the first two of this class to be decommissioned. Now eight ships of this category will remain," it said. The ships played a significant role as the guardian of International Maritime Borderline off west coast of India and were extensively deployed during the Operations Vijay and Parakram. The decommissioning ceremony was held in the presence of Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command. Ex-Commanding Officers of the ship as well as senior officers of the Western Naval Command also graced the occasion. JF-17 of Pakistan Air Force. ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan and China have launched the production of a new variant of the JF-17B 'Thunder' multi- role combat jet to be inducted into PAF by April next year to enhance its operational capabilities, media reported on Thursday. The production of the first prototype of JF-17B aircraft was initiated by both the countries at an induction ceremony held in Chengdu Aerospace Corporation in southwestern Sichuan province's Chengdu city, Dawn reported. The dual-seat combat aircraft will enhance training value and operational capability, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Marshal Muhammad Iqbal said. He thanked Chinese leadership for their continuous support in the design, development and manufacturing phases of the JF-17 development project. The budget allocated for the project was not made public. The latest models have upgraded avionics, air-to-air refuelling capability, data link, enhanced electronic warfare capability and enhanced load carrying ability. The JF-17 can be equipped with air-to-air and air-to-ground ordinance. The aircraft mounts both short-range infra-red air to air missiles along with longer ranged radar-guided BVR missiles, an essential capability for a frontline interceptor. The jet is set to make its maiden flight by the end of this year, the PAF said, adding that the aircraft will be inducted into PAF by April next year. Chinese leadership paid tribute to Pakistan Air Force authorities for operationalising the aircraft and expressed their resolve to continue support for development work of the JF-17 project. The JF-17 Thunder, a single-engine multi-role fighter jet, was jointly developed by China and Pakistan. Its development began in 1999, and the maiden flight was conducted in 2003. The initial Block 1 JF-17s were received in 2007, with production of the upgraded Block 2 JF-17s started in 2013. The JF-17 is a capable platform, and is on its way to form the backbone of the PAF. It was reported that between 250 and 300 aircraft will be inducted into the air force in order to phase out the ageing fleet of some other aircraft models that are still in operation. Congress must act on climate change (April 22, 2016) supports a revenue-neutral carbon fee, one thats paid, not to the government, but to every taxpayer every month in equal amounts. It will kick-start the solution to climate change clean energy which will have massive economic benefits for all of us. With an annually escalating carbon fee, the transition to renewable energy won't cost consumers or taxpayers anything. In fact, it can actually put extra money in middle-class and lower-income peoples pockets. People can make money by using their monthly carbon dividend checks to buy clean energy. And within 20 years, clean energy will be virtually free (Washington Post). By making fossil fuel corporations, rather than the public, pay for the damages the pollution from their products cause, wed increase our GDP $75-80 billion annually. Wed also create over 40 million green jobs in the US. Clean energy creates nearly 10 times as many jobs as the fossil fuel industry, and theyre better paying jobs too. Solar and wind already employ more Americans than the oil, natural gas and coal industries combined (Citizens Climate Lobby website). Its already worked as promised in British Columbia for eight years now, slashing emissions while lowering taxes and energy bills and growing their economy faster than any other Canadian province (The Economist). It has a whopping 83 percent public approval rating there (World Bank). Then theres the massive economic downside to consider if we fail to act now: Climate change has already cost American taxpayers over $1 trillion (NOAA). The worlds most highly-cited peer-reviewed science journal, Nature, says the future cost of climate change, should we continue to burn fossil fuels, will be over $369 trillion. The worldwide scientific community warns we have only another decade of two at most, to avert catastrophic climate change which would lead to global economic collapse followed by societal collapse (IPCC). But, using the power of the market, a carbon tax can make that transition to clean power happen within a decade (Newsweek). We can create an unprecedented, long-lasting economic boom starting now, or wait for total and irreversible economic collapse in the future. Pete Kuntz Lancaster, Pa. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2016 (2370 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. WASHINGTON Albertas new premier began her campaign to rehabilitate the reputation of her provinces oilsands in the United States, where it was battered by the debate over the Keystone XL pipeline. Rachel Notley walked a Washington audience through the climate-change measures taken by her new NDP government; she also described her province as home to nature-lovers who care about the environment and about being good global citizens. Im sure youve heard a lot about our province, especially the oilsands, Notley told an audience from Johns Hopkins University on Thursday. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley gives the 2015-2016 Thomas O. Enders Memorial Lecture on U.S.-Canadian Relations at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, Thursday, April 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Quite frankly, it is possible some of it might not have been very positive. But I am proud to say that over the course of the last year, since my government has been in office, Albertas environmental reputation has started to change. And, I believe, change for the better. Opposition to the oilsands grew during the years-long Keystone debate, as it went from relative anonymity among the general U.S. public to becoming protesters preferred poster child for the high-carbon economy. Notley said previous Conservative governments in Ottawa and Edmonton didnt help matters by foot-dragging on the climate file. In an interview, she explained that the goal for her three-day U.S. visit was to start changing perceptions. She told audiences about her NDP governments $30-a-tonne carbon tax, her plan to phase out coal, and the 100 million-tonne cap on oilsands emissions that she said is one-third of some previous long-term emissions projections and said that will force the industry to innovate if it wants to grow. Theres one point she didnt emphasize: that neither Albertas efforts, nor the federal governments, would at this point help Canada meet its emissions targets. Albertas emissions would not really drop under her plan. Theyd grow slower than projected; then stop growing within a few years; and finally decline, landing around current levels in 2030. The premier said she knows perceptions wont change overnight. Shes meeting on this trip with a White House environmental official; the head of the Center for American Progress, a prominent progressive think-tank that opposed Keystone XL; and the Republican head of the Senate energy committee. If I leave here with people going, Oh, isnt Alberta doing something that maybe we should take a look at, maybe even learn from, and theyre kind of doing the right stuff now, then thats a win, she said in an interview Thursday. I think we have an important, important story to tell. And its not just a story. Thats the new thing. Its real. We have significant action were taking on climate change. She stressed how important the oil industry to her provinces economy. She told the Johns Hopkins audience that its responsible for one-sixth of Alberta jobs. Notley did not use her trip, however, to promote future oil pipelines. She was asked whether she hoped her efforts would help gain approval for some future version of Keystone XL. She said thats not her focus now. The issue could resurface after the current U.S. presidential election. Both Republican candidates support the pipeline cancelled by President Barack Obama. The Democrats both oppose it. Im not a big fan of hypothetical questions, she told The Canadian Press. Asked about the pipeline debates back home, she said she has no interest in letting them strain national unity. Notley said she intends to have a respectful conversation based on the facts, allowing both sides of the issue to have their views heard. Ongoing pipeline proposals have caused tension with neighbouring B.C., become a hot topic for the Parti Quebecois and prompted Saskatchewans premier to express annoyance with Quebec. Notley said shell avoid finger-pointing. Canada is a collection of provinces. Historically some people play that feature off against one another. I dont think thats typically resulted in progress, she said. It is not in any way, shape or form the appropriate frame for this conversation. And were not going to do that with it. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Brandon Municipal Airport is applying for wildlife fencing after rabbits were spotted on the runway. At nighttime on April 24, four rabbits were on the landing strip while a WestJet plane from Calgary was arriving. After it landed, the plane crew reported it may have hit one. During a runway inspection, however, no rabbit remains were discovered and there was no operational impact to the plane. This isnt the first time airport crews have had to deal with wildlife. Every time an employee sees a wild animal on site, they have to report it. Bruce Bumstead/The Brandon Sun A rabbit sits perched on its hind legs waiting to bolt through the rows of headstones at the Brandon Cemetery on Thursday. Rabbits are also hanging out at the airport, prompting the facilitys chargehand to apply to Transport Canada for fencing. According to airport chargehand Corey Pennycook, crews have spotted rabbits on four occasions in April. Theres rabbits all over this area, Pennycook said. We scare them away on a regular basis, but they seem worse this year than ever. Right now, theres a cagewire fence surrounding the airport. Pennycook said its more than 50 years old and is only five feet high. Youve got your gaps in there, too, which the rabbits or a coyote, for that matter, can go through or over, he said. Pennycook said hes applying for wildlife fencing through Transport Canadas Airport Capital Assistance Program. The new chain-link fence would be taller and have barbed wire on top. He said it might take a few years to have that put in, but the extra help would be worthwhile. That way, theres less paperwork and annoyance. We do runway checks prior to arrival and prior to departure, but without perimeter fencing, we cant really keep animals out, Pennycook said. It seems a little worse than normal. ssamson@brandonsun.com Twitter: @samanthassamson Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Birdtail Sioux First Nations chief and council are celebrating an economic victory that has been more than 10 years in the making. Last Friday, 10 acres of land in the heart of Foxwarren was officially set aside as an urban reserve following a decade-long addition to reserve (ATR) process with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. I still dont know why it took so long (but) we are all ecstatic, its finally done and we can start moving forward, Birdtail Chief Ken Chalmers said. The First Nation initiated the request to turn the parcel of land which houses Foxwarrens vacant school into an urban reserve in 2005. Chalmers says the goal has always been to use the land to improve Birdtails economic portfolio and create job opportunities for band members. We started the process of converting this land as an addition to our community in hoping the future generations would benefit from the land, he said. Let us get into business and give us land that can be part of the economy. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada requires that any First Nation interested in accumulating more land must submit an application to the federal government outlining the legal description of the land and any outstanding obligations on the parcel. Stakeholder negotiations must then take place with surrounding municipalities and First Nations as well as the provincial government an environmental assessment and third-party interests must also be addressed. The application is then reviewed by the federal government and approved by the minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs or the Governor in Council. Chalmers says he got a chance to bring up Birdtails ATR application with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett during a recent meeting in Toronto. I had a chance to say, this is an ongoing matter for 10 years and I guess she went back and looked into it, he said, adding that he believes the face-to-face meeting may have played a role in the projects recent approval. Before development talks begin, Chalmers is focused on blessing the newly designated land with a traditional ceremony. It was returned to us, so we want to do the blessing of that land and move ahead with our community, with the surrounding region, with all the people that helped us get this far, he said. Chalmers invites the public to attend the ceremony next Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Foxwarren school site off Highway 16. ewasney@brandonsun.com Twitter: @evawasney Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/04/2016 (2370 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VICTORIA British Columbia has introduced legislation to prevent serial killer Robert Pickton and other notorious criminals from profiting from their crimes through sales of books and other memorabilia. Public Safety Minister Mike Morris said the proposed law will allow the government to take revenue earned from publications by criminals and distribute it to victims and their families. The former Mountie vowed swift action last February when a book reportedly written by Pickton was briefly listed for sale on the Amazon website. Robert Pickton is shown in an undated image from TV. Pickton and other notorious criminals in British Columbia will no longer be able to profit from their crimes. THE CANADIAN PRESS//HO/BCTV-Vancouver This legislation is aimed at preventing criminals from profiting from recounting their crimes, Morris said as he introduced the proposed law Thursday. As government we have a responsibility to protect victims and their families, and its unacceptable that murderers or others convicted of serious crimes could attempt to benefit from the pain and suffering they have caused others. Morris said the proposed law will apply to criminals convicted of serious or violent crimes including murder, sexual offences, child exploitation, kidnapping, drug trafficking and human trafficking. He said criminals cannot be banned from telling their stories due to constitutional reasons, but the law would prevent them from gaining financially from their stories. Pickton, 66, is serving a life sentence for the second-degree murders of six women and is being held at Kent maximum security prison near Agassiz, B.C., about 120 kilometres east of Vancouver. The 144-page book titled Pickton: In His Own Words was removed from the Amazon site after a public uproar. Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told the House of Commons then that the Correctional Service of Canada was investigating how the manuscript got out. Outskirts Press, which published the book, apologized to the victims families for the additional heartache the book may have caused. Last year, the company was pressured to pull Ontario killer Paul Bernardos fictional ebook about the Russian Mafia and al-Qaida. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia have similar legislation. The proposed B.C. law would require people with contracts to recount notorious crimes to contact the government about the terms of their contract. It would also prevent offenders from assigning rights to another person, including a spouse, friend or relative. The Public Safety Ministry said the law would apply to verbal or written contracts signed since Jan. 1, 2001 to cover when Pickton was charged. People who have caused harm should not be allowed to profit from their crimes, said a victims services spokeswoman. When there is an appetite for one side of a sad story told from an offenders perspective, the victims and those impacted are often re-victimized, both by what the offender has to say and the publics curiosity, said Carolyn Sinclair, executive director of Police Victims Services of B.C. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VANCOUVER The needs of the alleged victims played a key role in a Dutch courts decision to refuse a request for another delay in the trial of a man thought to be linked to the suicide of British Columbia teenager Amanda Todd, says a court spokeswoman. Polly van Dijk of the Amsterdam court said in an interview that Aydin Cobans trial on child pornography and extortion charges will start Monday even though his lawyer officially quit the case Friday. Coban knew he had to find somebody, van Dijk said, adding that Coban was aware of the scheduling restrictions and had already been granted two postponements. Amanda Todd is shown in an undated handout photo. The needs of the alleged victims played a key role in a Dutch court's decision to refuse a request for another delay in the trial of a man thought to be linked to the suicide of British Columbia teenager Amanda Todd, says a court spokeswoman. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Facebook, HO Today the court said you had chances enough. Amanda Todd, a 15-year-old girl from Port Coquitlam, B.C., took her own life in October 2012 after a spate of incessant bullying over nude photos Coban allegedly posted of her online. Her mother, Carol Todd, said Friday that the focus of the Dutch criminal proceedings shouldnt be on her daughter. She said she distanced herself from the case to allow the stories of other alleged victims to be heard. I chose to stay away from it because I want the attention focused on the trial and not on myself or on Amandas story right now, she said. I think the wisest choice is to let justice prevail. The Canadian government has requested Coban be extradited to face five separate charges in connection to Amanda Todds case. If successful, that would lead to criminal prosecution in Canada and would put her daughters story at the forefront, Todd said. B.C.s Justice Ministry has said Amanda Todds case has had a significant enough impact to warrant pushing for it to be tried in Canada. Coban faces 72 charges in the Netherlands, most of which relate to blackmail and the production and distribution of child porn involving 39 victims from across Europe, North America and Australia. The alleged incidents took place between 2008 and 2014. Thirty four of those allegedly involved were underage at the time, while the remaining five were adult men. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Coban parted ways with his first lawyer last month. The court offered to find Coban legal representation and warned him when he insisted on retaining his own counsel that he would only have two weeks to be ready for trial, said van Dijk. His most recent lawyer, Robert Malewicz, was granted an extension past the first two weeks, but quit when the court refused on Friday to give him an additional postponement. Elsbeth Kleibeuker, a spokeswoman for the Dutch National Prosecutor, said in an email that if Coban is unable to find representation by Monday the court may appoint him a lawyer to function as a process-monitoring guard. The judge expressed regret over Malewiczs decision to drop the case, Kleibeuker wrote in an email. Malewicz will remain Cobans counsel for the extradition hearing, which is scheduled to begin on June 14, one day after a ruling is scheduled to be delivered in the criminal proceedings, she said. Ottawa made it a crime to distribute intimate images without consent through anti-bullying legislation that came into effect in March 2015, partly in response to the deaths of several young Canadians, including Amanda Todd. Her mother spoke out at the time against the proposed bill, saying parts of it went too far in trampling childrens privacy rights. Todd has worked since her daughters death to raise awareness around keeping families and kids safe from online predators. Follow @gwomand on Twitter Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CAMPBELLTON, N.B. A groundbreaking court ruling Friday dismissing charges against a New Brunswick man arrested for importing Quebec liquor will have a national impact far beyond saving Maritimers a few bucks on their beer, says the mans Ontario-based constitutional lawyer. Arnold Schwisberg, who was part of the defence team, said the ruling could have the power to shift a host of laws across the country governing everything from selling chickens to how engineers and other professionals work across provincial lines. This is a groundbreaking decision, its ramifications are extensive, said Schwisberg, who called it the first ruling of its kind in Canada. In an 88-page decision, Judge Ronald LeBlanc threw out all charges against Gerard Comeau, 62, for importing 14 cases of beer and three bottles of liquor from a Quebec border town. The judge cited the words of Canadas founders, saying they never intended that laws should blatantly block the free flow of goods within the new country. I find that the speeches and orations from the Fathers of Confederation prior to the enactment of the British North America Act, 1867, conclusively point to their desire to implement free trade as opposed to the elimination of customs duties as between the provinces, he wrote. Schwisberg said the decision brought tears to his eyes. He expects the provincial court decision will eventually make its way through appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. He gamed out the implications of a top court ruling in Comeaus favour, saying it could effectively throw out Canadas marketing board system, allowing for the free trade of chicken, eggs, and milk, predicting food prices would likely come down as a result. All of that is going to change, and I argue for the benefit of Canadian consumers, said Schwisberg, who was brought into the case by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, which supported Comeaus challenge. A Supreme Court ruling could also have the effect of doing away with licensing standards that prevent engineers and other professions from moving easily between provinces, he said. Comeau was one of four people charged after a police sting operation in 2012. The New Brunswick Liquor Control Act prohibits anyone in the province from having more than 12 pints of beer that wasnt purchased through a liquor store in the province. That was the law RCMP were using when they seized Comeaus liquor and fined him $292.50 for bringing the liquor home to Tracadie, N.B. His local lawyer, Mikael Bernard, said Friday the victory shows that the common New Brunswick practice of bringing in multiple cases of Quebec beer was never illegal. Essentially, Judge LeBlancs decision confirms that what tens of thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands of New Brunswickers have been doing for the past 40 years is not a crime, he said in a telephone interview. On Friday, Comeau said the case wasnt just about dodging a fine. The way I look at it, Im a Canadian citizen, said Comeau on Friday. I dont see any reason why I cant go buy merchandise anywhere in this country and bring it home. You can buy anything else like cars, clothes, everything. Except for beer. During the trial, Comeaus lawyers and the Crown delved into Canadian history, debating just what the framers of the 1867 founding document meant. Andrew Smith, a professor of political history at the University of Liverpool in England, told the judge that a law banning the carriage of beer between provinces was a travesty of what the framers intended. The defence had argued that the section of the Liquor Control Act is unconstitutional because Section 121 of the Constitution Act says all goods from a province are to be admitted free into each of the other provinces. Admitted free means of all impediments, Smith had told the court in August of last year. The Crown had countered that regardless of Section 121 of the Constitution Act, there are policies in place that limit free trade between provinces. Story by Ruth Davenport and Rob Roberts in Halifax. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. HALIFAX Nova Scotia is doubling its complement of Crown prosecutors who work on Internet child exploitation cases to deal with what appears to be an increase in such crimes, says the provinces justice minister. Diana Whalen said Friday that the two new hirings to be completed by the fall will mean the provinces independent prosecution service will have four attorneys dedicated to sex-related cybercrime cases. Whalen said the move would fulfil a recommendation stemming from a review of the Rehtaeh Parsons case released last fall, which said there should be more Crown attorneys devoted to cybercrime. She said initial statistics for this year appear to indicate incidences involving various forms of online child exploitation are on the rise. We looked at numbers from the Halifax Regional Police and their numbers have literally doubled in the last number of years. Whalen said Halifax police investigated 73 cases in 2013 and are handling 51 cases so far this year. The minister said thats likely due to a number of factors including increased use of the Internet by perpetrators and more reporting of their activities by members of the public. With technical innovations constantly providing new avenues for child porn perpetrators to operate, Whalen said its important to bolster legal resources. This is a problem worldwide, said Whalen. We are definitely doing our very best to not only keep up, but stay ahead in order to prosecute properly. Justice officials said the plan would see prosecutors eventually rotated through the child exploitation unit because of the psychological toll working on the cases can exact. Its not something you want to do for months or years on end, said Whalen. So its important that we have more people with the expertise and they can share the workload. Funding for the new positions comes through an increase of $192,000 for the Public Prosecution Service in the latest budget. Currently there are 88 frontline Crown prosecutors working in Nova Scotia. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. SAINT JOHN, N.B. Lawyers for convicted murderer Dennis Oland are asking Canadas highest court to hear the New Brunswick mans bid to be granted bail. They issued a brief statement Friday saying they have asked the Supreme Court of Canada to hear the case, something the high court is not obliged to do. Oland received a life prison sentence this year after being convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his father, prominent New Brunswick businessman Richard Oland. Oland was found dead in his Saint John office in July 2011, the victim of a beating during which he suffered 45 blows to his head, neck and hands. His son is appealing his conviction and asked the New Brunswick courts to grant him bail while the appeal is being prepared, but his request was rejected. No person convicted of murder has ever been granted bail in New Brunswick. The Oland family is best known for founding Moosehead Breweries. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A judge in Peterborough, Ont., is mulling the fate of a local police officer charged with sexual assault after his trial heard graphic details from a woman who claims he raped her in his house. Const. Christopher Robertson pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the woman during an alleged incident that took place in January 2015, while he was off-duty. The charge was laid after an investigation by Ontarios police watchdog. The woman at the centre of the case, who cannot be identified, testified at the trial. He needs to be held accountable, she told the court. He broke the law, (profanity) raped me. But Robertson, 55, told the court he only had consensual sex with the woman, who was 40 at the time. I didnt sexually assault anybody, he testified. Much of the trial focused on what Robertson and the woman remembered. The woman testified that she met him at a local nightclub during a girls night out on a Friday night. She recalled having eight to nine rye-and-Cokes over the course of that night, and said she couldnt remember much about what happened. Theres a memory and then theres a black wall, and then theres a memory and then theres a black wall, she said. Even when there are memories, its like tunnel vision. The pair danced closely, kissing at times, court heard. Robertson said the woman initiated their interaction and described their dancing as intimate. Robertson testified he had no intention of going home with her, but the pair ended up getting into the same cab, which took them to his home. The woman said she remembered sitting in Robertsons living room before he picked her up and walked into his bedroom. Then it just goes black, the woman said, explaining that the next memory she had was of being pinned on her stomach. I couldnt move and there was a lot of pain, she said. There was pain on my lower back from him holding me there, my legs were pinned tight together and I couldnt move. I couldnt get out of the position. The woman said she repeatedly told Robertson to stop, but he kept having rough sex with her. I was fighting and he kept saying my name over and over, she said. The woman said she then felt excruciating pain on one shoulder, after which Robertson allegedly said thats so people know you are mine. The trial heard Robertson had not used a condom, and told the woman dont worry, Im fixed. He drove her home early Saturday morning and demanded a goodbye kiss before she got out of his truck, the woman said. At some point, the fact that Robertson was a police officer had come up, court heard. Later on Saturday, the trial heard that the woman was upset, fought with her on-again off-again boyfriend, and had sex with him. Robertsons defence lawyer suggested the womans relationship with her boyfriend, who was married at the time, motivated her to fabricate allegations against Robertson. You had a one night stand that created a big problem in your relationship, said Joseph Markson. You got caught and you had no way out and no way to get him back until you fabricated a sexual assault and fabricated memory loss. Two days later, the woman went to a hospital to get checked for STDs, but refused a forensic examination because, at the time, she didnt want to pursue charges, court heard. I remember saying no, hes a cop. Im not going to take on the police force,' she recalled. I said Who would you even report it to? What if I walk in and hes sitting right there?' A nurse who examined her found abrasions on the womans knees, bruises on her upper back, a red scratch below her neck, tenderness over her kidney areas and a small red abrasion deep inside her vagina. The woman said she decided to file a complaint weeks later because what happened was eating away at her. Robertson, however, gave a vastly different version of events to the court. He claimed the woman was the one who decided to come into his home that night and then started performing oral sex on him in his living room. He said the woman then jumped into his arms, at which point he carried her into the bedroom. Robertson said the woman did not ask him to stop once they started having sex, and he testified he did not pin her down. After sex, they engaged in pillow talk and Robertson then drove her home, he said. Before the woman got out of his truck, Robertson said she started kissing him and performed oral sex again, after which they had intercourse a second time. She starts complaining to me about being uncomfortable and it being hard on her knees, he said. Her knees were resting on my seatbelt anchors. Crown prosecutor Peter Scrutton challenged Robertsons account. Im going to suggest that things got rough at the house between you and her, Scrutton said noting that as a police officer, Robertson would have been familiar with the laws around consent, and that a woman can withdraw consent at any time. Youre lying about this to make it sound like there was nothing untoward about the sex that happened earlier. A decision in Robertsons case is expected May 30. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Like lawn darts, baby walkers and lead soldiers, menthol cigarettes are being consigned to the bad-idea dust bin of history. The federal government has served notice it is moving to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes because of their appeal to young and first-time smokers. A posting in the latest Canada Gazette starts the clock on a 30-day public comment period, but the writing has been on the wall since at least 2009 when the former Conservative government banned most flavoured tobacco products. Menthol cigarettes, a relic of the 1960s and a perennial adolescent rite of passage, were exempted sparking five consecutive years of sales increases. Cigarettes with a squeezable menthol capsule inside the filter are displayed in Toronto on November 18, 2015. The federal government has served notice it is moving to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes in Canada because of their appeal to young and first-time smokers. The posting in the latest Canada Gazette starts the clock on a 30-day public comment period. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette Thats about to end. Tens of thousands of Canadians die each year from smoking-related illness and studies have shown that the younger a person starts smoking, the greater the risk of premature death, Health Minister Jane Philpott said Friday in a news release. By banning menthol flavouring, which is shown to be popular amongst those under 25, we can help steer youth away from experimenting with tobacco in the first place. The notice from the Health Department says a smoking survey in 2012 found that 37 per cent of young smokers reported smoking a menthol cigarette in the previous 30 days. In 2014, menthol tobacco products made up almost five per cent of the total tobacco market, with menthol cigarettes making up 98 per cent of sales. While no specific data is available on the proportion of youth who use cigars and blunt wraps that contain menthol, the demonstrated interest of youth in menthol cigarettes and in flavoured tobacco products in general makes it is reasonable to infer that youth would find them appealing as well, the Canada Gazette says. Five provinces Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia already ban menthol cigarettes and Prince Edward Island has legislation pending. Rob Cunningham of the Canadian Cancer Society says menthol serves no other purpose than to mask the harsh taste of tobacco for new smokers. It makes it easier for kids to experiment and get addicted and it serves as a bit of a local anesthetic, Cunningham said in an interview. Theres absolutely no reason why an addictive, cancer-causing product such as cigarettes should have flavouring to make it taste better. And so a ban on menthol is absolutely the right thing to do. Health Canada says tobacco use is the countrys leading, preventable cause of disease, responsible for more than 37,000 deaths each year and costing $4.4 billion in direct health-care costs. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. EDMONTON Movie star Ryan Reynolds has posted an emotional goodbye on Facebook to a boy in Edmonton who has died of cancer. Reynolds visited 13-year-old Connor McGrath earlier this year in hospital and gave him an advance screening of his film Deadpool weeks before it was released to theatres. The Canadian actor says the Make-A-Wish Foundation arranged the visit and Connor was the first to see the movie. Actor Ryan Reynolds poses for a photo with 13-year-old Connor McGrath that the actor posted on Facebook. Reynolds posted an emotional goodbye on Facebook to the Edmonton boy who has died of cancer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ho-Facebook There were still huge sections with wires we hadnt yet painted out, jokes which werent working (and still arent) and green screens, Reynolds says in the Facebook post. Connor didnt seem to mind. And Id never felt luckier to get to be Wade Wilson. In the movie, Reynolds plays Wilson, who undergoes an experimental procedure that gives him healing powers and turns him into the snarky Marvel superhero Deadpool, known for his salty language and off-humour. Before you jump down my throat for showing a 13-year-old an R-rated film, please know this kid knew more swear words than a British chef, writes Reynolds. Connor died Tuesday and a memorial service is to be held in Edmonton next week. He had drop-kicked cancer for three years but lost in the end, says Reynolds. Not sure how Maybe the cancer cheated. He offered his sympathies to Connors family in both Edmonton and Newfoundland. Reynolds says hes grateful he got to orbit Connors world for a brief time and that the two became friends who shared pages and pages of hilarious texts. Reynolds visited Connor in hospital a second time and says his prognosis wasnt clear. After my visit, I didnt know if I was saying goodbye or see ya later. Sitting here now, I realize it was both. He says Connor was especially smart and funny, and everything Deadpool aspires to be balancing pain, fearlessness, love and a filthy (filthy!) sense of humour in one body. I wish he couldve stuck around a lot longer. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO An Ontario nurse who admitted to snooping into the medical records of patients will have her licence suspended for four months and face a formal reprimand. The College of Nurses of Ontario has also ordered Mandy Edgerton formerly Mandy Reid to undergo remedial training on privacy rules. According to college documents, Edgerton committed professional misconduct between January 2010 and September 2013 by accessing personal health information without consent related to about 300 patients at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre in Peterborough, Ont. The registered nurse also failed to maintain appropriate boundaries with a client and the clients family when she discussed personal issues, took personal friends to the home of the client, invited her family for dinner at the home of the client and travelled with the family of a client for an event, the documents show. The health centre fired Edgerton for the privacy breach, according to the Peterborough Examiner, which reported that she looked into the records of people she knew and cases she found interesting. One woman told the Examiner she was embarrassed because Edgerton had shown her sensitive medical records to her classmates. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Highlights from the news file for Friday, April 29: RISING COMMODITY PRICES PUSH UP LOONIE: The Canadian dollar brushed against the 80 cent mark on Friday, thanks to rising commodity prices and weakness in the American greenback. The loonie hit the 80-cent US level after North American stock markets opened for trading, but it later pulled back. CMC Markets Canada analyst Colin Cieszynski says the loonie has been building momentum since late January when it was trading around the 68 cent U.S. mark. ___ A Canadian "loonie" one-dollar piece is pictured in North Vancouver, B.C., on January 23, 2015. The Canadian dollar brushed against the 80 cent mark on Friday, thanks to rising commodity prices and weakness in the American greenback. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward CANADIAN FUNDED HOSPITAL DESTROYED: An aid agency says Russian and Syrian government warplanes have destroyed a Canadian-funded hospital in Aleppo. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations says the Al Marjeh Primary Health Care Centre has received millions of dollars in medical supplies from Canada since it opened in 2014. The Syrian Civil Defence Agency says there were no casualties because the clinic was empty. The organization says it was the second bombing of a civilian hospital in Syria in the past three days and it is calling on the international community to protect hospitals and aid workers. __ ECONOMY SUFFERS SLIGHT SETBACK: The economy lost ground in February, with the gross domestic product dropping 0.1 per cent. Its in stark contrast to the 0.6 per cent growth in January and the first time the economy has contracted since September. CIBC chief economist Avery Shenfeld says the weak result in February could mean some more disappointing results in the coming months. He notes U.S. imports fell in March, including in categories where Canada is a major supplier. ___ GOVERNMENT STILL IN THE BLACK: The latest update from the federal finance department is fuelling debate about whether the Harper government left the books in the red when they left office. The government ran a budgetary surplus of 7.5-billion dollars over the first 11 months of its fiscal year. That suggests the government will have to post about a 13-billion dollar deficit in March to match the Liberals projection of a 5.4-billion dollar shortfall. Tory MP Lisa Raitt says the new numbers reveal her party left the Liberals with a solid foundation that continues to generate revenues because of the low-tax environment it left behind. But Finance Minister Bill Morneau cautions the final, year-end numbers should look a lot different. ___ BEAUDOIN FAMILY WONT GIVE UP CONTROL OF BOMBARDIER: The family that founded Bombardier says it wont change the voting structure of the aerospace giant. Pierre Beaudoin told a shareholders meeting that family control allows for long-term investment and prevents the dismantling of the company. Beaudoin is executive chairman of the board and a member of the Beaudoin-Bombardier family that effectively controls the company through its multiple voting shares. Its an apparent sticking point with the federal government over possible financial assistance for Bombardier. ___ WASHINGTON TRIP SUCCESS, NOTLEY SAYS: Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is calling her three-day trip to Washington a success. Notley says she made inroads in explaining the provinces climate-change plan to U.S. politicians and officials in the Obama administration. Thursday night, in a speech at the Center for Canadian Studies at Johns Hopkins University, the premier stressed that oil remains critical to her province, and is responsible for one job out of six. ___ NEW BRUNSWICK MAN WINS BEER BATTLE: A New Brunswick judge has dismissed charges against a man accused of illegally bringing 14 cases of beer and some liquor from Quebec. Gerard Comeaus lawyer Mikael Bernard says the ruling has huge ramifications across Canada. Comeau was charged with violating New Brunswicks Liquor Control Act, which prohibits anyone in the province from having more than 12 pints of beer that wasnt purchased through a liquor store in the province. His lawyers challenged the provincial laws as unconstitutional, arguing the Constitution says anything produced in one province shall be admitted free into the other provinces. ___ BATTLE LINES DRAWN OVER CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL POLICY: Next months Conservative party convention could feature a battle over social policy. Social conservatives say theyve succeeded in getting a resolution to the floor to protect people from being required to perform same sex marriages. At the same time lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Conservatives are calling on the party to drop its formal opposition to same sex marriage. The party says no final decisions have been made yet on which of the 340 proposed resolutions will actually be debated and a list will be made public ahead of the convention. ____ THIRTEEN DEAD IN NORWAY CHOPPER CRASH: A helicopter carrying oil workers from an offshore platform in the North Sea crashed off the Norwegian coast, killing all 13 on board. Rescuers say 11 bodies were found, and the search is one for the remaining two. Most of the Statoil workers on board the chopper were Norwegians, but there was one person from the United Kingdom and one from Italy. The cause of the crash is not known. ____ JUSTICE DEMANDED FOR AFGHAN HOSPITAL VICTIMS: Survivors and the families of the 42 people killed in a U.S. airstrike on a hospital in Afghanistan want justice. Theyre dismayed that those responsible for last Octobers attack on the facility run by Doctors Without Borders will not face criminal charges. The Pentagon is releasing a report that says the U-S military personnel responsible will receive only administrative punishments. ____ PROTESTERS DOG TRUMP: Several hundred protesters gathered near a Burlingame, California, hotel where Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will address the state G-O-P convention. Protesters pelted police with eggs. Trump supporters and opponents got into confrontations on Thursday outside a Trump rally in Southern California, and raucous protesters damaged police cars. ____ Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA With the House of Commons not sitting this week, jet-setting and jets dominated Canadian politics instead. The Trudeau cabinet flew out en masse to a resort in Kananaskis, Alta., to spend three days talking about the economy, but it was the beheading of a Canadian hostage in the Philippines that seized all the attention. The cabinet then fanned out across the country, and Trudeau made his way to a couple of different First Nations reserves even as the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered his government to live up to its commitments for aboriginal children. By weeks end, ministers were fending off queries about a big fat new order for Bombardier. Delta Airlines wants to buy up to 125 CSeries jets, prompting some to question why the government would still be considering a $1-billion bailout for the Quebec aerospace manufacturer a question that remains unanswered. Canadians are still getting to know their newly elected representatives. This week, they discovered that there are times when the federal government may not always have their back. Heres how politics mattered to Canadians lives this week: TALK VS ACTION ON HOSTAGES: News emerged Monday that Canadian John Ridsdel had been beheaded by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines after seven months in captivity. Three other hostages, including a second Canadian citizen and a permanent resident of Canada, remain in captivity. Media reports, coupled with Canadas track record in hostage incidents, began to fuel persistent talk about Canada being amenable to paying ransom in such situations. So Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emerged to douse the speculation. Canada does not and will not pay ransom to terrorists, directly or indirectly, he said. Paying ransom for Canadians would endanger the lives of every single one of the millions of Canadians who live work and travel around the world every single year. That prompts the question: what does the government actually do to deal with such hostage-takings besides investigate after the fact? Government policy on kidnapping dictates no compromises with kidnappers no policy changes, no prisoner exchanges, no immunity from prosecution, no ransom. And given the terrain and the politics of the Philippines right now, a rescue seems unlikely. TALK VS. ACTION FOR ABORIGINAL CHILDREN: Even as the prime minister visited First Nations leaders in Saskatchewan this week also dropping in on the isolated Shoal Lake reserve on the Ontario-Manitoba border, where residents have been under a boil-water advisory for 19 years a key tribunal was telling him to pony up. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered Ottawa to immediately enact a policy that ensures aboriginal children in need dont see their health and welfare caught up in federal-provincial infighting. The problem is old and pre-dates the Liberal government, but all parties agreed in the House of Commons in 2007 that the childrens needs should take precedence over red tape. Trudeau insists his visiting of First Nations is more than just talk. I think it is important to underscore that the conversations we are having, the signalling of a renewed relationship based on recognition of inherent and treaty rights, based on respect and collaboration, arent just words, Trudeau said. They go to the fundamental nature of how the federal government engages in a responsible and proper way with indigenous communities and individuals across this country. NO TALK, NO ACTION ON BOMBARDIER AID: The Montreal-based aerospace company announced Thursday that a multi-billion-dollar deal is in the works with U.S. carrier Delta. The company said it now has a decent cash flow and suggested that any extra money coming its way could be put towards restoring dividends for shareholders. But at the same time, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, and indeed the company itself, say Ottawa still needs to give Bombardier $1 billion in financial aid, in the name of supporting aerospace innovation. Federal ministers had very little to say about the changing landscape, given that theyre in the midst of market-sensitive negotiations with the company. Their previous reasons for even considering financial assistance bolstering the competitiveness of an important industry that employs thousands across the country are now in limbo. Their eventual response will offer even more clues about the Liberal government, notably its approach to industrial development, subsidies, job protection and Quebec. Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Today marks my final day as publisher of The Brandon Sun. My wife Linda and I leave shortly for British Columbia, where I have accepted a position with Black Press. We want to say thank you to Brandon and to Westman. When we first came here from the Maritimes, a number of people asked us, are you experiencing culture shock coming from the East Coast to the Prairies? We could always answer truthfully, no, because everyone has been so friendly and so welcoming. File photo Eric Lawson The city did indeed welcome us with open arms. We considered saying individual thank yous in this article to the many people and organizations who have been so good to us, but fear leaving someone out so let us just say thank you to the city, the region and its people for making us feel so at home. I also want to say thank you to the people who work at the Sun and affiliated community newspaper the Carberry News-Express. I have worked at community newspapers throughout my career and have always believed in the power of community media to inform, to entertain, and to support the communities in which they operate. I hope the Sun and the News-Express have fulfilled that mandate; it has always been my goal that they do so. The staff members at these newspapers believe in the work they do and its value to their communities. I have been proud to be associated with them and want to thank everyone with whom I have had the opportunity to work at the Sun and the News-Express. I believe the papers punch above their weight in serving their communities. I am confident they will continue to do so. I also know that Brandon and Westman will continue to succeed as their people look to the future. To single out just one aspect of the regions vibrant civic life, Linda and I have been involved in a number of community organizations over the course of our time here. We have been consistently impressed with the work these organizations do. Let me cite two events with which we have been directly involved: the Arthritis Societys annual Jingle Bell Walk at the Brandon University Healthy Living Centre and the Rotary Club of Brandons twice-yearly book sale raise important funds for these worthwhile organizations and the work they do in the community. These are just two examples of the countless fundraising and awareness events sponsored in Brandon and area each year all making valuable contributions to the civic life and the people of the region. Every year, volunteers put in untold hours behind the scenes to make all of these events the success stories they are. These volunteers work tirelessly for no glory, just for the good of the events themselves and the people who benefit from the funds that are raised. These volunteers, and the many other people who work to make Brandon a better city, are the face of a dedicated, forward-looking community that is in good hands and in which we have loved living. Thank you Westman we leave with many wonderful memories. Eric Lawson Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Back in early 2004, I was still a big fan of your typical Canadian pale lagers/pilsners such as Canadian, Kokanee and Moosehead and frankly, I enjoyed them a lot. However, there was a part of me that wanted to try something new. Up came witbiers! Youve seen me talk about witbiers here fairly often as its a fairly light, flavourful style wheat beer thats not offensive to any beer drinkers palate. To me, a good witbier is the perfect beverage to cheer me up after a bad day which is often lately. While the witbier originated in Belgium more than 500 years ago, the style faded in the 1950s in Belgium with the rise in popularity of lagers. In the 1980s, the style returned to popularity and to this day, almost every brewery has experimented with at least one witbier. Both Fort Garry and Half Pints released their takes on the Belgian witbier this past summer and of the two, Fort Garrys won it for me because Half Pints simply filtered their beer too much, removing the sweet, yeasty, orange peel and coriandery treat that goes amazingly with patios. Also, if youve ever had a German-style hefeweizen, its a cousin of the Belgian witbier. With the witbier, you get more of an orange or orange peel flavour, while the German hefeweizen has a creamier, banana flavour. Here are four witbiers Ive chosen in time for Patio Season 2016 weather permitting! Hoegaarden (AB InBev Labatt) Hoegaarden is widely known as being one of the original witbiers in North America, with a Belgian history dating back to 1445. In reality, the beer was introduced in the 1960s and purchased by the AB InBev predecessors at Interbrew in the 1980s, bringing distribution to Canada. Hoegaarden pours a fairly light, hazy lemon-yellow body. The aroma starts off with notes of vinegar, which is never a good thing, but it quickly diminishes into a light herbal and vegetal perfume aroma with a hint of coriander. The taste is fairly bland, a bit acidic and mostly the taste of yeast. Im not noticing much of the coriander, but its there somewhere. Hoegaarden leaves a bit of a metallic aftertaste. If youre ever in Belgium, theres a thousand better witbiers than this. 4.9 per cent ABV. Available for $2.48/330ml bottle at nearly every Liquor Mart (including Express locations) in Manitoba. Rating: 2/5 Pints Unibroue Blanche de Chambly (Sleeman Sapporo) In 1991, Blanche de Chambly became the first commercially brewed witbier in North America. Since then, the beer has become a staple of the Canadian beer industry. Being a big fanboy of Unibroue, I was lucky enough to get a private tour of the brewery back in January so there is some substantial bias here. Blanche de Chambly pours a carbonated, cloudy orange peel with a minimal amount of snow white head on the side of the glass. The aroma is a mixture of wheat-based cereals and biscuits, a hint of orange peel and just a faint note of coriander. The taste gives off a more moderate flavour of coriander with a hint of clove, biscuits, a smidge of orange peel and a hint of lemon. A very light sour aftertaste is present. The presence of coriander isnt what I remember from batches of the beer from back when I worked at Convergys, but this is a nice easy drinking wheat beer and great for making Sunday morning beer mimosas (three parts Chambly, one part orange juice). 5.0 per cent ABV. Available for $6.15/750ml corked bottle at Keystone Motor Inn vendor, Liquor Marts in Brandon, Neepawa and The Pas, as well as on tap at Prairie Firehouse. Rating: 3.5/5 Pints Charles Henri Blanche (Brasserie Les 2 Freres) I reviewed this beer a few months back and seeing that Brasserie Les 2 Freres has only been open for two years now, they have aggressively expanded into Western Canada first here in Manitoba, but now also in Saskatchewan. Charles Henri pours a hazy orange peel with close to no carbonation, a good deal of sediment floating around in the beer and a light amount of snow white head on top glazing the glass. The aroma gives off an abundance of coriander and clove, which may be too much for some people as that combination is a bit spicy for my nostrils. But it still gives off a nice citrus zest that doesnt need a wedge of orange touched by dirty hands. The taste is a mixture of vegetal and fruity zest that gives off a bit of green leafy vegetable flavour due to the abundance of coriander and clove. Light to medium amount of pepper spice and a nice amount of orange peel give it a sweet citrus zest. This is the most herbal witbier so far, but also the first beer of the night that has any true presence of coriander and orange peel. However, the leafy green taste makes me wish there was a shot of fresh squeezed OJ in here. 5.1 per cent ABV. Available for $4.99/500ml bottle at the Corral Centre Liquor Mart. Rating: 3/5 Pints Belgian Moon, a.k.a. Blue Moon (Molson Coors Brewing) The new kid on the block but wait its not! If youve ever had Rickards White, youve had a Belgian Moon. Belgian Moon (or Blue Moon, as it is known in the United States) was the original recipe for Rickards White when it was released in 2006. Since then, both the Rickards and the Blue Moon recipes have been tweaked, making it different enough that both beers can exist at the same time at Liquor Marts and vendors. But due to the popularity of Labatt/AB InBevs horrible Shock Top Belgian Wheat wannabe-ale a few years back, Rickards White disappeared from restaurant/pub draft lines. Belgian Moon has arrived to combat against Shock Top, or at least thats what the vibe I got from it stated. Belgian Moon pours a very cloudy orange that initially has a lot of fizzy carbonation, but it diminishes immediately. Theres a very light amount of white foam residue, but no actual head on top at all thats just weird. The aroma first reminds me of buttered toast using grandmas bread, not any of that store-bought stuff. Theres also a rich aroma of orange peel and coriander building up each time I try to smell the beer. The taste is very grainy, a hint of buttery goodness again which isnt physically possible in a Belgian-style witbier in the first place a light amount of vegetal flavour to it, a hint of coriander popping up here and there and a good presence of orange juice and orange peel emerging whenever it can. The Rickards variety is even sweeter in my opinion, with even more coriander but thats what the Canadian market seems to want with their wings. Belgian Moon is actually more subtle than Rickards White. If you absolutely need an orange wedge, just add some orange juice to the brew like my Chambly breakfast mimosa idea. 5.4 per cent ABV, available in 473ml cans for $3.01 and 355ml 12-packs throughout Manitoba for $23.68. You will see this beer on tap at various bars and restaurants throughout the province in coming weeks, as nobody should ever have to deal with the mediocrity of Labatts Shock Top. Rating: 3.5/5 Pints Cody Lobreau is a Canadian beer blogger who reviews every beer he can get his hands on as he believes that he should try every beer twice to get an understanding if its truly good or bad. BeerCrank.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/04/2016 (2369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In last weeks column, I presented a rather exhaustive list of sweet wines for those who enjoy a more sugary component to their favourite beverage than do I. I compiled the list because I realized Id been ignoring, or at least downplaying, this particular type of potable, and when I considered that tons of sweet wines are sold in this market and others around the world, I figured it was time to get with the program and cater to those with sweeter tastes for a change. So I did just that. And while its tough to write about, let alone recommend, wines I really dont care for, I work hard to try to see the merits in some wines that are not ones Id buy, and I believe Ive had a modest degree of success in doing just that. If a wine is more citrusy than I like, for instance, I can still appreciate how someone whos into that type of fruit would be attracted to a wine that echoed those same sweet-tart, acidic qualities. So I can hone in on those characteristics and feel good about detailing why I think, despite my personal feelings, these would be good wines for particular palates, as long as I note my bias or lack of fondness for them right off the bat. By the same token, while I dont generally enjoy super-sweet wines, I can sometimes look past the sugar and note the merits of a wines balance, its texture, its flavours, and remain quite convinced that, while its not something Id enjoy more than a sip of, others whose preferences are different than mine might indeed find something of worth in the particular beverage being discussed. That said, and the sweet wine list behind me, it was with a flash of insight recently that I realized there was a middle ground. I was tasting a couple of wines at the Corral Centre Liquor Mart that were not crazy sweet, but semi-sweet. Or just a bit sweet. And these I could get behind. Because I really did enjoy them. I even contemplated buying one, and although I ended up deciding not to, I was still elated by the prospect of offering up a few wines that might satisfy those who dont like sweet wines but are also not exactly enamoured with dry wines, either. So I came up with five that I thought fit the bill, and hope those of you with a modest tolerance for a bit of sweetness will find these to your liking. And who knows? They may even provide a stepping-stone to enjoying somewhat drier wines down the line. Not that thats my aim, you understand. Just a possibility. Anyway, the Selbach Detzemer Maximiner Klosterlay Riesling Mosel Spatlese ($17.67) from Germanysurprised me, because although its a German Riesling, and those are usually quite sweet, this one had an air of elegance that took the edge off. Certainly there were elements of honey in this wine, but the mineral notes provided a good balance and made it quite enjoyable. I could certainly see it pairing beautifully with ham or sweet and/or spicy dishes. The Gnarly Head 1924 Double Black Limited Edition Red Blend ($19.99) this and the other two reds that follow are all from California had delectable aromas of blackberry, mocha, raspberry, and caramel, and flavours of blackberry jam with a hint of dates. This wine might go well with steak Im not certain, though but its refined enough that Im certain it would pair nicely with pork. The Menage a Trois Silk ($16.99) is a blend of 70 per cent Pinot Noir, 20 per cent Malbec and 10 per cent Petite Sirah. Soft and graceful as the name suggests, its full of cherry and raspberry flavours with shades of delicate dried violets. Dead Bolt Winemakers Red ($17.99) boasts aromas of bold red fruit with hints of oak, and flavours of black cherry, spice, chocolate and coffee. And finally, the fabulous Quails Gate Chasselas Pinot BlancPinot Gris ($18.99) from the Okanagan. My cousin Michael and his partner Roxanne introduced this beauty to me as their favourite wine last summer, and I could understand why. This just-off-dry blend, with its pear and fresh-fruit-salad notes, is refreshing, easy-drinking and simply stunning to sip. A true crowd-pleaser, this one definitely crosses the line between slightly sweet and not-sweet wine palates. Ive been hard-pressed to find anyone who doesnt like this wine including me! Diane Nelson is a longtime journalist and former Sun staffer who really likes wine. A lot. vinelines.ca Twitter: @vinelinesbdn MARCELLUS Matt Kehoe's Crooked Barn Farm at 2559 Falls Road in Marcellus is an ever-evolving project. The Crooked Barn features a CSA, which is short for community supported agriculture. This means people know exactly where their food and flowers are grown and are on first-name basis with the farmer. This year, he is featuring printed recipes in each weekly share. "This is a community-oriented experience," Kehoe said. A typical CSA features a selection of vegetables with the possible inclusion of herbs, fruits and flowers on a weekly basis. "We do a CSA with a twist," Kehoe said, noting clients can go to the website and personalize their weekly selection from what is available. The farm also uses insulated bags so the produce stays fresher. And, if people do their research, it is much less expensive than the supermarket. Kehoe's team includes Molina Sterling, Jess Howard and Kehoe's wife, Kristen, when she isn't teaching art in the Liverpool Central School District. They work 20 fenced-in acres that he rents from Larry Thorpe, of Chilmark, Massachusetts. The fence keeps the area's sizable deer herd out and also doubles as support for pole beans. "We are always trying to grow new items," Kehoe said, noting last year the farm grew lemongrass for the first time as well as kallets, which is a cross between kale and a brussels sprout. This year, the farm is going to add oyster and shittake mushrooms. Although Crooked Barn's produce isn't certified organic, Kehoe said the farm uses all organic practices including certified organic, non-genetically modified organism seeds, composted horse manure and fish emulsion, while also growing beneficial flowers and hosting a bee hive on the property that is in the foothills of Nine Mile Creek. The CSA runs for 20 weeks with the start being weather dependent. There are two sizes available, and people can decide to pick up or get delivery for an additional fee. It's not just vegetables as there are herbs, greens, fruits and flowers grown on the farm. Right now, the land is tilled and planted with the greenhouse ready for round two, which includes starting tomatoes, cucumbers and more. "Some of the cool weather crop seeds are in the field, like onions, carrots, peas, kale, endive, Swiss chard, rutabaga and collards," Kehoe said. Kehoe is a fourth-generation farmer from Moravia who went to SUNY Cobleskill to study horticulture. He also owns and operates Digg It, a landscape and construction company based in Marcellus. A walk around Crooked Barn's property makes it easy to tell that Kehoe is a can-do, buttoned-up, project-oriented guy. As a matter of fact, there is nothing crooked at the Crooked Barn, not even the barn, which has been shored up and straightened with new siding. He's trying to work out a way to feature the Skaneateles YMCA and Community Center as a drop off area for Skaneateles clients. This will require a minimum number of people to sign up, so those interested should go to the website, which has a chart for what produce to expect in each month. We dont know why this isn't more of a thing - using Snapchat to provide an insight into everyday farming practices that are probably a bit of a mystery to the rest of us. Ross Lonergan, a Waterford student who farms in his spare time, may just have started something with his hilarious Snapchat story explaining how to spread slurry. Senior Gardai have met the acting Taoiseach and Justice Minister to brief them on investigations into recent gang related murders in the Dublin region. The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said that Gardai had in the past successfully faced down gangs, who believed they were above the law. At the meeting high ranking officers outlined how armed checkpoints have been mounted in the capital to disrupt the activities of criminals. Progress on a dedicated armed Garda unit for Dublin was also discussed. They were also briefed on the progress being made in establishing an additional, dedicated Armed Support unit for Dublin which she first announced plans for in February. Minister Fitzgerald stated: The recent cycle of gang violence is shocking and disturbing. The loss of life, including the life of those who played no part in gang related feuds, is intolerable. We will not let the safety and good name of our Capital City be dragged down by the violence and thuggery of these gangs. I have assured An Garda Siochana that they have the full support of the Government in their efforts to disrupt gang-related crime and they will continue to access all resources necessary, including extensive overtime, to support them in delivering concentrated visible policing measures to tackle gang-related crime. Update 04-05-2016 Gardai have located Ricky Wall safe and well. Earlier Gardai are appealing for the public's help in tracing the whereabouts of a missing 15-year-old boy from England. Ricky Wall was last seen on April 11 in Suffolk and it is believed he traveled to Crumlin in Dublin where he is originally from. He's described as being 5ft 8in in height with dark brown short hair and brown eyes. When last seen Ricky was wearing a dark blue jacket and dark blue jeans. Anyone who may have seen him or who knows anything is being asked to contact the Gardai. Ten new cases of HIV are diagnosed every week in this country. Figures from HIV Ireland show new cases have increased by 35% since 2011. The prosecution believes David Mahons interviews with Gardai were littered with lies and clearly point to his guilt. The 45-year-old is accused of murdering his stepson Dean Fitzpatrick outside his apartment at Northern Cross in Dublin in May 2013. Dave Mahon claims Dean called over to his apartment on May 25th 2013 and pulled a knife on him during a row over a stolen water bottle. He told Gardai he took it off him but had it in his hand during a later confrontation that ended with his stepson being fatally stabbed. He said it was accident and also spoke about Deans history of self-harm and mentioned the possibility he wanted to walk onto the blade. During his closing speech this morning, Remy Farrell, SC for the DPP, accused Mr. Mahon of telling lie after lie following his arrest. He described them as crucial lies. Lies used to assist him only and lies that clearly point to his guilt, he said. He also spoke about the post mortem, and while he accepted it wasnt able to assist either sides version of events, he said it was clearly a wound that required a person to have a tensed hand while holding a knife. Mr. Mahons barrister will address the jurors for a final time next week before they begin their deliberations. A teenage "monster" has been detained for a minimum of 27 years behind bars for stabbing two strangers to death as he tried to be like his idols - the Yorkshire Ripper and Ted Bundy. James Fairweather was 15 years old when he terrorised a local community by carrying out horrific random attacks on James Attfield, and Nahid Almanea three months later. Flagstaff International Relief Effort will mark the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Nepal with a fundraiser Saturday, April 30. The event will be from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater. Admission is free. FIRE will be selling outdoor gear at discounted prices for this night only. Clothing brands include Patagonia, North Face, Solomon, Marmot and more. There will also be live music, films about Langtang made after the earthquake and food provided by Whyld Ass. On April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Nepal. The earthquake triggered an avalanche in the popular trekking area of Langtang Valley, sweeping the village of Langtang off the map when 116 homes were buried under 100 feet of snow, ice and rock. A total of 175 Langtangpas lost their lives along with 110 foreign tourists and 30 Nepali guides. 400 Langtangpas survived. Within one month of the earthquake, the community of Flagstaff came together to donate more than $20,000 to FIRE in support of the villagers from Langtang. One year later, FIRE has distributed aid such as blankets, food, mattresses, clothing and cooking supplies to 57 families. FIRE also helped repair a bridge at an important river crossing. FIRE continues to work on providing basic aid and developing new projects focused on community development, economic development and cultural preservation. The main focus at the moment is to build homes for the poorest elders of the community who survived the winter at 13,000 feet in make-shift shelters, unable to travel to Kathmandu with the rest of the village and without family to support the reconstruction of their homes. The communities of Sun Valley, Hailey and Kethum, Idaho, donated 5,000 pounds of name brand outdoor winter clothing for FIRE to sell in support of the reconstruction efforts. All proceeds of this event will support the reconstruction of Langtang. More information is at www.fireprojects.org. Get your hands dirty for Arbor Day On Saturday, April 30, in honor of Arbor Day, The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, Friends of the Rio, REI and APS are partnering for a Rio de Flag Restoration Day at Willow Bend. Volunteers are invited for tree planting, trash clean-up and weed pulling. Participants will learn about invasive weeds and proper planting techniquesand help clean up the Rio de Flag. Jack Welch and Lynne Nemeth will be guiding a Rio de Flag hike at 8 a.m., with clean-up and planting beginning at 9 a.m. Sponsors and partners include REI, the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County Parks & Recreation. Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care. As a formal holiday, it was first observed in 1872. Those interested in volunteering for the Arbor Day Rio de Flag Restoration can meet at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, 703 E. Sawmill Road. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat and work gloves. Families are welcome. For more information, contact Shannon Benjamin at 774-1442 ext. 127, or Shannon.Benjamin@thearb.org. The US Mint will feature an Asian American on its currency for the first time when it issues a coin next week... NEW YORK: Gold prices rose more than 1% on Friday, on track for a weekly rise, as the dollar turned negative, with... PESHAWAR: Land acquisition for the construction of the 30-KM Dir Motorway has been initiated and a committee is... After a three-hour chase through west Flagstaff Friday afternoon, wildlife officials caught and tranquilized an Arizona black bear in the Boulder Pointe neighborhood. The bear, calculated to be 3 years old, was euthanized later that afternoon in accordance with Arizona Game and Fish Department policy, said Larry Phoenix, regional field supervisor with the department. The policy, which requires the department to put down any adult male bear it has caught in a populated area, dates back two decades, Phoenix said. The policy was created after a 1996 incident near Tucson in which an adult male bear that was caught and released by Game and Fish returned to a campground and seriously mauled a teenage girl, he said. The policy reflects that bears in that situation pose a risk of returning to the same area or to some other developed area and harming humans, said Shelly Shepherd, department spokeswoman. We cant take a chance on that bear finding its way back to where people are, she said. Male bears are more of a concern than females because they tend to be more aggressive and must search for territory away from other male adults, potentially pushing them into places where humans live, she said. CHASE THROUGH FLAGSTAFF Wildlife officials first started getting calls around 9:45 a.m. from people who reported seeing the bear around Flagstaff Ranch Road, said Erin Brown, a wildlife manager with Game and Fish. The bear likely had been kicked out of its den and was looking for new territory, Brown said. He doesn't know where he's going, I think he accidentally ended up here and once he got in here with all the houses and all the fences, he didn't have a way to get out and to escape, she said. The team that chased the bear included personnel with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Flagstaff Police Department and the Coconino Humane Association. There were several times when the team thought it had the bear cornered, then the animal would jump over one fence, and then another, Brown said. Hes very fast and made it quite a ways, she said. Spring is the time of year when bear activity starts to pick up, so Brown advised people to be extra careful with trash or other materials that could attract the animals. We want to make sure people keep trash contained and covered. Dog food and cat food needs to stay inside, she said. We want to eliminate anything that could draw a bear into the area. The bear did not appear to pose a threat to humans as it was being chased by wildlife officials and it appeared that it had not been handled by Game and Fish previously, Phoenix said. The last time a bear was euthanized in Flagstaff was five years ago, he said. The majority of bears the department deals with locally are females with cubs and yearlings that are caught and then released in locations far from town, Phoenix said. The department did not try to call other animal rescue locations that could potentially accept the bear instead of euthanizing it because Game and Fish has never been able to give away an adult male bear, Phoenix said. "We don't even call anymore," he said. Jocelyn Monteverde, a spokesperson with Bearizona Wildlife Park near Williams, said the park would not have been able to take the bear in at this time. There has been a lot going on at the BDM office over the past few weeks, said a recent report from Brethren Disaster Ministries director Jenn Dorsch. A major new effort of Brethren Disaster Ministries is a rebuilding project in Detroit, Mich., in an area affected by flooding in August 2014. Also in recent weeks, the ministry closed its rebuilding project site in Harts, West Virginia. The last volunteer group left the Harts site on March 26. Shenandoah District volunteers helped move Brethren Disaster Ministries vehicles and trailers to the districts warehouse to clean and organize them in preparation for moving them on to the new project in Michigan earlier this month. Work in northwest Detroit is expected to continue through October. On Aug. 11, 2014, a large storm system drenched the area with up to six inches of rain in just a few hours, overwhelming many drain systems, which then flooded roadways and homes. The record one-day rainfall damaged more than 129,000 homes throughout the greater Detroit area. FEMA declared the event the worst disaster of 2014, according to a Brethren Disaster Ministries report. Even now, over a year and a half later, there are still families living in homes that they have not been able to clean out and sanitize on their own, the report said. While this might not be their primary living space, the mold that is present is a very serious health hazard, as they are still living in the houses with no other place to go. Brethren Disaster Ministries is working in partnership with the Northwest Detroit Recovery Project (NwDRP) which has received funding from the United Methodist Church. The Church of the Brethren will be providing volunteer labor for the work of drywall repair, painting, and basement finishing. The work also may include cleaning out basements that have been flooded, and the safe removal of flooded materials. Volunteer housing will be at St. Raphael of Brooklyn Orthodox Church in Detroit, which is a historic monastery building. Brethren Disaster Ministries also continues a rebuilding project in the area of Loveland, Colo., and is providing volunteers to a DRSI project in South Carolina. For more information about Brethren Disaster Ministries go to www.brethren.org/bdm After four days of student rallies and sit-ins pressing Northern Arizona University President Rita Cheng to take a stance on fossil fuel divestment, Cheng on Thursday issued a public statement on the issue. In a two-page letter addressed to a representative of the student group Fossil Free NAU, Cheng said she has listened to and reviewed information on shifting investments away from the fossil fuel industry but supports an approach that chooses pragmatism over symbolism when it comes to the universitys approach to divestment. The Foundation will continue to deploy a strategy that ensures financial success, and I will support that choice, Cheng wrote. The NAU Foundation, of which Cheng is an ex-officio member, is a nonprofit separate from the university and manages about $159 million total assets. The foundations mission is to provide scholarships and other support to the university. Fossil Free NAU has been working for several years to press the foundations board to move its investments out of coal, oil and gas corporations. In her letter, Cheng emphasized the universitys various sustainability efforts and the foundations role in supporting many research initiatives, including those in environmental science and sustainability. Much of our progress depends on the generous contributions of our donors and the Foundations effective stewardships of those funds, she wrote. She also wrote that it is anticipated that the Foundation Board will include the topic of fossil fuel divestment again as a future agenda item. On Monday, Fossil Free NAU began a series of sit-ins aimed at pressuring Cheng to publicly support fossil fuel divestment and bring up the issue at the July meeting of the NAU Foundation. Eight students were arrested during sit-ins Monday and Tuesday night. In response to Chengs letter Thursday afternoon, action coordinator Michaela Mujica-Steiner said the Fossil Free NAU group will be shifting its focus exclusively to working with the NAU Foundation Board. Cheng has effectively removed herself from the conversation of divestment, Mujica-Steiner said. As we've seen from divestment campaigns across the country, when students really take leadership and action its possible to move that forward. We are still feeling powerful and still believe we can move forward with this issue effectively. The group is planning another rally for Friday. The amount of student support garnered by the rallies and sit-ins has been momentum-building, Mujica-Steiner said. Its been amazing being supported by so many students, she said. The power we've been able to build this week has been really immense. Virgin Australia was last year preparing to ditch its eight-year deal with Toll Holdings that let the logistics company handle the freight in the belly of the airline's aircraft. But there was a major problem to overcome: Virgin lacked a cargo shed at Sydney Airport. Luckily, last May an enterprising employee came to the rescue after a drive around the airport. There was one small lot near Toll's cargo hangar that hadn't been used for years, with a vacant administrative building that had once been occupied by Impulse Airlines. Virgin freight head Merren McArthur says her team scrambled to find space for a cargo shed at Sydney Airport. Credit:Daniel Munoz It would be an understatement to say that the launch of Virgin's freight business in July and the full transition away from Toll in October was rushed. The Sydney shed wasn't completed until November. In the meantime cargo - which can include important documents, car parts, perishable food, pets, or even donor organs - was being accepted in the car park and placed in the admin building if needed. Virgin took a temporary financial hit from the end of the Toll deal, but six months on, its decision to operate its own freight business is starting to pay off. Virgin has signed a deal with TNT from July 1 that will see the Australian carrier operating dedicated freighter aircraft for the first time. While Toll has placed its belly space business with Qantas, TNT is actually a bigger customer because Toll has its own freighters. Uber drivers could be considered employees rather than "partners" under Australian workplace law, legal experts have warned. It follows a $130 million class action settlement with Uber drivers in the United States, in which the company agreed to pay out 385,000 drivers in exchange for not being considered "employees". Uber, which is worth about $80 billion, refers to its drivers as "driver partners" and says they are independent contractors and therefore not entitled to benefits such as superannuation or overtime. Dr Michael Rawling, a senior lecturer in law at the University of Technology Sydney, said Uber drivers could be considered employees under Australian law if a court applied the "multi-factor" test, which takes into account the whole relationship between worker and employer. I'm totally confused about the tax debate. Deep down I've always thought negative gearing was wrong because it has unintended consequences. It was established to create new housing stock for young people who were not ready to purchase but in the end it worked against them by pushing up house prices. In the 2003 Andrew Olle lecture I made the point that our children would not be able to afford homes as we could and that's now true. It seems to me that cutting out negative gearing is a good idea. One in 10 taxpayers get the benefits, nine in 10 miss out. It's plainly being used by those who have plenty of cash left after meeting their weekly commitments. The more they have the more they negatively gear. Charlie looked up the figures that have been tracking disposable income in federal electorates since 2003. Surprise surprise. Top of the list is Kooyong where 77 per cent of adults say they have money left after commitments. Kooyong is held by Liberals' rising star Josh Frydenberg. The top nine electorates on the list are held by Liberals, including Curtin (Julie Bishop); Wentworth (Malcolm Turnbull); and Warringah (Tony Abbott). The average for these three electorates is 69 per cent. At the other end of the scale are the Queensland electorates of Wide Bay and Wright (both held by Nationals) where the average is 35 per cent. Bill Shorten in Maribyrnong is Mr Average (51 per cent) as is Barnaby Joyce in New England (52 per cent). Murray Goulburn's chairman, Philip Tracy, claims the co-operative's board and management were vigilant at all times, despite it posting a monstrous profit downgrade and slashing milk payments to farmers. Murray Goulburn's managing director, Gary Helou, resigned this week after he massively overestimated sales figures, sparking anger from farmers. The co-operative, Australia's biggest milk processor, will now struggle to meet half of its net profit forecast outlined in the prospectus for its partial float on the ASX less than a year ago. But Mr Tracy did not blame Mr Helou, who has been replaced by former Fonterra executive and Murray Goulburn's business operations manager, David Mallinson. The book industry industry has reacted with horror to the Productivity Commission's interim report into intellectual property, which recommends scrapping parallel-import restrictions on books and the adoption of the US system of "fair use" of copyright material. Authors, publishers and some booksellers are aghast at how the literary ecology would be damaged if the recommendations are enacted. The situation now is that publishers with local rights must supply books within 14 days of publication or else shops may source books overseas. Advocates argue removal of restrictions will cut prices and accelerate supply. The so-called "fair use" system allows use of some material without payment to copyright holders Two Australian winners of the Man Booker Prize, Richard Flanagan and Tom Keneally, are both appalled by the prospects of a stripping away of territorial copyright. A Flagstaff man accused in 2014 of sexually assaulting a woman on an alcohol-fueled night at his Sunnyside home will serve two years in prison on lesser charges. A grand jury indicted Thomas A. Nowak, 50, on four counts of sexual assault, one count of assault and one count of making threats in April 2015. Flagstaff Police Department officers arrested him about a month later. But this March, he reached an agreement with the Coconino County Attorneys Office that allowed him to plead guilty to just two amended counts: attempted kidnapping and aggravated assault. Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols sentenced Nowak to the presumptive term of two years in prison for the kidnapping charge in accordance with the plea agreement Thursday morning, followed by three years of standard probation for the aggravated assault charge. He will receive credit for 337 days of presentence incarceration. Before the sentencing, a representative from Victim/Witness Services for Coconino County read a written statement from the victim, who was not present in the courtroom. In the statement, she maintained that she was sexually assaulted and described how it changed her life. Every day, I would go out and walk about 3 miles a day without fear, she said. Now, I do not leave my home to even go to the store. Not only the assault but the threats against my life have driven me to mistrust men and their motives. I have nightmares and flashbacks of the event. She also said she was afraid he might retaliate against her or sexually assault other women when he gets out of prison. According to court documents, the victim and her boyfriend got in an argument on Sept. 20, 2014. She packed a bag and went with their other roommate to spend the night as Nowaks home in the 2000 block of North Third Street. She and Nowak had never met before that night. Nowak, the victim and her roommate drank alcohol at Nowaks house. Nowak told police the victim was flirting with him. At one point, Nowak and the victims roommate shoved each other. Nowak made the roommate leave. The victim told police she went into the bathroom. When she came out, according to a motion filed by the prosecution, Nowak immediately grabbed her by the throat and pushed her back into the bathroom. She said he told her, Youre going to be my (expletive) now. The victim said she initially tried to fight back but stopped and played along when she realized it was just making Nowak angrier. She told police he was rough and aggressive with her as he performed sexual acts on her, although the two did not have sex in the traditional sense. She left after Nowak passed out. She then told her boyfriend, who called police, and she underwent a sexual assault examination. According to the original police report, Nowak denied using any physical force or threats against the victim and said they mutually initiated intimate contact. He also admitted to being intoxicated. Police did not find probable cause for an arrest at that time. In court filings, defense attorney Roberta McVickers said the victim never told Nowak no. She also suggested the victim had accused Nowak of sexual assault due to mental health problems and her desire to maintain her relationship with her boyfriend. Nowak did not address the victims allegations against him Thursday, but did promise to make the most of his time behind bars, including earning a commercial drivers license and learning Spanish. Im going to live the way God intended and Ill never ever put myself in this predicament ever again, he told the judge. If he violates his probation, he could serve an additional two years in the Arizona Department of Corrections. Authorities in Minnesota obtained a search warrant in connection with the death of pop star Prince and also won a court order to keep the findings secret, documents showed Thursday. Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud of the Carver County, Minnesota, sheriff's office cited intense media scrutiny surrounding the death of the 57-year-old performer, in his request for a state district court judge to seal the warrant. Prince, whose full name was Prince Rogers Nelson, died at his home, a compound known as Paisley Park, in suburban Minneapolis on April 21. Authorities investigating the death found prescription opioid medication on him, according to news outlets on Wednesday including CNN, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and others that cited anonymous law enforcement sources. Two months past deadline, a sitting Liberal MP still hasn't made up his mind about whether to recontest the upcoming federal election. The indecision of Barton MP Nick Varvaris is becoming a major sore point for Liberal Party bosses, leaving them only weeks to find an alternate candidate and deepening the party's likely loss in the southern Sydney seat. Nominations for preselection closed on Friday, February 19. A mix of puzzled and angry chatter within the party began the week after Mr Varvaris missed the nomination deadline: "This is weird, even for Nick," one Liberal said at the time. DCNS is basing its design for the Australian submarines on France's nuclear-powered Barracuda boat, the first of which hits the water next year. Turnbull's excitable rhetoric about Australia's transition to the 21st century economy, which had been sounding a little tired, was delivered a shot in the arm less than a fortnight before he is expected to call an election. Conservative economists have swiftly lambasted it as manufacturing welfare, while political sceptics have branded it as porkbarrelling. An artist's rendition of a French Shortfin Barracuda submarine, designed by the DCNS group. But experts have long said that building them locally has security advantages as well as economic and political ones. Australia, as an island nation that relies on maritime trade, will properly own the submarines that will provide the most formidable element in our national military arsenal for decades to come in an increasingly uncertain region. Indeed the Defence Department, in its recommendations to the government, urged either a full Australian build or a "hybrid" option in which the first boat or two was built in the French shipyards at Cherbourg and the rest in Adelaide. Pointedly it dismissed building them all overseas. French President Francois Hollande shows a model of a submarine at DCNS headquarters in Paris on Tuesday. Credit:AP "It helps with the greater national understanding of the boat and the support that it requires," Goldrick said. "You have greater expertise in terms of making it, operating it and maintaining it, but also evolving the design, because it is likely we will need to improve them. You have full control of the intellectual property and you will continue the relationship [with France]." Turnbull has admitted there is a "premium" on building the fleet locally, without putting a dollar figure on it. Fairfax Media understands building the first boat or two in France would have made the program only slightly cheaper but could have knocked a couple of years off the schedule. Whether the benefits of full sovereignty are worth it depend on how well the project is run, Goldrick says. One need only look at Spain, whose submarine design turned out to be about 80 tonnes too heavy meaning the boat could dive but possibly not resurface to see what can go wrong. Reports say the Spanish blunder happened because someone put a decimal point in the wrong place. But Goldrick and others stress Australia has learnt a lot since the days when the Collins project was getting off the ground. John O'Callaghan, head of the Australian Industry Group's defence council and a former senior adviser to then defence minister Kim Beazley, said the program would be a "significant challenge and does have risks". But he added that "our industry is much better placed than it was 20 years ago when we ventured down the Collins route", notably because of the heavy presence of global defence giants such as France's Thales, which makes some of the world's best sonar systems, and US giant Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, which will provide the new submarines' combat system the brains of the boats. Turnbull has talked up the economic flow-on effects as "immense". Sean Costello, the CEO of the Australian arm of DCNS, the French company that won the bid, says the submarines will essentially create their own economy by seeding high-tech local suppliers. "We set them up in Australia with French technology. We transfer that fully into the company and we require that supporting company in Australia to go on and further develop a bigger business so that they in turn can come back to support us. So there's a virtuous cycle that is developed," he said. It was partly the willingness of France to share its technological "crown jewels" with Australia that secured its win, though the design is also regarded as strong, in particular the propulsion system that uses the marine equivalent of a jet engine rather than a propeller, keeping it quiet even at high speeds. Yet for all of that, most major defence projects that shoot for the stars suffer humiliations along the way. Andrew Davies, senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, identifies two major risks. The first is the propulsion system. DCNS is basing its design on France's nuclear-powered Barracuda boat, the first of which hits the water next year. "We're taking something based on a nuclear submarine design and having to put conventional engines into it to push 4000 tonnes of boat through the water. No one has done that before. There's an obvious risk there," Davies said. But having proven technology like the pump jet system is "a big help" and clearly Defence believes the nuclear-conventional switch is manageable, Davies adds. The second risk is getting all the systems the electronic eyes, ears and brains of the boat to work together, especially if they're supplied by different countries. This is invariably a problem with such complex hardware. "The French have a bunch of sensors they are building into their Barracuda but they've never made them talk to a US combat system before," Davies said. Costello explained that managing risk was a key part of DCNS's pitch to Defence and there would be carefully drawn protocols for when any problems arise. There are inherent challenges for Australia's submarine fleet because we are asking it to do two contradictory things: travel long distances undetected but do so on conventional diesel-electric power. They are at the margins of what is technically feasible. Most experts agree nuclear power would make sense for Australia's submarine fleet, which needs to be able to get up to north Asia and back. Without a civil nuclear industry, Australia doesn't have this option. But this is the challenge we've set ourselves. It's not only the most exciting time to be an Australian, it's also one of the more uncertain. Half the world's submarines will be in the Asia-Pacific region by 2035. Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos could face a range of punishments, including being censured by the Senate, for refusing to appear before an inquiry into the controversial Free Enterprise Foundation and similar fundraising bodies. In an interim report, the committee conducting the inquiry has outlined possible actions against Senator Sinodinos over his refusal to appear despite being directed to do so by the Senate. They include the Senate forcing him to give a public explanation of his reasons for refusing to attend; directing him to attend a further hearing; referring him to the Privileges Committee; censure; and considering whether he is in contempt. "The committee has decided to table this interim report in order to report non-compliance of the Senate order by Senator Sinodinos to the Senate," inquiry chair, Labor Senator Jenny McAllister, writes in the report. No prime minister has been better equipped to do something about the state of our cities than Malcolm Turnbull. He turned down the use of a government-provided car in his electorate because he preferred to take the bus or ferry or, on some occasions, to walk the three or so kilometres into the city of Sydney. He caught a Melbourne tram on the way to the launch of his cities policy on Friday. And in opposition he never had any time for Labor's rhetoric about how the National Broadband Network would make central business districts less important. Labor said Australians were going to work from home. Suburbs, small towns and the outback would come to rival cities as the places where things were done. He mocked the idea again on Friday: "When the internet arrived 20 plus years ago, a lot of people said this will be the death of cities. People won't want to go into the city any more, everyone will stay spread out, telecommuting, working online; people will be on an island or in a remote mountain site somewhere, a mountaintop somewhere. Both fraternities that had members or pledges involved in a deadly October shooting on campus received sanctions from Northern Arizona University as a result of the event and other infractions in a five-month period, NAU officials said. NAU spokeswoman Cindy Brown said in an email that both fraternities received letters notifying the organizations they were receiving sanctions in March. Sigma Chi received a letter of warning for off-campus social events that included alcohol that were not approved by the university, and Delta Chi was placed on social probation, Level 2, for off-campus social events that included alcohol that were not approved by the university. A Level 2 social probation means Delta Chi cannot hold or attend any events where alcohol is present, Brown said. The probationary period ends for the fraternity in December. A level one social probation prevents a chapter from attending or hosting events as a chapter at all, even if they do not have alcohol present, according to the NAU website. Delta Chi and Sigma Chi were investigated and sanctioned for multiple off-campus unregistered social events involving underage use of alcohol and noise complaints by neighbors, Brown said. The events took place between September 2015 and January 2016, and included a party which occurred the night of October 8, 2015. Although Delta Chi did not plan, fund or sponsor the gathering on October 8, the majority of people in attendance were affiliated with Delta Chi. The party on October 8, which lasted into early the next morning, ended after a verbal confrontation between members of Delta Chi and three pledges of Sigma Chi led to the shooting outside Mountain View Hall. Three members of Delta Chi were injured and Colin Brough was killed. Steven Jones, one of the Sigma Chi pledges, was charged with first-degree murder and six counts of aggravated assault as a result of the shooting. He was dropped as a pledge to the fraternity by the fraternitys national office on October 9. This is the third time Sigma Chi has received sanctions in the last five years, according to data from the NAU website. Delta Chi received no other sanctions in that period. Brown said that although the sanction policies can only apply to members of Greek life, the university does enforce its code of conduct for students who get in trouble off-campus as well. Individual student behavior that occurs off-campus may be reported to NAU through the Flagstaff Police Department, Brown said. NAU would then investigate and apply the student code of conduct. Australia's most senior public prosecutors have rejected a suggestion that their decisions should be subject to judicial review at a discussion about how the criminal justice system manages sexual abuse cases. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse invited Directors of Public Prosecutions from each state and territory as well as victims' rights advocates to the meeting to examine the question of external oversight of DPPs and whether there should be avenues for victims to seek a review of a decision not to prosecute. Justice Peter McClellan: "An absence of review increases the risk of administrative failure." Credit:Jeremy Piper The DPPs rejected the necessity for a judicial review of the reasons for their decisions, saying findings could be reviewed internally if necessary. A central Sydney "drunk tank" is being axed by the state government after it was deemed underutilised following introduction of the 1.30am lockout and 3am last drinks laws. A three-year trial of the so-called "sobering up centre" was established in the Central Sydney holding cells near George Street in 2013 to honour an election promise made by the Coalition government. But Police Minister Troy Grant has confirmed the government will not renew the trial when it is due to end in June due to the small number of people detained. Between July and December 2013 there were 198 people detained, while in 2014 there were 316. A Sydney underworld figure gunned down at a suburban shopping centre was the subject of at least one extortion investigation and a murder probe. Walid "Wally" Ahmad has been very well-known to police for years as a prominent figure in south-western Sydney's criminal milieu. The 41-year-old, who is believed to be married with children, is widely known for stand over tactics, particularly in the automotive industry. An alleged cigarette thief who left the scene of the crime in a taxi has been charged with stealing and obstructing police. It will be alleged the 18-year-old man jumped the counter of a service station near Townsville and took cigarettes before leaving in a waiting taxi. Police caught up with a suspected service station robber after he allegedly caught a taxi home. Credit:File Image The accused had arrived in that taxi, which took him to his home. Police arrived at the suspect's home in Condon, about 13km south-west of central Townsville, about 3am on Friday after the theft was reported by the service station. When, at age 5, Emelia Jane Emmi Boatner won first prize in the 12 and younger category of the 2010 Northern Arizonas Got Talent competition, her mom, Lisa Boatner, knew her daughter had something special. She signed Emmi up for TheatriKids and found her an agent. Fast forward six years and Emmis professional credits fill a page. But despite frequent trips to Los Angeles for auditions and work, Emmi is happiest with her TheatriKids family. TheatriKids is the youth education component of Flagstaffs Theatrikos Theater Company. On this windy spring day, Emmi is trying to sit still while, all around her, the cast of Pinocchio swirls around the theater like leaves on the wind. Its the first dress rehearsal for the show that the kids will perform three times over the coming weekend. Emmi has been cast as the circus ringmaster. Her brother Spencer Boatner has the lead role of Pinoccio. TheatriKids Education Director Joe Maniglia said the version of "Pinocchio" the kids will perform was written in 1938 as a federal workers project to provide jobs during the Great Depression. This is the version that influenced Walt Disney, Maniglia said. He said he likes it because of the music and circus acts. The cast of 15 second- to seventh-graders have been working long hours rehearsing for the show. Maniglia has been working with Emmi for years and she considers him family. Joe is probably one of the most important people in my life, she said. He motivated me and believed in me. Born and raised in Flagstaff, the 11-year-old fifth grader at DeMiguel Elementary School hums with energy, gesturing with her hands as she speaks. She said she has infused the ringmaster character with a dark undertone. I like to play it as an evil, sort of Harley Quinn character, she said. Her roles at Theatrikos have ranged from Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" to a grandmother in "Fiddler on the Roof." Outside of Theatrikos, she has appeared in a Discovery Channel Investigative Discovery television show, in local and national commercials, had a part in a television feature film for the National Geographic Channel and many other roles. But her goal is to act and sing on Broadway. Emmis mom, Lisa, said Emmi is dedicated to her work. Its a tough business, Lisa said. Ive seen her get rejected and rejected. But when she asks Emmi if she wants to continue, Emmi is adamant that she does. My job is to help her find what will make her the most fulfilled and happy, Lisa said. Right now, what will clearly make Emmi happy is to join her "Pinocchio" cast-mates and get on with the dress rehearsal. A former Cotton On employee has been awarded almost $250,000 in damages after she was struck on the head by a heavy pallet while working for the retailer in Queensland. Erin Jade Talty, 32, suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of the workplace accident at a Cotton On warehouse in April 2012. The employee suffered a brain injury after the workplace accident at a Cotton On warehouse. Credit:Pat Scala Ms Talty also sustained injuries to her ankle and knee when the pallet, which weighed between 90kg and 100kg fell from a height of about six metres and hit her on the side of the head. She was awarded a total of $235,668 in damages in a judgment delivered by the Brisbane District Court on Friday. The Queensland government's failure to act quickly to legalise ride-sharing could see one monopoly replaced with another, a Sydney start-up has warned. As the Taxi Council of Queensland demanded the state government crack down on Uber drivers, Sydney-based GoCar was keen to start in the state. But it warned the longer ride-sharing remained illegal, the more likely it was Uber would have a near-monopoly in the state. GoCar, a ride-sharing service developed by taxi booking app GoCatch, has been operating in Sydney since early this year after the Baird government legalised the practice. Large tracts of the Great Barrier Reef are likely to be dead within 20 years as climate change drives mass coral bleaching events, top Australian scientists say. Scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science have taken the unusual step of releasing their latest research paper early, because the reef is in such a dire predicament. Scientists say mass coral bleaching events could be happening every two years by the mid-2030s. Credit:Eddie Jim They say that if greenhouse gases keep rising, then mass coral bleaching events like the one currently gripping the reef will be happening every two years by the mid-2030s. That spells death for large swathes of the reef because corals won't get the 15-year break they need to recover. A Brisbane masseur who preyed on female clients, including children and the intellectually impaired, for his own sexual gratification has been sentenced to six years behind bars. Samuel Joseph MacBean was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Friday after having earlier pleaded guilty to 50 charges, including counts of rape and sexual assault. A Brisbane massage therapist has admitted assaulting 16 women and five girls. The court had previously heard he abused five girls and 16 women, including two who were intellectually impaired, when he owned a business called Moorooka Therapeutic Massage in Brisbane's south. "You took advantage of your position for your own sexual gratification, in breach of the trust which had been placed in you," Chief Judge Kerry O'Brien said in sentencing. Lawyer Katie Richards was making $150,000 as legal counsel for the mining arm of multinational General Electric. Her days were hectic, her responsibilities huge. "I was working around the clock in an unhappy working environment chained to a desk and really unhappy," she says. "I was responsible for the mining contracts negotiating them, dealing with legal issues and conducting international risk committee meetings." Once burn-out set in, Richards knew it was time to act on that niggling idea to go her own way. She took a few weeks off to refresh before taking a practice management course so she could run her own law firm. Scrolling endlessly on Instagram might be a time suck for most people, but for beauty businesses those pretty square pictures can mean big dollars. No one knows that better than Anna Ross of nail polish brand Kester Black and Chelsea Bagan of nail art salon Trophy Wife. Anna Ross and Chelsea Bagan credit Instagram for their success. Credit:Simon O'Dwyer "I feel like Instagram was the beginning of my business," says Bagan, who now boasts 35,000 followers. "I was just doing it as a hobby and I had grand ideas that it could be something. Then a friend recommended that website Three Thousand do a story on me, so that night I set up a proper account and then it flowed on from there." "It's more work than taking a pill three times a day but I'm sitting at a computer doing work now, I can drive a car without being afraid of falling asleep at the wheel," she said. "I feel that I can do more because I'm starting to lose weight and I feel stronger, now instead of getting hot packs and sitting on a bed I get on my floor at home and start stretching. "With the exercise and the weight loss and the mindfulness all of that together has made me in control of my own pain." In March, a study lead by British researchers, and published in the Lancet, revealed that for the first time in history more people were overweight than starving. I feel that I can do more because I'm starting to lose weight and I feel stronger, now instead of getting hot packs and sitting on a bed I get on my floor at home and start stretching. Mary-Lynne Cochrane In Australia, the average BMI is in the overweight range of up to 27 per cent (a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy) and that trend mapping found 37 per cent of Australians would be obese by 2025. Dr Pereira said obesity has been shown to create a higher risk of chronic pain in weight bearing knees and hips, but also the back and even hands because fat appears to increase inflammation and pain throughout the body. He said many pain drugs have been linked with weight gain, including commonly prescribed anti-depressants and anti-convulsants, and that patients should speak to their doctors about taking alternatives and seek the help of a physiotherapist to start exercising. Sister Mary-Lynne Cochrane has been battling chronic pain and struggling with her weight for more than 30 years. "The thing we see so much in chronic pain is patients get excited about exercise and then they overdo it, they actually increase their pain and then they incorrectly conclude that exercise is not good for them," Dr Pereira said. Physiotherapist Murray Hames, from Auckland's Regional Pain Service, said pain can limit a person's ability to exercise but so can fear. "Two things limit behaviour change, the first is knowing what to do and actually a lot of people just don't know what to do, the second one is whether they actually believe that they can do it and that self belief is limited by fear," he said. "People are scared and often they've been told you've got joints that are grating, well why would you want to go and use those joints that are grating? "Surely that's going to cause you more harm? We know as health professionals it doesn't." The journalist travelled to Auckland as a guest of ANZCA. Students, from kindergarten through middle school stood in front of their projects, proudly discussing their display board about their science experiments, which included writing in English and Navajo. Students displayed a variety of projects, like homemade water purifiers, solar ovens and homemade ice cream. A pair of girls made an edible jelly that they hope will someday replace plastic water bottles. School principal Ike Ozis said projects like the solar cooker and water purification are lessons the students can use in their everyday lives, as many of them live in areas without running water or reliable electricity. The school itself generates its own electricity through solar and wind power, and has its own well to provide water. In addition to completing their science symposium project, students at the STAR School had to take the project one more step, and discuss how their experiment fit in with Native American values. Third- and fourth-grade teacher Kori Moore said she started the schools science symposium with just her class, but in recent years has expended the event to include the entire school, even the kindergartners, who proudly displayed their experiments about soil and plant growth. Moore said the presentations had to include Navajo words and phrases for the sections and headlines, even though those would not perfectly translate to their English meaning. Tom Tomas, the seventh- and eighth-grade teacher at STAR School, said the older students were required to analyze their projects through a Native lens, which included focuses like sustainability, service to the earth and service to others. Everything is through a sustainability lens, Tomas said. All of the engineering and science relates to Native ethics and principles. Those ethics include caring for the Earth, caring for people and sharing the surplus, Tomas said. However, Tomas said the students could also do their experiment and learn the concept is not environmentally friendly, like one student who studied rockets, which send pollution into the air. Then the student can look at what sustainable alternatives there could be to solve that problem, Tomas said. Dyathi Benally, a third-grader, did her project on air pressure by launching an egg from a bottle by lighting strips of paper on fire, placing the paper in a bottle, and putting the egg on top over the opening, I wanted to learn about air pressure and how the air pressure and temperature affect the molecules, she said. Jaron Fowler, a fourth-grader, said he wanted his experiment to show people the power of solar energy. Fowler built a solar-powered robot that could walk in the sunlight. I always want to tell people that solar power is better than burning coal, and its better for the environment, Fowler said. I learned that solar can come in different shapes and types. Thugs are not targeting Asian international students based on their race, police say, amid a wave of robberies reported near the University of Melbourne. It follows a brutal home invasion in Ormond last weekend, in which six international students were left terrified after an armed gang broke in during the middle of the night. Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Graham Ashton. Police have since moved to reassure foreign students, particularly Chinese nationals, they are safe to live and study in Melbourne. Taskforce Tense, set up to investigate the notorious Apex gang, has arrested and charged four people over the aggravated burglary in Ormond. The appointment of the first Muslim woman to a Victorian court has prompted bigoted tirades criticising the government's decision. Attorney-General Martin Pakula has taken to social media to call out the "simply disgraceful stuff" his office had received since the appointment was made public. Urfa Masood in 2006. Credit:John Donegan Earlier this week Mr Pakula announced Urfa Masood had been appointed to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, having practised as a criminal law solicitor since 2003. She has also worked as an adjunct lecturer at the College of Law. Mr Pakula posted one response that said it was "criminal" for a Muslim to be appointed a magistrate. A 14-year-old boy charged with murder over the death of a man after a post-Australia Day brawl in the Perth CBD has faced court. The boy is the eighth male charged over the death of Patrick 'Paddy' Slater, 26, who died in hospital after he was attacked with star pickets, screwdrivers and rocks near Elizabeth Quay Station in the early hours of January 27. The teenager appeared briefly in the Perth Children's Court on Friday and was not required to plead. He was remanded in custody at Banksia Hill detention centre until his next court appearance on Monday, when two co-accused will also appear. In the meantime, his mother will be contacted regarding bail conditions. Among the accused is a 12-year-old boy (who was 11 at the time) - one of the youngest people ever to be charged with murder in Australia. His bail application has been delayed four times over concerns about his accommodation options, school prospects and personal safety. Christopher James Birdsall, 29, Dylan Terrance Wayne Anthony, 19 and Clinton Frederick Mead, 19, and Robert Christopher James Pickett, 19, a 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have also been accused of the murder. They remain in custody awaiting court proceedings and are yet to enter pleas. AAP with Emma Young Latest News NAB reveals six market megatrends for brokers More opportunities for investors, first home buyers Firstmac shifts up a gear on auto loans National sales manager appointed to pursue growing market " For the very first time, a finance broker industry body will be part of the Federal Budget's day-long, invitation-only 'lock-up'.As a result of high-level meetings and lobbying, the Finance Brokers Association of Australia ( FBAA ) has been invited to participate in the Treasury's stakeholder lock-up in the lead-up to the delivery of the Budget on Tuesday, May 3.Peter White of the FBAA will spend the day alongside other key interest groups, discovering first-hand the government's plans for managing the nations economy in the coming year.In a statement, White said, "Its good that the government has recognised the key role brokers play in the financial space, and that the industry is an important interest group which must be heard and taken seriously."With the FBAA in attendance, the media and other interested stakeholders can hear our perspective on how the Budget could affect the lives of the many Australians using brokers to obtain or manage their mortgages.Speaking to Australian Broker, White said, Were going to get a unique early inside view of the Budget papers in advance of it being made public on Tuesday night.Every year I attend the Federal Budget announcement at invitation from the minister or the Senate. So Ill do my annual pilgrimage this year, but in addition to that, this year in the afternoon Ill be in the lock-up in the Treasury. Latest News NAB reveals six market megatrends for brokers More opportunities for investors, first home buyers Firstmac shifts up a gear on auto loans National sales manager appointed to pursue growing market Chief executive of real estate group Mirvac believes the company will maintain strong settlement rates on apartment sales despite the major banks new restrictions on lending to foreign buyers.Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz was responding to the announcement that Westpac will stop lending to foreign residential property buyers, the latest major bank to take such a measure.Lloyd-Hurwitzer told Australian Financial Review, We're yet to see the impact that will have on financing but we work closely with a lot of our purchasers and they get a lot of notice from us as to when they're going to need the money.Sale to foreign buyers are thought to make up 20-30% of Mirvacs total sales. However, some of these buyers use cash while others use global banks or their own lenders. Foreign buyers looking to borrow in Australia, in order to build a credit profile, is a relatively new phenomenon."I'm not denying if there is no financing from Australian banks for foreign buyers it wouldn't change customer behaviour," Lloyd-Hurwitz said."We'd have to work harder with them to go back to where we were a few years ago when they weren't relying on domestic financing."She added, "We haven't seen any systemic difficulties in getting capital out of China, we haven't seen any problem with valuations. It's absolutely business as usual."The one major bank that hasnt announced a halt to lending to foreigners, NAB , has said it will continue to review foreign loan applications on a case-by-case basis. Of the 19 hijackers who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks, 15 were citizens of Saudi Arabia. What does that fact signify? According to senior U.S. officials, little or nothing. From the outset, they treated the national identity of the terrorists as incidental, connoting nothing of importance. It was as if the 15 murderers just happened to smoke the same brand of cigarettes or wear the same after-shave. Had they come from somewhere other than Saudi Arabia, a different attitude would surely have prevailed. Imagine if 15 Iraqis had perpetrated the attacks. In Washingtons eyes, Saddam Husseins direct involvement would have been a given. Fifteen Iranians? U.S. officials would have unhesitatingly fingered authorities in Tehran as complicit. Saudi Arabia, however, got a pass. In its final report, the 9/11 Commission said it found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually had funded al-Qaida. This artfully crafted passage was an exercise in damage control, designed to preserve the existing U.S.-Saudi relationship from critical scrutiny. The effort never fully succeeded, skeptics suspecting that there might be more to the story. Today those doubts find expression in demands to declassify 28 pages of a congressional investigation said to detail Saudi relations with and support for the al-Qaida terrorist network before September 2001. According to a Monday report by the Associated Press, the Obama administration may finally do just that. Whether the 28 pages sustain or refute suspicions of Saudi involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks will remain impossible to say absent such executive action. Yet implicit in this dispute is an issue of even greater moment: Who ultimately exercises jurisdiction over truth? Does it fall within the exclusive province of the state? Or do judgments about truth rightfully belong to the people? On anything that touches national security an infinitely elastic concept the state has long since staked out its position: Views expressed by government authorities are authoritative. In matters relating to war and peace, U.S. officials tell us what in their judgment we need to know. They deny access to information that we ostensibly could misconstrue, or that they deem too dangerous for us to possess. In effect, the state curates truth. In doling out information, curators working at the behest of the state a category that includes more than a few journalists fashion narratives that may not be entirely accurate but that have the compensatory virtue of being expedient. In some instances, the aim of the narrative might be to obfuscate past mistakes, thereby sparing policymakers embarrassment. More commonly, the purpose is to facilitate the exercise of power along certain lines. By characterizing the events of Sept. 11 as a bolt out of the blue unrelated to past actions by the United States, the version of truth constructed in the wake of those events served both purposes. Rather than prompting a reassessment of prevailing U.S. policies the problematic U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia among them it upheld those policies, justifying their perpetuation and not incidentally affirming the wisdom of those who devised them in the first place. No wonder the foreign policy establishment insists that the 28 pages remain secret; not only might the document challenge the states preferred Sept. 11 narrative, but the demands for its declassification also call into question the establishments very authority to control that narrative. Opposing the pages release, Philip Zelikow, the Washington insider who served as executive director of the 9/11 Commission, describes them as unvetted, raw material. The contents, he insists, are misleading. Besides, were they to become public, hundreds, if not thousands of pages of additional material would also need to be declassified. Why not allow Americans to judge for themselves? Why not make available those thousands of relevant pages? The answer is self-evident: Because in the estimation of those such as Zelikow, ordinary citizens are not to be trusted in such matters; policy must remain the purview of those who possess suitable credentials and can therefore be counted on to not rock the boat. But the boat needs rocking. In the Middle East, the foreign policy establishment has made a hash of things. Indulging that establishment further serves no purpose other than to perpetuate folly. Releasing the 28 pages just might provide a first step toward real change. On this episode of Greys Anatomy, Youre Gonna Need Someone On Your Side, friendships are tested as both Callie and Arizona try to line up friends to testify on their behalf at the upcoming custody hearing. Stephanie doesnt deal well with being on the other side of the red line, Ben and Miranda bicker incessantly at work and Meredith (who should know) urges Amelia and Owen to grasp the happiness that is within their reach before it is too late. We Should Be Congratulating You! As the episode opens, Meredith and Maggie are heading out the door in the morning, kids in tow, and vowing to leave Amelia (who has a habit of making them late) behind. Where could she be, anyway? Why, shes in the living room! With Owen. And both of them are naked, so M&M see Owen in a whole new way, which becomes a recurring joke throughout the hour. Owen, ever the gentlemen, is mortified and Amelia, whos also embarrassed, begs the sisters to let this go because, she says in all seriousness, she and Owen arent actuallyyou knowa thing. Oh, Amelia. Its so cute you really believe that. (Related Aside: Cristina was mentioned! And Meredith clearly wonders how she gave up that.) Greys Anatomy Recap: Callie vs. Arizona >>> Im His Doorman In a very anvil-like Patient-of-the-Week story, Leo Paulson is brought in to the hospital by his doorman, Vincent, after taking a bad fall and suffering a serious spinal injury. Leo is married with three kids and seven grandchildren and another on the way. Leo loves his wife, but (as Meredith discovers after walking in during an intimate moment) he also loves Vincent. In fact, theyve been pining for each other in secret for 15 years, stealing moments of time together, but never acting on those feeling. Leo tells Meredith that hes never cheated on his wife. But his feelings for Vincent are different than anything hes ever felt for her. During Leos surgery our docs discover that Leo is full of cancer. He has six to twelve months to live. Meredith encourages Leo to spend those months with Vincent. But Leo instead sends Vincent away and decides to stay with his wife, Angelina, as Meredith ponders why anyone could let the love of their life slip through their fingers. Spurred on by Meredith (who gives Amelia a good talking to) and the Leo/Vincent saga (Owen was one of Leos surgeons), Omelia decides that the chance of love is worth the risk of disaster and they seemingly commit to being a real couple. Battle Lines Are Drawn Much of this episode set in motion what is to come next week as Callie and Arizonas custody battle for Sofia moves to the forefront. Both Torres and Robbins decide to try to line up friends to testify on their behalf. Alex is the wisest of the bunch in my opinion. He likes them both and refuses to take sides. Meredith and Owen, however, agree without hesitation to testify for Callie. Richard is clearly siding with Arizona. Arizona had planned to ask April and Jackson to testify for her but a potential problem with the Japril baby (which turned out to be nothing thank heavens how much more can these people take?) rightly takes all of their attention and Arizona never gets a good moment to ask. She also tells April she can no longer be her doctor, because she wants to be her friend and she cant be both, which segues nicely into the Kyle/Stephanie saga. Loved One vs. Surgeon Unlike Arizona, who can recognize a conflict of interest, Stephanie stubbornly spends the episode trying to be both Kyles girlfriend and his doctor. Despite being told in no uncertain terms to back off, Stephanie insinuates herself into the case in every possible way. Amelia finally has to banish her to the waiting room and confiscates her badge/key card so Steph cant try to sneak into the surgical gallery. Andrew comes out to tell Stephanie that the surgery went well, but she knows that already because hes the B team. If things had gone poorly, Amelia would be bringing the news. After kissing the sleeping Kyle on the cheek, Stephanie leaves him a Dear John Kyle letter, breaking up with him. After Jo asks why, Stephanie tells her that having been sick as a child, she cant be in a relationship with someone who is sick all of the time. She cares for Kyle but shes choosing herself and surgery over him. Is Sara Ramirez Leaving Greys Anatomy? >>> Husband vs. Wife Finally, who should be the anesthesiologist on Mirandas surgery? Why, Ben, of course! They argue ceaselessly in the OR, pausing only when Ben performs another cowboy move to save the patient. Maggie and Nathan, who had the sense to stay out of things during the surgery, set Miranda and Ben straight after the procedure is over. Nathan explains to Miranda that Ben is already being punished and perhaps she should back off and let him do what he needs to do to learn and to cope. Maggie explains to Ben that despite his clever plan, if Miranda really didnt want him to be working, he wouldnt be. She is the Chief of Surgery. Shes allowing it to happen. In the end, Ben finds Miranda putting Bens name on the board to be in more surgeries. But hes still sleeping on the couch. Memorable Moments and Quotes Amelia (explaining her and Owen in the living room): We fell asleep. Meredith: Someone was awake Maggie: Yeah. Major Owen Hunt reporting for duty. Callie: I have to get Meredith on my side. People will follow her lead. Penny: Grey is going to take your side. Callie: She might side with Arizona. They were in a plane crash together. Meredith (to Owen): I tell my children, when youre finished with your toys, put them away. My kids dont need to see your penis, so the same goes for you. Owen: Meredith, please Richard (to Jo, who is also witnessing this conversation): There was a time I would ask, but Ive learned. April (to Arizona, when Robbins pauses during Aprils ultrasound): You stopped talking. You mouth smiles but your eyes keep thinking. Its that thing you do. Meredith (to Callie): You know this morning? I saw Owens junk. Stephanie (about Kyle): I can be impartial! Amelia: Edwards, you have been the family member from hell today. Meredith (to Callie, Owen and Jo about Leo and Vincent): I caught them. Just holding hands. Very P.G. Nothing like what I saw this morning. (Okay, seriously, I felt so badly for Arizona in this episode. And I love that Richard has her back.) Andrew: Okay, Stephanie, Kyles out of surgery. Stephanie: Its Dr. Edwards. Andrew: With the loved ones, we like to use a first name basis. Stephanie: You shut up. I taught you that. Amelia: Theres no me and Owen! Were not a thing. Maggie: Oh! Cuz it seemed like you were when we saw his thing. Meredith: Oh my god. Maggie: Oh! Are we not doing that anymore? Meredith (to Amelia): You have happiness and you keep throwing it away. Stop the drama and just get on with it already. Amelia: Its harder to love somebody than to walk away from them. Owen: If you and I decide to be together, I mean really together, I will wind up screwing all of this up. Amelia: Me, too! That is how I feel. I screw everything up. All the time. Owen: Oh well. (Pulls her into an embrace) Lets screw some things up. Greys Anatomy airs Thursdays at 8pm on ABC. (Image courtesy of ABC) latest news October 3, 2022 Dee Gambit Hundreds if not thousands of new and returning TV shows and movies are released every month your options of what to watch are endless. Variety, they say is ... Moorestown honors Percheron that helped build the town Percheron Park opened in downtown Moorestown with a tribute to the horse of yesteryear and its owner, who first brought the breed to the U.S. No matter what you think of President Barack Obamas time in the White House, his courageous decision to invest billions in the fight against climate change should guarantee him a place in the Pantheon of Earths Greatest Heroes. While old, 20th-century businesses complain about the effects of the Environmental Protection Agencys Clean Power Plan, the new business boomers of this century solar energy, wind power, vegetarian agriculture and mass transit will profit handsomely. The 2016 proposed budget Obama delivered to Congress earlier this year pretty much guarantees that, if Congress signs on. If it doesnt, an election victory that puts Hillary Clinton in the White House and Democrats in control of Capitol Hill means Obamas stringent new environmental policies will move forward and, perhaps, actually be strengthened. If a sharply divided Congress remains after Novembers elections it will, according to The New York Times, raise serious doubts about Americas ability to deliver on Obamas pledge at Decembers Paris climate summit to sharply reduce carbon emissions and thus put pressure on China and India, the worlds two other largest polluters of carbon dioxide, to follow suit. Theres no doubt that the EPAs Clean Power Plan will drastically transform and hopefully improve life for every American. Here are a few of the largest changes looming on the horizon: Over the next two decades or so, the gas-guzzling cars and SUVs so ubiquitous on U.S. roads and highways today will be phased out and replaced by driverless cars mostly powered by electricity and perhaps solar and natural gas as well. The livestock industry, especially red meat, will began to fade away replaced by large farms producing more vegetables and fruits. The expected large surplus can be shipped to the malnourished and sometimes starving masses of India and Africa helping restore our currently tarnished image abroad and, perhaps ushering in a new era of global peace and prosperity. Americans in the third decade of this century will find themselves living in smaller, but more convenient homes with air conditioning and heating powered by solar, nuclear and wind energy. Manicured lawns of green grasses will be replaced by artificial green polymer substitutes or, as is done in many places in the desert Southwest, with statuary surrounded carefully by sculpted patterns of sand and pebbles. These changes, dramatic as they may seem, will be gradually phased in over the next 24 years. The changes may sound draconian, but they will become popular in a very short time. Most Americans will find themselves living healthier, longer and more enjoyable lives with greater links to their fellow Americans and the rest of the global community. As they celebrate Earth Day, Americans should think back about all the many environmental gains that have occurred since the original celebration in 1970. The improvements in air and water quality in the last 46 years have been truly phenomenal. Yet much remains to be done around the world. Challenges to the global environment remain, especially in the Middle East and Africa, where Islamic terrorists have become entrenched and pose a coiled and deadly threat to America and the free world. By embracing global leadership on todays environmental issues the United States can truly become, as our second president, John Adams, once advised, a nation that leads by example and not coercion. I was able to go through 'War and Peace' in 20 minutes. It's about Russia," Woody Allen famously quipped once. Ten minutes into the movie and I felt exactly the same about Fan albeit only on a far more serious level: it's about Shah Rukh Khan. The movie is purportedly about a Bollywood actor Aryan Khanna (Shah Rukh Khan at his meta best) who draws the ire of one of his wildly obsessed fans, Gaurav Chandna, a near lookalike of Aryan. When Gaurav tries to spend five minutes with the sole obsession of his life, he gets severely ticked off by his demi-god and he decides to wreak havoc in Aryan's life. "Hell hath no fury like a Bollywood fan scorned" could easily have passed off as this movie's tagline. As a Delhi-bred twenty-something lad, Shah Rukh revels in his street swagger and a disarmingly funny voice. It's as if he's telling the audience how he used to be 25 years ago. When the movie began I found myself deeply arrested by each of Gaurav's antics. But as the movie progresses, Gaurav's playfulness get replaced by an egregious change in character that just gets risible. In director Maneesh Sharma, Shah Rukh found his own version of Leni Riefenstahl who would deify him to no end. Some parts of the movie exude the warmth of the world's worst documentary. There are extensive shots of his humble interviews when he just entered the movie industry. The Brechtian fourth wall version of the SRK world is off when the audience is made privy to the fact that every day at least hundreds of people mill around his home in Mumbai. What more, we are also taken inside his home. At this stage, I was so convinced of Shah Rukh Khan's preening vanity that I expected Aryan Khanna to keep looking at his hair in the mirror every five minutes. When the first half finished, I was doing a minor jig in my multiplex seat that Gaurav is Shah Rukh Khan's return to form ever since his nuanced performance five years ago in My Name is Khan. My joy was short lived because the second half is just pits. Even those yawnfests Dilwale and Happy New Year had more joyous moments than this one. So many improbable chases are there in the second half that our gleeful Gaurav has transformed into a morose Jason Bourne. If only Sharma didn't have to pander to his actor's supposed narcissism, both his strong characters could have cohered on a more enjoyable level. The movie's only shining performance comes from Yogendra Tikku as Gaurav's father. As someone who's supposed to indulge his child in his outlandish fantasy, Tikku's character does it with a winsome smile that never leaves his face. All said, I found it extremely admirable that he allowed himself to be shown as someone who dances unabashedly for money at weddings of uber-rich people. Telugu movie hero Pawan Kalyan suffers from even worse kind of delusions of grandeur. His latest movie Sardaar Gabbar Singh is an unmitigated disaster. As the cop-cum-messiah who rescues a fictional town called Rattanpur from a savage anti-hero, Kalyan does his job ably. But the story is so old as the hills that it becomes achingly predictable. Kalyan, younger brother of Chiranjeevi, has always been a one-tricky pony throughout the two-decade span of his career. He never did anything strikingly original but his unique mannerisms and decent grip on martial arts won him over a massive fan base that swears by him. He's such a maverick that not many filmakers approach him. In an interview to a Telugu channel, he said that directors don't approach him often which is why he was nearly forced to write the story of Sardaar himself. Each shot explains that he interfered too much in the making of the movie, something he's anyway always accused of, and thus rendering the director Bobby to a mere onlooker. If this muddled mess is called a movie, then a chicken is a banquet. Speaking of self-importance, this column has completed a one-year run. Thanks much for reading my rants and raves and screeds on cinema. Coventry Airfield in the United Kingdom is several thousand miles away from the Indian Air Force (IAF) base of Mohanbari in Assam. Not for Rajeev Chandrasekhar. For the past few years, this Midlands air base, which was once a storied fighter station during World War II, has been host to a genially eccentric project by the Rajya Sabha MP to revive a vintage Douglas DC3 aircraft, better known as the Dakota, the workhorse that first saw action in the 1930s. Chandrasekhar bought the aircraft from Ireland in 2010 with the intention of making it airworthy and gifting it to the IAF - "free of cost, no strings attached" - for its fleet of vintage aircraft. For him, the Coventry airfield revives memories of his father, M K Chandrasekhar, who commanded a Dakota squadron. He remembers often standing on the periphery of the Mohanbari runway, watching his father climb into a Dakota in his overalls and take off. Even today, he says, that childhood image makes him nostalgic and brings a sense of pride that he finds lacking in our own culture of preserving military history. When the aircraft arrived at the Coventry Airfield, Chandrasekhar realised the magnitude of the challenge that lay ahead. "It wasn't something that would make you jump up and down with joy. It was in pretty bad shape," he recalls. Today, however, the same Dakota also stands with a sense of pride, painted in old colours of the IAF. Both its engines, which were beyond salvation, have been refabricated and fired up a few times. Chandrasekhar was present at the Coventry Airfield to witness the feat the first time the engines roared to life. It might not be long now before the iconic military transport aircraft, one of the hardiest airplanes ever manufactured, flies out of the English village and makes its way to India. The defence ministry has agreed to Chandrasekhar's request to gift the Dakota, with the rider that the aircraft be formally handed over in India. It is for Chandrasekhar to ferry the plane from England to here. Former defence minister, A K Antony, had turned down the proposal saying that there was no precedent of accepting a vintage aircraft for the IAF as a gift. IAF's vintage squad currently has only one Tiger Moth, a World War I plane, and a Harvard capable of flying. All others are used just for display on the ground. Rajeev Chandrasekhar When he started looking around for Dakotas in India that could be restored, he was presented with another horrifying fact: the last of the Dakotas, which was parked at the air force station in Sulur near Coimbatore, had been sold as scrap. "The air force did not have the budget to maintain it and the political leadership did not have the sense of history to salvage it," he says. So he broadened his search, to Europe and the US. A chance meeting with a British Airways pilot with a fascination for old aircraft and India's military aviation history led him to an aviation hobbyist in Ireland who had a handful of Dakotas for sale. "This one was among the cheapest, but also required most restoration. It was grounded but the people I consulted believed that it could be made airworthy," says Chandrasekhar. For the engineers of Reflight Airworks, who are restoring the aircraft, this has been a daunting task, but not an impossible one. "This current DC3 has been completely gutted inside giving a blank canvas form with which to start," says Alex Woodeson, engineering head of Reflight Airworks. To restore the interior, engineers will put in place a new seating arrangement in the rear fuselage (the aircraft's main body that holds crew and passengers or cargo). A new paint scheme has also been completed. The biggest challenge in the restoration of a vintage aircraft, however, is findings its original spare parts. The DC3 had stopped production back in 1942. So going back to the company was not an option. "But there is a vast network of aviation enthusiasts spread across Europe and the US. And these hobbyists openly exchange information and spare parts, sometimes as barter and at other times for a price," says Chandrasekhar. For example, one guy might have the wheels, another might have the undercarriage and yet another might have some parts needed in the cockpit. This is the ecosystem Chandrasekhar says they plugged into. One Dakota restorer, for example, has put out his wishlist - co-pilot's junction box, hydraulic fluid reservoir, standby compass bungee set and so on - on his website in the hope that another restorer who has these parts to spare will reach out to him. In the event that a particular part is not available, the engineers fabricate it from the original drawings. If they don't have the drawing on them, some other hobbyist or the company (Douglas Aircraft is now part of Boeing) might, just like they might have the spare parts. That is how Woodeson and his team rebuilt the engines of this particular Dakota from scratch. The ground up restoration of the aircraft to its original flying conditions using original engine, power and flying characteristics also requires extensive refurbishment and equalisation checks, explains Woodeson. "This is a very time-consuming job as every system and component must be satisfactory." The Dakota when it was brought in from Ireland to the Coventry Airfield in England Besides the interior, parts of the aircraft's navigation system are also being upgraded and a parachute door is being introduced for use in India. In its days of glory, the Dakota was routinely used for air-dropping supplies and paratroopers to areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. Woodeson expects that the Dakota would have taken over two years to restore before it arrives in India. But before it is allowed to truly take to the skies, "every component of it will have to be certified by European authorities for airworthiness," says Sharad Yeshwant Savur, who retired as air marshal and extensively flew the Dakota during his career. "The time it takes for the engine to start, the way it taxis on the runway, the brake functioning, the way the nose of the aircraft goes up - all of it will have to meet the characteristics of the original aircraft for certification," says Savur. It is a painstaking process that calls for both passion and patience. Chandrasekhar won't reveal the cost of restoring the aircraft though. And while he has a commercial pilot's licence, he has not flown in the Dakota he is getting restored. "UK is very clear about certification of a hobby aircraft," he says. "Only the captain and co-pilot can use it for hobby flying. They cannot ferry passengers in it," he says. Fali Homi Major, who retired as chief of the air staff, is delighted that an airworthy Dakota will finally make its way to the IAF vintage fleet. "It was the finest aircraft ever designed and the most rugged. It has operated from every airfield," he says. "You could fly it in the day, at night or in hostile mountainous areas. You could land it on short runways as well as on grass or dirt airstrips." When he was asked to list the weapons that most helped end World War II, this is what wartime general and later US president Dwight Eisenhower had replied: the bazooka, the Jeep, the atomic bomb and the Dakota. If the Dakota played a critical role in the victory against Adolf Hitler, it did so again during the Kashmir operations of 1947-48, audaciously flying in troops and flying out the wounded against heavy shelling by the infiltrators who had come prepared to pluck Kashmir away from India. "The Dakota is the reason why Poonch is still with us," says Pushpindar Singh, military historian and author of Aircraft of the Indian Air Force: 1933-73. Veteran fliers speak of the iconic aircraft with unmistakable wistfulness. "Given a chance, I would fly the Dakota again," says Savur. He calls it "the most forgiving aircraft in the world". The image of a Royal Indian Air Force Dakota landing at Poonch during the Kashmir Operations of 1947-48 The predecessor of the DC3 was the DC2, not as hardy or as successful. Singh recounts a World War II incident when a Dakota landed in a jungle. "A quarter of one its wings got shorn off. It obviously could not take off," he says. "So the pilot and the crew decided to cut off a quarter of the other wing as well." And, lo and behold, the plane flew home - "they named it DC2-and-a-half," chuckles Singh. The aircraft was also used extensively for commercial flying. Biju Patnaik's Kalinga Airlines operated a dozen Dakotas. Jamair, a Kolkata-based privately owned non-scheduled charter airline that was financially backed by Nawanagar maharajah, Jam Singh, had a fleet of five Douglas DC3s and three DC4s. In fact, by 1939, the DC3, which is credited with making air travel popular, accounted for 90 per cent of world airline trade. Once restored, the Dakota at the Coventry Airfield, meanwhile, has another journey ahead of it: from England to India. Chandrasekhar would like the plane to be dismantled, put in a carton, flown to India and reassembled here. "It is an old aircraft and several countries have issues about an old aircraft flying over their airspace," he says. "Besides, flying it all the way from UK, especially over conflict zones in West Asia, would not be safe." Woodeson, however, says this aircraft will have to be flown all the way due to its vast size. Clearly, another challenge awaits the Dakota. INDIA'S WAR The making of modern south asia 1939-1945 Author: Srinath Raghavan Publisher: Penguin Pages: 553 Price: Rs 699 "History will be kind to me", famously declared Winston Churchill, Britain's prime minister through much of World War II (hereafter WW II), "for I intend to write it myself." Churchill, it turns out, meant precisely what he said. An entire post-WW-II generation in the Anglophone world grew up with the wartime narrative of a heroic, embattled Britain thwarting a rapacious Germany, until a reluctant United States entered the conflict and delivered the coup de grace. This entirely fictional account was first revised by the realisation that Russia, not the western allies, suffered the heaviest casualties by far, fought the most horrific battles and won the most crucial victories. Without Stalin, historians realised, Hitler would have handily prevailed in Europe. A more contemporary wave of revisionism has centred on India's role. Last year Oxford University historian, Yasmin Khan, published her book, The Raj at War: A People's History of India's Second World War, which highlighted how central India was to Britain's war effort. India contributed 2.5 million soldiers, the largest volunteer army in world history. British taxes and levies, such as the eponymous "War Fund", imposed a crushing burden on India's poverty-stricken peasantry, essentially financing Britain's war in Asia. Khan summed up: "Britain did not fight the Second World War, the British Empire did." Also last year, journalist Raghu Karnad published another people-based account: Farthest Field: An Indian Story of the Second World War, which captivatingly recounts the personal dimensions of the war through the documented accounts of three close comrades who served in different theatres. Now we have Srinath Raghavan's riveting account of India's WW II, in which he juxtaposes a detailed campaign history with the backdrop of India's independence struggle that was running its penultimate lap through the war. Raghavan notes that earlier accounts have not recounted the military saga in sufficient detail. He writes: "Almost all [earlier accounts] treat the Second World War as little more than mood music in the drama of India's advance towards independence and partition." Setting out to write a "single volume that presents a rounded narrative, bringing in the manifold dimensions of the war", Raghavan has burnished his credentials as an accomplished historiographer. His impeccable research into the events of that period is enhanced by his years of military service, the experience adding texture and feel to his military narrative. He describes campaigns and key battles in enough detail to satisfy a military history enthusiast, but without going into a blow-by-blow account that is already available in "pure" military histories, such as Field Marshal Viscount Slim's classic account of the Burma Campaign - Defeat into Victory. In addition, Raghavan skillfully weaves together the unfolding political, military, economic and social developments during that tumultuous period to tell the holistic story that he set out to. For example, 1942 was a low point in the war for Britain, with military reverses in North Africa and Burma, the Japanese advancing towards India, the abortive Cripps Mission, the launch of the Quit India movement, and Subhas Chandra Bose's mission to Berlin, during which he proposed that Germany and Japan intercede as benefactors of India. Raghavan deploys figures to describe the disheartened public mood. Of Calcutta's 2.1 million people, 700,000 to 800,000 fled after just five minor air raids on the city, in which Japanese bombers dropped 160 bombs. As foreboding spread across India, workers in Bombay, which "was not so much as grazed by a Japanese bomb", began despatching women and children to their villages. The broadening pessimism between 1939 and 1943 was highlighted by withdrawals from Indian banks, which consistently exceeded deposits. The number of post office savings accounts fell from 4.2 million in 1938-39 to 2.8 million in 1943-44. It was almost inevitable that British resolve to hold onto India would diminish. Adding pace, style and readability to the book are well-researched little cameos that seldom feature in military histories, like the description of the rigid segregation of white and coloured American soldiers, which was also mirrored in the Indian attitudes towards the "Negros". Another section describes the training in Ramgarh, Bihar, of 10,000 Chinese Kuomintang troops, who had escaped the advancing Japanese by retreating through Burma into India. Overseeing this training was the famously acerbic American commander, General Joseph Stilwell, whose acid tongue earned him the sobriquet of "Vinegar Joe". After the supercilious Kuomintang chief, Chiang Kai-Shek, bestowed his approval on the already on-going training, Stilwell wrote in his diary: "Why shouldn't he be [happy], the little jackass? We are doing our damnedest to help him and he makes his approval look like a tremendous concession." Also described is the inevitable friction between British troops stationed in India and the lavishly paid Americans. Earlier histories recount British animosity for US soldiers in England during the war, who were disliked because: "they are overpaid, overfed, oversexed and over here." Similar complaints, phrased only slightly less pithily, were prevalent in India. One of the strongest features of the book is its emphasis on the cost of the war and its effects on India's economy. Who would pay for the war was an important question, given that a colony was going to war on behalf of an imperial power, and the scale of India's manpower mobilisation and diversion of its economy towards the war effort. It was decided in 1940 that India would bear only a fixed amount, representing the military's peacetime cost, as well as a one-off payment of Rs 10 million (a substantial sum in those days) for maintaining troops abroad. Britain was to shoulder the cost of additional forces raised for the war, and of military stores supplied by India. But the collapse of Allied resistance in Europe and Japan's entry into the war saw India taking up the burden. By 1942-43, India was paying more than Britain towards the war, transforming its relationship with Britain from a debtor to a creditor - with Britain owing it a mind-boggling 1.3 billion by the end of the war. As the author notes, "The economic rationale of the Indian empire, if ever there was one, evaporated in the white heat of war." The author points out in a short, but useful, epilogue to the book that WW II reinforced amongst leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru the realisation that India was a pivot of Asian security. Arguing in 1946 for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Nehru noted, "It is India that counts in the defence and security of these regions far more than any other country." Yet the experience of WW II was not entirely positive, resulting in the militarisation of millions of men. In the bloody partition of India that unfolded after the war, these military skills were evident in the slaughter of up to a million innocents. Global e-commerce giant Amazon, investing heavily in India, says it will go by the e-commerce rules here that prohibit online marketplaces from offering discounts and restrict sales from their captive units to 25 per cent, even as it invests heavily to take on local competitors Snapdeal and Flipkart. Amazon broke its silence exactly a month after India came up with rules that allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment in e-commerce marketplaces but with riders to offer level playing fields to traditional retailers. Were happy to see the recent clarifications. Were happy to operate in any regime and the more clarity, the better, said Phil Hardin, head of investor relations at Amazon, in a call with investors to discuss the companys quarterly financial results. Hardin skirted questions on how it would manage Cloudtails business and did not elaborate on whether Amazon had begun complying with the new rules. Cloudtail is Amazon's joint venture with Catamaran Ventures, personal investment arm of Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy, which is the largest vendor to sell goods on the platform. Amazon is engaged in a battle with Flipkart and Snapdeal, which is backed by Chinese e-commerce player Alibaba, to capture a slice of Indias fledgling e-commerce market. Alibaba, which dominates China, has also announced it also wants to go solo in India, adopting a three-pronged attack strategy with Paytm and Snapdeal to increase its presence in India. Flipkart, trying to raise the additional money needed to fend of its rivals, has seen senior executives quit, valuations come down and an organisation rejig. The company, among the most vocal in Indias e-commerce sector, is trying to focus on retaining its dominant market share amid increasing competition. For now, most Indian e-commerce entities have put a halt on offering massive discounts and are focusing on improving customer service and logistics. This is seen to be helpful for both Flipkart and Snapdeal. Amazon, which has taken up an open chequebook policy for India, could be restricted to the third spot if it isnt allowed to out-discount products on the other two sites. All three have cancelled their seasonal sales, offering massive discounts to customers for short durations, to comply with the governments rules. However, this will hurt Amazon the most, since it has the deepest pockets. Amazon is, however, investing in India. In the January to March period, it said the margins on its international operations were lower than that in the US due to massive investments the company was making in India. We are making large investments in India and were excited with what we see and we will continue to heavily invest in India, said Brian Olsavsky, chief financial officer. He said he'd just returned after spending a week in India, adding the company continues to invest on all fronts. India is the last large opportunity globally for Amazon after conquering the US market and failing to make a dent in China. "During the quarter, we rolled out a feature called Tatkal which is a studio on wheels that we go to sellers to help them sign up. We let them do registration, imaging, catalog, uploads and basic seller training. So, we're taking it to the sellers, taking the business to the sellers," said Olasavsky. Diversified Indian business conglomerate ITC's chairman, Y C Deveshwar, on Friday said the government must have a 25-year plan to curtail smoking as there were 48 million people dependent on the tobacco sector and they would have to get alternative employment before giving up the existing one. "At ITC, we are able to enter into so many new product areas. Farmers and those who are dependent on the tobacco sector also must get a window of opportunity to switch to other activity. First, you have to create alternative jobs for them," Deveshwar said at Guntur town, seen as the tobacco capital of India. ITC buys two-thirds of tobacco from Andhra Pradesh and the remaining one-third from Karnataka for its cigarette manufacturing division, which accounts for over 40 per cent of the group's total revenues. Earlier this month, the company restarted the cigarette factories after shutting down the manufacturing operations over the government's instructions to increase the size of pictorial warning on cigarette packets. Admitting that the company had lost 15 per cent sales volume due to the recent issues, the ITC chairman maintained that the government didn't have to terrorise the consumer with large pictorial warnings to make him quit smoking as the existing warning signs were sufficient to create awareness among the consumers. Critical of the ongoing campaign in support of the larger pictorial warnings in India, Deveshwar said that money was coming to the NGOs from the US to kill the local cigarette brands while the consumption of the smuggled cigarette was going up at the cost of the government exchequer. "Indian brands are going to be impacted here. Indian farmers are going to be affected by this," he said. Responding to a question he said the company had bought tobacco in AP at the behest of the Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitaraman last year owing to the farmers' distress. " But we can not continue the purchases if there was no demand for cigarettes," Deveshwar said. Vijay Mallya, embattled chairman of the UB group, in his first media interview since he left the country in March, denied transferring funds meant for the defunct Kingfisher Airlines for purchasing properties overseas and for other personal interests. Mallya, still a member of the Rajya Sabha, said he was ready to settle the bank debt, which he found "inflated". "I am absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds out of Kingfisher Airlines or buying properties," Mallya said in a four-hour interview to Financial Times in Mayfair, central London. He chose to break his silence a day after the Ministry of External Affairs wrote to the UK for his extradition in cases related to money laundering. He is accused of investing half of a Rs 950-crore loan from IDBI Bank in properties abroad. Last week, the ministry revoked his passport, following a non-bailable warrant being issued against him. "By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money," Mallya said, adding, he had no plans to "leave the UK and was forced to live in exile". "Right now, things are flying at me fast and furious. My passport has been revoked and I don't know what the government will do next," he said. Mallya left India in March after banks upped the pressure to recover their dues. The billionaire owes 17 banks about Rs 9,400 crore, including principal and accumulated interest, and has offered to pay Rs 6,000 crore in instalments. He argued the loan was given to a limited liability company, even as he extended his personal guarantee for the money borrowed. In the interview, Mallya said his offer was "way, way in excess of the World Bank average for settlement of bad debts". "It is grossly unjust to apply compound interest and artificially inflate this figure," he said. Though the banks have turned down his offer, they said they were willing to consider if Mallya came up with a reasonable one. Asked if he was ready to increase his offer, Mallya skirted the issue saying: "The banks also need to consider the fact that there are other creditors who also need to be paid off and satisfied. I can't be possibly seen as giving preference to banks just because of the extraordinary pressure being put on me by various government agencies.""As professional bankers, they would like to settle and move on. But because of my image as portrayed they are reluctant to be seen as giving me any discount," he said. "It will attract huge media criticism and inquiries by vigilance agencies in India," he added. Kingfisher Airlines ceased operation in 2012 after it failed to meet costs and defaulted on loans. On the question whether he was willing to sell stakes in other businesses to raise money to reach the settlement amount, Mallya said: "I have already expressed my willingness to settle with banks. A settlement offer was proposed to the Supreme Court, which obviously means it was a very serious offer. Now the court has directed the debt recovery tribunal to dispose of the main matter in two months. But notwithstanding the legal process, my offer for settlement stands." Mallya chose to not criticise the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government, which in the court had called him a "fugitive from justice". When asked whether Modi or his "faceless bureaucrats" were behind the suspension of his passport, Mallya said: "All I can say that the manner in which my passport was first suspended and then revoked is unprecedented and was done with an extraordinary haste." Mallya could lose his Rajya Sabha membership when Parliament ethics committee meets on Monday. But this did not prevent him from saying: "People think I am flamboyant, actually I am quite simple. I worked hard all my life and I want to try and settle with these banks and live my life in peace." ITC is shifting its headquarters of Rs 8,000-crore agri-business division, currently at Hyderabad, to Guntur, along with a plan to expand into new commodities, including food-safe spices and millets. "We are planning to build half-a-million square foot of residential and office space to locate the headquarters of the agri-business division here. The spending may be around Rs 200 crore," ITC chairman Y C Deveshwar said on Friday. He was here for the foundation-laying for the company's My Fortune hotel here. The 144-room hotel is being built at an investment of Rs 145 crore. The company proposes to start operations in the new hotel in 2019. The company's move comes on the back of its plans on further expanding the agri-business in collaboration with the farmers in Andhra Pradesh, similar to collaboration it has with Guntur tobacco farmers for the past 100 years. The company would be shifting about 500 people to the new location. Spices are tested for the presence of 457 kinds of pesticides and chemicals before being allowed into the US and UK and ITC plans to tap the full export potential by collaborating with the farmers in growing spices to meet the international food-safe parameters. And also the company plans to expand its Ashirwad brand to millets as the consumption of millets in the country growing on health reasons. Thirdly, ITC would enter into shrimp business by packaging and marketing the shrimp procured in AP, for the domestic market. On the company's foray into dairy industry, the ITC chairman said they have yet to take a call whether to set up their own dairies or procure milk from others. The company owns a dairy in Mungher and also launched a cow ghee brand in Chennai to gain the insights into the dairy business. Complimenting chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for his government's efforts towards building the new capital, Amaravati among other things, Deveshwar said the new opportunities for the growth of business and commerce will emerge all around Guntur because of the government initiatives. Responding to a question, the ITC chairman said the company will build a hotel in Amaravati if it was able to get a right location. Big plans for AP: The tobacco-to-hotels business behemoth has other big plans for AP, according to Luv Agarwal, principal secretary of Tourism Department. He said the company is going to build a grand hotel similar to ITC Chola in Chennai in the Amaravati capital and also looking at anchoring a new university similar to the stature of Indian School of Business(ISB). He said the the location of the university is yet to be finalised as the government as well as the company are considering the option of Tirupati and Amaravati. TOKYO (TNS) Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will travel to China on Friday in a bid to restore momentum in relations between Asias two largest economies as both nations argue over territorial issues in regional waters. Kishida is set to meet his counterpart Wang Yi and other senior officials during the visit the first by a Japanese foreign minister in four and a half years. No Chinese foreign minister has visited Japan since November 2009. While Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe overcame disagreements over territory and history to meet in November 2014 and April of last year, the fragile rapprochement has since frayed. Neither side can afford to allow tensions to worsen, given a $344 billion trade relationship, the lingering risk of a maritime clash over disputed islands close to Taiwan and the growing threat from North Korean missiles. Japan contacted China this month about sending Shotaro Yachi, a close Abe aide, to Beijing in a bid to set up a summit this year, Kyodo News reported Thursday. Xi and Abe will coincide at a G-20 meeting in Hangzhou, China in September. Abe and Xi have not met bilaterally for more than a year. They missed their latest chance to sit down about a month ago at a nuclear security summit in Washington. A ministerial meeting on the economy planned for early this year also hasnt materialized, and theres been no announcement on Japans scheduled hosting of a trilateral summit with South Korea and China this year. The hiatus comes as Japan steps up its criticism of Beijing over its behavior in the South China Sea, where China has reclaimed more than 3,000 acres of land over the past two years as it builds a platform to assert its claims to more than 80 percent of the water. China for its part regularly warns against Japanese interference in the dispute and chides the Abe government for not doing more to deal with the legacy of the countrys wartime past. Japans wrong approach to history and other issues has in recent years dealt a body blow to Japan-China relations, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last month. Thanks to the efforts of wise people on both sides there are signs of improvement in the Sino-Japanese relationship, but there is little ground for optimism. China was also riled by a statement issued in Hiroshima earlier this month by foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations issued in which they expressed concerns about the situation in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, where Japan and China dispute the sovereignty of a group of islets. China regularly sends coast guard vessels into Japanese-administered waters around a group of disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyutai in China, and Japan has backed U.S. efforts to challenge Chinas claims in the South China Sea by sending warships near its outposts there. We express our strong opposition to any intimidating, coercive or provocative unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions, the G-7 ministers said in reference to the two waters. China responded by saying the G-7 should focus on economic issues and stay of the disputes. After the trip to Beijing, Kishida will spend the next week visiting Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Karnataka has accused app-based taxi aggregators and Ola of operating without the necessary license and allowing cabs to ferry customers across Bengaluru and other cities in the state. Both firms have countered the statement saying that they have applied for license. "We have applied for a license under the new scheme and have also sent our objections to the Karnataka transport department, but have not heard from them yet," said an spokesperson. Ola too claims it has applied for a licence under the new Karnataka on-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules 2016. On Thursday, around 100 vehicles operating on both the aggregators platforms were impounded and penalised for violating norms, which include not carrying required documentation. and Ola follow an asset light business model where they do not own the cars that operate on their platforms. The drivers own cabs with Uber and Ola channelling business to them through their apps for which they charge a commission. Read more from our special coverage on "UBER" Uber claims to have over 250,000 cars on its platform while rival Ola says it has over 350,000 drivers on its platform across India. Bengaluru's roads alone are expected to have 50,000 cabs operating on both platforms, making it one of the biggest markets for them in India. Both have voiced their concerns on the government's scheme for app-based aggregators as one that suppresses innovation and makes their business models unviable. Uber, which has taken the legal route to challenge the Delhi government's proposed aggregator rules, could end up doing the same in Karnataka. Karnataka wants all taxi aggregators to apply for licenses with the local transport authorities, put a cap on pricing which will be fixed by the state, install digital meters and receipt printers in all cabs and even install boards on top of cabs that get illuminated when a taxi is occupied. There's a real scare that drivers will begin to abandon both platforms in fear of having their vehicles impounded by the transport authorities. Many of them who have taken loans to buy their vehicles are dependent on the business Uber and Ola provides them to pay their monthly and in some cases even daily instalments. Given the model of the business, drivers earn money only if they fulfil rides. The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Industries India seeking to quash an order by the Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation Ltd (TANCEM) issuing execution of a project to L&T Constructions to expand the government-run Ariyalur Cement Factory. According to the argument of Thyssenkrupp, the company has submitted a bid for Rs 702.68 crore and later approached the authorities claiming that there was a mistake in calculation and the proper calculation is Rs 678 crore. It alleged that the Corporation refused to accept the corrected version later when the company approached and if the error was permitted to be corrected, the lump sum price offered by the company will be the lowest one than that of L&T. The Corporation has initiated action for expansion of Ariyalur Cement Unit from the existing 0.5 Million Ton Per annum (MTPA) to 1 MTPA Clinkerisation by effecting advertisement in newspapers on January 20, 2015. The bids were submitted and opened, and, according to the company, it has submitted the corrections related to the error in calculation, with the concerned authorities. However, the corporation has sent a letter dated January 18, 2016 declaring as L2 and returned the Bid Security Bank Guarantee, selecting L&T as L1, alleged in its petition. Read more from our special coverage on "THYSSENKRUPP" According to the senior counsel for Thyssenkrupp,if the error is permitted to be corrected, the lump sum price offered by it will be the lowest one than that of the L&T. Advocate General A L Somayaji, who appeared for TANCEM argued that the bids were opened on September 7, 2015, at the presence of representatives from both the and the representative of Thyssenkrupp accepted their status as L2 by signing the tender register and left without raising any objection. After 50 days of opening of price bid, the company came with a claim that there were certain calculation error in 13 columns out of 20 but it was was not brought to the notice of the tender scrutiny committee during the price bid meeting. Apart from the price bid, the Corporation has considered several other factors which led to the awarding of contract in favour of L&T, including that the period of project completion quoted by Thyssenkrupp is 26 months, whereas L&T has indicated as 24 months which is more advantageous to the corporation, he added. Senior Counsel appeared for L&T opposed the writ petition and alleged that the petitioner company was not diligent enough in quoting their price bid accurately and has claimed that there were some mistakes in the bid quoted by them only after 50 days of opening of the price bid. Therefore, the petitioner is estopped from filing the present writ petition, it added. The TANCEM informed the Court that even though the machinery requirement of the corporation has been met by both the companies, there is a difference and distinction in the fuel savings and power savings offered by them. As per the quotation of Thyssenkrupp, they have indicated fuel savings of 2 Kcal/Kg of clinker and power savings of 0.5KW/hour/ton of cement, while L&T has offered a more advantageous quote. The Advocate General argued that this is only a tip of the ice berg and there are more and more instances to be quoted from the bids submitted by the compan ies which weighed in the decision of the corporation to take a call. Hearing the arguments, Justice R Subbiah said, "I find considerable force in the said submission of the learned Advocate General appearing for the corporation. The above aspects relating to power savings or fuel savings or other requirement have to be determined by experts in the field and this Court does not possess any expertise or technical know how relating to the same." "This Court, in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, can only confine it's judicial review as to the procedure contemplated in arriving at a decision transparently without any bias. As mentioned above, the petitioner has not raised any plea relating to bias or mala fide while so, this Court hesitate to interfere with the decision of the Corporation," added the Judge. A special CBI court here charged Naveen Jindal, chairman of Jindal Steel & Power, with criminal conspiracy in a case of inappropriate allocation of the Amarkonda coal block in Jharkhand. The court framed similar charges against former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and former Coal Secretary H C Gupta. Shares of JSPL fell 6.56 per cent after the pronouncement by the court. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had alleged that Madhu Koda had favoured Jindal group firms Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Private Ltd (GSIPL) in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand. Along with Jindal, Rao, Koda, and Gupta, a total of 15 people are also booked under Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of the coal block to JSPL and GSIPL. Section 120 (B) pertains to punishment of criminal conspiracy. The court also charged five companies JSPL, Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, Gagan Infraenergy Ltd (formerly known as GSIPL), Sowbhagya Media Ltd and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd. These companies and persons are booked under Section 120 of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to criminal offence. The court will now put them under trial under the same and a final judgment will be passed in the next hearing. The court has allowed Jindal to visit Austria and other Schengen countries along with United Kingdom from May 6 to May 13 on account of marriage of his nephew. The permission has been granted on the condition that Jindal furnish Rs 20 lakh and inform the court about his travel itinerary. The court observed, various acts of omission and commission as committed by the accused persons, if considered comprehensively, prima facie show that they all were acting in pursuance to a criminal conspiracy whose sole objective was to accommodate M/s JSPL and M/s GSIPL in Amarkonda Murgadangal Coal Block. JSPL in a statement said that it will stand vindicated. In the context of the special courts order with respect to allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block and the charges thereof; JSPL reiterates it is confident that it will stand vindicated at the end of the ongoing judicial process. We deny all allegations made against our company and its management. We have full faith in the Indian judicial system and are confident to come out clean during the process. The company maintained the said allocation was made purely on merits and all along the course of the investigation, the company and its officials have fully cooperated with the authorities, and whenever asked, explained and provided all supporting documents. This is the second major judgment to come in the coal block allocation scam case. Last month, the special court had awarded a four-year jail term to R C Rungta, chairman and R S Rungta, director of Jharkhand Ispat Private Limited (JIPL). It also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on each of the convicts held guilty for deceiving and defrauding the government to bag a coal block in Jharkhand. A fine of Rs 25 lakh was also imposed on JIPL. CBI had started a probe against the allotment of coal, after a Comptroller and Auditor General report in 2012 alleged a Rs 1.86-lakh crore windfall gain to companies. A special CBI court was set up to exclusively deal with cases related to this scam. DocsApp, a health-tech start-up founded by IIT Madras, has received $1.2 million funding from Facebook's Angel Investors Anand Rajaraman, Venky Harinarayan and Japanese Venture Capital firm Rebright Partners. The investment round was led by Rebright Partners and Takeshi Ebihara, Founding General Partner of Rebright Partners plans to utilise the funding to develop and expand their scale of operations, recruit talent and continue breaking barriers through technology in the medical space thereby excelling at user experience. The start-up was founded by IIT Madras Alumni Satish Kannan and Enbasekar Dinadayalane at the IIT Madras Research Park, in 2015, DocsApp, a health-tech start-up has grown to a team of 36 members. The app currently supports nine specialities including gynaecology, psychiatry, dermatology, paediatrics, weight management, sexology, gastroenterology, general medicine and hair & scalp care. is a mobile medical consultation platform, which provides consultation for patients with turnaround time of 30 minutes. Satish Kannan, Co-Founder & CEO, said that with close to 200 million smartphone users and with the increasing percentage of mobile network penetration into rural areas, mobile phones have become the key medium of communication across the country. The company wants to provide primary healthcare services to people across India through its mobile application. He estimated that upto 70 per cent of the commonest health issues people face can be managed online. "We want to bridge the gap between patients and doctors through this platform so that people can get expert consultation on demand. We believe that this will also help us take specialised care downstream to more remote areas across the country, " he said. Within a year, majority of DocsApp users have come from major cities like Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. With over 80,000 users, more than 15,000 patients take consultation using DocsApp every month. DocsApp has a pool of 500 top notch doctors in the country who are available to connect with the patients for consultations, claims the company. Rajaraman and Harinarayan said that the DocsApp team has created an app that combines whiz bang technology with specialist doctors to enable speedy doctor consultations and great patient outcomes. This app will revolutionise primary healthcare in India!" The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition filed by Farmers Sangam against the natural pipeline project passing through the seven districts of Tamil Nadu. The Court said that it does not find any error apparent on the face of the record, which leads to recalling its previous order allowing to continue the project. The 925 kms Kochi-Kottanad-Bangalore-Mangalore pipeline passes through Kerala (505 kms), Tamil Nadu (310 kms) and Karnataka (60 kms). In an order issued on the review petition filed by the Farmers' Sangam (Farmers' Group), the Supreme Court Bench consisting of Justice T S Thakur, Justice A K Sikri and Justice R Banumathi said: "We have examined the grounds urged in support of the prayer for review. We find no error apparent on the face of the record to warrant recall of our order dated February 2, 2016. The review petition is, accordingly, dismissed." The Supreme Court, on February 2, 2016, issued an order which was favourable to project, against the Tamil Nadu government's decision to stop the project. The Tamil Nadu government's order sought GAIL to stop laying pipeline through the farm lands, which according to them would affect the livelihood of about 5,500 small farmers, following the protest by the farmers. The State government asked GAIL to realign the pipeline alongside the national highway and not through the farm lands. GAIL received a favourable order from the Madras High Court against the government's direction and the matter eventually went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court Bench then observed that the State government has no technical expertise or legal authority to ask GAIL to change its pipeline route. According to reports, the farmers group in its review petition pointed that the GAIL's petition against the State government in the Madras High Court was not maintainable since it is a central government organisation and according to Article 226 oc the Constitution of India, it cannot raise a dispute with the State government. It also alleged that the company did not issue notice to all the 456 land owners, for laying pipeline through their land and it even omitted villeges from issuing notice. It may be noted that the Tamil Nadu government was also planning to file a review petition on the order. The Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, recently said that she will not allow the pipeline project to be laid through the agricultural land and said that 1.20 lakh trees will be lost because of the project and it is not possible to plant adequate trees to compensate it. Meanwhile, GAIL is of the view that laying pipeline along the Highway is not technically feasible for the reasons of security, maintenance of pipeline and disruption of Highways. The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan recently informed the Rajya Sabha only Right of Use in land is being acquired for laying of pipeline and after completion of the process of laying of pipeline, the land will be returned to the land owner for agricultural activities. Compensation is paid to the land owner as per Petroleum & Minerals Pipelines Act. However, farmers fear that any kind of digging of land above the pipeline could be considered by the company as an offense and even if the pipeline is damaged due to some other reason, the land owners has to face serious legal action. They are also alleging that if the pipeline cuts across a farmland splitting the land into two parts, the farmer cannot take water from one side to the other side by establishing a pipeline. The project was originally started in 2012, of the total project only 50 kms has been completed in Ernakulam (Kerala). Not only in Tamil Nadu, farmers have been protesting in Kerala fearing that they will loose their livelihood. They also want the Government to withdraw the Petroleum & Mineral Pipelines Act, 1962 (PMP Act). State Government also supports the farmers in this mater. Marred by delay and flip-flops, has finally settled for setting up its jinxed coal-based power project in Odisha in the state's southern coastal strip at Gopalpur. The company has opted for a shore based plant since it aims to use imported coal to meet its requirement. Also, it has gone for a change in project design, and is now keen to set up a new plant of around 1,300 Mw plant capacity. Though, was allocated the Mandakini coal block for the project, the block got de-allocated as the result of a Supreme Court order that saw scrapping of licenses of over 200 coal blocks alloted arbitrarily. " is keen on setting up its power plant at Gopalpur. The company will use imported coal to meet its requirement. We have asked the company to submit a fresh proposal", said an official source. Officials at Tata Power were not immediately available to comment. Tata Power had originally proposed a 1,000 Mw coal-fired power project at Naraj near Cuttack. But, mounting protests from green activists owing to the deleterious impact of emissions from the power station on wildlife at the nearby Chandaka-Dampada sanctuary had forced the company to switch to gas based mode. The company's coal-based plant had hit a roadblock owing to its proximity to the Chandaka-Dampada wildlife sanctuary. The plant site was located within a distance of only 1.5 km and wildlife clearance was mandatory for any project to be located within 10-km radius of a national park or wildlife sanctuary. This had prompted Tata Power to alter the technology for the power project. The change in technology of the proposed power plant (coal-based to gas-fired) was necessitated by delay in obtaining clearances from the State Wildlife Board and National Wildlife Board. The company had thereafter submitted a revised application to the state government for a gas-based plant, presumably banking on supplies from the Surat-Paradip natural gas pipeline proposed by GAIL India Ltd. But the looming uncertainty in gas availability prompted the company to seek an alternative site for its power plant. This was despite the fact that 1,000 acres of land was already acquired for the project with Tata Power forking out Rs 100 crore as land purchase cost to Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco). The company had inked an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the Odisha government for establishment of a 1,000 Mw coal-based plant on September 26, 2006. It had later proposed to scale up capacity of the power plant to 2,000 Mw. Based on Tata Power's request, the state government had approved the change of site from Naraj-Marthapur to Begunia where 975 acres of land were identified for the project. Tata Sons, principal investment holding company and promoter of the Rs 6.7-lakh crore Tata group, is going to hold its next board meeting in the United Kingdom. This is the first time the Mumbai-headquartered group will hold its board meeting abroad after Cyrus Mistry took over as the group's chairman. The move comes at a time when Tata Steel is looking to exit its steel business in the UK. When contacted on e-mail, a Tata group spokesperson said, "These are matters internal to the company, and we do not comment or offer any guidance on them." Sources, however, say the board meeting is likely to be held in May. The Tata Sons board has six members - Cyrus Mistry, Ishaat Hussain, Vijay Singh, Nitin Nohria, Ronen Sen and Farida Khambata. For the year ended March 2015, Tata Sons had revenue of Rs 13,100 crore and net profit of Rs 9,062 crore. About 66 per cent of the equity capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts endowed by members of the Tata family. Tata Sons' decision to hold its board meeting abroad is not the first one by an Indian company. Bharti Airtel has held two board meetings abroad, one in Singapore and another in Nairobi, Kenya. Similarly, Hero MotoCorp held a board meeting in Florence, Italy. Last year, Infosys had also considered holding its board meeting in Palo Alto, California, after Vishal Sikka joined as CEO and MD. However, the plan hasn't still fructified. It's not just the boards of Indian companies that are meeting aboard, multinationals like Vodafone and PepsiCo have already held board meetings in India. Global FMCG giant Unilever reportedly plans to hold its board meeting in India this year. Unlike steel, group company Tata Motors's Jaguar Land Rover business is doing well. For the Tatas, the UK has been an important market. The first leveraged buyout in the country by the group was of tea retailer Tetley, then came steelmaker Corus, and finally, marquee carmaker Jaguar Land Rover. Dabur, which too has a significant business overseas, is making it a practice to have at least one board meeting outside India every year. Last year, Dabur held its board meeting in Dubai, and the year before it was in Turkey. A senior Dabur official said, overseas board meets help independent directors in a big way as they get to see the operations. He added that the local management is also excited to have the board visiting. Sachin Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart, does not worry too much about the drop in valuation of the company. For him, the mark-down in the valuation by Morgan Stanley and Mutual Fund T Rowe Price is a "theoretical exercise" and not based on any transaction. At the India Internet Day 2016 event, where Bansal was one of the speakers, he said he does not think his companys valuation has changed. See what is happening with T Rowe Price and Morgan Stanley across the world and it is the same with other companies as well; it is a very theoretical exercise and not based on any real transaction that have happened in this space." He added, "So I do not think anyones valuation has changed just because somebody or small shareholders of these companies have changed their opinion. I do not worry too much about that." In February this year, Morgan Stanley marked down its stake in Indian e-commerce company to $103.97 a share, 27 per cent below the price of its last fund-raising round. The move came days after Flipkart claimed it was valued at a whopping $15.2 billion. In 2015, Morgan Stanley had valued Flipkart a little over $142 a share. The fall reduced Flipkarts valuation to $11 billion. According to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Morgan Stanley valued its Flipkart stake at $58.93 million in December 2015, compared to $80.62 million in June 2015. Earlier this month, mutual fund T Rowe Price followed suit and cut the value of its stake in the Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal-led company by 15 per cent, becoming the second investor to mark down the online retailers estimated worth. To be fair to Flipkart, T Rowe also cut the value of its stakes in Uber, which is arguably the worlds most valuable venture-backed company. According to market experts, T Rowes markdown implies it values Flipkart, Indias most valuable e-commerce firm, at $12.75 billion. The company was valued at $15 billion when it raised $700 million from Tiger Global Management and other existing investors last June. After the second markdown, experts said it was yet another confirmation that the e-commerce giant was overvalued. Bansal went on to say it does not matter what people think. If we do not need to raise funds, it does not matter what other people think. If we do need to raise funds raise, (we'll raise) whatever is available and move on. In the long term, things will take care of themselves. Good times do not last forever and bad times dont either. Things will keep changing and the learning we should take from this is when the good times come again - and they will - we should not fool ourselves thinking that it will remain constant and remember a downturn would come again. Bansal added that 2012 was the toughest year for his company, when Flipkart had to go for a 'down round' of funding. He said the delay in raising money on hopes of better valuations was a wrong business call. When investors purchase stake or shares in a company at lower valuation than what the company was previously valued at, is a called a down round. It was the toughest time for us. We were hoping that if we delay raising funds that was available, we'd be able to get a better valuation. However, Flipkart had to raise funds at valuations of $750 million compared to $1 billion in the round before it, he said. In August 2012, Flipkart raised Series D funding of $150 million from MIH (part of Naspers Group) and ICONIQ Capital. Bansal also said he was not thinking going public any time soon. Right now the markets are growing pretty fast and we don't need to raise funds. The biggest reason to go public would be to tap into the public market. But, we'll take a call at the right time. At present, we do not need to, he said. The Bombay High Court on Friday ordered demolition of a 31-storey Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society that became a symbol of political corruption. The court stated that there was no Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the building and added that politicians and bureaucrats illegally procured flats meant for Kargil war widows and defence personnel. The order was given today after a petition filed by Adarsh Housing Society had challenged the Environment Ministry's order to demolish the building. The court has given 12 weeks time to Maharashtra government to appeal against the order in Supreme Court. The court has also ordered Maharashtra government to initiate criminal proceedings against bureaucrats and politicians for illegal construction of . The BJP has welcomed the decision calling the building a symbol of corruption. The BJP and Shiv Sena, before coming to power in 2014, had alleged that had become a symbol of corruption The Adarsh scam expose in 2010 led to the resignation of Congress leader Ashok Chavan as the Maharashtra chief minister especially after it was revealed that three of his relatives had also been given apartments in the building. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed charge sheet against 13 persons including Chavan. State Governor C Vidyasagar Rao recently sanctioned prosecution of Chavan for offences under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. In 2013, the agency had moved a similar request under the same provisions and then Governor K Sankaranarayanan had refused sanction. In 2013, a judicial commission found that 25 of the 102 members in the were ineligible and there were 22 cases of flats being bought on proxies. The Border Security Force (BSF) is planning to install the tallest flag near the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post, famously known as the Wagah border, The Indian Express reported on Friday. The flag at 350 feet is part of BSF's expansion plans for the visitors' gallery at the site of the iconic Retreat ceremony. "The tallest tricolour can be seen both from Lahore as well as Amritsar," Ashok Kumar Yadav, the officiating Inspector General of BSF's Punjab Frontier, was quoted as saying by the newspaper. "At that height, the flag would have to be proportionately sized, therefore it would also be the largest Tricolour. There is an intense atmosphere of patriotism during the Retreat ceremony, and the crowds are highly charged. The flag will serve as a beacon for them," Yadav told the newspaper. Senior Public Relations Officer of BSF Deputy Inspector General R S Kataria told the newspaper that the flags mast would be installed on a raised platform at the border, taking extreme weather conditions into consideration. Currently, Jharkhand holds the record of hoisting tallest flag. On January 23 this year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar hoisted the largest tricolour - a massive 99X66 feet - on the country's tallest flag post at 293 feet in Ranchi to mark Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary. Ahram Online A photo from a tradition Egyptian spritual celebration won UNESCO's #Unite4Heritage "Photo and Story" contest. The winning photo was captured by Egyptian photographer Mohamed Abdel Gawad during the Fatimah Al-Nabawiya Moulid in Old Cairo. The Moulid commemorates the life of one of the descendants of the prophet Mohammad. The photo captures a moment with an old lady dancing to tunes played by a Sufi band. The #Unite4Heritage "Photo and Story" contest was first held in 2015 attracting over ten thousands entries from all over the world. Contesters were invited to post "their most inspiring photos of cultural heritage and explain why they matter to them," on Facebook and Instagram. The Narendra Modi governments U-turn on issuing a visa to Uyghur dissident Dolkun Isa to attend a China-focused conference on democracy in Dharamsala, also seat of the Tibetan government in exile, and later refusing visas to two other Chinese dissidents, has brought it national and international embarrassment. It has been widely speculated, and is yet to be denied by the external affairs ministry, that at least Isas visa was withdrawn because of pressure from Beijing. Government sources, however, attributed other reasons for denying visas to Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy activists Ray Wong and Lu Jinghua on inconsistencies in their documents. They claimed Lus documents were illegible and there was inconsistency with the purpose of her visit. In Rays case, there was data inconsistency in his documents. The Uyghur leader, now a German national, is executive committee chairman of the World Uyghur Congress. The organisation represents Muslim ethnic groups of the Uyghur province of China. Beijing considers it a terrorist outfit and had issued a global notice nearly a decade earlier to seek the arrest of Isa. However, he continues to travel widely across the world. Lu, known for her role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, figures on a Chinese list of major criminals. She is now a US citizen. Ray is a Hong Kong-based pro-democracy activist. While Isa has gone on record to state Delhi succumbed to pressure from China, Lu got to know of the visa being rejected only when she was about to board a flight to here from New York on Monday. The 54-year-old termed the treatment as harassment and said she was very disappointed with India. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said Isa was a terrorist, the subject of a 'red corner' notice from Interpol and the Chinese police. Bringing him to justice is the due obligation of relevant countries, she said. In Delhi, the apparent nonchalance of the ministries of home and external affairs on the issue soon turned into panic. The MEA spokesperson said the Uyghur leader had applied and was granted a tourist visa when coming to India to attend a conference, which under the tourist visa rules is not permitted. Until the statement by China, the Modi government was being lionised in the social media with the hashtag #ModiSlapsChina. Many saw a visa to Isa as the Modi government slapping Beijing for supporting Pakistan in blocking Indias attempt to have Masood Azhar, apparent mastermind of the Pathankot airbase terrorist attack in January, designated an international terrorist. As the Washington Post put in a write-up earlier this week, the patriotic chest thumping over the weekend in India gave way to embarrassment and bitterness, with #ModiBowsToChina being a top trending hashtag on Twitter. In the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the now-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Modi had criticised the weak-kneed foreign policy of the then Manmohan Singh-led government towards China. And, promised a more strong-willed policy. Those claims are now under a cloud. The current government has continued with the policy of keeping China engaged. In November 2011, the UPA government had postponed a key India-China meeting in Delhi as it was coinciding with a world Buddhist conference. Several top Union ministers, including the then PM, were scheduled to attend the conference but stayed away once Beijing flagged the issue. Similarly, India kept the Dalai Lama away from the Nalanda university project. On Friday, Chinas state-run Global Times pointed to recent efforts by Delhi to forge closer defence ties with Washington and at the same time trying to step up a dialogue with Beijing as self-contradictory actions which could land it in a difficult position. In the Rajya Sabha, former diplomat Pavan Verma criticised the government for not waking up to the strategic import of the recent Nepal-China treaty to build multiple train routes between Nepal and China. He said the government suffered from diplomatic complacency. The Gujarat government on Friday announced a 10 per cent quota for the economically backward among all non-reserved castes in the state in both jobs and education. An Ordinance will be promulgated on May 1. Families whose annual income is up to Rs 6 lakh will benefit from this move. The benefits will be available to members of all upper caste communities, including Patidars, Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Lohanas. The move follows a protracted agitation for quotas by the Patidar community. The decision was taken at a core team meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attended by party president Amit Shah. Commenting on the issue, the BJPs Gujarat president Vijay Rupani said, The government has decided to provide 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and education to the economically backward class from all non-reserved castes. We will issue an Ordinance on May 1. We are ready for any legal battle over the 10 per cent quota. This will not affect the 49 per cent reservation for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, he added. The government intends to implement the quota from the upcoming academic year. Gujarat has followed in the footsteps of two other BJP-ruled states, Rajasthan and Haryana, which have announced special quotas for Gujjars and Jats, respectively. The move is seen as an attempt to placate the politically influential Patidar community as Gujarat goes into Assembly elections next year. Patidars comprise 12-15 per cent of the states population and form a crucial support base for the BJP government. The community of traditional landowners is widely present in small and medium enterprises across the state. The state government had made an attempt in September 2015 to woo the Patidars by announcing a Rs 1,000 crore package for the economically backward in higher education. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to address a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 8 during his visit here, Speaker of the US House of Representative Paul Ryan said on Thursday. The friendship between the United States and India is a pillar of stability in an important region of the world, Ryan told reporters during his weekly press conference. This address presents a special opportunity to hear from the elected leader of the worlds most populous democracy on how our two nations can work together to promote our shared values and to increase prosperity. We look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to the US Capitol on June 8, he said. Modi, who was invited by President Barack Obama for a bilateral visit when he was here for the nuclear summit, will be the fifth Prime Minister of India to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since 2005. Earlier, Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh (July 19, 2005), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (September 14, 2000), P V Narasimha Rao (May 18, 1994) and Rajiv Gandhi (July 13, 1985) addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress. The tradition of foreign leaders and dignitaries addressing Congress began with the Marquis de Lafayette of France, who spoke in the House chamber on December 10, 1824. Ronak D Desai, a Fellow at New America and an Affiliate at the Belfer Center's India and South Asia Program at Harvard University, said, "an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress is significant, given past US policy towards Modi during his time as Chief Minister of Gujarat." Modi's visit is likely to be the last official meeting between the two leaders during President Obama's final year in office. Top American lawmakers welcomed the decision of Ryan to invite Modi to address joint meeting if the US Congress. "I applaud Speaker Ryan for inviting Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress, and I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to the Capitol. This address will serve as a sign of the deep and important relationship between the US and India," said Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "Our partnership in areas such as defence, nuclear power, renewable energy and space exploration is very strong, thanks to our many shared values. I look forward to hearing from Prime Minister Modi about how we can continue working together to promote peace and prosperity," Royce said. "I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Washington in June, where his address to a Joint Session of Congress will explore how our two nations can work together to further our shared values and interests," said Tulsi Gabbard, the first ever Hindu lawmaker elected to the US Congress. "As the world's oldest and largest democracies, the US and India have many shared values and objectives. Since Prime Minister Modi was first elected in 2014, he has made active engagement with the US a priority on many levels including exploring mutually beneficial economic opportunities, stronger government-to-government relations, and enhanced security engagements," she said. Earlier this month, Gabbard, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, wrote to Ryan encouraging him to invite Modi to address the Congress. "I'm pleased that Speaker Ryan has granted my request," said Congressman Ami Bera, the only Indian-American in the current Congress. "India is a key partner of the US, and this will be an opportunity for members of Congress to learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing our two nations," he said. Last week, Bera and Royce along with two other lawmakers had urged Ryan to invite Modi to address a joint session of Congress. Earlier today, Ryan told reporters that Modi would be the leader to address a joint meeting of the Congress after he became the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. "This will be the first joint meeting of this speakership. We certainly look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi in the United States Capitol this summer, I believe it's June 8th," Ryan said. "India is the most populace democracy and soon it's going to be the most populace country. The friendship between our nations is a pillar of stability in a very, very important region. This address presents a special opportunity for us to deepen our ties with our ally, India," he said. "It is a chance to hear from the prime minister on how we can work together to promote our shared values and to increase prosperity," Ryan said. FIFTH TIME AROUND James Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, has offered himself up for interrogation by Indian authorities in an interview with The Hindu. According to reports, the Indian government has asked Britain to extradite Michel. Michel's name has been thrown up again since reports on the recent judgement, in the case related to the scam, by the Italian Court of Appeals cited a note from a middleman reportedly describing Congress President Sonia Gandhi as the "driving force" behind the chopper deal. The Bharatiya Janata Party lost no time in latching on to the note and mounted a political offencive against Gandhi. In no time, battle-lines were drawn and the issue seems to only be escalating. Responding to the allegations, Gandhi has said that she is not "afraid as there is no base" and that "all the allegation are false". For his part, Michel has finally spoken about the matter candidly. Earlier this year, the Telegraph and Outlook India magazine reported that Michel had accused the current Indian government of "offering Italy the freedom" of the two marines accused of killing Indian fishermen in exchange for information linking Sonia Gandhi and her family to the chopper scam. Michel has made these claims, according to the reports, in a letter to the International Tribunal of the Law of the Seas in Hamburg and the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. Most interestingly, according to The Hindu, in November last year, Michel had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter. According to the report, Michel expressed his disappointment over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) reopening a case against him in September that year. Additionally, in the letter, Michel said: "The submission claimed that I had received 30 million Euros consultancy for AW 101 helicopters. This is an incorrect statement." According to the report, he also expressed his willingness to be "interviewed" by the CBI and ED outside India. But, who is James Christian Michel? The 54-year-old absconding British businessman is one of the three middlemen allegedly involved in the scam revolving around payment of bribes to secure an Indian contract for twelve AW-101 helicopters worth euro 556 million (currently Rs 4,195 crore). While Michel told The Hindu that he was a victim of a "political conspiracy", his, and the names of his relatives, have come up in relation to other incidents of dubious nature. According to The Economic Times, Michel's now-deceased father, the German-born Wolfgang Max Richard Michel, figured in a 2003 investigation by The Guardian. The investigation said that he had acted as a mediator between former Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and Britain's Labour Party. The elder Michel had reportedly been involved in a deal wherein a biography of Gaddafi would be published in the UK and in return the country's defence major, BAE Systems, would receive lucrative contracts from Libya. According to the ET report, the plan never materialised. Records with the UK's Companies House, according to the ET report, show that Wolfgang Michel promoted three companies - Entera Corporation, UCM International Trading Limited and Ferro-Imports Limited. Additionally, according to the report, between 1987 and 1996, "Entera Corporation earned more than 2 million from India, recorded on its books as charges for 'engineering consultancy' or 'industrial consultancy'. The report added that Christian Michel served as the chairman and sole director of the company during this time. Also according to ET, in 2003, Wolfgang Michel had told The Guardian that he had "negotiated legitimate sales of civil aircraft to India". Entera Corporation went bankrupt in 2004, "with more than 1.3 million in debt", said the report. Additionally, Christian Michel was barred from doing business in the UK for seven years, the report added. This, said the report, "is when he appears to have shifted base to Dubai, where he floated Global Services FZE". Michel seems to have kept to Dubai ever since. The Business Standard, in an October, 2015, report had said that Indian investigative agencies had traced Christian Michel to Dubai and were studying the bilateral extradition treaty between the United Arab Emirates and India to get his custody. What are the allegations against him? Michel is among three non-Indian middlemen, who, according to a Hindustan Times report, were accused by the CBI and ED in their separate probes "of taking commissions worth 70 million from AgustaWestland" to bribe Indian officials who helped ink the deal. According to a report filed by Italian investigators in an Italian court, the middlemen had agreed for a 7.5% commission in the deal. The payment of bribes through contracts between firms registered in Tunisia and India, was "still underway" when the scam was unearthed. The report revealed that Giuseppe Orsi and Bruno Spagnolini, then-CEOs of Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland, respectively, had paid 30 million Euros (Rs 217 crore) to Christian Michel. According to the HT report, the three middlemen, including Michel, are accused of having key technical specifications the requirement related to the optimum height at which choppers can fly and the cabin height "tweaked" by Indian authorities so as to allow AgustaWestland to bag the contract. In fact, the report cited evidence acquired form the Italian court by the ED to state that AgustaWestland paid Michel's commission through his firm Global Services FZE, among others. For his part, Michel, in his recent interview with The Hindu, stated categorically that the documents used in the Italian court to prove his guilt were "clearly forged". Michel added that the documents were not even in his handwriting, "and then there were affidavits proving I wasnt even present at the meetings". Michel also told The Hindu clearly, "It is my greatest fortune that I have never met a Gandhi." Adani Gas Ltd (AGL), the natural gas distribution arm of Adani Enterprises, is eyeing the growing market for cooking gas in eastern India and Bangladesh and has proposed to set up a 650-km pipeline network that will connect the Adani Group's planned 1.6-million tonne (mt) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal at Dhamra port in Odisha to Asansol in West Bengal and Duttapulia near the Indo-Bangladesh border. The company has submitted an Expression of Interest to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) seeking authorisation for laying the pipeline. "The import terminal will be operational by mid-2018. The initial volume is expected to be approximately 1.6 mt per annum (mtpa) which will be subsequently increased to 2.5 mtpa in the subsequent phase," AGL has said in its application. An email sent to the company remained unanswered. Experts, however, said setting up an LPG import terminal of 1.6 mtpa capacity might entail an investment of close to Rs 1,500 crore. The proposed pipeline from Dhamra Port to Asansol and the Duttapulia pipeline would help evacuate cargo from the upcoming LPG terminal and increase the penetration of LPG in the under-serviced markets of Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar. AGL has been operating city gas distribution (CGD) networks in Vadodara and Ahmedabad since 2004 and Faridabad since 2009. The company also holds a 50:60 joint venture with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) authorised by PNGRB to develop and operate CGD networks in Allahabad, Chandigarh, Panipat, Daman, Ernakulam and Dharwad. AGL services a customer base of around 350,000 daily through a network of 65 CNG stations, 400 km of steel pipeline and 5,850 km of medium density polyethylene pipeline. According to the company, the availability of draft and the infrastructure for handling very large gas carriers were a major consideration for selecting the location of the import terminal at Dhamra port. India consumes around 18 mt of LPG annually even as domestic production stands at 10 mt. The country imports 8.3 mt of LPG a year. LPG consumption is expected to grow to 25 mt in 2020, of which nearly 16 mt will be imported. Experts say planning for expansion of gas supply in eastern India makes business sense in view of the government's latest focus on increasing LPG penetration. "Most of the 50 million new LPG connections being given under the Ujjwala Yojana will go to these states. That is why the entire region is poised for a 40-50 per cent jump in consumption year-on-year. This is why it makes business sense to set up and expand gas supply infrastructure in the region," said Debasish Mishra, senior director at Deloitte. LPG consumption in the Dhamra hinterland has also grown to 2.8 mtpa driven by a sharp rise in demand in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Bangladesh and the north-eastern regions of India. Bangladesh's LPG supply is also heavily import-dependent. That nation consumed 150,000 tonne of LPG last year, of which only 22,000 was produced locally. Apart from the LPG terminal, Adani Group is also planning to set up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at Dhamra. The group has reportedly offered 49 per cent stake in its Rs 5,000-crore LNG import terminal to state-run gas utility GAIL and petroleum refiner IOC. The department of telecommunications (DoT) plans to lower the spectrum usage charge to a flat 4.5 per cent. Telecom companies now pay three to eight per cent of their adjusted gross revenue to the government as spectrum usage charge. The charge depends on when spectrum was acquired and whether it was allotted administratively. Read more from our special coverage on "SPECTRUM USAGE CHARGE" Telcos urge govt to reduce spectrum usage charge to 1% in a phased manner The change, if implemented, will help Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular, which pay a much higher rate. The Telecom Commission (TC) would meet on Saturday to decide on the charge and shifting away from a weighted average formula, people close to the development said. The proposal will mean some revenue loss for the government but its estimate was not available. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has been seeking a uniform charge. "It will not only bring simplification but also eliminate arbitrage. Varied rates cause ambiguity during mergers and in deals for spectrum sharing and trading," said Rajan S Mathews, director-general, COAI, in a letter to the DoT last week. Reliance Jio has, however, opposed this demand of the COAI. In its earlier meeting, the TC had agreed on a spectrum usage charge of three per cent of the adjusted gross revenue for air waves sold in the next round of auctions. The charge was earlier linked to the spectrum holding of an operator. The government in January 2014 decided to cap the charge at five per cent for spectrum that was to be sold in auctions. Telecom companies were told to pay the weighted average of their usage charge on existing spectrum and five per cent on what they acquired new. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recommended a uniform rate of three per cent spectrum usage charge. This has been opposed by Reliance Jio, which holds nationwide broadband wireless access spectrum on which a one per cent charge is imposed. The government has asked all holders to continue paying one per cent on their existing broadband wireless access spectrum but five per cent on new spectrum. The Telecom Commission will on Saturday also decide on pricing of spectrum in various bands, including 700 MHz, as well as the timing of the next auction. The auction is expected to garner the government Rs 5.76 lakh crore revenue based on reserve prices recommended by the Trai. Just five months after the government liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence, by permitting global vendors 49 per cent stake in Indian joint ventures (JVs) without the need for further permissions (i.e. "under the automatic route"), the doors for foreign vendors are being opened wider. So far, incremental liberalisation has failed to attract significant foreign investment. On Friday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Parliament: "From August 2014 to February 2016, a total amount of Rs 112.35 lakh has come into the country as FDI in the defence sector." In a fresh bid to create a more liberal FDI environment, the ministry of defence (MoD) last week invited defence industry representatives to discuss a briefing note it had prepared on liberalisation. Business Standard has reviewed the note. The current FDI policy, promulgated in November 2015, permits 49 per cent foreign investment through the automatic route. For FDI above 49 per cent, up to 100 per cent, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) must grant permission on a "case-to-case basis". However, lack of clarity on what conditions apply has created uncertainty. Now, to bring in clarity on what "case-to-case" actually means, and thereby facilitate decision-making on the grant of higher FDI, the MoD note stipulates four conditions. First, it mandates that proposals for FDI above 49 per cent must be examined "on case-to-case basis by a Standing Committee headed by Secretary (Defence Production), with all stakeholders as members." Second, the foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is required to "ensure a minimum level of indigenous content as its value addition in India." This is intended to ensure that the joint venture (JV) does not serve as a front for simply importing foreign-built equipment. Third, the MoD regulations for licensed defence industries, i.e. appointing resident Indian citizens as chief security officer (CSO) and cyber information security officer (CISO) "may also be put in for the proposals beyond 49 per cent FDI from national security imperatives (sic)." Finally, the new guidelines stipulate that the foreign OEM's home country regulations, which may continue to operate even for its units in India, do not prevent the sale of its output in India. It says "to avoid such possibility, a clause of usage of products manufactured by them in India by Indian Industry/Organisation (sic) may also be retained." Foreign OEMs, most recently Airbus Industries, have been demanding higher FDI limits that would give them greater control over joint ventures that they establish in India. They remain uncomfortable with the minority position that is imposed by a 49 per cent cap. Parrikar has viewed foreign OEMs' demands sympathetically. At the India Today Conclave in New Delhi on March 13, he said: "If there is a company that has the technology and wants to make, for example, fighter planes in India without any obligation on the part of the government, I am willing to give them approval for 100 per cent investment in the venture." Business Standard learns from three persons who attended the discussion in the MoD that Indian private industry had reservations, but eventually came around to agree on the benefits of more liberal FDI clearances. However, there were exceptions. Innovative Indian defence companies that develop new systems have always opposed increasing FDI limits. In an op-ed article last month, Ashok Atluri, who heads simulator design company, Zen Technologies, argues that FDI limits need not be raised since the Indian defence market is anyway too large for foreign vendors to ignore. He fears foreign OEMs will use higher FDI limits to enter the market and then "kill" Indian competitors by underpricing products until they establish a monopoly. "The MoD officials did not specifically say FDI limits would be raised to 74 per cent, or to 100 per cent. But it seemed quite clear that more liberal conditions will soon be announced", said a defence industry chief executive. The government of India has traditionally been cautious on FDI in defence. In May 2001, FDI up to 26 per cent was first allowed, subject to licensing. In August 2014, that was raised to 49 per cent, subject to government clearance, with cabinet clearance needed for FDI above 49 per cent, on a case-to-case basis. This also permitted foreign portfolio investment up to 24 per cent. The policy imposed conditions on the JV. First, its management had to remain in Indian hands, with an Indian chief executive and CSO. The company had to be self-sufficient in product design and development, and be able to support the defence equipment it manufactured all through its service life. Business Standard learns that several large investments are currently waiting for FDI liberalisation. French warship and submarine builder, DCNS, is reportedly keen to set up a fully owned venture to which high-end submarine technologies could be transferred. Israeli company, Rafael, is reportedly keen on a venture with Kalyani Group. But Rafael wants 74 per cent holding in the venture. Only 0.06 per cent of the total individual tax assessees fall in the 'super rich' category, with annual salary of Rs 1 crore or more and could be liable to pay the additional surcharge for the wealthy, according to the income-tax data released by the finance ministry on Friday. Of the total 28.7 million individual tax assessees in 2011-12, only 18,358 earned Rs 1 crore a year, the data showed. The data bring to light the trend in income tax filings. Although, many among these would not qualify for the 'super rich' surcharge - introduced in 2013-14 for the first time by then finance minister P Chidambaram - as it is levied on taxable income and not total income. The surcharge on the wealthy has consistently risen from 10 per cent in 2013-14 to 12 per cent in 2015-16 and 15 per cent in 2016-17. However, the super rich tax is not only imposed on individuals but also firms. Read more from our special coverage on "TAXPAYERS" Dont harass honest taxpayers, Modi tells IRS officers Of the total Rs 3.89 lakh crore direct tax payable in 2011-12, 66 per cent or Rs 2.56 lakh crore was to come from only 21,819 entities, which constituted a meagre 0.07 per cent of 31.1 million return filers. Also, 63 entities had tax payable at an average of Rs 1,485 crore per entity, which was essentially on business income. About 205 entities had business income of Rs 2,198 crore on an average. FinMin responds to Piketty's request The finance ministry released the data on Friday on the request of Thomas Piketty, economist and author of bestseller Capital in the Twenty-First Century. After releasing the data, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Our government has taken the landmark decision of publishing the income tax data. It is a big step towards transparency & informed policy making. I am sure this data will be used by researchers & analysts & lead to enhanced insights for policy making on taxation." The celebrated economist Piketty had told Business Standard in an interview in January that it was disturbing that there were no public statistics of income tax in India. "These used to be available. There used to be a big publication, the All India Income Tax Statistics, published in this country since Independence till 2000. Then, it was suppressed. For the past 15 years, many people, including myself, have been asking the tax administration to resume publishing this data," he had said. Half of filers have no tax liability Interestingly, the figures showed that around half of the returns filed with the tax department did not have any tax payable at all in 2011-12. Of the 31.1 million returns filed, 55.6 per cent paid no tax to the exchequer as their taxable income stood below the threshold. Close to 20 million return filers, 62 per cent of total return filers, had no salary earnings, but had other sources of income from businesses, house property, interests, long-term and short-term capital gains tax, etc. Among those with salaried income, the highest number of returns were filed by the ones who earned between Rs 5.5 lakh and Rs 9.5 lakh at 2.023 million followed by those earnings between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3.5 lakh per annum in 2011-12. 1.1 mn tax-paying professionals There were around 1.1 million professionals - belonging to various professions such as chartered accountancy, auditing, fashion designing, legal services, medical services - paid direct taxes in 2011-12. An overwhelming majority of direct tax return filers were those who had income up to Rs 50 lakh in 2011-12. Professionals among them would be eligible for presumptive tax from the current financial year, where they need not maintain detailed books of accounts. Direct tax growth at 7-yr low in FY16 The Centre's direct tax collection growth in 2015-16 was the slowest in seven years at 6.68 per cent at Rs 7.42 lakh crore. That the economy struggling to revive is reflected in the direct tax collection numbers. The tax deduction at source gained the largest share in direct tax collection in 14 years at 36.44 per cent in 2015-16. Half the states post tax collection fall in FY15 Of the 30 states (including Delhi and Telangana), 14 posted a fall in the direct tax collection in 2014-15, according to the data made available on Friday. States including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh saw a decline in direct tax collections. Maharashtra remained the biggest source of tax at Rs 2.7 lakh crore in 2014-15, followed by Delhi at Rs 91,247 crore and Karnataka at Rs 60,595 crore. TAX NUMBERS Banks have collected 1,512 kg of gold from temples trusts across the country under the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) since its launch last November, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Friday. GMS was launched on November 5 and it is too early to make an assessment of the impact of the scheme on the imports of gold," Sinha said. He added that there was considerable reduction in the quantum of gold imports during the past six months compared to the previous year. Replying to a question on non-performing assets (NPAs), Sinha said the gross NPA of public-sector banks relating to the corporate sector rose to Rs 2.23 lakh crore. The government has taken specific measures to address issues in sectors such as infrastructure, steel, textiles where NPA is seen to be high, he said. The Reserve Bank of India has conducted an asset quality review (AQR) exercise under which all banks, including public-sector ones, were asked to make at least 50 per cent provision for the accounts identified as NPA under AQR in the December 2015 quarter and the rest in the March 2016 quarter, Sinha said. Sinha informed the lower House that the total amount invested by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation in exchange traded funds (ETFs) of Nifty and Sensex-based index stood at Rs 6,577 crore as of March 31. He noted the government was aware of the risks of more investment of funds of EPFO in the stock market. Employees' provident fund (EPF) has not invested in individual stocks. It has invested only five per cent investible surplus in ETFs of Nifty and Sensex-based index. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley replied to a query on the Panama Papers and said the government had issued notices to all the people named in it but tax laws do not allow the proceedings to be made public till the cases are filed in courts. Responding to another supplementary question, Jaitleys deputy Sinha said the government was looking into the papers received from HSBC and Panama and the various laws, including the one on foreign black money, are being invoked. The Panama Papers leaks contain an unprecedented amount of information, including 11 million documents covering 210,000 companies in 21 offshore jurisdictions. Each transaction spans different jurisdictions and might involve multiple entities and individuals. On the recommendations made by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money, Sinha said the government benefited immensely from SIT's suggestions. Twenty-year old Manoj Ruidas of has plenty of time to while away. He lazes around, soaks up the election atmospherics, and every now and then lends a helping hand to his sharecropper father. Who would think that he has just completed a two-year vocational training in the automobile sector. While on the one side, rumours are floating around a possible merger of the three-year old (BMB) with another PSU, the senior management in the bank feels that it should not be merged, should be given more time, support and special bank status to execute its mission of empowering women. They argue that the BMB has got good potential and results have proved the same. The need of the hour is government's support for lateral recruitment, appointment of professional independent directors and some relaxation when it comes to statutory requirements. Speaking to Business Standard after inaugurating two branches in Chennai, S M Swathi, executive director of BMB, who now heads the Bank, said that we have huge potential not only in urban areas, but also in semi-urban and rural areas. All it need is some more time to stablise and some support from the government. The bank need permission to go for lateral recruitment as the senior level people, including DGMs, AGMs and others have come on a deputation for three years and they will be going back now. "In the next 2-3 years, our own people can pick up the way they are working now. Here and there we need to go for lateral recruitment for specailised people for various departments," said Swathi. The bank need professionals, including CAs, from IT field and others as independent directors, to help in decision making. The bank also need some relaxation when it comes to meeting the agriculture loan target as it don't have much reach. The other key requirements is in the IT infrastructure. On the rumours BMB may be taken over by another PSU or will be merged, she said that so far no such information came to them. "My view is that bank should not be merged considering it has different mandate, which is to empower women and it is a specialised Bank." During the first half of 2015-16, the Bank did not grow as expected, owing to the rumor. "We were also asked not to go in a big way, so we could not open desired number of branches and business. We really took off from the second half of the year and did wonderfully well," said Swathi. She noted, CASA increased to 23 per cent from 9.5 per cent in one year. The growth is highest compared to any other in the country. CASA levels increased mainly due to over 3,000 financial literacy campaigns conducted across all the branches which attracted more women to enroll and made their saving to deposit. NPA level is less than 0.25 per cent. Bank continues to report profit, against SBI Cap's initial projection of loss for first five years. NPA levels are lower since the bank don't go for big ticket loans and keep following up the accounts. The bank has increased number of branches to 100 from 56 in just four months. As of today, the BMB has 102 branches and planning to take it to 150 this year. Bank's client base doubled to 3.5 lakh in one year, of the total client base around 70 per cent are women. "This Bank is doing well and number speaks itself for the same," she said. BMB set a target to close the financial year with a total business of around Rs 5,000 crore as against Rs 1,550 crore currently. Distinguished members of the Faculty, Dear Students, Ladies and Gentlemen, . . It gives me great pleasure to be here amidst you this morning. I am touched by the warmth of the reception accorded to me and to my delegation since my arrival at your beautiful country. We bring to you the best wishes of the people of India. . . As I make this historic visit the first State Visit by a President of India to Papua New Guinea, I am accompanied by Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Honble Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and senior Members of the Indian Parliament representing different political parties and different regions of India. . . Just before entering this auditorium, I had the opportunity to pay my respects at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi that had been installed in 1997 by Late Hon'ble Bill Skate, the then Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Indian Nation continues, to this day, to be revered all over the world as a beacon of peace and apostle of non-violence. His vision and teachings remind humanity of the true values of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect and the need to work together for the equality and freedom of all individuals. In a world that is increasingly vexed by intolerance and extremism, the life and message of this great man remain an inspiring example of the power of truth and universal brotherhood. . . Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, . . I have just had the honour of planting a sapling of a banyan tree to mark my visit to this University. The choice of the Banyan sapling is highly symbolic as the Banyan is the national tree of the Republic of India and is considered by our people to be a sacred one and a symbol of eternal life. I have no doubt that as it grows and spreads its branches, this tree will signify the enduring friendship between people of India and people of Papua New Guinea. . . Gandhiji had viewed education as an integrated approach to all round personality development. He was emphatic about the difference between learning and true education, knowledge and actual wisdom and between literacy and the real lessons that we learn from life. We, in India, have tried to adhere to these principles as we pursue our goals in the education sector through our national planning and human resource development programmes. . . As we succeed, India has always been happy to share her technical expertise with other developing countries. At the Second Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Co-operation held in Delhi and Jaipur in August last year, we had announced the doubling of the number of scholarships earmarked for students from the Pacific Island Countries under our Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation Programme. I invite more students from Papua New Guinea to take advantage of these schemes and attend our institutions of higher education and centres of excellence. . . The Indian higher academic system was known the world over in past. There were some seats of higher learning like Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri which dominated the world higher education system for almost eighteen hundred years from the beginning of the sixth century BC till 12th century AD. They attracted scholars from far and wide. University of Taxila was confluence of four civilizations. However, we can not claim that status today. Thats why we now focus on quality of education by establishing institutions of higher learning and technological institutions in different parts of India. There are 730 universities, 13500 colleges, 16 Indian Institute of Technologies and 30 National Institute of Technologies. Two Indian institutions are placed within the top 200 universities in the global ranking system. Two others are ranked within the top 20 young universities in the world. . . Friends, . . Even though India is separated from this region by the oceans and continents, we attach high value to the close friendship that exists between India and the island countries of the Pacific Ocean. Our relationship is based on the strong foundation of our historical ties - forged by our cultural and economic exchanges over the centuries. These bonds have contributed to the mutual understanding between our Governments and our peoples and are at the root of our shared desire to collaborate in areas of our common interest. . . The cooperation between our two countries at the United Nations and other multilateral fora has also been close and fruitful. India appreciates Papua New Guineas steadfast support for Indias candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and also the reforms of this world body which was established after the 2nd World war. At the present time, seven decades after the United Nations was created, we are agreed on the urgent need for reform of its organs to make them relevant and effective in the significantly altered world of the 21st century. We count on Papua New Guineas continued support and co-operation in the United Nations and other multilateral fora. . . During the first Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Co-operation held at Fiji in November, 2014, Honble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi had announced a number of initiatives for assisting the Pacific Island Countries. These were aimed at supporting their efforts towards their developmental goals and aspirations and addressing their specific concerns related to climate change and sustainable development. I am happy to note that my Government has delivered on these through financial assistance, deputation of Indian experts to Papua New Guinea, training of your citizens in India and simplifying the visa process which has been reciprocated by Government of Papua New Guinea yesterday at the banquet hosted in my honour. . . We believe that Papua New Guinea has a key role in Indias extended Act East" policy and view this nation as a gateway to closer cooperation with the Pacific Island Countries. India stands ready to share other knowledge and experience in the field of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and best practices for increasing food productivity. There are many complementarities between India and Papua New Guinea - on which our bilateral cooperation must be based. We are focussed on skills development and innovation with special emphasis on simple and cost effective technologies that are easily adapted to be locally relevant, efficient and successful. Our public sector enterprises and our private sector are keen to work with Papua New Guinea in harnessing its mineral, marine and hydrocarbon resources. As we identify the areas where we would both like to focus our joint efforts, I would say that in this area of cooperation the sky is the limit. We should waste no time in bringing the benefit of our cooperation to our peoples. . . Before I conclude, young students, a few words for your success in future endeavours: Your dreams will come true if you pursue them with courage; never hesitate to be an agent of positive change; judge your success not by your personal achievements alone - but by the harmony and advancement that it brings to the people around you. . . With these words, I extend to you and, through you, to the people of Papua New Guinea, my heartfelt thanks for this memorable visit. May the friendship between our nations grow from strength to strength! . . Thank you. . . Work up phase for Ex Red Flag concluded on 27 Apr 16 at Eielson AFB Alaska. The team was able to systematically achieve all the objectives laid down for this phase and is shaping up well to participate in the Main Conduct Phase scheduled from 03 May 16. . . After inducting and deploying successfully earlier, the contingent has flown a variety of missions during the Work-up phase termed as Distant Frontier. The team adopted a philosophy of Crawl, Walk & Run signifying a progressive build up in the effort, pace and complexities of training sorties that were flown through the Work-up phase. The intent during the distant frontier phase was to expose the participating members, especially aircrew, to an international environment and familiarize then with Local flying procedures, Radio telephony terminologies, NATO Brevity codes and Airspace/ Environmental peculiarities. It is noteworthy that the local F-16 aggressor squadron has appreciated the performance of the Indian Air Force crew in the multiples missions conducted so far. . . Eielson AFB, where the contingent is presently deployed, is located 26 miles south east of Fairbanks town and it boasts of having one of the best operating environment in the USA. The base apart from housing the elite 18th aggressor sqn of USAF which is flying the F16 aircraft. In addition, the base also has a KC-135 Sqn and the Air National Guard element apart from a host of other facilities. For the main exercise, the IAF fighters will be fielded alongside the best ac of USAF/USN such as F-22 , F-16 , F-15 and F-18. As part of the operational support platforms Indian Air Force IL-78 FRA & USAF KC-135 FRA will be deployed. . . It may be recalled, that the IAF contingent had set off for exercise Red Flag from Air Force Station Jamnagar, on 03 Apr 16 with SU-30 MKI, Jaguar,C-17 and IL-78 Flight Refueling Aircraft. The exercise will be held till 13 May 2016. The opening welcome address for Red Flag Alaska 16-1 was delivered by Lt General Russell, Commander Alaskan Command, USA on 28 Apr 16 at the Red Flag Ops Complex. . . A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan visited India from 27.03.2016 to 01.04.2016. The objective of the visit was to share information on our investigation into the Pathankot Air Base Attack, obtain a brief from the JIT on Pakistans investigations and to discuss follow up actions. The interaction with JIT was held in accordance with Terms of Reference mutually agreed on the basis of reciprocity and extant legal provisions. The Pakistan JIT was informed that a team of NIA officials would like to visit Pakistan to carry forward the investigation in the Pathankot airbase attack. It does not seem feasible to indicate any time line at this stage for completion of the investigation in this case. . . This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Harish Meena and others in Lok Sabha today. . . DM/NAMPI/RAJ The Government has launched the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) on 22nd March, 2016. . . Longitudinal Ageing Study is the first long term survey of the elderly population in the country which is aimed at providing comprehensive longitudinal evidence base on health, social and economic well being of the elderly. . . The objectives of LASI are to collect credible scientific data on burden of disease, mental health, functional health, healthcare and social and economic wellbeing of elderly population. LASI data shall be collected based on internationally comparable research design and tools by adopting scientific methods of data collection. . . As per Census 2011, the total population above 60 years of age was 103.83 million in India, which forms 8.6% of the total population of the country. At the present pace of population growth rate, it is likely to rise more rapidly in the coming years due to further increase in life expectancy. At present, no representative dataset is available on older population in India. The LASI study will provide the comprehensive new scientific data which are needed to conduct analyses of health, economic and social challenges based on population ageing and to formulate mid-and long-term policies and programmes to address these and other challenges presented by ageing population. Such data shall help in monitoring programmes for the elderly population and also generate essential data required for scientific research on various aspects of ageing. . . The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today. . . The Government has initiated implementation of the following projects under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) in the State of Andhra Pradesh: . . (i) Upgradation of Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati with estimated cost of Rs.120 crore (Central Share Rs.60 crore for procurement of Medical equipments including consultancy fee and Institute Share Rs. 60 crore) under Phase 1 of PMSSY. . . (ii) Upgradation of Govt. Medical College, Anantapur and Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada with an approved cost of Rs.150 crore (Central share- Rs.120 crore and State share- Rs.30 crore) per Institute under Phase III of PMSSY. . . (iii) The Cabinet has approved setting up of new AIIMS in Andhra Pradesh on 7th October 2015. Accordingly, establishment of new AIIMS at Mangalagiri in Andhra Pradesh is being implemented. The MoU has been signed between the Government of India and Government of Andhra Pradesh. Taking over of the land at Andhra Pradesh has been done. Soil survey, topographical survey has been completed. Tender for boundary wall has been awarded. . . Initial project funds at the rate of 3% i.e. Rs.2.40 crore of the total cost of civil works for each Government Medical College has been released to HITES, the Executing Agency in respect of Government Medical College, Anantpur and HSCC (India) Ltd. in respect of Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada. . . The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today. . . The Indian Air Force (IAF) is equipped to cater for the threat environment that exists and is ready to meet the role assigned to it. Operational preparedness of IAF is reviewed from time to time based on the threat perception. Further, augmentation of capabilities of IAF including its modernisation and acquisition is a dynamic and continuous process. . . No agreement has been signed with any country for the procurement / purchase of fighter aircraft. No agreement has been signed with Russia for procurement of fighter aircraft equipped with stealth technology. However, an Inter-Governmental agreement has been signed with Russian Federation for design, development, production etc. of a Prospective Multi Role Fighter Aircraft. . . This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Jitendra Chaudhury and others in Lok Sabha today. . . DM/NAMPI/RAJ ? Here are a few intra-day trading strategies from for trade today: Can Fin Homes LTP : Rs 1184.20 Action : BUY Targets : Rs 1202 / Rs 1220 Stop-loss : Rs 1150 Comment : Sharp recovery from the day's low towards the end of the day hinting at further upmove. Bounce from crucial support zone of Rs 1120. SQS BFSI LTP : Rs 986.20 Action : BUY Targets : Rs 1000 / Rs 1020 Stop-loss : Rs 958 Comment : The stock has moved above crucial resistance level. MACD is supporting the uptrend. Adani Ports LTP : Rs 235.45 Action : BUY Targets : Rs 239 / Rs 244 Stop-loss : Rs 230.50 Comment : Momentum indicators are supporting uptrend. MACD has moved above the signal line. Mindtree LTP : Rs 686.2 Action : SELL Targets : Rs 675 / Rs 664 Stop-loss : Rs 705 Comment : Trading close to support of 686. Momentum oscillators are coming off the overbought zone. MACD is about to cross the signal line from above. Disclaimer: This report has been prepared by Financial Services Limited (GBNPP), here in after referred to as GBNPP. GBNPP, a publicly listed company, is engaged in services of retail broking, credit, portfolio management and marketing investment products including mutual funds, life and general insurance and properties. Each recipient of this report should make such investigation as it deems necessary to arrive at an independent evaluation of an investment in the securities of companies referred to in this report (including the merits and risks involved). This document is not for public distribution and has been furnished to you solely for your information and must not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person. Persons into whose possession this document may come are required to observe these restrictions. Opinion expressed herein is our current opinion as of the date appearing on this report only. While we endeavor to update on a reasonable basis the information discussed in this material, there may be regulatory, compliance, or other reasons that prevent us from doing so. Prospective investors and others are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not predictions and may be subject to change without notice. Ousted Chief Minister on Friday alleged that the BJP-led NDA Government was highlighting the AgustaWestland chopper deal so that it does not face criticism in the ongoing Budget Session over its unwarranted move to impose President's rule in Uttarakhand. "When the UPA regime came to know that rules of the contract have been violated and there may be some higher ups involved, then the government took the decision that this should be scrapped and the company should be blacklisted.It was also decided to forfeit the amount. It is being said that one middleman, who suffered losses is making some statements," Rawat told ANI here. "The NDA Government thought of using this (AgustaWestland row) because the manner in which they have murdered democracy in Uttarakhand and imposed President's rule without any basis. The manner in which sides were changed here on the power of money. There is a strong reaction out here; the people were criticizing the move. It began to be thought as to what was the need for Modi ji to take such steps. So, this all has been done to divert the attention from the same," he added a day after the Uttarakhand Nainital High Court once again adjourned the hearing on the disqualification of nine rebel Congress MLAs till May 9. The government has said that it would leave no stone unturned to bring to justice the corrupt and wrong doers in the AgustaWestland chopper deal. In a clarification, the Defence Ministry said in New Delhi corruption is the core issue in the case and the corrupt will be brought to book. The Defence Ministry said the CBI and Enforcement Directorate are vigorously pursuing all aspects of the investigation. Recently, an Italian court had observed that there is a reasonable belief of corruption in the chopper deal. The deal is related to purchase of 12 helicopters for VVIPs from Italian manufacturer, Finmeccanica during the UPA rule. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday alleged that the Congress is a party of thieves, adding the protest by the grand old party's women wing is an attempt to conceal the truth in the AgustaWestland chopper deal. BJP spokesperson Shrikant Sharma asked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to disclose the truth with regard to the chopper deal before the nation. "As far as the VVIP chopper case is concerned, the Congress Party played with the country's security and received kickbacks this has been proved by the Italy court. The Congress is a party of thieves and its theft has now been caught. To hide their theft, the thieves are now raising their voices on the streets," he told ANI here. Holding placards in their hands, the Congress' women wing staged a protest outside the BJP Headquarters and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. All India Mahila Congress President Shobha Oza told ANI the protest is against the BJP-led NDA government, which had come to power making tall claims before the nation. "Today, there is drought in the country, the farmers are committing suicides, there is no water for drinking, the drought has still not been declared a calamity, the people are dying, but the government is least interested about them," said Oza. "The government in an attempt to conceal its failures is making baseless allegations against the Congress. An attempt is being made to divert the attention of the people," she added. Former DCW chairperson Barkha Shukla Singh echoing similar sentiments said the NDA government, which has failed on all counts, has done nothing so far besides making bogus comments "Subramanian Swamy has been sent to the Rajya Sabha just to make unwarranted statements. So, we are protesting against it. They are making baseless allegations. The Modi government has failed on all counts. They have done nothing because making bogus comments," she said. BJP president Amit Shah Shah had yesterday asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to come clear in the AgustaWestland controversy and said those in power during the former UPA regime were responsible for it. Shah said it is quite amazing that the flip-flops of the UPA came to the fore when it was in power, adding the same has grabbed eyeballs even now. The Congress president had earlier alleged that the NDA government was indulging in the politics of character assassination and blatant lies over the AgustaWestland chopper deal, while refuting the allegations being levelled against her. James Christian Michel, the accused middleman in the chopper deal, has offered himself up for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). AgustaWestland's Rs 3,600 crore contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force was scrapped by the UPA government over charges of paying kickbacks to Indian agents. In January 2013, India cancelled the deal and the CBI was assigned to investigate the matter. Security has been beefed up and all arrangements are in place for the fifth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections for 53 seats in 24 Parganas Dakshin, Hooghly and Kolkata Dakshin districts on Saturday. The polling will be held for 31 constituencies in 24 Parganas Dakshin, 18 in Hooghly and four in Kolkata Dakshin. About 1.24 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise to elect their representative from 349 candidates, including 43 women, at 14, 642 polling booths, including 1075 model booths and 390 ladies booths. As many as 680 companies of central forces have been deployed in all the three poll-bound districts for smooth polling. Strict Nakabandi checks are on since last evening in the poll bound districts. As many as 22,000 personnel of the Bengal Police have also been put on election duty. The Central Security Forces have taken special measures to dominate the 5,298 sensitive pockets by launching day-night vigil and nak-checks. Among others, Trinamool Congress chairperson and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP's Chandra Kumar Bose and the Left-supported Congress candidate Deepa Das Munshi are in the fray from Bhabanipur constituency in Kolkata Dakshin. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said it is ready to cooperate with the government with its experience in combating militancy in the country. The party also called upon all, irrespective of their political identities, to come forward with all-out efforts to combat militancy on the basis of national unity. "BNP is the most experienced and successful government and our party is ready to assist the government in a bid to combat any kind of militant activities," Daily Star quoted BNP senior joint secretary general Rizvi Ahmed as saying at a press conference . Lambasting the government for blaming the BNP for the recent incidents of killing, Rizvi alleged it seems the government wants to hide masterminds. The fact is that the government is yet to find out any clue of those much talked-about killings, Rizvi said. In a major setback to the residents of the in Mumbai, the Bombay High Court on Friday ordered its demolition. The court has also ordered inquiry against the politicians, ministers and officers involved in the scam. The court has given 12 weeks time to the Devandra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra Government to appeal in the Supreme Court against its order. The society, originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and war widows, was converted into a 100-metre-tall building. Meanwhile, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan while talking to ANI avoided commenting on the decision and said he doesn't want to react on the judgement. The Adarsh scam claimed its first victim in the form of Ashok Chavan, who was forced to resign after reports surfaced that his kin owned flats in the society. After Chavan, top bureaucrats too faced the axe, most notably among them being Maharashtra's Chief Information Commissioner Ramanand Tiwari and Human Rights Commissioner Subhash K Lalla. The 31-storey Adarsh Housing Society, originally meant for Kargil war heroes, landed in controversy after media reports said that several politicians, bureaucrats and defence personnel owned flats there. In a major setback to the residents of the Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai, the Bombay High Court on Friday ordered its demolition. The court has also ordered inquiry against the politicians, ministers and officers involved in the Adarsh Housing Society scam. The court has given 12 weeks time to the Devandra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra Government to appeal in the Supreme Court against its order. The society, originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and war widows, was converted into a 100-metre-tall building. Meanwhile, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan while talking to ANI avoided commenting on the decision and said he doesn't want to react on the judgement. The Adarsh scam claimed its first victim in the form of Ashok Chavan, who was forced to resign after reports surfaced that his kin owned flats in the society. After Chavan, top bureaucrats too faced the axe, most notably among them being Maharashtra's Chief Information Commissioner Ramanand Tiwari and Human Rights Commissioner Subhash K Lalla. The 31-storey Adarsh Housing Society, originally meant for Kargil war heroes, landed in controversy after media reports said that several politicians, bureaucrats and defence personnel owned flats there. Charlie Sheen just tasted a spoonful of victory as a Los Angeles Superior Court judge said that the actor does not pose an imminent threat to his former fiancee Brett Rossi. Earlier, Rossi filed legal documents claiming that her life was in danger and said that she has an audio, wherein the 50-year-old actor is threatening her, reports TMZ.com. At that time, a judge issued an immediate restraining order based only on her claims, but after a hearing,the judge released the order saying there was no immediate threat. The next hearing of the case will be held on May 18. .Leading consumer brands will collaborate to launch the Women's Online Shopping Festival (#WOSF). Taking place from May 1 to 8, 2016, at www.wosf.in, WOSF has been conceptualized by Velvetcase.com and is bringing together vertical leaders from various categories, ranging from beauty, jewellery, electronics, innerwear, eyewear, accessories to apparel and bridal, addressing the needs of today's women The Women's Online Shopping Festival (WOSF) is a flagship annual online shopping event conceptualized by VelvetCase.com, that has been brought together by a collective of brands that are vertical leaders in various categories -a first in India. Culminating on Mother's Day (May 8, 2016), this collaboration includes Lenskart, Voonik, Titan Raga, Uber, Yes Bank, Croma, Yatra, Purplle, FirstCry, Clovia, MissMalini Publishing, Weddingz, Mobikwik and FirstPost among others, and aims to provide their curated collections at the best promotional prices. VelvetCase.com's Founder and CEO, Kapil Hetamsaria says, "I am super-excited to see how an idea born over a dinner conversation a few months ago has snowballed into an event that has the potential of becoming a premier annual property driven by leading brands. It has truly been a gratifying experience, seeing the level of collaboration and enthusiasm across all the participating brands, be it Croma with a dominant offline presence or a Lenskart and Voonik who are killing it in the e-comm space or then leading content players - MissMalini.com and FirstPost - who already influence buying behaviours thus helping market upstream in the customer acquisition process. With all brands unified by one common factor - to bring the best and widest range of products and offers to the woman shopper - I look at it as a win-win-win situation. One for the brands, one for the consumer and one for the overall online eco-system." This shopping festival will be introducing special deals and offers, to provide great basket value to the Indian female consumer. WOSF will include all the essential categories such as apparel and fashion, beauty, jewellery, eyewear, lingerie, Bridal, moms & kids, electronics, home & kitchen, and travel. Apart from the discounts, several brands will also be launching new product lines as well at WOSF 2016. Manish Taneja, Founder and CEO of beauty brand Purplle has this to say, "WOSF is off to a fantastic start, bringing not only all the e-commerce giants together, but also making it women-oriented - just in time for Mother's Day. Purplle.com is proud to be associated with WOSF and is eagerly looking forward to its amazing success!" Leading consumer brands that have been thriving in the e-commerce ecosystem, are coming together for the first time, to work side-by-side and develop this one-stop shopping destination for today's modern women in India. This integrated approach has allowed this collective of non-competitive vertical leaders with similar target audiences, to lower cost of acquisition while providing more choices to consumers, all in one destination. With each company deploying their own assets for the greater good of the collective, the organic marketing reach multiplies manifold. Sujal Shah, CXO at MissMalini added, "Women play an integral part in the continuing growth story of e-commerce in India. For years, MissMalini has served women engaging content from Bollywood, Fashion, and Lifestyle; content that directly and indirectly influences purchasing decisions. We are always looking to support innovative ideas that benefit our readers. WOSF is a great example of this mantra. It's a collective of like-minded companies, working together to deliver more value to women shoppers in India. We're excited to play a lead role in evangelizing this one of a kind event organized by Velvetcase." Upasana Taku, Co-founder, MobiKwik said, "It's exciting to be a part of WOSF. We are happy to join the festival as the exclusive wallet partner. MobiKwik will ensure that women face no hassles when making payments for their shopping purchases. With cashback on offer, we will also sweeten the deal for many!" Sujayath Ali, CEO & Co-Founder, Voonik.com added, "At Voonik, we've always believed that women need a separate platform for fashion discovery as their shopping needs are different from that of men. We see a similar vision behind WOSF and are delighted to be the apparel partner. We want to celebrate the spirit of mother's day by making festive offers available across categories." Following the week-long festival, two percent of the total GMV will be donated to Smile Foundation, the NGO partner of WOSF, to help fund their efforts in child education, women empowerment and supporting girl child. #ShopForASmile. Pakistan and Britain have announced that their bilateral relations are exemplary and they would be enhanced further. This was stated at the 63rd annual dinner hosted by Pakistan Society at Lincoln's Inn here earlier this week, reports the London-based daily The Nation. Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in his address said that improving internal security and economy of the country are the two key priorities of the Government of Pakistan. The Minister was accompanied by High Commissioner Syed Ibne Abbas and other senior Pakistani diplomats. Khan appreciated the good work of The Pakistan Society in creating linkages between the people of the two countries but said the body has enormous potential which needs to be tapped for the benefit of the two countries. He invited a delegation of the Society to Pakistan to see the positive developments taking place in economy, security and institutions of the country. Once returned, he suggested the delegation might apprise British society of these developments through a series of talks and seminars. The minister also offered the Society an office in the new consular building of the Pakistan High Commission once its construction is completed. "Likewise an office of Pakistan Society can also be opened in Islamabad for close contact", he suggested. The Interior Minister shared Pakistan's security perspective with the guests and said that with an effective and consensus-oriented National Action Plan of the government, the security of the country has significantly improved. He said the fight against terrorism is not over but there is a sea change in security situation. Owing to this, the economy of the country is showing sustainable growth, he said. He termed the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) an ambitious project which could bring about development and prosperity not only in Pakistan but in the entire region. He also invited the Diaspora and the British investors to take advantage of the profitable investment opportunities in Pakistan in the wake of CPEC. Speaking on the bilateral relations, the Minister fondly remembered that Prime Minister David Cameron was the first head of the state who visited Pakistan after the present government came into power in 2013. He also recalled Prime Minister Cameron's famous statement he made during the visit: "Pakistan's enemy is our enemy and Pakistan's friend is our friend." The Minister said the bilateral relations have never been better but a lot can be done to further strengthen the economic and people to people relations. As the Guest of Honour from the British side, Sajid Javid MP, The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in his address said that links between Pakistan and the UK are strong at all levels and are rooted in shared values, culture and history which are further supplemented by the presence of strong Pakistani Diaspora in the UK. The Secretary underscored that Pakistani businesses have incredible potential for growth and investment and the operations of more than 120 British companies in Pakistan is a manifestation to that fact. He stated that Pakistan is important to British Government and UK's international development budget for Pakistan is the largest of all our bilateral aid programmes. At the end, Sir William Blackburne, Chairman of the Pakistan Society thanked all the guests and those involved in organizing the dinner. The Pakistan Society was founded in 1951. The Patrons of the Society are Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh and the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Based in London, the Pakistan Society endeavours to increase public knowledge in Britain of the arts, history, antiquities and geography of Pakistan, as well as its economic life and political institutions through regular lectures, meetings and social events. Political circle of Himachal Pradesh were on Friday agog with speculation of next steps following the high court's move to issue a notice to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra seeking information about her land deal in Shimla's Charabra area. Hearing a petition, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan on Thursday asked Priyanka to respond to the notice within four weeks and fixed June 2 as the next date of hearing. Bhattacharya contended, "If there are no irregularities in the land owned by Priyanka Gandhi, then why she is not making the documents public? She should just return the land to the state government." However, Congress legislator from Kasumpti assembly segment in Shimla district Anirudh Singh said the land was allotted to Priyanka Gandhi as per law. "As the matter is sub judice, I don't want to speak much about it. But as far as I know, the court has just sought information from Priyanka Gandhi, who being a law-abiding person, would definitely obey the court's direction," said Singh, in whose assembly segment the land falls. "They are saying that information cannot be disclosed as she is protected by the SPG. The matter is sub judice. But I think she will disclose the required information and there should be no problem in it. The law is same for all. All essential certificates had been issued to her by the government. The state government has given the permission following all norms. The court just wants to know about the details of the land like the Khasra number etc," added Singh. Priyanka Gandhi had purchased one acre (4.25 bighas) for approximately Rs. 47 lakhs seven years ago, the market value of which is said to be Rs.1 crore. The then Himachal Pradesh government had relaxed norms under Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act to facilitate the sale, because under the state's land laws, only permanent residents can buy land. Coming out in defence of Priyanka Gandhi, Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma told ANI that revealing detailed information of Priyanka Gandhi's land is not possible because the Presidential retreat is also near her land. "The RTI activist had demanded each and every detail of the house and land in question, which is not possible. Besides, the Special Protection Group (SPG) has also asked her not to reveal the details. She had gone to the high court, challenging the order of the State Information Commission," said Sharma. "Now, the court has given her four weeks to reply, we will have to wait for the verdict of the court," he added. However, senior BJP leader from Shimla Suresh Bhardwaj said an inquiry should be conducted and information would be revealed to the public. The order of the court would be followed and should be binding on everyone, he said. "She bought land in Himachal to build a house. A non-Himachali needs to take permission from the government to buy land in the state. It is a public matter, so the public have right to know. If SPG information can be revealed in other states, then why not in Himachal Pradesh," said Bhardwaj. "Now, it has been challenged in the high court, and I don't think there is any need to hide any information. Action should be taken, if any rule is violated," added Bhardwaj. Communist Party of India (Marxist), which is an alliance partner of the Congress for the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections, leader and Shimla deputy mayor Tikender Singh Panwar said, "There are many cases of irregularities under Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act, and there must be such an irregularity in this case also. There should not be two sets of rules for two people." "First, a question arises, whether the information should be given or not. When an RTI activist asks for the same information in Delhi, he gets it. If she has got the land after following all the rules, then there is nothing to hide. I have filed three writ petitions as the land is being sold under due connivance, which I don't think is right. This is the misuse of the government's machinery. The law should not be different for different people, which is not right," added Panwar. The high court had stayed the State Information Commission's order to reveal information regarding the land deal at Chharabra, around 18 km from Shimla. Bhattacharya, however, had filed an application to put the documents on record before the high court. The petitioner had sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the file, noting information divulged about the allotment of houses to Sonia Gandhi, AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in New Delhi. The petitioner contended that if the authorities could divulge information about Sonia Gandhi, AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi's residences in New Delhi, who are SPG protected, then the same should be applicable here in case of Priyanka Gandhi's land deal. India and Pakistan should continue talks at all levels, they should never talk out of fear but should never fear talk. As neighbours, they have no option but to be sensitive towards each other which will not be possible unless they take cognisance of the core issues. The above consensus emerged during a discussion organised by Ananta Aspen Centre on the theme 'India-Pakistan Relations' moderated by well-known panellist Karan Thapar, where the participants were former high commissioners of Pakistan to India and India to Pakistan - K. Shankar Bajpai, Salman Bashir, Satish Chandra, Aziz Ahmad Khan, Humayun Khan, Riaz H. Khokhar, S.K. Lambah, Shahid Malik, Shivshankar Menon, Satyabrata Pal, G. Parthasarathy, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, T.C. A. Raghavan, Sharat Sabharwal, and K. Natwar Singh. Speaking on the future of India-Pakistan relationship, Qazi said, "We are living in interesting times. The relationship between India and Pakistan has never been incident free. We are at a crossroad, where we don't know whether the relations will progress forward or regress, as has happened in the past. In such a situation it is important to restore trust." In the context of Pathankot terror attack and recent visit of Pakistan's Joint Investigation Team which led to a lot of uproar in India, Menon said, "We are getting mixed signals from Pakistan since Pathankot. It is very early to say what Islamabad's stance is on the incident. On a positive note, there exists the potential to move things forward on it, provided the political will exists. But, there is the broader question of terrorism that looms large. Scope for both sides to progress will only be possible if only there is political will." On questions of the sudden arrest of an alleged Indian spy, Kulbhushan Jadhav, Bashir said, "Contact between the NSAs helps contain explosion of incidents like Pathankot. In the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav both sides should cooperate in the investigation. More communication on such incidents is in the interest of both the countries. It is imperative for both India and Pakistan to be satisfied with the ongoing investigation." Parthasarathy agreed with his Pakistani counterparts that "espionage should never become a cover for terrorism." "The public opinion at present is not in favour of Pakistan. People have had enough of terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no political space to move. Hence, it is in our interest to keep talks away from the glare of media. Let the intelligence chiefs and DGMOs meet," he added. Lambah was of the view that "despite the popular disappointment over the perceived failure of the recent Foreign Secretary talks, the fact that they met is important as there was no contact since the Pathankot incident." "On the way forward," he said, "dialogue with Pakistan cannot make progress unless we have peace on the border, no terrorism, an early resolution of 26/11 trials and punishing the guilty, be they state or non-state actors." Khan differed with his colleagues on the question of civil-military relations in Pakistan: "Army plays an important role in Pakistani politics. They have been successful in security its people, and hence, have a say in security policymaking. India and Papua New Guinea will be signing four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)s in the areas of agriculture, health, information technology and infrastructure on the second day of President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to the Pacific Island country today. President Mukherjee arrived in Port Moresby yesterday as part of his two-nation visit to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. This is the first ever visit by an Indian head of state since India established diplomatic ties with the country in 1975. The President, who was accorded a ceremonial welcome followed by a traditional one on arrival, drove down to the Bomana War Cemetery to lay a wreath at the memorial built in honour of the soldiers of the War II here yesterday. He also held talks with Governor General Michael Ogio, Prime Minister Peter O' Neal, the leader of the Opposition Don Poyle and the Governor of West New Britain. A high level delegation including Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan is accompanying the President on the five day visit, which is aimed at energising and upgrading bilateral relations. Seems like Karisma Kapoor has come out of her divorce-dispute as she opted for a vacation with romoured boyfriend Sandeep Toshniwal. As per a popular daily, the 41-year-old actress and Sandeep had also accompanied Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan to Bangkok, where Chotte Nawab was to shoot for a commercial. Apparently, it was Karisma's beau's 37th birthday and the two couples planned on ringing it in together. The Kapoor sisters were clicked together coming out of the Mumbai airport after the vacation, whereas, the 'Phantom' actor proffered getting into a separate car. Reportedly, Toshniwal came out last and left unnoticed in a third car. The filmmaker, who was in Pakistan to attend a marketing seminar, was encircled and heckled by some angry protesters ate Karachi airport before his departure on Thursday. The protesters shouted anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans and questioned the 'Phantom' director on why he did not make similar movies about the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) activities in Pakistan, reports the Dawn. "You people send Jhadav and kill hundreds here, why don't you make a movie about it?" a protester asked the Phantom director. Another shoe-wielding protester chased Khan to the departure lounge, warning the director about "Indian conspiracies against Pakistan army." However, without any reaction to it, Kabir proceeded toward the lounge. This protest came on the backdrop of 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' director's flick 'Phantom' which had some anti-Pakistan content and a Saif Ali Khan dialogue "Ghar me Ghuss Ke Marenge. Commenting on fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya's recent statement that electronic media was playing a huge role in inflaming the government, the Broadcast Editors' Association (BEA) Secretary, N K Singh on Friday said that he would take the statement as an compliment. "I take it as a compliment that is precisely the job that media is cut-out for. If Vijay Mallya understands democratic nuances, he should also understand that media raises issues, media creates awareness among the public. And the pressure of this public opinion actually makes that powers that be to act. That precisely is the job media is in existence for," Singh. Mallya in an interview had said, "It is important to understand the environment in India today. The electronic media is playing a huge role not just in moulding public opinion but in inflaming the government to a very large extent." However, Singh said that Mallya should return back to India and face the Enforcement Directorate. The Enforcement Directorate has accused him of siphoning off money from Kingfisher to buy property abroad. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court said details of Mallya's overseas assets would be shared with the banks. The businessman is facing legal proceedings for alleged default of loans worth over nine thousand crore rupees from various banks. Earlier on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs had revoked Mallya's passport in order to bring him back into India. The ministry has yesterday written to the High Commission of the United Kingdom in Delhi requesting Mallya's deportation so that his presence can be secured for investigations against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. Speaker Onsari Gharti has urged Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba to resolve the existing differences over the Parliamentary Regulations at the earliest. Deuba expressed his dissatisfaction over the nominations of Supreme Court Justices and ambassadors during the meeting held at his residence in Budhanilakantha on Friday. He also accused the government of taking unilateral decision in nominating them. Earlier on Thursday, Gharti had held separate meetings with Prime Minister K.P .Sharma Oli and UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to discuss the same. The Parliament is still unable to endorse the Regulations to regulate its activities even seven months have already passed since the promulgation of the Constitution. In its absence, the parliamentary hearings for appointments of the Chief Justice, 11 Supreme Court Justices and 21 ambassadors could not be held despite their nominations. The Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that 11 children with special needs, living in a state-run Rehabilitation Home in Jaipur, have died in mysterious circumstances within a period of the last 12 days. The commission has observed that the contents of the reports, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation of the victim children. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and Director General, Health Services, Rajasthan Government calling for reports within two weeks. Allegations of government's failure in maintaining the upkeep of the home have also been reported as the reason behind the incident. Reportedly, the children were referred to J.K. Lone and SMS Hospitals when their condition deteriorated, probably after drinking contaminated water at the home. There have been no instances of incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory. There is no commonly delineated the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. There are areas along the border, including areas in Ladakh, where India and China have differing perception of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. The information was divulged by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Kumari Sushmita Dev and others in the Lok Sabha on Friday. He said the government regularly takes up any transgression along LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms, including Flag meetings, Border Personnel meetings, meetings of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs and diplomatic channels. Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), he said: "The government has seen such reports and has conveyed its concerns to China about their activities and asked them to cease such activities." He informed the House that issues relating to abetting infiltration along the India-Pakistan border are taken up with Pakistan military authorities at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of Flag Meetings and weekly talks between the Directorate Generals of Military Operations of both the countries. "The government is fully seized of the security needs of the country. Necessary steps, as required, are taken to ensure that the security concerns are adequately addressed through capability and infrastructural development. This is a continuous process," said Parrikar. As per assessment, details of infiltration by terrorists in J&K are: in 2015, terrorist made 118 attempts to infiltrate, of which they succeeded in 33 attempts; while in 2016 (up to March 31), terrorists made 24 infiltration bids, while succeeded in 18. President Pranab Mukherjee has said Papua New Guinea has a key role in India's extended "Act East" policy, adding New Delhi views this nation as a gateway to closer cooperation with the Pacific Island Countries. President Mukherjee said India stands ready to share other knowledge and experience in the field of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and best practices for increasing food productivity. "There are many complementarities between India and Papua New Guinea - on which our bilateral cooperation must be based. We are focussed on skills development and innovation with special emphasis on simple and cost effective technologies that are easily adapted to be locally relevant, efficient and successful. Our public sector enterprises and our private sector are keen to work with Papua New Guinea in harnessing its mineral, marine and hydrocarbon resources," said President Mukherjee. "As we identify the areas where we would both like to focus our joint efforts, I would say that in this area of cooperation the sky is the limit. We should waste no time in bringing the benefit of our cooperation to our peoples," he added. President Mukherjee said the cooperation between our two countries at the United Nations and other multilateral fora has also been close and fruitful. "India appreciates Papua New Guinea's steadfast support for India's candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and also the reforms of this body which was established after the 2nd war," said President Mukherjee. "At the present time, seven decades after the United Nations was created, we are agreed on the urgent need for reform of its organs to make them relevant and effective in the significantly altered of the 21st century. We count on Papua New Guinea's continued support and co-operation in the United Nations and other multilateral for a," he added. President Mukherjee said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a number of initiatives for assisting the Pacific Island countries during the first Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Co-operation held at Fiji in November 2014. "These were aimed at supporting their efforts towards their developmental goals and aspirations and addressing their specific concerns related to climate change and sustainable development," said President Mukherjee. "I am happy to note that my Government has delivered on these - through financial assistance, deputation of Indian experts to Papua New Guinea, training of your citizens in India and simplifying the visa process which has been reciprocated by Government of Papua New Guinea yesterday at the banquet hosted in my honour," he added. President Mukherjee said the relationship between the two nations is based on strong foundation of historical ties - forged by cultural and economic exchanges over the centuries. "Even though India is separated from this region by the oceans and continents, we attach high value to the close friendship that exists between India and the island countries of the Pacific Ocean," said President Mukherjee. "These bonds have contributed to the mutual understanding between our Governments and our peoples and are at the root of our shared desire to collaborate in areas of our common interest," he added. Expressing his delight to be present at the University of Papua New Guinea, President Mukherjee in his address recalled Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi who he said continues, to this day, to be revered all over the world as a beacon of peace and apostle of non-violence. "His vision and teachings remind humanity of the true values of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect and the need to work together for the equality and freedom of all individuals. In a world that is increasingly vexed by intolerance and extremism, the life and message of this great man remain an inspiring example of the power of truth and universal brotherhood," he added. President Mukherjee said Mahatma Gandhi had viewed education as an integrated approach to all round personality development. "He was emphatic about the difference between 'learning' and true education, 'knowledge' and actual wisdom and between 'literacy' and the real lessons that we learn from life. We, in India, have tried to adhere to these principles as we pursue our goals in the education sector through our national planning and human resource development programmes," he added. President Mukherjee further said India has always been happy to share her technical expertise with other developing countries. "At the Second Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Co-operation held in Delhi and Jaipur in August last year, we had announced the doubling of the number of scholarships earmarked for students from the Pacific Island Countries under our Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation Programme," said President Mukherjee. "I invite more students from Papua New Guinea to take advantage of these schemes and attend our institutions of higher education and centres of excellence," he added. President Mukherjee said the Indian higher academic system was known the world over in past. "There were some seats of higher learning like Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri which dominated the world higher education system for almost eighteen hundred years from the beginning of the sixth century BC till 12th century AD. They attracted scholars from far and wide. University of Taxila was confluence of four civilizations," said President Mukherjee. "However, we cannot claim that status today. That's why we now focus on quality of education by establishing institutions of higher learning and technological institutions in different parts of India. There are 730 universities, 13500 colleges, 16 Indian Institute of Technologies and 30 National Institute of Technologies. Two Indian institutions are placed within the top 200 universities in the global ranking system. Two others are ranked within the top 20 young universities in the world," he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned down the invitation to visit Pakistan for inauguration of the North-South Pipeline Project with Moscow emphasizing that there was not enough substance in this trip. This comes as the recent bonhomie between both sides has not lasted long despite Pakistan's plans to buy armament, including aircraft from Russia, and signing of a number of bilateral agreements and setting up of the high-level consultative mechanism between Islamabad and Moscow Strategic Dialogue between their respective Foreign Ministers, Joint Working Group on counter terrorism etc. The high-level visits were being projected as demonstrating the new level of friendship and enhanced engagement between the two countries. The exchange of high profile visits by leaders of the two nations that raised Pakistan's hopes of becoming a close ally of Russia did not persist. The assumption that Moscow was actively developing ties with Islamabad, particularly in trade and counter terrorism, seems to have belied the general expectations. Besides this, over 100 Pakistani businessmen, who had visited Russia to participate in an exhibition, were detained earlier on March 26 by the Immigration Authorities in Moscow and subsequently deported back apparently due to visa issues. The Pakistani diplomats in Moscow had a very tough time in getting consular access to them. The cold shoulder being given by Russia to Pakistan is indicative of the underlying lack of trust between both sides, carried on from the days of the Cold War era. Refusing to entertain the plea of Malegaon blast accused Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, who had challenging the framing of charges against him in the trial court, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the former to approach the High Court. NIA chief Sharad Kumar had last week said that Lieutenant Colonel Purohit was not involved in the Samjhauta express blast, adding that no evidence was found against him. Lieutenant Colonel Purohit, who is one of the main accused in the Samjhauta and Malegaon blasts cases, is presently in jail for over seven years. He had written to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on April 4 requesting restoration of his honour. In his letter, he claimed that he was falsely implicated and has been behind the bars for more than seven years now. The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy, which resulted in bomb blasts in the Samjhauta Express train near Panipat in Haryana on February 18, 2007. The blast and the consequent fire in the train resulted in the loss of 68 lives and injuries to 12 train passengers, including women and children. United States Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, has said technology and innovation is redefining relations between Washington and New Delhi. Verma said the U.S.-India relations have come a long way since his days at Lehigh. "In 1990, Cold war era tensions and closed economic policies cast a long shadow on the relationship. The Indian economy was in tatters. The bilateral goods trade with the United States stood at a paltry $5 billon. India, with its foreign reserves falling below USD 1 billion, was forced to accept an emergency IMF bailout. India's principal military partner, the Soviet Union, was itself on the brink of economic and political collapse," said Verma. "Out of these crises, a new India emerged. A liberalized economy laid the foundations for a more confident and globally integrated India," he added. Verma said the political relations dramatically improved following President Bill Clinton's landmark visit in 2000. "The U.S.-India civil nuclear initiative, launched by President Bush and Prime Minister Singh in 2005, marked a watershed moment - the stage was set for the United States and India to become strategic partners. Under the leadership of President Obama and Prime Minister Modi, our partnership is reaching new heights," he added. Verma said India is now the world's fastest growing major economy and bilateral U.S.-India trade stands at over USD 100 billion. "By 2030, India will be the world's largest country by population, and the third largest global economy," he added. The US envoy said defense cooperation, virtually non-existent in 1990, now consists of regular and complex exercises with the world's third largest military, adding the sales of military hardware reached over USD 13 billion in 2015. "And this is only the tip of the iceberg. Across more than 70 different lines of effort, from smart cities to cyber security to nuclear security to vaccine research, from the depths of the oceans to the farthest reaches of the stars, to Mars and beyond, our cooperation is deeper and more expansive than ever before," said Verma. "In this wide-ranging partnership, science, technology, and innovation have played an especially vital role bringing our countries closer together," he added in his remarks at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, yesterday. The US envoy said science and tech diplomacy is not new - during the Cold War, science served a common language that helped bridge political and cultural divides. "President Kennedy signed the first ever S and T agreement with Japan in 1961. In 1985, when Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited the Johnson Space Center in Texas, agreements on space and technological cooperation were the highlights in what was then an otherwise frosty relationship," said Verma. "In 1985, few could have imagined that the U.S. and India would one day send probes to Mars. But that is in fact what we have done, and I'm proud that we supported each others' missions with navigational and other technical support. Both countries have spacecraft in Martian orbit and our Mars Working Group is working to deepen our understanding of the red planet and beyond," he added. Verma recalled that he welcomed NASA Administer Charles Bolden, one of the leading champions of the U.S.-India partnership, to India earlier this month to further deepen cooperation "NASA, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization, is working on an ambitious Earth Science mission called NISAR, planned for launch in 2021. NISAR will take unprecedented measurements of our planet's most complex processes, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides; and it will be launched on an Indian rocket," said Verma. "This is a great example of Indian and American scientists not only satisfying their intellectual curiosity, but pioneering solutions that may one day help save lives," he added. The US envoy said there is no bigger proponent of our technology cooperation than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "During his visit last month to Washington, Prime Minister Modi met with scientists from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, or LIGO. The U.S. and India have finalized an agreement to build a LIGO observatory in India, which will help our scientists better understand gravitational waves, black holes, and supernovas - the very origins of our universe," said Verma. "Prime Minister Modi will visit Washington again this June - his fourth visit to the United States in less than two years - and science and tech cooperation will again be on top of the agenda," he added. The US envoy said Prime Minister Modi through his landmark 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' initiatives is attempting to harness technology to address India's immense developmental challenges. "This is why he visited Silicon Valley last year, to discuss with luminaries like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, how India can be the next global digital leader and use technology to leapfrog development. He encouraged all of us to look at ways to harness our great networks of entrepreneurs and innovators to improve the condition of everyday citizens," said Verma. "I think it's important to highlight what the Prime Minister said, because the challenge he identified is a challenge and call to action for all of us. For those of us who that study or have studied science or engineering, the issues is how can we use new innovations, discoveries and modern technologies to improve the conditions for people living across the globe - how can we make their lives safer, healthier, greener and more efficient. How do we bring science and new learning into the policy domain so it can have the biggest social impact? This is one of the critical challenges of our time,"he added. Mentioning a few examples, Verma said the US is trying to meet this challenge head on. "Three weeks ago, I presented 33 awards to Indian innovators as part of the U.S. -India Millennium Alliance. In partnership with USAID, the Millennium Alliance is a public private partnership that leverages Indian creativity and expertise to scale locally developed innovations to benefit populations across India and the world," said Verma. "This is now a multi-million dollar partnership that is supporting over 60 innovators to help end extreme poverty through seed funding and capacity building services," he added. The US envoy said one of our recipients is Science for Society, an Indian NGO that developed a cost-effective Solar Conduction Dryer, or SCD, that processes and preserves perishable fruits and vegetables. "In Maharashtra state, where USAID helped test pilot 50 SCDs, farmers reported an average annual income increase of $1,000 due to additional sales of dehydrated farm produce," he added. The US envoy said technology and innovation have a critical role to play in the battle against climate change. "Just last week, India's power and environment ministers joined Secretary Kerry in New York to bring into force the historic climate accord finalized last December in Paris. In line with Prime Minister Modi's goal to reach 175 gigawatts of renewable energy generation by 2022, I am a proud co-chair of the PACESetter Fund which just one component of the USD 2.4 billion dollar PACE program or Partnership to Advance Clean Energy," said Verma. "The PACEsetter Fund is a joint effort between the U.S. Embassy and the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to fund innovative, small scale renewable energy solutions to bring reliable power to the over 250 million Indians who live off-grid," he added. Verma further said, "One of the really neat start-ups we helped fund through PACEsetter is called BioLite. Launched in 2009 by two innovators shocked by the prevalence of dangerous wood-fired stoves, BioLite develops and manufactures advanced energy products that make cooking with wood as clean and safe as modern fuels while also providing electricity to charge cell phones and LED lights off-grid." "With over 30 patents, BioLite is expanding its operations in the Indian state of Odisha to provide clean and safe power to rural customers," he added. The US envoy said from warfare and communications to health and business, tech is changing the at a faster pace than ever before. Verma said the digital revolution has drastically changed how the United States responds to emerging opportunities and challenges. "Social media for example has given a powerful voice to individuals and communities that resonates across borders. We witnessed this in very dramatic form during the Arab Spring only a few years ago. Terrorist groups like ISIL have also used digital technologies to recruit and radicalize individuals to violence," said Verma. "But we have also witnessed digital media making positive impacts, such as by strengthening civil society and public debate and making governments more responsive to the needs of their citizens. This is why internet freedom is a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy," he added. Verma said digital communications have also made the a smaller place, adding for an American diplomat that means the distance between Washington and his or her host nation capital has become a lot closer. "Gone are the days of waiting by the teletype machine for instructions from Washington. While I sleep in Delhi, officials high and low in Washington work frantically to fill my blackberry inbox overnight. This is certainly different than what my predecessors experienced," he added. Donald Trump's recent speech on foreign policy has received positive responses from Russia, a country which often doesn't see eye-to-eye with American politicians. The GOP presidential frontrunner's speech on Wednesday was well received in Moscow, where the passersby in Red Square praised the New York tycoon, reports CNN. Even President Vladimir Putin has been quoted saying favorable things about the real estate mogul. He recently called Trump "a brighter person, talented without a doubt." Trump responded saying, "I like him because he called me a genius. He said Trump is the real leader." During his address in Washington on Wednesday, Trump expressed hope about the potential for improvement in American-Russian relations. "I believe an easing of tensions and improved relations with Russia, from a position of strength only is possible," Trump said. He added that if Russia was too demanding, the United States should be willing to walk away from the negotiating table. The message is one that is warmly received on the streets of Moscow. Meanwhile, a Kremlin official said that relations between the two nations may not get closer but at least there will be a dialogue. Another said that Trump was a positive guy and he wants positive changes in America. Many feel that Putin and Trump would get along well on a personal level which could ease tensions between the two countries. Fyodor Lukyanov, the head of the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, said that he believes Trump's style would be liked by Putin. "He likes people who are frank, open and who disregard political correctness. And that is exactly the case with Mr. Trump," CNN quoted him as saying. The relations between U.S and Russia have soured in the recent years, particularly after Ukraine issue, which Washington accuses Moscow of funding, equipping and providing combat support to separatist rebels. It also demanded the return of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. The United States (US) administration has decided to withhold funds assigned for Pakistan's purchase of eight F-16 fighter jets. The State Department official said that the Obama administration is still willing to sell the fighter jets to Pakistan but will not contribute US funds towards the deal. The US administration took this step with directions from US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker because only Congress has the authority to dispense or withhold the funds, report s Dawn. As a result of this move, Pakistan may have to foot the bill of 700 million dollars for the eight fighter jets. Pakistan would have paid 270 million dollars while the US would grant the remaining 430 million dollars for the purchase. The 742 million dollar earmarked for American military aid to Pakistan in the 2016-2017 budget has also been put on hold but may be released if Congress changes its mind, the State Department official said, adding that the Obama administration is working with Congress in this regard. The sale of weapons is a long process and we cannot comment on such unique circumstances at this time, the spokesperson for the Pakistan embassy in Washington, Nadeem Hotiana said. The F-16 sale faced stiff resistance in the US Congress earlier this year, when lawmakers moved resolutions both in the House and the Senate, seeking to block the sale. The US Senate in March blocked a bid to derail the sale, but Corker had vowed to block the use of US funds to finance the deal. Chinese electronics company Xiaomi has announced plans to unveil a smartwatch in the second half of 2016. Xiaomi's Co-Founder and Vice President, De Liu, further said the company looks to expand offline outlets in 2016. Xiaomi is already expected to unveil the Mi Max smartphone alongside the new MIUI 8 ROM and new Mi Band 2. Xiaomi is the world's fifth largest smartphone maker as in 2015 Xiaomi sold 70.8 million units and was countable for almost five percent of the smartphone global market share. Xiaomi designs, develops, and sells smartphones, mobile apps, and related consumer electronics. Sales rise 4.59% to Rs 1171.88 crore Net profit of Hindustan Construction Company declined 7.31% to Rs 19.14 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 20.65 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015. Sales rose 4.59% to Rs 1171.88 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 1120.46 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015. For the full year,net profit rose 4.07% to Rs 84.97 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 81.65 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. Sales declined 1.99% to Rs 4052.42 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 4134.80 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. ParticularsQuarter EndedYear EndedMar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Mar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Sales1171.881120.46 5 4052.424134.80 -2 OPM %18.4917.40 -19.6818.90 - PBDT87.9274.72 18 295.40277.62 6 PBT56.2536.00 56 159.55127.32 25 NP19.1420.65 -7 84.9781.65 4 Powered by Capital Market - Live News Infosys gained 0.36% to Rs 1,215 at 12:30 IST on BSE after the company announced an expanded relationship with Microsoft Corp., a global leader in platform and productivity solutions in industry-led solutions. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 28 April 2016. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 21.18 points or 0.08% at 25,624.28. On BSE, so far 40,987 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 3.09 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,224.40 and a low of Rs 1,210 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 1,267.90 on 18 April 2016. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 932.55 on 10 July 2015. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 28 April 2016, gaining 0.56% compared with Sensex's 2.55% gains. The scrip had, however, outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 7.08% as against Sensex's 4.63% gains. The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 1148.47 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5. Infosys announced an expanded relationship with Microsoft Corp to simplify and automate migration to Microsoft products and to accelerate Microsoft Azure-based and other digital transformations for clients. Infosys has committed to scale its team of dedicated Azure consultants to 5,000. The enhanced alliance builds on Infosys' longstanding relationship with Microsoft as a Global Managed Alliance Partner. Infosys brings the productivity benefits of Microsoft products to its global client base, and is also a provider of technology and business process services to Microsoft. Many organizations wanting to migrate to the cloud select Azure as an open, hyperscale, enterprise-grade cloud platform. Together, Microsoft and Infosys address a range of migration and implementation scenarios to bring the benefits of cloud to clients quickly and easily. Infosys world-class learning and education center continuously renews the skills of thousands of engineers, helping to drive innovation and automation in all engagements with Microsoft. Infosys' consolidated net profit rose 3.8% to Rs 3597 crore on 4.1% growth in revenue to Rs 16550 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q3 December 2015. Infosys is a global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing solutions. Powered by Capital Market - Live News State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur dropped 3.97% to Rs 515 at 14:05 IST on BSE after net profit declined 31.05% to Rs 193.22 crore on 2.83% growth in total income to Rs 2709.36 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. The result was announced during market hours today, 29 April 2016. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was down 131.11 points, or 0.51%, to 25,473.96. Higher than normal volumes were witnessed on the counter. On BSE, so far 12,388 shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of 3,637 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 541.25 and a low of Rs 511.95 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 603.30 on 6 May 2015. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 444 on 5 October 2015. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 28 April 2016, gaining 7.16% compared with Sensex's 2.55% rise. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, advancing 10.44% as against Sensex's 4.63% rise. The mid-cap bank has equity capital of Rs 70 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur's gross non-performing advances stood at Rs 3602.76 crore as on 31 March 2016 compared with Rs 3079.01 crore as on 31 December 2015 and Rs 2945.14 crore as on 31 March 2015. The ratio of gross non-performing advances to gross advances stood at 4.82% as on 31 March 2016 higher compared with 4.22% as on 31 December 2015 and 4.14% as on 31 March 2015. The ratio of net non-performing advances to net advances stood at 2.75% as on 31 March 2016 as against 2.2% as on 31 December 2015 and 2.54% as on 31 March 2015. The bank's provisions and contingencies jumped 46.44% to Rs 323.65 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015. The bank's provision coverage ratio to gross non-performing assets as on 31 March 2016 stood at 62.11%. State Bank of India held 75.07% stake in the bank as per the shareholding pattern as at 31 March 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Total Operating Income rise 4.52% to Rs 2344.19 crore Net profit of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur declined 31.05% to Rs 193.22 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 280.25 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015. Total Operating Income rose 4.52% to Rs 2344.19 crore in the quarter ended March 2016 as against Rs 2242.75 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2015. For the full year,net profit rose 9.49% to Rs 850.60 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 776.87 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. Total Operating Income rose 6.52% to Rs 9592.47 crore in the year ended March 2016 as against Rs 9005.45 crore during the previous year ended March 2015. ParticularsQuarter EndedYear EndedMar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Mar. 2016Mar. 2015% Var.Total Operating Income2344.192242.75 5 9592.479005.45 7 OPM %63.0368.84 -68.0469.65 - PBDT294.22393.85 -25 1295.531135.08 14 PBT294.22393.85 -25 1295.531135.08 14 NP193.22280.25 -31 850.60776.87 9 Powered by Capital Market - Live News A range bound movement was witnessed as key benchmark indices hovered in negative zone in mid-afternoon trade. At 14:16 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 149.21 points or 0.58% to 25,453.89. The Nifty 50 index was currently down 42.35 points or 0.54% at 7,804.90. Weakness in global stocks weighed on the domestic bourses. Asian and European stocks edged lower in the wake of the Japanese central bank's decision against expanding monetary stimulus. The Sensex lost 179.07 points, or 0.7% at the day's low of 25,424.03 in mid-afternoon trade, its lowest level since 13 April 2016. The index rose 152.33 points, or 0.59% at the day's high of 25,755.43 in morning trade. The Nifty lost 58.55 points, or 0.75% at the day's low of 7,788.70 in mid-afternoon trade, its lowest level since 13 April 2016. The index rose 41.80 points, or 0.53% at the day's high of 7,889.05 in morning trade. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was weak. On BSE, shares 1,474 fell and 903 shares rose. A total of 158 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently down 0.41%. The fall in this index was lower than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently down 0.67%. The fall in this index was higher than the Sensex's decline in percentage terms. In overseas stock markets, Asian and European stocks edged lower in the wake of the Japanese central bank's decision against expanding monetary stimulus. Losses for US stocks overnight also weighed on Asian markets. After the conclusion of a two-day monetary policy, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) yesterday, 28 April 2016, voted to keep its current level of asset purchases unchanged and rates on hold while announcing a 300 billion ($2.69 billion) lending program to support banks in the region hit by this month's Kyushu earthquake. Speculation was rise that the Japanese the central bank would announce a further easing of the monetary policy to stimulate Japan's economy. US stocks ended lower yesterday, 28 April 2016, under the combined weight of disappointing data and weak corporate earnings. US gross domestic product grew only 0.5% in the first quarter, its slowest pace of growth in two years. Most realty shares edged lower on profit booking after a rally in the previous session triggered by media reports that Mumbai's civic body has raised the floor space index (FSI) in its new draft development plan for the city. Peninsula Land (down 4.36%), Unitech (down 3.68%), Housing Development and Infrastructure (HDIL) (down 3.25%), D B Realty (down 2.6%), Anant Raj (down 2.3%), Parsvnath Developers (down 2.06%), Mahindra Lifespace Developers (down 1.95%), Sunteck Realty (down 1.63%), DLF (down 1.11%), Sobha (down 0.93%), Oberoi Realty (down 0.82%) and Godrej Properties (down 0.07%), edged lower. Prestige Estates Projects (up 0.56%), Phoenix Mills (up 1.50%) and Indiabulls Real Estate (up 2.92%), edged higher. According to reports, FSI in the island city will be raised from current 1.33 to 2 based on the new draft development plan. In Mumbai's suburbs, FSI will be hiked from 1 to 2. For construction of five-star hotels and commercial development, FSI will go up to 5 from the present 3 to 3.5. FSI is the ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of the land upon which it is built and indicates how much a developer can construct on a particular plot of land. Higher FSI will allow builders to construct more offices and apartments, which will boost sales and drive profitability, media reports suggested. Shares of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group edged lower. Reliance Capital (down 4.49%), Reliance Power (down 3%), Reliance Infrastructure (down 1.86%) and Reliance Communications (down 1.29%), edged lower. Most sugar stocks edged lower, extending previous session's losses triggered by the central government's decision to allow state governments to impose and enforce stock limits to check increase in sugar price. Empee Sugars and Chemicals (down 5.29%), DCM Shriram Industries (down 2.23%), Triveni Engineering & Industries (down 2.03%), Balrampur Chini Mills (down 1.61%), Upper Ganges Sugar & Industries (down 1.4%), Dwarikesh Sugar Industries (down 1.08%), Shree Renuka Sugar (down 1.06%), Rana Sugars (down 1%), Oudh Sugar Mills (down 0.58%), KCP Sugar & Industries Corporation (down 0.2%) and Dhampur Sugar Mills (down 0.12%), edged lower. EID Parry (India) (up 0.09%) and Sakthi Sugars (up 1.23%), edged higher. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday, 27 April 2016, gave its approval to bring sugar under the purview of imposing stock holding limits on dealers of sugar, keeping in view the recent upward trend in sugar prices. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Receives bids for 55.08 crore shares The initial public offer (IPO) of diagnostic chain operator Thyrocare Technologies received bids for a total of 55.08 crore shares on the third and final day of bidding for the IPO today, 29 April 2016, as per data from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) website at 17:00 IST. The IPO was subscribed 73.24 times. Thyrocare Technologies has raised Rs 143.76 crore by selling 32.23 lakh shares to anchor investors ahead of the opening of the company's initial public offer (IPO). The shares were allotted to the anchor investors at Rs 446 per share, the top end of the Rs 420 to Rs 446 per share price band for the IPO. Anchor investors allotted shares of Thyrocare Technologies include Nomura Trust and Banking Company, DSP Blackrock Emerging Stars Fund, HDFC Trustee Company, Birla Sunlife Trustee Company, Reliance Capital Trustee Company, SBI Magnum Multiplier Fund, ICICI Prudential, Tata AIA Life Insurance Company, Copthall Mauritius Investment, Spring Healthcare India Trust, FIL Investments (Mauritius), L&T Mutual Fund, Sundaram Mutual Fund and DB International (Asia). The IPO of Thyrocare Technologies through the book-building route opened for bidding on 27 April 2016. The bidding for the IPO concluded today, 29 April 2016. The issue comprised of offer for sale of up to 1.07 crore equity shares by existing shareholders of the company. The company will not receive any funds from the IPO. Private equity investor Agalia Private Limited is selling 1.02 crore shares via the IPO. From the promoter group, A. Velumani HUF and A. Sundararaju HUF are selling 1.8 lakh shares each and Anand Velumani is selling 1.77 lakh shares. Promoted by Dr. A. Velumani and A Sundararaju, Thyrocare Technologies is one of the leading pan-India diagnostic chain operators. It conducts an array of medical diagnostic tests and profiles of tests that center on early detection and management of disorders and diseases, including thyroid disorders, growth disorders, metabolism disorders, auto-immunity, diabetes, anemia, cardiovascular disorders, infertility and various infectious diseases. The company primarily operates its testing services through a fully automated Central Processing Laboratory (CPL). It has recently expanded its operations to include a network of Regional Processing Laboratories (RPLs). The company has built a nation-wide network of authorized service providers that source samples for processing and testing by the RPLs and CPL. As of 29 February 2016, the company had a network of 1,041 authorized service providers, comprised of 687 Thyrocare Aggregators (TAGs) and 354 Thyrocare Service Providers (TSPs) spread across 466 cities, 24 states and one union territory. The company offers wellness and preventive tests under Aarogyam brand. The company also operates a network of molecular imaging centers in New Delhi, Navi Mumbai and Hyderabad focused on early and effective cancer monitoring. This business is carried through its wholly owned subsidiary NHL. Based on the consolidated financial performance, Thyrocare Technologies reported net profit of Rs 40.02 crore on revenue from operations of Rs 175.91 crore for nine months ended 31 December 2015. Net profit stood at Rs 44.43 crore on revenue from operations of Rs 182.95 crore for the year ended 31 March 2015. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said 100 percent indigenisation in defence production will not be "feasible", and achieving 70 percent self-sufficiency will be considered a "high level achievement". Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Lok Sabha, the defence minister said: "Achieving self sufficiency in indigenous production up to 70 percent would be considered high level achievement." He said 100 percent indigenisation is not feasible because manufacturing some of the components, though small in number, would be a costly affair. He said these components can be purchased. In a written reply, the minister listed out the steps being taken to achieve higher self sufficiency. "A number of measures have already been taken to achieve Self Sufficiency in defence production by harnessing the capabilities of the public and private sector. These measures include according priority and preference to procurement from Indian vendors, liberalization of the licensing regime and providing access to modern and state-of-the-art technology to Indian industry by raising the cap on FDI in the defence sector," Parrikar said. The minister, giving details, said that at present majority of the naval ships and submarines are constructed in Indian shipyards. He also said that over 75 percent of the total expenditure by the Indian Army on capital acquisition during the last three years has been for orders placed on Indian firms. The minister said the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) that came into effect on April 1 gives strong support to 'Make in India' by according the highest priority to Buy Indian (Designed, Developed and Manufactured)[IDDM]. --IANS ao-nd/rn/dg As many as 41 soldiers have died from 2013 till March 31, 2016, at the Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior army official said on Friday. "Ten soldiers died in 2013, eight in 2014 and nine in 2015 at the Siachen Glacier. Another 14 soldiers have died till March 31 this year at the world's highest battlefield," said Col. S.D. Goswami, spokesman of the army's Udhampur-headquartered Northern Command. "Troops posted in high-altitude areas are trained in basic and advanced skills in mountainous and snow-bound areas. Troops posted in avalanche-prone areas are subjected to series of training in the field formation area," he said. "Weather conditions prevailing in the sector are closely monitored by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment stations at Sasoma and Srinagar. Weather warnings are religiously followed in terms of restrictions on operation/administration related movement." He said that adequate compensation was provided to defence personnel deployed in difficult terrains in border areas in form of salaries and compensatory allowances. These allowance are in addition to the Military Services Pay paid to defence services personnel. --IANS sq/tsb/vt Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul on Friday called for developing road connectivity between Lumla in the state's Tawang district and Tashigang in Bhutan to facilitate direct trade. Pul's plea came during a meeting with India's Ambassador to Bhutan Jaideep Sarkar here in this capital of the mountainous Arunachal Pradesh. "Arunachal and Bhutan share more than just a border -- we also share cultural and religious histories, particularly the communities living in Tawang and West Kameng," the chief minister said. Stressing on developing the historical, cultural and trade links between Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan by establishing border trade centres, Pul stressed on building direct road connectivity from Tawang to Bhutan, which will also provide the shortest connectivity to Guwahati via the Darranga land customs station in Assam's Nalbari district. He hoped that development of this route would enable agriculture and horticulture export from Lumla sub-division besides the newly created Bongkhar circle headquarters. The chief minister pointed out that opening the road from Tawang to Darrang via Tashigang in Bhutan would bypass Sela pass -- that often gets blocked due to heavy snowfall during winter and landslides in summer, and cut travel time to Guwahati by almost six hours, an official release said. Eulogising Bhutan's success story in hydropower and tourism development, Pul stressed on initiatives for conducting study tours to learn the process of planning and execution adopted in the country. Ambassador Sarkar told the chief minister that he would convey the matter to the king of Bhutan for a road from Tawang to Bhutan. Sarkar said the Indian embassy in Bhutan was ready to host delegates from Arunachal coming for study tours to learn about hydropower and tourism development in the country. As a way to boost tourist flow in Arunachal, the Indian envoy offered to talk to tour operators and the tourism department in the country to change the existing Bhutan-Nepal tour package to Bhutan-Arunachal package. --IANS rrk/rn/vt Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday defended his government's decision to spend $40 billion on the nation's 12 next-generation naval submarines. Criticism surfaced about the contract after it was revealed the government could have saved billions of dollars building the submarines offshore, but Turnbull said it was crucial to have the subs built locally as it would in-turn benefit the local economy, Xinhua news agency reported. "My belief is, so far as we can, we should spend every dollar we can in Australia because it drives our economy," Turnbull told 3AW radio. "This defence investment is at the cutting edge of technology, so everything you do (in Adelaide where the subs are to be built) advances the economy overall," the prime minister said. Turnbull also dismissed claims that submarines were unnecessary in today's military environment. He told 3AW that, as a nation surrounded by water in the developing Asian region, submarines were crucial to Australia's maritime security. "We've got to spend the money to have the means to defend Australia," Turnbull said. "There has been a long period of peace and harmony but there is always the possibility of tensions and conflict and you have to be prepared," he added. Earlier this week, French company DCNS was chosen by the government to build the navy's 12 new submarines, which are set to replace the aging Collins class submarines currently in service. The French company beat out a bid from German shipbuilder TKMS and the Japanese government to build the "world-class" subs. --IANS pgh/ Film: "Baaghi"; Director: Sabbir Khan; Cast: Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor, Sudheer Babu Posani, Paras Arora, Sunil Grover; Rating: **1/2 Adapted from two films, the Indonesian movie "The Raid: Redemption" (2001) and the 2004 Telugu release "Varsham", "Baaghi" is an action-packed, run-of-the mill love story of a rebel and his lady love. Afraid of his son Ronney (Tiger Shroff) going wayward or being a rebel, Colonel Samarjit Singh packs him off to his friend's gurukul, in Kerala, to "make a man out of him". En route on his journey to meet his father's friend in Kerala, Ronney meets Siya (Shraddha Kapoor) in the train. Love blossoms but not before laying the seeds of the various obstacles which include Siya's opportunist father, E.P. Khurana and Raghav, his guru (teacher)'s son, an equally formidable fighter, who also happens to be on the same train and falls in love with Siya, too. Tiger Shroff performs competently, displaying his impressive, martial arts skill effectively. Though charismatic and sincere, he fails to leave an impact as Ronney. There is something endearing and earthy about Shraddha Kapoor as Siya. She is equally effortless in the dancing and action sequences. Sunil Grover as her father, Mr. Khurana gets into the skin of his character with ease. With a tinge of comic and subtle sliminess, he reminds one of Shakti Kapoor, in his hey days. Sudheer Babu as Raghav is imposing. He is equally agile as Tiger and leaves an impact as the antagonist. With interesting camera angles capturing the moments of action and drama, cinematographer Binod Pradhan's camera work is striking. Also, his interior shots with aesthetic lighting and wide angled exterior shots in natural lighting are picture perfect. Julius Packiam's background score with its adrenaline packed beats is effectively used to create frenzied tempo of the action. The songs, "Toh naachu mein aaj, cham, cham", an extempore dance in the rain, seems forced and the song "Agar tu hota to, na rote hum" doubles up as a background score. In totality, the songs are well picturised, but add nothing to the progression of the tale. While the film is technically dazzling, the director has not paid attention to the narrative. The story written by Sanjeev Dutta is hackneyed and predictable, laden with loopholes and abandoned sub-plots. You expect this to be the story of a rebel, but unfortunately the rebel in Ronney does not surface, except in a weak exposition where his father writes a note to his friend stating that Ronney is a lovable rebel. The script, punctuated with comic and action sequences, is formulaically crafted. This makes the narration superficial and shallow in nature, making it difficult for the audience to relate to the characters. The first two acts are moderately paced, it is the climax that is overstretched with a never-ending chase and action sequence, making the viewing a bit tedious. Overall, with a string of oft seen scenes and action sequences, "Baaghi" offers no novelty, in terms of visual and narrative stance, making it neither exciting nor appealing. --IANS troy/ank/bg A Bihar court on Friday refused bail to seven businessmen arrested on the charge of consuming alcohol in a posh hotel here despite the liquor ban in the state, a government lawyer said. The Patna district civil court dismissed the bail pleas of the arrested businessmen, including three from Gujarat, and remanded them in 14-day judicial custody. Police said the accused were consuming liquor when a raid was conducted at the hotel two days ago. Their medical examination confirmed the charge. Those arrested told the police that they were unaware of the liquor ban in Bihar and had purchased liquor from Mumbai. More than 900 people have been arrested in Bihar since a complete liquor ban was imposed on April 5. --IANS ik/tsb/bg The three major national parties - the Congress, the BJP and the CPI-M - should give details about their "unknown sources" of income as huge funds are said to have been collected by them in the last few years, a Trinamool Congress MP said on Friday. "I was most surprised when it came to light that a party like CPI-M could collect a staggeringly high amount of Rs.417.26 crore from 2005 to 2011 as accounted by the Marxist party itself in their audit report submitted with the Election Commission," Swagat Roy told IANS here. Of the amount the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), by its own admission, told the Election Commission that 53.8 percent of this amount was from "unknown sources". Earlier, Roy raised the issue during zero hour in the Lok Sabha and also levelled similar charges against Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "The Congress audit accounts submitted to the Election Commission said of its Rs.598 crore shown as income in 2013-14, 82.5 percent earning was from unknown sources. For BJP out of Rs.673 crore and Rs.959 crore earning in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively, 73 percent of the amount was from unknown source. So I raised it during zero hour today that these parties should come clean and reveal their unknown sources," he said. The five recognised national parties - BJP, Congress, CPI-M, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - were asked by the Election Commission in 2014 to submit details of audit accounts of their respective income. Roy said: "The commission had also said that actions could be taken for non-submission of the audited account. So I raised the issue today." "I have the list of CPI-M contributors and they include the likes of promoters, resort owners and hoteliers," he said. In fact, CPI-M and other left party members clashed with Roy in the Lok Sabha when the submission was being made. Among others, left members M.B. Rajesh and P.K. Teacher told Roy that they have contributed to the party fund. Responding to this, Roy said: "My objection is not to their contribution. I want to know who are unknown sources." Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Mallikarjun Kharge were also present in the Lok Sabha when the Trinamool member was speaking. Trinamool sources later said that Kharge also sought more details from Roy on the matter. --IANS nd/vd Philip Hammond arrived in Cuba becoming the first British foreign secretary to visit Cuba since before the communist revolution of 1959. Arriving in Havana on Thursday, Hammond said that Britain was keen to forge "new links" with the Caribbean nation, The Guardian reported. His visit follows US president Barack Obama's historic trip last month intended to normalise relations between the two countries after decades of hostility. Hammond will hold meetings to discuss recent social and economic changes, human rights and the fight against global health threats such as the Zika virus. He will also sign a bilateral agreement restructuring Cuba's debt to Britain, as well as agreeing future cooperation on financial services, energy, culture and education. "Britain and Cuba have outlooks on the world and systems of government that are very different," Hammond said. "But as Cuba enters a period of significant social and economic change, I am looking forward to demonstrating to the Cuban government and people that the United Kingdom is keen to forge new links across the Atlantic." "As the first British foreign secretary to visit Cuba since before the Cuban Revolution in 1959, this is an opportunity to hear for myself what Cuba thinks about its present challenges and where it sees its future," Hammond added. --IANS ksk A group of 16 nonprofits, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, on Friday called for the immediate release of a Thai editor who is serving a 10-year prison sentence on charges of lese-majeste. "We urge the Thai government to end the persecution of Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk and immediately set him free to return to his wife and family. In addition, we call on the Thai government to provide Somyot adequate compensation and effective remedy for the arbitrary deprivation of his liberty," the nonprofits said in a joint statement. Somyot, 54, is in Bangkok Remand prison for two satirical articles he published in the now-defunct magazine "Voice of Taksin", of which he was the editor, and it had allegedly insulted King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Somyot's arrest on April 30, 2011, came five days after he launched a campaign to collect signatures to amend the article that typifies the crime of lese-majeste, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The nonprofits claimed the conviction and detention "do not comply with Thailand's international legal obligations. --IANS ksk/vm India has told China to case its reported construction activities in parts of Pakistani Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Friday. A spokesman for the army's Udhampur-headquartered Northern Command said in a statement: "There have been no instances of incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory." At the same time, he added that there was no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. "There are areas along the border including in Ladakh where India and China have differing perceptions of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. "Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the government has seen such reports and has conveyed its concerns to China about their activities and asked them to cease such activities." The spokesman said there had been 118 infiltration attempts from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir last year. "Of these, only 33 succeeded while the rest were foiled by troops. "Up to March 31 this year, there were 24 infiltration bids on the LoC (Line of Control) and only 18 succeeded." The spokesman said issues related to infiltration along the India-Pakistan border were taken up with Islamabad at the appropriate level. "Necessary steps are taken to ensure that the national security concerns are adequately addressed through capability and infrastructural development. This is a continuous process," the statement said. India has registered its protest against the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that runs through a part of Pakistani Kashmir. --IANS sq/rn/mr Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email sunnews@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the CBI on appeals of two directors of Jharkhand Ispat Pvt. Ltd., challenging their conviction and four year jail sentence in a coal block allocation case. Justice Siddharth Mridul sought response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by May 6 on the appeals of JIPL directors R.S. Rungta, 79 and R.C. Rungta, 60. In the first sentencing in a coal block allocation case, a trial court on April 4 had sent the duo to jail for four years for the offence of criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Indian Penal Code in bagging a coal block. Sending them to jail, the trial court had said that "white collar criminals are more dangerous" to society". The court had also said that they had "fraudulently" and with a "dishonest intention" deceived the government in allocating the North Dhadu coal block in Jharkhand to the firm. --IANS gt/vd Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy asserted on Friday that the Congress will retain power in assembly elections next month. Speaking after filing his nomination papers from Puthupally constituency in Kottayam district, he said he was confident the Congress will create history by returning to power. Normally, voters in Kerala elect a new government in every election. "The Congress-led UDF (United Democratic Front) will return to power. People will give us one more chance," Chandy told reporters. Chandy, 72, is seeking a record 11th straight win from his home turf Puthupally, from where he has not lost since his first victory in 1970. Chandy asked former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan to stop levelling "baseless allegations" against him (Chandy) and his cabinet ministers. The chief minister has filed a Rs.1 lakh defamation suit against Achuthanandan. --IANS sg/tsb/mr Sending a strong signal against corruption, the Bombay High Court here on Friday upheld a 2011 order of the Ministry of Environment, and asked the Centre to demolish the controversial 31-storey Adarsh Society Building. It also ordered the government to take criminal action against politicians and bureaucrats for "misuse and abuse" of power. On a plea by the Society's lawyer, a division bench of Justice R.V. More and Justice R.G. Ketkar put on hold its own orders for 12 weeks (about three months) to allow the Society and the state government to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. However, Acting Advocate-General Rohit Dev representing the state, opposed the stay on the order sought by the Society. "The high court has upheld the order of the ministry on January 16, 2011, to demolish the building within three months but it was challenged by the Adarsh Society," said Y.P. Singh, one of the lawyers involved in the case. The judges, who conducted the final hearing in the case between September-December 2015, also ordered the state government to probe the involvement of politiciains, ministers and officials in the scam, initiate criminal or civil proceedings against them for "misuse and abuse" of their powers and restore the plot. The demolition would be carried out at the expense of Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society, the court ruled. The judges also directed the defence ministry to conduct a departmental inquiry against its officers for not initiating action early enough when the scam pertaining to the building was exposed. The court verdict came in the open court on a bunch of petitions filed by the Society challenging the environment ministry's 2011 order and the title suit filed by the defence ministry claiming ownerhship of the land where the building was constructed. The court also appreciated the efforts by complainant Simpreet Singh, a member of National Alliance of Peoples' Movement (NAPM) without whose intervention, it said, the gross violations by the Society would have gone undetected. The high court verdict came on the then union minister for environment Jairam Ramesh's order dated January 16, 2011, for demolition of the building within three months as it was unauthorised and violated coastal regulation zone norms, among other things. Later, the defence ministry also moved the court seeking implementation of the environment ministry's orders to raze the 31-storey tower in Colaba, adjacent to the defence establishments in south Mumbai. After the scam erupted in November 2010, with allegations that it had violated various environmental norms and regulations, lacked certain permissions and other issues, it claimed the job of then chief minister Ashok Chavan and several other officials. The building, originally intended to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil War heroes and widows, was later transformed into a 100-metre tall tower in which several politicians, bureaucrats and army officers allegedly conspired to corner flats at cheap rates. The CBI investigations finally resulted in 13 people being charge-sheeted. Among them was Ashok Chavan, whose three relatives figured in the list of the tainted Society's members. The building remains unoccupied, without water and electricity since November 2010. In January 2011, a two-member commission of inquiry consisting retired high court judge, Justice J.A. Patil, and retired chief secretary P. Subrahmanyam, was also constituted but the then Congress-Nationalist Congress Party only partly accepted its recommendations. --IANS qn/sd/vt The Narendra Modi government on Friday said it was determined to bring those guilty in the AgustaWestland chopper deal bribery case to justice and denied NSA Ajit Doval or PM's key aide Nripendra Mishra were any way involved. In a second official statement in two days, the government will said it not leave any stone unturned in finding the truth. The statement did not name the Congress, but gave point by point rebuttal of allegations made by the opposition party, which was in power when the scam took place. "The investigative agencies remain determined to bring to justice the key perpetrators of this misdeed, both inside and outside the country," said the statement by the information and broadcasting ministry, adding that all means are being pursued to arrest alleged middleman James Christian Michel. The first statement had been issued by the defence ministry. Extradition requests have been made to Britain for Michel by both the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, it said. "The investigative agencies will stay their course in unveiling the corrupt and holding them accountable to our public," it added. Defending the national security advisor, the statement said: "A few have even sought to link one of the accused with Ajit Doval, present NSA, as also Nripendra Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister. This is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent. In reality, there is no such connection." Congress had noted that Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, who was heading the IAF when the scam happened and has had his name come in the case, is a part of the Vivekananda International Foundation with which Doval and Mishra are also associated, and questioned their connection. The statement also defended the Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan governments, as the Congress had alleged that chief ministers of both BJP-ruled states were indicted by CAG in purchase of AgustaWestland helicopters. On Congress's charge on why no action was taken on an alleged offer made by Michel to be questioned by CBI and ED including on Indian soil, the statement said: "It is well known that any understanding/agreement with an accused outside the frame of law is a criminal act in itself. "James Christian Michel is a criminal wanted by the Indian law enforcement agencies. We are pursuing all legal means to arrest him and have him extradited to India. Mr. Michel should submit himself to the Indian legal system rather than make elliptical references to offers that are suspect in intent and reality...." "Those who cannot see the prime minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prime Minister Modi did not cut any deal of any sort...." In what seemed to a reply to Congress' allegation that the government did not do anything in the case for two years, the statement said the CBI has so far investigated over 100 witnesses and in September and November 2014, couple of accused have been arrested and their property attached. On why AgustaWestland was allowed to participate in a bid for naval helicopters last year, it said the navy has hosted a request for information and no request for proposal was issued. The government statement also added that all procurement or acquisitions from AgustaWestland or its subsidiaries have been put on hold since July 3, 2014, but without letting this affect defence preparedness. The statement stressed that "corruption" is the central issue, a point the defence ministry statement also made on Thursday. "...the undisputed central issue that stands out is corruption, especially bribery. Any other line of assumption, approach and effort, as is being attempted in some quarters, is misleading, tries to hide the wrong-doers and is driven by instincts of self preservation," it said, calling it "tragic" that "a small section of the Indian polity has attempted, unsuccessfully, to divert and diffuse the public discourse on this matter". --IANS ao/vd Actor Dino Morea, who is currently missing from the silver screen, has shared a throwback photograph of his "coolest moments" with rapper Snoop Dogg. The "Raaz" actor shared three photographs of himself with Dogg. He even mentioned that the "Smoke the weed" rapper has "talent in abundance". "Throw back to one of the coolest moments of my life, hanging with none other than Snoop Dogg, talent in abundance. Ohhh and to breathe the air he breathes, damn. Smile if you get my drift," Dino captioned the photographs. Dogg has collaborated with Indian actor Akshay Kumar in the 2008 film "Singh Is Kinng". He rapped the title track of the film's song "Singh Is Kinng" Ft. Snoop Dogg. -*- Shahid Kapoor in 'holiday vibes' with wife Mira Actor Shahid Kapoor is playing a doting husband to his wife Mira and has even taken some time off to go on a drive with her. Shahid took to Instagram on Thursday and shared a selfie with Mira in a car. "Drive time with Mrs. Kapoor. Holiday vibes," he captioned. The actor, who is portraying the character of a drug-addict rockstar in the forthcoming film "Udta Punjab", says he is going to be a father. Shahid got married to Mira in a closely guarded affair in Delhi last year. Since then speculations are rife about her venturing into Bollywood. In fact, Shahid's spokesperson had to refute reports that Mira will do a cameo in film "AK vs SK" in September. -*- Anushka Sharma shares her look from 'Sultan' Actress Anushka Sharma has shared her wrestling avtar from her upcoming film "Sultan". The 27-year-old actress, who is seen sharing screen space with actor Salman Khan for the first time in the upcoming film "Sultan", shared a photograph where she can be seen wrestling with a competitor in an "akhaada". "Here's presenting Aarfa 'Sultan'," Anushka shared on Friday. The films is now being shot at Morna in Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh. Ali Abbas Zafar is directing the film, which has also been shot in Delhi. The film will feature the 360-year-old Jama Masjid located in the capital. "Sultan" is being produced by Yash Raj Films. The film also stars Randeep Hooda and is slated to release on Eid in 2016. --IANS dc/nv/vt The Election Commission on Friday barred jailed Trinamool Congress heavyweight Madan Mitra, currently admitted to a hospital, from using any mobile phone and also restricted his meetings. "In accordance with the Election Commission's order, the state home secretary has issued an order to ensure no one other than family members can visit Madan Mitra in hospital and also he can't use any mobile phone during his stay," said a poll panel official. The EC's move comes in the wake of the opposition's demand for continuous surveillance on Mitra claiming he might use his influence to disrupt the poll process. Ever since Mitra - a prime accused in the multi-crore rupee Saradha scam - was on Tuesday admitted to the state-run SSKM Hospital, the Congress, BJP and the Left Front have been alleging that his hospitalisation was a "ploy to use his influence" in the fifth phase of the assembly polls in 53 constituencies spread across Kolkata, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts. Both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party on the day had moved the EC alleging that Mitra, being a resident of Bhabanipur, "can use his influence from the hospital" also located in the area, to "manipulate voting" in the constituency where polling will be held on Saturday. The opposition parties welcomed the step. "The realisation of an impending defeat has made the Trinamool nervous and desperate. Mitra was hospitalised with the sole motive that he could freely interact with disruptive elements from there. We welcome the EC's move but it would have been better if he was put under 24x7 video monitoring," said Congress leader Abdul Mannan. Both the Communust Party of India-Marxist and the BJP echoed similar views. Mitra has been behind bars since his arrest on December 12, 2014, except for a brief period in October 2015 when he was granted bail by a lower court. The relief was subsequently cancelled by the Calcutta High Court. --IANS int-and/vd -- Anurag Dey. SeniorACorrespondentA Indo-Asian News Service +919883920572 Ten percent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions will be given to the economically backward classes (EBCs) in Gujarat, the ruling BJP announced. The reservation will be extended to all castes not covered under the existing 49 per cent for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (OBC). The quota will be extended to those whose annual income was Rs.6 lakh or less, Gujarat BJP president Vijay Rupani told the media at the party headquarters, flanked by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and senior minister Nitin Patel. An ordinance on the issue will be issued on May 1, the foundation day of Gujarat. A bill will be introduced later in the state assembly, he said. The decision on more reservation in Gujarat was taken in a core panel meeting chaired by national BJP president Amit Shah on Friday morning at the state Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters here. Rupani said the state government will defend the ordinance in both the high court and the Supreme Court, if need be. Asked about the Rs.1,000 crore Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana, a financial assistance scheme for meritorious students from the economically weaker sections announced earlier by her, Anandiben Patel said the scheme will continue. Reacting to the BJP announcement, Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki said his party's demand was for 20 percent quota for EBCs and sought the income criterion be doubled to Rs.12 lakh per annum. He said the Congress had earlier moved a private member's bill for 20 percent reservation for economically backward classes, besides the setting up of a five-member panel to suggest ways to implement reservation for them without violating the 49 percent reservation cap. --IANS desai/tsb/bg Upholding a 2011 order of the Ministry of Environment, the Bombay High Court on Friday ordered the Centre to demolish the controversial 31-storeyed Adarsh Housing Society building in south Mumbai. "The court has upheld the order of the ministry of January 16, 2011, to demolish the building within three months, but it was challenged by the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society," said Y.P. Singh, one of the lawyers involved in the case. The high court has also ordered an inquiry against the politicians, ministers and officials involved in the scam and allowed the Maharashtra government three months to appeal against it in the Supreme Court. --IANS qn/sd/vt Assam Rifles Chief Lt Gen Harminderjit Singh Sachdev on Friday said that India and Myanmar had started joint border patrolling in some stretches of their "unfenced border". "The patrolling has not started all over but in some specific areas. They (Myanmar Army) also come and we also go there (Myanmar)," Sachdev told IANS on the sidelines of the investiture ceremony of Assam Rifles. India has been urging Myanmar to act against rebels including from the Manipur-based United Liberation Front, People's Liberation Army (PLA), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup and People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Assam-based United Liberation Front of Asom and the Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang operating from Sagaing and Chin State of Myanmar. Assam Rifles, the country's oldest paramilitary force, guards the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border and also conducts counter-insurgency operations in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland. The Assam Rifles chief hoped that the new elected government in Myanmar will reciprocate India's requests on tackling terrorism. "The newly elected democratic government in Myanmar is reaching out to us (India). There are some positive steps. May be next year or two, we will be sure in which direction we are moving. I am sure something positive will be there," Sachdev said. Asked whether he expected the new Myanmar government to show similar security cooperation like Bangladesh to flush out Indian militants from its soil, he said: "Every nation works for its own interest. I am sure Myanmar will now show positive signals to India. How fast that will be, we cannot say. And that all depends how both the countries work." On the security situation in the north-eastern states, Sachdev said: "Normalcy is seen everywhere, except in a few areas in Nagaland and Manipur. Abrogation of ceasefire by the NSCN-K is not worrisome. We will tackle it and I should say the overall situation is under control." Assam Rifles has 46 battalions, 15 of which are deployed along the India-Myanmar border. The porous border is used by Indian insurgents to slip in and out of the country. Four states of the northeast - Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) - share the border with Myanmar. India and Papua New Guinea signed four agreements, including in the areas of healthcare and information technology (IT), on Friday, the second and concluding day of President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to this Pacific island-nation. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between India's ministry of health and family welfare and Paua New Guinea's ministry of health and HIV/AIDS for a broad range of cooperation in the field of healthcare and medical science. Another MoU was signed between the Papua New Guinea government and the Export Import Bank of India for a $100-million credit line for development of infrastructure in the island-nation. The third MoU was between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, and PNG University of Technology, Lae, for cooperation in agricultural research. The fourth MoU was signed between the governments of India and Papua New Guinea for establishing of India-Papua New Guinea Centre for Excellence in IT. Papua New Guinea is the largest of all the Pacific island-nations. Mukherjee's visit is the first ever presidential visit from India to this country. --IANS ab/vt It was like a macabre end to a Chabrol movie. I had returned with images of such aesthetic delight from the Pahela Baishakh festivities in Dhaka that the news of Professor Rezaul Karim Siddique having been hacked to death by Islamists left me in something of a daze. Promotion of Bangla syncretism, which I had found so compelling, was precisely his "guilt": He was in the vanguard of progressive literary and cultural activities, on the Rajshahi university campus; keen that students take an interest in the poetry and music of Tagore and Qazi Nazrul Islam, modern dance dramas, just the sort of stuff that lends to the Bangla cultural scene so much vibrancy. The Islamic State (IS), which claimed responsibility for the killing, said Siddique was inviting Muslims to the path of "atheism". A few days later, the rampant culture of impunity claimed its next victim - Xulhaz Mannan, editor of the gay, transgender magazine, and his fellow activist Mahbul Rabbi Tonoy. So far extremism had struck in the Bangla countryside. The latest attacks are in the heart of Dhaka, deepening concerns about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed's grip on the administration. A criticism of the regime on these lines invites from Sheikh Hasina a knee jerk response: darts are being fired by arch enemy Khaleda Zia, the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami - the source of all Islamic militancy in Bangladesh. She is not exactly in denial of the IS presence but her focus is on the Khaleda-Jamaat mischief. In this kind of polarization, what value does one place on an interview that a perfectly sensible, liberal editor in Dhaka places in my hand. Dabiq, the glossy IS magazine has in a Q and A, invited Shaikh Abu Ibrahim al Hanif, the Emir of the Khalifah's soldiers in Bengal, to spell out his plans. The 13-page interview, if validated as being authentic, has a dreadful message for Bangladesh: IS headquarters may shift to the country where Shias, Qadianis, Hindus and other deviants espousing cultural syncretism will be terrorized to their knees. "Jihad base in Bengal will facilitate guerilla attacks in India from both sides." There is terrible news for Myanmar too: "Cells" will be helped until the nation is overwhelmed. Of course there is institutional support for the ghastly killings of writers, teachers, artists with a liberal streak who have been hacked to death with machetes and meat cleavers. Los Angeles Times headline rings alarm: "Bangladesh may be the next providing ground for global Jihadist groups." Macabre attacks on soft targets in Bangladesh has multiple purposes: they discredit the Hasina government, intimidate liberals, the anti-Jamaat e Islami masses. Under stress, the Hasina establishment responds to such criticism by unfurling its authoritarian fangs. This explains the crackdown on editors and journalists: 84 cases against Mahfuz Anam, editor of the Daily Star, and arrest of 81-year-old Shafiq Rehman. The regime's authoritarian streak, disheartens the secular, liberal elite. True Hasina takes on the obscurantist forces but must a price be paid in civil liberties to contrive an unsteady, status quo? Because Indo-Bangladesh relations have seldom been as good as they are today, there is a suggestion, in murmurs among the elite that New Delhi supports the illiberal regime. This kind of talk carries. At the popular level questions surface: why must Dhaka be so obsequious with an "RSS led government"? An influential China lobby takes heart and looks for balance in the Dhaka, Beijing, New Delhi, Washington quadrangle. Any illiberal act by the regime in Bangladesh correspondingly causes tongues to wag about New Delhi's heavy handed handling of affairs like the JNU and Hyderabad universities. Between New Delhi-Dhaka official relations and the people-to-people perceptions, contradictions sharpen. What can New Delhi do? It certainly is in no position to stand on high moral ground and proffer advice to a regime increasingly intolerant of dissent. The BNP under Begum Khaleda Zia is a depleted force banking on the Jamaat-e-Islami's excesses. But her antecedents do link her to powerful elements in the army, a source of great discomfort to the Prime Minister. She is therefore willing to give the armed forces all the toys they want including a nuclear submarine to be used against few know who. The army is in clover, what with both the ladies outbidding each other to keep it in good humour. The bonanza from UN Peace Keeping duties increases by the day. Recently Saudi Arabia very nearly extracted Dhaka's participation in their year long war in Yemen. A decision to send troops was reversed by Sheikh Hasina: she agreed to troops only under the UN. By seeking Dhaka's help, Riyadh was out to spite Islamabad which said "no" earlier. That Sheikh Hasina even toyed with the idea was to undermine Khaleda Zia's support in Islamabad. Her expectation also was that Riyadh would help tone down Jamaat-e-Islami opposition to her. Has the Saudi initiative failed or does it still have life in it? Meanwhile, the diplomatic corps cannot take its eyes off the string of gruesome murders - four this month alone. American Human Rights group must have played a hand in 29 Bangladeshi bloggers being placed on the State Department list. In other words, if free thinking bloggers are threatened with death by IS, Al Qaeda and sundry extremists, they will be entitled to apply for US residence. This has the potential to swell the ranks of would be victims. It is a perfect arrangement: if militants wielding machetes, meat cleavers and bombs can qualify for the houris of paradise, their potential victims can now aspire for a fall back position in the real land of milk and honey. (A senior commentator on political and diplomatic affairs, Saeed Naqvi can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com. The views expressed are personal.) --IANS naqvi/mr A court here on Friday ordered the framing of charges against former parliamentarian, industrialist and senior Congress leader Naveen Jindal, former union minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao, former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and others in a coal block case allegedly involving the Jindal Group. Judge Bharat Parashar of the Special CBI court ordered charges be framed relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Jindal, Rao and Koda and others in a case related to the allocation of Jharkhand's Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Gagan Sponge. "...I may also mention that a bare perusal of the facts and circumstances of the case clearly suggests that though various accused persons acted at different times but they all were in tandem to favour A-1, M/s Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. (M/s JSPL) and A-2, M/s Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt. Ltd. (M/s GSIPL) in somehow procuring sole allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal Coal Block in their favour," the court said. "Charge for the offence under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy)/409 (criminal breach of trust)/420 (cheating) IPC and section 13 (1) (c) (criminal misconduct dishonestly misappropriates of any property) and 13 (1) (d) (criminal misconduct for obtaining pecuniary advantage) Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, shall also be framed against all the accused persons." The Central Bureau of Investigation court observed that it is clear that the present case involves "a number of triable issues which raise grave and strong suspicion about the role played by various accused persons". The court posted the matter for consideration of framing of charges on May 11. At the same time, the court allowed personal exemption from personal appearance to Jindal on May 11 while allowing his plea to travel to Austria and other Schengen countries alongwith the United Kingdom from May 6 to May 13 on account of marriage of his nephew and other reasons. Meanwhile, a statement of New Delhi Exim director Suresh Singhal, who has sought pardon and permission to become an approver in the case, was submitted before the court. The CBI has said there was sufficient evidence to frame charges against the accused in the case. However, Jindal, Rao, Koda and others have denied the allegations and sought being discharged from the case. The CBI in April last year filed a charge sheet against Jindal, Koda, Rao, former coal secretary H.C. Gupta with six other individuals. The six others aree New Delhi Exim director Suresh Singhal, Jindal Realty director Rajeev Jain, Gagan Sponge directors Girish Kumar Juneja and R.K. Saraf, Sowbhagya Media's managing director K. Ramakrishna and chartered accountant Gyan Swaroop Garg. Five private companies -- four based in Delhi and one in Hyderabad -- were named in the charge sheet. The companies are Jindal Steel and Power Ltd., Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt. Ltd., Jindal Reality Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi Exim Pvt. Ltd. and Sowbhagya Media Ltd. Jindal, in a statement on Friday, said that it is "confident that it will stand vindicated". It denied all allegations against the company and management. "We have full faith in the Indian judicial system and are confident to come out clean during the process." It said the "allocation was made to the company purely on merit and all along the course of the investigation the company and its officials have fully co-operated with the authorities, and whenever asked, explained and provided all the supporting documents. " --IANS akk/rn/vt Parliamentarians across party lines on Friday raised concerns over fixing of a timeline by the Supreme Court for conducting the common all-India medical entrance test. The members opposed holding of the first phase of the test slated for May 1, saying it gives little time to students for preparation. The issue was raised in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour by at least three members from different political parties. Raising the issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Dumariaganj Jagdambika Pal demanded that the examination should not be conducted in a phased manner as it will create trouble for the students. "The test must be conducted on July 24 and all the students should be allowed to sit for it, so that equal opportunity is provided to all," Pal said. He said that the two dates of the National Eligibility Entrance Test will give advantage to students taking the exam in the latter phase and the students who have to appear for it this Sunday would be under stress. Congress member Rajeev Satav urged the government to move the Supreme Court and challenge the ruling. "Yesterday's (Thursday) decision of Supreme Court will affect 80 percent students of Maharashtra and mostly rural students. Either this order should be implemented in 2018, or the test be conducted together on July 24. The government should consider moving the Supreme Court with a new petition," he said. Shiv Sena member Arvind Sawant also demanded the test be conducted on one day. He demanded that students must be permitted to appear for the examination in regional languages too. "Students have very little time. The syllabus of CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Examination) and the state boards is different. So, the students preparing for medical examinations are worried. Their issues must be addressed by the government," Sawant said. The demand was supported by other members too. The Supreme Court on Thursday said students aspiring for admission to under-graduate medical courses will have to appear in the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), and it declined the pleas for exemption by Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A bench of Justice Anil R. Dave, Justice Shiva Kirti Singh and Justice A.K. Goel gave its nod to two-phase conduct of the NEET by the CBSE on May 1 and July 24, with the declaration of results on August 17, and counselling and admissions later. --IANS bns/rn Actress Malaika Arora, dressed in a frill dress, added style and oomph to the launch of lingerie brand amante's first exclusive store in the National Capital Region (NCR) here on Friday. amante, the international premium lingerie brand, marks its presence in North India with its first exclusive store in NCR. The store that is located at the DLF Mall of India is the brand's fourth store after its successful launch in Mumbai, Jaipur and Bengaluru. "I am amazed to see the collection at this store and I am sure every woman present here will love it too. Ladies go, shop and look sexy," said the actress who was accompanied by Vivek Mehta, CEO-MAS Brands India and Smita Murarka, Head-Marketing and Ecommerce, MAS Brands India during the launch. "We at MAS Brands India are very happy to launch our first store in the NCR region here. The response received in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Jaipur was amazing and we look forward to receiving the same response here in Delhi-NCR too," said Mehta. The store covers a total area of approximately 1700 square feet, designed thematically with furniture and fixtures in signature shades of ivory and pink. Besides offering an extensive collection of premium intimate wear and exclusive capsule collection, the highlight of the store includes comfortable fitting zones, spacious changing rooms and plush interiors for leisurely shopping. --IANS nv/nn/bg The All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) has strongly objected to the demand for granting the Scheduled Tribes (ST) status to the Meiteis, a majority community in Manipur. Manjit Sarangthem, secretary general of AMSU, said: "It will be a wrong step to demand the ST status for the Meiteis." The objection has come at a time when the Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee (STDC) is making preparations to stage a mass demonstration on May 22 to press the demand for the Scheduled Tribes status to the Meiteis. More social, cultural and religious organisations have announced their readiness to participate in the demonstration to intensify the agitation for the demand. The STDC maintains if its demand is conceded, there will be unity and equality among communities. It said that economy will get a boost since income tax will be waived for the Meiteis if they are included in the ST list. Besides, they will also be entitled to job reservations. Disagreeing with such a rosy picture, Sarangthem said the Meiteis have a great role to play in Manipur's context. The STDC is unable to furnish the details sought by the tribal welfare ministry, which is demanding a socio-economic survey, ethnographic origin, life, society, custom and tradition of the Meiteis. To declare a community as a Scheduled Tribe, five criteria are needed to be fulfilled -- low status, ancient identity, segregation from others, and inability to mingle with others. The Meiteis have been bringing about settlements of the bloody clashes and other differences for generations. They took the leading role in making this kingdom known to the world, he said. Sarangthem said: "It is made out that once the Meiteis become an ST, the Inner Line Permit will automatically come to protect the land from the outside land grabbers. In the northeast region, the ILP (Inner Line Permit) is a failure except in Mizoram." Many prominent citizens also have opposed this demand. Many of them said the Meiteis should not jettison their social status for some benefits. --IANS il/sd/vt US First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are heading to Hollywood for a good cause. Next week, the duo will appear on NBC's "The Voice" together. The first lady will also appear on CBS' "NCIS", reports variety.com. The TV appearances have been booked for them to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their Joining Forces initiative, which was launched in 2011, calling on all Americans to rally around service members, veterans and their families and support them through employment, education and wellness opportunities. On May 2, the first lady and Biden will appear on "The Voice", joining host Carson Daly and star judges Christina Aguilera, Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton for a special episode with an audience filled with active duty and retired service members and military families. The singing competition will showcase the Top 10 contestants on Monday night's show. The next night, Obama will guest star in an episode of "NCIS", marking the first time the first lady has let a non-news television programme into the White House. The announcements were made on Thursday by the office of the first lady. --IANS nn/vm There was no incursion by Chinese troops into Indian territory, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told the Lok Sabha on Friday. In a written reply, the minister, however, said transgressions do occur due to difference in perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "There is no commonly delineated LAC between India and China. There are areas along the border, including areas in Ladakh, where India and China differ on the LAC. As both sides undertake patrols as per their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur," Parrikar said. The minister was replying to a question on whether the government had taken note of infiltration from Pakistan and incursions and transgressions by Chinese troops into Indian territory, including Ladakh region, and its construction activities in Pakistani Kashmir. He said the government regularly took up transgressions along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms, including flag and border personnel meetings, the bilateral working mechanism for consultation and coordination on the India-China border affairs and diplomatic channels. Parrikar said that up to March 31 this year, 18 of the 24 attempts made by terrorists to infiltrate into India this year were successful. In 2015, there were 118 attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir, 33 of which were successful. Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including by the Chinese, the defence minister said the Indian government had conveyed its concerns to China and asked them to cease such activities. "Issues related to abetting infiltration along the India-Pakistan border are taken up with Pakistan military authorities at an appropriate level through the established mechanism of flag meetings and weekly talks between the director generals of military operations of both the countries," Parrikar said. He said the government was fully seized of the security needs of the country. "Necessary steps, as required, are taken to ensure that national security concerns are adequately addressed through capability and infrastructural development. This is a continuous process," the minister said. --IANS ao/tsb/dg The common man in India has to wait for some more time to use the "Indian GPS' as the Indian navigation system has to be formally declared operational after checking and cross-checking, industry officials said. They also said government mandating the use of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) will act as a booster for the domestic manufacturing of satellite signal receivers as a part of the Make in India initiative. India on Thursday put into orbit its seventh navigation satellite -- IRNSS-1G -- and joined a select group of space-faring nations with their own satellite navigation system. Simply put, the IRNSS is similar to the global positioning system (GPS) of the US, Glonass of Russia, and Galileo of Europe as well as China's Beidou. According to India Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the applications of IRNSS are: terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, vehicle tracking and fleet management, terrestrial navigation for hikers and travellers, disaster management, integration with mobile phones, mapping and geodetic data capture and visual and voice navigation for drivers. "The Indian system provides positional accuracy of 10 metres. For civilian usage to bloom and the cost to come down, more manufacturers have to start making the navigation signal receivers. That will happen once the IRNSS is formally declared operational," A.S. Ganeshan, retired programme director of ISRO's Satellite Navigation Progamme, told IANS. He said the satellite navigation system comprises three segments -- space (satellites), ground (ground systems) and user (receivers). The Indian space agency has to test all the three segments thoroughly before IRNSS could be declared an operational navigation system. Ganeshan said once the IRNSS is ready, there will be greater development of application software that would be useful for different segments. The IRNSS will provide two types of services - standard positioning service and restricted service. The former is provided to all users and the latter is an encrypted service for authorised users. Once the system is fully operational, India will not have to face of risk of the absence of satellite signals at critical times as the existing systems are owned by other countries. While the defence forces would get the IRNSS signal receivers from the manufacturers, the challenge for deeper penetration of the Indian navigation system depends on the makers of signal receivers. "The Indian government should mandate the use of indigenous satellite navigation systems by various government agencies and the emergency services like ambulance and others so that the signal receiver makers are enthused to get into accelerated production mode," Ganeshan added. He said once the mandatory usage is there, more software applications could then be developed, thereby widening the usage. Agreeing with him, S. Purushotham, director, Accord Software & Systems Pvt Ltd, told IANS: "If there is a mandate then it will give a big fillip for the receiver makers' Make in India efforts." Nevertheless, Accord Software will get into making the IRNSS receivers as the company is confident that the Indian navigation system will soon be declared operational, Purushotham remarked. The Bengaluru-based Accord Software clocked a turnover of around Rs.100 crore ($15 million) last year and has around 400 people on its rolls, Purushotham said. "We are the only company to develop the receivers for IRNSS. We have delivered to ISRO and other agencies through ISRO for use in land and marine applications," he said. Speaking about the the cost for the common man, Purushotham said it would depend on the volumes though the equipment will be priced competitively with that of GPS receivers. According to Ganeshan, it will not be right to compare the seven-satellite IRNSS with that of the US GPS as the latter system consists of 24 satellites. "The Indian system should be given some time before comparisons could be made," Ganeshan said. "India will not be content with the constellation of seven navigation satellites and it will launch more such satellites," he added. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted t v.jagannathan@ians.in) --IANS vj/vm/tb Accusing the BJP of levelling false corruption charges against the Congress leaders in the AgustaWestland VIP chopper deal, senior party leader Gulam Nabi Azad on Friday said it should either prove the allegations or stop defaming political rivals. "Had they been in the opposition, I would have understood their limitations of not having any agencies (at their disposal) to prove or investigate something. But they are in power and have all the (government) agencies to probe whatever they want to," Azad told the media at Parliament House here. Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said the Bharatiya Janata Party had deputed the entire government machinery to come up with all sorts of charges against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi. "They are out to defame the Congress. They are doing this to divert public attention (from development work promised by them). We denounce this propaganda," he said. Azad asked what was the central government doing for the past two years if it was so serious about the bribery charges in the deal. "They should have got these charges investigated by now. They have the entire government machinery to get things probed," Azad said. Azad reasoned that leaders of the then United Progressive Alliance government won't have ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the deal had they accepted bribes. "When a person is guilty, he does not roam around confidently," the Congress leader said. He said, "It was in the BJP leaders' nature to level false charges against the Congress members". "AgustaWestland was banned and blacklisted by the then United Progressive Alliance government. The government has now given it order to manufacture 100 helicopters," he pointed out. "Why is the Modi government doing business with a company that is involved in some wrongdoing?" Asked if there was any national security breach due to the deal, the Congress leader said: "The actual national security breach was when terrorists were handed over to Pakistan by the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in December 1999." Another Congress leader, R.P.N. Singh said the BJP was in the habit of telling "half truths". They were putting selective information and not the whole story in the case in the public domain, he said. --IANS sk/tsb/vt The Supreme Court of North Korea on Friday sentenced South Korean man with American citizenship to 10 years of hard labour for espionage after he reportedly confessed to spying. Kim Dong-chul, who was born in 1953 in Seoul and immigrated to the US in 1972, was charged with plotting to subvert the North Korean system, slandering the supreme leadership of the socialist country and gathering state and military secrets for espionage, Xinhua news agency reported. In 2005, Kim moved to Yanji, a Chinese city some 10 km from the border with North Korea and later in 2008 established a trade company named Dongmyong in Rason, a special economic zone in North Hamgyong province, where a large number of Chinese businesses operate. After his company was founded, he continuously carried out reactionary propaganda against Pyongyang and injected into local people fantasies about the superiority of the US, in order to shake the stability of the political and social system of the country, according to the prosecutor. Kim started espionage in 2013 after coming into contact with several South Koreans who tasked him with collecting top party, state and military secrets of North Korea, including its nuclear facilities, nuclear tests and photographs of warships as well as other information,. He was arrested on October 2, 2015 when he was receiving an SD card that contained photos of local markets in Rason and documents about North Korea's nuclear programmes from a local resident in Rason whom he had bought off, said the prosecutor. Kim confessed to the charges, repented of his crimes and appealed for gracious treatment in court. --IANS ksk Democratic Party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders shared a specific list of changes he would like the party to make. Sanders on Thursday declared that he wants to see the Democratic Party pursue a 50-state strategy, open primaries in every state, and automatic voter registration for everyone starting at age 18, Politico reported. "I want to see this country have one of the highest turnout rates in the world, not one of the lowest, and that is why, in my view, the Democratic Party has got to make very clear we need automatic voter registration. All over this country we have Republican governors trying to make it harder for people to vote. Our job is make it easier. Bring more people into the system and that means if you are 18 years of age you are registered to vote, end of discussion," Sanders said. The Vermont senator went on to also call for the Democratic Party to push for same-day registration and open primaries. Sanders said the party needs to focus on a 50-state strategy, instead of trying to win on friendly terrain. "The truth is that the Democratic Party has turned its back on many of those states. We need a 50-state strategy. We need to plant the flag of progressive in every state of this country," Sanders said. The comments by Sanders comes as the Vermont senator's path to the nomination has narrowed dramatically, after defeats in New York and in four of five states on Tuesday. I --IANS ksk Allu Arjun-starrer Telugu actioner "Sarrainodu", which opened to mixed reviews, has grossed a whopping Rs.72 crore in its first week worldwide. "It approximately grossed Rs.72 crore in its first week, despite mixed reactions from critics. This is the highest opening for an Allu Arjun film. Since there's no big Telugu release this week, the film is likely to make it to the Rs.100 crore club next week," trade analyst Trinath told IANS. Directed by Boyapati Srinu, the film also stars Rakul Preet Singh, Catherine Tresa, Aadi Pinisetty and Srikanth. --IANS hp/nn/bg Actress Sonam Kapoor wished her fellow L'Oreal Paris brand ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on completing 15 years of going to the Cannes International Film Festival. As Aishwarya gears up to represent India and the cosmetic giant at the prestigious film festival at French Riviera once again, Sonam hopes the "Sarbjit" star has an "incredible" year like always. In the capacity of being the brand ambassadors of the cosmetic brand, Aishwarya and Sonam will represent L'Oreal Paris at the upcoming 69th edition of the film gala. Actress Katrina Kaif will miss the gala due to her "prior" commitments. Sonam, who earned plaudits for her last release "Neerja", wished Aishwarya via a 10-second long video, read a statement. In the video, Sonam said: "Congratulations Ash on 15 years of going to Cannes. I am sure this year is going to be as incredible as all the years before". Sonam herself completed five years of walking the red carpet at the film festival for the brand last year. It is still not confirmed on which date the duo will walk the red carpet. The 2016 Cannes International Film Festival is scheduled to take place from May 11 till May 22. --IANS sug/nv/vm BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday submitted a breach of privilege notice in the Rajya Sabha against Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for "lying" that the UPA government had blacklisted helicopter maker AgustaWestland and its Italian parent Finmeccanica. Swamy said in a tweet the notice pertained to the breach of privilege committed by Azad "for wilfully telling a lie to RS (Rajya Sabha) on AW (AgustaWestland) blacklisting". Azad is the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Swamy became a member of the upper house on Tuesday as one of the nominees of the BJP-led central government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader raised the issue soon after the house met and said he had submitted a privilege notice. "The notice is under Rule 187 for breach of privilege against Ghulam Nabi Azad," he said. Swamy had said before entering parliament that Azad "lied" about blacklisting. "No blacklisting took place. It is also untrue that we removed the blacklisting. We gave orders that there would be no fresh purchase by the defence ministry until court gives decision," Swamy said, responding to Congress' allegation that the present government took the helicopter maker off the supposed "black list". As Swamy spoke, he was interrupted by Congress members, including Kumari Selja who questioned why his microphone was "always on". Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien urged the Congress members to be quiet and told Swamy that his notice will be examined by Chairman Hamid Ansari. "There is a rule by which privilege notices are dealt with. The notice will be first examined by the chairman, if he prima facie finds there is some case he will refer it to the privileges committee," Kurien said. The BJP and the Congress have been battling it out in Parliament since it emerged that bribes were paid in India during the UPA rule for the Rs. 3,600 crore deal with AgustaWestland for 12 VIP helicopters. Soon after joining the Rajya Sabha, Swamy has been leading the attack on the Congress on the helicopter deal or the "AgustaWestland scam". On Wednesday, he named Congress president Sonia Gandhi in connection with the scam -- the comments that were later expunged from the records. Swamy protested against the expunction. "I have also filed a Notice in RS challenging the expunging of my words by Dy Chmn since it is arbitrary unreasonable and against RS Rules," he said in one of his tweets on Friday. In another tweet, Swamy said Hamid Ansari has assured him a hearing over expunging of his remarks in the Rajya Sabha. --IANS ao/kb/bg Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has condemned the bombing of an MSF-supported Al Quds hospital in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo that killed at least 14 people, including at least two of its doctors. MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, quoted hospital staff on the ground as saying the hospital was destroyed by at least one airstrike which directly hit the building, reducing it to rubble. Other airstrikes in the neighbourhood also hit areas close to the hospital in the Wednesday airstrike. "MSF categorically condemns this outrageous targeting of yet another medical facility in Syria," said Muskilda Zancada, MSF head of mission in Syria, in a statement. "This devastating attack has destroyed a vital hospital in Aleppo, and the main referral centre for paediatric care in the area. Where is the outrage among those with the power and obligation to stop this carnage?" "The situation in Aleppo city, consistently at the frontlines of the brutal conflict, was critical even before this attack. An estimated 250,000 people remain in the city, which has seen dramatic increases in levels of bombardments, fighting and fatalities in recent weeks. Only one road remains open in and out of the non- government held areas. If it gets cut off, the city will become besieged," it said. Over the last week, several other medical structures have been attacked and destroyed in Aleppo, and five rescue workers from the Syrian Civil Defence organisation have been killed. MSF has been donating medical supplies to Al Quds hospital since 2012, and has built a very strong working relationship with the staff there. The 34-bed hospital offered services including an emergency room, obstetric care, an outpatients department, an inpatients department, an intensive care unit and an operating theatre. Eight doctors and 28 nurses worked full time in the hospital, which was the main referral centre for paediatrics in Aleppo. MSF runs six medical facilities across northern Syria and supports more than 150 health centres and hospitals across the country, many of them in besieged areas. Several hospitals across north and south Syria have been bombed since the start of 2016, including seven supported by MSF - in which at least 42 people have been killed, including at least 16 medical staff, it said. --IANS rn/vt Brussels, April 29 (IANS/WAM) The UAE is a strategic partner to EU member-states, Elmar Brok, chair of the foreign affairs committee at European Parliament (EP), has said. Brok welcomed the UAE's cooperation with the EP given the country's effective role regarding the Middle East issues. This came during Brok's meeting with Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC). The two sides discussed the development and future government plans. Al Qubaisi said the UAE leadership seeks to consolidate happiness, tolerance and peace as basic principles in the Arab region despite the instability being experienced by some neighbouring countries. --IANS/WAM py/dg If you want to breathe clean air, travel to Himachal Pradesh's remote Kinnaur district that is endowed with the mighty Himalayas, gurgling rivers, virgin nature and a rich cultural heritage. A recent study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) says Kinnaur district has the cleanest air in the country, whereas the national capital is the most polluted. According to the the IIT-D Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, PM 2.5 (particulate matter) in Kinnaur was found to be 3.7+-1 microgram per cubic metre (g/m) annually, which is less than 10 percent of the national air quality target of 40g/m. Unlike Kinnaur, air particulate matter level of Delhi stood at 148+-51g/m annually, which is several times higher than the safe limit. PM 2.5 is harmful microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Naresh Kumar Lath said the environment protection initiatives taken by the administration helped checking air and water pollution levels. +ACI-A solid waste management project with an outlay of Rs.1 crore (+ACQ-150,000) is ongoing in the district. Likewise, building toilets under the Swatch Bharat Mission-Gramin is also under way,+ACI- a beaming Lath told IANS. He said several toilets have been built and the villagers have been sensitized against going into the fields to attend to nature's call. The construction of toilets is a major focus area and 30 percent of the remaining panchayats would soon be made +ACI-open defecation-free+ACI-, he added. Most of the villages of Kinnaur, which remain cut off from the rest of the country for more than six months a year owing to heavy snowfall, are known for their rich tribal culture and traditions. The district is home to a population of 31,528 as per the 2011 census. There is a tradition in this tribal-dominated district to welcome guests with a garland of dry fruits and a round Kinnauri cap with a green flap. The district administration, based in Rekong Peo, some 250 km from the state capital Shimla and known for growing delicious apples, a few years ago banned the use of plastic mineral water bottles in all official meetings and functions. The water is served in +ACI-kulhars+ACI- or clay mugs. The district, despite facing environment degradation owing to three large hydro-electric projects that are operational in the Satluj valley and many others coming up, has more than 60 registered home-stay units, besides numerous hotels and guest houses. Kinnaur is known for legally brewing 'angoori' and 'ghanti' home-made liquor. While the former is made from distinctively flavoured black grapes grown in high altitudes, the latter is made from locally grown apples and apricots. Chitkul, a village close to the China border with a backdrop of the majestic snow-clad Kinner Kailash peaks, is a must place to visit in the district. It nestles amid virgin nature, with abundant wildlife and exquisite flora and fauna. It is also the last point in India one can travel to without a permit. This picturesque village of Kalpa, located at 9,711 feet above sea level, is known for its apple orchards and natural untouched beauty. The idyllic, pastoral settings in Kinnaur have been attracting a large number of backpackers, mainly foreigners, for mountaineering expeditions, high-altitude treks and white-water rafting. Getting to Kinnaur How to travel: By public or private transport. Cabs normally charge around Rs.5,000 from Shimla (one-way) to Rekong Peo and it takes at least 12 hours. Distance: 250 km from state capital Shimla to Rekong Peo. Where to stay: Small hotels, guest houses, and even home stays with local people. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g+AEA-ians.in) --IANS vg/vm Actor Ankur Bhatia, who will essay the role of actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's character's husband in the forthcoming film "Sarbjit", says that he was not at all intimidated by the former Miss World. Ankur, who hails from New York, auditioned for the film. Then he met the film's director Omung Kumar and producer Sandeep Singh and soon he was signed up for the role. "I was not at all intimidated by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. It was absolutely wonderful working with her. She is a fine actor, amazingly beautiful and a very dignified woman," Ankur told IANS. "Sarbjit" is based on the life of Indian farmer Sarabjit Singh, who strayed into Pakistan, was convicted of terrorism and spying in Pakistan and sentenced to death. The film, which also features actors Richa Chadha and Randeep Hooda, is set to release on May 20. --IANS ks/nn/bg Nepal's deposed king Gyanendra Shah has left for New Delhi amid a political standoff in the Himalayan nation. Some media reports and leaders claimed that he has been invited by the Indian establishment and was going to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others. The stalled political process has not resumed in Nepal, including addressing the demands of Madhes-based political parties, besides there being no headway in implementation of the new constitution and resolving the row over federal boundaries, among others. No statement was made on behalf of Gyanendra's office regarding his India visit and the Indian side, too, has made no remarks. It is not known whether Gyanendra was invited by the Indian establishment or he was making a personal trip to India but his sojourn to India has stirred Nepali politics. A media report said Gyanendra has been invited by the Indian establishment this time and was going to meet Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and influential leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh. Those who saw Gyanendra at Tribhuvan International Airport on Thursday claimed he was in an upbeat mood while leaving for New Delhi. Gyanendra's visit to India also figured during a meeting of the UCPN (Maoist) Standing Committee here on Friday. "We have heard that he will have high-profile meetings in New Delhi this time," UCPN (Maoist) vice chairman Nayaran Kaji Shrestha told IANS, adding that his party was closely following Gyanendra's moves. The meeting also decided to sit in talks with the ruling CPN-UML, main opposition Nepali Congress, agitating Madhes-based parties and others to seek such common ground for national consensus on reconstruction, ending the political standoff, implementation of the constitution and completing the peace process. "If needed, we have to opt for a new government based on political consensus that can fulfil the key tasks of the nation... we should move on," said Shrestha. --IANS giri/sd/dg The compilers of the so-called dossier on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) missed their calling. The allegations of organised sex orgies read like an instalment of poorly-drafted online Literotica, composed by folks with fevered imaginations and not much in the way of language skills. It became clear, the other day, that age is stupidifying me even more than nature already has. I woke up and realised that the feminine hygiene product introduced into my lady bits the previous evening had now been there for fourteen hours. I tend to be on the psychotic side of careful about removing those things, because of the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS), so this was an emergency. Bolted to the bathroom. Scrabble for string, no string. Manual probe, cant reach. Anxiety levels Defcon 1. You sure can read the writings on the wall travelling through poll-bound West Bengal even if you dont know a word of Bangla. Because the writings on the political wall are now written not only in unusual scripts but also in unique inks. They are written in millions of tiny LED lights strung on electricity poles on Kolkatas avenues, in vinyl and cloth in the flags of the three main parties, happily sharing the same tree, rooftop, even clotheslines. And yes, some also in conventional ink on newsprint. In different scripts, these describe a political change so complex and dramatic, only 93 million Bengalis could have scripted it. Few know what RSVP stands for in its original French form. To the English speaking world, those initials at the end of an invitation effectively mean Please respond, that is, can we expect you to turn up? As schoolboys, we got the hang of the abbreviation splendidly through an imaginative expanded form Reply soon via post. Those were the pre-internet days. Those who wondered at Barack Obama's spirited attack on Britain's Brexit lobby may not have known that he and Queen Elizabeth II are cousins under the skin. London Mayor Boris Johnson might sneer that the US president nurses an "ancestral dislike of the British empire" because of his "part-Kenyan" heritage, but the American genealogist Harold Brooks-Baker, says Obama is descended from William the Conqueror, like Her Majesty. He, therefore, understands her desire to remain European. Informal pictures of him and his wife romping with the queen's great-grandson - England's next king but two - highlighted that the Windsors and the Obamas are family. Families help each other in times of difficulty. Thomas Flohr is nothing like what I expected. After reading a piece on him and his multi-million-dollar Swiss home in St Moritz in a New York Times (NYT) supplement, I had expected to meet a flamboyant, flashy real-life James Bond, enmeshed in a life of women, fast cars and fancy airplanes. Under scanner over the alleged chopper scam, Congress today shifted the heat to Chhattisgarh by levelling shady deal allegation against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the purchase of chopper by the same Italian company in the state. The Chhattisgarh government had procured Agusta A-109 power from the in 2007 for $6.5 million. The deal had armed the Congress to fire fresh salvo on the BJP even as the latter had been targeting the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the party over the alleged bribery in finalising the chopper purchase deal from during the regime of previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The BJP government in Chhattisgarh ignored all the norms to favour AgustaWestland for purchasing chopper in 2007, Chhattisgarh Congress President Bhupesh Baghel said. Initially, the state government did not invite global tender for the purchase stating that chopper was a specific product, he said, adding that later the tender was floated for a specific model of chopper in which only AgustaWestland was qualifying. The deal was finalised at $6.1 million. The state government in April 2007 asked the company to curtail the price to $5.59 million in which it had supplied the same model chopper to Jharkhand. The company however refused and the proposal was cancelled. The government later floated global tender and finalised the deal with the same company later for $6.5 million that caused heavy loss to the state exchequer. The above points had been underlined in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in 2011, Baghel added. The CAG report said the reply from the aviation department (that was headed by Chief Minister Raman Singh) was not convincing as the government first refused to invite global tender and later floated tender for a specific model that did not come under the orbit of promoting competition. The BJP is leveling charges against our president (Sonia Gandhi) without any proof and here (in Chhattisgarh) we are providing all the evidences of corruption committed in the chopper deal, Baghel said. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah must take necessary action, he demanded. The state government spokesperson did not respond to the query sent by Business Standard for its comment. Eleven people with special needs, including eight children, staying at a government-run home near here have died due to suspected bacterial infection after allegedly drinking contaminated water. With the opposition hitting out at the Rajasthan government over the deaths, the Vasundhara Raje dispensation appointed a three-member committee to probe the matter. Twenty-seven residents of the government facility in Jamdoli near here had been admitted to SMS Hospital and J K Lone hospital here. Eleven of them died between April 16 and 27. Eight persons were discharged while the others are still undergoing treatment. Though post-mortem report is still awaited, doctors are of the opinion that the people died due to suspected bacterial infection, Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi told reporters today. He said the three-member committee headed by Principal Secretary Sudarshan Sethi would submit its report in 15 days. The minister said that after receiving complaints over hygiene in the facility, a team from SMS Hospital had visited it on April 23. "After receiving complaint, a team from SMS hospital visited the hostel on April 23 and gave necessary directions to the staff. The hostel staff has been directed to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. Hand sanitizers have been placed outside every room in the hostel which has 20 rooms, 10 for boys and as many for girls," Chaturvedi said. The minister also ruled out possibility of food contamination initially and said the matter was being probed. "Reasons of the deaths would be clear in post-mortem report," he said. Superintendent of J K Lone Hospital, Dr Ashok Gupta said the children who were admitted to that hospital were suffering from septic shock -- complication of infection where toxins can initiate a full body inflammatory response-- and high blood pressure. "The children were admitted to the hospital between April 21 and 28. Seven of them have died, while four are undergoing treatment. Of them, three are critical," Gupta said. All of them were admitted after they complained of vomiting and other problems, he said. Opposition Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the children were taken ill apparently after drinking contaminated water at the government home, and demanded action against those responsible for the tragedy. "It is very serious issue that the children who had special needs have died. The government should order a high-level inquiry into the matter," Pilot, who also visited the hospital, said. Meanwhile, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the incident and said the Social Justice and Empowerment minister, Arun Chaturvedi was irresponsible and insensitive in reacting to the matter. "The incident is very unfortunate and serious in nature but the minister was irresponsible while giving his statements. BJP government is solely responsible for the 11 deaths," he said. The deceased include Varsha (13), Rajesh (15), Jyoti (15), Asha (15), Medha (13), Pappu (14), Vikas (14), Naved (16) Bhanu (30), Shanti (18) and Gayatri (23). The hostel had 200 residents-- 104 boys and 96 girls. Rights activists demanded Chaturvedi's resignation for failing to tackle the situation. "Chaturvedi has lost moral responsibility to remain the minister and he should resign with immediate effect. Action against those guilty should also be taken," People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) activists Kavita Srivastava and Nisha Siddu said in a joint statement. Three people, including a woman, accused of providing thousands of pounds to Islamic State militant Mohamed Abrini who is linked to deadly attacks in Paris and Brussels, appeared in a court here today. Mohammed Ali Ahmed and Zakaria Boufassil, both 26-year-old, are accused of handing over Abrini 3,000 pounds when he was in Birmingham last year. 31-year-old Abrini is charged with terror offences after admitting he was the "man in the hat" caught on CCTV minutes before the bombings at Brussels Airport on March 22 which left 320people dead. He was arrested on April 8. They appeared with Zakaria's sister Soumaya Bouffasil, 29, who is accused of collecting money for terrorist purposes along with Ahmed. All three, arrested earlier this month, are based in Birmingham but while Ahmed is a British national, the Boufassil brother-sister duo are Belgian-Moroccans. They were all remanded in custody by chief magistrate Howard Riddleat Westminster Magistrates' court and will now appear at the Old Bailey court in London on May 13. They are accused of entering into an arrangement in which money was made available to another person, and that they knew, or had reasonable cause to suspect, it would or may be used for the purposes of terrorism. Their charge of preparation of terrorist acts between January 1, 2015 and April 8, 2016, falls under Section 5 of the UK's Terrorism Act 2016. A fourth man, 40-year-old Fazal Sajjad Younis Khan, was charged with possession of CS spray (tear gas) and has been bailed to appear before Birmingham Magistrates' Court on May 13. A 59-year-old man remains on bail with strict conditions while the West Midlands Police investigation continues. Abrini was previously wanted in connection with the Islamic State attacks on Paris in November which left 130 people dead. He was spotted in a car with fellow suspect Salah Abdeslam. Three people were arrested today from Nepal-China border for smuggling 18 kg of gold biscuits worth Rs 90 million to the country, police said. The police have seized 18 kg of gold biscuits worth Rs 90 million from them during a security check from Barhabise area of Sindhupalchowk district near Nepal-China border. A police team deployed from the Barhabise area police post nabbed the three from a car in which they had left to Kathmandu, police said. The police has initiated further investigation into the matter after taking them into custody. Forty-one soldiers have lost their lives in Glacier since 2013, the government said Friday. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply in Lok Sabha said 10 soldiers were killed in 2013, eight and nine in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Till March 31, 14 soldiers have died this year, Parrikar said. Troops being posted in high altitude areas are trained in 'Basic and Advance' skills in mountains and snow-bound areas, he said, adding medical equipment exist in all posts to cater for emergencies. Best quality of winter clothing and equipment is procured to prevent weather-related casualties. Modern means of conveyance like snow scooters are utilised to ensure timely reaction to any eventuality and reduce fatigue. A number of specialised equipment have also been deployed in avalanche- prone areas, he said. Nearly 35 per cent or 27.5 crore adults in India consume tobacco in some form or the other and the prevalence among males is 48 per cent, while in females it is 20 per cent, Lok Sabha was told today. New rules had been notified for making it mandatory to carry pictorial health warnings occupying at least 85 per cent of the principal display area of the tobacco package, which includes 25 per cent of textual health warning, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said. "As per Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-India 2010), about 35 per cent of the adults in India consume tobacco in some form or the other. The estimated number of tobacco users in India is 27.5 crore, with 16.37 crore users of smokeless tobacco, 6.9 crore only smokers and 4.23 crore users of both smoking and smokeless tobacco," Nadda said. He said the prevalence of overall tobacco use among males is 48 per cent and that among females is 20 per cent while among both males and females, the prevalence of tobacco use is higher in rural than urban areas. "More than half of rural males (52 per cent) and 24 per cent of rural females use tobacco compared with 38 per cent of urban males and 12 per cent of urban females," he said. Nadda said as per the report of Tobacco Control in India (2004), nearly 8-9 lakh people die every year due to diseases attributable to tobacco use. A nationally representative study on smoking and death in India (published in 2008) found that smoking causes a large and growing number of premature deaths in the country. The study estimated that in 2010, the annual number of deaths from smoking in India would be around 10 lakhs, he added. Nadda said that published scientific literature suggests that exposure to promotional activities for tobacco leads to initiation and progression of tobacco use among youth and young adults in the country. "Research corroborates that exposure to tobacco advertisements and receptivity to tobacco marketing are significantly related to increased tobacco use among students. There is evidence to suggest independent association between tobacco use in Indian movies and over tobacco use among adolescents in India," he said. The Union Health Minister said that the government has banned certain kinds of smokeless tobacco products like gutkha and chewing tobacco through notification issued under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. He said that other tobacco products are regulated by Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003). Replying to another question,Nadda said that his Ministry has notified the new health warnings through the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules. The new Rules on pictorial health warnings has come into effect from April 1, 2016. He said that as per the ICMR study "Assessment of Burden of Disease due to Non-Communicable Diseases (2006)", based on analysis of published literature till 2004, the risk of disease attributable to tobacco use was 78 per cent for stroke, 65.6 per cent for tuberculosis, 85.2 per cent for ischemic heart disease, 52 per cent for acute myocardial infarction, 43 per cent for oesophageal cancer, and 16 per cent for lung cancer respectively. "Essentially, all body systems (Nervous, Respiratory, Digestive, Circulatory & Haematological, Immune, Endocrine & Metabolism, Excretory, Reproductive, Sensory, Cutaneous, and Skeletal) are affected by smoking. "Consumption of smokeless tobacco products may cause oral cancer, pancreatic cancer, oesophageal cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic bronchitis (linked to use of snuff), low birth weight babies and stillbirths, reduced fertility in men, retarded wound healing, periodontal diseases, halitosis (bad breath), and oral infections," he said. Five persons were killed and one injured when the car in which they were travelling collided with a dumper in Bihar's Siwan district early today, a senior police officer said. The incident took place at a village near Chainpur police outpost of the district when the victims, all residents of Jiradei in Siwan district, were returning from a wedding, Saurabh Kumar, SP Siwan said. The driver of the dumper fled after the accident and search is on for him, the SP said. The mishap took place some 25 km from the district headquarters under Siwan police station area, Kumar added. Seven children with special needs, who were staying at a government-run home in Jamdoli near here have died over the last eight days in a hospital where they were admitted with septic shock after allegedly drinking contaminated water. The condition of three others is stated to be critical. "Children were admitted to the hospital between April 21 and 28. Seven of them have died, while four are undergoing treatment. Of them, three are critical," Dr Ashok Gupta, Superintendent of JK Lone hospital said. He said the children belonging to different age groups were suffering from septic shock -- complication of infection where toxins can initiate a full body inflammatory response-- and high blood pressure. All of them were admitted after they complained of vomiting and other problems, he said. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister of the state Arun Chaturvedi visited the children undergoing treatment at the hospital today. Opposition Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that the children were taken ill apparently after drinking contaminated water at the government home, and demanded action against those responsible for the tragedy. "It is very serious issue that the children who had special needs have died. The government should order a high-level inquiry into the matter," Pilot, who also visited the hospital, said. A group of drug peddlers, allegedly of foreign origin, hurled stones at a police party injuring seven policemen during a raid at Wadi Bunder area in South Mumbai, prompting them to fire three rounds in the air. The incident took place late last night, in which two foreign nationals-- Infunanya Ginika Minke (37) and Ique Chikwneni Emaniyal (24)-- were arrested by city Crime Branch and cocaine worth Rs 2.5 lakh was seized from them. According to the police, a raid was conducted at Wadi Bunder around 11.30 pm, following which the group of drug peddlers started fleeing away from the spot taking advantage of darkness. "The area was dimly lit and there was complete darkness along the railway tracks. After the raid, the group members started running from the spot and during the chase they even attacked police with stones, which they picked up from the nearby railway tracks," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Atul Kulkarni said. "More than two dozen drug peddlers had become aggressive and were trying to attack the police team. In order to bring the situation under control, three rounds were fired in air by police," he added. Two inspectors, one assistant inspector and four police naiks were injured in stone pelting. However, none of them was seriously hurt. The arrested duo was booked under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) as well as the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Apart from the 40 gram cocaine, police recovered seven mobile phones, a digital weighing machine and Rs 44,000 cash from the accused. The duo was handed over to Dongri police, who are carrying out further probe into the case. Eight members of a family were killed when their car rammed into a roadside tree in neighbouring Mahoba district today, police said. Two brothers along with their family, were on the way to attend a wedding in Chatarpur, Madhya Pradesh when the mishap took place near Sura police chowki, ASP Mahoba Rajesh Saxena said. Brijesh (35), his wife Kanchan (32), his brother Sarvesh (30) and sister-in-law Risu (29) and four children of both the couples were among those killed, the ASP said. While six persons died on the spot, two children succumbed to injuries in hospital, Saxena said, adding, both the brothers are businessmen in Mumbai. A prominent Afghan lawmaker today asked the US to stop all financial and military aid to Pakistan, including sale of F-16 jets, and impose economic sanctions, saying that the Pakistani government was providing safe havens to terrorists. "We ask the US Government to stop all its financial and military aid to Pakistan, including F-16, and impose tough economic sanctions on Pakistan because of its support to terrorist group," Mohammad Naeem Hamidzai Lalai, a member of Afghan Parliament from Kandahar city said. Lalai is currently on a visit to the UN headquarters in New York and Washington wherein he has been meeting members of the international community, US Government officials and Congressmen briefing them about the continued terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan. "Instead of the US helping Pakistan with military aid, they can help Afghanistan with the same exact aid. Not only Pakistan has provided safe havens to terrorists, they have also violated the international border and attacked the Afghan security force inside Afghanistan," he told PTI. Lalai said he and other members of the visiting Afghan delegation has been telling the US official and lawmakers that the US Government should not help or support those countries who train and support terrorist organisation. "Instead sanctions must be imposed on such countries, to stop them from doing so," he said. "The United States has to realise that the roots of terrorism cannot be eradicated unless its financial aid to Pakistan is stopped. The earlier the better," he said and warned that the government and people of Pakistan are getting ready to take action against the country if it continues with its current policy. Prominent among these include launching of civil movement inside Balochistan and border areas of Pakistan. "We can go to the extent of shutting down the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul," he said. "These terrorist groups are all trained and raised in Multan, Punjab and other parts of the country. They not only killed innocent Afghan citizens, they have also inflicted heavy casualties to the Americans in Afghanistan," he said. "The American Congressmen, Senators all know this," he said. "I am not saying that every Pakistani is a terrorist, but every terrorist has a link in Pakistan. They are either trained or their finances are linked with Pakistan," Lalai said. Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander has been signed on for the untitled Tomb Raider reboot. The 27-year-old "Ex Machina" actress is attached to play the heroine made famous by Angelina Jolie in the two previous movies. Daisy Ridley was previously rumored for the upcoming revamped version, reported Ace Showbiz. Based on a popular video game of the same name, the Lara Croft saga was first adapted into a movie in 2001. It was followed by a sequel "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" in 2003. The remake hasn't got a release date but has secured Norwegian director Roar Uthaug. The storyline is still unclear but the new film is expected to focus on Lara Croft's origin story. It seems to follow in the footstep of the video game which also got rebooted in 2013 by depicting her first adventure as an archaeology student. Vikander won Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards for her role in "The Danish Girl". Her next movies include "Jason Bourne" with Matt Damon and "The Light Between Oceans" with her real-life boyfriend Michael Fassbender. Himachal Youth Congress president and Vikramaditya Singh, today termed as "false" the allegation of corruption and disproportionate assets against his father and chief minister Virbhadra Singh saying the Finance Ministry is "using" Enforcement Directorate in the matter. The Finance Ministry, headed by Arun Jaitley, is using the ED to institute a false investigation against the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, he told reporters here. Vikramaditya accused the Centre of destabilising Harish Rawat-led Uttrakhand government and said Congress will emerge victorious in this "political gimmick". He also slammed Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Prem Kumar Dhumal, of making callous statements about the early polls in the state and said the Congress government was strong and stable and would not only complete its full term but also return to power again in 2017. He said the party's victory in the recently concluded municipal corporation polls in Dharamshala and the Panchayati Raj electionswas an indication that Congress is on a firm footing in the state. The members of Youth Congress will tour all five assembly constituencies in Hamirpur District from May 12 to May 20to express gratitude to the public, who have overwhelmingly voted in the favour of the Congress, he said. On the occasion, he apologised for the cancellation of 'Congress Yuva Maha sammelan' and said that the event will soon be organized at Paddal ground in Mandi. Alok Kumar, a senior official of Delhi Police Special Cell, will be the new Additional Commissioner in Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) He will replace S S Yadav who had expressed concerns over life and liberty after M K Meena took over as the chief of the anti-graft body. Soon after Meena, who is now Special Commissioner in Delhi Police, had taken over as ACB chief last year, Yadav had expressed concerns over life and liberty, escalating tensions between the two officers. Kumar, a 2000-batch IPS officer, had served in Delhi Police Vigilance branch and headed the Central police district before joining Special Cell for a second spell. He played an active role as an investigator during the controversial 2008 Batla House operation. "The Lt Governor is pleased to order transfer/posting of Shri Alok Kumar from Special Cell to Anti-Corruption Branch as an Additional Commissioner of Police with immediate effect against S S Yadav who has proceeded on training," an order issued by Delhi government said today. The Delhi government had moved the Delhi High Court seeking restrain on Meena's appointment, which was turned down. Meanwhile, Meena, who has been at loggerheads with the AAP government over a range of issues since his appointment as the anti-graft body chief, will continues to be in ACB with his recent transfer order sending him to the Andaman and Nicobar islands being cancelled by the Union Home Ministry yesterday. Earlier this month, he was promoted to the rank of Additional DG, equivalent to Special Commissioner in Delhi Police. Intensifying his attack, BJP President Amit Shah today targeted Congress chief Sonia Gandhi once again over the VVIP chopper scam asking her to explain a "number of relaxations" given to AgustaWestland which, he alleged, compromised India's interests. Posing questions to Gandhi before the media, he said reports of bribery in the deal appeared in the Italian media soon after the it was finalised but the then UPA government went ahead with it instead of invoking a tender clause, which enabled it to be put on hold. The deal was "put on hold" only in 2013 after corruption was "proved", he said adding the Congress chief should answer who was behind the delay. Shah said the tender for the purchase of choppers allowed only original equipment manufacturers (OEM) but AgustaWestland was allowed to compete even though it was not an OEM. "I want to ask the Congress President as to who was behind the change? Who ensured that the company was found technically qualified? Who was behind the changes in the tender conditions?" he asked at a press conference. Raising another question, he said when the deal was done, one of the conditions was that the field evaluation trial of the choppers would be carried out in India but it was later changed and the firm was allowed to do so in its premises. "Conditions were changed abruptly. Did it not play with India's interests? Did it not compromise the seriousness of trial? Did the then Defence Minister give the permission? On whose behest did it happen? Sonia Gandhi should answer it too," he said. He also refuted the claim of Congress that all the money given by AgustaWestland under the ban guarantee has returned to India and said only a part of it has been encashed. "Congress chief should herself answer these questions be appearing before people, by appearing before the media," he said. The Congress should come out of the mindset of "thief scolding a cop". Yesterday, Shah attacked Gandhi and asker to name the bribe takers in the Rs.3,600 core chopper deal but Congress hit back saying his demand was a "no confidence vote" in the Modi government which has "failed" in its job of investigating it properly in last two years. (REOPENS DEL32) Shah said that after corruption in the AgustaWestland deal was established in the Italian Court, Congress leaders and former ministers in UPA government are trying to "mislead" the public by raising different questions and versions. Attacking Sonia, he said "Congress is trying to mislead the public with its leaders and former UPA ministers raising different questions on the issue." In this regard, Shah posed a set of questions to Sonia Gandhi and said the Congress leader should answer the questions in public. As temperatures soar in the city, Mumbaikars are searching for cooler destinations overseas to escape the heat and Amsterdam in the Netherlands has emerged as the favourite, according to a report. A data by online travel search engine Skyscanner said Indians are in search of cooler climes this summer with Amsterdam as the most in demand destination from Mumbai. Year-on-year growth in searches is based on searches performed from October 2015 to March 2016 to travel during May 2016 to July 2016 in comparison to searches performed from October 2014 to March 2015 to travel during May 2015, it said. The number of searches to 'The Venice of the North' that has an average daily temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, surged 118 per cent from 2015. Dubai takes the second spot with a 64 per cent rise in searches, closely followed by Paris in France where searches jumped 61 per cent, it said. Traditional favourites London and New York have not been forgotten as the metropolitan hubs recorded year-on-year rises of 49 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively. "Our search data has revealed European cities are still among the most popular destinations for getaways this summer. Amsterdam, Paris and London have all seen high growth in the number of Y-o-Y searches. However, nearby Dubai is fast emerging as a favourite holiday destinations for Indians, offering luxury shopping and stunning architecture without the long haul flight," Skyscanner India Manager, Growth Strategy, Ravish Doctor said. Skyscanner is a global travel search company providing free search of flights, hotels and car hire. Newly revamped and PPP-based public distribution scheme Annapurna Bhandar, which was initiated by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, will soon be remodeled with a new brand 'Sabse Achcha Sabse Sasta' in Rajasthan. A special drive would also be launched to motivate more fair-price shop dealers to join the scheme. Reviewing the scheme at her residence today, the chief minister said this was a unique PDS scheme in the country in under which common people were getting essential consumer products at reasonable prices through the public-private- partnership shops. She suggested strengthening the scheme by making it more consumer friendly. Raje suggested Future Group, the private partner of scheme, to set up a helpline for the dealers of fair price shops, so that the issues pertaining to the scheme could be resolved in time. She further asked for price restructuring of some consumer products. Principal Secretary Food and Civil Supplies Subodh Agarwal and other officers were present in the meeting, a release said. China is challenging respect for international law, freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes which is a cause of concern for many Asian countries, forcing them to reach out to the US, top American officials have said. "There are certain aspects of Chinese behaviour that are very disturbing to us. They're deeply disturbing to countries in the region, which has them all coming to us and is having the effect of causing self-isolation by China," Defence Secretary Ashton Carter told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing. Carter has just returned from a trip to India and the Philippines. "We are reacting ourselves and we're being increasingly invited to work with countries, long-standing allies and strong allies like the Philippines, and that's where the sites you see and correctly have on the map here come in, but also new partners like Vietnam. I was in India a week-and-a-half ago. Many of them concerned about Chinese behaviour," Carter said. At another Congressional hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US is intensely focused on maritime issues especially China's assertive and provocative behaviour in the South China Sea. China is challenging respect for international law, freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes, he alleged. "We've also deepened our commitment to the US-Australia- Japan trilateral strategic dialogue, hosted the inaugural US-Japan-Indian trilateral ministerial dialogue," he said. "These bilateral, trilateral and multilateral relationships are not aimed at any particular country. They are not exclusive. We welcome any kind of flexible geometry of collaboration among countries that share important goals including steps towards greater China- Korea-Japan cooperation and the growing unity of the ASEAN community," Blinken said. At the same time, Blinken said the US is not looking for conflict with China in South China Sea. "We're looking to prevent conflict. What's at stake here is not just the transit of oil, energy, goods, as important as -- there are larger principles at stake. These principles go to the entire foundation of the international order. If we don't defend those principles everywhere where they're being challenged the entire order that we've invested so much in building over seven years is at risk," he said. Blinken said there has been a significant buildup in China's military capacity over the last couple of decades, and in recent years. "Some of that I guess on one level is not surprising. As China grows and is more engaged in the region it wants to protect those expanding interests, and what we've seen though are two things," he said. Assam Governor P B Acharya today urged the women wing of industry body FICCI to inspire students to start their own enterprise for becoming 'job givers' instead of 'job seekers'. Speaking at the 9th Annual Session of FLO here, Acharya said the mindset of society has to change for India to be a great nation and that FLO could be a catalyst by being an interface between educational institutions and the industry. Asserting that the curriculum of graduate courses was not in tune with the needs of the industry leaving them job seekers, he exhorted FLO, the women's wing of FICCI, to hold their annual meetings in universities for inspiring students to start their own enterprise to give employment to others instead of being job seekers. FLO North East Chairperson Joyshree Das Verma while giving an account of the chapter's performance during 2015-16 said the year saw successful launches of projects related to women empowerment, start of free training of women in non-traditional sectors such as driving, launch of FLO Women Director Initiative, among others. Swayam, the mentorship cell for women entrepreneurs of the chapter, has gained momentum with conversions, State Bank of India partnering with FLO in facilitation of Small Micro Enterprise finance, Verma, said, adding that FLO is committed towards its vision of 'Changing lives - Women Empowering Women' and its mission of entrepreneurship development. As part of its annual honouring women achievers, FLO NE presented awards to noted Assamese film actress of yesteryears Jyanada Kakoti, women's rights organisation North East Network founder Monisha Behal, IPS officer Dr Sanjukta Parashar, among others In the Change of Guard ceremony of FLO NE, the Chairperson handed over the baton to Indrani Deb for 2016-17 with Prabidita Bharati as Senior Vice Chairperson and Alakananda Das as Vice Chairperson. The investigation into the alleged attack on anti-mining tribal activist Ravindra Velip in a Goa jail has failed to get any material evidence to identify the culprits. "We could not get the material evidence in the case. The report would be submitted to the state government on coming Monday," North Goa's Additional Collector Swapnil Naik, who conducted the inquiry, told PTI. Velip had last month complained that he was assaulted by unknown persons inside the judicial lock up at Vasco where he was lodged along with other activists for protesting against the mining operations in Cauvrem village of South Goa. Later, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged attack on Velip. "There was no third party evidence. What we had was only direct allegations from Velip and jail authority witnesses denying the same," Naik said. During the inquiry, total 25 statements were recorded including that of Velip, jail staff, prisoners and others. Naik said during the inquiry it was revealed there are CCTV cameras in the jail but no footage was recorded. NIA has filed a charge sheet against an NSCN-IM militant in connection with the ambush on an army convoy in Arunachal Pradesh on April 2, 2015, in which three jawans were killed. The charge sheet was filed before a National Investigation Agency Special Court for Arunachal Pradesh at Yupia yesterday in which NSCN(IM) militant Kapai alias Singmayo Kapai, a resident of Nagaland, has been named as the key accused. NIA told the court that it would continue further investigation in the case as certain other accused are yet to be apprehended, a release issued by the agency here said today. According to NIA, militants belonging to NSCN(IM) ambushed the convoy of army soldiers on April 2 on Khonsa-Longding road near Tupi village, about 15 km from Khonsa Police Station in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. Three army personnel were killed and three others were seriously injured in the incident. During the course of investigation, NIA collected evidence from the field as well as technical and forensic evidence, which was submitted along with the charge sheet to the Special Court. Australian today knocked back the sale of the country's biggest private landowner, cattle firm S Kidman and Co., to a Chinese-led consortium citing national interest. The grouping of Chinese-owned Dakang Australia Holding and ASX-listed Australian Rural Capital (ARC) was the preferred buyer with an offer worth more than Aus$370 million (US$283 million). But Treasurer Scott Morrison told reporters the proposal was "contrary to the national interest", adding that the decision was preliminary and consortium had until Tuesday to respond. The government had already halted the sale of Kidman to foreign entities last year, ruling it was not in the national interest given that part of its land was in a weapons testing area. As a result, the Anna Creek station in South Australia, which is next to a rocket testing range, was separated out and no longer included in the deal. Kidman has attracted keen interest from Chinese firms wanting to secure the sprawling pastoral empire and the consortium committed to make a takeover offer for 100 percent of its stock at Aus$31.38 per share. The takeover bid, backed by Kidman, involved Dakang Australia acquiring 80 per cent and ARC 20 per cent, with the partners jointly overseeing the management of the business. "Given the size and significance of the Kidman portfolio I am concerned that the acquisition of an 80 per cent interest ... May be contrary to the national interest," Morrison said in a statement. The proposal comes at a time of growing concerns about valuable agricultural and mineral assets passing into foreign hands. "Government welcomes foreign investment where it is consistent with our national interests," Morrison added. "However, we must always ensure it is on our own terms. There are not too many jurisdictions anywhere in the world where foreign acquisition of large holdings would be permitted." Dakang Australia is 51-per cent owned by a subsidiary of Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming, whose major shareholder is Shanghai Pengxin Group, while 49 per cent is held by the unlisted Shanghai CRED Real Estate Stock. The consortium has said the purchase would increase production and expand international markets for Kidman's beef. Kidman, founded in 1899, holds around 1.3 per cent of Australia's total land area, and 2.5 per cent of the nation's agricultural land. Even without Anna Creek it represents two percent of agricultural land. It is a key source of beef for export to Japan, the United States and Southeast Asia. Australia was scrambling today to verify reports that an aid worker from Perth has been kidnapped by armed men in Afghanistan. The woman was taken in the city of Jalalabad, close to the border with Pakistan, on Thursday, a government official in the area told AFP. "She visited the city of Jalalabad for a women's embroidery project," said Ataullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital. "And unknown masked gunmen abducted her from Police District 2 of Jalalabad city." He declined to give further details about her nationality but the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said she was an Australian from the western city of Perth. "The Australian government is working to confirm the reported kidnapping of an Australian in Afghanistan," the department of foreign affairs said. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was quoted by the broadcaster as saying the government was liaising with Afghan authorities to find out more. "We are in close contact with the family, we are working with Afghan authorities but at this stage there are still a number of matters that need to be confirmed before I can say anything more publicly about it," she said. According to reports, the woman used to work with the Danish Committee for Aid to Refugees, an NGO that has been in Afghanistan since 1984. A district court today rejected a plea for regular bail to seven businessmen, six of them from Gujarat and one from Uttar Pradesh, who were jailed for consuming liquor in breach of total prohibition in Bihar two days ago. Judicial Magistrate of Patna District Court Kiran Chaturvedi rejected the application moved by the jailed persons' counsel seeking regular bail for his clients who have been put behind the bars in connection with a case lodged against them for consuming liqour in a posh hotel two days ago. The businessmen were sent to jail yesterday for 14 days by Magistrate Supriya Goswami after they were produced in the court following their arrest under Excise Act by police. They were picked up from a posh hotel while consuming Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) three days ago despite a complete ban on alcohol being in place in Bihar since April 5 last. The police had also recovered seven empty bottles of premium brands from their room in the hotel. During questioning, the businessmen, who had come for a marriage here, pleaded that they were not aware of liquor ban in Bihar. The BJP today flayed NCP chief Sharad Pawar for suggesting that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was the most credible face of an anti-BJP alliance and reminded the Maratha strongman that he too had left Congress to "nurse his own dream to become the PM, but it remained a pipe dream only". "Pawar has needlessly fuelled Nitish Kumar's prime ministerial ambition by describing him as a leader with right credentials for the top executive post," BJP national spokesman Syed Shahanwaz Hussain told PTI over phone. In an interview yesterday, the NCP chief had said Nitish Kumar would be the most credible face of an anti-BJP alliance. "...He (Pawar) should remember he too had dreamt for the same post and left the Congress to nurse his ambitions that ended up being a pipe dream only," Shahanwaz said. He said the prime ministerial ambition of the NCP chief and his JD(U) counterpart remained unfulfilled despite change in political situation over the past two decades. "Like Pawar's dream ending up being a 'pipe dream' only, Kumar's identical aspiration will too fall far short given the strength of his party - JD(U) - which has only two members in the Lok Sabha," the BJP leader said. He said one has right to nurse whatever ambitions (he has) in a democratic system but a leader must take a realistic look at the strength of his party before nursing prime ministerial ambition. Asking Nitish to strengthen his party in Parliament before staking claim over the post, he said, "The JD(U) does not represent entire Bihar let alone being a national party." "Like the JD(U), the BJP too had two MPs in the eighth Lok Sabha, but it worked hard in subsequent years to make its presence felt on the political turf before its stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee could become Prime Minister in 1996," Hussain recalled. "Like us, Nitish Kumar will have to work hard to build his party and enhance its appeal among the people not only in Bihar, but other parts of the country to gain numbers in Parliament...He should throw his hat in the prime ministerial race after doing hardwork on the ground," he said. Hussain said the Bihar Chief Minister will have to overcome strong challenge from the BJP which has a strong leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Even otherwise, Kumar will have to withstand challenges from the UPA and other regional parties whose leaders, like Rahul Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav also nurse the ambition," he said. A Congress member in Rajya Sabha today raised the issue of police lathicharge at NIT in Srinagar and accused the ruling BJP of not allowing the students to hoist the national flag there. During the Zero Hour, Pramod Tiwari said ever since BJP government came to power at the Centre, organisations related to it were trying to create unrest in educational institutions, be it Hyderbad University, JNU or NIT Srinagar. He accused the ruling party of adopting double standards regarding national flag, saying BJP's policy regarding the national flag in Kashmir was different from the rest of the country. Students of the NIT wanted to hoist the national flag at their campus, but they were beaten up, he said, adding that these NIT students were now protesting in Delhi. "They (students) were only demanding that they be allowed to hoist the national flag and BJP government is not letting them hoist the tricolour...They are not permitting this," the Congress member said while criticising BJP and organisations related to it. He alleged that the BJP was "sowing seeds of poison" in educational insitutions of the country. Prabhat Jha (BJP) raised the issue of spread of cancer among children in the age grouo of 1-14 years. Citing a report, he said about 50 children in this age bracket die of cancer on an average each day. The toll due to cancer in the children is about 18,000 a year, he said. He asked the government to study the report and demanded a national policy for detection and prevention of cancer in the children. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said that cancer is so rampant that government should take the issue very seriously as the disease is spreading "like anything in the country". Responding to it, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was taking steps to deal with the problems posed by cancer. In his Zero Hour mention, Motilal Vora (Cong) Mahyco Monsanto Biotech Ltd (MMBL) was illegally extracting money from cotton farmers. He said farmers were being cheated of Rs 1,300 per 450 gram packet of cotton seeds. He asked the government to recover the illegal extractions made by the company. The BJP and Shiv Sena today welcomed the Bombay High Court's order on scam-tainted Adarsh Housing Society in South Mumbai terming it as "historic" while the Congress, which was haunted by the multi-crore case leading to the resignation of Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra Chief Minister, said the ruling has nothing to do with the party or its leaders. "This is a historic decision by the High Court. This is the first time the Court has ordered the demolition of the building, almost 30 years after 'Pratibha' (a housing society off Warden Road) was demolished. This is a heavy blow to corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Now (ex-CM) Ashok Chavan will have to face and answer more tough questions as he had given the required sanctions to construct the (housing) society," BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said. However, Chavan, who had to step down as CM in 2010, in the wake of the controversy and is facing prosecution in the case, told PTI, "I have not received the copy of the order. Unless I get it in my hand, I cannot comment on the issue." BJP leader Prem Shukla said, "Adarsh tower was erected on the corruption culture which was rampant in the Congress and today High Court has stamped it. Also, it should not be forgotten that it was the Congress which appointed Ashok Chavan, who lost his Chief Ministership on account of Adarsh scam, as the party's state unit chief later." Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said the court order has "exposed the cancer of corruption" during the previous Congress-NCP regime. "While in Opposition, we had raised this issue time and again in the State Legislature. The Commission set up by the previous government just before elections had tried to give them a clean chit against which we had raised our voice," Gore said. "HC has been very clear in its decision. It reaffirms the irregularities and has exposed the cancer of corruption prevalent during the Congress-NCP government," she added. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said his party will continue with its legal battle to prove innocence of its leaders. "The Congress party and our leaders have nothing to do with the demolishing of the building. The matter is between the petitioners and the High Court. As far as our leaders are concerned, we will fight the legal battle to prove we have not been involved in any wrongdoings," Sawant said. However, former Union Minister Milind Deora tweeted, "Adarsh verdict sends a strong message to bureaucrats & ALL political parties: the days of profiting from government land are long gone. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said nobody is above law and if rules have been broken, the guilty should be brought to justice. "If there are irregularities by bureaucrats or ministers, there should be action within the frame of law. Let the government take its decision. If anyone has violated rules, the court's decision should be welcomed. Nobody, whether it is minister or bureaucrat is above law. If power has been misused, nobody should be spared," Malik said. IPS officer turned advocate Y P Singh also hailed the HC order and said that its a half judgement and officers and politicians are yet to tried and sentenced. "High Court has ordered to demolish the tower that was built owing to corrupt practises due to nexus of politicians and bureaucrats. This is a very important step and nobody would be spared now," said Singh who drafted the pleas on the behalf of petitioners. BJP will face the same electoral drubbing across the country that it had in Bihar, former Union minister and legal luminary Ram Jethmalani claimed today while launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "not fulfilling" his key poll promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad. Alleging that Modi has no intention of bringing back the illegal wealth from foreign countries, he vowed to fight with all his "might" to pursue the matter. "Modi fooled me. He had no intention to bring back black money. See what happened to BJP and Modi in Bihar. This will happen to them all over the country," the veteran lawyer told reporters. Jethmalani also wondered why the NDA government has not "shown" any interest in getting details of people having black money in foreign banks when the German government had offered to share the information it had acquired. "Modi misguided even me. He had told me that Rs 90 lakh crore had been stolen from poor people of India and was kept in foreign banks. He said in his election rallies that he will give each citizen Rs 15 lakh after bringing back the amount. I believed in him because I have been fighting against black money at the Supreme Court since 2009," said Jethmalani. He said the German government had procured details of 1400 bank accounts through an employee of Liechtenstein bank and that Swiss Bankers Association had announced that most of these account holders were Indians. "All governments approached Germany but no one (from India) went there except me. I was told by the German government that Indian government had not sought any information about the account holders. "BJP president Amit Shah even said that the talk of bringing back black money during election was gimmick," he said. Jethmalani said following a Supreme Court order in 2011, he received 17 letters relating to correspondence between Indian and German government about the issue but names of the letter writers and recipients were smeared with indelible ink. "I found out that the correspondence was not with German government but with a small tax office concerned with double taxation avoidance treaty... They had corresponded with that office and not with the German government. Even that correspondence was stopped in 2009. "I said to them that we will go to the court and they will be sent to the jail for the forgery of removing names from the list. The letters were written when P Chidambaram was Finance Minister. But Arun Jaitley suppressed that correspondence. In 2014 I got those letters," claimed Jethmalani. A book celebrating the lives of 21 Param Vir Chakra winners written by a well-known Indian social activist was launched here by Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Navtej Sarna. 'Param Vir: A War Diary' by Manju Lodha captures 21 instances of bravery recounted by the friends and families of Param Vir Chakra awardees, the highest military honour bestowed by India to those serving in the Indian armed forces. "Soldiers are the real heroes. If not for them, we would not be leading a peaceful life. I have the highest gratitude for them," said Lodha at a special launch event at Nehru Centre here. "Writing about all these unsung heroes, even if I have not been able to meet with many of them, has been a most fulfilling experience. It is almost as if I have lived and experienced their lives, and everyone reading this book would know about their valour and bravery. I salute them," she added. Lodha, who is also chair of the Lodha Foundation - set up by the Mumbai-headquartered real estate giant Lodha Group, wants all proceeds from the book to go into the foundation which will then be passed on to the Indian Army. "Lodha Foundation was established in 2007 and implements developmental initiatives in Mumbai. We intend to hand over all proceeds from the sale of this book to the Army, for them to use in the best way they see fit," she said. The germ of the idea for the book dates back to 2014 when the Lodha Group organised a special event attended by around 150,000 people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lata Mangeshkar song 'Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo'. The original Hindi version of the book was launched in February 2015 with the English translation now set for the global markets. "This book is a tremendous gesture. The immense courage and valour of the armed forces in defence of the country is something we don't recognise enough, unfortunately. We take it for granted. The author deserves all our compliments for documenting our heroes and their memory," Sarna said. The book, interspersed with poetry, traces the entire history of India's highest gallantry medal, from its designer Savitribai Khanolkar to the various wars fought by Indian soldiers over the decades. Britain's Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn today faced intense pressure over alleged anti-Semitism among far-leftists in his party less than a week before his leadership is tested by local elections. Corbyn was forced to cancel a campaign trip to Wales but denied there was a crisis after senior party member and former London mayor Ken Livingstone was suspended for linking Adolf Hitler to Zionism. Labour deputy leader Tom Watson told BBC radio that the remarks about Hitler were "provocative" and "obviously caused great offence", promising "zero-tolerance" against anti-Semitism. "We are going to deal with this," he said. The dispute has been simmering for months -- ever since veteran socialist Corbyn was elected party leader in September. He has been criticised in the past for referring to Lebanon's powerful Shiite militia Hezbollah as "friends" and urging dialogue with the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, as well as meeting representatives of both organisations. In February, Labour launched an investigation into its Oxford University student branch after the chairman stepped down complaining that many members "have some kind of problem with Jews". Last month Vicki Byrne, deputy chairwoman of a local party branch, was suspended after it was reported she had posted anti-Semitic remarks on Twitter. Corbyn's own brother was drawn into the row earlier this month when he dismissed complaints about anti-Semitic abuse as part of an argument about Israel. But the row exploded on Wednesday when Labour MP Naz Shah was suspended by the party pending an investigation into allegations that she shared anti-Semitic posts on social media before being elected. Defending Shah in a series of interviews on Thursday, Livingstone also said that criticism of Israel's policies was being confused with anti-Semitism. "When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews," he said. "I have been in the Labour Party for 40 years and I have never heard anyone say anything anti-Semitic. "I have heard a lot of criticism for the state of Israel and its abuse of Palestinians, but I have never heard someone be anti-Semitic," he added. Britain's foreign minister has arrived in Cuba in the first such visit since 1959, to hold talks on cooperation in "financial services, energy, culture and education", London announced. It follows last month's landmark visit by President Barack Obama to the Caribbean nation as part of a historic rapprochement between Cuba and the United States after 50 years of enmity stemming back to the Cold War. "As the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Cuba since before the Cuban Revolution in 1959, this is an opportunity to hear for myself what Cuba thinks about its present challenges and where it sees its future," Philip Hammond said in a statement yesterday. He is to hold a series of meetings with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez and other government leaders, according to Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Hammond is also to sign a "bilateral agreement restructuring Cuba's debt to the UK" and agree on future cooperation in a range of areas from financial services to energy and education. The foreign minister also hopes to raise the issues of social and economic changes in Cuba, human rights, trade, and the response to health issues such as the Zika virus. "Britain and Cuba have outlooks on the world and systems of government that are very different," Hammond said in a statement. "But as Cuba enters a period of significant social and economic change, I am looking forward to demonstrating to the Cuban government and people that the UK is keen to forge new links across the Atlantic. "That is why Cuba and the UK are set to reach new cooperation agreements on energy, financial services, education and culture, to the benefit of both our nations." Hammond will also meet representatives from Cuban civil society and the British business community in Havana, according to the ministry. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini became the highest-ranking EU official ever to visit Cuba when she travelled to Havana in March. During her trip she signed a deal to normalise relations with Cuba, including an agreement on the delicate issue of human rights, in yet another step towards ending the communist country's status as a pariah in the West. Business in the Rajya Sabha collapsed today and the House was adjourned abruptly because of lack of quorum. Against the requirement of minimum 25 members, 23 members were present in the House when discussion was underway on Private Members' Bill seeking to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. As per the rules, at least 10 per cent members of the total strength of a House are required to be present for quorum. The sanctioned strength of the Rajya Sabha is 245. As soon as Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary replied to the bill moved by Congress member K V P Ramachandra Rao and sought its withdrawal, TDP's C M Ramesh raised the issue of quorum that led to heated arguments among members. Mohammad Ali Khan (Cong) said, "It is the responsibility of the Treasury Bench to ensure quorum. We are serious about the issue." K Keshava Rao (TRS) said that quorum is required during the time of voting and not during the discussion of a bill. V P Singh Badnore, who was in the Chair, said, "Any member can raise the quorum at any point of time." He rang the quorum bell to call members to be present in the House. Congress member Jesudasu Seelam said since the government has raised the quorum issue, arrival of members should be awaited. At this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "We have not raised. The issue was raised by a TDP member. We have given a detailed reply to the bill and asked the member to withdraw it." As heated exchange over the quorum issue continued, E M Sudarsana Natchiappan (Cong) said a Private Member bill had thrice remained inconclusive earlier due to lack of quorum in the House. It was taken up next time. "Let's take up this bill also next time and adjourn the House," he said. Meanwhile some members entered the House, but the quorum was not complete and the Chair had to adjourn the House abruptly for the day at around 4.15 pm. Before the adjournment, the Minister said the government has made "good progress" in last two years in implementing the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. The Centre has kept short and long term targets and a meeting has been scheduled on May 4 by Niti Aayog to review the progress made so far, the MoS for Home Affairs said. "Good progress is being achieved. Whatever stated in the Act and promises made by the government, we are implementing them. Whatever our party and our Prime Minister has said, we are fulfilling. I request the member to withdraw the bill." The Centre is competent to implement the provisions. A committee has been set up to review the progress. "10 institutions have been made functional in the last two years. You say nothing has happened," the Minister said while sharing details of the funds released and progress of these institutions made so far. When TRS leader Jesudasu Seelam asked about special status to Andhra Pradesh, he said the Finance Commission has made provision for tax incentives and sufficient central assistance to both the states. Dissatisfied with the Minister's reply, some members rose on their feet to ask more details from the government. It was then Ramesh said: "If you are serious about the subject, your members should be present. There is no quorum. The Minister said the Centre has given Rs 700 crore to Andhra Pradesh for backward districts in last two years, while tax devolution for the state was Rs 34,000 in the same period. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,500 crore in last two years for setting up a new capital Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, he said. On the Polavaram dam project, Chowdhury said the Centre has declared it as a national project and enough funds have been sanctioned so far. "About 7,100 crore will be made available in the coming years to ensure the project is completed in time by 2018." He said the work is in progress for setting up of airports at Vishakapatnam, Tirupati and Vijaywada and additional police force has also been sanctioned. Participating in the debate, Mohammad Ali Khan (Cong) blamed the government for not implementing the provisions of the Act fully. He asked why a separate High Court has not been set in Andhra Pradesh. K Keshava Rao of Telangana Rashtra Samithi welcomed the Bill saying it was an "important" one. Talking about the Polavaram dam project, he urged the Centre to have a relook at the design even as he made it clear that he was not against the project per se. "People are more important than a barrage," he said. Outlining the problems being faced by his state, he asked the DoPT to speed up the distribution of officers of All India Services and urged the Law Ministry to fast-track the creation of a Telangana High Court. He also reminded the Centre about the promises of a tribal university, coal linkage and sought the government's help is setting up a state bank. He said the people of Telengana has been demanding for a rail coach factory for 30 years and it should be given now. Congress leader J Seelam, who supported the proposed amendments, accused the Modi government of not living up to the promises made to the people of Andhra Pradesh. He said that Modi, in his pre-election address in Andhra Pradesh, had accepted that the state has been given the wrong end of bargain and that he will ensure that all help is provided if he comes to power. Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, he said all he gave when he came to lay the foundation stone of Andhra Pradesh's capital city Amaravati in Guntur district, was just a "handful of soil from Parliament House and a jar of Yamuna water". Seelam referred to proposed projects like AIIMS, IIM in Andhra Pradesh and said the money allotted was meagre. He said that while setting up of IIM was a project worth Rs 900 crore, Centre has allotted just Rs 30 crore. Similarly, while the cost of AIIMS project was Rs 1,600 crore, no allotment of money has been made in the budget. He also got into a small verbal duel with his party colleague Jairam Ramesh when he intervened during his speech. The Calcutta High Court today directed CFSL Hyderabad to ascertain whether the Narada tapes and devices used to record an alleged sting operation against Trinamool Congress leaders are genuine or not. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A Banerjee ordered the director of Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory at Hyderabad to make preliminary inquiry to find out whether the devices used in the 'sting' and the recordings are tampered, engineered, doctored or genuine. It directed the CFSL to complete the analysis within four weeks of being given the recordings and devices -- an iPhone, a laptop and a pen drive in which the recordings are stored. The court observed that as a preliminary step it has to first ascertain whether the devices are tampered, engineered, doctored or genuine. The purported recordings, which were released by Narada a few days after elections to the West Bengal Assembly were announced, show Trinamool Congress MPs and state ministers allegedly taking money. The court said that as per Narada editor-in-chief Mathew Samuel's affidavit, the alleged sting was recorded on iPhone, the recordings were then transferred to a laptop and then the recordings were transferred to a pen drive. Noting that Samuel had handed over the iPhone and pen drive to a court-appointed three-member committee but not the laptop, the bench directed him to go to Hyderabad and hand over the laptop to the CFSL director within a week. The bench directed the high court registrar (original side), who is the chairman of the committee, to personally hand over the iPhone and pen drive to the CFSL director. It further directed that the report of the analysis should be kept confidential by CFSL and that it shall be collected by the chairman of the committee personally and placed before the court. The bench noted that Samuel had put a condition that the cost of laptop be deposited before handing it over and observed that Samuel was the person who initiated the matter and as such cannot put conditions while directing him to go and hand over the laptop to CFSL director. (REOPENS LGC 1) Passing the order, the division bench said all contentions, including the question of maintainability of the PIL, were being kept open. The court said at this stage it was not dealing with the merits of the petition, which had prayed for a forensic analysis of the recordings and the devices to prove genuineness and a subsequent investigation by an independent agency. Stressing the sensitivity of the matter, the court observed that it would speak volumes if the information was genuine and would also speaks volumes if the information was not genuine as it involved the confidence of the common man in the system. The court observed that despite opposition from some of the respondents in the matter, it felt that an analysis can be done at this stage in the light of verdicts of the Supreme Court which indicated the categories of cases where preliminary enquiry can be done. Counsels for some of the respondents, who were purportedly shown receiving money in the recordings, submitted before the court that Samuel had refused to come down to Kolkata to hand over the recordings and the device to the court citing personal security concerns. However, they pointed out, he came over to the city and held a press conference a few days after the recordings and the device were secured from him by a court-appointed committee in New Delhi. The matter would appear before the court after the forensic analysis reports are submitted before it. In view of a "huge" demand for biodegradable toys world over, the Centre will work towards reviving the traditional business of wooden toys in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi and link it to global market, Union Minister Najma Heptulla said here today. "It has been the age-old tradition of producing wooden toys in Varanasi. Today, there is a huge demand for biodegradable toys in the world. So, we are trying to revive the old tradition," the Minority Affairs Minister said. Heptulla, who will launch an exhibit of products by artisans at Banaras Hindu University tomorrow, said the government will encourage local workers to produce "international quality" toys using non-poisonous colours so that children can use them without any harm. She added the works of local artisans from minority communities will be exposed to the world market through e-commerce portal 'shopclues.Com' under government's Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) scheme. Apart from meeting skilled workers in the toys business, the minister will interact with artisans engaged in making of Banarasi and Jamdani sarees and zardoji (hand embroidery). She will also hold discussions with knowledge partners under the scheme such as National Institute of Design (NID), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) and master craftsman and others on reviving the business during her day-long trip. USTTAD aims at capacity building and updating traditional skills of master craftsmen and artisans who, in turn, will train minority community members in various specific traditional crafts, especially local arts. China will soon come out with its first database with biographies of over 1,300 Living Buddhas living in the Communist nation, which the state media and analysts say could "strike a heavy blow" to the Dalai Lama, living in exile in India. The online registration system contains the profiles of 1,311 individuals recognised as reincarnated Buddhas to help the public differentiate between "real religious figures" and "fraudulent ones", Global Times quoted the Buddhist Association of China (BAC) as saying. The BAC first published details on 870 Living Buddhas in January. The organisation said that there will not be major changes to the database's inquiry system in the near future, noting that their only responsibility is to update information on the reincarnation and Parinirvana of the Living Buddhas. The online system gives detailed information on Living Buddhas, including their photos, legal names and the number of Living Buddha certificates they have received. Daily views of the system since its launch in January have reached a peak of 98,000, according to the BAC. "The system will strike a heavy blow to the Dalai Lama, as he has been utilising his religious status to ratify Living Buddhas at will - which is against religious tradition - in an attempt to control Tibetan monasteries and divide the country," Zhu Weiqun, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference's Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, previously told the Global Times. Reincarnation of Living Buddhas is a unique inheritance system in Tibetan Buddhism that originated in the 13th century. The BAC began issuing certificates to Living Buddhas in 2010. The Living Buddhas included in the database are scattered throughout provinces and autonomous regions in China's north, northwest and southwest, with many concentrated in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the BAC said. China calls the 80-year-old 14th Dalai Lama "a political exile who has long been engaged in activities to split China under the pretext of religion." The Dalai Lama fled his Himalayan homeland to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. A helicopter carrying Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan "disappeared" for around fifteen minutes today, sending officials in a tizzy before it landed safely in Katni, an official said. "The chopper carrying Chouhan, BJP state chief Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan and state Minister Gyan Singh, which was supposed to land at a school in Katni around 9.45 am, went ahead of the helipad and suddenly disappeared," Katni District Collector Prakash Jangre told PTI over phone. The concerned officials on ground sprung into action. The helicopter returned after some time and landed safely at 10 am, he said. The Chief Minister had gone to pay last respects to former Madhya Pradesh Minister Satyendra Pathak, who passed away yesterday after a prolonged illness. The Central Information Commission today directed the universities of Delhi and Gujarat to provide proper responses to RTI applications seeking details of education qualifications of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu directed the Prime Minister's Office to make available details such as roll number, degree number of the Prime Minister to the Delhi University so that it can search the records and facilitate disclosure of information to RTI applicants. Delhi University had claimed that unless the roll number of a student is not provided, it would be difficult to search the records. The CIC is the final appellate authority in the matter pertaining to RTI. However, the decision can be challenged through a writ petition before any high court in the country. The CIC's order came a day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to Acharyulu saying he does not object to government records about him being made public and wondered why the Commission wants to "hide" information on Modi's educational degree. "There are allegations that Narendra Modi does not have any degree. The people of the country want to know the truth. Despite that you have refused to make records regarding his degree public. Why did you do this? This is wrong," Kejriwal had said in his letter. Making her family and neighbours proud, a class x girl student from remote Jirkatang hamlet in Andaman and Nicobar Islands has visited Japan as part of the International Student Exchange Programme organized by the Central Board of Secondary Education. As hordes of villagers gathered at a roadside tea stall, the girl's proud father narrated how she got a rousing reception at the land of rising sun. Meanwhile the beaming girl, Rajeshwari says, "Belonging to a poor family and getting an opportunity to visit Japan was an unbelievable dream. My school teachers particularly the Deputy Education Officer of Wimberlygunj played a major role to help me achieve the feat." "I had left for New Delhi along with a teacher and joined 30 other students for the tour. After reaching Japan, we visited famous temples, universities, educational institutions and tourist spots in the country. Japan is a beautiful country with a shining example of cleanliness which our country should emulate," she said. "I wish other students of these islands get such unique opportunity in future," Rajeshwari, whose exhibits at the Science exhibition last year bagged the first position at the state level and whose model, electronic missile was then selected for display at the national level at New Delhi, pointed out. Rajeshwari was selected for the Study Exchange Programme for Japan among 30 other students. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today slammed the Punjab government over farmers' suicides in the state and accused the ruling SAD-BJP combine of "failure" in bailing out the beleaguered peasants. "Because of the misrule and wrong policies of SAD-BJP government, farmers are in miserable condition. Unable to pay off their debt, farmers are committing suicides in the state especially in Malwa belt," Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi claimed. "The way indebted farmers are ending their lives, urgent steps like raising their income, debt waiver, implementation of Swaminathan Commission report are required to be undertaken to bail out farmers from the agrarian crisis," he said. AAP, which is aiming to wrest power in 2017 assembly polls in Punjab, described farmers' suicide as "very serious" issue and stressed on drafting short term and long term policies to save the state's agriculture sector. "The state government should immediately stop making loan recovery from farmers," AAP MP Bhagwant Mann said. "There is no will in SAD-BJP regime to save farmers and agriculture sector as they are just busy in filling their own pockets. They failed to take a single step to come to the aid of beleaguered farmers who are indebted," said Durgesh Pathak, national organisation-building head, AAP. "We shall come out with a blueprint in next 2-3 months after consulting people of Punjab to deal with a host of issues including failing farming sector," said Pathak. Meanwhile, Punjab Cabinet minister Daljeet Singh Cheema said the state government was already taking several steps for the welfare of farmers including giving free power to them worth Rs 6,000 crore per annum. He said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had even sought implementation of Swaminathan Commission report which had recommended 50 per cent profit over and above input cost. Notably, a couple of days ago, a farmer and his elderly mother allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide at Jodhpur village near Barnala when a commission agent, with the help of police and revenue officials, was trying to take possession of his land. Then another case of farmer suicide came to light in Ludhiana where a debt-ridden farmer at Galib in Jagroan also allegedly ended his life on April 27. Significantly, Parliament was informed on April 26 that as many as 116 farmers had committed suicide due to agrarian reasons this year, with maximum cases reported in Maharashtra, followed by Punjab and Telangana. Facing heat over the alleged AgustaWestland chopper scam during the UPA rule at the Centre, Congress in Chhattisgarh today accused the BJP government of committing irregularities in procurement of a helicopter by the same Italian company for the State in 2007. The ruling BJP, however, rejected the main Opposition party's charge as "politically motivated and baseless". Citing a report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) presented in 2011, Chhattisgarh Congress President Bhupesh Baghel alleged the government led by Chief Minister Raman Singh had ignored all norms to favour AgustaWestland for purchasing the chopper in 2007. The Chhattisgarh government bought Agusta A-109 power helicopter from AgustaWestland in 2007 for USD 6.5 million. The CAG, in its audit report for the year ended March 31, 2011, said failure of the Aviation Department to finalise the first offer for purchase of Agusta A-109 within the due date and its subsequent procurement at higher rate led to extra expenditure of Rs 65 lakh, he said, citing the finding. Earlier, instead of calling tender as per Store Purchase rules, the government approved relaxation from calling global tender on the ground the helicopter was a specialised product. Later, a tender was floated for a specific model of chopper in which only AgustaWestland was qualifying, Baghel said. The chopper, a model of which was procured by the Jharkhand government from the same company at a cost of USD 5.59 million, was bought by Chhattisgarh for USD 6.5 million, which clearly indicates misappropriation in the acquisition process, the Congress leader added. According to the CAG report, the deal was finalised with a dealer at Hong Kong in February 2007 to supply the helicopter at USD 6.1 million. The dealer intimated (in March 2007) that the purchase contract would be signed directly between the Chhattisgarh government and the manufacturer (Agusta) and assured delivery by September 2007. However, the state government in April 2007 asked the company to curtail the price to USD 5.59 million (at which it supplied the same model chopper to Jharkhand (in 2005-06). The company, however, refused and the proposal was cancelled. The government later floated a global tender and finalised the deal with the same company for USD 6.5 million, causing heavy losses to the state exchequer, he said. Meanwhile, the state government refuted the Congress charge, dubbing it as "politically motivated". "The allegations levelled by Congress are baseless. The helicopter deal was done through a global tendering process while maintaining full transparency," Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar said. (Reopens BOM32) The CAG report had underlined that the reply of the Government on the issue was not acceptable as it failed to finalise the first offer in time, Baghel said. Purchasing the same brand and model of helicopter from the same company at higher price led to extra expenditure, he said and added Prime Minister Narendra Modi should get the deal investigated. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Chhattisgarh Assembly had examined the facts after the issue was raised by the CAG. Later, the government submitted a factual report over the issue to the CAG, the Minister added. "Congress is facing serious corruption charges over the chopper deal at the Centre and therefore levelling baseless allegations (in Chhattisgarh) to divert people's attention from the main issue," Chandrakar added. Senior BJP leader and Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda today claimed the saffron party has gained strength in the state and no political front can do anything without its support. "Whether we will rule or not. One thing I can tell... that nothing can be done in Kerala without our support," he told a meet-the-press programme here. Attacking both the ruling Congress-led UDF and CPI-M headed LDF Opposition, he alleged Congress and CPI-M had West Bengal model tie-up in the state also for the May 16 assembly elections. "They have understanding in 75 to 80 constituencies in the state," Gowda said adding BJP led NDA in the state had become a political alternative to UDF and LDF. Gowda also said that Centre would not politicse situation of natural calamity and would extend help to state for facing drought situation. However, Gowda, who earlier held Railway portfolio, said the state government did not give enough support to the Centre in taking up Railway projects in Kerala. Gowda also criticised Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for inaugurating the Kannur International Airport without completing the work of the airport. On the Kochi metro, he said it was still on pillars. "We are inaugurating the Metro rail in Bangalore today. Here in Kerala, government is worried about corruption charges they face severely", Gowda added. The "chess game politics -- alternate governments of UDF and LDF -- is going to be over", he said. With the defeat of Congress in Kerala and Assam, "Congress politics will come to an end in the country," he added. Congress today dared government to come out with the truth on AgustaWestland deal in next two months instead of issuing threats and launching a "malicious" campaign against it. "If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when Monsoon session of Parliament will commence", Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters here. Making light of the attacks on the party and its leadership, he posed the question whether the Congress and the UPA and their leadership would have taken several steps to unravel the truth in the matter if they had something to hide or if they had resorted to corruption. Taking a dig at the Prime Minister and the government, he alleged that the entire government has been tasked to target the Congress and its leadership day in and day out on the issue. "It is all disinformation, a malicious campaign". "They have the entire government with them, the CBI, RAW and Ed...Why they are not finding out as to who is guilty, who has taken money", Azad said. He ignored threat of BJP member Subramanian Swamy to move a Breach of Privilege against him for his remarks that UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica. He said generally breach of privilige is moved against Ministers if they mislead despite having all the information. Asked whether Congress was ready to have a discussion in Parliament on the issue, he said, "we are ready for any discussion. We have nothing to hide. We are demanding an early decision by government" to find out the truth. Dismissing BJP's charge that the Congress had compromised national security in the chopper deal, he said that the national security had got compromised when in the Vajpayee government, the then External Affairs Minister had accompanied dreaded terrorists to Kandahar. "National Security gets compromised when we see defence files are selectively leaked to TV channels", he said in an apparent jibe at the Modi dispensation. Party spokesman R P N Singh accused the Defence Ministry of coming out with "half truths" in its clarification on the deal yesterday. Hitting out at the BJP, Azad said, "Those who stay in glass houses, do not throw stones". "The less he speaks, it will be better", he said in a dismissive tone when told that BJP chief Amit Shah has come out with fresh questions for the Congress leadership. He claimed that the campaign against the Congress was aimed at diverting people's attention from the "failure" of the government to deliver. "They had promised the moon, but (what people got) was drought and water scarcity". (Reopens DEL 42) Hitting out at the Prime Minister, his senior ministers and the BJP President, AICC Communication Department Chairman Randeep Surjewala sought to rebut the charges on Congress on the issue and alleged that the BJP leadership was playing the "diabolical and convoluted game of mud slinging and muck raking without a fig of truth or facts." "BJP continues to follow a policy of deception and duplicity to muddle the truth," he said claiming there are "incontrovertible facts" that tell a different story. "Purchase of 12 VVIP Helicopters was affected through a global tender in the year 2010. Integrity Clause warranted cancellation of the contract in case there were allegations of corruption or middleman. "In February, 2013, the Congress government ordered registration of an FIR for corruption after allegations emerged in public domain. Congress government handed over the matter to CBI for investigation," he said. He further said that in February 2014, the Congress government cancelled the contract of Augusta Westland based on Integrity Clause. "Congress government proceeded to confiscate/encash the bank guarantee, both in India as well as through a verdict of court in Milan in Italy amounting to Rs 2,068 crore against the original payment of Rs 1,620 crore. Congress government also confiscated three Helicopters, which are currently in possession of the country. Not a single rupee of exchequer was lost. "On 10th February, 2014, the Congress government initiated the process of blacklisting/banning of Augusta Westland, which culminated on 3rd July, 2014," Surjewala said. Posing a number of questions before BJP leadership, the Congress chief spokesperson asked why the government was "protecting the alleged bribe giver--Augusta Westland and why the CBI has not taken any action against bribe giver company, Augusta Westland or bribe taker by identifying or prosecuting them? "Why was banning/blacklisting of Augusta cancelled by Modi government within 40 days-- by an order dated August 22, 2014 permitting the company to participate as a vendor or a joint venture partner? "Why did Modi government grant FIPB permission to Augusta Westland on October 8 2015 for setting up of a joint venture of Indo Rotorcraft Limited in partnership with Tata? Why is Modi government shying away from questioning the accused Christian Michael despite his offer to the Prime Minister?, Surjewala asked. The Congress leader said the attack on Congress by the BJP on this issue is "yet another diversionary tactic to keep away the attention from Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, failure in Pathankot, agrarian crisis, drought and subjugation of democracy by conspiring to dismiss elected governments in Arunachal and Uttarakhand." He said that lastly the truth prevails and "not leaking plants". With BJP and Congress trading charges over the VVIP chopper deal, former Union minister Sachin Pilot today sought a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of an AgustaWestland helicopter by the Rajasthan government in 2005. He said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report had alleged that misappropriation of public funds to the tune of Rs 1.14 crore had taken place in the helicopter deal by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the state. Holding that the previous Congress-led dispensation at the Centre had debarred the scandal-tainted company, Pilot said, "When irregularities in the deal came to light, the then UPA government cancelled the deal, blacklisted the company and handed over the investigation to CBI. "The agency is investigating the cancelled contract of helicopters, but it should also investigate the actual purchase done by the government of Rajasthan in 2005," he said. "It is not an allegation by Congress, but a report of CAG has pointed out. We have just demanded an inquiry and clarification from the government but there is no reaction from the government and the BJP state president is defending the government," he said. The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president alleged that the Raje government in 2008 had initiated a process to procure another helicopter at an inflated price of Rs 59 crore. "The cost of the helicopter was Rs 52 crore and the government had agreed to pay a premium of Rs seven crore to jump the queue to purchase the helicopter as soon as possible but the deal could not be concluded because of elections," he said, adding it should also be investigated that why the government agreed to pay the additional premium. Reacting to the allegations, BJP state president Ashok Parnami claimed that an expenditure of Rs 1.14 crore was made on chartered flights due to non-availability of pilots for the AgustaWestland helicopter from September, 2005 to January, 2006. He said the expenses were "unavoidable". The PCC president also demanded that the state government should make proper arrangement for water supply in summer. "Water crisis is deepening and situation is going to deteriorate in May and June, therefore, the government should make proper arrangements," he said. The government today said the companies law has stringent penal provisions to deal with frauds as well as sufficient ones to ensure firms are traceable and financial transactions are properly reported. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley said auditors are also required to report to the central government on frauds above a prescribed threshold. Jaitley replied in the negative to a question on whether the present companies law is so loosely drafted and has so many loopholes as to make it possible for unscrupulous persons to set up shell companies to launder money and send money out of the country and then bring it back through the Mauritius route. Under the companies law, only individuals having Director Identification Number (DIN), which is allotted on identification and address proof, can become directors of a company. Further, the law requires physical verification of registered office addresses of companies by practising professionals and intimation to the Registrar of Companies in the event of setting up or change in the registered office. Jaitley said stringent penal provisions have been provided for fraud. "These provisions appear sufficient to ensure companies and its directors are traceable and financial transactions of the company are properly and completely reported," he noted. Most provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 came into force from April 1, 2014. Meanwhile, the Corporate Affairs Ministry has set up a central registration centre for processing 'name availability' applications for starting a new company. To a query on whether the government has any mechanism to ensure the authenticity of the registering companies within a day, Jaitley said authenticity is ensured by obtaining a declaration and certification by a professional such as an "advocate/ chartered accountant/ cost accountant/ company secretary in practice". Besides, the person named in the Articles of Association as a director/ manager/ secretary of the company has to give a declaration confirming the fulfilment of all requirements for registration under the Companies Act and rules. "Any false statement in this regard is punishable under Section 448 of the Companies Act, 2013," Jaitley added. Slamming AIADMK and DMK, CPI-M Central Committee member T K Rangarajan, MP, today accused them of "match-fixing" in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by staging walkouts to avoid debates on major issues. "This is a murder of democracy. During DMK regime, AIADMK will walk out of the house and DMK will stage walk out during AIADMK rule, so that they can avoid debate on important issues, including corruption...It is a match fixing to protect themselves," he told reporters here. People should realise the designs of these parties, he said alleging that the Dravidian majors had taken Tamil Nadu industrially backward besides 'failure' to upgrade the quality of education. On total prohibition, Rangarajan said both the parties, which were competing with each other to introduce prohibition, could have reduced the production and supply by the distillers belonging to their party men, leading to natural decrease in the liquor consumption. To a question on CPI-M Kerala unit's manifesto which promised to construct a new dam at Mullaperiyar, a bone of conteniton between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, he said it reflected the aspirations of the people of that state. However, CPIM's Tamil Nadu unit would not work against the interest of Tamils, be it Cauvery or Mullapariyear, Rangarajan said. Holy Cross Lutheran Church celebrated Earth Day by planting a Prairie Gold Aspen tree. This was a part of 50 days of celebration in honor of Holy Cross 50th anniversary. This Aspen is native to Nebraska and has adapted to varying weather conditions including high heat and humidity. The tree was donated by Willy and Dorothy Hofeling, charter members of Holy Cross Lutheran. The tree was planted close to an ash tree that is likely to die if an infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer reaches Beatrice. Holy Cross identified the Ash trees on the church property with a green ribbon to help members and the community understands the anticipated impact of Emerald Ash Borer. For more information about Emerald Ash Borer please go to www.emeraldashborer.info/ or contact Nicole Stoner at the Gage County Extension office. Japanese auto major Nissan has priced its compact car redi-GO, under the Datsun brand, between Rs 2.5 lakh and 3.5 lakh. The pre-booking orders for the model will begin from May 1, and deliveries to the owners will commence from June, Nissan Motor India said in a statement. "The Datsun redi-GO will be priced between Rs 2.5 lakh and 3.5 lakh; the ex-showroom prices and variants will be announced during the launch in June," it added. "With the new redi-GO, we continue to expand and enhance our product offerings for young people in India who are ready to take a step forward in their lives," Nissan Motor India Managing Director Arun Malhotra said. Currently, the company has 217 outlets covering 165 cities, with plans to establish 300 sales and service outlets by the end of March 2017. Customers can pre-book Datsun redi-GO with a fully refundable down payment of Rs 5,000 at Nissan dealerships across India. They can also book the Datsun redi-GO online through Snapdeal.Com, India's leading e-commerce platform, the company said. 'redi-Go' will compete with the likes of Maruti Suzuki Alto and Hyundai's Eon, which are priced between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 4.42 lakh (ex-showroom price Delhi). It is the Nissan's third vehicle under the Datsun brand in India and has come up on a brand new platform. Last year, the automaker had launched a compact multi-purpose vehicle 'Go+' to add to the 'Go' small car. In 2014, when Nissan launched the Datsun Go in India, marking the global comeback of the brand after nearly three decades, it had said it was aiming to garner 10 per cent share in the Indian passenger vehicles market by 2016. Both (Nissan and Datsun) now aim to garner 5 per cent market share in the said segment in India by 2020. To ensure better medical facilities to patients, Delhi government today changed administrative system in its hospitals by appointing four-five medical superintendents and one medical director in each hospital. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Health Minister Satyendar Jain to review performance of government hospitals in the past one year. Till now, there was one medical superintendent in each government hospital. "We today reviewed performance of all government hospitals in last one year. We have decided to change the administrative system. Government has decided to appoint four-five medical superintendents in our four big hospitals. One medical director has also been appointed in each hospital," Jain told reporters here. He also said in GTB Hospital government has appointed five medical superintendents and one medical director. These five medical superintendents have been appointed in mother and child centers, accidents and emergencies and other departments. Four medical superintendents each have been appointed each in DDU and Amedkar Hospitals. "The move is intended to ensure better medical facilities to the patients at government hospitals. Appointing MS for seperate centers, there will be a good facility at the concerned centre. The minister said with the appointment of four-five MS, there would be better facility at emergency ward added that medical directors have been empowered. "We will ensure that MS and medical directors won't have to do non-clinical work in the government hospitals," the minister further said. Delhi, which is ranked among the most polluted cities, is expected to get green power from Madhya Pradesh starting next year to run its Metro trains. "We are charting out the power purchase agreement to be signed between Rail Corporation (DMRC) and developers of the world's largest solar power plant of 750 MW coming up in the state's Rewa district," Madhya Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Department Principal Secretary Manu Shrivastava told PTI. "We issued tenders for setting up the power project last month," he said, adding that a meeting of bidders has already taken place on April 1 in Delhi. "This meeting was also attended by DMRC Director (Electrical) AK Gupta," he said. Significantly, the development has come at a time when the Delhi government is struggling hard to reduce pollution in the national capital and has even introduced the 'odd-even' number scheme to limit vehicular traffic - a major pollutant. MP will certainly supply power to DMRC and paper work in this regard is in the last stage, Shrivastava said adding that the solar power plant at Rewa would be commissioned possibly by June 2017. The Solar Energy Corporation of India and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVN) have joined hands to facilitate setting up of the green power station, christened Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Project, on 1,500 hectares area at Bandwar region in Gudh tehsil of Rewa district, said Shrivastava, who is also the Managing Director of MPUVN. "World Bank is going to give Rs 250 crore for the project," he said. Shrivastava said that the cost of the set up for 1 MW solar energy comes to around Rs 6 crore. At present, the world's largest solar power project - Ivanpah Solar Power Facility of 392 MW - is at Mojave deserts in California, United States, officials said. In February 2014, Narendra Modi, as BJP's prime ministerial candidate, had inaugurated Asia's largest solar power project in Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh. Dubai will build nearly 25 per cent of its buildings using 3D printing technology by 2030 with an investment of over USD 810 million to transform the construction sector by lowering costs. Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the 'Dubai 3D Printing Strategy', a unique global initiative that aims to exploit technology for the service of humanity and promote the status of the country as a leading hub of 3D printing technology by 2030. The UAE will continue its quest to achieve global leadership in the adoption of future innovations to launch initiatives that benefit the entire human community, he said. "The future will depend on 3D printing technologies in all aspects of our life, starting from houses we live in, the streets we use, the cars we drive, the clothes we wear and the food we eat," Sheikh Mohammed said. The technology will create added economic value and benefits worth billions of dollars during the coming period. "It will redefine productivity because the time needed for 3D printing of buildings and products will be 10 per cent of the time taken in traditional techniques. "Our key goal is to ensure that 25 per cent of buildings in Dubai are based on 3D printing technology by 2030, and we will raise this percentage with the development of global technology as well as growth of market demand. We believe that this technology is capable of transforming the construction sector by lowering costs and reducing the time it takes to implement projects," Sheikh Mohammed said. The technology will help reduce manpower requirements as well as waste generated from construction which can be harmful to the environment. "We will also focus on utilizing this technology in other vital sectors such as medicine and consumer products to offer goods and services at competitive prices," he said. The value of 3D printing technology based construction sector in Dubai is expected to be about three billion Dirham (Over USD 810 million) by 2025. A section of legal experts today was of the view that Gujarat government's decision to give 10 per cent reservation to the Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) would not stand the current legal test though some felt it can survive if the apex court were to reconsider its 1992 judgement. Senior advocate Girish Patel said reservation cannot be granted purely on the ground of economic backwardness as it is not a criterion considered by the Constitution. Citing the 1992 judgement of the Supreme Court in Indra Sawhney V/s the Union, Patel said the quota also cannot exceed 50 per cent, and with 10 per cent EBC quota, the total reservation in Gujarat will be 59 per cent. "In that landmark judgement, apex court also declared separate reservations for economically backward among general castes as invalid, as the Constitution does not have that provision," said Patel. The Constitution takes into account the educational and social backwardness but not the economic condition, and therefore the state may lose in the court if the EBC quota is challenged, he said. "If you go by the economic condition, than entire country would become eligible for reservation. I believe reservation for EBC will not stand in the court of law, as it violates the SC verdict as well as the basic object of reservation as mentioned in the Constitution," added Patel. Another senior lawyer, Yatin Oza, cited a Gujarat High Court verdict of 1994 and claimed the new provision will fall through in the court. "Hearing a case about reservation to economically backward classes in 1994, the Gujarat High Court mentioned that the provision of EBC is 'unknown and foreign to the Constitution'. I believe the EBC quota would not stand in the court," said Oza. However, some experts believe that government may have a chance if the Supreme Court decides to reconsider the 1992 judgement. Senior lawyer Krishnakant Vakharia said efforts should be made to include poverty as one of the criteria to provide reservation. "I welcome this move by the state government, but it violates the past Supreme Court verdict. I think the court can reconsider its judgement, which took into account castes as the main criteria, not poverty," said Vakharia. "In the Constitution, education and social background are the only criteria while poverty is not mentioned. So the Supreme Court, citing that criteria, rejected the EBC quota earlier. Efforts should be made from all quarters to include poverty as one of the criteria," added Vakharia. Another senior lawyer, Vijay Patel, backed this view. "Reservation rules in India are not governed by any law, but by the 1992 Supreme Court verdict which had put a cap of 50 per cent. There were instances when the Supreme Court reviewed its own judgements," he said. "In the case of a legal battle, the Supreme Court can take a call to review its 1992 judgement and it may give a favorable judgement. So doors are still open for state government to go ahead with the 10 per cent EBC quota," said Patel. After complaints from Opposition parties, the Election Commission today instructed police to keep a close eye on Trinamool Congress leader and jailed ex-minister Madan Mitra who was hospitalised three days ago. Upon EC's instruction, the state Home department issued an order to jail authorities and Kolkata Police Commissioner saying that no person other than Mitra's family members should get access to him. The order also said that Mitra should in no way be able to use mobile. The Congress and CPI-M had yesterday urged the Election Commission that the activities of the Trinamool leader should be monitored inside the state-run SSKM hospital. Mitra was hospitalised following complaints of chest pain and breathlessness on April 26. The commission has yesterday issued instructions that activities of anti-social elements who are in jail either undertrials or serving imprisonment are under strict watch and will not be allowed access to outside anti-social elements and carry out nefarious activities. In the meantime, the poll panel has removed the inspector in-charge of Sitai police station and sub-divisional police officer of Tufanganj in CoochBehar district. Eight people were killed and five injured after a bus was hijacked and set on fire in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, state media reported on Friday. The incident took place at about 12:40 pm (local time) on Thursday near the entrance of a tunnel on the Fuzhou-Yinchuan Highway in Xi'an city, the capital of Shaanxi. The police declined to release more details, citing ongoing criminal investigation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. It is not clear whether it was a terrorist act or carried out by disgruntled individuals. Withering drought and sizzling temperatures from El Nino have caused food and water shortages and ravaged farming across Asia, and experts warn of a double-whammy of possible flooding from its sibling, La Nina. The current El Nino which began last year has been one of the strongest ever, leaving the Mekong River at its lowest level in decades, causing food-related unrest in the Philippines, and smothering vast regions in a months-long heat wave often topping 40 degrees Celsius. Economic losses in Southeast Asia could top USD 10 billion, IHS Global Insight told AFP. The regional fever is expected to break by mid-year but fears are growing that an equally forceful La Nina will follow. That could bring heavy rain to an already flood-prone region, exacerbating agricultural damage and leaving crops vulnerable to disease and pests. "The situation could become even worse if a La Nina event -- which often follows an El Nino -- strikes towards the end of this year," Stephen O'Brien, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and relief, said this week. He said El Nino has already left 60 million people worldwide requiring "urgent assistance," particularly in Africa. Wilhemina Pelegrina, a Greenpeace campaigner on agriculture, said La Nina could be "devastating" for Asia, bringing possible "flooding and landslides which can impact on food production." El Nino is triggered by periodic oceanic warming in the eastern Pacific Ocean which can trigger drought in some regions, heavy rain in others. Much of Asia has been punished by a bone-dry heat wave marked by record-high temperatures, threatening the livelihoods of countless millions. Vietnam, one of the world's top rice exporters, has been particularly hard-hit by its worst drought in a century. In the economically vital Mekong Delta bread basket, the mighty river's vastly reduced flow has left up to 50 percent of arable land affected by salt-water intrusion that harms crops and can damage farmland, said Le Anh Tuan, a professor of climate change at Can Tho University. In India, about 330 million people are at risk from water shortages and crop damage, the government said recently, and blazing temperatures have been blamed for scores of heat-stroke deaths and dead livestock. The Delhi High Court today said the AAP government panel working on modalities of providing free study material and uniforms to poor children in private and government schools here should keep in mind that there is no "discrimination" among the kids. "Your (Delhi government) modalities should be such that there are no discrimination between the rich and poor children studying in the government and private schools," a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul. Try to think about the psychology of the children. If the child sees that his friends are wearing better clothes, than imagine the trauma he/she undergoes, the bench added. "Our intention is very clear. What we want is that the students of economically weaker section (EWS) or of disadvantage group should be brought at par with the students of affluent class by giving them free books and uniforms," the bench said. The court's oral observation came on the submissions of Delhi government senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, who said they cannot match the shop of the high class private schools, but can assure of better quality of education. Mehra, however, told the court that Delhi government is considering enhancement of the scale for reimbursement of free study material and uniform for poor kids. He further said it will come up with its decision within two weeks. On which the court has fixed the matter for May 20. The court, which has reserved its verdict in the PIL, is currently in the process of setting up a committee to work out modalities of providing free study material and uniform to poor children in city schools. Europe can learn from India in tackling the migrant crisis as the country has experience in dealing with migrants and integrating them, a top Austrian official said today. As Europe grapples with an unprecedented influx of migrants, there is definitely a strategic partnership between India and the EU, said Herbert Krauss, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Austria,Head of the Department for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (EU). "Though I am not dealing with our bilateral relations but I was just reading through what our (Austrian) Embassy wrote about the visit of our Foreign Minister and it tells there is lot of potential in India. I think India is definitely up and coming so it is definitely one of our important strategic partners, speaking as a European," he told a group of visiting Indian journalists here. "Also forinstance in the migration issue because India has experience with migration. I think they had refugees from Bangladesh. So you know how to integrate them, how to deal with them. I think the EU is also tapping into your experience because there is a plan to conclude a common agenda for migration and mobility between India and the EU," he said, adding it is a good project and will be mutually beneficial. Krauss asserted that "Europe as a whole" can learn from the Indian experience in dealing with the migrants crisis. Official sources said the migrant crisis was something the EU had never seen before in these dimensions and is something where the EU is "slowly but gradually developing a common line" which is absolutely indispensible. "Since particularly this migration crisis goes right to the heart of domestic policies - social policies and how do we integrate the migrants and what are the perspectives and how do we manage that, this is something which involves all the aspects -not just of the common security policy but also of EU policies," a source said. Talking specifically of Austria, sources said a figureof 37,000-38,000 migrants annually is what experts are saying can be integrated without major restructuring of the country's financial instruments and without disrupting society. "But in European terms, this does not sound much. European Union has about 500 million inhabitants. Europe could accept between two and three million refugees in about two or three years and this is not so bad," a source said. The source said about 400 to 500 Austrians were reported to have gone to fight alongside ISIS in Syria. Seventy of them have returned home and about 40 died. Since the number was quite large Austria was closely monitoring efforts to integrate migrants in the social milieu and pooling in more resources into anti-radicalisation programmes. (Reopens FGN 28) The sources said that in Austria's view the issues in migration that are at stake have to bedealt at the place where they originate from. "You have the crisis in Syria for instance, as you can tell it is a long drawn out process to achieve some progress. On the humanitarian side much has to be done because there are millions of refugees in the region which in our view it is best to look after them where they were before they set out for Europe with no clear prospect of staying," an Austrian source said. Noting that social integration of migrants is key, officials said that Austria has stepped up such programmes. Most of the migrants are from Muslim countries with different cultures so they have to be made aware of our value system, they said. The number of migrants that Austria accepted last year was 90,000 and there were hundreds of thousands who passed through to Germany and Sweden, sources said. Asked what was the composition of the migrants, they said the migrants were a mix of Syrians, Iraqis, Afghanis and the rest from diverse regions including North Africa. There are a number of anti-radicalisation programmes and social integration programmes that are taking place. These include increasing the number of language courses as those who stay will have to learn the language for jobs. Austria is one of the first countries to have law on Islamic religion which has now been updated, the sources said. Sources said there were no immigration ghettos in Austria like in some other European countries as they make efforts to prevent such ghettoisation. Asked if there were any plans to introduce checks on certain Islamic practices like the veil, officials said there was no restriction in Austria on wearing anything. Noting that India is a huge market for Austrian business, Krauss said as a "regional power", India is very important for Europe because it is the biggest democracy on earth and has well developed democratic traditions. "This is also the EU strategy to project democracy worldwide. I think India is a very valid partner for the EU. I was also surprised to see we have a community of 20,000 Indians in Austria. That is quite a number.Indian tourism into Austria is developing fine," he said. Rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson and his Oklahoma counterpart are trying a different strategy to halt legal marijuana in Colorado. This month, the two states asked to be added as plaintiffs in a case being considered by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. That appeal combines two separate cases: one brought by a group of county sheriffs from Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas, and the other on behalf of a Pueblo County couple who own land near a recreational marijuana growing facility. Nebraska and Oklahoma argue they have "unique sovereign interests" in preventing marijuana from crossing their borders, and that they shouldn't be left out as the court considers the issue. Those interests wouldn't be represented by the current plaintiffs, who are focused on "removing marijuana from the streets of Colorado," Peterson and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt say in their motion to intervene in the appeal. "Because the people of Nebraska and Oklahoma have determined that marijuana is harmful and should be illegal, Nebraska and Oklahoma have a duty to protect their citizens from the continuing harms resulting from Colorado's illegal activities, by taking action to ensure that Colorado marijuana does not enter their sovereign boundaries," the states' lawyers wrote. The court has given no timeline for addressing the request, but allowed lawyers for Nebraska and Oklahoma to make merit-based arguments in briefs due May 23. That means the states can argue the marijuana issue itself, almost as if Nebraska and Oklahoma were already part of the case, rather than restating their reasons for wanting to join as plaintiffs. "When they said we could be heard on the merits issue ... that's what we wanted to hear," Peterson said Thursday. It's a different response than the states received from the U.S. Supreme Court last month when it rejected Nebraska and Oklahoma's case without considering the merits. Then-Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and Pruitt had petitioned the high court to intervene in 2014, the same year Colorado launched recreational marijuana sales. Lawyers for Pueblo County, named as a defendant in the 10th Circuit case, wrote in response to the new request that Nebraska and Oklahoma are trying to bypass standard procedure and "short-circuit the process" after being denied by the U.S. Supreme Court. Peterson, who took office in 2015, said the potent pot being imported from Colorado is stronger than the strains people used in the 1960s and 1970s and comes in forms ready-made to market to children, such as candy and cookies. That burdens Nebraska law enforcement and endangers young people, he said. His office would rather join an existing case than file new action that could get stuck behind an ongoing appeal, Peterson said. "To me it's a matter of judicial economy. ... It just makes sense." Nepal's former king Gyanendra Shah today left for India amid the current political crisis in the Himalayan nation over the new Constitution. Gyanendra is on a personal visit and he is to attend a religious function and is also likely to meet some political leaders. The ex-monarch has visited India more than half a dozen times over the past eight years. Gyanendra had earlier this month criticised Nepalese politicians saying, "The nation should get rid of the power-ravenous leadership that is only focused on personal gain". He claimed that the Nepalese culture, religion, language, history and civilisation were being assaulted. Although, his India visit is said to be personal, there is speculation that revival of the Hindu monarchy in some kind of ceremonial form could be on the agenda. This time the visit has been kept low-key as no official statement was issued on behalf of Gyanendra. Gyanendra is said to have close links with BJP leaders when he was the ruler. A possible high-level meeting in New Delhi cannot be ruled out, said sources close to the former king without giving any details. Gyanendra was removed from the Narayanhiti Palace, from where the Shah dynasty resided, in May 2008 after Nepal's newly first Constituent Assembly abolished monarchy and converted the country into a republic. The erstwhile Hindu kingdom was also converted into a secular one at the same time. Nepal was rocked for six months by violent Madhesi protests against the country's new Constitution that was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on September 20 last year. Over 50 people were killed during the agitation. Madhesis, who share cultural and family bonds with Indians, are demanding better constitutional rights, re-demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. A former TV analyst who falsely claimed to have been a "deep cover" agent for the CIA pleaded guilty today to a series of fraud charges, officials said. Wayne Simmons, 62, had been a Fox commentator on the basis of his claim that he spent 27 years working for the Central Intelligence Agency. As part of a plea agreement filed in federal court in Virginia, Simmons admitted he defrauded the government to gain access to a US Army training program in 2008 and to be deployed to Afghanistan as a senior intelligence advisor, the Justice Department said in a statement. He admitted that he was never employed by or worked with the CIA, or given a security clearance by that agency. "Mr. Simmons lied about his criminal history and CIA employment in order to fraudulently obtain government contracts, and separately, defrauded a victim through a phony real estate investment deal," said Paul Abbate, assistant director of the FBI's Washington field office. "With these criminal actions, Mr. Simmons abused the trust of others, both in and outside of government, for his own personal financial gain." Simmons, indicted on criminal charges last October, also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms, officials said. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the fraud against the government count, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on wire fraud charges. According to the indictment, Simmons falsely claimed to have worked as an "outside paramilitary special operations officer" for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1973 to 2000, and used that false claim to attempt to obtain government security clearances. He ended up working for three government contractors -- not identified in the indictment -- and was paid on the basis of "materially false and fraudulent pretenses," the indictment said. Simmons also co-authored a spy novel that appeared to have been loosely based on his purported exploits, which is sold on Amazon.Com. His biography goes on to say he was "one of the first outside intelligence officers" to visit the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and "was given the distinguished honor to serve as a consultant to the Bush White House to assist in the construction of the Military Commissions Act of 2006. A Russia-bound flier was arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here for allegedly carrying a dozen live bullet rounds in his baggage. Officials said the incident occurred yesterday noon when a passenger, identified as A Singh, arrived at the international terminal to take a flight to Moscow. CISF personnel deployed on security duty, they said, detected 12 live rounds of .22 calibre in his baggage when it was being scanned. "On questioning, Singh could not produce valid documents and hence he was handed over to Delhi Police, they said adding they arrested him under Arms Act. Drawing flak from the CAG for delay in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the government today asserted that the law has been rolled out in 33 states/UTs with subsidised foodgrains being provided to 72.45 crore beneficiaries. The Comptroller and Auditor General, which evaluated preparedness of 18 states/UTs for implementation of the law in its audit report released today, blamed the Centre for delay in implementation of the NFSA and extending its rollout thrice without Parliament approval. "As on April 1, 33 states/UTs are implementing NFSA and subsidised foodgrains are being provided to 72.45 crore beneficiaries (approximately 14.8 crore households)," the Food Ministry said in a statement. The remaining states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Nagaland are also in an advanced stage of preparation, it said. Tamil Nadu and Kerala are presently in election mode and a decision to implement NFSA will be possible only after the elections are over. Nagaland is expected to roll out NFSA from July 2016, it added. Highlighting measures taken to reform Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the Ministry said ration card have been digitised 100 per cent and their details have been made available on PDS portal in all states. Foodgrains are being allocated online in 25 states/UTs, supply chain of foodgrains has been computerised in 12 states/UTs, while online grievance redressal facility has been set up in 27 states/UTs and toll free number in 35 states/UTs, it added. State food commission has been set up in 30 states/UTs, while district greivance redressal officer been designated in 32 states/UTs, the statement added. On storage, the Ministry said that the requirement during peak procurement is around 60 million tonnes, against which state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies have a storage capacity of 81.48 million tonnes at present. New covered storage capacity of 13.37 million tonnes has been created in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode under Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) scheme at various locations in 20 states. In addition, new godowns are being constructed using the Plan funds with focus on the North Eastern states. Scientific storage facilities "silos" are also being created, the statement added. NFSA, which came into force from July 5, 2013, aims to provide foodgrains to 81.34 crore beneficiaries at highly subsidised rate of Rs 1-3 per kg. The law seeks to bring about changes in PDS that suffered from several deficiencies. Pakistan is at a "loss" to understand whether the Narendra Modi government has any Pakistan policy at all, former foreign secretary of the country Salman Bashir said today, noting that a lot of work was done during the UPA regime which needs to be revived. Bashir made the remarks during a discussion on 'India-Pakistan Relations' here which was attended by six former High Commissioners of both India and Pakistan who have served in the two countries since independence. On a question of whether Pakistan faces the threat of another coup, the retired diplomats replied in the negative saying their army just provides "inputs" to the civilian government in matters of foreign affairs and national security issues. "One issue that strikes me is that we need to pick up where we left. In the UPA administration a lot of work was done. It seems to us that all of this is sort of lost. These two years of this present administration, in Pakistan we are at a loss to understand if there is really a Pakistan policy for India at this point in time. "If you suspend the foreign secretary level talks just because the High Commissioner has met the APHC (All Party Hurriyat Conference) would to me show that all that was done on the back channel side, have been lost. That's the sort of thing that gives us a bit of unease as you are not quite sure where this government wants to take the relationship with Pakistan," Bashir said. However, almost all the retired diplomats, including former Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon and Pakistan's former High commissioner to India Aziz Ahmed Khan underlined the need to engage in dialogue to resolve the long-standing disputes. Satinder K Lambah, former special envoy of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said the prerequisites of a continued dialogue between the the neighbours were peace at the borders, no cross-border terrorism and an early end to Mumbai attacks trial among others. Referring to the recent foreign secretary level talks, Lanbah said it is good that the meet happened, however, he said certain "strange" things happened making the whole issue look "comic". He was referring to talking points released to media by Pakistan High Commission when the talks were on. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry had held talks here on Tuesday during which Indian side had asked Pakistan not to be in denial over the impact of terrorism on bilateral ties while Pakistan harped on Kashmir terming it as the core issue. The efforts to resume Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue at the Foreign Secretary-level hit a deadlock after the terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase in January that India said was carried out by militants from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group. (Reopens DEL56) G Parthasarathy, who served as India's envoy to Pakistan between 1998 and 2000, said it was to Modi's credit that he has taken the bilateral talks out of media glare which he said was needed to have dividends. "We have enough scope for both sides to move forward if the will exists...For me it is important we keep at it for our own interest...We need to talk to whoever is running Pakistan," Menon said, who also served as National Security Advisor, said. Asked about the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested in Pakistan on charges of spying, Bashir said the contacts between the National Security Advisors have helped to manage the "explosivity" of incidents like Pathankot and others. "As far as Jadhav as concerned, it needs to be investigated and requires cooperation from both sides. I believe it is important to have more communication regarding incidents like this," Bashir said, adding that he was not sure whether the Jadhav issue was taken up by the NSAs. "But it does go a long way to substantiate Indian interference (in Balochistan) and more as charges are that he was abetting acts of terrorism," Bashir, who served as Pakistani envoy to India between 2012-14, claimed. On Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's efforts to improve ties with India, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, who served as Pakistani High Commissioner to India between 1997-2002, said that the former is serious about it although he does not always have his hands on the levers. Bashir said it was imperative that the foreign secretaries are allowed to do their job and even the two Prime Ministers need to talk and steer their capacity towards that direction The talk was organised by Ananta Aspen Centre, an independent and not-for-profit organization that focuses on International Relations, headed by Satinder K Lambah, former special envoy of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Lambah said the prerequisites of a continued dialogue between the the neighbours were peace at the borders, no cross-border terrorism and an early end to Mumbai attacks trial among others. Referring to the recent foreign secretary level talks, Lanbah said it is good that the meet happened, however, he said certain "strange" things happened making the whole issue look "comic". He was referring to briefings held by the Pakistani side even as talks were on. Parthasarathy said talks had a continuity in the UPA regime as ceasefire was maintained and it was an era free of terrorism. He credited Pervez Musharraf for it and praised Manmohan Singh for first taking about "making borders irrelevant". Menon said that people were involved in a big way in the official and back channel talks during his tenure to make borders irrelevant and stop treating issues like Kashmir as purely "territorial". "Both in India and Pakistan there were attempts to involve people. I would not say we settled all things but we came close," he said. Other former diplomats such as Pakistan's Shahid Malik said that there is no "substitute" to dialogue while Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said that the two countries need to address whatever their respective core issues are. Former state minister and senior Congress leader Satyendra Pathak passed away here after a prolonged illness, family sources said today. Pathak (75) was undergoing treatment in Mumbai's Hinduja Hospital since last one-and-a-half month for infection in his kidney and liver. When chances of his survival became remote, his son and BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak brought him back to Katni in an air ambulance yesterday morning via Jabalpur. He passed away last evening, the sources said. Pathak is survived by wife, son and three daughters, they said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reached Katni today to pay respects to the departed leader. Pathak had served as a Cabinet minister in the Congress government led by the then Chief Minister Digvijay Singh in 2000. Though his son Sanjay Pathak was also in Congress and won the 2013 election from Vijaraghavgarh seat in Katni district, he later quit the party following differences with leaders and won the same seat again as BJP candidate. Madhya Pradesh Public Relations and Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla also expressed grief over the death of Pathak. His last rites will be performed today with full state honours. The teachings of Mahatma Gandhi are still relevant in a world vexed with "intolerance and extremism", President Pranab Mukherjee said today as he reminded the international community of the true values of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect. Addressing the students and faculty of the University of Papua New Guinea (PNG) here, Mukherjee said the vision and teachings of the father of the nation "remind humanity of the true values of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect and the need to work together for the equality and freedom of all individuals." "Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation continues, to this day, to be revered all over the world as a beacon of peace and apostle of non-violence...In a world that is increasingly vexed by intolerance and extremism, the life and message of this great man remain an inspiring example of the power of truth and universal brotherhood," he said. Mukherjee, who is the first Indian President to visit PNG, called his trip "historic." The University campus also has a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, installed in 1997, to which the President paid his respects before making the speech. "Gandhiji had viewed education as an integrated approach to all round personality development. He was emphatic about the difference between learning and true education, knowledge and actual wisdom and between literacy and the real lessons that we learn from life. "We, in India, have tried to adhere to these principles as we pursue our goals in the education sector through our national planning and human resource development programmes," he said. Stating that India attaches "high value" to the close friendship that exists between it and the island countries of the Pacific ocean, he said PNG has a key role in India's extended "Act East" policy and views it as a gateway to closer cooperation with the Pacific Island countries. He recounted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation in Fiji in 2014, had announced a number of initiatives for assisting the Pacific Island countries. "These were aimed at supporting their efforts towards their developmental goals and aspirations and addressing their specific concerns related to climate change and sustainable development. "I am happy to note that my government has delivered on these through financial assistance, deputation of Indian experts to PNG, training of your citizens in India and simplifying the visa process which has been reciprocated by government of PNG yesterday at the banquet hosted in my honour," he said. The President extended invitation to students from PNG to take advantage of the scholarships announced by the country for scholars of these countries and attend institutions of higher education and centres of excellence in India. (Reopens FGN 12) The President extolled the historic ties between the two countries and desired that these would be strengthened and taken forward in the right earnest. "Our relationship is based on the strong foundation of our historical ties-forged by our cultural and economic exchanges over the centuries. These bonds have contributed to the mutual understanding between our governments and our peoples and are at the root of our shared desire to collaborate in areas of our common interest. "The cooperation between our two countries at the United Nations and other multi-lateral fora has also been close and fruitful. India appreciates PNG's steadfast support for India's candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and also the reforms of this world body which was established after the World War-II," he said. Mukherjee said seven decades after the UN was created, the world has agreed on the urgent need for reform of its organs to make them relevant and effective in the significantly altered world of the 21st century. "We count on PNG's continued support and cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral fora," he said. Mukherjee also committed all help from India to the country in various spheres. "India stands ready to share other knowledge and experience in the field of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and best practices for increasing food productivity. There are many complementaries between India and PNG on which our bilateral cooperation must be based. "We are focused on skills development and innovation with special emphasis on simple and cost effective technologies that are easily adapted to be locally relevant, efficient and successful," he said. The President said Indian enterprises and private sector are keen to work with PNG in harnessing its mineral, marine and hydrocarbon resources. "As we identify the areas where we would both like to focus our joint efforts, I would say that in this area of cooperation the sky is the limit. We should waste no time in bringing the benefit of our cooperation to our peoples," he said. He also asked the students of the University to be the agents of "positive change." "Your dreams will come true if you pursue them with courage, never hesitate to be an agent of positive change, judge your success not by your personal achievements alone but by the harmony and advancement that it brings to the people around you," Mukherjee said. The Centre today approved an investment of Rs 9,005 crore for construction of over 73,000 houses for economically weaker sections in Maharashtra, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. An inter-ministerial Central Screening and Monitoring Committee, chaired by Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) Secretary Nandita Chatterjee, gave the nod for first batch of housing proposals during the current financial year, an official release said. These were also the first affordable housing proposals of the three states sanctioned under PMAY (Urban). The central assistance for construction of the houses would be to the tune of Rs 1,080 crore. "HUPA has approved an investment of Rs 9,005 crore for construction of 73,205 more houses for Economically Weaker Sections in urban (areas) under Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the states of Maharashtra, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir," the release said. Maharashtra has been sanctioned a total of 71,701 houses in 10 cities at a total project cost of Rs 8,932 crore with central assistance of Rs 1,064 crore, it added. For Punjab, construction of 1,280 houses for in-situ slum redevelopment in Bhatinda was approved with a total investment of Rs 57 crore for which central assistance would be to the tune of Rs 12.80 crore. For Jammu & Kashmir, construction of 224 houses has been approved with a total investment of Rs 16.07 crore with central assistance of Rs 3.36 crore. With these approvals, the total investment approved for affordable housing under PMAY (Urban) so far has gone up to Rs 43,922 crore for construction of 6,83,724 houses for urban poor with total central assistance commitment of Rs 10,050 crore, the release said. Under PMAY (Urban) launched in June last year, two crore houses for urban poor is to be built by the year 2022. The government is looking into the demand for imposing anti-dumping duty on import of Chinese tyres, a rubber industry body has said. "Influx of cheap imports from is hurting the Rubber MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector. Tariff concessions offered under free trade agreements could be leading to a surge in imports. Dumping of finished rubber products also can't be ruled out which is causing distress especially for MSME rubber sector," Rubber Board Chairman A Jayathilak said on Friday. He said this at the National Rubber Conference organised here by All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA). Read more from our special coverage on "CHINA" "The tyre industry has filed a petition before the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties for imposing an anti-dumping duty on import of Chinese tyres and it is being examined," Jayathilak said on the sidelines of the conference. India's import of truck and bus radial tyre (TBR) jumped by 64% to 12.8 lakh units in 2015-16, from 7.8 lakh units in the previous fiscal. Citing customs data, the domestic tyre manufacturers' body Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) had said that in the last two years, import of TBR has gone up by 2.5 times. ATMA has called for anti-dumping measures on imports from as it accounted for a major chunk. The chairman asked the industry to participate actively in the discussions on anti-dumping and safeguard measures organised by the government. "Rubber Board places equal importance on the development of both natural rubber producing and consuming interests. Both industry and plantations are equally close to our heart. We cannot take sides," Jayathilak said. The rubber industry fits in perfectly with the government's initiatives of Make in India, AIRIA President Mohinder Gupta said. Rubber units spread across the country manufacture around 35,000 different rubber products which find usage in auto, defence, healthcare, agriculture and various other sectors, he said. The HRD Ministry is examining a proposal to declare several institutes, including Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), as 'Institutions of National Importance' under the Central Universities Act, the government said today. The government proposed to grant the status of 'An Institution of National Importance' to IIMC through an Act of Parliament. The "final draft" of the Bill -- The Indian Institute of Mass Communication Bill, 2015 for soliciting the approval of the Cabinet for its introduction in Parliament has also been prepared, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told Lok Sabha in a written reply. "However, the Ministry of HRD is examining the proposal to include all such institutes proposed to be declared as 'Institutions of National Importance' by various ministries or departments under the existing Central Universities Act, 2009," the minister said. Further action to accord the status of 'Institution of National Importance' depends on the comments or advise of the ministry, he said. Rathore also said the Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra governments have communicated about making land available for IIMC centres in Jammu and Amravati, respectively. 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. Government today said it may move the Supreme Court asking it to club all cases related to its ban on 344 fixed dose combination drugs pending in various courts. Responding to a supplementary in the Lok Sabha on whether the Centre would move the apex court requesting it to club all cases opposing the ban together, Health Minister J P Nadda said it was a "good sugestion." Nadda also admitted that the situation was a result of lack of coordination between various state licencing authorities and the Drugs Controller General of India. The Delhi High Court alone was hearing 180 pleas challenging the government's decision to ban 344 fixed dose combinations. The Union Health Ministry in March had banned 344 fixed dose combination drugs, including cough syrup compositions, saying they involve "risk" to humans and safer alternatives were available. "On the basis of recommendations of the said expert committee, the central government is satisfied 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 said drugs in the country," the notification said. Fixed dose combination drugs are combinations of two or more active drugs in a single dose form. Nadda said some fixed drug combinations are necessary in treatment of malaria and diabetes. Government is looking at the financial viability for providing Rs 200 crore each to three new bulk drug manufacturing parks in order to create common minimum facilities, Parliament was informed today. In 2013, government had constituted a high level committee headed by V M Katoch to study the whole issue of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of critical importance. "The committee has since submitted its recommendations. After examining the recommendations, government is now looking into the financial viability of supporting the proposal for providing assistance for common minimum facilities for three greenfield bulk drugs/API parks to the extent of Rs 200 crore each," Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. However, the minister did not mention which three new bulk drug manufacturing parks would be receiving the assistance. The panel was also given the mandate to work out a package of interventions/concessions required to build domestic production capabilities and examine the cost implications. It has suggested setting up of mega parks to manufacture APIs with common facilities like testing, power and effluent treatment plants. It has also suggested establishing common utilities and services such as storage, testing laboratories, IPR management, designing and guest house/accommodation maintained by a separate special purpose vehicle (SPV). The committee has also recommended fiscal and financial benefits to promote the sector. The government is also working in association with Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Ministry of Commerce & Industry to sort out issues relating to the difficulties being faced by the bulk drug manufacturers relating to environmental issues, Ahir said. Bulk drugs are used as raw materials by the pharma industry. India meets about 80 per cent of its demand of bulk drugs through import from China. Government today announced that a memorial dedicated to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose will be built in the national capital as it released the third batch of 25 declassified files related to the freedom fighter. The documents consist of five files each from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Home Ministry, and 15 files from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) pertaining to the period between 1956 and 2009. "People of this country specially the youth want to know about the life of Netaji, his contribution towards freedom fight. So, this is a big achievement," Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said today after releasing the files. He said keeping in view the demand of various organisations and Parliamentarian, the government has decided to built a huge memorial in his name in Delhi which will depict his life and freedom struggle. "There has been a demand from a number of organisations and Member of Parliaments that a big memorial dedicated to Netaji should be built in Delhi. So we started the work for its construction. It will depict his life, freedom struggle and facts related to his death," he said. Sharma said Japan has also agreed to declassify two files liked to the life of Netaji. However, there is no assurance regarding three other such files in its custody. "We have got this offer from Japan that they are ready to give us two out of the five files linked to Netaji's life. The ministry will talk to them on this further.... This will add to the information and research scholars will get some more information whether it is from Japan or Russia," he said. The first lot of 100 files relating to Netaji, after their preliminary conservation treatment and digitization, were put in the public domain on January 23. The second lot of 50 files was released on March 29. China's migrant workforce, one of the main pillars of its massive economic growth, continued its declining trend reaching 277.5 million last year as the Communist giant faced demographic crisis due to rapid rise in old age population and decrease in wages. The migrant labour population reached 277.5 million last year, an annual rise of 1.3 per cent but the year-on-year growth rate has been decreasing since 2011, the National Bureau of Statistics said in a report yesterday. The growth rate dropped 0.6 per cent in 2015, and the percentage of workers younger than 40 years dropped 1.3 per cent to 55.2 per cent. The average age is 38.6, about four months older than in 2014. The slower growth of the migrant-worker population might be a result of the slower growth of income. According to the report, the average monthly salary reached 3,072 yuan (USD 472), while the annual growth rate dropped 2.6 points to 7.6 per cent, state-run China Daily reported today. In the manufacturing sector, the growth rate dropped to 6.7 per cent, the rate in the construction industry dropped to 4.4 per cent. Chinese officials hope the labour situation will improve as morepeople are expected to move into cities due to continued urbanisation. The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) said last year that over 230 million Chinese will move out of the countryside to live in cities by 2030. Results of a study last month said China will face severe demographic challenges in the next 25 years as its working-age population is predicted to shrink to 56.9 per cent of the total population by 2030. The ageing population will swell from 16.1 to 25.2 per cent which could seriously test China's social and economic development, a new data provided by the Population and Development Studies Centre at the Renmin University of China said. The number of those aged between 16 and 59 will decrease to 896 million in 2020 and 824 million in 2030, while those aged 60 and over will grow to 253 million in 2020 and 365 million in 2030. In a bid to shore up the numbers of the younger population,China this year has ended the three decades old one child policy and replaced it with two child as the demographic crisis deepened with sharp rise in the population of old age population. Gunmen in trenchcoats burst into a bar firing at drinkers in Burundi's capital Bujumbura killing five, police said today, the latest in a string of attacks in the troubled country. Four civilians and a soldier were killed and three others were wounded in the shooting yesterday. "A group of four armed criminals wearing long coats entered ... They started shooting at customers," police spokesman Moise Nkurunziza said. Hundreds have been killed and a quarter of a million people have fled Burundi since President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial decision last April to run for a third term, a vote he won amid opposition boycotts in July. The latest efforts to hold talks between rival factions are due to open on Monday in the Tanzanian town of Arusha. If things go according to plan, no male teacher below the age of 50 years will be posted in an all-girls school in Haryana. The Haryana Cabinet today approved the Draft Teachers Transfer Policy of School Education Department which also mentions pooling in of retired teachers to avoid concentration of teachers in some schools. As per the draft policy, all the government schools are being categorised into seven zones for the purpose of transfer of teachers and allotment of vacancy will be determined on the basis of a total score of 78 points earned on various factors with age having the maximum weightage of 58 points. Teachers belonging to categories like women, women headed households, widows, widowers, differently-abled persons, serious ailment and teachers showing improvement in results will be provided a maximum 20 points. The cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar approved the policy which chalks out an equitable, demand-based deployment of teachers and school-heads in a fair and transparent manner. Teachers will be asked to select the zones in order of their preference across districts. They will further opt sufficient number of schools in order of preference within each zone so that their claim could be considered against multiple vacancies within a zone, an official release said. If a teacher opts for posting anywhere in the state and is thereafter posted in a school in Morni Hills area or Mewat district against a vacancy, for which no teacher has opted, he or she will be paid additional 10 per cent of the Basic Pay plus Dearness Allowance during the said posting. The option of zone will be taken once in the whole career of a teacher and can only be changed under the provisions of this policy, the release said. Teachers joining for the first time on direct recruitment or promotion will also be asked to give their option of zone. The teachers who are members of State Cadre and District Cadre are liable to be transferred anywhere in the state and anywhere in the district respectively, at any point of time. Haryana government today issued transfer and posting orders of seven IAS officers with immediate effect, an official spokesman said. Keshni Anand Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, School Education and Electronics and Information Technology Departments has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management and Consolidation Departments vice Dalip Singh, retiring tomorrow. P.K. Das, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation and Administration of Justice Departments has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary, School Education Department, in addition to his present duties, vice Keshni Anand Arora. Devender Singh, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department has been posted as Principal Secretary, Electronics and Information Technology Department, in addition to his present duties vice Keshni Anand Arora. Amneet P. Kumar, Chief Executive, Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board and Rippudaman Singh Dhillon, Additional Secretary, Secretariat Establishment and Finance Departments will swap their place of respective posting. C.G. Rajinikaanthan, Director and Special Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment has been posted as Special Secretary, Finance Department against a vacant post. Shekhar Vidyarthi, Director and Special Secretary, Welfare of Schedule Castes and Backward Classes Department, Managing Director, Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance Development Corporation and Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam has been posted as Director and Special Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, in addition to his present duties vice C. G. Rajinikaanthan, it added. The Haryana government today decided to withdraw Cabinet minister-like facilities, including rent-free accommodation and staff, provided to ex-chief ministers of the state. Responding to the resentment among the public and political parties in the state on the issue, a decision to this effect was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here, an official release said. This decision will impact former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, sources said. On May 2, 2013, the then Chief Minister Hooda had in a Cabinet meeting decided that all facilities provided to the Cabinet minister may also be extended to the ex-CMs of Haryana at the state headquarters. The facilities included rent-free furnished accommodation of the status of a Cabinet minister, a Private Secretary, an Assistant, a driver, four PSO, and two peons. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said the state government will identify and undertake 50 big projects as a part of Golden Jubilee Year celebrations of the state. The Chief Minister stated this after he presided over a meeting regarding identification of schemes, programmes and projects to be implemented during 'Swarn Jayanti Year' of the formation of the State here today, said an official release He said committees would also be constituted to underline various schemes of the different departments. Another meeting would be called after 15 days to this effect. The Chief Minister said a special two-day session of State assembly would also be convened to discuss the beginning of golden jubilee year celebrations. During this, one day session would be open in which all former MLAs would also be invited. Earlier while addressing the officers in the meeting, the Chief Minister said that various programmes and events with the theme of 'Haryana Ek-Haryanavi Ek', Swacch Haryana-Swasthh Haryana' and Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' should be held throughout the golden jubilee year in an effort to associate all Haryanavis with the celebrations. Besides, he said that the Government would set up special entrance gates at all main entry points of the State from neighbouring states so as to involve all in the mass celebrations of the golden jubilee year of the state. With a view to achieve the success, the Chief Minister also suggested to constitute Golden Jubilee Organising Committee, Executive Committee and Managing Committee in which a Minister, Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister should be involved and they would decide the further roadmap of the celebrations. In the meeting, Secretaries of the department concerned apprised the Chief Minister about the schemes, programmes and projects which are to be implemented during 'Swarn Jayanti Year'. Prominent among those who were present in the meeting, were Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu, Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, Health Minister Anil Vij, Public Work (Building and Roads) Minister Rao Narbir Singh. The Bombay High Court today ordered demolition of the 31-storey scam-tainted Adarsh apartments in the heart of Mumbai and sought criminal proceedings against politicians and bureaucrats for "misuse" of powers, holding that the tower was illegally constructed. However, on a plea made by the Adarsh Housing Society, a division bench stayed its order to pull down the building close to the sea at Colaba for 12 weeks to enable it to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, despite the Maharashtra Government opposing it. In its order, the division bench asked the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to carry out the demolition at the expense of petitioners (Adarsh Society). The court also asked the Centre and Maharashtra Government to consider initiating civil and criminal proceedings against bureaucrats, ministers and politicians for misuse and abuse of power to get plots under the scheme, originally meant for Kargil war heroes and war widows. Seen as a symbol of corruption, the Adarsh scam kicked up a huge poltical storm after it surfaced in 2010 , leading to the resignation of the then Congress chief minister Ashok Chavan. In February this year, the Maharashtra Governor accorded sanction to the CBI to prosecute Chavan under the provisions of the Indian Penel Code in the case. When his reaction to the verdict was sought, Chavan said, "Unless I get it in my hand the copy of the order, I cannot comment on the issue." The order was delivered in an open court by a bench of Justices R V More and R G Ketkar on a bunch of petitions filed by Adarsh Society challenging the demolition order of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and a title suit filed by the Defence Ministry claiming that it owned the land on which the 31-storey society building was constructed. The court asked the Centre and state government to consider taking departmental proceedings in accordance with law against bureaucrats. "The disciplinary authority shall take decision in accordance with law without being influenced by the findings of the high court," said the bench. The bench placed on record its appreciation for the complainant Simpreet Singh, a member of National Alliance of People's Movement. "But for this intervention, perhaps the gross violation by the petitioners (Adarsh Society) would not have been detected," the court observed. The court also asked the Adarsh Society to pay Rs one lakh as cost to each of the six respondents including Bharat Bhushan, Director of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Nalini Bhat, Advisor and Competent Authority, MoEF, Sitaram Kunte, former Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and three others. In its report, CAG had observed that "this episode of Adarsh Coooperative Housing Society reveals how a group of select officials placed in key posts could subvert rules and regulations to grab prime government land for personal benefit." In 2011, the state government set up a two-member judicial commission headed by Justice J A Patil to inquire into the scam. After probing the issue for over two years, it submitted its report in 2013, which found that there had been 25 illegal allotments, including 22 purchases made by proxy. Apart from Chavan, the commission also indicted several leading politicians. Later, the CBI, the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also investigated the scam. Acting Advocate General Rohit Dev told the court today that he was opposing the stay sought by the petitioner (Adarsh Society) to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. Adarsh Society had filed a petition in 2011 in the Bombay High Court challenging the demolition order issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. Senior counsel Navroz Seervai, appearing for Adarsh Society, argued that there were no violations either of the rules or CRZ norms. The Defence Ministry also filed a petition in the high court seeking implementation of its demolition order, besides filing a title suit in the high court claiming that it was the owner of the plot on which the plush Adarsh Society building stands in South Mumbai. In January 2011, the union ministry of environment and forest had issued a demolition order mainly on the ground that the society did not have CRZ clearance. The building still remains unoccupied and without electricity and water supply. The court had in September 2015 started final hearing of petitions, including the one filed by the Adarsh society challenging demolition order of the Union Environment Ministry and plea of the Defence Ministry seeking implementation of the demolition order and a title suit of the plot's ownership. In December 2015, the bench had reserved order after hearing all the parties. Welcoming the order,activist Simpreet Singh, who had filed a complaint, said, "It has been a long journey, we started in 2006 by filing an RTI and now we stand vindicated. The High court order is a welcome step", Singh told A helicopter transporting North Sea oil workers crashed off the coast of western Norway today, killing all 13 people on board, rescue services said. The Super Puma chopper went down around midday in the archipelago off the coast of Bergen, Norway's second-biggest city. Eleven bodies have been recovered and the two remaining people are presumed dead, rescue services said. "We presume that all 13 are dead," Sola rescue centre spokesman Borge Galta told AFP. Search and rescue operations were called off late today. The aircraft was carrying 11 Norwegians, one Briton and one Italian, rescue services said. The cause of the accident was not immediately known. The helicopter broke into pieces near a small island and debris was found scattered on land and at sea. Part of the chopper was resting on the seabed under five to seven metres of water, around 20 metres from land, rescue officials said. Another Sola rescue centre spokesman, Anders Bang Andersen, said the chopper had been on its way to Bergen's airport when it crashed with 11 passengers and two crew members on board. It was returning from the Gullfaks B platform, in one of Norway's biggest offshore oil fields, which is operated by state-owned Statoil. Several witnesses described seeing the aircraft spiral downwards, followed by a powerful explosion, and people were seen in the sea. "There was an explosion and a very peculiar engine sound, so I looked out the window. I saw the helicopter falling quickly into the sea. Then I saw a big explosion," an island resident told local daily Bergensavisen. "Pieces (of the helicopter) flew into the air," she said, adding that she saw the rotor detach. The crash was the deadliest helicopter accident in Norway since 1978, when a chopper plunged into the sea, killing 18 people. "Horrible reports of a helicopter crash," Prime Minister Erna Solberg tweeted. Live footage shortly after the crash showed leisure boats rushing toward the scene, where thick black smoke was billowing into the sky. More than an hour after the crash boats could be seen criss-crossing the water as helicopters hovered overhead. Divers were seen at the site, and ambulances were parked on the shore. The chopper was an EC225 Super Puma built by Airbus Helicopters and operated by CHC Helikopterservice for Statoil. Norway said it had grounded all helicopters of the same model, while Statoil had set up an emergency help centre in Bergen for families of the victims. On August 23, 2013, a Super Puma AS332 L2, an older model of the same helicopter, crashed into the North Sea near the Shetland Islands, killing four. Asserting that India is emerging as a bright spot, state-run BHEL's head Atul Sobti has said the recent policy reforms and ease of doing business initiative of the government has improved the business scenario in the country. Sobti, who presided over the 12th convocation of Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) Allahabad as the chief guest, in his convocation address said that "India is emerging as a bright spot while the youth of the nation are the crucial enablers". He added the recent policy reforms and ease of doing business initiative of the government has improved the business scenario in the country. Sobti also informed the students that BHEL has made revolutionary contribution to the power and capital goods sectors in India. BHEL earlier this month had said it has commissioned an all-time high power generation capacity of over 15,000 MW and booked new orders worth Rs 43,727 crore in 2015-16, the biggest in five years. With the commissioning of 15 GW capacity last fiscal, the worldwide installed base of power generating equipment supplied by BHEL has exceeded 170 GW, it said. This 15 GW includes the highest-ever power generation capacity addition of 13,061 MW to the Indian utility segment, a quantum jump of 59 per cent over the previous year. India today offered Papua New Guinea its technology, financial wherewithal, skilled manpower and institutional support to harness the mineral-rich country's abundant natural resources and establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures. Addressing the business leaders of Papua New Guinea, President Pranab Mukherjee underlined that the Pacific country's economic growth does not truly reflect the potential of a country blessed with abundant natural and mineral resources, highly fertile soil, fresh water and an extensive coastline teeming with fish and precious seafood. "The challenge for Papua New Guinea is how to best utilise these abundant natural resources for value addition, generating employment and economically empowering her people," he told members of the Papua New Guinea Business Council here. Mukherjee, who arrived here on a two-day visit yesterday, becoming the first Indian President to visit Papua New Guinea, said the exclusive economic zone of PNG, spread in 3.1 million square kilometer is the guarantee of future growth of this region and would provide the opportunity to the island country to lead the Pacific Ocean. "From our experiences we can suggest to the government and policy makers of Papua New Guinea, that if you want to achieve self sufficiency in food production, you can achieve it with the application of appropriate technologies, by increasing yield per hectare, by the use of varieties of new fertilisers and an effective use of fresh water," he said. The President said India's policies have created an environment for indigenous commercial, industrial and manufacturing entities to grow and sustain themselves. "Today our private sector has journeyed far and wide. In Britain, our former colonial masters, the largest industrial employer today is an Indian conglomerate. Our companies create value and not merely extract resources. India invites you to partner with them," he said. Mukherjee said economic and commercial relations between the two countries have not grown in proportion to the actual capabilities and capacities, but today both recognise that they stand at the cusp of a breakthrough. "Both India and Papua New Guinea are poised to build up on the synergies that exist between our two nations. India has the financial wherewithal; technological strength, skilled manpower and institutional support that can help establish mutually beneficial economic and commercial ventures," he said. (Reopens FGN 16) The President said India fully supports the developmental aspiration of Papua New Guinea and that a country's natural resources should be used to support its people. Mukherjee said there are mutual complementaries in many fields between India and Papua New Guinea which both countries can work together to improve industry practices and productivity. "India has the agricultural knowledge and technology to boost agricultural productivity, Papua New Guinea has an abundance of fertile lands and ideal conditions for agriculture along with the availability of fresh water," he said. The President said while India has one of the biggest jewellery industries in the world, Papua New Guinea has gold; India has a huge energy requirement, Papua New Guinea has huge resources of Natural Gas and petroleum. "Rice is a staple food in Papua New Guinea, as it is in large parts of India; not only is India one of the largest producers of rice in the world, but we are also the world's largest producer of fruits, vegetables and milk," he said. The President said close co-operation between the two countries could bring opportunities, growth and progress as well as prosperity to the peoples of both countries. The President said globalised world economy provides the two countries an opportunity that should be seized. "Let us commit ourselves to realise the potential that exists between our two countries, which will not only bring both countries closer, but in doing so will also uplift the condition of our peoples," he said. Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India, but New Delhi has "signalled" it is only interested in talking about terrorism which does not bode well for the prospects of diplomatic progress between the two nations, Islamabad's envoy to the UN has said. Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN ambassador Maleeha Lodhi's remarks came just a day before Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met in New Delhi on April 26 on the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' regional conference. "While Islamabad has repeatedly urged Delhi to resume the broad based, comprehensive peace process, India has yet to agree and has instead signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism. This, she said, does not make the prospects of diplomatic progress too bright," she said. Lodhi addressed students and faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge on April 25as part of 'South Asia Week' being held at the institutionand talked about Pakistan's role in regional stability. According to a press release issued by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN here, Lodhi said that Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India by finding political solutions to outstanding disputes. In their first formal bilateral meeting after the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January, the Foreign Secretaries focused on a range of issues including probe into the attack and Kashmir, which the Pakistani side has asserted was the "core issue". Lodhi said that Pakistan's priorities included economic revival, defeating terrorism and elimination of violent extremism in and around Pakistan. Another priority for Pakistan is building regional peace and stability, which required an end to the conflict in Afghanistan, and normalisation of Pakistan-India relations on an equitable and durable basis, she said. On China, Lodhi said the country is a "cornerstone" of Pakistan's foreign policy and Islamabad's relationship with Beijing is "strategic, historic, trouble free and pivotal to the country's foreign policy." Lodhi said that the strategic evolution of the Pakistan-China relationship has accorded the bilateral partnership added significance at a time of a "fundamental change in the global balance of power brought about by China's rise as a global economic powerhouse." In recent years, she said bilateral ties with China have broadened and diversified from the traditional focus on defence and military cooperation toward a greater economic and investment orientation. On how Pakistan will balance its relations with China as well as with the US, she said "to those who ascribe a zero-sum nature to Pakistan's relations with China and America, a recall of history would help to invalidate this flawed notion," according to the release. Citing Pakistan's "good relations" with the US and China from the time of the Cold War, she said "Pakistan intends to play the same role in the future and maintain good relations with both even as the two engage in global competition". Both India and Pakistan need to address the problem of terrorism like other countries which are coming closer to combat terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today. Talking to reporters here, she said, "Both India and Pakistan need to address the problem of terrorism and alienation of youth. If we keep fighting then this would pose a threat to our existence." Terming Muslim nations as the worst victims of terrorism, She said, "Nations across the world are coming closer, terrorism has emerged as the biggest challenge for all countries. Muslim nations are the worst victims of terrorism." Pitching strongly for peace initiatives, Mehbooba said that terrorism has emerged as the biggest threat and "the money being spent on animosity can be instead diverted towards good purpose". She lauded the resumption of peace talks between India and Pakistan. "It is good that talks have resumed again. Terrorism is the biggest challenge for us. See what is happening in Syria, Libya and Pakistan. Western countries too have now such problems," she said. "I think it (terrorism) is a global phenomenon. It is not confined to a region or a country, it is now global. Pakistan is facing terror blasts and they are using drones to eliminate terrorists," she said. Mehbooba said Pakistan needs to take lessons and keep good relations with neighbouring countries as it has already lost three wars to India. "Pakistan needs to take lessons as to how long its will fight as it has lost three wars (with India) and we need keep good relations with out neigbhours," she said. She expressed optimism and lauded the efforts on Indo-Pak engagements for peace talks despite the deadly terrorist attack on Pathankot IAF station. "The talks have begun. The Prime Minister had gone to Lahore where an informal meeting was held. After that, unfortunately the Pathankot incident took place, but despite that talks went on. Even recently, the talks were held," Mehbooba said. She said if both the countries come together and mutually resolve their issues through friendly relations, then even Jammu and Kashmir would get peace and normalcy, adding, Prime Minister talks on development would be possible only if their is peace. "Peace is only interest of people of Jammu and Kashmir. We want good Indo-Pak relations as if affects us," she said. The State cabinet, which met under the chairpersonship of Mufti here, welcomed resumption of Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks. "We are facing difficult situation in the state.... We hope that we will come out of this situation. We pray to God that such a situation is not repeated again in future," Mehbooba said. "But I am happy that people of Jammu have ensure peace and communal harmony. Situation in Kashmir is bad. There was violence and bloodshed. But the people of Jammu ensured communal harmony and brotherhood," she noted. The Chief Minister said whosoever wants the Kashmir problem to be addressed should understand that solution is not going to come through violence. She said violence has changed nothing on political spectrum of Jammu and Kashmir over the years and has only brought mayhem, miseries, economic disaster, academic breakdown and social disorder to the state. Maintaining that violence will not help resolve issues, the Chief Minister said that peace and dialogue is the only way forward towards addressing the Kashmir imbroglio. "Threads need to be picked up from where these were left by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2005, when a serious effort was made both on external and internal fronts to resolve the Kashmir issue through a credible and meaningful dialogue and confidence building process," she said. She asserted that PJP-PDP entered into alliance to carry forward the agenda of Vajpayee and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed and not for power or government. "We entered into alliance (between PDP and BJP)in difficult circumstances. We did not entered into coalition for the power and the government", She said. The Chief Minister said the coalition was formed to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir is brought out from the nearly 70- year-old turmoil and misfortune. "There was unrest in 2008 and it was followed by 2010 and now in 2016 there is again this violent unrest. We are yet to come out of these misfortunes," she said. Vajpayee had made a beginning to win hearts and minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, she said, adding he had also impressed upon Pakistan that "war, conspiracies and infiltration is no solution to Kashmir problem, but we should sit and hold talks". Hailing the step taken by Modi of going to Lahore which was followed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Islamabad, Mehbooba said, "I hope that Pakistan will understand sooner or later and will realize that targeting each other or leveling allegations will not solve any issue. "Both countries should hold the hand of each other and carry forward the step taken by PM Modi." She said if Pathankote terror attack had not happened, "the situation (between India and Pakistan) would have been better." She went on to add, "Whatever has happened has happened" and said the two countries should Vajpayee's initiative. (Reopen DEL76) Mehbooba recalled that Vajpayee had undertaken a bus ride to Lahore after which then Pakistan Army Chief Gen Pervez Musharraf had engineered Kargil aggression. However, Musharraf was later forced to come to India on aninvitation of Vajpayee, she added. "Again Parliament attack took place which took us close to the war. Even after these incidents, Vajpayee Ji open heartedly extended hand of friendship to Pakistan from Kashmir soil for bringing the much-needed peace and normalcy and progress for people of J&K," she said. Mehbooba said "there were results after that. Musharraf said that he will not allow the Pakistani soil to be used for the terrorism in J&K. There was downfall in militancy in J&K and there was betterment in the situation and level of alienation came down. LoC roads were opened and process of dialogue began". "But unfortunately, Mufti Sayeed government changed in J&K and later in Delhi, there was change of the government led Atal ji and the result was that healing touch policy with good governance was stopped and today we are here again. India's investments in the UK zoomed nearly 65% in 2015, establishing it as the third largest source of foreign direct (FDI) into Britain after the US and France. A new report released in London also found that the number of Indian companies in the UK, growing at more than 10%, has nearly doubled from 36 to 62 firms in a year. 'India meets Britain 2016: Tracking the UK's top Indian companies', published by Grant Thornton UK LLP in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said the combined turnover of these businesses has increased by 4 billion pounds last year, up from 22 billion pounds in 2014 to 26 billion pounds in 2015. Anuj Chande, head of the South Asia Group at Grant Thornton UK LLP, said: "The India Tracker shows that the level of in the UK by Indian companies remains high. In 2015, investments from India rose by 65%, making it the third-largest source of FDI in the UK." "The UK remains an important market for Indian companies, particularly those looking to access Europe. In addition to the strong cultural ties between the UK and India, the UK's increasingly competitive corporate tax rates, R&D incentives and a common language make it an attractive destination for investment," Chande said. The report notes that to a large extent, the "impressive rates of growth demonstrated by Indian companies" reflect the fast-growth sectors in which many of them operate - notably technology, telecoms, pharmaceuticals and financial services. The top five Indian firms operating in the UK include Bharti Airtel, HCL Technologies, Emcure Pharma, Apollo Tyres and Wockhardt. In reference to the upcoming referendum which will decide the future of the UK's membership of the European Union (EU), the report cautioned: "At least for the time being, Indian companies invest more in the UK than they do in the rest of the EU combined. What remains to be seen is how attractive the UK will be to these businesses in light of the upcoming EU referendum and possible 'Brexit'." Chande said, "The forthcoming EU referendum leaves some questions for the future of in the UK by Indian companies. However, the impressive growth seen in the last year is a testament to the pro-business measures adopted by the Narendra Modi government, and there is little to suggest that the UK will become less attractive to Indian investors." Ensuring that companies like these fast-growing firms are able to access the UK is vital in creating a vibrant UK economy," he said. According to the analysis, Indian companies employ almost 110,000 employees in the UK, with the automotive sector accounting for the highest number of employees at 36%. (REOPENS FGN14) Of the 62 firms in the tracker, 30 are small and medium-sized enterprisess with a turnover between 5 million pounds and 25 million pounds, 27 are mid-sized (turnover between 25 million pounds and 250 million pounds) and five are large corporates (turnover of above 250 million pounds). The research also shows that Indian-owned companies pay combined UK corporate tax of almost 650 million pounds, up from 500 million pounds last year. Shuchita Sonalika, director and head of CII UK, said: "Indian companies continue to make an impressive contribution to the vibrancy of the UK's economy. Accelerating global ambitions of Indian corporates may well see more Indian businesses expand overseas and join the 815 Indian businesses already established in the UK." "With world class universities, vibrant business sectors, long term infrastructure investment, we might expect to see more Indian companies emulating the success of their peers on the 2016 list tracker," Sonalika said. "The 9 billion pounds in commercial deals announced during Prime Minister Modi's UK visit last year are cause for optimism. However, to sustain this optimism in business expansion, we hope that the concerns of Indian companies around talent mobility issues are heard and resolved, and their impact, minimised," she said. CII promotes bilateral trade and investment flows between India and the UK, and through its India Business Forum brings together Indian companies with existing or expected operations in the UK. Asha Singh Kanwar, an Indian-origin professor has been conferred honorary doctorate by UK's Open University for her exceptional contributions to global education, social justice and human development. The degree was presented by Peter Horrocks, Vice-Chancellor of the Open University (OU), last week. Reading from the citation,Professor Belinda Tynan, Pro Vice-Chancellor, said that the Open University "recognise(s) her exceptional contribution to global education, social justice and human development". Professor Kanwar, in her acceptance speech, said that she hadalways upheld the OU as a symbol of quality. "To receive recognition from the OU today is then something truly special," she said. Kanwar is considered one of the world's leading advocates for learning for development and has been the president and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) since 2012. Before joining the COL, she was a consultant in open and distance learning at UNESCO's Regional Office for Education in Africa (BREDA) in Dakar, Senegal. She received her undergraduate, master's and MPhil degrees from Panjab University and was awarded a scholarship for a DPhil programme at the University of Sussex, which she completed in 1986. She was also a Fulbright Fellow for post-doctoral research at Iowa State University, where she was later invited to teach, and was a Visiting Fellow at the University of Leiden, the University of Toronto and the Open University of Hong Kong. A four-member delegation of Indo-UK Institute of Health today met Haryana Chief Secretary D S Dhesi for execution of an MoU for cooperation in the health sector. The Chief Secretary informed the delegation about the possibilities for investment and facilities being provided under the Haryana Enterprises Promotion Policy-2015, a release said. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the 'Happening Haryana Global Investors Summit 2016' held in Gurgaon on March 7 and 8. During the meeting, Managing Director of Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), Sudhir Rajpal said appropriate locations in Sonepat, Sohna, Panipat and Faridabad are available with the Corporation under its land pool in industrial estates and the delegation may select any of these locations. Iran has told the United Nations that it reserves the right to take "counter-measures" in response to a US court decision to use Tehran's frozen assets to compensate US victims of terrorist attacks. In a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Iran said on Thursday that the US Supreme Court ruling last week was an "outrageous robbery disguised under a court order". "It is in fact the United States that must pay long overdue reparations to the Iranian people for its persistent hostile policies," wrote Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Iran "reserves the right to take appropriate lawful action, including necessary and proportionate counter-measures, to restore and protect the rights of Iranian people against such persistent unlawful conduct by the United States," he said. The US Supreme Court ruled on April 20 that Iran must hand over nearly $2 billion in frozen assets to the more than 1,000 survivors and relatives of those killed in attacks blamed on Tehran. The attacks included the 1983 bombing of US Marine barracks in Beirut and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia. Zarif described the court ruling as "fake and phony and a travesty of justice in every sense of law, jurisdiction, merit, fact and process". The foreign minister cited US involvement in the 1953 Iran coup, US backing for Baghdad in the Iran-Iraq war and the shooting down of an Iranian airliner by a US missile in 1988 as grounds for US compensation to Iranian nationals. He urged Ban to press the United States to release all frozen Iranian assets in US banks in line with the nuclear agreement reached last year. The Supreme Court ruling came after a New York tribunal in March ordered Tehran to pay $7.5 billion to victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon and $3 billion to insurers over related claims after ruling that Iran had failed to prove that it did not help the bombers. Zarif called the claim of Iranian involvement in the 9/11 attacks "absurd", saying it contradicts "even public statements as well as findings open or sealed of investigations by the US government and US Congress". Two gay Italian women today won the right to adopt each other's children in a legal first. All previous verdicts in Italy in favour of lesbian women being legally recognised as the parents of their partner's children are at the appeal stages. In its definitive sentence, Rome's juvenile court said Marilena Grassadonia, president of the Rainbow Families association, could adopt her wife's twin boys. In turn, her partner adopted Grossadonia's son. All three were conceived by artificial insemination. In March, a man won his request to adopt his partner's child, but rights watchers believed the ruling may have slipped through the net due to an administrative error, with the office of the prosecutor in charge of the case failing to file an appeal in time. Grassadonia was a vocal campaigner in Italy during the heated debate earlier this year over a contested civil unions bill. The text, adopted by parliament's upper house after a clause allowing gay couples to adopt their parnters' biological children was removed, will be examined by the lower house from May 9. Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said he will resort to a confidence vote on the government, if necessary, to make the bill law. While they wait for the law, courts have been finding in favour of gay couples since 2014 based on current legislation which favours "emotional continuity" for children. "On a personal level, it's a huge satisfaction, but I cannot be fully happy when I think that our (Rainbow) families depend on individual decisions" by courts, rather than having their rights enshrined in law, Grassadonia said in a statement Friday. Gay watchers said the bill had been watered down under pressure from the right in a country which boasts the Vatican in its midst. Massimo Gandolfini, who campaigned actively against the civil unions bill and organised a "Family Day" of Catholics in the capital city in protest in January, was received by Pope Francis in the tiny city state of Friday. "He encouraged me to keep going, and we agreed Italy had to be a polar star in the middle of this disaster that is destroying humanity and the family," Gandolfini told AFP. Learn about everyones least favorite critters, how to avoid them, get rid of them and what diseases they can potentially carry. Meet at the visitor center.Grab your pedometer, fit bit, or phone app and put on your trail walking shoes to join a ranger for a brisk morning trail walk. We will walk up to 5 miles. Meet in the last parking lot. Bring water and wear bug spray.Lets celebrate National Astronomy Day by enjoying the beautiful night sky. We will spend the evening identifying constellations and discussing some of the stories behind them. Please meet at the parks visitor center. After arriving the ranger will lead you to Flicker Field adjacent from the center. Remember to dress for the weather and feel free to bring a flashlight.Come to Dinahs Landing boat ramp and learn the basics of tandem canoeing on Goose Creek. Wear clothes that you do not mind getting wet, shoes that strap on and sunscreen. Space is limited, so registration is required. Please call the park at (252) 923-2191 to register.Take a one-mile walking tour of the boardwalk and view a freshwater swamp that is transitioning to a brackish water marsh all without getting your feet wet. Meet at the visitor center.Always be prepared in the event your power goes out. Come to the Campground Amphitheater and learn a new method of cooking outdoors with charcoal and a cast iron Dutch oven. The menu is TBD depending on how many participants can bring a Dutch oven. Space is limited, so registration is required. Please call the park at (252) 923-2191 to register. All ages are welcome.Meet at the visitor center for a fun-filled hiking experience. This program is great for small groups and family teams. There will be some friendly competition. Wear hiking shoes and bug spray.Tar, Pitch and Turpentine: Naval Stores in North Carolina See a live demonstration of the traditional tar-making process. Tar, pitch and turpentine were all derived from longleaf pines. For many years the naval stores industry was the biggest industry in North Carolina as the wooden ships of the day required these products. Meet at the Visitor Center.Vanessa FischerGoose Greek State Park2190 Camp Leach RoadWashington, NC 27889Phone: Four all-women police stations in Jammu and Kashmir would become functional from May 15, officials said. The police stations have been set up in Anantnag and Baramulla districts of Kashmir division and Rajouri and Udhampur in Jammu region. Orders for deployment of manpower and terms of reference of these police stations were issued today by Director General of Police K Rajendra Kumar, an official spokesman said. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after assuming office had issued orders for setting up of four women police stations in the state. In the first cabinet meeting Mehbooba decided to set up the police stations to provide grievance redressal to women in areas close to their homes, the spokesman said. He said so far two women police stations are working in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani today assured the ex-servicemen demanding "complete implementation" of 'One Rank One Pension' that he will lead their legal battle in the apex court. "I am 93-years-old and I can die any day but I assure you that it will not happen before I get you justice from Supreme Court," Jethmalani said while addressing armed forces veterans staging protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the protesting veterans, claimed a case will be filed by Jethmalani on OROP demand in the Supreme Court in next 3-4 days and he will not charge any fee. Jethmalani, who has been fighting a legal case over the issue of blackmoney in SC since 2009, also lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for "failing" to bring back blackmoney stashed away abroad. "Modi promised to bring back blackmoney from foreign countries and I believed him but he fooled me. But when German government offered to disclose the names of such bank account holders, no one from India approached it," he claimed. Singh said four more cases have been filed in the armed forces tribunal. "These cases pertain to rulings for Jawans, war widows, arrears since 2006, payments for honourary ranks, rounding off of disability pension, and payments of reservists," he said. The veterans' protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 320th day today. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had in September last year announced implementation of the long delayed OROP for ex-servicemen but the veterans have been continuing with their protest demanding "complete" implementation of the scheme. JNU students who are sitting on hunger strike in protest against punishments awarded by university for the controversial February 9 event, today screened documentary film on Muzaffarnagar riots protesting the new show-cause notices issued to two students. The university administration, meanwhile, sent the report of the university probe panel to Delhi Police's anti-terrorism unit, Special Cell, which is probing the sedition case registered in connection with the event on the campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Two groups of students are sitting on indefinite hunger strike since yesterday in protest against the punishments announced by the university to various students for their involvement in the February 9 event. However, fresh protests erupted on campus in wake of the new show-cause notices issued to two students-Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya- who are already facing rustication for the Afzal Guru event. The duo, have been asked to explain their position in connection with screening of documentary "Muzaffarngar abhi baqi hai" which was organised by a group of students last August. They have been asked to appear before the Chief Proctor and bring evidences, if any, in their defence. Questioning the administration's action after over nine months since the event took place, the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) held a screening of the documentary on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots at the administration block ever since Umar, Anirban and JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar were arrested in the sedition case. They are out on bail now. The students also slammed the sharing with police of the five-member probe panel report based on which the decision regarding punishments has been taken by the university. "The special cell had contacted us for a copy of the report and we have sent the same," a senior university official said. He, however, did not comment on the reasons behind the action against students on movie screening after nine months. Reacting to the notice Umar said, "I have only one question to ask the JNU administration- it took you 9 months to wake up from your slumber and realise this great 'indiscipline' on our part! Is it a simple coincidence that the authorities chose to send this notice to us, when we are already into a movement against witch-hunt of students?" The agitating students said that they will continue with their hunger strike till the punishments are revoked by the university. While Kanhaiya has been slapped with a penalty of Rs 10,000 on grounds of "indiscipline and misconduct", Umar, Anirban and Kashmiri student Mujeeb Gatoo have been rusticated for varying durations. Financial penalty has been imposed on 14 students. Hostel facilities oftwo students have been withdrawn and the university has declared the campus out of bounds for two former students. ABVP member Saurabh Sharma, who was complainant of the event, has also been slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000 for blocking traffic. The ABVP group, which is also on hunger strike, submitted a memorandum to the university Vice Chancellor demanding that punishment to Saurabh be withdrawn and the "feather-like" punishments to other students be reconsidered. In his next film expected to be a rib-tickler, Tamil star Kamal Haasan will reprise the role of the humorous 'Balram Naidu' he played in his 2008 hit Dasavatharam, while sharing the screeen with his daughter Shruti for the first time. 'Sabash Naidu' (Well Done, Naidu) will see Haasan joining hands with well-known Malayalam filmmaker T K Rajeev Kumar after a period of over two decades, when the duo gave the critically acclaimed 'Chanakyan,' a revenge saga. It is a trilingual film to be made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi and went to the floors today at a function here. The first look of the movie showed Haasan precariously perched on a bike with top Telugu comedian Brahmanandam on the pillon. In the three versions in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu, the movie will have popular actors like Saurabh Shukla, Ramya Krishna, Farida Jalal and Brahmanandam, a press release here said. Ace musiciam Ilayaraja will score the tunes while Haasan will handle the story and script. Shukla will pen the dialogues for the Hindi version, titled 'Sabash Kundu.' The film will be extensively shot in the US. Kamal Haasan's last film, 'Thoongavanam', saw lukewarm response among the audience. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who is contesting as the Congress-led UDF candidate from Puthupally constituency for 11th time in a row, today filed his nomination papers for the May 16 assembly polls. Chandy, who has represented the constituency 10 consecutive times in the Assembly, is once again trying his luck from Puthupally in the central Travancore district of Kottayam. Chandy, the face of Congress in Kerala, was accompanied by his son Chandy Oommen, Kottayam MP Jose K Mani and thousands of party and UDF workers. He arrived to file three sets of nomination papers before the Block Development Officer Sreelekha, at Pallikathodu in Puthupally. The Chief Minister, who is making the 11th bid from the constituency, was greeted by 11 children with roses. He offered prayers at the local church and at the graves of his parents before proceeding to file his nomination papers. State Excise Minister K Babu who had faced bribery allegations in the bar scam, and is the Congress-UDF candidate from Tripunithura assembly segment, also filed his papers today, the last date for filing nominations. US Secretary of State John Kerry called Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and asked her to ensure a thorough investigation into the recent killing of a USAID worker, his spokesman said today. "Kerry called Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina on April 28 to offer US support for the investigation into the attack that killed human rights advocate and US Embassy employee Xulhas Mannan, along with Tonmoi Mahbub, earlier this week," the State Department said. Kerry also condemned other incidents in a recent spate of violence. "The Secretary urged Prime Minister Hasina to ensure a thorough investigation of all of these incidents, and to redouble law enforcement efforts to prevent future attacks and protect those who are at risk," the State Department said in a readout of the call. Punjab government today gave approval for allotment of land for setting up of five new police stations in Mohali district. The proposed police stations will come up at Sector 89, Aero City, IT City in Sector 66, Medi City in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) and Sector 77 at Mohali, a government spokesperson said here. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is also the chairman of Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), approved the proposal for allotment of one acre land in Sector 89, 0.92 acre in Aero City, two acres in IT City, Sector 66 Beta, one acre in Medi City, New Chandigarh, and 0.50 acre for women police station in Sector 77 at Mohali, the official said. These sites have been allotted to the police department free of cost as per the policy of GMADA, the spokesperson added. A Malaysian court has ordered the police to issue an arrest warrant for an ethnic-Indian man who had converted to Islam and is locked in a legal battle with his former Hindu wife over the custody of their daughter, officials said today. This follows a ruling by the Federal Court which ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, the Muslim convert, for refusing to hand over his youngest child to his ex-wife Indira Gandhi, who continues to remain a Hindu. Police said it will have to comply with the Federal Court's decision and an arrest warrant would be issued for Muhammad Riduan, formerly known as K Patmanathan. "The Federal Court is the highest court in the country's legal system. We have to abide with the law. Police will soon issue a warrant of arrest to the person involved," a senior police official said. Malaysia is a Muslim majority country with ethnic Indians, mostly Hindus, forming eight percent of its 28 million population. A 32-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 19 years of prison in the US for stalking a woman from New Delhi to Texas for nearly a decade. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced the sentence for Jitender Singh on Wednesday. "The jury put an end to this victim's decade-long stalking nightmare," Willis said in a statement. According to Willis, Singh first met his victim while they both attended college in Delhi. Though merely classmates, Singh asked the victim to marry him in 2006. Willis said the victim, whose identity wasn't released by authorities, refused the proposal, which sparked Singh's anger. Singh then began following the victim home and threatened her with violence until she graduated. In 2007, the victim left India to study at a New York university. However, that didn't end Singh's obsession. Authorities say he continued his harassment and assaulted the woman's father in India. Singh was convicted for the crimes in India, but made an appeal and agreement with authorities to stay away from the victim. Singh eventually travelled to New York, where he attempted to enrol at the same university as the victim. He was denied and ordered by the university to stay away from the campus. When the victim moved to California for an internship, he tracked down her address and followed. When the woman moved back to New York, Singh followed. An information technology company hired the victim, and she moved to Plano in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Singh harassed the victim through phone calls and other electronic means, Willis alleged. In 2014, Singh located the victim's address in Plano by falsely creating a credit monitoring service account in her name. While the victim was away, Singh travelled to Plano and broke into her home by convincing a locksmith to unlock her door. Singh took her passport, social security card and other documents as well as several pieces of her jewelry. A suspicious neighbour called Plano police which located Singh in the parking lot of the victim's apartment and arrested him. A 32-year-old Indian-American has been sentenced to 19 years in jail in the US for stalking a college classmate from New Delhi to Texas for nearly a decade and threatening her as she moved to several American cities. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis convicted Jitender Singh on charges of burglary of a habitation and fraudulent use of information and jailed him for 19 years this week. He also was also ordered to pay a USD 4,000 fine. "The jury put an end to this victim's decade-long stalking nightmare," Willis said in a statement. "While we respect the jury's service, we were disappointed with the sentence, and we do intend to appeal," defense attorney Joe Padian said. According to Willis, Singh first met his victim while they both attended college in Delhi. Though merely classmates, Singh asked the victim to marry him in 2006. Willis said the victim, whose identity was not released by authorities, refused the proposal, angering Singh. Singh then began following the victim home and threatened her with violence until she graduated. In 2007, the victim left India to study at a New York university. However, that didn't end Singh's obsession. Authorities say he continued his harassment and assaulted the woman's father in India. Singh was convicted for the crimes in India, but made an appeal and agreement with authorities to stay away from the victim. Singh eventually travelled to New York, where he attempted to enrol at the same university as the victim. He was denied and ordered by the university to stay away from the campus. When the victim moved to California for an internship, he tracked down her address and followed. When the woman moved back to New York, Singh followed. An information technology company hired the victim, and she moved to Plano in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Singh harassed the victim through phone calls and other electronic means, Willis alleged. In 2014, Singh located the victim's address in Plano by falsely creating a credit monitoring service account in her name. While the victim was away, Singh travelled to Plano and broke into her home by convincing a locksmith to unlock her door. Singh took her passport, social security card and other documents as well as several pieces of her jewelry. A suspicious neighbour called Plano police which located Singh in the parking lot of the victim's apartment and arrested him in 2014. Nearly five decades after he drove three intellectuals to commit suicide, Chinese leader Mao Zedong's propaganda aide in his memoir regretted branding them as traitors and blamed the influential leader for his tirade against them. Qi Benyu, who died at 85 in Shanghai last week, was the last surviving member of the ultra-left Cultural Revolution Group which superseded the Communist Party's Politburo and Secretariat to emerge as the country's top power organ at the height of the Cultural Revolution turmoil between 1966 and 1976. His death comes amid debate on Mao's rule and the Cultural Revolution, which marks its 50th anniversary on May 16. Qi was among the few writers Mao trusted with key documents and commentaries essential to the start of the Cultural Revolution. Intellectuals targeted in his articles faced persecution, often with deadly consequences. Qi later wrote that he regretted the suicides of historian Jian Bozan and his wife and journalist Deng Tuo. "Jian and his wife did not commit suicide because of our article, but our article did exert pressure on them. I've always regretted it," Hong Kong based South China Morning Post quoted him as saying his memoir. Jian and his wife killed themselves in 1968 while under pressure to confess in a state-led purge. In December 1966 in the magazine Red Flag, Qi and two other writers accused Jian of "sheltering his landlord family" and of being an "alien class element". Deng, a former editor of People's Daily, killed himself in 1966, a week after Qi wrote that he was a 'traitor'. Jian and his wife killed themselves two years later while under pressure to confess in a state-led purge. Qi wrote that Mao encouraged him to write the article, which was based on unverified accusations by lower-level cadres. But by the time of Jian's suicide, Qi was himself behind bars after a row with Mao's wife Jiang Qing. "Speaking from my heart, I felt responsible for the death of Deng Tuo," he wrote in his memoir. The Marshall Islands today hailed a US decision to declare a drought disaster in the parched Pacific nation, welcoming much-needed aid from Washington to cope with one of the worst dry spells in its history. US President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration yesterday as the drought in the Marshalls enters its fourth month, with residents scrambling to find fresh water amid mounting concerns over food crops. Marshalls and its Pacific neighbours are in the grips of a drought caused by one of the strongest El Nino events in recorded history, according to US weather officials. Obama's declaration will trigger USD 3.0 to 4.0 million in aid from Washington, according to a US official in Majuro. The money is expected to be put toward drought damaged crops that support subsistence islanders in remote parts of the Pacific nation, according to the Marshall's government. "The president's action makes federal funding available for US government emergency relief and reconstruction assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands," a White House statement said. Kino Kabua, Marshalls' deputy chief secretary overseeing the drought response, said the US declaration would boost resources and provide much needed reverse osmosis (RO) water- filtration units. "Obviously we cannot provide RO units to all islands at the moment but... Once the additional ones arrive, we will send out more," he said. The Marshalls declared a drought emergency in February, then elevated it to a disaster and appealed to the United States and other countries for aid. Australia, India, the European Union and the Asian Development Bank have provided funding in recent weeks to buy water filtration units, water delivery trucks and catchment tanks. About a third of the Marshalls' population of 56,000 rely on subsistence farming on remote, difficult to access islands, eating fish, breadfruit, pandanus, coconuts and bananas. Crops began wilting in March, several months into the drought. "I can tell you that the water situation is getting worse," said Ota Kisino, the mayor of Wotje atoll in the northern islands. In the capital Majuro, water is being rationed to four hours, just one day per week and the supply of water in the city reservoir has dwindled to less than half its capacity. Elsewhere in the region, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau have declared states of emergency, while Guam and the Northern Marianas are experiencing low rainfall. A Mexican army general has been sentenced to 52 years and six months in prison for ordering the torture of a suspect and the incineration of his body, authorities have said. The Federal Judicial Council said the general, whose name was not released, ordered that the suspect be tortured for several hours to get information about a soldier's death in July 2008 in the northern state of Chihuahua. The victim was taken to a military installation, where he was tied up and soaked in water in order to receive electric shocks, while other suspects were being interrogated. The torture began in the early hours of July 28, 2008, and ended at 9 AM (local time) when the victim died, "very probably" of a heart attack resulting from the electric shocks, the council said. The general then ordered that the body be driven to a ranch, where it was "incinerated in a clandestine manner," the council said. The court that sentenced the general ordered the defence ministry to offer a public apology, accept responsibility and vow that such acts will not be repeated. The general and defence ministry were ordered to pay USD 14,500 to relatives of the victim. Mexico's armed forces and police have faced a slew of torture accusations amid a decade-long drug war. The country's top general and police official apologised this month after a video surfaced showing federal officers and soldiers torturing a woman. Three police officers and two soldiers will face trial on torture charges in the case. In another case, experts from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights alleged that authorities tortured at least 17 suspects in the investigation into the disappearance of 43 students in 2014. The attorney general's office said later that it was investigating more than 30 torture allegations in connection with the case. Drunken driving and other traffic violations by minors are likely to attract huge penalties and imprisonment, even for their parents, with the states recommending strict punishment for breach of traffic rules. A group of state ministers, headed by Rajasthan Transport Minister Yunus Khan, today unanimously agreed to framing strict penalties for offences like driving by minors, crossing speed limits, drunk driving, talking over phone while driving and jumping traffic lights. The group in its recommendations submitted to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also suggested online learning licences henceforth, besides uniform forms for transport issues across the country and extending the timeframe for driving licences. "We have recommended stricter penalties for traffic rule violations and bringing parents of juveniles too under penalty provisions. The amount of the penalty and punishment is yet to be fixed and will be done after proper study of Cr PC and IPC provisions," Khan told reporters after the first meeting of the GoM. After failing to push new road safety bill in Parliament due to opposition from the states, the Centre constituted the group of ministers (GoM) for framing stricter traffic rules. The next meeting of the GoM would be held in Bangalore on May 20 followed by a meeting to finalise proposals on June 10. Gadkari said that once the recommendations are finalised these will be sent to the Cabinet for approval and subsequently be introduced in Parliament for passage. The recommendations come close on heels of Delhi Police this month arresting a Mercedes car owner whose minor son allegedly knocked dead a 32-year-old marketing executive in north Delhi's Civil Lines area on April 4. The GoM also unanimously agreed on a proposal that entailed spot registration of vehicles at dealers point besides simplification of forms, Khan said. Also, it recommended fitting all public vehicles with GPS, camera, broad band and other such features without which vehicles would not be allowed to be registered. "There would be special provisions to check over speeding and those violating it would be subjected to stricter penalties," Khan said, adding that the recommendations will be in the public domain and after comments from stakeholders a final decision would be taken by the GoM by June 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to a joint meeting of the US Congress will be an opportunity to energise efforts to improve bilateral ties, top American lawmakers from across the political divide have said. Reflecting the strong bipartisan support to the India-US relationship, the lawmakers welcomed the decision of the House Speaker Paul Ryan to invite Modi to address the joint meeting. "Speaker Ryan's decision to invite Prime Minister Modi to address Congress demonstrates the growing commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between the US and India," said Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn in a joint statement. Warner from the Democratic Party and Cornyn from the Republican Party are co-chairs if Senate India Caucus, the only country specific caucus in the US Senate. "As a key security partner with a flourishing economy, a thriving relationship with India presents tremendous opportunities to reach our joint economic and strategic goals. Prime Minister Modi's visit presents an opportunity to energise efforts to improve bilateral ties between our two countries," Warner and Cornyn said after Ryan told reporters that he has invited Modi to address a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 8. In fact, Modi would be the first foreign leader to address a joint meeting of the Congress after Ryan became the Speaker last year. "This will be the first joint meeting of this speakership. We certainly look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi in the United States Capitol this summer, I believe it's June 8th," Ryan said. "India is the most populace democracy and soon it's going to be the most populace country. The friendship between our nations is a pillar of stability in a very, very important region. This address presents a special opportunity for us to deepen our ties with our ally, India," he said. "It is a chance to hear from the prime minister on how we can work together to promote our shared values and to increase prosperity," Ryan said. Congressman Brad Sherman welcomed Ryan's decision. "I am pleased that India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be able to address a Joint Session of Congress this year," he said. "In 2014, I led the effort, and was joined by more than 80 of my colleagues, in trying to encourage then-Speaker John Boehner to invite President Modi to give such an address shortly after he had assumed office," Sherman said. Following the letter of 80 US lawmakers, the then Speaker Boehner in a letter had invited Modi before his September 2014 Washington DC visit to address a joint meeting of the US Congress. However that could not happen as the Congress was in recess ahead of the 2014 general elections for the Congress. The Prime Minister's office has not said yet if the invitation has been accepted. He accepts the invitation, Modi would be the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of the US Congress and the first on more than a decade. Manmohan Singh was the last Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of the US Congress had addressed on July 19, 2005. Other Prime Minister to get the honour were Atal Bihari Vajpayee (September 14, 2000), P V Narasimha Rao (May 18, 1994) and Rajiv Gandhi (July 13, 1985). "Since India's independence in 1947, the relationship between the United States and India has steadily grown. The United States and India have a unique relationship based on shared democratic values. The Prime Minister's visit is an opportunity to build on the US-India strategic partnership to the benefit of both our nations," Sherman said. "As things stand, our current trade relationship amounts to around USD110 billion. I am encouraged by Prime Minister Modi's reform efforts and hope we can work together to make it easier for US companies to invest in India and increase US exports. I look forward to hearing directly from President Modi about this issue," he said. "I applaud Speaker Ryan for inviting Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress, and I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to the Capitol. This address will serve as a sign of the deep and important relationship between the United States and India," said Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "Our partnership in areas such as defence, nuclear power, renewable energy and space exploration is very strong, thanks to our many shared values. I look forward to hearing from Prime Minister Modi about how we can continue working together to promote peace and prosperity," Royce said. "I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Washington in June, where his address to a Joint Session of Congress will explore how our two nations can work together to further our shared values and interests," said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the first ever Hindu lawmaker elected to the US Congress. "As the world's oldest and largest democracies, the US and India have many shared values and objectives. Since Prime Minister Modi was first elected in 2014, he has made active engagement with the United States a priority on many levels including exploring mutually beneficial economic opportunities, stronger government-to-government relations, and enhanced security engagements," she said. President Pranab Mukherjee today paid homage to the soldiers, including many Indians, killed during World War-II while fighting along with the British forces and laid to rest at Bomana cemetery in Papua New Guinea. Mukherjee, the supreme commander of Indian armed forces, walked up to a pillar erected in memory of the troops and placed a wreath there. This was the second engagement of the Mukherjee, who arrived here yesterday on the first ever state visit from India to this largest island in the Pacific. Immediately after meeting the Governor General of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Sir Michael Ogio, President drove to the war cemetery, located 20-km from here. As he placed the wreath, a Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) sounded the "Last Post," signifying the end of the troops' journey in life. A minutes' silence was observed in their memory after which Mukherjee took a look at the cemetery. The cemetery contains 3,824 Commonwealth burials of the second World War out of which 699 of them unidentified. Around 250 of the unidentified soldiers are from undivided India who were fighting along with the British and allied forces. Indian High Commissioner to PNG Nagendra Kumar Saxena, who took over the office in October last year, has been extensively working on the role of Indians during the World War and other areas of the PNG. During the banquet hosted by the Ogio in honour of the President last night, the Governor General also said the linkages between the two countries go back to the second World War in which Indian servicemen, some 615 brave sons who were part of the British Army and Allied Forces, fought and died in PNG. "Their mortal remains lie buried in war cemeteries throughout the country," he said. The troops were fighting the Japanese forces who had landed at Lae and Salamaua in March 1942 with Port Moresby as their chief objective. They decided to attack by sea and assembled an amphibious expedition for the purpose, which set out early in May, but were intercepted and heavily defeated by American air and naval forces in the Coral Sea and what remained of the Japanese expedition returned to Rabaul. After this defeat they decided to advance on Port Moresby overland and the attack was launched from Buna and Gona in September 1942. Those who died in the fighting in Papua and Bougainville are buried in Port Moresby Bomana War Cemetery and their graves brought in by the Australian Army Graves Service from burial grounds in the areas where the fighting had taken place. The unidentified soldiers of the United Kingdom forces were all from the Royal Artillery, captured by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore. They died in captivity and were buried on the island of Bailale in the Solomons. These men were later re-buried in a temporary war cemetery at Torokina on Bougainville Island before being transferred to their permanent resting place at Port Moresby. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of troops from Commonwealth nations who died in the two world wars, for building and maintaining memorials to the dead whose graves are unknown and for providing records and registers of these burials and commemorations, totalling 1.7 million and found in most countries across the world. Bureaucrat-turned-politician N K Singh will be honoured with Japan's second highest national decoration for his contribution in boosting Indo-Japan economic relations over last few decades. The prestigious 'The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star' will be conferred on Singh by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on May 10 followed by an audience with Emperor Akihito. Announcing the award, the Japanese government said Singh has been chosen for the honour in recognition of the "catalytic role" played by him in the furtherance of Indo-Japanese economic relations over decades. Singh had served in Japan during the investment decision of Maruti-Suzuki and subsequent forays of the Japanese automobile companies into India. 75-year-old Singh is a politician, economist and former top bureaucrat. Till recently he was a member of the Rajya Sabha. He has been among the country's top bureaucrats and handled important portfolios such as India's Expenditure and Revenue Secretary and a Member of the Planning Commission. "My association with Japan began in 1981 and has only strengthened over these years. This award comes at a juncture when Indo-Japanese relationship are at the cusp of historical changes under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abe who share a special personal chemistry. "The 21st Century Asian Renaissance greatly depends on the deepening of Indo-Japanese relations," Singh said reacting to the announcement of the award. The Order of the Rising Sun is a Japanese Government honor established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. A modern version of the order is being given to non-Japanese recipients beginning from 1981. It is conferred in recognition of distinguished accomplishments of an individual. Prime Minister Abe has sent a personal invitation to Singh for the award ceremony. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) today said it has collaborated with the German government for a special programme on 'Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security'. A high-level delegation from the Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Ministry of Germany, led by Stefan Schmitz, Commissioner, was here in connection with the programme, a release said. As part of the collaboration, Nabard is anchoring two major programmes -- soil conservation and rehabilitation of degraded land for food security in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and innovation of watershed development for rehabilitation of degraded soils and climate change adaptation in five states (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan). The programme is part of the German government's recently introduced special initiative 'One World, No Hunger' on addressing the food security needs of countries. India is the only country in Asia chosen for this initiative, it said. 'One World, No Hunger' addresses areas such as food and nutrition security, promotion of innovation, protection and sustainable use of natural resources in rural areas and promotion of responsible land use and access to land. Inspired by NASA research on inflated anti-gravity suit, 'miracle suits' are helping save new mothers around the world by preventing blood loss during or after childbirth, according to the US space agency. Every year at least 70,000 women die from obstetric hemorrhage - mostly in the world's least developed countries, where effective medications, blood transfusions and surgery can be hours or even days away - time a hemorrhaging woman just does not have. Previously, researchers at the NASA Ames Research Centre proposed applying pressure to a woman's entire lower body using an inflated anti-gravity suit, or G-suit, which prevents blood from pooling in the legs by using air-filled bladders. NASA has long relied on them to keep test pilots from blacking out during extreme acceleration and astronauts use them during re-entry to squeeze the arms and legs and push blood back towards the head as they readjust to the pull of Earth's gravity. Latest research at Ames has led to a better understanding of the physiology of G-suits and the realisation that even lower pressures could be used effectively to decrease bleeding and shift blood back to the heart and brain. California-based Zoex Corporation developed the first commercially available pressure garment suitable for treating shock and blood loss in the early 1990s. Since the pressure did not need to be as strong as in military and aviation cases, the company scrapped the old-style G-suits for a non-pneumatic version using simple elastic compression. In a 2004 study by Ames and other researchers, the garments saved 13 out of 14 patients in Pakistan who were in shock from extreme blood loss, NASA said in a statement. In another study in Egypt and Nigeria, published in 2007, the garment reduced both blood loss and mortality from postpartum hemorrhage by 50 per cent. Suellen Miller, the founder of the Safe Motherhood Programme, said the results were remarkable. "In the field of maternal health, we generally don't see that kind of a reduction, and even more so when it's the result of a single, simple intervention," she said. By 2012, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians both decided to officially recommend the device to treat postpartum hemorrhage, NASA said. Since then, 20 countries have purchased a lower-cost version of the pressure garment called LifeWrap, produced by a manufacturer founded by Safe Motherhood and nonprofit PATH. "We've determined that these suits can be used at least 70 times. So we are looking at a life-saving device that costs less than a dollar per use," said Miller. In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, which ravaged the Philippines in November 2013, the Safe Motherhood Programme donated garments to midwives working in disaster zones. More recently, Miller and colleagues conducted training for Doctors Without Borders and the Canadian Red Cross so they could use the garment in Ebola-stricken countries in Africa. A Navy commander who fled Cambodia's killing fields as a boy to grow up to become a decorated US military officer was sentenced to 78 months in prison for providing classified ship schedules in exchange for the services of prostitutes, theater tickets and other gifts from a Malaysian defense contractor. A federal judge in San Diego yesterday gave Captain-select Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, 48, the longest sentence handed out so far in one of the worst bribery scandals to rock the Navy. The contractor overbilled the Navy by more than USD34 million. US District Judge Janis L Sammartino told the court this offense was "one of the most serious I've had on my time on the bench." In his plea agreement, Misiewicz acknowledged providing classified information to Leonard Glenn Francis, whose Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia, or GDMA, supplied ships in the Pacific for more than 25 years. Francis, nicknamed "Fat Leonard" because of his wide girth, used the schedules and inside information to beat out competitors and overbill the Navy by submitting fake tariffs and port fees, according to prosecutors. Misiewicz and Francis moved Navy vessels like chess pieces, diverting aircraft carriers, destroyers and other ships to Asian ports with lax oversight where Francis could inflate costs, the criminal complaint alleges. Misiewicz is among 10 people charged in the case, including numerous Naval officials. Navy Criminal Investigative Service agents initiated their probe in 2010. That same year, Misiewicz caught the world's attention when he made an emotional return as a US Naval commander to his native Cambodia, where he had been rescued as a child from the violence of the Khmer Rouge and adopted by an American woman. His homecoming was widely covered by international media. Meanwhile, Francis was recruiting him for his scheme, according to court documents. Misiewicz's family went to a "Lion King production" in Tokyo with a GDMA employee, and Misiewicz later was offered prostitution services and cash. Francis paid on at least eight occasions for Misiewicz, his mother, brother and children to travel in luxury to the Philippines, Japan, Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia, Singapore and the United States. The businessman also provided his wife with a designer handbag. From January 2011 to September 2013, Misiewicz provided Francis ship movement schedules for the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group and other ships, according to court documents. He admitted that he tried to cover up his dealings by using secret, temporary email accounts. National Commission for Women today wrote a letter to Bihar police chief P K Thakur seeking report on video clippings showing policemen physically assaulting a woman protesting against the eviction by a builder here. "NCW in its letter has sought the DGP's reply on action taken against guilty policemen within seven days," NCW member Sushma Sahu told PTI today. She questioned the absence of women police personnel in dealing with the protestors. Sahu said she saw video clippings of the woman being forcefully pushed to the ground by policemen under the leadership of a senior police officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of police while she along with others resisted the builder's associates from evicting them from a piece of land on Exhibition Road here yesterday. Taking note of the incident, the DGP has already entrusted Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj to conduct a probe. Armed with sticks, associates of the builder forcibly evicted the dwellers on a temple land at Exhibition Road, barely 200 metre from Gandhi maidan police station, and assaulted them yesterday. Later, police arrived and took on the protestors and physically assaulted the woman. A new campaign focuses on restoration in schools in India of already built sanitation infrastructure, which is lying in a 'dysfunctional' state, instead of building new toilets. US-based personal care corporation, Kimberly-Clark (K-C) in association with city-based NGO, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) recently launched the 'Toilets Change Lives' campaign here, seeking to spread awareness about the need for proper sanitation by renovating toilets in schools. The programme, that began in October last year, aims to restore 100 already existing but "dysfunctional" toilets, across government schools in 5 Indian states - Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Maharashtra. According to Achal Agarwal, President K-C, Asia Pacific region, the issue of sanitation must be disected into three parts - building the toilet, maintaining the toilet and sustaining the people going to the toilet, the last being the biggest challenge. "We were trying to find the right way to impact the issue. of sanitation and we found a sweet spot in government schools. 90 per cent of the schools had toilets but 40 per cent were not being used or were called dysfunctional. "If those 40 per cent can be maintained and we then build up the mindset of using the toilet the right way and sanitation over all, then we can sustain that effort," says Agarwal. Besides says Agarwal, the elementary job of infrastructural restoration, the programme, says, wishes to serve as an agent of change in the long run by influencing the young minds, which will spread the word, thereby making a difference. "Our NGO partners are working with the schools in order to create a mindset. If you instil the ideas of a healthy mind in a healthy body at such an early stage, it will never leave their minds. "What we must make sure is that those toilets are maintained so that these children use the toilets at school and when they go home, they demand similar toilets from their parents and the community and then they will bring a change in the community. This is what we are going after," he says. The primary factors that contribute towards the dysfunctionality of these toilets include disrupted and damaged floors, intermittent water supply, poor lighting, and broken doors among others. "Often the doors have broken latches and cannot be closed, due to which adolescent girls refrain from using the toilets," says Shweta Shukla, Director Communications and Government Affairs, K-C. K-C and CAF say that they have already revived 40 per cent of the toilets in government schools, and are looking to pilot in anganwadi areas in Pune and Uttar Pradesh, while expressing an interest in expanding the campaign into other affected areas in the country. They say a dedicated team in cooperation with local institutions like panchayats and municipalities will monitor the progress of the initiative and ensure sustained usage of the toilets. In a new twist to the coal scam case in which a special court today said industrialist Naveen Jindal was the "central figure" in the entire criminal conspiracy, a chartered accountant working for Jindal Group has offered to turn as an approver to make disclosures. Special CBI judge Bharat Parashar said it would hear on May 11 the plea of accused Suresh Singhal, also director of New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd, who had moved an application on April 21 seeking pardon and to make disclosure statement in the case. Singhal's disclosure statement was later on recorded by a magistrate and placed before the special judge in a sealed envelope. During the day, the special court ordered framing of charges against Jindal, former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao, ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda and 12 others for criminal conspiracy, cheating and other offences in Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block allocation scam case. "In the over all facts and circumstances of the case, I however direct that for the time being copy of applications moved by Suresh Singhal along with the order sheets recorded by the court may be supplied to counsel for accused persons as it will be appropriate to first adjudicate upon the present issue before proceeding to frame charges formally against the accused persons," the judge, who has already issued notice to CBI and 14 other accused, said. In his plea, Singhal has claimed that co-accused Rajeev Jain, Director of Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, had purchased NDEPL at the instruction of Sushil Maroo also working with the Naveen Jindal Group. "I was also in practice of selling companies. Rajeev Jain had been purchasing different types of companies from me. I also sold New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd to him. I also handed over all the papers required by him for the purpose of transfer of ownership and management, documentary evidence of which forms part of the records... "Rajeev Jain in conspiracy with Maroo kept me in dark and didn't disclose their real purpose. After getting all the transfer papers from me they kept the shares and directors change pending taking the advantage of my good faith which I had for them," he claimed. He further claimed that decision to invest and pay Rs 2 crore to Sowbhagya Media Ltd, allegedly promoted by co-accused and former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao, was carried out at their behest. "After 3-4 days they (Jain and Maroo) again approached me to execute a specific transaction i.E payment of Rs 2 crores to Sowbhagya Media Ltd. I advised them to get the same at their end. As the directors were not changed at that time and similarly bank signatories were also not changed, I was again requested to get the same done at my end...," he alleged. "As there were no grounds to doubt, I simply relied and issued the cheques without any intention of financial benefit. So this has not been my decision to invest with Sowbhagya Media Ltd. In fact this has been the decision taken by Sushil Maroo and at his instruction executed by Rajeev Jain. "Sushil Maroo instructed Jain in my presence to execute the transaction of the subject payment of Rs 2 crores. I only came to know about the real nature of payment at a very later stage. Despite my repeated requests, the directorship and shareholding was not changed by Jain and Maroo. And thereafter I was forced to keep my mouth shut otherwise I may face dire consequences," Singhal claimed in his plea. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will visit Punjab soon and will hold talks with JD(U) leaders on several issues, including liquor ban, party state unit vice president Om Prakash Khemkarni said today. Khemkarni claimed that total prohibition in Bihar is being appreciated across the country. Liquor ban in Punjab, which is facing drug menace, is need of the hour, he said. Nitish, who was recently elected as party president, will also address a rally during his visit, Khemkarni said. Nitish gave his consent to the visit, however, the time and date of the trip is yet to be finalised, he said, adding that the Chief Minister could participate in programmes to be held in Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana. The Information and Broadcasting ministry today said that no funds were released to the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) during the last three years as it was decided to review the financial arrangements between it and the Ministry. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for I&B Rajyavardhan Rathore said that his ministry provides funds to NFDC for production of films in Indian languages. "No funds were released to NFDC during the last three years as it was decided to review the financial arrangements between NFDC and Ministry of I&B that required extensive consultations with stakeholders including C&AG and Ministry of Finance," the minister added in his reply. Giving details about Children's Film Society India (CFSI), Rathore said that in 2015-16, Rs 6 crore were released to it and three films completed. Maharashtra government has no record available on the number of people acquitted in cases of outraging the modesty of women, an RTI query has revealed. The application, seeking to know the total number of people charged under section 354 of IPC (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) but were later acquitted of the charge, was filed by city-based activist Mansoor Darvesh with Law and Judiciary department. The department sent Darvesh's query to Home Ministry which forwarded it to the office of the Director General of Police. In its response, the DGP's office said, "the information is not available with this office". Along with the response, the applicant claimed he was also provided a copy of all the police stations in Mumbai and was asked to approach them for individual case details available with them. It is not possible to achieve 100% self-reliance in defence production as certain components required in limited numbers have to be purchased off-the-shelf to save money, the Lok Sabha was informed today. Defence Minister said during Question Hour that huge costs will have to be incurred if certain components are produced in small numbers and it would be better to buy it from open market. He said this in response to a supplementary on by when India will be 100% self-reliant in defence production. Parrikar said to attain a high degree of self sufficiency, 70% was a good figure. He, however, did not specify as to whether India has achieved 70% self sufficiency. Referring to the 'Make in India' initiative, he said under the 'Make one' programme, government funds 90% of the project cost and the manufacturer has to develop the item to the satisfaction of the forces within two years. If that happens, then the government buys that item. Under 'Make two', the industry puts its money to produce an item which, if found satisfactory, is purchased by the forces. In his written response, Parrikar said the expenditure in respect of orders placed on foreign vendors, primarily from countries like US, Russia, Israel and France, have come down from Rs 35082.10 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 24992.36 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 22422.12 crore in 2015-16. He said even in cases where current operational exigencies necessitate import of defence equipment, efforts are made to ensure the involvement of Indian industry as production agencies and offset partners. He also clarified that no target is fixed for import of defence equipment and therefore, no separate budgetary allocation is made against such targets. The Delhi High Court today sought response of the Delhi government on a plea seeking direction to implement uniform policy for nursery admission in schools of the national capital. A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath also issued notice to Delhi government's education department on a plea which urged the court to frame norms with regard to "similar education" in all schools. The court, meanwhile, declined the petitioner's request for issuance of notice to a school, saying you have made one institution a party, so first we will hear the government and decide on this aspect later on. "Constitutional issue needs to be heard first. There is no need of notice to the school," the court said and fixed the matter for further hearing on May 30. The court was hearing a plea by Amanat Ullah Khan, who also sought direction to the principal of the school to give admission to at least 10 students of the area. "Direct them (government and schools) to frame fair and unbiased rule for the admission to primary school irrespective of region/colony," the plea said. It said that a direction should be given to the management of the schools to "stop business activities of only bringing up of the children of the rich persons of the locality". "Stop the school management from business activities by directing them to decrease the fees structure which are beyond reasonable. Issue direction to Delhi government to implement uniform and similar education in all schools," the plea said. It said that the school (whose name was not disclosed) has violated the fundamental rights of the children, guaranteed to them under the Constitution. US President Barack Obama was "disappointed" at not being able to visit the iconic Taj Mahal during his trip to India last year, the White House has said. "The President was quite disappointed to not have an opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal on his last visit to India," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters yesterday. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama had visited India in January last year to be the chief guest of at the annual Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama were scheduled to visit Agra but the trip was cut short as the US President decided to go to Saudi Arabia to pay condolence to the Royal family following death of King Abdullah. "That (a visit to the Taj) had originally been part of the itinerary, but the President had to cut short his visit to India because of the untimely death of the King of Saudi Arabia. So the President travelled to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects at that point," Earnest said. "I think the President wishes I could promise that he would have an opportunity to visit Taj Mahal before the end of his presidency, but I'm not sure that will happen," the White House Press Secretary said indicating that this wish of Obama would remain unfulfilled when he leaves his presidency on January 20 next year. Cab aggregator Ola today claimed it will not use peak pricing mechanism tomorrow on the day when the state goes for fifth phase of polling, which includes Kolkata South. Piyush Surana, Business Head, East at Ola said "We have rolled back peak pricing on the Ola app in Kolkata on April 30 between 7 AM and 7 PM to encourage citizens to exercise their vote in the West Bengal Assembly elections." "We are also working towards ensuring maximum availability of cabs in the city, to help more and more citizens get to their nearby polling booths conveniently," he said. Peak Pricing mechanism is generally used by Ola and Uber to raise fare if demand is high. Demand for cabs on a election day is unlikely to be similar to a usual working day. Peak Pricing is also gradually turning a matter of concern and a few state governments have banned it for the benefit of commuters. West Bengal government is yet to take a call on it. The Opposition in Rajya Sabha today lodged a strong protest over the government's "inaction" in containing disturbances in Jharkhand after the hanging of two cattle traders there last month and demanded setting up of a Parliamentary Committee to probe the matter. Soon after Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said no action was taken to check the violent incidents that erupted in the state after the bodies of the two cattle-traders were found hanging, members of Congress, SP, JD(U) and CPI(M) trooped into the Well raising slogans, with some even demanding dismissal of the BJP-led Jharkhand government. Trouble broke out during Zero Hour after JD(U) member Gulam Rasool Balyavi raised the issue of hanging of two men belonging to the minority community in a village in Jharkhand's Latehar district last month. He said the state government failed to take any action against the culprits even after passage of almost two months since the bodies were found hanging from a tree. Accusing the state government of not being able to protect the minority community from violence, Balyavi said the community was still living in fear in the state. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said he will speak to the Jharkhand government to find the truth behind the incident. Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla also tried to assure the House saying she will write a letter to the state Chief Minister and inquire about the facts of the incident. Azad said when the two traders were found hanging, he had written a letter to the Prime Minister over the issue, but no action was taken. He said dozens of settlements were set on fire and people attacked by mobs following the incident and "still Naqvi is talking about the verifying authenticity. ... It is shameful ... BJP should be ashamed," he added. Naqvi then said it needs to be kept in mind that peace in the country should not be disturbed. Dissatisfied with the government's response, Congress MPs started shouting slogans against the government alleging inaction on its part. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said two months have passed since the incident happened and Heptulla now says she will inquire about the incident. He said it was a communal issue and not a state law and order subject and hence the House needs to look into it. Yechury demanded the forming of a House Committee to go to the district in Jharkhand and investigate the matter. Sharad Yadav of JD(U) also supported Yechury's demand, saying Heptulla was taking it "casually". Soon after this, members of Congress, JD(U), SP and CPI(M) trooped into the Well shouting slogans, including 'Jharkhand sarkar ko barkhaast (dismiss) karo'. As Naqvi proposed a short discussion on the issue, the Opposition rejected it saying they needed a Parliamentary Committee to investigate it. "It is a serious matter undermining the fabric of the country. Time for discussion is over. Order a House Committee," Yechury said. Amid the uproar, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House for some time. Pakistan's former Senator Amarjeet Malhotra was today interrogated by police for three hours in connection with the assassination of prominent Sikh politician Sardar Sooran Singh who was gunned down by contract killers. Malhotra was summoned by the Buner district police for interrogation where he was grilled for three hours and later set free, police sources in Swat district said. 52-year-old Singh was the Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Minority Affairs. Police had arrested Baldev Kumar, a Swat district councillor and minority leader of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, for his alleged role in the murder of Singh, also of the same party. Kumar had named Malhotra as an accused in the case. Talking to reporters after the interrogation, Malhotra said Kumar made a false statement against him in order to implicate him in the case for settling political score. "I have no association whatsoever with him (Kumar) for the last 20 years," he said. "Truth always prevails and I have emerged successful because of the truth," he said after coming out of the police station. Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister told the Provincial Assembly that his government would move the court on Monday to stop the possible issuance of notification of Kumar as a Member of the Provincial Assembly on minority seat by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Kumar was second on ruling party's priority list for the reserved seat after the slain Sikh parliamentarian. Deputy Director of the KP Election Commission Khushal Zada had said Kumar would be an MPA on the reserved seat unless a court convicts him of Singh's murder. "When the provincial government announces the vacant seat for minorities, Kumar will fill it as his name is second on the priority list." The KP assembly passed a unanimous resolution paying rich tributes to their former colleague. The resolution described Singh as an asset of the nation and said the government would bear the expenses of his family. A picture of Singh with flowers was placed on his seat in the House. The chief minister and other members lit candles in the House and one minute of silence was observed. Panama needs "a little more time" to comply with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards on exchanging tax information but remains committed to greater financial transparency, President Juan Carlos Varela has said. Varela did not specify how much time Panama was seeking to meet the OECD's reporting standards for automatically exchanging tax information. Revelations in the so-called Panama Papers, which showed how one Panama law firm set up 200,000 offshore entities for wealthy clients around the globe, have thrown Panama's secretive financial sector under intense scrutiny. OECD officials say they have long tried to get Panama to agree to their common reporting standards on exchanging tax information, to no avail. Panama insisted on bilateral accords on the matter, rather than the OECD's multilateral one. But last week, during a visit to Japan, Varela told Kyodo News in an interview that his country had "decided to join" the OECD's reporting standards. His officials were to meet with an OECD technical team "to find ways to come to an agreement", he said. No progress on the issue has been announced, and Varela's comments on Thursday suggested more discussions were needed. In the meantime, Panama has been put on France's blacklist of "tax havens". Paris is also pushing European Union and OECD partners to follow suit. Varela, though, told the reporters on Thursday that he had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and she had "offered her support to Panama" as it pursues reforms of its financial sector. The Panamanian leader said he would make a state visit to Germany in October to sign a bilateral agreement on exchanging tax information "based on the OECD standards". The government today said a four-member committee, headed by the NITI Aayog vice chairman, has been constituted to suggest an implementation framework for restructuring of Medical Council of India (MCI). Union Health Minister J P Nadda in a written reply in Lok Sabha said the government had amended the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956, through the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act, 2010, and suspended MCI for one year with constitution of Board of Governors (BoG) to perform the functions of the council. "Subsequently the term of the BoG was extended till November 10, 2013. The council was reconstituted on November 6, 2013. A Group of Experts (GoE) was constituted in July 2014 to study the existing IMC Act and to make recommendations to the government to make MCI modern and suited to the prevailing conditions. "The GoE submitted its final report. The report of the GoE was placed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The latter has recently presented its report to the Ministry. A four-member committee headed by vice chairman NITI Aayog has been constituted to suggest an implementation framework for restructuring of MCI," Nadda said. The standing committee in its report had called for restructuring the MCI, stating that its current composition is "biased" against larger public health goals and is an "exclusive club" of medical doctors from corporate hospitals and private practice. The committee had said the elected MCI neither represents "professional excellence nor its ethos", and that more than half of the members are either from corporate hospitals or in private practice. Nadda said that as per the website of British Medical Journal, some experts have welcomed the report of the committee on functioning of MCI in which the committee has called for radical reform of the statutory body which overlooks medical education in the country. A parliamentary panel today recommended for fixing of an upper limit for the economy class airfares to curb the "exorbitant" air fares during the peak tourist seasons. The panel, headed by Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Kanwar Deep Singh, also recommended to the ministry to ensure that airlines pass on the benefit of the 50 per cent reduction in jet fuel price to the consumers by way of slashing fares. "The Committee also noticed that the airfares are exorbitant during the peak tourist seasons which are also causing hindrance to passenger flow in the country... "The Committee also recommends that, in view of the predatory charges levied by the airlines during peak times, the Government should fix an upper limit especially in the economy class of airfares so that there should not be unhealthy practice of raising fares exorbitantly by the airliners," the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture said in its 231st report, tabled in Parliament today. Suggesting the Government for launching more flight to the Middle East (where a large number of Indian expats live) especially during the summer holidays to accommodate the peak season demand, the panel said that "The Prime Minister in one of his visits to Middle East has already asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to do something about such prices." Prime Minister had last August expressed "concern" over predatory pricing by the domestic carriers after he reportedly received a representation that airfares are high during the Onam festival that is celebrated in Kerala. The Committee received numerous complaints about high air fares and high charges levied by airlines and airports operators making it very expensive for the air travelers, the report said. "The Committee received comments from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in this matter...Predatory pricing of airfare is hurting not only the individual passenger but country's economy as well. The explanation given by the Ministry of Civil Aviation is purely technical suggesting that they are unable to do anything under existing laws," it said. Observing this (explanation) amounts to "abdicating" their (ministry's) basic responsibilities of protecting the consumers, the report said, "the Committee fails to understand whose interest is sought to be served by taking such a stand that too before a Parliamentary Committee which is empowered to suggest necessary modification in our rules, regulations that are coming in our way for correcting airfares." "Let us not compare Indian case with any other country. India has a specific case which needs a specific solution that is best suited to it in a given situation. "The Committee, therefore, strongly recommends that the Ministry of Civil Aviation should specify the limitations, legal and otherwise, which need to be amended or other measures to be put in place to tackle this problem after consulting all the stakeholders," it said. Noting that the price of aviation turbine fuel in Delhi came down to Rs 35,127 per kilo litre as on March 1 this year compared to Rs 74,204.74 per kilo litre on December 1, 2013, the report said, "the Committee, however, notes that even after 50 per cent reduction of the ATF prices over a period of time, the airlines have not passed on the benefit of reduction in ATF prices to the consumers." The Committee recommends that the Ministry should take effective steps to ensure that the airlines pass on the benefit to the travelers by reducing the air fares. Meeting of Mizoram's major non-governmental organizations and political parties today decided to celebrate the 'Remna Ni' or peace day, the anniversary of the signing of the historic Mizo Peace Accord on June 30 every year. An orginising committee to be headed by the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) was also decided to be set up. The meeting also decided that the Remna Ni should also be celebrated in all the districts to be organised by all NGOs and political parties. All the church leaders across the state would be asked to offer thanks giving prayer on the Peace Day for which the meeting decided to approach the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), the conglomerate of leaders of major 13 churches in the state. The meeting was attended by the leaders of the YMA, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or women association, Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) or elders association and two student associations - the Mizo Zirlai pawl (MZP) and Mizo Students Union (MSU) while representatives of the ruling Congress, Mizo National Front (MNF), Mizoram People's Conference (MPC), Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) and the BJP also were present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the closing ceremony of a 'spiritual Kumbh'--a confluence of inter-faith spiritual leaders-- on May 14 in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain city. As part of month-long Simhastha festival, which began on April 22, being held in Ujjain, a three-day spiritual Kumbh will be conducted between May 12 and 14 during which leaders of various faiths and from across the world will deliberate on various measures of people's welfare, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said today. The Prime Minister will be attending the closing ceremony of the spiritual Kumbh, he told reporters here. Earlier during the day, Chouhan held a meeting with representatives of about 65 nations including Cuba, Paraguay, and Colombia at External Affairs Ministry's office in Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan. 'Simhastha' is going to be a confluence of thoughts and ideologies, which will mainly be focused on spirituality and religion, Chouhan said. Simhastha, a bathing festival celebrated once in twelve years, is being held in Ujjain from April 22. It will conclude on May 21. Lakhs of people are expected to take bath in Kshipra river in Ujjain during this month-long religious event. With the arrest of nine persons, police today claimed to have busted a gang of inter-state robbers and recovered from their possession three robbed vehicles and stock of cigarettes worth around Rs 6.25 crore. The gang was involved in at least 70 cases of robbery and car-jacking registered across Delhi, UP, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. They robbed drivers at highways at gun point and targeted marriage functions in the outer fringes of the cities, police said. In case of robbed vehicles, they used to forge documents and sell them off as genuine ones. The gang leader, identified as Sunil, had earlier escaped from police custody and jail. In fact, he built up the gang while in judicial custody, police said. The gang used to travel in an SUV with a beacon light and used to intercept their targets. At times, they stopped their victims with the help of traffic regulation light bars, pretending to be police officials. Two members of the gang were arrested earlier this month after they drugged a truck driver and looted cartons containing cigarettes worth several crores from the truck, police added. After completing his two-day trip to Papua New Guinea, President Pranab Mukherjee today left for New Zealand on the first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State to the country. His trip assumes significance as it is a first high-level visit from India in 20 years after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to the island nation. India traditionally shared close relations with New Zealand with the Indian diaspora of 1,75,000 helping to further cement bilateral ties, said Jaideep Mazumdar, Joint Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs. During the visit, the two countries will look at prospects for cooperation in agriculture, dairy, food processing, education and skill development as well as high technology, he had said. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key had visited India in 2011 and its Governor General in 2008, 2009 and 2011. During his visit, Mukherjee will meet the Governor General, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition besides addressing a gathering of top New Zealand businessmen. The President is likely to address the Indian community, students and faculty of the Auckland University of Technology and interact with Indian students there. "The number of Indian students in New Zealand has grown exponentially over the last few years. It now numbers about 23,000 and last year alone, the growth was about 67 per cent. New Zealand is also a magnet for Indian tourists. Last year 43,000 Indian tourists went to New Zealand and from the New Zealand side there were about 25,000 tourists to India," he had said. BJP and Congress today launched a privilege war in Parliament as Amit Shah attacked Sonia Gandhi again asking her to explain a "number of relaxations" given to tainted chopper manufacturer AugustaWestland that he said "compromised" nation's interests. Targeting Gandhi, he raised questions telling Congress that instead of adopting an attitude of "thief scolding the cop" should feel "ashamed" and "come clean". Following up on his demand yesterday that Gandhi should name the bribe takers in the Rs.3,600 crore deal, Shah demanded that Gandhi should answer the questions to people of the nation regarding the deal. The Congress hit back and dared the government to come out with the truth in the deal in the next two months instead of issuing threats and launching a "malicious" campaign. "If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when the Monsoon session of Parliament will commence", Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters. Subramanian Swamy, who has needled Congress on the issue for the past two days, tabled a breach of privilege notice in the Rajya Sabha against Azad for his statement that the then UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the parent company of AugustaWestland. The Congress countered it by giving a similar notice against the defence ministry for making a statement on the deal outside the House when Parliament is in session. A visually impaired English teacher has embarked on a project of converting books into audio files for benefit of the blind, and today claimed to have touched the lives of many students so far. Sandeep Trivedi, no stranger to the challenges faced by the blind, said he started the project in 2010 and has converted several books for college and university students, and for candidates appearing in competitive exams. "It is a challenging task for blind students to fight a competition or to go for higher studies because there are no such books in Braille. So, I started the project of converting books into audio CDs in 2010 which has benefited more than a 1,000 students so far," Trivedi, an English teacher posted in Makhupura government school in Ajmer, told PTI today. Trivedi spends upto 3 hours a day converting books sent to him by visually impaired students into audio with the help of a female reader, and later dispatches the completed CDs to them by post, all without charging a fee. "On an average, we dispatch 100 CDs in a month to students in different states. A 500-page book takes around 20 hours to get converted," he said, claiming it is the first such project in Rajasthan. Trivedi expressed a desire to scale up his operations, but bemoaned the paucity of resources in pursuing the project. "I am doing it on voluntary basis and want to take it on higher stage. A club in Ajmer has funded us, but we have limited resources," he said. The government should set up a digital library for visually impaired students which would go a long way in helping them, he suggested. His school's principal said the lecturer is popular among students and is respected for his work. "The performance our teacher Sandeep is very good and students adore him. Besides teaching our school students, he voluntarily devotes his services for the welfare of blind school," the principal Vijendra Boondwal said. The lecturer hailing from Banswara district, said parents in rural areas usually do not allow their blind children to go for higher studies due to lack of supporting infrastructure. "Therefore it is very important for the government to support such projects so that visually impaired students get more options," he said. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today advocated the need to develop close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and his state. During a meeting with envoy to Bhutan Jaideep Sarkar here at his office, Pul said Arunachal and Bhutan share not just boundary but cultural and religious history, particularly the communities in Tawang and West Kameng, a CMO release said. The Chief Minister stressed on the need to harness the historical, cultural and trade links between the two regions by establishing border trade centres. Pul called for building direct road connectivity from Tawang to Bhutan which he said would also provide the shortest connectivity to Guwahati via the Darrang land custom station in Nalbari district of Assam. He expressed hope that the development of this route would enable agriculture and horticulture export from Lumla sub-division along with the newly-created Bongkhar circle headquarters. The CM pointed out that the opening of the road from Tawang to Darrang via Tashigaon in Bhutan would bypass the Sela pass - that often gets blocked due to heavy snow during winter and landslides in summer, cutting the travel time to Guwahati by almost six hours. Appreciating the success story of hydropower and tourism development in Bhutan, Pul stressed on initiative for study tour between the two regions to learn the process of planning and execution adopted in the country. The envoy said the embassy in Bhutan was ready to host delegates from Arunachal coming for study tour, the release added. Rajasthan BJP today dismissed allegations levelled by Congress against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over purchase of a helicopter in 2008, saying neither any chopper was purchased nor any payment made. "No payment was made against any purchase of a helicopter in 2008. The allegations leveled by PCC chief (Sachin Pilot) are baseless and he is misleading the public to divert attention from charges against Congress president Sonia Gandhi in connection with the AugustaWestland chopper deal," BJP state President Ashok Parnami said. Pilot today alleged that the Raje government in 2008 had initiated a process to procure another helicopter at an inflated price of Rs 59 crore but the deal could not be concluded as BJP lost state Assembly elections in the same year. On the purchase of AugustaWestland helicopter in 2005 by the then state government led by Raje, Parnami reiterated that no irregularities took place. He asked why the former Congress-led UPA government did not initiate an investigation into the alleged irregularities when CAG pointed out the same. Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan today proposed inclusion of financial literacy in school curriculum. Rajan, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit, also praised the growth of Madhya Pradesh after calling on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at his official residence here, an official spokesperson said. Chouhan said the rating of states should be done on the basis of their financial position, the spokesperson added. Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary Antony DeSa and Industries Commissioner V L Kantha Rao were also present on the occasion. (REOPENS BES 23) Answering a query about Bhopal, which is his birth place, Rajan told reporters, "I have been through the railway station many times. This is the first time I am in the city. It is very beautiful, especially with all the lakes and trees. I look forward to spending more time here in future". The governor is visiting the state capital to discuss local operations of RBI, familiarise himself with the working of Regional Rural Banks in the region and understand local opportunities and challenges. During the visit, he also interacted with the families of Reserve Bank's employees, RBI Spokesperson Alpana Killawala said. During his meeting with Chouhan, issues like low level of credit deposit ratio in Madhya Pradesh as compared to other states, quantum of refinance for the agricultural loans given by district central cooperative banks (DCCBs), relaxing the norms of SLR applicable on DCCBs and perceived shortage of banknotes in the state were discussed, she said. Other issues discussed included the support of state government in recovery of bad loans, improvement in the working of DCCBs, amending certain provisions of MP State Cooperative Act and promoting financial literacy in the state, she added. Reserve Bank Deputy Governor R Gandhi today said incorporating environmental concerns into commercial lending is a challenge in a country like India. "The challenge before developing economies like ours is to mainstream green finances, so as to incorporate environmental impact into commercial lending, while simultaneously balancing the needs to economic growth and social development," he said at a conference on sustainable finance here. "We have to develop the instruments. We have to balance out the green development and economic development," he said speaking to the reporters later. The new priority sector lending requirements announced by the RBI include devoting money to social infrastructure and small renewable projects, which will help support the objective of sustainability finance, he said. The central bank also has been working on various other aspects, he said, adding a working group has been formed to look into it. Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has also worked out norms for raising money through green bonds, through which domestic financial institutions, like Exim Bank and Yes Bank have raised USD 1.1 billion in 2015, Gandhi added. The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea of Himachal Pradesh government challenging the High Court order that had quashed an FIR lodged against BJP leader and former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and others in a case pertaining to re-employing an IPS officer in the force. A bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and P C Pant dismissed the plea, saying it is the failure to adhere to the administrative procedures than having criminal intent on the part of Dhumal and others. The apex court said after perusing the materials on record it appeared that it is not a fit case for criminal prosecution. When senior advocate Harin Raval, appearing for the state government, said that the charge sheet has been filed in the case, the bench asked him as to what is loss suffered by it. To this Raval said that pecuniary benefits have been extended to but the bench did not agree with it. The Himachal Pradesh High Court had on December 4, quashed the FIR against Dhumal and other accused in the case pertaining to giving re-employment to former IPS officer Amar Nath Sharma. The High Court had quashed the FIR again Dhumal, P C Kapoor, Ravi Dhingra and A N Sharma saying that the charge sheet filed did not constitute offence of cheating under section 420 and criminalconspiracy under section 120-B of IPC and criminal misconduct under section 13(2)of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Thethen Governor of HP, Urmila Singh, had expressed the opinion that sanction under section 19 of Prevention of Corruption Act was not required, while on March 2 Governor Kalyan Singh reviewed the January 21 order and denied prosecution sanction against Dhumal. Dhumal in his plea before High Court had said that former Inpsector General of Police A N Sharma had given a three-month notice to the state for seeking retirement on December 31, 2007 and while his case was being processed, Sharma had sought a waiver and requested to be retired by November 21, 2007. One of the nine disqualified Congress MLAs today filed an application before the Uttarakhand High Court seeking urgent hearing of his petition on the ground that he will "suffer irreparable loss and injury" if it is not heard immediately. Rebel Congress MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, in his application moved before Justice U C Dhyani, has sought that his petition challenging his disqualification by the Speaker be taken up before May 6 and also be decided before the Supreme Court decides the President's Rule case. He has sought relief on the ground that the issues involved in the matter before the apex court have a "direct bearing" on the issues in his petition. "That the special leave petition (SLP) against the divisional bench order against Article 356 hearing is to start from May 3, 2016 and the matter in the SLP has a direct bearing with the issue involved in the present writ and as such it is necessary that the present writ be decided before the decision in the SLP pending in the apex court," the application said. Another ground on which the relief has been sought is that the apex court will close (for holidays) from May 14 onwards and if any order is passed by the Uttarakhand High Court in the petition before it, "it will affect rights of either party to approach the apex court in time". The application also said,"That in the interest of justice and equity it is expedient and necessary that the Court may graciously be pleased to hear the writ petition as early as possible, preferably before May 6, 2016. Otherwise, the petitioner will suffer irreparable loss and injury." The High Court yesterday had yesterday listed for May 9 the pleas of all the nine dissident Congress MLAs challenging their disqualification by Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal under the anti-defection law. The court had passed the order after hearing brief arguments made on behalf of the Congress Chief whip and complainant, Indira Hridayesh, and the nine dissident MLAs of the party. Counsel for the Chief whip had told the court that the nine rebel MLAs had neither in their plea challenging their disqualification nor before the Speaker had said they were willing to support another Congress government under a different Chief Minister. The lawyer had also contended that the rebel MLAs were not denied natural justice and that the Speaker's order was not passed in haste. Government auditor CAG on Friday asked the government to review export incentives to the gems and jewellery sector to safeguard revenues and prevent round-tripping. The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) also asked the department of commerce to undertake an outcome analysis of the important schemes implemented to boost the sector from an economic, trading, and revenue perspective. All inverted duty structures, transaction costs, related-party transactions, re-export transactions, and facilitation measures need to be carefully reviewed before designing an effective promotional scheme, it said. CAG asked the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) to consider rationalising the duty structure so that foreign exchange earning could at least be on a par with duty foregone under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP). The sector contributes 15 per cent to the export basket. The major product categories are gold and diamond jewellery. India's diamond manufacturing sector employs about 10 lakh people across the country. The CAG report on customs on gold, precious metals and jewellery points at its performance audit has a revenue implication of Rs 1,003.37 crore in addition to systemic issues worth Rs 19,522.67 crore and internal control matters which could not be quantified. The import of gold, jewellery and related items increased from Rs 3.50 lakh crore in 2010-11 to Rs 3.81 lakh crore in 2014-15. Export of similar goods also increased from Rs 1.98 lakh crore in 2010-11 to Rs 2.53 lakh crore in 2014-15. "The export growth in 2014-15 was much below the rate of 25 per cent envisaged in the Department of Commerce (DoC) strategy, affecting employment generation and other economic indicators," the report said. On an average 64 per cent of imported gold jewellery was from Switzerland, UAE and Hong Kong out of the 120 odd source countries. However, the importing countries were not being exported to, except in case of UAE and Hong Kong. Similarly, 63 per cent exports of jewellery were to UAE and Hong Kong. CAG further said that no analysis of incremental changes in the transaction cost associated with the sector was measured by DoC. The change in gold price, import regulation, export promotion schemes did not have a material impact on the gold trade. "The G&J trade related financial outflow continued unabated," the report said. It also pulled up the DoC saying that FTP 2015-20 did not make any defining provision for the G&J sector despite withdrawal of 20:80 Scheme in 2014 and climb down from target. CAG further said gaps in the valuation database management and Customs electronic data application allowed gradual increase in trade mis-invoicing over the period leading to foreign exchange/capital outflow. CBEC, it said added should maintain a robust and updated valuation data for all the tariff lines so that these could be utilised and shared with other concerned departments. It also made a case that DoC should consider introducing suitable provisions in the SEZ rules, to prescribe a minimum value addition by the SEZ units and for regular stock verification to check diversion into Domestic Tariff Area. To maintain the consumer and trade confidence in Indian diamond industry, CBEC may consider a clear categorization for man-made diamonds to differentiate from natural diamonds, the report suggested. Voting was extended today in second round elections for almost a quarter of the seats in Iran's parliament, a crucial showdown between reformists and conservatives seeking to influence the country's future. The polls will decide who has the most power when lawmakers are sworn in next month, opening or potentially closing a politically delicate path to even limited social and cultural change in the Islamic republic. Tension over the vote's high stakes was dramatically underlined by a shooting involving supporters of rival candidates in a southern province. The rare political violence left four people wounded, a security official said. Iran's reformists -- who have encouraged foreign investment, support moves for greater diplomatic rapprochement and seek social reforms at home -- are allied with President Hassan Rouhani's government and made major gains in the first round on February 26. That came just six weeks after Tehran's implementation of a nuclear deal with world powers under the moderate Rouhani lifted crippling economic sanctions long blamed for hobbling the economy. Polling stations opened at 8:00 am (0330 GMT) for the second round which took place in 21 provinces, but not the capital Tehran, with 68 of parliament's 290 seats being contested. Around 17 million citizens were eligible to vote in constituencies where no candidate won the minimum 25 percent required in the first round. Voting had been scheduled to close at 1330 GMT but the interior ministry said polling stations would stay open two hours longer and then further time was added. No reason was given. Final results could come as early as Saturday. Mehdi Saadatmandi, who voted in Robat Karim, a city southwest of Tehran, said he came to the ballot box "to finish what was done in the first round". "If the economy is fixed, the politics will be fixed also and if the parliament is in line with the government then things will move forward much better," the 50-year-old said, opting for the reformists. Conservatives, including vocal opponents of the nuclear agreement which reined in Iran's atomic programme, lost dozens of MPs in the first round, suffering a wipeout in Tehran where reformists took all 30 seats. A local court today extended the judicial custody of two former police officers arrested in connection with the 2010 murder of the RTI activist Satish Shetty. Additional Sessions Judge S B Kachare extended the judicial custody of former police inspector of Pune Rural Police Bhausaheb Andhalkar and his then subordinate Namdev Kauthale by 14 days. Lawyers of both the accused also filed bail applications. "Hearing on bail applications will take place on May 12," said advocate Sudhir Shah who is representing Andhalkar. CBI, which is investigating the case, arrested the two former police officers for allegedly conspiring with others and fabricating and manipulating evidence to shield the real culprits. Shetty was murdered when he was out on a morning walk at Talegaon Dabhade in Pune district on January 13, 2010. Shetty, through RTI queries, had unearthed some land scams in the district. In August 2014, CBI filed a closure report saying it could not find any evidence against the suspects. But in early 2015, it reopened the case in view of some new evidence recovered during searches in Pune and Mumbai. Russia today backed China's stand on the disputed South China Sea (SCS) issue and said external forces should not interfere in the maritime dispute, an apparent reference to the US presence in the area. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi here and told him that the SCS issue should be resolved peacefully through political means, such as negotiations between the parties directly concerned, while external forces should refrain from interfering. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international laws, including the pacts reached between China and ASEAN, are the legal frameworks that should be followed, said Lavrov, who is here to attend the 5th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia and for an official visit to China. While China, which claims sovereignty over almost all of the SCS, calls for direct talks with parties, it also opposed UNCLOS arbitration of the Philippines petition. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan oppose China's claims. China opposes US pivot to Asia specially spreading its influence in the area by extending backing various claimants. Lavrov and Wang agreed that the South China Sea disputes should be resolved through negotiations between parties directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and international laws, state-run Xinhua agency reported. The international community and countries outside the region should contribute to stability in the region, rather than muddy up the situation, they agreed. Regarding China-Russia ties, Lavrov said the priority of Russia's foreign policy was to develop relations with China. Russia was willing to work with China to prepare for President Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing and enhance economic and trade, investment, big projects and culture cooperation, he said. Stressing that China greatly values its cooperation with Russia, Wang said Beijing was ready to work with Moscow to ensure the success of Putin's China visit. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership of coordination, said Wang. He called on both countries to improve cooperation in the areas of energy, nuclear power, high-speed trains, aviation production and technological innovation as well as people-to-people exchanges. A 25-year-old Russian woman has allegedly been raped by the owner of a guest-house where she was staying, Pernem police said today. The incident took place last morning when the girl was asleep in her room, Inspector Sanjay Dalvi said. The accused has been identified as James D'Souza, owner of Morjim Club guest house, and has gone missing after the complaint was filed. "Medical examination of the woman has confirmed rape," Dalvi said. The victim was supposed to leave the country in the first week of May. The Supreme Court today upheld the 2012 election of a Congress MLA from Bhadaur Assembly constituency in Punjab which was reserved for the Scheduled Caste in the poll. A bench, comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and P C Pant, set aside the Punjab and Haryana High Court's April 7, 2015 judgment which said that Mohammad Sadique, being a Muslim, could not have contested from the constituency reserved for SC candidates. Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Darbara Singh Guru had challenged the election of Sadique. Sadique had approached the apex court challenging the High Court verdict. "Admittedly, the appellant (Sadique) was born to Muslim parents. However, he has proved that his family members though followed Islam belonged to Doom (SC) community. It is settled in law that a person can change his religion and faith but not the caste, to which he belongs, as caste has linkage to birth. "It is proved on the record that the appellant was issued a caste certificate as he was found to be member of Doom community by the competent authority after he declared that he has embraced Sikhism and he was accepted by the Sikh community," the bench said. The apex court noted that Sadique had embraced Sikh religion on April 13, 2006, and a public notice to this effect was also published in newspapers on January 4, 2007. It also noted that he had got a Scheduled Caste certificate issued by authorities showing him as belonging to the "Doom" community which came under Scheduled Caste category under the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950. The court further said "it is not essential for anyone to change one's name after embracing a different faith. However, such change in name of can be a corroborating fact regarding conversion or reconversion into a religion/faith in appropriate cases. Also, it is not necessary in law that entire family of a person should convert or reconvert to the religion to which he has gone". The Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama's nominee to be US ambassador to Mexico, clearing the way for the first woman to hold what is considered to be one of the country's most important diplomatic posts. Roberta Jacobson was confirmed by voice vote nine months after her nomination. Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., had been blocking her confirmation, objecting to her role in negotiating the normalisation of US relations with Cuba. At the time he was seeking the Republican nomination for president. Jacobson is the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. That position gave her a prominent voice in leading talks with Havana on re-establishing diplomatic ties and embassies after more than five decades of antagonism. Secretary of State John Kerry said the US was sending "one of our finest diplomats to advance this important relationship." "I have long relied on Roberta's wise counsel and good cheer, and I am confident that as ambassador, she will bring her extensive experience and judgement to this critical post," Kerry said in a statement. Mexico's Foreign Relations department said Jacobson's confirmation "demonstrates the importance of a bilateral relationship which, given its maturity, transcends internal situations." "Ambassador Jacobson will give a new impetus to our bilateral relations and will contribute to the consolidating anew institutional structure, lending more certainty and solidity to this relationship," the Foreign Relations department said in a statement. Jacobson is a career diplomat who previously served as deputy chief of mission in Peru, director of the State Department's Office of Mexican Affairs and deputy assistant secretary for Canada, Mexico and NAFTA issues. Obama selected Jacobson for the post last June and she was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee nomination in early November by a vote of 12-7. Rubio voted against her in committee. In February, Kerry chided Rubio for blocking Jacobson's nomination, saying the senator was punishing a highly qualified candidate who did nothing wrong. "He's out there running for president. He has ample opportunity to make his case about the policy," Kerry said of Rubio before Rubio dropped out of the GOP nomination race. "But don't punish the country because you're angry about what happened. A senior Pentagon official criticised the House Republican-led investigation into the deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya, saying the panel has made a "crescendo" of costly, duplicative and unnecessary requests, including some based on claims made on Facebook or talk radio. Stephen C Hedger, an assistant secretary of defence, expressed frustration with the Benghazi panel's potentially futile calls for witnesses and information, including some that were later withdrawn. Hedger also challenged a line of questioning of current and former military officials that focused on hypotheticals suggested by committee members or staff. "This type of questioning poses the risk that your final report may be based on speculation rather than a fact-based analysis of what a military officer did do or could have done given his or her knowledge at the time of the attacks," Hedger wrote Thursday in a letter to Rep Trey Gowdy, R-S C, chairman of the House Benghazi panel. Four Americans, including US Ambassador Chris Stevens, died during the twin assaults on Sept 11, 2012. Questions about security at the diplomatic facility have dogged Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of state at the time. Hedger complained in the three-page letter that the committee asked the Pentagon to track down four pilots who did not deploy to Benghazi on the night of the attacks, as well an unnamed mechanic at an air base in Europe who claimed on Facebook that planes could have been sent to Benghazi to respond. The panel also requested an interview with a person identified only as "John from Iowa," who told a talk radio show he operated a camera for a remotely piloted aircraft and saw a video feed related to Benghazi on the night of the attacks, Hedger said. The request to interview the four pilots was later withdrawn. Hedger called the proposed interview with the mechanic unnecessary and said officials were unable to locate John from Iowa, despite expending "significant resources to locate anyone who might match the description." The mechanic's claim is "easily dismissed" by statements from a number of high-level officials already interviewed by the Benghazi panel, Hedger said. Bengali superhit adventure film "Chander Pahar", based on Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhyay's immortal children's novel, will have a sequel. To be produced by Shree Venkatesh Films, the sequel "Amazon Obhijaan", will see director Kamaleswar Mukherjee returning. Bengali superstar Dev will reprise his role of an adventurer in the "Amazon Obhijaan". "The film, which will also be the most expensive Bengali film conceived till date, will see Dev returning in his role as the famous adventurer Shankar exploring the length and breadth of South America, including the vast jungles of Amazon in search of mysterious land of gold, El Dorado," the production house said. The film will be shot extensively across Brazil. Facing geographical challenges, savage tribes and wild animals like anacondas, black caimans, jaguar and vicious gold digger, Shankar will travel thousands of miles and fight off every danger to reach the mythical city of El Dorado. "We will shot underwater in two rivers, Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes," Kamaleswar said. "After being accepted as Shankar in Chander Pahar, where I had even shot with a lion on my trail, I am now looking forward to 'Amazon Obhijan' experience. And who else but Kamalda to direct," Dev said. This will be the 100th film f or Shree Venkatesh Films, whicha launched in 1996 with "Bhai amar bhai". Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha today said if approached he would be happy to promote Bihar as its brand ambassador. There are reports that the state is considering to rope in some Bollywood celebrity as its face. Sinha, however, said nothing is official yet. "There is nothing official about it so far. But, if and when I am considered for the responsibility of brand ambassador by dear friend Nitish Kumar, I would lend my services for furthering cause of my home state as my duty as 'dhartiputra' (son of soil)," Sinha told PTI. "There will be no demand or command from my side for this (if chosen as brand ambassador of Bihar)," Sinha, popularly known as "Bihari Babu", said over phone from Jaipur. The second term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and addressed him as his "younger brother." "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar through his able leadership and 'sushasan' (good governance) has brought Bihar on the forefront of the nation... Nitish deserves kudos for all the hard work he has done for the state," Sinha added. The actor-politician has caused furore in political circles many times by warmly meeting with the CM and praising him notwithstanding hostility against Kumar by his partymen. Earlier, while launching Sinha's biography "Anything but Khamosh", Kumar had described Sinha as "pride of Bihar" and had sought his service to develop film and culture in the state. There are reports that the state Tourism department is also considering the names of actress and MP Rekha and noted scriptwriter Javed Akhtar as brand ambassador. Fourteen soldiers lost their lives while serving in Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, just in last four months, a number which is more than the deaths that occurred during each of the last three previous years. As per the data provided by the Army's Northern Command, 9 soliders lost their lives last year, 8 in 2014 and 10 in 2013. As many as 41 soldiers have died from 2013 till March 31, 2016, at the glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. Giving further details, Defence Ministry spokesman Col S D Goswami said "Troops being posted in high altitude areas are trained in 'Basic & Advance' skills in mountains and snow bound areas. Troops posted in Avalanche Prone Areas' are subjected to series of training in the field formation area". He said medical equipment exists in all posts to cater for emergencies and best quality of winter clothing and equipment is procured to prevent weather related casualties. Modern means of conveyance like snow scooters are utilized to ensure timely reaction to any eventuality and reduce fatigue, he said, adding that a number of specialized equipment have also been deployed in the avalanche prone areas. The spokesman said weather conditions prevailing in the sector are closely monitored by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment stations at Sasoma and Srinagar. The weather warnings issued are religiously followed in terms of restrictions on operation and administration related movement, he said. "Adequate compensation is being provided to defence personnel deployed at difficult terrain in border areas in the form of Salaries and Compensatory Allowances in the form of Siachen Allowance, Highly Active Field Area Allowance and Field Area Allowance and Modified Field Area Allowance and High Altitude (Uncongenial Climate) Allowance depending upon the classification of area concerned. "These allowance are in addition to the Military Services Pay (MSP) being paid to Defence Services personnel," he said. Salaries paid to the Defence Personnel do not depend upon area of deployment and are same as per rank and structure, he said adding that however, certain allowances vary as per area of deployment and are also revised from time to time. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and Saarc Development Fund (SDF) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation and collaboration. The MoU envisages SDF and SIDBI to work together in co-funding of projects in Indian MSMEs on risk sharing basis in identified sectors, development of suitable financial products for SME financing for MSMEs of other Saarc states, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. The MoU also calls for technology transfer and making available software to MFIs regarding loan tracking systems in other Saarc states and capacity development of SDF/SIDBI and SME funding institutions in SAARC countries, it added. The MoU was signed by SIDBI Deputy Managing Director A K Kapur and SDF CEO Sunil Motiwal. For Sasindran Muthuvel, the first Indian-origin Governor in Papua New Guinea (PNG), it has been an eventful journey since he left Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu in search of livelihood over 20 years ago and arrived here after seeing a job advertisement. 41-year-old Muthuvel said he came to PNG to take up a job as a manager in a retail shop. "I thought I will be getting closer to Australia and later I will migrate to that country as a skilled immigrant," he recalled. But destiny had planned something else for him. The shop was shut down and he started his own outlet which expanded into a chain. With rising popularity, he decided to jump into the electoral fray and became Governor of West New Britain in 2009. "I came to Malaysia in 1995 after completing Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Periyakulam and spotted an advertisement in a newspaper in 1997 about an opening in PNG," he told PTI here. "It is actually this advertisement which changed my life completely," he said. Muthuvel became manager of a retail outlet which was owned by a Singaporean national. But "my owner decided to wind up business here and return. "I was shocked with the sudden turn of events. I was left with two options -- either to return or to find my way out in the Island and I chose the latter," he said and added with a smile "I do not have any regrets". "I started a small chain of retail outlets by the name of Hamammas which means in local language 'I am happy' and returned home to get married," he said. His wife Subha hails from Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. Both husband and wife worked hard to expand their business. "We started charity work and extended help to the needy. I do not know how I became popular but then I decided to jump into the electoral arena as I got my citizenship in May 2007. "I floated a new party and contested the elections and won. Later I joined the ruling People's National Party," he said. The initial years were tough. "I have survived merely on rice and yogurt for nearly a year till I started cooking local green vegetables," Muthuvel, who is a vegetarian, said. "I used to miss my sambar and rice and other vegetarian delicacies of my state but as they say when the going gets tough, the tough get going," he said. He enjoys his work today. "I have a sensitive province to handle but nevertheless the cooperation from my people always helps me in solving problems," he said. His wife looks after the business. The Governor, who was awarded 'Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award' by Indian Government in 2012, feels that there is a lot of potential for Indian companies to set up their base in PNG. "The operating cost may be high but the profit is equally high," he said. "I am looking forward to Indian companies coming here and helping us in areas like growing rice and other vegetables, exploration of oil and natural gas, gold mining," he said, adding "I hope that they (Indian businessmen) will come one day. Six persons of the same family, including five children, were burned to death and three others injured when their house caught fire today in Pakistan's Punjab province. Rescue workers recovered the bodies of five children, from one to 14 years old, and a 25-year-old woman from the wreckage of the house shared by two brothers and their families near the Pir Mitha Darbar shrine. The fire started in a room with wood and plastic materials the brothers used to make screens for room coolers, District Police Officer Awais Ahmed said. Three people were rushed to the hospital, Geo reported. A case has been registered against a Samajwadi Party leader for allegedly assaulting and duping her husband following a direction from a court, police said here today. Danish Sabir, husband of a SP leader Uzma Solanki here, has alleged she and her family members had assaulted and duped him, they said, adding a case has been registered against her father, brother and three other relatives also. According to the complainant, he was allegedly assaulted and threatened by his wife's father and brothers while they were on their way to Jajmua on February 22. He has alleged that the police had not lodged his complaint under the influence of his wife's family due to which he went a court to file the complaint. Police have registered a case under sections 147 (rioting), 388 (extortion), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 504 (intentional insult)and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC against the accused. No arrest has been made, they said. SP MLA Rampal Yadav was today expelled from the party for his involvement in "illegal" activities and "maligning" its image, a party spokesman said. "Rampal Yadav has been expelled from the party by state President Akhilesh Yadav for maligning its image and his involvements in illegal activities and irregularities," party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said. The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) had razed the Sitapur MLA Rampal Yadav's "illegal" complex yesterday and arrested him along with eight others including his relative former MLA Rajendra Yadav for allegedly attacking the LDA team. "The complex was demolished as it was illegal," District Magistrate Rajshekhar said. Rampal was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a local court after he was booked under various sections of IPC including 307 (attempt to murder) and 7 Criminal Law amendment act late last night. The MLA and his supporters yesterday clashed with police and LDA team after which police used lathicharge to disperse the mob. Meanwhile in Sitapur, a part of the MLA's Sparsh Hotel, was also demolished today as it was against norms, officials said. Rampal, who is SP MLA from Biswan seat of Sitapur, was suspended from the party during panchayat polls after he fielded his son Jitendra for the post of district panchayat chairman against his party's official candidate. Jitendra won the election. However, after elections, his suspension was revoked. The Centre today asked various authorities including Delhi administration to undertake "rigorous" awareness campaigns in the city including schools and colleges to prevent and control dengue. Union Health Minister J P Nadda said his Ministry has been "proactive" in taking measures to prevent dengue and various meetings with the states through video conferencing have been held. He chaired a high level meeting to review the preparedness of the Delhi administration where Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain and Mayors of the Delhi Municipal Corporations apart from officials of Ministry of Urban Development, National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and others were present. "Multiple advisories have been shared with the states to build their capacity. Training has been provided to health workers and a working plan has been sent to the states to ensure timely implementation of various activities that need to be undertaken for vector control," he said. Officials from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi Cantonment, CPWD and ICMR were also present during the meeting. Nadda was also briefed on the preparations of the Health Ministry and Delhi Administration to prevent the spread of Dengue in the NCT of Delhi. Nadda said that his Ministry has already provided all logistical and technical support to the Delhi Government in terms of surveillance and diagnostic kits to strengthen their efforts in addressing Dengue. "Community participation and empowerment are the most crucial areas in dengue prevention. All the stakeholders should start rigorous awareness campaigns regarding the preventive steps to be taken by the people in their communities," he said. He said that recently on World Health Day, 'India Fights Dengue' mobile application has been launched. "He also suggested awareness activities to be taken up in schools, colleges and various localities with the help of the school administration and the RWAs. "He also suggested that all available information on the measures taken by the Delhi Government and Delhi Corporations should be easily available to the people through various media channels," an official statement said. Nadda earlier today in a written reply in Lok Sabha said that NCT government had constituted a dengue death review committee September 2015. "The committee reviewed all the reported deaths due to dengue in Delhi during 2015 and found 46 confirmed deaths due to dengue report from Delhi and 14 were from out of Delhi," he said. Weeks after the fire tragedy at the Puttingal Devi temple at Paravoor in Kollam left over 100 dead and several injured, a senior political activist today said urgent steps are required to address the "psychological impact" of the tragedy on the people living in the area. Former Rajya Sabha MP K N Balagopal said instead of waiting for the nature to heal the wounds affected in the minds of the people, the government should take some extra measures to address the issue. "Dozens of people died in the blast belong to the area surrounding Paravur Municipality. A large number of people who are injured also belong to the area. So psychological effect of blast still continues." "It is very difficult to solve the issue immediately. It will take some time. A proper rehabilitation effort is required for the people who are affected. If we wait for a natural healing, it will take a lot of time," Balagopal, who is also the Kollam district secretary of the CPI(M), told PTI. He said government has announced a lot of relief measures to bring back normal life in the area but a follow up is lacking. "Besides providing proper healthcare to those who are injured, drinking water in wells and waterbodies in the area is contaminated. Local bodies, government, political parties and civil society organisations are still taking relief efforts to bring back normal life in the area," he said. Balagopal also said the real culprits of the incident should be brought to book and "some kind of disciplinary action is needed against the officers who are responsible." "There is no politics. We are not making any political question of these issues," he said. 109 perrsons lost their lives and more than 300 injured in the April 10 tragedy. Two groups of students of a private college here clashed when one student objected to another smoking in front of his hostel room but police stepped in and let them off after a warning. A section of students alleged that another group beat them up over some altercation and that they sustained injuries. However, police said that there was some altercation after one student objected to another smoking in front of his hostel room and asked him to go elsewhere. Since the student did not pay heed to the request, the other group roughed him up and some of his friends, police said. College authorities, however, termed it as a 'minor scuffle which was sorted later. "It was a small fight and the issue has been sorted out", a college spokesperson said. A senior police officer said that the parents of the students involved in the scuffle were summoned and their wards let off after a warning. "We have not booked any case. We have given them a stern warning in front of parents," the official said. A female suicide bomber who blew herself up in the centre of one of Turkey's most historic cities this week was linked to Kurdish militants and had also fought in Syria against jihadists, a report said today. There was no fingerprint evidence available from the remains of the woman who blew herself up in front of a mosque in the former Ottoman capital of Bursa on Wednesday but she has now been identified after DNA testing, the Hurriyet daily said. The woman has been identified as Suzan B., who the report said is a member of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which has been fighting the Turkish security forces since a truce collapsed last summer. It said she had also spent time in Syria fighting with the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) militia against Islamic State (IS) jihadists and had crossed back into Turkey in April. This fits the narrative of the Turkish government that the YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK, an assertion disputed by Washington which works with the Syrian Kurdish militia as allies in the fight against IS. Hurriyet quoted its sources as saying the woman had fought against IS in the battle for the Syrian border town of Kobane which was won by the Kurdish militia last year. The Turkish authorities have detained 15 people in the wake of the bombing, which created new jitters in the country after a wave of deadly attacks this year. Thirteen people were wounded in the blast but no one else was killed, leading some commentators to conclude the bomber ignited her charge prematurely. Those detained include two women whose identity cards the bomber had taken and one of her friends. Hurriyet said the bomber's identity was confirmed after DNA samples were taken from her family in the Mardin region of southeast Turkey. Two attacks that killed dozens of people in the capital Ankara in February and March were claimed by a group calling itself the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), a radical splinter group of the PKK. Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said on Thursday that the group behind the attack has been identified but the authorities have so far been tight-lipped on making the details public. The bombing took place near Bursa's 14th century Grand Mosque, a historic symbol of the city that was the first capital of the Ottoman empire before the conquest of Constantinople. BJP leader today gave notice in Rajya Sabha for moving Breach of Privilege Motion against Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad over his remarks related to the AgustaWestland issue. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien told Swamy, who took oath as a Nominated member on Tuesday last, "if you have given a privilege notice, there is a rule". The notice will be first examined by Chairman Hamid Ansari and if he finds a prima facie case, then the notice will be referred to the Privileges Committee, Kurien said. Earlier in the day, Swamy tweeted: "Today I will seek to move a Breach of Privilege (motion) against Ghulam Nabi Azad for his falsely stating in the RS that the UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica." On April 27, Azad had said in the House that the UPA government had "blacklisted" AgustaWestland company. "So, I would like to ask this question from the Government. A company, AugustaWestland company, which was blacklisted by the UPA Government, why did Modi Government allow this blacklisted company to take part in 'Make in India'?," Azad had said. After laying of papers during the Zero Hour today, Jairam Ramesh (Congress) said he has given a notice for a discussion on the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) scam in Gujarat. Kumari Selja (Cong) wanted to know why the mike of one member (Swamy) was on even when the Deputy Chairman was on his feet. To this Kurien said, Swamy's mike was on because he had asked him to speak. "He had asked about his privilege notice... He has every right to ask," he added. Taiwan summoned Japan's representative today to protest its seizure of one of the island's fishing boats in an area where Tokyo claims exclusive rights. The 50-tonne Taiwanese boat was chased for hours by a Japanese vessel and finally seized earlier this week, some 150 nautical miles from Okinotori-shima, an atoll administered by Japan. The seizure of the "Tung Sheng Chi 16" prompted protest from Taipei, which said Japan had no authority in the area and demanded the release of the ship and 10 crew. They were later freed, but tensions remain as the release came only after the ship's owner paid a "lawsuit deposit" of 6 million yen (USD 54,000) as demanded by the Japanese authorities, Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement. Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lin expressed the island's displeasure to Mikio Numata, who handles relations with Taipei in the absence of official diplomatic ties. "We've told them we've never recognised the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Okinotori-shima and they have no right to seize the fishing boat," he told reporters. Okinotori-shima is an uninhabited atoll in the Philippine Sea which is mostly submerged at low tide. The Japanese EEZ claim has also been rejected by China and South Korea, although neither country has made its own claim. Taiwan's outgoing Premier Chang San-cheng issued a stern warning to Japan as Taipei pledged to protect its fishing boats and said it would send patrol vessels to the area on Sunday. "Don't ever think we'll be weak (on this issue). Don't test our determination," an angry Chang told reporters. President Ma Ying-jeou also blasted Japan, accusing the country of violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which it became a signatory in the 1990s. "What has been encroached upon by Japan was not only the rights of Taiwan's fishermen but also those of fishermen from the other countries," he said. "This should be condemned by international society." The remarks come more than three years after coastguard vessels from Taiwan and Japan converged and duelled with water cannons in a stand-off over a chain of islands in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. The islands are controlled by Japan but are claimed by both China and Taiwan. But later that year, 2013, Japan and Taiwan set aside their sovereignty disputes and forged an agreement under which Taiwanese trawlers are permitted to fish in waters off the East China Sea island chain. Banks have collected about 1,500 kg of gold from temples and trusts under the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) since its launch last November. Under the GMS, 2015 approximately 1,512 kg of gold has so far been deposited by temples or trusts, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to Lok Sabha today. "GMS was launched on November 5 and it is too early to make an assessment of the impact of the scheme on the imports of gold," he said. However, there is a considerable reduction in the quantum of gold imports during the last six months as compared to gold imports during 2014-15, he said. In a reply to another question, Sinha said, MUDRA Ltd is a refinance agency with its registered office in Mumbai and it has no offices elsewhere. As on March 31, Rs 3,287 crore has been refinanced by MUDRA Ltd to micro finance institutions, public sector banks and regional rural banks, he said. With regard to merger, Sinha said, any initiative with respect to merger of public sector banks has to come from the boards of the banks concern keeping in view the synergies and benefits of merger and their commercial judgement. "Government or RBI role in the merger of banks would be that of facilitator," he said in another reply. Replying to another question, he said, the gross NPA of the public sector banks relating to corporate sector rose to Rs 2.23 lakh crore. The government has taken specific measures to address issues in sectors such as infrastructure, steel, textiles where incidences of NPAs is high, he said. RBI has conducted an Asset Quality Review (AQR) exercise under which all banks, including PSBs were asked to make at least 50 per cent provision for the accounts identified as NPA under AQR in December 2015 quarter and the rest in March 2016 quarter, he said. In a separate reply, Sinha said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed that an insurance scheme for the central government employees and pensioners with floater cover of Rs 5 lakh is under their consideration. Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai today said the government will implement the third edition of odd-even scheme only after analysing report of its six-member committee and surveys of media organisations on the ongoing second phase of the car-rationing plan. Rai said that after analysing surveys and reports, Delhi Cabinet will take a final decision on introducing the next phase of the car-rationing plan in the national capital. The government's move came a day after the Transport minister appealed to newspapers and channels to conduct an open survey on the existing odd-even scheme, alleging conspiracy is being hatched to "sabotage" the scheme. Last week, government had constituted a six-member committee, headed by Special Transport Commissioner K K Dahiya, to study the impact of the opening of schools and hot weather during the scheme and also suggest when the government should implement the next edition of the scheme. "We have decided to analyse surveys of media organisations which have been appealed by the government to conduct open surveys on second phase of odd-even scheme through various modes like SMS, field survey and others. "Besides, we recently constituted the six-member committee to study the impact of opening of schools and hot weather in its second edition. We will analyse both surveys of media organisations and our committee's report. Thereafter, Delhi Cabinet will decide the fate of third phase of the scheme," Rai told PTI. The minister said Delhi government is strengthening public transport system by introducing new buses so that people won't have to face problems in the next phase of odd-even scheme. Yesterday, Rai had claimed that many people are following odd-even scheme. He had said that some TV channels are telecasting seven videos on traffic-congestion and seeing them, it seems that due to odd-even scheme, people are "facing a lot of difficulties", but the real picture is different. "When we meet people, they say that odd-even scheme is good, but TV channels are showing different pictures," Rai had said yesterday. (Reopens DES42) Majority of respondents in an industry survey on 'Odd-Even' have favoured permanent implementation of the car-rationing scheme on Delhi roads. The poll conducted by PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry on over a thousand people in Delhi-NCR asked people to rate the scheme on various parameters including whether it should be rolled out on a permanent basis. "Majority of respondents want the rule to be implemented on a permanent basis as this parameter has scored 6.2 out of 10," PHD Chamber said. Significantly, a majority of respondents also said there has been a decline in pollution levels with the implementation of odd-even formula, with this parameter getting a score of 5.8 out of 10. However, facilitation of public transport system has got a low score of 4.3 out of 10, indicating that it needs to be improved. "For the success of this rule, the public transport system needs to be strengthened so as to ensure connectivity to far away areas and availability of means of transport at every point. Also the office hours should be made flexible so that traffic is distributed evenly," Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry said. Majority of people reported that their overall travelling experience with the advent of odd even rule has been easier, and gave it a score of 5.8 out of 10. Relaxation in traffic and reduction in time taken to reach the destination both got a score of 5.7 out of 10, as majority of respondents reported that the time taken to reach their destination has come down, though not considerably. "Although some parts of Delhi have seen reduction in traffic, yet some areas suffer from traffic congestion. Some parts of Delhi need proper regulation of traffic and better road networks," Sanyal said. Respondents reported that they will not buy an additional car if the rule is implemented permanently as this has got a low score of 4 out of 10. This calls for efficient cab pooling system and sound public transportation system. The FBI have arrested three people, including the older brother of San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, on charges of marriage fraud and lying to investigators, authorities said. Syed Raheel Farook, 31, was arrested in the early morning at his home in the California town of Corona, along with his wife Tatiana Farook, also 31. Mariya Chernykh, Tatiana's 26-year-old sister who lives in the nearby town of Ontario, was also arrested. The five-count indictment against the trio centers on Chernykh's alleged sham marriage to Enrique Marquez, who is awaiting trial on charges of aiding the December 2 attack carried out by Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik. The pair were later killed in a dramatic shootout with police. "This is the latest step in the comprehensive investigation into the horrific attacks in San Bernardino last year that took the lives of 14 innocent Americans and deeply affected so many more," US attorney Eileen Decker said in a statement. "As I have said previously, we owe the victims, and the entire community of San Bernardino, a thorough investigation that uncovers all criminal activity surrounding these events." The trio appeared in federal court after their arrest on Thursday and entered not guilty pleas, a Justice Department official said. They were all given bail but were ordered to turn in their passports and banned from traveling outside Southern California pending their trial which was set for June 21, the official told AFP. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison on a charge of lying to immigration officials. Chernykh also faces up to 25 years in prison on charges of fraud and misuse of visas as well as lying to federal agents. Marquez told investigators after his indictment in December on charges of buying weapons used in the San Bernardino assault that he had entered into a fake marriage with Chernykh in November 2014 and had lied about living with her. Chernykh and her sister are both from Russia and Syed Raheel Farook's marriage to Tatiana has also come under scrutiny. Investigators have executed several search warrants at his house since the massacre, the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001. Syed Raheel Farook served in the US navy between 2003 and 2007 and is a decorated veteran. His attorney Ron Cordova underlined before the judge at Thursday's hearing that the case against Syed Raheel Farook and his wife was about a "misrepresentation in an act of marriage, it's not about an act of terror. The Tirupati Municipal Corporation official website was today allegedly hacked by a 'Bangladesh national' who blocked the site for about two hours between 2 pm to 4 pm, a senior official said. Tirupati Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Vinay Chand, told reporters that the hacking of the site was done by a suspected Bangladesh national. However, there was no damage to the site, he said, adding, it was only an informative one carrying general information about Tirupati Municipal Corporation. Tirupati Urban police have begun investigations based on the complaint by the corporation, he said. Meanwhile, TTD and other public institutions here have taken precautionary steps to protect their portals, police said. Allaying fears about Jammu losing focus due to direct train services to the holy town of Katra, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today promised to take effective steps in positioning the winter capital as an independent tourist destination. She said there is no dearth of nature destinations in Jammu and with its treasure trove of heritage sites, the city will attract a huge footfall of tourists. The chief minister made the announcement to a gathering on the banks of river Chenab after inaugurating a tourist complex here. Besides Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi were also present on the occasion. Mehbooba, who also holds charge of Tourism Department, assuaged feelings of certain sections of society, especially businessmen and traders, who think Jammu may lose focus due to better connectivity with Katra and said the government will strategize and diversify its activities for which a comprehensive plan will soon be drawn up. "An international consultant will soon inspect Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex and chalk out a strategy so that we restore it to its pristine glory. Similarly, we will remove bottlenecks in Jammu Ropeway Project which will provide a huge fillip to tourism sector here," she said. She said the state will have to learn from Rajasthan to conserve its heritage and culture assets. Mehbooba said she had studied at Jammu but never got an opportunity to explore the place. "On my first visit last week, I was simply riveted by the grandeur and majestic beauty of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. We cannot allow it to be used as a parking place," she said. She said Tourism and Culture Departments together will identify the potential sites for tourism promotion in Jammu region. On infrastructure upgrade, the chief minister mentioned Ranjit Sagar Dam in Basoli, Jammu Ropeway at Bahu Fort, Akhnoor Fort, Mughal Sarais in Rajouri, Patnitop, Surinsar, Mansar, Jai in Bhaderwah, Warwan in Kishtwar and Mantalai in Udhampur as places where all ongoing projects will be fast- tracked. She said this will position Jammu as an emerging destination for inbound as well as foreign visitors. Referring to her recent visit to border areas of Suchetgarh and Baba Chamliyal, Mehbooba said Jammu can emulate Wagah's success in border tourism. She said she will take up with the Centre the issue of starting a march-past on this side which can become a major attraction for tourists. "I hope fresh thaw between India and Pakistan will enable us to promote border tourism on a larger scale," she said. On developing Akhnoor as a cultural and heritage centre, Mehbooba suggested landscaping the scattered patches around Chenab riverfront by planting flowers. She also asked Secretary Tourism to highlight the heritage value of Jia Potha and Ambaran in Akhnoor so that art and culture aficionados make a beeline for the place. "Devise weekend packages so that this place becomes a source of attraction for tourists, including Shiv Khori-bound pilgrims who travel on the stretch in large numbers," she said and directed Tourism Department to provide add-on facilities like water-sports for the amusement of visitors. In his address, the Deputy Chief Minister credited the vision of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in promoting Jammu as a major travel destination. Constructed at a cost of Rs 4.34 crore, the tourist complex has all modern facilities like suites, banquet hall and restaurants. Earlier, the Chief Minister went around the complex and saw the facilities set up for the visiting tourists. Jia Potha, which has heritage significance, is known as a coronation place for Maharaja Hari Singh and it has some remnants of Buddhist scriptures. Walkways have also been constructed towards the riverfront. Two students from Goa Engineering College (GEC) here were arrested today during a raid at the hostel after they were found in possession of banned narcotics substance. Vishant Gawas, a final year student and Arun Singh Rathod, a first year student, were booked under stringent Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) by Goa police. A team of Anti-Narcotic Cell and Crime Branch had raided the hostel inside the GEC campus at Farmagudi, 20 kms away from here, near Ponda town. "The raid was conducted acting upon an information," Superintendent of Police Karthik Kashyap told reporters today. Both the students were found in the hostel during the raid and narcotics was seized from them. However, the nature of the substance was not revealed, police said. "The raid is to send a strong message that Goa Police will not tolerate any such nefarious activity in the state more particularly in educational institutions," Kashyap said. CBI today questioned a journalist as part of its preliminary enquiry into the alleged sting operation in which the then Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat was purportedly seen talking to middlemen in a bid to strike a deal with dissident Congress MLAs. CBI sources said Umesh Kumar, the journalist allegedly involved in the sting operation, was questioned by the agency for nearly two and half hours at the CBI headquarters here. "CBI has asked me to provide raw footage of the sting which I will give tommorow," Umesh said, coming out of the CBI office. The sources said the preliminary enquiry was registered on the instructions of the state government which is under President's rule and further notification from the central government. Two days before Rawat was to face the vote of confidence on March 28, rebel Congress MLAs led by former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna alleged that they were offered bribe by Rawat for support during the floor test in the Assembly and released video of a "sting" operation purportedly showing Rawat who called it "fake". Congress had alleged that the "dirty tricks department" of BJP president Amit Shah is at work, while the saffron outfit had demanded "immediate dismissal" of the Rawat government. "The sting CD being shown on channels is fake. The reputation of the man behind it who is associated with a private channel is not hidden from anyone. His antecedents must be probed," Rawat had said. Nearly 10,000 people have been killed and more than 20,000 injured since the Ukraine conflict began in April 2014, a top UN official has said. Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the Security Council that the total number of casualties now stands at 30,729 including 9,333 people killed and 21,396 injured. He said the latest incident occurred on April 27 when shelling killed at least four civilians and injured at least eight people in Olenivka near the city of Donetsk. Zerihoun said that fighting has escalated in recent weeks to levels not seen since August 2014, when it was at its most intense and he called on all parties to cease hostilities. He criticised both sides for hindering access to an international monitoring mission put in place under the Minsk ceasefire agreement ironed out by the Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany on Feb. 14, 2015, but said that according to statistics provided by the monitors restrictions were more common in rebel-held areas. Yesterday's Security Council meeting was the first to address the situation in Ukraine since December 2015. During the meeting representatives from Russia and Ukraine traded bitter accusations over who was to blame for the flare-up in hostilities. "Russia has organised and deployed in Donbas a 34,000-strong hybrid military force consisting of the regular Russian troops as well as of foreign and local militants. Russian generals and military officers provide direct command-and-control of this illegal military entity impressively heavily armed," Vadym Prystaiko, Ukraine's deputy minister of foreign affairs, told the council. He claimed this force is better armed than most NATO members despite the Russians' claims that the weapons were acquired in local hardware stores. "Last time I checked you will hardly be able to buy a decent knife in Ukrainian hardware stores not to mention the multiple launch rocket systems and jet flamethrowers," Prystaiko said. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin denounced the UN session as a play for time while Ukraine's army occupies towns "in the neutral strip" stipulated by the Minsk agreement. "Over the entire crisis the UN has been used as a propaganda platform," Churkin said, dismissing the Ukraine statement before the Security Council as "very disappointing," and "a lot of rhetoric. UN Security Council diplomats have warned North Korea to expect a response after Pyongyang's repeated failed attempts to test-fire a powerful ballistic missile, the latest defiance of UN resolutions. At the request of the United States, the council held urgent closed-door consultations after North Korea's unsuccessful launch earlier in the day of two medium-range missiles, as fears grew that the secretive country was preparing to conduct a fifth nuclear test. North Korea has now made three bids in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan missile, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam. "We are looking at a response," China's Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who holds the Security Council presidency this month, told reporters. Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said Tokyo condemned the "grave and very clear violations" of UN resolutions that comprised a direct threat to Japan's national security. The 15-member council was unanimous in condemning the latest launches, Yoshikawa said. Current UN resolutions bar North Korea from developing any ballistic missile-related technology, and South Korea said it would push for fresh penalties to be slapped on Pyongyang. Diplomats said they expected the council to issue a statement on Friday after the Chinese delegation requested time to consult with officials in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday underscored Beijing's commitment to enforcing existing UN sanctions on North Korea and to preventing any instability on its doorstep. "As a close neighbor, we will never allow war or chaos on the (Korean) peninsula," he told a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Beijing. South Korea said a first launch Thursday of what was understood to be a Musudan missile saw the rocket plunge back to earth seconds after take-off. A second attempt in the evening -- again of a Musudan -- also appeared to have failed, a defense ministry official said. An initial effort on April 15 -- the birthday of late founding leader Kim Il-Sung -- ended in what the Pentagon described as "fiery, catastrophic" failure, with the missile apparently exploding just after take-off. South Korean military officials say the North is desperate to register a successful launch ahead of next week's ruling party congress, at which leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to take credit for pushing the country's nuclear program to new heights. The US has moved surveillance drones into the skies over Libya to gather intelligence and get a better picture of what's going on in case additional military strikes against Islamic State militants are authorized. The top US military officer told a Senate committee yesterday that the Pentagon has shifted assets to Libya, based on recommendations from the US commander for Africa. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the decision was made more than a month ago to increase resources for US Africa Command. US officials say the decision allows the Pentagon to shift unmanned aircraft to Libya. Dunford said he agrees with assessments that there are about 6,000 Islamic State militants in Libya. The rise of the Islamic State in Libya has triggered broad concerns, particularly in Europe. Earlier this month, Army General David Rodriguez, head of US Africa Command, said that the number of Islamic State militants in Libya has doubled in the last year or so to as many as 6,000 fighters, with aspirations to conduct attacks against the US and other nations in the West. Rodriguez said that local Libya militias have had some success in trying to stop the Islamic State from growing in Benghazi and are battling the group in Sabratha. But he said that decisions to provide more military assistance to the Libyans await a working national government. Libya slid into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi and has been split between rival governments since 2014. Islamic State militants gained a foothold in Libya amid the power struggle and security vacuum. The US has conducted two airstrikes in Libya in recent months targeting Islamic State fighters and leaders, but Rodriguez said that those are limited to militants that pose an "imminent" threat to US interests. He said it's possible the US could do more as the government there takes shape. The increased surveillance would aid any effort to carry out more of those strikes. The slaying in Bangladesh of a US Agency for International Development employee has intensified US concern that the strategically located South Asian country with traditions of religious tolerance is under threat from Islamic extremists. Bangladesh's government denies that transnational jihadist groups have been behind a spate of bloody attacks on secular writers, bloggers, foreigners and religious minorities. But the Bangladeshi branch of al-Qaida on the Indian Subcontinent claimed Monday's killing of USAID employee and gay rights activist Xulhaz Mannan. That claim has not been verified, but it adds to fears that local extremists with international aspirations could enable groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group to gain a foothold in a country wracked by prolonged political turmoil because of a bitter divide between the ruling party and the opposition. The No 2 US diplomat said yesterday that despite the government blaming the political opposition for the attacks, evidence to date suggests extremist groups, either local or affiliated with IS or al-Qaida, are responsible for the killings. "This gives us concern about the potential for ISIL or Daesh to take root in Bangladesh," Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, using alternative acronyms for IS. "That is the last thing we want." The assaults on minorities and moderates, typically by young men wielding knives or machetes and spewing hateful language, began in 2013 and have increased in frequency in the past year. Among the fatalities was Bangladeshi-American writer Avijit Roy, who was attacked on a street in the capital, Dhaka, in February 2015. Human rights groups fear for others facing militant death threats as the Bangladeshi government has appeared unsympathetic to their plight perhaps because it does not want to alienate Muslims offended by the atheistic writings of some bloggers. While authorities have arrested suspects in some of those cases, none has been prosecuted, and authorities have yet to identify the masterminds. The State Department says the US is considering providing sanctuary to some individuals at risk, although it remains unclear whether that will happen. Human rights groups have been calling for that since December. A broader concern for Washington as it struggles to counter Islamic State worldwide is that Bangladesh could become a hotbed for religious extremists, despite its traditions of secularism, free speech and respect for its Christian and Hindu minorities, and successes in reducing poverty and raising life expectancy among its 160 million people. The US State Department's special coordinator for Haiti arrived in the troubled Caribbean nation seeking to help resolve a political standoff that has left elections in limbo. Kenneth Merten began talks with Haitian officials and international partners focusing on steps needed to conclude a stalled electoral cycle that began last year. The US was careful in its language, saying Merten was sent only to assess the situation, not wanting to appear to meddle in the country's affairs. While Merten held meetings with lawmakers, partisans of rival political factions threw rocks at each other in front of Parliament and riot police dispersed demonstrators with rubber bullets. An early February accord negotiated by legislators and then-President Michel Martelly in his final hours as Haiti's leader had set April 24 as the latest date for a presidential runoff already postponed twice. But it quickly became apparent Haiti would miss that deadline, too, as a caretaker administration failed to ease deep divisions. Some legislative elections also haven't been completed. Now, a five-member verification panel is preparing to evaluate balloting that was contested last year due to fraud allegations. The commission was installed by the interim administration yesterday and has 30 days to conclude its work. Interim President Jocelerme Privert, who was selected by lawmakers in February to lead a government that was supposed to hand over power to an elected leader May 14, has recently said Haiti cannot restart balloting without first restoring confidence in the electoral machinery. Before his trip, Merten told The Associated Press that Haiti's verification process needs to be as straightforward as possible. He said there is some US concern that Haitian political actors whose factions didn't do well in last year's balloting could try to "manipulate the process" away from what voters authorised. "We hope it is very, very quick and does not change the results of the election," Merten said. Washington will have to "look very carefully at what we do moving forward" if there appears to be any manipulation, he said. International monitors who observed Haiti's October presidential first round said official results putting government-backed candidate Jovenel Moise in the leading position for a two-candidate runoff appeared to be a genuine reflection of voters' will. The United States and Russia have agreed on a "freeze" in fighting along two major fronts in Syria, but not in war-ravaged Aleppo, the Syrian and Russian militaries said today. In a statement carried on state television, Syria's armed forces said the freeze would begin at 1:00 am on Saturday (2200 GMT Friday). It would last for 24 hours in Damascus and the nearby rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta, and for 72 hours in the coastal province of Latakia, the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect. There was no mention of Aleppo, where a week of fighting has killed more than 200 civilians. "This announcement came after a request from the Americans and the Russians, who met in Geneva to calm down the situation in Damascus and Latakia," a security source in Damascus told AFP. "The Americans asked for Aleppo to be included, but the Russians refused," the source said. Russia is a key backer of Assad's regime, while the US has supported various opposition factions in the country. A diplomatic source quoted by Russian state agency RIA Novosti said that Moscow and Washington, co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, "are the guarantors of the 'regime of silence' implementation by the sides." The source said the freeze would take effect at midnight Friday. The reason for the discrepancy was unclear. The US is working with India on countering violent extremism in Bangladesh, a top American diplomat has said linking recent spate of attacks on secular bloggers and minorities to the rise of ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Muslim-majority country. "We have been both engaging with the government on this problem but also for example with India, given the relationship between India and Bangladesh to raise the concern and to try to work together with them on countering violent extremism before it takes root in Bangladesh," the Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing yesterday. "That's the last thing we want," he said during a hearing on Asia organised by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "We've seen a series of attacks, terrorist attacks, in Bangladesh over the last several months which DAESH or Al- Qaeda have taken credit for," he added. Blinken disagreed with the Bangladeshi government's assessment that opposition parties are responsible for these acts of violence. "Now the government has sometimes claimed that these attacks were actually the work of the opposition in one fashion or another but what we've seen based on the evidence to date is in fact that extremist groups whether they are indigenous or whether they really are affiliated with ISIL or DAESH are responsible," he said. "This gives us concern about the potential for ISIL, for DAESH, to take root in Bangladesh, which has been an important country in terms of having a Muslim country with a moderate orientation that can be an important player in dealing with the problem of violent extremism," Blinken said. The top American diplomat was responding to a question from Congressman Steve Chabot on the recent killing of secular bloggers in Bangladesh. "They (Bangladesh) clearly deserve more attention than they often have received either by this administration or a whole range of things but first of all, as we all know, an election was held a while back and Sheikh Hasina of course was re-elected," he said. "Khaleda Zia and her party boycotted the election and so the political situation is a bit iffy there, but let me ask you this Bangladesh has long been considered a moderate Muslim country in resisting Islamic radicalism," he added. There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent months specially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners. Last year, four prominent secular bloggers were killed with machetes, one inside his own home. A Hindu head priest was on February 21 hacked to death by gun-and-cleaver wielding Islamists. In September last, Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was murdered by unidentified assailants in Dhaka, and within five days of that incident Japanese farmer Kunio Hoshi was killed. Also, moderate Sufi saint Khizir Khan, progressive book publisher Faisal Arefin Dipon, and a Sufi shrine worker were murdered while two Christian pastors, one an Italian doctor, narrowly escaped attacks. A 25-year-old man was today killed and another person injured when they were hit by a truck in northwest Delhi's Azadpur Mandi area. According to the police, the incident took place at around 7am when Mevaram, a vegetable vendor, was heading towards the vegetable market in the area. Eyewitnesses claimed that as Mevaram was crossing the road with his cart, a truck ran over him. "Locals said he was dragged by the truck for meters along with his cart. The other person who was passing nearby was also hit by the cart and injured. Luckily, he did not come under the truck," said a senior police officer. Both the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital where Mevaram was declared brought dead while the other person was admitted for treatment. Police said that the driver of the truck left the vehicle on the spot and escaped. "The vehicle has been seized and a case of causing death by negligence and rash driving registered. We have identified the truck driver and a team has been sent to apprehend him. He will be arrested soon," police said. Venezuela's opposition tried to sack the food minister for shortages in the crisis-hit country and claimed a million people backed its call for a referendum to remove the president. President Nicolas Maduro promptly rejected the demand, the latest offensive in the battle to replace the government over a crisis that has families queuing up for food rations. "We are facing the worst food emergency in Venezuela's history," said Ismael Garcia, the lawmaker leading the motion to sack minister Rodolfo Marco Torres. The speaker of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, Henry Ramos Allup, said the government must remove Torres from his post after two-thirds of the lawmakers present approved a no-confidence motion against him. But Maduro retorted: "No one will remove the minister." He vowed to pass new emergency measures to head off attempts of "sabotage" by lawmakers. He even threatened to cut the power to the legislature, as part of widespread blackouts he has imposed to save power. His opponents meanwhile said they had gathered more than five times the 200,000 signatures needed to begin organizing a referendum to remove Maduro. Senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles said more than a million people had signed a petition calling for a recall referendum. The signatures will be handed over to the National Electoral Board (CNE) early next week for verification. The socialist president has already blocked several bills brought by the opposition by challenging them in the Supreme Court. His critics say he controls the court and the electoral authorities. The political tension, shortages and now enforced electricity blackouts that started this week have raised fears of unrest in the South American oil state. Looting and clashes were reported in towns including the country's second-biggest city Maracaibo after daily power cut-offs were formally launched on Monday. Voters in all four constituencies of south Kolkata, which will go to the polls tomorrow, can plan their visit to polling booths with the help of a mobile app that shows the number of voters in queue. The app, 'Q4U', will facilitate electors by informing them how long the queue is. "We have asked the polling personnel to update us with data on queues every 40 minutes. As soon as we get the data it will be uploaded for anyone to see in the mobile app," Smita Pandey, district electoral officer, Kolkata South, told PTI. The voter just needs to download the app from Google Playstore and enter the EPIC (voter ID card) details to know approximately how many voters are there in the queue at any given point of time. "This is part of our effort to ensure that voters do not get turned away due to long queues," officials said. Those who can't use the queue management app can send SMS to 7022192666 with their EPIC number and will get an SMS reply with queue information. A number of political heavyweights, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party candidates who were purportedly seen in the Narada sting operation footage, are in the fray for the crucial fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly poll tomorrow. Altogether 349 candidates, including 43 women, are trying their luck in 53 constituencies of South 24 Parganas, Kolkata south and Hooghly districts that will go to polls tomorrow. Polling will be held from 7 AM to 6 PM at over 14,500 booths for the 1.2 crore electorate. Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump today claimed if elected he would ensure the Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA trace Osama bin Laden is freed from jail within "two minutes". "Yes, I do. I think I would get him out in two minutes," Trump told Fox in an interview when asked if he would help free Shakeel Afridi, the doctor jailed for helping the US track down al-Qaeda leader bin Laden who was killed in a covert raid by US commandos in 2011. "I would tell them let him out and I'm sure they would let him out," Trump said with confidence. "Because we give a lot of aid to Pakistan. We give a lot of money to Pakistan. And frankly, they don't have any respect for our president. But when you say they take advantage or they are no friend, nobody is a friend to us," he said. "They just take us like a bunch of suckers. And that's what my speech was about to a certain extent. It was also economic in terms of economic, relative to aid and the military. But Pakistan certainly takes advantage like everybody else. Nobody is different," Trump said. The real estate tycoon said he would keep 10,000 troops in Afghanistan mainly because of Pakistan's nuclear weapons. "I would stay in Afghanistan. It's probably the one place we should have gone in the Middle East because it's adjacent and right next to Pakistan which has nuclear weapons. So I think you have to stay and do the best you can, not that it's ever going to be great but I don't think we have much of a choice," he said. "That's one place, frankly, instead of going to Iraq we probably should have gone there first. I would say in Afghanistan and only, again, because of its location next to Pakistan," Trump said. "So you would keep the 10,000 troops there and fight a war of attrition against the Taliban? You know, Pakistan...?" Trump was asked. "I hate doing it, I hate doing it so much. But, again, you have nuclear weapons in Pakistan so I would do it," he said. A 22-year-old Indian-American Muslim woman has won a key primary election in the US state of Maryland, upsetting a veteran in the process. Raheela Ahmed, received 9,624 votes as against incumbent Jeana Jacob (6,004 votes) in the Board of Education District 5 primary elections held on Tuesday. She along with her runner up Cheryl Landis who got 8,072 now advance to the November general elections. Her win is considered to be significant given the anti-Muslim rhetoric's coming from top Republican candidates in particular its presidential front-runner Donald Trump. "If Mr Trump's views were a true reflection of Americans beliefs, I would not have won this election decisively. My district has around 56,000 voters and Muslims are less than one per cent of that. "Mr Trump can make outrageous and offencive statements for political reasons, but I am a strong believer that America's diversity is our strength," Raheela said, who attributed her win to America's diversity. If elected in November general elections, she would be the youngest Indian-American to be elected to this top education post in Maryland. "The plan of action is to win the general election, which I lost by 3 per cent in 2012. I will be engaging all sorts of stakeholders over the next several months. I love grassroots campaigning...It's the core of my candidacy," she told PTI. Raheela's father, a technology entrepreneur immigrated from Hyderabad at the age 25, while her mother moved to the US when she was five years old from Pakistan. "By attacking aspects of people's identity like gender, ethnicity and faith, Mr Trump is dividing the masses. Strength comes from unity, collaboration, trust and understanding. If he really wants to make America great again, he needs to stop dividing and start uniting!" she added. She said she believes that no religion condones violence, extremism, or terrorism. Islam is no exception. "The majority of Muslims are peaceful people. The word 'Islam' itself means peace. Terrorists that act under the name of Islam are twisted in their understanding of the faith," she said. "I'm representing individuals that largely do not identify with my faith, ethnicity, youth and gender, in a time where Islamophobia, racism and discrimination are around every corner. However, this election win shows that people see what they want to see," she said. "I won because more people connected with my shared values and aspirations than those turned off by my differences," said Raheela , who is currently an Advisory Associate with the Global Public Sector at Grant Thornton LLP. Mumbai-based technology startup accelerator Zone Startups is launching a first-of-its-kind six-week programme 'empoWer' to support women entrepreneurs who are building technology ventures. Set up as an international footprint of the Toronto-based Ryerson University and the BSE Institute of BSE, Zone Startups India is supported by Department of Science and Technology. For the 'empoWer' initiative, ZoneStartups India has partnered Department of Science and Technology, Germany's GIZ, Vodafone India, Google, Nishith Desai Associates, She The People TV and SheEO -- a Toronto-based women entrepreneur support organisation. "Through our accelerator programme and various bootcamps, workshops, demo days hosted by us, we realised the need for a focused programme that works with women entrepreneurs in tech businesses. The problems faced by a lot of women entrepreneurs is unique, and we feel that there is a case for having a dedicated accelerator programme for women entrepreneurs," Ajay Ramasubramaniam, Director, Zone Startups India, said. The programme participants will get access to mentoring, workshops, case studies of successful women-led startups, industry connect, peer network, investor connect and business development opportunities, he added. The 'empoWer' initiative will be launched with roadshows across Mumbai, Bangalore and NCR for attracting applications. Fifteen Women Entrepreneurs (or co-founders) will be shortlisted for the six-week customised programme, Zone Startups said. Over its 26 months operations, Zone Startups India has accelerated the growth of 72 startups. Eleven of these are being co-founded by women entrepreneurs, while three of these women entrepreneurs have gone on to raise in excess of Rs 30 crore in funding, the accelerator said. Zone Startups India will continue to support these women entrepreneurs for up to a year post-programme. was heading for its biggest monthly rise in seven years on Friday, touching fresh 2016 highs as a weak dollar and falling US production tempered concerns about a lingering excess of physical oil. Recent gains have given analysts reason to become more bullish on oil price forecasts, with those polled by Reuters raising their price expectations for the second month in a row after a two-year price rout. A looming rise in Middle East output capped gains, but investor sentiment held the optimism that has helped lift oil futures nearly 80% higher than January lows. Brent futures were trading at $48.26 a barrel at 1211 GMT, up 12 cents from their last close. US crude was up 42 cents at $46.45 a barrel, with both contracts hitting 2016 highs earlier in the session. Investment bank Jefferies on Friday said the market "is coming into better balance" and would flip into undersupply in the second half of the year. But others warned that the rally was happening too soon, and driven in large part by investors taking speculative positions in oil. "The issue is that we haven't seen price rallies ... correlate with fundamentals," said Hamza Khan, senior commodity strategist at ING. "The fundamentals - high stocks, high production - haven't changed." Deutsche Bank said a looming rise in production by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries - due to climbing Iranian output and following outages in Iraq, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates - could cap recent price rises. Additionally, Saudi output is expected to edge up by 350,000 barrels to around 10.5 million barrels per day, sources told Reuters, just as tankers filled with unsold oil are at sea seeking buyers. Still, falling production outside OPEC, notably in the United States, has raised hopes that the worst of the nearly two-year excess of oil was over. Analysts polled by Reuters raised their average forecast for futures in 2016 to $42.30 a barrel, compared with $40.90 last month. Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a note that "non-OPEC oil supply is indeed hanging off a cliff", and estimated that global output would contract year on year in April or May for the first time since 2013. A weakening dollar, which has fallen 6% this year against a basket of other leading currencies, helped support oil, as it makes dollar-priced crude cheaper for holders of other currencies. There are also growing risks that production in OPEC member Venezuela could decline. Risk consultancy Eurasia Group said the state was running out of cash to keep its oil pumps running. "Mounting problems will probably lead to a decline of 100,000-150,000 bpd this year," Eurasia Group said. LinkedIn shares, which have lost more than a third of their value since the company reported fourth-quarter results on Feb. 4, rose 7.6 percent in extended trading on Thursday. The company seems to have benefited from an improving jobs market in the United States. The region accounts for more than 60 percent of LinkedIn's total revenue. Revenue from its talents solutions business, which connects recruiters and job seekers, surged 41 percent in the first quarter, contributing nearly two-thirds to total revenue. Its advertisement revenue grew 29 percent, the strongest growth in three quarters. The company is moving to sponsored content from traditional display ads and strengthening its mobile app to improve user engagement. The ad business "doing better is definitely a healthy sign as that's been a segment that people have been concerned about in particular," Sterne Agee CRT analyst Arvind Bhatia said. LinkedIn said its total users rose 19 percent to 433 million, driven by strong growth in China. The company raised its full-year forecast for adjusted profit to $3.30-$3.40 per share from $3.05-$3.20 and for revenue to $3.65 billion-$3.70 billion from $3.60 billion-$3.65 billion. However, its loss widened as costs surge 41.5 percent due to heavy investments in data centres and expansion in markets outside the United States. LinkedIn opened a data centre in Singapore this month - its first outside the United States - to better serve its growing user base in Asia Pacific. The net loss attributable to LinkedIn widened to $45.8 million, or 35 cents per share, from $42.5 million, or 34 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, the company earned 74 cents per share, beating the average analyst estimate of 60 cents, according to Thomson I/B/E/S. Revenue jumped 35 percent to $860.7 million, topping the average estimate of $828.5 million. LinkedIn shares were trading at $132.30 after the bell. (Reporting by Kshitiz Goliya in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey) Reliance Defence signs partnership deal with Ukrainian firms Collaboration includes assembly, manufacture and maintenance of Antonov class of aircraft in India, and upgradation of BMP 2 and armoured vehicles, marine gas turbines and UAV Collaboration includes assembly, manufacture and maintenance of Antonov class of aircraft in India, and upgradation of BMP 2 and armoured vehicles, marine gas turbines and UAV Reliance Defence Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, has signed strategic partnership agreement with state owned Ukroboronprom of Ukraine, Spetstechno Export and Antonov. The agreement was signed after Anil Ambani, chairman, Reliance Group, met Ukraine President of Petro Poroshenko, to discuss issues of strategic interest between the Indian and Ukrainian defence and aerospace industry. The partnership agreement will allow Reliance to collaborate with Antonov for its range of military and commercial transport aircraft. Under the agreement, Reliance and Antonov will jointly bid for the medium military transport aircraft program of the HAL. In addition to this, the two companies will also collaborate for assembly, manufacture and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of Antonov series of aircraft to address the requirements of the Indian market and also the agreed Global markets. Cooperation will also cover upgrades for the BMP 2 and armoured vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and marine gas turbines for the Indian Navy Frigate program. It is understood that HAL is looking at a market size of up to 300 aircraft in the medium range. This will be potentially the largest collaborative effort involving the public sector, private sector and global OEM as part of the Make in India and Skill India initiatives of the Government with value of programs exceeding Rs 50,000 crore. Antonov is credited as the manufacturer of largest transport aircraft in the world. The Indian Air Force currently operates more than 100 AN-32 aircraft, which forms the backbone of its transport fleet. BS B2B Bureau Close on the heels of a United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) survey which highlighted the linkage between higher percentage of women workforce and high economic growth, a World Bank report suggested that apparel export industry could be an ideal sector where India's female workforce can find more jobs. "Export-oriented apparel production in India and other South Asian countries has the potential to create more and better jobs, especially for female workforce", says a new World Bank report "The Stitches to Riches? Apparel Employment, Trade and Economic Development", launched in New Delhi today. As wages increase, China, the largest apparel manufacturer for the last 10 years, is expected to slowly relinquish its lead position in the global apparel market, opening the door to other competitors. This could be a huge opportunity for India and other South Asian countries. Even a 10 percent increase in Chinese apparel prices could create at least 1.2 million new jobs in the Indian apparel industry, the report estimates. Women are expected to benefit the most as their share in the total apparel employment is much higher than their share in other industries. A one percent increase in expected wages in the textiles and apparel industry could raise the probability of women entering the labor force by 18.9 percent, says the report. "Apparel manufacturing not only has a huge potential for creating jobs, particularly for the poor but also has a unique ability to attract female workers. Employed women are more likely to create positive social impacts as they tend to spend their income on the health and education of children," said Onno Ruhl, World Bank Country Director, India. "Rising costs of apparel manufacturing in China provides a window of opportunity for India to focus on apparel in productively employing its huge working-age population." The top four apparel producers in South Asia - Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka - have made big investments in world apparel trade and account for 12 percent of global apparel exports. India also has a more diversified export structure and has a well-developed fiber (cotton), textile and apparel manufacturing base. The report recommends removing trade restrictions to allow easy access to manmade fibers as inputs, increasing efficiency along the value chain such as integration between textile and apparel and improving social and environmental compliance by introducing better human resource practices to boost India's export potential in the sector. It estimates the potential gains in exports and jobs, and identifies policies that can unleash South Asia's export and job potential compared with those of their closest competitors in the Southeast Asia region (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia). The report called for increase in product diversity by reducing tariffs and import barriers to ease access to manmade fibers (such as more transparency for duty drawback schemes and bonded warehouses, and removing anti-dumping duties on manmade fibers) to enhance India's export competitiveness. It also preferred lower excise taxes and other incentives to develop a domestic manmade fiber industry. The report also pointed out that an industry friendly FDI policy for apparel by adopting clear and transparent policies on foreign ownership (already in place for textiles) and within export processing zones can help India apparel exporters reach more end markets. India has asked Britain to deport liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who flew to London last month, as the State Bank of India-led consortium of banks built pressure on him to repay about Rs 9,500 crore owed by his defunct Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). The ministry of external affairs has written to the British high commission seeking Mallya's return so that "his presence can be secured for investigations against him" under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, official spokesman Vikas Swarup told the media here on Thursday. He said that the Indian high commission in the UK will also be issuing a similar note verbale to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Swarup also emphasised that India will continue pursuing Mallya's deportation matter with UK authorities. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had approached the ministry seeking initiation of deportation proceedings against Mallya, charged with money laundering in the Rs 900-crore IDBI loan fraud case. The ED had accused Mallya's UB Group of diverting `430 crore of bank loans taken for KFA to buy property overseas. A non-bailable warrant against Mallya had been issued by a special judge in Mumbai as he did not appear for the hearings which has strengthened the government's case to get him deported. The ED has also decided to make a formal request to Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice against Mallya. The premier investigative agency's move comes in the backdrop of Mallya's counsel CS Vaidyanathan stating in the Supreme Court that the businessman does not plan to return because he might be taken straight away to Tihar Jail as soon as he lands. Mallya has not disclosed his whereabouts since flew he from Delhi to London on March 2 after attending a Rajya Sabha session. Meanwhile, lenders have decided to auction the trademarks of KFA, including the 'Kingfisher logo and oncefamous 'Fly the Good Time' tagline on April 30. The reserve price for the trademarks, which also include Flying Models, Fly the Good Times, Funliner, Fly Kingfisher, Flying Bird device, has been kept at `366 crore. The airlines had pledged the trademarks as collateral with banks at the time of taking loans from them. In its annual report for 2012-13, KFA had said that at its peak, it was the largest airline in India with a five-star rating from Skytrax. A valuation report from Grant Thornton put its brand value at $550 million on resumption of operations. The airline's brand had been registered separately from the Kingfisher beer trademark. According to the experts, the auction is unlikely to generate any interest from bidders as the value of brand has deteriorated. "KFA brand value has deteriorated in last few years. ... the owner has been the ambassador of the brand and the way Vijaya Mallya has been behaving, there are some negative connotations which are being associated with the brand," N. Chandramouli, chief executive officer, TRA, a brand intelligence and data insights company, said. Embattled tycoon Vijay Mallya wants a "reasonable" settlement with creditor banks to his defunct airline, he said in an interview in London published by the Financial Times on Friday. Mallya, 60, flew first class from Delhi to London on March 2 at a time when the government and mainly state-controlled banks are trying to recover $1.4 billion owed by his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines. "We have always been in dialogue with banks saying: 'We wish to settle'. But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before," Mallya told the newspaper in London. "By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money," the newspaper quoted him as saying. Mallya said he was in "forced exile" and had no plans to leave Britain. The government wrote to its British counterpart on Thursday seeking the deportation of the liquor tycoon and Formula 1 motor racing boss, who is the target of a non-bailable warrant in a money laundering investigation. He denied wrongdoing. "I am absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff like that," Mallya told the Financial Times. An India-based spokesman for Mallya's UB Group said he had no further comment to make when contacted by Reuters. As many as three Indian-origin persons have been named among 100 highest-paid chief executive officers (CEOs) globally with PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi and Lyondell-Basell's Bhavesh Patel making it to the top ten list compiled by Equilar. Chemicals company Lyondell-Basell top executive Bhavesh V. Patel was ranked sixth on the list with a total compensation of $24.5 million while Nooyi of PepsiCo was ranked eighth on the list with a total pay of $22.2 million. Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, was ranked 26th on the list of 100 highest-paid CEOs with a total compensation of $18.3 million. Equilar is a California-based company that provides information about total executive compensation packages of top officers at publicly traded companies and nonprofit organisations. The overall list was topped by Mark V. Hurd and Safra A. Catz of Oracle Corp with both boasting a total compensation of $53.2 million. Others on the top 10 include, Robert A. Iger of Walt Disney ($43.5 million), David M. Cote of Honeywell International ($33.1 million), General Electric's Jeffrey R. Immelt ($26.4 million), Randall L. Stephenson of AT&T ($22.4 million), Rupert Murdoch of Twenty-First Century Fox ($22.2 million) and James P. Gorman of Morgan Stanley ($22 million). This list is a snapshot of companies that file annual proxy statements before April 1 and aims to provide an early look at CEO pay trends for 2015. The report further noted that the median pay for Equilar 100 CEOs was $14.5 million in fiscal year 2015, up three per cent from the previous year. "Interestingly, eight CEOs on the list are female and they far outpace the median pay for the Equilar 100 as a whole. Median compensation for these eight women was $20.0 million in 2015 while average pay was $22.7 million," Equilar said. Catz tied with her colleague Hurd as the highest-paid individual CEO in the Equilar 100, was the highest paid female with $53.2 million. Apple is the largest company by revenue on the list totalling $233.7 billion in 2015 followed by Berkshire Hathaway with $210.8 billion. Notably, Tim Cook of Apple was paid below the median ($10.3 million) and Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway was by far the lowestpaid CEO in the Equilar 100 earning $470,244 in total compensation last year. Online taxi aggregator Uber on Thursday said it has partnered with Gurgaon Police for installing breathalysers at bars and pubs in a bid to help them curb drunken driving in the city. The first four Uber Breathalysers have been installed at DLF Cyber Hub. The Uber Breathalyser is a kiosk that calculates the blood alcohol content (BAC) in a person's body through an app that is fixed to the device. {blurb} If the person's BAC is higher than 0.03, they are advised to avoid driving and instead take a cab. Earlier this month, Ola had partnered with Delhi Police for a similar initiative in Delhi. "The Gurgaon Police has been committed to ensuring the safety of the residents of Gurgaon. We believe that Uber breathalysers are a great innovation, which can help spread awareness against drinking and driving and improve road safety," Navdeep Singh Virk, Commissioner of Police, Gurgaon said. Gurgaon is the second city to launch Uber Breathalysers after Mumbai. National carrier Air India is expected to trim losses by more than half to Rs 2,636 crore in the 2015-16 fiscal as compared to a net loss of Rs 5,859.91 crore in 2014-15, the government said on Thursday. "With regard to Air India Limited, it is likely to suffer a total net loss of Rs 2,636 crore in 2015-16," said Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Lok Sabha. Sharma said the airline has been facing losses in the past years due to multitude of factors. He said high interest cost and airport charges, increasing competition, particularly from budget carriers, coupled with exchange rate variation due to weakening of Indian rupee are reasons for the carrier's estimated net loss (of Rs 2,636 crore) during 2015-16. Air India had reported losses of Rs 5,859.91 crore in the fiscal ended March 31, 2015. The national carrier was given a Rs 30,231-crore lifeline by the Finance Ministry in 2012 under a turnaround plan stretching over a period of nine years to keep it afloat. This equity infusion also includes the financial support towards repayment of principal as well as interest on government-guaranteed loans taken for aircraft acquisition by the airline. As per the 2012 Turn Around Plan (TAP), the government will infuse Rs 18,929 crore for repayment of government- guaranteed loans/interest till FY 2010-21, Sharma said. The minister also informed the House that till March this year, the government has already infused Rs 22,280 crore into the carrier as part of the bailout package. Air India has also discharged of all its aircraft loans and interest liabilities by the last fiscal, he said, adding that the government has already approved Rs 1,713 crore equity infusion into the carrier for the current fiscal in line with TAP. Responding to a query, Sharma said the carrier has seen a decline in its market share in the last three years, with Air India cornering 16 per cent of the total domestic traffic pie till February against a market share of 18 per cent in the 2014-15 financial year and 19 per cent in the previous year. "The market share of Air India has declined in the last three years. There has been capacity induction (addition of aircraft) by Air India whereas the capacity of the competitor airlines has grown substantially in the domestic market," he said. The capacity share of Air India has come down to 15 per cent in the previous fiscal as against 17 per cent capacity deployed by the airline in the fiscal 2014-15, he said. In response to a question, Sharma said Air India had reported as many as 334 delays of more than 15 minutes between April 2015 and March this year due to technical snag in its Dreamliner Boeing 787-800 planes. These planes have experienced technical issues since induction into Air India fleet. "However, issues do not adversely affect the safety of airplane due to the system design and in-built system redundancy," he said. "Regular improvements are incorporated as a part of the reliability enhancement process. This is normal process followed as an intrinsic part of maintenance throughout the entire lifespan of aircraft in operations," the minister said. Reserve Bank Deputy Governor R Gandhi said incorporating environmental concerns into commercial lending is a challenge in a country like India. The challenge before developing economies like ours is to mainstream green finances, so as to incorporate environmental impact into commercial lending, while simultaneously balancing the needs to economic growth and social development, he said at a conference on sustainable finance in New Delhi. "We have to develop the instruments. We have to balance out the green development and economic development," he said speaking to the reporters. The new priority sector lending requirements announced by the RBI include devoting money to social infrastructure and small renewable projects, which will help support the objective of sustainability finance, he said. The central bank also has been working on various other aspects, he said, adding a working group has been formed to look into it. Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has also worked out norms for raising money through green bonds, through which domestic financial institutions, like Exim Bank and Yes Bank have raised $1.1 billion in 2015, Gandhi added. Amid worries that government's move to make panic button mandatory will increase cost of mobile handsets, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said he will take up the issue up with the industry. "I will talk to them. India is a big market. For your information, I have discussed this with everyone. Manufactures who understand this have given their support. My expectation is that they will render their support in social justice and women security," Prasad told reporters today. Government has mandated that all mobile phones to be sold in India January 1, 2017, should have a panic button enabling users to make emergency call or send out alerts to multiple numbers by just pressing a button. "Panic button means there will be a button (on phone), if any women is in distress, someone is harassing her then she can press this button. Local police station and prescribed number of her family will automatically get alert. This will start from January 1," Prasad said. Besides, in-built GPS navigation system would be mandatory for all phones a year later with effect from January 1, 2018. Feature phone makers expect that the price of the handset will go up by Rs 200 after incorporating panic button in it. "We see prices of feature phone to go up by at least Rs 200. This matters for people in the bottom of pyramid," GPA Group Chairman and Managing Director Vivek Agarwal said. The company sells phone under M-Tech brand name and 90 per cent of its business comes from sale of feature phones. Further, apex mobile phone industry body Indian Cellular Association has said GPS component would add cost of about Rs 67 per handset and the required software would raise the overall cost in the range of Rs 260 to Rs 400. The telecom minister also inaugurated Rahuri Municipal Council of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra linking its services with digital locker. With this RMC became first municipal council to attain the status of integrated with digital locker for the issuance of all essential documents. The citizen under RMC area can now apply for the certificates like Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates online without going to Municipal Council and these documents will be available in the Digilocker signed to the citizens. "Rahuri Municipal Council integrating services with Digital Locker is first in the country to do so. It is symbol of changing Bharat. This should be highlighted across country so that other municipal bodies also follow the suit," Prasad said. The excessive delay in Reliance Jio's commercial launch is frustrating investors, a Citi Group report said in New Delhi on Friday. "The ensuing delay could be testing investors' patience. It raises concerns of Jio further eroding its first mover advantage. The capital expenditure targets also continue to go up," the report said. The delay is expected to be on the account of the company's chase for "perfection", it said. "RIL (Reliance Industries Ltd) is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring Jio does not over-promise and under-deliver. The company now plans to fully integrate Reliance Communication's 800 MHz spectrum before the Jio launch (making it the only player with sub-1GHz pan-India LTE spectrum," the report said. "It (RIL) also plans to increase the coverage to 90 percent (from 70 percent) before the Jio launch," it added. The report, however, stressed that a 3-6 month delay in the recently announced core projects does not impact estimate earnings of the company materially, since a meaningful contribution is assumed to come only by FY18. Auction of premium radiowaves may fail or seriously limit the investment capability in telecom networks if government sticks to high base price suggested by regulator Trai, a global industry body said on Thursday. "The GSMA is concerned that, if the Telecom Commission maintains the current reserve prices for 700MHz spectrum in India, there is the risk of a failed auction or, at a minimum, serious limitations on investment capability in next generation networks," GSM Association Chief Regulatory Officer John Giusti said in a statement. The 700 Mhz band is the most premium spectrum that government plans to put for auction in July. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recommended Rs 11,485 crore per megahertz of radiowaves in this band which is the highest ever for any spectrum. The cost of delivering mobile services in 700 Mhz band is estimated to be around 70 per cent lower than 2100 Mhz band, which is widely used for 3G services. GSMA said that the high price of spectrum will denying the enabling social and economic power of 700 Mhz band spectrum resource to the citizens of India. "The reserve prices for this much-needed spectrum are unrealistic in relation to the economics of the mobile industry. In fact, the total recommended reserve prices of Rs 536,239 crore (over USD 80 billion) for the spectrum bands in the auction are almost double the cost of all spectrum investment to date in India," Giusti said. This equates to more than 20 times the annual free cash flow of the entire mobile industry in India, it said. Telecom operator Telenor has already said spectrum price in India are too high and indicated that it may exit from the country if fails to procure spectrum at reasonable price. "In the event that the spectrum reserve prices are not reduced, the Indian government runs the risk that spectrum will go unsold, as happened in Australia and recently in Senegal," Giusti said. This would be extremely damaging not only for the Indian mobile industry, but also for the country's economy overall, depriving citizens and businesses in India to the full potential of high quality mobile broadband services, Giusti said. GSMA appreciated government's decision to reduce Spectrum Usage Charges, charged annually, from five to three per cent of revenues earned from telecom services. However, Giusti said that it will not do enough to offset such high spectrum prices. "The GSMA urges the Indian Government to reconsider the auction reserve prices in order to better reflect local market conditions, allow competition in the market to determine fair prices for this spectrum, and help meet its objectives of increasing mobile broadband access for all," Giusti said. Get ready to say good morning to Twitter in classroom soon as the micro-blogging can help teachers engage students in a more efficient way and better prepare them to take on New-Age challenges, researchers reveal. Twitter, if used properly, can produce better outcomes among middle school students and enhance the way children learn in the 21st century. "Our work adds a critical lens to the role of open social networking tools such as Twitter in the context of adolescents' learning and raises new questions about the potential for social media as a lever for increasing the personalisation of education," explained Penny Bishop, professor and director of the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education at University of Vermont. Lead researcher Ryan Becker used his middle school science classes to conduct the research in conjunction with co-author Bishop. Becker found that 95 per cent of his students agreed or strongly agreed that Twitter enabled them to follow real science in real time as it develops around the world. Particularly motivating was the ability to interact via Twitter with leading organisations like the US space agency NASA and science-related programmes. The findings highlight the potential of Twitter as a means to personalise learning and to expand secondary students' encounters with science professionals and organisations. The study revealed that 93 per cent of students surveyed think Twitter enabled them to interact and share perspectives with a global audience outside the classroom. "When I have something important to share about science that I like, as many as 52 people (Twitter followers) can see what I tweet instantly," said one student. Another student said they use Twitter for academic support by tweeting with other students about concepts, assignments and projects. Ninety-one per cent said Twitter helped them make connections between science and their own lives and interests. "Twitter has made me think about things that I like and had me think about the science related to them," added another student. Others said Twitter helped them learn about science in new ways that related to their everyday lives. Additionally, 81 per cent of students agreed that Twitter helped them think creatively about new ways to communicate science. Twitter is also an extremely powerful assessment tool, according to Becker, who recommends displaying tweets on an electronic "smart" board so students and teachers can assess and discuss them together. Teachers can also ask students to tweet examples of specific scientific concepts like the students in Becker's class who tweeted personal examples of Newton's First Law. Teachers can also have students respond to scientific poll questions and share instant results with their class. Students continued to tweet outside of class making certain topics a constant conversation. The 140-character limit also forces students to distill down major concepts like "what is chemistry," Becker noted in a paper forthcoming in Middle School Journal. It was announced today that Dublin City University (DCU) has launched a 230m capital development plan The investment will allow for the upgrade of facilities on the All Hallows Campus and the construction of student accommodation, following the signing of final contracts for the purchase of the campus by DCU earlier this month. It will also facilitate the construction of two new floors on the F Building on the St Patricks College campus which will provide additional capacity to support the incorporation of St Patricks College, Mater Dei Institute of Education and the Church of Ireland College of Education into DCU. On the Glasnevin campus, the finance will facilitate a buy-back of existing campus residences and construction of a further 560 on-campus student accommodation. This will bring the total capacity to over 2,200 student bed units across the universitys campuses. An IT transformation and teaching equipment renewal programme will provide a state-of-the-art digital campus experience for student and staff alike. The construction of extensions to the Stokes and Lonsdale Buildings on the Glasnevin Campus will provide lecture theatres and classrooms for the delivery of programmes across a range of disciplines, while a refurbishment of Albert College will also provide a new suite of teaching and learning spaces. A new Student Centre will commence construction in Summer 2016 to create a purpose-built space for students social, cultural, global engagement and entrepreneurial activities. Research and innovation capacity at DCU will be significantly enhanced with the completion of the new 3,000 sq.m. Nano-Bioanalytical Research Facility on the Glasnevin Campus. DCU Alpha, the universitys Innovation Campus, will also benefit from this endorsement by the European Investment Bank and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, as it seeks development partners for the next phase of refurbishment and expansion of its growing tech cluster which already accommodates 35 companies employing more than 350 staff. The university has been successful in securing long-term loan and bridging finance to drive its programme of infrastructural improvements over the next 5 years. Finance was provided by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank. The remainder is being provided by philanthropic donations, government grants, student contributions and funding from the university itself. The European Investment Bank has provided more than 10bn for long-term investment in higher education across Europe including nearly 800m for education investment across Ireland. This has backed investment in new schools and third-level institutions in Limerick, Maynooth, Trinity College, UCD and the National Maritime College. The 23-year loan to DCU for 76m from Europes long-term lending institution will support investment to improve university facilities including the construction of new research and innovation buildings, student accommodation and 21st Century digital teaching spaces. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, managed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), has initially committed long-term funding of 54m to help the university deliver on its strategic vision while maximising sustainability and economic impact. The funds will be used to specifically target student accommodation projects and are structured to facilitate the provision of EIB funding in parallel. The Fund has advised of its appetite in principle to fund up to an additional 66m, subject to the proposed project investments meeting its dual mandate of commercial return and economic impact DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith commented, "Todays announcement heralds the commencement of a massive transformation project for Dublin City University which will see us extend our geographical footprint in North Dublin to become a four campus institution with first-class facilities for students and researchers alike." He added, "As Irelands fastest growing university, DCU is committed to developing an environment which will shape the critical thinkers and problem-solvers of the future. Investment in research and teaching facilities is essential to innovation and the unlocking of new ideas, both fundamental to a sustainable Irish economy." Source: www.businessworld.ie About us Google is likely to face its first European Union antitrust sanction this year, with little prospect of it settling a test case with the bloc's regulator over its shopping service, people familiar with the matter said. There are few incentives left for either party to reach a deal in a six-year dispute that could set a precedent for Google searches for hotels, flights and other services and tests regulators' ability to ensure diversity on the Web. Alphabet Inc's Google, which was hit by a second EU antitrust charge this month for using its dominant Android mobile operating system to squeeze out rivals, shows little sign of backing down after years of wrangling with European authorities. Several people familiar with the matter told Reuters that after three failed compromise attempts since 2010, Google has no plan to try to settle allegations that its Web search results favor its own shopping service, unless the EU watchdog changes its stance. Such a change of heart appears unlikely, with European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager -- a Dane whose team is leading the Google investigation -- showing little interest in reaching a settlement where there is no finding of wrongdoing or a fine against the company, other people said. Underpinning Vestager's tough approach, and the Commission's case, are scores of complaints from companies, big and small, on both sides of the Atlantic. For Google, which has denied any wrongdoing, the stakes are high. Some rivals are convinced that any fine is effectively a cost of doing business and it has more to gain in profit from its existing business model than conceding to complaints. Google and the European Commission both declined to comment. "From a pure profitability perspective, it is better off dragging out the competition case, continuing its practices for as long as possible, and ultimately paying a fine that will be smaller than the profits it generates by continuing the conduct," Thomas Vinje, a lawyer who advises several of Google's competitors, told Reuters. However, some sources said they see last week's low-key pact with arch-rival Microsoft to withdraw all regulatory complaints against each other as a signal that Google might in time choose to strike a deal with Brussels. By doing so it would avoid a repeat of Microsoft's damaging fight with the European Commission and by settling at least its dispute with the EU over Internet shopping might also head off possible actions by other regulators. To date, Google has a mixed record in taking on regulators globally, winning some battles and losing others. However, Microsoft offers a salutary lesson to those who want to take on the Commission, Ioannis Kokkoris, a law professor at Queen Mary University of London, said. Microsoft ended up with fines of more than 2.2 billion euros after a decade-long battle with the Commission. "You are entering a long battle, an expensive battle. And if you go to court, the outcome would not necessarily be better," Kokkoris said. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie About us File photo SALT LAKE CITY (AP) A telephone scam is targeting grandparents of Mormon missionaries, asking for money to release their relatives from jail. The Utah Department of Commerce is warning that an Idaho couple received a call claiming their missionary grandchild was facing DUI charges and that they needed money for bail. The couple ended up sending almost $4,000 via wire transfer. Leaders with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say families with missionaries should be careful of those looking to take advantage. Scammers may look at social media searching for potential victims who post about their loved ones on missions. Whistleblowers: Rudolf Elmer, the inside man (1/2) Published on April 29, 2016 Story by Alice Rossignol Translation by: Oriana HENRY en fr it es de pl An external auditor, a major employee in the biggest Swiss bank handling security management and then a administrator in Mauritius there were no alarming signs that Rudolf Elmer was about to blow bank secrecy wide open. Nevertheless, in 2009 he started, in collaboration with Wikileaks, a fierce crusade against his own industry. Portrait of the orchestrator of a "leak in paradise". David versus Goliath 2.0: that's more or less how you sum up the story of former Swiss banker Rudolf Elmer engaged in a fierce fight against bank secrecy laws, tax avoidance, Zurich's judicial system and the "associated media". A few days before the Panama Papers the "leak of the century" Elmer's story was shown on the big screen in Brussels, thanks to the director David Leloup. The documentary bearing more than a passing resemblance to a thriller follows the Elmer's hectic life for 7 years. It's title? A Leak in Paradise. The story of a "permanent hold-up" According to the IMF, nowadays, around 50% of financial dealings pass through tax havens. Governments in these tax havens make legislative proposals to their parliaments in favour of the implementation and development of the offshore banking industry, often against campaign promises relating to employment and capital inflow. These laws which guarantee, in particular, bank secrecy have the direct effect of cutting the tax revenues of most of these states, and first and foremost make corruption, money laundering and international criminal activity easier. Each year, banking activity withholds 300 billion euros in tax revenue from governments all over the world. In this case, Leloup wanted to tell the story of a "permanent hold-up that our societies experience because of these tax havens," he said when asked why he made the documentary. "The subject had always seemed very theoretical to me: abstract, intangible, and thus quite difficult to picture. However writing articles in newspapers which fewer and fewer people are reading is not the best way to raise public awareness of such a matter." English trailer for A Leak In Paradise. Rudolf Elmer is a former employee of the private Swiss bank Julius Bar, the biggest security management firm in the country. After 15 years of service within the heart of the banking industry, he chose instead to testify, unveiling, with supporting documents, all the complex mechanisms of tax evasion. "I wanted to expose all of this to my daughters generation," he explains. "Thanks to my experience I can contribute to revealing, and denouncing, all of this. I was aware of what I was witnessing, but others weren't. Those who pay taxes are actually subsidising those who should pay but don't. So I wondered what I could do, so that global public would know how they are being played." In 2009 and 2010, Elmer collaborated with Swiss, German, Belgian and British tax authorities to catch several millionaire tax evaders. He managed to get some sentenced, in Brussels and Dusseldorf. However, Leloup stresses that the Swiss legal system is turning a deaf ear: "There might have been a follow-up on the part of the tax office, but we'll never know because of bank secrecy. But when it comes to justice, there has never been any trial for a Swiss client of the Julius Bar bank in Grand Cayman." [The offshore branch in which Rudolf Elmer was working and from where he revealed much data. ed.] As soon as he became a whistleblower, Elmer knew that their needed to be another way. "I understood that if I wanted to raise awareness, I first needed to go abroad, and from there come back to Switzerland," he explains. Leloup follows up: "It was in January 2011 that he was brought in the international limelight, along with Julian Assange. In London, during a highly publicised press conference, Rudolf gave the Wikileaks founder two CD-ROMs supposedly containing important banking data." "Of course, I'm a great advocate of private life. It's a necessity," claimed the former banker. "Bank secrecy is part of a private life, but in the way it's used nowadays, it's more about hiding criminal behaviour. That's what I wanted to show. It's a law helping to break the law!" Elmer himself has also been accused of breaking said law. Following the press conference in London, Zurichs prosecutor sent him to pre-trial detention for allegedly breaking Swiss banking secrecy without proof, and without knowing what data the CDs contained. On the grounds of this assumption, he will stay in prison for six months. One lone man against the system "Bank secrecy is present in every single one of the five pillars of Swiss society," Leloup explains. Rudolf Elmer has led a fight against this whole system: "Or rather, the four powers: political power, the power to control Parliament, judicial systems, the media and the fifth element Swiss civil society. Nobody held them to account. Far from it." Above all, the tax office is not looking into it. "I sent the data to the Swiss tax office, and it didn't change anything," Elmer points out. "The tax commission decided that they wouldn't analyse the data because it was stolen." Legally, they were supposedly "not authorised" to intervene. Although, he admits that from a legal point of view he made excessive use of his access to documents, but he wants to qualify his actions: "I did not steal this data, as I was in charge of it. But tax authorities have decided that this data should not be verified, or used at all." Swiss justice, on its part, is playing a strange game with Rudolf Elmer. He explained: "In fact, I didn't strictly speaking betray Swiss bank secrecy laws, but I did break Confidentiality Law in the Cayman Islands. The Swiss courts couldn't have me brought to trial on the basis of Cayman laws, but they had to find a way, whatever it might be, to condemn me. So they accused me of betraying Swiss banking secrecy laws." Even the rights of the whistleblower to answer for his actions were ignored when he wanted to defend himself against private detectives hired by the bank, and incessant threats against his family: "All of my harassment complaints have been rejected. So I have gradually acknowledged the fact that the banks and justice system were acting in the same way, side by side. I think that we are talking about a morally corrupt system." --- Part two of the whistleblower's portrait is available here. --- This article was published by our local team at cafebabel Brussels. Story by Alice Rossignol Translated from Lanceurs d'alerte : Rudolf Elmer, l'Inside Man (1/2) Contributed photo The 11th annual CASA Superhero 5K and 2 Mile Walk will be at 8 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Park. SHARE FRIDAY FAITH: The Got Faith Music Festival will be on Friday with music from The Newsboys, Tenth Avenue North, Hawk Nelson and more at the American Bank Center, 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd. Information: 956-358-2755. THEATER: The Aurora Arts Theatre will present "Our Lady of the Tortilla" at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Cost: $15, general admission; military, student, seniors and children discounts available. Information: 361-851-9700, www.auroraartstheatre.com. FILM: The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will screen the film "TV Family" from 6-8:30 p.m. Friday the Art Museum of South Texas, 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd. Cost: Free. Information: 361-825-3500. AUTO: AutoCheck will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Corpus Christi Trade Center, 2833 S. Padre Island Drive. In three to five minutes, AutoCheck measures harmful pollutants emitted from vehicles. If your vehicle is determined to be polluting, you may qualify for a voucher good for up to $600 in repairs. Cost: free. Information: 361-825-3070; email trent.thigpen@tamucc.edu. LECTURE: Del Mar College will host guest lecture, "Exploration and Exploitation of Mycobacteriophages," by University of Pittsburgh Professor Dr. Graham Hatfull on Student Research Day. The event from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Friday at White Library, Del Mar College East. Cost: Free. Information: 361-698-1460. RUMMAGE SALE: Dress for Success Corpus Christi will host a Spring Rummage Sale from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Sunrise Mall by Sears and the former Melrose location. The Friday VIP Sip and Shop event will be the first opportunity to shop before the sale with hors d'ourvres, beer and wine, raffle prizes and a new tote. Must be 21 and older. Cost: $15, includes Saturday admission. Information: 361-232-5226. FAMILY: Sandfest will be from noon-6 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Port Aransas Beach. Cost: $5, adults; free, kids 12 and younger. Information: www.texassandfest.org. FESTIVAL: The Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Community Center will be hosting its third Annual Noche De Fiesta event at 6 p.m. Friday at the Retama Room, Del Mar College East. All proceeds benefit the After School Tutoring Program. Cost: $25, general admission. Information: 361-452-8340. SATURDAY RACE: The 11th annual CASA Superhero 5K and 2 Mile Walk will be at 8 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Park, 1581 N. Chaparral St. Race begins at 8:15 a.m. Costume contest judging will start at 9:45 a.m. Cost: Prices range from $10-$45 depending on age and day of registration. Information: 361-884-2272. THEATER: The Aurora Arts Theatre will present "Our Lady of the Tortilla" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Cost: $15, general admission; military, student, seniors and children discounts available. Information: 361-851-9700, www.auroraartstheatre.com. CLASS: The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center will host Baby Sign Language Classes during the next six weeks. The classes will be at 11 a.m. Saturdays at 5151 McArdle Road. Children must be 3 years old and younger. Cost: $60, one caregiver and baby; $85, parents and baby. Information: 361-288-8789, dtidwell@deafhhcenter.org. BOOK SIGNING: Andy Purvis will host a book signing and discussion from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 5129 Blanche Moore Drive. Special guests Bobby Smith and Pat Dwyer will also be there. Cost: Free. Information: 361-992-1339. SCIENCE: The College of Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will host its Coastal Bend Engineering Competition from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the University Center, Lone Star Ballroom. Cost: Free. Information: 361-825-6025. CONFERENCE: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's College of Nursing and Health Sciences is hosting the two-day conference "Simulation: The Challenge to Improve Patient Outcomes" on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, at Island Hall on the A&M-Corpus Christi campus. The event will be from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Cost: $200, Saturday registration; $100, Sunday registration; $275, two-day registration. Information: 361-825-3790. RUMMAGE SALE: Dress for Success Corpus Christi will host a Spring Rummage Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Sunrise Mall by Sears and the former Melrose location. Cost: $5. Information: 361-232-5226. DOLLAR DAY: H-E-B and the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History will host a dollar day at the museum, 1900 N. Chaparral St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Cost: $1, general admission; free, children 2 and younger. FAMILY: Sandfest will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Port Aransas Beach. Cost: $5, adults; free, kids 12 and younger. Information: www.texassandfest.org. For more events check Caller.com/vivacc This story has been updated to correct the opening time of the H-E-B and Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History's dollar day. It opens at 10 a.m. SHARE By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times Since the Children's Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend became the subject of a Texas Rangers investigation last September, the center has undergone administrative changes. Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Joe Benavides, president of the board of directors, announced new additions to the staff and the board. The board now includes 17 individuals, which is more than the agency has had before. The move creates more transparency for the agency, Benavides said. "Everything is more accountable now," Benavides said. "The staff is restructured." The Rangers declined to discuss the nature of their investigation and provided no timeline on when the investigation would be complete. Board members have resigned since the investigation began, including Roland Barrera and Angelique Guajardo. Benavides, who was appointed president last September, declined to comment on their resignations. Guajardo did not return a call for comment, but Barrera said his resignation was unrelated to the investigation. "After eight years I felt there was a disconnect between the partner agencies and (the rest of the board)," he said. "I felt they were going in a different direction and I felt there was someone who could serve better than I could." Mindy Guajardo, former executive director of the local center and her husband and forensic interviewer Ricardo Jimenez also resigned last year. Their attorney, Angelica Hernandez, said the investigation stems from an anonymous letter accusing them of misusing funds. Hernandez denied any wrongdoing by her clients, whom she said have "worked tirelessly for victims of abuse." "This investigation did not begin with a police report," Hernandez said. "It began with the district attorney's office because of the complaint of an anonymous citizen. That has never happened before to my knowledge." children's advocacy center of the Coastal Bend board President: Joe Benavides President-Elect: Eduardo Gomez Secretary: Virginia Delgado Treasurer: Gloria Guzman Members: Sandra Clement Art Ramirez Samantha Mendoza Diana Sepulveda Charlotte Denise Murray Melissa Martinez Nora C. Velasquez Maria Teresa Mears Billie Winner-Davis, CPS partnership Mark Schauer, CCPD partnership Patrick McMenamy, CCPD partnership District Attorney Mark Skurka, Nueces County partnership District Attorney Carlos Garcia, Brooks and Jim Wells counties partnership CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Strickland SHARE CALLER-TIMES FILE Shooting survivor Kristene Chapa stands with a groupd os supporters on Nov. 14, 2014 outside the San Patricio County Courthouse where accused shooter David Strickland appears for a status hearing in Sinton. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Olgin CALLER-TIMES FILE Kristene Chapa at home on May 12, 2015. On June 23, 2012, Chapa and her girlfriend Mollie Judith Olgin attacked and shot in a Portland park. Both women were left for dead in a grassy area of the park, but were later found by a couple passing by. Olgin died at the scene. By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times SINTON Attorneys for the man accused of shooting and raping two women in a Portland park say there's a key witness to the crime that could exonerate their client. David Strickland's attorneys wrote in court documents that a man from Henderson, Nevada "can provide evidence that is highly exculpatory to ... Strickland." They argued to a judge on Friday that a Nevada man be taken into custody and compelled to testify in Strickland's trial. Visiting Judge Philip Kazen of San Antonio said he was likely to grant a subpoena but wouldn't order the man be taken into custody as they requested. Prosecutors' only objection was to the Nevada man being taken into custody, a step they argued was "unnecessary" because there was no indication he would be unwilling to testify. Strickland's attorneys plan to resubmit paperwork to obtain the subpoena. The defense's original April 22 document states the Nevada man's DNA matched one found at the crime scene and that he failed a lie-detector test about his alibi. At the hearing, Strickland's attorneys indicated that the man is currently on parole. Nevada court documents show the man is on parole for his role in a home invasion. Strickland was arrested in June 2014 related to the shooting of Mollie Olgin, 19, and her girlfriend Kristene Chapa, who was then 18. Olgin and Chapa were forced to duct tape each other's eyes and mouths, were sexually assaulted and shot in the back of their heads, police said. Olgin died of her wounds but Chapa survived and has endured extensive physical therapy to regain mobile and speech abilities. Strickland is charged with capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping and terroristic threat. Kazen also found too many unresolved issues between the defense attorneys and prosecutors to begin the trial May 6, and pushed it until Sept. 12. Defense attorneys told Kazen they were not comfortable going to trial because they were waiting on more evidence from DPS and information on the state's witnesses, among other things. Kazen warned he did not want to delay the trial any longer and wanted the majority of the issues to be resolved by a May status hearing. Strickland's wife also once faced a charge of tampering with evidence related to allegations she delivered an anonymous letter meant to frame her and her husband's former roommate. The letter included details police hadn't released, such as how Chapa's body was placed on top of Olgin's. District Attorney Michael Welborn later dismissed that charge against her saying there wasn't sufficient evidence to prove she delivered the letter. Police also ruled out that former roommate as a suspect after the man showed he was stationed in California with the military when the shooting occurred, according to court records. Chapa's parents attended Friday's hearing. Her father, Hilario Chapa, said he was "disappointed" by the trial delay, but that he respected the decision. "We're going to stay patient," he said. Twitter: @Caller_Fares SHARE FARES SABAWI/CALLER-TIMES Police were called to investigate a shooting in the 1100 block of Park Avenue. By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times When police arrived to the 1100 block of Park Avenue to respond to a shots fired call Thursday evening, no one was there. Shortly after, a 36-year-old man arrived at Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline around 6:47 p.m. complaining of gunshot wounds. He was taken there in a private vehicle, not an ambulance, said Corpus Christi Police Capt. Dave Cook. Police believe two men shot the 36-year-old man at a residence on Park Avenue, where police found more than one casing, Cook said. The man's injuries were not fatal, Cook said. Police continued investigating the shooting Thursday night. "No one is cooperating with the investigation at this point," Cook said. SHARE Hinojosa By Matt Woolbright of the Caller-Times Could the Coastal Bend one day harbor cruise vessels bound for the Caribbean? It's possible, and Texas Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa has been picked to vice-chair a committee designed to look into developing the local cruise industry, perhaps in the Corpus Christi area. "The committee's research will help private industry identify new cruise ship hosting opportunities from Calhoun to Cameron Counties that already have the needed access points, and the economic vitality of South Texas is primed for further development," Hinojosa said in a news release. "A successful cruise industry here in Texas will only increase our already thriving economy and significantly contribute to our tourism industry." Other committee members include Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham and the committee's chair, Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, and Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood. Twitter: @reportermatt Caller-Times file John Cole, Texas American Federation of Teachers president, speaks in Austin on Jan. 1, 1981. Cole was the first president of the Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers. SHARE Forty years ago, a Corpus Christi ISD middle school teacher named John Cole helped galvanize a few dozen of his peers around the idea that a union could improve not only their plight as low-paid educators, but also the quality of education for the kids they served. The district at the time had an organization for school employees, but Cole and others weren't satisfied with the results it was getting to improve the lives of educators and students. Building a union to represent the employees was a rough road, for sure, since Texas is a right-to-work state with no collective bargaining for public employees to get a contract, and no ability to strike under law something that the traditional unions elsewhere used as their bedrock for organizing new members. Nevertheless, Cole and crew promoted the vision that an organized group of employees could improve the schools and new members quickly flocked to the fledgling union the Corpus Christi Federation of Teachers, which elected Cole as its first president. Cole knew how to agitate the school district if needed to fight for teachers' rights, but he also understood that without the ability to negotiate a contract the union needed to develop an actual working relationship with district administrators to get things done. In 1979 the union was successful in implementing a system of elected consultation, in which school employees elect an organization to represent them in negotiations with the district over pay and working conditions. While not the same as a binding contract from collective bargaining, the system let school employees work as one voice for school employees to resolve specific issues. Subsequent presidents, Linda Bridges and Ray McMurrey, continued to forge new collaborations with the district over the years with innovative programs like teacher mentoring, union-sponsored professional development, a focus on National Board Certification for teachers, and most important, pushing for more resources for schools that need them the most. Today the union (now named Corpus Christi AFT) is 2,000 members strong, and we seek to carry on the local tradition of collaboration with Corpus Christi ISD and the other districts with employees we represent (Calallen ISD, Flour Bluff ISD, Gregory-Portland ISD, Tuloso-Midway ISD, and West Oso ISD). Our union, which is made up of teachers, paraprofessionals and support personnel members, strives to: Equip all people to know and exercise their economic, social, educational and cultural capacity. Create an environment for the community where the electorate will feel empowered to hold the officials accountable for their actions. Maintain high-quality teaching staff for the sake of students and create optimal learning environments for students and educators. Promote curriculum designed around community expectations and quality educator input that meets all students where they are and prepares them for success. In particular, we want to focus on the implementation of Community Schools initiatives to support struggling campuses. This "all hands on deck" approach pulls together parents, faculty and staff, and community partners in designing and implementing their own, homegrown plan for improving their neighborhood school, turning it into a community hub for coordinated educational, health, and social services to students and their families. We also must remain true to our union roots and continue to push our districts to improve, even if that means an occasional conflict with administrators. With low pay, long hours and a taxing working environment still plagued by an overemphasis on testing, our teachers are suffering not only from burnout, but also from actual physical ailments related to the stress. And we witness students whose needs physical, emotional and educational are being neglected as well. Our union will fight for better pay and treatment for school staff and better educational opportunity for our children, and we'll use every medium available to have our collective voice heard. We will not be silenced or intimidated in this pursuit. And we'll keep close to our hearts the words of our former president the late Linda Bridges on why we are so persistent in our advocacy: "Our kids are worth it." Moving forward for the next 40 years, we want our movement to transform all our schools into places that inspire our children to live with passion, hope and triumph. We believe this is what our community wants too. We remain union proud and union strong! Nancy Vera is the president of the Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers, which is celebrating 40 years in the Coastal Bend. She also is a Caller-Times Hispanic Advisory Committee member. [Story has been updated to include comments from Kuala Lumpur mayor and budget of the rebranding exercise.] During an event on 25 April, mayor Datuk Seri Mohd Amin Nordin launched the new brand identity: Kuala Lumpur: exciting. surprising. enticing. A City of Contrasts & Diversity. In a report by The Star, Amin Nordin said the new branding was a summation of the citys key attributes and leveraged on its diverse attractions, contrasted with Kuala Lumpurs many old and new charms. By successfully branding Kuala Lumpur, we will be able to stimulate tourism, investment, job opportunities, business development and major event hosting, he added. The branding effort is aimed at bringing the city to the forefront of the regions most popular destinations for business and leisure. Signs bearing the words: Kuala Lumpur: exciting. surprising. enticing. will be installed at three locations in the city. The first one at Dataran Merdeka, followed by Bulatan Semantan and Jalan Sungai Besi. Designed by a 12-year-old? The mayor said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) would work with corporations to seek their participation to fund the project. However, since the unveiling, the new brand identity and logo have met with almost universal scorn. Online comments ranged from questions around how much was spent on the rebranding exercise to comments about how it runs afoul of good design sense. Campaign Asia-Pacific collated some of the more colourful comments that could be found online: A 12 year old in 1997 would be very proud of that logo. (source) You gotta be kidding me. My washing machine instruction manual is more exciting than that. (source) Was this made in Microsoft Word? (source) OMG, that's our new logo? Really? Designed from ppt or word eh? There's a lot of agency out there! (source) Well. That certainly has a lot of contrast. And diversity. (in typefaces) (source) Who did the design? They had a competition among secondary schools? (source) Industry sources tell Campaign Asia-Pacific that the agency behind the rebranding effort is WarisanAd, a local agency founded in 1993 by Dato Rosle Bin Jaamat. According to its website, the agency was and is registered with the Ministry of Finance with a paid-up capital of RM1 million (US$255,405). When contacted, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed that it is working on the rebranding project and said that next steps for the campaign are currently awaiting client feedback and approval. In addition to the announced plans for signage around the city, sources told Campaign Asia-Pacific that a TV spot is in the works. The spokesperson declined to comment about the negative feedback the new brand identity has garnered online and directed further queries to its client. The Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015-2025, released in November last year, aims to double foreign tourist arrivals and quadruple tourism income from RM19 billion in 2013 to RM79 billion by 2025. The plans involved the establishment of the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, to replace the Tourism Unit of DBKL and comprises representative from the city police, the Tourism and Culture Ministry and the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD). The new bureau was provided with RM16 million as initial funding by DBKL. Responding to media queries amidst ongoing complaints by netizens over its new logo and branding, mayor Datuk Seri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz on 29 April urged city folk not to jump to conclusions over the Federal Capitals new logo and tagline that he had launched on Monday to promote tourism. The work to finalise the branding took a long time with the feedback from stakeholders from the government and key players from the tourism industry. Everyone was consulted and it went back to the government for approval, he said in a report by The Star. When asked at a press conference if DBKL planned on tweaking the logo before using it for promotions, he said: Fine tune it and all that, yes, yes. According to a report by Malay Mail Online, the mayor said theres a lot of work to be done. For start, we still need to promote and it will take years to strengthen this logo, he explained, adding that that it would take years to achieve a suitable final product, pointing out that it was no different for those running promotional campaigns for cities like New York and London. The overall branding exercise is budgeted at RM2.6 million (US$669,835), to be used for road shows, media junkets and other promotional activities. The new logo and brand master guide promoting Kuala Lumpur as a travel destination cost RM15,000 (US$3,863), the citys Tourism Bureau general manager Noraza Yusof said. Due to a budget cut in its branding exercise this year, City Halls tourism arm has no plans to change the logo for now despite the public ridicule. The budget this year is very tight ... usually for this (branding), the cost could range between RM300,000 and RM1 million, she said, in a report. Stefanidou will be responsible for the creative leadership of the Hong Kong agency and report to managing director David Jessop. She takes over the role from Jonathan Evans, who is returning to the UK. Her remit will include combining creative, strategic, technology and brand commerce expertise for brands such as Estee Lauder, Audi, Marriott, Huawei and Uniqlo. Jessop said with Stefanidou on board, the team is looking forward to upping its game even further and delivering creative excellence and dynamic business results for clients. She will also be working with the agency's other creative leaders including Maciej Nowicki, chief creative officer for South and Southeast Asia, Tim Doherty, chief creative officer for Isobar China Group, and Stan Lim, regional creative director. In a statement, Stefanidou said given Isobars focus on creativity and innovation, she believes that the agency is in good position to help businesses achieve transformational results wthin Hong Kongs dynamic digital landscape. I am extremely excited to be joining Isobar, she added. The team here is driven and talented and I look forward to working with them to deliver great work for our clients. Katheryn Lui In her previous role as group creative director for Publicis Hong Kong, Stefanidou led the direction of all creative output for their luxury client portfolio, including global clients such as Cadillac, Clinique, Marriott and UBS. For Cadillac, Stefanidou oversaw the global brand rollout of the new Dare Greatly positioning. Prior to that she was a creative director at Ogilvy One Hong Kong. She has worked with clients such as Pizza Hut, Faber-Castell, and WWF. As strategic planning director for Hong Kong, Lui will be responsible for leading the companys strategic planning and social media teams. Prior to her promotion, she was a strategic planning manager at Isobar for two years, with key clients including Estee Lauder, Darlie, FWD, Audi, Van Cleef & Arpels and Uniqlo. Jessop described Lui as a solid strategic thinker and is always striving to develop unique and insightful ideas to help clients stand out in the cluttered marketplace. | BY Ricki Green | BWM Dentsu is concluding its successful eight-year partnership with Simplot after deciding to not participate in an upcoming Simplot agency review. Says Mark Watkin, managing director, BWM Dentsu Melbourne: We are immensely proud of the transformative brand work we have delivered in partnership with Simplot, but after eight years of a productive relationship, we have decided to not participate in the review. Over the years BWM Dentsu has produced long-standing brand assets and award-winning integrated campaigns for Simplot brands including Edgell, Leggos, Birds Eye, Quorn, John West, I&J, Simply Great Meals and Simplot Seafood Specialists. Says Watkin: Our strategy and creative teams have changed the way consumers view Simplots brands. We are particularly proud of the leading work we delivered for Birds Eye, Edgell, Leggos, I&J and John West. Over the last eight years, we have helped Birds Eye Fish, Edgell and John West to maintain leadership in their categories despite some of the toughest retail conditions ever facing Australian food manufacturers. Wed like to thank the entire team at Simplot for a great eight years and wish them all the success in the future. Id also like to congratulate the Simplot team here at BWM Dentsu for their ongoing commitment and hard work. BWM Dentsus creative work for Simplot has been recognised for a number of awards including: Edgell Eat well. Be well brand strategy and integrated campaign scored highest rankings in the history of Edgell John West Be Your Best Cannes 2013 Longfilm finalist Birds Eye Fish Fingers relaunch Effie Silver 2011 Birds Eye Long Term Effie Finalist 2014 Australian Marketing Institute Award 2013 for best New Product Launch for Leggos Pasta Sauce range Says Fiona Allen, chief marketing and digital officer, Simplot: We would like to thank the BWM team for their partnership over the last eight years. BWM have been influential in driving the growth of our brands and ensuring they continue to be some of Australias most loved grocery brands. | BY Ricki Green | The University of Adelaide has launched a sequel to its highly successful Seek Light brand campaign via NATION. Says Professor Warren Bebbington, vice chancellor, The University of Adelaide: Seek Light was a response to our strategic plan and it highlighted the distinctive aspects of the institution. Its been three years since we introduced the concept and the campaign has exceeded all expectations. Market research revealed that whilst South Australias leading university was recognised as aspirational there was opportunity to tell more of the University of Adelaide story around outcomes for students. The research also showed that the key benefits for students are aligned with the qualities sought by prospective employers. These attributes include leadership, critical thinking, problem solving and the ability to see opportunities. Says Ben Grindlay, director of marketing and communications: This next iteration of Seek Light will engage people around the outcomes and benefits they experience as a result of studying here. We want people to understand that an education at The University of Adelaide goes beyond your first job. It represents a learning experience that enables you for the rest of your life. The campaign features faculty staff, students and alumni and is set predominantly in locations that are part of the university. Says Phil Sandford, brand manager: We wanted to feature our people, our places and our projects so that we could tell a genuinely authentic story. Says Geoff Robertson, creative director, NATION: We felt like we were recording our second album after a number one hit. We faced the project with a mixture of both excitement and trepidation. Light plays a significant role in the creative execution. The campaign features images showing current students, faculty staff and graduates in visually stunning scenes using light as a metaphor for illumination the discovery of new knowledge. Says Greg Knagge, managing director, NATION: We work very closely with our clients on business transformation and stakeholder engagement. Seek Light has been an exercise in brand reinvigoration. I believe it has been so successful thanks to our unique relationship with the University of Adelaide marketing team. The integrated campaign includes cinema, television, outdoor, and digital components and launches 1st May 2016. The University of Adelaide: Director, Marketing and Communications Benjamin Grindlay Brand and Content Manager Phil Sandford Advertising and Campaigns Coordinator Ainsley Campbell Nation: Creative Director Geoff Robertson Creative Team Geoff Robertson, Jane Keen, Rory Kennett-Lister Project Director/Agency Producer Judi Oehme Production: Director/DP Christopher Tovo Production House Producer Leona Cichon Editor Jon Holmes Composer Chris Larkin Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 8:59AM By Sonya Davidson If you're wondering what to get mom for Mother's Day let me help you out. As a mom of two boys I can tell you that of course, we want time to be with you. Or at least a call..maybe some flowers would be nice. Not having to cook or clean for day is ideal. In my household, the boys are already asking for hints of what I want. While, I realize that the day seems to be so "material" because of all the ads, I also have realized that it's a day that my family loves to dote on me. My mother-in-law has always told me to accept when others truly want to do something for you and be gracious. So, if you're thinking of honouring your mom (or another Mother figure) here are a few gift ideas that I, as a mom, absolutely love and I think yours would enjoy too. SodaStream: This sparkling water maker permanent space on my kitchen counter. It offers a quick and easy way to make my own fizzy drinks not just for everyday but amazing for when we have company over for dinner. I no longer have to lug heavy bottles and cans from the grocers and the flavour syrups are endless. But I truly love concocting my own fresh flavours made with real fruit, herbs, and spices. It's sleek design works in well in my kitchen. Several styles to choose from and very easy to use. I would recommend the PLAY (great for also taking to the cottage) or POWER (touch of a button for even easier access) styles. Nespresso Prodigio: Not only does George Clooney endorse this espresso machine, but it truly does make a fine cup of rich and delicious java. It can't get any easier than this to wake up in the morning. This latest model can be programmed or activated by the touch of your smart device. I know even for my mom, this simple to use machine is wanted as she's had no fear in using it at our house. There are many roasts to choose from as well as strengths (Caramelito, Roma, Rosabaya de Columbia are my favourites) and the capsules are recyclable. Apple Watch: I have been wearing the Watch ever since it's been released. Why? Here's the big reason. There are times that it's just not appropriate to pull out my iPhone to check for messages or answer calls - think meetings, date night, recitals etc. If my kids need to get a hold of me, the watch will offer a gentle tap and I can still discreetly receive my texts, emails, and even see who's calling. I have assurance that I won't miss any emergencies (like if someone forgot their homework). In addition, I can access my playlist discreetly while I'm on public transit and keep my health in check daily. Even an hourly nudge to get up and move has continued to keep me from sitting for too long. If mom loves her designer goods, check out the Apple Watch Hermes collection. Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Electric Toothbrush: This may be the ultimate electric toothbrush. With 5 different modes, mom can have the healthiest smile around. Not only does it clean, it also takes care of gums (and we know that's important to take care of as we get older!), polishes and whitens teeth. Great for those with sensitive teeth. Also comes with USB travel charger and glass charger. Netflix Subscription: Everyone is talking about the entertaining content on the streaming service including the newer shows like Fuller House (hello again, John Stamos), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Grace & Frankie. Many of these shows are exclusive to Netflix and mom won't have FOMO if you hook her up. Aside from the original content, she'll also be able to catch up on endless movies, documentaries and all the TedTalks she desires. Microsoft Surface 3: She's connected and loves portability? The Surface 3 may just be ideal for her. Consider what she loves about devices and this one has the option of a detached type board and/or pen. Great for taking photos, doing research, reading, finding recipes and even doodling. This lightweight (1.37 lbs) tablet is great for toting around even when she's travelling and a great value for what it's capable of doing. Roku Streaming Stick: Mom will love what she can add to her entertainment options with the Roku Streaming Stick has been one of Rokus most popular models. Featuring a sleek, pocket-sized form factor, the Roku Streaming Stick is the most portable of all Roku devices As the only pocket-sized streamer with a quad-core processor, performance is at the core of the new Roku Streaming Stick. It has 8X more processing power than its predecessor and features more processing power than Amazon Fire TV stick and Google Chromecast. It has its own remote, which is familiar and easy to use and it also has a great companion app. TomTom Spark Cardio + Music: This device is incredible for the mom who works out. All the features you love about TomTom with GPS Tracking, activity tracking, build-in heart rate monitor PLUS the ability to store over 500 songs in the device itself. Mom can also set her own goals and track her progress. Great for runners and cycylists and walkers too! Water resistant so she doesn't have to worry when running in the rain. Kate Spade New York Portable Battery: Mom never has to worry if her smartphone is running out of juice if she has this extra juice pack handy. Kate Spade is known for bright happy colour combinations and this one we know mom would love not only for style but piece of mind. Beats Urbeats: Mom loves her music and clarity in sound is important for her especially since she's heard Beyonce's Lemonade and is feeling fierce. The stylish white or gold coloured sets are perfect for the coming summer months and delivers great audio. Lightweight and compact to take anywhere. Rebecca Minkoff Wristlet: Mom doesn't really want to carry around an entire purse but just needs something to hold her smartphone and maybe some $$ and credit cards. This stylish carrying case stylishly designed specifically for holding a device and a few little things for when she's on the go. DIY LEGO Smartphone Stand: Okay, too cute! When my little guy made me a stand for my iPhone, I gushed all sorts of happiness -- see the coffee mug in hand? He knows me well! I'm sure you have a LEGO lying around, right? Grandma will want one too! Get creative. "Even if that not be the case, it is evident that the CFMEU chose in a premeditated way to have several officials engage in the unlawful conduct at each site, and for that purpose, bolstered the numbers of its South Australian based organisers with those from interstate," he said. "It just means that every time you turn on your lights [Chief Minister] Andrew Barr is going to be dipping into your pocket. Its going to cost Canberrans about $300 a year extra on their power bills, on top of the highest rates in the country, parking fees are going through the roof," Mr Hanson said. "The cost of living is becoming a real problem for many Canberrans." Many are intercepted young (the detainee who set himself alight on Nauru this week is just 23),vibrant and hopeful that on the strength of their story, they will get asylum. Months pass, the bureaucracy grinds on and more than half are indeed found to be genuine. Their cases are upheld but refugees enter the community after detention utterly demoralised, often severely ill, as a result of the experience. The spirit of Bowie was in the air as tasselled dresses and pants, as well as jumpsuits with capes and cut-outs, wandered through her eastern suburbs mansion. Metallic-coloured bandeau tops and dresses split to the thigh were a nod to Taylor Swift and her latest accessory du jour the choker. "Among the most concerning suggestions are to water down safeguards to ensure workers are promoted on the basis of merit which would be a dangerous step back down the path towards the boys' club of the past in the management ranks, and totally at odds with Minister Michaelia Cash's announcement that the Government will work to reduce gender bias and inequality," Ms Flood said. Also trialled was the approved drug mefloquine, or Lariam, which remains the ADF's third choice antimalarial despite being banned by US Special Forces. The ADF Inspector-General continues to investigate whether any failures of military justice occurred during the trial. [Your Business Name] Contact Info Phone: Fax: Email: Web: CAPITOLHILLCUBANS.COM Business Overview Geographic Area Line of Business Brands We Carry Products and Services Discounts Offered Additional Information Business Hours Timezone We Accept Three college students who first met while attending a Catholic high school in Florida have launched a scholarship fund to help others experience faithful Catholic education at a Newman Guide college. As we went off to different colleges, we kept in touch and found time to catch up whenever we returned [] 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. Applications are invited by Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore for admission to 5 years integrated Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Law (B.A LL.B) honours and Bachelor of Business Administration Bachelor of law (BBA LL.B) honours programmes. Admissions are offered at VIT Law School, Chennai for the session 2016. Eligibility Criteria: Candidate must be Indian national and should have studied full time and formal education in the preceding two years in schools located in India Candidate should have passed higher secondary examination conducted by the State/Central Board of Secondary Education or its equivalent examination with a minimum of 70% overall aggregate Candidates whose date of birth falls on or after 1st July 1996 are eligible to apply Applicants should have secured an impressive score in each component of the tests of CLAT/ LSAT/ any other widely recognised Law tests How to Apply? Candidates should visit the official website to apply online Application fee Rs 600/- should be paid by the candidate Candidates can also obtain the hard copy of the application by sending a demand draft for Rs 600/-. DD should be drawn in favour of 'VIT University' payable at Vellore to the address of Director - UG Admissions, VIT University, Vellore with a request letter containing the complete address with mobile number. OR DD of Rs 600/- can also be handed over in person at VIT University Selection Procedure: Selection of candidates will be based on merit Marks secured in higher secondary school examination and candidate's performance in group discussion and personal interview will be considered while shortlisting the candidate. Important Dates: Bangalore, April 29, 2016: Summer's here and its time to make the best use of the free time we get this season. Learn your favourite summer course at AISFM that too within a short duration! What better way to kill time than to do a short summer workshop? Our innovative approach to providing, engaging and enriching opportunities starts now! AISFM brings you summer courses that will give you an insight into the world of Filmmaking, Photography, Acting and Animation! Summer courses include: Filmmaking Course which will teach aspiring directors about the basics of filmmaking including stages of production, script writing, working with actors and real time projects. Photography Workshop helps students understand the craft of photography and capture visually superior images. By end of this workshop, students understand different genres of photography and learn the different shooting styles. Acting Workshop offers basic of acting and voice modulation techniques that will help you to learn the perfect curriculum to establish your skills as an actor. A program of international-standard acting technique training for both on- and off-camera is also part of the course. At this acting institute, you will also undergo rigorous physical training for fitness, dance, fights and stunts, to get you in the best shape of your life! Animation Workshop will introduce students to the world of animation and let them experiment with the basics of animation. In the recent times Animation is fast becoming the hottest career to pursue. Register for the Summer Workshops 2016 here: http://bit.ly/1Si9XCX About Annapurna International School of Film and Media (AISFM): Annapurna International School of Film and Media (AISFM) is India's first private, non-profit and completely student-focused media school and its goal is to be the top film institute in India. Situated amidst the grounds of Annapurna Studios, a major film studio in the heart of Hyderabad it has drawn some of the biggest names in cinema as teachers and academic advisors. Founded in 2011 by Akkineni Nageswara Rao, one of India's most celebrated actors, AISFM's academic advisory board comprises leaders from the Indian film and media industry, including Kamal Hassan, Mani Ratnam, Karan Johar, Farah Khan and Anurag Kashyap. AISFM offers Bachelor and Masters' degrees, in filmmaking, mass communication, graphic design, photography, animation and media management. GM acted quickly to deny a rumor about Cadillac planning to offer a compact luxury sedan to compete against the Mercedes CLA based on the front-wheel drive underpinnings of the Chevy Cruze. According to Jalopnik and other websites, a GM spokesperson reached out to strongly deny that the company was planning on anything like a Cruze-derived hatchback for Cadillac. If you missed the rumor-report(s) from Wednesday, well remind you GM Inside News citing multiple informants said that the Cadillac compact could get a $6,000 $9,000 premium over the Cruze, while on the mechanical front, it would be powered by a 1.5-liter turbo engine for the entry-level models, and a 2.0-liter turbo for the higher end trims, with both motors paired with an 8-speed automatic. This is not the first time weve heard about Cadillac mulling a smaller model than the ATS, but all previous reports mentioned the use of GMs Alpha rear-wheel drive architecture found in the ATS and the CTS, as well as the latest Chevy Camaro. Chevrolet Cruze Sedan pictured PHOTO GALLERY Ford CEO, Mark Fields, has confirmed the company is readying its response to the Model 3 and Bolt EVs. Asked on a possible 200-mile (322 km) range battery-electric car, Fields said the Blue Oval wants to be among the leaders or in a leadership. Clearly, thats something were developing for, according to an AutomotiveNews report. Part of Fords plan to add 13 hybrid or electric vehicles by the end of the decade, the new EV is believed to be the Model E, after the automaker gained the rights to use the nameplate two years ago after a dispute with Tesla Motors. The Model E is believed to show its face in 2019 and be assembled at a new plant in Mexico. It will ride on the architecture of the next generation Focus, but will have a bespoke bodywork. Besides serving as a replacement for the Focus Electric, with its 76-mile (122 km) range thats set to be increased to 100 miles (161 km) this fall, the Model E is believed to gain hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, succeeding the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi PHEV. Note: Ford Focus Electric pictured PHOTO GALLERY The Huracan is the perfect example of visual balance, sporting visceral looks without being too flashy. But thats all about to change. If you thought the Huracans looks werent flamboyant enough for Lamborghinis standards from the very beginning, the Italian car maker has you covered, as it decided to upgrade the models looks with a new 19,850 (equal to, $22,500) aerodynamic kit. The offering mainly includes a selection of carbon fiber aprons for the front and (probably) the rear bumper, as well for the side skirts. The frosting on the cake is the obvious rear wing, aiding to the overall racy aspect of the car. Needless to say, the kit looks like a valid OEM alternative to the plethora of tuning packages available on the market which will most likely offer some aerodynamic advantages but since the image depicting the visually-uprated Huracan is a scoop, were expecting Lambo to offer more details about it in no time. Dont expect it to preview a harder, faster Huracan, though, as its considered to be only a visual upgrade. Thanks to Lee from Superadvocates for the tip! PHOTO GALLERY Viktor Kharitonin, a Russian businessman, now holds 99 per cent of the German track, making him the official Lord of the Ring. Kharitonin, who is the co-founder of the Pharmstandard pharmaceutical company, had purchased 80 per cent of the Nurburgring back in 2014, with the remaining 19 per cent bought now for 38 million euros ($43 million) according to Forbes Russia. The total cost of getting the 99 per cent of Nurburging in his hands is estimated close to 77 million euros ($87 million), with the remaining 1 per cent kept by GetSpeed. The circuits management was facing known financial problems in the recent years. Adding to the recent problems faced by the management was the demise of the German Grand Prix. Kharitonin said though that talks with Bernie Ecclestone will resume for getting Nurburgring back on the F1 Calendar. This years German GP will be held in Hockenheim. Nurburgring announced in late March the lift of the speed restrictions imposed after the death of a spectator during an accident at a VLN race last year. PHOTO GALLERY The BBC is making Watership Down as a four-part animated mini-series, and Netflix will be the exclusive distributor of the series outside of the UK. The 4-hour CG-animated series will premiere on BBC One in the UK next year. Based on Richard Adams novel about a colony of rabbits scrapping for their lives, the story has once before received the animation treatment in Martin Rosens unconventionally violent 1978 feature, considered classic enough to receive the Criterion treatment. The new series will be written by Tom Bidwell (My Mad Fat Diary) and directed by Noam Murro (300: Rise of the Empire). Dublin, Ireland-based Brown Bag Films (Doc McStuffins, Bing, Peter Rabbit) is creating the CG animation. The animation team is led by Pete Dodd (Fantastic Mr Fox, Frankenweenie), who is co-directing, and Hugo Sands, who is producing. The series is a co-production between BBC One and Netflix and produced by 42 and Noam Murros company Biscuit Films. Photo: www.homeinstead.ca As the population ages, more Canadians are retiring in the Okanagan which means more employment opportunities in the care sector. According to current stats, it's believed that by 2036, the number of Canadians aged 65 and older will more than double 2009 levels. Home Instead Senior Care says the trend presents a significant employment opportunity in the Okanagan. The company is looking to hire at least 25 professional caregivers in Kelowna and Penticton by the end of the year. Whether a senior just needs some help running errands and doing some light cooking and cleaning, or they need round-the-clock care, having a professional caregiver can make a huge difference in the life of a senior and their family members, says owner Don Henke. Henke says professional caregivers are an important component of the spectrum of care, as they help seniors meet their needs while remaining in the comfort of their own home, while also lightening the load for family members. Being a caregiver has given me a good work-life balance that a lot of people I know dont have in their jobs, says local caregiver Ruth. Plus, its so rewarding to get to know my clients on a personal level, and know that Im making their lives better. Photo: City of Kelowna A tug-of-war between a Rutland neighbourhood and Kelowna city council came to an emotional conclusion Tuesday night. Council approved the rezoning and issued a development variance permit for construction of a nine-unit, three-bedroom rental development at Homer and Houghton roads. But not before one councillor was almost brought to tears. The development has been the subject of much angst amongst neighbours, who believe council has ignored their pleas to halt the project and tossed aside a 304-name petition. They accused Mayor Colin Basran of conflict of interest for accepting a campaign contribution from Davara Holdings, developer of the project. Basran acknowledged at Tuesday's meeting the anger that has been directed at him. That's OK," he said. That's why I sit in this chair. I can handle that. "What I find a little upsetting is that it's been alluded maybe not said tonight that I have somehow been able to manipulate this process." Councillors spoke emotionally about accusations they had made up their minds before the process began and ignored residents' concerns. "I'm quite bothered by comments about the petition, especially considering that I analyzed very closely what was in (it)," said Coun. Tracy Gray. "I looked at how many people were in each household, how many were renters, although they were signing a petition not wanting renters in their neighbourhood." Coun. Luke Stack said he listened to the concerns, but simply didn't agree. He said he wanted the building design changed, and was pleased with the changes made by the developer. The biggest argument from council's view was the need for more rental housing in Kelowna. Last year was the first time the city hit its target of 300 new rental units per year, said Coun. Gail Given. "This is meeting a huge need," said Given. Stack added the Official Community Plan calls for this type of development in the area. "It's designed for this," said Stack. "It's consistent with what we have been doing." The most emotional response came from Coun. Ryan Donn, who fought back tears as he spoke in support of the development. He talked about friends from school having to leave the city because they were unable to find an affordable place to live. "For me, it's about, do we have housing for any level of income?" he said. "If we don't catch up, we will be a place where only people with money can come here. I want to live in a place where anybody can live." Donn said his emotions stemmed from the disconnect between the neighbourhood and the needs of the community. The anger, he said, was deafening. "It's not that I'm not listening to you. It's that there is a whole generation that has to leave town. I want them to stay." Basran said he was proud of councillors' ability to listen. "In this case, I truly believe they are making the right (decision) for all of the reasons they have stated, and gotten emotional over, because it's the right thing to do for the community. "That's what we were elected to do, make decisions in the best interest of our community as a whole. While you may not be happy about it, we as council and councillors can't please everybody." Coun. Charlie Hodge voted against the project. However, he told those who applauded his decision he was not voting because of what they said, but said no because he does not like the building's design or look. Vernon Fire Rescue will continue efforts to ensure a working smoke alarm is in every home, said Chief Keith Green. During a presentation to city council this week, Green presented 2009-14 statistics from the B.C. Fire Commissioner showing dead batteries were found in smoke alarms in 302 residential fires, resulting in 39 injuries and seven fatalities. As well, no smoke alarms were found in 1,966 residential fires, resulting in 113 injuries and 20 deaths. That's why our smoke alarm program, that's been provincially recognized, is so important, said Green. We've replaced over 125 smoke alarms in our community that were non-working and replaced hundreds of batteries when we go in and test. We're going to continue on with trying to have a working smoke alarm in every home in our community, Green vowed. An April 13 house fire that destroyed a residence in the 4700 block of Valleyview Place shows how quickly one can go up in flames. Nowadays some of the products used in buildings houses are petroleum-based products, the siding, those types of things, said Green. It also depends on what is leaning up against the home. In this particular instance, it was a couch that was leaning up against the home that burned very quickly. Green said the balcony then caught on fire which carried on into the attic and through the roof. Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo School District 23 has trimmed $2.6 million from its 2016-17 provisional budget. The board of education approved the measures Wednesday evening. Along with the cuts, the board also approved measures that would add about $620,000 to the district's coffers. The moves are necessary as the district faces a shortfall of between $3.2 and $3.8 million for the next school year. Decisions made Wednesday are identical to recommendations made by Supt. Kevin Kaardal a week ago. Savings include a $50 per year increase in busing per student, which is expected to add about $200,000 to board coffers. An expansion of the international education program would add another $150,000, while the board also expects to apply $225,000 in surplus to the budget. As for cuts, the biggest reduction is a proposed $660,000 in funding to schools within the district. The technology services budget would be reduced by $500,000 while the custodial budget would be trimmed by $225,000 through the elimination of four full-time custodial positions within the district. The district has been forced to trim well over $10 million from its budget over the past 10 years as payments from Ministry of Education shrink. The final budget must be approved by the end of June. Photo: The Canadian Press Vice Admiral and Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Bruce Donaldson A retired admiral is telling the Trudeau government's defence review that National Defence is often paralyzed by timid bureaucrats and politicians who pass the buck on decisions. Retired vice-admiral Bruce Donaldson, who until a few years ago was second-in-command of the military, says in a written brief that the system is set up to avoid risk and accountability. "I suggest that there is a culture of risk intolerance that has infected the federal level financial in the case of public servants, and political in the case of ministers that has led government to prefer additional process, "third-party validation" of responsible officials work, and serial delay to achieving results," Donaldson wrote. He is referring to a trend that has developed since the political fiasco surrounding the F-35 stealth fighter purchase, which has seen government increasingly turn to outside experts and panels to assess and rubber-stamp its plans. "Indeed, it appears that there is now a view that avoiding spending on intended outcomes is somehow a desirable 'result' for Canadians." Instead, Donaldson says the net result is costly delays and failure to deliver necessary equipment and support. Donaldson, who retired in 2013, also says the public has little understanding of federal finances, and doesn't realize that less money is spent on defence than in servicing the country's debt. "Canadians lack any context for understanding the management of public funds at the federal level, and have been encouraged to view the expenditure of hundreds of millions or billions of dollars on military capability as inherently wasteful and unreasonable and has been encouraged to see spending on the military as wasteful." He suggests government has done a poor job of educating citizens on the necessary cost of doing business as a country. The Liberals held the first in a series of six public consultations this week in Vancouver as Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan attempts to craft an updated vision for the military. It is the first time in over 20 years that citizens have been asked what role they believe the Canadian Armed Forces should be playing in the world and with what equipment. The panel also heard from the country's leading organization representing defence industry contractors, which encouraged the Liberals to talk about more than just capabilities and hardware lists. Christyn Cianfarani, head of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries, says the defence review should commit the federal government to crafting a vision of how the defence industry can address the country's unique security and economic challenges. Canada, unlike other countries, has not sat down and determined which industries are key national security assets. The notable exception is the shipbuilding industry, where the Harper government made a conscious decision to build both warships and coast guard vessels in the country, rather than off-shore. Other nations, such as Britain, France, Japan and even Australia, have a more sophisticated relationship with their industries and weapons-makers and have decided to nurture and support key industrial sectors. Cianfarani says she is not advocating anything as radical or expansive as the national shipbuilding strategy, which was also intended to stave off the collapse of the sector. In an interview with The Canadian Press, she said more focus and organization could be put towards encouraging development in cyber-technology, Arctic mapping and communication, even unmanned aerial vehicles. That could open up the Liberals to charges of picking winners and losers in the corporate world. "I would rather have you pick a winner, than pick nothing and end up with losers," she said. "In the absence of making a decision, inevitably the decision will be made for you. If we do not signal to foreign nations and foreign suppliers that there are things in Canada things we are willing to invest in then inevitably business will decide for you. Other nations will decide for you what you are left with." Photo: Christiane Molendyk An image called 'Dominance,' shot by Vernon photographer Christiane Molendyk, has been selected for inclusion in a national exhibition. The work will be in the prestigious Professional Photographers of Canadas 2016 loan collection, a national exhibition celebrating the best of Canadian professional photography. Molendyk earned an honourable mention for the photo in the animal selection. The colourful portrait shows two pheasants eyeing one another in tall grass. A panel of master photographers judged the best works submitted from across Canada during the Canadian Imaging Conference in Calgary this past week. Photographers must show extraordinary talent to win an award among such illustrious company, said Kent Wong, chairman of the national exhibition committee. We were thrilled to see so many inspiring entries in the competition this year. Photo: Contributed The flag that is continually raised in front of Joe Rich Firehall 51 is a mess. Anyone can see that it has been neglected, left to fly in ripped condition, discoloured and disrespected. After contacting local authorities to bring this to their attention, we found that no action has been taken to replace this flag. The flag has been like this for some months now. Fred van der Werf Photo: Facebook - Jeff Cameron Racing. Vernon's mayor is concerned a B.C. Supreme Court ruling against the Motoplex Speedway and Event Park in Spallumcheen could be precedent setting. A B.C. Supreme court judge granted an injunction limiting the noise level at the race track that has hosted two CASCAR events since opening in 2000. The track's owner, Okanagan Aggregates Ltd. was also ordered to pay $100,000 in damages to the developer of nearby Lawrence Heights, a 40+ adult living community, as well as more minor damages to four other plaintiffs. The judge ruled that 80 decibels is a safe level, said Mayor Akbal Mund. A tractor is about 100 decibels. Does that mean if a next-door neighbour to a farmer opens a window and hears the tractor then the neighbour can complain? It doesn't make any sense. Mund pointed to the Funtastic slo-pitch and music festival that occurs annually in Vernon during the July long weekend. Three nights of loud rock music blares from the site on the DND grounds to the south of the city. Rock music concerts are typically 110 to 116 decibels, said Mund. (This ruling) could open it up to everything. This sets a precedent." Photo: RCMP RCMP in Prince George are investigating what they are calling a targeted shooting although residents have been asked to stay away from the area. Police were called at around 12:20 a.m. Friday to a parking lot near the corner of 17th Avenue and Upland Street where they found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers began first aid until medical first responders arrived on the scene. The victim was transported to hospital for treatment. RCMP are asking the public to avoid the area ... although we do not believe there is a risk to the public, said Cpl. Craig Douglass in a news release. The Major Crime Section is now leading the investigation. Photo: BC gov't Education Minister Mike Bernier is set to meet with the chairman of the Vancouver School Board next week in hopes of helping trustees submit a balanced budget by the June deadline. The board has voted 5-4 against a preliminary budget containing a $24-million shortfall. Chairman Mike Lombardi, three other Vision Vancouver trustees and a lone Green party trustee voted to defeat the proposed budget that was also voted on by four Non-Partisan Association trustees. The School Act requires boards to submit balanced budgets by June 30, and gives Bernier the power to fire all the Vancouver trustees if they don't comply. Bernier says firing is a last resort and that he will explore other options, including urging the board to close schools where falling enrolment has left some classrooms empty. He says Vancouver trustees have a history of approving deficit budgets in preliminary votes but somehow find enough cash to create a surplus by the time the final vote is taken. Vision trustees have vowed to fight what they say is continued government underfunding that will force layoffs and cuts to special education and elementary music programs in the fall. "I don't understand why the Vancouver board continues to threaten to cancel these amazing programs for our students," Bernier said in a conference call from his Peace River South riding. "Vancouver should be enhancing learning experiences for all students, not protecting empty seats in schools." Bernier pointed to an auditor's review in 2015 that found the Vancouver School Board could save up to $37 million by closing underutilized schools. Photo: Shaw outage map UPDATED: 2:00 p.m. Shaw has responded to the service outages in Peachland this morning, saying the outages had nothing to do with disruptions in service earlier in the week. We received reports of an outage early this morning affecting customers in the Peachland area," a spokesperson for Shaw said. "Shaw dispatched technical teams immediately to address the issue, and service has been fully restored. This outage was in no way related to service interruptions experienced by customers in the area earlier this week ORIGINAL: 1:52 p.m. Once again, Shaw is experiencing an outage of its internet, phone and cable service. Numerous outages are being reported in various pockets of the province, including the Okanagan. Users in Peachland and West Kelowna are complaining of a lack of service. Problems are also being reported in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam and Victoria. This is the second time service has been disrupted in a large area this week. During Tuesday's widespread outage, service in the Okanagan, West Kootenays and Northern Interior was down for about 90 minutes. Shaw has not responded to requests for information. Photo: CTV Another investigation has been launched into the actions of Victoria's police chief amid new allegations that he attempted to influence witnesses and may have deleted information needed for investigations into his conduct. Police complaint commissioner Stan Lowe says he ordered a new probe into the actions of Frank Elsner after an investigation team uncovered allegations, that if substantiated, would constitute breaches of public trust. Two retired B.C. judges began separate investigations last December amid allegations that Elsner sent inappropriate Twitter messages to the wife of one of his officers. Elsner, who stepped aside in December, filed court documents last month in an effort to block the investigations saying the commissioner didn't have the authority to order another review after the completion of an internal probe. The documents say allegations surfaced last year that Elsner may have been in a relationship with the wife of a fellow officer and that the woman was also an officer in a neighbouring district. Lowe says the latest allegations arise from recent interviews of witnesses as well as from information obtained from the Victoria Police Department's technology systems. Photo: CTV Does a murder of crows have misdeeds on its mind? A new interactive map can help Vancouverites pinpoint the locations and severity of a growing number of crow attacks. Langara College instructors Rick Davidson and Jim O'Leary developed the CrowTrax map and launched it this week. Users can check the details and dates of attacks plotted on the map. They can also add their own experiences. Reports are ranked from 1 to 5 for aggressiveness. In a Rank 1 incident, Friday, a crow "swooped from behind, brushing past my head," one user documented. A Rank 5 attack is described as: "Crow followed my kids around on foot and bit my two-year-old's hand." One user said they were attacked by three crows at once while walking behind a restaurant on Thursday. "They remember you," the user wrote. Another said they had three or four crows try to peck their head at a park in New Westminster. Victims are asked to pin their entries on the map, and all submissions are anonymous. with files from CTV Vancouver If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... Moldova applies quota on cement imports from Ukraine 29 April 2016 The government of Moldova has introduced protective quotas and duties on several commodities including cement produced in Ukraine. The resolution of the Moldovan government said products will be limited with quotas, while goods imported in excess of the restrictions will have protective duties applied. The quota for cement is 500t and if volumes imported from Ukraine exceed this level custom duties will be applied at 10 per cent. The quotas will be granted on a "first come - first served" basis and the duties will be kept in place until late-2016. Published under Catholic Family News A Monthly Journal Preserving our Catholic Faith and Heritage Home Latest Archives Subscribe CFN Media - videos Contact Us CFN Bookstore Oltyn Library Services 2017 CFN Daily Blog Originally started as a daily Blog update of news reports on the Papal Conclave and ongoing news on Pope Francis, it is now a general Blog updated daily on traditional Catholic topics Updated Regularly Book mark this page click here Luxury hotels in the historic center for a Catholic family. Only luxury hotels can provide a paradisiacal vacation for a big Catholic family. A high-level vacation for families, children and not only. The gorgeous views, divine service, and the best location are all luxury hotels. Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and more. Everyone will find their place in this corner of paradise. Popular destinations Breckenridge, CO, United States In Breckenridge, Colorado, there are plenty of places to visit, whether you're a nature lover or thrill seeker. For nature lovers, the Blue River runs right through town and there are plenty of trails to explore. If you're looking for a thrill, Breckenridge is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country. There's also plenty of shopping and dining options in town, so you'll never run out of things to do. 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Louisville Luxury Hotels Galveston, TX, United States Galveston is a Texas coastal town that is rich in history and offers visitors a variety of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include the Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and Historic Downtown. There are also a number of museums and other historical landmarks, as well as plenty of shopping and dining options. Galveston Luxury Hotels Galveston Luxury Resorts Omaha, NE, United States The birthplace of Warren Buffett, Omaha, Nebraska, is a great place to visit. There are plenty of things to see and do in Omaha, from touring the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium to visiting the Durham Western Heritage Museum. Other popular tourist destinations in Omaha include the Joslyn Art Museum, the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, and TD Ameritrade Park. Omaha Luxury Hotels Columbus, GA, United States Columbus is a charming small town in Georgia that is worth a visit. There are several places to visit in Columbus, including the Riverwalk, the Chattahoochee River, the National Infantry Museum, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The Riverwalk is a beautiful walkway along the Chattahoochee River that is perfect for a relaxing stroll or a bike ride. The Chattahoochee River is a great place to go fishing, swimming, or kayaking. The National Infantry Museum is a museum dedicated to the infantry of the United States Army. It is a must-see for history buffs. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is a museum dedicated to space science. It is perfect for kids and adults alike. Columbus Luxury Hotels Anchorage, AK, United States Anchorage is a great place to visit if you're looking for an adrenaline rush. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to rafting and fishing in the summer, Anchorage has something to offer everyone. In addition to its outdoor activities, Anchorage also has a variety of cultural and historical attractions, including the Anchorage Museum and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Anchorage Luxury Hotels Portland, OR, United States Portland is a city that is located in the US state of Oregon and it is known for its art scene, food, and coffee. There are a lot of interesting places to visit in Portland, such as the Portland Art Museum, where you can see a variety of art from all over the world. Another place to visit is the Powell's City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world. If you're looking for a place to eat, Portland has no shortage of amazing restaurants, such as Pok Pok, which serves Thai cuisine, and Le Pigeon, which serves French cuisine. And, of course, no trip to Portland would be complete without trying some of the city's famous coffee, such as Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Portland Luxury Hotels Florence, Italy No trip to Italy is complete without a visit to Florence. This historic city is home to some of the country's most famous attractions, including the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Michelangelo's David. There's also plenty to see and do outside of the city center, including the picturesque Tuscan countryside and the vibrant university town of Arezzo. Florence Luxury Hotels Florence Luxury Villas Asheville, NC, United States Asheville is a city in western North Carolina. It is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Buncombe County. Asheville is home to the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the United States. The city of Asheville proper had a population of 84,236 in 2010. The city is known for its art deco architecture, mountain scenery and outdoor activities, and as the birthplace of American novelist Thomas Wolfe. It is also home to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, the second largest craft brewery in the United States. Asheville Luxury Hotels Asheville Luxury Cottages Long Beach, CA, United States There's plenty to do in Long Beach, California without ever having to leave the city limits. If you're looking for a little adventure, head to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a glimpse of the ocean's creatures or take a walk on the boardwalk at Rainbow Harbor. If you're more of a history buff, the Queen Mary is a must-see. This retired ocean liner is now a hotel and museum with plenty of stories to tell. And no trip to Long Beach is complete without a visit to the iconic Vincent Thomas Bridge. Long Beach Luxury Hotels Long Beach Luxury Villas Cincinnati, OH, United States Cincinnati is a city located on the Ohio River in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Ohio. The city was founded in 1788 and named after the Society of the Cincinnati, an organization of Revolutionary War officers. Cincinnati is a major U.S. city and the metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million people. The city is well-known for its German heritage, Oktoberfest celebration, and its variety of chili dishes. Cincinnati is home to three major sports teams: the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, MLB's Cincinnati Reds, and the NBA's Cincinnati Cavaliers. The city is also home to the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. The city's historic neighborhoods include Over-the-Rhine, Mount Auburn, and Hyde Park. Cincinnati is a popular tourist destination and offers a variety of attractions and places to visit, including the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Newport Aquarium, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Cincinnati Luxury Hotels Laughlin, NV, United States Laughlin, Nevada is a great place to visit if you're looking for a fun and affordable vacation. There are plenty of casinos and resorts to choose from, as well as plenty of outdoor activities and attractions. Be sure to check out the local nightlife, and don't forget to take a trip down the mighty Colorado River. Laughlin Luxury Hotels Laughlin Luxury Resorts Anaheim, CA, United States Anaheim, California is home to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. The parks are just a short walk away from each other, and make for a great day of exploration. Anaheim is also home to the Anaheim Angels and the Anaheim Ducks, so there's always a game to catch. If you're looking for something a little more low-key, Anaheim has a great shopping district and a variety of restaurants to choose from. Anaheim Luxury Hotels Santa Cruz, CA, United States Santa Cruz is a great place to visit! There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of my favorite places to visit are the Boardwalk, the wharf, and the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Boardwalk is a great place to go for a walk, ride on the amusement park rides, and eat some of the delicious food. The wharf is a great place to go for a walk, eat some seafood, and listen to the street performers. The University of California, Santa Cruz is a great place to visit to learn about the history of the area and to see some of the beautiful architecture. I highly recommend visiting Santa Cruz if you are looking for a fun and interesting place to visit!. Santa Cruz Luxury Hotels Eugene, OR, United States Eugene, Oregon is a great city to visit with a lot of places to see and things to do. One of the most popular attractions is the University of Oregon campus, which is home to a number of museums and a large football stadium. The city also has a vibrant arts scene, with a number of theaters and art galleries. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the dozens of parks and hiking trails in the area, and there are also a number of wineries and breweries in the area. Eugene Luxury Hotels Branson, MO, United States There's plenty to see and do in Branson, Missouri, from state parks and amusement parks to theaters and shopping. Here are some of the most popular places to visit: Silver Dollar City is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." Table Rock State Park has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. The Titanic Museum features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. Branson Landing is a shopping and entertainment complex on the waterfront. There's something for everyone in Branson, Missouri come visit and see for yourself!. Branson Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach, FL, United States The white sand beaches and emerald waters of Panama City Beach, Florida, are a popular tourist destination. The city is home to numerous hotels, resorts, and restaurants, as well as amusement and water parks. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, kayaking, and surfing. Panama City Beach Luxury Hotels Panama City Beach Luxury Resorts Monterey, CA, United States Monterey is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, United States. It stands at the southern end of Monterey Bay, on the Pacific coast. The city is also the home of the Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey is the largest city in the Central Coast region of California. The main attractions in Monterey are the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and the downtown area. Monterey Luxury Hotels Norfolk, VA, United States Norfolk, Virginia is a great place to visit for its historical places and military bases. Some places to visit in Norfolk are the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and the Norfolk Naval Station. Norfolk Luxury Hotels Palm Springs, CA, United States Palm Springs is a vibrant city located in the Coachella Valley and is known for its year-round sunshine, resort atmosphere and Mid-Century Modern architecture. Top places to visit include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Art Museum, Indian Canyons and Moorten Botanical Garden. For a truly unique experience, be sure to check out the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale the worlds largest vintage furniture and design event. Palm Springs Luxury Hotels Palm Springs Luxury Resorts Palm Springs Luxury Villas Rochester, NY, United States Rochester is a city in western New York State and is the county seat of Monroe County. Rochester is known for its annual festivals, including the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Rochester Fringe Festival, and the Holiday Folk Fair International. Places to visit in Rochester include the George Eastman Museum, the Strong National Museum of Play, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Seneca Park Zoo. Rochester Luxury Hotels Pigeon Forge, TN, United States Visit the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge for a unique experience. This museum is dedicated to the Titanic, one of the most infamous ships in history. Tour the ship and learn about the passengers and crew who were on board. You can even see the actual artifacts recovered from the shipwreck. If you're looking for a little more excitement, head to Dollywood. This amusement park is home to roller coasters, a water park, and plenty of other rides and attractions. Plus, the park is themed around the life and music of Dolly Parton. No trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. These mountains offer a variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Plus, the natural beauty of the area is simply breathtaking. Pigeon Forge Luxury Hotels Jacksonville, FL, United States Jacksonville is less than an hour's drive from the beaches of Amelia Island and St. Augustine, and a little more than two hours from Orlando. The city has a lot to offer visitors, including a riverwalk, museums, and a vibrant arts scene. Jacksonville is also home to the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team. Jacksonville Luxury Hotels Minsk, Belarus Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is a city that has something for everyone. If you're looking for a little history, Minsk has plenty of it, with churches and monuments dating back to the 12th century. If you're looking for a lively nightlife, Minsk has that, too, with plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants. And if you're looking for a little nature, Minsk has parks and gardens to enjoy. Here are just a few of the places you can visit in Minsk: The Holy Spirit Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Minsk, is a must-visit for history buffs. The National Library of Belarus is a huge library with more than 18 million items in its collection. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is a beautiful building that hosts performances of both opera and ballet. The Victory Park is a large park with a war memorial, a children's playground, and a lake. And for a little bit of nature in the heart of the city, the Botanical Garden is a great place to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Minsk. Minsk Luxury Hotels Jaipur, India Jaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is known for its palaces, forts and temples. Some of the places to visit in Jaipur include the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar Observatory and the Hawa Mahal. Jaipur is also a great place to shop for traditional Indian handicrafts. Jaipur Luxury Hotels Chicago, IL, United States Chicago is a city full of culture and history. There are plenty of places to visit, such as the Willis Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago is also home to many restaurants and bars, so there is something for everyone. Chicago Luxury Hotels Auckland, New Zealand Auckland is a beautiful city located on the north island of New Zealand. There are many places to visit in Auckland, including the Sky Tower, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the Auckland Domain. The beaches in Auckland are also worth visiting, especially Karekare and Piha. Auckland is a great place to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Auckland Luxury Hotels Auckland Luxury Villas Amsterdam, Netherlands If you're looking for a city that's got it all, Amsterdam should be your go-to destination. From the city's lively and vibrant nightlife to its charming and quiet neighborhoods, Amsterdam has something for everyone. Be sure to check out the Anne Frank Huis, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum, as these are some of the most popular attractions in the city. And if you're looking for a little bit of nature, be sure to take a walk or bike ride through Amsterdam's many parks. Amsterdam Luxury Hotels Berlin, Germany There are so many great places to visit in Berlin that it can be hard to know where to start. From the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the fascinating Reichstag Building, there's something for everyone in this vibrant city. If you're looking for a bit of history, make sure to check out the Berlin Wall Memorial or the DDR Museum. And for those looking for a bit more fun, there's always the Alexanderplatz Christmas Market or the Zoologischer Garten. No matter what your interests, Berlin is a city you won't want to miss. Berlin Luxury Hotels Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok is a city of contrasts with its gleaming temples and skyscrapers, chaotic markets and tranquil canals. While it's a popular tourist destination, Bangkok is a city that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Some of the top places to visit in Bangkok include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, the floating markets and the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Bangkok Luxury Hotels Bangkok Luxury Resorts Bangkok Luxury Villas Bruges, Belgium Bruges is a city in Belgium that is worth visiting. It is full of medieval charm and there are a lot of things to see and do. Some of the places to visit include the Markt, the Belfry, and the Begijnhof. Bruges Luxury Hotels Brussels, Belgium Brussels is a city in Belgium that is best known for its chocolate, waffles, and beer. But there is much more to see and do in Brussels than just indulge in the local cuisine. There are a number of interesting historical landmarks to visit, such as the Grand Place and the Atomium, as well as a variety of parks and gardens. And, of course, Brussels is also a great city to explore on foot. Brussels Luxury Hotels Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Hungary's capital, is a city of thermal baths and medival, baroque and art nouveau architecture. Crowded with tourists, the city is bisected by the Danube River into the hilly Buda and the more developed and flat Pest. Among the main places of interest are the neo-Gothic Parliament, the Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest, the Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda bank, and the State Opera House and Heroes' Square on the Pest side. Budapest Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen, Mexico Home to some of the best beaches in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is a favorite tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. With its lively nightlife, gorgeous coastline and ample shopping opportunities, there's something for everyone in this tropical paradise. Don't miss the opportunity to visit some of the area's most popular attractions, such as the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba, or the eco-friendly Turtle Beach. With its friendly people, delicious food and stunning scenery, Playa del Carmen is a place you'll never want to leave. Playa del Carmen Luxury Hotels Playa del Carmen Luxury Resorts Playa del Carmen Luxury Villas Denver, CO, United States Denver is a great city for visitors. There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of the top places to visit include the 16th Street Mall, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and the Colorado State Capitol. There are also plenty of great restaurants and shops to explore. Denver is definitely a city worth visiting!. Denver Luxury Hotels Dublin, Ireland Dublin is a city located in Ireland. It's a city full of culture, with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist spots are the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and the Dublin Castle. There are also plenty of pubs and restaurants to discover. Dublin Luxury Hotels Dusseldorf, Germany Dusseldorf, Germany is a city with many different places to visit. The city has a mix of old and new buildings, and a variety of activities to do. The best places to visit in Dusseldorf are the Konigsallee, the Rhine Tower, and the Oktoberfest. The Konigsallee is an open-air shopping mall that has many high-end stores. The Rhine Tower is the tallest building in the city and offers great views of Dusseldorf. The Oktoberfest is a week-long festival that celebrates German culture and food. Dusseldorf Luxury Hotels Edinburgh, United Kingdom Edinburgh, Scotland is a beautiful city to visit. The architecture is very old and unique, and there are plenty of historical places to visit, like Edinburgh Castle. There are also plenty of parks and gardens, and lots of shops and restaurants. Edinburgh Luxury Hotels Rome, Italy Rome is a city rich in history and filled with beautiful places to visit. Make sure to stop by the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Also be sure to visit St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel while in Rome. If youre looking for a little more nature in your trip, head to the Villa Borghese gardens or the Janiculum Hill for some wonderful views of the city. And of course, no trip to Rome is complete without a gelato!. Rome Luxury Hotels Rome Luxury Villas New York, NY, United States There are many amazing places to visit in New York State. Some of my favorites are the Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Finger Lakes. If you're looking for a city break, New York City is definitely worth a visit. There's endless things to see and do, from touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to visiting world-famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. No matter what your interests are, you'll be able to find something to enjoy in New York State. New York Luxury Hotels New York Luxury Villas London, United Kingdom London is a city rich in history and full of amazing places to visit. Some of my favorite places are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. There is so much to see and do in London, you could spend weeks here and never run out of things to do. If you're looking for a city full of culture and history, London is the place for you. London Luxury Hotels London Luxury Cottages Madrid, Spain Madrid is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world. From the Royal Palace to the Prado Museum, theres plenty to see and do in Madrid. If youre looking for a little bit of nature, Madrid has plenty of parks, like the Buen Retiro Park, to relax in. And dont forget to try some of the delicious tapas and wine while youre in town. Madrid Luxury Hotels Memphis, TN, United States The birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis is a city rich in history and culture. From Graceland to Beale Street, there are plenty of places to visit in Memphis. Be sure to check out Sun Studio, where rock 'n' roll was born, and the National Civil Rights Museum, which tells the story of the African-American civil rights movement. Memphis is also home to some amazing food, so be sure to try some of the city's famous barbecue and soul food. Memphis Luxury Hotels Miami Beach, FL, United States There is much to explore in Miami Beach, from the famous Art Deco district to the vast beaches and crystal-clear waters. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, while history buffs can explore the ancient burial mounds at Miami Beach. Shoppers and foodies will find plenty to keep them busy, with vibrant neighborhoods like Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive offering unique boutiques and award-winning restaurants. And of course, no trip to Miami Beach is complete without a visit to world-famous South Beach. Miami Beach Luxury Hotels Miami Beach Luxury Resorts New Orleans, LA, United States You can't visit New Orleans without trying some of the local food. Beignets, Po' Boys, and gumbo are just a few of the must-try dishes. While you're in town, be sure to check out the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral. If you're looking for some nightlife, Bourbon Street is the place to be. And, of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Mardi Gras!. New Orleans Luxury Hotels Milan, Italy Milan is a city located in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is a popular tourist destination because of its historical and artistic heritage. Some of the places you should visit while in Milan are the Duomo, La Scala, and Castello Sforzesco. Milan Luxury Hotels Naples, Italy Naples is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Italy. There are countless places to visit, such as the Royal Palace, the Museum of San Martino, and the Church of Gesu Nuovo. Naples is also home to excellent shopping and dining options. Be sure to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the city's many cafes and take a stroll through the picturesque streets. Naples Luxury Hotels Paris, France Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It's home to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, as well as a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene. If you're looking to explore all that Paris has to offer, here are some of the top places to visit: The Eiffel Tower: This iconic landmark is a must-see in Paris. Climb to the top for stunning views of the city, or take a ride on the elevator to the bottom for a closer look at the structure. The Louvre Museum: This world-famous museum is home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, including the Mona Lisa. The Notre Dame Cathedral: This beautiful cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris. Make sure to climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. The Champs-Elysees: This famous avenue is a popular destination for shopping and dining. Be sure to wander down the street and take in all the sights and sounds. The Arc de Triomphe: This towering arch is another iconic landmark in Paris. Climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. Paris Luxury Hotels Paris Luxury Villas Prague, Czech Republic Prague is a city rich in history and culture. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy, and the nightlife is vibrant. Prague is a truly unique city and a must-visit for anyone traveling to the Czech Republic. Prague Luxury Hotels Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is known for its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. This paradise is a favorite destination for travelers looking for a Caribbean getaway. Punta Cana is home to a wide variety of resorts and activities, from enjoying the sand and surf to golfing, spas, and shopping. Nature lovers can also explore the areas jungles, caves, and waterfalls. Punta Cana Luxury Hotels Punta Cana Luxury Resorts Punta Cana Luxury Villas Marbella, Spain If you're looking for an idyllic and luxurious Spanish escape, look no further than Marbella. Located on the country's Costa del Sol, Marbella is home to stunning beaches, top-notch resorts, world-class golfing, and much more. A visit to Marbella is the perfect way to experience all that Spain has to offer. Marbella Luxury Hotels Marbella Luxury Villas Marrakesh, Morocco Marrakesh is a city in Morocco that is full of culture and history. There are several places to visit in Marrakesh, including the Palace of the Bahia, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Saadian Tombs. The souks (markets) are also a must-see, where you can find everything from souvenirs to spices to traditional clothing. Be sure to enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants or cafes in Marrakesh; the food is delicious and the atmosphere is always lively. Marrakesh is a wonderful city to explore and definitely worth a visit!. Marrakesh Luxury Hotels San Francisco, CA, United States San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, and for good reason. There are plenty of things to see and do in this vibrant city. Here are some of the top places to visit: 1. Fisherman's Wharf: This neighborhood is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a popular pier where you can enjoy views of the bay. 2. The Golden Gate Bridge: This iconic bridge is a must-see for any visitor to San Francisco. 3. Alcatraz Island: This former federal prison is now a popular tourist attraction. It's a must-see for fans of history and crime dramas. 4. Chinatown: This colorful neighborhood is home to some of the best food in San Francisco. Be sure to check out the Dragon Gate entrance. 5. The Mission District: This trendy neighborhood is home to hip restaurants, bars, and art galleries. San Francisco Luxury Hotels Moscow, Russia Moscow, Russia is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some of the most popular tourist attractions are the Kremlin, Red Square, and Saint Basil's Cathedral. Other great places to see include the Bolshoi Theatre, Gorky Park, and the Tretyakov Gallery. There are also many churches and other historical buildings to explore. Moscow is a lively city with a lot of culture and nightlife. There is something for everyone to enjoy in Moscow. Moscow Luxury Hotels Venice, Italy Venice is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The city is built on a lagoon in northeast Italy and is known for its canals and gondolas. There are many places to visit in Venice, including the Grand Canal, St. Marks Square, and the Rialto Bridge. Venice is also home to many museums, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Venice Luxury Hotels Vienna, Austria Vienna, Austria is a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Vienna, including the Hofburg Palace, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Vienna is also home to some of the world's best shopping, including the Karntner Strasse and the Graben. Finally, no visit to Vienna is complete without experiencing the city's world-famous nightlife. Vienna Luxury Hotels Zurich, Switzerland Zurich is a marvelous city located in the heart of Switzerland. It is a city that has something to offer for everyone. From amazing restaurants and beautiful architecture to exciting nightlife and gorgeous parks, Zurich has something for everyone. Some of the most popular places to visit in Zurich include the Bahnhofstrasse, which is the city's most famous shopping street, the Lindenhof, which is a beautiful park with amazing views of the city, and Grossmunster, which is a stunning Romanesque church. Zurich is also home to some of the best museums in the world, including the famed Museum of Art and the Swiss National Museum. With its mix of old-world charm and modern amenities, Zurich is a city that is definitely worth exploring. Zurich Luxury Hotels Acapulco, Mexico If you're looking for a Mexican vacation spot with plenty of history and culture to explore, Acapulco is a great option. From the archeological wonders of the ancient city to the stunning coastal views, there's something for everyone in Acapulco. Plus, with its temperate climate, it's a great escape from colder winter weather. Acapulco Luxury Hotels Acapulco Luxury Resorts Acapulco Luxury Villas Nashville, TN, United States One of the United States' most interesting places to visit is Nashville, Tennessee. There's plenty to see and do there, from the Grand Ole Opry to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Music is a big part of the city's history and culture, so be sure to catch a show while you're in town. Other popular attractions include the Ryman Auditorium, the Parthenon, and the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Nashville is also a great place to eat, with a wide variety of restaurants serving up everything from barbecue to Mexican food. So if you're looking for an exciting and diverse city to visit, be sure to add Nashville to your list. Nashville Luxury Hotels Nashville Luxury Villas Atlanta, GA, United States What's not to love about Atlanta? From the iconic Georgia Aquarium to the World of Coke, from the Fox Theatre to Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta offers a wealth of destinations for tourists. Sports fans will want to check out the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and history buffs will enjoy the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Braves fans can take a tour of SunTrust Park, and shoppers will enjoy the many boutiques and malls in the city. There's also a great restaurant scene in Atlanta, and music lovers will want to check out the many venues offering live music. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation spot or a place to explore on your own, Atlanta is a great choice!. Atlanta Luxury Hotels Miami, FL, United States The Magic City is a top tourist destination for a reasonthere are endless things to do in Miami! From exploring the trendy neighborhoods and dazzling beaches to soaking up the Latin culture and nightlife, Miami is jam-packed with amazing places to visit. Here are a few of our favorites: 1. Wynwood Walls: This outdoor art exhibit is a must-see for any art lover. The colorful murals are awe-inspiring and definitely Instagram-worthy. 2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: This estate is dripping with luxury and opulence, from the grandiose architecture to the expansive gardens. It's the perfect place for a day of relaxation. 3. South Beach: This world-famous beach is a must-visit for any sun-seeker. The crystal-clear water and soft sand make for the perfect day-long beach getaway. 4. Little Havana: Experience Cuban culture at its best in Little Havana. From delicious food to lively music and dance, there's something for everyone in this vibrant district. 5. Art Deco District: This district is home to Miami's most iconic architecture. Take a stroll down the charming streets and admire the colorful buildings that make Miami so unique. Miami Luxury Hotels Miami Luxury Villas Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is a must-see destination in Japan. There are endless places to explore in this city - temples, shrines, gardens, and more. The Shinjuku district is a great place to start, with its neon-lit streets and myriad shops and restaurants. For a taste of traditional Japan, visit the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa or the Imperial Palace. Nature lovers will enjoy the Hamarikyu Gardens or the Hama-rikyu Teien Garden. And for a unique experience, take a trip to Mount Fuji. Tokyo Luxury Hotels Tokyo Luxury Villas Buenos Aires, Argentina There are plenty of places to visit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some popular tourist destinations include the obelisk, the Casa Rosada, and the Puerto Madero district. Every barrio (neighborhood) has its own unique culture and flavor. San Telmo, La Boca, and Palermo are some of the most popular barrios. There are also many parks and plazas, such as Plaza de Mayo and Plaza de la Republica, that are worth checking out. Buenos Aires Luxury Hotels Hamburg, Germany One of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany is Hamburg. From the lively and colorful harbor district to the grandiose City Hall, there is plenty to see and do in Hamburg. Some of the other popular places to visit include the Reeperbahn district with its pubs and nightlife, the Planten un Blomen botanical gardens, and the architecturally stunning Rathausmarkt square. Hamburg Luxury Hotels Lisbon, Portugal The capital of Portugal, Lisbon is a city of fascinating contrasts. From its coastal location, visitors can enjoy stunning ocean views, while its hilly, narrow streets are home to a maze of charming traditional homes and lively nightlife. A city of 7 hills, Lisbon is a bustling metropolis with something for everyone. Here are some of the top places to visit: The Belem Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Lisbons most iconic landmarks. This 16th-century fortress and lighthouse is a must-see for visitors. The Alfama district, with its winding streets and tile-roofed homes, is the oldest district in Lisbon. This is the perfect place to get lost and explore the citys history. The Lisbon Zoo is a great place to enjoy a day out with the family, with over 2,000 animals from around the world. The Christ the King statue, located atop a hill in the suburb of Almada, offers impressive views of Lisbon and the river Tagus. The Lisbon Oceanarium, located in the Parque das Nacoes district, is home to more than 12,000 marine creatures and is one of the largest aquariums in Europe. Lisbon Luxury Hotels Lisbon Luxury Villas Malaga, Spain Malaga is an attractive seaside city in southern Spain with a long history. There are many places to visit in Malaga, including the Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Malaga Cathedral. Malaga is also home to a variety of museums, including the Picasso Museum. The city is well known for its beaches, and there are many delightful places to relax and enjoy the sun and the sea. Malaga Luxury Hotels Malaga Luxury Villas Munich, Germany When planning a vacation to Munich, Germany, be sure to include these top places to visit: The Marienplatz is a must-see square in the city center, featuring a beautiful Glockenspiel show and the Old and New Town Halls. The Englisher Garten, Europes largest city park, is a great place for a relaxing stroll or a picnic. OlympiaPark is home to the famous 1972 Olympic Stadium as well as a huge amusement park. The Frauenkirche is a stunning church in the old town with a Glockenspiel of its own. Beer lovers will want to visit the Hofbrauhaus, the worlds most famous beer hall. For a bit of history and culture, check out the LudwigMaximilians-University and the Deutsches Museum. There is so much to see and do in Munich these are just a few highlights!. Munich Luxury Hotels Granada, Spain Granada is a city in southern Spain that is known for its Moorish architecture and history. The city is home to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress that was constructed in the late 1300s. Visitors can also enjoy the citys many churches, including the Cathedral of Granada. Granada is also a convenient base for exploring the other cities and towns in Andalusia. Granada Luxury Hotels Bucharest, Romania Bucharest is a city full of history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Palace of Parliament, which is the world's largest civilian building. Other places to visit include the old city center, which is full of charming streets and buildings, and the Botanical Garden, which is the largest botanical garden in Romania. Bucharest Luxury Hotels Bologna, Italy Bologna, Italy is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist destinations include the Piazza Maggiore, the Tower of Asinelli, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. There are also plenty of museums and churches to explore, and the city is full of charming restaurants and cafes. Bologna is an excellent destination for a vacation, and there is something for everyone to enjoy in this amazing city. Bologna Luxury Hotels Porto, Portugal Porto is a port city in Portugal that is well known for its wine. It's also a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Porto, including the old city center, the Dom Luis I Bridge, and the Clerigos Tower. Porto is also home to the famous Port wine caves, which are a must-visit for wine lovers. Porto Luxury Hotels Cologne, Germany Cologne, located on the Rhine River in western Germany, is a city well worth visiting. The city has a long and rich history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Some of the city's most popular tourist attractions include the Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, and the RheinEnergieStadion. Additionally, Cologne is home to a wide variety of museums, shops, and restaurants. In fact, the city has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Germany. So, if you're looking for a great European city to visit, be sure to add Cologne to your list. Cologne Luxury Hotels Istanbul, Turkey If you're looking for an exotic and affordable vacation destination, look no further than Istanbul, Turkey. Filled with historical places to visit and bargains to be found, Istanbul offers something for everyone. Be sure to visit the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque while you're there. Don't forget to bargain for the best prices when shopping in the bazaars, and enjoy some delicious Turkish cuisine while you're at it. Istanbul is sure to leave you with a lasting impression. Istanbul Luxury Hotels Istanbul Luxury Villas Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai is a fascinating and exotic city that offers visitors a mix of traditional Middle Eastern culture and modern, cosmopolitan life. There are plenty of places to visit in Dubai, from the towering skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the luxury shopping malls and luxurious hotels of the Palm Jumeirah. Don't miss a chance to experience an Arabian night out on an epic dhow cruise, or take a trip out into the Arabian Desert to see the stunning sand dunes. Dubai Luxury Hotels Dubai Luxury Resorts Dubai Luxury Villas Antwerp, Belgium Antwerp is a city located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital of the province of Antwerp and has a population of over half a million people. Antwerp is a popular tourist destination due to its many historical buildings, museums, and art galleries. Some of the most popular places to visit in Antwerp are the Cathedral of Our Lady, the City Hall, the Rubenshuis, and the Antwerp Zoo. Antwerp Luxury Hotels Lyon, France Lyon is a beautiful city in the south of France that is full of culture and places to visit. Some of the most popular places to visit in Lyon are the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, the Place Bellecour, and the Vieux Lyon. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere is a beautiful cathedral that is a must-see when visiting Lyon. The Place Bellecour is a large square in the heart of Lyon that is full of restaurants and cafes. The Vieux Lyon is a district in Lyon that is full of old buildings and is a great place to wander around and take in the sights. Lyon Luxury Hotels Athens, Greece If you find yourself in Athens, there are definitely some spots you won't want to miss. The Acropolis, Parthenon, and Olympic Stadium are all essential stops, but there are plenty of others, too. If you're looking for a bit of history, the National Archaeological Museum is a must-see, while nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the botanical gardens. If you're looking to relax, take a walk along the beach in Glyfada or head to the Plaka district for a charming and picturesque setting. No matter what you're interested in, Athens has something for you. Athens Luxury Hotels Athens Luxury Villas Helsinki, Finland While in Helsinki, make sure to visit these popular tourist destinations: The Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral The Sibelius Monument Ateneum Art Museum Market Square Helsinki Zoo. Helsinki Luxury Hotels Vilnius, Lithuania The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, is a picturesque city with a rich history. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of charming churches, narrow streets, and pretty squares. There are also lots of museums and other places of interest to visit, including the Hill of Crosses, Gediminas Tower, and the Presidential Palace. Vilnius is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars to enjoy in the evening. Vilnius Luxury Hotels Reykjavik, Iceland A city of remote beauty, Reykjavik is teeming with interesting places to visit. One of the worlds most northern capitals, Reykjavik offers stunning landscapes and a wealth of cultural experiences. From the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church to the popular Golden Circle tour, theres plenty to see and do in Reykjavik. Be sure to check out the citys lively nightlife scene, too you wont be disappointed!. Reykjavik Luxury Hotels Glasgow, United Kingdom Some of the most popular places to visit in Glasgow include the Gallery of Modern Art, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. There are also many wonderful parks and gardens to explore, including the Botanic Gardens and Glasgow Green. For those interested in history and architecture, there are many fascinating old buildings to see, such as the Glasgow Cathedral and the University of Glasgow. And for those looking for a lively nightlife, Glasgow has no shortage of pubs, clubs, and restaurants. Glasgow Luxury Hotels Los Angeles, CA, United States As the birthplace of Hollywood and home to some of the world's most recognisable landmarks, there's no shortage of places to visit in Los Angeles. Start by exploring the city's iconic neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills and Hollywood, then venture out to attractions like the Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach and Disneyland. And don't forget to savour the city's world-famous cultural scene, with its abundance of museums, theatres and restaurants. Los Angeles Luxury Hotels Los Angeles Luxury Villas San Diego, CA, United States San Diego is a city located in California and is a major tourist destination. One of the main reasons people visit the city is for its many beaches. Coronado Beach, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach are some of the most popular and are all within close proximity to the city center. Other attractions in San Diego include the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and the USS Midway Museum. Restaurants, bars, and shopping can be found throughout the city, and world-renowned museums, like the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, are also located in San Diego. San Diego Luxury Hotels San Diego Luxury Resorts San Diego Luxury Villas Washington, DC, United States Washington, D.C. is a city full of history and places to visit. Some popular places to visit are the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Smithsonian. D.C. is also home to a number of monuments and memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. There are also a number of museums in D.C., like the American History Museum and the National Air and Space Museum. Washington Luxury Hotels Cancun, Mexico Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. Aside from its beautiful beaches, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in Cancun. Some of the most popular attractions include the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, the eco-park Xcaret, and the nightclubs and bars in the resort district. Cancun Luxury Hotels Cancun Luxury Resorts Cancun Luxury Villas Virginia Beach, VA, United States Virginia Beach is one of the top tourist destinations on the East Coast. From the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to the miles of sandy beaches, there's something for everyone to enjoy. There are also plenty of restaurants, shops, and other attractions to keep visitors busy. Some of the most popular places to visit in Virginia Beach include: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk: This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. First Landing State Park: This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. Cape Henry Lighthouse: This lighthouse is one of the oldest in the country and offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay. There are plenty of other things to do in Virginia Beach, including dolphin and whale watching tours, kayaking, and golfing. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation or a romantic getaway, Virginia Beach is sure to please. Virginia Beach Luxury Hotels Virginia Beach Luxury Resorts Beijing, China If you're looking for an amazing cultural experience, be sure to add Beijing, China to your travel bucket list! With beautiful temples, charming hutongs (traditional alleyways), and a lively food scene, there's something for everyone in this bustling city. Plus, Beijing is home to some of the most iconic attractions in China, like the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. So if you're looking for an unforgettable East Asian adventure, be sure to add Beijing to your list!. Beijing Luxury Hotels Seoul, South Korea Seoul is a metropolitan city that is home to over 10 million people. It is a city full of culture, history, and a vibrant nightlife. There are plenty of places to visit in Seoul, including the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and N Seoul Tower. The Jeongdongne district is a must-see for anyone interested in art and culture, and the Itaewon district is a great place to go for a night on the town. Seoul Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States Known for its dramatic lake and mountain scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers visitors plenty of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include floating down the river on a tube, hiking the trails in the summer and skiing or snowboarding the slopes in the winter. The city also has a variety of restaurants and nightlife options, as well as casinos for those looking to try their luck. South Lake Tahoe Luxury Hotels South Lake Tahoe Luxury Resorts Daytona Beach, FL, United States Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is approximately 40 miles northeast of Orlando, and 85 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The city is known as "The World's Most Famous Beach." Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Fun Coast region of Florida. The Daytona Beach area is a popular tourist destination. It is well known for its beaches, sports events, and motorsports. Daytona Beach was the birthplace of NASCAR and home to its first track, Daytona International Speedway. Dayton Beach also features a large number of tourist-oriented businesses, such as motels, restaurants, and bars. Daytona Beach Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The coastline of Rio de Janeiro is breathtaking, and the views from Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain are unforgettable. Rio's world-famous beaches are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and the surf. The city's rich culture and history can be experienced in its many museums and in the lively nightlife. Rio is also a great place to shop for souvenirs. Rio de Janeiro Luxury Hotels Rio de Janeiro Luxury Villas Jaco, Costa Rica Jaco is a town on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It's about an hour drive from San Jose and is a popular spot for surfers, sunbathers, and tourists. There are a number of beaches in the area, as well as restaurants, bars, and hotels. If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Costa Rican sun and beaches, Jaco is a great option. Jaco Luxury Hotels Oslo, Norway Oslo, Norway is a city with plenty of places to visit. You can find the peace and tranquility of nature parks and green spaces, experience the city's vibrant nightlife, or take in the historical and cultural sights. Here are a few of the top places to visit in Oslo: The Royal Palace: Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Vigeland Park: Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. The Maritime Museum: This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. The National Gallery: The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. Aker Brygge: Aker Brygge is a popular waterfront district in Oslo, home to a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. The area is a great place to people watch and enjoy the view of the Oslo Fjord. Oslo Luxury Hotels Lima, Peru If you're looking for a city that's bursting with culture and flavor, Lima, Peru is the place for you! This vibrant destination is home to some of the most amazing places to visit in all of South America. From ancient ruins to lush rainforests, there's something for everyone in Lima. Here are just a few of the must-see attractions in this amazing city: The Larco Museum is one of Lima's top tourist destinations. This incredible museum is home to one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian art in the world. The Historic Center of Lima is a must-see for any history lover. This vibrant area is home to some of the oldest architecture in Lima, including the iconic San Francisco Monastery. If you're looking for a little bit of jungle in the city, head to the Parque de la Reserva. This lush park is home to beautiful gardens, a zoo, and even a butterfly farm! No trip to Lima would be complete without a visit to Machu Picchu. This ancient Inca citadel is one of the most iconic sites in all of South America. Lima Luxury Hotels Ankara, Turkey Ankara is the cultural and political center of Turkey. The city is home to many museums, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and is a popular destination for tourists. The Citadel, the Ataturk Mausoleum, and the War of Independence Museum are all popular tourist destinations in Ankara. The city is also home to a vibrant nightlife and is a popular destination for students. Ankara Luxury Hotels Birmingham, United Kingdom There are plenty of great places to visit in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Some of the most popular places to go include the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Black Country Living Museum. These places are all great for tourists, as they offer a variety of attractions, including beautiful gardens, interesting art, and a recreation of an old-fashioned town. Additionally, there are plenty of other great places to visit in Birmingham, such as the Jewellery Quarter and the German Christmas Market. Birmingham Luxury Hotels York, United Kingdom With a rich history that spans back over 1,000 years, York is a must-visit destination in the United Kingdom. Explore the city's medieval architecture and narrow cobblestone streets, or enjoy a leisurely walk along the River Ouse. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural experiences, such as the York Minster cathedral, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy in York. York Luxury Hotels Inverness, United Kingdom Inverness, Scotland is a must-see destination on any traveler's list. Filled with rolling green hills, historical sites, and plenty of outdoor activities, there's something for everyone in this charming town. Start by exploring the city center, which is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. Make sure to check out the Inverness Castle, which offers commanding views of the area, and the Inverness Cathedral, a beautiful example of medieval architecture. Outside of the city center, there are plenty of other attractions to explore. The Loch Ness Monster is said to make its home in the loch here, and visitors can take boat tours to hunt for the mythical creature. If you're looking for a more active adventure, take a hike in the hills or go fishing on the loch. No matter what you choose to do, Inverness is a beautiful and welcoming town that is sure to charm you. Inverness Luxury Hotels Marseille, France The Vieux Port (Old Harbor) is the oldest port in France. It is a beautiful place to visit with its sailboats, restaurants, and cafes. The Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica is also worth a visit. It offers stunning views of the city. If you're looking for a more lively atmosphere, head to the La Canebiere. It's a wide avenue with plenty of shops and restaurants. Marseille Luxury Hotels Marseille Luxury Villas Honolulu, HI, United States Honolulu is a city located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous city in the state of Hawaii and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu. Honolulu is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is located in Honolulu. Other places to visit in Honolulu include Diamond Head, the USS Arizona Memorial, and Hanauma Bay. Honolulu Luxury Hotels Honolulu Luxury Resorts Honolulu Luxury Villas Bar Harbor, ME, United States Famous for lobster and stunning ocean views, Bar Harbor is a popular destination in Maine. There are plenty of things to do in the town and its surroundings, including hiking, biking, whale watching, and exploring Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor Luxury Hotels Colorado Springs, CO, United States There are many places to visit in Colorado Springs. Garden of the Gods is a popular park with beautiful rock formations. Pike's Peak is a 14,115 foot mountain that offers great views and outdoor activities. The Broadmoor is a world-renowned resort with lovely gardens and a championship golf course. Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and a popular tourist spot. Colorado Springs Luxury Hotels Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States Just an hours drive from the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach is a popular tourist spot, especially in the winter when the snowbirds migrate down. The seven-mile-long beach is known for its white sand and clear water and is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking. There are also a number of restaurants and bars in the area, as well as a few stores. Fort Myers Beach Luxury Hotels Biloxi, MS, United States There are plenty of places to explore in Biloxi, Mississippi from the citys iconic Beaches to the picturesque Bay Saint Louis. Venture into the citys downtown area to check out the many shops and restaurants, or take a walk along the shoreline. No matter what you choose to do, youre sure to have a great time in Biloxi. Biloxi Luxury Hotels Palermo, Italy If you're looking for a city with a rich and diverse history, Palermo is the place for you. This coastal city in Italy is teeming with medieval architecture, churches, and cathedrals. Be sure to check out the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Europe, and the Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the Sicilian government. Don't miss out on the city's vibrant nightlife and vast array of restaurants that serve up some of the best food in the country. Palermo Luxury Hotels Palermo Luxury Villas Manila, Philippines The capital of the Philippines, Manila is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. There are plenty of places to visit in Manila, including the walled city of Intramuros, the Rizal Park, and the Manila Bay. The city is also home to a large number of churches, including the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. Manila is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy. Manila Luxury Hotels Zermatt, Switzerland Zermatt is an alpine village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is famous for its ski resort, mountaineering and hiking trails. The views of the Matterhorn from Zermatt are iconic. The village is car-free, making it a cyclists' and pedestrians' paradise. There are many places to visit in Zermatt, including the village's beautiful churches, impressive museums, and great restaurants. Zermatt Luxury Hotels Basel, Switzerland Basel is a city located in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine. Basel has a population of about 176,000 and is the third most populous city in Switzerland. Basel has many interesting places to visit, including the Basel Munster, the Basel Rathaus (town hall), the Basel Zoo, and the Munsterhof, the old town square. Basel also has a number of art museums, including the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Fondation Beyeler, and the Schaulager. Basel is a great city to visit, and I highly recommend it!. Basel Luxury Hotels Copenhagen, Denmark There are a number of places to visit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, and the Rosenborg Castle Gardens. Tivoli Gardens is a beautiful amusement park that has something for everyone. It is perfect for a day of fun with family or friends. Nyhavn is a charming canal district that is popular for its brightly colored houses and lively atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing cruise down the canal or take a seat in one of the many cafes and restaurants. The Rosenborg Castle Gardens are home to a majestic castle as well as beautifully landscaped gardens. There is plenty to see and do in Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen Luxury Hotels Steamboat Springs, CO, United States Steamboat Springs is located in northwestern Colorado. The town is named for the steamboats that traveled up the Yampa River in the 1800s. Today, the town is a popular tourist destination, known for its skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and rafting. Steamboat Springs Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is home to many tourist attractions. Some popular places to visit in Abu Dhabi include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Ferrari World Theme Park, and the Yas Island Waterpark. There are also a number of museums and shopping malls in Abu Dhabi, making it a great destination for those looking for a mix of culture and leisure. Abu Dhabi Luxury Hotels Abu Dhabi Luxury Resorts Abu Dhabi Luxury Villas Bogota, Colombia There's a lot to see and do in Bogota. Some of the top places to visit include the historical La Candelaria district, the cobblestone streets of Plaza de Bolivar, the Monserrate mountain, the Bogota Botanical Garden, and the Gold Museum. La Candelaria is home to many brightly-colored colonial buildings, churches, and plazas. Plaza de Bolivar is the center of Bogota and is surrounded by important landmarks like the Presidential Palace and the National Capitol. The Monserrate mountain is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning views of Bogota. The Bogota Botanical Garden is the largest in Colombia and features a wide variety of plants and trees. The Gold Museum is home to the largest collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world. Bogota Luxury Hotels Cebu, Philippines Due to its location and its rich history, there are plenty of places to visit in Cebu. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include the Cebu Taoist Temple, the Fort San Pedro, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, and the Magellan's Cross. Cebu Luxury Hotels Cebu Luxury Resorts Lagos, Portugal Lagos is a small town in Portugal with a population of around 22,000. It's located in the Algarve region and is a popular tourist destination. Some of the places to visit in Lagos are the beaches, the old town, and the Marina. The beaches are beautiful and there are a lot of them to choose from. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways with lots of shops and restaurants. The Marina is a great place to walk around and watch the boats. Lagos Luxury Hotels Medellin, Colombia Some places to visit in Medellin, Colombia are: the Botanical Garden, the Ethnographic Museum, the Jardin Botanico, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Park of Lights, and the San Pedro Claver Church. Medellin Luxury Hotels Genoa, Italy While there are many places to visit in Genoa, one of the must-sees is the city's cathedral. Dedicated to San Lorenzo, the church features an intricate Gothic facade and a Renaissance interior. If you're looking for a place to take in some stunning views, head to the Genoa Aquarium, which is located on the promenade stretching along the city's harbor. Genoa Luxury Hotels Hoi An, Vietnam Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Its a bridge town thats best explored on foot. The narrow streets are a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture. There are tailors, artisans, and lantern shops galore. The food is also some of the best in Vietnam. Be sure to try the local specialties, like Cao Lau and White Rose dumplings. Hoi An Luxury Hotels Hoi An Luxury Resorts Baku, Azerbaijan Baku, Azerbaijan is a city with a lot of culture and history. There are a lot of places to visit, like the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower. There are also a lot of great restaurants, like the Flame Club, which has a great atmosphere and delicious food. Baku Luxury Hotels San Luis Obispo, CA, United States San Luis Obispo is a city located in the central coast of California. It's known for its natural beauty, relaxed vibe, and abundance of things to do. Some of the top places to visit in San Luis Obispo include the Madonna Inn, Hearst Castle, and the Paso Robles wine country. The city is also home to a variety of beaches, parks, and other attractions. In addition, San Luis Obispo is a great place to live, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and other amenities. San Luis Obispo Luxury Hotels Colombo, Sri Lanka Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The city is located on the west coast of the island and is the administrative, commercial, and industrial center of Sri Lanka. Colombo is also the center of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with numerous Buddhist temples. There are a number of places to visit in Colombo, including the Galle Face Green, the Dutch fort, the Pettah Bazaar, and the Sri Lankan National Museum. Colombo Luxury Hotels Yogyakarta, Indonesia The city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia is home to some of the most stunning temples and historical landmarks in the country. The city is also a great place to enjoy traditional Javanese culture and cuisine. Some of the must-see places in Yogyakarta include the Borobudur Temple, the Prambanan Temple, and the Sultan's Palace. Yogyakarta Luxury Hotels Cefalu, Italy Looking for a beautiful and historic place to visit in Italy? Look no further than Cefalu. This town is teeming with history and stunning architecture, and its location on the coast makes it the perfect place to relax and take in the stunning scenery. Don't miss the Duomo di Cefalu, a 12th century Norman church that is definitely worth a visit, or the Palazzo dei Normanni, a former royal palace. Cefalu Luxury Hotels San Jose, CA, United States San Jose, California, is home to a variety of tourist destinations. Some popular places to visit include the Winchester Mystery House, the Tech Museum of Innovation, and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There are also a number of lovely parks, such as Kelley Park and Plaza de Cesar Chavez, that are well worth a visit. San Jose is also home to a number of great restaurants, so be sure to check out the local cuisine. Whatever your interests, San Jose has something to offer visitors. San Jose Luxury Hotels Hong Kong, China Hong Kong is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in China. There are many places to visit in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Victoria Peak, and the Temple Street Night Market. Hong Kong is also a great place to shop, with many high-end malls and markets. Hong Kong Luxury Hotels Hong Kong Luxury Resorts Orlando, FL, United States Orlando is a city in the central region of Florida, in the United States. The city is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the metropolitan area also known as Greater Orlando. Orlando is well known for its theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. Other tourist destinations in Orlando include the Holy Land Experience, the Orlando Science Center, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, one of the largest universities in the United States. Orlando Luxury Hotels Orlando Luxury Resorts Orlando Luxury Villas Philadelphia, PA, United States If youre looking for a place thats rich in history and culture, Philadelphia is the place for you. The city is home to numerous iconic landmarks, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Theres also a great variety of museums and other attractions to explore, such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum. And, of course, Philly is the birthplace of Americas favorite sandwich, the cheesesteak. So why not visit Americas most historic city and see for yourself what all the fuss is about?. Philadelphia Luxury Hotels Nice, France France is known for its many beautiful places to visit, and Nice is no exception. With its stunning coastline and mild climate, Nice is a popular tourist destination. Some of the most popular places to visit in Nice include the Promenade des Anglais, the Castle Hill, and the Old Town. There is also a wide variety of shops and restaurants to enjoy in Nice. If you're looking for a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in France, Nice is definitely worth considering. Nice Luxury Hotels Nice Luxury Villas Singapore, Singapore Singapore is a popular tourist destination, brimming with cultural and natural attractions. From award-winning restaurants to serene gardens and pristine beaches, there is much to explore in this diverse city-state. Here are some of the top places to visit in Singapore: 1. Marina Bay: This iconic waterfront district is home to stunning architecture, world-class landmarks, and a vibrant nightlife. 2. Gardens by the Bay: These stunning gardens feature a mix of plants from around the world, as well as towering sculptures and a biodome. 3. Chinatown: This lively district is home to traditional Chinese shops and restaurants, as well as vibrant street markets. 4. Little India: This neighborhood is known for its vibrant culture and colorful temples. 5. Sentosa Island: This resort island is home to sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and a variety of entertainment options. Singapore Luxury Hotels Singapore Luxury Resorts Nottingham, United Kingdom Nottingham is a city in the East Midlands of England. It is one of the United Kingdom's major cities, with a population of over 321,000. The city is home to two universities, Queen's Medical Centre, and seven football grounds. Nottingham is known for its lace-making and bicycle manufacturing. The city has a rich history, dating back to the Bronze Age. There are plenty of places to visit in Nottingham, including the Nottingham Castle, the Sherwood Forest, and the National Ice Centre. The city also has a lively nightlife, with a variety of pubs and bars. Nottingham Luxury Hotels Cannes, France Cannes is a city located in the south of France. Some of the places to visit in Cannes are the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, the Boulevard de la Croisette, and Le Suquet. Cannes Luxury Hotels Cannes Luxury Villas Park City, UT, United States Park City, Utah, offers visitors a wealth of places to visit and things to do. Main Street, with its charming shops and restaurants, is a must-see. The Park City Museum tells the town's fascinating history, and the Park City Utah Temple is a beautiful sight. For outdoor enthusiasts, there's plenty of skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. And don't forget to visit the Olympic Park, where the 2002 Winter Olympics were held. Park City Luxury Hotels Park City Luxury Resorts Port Angeles, WA, United States If you're looking for a quaint, small town to visit in the US, Port Angeles is worth a stop. Located in the state of Washington, it's right on the Pacific coast with stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. There's plenty of things to do in the area, from hiking and fishing to whale watching and enjoying the local restaurants and breweries. Port Angeles Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States If you're looking for a fun-filled Florida getaway, look no further than Fort Lauderdale! With its miles of pristine beaches, world-famous shopping and vibrant nightlife, there's something for everyone in this seaside city. Here are some of the top places to visit in Fort Lauderdale: Las Olas Boulevard: This popular shopping and dining district is home to some of Fort Lauderdale's most upscale boutiques and restaurants. The Beach: With its wide, sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Fort Lauderdale's beach is a major draw for visitors. The Everglades: Just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale, the Everglades are home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, bald eagles and manatees. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts: This world-class performing arts center is home to a variety of theater, dance and music performances. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Fort Lauderdale today!. Fort Lauderdale Luxury Hotels Fort Lauderdale Luxury Resorts Myrtle Beach, SC, United States Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to visit in the area, including amusement parks, beaches, and golf courses. Myrtle Beach also has a lively nightlife, with plenty of bars and restaurants. Myrtle Beach Luxury Hotels Myrtle Beach Luxury Resorts Salzburg, Austria Salzburg is one of the most visited places in Austria. It is a city rich in history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Mirabell Palace, and the Salzburg Cathedral. There are also many hiking trails and parks to enjoy. Salzburg Luxury Hotels Pattaya, Thailand Pattaya is an amazing city with plenty of places to visit and things to do. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Pattaya offers something for everyone. There are lovely beaches, interesting temples, great shopping, and exciting nightlife. With its moderate climate and affordable prices, it's no wonder Pattaya is a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. Pattaya Luxury Hotels Pattaya Luxury Resorts Pattaya Luxury Villas Dallas, TX, United States Dallas is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the ninth most populous city in the United States and the third most populous city in the state of Texas. Dallas is also the main city of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The city's prominence arose from its historical importance as a center for the oil and cotton industries, and its position as a major transportation hub for the South. Dallas is home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, and transportation. The city is home to the world's largest airline hub and the third largest cargo airport in the United States. Dallas Luxury Hotels Kolkata, India Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. It is the second most populous city in India, after Mumbai, and the third most populous metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai and Delhi. The city is notable for its colonial architecture, art and culture, and for its overwhelming poverty. Kolkata is home to the Indian Museum, the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the National Library of India, and the Indian Statistical Institute. Kolkata Luxury Hotels San Antonio, TX, United States San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas. There are plenty of places to visit in this city, from the well-known River Walk to the exquisite Spanish missions. If you're looking for a fun place to spend the day, you can't go wrong with San Antonio. San Antonio Luxury Hotels Seattle, WA, United States There are many wonderful places to visit in Seattle, Washington. Some of the most popular attractions include Pike Place Market, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Museum of Pop Culture. There are also many parks and gardens, such as Volunteer Park and Seattle Chinese Garden, as well as plenty of restaurants and shops. Located on the other side of the world, Western Australia is a great place to visit for those looking for something different. Some of the most popular attractions include Rottnest Island, the Margaret River region, and Monkey Mia. There are also plenty of beautiful parks and gardens, such as Kings Park and Botanic Garden, as well as restaurants and shops. Seattle Luxury Hotels Liverpool, United Kingdom Liverpool is a city located in North West England and is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom. The city is known for its football teams Liverpool and Everton, The Beatles, and its maritime history. Liverpool is a popular tourist destination and is home to various tourist attractions including Mersey Ferry, Liverpool Cathedral, and Albert Dock. Liverpool Luxury Hotels Malmo, Sweden Malmo is Sweden's third largest city with a population of over 310,000. It is located in the province of Scania on the country's southern tip. Malmo is a vibrant city with a strong arts and cultural scene. There are plenty of places to visit in Malmo, including the Malmo Castle, the Botanical Gardens, and the Turning Torso skyscraper. Malmo is also home to a large shopping district and a lively nightlife. Malmo Luxury Hotels Gothenburg, Sweden Goteborg, Sweden's second largest city, is a major port on the country's west coast. It's a popular tourist destination, known for its lively nightlife, beautiful architecture and delicious seafood. Some of the city's highlights include the Liseberg amusement park, the Botanical Garden, and the charming old town district. Goteborg is also home to a large number of museums, including the Volvo Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Universeum science center. Gothenburg Luxury Hotels Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and is a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Ljubljana, such as the castle, the old town, and the cathedral. The city is also home to many museums, art galleries, and parks. Ljubljana is a great city to explore on foot, and there are many restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Ljubljana Luxury Hotels Sydney, NSW, Australia Australia is a vast country with plenty of stunning places to visit, but Sydney is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations on the continent. From the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to the beautiful beaches and lush national parks, there's something for everyone in this lively city. There's also a thriving food and nightlife scene, so you'll never run out of things to do in Sydney. Sydney Luxury Hotels Sydney Luxury Villas Melbourne, VIC, Australia There's a lot to love about Melbourne its lively arts and culture scene, its parks and gardens, its diverse range of restaurants and cafes, and its stunning architecture. Here are some of the best places to visit in Melbourne: - Federation Square: This iconic square is a great place to people-watch and take in the city's impressive architecture. It's also home to a number of museums and galleries, including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the National Gallery of Victoria. - Queen Victoria Market: This vibrant market is a must-visit for foodies and shoppers alike. It's the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, and offers a vast array of fresh produce, meat, seafood, and souvenirs. - Melbourne Cricket Ground: If you're a sports fan, be sure to check out the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It's also home to the Australian Football League, and has hosted a number of major sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Union World Cup. - Royal Botanic Gardens: These beautiful gardens are a great place to relax and take in some of Melbourne's natural beauty. They're home to a number of different gardens, including the Australian Garden, the Sculpture Garden, and the Japanese Garden. Melbourne Luxury Hotels Melbourne Luxury Villas Vancouver, BC, Canada The top places to visit in Vancouver are Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, and Chinatown. These are all must-see attractions that offer an array of activities, scenery, and history. Stanley Park is a world-famous urban park that features greenery, beaches, gardens, and a stunning view of the North Shore Mountains. Granville Island is a vibrant neighbourhood with unique shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Gastown is the city's oldest neighbourhood and is home to charming cobblestone streets and funky boutiques. Chinatown is one of the largest and most vibrant Chinatowns in North America and offers delicious food, interesting history, and vibrant culture. Vancouver Luxury Hotels Toronto, ON, Canada From the CN Tower and Hockey Hall of Fame to the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Distillery District, there are plenty of amazing places to visit in Toronto, Canada. With something for everyone, Toronto is a great city to explore. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!. Toronto Luxury Hotels Montreal, QC, Canada Montreal is a vibrant city with something for everyone. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Notre Dame Basilica, the Olympic Stadium, and Mount Royal. The city is also home to a lively arts and culture scene, with theatres, art galleries, and music venues. Montreal is a great place to visit year-round, with festivals and events happening throughout the year. Montreal Luxury Hotels Seville, Spain Seville is one of the most visited places in Spain for a plethora of reasons: its stunning architecture, tapas bars, flamenco and great weather. The Giralda Tower is a must-see when in Seville as is the Plaza de Espana. Andalusian culture is heavily present in the city and is best experienced by wandering the narrow streets and alleyways, popping into a lively tapas bar for a drink and some snacks or enjoying a flamenco show. Seville Luxury Hotels Seville Luxury Villas Ocean City, MD, United States Ocean City is a seaside resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, on the Atlantic coast. It is well known for its long promenade, its fishing, and its crab cuisine. There are plenty of places to visit in Ocean City, including the boardwalk, amusement rides, shopping, and restaurants. You can also visit the Assateague Island National Seashore, which is home to wild horses, or head to the nearby town of Berlin for more shopping and dining options. Ocean City Luxury Hotels Cambridge, MA, United States If you're looking for a quintessential New England town to visit, Cambridge, Massachusetts is the place for you. With its elaborate architecture and Colonial history, Cambridge is a lively town with plenty of things to see and do - perfect for a weekend getaway. Some of the places you won't want to miss include the Harvard University campus, the charming and lively shops and restaurants in Harvard Square, and the leafy paths of the Cambridge Common. Cambridge Luxury Hotels Laguna Beach, CA, United States Laguna Beach, California is a place known for its stunningly beautiful coastline, excellent restaurants, and art galleries. But there's more to Laguna Beach than meets the eye. Here are some of the best places to visit in Laguna Beach: Crystal Cove State Park: This state park is known for its coves, tidepools, and bluffs. It's a great place to go hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. Heisler Park: This park is a great place for a walk or a picnic. It's also home to some of the best views of the Pacific Coast. Downtown Laguna Beach: This charming downtown area is home to art galleries, boutique shops, and excellent restaurants. Aliso Beach: This beach is known for its excellent surfing and swimming conditions. It's also a great place to take a walk or enjoy a picnic. Laguna Beach Luxury Hotels Hot Springs, AR, United States In downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, you'll find historic buildings, antique shops, and art galleries. For nature lovers, there are also plenty of places to visit, including the Garland County Arboretum, Ouachita National Forest, and Hot Springs National Park. Spa enthusiasts can enjoy a relaxing day in one of the area's hot springs. And no trip to Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the world-famous Bathhouse Row. Hot Springs Luxury Hotels Sedona, AZ, United States There are many places to visit in Sedona, Arizona. Among the most popular are the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. The town's unique red-rock formations and ancient ruins offer plenty of photo opportunities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Sedona is a great place to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Southwest. Sedona Luxury Hotels Sedona Luxury Resorts Boulder, CO, United States Boulder, Colorado is a breathtaking city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city is home to stunning views, ample outdoor recreation, and a lively arts scene. Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring the city's many trails, parks, and open spaces. History buffs will enjoy checking out the city's museums and historic sites. Culture seekers will appreciate the city's many theaters, art galleries, and restaurants. No matter what your interests, you'll find something to love in Boulder. Boulder Luxury Hotels Key West, FL, United States Key West is a small island off the coast of Florida that is filled with history, charm, and fun places to visit. Its lush tropical setting and the laid-back vibe of the island make it a popular destination for those looking for a relaxing getaway. There are plenty of places to explore in Key West, from the charming historic district to the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Here are some of the top places to visit in Key West: -The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: This iconic museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Key West for over 20 years. -Duval Street: This lively street is the heart of Key West's nightlife and is home to many bars and restaurants. -The Southernmost Point: This landmark is located at the end of Duval Street and is the southernmost point in the continental United States. -The Key West Lighthouse: This picturesque lighthouse is a popular spot for tourists and offers stunning views of the island. -The African American Heritage House: This museum is dedicated to the history and culture of African Americans in Key West. -The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory: This attraction is home to over 2,000 butterflies and a variety of other tropical plants and animals. Key West Luxury Hotels Key West Luxury Resorts Key West Luxury Cottages Key West Luxury Villas Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm, Sweden is a city with many places to visit. One place is the Vasa Museum, which is home to a ship that sunk in 1628 and was raised from the ocean floor 333 years later. The ship is preserved and on display in the museum. Another place to visit is the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish monarch. The palace is open for tours, and visitors can see the royal apartments, the throne room, and the Hall of State. Stockholm Luxury Hotels Destin, FL, United States Looking for a place to visit in Florida? Look no further than Destin! This city is home to beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants, and plenty of places to shop. No matter what you're looking for, you can find it in Destin. Be sure to check out the Destin Harbor and the fishing pier for amazing views and plenty of things to do. If you're looking for a place to relax, head to the beach and enjoy the sun and sand. There's something for everyone in Destin, so be sure to visit this amazing city!. Destin Luxury Hotels Destin Luxury Resorts Ashland, OR, United States There are many places to visit in Ashland, Oregon. Some of the most popular places are the Shakespeare Festival, Lithia Park, and Mt. Ashland. The Shakespeare Festival is a great place to see some of the best plays in the world. Lithia Park is a beautiful park with a river running through it. Mt. Ashland is a great place to go skiing in the winter. Ashland Luxury Hotels Seaside, OR, United States One of the most beautiful places on the Oregon Coast is Seaside. With its wide, sandy beach and majestic promenade, Seaside is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to eat and shop, and the Seaside Aquarium is a must-see. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, whale watching, or just taking a leisurely stroll along the beach. Seaside Luxury Hotels Newport, RI, United States Newport is a picturesque town located in southern Rhode Island that is home to some of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. The city is known for its miles of beaches and historic mansions that line the coast. Some popular places to visit in Newport include the Cliff Walk, the Breakers Mansion, the Museum of Yachting, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Newport Luxury Hotels Siena, Italy Siena, Italy is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its well-preserved medieval city center. The city is famous for its art, food, and wine. Siena is located in the heart of Tuscany, making it the perfect base for exploring this beautiful region of Italy. Don't miss the Duomo (cathedral), the Piazza del Campo, and the Torre del Mangia. Siena Luxury Hotels Reno, NV, United States Home to the University of Nevada, Reno and a wide variety of cultural and natural attractions, Reno is a great place to visit. Some of the top places to see in Reno include the Nevada Museum of Art, the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, and the Reno Events Center. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and skiing at Lake Tahoe and biking and kayaking on the Truckee River. In addition, Reno is home to a diverse array of restaurants and nightlife venues. Reno Luxury Hotels Atlantic City, NJ, United States Atlantic City is a popular East Coast tourist destination, known for its boardwalks, beaches and casinos. There are plenty of places to visit in Atlantic City, from the Boardwalk Hall and the Absecon Lighthouse to the Atlantic City Aquarium and Lucy the Elephant. For a more thrilling experience, head to one of the city's casinos, where you can try your hand at blackjack, slots, roulette and more. Atlantic City also offers a wide variety of restaurants, from seafood spots to pizza places, so you're sure to find something to your taste. And if you're looking for some nightlife action, the city has you covered there too. Atlantic City is definitely a place worth visiting!. Atlantic City Luxury Hotels Atlantic City Luxury Resorts Lake George, NY, United States Looking for a place to visit in upstate New York? Look no further than the stunning Lake George. This picturesque locale is located in the heart of the Adirondacks and is known for its pristine beauty and terrific recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and skiing, among other activities. Don't miss the chance to take in the spectacular views from the summit of Prospect Mountain or from the water's edge. Lake George Luxury Hotels Buffalo, NY, United States If you're looking for a city that has it all, Buffalo is the place to be. From its vibrant downtown district to its abundance of parks and nature preserves, there's something for everyone in Buffalo. Here are some of the top places to visit in Buffalo: 1. The Buffalo Zoo - One of the top zoos in the country, the Buffalo Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers of all ages. 2. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery - Buffalo's answer to the Louvre, the Albright-Knox is home to some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. 3. The Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village - This living history museum offers a glimpse into what life was like in Buffalo in the 1800s. 4. The Buffalo River - Take a walk or bike ride along the Buffalo River, one of the city's most picturesque areas. 5. Delaware Park - This large park is home to a variety of attractions, including a zoo, a golf course, and a nature preserve. Buffalo Luxury Hotels Rochester, MN, United States Rochester, Minnesota is a city with plenty of places to visit. There's the Mayo Clinic, the Apache Mall, and several other shopping areas, as well as a variety of restaurants. There are also a few parks and golf courses. For those who love the outdoors, Rochester is also close to several state parks and the Mississippi River. Rochester Luxury Hotels Duluth, MN, United States If you're looking for an amazing place to visit, Duluth, Minnesota should definitely be at the top of your list. This city is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, and there are plenty of things to do here that will keep you entertained for days on end. Some of the most popular places to visit in Duluth include the Aerial Lift Bridge, the Glensheen Mansion, and Chester Creek Park. Additionally, there are a number of excellent restaurants and shopping areas in the city, so be sure to explore everything that Duluth has to offer. Duluth Luxury Hotels Maputo, Mozambique Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Maputo, such as the Jose Eduardo dos Santos Museum, the Maputo Cathedral, and the Rua da Independencia. Maputo is also home to the Maputo Bay, which offers beautiful beaches and great seafood. Maputo Luxury Hotels Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, located on the northeast coast of Spain, is a renowned tourist destination and one of the most popular cities in the world. There are plenty of places to visit in Barcelona, such as the Gothic Quarter, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and more. The city is also home to a lively nightlife and some of the best restaurants in the country. Barcelona Luxury Hotels Barcelona Luxury Villas Split, Croatia Split is a city on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. It is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest city in Dalmatia. It has a population of over 200,000 inhabitants. The metropolitan area, which includes the City of Split and the surrounding towns, has a population of over 330,000. Split is a popular tourist destination and is the home of the Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other popular tourist destinations include the Riva, the Peristyle, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and Sustipan. Split Luxury Hotels Split Luxury Villas Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik is a city on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the administrative center of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "The Pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik Luxury Hotels Dubrovnik Luxury Villas Byron Bay, NSW, Australia Byron Bay is a magical place. It's no wonder that it's one of the most popular destinations in Australia. The town is set in a beautiful location, surrounded by rolling green hills and the bright blue ocean. There's plenty to do in Byron Bay, whether you're looking for a relaxing beach holiday or an adventure-filled trip. Some of the top places to visit in Byron Bay include the iconic lighthouse, the stunning beaches, and the lush rainforest. There's also a great nightlife and plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy. If you're looking for an amazing Australian getaway, be sure to add Byron Bay to your list!. Byron Bay Luxury Hotels Wellington, New Zealand If you're looking for a little slice of heaven on earth, look no further than Wellington, New Zealand. With its gorgeous landscape and plethora of activities, there's something for everyone here. Whether you're a nature lover or a city slicker, Wellington has something special to offer. Top Wellington attractions include the Zealandia eco-sanctuary, the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens, and the sprawling Te Papa museum. For those who love getting out into the great outdoors, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as lovely seaside towns and villages to explore. And of course, no trip to Wellington would be complete without trying some of the delicious local cuisine be sure to sample a traditional Maori hangi feast! So what are you waiting for? Book your flight to Wellington today and start planning your perfect holiday!. Wellington Luxury Hotels Saint Louis, MO, United States If you're looking for a fun place to visit with a rich history and plenty of things to see and do, look no further than Saint Louis, Missouri. This vibrant city is home to a variety of interesting attractions, including the Gateway Arch, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. There's also no shortage of restaurants and shopping options in Saint Louis. So, whether you're looking for a place to explore new cultures and cuisines or you're just looking for a place to have some fun, Saint Louis is a great option. Saint Louis Luxury Hotels Bloomington, IN, United States The city of Bloomington, Indiana is home to a variety of attractions and places to visit. The Indiana University campus is a popular destination, as is the city's historic downtown district. Monroe County Courthouse This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Gathered in Montreal, leading conservation organizations have announced a new global initiative to prevent the extinction of endangered species, in partnership with the governments of Brazil, Chile, and Madagascar.Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the initiative will mobilize $6.7 million to deliver a project entitled the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE): Conserving Earths Most Irreplaceable Sites for Endangered Biodiversity. AZE is a global initiative working to prevent species extinctions by identifying and safeguarding the places where Endangered or Critically Endangered species are restricted to single remaining sites.Birds such as the Stresemanns Bristlefront, clinging to existence with fewer than 15 known individuals in significantly fragmented habitat in Brazil, will be targeted.The projects focus will be the creation and improved management effectiveness of protected areas and the improved conservation status of AZE species at five demonstration sites in Brazil, Chile, and Madagascar and at an additional 10 sites globally.By focusing on those sites that represent the tip of the iceberg of the extinction crisis, the Alliance for Zero Extinction is a key approach to save species from extinction, said Gustavo Fonseca, GEF director of programs. These are sites that are the last remnants for entire species. Saving the habitat is saving these fragile species."Carlos Alberto de Mattos Scaramuzza, Ministry of the Environment, Government of Brazil, said: By expanding the Mata do Passarinho Reserve and working with local landowners, this initiative will provide a vital lifeline for the critically endangered Stresemanns Bristlefront. The initiative will provide essential information to inform national species conservation efforts, by focusing effort on the last remaining habitats of endangered species.Neville Ash, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre director, said: Working with the GEF and other partners, this UNEP project is the first global effort to integrate AZE as a distinct priority into conservation planning at the national level. It will scale up best practices on effective and equitable management of the worlds ecological safety nets, and has potential to have a major long-term reduction of global extinction rates, directly contributing towards CBDs Aichi Targets 11 and 12.Braulio Dias, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, stated: Protecting the last remaining habitats for critically endangered species is a vital strategy for preventing extinctions. The CBD Secretariat welcomes this initiative as a contribution towards global species conservation efforts.Diego Flores Arrate, Ministry of the Environment, Government of Chile, said: In Chile, the initiative seeks to create conditions for the survival of three amphibian species, by protecting their habitat and reducing impacts from farming, ranching, and logging activities, considering a participatory approach with different stakeholders.Paola Mosig Reidl, CONABIO, Government of Mexico, stated: Mexico is a strong supporter of the Alliance for Zero Extinction. As host of the CBD COP this year, Mexico welcomes the role of the AZE initiative in informing global species conservation efforts.Michael Parr, hairman of AZE and chief conservation officer for American Bird Conservancy, said: AZE presents an ambitious but realistic plan to address Earths pending extinction crisis. This is a team effort that ultimately needs to involve all of us. The time for action is now.Pepe Clarke, head of policy, BirdLife International, stated: This initiative is particularly important as it links local conservation action to national and international policy. We are truly honoured to be working with the Governments of Brazil, Chile and Madagascar. The bookies are the best part of it, said Star Lowe, owner of Star Line Books on Market Street, in an interview on Thursday.Ms. Lowe and her husband started looking for a home in Chattanooga when their daughter Hannah began school at Berry College.I've got a wonky sense where I can go into a city right away and know if I could live thereif I could be happy there, Ms. Lowe said.She said that she always knew Chattanooga was a place where she could thrive with very little effort.In July of 2012, her family moved into a house on Missionary Ridge.Of course, the first thing that I did was search out an independent bookstore because I thought that was how I'd meet likeminded peoplethat was how I'd enter the community, Ms.Lowe said.To her surprise, though there were some wonderful used bookstores, there were no independent bookstores in Chattanooga when she arrived. Rock Point Books had closed two years earlier.She talked about the cultural explosion happening in the city and mentioned places like the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Tivoli Theatre. She compared Chattanooga to cities in Colorado or the Seattle area because of its progressive, outdoorsy, and environmentally-minded vibe.Bookstores anchor the community, Ms. Lowe said. It's just a necessity for a forward-thinking, progressive city to have an independent bookstore.In August of last year, she put her dreams to work and opened Star Line Books at 1467 Market Street.Her daughter, Hannah, who stopped by the shop briefly during the interview, has been a huge help.She's my free spirit, very independent, Ms. Lowe said. She does quite a bit of the buying. She's got a great eye, especially for the children's section.That has been particularly useful as Ms. Lowe prepares for her first book fair, taking place at The Bright School on May 4 6.Though she said Scholastic does a great job of bringing affordable books to school children, they often provide the same options across the board and their selection has a lot of less-than-diverse choices.Ms. Lowe said she's happy that The Bright School is thinking locally, and she hopes that she won't disappoint.When she first opened Star Line, Ms. Lowe said that she stocked the store with titles that she liked and that were selling well. Over time, however, that initial inventory has been replaced largely with customer requests. She said the store is now very reflective of its customer base.Ms. Lowe said she tries to read broadly, globally, and eclecticly, often seeking books outside her comfort zone, and that tends to be how her customers read, too.I have yet to have anybody come in and ask for bestsellers that you can buy anywhere. That's not what my people are looking for. They come in already pretty much knowing, already having a list, she said.And if customers don't know exactly what they want, she said she can help them figure it out. Many of the books she purchases with specific patrons in mind.But it's tough work running an independent bookstore. Besides her daughter and a couple part-time booksellers, Ms. Lowe mostly manages everything on her own. Recently, she's been working round-the-clock to prepare for a number of upcoming events.I knew it wasn't gonna be easy. I knew it was not gonna be a cash cow, she said. But the worst thing about opening this bookstore is that I don't have time to read anymore!She joked about her fear of being crushed by the towering stack of books beside her bed.However, events like the popular book club mixer she held in February make the job worthwhile.I love bringing book people togetherpeople who are bookies at the core and who desperately wanna talk about the books that they're reading, she said.The next book club mixer is tentatively set for late June. This time, beer, instead of wine, will be the drink of choice.Working with world-class authors has also been a perk of the job. Recently, Star Line hosted a successful event with Ron Rash and Robert Morgan.But overall, she just loves being part of the Chattanooga community.People sometimes ask why I don't serve coffee. I'm in the Bermuda Triangle of coffee! My whole philosophy is to contribute and not compete. Go next store and get something and bring it in! I try to spread it out, spread it around, she said. I love being in the Southside. I love the vibe down here. It's so Chattanoogan.Upcoming Events at Star Line:May 12 Signing with Local Author Matthew Hubbard (5 pm 7 pm)May 12 Workshop on Character Development with Susan Gregg Gilmore and Kelly O'Connor McNees (6 pm 7 pm)May 19 Signing with Poets Nancy K. Pearson, Darnell Arnoult, and Sue Weaver-DunlapHours: M Sat 10 am 6 pmAddress: 1467 Market Street, Suite 106, Chattanooga, Tn 37402 The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation joins the Drug Enforcement Administration for a program this Saturday that gives Tennesseans a chance to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription pills. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. residents can drop off pills or patches to be disposed of at locations all across the state. The service is free and anonymous. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.Last September, people across the country turned in 350 tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners.TBI offices in Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville are among the locations available for pill drop-off this Saturday. The DEAs website also provides information on drop-off sites by zip codes at http://www.dea.gov/index.shtml The prescription drop-off event also serves as the kick-off of a new permanent prescription drug take-back initiative. The Tennessee Household Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program is a partnership of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the TBI Dangerous Drug Task Force, and private companies. Law enforcement agencies in all 95 counties across Tennessee will have boxes at their offices available for residents to drop off waste pharmaceuticals from their homes. This program, which is part of the Governors Public Safety Act, provides an option to residents other than disposal in the sewer or landfill. The TBI will utilize the existing Dangerous Drugs Task Force incident response vehicles placed throughout the state to collect and maintain possession of these household waste pharmaceuticals until their safe destruction in a permitted facility.We want to encourage residents to help curb prescription drug use and abuse by going through their medicine cabinets and discarding all unused, outdated or unnecessary prescription drugs, said TBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Farmer. Environmentally-safe disposal has become a tremendous burden on the resources of our state and local law enforcement. This collaborative program establishes a partnership with government and private entities that share the responsibilities while enhancing the success and sustainability for a healthier and safer state. A former United Continental Holdings chief executive who left the airline last September amid an investigation into an alleged corruption scandal received a severance package totaling $36.8 million. The disclosure came in a filing made by the Chicago-based airline late Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Advertisement When Jeff Smisek, former United chairman, CEO and president, resigned in September, it was estimated he would depart with a golden parachute of at least $8.4 million and possibly double that amount. His pay package included $94,571 for unused vacation. Smisek was embroiled in a scandal over a federal investigation into the alleged corruption of the former New Jersey head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Advertisement Smisek was replaced as CEO by Oscar Munoz. Munoz had a heart attack in October and eventually underwent a heart transplant. He returned to work in March. Munoz's total compensation in 2015 at United was almost $5.8 million. His compensation included $34,000 in jet travel between Chicago and his Florida residence "necessitated by his medical condition." United's filing also showed that another executive, Chief Operations Officer Gregory Hart, saw his 2015 annual incentive pay reduced by $1 million in connection with United's previously disclosed internal investigation into the port authority matter. Hart's total compensation was nearly $3.1 million, according to the proxy's summary compensation chart. Smisek's 2015 total compensation was nearly $15 million, but the proxy also showed that estimated payments and benefits to Smisek under his severance agreement total $36.8 million. byerak@tribpub.com Twitter @beckyyerak If there's a Mom Code of Honor, it definitely prohibits telling another woman's child about a new way to ingest a dessert food that's A) messy B) rude and C) really, really fun. But when 6-year-old Zoey Alpert, who has big green eyes and a missing bottom tooth, tells me that whipped cream is her favorite food, I slip up and somehow manage to mention that we have a special way of eating whipped cream in my house. RELATED: TRENDING LIFE & STYLE NEWS THIS HOUR Advertisement Zoey's mom, Karen, looks at me quizzically, so I guiltily raise an imaginary can of whipped cream to my mouth. "What?" says Zoey. "What?" Advertisement "Spraying the whipped cream bottle straight into your mouth," Alpert says. "Yuck!" says Zoey. And then, saucer-eyed: "Can I do that?" Alpert smiles angelically: "Mommy does it with the whipped cream bottle and the Hershey's syrup bottle at the same time!" Alpert, author of the blog Baby Sideburns and the 2014 best-seller "I Heart My Little A-Holes: A Bunch of Holy-Crap Moments No One Ever Told You About Parenting," is the kind of mom who makes it all OK: the way you eat Cheerios off the floor, what you did when your kid had a blowout diaper at the library, that time you got drunk and agreed to be a Girl Scout troop leader. In her new book, "I Want My Epidural Back: Adventures in Mediocre Parenting," Alpert elaborates on the fine art of giving yourself a big pat on the back for getting through the times when, say, you're lunging across the airplane aisle to catch one child's stream of projectile vomit and the other child loses her mind because ... wait for it ... you're blocking her view of her iPad. You get extra "mediocre mom" credit for serving frozen pizza, allowing screen time, dragging yourself to Girls Night Out and using grown-up language to describe your misadventures (when the kiddos are out of earshot). "Facebook lies," Alpert says, referring to the images of smiling children and blissed-out parents that prevail on social media. "I felt like somebody needed to tell the truth. I've also tried to bring humor. Parents every day are struggling. It's not bad it's normal. And it's nice to laugh a little." "I Want My Epidural Back" has more than 90 five-star customer reviews on Amazon. Kirkus Reviews sniffs that it's "crass" and "rarely entertaining," while Publishers Weekly calls it "hilarious." Advertisement The first thing you notice about Karen Alpert is that, in marked contrast to her larger-than-life literary persona, she is a physically small person: petite and polished with shiny black hair and a disarmingly direct gaze. Barefoot with shiny burgundy toenails she takes a seat in her Chicago-area living room, as does her husband, Greg, 39, Zoey, and Zoey's brother, Holden, 4. Alpert, 43, says she grew up in Dallas, the older daughter of a lawyer and a teacher turned homemaker, and worked as an advertising copywriter before she had kids. When Zoey was a baby, Alpert started the blog that became Baby Sideburns a reference to her fear that her son would take after her in the hairiness department. "Everybody had a mommy blog, and I said, 'I'm a writer and I have a kid. I think it's time for me to have one too,'" she says. Her breakthrough came in November 2012, when she wrote a post titled "What NOT to F'ing buy my kids this holiday." (No. 5: "Any toy that requires me to play it with them. Toys are how I keep my kids busy while I'm trying to get important things done around the house. Like the laundry, and the dishes, and waxing my mustache, and pooping. If the box says ages 4+, my four-year-old better be able to do it without my help. Because if I have to do every F'ing little thing with her, the box needs to say ages 40+.") She was at her daughter's gymnastics class, monitoring the number of views for the post on her laptop, when the total reached 60,000. Advertisement "That's a whole stadium full of people," she said to herself, astonished. The blog post topped out at more than 1 million views, and Alpert capitalized on the momentum with a stream of new posts. "It was so much fun to finally have an audience to write for," she says. And now for the tough questions. "How would you describe your mom?" I ask Zoey and Holden. "Strict," says Zoey. "Mom is so strict about dessert. You can have two cookies for dessert or 3 scoops of ice cream. It's just a little bit of dessert." Advertisement "I want to marry mom," Holden chimes in. "Oh," I say "Is she the best mom ever?" Holden's eyes widen, and he nods. "But she's already taken," Zoey says. "Fortunately for you!" Alpert says, laughing. Alpert concedes that she is a bit strict. She's big on not judging other parents, but her kids definitely do listen when she turns on the mom voice, and she looks as if she's biting her tongue when we discuss parents who let their kids run wild in Starbucks. "I do have an opinion on that," she says, meaningfully, without offering what that opinion might be. Advertisement She and her husband see their parenting style as "a nice balance between strict and a lot of fun." For April Fools' Day, they sat the kids down for a serious family meeting. There was something the kids needed to know, they said: "We are not a human family. We are a robot family." Holden was delighted and immediately began making jerky robot movements. Soon he was marching around the house, arms and legs swinging mechanically. Zoey, on the other hand, got upset. "April Fools! April Fools! We were just kidding. It was a joke!" Alpert said. "I hate robots!" Zoey wailed. Alpert considered that. "Would it have been better if we had said vampires?" she asked. "Yes! Vampires would have been funny." Advertisement nschoenberg@tribpub.com Twitter @nschoenberg RELATED STORIES: 'A terrible idea' and other thoughts on bribing kids to read Mom crafts book out of texty pearls of wisdom for new grads What are the best months to give birth? College of DuPage President Robert Breuder and board Chairwoman Erin Birt wait for start of the board of trustees meeting Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at the college in Glen Ellyn. The board approved 7-1 a buyout agreement that will pay Breuder $762,868. (Mike Mantucca, For the Chicago Tribune) The College of DuPage is expected to acknowledge it violated the state open meetings law when its board of trustees voted in secret to extend the employment contract of the school's controversial president, according to a proposed legal settlement released Friday. DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin sued the school in March, asking a judge to invalidate a contract extension awarded in 2014 to then-President Robert Breuder. Berlin, after listening to recordings of closed-door meetings, determined that the board failed to take a public vote and instead voted by hand, outside of public view, when it authorized extending Breuder's contract an additional year, taking it to 2019. Advertisement A month after he was awarded that contract extension, Breuder began negotiating a controversial severance deal. Under a proposed settlement with Berlin's office, the college would admit it violated the law and nullify the 2014 extension. The proposal which trustees are expected to approve Monday also includes a promise not to violate the act in the future. Advertisement Breuder's presidency began in 2009, and his contract was amended several times until he was awarded a $763,000 severance package last year. More than a year ago, the Tribune revealed how trustees repeatedly granted Breuder contract extensions and additional perks without public notice or discussion. At issue in Berlin's lawsuit is how the board handled a clause in Breuder's contract that automatically extended his three-year deal for another year every April unless the board told him otherwise. The multiple extensions, which the college did not publicize, lengthened Breuder's contract to 2019. The length is key because, among other reasons, it formed the basis for the severance package trustees gave him last year to leave before his contract expired. There is no evidence a vote was ever taken in public, however. Breuder's attorney has said his client was not present when the contract extension was discussed in 2014 and relied on the board's chairwoman to communicate the board's position. The college's acknowledgment that it acted improperly may not affect Breuder's severance deal. Breuder was fired in October, after a new board took over and rescinded his buyout deal. He sued for wrongful termination the next day. His compensation, including car and housing allowances, had been about $484,000 a year. The board also is expected to vote on Breuder's successor Monday. It has narrowed the field to three candidates: David Sam, president of Elgin Community College and a former administrator at the College of DuPage; Barbara Kavalier, president of Navarro College in Texas; and Ann Rondeau, a consultant with IBM Watson Group and past president of the National Defense University. The next president's salary has not been decided, but he or she will not receive the car or housing allowance that Breuder received, according to a proposal released by the college Friday. Advertisement sstclair@tribpub.com jscohen@tribpub.com twitter @stacystclair twitter @higherednews Internationally acclaimed Chicago violinist Rachel Barton Pine was not allowed to board an American Airlines flight because the pilot said her multimillion-dollar violin didn't fit carry-on requirements, according to a representative for Pine. Pine was scheduled to take a direct flight Wednesday night from O'Hare International Airport to Albuquerque, N.M., for performances and master classes over the weekend with the New Mexico Philharmonic. Advertisement She was carrying her 1742 Joseph Guarneri "del Gesu" violin, which is insured for nearly $20 million and is on lifetime loan to Pine from an anonymous patron, according to Jane Covner, Pine's representative. The plane's captain refused to allow her to board the plane with the cased violin because "its dimensions were not correct for a carry-on," Covner's release said. Pine has not had a problem in the past stowing the violin in the overhead compartment of planes, Covner said. Advertisement According to the American Airlines website, passengers can travel with small musical instruments as a carry-on item on a first-come, first-served basis as long as the instrument fits in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of the passenger. The Federal Aviation Administration's Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 includes policies allowing small musical instruments to be carried on board. Pine said she pointed out the airline's policies regarding musical instruments to the captain, who replied, "It is not going on because I say so," according to the release from Covner. Pine was rebooked onto a flight for 5 a.m. Thursday with a connection through Phoenix so she could still attend events with students in the New Mexico Philharmonic's Young Musician Initiative program, which started Thursday afternoon, Covner said in an email. American Airlines said in a statement that the captain of the flight aboard a regional aircraft operated by Envoy Air "determined that Ms. Barton's instrument could not be safely secured in an overhead bin or under a seat." Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > "Ms. Barton was offered the option of valet checking the item, but declined. She was subsequently rebooked for travel this morning on larger aircraft that were able to accommodate her instrument as a carry-on item," American Airlines spokeswoman Leslie Scott said in the statement. "American has reached out to Ms. Barton directly to apologize for the inconvenience," the statement said. Covner said Pine is not asking for any special favors but wants airline companies to be consistent in enforcing their policies. "The Department of Transportation and the airlines have established important policies to protect musical instruments," Pine said in the statement from Covner. "However, those policies are meaningless if they are not enforced or if the airline staff and crews are not properly educated and trained." Advertisement In 1995, Pine's violin was trapped inside the door of a Metra train as she was getting off. She was dragged more than 300 feet and one leg was severed in the accident. gwong@chicagotribune.com Twitter @GraceWong630 A judge on Friday sentenced a Colorado woman who cut a baby from a stranger's womb to 100 years in prison, including the maximum penalties for attempted murder and unlawful termination of a pregnancy. Judge Maria Berkenkotter said the harshest sentences for the most serious charges were justified by the brutality of the 2015 attack, which she described as performing a cesarean with a kitchen knife. Berkenkotter also said the victim, Michelle Wilkins, as well as her family and the community needed Dynel Lane, 36, to express remorse. Lane murmured a "no" when the judge asked if she wanted to speak. Lane also did not speak in her defense during her trial, which ended in February when jurors found her guilty of attempting to kill Wilkins after luring her victim to her home with an ad for maternity clothes. Jurors had heard that Lane went to elaborate lengths to feign her own pregnancy before attacking Wilkins. They did not hear that in 2002, Lane's 19-month-old son drowned in what investigators ruled was an accident. Relatives who spoke on Lane's behalf before the sentencing Friday said her remorse over losing her son may have led her to take an action they could not understand or explain. Lane's attorneys did not dispute that she attacked Wilkins, but they argued there was no evidence it was a calculated murder attempt. They urged jurors to convict Lane of the lesser charge of attempted manslaughter. Berkenkotter sentenced Lane to 48 years for attempted murder and 32 years for unlawful termination of a pregnancy. The remainder of her sentence was for assault charges in the attack. She was given credit for the more than a year she has served since her arrest. Kathryn Herold, the public defender representing Lane, told the judge Friday she would appeal and that Lane had the right not to speak. Berkenkotter acknowledged that was Lane's constitutional right. But the judge said that in weighing her sentence she had to take into account that "people are hungry to hear from you, Miss Lane. Hungry, desperate to hear you express genuine remorse from the bottom of your heart." Prosecutors said they were unable to charge Lane with murdering Wilkins' unborn girl because a coroner found no evidence the fetus lived outside the womb. That led Colorado Republicans to introduce legislation that would have allowed a murder charge. Democrats rejected the measure, the third time such a proposal failed in Colorado. Over the objection of abortion-rights supporters, 38 states have made a fetus' killing a homicide. Wilkins focused on her unborn daughter Friday. She placed a large photograph of her dead baby, who appeared to be sleeping, on an easel next to the witness stand, then asked Berkenkotter to impose the harshest possible sentence. Wilkins said after the sentencing that she saw the hearing as a day in court for her daughter, who she named Aurora. "Judge Berkenkotter was clearly listening to everything that we were saying," Wilkins told reporters, adding she felt justice had been served. In court, Wilkins had directed her words to Lane, who sat straight and showed no emotion as her victim spoke. Lane cried later in the hearing when a letter from one of her two daughters expressing love was read. Lane's mother apologized in court to Wilkins and her family, as did her father in a letter his wife read. Lane had posted online photos of herself with a distended belly and sent the man she said was the father of her child ultrasound images downloaded from the Internet. David Ridley, who lived with Lane and her two daughters, testified at trial that Lane claimed for more than a year that she was expecting a boy, whom they planned to name James. Friends even threw a baby shower. Ridley had grown suspicious by the time Lane lured Wilkins to her Longmont home. Wilkins testified they chatted for about an hour before Lane hit, pushed and tried to choke her, then used two kitchen knives to cut the baby from her womb. When Ridley came home early from work that day to meet Lane for a doctor's appointment, he said he found the fetus in a bathtub and drove the child and Lane to a hospital, where she begged staff to save her baby. Lane said nothing to Ridley about Wilkins, who was unconscious at her home. Wilkins regained consciousness and called police. Associated Press An Army Green Beret will stay in uniform after an extraordinarily public fight to save his career following an incident in which he violated military policy by beating up an Afghan police commander who was reportedly sexually abusing a boy. The Army said late Thursday that Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland would not be discharged. It's a reversal from an earlier decision that raised ire in some corners including from lawmakers such as Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who introduced legislation on the soldier's behalf, the group Veterans of Foreign Wars, and online petitioners who gathered thousands of supporting signatures. Advertisement Martland's backers accused the U.S. government of tolerating and even inadvertently condoning the rape and sexual slavery of boys in exchange for alliances with military and police commanders who help oppose the Taliban and insurgents. Called bacha bazi, or "boy play," such abuse is a longtime custom in parts of Afghanistan and in Iraq and other Middle Eastern places where American troops have served for more than a decade, analysts have said. Advertisement "The Army Board for Correction of Military Records determination modified a portion of one of SFC Martland's evaluation reports and removed him from the [Qualitative Management Program] list, which will allow him to remain in the Army," an Army spokesman said in an email to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Hunter, who is widely credited as leading the congressional campaign to save Martland's career, praised the about-face by military leaders. "They did the right thing. We finally kind of broke through the bureaucratic ... barrier that they've created," he said in a phone interview. "This lets me know that there are people in the Army and the Defense Department and [acting Army Secretary] Patrick Murphy they understand warfare. It's not a game," Hunter said. At issue was a 2011 altercation that Martland and a Green Beret officer had with the Afghan police commander, who was said to be sexually abusing a boy and chaining the child to his bed. Martland has written to Hunter saying that after the commander laughed off the soldiers' concerns about his alleged conduct, they threw the officer to the ground, then kicked and body slammed him until he ran away. Scholars and Middle Eastern cultural experts have said such abuse is a product of sexual repression in some highly conservative cultures and of poverty, as it is poor children who are usually preyed upon. The U.S. Army designated Martland for "involuntary separation" because of his role in the assault, which happened in Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, where American soldiers were working alongside the Afghan army and police units. The other Green Beret, Capt. Daniel Quinn, was relieved of his command and later left the Army. Advertisement The Pentagon has said its policy is to report crimes to local authorities. Martland couldn't be reached Thursday for comment about the Army's reversal. Hunter said he had spoken to the soldier. "He's stoked," the congressman said. "This is his life." Quinn, Martland's former commanding officer, said Thursday that he was "just really happy" the sergeant could continue his career. "The odds were certainly stacked against us, but Charles has never backed down from a fight," said Quinn, who lives in New York and works for what he described as a small family business. "The Army is undoubtedly better for him still being in it," Quinn added. Advertisement As for the larger issue of Defense Department policy toward child abuse in countries where U.S. troops have footholds, Quinn says he hopes to see change. "We should be able to intervene on behalf of these children," the former captain said. "It's not something their entire culture is supportive of. It's just a small minority who are doing this." Among the notable figures lending their voice to Martland's cause was Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who wrote to the Army on the soldier's behalf. The VFW, at the national and local levels, also pushed for him to stay in the service. A VFW official said Thursday that his organization was happy with the outcome. Martland "is an outstanding soldier who did the right thing for the right reasons, and we are very pleased that Army leadership agreed," said Joe Davis, the group's national spokesman. Quinn singled out Hunter for shining light on Martland's plight. Advertisement "If he hadn't intervened, Charles would have been discharged from the service and struggling to support his family and wife, who is pregnant with twins," Quinn said. jeanette.steele@sduniontribune.com Steele writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. An Iranian woman casts her ballot for the parliamentary runoff elections in a polling station at the city of Qods about 12 miles (20 kilometers) west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP photo) TEHRAN Iranians voted Friday in the country's parliamentary runoff elections, a key poll that will decide how much power allies of moderate President Hassan Rouhani will have in the next legislature after the landmark nuclear deal with world powers. Though Rouhani continues to have popular support after the deal, its promised economic effects have yet to trickle down to the Islamic Republic's 80 million people, something hard-liners have belabored in the time since. Advertisement That political tension, once only reflected in newspaper columns and angry speeches, boiled over into rare political violence Friday that saw four people wounded in a shooting in a rural region of the country's Fars province. The vote was for the remaining 68 positions in the 290-seat chamber that were not decided in February's general election, in which Rouhani's allies won an initial majority. Advertisement Though the parliamentary vote isn't expected to herald large-scale change in Iranian policies, it may strengthen Rouhani's hand and make it easier for him to deliver in areas such as promoting social freedoms and reforming the economy. In February, a bloc of reformists and moderate allies of Rouhani won an initial majority 106 seats in a vote that saw a 62-percent turnout. The bloc needs to win 40 seats Friday to ensure its control over the parliament, which begins work in late May. But hard-liners, who have in the past controlled the chamber and who only won 64 seats in February, are also hoping to boost their presence in the next parliament. The political affiliation of the other 52 winners in February's election, among them five members of Iran's religious minorities, remains unclear. That makes the runoff important to cement the control of reformists and moderate conservatives. Polls opened at 8 a.m. Friday and nearly 17 million Iranians were eligible to vote in 55 constituencies, including cities and towns across the nation. In Tehran, Iran's capital and major political powerhouse, moderates won all 30 seats there outright in the first round of voting. The moderate-reformist bloc is fielding 58 candidates in the runoff. The rest of the candidates 78 include hard-liners and several independents. Lawmakers serve four-year terms. Under the law, two candidates compete for every seat in the runoff and the one who wins a simple majority of votes wins the seat. Poll initially were to close at 6 p.m., though election officials extended voting until 9 p.m. or later in some areas. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli earlier told reporters that election results are expected on Saturday. Iran does not allow international election observers to monitor its polls, which the Interior Ministry conducts. Advertisement Mohammad Hossein Moghimi, the head of Iran's election headquarters, told reporters that participation in the vote was "very remarkable," according to the state-run IRNA news agency. He added that authorities sent helicopters to collect ballots from villages in remote mountains. He offered no immediate turnout figures. The voting largely took place in more rural areas where conservatives hold sway, as well as larger cities like Ahvaz, Shiraz and Tabriz. State television aired video of orderly lines of voters casting ballots in schools and mosques, including women wearing the traditional black chador. However that peacefulness was broken in the city of Mamasani in Fars province. There, an argument between supporters of different political candidates escalated into a violent confrontation, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency. ISNA quoted Hossein Zolfaghari, Iran's deputy interior minister for security, as saying police had already identified those responsible and were searching for them. He did not say where the shooting happened or name the candidates involved. "Everything is calm in Mamasani now," he said. There were two candidates opposing each other in the area: reformist Masoud Goudarzi and Abdolreza Moradi, an independent believed to be more conservative than his opponent. Neither could be immediately reached for comment. Advertisement Mamasani is a rural area in Iran where gunfire is common at weddings and other celebrations. Politically motivated shootings, however, remain rare, as across the rest of the country. Also in February, voters picked members for an 88-seat body of clerics officially charged with selecting the replacement for the supreme leader from high-ranking clerics, including its members. The Assembly of Experts is elected every eight years and there is a chance its members may need to find a successor for the ayatollah, who is 76 years old and underwent prostate surgery in 2014, renewing speculation about his health. In the time since, Khamenei has appeared in good health in weekly meetings and reportedly was seen hiking near the capital. Associated Press Aurora's farmers market is set to receive a grant of almost $100,000. (Courtesy of City of Aurora ) Aurora is set to accept an almost $100,000 federal grant for its farmers market that runs from the middle of the summer through the fall. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers Market Promotion Program awarded Aurora a grant of $99,965 to try to get more low-income residents shopping at the Aurora market. Advertisement "There are studies and statistics showing that low-income people don't get enough fresh fruit, vegetables, things available at the market," said John Russell, Aurora's grant writer. "We're trying to reach out to the neighborhoods." Russell said the city has developed a new website for its farmers market, will go into low-income neighborhoods more and will educate people on such things as how easy it is to use the state's SNAP cards at the market. Advertisement The federal farmers market grants are competitive, and are part of a nationwide competition, Russell said. Aurora was one of six grants awarded to Illinois. "It's complimentary to us to be able to be recognized that way," said Alderman Robert O'Connor, at large, Aurora's Finance Committee chairman. The grant comes without a requirement for a local match, which means it costs the city nothing. The Finance Committee recently recommended accepting the grant, and the City Council Committee of the Whole will consider it Tuesday. slord@tribpub.com A 50-year-old Indiana man was found dead, shot in the head, early Thursday morning in Chicago Heights, police said. Brian McGee, of the 100 block of Illinois Street in LaCrosse, was pronounced dead at 3 a.m. Thursday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Advertisement McGee was found shot inside a blue Ford pickup parked on Portland Avenue, authorities said, and pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy conducted Friday determined that he died of multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office. Chicago Heights police officers said they found McGee after receiving a call about a suspicious vehicle in the 1600 block of Portland Ave. Advertisement Chicago Heights police and officers from the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force are investigating. Anyone with information about the shooting can contact the Chicago Heights detective division at 708-756-6422. Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Wall, will stop in Hazel Crest May 5-9. (Photo courtesy The Moving Wall) (Samuel T. Hays) About one-third of the 3,000 Illinois residents killed while fighting in the Vietnam War hailed from Cook County. Ninety-six of those soldiers came from Bremen, Bloom, Rich and Thornton townships. Advertisement They will be honored, as will all local Vietnam veterans, when The Moving Wall stops in Hazel Crest from Thursday to Monday. The half-size replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C. was recently updated and now carries 58,308 names, said Aaron Gray, spokesperson for The Moving Wall nonprofit organization, which built the traveling wall in 1984 so people who couldn't get to the nation's capital might still be able to see it. Advertisement The Hazel Crest tribute will include flag hoistings, a parade, wreath laying ceremonies, the presentation of lapel pins and certificates, and speeches by local dignitaries, including local mayors, the district commanders of VFW and American Legion posts and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. The Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C., will be on display in Hazel Crest May 5-9. (Photo courtesy of The Moving Wall) (The Moving Wall photo) The festivities are part of an ongoing presidential declaration, the 50th Vietnam War Commemoration, that went into effect in 2012 and continues through 2025, calling on communities across the country to seek out and honor Vietnam veterans. "It's a way for us to thank them for their service and give them the thanks they didn't get when they came home," said E. Lamar Rogers, chair of the Hazel Crest Vietnam War Commemoration. The wall will arrive in Hazel Crest via motorcycle escort Thursday morning just before 10, Rogers said. It will be put together behind the Village Hall near a lake and wooded area. It should be open to the public by noon, said Rogers, a Vietnam veteran who did three tours of duty during that war. An opening ceremony will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, with a flag-raising and welcome speech. Diane Alsberry, wife of Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry Jr., will lay a wreath in honor of the mothers of the fallen soldiers, said Carolyn Carter, spokesperson for the village. At 9 a.m. Saturday, 16 veteran organizations will participate in a parade starting at Palmer Lake and continuing along California Avenue to the Village Hall. At 10 a.m., the VFW Post 311 will raise the colors and Hillcrest High School students will sing the national anthem. Afterward, speeches will be given by Ricky Serrano, district commander of the American Legion District 8; Leon Jefferies, district commander of VFW District 8; Alsberry Jr.; and Preckwinkle. During the event, local Vietnam era veterans will be presented with commemorative lapel pins. In addition, representatives from each of the four townships and Preckwinkle will lay wreaths for each of the branches of the armed forces as well as in memory of local residents killed in the war. Advertisement The Moving Wall is the brainchild of John Devitt, who along with Norris Shears, Gerry Haver and other Vietnam veteran volunteers, built the replica in Tyler, Texas, in 1984. Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the country from April through November, making stops for five to seven days. Gray said there are a lot of people who don't know much about the Vietnam War. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "They don't have a grasp on how many lives were lost, the sacrifices made," he said. "When I was growing up, there was barely a paragraph on the war in our textbooks." Rogers said he has partnered with other local groups to fulfill the requirements of the Vietnam War Commemoration. Prairie State College, the city of Country Club Hills and the Cook Count Department of Veteran Affairs are among those partners. Organizations and individuals interested in volunteering as a participant or sponsor of the Moving Wall event can email the village of Hazel Crest at ccarter@villageofhazelcrest.com or call 708-335-9600, ext. 106. The Hazel Crest Village Hall is at 3000 W. 170th Place, Hazel Crest; 708-335-9600; www.villageofhazelcrest.com/ Advertisement For information on The Moving Wall, go to www.themovingwall.org dvickroy@tribpub.com Twitter @dvickroy Tinley Park native Dan Dougherty knows firsthand how the artist Prince tightly controlled access to his music on the Internet. On March 31, Dougherty posted a short video to Instagram of his young daughter Audrey dancing while a vinyl copy of the Prince song "Let's Go Crazy" played on a turntable in the background. Advertisement The next day, Dougherty was notified by Instagram that his account was locked pending an investigation for copyright infringement. "When I initially told people what happened, they didn't believe me. They thought it was an April Fools' joke," Dougherty said. Advertisement It took six days for Instagram to complete its investigation and restore Dougherty's access to his account. Dougherty is a longtime fan of Prince. The Andrew High School graduate serenaded his wife, Meg, with Prince's song "Kiss" with a live band at their wedding. He finds the Instagram episode more amusing than aggravating. Dougherty's local incident mirrors the "dancing baby" copyright lawsuit that was finally resolved last year following an eight-year court battle over fair use of Prince's music. On Feb. 7, 2007, Stephanie Lenz posted a 29-second clip to YouTube of her two young children pushing toys around her kitchen while Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" played in the background. The copyright holder of the music asked YouTube to remove the video, and Lenz sued. In September, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in "Lenz vs. Universal Music Corp." that copyright holders must consider fair use before demanding removal of works from the Internet. The original 2007 video may be watched on YouTube today, where it has more than 1.8 million views. The ruling was a legal defeat for Prince, who died April 21 at age 57. During his lifetime, Prince was notoriously protective of his work. In 2014, he removed all his music from YouTube. Last year, he had all his music removed from streaming services like Spotify, with the exception of Tidal, a musician-owned service founded by Jay Z. In 2007, Prince hired the anti-piracy company Web Sheriff to scrub his presence from the Internet. Last week, the company tweeted the artist was a "creative force who rewrote the rule book." Prince held firm to his principles that artists should control their work and be compensated for it. Dougherty, 35, is a graphic artist by trade and creator of the Beardo comic series. He travels to conventions and earns income selling his work, including the recently self-released collection "Touching Evil," so he appreciates Prince's desire for control. "I do think he was a little too stringent with his policy, but I understand it," Dougherty said. "He worked too hard in his life to give his stuff away for free." Advertisement Tinley Park native Dan Dougherty, here with his wife, Meg, and their daughter, Audrey, was locked out of his Instagram account after posting a video of his daughter dancing while a Prince song played in the background. (Dan Dougherty / Handout) Prince achieved fame under the old model of heavy promotion by his record company. A company would gamble and lose money on many artists who did not live up to sales expectations, but the success of a few could sustain the business model. Fans could expect that an artist who was signed to a record label was considered high quality, at least by some professionals whose jobs were to evaluate talent. The digital age has disrupted the business model in music, just as it has in publishing, television, news and a host of other industries that deal with creative content. A handful of creators can still reach mass audiences through book publishers, TV networks and record labels. But more likely, those with artistic inclinations pursue the independent model of self-publishing. Artists retain control over their work, but it's much more difficult to reach audiences. Under the old model, there were gatekeepers music critics, for example, who could make or break careers with widely circulated reviews. It's much harder for unknown artists to make a living today. Music fans, for instance, expect free access to high-quality recordings via streaming and download services. Even for artists who create great music, it's more difficult to gain exposure even if they're willing to allow free access to their work. Advertisement There's so much free content available on the Internet, discovering quality work online can be like finding a particular grain of sand on the beach or a certain star in the night sky. Dougherty, who is also a songwriter and musician who plays guitar with the band On the Off Chance, said he previously experienced a "viral moment" when he complained online about people taking pictures of his Beardo comics without his permission. "People don't even ask; they just post pictures," he said. "I want to help people understand, this is what we work for. We're naturally going to be very protective of our work." Dan Dougherty, a Tinley Park native, is a graphic artist and longtime fan of Prince. He's drawn renderings of the musician, who was notoriously protective of his work. (Dan Dougherty / Handout) Artists like Dougherty want people to know that creative types rely on fans for financial support. Independent artists are entrepreneurs and small-business owners pursuing the American dream. Quality creative work comes at a price. Artists face costs of supplies, production, instruments and other items in addition to their time. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Prince would be dismayed to learn that in the week since his passing, the Internet has been flooded with freely available Prince music uploaded by fans. While he was alive, it was virtually impossible to find free Prince music on YouTube, Spotify or other channels. Now viewers can easily find videos uploaded in recent days that contain copies of original studio recordings of Prince's music. The audio of "Kiss" accompanying a photo of Prince, uploaded on April 21, had more than 4.7 million views on YouTube as of Thursday. A clip of Prince performing "I Would Die 4 U" from the film "Purple Rain," also uploaded April 21, had 1.8 million views. Advertisement On Spotify, someone created a channel titled, "Sometimes it snows in April. RIP, Prince" and uploaded a dozen songs. The channel has more than 700,000 followers, and the song "Stare" had been streamed 6.7 million times in the past week. I wonder, once the surge of tributes has quieted down, whether Prince's representatives will resume their scouring of the Internet to remove unauthorized uses of his material. I also hope fans respect the need to support independent artists. I worry that a lot of great creative work will go undiscovered, and that artists with integrity will abandon their craft because it's becoming too difficult to make a living at it. tslowik@tribpub.com Twitter @tedslowik A recent concert at First Baptist Church of Elgin helped to raise funds for the Judson University Choir's missionary tour to Jamaica that will run May 10-19. The choir traveled to Jamaica for the first time in 2014. They will once again perform at churches in Jamaica and visit orphanages. Dr. Warren Anderson, Judson choir director and Rev. Huntley Brown, international concert pianist, will accompany the choir to the Caribbean island nation where Brown grew up. Anderson and Brown first met in 1984 when they both enrolled at Judson. Advertisement Denise Moran is a freelance reporter. Respect the flag and the people under the flag: This is for the Speak Out about showing respect for the flag. The flag says we are one nation under God. At this point, I have no respect for the flag because we don't respect the people under the flag. We don't respect one another and what the flag stands for. When we can all get under that flag and say we are all Americans and treat everyone the same, then I will go back to respecting that flag. Until then, it's just a piece of cloth. Rooting for Republicans: Just remember when you vote this November, the Democratic Party has been in charge of the finances for many years. Gov. Bruce Rauner just got in. He's trying to save money. When I grew up, you didn't spend what you didn't have. I would not want the Illinois Democrats to be in charge of my checkbook. Advertisement Troubled about Trump: Wake up, Donald Trump supporters. This man has made so many foolish and unprofessional statements such as telling an anti-supporter to go home to his mommy and make sure she tucks him in at night. He has mocked a handicapped reporter, bad-mouthed women, Muslims and Latinos, and stated he would use a nuclear missile as a last resort. Do you truly want our president with this mental status to have access to nuclear material? That would be the ultimate end to mankind. Suite deal: Here we go again with Mr. Roeser in East Dundee. Same old story. The key to the whole thing is right in the article that you put in the paper. It said that his deal was that the village would buy back any unsold office suites. Repeat, unsold. The one he is mad about is one that he sold. It foreclosed, and now he wants the city to buy it back. You don't need to look any further than that. It's really simple. They don't owe him anything. Advertisement Show us the money: I would like to know where Dennis Hastert got all that money to pay those millions of dollars in silence fees when he was a teacher at Yorkville High School. Teachers don't make that kind of money. And as speaker of the House, he shouldn't have made that much money. Where did he get the millions of dollars? Was that a government coverup? It would be interesting to have an investigative report to find out what's going on now that he's no longer speaker of the House. I'm wondering how much the government is blackmailing Dennis Hastert. Hastert buffaloed America: At one time, Dennis Hastert reminded me of an American buffalo with his big shoulders. I thought he was honest, but he's really an awful man. He fooled everyone. Glory not given to Greatest Generation: Many seniors retired at a lower income level, and then the stock market crashed. We were getting no interest on our investments. Seniors are being hurt again. The senior exercise class for the summer at Elgin Community College has tripled in price. Most of the people who joined the class took it because it was in their price range and they wanted to keep healthy. Now this is all over. Seniors just don't count. They can give classes for free or at a low tuition rate for immigrants in the country illegally. This is definitely wrong. Have a little respect for the generation who has given you so much in life. We are known as the "Greatest Generation." We are proud of that even though you are not proud of us. Perturbed about Parkway project: I am reading about all the opponents to the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge who attended the Algonquin meeting. What they are complaining about is their own little agenda. I wonder how many of them, especially Gary Swick, are concerned about the well-being of the people who live along Illinois 72 or in those communities. The people who live there are suffering from the expense and extravagance of all the people who don't want a road built through their communities. It's not our traffic. It's their traffic, and they can keep it. Bridge bullies: A recent article in the newspaper quoted the mayor of East Dundee as saying there are 10,000 automobiles that pass through the village every day. We only have a population of 3,000. The invasion of these vehicles causes stagnant air and road congestion. The tribe of bullies opposing the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge think they can trample anyone's community. The golden rule states: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We don't pollute their homes and air space, so why should they pollute our area? They have a hedonistic attitude and lifestyle. Please keep your pollution and lifestyle at home, and we will stay away as well. Wise up about wage increase: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and others are saying we need to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Everybody would like to make more money, but you need to consider if increasing the wage will increase or decrease your income. My father used to turn down raises when he was working, and he was a union member. He turned down raises because if he got a 50 cent per hour raise, it put him in another tax bracket that would actually make him bring home less money. People need to get smart. You can't keep raising prices. Where are businesses going to get the money to pay higher salaries? Get information from the library to figure out your tax bracket if you get a raise. People have been getting less and less money to take home. When income goes up, prices goes up twice as much. Think about what you want before you take it. We need to have less spending, prices need to go down, and people need to be taken care of. Doubtful about No Refusal DUI events: I don't understand these No Refusal DUI events in Kane County. How can they possibly be worth it? Since 2008, 131 drivers were charged. What's that? Nineteen events, or six people per event. I would think they could write that many on an average Friday night. If they want to get drunks off the road, I would think they could write hundreds of them every weekend. Women only in women's washrooms: I think the whole world has gone mad when it comes to men telling women who can use their washroom. Giving a man the right to go into a women's washroom because he says he's a woman is ridiculous. Has everyone gone crazy? Don't we have enough people pouncing on women? Government doesn't belong in my bedroom, and it does not belong in my bathroom. Advertisement Guns and God don't mix: Every time I hear Ted Cruz, he says God this and God that while also saying how much of a Christian he is. And then he always turns around to advocate guns. I never heard of God carrying a weapon. If you're so godlike, you would preach to get rid of weapons. People do have a right to protect themselves, but don't preach about God and then talk about what God is against. Illinois leaders lack sense: Karen Lewis, the Chicago teacher's union president, and "10 Star General" Speaker of the House Madigan both lack common sense. Tell me how to spend money that I don't have. In the future, all I can see is that Illinois will be trillions in debt. Pope should have filled the plane: I would like to comment about Pope Francis taking three immigrant refugee families to the Vatican. I don't know why people are making such a big deal about it. He only took three families on a big airplane. Why didn't he fill it up? I'm sure years from now they will say that he did a miracle and should be a saint. Why doesn't he talk to God and ask him to stop the refugees from suffering? Eliminate Electoral College: I would like to think that when I vote for the president that my vote will count. It's the Electoral College votes that really count. Miffed about median: Elgin should feel ashamed of itself. Here they have a highly credited college and a beautiful archway as the gateway to the college. Then you have that disgraceful median on Spartan Drive. They should have eliminated the median if it's not going to be maintained. Just put grass on it and keep it mowed. Hopefully those who are responsible for caring for the median will do something and make it attractive. Craftsmanship takes back seat to cheap prices: Like many people, I'm sorry to see the end of Haeger Potteries in East Dundee. This is another example of how American craftsmanship is becoming a thing of the past. People in businesses who used to buy Haeger products are now buying products made in foreign countries by people making 50 cents an hour. This has been happening for years in American manufacturing. It's sad to see it happen so close to home. Advertisement Stand up for the poor: I just want to say that the poor people of America are the backbone of America, but they are never mentioned. Only the middle class and the rich are mentioned. That's all you see during elections. All the glamour and all the talk. The poor didn't participate in the downfall of America. We lived within our means and paid our bills. Freedom of religion: Whoa, hold on to you people who don't like politicians talking about God. It is their Constitutional right, and every American's right, to talk about their faith in God if they want to. If our government establishes only one religion, then it goes against our Constitution, but that's not happening. Be happy some politicians believe in God. What better attribute can a politician have then to believe in and adhere to the Ten Commandments? Every day, we hear about politicians taking bribes, cheating on their wives, stealing and worse. I'm happy that Ted Cruz is a Christian and not afraid to admit it. I hope he gets elected. Gambling on food: I have one comment about the gambling establishment they are talking about in Prospect Heights. Everyone thinks that 25 percent of their business will be food when the only food they will have will be hot dogs, sandwiches and pizza. Believe me, they are not interested in the food, but they are supposed to be. Backed up to bridge: I've got a comment about East Dundee Trustee Allen Skillicorn. He said that he drives Route 72 to Hoffman Estates, and it was backed up all the way from the bridge in Dundee to Hoffman Estates last Thursday. I drive that road almost every day at various times. I've never seen it backed up all the way to Hoffman Estates. I think it's a little sluff and duff, if you know what I mean. Slur causes suspension: Chicago Blackhawks player Andrew Shaw may have slipped by saying something that was anti-gay. It was punished with a one game suspension. I guess we don't have freedom of speech in this country after all. Editor's note Advertisement Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, please tell us. Call us at 312-222-2460 or email couriernews@tribpub.com. Please include "speak out" in the subject line. The road West began in Barcelona, Spain. That's where David Bell, a professor of music theatre at Northwestern University, held a weeklong retreat for the four co-chairs and two head writers of Northwestern's 85th Annual Waa-Mu Show. And that's where the theme, "Another Way West" was born after intensive brainstorming. Advertisement "Once we have the world of the show, we come back and join with 20 other undergraduates," Bell said. "We meet once a week and do research. This year, we did massive readings on the Oregon Trail." Out of that, a plot began to form, which was divided into nine sections. Two crew heads were chosen for each section, leading a seven-member group. "They are essentially responsible for 12 minutes of the show," Bell reported. Advertisement Through a series of classes, the book, lyrics and music were developed. "Another Way West" tells the story of a student who joins a research expedition across the Oregon Trail to solve a mystery in the journal of the ancestor for whom she was named. Early in that expedition, she becomes legal guardian of her young nieces and nephews, who join her on the journey. The show intertwines the adventures of the student and her ancestor. Musical theater luminaries Michael Mahler, Craig Carnelia, Ryan Cunningham and Cheri Coons served as songwriting mentors. "It's a really intensive lesson in the creation of musical theater," Bell said. Over 100 students wrote the show. Add to that the cast, orchestra, designers, builders, tech people and crew and the total number of students involved is over 200. For most of its history, the Waa-Mu show was a musical revue. When Bell took over six years ago, he turned it into a book musical. Aside from Bell, the largest portion of the work falls on the four co-chairs who organize the writing process, raise money and do marketing and recruiting. This year's quartet includes senior theater majors Myrna Conn, Fergus Inder, Charlie Oh and Elizabeth Romero. They all have leads in the show. "This group of co-chairs has managed to raise more money and write a better script earlier than we've ever experienced before," Bell praised. All four are proud of the product. Advertisement "This year, we take another step in creating a fully integrated book musical like you'd see on Broadway today," Oh said. "We follow a central character and we're going to have some really exciting stagecraft because our show takes place over half of America." "One of the most interesting parts is the musical sound," Inder added, describing it as folksy and acoustic. "And it exists in two time periods. Half the show takes place in 1853 frontier America and the other half is 2016 modern day." Romero said, "This show has a little bit of everything. It's a really exciting story because it's our first completely fictionalized plot." It is, however, based on the reality "of what it was like for immigrants to cross the Oregon Trail." "This year is a great example of what Waa-Mu at its best can be," Conn said. "You can see the next generation of musical theater stars as well as musical theater writers." The 85th Annual Waa-Mu Show, 'Another Way West' When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, April 29-May 8, plus 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7 Advertisement Where: Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University, 600 Emerson, Evanston Tickets: $10-$30 Information: www.waamushow.org Sheri Stucky, of Crete, examines a memorial for people who have recently died due to drug use during the 2016 HERO-HELPS-Southwest Coalition Community Summit at The Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center in Romeoville. (Sean King / Naperville Sun) The statistics are brutal by any measure, and unlikely to show any improvement anytime soon. More than 47,000 Americans died in 2014 from drug overdoses, with 61 percent of those deaths attributed to heroin or a similar opioid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. That is more than double the heroin-related death rate of 2000, just 14 years earlier. Advertisement Closer to home, DuPage County Coroner Richard A. Jorgensen recently said narcotics overdoses claimed 43 lives in the county in 2015, 33 in 2014 and 46 in 2013. His counterpart, Will County Coroner Patrick K. O'Neil, announced Friday there have been 20 fatal drug overdoses thus far in 2016 in his county. "I just confirmed our 20th fatality yesterday," O'Neil told the estimated 400 people who filled the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center in Romeoville for the annual HERO-HELPS-Southwest Coalition Community Summit. Advertisement At its current rate in Will County, the heroin-related death toll "could be in the 80s or 90s by the end of the year," O'Neil told the group. When approached later, O'Neil stood by his grim forecast, adding, "if this continues, absolutely." Medical and law enforcement professionals, educators, political leaders and other citizens took part in the four-hour conference. They included state House Republican Leader James B. "Jim" Durkin, R-Western Springs, and House Deputy Majority Leader Louis I. "Lou" Lang, D-Skokie, architect of the state's newly created Heroin Crisis Act. Durkin and Lang, during a news conference prior to the summit, noted a bipartisan effort led to creation of the act, following Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of Lang's original bill. Rauner had objected to having the state pay for Medicaid for those seeking treatment for their addictions. Lang countered the act "will actually save $59 million" simply by keeping addicts out of hospital emergency rooms and the state's court and prison systems. He noted there is often "a cross section" between substance abuse and mental illness. Durkin agreed political leaders "have to rethink our policies" and the way authorities deal with drug abusers and the mentally ill. Lang said the act "touches just about every issue" related to or stemming from the heroin epidemic. Lang added the act "could become a federal model" for dealing with the national drug crisis. Two U.S. senators and three members of the House of Representatives "have taken a copy of my analysis," as have workers on the campaigns of Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, Lang said. Participants in the summit also heard from Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow and Romeoville Mayor John D. Noak. Walsh noted the county, to date, has "educated more than 8,500 schoolchildren about the dangers of heroin." Of the Heroin Crisis Act, Walsh said "it is our hope that, with this important new law, heroin will finally be driven out of our communities." Advertisement Glasgow, conversely, said it might not be possible to completely shut down traffic on the nation's "Heroin Highway." "I don't know how to do that in Will County," Glasgow admitted. "We're doing everything right here in Will County, and still the (drug-related) numbers are going up." Glasgow said it's "important for our young people to really understand" the consequences of heroin abuse. "I don't think Superman could" survive heroin addiction, Glasgow said. "I think it'd be worse than kryptonite." O'Neil mentioned the skyrocketing use of the synthetic drug fentanyl, which is used to treat cancer patients and those in extreme pain. Jorgensen said fentanyl is being manufactured and smuggled into the U.S. by drug cartels from China, Mexico and the Netherlands, and according to O'Neil the drug is 80 to 200 times stronger than heroin. Fifty-three Will County residents died of drug overdoses last year, including one in August that O'Neil said involved fentanyl. Statistics provided by Jorgensen showed 21 fentanyl-related deaths occurred between August 2015 and the end of March in DuPage County. Advertisement The summit featured a memorial area filled with photographs and remembrances of those who died of heroin overdoses. Romeoville resident and former HERO-HELPS counselor Arlene Dulski visited the shrine on behalf of her daughter, and in memory of her daughter's best friend, a 25-year-old Addison resident who succumbed to her addiction last June. Dulski said the woman's dependence on painkillers led her to abuse heroin. "My daughter is in a depression over the loss of her friend," Dulski said. "She's brokenhearted, and grieving terribly." "I think it's hopeful," Dulski said, when asked for her thoughts on the Heroin Crisis Act and the efforts being made to address the problem of narcotics addiction. "I think there's a lot that still has to be change," Dulski said. "The stigma has to change." "These are young people who are dying, and not the dregs of society. They want to stop, and they can't." Advertisement wbird@tribpub.com Historic photo from when "The Barn" first opened as a Naperville youth center in 1965. (Naperville Sun file photo) Naperville Sun readers have plenty of opinions when it comes to the news of the day. Here are some of the comments left on our website, www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/, and our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/napervillesun/. Residents want Hassert Boulevard renamed, mistakenly believing it's named for former U.S. Speaker of the House and now-convicted felon Dennis Hastert: Advertisement Further proof that, you can't fix stupid and that people will literally find a reason to complain about, anything!! This is so stupid! It's a freaking street name and street sign. Who cares!!!! Advertisement Well, what do you expect? As a society, we encourage this type of behavior. Actually, we not only encourage it but we reward it. Give them an inch and they'll take a mile...every time. People should be upset, that other Republicans sent letters in support of this sex pervert, serial kids pedophile Republican Leader Dennis Hastert. Thats what they should be upset about. Lane closures resume on Route 59 in Naperville so the Illinois Department of Transportation can install sidewalks, repair cracks and plant landscaping: Why don't they do it in the Night? In New Jersey they do in the night. This is such BS! Do the work at night like other states do. I see lane closures & hardly any workers doing anything. Our tax dollars hard at work... Nooooooo!! It's been going on forever....!!!!!!! Absolute nightmare driving north on Rt 59 in the morning. 3 lanes reduced to one. Advertisement Residents recount the history of "The Barn," built in 1965 as a youth center by Naperville high school students and soon to be razed by the Naperville Park District: I can't believe they would tear down a piece of Naperville history for a maintenance building. I remember going to a Sadie Hawkins dance there in HS. When it opened everyone went there to see their friends and dance. If there wasn't a band that night, they played recorded music. It was very popular. I do remember having to get someone to drive us, because it was in the middle of nowhere. I cannot believe this...So sad Sad to have history torn down. Couldn't it be renovated to make it more useful? Wow! Very interesting! Advertisement Naperville Sun Twice-weekly News updates from the Naperville area delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Boooo It rings of Footloose Attorneys for Naperville resident Elzbieta Plackowska, charged with murdering her 7-year-old son and another child, to pursue insanity defense: Had she done the same thing before and expected different results? She killed her kid - of course she's insane !!!!! Anyone who kills another person is nuts. I wish they would stop using the word "mom" when referring to these murderous women. Advertisement Execute her immediately. Case closed and the world would be a slightly better place. As a young college grad with a freshly minted management degree from Eastern Illinois University in the early 1990s, Dave Disselhorst had no inkling that his career soon would take him directly into the footsteps of his father, a 32-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. But as many young college grads do, Disselhorst dabbled in a few different jobs for several years before realizing his calling as a police officer at the age of 27. As a newly hired patrol officer in 1995, Disselhorst said he never turned down an assignment. That can-do attitude helped him move quickly through the ranks during the past 21 years until he finally made it to the head of the Norridge Police Department this year, earning the top rank of police chief. Advertisement "Did I dream of being police chief? No, I never envisioned getting above sergeant," Disselhorst said. "I wasn't expecting it because we're a small department that's not like Chicago, where you have hundreds of leadership opportunities." Disselhorst spent the last five months filling in as acting police chief following the December retirement of former Police Chief James Jobe, who retired and moved to Florida at the end of the year. Advertisement Jobe had explained his decision to announce his retirement six months in advance of his actual departure as a way to ease the village's transition to new police leadership, and Disselhorst started fulfilling the duties of the head of the department well ahead of his official appointment to the position following the April 27 Village Board meeting. In the early 1990s, Disselhorst was a young newlywed who had just moved from Chicago to Norridge and was working as a production scheduler for a manufacturing company when he decided to look for a more satisfying career path, he said. He opened the classified section of the Pioneer Press in 1994 one day and saw a "help wanted" ad that had been placed by the Norridge Police Department. Without any working background in law enforcement, Disselhorst took the police entrance exam, scoring high enough to land a job as a part-time auxiliary officer in 1994. A year later, the department brought him on full-time, and he continued to move up the ranks of the department when he was promoted to street corporal in 2001, then to sergeant in 2011, and commander in 2012. By 2014, he had moved up to the department's second-highest ranking position, deputy police chief. The Norridge Village Board and Mayor James Chmura marked the appointment of Police Chief Dave Disselhorst on April 27. (Natalie Hayes / Pioneer Press) Disselhorst said that while Norridge's historically low crime rates have remained steady over the years, he has found himself facing modern-day challenges in his new leadership role, particularly in finding ways to better connect with the community his department serves. "The role of policing has changed in that officers are being held more accountable for their actions and the community expects the police department to be better engaged with them," he said. "A large part of that has to do with communication how we communicate with each other and with our residents." The police department has found ways to form a closer connection with the public in recent years, both online through its Facebook page and by getting involved in an annual charity event, "Shop with a Cop." The program gives underprivileged kids the chance to go shopping with a police officer around Christmastime. Although his father saw the appeal in fighting crime in the big city next door, Disselhorst said working in a smaller town like Norridge presents a special opportunity to form closer bonds with the community he serves. Advertisement "I think we do a good job of providing the kind of services the people in this community want," Disselhorst said. "We're a stable community without a lot of change in our crime rate, and I think that's why most of our officers choose not to leave." Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. Members of the 21st Star Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution gather around a "Washington Elm" that was rededicated on Arbor Day. (Jennifer Johnson / Pioneer Press) A tree that some believe is connected to a George Washington legend is one of two elms that received special recognition during Arbor Day events Friday in Park Ridge. Members of the 21st Star Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution gathered at Maine East High School for a rededication of the "Washington Elm," an 8-foot-tall sliver of a tree grown from the seed of an elm planted by the DAR in 1932. The tree, planted in November after growing for about four years in the greenhouse of Des Plaines residents Jim and Bonnie Reese, is just outside the Park Ridge school's main entrance at Dempster Street and Potter Road. Advertisement The original elm, which was lost in 2012, was grown from a seedling that, according to legend, came from the tree in Cambridge, Massachusetts, under which George Washington is believed to have first taken command of the American army in 1775, said Gail Enault, regent of the 21st Star Chapter. According to a 1925 report published by the Cambridge Historical Society, when the Washington Elm died in 1923, pieces of it were distributed around the country, and the Park Ridge DAR chapter believes the tree slip it received in 1932 is one of those remnants. Advertisement To commemorate the bicentennial of Washington's birthday, the tree was planted on the grounds of what was then the new Maine Township High School, around the corner from the front entrance along Potter Road, where it grew for 80 years, the organization says. The DAR planted three other elms that reportedly came from the elm in Cambridge as well: at Field, Roosevelt and Lincoln schools, according to a historical account from the group. The other trees are also gone, Enault said. The story of George Washington commanding an army under the elm in Cambridge is still acknowledged by that community today, though the Cambridge Historical Society on its website refers to it as a "legend." "Whether or not this is actually true, the Washington Elm has since been revered and visited by generations of Americans following the Revolution," the site says. The tale was debunked by Harvard University as far back as 1931. According to the Harvard report, which can be found online, "Unfortunately there is no absolute proof that Washington either assumed command of the American army under the shade of this tree or that he noticed or cared for it; and there is certainly very much doubt with regard to the authenticity of the origin of some of the offerings made by professional nurserymen." Even Enault admits it is difficult to say with any certainty that the DAR tree and its offspring have a real a connection to Cambridge or Washington himself. "We don't know. We really don't," she said. But growing a new generation of the 1932 tree was still important to the organization, Enault said. Advertisement "We promote historic preservation, education and patriotism those are the three things that the DAR does," she explained. "And this [tree] does that, along with conservation." Over at Field School in Park Ridge, Arbor Day was also celebrated by replacing a fallen elm. A triumph elm, recently planted on school property near the main entrance along Wisner Street, was dedicated by representatives of the city, including acting Mayor Marty Maloney and City Forester Brandon Naser, with members of the Field Student Council present. Naser said the tree replaces a large, old elm that grew on the parkway just north of the school entrance. That elm was cut down last summer, he said. "We had gotten a call that there was a large split in the trunk," Naser explained. This spring, Park Ridge planted 310 trees across the city, he said, with another 280 planted last fall. The trees represent 23 different species, Naser added. "It's one of the largest plantings we've had in a long time," he said. "The ultimate goal is to develop a more sustainable urban forest." Advertisement jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com Twitter: @Jen_Pioneer Lewis the Chihuahua checks out the Pet Vendor Fair from a comfy spot in his owner's purse. (Sue Ellen Ross / Post-Tribune) Pam Linder lives in the Hessville section of Hammond and takes her dog Rocky for long walks around the neighborhood every weekend. One recent Saturday morning found the pair near the National Guard Armory, which was hosting the Animal Rescue Squad, Inc. Pet Vendor Fair. "I've never been to one of these fairs," Linder said, as Rocky checked out the animals lounging in front of the building. "It looks like an all-day thing, so I'll take him home and come back." Advertisement The dogs Rocky was attracted to were charges of the Dogs are Deserving Rescue and 4Pawssake Rescue. Volunteers of the non-profits answered questions about their organizations and the latter took applications for volunteers. Inside the Armory were 50 vendors, selling items ranging from dog bakery goods and canine clothes to pet beds and jewelry, with much in between. Advertisement Dawn Wasek had a colorful display of various treats she bakes for her business, Pooch's Palate. "Our pets deserve treats just like we do, and we don't always want the same thing" Wasek said, as she set up her table. "I like to offer a wide array to choose from." Mary Roldan of Highland visited the fair with her golden doodle a cross of golden retriever and poodle named Molly. After purchasing a colorful bow to tie on Molly's collar, Roldan moved on to the next table of hand-made pet clothes. "There are some interesting items here," she said, as she browsed the sport-related selections of bandannas and dog jackets. "It takes a special skill to sew these things, especially for the small animals." Lupita Cardoza of Dyer is the founder of Animal Rescue Squad, Inc., which was developed in 2009 and operates 365 days per year. Their mission is to rescue, foster, and place neglected, injured, abandoned, or lost animals with responsible people. As a child growing up in the village of Santiago, Mexico, Cardoza saw many homeless animals she wanted to help. Many of them made their way onto her family's farm. After moving to the United States 10 years ago, she wanted to continue her mission. And she has, with the assistance of many volunteers. "When I came here, I had no idea there were so many homeless dogs and cats," Cardoza said. "I have a passion for animals and wanted to help them. It's important to bring awareness to people that they need homes." Advertisement More information about Animal Rescue Squad, Inc. is at www.animalrescuesquadinc.com. Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. It is time to Wake Up America that is the theme of this year's National Day of Prayer, and I firmly believe that it is a most necessary day in our nation. The Valparaiso YMCA is welcoming any and all neighbors to stop by between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday to talk to those at the prayer station, to ask for special prayers or just sit quietly in prayer. This is such a crucial time for our nation and to many it is most important to incorporate prayer into our lives as Judeo-Christian citizens. Advertisement The chosen scripture for this year's Day of Prayer is from Isaiah 58: "Shout it out, do not hold back. Raise your voices like a trumpet." Our reverence to God is as personal as our prayers, and sharing with others on this day of prayer speaks volumes. While you are at the Y, take time to browse through the plant and gift sale, held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, to find a unique gift for your mom or yourself. Advertisement The Family Youth Service Bureau is continuing to offer special programs to help any and all parents, educators and social service personnel guide children. On May 10, "Birds, Bees and the Talk" will be the subject of a program designed to provide helpful ideas and information on holistic, comprehensive sexuality and ways to incorporate language strategies to answer kids questions. It is a subject that is prevalent in society today and having our youngsters prepared and aware matters. The program will be led by Jessica Steinburger, who is a sexuality educator at Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky. She has worked with diverse populations in Northwest Indiana and her topics include healthy relationships, openness and mutual respect, since sexuality is a lifelong aspect of being human. Parents have always had difficulty talking to their children about the "birds and the bees," and this session will help give information that will ease the squeamish feeling and discuss a most necessary topic with your kids. The program is free, but it is necessary to register, so please call 219-464-9585 or email kunderwood@fysb.org by May 9. Excuse Bob Phelps, Porter County Career and Technical Education Center video and media studies instructor, if he seems a little puffed up these days. You can blame his 36 students, who with his focused instruction had their program named the Television School of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters for the second year in a row and also were the receivers of the Indiana Department of Education's Award for Excellence as the top career and technical education program in the state! These students of today are tomorrows broadcasters, video producers, film editors and story writers and will be involved in every aspect of broadcasting and telecommunications. At the recent Indiana Association of School Broadcaster awards, seven of Phelps' students also won individual awards for their success: Kennedy Starcevich for Music Video, Rachel Diaz for Television Package, Sound Design, and Video Magazine, KT Wright for Television Package, Videography, 30 second Public Service Announcement, Johnny Newell for Short Film, Sam Miller for Cinematography, Gabby Dapkus for Television Copy writing and Ben Nielsen for Sound Design. Advertisement When these young people graduate, they will already have college credits and a head start on becoming part of the world of broadcasting, thanks to an outstanding teacher. Congratulations to both Mr. Phelps and his students for being top-notch. You are my pet persons of the week. What a beautiful evening at a beautiful place. Last Sunday, our Special Olympics athletes, age 16 and over, enjoyed their Spring Formal at the elegantly decorated Aberdeen Manor. It began by having pictures taken outdoors in their lovely setting, then on to the grand march, and followed by being served a delicious dinner by a lovely staff, and then dance, dance, dance. No words can thank owner Denna Fyock and her marvelous staff for giving our athletes such a luxurious evening. Then add to that the super DJ and impersonator Quentin Flagg's music, and the whole night was over the top! It was a night to remember, and the joy of seeing our ladies and gentlemen decked out in their finest is a memory for everyone who was there. How very blessed we are to have such great people in our lives. God's blessings to all, and I hope you have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag. Lorrie Woycik is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune. It looks like the "Trump factor" may be playing a role in early voting in Lake County with local Republicans coming out in greater numbers than usual. Porter County officials, meanwhile, are seeing a number of Democrats voting Republican with only two more days of early voting remaining. More than 11,000 early ballots were cast through Thursday in Lake County since early voting opened April 5. The ratio of Democrat to Republican voters is just over 2 to 1, according to Patrick Gabrione, deputy director of the Lake County Board of Elections. Approximately 7,600 Democrats have voted so far via early voting, absentee ballot and travel board while about 3,600 Republicans have done the same. Total votes cast through Thursday is 11,241. Advertisement Typically, the ratio of Democrat to Republican voters in the second largest Democratic stronghold in the state is 2 1/2 or 3 to 1 and in some years even more. "Turnout has a lot to do with the presidential election and (Donald) Trump," Sheriff John Buncich, chair of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, said. Advertisement Early voter turnout is on pace to exceed 2008 numbers when President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were battling it out for the Democratic nomination. At the time there were only four early voting sites compared to 11 sites today. In the 2012 primary only about 4,000 people voted early. Unlike the 2008 primary, both sides of the aisle are energized this election season by the races between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz and Trump, officials said. And in a rare turn of events, Hoosier voters matter this primary season as no candidate has yet secured their party's nomination. "The passion is on both sides and it is unique this time," Gabrione said. Turnout this year is strongest at voting sites in Republican leaning communities. In St. John, 244 voters cast their ballot Thursday bringing the total at that site to 1,225 people. St. John is the second busiest voting site following the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point where 1,945 people had voted through Thursday. Republican leaning South Lake County also is seeing more turnout than usual. By Thursday, 436 people had voted in Winfield and 393 people voted in Lowell. A little more than a quarter of those voters at each of those sites cast ballots Thursday 92 in Winfield and 80 in Lowell. Meanwhile, voting sites in more densely populated areas that tend to lean Democrat are lagging, officials said. Hammond saw 621 voters through Thursday while in Gary only 530 people so far had voted. In East Chicago, 458 cast ballots through Thursday. In Highland, 698 people had voted, Munster recorded 936 and Schererville reported 539. Voter turnout at the Hobart site was the lowest with 369 people voting. Advertisement Dan Dernulc, chairman of Lake County's Republican Party, said he does not want to speculate for whom voters may be casting their ballots but credits Trump with energizing the electorate and the party. Lake County also is the second largest Republican voting bloc in the state. He said Trump has successfully tapped into an underlying anger and frustration people have with the government. "People have had enough in this country and they want change. Donald Trump has brought in people. I think it's great for our party," Dernulc said. Buncich said the surge in early voters at sites in Republican leaning communities has him reconsidering the party's course of action for November, particularly if Trump is the GOP nominee. "We are going to have to change our strategy," Buncich said. Porter County numbers up Advertisement Early voting in Porter County for Tuesday's primary has picked up as the election draws near, and is also generating a fair number of crossover voters switching parties, most likely for the presidential race, election officials said. Between three early voting locations in Valparaiso, Chesterton and Portage, 3,295 people cast ballots by Friday morning and, including mail-in ballots, the number is probably around 5,000, said Kathy Kozuszek, the Democratic director in the county's Voter Registration Office. Though early voting numbers were not immediately available for the 2008 and 2012 primaries, Kozuszek expects this year's early voting total to be high. "I think it's more for this election than 2012 because it's a new slate, and 2008 was a new slate," she said, adding past presidential election years also had two early voting sites instead of three. The 2008 primary attracted more than 41 percent of Porter County voters and the 2012 primary generated ballots from more than 21 percent of the county's voters, according to result totals on the county's election results web page. Indiana voters must declare a party when they vote in the primary and in 2008. Kozuszek said a lot of Republican voters took Democratic ballots, presumably for the presidential race. This year, Democrats are asking for Republican ballots, most likely driven by the Republican presidential contest, she said. Advertisement More early voters have come in over the last few days, Kozuszek said, with 257 voters casting ballots Thursday at the Valparaiso location alone. Valparaiso has had the most early voters throughout the month, with Portage and Chesterton following respectively. "I attribute Valparaiso to doing more to people coming in to do their taxes," and voting while they're in the county administration building, Kozuszek said, adding 600 poll workers also have come through the doors for training and most likely voted as well. This also was the first year voters could vote on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, something she expects will continue in the fall because the turnout was good. Early voting continues from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and from 8:30 to noon on Monday. The locations are Suite 309 of the Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso; Chesterton Town Hall Meeting Room, 790 Broadway, Chesterton; and in the rotunda of the North County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage. Carrie Napoleon and Amy Lavalley are freelance reporters for the Post-Tribune. What's Quickly? It's where readers sound off on the issues of the day. Have a quote, question or quip? Call Quickly at 312-222-2426 or email quickly@post-trib.com The GLBT rail line will be built but don't blame the Republicans. Our laws have given free rein to the trains for 200 years. Advertisement Can anyone explain why my real estate taxes went up $850 on my $300,000 home? I seem to recall a much lower estimate when the Valparaiso school referendum was being pushed. Hats off to the Post-Tribune for putting the news of Prince dying at the bottom right corner of the front page instead of making it the headline. Personally, I feel it's back page news, but hey, good job on not making it No. 1. He was a person just like anyone else. Unless my death goes on the front page, nobody's needs to. Advertisement The biggest problem that Republicans have with Hillary Clinton is that she is a woman. The GOP is all the time screaming about budget deficits and our national debt, but then proceeds to cut the budget of the agency in charge of collecting revenue, the Internal Revenue Service, by a billion dollars and reduce its staff by 17,000. This practically guarantees that the taxes that are owed are not all going to be paid. I have news for Cruz, the republicans are doing a pretty good job ruining the country without the help of Donald Trump. Now that they are trying to eliminate vehicle emission testing in NWI the same question stands. Will anybody notice? If corporations are people, why don't they have to pay taxes the way ordinary people pay? Religion thrives when it is left in the hands of families and faith communities. Publicly elected government officials cannot and should not use their official positions to favor one religious belief over another. To all of you people so against the legalization of marijuana; do you know how many people have overdosed from marijuana? Zero. Did Prince write his music while high on drugs ? It seems like a lot of so called artists have this bad habit. Advertisement If climate change is such a threat to our way of life, then would someone explain to me why were cutting down trees like we hate them in Lake, Porter, Jasper, and Starke counties? We have lived in Hobart for 25 years. It was once nice in my neighborhood. I can currently see a code violation, or two, from every window of our house. Post Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Quickly seems to be taken over by some lone anti establishment Republican basher mad at every working man in the state. We don't need prayers to stop gun violence, we need common sense gun laws. There are two ways to solve the teacher shortage. Either pay them more so that teaching becomes a career aspiration, or, bring back the draft making teachers draft deferred like in the 60s. Politicians have always said the things we want to hear but Trump has taken this to a whole new level. Most of us know that there are still three branches of government. We elect a president not a dictator. Advertisement I think the goon squad should round up all of these Pence bashers before they ruin the good thing we have going in Indiana. We need to get out the vote for Donald Trump in Indiana. Read more at www.post-trib.com/quickly Adrienne Aaronson's "Preschool Passover," based on a photo she took several years ago of her late mother with her son at his preschool. (Adrienne Aaronson) Thirteen members of the American Jewish Artists Club are showcasing their visions of the meaning of Passover in a juried show at Congregation Solel in Highland Park. The exhibition was arranged by the club's exhibition chair, Adrienne Aaronson. The Highland Park artist has a piece in the exhibit, an acrylic on canvas work called, "Preschool Seder." Advertisement "It's a painting that I did based on a photo that I took of my mother and my grandson at his preschool Passover," she said. The moment that Aaronson captured with her camera in 2008, and then turned into a warm, touching painting, holds special significance for the artist. "My mom passed away a week afterwards," she explained. "Miriam's Cup," an acrylic on canvas work by Diane Nelson of Northbrook, is a stunning image filled with movement and meaning. "I'm a feminist," Nelson declared. "We've always had Elijah's cup but with this new tradition a lot of people are also having Miriam's cup at the table so I decided to do a little reading and find out what her story was." Advertisement What she discovered, "completely fascinated me," Nelson declared. "She was a prophet as well and she helped cheer on the team leading the Hebrews out of Egypt, but particularly the women. She actually made the musical instruments that the women played. I decided to combine that with the cup and have the women dancing off the cup." Nelson plans to add this piece to a series she started a few years ago on contemporary views of Biblical stories. The traditional items found on a Seder plate, as well as the ten plagues that the Jewish people overcame in their journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom, are depicted in Paulette Levy's digital imaging piece "Passover Mandala." The artwork is part of a series that the Skokie artist is doing on mandals, "Which are circles of belief," she said. "My belief is Judaism so I'm doing the Jewish holidays." The importance of the circle shape is that these belief are "neverending," Levy said. She described her piece as, "The telling of the festival of liberation." Lincolnshire photographer Michael Zidman's piece offers a close-up view of the Passover Haggadah, which is the guide to the Seder, as well as covered matzo. "I was trying to think of a way to say, 'What is the holiday about?'" Zidman said. "It was a matter of putting the pieces together. I thought the Haggadah and the covered matzo were symbols of Passover and I thought it told the story of what Passover is all aboutat least one aspect of it." 'Passover,' American Jewish Artists Club exhibit Advertisement When: May 2-July 29; opening reception is 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 15 Where: Congregation Solel, 1301 Clavey Road, Highland Park Information: (847) 910-3764; www.americanjewishartistsclub.org By Helen Kong Editors: Qian Zhou & Alexander Chipman Koty Software platforms are playing an increasingly important role in bridging the information gap between payroll processors and their clients. Those same platforms are now being harnessed to generate and store the various HR administration records that companies need to maintain. These systems are effectively reducing the risk that arises from incomplete or inaccurate HR documentation. HR documentation in any country tends to be of a similar nature, and in China and the other main emerging economies of Asia, the core documents are the same. The offer letter and employee contract define, in different forms, the detail of the employment relationship between the two parties. The employee handbook further delineates the rules and regulations that the company expects the employee to follow. Additionally, the employee information form captures all the relevant details concerning each employee and ensures that those employees take responsibility for the truthfulness of the information they provide to the company. Other documents relating to positions within the organization, such as job descriptions, also need to be managed. Once templates have been defined for each of these documents, they can be configured within the payroll processors system. Assuming an HR hierarchy is set up and operating for the purposes of employee leave and overtime management, it is a fairly straightforward task to add functionality to manage the onboarding of new employees. The relevant information about prospective incoming employees can be entered into the system directly by the recruiting manager. If the hiring manager decides that a candidate is to be hired, that person can update details about monthly salary, starting date, etc. in the system. Once approved by the HR manager, an offer letter can be automatically generated from the system. RELATED: Information Technology-based Solutions from Dezan Shira & Associates Assuming the candidate accepts the offer, the employment contract may be generated in the same way and signed by both parties. The employee information form is then filled out by the incoming employee inside the system, printed out, and signed by that employee. IT systems are also able to facilitate the uploading of all HR documentation back into the system after they have been physically signed/stamped by employee and employer. Reports can be produced on a regular basis highlighting any particular employees for which specific scanned documents are missing, and therefore warn the company about any potential problems that may be developing. At this point, it is worthwhile to note that in China, as with most Asian countries, the original employment contract has much greater legal value than a scanned document. It is therefore still critical for companies to ensure they are in control of the original versions as well. Nevertheless, easily-accessible scanned copies are useful and allow companies to put the physical documents into deep storage at minimal expense. Ultimately, HR administration work in most countries across Asia cannot avoid an element of manual, physical work. Important documentation still requires physical signatures and company stamps. It is likely to be years before digital signatures on the most fundamental documentation become acceptable. However, the sea change has already commenced: IT is allowing headquarters to take closer control of their local HR teams across Asia. This article is an excerpt from the April issue of China Briefing Magazine, titled How IT is Changing Payroll Processing and HR Admin in China. In this issue of China Briefing, we examine how foreign multinationals can take better advantage of IT in the gathering, storing, and analyzing of HR information in China. We look at how IT can help foreign companies navigate Chinas nuanced payroll processing regulations, explain how software platforms are becoming essential for HR, and finally answer questions on the efficacy of outsourcing payroll and HR in China. Human Resources and Payroll in China 2015 This edition of Human Resources and Payroll in China, updated for 2015, provides a firm understanding of Chinas laws and regulations related to human resources and payroll management essential information for foreign investors looking to establish or already running a foreign-invested entity in China, local managers, and HR professionals needing to explain complex points of Chinas labor policies. Labor Dispute Management in China In this issue of China Briefing, we discuss how best to manage HR disputes in China. We begin by highlighting how Chinas labor arbitration process and its legal system in general widely differs from the West, and then detail the labor disputes that foreign entities are likely to encounter when restructuring their China business. We conclude with a special feature from Business Advisory Manager Allan Xu, who explains the risks and procedures for terminating senior management in China. Internet Challenges & Solutions When Doing Business in China In this special edition of China Briefing magazine, we highlight how and why foreign companies will be negatively affected by Chinas internet, and provide methods to help solve these problems. We discuss ISP selection, internet connection types, CDNs and VPNs, and internal control systems. Finally, we examine the importance of network security in China and how it can help augment a companys internet connection. A posthumous film from renowned Chinese filmmaker Wu Tianming is headed for a May release in China and Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese sent his heartfelt tribute to the master. Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese. [Photo / China.org.cn] "Wu Tianming was a true giant of cinema," said Scorsese in a promotional video. Wu was a Chinese film director and producer who was considered one of the leading "Fourth Generation" directors. Wu finished his last film entitled "Song of the Phoenix" before his death but never had a chance to see it released. He died on March 4, 2014 from a heart attack, at the age of 74, just one month after he finished the editing for "Song of the Phoenix," which tells stories about the friendship between two suona horn (a Chinese woodwind musical instrument) artists from two separate generations. According to Wu Yanyan, daughter of Wu Tianming, the lack of promotion funds led to the shelving of this film project after her father died. During the past two years, "Song of the Phoenix" eventually secured financial support from various "selfless" filmmakers and will hit Chinese theaters soon, she said recently in a meet-and-greet event after an advanced screening. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Economic data published by China's provinces and regions showed positive growth in the first quarter (Q1), but also highlighted the challenges faced by some areas. Tibet autonomous region and the economic powerhouse of Chongqing municipality performed the best in Q1, with growth of 10.7 percent. There were 24 provinces, municipalities and regions that posted growth rates faster than the national Q1 figure of 6.7 percent. Economic observers said the service industry had played a central role in boosting the economy, while real estate sales, which jumped in many big cities following government incentives rolled out in Q1, also helped. The Chinese economy has shown positive signs of stabilizing thanks to strong investment in infrastructure and the property sector, and it is expected to hold steady during the remainder of the year. Anticipating downward economic pressure this year, at least two thirds of provincial-level regions lowered their growth targets for 2016 and left room for capacity reduction and restructuring of industries. Analysts said the data showed that policies had been successful and local economies were prepared for the next phase of reform. Robust growth in the west Investment and infrastructure building are both helping to sustain growth in Tibet. In Q1, the central government allocated 30 billion yuan ($4.6 billion) to projects such as hydropower stations and a railway and highway linking Lhasa to Nyingchi Prefecture. Tourism also contributed to the growth. More than 561,000 people visited the region in Q1, up 20.8 percent year on year. Tourist spending increased almost 30 percent. Moreover, per capita disposable income for urban and rural residents grew more than 11 percent year on year, statistics show. "Tibet's growth depends largely upon favorable fiscal policies from the central government and aid from other provincial regions," said Lhorang Dradul, a professor with Sichuan University. The underdeveloped mountainous region of Guizhou province benefited from anti-poverty funds and incentives. It has also reduced its reliance on mining, instead looking to tourism, computer and environment-related industries to drive development. Ding Xiongjun, deputy secretariat of Guizhou government, said fixed asset investment was a key driver of economic growth in Q1. This year, Guizhou has plans for 1,948 large-scale engineering projects in the pipeline, 200 more than last year. These projects will greatly improve infrastructure in Guizhou, he said. Thanks to the robust manufacturing and service industry, Chongqing posted 10.7 percent growth in the first quarter. "The economy in Chongqing has seen stable Q1 growth, with more structural reforms, and new growth engines identified and nurtured. It is expected to maintain this positive momentum," said Tong Zesheng, Chongqing municipal statistics bureau spokesperson. Revamping the northeast Despite encouraging signs elsewhere, the northern industrial and mining provinces of Shanxi and Liaoning posted the country's lowest Q1 growth rates. The former posted growth of 3 percent, and Liaoning put the figure at minus 1.3 percent. "The problems in Liaoning are not new. They are a hangover of years as an industrial base," said an analyst with Liaoning provincial information center. "The data doesn't mean the economy is in a mess. Fast growth is seen in service sector and new industries such as robotics, general aviation and pharmaceuticals," he added. Yi Baozhong, a Northeast Asia expert with Jilin University, said the recession in provinces like Liaoning is mainly caused by an over-reliance on the raw material and energy sectors. "The economy of this model can grow rapidly but is vulnerable to downward pressures," Yi said. A Deutsche Bank report said there were three factors behind the northeastern recession: an outdated growth model driven by resources, huge losses from torpid state-owned enterprises and stalling population growth. Policymakers have high hopes for the old industrial base. The government on Tuesday vowed it would do more to rejuvenate the northeast rustbelt through reforms and economic restructuring. Reviving the northeast is not an expedient but a profound strategy that will help forge fresh economic engines, analysts said. "China's economic transition needs new vitality, which requires the lagging northeast to keep up with reforms," said Song Donglin, president of Jilin University of Finance and Economics. With China's plans to open up low-altitude airspace ready for take off, the general aviation sector is offering a promising contribution for the country's lofty goal to add 10 million new jobs each year. Looking to help cultivate the country's first generation of private pilots, the Yuying vocation school in east China's Zhejiang Province is recruiting students for a three-year helicopter training course. Selecting up to 30 high school graduates, the course costs 56,400 yuan (US$8,600) for three years. The school says graduates can expect an annual salary of more than US$30,000 in return. "We believe there's a remarkable market ahead. Our students won't need to worry about a job once they get the license," said Zhang Shengqiang from Yuying's recruitment office. Private pilots are expected to be in high-demand in China as the government plans to further open up low-altitude airspace. Under the current regulations, private aircraft have to go through complex procedures to get permission from China's aviation authorities before they can fly in airspace below 1,000 meters. Expansion of private aviation is expected to contribute towards the country's ambitious plan to create more than 10 million urban jobs in 2016 and 50 million over the next five years. Industrial sources estimate that 2,000 to 3,000 new pilots will be needed every year in the next five to 10 years. Excluding public services, such as medical transport or firefighting, private flying is expected to create a market worth more than 1 trillion yuan. The sector is expected to create more than 1 million jobs, from pilots to maintenance and ground crew, when fully developed, Tong Gang, deputy of Shengyang Aerospace University, suggested. "With the same amount of investment needed to create one job in the traditional sectors, 12 jobs could arise from the general aviation industry," said Tong. The bad-loan buffer of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China fell below the regulatory minimum, highlighting debt issues again in Chinese banks. ICBC's coverage for bad loans stood at 141.21 percent of the current 204.66 billion yuan (US$31.6 billion) of non-performing loans by March, the world's largest bank by assets said in a statement to Hong Kong's stock exchange yesterday. The provisions breached the current regulatory minimum of 150 percent for the first time since it listed. Bank of China was the first lender to post lower loan-loss coverage at 149.1 percent amid worsening sour debt pressure, BOC said earlier this week. The higher the bad loan coverage ratio, the more capital the banks have to set aside in order to cover the risks brought by debt gone sour. Otherwise the money can be added to the net profit figure. ICBC's net earnings rose to 74.76 billion yuan in the three months ended on March 31 from 74.32 billion yuan a year earlier, while the bad-loan ratio worsened to 1.66 percent from 1.5 percent at the end of last year. Analysts and industry insiders said there are signs that the government is likely to loosen the standard for banks' percentage of the provision for bad loans. Wang Hongzhang, chairman of China Construction Bank, told Bloomberg News on Tuesday that it would be "reasonable" and "possible" for the banking regulator to lower the ratio to 120-130 percent. Agriculture Bank of China, the countrys third-largest lender that also released its quarterly earnings yesterday, said its bad-loan ratio was flat as last year's 2.39 percent at the end of March and its loss-loan coverage fell 9 percentage points to 180.43 percent. A China-funded power transmission system in the length of 100 km was inaugurated here on Thursday after four years of construction, officials said. Cambodian Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo jointly unveiled the project. According to a report by Keo Rattanak, director-general of Cambodia's state-owned Electricite du Cambodge, the project included two substations and a 230-kilovolt transmission line and a 115-kilovolt line, which stretch across southern Kandal Province, southwestern Kampong Speu Province and Phnom Penh capital. The project was built by the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation at the cost of $83.4 million in which $75.9 million (or 91 percent) was a concessional loan from the Chinese government and the remaining amount was met by the Cambodian government, he said. The transmission system has played a vital role in importing the electricity from generation sources such as hydropower plants and coal-fueled power plants, he said. "This is a new achievement for Cambodia, the project will ensure the power supply with reliability, quality, stability and sustainability," he said. Minister Suy Sem said the development of electricity sources and power grids was a key element for boosting economic growth and reducing poverty. "I'd like to express my sincere thanks to the Chinese government for supporting Cambodia in the development of energy sector and for encouraging Chinese investors to invest in this sector," he said. "And I'm confident that the Chinese government will continue to support Cambodia in this sector." Ambassador Bu said the power transmission lines would benefit tens of thousands of families in these provinces. "As a good and true friend of Cambodia, China is very pleased to support Cambodia in developing economy and in improving people's living conditions," she said. "I believe that this project will contribute further to enhancing friendly relations between China and Cambodia." Two were killed and five others injured including 2 heavily in a fire which broke out early this morning at a construction site at Hongqiao Airport's T1 terminal. [Photo: Zhang Ningning/Shanghai Daily] Two were killed and five others injured including 2 heavily in a fire which broke out early this morning at a construction site at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport's T1 terminal, the city government said at noon. The city's fire department said the fire broke out at 7:16 am today at the construction site on No.88 Konggang No. 3 Road, and was put out at 9:18 am. The rescuers found seven victims from the site, including two who were confirmed dead on the scene. Twelve fire trucks and nine fire brigades were dispatched. The fire had started from thermal insulation materials on the site, the authority added. Further investigation is still ongoing. The airport authority said the five injured, including two heavily and three slightly, had all been rushed to hospital. The construction project was ongoing to revamp the T1 complex to raise operational capacity of the airport. Authority said the fire had caused no impact on the operation of T1 at the airport by far. "I saw rescuers carrying out two victims from the building at about 8 am," a witnesses working nearby, who declined to be identified, told Shanghai Daily. "They seemed to be heavily burned." Flash Police in northern Italy on Thursday arrested six suspected extremists, including a couple with two children, who allegedly wanted to join militancy in Syria and Iraq, local media reported. The couple's children, aged two and four, were entrusted to their grandparents after the arrests. The couple were residents of the northern city of Lecco. Among the arrested was also a resident of the nearby city of Varese, a 23-year-old Moroccan who is the brother of a foreign fighter expelled from Italy last year and allegedly killed in Syria. The arrested Moroccan was set to travel to the conflict zone with the couple, investigators said. Arrest warrants were also issued for a fugitive couple, 31-year-old Moroccan, Mohamed Koraichi, and his Italian wife, Alice Brignoli, 39, who had changed her name to Aisha after conversion to Islam. Weeks ago, the family, also residing near Lecco, was reported by Italian media as being missing since last year when Brignoli's mother reported the disappearance to police. Later, investigators found the family had left Italy to join the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. It emerged from wiretaps that Koraichi had talked in a phone conversation with one of the arrested about planning terror attacks in Italy, namely in Rome, investigators told a press conference in Milan on Thursday. A relative of Koraichi, who had allegedly put him and his wife in contact with the aspiring jihadists, was also arrested in Thursday's operation. The arrests took place during joint raids conducted by various police units. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Interior Minister Angelino Alfano praised the operation. "The arrested had evil intentions, they were assessing the possibility of carrying out attacks in Italy," the latter said. Italy has toughened anti-terrorism measures and expelled dozens of suspects following the deadly attacks in Paris and Brussels. Based on a law introduced last year, those found guilty of trying to go abroad to join IS or recruiting other foreign fighters face a sentence of up to eight years in jail which increases to up to 10 years for "lone wolves" who train in Italy with the goal of carrying out terror attacks here. Flash Intellectuals in Nigeria have hailed the fruitful achievements recorded in all fields in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The Nigerian think-tanks, comprising senior officials, analysts, researchers, scholars and representatives of leading media organizations, gathered at the Chinese Embassy in Abuja late Wednesday to watch a Chinese movie titled "Phurbu & Tenzin" and further discussed, objectively, the rapid development in Tibet. The two-hour long movie emphasized the dark history of the old Tibet ruled by feudal serfdom, and also the dramatic social changes and economic development in Tibet after the emancipation in 1951. Charles Onunaiju, the executive director of China Study Center in Abuja, said the movie should be termed evergreen because "it has put on record all the developmental stages of Tibet for all generations to see, learn and objectively understand how China has continued to play its big brother role." Bayo Adetu, a senior journalist, said the movie had further made him understand how Tibet had achieved social and economic development and reaching higher levels under the system of regional ethnic autonomy. Earlier in his opening speech, Gu Xiaojie, the Chinese ambassador in Nigeria, said it was instructive to note that the development and changes in Tibet are obvious to everyone. "Any fair-minded person would be filled with amazement, and anyone who cares about Tibet will be pleased to see all these," he said. In August last year, the Central Communist Party of China held the Sixth Forum on Work of Tibet, which mapped out the grand blueprint of the development of Tibet. Flash The Syrian national TV has denied reports about a Syrian airstrike on a rebel-held hospital in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Thursday. Citing a military source, the TV said the news reports about the airstrike aims "to help the rebels cover their crimes against the innocent people of Aleppo." Earlier in the day, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a Syrian airstrike killed 10 people in a hospital in al-Sukary neighborhood in the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo. Meanwhile, the Syrian official media said the rebels have shelled several residential areas in Aleppo on Thursday, killing 14 people. The situation in Aleppo has deteriorated over the past six days, after the rebels of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front started attacking government positions south of Aleppo and the rebels' Free Syrian Army started raining down Aleppo with tens of mortar shells on daily basis, leaving hundreds killed or wounded. Flash The African Union (AU) has welcomed the return of Riek Machar, South Sudan's armed opposition leader to Juba, capital of the world's youngest nation. Machar was sworn in on Tuesday as the first vice president of South Sudan. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, has welcomed the return of the leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition, Riek Machar, to Juba on April 26, said a statement from the pan-African bloc on Wednesday. The Chairperson has equally thanked President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Government of South Sudan for facilitating the immediate swearing-in of Machar as the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, said the statement. The Chairperson has expressed her hope and expectation that the measures would boost the efforts towards the immediate formation of a Transitional Government of National Unity. The Chairperson has congratulated the people of South Sudan, and commended the leadership displayed by President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, in their commitment to fully implement the agreement for the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan, and their patriotic action to promote the long-term stabilization and reconstruction of the country. The Chairperson has encouraged the two leaders to maintain the momentum and accelerate the work of the Transitional Government of National Unity. She has called on all South Sudanese to dedicate themselves to rebuild their country in earnest, foster strong institutions necessary for an enduring political system and revitalize their national economy. Dlamini-Zuma has stressed the imperative of a united South Sudan, as the country embarks on a new chapter in its history. While urging all South Sudanese stakeholders to continue rebuilding their country, the Chairperson reassures the people and government of South Sudan of the AU's unwavering support in their national endeavor, according to the statement. Flash The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the entry of 150 U.S. soldiers into Kurdish areas in northern Syria on Thursday, deeming it as a "flagrant aggression," according to the state news agency SANA. "We have received reports about the entry of 150 American soldiers into the Syrian territories in the Rmailan area," said the ministry, adding that the move is "illegal, illegitimate and carried out without the consent of the Syrian government." It added that "the Syrian Arab Republic vehemently condemns this flagrant aggression and constitutes an outright assault violating the Syrian territories and runs counter to the international laws." The ministry urged the international community to stop the aggression. Meanwhile, the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV cited Kurdish sources as confirming the entry of U.S. soldiers into Rmailan in the northeastern province of al-Hasakah. U.S. President Barack Obama announced Monday an additional 250 special operations forces will be sent to Syria in the coming weeks in a speech in Hannover, Germany, in an effort to stem the influence and spread of the Islamic State (IS) group. The U.S.-led anti-terror coalition has for long backed the Kurdish forces in their push against the IS in predominantly-Kurdish areas in northern Syria. You are here: Home Flash Russia has sent 2.5 tons of humanitarian aid including 700 kg of bread to Homs province in Syria. The Russian military brought bread, canned fish, meat, sugar, flour and cereal to the village of Ein Al-Dananir on Thursday, according to Colonel Igor Borodin, a representative of a Russian humanitarian center in Syria. Russian military doctors also provided medical treatment to villagers in need. Russian negotiators have also been busy working to persuade the armed forces in Syria to start reconciling with the government. A cease-fire brokered by Russia and the United States, which came into force on Feb. 27, has brought relative peace to the war-ravaged country, although fighting has broken out. Flash Sudan has urged all the conflicting parties in the South China Sea to resort to peaceful settlement, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said Thursday. According to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, negotiations are expected to enhance mutual trust and cooperation, and preserve the stability of the South China Sea, said a statement by the ministry. It called for respecting the rights of all the involved parties in settling the conflicts, and highlighted the Article 298 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Sudan further reiterated its full support to the countries which choose resolving the differences through negotiations based on the international law to preserve peace at the South China Sea region. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing, who is here to attend the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and for an official visit. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, capital of China, April 28, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Xi said China attaches great importance to Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China later this year. "I am looking forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with President Putin on enhancing the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination," Xi told Lavrov at the Great Hall of the People. Xi called on both sides to take the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership of coordination, which both fall this year to carry forward the friendship from generation to generation, and cement the political and social foundation of bilateral ties. He encouraged both sides to strengthen the top-down design and strategic guidance of ties, enhance mutual trust and promote pragmatic cooperation on big projects in particular. The two countries should further step up coordination and communication on major international and regional issues and forge ahead with political solutions to these issues, said Xi. He also called on the two countries to enhance cooperation within the framework of the CICA and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Lavrov said Russia is willing to work with China to deepen economic, cultural and people-to-people cooperation and intensify coordination on international and regional issues within multilateral organizations including the United Nations and the SCO. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking on the South China Sea issue on Thursday in Beijing, said China will remain committed to resolving disputes peacefully through friendly consultation and negotiation with countries directly concerned. China will work with Southeast Asian nations to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, he added. Xi said that for some time developments in the South China Sea have attracted extensive attention. China "unswervingly safeguards its own sovereignty and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea," the president said. Xi made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the fifth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia. Observers said Xi's remarks come at a time when the US is worsening the situation in the South China Sea by boosting its military presence there, and after the US and the Philippines embarked on joint military drills recently. Outlining his ideas to increase security in Asia as a whole, Xi said, "We welcome countries outside the region making a positive contribution to peace and stability here and working with Asian countries to promote the security, stability, development and prosperity of Asia." Su Xiaohui, a researcher of international strategies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Xi's remarks on the South China Sea illustrate two of China's key strategic goals championing State sovereignty and safeguarding regional stability. Xi is also sending a message that "China does not accept any attempt to ruin the big picture", and such attempts include the international arbitration sought unilaterally by the Philippines against China, Su said. The "countries outside the region" mentioned by Xi include the US, which is partly responsible for tension in the South China Sea, Su added. Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said that the US has recently "grouped" with countries such as the Philippines to "muddy the waters" by staging joint military drills in the South China Sea. "This is a root cause that prompts militarization of the South China Sea region and rising tension there," Zhang said. In Singapore on Thursday, China and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed to "properly control and manage differences", according to a Foreign Ministry release. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. All parties agreed that China and ASEAN countries should use the anniversary as an opportunity to "strengthen strategic communication, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and properly control and manage differences", the release said. Flash The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Thursday condemned an attack on its compound in South Sudan's Bentiu region where a grenade partly damaged one of the containers located in the humanitarian hub. In a statement issued in Juba, UNMISS said the Monday attack was carried out by armed forces who used the rocket propelled grenade that landed inside the perimeter of the compound. "Initial investigations indicate that the projectile, along with earlier small arms fire, was directly targeted at the UNMISS compound," the mission said in the statement. The statement said the location of the UNMISS compound is well known and there were no known armed forces in the vicinity of the base at the time of the attack. "The UN takes this opportunity to remind all South Sudanese actors of the sanctity of UN staff, equipment and installations, including the protection of civilians sites and their residents," the statement continued. The attack came a day before the arrival of South Sudan rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar who took up the post of vice president as part of the August 2015 peace deal to end more than two years of civil war. Humanitarian agencies have expressed optimism that the return of the former rebel leader would lead to a permanent ceasefire and thus allow unhindered relief supplies to vulnerable populations. Civil war erupted in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that have split the country along ethnic lines. You are here: Home Flash The UN Security Council decided on Thursday to end sanction measures, including partial arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze on Cote d'Ivoire. In a unanimously adopted resolution here, the 15-nation council decided further to dissolve the sanction committee and its group of experts. The council welcomed "the progress achieved in the stabilization of Cote d'Ivoire, including in relation to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration," said the resolution. In addition, the Security Council renewed for the last time the mandate of United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) until June 30, 2017. The Security Council has requested UN secretary-general to complete the withdrawal of all uniformed and civilian UNOCI components by the end of April 2017. UNOCI was established in 2004 to facilitate the peace process of the West African nation and its mandate has been extended for several times. In January this year, the Security Council decided to decrease the authorized ceiling of military personnel of the UN mission due to considerable progress made in the country on the path of reconciliation, stability, and economic recovery. Cote d'Ivoire endured months of violence after a disputed 2010 presidential election when former President Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down after losing to Alassane Ouattart. Gbagbo finally gave up the post in April 2011. Flash UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the Wednesday aerial strikes against Al Quds hospital in Aleppo, a city in north Syria, and called on the warring sides in Syria to "immediately renew their commitment to the cessation of hostilities." "The secretary-general also reiterates his condemnation of recent indiscriminate shelling by government forces and opposition groups, as well as terrorist tactics by extremists," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman. "Attacks that target civilians are inexcusable violations of international human rights and humanitarian law," the statement said. "There must be accountability for these crimes." Al Quds field hospital, situated in a rebel-held neighborhood in Aleppom, was hit by a missile from a fighter jet on Wednesday, reports said, adding that 27 people were killed in the airstrike. Flash Germany is willing to be more involved in NATO's deterrence against Russia on the eastern border of the military alliance, German media Spiegel Online reported on Thursday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier attend a joint press conference after their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Nov. 18, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua] According to the report, German troops could be sent to Lithuania if a decision to reinforce the presence of NATO allies in the region is taken at the upcoming NATO summit in Warsaw in July. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Germany's offer at a meeting with NATO partners. During a mini-summit of the leaders of Britain, France and Italy with U.S. President Barack Obama in Hanover, Merkel behind closed doors agreed to a contribution from the German Bundeswehr, the national defense force, for planned NATO units, the report said. Obama had signaled ahead of the meeting in Hanover that he expected mainly military contributions from Germany and the UK, said the report. A new mission for Allied troops in the Baltic states, as well as Poland and Romania, will be decided at the NATO summit. It is envisaged that each country will send a battalion of up to 1,000 troops. The Bundeswehr is now examining how Germany can support to build a NATO battalion of about 1,000 troops in Lithuania, the report said. Flash With hundreds of thousands of civilians killed, millions of people displaced and countless families torn apart, the UN relief chief Thursday described the human toll and suffering in Syria as "sickening," and said the global community should be "ashamed" that this is happening on its watch. "It does not require me to say to each and every member of the Security Council, that the impact of five long years of conflict in Syria defies understanding, let alone its description," Stephen O'Brien, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, told the 15-member body during a monthly humanitarian update. Mr. O'Brien's update came as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned yesterday's aerial strikes against Al Quds hospital in Aleppo. According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, civil society groups report at least 20 people were killed as a result of the attack, including three children and the area's last paediatrician. Mr. expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved families. "The Secretary-General also reiterates his condemnation of recent indiscriminate shelling by Government forces and opposition groups, as well as terrorist tactics by extremists. Attacks that target civilians are inexcusable violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. There must be accountability for these crimes," the statement underscored. Calling on the warring sides in Syria to immediately renew their commitment to the cessation of hostilities, the UN chief in his statement encouraged the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), in particular its two co-chairs, Russia and the United States, to exert pressure on all concerned to stop the fighting and to ensure credible investigations of incidents such as the attack on Al Quds hospital. Life is miserable' in Syria In his briefing to the Council, Mr. O'Brien, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said that for many who are merely surviving, "life is miserable." "Deliberately deprived of food and medicine, many face the most appalling conditions of desolation, hunger and starvation. We must all be ashamed that this is happening on our watch," he lamented. Mr. O'Brien noted that the recent cessation of hostilities has provided a much needed moment of respite for some of those who are suffering in this terrible conflict. But the recent developments on the ground "show a substantial and worrisome deterioration, not least with increase of violence reported in Aleppo, Homs, Idlib, Lattakia and rural Damascus." Just this morning Syrian Government forces are reported to have restarted using aerial bombardment in Dar'a Governorate for the first time since the start of the cessation of hostilities, the UN official noted. "It is the duty of the Security Council to ensure that every possible avenue is explored to end the violence. I reiterate the call for sustained, safe, unconditional and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance. The parties to the conflict, the Security Council, and the co-chairs of the ISSG [International Syria Support Group] must exert every effort to revive the cessation of hostilities," Mr. O'Brien stressed, echoing the Secretary-General on the need for the Group comprised of the United Nations, the Arab League, the European Union and 18 countries and which has been seeking a path forward for several months. "You must not squander the opportunity presented by talks in Geneva and by the cessation in hostilities to put an end to the massive human suffering in Syria. The world and the people of Syria need this. They need your action," he added. Despite enormous challenges,' lifesaving assistance reaching millions Despite the enormous challenge such as the increased targeting of hospital and health facilities UN personnel on the ground and humanitarian partners have continued to deliver lifesaving assistance and support to millions of people across the country. According to the UN relief chief, the World Food Programme (WFP) has reached 3.7 million people with food aid in March. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Wold Health Organization (WHO) held a nation-wide polio campaign in March reaching over 2.1 million children. This week, UNICEF, WHO and partners began another immunization campaign to reach two million children in besieged, hard-to-reach and under-served areas. In addition, he told the Security Council that humanitarian cross-border convoys this year are reaching nearly twice as many people compared to the same period last year, with convoys having provided food aid to over one million people this March alone. Relief also continues to reach civilians through cross-line inter-agency operations, with 21 convoys deployed in March, and 24 operations having proceeded already in April. According to estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which Mr. O'Brien leads since January, assistance has been provided to 778,175 people in need in besieged, hard-to-reach and other priority cross-lines locations. Meanwhile, since 10 April, WFP has led and carried out 14 high altitude airdrops to those cut off by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) in Deir ez-Zor city, meeting the immediate needs of some 100,000 people. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) is now distributing the assistance on the ground. While airdrops are used only as a last resort, with the support of many Member States, WFP is able to continue the operation to send food as well as other humanitarian supplies, such as medicine, nutrition, water and sanitation supplies. However, Mr. O'Brien said he remains particularly concerned about reaching areas where complete access has been regularly denied. The UN has submitted the inter-agency convoy request for May to reach 35 towns in critical need. "I call on access to be granted without delay, including to Darayya and Douma. As has been reported many times, these areas are in desperate need of humanitarian aid," he underlined. Parties to the conflict ignoring international humanitarian law "International humanitarian law is very clear on medical treatment. The sick and wounded must be given the medical care required by their condition. Medical personnel must be protected in all circumstances. And attacks against medical facilities are prohibited," Mr. O'Brien stated. Despite these rules, he informed the Council that the withholding of medical treatment continues to be used as a weapon of war in Syria; OCHA is still receiving reports of parties to the conflict ignoring these basic tenets of international humanitarian law, including the removal of medicine and medical supplies from aid convoys. "This week, on the convoy to Rastan, the Syrian authorities removed medicines from supplies, and scissors and anaesthetic medicines from midwifery kits. This inhumane practice directly leads to unnecessary suffering and loss of life. We must continue to press the Syrian Government to allow the delivery of medical supplies. This is not idle [talk] it can be proved and be in no doubt it will be when one day there is no more fighting and those responsible are held to account and they will be. There can never be impunity for this behaviour," Mr. O'Brien said. Concluding his remarks, he said the people of Syria cannot afford to see the situation move backwards again: "If the international community fails to maintain political momentum, with a sustained cessation of hostilities, and without full humanitarian access, the situation can and will only spiral further out of control. The international community simply must not let the chance we have today slip away. Frankly, I am not sure just how many more days or weeks or months the long-suffering people of Syria can endure this protracted humanitarian catastrophe." Flash South Sudan President Salva Kiir Thursday appointed cabinet ministers to the much-awaited transitional government of national unity as part of peace deal to end more than two years of civil war. Kiir announced the formation of the transitional cabinet on state television and radio on Thursday evening after former rebel leader and former Vice President Riek Machar had submitted the list of his 10 ministerial nominees. Kiir's loyalists take 16 ministerial appointments, while the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by Machar holds 10 ministerial posts. The other four posts are designated to former political detainees and other political parties. The ex-rebels took the prominent cabinet dockets of the petroleum and mining ministry as well as the interior ministry. Kiir's supporters hold the finance and defence ministries. Meanwhile, surprise appointments included Garang De Mabior, son of the late founding leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, to the ministry of energy and ex-rebel leader of the nascent Cobra faction David Yau Yau to the junior defence ministry. The appointment of the 30-member cabinet came two days after Machar returned to the capital to expedite the formation of the transitional government. Fighting broke out between Kiir and Machar supporters in the capital in 2013 after Kiir sacked Machar as first vice president. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 2 million people from their homes. Dr. Alic Garang, Ebony Center for Strategic Studies researcher, a South Sudanese think tank, said the two parties will disagree at some point on crucial issues, but will have to seek consensus through cabinet and the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission -- the body monitoring the South Sudan peace deal. "They should work as a team to call on the international community for financial assistance," he said. He added the transitional government will have to seek ways to control expenditure as a huge government awaits them and they should prioritize revamping of the fragile economy badly hit by the more than two years of conflict. Flash China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a press conference in Beijing on April 29. A spokeswoman from China's Foreign Ministry said the United States is not qualified to make carping comments on China as it has not signed on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. After the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House of Representatives on Thursday that China can't have it both ways (being a party to the convention but rejecting its provisions), China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying held a press conference Friday in Beijing saying that the U.S. has not yet signed on the convention. Instead, Washington has introduced its so-called "Freedom of Navigation Program" in 1979 ahead of the birth of the convention in 1982, Hua noted. "This is purely a logic of hegemony to formulate and lead the U.S.-fashion maritime order outside the framework of the convention," Hua said. Hua also noted that it is a secret that is known to all, "the U.S. subscribes to the international law when it is favorable for them, and ignore the law when it is not favorable." More than 30 countries besides China have filed declarations in accordance with the Convention to exclude disputes concerning maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration and other compulsory dispute settlement procedures. "China's rejection to the arbitration and refusal to be part of it is to ensure the solemnity of the international laws, including the convention, and to oppose abusing them," Hua said. Blinken was challenging China's lasting rejection to arbitration by a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which was established in 2014 at Manila's unilateral request against China. Flash China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a press conference in Beijing on April 29. China on Friday said it does not recognize Japan's self-declared exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Okinotori Atoll. An EEZ is an area of sea over which a state has exclusive rights of exploration. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying was responding to reports regarding Japan's Thursday reiteration that it classed Okinotori as an island, not a collection of rocks. It is illegal for Japan to claim areas around the Okinotori Atoll as its continental shelf or EEZ, Hua said. Hua explained that Okinotori Atoll, some 1,700 km south of Tokyo, was a group of rocks in the western Pacific Ocean, and less than 10 square meters of the rocks are above sea level at high tide. According to Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, rocks that cannot sustain human habitation or an economic life cannot have EEZ or continental shelf status, Hua said. Hua also reviewed that in 2012, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf did not adopt Japanese claims over the geopolitical classification of Okinotori Atoll, and Japan's claim of its outer continental shelf based on Okinotori Atoll was not acknowledged by the commission. Authorities demolished Island Head Christian Church. (Photo: China Aid) China Aid Reported in Chinese by Qiao Nong. Translated by Carolyn Song. Edited in English by Ava Collins. (Wenzhou, ZhejiangApril 26, 2016) Authorities in Chinas coastal Zhejiang province demolished a church building on April 13, after reportedly claiming that the churchs cross was positioned too high. A demolition team consisting of several dozen people tore down Island Head Christian Church in the city of Wenzhou, declaring that the building was illegally constructed. Church leaders and other attendees resisted the demolition at first, but relented after officials threatened the protesters. One of the church attendees estimated that a value of approximately three million Yuan (U.S. $460,000) was lost in the destruction of the three-story church building. Since 2014, authorities across the Zhejiang province have demolished more than 2,000 church crosses, with at least 50 destroyed in Wenzhou during the month of March alone. The removal of crosses is part of an ongoing beautification campaign known as Three Rectifications and One Demolition. Authorities often claim that church buildings or crosses have been constructed illegally as justification for the demolitions. China Aid reports on church demolitions such as the destruction of Island Head Christian Church in order to expose abuses by the Chinese government and promote religious freedom and rule of law. China Aid Contacts Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985 Email: [email protected] Website: www.chinaaid.org "When you travel from the US to Asia, you end up one day ahead, and if you think of mobile internet in particular, Asia is ahead of the rest of the world, and you feel like you have stepped into the future" said Daniel Alegre, president of Google Inc's Global Partnerships, during the "Thought Leader" session of the ongoing Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) held on Thursday in Beijing. According to Alegre, ranking at $28 billion, Asia is now the second largest market followed by the US for venture capital investment, five times than it was just in 2015. Taking Alipay, the mobile payment application that launched by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd as an example, he was impressed at the ease of transactions, such as scanning QR codes on mobile phones to pay bills at the counter of restaurant, which was one of China's technological innovations. Themed "Mobile Infinity", the event covers topics such as robotics, virtual reality, mobile advertising, transforming mobile into an important tool in the medical sector, smart home appliances and the mobile games sector. Since 2009, organized by the Great Wall Club, the GMIC hosts mobile executives, entrepreneurs, developers, and investors from around the world and across platforms to build partnerships, learn from industry thought leaders, to better understand mobile technology trends, and to shed light on how mobile is positively changing the world. After the Beijing event, this year's GMIC will be consecutively held in the cities including Tokyo, Jakarta, Sao Paulo, San Francisco, Bangalore, Taipei and Seoul. A Chinese woman makes phone call at a business hall of China Mobile in Qionghai, South China's Hainan province, 17 May 2011.[Photo/IC] China's telecom regulator said on Thursday it will push carriers to waive domestic roaming charges, a fee that is receiving wide criticism but still a key source of revenue for the "Big Three" telecom companies. Wen Ku, director of the telecom sector under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said mobile charges should be decided by the market and the government encourages carriers to gradually stop charging domestic roaming fees as competition heats up. "We will make more efforts so mobile users will pay an equal price for local and cross-province calls," Wen said at a news conference detailing China's quarterly performance in industrial and telecom sectors. The announcement sent down shares of the country's biggest carrier China Mobile Ltd by 0.16 percent on Thursday, to close at HK$91.45 ($11.79) in Hong Kong. Chinese carriers collect domestic roaming charges on cross-province phone calls. The amount ranges from 0.6 yuan (9 cents) to 0.8 yuan a minute depending on the service packages subscribers signed up. The roaming charges are set by the three State-owned carriers as long as the amount is lower than a ceiling price drawn by the ministry. Mobile users have criticized the practice of collecting domestic roaming fees because they believe roaming long-distance calls do not add carriers' costs. The industry has been discussing the removal of roaming charges for years, but carriers seem slow to make solid moves. Milly Xiang, a Beijing-based telecom analyst at the consultancy International Data Corp, said although voice revenue is declining, the service remains a major source of income for carriers. "Given that carriers face multiple challenges in maintaining a sound profit, of course they will do whatever they can to slow down the process of removing domestic roaming to avoid further pressure on their profit margin," said Xiang. The challenges include submitting base station rental fees to a newly established infrastructure operator known as China Tower and the declining average revenues the carriers can generate from each subscriber. China Mobile's first-quarter voice call usage declined by 14 billion minutes year-on-year while data traffic usage jumped by 40 percent. The changes indicate its 830 million users are abandoning voice call services for internet communication applications such as WeChat. Zhang Xu, a designer working in Beijing, said she stopped calling her parents who are living in Zhejiang province about a year ago because exchanging texts, voice messages and emoji icons on WeChat was "easier and effective". China Mobile and the two smaller carriers, China Telecom Corp Ltd and China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd, did not immediately respond to the ministry official's comment. But the trio said earlier this year they will cooperate with the regulators on bringing down telecom fees while improving service quality. Domestic roaming charges for calls between Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province were scrapped in 2015 as a result of a national strategy aimed to grow economic ties among the three regions. The ministry also said China's value-added industrial output, a key indicator for the economy, expanded 5.8 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, outpacing the 5.4-percent increase in the January-February period. International publishers will see their intellectual property protected better in China, thanks to a milestone agreement between China's biggest internet search engine Baidu Inc and the International Publishers Copyright Coalition. Under a memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday, the two organizations will cooperate in tackling online IP infringement. For example, they will help IP rights holders find out if their rights are being infringed, and if so, will take down the infringed content from the Baidu search engine. Beijing-based Baidu said in a statement that it will set up a platform dedicated to processing tipoffs about both Chinese-language and English-language IP infringement and create a healthy internet environment. "Baidu has been actively working to solve the challenges in protecting copyrights online via teaming up with partners around the globe," said the company in a statement. The search engine giant had been accused in the past of allowing unauthorized digital content of books and music on its sites. The move was welcomed by international publishers looking to generate significant revenue in China by exporting their digital content. The United Kingdom's publishing industry, for example, has a third of its total revenue coming from digital sales and 40 percent from exports, including a significant portion from China. "We hope that we will progress our work with Baidu even further over the coming years to look at ways of delisting websites containing infringing content and filtering out pirated material," said Emma House, director of publisher relations at the UK Publishers Association, which is a sponsor of the IPCC. "For publishers, it's extremely important and valuable that the three major online platforms in ChinaBaidu, Alibaba (Group Holding Ltd) and Tencent (Holdings Ltd)take copyright protection seriously. The IPCC already has an MOU with Alibaba and now the MOU with Baidu represents progress in the internet platforms partnering with rights holders to tackle the problem of copyright infringement together." Matthias Wahls, managing director of M. Wahls Publishing Consultancy, said the agreement is very encouraging for publishers and authors. "Digital content is increasingly easy to experience copyright infringement issues, which means the role that a search engine like Baidu can play to protect IP is increasingly significant," said Wahls. Xu Jiayin, chairman of Evergrande Real Estate Group, left, and Xia Haijun, chief executive officer of Evergrande, attend a news conference in Hong Kong. [Photo/Agencies] Debt-ridden Evergrande Real Estate Group Ltd has agreed to buy Shengjing Bank Co's domestic shares worth 10 billion yuan ($1.54 billion), the firm said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Thursday. Evergrande will lift its stake to 27.2 percent after acquiring more than 1 billion shares from five shareholders through a unit, it said. Shengjing Bank received approval in January from the banking regulator for a consumer-finance firm, one of a handful of banks to hold such a license, Evergrande said in the filing, adding it expects the purchase to generate high returns. Under Chairman Xu Jiayin, one of China's richest men, Guangzhou-based Evergrande has embarked on a spending spree that has seen the developer's debt swell. Evergrande may want to improve its access to funding and securing a stake of more than 20 percent also means that it can record a share of Shengjing Bank's profits in its earnings. "Becoming a major shareholder of a bank helps Evergrande gain easier access to funding," Ross Lee, a credit analyst at Bank of China Hong Kong Ltd, said. "It seems like the company is aiming to have a controlling stake in the bank eventually, forming its own 'Evergrande bank'." Evergrande is paying 10 yuan a share for the stake, equivalent to a 7.8 percent premium to Shengjing Bank's closing price in Hong Kong on Wednesday, data compiled by Bloomberg showed. Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd shares trade at a 20 percent premium in Shanghai to their Hong Kong price. It is one of a string of acquisitions. Evergrande agreed earlier this month to pay 3.6 billion yuan for a stake in China Calxon Group Co. Last year, it bought Mass Mutual Tower in Hong Kong for HK$12.5 billion ($1.6 billion), the most ever paid for a commercial building in the city, as well as agreeing to buy 13.5 billion yuan of assets from New World China Land Ltd. Shengjing Bank rose 0.72 percent in Hong Kong to close at HK$11.16. Evergrande was unchanged, at HK$5.87. The transaction will be funded by internal resources, Evergrande said. The developer, through a subsidiary, paid HK$3.89 billion for 5.59 percent of Shengjing Bank last month, saying in a statement that the acquisition was a "reasonable investment". Swiss company forecasts world's No 1 spot for the country in five to 10 years Swiss specialty chemicals producer Clariant AG said on Thursday that China will overtake the United States to become the world's largest chemicals market in the next five to 10 years despite an economic slowdown. "The country's GDP growth rate is about 6.5 percent now and when you look at the chemicals sector, it is about 5 to 6 percent, a growth rate that you find nowhere in the world can match. That means even though China has short-term setbacks in its economy, the fundamental picture for the chemicals market will not change in the long term," said Christian Kohlpaintner, member of the executive committee of Clariant International AG. The global market for chemicals products hit $3.8 trillion last year, while the Asian market led by China accounts for 40 to 50 percent of that figure with a market value of about $1.5 trillion to $1.9 trillion, he said. The Basel-based company raked in $6 billion in revenue in 2015, of which around 5 percent will be spent for global investment. Jan Kreibaum, Clariant's president in charge of markets in China and South Korea, said that 40 percent of the company's total investment will go into the world's second-largest market by 2017, especially for innovation and research. "Our business requires intensive knowledge and ongoing innovation and that's why we are putting so much effort into it," he said, adding that a research and new regional headquarters will be built with more than 500 employees. Specialty chemicals are products used in industries for their performance and function such as food additives, flavors and fragrances and water treatment materials. The Swiss firm has four business areas: care chemicals, catalysis, natural resources, and plastics and coatings. Kreibaum identified the personal care and packaging sectors as the most promising segments because of rising consumer-driven economies and industrialization. A report by research firm IHS said that specialty chemicals market, dominated by companies from North America, Western Europe and Japan, will face more competition from Asian companies amid pressure caused by rising cost. It warned that as competition increases, the industry will become more consolidated with mergers and acquisitions. Lu Jinyong, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics, confirmed that trend by saying that the biggest potential for growth in China for the next decade lies in the development of the third- or even fourth-tier cities, where distribution channels should be set up in advance. InterContinental Hotels Group has become the first international hotel brand to drop its price increase plan after government intervention, and the China National Tourism Administration has warned the hospitality industry against raising prices in the face of value-added tax reform. After a meeting that the Shanghai tax authority held with four major international hotel operatorsInterContinental, Hyatt, Marriott and HiltonInterContinental pledged not to raise its prices after Sunday, when the VAT reform expands to the hotel industry, China Business News reported. The meeting in Shanghai, where the four hotel operators have headquarters, came after they announced in mid-April that they would increase service fees on rooms to 21.9 percent from 15 percent. They cited concerns about the possible negative impact of the VAT reform. Managers of the three other operators assured the Shanghai tax authority that they would "not add to consumers' burden", according to China Business News. The response to the price increase plan illustrated the Chinese government's determination to safeguard VAT reform, a tax shift at the center of Premier Li Keqiang's supply-side economic reform, analysts said. The reform is meant to slash business costs to spur growth. "The government is very serious about the reform," said Zhu Qing, a tax professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing. "It is natural that getting in the way of implementing the plan will not be tolerated." On March 24, the day before the new property rules were introduced, thousands of hopeful home buyers descended on real estate companies such as Lianjia looking to secure a deal before the midnight deadline. GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY Although new policies to curb Shanghai's overheated housing market are already having an impact, many potential purchasers say the amended regulations have pushed homes out of their price range. Wang Ying reports from Shanghai. Wang Huiyao and her husband were so eager to buy a home in Shanghai that they cashed in all their investments and paid 60,000 yuan ($9,240) to be given priority in the line for a new development that would be launched on March 26. After all their meticulous planning and preparation, it appeared that they were finally going to own a home in the city after five years of searching. However, on March 24, rumors began circulating that the regulations related to house purchases would be amended, making property much more difficult to buy. As a result, property transaction centers in the city were deluged with thousands of prospective buyers looking to seal deals. It spelled the end of Wang's dreams of buying a home. She only learned of the frenzy on the morning of March 25, by which time the regulations had changed, and, although Wang didn't know it at the time, the property she wanted was now out of her price range. "We were not sure what the commotion was all about. Did it mean that the property market was overheated? Were people just overreacting? It was hard to tell, so we decided to go to work as usual and buy our apartment the next day as planned," she said. The new regulations stipulated that people without Shanghai hukouhousehold registration permitswould have to pay tax for at least five consecutive years before being allowed to buy a property in the city. The previous policy only required two years of tax payments, so Wang and her husband, who moved to Shanghai from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in 2012, were now ineligible to buy a new home. Wang has received calls from several agents trying to persuade her to buy an apartment in Kunshan or Suzhou, cities in neighboring Jiangsu province, and suggesting the couple could commute between home and work by metro. "But the idea of living in another city is not that attractive to us, and property prices in those places have surged a lot recently as well," Wang said. Lin Hong was luckier than Wang. After braving the crowds at the transaction centers on March 24, she managed to secure the purchase of her family's second home and avoid the imminent down payment hike. It helped that the transaction deadline for the day was extended from 9 pm to midnight because so many people were using the applications website that the system crashed. According to the new policies, local families looking to buy a second home must provide a down payment of at least 50 percent of the total price. The figure rises to 70 percent if the house is more than 140 square meters, or costs more than 4.5 million yuan ($695,000) and is located within the inner ring road. The same rules apply if the property costs more than 2.3 million yuan and is located beyond the outer ring. Before the policy was changed, the down payment on second homes was 40 percent. Lin's second home is a three-bedroom house in the city's Qingpu district. It lies beyond the outer ring, so after the rule change the down payment would have been 70 percent, far beyond the family's means. "It is hardly imaginable that white-collar people like us could make a down payment of 70 percent, as required by the new rules," she said. The 31-year-old said her family started looking for a second home a year ago, and they were about to buy an apartment in the Gubei area in Changning district when the owner raised the asking price by 500,000 yuan. "We thought that the prices for second-hand homes were insane. We later switched to looking at new houses in suburban areas instead," she said. According to Gu Jinshan, director of the Shanghai Housing and Urban-Rural Development Management Committee, the surge in Shanghai's property prices started in the second half of last year, and was still growing by the beginning of January. According to Gu, several factors drove the rise, such as relaxed policies on mortgages and new tax policies designed to benefit home buyers, a limited supply of homes, the return of investing and speculative demand, and the irregular practices employed by some property agencies. Jiang Yizhen, an outlet manager with property consultancy Centaline in Shanghai, said that one of the most extreme examples of price hikes occurred in February before the Chinese New Year when a 102-sq-m unit in Yangpu district was priced at an unusually high 4.3 million yuan. He said the owner raised the asking price every time a potential buyer agreed to the new price, and later learned that another property agency had managed to sell the apartment for 5.85 million yuan. However, in the wake of the new policies, some owners have already started lowering their asking prices, he added. HALIFAX - The Canadian province of Nova Scotia on Thursday launched the Nova Scotia-China Engagement Strategy here to boost its trade with China. Nova Scotia's Premier Stephen McNeil said he believes the strategy and his province's relationship with China will mean more economic growth for Nova Scotia. "As the fastest growing market on earth, China has been and continues to be a strategic global market for Nova Scotia. We know that more export to China means more jobs for Nova Scotians," said the premier. With the strategy, Nova Scotia will enhance its relationship with China by building mutually beneficial trade, investment, business, political, and cultural ties. The strategy focuses on the province's competitive strengths in "sectors of opportunity," including seafood, energy, tourism, ocean technology, information technology, and education. It also outlines plans to strengthen relationships within the Chinese business community and support Nova Scotia businesses that already have access to China's market. "Nova Scotia is the first province of Canada in history of Chinese-Canadian relationship to have made a strategy to develop its trade ties with China. It is very significant," said Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui. Stewart Beck, president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said the key is to tap into China's burgeoning middle class that is larger than the populations of Canada, the United States and Mexico combined. "It's this Chinese middle class -- with its enormous demands for high quality, diverse and safe foodstuffs, for quality education, for unique tourist experiences, for logistics and for clean tech to remediate the environment -- all things that we do very well here in Nova Scotia," he said. Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three maritime provinces and is the second-smallest province in Canada, with an area of 55,284 square kilometers and a population of nearly 1 million. China is Nova Scotia's second largest trading partner in the world. Exports to China totaled C$420 million ($334 million) last year, an increase of more than 50 percent from 2014. In comparison, Nova Scotia exported C$490 million to the entire European Union in 2015. Because of purchasing limits in first-tier cities, property trades have risen rapidly in the neighboring cities of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, as well as Dongguan and Foshan in Guangdong province. The release of cooling measures on March 25 has resulted in the home-buying frenzy being effectively tempered in Shanghai and Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The new policies include stricter home-purchasing requirements and the tightening of credit lines, according to industry experts. The weekly trade volume of new homes in Shanghai fell from 785,500 square meters in the last week of March to 392,800 sq m in the first week of April, according to the property agency Centaline. Similarly, the volume in the secondary market fell from 536,900 sq m to 287,700 sq m. Chen Lina, an analyst at Shanghai Sinyi Realty Agency and Consulting, said the daily trade volume of used homes fell from 2,008 units to 1,290 in the wake of the new measures. Furthermore, there was a 40 percent decline in the number of people looking for homes, and daily visits to properties fell by 36 percent. According to data provided by SouFun, an online property agency, 652 new homes were sold in Shenzhen in the week starting March 28, a week-on-week decline of nearly 30 percent. The average trading price also softened to 49,621 yuan ($7,670) per sq m, falling 4.17 percent. Beijing, the only first-tier city yet to announce new property measures, saw the transaction volume of new homes decline from 202,500 sq m to 187,500 sq m in the week starting March 28. However, more homes changed hands in the secondary market, with 762,700 sq m traded in the same week, compared with 737,900 sq m the previous week. Zhang Dawei, chief analyst at Centaline, said the existing measures have been effective at taming the property market. James Macdonald, head of research for Savills China, a global property agency, said the regulations need to be better enforced: "While price growth in Beijing's residential market has been strong, the capital already has relatively strict requirements for non-locals looking to buy homes. There could also be further restrictions on loans to second-home purchasers. "The residential markets in first-tier cities need to be closely monitored, and the existing regulations need to be properly enforced. The sooner a comprehensive property registration and tax policy is in place, the better the results we expect. Also, the government should look at supply-side factors to ease the pressure on the existing housing stock," he added. Property analysts said first-quarter data show that the residential markets in major second-tier cities are set to replace their first-tier counterparts as high-price centers. "Transactions in hot second-tier cities have more than doubled, compared with the same period last year, with 4.1 million sq m of new commercial housing being traded in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, year-on-year growth of 136 percent. In Suzhou, Jiangsu province, transactions rose 129 percent to 3.3 million sq m, and in Nanjing (also in Jiangsu), the transaction volume rose 122 percent to 4 million sq m," said Ding Zuyu, executive president of E-House (China), a real estate services company. Because of purchasing limits in first-tier cities, property trades have risen rapidly in the neighboring cities of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, as well as Dongguan and Foshan in Guangdong province. Home sales have also started picking up in some cities formerly haunted by high housing stocks, such as Tianjin, Jinan, Shandong province, and Ningbo in Zhejiang province. Chen Zhongwei, head of research with CBRE Greater China, said the comparatively loose measures in second-tier cities in key economic areas will catch the attention of the market. He added that home prices and trade volumes in these cities will rise in the next six months. While China's annual economic growth is slowing from double digits to between 6 and 7 percent, it is natural for home prices to slow down to match the economic index, he said, adding that most lower-tier cities will suffer from oversupply. BEIJING - Developed countries need to allow their enterprises to export more high-tech products to China, as it is a huge market full of potential. In renminbi terms, China's imports dropped 8.2 percent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2016 following a 13.2-percent decline posted the whole of 2015. Last year, imports of goods from the United States, the European Union (EU) and Japan fell 5.4 percent, 13.6 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively. Shackled imports of high-tech products, which grew just 0.6 percent in 2015, contributed to the sluggishness in trade between China and developed countries. China is not closing its doors to foreign trade. Rather, as it is undergoing economic transition and industrial upgrading, China is in great need of high-tech products. The truth is that some developed countries, which deem China a rival or threat, are putting up legal or administrative trade barriers, which are mutually detrimental. The US Export Administration Regulations limited the exports of a wide range of high-tech items, including medical treatment supplies, navigation products, as well as energy and new materials, to China, citing ungrounded security concerns. China's imports of high-tech products from the United States accounted for 16.7 percent of its total high-tech imports in 2001 -- the year China became a WTO member. This had fallen sharply to 6.3 percent in 2011. If high-tech imports in 2011 were at the same level as 2001, the United States' exports to China would have increased by $50 billion. The EU and Japan have also been imposing export controls on China for many years. The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dural-Use Goods and Technologies hinders the shipment of many high-tech products for commercial use to China. Developed countries introduced these controls because they were inclined to miscalculate China's peaceful development purposes. "Presumption of guilt" makes developed countries, which are struggling to ensure economic recovery, missed the opportunities created during China's economic transition and industrial upgrading. Increased exports of high-tech products to China will help developed countries narrow trade deficits. For China, state-of-the-art technologies and products can give it a leg-up during this period of economic development. China hopes that developed countries can relax export controls and sell more high-tech products. BEIJING - While economic indicators offer some hope, structural problems have thrown up barriers on China's road toward a solid recovery. Official statistics showed Wednesday an average profit spike of 11.1 percent for major Chinese industrial firms last month, serving as the latest proof of economic stabilization after a better-than-forecast year-on-year GDP increase in the first quarter (Q1) was released in mid-April. Despite looming downward pressure, sentiment has been boosted by improvements in a slew of economic data, including strong infrastructure investment and a sharp rebound in exports. There is increased confidence that the resilience in economic growth will likely persist further into 2016. "The reacceleration seen in March was more than just a seasonal blip," Bloomberg economist Tom Orlik said. There are already hints that the People's Bank of China is recalibrating its policy stance, focusing less on stimulus and more on controlling financial risks, Orlik said, adding that the markets are trimming bets on further rate cuts. Inspired by the new trend, Goldman Sachs Gao Hua Securities has announced a raise in its forecast for economic growth in the second quarter and the whole year to 7 percent and 6.6 percent. Given the sound results of monetary and fiscal support, a further cut to bank's cash reserve ratio will be unlikely during the April to June period, said Song Yu, an economist with the brokerage, while predicting two cuts of a total 100 basis points in the second half to prevent growth slip. The country's GDP expanded 6.7 percent in Q1, narrowing from 6.9 percent in 2015 but still remarkable given sluggish global recovery. The government has set a growth range between 6.5 percent and 7 percent for this year. However, behind the reassured market sentiment were still deep concerns about structural problems, including overcapacity and rising debt level. Japanese securities trader Nomura warned that the improvement in growth momentum driven by rebounding property investment may not be sustainable as structural headwinds, such as property oversupply, remain strong. It, therefore, maintained the forecast of a gradual growth slowdown this year to 6.2 percent in the latest research note. While China's growth will continue to receive policy stimulus, structural challenges posed by high corporate leverage remain unaddressed, rating agency Moody's said. China's policymakers have pledged to forge ahead with more reforms before these lurking problems reveal themselves. Zheng Lixin, an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, admitted Thursday at a press briefing that despite positive industrial changes, the country still faces challenges such as weak external demand and structural problems. "Hardships in some sectors and regions have even exacerbated and quite a few enterprises are still struggling," he said. The central government on Tuesday vowed it would rejuvenate the northeast rustbelt, the old industrial base, beset by overcapacity and falling traditional industries, considered an epitome of the economy. PHNOM PENH - Trade volume between China and Cambodia was valued at $4.4 billion in 2015, an 18-percent increase year-on-year, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo said Thursday. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a China-funded power transmission system in southern Kandal province, Bu said that China imported products worth about $670 million from Cambodia last year, up 38 percent year-on-year. She attributed the annual trade growth to good relations and cooperation between the two countries and peoples. China imported from Cambodia mostly milled rice, dry rubber, cassava, fishery, and apparels as the country exported to Cambodia mainly garment raw materials, machinery, vehicles, foodstuffs, electronics, medicines and cosmetics. In 2012, the two countries agreed to boost their two-way trade volume to $5 billion by 2017. HANOI - Exports of Vietnamese products to China are estimated to reach $5.8 billion in the first four months of 2016, an increase of 16.5 percent year-on-year, according to Vietnam's General Statistics Office on Thursday. During the four-month period, the country spent $14.7 billion on imports from China, a decrease of 3.1 percent year-on-year. Trade revenue between Vietnam and China is estimated to reach $20.5 billion in the four-month period, according to the office's report on Vietnam's socio-economic situation in the first four months of 2016 posted on its website. During the period, bilateral trade revenue with China accounts for 19.66 percent of Vietnam's total trade revenue. China remains the biggest trade partner of Vietnam. In total, Vietnam is expected to register $104.3 billion in trade revenue with foreign partners during the four-month period with export revenue of $52.9 billion (up 6 percent year-on-year) and import revenue of $51.4 billion (down 1.2 percent). Earlier in March, Hu Suojin, commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam said the target of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade revenue in 2017 is expected to be realized in 2016. In 2015, bilateral trade revenue between China and Vietnam hit $95.8 billion, a growth of 14.6 percent year-on-year. A model displays an Oppo brand mobile phone that carries the logo of FC Barcelona in Beijing. Oppo is targeting younger customers not only in China, but also in emerging markets worldwide.[Photo/Xinhua] The shipments of smartphones worldwide in the first quarter marked the smallest year-on-year growth on record, and Chinese smartphone makers Oppo Electronics Corp and Vivo Mobile Communication Technology Co Ltd pushed out previous fourth and fifth place players Lenovo Group Ltd and Xiaomi Corp, a report said. According to a report released by the research company International Data Corporation, vendors shipped a total of 334.9 million smartphones worldwide in the first quarter of this year, up slightly from the 334.3 million units in the same period last year. The minimal growth this quarter is primarily attributed to strong smartphone saturation in developed markets, as well as a year-on-year decline from two market leaders Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the report said. Samsung remained the leader in the worldwide market despite its shipments falling to 81.9 million in the first quarter from 82.4 million in the same period last year, a year-on-year decline of 0.6 percent. Despite the slight decline, the new Galaxy S7 and S7 edge sold vigorously in March and was helped by numerous enticing carrier promotions to help push volume. Apple saw its shipment volume drop to 51.2 million in the first quarter, down 16.3 percent from last year, and its market share fell by three percent to 15.3 percent. "The slowing sales growth from Apple and Samsung lies in the fact that the market was almost saturated, especially in China, and their products became less innovative, lacking new functions and applications," said Zhu Dalin, an analyst at Beijing-based Internet consultancy Analysys International. In contrast, smaller local vendors such as Vivo and Oppo, are targeting the youth market that has not been fully explored, not only in China, but also in other emerging markets including India. By offering cost-effective products that appeal to the younger generation, they have an edge over global giants, said Zhu. Oppo's 18.5 million shipments represented 153.2 percent year-on-year growth, the strongest among the top five, with its market share rising by 3.3 percentage points year-on-year to 5.5 percent. Its expansion in the domestic market has been via offline channels and a strong push to lower-tier cities. Moreover, it focuses on the global market, expanding its business throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. With 14.3 million units shipped in the first quarter, Vivo ranked fifth with a market share of 4.3 percent. Similar to Oppo, vivo's retail presence and marketing in lower-tier markets were particularly strong and a key factor in its growth. It started to expand in Southeast Asia and India in 2014. "India has become the largest overseas market for Vivo, accounting for about 50 percent of its overseas shipments," said Zhao Jiajia, an analyst at market research firm Canalys. Huawei Technologies Co shipped 27.5 million this quarter, up 58.4 percent year-on-year, ranking third. Right after he wears a virtual reality headset, the visitor finds himself right in the brand-new car he is interested in and can even take a virtual test drive. This scene is happening at the 14th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition being held from April 25 to May 4. As VR technologies gradually mature, in this exhibition, auto makers such as Buick, Kia and SAIC Maxus are adopting them to help customers have a more in-depth and interactive experience of their cars. In addition, British ZeroLight, the creator of the digital 3D car configurator, brings visitors the VR experience of supercar maker Pagani's Huayra. "What I see is as clear as the real thing. And it is so amazing when I find the car suddenly floating around me. I can also use my control handle to pick up some component of the car to achieve a 360-degree full range observation. It is unbelievably real," said Fu Shuping, a staff member of Shenzhen Shanyi Advertising Co Ltd, the representative agency of ZeroLight in China. By wearing the HTC Vive and other digital devices, visitors are provided with an interactive experience presenting the real-time 360-degree visualization of Huayra in detail. "It is not only like watching a movie in the cinema, but also makes me feel that I am driving in that movie," a visitor told chinadaily.com.cn. Ministry of National Defense spokesman Colonel Wu Qian addresses a news conference in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/China Daily] Beijing views Washington's "freedom of navigation" operations as both political and military provocations, and it will continue to monitor air and sea activity closely and take any necessary measures, Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Wu Qian told a regular news briefing on Thursday. Wu made the remarks in response to media reports that the United States was planning to carry out a third "freedom of navigation" operation to challenge China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. "We think the US's so-called freedom of navigation operations pose political and military provocations against China, which could easily lead to mishaps in the sea and air, and are extremely dangerous," Wu said. "Freedom of navigation" has become an excuse for the US to meddle in South China Sea disputes, Wu said, adding that free navigation of the South China Sea has never been a problem. The US operations are promoting militarization and endangering stability, he said. Asked about calls by some US senators for stepped-up naval activities in the South China Sea, Wu said: "No matter how frequently US ships come to the South China Sea, that will not change the fact that the islands and adjacent islands are China's inherent territory. It will not stop the pace of China's growth and development. And even more, it will not shake the will of the People's Liberation Army to resolutely safeguard the sovereignty and security of China." On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that even public opinion in the US sees Washington as deliberately enlarging the so-called China threat in the South China Sea. For example, Hua said, The National Interest, a US international affairs magazine, questioned Washington's assertion that China's claims over the South China Sea are affecting international trade in the region, and it asserted that China's activities in the South China Sea have not damaged US national security. Jia Duqiang, a Southeast Asian studies researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said "freedom of navigation" operations are aimed at provoking China, which serves Washington's "pivot to Asia" strategy. Escalating tensions in the South China Sea are something that Washington wants, Jia said, because by stirring up trouble between China and some ASEAN countries, these countries will depend on the US for security, which facilitates implementation of the US strategy. Migrant workers at a construction site in Yichang, Central China's Hubei province, April 28. [Photo/IC] China's migrant workforce reached 277.5 million in 2015, an annual rise of 1.3 percent, but the year-on-year growth rate has been decreasing since 2011, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. A report released by the bureau on Thursday said the growth rate dropped 0.6 percent in 2015, and the percentage of workers younger than 40 years dropped 1.3 percent to 55.2 percent. The average age is 38.6, about four months older than in 2014. The report defines "migrant worker" as a person whose household registration is in a rural area but who doesn't work in the agriculture industry, and those who work outside their hometown for more than six months annually. The slower growth of the migrant-worker population might be a result of the slower growth of income. According to the report, the average monthly salary reached 3,072 yuan ($472), while the annual growth rate dropped 2.6 points to 7.6 percent. In the manufacturing sector, the growth rate dropped to 6.7 percent; the rate in the construction industry dropped to 4.4 percent. In addition, 36.2 percent of migrant workers signed contracts with their employers last year, down from 38 percent in 2014, although the rate of signing short-term contractscontracts for less than a yeargrew by 0.3 percentage points. One percent of migrant workers have unpaid wages owed them, 0.2 percent higher than last year. Unpaid migrant workers, on average had 9,788 yuan in wage arrears in 2015, with year-on-year growth of 2.9 percent. Unlike State-owned corporations, small-scale construction companies usually don't sign contracts with workers, so the risk of wage arrears is greater, said Cui Hao, deputy director of the Overseas Engineering Company of China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group Co. "We have also noticed there are fewer young workers. Most of our workers are between 40 and 50 years old," he said. "It seems that the younger generation is less willing to do heavy physical labor, even though income in the construction industry is higher." Wang Jiahui, a 40-year-old carpenter from Jiangxi province, said the contract he signed contains little about welfare, but lots of restrictions. "I have friends who didn't get paid. They either left with empty hands or took out a lawsuit. But suing employers is a very difficult road," said Wang, adding that he has been working in Guangdong since 1997. "I hope my 15-year-old son can get a good education. I don't want my only son to become a migrant worker." Contact the writers at pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn A restaurant boss who failed to pay 133 workers 807,000 yuan ($124,000) has been sentenced to two years in jail and fined 50,000 yuan. The verdict against Song Tao was handed down at the Zhongshan No 2 Intermediate People's Court on Thursday after Song failed to pay staff at his eatery in Zhongshan, Guangdong province. Xu Hongxiang, the presiding judge, said there was no doubt Song had committed the crime of refusing to pay his workers' salaries and that his actions had a significant social impact. "Song, who had gone on the run after falling into arrears with his workers' salaries, deserves serious punishment, but he did adopt a very good attitude after he was detained," Xu told the court. Song said at the court that he did not accept the verdict and vowed to appeal to a higher court. The restaurateur, originally from Liaoning province, had run two diners in Zhongshan. He continued to withhold pay from his workers even after local human resources and social security departments attempted to mediate in the case. Song fled in 2014 and was detained in June 2015 after workers sought help from the police. Zhong Daochun, a senior judge at the Guangdong High People's Court, said the sentence should act as a deterrent for other bosses who refuse to pay workers' salaries and will help build a harmonious society in Guangdong, which has more than 23 million migrant workers. According to Zhong, courts across Guangdong handled a total of 158 cases of overdue salaries in 2015 involving 170 defendants. Of those, 132 cases involving 144 people have been concluded, with 99 people receiving jail terms. Zhang Libo, deputy director of the Zhongshan city bureau of human resources and social security, urged workers in the city not to hesitate in seeking help from the government and called on them to use legal means to protect their interests if their salaries are not paid on time. Li Weiliang, a deputy of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, said Song's case will sound an alarm among businesspeople who are considering fleeing while owing wages to workers. "Business bosses should also seek help from the government and settle their business problems and disputes with workers through negotiations," Li said. Five Chinese cities urged to improve worsened air quality (Xinhua) Updated: 2016-04-29 08:59 BEIJING - The Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) on Thursday urged local governments of five cities with declining air quality to fully implement the national plan for clean air. The MEP on Thursday interviewed the top local-government officials of five cities -- Changzhi in Shanxi Province, Anqing in Anhui Province, Jining in Shandong Province, Shangqiu in Henan Province and Xianyang in Shaanxi Province -- as their air quality had worsened in the first quarter of the year. The MEP found that major air pollutants in the five cities, such as PM2.5, PM10, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, had all increased. Enterprises in those areas violated laws on environmental protection by illegally emitting pollutants. It was found that the cities also had severe levels of dust, and the burning of grass and garbage was not controlled. The MEP said that all the pollution could be traced to the fact that the cities had failed to roll out environmental protection measures. The MEP urged the local governments to raise the awareness of environmental protection, improve their working mechanisms, strengthen pollution treatment and better supervise. The five cities were asked to submit their plans for rectification to the MEP in 20 working days. The officials sincerely accepted the MEP's criticism, and all promised to draw up their rectification plans as soon as possible. China plans to send astronauts to the moon before 2036, a senior People's Liberation Army officer said in the country's first confirmation of a manned lunar exploration program. Lieutenant General Zhang Yulin, deputy commander of the China Manned Space Program and deputy head of the Central Military Commission's Equipment Development Department, said it will require 15 to 20 years to land astronauts on the lunar surface using technologies and know-how acquired through the nation's space projects. Zhang made the remarks on Saturday at a conference that marked the first China Space Day, according to a news release on the program's website on Thursday. It is the first time a Chinese space official has publicly talked about the nation's aspiration to undertake a manned lunar mission. Many scientists have been calling on the government to launch such a program for years. Pang Zhihao, a researcher of human space activity at the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing, said that engineers must develop a super-heavy carrier rocket, a manned lunar spacecraft and a space suit suitable for a lunar mission. "The United States accomplished its manned lunar missions because it had the powerful Saturn V, while the former Soviet Union failed because its N1 rocket wasn't up to the task," he said. "To send our astronauts to the moon, we will need a mighty rocket capable of lifting a payload of at least 100 metric tons into low Earth orbit. That is why our scientists have begun to develop the Long March 9." He also said a manned lunar spacecraft will be much different from China's existing satellite-based manned spacecraft. It must be able to conduct in-orbit docking and separation as well as make a soft landing, followed by an ascent from the lunar surface. Moreover, the astronauts' suits for lunar missions will be lighter but technologically sophisticated compared with those used for extravehicular activities, Pang said. He said the Chang'e-5 unmanned lunar probe, which is scheduled for launch in 2017, will help test technologies and equipment for the manned lunar mission. Zhang Bonan, chief designer of China's manned spacecraft at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, said China has had the economic and technological ability to send astronauts to the moon, and it won't take long for the nation to achieve its goal once the government approves the mission. However, he said Chinese engineers should not underestimate the difficulty of such a project. The State Forestry Administration is investigating the legality of a hunting resort established jointly by a city in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region and the United Arab Emirates to find out whether the land the resort uses is part of a nature reserve and therefore illegal, a forestry official said on Thursday. Yan Xun, chief engineer at the administration's Department of Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management, said at a news conference that the authorities are looking into whether the hunting resort is partly located in a 26,700-hectare national nature reserve close to Guyuan city. The reserve was established in 1988. The resort would be illegal if it is found to be using part of the national reserve because the "building up of hunting resorts within a national nature reserve is strictly forbidden", Yan said at the conference. The construction of the 817-hectare resort started in June and was criticized by animal rights activists because they saw it as threatening local wildlife. The resort boasts a range of leisure activities, including hunting. It was among efforts made by the Ningxia government to boost cooperation with the UAE in areas including trade and tourism. Similar resorts in the UAE offer people the chance to hunt gazelle and deer. It is not known which animals are hunted at the resort in Ningxia. China will draft regulations to further prevent people from buying caged animals and setting them free without permission, said a senior official from China's wildlife watchdog. Yan Xun, chief engineer at the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management under the State Forestry Administration, said many people, some of them religious believers, feel that it is morally right to set free caged animals. "Many places in China, such as Handan, Hebei province, have underground industries that derive huge profits from people's goodwill," said Yan. "Many religious believers or activists think they are doing good things, but they should not bargain with traders to show how faithful they are because of how much they pay." "The profit that traders can get from trafficking in living animals is even higher than scalpers at the hospital." However, setting living animals free in the wild - including mammals, birds or turtles - requires approval from the forestry bureau, as such action could have a negative influence on the ecological balance. On March 27, Beijing Evening News reported that 300 to 400 foxes and raccoon dogs were released from trucks in Huairou district, and the majority of the animals failed to survive and caused financial losses to residents. The animal activists have been ordered to compensate villagers in the district. Ren Maodong, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, said this behavior harms wild animals and severe punishment should be written into the Law on Protection of Wildlife. A wild female giant panda is restrained by farmers worried that she would be hurt by hunting dogs after she burst into a village in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province, in early April. The panda had been released from captivity.Ake Jiushe / For China Daily Conservation experts working to consolidate habitat management to encourage reproduction Habitat fragmentation remains the major factor threatening the survival of giant pandas in the wild, a senior official from China's wildlife watchdog agency said. Zhang Xiwu, director of the Wildlife Conservation and Nature Reserve Management Department of the State Forestry Administration, said on Thursday that, in the next five years, China will complete the establishment of four national parks to protect the giant panda, Asian elephant, Tibetan antelope and Amur leopard and tiger. In June, the National Development and Reform Commission of China and the Paulson Institute announced a three-year partnership to develop China's emerging national park system. The partnership will pilot the park system in nine provinces by exploring models that fit the Chinese context and reflect international standards. "Protecting habitat is the key to protecting wildlife," Zhang said. "However, 87.7 percent of wild animals are seeing their living spaces squeezed or their communications split, along with the effects of human activities." That's according to the national wildlife resources survey, Zhang said. For example, although the number of giant pandas in China reached 1,864 in 2014, their habitats contained 319 hydropower stations, 1,339 kilometers of roads, 268 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines, 984 districts with more than 50 residents, 479 mines and 25 scenic spots. Due to geographic isolation and human intervention, wild giant pandas are fragmented into 33 isolated populations. Twenty-four of those have fewer than 100 pandas. Wang Hao, senior scientist at Peking University's Center for Nature and Society said fragmented habitats increase the risk that small, dispersed populations will become cut off, limiting their chances to contact each other and reproduce. Zhang said wildlife habitat in China is managed by different government agencies, which hampers habitat improvement. "For example, we have nature reserves, scenic spots, forest parks, geological parks and wetland parks. Those are all in different regions and have different administrative bodies," Zhang said. "That's the reason why we are speeding up the establishment of national parks to integrate one species' habitat under a united management system." The first national park for the Tibetan antelope was established in the Tibet autonomous region in September. A wedding planner in Jiangxi province is offering bridesmaids for hire to the increasing number of Chinese couples looking to emulate Western customs. Cheng Fei, who works at Happiness Wedding Services Co in the provincial capital of Nanchang, said it was not hard for couples to find a best man, "but it is getting harder to find bridesmaids". "Many brides say that their friends live too far away or are too busy. Some are even worried that the guests' behavior is putting off potential bridesmaids," he said. "The bridesmaids-for-hire service has gotten rather popular especially after the 'Bali incident'." The incident that Cheng is referring to occurred on March 30, when actress Liu Yan was roughhoused by a group of best men at a wedding in Bali, Indonesia. She had been asked to be a bridesmaid by a celebrity couple getting married. A video of Liu's ordeal quickly went viral, drawing anger and condemnation from the public over the treatment of bridesmaids. "At least 15 couples have come to ask about hiring bridesmaids in the last 10 days. Eight have placed orders, each demanding four to eight bridesmaids," Cheng said. "Usually we ask our female staff to take up the role, but if the clients request, say, better looking girls, we can meet their demands." Each bridesmaid is paid 100 to 200 yuan ($15.40-$30.80) per day, and with a growing number of young couples choosing to have a large group of blushing bridesmaids, the for-hire business looks promising. "One is not enough for many. The trend is at least three bridesmaids and three best men, just for the atmosphere," said a woman, surnamed Wu, in Nanchang. Ma Xuesong, a folk culture researcher with the Jiangxi Provincial Academy of Social Sciences said in some areas, however, some hired bridesmaids have been subjected to teasing and jokes at weddings. Chinese wedding celebrations traditionally involve a lot of banter, but this can get out of hand. Bridesmaids are often subject to unwanted physical contact, insults and forced drinking at wedding banquets. According to Wuhan Evening News, one woman from Wuhan, identified only by her surname Tian, said she would not take part in a ceremony unless the couple signed a contract banning any untoward behavior directed at her during the wedding. "Uncivilized and indecent behavior may still occur, but lines should be drawn and guests should mind their manners," said Liu Qianding, a folk culture researcher based in Wuhan. The maid of honor has the dubious role of being "the maid to be shamed", and some brides choose not to have one at all. "It makes no sense to hire a bridesmaid who is a total stranger and has nothing to do with the biggest moment of my life. I'd rather have none than a rent-a-friend," said a woman, surnamed Zou, who got married last month in Nanchang. On March 24, the day before the new property rules were introduced, thousands of hopeful home buyers descended on real estate companies such as Lianjia looking to secure a deal before the midnight deadline. Gao Erqiang / China Daily Although new policies to curb Shanghai's overheated housing market are already having an impact, many potential purchasers say the amended regulations have pushed homes out of their price range. Wang Ying reports from Shanghai. Wang Huiyao and her husband were so eager to buy a home in Shanghai that they cashed in all their investments and paid 60,000 yuan ($9,240) to be given priority in the line for a new development that would be launched on March 26. After all their meticulous planning and preparation, it appeared that they were finally going to own a home in the city after five years of searching. However, on March 24, rumors began circulating that the regulations related to house purchases would be amended, making property much more difficult to buy. As a result, property transaction centers in the city were deluged with thousands of prospective buyers looking to seal deals. It spelled the end of Wang's dreams of buying a home. She only learned of the frenzy on the morning of March 25, by which time the regulations had changed, and, although Wang didn't know it at the time, the property she wanted was now out of her price range. "We were not sure what the commotion was all about. Did it mean that the property market was overheated? Were people just overreacting? It was hard to tell, so we decided to go to work as usual and buy our apartment the next day as planned," she said. The new regulations stipulated that people without Shanghai hukou - household registration permits - would have to pay tax for at least five consecutive years before being allowed to buy a property in the city. The previous policy only required two years of tax payments, so Wang and her husband, who moved to Shanghai from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in 2012, were now ineligible to buy a new home. Wang has received calls from several agents trying to persuade her to buy an apartment in Kunshan or Suzhou, cities in neighboring Jiangsu province, and suggesting the couple could commute between home and work by metro. "But the idea of living in another city is not that attractive to us, and property prices in those places have surged a lot recently as well," Wang said. Lin Hong was luckier than Wang. After braving the crowds at the transaction centers on March 24, she managed to secure the purchase of her family's second home and avoid the imminent down payment hike. It helped that the transaction deadline for the day was extended from 9 pm to midnight because so many people were using the applications website that the system crashed. According to the new policies, local families looking to buy a second home must provide a down payment of at least 50 percent of the total price. The figure rises to 70 percent if the house is more than 140 square meters, or costs more than 4.5 million yuan ($695,000) and is located within the inner ring road. The same rules apply if the property costs more than 2.3 million yuan and is located beyond the outer ring. Before the policy was changed, the down payment on second homes was 40 percent. Lin's second home is a three-bedroom house in the city's Qingpu district. It lies beyond the outer ring, so after the rule change the down payment would have been 70 percent, far beyond the family's means. "It is hardly imaginable that white-collar people like us could make a down payment of 70 percent, as required by the new rules," she said. The 31-year-old said her family started looking for a second home a year ago, and they were about to buy an apartment in the Gubei area in Changning district when the owner raised the asking price by 500,000 yuan. "We thought that the prices for second-hand homes were insane. We later switched to looking at new houses in suburban areas instead," she said. According to Gu Jinshan, director of the Shanghai Housing and Urban-Rural Development Management Committee, the surge in Shanghai's property prices started in the second half of last year, and was still growing by the beginning of January. According to Gu, several factors drove the rise, such as relaxed policies on mortgages and new tax policies designed to benefit home buyers, a limited supply of homes, the return of investing and speculative demand, and the irregular practices employed by some property agencies. Jiang Yizhen, an outlet manager with property consultancy Centaline in Shanghai, said that one of the most extreme examples of price hikes occurred in February before the Chinese New Year when a 102-sq-m unit in Yangpu district was priced at an unusually high 4.3 million yuan. He said the owner raised the asking price every time a potential buyer agreed to the new price, and later learned that another property agency had managed to sell the apartment for 5.85 million yuan. However, in the wake of the new policies, some owners have already started lowering their asking prices, he added. Renowned Western fashion houses trust Qingdao woman for perfect templates At a recent MBA training course for startup entrepreneurs at Top Innovation Works in Qingdao's Licang district, a woman arrived on a young man's back. Dropping to the ground, she trudged to her seat on a crutch and took out a notebook. Her arrival created a commotion as curious attendees clamored to find out who she was. "This is the very best Patternmaker in Qingdao," said Luan Xiuying, who runs a garment plant focusing on the export market. "Her name is Yang Ping and that was her son helping her. Many of Qingdao's clothing factories lean on her help to gain orders from top-notch fashion brands in the West." Yang runs a pattern-making studio in Licang, Shandong province. With a few computers and machines, she creates clothing patterns for renowned brands, including Armani, Hermes, Burberry and Marmara. Workers follow design sketches and create templates from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric before being cut and assembled. "The drawings of designers appear to be simple, but they hide a lot of challenges for Patternmakers," Yang said. In 2005, a designer at Vero Moda sent a piece in which the garment's back was 1 cm longer than the front. Many of Qingdao's Patternmakers failed to create a template that satisfied the designer, but Yang made it correctly. After that, her reputation began to rise. Although she doesn't speak English, many foreign designers like to collaborate with her. Patternmakers typically have to revise their work four or five times, but Yang often produces a satisfactory version the first time. Pan Rongcheng, who works in Yang's studio, said pattern making is high-intensity work. Yang's studio strives to deliver sample clothes in two working days, much faster than average, Pan said. Once they receive an order, they work overnight to create the pattern, sew the garment and ship it to the airport on the afternoon of the second day. The process usually takes other studios nearly a week. "Technique and speed both help me build my reputation in the industry," said Yang, who ensures both qualities by working until the small hours of the morning. Yang has walked with a limp since she contracted polio six-months after she was born in 1962. She underwent surgery twice in an effort to correct her deformed foot. She wanted to attend university, but she said a teacher dissuaded her parents from making the effort. "The teacher told my parents that even if I took the exam, the university would not let me enroll because I am handicapped," she said. "My parents only told me the bad news when the exam approaching, and I left for my aunt in Beijing for three months after crying for three weeks at home." A job as an accountant at a tailor's store drew her out of her depression and set her on a new path. She observed the tailors' work, practiced making clothes at night and became enamored of the clothes-making art. In 1984, Qingdao hosted its first fashion design contest and Yang submitted five items. Despite her amateur status, three won first prizes. She then studied drawing and design with Wang Zujiang, a professor at Qingdao University. After years of hard work, she started her own business and opened a tailor's shop. However, just asher career was on the rise in 2002, her husband was struck by a cargo truck and injured. The medical bills topped 400,000 yuan ($61,657) and it took the family six years to pay off the debt. Now Yang's studio makes more than 300 sample garments each month during the peak seasons. The recognition her studio has won from top designers has been a boon for the area's factories. "Her studio became the savior of many of Qingdao's export-focused clothes factories," said Luan, the exporter. Yang's company now has more than 50 employees. Forty of them are disabled. "I have been through a lot of hard times, therefore I wanted to make life easier for other disabled people after I achieved some success," she said. With support from the government, Yang also founded an occupational training center in 2014 to teach garment processing to disabled workers. There are 33 mentally-disabled teenagers in the program, and none pays for the training. "Their families have suffered too much and it would be a great relief for them if those kids could support themselves eventually," she said. Xi asks officials to respect intellectuals' creativity, criticism (Xinhua) Updated: 2016-04-29 19:55 HEFEI -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked officials to trust intellectuals, welcome their criticism and try not to interfere in their creative work. Xi made the remarks at a meeting on Tuesday in Hefei with a group of scientists and researchers, model workers and young people during his inspection tour to east China's Anhui Province, according to a press release published on Friday. Party and government departments should fully trust intellectuals and create a favorable environment for them to exercise their talent and develop their careers, the president said. Officials are urged not to "interfere in the creative work of intellectuals so that they can concentrate on their work." They should improve communication with intellectuals and help solve difficulties at work and in their personal lives. Officials should welcome advice and criticism from intellectuals and become a "true friend" of them, Xi stressed. "When opinions are meant well, we should warmly welcome them. We should take in constructive opinions and be more tolerant and inclusive even though some of them are biased or incorrect," he said, adding that intellectuals should not be blamed or punished for expressing their opinions. The president also expects intellectuals to put the country and people first, uphold "the right path" and pursue the truth. To better understand the situation of China and the rest of the world, they should not belittle themselves nor repeat others' words without thinking, he said. Xi encouraged them to take the lead in the country's innovation drive and contribute to the country's economic and social development as well as improvement of people's welfare. They should sharpen creativity, expand the horizon and devote themselves to hard work, Xi said. Mei Renyi (left) receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Julia Chang Bloch, president of the US-China Education Trust, on Friday in Beijing.Feng Yongbin/ China Daily Mei Renyi, a Chinese pioneer in American studies, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Beijing on Friday by the US-China Education Trust and the American Studies Network. Mei, 81, a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, has influenced a generation of scholars and researchers in international relations and has published dozens of books and papers on English language and American studies. At the award dinner on Friday evening, the Mei Renyi American studies Essay Competition was also inaugurated. The contest, which will recognize high-quality essays related to American studies, is open to all graduate students of American studies in China. Julia Chang Bloch, president of the trust and studies network, said Mei influence on not only his students but everyone involved in Sino-US studies is phenomenal. "His dedication to the field (of American studies) and to promoting mutual US-China understanding is much respected. To see so many of you here tonight, is a testament to the respect of Professor Mei as a leader not only in the field but also as a remarkable teacher and man," she said. Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) points the way to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after a news conference at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Friday. NG HAN GUAN / AP Beijing and Moscow urge Washington against starting deployment in the Republic of Korea China and Russia sent strong signals to the United States on Friday, urging it not to deploy a new anti-missile system in the Republic of Korea. "We are expressing serious concerns in regard to the US intention to deploy the THAAD system in the ROK," Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. "This move goes far beyond actual defense necessities and damages the strategic security of China and Russia." The US and ROK began talks on possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January. However, China firmly opposes the move, with analysts saying the system could be used to monitor Beijing's missile launches as far inland as Xi'an in the northwest of the country. Lavrov said countries involved "shouldn't use Pyongyang's acts as a pretext to increase their military presence on the Korean Peninsula. We believe the possible deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system won't resolve this problem." Wang said the possible deployment only "adds fuel to the fire of an already tense situation and even possibly wrecks the regional strategic balance". Last week, Sung Kim, the US special representative for DPRK policy, said China and Russia do not need to be concerned about THAAD. It is "a complete defense system" to protect the US and ROK "against missile threats from Pyongyang". He made the comments after "productive discussions" in Beijing with Wu Dawei, China's special representative on Korean peninsula affairs. Zuo Xiying, an international studies specialist at Renmin University of China's National Academy of Development and Strategy, denounced Kim's comments. Zuo said THAAD is called a "defense system" but its capacity passes way beyond the need to safeguard against missile threats from Pyongyang and its radar could be used to collect surveillance data far inland in both China and Russia. "This poses a threat to China and Russia's national security, and the deployment will definitely harm regional peace and stability," Zuo said. Lavrov also said on Friday that one of his most important tasks is to prepare for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing in June. Lavrov discussed the visit with President Xi Jinping and Wang during their meeting on Thursday and Xi told him that China hopes for new agreements with Russia during the visit. Ren Qi contributed to this story. The United States is not qualified to make "carping comments on China" as it has not signed on to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. The comment came as top diplomats from China and Russia urged countries outside the South China Sea region not to stir up tension there. On Thursday, US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a House of Representatives hearing that China "can't have it both ways," by being a party to the convention but rejecting its provisions, including "the binding nature of any arbitration decision", Reuters reported. Blinken was challenging China's rejection of arbitration by a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which was set up in 2014 following a unilateral request by the Philippines. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news conference on Friday that the US has not signed on to the convention. Instead, Washington had introduced its so-called Freedom of Navigation Program in 1979 ahead of the convention's introduction in 1982, Hua said. Hua also said that it is "a secret known to all" that the US subscribes to international law when it is favorable, and ignores the law when it is not. She said more than 30 countries, in addition to China, have filed declarations in accordance with the convention to exclude disputes about maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration and other compulsory dispute settlement procedures. "China's rejection of the arbitration and refusal to be part of it is to ensure the solemnity of international laws, including the convention, and to oppose abuse of them," Hua said. Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said that behind the current maritime tension lies the "zero-sum thinking" and US alignment with allies that seek greater engagement in the South China Sea issue. Meanwhile, China and Russia have "achieved important consensus on the South China Sea issue", according to a release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday. They agreed that the disputes in the South China Sea "should be peacefully resolved on the basis of historical facts and international law, and through consultation and negotiation by countries directly concerned", the release said. People view Chinese books and paintings at the event at Moscow China Cultural Center. [Photo/Culturalink.gov.cn] The cultural event "Library Night" was held at Moscow's China Cultural Center, bringing visitors a feast of Chinese paintings and books. The night begun with a deliberate exhibition, where more than 40 traditional Chinese paintings were on display. Since this year's theme of "Library Night" in the country is "Reading Film", the film Confucius was also played for the public, giving visitors a deeper understanding and a broader knowledge of Chinese culture. Additionally, a Chinese book exhibition called "Ni Shan Book House" was also organized, where a slew of newly released books were available for the public. This is the first time that Moscow China Cultural Center joined their effort in the "Library Night" event, an annual national cultural fair where libraries, bookstores, museums and art zones extend their working hours and provide more services. Chinese Deputy Consul General in San Francisco Zha Liyou (R) talks with San Francisco Public Library City Librarian Luis Herrera (C) during the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition "Silk Road - A New Look" at the San Francisco Public Library, April 27, 2016. Jointly hosted by Chinese Consulate in San Francisco and San Francisco Public Library, the photo exhibition opened here on Wednesday and will last for 3 months. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese actress Hsu Chi (center) attends the ongoing Cinecitta and BeyondBulgari Jeweler to the Stars exhibition in the Beijing SKP mall.[Photo provided to China Daily] Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has put together an exhibition showcasing more than 30 pieces of iconic jewelry from the 1930s until today, which are linked to films and stars. Sun Yuanqing reports. Movies are all about fantasy, while luxury is based on people's dreams. So it's only natural for the two worlds to intersect. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari proves this with an ongoing jewelry exhibition in the Beijing SKP mall. Specially created for China, the exhibition called Cinecitta and BeyondBulgari Jeweler to the Stars celebrates the brand's connection with the movie world, showcasing more than 30 pieces of iconic jewelry from the 1930s until today. The exhibition integrates jewels, photographs and videos, telling stories involving divas like Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. Modern actresses like Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie and Anne Hathaway are also featured in the exhibition. A sentinel of tradition is helping ensure we can continue to enjoy fineries steeped in history It may just look like a button to you and to me, but the wonderful little knot that is the apple of Huang Yuangsung's eye represents no less than centuries of history. In fact so enthralled is Huang with these intricately made curios that they have helped to keep him tied up for more than half his life, from a day in 1972 when his eyes first fell on one, attached to the clothing of a farmer, when he beheld it more as art than as a mere fastener. Clockwise from top: A woman from Shandong province weaves; a cave house is filled with a woman's Chinese papercuts; a woman (right) teaches how to make Chinese knot. Photos Provided to China Daily The previous year Huang, now 72, had begun publishing Han Sheng, or Echo, a magazine in Taiwan devoted to folk craft, and his mission to document China's folk culture continues to this day. Huang learned from the farmer that the button knot he saw was called jie and that women in rural areas make them to attach not only to clothing but use them as decorations in varying sizes on curtains and other fabric items as well. Thus began a search stretching over nine years, one in which Huang managed to track down the last surviving masters of jie making, and he painstakingly made records of a dozen knot-tying skills, illustrated step by step, and revealed them to the public in an issue of Han Sheng that came out under the banner "Chinese knot". By putting in the hands of readers the ability to duplicate all 14 kinds of knots, the oldest one dating back nearly 18 centuries, Huang played a major role in ensuring that this ancient art would not be lost to the world. In fact it was Huang who coined the term Chinese knot, a craft that would eventually experience a renaissance in China and be picked up by other craftspeople in many other countries as well. Beyond buttons But of course Huang and Han Sheng's horizons stretch well beyond these buttons. Each issue of the magazine focuses on a single subject, the topics as diverse as the cover art they inspire: 18th-century kite patterns, Shanxi noodle-making, Fujian mud houses. Issues are often closer to a book in length, packed with photos and hand-drawn diagrams. The research can take months, even years. In fact, in going about his work, Huang seems to be obsessed with the same exacting attention to fine detail that has possessed the practitioners of the crafts he chronicles. For example, for readers to enjoy the glories of the finest traditional opera costume, in taking a couple of photographs, one of the front and one of the rear, will simply not do. Instead, readers are regaled with illustrations of the minutest details, including the various patterns found in its embroidery, every button, the collar band, and cuffs. Readers will also be given a step-by-step guide to how the garment is made and be schooled in any nomenclature relating to patterns. Just as Han Sheng pays tribute to artisanship, the magazine itself has received widespread accolades for its own craftsmanship, perhaps none as lofty as when, in 2006, Time magazine in the United States, in a list titled Best of Asia, named it the "best esoteric publication". The judging panel called Han Sheng the "Chinese art and culture bible", and said "every issue is almost as reverently handled as the artwork and craftwork it seeks to preserve". Steeped in culture Huang, born in Taoyuan, Taiwan, studied sculpture in one of the island's best art schools. Although it was in urban settings that he was mostly educated, his strongest recollections are of the countryside, he says. "When I was a child, my home village was full of folk craft arts: the colorful costumes in folk operas, wall paintings in temples and traditional paintings for celebrating the Chinese New Year." One of his strongest memories, he says, is of a ceremony worshipping Mazu, a goddess said to protect seafarers who is widely worshipped in Taiwan. "Folk culture was once the glue of rural society, but it is now disappearing," Huang says. "I hope my magazine can be a kind of gene bank. Even if art forms die out, at least through the magazine people can relive them." In his quest to collect folk craft, Huang travels frequently between Taiwan and the mainland. The mainland has a longer tradition of craft making and is better endowed with resources, he says. In his first visit to Beijing he was particularly impressed by homemade red lanterns for celebrating the Chinese New Year. "Craft arts were everywhere in the mainland, and people were still making and using them. I was thrilled. It was as if I had discovered a gold mine. But with the rapid urbanization of the past few decades those traditions have been disappearing at an unprecedented rate." While Huang has been privileged to watch on as crafts that seemed on the verge of distinction have shown new spurts of life, he has also been a front-row spectator as some have died. Twenty years ago, he says, he visited a craftsman who was using methods dating to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to dye fabrics. "He was breaking his old dye vat into pieces. When I asked if he was about to buy a bigger vat he said hardly anyone bought his stuff and he was about to quit. He was the last person I know who still knew how to dye textiles in the Tang Dynasty fashion, and his quitting meant that that skill was about to die." Even with the coverage that Han Sheng gave to those skills, it was not enough to save the craft, he says, and the workshop of that old craftsman is now a mere relic, albeit a tourist spot where people can buy traditional textiles, and see the tools of the old trade. Staying relevant Huang has shown himself adept at adapting to the times to ensure that the magazine does not go the way of crafts that have disappeared. In 2003 Han Sheng began publishing in Beijing, putting out editions for mainland audiences, and to mark the start of the Year of the Monkey, on Feb 8, Han Sheng worked with Baidu to produce a traditional paper-cut monkey for the front page of the Chinese Internet search engine's maps section. "It's good to see traditional monkey images being used as motifs on an Internet site," Huang says. "That raises awareness among people of the skills of paper cutting. I know people of the present age can appreciate the beauty and skill of traditional arts. But what we need to do is to ensure those arts do not become extinct." pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn One people, one sense of history In 1988, Taiwan authorities for the first time allowed the elderly to return to the mainland and visit their families. Huang accompanied his father-in-law, a former Kuo-mintang airman, on a trip to Hubei province, where his father-in-law was born and raised. From then on, Huang began collecting material on the mainland. "I saw my father-in-law draw a map of his hometown and put a small red spot on his home village because he missed his home but couldn't go back," Huang says. Huang also accompanied many other veterans returning to the mainland and says he was touched by the deep emotional attachment that they had with their hometowns. In the 1980s elderly people from Taiwan flying to the mainland had to transfer in Hong Kong and then enter the mainland through Guangdong. "Veterans were talking and laughing on the train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, really excited about going home," Huang says. "Once the train crossed the Guangdong border, silence descended in the carriages and everyone peered at the scenery, something they had not seen for decades. The mainland had changed. Many had tears in their eyes." Huang says that in his group was a 60-year-old who said little and seemed serene, but in Guangzhou talking on the telephone his composure broke and he burst into tears. "After 30 years he finally heard the voice of his mother. Many people never got the chance to see their homeland again. I'm glad people from both sides can now visit each other freely. After all, we both share the same history and tradition." The government's decision to turn to Western public relations companies to tell "China stories" has drawn much attention both at home and abroad. The shift to outsourcing its soft power in this way marks an eye-catching change. It is reported that five international PR companies have now offered "China promotion" programs to the Information Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet. While any decision is yet to be made and the actual effects of the new form remain unknown, such an approach should still be applauded. There do exist complicated factors behind the foreign media's failure to cover China in an objective way, but this is also to a large extent related to the rigid, stereotyped manner officially used by the government. The different publicity perspectives used for domestic and foreign readers often leave an overseas impression of "hypocrisy". Besides, the promotion of China's image in other countries has been excessively focused on local governments and elite circles in the past, while ignoring ordinary people, causing polarized impressions of China among the official and non-official circles in other countries. Any regime changes in foreign countries may also cause inconsistency in those countries' attitudes toward China. The past publicity approach is far from enough to present foreign audiences with a genuine picture of China today after the rapid economic and social changes that have taken place since the launch of reform and opening-up. While making huge efforts to improve its image to foreign countries at the official level, efforts to open the "last mile" of road to improve its image overseas on the individual level is also necessary. Indeed, cooperation with Western public relations companies in itself is a new "China story". --IFENG.COM A farmer ties wheat that has been harvested in Shibapan village in Luoyang city, Henan province, June 3, 2015. [Photo/IC] The State Council held a news conference on food security on Tuesday, in which it explained the recent rapid increase in grain imports despite the huge domestic reserves. People's Daily commented on Thursday: Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the global grain market has changed because the supply has increased greatly while the demand declined. Considering the appreciation of the renminbi against the main global currencies, grain importing has become a profit-making business. Thus voices have emerged calling for China to cancel its grain import quota. Some even claim the State should end the subsidies to grain producers. These have led to people doubting the government policies. That's why the news conference came in time. It has once again emphasized the need to defend food security and decrease the country's reliance on the global market. China currently produces 600 million tons of grain, which barely meet the domestic demand; additionally it must import 60 million tons of beans to support its food processing industries. The supply in the global market is 300 million tons at the most and more than 70 nations are trying to buy them. Besides market competition, many countries consider grain a strategic material, and they may curb exports when they find China is in huge need of them. Therefore, China could not rely on the global market. Subsidies to grain producers are not provided by China alone, either. Japan and the Republic of Korea subsidize their farmers to grow grain. The population of China is 1.37 billion and it has no other choice. Of course, the grain importing companies can improve on the policy, too, by better storing and selecting grain and negotiating better prices in the global market. But the basis for the country's food security is to insist on the State policy of subsidizing farmers to grow grain. Women Generals of the Yang Family, a classical piece from the Peking opera repertoire, is coming to New York. [Provided to China Daily] The "Mei dynasty" of Peking Opera has come to an end. The heir to China's best-known opera clan, Mei Baojiu, died in hospital on Monday morning. The 82-year-old Mei was the youngest son of Mei Lanfang, China's legendary opera artist. Both father and son played Dan, or female roles. As head of the Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Troupe, Mei Baojiu trained the next generations of artists and during his 70 years on stage, took 70 disciples. Mei Baojiu was married to Lin Liyuan, but the couple has no children. His older sister, Mei Baoyue, also a gifted opera artist, played mostly Sheng, or male roles. And she, too, didn't leave behind any children. This means no descendant of Mei Lanfang is still with Peking Opera today. Peking Opera, or Jingju, as it is called in Putonghua, has become a powerful trademark. Jing means capital, ju a stage play. The Mei family had always insisted that it's jing, not yangfrom xiyangmeaning Western. It's Chinese culture that makes it distinct. The term Peking Opera suggests there are other regional operas in China: hundreds of them. And even within Peking Opera there are different pai, or schools. The Mei Pai (Mei School) of Peking Opera, for example, is considered zhongyong, or moderate. For Westerners, watching Chinese Opera can be sense-overwhelming at first: (Percussion instruments) Dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang ... Ding! Pause ... flamboyant costumes, a drunken concubine; Dan, powdered like a cake, starts the most exaggerated piercing speech-singsong you will ever hear! (More percussion and wooden clappers) Ching, ching, ching, ching ... Clack, clack ... clack! Everyone gazes at the public display to read what she's been saying. A male enters: 6-inch-high-heels, enormous facial expression, effortless walk, gestures rehearsed a million times. In Chinese performing arts there's a saying: "Taishang yifenzhong, taixia shiniangong." It means that we only see this minute of 10 years of practice. Just because actors have to start young in opera, it does not mean opera is for the young. The Stiftung Oper in Berlin reports that the average opera-goer in Germany is 51 years old. The Metropolitan Opera in New York reports that its average visitor is 57 of age. Mei Baojiu's father, whose parents and even grandparents were actors, too, rose to almost super-human fame in the 1930s and 1940s, in no small parts due to the foreign press, to the point when Mei Lanfang became synonymous with Peking Opera. However, only his youngest son from his second marriage, Mei Baojiu, followed into his father's footsteps, at the age of 10. The Mei family saga is more fascinating, perhaps, than the fictional Buddenbrooks (by Thomas Mann): add the cross-dressing male divas and the spectacular kitsch and klimbimof reenacting Ming and Qing dynasties' eccentricities. Mei Baojiu, during his final 10 years, realized two things: First, the grand plays and the history of Peking Opera must be part of the national curriculum (done, since 2008). And second, Peking Opera must be brought, if subsidized (as opera is in Germany, say), to international audiences. It was named "Intangible Cultural Heritage" by the United Nations in 2010. Indeed, at no time in its history has Peking Opera enjoyed more prestige: Performances are organized from New York to Tokyo, from Munich to Edinburgh. In fact, Chinese Opera is technically the biggest in the world: Germany has 80 opera ensembles, China 1,000. If only the world spoke a little bit more Chinese. The writer is a cultural critic and the author of the forthcoming book Knowledge is a Polyglo CHICAGO - US officials attending a National Chinese-Language Conference have commended Chinese-language education for its significant role in enhancing US-China cultural exchanges and overall ties. "The US-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century, and encouraging strong ties among our young generations through language will ensure that this relationship grows and flourishes," said US Senator Mark Kirk in a congratulatory letter to the three-day conference, which opened Thursday. The meeting, organized by the Asia Society and the US College Board, has become the largest annual gathering in the country of teachers, administrators, and policymakers engaged in the teaching of Chinese language and culture. More than 1,300 educating professionals attended the conference this year, and will hold extensive discussions on how to facilitate the exchanges of the two cultures. A number of them have visited the Chinese language and culture programs in Chicago's public schools before. "We take great pride in our long-running Chinese-language learning and culture education program in Chicago, which has reached 13,000 students each year and become a model in Chinese-language education throughout the country," said Steven Koch, deputy mayor of Chicago, at the opening ceremony. Koch spoke highly of the students who are "doing the important, sometimes difficult work of learning Chinese language and culture," noting that "they are going to be future ambassadors of Chicago to China, and bring together the important ties." "The language is key to understand not only China's today, but also China's history, and the way it thinks," said Josette Sheeran, president and CEO of Asia Society, adding that the organization has forged partnership with the Confucius Institute in building the network of Chinese-language learning courses in 100 US districts and 28 states. PYONGYANG -- The Supreme Court of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday sentenced a US citizen to 10 years of hard labor for alleged subversion and espionage activities. Kim Dong-chul, who was born in 1953 in Seoul and emigrated to the United States in 1972, was charged with plotting to subvert the DPRK system, slandering the supreme leadership of the country and gathering state and military secrets. Running a trade company in Rason, a special economic zone in the DPRK, Kim started espionage in 2013 after coming into contact with several people from the Republic of Korea (ROK) who tasked him with collecting top party, state and military secrets of the DPRK, including its nuclear facilities, nuclear tests and photographs of warships at repairing factories, according to the prosecutor. The people from whom Kim took orders included a correspondent of Donga Daily, an official with the ROK's Ministry of Unification and a professor at Seoul National University, said the prosecutor. He was also accused of illegally buying a DPRK-made mobile phone in the capital city of Pyongyang via his local employee and providing the phone to South Korea. Kim received donations from a Canadian church, gave them to kindergartens in Rason and took pictures of the local children accepting the donations, according to the prosecution. He was arrested on Oct. 2, 2015 as he was receiving an SD card that contained photos of local markets in Rason and documents about the DPRK's nuclear programs from a local resident in Rason whom he had bought off, said the prosecutor. Evidence was presented to the court including his passport, the SD card, a Nikon camera, a mobile phone he used to contact with the people from the ROK, text messages showing him receiving orders from the South Koreans, documents handed over to him when he was caught, and pictures he had taken of military vessels. On March 25, Kim gave a press conference in Pyongyang making a confession to his crimes. The DPRK government convicted a number of foreigners for anti-DPRK crimes in recent years, often making them publicly confess their actions before trying them in court. In March 2016, American student Otto Frederick Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for taking down a political slogan from a hotel in Pyongyang. In December 2015, the Supreme Court sentenced ROK-born Canadian pastor Hyeon Soo Lim to lifetime labor. He was charged with attempts to overthrow the DPRK government and undermine its social system under the guise of conducting religious exchanges over 18 years. In late 2014, Pyongyang released three detained Americans, two of whom had been sentenced to hard labor of six years and 15 years respectively, for "hostile acts against the DPRK." A spokeswoman from China's Foreign Ministry said the United States is not qualified to make carping comments on China as it has not signed on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. After the US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House of Representatives on Thursday that China can't have it both ways (being a party to the convention but rejecting its provisions), China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying held a press conference Friday in Beijing saying that the US has not yet signed on the convention. Instead, Washington has introduced its so-called "Freedom of Navigation Program" in 1979 ahead of the birth of the convention in 1982, Hua noted. "This is purely a logic of hegemony to formulate and lead the US-fashion maritime order outside the framework of the convention," Hua said. Hua also noted that it is a secret that is known to all, "the US subscribes to the international law when it is favorable for them, and ignore the law when it is not favorable." More than 30 countries besides China have filed declarations in accordance with the Convention to exclude disputes concerning maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration and other compulsory dispute settlement procedures. "China's rejection to the arbitration and refusal to be part of it is to ensure the solemnity of the international laws, including the convention, and to oppose abusing them," Hua said. Blinken was challenging China's lasting rejection to arbitration by a tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which was established in 2014 at Manila's unilateral request against China. (Photo : Getty Images) China's President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the fifth regular foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on April 28, 2016 in Beijing, China Advertisement Chinese President Xi Jinping told a group of Asian foreign ministers on Thursday that China won't let chaos and war break out in the Korean Peninsula. North Korea insisted on developing nuclear weapons despite a resolution from the United Nations, resulting to raised tension in the region. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "As a close neighbour of the peninsula, we will absolutely not permit war or chaos on the peninsula. This situation would not benefit anyone," Xi said. According to Chinese officials, the United States conducted military operations in the South and East China seas. The US said that such patrols were conducted to let people know that international straits cannot be restricted by other countries. Xi made it clear that China will install peace and stability in the South China Sea while maintaining its sovereignty. He also affirmed that Beijing is complying with the UN Security Council's resolution on North Korea and called for another meeting regarding the North Korean nuclear issue. Xi hopes that North Korea would refrain from provoking the concerned parties and intensifying conflicts as he emphasized China's principles for the Korean Peninsula issue: realizing denuclearization, maintain peace and stability, and promoting peaceful resolution through dialogue. Advertisement TagsPeace, North Korea, nuclear, missiles, china (Photo : Getty Images) The HTC Corp. logo is imprinted on the back of the company's HTC J One HTL22 smartphone during the unveiling event in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, May 20, 2013. Advertisement As part of the its effort to push the boundaries of virtual reality even further, HTC has announced that it is launching a $100 million accelerator program that will target startup companies operating in the realm of virtual reality. Dubbed the Vive X, HTC's accelerator program will grant funds to help startups pave their way in the virtual reality platform. The $100 million program will kick off its operation in Beijing in May. HTC confirmed that it is slated to expand its coverage to Taipei and San Francisco in the near future. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement HTC expects that the Vive X program will help develop the global virtual reality ecosystem by providing startups with resources and direct access to advanced virtual reality technologies. In a statement, HTC chairwoman and chief executive officer Cher Wang said, "We are very excited about gathering the brightest and the most creative minds to join Vive X. Virtual reality is changing the world, yet to do that effectively it needs a healthy ecosystem to expand into the mass market." The $100 million fund does not come directly from HTC. Instead, the company describes it as an investment fund with HTC on top of it all. Startup companies that will be part of the Vive X program will receive between $50,000 and $20,000 in exchange of equity and other benefits. Earlier this month, HTC launched its flagship virtual reality headset called the Vive. Despite facing some early ordering problems, the launch went pretty smooth for the Taiwanese tech company. Compared to the launch problems faced by Oculus, the HTC Vive launch can be considered a big success for the company. Despite reporting losses in the quarter ending on December 31, 2015, HTC is still optimistic about the monumental growth of the virtual reality platform. Advertisement TagsHTC, HTC VR, HTC Vive X, Vive X, Virtual Reality, VR, VR accelerator program, HTC program, Vive X program (Photo : Damir Sagolj - Pool/Getty Images) China's President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as they meet at the Great Hall of the People on April 28, 2016 in Beijing, China. Advertisement The Chinese Government has approved China's first NGO law that has been specifically designed for non-government organizations operating in the mainland, a move that aims to protect the nation's national security. The 54-point law, which was approved last Thursday during the bi-monthly session of the top legislature, outlines the parameters that would guide foreign NGOs as they conduct their activities in China, reported China Daily. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The law, among others, clarifies the registration process, operational rules and liabilities of NGOs, together with measures they need to follow during the course of their work in the country. Scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, China's NGO law requires all international non-government organziations operating in China to be registered and regulated by central or provincial-level police authorities. However, this stipulation has raised concerns among some NGOs who think that their operations and activities might be affected once the law is implemented. "Such worries are totally unnecessary if they follow Chinese laws," pointed out Zhang Yong, deputy director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He noted that overseas NGOs have in fact made major contributions to China's development, assuaging fears that China's NGO law will negatively impact on the work being carried out by these groups. To date, there is no official figure on how many overseas NGOs are working in China, but Chinese media estimates them to be around 6,000 which are mostly engaged in environmental protection, education and poverty relief efforts. The adopted NGO law has also undergone several revisions. For instance, a provision in the earlier draft which required exchanges between Chinese and foreign colleges, hospitals, and science and engineering research institutes was dropped from the law's final version. Moreover, the approved law also removed the restriction which allowed each NGOs to set up only one office on the mainland. But as a condition, the number and locations of these offices must first be approved by the Central Government's regulatory authorities. Guo Linmao, a member of the commission, explained that the rights of these foreign NGOs will be fully protected, but those which break China's laws will be punished accordingly. "A very limited number of overseas NGOs have conducted activities in China that harm our national security or interests," he said, highlighting the importance of China's new NGO law. Advertisement Tagschina, Law for Foreign NGOs, Chinese government (Photo : Getty Images) China will send its missile destroyer class Langzhou and 12 special troops to the upcoming multinational military exercises organized by the Asean. Advertisement China will join a multinational military exercise involving ten member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next month. Several Asean members include its rival South China Sea claimants. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Wu Qian said that China will send its missile destroyer class Lanzhou and 12 special force troops to the military war games dubbed "ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise." Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The exercise will be held in the waters of Brunei and Singapore near disputed South China Sea islands. Chinese troops and naval officers will join their counterparts from the ASEAN countries and eight other dialogue partners namely, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, United States, Australia and the Philippines. There will be various amphibious exercises such as surface operations exercise, particularly visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS). Defense and security fields Wu said that the multilateral exercise will help the militaries of the participating countries to "learn from each other and deepen practical cooperation in the defense and security fields." China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea and continues to build islands and construct airstrips, harbors, and radar systems in disputed territories. Amid all its reclamation activities in the region, Beijing reiterated that the only way to resolve its disputes with the five claimant countries is through "friendly dialogues." Reports said most of the claimants have asked the US for support in the region, increasing the tensions between Beijing and Washington. Provocative actions The Chinese government has accused the US of "provocative actions" in the South China Sea with its freedom of navigation patrols and warned Washington not to interfere in the affairs of other countries. Wu said Beijing is prepared to handle the improved naval patrols of the US in the South China Sea. It will also uphold and defend its sovereignty over their controlled territories at all costs. "No matter how many and how frequently U.S. ships come to the South China Sea, that would not change the fact that the islands and adjacent islands are China's inherent territory, it would not stop the pace of China's growth and development and even more it would not shake the will of the People's Liberation Army in resolutely safeguarding the sovereignty and security of China," Wu said. Advertisement Tagsmultinational military exercise, china, South China Sea claimants, Col. Wu Qian, missile destroyer (Photo : Getty Images) President Xi Jinping said he will not allow war to break out on the Korean peninsula and would take all diplomatic measures to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons. Xi attended the foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). Advertisement As a close neighbor of the Korean peninsula, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing will not allow war or chaos to erupt in the military hotspot as he vowed to take the diplomatic avenue to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons. President Xi, who spoke before a group of Asian foreign ministers on Thursday, said the breakout of war would be to no one's advantage and efforts to bring back Pyongyang to the negotiating table are currently being worked out by the concerned nations. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "We will absolutely not permit war or chaos on the peninsula. This situation would not benefit anyone," Xi said. UN resolution Xi reassured foreign ministers that Beijing continues to back the UN Security Council's new resolution which imposed severe sanctions against the belligerent state The United States has been pressuring China to do more in reigning in Pyongyang following the latter's fourth missile test in January, but Beijing countered Washington's statements saying that the latter should assume part of the responsibility in restraining Pyongyang and not leave all the problem-solving to the mainland. Rejected offer North Korea recently offered the US a unilateral moratorium on its missile tests provided Washington would halt its current military exercises with Seoul. US President Barack Obama rejected the offer and said that he will only deal with Pyongyang once it abandons its development of its nuclear programme. Seoul is anticipating the North's fifth nuclear test before the ruling congress convenes on May 6 where young leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to try to cement his leadership. China has long called for the Korean peninsula to be free of nuclear weapons but Pyongyang remains stubborn over the years. It has not caved in, so far, to pressures from the international community. Around 30,000 US troops are stationed in Seoul. US and South Korea are still in negotiations on whether or not Washington will deploy the THAAD missile system on South Korean soil to counter Pyongyang's nuclear tests. Advertisement TagsKorean peninsula, President Xi Jinping, Pyongyang, Seoul, Kim Jong Un, china, THAAD missile system, nuclear programme (Photo : Getty Images) Launch of the Soyuz 2.1a booster from the Vostochny Cosmodrome Advertisement An irate Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed that officials responsible for embezzling funds used to build the new Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia close to the Chinese border will be sent to jail. Putin made the pledge after being forced to wait for a day after the countdown to launch the first rocket from Vostochny was aborted less than two minutes from lift-off. He made the long journey by air to the new cosmodrome located some 5,500 kilometers east of Moscow. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The embarrassing glitch forced Putin to wait until the next day, April 28, to view from 1.6 kilometers away the launch of the Soyuz 2.1a booster with a payload of three satellites. The satellites, Lomonosov, Aist-2D and SamSat-218, were safely orbited. Vostochny is the first civilian rocket launch site on Russian territory. By building it, Russia seeks to cut its reliance on the historic Baikonur cosmodrome located in Kazakhstan. Putin was quoted by Interfax as saying "the malfunction, as far as I understand, is not due to the condition of the cosmodrome, but to the rocket itself." The project to build the cosmodrome, however, has been plagued by charges of massive corruption and price gouging. Directors of three project subcontractors were arrested on charges of corruption. "Six criminal cases had to be launched, in which four people were arrested. Two of them, however, are under house arrest, while the other two are in pre-trial detention," said Putin. "But if their guilt of the suspected of crimes is proven, they'll have to swap their warm beds at home for prison bunks." A government audit in 2014 blamed Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, for financial irregularities worth $1.4 billion during the construction of Vostochny. It discovered officials had overstated the cost of building the cosmodrome by 20 percent. Putin congratulated the spaceport staff after the successful but delayed launch. "This is just the first stage of enormous work, and everything you were supposed to do you did brilliantly," he said. Advertisement TagsPresident Vladimir Putin, Vostochny Cosmodrome, v, Soyuz 2.1a booster, roscosmos (Photo : Getty Images.) Russian and Chinese foreign ministers on Friday decided to join hands on critical issues of South China Sea and North Korea. Advertisement Russia on Friday support China's stance on critical issues between North Korea and South China Sea as both countries seek to counter US influence in Asian region. Russia's support came after meeting with foreign ministers of both countries in Beijing. Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi jointly criticized the proposed deployment of THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea and third party interventions in South China Sea region. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "Relevant countries shouldn't use Pyongyang's acts as a pretext to increase their military presence on the Korean Peninsula. We believe the possible deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system won't resolve this problem," Sergey Lavrov said. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi warned that deployment of THAAD would "add fuel to the fire of an already tense situation and even possibly wreck the regional strategic balance." Both foreign ministries stated that the only possible solution to North Korea's nuclear problem is to revive the long-stalled six nations talk in North Korea. China and Russia's latest position on North Korea comes amid growing tensions in the Korean Peninsula. South Korea claimed on Thursday that its Northern neighbor tried to test-fire two suspected powerful intermediate-range missiles. On the issue of South China Sea, Russia and China agreed that disputed maritime issues should not be solved with the help of third party intervention, a stance that is directly aimed at US and Japan, who despite not being a party to the dispute is strongly opposed to China's presence in the South China Sea region. Beijing is highly critical of US, Japan, and other international communities offering military and diplomatic support to other claimants in the region. Wang said that if any outside party wants to intervene, then it must help in building peace and not aggravate the situation in the region. "International society, particularly countries from outside the South China Sea, should play a constructive function in maintaining peace and stability and not contribute to the situation becoming more chaotic," Wang said. Advertisement Tagschina, Russia, South China Sea, North Korea Exponential: Erwin McManus declares 'God is madness in my soul' 29 April, 2016 by Tobin Perry , | ORLANDO, Fla. (Christian Examiner)Church planters from throughout North America and the world were encouraged this week to pursue multiplication in their ministries at the Exponential Conference at First Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida. Organizers called the conference the "largest gathering of church planting leaders in the world." Along with the thousands who attended the conference live, it was also available for free via livestream. Conference speakers included: Dave Ferguson, Brian Houston, Mark Batterson, Ed Stetzer, J.D. Greear, Ryan Kwon, Michael Frost, Matt Chandler and Dave Dummitt. Here are a few of the highlights from the four-day conference: Erwin McManus, lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, speaking at the church whose former pastor, Jim Henry, three decades earlier had led him and his family to faith in Christ, urged attendees to "create the future" of the Church. McManus described in his message his own journey about getting disillusioned with ministry and becoming an artist and filmmaker. Eventually, he returned to Mosaic and pastoral ministry."The reason I'm here is not because this is the easy road," McManus said. "The reason I'm here is not because I cannot do something else as a career or profession. The reason I'm here is because God is madness in my soul that I cannot extricate from my life." Calling the Church the most significant human endeavor in the history of the world, McManus suggested it was also worth the stress and frustrations that come to those who lead it. "The Church is the physical expression of the dreams and vision of God poured into His people and then unleashed on humanity," McManus said after quoting the Apostle Peter's words in Acts 2:27. "Humanity needs the dreams of God as their future." Ryan Kwon, who started Resonate Church in Fremont, California,encouraged church planters present to strive for a "family win" instead of pursuing individual wins. Speaking about the tension between "building our church and building His church," Kwon focused his 20-minute message on asking attendees to consider how competition may be hurting the Church's expansion. "If we're going to go from a movement of churches that are adding to their numbers to a multiplying church, if we are going to be a Level 5 Church, then we must overcome our Western culture of individualism and embrace a culture of a biblical family," Kwon said. "We no longer fight for our individual win, but we fight for the family win." A Level 5 Church is a term used during the Exponential Conference to describe a multiplying church. J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, used Acts 8 to lay out three characteristics of a sending churchconfident sacrifice, Kingdom selflessness and risky faith. "What we're doing is not working," said Greear. "I think we need to return to the Bible, and I think we need to ask whether we're pursuing the mission like Jesus told us to pursue it." Sharing what he said are three characteristics of a sending church, Greear focused on the need to be prepared to risk. "We know how to teach that principle to our people with their moneyto give God their first and their bestbut are we willing to give God the first and best of our leaders?" Greear asked. "Pastor/leader, what if you said: 'God, I'll give you the first and best of my leaders and trust you.' Watch and see how the Lord multiplies and what He does. We've discoveredjust like in every other area of your churchyou just can't out give God." Mark Batterson, the founding pastor of National Community Church in Washington D.C., also focused on the need for risk. Batterson used an illustration of "the Domino Effect" to show the power of one small risk. The Domino Effect is a 1983 scientific study that showed a domino could topple another domino 1.5 times its size. Batterson suggested that if a person starts with a two-inch domino and continues to try to topple dominoes 1.5 times larger, the person could knock over the Leaning Tower of Pisa in 18 dominoes. Batterson urged the church planters in attendance to look for the one action that'll change all the subsequent ones. "It takes 280 million tons of potential energy to knock over the 13th domino," Batterson said. "Don't start there. Start with the two-inch domino right in front of you. One decision, one idea, one risk, one day." Matt Chandler, the lead pastor of Dallas' The Village Church and president of Acts 29 Church Planting Network , concluded the conference by reminding those in attendance that no matter what they apply of what they've learned, they can't make their church plants multiply on their own. Only the Holy Spirit can do that, he said."The more you think you're the solution to the problem, the more you put a weight on you that you cannot, will not, bear," Chandler said. "No, you are the bearer of good newsnot the Good News. "Speaking from Acts 13, Chandler noted he can't tell church planters how to "make the Holy Spirit fuel and blow life into what you're doing." Instead he shared three "places where the wind tends to blow" a serious pursuit of God, a radical obedience to the Holy Spirit, and an open-handed gladness. Chandler ended the conference by encouraging church planters to do what they can do to apply what they've learned in the conference and let God take care of the rest. "You can do this," Chandler said. "You hear me? You can do this. You don't need to be comparing yourself with anyone else. ... We can be us, where we are at, and God will be very happy with that." Refused: Graphics company declines to make rainbow logo for 'welcoming' church 29 April, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | FARGO A Fargo graphic arts company has declined to craft a new logo that includes a rainbow for a "welcoming" Lutheran congregation because the rainbow has become the international symbol of the gay rights movement, the Bismarck Tribune has reported. According to the report, St. Mark's Lutheran Church asked Custom Graphics, Inc., about crafting the logo, but once the church council asked for the logo to include rainbow colors the company backed off the deal. Zach Paxton, general manager of the company and a cousin to the company's owner, said the church's business was "declined respectfully." "I didn't mean any offense by it or anything like that," Paxton said. He added that he had no problem printing items for the church, but could not invest his business's labor into an art project that would assist the church in promoting the LGBT agenda. Already a group calling itself Fargo-Moorehead Pride has latched onto the news and initiated a social media awareness campaign. It has called attention to the fact that Custom Graphics' logo includes bars with all of the colors of refracted light in them much in the same way a prism would look. The church has yet to make a formal complaint with the state about the incident, and it likely will not since it has no legal recourse. Custom Graphics has not violated a state law. North Dakota legislators have rejected the creation of anti-discrimination laws against the LGBT community three times in the past six years, Fargo's ABC affiliate, WDAY, reported. But the state's first openly-gay lawmaker said he plans to change that. Rep. Joshua Boschee (D-Fargo) said businesses should not be allowed to discriminate. "We don't allow businesses to say that they're not going to design a graphic for someone who is Muslim or someone who is disabled or someone that's a single parent because we recognize that that's just a form of discrimination that's not a North Dakota value," he said. The church may soon have an apology. According to the report in the Tribune, the owner of Custom Graphics, Paul Paxton, said his cousin should not have declined the business. He said he plans on offering an apology to the church. BREAKING: Target boycott petition hits 1 million as Christian bloggers debate effectiveness Guest Reviewer | 28 April, 2016 by Michael Foust TUPELO, Miss. (Christian Examiner) A petition pledging a boycott of Target over its new bathroom policy reached an incredible 1 million names Thursday night, even as faith bloggers debated whether the protest itself is a good idea. The boycott was launched April 20 and is being led by the American Family Association, which is hosting a petition that reads: "Target's store policy endangers women and children by allowing men to frequent women's facilities. Until Target makes the safety of women and children a priority, I will shop elsewhere." Support for the petition hit 1 million names Thursday in its ninth day, a feat boosted by the petition going viral on social media. I urge compassion for those who struggle, and I call for professionals to work together to find a way to help those who identify as transgender find wholeness from the inside out. As followers of Jesus, we can stand for righteousness while we reach out to the hurting and the confused. Under the new store policy, customers can use the restroom that corresponds to their chosen gender. But it is the lack of details that has opponents particularly upset. Specifically, can a man simply walk into the women's restroom if he so chooses, even with women and young girls present? Target was asked an almost identical question on its Facebook page but did not give a direct answer. When a Washington state open-bathroom law went into effect this year, a man walked into a Seattle public pool locker room and refused to leave, even when asked by patrons and workers to do so. He responded, "The law has changed and I have the right to be here." Young girls were in the locker room on one of the occasions. The man was not arrested. Christian blogger Aaron Wilson wrote that he understands the frustration that is at the core of the boycott, but believes it is a bad idea. "Boycotting typically focuses its efforts on reducing the ripple effects of the real problem. Think of it like this: You have a leak in your basement that's causing water to drip into a bucket you've placed underneath," wrote Wilson, who opposes the Target policy. "You call in a plumber but instead of focusing on the pipe where the source of the leak lies, he spends his time addressing the bucket. He tries multiple containers and experiments with different ways to reduce the aesthetic effects of each drop hitting the surface. "While this approach may temporarily reduce the irritation of your problem, it's only a provisional fix. Because the source of your leak hasn't been addressed, your new bucket will eventually fill again. The plumber has only disguised the root problem. Wilson added, "The best case scenario in this effort is that Target goes back to its long-standing bathroom policy. While this would be great news, you could only call it a tempered victory as no disciples of Jesus would be made and the real underlying problem of sin would still exist." Author and speaker Michael Brown, though, wrote that the boycott is necessary because of the issue's significance. He further said that a targeted boycott can be effective. "While it is far too early to assess what impact this boycott will have, it is already very effective in waking Christians up to what is happening in our society and sending a message to other companies that there are economic consequences to embracing radical LGBT activism," Brown wrote at Stream.org. Further, Brown argued, the policy is dangerous. "Should we grant predators potential access to our kids while we give Target some time to prove their goodwill by coming up with an adequate policy to keep those predators out?" Brown asked. "And how many horror stories do we need to hear before we decide that Target is not the place for us? Before this new policy was announced, if a father saw a grown man follow his daughter into the bathroom, he could easily stop him or ask Target management to intervene. Today at Target, that father could do nothing, and since there's no way to distinguish between the transgender male-to-female and the heterosexual predator, Target could be complicit in that child's harm." Christians can boycott Target while also showing love toward the transgender community, Brown added. "I urge compassion for those who struggle, and I call for professionals to work together to find a way to help those who identify as transgender find wholeness from the inside out," he wrote. "As followers of Jesus, we can stand for righteousness while we reach out to the hurting and the confused." The Oregon bakers who were fined for discrimination against a same-sex couple by refusing to bake a wedding cake for them are appealing the decision in an Oregon Court of Appeals. Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, were told to pay $135,000 in damages to Rachel Cryer-Bowman and Laurel Bowman-Cryer by Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. The Kleins have filed a case in court on Monday, saying that the labor department's decision against them violates their religious freedom and freedom of speech. Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian had earlier written that the bakers' act "was more than the denial of the product. ... It was the epitome of being told there are places you cannot go, things you cannot do ... or be." However, the Kleins have maintained that they denied service to the same-sex couple because of their deeply-held religious beliefs. "For the most part, the Kleins' faith did not affect their relationship with customers. As they testified, the Kleins would not turn people away on account of membership in a protected class," the brief submitted in the court of appeals said. The Kleins said that they did not intend to decline people based on their individual backgrounds, but that their faith required them to refuse designing cakes for "certain events," including "for example, divorce parties." "For the Kleins, the union between a man and a woman in marriage mirrors the union between Jesus Christ and his church on earth." The appeal also claimed that the labor department was "seeking to stamp out dissent to a new social orthodoxy that embraces same-sex weddings rather than seeking to deter all invidious discrimination in business transactions." The Kleins said in the brief that the storefront and decorations had made it apparent that they were religious people. "As a testament to their commitment to operating Sweet Cakes in accordance with their Christian faith, the Kleins had their church pastor pray over the store and dedicate its work to Jesus Christ and decorated the storefront with Christian imagery like crosses," the brief states. The couple were forced to close down their shop after the lawsuit, but the New Civil Rights Movement claims that they did not lose their business. "The Kleins of course did not lose their business at all. Unless they have sold it or somehow let it lapse, they still own the Sweet Cakes by Melissa trademark. Years ago they chose to close their storefront shop and take their cake baking business online, where you today can buy a cake, a wedding cake, cupcakes, and other baked goods: Sweet Cakes," it said. In a separate Colorado case, a baker Jack Philips from Lakewood was penalized for refusing to bake a cake for wedding anniversary of two men. He was summoned by Colorado Civil Rights Commission which told Philips to report regularly to the department to show them that he was working to "correct" his practices, according to Charisma News. The state Supreme Court declined to hear his case. "We all have a right to our personal beliefs, but we do not have a right to impose those beliefs on others and discriminate against them," said Ria Tabacco Mar, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. The City Council of Oxford in Alabama voted to pass a new law that requires people to use public bathroom aligned with their birth sex. The new rule also covers changing rooms, apart from restrooms, within the police jurisdiction of the city of Oxford. Police Chief Bill Partridge told Al.com that if anyone reports an uncomfortable situation at public restrooms, police would come to witness any crime. If the alleged offender is still there by the time police arrives, that person may be charged with $500 fine or up to six months in prison, a punishment which is similar as in public indecency cases. "If somebody sees something that makes them uncomfortable, they would call the police," he said. "If the person is still there when the officer arrives, the officer has to witness the crime. Then we take down the person's information, and the person who reported it has to sign out a warrant." Council President Steven Waits said that the new law was not meant to target transgender people, but to protect women and children. He read from a prepared statement, saying that the law was "not out of concerns for the 0.3 percent of the population who identify as transgender," but "to protect our women and children." The ordinance said that people using public bathrooms "do not reasonably expect to be exposed to individuals of the opposite sex while utilizing those facilities." "The council further asserts that single sex public facilities are places of increased vulnerability and present the potential for crimes against individuals utilizing those facilities which may include, but not limited to, voyeurism, exhibitionism, molestation and assault and battery," it continued. The law does not mention the word "transgender," but comes soon after Target changed its policy to eliminate gender lines in bathrooms, which the council said threatened the safety of women and children. However, LGBT rights groups say that the law is discriminatory, and even went beyond the North Carolina bathroom ordinance which is applicable only in government premises. "With the passage of HB2, North Carolina became the first state to enact this type of legislation and is currently facing a federal court challenge and fierce backlash. Oxford's ordinance is unprecedented in that it enumerates criminal penalties, including the potential for jail time, for violations. It also applies to bathrooms and locker rooms citywide, including in private businesses, which goes further than the similar provision in North Carolina's law which applies to government buildings," said Ianthe Metzger of Human Rights Campaign. A petition to oppose Target's decision to open the bathrooms to either sexes has received over one million signatures, which says that the policy "means a man can simply say he 'feels like a woman today' and enter the women's restroom... even if young girls or women are already in there... Target's policy is exactly how sexual predators get access to their victims. And with Target publicly boasting that men can enter women's bathrooms, where do you think predators are going to go?" The law makes exception to the bathroom rule for those who offer emergency medical assistance to sick and elderly people and are permitted to enter any room, along with adults who accompany children under the age of 12 to any of the restrooms. Where is God when his people suffer oppression? Why does he seem hidden as ISIS and Boko Haram murder Christians? Does God ever approve of war? God and Politics in Esther, a new book by Jewish political philosopher Yoram Hazony, addresses questions no less urgent today than in biblical times. Hazony, president of the Herzl Institute in Jerusalem, might be called the Jewish version of Reinhold Niebuhr or Richard John Neuhaus, two 20th-century thinkers who wrote extensively about how Christians can participate in the cities of this world while belonging ultimately to the City of God. Hazony zeroes in on the Book of Esther, where God is never mentioned by name. In fact, he seems hidden. His people lived in an alien society (ancient Persia, todays Iran) under despotic rulers. They often felt social and political pressure to betray their faith. Yet God is present, if only in the shadows. Esther is the Jewish queen (formerly Hadassah) of the Persian king Ahashverosh, traditionally identified as Xerxes I. Her cousin, Mordecai, had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives of Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. (Esther 2:6). He had adopted and helped raise Esther after she was orphaned. When Esther learned from Mordecai that Haman, the prime minister to the Persian king, was planning to annihilate all the Jews in the land, she urged the Jews in the capital to begin fasting, so as to strengthen her prayers for help. Mordecai wanted her to see Gods challenge: Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this (4:14)? The challenge was formidable. Both Mordecai and Esther had to break the laws of the empire, and the penalty was death. Mordechai had refused to bow down to ... 1 Starting Sunday, the entire Bible will be read aloud in 90 hours on Capitol Hill. Hundreds will make their way to the 27th annual reading at the US Capitol, where 100 English and foreign language versions of the Bible will be available. Former presidential candidate Ben Carson recently told reporter Rita Cosby that his advice to Republican frontrunner Donald Trump on handling his temper was to read the Bible and pray and learn how to put yourself in other peoples shoes. (Trump recently said his favorite Bible verse is an eye for an eye.) But not even regular Bible reading could make Trump and other presidential contenders more civil, believe 44 percent of Americans. Thats an increase from 40 percent last year, according to the 2016 State of the Bible report from the American Bible Society (ABS), conducted by Barna Group. Only 51 percent of Americans said politics would be more civil if politicians read the Bible regularly, down from 56 percent last ... 1 Adam Ford makes the church laugh. Weve been sharing his curiously Christian webcomic Adam4d.com for years, and many are now discoveringand laughing out loud athis new Christian satire site, The Babylon Bee. But few know that it was a major personal crisis that led him to use his pen and wit as tools for ministry. Ford recently spoke with The Local Church about his calling as a humorist, why Christians need satire, and how pastors can use what is funny to communicate what is serious. Did you always aspire to art and humor, or were they things you picked up later in life? I've always been inclined toward art and humor, but never thought it would be my "thing," really. After God saved me about 11 years ago, I was pretty sure I would be a preacher. That's what I saw myself doing. But then about 6 years ago, I was blind-sided by a serious generalized anxiety disorder/panic disorder/social anxiety that changed my whole life. I went from an extrovert to an extreme introvert, and things like speaking in front of people now terrify me. But I still had the strong desire to speak the truth to people. The webcomic and news satire site were born out of that. Evangelicals seem uneasy about satire at times, but you've helped us laugh at ourselves in ways we didn't before. Why is this so important? It's important to look at what we're doing, to "examine ourselves." Satire acts like an overhead projector, taking something that people usually ignore and projecting it up on the wall for everyone to see. It forces us to look at things we wouldn't normally look at and makes us ask if we're okay with them. And sometimes it just makes us laugh. That's all healthy ... 1 'Freedom March -- Life Wins' and 'Mother's Day Mourning -- Mississippi's 50 Deadly Years' Correcting the historical record: Abortion Began not With Roe-v-Wade in 1973, but was First Approved and Decriminalized in Mississippi Ironically on Mother's Day May 8th, 1966. Contact: Juda Myers, 281-451-8460, Juda@Choices4Life.org; Rev. Chet Gallagher, 702-528-4346, ChetGallagher@Gmail.com JACKSON, Miss., April 29, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Join us in Jackson, Mississippi during "7 days of repentance and mourning" beginning Monday May 2 and leading up to the 50th Anniversary of "legally" shedding Innocent blood, this Sunday May 8th. What the vast majority in this country are unaware of is that the historical root of abortion is entrenched in racism and that the decriminalization of abortion began during the civil rights movement in Mississippi. The irony is that the first American lawmakers approved abortions for children conceived in rape on Mother's Day, 1966, also falling on May 8th that year. It is now 50 deadly years later. Rev. Chet Gallagher, Assistant Director of Operation Save America, stated, "It is critical that we re-educate people in this country who haven't a clue. The wickedness of rape exceptions and why they have been accepted, entrenched and justified our society must be exposed. The exception has become the norm leading to thousands of innocent pre-born children being butchered every year in America." Hundreds of free copies of the full length documentary Conceived in Rape and Other Exceptions (seen thus far by over 3 million viewers online) will be distributed throughout the city and in local churches by the film's Producer, Kevin Williams. Both national and local Prolife leaders will be speaking and available for interviews during the week and the events scheduled. Details are as follows: "CHURCH ON THE STREET" Monday to Saturday mornings May 2-8, sponsored by "Mississippi Pastors for Life" held outside of the last surgical abortion mill in Mississippi. "HEROS MEET AND GREET" Thursday, May 5th, 6 PM, at Jackson's Marriot Hotel sponsored by Justice Foundation to honor moms of children conceived in rape but were not aborted. "FREEDOM MARCH---LIFE WINS!" Friday May 6th, State Capitol lead by Juda Myers, Choices4Life. This will be preceded by a Press Conference at the Capitol before the march around the Capitol Building. "MOTHER'S DAY MOURNING" Saturday May 7th, evening rally, co-sponsored by "Just Show Up!" Ministries and Operation Save America. "MOTHER'S DAY MOURNING---MISSISSIPPI'S 50 DEADLY YEARS" Sunday May 8th, 4 PM at the Mississippi State Capitol. Operation Save America and local MS leaders to speak. CONTACTS: Juda Myers, Choices4Life: Juda@Choices4Life.org (281)451-8460 Rev. Chet Gallagher, Operation Save America: ChetGallagher@Gmail.com (702)528-4346 Share Tweet Pastor and His Family Arrested in China After Meeting with U.S. Consulate Officials Contact: Rachel Ritchie, English Media Director, China Aid, 432-553-1080 cell, 888-889-7757, 432-689-6985, r.ritchie@chinaaid.org WENZHOU, Zhejiang, China, April 29, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Authorities in China's coastal Zhejiang province incarcerated a pastor, his wife and son on Tuesday for contacting U.S. Consulate officials in Shanghai and foreign journalists. Wen Xiaowu, a pastor, and his wife, both of whom provided legal defense counsel for churches affected by an ongoing cross demolition campaign, were criminally detained on April 26 and charged with "gathering a crowd to disturb social order." His son, Wen "Eden" Yidian was taken into police custody on the same day for "obstructing public service." Family members, however, believe that the detentions are in response to the couple's meetings with officials from the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai and a number of foreign journalists, during which they released developments on the cross demolitions. Zhang Kai, a prominent human rights lawyer, experienced a similarly sudden detention in August 2015 just a few days before he was scheduled to meet with U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, David Saperstein. Wen Xiaowu and his wife are currently being held in the Rui'an Detention Center in Zhejiang. They have not been allowed to meet with family members. Authorities also confiscated various personal items, including computers, from their home in Wenzhou. "Arresting Pastor Wen and his family members for these meetings is a direct slap in the face to the U.S. government and the American people," said China Aid president Bob Fu, who is a friend of the Wen family. "He is a man with integrity and passion who is always ready to help others. Despite the constant threats state security agents posed to him and his family in the past few years, he and his wife have been boldly providing legal counsel for churches and persecuted human rights defenders in Zhejiang. I urge the U.S. government to work with the Chinese authorities for the immediate release of the Wen family and other innocent church leaders who are under arrest." China Aid will update this story as more information becomes available. China Aid exposes abuses such as those experienced by Wen Xiaowu and his family in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China. Share Tweet home Faith Christian teen brutally murdered by Muslim girlfriend's family The love story between Pakistani Christian Qaisar Masih and the Muslim girl he fell in love with, Mehwish, ended in tragedy as the girl's father, brothers and relatives brutally killed him and hanged him on a tree. The 18-year-old Masih was murdered on April 21. After Mehwish's family killed him, they hanged him on a tree in front of his house with a message saying Christian men should not dare to look at Muslim women, Pakistan Christian Post reported. The boy's father, Mohammad Billa, had apparently threatened to kill Masih if he continued his relationship with Mehwish. Masih's family members had also pleaded with Mehwish to end the relationship because they were afraid her father would kill him. However, Mehwish was firm on her decision to continue the relationship because she said she loved Masih. She told him she could not live without him. Masih's family reportedly sought help from nongovernment organization The Voice Society on April 22 regarding his murder. His mother, Rani Sardar, was in anguish and demanded justice for her youngest son, whom she said was the "apple of her eye." "We all know who killed my son. They killed him brutally and hanged him in front of our house," she said. "I only demand justice. I want the accused to be hanged and punished." According to Masih's sister-in-law Ishrat Gulraiz, the girl's family lives just across their house. She recounted the many times the girl's father threatened that he would kill Masih in order to "set an example of terror in the whole community." The girl's father was apparently angered that Masih seemed to be trying to convert his daughter to Christianity. Gulraiz said after what happened to Masih, they are now afraid for their children's lives. The police conducted an investigation but they were reportedly making it look like a suicide case even though people in the neighborhood knew what really happened. "Our state and police have failed to provide us security and we assume that they will fail to provide us justice," Gulraiz said. home US More Americans want transgender community to use bathrooms according to 'birth sex' not 'gender identity', new poll says In the heat of discussion regarding the transgender bathroom law in North Carolina, a recent poll shows that more people in the U.S. prefer transgenders to use bathrooms according to their sex, not their gender identity. The results of the Reuters poll, which were released on Friday, April 22, indicate a decreasing trend in people's support for letting transgenders use women's bathrooms. On the other hand, the public is giving more approval to the idea that transgenders should use bathrooms based on their gender, or the gender specified in their birth certificate, instead of the gender they have come to identify with. This trend had especially been observed in the last two weeks. On April 13, Reuters conducted a poll on whether people should use bathrooms based on their gender or their gender identity. Out of 331 who participated in the poll, 46 percent said people should use bathrooms according to their gender identity, while 35 percent said they should use it according to their gender or birth-designated sex. Reuters conducted a similar poll nine days later, but this time the results were reversed. Out of 1,753 who participated, 40.9 percent said people should use bathrooms based on their gender identity, while 45 percent said they should use bathrooms based on their gender. Comparing the two sets of data, it can be seen that there was about a 10 percent increase in the number of people who believed that bathrooms should be used according to the gender specified in their birth certificate. These results show that the idea of allowing people to use bathrooms designated for the opposite sex just because the user identifies with that gender is not yet very openly accepted by the general public. The North Carolina transgender bathroom law mandates people to use bathrooms according to their biological sex or the gender specified in their birth ceritificate. This means a transgender man who identifies as female cannot use the female bathroom. Legislators insist the new law is meant to protect people who use bathrooms. Although it has been the subject of debate in the last few weeks, the North Carolina transgender bathroom law does not require businesses to implement the rule. On the contrary, the law lets them create their own bathroom rules for their customers or clients. home World Christian woman gang-raped by Muslims men in Pakistan, finds little help from authorities A Christian woman was brutally raped by two Muslims who broke into her house in Toba Tak Singh district in Pakistan. Thirty-year-old Asia Mushtaq said she was sleeping with her daughter when she was awakened by two men holding a gun to her face. Her husband, a soldier who was often away from home, was not there to protect her that night, something that her attackers were apparently aware of. Mushtaq screamed for help but nobody came to her aid. The men threatened to kill her and her two-year-old daughter if she did not comply with their demands. The men beat her and tied her hands and feet. Out of fear for her daughter's life, and lacking the strength to resist, she stopped screaming when she realized no one would come to help her. The two men violently abused her for hours, and before they left they threatened to kill her if she told anybody. "The men treated me like an animal, telling me I was a worthless Christian but I know my God is a great God. When I screamed they told me that they knew my husband was away and that I was unprotected," Mustaq told nonprofit organization British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA). "They said Christian women are all whores and that they would come back and repeat their debauchery if I ever told anyone." Hoping for refuge from the law, Mushtaq went to the authorities the following day and reported the crime. BPCA confirmed that the case was indeed reported. Based on previous records, the two suspects, who were sons of wealthy businessmen, had been accused of raping other Christian girls but were never convicted. Medical personnel who examined Mushtaq reported that there was no evidence of forced entry. Witnesses later revealed that the examiners were seen talking to suspects' family members, leading to the assumption that they could have been bribed. Since the case was filed, Mushtaq and her family had been receiving threats to their life. Because the suspects' families were influential, even the Pakistani Army where Mushtaq's husband had served faithfully steered clear of the issue. BCPA chairman Wilson Chowdhry condemned the rape against Mushtaq. "Another woman finds herself a target of the whims of brutal Muslim rapists in Pakistan, in a society that targets its most vulnerable community a Christians," he said in a statement. "It pains me to say this, but the complex acts of betrayal leave me feeling that Christians have no place in Pakistan's theocratic society." 8 beautiful pictures of Orthodox Christians celebrating Holy Week in Jerusalem This week, Orthodox Christians celebrate Holy Week, leading up to Easter on Sunday. The date has been observed differently in the Western Churches, the Eastern Orthodox and Coptic Churches for centuries. It is calculated using the Sun and Moon and is on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon. It changes each year according to the Julian calendar used by Eastern Churches and the Gregorian calendar used in the West, and only occasionally falls on the same date for both Churches. This year, Easter was celebrated in the West on March 27. It will be celebrated on the 1 May in Eastern Churches. Below are eight stunning pictures of celebrations in Jerusalem. Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Metropolitan Theophilos blesses the crowd during the Washing of the Feet ceremony. An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy holds a Torah scroll during a special priestly blessing for Passover at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site in Jerusalem's Old City. Members of the Greek Orthodox clergy outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Patriarch Theophilos (C) leads the ceremony. Patriarch Theophilos washes the foot of a priest. Clergy and Orthodox Christians outside the church. Onlookers watch from above. Campaigners hopeful that Britain will vote to take child refugees Campaigners for child refugees believe Parliament could change its mind next month and allow unaccompanied children to be resettled in the UK. The government was defeated for a second time when the House of Lords voted to take in child refugees this week. The House of Commons originally voted against the amendment to the immigration bill to allow 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children to come to Britain. The amendment was filed by Lord Alfred Dubs, a Labour peer who fled Nazi Germany in 1939 and arrived in the UK on the Kindertransport. It was lost by just 10 votes but was passed in the Lords when the commitment to take as many as 3,000 was removed. "We are optimistic that some of the MPs who abstained last time will now vote in favour," said a spokesperson for Citizens UK, which is leading the campaign for find 5,000 homes in Britain for Syrian refugees. The House of Commons will vote again on the issue on 9 May. Juliet Kilpin, Baptist minister and co-ordinator of Urban Expression who has visited the Calais jungle camp several times, has urged people concerned about the child refugees to lobby their MPs. In a widely-shared Facebook post she wrote: "Wouldn't it be amazing if all Tory MPs who voted not to protect 3000 children stranded in Europe got letters from 3000 children in their constituencies early next week saying how they would feel if they were not welcomed or given refuge if facing danger... and how that might impact their voting habits when they turn18. Might make them reconsider how they vote when the revised Dubs Amendment comes back to MPs. Teachers, head teachers, pupils... ready, steady, go...!!!" Rabbi Janet Darley of the South London Liberal Synagogue, a different spokesperson for Citizens UK, said: "We are disappointed that the Dubs amendment was rejected in the Commons. It is a national embarrassment that our government is not doing more to help children on our own doorstep. We are failing to live up to the best of our history, exemplified perfectly by Lord Dubs himself who was brought here on the Kindertransport at the eve of the Second World War. "The number of politicians who voted for the Dubs amendment reflects the strong feeling across the country that we should be doing more to help refugee children who find themselves alone, vulnerable and scared in Europe. "We also remind the Government that they do already have a legal and a moral obligation to reunite unaccompanied minors in Europe with family members in the UK. The Home Office has only allowed 20 such reunifications while we have 157 eligible children freezing in the mud of Calais ready to go. Citizens UK is calling for the Government to do more to actively identify children and reunite them with family in the UK." Citizens UK are behind the UK's "Refugee Welcome" movement, coordinating 90 groups across the country. So far in London, just 43 refugees have been resettled, in the boroughs of Camden, Islington, Barnet and Kingston. A further 40 local authorities outside London have offered more than 3,000 places. Other councils are understood to be willing to take refugees if private landlords can be found. Citizens UK have also helped 20 children from the Calais camp be granted safe passage to the UK to be reunited with family members, including a boy aged 9. Even the Daily Mail is arguing for hearts not to be hardened over the admission of child refugees. In a comment column the Mail said: "We believe that the plight of these unaccompanied children now in Europe hundreds of them on our very doorstep in the Channel ports of France has become so harrowing that we simply cannot turn our backs. It is not their fault, after all, that they've been sent halfway round the world alone to search for a better life, often after seeing family members slaughtered." Chaldean Patriarchate says ISIS attack on iconic Clock Church meant 'to erase Iraq's Christian memory' The Chaldean Patriarchate has condemned the destruction of the historic Clock Church by the Islamic State (ISIS), saying it was undertaken "to erase Iraq's Christian memory in favour of a state of strangers who commit terror in the name of Islam." The iconic Clock Church, a Christian church known for its soaring clock tower which was built in the 1870s, is one of the best known remaining churches in Mosul, Iraq, which was named after its tower and funded by Empress Eugenie, the wife of the last French Emperor Napoleon III. The Chaldean Patriarchate urged the international and religious community to take serious steps to end the war in light of the new barbaric attacks on cultural symbols in Iraq. "This targeting of the Christian Church is a grave sin against God and man," the Chaldean Patriarchate said, as quoted by Breitbart. "International community and religious authorities must fully assume their responsibilities to protect the country and the lives of innocent citizens, to take serious steps to end the wars and conflicts and create the conditions for laying the foundations of just and comprehensive peace in Iraq," it added. Pressure is mounting on ISIS militants in Mosul as Kurdish forces, joined by Iraqi government and Shia militia forces, are closing in to retake the city. The Iraqi Christian community leader disclosed that the jihadists evacuated the surrounding area before looting the church and detonating planted explosives. They took all the artefacts they found valuable, reports say. The church, historically known as the "Church of the Miraculous Madonna," was constructed in 1873 for Iraqi Christians. Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, provided the funds for the construction of the church. She later added the clock tower in appreciation of the efforts made by the Dominican Fathers during a typhoid epidemic that started in 1879, according to historians. Mosul fell into ISIS hands in June 2014. The jihadists had strengthened their hold across many regions in the city before Iraqi and Kurdish forces, supported by coalition airstrikes, launched attacks this year with the aim of retaking the city. Aljazeera reports that there were around 45 churches in the city, but most of them have already been destroyed by the militants while some have been turned into jail houses and courts. Sister Luigina Sako, superior of the house in Rome of the Chaldean Sisters of the Daughters of Mary, said the Clock Church been a symbol of their youth and that even Muslims living in the city knew and honoured the Church of Miraculous Madonna. "The bells of that clock chimed in our youth, when Mosul was a city where you lived in peace," Sister Sako said. Christian pastor arrested and detained in China after legally defending churches A Chinese pastor who has defended churches facing demolition has been arrested along with his wife and son, campaigners say. Wen Xiaowu, who leads a house church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, on China's eastern coast, and his family were criminally detained on April 26. They are accused of "gathering a crowd to disturb social order" and "obstruction of public service", China Aid said. The human rights organisation said relatives believe these are trumped up charges. In a statement, China Aid said: "Family members believe... the real reason for the arrests is most probably because of their contacts/meetings with US Consulate officials in Shanghai. "Pastor Wen has been very active in legal defence work for the churches in Zhejiang during the forced cross demolition campaign in the last three years." The organisation branded Wen's arrest "a very disturbing chilling development", and likened it to the case of Christian human rights lawyer Zhang Kai, who was released after seven months detention in 'black jail' in March. Zhang had represented more than 100 churches fighting orders to remove their crosses. Wen, his wife and their son have not been allowed to see any relatives, and have had their computers and other items confiscated. They had apparently briefed foreign journalists about the forced cross demolition campaign in Zhejiang. The Communist Party is believed to be becoming progressively more suspicious of the influence of Christianity, which is experiencing significant growth in China. Up to 1,700 churches have been demolished or had their crosses removed in Zhejiang in the past two years. Wenzhou is dubbed the "Jerusalem of the East" for reportedly having the largest Christian community in China. "To arrest Pastor Wen and his family members (for normal meetings) is a direct slap of face to the US government and American people. He is a man with integrity and passion who is always ready to help others," said Bob Fu, founder and president of China Aid. "Despite of constant threat against him and his family in the past few years by state security agents, for the sake of rule of law and religious freedom in China, he and his wife have been boldly providing legal counsel for churches and persecuted rights defenders in Zhejiang. "I urge the US government to work with the Chinese authorities for the immediate release of the Wen's family and other arrested innocent church leaders." On April 14, a pastor's wife was killed in Henan province after stepping in front of a bulldozer to protest her church's demolition. Christian students sue North Carolina State University for requiring permit for religious speech At the North Carolina State University, you cannot talk about Jesus Christ and His teachings without securing the necessary permit first. This unprecedented ban on religious speech inside a public educational institution has prompted Grace Christian Life, a registered student group at university, to file a suit against school officials. In filing the lawsuit, the Christian students' group specifically questioned the university's Regulation 07.25.12, which "requires a permit for any form of commercial or non-commercial speech, which the policy broadly defines as any distribution of leaflets, brochures, or other written material, or oral speech to a passerby..." In September last year, for instance, members of the Grace Christian Life were banned from approaching other students and inviting them to engage in discussions about Christ without the necessary permit. Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Tyson Langhofer, who represents the Christian students' group in court, described the university's policy as "an amazingly broad speech restriction." "Public universities are supposed to be the marketplace of ideas, not places where students need a permit just to exercise their constitutionally protected freedoms," Langhofer told Fox News. He also criticised the North Carolina State University for supposedly singling out the Christian students' group. "The University has not restricted the ability of other students and student groups to engage in expressive activity," the lawsuit stated. "Grace has witnessed other students, student groups and off-campus groups handing out literature either without a permit or outside of the area reserved by their table permit." Fox News sought university officials' reaction to the lawsuit filed by Grace Christian Life, but they did not give a response. Grace Christian Life President Hannalee Alrutz, meanwhile, asserted her and fellow students' right to speak about God whenever they want inside the educational institution. "Colleges are supposed to be places where ideas are freely shared not gagged. The only permit a student needs to speak on campus is the First Amendment," Alrutz also told Fox News. European Referendum Should the UK be in or out? Is there a Christian view of the European Union? Should the UK be in or out? My grandfather would have had no doubts! The EU was the beast of Revelation! The Church of Scotland has no doubt that we should remain in the EU, and the Church of England in its own coded way sent out a prayer which hinted that being pro-EU was the Lord's will. For me it has been a difficult one to decide. I ended up reading and thinking, chopping and changing until this week when I made a decision and published a blog on the issue. My concern was that there has been so much rhetoric and so little information. The blog is lengthy so for the benefit of Christian Today readers I provide this summary. If you want to read the whole thing you can get it here. The Case for Remaining in the EU: Peace The EU has been a source of security, peace and prosperity for many years. After centuries of wars in Europe, and the two world wars of the 20th Century beginning there, it is noticeable that there has been peace in Europe for the past 70 years. The EU is surely a significant factor in that. Prosperity The EU has been a source of economic prosperity for all within. If Britain were to leave, the Treasury estimate it would cost each family 4,300 per annum by the year 2030. That is a massive hole left in most budgets. Plus 3 million jobs in the UK are dependent on being in the EU. Borders Freedom to travel without passports. The removal of borders. The right to live, work and study in any other EU countries. These are surely great benefits. I love being European. I consider myself European and I loathe what is sometimes called the 'Little Englander' mentality. Influence The EU is one of the major trading blocs in the world and therefore one of the major political powers. Britain is a key part of the EU and so gets to have a stronger say in world affairs. Human rights Hasn't the EU been a bastion of human rights and workers' rights? President Obama Ok, perhaps he shouldn't have come here and interfered in our affairs, but perhaps his warning is apposite. If Britain withdraws from the EU we cannot be guaranteed favourable trading arrangements with anyone. The Case for Leaving: Peace The 'Brexiters' would argue that while there has been peace within Europe (if you leave aside the small matter of the Balkans) this has been guaranteed more by NATO and the need to stand against the communist Eastern Bloc than anything else. However I think this is the strongest argument for the EU. Prosperity As regards prosperity they ridicule the Treasury figure of 4,300. The Treasury's 'report' was as The Spectator observed 'perhaps the most dishonest document ever produced by HM Treasury'. It dressed up GDP as household income in order to deceive people and avoided the real figure of 1,480. However even that is a meaningless figure. Chancellor George Osborne keeps bringing forth Treasury projections for which he now has a 100 per cent record. Of failure. As he admitted in 2010 the Treasury is not much good at economic forecasting. The Outers argue that Britain would be freed from EU bureaucracy and regulations and would be able to trade both with the EU and with the wider world and that we would be better off. Furthermore there is the not insignificant fact that we pay 13 billion into the EU treasury each year and get 4.5 billion back (that is with our rebate without it we would be paying 18 billion). Some more facts: 79 per cent of business activity in the UK is internal. 11 per cent of our GDP is with the rest of the world (and increasing) only 10 per cent with the EU (decreasing). No one believes that this trade would cease. The EU is a declining market from 36 per cent of the world's GDP in 1973 (when we joined) to 17 per cent now. The EU determines who we trade with elsewhere in the world and on what terms, because individual countries are not allowed to do so. Note this simple point for the sake of 10 per cent of our business we have to apply 100 per cent of EU rules to 100 per cent of our business. What about the three million jobs that are dependent on being in the EU? Daniel Hannan points out how deceitful that claim is: "The dishonesty of this claim is staggering. It is based on the same false idea that Britain would stop trading with the EU if it were not a member. Why? No one argues that we have to form a political union with, say, Brazil or Russia in order to do business with those countries." Borders There is no way that Britain can control its own borders if it is within the EU. The freedom to travel, live, work and study does not just apply to the Western European nations but now to the Central and Eastern European nations which make up a significant number of the 28 member countries. This has already had a significant impact on Britain and will continue to do so. The millions of immigrants/refugees are one factor but by far the biggest factor is the proposed entry of Turkey. Influence In reality our influence is very limited. We have been outvoted 40 times in the past five years and we only have 3.6 per cent of EU Commissioners. In fact we have voted 70 times against proposed EU legislation and we have lost 70 times. Some influence! Human Rights There are of course quirks in the European Convention on Human Rights but overall I think it is a good thing. But here is the surprising thing for many people. It is not a product of the EU but rather of the Council of Europe, which if Britain left the EU, we would still belong to, and therefore we would still be a signatory to the ECHR. Democracy Anyone who believes in democracy cannot vote to remain in the EU, at least not without shutting their eyes and crossing their fingers. The EU is fundamentally NOT a democratic institution. Indeed it is anti-democratic. The power in the EU lies not with the parliament but in the unelected EU Commissioners. Twice in the past five years the EU has removed a democratically elected government (in Italy and Greece) and appointed Brussels-approved technocrats. Tony Benn got the situation spot on. Once you have rulers who you cannot get rid of then you no longer live in a democracy. Corruption Corruption is rife within the EU. The EU accounts have not been properly signed off for 19 years. More than 1,000 EU officials earn more money than David Cameron. All officials working for EU institutions are exempt from national taxation they pay a flat rate of 21 per cent. The Euro gravy train is not a myth. But it's not just about officials it's about how democracy is conducted. The EU is a lobbyist's paradise. There are 25,000 of them in Brussels. The EU hands out largesse to organisations which then unsurprisingly support them. So for example I was told that several large NGO's supported Britain in the EU. That's interesting I thought, independent Non Governmental Organisations must have good reason for so doing. Indeed they do. Action Aid, the NSPCC, One World Action and Oxfam received over 43 million Euros between them from the EU. Little wonder that these 'independent' charities support the EU. Likewise the Confederation of British Industry have received one million Euros, and British Universities have received almost 900 million. They are all enthusiastic 'independent' campaigners for staying in. The whole system is corrupt to the core. Obama Why was President Obama so adamant about the EU? We don't have to speculate. He made it clear it all has to do with TIPP. "Our focus is in negotiating with a big bloc, the European Union, to get a trade agreement". I am astonished that so few of our media picked up on the main issue here. They have presented it as though we already have a trade agreement with the US (at least through the EU) and they regard President Obama's threat as somehow substantial. Anyone reading the papers or watching the BBC would think, "oh no, the Americans will withdraw from trading with us and we will all be worse off" The only problem is that we currently don't have a trade agreement with the US, and we NEVER have! And yet trade goes on. What is TTIP? It is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which cuts tariffs and regulatory barriers between the US and Europe. Sounds good? Think again. This is, as John Hilary, director of War on Want, says "An assault on European and US societies by transnational corporations." The negotiations have been conducted in secret with what we know coming from leaked documents and Freedom of Information requests. This is big business in league with big government (whom they pay for especially in the US) trying to circumvent democracy and the rule of law. For more information this is useful. Where does all this leave us? The Remain campaign will almost certainly win. 80 per cent of referendums result in the status quo. Project Fear is always a powerful weapon. But we need to realize that the choice is not between the status quo and the risk of leaving. If we stay in, the status quo will not remain. Crisis within the EU will be met by a demand for more centralization, more regulations and greater political union. Both options have risks. As a democrat I hope we leave the EU. Democracy is not perfect, but it is the best system of government we have. An ever-decreasing British democracy combined with an ever-increasing Euro-technocracy, will be a disaster for freedom. Because I want democratic Europe and not corporate Europe, I will be voting out. In my view any socialist, liberal, conservative, nationalist, green democrat should vote to leave. Only those who believe in a corporate European state, run by and for the big corporations, should vote to remain. As a Scot/Brit I want my country to be governed by those who live here, and by those who can be voted out of power. So I will vote leave. As a European I want a Europe of peace, prosperity, trade, diversity. I believe that the EU by seeking to create a Euro Super State will ultimately destroy what is good about Europe. I don't want to belong to a world power, or a giant trading bloc. I want to belong to a Europe where diversity and difference are celebrated. As a Christian I don't know what God wants. To him the nations are as a drop in the bucket. I pray for kings, politicians, bureaucrats and all in authority, that we may live peaceable and godly lives. I pray for a renewal of Christian Europe, whatever the outward system of government and I will work with the biggest, most radical and most diverse organization within Europe (the church) to achieve that. Without righteousness Europe will never prosper and never know peace. Lord, have mercy. David Robertson is the moderator of the Free Church of Scotland and director of Solas CPC, Dundee. Follow him on Twitter @theweeflea. Kick boxer among four arrested for planning Vatican terror attack Four people suspected of planning a terrorist attack on the Vatican in Rome have been arrested by Italian police. Abderrahim Moutahrrick, a kick boxer born in Morocco, was detained along with his wife, Salma Bencharki, and two others, according to Maurizio Romanelli, the Milan prosecutor. Arrest warrants have been issued for two more people believed to be in Syria. Romanelli said that Moutahrrick had been ordered to go ahead with the attack by Ali Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State. Al-Baghdadi ordered the attacks "with particular attention to the city of Rome". The intention was to disrupt the Pope's current Jubilee Year of Mercy, which lasts until 20 November. Romanelli said: "This is a new profile, because it was not a generic indication, but an indication given to a specific person who was invited to act within the territory of the Italian state." The terrorists are thought to have been planning to travel from their home in Lecco, north of Milan to live in Islamic State territory in the Middle East with their children, aged two and four. Another of the men arrested was Abderrahmane Khachia, 23, in the northern city of Varese. There have been fears for months that a terror attack on the Vatican was being planned. Earlier this month, Islamic State issued a new propaganda video threatening London, Rome and Berlin with attacks. Miracle in Chicago? Pilgrims flock to see Orthodox icon weeping drops of oil Thousands of Orthodox Christians are flocking to a church in southwest Chicago to witness what they believe is a miracle. According to the Chicago Tribune, tiny drops of sweet-smelling oil have been trickling down an icon of John the Baptist at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Homer Glen. The parishioners believe the droplets have healing properties. Parish priest Rev Sotirios Dimitriou known as Father Sam said: "The first thing out of my mouth was 'What do I do?' You don't expect anything like this. It's breathtaking. It's so powerful to see such an act of God before your eyes." The auxiliary bishop of the diocese told the Tribune it would not comment on whether the phenomenon was genuinely miraculous, saying "We let the faithful believe it if they wish." Bishop Demetrios added: "If it brings you closer to God that's wonderful. If it doesn't, it doesn't." The oil exudes from the icon's halo, wings, hands and beard and is collected in a reservoir of cotton at its base. Dimitriou saturates cotton balls with the substance and hands them out to his parishioners. He has had several reports of divine healing from those who have touched it. One man said a blocked artery had cleared, while another claimed to be cancer free. Dimitriou himself, who had experienced blackouts because of a nerve condition, said he had not suffered since the oil began to flow and had stopped taking his medication. The Tribune quotes James Skedros, dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, who said that similar episodes have taken place across the US. While unlike the Roman Catholic Church the Orthodox Church has no formal process for authenticating them, they are regarded as significant for believers. He said Orthodox Christians believe matter can be a conveyor of sanctity. "We have a very different understanding of matter as a vehicle of holiness," Skedros said. "We put [icons] on walls, burn candles in front of them, light incense in front of them because they're images of what they represent the holy person or image of Christ or the saint." Meanwhile the church itself is struggling with the number of visitors it is receiving because of the phenomenon. A statement from the diocese said: "We are blessed to have this occurring at our parish in Homer Glen, Illinois. "We ask for patience and understanding when wanting to visit this icon or request additional information as this is a small community parish that is trying to work out how best to share this blessing with now a much enlarged audience." Not everything is beneficial: 7 Christian products which probably shouldn't exist There's nothing new under the sun, according to the writer of Ecclesiastes. It's that kind of thinking that is probably responsible for the size and scope of the Christian product industry, which seems to be endlessly expanding into previously charted territories, and recreating old ideas as new 'Christian' versions. Often that works harmlessly, and even well. Christian clothing provokes faith-centred discussion (often thanks to slogans based on existing marketing imagery); while there are at least 12 different Christian books called 'Fifty Shades of Grace.' In some cases however, the attempts of manufacturers to insert a faith message into other product lines produces much less wholesome or appropriate results. As these examples prove, it turns out that while it's usually possible to create a Christian version of just about anything, sometimes you just shouldn't. 1. Christian poker chips There are various legitimate Christian perspectives on gambling, and only the most puritanical would argue against a bit of poker for fun. But perhaps 'Faith Chips', poker chips which bear a Christian slogan, are a little bit ill-conceived as a concept. The chips, which say things like "Jesus went ALL IN for you" and "Take the SURE BET: Jesus", could of course be a fun and vaguely evangelistic addition to say, First Baptist's Men's Poker and Pizza Evenings. But what happens when things get out of hand, and the worship pastor ends up losing his house? That "Jesus knows how to HOLD 'EM" chip is going to feel a lot less amusing when it represents the last of your worldly possessions... 2. 'Armour of God' Kids' dress up I love the armour of God metaphor. It's a brilliant way of describing, to adults and children alike, how God and our faith in him completely surrounds us, and gets us ready for the again metaphorical battle of life. The problems with selling a 'full armour of God' dressing up kit are twofold: first, you're turning the metaphor into a militaristic message to children which sees Christianity as an aggressive, warrior religion, and second, you're making kids dress up as 12th century Crusaders. It's not a moment in the church's history which deserves to be celebrated, especially by under-10s. 3. 'Answer me Jesus' Of course, this one is intended as a bit of a joke. A Christ-statuette version of the old Magic 8-Ball toy which dispenses advice is clearly not meant to be taken seriously, and almost certainly isn't intended to appeal to genuine believers. The problem is that this could easily fall into the wrong hands. Removed from the context of the comic packaging, there is a danger that someone might pick this up and genuinely believe it's a way of discerning God's will. And when it only says a few stock phrases, like "Let Me Ask My Dad", that's fairly unlikely. 4. Jesus Rubber Duck There's a thin line between comedy and blasphemy at times, and this one probably just trips over the line. The problem with a Jesus rubber duck is that it subtly undermines the challenge of Jesus as the most important figure in human history, by making him a little bit... silly. It's also part of a range called 'CelebriDucks', and if there's one surefire way to reduce Jesus to irrelevant status, it's to label him a celebrity. 5. "I will wait for my beloved" purity ring I appreciate I'm opening rather a can of worms here. But I throw this into the list because of the massive amount of damage that can be and has been caused by purity rings. Of course, God's ideal for marriage is two people who've 'waited' for each other; but what happens when you make a mistake, or when you meet the woman or man of your dreams, then discover that they've not 'waited'? The psychological effects of feeling either that you've messed up, or that your partner has, can be devastating. The aspiration to sexual purity is a commendable thing, but we're also part of a movement which prioritises grace over religious law. 6. Patriotic Christian t-shirts You can wear patriotic t-shirts which express your deep love for your country. You can wear religious t-shirts (especially to church) which declare your love for God. The problem comes when you try to combine both messages on a single item of clothing; and it turns out there are dozens of popular designs which do just that. The popular phrase might ask God to bless America, but a slogan or imagery which suggests that Christianity (a middle-eastern religion, popular in South America, Asia, Europe and everywhere else) is somehow American is somewhere between tasteless and ignorant. And here's one that was thankfully pulled from the shelves... 7. Christian Toilet Paper I'm not sure which creative bright spark came up with this idea, but clearly they weren't thinking it all the way through. Bible verse toilet paper was an innovation of the Finnish company Metsa Tissue, who printed rolls of double-quilted tissue emblazoned with scripture verses. And you can kind of see what they were thinking... people like to read on the toilet, and a sheet of loo roll is just the right size for a decent length verse. Unfortunately, toilet roll also has a very er... practical use which could be deemed blasphemous in the circumstances, and soon after release the product was pulled thanks to a co-ordinated protest campaign from horrified Scandinavian clergy. I'm a sucker for Christian subculture kitch, but even I have limits. Turns out there's a few Christian products out there which don't quite prove as righteous as their creators might have thought. After all, as Paul wrote, everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial... Martin Saunders is a Contributing Editor for Christian Today and the Deputy CEO of Youthscape. You can follow him on Twitter: @martinsaunders Pennsylvania church shooting: Father forgives killer but wants him to pay The father of the man shot dead at a Pennsylvania church on Sunday has said he forgives the killer but wants him to face justice for what he has done. Robert Braxton, 27, died when he was shot by 46-year-old Mark Storms after an altercation at Keystone Fellowship Church in Montgomeryville last Sunday morning. Braxton's father, also Robert Braxton, told Action News he forgave Storms but wanted to see justice done. "Even though I have so much pain and so much hurt from the life he took away from me, Mark I forgive you man, and my family forgives you, but you must pay for this crime that you did." Storms has been charged with voluntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment. Announcing the charges, district attorney Kevin Steele said the incident began when Braxton objected to being asked to move from his seat. "Braxton was creating a disturbance during the 11am church service after a fellow church member sitting behind him touched his shoulder, apparently telling him that he'd taken an already occupied seat," Steele said. Witnesses say church ushers and an associate pastor calmed the situation and Braxton remained in his seat. However, Steele said: "Witnesses then saw the victim calming down and saw the shooter come over. When he came over he had a gun out." Storms showed a concealed weapons permit badge he had bought on the internet and told Braxton he had to leave the sanctuary. Braxton punched Storms and Storms fired two shots from his handgun, killing Braxton. Steele said: "It is clear the shooter brought a gun to a crowded church, he introduced that gun into a verbal altercation that turned into a fistfight, and then fired the gun twice aiming at the vital part of the body, killing the victim." If Storms is convicted on both charges he faces more than 20 years in jail. Sex and gender: Is the US government trying to impose a new orthodoxy? The Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has warned of a sweeping government attack on traditional Christian views of sexuality and gender and incidentally highlighted the clash between deeply-held principles and the profound personal needs of those affected by them. In an article entitled 'The sexual revolution and public education', ERLC director of policy studies Andrew T Walker urges Christians to "take stock of the cultural moment" and inform themselves about what their children are being taught in schools, to establish a "tipping point" or line in the sand about what they will permit and to use their votes to resist government encroachment. Walker refers to a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that a transgender boy a biological female had suffered discrimination because his school had only allowed him to use a single-occupancy lavatory instead of giving him access to the boys' facilities. The court said that 'GG', the boy in question, could sue the school. According to Walker: "The impact of the Fourth Circuit ruling is subtle, but sweeping. Government, by circumventing the democratic process, is adopting the approach that the distinguishing hallmark of men and women is psychological self-description." Walker argues that the court has rejected "biological categories of gender" altogether in favour of a person's own desires: "Apparently, the autonomous, radicalizing self of expressive-individualism has greater authority than chromosomes." He says: "While I am hesitant to be hyperbolic, I see nothing in the court's logic that would prohibit a boy from gaining access to a girls' shower facility due to nothing but the boy's outward identification regardless of his true desire." So, he says: "Through non-legal means, and by way of the court system, the government is implementing a systematic top-down push to mainstream transgender ideology by circumventing democracy." Walker describes the government's action as "secular orthodoxy that puts Christians in a minority". "The idea that human nature is plastic, pliable and subject to re-definition-at-will is a direct assault on the common good and the norms that make human flourishing possible," he says. "Christians must declare, with both compassion and respect, that re-making ourselves in our own image is the very undoing of humanity, for the disavowal of creational limits results in its own form of judgment and human misery." He concludes: "Though it defies history, reality and common sense, it appears that America is readying itself for a day when all forms of sexual differentiation will be considered discriminatory." He urges parents to "take sober-minded steps to prepare themselves and their children". However, there is another side to the story. After 'GG' had attended his school for a few weeks and used the boys' facilities without incident, a member of the education board, Carla Hook, proposed limiting restroom use to students' biological genders female, in GG's case and providing separate private facilities to transgender students. At the meeting at which this was discussed, according to the court records: "Many of the speakers displayed hostility to GG, including by referring pointedly to him as a 'young lady'." Others said allowing him to use the boys' facilities would violate their privacy and would lead to sexual assaults; one suggested non-transgender boys would come to school in dresses in order to gain access to the girls' restrooms. The vote was postponed until the following month. At that meeting some speakers threatened to vote board members out of office if they voted against the proposals. Again, GG was referred to as a 'girl' or 'young lady'. One speaker called him a "freak" and compared him to a person who thinks he is a dog and wants to urinate on fire hydrants. The court accepted that GG was suffering "daily psychological harm" because of his treatment and had even contracted urinary infections because of his reluctance to use the girls' or private facilities. The "balance of hardships" weighs heavily toward him, the court said. Whether Walker is correct in his analysis of the situation is moot. What's not in doubt, however, is that as well as abstract theological and legal arguments (the court judgment runs to nearly 70 pages), in cases like this and in North Carolina, among other places there are real human stories that also need to be heard. And if an analysis like the ERLC's is being used to back up the opinions of those who think transgender people are "freaks", it ought to be very worrying. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods What should you do if your husband admits he's watching adult content? What should a woman do if she discovers her husband's watching p**n and whose responsibility is it to put things right? P**nography has become an epidemic in modern society and churches aren't immune from it. But one campaigner on the issue ran into a social media firestorm when he and his wife offered some advice. XXXChurch pastor Craig Gross sent out an email with a hypothetical question to women: "What would you do if you caught your husband looking at adult content?" In the email, Gross' wife, Jeanette, goes on to offer suggestions as to how women should respond in that situation, though she answers a different question to that which was originally posed, in which the husband confides to his wife that he has watched p**n, rather than being caught in the act. Immediate emotions are likely to be betrayal, mistrust, self-doubt and anger, she says, "and these are normal feelings". However, she then goes on to add: "What you do from this point with those emotions will set the tone for the rest of your marriage. Good, Christ-filled men are trying to do what is right when it comes to lust and their visual nature. "Your husband wants to honour you, but God has wired his brain so differently from a woman's that it is a constant struggle. "Please take heart that he actually came to you before getting caught he is trying to honour you and make things right." She tells women: "Your job is NOT to withhold sex from him, to question his integrity in all areas of his life, to play detective or police his every move, to not forgive him and always punish him, to shut down and put up a wall, to think it's your fault." Instead, both parties must be open and honest with one another, seek counselling and pray for their marriage. The wife is to "understand [her husband's] visual nature... [and] to extend him grace", Gross says. "Divorce is not an option, and it never should cross your mind... You and your husband can get through this and wind up even stronger than you were before." The email drew significant criticism on Twitter, where commentators said it was misogynistic and infantilised men. Natalie Collins, a gender justice specialist, said she was "utterly furious" to receive the email, which she says was unsolicited. I HAVE JUST RECEIVED THIS INTO MY EMAIL INBOX FROM YOU @craiggross AND I AM UTTERLY FURIOUS. pic.twitter.com/ay1hNX1bhH God loves women (@God_loves_women) April 26, 2016 Speaking to Christian Today, Collins said: "Telling women how they should respond to the very personal and traumatic experience of finding out their husband has been watching and using images of women in a degrading manner... is absolutely outrageous". She criticised the email's failure to distinguish between the different scenarios a woman whose husband is watching p**n may be in. "There will be lots of women whose abusive partners use p**nography as a way of further degrading or damaging them," she said. Her main critique, however, was that the email focuses on how women should "fix" their husbands' issues, rather than on men taking responsibility for their actions. "Gross talks about women talking with their husbands 'about what triggers him to look at adult materials', as if it's the wife's job to fix the problem. It's a societal and a Christian cultural thing to blame women... the dominant narrative is that it's the woman's responsibility to fix this... being made responsible for fixing something she's a victim of." She warned that it could "feed into the narrative that women should fix their partner's abuse", especially given the email's assertion that wives should not withhold sex from their husbands, or even consider divorce. "To suggest that women who withhold sex are doing so to punish is to reinforce myths about women, and that whole narrative is very problematic," she said. "Women have a right to say no to sex for whatever reason, and Gross is speaking into a context in Christian culture where that is not well understood. It's deeply irresponsible." Collins was particularly dismissive of the assertion about male and female brains being wired differently, a theory espoused widely in some Christian circles. "[It's] absolute nonsense," she said. "It's very well understood in the neuroscience community and among experts that the brain is plastic there's neuroplasticity. That means that there's no such thing as hard-wiring in the brain; everything is shaped by our environment. "It's not surprising that men are seeking after visual images of women when the majority of images men do see of women are as sexual objects. So there is a real issue with men being socialised to perceive women as objects." Believing men were hard-wired to respond to visual stimuli was "blaming God for men choosing to use p**nography", she said. The dangers of a narrative that blames women for the actions of their partners are two-fold, Collins added. It reduces men to "visual creatures" who are unable to control their urges, and fails to acknowledge women's victim hood. "It's in no way compassionate, kind, gracious, or loving towards women. The whole focus is on what men need, which is so damaging," she said. "P**n reduces women to a way to service men, and that's exactly what Gross is doing in that email." Craig Gross has defended the email, telling Christian Today; "This is my wife willing to understand the visual nature of men. It's not giving men a free pass. We have a son, so my wife's trying to understand how guys see the world, rather than women." He insisted the email had never intended to put all the responsibility on women, but rather to guide them in how they might respond if their husband admits to having a problem with p**n. "I can't tell a woman, and no one can tell you how to deal with this situation. Every situation is different. It can lead to cheating and abuse, and there's a drastic difference there. [But this email was aimed at marriages where] there were no signs that this was happening, he wasn't abusing you, and it took you by surprise that he was looking at p**n." He admitted that both men and women can be considered "visual", but insisted: "It's proven that guys brains are wired differently. Men are more visually stimulated. "We're not making excuses for men, we're just trying to explain to women that if you don't have a male brain, you don't know." Both Collins and Gross were clear on one thing: p**nography is something that needs to be talked about, especially within the Church. "There's some learning to do on both sides [both men and women]. There's a severe disconnect on this," Gross said. "You can see the frustration just by the comments on this piece this is a very volatile issue and people are needing help and advice on how to get through. "If we just avoid it, nothing good can happen. You're going to see so many more couples struggling when you're not pointing them to any resolution...This is about how to get things out into the open without it backfiring." Why Ken Livingstone was wrong: Hitler was never a Zionist Ken Livingstone said yesterday: "Let's remember when Hitler won his election in 1932, his policy then was that Jews be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism this before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews." For those who don't understand why these comments were so offensive, let me explain. Go and read Mein Kampf. Read the full text of the Nuremberg Laws. Understand what Nazi antisemitism was about. From the early days of the Nazi programme, way back in 1920, the removal of Jews from German society and state was a key part of Hitler's policies. Here are some extracts from the 1920 National Socialist German Workers' Party programme: Only a member of the race can be a citizen. A member of the race can only be one who is of German blood, without consideration of creed. Consequently no Jew can be a member of the race. Whoever has no citizenship is to be able to live in Germany only as a guest, and must be under the authority of legislation for foreigners. The right to determine matters concerning administration and law belongs only to the citizen. Therefore we demand that every public office, of any sort whatsoever, whether in the Reich, the county or municipality, be filled only by citizens. We combat the corrupting parliamentary economy, office-holding only according to party inclinations without consideration of character or abilities. Do you see? The policy of the Nazis from 13 years before they took power with the Enabling Act was to remove Jews out of Germany and to deny them citizenship. When the Brownshirts painted stars of David and swastikas on Jewish shops and intimidated anyone who tried to pass through the doors of such an establishment, it was based on this policy of removing Jews from German society and German land. When the Nazis forbade Jews from practising in the professions, it was the natural extension of this policy of removing Jews from German society and German land. When the Nazis forbade Jews from marrying or having sexual relations with anyone who was German, it was the natural extension of this policy of removing Jews from German society and German land. When the Nazis tried to encourage Jews to emigrate, whether to Palestine, America or anywhere else, it was the natural extension of this policy of removing Jews from German society and German land. When the Nazis rounded up the Polish Jews into ghettos in order to contain them, it was the natural extension of this policy of removing Jews from German society and German land. When the SD Einsatzgruppen followed up the Wehrmacht's lightning campaign through Russia with mass murders of Jews, it was the natural extension of this policy of removing Jews from German society and German land. When Heydrich convened the Wannsee Conference in early 1942 to lay out the plans for the Final Solution, it was the natural extension of this policy of removing Jews from German society and German land. When the ovens of Auschwitz burned up to 10,000 bodies a day, it was the natural extension of this policy of removing Jews from German society and German land, laid down in the NSDAP party programme of 1920. This programme was already 13 years old when some Nazi officials talked to some Zionists about one possible way of getting rid of Jews from Germany. Do you think those Nazis were Zionists? Do you think they were concerned about the right of Jews to return to the Promised Land? Really? That's what you think, Ken Livingstone? Hitler didn't "go mad" in the 1940s, he was mad in 1920. While arguably he may not have conceived of the gas chambers 25 years before their existence, his visceral hatred for the Jews and his desire to purge them out of German life, however far that life extended across Europe (and beyond), was the same in 1920 as it was in 1945. The gas chambers only came about because the mad man of 1920 was the Fuhrer of 1940. He was the same man with the same underlying principles, just in a much more powerful position and therefore able to follow through on the natural path of his beliefs. Now do you understand why what Ken Livingstone said was so offensive? Rev Peter Ould is a Church of England priest based in Canterbury. He blogs at www.peter-ould.net. A man died early Friday morning after he was found shot in the neck and lying in the street along Interstate 45 in southeast Houston. The man was found about 12:30 a.m. in the 12220 block of the Gulf Freeway near Almeda Genoa, said Jimmy Dodson, a homicide investigator with the Houston Police Department. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate More details have been released after a police officer shot and wounded a man during a narcotics investigation Thursday night in northeast Houston. The shooting happened about 8 p.m. on Locksley near Greenwich, said Kese Smith, a spokesman for the Houston Police Department. Smith said HPD officers in marked squad cars were working with Drug Enforcement Administration agents on a narcotics investigation in the area. They were given a description of a white Toyota to stop related to the drug case. FATAL SHOOTING: Officer-involved shooting closes part of Beltway Officer C. Dorton, Smith said, spotted the Toyota on Locksley near Greenwich and pulled it over. He walked to the driver's-side door and spoke with the driver through the open car-door window. The driver made no eye contact with Dorton as they talked. Then the driver put the car in reverse and rammed a pickup that was parked behind him. Dorton, Smith said, pulled out his gun and ordered the man to stop the car and show his hands to him. The man refused Dorton's commands and rammed the truck a second time. As Dorton ordered him to stop, the man reached beneath the front seat and appeared to be pulling out a gun. Fearing for his safety, Dorton fired one gunshot, wounding the man. The man sped away westbound on Locksley. He lost control of the car in the 9600 block of North Wayside and smashed into a wooden fence. He jumped out and ran into the neighborhood, but officers spotted him quickly and took him into custody. The man, whose name has not been released, was taken to a nearby hospital. Details of his wound and condition were not released. Dorton was not hurt. Officers later found a large amount of drugs in the trunk of the car, Smith said. Police did not release the amount and type of drugs found. No information about the narcotics investigation were revealed. The shooting was the second involving a law enforcement officer in Houston in a matter of hours. About 2:30 p.m. Thursday on Beltway 8 West near Bellaire, Harris County Constable Precinct 5 Deputy R. Felix stopped a silver passenger car which was reported to be connected to several toll road violations. Felix told investigators the car smelled of marijuana and the driver had no driver's license or proof of insurance. During the traffic stop, the driver repeatedly reached on the floor of the car, digging through papers as if he was reaching for something, Smith said. The deputy opened the car door, pulled out his gun and ordered the driver out of the car. But the driver sped away. Felix, fearing he'd be run over, grabbed onto the open car door and was dragged about 120 feet. Officials say when the driver tired to grab Felix's gun, the deputy fired two gunshots, hitting the man. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Felix was treated for bruises and was otherwise fine after the altercation. Inside the man's car, officers found cash, an "old-style barber razor" and a bandana. It was unclear if any marijuana was in the car. The HPD homicide division, the Harris County District Attorney's Office and the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office are investigating the case. The Chronicle's William Axford contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Fans of Asian fare could spend weeks dining out and never have to visit a restaurant a second time. Here are some recommended stops: Banana Leaf A pretty dining room, attentive service and exuberant Malaysian fare means there might be a line to get a seat in this Chinatown restaurant. 9889 Bellaire, 713-771-8118; 9896 Bellaire, 713-271-2338; bananaleafhouston.com. Bon Ga Garden Everything served in this Spring Branch Korean restaurant - spicy stews, seafood pancakes, bibimbap - warms the soul. 9861 Long Point, 713-461-5265. Crawfish & Noodles Houston has many Vietnamese/Cajun smash-ups, and this is one of the best. The crazy-popular restaurant serves up steaming bags of crawfish and crabs, as well as noodle dishes and fried seafood. 11360 Bellaire, 281-988-8098; crawfishandnoodle.com. Huynh This is home-style Vietnamese cooking at its finest, from stunning chargrilled pork soft rolls, to vivid duck salad, to flash-fried chicken with crushed rice, cabbage pickle and a frizzly fried egg. Major bang for the buck. BYOB. 912 St. Emanuel, 713-224-8964; huynhrestauranthouston.com. Izakaya This Midtown Japanese-inspired pub is striking in design, but it is the marvelous fare that keeps the dining room jammed with foodies. Don't miss the Vuelve a la Vida and the Tori Kawa chicken-skin skewers. 318 Gray, 713-527-8988; houstonizakaya.com. Kata Robata Chef Manabu Horiuchi - known as Hori-san to the legion of fans who pack the sushi bar - has a gift with fish. And what's served here is among the most carefully sourced protein in town. 3600 Kirby, 713-526-8858; katarobata.com. Kuu This contemporary dining room is a stage for chef Adison Lee, who marries Gulf Coast seasonality with the spirit of Japanese kaiseki. The menu is always evolving. 947 N. Gessner, 713-461-1688; kuurestaurant.com. Mala Sichuan Bistro This family-owned business is known for its spicy dishes, such as the Three Pepper Beaten Duck. Lightweights, beware: Dishes range from fiery to tongue-numbing. 1201 Westheimer, 832-767-0911; 9348 Bellaire, 713-995-1889. Uchi This Austin transplant, from James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole, turns out inspired sushi, sashimi and modern Japanese plates that are as pretty as the dazzling dining room. While reservations can be tough, the restaurant greets walk-ins with a smile. 904 Westheimer, 713-522-4808; uchirestaurants.com. Vieng Thai There's a reason chefs and wine professionals dote on this unpretentious restaurant on a scruffy stretch of Long Point. The flavors are exhilarating, it's BYOB and the price is right. 6929 Long Point, 713-688-9910. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Whether you are seeking a taco or a mind-blowing mole, you will find plenty of places serving authentic Mexican fare and the comfort foods we call Tex-Mex. Here are some recommended restaurants: Arnaldo Richards' Picos Chef-owner Richards' menu draws from the seven distinct regions of Mexican cuisine. Don't miss sauteed calamari, cochinita pibil, enchiladas moles and chiles nogada. The margaritas are renowned. 3601 Kirby,832-831-9940; picos.net.Cuchara What's not to love about this hip Montrose restaurant? There's the all-female kitchen that cooks with love and authenticity, the colorful murals that decorate the dining room and an adults-only vibe after dark. 214 Fairview, 713-942-0000; cuchararestaurant.com. El Real Housed in the restored Tower Theater, this temple of Tex-Mex serves vintage fare, such as puffy tacos and cheese enchiladas topped with chili gravy. 1201 Westheimer, 713-524-1201; elrealtexmex.com.El Tiempo The expensive chow at El Tiempo is outstanding - deliciously charred fajitas, pillowy flour tacos, amazing salsa. The margaritas are potent and tasty, which is a rare combination. 5602 Washington, 713-681-3645; 322 Westheimer, 713-807-8101; and six other Houston-area locations;eltiempocantina.com. Goode Co. Taqueria Trendy restaurants come and go, but this Houston icon is still the go-to cafe for comforting Tex-Mex and hefty, mesquite-grilled burgers. 4902 Kirby, 713-520-9153; goodecompany.com. Irma's Irma Galvan's legendary downtown lunch spot is known for the namesake owner's comforting Mexican sauces and stews, gracious hospitality and homemade lemonade. Irma's serves high quality fare and the prices reflect that. 22 N. Chenevert, 713-222-0767;irmasoriginal.com. Molina's Cantina In the vast salsa sea of Tex-Mex joints in Houston, Molina's gets bonus points for authenticity (don't miss the chili). Just know you'll be presented with two red salsas. Insiders know to ask for the green. 4720 Washington,713-862-0013; 7901 Westheimer,713-782-0861; 3801 Bellaire, 713-432-1626; molinascantina.com. Original Ninfa's on Navigation As the name implies, this is where it all started. If you believe the legend, Mama Ninfa was (is) the patron saint of Tex-Mex. In her once-tiny kitchen, she cranked out the world's first fajitas. 2704 Navigation, 713-228-1175; ninfas.com. Spanish Village It's simple Tex-Mex fare served in a colorful and festive setting for more than 50 years. More than a few Houstonians admit their love of Spanish Village is fanned by the house margarita. The slushy margaritas are tart, lively and, yes, intoxicating. 4720 Almeda, 713-523-2861; spanishvillagerestaurant.com. Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen Sylvia Casares' plates feature fresh ingredients and complex flavors. Among her enchilada offerings: squash and corn, crab and grilled pork with a fiery red sauce. 6401 Woodway, 713-334-7295; 1140 Eldridge, 832-230-3842; 12637 Westheimer, 281-679-8300; sylviasenchiladas.com. "If we added just a few more city council members, we'd have a quorum," quipped Mayor Sylvester Turner at Houston Arts Alliance's "An Intimate Evening with Frank Sinatra's Iconic Music." Indeed, elected officials such as Amanda Edwards, Jack Christie, and Chris Brown filled Hotel ZaZa's dim-lit ballroom on Thursday night. The City of Houston established the private/public initiative nearly one decade ago to assist local non-profit arts organizations through grants, programs, and services. "Before I introduce co-chairs Philamena Baird and Regina Garcia, I want to reflect on the capacity of art to bring people together." The black and white cocktail soiree celebrated Sinatra's would-be 100th birthday year. Turner spoke of how the late performer used his popularity and power to influence change in the 1950s and 1960s by refusing to play in nightclubs or stay at hotels that banned African-Americans. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Seattle man accused of threatening to cut out U.S. Rep. Jim McDermotts tongue now faces felony charges. King County prosecutors claim Jasper K. Bell made the threat because he was upset that McDermott, D-Seattle, was supporting Hilary Clinton for president. Currently jailed, Bell, 27, has been charged with intimidating a public servant and telephone harassment. Bell had been fixated on McDermott for some time before the April 22 incident that saw him charged, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Susan Storey said in court paper. Bell is alleged to have made threatening calls to McDermott before arriving at his Seattle office that day. In one phone call he demanded the congressmans home address and threatened to cut his tongue out, Storey said in charging papers. In another call he stated that the congressman would not be safe, even after he retires. McDermott, a long-serving liberal, announced in January that he would be retiring after 14 terms in Congress. A competitive primary contest is underway for the seat representing Washingtons deep-blue 7th District. Witnesses at McDermotts downtown Seattle office told police Bell was yelling and spitting, and banging his fists against the office windows. He was arrested hours after that 1 p.m. incident. McDermott canceled a public appearance due to the threats, Storey said, and had his staff take extra security precautions. According to charging papers, McDermott told investigators he brought a shovel into his office to use in self-defense if necessary. The shovel was hidden behind several flags. The threats prompted Seattle police to station themselves outside McDermotts office and home. Capitol Police officers were flown out from Washington, D.C., to assist in the security operation, which included the FBI. Writing the court, a Seattle police detective said McDermotts staff in Seattle and the capitol received 23 calls from Bell the day he was arrested. Bell, the detective said, made nonsensical statements before threatening to cut McDermotts tongue out. I need to speak to the (expletive) piece of (expletive) now, Bell said in one call, according to charging papers. I will not be ignored. Bell is alleged to have then called McDermotts District of Columbia office and made additional threats. According to charging papers, Bell arrived at McDermotts downtown Seattle office just before 1 p.m. Staff activated an alarm after Bell pounded on offices locked glass doors. Bell left before police arrived, the detective said, but officers responding to the complaint were at the front desk when Bell called in. An officer answered and spoke briefly with Bell. Do you think it is a good idea to threaten the congressman by saying you were going to cut his tongue out? the officer asked. It was appropriate because my voice was being silenced, Bell replied, according to the officers account. Police arrested Bell at 8:15 p.m. According to charging papers, Bell told police he was angry that a supporter of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders had been arrested earlier in the day at McDermotts office. McDermott has endorsed Hillary Clinton. Clinton supporters have complained recently about angry Sanders backers frustrated as their candidates path to the Democratic Party nomination has faded. Bell was upset by that and wanted to talk to the congressman about why he would not vote with the majority of the people in Washington, the detective said in court papers. He stated he tried to do so professionally for several weeks and could never meet with him. The detective said Bell apologized for his bad choice of words. I was feeling voiceless myself, definitely a bad choice of words, Bell told detectives, according to charging papers. Bell was already well-known to McDermotts staff prior to the April 22 incident. According to charging papers, he sent McDermott letters regularly and frequently called his offices. McDermott has received threats several times over his career, notably from a California man upset at McDermotts liberal politics. That man, a Palm Springs resident living on a trust fund, was sentenced to eight months in prison; at sentencing, U.S. District Judge James Robart remarked that when you break the law, there are consequences that parents, trust funds and hired therapists cannot solve." Storey said Bell has few ties to the area. The prosecutor said Bell told investigators he works at a marijuana factory. Bell is currently being held at King County Jail in Seattle on $200,000 bail. Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk. Area residents and agencies are continuing to pick up the pieces in an effort to return to normalcy after heavy rains in north Harris County pummeled creeks and neighborhoods with as much as 24 inches of rain on April 18. More than 2,000 of the 6,700 flooded homes were in Harris County Precinct 4, which includes Tomball as well as unincorporated Spring and Klein. These areas were impacted by high water along Spring Creek and Cypress Creek, said Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle. When the creeks were unable to retain anymore water from the downpour, adjacent neighborhoods along the floodplain were inundated. Basic needs Ana Rojas is a five-year resident of Pinewood Place on the outskirts of Tomball and a mother of six in the Klein Independent School District. She scrolls through her phone filled with pictures documenting the flood damage to her home. Rojas, her husband and her six children were home during the floods. Her family made it through the Memorial Day floods last year without any water damage, so she thought they would be alright this time around. Though Rojas and her family are safe, her home was decimated. And like many area residents, she has no flood insurance to help defray costs. Rojas is tapping into community resources as best she can to return to normalcy. She was one of hundreds of families who have received community assistance through Klein ISD. More Information Recovery help Harris County Recovery Network: harrisrecovery.org Federal Emergency Management Agency: fema.gov and disasterassistance.gov FEMA application line is 1-800-621-3362. For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, the teletypewriter number, or TTY, for FEMA applicants is 1-800-462-7585 Northwest Assistance Ministries: namonline.org or call 281-885-4555 American Red Cross: for recovery assistance and to speak with a caseworker, call 866-526-8300 and select option 1. Harris County Precinct 4 Community Assistance Department Phone: 281-353-8424 for pick up or visit hcp4.net/Assistance/CAD for more information. Harris County Engineering Department: call 713-274-3880 or visit eng.hctx.net/permits See More Collapse The school district opened its doors to donations for clothes, food, cleaning and personal hygiene supplies, light furniture and more to help local residents with urgent needs. The multipurpose center, which is a large warehouse, off FM 2920 had tables piled high with folded shirts, shoes, purses, and non-perishable foods as volunteers sifted through donations and organized them. The temporary donation center received and gave out emergency supplies until May 1. Spring ISD also collected and donated basic aid to area residents at Spring High School. Although some school districts have stepped in to fill a temporary, urgent need for residents, their reach isn't far enough. Even with community support, Rojas said it's not enough to meet their immediate needs. "My husband had to get things out on credit because we don't have insurance," Rojas said. "After this flood, we're going to get insurance." Agencies offer help The American Red Cross, Houston Food Bank, United Way of Greater Houston and the Northwest Assistance Ministries have teamed up to help with basic needs and connect residents with caseworkers to guide them through the full recovery process. During the course of the disaster, the American Red Cross had 12 temporary shelters that provided overnight stays, delivered tens of thousands of meals and snacks, distributed relief items and cleaning supplies, fielded thousands of calls and made medical and mental health visits. Some of the aid was in the greater Spring area. "They were certainly heavily impacted, and we have been providing all of our basic services (in the Spring area) - sheltering, disaster, mental health and health services, delivering relief supplies - and we're doing casework for those clients who have been affected in those areas," said Vicki Eichstaedt, spokesperson for the American Red Cross about relief efforts in Spring, Klein and Tomball areas. The American Red Cross asks residents who need assistance to call its hotline at 866-526-8300, and select option one to speak with a caseworker. The Northwest Assistance Ministries has also been instrumental in addressing urgent needs in the area. NAM has distributed 16,920 pounds of relief supplies from five distribution sites. They are Harvest Time Church, Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Cy-Fair Christian Church, St. Duncan's Episcopal Church and NAM's main office off Kuykendahl Road in Spring. These sites also accept donations. "As you know with this type of disaster, the needs change daily," said Carol Little, president/CEO of NAM. "As the flood waters have receded in the Ponderosa areas and Champion Forest, people are able to get out. But the biggest need is transportation. A lot of people have lost their mode of transportation. Now comes the hard part for people who were uninsured." NAM fashions itself as a one-stop-shop for disaster recovery assistance, with its core service area spanning 200 square miles. The nonprofit places eligible individuals in housing and offers referral services for caseworkers, legal assistance, storage and county resources. NAM also hosts community informational sessions to connect residents with county officials and other professionals for relief assistance. About 300 affected residents were in attendance during its last session on April 26, which hosted Harris County Precinct 4 and Precinct 1 commissioners' offices, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Harris County department of public health and environmental services and the county engineering permit division and an attorney from Beacon Law. "What we found with (Tropical Storm) Allison and we're finding now is that people are shell-shocked. They don't know where to look for the information, and they don't know where to begin for the help. So really what we're wanting to do is bring that information to the community in one place," Little said. Torrential downpours are not just worrisome because of the immediate damage to property. Large amounts of sitting water are a public health concern. Damage and disease The county is urging residents to be vigilant about emptying pots and other items that hold water as the mosquito population is expected to boom. To prevent the spread of communicable diseases from mosquito bites - Zika, West Nile and other diseases - the county recommends covering up and applying an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellant that has DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or lemon eucalyptus oil. Window screens are also important to keep mosquitoes out. And storm drains should be kept free of debris, tree limbs, leaves and other lawn clippings to ensure water doesn't pool on streets or sidewalks. Homes that sustained water damage are at risk of mold, which can pose a variety of health risks. Those who have mold allergies, asthma or have weakened immune systems are at particular risk of a reaction, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Symptoms can range from skin or throat irritation, wheezing, coughing and other respiratory illnesses. To prevent mold growth, residents can keep windows and doors open to provide fresh air, use fans and dehumidifiers to dry their houses and use non-ammonia soap, watered-down bleach or detergent to clean all areas that might have sustained water damage. Bleach and ammonia should never be mixed. All materials such as plaster, drywall, flooring, insulation and other wet materials below the water line should be removed and discarded. Visit the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services site at hcphes.org for more information on effective and safe cleanup. Debris removal As residents continue the cleanup process, tossing out soggy materials, ruined appliances and more, they should take care to properly separate and place the trash on the curb for pick up. Debris should be divided in appliances, construction materials and regular household trash. All appliances should be taped shut, and all waste should be placed near the curb. Food waste should be removed from refrigerators and placed with household trash. "If you can, try not to stack the debris around fire hydrants or brick mailboxes. Our crews will go out and grab it, and they don't want to hit a fire hydrant or a mailbox in that process. So if it's at all possible, try and keep it as close to the edge of the street," said Elizabeth Stinsman from the Precinct 4 commissioner's office. Stacked trash should also be kept away from storm drains and parked vehicles. Household hazardous waste won't be picked up; residents are expected to drop any household hazardous waste at the Harris County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility at 6900 Hahl Road at U.S. 290 and North Gessner Road. Those living within Precinct 4 can call the Community Assistance Department at 281-353-8424 to have debris picked up. "It may take some time for our crews to get to your neighborhoods," Stinsman said.. "We will be doing more than one sweep of the subdivisions." Some homes may need to be renovated or rebuilt due to physical or water damage. In an effort to be proactive, Harris County has mailed out free building permits to all county residents living in unincorporated areas, like the Spring and Klein areas, and who do not live a 100-year floodplain. Those permits are necessary to receive FEMA or other financial assistance for home repairs. Residents who need permits from Harris County Engineering Department can call its hotline at 713-274-3880. "If your house did flood and you need to make repairs, you will need a permit," said Shawn Sturhan, assistant manager of permits at the county engineering department. "FEMA and your insurance provider will likely not give you money unless they see a permit from us." Those living within a 100-year floodplain must schedule an inspection with the county before receiving a building permit. The inspection is to check for structural damage, particularly if that home's foundation is at or below the 100-year elevation. Signs will be placed at the entrance of certain neighborhoods that will denote times and dates county inspectors will be in a particular neighborhood. Residents can get inspections done on the spot if they're home then, and inspections take about 30 minutes to complete. If residents are not home, a note will be left on their door so that a future appointment can be set, a department spokesperson said. Private wells may need to be chlorinated and tested, particularly if wellheads were covered with floodwaters. Residents whose homes are connected to private wells can pick up sample bottles and get their well water tested for free with the city of Houston Health Department lab. Water samples need to be returned to one of six pick-up locations across the county within 30 hours after collection. Contact the Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services at 713-274-6300 or online at bit.ly/1aJytwW for more information. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Days after apologizing for an email she apparently sent in jest referring to March flooding as an "economic development initiative," a Longview-based Sabine River Authority board member has resigned, the governor's office confirmed. Gov. Greg Abbott, who appointed Kimberly Fish to a six-year term in December 2015, has accepted her resignation, a spokesperson said. "Ms. Fish has rightly apologized for her inappropriate comments, and our office has accepted her resignation," said Sam Taylor, a deputy press secretary in Abbott's office. "Our office thanks Ms. Fish for her service on the Sabine River Authority." Fish submitted her resignation by email Tuesday afternoon. "You were gracious in offering me this opportunity to serve, but due to circumstances beyond my control it's become apparent that to best serve Texas and the Sabine River Authority, I should not continue in this role," Fish wrote. Last week Fish apologized for sending an email amid the March Sabine River flooding and said it was "not appropriate." She declined to comment further. "Naturally, I'd like to take credit for the economic development initiative, but we all know I haven't been here long enough to know where the keys to the floodwaters are located," Fish wrote on March 15, when Interstate 10 and the town of Deweyville were under water. "At least everyone knows the river can provide water." SRA general manager David Montagne, who replied to Fish's email by thanking her for sharing "one positive outcome from flooding," has also apologized. Montagne said last week he interpreted Fish's email as a joke and that his response was "stupid." Their exchange, obtained through the Texas public information laws, occurred the same day state officials closed I-10 at the Texas-Louisiana border. Because highways north of the interstate crossing the river were also closed, the state recommended that drivers take Interstate 20, which runs through Longview, to cross the state line. About 500 homes in Orange and Newton counties sustained at least $17,000 each in damage, according to local officials' latest estimates. President Barack Obama issued a federal disaster declaration, and millions of dollars in grants and low-interest loans have been approved for Southeast Texans. Most Deweyville residents were displaced for weeks, and many are still unable to live in their homes. The town's elementary school was ruined, and the district missed 15 days of school before resuming April 11. Fish's online SRA biography says she is a freelance writer who specializes in marketing, a Republican precinct chair and a trustee for LeTourneau University. Fish's resignation was first reported by the Longview News-Journal. A suspect was hospitalized on Thursday night after being shot by an officer in northeast Houston. The incident occurred in the 9600 block of North Wayside Drive, Houston Police Department spokesman Kese Smith said. A Rio Grande Valley woman was arrested by federal agents Friday for allegedly falsely accusing a Drug Enforcement Administration agent of taking bribes, according to prosecutors in the Houston-based Southern District of Texas. Candida Marroquin Mobley, 41, of Weslaco, is expected to make her initial appearance before a magistrate judge in McAllen Monday. A San Antonio native and U.S. Air Force staff sergeant took top honors as 2015's Military Photographer of the Year, according to the Department of Defense. Staff Sgt. Kenny Holston and other military personnel submitted more than 2,000 entries to the 2015 Visual Information Awards Program. The VIAP consists of multiple contests featuring the best DOD photography, videography, graphics, print and broadcast journalism. MILITARY PHOTOS: Compelling imagery of Operation Desert Storm, the First Gulf War "The photos, graphics and videos from this year's competition document all facets of military life, often capturing service members carrying out their worldwide missions in Afghanistan, Africa, South America, Europe and the Far East," the press release stated. According to the requirements, contestants had to submit portfolios containing no less than 10 entries tagged to multiple categories, including combat documentation and picture story. The Department of Defense picked journalists and photojournalists to judge the competition. Greg Kendall-Ball, a photojournalist out of Washington D.C., was one of those judges. The winning photos checked all the traditional check boxes for great imagery, but they also had something special. MILITARY TECH: See the evolution of U.S. tanks from 1918 to 1992 "Things like composition and use of light and moment and all those things, and then the extra ingredient- maybe it was a facial expression captured at the right time, or a painterly use of color, or simply the choice of subject matter," he said. Obviously, Staff Sgt. Holston's entries must have fit that criteria because he won the competition, his first VIAP win. The San Antonio native and former professional BMX rider joined the military in November 2005, and attended a training program for photojournalism. "After I joined the military, photojournalism was the job the Air Force had given me," Holston said. "It wasn't an interest I had prior to the military. It took me a couple of months to settle in and after a little bit of time, I got used to it and I really began to like it." MILITARY TECH: See the high-powered rifles that U.S. troops have used over the years As an Air Force photojournalist, Holston's job is to tell story of the Air Force, whether it be a mundane awards ceremony or something more intense, like watching planes drop bombs over active combat zones. If you're the ever scrutinizing taxpayer, know that this fulfills two important functions: 1) It shows you, the taxpayer, how America's allocated money is spent, and 2) it shows commanders to get a first-hand visual account of what is happening on the ground (or in the air) as a result of their decisions when they're ready to make a debriefing. MILITARY AVIATION: U.S. vast arsenal of aerial bombers boggles the mind For any budding photographers out there, Kendall-Ball and Holston were gracious enough to provide some tips about their process: "Mastering technique is important - you should absolutely be able to nail focus, choose the appropriate shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and so on to make each image - but at the end of the day the narrative you've been entrusted to tell, the trust the people you're photographing have given you, is the most important thing," Kendall-Ball said. "Develop people skills if you don't already have them because when you engage them, you can tell their real story," Holston said. "It's the one thing I see photographers struggle with the most. The real story isn't the mechanic turning her wrench. It's who they are and they really do." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Former Speaker of the House John Boehner stole back the news cycle from Ted Cruzs vice president announcement Thursday by declaring Cruz Lucifer in the flesh. That remark provoked the dismay of Satanists, who want nothing to do with the Houston-based presidential candidate. Blogger Hermant Mehta of the website Patheos asked Lucien Greaves, spokesman of The Satanic Temple, to chime in on the comparison: >>>See the gallery above for a list of all the Republicans who have insulted Ted Cruz Cruzs failures of reason, compassion, decency, and humanity are products of his Christian pandering, if not an actual Christian faith, Greaves responded. It grows tedious when pedophile priests and loathsome politicians are conveniently dismissed as Satanic, even as they spew biblical verse and prostrate themselves before the cross, recruiting the Christian faithful. Satanists will have nothing to do with any of them. The Huffington Post called up Greaves too, who called Boehner simple-minded for associating Cruz with Satanists just because Boehner doesnt like him. Then, Greaves gave a much more detailed dismissal of Cruz: I think he is a real disaster, The Satanist Temple spokesman said. I think he is possibly one of the worst. I think we have been on a race to the bottom for a long time now, and you keep thinking it cant get worse and people would wise up after a clown like [Sarah] Palin or George Bush. But then you see people lining up around Ted Cruz. (In the past, the temple has supported Cruzs stance on religious liberty. But probably not in a way that Cruz appreciates.) RELATED: Greater Church of Lucifer opens in Houston After calling him the devil, Boehner also said of Cruz: I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life. The former speaker is one of many Republicans to have clashed with the Texas junior senator (the Texas senior senator has done it multiple times). This seemed to be part of Cruzs strategy to appeal to constituents as a political outsider taking on the Washington Cartel. READ MORE: Just weeks after joking about killing him, Lindsey Graham supports Ted Cruz for president The rise of Donald Trump has foiled Cruzs interloper appeal. When compared to Trumps obnoxious, off-the-cuff antics, Cruz becomes the establishment figure in the GOP White House race. That has led to hilariously begrudging support for Cruz by mainstream Republicans like Lindsey Graham. The South Carolina senator, who once joked about killing Cruz on the Senate floor, endorsed Cruz in anti-Trump move. His endorsement came with the quip, If I can do it, anybody can do it. Not anyone though. Count Boehner out (for now). And definitely count out Satanists. 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. Braves advance to semis at Unity CHEROKEE - Cherokee's volleyball girls took down Harlan 3-0 on Monday and headed to Orange City this past Wednesday to... Wolverines end season at West Bend-Mallard WEST BEND - The South OBrien volleyball team traveled to face West Bend-Mallard in the first round of the regional... 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... This weeks announcement that Gannett is seeking to purchase Tribune Publishing seems, at first glance, to encapsulate the plight of the newspaper industry in the wake of the internet. The size of the proposed merger might be surprisingit would leave Gannett with a circulation of 62 millionbut its logic feels inevitable. As the newspaper industry has been buffeted by the collapse of advertising revenue, publishers have merged, newspapers have closed, and newsrooms have been downsized. Publishers, and their shareholders, seek efficiencies of scale in tough times. The internet is killing newspaper diversity. In fact, the origins of the current round of consolidation lie in forgotten clashes over newspaper regulation in the 1930s and 1940s, when New Deal reformers sought policy solutions that would promote a more diverse newspaper economy. These efforts were fought and ultimately defeated by newspaper publishers, who argued that an unregulated newspaper market was essential to a free press. Among the chief opponents of the reforms were Robert McCormick, the larger-than-life publisher of the Chicago Tribune, and Frank Gannett, president of Gannett Newspapers. Newspaper consolidation is not new. The US actually had its highest number of papers in 1909, and newspaper diversity has been declining ever since. In 1914 alone, 54 newspapers merged. Between 1919 and 1942, the number of papers in the US fell by 14 percent, despite a 29 percent increase in the nations population, and those remaining papers were increasingly joined in chains. By 1933, 63 newspaper chains controlled 37 percent of the nations daily circulation. Most of these closures and mergers happened in the 1910s and 1920s, and they were not attributable to the Great Depression or the impact of radio. Smaller newspapers simply found it difficult to compete with the most successful papers in each city, or with chain publications. Well before World War II, larger newspaper companies were already benefitting from a virtuous cycle: They were more attractive to advertisers, which brought in more revenue, which meant that they could spend more to draw in readers, which meant they were more attractive to advertisers, which brought in more revenue, and so on. As early as 1900, one industry observer wondered whether newspapers were natural monopolies. In 1944, Oswald Garrison Villard was writing about The Disappearing Daily. By the time of the New Deal, there was widespread concern that the consolidation of the newspaper industry posed a significant challenge to American democracy. New Deal politicians and leftist activists alike made speeches and wrote articles decrying the shrinking number of independent newspapers, the rising number of chain papers, and the power that a small group of wealthy businessmen could exercise over the nations press. Under the National Recovery Administration, for instance, there was an effort to write a code of fair trade practices for the newspaper industry. Reformers and small newspaper publishers hoped that bans on unfair competitive practices might break apart chains, or prevent large publishers from manipulating advertising rates to drive their competitors out of the market. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Similarly, there were hopes that antitrust action might be used to create a more diverse newspaper market. In 1942, the Justice Department brought such an action against the Associated Press. At the time, the Associated Press tightly limited membership in its service. Existing members could veto rivals applications, which is what happened when Marshall Field III started a new paper, the Chicago Sun, to challenge the Chicago Tribune. McCormick, the Tribune publisher, blocked Fields application, and Field complained to the Justice Department that the AP rules were anti-competitive. The case went to the courts, where Judge Learned Hand suggested that antitrust litigation in the newspaper industry could help guarantee that the public would have access to a diverse array of newspapers with a variety of owners. The newspaper industry responded to these New Deal efforts with what now seems like hyperbole. The American Newspaper Publishers Association argued such regulatory efforts were violations of the First Amendment because they threatened to shackle American press freedom and create a dictatorship under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Frank Gannett and Robert McCormick were members of ANPAs Freedom of the Press Committee, and central figures in the newspaper industrys attack on the New Deal. McCormick called the proposed National Recovery Administration code an assault on the Constitution, supported APs appeal of the antitrust case to the Supreme Court, hired lawyers and historians to promote his theory of press freedom, and even lobbied Congress for an antitrust exemption for the AP. In speeches and articles, he was particularly fond of comparing economic regulation of the press to censorship practices in absolutist England. Other members of ANPA preferred totalitarian comparisons, such as general counsel Elisha Hanson, who argued in 1943 that antitrust actions against the press would mean that the people of the US will be confronted, just as the people of Germany today are confronted, with a government-controlled press. Throughout, the publishers argued that freedom of the press required economic autonomy. In a nationally broadcast 1939 debate about the state of the press, Frank Gannett asserted that New Deal criticisms of the corporate consolidation of the press were little more than an effort to undermine the free market basis of American press freedom. As a result, New Deal efforts to regulate newspaper consolidation withered on the vine. While publishers did ended up writing their own code for the National Recovery Administration, it was the weakest of any industry in the country. Tellingly, it included no fair trade practice provisions, out of fears that these would interfere with press freedom. And while the Justice Department did eventually win its antitrust case against the AP, it did so only in a narrow Supreme Court decision that would ultimately limit the use of antitrust actions in the postwar newspaper industry. (Commentators have written that there is little chance that a Gannett-Tribune merger, for instance, will raise antitrust questions.) It is important not to overstate the importance of either the NRA code or the AP case, for neither was going to singlehandedly redirect the development of the American newspaper industry. But they represented the first tentative steps in an effort to imagine a policy response to the consolidation of the newspaper industry in the middle-decades of the twentieth century. The success of the newspaper industry in opposing and limiting even these efforts was crucial in undermining the possibility of more robust regulatory action. We can see this in the discussions of the Hutchins Commission on Freedom of the Press, an illustrious and influential group of 13 intellectuals who gathered in the 1940s to come up with policies that would promote a more diverse newspaper industry. In their first meetings, the commissioners were enthusiastic about using economic regulation to break apart newspaper chains, to challenge monopolies, and to promote the interests of small publishers. But over time, they became concerned that such regulations would open the door to interferences with press freedom. Their final report, published in 1947, advocated resignation to the consolidation of the newspaper industry as the necessary cost of a press free from state meddling. Even reform-minded liberals had been convinced by the newspaper industrys arguments. In the coming decades, there would be few policy efforts to promote newspaper diversity. In the boom years after World War II, newspaper consolidation continued apace. In urban centers, once famous papers continued to go out of business, undermining diversity in these media markets: the Philadelphia Record (1947); the New York Sun (1950); the Washington Times-Herald (1954); the Brooklyn Eagle (1955); the Boston Post (1956); and so on. By 1950, press critic A.J. Liebling was already observing that the end-of-a-newspaper story has become one of the commonplaces of our time. And while the rise of new papers in the suburbs and the southwest kept the overall number of newspapers in the nation fairly steady in these decades, the new publications were likely to be owned by monopolies. In 1910, 689 American cities had competing daily newspapers. By 1960, only 61 did. The monopoly papers of the 1960s were large and highly profitable enterprises, and they were soon listed on the stock exchange and forming into ever-larger chains. The Gannett Company was an innovator in both realms. In 1967, it became one of the first newspaper companies to publicly trade stock, and it was active in expanding its holdings in the years that followed. Two decades later, it held 93 papers and routinely reported healthy profits. Seeing success, other papers followed suit. The Tribune Company went public in 1983. The stage was set for the last decades of the 20th century and the first decades of the 21st: Newspapers were economically dependent on monopoly profits; stockholders demanded growth and returns on investment. From there, it was a short-step to Gannetts $815 million offer to purchaseTribune Publishing. The current newspaper industry crises are only the most recent installments in a long history of declining diversity. Could it have gone differently? While we can never know, its tempting to wonder how the newspaper industry might have developed if some efforts were made in the middle decades of the 20th century to promote a more diverse newspaper economy. In that sense, the news that Gannett intends to buy Tribune Publishing is a fitting capstone to the long history of newspaper consolidation. It is a direct consequence of the efforts of McCormick and Gannett, many decades ago, to protect the newspaper industry from economic regulation. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Sam Lebovic is an assistant professor of history at George Mason University and author of Free Speech and Unfree News: The Paradox of Press Freedom in America, published in March by Harvard University Press. The U.S. government has closed an investigation into Hondas failure to report deaths and injuries, saying that the company has met all of its obligations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website Monday that Honda paid a $70 million fine and took steps needed to make sure similar failures dont happen again. The government fined Honda in December of 2014 in what then was the largest civil penalty levied against an automaker. The company admitted in a consent order that it didnt report 1,729 complaints that its vehicles caused deaths and injuries, and that it didnt report warranty claims. A small number of the deaths and injuries were related to air bag inflators made by Takata Corp. The Japanese automaker acknowledged in November of 2014 that it failed to make legally required reports during an 11-year period beginning in 2003. The company admitted it learned of the omissions in 2011 but waited three years to take action. Honda also failed to report certain warranty claims and claims under customer satisfaction campaigns throughout the same period, federal officials said. Honda agreed to pay the fines under a consent order it signed with the traffic safety administration on Dec. 29, 2014. Federal law requires automakers to submit death and injury complaints to regulators as part of an early warning system for identifying potential safety defects that can lead to a recall. The safety agency said in documents closing the investigation that Honda completed its performance obligations that were spelled out in the consent order from Dec. 29, 2014. The automaker had to develop written procedures for reporting deaths and injuries and had to train its personnel on early warning reporting requirements. It also had an outside party audit its procedures. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In Moore v. GEICO General Ins. Co., 2016 WL 736824 (11th Cir., Feb. 19, 2016), the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a District Court grant of summary judgment in favor of GEICO in a bad faith set-up case relating to a Florida lawsuit. In granting summary judgment, the District Court focused on the conduct of the insureds attorney. In a serious injury and death case, GEICO offered its policy limits. The attorney, Lance Holden, advised GEICO that his client would accept the policy limits only if GEICO provided (1) affidavits from the insureds establishing that they had no other applicable insurance policies, and (2) a precisely worded release-of-claims document for Holdens clients to sign. However, neither the affidavits nor the release that GEICO subsequently transmitted to Holden complied with Holdens demands. Holden therefore treated GEICOs submission as (1) a rejection of his settlement offer, and (2) a counteroffer for settlement on new terms. Holden then rejected the new settlement offer and stated that he would pursue litigation. The lawsuit resulted in a $4 million verdict in favor of Holdens clients. Thereafter, the insured filed a bad faith claim against GEICO in the District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The District Court granted summary judgment in favor of GEICO. While noting that GEICOs conduct was sloppy and bordering on negligent, the Court nevertheless determined that this conduct did not rise to the level of bad faith. Additionally, the Court extensively discussed attorney Holdens conduct. The Court concluded that Holden had attempted to manufacture an artificial bad faith claim by creating unnecessary obstacles to GEICOs settlement of the claims against the insureds. As a result, the Court attributed the failure to settle to Holden, absolving GEICO. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the grant of summary judgment. First, the Eleventh Circuit Court noted that there was evidence supporting and contradicting the allegations of bad faith. Second, the Eleventh Circuit Court noted that the District Court had improperly focused its analysis on the conduct of Holden. Under Florida bad faith law, the Courts focus should not have been on the actions of the insured or the insureds attorney agent, but rather on the conduct of the insurance company in fulfilling its obligations to the insured. Therefore, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the District Courts grant of summary judgment. The Moore case signals that at least the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals will not allow summary disposition in bad faith set-up cases. If, in fact, an attorney is attempting to set up an insurance company for bad faith, such a determination will have to be resolved by the trier of fact. Thanks to an arcane state law, Florida could enter hurricane season with no one firmly in charge of the state agency responsible for regulating the states at-times fragile insurance industry. The reason? The two Republican elected officials responsible for picking a new commissioner are locked in a stalemate over who should be hired to replace outgoing Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty. Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater have been backing rival candidates for the job, which has delayed a final decision. The governor and the three members of the Cabinet must vote on the position, but state law allows Scott and Atwater to individually veto the choice. When you think of the consequences of this choice every Floridian would want us to be thoughtful, said Atwater. It may take a bit longer and thats ok. The job of insurance commissioner in Florida is crucial because the person regulates an important industry in a hurricane-prone state. The selection of a new commissioner has triggered a furious behind-the-scenes lobbying effort among those aligned with various parts of the industry. The final pick could earn as much as $200,000 a year. McCarty has been on the job for 13 years, including a time when the homeowners insurance market nearly collapsed following the state getting hit with eight storms over a two-year period. Right after being re-elected in 2014 Scott said he wanted to replace McCarty, but Atwater didnt support the move at the time. McCarty finally announced his resignation in January of this year and was supposed to leave on May 2. But last week he offered to stay on the job until 45 days after a new commissioner is picked. Hurricane season begins June 1. At a recent meeting of the Cabinet, Atwater suggested the state hire State Rep. Bill Hager, a GOP legislator from Boca Raton and a former Iowa insurance commissioner. But Scott refused to go along and has instead touted Jeffrey Bragg, who worked for the U.S. Treasury for 11 years as the executive director of the terrorism risk insurance program. Jackie Schutz, a spokeswoman for Scott, said recently that Braggs public and private sector experience make him an ideal candidate to serve Floridians. But criticism has been aimed at both candidates. Hager sponsored legislation that would have reduced the size of Floridas state-created fund that provides financial backing to insurance companies. The bill failed amid concerns it could have resulted in rate hikes for consumers. Braggs record, meanwhile, has also come under scrutiny after the Palm Beach Post reported that he had been accused of misleading investors in a flood insurance venture. Bragg blamed the lawsuit on investors being upset that a stock had not performed as well as they expected. Scott and the Cabinet are expected to interview both Bragg and Hager a second time this week. Atwater also asked two other candidates, including McCartys current chief of staff, Belinda Miller, to also be considered at the same meeting. Atwater conceded hes not sure if a new commissioner will be selected, but he added he doesnt want the process to drag out much longer. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Vast wildfires have created lengthy gaps in Southern California sections of the famed Pacific Crest Trail, which hikers must bypass via shuttles or alternate routes to avoid dangerous conditions like unstable trees and loose rocks. Long-distance backpackers must be shuttled by van around the closures or risk incurring $2,500 fines, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Monday. To get around a 15.5-mile gap caused by a wildfire last year in the San Bernardino National Forest, hikers are driven from the Whitewater Trail House in Cabazon to Onyx Summit on State Route 38, where the trail reopens. About 14 miles of the trail approaching the mountain town of Idyllwild are closed three years after a blaze scorched more than 27,000 acres. Each year, thousands trek sections of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Mexico to Canada. Some of the adventurers who often take on nicknames for their journeys arent thrilled with the idea of getting into a van after retreating into the wilderness. Last week in Idyllwild, Bruce Man in Black Cornish of San Diego planned to research an alternate hiking route to bypass the closed section while waiting for friends. At 59, he retired early from a job as an eighth-grade science teacher to hike the entire route after dreaming about the trip for 20 years. The philosophy of this trail is, Hike your own hike, he told the newspaper. If people want to hitch ahead, thats cool. Its just not for me. Danger in the unstable areas can come from falling branches dubbed widow-makers, dead giant trees with weak roots that can fall and crush hikers, the U.S. Forest Service said. Loose rocks, debris including rolling logs, flash floods, trailside stump holes and slippery ash can also pose a danger. Crews are working to remove charred trees and fill in holes to make the trails passable again. While some hikers are impatient for the work to finish, others dont mind catching an occasional ride. I know some other people who are what we call purists want to hike every inch of the trail, said Robert Bobcat Donnellan, 38, of Asheville, N.C., sitting at a picnic table outside the Whitewater home where he was staying April 13. I personally dont care. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Calaveras County Board of Supervisorssaid it will pursue all legal avenues and seek hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. after a Cal Fire investigation determined the utility was guilty of causing the 2015 Butte Fire. The County said it will also seek an investigation, penalty and fines from the California Public Utilities Commission for PG&Es responsibility for the fires devastation and damage. The Butte Fire damaged more than 70,000 acres and destroyed 921 structures, including 549 homes, 368 outbuildings as well as numerous commercial properties. It killed two people and injured another. Total damage was estimated at more than $1 billion to the County and its residentsand it could be much higher. We are shocked and dismayed by the extent of PG&Es negligence and will actively seek justice for Calaveras County and its citizens, said Cliff Edson, chair of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors. We will work tirelessly to secure rightful compensation for the County and our residents who are still grieving from the loss of loved ones, their livelihoods, homes, belongings and mementos, and all destroyed and taken from them because of PG&Es carelessness and negligence. We hold PG&E management and executives responsible for what happened here, added Edson. We want to acknowledge the hard work and assistance of PG&Es excellent field staff for all their efforts and dedication in response and the recovery in Calaveras County. The working men and women of PG&E have made a difference and we thank them. County officials were informed by Cal Fire, Californias Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, that its investigation determined the fire was a direct result of PG&Es negligent maintenance of electrical infrastructure and the surrounding vegetation. The Cal Fire report determined that a PG&E power line came into contact with a tree causing a spark near the ignition point of the blaze. PG&E continues to raise our citizens utility rates at an alarming level, Edson said. But the company is also cutting risk management and safety expenditures at the same time. What does that say about their commitment to safety? What does PG&E have to say to the people of Calaveras County today? The catastrophic and deadly fire began Sept. 9, 2015 in Amador County and swept South and East to Calaveras County. Within days of the fires inception, it became one of the most devastating fires in the states history. Today, many Calaveras County residents still complain of residual complications from smoke inhalation and physical injuries as a result of the fire. Efforts to clean up the debris in the wake of the fire took months due to treacherous conditions and dangerous terrain. The County sent teams of experts in to clean up affected areas as a free service for residents, adding to the total cost of the disaster. PG&E has already begun offering $50,000 checks to victims without insurance. However, this only touches on PG&Es liability for the irreparable harm its caused County residents. Some residents have left our community and are not rebuilding because of the fire. It has not only changed their lives foreverit has changed our community forever. Because of the fire, the County has lostand will continue to losemillions in tax dollars, property tax income, and other revenues because of PG&Es fire. Our County has been forever scarred and socially and economically damaged because PG&E executives put their profits over our citizens safety, added Edson. It is PG&Es responsibility to make this right, said Edson. We want PG&E to recognize the extent of their fault in this tragedy and pay just compensation so that Calaveras County has the best possible chance to rebuild and recover from its devastation. Source: Calaveras County Board of Supervisors Colombia-born Diaz kept his feet on the ground when it came to business becoming an investment banker with Deutsche Bank . But after 12 years behind a desk, he flew from the firm and went full throttle into Wings Air Helicopters , the company he founded in White Plains, New York, in 2002. Javier Diaz has aviation in his blood. His father was an amateur pilot. His uncle owned and flew airplanes and helicopters. So it was no surprise when Diaz himself caught the bug. He just never expected to make a living doing it. At Wings Air, a flight lesson costs $350 while a private tour has a price tag of around $1,500. The company also does aerial film production, working on movies including "The Bourne Legacy," "Now You See Me" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." It flies worldwide, with recent productions in New Orleans and Colombia and an upcoming shoot in Cuba. "I don't think that anybody that's in banking loves banking," Diaz said bluntly in a 2013 interview with CNBC. "They love the perks. They love the fact that you can make good money, and as a matter of fact, being in that business allowed me to start this business." He not only had the cash to buy an aircraft, but he had figured out how to make money with it, as well. "I had the idea of buying an airplane and renting it out for lessons," Diaz recalled. "I continued my day job, but I had somebody working for me as an instructor. And then, I bought a helicopter and started doing the same thing." Still, he said the skies haven't always been clear for him. The company has been through some rough patches especially during the recession of 2007-2009. But over the years, it has adapted and expanded to meet clients' needs. Wings Air offers charters, flight training, aerial photography and more. Advice from Diaz on successfully navigating a career change: In fact, Cramer is seeing signs everywhere that at last the long drought for drug companies on Wall Street might finally be over. "When this kind of controversy finally gets to the point where there are Congressional hearings, historically it's the endpoint, not the start of an attack on what drug companies do," the " Mad Money " host said. As Jim Cramer watched Valeant 's outgoing CEO Mike Pearson testify on price gouging this week, he wondered if the worst is finally over for all things pharmaceutical. My conclusion is yes, if you don't' own pharma, I would say it is time to do some buying. The first indication was consolidations have started again. Abbott Labs purchased St. Jude Medical for $25 billion in a deal that Cramer loved. Sanofi also made a hostile bid for Medivation , and AbbVie announced a $5.8 billion acquisition of Stemcentrx. "Put it all together, and we saw $45 billion worth of merger announcements in one day," Cramer noted. "That's incredible, and it's a welcome sign This kind of M&A is crucial to the value underpinnings of a group that is often based on pipelines, not earnings." Read more from Mad Money with Jim Cramer Cramer Remix: Facebook's picture-perfect quarter Cramer: We are looking at Apple all wrong Cramer: Mini-bull markets driving stocks The second hopeful sign for pharma was that drug companies with good earnings are finally being rewarded with higher prices. That might seem logical, but the opposite had been occurring in the beginning of the year. Bristol-Myers Squibb delivered a stunning quarterly report on Thursday, and the stock jumped 2.8 percent. Even the companies that reported less-than-stellar numbers have done OK, such as Celgene . As for Valeant itself, stopping the bleeding at that company is vital to the entire group. And while Cramer didn't like the way late Perrigo CEO Joe Papa left the company, he does think Valeant is better off with him. It gave Cramer the sense that pharma could be within 10 percent of a bottom. So, could pharma transform from a roving bear market to raging bull? "My conclusion is yes, if you don't' own pharma, I would say it is time to do some buying," Cramer said. The Office of the State Public Defender is seeking public information regarding a former detective sergeant with the Billings Police Department. State Public Defender with the Major Crime Unit Clark Mathews has filed a public records request for a copy of Sgt. Detective Matthew Brewer's personnel file. The request is being reviewed by the Billings City Attorney's office, which was unavailable for comment. Mathews requested the information Monday, a day before Brewer resigned from the police department. Brewer, who was placed on paid administrative leave in February, resigned Tuesday. According to a news release from the Billings Police Department, Brewer's leave was the result of an internal investigation into "allegations of off-duty misconduct and violation of department policy." "Brewer's resignation effectively ended the department's internal investigation before a disposition was reached," the release said. Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said the city attorney would determine whether the personnel file is released, but there would be no information regarding the incomplete internal investigation. St. John said the department has seen a trend of more attorneys asking for information that could serve as exculpatory evidence for their clients. If they see that an officer is on administrative leave and attached to one of their cases, they file a request for information that could shed doubt on the guilt of their client. It is unclear which of Mathews' cases Brewer was involved in. Mathews was unavailable for comment. Brewer worked as a night shift commander until Jan. 1, when he began a rotation with the detectives division. He joined BPD in May 1999 and was promoted to sergeant in 2008. His resignation ends a career of 17 years with BPD. BPD recently promoted two officers to sergeant, Brandon Wooley and Nate West, but one vacancy remains, said Lt. Casey Hafner. The position will be advertised this week but could take two months to fill. Chief Public Defender William Hooks was attending in meeting in Helena on Thursday and was unavailable for comment. watch now Jim Cramer watched as the market was roaring strong on Thursday, until about 2 pm Eastern. That's when investor Carl Icahn told CNBC that he sold Apple over concerns of Chinese weakness. Those comments sent the market plummeting, and Apple lost another 3 percent. However, there is still plenty of opportunity in the market. One stock that displayed exactly what a company can do in this environment was Facebook , which soared 7 percent Thursday. In fact, Cramer thinks it should have been up more than it was on Thursday. "The numbers are downright sterile compared to what is really going on at Facebook," Cramer explained. Cramer added that the magic behind Facebook is that it has managed to transform how people live their lives, and make an impact that most businesses can only dream of. It now has 1.09 billion daily active users that spend around one hour a day on their page, Instagram or messenger. That is one billion more people who found time to be on a network that didn't even exist a dozen years ago. Facebook grows its gross margins by including more ads, because users create more content. And it's all done on a phone, which Cramer thinks is the real secret, because a phone is always with the user. Read More Cramer: Don't just listen to Carl Icahn on Apple Carl Icahn at Delivering Alpha 2015 in New York. Adam Jeffery | CNBC Cramer watched Valeant 's outgoing CEO Mike Pearson testify on price gouging this week, he wondered if the worst is finally over for all things pharmaceutical. "When this kind of controversy finally gets to the point where there are Congressional hearings, historically it's the endpoint, not the start of an attack on what drug companies do," the "Mad Money" host said. In fact, Cramer is seeing signs everywhere that at last the long drought for drug companies on Wall Street might finally be over. "My conclusion is yes, if you don't' own pharma, I would say it is time to do some buying," Cramer said. Read More Cramer: Raging bull market brewing for pharma As for Domino's Pizza , which fell more than 9 percent on Thursday, the company saw its first earnings miss in over four quarters. After posting excellent numbers last quarter, Jim Cramer spoke with Domino's CEO Patrick Doyle to find out if it is now a victim of its own success after delivering such a strong quarter last time. "I think that certainly has a lot to do with it," Doyle said. Read More Delivery dilemma? Why Domino's Pizza has its eye on Uber, Lyft Bulls clash Karim Sahib | AFP | Getty Images It's that time again! Jim Cramer rang the lightning round bell, which means he gave his take on caller favorite stocks at rapid speed: Cyberark Software : "Look, payments processing whether it be a Paypal or a Mastercard, and cybersecurity whether it be a Cyberark or a Fortinet, Proofpoint or Palo Alto they are all growing fast but right now they are out of favor. I think they will come back in favor. I do not want you to sell Cyberark. By the way, that was a stock again that was hurt by the Icahn sell-off that shouldn't have been." Greenhill & Co : "With Goldman Sachs down so much, why do we have to mess around? Goldman Sachs is back at its book-value price. Let's do some Goldman. The window is closing for the selling soon, too. I think Goldman Sachs is a better buy." Reynolds American : "I'm always so reluctant to recommend tobacco companies, but my favorite is the old Philip Morris, which is Altria. Again, I'm queasy about it. But I know that Altria is a winner." Read more from Mad Money with Jim Cramer Cramer Remix: Facebook's picture-perfect quarter Cramer: We are looking at Apple all wrong Cramer: Mini-bull markets driving stocks Alaska Air Group : "I'm not sure about the merger, it kind of worries me. American was upgraded today and at one point it was flying high and then they just pancaked it ... I'm saying that Southwest is the one to be in." Whole Foods Market : "We recommend stocks on a fundamental basis, not a take-out basis. I think Whole Foods is fine. I've got to see their next quarter, but I like the transition to the new store format." Red Robin Gourmet Burgers : "I am worried about the burger group. I think there is a burger war going on and it's Easterbook [McDonald's CEO] that is taking no prisoners. Everyone else is being hurt by him. I say stay away." LinkedIn and Pandora shares popped after quarterly results Thursday, but some "Fast Money" traders warned against jumping into the stocks. Battered professional social network LinkedIn beat both earnings and revenue expectations, sending its shares about 7 percent higher. Music streaming company Pandora reported a loss, but still topped estimates, and its shares rose 9 percent. Traders cautioned on LinkedIn because the company had already lowered its guidance for the quarter significantly. Trader Dan Nathan even said he would not consider it a "beat" because expectations were already so low. The Apple employee found dead at the company's California headquarters died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, police said on Thursday. "The Coroner's office has identified the decedent as Edward Thomas Mackowiak, age 25. The Medical Examiner determined the manner of death was suicide and the cause was a gunshot to the head," the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said in a written statement. Mackowiak's body was found Wednesday at Apple's campus in the Silicon Valley community of Cupertino. An Apple spokesman declined to comment or say what Mackowiak did for the company, but a LinkedIn profile that has since been taken down listed him as a software engineer. The U.K. may not be the only one mulling its future in the European Union (EU). In fact, the fierce debates and headline-grabbing warnings surrounding the Brexit vote in June have given hope to euroskeptics around Europe. Denmark, the Czech Republic and Poland could face their own referendums on EU membership if the U.K. votes to leave, experts believe. "The main concern is that an unexpected exit of the U.K. from the EU could lead to similar initiatives in other member states, making Brexit the first step towards the disintegration of the union," Antonio Barroso, senior vice-president of political risk consultancy, Teneo Intelligence, said in a report this week. Chris Jackson | WireImage Recent U.K. surveys put support for a so-called Brexit at around 40 percent. Angel Gurria, the secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), warned on Wednesday of the risk of other EU countries following the U.K.'s lead in holding a referendum and voting to leave. "Brexit could threaten both the unity of the U.K. (because of the possibility of another Scottish independence referendum) and the unity of the European Union," he said at a talk in London. More than 100 City of London business people have signed a letter backing a Brexit that was published in the U.K.'s Evening Standard newspaper on Friday. CNBC takes a look at the other countries that might hold referendums in the wake of a Brexit. Denmark Like the U.K., Denmark has a long history of euroskepticism. The country voted against joining the euro zone in a referendum in 2000 and last December opted to retain its exemption from EU rules on issues like asylum and border control. Currently, the second-biggest party in Denmark's parliament is the Danish People's Party (DF), which is right-wing, populist and has called for less EU influence on the country. "Brexit could embolden the increasingly popular DF to push for its own referendum project the DF may at the very least further limit the pragmatic Venstre party's room for maneuver on EU issues," Barroso said. Czech Republic The Czech Republic is among the more euroskeptic of the central and eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007. Unlike neighboring Slovakia, which also joined in 2004, it is yet to adopt the euro and appears undecided about doing so. Euroskeptic parties in the Czech Republic include three nationalist groups and the larger Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, which is the third-biggest party in the country's Chamber of Deputies. "A potential constitutional change may enable several opposition parties (in the Czech Republic) to push for a referendum," Barroso said. Former Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who negotiated the country's ascension to the EU, has also suggested it now leave the union, according to media reports. watch now Poland and other countries at risk California's job recovery is well underway and other states are looking to get in on the action. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has scheduled a business-recruitment trip to California next week and he's ratcheted up the effort by taking out radio ads blasting the Golden State's $15 minimum wage. The Republican governor also is getting personal by taking on the "tax and spend administration" of Jerry Brown, California's Democratic governor. "California is one of the worst states for taxes," Scott said in a telephone interview. "We're one of the best states for taxes. We're heading in the right direction and California is absolutely heading in the wrong direction." Scott is scheduled to arrive in California on Sunday and plans to have meetings with businesses on Monday and Tuesday. He's also scheduled to be on a panel at the Milken Institute's Global Conference in Beverly Hills on Monday. A year ago, Scott made a similar business-recruitment trip to California but came home with little to show for it. "I think it's more about the governors than about the jobs," said Joel Kotkin, a presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University in Orange, California. Getty Images Scott, who is in his second term as governor, also has targeted Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Connecticut. Last month, he invited Yale University to move to Florida after Connecticut lawmakers sought to tax profits from the Ivy League school's $25.6 billion endowment. "These states that have governors raising taxes and regulation and having an anti-business attitude, it's just helping us to get more jobs in our state," Scott said. As for Scott's radio ads in California, they take aim at the state raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. The ads are running in the Los Angeles and the San Francisco markets. When asked about the ads, Scott responded: "We're running them and it's basically move your business to Florida. We don't have a $15 minimum wage; we're not heading in that direction." The ads from Enterprise Florida, a private-public entity, feature two women talking about job losses, with one telling another about "700,000 that's how many California jobs will be lost thanks to the California politicians raising the minimum wage." Eventually, the conversation comes to one saying, "It's time to leave California. This place is beautiful but you just can't afford to live here." In announcing the "trade mission" to California, Scott said Brown's "tax and spend administration has spent the past year passing laws that make it even harder for businesses to succeed. As Governor Brown works diligently to drive businesses away from California, Florida can partner in providing locations for job creators who are looking to grow jobs and opportunities for families." "As one of the millions of tourists flocking to the Golden State this time of year, we'd like to extend a warm welcome to the governor," Brown spokesman Evan Westrup said in a statement to CNBC. "We can understand why he's back there's lots to do and plenty to learn. In fact, since his last 2,000 mile cross-country jaunt, California has added twice as many jobs as Florida, while paying down debt, building a robust rainy day fund and taking bold action on issues Governor Scott continues to ignore, like climate change and poverty." Earlier this month, the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development awarded Florida-based Magic Leap, a virtual reality firm, a $3.3 million tax credit for bringing nearly 150 jobs to California. Under Brown, California has become more aggressive at cutting red tape, and his economic development agency adopted a Lean Six Sigma approach to state regulations and permitting. What that means is the agency trains state officials, regulators, permitting departments and other agencies on how to increase their efficiency rates. Scott isn't buying it. "We operate our government more efficiently. I've cut 4,200 regulations since I got elected in 2010. We've also streamlined the permitting process." The latest figures show that about 420,800 jobs were added in California in the 12 months ending in March. Florida added 234,300 jobs during the period. Last year, California created nearly 460,000 jobs, or more than Florida and Texas combined. Nonetheless, California has seen some setbacks in the recovery. China is intensifying its global diplomatic campaign to win support ahead of an imminent international court ruling over the South China Sea disputes. The development came yesterday as Beijing vowed greater cooperation and to proceed with multinational military exercises with Southeast Asian nations, but also called on countries to back its stance on the territorial disputes putting many in a dilemma as they have to side with either China or the United States. President Xi Jinping told a group of foreign ministers from Asia and the Middle East that the disputes should be resolved through negotiations between the countries involved. "We insist we should peacefully resolve the disputes through friendly consultations and negotiations with other parties directly involved," Xi said. Beijing also said it had reached a consensus with Belarus and Pakistan which are not claimant states that said they respected China's stance on the issue, after separate meetings yesterday with the two nations' foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. The State Oceanic Administration said Beijing was working on a five-year cooperation plan in the disputed waters between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Xinhua reported. Smartphone shipments in China plunged in the first quarter, falling more than the global market, a new report shows, a stat that could worry the world's biggest phone makers including Apple and Huawei. Vendors shipped 104.9 million units to China in the first quarter of 2016, a five percent year-over-year decline from the 109.8 million recorded in the same period last year, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. The fall outstrips the global smartphone market which fell 3 percent. China still remains the world's largest smartphone market and many manufacturers still see the world's second-largest economy as a big growth driver for their business. However, with the market now maturing, conditions are likely to be tougher. "China smartphone growth is slowing due to market saturation, inventory build and economic headwinds," Linda Sui, director at Strategy Analytics, said in a press release. watch now The China slowdown has been felt by a number of players, notably Apple, which saw revenue from Greater China comprising mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong fall 26 percent in its fiscal second quarter. And Huawei, which is the biggest player in China, has been on a drive to expand outside of its domestic market. The company told CNBC in a recent interview that it plans to surpass Apple as the second-biggest smartphone player in the world in three years and leapfrog Samsung by 2021. Even start-up Xiaomi, which at one point was growing at an astronomical pace has seen a decline and is looking to markets like India and Brazil to help it continue to grow. Neil Mawston, executive director of Strategy Analytics, told CNBC that the China market will remain sluggish for the rest of this year, calling it a "mature and heavily penetrated smartphone market." "The golden era of China smartphone growth is over," he added. New players emerge Despite the overall slowdown, Huawei remained resilient with shipments hitting 16.6 million in the first quarter of 2016, a 48 percent rise from the 11.2 million recorded in the same period last year. Apple had a soft quarter with iPhone shipments slipping to 11.5 million in the first quarter from the 13.5 million during the same quarter in 2015. The U.S. technology giant slipped down the list to become the fifth-biggest player with an 11 percent market share. Even Xiaomi, which early last year showed rapid growth, saw shipments fall 8.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter. At one point, Xiaomi was challenging the likes of Apple in China, but new players have quickly begun to emerge. Chinese firm OPPO saw its shipments jump 67 percent year-on-year and is now the second-biggest player in China with a 12.6 percent market share, hot on the heels of Huawei which is number one with 15.8 percent. And rival Vivo showed shipment growth of 56.2 percent year-on-year, making it the fourth-largest player in China by market share. watch now With several high profile virtual reality (VR) devices such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR being released in 2016, market researchers Newzoo have looked into likely demand for the pricey tech devices. Newzoo's online survey of almost 35,000 people found that 11 percent of consumers aged 10-65 across 12 western countries intended to buy a VR device. Consumers in Spain, Italy and the US expressed the greatest intention to buy a device. Newzoo "At Newzoo, we have been relatively silent when it comes to VR. This has to do with our expectation that the lion's share of VR revenues will be generated by hardware sales, spectator content, and live viewing formats," said Peter Warman, CEO Newzoo, in a press release. "Game software revenues from VR will remain marginal for the near future and be absorbed into current PC, TV/console and mobile game revenues." Newzoo's research also found a significant correlation between those intending to buy a VR device and fans of video game competitions -- or e-sports. Almost half (45 percent) of U.S. consumers who are planning to get VR are e-sports enthusiasts and a further 18 percent occasionally viewed e-sports. "Considering such a clear link between e-sports and interest in VR, it's surprising to see so few of the manufacturers investing in the space," the report said. "This is even more surprising when you consider that these fans are tech savvy and willing to spend on memorable experiences." The research also found that, while only 7 percent of consumers in Canada were interested in buying VR, they were prepared to spend the most on the tech, with 28 percent of this group having spent more than $600 on hardware in the past 12 months. In comparison, only 14 percent of Spanish consumers spent that much on gaming hardware. It seems that not everyone is familiar with "Lucifer." Just days after former Speaker of the House John Boehner called presidential candidate Ted Cruz "Lucifer in the flesh," Merriam-Webster's online dictionary saw a staggering spike in the number of searches for the word a whopping 7,700 percent. "Although it is possible that Boehner was making a muted classical reference, and intended to characterize Cruz as a bearer of light, this seems unlikely, as he in the same talk referred to the senator by another turn of phrase which is incompatible with this imagery," the website said in a statement, noting that "Lucifer" has several meanings, some benign and some inflammatory. Fourth-graders at Bench Elementary probably wont be national-class poets real soon. But Thursday, they got to work with one. Anna Lance, a 2015 National Student Poet from Alaska, talked students through the writing process, from building a skeleton of ideas to creating a poem modeling Shel Silversteins Enter This Deserted House. He gave it a feeling, he gave it a mood, she said, encouraging students to think of what defined their own houses, or a made-up house. She wasnt working with completely raw material. The class, taught by Isaiah Welch, worked with Art Without Boundaries, a local group that works to introduce children to the arts, on writing poems and public speaking earlier this year. The exercises culminated in an assembly with fourth-graders reading poems to their parents. Without exposure to poetry, young students arent going to write it on their own, he said. They need that guidance, and they need that help. Though unpolished, young students can yield fascinating work, Lance said. They havent settled too much into cliches and tropes, she said, citing a student example of describing her dog as fat like a tater tot. That doesnt mean they find it easy. That part is so hard, lamented fourth-grader Steffany Muller about actually writing the poem. Youve gotta make it all into one thing, make it go all together. Finished products varied wildly, from rhyming narratives of home to free-verse explorations of fictional dwellings. Theres just some kids that surprise you, Welch said. You would have never expected that poem to come from them. It just shows a new talent from them. Lances talent started bubbling up at age 3, when she made a collection of pictures that she narrated as a poem. She tours the country as part of the student poet program and puts together a service project. Lance plans to work with school children. As part of the program, she read her poetry at the White House actually very scary, she said. Working with children early helps them to consider poetry as an artistic medium, but it also has less tangible benefits, said Kimber Craine, the director of program initiatives for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Their identity is still being shaped, he said. I think (Annas) interest is helping them explain their identity. watch now Fresh from denouncing Apple as outdated, Chinese tech billionaire Jia Yueting has taken the fight to Apple's turf, setting up shop in Silicon Valley. Jia's company LeEco opened a new 80,000-square-foot North American headquarters in San Jose, California, on Thusday, to the cheers of Chinese fans who praised the company for pushing to lead, rather than follow, U.S. brands. As one Weibo poster called ZhouxinZoe put it, "LeEco's America landing battles will start from here...they are fighting the war on U.S. soil...it's a new battle, cover your eyes and run madly, just go for it!" Others congratulated LeEco on its boldness in "walking out of the door of China." watch now According to a release, the new HQ will house 800 new workers and will also be the future home of LeEco's autonomous driving research centre. In the release, Jia said Silicon Valley was "critically important" to LeEco's global growth strategy. "We're looking forward to sharing our vision of one connected ecosystem with U.S. consumers," he said. Speaking to CNBC at a summit of business leaders in Jinan, China, at the weekend, the entrepreneur said he was not concerned by Silicon Valley-based rivals such as Apple . After months of warnings about the disease, health officials on Friday announced the first official Zika-related death in the U.S. Puerto Rico's health secretary, Ana Rius, said a 70-year-old man infected with the mosquito-borne illness died in February in the territory from severe thrombocytopenia a low blood platelet count that can lead to internal bleeding. The CDC also reported Friday that there were 683 laboratory-confirmed current or recent Zika cases in Puerto Rico between November 1 and April 15. Of those patients, 74 percent reported rash, 69 percent myalgia (muscle pain), 65 percent fever and 65 percent arthralgia (joint pain). At least 49 confirmed Zika patients were symptomatic pregnant women, the CDC said. Only 16 patients required hospitalization, and 6 were suspected of having Guillain-Barre syndrome when the immune system attacks a body's nerves. The CDC said the public health response has seen increased laboratory capacity for Zika infection tests, stepped up surveillance, and prevention activities directed toward pregnant women. In order to control the disease transmission to that population, the CDC said authorities have conducted spraying and sought to reduce mosquito breeding environments "especially around pregnant women's houses." "Residents of and travelers to Puerto Rico should continue to avoid mosquito bites, take precautions to reduce the risk of sexual transmission, and seek medical care for any acute illness with rash or fever," the CDC said. Government statistics show that 440,000 EU migrants claimed benefits in January in Germany, although the figure includes those claiming 'top-up benefits' for doing low-paid work, according to the The Financial Times. Currently, the largest groups claiming benefits are from Poland, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, according to the government numbers. The proposal was put forth by German labor minister Andrea Nahles, a left-wing social democrat. The current law allows EU migrants access to most benefits six months after entering the country. Germany is proposing a change to its unemployment benefits law so that European Union migrants would be unable to access jobless benefits for the first five years after arriving in the country. Germany took in a record 1.1 million refugees in 2015, according to various reports. However, Chancellor Angela Merkel, once praised for her open-door policy toward newcomers, has been criticized by what many Germans now view as an open-door migrant policy. The backlash largely follows a series of attacks on women in Cologne on New Year's Eve, allegedly by immigrants. Merkel's stance also cost her key regions in last month's regional elections. Her Christian Democratic Party suffered sharp losses in two out of three states where elections were held, which also saw a sharp rise in support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party. European governments have been facing increasing calls to curb the number of migrants entering the EU. In 2015, 1.3 million people sought asylum in Europe, said Eurostat. The majority come from Syria, with Afghanistan and Iraq following closely behind. The proposed bill would have to be agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet before heading to parliament. On Thursday, Austria and Italy agreed to keep the Brenner Pass open after Austria, which controversially passed a new law allowing for most asylum claims to be rejected directly at the border, threatened to close the highway between the two countries. A Chop't restaurant Rebecca Schley | Flickr In Portland, Oregon, where local fast-casual concepts like Lardo and Little Big Burger have sprung up in recent years, restaurateurs call the offices of the brokerage firm Urban Works three to four times a day asking for second-generation restaurant spaces about that same size. The hunt is just as difficult in Washington, DC. Two years ago, when chef Mike Isabella was looking to expand his popular sandwich shop G, competition for restaurant spaces was so brutal he had to give up. He did ink a deal for another small-footprint concept at the DC airport, but that wasn't any easier; Isabella says he was one of 400 companies bidding to open there. And, he adds, there were even more airport deals that he'd bid on and lost. Last month, Nation's Restaurant News confirmed that the fast-casual boom has driven lease rates for these spaces to astounding levels nationwide. It's a landlord's market pretty much everywhere. In New York, Julian Hitchcock, founder of New York's consulting and commercial brokerage firm the F+B Group, says that while independent restaurateurs are willing to pay high lease rates, the tricky part is finding a landlord to gamble on them: It's much safer to rely on a tested national chain with deep-pocketed backers instead. So how is a restaurateur supposed to navigate a landlord's market? A good start might be to figure out what that means, what landlords want from a tenant, and what other restaurateurs are doing to stay competitive. Before you can compete in a landlord's market, it helps to know what you're dealing with. In many cities across the country, a major factor in rising lease rates is, of course, development and growth. Darren Tristano, president of the restaurant industry research firm Technomic, argues that cultural changes are also in play. Tristano says that the rise of delivery and takeaway has shifted dining out of the restaurant and into the home, prompting even full-service operators to look for smaller dining rooms. Isabella's own restaurant empire has felt the intermingling effects of both shifts. Last year, he opened two full-service restaurants with smaller footprints in Ballston, Virginia (which, it should be noted, was a rather under-tapped market just outside of DC). But Isabella found it was harder to make money at those two concepts, Pepita and Yona. While they're located in more affordable real estate, they come with a much higher overhead than a fast-casual restaurant there's waitstaff to pay, for example. And they're surrounded by the likes of Subway, Sweetgreen, and the local sandwich chain Taylor Gourmet. People don't seem to have the time or inclination to dine out at lunch so much anymore, Isabella says, so they gravitate toward those chains that can get them in and out quickly. In order to compete, Isabella implemented an online ordering and takeout system during lunch hours. And at the nearby Kapnos Taverna a mid-sized, full-service restaurant he offers an express lunch menu that allows it to "turn and burn" much like a fast-casual would. "As a restaurateur, you have to adapt," he says. And in a landlord's market, it seems restaurateurs particularly must adapt to having less space. Part of the rise of the smaller restaurant space, Tristano says, is that independents are being outpaced by fast-casuals anyway. Last year, according to a March Technomic report, fast-casual sales grew by 11.4 percent, almost double the rate of any other dining segment. That's key. As the NRN report from the same month contends, the rise of Chipotle-ish fast-casuals has driven up rents even further by creating a huge demand for a limited number of restaurant spaces. In those smaller spaces, landlords can get more money per square foot than they could out of an 8,000-square-foot full-service restaurant space. As Isabella explains it, that's because restaurants can do a higher relative volume and therefore make bigger profits in that smaller amount of space, especially if they're fast-casual. Meanwhile, it's obviously still cheaper for restaurant owners to rent a place that's one-third the size of a normal restaurant. It's such an advantage on both sides that realtors in major dining cities are seeing landlords and developers chopping up those large full-service restaurants into two or three units. In DC, Thomas Papadopoulos, principal broker at Papadopoulos Properties, explains that this strategy not only allows a landlord to command more rent per square foot, but also reduces risk by relying on multiple tenants, rather than putting one tenant on the hook for the whole sum. This is also the strategy that's partly driving the food hall boom, Hitchcock says. "As rents increase, that's another nail in the coffin for full-service restaurants." The intense competition for fast-casual-sized spaces actually discouraged Isabella from trying to expand his sandwich shop (though it did open a location in Nationals Park). But there's a cyclical nature to chefs jumping into the fast-casual scrum. Motivated by rising rents and rising labor costs (particularly in cities like New York, where minimum wages have increased), chefs are increasingly testing out small casual concepts that take less money to open and operate, and will keep their brand names in the news. The more that chefs succeed in fast-casual particularly in food halls the more that their peers seek to join them. If they can find the real estate. So if landlords have all the power in restaurant real estate, what are they looking for in a tenant? It's important to start by noting that this varies by landlord, neighborhood, and type of project. A landlord seeking a restaurant operator for a small neighborhood condo building will have different priorities than a deep-pocketed developer looking for a restaurant to anchor a downtown retail complex. Some landlords do have more than money in mind. If they have a space on the ground floor of a condo building or office complex, landlords look for tenants who are clean, fairly quiet, and don't emit any unappealing odors that would bother residents or fellow tenants. In a more residential neighborhood, full-service restaurants do well since dinner is more highly trafficked than lunch. But if there's a lunch crowd available in that residential neighborhood, a fast-casual might be even better since it reduces late-night noise. Some landlords are chasing after buzz. In New York, Hitchcock explains that landlords who own big buildings and therefore have a stake in the surrounding neighborhood often value the idea of culture-building through dining. He uses the Brookfield Place development as an example: developers looking to rebuild and reinvigorate the Financial District have courted popular concepts and restaurateurs many of them local, like Black Seed Bagels, Blue Ribbon Sushi, and Parm to entice diners into the area. While Dunkin' Donuts may be a national brand with excellent financials and a proven track record, Hitchcock says, it can't create a culture like an independent or local restaurant could. If a landlord is willing to gamble on a local restaurateur and if that buzz does indeed translate into success an independent restaurant can ultimately be even more financially rewarding than a national chain. It assures the landlord of that restaurant's ability to keep paying rent, and it also would make the landlord's other properties in the neighborhood more desirable. What the neighborhood wants for itself matters to landlords, too, but only to an extent. "Everybody would like to have a utopia of restaurants in their ground-floor spaces," says Brian Greeley, a vice president at Portland's brokerage firm Urban Works. But that's not always possible. Landlords are looking for a balanced, holistic mix within their own developments which means you might end up with your dream restaurant or a Rite Aid in your building. But Hartley adds that there are some cases in which landlords would be wise to keep a neighborhood's personality in mind: It might be a bit jarring, for example, to come across a Chipotle location on Portland's trendy SE Division Street. And while most community groups might advocate for an independent full-service restaurant or a locally owned fast-casual spot or a balance among the two landlords aren't so much concerned about saturating a neighborhood with fast-casual concepts. In fact, Papadopoulos says that competition is a good thing for DC landlords. An existing fast-casual has theoretically already built up a core of diners that a new fast-casual could tap into. So where the community really has a say, Hitchcock says, is in voting out a concept rather than choosing one to begin with. If residents don't go, the restaurant will close. Which brings up an interesting side point about the preference for local versus national concepts. While local full-service and fast-casual restaurants are certainly great for building a development's buzz and are what community groups tend to think they want, for some landlords, that's really no match for a well-funded national restaurant. "People care less about local concepts than you would believe," says the Chicago-based Tristano. Chicago's Wicker Park residents may want an independent full-service restaurant, but chances are if a Shake Shack arrived, it would be met with the same glee as seen in Austin, Hollywood, and elsewhere. That said, money is always the top answer. Developing a restaurant space is considerably more expensive than a regular retail or office space. At the very beginning of construction, developers must take local regulations and basic kitchen requirements into consideration by providing adequate ventilation and other features. Kia Hartley, also vice president of Urban Works, explains that developers will then want a higher return on their investment. And that's most likely going to come from a tenant with good credit and strong financial backing. But though it may seem like the best chance at competing in such a tough real estate market is to be a national chain either small like Shake Shack or big like Chipotle there's plenty of hope for the independents. For one, restaurateurs can follow their colleagues into the fast-casual game and expand out strategically. Hitchcock points to David Chang's fried chicken sandwich shop Fuku, which tested out its concept in the East Village before opening a second location in the pricier (and much denser and lunch-friendlier) Midtown. Meanwhile, Isabella has pushed forward on concessions deals at Nationals Park, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport, and a 10-concept food hall inside a ritzy Virginia mall. For him, the appeal of airport and stadium deals was the foot traffic and quick turnovers, while his upcoming foray into food halls is more about the experience. Restaurateurs can also take their own risks. Greeley points out that Portland wouldn't have beloved concepts like Salt & Straw if they hadn't started out on smaller blocks. Isabella acknowledges there were some doubts when he opened his Greek restaurant Kapnos three years ago on a less-traveled intersection of DC's 14th Street. But he got lucky in the years that followed, as the neighborhood became one of the most popular in the city. Now the rising rents in DC have pushed him to find new and less developed markets in the surrounding areas of Virginia and Maryland. But even if one has never opened a restaurant before, Hartley believes it's worth trying. She acknowledges it's an uphill battle right now, but there are so many upcoming Portland developments, as well as one-off spots in less hyped neighborhoods with more approachable rents. About 300 high school students from around the state gathered in Billings on Wednesday and Thursday for the Jobs for Montana Graduates IGNITE Conference. Students learned about an array of careers and competed in competitive events over two days at the Radisson Hotel, formerly the Holiday Inn Grand. Morning workshops Thursday ranged from how to prepare healthy, affordable meals to a primer on smokejumping. Smokejumper Caleb Allen-Schmid offered the sort of tips not found in brochures. In the winter, when theres no wildfires, we do a lot of sewing, he said, talking about preparing gear. He had a table full of equipment to show students, and told them that jumping into a wildfire doesnt have much in common with commercial skydiving. We never know where were gonna jump until we get to a fire, he said, explaining that jumpers land using a glorified shoulder roll. Yellowstone County Extension Agent Jackie Rumph showed students how to combine common foods to create quick, healthy meals using versatile recipes even with the likes of ramen noodles. You can always add a little bit less or a little bit more depending on what sounds good to you, she said. She offered students tips on how the make the most of their purchases, such as the minimal nutritional differences between fresh and frozen vegetables. If you buy which is the more affordable, youre not really shorting yourself nutrition, she said. In a session led by Shani Rich of the Area Health Education Center, students learned CPR. We dont wait until were in an emergency situation, she said. Thats why we practice. Students practiced chest-pumping techniques timed to the beat of the Bee Gees' "Stayin Alive." Two minutes is a really, really long time when youre doing this, Rich said. This is your morning workout. Sessions were designed to both expose students to careers and to build life skills. Its awesome for thinking about a wide range of jobs, said Fromberg junior Cory Struthers. Jobs for Montana Graduates is a Department of Labor initiative that can be taught as a middle or high school course, helping students gain employable skills, educating them about career options and leadership and civic awareness with a major focus on keeping students in school through graduation. JMGs probably one of my favorite classes, Fromberg junior Eugene Barker said. Youre not constantly sitting in a room. She now has 1,645 pledged delegates. You need 2,383 delegates to clinch. So, if she doesn't use super delegates, then she needs 738 of 1,206 remaining delegates up for grabs. She is very unlikely to win that many delegates in the upcoming states, which largely favor Bernie Sanders. That means the first thing Sanders supporters have to do is make sure he wins those states and picks up as many delegates as he possibly can to block her winning the outright majority with just pledged delegates. At this point, you have to be wondering, "Yes, but what about the super delegates?! They're almost all on her side." Yes, of course, that's why Sanders' chances of winning are not very high. But the whole point of those super delegates is to make sure that the Democratic Party does not have a deeply flawed or hobbled candidate going into the general election. Their job is not to overrule the will of the voters because they don't happen to agreethat's why a lot of them switched from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama in 2008 when he won a majority of the pledged delegates. It seemed only fitting that on Arbor Day, trees would be planted in Billings. Friday afternoon, a dozen United Parcel Service workers in brown T-shirts with gold logos volunteered their time to plant 55 trees in Descro Park on Billings West End. They were assisted by four employees from the city's Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. The project took place thanks to a $5,000 grant awarded through the Keep America Beautiful/UPS Foundation Tree Planting Grant program. The trees included ponderosa pines, Black Hills spruce and Rocky Mountain junipers. With guidance from interim city forester Steve Riley, the volunteers removed wire and burlap from the root ball of each tree. Then they placed the trees in shallow pre-dug holes and tamped down the dirt around them with shovels to keep the trees upright. Make sure you dont include any grass clods or big rocks, Riley instructed the volunteers as they gathered around the first tree. The lesson over, the volunteers fanned out in smaller groups to continue the planting. Tree planting takes place in city parks either in the spring or the fall, Riley said. The number planted annually ranges from 100 to 200, he said. Its adding to what we call the tree canopy," Riley said. There are quite a few parks that are in need of trees. He picked Descro, an undeveloped park that has a walking path on one side of it, because it doesnt have any trees. I thought it would make it look a lot nicer and it can provide a wind break, Riley said. Eventually well plant deciduous trees around the picnic shelter to provide shade. The shelter was previously built by a Rotary Club. Don Jore, a founder and former chairman of the West End Task Force, was on hand for the planting. The main reason the task force was started, he said, was to create Descro and other parks in the area. Neighborhood opposition to a street improvement district, to help develop the park, has prevented a sprinkler system from being installed or much grass from being planted, Jore said. But seeing the trees planted on Friday is great, he said. Riley assured Jore that a city water truck would periodically come around to water the newly planted trees. City Council member Dick Clark, also a former chairman of the task force, looked on as the trees were planted. I think its a start, Clark said. He gets calls from residents concerned when the weeds in the park grow too high, making it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians. He also acknowledged that adding a sprinkler system to more fully develop the park would be a major expense. Right now, its a great place to walk, he said, nodding toward the walking path. Jay Yeager, director of Operations in Montana for United Parcel Service, said UPS volunteers joined in to give back to one of the communities we serve. Volunteers came from a number of different departments, he said. UPS employs about 1,000 people across the state in 14 operating locations. Helping pay for and planting the trees is just one way UPS helps out, Yeager said, saying volunteers also help nonprofits around the state. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note , which moves inversely to its price, rose to 1.835 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond also climbed to 2.687 percent. U.S. government debt prices dipped on Friday, as investors looked to the release of several pieces of data. On the data front, the Commerce Department said the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, excluding the volatile food and energy components, edged up 0.1 percent last month after an upwardly revised 0.2 percent increase in February. Last month's gain in the so-called PCE was in line with economists' expectations. In the 12 months through March the core PCE rose 1.6 percent after advancing 1.7 percent in February. The core PCE is the Fed's preferred inflation measure and is running below the U.S. central bank's 2 percent target. The Fed said on Wednesday its policy-setting committee was continuing to "closely" monitor inflation. Chicago PMI for April was 50.4, below expectations of 53.0 and March's 53.6 print. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment for April came in at 89.0. In oil markets, U.S. crude fell 0.2 percent to settle at $45.96. Still, it posted a roughly 20 percent gain for April. Brent crude traded at $48.14 a barrel, about flat. Reuters contributed to this report. Having established a Hong Kong-based yacht brokerage in 1984, Mike Simpson has been around long enough to know what some of China's wealthiest clients want. The Chinese "like things to happen fast and when they decide to buy a yacht, they don't just want to spend months looking around ...I think they want to get all the answers by the person they are going to do business with," said the founder and group managing director of Simpson Marine, a yacht dealership, brokerage and service company. Chinese consumers want all aspects of the transaction covered, from how to import the boat to getting the right crew, Simpson explained, adding that even tiny details such as producing the list of yacht-cleaning materials in Mandarin Chinese can make the difference. Yacht sales rose sharply up until Xi Jinping's 2012 campaign to curb corruption, Simpson told CNBC's "Managing Asia." He added that China's uncertain economic environment and high import taxes of up to 45 percent for yachts are also hurting the industry. Two Northern New York resorts will use loans totaling $600,000 to help pay for improvement projects. The board of the North Country Economic Development Fund (NCEDF) approved the loans during a meeting held in White Plains, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) said in a news release. North Woods Inn and Resort in Old Forge in Herkimer County will use a $300,000 loan for a planned renovation that will support 30 jobs. Swan Bay Resort in Alexandria Bay in Jefferson County will use a $300,000 loan for a multi-million-dollar project to develop the resort. The project will include capital improvements and new equipment. Swan Bay expects the effort will support 17 jobs. NYPA, headquartered in White Plains, and the Development Authority of the North Country, based in Watertown, administer the fund, according to the news release. Established in 2014, the $10-million NCEDF provides low-cost loans to businesses expanding and creating or retaining jobs in the North Country. The fund is available to businesses in St. Lawrence, Clinton, Franklin, Essex, Jefferson, Lewis, Hamilton and Herkimer counties and enterprises within the New York boundaries of the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation. The loans are available for manufacturers, agribusiness, clean and green bio-technology firms, assemblers and wholesale distributors, warehouses, to buy land, machinery and equipment, and for construction and rehabilitation purposes. Funding is also available for business-improvement districts and nonprofit entities for community-revitalization projects, according to the NYPA news release. Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com Mutilated U.S. dimes and quarter dollars are from 13 metric tons of coins waiting to be shipped to the U.S. Mint for redemption. The six-month suspension of the U.S. Mint's Mutilated Coin Redemption Program is extended another six months, effective May 2. The United States Mints six-month suspension of its Mutilated Coin Redemption Program is extended another six months beginning May 2. Notice of the extension was published April 29 in the Federal Register. The Mutilated Coin Redemption Program allows individuals and businesses to exchange bent and partial coins for reimbursement. Connect with Coin World: Following an investigation into alleged irregularities associated with the program, U.S. Mint officials suspended the exchange of mutilated coins to accommodate assessment of the programs security and development of additional safeguards. Since that time, the United States Mint has made significant progress in assessing the current state of the program, evaluating risks, and identifying potential remedial measures, according to the April 29 Federal Register notice. Additionally, the United States Mint has engaged the services of an independent contractor to assist us in these efforts. However, due to recent litigation involving the exchange program and more time needed to complete our work, the United States Mint is extending the suspension of its redemption of bent and partial coins for an additional period of six months. Tom Jurkowsky, director of the Mints Office of Corporate Communications, identified the independent contractor as PricewaterhouseCoopers. Litigation continues Federal prosecutors say several metal recyclers based in the United States conspired in an elaborate scheme to bilk the U.S. Mint out of more than $5.4 million. The firms were allegedly attempting to be paid for large quantities of mutilated pieces that are allegedly counterfeit U.S. coins imported from China. A civil complaint was filed March 20, 2015, in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark, since transferred to federal court in Philadelphia, seeking forfeiture of the funds, which had not yet been paid to the recyclers for the redemption of mutilated copper-nickel clad dimes, quarter dollars and half dollars under the Mints Mutilated Coin Redemption Program. The $5.4 million is currently in the custody of federal authorities, according to the complaint. The three firms are identified as America Naha Inc., Wealthy Max Ltd. and XRace Sports Co. Ltd. Wealthy Max Ltd. filed suit on Oct. 29, 2015, seeking return of the millions of dollars in compensation the Mint withheld from mutilated coin shipments from China in 2014 and 2015. The suit was filed the same day the Mint announced the first six-month suspension of its Mutilated Coin Redemption Program. As part of its effort to publicly clear the firms name, Wealth Max Ltd. officials on Feb. 23, 2016, conducted a public inspection of 13 metric tons of mutilated coins stored in 13 crates in a Chinese warehouse. The 1797 gold 10-mitqal coin of Morocco was struck for Sultan Muhammad III at the Madrid Mint, but the rulers death before the coins arrived and the name of the mint in Arabic are reasons the coin was not circulated and most were melted. When a new coin arrives too late and stokes passions between international rivals, its bound to be a failure. That explains the scarcity of a gold coin from Morocco in the Stephen Album Rare Coins auction May 19 to 21. The 1787 gold 10-mitqal coin was struck at the Madrid Mint in the name of Sultan Muhammad III. These are among the first machine-struck coins of Morocco. Connect with Coin World: Authorization for the coin was granted Jan. 13, 1787, but production did not begin until Sept. 22, 1787, according to the auction house. A total of 10,000 pieces were struck from bullion stored in the city of Tangier, the firm said. These were clearly intended for circulation and are not, as some sources report, pattern pieces, Although well executed, for multiple reasons this issue was destined for failure, the firm said. By the time the coins arrived in Morocco, the sultan had died, and his successor, Sultan Muhammad al-Yazid, would not have released coins of his predecessor during his reign. The fact that the Madrid Mint (where the coins were struck) was named in Arabic on the coin, at a time when friction between Spain and Morocco was high, also doomed the coins. Nearly the entire mintage was recalled and melted down, and as few as 10 examples are known to have survived. The example in the Album auction has minor scratches on the obverse field, which were repaired, according to the firm, but otherwise displays much original luster. The coin is graded About Uncirculated details by Numismatic Guaranty Corp., and has a pre-sales estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. The auction features some 2,680 lots and will be held in the firms Santa Rosa, Calif., office. Items offered include ancient, Islamic, Chinese, Indian, and other world coins, in addition to numismatic literature. To learn more about the auction, visit the company website. Throughout his 18 years in the U.S. Senate, Conrad Burns brought home the bacon for Montana. Burns, who died Thursday in his Billings home at age 81, operated in the era of earmarks. He was highly successful in obtaining money for his state. For example, in 2000, after he and Sen. Slade Gordon, R-Wash., added $5 million to a National Parks Service bill, Burns steered $1.75 million to emergency repairs at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park. Burns served on the Senate Commerce, Science Transportation Committee, which put him in a good position to earmark money for agriculture, energy, defense and for the Interior Department, which manages public lands. He supported telecommunications for rural schools and hospitals. In 2004, along with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Burns sponsored the E-911 bill that provided money for states to upgrade technology so first-responders can locate emergency callers, and so cellphone 911 calls are routed to the nearest emergency agency. In his first two years on the defense subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee (2003-2004), Burns directed $144 million to Montana universities and technology companies for research. Responding to critics of pork barrel spending, Burns defended his tech earmarks: (The money) is going to be spent somewhere. I want to get my share, he told the Associated Press in 2004. He said earmarked funds have plenty of checks and balances to make sure they are used for research. We get results, Burns told the AP. Thats the acid test. The four-lane reconstruction of Airport Road would have never happened without Burns securing $15 million in earmarks many years before the roadwork started. Burns got a grant to beautify downtown Billings. The city eventually used the money to install Skypoint over the Broadway and Second Avenue North intersection. Local health care facilities received numerous grants thanks to Burns intervention. For example, a St. Vincent Healthcare clinic on Shiloh Road was built with a grant Burns procured. When the state of Montana eliminated funding for the Mental Health Centers HUB program for homeless individuals in Billings, Burns got a federal grant that kept the doors open till state lawmakers reconsidered funding. As a senator, Burns often donated his speaking fees to the Billings Food Bank. "He was his same old gregarious self" when he came into the food bank's cafe for lunch with friends earlier in April, said executive director Sheryl Shandy, a longtime friend of Burns. Burns organized annual aging issues conferences in Billings, bringing high-powered federal officials from the Medicare administration out to Montana. He had a true and genuine concern for seniors, said Kent Burgess, CEO at St. Johns Lutheran Ministries, who worked with Burns on the conferences. During his Senate tenure, Burns was once spotted at Albertsons on Main Street, shopping alone. Ive got to bring home the bacon, he said when greeted by another shopper. Minutes later, the U.S. senator was indeed strolling toward the checkout with that breakfast staple in hand. As a U.S. senator, Burns made sure Montana got its share of attention and funding. Our state has many facilities and services because of his hard work. We extend condolences to his wife, Phyllis Burns of Billings, and the rest of his family. Skyview High School reported that six students attempted suicide last week; that's only the number school officials were told about. This is one shocking example of the prevalence of suicidal behavior that has made Montana one of the worst suicide states for generations. The first step in changing this culture of death is recognizing the problem before a life is lost. Karl Rosston, Montanas suicide prevention coordinator, has been traveling the state with the goal of training Montanans to recognize warning signs of suicide risk, and educating them on how to get help for a person at risk. Targeting primary care This week he was in Billings training 36 physician assistant students at Rocky Mountain College. Before that, he trained internal medicine residents at Billings Clinic. Rosstons goal is to train Montanas primary care providers to administer quick, simple screenings that usually involve about 10 questions. The patients answers help the medical professional determine whether mental health follow-up is needed. Montana attitudes about depression and suicide response have changed in the past couple of years, said Rosston, who has been a professional counselor for 25 years. Im getting more and more requests from nursing programs and hospitals, he said. Hospitals are being inundated with suicidal clients. According to the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 9 percent of Montana high school students attempted suicide in the 12 months before taking the survey, compared to a national average of 8 percent. Even more concerning to Rosston, the survey data indicate that students who attempted suicide have many other life problems, such as bullying, drinking and drug abuse. Its not just suicide and depression, its affecting their health across the board. 267 suicides in 2015 Although youth suicide gets more attention, the highest rate of suicide in Montana is actually for adults ages 45-64. In 2014, Montana recorded 251 suicides, and a rate of 24.5 per 100,000 population. That was nearly double the national average rate of 13.4. The 2015 statistics are worse: 267 suicides statewide. So far in 2016, at least 61 Montanans have died by suicide. Billings Public Schools have taken steps to help students who may be at risk. The school district added a professional mental health counselor at each of the three high schools in January. As reported by The Gazettes Matt Hoffmann, those counselors schedules have already filled up with troubled students. The chances of someone seeking out and getting help is much higher in a school building than in a community setting, said Dr. Eric Arzubi, a child psychiatrist at Billings Clinic. Unfortunately, the schools have limited resources to provide mental health assistance to students. The high school levy on the May 7 ballot would fund two additional mental health counselors, as well as 7.5 new teachers to focus on struggling and advanced students. Help for students A vote for the levy is a vote to help deal with the serious mental health crisis among our youth. But much more must be done. Screening for depression should be added to the routine screenings administered at our schools. We check kids vision, why not check their risk for a serious mental illness? Earlier this year, the U.S. Prevention Task Force called for depression screening for all youth ages 11-17. Primary care providers, educators, parents and teens all need to be educated. The stigma of mental illness can only be dispelled with the light of knowledge. Mental illnesses are diseases that can be treated like diabetes, heart attack and cancer. Theres no shame in seeking care. The shame is in lives lost or shattered by lack of effective treatment. People at Wilkes Boulevard Methodist Church say K2 overdoses are all too common among the homeless population they're trying to serve. Once a legal synthetic cannabinoid, K2 and similar designer drugs have become far more potent and unpredictable in their effects. A Glendive attorney was punished this month for writing an inflammatory email to a judge while representing a criminal defendant. Mark Epperson was admonished by an adjudicatory panel of the state Commission on Practice earlier this month. He was also ordered to pay the costs of the case for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and Commission on Practice. In June 2015, Epperson was an assistant public defender representing a man in a criminal case. The judge, Seventh Judicial District Judge Richard Simonton, declined to accept a plea agreement reached by Epperson and Dawson County Attorney Marvin Howe. The defendant, Richard Cooper, faced DUI, criminal endangerment and criminal child endangerment charges, among others. In Montana, judges are not bound by plea agreement recommendations. When Epperson learned that Simonton would not accept the agreement, he emailed the judge's assistant. Without the agreement, the case could have gone to trial. In it, he wrote "One more thing: Neither Cooper nor I will show up if the judge refuses to vacate the trial set for July 8, and he can throw my ass in jail for contempt if he chooses," court documents state. In July, Simonton fined Epperson $250 and held him in contempt. The matter was then taken up by the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel and a professional misconduct case was filed with the Montana Supreme Court. As part of the case, Epperson signed an affidavit admitting to the allegations. He said that he sent the email to prevent a trial from moving forward. The misconduct case was finalized on April 19. Attempts to reach Epperson were unsuccessful. Epperson is no longer with the state Office of the Public Defender. In January, he said that he practiced family law and was a staff attorney for the Dawson County Domestic Violence Program. A copy of the April 19 document was sent to Epperson at that county office. Cooper, the defendant in that case, was sentenced for criminal endangerment in January and is now on probation. Use of VFW is 'first test' of homeless campus plan news April 29, 2016 - Memphis International Airport and city police officers cordoned off an area outside Southwest Airlines baggage claim, after a man drove onto the property and stated he had been shot at a nearby gas station. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal) Crime Report Shelby County 911 - A Crime Report SHARE April 29, 2016 Memphis International Airport and city police officers cordoned off an area outside Southwest Airlines baggage claim, after a man drove onto the property and stated he had been shot at a nearby gas station. (Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal) By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal Travelers arriving at Memphis International Airport on Friday afternoon got a rude greeting to the city: the sight of yellow crime scene tape and police officers investigating a shooting. Airport spokesman Glen Thomas said a man had apparently been shot elsewhere and made his way to the airport. "We had a man drive onto the lower drive and pulled up and told a traffic officer he believed he had been shot at a nearby gas station," Thomas said. At that point, police officers and paramedics were called. The gas station was the Mapco at Winchester and Airways, according to Memphis police spokeswoman Sgt. Karen Rudolph. The victim was taken to the Regional Medical Center in noncritical condition, she wrote in an email. An airport police supervisor wouldn't comment and a Memphis police officer at the scene said a supervisor wasn't available to speak. Police were routing people around a section of the lower-level driveway, right by a door to the Southwest Airlines baggage claim. Passengers arriving in Memphis typically collect their luggage inside, then emerge to get taxis or meet family and friends picking them up. A dark Yukon SUV was visible near the baggage claim door, its left side damaged. The crime scene proved a jarring contrast to the tourist-friendly image of blues music and barbecue that the airport works to project. That said, the shooting appeared to have caused little disruption to airport traffic. Other than police working in a small area and reporters filming the scene, everything at the airport seemed normal. Passenger Courtney Roland was waiting inside the baggage claim area a few feet from the crime scene outside. She said she'd arrived earlier from Houston and was waiting for her parents so she could attend a wedding in Huntsville. She'd seen the police officers but said she hadn't been aware of a shooting until a reporter told her. "They've done a good job of keeping everyone calm and collected," the 27-year-old said. Shipping containers hold cargo at FedEx Memphis World Hub. Executives with FedEx, the areas largest employer, expect to close on the $4.9 billion purchase of Netherlands-based TNT Express in the first quarter of 2016. The acquisition will position FedEx as one of Europes largest parcel haulers. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Wayne Risher of The Commercial Appeal FedEx said Friday that the biggest acquisition in the companys 43-year history has cleared its final regulatory hurdle, after the deal received approval from Chinese officials. The Memphis-based parcel delivery service said the $4.8 billion acquisition of Europe's third-largest delivery company entered the home stretch with approval by Ministry of Commerce People's Republic of China. The acquisition is expected to close by June 30. "I want to thank the team members who collaborated with regulatory authorities around the world to help us reach this important acquisition milestone, said David Bronczek, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Express. As we work towards closing the acquisition, we look forward to welcoming TNT Express team members to the FedEx family of companies as we expand our portfolio of solutions and connect even more people and possibilities," Bronczek said. Regulatory approvals cleared the way for TNT Express stockholders to tender their shares. TNT shareholders voted in favor of the deal last fall. FedEx announced plans for the purchase of Dutch rival TNT Express last April. The deal would make FedEx Europes No. 2 package carrier. At the time, FedEx executives likened the acquisition to a 1998 purchase of Caliber Systems Inc.s RPS, a ground package delivery network that became FedEx Ground. FedEx Ground competes head-to-head against UPS and consistently delivers FedExs highest profit margins. Officials said owning a ground delivery company in Europe was expected to translate into lower operating costs and an improved ability to transport cross-border shipments, particularly in the burgeoning e-commerce area. FedEx rival United Parcel Service of Atlanta had previously tried to buy TNT for about $6.8 billion but ultimately gave up, in part because of European antitrust issues. On Friday, TNT Express chief executive officer Tex Gunning said, With this final regulatory approval, we are one step closer to making the vision of combining the complementary networks of FedEx and TNT Express a reality. This intended acquisition will bring value for our customers, shareholders and employees." September 17, 2015 - From left: Vincent Smith, vice president of operations, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, gives a high five to Ethan Blevins, 6, a first grade student at New Hope Christian Academy, during a reveal of a newly refurbished teen center at the John Dustin Buckman Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis Thursday. The Women's Foundation of Greater Memphis announced in April 2016 it will grant $1 million to 22 partner organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club, as an investment in the South City community. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Kayleigh Skinner and Sara K. Clarke of The Commercial Appeal The Womens Foundation for a Greater Memphis announced Friday it will grant $1 million to 22 partner organizations as an investment in the South City community. The non-profit organization is making the donation to improve quality of life in 38126, the poorest zip code in Memphis said deputy director Shante Avant. The ZIP code south of Downtown includes Foote Homes, the citys last remaining housing project. The complex will soon be demolished and redeveloped as mixed-income housing with the help of a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The foundation is giving to organizations that will help with the five tenets of its Vision 2020 plan: provide wraparound services to fill basic needs, equip residents with marketable job skills, focus on early education and care, focus on youth development and improve financial literacy, Avant said. The 22 grantee partners are: Knowledge Quest, Urban Strategies Memphis Hope, Advance Memphis, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Memphis, DeNeuville Learning Center, Hopeworks, Karat Place Inc., Literacy Mid-South, Memphis Urban League, Southwest Tennessee Community College, YWCA of Greater Memphis, Early Success Coalition, Exchange Club Family Center, Neighborhood Christian Center, Booker T. Washington High School, Emmanuel Center, Girl Scouts Heart of the South, Girls Incorporated of Memphis, Streets Ministries, University of Memphis - Girls Experience Engineering, LeMoyne-Owen College CDC and the Rise Foundation. The announcement was made before the foundations annual tribute luncheon at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. The Foundation hopes to grow average household income threefold over the next five years, said Ruby Bright, the organization's executive director. "That zip code is the poorest zip code in the city of Memphis," Bright said. "We're leading this effort. We can't do it alone, but we are committed to it." Founded in 1995 to help women break the cycle of poverty in Memphis, the Foundation aimed to support organizations that focus on areas such as adult education, early childhood development, jobs skills, youth employment and financial literacy. With the help of its partner organizations, the Foundation plans to invest $10 million in the area over five years. Bright said the group will work with the University of Memphis to measure the effectiveness of its efforts to reduce poverty. July 5, 2012 -- June Averyt talks with Paul Gollner, 42, in a patch of shade on Cleveland in the heat of the summer. Gollner has been living on the streets on and off for more than a decade. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal) June Mann Averyt couldn't be more grateful. "Grateful for my husband, my mother and a slew of kind people that helped me through the day today," the Arkansas native posted on her Facebook page last August. June should talk. No one in Memphis knows more about helping people through the day than Dr. June Averyt. She ran Samaritans of New York, a suicide prevention line, in the 1980s. She worked for a homeless ministry in Philadelphia and for Delaware's mental health department in the 1990s. Over the past 15 years, she started two nonprofit organizations to help the homeless in Memphis: Door of Hope and Outreach, Housing & Community. Last month, social workers across the state gave her the Social Worker Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony in Nashville. "June is one of the most tireless, dedicated advocates for people on the streets that I have known," said Pete Gathje, co-founder of Manna House. "I know a number of Manna House guests whose lives were literally saved by June getting them into a place to live." Just about everyone who works with the poor and hungry and homeless in Memphis knows someone who was rescued by June. "Grateful for those in Memphis who care passionately about people when they are homeless," June posted on her Facebook page in September, "and that the new toilet continues to flush as it should each and every time. I know a blessing when I see one." People who know June know a blessing every time they see her. Even when they won't admit it. "She went up to this surly homeless veteran one time. He didn't want to talk to anyone," said Chere' Bradshaw, executive director of Community Alliance for the Homeless. "June said, 'Do you want to talk to me?' He growled, 'No.' June said, 'Here's my card. Call me if you want my help.' Then she just walked away. He called her in about 10 minutes. She just has this way of talking straight to people. She's not all sweetness and light. She's like a grumpy Mother Teresa." Compassionate curmudgeon. A no-nonsense nurturer. A grouchy saint. Those are some of the ways I've heard June's friends describe her. Sharonda Young met June eight years ago when she started an internship at Door of Hope. Young was recovering from a car accident and had to go to court. June went with her. "She sat there with her knitting needles," Young recalled. "When a court officer came out, first thing she told him was, 'She needs her driver's license. We need her help.' June cares about everyone, and she shows it." Young kept her license and went back to work. Last month, she took June's place as director of OHC. June had to retire. She was ill. "Grateful for no iron white shirts, for the group of women I play mahjong with, for a priest with healing oil," she posted the day after she was diagnosed with lung cancer last August. "If one must have a nasty cancer, it is best to do so with supportive family and friends, excellent doctors and medical care and with air conditioning," she posted three weeks later. June, a member of Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church, has been posting messages of gratitude nearly every day since she was diagnosed. Her posts are a litany of thanksgivings. "I am grateful when my mind is not fogged over, when my eyes will focus, and when my ears are not clogged and I can hear," she posted April 7. Her posts have become a liturgy for family, friends and others who have been graced by her faithful ministry of presence, even in her absence. "There are a LOT of us who are grateful for June Averyt," Pat Morgan, a longtime advocate for the homeless, posted on June's page, like many others who are grateful for June's gracious spirit. April 7: "Grateful for friends who knit & talk with me, grateful for friends who pray for me, grateful for friends who help me get organized, and for a wonderful afternoon with my mother. Then there are the mango smoothies which never cease to delight." April 8: "Grateful for PBS, old mysteries, and a catheter that lets me drink all the cold water I want." April 11: "Grateful for flowers, fruit, fried rice & a nap from five to seven." April 14: "Grateful for the sound of rain, for untangled yarn, and for a relaxing time with a good friend." April 17: "I am grateful for a really wonderful day with family yesterday, for a day of rest & napping today, and a new self propelled lawn mower." She posted her last message April 21: "I am grateful for the hospital bed, for the crew who installed it, and for being here today to enjoy it." June, 61, is in home hospice care. Her brother, Bill Mann, said she stopped being able to speak two weeks ago. She stopped eating five days ago. She stopped drinking Wednesday. "She is grateful for everyone's prayers," he said. June Averyt is dying and she couldn't be more grateful. Update: Dr. June Mann Averyt died Saturday morning. She was 62. Jonathan Bratcher was shot and killed by two Memphis police officers on Wednesday, January 27, 2016. (Photo provided by Jerian Lawson) By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal Johnathan Bratcher, a 32-year-old man killed by Memphis police in January, was shot once in the back of the head, an autopsy report reveals. The incident happened at 888 Kerr on Jan. 27 when, police said, Bratcher pointed a gun at them and opened fire. Police said officers tried to stop a Chevy Impala for a traffic violation. The driver fled and crashed into a curb by St. Andrew A.M.E. Church at 867 S. Parkway. Two men in the car ran in separate directions and police officers Clement Marks and Alexander Fleites chased them. Police said Bratcher pointed his weapon and opened fire at the two officers. Both fired back. After the shooting, Bratcher collapsed and died behind a church building. It is not known which officer fired the shot that killed Bratcher. "The larger portion of this fragmented bullet is recovered from the body. This wound has resulted in severe brain injury. The range of fire is indeterminate," the autopsy report states. The autopsy report also showed that a bullet grazed the upper part of Bratcher's left arm. A toxicology report found marijuana in Bratcher's system. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating this shooting and all officer-involved shootings in Memphis and Shelby County. There have been three fatal shootings this year involving Memphis police officers. Historical marker for the 1866 Memphis Massacre SHARE By David Waters of The Commercial Appeal Local organizations are holding a series of events in May to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1866 Memphis Massacre. Find a complete schedule and more information at memphis.edu/memphis-massacre. SUNDAY 9 a.m.: Memphis Theological Seminary and Freedom's Chapel Christian Church will present "Voices from the Memphis Massacre." Freedom's Chapel Christian Church, 961 Getwell. Free and open to the public. 3 p.m.: The Memphis NAACP will dedicate a historical marker honoring the victims of the 1866 Memphis Massacre. Dedication service at the National Civil Rights Museum, followed by a march to Army-Navy Park (Second and G.E. Patterson) where the marker will be unveiled. Free and open to the public. Call 901-521-1343 for more information. MONDAY 11:30-1 p.m.: Memphis Bar Foundation luncheon at The Peabody. Featured speaker is Bryan Stevenson, director of the Equal Justice Initiative. Tickets for the luncheon are $75. Proceeds benefit the bar association's summer law internship program for high school students. Contact Ann Fritz at 901- 527-3573 or afritz@memphisbar.org for more information. MAY 14: 11 a.m.: RaTonya Watson and Dr. Susan O'Donovan will present student research on the massacre. Orange Mound Community Center, 2590 Park. Free and open to the public. Call 901-576-7266 for more information. MAY 20-21 The University of Memphis will host "Memories of a Massacre: Memphis in 1866: A Symposium Exploring Slavery, Emancipation, and Reconstruction." Featuring historians and scholars, including Robert K. Sutton, Chief Historian of the National Park Service. The two-day forum begins at 8:30 a.m. May 20 at the University Center Theater. Free and open to the public. Find a complete schedule and more information at memphis.edu/memphis-massacre. EXHIBITS University of Memphis, Ned McWherter Library: "Black, White, and Read: Reporting the 1866 Memphis Massacre". Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library: "Free at Last". (Relocated in early May to Orange Mound Gallery, 2232 Lamar. April 9, 2016 -- Protesters gather along a barrier erected through the Overton Park Greensward to separate protesters from parkers as a parking attendant with the zoo (left) prepares to roll their overflow parking into the field Saturday morning. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) By Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced Thursday that the city and the Memphis Zoo will create up to 325 parking spaces near Overton Park, giving the zoo more than half the spaces it needs to stop its controversial practice of using the park greensward for overflow parking. To create the new spaces, the city will re-stripe the southern lane of North Parkway between McLean and the eastern edge of the Rhodes College campus for 200 on-street parking spaces and the zoo will reconfigure its parking lot to add 50-125 more spaces, according to city and zoo officials. Strickland said in his weekly email update that the ideas were approved by the city, the zoo and Overton Park Conservancy during mediation, which began March 24. And this is hardly the only result of mediation, which remains ongoing, he said in the email. Many other issues are being discussed, and Im more optimistic than ever that the process will produce a result. Just those two items above are proof that this is working. The city will tap its capital budget for the $10,000 or so needed to re-stripe North Parkway for the extra spaces, said city Chief Operations Officer Doug McGowen. We want to do our part, he said of resolving the controversy. The announcement came one day before the opening of the zoos new $22.4 million Zambezi River Hippo Camp exhibit. Overton Park Conservancy Executive Director Tina Sullivan said the conservancy is planning to use a $450,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation to improve the sidewalks in the area and create a crosswalk to connect Rhodes College to the other side of North Parkway. She said the conservancy has yet to begin raising the $90,000 in matching funds needed to receive the grant. Richard Smith, the son of FedEx founder Fred Smith who has participated in mediation in support of the zoo, said the zoo would remove some parking islands and mature trees to make way for the new spaces in its parking lot. Do they solve the entire problem? No, but theyre some steps in the right direction, he said. Both of the parking additions were recommended in a recent traffic and parking study commissioned by the conservancy and done by architecture firm Looney Ricks Kiss, he said. The study also recommended a parking garage, but Smith said his and the zoos position was that building a garage would be too costly $10 million to $12 million. Unfortunately, the elephant in the room is the parking structure, Smith said. We dont see where were going to get the money to build that. Smith said to expect more compromises as a result of the mediation in the future, but that he couldnt talk in more specific detail due to a confidentiality agreement. Citizens to Preserve Overton Park president Jessica Buttermore lamented after the announcement that the changes which have been talked about before are only happening now. People seem excited about the mayors announcement, but to me, it seems like something we already knew, she said. Its kind of the status quo of whats been going on the last three years. But Sullivan said the additional parking will make the problem of the zoo parking on the greensward during peak hours easier to solve, and was a departure from the past in another key area: What were seeing here is a commitment to move forward that we didnt have before, she said. SHARE By Joel Ebert, Holly Meyer And Joey Garrison, The Tennessean NASHVILLE The fallout over Gov. Bill Haslam's recent signing of a bill that allows licensed counselors or therapists to deny clients could begin with the cancellation of an upcoming conference scheduled to take place in Nashville. The American Counseling Association, which is set to hold its annual gathering at Music City Center next April, is thinking about heading elsewhere. At stake is a conference that the group says would bring more than 3,000 conventioneers to Nashville, generate up to $4 million in combined local and state tax revenue and have a local economic impact of up to $10 million. Art Terrazas, the association's government affairs director, told The Tennessean that the group's governing council is weighing options, but he didn't have a time frame on when they would know whether it would stay committed to Nashville or find an alternative site. "They're looking at that decision right now in light of the governor's action and decision to sign the bill into law," Terrazas said. "A final decision has not been made yet, but we are looking at that." The counseling association, based in Alexandria, Virginia, has never held its annual convention in Nashville and is among the new trade associations attracted to city following the construction of the city-financed $623 million Music City Center in 2013. The ACA held its annual conference last year in Montreal. The organization has been tracking the Tennessee therapist legislation and made clear weeks ago it could abandon Nashville as a convention site if the governor signed the bill. The association repeatedly condemned the legislation as lawmakers advanced it this year in the Tennessee General Assembly, saying it was unnecessary because counselors already have authority to refer clients to others for professional reasons, but not for discriminatory reasons. The national group called for Haslam to veto the measure, arguing that Tennesseans in need of counseling especially youths in rural areas with limited access to therapists could be harmed. "We hope the ACA thoughtfully considers all that Nashville and Tennessee have to offer and chooses to host its 2017 conference here," Haslam spokeswoman Jennifer Donnals said Thursday. Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, said Thursday that although they are disappointed, they respect Haslam's decision. Spyridon indicated that additional convention groups besides ACA could also cancel planned events in Nashville. "We had several clients who expressed their concerns over this bill, and how it may affect their decisions to meet in our city," Spyridon said. "It's too early to know how they (concerned convention groups) will respond, but we will work directly with them to minimize the impact. We hope our clients understand this does not reflect Nashville's long-standing values of being an open and welcoming city." The Nashville CVC had expressed similar concerns with legislation that sought to regulate which school restrooms transgender students could use, but that bill died before the legislative session concluded. The Tennessee chapter of the American Counseling Association wants the national organization to keep its annual conference in Nashville. Lisa Henderson, a board member for the Tennessee Counseling Association, said doing so demonstrates that people can come together despite differences. "I think we have an opportunity to set a different expectation where if you disagree with somebody, you don't turn your back on them," Henderson said. "You sit down and you talk about it." Henderson doesn't expect the legislation to have much of an impact on day-to-day practices of counselors in Tennessee, but the profession's public perception did take a hit. The state chapter is brainstorming ways to make sure counseling is an emotionally safe option, and bringing all professionals to the table. In a statement Wednesday announcing his decision to sign the counselor bill into law, Haslam said he signed the legislation after much consideration and because of provisions in the law that require referrals so clients in imminent danger can't be turned away. "The substance of this bill doesn't address a group, issue or belief system. Rather, it allows counselors just as we allow other professionals like doctors and lawyers to refer a client to another counselor when the goals or behaviors would violate a sincerely held principle," Haslam said. Haslam is trying to balance good policy, business interests and the will of a legislature dominated by his own party when signing the legislation, said Kent Syler, an assistant political science professor at Middle Tennessee State University. "Someone needs to keep their eye on the state's overall image and economic health, but at the same time there are a lot people who feel that outside interests are blackmailing the state and they kind of double down," Syler said. "Gov. Haslam and governors in several other states have kind of been put in the middle with some of this recent election-year legislation." The measure, which immediately became law after Haslam signed it, shields counselors from civil lawsuits, criminal prosecution and sanctions by the state licensing board for counselors who refuse to provide services, as long as they coordinate a referral of clients to another counselor who will serve them. A provision in the law prevents counselors and therapists from denying anyone who is seeking or undergoing counseling if the client is "in imminent danger of harming themselves or others." April 29, 2016 - Uzazi, a male hippo at the Memphis Zoo, looks on as visitors flock to the opening of his new habitat, Zambezi River Hippo Camp. The area opened on Friday morning, the zoos first major exhibit opening since Teton Trek in 2009. (Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE People await the gates to open at the Memphis Zoo on the first day of the Zambezi River Hippo Camp. (Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal) April 29, 2016 - Visitors to the Memphis Zoo anxiously waited for Uzazi to surface for a breathe and a photo op on opening day of Zambezi River Hippo Camp, the zoos first major exhibit opening since Teton Trek in 2009. (Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal) April 29, 2016 - While hundreds made their way to see the hippos, Ananiyah Martin was mesmerized with the gator and croc exhibit in Zambezi River Hippo Camp at the Memphis Zoo. The 5 year-old was on a school trip to the zoo on Friday which was opening day for Zambezi River Hippo Camp. (Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal) By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal Dozens of children pressed their noses against the pane of glass separating them from Binti, Splish and Uzazi, eager to get a close look at the new stars of The Memphis Zoo. After years of anticipation, the $22.4 million Zambezi River Hippo Camp opened to the public Friday morning. "Hey hippo, I love you!" a child said to one of the 1,600 pound mammals resting comfortably under water. Abel Edwards came with his family and classmate to see the hippo camp, but those animals were on the bottom of his priority list. "This is the new exhibit!" the 5-year-old informed his mother, Erica Edwards. "Where are the crocodiles? I want to see the fish and the drums and the music." Visitors are first greeted by vibrant pink flamingos before they follow a winding path that takes them through the exhibit, meant to mimic a path along a meandering river in an African fishing village. After the flamingos come the energetic patas monkeys, tawny primates that appear to spend a lot of time playing on wooden beams inside their cage. Families stopped to take photos of Miraq the okapi, who looks like a cross between a giraffe and zebra, as he nibbled on a hanging ball of alfalfa and bamboo. Some children and their parents stopped to play bongo drums stationed along the walkway before they entered the hippo habitat. On Friday morning, construction workers were still putting finishing touches on the inside of one of the rondavels, large round buildings in the exhibit modeled after huts commonly found in the Zambezi River region of Africa. Longtime zoo members Debbie and Jim Eubanks came to the zoo Friday to see the animals in their new home. Before the construction of the new exhibit, Binti and Splish spent most of their lives in an concrete habitat. Their new home has sandy banks and 800,000 gallons of water in which to swim. "I think this is fantastic," Debbie Eubanks said. "I always felt sorry for the hippos in the concrete dish, and they look so happy out here. We've been waiting for this." Sarah Massey said she was very impressed with the size of the animals in the exhibit. "They're very, very big," the youngster said of the hippo trio. "And the crocodiles are gigantic." When asked how long she'd been waiting for the exhibit to open, the 7-year-old she has been looking forward to it "for 7 years!" SHARE By Eli Lake Donald Trump has given up on winning historically literate voters. Consider the theme of his major foreign policy speech Wednesday: "America first." This slogan is most associated with aviator Charles Lindbergh, who spent a great deal of time in the late 1930s gushing at how wonderful the Third Reich was. Before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Lindbergh helped form "America First" committees that campaigned to keep the U.S. from fighting the Axis powers. Lindbergh rose to become a demagogue and accused President Franklin Roosevelt of colluding with a Jewish lobby and Britain to drag America into World War II. For years this phrase was toxic. Pat Buchanan has used it from time to time, but "America first" and the idea it represented American neutrality toward the Nazis has been largely banished from respectable discourse. Now Trump is bringing the phrase back to the mainstream. He deploys it at his campaign rallies. And in his major foreign policy speech Wednesday, there it was right at the top. The real-estate magnate promised to "always put the interests of the American people first." He said: "That will be the foundation of every single decision I will make. 'America first' will be the major and overriding theme of our administration." In fairness to Trump, the world is very different than it was when Nazis ruled Berlin. Historian Ron Radosh told me that Trump was channeling the memory of the isolationists of that era, but he also allowed that Trump "differentiates himself because clearly unlike Lindbergh, he is not an enemy of Jews or the Jewish state." (Though on the substance, Radosh added that he did not think it was "good for Israel to have a president who is so isolationist.") Nonetheless, Trump's Lindbergh-like instincts were apparent in his speech Wednesday. He said he intended to hold NATO allies more accountable to pay a fair share for their defense. If they don't, he said, "the U.S. must be prepared to let them defend themselves." You don't need a history textbook to know what that means. It has been in the headlines since 2008: Russian forces invaded Georgia that year. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. To this day Russia occupies large swaths of both countries. These developments have rightly frightened many U.S. NATO allies, particularly the vulnerable Baltic States that joined the alliance after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Trump also said he hoped to repair relations with Russia because both countries share a common enemy in radical Islam. In this respect, Trump sounds like George W. Bush after 9/11, when he looked into the Russian president's soul, or Sen. Barack Obama on the trail in 2008, when he too promised to reset relations with Russia in the aftermath of its invasion of Georgia. The fact that Trump now promises another reset eight years later is instructive about the chances for success. Trump also channeled Lindbergh in his personal aspersions against President Obama. Lindbergh accused FDR of undermining the national interest in favor of the Jews and the British. Trump says Obama "dislikes our friends and bows to our enemies." Apparently forgetting the period before Iran negotiations when Obama implemented crippling sanctions against the Islamic Republic, Trump said the current president "has treated Iran with tender love and care" and helped make it a "great, great power." For good measure, Trump said, "If President Obama's goal had been to weaken America, he could not have done a better job." In the overheated rhetoric of the last few years, this kind of talk is pretty common. But then Trump undermines his own attack on Obama a few minutes later in his speech when he observes, "Our moments of greatest strength came when politics ended at the water's edge." Someone might want to tell this to Donald Trump. Who knows whether Trump means any of what he said, or whether any of the ideas in his speech would be the basis of his foreign policy as president. As Trump himself said Tuesday evening when asked about a Trump doctrine, "you have to be flexible." But the front-runner ought to be careful. If his political opponents were to attack him in kind, they might point to Trump's long history of business dealings with Moscow, as my colleague Josh Rogin has reported. Perhaps they would ask whether Trump's soft stand on Russia was influenced by his new campaign adviser, Paul Manafort, who also sought real-estate deals with a Moscow-connected billionaire in Ukraine. When you put it like that, America doesn't seem to be first for Trump's foreign policy at all. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg View columnist. SHARE By Noah Feldman The U.S. government claims the right to eavesdrop at will on your email when you're writing to someone who lives abroad. Now it wants to be able to use those emails to convict you of a crime. That's what's happening to Aws Mohammed Younis al-Jayab and he's not the only one. The legal basis is the 2008 Amendment Act to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which says the government may monitor communications from within the U.S. to foreigners abroad, or vice versa, without first obtaining a warrant to authorize the surveillance. No court has yet reviewed the law's constitutionality because until 2013 the government didn't tell anyone that it had been doing this. The Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that no one had legal standing to challenge the law based merely on the speculation that it might be applied to them. Jayab is different. The government can charge him with a crime only by using evidence gathered from his intercepted emails. So it's put him on notice that it intends to rely on material collected without a warrant per the FISA. That gives Jayab standing to challenge the law. Rightfully, Jayab should win, and the details of his case show why. It's one thing for the government to intercept communications with foreigners for intelligence-gathering purposes. I would consider that a close debate. But it's quite another to use those intercepts as evidence at trial. Such use badly erodes our Fourth Amendment protections, especially in an era when so much electronic communication spans the globe and where we move across borders frequently. The alleged facts of Jayab's case are telling. The Sacramento, California, resident came to the U.S. as a refugee from Iraq in 2012. According to the government, while living in Arizona and Wisconsin, he emailed with jihadists in Syria about going there to fight. The emails indicated he had been there before. And sure enough, in 2014, Jayab traveled to Turkey and from there crossed into Syria to fight alongside several groups, allegedly including Ansar al-Islam, a Kurdish jihadi group that has since merged with Islamic State. In theory, Jayab could be charged with material support for terror if it could be proved that he really fought with Ansar al-Islam, a designated terrorist group for purposes of that law. But either the government doesn't want to charge him with that crime for tactical reasons, or it's afraid it doesn't have enough direct evidence to prove it. Instead, the government called Jayab in for an interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after his return to the U.S. in 2014. They asked him whether he'd been a member of a rebel group or supported terror. He said no, and claimed to have done nothing more than visit his grandmother in Turkey on the trip. The government then charged Jayab with the crime of lying to government officials. Its evidence comes from his emails to Syria when he was in the U.S. and responses he received. Obtained under the FISA without a warrant, they are the heart of the government's case. To be sure, in the light of the Paris and Brussels attacks, the U.S. needs some way to lock up potential jihadi terrorists who may have been trained abroad to commit attacks here. But relying on warrantless wiretapping isn't it. There is a reason that warrantless wiretaps usually are inadmissible in court. They count as searches for purposes of the Fourth Amendment. Requiring a warrant before law enforcement is allowed to listen in is a basic element of our modern right to privacy. Once we relax that right by allowing evidence obtained in a warrantless search, there's no easy stopping point. It would seem arbitrary if we could convict one criminal who called an associate outside the U.S., but not another whose associate was inside our borders. Once the former is permitted, we'll start thinking about how to allow the latter. What's more, the Constitution doesn't say that my privacy stops when I am speaking to someone who happens to be outside the U.S. The framers surely wouldn't have exempted letters sent from abroad if they were read within the U.S. The Fourth Amendment provides for the right of "the people" to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. That need not apply to persons outside the U.S. But it should apply to everyone who is here, and we shouldn't lose our privacy rights just because we're talking across borders. It's harder to say with certainty that the government should always be barred from such intercepts when they're made purely for intelligence purposes. Say the government is listening to the phone of someone in Syria and that person gets a call from the U.S. the government shouldn't have to stop listening. But charging a U.S. resident in U.S. court on the basis of warrantless searches of communications while the resident was in the U.S. goes too far. The government should find another way to hold Jayab if he is dangerous, such as charging him with a crime that can be proved without violating his rights and ours. Noah Feldman, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard. After all the news that came out of Facebook's earnings call Wednesday, the social networking giant has hit the zone. Wall Street was pleasantly surprised by Facebook's financial results , while the company also had good news to report about user growth, mobile usage and Instagram. "Facebook is hitting on all cylinders now," said Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group. "Advertising revenue is up an astounding 57 percent year-over-year, with total revenue up 52 percent. Better yet, operating margins improved from 26 percent to 37 percent, leading to 115 percent higher profits at just over $2 billion. Facebook is definitely executing their plan in a big way." Here are five things you should know that came out of Facebook yesterday. 1. The bottom line is looking up Facebook reported in its first-quarter earnings call Wednesday that the company went way beyond Wall Street's expectations. The social network reported revenue for the quarter of $5.38 billion, compared to analysts' expectations of $5.26 billion. "We're also pleased with our business results," Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's co-founder and CEO, said during the conference call with analysts. "Total revenue this quarter grew by 52 percent year-on-year to $5.4 billion, and advertising revenue grew by 57 percent to $5.2 billion." Wall Street analysts were enthused, and the company's stock price jumped to $116.55 a share, up from $108.89 at the previous day's close. "Every once in a while a company gets into that magical zone. Facebook is in that zone," said Jeff Kagan, an independent industry analyst. "This is the nirvana that every company strives for but very few ever hit. This will not last forever, but it could last for several years." 2. Facebook crushes it with mobile Facebook also reported that 82 percent of its advertising revenue in the first quarter came from mobile. That's up 73 percent from the first quarter of 2015. That is a night-and-day difference from how the company had been looking at mobile before Facebook launched its IPO. Four years ago, in its runup to Facebook's IPO, the company called mobile one of its biggest challenges. In an amended filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Facebook said at the time that it didn't know how to monetize users' move from the desktop to a mobile device. Now several years later, Facebook is the mobile player that other companies look to for guidance. "Facebook is killing it in mobile. Why?" asked Olds. "I think it's because their apps, like Instagram and Messenger, are driving huge amounts of traffic for the company and that means big advertising revenue. With their vast number of users, any new application that Faceook brings out is sure to get a fair trial." 3. Facebook users still coming on strong Facebook also reported that its user base grew from 1.59 billion to 1.65 billion, and active monthly users on mobile have reached 1.5 billion. "We started 2016 off well," Zuckerberg said during the earnings call, nothing that 1.09 billion people use Facebook every day. "In recent weeks, we're also consistently seeing more than 1 billion people using Facebook on mobile every day." While the numbers don't show staggering growth, it's still solid growth, which has been so elusive to social rival Twitter. Olds noted that it's impressive for Facebook to continue to grow its user base when it's already so big. "I was surprised Facebook was able to grow users as much as they have in the last year," he added. "It's damned hard to get much growth when you already have 1.59 billion users around the world. Still, they managed to grow, which is a big achievement, particularly when you contrast it to Twitter, which is having trouble growing its user base." Olds credits Facebook with reaching out to younger users with Instagram, while reaching the other age groups with Facebook itself. "It's a great mix," he said. 4. Instagram and its younger users Instagram is the Facebook-owned mobile social network that has grabbed the younger users that have remained so elusive to Facebook itself. Users age 25 and younger aren't as enamored by Facebook as adults, mainly because they don't want to be sharing their photos and updates with their parents, aunts and uncles. By acquiring Instagram, Facebook has solved that issue. "We're also very happy with the way that Instagram is growing, with more than 400 million actives and more than 200,000 businesses advertising every month," Zuckerberg said. "Now we're focused on making the user experience even more engaging. With more content on Instagram all the time, people are currently missing about 70 percent of what's in their feed." Zuckerberg said he intends to fix that issue. "That's why in the first quarter, we started rolling out Feed Ranking to help you see more of the posts that you care about," he added. "This is a long-term effort. But News Feed shows that ranking creates the best and most engaging experiences for our community." Olds said it only makes sense for Facebook to invest in keeping Instagram a popular destination. "Instagram is hugely important to Facebook as it's the vehicle that young users are using the most," he said. "There aren't a lot of challengers to Instagram right now, but I could see Twitter mounting a challenge with Periscope and their set of apps." 5. It costs big bucks to keep Zuckerberg safe In an amended filing with the SEC on Wednesday, Facebook reported that it spends about $5 million a year on security for Zuckerberg at work and also at his homes. His security effort, which includes personnel along with equipment installation and maintenance, cost the company about $12 million between 2013 and 2015. While that might sound like a lot, it's a smart investment, said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy. "Zuckerberg, right now, is inextricably linked to the success of Facebook," Moorhead said. "If anything were to happen to him right now, the stock would plummet in the billions of dollars. Every cent paid for his security is a good expenditure." Kagan noted that with a recent threat from the terrorist group ISIS, it makes even more sense to focus on keeping Zuckerberg safe. "The more powerful Facebook grows, the more of a target they are for the terror community," added Kagan. "So I expect to see them continuing to improve the security around the company and the senior executives." I've been following OpenStack since its inception half a dozen years ago. Back then the fledgling open source cloud operating system was a little project created jointly by Rackspace and NASA. A lot of time, massive amounts of funding and a few different value propositions have gone under the bridge and now OpenStack has its own foundation, huge vendor buy-in and a growing number of production deployments at scale. Perhaps the biggest indicator that OpenStack has come of age was the (admittedly jarring) sight of Gartner analyst Donna Scott standing on stage in the first day's keynote. While Scott's talk missed the mark by a mile (she spoke at length about the Gartner bi-modal model, a hotly contested topic, but her talk was more of a conceptual piece targeted at a CIO audience, completely different to the 7,500 primarily developer-based attendees at the summit), the wiseness or otherwise of having the talk in that setting, and the fact that Gartner was prepared to go on stage and anoint OpenStack as actually a viable product, was a massive achievement for OpenStack Foundation Jonathan Bryce and his team. This is, after all, one project which has been criticized for years for being little more than a science experiment, so an anointing by Gartner must be a satisfying end to that debate. Luckily for the audience, the keynote also featured Boris Renski, the always colorful CMO and co-founder of pure-play OpenStack service provider, Mirantis. The thrust of Renski's talk was that while the world is all ready to suggest that Amazon Web Services, the undisputed king of the public cloud, owns the cloud generally, the revenue that AWS drives, some $10 billion, is tiny in comparison to total IT spend. The crux of Renski's point was that this is very early days and there is still a massive opportunity for other cloud vendors, and other approaches to delivering the cloud. All in all, the keynote was interesting, and it was good to see some customers also on stage. China Mobile, Walmart, the Volkswagen Group and AT&T all got some nice stage time. Many of my analyst colleagues at the event expressed disappointment that there was a lack of technical innovation at the event generally -- I actually disagree with that perspective. I have criticized OpenStack in the past for jumping on every new technology band wagon and failing to focus on delivering a credible and stable core service first. My take from this summit was that the foundation is focusing strongly on building the core robustness of the platform rather than clutching at technology straws. In terms of the newer customer stories on stage, Liveperson was interesting, having changed their monolithic application into 150 discreet microservices running on OpenStack with Docker and Kubernetes on large virtual machines. TCP Cloud demoed its smart city offering that has been implemented in the Czech republic. While it was primarily a story about the Internet of Things, TCP Cloud built on top of OpenStack and also used containers and Kubernetes. Of course there were some interesting technology innovations on show. In particular Alex Polvi, the CEO of CoreOS, a somewhat scattered vendor in the broader container world, demonstrated the jarring named Stackanetes, software that packages the entire OpenStack system into individual containers that can be run on top of bare-metal while being managed with the Kubernetes system. The demo was pretty incredible and both created a far easier deployment route as well as a self-healing approach towards running OpenStack. It did raise some questions, however, and in another post I will touch upon those issues. The core message from Polvi was that OpenStack is simply another application and hence running it on top of Kubernetes which is, after all, all about application management, makes sense. The interesting thing for me about Stackanetes, other than the rocket-science aspects, were that it was, to an extent, an admission by the OpenStack foundation that OpenStack is simply an interim step between different modes of working -- the Foundation was seemingly admitting that cloud-native (i.e. non-virtualized) applications are a big part of the future and hence OpenStack can't be seen as the foundational layer for everything. It is unusual, and somewhat refreshing, to see people admit that there isn't, in fact, one rule to rule them all. Around the conference floor I spoke with other customers -- Glenn Ferguson from Wells Fargo talked about the fact that for his organization, the public cloud was not an option. Rather an OpenStack, private cloud is allowing them to create agility across their legacy and greenfield applications. Wells Fargo has thousands of apps and application development teams with a variety of approaches -- from agile teams using continuous development and integration, through to more conservative teams. For Wells Fargo the important point was to embrace a platform that would work with whatever comes next -- OpenStack is their control plane and provides the role based controls across the organization. Over 20,000 software releases have been cycled through their new, OpenStack-based platform over the past six months. Wells Fargo is just one example, but as Foundation COO Mark Collier said in his keynote, OpenStack is being used by the biggest companies in different sectors, companies that have billions of customers, and millions of employees. That's no longer the realm of a mere science project. LANDER, Wyo. Alpha Natural Resources laid off 37 employees at its two Wyoming coal mines, the company said Wednesday. The reduction, which accounts for 7 percent of Alpha's Wyoming workforce, is the latest in a series of layoffs at Powder River Basin mines. Arch Coal, Peabody Energy and Kiewit Corp. have cut jobs in recent months. Cloud Peak Energy has offered buyouts to veteran employees. Alpha did not disclose how jobs cuts were distributed between its two mines near Gillette, Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte. The move comes as coal companies cut their workforces to match declining production. Output from the region is down by roughly a third over the first three months of the year. "Unfortunately, when production is down as much of it is, you cant have as many workers producing a lot less coal," said Jeremy Sussman, a financial analyst at Clarksons Capital Market. "It is the unfortunate reality hitting every major company in the coal space right now." Alpha has continued to award top company officials millions of dollars in compensation. The bankrupt mining firm's six board members and executive leadership have collected $8.2 million since Alpha filed for Chapter 11 protection in August, according to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. That included nearly $1.8 million in March. A federal bankruptcy judge in January approved the company's plan to pay its executive team up to $12 million in bonuses. That plan is contingent on the company meeting a series of performance benchmarks. Coal faces a series of long-term challenges principally, a dearth of plans for new plants and moves by utilities to shutter older facilities in favor of newer natural gas burning units. But the industry's long-term woes have been exacerbated by a bevy of short-term market factors. A warm winter outside Wyoming contributed to a buildup of coal stockpiles at utilities nationwide, tempering demand and weighing down prices. Natural gas prices have wallowed below $2 for much of 2016. Opal, the national benchmark for natural gas, has averaged $1.80 per million British thermal units in 2016. Powder River Basin coal generally starts to be competitive against gas at $2.50 per mmBtus. Production at Wyoming's 12 Powder River Basin mines was around 63 million tons during the first three months of the year, down from around 88 million during the first quarter of 2015, according to U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration figures. That dynamic has produced a wave of layoffs at Powder River Basin mines. Total employment in the basin was down by roughly 3 percent, or 185 jobs, to 5,195 in the first quarter of 2016, according to federal statistics. But those numbers did not appear to account for a string of mass layoffs at Powder River Basin mines in recent weeks. Arch Coal announced it would cut 230 employees at its Black Thunder Mine on March 31. Peabody Energy eliminated 235 positions the same day at its North Antelope Rochelle Mine. Alpha has continued to operate at a loss since filing for bankruptcy. The company lost $141 million in the first quarter of 2016. It recorded a profit of $68 million during the same time last year. Revenues have continued to slump. They were down to $518 million between January and March, compared to $841 million in the first quarter of 2015. A warm summer or an improvement in natural gas prices could help to alleviate coal's fortunes, Sussman said. "We think in the near term, from a year-over-year production standpoint, the worst is behind us," he said, noting Powder River Basin mines are better placed than their eastern counterparts to quickly increase production if market conditions improve. But, he added, "The key is the workforce has to still be there." The Supreme Court has adopted amendments to a rule to give judges the authority to issue warrants to remotely search computers whose locations are concealed using technology. The proposed move had been criticized by civil rights groups and companies like Google that said it threatened to undermine the privacy rights and computer security of Internet users. The top court has approved changes to the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure , including Rule 41, which with some exceptions prohibits a federal judge from issuing a search warrant outside of the judges district. The change in the rule was proposed by the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Criminal Procedure at the request of the Department of Justice . Remote searches of media or information that have been concealed through technological means may take place anywhere in the world, said Google in a filing to the committee in February last year. It pointed out that a magistrate judge in a court in Texas had denied an application for a Rule 41 warrant to permit U.S. law enforcement agents to hack a computer whose location was unknown, but whose IP address was most recently associated with a country in Southeast Asia. Under the amendments, which comes into effect on Dec. 1 unless Congress passes legislation changing it, a magistrate judge with authority in any district, where activities related to a crime may have occurred, can issue a warrant to use remote access to search computers and other devices and seize or copy electronically stored information located within or outside that district, if the district where the computer or information is located has been concealed through technological means. It provides for a similar warrant in investigations under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which involve protected computers that have been damaged without authorization and are located in five or more districts. This provision could allow investigators to obtain warrants to search a large number of computers in many districts simultaneously, if they are suspected to be part of a botnet or even if they are found to contain some malware or virus, according to critics of the provision. The definition of a damaged computer under the CFAA is very broad and could be interpreted for example to include software infected with unwelcome code, malware or viruses, according to the Google filing. In the wake of the Supreme Court decision, the focus now shifts to Congress. New Americas Open Technology Institute (OTI) has called on legislators to block the changes as they would for the first time explicitly authorize law enforcement to secretly and remotely hack into targeted computers of both suspects and victims alike. Under the proposed rules, the government would now be able to obtain a single warrant to access and search thousands or millions of computers at once; and the vast majority of the affected computers would belong to the victims, not the perpetrators, of a cybercrime, said Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon in a statement on Thursday. Wyden said he planned to introduce legislation shortly to reverse the amendments. U.S. Chief Justice John G. Roberts on Thursday transmitted the amended rules to Congress. A federal judge in Massachusetts recently rejected evidence in a child pornography case that law enforcement obtained after hacking a child porn service on the Tor network, ruling that a judge in Virginia, who issued the warrant, could not authorize the search of property located outside the Eastern District of Virginia. The ruling is likely to give a boost to the FBIs demand for a change to Rule 41. For the second quarter running, Apple executives this week talked up the growth of the company's services category in an attempt to highlight the earnings potential of the devices now in customers' hands. "The services business is powered by our huge installed base of active devices, which crossed 1 billion units earlier this year," CEO Tim Cook said during the Tuesday earnings call with Wall Street. "Those 1 billion-plus active devices are a source of recurring revenue that is growing independent of the unit shipments we report every three months." Cook's comments were an abbreviated version of the argument that Apple's CFO, Luca Maestri, made in January during that month's call about the December 2015 quarter. At the time, Maestri spent significant time delving into services -- a category that included revenue from iTunes, the App Store, AppleCare, iCloud, Apple Pay, licensing and other services -- and trumpeting Apple's ability to earn money from current customers. Although Apple has been breaking out services in its quarterly financial reports for more than a year, January's call was the first time the company beat that segment's drum to Wall Street analysts. "We have built a huge installed base around four platforms, iOS, Mac OS, watchOS and tvOS," Maestri said three months ago. "We have tremendously satisfied and loyal customers who are engaged with our services at a fast-growing rate. All of this provides us with an unparalleled foundation for the future of Apple business." This week, Cook called the services business "huge" and made clear the intended audience for all the talk about the category. "We felt last quarter, and working up to that, that we should pull back the curtain so that people could -- our investors -- could see the services business both in terms of the scale of it and the growth of it" (emphasis added). For the March quarter, Apple's services business generated nearly $6 billion, representing 20% growth over the same quarter in 2015. A chunk of that, however, was a one-time payment of $548 million from Samsung, triggered by a patent lawsuit between the two device giants. Minus Samsung's check, Apple's services revenue grew 11% year over year. Analysts interpreted Apple's attention to services in surprisingly similar ways this month and back in January. "On one hand, it's trying to change the narrative," said Jan Dawson, principal analyst at Jackdaw Research, in a January interview that was never published. "Unlike device sales, which are very unpredictable, services are a very stable, very predictable business." And Apple wanted to make sure everyone heard that. The desire to change the conversation, Dawson said then -- and today in a follow-up interview -- was driven by the fact that Apple knew it was going to be reporting a slump in iPhone sales in 2016 because it would fail to match the mammoth bulge produced by 2014's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the company's first large-screen phone. Dawson's view in January was echoed at the time by Brian Blau of Gartner. Apple wasn't using sleight of hand, but instead simply looking for some good news to report with the bad, the analysts argued. "Apple had to have known about [weaker] iPhone sales and their dependence on the iPhone, and they knew they had to do something," Blau said in January. He speculated that Apple was prepared long ago to trumpet its services revenue but decided to put the discussion in its back pocket for when it needed a diversion. The $6 billion that services generated for the March quarter was significant, putting it in the No. 2 spot behind the iPhone's massive $32.9 billion in sales and trumping the Mac's $5.1 billion revenue stream. But without the Samsung payment factored in, services revenue becomes a less impressive $5.5 billion. For all of Apple's talk about the growth of services, however, neither Dawson or Blau saw the category as more than peripheral to Apple's revenue fortunes. In the March quarter, for example, services accounted for 11.8% of all of the company's revenue, whereas the iPhone accounted for 65%. "Services can never make up the difference," Dawson said today, referring to shortfalls in iPhone revenue. "Services is great, it grows off the installed base, but it's still small and it can't ever change the instability of product sales. Apple and investors have to accept that huge unpredictability. Apple is not a services business. [Services revenue is] small in the grand scheme of things, and it's not big enough to become the narrative." Dawson had a point: The difference in iPhone revenue between 2015's March quarter and this year's was $7.4 billion, which is more than the $6 billion that services brought in and more than seven times the increase in services revenue from 2015's first quarter. Apple's decision to highlight services may have had other purposes, the analysts said. In January, both Dawson and Blau pointed out the likelihood that Cook's touting of services presaged a bigger play in the category. "We may start to see Apple take more ownership of some app content, and maybe acquisitions as well," said Blau. But he thought a video-based service was the most likely, not a big stretch since Apple's interest there has been discussed for years by analysts, pundits and Apple enthusiasts. Dawson echoed Blau today. "They called Apple Music their first subscription business," Dawson said of remarks by Cook on Tuesday, noting that the CEO wouldn't have said as much if he wasn't implying there will be more coming. "Video would be the most obvious." High-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has launched an open-source training "gym" for artificial-intelligence programmers. It's an interesting move for a man who in 2014 said artificial intelligence, or A.I., will pose a threat to the human race. "I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence," Musk said about a year and a half ago during an MIT symposium. "If I were to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably that... with artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon. In all those stories with the guy with the pentagram and the holy water, and he's sure he can control the demon. It doesn't work out." Today, Musk is moving to help programmers use A.I. and machine learning to build smart robots and smart devices. "We're releasing the public beta of OpenAI Gym, a toolkit for developing and comparing reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms," wrote Greg Brockman, OpenAI's CTO, and John Schulman, a scientist working with OpenAI, in a blog post . "We originally built OpenAI Gym as a tool to accelerate our own RL research. We hope it will be just as useful for the broader community." The OpenAI Gym is meant as a tool for programmers to use to teach their intelligent systems better ways to learn and develop more complex reasoning. In short, it's meant to make smart systems smarter. Musk is a co-chair of OpenAI, a $1 billion organization that was unveiled last December as an effort focused on advancing artificial intelligence that will benefit humanity. While Musk has warned of what he sees as the perils of A.I., it's also a technology that he needs for his businesses. Tesla Motors, a U.S. electric car company of which Musk is CEO, uses machine-learning algorithms to enable its autopilot feature to learn and improve with use. Musk is also the CEO and CTO of SpaceX, a commercial space transportation company and aerospace manufacturer. Machine learning and A.I. could both easily play roles in its operations. "The irony is that Musk needs much-improved A.I. to make his businesses automated," said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. "He doesn't hate A.I. He just thinks it should be controlled before it gets too powerful and the machines turn on humans. This announcement very well could be a way for him to keep an eye on everything happening in the space." The OpenAI Gym is made up of a suite of environments, including simulated robots and Atari games, as well as a site for comparing and reproducing results. It's focused on reinforcement learning, a field of machine learning that involves decision-making and motor control. According to OpenAI, reinforcement learning is an important aspect of building intelligent systems because it encompasses any problem that involves making a sequence of decisions. For instance, it could focus on controlling a robot's motors so it's able to run and jump, or enabling a system to make business decisions regarding pricing and inventory management. Two major challenges for developers working with reinforcement learning are the lack of standard environments and the need for better benchmarks. Musk's group is hoping that the OpenAI Gym addresses both of those issues. "I think this could be quite helpful for someone developing smart robots and autonomous devices," Moorhead said. "What Musk is enabling is a way for developers to compare their results. With this, developers can gauge how far they have come or how far they have to go. Nothing beats a competitive environment to motivate developers. It's like a monster truck rally for A.I. programmers." CCSREs 10th anniversary kicks off with debate on capitalism, artist talk Does capitalism work? Who does it work for? Does it have to not work for some in order for it to work for others? These are some of the questions addressed in the first of a series of events commemorating the 10th anniversary of Connecticut Colleges Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity, one of five centers for interdisciplinary scholarship that serves as a hub for researching and teaching race and ethnicity across disciplines. Continuing CCSREs year-long theme of capital, the first day of the three-day celebration featured a faculty debate on inequality, capitalism and racial justice, and an artist talk by Steve Lambert, founder of the Center for Artistic Activism and creator of the public art piece Capitalism Works For Me! At the April 26 debate, Edward Stringham, the Davis Professor of Economic Organizations and Innovation at Trinity College, argued that free markets and entrepreneurship reduce poverty and provide more people access to goods and services, but that government regulation corrupts the free market and impedes equal access to opportunity and wealth. Connecticut College Professor of Economics Edward McKenna countered many of Stringhams points, arguing that the government is merely a reflection of existing power structures and that even well-functioning capitalist systems lead to extraordinary levels of inequality. Also speaking on the panel was Associate Professor of English Courtney Baker, who made connections between capitalism, racism and history. I am always interested in seeing how people approach debates about capitalism. There is usually a mix of emotional reactions and rational arguments and it is interesting to see how these two interact, said Vladimir Chlouba 16. I heard opinions I disagreed with and I heard views I that are closer to mine. Most importantly, I heard views and questions that made me think. The debate added new dimensions to ongoing campus conversations about capitalism, spurred in large part by Lamberts Capitalism Works For Me! art piece, which has been on display in front of the Colleges student center since March 28. Created to look like an old-fashioned scoreboard (with flashing lights), the artwork invites viewers to contemplate their own relationship with capitalism and then vote true or false to the statement Works for me! Since 2011, the piece has been shown in New York Citys Times Square, London and Boston. Once you see it up there, literally in lights, people suddenly start having conversations, Sandy Grande, professor of education and director of the CCSRE, told The Day. As soon as we put it up, we would hear students walk by, and they were like, What does that mean? I dont know, what do you think it means? Theyd go, Absolutely true. And No, it doesnt (work for me). At the artist talk, Lambert told the crowd of students, faculty and alumni that he designed the piece to look like a game in order to reach regular people in a regular way. I like challenging people to be open to new ideas, he said. Look at any of the great artists and they did great things because they expanded the cultural viewpoint at that time. Art, he said, helps expand peoples ideas of what is possible. Culture is an expression and a reflection of power; it narrows ideas of what is possible in the world. Art is differentart doesnt have an ulterior motive. The CCSRE 10th anniversary events continued April 27 with a campus-wide lunch that fostered critical conversations about issues of inequality, race and justice; a student-led teach-in that examined the nexus between pop culture and stereotypes; and a dinner and discussion with trustees and alumni of color on the past, present and future of race relations at the College. The celebration culminated on April 28 with the return of Cornel West, who served as the keynote speaker at the inauguration of the CCSRE 10 years ago. West, who spoke in Palmer Auditorium to a crowd of more than 900 people, is professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary and professor emeritus at Princeton University. West is the author of 20 books, including Race Matters, Democracy Matters and his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. - Amy Levenson '16 contributed to this story. April 29, 2016 Cllr Mike Bird is the Leader of Walsall Council. The forthcoming May elections will be the first real test of electors views on the current Labour Leader and his stance on the many issues that are at the heart of good government. Many voters cast their votes locally based on the performance of national politicians. Here in Walsall we are aiming to capitalise on this issue to win seats that will take us to an overall majority, rather than a minority administration that is Conservative led. We will be reminding the electorate of the mess that Labour made here in Walsall when they assumed control for a period of 10 months after winning a crucial by-election. Our campaigning points include reminding all of the electorate that they have to be less dependent on the state. However, we welcome the two percent increase allowed under Council Tax limits, ring-fenced for the care of our ever-rising elderly population. Conservatives will be advising our voters of the true meaning of the Combined Authority and what the Midlands Engine will bring to the region by way of jobs and prosperity with the recently negotiated devolution deal , although the elected Mayor is still a thorny issue. Our policy of tackling the many contaminated sites within the Borough will allow much needed quality housing to be built on these brownfield sites, while protecting our precious green belt. The virtues of two brand new leisure centres to encourage exercise and well-being will become more evident when these two centres open in June of this year delivered despite the measures of austerity. New sources of income have been instituted by the Council funding a new Primark store and a Co-operative food store, both of which have signed long leases and have been the catalyst for new retail investment which will revitalise the Town Centre and make Walsall a shopping destination. These measures were opposed by Labour because of their lack of vision. We have made significant investment in our parks and open spaces, again encouraging healthy exercise at no cost and we are being congratulated for the quality of our parks as green lungs of the urban town. I am proud to lead my Conservative Group and together we are fulfilling my wishes to make a difference when I was first elected in 1980. Commitment comes at a cost and I thank my entire Group for the inordinate amount of time they have to sacrifice away from their families; without their support my job would be impossible and Labours record of decay would prevail. Now is the time to stand firm on our Conservative principles and together we will win. Iain Dale is Presenter of LBC Drive, Managing Director of Biteback Publishing, a columnist and broadcaster and a former Conservative Parliamentary candidate. Well, that went well then. Barack Obamas visit seems to have turned people marginally against the Remain campaign, with some of the latest batch of polls showing a narrow Leave lead. I cant say I am surprised. Virtually every normal person I have spoken to and by normal I mean someone outside the Westminster village and media bubble has taken great exception to his dire warnings to Britain of the consequences of leaving the EU. One said something along these lines: Have I got this wrong? He says we have a special relationship, yet then goes on to tell us what we should do, and warns that if we dont do as he says well be at the back of the queue. Thats a pretty one-sided special relationship. I couldnt have put it better myself. This was one of those occasions when Leave politicians should have controlled themselves and just laughed it off, rather than speak more in anger than sorrow. Boris went completely OTT in his reaction, and rather played into the hands of those who dont believe he is up to the role of national leader. Sometimes it is least said, soonest mended. Naz Shah was one of the first of the new intake of Labour MPs I interviewed. She struck me as rather refreshing, with an interesting back story. Having beaten George Galloway, she stood out from the crowd. Shes been on my show several times, and each time Ive thought that she would go far. She seemed liked someone with some original ideas and who wouldnt always follow the party line. So when I saw the Facebook posts she had made about Israel before she was elected, I was rather shocked. There has been a lot of debate about whether her remarks were anti-Israeli or anti-Semitic. Theres nothing wrong with making anti-Israeli comments. Im none too keen on Netanyahus government myself, but some people dont seem to know where to draw the line. This seems to be a phenomenon which particularly affects the Left. Sure, we all know that there have been anti-semites in the Conservative Party, but its hard to think of many recent examples of the genre. Jeremy Corbyns problem is that a few people in his party have taken their lead from him and his Shadow Chancellor. Their perceived anti-Israeli views have given licence to those who wish to go further, and believe that there will be no consequences. Corbyn didnt want to punish Shah he was pushed into it. His spokesman even seems to have been briefing that though she wrote those things, she didnt, er, believe them. Work that one out if you will. This was a great opportunity for Corbyn to immediately deliever on John McDonnells promise to take decisive action against anyone in the Labour Party guilty of anti-semitism. He funked it. There may only be a couple of hundred thousand Jewish voters in this country, but many of them live in marginal constituencies. Traditionally, they have voted Labour in large numbers. Its difficult to see why anyone who is Jewish would vote Labour under the current Labour leadership. After two weeks, Vodafone finally sent me a replacement iPhone after mine broke. It would have been just over a week, but their shop in Tunbridge Wells didnt see fit to tell me it was ready for collection, as they had promised they would. Still, I have it back now and its as if my right arm has been stitched back on. To be so addicted to a gadget is truly pathetic, but there you go. There is a growing consensus among political pundits that Sadiq Khan is home and dry and will be the next mayor of London. They are the very same people who assumed that a Tory majority was impossible at the general election. Back in May ,the Conservatives surprised everyone because no one was really aware of the under the radar ground campaign Lynton Crosby had been running. I wonder if history is about to repeat itself. Im certainly not predicting it, but Im not so sure this is as clearcut as everyone is saying. Sometimes its not wise to follow the pundit herd. Just saying This is my last column before the local elections and the regional ones in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. My gut feeling is that Labour are going to do badly in Wales, Scotland and also in the English council elections. If they really do lose seats, as most people predict, this will say an awful lot about the lack of progress under Jeremy Corbyn. Its difficult to predict who will be the gainers in English councils. Could the Liberal Democrats start a mini-revival? Could the Tories even gain seats? Labour is bound to lose a bit of ground in Wales. The story there is likely to be the breakthrough of UKIP, who will win seats in the Assembly, which will feature the return of Neil Hamilton. In Scotland, its possible for Ruth Davidson to break through and overtake Labour to become the main opposition. If that happens (and I have to say Im sceptical) it will be almost as big a story as Zac Goldsmith pulling through. Its going to be quite a 24 hours, with many political consequences both for all the parties and also for some individuals. If Zac loses, what next for him? And the same for Sadiq. But most of all: what impact will the results have on Corbyns leadership? CASPER, Wyo. The Sinclair Refinery in Casper is undergoing one of its most significant overhauls since it opened in 1923 and hiring people by the hundreds in the process. The refinery was shut down for all of April and will remain closed through May, as the company replaces or renovates nearly all of its major equipment including the steam boilers used to power many of the operations, oil storage tanks and crude units that initiate the oil refining process. Refinery Manager Jim Ruble said the upgrades should provide a foundation for another century of production. We believe in operating the refinery in Casper long-term, Ruble said. With the crude units, and boilers, electrical, all that stuff theoretically we should be good for 100 years. While he would not give a cost for the project, Ruble indicated it was substantial. What I can say is that the amount of the investment were putting into the refinery last year and this year exceeds what the current value was, Ruble said. Typically, the refinery does what is called a turnaround every four or five years, to maintain the equipment; however, because this was such an extensive overhaul, it required a significantly larger workforce. We normally employ about 150 permanent employees, and maybe 25 contract employees, on a day-to-day basis, said Ruble. With the turnaround, and the projects that we have going on now, we peaked out at about 2,000. Ruble said additional workers would be needed through the end of the year. Once the turnaround is done towards the end of May, we will go back down to around 300 or 400 to finish those projects out that will be for the remainder of 2016, Ruble said. Meanwhile, the project coincided with the bust in the oil and gas industry, which left many workers unemployed. Ruble said about 50 percent of the additional workforce has been local. Its great for us, we like the local help because theyre used to weather, and stuff like this, Ruble said. Its good for them, a lot of them say, I just lost my job in the oil field, but now I found this. It is a win-win, the hotels wont like that because the locals dont rent rooms, but Ruble noted many of the out-of-state workers do turnarounds for a living, traveling from project to project for six to eight months a year. He said the economic influx has been noted by area businesses, particularly in east Casper. As the downturn continues, lodging tax revenues in Natrona County have dropped 20 percent. The influx of some 1,000 out-of-town workers has helped the local hotels, particularly. At a recent meeting of the Casper area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Director Brook Kreder told Ruble, Thank you very much, we are grateful. The changes were not intended to expand the capacity of the refinery, which uses about 25,000 barrels of oil per day to make 500,000 gallons of gasoline, 400,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and 100,000 gallons of other products such as liquefied petroleum gas and fuel oil, according to Ruble. The new equipment, however, will help reduce environmental impacts and improve the operations. It will absolutely be more efficient, Ruble said. And then our boilers the oldest one is from the 30s currently fire fuel oil (made at the refinery), and the new ones will be firing natural gas, so our emissions from the refinery will go down significantly. The refinery produces some natural gas, but not enough to fully supply the new boiler units. Its more environmentally sound, but its actually less expensive to do it the old way, he said. Ruble also said the improvements will help continue the refinerys safety and environmental compliance record. Were approaching four years without a lost time injury, Ruble said. My management style is to put the plant into the hands of the employees, so they are a part of it, they are the ones running the processes, and thats really good, Ruble added. Our production rates have gone up, our safety records incredible, weve gone over five years without a notice of violation from the DEQ, so its a safe, clean, reliable, efficient plant. Earlier this week, the Remain campaign wheeled out a big gun: Theresa May. One can imagine her being deployed again during the run-up to June 23 during the BBCs big TV debate only two dates before the vote, for example. Or, since the Home Secretarys case for staying in the EU is not quite the same as Downing Streets, George Osborne could be utilised for that occasion instead. David Cameron, the holder of the third great office of state, will presumably not appear, on the broad ground that the Prime Minister should only debate with the Leader of the Opposition. (There is a further complication, in that Jeremy Corbyn may participate himself, in which case he would be placed not on the opposite side of the stage to David Cameron but on the same one. This might not be a look that Downing Street wants to have.) But whatever happens, it is hard to picture the holder of the fourth great office being sent in Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary. This is not simply because he has smoothly travelled the arc from Euro-scepticism (joining Michael Gove in 2013 to say that he would leave the EU as it stands) to Euro-enthusiasm with displaying any sign of discomfort while undertaking the journey. Nor is it just because the Foreign Secretary conceals a keeness of mind he is highly intelligent behind a cautiousness of style which he has honed to perfection. The two biggest factors in the EU referendum campaign to date have been the economy (which is the Chancellors bag, and on which Remain is concentrating) and immigration (which is Mays, and on which Leave is pinning many of its hopes.) Significantly, Barack Obamas intervention was trade-focused. The foreign policy aspect of the choice what would happen to the EU itself were Britain to leave, and to our place in the world have been a poor relation. The Foreign Secretary has not been absent from the debate: he made a major speech in March. However, it was essentially an attack dog exercise, rubbishing the Norway model, the bilateral model and the WTO model, as he put it. That speech will have had its place in the Downing Street grid, and its nature will surely have been decided there. This is a reminder of how foreign policy, under successive governments, has been subsumed into Number Ten the most vivid illustration being the Iraq War. The Libyan intervention and 2013 vote on Syria, two of the most significant and controversial policy initiatives during the last Parliament, were driven from Downing Street. To be sure, William Hague helped to restore the morale and workings of the Foreign Office after its lean years under New Labour. (Now theres someone who would do a fabulous debating job for Remain during that BBC debate.) But the department is palpably not shaping the Governments EU policy. Indeed, the Treasury was poised to take charge at one point: last year, the Prime Minister indicated that the Chancellor would lead the renegotiation. Today, Hammond is in Cuba. Britain and Cuba have outlooks on the world and systems of government that are very different, he remarked on arrival in Havana. You dont say! It would be an exaggeration to say that the Foreign Office now has latitude to form only the parts of foreign policy that Number Ten has little engagement with. But amidst that caricature is a glimpse of truth. SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates straight in your inbox. CASPER, Wyo. Charlie Scott, Wyomings longest-serving state lawmaker, said he is seeking another term in the Senate. My first priority for the next four years will be to present important state services without increasing taxes, Scott, a Republican, said in a statement. The last thing people need in these tough economic times is a tax increase. Scott seeks re-election in Senate District 30, which comprises the Natrona County communities of Bar Nunn, Midwest and Edgerton and includes the Casper neighborhoods of north Casper, Paradise Valley and Oregon Trail. Scott, a Harvard graduate who ranches southwest of Casper, is the powerful chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. He has led the fight in the Senate against Medicaid expansion, a provision of the Affordable Care Act that would extend the Medicaid program to about 20,000 low-income adults. Gov. Matt Mead, also a Republican, urged the Legislature to expand in the 2016 session, saying it would bring the state $268 million over the next two years at a time when the economy is in a downturn due to weaker energy prices and production. Scott argued on the Senate floor in February minutes before the Legislatures upper chamber defeated the measure for the fourth consecutive year that hospitals and doctors would perform more expensive procedures to maximize the money they could get from Medicaid, which reimburses at lower rates than private insurance. He said research shows peoples health doesnt meaningfully improve under Medicaid an argument supporters of expansion say is untrue. Scott said about half of the people who would qualify for expansion currently pay for private insurance. If they canceled their policies, that would hurt insurance. That contention is also disputed. The income limit for a family of three to receive Medicaid under expansion is $532 a week, earnings that make it tough for many to afford insurance. What youve done is create a system that tends to hold people in bondage, Scott said to his colleagues in the Legislature. Bondage, Mr. (Senate) President. Its a welfare bureaucracy of the health department. Scott didnt return a message Thursday to discuss whether his views on Medicaid expansion have changed with the states worsening economy. His statement said the Legislature needs a good education system and should maintain the states favorable business climate to spur economic diversification. He also believes the state needs new outdoor recreational opportunities to make Wyoming an attractive place to live. Scott has championed the creation of a statewide system of bicycle pathways to lure new tourists and provide residents more recreation. Scott, 70, served in the Wyoming House from 1979 to 1982. He has been in the Senate since 1983. Close The cost of pneumonia drugs has urged Doctors Without Borders to protest against the pharmaceutical companies that hold the pneumonia vaccine patent rights. In order to show their disagreement, the representatives led a quiet march through midtown Manhattan and delivered a crib of flowers indicating the deaths per day caused by pneumonia. About 2500 flowers in a crib were taken to Pfizer headquarters in Manhattan by a group of 70 people representing Doctors Without Borders. The flowers were intended to be understood as paying tribute to the coffins of 2500 children that die of pneumonia every day. About 370,000 people from 170 countries had signed a petition for the vaccine patent holders Pfizer Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC, to cut the cost of the vaccine specific for pneumonia from $10 to $5 per child. The crib inscribed of names of all the petitioners were handed to Pfizer representatives instead of the signed petition. The organizers also noted that tens of hundreds of people will sign the petition on Wednesday. "It makes me sad when children die for reasons beyond our control, and it makes me angry when they die from diseases that are treatable or preventable," said Deane Marchbein, the president of the U.S. board of directors for Doctors Without Borders, according to Crain's New york. Kate Elder, Doctors Without Borders' vaccines policy advisor said that a round of pneumonia vaccination costs $450 in the US. Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders spokesman Francois Servranckx said the reduction in price would save lives of many children around the world since one million pneumonia deaths are recorded every year. The health advocates also emphasized the importance of cost reduction in drugs delivered to countries that struggle economically. "Pfizer understands the importance of making vaccines available to as many people as possible," the company said in a statement, as reported by US News. Prevenar 13 is one of the most complex biologics ever developed and it takes 2.5 years to make a single dose. We continue to help address humanitarian crises through donations of Prevenar 13 to humanitarian organizations and are in active discussions with additional humanitarian organizations to determine if more supply is needed," it said. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Close It is time for redheads to rejoice as a recent study has reported that people with redhead and related skin type look younger than their age because of their genes. The researchers have also discovered the gene that is partly responsible for this trait. Dutch scientists have discovered a variant of the gene named MC1R which reportedly contributes to the redhead and the fair skin few westerners have. Scientists have also noted that variant MC1R gene which is responsible for the redhead is the one that makes people look younger than their age. For the purpose of the study researchers from Erasmus University in Rotterdam included about 2700 Dutch Europeans that had redhead and fair skin. After detailed analyzes of the study participants, the investigators came to a conclusion that the MC1R variant gene present in the subjects is the reason behind their skin color and redhead. They also noted that the gene variant makes redhead look two years younger for their age. Prof Dr Manfred Kayser, who co-wrote the study said that a gene for explaining age and skin color related issues is studied for the first ever time. He also noted that though looking young is desired by everyone, people's body and health have a role to play in their appearance. "The association between these variants and perceived age wasn't influenced by age, sex, skin colour or sun damage," said Kayser, noted Stuff. "Although MC1R also affects red hair and pale skin, the association between these variants and perceived age wasn't influenced by skin colour or sun damage. Hence, its role in perceived age is independent of its role in pigmentation," Kayser explained. According to the finding redheads look younger because they could be ageing slower than their age which also means that they could be healthier than their non-redhead counterparts. Kayser noted that the study shed light on investigation the association of other biological factors that influences ageing. "The perception of age is one of the best and most exciting ways to measure how well people are ageing, which we hope will lead to further breakthroughs in health and ageing research in the near future," said Dr David Gunn, of Unilever, which participated in the study, reported The New Indian Express. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Anti-Mining Activist Deba Ranjan Sarangi Speaks Out By Countercurrents.org 29 April, 2016 Countercurrents.org Deba Ranjan Sarangi was arrested on March 18, 2016, by plainclothes policemen from the Kucheipadar village of Rayagada District, Odisha. Debaranjan was in Kucheipadar to attend a funderal ceremony of one of his friends father. He was arrested with a non-bailable warrant issued by the court of JMFC, Kashippur in pursuance of a case registered in Tikri police station of Rayagada district in 2005, when Debaranjan was actively involved in the struggle of the Adivasis in Kashipur to protect their lands from the invasion of the bauxite mining companies. Deba Ranjan Sarangi has been a consistent and passionate voice against injustice both within and outside Odisha. As a writer, film maker and human rights activist, he has highlighted and critiqued policies of destructive development, unbridled mining practices, displacement, police impunity, atrocities on Dalits, Adivasi issues , growth of communal fascism in Odisha, violence on women and farmers suicide in the context of acute agrarian crisis. Deba Ranjan Sarangi is also a member of Ganantrik Adhilkar Surakya Sangathan (GASS). His films include: 1. At the Crossroads, 2. The Conflict: Whose Loss Whose Gain, 3. From hindu to Hindutva, 4. Visit to Basaguda. After he was released on bail Countercurrents.org conducted an Email interview with him. Countercurrents: What was the reason for your abrupt arrest? The warrant against you was issued in 2005. Why did they arrest you in a funeral function so abruptly for a long standing warrant? Do you see a political motive in the arrest? Deba Ranjan Sarangi: Definitely a political motive is there. It was an operation of police of two districts like Malkangiri and Rayagada. It is true that warrants were issued in 2005. During the days of Kashipur anti-bauxite mining struggle against Aditya Birla, FIRs were written in the police stations. In none of the cases accused ever were informed or proper investigation by the police were ever happening. During 2005-07 many of our activists, in hundreds, were arrested and spent months or more than a year in jail for simple charges of 506(criminal intimidation), 323(causing hurt), 347(wrongful confinement), 147(rioting), 149(unlawful assembly) of IPC. Had I been caught during that time I would have been in jail for some months without any fault or crime. Since 1950s, it has been a practice that the police often write FIRs to implicate activists. Here,Indian Penal Code (1860)has been a good weapon to vitiate the peoples movement. Since independence, all most all regional governments in many parts of India have succeeded on foisting false cases against the movement activists to suppress the movement, either of workers or peasants. Each and every big Indian Corporates we see today have such a black history of (mis)using police, administration and politicians to win over the aggrieved community. This is why the IPC and Police Act of British regimes are still operational even today. For last few years we are seeing fake encounters and illegal arrests of those tribals in southern part Odisha in which Kashipur also comes. As part of human rights movement I became part of several fact findings and filing petitions condemning such deaths and arrests. I again came under scanner by the government. During this time of anti-naxal operation all these governments have no minimum patience to digest any dissenting tone. They have gathered enough paramilitary forces, intelligence wings and experts not only to counter naxals/Maoists but also to others who are critical of the government policies. Even on the day of arrest I was not informed about the charges. In subsequent days when I demanded to get FIRs and charge sheets as my fundamental rights then only I was provided. CC: Give us a brief against your case Deba: There are five criminal cases are against me. All these cases are sub judice now. But I can say that in these cases at least I have not seen faces of the complainants. I dont know them even by name. But common criminal charges are of 506, 323, 347 of IPC have been foisted. Rayagada police had not done minimum investigation about name of my father and actual address but they had included me in 5 criminal cases with others. Nearly 50 such criminal cases were registered against 500 people during the time of 2005-07. In some cases, judgments have already come and those were arrested earlier had been acquitted. The court did not say to compensate those activists who were put in jail for months in same cases in which I have been charged. Even our judicial system at lower level never says a word against those police officers or the government officials for harassing a citizen intentionally. Though court judgments in many cases in Kashipurhas favoured the tribals but in none of the cases guilty police officers and company officials have been punished for false FIRs. In my case the trial would start again. CC: Is the bail conditional? If so what are the conditions? Deba: Yes, this bail is conditional. I have to appear before the District Magistrate personally on each date. So, for that I have to travel 400km from my home town to Rayagada whenever the Court directs. CC: How did they treat you in jail? Deba: Jails are separate from direct control of the police. It has different rules and regulations. The jail authorities treated me like any other prisoner. I was happy with that. My co-prisoners were beautiful. Most of them are from poor tribals and dalit families who have been falsely implicated due to faulty investigation by the police. Had police investigation been proper one fourth of them would not have been in jail. In India police takes 3 to 4 months to file the charge sheet and Final Forms. During that time the accused would be in jail and the police would gather evidence to strengthen the cases. Money and influences here matters a lot. Only when the charge sheet comes the trial would start. Our legal system never feels sorry before the accused for a prolonged trial. It has no time limit even. It can continue for months and years. These poor prisoners dont have money to apply for bail. The Supreme Court should at least simplify the bail procedures and should make it free from clutches of the advocates. I helped 5/6 prisoners in writing bail petitions and had insisted them to present the same before the magistrate through the Superintendent of jail for bail. All of them have already spent 2-3 years without committing any crimes. I will write my prison experiences and about our legal system in another article later on. On the day of my release my co-prisoners of my ward did a farewell meeting. They sat for two hours and many of them said many things about me on what they had observed and what I had discussed with them during that month. At the end they gathered whatever fruits they had and we all ate. I will never forget it. CC: A false case was slapped on you last year. Now this arrest, do you think that Odisha state is targeting you personally? Deba: The Odisha government is in fear of human rights movements and fears human rights activists including every demand for protecting human rights and social justice. The government knows well that in this era of post-reforms they can not fulfill promises they had given and they cant go towards social justice. We are the people who often remind a government to protect human rights of every person and pressurise the government to work for social justice. In the past the government has targeted many of such activists in different ways including surveillance, detention and arrest. In such a series my arrest is a recent phenomenon only. CC: Why do you oppose mining in Odisha? Deba: I have said it several times that in these 60 years of development in independent India we have done sufficient damage to the community and the ecology. Instead of copying the principles of the World Bank, IMF and fulfilling requirements of CII the policy makers should review our development policy and find our own way of development. For example, I oppose big dams. In India it was started in 40s. In independent India, the ruling class accepted the same big-dam model as our development they used police force to vacate farmers. Our rivers are big and we are in a tropical climate. We are getting enough sunlight. Our model for generating power and providing irrigation should have been different from the European model of development. But the ruling congress tried to centralize the system of supplying power and water so that they could generate revenue as well as distribute both power and water according to their wishes. This model from Europe was copied here but we claimed ourselves as independent. Why there are aluminium plants of Aditya Birla (son of GD Birla) near to every dam like in Hirakud dam (Odisha) and Rihand Dam (border of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh)?Now they are anxious to complete the Polavaram Dam which would cause much more damage than any other dams had ever done. The Indian ruling class did the same in case of mining. Now a days steel has lost its market and aluminium is replacing steel. So, all corporate houses and international agencies are after bauxite. There is absolutely no research on how bauxite preserves rain water and why in each and every bauxite-hilly areas streams are perennial. But our research is on how far aluminium would be better than steel and how to extract aluminium on a faster way from bauxite. This is capitalist development. CC: Why is the Odisha government promoting mining in the state? Deba: The political Party runs the government. The Party wants black money to run its campaigns. Earlier businessmen of forest produces, liquor barons, small mine owners and rice mill owners were richer people than any ruling party office-bearers. So, they were financing the Party. Now the ministers and district presidents have gathered wealth of that level. They are not aspiring much from above business people. But ministers and party office bearers are inferior to the mining corporates. Now mining corporates are of first interest for the government. But the party government has not left rice mill owners. That nexus is one of the reasons behind growing farmer suicide in the state. CC: Do you think that there is an alternative to mining as a developmental model for Odisha? Deba: Definitely. One should reverse definition of development. Instead of GDP growth social and economic justice should be the primary. Then things will be clearer. Why we should go for mass production when our resources are limited? How long would we do that? Even in case of agriculture, green revolution was meant for huge production. It did not consider condition of the earth and our climate. It forced the earth to produce more. Now a days our fields are barren. Same thing is happening in case of mining. If one goes to any mining area one would see how head of those hills have been caught like head of an animal and a big hole has been made for extracting the intestines of our mother earth. Blood is spilled everywhere in the process . One would also see there how much devastation human beings could do in the name of development. All these extractions of ore are happening using brutal force because even after so many decades local community is not happy. If we consider that mining is for development then why illegal mining is everywhere? Shah Commission was set up by the Supreme Court of India to enquire about such illegal mining in Odisha and Karnataka. What happened to its findings? In this short interview it is difficult to explain everything. But it is true that these Corporates and the government have created enough intellectuals, writers, journalists and activists in support of mining and are giving so much awards and fellowships that in coming days it would be more difficult to criticize present development. CC: There are reports of many physical attacks, false cases and intimidation by state police and mining company goons on social activists in Odisha. Why is this happening? Deba: We are not new to such attacks. These big corporates have taken help of goons, both the government as well as of the private, to spread fear among the resisting communities because, the government and the Companies fear unity of local community. These corporates fear us. Often they brand us as outsiders and anti-development. Even after that local community protects us. That becomes point of anger for the agents of the Company and they use all methods to spread fear among the activists. So, they are attacking. All these are sponsored efforts. I also have been attacked. Recently I was also gheraoed by such supporters of NALCO mining at Pattangi area in Koraput district in February, 2016 when I was there on a fact finding visit. Here the police support such mischievous actions. CC: There were many instances of police firing on people resisting mining in their villages which resulted in the deaths of several people in the past decades in Odisha. Has the resistance subsided or is it still thriving? Deba: Just one such police firing or one such arrest has never become a reason of failure of a struggle. The government knows it. So it goes for series of action in different phases to suppress a struggle. Earlier they were accusing us as anti-development. Now a new weapon has come like anti-nationals. The police are often threatening activists to book under UAPA if they oppose mining. Even after that activists of Kashipur struggle are going to Niyamgiri and other areas wherever the government starts giving mining lease to Vedanta. In Kashipur the resentment against Aditya Birla bauxite mining project is there. It could turn into a movement at anytime. CC: If we take Kashipur struggle in which you were actively involved for instance, while Aditya Birla Hindalco Alumina Company is in construction stage , you are put in jail and fighting your case. Do you think that you lost the struggle, and the corporates have won? Deba: The Kashpur struggle went through different such phases of repression. In 2000 police fired and three tribals died at Maikanch. People took time and re-gathered strength. Enough support came from outside. KP Sasi has brought it in his doc film Development at gun point and Meghnath has done same in his film Bikash Bandhukki Nal se Beheti he. During 2005-07, again the government went on for illegal arrest, detention, picking up activists from river side and road side, continuous lathicharge and sealing off of the area. That continued for three years and every other day we were listening of arrest at one part then lathicharge at another place. I am witness of several such incidents in Kashipur - how a government could behave with its own people for helping outside corporates. Several organizations like PUDR, PUCL, INSAF and HRLN have brought out report condemning such state repression. Several writers including Arundhati Roy have written articles and Vinod Raj made a doc film named Mahua Memoirs highlighting such repression in Kashipur. The Company would not have succeeded had not they gone for sponsoring few members of the community and engaging them in inner fighting. This was the years of 2009-11. The local community got divided into pro-company and anti-company. This was most shocking time. We failed to settle the conflict. I am witness to such conflicts. During that time I was making documentary film. After my film on Kandhamal anti-Christian communal violence I did the second one titled The Conflict (2010) on such subject for a reason that the world should know real work of these Corporates. Dividing the community between pro-company and anti-company and engaging them in-fighting were practiced also in Kaling Nagar (Tata) and Dhinkia (POSCO). Later I came to know that it has become a subject for the MBA students how to manage the community. In Kashipur, the government also brought allegation of Maoists and did encounter and arrests in the year of 2012-13. My new documentary film At the Crossroads speaks about such incidents in Kashipur and Niyamgiri area also. This series of repression in different phases broke our backbone. This also caused the Aditya Birlas success. Still resentment is there and at any time it could turn into a movement against the Company. CC: There are also positive news coming from Odisha which signal victory for peoples struggle. South Korean steel giant POSCO is withdrawing from their project in Jagatsingpur district. Do you think that a peoples victory still possible in Kashipur? Deba: I often think so. It is interesting in part of Kashipur that there was no MOU signed between such foreign companies and Odisha government. In 1993 when this process started Biju Patnaik was the Chief Minister. During that time bauxite mining was opened up for the first time for foreign companies as part of LPG plan of Narasimha Rao Congress government. Hydro of Norway, Alcan of Canada and Tata and Indal of India formed this Utkal Alumina International Limited in 1993. Odisha government gave them unconditional invitation. But people resisted. Interestingly the UAIL ,now owned by Aditya Birla group, has never done any Public Hearings. Samata Judgement and PESA were not applied here.Still then we filed a case under PESA in Odisha High Court. The case came twice upto to the final stage. But in both the occasions the judges left the bench without giving any judgment. The case is still pending before the Odisha High Court. CC: As a social activist what is your advice to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take majority of the people of Odisha out of poverty? Deba: The government should bow down before the demands of the people and cancel all MOUs with big corporates. The government should make its all functionaries including the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary accountable before public. They should be answerable for each and every plan they are adopting. Prior to that they should invite free discussion and should face legal battle when it fails. That will be a real test for the present government. This government has been ruling the state for last 17 years. They should have enough courage to face the questions from the community. Now the government of Odisha has started Aahar programe, giving a day meal in few towns at Rs 5/kg. Money is coming from Chief Ministers Relief Fund. The corporates like Vedanta, Tata and others are donating money to the Relief Fund and the government is diverting same for Aahar program. The Panchayat election in Odisha is around. In the long run, who will benefit - people or corporates? when we question the authorities, instead of answering us why are they taking help of the police and paramilitary forces to silence us? None of the government is interested to mitigate poverty, neither in Odisha nor in any state of India, nor even the Central government. They know they cant do it. Specifically in the age of economic reform it has become a distant dream. It is causing more poverty than solving the economic crisis. So, all these governments want to make money for their Party people out of cheap slogans against poverty and to come to power again by giving such foolish slogans of India Shining or sabke Saat Sabke Bikash. Closing Manus Islands Detention Centre By Dr. Binoy Kampmark 29 April, 2016 Countercurrents.org It was considered by the Australian Human Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs to be inevitable and logical. The indefinite detention of 850 refugees and asylum seekers in the Manus Island Detention Centre, a large warehouse for humans seeking refuge from persecution, has been deemed illegal by the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court. Papua New Guineas Prime Minister, Peter ONeill, has taken the next step in attempting to close down the processing centre. An Australian Labor government created the centre, but those associated with it claim that it was not intended to be open for such a duration. The shibboleth of offshore refugee processing persists on both sides of the aisle in Canberra, making any direct criticism of the camp system incidental and irrelevant. To expect a constructive response, to that end, would have been too much. Shadow immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, has thrown the rhetoric of saving human lives at sea back at the government. What will happen after the closure? Why arent Australian officials converging in desperation upon the facility to shore it up? The reasons for an imminent closure are simple. Unlike Australia, the PNG constitution contains human rights provisions specific to liberties of the subject. The Australian High Court has proven reluctant to imply any such provisions, a situation which has permitted indefinite detention regimes to flourish. In contrast, the PNG provisions speak against holding people on the basis of unlawful entry into the country, or lawful removal of a person from the country, or the process of fulfilling either purpose. Amendments passed in 2014 effectively qualifying this could only be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society having a proper respect for the rights and dignity of mankind. The Supreme Court remained unconvinced. The decision has placed the fate of the detainees in an absurd state. The Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has decided to lob the issue back to PNG authorities, claiming that he had anticipated this move all along. (How such a keystone copper could have anticipated the deliberations of judges of a supreme court in another country is anybodys guess.) Having arranged to dump human cargo on Manus Island, with PNG connivance, the Australian federal government now insists that the 850 asylum seekers and refugees are their responsibility. The Memorandum of Understanding is fairly clear, and thats understood by both sides. The nature of this understanding entails that the detainees, once they are found to be owed protection that is, theyre found to be refugees then they settle in PNG. The monstrosity of expecting designated refugees to be settled in PNG has become something of a running joke. As with all memorandums of understanding, what is understood differs depending on the party. The PNG High Commissioner to Australia, Charles Lepani, disagrees with Duttons dismissive approach, arguing that the Memorandum only extended to those refugees who decided to settle in the country. Those who are found to be legal refugees, we invite them to stay in Papua New Guinea, to be part of our community but if they refuse, we cannot force them. Such sober observation was complemented by Labor MP Melissa Clarkes observations that international law made Australia responsible for the human cargo it so unceremoniously dumped on PNG. The resettlement program in PNG has hardly been a stellar success. Everything in it suggests a grizzly failure. In a sharp attack of Stockholm syndrome, some refugees have even wished to return to the camp centre after release. Yaser Afshar, for one, was sent to Lae to take up a carpentry apprenticeship. Feeling far more suited for a job in hospitality and catering services, but finding no support from the PNG authorities to pursue such an aim, he purchased a ticket to return to Manus. He has been refused readmission. The hunt is thus on to find room at other centres. A rancid rumour is being fed through the channels that Nauru might receive some of the detainees. Dutton himself wishes to consider other options on Manus in what would amount to a reconversion. I think there is an opportunity for the detention centre to remain in place in a different form, perhaps an open centre arrangement. Such figures are slow to learn. Christmas Island has been suggested, an option Dutton would rather not embrace. With characteristic moral myopia, the minister has suggested that doing so would encourage greater movement to Australia. That would be a green light for people smugglers you would have drownings at sea. Everything is stacked, in logic and principle, against the camp system. Far from being misty-eyed about such immigration policy, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has cautioned against, much well informed criticism about this anti-refugee leviathan is possible. In legal terms it has been found to be wanting as an affront to liberties. In terms of safety, the camps have been abysmal failures. In budgetary terms, the Australian Parliamentary Budget Office has argued that closing offshore detention centres would save the tax payer to around $2.47 billion over the 2015-6 budget. Turnbull has decided to give the detainees no reassurance, insisting that they will not be resettled in Australia. The costly exercise of running such camps will continue, though the entire program risks, in the most necessary sense, imploding. This is image making of the worse sort, and respective Australian governments are bound to continue this sham in some form. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com Changing Nature And Character Of The Indian State In The Post Liberalization Era; State's Responses Towards The People's Movements In Koodankulam And Jaitapur By Ajmal Khan A.T 29 April, 2016 Countercurrents.org The nature and character of the Indian state has been getting much attention in context of economic liberalization and Globalisation. The evolution from a colonial state for more than hundred years and later to an established liberal democratic state which offered welfare for the maximum possible number of thousand of people who did not have means to meet their two ends. Nehruvian imagination of liberal socialism and state led development started gripping up for quite a while, however after about more than half a century of being a neo- colonial state, Indian state envisaged for a rapid liberalization of economy and integration to the rest of the global market economy. This led massive development projects and pogrammes coming in the various regions of the country which not only displaced vulnerable and local population but also cut down them from their life and livelihoods. This article is looking at the two prominent social movements which are emerged in two different contexts against setting up nuclear reactors, and try to make sense of the changing nature and charterer of the Indian state. State has been at the center of discourses from the time when national states emerged to the modern world. Every state is a biodiversity of socio-economic, political and other formations. Theorization around the Indian state has also attracted scholarship in political sciences and other disciplines from the early inception of the Indian state. The growth from being a colonial state for more than a century and then having an established democratic state with a written constitution and a federal form of government which promised welfare for the millions of Indians who does not have food to eat and cloth to wear and shelter to stay1, without no radical or fundamental changes either in economy or society. It has been more than six decades now since this transfer of power has taken place, over these years the state's nature and character have changed according to the changes on the other socio-economic and political and international dynamics. The nature and character of the Indian state has been deliberated in the literature extensively. Largely, the literature on Indian state has shown two trends of looking at it, first the state as a system and then state as an idea, accordingly the literature can be categorized into these. There are three sets of scholars who understand the character of the state through the study of state systems. The first group are the scholars who took a state-centric view. Kohli (1987) Bardhan (1987) Vanaik (1990) Rudolphs (1987) and Varshney (1995) all see the state as having a sort of autonomous existence, albeit also constrained by dominant interests of various types. The second set of scholars study the state system from the society-centric perspective, this perspective seeks to analyses and reflect on the crisis in the Indian state. One of the prominent one in this category is Kohli (1990) who sees the crisis in the centralization and monopolization of political parties and state institutions by political elite thereby undermining essential features of liberal democracy, prominent others in this tradition are Saberwal (1996) Roy (2006) and Khilnani (1998). The third set is the section who looked at state system as anthropologically which largely documented the local interaction between the state's different forms and the people Gupta (1995) is one of the prominent in the tradition. There are other number of approaches, academics as well as political activist who have looked at the Indian state and interpreted the nature and character of the Indian state. While few approaches to look at the nature of Indian state that are most important here are liberal democracy approach which emphasis on the institution and processes as the key to understanding the state and political power where as the Marxist theorists state political economy is the vital factor, they have also looked at the class character of the state as well as the relations of production that is dominant in the economy and society within. The literature on the nature and characteristic of the Indian state is as wast as well as very strongly contested area, while the constitution of India declares that Indian is as a sovereign socialist democratic republic, further it also envisages the directive principles of state policy which paved the guidelines for the policy formulations in order to have a just distribution of the resource within the country. However the nature of Indian state has been described by semi- colonial, bourgeoisie, semi feudal and semi colonial state, Bhramanic, Hindu, Comprador bourgeoisie, patriarchal and much more according to the schools of thought and the authors. However one should not get into the trap of not capturing the real nature and character of the state for the purpose that is ahead to also establish the changes that have taken place over the period of time. In the recent history economic liberalization has been of the very strong economic and socio-political force around which debates on how the state's role has been changing is deliberated and debated upon. Nature and character of the Indian state To understand the nature of the contemporary Indian state, its also important to look the state from its historical evolution from the pre-colonial, colonial period and then come to the post colonial or the neo-colonial Indian state. European capitalism had fully penetrated to India once the whole Indian subcontinent became under the rule of British and other European powers, by primitive accumulation and formation of the capitalist production relations was one the characteristic of this phase2. The surplus that was extracted from India was invested outside India thus capitalism did not get much acceleration to grow during this period, however after the first world war there were examples of significant domestic developments, the Indian capitalist class started growing and they had its gestation in a laboratory of economic change, peculiar to itself imposed by colonial power (Satyamurthy 1994). The capitalist development in India was a later development in comparison with the other advanced capitalist countries, while they struggled against the imperialism for control over the domestic market for which they negotiated for the transfer of power without much disturbances in the structural linkages that were existed. Later, after the great depression and other crises faced by British imperialism also paved way for the growth of the domestic capitalism in India. While they were initially supporting the freedom movement but later Indian capitalist acquired great say within the movement by getting closer to the movement looking at the prospectus of post colonial country which will industrialize by the planned development that will benefit for their domestic growth. Finlay this coalition translated during 1944 as Bombay plan which envisaged for doubling per capita income in fifteen years, one of the striking feature of the plan was the acceptance of state ownership and management without any radical changes in the relations of production. There is much better analysis on the post colonial states in the third world in relation to the world capitalist system, even after independence ex-colonies continued to be periphery of capitalist world system (Amin 1977) the native bourgeoisie of these peripheral capitalist countries was structurally implicated in the process of mutual re enforcement between international specialization and unequal international exchange. There is also argument of subordinate peripheral capitalism in the post independence India (Hamza 1980) later the discourses on the mode of production and dominant mode of production opened critical question about the nature of Indian state. While Utsa Patnaik argued that the specificity of the colonial system marked it off from the capitalist mode of production of the core countries. However, the British imperialism have preserved as well as destroyed the conditions of India's pre capitalist economies it accelerated as well as retarded the development of capitalism in India3. Hamza alavi argues that, the imperial capital brought about a internal dis articulation of India's pre colonial pre capitalist economy and external articulation of it into a world wide structure of imperialism. However, there was also argument of a more power full state with indigenous bourgeoisies with more autonomy from the foreign capital where two dominant class got prominence in the social formation such as agrarian bourgeoisies or rich farmers capitalist farmer class and industrial bourgeoisies supported by big capital4. The analysis on the class structure in India later comes from Bardhan who argues that, the industrial class as the principal beneficiaries of the state policies in India, much of what was implemented during this period was with support of this class such as the policy of import substituting industrialization, trade restrictions which will provide a protected domestic market. He argues that, the state should be seen as an autonomous actor, and go on saying the state has accumulated powers of direct ownership and control of the economy to an extent unparalleled in Indian history both in the spheres of circulation and of production directly manufacturing much of the capital goods owning more than 60 per cent of all productive capital in Industrial sector however, the autonomy of the state that he argues as is reflected more often in the regulatory role than the developmental role, he goes on saying the plurality of these constraints and the complexity of the their mutual interaction in a noisy open polity have generated pressure which have seriously interfered with the accumulation and management functions of the public economy. As the consequences the autonomy of Indian state is reflected more often in its regulatory(and hence patronage dispensing) than the development role(Bardhan 1984). However, the state control was primarily meant to create conditions for rapid development of capitalism and to prevent the excessive concentration and monopoly of economic power, the policy perspectives that India followed after the independence also validates this. The economic planning, especially the five year plans tried for an economic development where public sector was assigned a central role. However, Indian economy went though huge crises and turbulence during the three decades of the planning period. In the late 1950s a situation was created where foreign agencies and governments could control the economy directly out of foreign exchange crisis and other issues that economy was undergoing, this primarily created opportunity for IMF to come in there policy prescriptions to the economy paved the initial foundation stone of liberalization, further the emergency during Indira Gandhi regime in 1970s was designed to further favor Indian and foreign monopoly capital without solving the structural problems in the country. Later, the open policies in 1980s witnessed the major steps which altered the political economy of Indian state like, de-regulation of industries, decontrol of prices, liberalization of imports, tax reductions, reducing the welfare and social spendings and increased in deficit spendings. This is also the time India started being more integrated to the world capitalist system and responding to the fluctuations that were taking place in the world capitalist system. Indian State under the liberalization Indian economy and society have witnessed for the large scale liberalization, privatization as part of the Globalisation policies which was started to adopt in the late 1980's and then accelerated during the 1990's. The most important policy changes that were adopted by the Indian state were most of the public sector undertakings were sold to the private players, licensing was liberalized for the industries, actively encouraging foreign direct investments in across the sectors, free flow of goods, services, technology, labor and capital was encouraged and promoted across the borders, environmental and other clearances were liberalized, Special Economic Zones and private economic arias were being set up, large multi national corporations were given land and other exemptions to operate not even considering the entitlements of the Indigenous and other local populations. One of the most important change that this period attracted was projecting national development of the countries purely in terms of GDP, the Gross Domestic Product of the country for which a new bread of economist have also helped. Now, this made far reaching consequences to the Indian economy, society and polity alike. Last three decades where the decades of liberalization where state slowly withdrawn from its basic services like health, education and free market takes up the traditional roles which were suppose to be carried out by the state, state's economic policies started to get influenced hugely by the international institutions like IMF and World Bank to which states are depended to on various ways. There are contestation about how the nature and character of the Indian state is changing after the liberalization, what is need to be looked at is how the political, economic entity shows the trend over a period of time as the result of various policy and other steps which were adopted in India as part of the liberalization project. One of the traditional argument (Susan 1996) about the state in the post liberalization era is of the shrinking role of state, the vacuum left by this shrinking role of state is taken over by the non state actors, especially national and multi national corporations, international organizations, subnational groups, non governmental organizations and other activist groups. However, there is also a section which argue of the increasing importance and the centrality of the state, Anne marine argues that, the state is not disappearing its only disaggregating into its component institutions5, the liberalization has been rather enabling process for the states where a open economy marked by free trade and capital mobility, markets are most effectively managed by rules based regimes undergirded by sovereign power. The arrival of the market is not the withdrawal of the state but beginning of altering the roles of the state. When we come to the Indian story, from Independence in 1947 till 1991, the state occupied the so called commanding heights of the economy, boldly claiming that only it could shoulder the burdens of the countrys development challenges. In the end, an earnestly activist state intervention in the economy not only meant that the central officialdom controlled economic interactions at all levels through a pervasive system of regulations, bureaucratic controls, subsidies and administrative fiats, it also meant a severely restricted role for markets and private enterprise6. even after the liberalization times the state has not hollowed out but rather adapted to the exigencies of Globalisation or more closely, to global capitalism. Bardhan put it as cynics may even argue that the retreat of the state, implied by economic reform, is now more acceptable to the upper classes and castes, not only because the regulatory and interventionist State has become too burdensome for the Indian economy, but also because these classes and castes are now losing their control over state power in the face of the emerging hordes of lower castes, and thus opting for greener pastures in the private sector (and abroad)7, the complex nature of the emerging powers and loosing out of the traditional dominance that propertied class has been one of the striking feature that as he emphasis on. At the same time Kohli by using the case studies of other countries from the developing world suggests that, from 1980 the Indian state decisively moved in a cohesive-capitalist direction. That is, as the failure of the Nehruvian statist model of development (characterized by massive state intervention and import-substitution industrialization) became evident, the state elites became more open to pro-market ideas. In turn as both the central and sub-national or state-level governments pro-business policies began to generate respectable growth rates throughout the 1990s, the business classes became more trusting of the Indian state. Thus, to Kohli, economic Globalisation has pushed the Indian state into adopting a much narrower ruling frameworkturned it, in fact, into a cohesive democratic-capitalist state8 and the new role for the state is to enforce fiscal discipline and to ensure the transparency in the market, however how far state is capable for this is again has to be further inquired and seen. Ashutosh varshney put a perspective that, while the elite class made benefit out of the liberalization policies and the toiling masses of the country feels that this particular class shared the fruits of the liberalization. These liberalization policies of course brought very strong discontents among the people of India, especially from those whose land and livelihoods were taken away, they mobilized themselves against land grabs of the state, big development projects, displacements, privatization and other measures which were suppressed largely by the respective states using extreme repressive measures. This led the emergence of thousands of people's movements across the country demanding the basic rights of the communities and local people, movements were contextual to the regions and issue based across the country. Here, I would like to see two people's movements which emerged in two different contexts, however not entirely different from each other, these two are also not an immediate after math popular movements of liberalization, however has much to do with the liberalization policies that were adopted. Kudankulam and Jaitapure struggles People's struggle against Kudankulam nuclear power plant in the state of Tamil Nadu and protest struggles against the nuclear power plant in Jaitapure in the state of Maharashtra have been creating head lines for the repressive responses from the various state authorities from the beginning of these two plants. Kudankulam nuclear power project has a long history of about two decade starting from 1988 when the Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project deal. This triggered discontent among the local people who realized about the possible discharge of the hot water into sea which will threaten their livelihoods directly, they mobilized against the plan to set up the reactor. People from the three districts of Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin organized a massive rally at Tirunelveli in 1988. In May 1989, around 10,000 people assembled to protest against the plant under the banner of the National Fish Workers Union (NFWU) however, the power changes in Russia and political turmoils after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination then the project plan was slow until there was one more agreement between India and Russia during 1997, then Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) acquired land for the project and for a township near by promising jobs and other opportunities of growth for the locals, but those were not materialized. Despite the resistance from the people government went ahead constructing the reactor. Another momentum of a consolidated struggle against the plant started in 2001 when the Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) was established to fight against the plant. Local people, fisher men, women and children stood strongly against the plant, few died and despite those, the plant finally got commissioned and started its activities. In Kudankulam from the beginning of the struggle onwards the state of Tamil Nadu has used very strong repressive measures to stop the peace full protest against the plant not even considering the basic demands of the protesters. Air force, paramilitary and all other agencies were used to stop the resistance against the plant until the commissioning, however the resistances continued. There are nuclear martyrs in Kudankulam, people who were killed by police, the first one was Ignatius (19) in May 1989, while he was in a peace full rally police had fired and he was killed, the second was during 2012 when police fired to a solidarity protest near by Tuticorin, 44 year old Anthony John and few days later the surveillance planes of the Indian Coast Guard, that have been flying only a few meters above the ground over the heads of protesters engaged in Jal Satyagraha (Sea-based Civil Disobedience), led to 38 year old Sahayam falling off the bridge that he was standing on. He was announced dead shortly after being admitted to the nearby Nagercoil hospital. Government have always preferred to use the police, paramilitary and the coast guard over dialogue to deal with the protest of unarmed civilians in all ways possible through land, air and water. Inside the village, police men went a step further to hurt peoples sentiments and provoke them by desecrating the statue of Mother Mary in St Lourdes Matha Church, which has been the epicenter of the protests. The testimonials from the people revel the actual responses created against the people. We watched in horror as the plane approached us. Sahayam was standing on the shore. Terrified by the way the plane came so close, he fell down. Initially, we thought that he had just fallen unconscious but it was too late. He had died of shock, cries his sister Chellamma. A tear gas shell directly hit 43-year-old Selsan. A few minutes after the protest began, a tear gas shell was thrown towards me. The shell burst as it hit me, burning the skin and peeling it off. I was admitted to a private hospital in Nagercoil and could not talk for over two days. The doctors have told me that the stitches would be removed after 10 days. My medical expenses have come to Rs 60,000 so far9, Police had registered different charges against the people and the movement from the initial days onwards including waging war against state. During the last waves in 2012, 2013 the Koodankulam police have registered Section 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121(A) (conspiring to overawe, by means of criminal force or the show of criminal force, the central government or any state government), 395 (dacoity), 307 (attempt to murder) r/w 149 IPC (unlawful assembly) and Section 3 of TNPPDL Act (Tamil Nadu Public Property Damage Act) (causing damage to public property), 431 (damaging road, bridge, river, channel, etc) (Senthalir 2012). The people who booked on these charges include, the children from Koodankulam who have been booked under Sections 147, 148, 353, 121, 124, 129(b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 307 IPC r/w 149 IOC and Section 4 of Endangered Species Act and Section 3 of TNPPDL Act. Further, nearly 62 people, most of them from Koodankulam, were arrested during the protest on 10 September. They have been on relay fast several times since the protest began. It is not just the Idinthakarai village with a population of more than 12,000 which was protesting against the commissioning of the Koodankulam plant; more than 500 villages across the coastal districts had joined the struggle (Senthalir 2012). Despite the nature of resistance in Kudankulam were peace full state has suppressed it in all possible manner, in violating the procedures the reactor has became a reality today. Jaitapur Nuclear Power Park (JNPP) is a nuclear power plant that is in construction in the Raigad region of Maharashtra in the Ratnagiri district if started working, it will be one of the biggest nuclear power plant in the world. Jaitapur plan is comparatively new, it was announced by the NPCL and Department of atomic energy in 2005 about setting up a nuclear plan in Jaitapur, The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in collaboration with Areva (French nuclear reactor designing company) are managing the plan. They have planned to install six European Pressurized Reactors (EPRs) with a capacity of producing 1650 MeV of electricity each. The plant will directly affect Madban, Niveli, Karel, Mithgavane and Varliwada villages other arias of the district and the livelihood of the people. Jaitapure is located on the Western Ghats, its one of the biological hot spot which is also very sensitive to the seismic activity. When the plant was announced, locals, fisher folks, different political parties and activist started voicing against the plant considering all these vulnerability. In Jaitapure people have started resisting the land grab and opposing the proposed nuclear power plant from the initial times, they started agitations and demonstrations demanding that the power plant should not be constructed, they were also suppressed by the different agencies of state, leaders were arrested and those who were not ready to give their land was forcefully taken over. Jaitapure have also shown waves of protest and people's mobilizations against the plant, which came out very heavily many a times. Irfan Qazi an activist and leading campaigner was died in accident in suspicious circumstances in 2010 December which again fueled the resistances. Qazi was hit by a police officers Sumo and died immediately. In another incident when police fired against the protesters in 2011 April Tabrez Sayekar, a local was killed and several others were seriously injured which again burned the protests. Though the five Gram Panchayats in the affected area have unanimously passed a resolutions against the project, different agencies of state and central governments repressed the local resistances time to time, they arrested peaceful protesters and imposed charges including attempt to murder and wage war against the state. The government has Lathicharged protesters, promulgated Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC, relating to unlawful assembly) and Section 37(3) (1) of the Bombay Police Act (prohibiting different kinds of assembly), slapped cases on the agitators, including for attempt to murder, and intimidated the local people against expressing their anger. A number of leaders of the Konkan Bachao Samiti, the Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Virodhi Samiti and the Janahit Seva Samiti have been arrested or simply prevented from entering the district. The 70-year-old former judge of the Mumbai High Court, B G Kolse-Patil, was jailed for defying prohibitory orders while former Supreme Court judge P B Sawant and retired chief of Naval Staff Admiral L Ram- das were prohibited from entering the district (EPW 2011). There are many local organizations under which the series of demonstrations and protest including hunger strikes took place, organisations like Janahit Seva Samiti, Madban (Peoples Welfare Committee, Madban), Konkan Bachao Samiti (Save Konkan Committee) and Konkan Vinashkari Prakalp Virodhi Samiti (Konkan Committee against Destructive Projects). However the Jaitapure movement also got strong supports from the other civil society groups in India, a solidarity march was also organized by different organizations which was also suppressed by the police and many of them were also arrested in different places. Despite of all of this, the construction and other activities at the location are in full swing for the plant. What is interesting here is to note that, the nature in which state systems have responded to the discontent at Kudankulam and Jaitapure. In the both examples the people who are voicing their dissent are those who lost land, livelihoods, scared about their futures, who lost lives of the dear once, people whose life will be seriously affected and other groups that support them, civil society organizations, NGOs and political parties. When the state itself is the negotiator at Kodankulam and facilitator for NPCL and Areva in Jaitapure for the construction of nuclear plants. Indian state do have history of turning against its own people across the country directly or indirectly. The democratically elected governments and its mechanisms have turned against the very people and their interest is not a post liberalization phenomenon, however liberalization and its impacts have increased these kinds of responses from the indigenous and other local populations and its taking place on a daily basis. To quote the leader of People Against Nuclear Energy in KudanKualm S. P Udayakumar To put it all in a nutshell, this is a classic David-Goliath fight between the citizens of India and the powerful government supported by the rich capitalists, MNCs, imperial powers and the global mafia. They promise FDI, nuclear power, development, atom bombs, security and superpower statusKBut we fight for our children and grandchildren, our animals and birds, our land, water, sea, air and the skies. S.P Udayakumar (leader of Kudankulam struggle). State is becoming more strong in terms of using repressive measures against the discontents from the people as far as most of the people's movements in India are concerned, Kudankulam and Jaitapure are two different examples where state becomes the security agent for both the public and private corporations and agencies. It strongly repressed the discontents that is coming from the people. The needs are requirements of the private capital and the interests of the private players are met with even killing and charging seditions to the most vulnerable sections within the country. Ajmal Khan A.T is an activist and PhD candidate at the School of Development Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Notes 1 . The first address of Jawaharlal Nehru to the nation as first prime minister of the country, he stated that the priority of the state will be to feed, provide dress and shelter for the millions of Indians who does not have that. 2 . See Levkovsky, Capitalism in India( Delhi.1966) and The Indian capitalist class; a historical survey (New Delhi.1999). 3 . See Paresh chattopadhyaya, Some trends in India's economic development, Gough and Sharma edt, 27.p. 4 . Achin Vanaik, The pain full transition; Bourgeois democracy in India-1990. 5 . Anne Marie Slaughter, Governing the global economy through the government networks. 6 . Shalendra, A Political Economy of the Indian State in the Era of Globalisation: A Review , 2009. 7 . Pranab Bardhan, 1987, First Edition, 4th Reprint, 2003 The Political Economy of Development in India, Fourth Impression, New Delhi, Oxford University Press. 8 . As mentioned by Shalendra, A Political Economy of the Indian State in the Era of Globalisation: A Review , 2009. 9 . Taken from Senthalir, S. (2012). Violence against the Non-violent Struggle of Koodankulam. Economic and Political Weekly, 47(39). References Austin, Granville, 2000, Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience, New Delhi, Oxford University Press. Bailey, F.G, 1963, Politics and Social Change: Orissa in 1959, Berkley, University of California. Bidwai Praful, People vs Nuclear Power in Jaitapur, Maharashtra, Economic & Political Weekly, February 19, 2011 vol xlvi no 8. Chatterjee, Partha, 1986, Nationalist Thought and the Colonial World, A Derivative Discourse? London, Zed Books. Chatterjee, Partha, 1993, The Nation and its Fragments: Colonial and Post Colonial Histories, Princeton, Princeton University Press. Chatterjee, Partha, 2000, Development Planning and the Indian State in Zoya Hasan (ed) Politics and the State in India, New Delhi, Sage. Chatterjee, Partha, 2004, The Politics of the Governed: Reflections on Political Society in Most of the World, New York, Columbia University Press. Chatterjee, Partha, Democracy and Economic Transformation in India, in Economic and Political Weekly, April, 19, 2008, pp 53-62. Chattopadhyaya Paresh , Some trends in India's economic development, Gough and Sharma edt, 27.p. Kohli Atul; 2007, State and re distributive Development in India, Princeton University. Kaviraj, Sudipta, 1989, A critique of Passive Revolution in Economic and Political Weekly, Vol.23, No.45, pp 2429-2444. Khilnani, S; 1998, The Idea of India, Harmondsworth, Penguin Books. Kohli Atul, 1987, State and Poverty in India, New Delhi, Cambridge in Association with Orient Longman. Kohli Atul, 1990, Democracy and Discontent: Indias Growing Crisis of Governability, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Lerche, J, 1995, Is Bonded Labour a Bound Category? Reconceptualising Agrarian Conflict in India, Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol.22. Madan, T.N, 1997, Secularism in its Place in Kaviraj Sudipta (ed) Politics in India, New Delhi, Oxford University Press. Nandy, Ashish, 1997, A Critique of Modern Secularism in Kaviraj Sudipta (ed) Politics in India, New Delhi, Oxford University Press. Nandy, Ashish, 2000, The Political Culture of the Indian State in Zoya Hasan (ed) Politics and State in India, New Delhi, Sage, pp64-87. Pranab Bardhan, 1987, First Edition, 4th Reprint, 2003 The Political Economy of Development in India, Fourth Impression, New Delhi, Oxford University Press. Prakash Aseem;2008 Towards Understanding the Nature of the Indian State and Role of the Middle Class working paper 47. Institute for Human Development, New Delhi, Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2327494. Levkovsky, Capitalism in India( Delhi.1966) and The Indian capitalist class; a historical survey( New Delhi.1999). Vanaik Achin, The pain full transition; Bourgeois democracy in India-1990. Susan strange, The retreat of the state: the diffusion of power in the world economy( New York, Cambridge University press, 1996, p4. Srikant Patibandla 2009 Koodankulam Anti-Nuclear Movement: A Struggle for Alternative Development?, working paper, The Institute for Social and Economic Change,Bangalore. Kaur Raminder,Nuclear Martyrs And Necropolitics 16 September, 2012Countercurrents.org. Senthalir, S. (2012). Violence against the Non-violent Struggle of Koodankulam. Economic and Political Weekly, 47(39), 13C15. State Repression in Jaitapur,Economic and Political Weekly, Vol - XLVI No. 04, January 22, 2011. One killed as Jaitapur protest turns violent,http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/one-killed-as-jaitapur-protest-turns-violent/article1706916.ece. State of Siege: Report On Encounters And Cases Of Sexual Violence In Bijapur And Sukma Districts Of Chhattisgarh Press Release 29 April, 2016 Countercurrents.org Release of Fact Finding Report by Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations (CDRO) and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS) entitled, State of Siege: Report on Encounters and Cases of Sexual Violence in Bijapur and Sukma Districts of Chhattisgarh Between the 16th to 22nd January, 2016, members of Coordination of Democratic Rights Organization (CDRO) and Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS) conducted a fact finding in villages of Bijapur and Sukma districts of Chhattisgarh. The team investigated the deaths of four unarmed villagers of Peddajojer (Bijapur) on 15 January 2016 by security forces and conducted enquiries into the large scale violence, particularly sexual violence, that the security forces unleased in Nendra (Bijapur) and Kunna (Sukma) villages, between 11th14th January 2016. Besides meeting officials, the team met villagers and relatives of those killed in the fake encounter at Peddajojer village and the families affected by the brutality committed by men in uniform including acts of loot, plunder, rape, sexual assault and physical violence in Kunna, Chotegadam and Nendra villages. The team also visited Maharani Hospital in Jagdalpur and met two injured women who were lodged there. Following are the findings of the team: Peddajojer village 1. On the morning of 15 January, 2016, six villagers of Peddajojer village were on their way to the nearby market for buying daily provisions. These included three men and three little girls (See pp 8-9 and Annexure 1 of the report). 2. On the way to the market they were ambushed by security forces lying in wait at a dense forest track en-route to the market. Of the six people, two girls managed to escape while the three men and one girl were killed. 3. The villagers upon hearing gunshots and being informed of the incident by the girls who had escaped, rushed to the site only to find that the bodies were missing. 4. The security forces took the bodies without informing the family members of the deceased. They did not conduct any inquest at the site of the encounter. The security forces took the bodies to Bijapur General Hospital. In violation of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines, the post mortems were done at the hospital without proper identification of the bodies. No video recording of the post mortem was conducted. 5. Upon learning where the bodies were kept, the villagers assembled outside the hospital and demanded that the bodies be handed back to them. The police initially refused and even asked Rs. 4000 per body as transport charges. Only after the villagers protested, were the bodies returned on 17 January. 6. The four killed were ordinary villagers of Peddajojer engaged in agricultural work and not Maoists as claimed by the security forces. The little girl killed was only 13 years old. The villagers also told us of how harassment by the security forces has become the norm in the village. Kunna village 1. Between 11 to 14 January, security force occupied Kunna and Chotegadam villages of Sukma district. A combing operation by the DRG, CRPF, COBRA (around 500 to 600 troops) was being conducted in the area. 2. The forces initially occupied a school but later occupied homes of people. 3. During the first two days the forces sexually assaulted many women. At least two women were raped by the forces. Women were stripped, beaten and verbally assaulted. Young girls were also stripped by the forces. 4. On 12 January several men and women from Kunna were taken into custody (see annexure 2 for details). On the way to one police camp, five men and five women were continuously beaten and the 5 women were also stripped and sexually assaulted. Apart from these, three boys were kept in illegal custody and forced to sign on a blank pieces of paper. 5. Twenty-one-year-old Lalu Sodi was severely beaten by the security forces on 12th January. He died two days after, and the villages did not report the death as they feared further intimidation from the security forces. 6. Livestock was consumed by the forces, houses were broken into and implements were stolen by the men in uniform (See Annexure 2). 7. The team found the people of Kunna in a state of shock and their everyday life had become difficult because of the violence by the forces. 8. Finally, an FIR was filed on 27th January, 2016 after a harrowing process by activists and the women of Kunna village (See page 15 for details) 9. Chotegadam village witnessed a similar pattern of plunder and violence (See pp 11-12 and Annexure 2 for further details) Nendra Village 1. Between 11 and 14 January, security forces occupied Nendra village(Bijapur). Four to five batches of police and security forces (CRPF, DRG, Koya) conducted search and combing operations while being stationed there. 2. The men of the village fled immediately as staying back would have meant either getting beaten up or being implicated in false cases. The security forces occupied houses of villagers. 3. Over thirteen instances of gang rape were reported by the women. Many other women were disrobed, molested, subjected to verbal abuse. Womens faces were covered with a towel or even a mosquito net when rapes took place. 4. The forces not only threatened to burn down the houses with children inside but also threatened the women with the kind of violence they experienced during the time of Salwa Judum. 5. The security forces also looted rations, consumed poultry causing huge economic loss to the already impoverished villagers. (See annexure 3 for more details) 6. When women asked the security forces for money for the rations they had consumed the women were beaten up with lathi and rifles. Older people were also beaten (See Annexure 3 for details) 7. On 18 January, 2016, members from the fact finding team along with 12 women of Nendra went to the Collectorate to bring to his attention the incidents in Nendra. However, the women had to wait till the 21 January to get their FIR registered, that too after a prolonged struggle with the administration. (see page 16 of the report for details) State Response A significant part of the teams energies went into meeting officials in a bid to register FIRs against the accused. In all three cases the response of the administration was one of insensitivity and hostility. In the case of the fake encounter at Peddajejor, the official response was of we will look into the matter. The efforts involved in filing the FIR in the Kunna case took almost 13 days of constant pressure by the survivors and team members. In the Nendra incident, even when the Collector ordered the recording of statements, the police refused. Only after the fact-finding team was able to meet members of the NCW (National Commission of Women) who were collecting information regarding the infamous Peddagellur incident of October 2015, that the FIR was finally lodged on 21st January. These incidents, along with the climate of fear that has been created for ordinary villagers, activists, lawyers and journalists, needs to be seen in the light of Mission 16, which forms the governments objective in eliminating Maoists and handing over these lands to mining companies. A copy of the report can be accessed here: http://pudr.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/State%20of%20Siege_Report_29th%20April_0.pdf Asish Gupta (Coordinator, CDRO) Shivani (Coordinator, WSS) CASPER The Casper man who admitted robbing another man at gunpoint was sentenced to 5 to 7 years in prison Thursday. Nicholaus Harford, 25, pleaded guilty in Natrona County District Court to one count of aggravated robbery. His sentencing is the result of a plea agreement. Harford admitted that on Sept. 13 he approached a man, threatened him with a gun and demanded the victim's wallet and cellphone. Harford was later arrested in his Evansville home, where police found a BB gun and the victims debit card. Andrew Michael Melikian is also facing charges for the mugging. The 22 year old Casper man pleaded guilty in the Natrona County District Court March 1 to aiding and abetting the crime of robbery. Melikian was allegedly identified from security footage shortly after the robbery while attempting to purchase items at the Common Cents store on Wyoming Boulevard, using the victims debit card, according to police reports. Melikian could face up to eight years in prison. Shell casing analysis shows a Bismarck Police officer shot a man in self-defense and not to prevent him from fleeing. Sgt. Jordan West only fired his weapon while the man was backing toward him and not while he drove away, McLean County State's Attorney Ladd Erickson, who conducted the external review of the incident, concluded in his analysis of the Jan. 23 officer-involved shooting of Miguel Stubing. West fired five times into the stolen vehicle that Stubing was driving, three initial shots and two subsequent ones. Based on the mapping of the empty cartridges, Erickson determined West fired the final two shots while turning or re-positioning to avoid being struck by the car. West did not use up all of the ammunition in his gun, indicating to Erickson he stopped firing as Stubing became less of a threat. Erickson ruled the shooting justified on Tuesday, deciding that West's use of force against Stubing was "appropriate and in self-defense." In making his decision, Erickson reviewed reports prepared by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, including witness statements and scene analysis. "[Stubing] ignored warnings yelled at him by Sgt. West to stop, deliberately placed Sgt. West in a 'flight or fight' instantaneous human reaction mode by putting the vehicle he was driving in reverse and charging at Sgt. West," Erickson wrote in a letter to Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Marina Spahr. State law and the Bismarck Police Department allow an officer to use deadly force when they are "threatened with serious bodily injury or death." Erickson, who has reviewed several officer-involved shooting and excessive force cases, said in an interview that this was a "very clear" case to rule on, because the officer didn't have time to think, just to react. It is appropriate that the officer already had his gun drawn upon approaching the vehicle, because there was an unknown person in the car, Erickson said. West shot instantly when the car came barreling at him. "I didnt find any fault in how that reaction went," said Erickson. Stubing was high on methamphetamine during the incident, according to the letter. Prior to the shooting, Stubing picked up a man named Cody Conica, and the two were planning to get drugs and food, Conica told BCI, when Stubing spotted the patrol car. Seeking the stolen car, West pursued them, and Stubing raced around a corner to avoid him, Conica said. Stubing let Conica out of the car in a parking lot and Conica said Stubing told him to leave the area while he still had time. Stubing allegedly told Conica he was going to get into a "high speed chase" with the police. West pulled up behind them in the lot and told Stubing to stop because he was under arrest, Conica said, at which point Stubing began accelerating towards him. In an interview, Stubing told BCI that West appeared "out of nowhere" and that he "slammed on reverse." He said he heard the officer say stop, then heard gunshots. He was trying to "turn out of the area quick," he said, and thought West should have jumped out of the way instead of shooting him. Conica told BCI that he was "scared" and "trembling uncontrollably" during the incident because he though Stubing would run over West. West told BCI he only fired as the car was coming towards him. He believed Stubing was trying to put the car in "his lap," he told BCI, and said his only thought was to shoot because he thought the vehicle was going to kill him. Conica said he thought West fired one to two additional shots as Stubing started to flee. Stubing had been hit by one bullet and was taken to Sanford Health in Bismarck after he was caught in Emmons County. Stubing has been charged with five felony and misdemeanor counts of theft, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and fleeing a police officer. West was cleared to return to duty on April 8. The Tribune has requested the full BCI report, but has not been able to access it due to an ongoing related criminal investigation. Kristi Valiant, submitted photo SHARE Kristi Valiant will be signing books and reading her new "Pretty Minnie in Hollywood" at Barnes & Noble Wednesday. By Sarah Loesch of the Courier and Press When Kristi Valiant illustrates a children's book she occasionally has an audience. Valiant said her two daughters 4 and 6 will often peek over her shoulder as she draws. The girls offer their mother suggestions on what they think could improve a page or a single illustration. The Evansville illustrator said the girls both have an eye for "visual things," and she knows if they are bored with an illustration it won't be capturing to other kids. "They aren't going to edit what they say to me," Valiant said. "They are going to tell me straight out what they think of it." The latest book illustrated by Valiant, "Pretty Minnie in Hollywood," is set to release Tuesday. In celebration of the book, Valiant's second with best-selling author Danielle Steel, there will be a launch party at Barnes & Noble Wednesday. Valiant will personalize copies of the book for children as well as do a personal reading of the book during the 6 p.m. storytime. It will be a fun celebration of the book including cake and a red carpet. "I love it," Valiant said. "It's so much fun to see the kids get excited about books." Valiant also speaks in schools around the area and said it's the same feeling there. She loves to see students become excited about reading and writing and it's a blessing to see them interested in that kind of world. In each book Valiant hides a few characters for readers to find. She hides a mouse, penguin and hippo, and when she visits schools, children often run up to her to tell her they found the hidden animals. "The kids are finding all the cool things to find in the books they want to hear over and over again," she said. She said when done right, picture books can be an amazing experience for parents and their children. Valiant has completed 55 books and 15 covers for parents to share with their children. It's something she never expected because when she first started art school at the Columbus College for Art and Design she didn't know what direction in art she wanted to pursue. She entered a contest with a local publisher for children's books and hers was chosen. From that point on she found a path. "That was kind of my step in the door," she said. Now she works with Random House Publishing and is represented by Wernick & Pratt Agency, a literary agency that focuses on children's books. She's given the text to a story, and from there she comes up with the illustrations to be put up for consideration. Like in the case of the Pretty Minnie series, if the publisher or author likes the illustrations, she is chosen to do the entire story. Valiant said the author attempts to tell the bare minimum in the text so it leaves room for the illustrator to really tell a story as well. The authors decide what text goes on which pages as well, but Valiant can make suggestions as to what would help the illustrations and story flow best together. Valiant said the Pretty Minnie books are very focused on fashion and that was intimidating for her. She had to become a high fashion designer to truly show the story in her illustrations. She said she watches the fashion shows on TV, and she wondered, "Would my designs just get ripped to shreds?" Once any sketches are approved, she works with them on her computer where all of her illustrations come together digitally. "Half the story is told in the text," Valiant said. "Half the story is the illustrator's to tell." By Jill Disis/ USA Today Netowrk/ The Indianapolis Star Is U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz too big for small towns? No, but his plane might be. The Republican presidential candidate was reportedly expected to rally Friday in Jasper, Ind. a city of about 15,000 but canceled the event because the campaign's plane was too big to land there, said Kit Miracle, the director of Jasper's arts commission. "We were ready. We gave them the information," Miracle said. Shortly after, "they called and said the plane couldn't land at the local airport." A Cruz campaign spokesperson declined to comment about the event, saying the senator's schedule has not been finalized. The plane problem was first reported by the Dubois County Herald, a community newspaper in Jasper. "... there was a lot of excitement and planning in the newsroom for about 30 minutes," the newspaper wrote on its Twitter feed. The Herald reports that Cruz is expected to hold a rally in another southern Indiana area, though those plans have yet to be decided. Travis McQueen, the manager of Huntingburg Airport in Dubois County, said he heard about the cancellation from the local newspaper. McQueen said the airport is best suited for corporate jets that hold around 14 passengers, like a Cessna Citation X or Sovereign. "When these campaigns fly around like Trump's flying around in a (Boeing) 757 ... he's got to go to a larger airport like in Evansville or Indianapolis or Louisville," McQueen said. McQueen said there have been plans to lengthen the runway, which could possibly allow larger planes in the future. Miracle agreed: saying of the cancellation: "That's a good argument for a longer runway at the airport." --- IndyStar reporter Stephanie Wang contributed to this story. Ted Cruz set to return to Evansville Friday SHARE By Richard Gootee of the Courier and Press The next National Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, and there are several area locations where people can drop off any unwanted medicine free of charge. Both Indiana and Kentucky state police post locations are participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration initiative, as is the Warrick County Sheriff's Office. Representatives from that sheriff's office will be at the Newburgh CVS from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The store is located in 7700 block of State Street. The Evansville state police post in located in northern Vanderburgh County on U.S. 41, and the local Kentucky State Police office is in the 8400 block of U.S. 41 South in Henderson County. There is also a participating Indiana State Police post in Jasper. Drop-off locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local time. Needles and syringes will not be accepted at Saturday's events. There will also be federal representatives at the National Guard Armory on Evansville's East Side Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for anyone who wants to take their pills to that location. During the last Drug Take Back Day, which was last fall, 350 tons of medication were collected nationwide, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Sgt. Todd Ringle, a spokesman for the Indiana State Police, encouraged everyone to go through their homes and gather up their medication to take to one of the locations on Saturday. "We know that almost every household has unused and expired drugs. Unfortunately, prescription medication is abused every single day throughout the nation," he said. "There are individuals who go through relatives' medicine cabinets, and there are children who go through their mom and dad's medicine cabinets." Such medicine can also be dropped off any day during regular business hours at the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office command post, which is also on U.S. 41, or the Vanderburgh County Corenor's Office, which is located on Morton Avenue in Evansville. Needles and liquids cannot be accepted at the command post, but can be discarded at the coroner's office. The national public spotlight on prescription drugs continues to brighten because of the rise of heroin in many parts of the country, including Indiana. Like many prescription pain killers, heroin is an opiate-based drug. A majority of heroin users, according to law enforcement and health officials, started their addiction with prescription pills and then switch over to heroin because it is often cheaper and more widely available. By Shannon Hall of the Courier and Press After a nearly eight-year battle, Boonville's city limits soon will be expanded to include an extra 1,165 acres. The Indiana Supreme Court denied to hear the Boonville annexation case. That decision means the Indiana Court of Appeals' ruling in favor of the Warrick County city in August will be upheld. The annexed area is mostly land north of Indiana 62, including the Boonville Walmart, to Millersburg Road. It would extend from the city's current west border to Baker Road, as well. "I'm thrilled," said Mark Phillips, Boonville's attorney. "We're finally done." Phillips said from his understanding, the remonstrators have no more appeals to go through, and the annexation is final. In 30 days, the city can start the process of providing services to the annexed area, Phillips said. A message for the remonstrators' attorney, Arend Abel, wasn't immediately returned Friday morning. Special Judge Brent Almon, a Superior Court judge in Posey County, presided over a bench trial in January 2015 and ruled in favor of Boonville. The remonstrators against the annexation filed an appeal in March 2015. Remonstrators argued that Boonville didn't show that the annexation territory was both "needed" and "can be used" for Boonville's development "in the reasonably near future." During the trial, former Mayor Pam Hendrickson said the annexation was needed to help the city grow. "While there is no evidence of ongoing, confirmed projects in the annexation territory, Boonville is not required to make such a showing. It has offered evidence establishing a need for the annexation territory, as well as its outlined hopes for development, including business, transportation, and sewer services, in that area. This evidence is sufficient to show that the annexation territory is needed and can be used by Boonville in the reasonably near future," according to the Court of Appeals opinion. Phillips said he spoke to both current Boonville Mayor Charlie Wyatt and former Boonville Mayor Pam Hendrickson. "(Hendrickson) was steadfast in her belief in the annexation," Phillips said. "She supported Charlie (Wyatt) to continue the good work she did." Phillips said he believes the city will be able to start collecting taxes for 2017 with it payable in 2018. A message left seeking comment from Wyatt hasn't been returned. Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a United Steel Workers Local 1999 rally in Indianapolis, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) SHARE By Zach Osowski, zach.osowski@courierpress.com INDIANAPOLIS During a rally put on by United Steelworkers and spurned Carrier employees, Sen. Bernie Sanders came down hard on the Indianapolis company and "corporate greed" that he said is ruining America. "The greed ... is almost unbelievable," Sanders, a Democratic presidential hopeful, said outside the Indiana Statehouse. "They have no shame; they have no sense of embarrassment." Strong words against Carrier have become common at presidential rallies in Indiana. The Hoosier state has been at the political forefront for a week and talk of the plight of Carrier workers in Indianapolis whose jobs will soon be moving to Mexico has been sprinkled into all of the candidates' speeches. Sanders and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump have been particularly outspoken, both going after the North American Free Trade Agreement and similar agreements they say are sending jobs to other countries. "The truth is, our trade policies have been a disaster," Sanders said. "And I'm proud that I voted against every one." At both of his Indianapolis rallies and his event in Evansville, Trumphas bashed America's trade agreements and Republican rival Ted Cruz's votes in favor of them. Trump said if he was president, Carrier would have never left Indiana because he would have charged them a 35 percent tax on all products made in Mexico and subsequently sold in the U.S. "They would have called me and said 'Mr. President, Carrier has decided to stay in Indiana,'" Trump said during a rally on Wednesday. Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton's one stop so far in Indiana consisted of visits to steel mills in Hammond and Mishawaka, where she promised to help the declining steel industry. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, told supporters in Evansville that corporations need to be reigned in. He said the country needs to go back to a time when corporations ran for the customers and employees, not just shareholders. NAFTA took effect during Bill Clinton's administration, but originated during the administration of George H.W. Bush. The United Steelworkers and the union representing the Carrier employees have chosen to side with Sanders, giving him their endorsement. Union leaders at the rally begged members and those in the crowd to get out on Tuesday and vote for pro-union candidates, warning that if members don't start taking an interest in elections, situations like the one with Carrier are going to continue to happen. By Tony Cook And Mark Alesia, USA TODAY NETWORK The Indianapolis Star INDIANAPOLIS Indiana Gov. Mike Pence threw his support behind U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz this afternoon, just days before Indiana's critical Tuesday primary. But he stopped short of calling on others to vote for the Texas senator and praised Republican front-runner Donald Trump, too. "I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming Republican primary," Pence said on a conservative radio talk show hosted by Greg Garrison on 93-WIBC. "I see Ted Cruz as a principled conservative who has dedicated his career to advocating the Reagan agenda," he said, citing the Texas senator's opposition to out-of-control spending, efforts to repeal Obamacare, his devotion to the U.S. Constitution and his "strong and unwavering stand for the sanctity of life." "It's not a popular thing in Washington D.C. to take on the leadership of your own party," Pence, a former congressman, said. "I know that firsthand. I did it when I was there. I opposed runaway federal spending whether it was a Republican administration or Congress or a Democratic administration. He's been willing to do that." Cruz is facing a must-win situation in Indiana. The state represents perhaps his best shot to stop front-runner Donald Trump's momentum and would be a major step toward preventing the billionaire real estate developer from securing enough delegates to win the nomination outright. Pence emphasized that he liked all three GOP candidates and went out of his way to commend Trump for giving "a voice to the frustration" with Washington and for taking "a strong stand for Hoosier jobs." "I urge every Hoosier to make up their own mind," he said. "But for me I've always thought to lead is to choose, and here at this time of choosing when people all across America are looking to Indiana to make a decision, I just wanted to make my decision known." In a statement, Cruz said he was honored to receive Pence's endorsement. "Mike has been an important voice for conservatives during his time as Governor," he said. "The success of Indiana shows that conservative ideas work. I look forward to working together to continue to coalesce Republicans around this campaign." Polls released last week showed Cruz trailing Trump by 6 to 8 points in Indiana, and Trump is coming off big wins in New York and five Northeastern states. Trump's campaign downplayed the endorsement. "I don't think this changes a single vote," said Tony Samuel, vice chairman of Trump's campaign in Indiana. "If anything it could add votes for Donald Trump. And the only real political impact this will have is that it could hurt the governor's reelection effort." Indeed, the endorsement carries some risk for Pence, possibly alienating his party's presidential front-runner and Trump's many Indiana supporters. About 12,000 people showed up for a Trump rally in Evansville yesterday. But the governor has been under intense pressure to endorse from Cruz and anti-Trump forces, who see Indiana, with its 57 delegates, as one of the last, best hopes for blocking Trump from attaining the 1,237 delegates he needs to lock up the nomination and prevent a contested convention. All three GOP presidential contenders have met privately with Pence in recent days as the Republican governor considered an endorsement in the race. Trump even brought Pence friend and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to the governor's residence. But Pence is most ideologically aligned with Cruz, who shares the governor's conservative views on hot-button social issues, limited government and rolling back federal regulations. It's not clear how much Pence's endorsement will impact the race. His popularity has sagged since a national firestorm last year over Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but he remains well-liked among Republicans, especially religious conservatives. That's a key constituency for Cruz, who is trying to replicate wins in Wisconsin and Iowa, where evangelical Christians gave him a big boost. "I think it will help the senator significantly here in Indiana," said Curt Smith, a Cruz supporter and president of the Indiana Family Institute. "I'm also very pleased, but not surprised, that Gov. Pence is leading in this regard. I think Sen. Cruz's positions on the issues align with Hoosiers quite closely." Micah Clark, executive director of the American Family Association, compared Pence's endorsement to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's decision to back Cruz a week before that state gave Cruz a double-digit win and breathed new life into his campaign. "Whenever Gov. Pence follows in the footsteps of Scott Walker, it's probably a good thing given his record in Wisconsin," Clark said. But it could spell trouble for Pence in areas of the state heavy with Trump supporters. "Down here that's just going to reinforce that Trump is the outsider," Sullivan County Republican Chairman Bill Springer, a Trump backer, said. "If I was smart and giving (Pence) political advice if it was me personally I would have stayed out of it. All he's going to do is make people mad." Pence is also close with Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the third candidate in the race, but Kasich announced Sunday he would abandon his campaign in Indiana to focus on western states where he is expected to perform better. Cruz has said he would not campaign in Oregon or New Mexico in exchange. The non-compete agreement quickly frayed, though, after Kasich encouraged Hoosiers to still vote for him and Cruz told reporters yesterday there "is no alliance." Trump has characterized the agreement as "collusion" and a sign of "desperation." Pence has publicly criticized Trump in recent months after the billionaire real estate developer and reality TV star called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States and after he suggested women should be punished for seeking illegal abortions. Pence's announcement on Garrison's show also drew attention to Trump's embrace of an endorsement from boxer Mike Tyson. Garrison was the attorney who successfully prosecuted Tyson on rape charges in Indianapolis in the early 1990s. Trump touted Tyson's endorsement as recently as Wednesday. "But when I get endorsed by the tough ones, I like it, because you know what? We need toughness now. We need toughness," Trump told a crowd of about 5,000 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Trump supported Tyson after the rape conviction, saying that "to a large extent" he was "railroaded." Trump had a financial interest in the case because Tyson's fights made money for his hotels. Carly Fiorina, Cruz's running mate, characterized Tyson in a different way. "Sorry. I don't consider a convicted rapist a 'tough guy,'" she said this morning in Indianapolis. BIRTHS CHI St. Alexius Health Daughter, Jared and Kate Olson, Bismarck, 6:24 a.m., April 25. Son, John and Mandy Lundberg, Bismarck, 7:43 a.m., April 25. Daughter, Ryan and Miranda Knudson, Bismarck, 8:07 a.m., April 25. Daughter, Justin Jochim and Elizabeth Sherman, Linton, 3:13 p.m., April 25. Daughter, Jason and Kari Harris, Mandan, 3:29 p.m., April 25. Daughter, Lance and Billie Jo Peterson, Hazen, 5:59 p.m., April 25. IMPOUNDED ANIMALS If you are missing a pet or are interested in adopting a pet, go to : http://bismarcknd.gov/index.aspx?nid=382. For more information, call 701-223-1212 or 701-222-6734. SEX OFFENDER LOCATION INFORMATION For information about the locations of sex offenders in the community, visit www.sexoffender.nd.gov. The website contains databases of sex offenders and offenders against children, as well as an email notification system in which the public can be notified every time an offender in the area changes his or her information. CRIME STOPPERS Call Bismarck Area Crime Stoppers at 701-224-TIPS (701-224-8477) to report information about any crime in Bismarck, Mandan, Burleigh County or Morton County. Information can be given anonymously and you may be eligible for cash rewards if the information leads to an arrest. COURT POLICY Nubs of the news information comes from district and municipal courts in Burleigh and Morton counties. In nubs of the news, the Tribune publishes all felony sentences; and misdemeanor sentences with fines of $500 or more and/or a jail term, including suspended sentences. COURTS (Cases closed from Feb. 1 to Feb. 29) Burleigh County Judge Bruce Haskell Violation of a domestic violence protection order: Wade A. Baesler, 47, Williston, 365 days suspended for one year. Possession of drug paraphernalia: Cole M. Dralle, 26, Sterling, one year suspended for 18 months. Judge Cynthia Feland Ingesting a controlled substance: Jason D. Boots, 21, 122 E. Thayer Ave. Apt. 256, 90 days suspended for 360 days. Forgery or counterfeiting: Brandon R. Carlson, 32, 1010 First St. Apt. 6, Mandan, 90 days suspended for two years, restitution. Criminal trespass: Harold L. Harlan, 28, homeless, 30 days, 28 days suspended for 360 days. Harassing or taunting a law enforcement animal: Shayne Knuth, 23, McLaughlin, S.D., one day. Judge Gail Hagerty Disorderly conduct: Tracy L. Brosseau, 53, 3266 Montreal St., 30 days, 20 days suspended for one year, also driving under the influence (second offense): $1,500 and 30 days, 20 days suspended for one year, electronic monitoring. Judge Thomas Schneider Reckless driving: Brianna J. Fleck, 22, 2140 Xavier St. No. 305, 10 days suspended for one year. Driving under suspension (fourth offense): Jasmine M. Halsey, 24, Halliday, six months suspended for one year, 20 hours community service. Theft of property (possession): Jacob J. Neubauer, 21, 564 Cottonwood Loop, $500, one year suspended for one year, restitution. Judge James Hill Driving under the influence: Wayne J. Hopfinger, 56, 7601 Cortland Place, $500, 10 days suspended for 360 days. Criminal trespass: Ricky R. Schuh Jr., 26, no address listed, one year, 238 days suspended for one year. Judge Sonna Anderson False reports to law enforcement or other security officials: Tristian N. Larkin, 20, Rhame, $250, 60 days suspended for one year. Disorderly conduct: Gregory A. McGee Jr., 21, 137 Delta Ave., 30 days, 22 days suspended for 18 months, also menacing: six months, 172 days suspended for 18 months. SHARE Daniel W. Johnson Evansville As a Republican primary voter, I watched two contrasting speeches today by and on behalf of the two leading contenders. Donald Trump stood before a crowded Coliseum droning on and on about his wealth, his recent east coast electoral successes, the political phenomenon that is him ... Except for saying we need better trade deals and "believe me, we're going to build the wall," he uttered nothing that remotely resembled substance. Shortly before that bombastic, rambling ego trip, Carly Fiorina explained to her audience why this decision before Hoosier voters and the nation was so important. She talked about how the constitutional foundations of our nation have been steadily eroded as the power and wealth of the nation have become centralized in Washington, contrary to the explicit design of our Founders. She explained that the God-given freedoms that were kept free of government intrusion were what allowed all people to pursue their dreams to the fullest to a greater degree than has been possible anywhere else in human history. And she said that a brilliant constitutional attorney with steady, conservative principles was poised to restore the constitutional balance before it's too late. Ted Cruz has fought to preserve the Constitution which has been responsible for making America special and great. He has made enemies in his own party by calling out Republican duplicity. While a Cruz interview will never be mistaken for a professional wrestling show, the stakes are too high to leave the controls in the hands of the Friday night emcee. Republicans haven't had a chance to vote for a strong, intelligent conservative president for 32 years. Our votes here in Indiana are crucial this time. Let's not blow it. SHARE Glen Kissel Evansville In our nation, a constitutional republic, government is to be diligent at preserving, protecting and defending natural rights of life, liberty and property. Government is not to undermine our natural rights; Government is not to attack our natural rights; Government is not to punish citizens for exercising their natural rights. Ted Cruz, with Carly Fiorina, appears best suited to help secure our natural rights as head of the Executive Branch . All Hoosier Electors should support the Cruz-Fiorina ticket. The National Park Service campaign to Find Your Park is expected to bring more visitors to Americas parks this summer and fall. What will those vacationers find in Yellowstone, Glacier, Big Horn Canyon and other parks? Were going to do everything we can do to make their visit the best that it can be, but were not going to sacrifice the resources of the park to do that, Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said in an interview earlier this year. Wenk is back in Yellowstone after a stint as interim CEO of the National Park Foundation, where he helped plan and organize the 2016 National Park Service centennial celebration. With the theme Find Your Park, centennial publicity already succeeded last year in bringing a record 4 million recreational visitors to Yellowstone. We hope were bringing a new generation of park advocates and parks stewards to our national parks, Wenk said. Yellowstone saw an increase in funding of about $3.5 million last year because of an increase in visitors and a boost in the entrance fees. The multiday private vehicle fee is still a bargain at $30. Entrance fees that Yellowstone was allowed to keep for park operations totaled about $8 million last year, Wenk said. Altogether, for 2015 the park had a budget of about $70 million, including park-generated revenue (entrance fees, fishing permits, concession fees), federal funding for operations and federal funding for roads and other infrastructure. That sounds like a lot of money, but its stretched thin in a 2.2-million-acre park that is open year-round. Wenk said the park is working to increase earned revenue for park support and also depends on private gifts for specific projects, such as cutthroat trout restoration, wolf research, youth education and scholarships for underprivileged children. Last week, the parks service released a report on the value of park contributions to local economies: $16.9 billion was spent in 2015 in gateway communities of the 411 park service locations. In Yellowstone gateways alone, spending was nearly $494 million, according to the park service. Glacier generated nearly $200 million in gateway spending. Consider another set of park service data: deferred maintenance in our national parks. According to information provided to Congress, as of Sept. 30, deferred maintenance totaled $11.9 billion nationwide. Fully 10 percent of that is in Wyoming and Montana. Yellowstones deferred maintenance is among the highest of any national park: $603.5 million in Wyoming and $28 million in Montana. President Barack Obama has requested an increase of $250 million for parks in his 2017 budget. Last week, the U.S. Senate included authorization for $150 million from offshore mineral leasing revenues to address the maintenance backlog. However, the park deferred maintenance measure isnt in the House version that must be reconciled with the Senate version. We call on Wyoming and Montana House members Ryan Zinke and Cynthia Lummis to be leaders in starting to address the park maintenance backlog through the energy bill. Like the Land Water Conservation Fund authorization in the energy bill, the national park maintenance funding would still have to appropriated in budget bills for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Both states delegations should push for park repair appropriations. Even if $150 million was appropriated from offshore royalties, and Congress appropriated $250 million from other funds, that wouldnt cover even 3 percent of the need. Congress should fund a plan to significantly reduce our park repair backlog while todays kids are still kids. A shrinking backlog would be a great park service birthday gift to Americans. The park service centennial year is the time to start. The Billings (Mont.) Gazette MAYVILLE -- Colton Pierce was walking down the hall in late February when his professor stopped him and told him the university was cutting its computer information systems program. Pierce, a 20-year-old sophomore from Fargo, was shocked. He chose Mayville State University so that he could major in CIS, a career path he's loved so far. "I was pretty upset. I made a lot of good friends here, loved going to school here," he said. "I don't blame it on the school. I understand. Things happen. But I was more upset about the way it was handled." Budget cuts at the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University have been discussed publicly and broadcasted in the media for months. But the two research universities are not the only schools facing cuts. All 11 state colleges and universities in North Dakota need to trim 4.05 percent of their budgets to cover the state's $1 billion revenue shortfall due in large part to slumping oil prices. And the decisions on what to cut haven't been easy. Many campuses are reducing salary raises; several have had layoffs, buyouts or early retirement offers. In a few cases, low-enrollment programs such as Mayville's CIS program have been sliced, albeit to less public outcry than the cutting of the music therapy program at UND. The State Board of Higher Education heard presentations from the campus presidents on their budget cuts Thursday, April 28--and several board members weren't happy they haven't been more involved. "A program elimination is really something that ought to come before our committee," said board member Kari Reichert, chairwoman of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. Reichert said program cuts often come to her group for approval only after faculty have left and students have stopped being admitted. "If it comes to our committee and there's no enrollment, no faculty, we're effectively cut out," she said. "Our hands are sort of tied. That's probably not what was intended." Many members echoed that sentiment. Board member Kevin Melicher also said he worries some colleges are "kicking the can down the road" by delaying deferred maintenance and forgoing raises. "I'm not quite so sure of the benefit of those," he said. "I know the benefit is because it sounds good, but if the benefit is we're going to lose good-quality presidents, we're going to lose good-quality people, we're going to lose good-quality staff and faculty, we're very short-sighted." Vice Chairman Don Morton, however, criticized the desire of some board members to assume greater control of the budget decisions. "I like the idea of the decision-making being close to where the action is, and that's on the campus," Morton said. "Or we could take the real drastic step and eliminate the presidents and run all the campuses, that's what it kind of sounds like to me. Is that what we want to do? I don't think so." Cuts beyond UND, NDSU Here are the ways state colleges across North Dakota are trimming their budgets: Minot State University froze nine positions, including seven open faculty positions, and eliminated two staff positions. The university also initiated an early retirement buyout in February, cut operating budgets across the board by 7 percent and reduced raises for employees with above-median salaries, President Steven Shirley said. Williston State College has a hiring freeze and halted all out-of-state travel that was not critical to the college, according to documents provided to The Forum by the university system office. Operating budgets were cut by 5 percent, and Train ND, a continuing education program, downsized its staff by nearly 25 percent, President Raymond Nadolny said. At Bismarck State College, 10 long-term employees retired, and some of their positions will not be filled, President Larry Skogen said. The college also eliminated a vice president position and reduced travel and operating expenses. Dickinson State University had many empty positions due to a decrease in enrollment over the past five years, so the budget cut was possible without layoffs, President Thomas Mitzel said. The university tightened travel and maintenance expenses. North Dakota State College of Science eliminated two vacant administrative positions, as well as vacant positions in departments that have seen declining enrollment. The college also consolidated two administrative units and is delaying deferred maintenance projects. At Valley City State University, graduate assistants and shared staff will cover vacant positions, and raises have been scaled back, with the lowest-paid employees set to receive 2 percent raises and the highest-paid employees receiving none, President Tisa Mason said. Dakota College at Bottineau isn't filling vacant spots, reduced several staff positions from full time to part time, cut operating budgets by 5 percent and worked with an architect to scale back its almost-$2 million Nelson Science Center project, Dean Jerry Migler said. Star of 'Property Brothers' got into altercation at a Fargo bar FARGO Jonathan Scott, one of the stars of the popular home renovation reality show Property Brothers, was involved in a physical altercation at a downtown Fargo bar early last Sunday morning, a report on the celebrity news site TMZ says. According to TMZ, Scott ended up in a bouncers headlock as the bar was trying to clear patrons out ahead of its 2 a.m. closing time. Fargo Police Deputy Chief Joe Anderson said the incident is under investigation, but did confirm there was an incident around 1:55 a.m. Sunday involving Scott and staff of Dempseys, 226 Broadway. Mr. Scott did call for police assistance claiming he was assaulted, and we are investigating his allegations, Anderson wrote in an email. The dispatch log shows police were on scene for an hour and 15 minutes. Jonathan and Drew Scott were in Fargo to speak at the Eco Chic Design Conference, which was held April 23 at Scheels Arena. -- Forum News Service Sussex News Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Failed e-commerce software provider IP3 Systems owes nearly $35 million to creditors in the US and Australia. A report from the first creditors meeting shows that the secured creditor, USA Health Investors, is owed $32 million, much of it overdue interest IP3's debt to the investor was $14 million in 2012. USA Health Investors had been "financially supporting" Melbourne-based IP3 Systems for an undisclosed period of time; when the investor decided it could not continue to support IP3, the company was placed into voluntary administration. David Vasudevan and Gess Rambaldi of Pitcher Partners were appointed on 23 March. Vasudevan told CRN that there had been some expressions of interest from buyers, but any details are confidential. At the creditors meeting, Vasudevan had advised that IP3 Systems was likely to go into liquidation because USA Health indicated it was not prepared to propose a Deed of Company Arrangement. In the 2015 financial year, IP3 Systems did not generate any revenue and had incurred software development costs, according to the report to creditors. The other major creditor is former CEO Ahmed Youssef, who is owed $900,000. Youssef told CRN: "As a concerned shareholder, I believe we (company shareholders) are all hopeful for a resolution to this situation, which would protect and cater for the interests of all shareholders." IP3 Systems was founded in 1999 and its alliance partners included IBM, HP, Microsoft and Unisys. The company has two products, Electron and Ether. Electron is a direct sales software for application in procurement, sales, logistics and supply chain management. Ether is a product directory that can be integrated with Electron. The e-commerce software vendor offered product training, implementation services and customer and partner support, including a partner program. The newest work by North Dakotas poet laureate and celebrated novelist will be old-school, printed on an antique letterpress that went out of use decades ago. Larry Woiwode, of rural Mott, said he plans to be there while college students with ink-stained hands print a small, artisan-style book of his poetry on a museum press in a small rural town. The presses will be cranked today and Saturday and, God willing, the ink dries, and, even if it doesnt, Woiwode will read from Land of Sunlit Ice at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Bismarck Public Library. Woiwode said hes excited about the process, especially the idea of using a museum-piece press to print these poetry chapbooks in a day and age when digital technology rules the printing world. All books are becoming artifacts and soon will be museum pieces, he said. The 200 or so chapbooks so called for their small size when they were hawked by chapmen on the street long ago in Europe will be numbered, signed by the author at the reading and could be collectible one day, Woiwode said. It will contain the best gathering of 14 of his poems, recent and past, to appear in a single collection, he said. North Dakota State University students will be printers of this first edition using antique letterpresses dating from the 1920s at the Braddock News Letterpress Museum in Braddock. The students will hand feed the pages one at a time through engraved plates, use antique wire stitchers to bind the 32-page books and trim them on a 40s-era paper cutter. Allan Burke, a newspaper publisher in nearby Linton and founder of the letterpress museum, said firing up the old presses for a student project is his dream of how the museum should be used. I believe its beneficial for students of all ages, third grade through college, to have a hands-on chance to learn about the history of communication and to create it with 100-year-old machines, Burke said. Suzzanne Kelley, the students professor, has a more prosaic thought about the experience, which will require a very quick turnaround from the printers shop. Im hoping the ink is dry, Kelley said of Woiwodes reading. My class is so excited to use these antique presses. Its so tactile, smelling the ink, and getting a feel for how books used to be made, Kelley said. The letterpress museum is located on the grounds of the South Central Threshing Association and presses are run at least once a year during the fall threshing show. Burke said local volunteers helped prepare the museum for the students project, installing a furnace and fans to warm the building and help dry the pages when they roll off the press. He said the letterpress could be used by artists and folks interested in hand-printed works, including announcements or invitations. Im hoping others will use the presses over time, Burke said. The students are enrolled in Kelleys Introduction to Publishing class. They stenciled and printed the chapbook covers on an even older press, dating from the 1890s at the Hunter Times museum newspaper at Bonanzaville in Fargo. Kelley is also editor in chief of the North Dakota State University Press and Land of Sunlit Ice will be among its published works. The flood of executive departures at Symantec reached all the way to the top levels of the security vendor Thursday with the news that Michael Brown would be stepping down from his position as president and CEO. Symantec did not provide a reason for Brown's departure, saying only that he would remain with the company as director and CEO until a successor had been found. The company said the board of directors had already begun its search with the assistance of an executive search firm. Ajei Gopal has joined the California-based company as interim president and chief operating officer. Gopal is a former senior vice president and general manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and current operating partner at Silver Lake, which recently took a $500 million strategic investment in Symantec. The company formed a new office of the president, which includes Gopal, executive vice president and CFO Thomas Seifert, and executive vice president, general counsel and secretary Scott Taylor. Chairman of the board of directors Daniel Schulman said Symantec has executed on its company transformation priorities, making the time right for an executive transition. "We thank Mike for guiding Symantec through a critical period of transition as president and CEO Given our solid financial foundation and clear path forward as the leader in cybersecurity, this is the right time to transition leadership for Symantecs next chapter of growth. We appreciate Mikes continued support as the board conducts a thoughtful and comprehensive search for Symantecs next CEO," Schulman said in a statement. Drastic changes The Symantec transformation has been drastic over the past three years, trying to turn the company back to growth and position it for relevancy once again in the new security landscape. That transformation has included the sale of its Veritas storage business earlier this year, a new product road map around enterprise security, cost structure improvements, executive leadership additions and returning cash to shareholders. "I am extremely proud of what our team has accomplished. I look forward to supporting this transition as we continue executing on our unified security strategy, building our enterprise security sales pipeline, improving our cost structure and efficiently allocating capital," Brown said in a statement about his departure. Symantec also said the company had lowered its revenue guidance for the upcoming quarter to US$873 million, down from an expected range of US$885 million to US$915 million. The company said it now expects non-GAAP operating margins of 25 percent, down from 26 percent to 28 percent, and earnings per share of 22 cents, down from 24 cents to 27 cents. The company said the revenue drop was due to lower-than-expected licence revenue and more deferred revenue than anticipated, due to the company's subscription service business. "The shift to more ratable revenue is consistent with our unified security strategy, as more customers are buying security offerings that require continuous protection and monitoring to remain up to date and protected against the latest threats," Brown said in a statement about the revenue expectation changes. Earnings are expected to be announced 12 May. Brown's departure is the latest in an executive exodus at Symantec in recent months, particularly around the company's channel team. Most recently, the security vendor lost Americas channel chief Stephen Thomas, who took a role as vice president of sales for North America at Cyberbit Commercial Solutions. Other recent departures include Adrian Jones, executive vice president and general manager of global sales and operations; Tom LaRocca,vice president of global channel programs and sales; and Sean Maxwell, vice president of global sales strategy and field enablement. Sources with knowledge of the situation have also told CRN USA layoffs have already started at the security vendor, including in the company's sales organisation. This article originally appeared at crn.com JB Hi-Fi has rescued the channel of Chinese smartphone vendor Oppo after the collapse of Dick Smith. The electronics retailer will stock Oppos entire device range, which includes the R7s, R7 Plus, F1 and the new flagship R9 and R9 Plus smartphones. JB Hi-Fi will also stock Oppo phone covers, cases and chargers. Oppo Australias marketing director Michael Tran said he was pleased with the vendors progress in Australia so far. We know from customer feedback that when Aussies experience our products, they fall in love with them, said Tran. Our partnership with JB Hi-Fi will help us get into the hands of Aussies nationwide, which is very important in building our brand." Dick Smith scooped an exclusive retail agreement to sell Oppos R7 and R7 Plus in June last year. The retailer went on the offensive by opening dedicated kiosks in 150 stores alongside Apple and Samsung. After Dick Smith fell into administration, Oppo began talks with other resellers to stock its devices. Tran told CRN that Oppo was left in the dark on its retail future after Dick Smiths assets were acquired by Kogan in March. Optus was signed on to sell Oppos budget F1 smartphone in its retail stores. Optus also sells the Oppo R7 on a $40-per-month plan. Mobility News New BlackBerry Executive Alex Thurber Committed To Maintaining Focus On Channel Lindsey O'Donnell Share this BlackBerry has named security veteran Alex Thurber as its new senior vice president of Global Device Sales. Thurber, who started at BlackBerry in April, told CRN that he hopes to help the company become more connected with its customers by attracting new types of partners and maintaining its focus on the channel. "Our goal is to become even more connected to our customers," he said. "This includes being innovative with our selling models -- getting new types of partners and defining new routes to market. We want to ensure customers understand our road map and how we are developing new technologies and products to provide high levels of productivity without compromising security and privacy." [Related: Intel Promotes Head Of Its Data Center Group As Partners See Booming Business] Before BlackBerry, Thurber worked as vice president of worldwide sales at WatchGuard Technologies, which provides integrated network security firewall products and services to SMBs. Thurber has also worked as senior vice president for worldwide channels in commercial and SMB sales at McAfee, as well as in global channels strategy for Cisco Systems, where he helped implement sales strategies for security, mobility and emerging technologies, as well as develop new global business models. "As a company, we are expanding our sales team to establish more relationships with corporate and other enterprise consumers to help generate new business while still maintaining our focus on the channel as our primary route to market," Thurber said. "The success of the device business is reliant not only on the quality and innovation behind the devices themselves, but also in our distribution model." Rick Jordan, director of Sales and Strategic Alliances at Tenet Computer Group, a Toronto-based BlackBerry partner, applauded the Waterloo, Ontario-based company's new executive appointment. "I think this is a win from a partner perspective. [Thurber] understands the channel and I think this will solidify BlackBerry's connection with their partners," said Jordan. "Watchguard has had tremendous success, and Cisco's obviously a powerhouse company. I think this comes down to BlackBerrys direction -- when you're channel friendly and understand the channel, it will only help." BlackBerrys hiring of Thurber comes as the mobile company sharpens its focus on security software, services and Android smartphones tailored for the enterprise market. In February, the company revealed it was cutting about 200 employees, including including Gary Klassen, creator of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), a cross-platform instant messaging application. After a 6 a.m. C-ration breakfast on April 19, 1966, Marine Cpl. Duane Olson and his eight-man squad headed out a search-and-destroy mission in the jungle of Vietnam but this mission was unlike others before. I had a bad feeling I cant explain, Olson said of coming to the end of the trail. Peeking through the brush, Olson could see the old path. It was grown over, he told his commander: "But somethings been through here. He was told to check it out but be careful. Moving through the brush Olson tripped a booby trap. There was an explosion. He flew one way, his gun flew another and he felt pain in his body before it ever hit the ground. He lay there five minutes but it seemed like hours. He couldnt push himself up. His squad came running and was ambushed. At 20 years old, the Jamestown native hadnt known what he wanted to do with his life. His father had served in the U.S. Army during World War II and his older brother was a Marine. Wanting action, Olson followed his brother's lead, he enlisted in 1965 and spent his 21st birthday in boot camp. Olson would be assigned to the Fifth Marine Regiment. They were about the gung-ho-est outfit in the Marine Corps, he said. When the corps asked for volunteers to go to Vietnam, Olson told his friend: Lets go. We got to go sometime. Ten days later they boarded a ship at Long Beach bound for Da Nang. I didnt know where Vietnam was to tell you the truth, Olson said. In North Dakota, he had known a war was going on but did not hear much more about it. The ship to Da Nang was crowded. They slept eight high on open bunks at the front of the ship. On the way, a typhoon hit, causing most of the crew to become seasick. The ship broke down for several days, forcing the men to take saltwater showers and conserve drinking water as they waited on repairs. Finally, 21 days later in August 1965, they landed. We were glad to get our feet on the ground, Olson said. After three months, Olson was sent to Okinawa then the Philippines for a couple months of training. Okinawa was where he met another soldier from Jamestown. It would be eight months later in a hospital bed that they would see each other again. Sent back to Vietnam, Olson went on an endless string of search-and-destroy missions, walking for miles and miles all over the country and spending nights in foxholes. We were just out there looking for trouble, he said of the missions spent seeking out the enemy. Everything was against us not only the enemy but the elements. Olson wore out two pairs of leather boots in a months time and used wire to hold the soles to the rotting leather. They were in Chu Lai, Tam Ky, the demilitarized zone, the A Shau Valley. We got pounded there, said Olson, who recalled that airstrikes were called in. They dropped it so close you could feel the heat from the napalm. That stuff was scary. Sometimes, they would go days without gunfire; other days, they could feel the heat as bullets whizzed past. Most of the attacks came at night, Olson said. Every noise you hear you think its the enemy, said Olson of sitting on guard at night. The attack that would end his military career and nearly ended his life was in daylight. After his friend, Rick Russo, pulled him to safety, Olson would come to find eight large holes from shrapnel up and down his legs. He was also carrying two World War II-era fragmentation grenades. One had a hole; the other was cracked and should have gone off. But they didnt. So the guy upstairs was looking out for me that day, he said. Olson was patched together in an open-air tent hospital and flown back to Great Lakes naval hospital in Chicago a week later. It would take more than 100 stitches to close his wounds and about a year of intense therapy for him to walk again. Olson wasnt the only one; all 13 stories of the hospital were filled with wounded veterans. And it was the wounds that couldn't be seen that would take more time to heal. It would be 35 years before Olson was diagnosed with PTSD, and it would take therapy sessions at the Bismarck Veteran Center to help. He also suffers nerve damage from drinking from Agent Orange-tainted rivers. After he was discharged from the hospital, Olson came back to work with his father in a plumbing store. He then spent 22 years as a conductor for BNSF Railway before doctor's orders forced him to retire. He was married, has two sons and moved to Bismarck in 1995. "When I was (in Vietnam), I was there to protect not only myself and my buddies, but the U.S., too," Olson said, and, despite the aches and pains, he's proud that he served. The 2016 cruise season gets underway in Atlantic Canada this weekend with the arrival of the Holland America Veendam in the region The Atlantic Canada Cruise Association (ACCA) is forecasting approximately 611,000 passengers will visit Atlantic Canada in during the 2016 cruise season, according to a press release. This is an increase from 550,651 in 2015. The cruise sector in Atlantic Canada continues to be strong, said Nora Fever, Chair of ACCA. Our ports deliver world-class experiences and we continue to be an attractive cruise option for visitors and cruise lines alike. We are delighted to be welcoming so many passengers during a season that stretches from late April to early November. A number of Atlantic Canadas smaller, niche ports will see visits by cruise lines this year. Pictou, NS will continue to build on its award-winning 2015 cruise season while Summerside, PEI will see its first ever cruise ship call later this year. This year will also see the return of Disney Cruise Line to Atlantic Canada and inaugural calls from the Norwegian Breakaway and Royal Caribbeans Anthem of the Seas. Cruise remains among the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry, said Fever. The growth Atlantic Canada has seen over the past ten years is a sign of the confidence cruise lines have in our ability to deliver what guests are looking for when they travel. Holland America Lines Nieuw Amsterdam arrived at the Port of Seattle today, Friday, April 29, 2016, marking the start of the citys summer Alaska homeport cruise season. The line has increased its Seattle calls this year to 55, and three Holland America ships will sail roundtrip Seattle routes in 2016: the Westerdam arrives Saturday, May 7; the Amsterdam arrives Sunday, May 22; and the Maasdam arrives Monday, May 23, to begin their Alaska sailings from Seattle. New to Alaska cruising, the Nieuw Amsterdams arrival at Seattle is the start of a one-day cruise to Vancouver, British Columbia, to reposition to its summer homeport. In addition to the 48 roundtrip Seattle cruises to Alaska this season, three cruises to Australia/New Zealand or Hawaii/South Pacific will begin or end at Seattle, including the Amsterdams 53-day Tales of the South Pacific voyage and the Maasdams 23-day South Pacific Crossing. All of the options combined make a total of 55 calls by five ships the Zaandam makes one Seattle call that will welcome more than 86,000 guests to Seattle. As Seattles hometown cruise line its fitting that one of our ships is kicking off the citys Alaska season, a time we eagerly anticipate each year, said Orlando Ashford, Holland America president. We are headquartered in Seattle, and we take great pride in being a significant contributor to the local economy and in actively giving back to our community. In the coming year, Holland America expects to contribute $389 million to the Seattle economy and $547 million across Washington State. The cruise line employs 1,170 people at its Elliott Avenue headquarters in Seattle. Provisioning costs each time a ship calls at Seattle average about $300,000 per visit. The crise line works with more than 600 Washington vendors, from food and beverage suppliers to piano tuners, office supply stores and marine suppliers, among many more. For example, the Westerdam requires over 23,000 eggs and 1,375 gallons of milk each week all of which come from local farmers. In addition, local growers supply 147,550 pounds of fresh produce a week. Also contributing to Holland America Lines economic impact is spending by passengers and crew in local shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, museums, attractions and taxis. Other expenditures include ship maintenance and port fees, charges and taxes. Holland America Line ships have been sailing from the Port of Seattle since the 1970s. In May 2002, Holland America Line began using Seattle as a home port for Alaska cruises. I have written before about the wisdom of involving security early in the process of acquiring another company. But given what happened at my company last week, its probably a good idea to say it all again. Trouble Ticket At issue: The company has signed a deal to acquire a small software company, but no security review was conducted ahead of the deals close. Action plan: Quickly assess the companys weaknesses and shore them up just as fast. The CFO broke the news that we were acquiring a smaller software company in a meeting with most of the executive staff and other department heads. It was greeted as a welcome development, since we had been struggling with the question of whether we should divert resources to develop a needed feature in our product or instead purchase a company that could fill that gap. The problem for me was that I was learning this news along with the other department heads, even though the deal was already signed. I would be given a couple of weeks to conduct due diligence, but it was too late for any discovery that I made to be used as leverage to reduce the acquisition price tag or even to scuttle the deal entirely. [ ALSO ON CSO: Cybersecurity no longer merger afterthought ] The risks that might be uncovered in such a review can have tremendous implications. For example, it isnt unusual for a small software company to use someone elses proprietary software code as a base platform to build upon (why re-create the wheel, right?). The acquisition target might infringe on copyrights in less significant ways, as well, requiring fees to be paid. Those are just two of the many land mines that can be hidden from view in an acquisition, and both of them carry potentially large financial burdens that could fall on the acquiring company. Although there was no chance of backing out of the deal, it was still important that I conduct a review, so that we would at least know what sorts of problems were in store for us. I dusted off my M&A questionnaire and got to work. After several sessions with the companys small IT team, engineering department and customer service folk, I had a decent handle on the security maturity of the company or rather, its security immaturity. It fell short on several measures. This didnt surprise me, since the company doesnt have anyone dedicated to overseeing security matters. In fact, it was obvious from my review that security wasnt a priority. Nearly all of the companys infrastructure was installed on virtual servers located in a small data center closet, with all the servers on the same network and several exposed to the public Internet. One of the servers was hosting Subversion (used for source code management) as well as a wiki to manage product ideas and changes. Another was being used for the open-source PBX phone system Asterisk. The companys public-facing Web server was also acting as the corporate mail server. The Asterisk server had Secure Shell (SSH) available to the Internet. I asked the IT guy why, and he said a contractor maintained the server and needed remote access. Remediation of those problems wouldnt have been difficult for them; they just had to set up a demilitarized zone for all Internet-facing resources and configure a VPN to provide restricted and secure access to those resources. The problem in my mind was that, when you run into big security risks that can easily be fixed, its a red flag that alerts you to the extremely low priority that security considerations have been given. Next, a quick Nessus scan turned up many vulnerabilities. The company was running outdated software for Apache, DNS, Asterisk and other things. No server had been patched in over a year. Some of the servers were even running Telnet, which is an unencrypted method for accessing a Unix server. Such servers should never be exposed to the public Internet; due to the lack of proper hygiene and network segmentation, I had to consider the entire network compromised. Although what I had already seen had prepared me for some real problems, I was still surprised that, in an age of breaches, a company could be so irresponsible about securing its infrastructure. I then turned my attention to the cloud-based enterprise applications that the company was using, including Salesforce, Google Docs and QuickBooks. The big problem here was that the list of active users retained many people who had been terminated and some of them were still actively logging in. In the case of Google Docs, many sensitive documents had been recently modified by a user who had been terminated more than a year earlier. On top of that, password policies hadnt been implemented, and many users had weak passwords with no expiration. Obviously, I had my hands full. My first order of business was to secure the source code, which is our main interest in this company. I had the entire source code tree evaluated for any signs of manipulation; luckily, it was clean. I then had it moved to our own source code repository and decommissioned the old server. I drafted a remediation plan to close the egregious security holes, the eventual plan being to decommission all of the acquired companys internal infrastructure and migrate data and people to our own corporate servers. I felt it was too risky to even attempt to integrate its network with ours. And of course, with the enterprise cloud-based applications, well be terminating accounts and securing data. Its a long list of problems, but it gives force to my message to the executive staff: Next time you think about acquiring another company, get security involved early. This week's journal is written by a real security manager, "Mathias Thurman," whose name and employer have been disguised for obvious reasons. Contact him at mathias_thurman@yahoo.com. Click here for more security articles. This story, "Creating a secure network post acquisition" was originally published by Computerworld . This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY For many, developer and philanthropist Ervie Bud Hawley will be remembered as a visionary and an architect of the citys economic success. But for his family and friends, Hawley, who died Thursday at 89, will be remembered as a humble man who did what he could to provide for his children. He was a very soft-spoken man and everything he did was to build a life for his family, said David Hawley, one of the developers four children and president of the Hawley Management Co. Thats really why he worked so hard. Hawley began his career running a milk distribution business out of the family farm in Germantown. But when Interstate 84 came along in the 1950s and the farm was cut in half, the family began subdividing the property for housing instead. It wasnt long before Hawley turned his attention to commercial real estate, constructing the Berkshire Shopping Center in 1961. David Hawley said that when he was young, he remembers the crews moving hills of sand that once dominated the site of the shopping center that is now home to national retailers including Walmart and Staples. My father could look at a site and know what it would look like when it was finished, David Hawley said. He would take on projects that others thought were impossible, but he knew how to get it done. He was a real visionary in that sense and I believe it was one of his biggest strengths. Hawley went on to develop nearly 1 million square feet of retail and office space in the city, including much of the commercial development along Newtown Road, which is one of the busiest retail corridors in Danbury today. There are a handful of people who really charted Danburys economic destiny, and Hawley was a shining star among them, said Stephen Bull, president of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. Its not an accident that Danbury is the retail mecca for the region. Bud Hawley was a pioneer and an an architect of the incredible business base that we enjoy in the city today. When Hawley received the Connecticut Family Business of the Year award in 2007, he said he considered himself a man who had an idea or two and who wanted to do well for his wife and family. That idea or two started in a Danbury library in the late 1950s, when a curious Bud Hawley began researching stores that were not in Danbury at the time. I got names out of the library of big chains. I contacted them and they started coming here, Hawley said at the time. Besides his commercial success, Hawley also contributed significantly to the community, including a $1 million gift to Danbury Hospital last year to begin an endowment for spinal surgeries. We need a good (hospital) because it enhances the growth of the area, Hawley said at the time Without a good hospital, you wont get good manufacturers to come here. But its more important to me that the facility has a way and means of helping more people. Its nice to have the name on the chair; I wont say its bad, but thats not what its meant for. It was meant for people. The little bit that I can do, I want to help as much as I can. A wake will be held May 1 at the Green Funeral Home on Main Street from 4 to 7 p.m. dperrefort@newstimes.com The next few months are going to bring big changes for drivers of the 88,000 vehicles that travel every day on the Route 8/25 connector in Bridgeport. Thats because of a $35 million project to replace four, 44-year-old bridges over Lindley Street and Capitol Avenue. The bridges that will replace the deteriorating, older ones are being constructed near the northbound Exit 5 ramp. Those new bridges are expected to be moved to the construction site sometime in June. After the demolition of the existing southbound Lindley Street and Capital Avenue bridges, the new prefabricated bridges will be lifted into place to create the new bridge decks. The idea behind this Accelerated Bridge Construction method is to have the new bridges quickly installed. By using the ABC method, the impacts to Route 8/25 traffic are reduced from two years to approximately one month during the bridges replacement. The biggest change drivers will face is the closure of one side of Route 8/25 while the old bridges are demolished the the new ones put into place. This will require traffic to be be detoured across the median to the opposite side of the highway. While no specific date for this shift has been given its expected to early this summer. Meeting on the project Because of the impact on traffic, a meeting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chambers of Bridgeport City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace. The state Department of Transportation says the meeting will provide critical information to local officials, emergency service personnel, and transportation stakeholders that may experience impacts during the upcoming Route 8 construction activities including bridge replacement, local detours, and highway lane shifts. Other work The project also involves construction of a retaining wall to fill in an area under four other bridges. When the Lindley Street Bridge was built, the land adjacent to it was a parking lot for the now-closed Bridgeport Machine Company. Closure of the parking lot would have left the site with virtually no parking for the companys workers. The state decided at that time to build over the parking lot instead of displacing the company. Work at this site is continuing with the forming and casting of concrete retaining walls beneath the Lindley Street viaduct. These retaining walls, along with approximately 40,000 cubic yards of earthen fill, will allow the current bridge structure carrying Route 8 over Lindley Street to be reduced from seven spans to two. Work has also begun on repairs to the metal bin wall which runs along Route 8 south between Capitol Avenue and Lindley Street. This work involves the installation of precast concrete panels in front of the bin wall and securing them in place thru the drilling of soil anchors into the fill behind the existing bin walls. Off of the Lindley Street northbound Exit 4 ramp, theres still more work. It includes the widening of Lindley Street, removing and replacing sidewalk, relocating and upgrading utilities and eventually the widening of the Exit 4 off ramp. This work has already caused delays in the area. For more information on the project, visit http://rt8bridgeport.com/ BRIDGEPORT Terell Reid is one of the lucky ones. Released on parole after serving two years in prison for possession and sale of drugs, Reid, despite his criminal record, was hired by a local moving company after three weeks of job hunting and rejections. They gave me an opportunity, Reid, 29, said. But state lawmakers know not all employers are as open to offering felons a second chance. The House of Representatives this week overwhelmingly approved a bill, known as ban the box, prohibiting most employers from adding a box on their job applications that asks candidates about prior arrests, criminal charges or convictions. Employers can still inquire about criminal history during the interview process a compromise struck with business groups. Employers such as school districts and law enforcement agencies, which are required by law to check every applicants criminal background, would be exempt. The proposal, introduced by the Public Employees Committee, now heads to the Senate. Rosa Correa, who manages a re-entry program for ex-offenders in Bridgeport as director of Strategic Relations for Career Resources Inc., said the bill increases fairness in the job market. More often than not, the first thing people say when they come in here is, I want to work. They want to get on with their lives and move forward, Correa said. One of our programs is Fathers for Life, men who need to work so they can pay child support. Reid, one of her Strategic Relations clients, said he is helping to take care of two young daughters, 6 and 9 years old. But its a Catch-22 if they cant get a job because theyve been in prison, and they can be sent back to prison if they dont pay child support, Correa said. She said job training programs in prison provide convicts with a valuable skill set that can help them find work when they are released, she said. But, a recent study conducted in New York City by the National Institute of Justice found that a criminal record reduced the likelihood of a callback from employers or a job offer by nearly 50 percent. Correa said her programs match clients to job openings, and does not refer violent ex-offenders for jobs that involve tending to the elderly or other vulnerable people. Its very important that they build trust and we tell (clients) to volunteer, let the community see you, Correa said. They have the responsibility to build that trust, so people do not feel threatened. The bill has strong support from such groups as the Connecticut Association for Human Services and the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, as well as several state agencies, including the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Employment is a valuable part of the recovery process and is often a tool that assists recovery, state mental health Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon wrote to lawmakers in support of the bill. Through the employment process, individuals find a positive purpose and meaning in their lives. However, several business groups opposed the original bill, citing security concerns. In response, legislators narrowed the ban to exclude the interview process. State Rep. J.P. Sredzinski, R-Monroe, who serves on the Legislatures commerce and public safety committees, voted in favor of the bill. It isnt anti-employer. There are still opportunities for employers to do background checks and find out if that (applicant) belongs there. It just eliminates the stigma up front by removing the box from the application. Eric Gjede, an assistant counsel at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, said the amended bill is a good balance between the interests of job applicants and those of employers. It does give people who are looking for a second chance in their life the opportunity to get their foot in the door and make a case for themselves, he said. But at the same time, it provides a protection for employers so they can provide a safe workplace for their employees and their customers. Bob McVeigh, past president of the Connecticut Alarm & Systems Integrators Association, also was pleased lawmakers changed the bill so his industry can properly vet candidates to do security system installations, which often take place in peoples homes. In our industry, the public wants us to do a background check, he said. This is basically saying we cant have it on the job application, which is fine. Reid, who is grateful for the opportunity to work, said it is important that the bill becomes law. I filled out a couple of applications before I went to that moving company, Reid said. Everybody makes mistakes. Just because a person has a criminal background, it doesnt make them a bad person. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Danay McBride strolled down Seaview Avenue recently, past the site of the September 2014 fire that destroyed a warehouse and threatened surrounding homes like hers. Federal contractors are still busy hauling away the remnants of metal drums of chemicals that tenant Rowayton Trading company had stored there. Some of those 55-gallon containers exploded the night of the fire, adding to the confusion that drew firefighters from Bridgeport, Fairfield and Stratford, as well as state and federal environmental agencies. But once the smoke cleared, the firefighters were widely praised for keeping the fire contained to the warehouse, with no loss of life or surrounding homes. More News Massive fire strikes Bridgeport warehouse, prompts evacuations They did pretty good, McBride said. The warehouses owner, 25 Grant Street LLC, has a different view, as it seeks to recover millions of dollars in losses. Grant Street owned by Ronald and Leon Barnaby has filed a notice of intent to sue the city. The company maintains Bridgeports emergency responders made the fire worse because they were in the dark about what was stored on site. The notice names the citys fire chief, fire marshal, emergency management chief and all first responders acting in a supervisory capacity as targets of the coming suit. The legal notice claims emergency responders should have had access to material safety data sheets (MSDS) filed with the city by Rowayton Trading that detailed what that company had stored on site. These (MSDS) sheets put the city on notice that many of the chemicals stored by 25 Grant St. LLCs tenant in its warehouse required foam to suppress the fire from rapidly accelerating and/or specifically stated that a solid water stream, which the city utilized to combat the fire ... would scatter and spread the fire, Grant Streets legal documents state. They claim there was an inexcusable delay in obtaining MSDS information. Instead of the Bridgeport Fire Department applying foam to the small fire existing at the site when they first arrived, they applied massive amounts of solid water streams that caused the fire to rapidly expand and consume the entire building, claims Grant Street. Or, in the words of Michael Stratton, Grant Streets attorney, They were basically pouring gasoline on fire. In interviews with Hearst Connecticut Media soon after the blaze, then-Mayor Bill Finchs administration admitted to some initial confusion. City officials said there was a delay of several hours locating the file on Rowayton Trading Co. because of confusion over the warehouses address. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 6:45 p.m., but did not have good data on whether there might be hazardous substances inside until a Rowayton Trading representative arrived about three hours later. It was not until 11 p.m. that the citys file on Rowayton Trading was brought to the scene, city officials said at that time. Cost of cleanup Stratton said his clients are looking to recoup millions of dollars in the costs for cleanup, rebuilding and lost lease revenue. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, which spent the winter testing the contents of the drums and removing them, the tab from the federal government alone will be over $2.3 million. But, Stratton argued, there is another reason for pursuing litigation forcing the city under new Mayor Joe Ganim to make internal changes for the safety of Bridgeports Bravest. This could have been four, five firefighters lives, Stratton said. You cant have a system where folks go into a fire having no idea what theyre encountering. The firefighters who went into that scene were very brave people and they protected a lot of homes. Although their leadership did them wrong, they should be honored for their bravery. Fire Chief Brian Rooney called the legal action frivolous and shameful. Neither Rooney, who was in charge at the time of the blaze, nor City Attorney R. Christopher Meyer wanted to discuss the pending litigation, but defended the fire departments response. The Bridgeport Fire Department along with the Stratford and Fairfield fire departments fought this fire completely and efficiently, Rooney said. The firefighters put their lives on the line to save the entire neighborhood from going up in flames. I find any claims to the contrary are pertinently false, frivolous and shameful. Meyer said Grant Streets allegations were a whole bunch of speculation that lacked merit. The fire department did a fantastic job saving a whole neighborhood, Meyer said. And, he added, the landlord and tenant were in a better position to protect themselves both physically and financially from something like this. Our firefighters stepped in and controlled a huge blaze, and did a good job, Meyer said. While that 2014 fire may dog the city for some time, the EPA is wrapping up its work on the site. An agency spokesman said its final day will be May 10. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD After a five-hour filibuster by Republican senators opposed to a proposal to extend increases in minimum wage beyond the $10.10 set to take effect next January, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff abruptly withdrew the bill late Thursday. While the legislation can be renewed on the Senate floor by Duff, D-Norwalk, in the waning days of the General Assembly session that ends Wednesday at at midnight, its unlikely, since hundreds of other bills await debate and action in the state Senate and House. The apparent death of the bill was a defeat for first-term Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport. Legislation originally drafted to charge large chain stores for the social costs of paying low wages was amended on the state Senate floor late Thursday afternoon to raise Connecticuts $9.60 per-hour minimum wage to $12 by Jan. 1, 2020. The move apparently took GOP lawmakers by surprise as, one after another, they criticized the bill. Opposition was led by Sen. Rob Kane, R-Watertown, Sen. L. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich, Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton and Sen. Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford. Moore, co-chairman of the legislative Human Services Committee, said the proposal was a scaled-back version of two other bills, which died this session that would have raised the minimum wage to $15. Moore runs a nonprofit organization, and said she worked a minimum-wage job for a month and discovered the struggles of many low-income families. I could have never have survived if I had a family on the money that I was being paid at the low wage of $9.50 per hour, she said. I worked beside a man who was a CPA who could not find work as a CPA and was being paid $9.75 an hour. People are working multiple jobs and are still not making a living wage and not able to feed their families, Moore said. Many of the people that are working in the low-wage jobs are receiving subsidies from the state of Connecticut, being paid by tax dollars. If they were making a decent wage, those tax dollars could go to pay for some other things. The bill would have piggyback on the current schedule of wage hikes that plateau at $10.10 an hour on Jan. 1, 2017. Under the legislation, which originated in the legislative Labor Committee, it would have become $10.70 in 2018, $11.30 in 2019 and $12 on Jan. 1, 2020. Where did we come up with these figures? asked Kane, whose district includes Seymour and Oxford, and who is ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. He warned that Connecticuts business climate is still fragile after the states two highest tax hikes in recent years. It is based on the proponents best interest and getting the wage to something that is livable, Moore replied. So the proponents are now setting legislation rather than the committee that you chair, said Kane, whose district includes Oxford and Seymour. Theyre providing input, sir; thats why we have the public hearings: to hear from the community and the low-wage earners, Moore responded. Kane blamed under-employment on state government policies that hinder business with high health care costs, high taxes and high energy costs. We dont want CPAs taking those jobs? There has to be a reason why a person took that job, he said. Frantz, ranking member of the Finance Committee, said wages are an important issue, but the free market works here beautifully and establishes fair wages. Everybody is better off as a result of having a competitive situation, Frantz said, warning that there was a lack of data for senators during the debate and there is a danger of job losses if wages are raised at the wrong time. If were not paying attention to those important pieces of data and metrics in general, we are paying a disservice to the state of Connecticut, Frantz said, noting the double-digit unemployment rates in Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven. Were in tough-enough shape here in Connecticut without this proposal. As the hours piled up through the evening, Republican senators described their own experiences as young minimum-wage workers, including summer jobs in the Berkshires and, working construction jobs. Boucher recalled her father, an Italian immigrant in Naugatuck, worked multiple jobs when she was growing up. kdixon@ctpost.com WASHINGTON The Obama administration on Friday laid out an ambitious timeline for spurring along smart-gun technology and ultimately using federal purchasing power as a marketplace incentive for development of weapons with features that minimize the chances of misuse. As long as weve got the technology to prevent a criminal from stealing and using your smartphone, then we should be able to prevent the wrong person from pulling a trigger on a gun, President Barack Obama said in a Facebook posting to roll out a report by the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security. The report set a timeline for developing baseline specifications by Oct. 15 this year for smart guns to be used by federal, state and local law enforcement. Once developed, smart guns would employ technology similar to smart phones that permit access through a four-digit ID or a biometric measure such as a thumbprint. Chips embedded in guns could send location signals if guns are lost or stolen. The issue has been watched closely in Connecticut because of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Adam Lanza used weapons that didnt belong to him to kill 20 kids and six educators in Sandy Hook, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Friday at a news conference in Hartford. Had Nancy Lanza bought smart guns, there might be kids and educators alive today in Newtown. Theoretically, smart guns also could prove effective in cases where small children find parents guns and use them to accidentally kill themselves or playmates or siblings or even parents themselves. Earlier this week, a 2-year-old in Milwaukee picked up a loaded .40-caliber handgun in the backseat of car and killed his mother, who was driving. This was a tragedy that never should have happened, said U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., who represents Newtown and has taken a leading role within the House Democratic minority on guns. This is where smart-gun technology can make a difference. The 16-page report notes that although some smart guns have appeared in the marketplace, much work needs to be done to assure that such weapons are reliable and wont compromise police officers or federal agents needing quick access in high-stress situations when firearms are needed most. To incentivize gun manufacturers, the administration will open up its U.S. Army proving grounds in Aberdeen, Md., for trials and award cash prizes of $5,000 and $10,000 for manufacturers that pass light- and heavy-duty testing phases. The report makes clear the end game is not only to usher in widespread use of smart guns by law enforcement, but also to create marketplace incentives for gun manufacturers to produce them profitably. Here, as in many other industries, the government can serve as a market participant, encouraging important technological advancements with the potential to benefit both law enforcement officers and the public at large, the report said. The reports authors also said there would be no mandate that any particular individual or law enforcement agency adopt the technology once developed. The National Rifle Association has said it does not oppose smart-gun development but insists the marketplace, not government mandates, should determine its use once it becomes technologically feasible. On Friday, an NRA spokeswoman reiterated that position but argued White House interest in smart guns has political motivations. President Obamas obsession with gun control knows no boundaries, said the spokeswoman, Jennifer Baker. At a time when we are actively fighting terrorists at home and abroad, this administration would rather focus the militarys efforts on the presidents gun-control agenda. On Friday, the administration also announced it would convene a conference in May of state and local officials to figure out what works on the ground when it comes to keeping our communities safe, and then share those practices, as Obama put it. Also, the Social Security Administration will put forward a federal rule to permit forwarding its records to the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The aim would be to weed out individuals unqualified under federal law to purchase firearms, such as those adjudicated mentally ill. dan@hearstdc.com Since 1997, J.K. Rowling has been captivating audiences with the story of a very special boy, and his very famous scar. Recently, Rowling was voted the most influential author on Readers Legacy and to celebrate, our company began running a 20 percent off sale from April 25 to April 30 on each of her books. Related: J.K. Rowling and Stephen King Top Reader's Legacy List of The World's Most Popular Authors As we began marketing for the sale, I began to research more about the author behind one of the greatest series in literary history -- and what I learned blew my mind! Rowling came from humble beginnings -- a single mother who was barely making ends meet, and practically overnight became the most well-known author of the 21st century. How did she do this, you might ask? Through something all sales people should know about -- opportunity. Heres what I learned: 1. Opportunity must be found. Before becoming the world-renowned author she is today, J.K. Rowling was a single mother, who was out of work and barely making ends meet. It was on a delayed train to London that fate would intervene and images of a boy wizard in a mysterious world flooded her mind. With such a story brewing inside, Rowling chose to look at her unemployment as an opportunity to write in stead of being stuck on a situation she was bound to. In sales, you have to adapt the same mindset and seize the moments you have in order to create the leads you want. This means you stop looking at how things are, and instead look at all situations as opportunities to grow your business. For example, instead looking at long flights home as painful and boring, look at them as hopeful opportunities to make connections for future sales. Related: 5 Symptoms of the Entrepreneurial Disease 2. Opportunity only comes with adversity. Harry Potter was rejected by 12 different publishers before being picked up by Bloomsbury Publishing in 1996. Originally, publishers were not crazy about the sheer size of the book, let alone the tale of an orphaned boy making his way through a world of witchcraft. No matter the amount of rejection, Rowling believed in her work and did not allow herself to stop submitting her to publishers until it was finally taken to print. Sometimes, as you pursue sales, you will come across potential clients who do not like your message or the items you are trying to sell. Thats OK -- dont let it keep you from pushing forward. With rejection comes growth, and with growth comes success -- which leads to prosperity. 3. Opportunity only comes in the form of others. Rowlings Harry Potter would not be the powerhouse it is today if not for her stellar fan following, also known as Potterheads," who have stuck with her to the very end. For salesmen, word-of-mouth can make you or break you. It is imperative when generating leads that you take the time to listen and get to know who you are working with. Doing so will make them feel cared for, and when theyre cared for, they will begin to care about you too. When you provide outstanding service, people notice -- and their contacts soon become your clients. Related: 8 Things Exceptional Thinkers Do Every Day Though the moral of Harry Potter may not apply to the message above, the moral of the story that is J.K. Rowlings life does. Whether youre a business expert, an aspiring writer or a stay-at-home mom, opportunity is everywhere and is yours for the taking. Keep your eyes open -- and go for it with gusto! Related: 3 Lessons J.K. Rowling Taught Me About Sales Opportunities 15 Inspirational Shakespeare Quotes on the 400th Anniversary of His Death How India Has Become the Nation of Rising Entrepreneurial Opportunities Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved It's not the leave you take, but what you take when you leave that matters most. More and more, companies are offering sweetened leave policies. Put aside parental leave, which has its own set of rules and has evolved already from corporate perk to de rigeur offering. Also, let's not think of programs like a "paw-ternity" leave, where you get time off for getting a new pet. Think instead of the recent trend of companies encouraging employees to do someting to recharge their batteries. Most executives encourage the occassional mental-health day, but more corporations are offering a full-blown sabbatical. Genentech, for instance, gives you a six-week sabbatical after six years of service, while Adobe gives you a month after 10 years. The idea behind a sabbatical or paid leave of absence is that, once loosed of the shackles of worklife, you will return a happier, more creative and more productive worker when you return to your cubicle. But is that true? There has been very little academic research about productivity effectiveness in relation to sabbaticals in the corporate world. Academia, which made sabbaticals mainstream, has pumped out a ton of research on why they're the best thing ever, but one wonders about confirmation bias. Professors who get to take a year off every few years think taking a year off every few years is a wonderful idea. Instead, most of the positive benefits for companies are more anecdotal. That's not surprising, because improving the productivity and creative juices of the affected employees isn't the only endpoint. Just offering a program like this is seen as the kind of employee benefit every company needs nowadays to attract and retain the best talent. There's little downside for a startup to offer it, particularly since most won't survive long enough to make good on the promise. But small business and large corporations are competing in the same talent pool, and flexibility in the way you allow people to work is a key benefit. If I had to take this as a bet to Gulfstream Park, I'd wager that most companies will be increasing sabbatical programs in the coming year, or at least get more generous with smaller-scale leaves. (Millennials and Gen-Xers alike expect them, apparently.) But, my hope is that there's more thoughtfulness about these leaves so that companies can get a more measurable benefit from letting employees wander off from time to time. Related: How You Can Recharge Your Entrepreneurial Batteries With a Working Sabbatical To that end, there should be two "takes" for every leave: Employees have to take an action plan with their leave. Constraints are great for creativity, but one of the big question marks with most sabbaticals and leaves is the open-ended nature of them. Like a boomerang, many companies send folks on their way, with the only expectation being they return at the end of the trip. Why not set a higher bar by setting expectations for what you expect from the employee when she returns? It doesn't have to be homework. In fact, it shouldn't be. But companies should take advantage of the temporary separation by having the creative juices the break is supposed to elicit start paying off right away. For instance, if a company has a pain point, why not task an employee to spend some time thinking through the solution? A month with new scenery, fewer work-related distractions and a decreased stress level could spark the kind of innovation to get around a particularly problem faster and more effectively than a bunch of folks brainstorming in a conference room. Related: How to Turn an Underperformer Into an Ideal Employee Employers have to take an opportunity to test the rest of the team. When Intel launched its own sabbatical program, believed to be the first of its kind in corporate America, back in 1981, it did so not just for employee rejuvenation, but also for employee evaluation. Because other people will have to take up the work of the employee on leave, it's a great opportunity to see how other employees respond. That evaluation can happen in two ways. First, you can check attitude. Are people resentful that a colleague is off for that long, even if he was entitled to the time? Are people complaining about additional workload that's not normally in their scope? Those are pretty good red flags for employee assessment. But you can also expose team members to new challenges and see how they respond. If someone in sales takes a month off, it might be worth taking a promising person from the back office, who never had a client-facing position, and seeing how she responds. Related: How to Vacation Like a Boss Or, you can use it in your internal succession planning. Rarely do you get an opportunity to see how deep your bench really is, but the sabbatical of an executive gives a great laboratory to see how certain people respond when they rise up the ladder. One way or another, there has to be an intention inherent in the employee taking the time off and an intention in the employer allowing it to happen, beyond anecdotal evidence that the leave period will somehow help the company. Whatever you do, just don't leave a leave alone. Related: Leave Policies Are Leaving Out Some Key Opportunities Richard Branson Now Offers Employees a Full Year of Parental Leave These Are the Countries -- and Companies -- With the Best Paternity Leave Policies Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This article originally appeared on entrepreneur.com What is it that we cant find out lately in the land of the free, in this cradle of democracy we call Connecticut? Too much stays secret. Our collective memory of Ella Grasso is fading. In a state college classroom recently, not one student knew who she was. You may remember she was the first woman in America elected governor of her state in her own right. She convinced a unanimous legislature unanimous of the value to democracy in having state Freedom of Information laws and of setting up the nations first FOI Commission. Its not going so well. Everywhere government officials are keeping the publics work secret, from academy to the state-owned airport, to historical records, to the very FOI Commission founded by Grasso in 1975. When citizens are denied public records our records held by public government agencies they can complain to the FOI Commission, which holds hearings and, based on the FOI law, can order those records released. But the commission is four to five months behind because of the number of complaints and proposed budget cuts this year $339,522 (or nearly 20 percent of its original appropriation). Oddly, a 10th and 11th commissioner are proposed to be added. How obtuse. The FOIC doesnt need more commissioners. We need that money restored so a tiny staff doesnt get tinier, for democracys sake. Well meaning mental health advocates came out in droves to try to kill a bill that would make historical medical records available to the public, the century-old records, for example, of mass murderer Amy Archer Gilligan. The legislation would simply put Connecticut where the rest of the nation is, under federal law that releases records after 50 years (HIPPA) or 75 years (National Archives). It seems to me the privacy culture continues to stigmatize those with mental health problems by insisting on secrecy. Until we get the illness and its societal implications out into the open, the less we will understand it, and the more we will look askance at those with the disease. We have the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans as casino operators, doing battle with MGM studios over who gets to build another gambling palace. Most of the fight is in secret before the state Airport Authority, a public agency that refuses to open its deliberations on whether it will seek a casino at Bradley International. Maybe you noticed Windsor Locks Board of Finance Chairman Paul M. Harrington decrying the other day how even in Ella Grassos hometown secrecy prevails. Month after month, the closed meetings continue and the public remains shut out. It's time some light was shed on what's happening. Our community and our state deserve to know, whether a casino will be built at Bradley, he wrote. This may be the year we all get a bigger peek into the mysterious operations of the UConn Foundation. Senate Minority Leader pro tempore Kevin Witkos of Canton is praising a bill about to become law that will increase transparency at the foundation which has been fighting it for years. We have to better balance the need for transparency and openness while also ensuring that we dont inhibit the universitys successful fundraising efforts. This bill strikes that balance, he said, and continued on about how transparency advocates played a major role in crafting this legislation. I wonder which transparency advocates hes talking about? Those I know call the bill FOI lite. Folks, when you get the chance, please tell your legislator, your state senator, your mayor, your first selectman that democracy is about government of, by and for the people. Its not about keeping it all secret from the people. James H. Smith, a retied newspaper editor, is president of the nonprofit Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information. Why did Donald Trump win so handily on Tuesday? Here is how I see it: Trumps main issues are a sound immigration policy, returning manufacturing jobs to America, and negotiating better trade deals. Relevant issues that will affect all Americans lives. No one can buy Trump. No fat cat donors, corporations or PACS. He puts his money where his month is by self-funding his campaign. If youre tired of lying politicians promising the same old fantasy while your job is shipped out to China and the middle class gets smaller and the poor get poorer, Trump provides the only change in course. Trump is the anti-establishment candidate, a real populist. He is criticized mainly by the special interest cartel and their acolytes. I find him a refreshing departure from Brand X. Trump actually has accomplished something in his life. He has built magnificent skyscrapers and created thousands of jobs. Trump wrote the book on negotiating literally. Its called the Art of the Deal. Check it out at your local library. In the world diplomatic arena, he would have no peer. Imagine an American leader making great deals for our country instead of apologizing all the time for being the greatest country in the world. On Tuesday, April 26, Donald Trump won the Connecticut Republican Primary with 58 percent of the vote. Mike Garrett Bridgeport The writer is chairman of the Bridgeport Republican town committee. Berlin, Windber and North Star bring plenty of momentum into Week 10 Check out what we learned in Week 9 of the high school football season across Somerset County. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Charlie Crist square off in their only TV debate Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democrat Charlie Crist are expected to tussle over the economy, abortion and culture war issues. collage.jpg Authorities are searching for 15-year-old Heather Rasmussen of Moss Point, missing since Tuesday. She is considered a possible runaway. (Facebook photos) VANCLEAVE, Mississippi -- The Jackson County Sheriff's Department is actively seeking a teenage girl missing from her Vancleave home since Tuesday. According to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, 15-year-old Heather Renna Rasmussen was last seen Tuesday in the area of Jim Ramsey Loop Road in Vancleave. She is considered a possible runaway. Rasmussen is described as a white female, 5-3 in height, about 110 pounds, with brown eyes and brown or blonde hair (known to frequently change hair color). She is also known to frequent the St. Martin and Vancleave communities. Rasmussen's Facebook page shows numerous posts since she was last seen Tuesday, including one suggesting she might not want to return home. Anyone with information on Rasumssen's whereabouts is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff's Department at 228-769-3063 or JCSO investigator Tracy Odom at 228-769-3394. Lifestyle | Daily Life | News | The Sydney Morning Herald Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss In truly shameful scenes, Labour yesterday descended into civil war as moderate MPs battled to make Jeremy Corbyn confront anti-semitism. At every stage of the crisis engulfing his party, Mr Corbyn has not just shown himself to be weak and lamentably lacking in urgency, hes also reacted with the blithe complacency of a man who just doesnt get it. Mr Corbyn gave not the faintest sign of understanding how monstrously and deliberately offensive it was of his long-term ally Ken Livingstone to make the absurd claim that Hitler was a Zionist. Jeremy Corbyn failed to understand how offensive it was for Livingstone to describe Hitler as a Zionist Tellingly, the Labour leaders first reaction yesterday morning was apparently to tell colleagues he would suspend his old comrade only if John Mann, the Labour MP whod quite rightly denounced the Hitler remark, was suspended too. The parliamentary party then had to force a recalcitrant Mr Corbyn to take sanctions against Mr Livingstone. Labour has a proud history of treating all forms of racism as completely intolerable. But for many years a virulent strain of anti-Semitism has been developing largely unobserved on the far Left of the party. Now that wing is in charge, with Mr Corbyn as leader, John McDonnell as shadow Chancellor, and Mr Livingstone as a self-appointed mouthpiece for their socialist ideology. Earlier this week, the Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who was also Mr McDonnells parliamentary aide, had to be suspended from the party after she was found to have endorsed the insulting suggestion that all Jews in Israel should be transported to the United States. Then too, Mr Corbyn proved culpably reluctant to take action. For the Labour leader has lived so long in a self-congratulatory hard-Left milieu where anti-semitism is the norm that he could not see what the fuss was about. It is impossible to exaggerate how dismayed ordinary Labour supporters feel at this failure to take firm action. Yet Mr Corbyn still insists theres no crisis and hints that if MPs try to get rid of him he will set his activists on them. This sorry saga raises a profound question Is Mr Corbyn capable of recognising that by failing to eradicate anti-semitism, he is not just making his party unelectable, but is in danger of destroying it? Camerons EU sell-out It seems there is nothing David Cameron will not do in his search for new friends to persuade us to stay in the EU. His latest wheeze is to write a joint article with Brendan Barber, former general secretary of the TUC, warning that Brexit is a risk working people simply cannot afford. Not surprisingly, the support of the unions comes at a heavy price. They have insisted Mr Cameron water down key reforms in the Trade Union Bill, currently going through Parliament. Tory Eurosceptics are naturally furious, and want to know if there is any Tory manifesto promise which Mr Cameron is not prepared to sell out to win on June 23. Nor is it clear that the tendentious article to which Messrs Cameron and Barber put their names will sway a single vote. For although they assert that on the leavers side there is a real lack of credible experts, a group called Economists for Brexit has just declared the UK economy would be boosted by leaving the EU. They also remind us that the whole weight of expert opinion was in favour of Britain joining the Exchange Rate Mechanism, which turned out to be a disaster, and of signing up to the euro, which would have been a catastrophe. Perhaps Messrs Cameron and Barber would care to write a second article, explaining why on earth we should listen to a word their legions of experts tell us. The Albanian Option. It sounds like a John le Carre novel. You imagine a story with political intrigue, huge sums of money going astray, criminality and double-dealing. And youd be right. But the Albanian Option isnt holiday reading fiction its diplomatic fact. Albania is on course to join the European Union alongside four other countries, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. The already unwieldy group of 28 is due to become a throng of 33. And Britain isnt just backing this move. Were paying for it. Every week we send 350 million to the EU. And now millions of your hard-earned taxes are being directed to these five prospective members. Desperate: Albanian refugees arrive in Italy in 1991, after the collapse of communism. How many more will come if Albania joins the EU? Between now and 2020 the United Kingdom will pay almost 2 billion to help these nations prepare for membership of the EU thats more than we will spend on the NHS Cancer Drugs Fund over the same period. This bounty will be our greatest gift to Albania since the comic talent of the late Sir Norman Wisdom, that countrys improbable national hero, lit up the dark days of Stalinist dictatorship. Indeed, I wonder if the Albanian people are now convinced that Britains Foreign Office is full of Norman Wisdom characters, lovable chumps whose generosity and good-heartedness make them easily gulled into accepting all sorts of bad advice. How else could they explain their good fortune in being on the receiving end of a 2 billion Balkan bonanza? Many British people will ask why, if we have billions to spare, it isnt being spent on UK schools and hospitals rather than Albania and Montenegro. But what makes this expenditure particularly difficult to defend is the fact that we are not just paying to help Albanians and Montenegrins in their own country. When Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey join the EU, another 88 million people will be eligible for NHS care and school places for their children. Pictured are migrants at the Greek-Macedonian border We are actually paying to give the people of Albania and Montenegro unfettered access to the UKs public services. EU citizens enjoy the right to live and work in any member state its a freedom the EUs elites consider essential to the working of their union. We saw in the Prime Ministers recent attempts to renegotiate our EU membership the absolute determination of other EU leaders to protect this right. But while it suits the EU establishment to allow so many millions to move to the UK, that freedom for others means problems for our own citizens. Whats interesting is that it has been thinkers on the Left people whose whole lives have been devoted to supporting the most disadvantaged in our society who have been ringing the alarm bell this week about the consequences of unfettered free movement. The Labour MP Frank Field spelled out the problem with great clarity in a speech on Tuesday, when he said: Our open-door policy, which began under Tony Blair, has pushed down wages at the bottom of the labour market. It has increased the queues for health services and even more so for homes. And it prevents ever more parents from gaining a school of their choice for their children. Frank has devoted his life to the Labour movement. As a welfare minister, and now as Chair of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, his first concern has been helping the poorest in our society. I know that he is a committed Christian who gives freely of his own time and money to help individuals in distress. He is in politics for all the right reasons. The Yugoslav conflict was a hauntingly sad episode in Europes recent history and we are still living with its ramifications today - including the consequences of refugee flows So when he speaks out, we know its because he is worried about the impact of the free movement of millions on the institutions which build social solidarity and protect the weakest. As Frank points out, our hospitals and schools are facing growing strains because of our EU membership. When Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey join the EU, another 88 million people will soon be eligible for NHS care and school places for their children. And what will even more immigration from the EU mean for access to housing across the UK? How many more homes will we need and how many more green acres will go? What will it mean for jobs and wages? Can we maintain the apprenticeships we need, safeguard the jobs of the future and ensure people can maintain a decent standard of living, when up to 88 million people from nations much poorer than our own will have the right to live and work here? As we introduce the National Living Wage, the pull of the UK could prove irresistible. Even for those with jobs in Albania, average incomes are just one seventh of those in the UK. The figure for Serbia is less than one fifth. The war in Syria has generated a refugee crisis more profound than the problems triggered by the collapse of Yugoslavia Why wouldnt they want to come here as soon as they possibly could? These troubling questions havent even begun to be answered. And they are very far from the only problems with allowing these five nations into the EU. Home Secretary Theresa May also gave a significant speech about the future of Europe this week. And she was admirably clear about her concerns. The states now negotiating to join the EU include Albania, Serbia and Turkey countries with poor populations and serious problems with organised crime, corruption, and sometimes even terrorism. We have to ask ourselves, is it really right that the EU should just continue to expand, conferring upon all new member states all the rights of membership? Do we really think now is the time to contemplate a land border between the EU and countries like Iran, Iraq and Syria? The Home Secretarys worries are spot on. As Justice Secretary, I am well aware that there are around 10,000 foreign criminals in our jails and one in 20 of those is Albanian. Of all the prisoners in our jails who come from European countries, 10 per cent come from Albania yet Albania comprises less than half of one per cent of the overall population of Europe. In Albania, average incomes are just one seventh of those in the UK. The figure for Serbia is less than one fifth Those prisoners currently cost the British taxpayer almost 18 million a year to keep in custody. And thats before Albanian citizens even have the right to move to the UK! The Home Secretary knows the problem is very far from diminishing. Already this year weve seen 20 gangsters from Albania convicted of running a brutal drugs ring in Manchester. They are serious criminals who came here on forged Italian and Greek documents. European laws allow anyone with ID cards from EU countries not even full passports to enter the UK. Italys cardboard documents are a particular favourite with criminals because they can be so easily forged. Last year, there was a 70 per cent increase in the number of people trying to get into Britain with fraudulent European papers. And in the vanguard were Albanian criminals using fake Greek and Italian ID papers. Even if those entering have real documents, we have no effective way of checking whether they have a criminal record. Of course, as the Home Secretary rightly noted, Albania is not the only accession country with an organised crime problem. The Home Secretary is surely right to say it cannot be wise for us to extend the frontiers of the EU so that we have a land border with Syria Albanias neighbour on the Adriatic Sea, Montenegro, has a breathtakingly beautiful coastline and romantic interior. It also, unfortunately, has mafia gangs, a reputation as a centre for money-laundering and a record for narcotics trafficking. The prime minister, Milo Djukanovic, has been a leader of the country almost continuously for the past 30 years. He started as a Communist apparatchik and friend of the murderous Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic. But today he is a fan of the European Union and chummy with EU power brokers. Montenegro was, like Serbia and Macedonia, formerly part of Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav conflict was a hauntingly sad episode in Europes recent history and we are still living with its ramifications today including the consequences of refugee flows, organised criminals exploiting the collapse of state institutions, and Islamist foreign fighters making an ethnic struggle their own personal jihad. But now there is another conflict where if it were possible those terrible characteristics have been horrifically intensified. The war in Syria has generated a refugee crisis more profound than the problems triggered by the collapse of Yugoslavia. The desperate plight of those refugees is being exploited by criminal gangs every bit as ruthless as any that took advantage of the chaos in Yugoslavia. And just as the fate of Bosnian Muslims in the Yugoslav wars inspired jihadists to flock to Europe, so Syria has become the training ground for thousands of Islamist terrorists. How can it possibly be sensible to allow Turkey, in its current straits, and with Islamic State on its border, to become a full member of the EU? Against this background, the Home Secretary is surely right to say it cannot be wise for us to extend the frontiers of the EU so that we have a land border with Syria. But that is EU policy backed by the Foreign Office. The EU is planning not just to give visa-free travel to 77 million Turks, but also to absorb this Muslim state into the EU. For their part, the Turks have demanded 6 billion from the European Union to stop the flow of migrants heading west. How can it possibly be sensible to allow Turkey, in its current straits, and with Islamic State on its border, to become a full member of the EU? There has to be a better way for Britain to protect our vital interests. I support controlled migration I believe Britain is strengthened by new people, new ideas and new cultures. But you can have too much of a good thing. And allowing millions more people to come here from the Balkans and Turkey is too much. At the beginning of 2014, the 27 million citizens of Bulgaria and Romania, two other poor countries that were grappling with organised crime, won the right to live and work freely in Britain. The only way we can stop our borders being lowered to allow millions more to be admitted, is to take back control and leave the European Union Those who warned that around 50,000 of them would move here each year were accused of inflammatory rhetoric. Yet their forecasts have been proved almost precisely correct. We are now faced with nearly three times that population becoming entitled to migrate to Britain. That cannot be right. I am by instinct an internationalist. I think the UK should remain positively engaged across the globe, trading and co-operating with other nations and entering into alliances for the common good. But the UK can play a positive role in helping to strengthen the economies and institutions of nations such as Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey without handing them an annual subsidy of millions of pounds from our EU contributions. The truth is that we cannot rely on the European Union to operate in our interests. The failure of the Governments recent renegotiation of our membership to bring back any powers over immigration demonstrated that other EU nations and the Brussels elite just arent interested in reforming Europe. What they are determined to do is deepen and widen their political union. And because our veto was watered down in the recent negotiations, the countries of the eurozone now have the power to get their way, unimpeded, on a slew of European issues. We can no longer prevent them imposing their will on us. The only way we can be certain to prevent a future UK government agreeing to the Albanian Option, and stop our borders being lowered to allow millions more to be admitted, is to take back control and leave the European Union. If we vote to leave on June 23, we can take back control of the money we give to Brussels, and we can take back control of who comes to our country. We can then spend the 350 million we hand over every week to the EU on strengthening the public services that uncontrolled immigration has put under such pressure, particularly the NHS. And we can develop a more humane and rational policy on who is allowed to live and work here extending a helping hand to genuine refugees in peril, while attracting the top international talent that will really strengthen our economy. Leaving the EU would allow us to spend more on health and education, and better protect the most vulnerable in our society. It would empower us to rescue the most vulnerable across the globe, liberate us to forge new alliances and trade deals, strengthen us to stand up more vigorously for the rule of law and human rights worldwide, and re-invigorate our democratic institutions. That is the British Option on the ballot paper in this referendum, and the path I hope our great nation takes. There's a new lifestyle website on the scene, and it's a little more niche than usual. Let's Talk Sugar is a lifestyle and advice site dedicated to all things sugar baby (and by extension, sugar daddy). Aimed at women who are sugar babies, topics range from why you shouldn't feel guilty about being a mistress to what to wear on dates with your sugar daddy. Let's Talk Sugar is a new lifestyle website aimed at sugar babies and It's a rich man's world: Sugar babies are women who enter into paid relationships with men for 'sugar' in the form of money and gifts WHAT IS A SUGAR BABY? Sugar babies are paid for their time by sugar daddies It's a paid arrangement where well off men pay for dates One of the most popular sugar baby dating sights is called Seeking Arrangement Some sugar daddies are married, but not all Only launched in late 2015, the website already has quite a few posts, as well as a forum section where sugar babies can post threads and respond to other babies. One article details the food you should NEVER eat on a date with a sugar daddy, including ribs, garlic heavy food, burgers and sandwiches, spaghetti and spicy foods. Another post gives tips on 'how to make the sugar last' and 'extend the shelf-life' of your sugar arrangement so your daddy doesn't tire of you. Give me some sugar: Website Seeking Arrangement is one of the most popular sugar baby dating sites Money money money: Articles on the site include ones about why being a mistress is good because it's 'stress free' One article advocates having a married man as your sugar daddy, as it means there is 'no pressure' and the arrangement is 'stress free'. There's even an entire section of the website dedicated to money, with articles about why a sugar daddy hasn't given you money yet and how to negotiate a permanent allowance. 'Within a few dates you can determine if hes the type to simply spoil you, or actually put you on payroll,' one article advises. Crowdsourced help: There's also forums on the site where sugar babies and sugar daddies can ask questions and get advice Show me the money: Instagram is full of pictures of sugar babies showing off the cash they receive On the forums section of the website, topics range from relationships, to fashion, to sex, to money. In one post, a potential sugar baby says that she wants a sugar daddy, but doesn't want to have sex with him. She's quickly shut down by others on the site, with one sugar daddy 'In my mind I just dont need to pay to have a friend. I have many friends, most who are interested in me because of me, not my wallet,' the daddy said. Greater Valley YMCA 2016 IMG_0011.jpg Sandee Kennedy and Sarah Pepe, far left and right, present a check to MacKenzie Guyer and Crystal Messer, of the YMCA. (Special to Lehighvalleylive.com) Merchants Bank recently donated $10,000 to the Greater Valley YMCA through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. The Greater Valley YMCA has six branches which encompass Bethlehem, Catasauqua, Easton, Forks, Nazareth, the Slate Belt region and the Lehigh Valley as a whole. Mark and Christie, however, are still going strong following the show But he has revealed that things didn't work out after the show aired Jono was questioned by his TV bride about speaking to another woman He appeared in photos with his new girlfriend before the show aired Married At First Sight Australia groom Jono says he is 100 per cent single Before appearing on Married At First Sight Australia, Daily Mail Australia reported that Jono Pitman, 28, had already found love with a woman not on the show. But it seems the show may have torn the couple apart, with the reality star revealing on Friday morning that is is now '100 per cent single.' Appearing on Fitzy and Wippa, Jono was asked whether he was single amidst claims he had gotten back with his ex-girlfriend. Scroll down for video Controversy: Before appearing on Married At First Sight Australia, Daily Mail Australia reported that Jono Pitman, 28, had already found love with a woman not on the show Confirmed: But it seems the show may have torn the couple apart, with the reality star revealing on Friday morning that is is now '100 per cent single' New lady: However fans hoping for a happy ending for the pair were left disappointed when a woman named Rachael shared a loving photo of herself with Jono before the show went to air 'It's sort of been a little bit of an up and down process since the show,' Jono said. 'I can say now that I'm 100 per cent single. A week or two weeks ago I said I was seeing someone, I was trying to work things out with a certain person. 'But unfortunately that didn't work.' Didn't work out: 'I can say now that I'm 100 per cent single. A week of two weeks ago I said I was seeing someone, I was trying to work things out with a certain person,' Jono said Short-lived: Interaction between the pair goes as far back as August (before filming), with Jono previously commenting on a Facebook photo of Rachael lying on the ground with her hair up Jono Pitman was paired with 32-year-old real estate recruitment consultant, Clare Verrall, and he was far from impressed with his match, claiming: 'She's basically the opposite of what I expected to walk down the aisle. She's not what I... Not what I ordered.' However fans hoping for a happy ending for the pair were left disappointed when a woman named Rachael shared a loving photo of herself with Jono before the show went to air. 'You annoy the absolute s**t out of me, but there's no one else I could imagine waking up next to every morning,' the Melbourne-based blonde wrote on Instagram with the hashtags #soppypost, #mrperfect and #thanksforbeingyou and emojis of a boy and girl holding hands and a kissing face. 'Not what I ordered': Jono Pitman was paired with 32-year-old real estate recruitment consultant, Clare Verrall (left), and he was far from impressed with his match She also tagged Jono's Instagram account where he had written several flirty comments on Rachael's pictures previously. Interaction between the pair goes as far back as August (before filming), with Jono previously commenting on a Facebook photo of Rachael lying on the ground with her hair up. 'You would be getting a few creepy inbox's with this little pic [sic],' he wrote, a comment which has since been removed. Not so private: She also tagged Jono's Instagram account where he had written several flirty comments on Rachael's pictures previously Rings on! While Jono's relationship with both his TV bride and girlfriend didn't last the distance, the same can't be said for their fellow Married At First Sight stars Mark and Christie Rachael thanked him for the 'inbox' and he wrote: 'That's not the only thing going in you box [sic]'. But while Jono's relationship with both his TV bride and girlfriend didn't last the distance, the same can't be said for their fellow Married At First Sight stars Mark and Christie. The couple, who still wear their wedding rings, revealed neither of them have plans to move interstate, with Mark telling Today Extra on Friday that 'its a little bit of a Mexican standoff.' Lasting love: The pair proved their relationship could last the distance, and revealed they were committed to making their marriage official 'Were still negotiating, because I have a business and hes starting his business with the farm,' Christie continued. 'Its scary to just sell up everything, what if it doesn't work, then one of us if left with nothing. 'I worked hard for where I am today, I cant just let it go.' Hard yards: Distance proved a sticking point for the couple, as Mark lives on a farm in Victoria and Christie lives in Sydney 'Mexican standoff': Despite being smitten with one another, Christie said neither of them had immediate plans to move interstate Bush romance: 'I worked hard for where I am today, I cant just let it go,' Christie said The couple were also quizzed about whether their would make their television 'marriage' official, with Mark saying it was something they were 'committed' to. The couple still wear the wedding bands they exchanged on the show, although Christie chose to wear her ring on her right hand instead of left. Mark joked all he had to do was move the ring from that hand to the other. Staying together: The couple were smitten after making the decision to continue their relationship 'I want us to give it a go': Mark said he wanted to try and make things work with Christie, who said she might be 'falling in love' with the farmer On Wednesday night, the couple had viewers on the edge of their seats as they deliberated whether they would choose to continue their relationship once filming ended. 'You are an amazing person, but... I can't let you go, either. I want us to give it a go,' Mark said. A prankster tricked his girlfriend into thinking he was cheating on her with a blonde model in an elaborate ruse on their anniversary. Josh Paler Lin, from the US, asks his French beau to Skype and can be seen talking to camera in his room as a scantily-clad model walks behind him. His lover looks totally shell-shocked in the YouTube video that has been seen more than 255,000 times. YouTuber JoshPalerLin Skypes his French girlfriend, who lives in Paris, but she is unaware he has hacked into Skype and plays a pre-recorded video of himself Josh opens the two-and-a-half minute clip by explaining he had travelled to Paris to surprise his girlfriend and was outside her apartment. He said: 'She thought I was going to be here tomorrow for our anniversary. But I'm here one day earlier to surprise her. 'I'm going to ask her to go on Skype in a bit but then I'm going to hack the live camera on Skype and put a pre-record video on it. 'Let's see how she'll react. Sorry babe!' The video, posted on Josh's YouTube channel to almost two million subscribers, then cut to his girlfriend coming onto Skype to speak to Josh. He says: 'Hey babe, how are you? How's your day?' Josh tells his girlfriend the signal for the call isn't very goof but she notices a blonde woman walk past behind him Josh's girlfriend then looks very confused on the call when the woman's rear then comes into view The bikini-clad woman then started to get annoyed as she noticed Josh was speaking on Skype and argued: 'Who the **** is that?' His girlfriend replies: 'It was good.' But Josh then starts to lay the foundation for his prank and tells her 'I can't really hear you, the connection's a bit weird. Can you hear me?' His girlfriend is washing up in the kitchen while they speak, but when she turns around, she spots a woman in a blue bikini walking behind him. Her boyfriend looked sheepish as she immediately pays more attention and asks: 'Who's that?' Josh repeats: 'The connection's a little bit weird, let me call you back,' while his girlfriend repeats 'who's this girl?' The woman's posterior can then be seen close to the camera as his girlfriend gets more confused. The bikini-clad woman, who is actually model Dajana Gudic enlisted by Josh, then starts to get annoyed as she realises Josh is speaking on Skype and asks: 'Who the **** is that?' The woman, model Dajana Gudic - who Josh enlisted to help - then starts to push Josh in anger as his girlfriend looks shocked The call then goes dead and Josh's girlfriend frantically tries to ring him but doesn't get through Josh is then seen outside his girlfriend's door and rings the bell as she is inside panicking Dajana then becomes more angry and shoves Josh while his girlfriend still appears annoyed but confused. The call then goes dead but Josh's girlfriend starts to text him instead and asks: 'Who's this girl?' She remains remarkably calm but then appears close to tears as she asks: 'Who is this b****?' The girlfriend then becomes more anguished when Josh doesn't pick up the phone. She said: 'Are you serious? Rejecting my call! I saw her already, what are you trying to hide?' She continued to keep trying to call him as Josh waits in the hallway of her block of flats. The girlfriend is unhappy when she finds Josh at the door holding roses and is confused about why he is in Paris a day early Although his girlfriend was angry, she looks relieved when he points out the camera he planted and explained it was a joke Finally, he rings the doorbell as his girlfriend is in tears. He yells 'surprise!' and presents her with red roses - but had the door slammed in his face. Josh's girlfriend is confused as to why he's come a day early and still looks mad, even when she realises it's a prank. He told her: 'I snuck into your place and put cameras here,' pointing over at the lens, 'and here.' Although Josh's girlfriend still looks shocked, her relief is visible. But commenters were appalled by his trick. Ox!gne posted: 'Sorry but You can't make a woman cry, even if it's a joke.' A woman who has the baby she longed for thanks to a selfless surrogate has revealed how the pair are now the best of friends. Leyla Hutchings, 38, from South West London, was diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome ten years ago - a serious life-limiting genetic condition that can cause arteries or organs to rupture suddenly. Leyla and her husband Richard, 38, underwent three years of unsuccessful IVF treatment before surrogate Rachael Coleman, 29, fell pregnant - and she is now 'like a sister' to the couple. Leyla Hutchings, right, was unable to conceive and had almost given up on dreams of having a baby until Rachael Coleman, left while pregnant, contacted her Leyla, pictured with Zeki now two, was diagnosed with Vascular EDS - a rare and serious condition that can cause blood vessels and internal organs to rupture Leyla and Rachael instantly bonded from their first meeting and decided, baby or no baby, they would be great friends. Leyla, a lawyer, said: 'When doctors told me I wouldn't be able to carry my own child I was devastated. 'After a lot of soul-searching, Richard and I decided surrogacy was the best option for us. But after three years of unsuccessful treatment, we were nearly ready to give up. 'When we heard Rachael wanted to meet us we felt a new sense of hope. We bonded instantly and I knew we would be friends for life.' Incredibly, Rachael soon fell pregnant and nine months later gave birth to baby Zeki, who will be two in May. Not only do Leyla and Richard have a new best friend but they have a baby - and now the couple are in the process of creating embryos in the hope of having a second child with Rachael's help. Leyla, left, and husband Richard, right, had almost given up on having children after undergoing three years of IVF treatment, pictured in hospital when Zeki was born Leyla and Richard, pictured with baby Zeki, were heartbroken they could not have children after Leyla was diagnosed with the condition which could cause serious harm to her if she had a baby Leyla said: 'Receiving the news that Rachael was pregnant was amazing, we were extremely close throughout the pregnancy and Rachael would send me videos of our baby kicking when I wasn't around. 'We still talk every day now, she's like a sister to me, and what's amazing is that Zeki adores Rachael's children - they treat each other like cousins and have a really close bond. 'She is now helping complete our family and we are currently trying for our second child with her. 'Rachael is the most amazing person I have ever met, she has created a family for me and Richard and we will be forever grateful to her and her wonderful family.' At the age of 28, Leyla was diagnosed with Vascular EDS - a rare and serious condition that can cause blood vessels and internal organs to rupture and lead to life-threatening bleeding if a large amount of strain is applied to the connective tissue. Due to her condition, Doctors advised Leyla that pregnancy could cause serious harm to her and her baby's life - as it could've caused her womb to rupture. Rachael with husband James, second left, and Richard with their families. Leyla and Richard are now extremely close with Rachael Rachael, with Zeki, is now going through treatment to have a second baby for the couple She added: 'I was heartbroken, Richard and I knew we always wanted children so to hear that having a child could kill me was terrifying. 'But at that point in our lives we weren't ready to start our family just yet. We bonded instantly and I knew we would be friends for life. 'Because of this we pretended it wasn't happening, the thought of not being able to carry my own child was not something I wanted to think about. 'But a few years later we decided we were ready to start our family and were then faced with the daunting realisation that it wasn't going to be easy. 'I saw an article in a magazine for Surrogacy UK so decided to find out more as we had never considered this option before. 'We loved their "surrogacy through friendship" ethos and decided this was the best option for us.' Leyla and Richard met with a surrogate and began IVF treatment to harvest her eggs. But after a devastating three years of unsuccessful attempts Leyla was convinced she would never be able to have her own biological child. Leyla said: 'Holding Zeki for the first time was something I will never forget, and seeing Rachael and James hold him was so special' The couple went back on the waiting list and surprisingly six days later they received a message from Rachael who wanted to meet them. Leyla said: 'From the day I met Rachael we instantly bonded. Her husband, James, 32, and three children, Daisy, Jack and Max were all amazing and so supportive. 'We called ourselves "Team Fairytale" and, during the first three months of getting to know each other, our families grew really close. 'We started process and it didn't take long to receive the most amazing news that Rachael was pregnant - we couldn't believe it. 'Throughout the pregnancy Rachael would send me videos of our baby kicking and, on New Year's Eve Rachael sent me a video of the baby's heartbeat which was so special.' In May 2014, Rachael went into labour and baby Zeki was born. Leyla said: 'Holding Zeki for the first time was something I will never forget, and seeing Rachael and James hold him was so special. The trio called themselves 'Team Fairytale' and were overjoyed when Rachael fell pregnant just weeks after treatment, pictured Richard and Zeki Rachael, while pregnant, with her family and Richards and Leyla, the families are still very close and Leyla described Rachael as 'like a sister' 'We knew how lucky we were to have him and couldn't thank Rachael and James enough for what they had done for us.' Last year Rachel told the couple that she wanted to help complete their family. Leyla and Richard are currently in the process of creating embryos in the hope of having their second child with Rachael. She added: 'The whole journey has been the hardest thing I have ever been through, but it has all been worth it. 'Not only have I gained a child but I have gained a best friend through the process.' Kate Dobb, Surrogacy UK Media Coordinator said: 'Surrogacy is an incredible gift for couples unable to carry a baby themselves and we are delighted Leyla and Richard now have their adorable son Zeki. For Britain's railway aficionados, 'x' marks the spot on the timetable: a sign to those in the know that here's a station where trains only stop by request. The 13.04, for example, will be the 13x04. If you're on the platform waiting for it, just stretch out your arm and flag it down like a bus - or wave a red petticoat like The Railway Children. And if you're on board and you want to get off, make sure to let the guard know in time to tell the driver to brake. Surprisingly, there are 152 of these tiny request stations - sometimes just a platform in the back of beyond - and they equate to 6 per cent of all our railway stations. Some were built to serve local industries, some for stately homes - and St Keyne Wishing Well Halt in Cornwall, most bizarrely of all, serves a magical fairy well. Paul Merton at Knucklas Railway Station, Glyndwr Knighton, on his journey around the UK for a new series For comedian Paul Merton, whose dad was a London Underground train driver, these stations exert a fascination. 'I love railways,' he says. 'Uncovering the secrets behind these humble request stops, all the places that aren't in any travel brochures... you have to get yourself on a train!' Now in a new series, Paul Merton's Secret Stations, he travels around Britain by train, getting off at request stops. His first destination is the Scottish Highlands, taking the Kyle Line from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh on the west coast and hopping off at Attadale. There to meet him on the platform - with a view over Loch Carron to the Isle of Skye - is the laird's daughter, Joanna Macpherson. When the station opened in 1873, the laird was Alexander Matheson, who made his fortune selling opium to the Chinese. He built the railway so, of course, had his own station just yards from home. Back then it was a shack with a red flag to wave down the train. Not much has changed. Joanna's grandfather bought the estate in the 1950s and Joanna and her husband moved here four years ago to help her parents run the estate. Knucklas Railway Station is one of the request stops Paul visits on his travels Joanna, 60, who spent holidays here as a child, remembers her grandfather getting Fortnum & Mason hampers delivered by train. 'It was a lifeline,' she says. 'You could put your car on the train to Inverness. You could put sheep on. You could post letters on it. We knew one of the drivers, and his mother used to drop off cakes for us.' But even here in the middle of nowhere there's a No Smoking sign, she says ruefully. And CCTV. 'It's so sad and mad! Modern life is catching up with us!' Today, four trains each way stop at the station a day, but only by request. 'It's an asset to the local community,' says Joanna. 'We're lucky the station didn't close when Dr Beeching made his cuts.' After leaving Attadale, Paul's next station stop is Drigg on the Cumbrian coast, a few stops down the line from Sellafield. Drigg was once a sleepy station for the farming community. Festooned in barbed wire, today it serves the nuclear waste repository nearby. Joanna Macpherson pictured stopping the train at Attadale with a view over Loch Carron to the Isle of Skye, one of the 152 request stations in Britain At Ferryside station in Wales with a view over the Towy Estuary to Llansteffan Castle, Paul meets author Dixe Wills who has written a book, Tiny Stations, about these half-abandoned stops. Even Dixe has never been to Ferryside before. 'I've often wanted to stop here,' he says. 'And today I thought I'd get off and see what's here. Very little, as befits a request stop.' Paul muses, 'Request stop travel is all about the secrets you unearth when you don't whizz past. When you stop, there's often no plan and you don't even know how or when you'll get back. Are you brave enough to get off?' Would you be brave enough to get off at St Keyne Wishing Well Halt? It's got a dank fairy well. And nothing else. It sounds as though you might expect to be met by a pixie stationmaster sitting on a toadstool. But, as it turns out, nearly 2,000 people use the wishing well station every year. A Victoria's Secret model says she is not sending 'mixed messages' to her young fans by posing for pictures in her underwear while warning them not to do the same. Leomie Anderson, 23, from London, has walked the catwalk for the lingerie brand and often shares scantily clad pictures of herself on her Instagram account. This week she wrote an open letter to her teenage followers urging them not to take intimate pictures of themselves and send them to boys. Scroll down for video Leomie Anderson appeared on today's Good Morning Britain to warn young girls against sexting The model has shared selfies like this one in her underwear on her Instagram account and said her fans need to realise the difference in her doing so is the fact she's an adult and has consented to it going online A viewer called the model a 'hypocrite' leading her to explain why she isn't sending 'mixed messages' Appearing on today's Good Morning Britain, she told presenters Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway that children need to see the distinction between what she does for a living and sexting. She said: 'I am a 23 year old woman and these children are all under age. They may see my images out there but they need to understand I was asked before hand whether I wanted to take part in the pictures, I knew where it was going and who would see it - there was full consent throughout the process. She explained: 'Whereas when children send pictures they don't know what will happen and that is where the danger lies.' The presenters raised the question after a viewer Tweeted the show calling the model a 'hypocrite'. The user @lesbrown2 added: 'She's a role model for young girls some of whom will want to follow her lead.' Leomie told presenters Ben Shephard that children need to be aware of the consequences of sexting The model said her fans may have seen pictures like this on her Instagram 'but they need to understand I was asked before hand whether I wanted to take part in the pictures, I knew where it was going and who would see it - there was full consent throughout the process' But other viewers rushed to praise the model for raising the issue of sexting, as she echoed the sentiments she penned in an open letter she shared on her blog earlier this week. In the letter she urged girls to be more aware of the consequences of sending nude images. Leomie, who has modelled for Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford, wrote: 'With the uncontrollable rise of social media and mixed messages that young people are exposed to, more and more young girls are falling victim to being pressured to do things and having their most intimate moments shared on the internet.' Leomie, who has more than 48,000 Instagram followers, said she knew 'so many girls' who had felt pressured into sending explicit messages to boys, warning: 'Its a decision that takes a second to agree to but also only a second to be shared with others.' She urged young girls to ask 'why does he need to have this in possession' before sending anything, adding: 'some girls I know say their biggest regret in school was sharing an intimate picture or getting into a scenario where a video had or could have been leaked.' She told her fans that it is OK to say no, adding: 'Saying NO doesnt make you scared or frigid, it makes you smart.' The model appeared on Good Morning Britain after writing an open letter about sexting on her blog Leomie said sexting was a problem when she was at school but is worse today due to the rise of social media Leomie finished by telling them: 'Know that you dont have to do anything that you arent fully comfortable with and that your NO means something.' On today's Good Morning Britain, Leomie said she was targetting girls with her advice because they always seem to come off worse from the incidents - but she acknowledged boys could be victims too. She said: 'I understand it happens to both boys and girls but when these pictures get exposed it is always girls who are called degrading names. 'If a video leaked with a boy and girl in it, the boy would get praise and the girl would get backlash usually from others girls. That is why I wanted to aim it at my female readership.' Leomie walks the runway for Victoria's Secret in November 2015. She said that, as a model, sharing her image is 'a big part of her job' but she's been lucky enough to be able to tell her agency when she isn't comfortable She said if a boy is sent a rude picture from a girl which he didn't ask for, he should 'delete the photo because with the revenge porn laws now it could get you into trouble.' For girls who had sent a sext and now regretted it, she advised: 'You need to speak to the person you sent it to and say you regret sending it so please delete it and any copies. Remind them that with revenge porn laws it is illegal to pout it out on social media.' After the model promoted her blog post on social media this week, she was met with more than 600 likes and a flood of approval. Annie Drea wrote: 'Thank you,' while another said: 'You're amazing for this.' One follower commented: 'Yasss girl! Love that you are using your influence like this.' Joanna DeBrazza, from London, said: 'Thank you for using your voice and platform.' In her blog, Leomie explained that, although she grew up in an era with 'limited' access to social media, as a teenager she remembers the 'buzz' that would inevitably follow rumours that a girl had been caught sexting The Tom Ford model wrote: 'With the uncontrollable rise of social media and mixed messages that young people are exposed to, more and more young girls are falling victim to being pressured to do things' Another fan wrote: 'You are everything!! I really hope people hear you out on these topics. keep shining!' Leomie is famously outspoken, and uses her blog and YouTube channel to air her views on a number of issues within the modelling industry, particularly the lack of hair and beauty products available to black women. Earlier this year, she took to Twitter to rant about New York Fashion Week make-up artists who can't meet the needs of those with darker skin tones. In a series of enraged tweets, she blasted make-up artists for busying themselves with beautifying 'blonde white girls' while she's forced to bring her own cosmetics. Leomie urges young girls to ask 'why does he need to have this in possession' before sending anything, adding: 'some girls I know say their biggest regret in school was sharing an intimate picture' If you ever needed proof that style is ageless, look no further than Bo Gilbert - Vogue's first 100-year-old model who has just landed a covetable modelling gig. The centenarian, from Birmingham, has been chosen to mark the iconic magazine's 100th anniversary in a new Harvey Nichols campaign. Bo appears in a new short film produced by the department store, and her campaign will also feature in the new June issue of British Vogue, which hits newsstands this weekend and will be its biggest ever edition. Scroll down for video Centenarian Bo Gilbert, from Birmingham, has been chosen to mark Vogue magazine's 100th anniversary in a new Harvey Nichols campaign. The June issue hits newsstands this weekend and will be its biggest edition The stunning shoot aims to tackle ageism in the fashion industry and prove that 'the older generation can be fearlessly stylish.' Harvey Nichols picked Bo as their style inspiration for her unwavering commitment to fashion, as someone who wears heels every day and never leaves the house without her make-up on. The images were shot by renowned fashion photographer Phil Poynter, who has worked for Prada, Louis Vuitton and Lacoste, and founded Dazed & Confused magazine. Bo has been styled in SS16's newest collections, wearing bespoke Valentino glasses, a hot pink coat from Dries Van Noten and a Victoria Beckham top. Harvey Nichols picked 100-year-old Bo as their style inspiration for her unwavering commitment to fashion, as someone who wears heels every day and never leaves the house without her make-up on A make-up artist gets to work on Bo in the studio ahead of her Harvey Nichols campaign shoot. The images were shot by renowned photographer Phil Poynter, who has worked for Prada, Louis Vuitton and Lacoste When asked about her style, Bo says: 'I do things that I think a lot of people wouldn't do at my age. I always like to keep myself looking quite decent, even if I wasn't going out. I try to keep the standards up' Bo has been styled in SS16's newest collections, wearing bespoke Valentino glasses, a hot pink coat from Dries Van Noten and a Victoria Beckham top - topped off with a Lanvin necklace and Parisian flats from Celine Her ensemble is topped off with a Lanvin necklace, tailored trousers from The Row and chic Parisian flats from Celine. The two-minute video sees Bo reflecting on the looks she's admired throughout her impressive 100 years - including the first time she saw a woman wearing a trouser suit in the fifites. 'It really caught my eye,' she recalls. She also references the late actress Audrey Hepburn as her ultimate style icon and says that she will 'never dress for the boys'. 'I do things that I think a lot of people wouldn't do at my age,' Bo says.'I always like to keep myself looking quite decent, even if I wasn't going out. I try to keep the standards up. The two-minute video sees Bo reflecting on the looks she's admired throughout her impressive 100 years - including the first time she saw a woman in a trouser suit in the fifites. 'It really caught my eye,' she recalls When Bo is shown the finished product from the shoot - the images that will appear in Vogue - she says: 'Oh, it's astonishing! It's pretty, isn't it?' Speaking about her style, she says: 'I do try to keep standards up' 'I dress to suit myself, I certainly don't dress up for boys. I love the different fashions; we were all for these hats in those days. And nearly always tilted to one side, then either a feather or something in it. Now you never see anybody in a hat.' Bo adds: 'I love wearing nice things, it's always appealed to me and it still does.' When she is shown the finished product from the shoot - the images that will appear in Vogue - she says: 'Oh, it's astonishing! It's pretty, isn't it?' Shadi Halliwell, creative and marketing director at Harvey Nichols, said that working with Bo was 'a privilege.' 'We devised a campaign that reflected the playful attitude Harvey Nichols is famous for, celebrating both the 100th Anniversary of British Vogue, and also style in its entirety,' she said. The antithesis of the puffed-up minor Royal, she even uses public transport Sarahs lack of affectation or pomposity is in stark contrast to her mother A welcome retreat from an inquisitive world, Craigowan Lodge a relatively modest stone building a mile from Balmoral Castle will provide the Queen with much needed privacy and scope for reflection in the coming weeks following the celebrations that marked her 90th birthday this month. Situated on the edge of the forest in the royal estate in Aberdeenshire, it is to this secluded seven-bedroom house that the Queen likes to retire several times a year, to read, write letters, walk and ride. Only one guest is ever allowed to accompany the monarch to her favourite hideaway her niece, Lady Sarah Chatto. Scroll down for video Daughter of the Queens late sister, Princess Margaret, Lady Sarah, who turns 52 tomorrow, is one of the most low-key Royals yet holds a very special place in Her Majestys affections. Pictured: The Queen with Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones One royal insider says: The Queen adores Sarah and seeks out her company as often as possible. She is her absolute favourite younger Royal'. Pictured: The Queen and Lady Sarah watch Princess Anne jump to a leading position on her horse in April 1974 Daughter of the Queens late sister, Princess Margaret, Lady Sarah, who turns 52 tomorrow, is one of the most low-key Royals yet holds a very special place in Her Majestys affections. One royal insider says: The Queen adores Sarah and seeks out her company as often as possible. She is her absolute favourite younger Royal. They are hugely at ease in each others company. Much giggling can be heard when they are together. They share a sense of loyalty, fun, duty and the ridiculous. Indeed, it was Sarahs warm, gracious and unaffected persona that unwittingly stole the show in last weeks BBC documentary, Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute. It was Sarahs warm, gracious and unaffected persona that unwittingly stole the show in last weeks BBC documentary, Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute. Pictured: Princess Margaret with her daughter Lady Sarah seen leaving Buckingham Palace to watch the Trooping the Colour in 1974 Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypast following the Trooping of the Colour in 1974 Watching the historical archive for the first time, Sarah was enchanted to see her younger self whoosh down a water slide on the deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia (pictured) and pass through the legs of her cousin Prince Charles Engineered by Prince Charles, the captivating film showed Elizabeth and Margaret as children, with the mischievous Margaret determinedly trotting along in her elder sisters footsteps, followed by a series of charming home movies in which the Queens children played as any young family might. Watching the historical archive for the first time, Sarah was enchanted to see her younger self whoosh down a water slide on the deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia and pass through the legs of her cousin Prince Charles. She was also visibly moved at footage of her mother as a toddler singing with her big sister, the Queen, and dancing with their mother on the deck of the royal yacht, HMY Victoria and Albert, that preceded Britannia. She was also visibly moved at footage of her mother (pictured holding Lady Sarah) as a toddler singing with her big sister, the Queen, and dancing with their mother on the deck of the royal yacht, HMY Victoria and Albert, that preceded Britannia It is said that in some respects Sarah, a successful artist who is 21st in line to the throne, reminds the Queen of her much-missed sister Margaret, to whom she was very close. Pictured: Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon with their children, David Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah The Queen Mother, Lady Sarah and David Linley watch as Prince Edward 'plants' a small flower in the centre of a table in the garden of Clarence House That Lady Sarah expressed her love for the Queen, while other relatives on the programme focused more on the impeccable way in which she performs her duties, further endeared her to the public, who took to Twitter and the internet in their droves to praise her charming, sensitive and elegant character. And it was in this rare sighting of this reticent Royal that we had a glimpse of what the Queen sees and appreciates: that possibly of all of her relations, Sarah is the most understated, dignified and sympathetic. It is said that in some respects Sarah, a successful artist who is 21st in line to the throne, reminds the Queen of her much-missed sister Margaret, to whom she was very close. However, while Sarah (pictured here aged 10 with her brother, 12, and parents) has inherited her mothers dark hair, high cheekbones and full mouth, she seems to have avoided her more troubling character traits However, while Sarah has inherited her mothers dark hair, high cheekbones and full mouth, she seems to have avoided her more troubling character traits. Margaret was notorious for pulling royal rank (at evening gatherings, no one was permitted to go to bed before her), so Sarahs utter lack of affectation or pomposity is in stark contrast to her mother. One acquaintance said: Sarah is very unassuming; shy and almost embarrassed with no grandeur at all. Take royal events shell be on the balcony, but she never pushes herself to the middle or the front, like some. Sarahs utter lack of affectation or pomposity is in stark contrast to her mother. Pictured: Lady Sarah aged six and 21 Hence her popularity within royal circles. Often the first choice for godmother Sarah counts Prince Harry, Prince Edwards daughter, Louise, and the Duke of Gloucesters daughter, Rose, among her godchildren she is known as discreet and utterly loyal. Perhaps the only Royal to arrive at Buckingham Palace by foot and use public transport Lady Sarah Chatto is the antithesis of the puffed-up minor Royal. With no agenda, no particular ambitions or feeling of being slighted, Sarah has been happy to take a back seat in royal position jostling, says one royal insider. She has rarely been heard to utter a criticism of her fellow Royals and is totally trustworthy with secrets and gossip. Perhaps the only Royal to arrive at Buckingham Palace by foot and use public transport Lady Sarah Chatto is the antithesis of the puffed-up minor Royal With no agenda, no particular ambitions or feeling of being slighted, Sarah has been happy to take a back seat in royal position jostling, says one royal insider. Pictured: Lady Sarah attends a Sunday church service at Windsor Castle to mark Prince Philip's 90th birthday Prince Charles, who asked Sarah to appear in last weeks televised tribute, dotes on his cousin. The pair can still be found sketching and doing water colours on the Balmoral estate, chatting easily or hunched over their easels in harmonious silence, as they have been for years. And both Diana and Fergie, at the height of their various scandals, always noted how kind she was. She was a bridesmaid to Diana at her wedding, and the pair who had just a three-year age gap between them had been friendly even before Dianas engagement. Both Diana (pictured here with Lady Sarah at Smiths Lawn Polo Club in Windsor, in July 1983) and Fergie, at the height of their various scandals, always noted how kind she was Fergie wrote that when the infamous toe-sucking pictures were published revealing her affair with financial adviser John Bryan Sarah was absolutely charming. Perhaps having seen her mother humiliated on occasion, she went out of her way to avoid ostracising someone in the same position. Popular, serene, good company; the question that is not lost on the Queen, or royal observers, is how the difficult and moody Princess Margaret, who divorced her equally irascible husband Antony Armstrong-Jones, ended up having two sane, still-married, hard-working children (Sarahs brother David Linley has a thriving furniture business) while three out of four of the Queens own brood have produced more dramas than the West End. Princess Margaret, who divorced her husband Antony Armstrong-Jones, ended up having two sane, still-married, hard-working children, Sarah and David David Linley, now 54, married Serena Stanhope, daughter of the 12th Earl of Harrington, in 1993, and they have two children, Charles, 16, and Margarita, 13. Pictured: Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, with their children on a driving holiday in 1969 David Linley, now 54, married Serena Stanhope, daughter of the 12th Earl of Harrington, in 1993, and they have two children, Charles, 16, and Margarita, 13. Through his company, Linley, he makes bespoke wooden furniture and is Chairman of auction house Christies UK. Princess Margarets second child was born in 1964 the last royal baby born at a palace rather than a hospital within weeks of cousins Prince Edward, Lady Helen Windsor and James Ogilvy. At the time, her parents, Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, Lord Snowdon, were the toast of swinging London, their Kensington Palace apartment now the London home of William and Catherine the scene of hedonistic parties. But the marriage, a rebound affair after Margaret was forbidden to marry divorced equerry Peter Townsend, was notoriously tempestuous. At just 13, her parents divorce was terribly upsetting for Sarah, pictured here aged 17, in her last year at Bedales. She is wearing a blue silk taffeta designed by Carl Toms Her husband, a photographer and bohemian sort, was unsuited both to the role of second fiddle demanded of him and, indeed, marriage at all. Fuelled by alcohol and affairs on both sides, their 18-year union was once described as a 16-year break-up. It ended with the first royal divorce since Henry VIIIs parting from Anne of Cleves in 1540. At just 13, her parents divorce was terribly upsetting for Sarah. She was devastated, according to one insider. As Margaret was granted custody, the children stayed in Kensington Palace. Sarah was sent to Francis Holland School in Chelsea, a smart all-girls day school, followed by Bedales with her brother. The mixed boarding school in rural Hampshire alma mater of actors Daniel Day-Lewis and Minnie Driver was a fashionable, arty, bohemian choice. As Margaret was granted custody, the children stayed in Kensington Palace. Sarah was sent to Francis Holland School in Chelsea, a smart all-girls day school, followed by Bedales with her brother. Pictured: Lady Sarah photographed by her father for her 21st birthday It had no uniform and nurtured artistic expression above all else. It was what both parents wanted and it ensured David and Sarah inherited a love of art. This progressive institution was the polar opposite to the starchiness of a royal upbringing. One contemporary said that when Lady Sarah turned up she was practically in a velvet-collar coat and tweeds although everyone else was hanging out in their kickers. However it was quite possibly this school with its warm, nurturing atmosphere that made her the woman she is now. Sarah had grown up knowing that her mother had little time or patience for babies and small children; despite Snowdons reluctance, nannies and housemaids were in charge and the children were instructed never to wake their mother before 11am a rule that was keenly enforced by Nanny Sumner. Others add that Margaret always preferred male company and doted on David at the expense of her daughter. When she gave her house on Mustique island in the Caribbean Les Jolies Eaux to David alone on his 27th birthday (he let it out and then sold it, preferring to buy an estate in Provence) it was said that Sarah was not consulted; nor did she profit from the sale. Her father, however, doted on her and it is from him she is said to have inherited her immense charm. From her father she inherited her artistic eye. A foundation course at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, followed by a printed textiles course at Middlesex Polytechnic, paved the way for her training at the Royal Academy Schools. Pictured: a painting by Lady Sarah Her oil paintings today sell for thousands and she is Vice President of the Royal Drawing School. From her mother, she inherited a love of dance. Pictured: a painting by Lady Sarah He may have a messy personal life and an explosive temper, but he can be wit, warmth and charm personified, says a royal insider. People just fell for him in an instant, just as they do for her. From her father she also inherited her artistic eye. A foundation course at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts, followed by a printed textiles course at Middlesex Polytechnic, paved the way for her training at the Royal Academy Schools. Her oil paintings today sell for thousands and she is Vice President of the Royal Drawing School. From her mother, she inherited a love of dance. While Margaret was Patron of the Royal Ballet School, Sarah is its Vice President. Not that the young Sarah ever felt herself to be above her art school contemporaries. She may have shared her 21st birthday with Prince Edward, Lady Helen Windsor and James Ogilvy at Windsor Castle, but she also included all of her friends from art school. Sarahs art college and Bedales friends people with Rasta hair were the most varied and exciting people there, recalls one guest. Various boyfriends, all good-looking, all arty, followed. But it was when she met Daniel Chatto whilst working as a wardrobe assistant on Heat and Dust, in which dashing actor Chatto had a small role, that her love life became serious. It was when Lady Sarah met Daniel Chatto whilst working as a wardrobe assistant on Heat and Dust, in which dashing actor Chatto had a small role, that her love life became serious (the couple are pictured here on their wedding day on July 14 1994) Lady Sarah with her husband Daniel at St Stephen's church after their wedding ceremony Lady Sarah with Daniel Chatto, photographed by her father for her 30th birthday. He soon gave up his acting career, however, to focus on painting, a passion shared with Sarah The son of actor Tom Chatto, and theatrical agent Ros Chatto (who was the mistress of another theatrical agent, Robin Fox), Daniel appeared in around a dozen films and TV programmes, often period dramas based on the novels of W. Somerset Maugham or Charles Dickens. He soon gave up his acting career, however, to focus on painting, a passion shared with Sarah. Together he and Sarah set up home in Kensington whilst still unmarried a fact that enraged Princess Margaret where they still live in a small, pretty, Grade II listed terrace house. They also have a Georgian country farmhouse near Midhurst in Sussex, given to Sarah by her godfather, the late art-loving philanthropist Simon Sainsbury. The informal country life of dogs, horses and annual sheepdog trials which she judges is the essence of Sarah, a royal who has never been lured by pomp and ceremony. Indeed her wedding to Chatto in July 1994 a few months after her brother married Serena Stanhope was such a short, simple affair that chauffeurs were caught by surprise: the Queen, Prince Philip and Diana had to wait at the City church of St Stephens Walbrook after the service for their cars to come back. While the service may have been low-key, Sarah looked every inch the blushing royal bride, in a custom-made gown by Jasper Conran which was inspired by a romantic Holbein painting. Her veil was anchored by the Snowdon Floral Tiara, created from brooches given to Princess Margaret by her husband, and the wedding portraits show the newlyweds flanked by the Queen and the Queen Mother. Lady Sarah with Daniel Chatto, photographed by her father for her 30th birthday. The pair live in a small, pretty, Grade II listed terrace house Still happily married, Sarah is a devoted mother to their two handsome, charismatic sons: Samuel, 19, Charless godson, and Arthur, 17. Pictured: Lady Sarah and Daniel leave the Portland Hospital with their new baby boy on August 1 1996 Baby Samuel Chatto who is now studying at Edinburgh University, wearing a woolly hat Still happily married, Sarah is a devoted mother to their two handsome, charismatic sons: Samuel, 19, Charless godson, who is at Edinburgh University and has been a Page of Honour to the Queen, and Arthur, 17, who is still at Eton. Arthurs sense of humour seems to come from his mother on his Facebook page he inserted an image of his own head over that of Prince Georges, cradled on Catherines lap in a christening shot. Although her childhood lacked the stability she has created for her own family according to royal insiders, she found her mothers early indiscretions almost unbearable Sarah remained a loving, dutiful daughter until the end. Lady Sarah and Daniel at Windsor Castle for Prince Philip's 80th birthday celebrations on June 10 2001. Her mothers death in 2002 after a series of strokes and four years of suffering saw her children by her side Her mothers death in 2002 after a series of strokes and four years of suffering saw her children by her side. Sarah, says a royal source, had been selfless and often left her own family overnight to drive to KP to care for her mother. Margarets death also brought the Queen even closer to her only niece, in her new role as something of a surrogate mother. One, it appears, that endures to this day. Margarets death also brought the Queen even closer to her only niece, in her new role as something of a surrogate mother. One, it appears, that endures to this day. Pictured: Lady Sarah photographed by her father for her 30th birthday The splendid isolation of Balmoral will once again provide the perfect backdrop to this most loving and discreet of royal friendships. As of old, the Queen, who taught a young Sarah to ride in the castle grounds, will seek her quiet companionship in the saddle. Brisa Alfaro was just 32 when she suffered a stroke which left her in a coma A woman who woke from a coma to find herself trapped in her paralysed body has spoken of her terror after hearing doctors tell her family she might not survive. Brisa Alfaro, 34, became a prisoner in her own body after suffering a stroke and developing locked-in syndrome - a horrific condition which means her mind was working but she could not communicate. Unable to move or speak, she was aware of her surroundings and could hear everything including medics or her family but no-one knew. As they stood by her bedside, she tried desperately to communicate with them. 'I wanted them to know I was awake,' she said. 'I wanted them to know I could hear them and remember things. 'When I heard the doctor say I might not make it I was terrified. 'It was like being in a terrible dream but one which I was awake in.' Miss Alfaro, a nail artist, fell into a coma after suffering a stroke - when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off in 2014, when she was just 32 years old. As her short-term memory has been affected by the terrifying incident, she cannot remember the full details or dates of what happened. However, she recalled she had been travelling by aeroplane from Los Angeles to New York when she suffered a severe allergic reaction, the cause of which she is unsure. 'As I was on the aeroplane my face started swelling up and I felt terrible,' she told. 'As soon I arrived home, I immediately took two allergy tablets and went to sleep. I hoped I'd feel better but I didn't.' Feeling weak on waking, Miss Alfaro video called her mother Linda at her home in California, who took one look at her daughter's puffed up face and told her to go to hospital. Arriving at her local hospital in Queens, New York, she was treated for her allergic reaction. It was like being in a terrible dream but one which I was awake in Brisa Alfaro, 34 But, as she sat on the hospital bed she suffered a serious stroke. She still cannot remember what happened next, but has been told she was transferred to New York Presbyterian University Hospital. 'Bizarrely, the doctors do not think the allergic reaction I suffered was linked to the stroke,' she explained. 'They think it was just a coincidence and they don't actually know the cause of the stroke. 'If I hadn't been in hospital, I would not have been treated so quickly and might not have survived.' Miss Alfaro went into a coma when she suffered a stroke which left her in a coma. She awoke from it but was unable to communicate with family or doctors as she was suffering from locked-in syndrome She battled to make a remarkable recovery and is pictured here with parents Linda and Gus after her stroke Miss Alfaro's family, including her mother, father Gus, and brothers Omar, now 37, and Jordan, now 30, were called and immediately flew in to keep a vigil at her bedside as she lay unconscious. Around a week later, she woke up but, alarmingly, nobody realised as she was immobile and mute. WHAT IS LOCKED-IN SYNDROME? Locked-In Syndrome (LIS) can occur as the result of a stroke, a progressive neurological disorder such as Motor Neurone Disease or, a trauma in the brain stem As a result, the patient is paralysed but fully conscious, with normal brain function. They can breathe unaided but are unable to speak, with their only method of communication through vertical eye movements. It is a dreadful fate, exacerbated by the inability of the patient to communicate their consciousness to the outside world. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence of patients being written off by medics as being in a vegetative state or a coma - even of hearing doctors discussing switching off their life-support machine before someone notices that they are trying to communicate that they are very much alive. She said: 'I could hear my family and doctors moving around. 'They were discussing me, my prognosis and treatment. 'But they didn't know I was awake.' Miss Alfaro said that the knowledge she was not expected to flourish 'willed' her on, and after a terrifying week of suffering locked-in syndrome, her fingers twitched. Her mother noticed and alerted the doctor. From there, things gradually began to improve. The rest of her limbs started to twitch as well, and she slowly moved out of the coma and into consciousness, although she remained very weak. For three months, she was tube fed, and for two months after the stroke while still in hospital - had to rely on a wheelchair to get around. But she slowly began to regain the use of her legs. 'I was progressing so much faster than anyone hoped,' she said. 'I started going to a gym and, with the help of a trainer, lifted very small weights. 'It was strange because before I had been so fit but I accepted that things had changed.' Miss Alfaro was tube fed and for two months after the stroke while still in hospital - had to rely on a wheelchair to get around. But gradually she began to regain the use of her legs (right) She had to learn how to walk again but astonished doctors, who feared she would not survive the stroke, by battling to make a full recovery and starting gym sessions to rebuild her strength Miss Alfaro spent a week in a coma, then had the terrifying experience of locked in syndrome where her mind was alert but she was paralysed in her own body. She is pictured here after making a great recovery Keen to let people know how well she was doing, Miss Alfaro took to social media to share her progress. 'I decided to chart my progress on Instagram and gained hundreds of followers,' she said. 'Over the next few months I took part in physiotherapy and asked people to film me as I trained. 'I tagged pictures under the hashtag #nomorebaddays I was determined to be well again. 'Little by little, I was getting better but it was still so hard.' Miss Alfaro, who used to carry out manicures on US soap stars, has been forced to give up her job. 'It's too difficult,' she said. 'I have not got the strength any more. Antidepressants stop the nerve cells sucking up extra serotonin - a molecule that regulates mood - so it continues to bind to receptors This triggers a reaction - stopping the signals that cause us to feel pain Says painkillers are 'agonists' - drugs that bind to receptors in body's cells at the University of Sydney Whether a drug is prescribed by the doctor, bought over the counter or obtained illegally, we mostly take their mechanism of action for granted and trust they will do what they're supposed to. But how does the ibuprofen pill turn off your headache? And what does the antidepressant do to help balance your brain chemistry? For something that seems so incredible, drug mechanics are wonderfully simple. It's mostly about receptors and the molecules that activate them. Scroll down for video From ibuprofen turning off our headache to antidepressants balancing mood, Professor MacDonald Christie, a pharmacologist at the University of Sydney, explains exactly how drugs work in the body RECEPTORS Receptors are large protein molecules embedded in the cell wall, or membrane. They receive (hence being called 'receptors') chemical information from other molecules such as drugs, hormones or neurotransmitters outside the cell. These outside molecules bind to receptors on the cell, activating the receptor and generating a biochemical or electric signal inside the cell. This signal then makes the cell do certain things such as making us feel pain. AGONIST DRUGS Those molecules that bind to specific receptors and cause a process in the cell to become more active are called agonists. An agonist is something that causes a specific physiological response in the cell. They can be natural or artificial. For instance, endorphins are natural agonists of opioid receptors. But morphine or heroin that turns into morphine in the body is an artificial agonist of the main opioid receptor. An artificial agonist is so structurally similar to a receptor's natural agonist that it can have the same effect on the receptor. Agonists are molecules that bind to specific receptors and cause a process in the cell to become more active Many drugs are made to mimic natural agonists so they can bind to their receptors and elicit the same or much stronger reaction. Simply put, an agonist is like the key that fits in the lock (the receptor) and turns it to open the door - or to send a biochemical or electrical signal to exert an effect. The natural agonist is the master key but it is possible to design other keys (agonist drugs) that do the same job. Morphine, for instance, wasn't designed by the body but can be found naturally in opium poppies. By luck it mimics the shape of the natural opioid agonists, the endorphins, that are natural pain relievers responsible for the 'endorphin high'. Specific effects such as pain relief or euphoria happen because opioid receptors are only present in some parts of the brain and body that affect those areas. The main active ingredient in cannabis, THC, is an agonist of the cannabinoid receptor. And hallucinogenic drug LSD is a synthetic molecule mimicking the agonist actions of the neurotransmitter serotonin at one of its many receptors the 5HT2A receptor. Morphine, found naturally in poppies, acts as a natural agonist for the opioid receptors in our body - relieving pain ANTAGONIST DRUGS An antagonist is a drug designed to directly oppose the actions of an agonist. Again, using the lock and key analogy, an antagonist is like a key that fits nicely into the lock but doesn't have the right shape to turn the lock. When this key (antagonist) is inserted in the lock, the proper key (agonist) can't go into the same lock. So the actions of the agonist are blocked by the presence of the antagonist in the receptor molecule. Again, let's think of morphine as an agonist for the opioid receptor. If someone is experiencing a potentially lethal morphine overdose, the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone can reverse the effects. This is because naloxone (marketed as Narcan) quickly occupies all the opioid receptors in the body and prevents morphine from binding to and activating them. Morphine bounces in and out of the receptor in seconds. When it's not bound to the receptor, the antagonist can get in and block it. Because the receptor can't be activated once an antagonist is occupying the receptor, there is no reaction. The effects of Narcan can be dramatic. Even if the overdose victim is unconscious or near death, they can become fully conscious and alert within seconds of injection. Antagonist is a drug designed to directly oppose the actions of an agonist. They block up receptors so that agonists cannot get into them and trigger an action. Therefore they can stop certain actions in the body MEMBRANE TRANSPORT INHIBITORS Membrane transporters are large proteins embedded in a cell's membrane that shuttle smaller molecules such as neurotransmitters from outside of the cell that releases them, back to the inside. Some drugs act to inhibit their action. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as the antidepressant fluoxetine (marketed as Prozac) work like this. Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep and other functions such as body temperature. It's released from nerves, binding to serotonin receptors on nearby cells in the brain. For the process to work smoothly, the brain must quickly turn off the signals coming from the serotonin soon after the chemicals are released from the nerves. A chemical messenger called serotonin (shown here as a key) - which regulates mood and sleep - is normally hoovered up by nerve endings and reused. Antidepressants - called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - work by blocking the hoover so they can't be sucked back in (pictured right as a red hand). Because more serotonin is then hanging around receptors for longer, they continue to stimulate them, improving mood Otherwise moment-to-moment control of brain and body function would be impossible. The brain does so with the help of serotonin transporters in the nerve's membrane. Like a vacuum cleaner, the transporters scoop serotonin molecules that haven't bound to receptors and transport them back to the inside of the nerve for later use. SSRI drugs work by getting stuck inside the vacuum hose so unbound serotonin molecules can't be transported back into the nerve. Because more serotonin molecules are then hanging around receptors for longer, they continue to stimulate them. We can crudely say the extra serotonin moderately turns up the volume of the signal to enhance positive mood. But the actual way this has an effect on depression and anxiety is far more complicated. Around 40 per cent of all medicinal drugs target just one superfamily of receptors the G-protein coupled receptors. There are variations on these drug mechanisms - including partial agonists - and ones that act like antagonists but slightly differently. A mother who spent two years blaming herself for a stillbirth has been awarded a 40,000 payout after the hospital which delivered him admitted it was responsible. For two years, Laura Monks, 31, blamed herself for her son Rueben's death, believing her own body had let him die. When she became pregnant again she was terrified, and once her daughter Niamh was born every milestone she reached was a reminder of the child she had lost. But two years after his death, she began to question the actions of medics caring for her son. To her shock, an investigation revealed the hospital trust which delivered him made serious mistakes - and she was awarded 40,000 in compensation. Now the truth has been revealed, Ms Monks and her partner Peter Winrow, 35, have decided to share the heartbreaking picture of their stillborn son. They hope the image will urge other mothers who fear there is a problem with their baby to 'scream from the rooftops', ask questions and insist on answers. Laura Monks, 31, spent two years blaming herself for a stillbirth before the hospital trust who delivered her baby admitted they made mistakes. She is pictured with her son Darcy and daughter Niamh Ms Monks and and her partner Peter Winrow, 35, decided to share a picture of their stillborn son in order to raise awareness of pregnancy complications Ms Monks, from Wigan, said: 'For two years, I blamed myself for Rueben's death. I thought my body had let him down. 'I began to believe I wasn't a fit mother and even questioned whether I was able to look after my older son, Darcy.' Her conviction was so strong that, when she fell pregnant a third time, she did not tell Darcy - until the baby was born. Ms Monks said: 'I was so sure something would go wrong that I didn't tell Darcy at all about the pregnancy. 'He was devastated when we lost Rueben and I didn't want to put him through that again. 'When he came to the hospital, to meet Niamh for the first time, he cried and said: 'Can we keep this baby, mummy?' 'It was a wonderful moment to bring Niamh home and to know she was OK. But that doesn't change what happened to Rueben. 'He could and should have survived and no amount of money will ever ease our grief.' Ms Monks and her partner Peter Winrow have been awarded 40,000 in compensation, and the hospital trust has apologised to the family'. She and her partner Peter are pictured with their children Believing her own body had let him die, Ms Monks blamed herself for her son Rueben's death for two years. She is pictured with her first son Darcy Ms Monks and Mr Winrow's first child, Darcy, was born in September 2007. He was born by Caesarean section as he was a big baby, weighing 10lbs 14ozs, but was perfectly healthy. Ms Monks said: 'I was thrilled. I had always wanted children, always wanted to be a mum.' At the start of 2011, she fell pregnant a second time. Her consultant advised a natural birth and scans showed the baby, a second son, was not unusually big. But at 34 weeks, he was found to be breech and Ms Monks' consultant attempted to 'turn him' in the womb. I became depressed and I was convinced that I would lose Darcy too. I was trapped in a nightmare Laura Monks, 31 The procedure worked, but the baby turned back and the consultant attempted a second and third turn. 'She was very rough, turning the baby and I was worried about him,' she said: 'It was painful for me and I was concerned he might be hurt too.' Following the procedure Ms Monks could not feel the baby moving and she went to hospital. Doctors decided the baby would need to be delivered that same day. 'There was no panic or urgency,' Ms monks said. 'The consultant actually told me she was going for her dinner and then she would deliver him. I was told to get a shower. 'I was crying, pleading for someone to listen. My baby wasn't moving and I felt it was an emergency.' Ms Monks' son was eventually delivered four hours after she arrived at the hospital. He was unresponsive and medics began a battle to revive him. Ms Monks said: 'I was hysterical; screaming and pleading with Rueben to breathe. Peter and I were taken into a side room and left to wait.' Rueben had been breach - in the wrong position - and doctors had 'turned him' before his death - damaging his umbilical cord during the procedure, an investigation revealed. Mrs Monk is pictured with her children Peter and I are not the same people we once were. Losing Rueben almost destroyed us,' Ms Monk said Every milestone the family achieved with Niamh, who was born healthy after Rueben's death, was clouded by the memory of their lost son, Ms Monks said. Niamh is pictured with brother Darcy An hour later, they were told their baby had died. Half an hour after delivery, doctors had managed to start his heart, but it had lasted just a few minutes. Ms Monks said: 'I was distraught. I held him all through the night and into the morning. He looked so much like Darcy. 'We had to leave Rueben in the hospital and I felt as though a large part of me died with him. I came home a totally different woman. Nobody said I could bring him home to say goodbye. It was as if they wanted me out of there as quickly as possible without any fuss Laura Monks, 31 'Nobody suggested I could bathe or dress him. 'Nobody said I could bring him home to say goodbye. It was as if they wanted me out of there as quickly as possible without any fuss.' The couple had to tell a heartbroken Darcy, then four, that his brother would not be coming home. Ms Monks said: 'We were given no reason for Rueben's death, no explanation. They said it was "just one of those things." 'And so, I blamed myself. I thought my body had let him down my body had killed him. She continued: 'I began to worry that I was a bad mum; that I couldn't look after Darcy. Every time he picked up a cough or a cold, I thought it was life-threatening. 'I became depressed and I was convinced that I would lose Darcy too. I was trapped in a nightmare.' The following year, Ms Monks became pregnant again. But she was panic-stricken that she would lose the baby, as she had lost Rueben. She said: 'Because I had no reason for Rueben's death, I didn't know how to prevent it happening again. I thought my body would let me down again. 'We didn't even tell Darcy I was pregnant because we couldn't put him through that loss again. So terrified Niamh might die in her womb - Ms Monks didn't tell Darcy she was pregnant until the birth 'It should have been a happy time, but it was horrendous for us all.' Seeing Ms Monks' distress, her doctors decided to deliver baby Niamh four weeks early, in February 2013, by Caesarean section - and she was born perfectly healthy. 'After the birth, Peter brought Darcy to the hospital and when I showed him his new sister, he burst into tears and said "Can we keep this baby mummy?",' she said. 'He adored his little sister and he was very protective.' However, caring for Niamh was a bitter-sweet experience as she could not help wondering about what might have been with Rueben. Ms Monks said: 'Each milestone was tinged with sadness. Niamh's first tooth, her first smile, her first steps they all reminded me of what we had missed with Rueben. 'I realised that I had to have answers. For my own sanity, and in his memory, I had to find out how and why he had died.' She contacted hospital bosses who, to her astonishment, apologised and promised to co-operate with any legal action she might take. Ms Monks said: 'I was stunned. They had known, all along, that mistakes had been made. But we had never been told.' Along with Mr Winrow, they contacted Stephensons Solicitors, a law firm, whose investigations uncovred shocking failings. The second time the baby was 'turned' it was thought that damage had been caused to the umbilical cord. They found doctors stopped monitoring Ms Monks' baby prior to the Caesarean - when she was told to have a shower - despite it being shown signs of foetal distress. And to her horror, Ms Monks was told Rueben was delivered with a broken left arm. I was furious that, for two years, I had blamed myself for his death whilst those responsible maintained a wall of silence Laura Monks, 31 Experts agree that had he been delivered by emergency Caesarean following the failed turning of the baby, he would have been born healthy. The Trust apologised and Ms Monks received 40,000 in compensation in November last year. Ms Monks said: 'It was heart-breaking to discover that Rueben could and should - have been saved. 'I was furious that, for two years, I had blamed myself for his death whilst those responsible maintained a wall of silence. She added she is sharing her story - and the photo of Rueben - to urge other mothers who fear there is a problem with their child to speak up. She said: 'I want all other mothers to be aware that they need to ask questions and insist on answers. When something goes wrong, we have a right to know why. 'Scream from the rooftops if you feel something isn't right before it's too late. 'Peter and I are not the same people we once were. Losing Rueben almost destroyed us. 'But we believe that Niamh is a gift from Rueben and for her sake and Darcy's we will stay strong. They know they have a brother and he will always be a part of our family.' 'We believe that Niamh is a gift from Rueben and for her sake and Darcy's we will stay strong,' Ms Monks said. 'They know they have a brother and he will always be a part of our family' The family are sharing their story - and the photo of Rueben - to urge other mothers who fear there is a problem with their child to speak up. Pictured are Darcy and Niamh as children Jamie Cruickshanks, Ms Monks' medical clinical negligence solicitor at Stephensons, said: 'Rueben was a very much-wanted and loved baby. Laura had no reason to believe the delivery of her baby boy would have such tragic and life changing results. 'Rueben will never be forgotten and it will take the family some time to restore a degree of normality in their everyday lives. I want all other mothers to be aware that they need to ask questions and insist on answers. Scream from the rooftops if you feel something isn't right before it's too late Laura Monks, 31 'Although it is rare to see such medical errors, it is clear in this case that medical staff failed in their duty to safeguard the life of Rueben, resulting an unnecessary and avoidable tragedy. He continued: 'Our experts found that if it had not been for the failings of the medical staff, Laura would have given birth to a healthy child. 'In this most unfortunate case we have witnessed an unsettling list of failings by the medical staff to provide timely an appropriate medical care. 'As a mother of a healthy child Laura was unprepared for what lay ahead with her second birth.' A spokesman for the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust would like to once again offer its unreserved apologies to Mrs Monks for the treatment received in November 2011. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is preparing an elaborate policy framework for museums in India to deal with natural disasters. Project titled National Guidelines for Disaster Risk Management in Museums, it is expected to be out before the end of 2016. The NDMA team has already visited over 14 museums in different parts of the country to document the best practices. Delhis National Museum of Natural History witnessed a major fire recently, where the library with over 60,000 rare books was ravaged This includes the National Museum, Delhi; City Palace Museum, Udaipur; Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai; Victoria Memorial, Kolkata; Fort Museum, Chennai; Pondicherry Museum, and Tranquebar Danish Settlement Museum in Tamil Nadu, etc. Kamal Kishore, project head and a member of NDMA, told Mail Today: We have been working on it since April beginning. It is right now at a zero-draft stage with content and structure decided. After finalisation, it will be vetted by a high-level committee and then, sent to large museums for feedback. The whole process will be co-led by the Ministry of Culture. We have already organised a joint training workshop for the staff of Victoria Memorial and Indian Museum, Kolkata, on 29 February and 1 March, he added. Similar orientation programmes were held at museums across the country. Unfortunately, we covered only those museums which are under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture. So, we missed out the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Delhi, Kishore said. Delhis museum fell victim to a giant fire on Tuesday, which consumed the top three floors of its Mandi House-located, FICCI building. It ravaged its library with over 60,000 rare books. Kishore said that the guidelines are broadly divided into three parts: Safety of the museum staff and visitors; protecting its objects, and the building itself. The first part involves having fire systems - detectors, sprinklers, hydrants, extinguishers, etc - in place and functional. In this respect, we found Chhatrapati Shivaji Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai, the best, Kishore elaborated, All of their main electrical systems are outside the museum compound. On the other hand, City Palace Museum, Udaipur, has an excellent evacuation plan and clear emergency exits. The second aspect requires a museum to have varied storage chambers for its antiques, artifacts and art objects to prevent damages during a fire, flood or tsunami. The St. George Fort Museum, Chennai, could plug in all leakages in time to save its antiques and paintings during the 2015 floods, he pointed out. A smaller but important Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) site museum at Nalanda has good anchorage of every excavated idol and item so as to prevent fall and breakage during earthquakes, he underlined. Third aspect involves securing the museum edifice itself, which in many cases is a heritage building. Three Indian-origin persons have been named among the 100 highest-paid chief executive officers (CEOs) globally with PepsiCos Indra Nooyi and Lyondell- Basells Bhavesh Patel making it to the top-ten list compiled by Equilar. Chemicals company Lyondell- Basell top executive Bhavesh V. Patel was ranked sixth on the list with a total compensation of $24.5 million, while Nooyi of Pepsi Co was ranked eighth on the list with a total pay of $22.2 million. Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, was ranked 26th on the list of 100 highest-paid CEOs with a total compensation of $18.3 million. PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was ranked 26th with a total compensation of $18.3 million. Equilar is a California-based company that provides information about total executive compensation packages of top officers at publicly traded companies and nonprofit organisations. The overall list was topped by Mark V. Hurd and Safra A. Catz of Oracle Corp with both boasting a total compensation of $53.2 million. Others on the top 10 include, Robert A. Iger of Walt Disney ($43.5 million), David M. Cote of Honeywell International ($33.1 million), General Electrics Jeffrey R. Immelt ($26.4 million), Randall L. Stephenson of AT&T ($22.4 million), Rupert Murdoch of Twenty-First Century Fox ($22.2 million) and James P. Gorman of Morgan Stanley ($22 million). This list is a snapshot of companies that file annual proxy statements before 1st April and aims to provide an early look at CEO pay trends for 2015. The report further noted that the median pay for Equilar 100 CEOs was $14.5 million in fiscal year 2015, up three per cent from the previous year. Interestingly, eight CEOs on the list are female and they far outpace the median pay for the Equilar 100 as a whole. Median compensation for these eight women was $20.0 million in 2015 while average pay was $22.7 million, Equilar said. Catz tied with her colleague Hurd as the highest- paid individual CEO in the Equilar 100, was the highest paid female with $53.2 million. Apple is the largest company by revenue on the list totalling $233.7 billion in 2015, followed by Berkshire Hathaway with $210.8 billion. The government is planning to turn the heat on former defence minister AK Antony in Parliament on the AgustaWestland deal. A core team of top officials in the ministry of defence is scanning through more than 40 files running into several thousand pages to highlight alleged irregularities in the Rs 3,600 crore deal. The team will assist the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate wade through technicalities and defence procurement procedure. Members of All India Mahila Congress protesting against the Modi government over the AgustaWestland issue in New Delhi Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday held a two hour meeting with this core group of officers while preparing for his statement in Parliament, sources said. He is going through all the documents himself and is also scanning through the Italian Appeals court order. Why were air staff requirements (ASRs) tweaked, altitude ceiling changed, parameters altered he wants to know the answers why and also wants to know on whose instructions were these changes made. Were the qualitative requirements tailor made to suit Agusta Westland? The team will help the CBI and the ED through the technicalities, sources said. The first question Parrikar asked the team was when alleged irregularities were highlighted in 2012 itself why did MoD wait till January 2014 to terminate the contract? Why was the matter not handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation immediately and why did Antony/MoD wait till the arrest of Giuseppe Orsi, Chief executive and chairman of Finmeccanica to do so. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar reportedly held a two hour meeting with this core group of officers while preparing for his statement in Parliament "It was the current government that referred the mater to the Enforcement Directorate. Why did the UPA government not do so when it was apparent bribe money was paid, sources said. At multiple levels the team will help CBI and ED seek answers. Parrikars attack is also expected to focus on the timing of Antonys actions. The order was finally terminated in January 2014 when the government was legally compelled to do so. "From February 2012 when Antony himself admitted to irregularities why was the `Integrity Clause not invoked immediately to cancel the deal and recover the money. Why were 3 helicopters accepted in November 2012? sources asked. The Agusta Hunt Team has already started clearly identifying the irregularities in the deal. Its task is now to help CBI and ED probe if there was political interference in the deal and whether there were waivers for favours. The Congress denied there was any delay on the part of Antony. At the photoshoot for her new TLC show Katie Prices Pony Club, she drew an angry reaction from PETA for dressing her horse up like a unicorn At the photoshoot for her new TLC show Katie Prices Pony Club, she drew an angry reaction from PETA for dressing her horse up like a unicorn. Katie Price has rather incredibly managed to come under fire for two reasons stemming from the same incident: firstly, for beautifying her horses for a photoshoot ahead of her new reality show; and secondly, for putting her children into the TV spotlight by allowing them to be in the show. The former glamour model had previously said that she would protect her five kids from the publicity she attracts by not allowing them to be seen on television anymore. However, at the launch of her new TLC show, she told The Mirror on Wednesday: Well, I decided that years ago, but their dad still continued to use them in his reality show. Now theyre old enough to say if they do or dont want to do it. Prices children Harvey (13), Junior (10), Princess (8), Jett (2) and Bunny (1) are pretty much all over her Instagram account all the time in any case. contactmusic.com Vikander to play Lara Croft Lara Croft has been found. Alicia Vikander has signed on to star in Tomb Raider for MGM, Warner Bros. and GK Films, The Hollywood Reporterhas learned. The movie project, which has Roar Uthaug (The Wave) on board to direct, will tell the story of a young and untested Croft fighting to survive her first adventure. MGM and Warner Bros. are co-producing the film, with MGM overseeing production. They acquired the rights from GK Films, who had previously purchased the film rights in 2011 from Square Enix Ltd. hollywoodreporter.com Vitamins stop organs ageing Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is pretty amazing. It has already been shown in several studies to be effective in boosting metabolism. Now a team of researchers at EPFL's Laboratory of Integrated Systems Physiology (LISP), headed by Johan Auwerx, has unveiled even more of its secrets. An article describes the positive effects of NR on the functioning of stem cells. These effects can only be described as restorative. As mice, like all mammals, age, the regenerative capacity of certain organs and muscles diminishes. Their ability to repair them following an injury is also affected. Yoga mats will be handed out at Delhi Police stations soon to in an effort to trim ever-expanding waste-lines, and burn fat. With officers often complaining of high stress levels, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his desire of making yoga mandatory at police stations across the country. Sources say Yoga guru Baba Ramdev could be the star trainer and will be asked to visit specific police stations. Yoga mats will be out in Delhi Police stations soon and cops will literally be seen stretching it out to get rid of any extra flab on the waistline If he agrees we will try and get him for special sessions, said a senior Delhi Police officer. The Centre has allocated Rs 7 lakh annually for each district to conduct regular yoga classes. This will include salaries for instructors and other requirements to put in place a Yoga training programme. Yoga will have a positive impact on Delhi cops, especially who are doing hectic jobs. The step is not only for Delhi Police but other states can also get involved in this scheme, said a senior Delhi Police officer. In a letter from the AYUSH Ministry to the police departments has asked forces across the country to begin yoga training. PM, while reviewing the activities and achievement of AYUSH, has expressed his desire that yoga sessions be made mandatory in police stations to enhance the social health and management of working stress and skill development of our police personnel. Keeping this in overview, a scheme, entitled Yoga training for police Personnel has been devised, Ministry of Ayush said in its letter. Delhi Police will start recruiting yoga instructors who must have a degree or diploma in yoga with minimum 55 per cent marks. Also, the instructors must have at least two years of experience in teaching yoga. In Delhi, Deputy Commissioners of police will be responsible for conducting classes for the staff and keeping a check. District heads will be responsible for conducting yoga classes in their districts and units. It will be the responsibility of the DCP to prepare a time table and also he/she will ensure that instructor is taking classes as per the schedule. Though, he can also assign any senior official of the district to look after the classes and make surprise visits, the ministry letter says. Some officials are already quoting impracticalities in implementing the programme, citing paucity of time for overburdened cops. The Delhi University has stopped the sale and distribution of the book 'Indias Struggle for Independence' by late historian Bipan Chandra The Delhi University has stopped the sale and distribution of the book Indias Struggle for Independence by late historian Bipan Chandra, following objections to revolutionaries of Indian freedom struggle being mentioned as terrorists. The English edition of the book printed by Penguin publishers in 1988 would, however, remain on the shelves. The Hindi version has been stopped as it had been translated and published by DUs Directorate of Hindi Medium Implementation in 1990 on the recommendation of the History Department. HRD minister Smriti Irani too had called the reference as academic murder of the sacrifices of individuals. She had directed HRD officials to ask the university to reconsider it. We wrote to DU two days ago stating that connotation, use of word terrorist is not respectful. We have also implored, since DU is an autonomous institution, to reconsider the use of this word, Irani said on Friday. A highly-placed source in the MHRD told Mail Today that while the ministry had nothing to do with the universitys decision, it had certainly conveyed the angst of the people at large in the matter to the university. Meanwhile, the co-authors of the book JNU professors Mridula Mukherjee, Aditya Mukhejee and Sucheta Mahajan have protested against what they called unnecessary controversy as Chandra had dropped the terminology in his later works. Aditya Mukherjee, who met DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi on Friday, told Mail Today that he was shocked at the development as he had conveyed to the VC that co-authors were ready to make necessary changes immediately. In a letter to the V-C, Mukerjee wrote: Bipan Chandra had stopped using this description in his later writings and had publicly stated that he would not like the word terrorist to be used any longerThe co-authors of the book have decided and announced it publicly that in accordance with the wishes of Bipan Chandra, they will make the necessary changes in the book. Mukherjee took the argument further as he quoted a 1931-note by Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh himself used the word terrorist for himself and his compatriots. A document of 1931, a note from Singh to his co-revolutionaries said that while terrorism had done a lot of good to the world, it was time to move towards mass movement, he said. When Mail Today asked if the government had asked Penguin publications to revise the book, Hemali Sodhi, senior vice-president, Penguin Random House India, said, We havent been contacted yet. Penguin, in a statement, said: Since its first publication in 1988, Indias Struggle for Independence has been a recognised authority and positive appraisal of Bhagat Singh and his associates huge contribution to Indias freedom movement. At the time of writing, the author made it clear that the phrase revolutionary terrorist was used without any pejorative meaning and for want of a different term. We are already working with the co-authors to update and revise the phraseology to reflect both modern usage and the hugely important role of Bhagat Singh in the making of modern India. Mohammed Afsar, who worked with a construction company, was allegedly murdered last year after he expressed his wish to return to India The mortal remains of an Indian worker, Mohammed Afsar, allegedly killed by his employer in Saudi Arabia will reach the Capital on Saturday, ending a 13-month ordeal for his family, who approached the Delhi High Court after learning that the employer may bury the body there. The court was informed on Friday that the 27-year-olds body had been dispatched and would reach India by 3am. As Afsars remains travel, his family from Jharkhand are on the way to receive them. Mail Today was the first to report about their struggle after all efforts to get the body back proved futile. On April 13, we reported that the family filed a contempt petition as the government failed to comply with the courts December 2015 order to get the body back within a month. Migrants, including Indians, do many of the highrisk jobs in Saudi Arabia, from construction to the oil industry, transport and services. The Gulf state is often criticised for human rights violations and difficult working conditions for foreign workers, a charge its government denies. Afsar, who worked with a construction company, was allegedly murdered last year apparently after he expressed the wish to return to India. Under Saudi law, foreign workers can't leave the country without the permission of their employers. It took us 13 months to make my brothers remains transported to India, his brother, Mukhtar Ansari, told Mail Today. We are relieved but still in deep pain. These 13 months were very difficult for our family. However, the fight does not end here. We will move an application for another post-mortem to establish that he was murdered. His family says the employers even videotaped Afsars gruesome killing to intimidate other workers. Justice JR Midha, who was hearing the petition, dismissed it after being informed about the status of the matter. The Centre had on April 22 informed the court that Ansari's body was likely to be brought back in a week and the Indian embassy in Riyadh had taken every step and completed all the formalities. When his wife, Noushaba Bano, learnt of her husbands death in March last year, she approached the Delhi HC through her counsel, Jose Abraham, seeking directions to get his body back in India. When Noushaba Bano learnt of her husbands death in March last year, she approached the Delhi High Court seeking directions to get his body back The court in December had directed the government to transport the body in a months time. However, when she noticed inaction on the part of the government, Noushaba filed a contempt petition before the court on April 8. The court had sought a status report from the government. While hearing the petition, the court asked the MEA to ensure that Afsars mortal remains are expeditiously transported to India while adding that it would closely monitor the entire issue and take up the matter on a day-to-day basis. Noushabas lawyer had told the court that the family feared Afsars employer may bury the body in Saudi Arabia, having received a no-objection certificate from the Indian Embassy. The embassy said the certificate issued to the sponsor is for the limited purpose of dispatching the body from Saudi Arabia and does not authorise him to bury it. Chinese President Xi Jinping will now be known as Commander in Chief of the militarys joint operations command centre Chinese President Xi Jinping will now be known as Commander in Chief of the militarys joint operations command centre. The title, bestowed on a fatigues-clad Xi by state media this week, is largely a symbolic reaffirmation of his existing authority over the Peoples Liberation Army. Xi is attempting to consolidate his control over Chinas institutions and that the title is primarily to reinforce the image of Xi as the man in charge. While previous Chinese presidents had delegated operational decision- making to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), Xi wants to have operational powers as well. Visiting joint battle command centre of Chinas Central Military Commission, Xi urged officers to build a command system that was capable of winning wars. The current situation requires battle command to be highly strategic, coordinated, timely, professional and accurate, he said. All must be done with the ultimate goal of improving battle command capacities and measured by the standards of being able to fight and win wars. Organisation This move comes as Xi is launching a massive reorganisation of the PLA, moving it from a collection of distinct regional units that operated with a degree of autonomy to a more streamlined, top-down organisation. Xi is also actively purging the militarys officer corps, arresting dozens on charges of corruption and firing others for incompetence, while cutting some 300,000 troops from the armys bloated ranks. This unprecedented reorganisation of the PLA is a rolling process that will continue over the next few years with 2020 as the target date set for all changes to be in place. This is the most sweeping and fundamental reorganisation of the PLA since the 1950s, when Russia helped Beijing create a post-civil-war military largely modelled on the Soviet system. This reorganisation is likely to strengthen the hold of the CCP over the military and is aimed at enhancing the professionalism of the force. There still remain unanswered questions about the future trajectory of the new Chinese reform programme, including what it means for the top-heavy leadership structure, and what role the reserves and the countrys civilian militias will play in national defence and projecting Chinese power abroad. But what remains certain is that the Chinese military of the near-future will be very different from the Chinese military of the recent past. Where China has taken the issue of military reforms by the horns, India continues to be lackadaisical about defence forms. Appropriate institutional frameworks that enable a nation to effectively leverage its capabilities diplomatic, military and economic in the service of its strategic interests still do not exists in India. Though many in government have lamented the paucity of long-term strategic thinking in India, nothing substantive has been done by successive administrations to stimulate such thinking. The National Security Council still does not work as it ideally should. The headquarters of the three services needs to be effectively integrated with the ministry of defence and the post of the chief of defence staff is the need of the hour for single-point military advice to the government. The fact that successive Indian governments have failed to produce a National Security Strategy is both a consequence of the institutional decay in the country as well as a cause of the inability of the armed forces to plan their force structures and acquisitions adequately to meet their future challenges. Choices Yet, the Indian politico-bureaucratic establishment is not the only guilty party here as the Indian armed forces also have a lot to answer for. Their top leadership has shied away from making tough choices about reducing manpower; about adjusting the inter-service budgetary balance; and about restructuring the nations professional military education system. No military anywhere in the world gets all the resources from its government that it deems adequate but an effective military organisation should be able to optimise the use of whatever is at its disposal. Resources alone will not make Indian armed forces the envy of its adversaries. It is the policy direction that is set by the military leadership and the quality of training imparted to its manpower that will make the difference. Structure The questions that need to be debated and answered include: Does India have a 21st century military in terms of doctrine and force structure? Have the doctrines and force structures evolved in line with the equipment that the nations resources are being spent on? Do Indias command and control processes reflect the changing strategic and operational requirements? Does the Indian military have the capacity to initiate actions on very short notice and actually conduct military operations that result in something other than a stalemate. Have the Indian armed forces got the balance between capital and labour right? The armed forces will have to find a way to strike a balance between growing manpower shortage and the easing of budgetary constraints. The services have no option but to modernise their human resources policy. It is disappointing to see the service headquarters continuing to resist greater integration and inter-services rivalry continuing to be as vicious as in the past. India, for example, finds itself in a peculiar position of having a Strategic Forces Command but no CDS, partly because of the differences among the three services. The debate has got stuck on the issue of the CDS whereas the nation needs to be thinking seriously about integrated theatre commands, allowing the three services to share their resources. Todays military challenges cannot be tackled without a real integration up to the command level. Bonus ban: Wier Group chief executive Keith Cochrane Millions of shareholders turned on the bosses of some of the Footsies biggest names in anger over fat cat pay. In one of the most significant results of the shareholder spring revolt so far, engineering firm Weir Group lost a plan to bring in a lucrative share deal for its top executives. More than 72 per cent of shareholders voted down the pay policy which could have seen bosses take home millions in share options regardless of how well the company performed. While many of the pay revolts this year have not been binding, the one against Weir was, so it must go back to the drawing board to come up with a new bonus scheme for bosses. Chief executive Keith Cochrane, got 1.07million last year (down from 1.46million the previous year), and would have been awarded a payout worth 90 per cent of his salary regardless of performance but shareholders stopped it because it was a binding remuneration policy which is set every three years. Weir chairman Charles Berry said the new policy had meant that although pay was not linked to direct performance criteria it instead closely aligned senior management incentives with shareholder interests, as their value is dependent on share price performance. He said Weir had extensively consulted shareholders and that he looked forward to further engagement with them on remuneration. The FTSE 250 firm, which has been hit by the tumbling oil price and cutbacks, will now operate under the pay policy which was approved by shareholders in 2014 and which runs until next year. Drug giant Shire was the other big name to suffer a significant revolt, at its annual meeting in Dublin. Some 49.5 per cent of shareholders voted against its pay report where chief executive Flemming rnskov was awarded a 25 per cent pay rise to nearly 15million for 2015. Oliver Strawbridge, senior assistant company secretary, said it had engaged with major shareholders and acknowledged the protest. Shire, which is buying Baxalta for 22billion, has said that under rnskov total shareholder return between April 2013 and December 2015 had risen 128 per cent and only 10 per cent of his award was fixed pay. However many shareholder advisory groups have spoken out about the over-reliance on share awards. Stefan Stern, director of campaign group The High Pay Centre, said: Packages need to be simpler. Linking bonuses to the share price builds in volatility and completely unpredictable outcomes. Most of us just get paid in cash to do a job. Why should CEOs be so different? Agree a figure, and if the boss does a bad job you can sack him or her. BP was the first company to court shareholder anger this month when chief executive Bob Dudleys 13.9million pay was voted against by 59 per cent of shareholders. A shareholder revolt was also expected at the annual meeting of Barclays yesterday. In total, 6.4 per cent voted against the report which recommended that chief executive Jes Staley, who joined in December, would get 1.2million in annual salary, 1.15million in other pay and annual bonuses worth a potential 80 per cent of his salary and long-term share awards worth a possible 1.44million. The Barclays board was told by one investor that remuneration had got wildly out of kilter. The economic slowdown in the United States was even sharper than in the United Kingdom at the start of the year sparking fresh fears for the global outlook. Official figures in Washington showed American output rose by just over 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year as storm clouds gathered around the world. That was far slower than 0.4 per cent growth rate seen in Britain and undermined claims that the UK is suffering because of the looming referendum on membership of the European Union. Slowdown: Official figures in Washington showed American output rose by just over 0.1% in the first quarter of the year as storm clouds gathered around the world George Osborne was this week accused of talking down the economy after he warned that the threat of Brexit is weighing on our economy. His claims were immediately undermined by experts who said economies around the world have slowed in recent months amid turmoil on financial markets and worries about China and other emerging nations. Jonathan Loynes, chief economist at Capital Economics, said: The slowdown in the US would seem to suggest pretty strongly that it is a global phenomenon. Its certainly our feeling that the UK slowdown is due to factors other than Brexit concerns. Howard Archer, chief UK economist at research group IHS Global Insight, said: You certainly cannot pin all of the UK slowdown down to uncertainties over the EU referendum. Donald Trump: Lower tax pledge Clearly global economic uncertainties have had an impact as well as the financial market turmoil earlier in the year. Gross domestic product in the US the worlds biggest economy rose at an annual rate of 0.5pc in the first quarter of the year as consumer spending growth slowed, business investment plunged and exports declined. It followed annual growth of 1.4 per cent in the final three months of 2015. The slowdown in the US fuelled speculation that the Federal Reserve will not raise rates again until the end of this year. An annual rate of growth of 0.5 per cent is the equivalent of quarterly growth of 0.125 per cent on the measure favoured in Europe putting the US well behind the UK in recent months. Britains economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the final three months of last year before the rate of expansion slowed to 0.4 per cent in the first quarter of this year. Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: The UK is an open economy so it is heavily influenced by the global environment. 'We estimate that the global economy grew at its weakest rate for just over three years in the first quarter, which clearly hit our exports. The economy is once again likely to be a key battleground in the US Presidential elections later this year with the Democrat and Republican front-runners Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump respectively offering widly different policies. While Clinton has promised more spending, higher taxes and more regulations, Trump has promised less spending, lower taxes and fewer regulations. Victrex shares faltered yesterday after the firm revealed that it had been the subject of an inquiry by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US. Its medical arm Invibio was at the centre of the probe. The business makes a material known as PEEK which is used in implant devices to treat spinal conditions. Its a durable, lightweight product also used in smart phones, aeroplanes, knee implants and dentistry. The FTCs gripe was that Invibio was getting its customers, which are typically companies that make medical devices, to sign long-term exclusivity agreements which meant they couldnt use other suppliers. It meant the firm could keep prices high even when new competitors came into the industry. Probe: Victrex's medical arm Invibio makes a material known as PEEK which is used in implant devices to treat spinal conditions The commission has told Invibio that it shouldnt do this any more it is not an illegal practice but the regulator is concerned it could be anti-competitive. Invibio must now contact existing suppliers and tell them they are allowed to use other companies if they wish. The FTC is not taking any punitive action. Invibio accounts for around 50million of the groups total revenues, which were 263million last year. Still, spooked investors pushed Victrex 6.9 per cent, or 104p, to 1414p. The ongoing bidding war for European retailer Darty drew towards its conclusion when Steinhoff chucked in the towel. The South African firm had been battling French group Fnac for ownership of the electricals retailer and earlier this week Fnac made a third, final offer of 170p a share. Steinhoff finally said it would not increase its bid of 160p a share as raising its offer would no longer create sufficient value for shareholders. Darty shares had thrived as the bidding war dragged on, advancing from 131.5p to 172p in a week. Yesterday it finished flat at 168.7p. After a dismal days trading on Wednesday, Sepura bounced back. The firm had suffered after a disappointing trading update. After sleeping on it, investors had apparently decided that things werent as bad as they seemed. Its shares rebounded 18.4 per cent, or 9p, to 58p. It still has some way to recover before it gets back to 112p, where it started the week. The FTSE 100 eased back 2.5 points to 6322.4. Rolls-Royce, among the biggest risers of the day, saw its share price rev up on reports that staff have been told to push cost-savings to 400million. Its shares accelerated 3.1 per cent, or 21p, to 694p. Miners accounted for many of the top movers on the market. Anglo American rallied 8 per cent, or 56.3p, to 753.2p on news of the sale of its Brazilian phosphates business, while Rio Tinto climbed 4.3 per cent, or 95.5p, to 2329.5p after it announced plans to repay 0.9billion of its gross debt ahead of schedule. In the small-cap index mining company Petropavlovsks shares sparkled after it revealed an agreement to purchase Russian gold mining business Amur Zoloto. In its annual results Petropavlovsk also announced a joint venture with Russian conglomerate GMD Gold to finance the construction of one of its projects. Petropavlovsk was hit hard when the gold price crashed in 2013, and a year later refinanced. Investors bullish on bullion pushed the share price on 3.8 per cent, or 0.3p, to 8.2p after good news yesterday. Howdens Joinery got a boost yesterday after a trading update for the first four months of the year showed revenue was up 8.7 per cent. The firm said its performance was in line with expectations despite currency movements affecting its pricing. Shares gained 1.7 per cent, or 8.4p, or 493.7p County Durham-based Kromek, which develops radiation detectors for medical, security and nuclear companies, saw its shares boosted after announcing it had won a five-year contract worth 8.6million. Kromeks radiation detector technology will be incorporated into bone density diagnostics systems. Shares advanced 5.6 per cent, or 1.8p, to 33.3p on the news. It was an instant share price update for IMImobile after it appointed a new non-executive chairman. The technology company provides instant messaging software which businesses use to communicate with customers who are shopping online. Yesterday Vishwanath Alluri, who founded the company in 2000, stepped down as non-exec chairman. Shares boost: South Africa oil workers on the platfoorm at one of Tullows oil rigs Shares in West Africa-focused oil explorer Tullow Oil rose nearly 8 per cent after lenders agreed to extend its loans. Irish-based Tullow has cut spending to cope with the continued weak oil prices that have fallen 60 per cent since a 2014 peak of $115 a barrel. Yesterday, it said it plans to cut annual spending by 69million to around 700million. Its debt is 3billion and it has an available unused debt of 900million and has extended its lending facility by a year to April 2018. Tullow hopes to restart production at its Jubilee oil field in Ghana next month. The companys West African production averaged 59,200 barrels a day and it is on target for first oil in July from its TEN project, which is nearly complete. Tullow, which is venturing into East Africa, said its appraisal programme in Kenya showed fields there could hold as much as 1billion barrels, if more exploration is done. A Korean-born US citizen has been jailed for 10 years in North Korea after being convicted of spying for South Korea. Kim Dong Chul, 62, is the second American to given hard labor this year, following Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old university student who was given 15 years after a prank of stealing of political banner went wrong. Kim was born in South Korea but emigrated to Fairfax, Virginia, and became a naturalized US citizen in 1987. Scroll down for video Kim Dong Chul is pictured being brought to North Korea's Supreme Court in Pyongyang in handcuffs. North Korea is in the habit of convicting US citizens on trumped-up charges and then using them as bargaining chips during negotiations He was a businessman who had more recently been living in China and owned a company in Rason, a special economic zone in North Korea, close to the border with Russia and China. Kim was arrested in October and reportedly confessed to spying for the South Korean intelligence service. After a brief trial in the Supreme Court in Pyongyang he was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison with hard labor. Last month Kim broke down in court after being paraded in public. He said: 'The extraordinary crime I committed was defaming and insulting the republic's highest dignity and its system and spreading false propaganda aimed at breaking down its solidarity' Last month Kim was paraded in public and said he had collaborated with and spied for South Korean intelligence chiefs in a plot to bring down dictator Kim Jong-un and had also tried to spread religion among North Koreans in the city of Rason. South Korea's National Intelligence Service has denied having any involvement with Kim. In the run-up to a key party congress in the North on May 6 there is a heightened sense of tension and political machinations. Hysterical: Last month US tourist Otto Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour after a prank went wrong. He broke down in court and 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' North Korea has detained several US citizens in recent years on trumped-up charges and later released them after using them as leverage in behind-closed-doors negotiations with Washington and Seoul. When former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter traveled to Pyongyang to negotiate the release of American citizens it was portrayed in North Korean media as a sign of their strength. North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow the regime in Pyongyang and hand control of the whole peninsula to South Korea. In 2009 American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling were released after crossing the border from China illegally. In 2014 tourist Mathew Miller and missionary Kenneth Bae were freed after the intervention of Mr Carter. Kim Jong-un is pictured being surrounded by adoring soldiers of a women's artillery unit in North Korea's southeastern province of Kangwon. The dictator, like his father and grandfather before him, is the subject of a sycophantic personality cult Now Mercy's biological mother's best friend has said she may be in for a further court battle as family 'never intended to be permanently separated' Reconciled with her son Rocco after months of separation and bitter words, Madonna returned to New York with fresh hope that her family will be once more re-united. But as lawyers attempt to work out a mutual custody agreement, she has been sent a warning that she could face a far greater battle in the future. A battle for the heart and mind of her adopted Malawian daughter Mercy James, whose natural family believe they were hoodwinked into agreeing the adoption and who want her back. Now, in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the best friend of Mercy's biological mother has warned that there will be stormy times ahead unless Madonna acts now. Bond: Agatha Molande (left) was best friends with Mwandida Chekechiwa (right), who tragically died just eight days after she gave birth to Mercy, the little girl who Madonna would later adopt amid a storm of controversy Superstar: Madonna adopted Mercy in 2009, after the High Court agreed that the star did not need to be resident in Malawi for 18 months prior to becoming a parent - the usual requirement for adoptions New life: Mercy was taken to join her new family, and makes a trip each year to her home country, according to Madonna's spokesman Twenty-five-year-old Agatha Molande claims that the controversial adoption will prove a never-ending saga as 10-year-old Mercy uncovers the true history of her birth. 'The Mercy situation is potentially a bigger problem than the custody battle [over Rocco],' she said. 'Madonna may have been acting in good faith believing she was saving a child from poverty and death, as she may not have been told the whole truth. 'It is difficult to put into words the love Mercy's Malawian family have for her. Mistaken: But Agatha, pictured today, says her family never intended to be 'permanently separated' from Mercy, and believed she would return 'They love her so much and never intended to be permanently separated from her. 'For them it is a battle they will not stop fighting. Madonna needs to understand that as Mercy grows older and becomes aware of these things it may not be good for her and all parties concerned.' The adoption of Mercy in 2009 led to heartbreaking scenes within her family as a deal was struck to hand the child over, amid, allegedly, broken promises of visitation rights and her eventual return - something that Madonna has strongly denied. The family say they have lost contact with Mercy since the adoption. But in a war of words with the family, a spokesperson for the 57-year-old superstar said: 'Mercy has never had her past or her heritage hidden from her and she visits Malawi every year to learn about her roots and to visit friends and family. 'Inaccurate stories about Mercy's adoption harm no one more than the child herself,' they added. The girl's teenage mother Mwandida died eight days after Mercy was born in January 2005. She had given birth at home, and the community believed she became ill after being bewitched. Her breastfeeding baby was placed 'temporarily' in an orphanage, as her wider family could not take care of her. 'They never intended to be permanently separated from her,' said Agatha this week. 'They had an agreement with the orphanage that Mercy would return to them upon reaching the age of six since in Malawi children are thought to have developed immunity from disease once they pass the age of five. 'It is normal practice here for orphanages to operate as care homes for children below that age and then return them later. 'Somehow it seems to have been wrongly interpreted that by putting her at an orphanage they no longer cared for her, or that they were happy for her to be adopted, which is totally incorrect.' Truth: Agatha told MailOnline that far from the picture painted of her friend, suggesting she was a feckless mother, she was actually a straight A student, who they were shocked got pregnant. Pictured: Madonna with baby Mercy and her adopted son David in April 2009, before the court made its final decision Confusion: After her death, the family sent Mercy to live at an orphanage - but expected to take her back when she was six, as is relatively common in the Southern African state. But instead, Mercy was put up for adoption Mistake: 'It is difficult to put into words the love Mercy's Malawian family have for her,' Agatha told MailOnline. 'Somehow it seems to have been wrongly interpreted that they no longer cared for her.' Pictured: Madonna and Mercy in April 2010 during a visit to her daughter's home country A nurse working at one of the biggest referral hospitals in the tiny poverty-stricken Southern African country, Agatha paints a different picture of Mercy's mother than the accepted one of a feckless teenage, single mother. They met when Agatha was nine and Mwandida 10, at St Anthony Primary School in the Thondwe area on the outskirts of the city of Zomba. 'We were in the same class,' she recalled, 'and at first I was intimidated by her because she was kind of famous. The whole school knew her because she was very bright, always top of the class. Mwandida's dream had been to work as an accountant or nurse. She was a determined girl and I have no doubt that if she were alive today, she would be living her dream, working, helping her mum and caring for Mercy. Agatha Molande, best friend of Mercy's mother Mwandida 'She lived with her mother and my mother, who was a school teacher, encouraged me to be friends with children who were doing well in school so choosing Mwandida as a friend was logical. 'We played a lot though she had more responsibilities at home where she helped her mother with cooking, washing and other chores that were perhaps beyond her age.' Bright and intelligent, the girls were selected for Muluguzi Secondary School, a co-educational boarding school. 'I remember her being frustrated that she wasn't always number one in class as had been the case in primary school, but she still made it into the top five.' But having met an older boy in his 20s, James Kambewa, now about 31, Mwandida's grades dropped and she became secretive and withdrawn. 'It came as a shock,' said Agatha, 'When we learnt that she'd got pregnant and we were devastated when she died. 'Her dream had been to work as an accountant or nurse. She was a determined girl and I have no doubt that if she were alive today, she would be living her dream, working, helping her mum and caring for Mercy.' Support: Agatha's claims are backed up by Mercy's grandmother Lucy Chekechiwa, left, today, and right, with Mercy as a toddler, who vehemently opposed the adoption at the time - but was overruled by the court Lies: Lucy, pictured at home, only agreed after being promised visitation rights - something she claims has never been forthcoming. 'They said after she gets educated she would come back to me,' she added Regrets: Now, even Mercy's grandfather Saxon Maunde, who backed the adoption, says that if he and his sons had been told that they would never see Mercy again they would never have granted their permission Battle: Mercy's uncles Peter and John (pictured with her) were reportedly keen for the girl to be adopted by Madonna and convinced her grandmother to support the move Mum: Mercy's mother (pictured left with school friend Lumbani) died eight days after her daughter was born after complaining of a headache Today Mercy's grandmother, Lucy Chekechiwa, who vehemently opposed the adoption, lives alone in a modest mud hut with wooden windows and doors at Thondwe Trading Centre, outside Zomba. While Mercy was in the orphanage 100km away she visited her regularly bring her little edible treats. She proudly shows a picture of the serious faced toddler eating a biscuit she had brought her. She told MailOnline: 'I always said no to Mercy being taken away, but Madonna used the men in the family [my ex-husband and son's or Mercy's grandfather and uncles] to force me to accept by lying to me that I will have visitation rights. 'They said after she gets educated she would come back to me.' When Chekechiwa refused to sanction the adoption, a delegation from the orphanage including a religious leader, went to Mercy's grandfather, long separated, and the couple's sons, and persuaded them to do the deal. The men in turn convinced the unwilling grandmother and Madonna was soon in court filing adoption papers. But she was rejected by the presiding Judge, Justice Esmie Chombo, on the grounds that she did not fulfil a residency requirement in the Malawi adoption law. Misunderstanding: The family say they believed that Mercy, pictured here in January 2016 with Madonna, her brother David and Sean Penn, was just going away to be educated Favour: Saxon says the family never got any money from the superstar - but they didn't want any. 'We were happy for what we thought was a favour offered to us in good faith to have our child educated,' he explained. Pictured: Mercy with older sister Lourdes, Madonna's oldest child Madonna, now the focus of world attention and in some cases deep disquiet, successfully appealed to the Supreme Court where the residency requirement was waived. In a blaze of publicity she left the country with the child. Now though, even the male members of the family say they were fooled. Grandfather Saxon Maunde says that if he and his sons had been told before the adoption that they would never see Mercy again they would never have granted their permission. 'We were told our child is being taken to be given an education and that when she finishes school she will return to us. We were also told that we would be in constant touch with her but it was an empty promise. 'We never got any money from Madonna or from anyone. But we were happy for what we thought was a favour offered to us in good faith to have our child educated.' Heritage: Madonna, 57, takes her adopted children (pictured with her on social media this month) to Malawi 'every year' to learn about their roots, her spokesman said Family: Mercy has grown up with three older siblings - Lourdes (lying down), Rocco (right)- also recently the subject of a court battle over custody - and David, whose parents have also aired concerns over his adoption Plea: Agatha says she doesn't believe Madonna acted maliciously, but adds the diva must move to placate Mercy's family and to uncover the truth and iron out unresolved issues before things get worse For now, in memory of her childhood friend, Agatha is giving Madonna the benefit of the doubt. But she says the pop queen, 57, must move to placate Mercy's family and to uncover the truth and iron out unresolved issues. 'With all the money she has, Madonna should be able to establish the real truth about Mercy, her background and feelings of her relatives. 'She should try independently to discover the truth and come up with an arrangement that satisfies all parties concerned. Uber says it will not install a tipping function - because the company believes tipping is unfair due to customers' unconscious racial biases. The company pointed to a 2008 Cornell University study that indicated 'consumers of both races discriminate against black service providers by tipping them less than white service providers,' the Boston Globe reported. According to an Uber spokesperson who spoke to the Globe, giving Uber drivers tips could lead to wage disparities between white and black drivers. The company also referred to a study by Bloomberg that indicated fares ending in the digits 0 and 5 resulted in smaller tips than fares ending in different digits. Uber says it won't install a tipping function in its app - on the basis that tipping is inherently unfair due to customers' unconscious racial bias Uber's comments came as the company is looking to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by drivers who claim they've been misclassified as independent contractors 'Race has nothing to do with it,' Uber driver Keisha Seaton told the Globe. 'It's all about the service you provide, and if you provide top-notch, five-star service, you expect to be compensated as such.' The company's comments on tipping comes a week after it proposed to settle a high-profile class-action lawsuit to avoid reclassifying drivers as employees. The settlement, which still must be approved by a SanFrancisco federal judge, provides for a $100 million payout todrivers, who could get as little $12 apiece or as much as a fewthousand dollars, depending on how many miles they drove. The deal contains a number of caveats and contingencies,however, such as making $16 million of the payout to driversdependent on Uber Technologies Inc's future valuationincreasing by 150 percent. Moreover, the settlement's non-monetary provisions are setto expire in two years, although Uber may choose to keep them inplace after that. 'If there were going to be any teeth to this settlement,(the expiration) wouldn't be there,' said Christian Perea, anUber driver and writer for The Rideshare Guy, a popular blog andpodcast for drivers. The sunset clause is a way for Uber to protect itself fromlong-term costs and annoyances, said Jack Schaedel, a labor andemployment attorney at the Dykema law firm, who is not involvedin the case. If any of the concessions ends up 'being totallyunwieldy and Uber totally hates it, Uber can get rid of it,' hesaid. Uber declined to comment. Uber is a car-for-hire company run by CEO Travis Kalanick, pictured. The company is looking to avoid classifying its drivers as employees and says tipping them is inherently unfair A Rideshare Guy post explaining the terms of the settlementdrew more than 100 comments, many of them blasting the proposeddeal. Uber drivers expressed dissatisfaction for a range ofreasons, including that the settlement leaves unresolved thecentral issue of whether the law requires that drivers bequalified as employees. Among the non-monetary provisions of the settlement are anew policy governing driver termination, including an appealsprocess for drivers terminated by Uber, and an agreement thatthe privately-held company will clarify that drivers do notautomatically receive gratuities from their fares and allow themto solicit tips. The company also agreed to assist with the creation of adrivers' association. Lawyers representing Uber drivers in another class-actioncase have said in court filings they may object to thesettlement because drivers covered by it would no longer be ableto participate in their case, which challenges Uber's allegeduse of credit reports during driver background checks. The lawyers also object to Uber's request to omit detailsfrom the settlement that would allow drivers to better evaluatethe deal. The company has asked U.S. District Judge Edward Chen toredact key figures in court filings, including an estimate ofthe total potential value of drivers' legal claims had they wonin a jury trial. Some Uber drivers took issue with the company's attempt to settle the class-action lawsuit brought against it The redacted information 'is critically important to anyanalysis of whether the proposed settlement is fundamentallyfair, adequate, and reasonable,' the lawyers wrote in a courtfiling. Uber has said the figures are trade secrets and would damagethe company if made public. In an order on Wednesday, Chen toldboth sides to further explain their positions, given theimportance of the information. In a similar lawsuit against Lyft, Uber's chief competitor,U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria denied that company's requestto keep secret similar information. Chhabria ultimately rejectedthe proposed $12.25 million settlement offer because itrepresented only about 9 percent of the potential value ofdrivers' claims, a deal that he said 'short-changed' drivers. While he will gladly cash a settlement check if one comeshis way, driver Perea said the deal with Uber provides littlesolace. 'We were hoping for a more definitive answer on what theon-demand economy would look like in the future, and a sensethat this whole new economy that was taking off would work,' hesaid. A British mother and her teenage daughter have spoken of their terror after they were attacked by a gang of ladyboys while on holiday in Bangkok. Beth Murphy and Ella Marques, 15, were set upon after they stepped in to help a tourist being mobbed by five men in mini-skirts and high heels along the city's famous Khao San Road. Ella was punched in the face and stomach and had clumps of her hair pulled out as she went to comfort the victim. Her mother, 39, was stabbed in the head and shoulder with a stiletto heel when she tried to fend off her daughter's attackers. Scroll down for video Fifteen-year-old Ella Marques shows the bruising across her face and eye (left) and the clumps of hair (right) that were pulled out after she and her mother were attacked by a gang of ladyboys on holiday in Bangkok Ella and her mother Beth Murphy (both pictured above) were set upon when they stepped in to help a tourist being mobbed by five men in mini-skirts and high heels along Bangkok's famous Khao San Road Miss Murphy, a teacher from Putney, south-west London, told MailOnline: 'We were walking along when we saw this brawl, like a prison fight. 'A guy crashed to the floor. It was ferocious. I thought it was five women attacking him, but their bowed legs and Adam's apples gave them away. 'Ella was the only one who went up to help him. Then the gang turned around and went for her. 'They must have thought she was his girlfriend of something. She was kicked in the stomach and hit in the face and they tore out clumps of her hair. She was curled up in a ball on the floor.' Miss Murphy and her friend Toni Dalton, 38, jumped in to save Ella, but were also attacked. She said: 'I tried to dig my nails into them, but one of them took their yellow stiletto off and hit me in the shoulder and on the top of my head. 'We were in shock. My head was bleeding and Ella's eye was swelling up.' They sent pictures to MailOnline showing how Ella was left with bruising across her face and lost clumps of her hair, while her mother suffered puncture wounds on her shoulder and head. 'We were in shock': Beth Murphy shows a puncture wound on her shoulder and cut to her head after she was stabbed with a stiletto when she tried to fend off her daughter's attackers Miss Murphy (pictured, above, with Ella) has spoken out to warn others of the dangers of Thai nightlife a day after shocking video showed an elderly British couple and their son being beaten unconscious by drunk thugs Miss Murphy with her friend Toni Dalton (left) was also attacked after jumping in to help Ella Miss Murphy has spoken out to warn others about the dangers of Thai nightlife a day after shocking video showed an elderly British couple and their son being beaten unconscious by drunk thugs. Lewis Owen, his businessman father, also called Lewis, and mother Rosemary, both 68, were beaten up while on holiday in the beach resort of Hua Hin on April 13. Mr Owen, who lives in Singapore, said neither he nor his parents would ever go back to the country. Miss Murphy was attacked around three weeks earlier, on Easter Sunday, while on holiday with Ella, her partner, Hilario Marques, Mrs Dalton and her husband and daughter. The three woman were walking along the Khao San Road at around 11pm after becoming separated from the rest of their group when came across a German tourist being beaten up by a gang of ladyboys working outside a bar. The 18-year-old victim had apparently provoked their fury by going inside to use the toilet and leaving without buying a drink. A picture of unconnected Thai ladyboys seen checking their makeup while detained before heading to the police station in Pattaya, Thailand, in September 2014. Bangkok's Khao San Road (above) is famous for its extravagant nightlife and is a magnet for backpackers After trying to intervene, the brawl was eventually broken up by a member of the Thai tourist police who took them to a nearby police station. Miss Murphy said: 'There about seven police officers there and none of them wanted to speak to us. 'They just said we needed to pay 1,000 baht (20). They hadn't tried to patch up my head which was bleeding quite heavily. All they wanted was money, so we left.' She claims the police also took 1,000 baht off each of the attackers and did not arrest them. 'It was such an injustice,' she said. 'If it had been in the UK, it would have been GBH.' Their story comes just days after Thai police issued a warning that gangs of ladyboys were targeting tourists in a wave of muggings. Hopsitalised: Rose Owen and her businessman husband Lewis were were set upon after their son, also called Lewis, spilled one of the gang's drinks. This photo, released by the Thai tourist board, shows Mrs Owen in hospital following the April 13 assault Holiday: The grandparents were on a month-long holiday in Thailand when their dream trip turned into a nightmare, after the couple were viciously attacked by a gang of drunken thugs In the latest brutal attack, German tourist Lutz Mohler was smashed in the face with a rock after being approached by two ladyboys in the Pattaya area, south of Bangkok, resulting in him losing consciousness and being robbed of all his money. He was admitted to hospital with a broken nose and facial injuries but his attackers were later arrested. Last December, four ladyboys were arrested by Pattaya police after 28-year-old British tourist Naami Keyghobadi, from Leeds, died when he fell from a nightclub's fourth floor window. One of the arrested ladyboys told police that Mr Keyghobadi had fallen after an argument with one of their younger friends over payment. Police say that hardly a day goes by when they don't hear of a problem involving a ladyboy. 'This is of great concern to us,' Police Colonel Suktad Poompanmuang said on Sunday at Pattaya headquarters following the arrest of two ladyboys for the attack on Mr Mohler. Beaten: The couple and their son Lewis, 43, were left knocked out cold and lying in the street during Thai New Year festivities in the popular resort of Hua Hin, after being attacked by a gang of local youths Sat breastfeeding in the Indian sun, the woman is not just nursing her own child, but a baby orphaned fawn. The sight may be a shock to outsiders, but here amongst the Bishnoi tribe, animals are just as much a part of the family as their own offspring. Nursing mothers here in this remote region in Rajasthan, a state in northern India, have taken in orphaned and injured fawns for more than half a century - and couldn't imagine it being any other way. Family: For members of the Bishnoi tribe, animals are just as much a part of the family as their own offspring The Bishnoi community, which comprises of around 2,000 homes, have followed the Hindu Guru Sri Jambeshwar Bhagwan since the 15th century and religiously obey 29 rules suggested by their Guru These baby deers are my life and theyre like my own children, said Mangi Devi Bishnoi, 45, a housewife from one of the villages. I feed them milk and food and ensure theyre given proper care and attention in the house like all my family members. 'They are not orphans when they have us around, they have new mothers like me who offer them a mothers feed for a healthy life. The people of the Bishnoi community, a religious group of nature worshippers, live next to jungles and deserted areas and often grow up playing with all sorts of animals - and in fear of none. Roshini Bishnoi, 21, a student in one of the villages, told MailOnline: I have grown up with these little deers. 'Theyre like my brother or sister. It is our responsibility to keep them healthy and help them grow. 'We play with them and we communicate with each other, they understand our language. Neighbour Ram Jeevan Bishnoi, 24, added: We do not see them as just animals. They are very much like a family member. Bond: Ram Jeevan Bishnoi, 24, told MailOnline his parents never diferentiated between him and any fawn they took in while he was growing up - and he wouldn't have it any other way Belief: The Bishnoi community have followed the Hindu Guru Sri Jambeshwar Bhagwan since the 15th century and religiously obey 29 rules suggested by their Guru - including protecting animals Understanding: Roshini Bishnoi told MailOnline: I have grown up with these little deers. 'Theyre like my brother or sister. It is our responsibility to keep them healthy and help them grow.' 'We take care of everything they may need to live a healthy life. We keep them protected in our house so that dangerous animals like wild dogs do not harm them. If theyre injured we keep them safe in our house and treat them like our children. 'My parents have never differentiated between a baby deer and me. We are one family and it is in our religion to protect them. The Bishnoi community, which comprises of around 2,000 homes, have followed the Hindu Guru Sri Jambeshwar Bhagwan since the 15th century and religiously obey 29 rules suggested by their Guru. One is the protection and love of animals and nature. They take care of the flora, fauna and protect the animals from the summer heat or potential poachers. However, the deer is believed to be a sacred animal of the community and is given special attention. Ram Jeevan said: We have followed this way of living for over 550 years with a lot of love and affection. 'We are very protective of our animals, especially the babies. We are helping them. Feeding them is what they need. We are very proud of what we do. Looked after: It means they will take in orphaned fawns - believed to be a scared animal - and care for them like they would their own children, even breastfeeding the tiny creature Donald Trump will be the elephant in the room at Saturday's White House Corresponents' Dinner as the expected butt of the president's jokes has given a hard no he will not attend. Dailymail.com confirmed that Trump will skip the occasion, which he attended last year's with wife Melania, but more famously sat through in 2011 when both President Obama and comedian Seth Meyers ridiculed him in front of the crowd. That doesn't mean that the whole of campaign 2016 folks will be ditching Obama's last dinner, the annual grip-and-grin in Washington between the media, politicos and Hollywood stars. President Obama will be behind the podium a final time at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner where many expect he will roast Republican frontrunner from the rostrum like he did back in 2011 Donald Trump didn't let the experience of President Obama roasting him keep him away as he attended the 'nerd prom,' as it's called, last year again with wife Melania at his side While Donald Trump won't be in attendance at this year's dinner two of his top surrogates will be - Scottie Nell Hughes (left) and Katrina Pierson (right) For one, Sen. Bernie Sanders will attend. Variety reported that he will be a guest of CBS News. Some other figures from Trump's campaign plan to descend on Washington and are expected to receive a 'yuge' amount of attention from the Washington crowd. Scottie Nell Hughes was impersonated by Saturday Night Live's Cecily Strong (pictured) who, coincidentally, was the talent that appeared at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last year Katrina Pierson, the tea party activist and former Ted Cruz supporter who is now one of Trump's top spokespeople, revealed that she was coming to the dinner via Twitter. 'My dress arrived today! I just wanted to share the glorious #redcarpet news!' Pierson wrote last week. 'Still need [shoes],' she added, using the high-heel emoji. 'Who else will be at the [White House Correspondents' Association] diner next weekend?' she mused. Scottie Nell Hughes confirmed to Dailymail.com that she would also attend. Hughes' frequent television appearances on behalf of the candidate have been so widely-watched that Saturday Night Live's Cecily Strong who coincidentally was the talent at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last year impersonated the talking head for a Trump-themed skit. Hillary Clinton is also not expected to be in the crowd Saturday, but that didn't mean she and her campaign let the opportunity go to waste. Last night in Washington the Hillary campaign made use of the fact that the 'Scandal' cast would be in town for the dinner and held a closed-door fundraiser for the Democratic frontrunner. On the invitation, which was leaked to the Sunlight Foundation's Party Time blog, cast members Guillermo Diaz, Tony Goldwyn, Katie Lowes, Jeff Perry and Bellamy Young were to be joined by Clinton aides Huma Abedin and Jake Sullivan for a $5,000-a-ticket reception. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is fighting for delegates in Indiana is also not planning a weekend trip back to Washington, but spokeswoman Catherine Frazier confirmed that she and other Cruz staffers, including Jason Miller and Alice Stewart, are slated to attend. Donald Trump's spokeswoman Katrina Pierson will be a fresh face in the White House Correspondents' Dinner crowd Hillary Clinton's campaign made use of the fact that Hollywood would be coming to town, holding a closed-door fundraiser in Washington with the 'Scandal' cast last night It's sometime a dangerous gamble for someone eyeing the White House to sit in that crowd, as Trump famously learned in 2011. That year Trump, to the chagrin of some journalists because of the billionaire's association with the 'birther' movement, was invited to sit at the table of the Washington Post. The blowhard billionaire had floated a presidential run that year too, but for all intents and purposes that dream died the night of the White House Correspondents' Dinner. President Obama attacked Trump's birtherism as soon as he got to the podium. Having just released his long-form birth certificate, the president joked that he was now ready to reveal his birth video. The opening African safari scenes of The Lion King appeared onscreen as the POTUS chuckled onstage. 'I know he's taken some flak lately, but no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than "The Donald,"' Obama said. 'And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like: Did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?' the president continued. Obama also mocked Trump's gig as a reality television host. 'For example, on a recent episode of "Celebrity Apprentice," at the steakhouse, the men's cooking team did not impress the men from Omaha Steaks,' Obama began. 'And there was lots of blame to go around, but you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership,' the president continued. 'And so ultimately you didn't blame Lil Jon or Meatloaf, you fired Gary Busey,' Obama said. The portrait of Ada Lovelace, noted scientist and Lord Byron's daughter, that used to hang in Downing Street The government is refusing to reveal where David Cameron has art hung in Downing Street - because it could help terrorists. The bizarre reason was cited as a justification for censoring a response to a Freedom of Information request. The Prime Minister has access to thousands of classic and contemporary works in the Government Art Collection (GAC) to brighten up his offices. MailOnline had asked for copies of correspondence between Number 10 and the GAC about what pieces were being used. But after months of considering the implications for 'national security', the Department for Culture - which oversees the GAC - would only provide heavily blacked out material. The response said: 'Disclosure of the requested information, in particular the location of certain pieces of art work, would increase the risk of criminal, including terrorist, attacks on 10 Downing Street and its staff, which could lead to serious harm to people, even loss of life, and damage to the structure of the building. 'It is not in the public interest to undermine the security of Downing Street, or provide information that could facilitate criminal attacks.' The spokeswoman went on: 'Providing information about the layout of No.10 in particular could assist potential attackers, particularly terrorists, in planning and carrying out physical attacks against the Prime Minister and staff in his Office.' The department did provide some details of what artworks feature in Downing Street. In December 2014 the Number 10 facilities manager noted that he would need to clear the removal of Hendrick Danckerts' Whitehall from St James's Park 'with the PM direct'. In its place the officials were hoping to install an oil painting of Wiltshire by George Lambert. A portrait of Wellington by Robert Home was due to replace a portrait of mathematician Ada Lovelace, who helped Charles Babbage develop concept of the first computer, in time for the general election. A portrait of 17th Century architect Kenton Couse, who designed the famous black door of Number 10, by Mason Chamberlin the elder was due to be moved in to replace a portrait of James I. The portrait of the Duke of Wellington that was installed in a mystery location in 10 Downing Street Tracey Emin famously donated one of her neon installations, More Passion, for use in Downing Street in 2011. The work lights up the hallway leading to the Terracotta Room on the first floor of Number 10. Neighbouring rooms include the White Room, the Pillared Room and a study used by Margaret Thatcher. The Pillared Room is often used for hospitality, so the Emin installation is regularly seen by visitors who are brought in up the main staircase where photographs of former prime ministers are hung. The artist has said that when she went to Number 10 to discuss donating the installation 'the Prime Minister dragged me around a corner and said, 'Here it is, this is where we want the work'. 'I would obviously like to hang a neon in the really old part, it would look really good and give No 10 a bit of an edge ... but it's all listed and panelled.' Maurice Frankel, of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, said it was 'almost impossible to imagine' how the location of artworks could help terrorists and criminals. 'Either Downing Street is secure against people breaking in or it is not. 'I cannot see any reason why a terrorist attacking Downing Street would be interested in finding artworks. 'They would not bw breaking in to steal. It would make no difference to them whether they had put a Rembrandt or a Picasso in a certain room. 'It is a nonsensical response.' PMs USED THEIR OWN COLLECTIONS TO DECORATE DOWNING STREET Until the late 19th Century Prime Ministers were largely responsible for providing their own art for 10 Downing Street. Early holders of the post - such as Sir Robert Walpole - took their collections with them when they left power. But in the late 1890s HM Treasury gave the Office of Works money for the purchase of art for Government buildings in London. The modern GAC evolved from that decision. It now contains over 13,500 works of art from the 16th century to the present day by mainly British artists in a broad range of media. They are displayed in British government buildings in nearly every capital city around the globe. Prime Minister David Cameron working in his offices in Downing Street Rangers at Utah's Arches National Park were investigating large graffiti Thursday that was carved so deeply into a famous red rock arch that it might be impossible to erase, officials said. The carvings discovered earlier this month measure about 4 feet across and 3 feet high, park Superintendent Kate Cannon said. The vandalism is part of a 'tidal wave of graffiti' at Arches and other national parks in recent years, she said. Scroll down for video Officials at Utah's Arches National Park are investigating large graffiti (pictured), so deeply carved into one of the park's famous red rock arches that it might be impossible to erase A second photograph shows more of the fainter graffiti etchings defacing the sandstone formation at Arches Two years ago, at least eight national parks in the West began the delicate task of cleaning up graffiti-like paintings left on famous, picturesque landscapes. The damage was discovered after images were shared on social media. The Arches rock formation, commonly known as Frame Arch, is off a popular hiking trail where visitors can look through it and view the park's iconic, stand-alone Delicate Arch. Cannon said the graffiti was etched so deeply that it might have taken at least an hour for someone to carve. She said park workers can try to reduce the carving's visibility by grinding down the rock around it, but that causes further damage to the surface. She said they could also try to fill in the etchings with some kind of material that blends in, but it's unclear if that would be a permanent or unnoticeable treatment. The Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks Since 2010, Arches National Park has had over a million visitors per year. In 2015, the number of visitors was nearly 1,4 million, according to the National Park Service Defacing surfaces in the park is illegal and anyone caught can face up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. Social media seems to be a driver of increased vandalism, but Cannon said graffiti generally has become inexplicably popular among visitors. 'It is really overwhelming,' she said. Officials hope public outrage and vigilance can ease the problem. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has warned of 'growing xenophobia' in Austria after the country adopted one of Europe's toughest asylum laws. Ban hit at what he called 'increasingly restrictive' refugee policies in Europe, in a speech to the Austrian parliament on Thursday, adding that he was 'alarmed by the growing xenophobia here' and elsewhere in the continent. It comes a day after Austria passed a bill allowing the government to declare a 'state of emergency' if the migrant numbers suddenly rise and reject most asylum-seekers directly at the border, including from war-torn countries like Syria. UN chief Ban Ki-moon (pictured) has warned of 'growing xenophobia' in Austria after the country adopted one of Europe's toughest asylum laws The country's political leaders are struggling to halt the surging far-right which is leading in presidential polls. 'I am concerned that European countries are now adopting increasingly-restrictive immigration and refugee policies,' Ban told lawmakers. 'Such policies negatively affect the obligation of member states under international humanitarian law and European law. Divisiveness and marginalisation hurt individuals and undermine security.' Rights groups, religious leaders and opposition parties have condemned the legislation - the latest in a string of hardline measures against migrants - as violating international human rights conventions. But Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka insisted Austria had no other choice as long as 'so many other European Union members fail to do their part' to stop the influx. 'We cannot shoulder the whole world's burden,' he said. Wedged between Europe's two main refugee routes - the Balkans and Italy - Austria received around 90,000 asylum requests in 2015, the second-highest in the bloc on a per capita basis. More than a million people, primarily from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, landed in Europe last year, triggering the continent's worst migration crisis since the aftermath of World War II. Many braved a short but dangerous sea journey from Turkey to Greece, before trekking up through the Balkans toward western and northern Europe. Austria passed a bill allowing the government to declare a 'state of emergency' if the migrant numbers suddenly rise and reject most asylum-seekers directly at the border, including from war-torn countries To reduce the flow, the EU recently struck a controversial deal with Ankara, under which all 'irregular' migrants reaching Greece after March 20 will be returned to Turkey. Although the pact has led to a sharp drop in arrivals, the International Organisation for Migration last week warned that the numbers were 'once again ticking up'. Under Austria's new law, the government can now declare an emergency if the migrant flow threatens the country's 'national security'. Border authorities will then only grant access to refugees facing safety threats in a neighbouring transit country or whose relatives are already in Austria. Some groups including minors and pregnant women will however be exempt from the rule. The restrictions are similar to tough rules introduced by the Right-wing government in neighbouring Hungary last year. It comes after the candidate of the far-Right Freedom Party (FPOe), Norbert Hofer, sent shock waves through the political establishment by winning the first round of a presidential ballot on Sunday. The FPOe also looks set to do well in the next scheduled general election in 2018. Trying to stem voter desertion to the far-Right, Austria's government erected border fences and introduced an annual cap on asylum-seekers. Rights groups, religious leaders and opposition parties have condemned the legislation - the latest in a string of hardline measures against migrants - as violating international human rights conventions It also pressured other countries along the Balkan trail to close their frontiers earlier this year, effectively shutting the route to migrants. Some 54,000 migrants are currently stranded in Greece as a result of the clampdown. It also pushed people smugglers to seek out new routes into Europe, including via Italy, which has so far this year seen 26,000 migrants land on its shores after setting off from Libya. The surge in arrivals in neighbouring Italy has prompted Austria to announce plans to re-instate border controls - including a 1,200-feet fence - at the Brenner pass in the Alps, a key transport corridor between northern and southern Europe. Burger bars are feeling the heat as food inspectors crackdown on what makes a safe hamburger. NSW food authorities are ordering chefs at Sydney's gourmet restaurants and burger bars to ensure all meat patties are well done at 71C. Meat patties cooked to this temperature run the risk of being dry and bland. The Food Authority says raw and undercooked hamburger patties may contain harmful bacteria that can produce foodborne illness such as E.coli, mostly due to improper handling and preparation of the meat. NSW food authorities are ordering chefs to ensure all meat patties are cooked through at a well done temperature of 71C (stock image) Sydney chef Neil Perry (pictured) says the guidelines are important because many burger places have their patties supplied by butchers and have already been minced The have been no outbreaks of foodborne illness due to the consumption of raw or undercooked patties recorded in Australia (stock image) A NSW Food Authority spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that they had been approached by council officers in recent months: 'concerned about the increase in businesses serving rare/undercooked burgers' and potential health risks. The person said if businesses wanted to cook using an alternative temperature, 'they must be able to demonstrate that their cooking process is safe'. Burger bars that don't meet the new guidelines face penalties up to $1540 per offence 'for the preparation or sale of unsafe food'. Sydney chef Neil Perry, who plans to open four Burger Project stores this year, cooks his patties to medium about 60C. He told The Daily Telegraph the big difference is the way the meat is prepared at his restaurants, with staff grinding the meat fresh everyday, making it safe. 'Those guidelines from the health department are important because a lot of burger places have their patties supplied by butchers and have already been minced,' he said. 'So you effectively don't know when they were minced or when the meat was cut back through itself or how long they have been stored or at what temperature. Mr Perry said the food guidelines serve as a 'worst-case scenario' safety net. Burger bars that don't meet the new guidelines face penalties up to $1540 per offence for the preparation or sale of unsafe food (stock image) The Food Authority handed out a guideline titled 'Hamburger Food Safety' to Environmental Health officers across 152 councils in NSW In a guideline titled 'Hamburger Food Safety' handed out to Environmental Health officers across 152 councils in NSW, the Food Authority outlines the risks and food safety tips to ensure a meat patty is cooked properly: 'Mince meat should be cooked right through to the centre,' the instructions say, quoting a temperature of 71C. 'No pink should be visible and juices should run clear.' The have been no outbreaks of food poisoning due to the consumption of raw or undercooked patties recorded in Australia. Australian drug smuggler Myuran Sukumaran's final request before he was executed in Indonesia was to see if his death had made a difference - as it's revealed several members of the firing squad sought forgiveness after the execution. Sukumaran's spiritual advisor pastor Christie Buckingham, who was with him when he was shot 12 months ago, says he asked her for a favour when he was tied to the pole minutes before his execution. 'Ask the question in a year's time, has this made any difference? Has it made any difference in Indonesia? Has it made any difference to the way Australians feel about the death penalty? Ask this question in one year, in five years and in 10 years,' Ms Buckingham told News Corp. Scroll down for video Australian drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran (right)and Andrew Chan (left) were executed one year ago on Friday by firing squad - 10 years after being found guilty of smuggling 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia Friday marks one year since Sukumaran and fellow Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan were executed and Ms Buckingham says she is honouring the promise she made to continue their fight against the death penalty. She said several members of the Indonesian firing squad apologised to her following the executions on the island of Nusakambangan. 'He pulled his mask down and said 'Maaf, Maaf' (sorry in Indonesian),' Ms Buckingham told the newspaper. 'I just said Myu forgives you, I forgive you, God forgives you.' Sukumaran and Chan were were executed just after midnight or 3.25am (AEST) on April 29 last year - 10 years after being found guilty of smuggling 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia. Their family and friends will hold memorial services to mark the anniversary of their executions. Chan's family have booked a Hillsong chapel in Sydney's northwest, while a private service is expected for Sukumaran on Saturday at the nearby DaySpring Church in Castle Hill. Sukumaran's spiritual advisor pastor Christie Buckingham, who was with him when he was shot 12 months ago, says he asked her to see if his death had made a difference minutes before his execution Chan and Sukumaran were among 14 drug traffickers executed in Indonesia last year, amid intensifying condemnation from human rights activists and international governments Andrew Chan's wife Febyanti Herewila, who he married two days before his execution, said his legacy to abolish the death penalty will continue Chan's brother Michael said the family had been struggling ahead of the anniversary. '(It) has been a roller coaster ride for the family to come to terms with the loss,' he told Reprieve Australia, an organisation fighting the death penalty. 'There has not been a day that has gone by that he is not in our thoughts. Countries need to look at ways to rehabilitate prisoners instead of executing them.' He said he wanted to speak up for others who remained on death row. Febyanti Herewila, who married Chan two days ahead of his execution, said his legacy to abolish the death penalty will continue. 'People make mistakes especially when you are young like him,' she told Reprieve Australia. 'Also Andrew wants the young people from around the world to learn from his life.' Chan and Sukumaran were among 14 drug traffickers executed in Indonesia last year, amid intensifying condemnation from human rights activists and international governments. Sukumaran's pastor Christie Buckingham (pictured at his Sydney funeral), says he asked her to see if his death had made a difference and she promised to continue fighting against the death penalty Sukumaran and Chan were taken from Kerobokan Prison in Bali in March last year after serving a decade Bali Nine ringleaders Chan and Sukumaran were pictured arriving at Cilacap in Indonesia on March 4, 2015, after being transfered to Nusakambangan Island prison in Central Java to face a firing squad The pressure continues with German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressing her country's wish for Indonesia to put an end to capital punishment, during Indonesian President Joko Widodo's recent visit to Europe. Despite this, Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan and Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo have flagged executions are likely to resume this year. Head of Central Java's Corrections Division Molyanto said they were currently building more isolation cells - where those awaiting execution are kept - at Nusakambangan prison. But he denied reports that the 'execution field' is being extended. Sukumaran and Chan's Australian barrister Julian McMahon said it was 'surprising' further executions were back on Indonesia's agenda. Sukumaran and Chan's families and friends will hold memorial services in Sydney on Friday to mark the anniversary of their executions Sukumaran's family (pictured his brother Raji and mother Chinthu) will hold a private memorial service to mark the anniversary of his executions. His funeral (pictured) was held in Sydney in May last year Chan's family have booked a Hillsong chapel in Sydney's northwest for the memorial service. It is the same church where his funeral (pictured) was held in May last year after his body was returned to Australia 'The fact is after the international dismay in April 2015 executions have now stopped for 12 months. The reason has not been publicly identified, except by reference to economic priorities. But most commentators think that international reaction would be very relevant,' he told AAP. Indonesian lawyer Dr Todung Mulya Lubis - who tweeted 'I failed. I lost' after his clients' executions last year - has been campaigning against capital punishment in the country since 1979. Since then he feels they have made 'small progress'. 'We have made people aware of the death penalty ... I believe over time we will be able to score some wins.' While he cannot see the abolition of the death penalty happening in Indonesia 'any time soon', he hopes a bill tabled before parliament last year might prove a 'middle way'. Under the proposed changes, if people show they have rehabilitated themselves, they could see their execution commuted to a life sentence. British border guards have turned away almost 20 times as many non-EU nationals as European citizens in the past decade, official figures revealed last night. The shocking data shows how officials seeking to keep out terror suspects, extremists and criminals have had their hands tied by Brussels. In the last ten years, guards ordered not to impede freedom of movement rules have turned away just 11,000 EU citizens. UK border guards have turned away 20 times more non-EU nationals than European, file photograph Brussels has ordered that EU nationals can only be turned away if they present a 'serious and credible threat' In the same period, 200,000 non-EU nationals have been refused entry to the UK. This is despite the fact that 215million of the 321million visitors to Britain since 2006 were from within the EU. Under UK law, a person from outside the EU can be stopped from entering the country on the simple grounds that their presence is not conducive to the public good. But Brussels diktats state that EU citizens can only be turned away if there is a serious, credible and present threat a far higher threshold binding officials hands. Justice minister Dominic Raab said: EU law has shackled UK border authorities, restricting our power to refuse entry to those who present a danger to the public. We need to leave the EU to exercise proper preventative controls. The figures, contained in written Parliamentary answers, put immigration back at the heart of the referendum debate. Earlier this week, Home Secretary Theresa May warned that being in the EU made it harder to control immigration. The EUs own border agency Frontex has also warned how terrorists, including two of the Paris attackers, were using the continents open borders to move around freely. Tory MP Anne Main, who obtained the figures, said there hasnt been a clearer demonstration of how little control we have of our borders. When the British public see these figures, they will decide for themselves if we have control of our borders. The fact of the matter is that its almost impossible to stop criminals from the continent coming to the UK because of the Free Movement Directive. Previously, it was thought only ten times more non-EU citizens were turned away. Last month, a dossier compiled by Leave campaigners listed 50 of the worst foreign criminals who had moved here under free movement rules. Once here, 45 of them committed serious offences. In total, they were responsible for 14 killings, including nine murders, and 13 sex crimes of which seven were rape. They also carried out robberies, theft, burglaries and drug offences. Yesterday it emerged that Britains borders were exposed to terrorists last year after a Home Office computer system screening passengers crashed twice in 48 hours. The eBorders system, put in place after the 9/11 attacks, ground to a halt in June. A Home Office spokesman said last night: The UK is not part of the border aspects of Schengen, meaning we retain full control over who enters our country. All passengers entering the UK are checked against police, security and immigration watch lists. Business Minister Nicholas Boles is the sort of Tory who gives Cameroonism a good name. Mr Boles is clever, funny, tolerant, economically dry, socially liberal. He is also tall, which makes him prominent and useful if you happen to have mislaid your library steps. Yet not even this paragon was able to allay suspicions that the Government has just done something amazingly corrupt and stupid. The misdeed it stood accused of yesterday was as follows: that it surrendered on trade union reforms after the unions offered to bung 1.7million to the pro-Brussels side of the EU referendum campaign. Nicholas Boles is clever, funny, tolerant, economically dry, socially liberal. He is also tall, which makes him prominent and useful if you happen to have mislaid your library steps Can Cameron & Co really have become so panicky, so hell-bent on propaganda, that they sold policy in this way? Bernard Jenkin (Con, Harwich & N Essex) had secured an Urgent Question. He noted media reports that a secret deal was indeed done before the Governments Wednesday afternoon cave-in on union laws. Mr Boles first said how much he admired Mr Jenkin. Flattery never hinders a minister, particularly when dealing with a senior matinee idol such as Mr Jenkin. Then Mr Boles conceded that he had regular conversation of trade unionists. But they had been connected in no way with the Bills part-abandonment. Noooo. That had been forced by fearsome obstacles it faced in the House of Lords. He kept mentioning Lord Burns, an ex-mandarin who led the Upper Houses moans about the Trade Union Bill. Terry Burns is one of Londons most egregious Establishment schmoozers. How he finds time for it alongside his juicy global directorships is a wonder. Anyway, the Bill had been diluted because Mr Boles, describing himself a neophyte, knew he could never beat Burns! What rot, said an underwhelmed Jenkin. Just days ago Mr Camerons Remain campaign chums were begging for 75,000 in order to buy balloons and leaflets. Now, thanks to the unions, they were going to be given 1.7million. This stinks, said Mr Jenkin. It reeks of Cash for Questions. This Government really is at the rotten heart of the European Union. Bernard Jenkin (Con, Harwich & N Essex) had secured an Urgent Question. He noted media reports that a secret deal was indeed done before the Governments Wednesday afternoon cave-in on union laws Jeepers. Strong stuff. Liam Fox (Con, N Somerset) was curious to know what (after immigration targets and union reforms) would be the next Tory manifesto promise to be sacrificed to the EU. Dr Foxs fingers drummed on the back of his bench with ire. Sir Edward Leigh (Con, Gainsborough) said that it would be a constitutional offence if a Bill had been changed to suit ministers private convenience. Mr Jenkin, from his seat: And thats what happened, isnt it? To these and other questions, Mr Boles gave ornate, adroit answers. Not every compromise is a conspiracy, he said. Bob Blackman (Con, Harrow E): This one is! Dennis Skinner (Lab, Bolsover) went off on his high horse. Mr Boles said that the goal of my life has been to give pleasure to the Hon Gentleman. Did I mention that Mr Boles is as gay as a goose? His pleasure remark generated gurgles of merriment. Any innuendo went way over Mr Skinners head. Philip Hollobone (Con, Kettering) thought it had been a shabby political episode with the Government, big business, the big banks, the BBC and now the TUC ganging up on the British people to persuade them to stay in the EU. Mr Boles said nothing pained him more than to have angered Mr Hollobone, whom he had long worshipped as a great man, but he has been blinded by his passion. He will not be the last middle-ranking minister to be sent to obfuscate prettily for Downing Street. But there was a limit. He was not prepared to lie. And so, when Philip Davies (Con, Shipley) bluntly asked if the Government had talked to the unions about a Remain campaign donation, Mr Boles did not say. His failure to deny it was glaring. Conservative MPs have been urged to show that their party is compassionate and back a law change to allow stranded child refugees into Britain. Tory rebel Stephen Phillips sent a letter to Tory MPs, pleading with them to demonstrate that they care. In it, he urged Tory MPs to join me in making clear to the country as a whole that we do care as a party and to join him in the lobby when voting to show just that by supporting a refugee resettlement plan put forward by holocaust survivor and Labour peer Lord Dubs. Tory rebel Stephen Phillips sent a letter to Tory MPs, pleading with them to demonstrate that they care about child refugees An attempt by Lord Dubs on Monday to make Britain take 3000 child refugees from the EU was rejected by a majority of just 18. A new amendment, which does not specify an exact number, was backed by the Lords on Tuesday. Mr Phillips said he hoped the amendment would change Tory minds. He praised the Mail for supporting moves to allow youngsters into Britain. In a leader yesterday, this paper warned that we could not turn our backs on youngsters living in squalid conditions. Mr Phillips said: The Daily Mail has, as ever, adopted a principled and conscientious position which accords with my own. Whether we like it or not, these unaccompanied children, some as young as five, are already in Europe, at the channel ports, and sleeping rough in towns and cities across the continent. The conscience of our nation has never been dictated by the failures of others to meet their obligations and I hope and trust that the Government, whose sincerity is not in doubt, will on this occasion accept the Lords amendment and show the compassion for which the British people are renowned. An attempt by Lord Dubs on Monday, seen here meeting two Syrian refugees, to make Britain take 3000 child refugees from the EU was rejected by a majority of just 18 Tory sources say around a dozen Conservative MPs are planning to rebel when the Commons votes on the proposal again on May 9. Heidi Allen, a Tory MP who abstained rather than rebelling, said she would definitely back it next time so long as it is not watered down. My fear is that local authorities could all turn around and say we wont take any. Dr Tania Mathias, another Conservative rebel, said she had been approached by colleagues who told her: I wish Id joined you in the Lobby. Will Quince, a Tory MP who also voted with Labour on Monday, said he was hopeful more colleagues would now back the plan, especially since councils could now advise the Government on their capacity to take in refugees. Downing Street yesterday said it would stick to its policy of taking refugees only from war-torn regions rather than those who had reached Europe. But the PMs officials spokeswoman said, lets see what happens when the amendment comes back on May 9. Tim Farron, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: Ignoring the desperation these vulnerable children find themselves in will only allow the situation to get worse. Tim Farron, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: Ignoring the desperation these vulnerable children find themselves in will only allow the situation to get worse' The longer our government pretends this is not their problem the more these orphans lose hope of finding a home, securing an education and living a stable and peaceful life. The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Paul Butler, yesterday praised this papers stance on the issue. He said: I welcome the Daily Mails call today for unaccompanied child refugees to be offered asylum. Unless they are offered help and hope, children at risk will fall victim to trafficking and all kinds of evil. The family of murdered Melbourne toddler Sanaya Sahib have received death threats and been intimidated at home and in public following the child's killing, police say. The 14-month-old's body was found in the Darebin Creek earlier this month less than 24 hours after her mother, Sofina Nikat, told police she had been snatched from her pram in a Heidelberg West park. Ms Nikat, 22, made a 'full confession' to killing the little girl after initially telling police that a man of African appearance, smelling of alcohol and wearing no shoes, pushed her to the ground and took off with the toddler. Scroll down for video Mother Sofina Nikat (left) has been charged with the murder of her daughter Sanaya Sahib The father of the slain Melbourne toddler, Sameer Sahbib, was devastated by his daughter's death, but police say the family have been subject to death threats and intimidation But since her death the extended family of the toddler have been the target of 'malicious attacks' by members of the public who believe they were involved in the killing, Victoria Police say. 'People have no right to harass, intimidate and abuse this family. Vilifying them during their time of grief and need is both callous and unjustified,' said Tim Hansen, North West Divisional Commander Superintendent, in a letter to The Age. 'I remind people that Victoria Police does not tolerate violence, physical or verbal abuse and will prosecute those responsible for such conduct.' Sanaya was farewelled at a private, traditional Islamic burial on April 16. Almost 450 people gathered at Dandenong South's Bunurong Memorial Park. The body of Sanaya Sahbib, who was 14-month-old, was found in the Darebin Creek in Melbourne The little girl's father, Sameer Sahbib, who separated from Sanaya's mother in July 2015, has said he had battled authorities to see his daughter. 'She shouldnt have been in that environment,' Mr Sahib said to the Herald Sun. 'I do not want other people to go through this.' CCTV footage allegedly showed Ms Nikat pushing a pram toward Darebin Creek in Melbourne Police recover the body of the toddler from Darebin Creek in Melbourne The companies acting for playboy Dominic Chappell (pictured) were on 'no sale-no fee' agreements during the successful bid to buy the chain from Sir Philip Green Two City firms were paid 2million to seal the controversial sale of BHS despite concerns over its new owner's chequered business history. The companies acting for playboy Dominic Chappell were on 'no sale-no fee' agreements during the successful bid to buy the chain from Sir Philip Green. Leading law firm Olswang and accountancy giant Grant Thornton subsequently earned 4million in fees between them from Mr Chappell's venture Retail Acquisitions in the following year, it is understood. They now face being called before MPs to answer questions after the all-party business, innovation and skills select committee launched an inquiry into the sale. The lavish payments will enrage the 11,000 BHS workers and 20,000 members of the company pension fund, who are facing an uncertain future. The retailer collapsed into administration on Monday with a 571million pension deficit just a year after former racing driver Mr Chappell took over. His firm, Retail Acquisitions, bought the troubled chain from Arcadia boss Sir Philip in March 2015 for 1. It has since emerged that Mr Chappell had been involved in a number of failed businesses and was being investigated by authorities over his finances at the time of the sale raising questions about what checks were carried out. Sir Philip could now be brought before MPs to answer questions as part of the probe. Business committee chairman Iain Wright said: 'The sale and acquisition of BHS raises real questions about whether directors acted in the best long-term interests of the company and their employees.' He questioned why, given its pension liabilities, BHS was allowed to be sold for 1 'to someone without any retail experience at a challenging time for the sector and with, what looks like, no proper checks'. Olswang and Grant Thornton, hired by Mr Chappell and Retail Acquisitions to provide advice over the purchase, had a requirement to conduct a financial health check on the businessman, it is understood. The lavish payments will enrage the 11,000 BHS workers and 20,000 members of the company pension fund, who are facing an uncertain future Jonathan Silverman, partner at Silverman Sherliker LLP, said vetting would have been carried out by Olswang but questioned why the firm then went on to represent him in the deal. 'I would have expected them to be wary,' he said. Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie said: 'Serious questions are rightly being asked about the failure of professional advisers including lawyers in this sorry saga.' The Serious Fraud Office said it could not confirm or deny if it was carrying out an investigation. Sir Philip had asked investment bank Goldman Sachs and leading law firm Linklaters to act on his behalf over the sale. A bank spokesman insisted it 'had no formal role' and was not paid. However, the tycoon and his wife could also be brought before MPs to answer questions after the Commons work and pensions committee launched a separate inquiry. Sir Philip, 64, and Lady Green, 67, have been under fire after it emerged they had taken almost 400million out of BHS in the first four years of their ownership. The couple, said to be worth 3.22billion, could be questioned about the estimated 571million black hole in the BHS pension scheme. Meanwhile, it is understood that BHS administrators have received 'around 50' expressions of interest for all or part of the retailer. Duff & Phelps is seeking buyers for the retailer as a going concern, although industry experts have doubts over whether BHS can be saved in its current form. A spokesman for Olswang said it could not comment on clients' affairs. Grant Thornton said all potential clients go through a 'rigorous' vetting process. Sir Philip Green is to be quizzed by MPs on the Commons business committee about the BHS sale. Here are the questions the Mail believes he must answer. Was Sir Philip aware of Dominic Chappells financial past? Mr Chappell had been made bankrupt twice and had once gone into voluntary liquidation, yet Sir Philip was still ready to sell BHS to his company Retail Acquisitions for 1. Mr Chappells dubious history should have been a red flag for any deal, let alone one which risked the futures of thousands of staff and pensioners. Sir Philip Green is to be quizzed by MPs on the Commons business committee about the BHS sale What questions were asked about Mr Chappell? Sir Philip was unofficially advised by an investment banker of Goldman Sachs, and lawyers from golden circle firm Linklaters were also involved in the deal. But it seems he relied solely on evidence from Mr Chappells own lawyers as proof of his credibility rather than getting an independent assessment. Was Sir Philip aware Mr Chappells businesses still owed millions? Even if Sir Philip did not know of Mr Chappells bankruptcies, public inquiries into his affairs were continuing. This should have been enough to block the deal. What guarantees were sought about the BHS pension scheme? When Sir Philip sold BHS he knew the scheme was hundreds of millions of pounds in deficit and any buyer would need to fund this. Did he demand assurances the gap would be filled, or simply wash his hands of the scheme, leaving tens of thousands of workers in the lurch? Why did he sell a store to his stepson at an apparent discount? Sir Philip sold the store to his stepson for 6.9million. Weeks later he resold it for 10million. Sir Philip sees nothing wrong in the transaction but to outsiders the timing of selling off one of the few lucrative bits of the BHS empire looks unfortunate. The High Street retailer collapsed into administration on Monday with a 571million pension deficit just a year after former racing driver Dominic Chappell took over Why did he retain ownership of the BHS head office? The BHS Marylebone House office is worth around 40million a valuable BHS asset for any new owner. How much will Sir Philip pay to plug the BHS pension gap? Economists said the economy would be 4% bigger if UK voted to leave EU The European Union is an economic failure and Britain would be richer if we left, a group of leading economists said yesterday. In an explosive report, they claimed membership of the sclerotic Brussels club was holding back growth across the region, and branded the euro an unmitigated disaster. Every worker in the UK would be 40 a week better off a decade after Brexit and the economy would be 4 per cent bigger than if the UK stayed in the EU, the economists said. The findings are a direct challenge to George Osbornes claims that the economy would be 6.2 per cent smaller by 2030 if Britain votes to leave in the referendum on June 23. Professor Patrick Minford, a former economic adviser to Margaret Thatcher and one of the authors of yesterdays report, branded the Treasurys analysis of the impact of Brexit as a totally misleading piece of propaganda. The economists' findings are a direct challenge to George Osbornes claims that the economy would be 6.2 per cent smaller by 2030 if Britain votes to leave in the referendum on June 23 He said it was based on almost no proper economic thought and does not stand up to any kind of scrutiny. Rather than delivering a Brexit tax as claimed by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) this week the report argued leaving the EU would result in a Brexit dividend. The Economists for Brexit report said output would be higher and wage growth stronger if Britain left the EU. It added that the City of London would continue to thrive. A lot of economic nonsense has been talked so far in the Brexit debate, the report said. Most of it has come from the Project Fear campaign launched by Downing Street. Prof Minford, who set up the eight-man group to challenge the consensus view of the Treasury and international organisations such as the OECD and International Monetary Fund, said the boost would come from reduced red tape strangling British businesses and a move away from the protectionist trading union of the EU towards free trade. Brexit is a shock a good shock, he said, adding that although there may be some short-term uncertainty following a vote to leave it can be handled. Roger Bootle, another member of the group and chairman of Capital Economics, hit out at the excessive regulatory zeal of the EU which has placed countless unnecessary burdens on business. He also accused Brussels of being obsessed with barmy and unnecessary plans for the harmonisation, integration and Europeanisation of something or another while other regions of the world were busying themselves with the fundamentals of economic growth. Mr Bootle said the poor economic performance of the EU predates the euro and added: Whatever benefits there are of the single market they are overwhelmed by other factors including regulation. Every worker in the UK would be 40 a week better off a decade after Brexit and the economy would be 4 per cent bigger than if the UK stayed in the EU, the economists said He went on: The EU is falling rapidly in relative importance as it is outgrown by the rest of the world. Conversely, the relative cost burden from EU regulations being imposed on the whole economy are set to rise. This is a club of which we should not want to be a member. Another member of the Economists for Brexit group, which is self-funded, is former Standard Chartered chief economist Dr Gerard Lyons, now an advisor to Boris Johnson. He said London would remain the leading financial centre in Europe and possibly the world whether Britain was in the EU or not. London leads globally, with no major European competition and indeed the competition is now global, Dr Lyons said. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill reauthorizing a private school tuition voucher program in the District of Columbia on Friday. House members voted to approve H.R. 4901, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act, by a vote of 224-181. Earlier this month, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved the bill , which is sponsored by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and sent it to the full House floor. The Opportunity Scholarships Program currently provides scholarships to about 1,250 low-income students in the district to attend private schools. Its been around since the 2004-05 school year. Last month, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, and eight D.C. Council members sent a letter to Congress last month supporting SOAR reauthorization because of the funding structure SOAR provides for District of Columbia Public Schools and D.C. charter schools, as well as the Opportunity Scholarships Program. However, President Barack Obamas administration has expressed opposition to Chaffetzs bill. Since its beginning, the voucher program has provided scholarships to about 6,400 students in D.C. Its been a controversial program in the federal government for some time. It was a long-time favorite of former Speaker of the House John Boehner, and current House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., has also championed the program. In fact, last fall Congress also voted to reauthorize the program. But the Obama administration has consistently questioned whether it ultimately leads to better academic results for students, and has tried to set a date for the program to expire. That hasnt gone over well with the GOP-led Congress. Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . The suit alleges that the Republican presidential hopeful and Epstein treated her as a 'sex slave' over a four-month period She claimed she was raped by the property tycoon in 1994 at billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein 'sex parties' The billionaire had already 'categorically' denied the legal claims, made by a 'Katie Johnson' in a bombshell $100 million lawsuit Garten cites 'false' address and phone number and says whoever wrote the lawsuit 'clearly has some legal background' 'Based on our investigation, [there is] no evidence that the person who has made these allegations actually exists,' attorney Alan Garten told DailyMail.com Donald Trump's lawyer says there's no indication that a lawsuit plaintiff who claimed Trump raped her when she was 13 is a real person Donald Trump's attorney told DailyMail.com on Friday that a lawsuit claiming Trump raped a 13-year-old girl at billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's notorious 'sex parties' appears to be a hoax. Trump had already 'categorically' denied the claims but attorney Alan Garten's statement signals that the Trump campaign is eager to swat down the allegation before it gains any more traction. 'The allegations are not only categorically false, but disgusting at the highest level and clearly framed to solicit media attention or, more likely, are politically motivated,' Garten told DailyMail.com in a statement. 'To be clear, there is absolutely no merit to these claims and, based on our investigation, no evidence that the person who has made these allegations actually exists.' In a followup telephone interview, Garten cited a litany of specific indications that the lawsuit is a hoax perpetrated by 'someone with some level of legal background.' Donald Trump (left) has 'categorically' denied claims in a lawsuit that he raped a 13-year-old girl at 'sex parties' thrown by disgraced billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein (right) The address listed on the lawsuit exists, he said, but 'there is no indication or record that that person' named as the lawsuit plaintiff 'ever resided there. So we believe it is a false address.' He also said the phone number listed on the lawsuit papers rings to voicemail and publicly available records tie it to another person. 'There is no record that the phone number is tied to the person who has made these allegations,' he said. 'We believe that this person does not exist.' The suit details claims made by a woman named as 'Katie Johnson,' with a home address named as what turned out to be an empty, foreclosed property at 'Twentynine Palms' in California. Neighbors told reporters that the home has been empty since the death of its owner, David Stacey, last October. The property went into default soon after and on April 11 just 15 days before the lawsuit was filed the bank officially foreclosed. Alan Garten, Donald Trump's corporate attorney at the Trump Organization, spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com and swatted down the allegations in a salacious lawsuit filed Thursday against the Republican presidential front-runner Garten rattled off a list of indications in the lawsuit that suggest it was not filed by an indigent woman acting on her own behalf, but that it was drafted by someone who 'clearly has some legal background.' The suit details claims made by a woman named as 'Katie Johnson,' who says her net worth is $278, leading her to request a waiver of the filing fees. 'This is not a "pro se" filing,' Garten told DailyMail.com, referring to the legal term for someone who petitions a court without an attorney. 'This was written on legal paper with margins and line numbers. It's properly captioned. It has no typos. It has footers. It cites statutes.' 'This has all the hallmarks of being drafted by someone with some level of legal background,' he said, 'and 'this was filed to not leave fingerprints.' 'I mean, there's a section titled "material witnesses!" This is not someone with $278 to her name.' He suggested that the lawsuit filer pleaded poverty 'because unless you pay in cash, the filing fee traces back to someone.' 'It seems like there's a lot more to this story than some random person. Clearly there's some kind of collusion going on here,' Garten insisted. In California as in most states, anyone can file a lawsuit with a court whether or not they are a lawyer or a named plaintiff. No identification is required. But most suits are filed by lawyers who put their names on the legal papers, and the ethics requirements of their law licenses generally prevent the kind of shenanigans Garten suggested. Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner, told DailyMail.com on Thursday night that the allegations were 'disgusting at the highest level' after he was accused of raping and sexually assaulting a minor in a bombshell $100 million lawsuit. The suit claims Trump took Johnson's virginity and alleges that the Republican presidential hopeful and financier Epstein treated her as a 'sex slave' during an 'horrific' four-month period in 1994. Trump wasted little time on Friday deflecting attention to Hillary Clinton, calling her an 'enabler' of her husband Bill's sexual misconduct Johnson presuming she is a real person has been offering her alleged story to a series of news outlets, and photographs of her have been offered for sale for up to $25,000. Radar Online reported Thursday night that Epstein's infamous 'little black book,' a record of his contacts seized by the FBI, doesn't include the name Katie Johnson, casting further doubt on the lawsuit's claims. Trump, 69, issued a furious denial of the legal claims, telling DailyMail.com: 'The allegations are not only categorically false, but disgusting at the highest level and clearly framed to solicit media attention or, perhaps, are simply politically motivated. There is absolutely no merit to these allegations. Period.' Questions have also been raised by a political source who told the Radar Online that the allegations were 'a desperate plot to try and ruin Donald.' In her legal complaint, the woman named as Johnson makes shocking and unproven claims that Trump and Epstein 'sexually and physically' abused her and threatened to harm her or her family if she didn't comply. The suit also claims she and a third 'sex slave' also aged 13 - gave Trump and Epstein naked, sexually charged massages in the same room of the Manhattan residence during one of the parties. 'The Plaintiff, Katie Johnson, was subject to extreme sexual and physical abuse by both defendants, including rape,' the lawsuit states. It added: 'The Plaintiff Katie Johnson, was enticed with promises of money and a modeling career to attend a series of underage sex parties at the Manhattan residence of Defendant, Jeffrey E. Epstein, and attended by Defendant, Donald J. Trump.' Today Trump issued a furious denial of the claims which he believes are an attempt to smear him as he leads the Republican race for the White House (pictured giving a foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Wednesday) Trump wasted little time on Friday deflecting attention to Hillary Clinton, calling her an 'enabler' of her husband Bill's sexual misconduct. 'Crooked Hillary Clinton, perhaps the most dishonest person to have ever run for the presidency, is also one of the all time great enablers!' he tweeted. The lawsuit was filed Thursday at a court in southern California. In states that a New York 'party planner' who spent ten years working for Epstein, is willing to give testimony in support of its claims. The complaint identifies the woman only as Tiffany Doe, a 'trusted employee' of Epstein's, and claims that Doe can confirm all of Ms Johnson's allegations. It states: 'Tiffany Doe will testify to the fact that Plaintiff Katie Johnson was lucky to have survived to tell of the sexual and physical of the horrors that she suffered at the hands of Defendant Epstein and Defendant Trump.' The lawsuit states that between June and September of 1994, Johnson was 'enticed' by convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, 63, to attend 'underage sex parties' and during this period it is alleged Trump attended the parties and met Ms Johnson on several occasions. At the parties, it's claimed 'scores of teenagers and pre-teen girls' were used as sex slaves by Epstein and his business associates, 'including Defendant Trump', according to the paperwork. In one alleged encounter, 'Johnson' claims in her lawsuit that she was tied to a bed by Trump and 'forcibly raped' by the billionaire. The suit alleges that Trump refused to wear a condom during the violent 'rape' despite her pleas. Donald Trump, pictured in 1997 with Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell who was accused of supplying Epstein with underage girls - a claim she denies - in a lawsuit by alleged victim Virginia Roberts 'Defendant Trump slapped the Plaintiff Johnson in the face with his open hand and angrily stated that he would do whatever he wanted and that he was in charge,' the suit states. 'After achieving sexual orgasm,' the lawsuit also claims, 'defendant Trump put his clothes back on and when the Plaintiff, Katie Johnson, sobbed about being afraid that Defendant Trump had impregnated her, Defendant Trump angrily threw $100 bills at her and screamed at her 'to get a f***ing abortion' with the money.' Garten, Trump's attorney, said Friday that the allegations are 'so over-the-top.' 'There's no merit to the allegations. Categorically false.' In the complaint, Johnson also alleges she was sexually abused by Epstein himself on three different occasions during the same four month period, including one savage attack during which she was beaten and 'raped and sodomized' by the billionaire. In more lurid and unsavory claims, she alleges she was forced to give Epstein a full-body massage while he was naked and repeatedly told to touch his erect penis while he masturbated. And then she was forced in to the humiliating and degrading act of cleaning up Epstein's semen with her bare hands, according to the paperwork. Lenient: Epstein (above) served just 13 months of his 18-month sentence, going to a local jail and not a prison where he was allowed to leave six days a week for work (pictured in February) The 62-year-old convicted sex offender was pictured hugging a young blonde as he left his palatial home in New York City's upper east side in December The suit alleges that Johnson was forced to perform the sex acts through threats of 'physical harm' to her and her family. Following one round of abuse which allegedly involved both Epstein and Trump receiving massages from Ms Johnson and another underage girl, Ms Johnson recalls in the lawsuit, how the two men began to row over who would take her virginity first. The lawsuit claims that it was in fact, it was Trump who did it. Johnson was repeatedly warned, the suit claims, that should she ever reveal any details of the sexual and physical abuse, she and her family would be in 'mortal danger'. The 'party planner', Tiffany Doe, was there to witness the incidents with Trump, according to the document. It states: 'Tiffany Doe was physically present at each of the four occasions of sexual abuse by Defendant Trump upon the person of Plaintiff Johnson, as it was her job to witness all of the sexual escapades of Epstein's guests at these underage sex parties and later reveal all of the sordid details directly to Defendant Epstein.' It added that Epstein had also demanded that she listen in to the encounters explaining that 'knowledge is king' in the financial world and that he wanted to 'accumulate inside business knowledge'. Two women, who the government designated as underage victims of Eptsein, filed a lawsuit in February over his 'sweetheart deal.' It alleged that he women, then aged 13 and 14, were assaulted at his Palm Beach mansion (above) Epstein was arrested in 2006 (pictured in undated mugshots) and accused of sexual abuse by 40 different women, with many alleging they were teenagers at the time, some younger than 14 The lawsuit will undoubtedly raise a few eyebrows among the political establishment. Epstein was arrested in 2006 and accused of sexual abuse by 40 different women, with many alleging they were teenagers at the time, some younger than 14. None of them ever implicated Trump in any wrongdoing. In February Trump brought up Epstein and dragged former President Bill Clinton in to Epstein's seedy world. Clinton has 'a lot of problems coming up in my opinion with the famous island with Jeffrey Epstein. A lot of problems,' Trump told the Conservative Political Action Conference. Trump has distanced himself from the financier, who pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage prostitute. He banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida for allegedly propositioning an underage girl. It's ten years since Epstein was first investigated when police were tipped off that women working as assistants to Epstein were procuring underage girls to give him sexual massages. As the inquiry unfolded detectives spoke with dozens of girls, some of whom were 15 or younger. Many of the allegations against Epstein resurfaced last year when Virginia Roberts, now 31, filed a lawsuit claiming to have been Epstein's sex slave. Donald Trump, pictured in 1999 with his then girlfriend Melania Knauss at Cipriani's restaurant - five years after the alleged abuses Trump (pictured at the TIME Gala with wife Melania where he was honored as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world) has said he believes the claims are part of an elaborate political smear campaign She went on to allege that in 2001 when she was an underage teenager she had sex with Epstein's one-time friend Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. The allegations were vehemently denied by the Duke and were removed from court records following a federal judge's ruling in April last year. Court papers lodged in Florida had accused Prince Andrew of having sex with Miss Roberts when she was 17. She claimed that under the orders of Epstein she was 'forced' to have sex with the prince three times in 2001 in London, New York and on Epstein's Caribbean island. Her accusations were part of submissions made by lawyers acting for Miss Roberts who wanted to join an existing civil lawsuit launched by two other women. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra refused Miss Roberts permission to join the lawsuit and said in his written judgment that the sex abuse details had no bearing on the lawsuit's goal of reopening the Epstein non-prosecution agreement. As for Epstein he has been dogged by the scandal of sexual abuse ever since he struck an infamous plea bargain. In July last year a judge released a cache of court documents from Epstein's 2008 plea deal that showed prosecutors suspected the financier of abusing up to 40 underage girls but failed to charge him. Instead he was sentenced to just eighteen months in prison for a misdemeanor soliciting an underage girl for prostitution. David Camerons bid to keep Britain in the EU faces credibility issues after he joined forces with former union boss Sir Brendan Barber, a senior minister has warned. Employment minister Priti Patel said it was extraordinary for Mr Cameron to team up with the former TUC chief, who was a persistent critic of Tory economic policy and a passionate supporter of joining the euro. The Prime Minister and Sir Brendan wrote a joint article for the Left-wing Guardian newspaper yesterday in which they said they were completely united on the need to keep Britain in the EU. Prime Minister David Cameron, left, was attacked over writing a joint article on the need to remain in the EU with former TUC leader Sir Brendan Barber, right, who is a constant critic of government economic policy Tory Brexit campaigner Priti Patel, pictured, said the alliance between the PM and TUC chief was problematic The two men also claimed that leaving the EU would drive down wages contradicting the head of the In campaign Lord Rose, who admitted this year that Brexit would result in higher wages. Miss Patel criticised the decision to team up with Sir Brendan, saying: I think this new alliance poses some credibility issues for their campaign. Brendan Barber has spent the last six years attacking everything the government has done on the economy and jobs. In 2009 he predicted our deficit reduction programme would lead to four million unemployed. On Europe he is on the record calling for more Europe, greater integration and joining the euro. He was wrong then and wrong now. Miss Patel also criticised a controversial deal in which vital trade union reforms were apparently watered down in return for union support and cash in the referendum campaign. Doing a deal with the trade unions for the benefit of the Remain campaign will bring anxiety and concern to the public, who want this campaign to be run in a fair and transparent way, she said. Veteran Eurosceptic Bernard Jenkin likened the union climbdown to the cash for questions scandal, and accused ministers of changing the law in return for political favours. In a strongly-worded attack, Mr Jenkin said: It has been confirmed to me through more than two independent sources that No 10 instructed these concessions to be made after the discussions with trade union representatives. This being true would amount to the sale of Government policy for cash and political favours. He went on: This stinks, this reeks of the same as cash for questions. This shows this Government really is at the rotten heart of the European Union. Pro-Brussels ministers are desperate for union helping in mobilising Labour voters in the June referendum on Britains membership of the EU. Labour sources said this weeks climbdown followed private warnings from trade union leaders to ministers that they could not rely on their support in the referendum unless they agreed to neuter the legislation. The major unions are said to have agreed to provide 1.7 million to Labours pro-EU campaign in return for the concessions. Several key provisions of the Trade Union Bill have now been ditched. Ministers had vowed to end a controversial system that allows unions to take money from their members for political campaigning without their active consent. Much of the money is then passed to Labour, which warned the move would cost the party up to 8 million a year. Now, the new opt-in system will only apply to new union members and will be phased in following a 12-month transitional period. In a further concession, ministers will allow pilot schemes to trial electronic voting in strike ballots. Business minister Nick Boles yesterday insisted the concessions were made because of cross-party opposition in the Lords. He insisted that the main provisions of the Bill, which will introduce minimum turnout thresholds for strike ballots, would go ahead. Asked about Mr Jenkins claims on a visit to a factory in Peterborough, the Prime Minister said: Weve accepted that amendment, but the trade union bill, which I think is a very important piece of legislation, will pass. Am I talking to the trade unions about how to campaign to help keep Britain in a reformed Europe? Yes, I am. There are many disagreements, but we are putting aside those disagreements and saying on this issue, we agree. From a distance, it looks as if someone is building a chi-chi new safari development on the edge of Nairobi. But as you get closer, you realise that these elegant constructions are not made of traditional wood, grass and mud. They are huge piles of ivory 105 tons of the stuff, to be precise. And the really sobering statistic is that more than 20,000 elephants were killed to produce this lot. Yet tomorrow afternoon the entire haul, worth up to 150 million on the black market, will be put to the torch, with heads of state and some of the worlds leading conservationists looking on. I hope they are standing upwind of all the smoke. Because this will be the biggest ivory bonfire in history. It is designed to send a dramatic and uncompromising warning to the poachers and crime syndicates who are threatening to wipe out the mightiest creature on earth: we are coming to get you. But as you get closer, you realise that these elegant constructions are not made of traditional wood, grass and mud. They are huge piles of ivory 105 tons of the stuff, to be precise That, at least, is the intention. For now, the ivory hunters show no sign of abandoning their slaughter of Africas dwindling elephant population to feed a seemingly relentless Asian appetite for ivory ornaments. The tusk inferno will mark the grand finale of a summit in Kenya which could determine whether the African elephant has a future or is condemned to join the growing number of species headed for extinction. Because if poaching continues at its current level, there may be no African elephants left in the wild in a decade or two. The stakes really are that high. Hence the importance of this summit. It is being watched from afar by the British Government and also by the Prince of Wales and his sons, who have had a hand in its creation. For this is the inaugural meeting of the Giants Club, a new association of African nations which are home to the elephant, plus leading players in the wildlife game. And it is no mere talking shop. Club rules are strict. Member states have to agree to meet specific conservation demands and funding objectives. And it must be the head of state who signs on the dotted line, ensuring that lines of communication go to the very top. Many countries, including South Africa and Zimbabwe, have yet to join. But this morning presidential delegations from four countries, representing more than half of the remaining 400,000 elephants in Africa, will be present. The leaders of Botswana, Gabon and Uganda will join their host, Kenyas President Uhuru Kenyatta, in the town of Nanyuki. There, too, will be leaders of the worlds main conservation organisations and senior global emissaries, including Americas Deputy Secretary of State, brandishing a message of support from Barack Obama. As many as 100,000 elephants were killed by poachers between 2010 and 2012, and that the death rate is continuing at 30,000 per year There has never been this level of engagement on this issue before. We are expecting real outcomes, says Dr Max Graham, 38, Cambridge zoologist and founder of the elephant charity Space for Giants. He had the idea for the new club, along with its patron, the London-based media owner and philanthropist, Evgeny Lebedev. He points to the fact that 100,000 elephants were killed by poachers between 2010 and 2012, and that the death rate is continuing at 30,000 per year. That spells extinction. The situation is critical for forest elephants, a sub-species particularly vulnerable to the poaching gangs, who hide from security forces beneath the forest canopy. In parts of Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the entire forest elephant population has already been wiped out. All over Africa, an increasingly bloody battle is being fought between the wildlife authorities and well-armed poaching gangs, assisted by networks of corrupt public officials. And the illegal trade is hitting not just animals but entire ecosystems. Take the elephant out of the equation in savannahs and forests where it has roamed since time immemorial, and the natural order of things collapses. So what is driving demand? Its not as if we need ivory to make piano keys, dominoes and knife handles any more. And the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has banned all trade in tusks. The heart of the problem is that ivory is an aspirational commodity in large parts of Asia, a symbol of wealth and success. And with the expansion of the upwardly mobile middle classes in China, Vietnam and elsewhere has come increased demand for ivory figures and carvings. Just as a Westerner might hanker for a Jacuzzi or conservatory, they dream of an ivory statuette on the mantelpiece. It is, of course, illegal to import or export ivory any more. But historic supplies of ivory legally acquired in the past help provide unscrupulous Asian dealers with a good cover story when the authorities come knocking. What is beyond question is that poached ivory is being smuggled by the ton out of African ports such as Mombasa and Zanzibar. It is usually concealed in containers full of ordinary goods or crops, and signed off by pliant customs officials in the pay of the crime syndicates. The current black market rate at the far end is said to be up to 1,400 a kilo. Several middlemen take a cut at every stage, from the corpse in the bush to the backstreets of Beijing. It is also Asian demand for the body parts of other endangered species such as the rhino and tiger which are perceived to have magical medicinal qualities that is driving those creatures to the brink of extinction, too. With that in mind, our Government convened a summit of almost 50 countries in London in 2014 to agree fresh strategies to fight a trade that is now worth a staggering 13 billion each year. The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge a hands-on patron of the charity Tusk and Prince Harry were among the speakers. The really sobering statistic is that more than 20,000 elephants were killed to produce this lot Prince Charles singled out the elephant as an integral part of the ecological and social fabric of the African continent. At the end of the summit, delegates signed a 13-page London Accord, agreeing, among other things, to elevate the trade in endangered species to the status of serious crime. In other words, flogging rhino horns would henceforth rank alongside dealing in drugs. There was another spin-off, too. The summit saw a separate agreement signed by several African states with major elephant populations. Driven by President Ali Bongo Ondimba, the president of Gabon, the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) committed its signatories to draw up detailed plans for protecting their remaining elephants and disposing of their ivory stockpiles. Gabon has suffered badly because it is home to more than half of Africas forest elephants. Yesterday it was announced that a team of British Army instructors has arrived there to help train park rangers. And just as the London conference led to the creation of the Elephant Protection Initiative, so the EPI has led to this weeks first meeting of the Giants Club. You cant join the club unless you signed up to the EPI. A driving force behind the clubs establishment has been Mr Lebedev, 35, owner of the London Evening Standard and the newspaper-turned-website The Independent. His first encounter with wild elephants was as a boy, accompanying his grandfather, an eminent Russian zoologist, on a field trip. He has been fascinated by the animals ever since, making regular trips to elephant conservation projects all over Africa. This is the biggest meeting of its kind but we need to get on with it, he tells me. We need to remember that an elephant is being killed every 20 minutes. If we let that carry on, this magnificent animal could be extinct as soon as 2025. As patron of the Giants Club, he has been keen to include international business figures in this weeks summit, as well as major players in the media. Sir Richard Branson is among those who will join by video link. The entire haul, worth up to 150 million on the black market, is to be put to the torch, with heads of state and some of the worlds leading conservationists looking on Mr Lebedev points to the success of one recent anti-poaching initiative in northern Kenya with which he has been closely involved. In two to three years they have seen poaching reduced by 80 per cent, he says, adding that many of the poachers are from very poor families. Some have now been retrained as game wardens. The hope is that the summit will become an annual event, with more nations joining the Giants Club. Zambia, Rwanda, Chad and Ethiopia are all expected to sign up. In years to come they may well be joined by a royal visitor, too. This is all meat and drink to the Duke of Cambridge. Among the central figures at this weeks summit is Ian Craig, owner of the nearby Lewa Conservancy, the 55,000-acre Kenyan wildlife ranch where a young Prince William worked in his student days. It was there that the Prince proposed to Catherine Middleton in 2010 and he was back there last month for the wedding of Mr Craigs daughter Jessica, a former girlfriend. It was also in Kenya that the worlds first ivory-burning took place in 1989, when 12 tons were torched. Since then there have been occasional destruction ceremonies around the world, but never anything on the scale of tomorrows blaze outside Nairobi. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, has written to trusts to urge them to begin planning for further industrial action Hospitals were last night warned to prepare for an indefinite junior doctors' strike, as the contracts row shows no sign of ending. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, wrote to trusts to urge them to begin planning for further industrial action. Warning of 'major implications' for patient care, he said: 'Specifically we would like you to consider how you would respond in the event of an indefinite withdrawal of junior doctor labour.' More than 150,000 appointments and operations have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the contracts row. Junior doctors have left their posts on eight days - and on Tuesday and Wednesday this week even abandoned emergency posts for the first time in NHS history. But if junior doctors held a strike of no return the impact could be catastrophic. The Junior Doctors Committee of the British Medical Association is set to meet to consider its next move next Saturday, 7 May, although the more senior BMA Council has the final say on whether action will be called. The BMA last night insisted that no decision has yet been taken. But according to leaked emails one option under discussion would see doctors stage an 'indefinite' strike of no return, possibly starting on Wednesday 8 June. Mr Stevens last night called for hospitals to prepare contingency plans for that eventuality, as he warned: 'Unfortunately it appears that further industrial action is possible, including the possibility floated by the BMA of a full and indefinite withdrawal of junior doctor labour. 'This would clearly have wide ranging impacts on patients. If drawn out for an extended period, there would likely be major implications for elective care and urgent care and the ability of hospitals to keep certain departments and services running.' Tory MPs demanded that the doctors' union hold another strike ballot before pushing ahead. Remarkably, under existing laws the union will not have to reballot its members if it wants to take the damaging action. Ministers are trying to impose a six-month time limit on industrial action before a new ballot is needed, as part of Bill fiercely opposed by Labour and the unions. Hospitals were last night warned to prepare for an indefinite junior doctors' strike, as the contracts row shows no sign of ending Under current rules, the BMA has an unlimited mandate to strike, with no expiry date, based on a ballot held last November. Andrew Percy MP, a member of the Commons Health Select Committee, said: 'The least the BMA should do is reballot its members. 'When they ballotted last year, what they sold doctors as strike action was very different to what they have done and what they are now proposing. The industrial action is being taken in protest against proposed changes to junior doctor contracts being introduced by health secretary Jeremy Hunt 'The basis of the action has changed and so they should take it back to their membership. 'If they believe they are on firm ground in terms of support from their members, they should have no problem holding another ballot.' Fellow Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said: 'That ballot was taken before negotiations had even completed and before the BMA contemplated removal of emergency care for the first in the history of the NHS. 'I think given the hugely responsible nature of the job that they perform, and the fact they are probably seeking to continue their action, they should seek another mandate from their membership.' The original ballot received an overwhelming 98 per cent vote in favour of strike action. Support has remained solid - with 78 per cent of junior doctors taking part in the strike this week. But that support will be tested if members are asked to take further action, especially with the Government showing no sign of budging in its determination to impose controversial new contracts. Doctors lose pay for each day that they strike - which also impacts their pension contributions. And they can only take a certain number of days out of work each year - including sick leave - or they risk not qualifying. Former NHS insider Bill Morgan, who was a special advisor to ex-Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, said there was little appetite for a prolonged action. 'Many junior doctors simply wouldn't be able to afford the loss of pay,' he told the Daily Mail. 'Even if they could, I can't see too many consultants agreeing to cover the absence of their juniors indefinitely.' More than 150,000 appointments and operations have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the contracts row A Government source said: 'The BMA whipped up its members with misinformation about a pay cut that was never going to happen - and this week we've seen a totally unprecedented withdrawal of lifesaving emergency care by junior doctors. 'What an increasingly politically militant doctors' union could do next will worry people even more - showing a complete disregard for patients, the BMA are now, without needing an additional ballot of their members, talking about an indefinite walkout. Many will find putting lives at risk a totally disproportionate way of pursuing a pay dispute.' A BMA spokesman said: 'No decisions have been taken on what happens next, but there are no plans to re-ballot members.' The Trade Union Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, would force unions to reballot every six months if they want to continue their action. Dr Mark Porter, council chair of the BMA, in his New Year Message in January described the Bill as 'wholly unnecessary and punitive'. Police have been instructed by the election watchdog to be ready to prosecute dozens of Tory candidates and officials. The Conservative Party is facing damaging claims that it breached strict spending rules in a string of key marginal seats at last year's General Election. Deliberate breach of spending limits by individual candidates usually around 15,000 is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or even a one-year jail term. Any candidate found guilty would automatically be barred from holding public office for three years, triggering a new election. Scroll down for video. The Conservative Party earlier this month admitted that almost 40,000 spent on accommodation for Battlebus activists was not declared either in individual candidate spending returns or as part of the national campaigning expense (under which each party had a 19million limit) According to an investigation by Channel 4 News, the accommodation costs of activists bussed around the country to campaign in key constituencies were recorded as national expenditure. The Electoral Commission is investigating whether these should have been recorded under individual candidates' limits. Yesterday, the watchdog said its ongoing probe into alleged breaches of reporting obligations will take at least another month - past the one-year time limit for launching criminal proceedings. It is meeting with police forces covering the constituencies involved and the Crown Prosecution Service on May 4 to ask them to seek an extension to ensure the door is not closed. The Tory party blames an 'administrative error' for failing to register some accommodation costs. But David Cameron insists it was right to include such expenditure as part of the national campaign rather than against the limits imposed on individual candidates. Bob Posner, director of party and election finance and legal counsel at the Electoral Commission said: 'The police and the CPS both have the power to apply to the courts to extend the time limit on bringing criminal prosecutions for electoral offences to allow for full investigations to take place. We have requested that they consider doing this.' The commission said it did not take any view as to whether the party should be pursued under the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1983, which regulates candidate spending. Conservative Central Office blamed an 'administrative error' for the failure to declare costs related to the Battlebus 2015 (pictured) project But if no extension is sought, the ability to do so will expire a year after the submission of returns - which had to be with the Electoral Commission within 35 days of the election on May 7, 2015. An extension can be sought by the Director of Public Prosecutions. No police investigation has yet been launched but the commission said it seemed 'sensible for the criminal justice agencies to retain the ability to take action should appropriate evidence come to light as part of the commission's own investigation'. Earlier this month, the Tories admitted failing to declare 38,000 of hotel costs for activists. Conservative Central Office blamed an 'administrative error' for the failure to declare costs related to the BattleBus 2015 project. BattleBus2015 was the brainchild of Mark Clarke, the so-called 'Tatler Tory' who is accused of bullying the Tory activist Elliott Johnson, who committed suicide last year. Mr Clarke denies any wrongdoing. A CPS spokeswoman said: 'We can confirm that we have received a letter from the Electoral Commission concerning the 2015 general election. 'The Electoral Commission has asked the CPS to consider making application(s) to the Court under section 176 of the Representations of the People Act 1983 to extend the time for bringing prosecutions. 'We are meeting with the Electoral Commission and police on 4 May and we will respond before the time limit expires.' Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'Following the Channel 4 News programme... on electoral spending, we have received a very small number of allegations and inquiries are continuing. The first Australian LEGO store is set to open at Dreamworld in Queensland, with exclusive products and over 400 items on sale. The new store will not only be the largest retail store at Dreamworld but it will also be the first time the company has placed a store inside an amusement park southern hemisphere, it was announced on Thursday. The massive 350-metre store will also have exclusive LEGO sets and hands-on activities for children and families. Dreamworld on the Gold Coast will host the first Australian store with construction set to begin in July One of the main features of the new store will be a 'pick a brick' wall where customers can mix and match different shapes and colour blocks to create mini figurines, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. There store will boast the widest range of Lego products in Australia, with over 400 different items on sale. The CEO of Dreamworld, Craig Davidson said that the attractions will help each other. 'This new store will be a destination in its own right and an added attraction to the existing retailers, riders and unique experiences at Dreamworld,' he said. Construction will begin in July this year with the new store opening in November, just in time for Christmas. Local school children Katana and Felicity are excited for the new store to open in November this year Troy Taylor , Craig Davidson and MP Sterling Hinchcliffe were excited to announce the news on Thursday The new store will be situated at the doorstep of Dreamworld so it will be accessible to the general public as well as those visiting the theme park. 'Lego enthusiasts can expect to see a broad product offering, unique large scale models and opportunities for bricks in hands experiences which will inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow,' said Troy Taylor from Lego Australia and New Zealand. Victoria Police have released an image of a man with decaying teeth and acne who's wanted over the sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman at the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne. Detectives from the Moorabbin Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team are appealing for public assistance after the teenager was attacked at Albert Park last month. They released the photo-fit image of the man who they say exposed himself and grabbed the 19-year-old. The wanted man is believed to be in his 50s with decaying teeth and acne - he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman at the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix in March A man is wanted by police over the sexual assault of a young woman at the Melbourne Grand Prix last month Investigators have been told that the young woman was at the Australian F1 Grand Prix on Aughtie Drive about 11am on 18 March when she was attacked, before managing to run off. The offender, believed to be in his 50s, was wearing an F1 racing hat, black racing polo shirt and brown cargo pants. Robert J Cooper, the man who created the incredibly popular elderflower liqueur St Germain, has died at the age of 39, his business partner has confirmed. Cooper died at home in Santa Barbara, California, on Monday according to Robyn Greene, the senior vice president of marketing and innovation at his spirits firm. The cause of death is unknown. In 2006 Cooper introduced the burgeoning cocktail industry to his new liqueur and it quickly became known as 'bartenders' ketchup' because of its popularity. He is survived by his wife Kaitrin and the couple's two children William and Charlotte. Robert J Cooper, the creator of elderflower liqueur St-Germain the he sold to Bacardi back in 2012, has died at home in Santa Barbara, California, aged 39. The cause of death is unknown Cooper is survived by his wife Kaitrin (above in 2007) and two children William and Charlotte But success was not guaranteed. When Cooper unveiled his new idea to his father, also a liqueur magnate, he was convinced the idea was a non-starter. In fact Cooper Sr. was so convinced the product would flop he told his son he would hire him back in a year 'when you fail', the New York Times reports. But a stunning Art Deco-style bottle, sponsorship deals with young mixologists, and clever promotion saw St Germain appear on almost every cocktail menu across the country. Cooper was born in Manhattan to the man who owned Charles Jacquin et Cie, an old cordials and liqueurs house based in Philadelphia that helped introduce Chambord to the market. Cooper grew up on the east coast before crossing the country to attend college at the University of California Santa Barbara where he graduated with a degree in English with creative writing. Though he would ultimately settle next to the Pacific, it was Cooper's experiences in Europe that would inspire his most successful business idea. Cooper (left with actress Amanda Peet) managed to market his drink so successfully that it became known as 'bartenders' ketchup' because of its popularity St Germain was inspired by other elderflower liqueurs that Cooper encountered in bars in London. The drink itself is made from flowers of elderberry plants that grow in France and bloom for just one month of the year. Cooper worked his drink on to bar menus by getting it into the hands of young, influential mixologists, and sponsoring cross-country bartender swaps at famous institutions. While St Germain was named by the likes of the Times as one of the most influential drinks of the decade, it also helped to reintroduce enthusiasm in liqueurs to the cocktail market. In 2012 drinks giant Bacardi came knocking and bought St Germain for an undisclosed sum. Asked how much money he had received, Cooper said it was 'more than I expected to see in a lifetime'. Cooper, who later went on to reintroduce several 'dead' liqueurs back to the market. Ashley has been in a wheelchair and tube-fed for the past nine years A wheelchair bound boy who is fed by a tube was told he needed to provide a medical certificate or face paying $27 to enter a Canberra club's buffet. It is understood a family member phoned The Burns Club in Canberra on Thursday to ask if a young man, only known as Ashley, could visit the venue's eatery without paying. Kerin O'Brien posted a photo of Ashley on Facebook on Thursday night claiming the boy had just been 'declined admission' to the club unless he paid the buffet fee because he didn't have a medical certificate. A wheelchair bound boy named Ashley, who is fed by a tube, was told he needed to provide a medical certificate or face paying $27 to enter the buffet at Canberra's The Burns Club on Thursday Ashley has been in his wheelchair and tube-fed for the past nine years. 'The young man in this photo has just been declined admission to the Burns Club without a medical certificate or he pays the Buffett fee of $27.00,' he wrote alongside a photo of Ashley. 'Ashley has been in his chair, tube feed for the past 9 years. Guess who is supa (sic) p****d off.' But Burns Club CEO John Weir told Daily Mail Australia that nobody was denied access to the club. 'We would note the circumstances involve a telephone conversation in which a staff member explained our policy associated with free admission on the basis of medical condition, which simply states a medical certificate needs to be produced,' the club wrote on Facebook. 'They made this statement without being able to assess the individual in person. The Burns Club in Canberra says no one was denied entry to the club. They say the family called the club asking about free entry and a staff member reiterated club policy which asks for a medical certificate 'In light of the incident, however, we have decided to review our policy, which we realise may not suit all circumstances and further apologise emphatically for any offense caused. Mr O'Brien claims the CEO called him to explain the situation after he posted the photo on Facebook. 'He then gave me an example of how a woman with a companion dog was recently asked to produce a certificate before she was granted access!! This is getting worse,' Mr O'Brien wrote. The father of an Australian woman who was reportedly kidnapped while carrying out aid work in Afghanistan has appealed for her safe return. Perth woman, Katherine Jane Wilson, had been working at her office in Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan, in the early hours of Thursday morning when she was snatched by men wearing military uniforms. The 60-year-old, who also goes by the name Kerry, is the director of the non-governmental organisation Zardozi which aims at helping Afghani women utilise their skills to become entrepreneurs. Since the Kidnapping Ms Wilson's 91-year-old father, Brian, told the ABC he is 'extremely worried.' Perth woman, Katherine Jane Wilson, was reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint while working in her office in Afghanistan on Thursday morning 'I presume she's a hostage, and that they'll do their best to keep her alive and not harm her, simply because they want to have something or other in return and it's not very good having a dead hostage,' he said. Ms Wilson has worked in Afghanistan for more than 20 years with a number of charities charities. Mr Brian believes his daughter knew the risks involved in working in the region and always took care. 'She's on the security network, it's always dangerous. There's always peril in the background,' he said. 'If she keeps her head down, and is sensible, doesn't go to places where it's a target for trouble, then she should be alright.' In a video posted on Twitter Mr Brian also appealed to his daughter to stay cautious. 'Do your level best, come back safe and sound,' he said. Ms Wilson's 91-year-old father, Brian has appealed for her safe return Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Federal Government is working closely with the family and Afghan authorities but is unable to comment on the situation until a number of matters are confirmed. Ms Wilson previously worked a Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees, or DACAAR, a developmental aid organisation working in Afghanistan. The organisation took to social media after reports of the kidnapping to announce Ms Wilson no longer works with them 'While we are very saddened to hear this news, we wish to make clear, that the person in question does not work for Dacaar or DRC,' said on Twitter. A source who wished to remain anonymous said police had detained eight suspects and the woman hadn't asked for protection,The Daily Telegraph reported. Abductions - particularly for ransom - are common in Afghanistan, with human aid organisation workers often targeted. Earlier in 2016, five Afghan workers for the International Committee of the Red Cross were kidnapped but freed days later. Twelfth graders math and reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress were released yesterday morning, and the results were somewhat disheartening. Scores went down in math and stayed stagnant in reading compared to two years ago. And the average scores for the lowest performersthose in the 10th and 25th percentilesdropped significantly. When the scores for 4th and 8th grades were released in October , and showed declines as well, there was all sorts of chatter about where to place the blame. The Common Core State Standards took some heat, as did high-stakes testing policies. Then-U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the declines were likely due to an implementation dip, in which curriculum changes associated with the common core were causing a temporary downturn. But so far, the most recent 12th grade scores havent caused the same kind of finger-pointing. In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. acknowledged that teacher practices have changed in recent years, and simply said, we need to be patientbut not passivein continuing to pursue the goal of preparing all students for success after high school. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said in October that the 4th and 8th grade results showed that the strategy of testing and sanctioning ... does not work. But when it came to this round of 12th grade scores, she chose not to comment. Neal McCluskey, the director of the Cato Institutes Center for Educational Freedom, who has generally objected to the federal governments role in incentivizing states to adopt the standards, had a fairly tempered response to the new scores. Do these results prove that Common Core is either impotent, or worse, a negative force? Certainly not, he wrote. But all these scores do undermine any proclamations of proven Core effectiveness. The declines, particularly among the low performers, provide evidence that is corroborated by all kinds of other evidence that we need to do a better job of supporting in particular our most vulnerable kids, said Daria Hall, the vice president for government affairs and communications at The Education Trust. 12th Graders Are Mostly Pre-Core According to Jack Buckley, the former NCES commissioner and now the senior vice president for research at the College Board, people are less likely to say these recent scores offer any definitive judgment on the common-core standards because for 12th graders, the bulk of their educational experience is pre-core. The students who took the test this round are too old, he said in an interview. This is not a referendum on them. However, four years from now, he said, the 12th grade scores are likely to get a lot more attention. The common standards were adopted in 2010, but many states didnt truly switch over to them for several years. In addition, many individual school districts chose to implement the standards in just a few grades at a time, and often they started with the youngest grades. So its unclear how much exposure 12th graders really had to the common core. Plus, this round of 12th grade scores didnt break down results by state, so its impossible to disaggregate by common-core adopters and non-adopters. Theres also the possibility that people arent getting up in arms about the NAEP data because they dont put much stock in the 12th grade scores to begin with. Many people believe that high school seniors dont take the test seriously. As Buckley said, Its hard to rule out the fact that some kids in particular on hard problems say they dont want to put in the effort on this. On a test like the SAT, though, he said, students have much more incentive to power through each problem. But Peggy G. Carr, the acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers NAEP, said that based on data about omitted questions and other factors, motivation doesnt appear to be much of a concern. And it wouldnt explain a drop in scores anyway. Students are not interacting with this assessment any differently than they have in the past, she said. Another theory on why fewer people are looking to lay blame for the NAEP declines? Perhaps people are now heeding warnings about committing misnaepery "that is, attempting to use NAEP data to explain cause-and-effect relationships. As assessment experts (and we here at EdWeek) often caution, NAEP data cant tell you which policies or instructional interventions are working and which arent. Any such interpretations are speculative, at best. Related stories: The shooting is believed to have occurred nearby at Melbourne University They were rushed to hospital in a serious condition but are now stabilised The crime scene was set up on the busy Melbourne strip on Thursday night Two men were found slumped in their car with gunshot wounds Two men were rushed to hospital in a serious condition after police found them slumped in a car with multiple gunshot wounds. The men, aged in their 30s, were found in a white ute which was parked on side of Macarthur Road, in Parkville, Melbourne's inner north, at around 11.30pm on Thursday. The suspected shooting is believed to have taken place at a different location to where the men were found, reported The Herald Sun. Scroll down for video Two men were found slumped in the car with gunshot wounds on a busy strip in Melbourne's inner north It is suggested the men were shot at the northern-edge of Melbourne's University's main campus. Police set up a crime scene overnight to investigate the incident and blood marks and splatters were seen on the car. 'Our crime squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding a double shooting last night,' a Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. The two men have since been stabilised after being rushed to hospital in a serious condition. 'They found two men possibly in their 30s, one man had multiple injuries and was taken to the Royal Melbourne hospital in a critical condition, the other had an injury to his lower body and was also taken to the Royal Melbourne in a serious condition,' a spokesperson for Ambulance Victoria said. It is believed police were alerted to the situation after a bystander walked past the vehicle and contacted the ambulance. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. Investigations are still continuing but it is believed the shootings occurred at Melbourne University which is located nearby The men, aged in their 30s, were taken to hospital in serious conditions but have now been stabilised A man gunned down outside a busy shopping centre in a 'targeted' attack is believed to be convicted killer and standover man Walid 'Wally' Ahmad. Ahmad, 41, a central figure among Sydney's middle eastern crime gangs, was shot dead in a 'well-planned ambush' on the rooftop carpark at Bankstown Central shopping centre on Friday. He was wanted by police for questioning over a fatal shooting at his smash repairs business earlier this month in Condell Park, prompting concerns the attack could be 'payback' for the killing. Detectives have since recovered a burnt-out white Mercedes which is believed to be one of possibly two vehicles used in the getaway. A large-scale manhunt is now underway for the shooter and the driver of the getaway car following the attack which also left a 31-year-old woman and 60-year-old man with gunshot wounds. Scroll down for video A man gunned down in a busy shopping centre in a 'targeted' attack is believed to be convicted killer and standover man Walid 'Wally' Ahmad A large-scale manhunt is now underway for the shooter and the driver of the getaway car following the attack which also left two a 31-year-old woman and 60-year-old man with gunshot wounds A woman is taken away by NSW Paramedics after she was shot in the leg in the car park at Bankstown Central shopping centre in Sydney's south-west just before 12pm on Friday A man was treated by paramedics at the scene for gunshot wounds to his leg before being taken to hospital Police have recovered a car believed to have been used after the deadly shooting at Bankstown on Friday The gunman is believed to have escaped in a Mercedes, which was found burned out less than 1km away The wounded man, named as Nael Hamid, is thought to be Ahmad's bodyguard and he made light of the situation by telling Seven News his injuries were due to 'fireworks'. Footage from the scene showed a body lying underneath a sheet just in front of the shopping centre entrance. The victim, believed to Ahmad, went into cardiac arrest immediately after he was shot. Ahmad was on the run after the fatal shooting of Safwan Charbaji outside the A Team Smash Repairs on April 9, according to The Daily Telegraph. He was at the shop when the shots were fired and police wanted to question him in the days after the incident. Police are investigating whether his death was payback for the shooting at Condell Park. 'It's clearly targeted, this is not a random shooting,' Detective Superintendent David Eardley said. 'It's clearly targeted towards the man who died of a gunshot wound. Certainly there's been a recent shooting in Condell Park. Those detectives will be reviewing this today. 'Obviously that will be the subject of an investigation to identify any linkages to the deceased man. 'We're certainly not ruling out any links - we're looking at all opportunists and all avenues of investigation.' Police have released CCTV footage showing the suspected getaway car used (driving along the road) Ahmad, a central figure among Sydney's middle eastern crime gangs, was shot dead in a 'well-planned ambush' at Bankstown Central shopping centre, west of the city, on Friday Disturbing footage shows paramedics performing CPR on Ahmad following the fatal shooting Ahmad's family were seen looking distressed following the shooting at the shopping centre on Friday The wounded man, named as Nael Hamid, is thought to be Ahmad's bouncer and made light of the situation by telling 7 News his injuries were due to 'fireworks' Ahmad was jailed in 2005 after shooting dead Mayez Danny at Greenacre in Sydney's south-west in 2002 Ahmad was wanted for questioning over the fatal shooting of Safwan Charbaji (pictured) outside the A Team Smash Repairs in Condell Park on April 9 'Certainly there has been a recent shooting in this area, in the Condell Park area, that is subject to Strike Force Admiralty. 'Those detectives will be reviewing the incident today to see if they can identify any linkages.' He said police believe the gunman may not have been working alone and that the victim was an intended target. 'The indication is that this gunman did not act alone - we had information of a white Mercedes vehicle being used,' he said. 'I can confirm that vehicle has been located burnt-out in the Greenacre area.' Senior police told the Daily Telegraph they feared the killing of Ahmad in such a brazen manner would lead to retaliation. 'There are two distinct crime groups now involved in a feud and they are extremely violent,' one officer said. Ahmad was jailed in 2005 after shooting dead Mayez Danny at Greenacre in Sydney's south-west in 2002. At the time Ahmad was working as a bouncer at a King Cross nightclub owned by Hassan 'Sam' Ibrahim, Fairfax reported. Mr Danny reportedly became angry when Ahmad punched his nephew and broke his jaw after refusing him entry into the DCM nightclub. Ahmad later shot Mr Dany five times at a meeting at a Greenacre auto wreckers. He was sentenced to a minimum of seven years jail for manslaughter. The 41-year-old, who is believed to be married with children, was also reportedly being investigated over his role in an extortion racket. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he was well known for intimidation and stand over tactics, particularly in the automotive industry. Police surround a man at the shopping centre but say no arrests have been made in relation to the shooting The man who died is believed to have gone into cardiac arrest immediately after he was shot. Paramedics are seen here attending to the two injured people There is believed to have been eight shots fired in the car park of the shopping centre on the corner of Stacey Street and Rickard Street The shopping centre car park was closed as a precaution as police investigated Witnesses say eight shots were fired in the busy shopping centre carpark Police said a torched Mercedes used in the shooting was found in a street just one kilometre from the shopping centre Investigators are looking into the possibility two cars may have been used by a man wanted over the shopping centre shooting at Bankstown in Sydney's south-west on Friday Police were seen talking to residents in Greenacre not far from the street where the burnt-out remains of a vehicle used during a shooting was found Witnesses say eight shots were fired at the busy shopping centre on Friday. 'As I was parking my car, I heard gun shots. I went upstairs and there were three on the floor, two guys and a girl,' a witness told 9News. 'There was a guy lying in a pool of blood. They were trying to revive him, but he [had] passed away already. 'I was in the war zone in Lebanon, but it wasn't as scary as what I just saw.' Police say a crime scene has been established and it will be examined by detectives and forensic specialists. Fatema Islam, who works at the nearby Bankstown Hospital, says she had just parked her car when she heard two gunshots and a woman screaming. 'I thought something probably fell from the fitness (shop) and I tried not to pay attention,' Ms Islam told reporters at the shopping centre. 'A lady came out from over there, screaming and crying, saying, 'Gunshots, gunshots'. I was like, 'That can't be true'.' Bankstown Commander Dave Eardley said police believe the gunman may not have been working alone and that the victim was an intended target A shocked witness said 'there was a guy lying in a pool of blood' in the carpark Bankstown Central shopping centre is located about 20km south-west of Sydney Police say a crime scene has been established and it will be examined by detectives and forensic specialists Ms Islam says she ran inside after hearing the woman's cries. 'All of a sudden the police was here and I heard one person has died and two are injured,' she said. 'I'm sorry, I'm still scared myself. It's pretty scary, especially for local people like us. It's not a very fun place to be.' Ms Islam said she was used to treating gunshot victims, but not like this. 'We deal with this all the time, but it's different when patients come to us with gunshot wounds,' she said. 'It's different when you actually see it on the spot - it's pretty scary.' The shopping centre car park has been closed as a precaution. No arrests have been made at this stage. Drivers are urged to avoid the area for the time being due to traffic delays. Police have arrested a boy, 14, and charged him with murder over the death of Patrick Slater during a violent brawl on January 27. The boy is the eighth male to be charged over the death and will face Perth Childrens Court on Friday. Major Crime Squad officers charged the boy on Thursday. Police have arrested a boy, 14, and charged him with murder over the violent death of Patrick Slater (pictured) during a post- Australia Day brawl Police cordoned off the Esplanade bus port (pictured) near Elizabeth Quay in Perth following the death of Patrick Slater Among the group charged is a 12-year-old boy (pictured)- one of the youngest people ever to be charged with murder in Australia Among the group charged is a 12-year-old boy - one of the youngest people ever to be charged with murder in Australia - who had his bail hearing deferred this week as the courts work out how he would be cared for. 'Paddy' Slater, 26, died in hospital after he was attacked with star pickets, screwdrivers and rocks following a brawl near Elizabeth Quay Station, know as the Esplanade in Perth at 3am on January 27. Police said two large groups were involved in the brawl, which involved a total of about 20 people. Five men, aged between 19 and 29 and a 17-year-old boy, have already faced court charged over Mr Slater's murder. The 14-year-old boy was part of a mob that fatally attacked 26-year-old Patrick Slater with steel stakes, screwdrivers, bottles and rocks near Esplanade train station in Perth (pictured: footage of the brawl) A bigamist's double life was exposed when his wine merchant wife hired a private detective after discovering the house he was selling had a child's bedroom inside. David Jones was given a four-month suspended jail term after he admitted the charge of 'entering a form of marriage during the life of your wife' at Southend Magistrates' Court, Essex. Wendy Lee, 57, became suspicious that her husband David Jones was already wed to someone else following the ceremony at her home in Southend, Essex, on September 16 last year. To relieve her concerns, she hired a detective, but he soon found that Mr Jones had been married - for 13 years. David Jones was given a four-month suspended jail term after he admitted the charge of 'entering a form of marriage during the life of your wife' at Southend Magistrates' Court (pictured) in Essex Following the revelation, Ms Lee called Essex Police who launched their own investigation into the 48-year-old. He was soon arrested on suspicion of bigamy. During a police interview, he admitted the offence and accepted that he should have divorced his first wife, Suzanne, 50, before getting married again. She originally became suspicious when he failed to get mail redirected from his West Country Home and called the estate agent to find out more about it. The agent sent pictures across, including one of a girl's bedroom inside, which is when she hired the private detective, who later found the other marriage certificate. Mr Jones, from Southend, appeared before magistrates after the court issued a warrant for his arrest because he had failed to turn up at a previous hearing. He admitted the charge of 'entering a form of marriage during the life of your wife'. A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'Jones married his first wife in 2002 and their relationship broke down. 'In 2013, he began a relationship with another woman whom he married in September 2015 and this other woman believed he was divorced. 'This new wife became suspicious and found out that he was still married after she hired someone to make inquiries. 'We know that the relationship with the first wife deteriorated but it's not clear if he was carrying out a relationship with both women at the same time. 'He has accepted that he just didn't go through the correct process and that he was going to marry the new wife without divorcing the old one.' Magistrates handed him a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and also ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay an 80 victim surcharge and pay 85 to the Crown Prosecution Service. Bigamy - the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another - is illegal in the UK. The penalty for committing bigamy is a prison term up to seven years, a fine or both. According to the latest Home Office statistics, there were 31 reports of bigamy from 2011/2012 and 44 reports in 2010/2011. Investigators are trying to determine if the powder is hazardous but no injuries have been reported so far The letter, addressed to Donald Trump, was opened by an intern at 8pm Five Trump staffers and a cop are being evaluated after an envelope of suspicious white powder was mailed to Trump Tower Hazmat teams and emergency crews surrounded Trump Tower this evening after an envelope of suspicious white powder was mailed to Donald Trump. Six people, including a police officer, were isolated after an intern at the Tower in New York opened the envelope at just after 8pm on Thursday. They alerted security after they discovered a mysterious white powder inside. The letter had been addressed to Donald Trump at Trump Tower, officials say. Scroll down for video Hazmat teams and emergency crews have been called out to Trump Tower after an envelope of suspicious white powder was mailed to Donald Trump Six people, including a police officer, were isolated after an intern at the Tower in New York opened the envelope at just after 8pm this evening The inten alerted security, who called the police and fire crews, after they discovered a mysterious white powder inside the envelope The Republican front runner was not in the building. He was campaigning in California at the time. Staff resealed the envelope and dialed 911. Firefighters responded toTrump's Fifth Avenue skyscraper, between 56th and 57th Streets within minutes an FDNY spokesman said. The six people, five staffers and the cop, who were in the room when the envelope was opened are still being evaluated but so far, there are no reports of any injuries. It is feared the white substance could be dangerous after the infamous anthrax attacks in 2001 that followed September 11. During that year, powdered anthrax was mailed to several news media offices and members of congress, killing five people and infecting 17 others. Experts have not yet determined whether the powder found in Trump's letter is hazardous or not but authorities are say they are still investigating the incident. The letter had been addressed to Donald Trump (pictured giving his victory speech at Trump Tower after sweeping the northwest primaries) at Trump Tower, officials say Firefighters responded to Trump's Fifth Avenue skyscraper, between 56th and 57th Streets within minutes an FDNY spokesman said The incident comes barely a month after the billionaire's son Eric was sent a letter with suspicious white powder and a threatening message. The handwritten note said: 'If your father does not drop out of the race, the next envelope won't be a fake.' It was signed 'X,' reported ABC News. More than two dozen cops were called out to Trump Parc East, one of Trump's luxury buildings on the southern edge of Central Park on March 17, where Eric Trump and his wife Lara live together. Lara Trump had called the police after she opened the letter, postmarked from Massachusetts, and the white powder fell out. The six people, five staffers and the cop, who were in the room when the envelope was opened are still being evaluated but so far, there are no reports of any injuries Experts have not yet determined whether the powder is hazardous or not but authorities are investigating the incident Hazmat teams pulled up outside the luxury building in Midtown Manhattan after the call at 8.05pm After tests, the NYPD reportedly found nothing hazardous. The letter arrived at Eric Trump's apartment the same day the hacker group Anonymous released his father's phone number and social security number in a targeted cyber attack. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York have launched a joint investigation with the Secret Service, the Postal Inspector and the NYPD, into the letter. Eric has been a staunch supporter of his father as he bids to become the Republican nomination for President. Suspended Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer appears to have deleted all the bizarre love tributes to his wife, Aysha, from his Facebook page as speculation grows the couple have split. Two days after he shared an old photo of him and Aysha hugging in front of their cars with the words 'let me live, let me breathe', the post has mysteriously disappeared from his page. The same post shared on Wednesday was captioned, 'We will continue to breath, even in water', and came after Mr Mehajer was seen 'screaming and knocking' on the door of a home where his wife was staying on Monday. Salim Mehajer posted a Facebook tribute to his wife, Aysha, on Wednesday and captioned this photo: 'We will continue to breath, even in water'. It has since been deleted Responding to recent reports about their marriage, Mr Mehajer was adamant the couple (pictured) have not split. He posted this picture tribute on Tuesday with the caption: 'Our love is too great to destroy' Mr Mehajer's Facebook page has been rife with almost daily photos of himself and his wife on social media claiming the pair's relationship is 'unbreakable' following rumours about their marriage. Earlier this month, he posted the words: 'Our love. True love. One love'. Each phrase was separated by a set of heart and crown emojis. He shared another snap of his wife, Aysha, later, captioned: 'my best friend, my soul mate, my love of my life.' Both of these posts have since been deleted and a photo of them holding hands with a caption, 'Our love is too great to destroy', has also vanished. But there could be another explanation for the posts' disappearing act. Mr Mehajer may have changed the privacy settings of his posts, which would hide them from public view. Aysha (front) did not even attend a party Mr Mehajer held on her behalf at their home last month Aysha is believed to have moved out eight months after their multimillion-dollar wedding Aysha reportedly packed her bags and left the couple's mansion in Lidcombe, western Sydney, in March to stay with family in the NSW Illawarra region. She has believed to have moved out eight months after their multimillion-dollar wedding, and did not turn up at the party Mr Mehajer threw for her 30th birthday earlier this month. Police were investigating Monday's incident that took place at a house in Horsley, south of Sydney, where Aysha was staying with her sister on Monday. They have also confirmed they are speaking to witnesses about the incident involving a 29-year-old man. Mr Mehajer may also face an application for an apprehended violence order made by a member of Aysha's family. A court date has been set for a police application on behalf of Ben Miller - who a source said was Aysha's brother-in-law - her sister's husband. The circumstances surrounding the application were unclear, but Daily Mail Australia understands no AVO had been served on Mr Mehajer at the time of publication. Mr Mehajer may also face an application for an apprehended violence order made by a member of Aysha's family Mr Mehajer has posted numerous photos of himself and his wife on social media claiming the pair's relationship is 'unbreakable' following rumours about their marriage The duty officer at the Lake Illawarra LAC said inquiries into the incident were 'ongoing' and declined to comment further. The incident unfolded when Mr Mehajer turned up at the home where Aysha was staying with her sister, The Daily Telegraph reported. He allegedly demanded the keys to the Mercedes she had been driving, which she returned on Monday. But Mr Mehajer left another car behind which had to be taken away by a local towing company, according to the newspaper. A Current Affair said friends of the couple claim the property developer and suspended Auburn deputy mayor had been constantly phoning and texting his wife in an attempt to get her back. When contacted by the Daily Telegraph earlier this week, Mr Mehajer claimed he was still 'living happily' with his wife. A 'high risk' and 'unstable' Indonesian terrorist has walked free from prison two years early in a case terror experts say is 'immensely concerning'. Islamic extremist Hari Kuncoro has been described as an aide to Abu Bakar Bashir - the ringleader of the 2002 Bali bombings which claimed the lives of 202 people. Kuncoro was jailed for renting the house where the bombers lived before and after the tragedy, the ABC reported. Scroll down for video Indonesian terrorist Hari (Harry) Kuncoro - the personal assistant of mastermind Abu Bakr Bashir - walked free from prison two years early. Bombing mastermind Umar Patek and his wife 'Ruqayyah' are pictured front Kuncoro was jailed in part because he rented the house where the Bali bombers were living. This file photo shows one of the explosions at a Kuta nightclub on October 12, 2002 Injured and shocked but still standing: Australians injured in the bombings are pictured arriving home on the first Royal Australian Air Force flight from Indonesia on October 14, 2002 In the aftermath of the bombings, an Australian flag is hung over a fence where one of two nightclubs used to stand in Kuta He was sentenced to six years prison on smuggling firearms charges in 2011. But last month he walked free two years early. Terror experts told Daily Mail Australia between 50 and 70 Indonesian militants could join him in being released from prison this year. Professor Greg Barton, the head of the Global Terrorism Research Centre at Monash University, said Kuncoro's case was 'immensely concerning' and spoke to a bigger problem. THE BALI BOMBINGS: THE FACTS Hundreds of people - including 88 Australians - were killed when three bombs detonated in Kuta and Denpasar on the night of October 12, 2002. Two bombs were detonated near Kuta nightclubs and a third, smaller bomb blew near the U.S. consulate in Denpasar. Three people, including the 'smiling assassin' Amrozi, were put to death in 2008 over the bombings. Radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader and 'mastermind' of the group behind the killings, remains behind bars. Advertisement 'This one case highlights the big challenges with Indonesia,' Prof Barton told Daily Mail Australia on Friday. Authorities have been very successful in prosecuting Islamic militants, he said, especially on lower level charges. But he said it seemed many of those who had gone through the prison system had not been rehabilitated. 'It would seem a lot of them have not been rehabilitated to go back to healthy social networks and gainful employment,' Prof Barton said. 'Many, even the majority, will be back with their old friends. Many went to prison before the rise of Islamic State. 'It's kind of the perfect storm'. Sidney Jones, from the Institute of Policy Analysis in Jakarta, said there were about 70 terrorist prisoners released in 2015 and 73 in 2014. She said numbers would probably be about the same this year and doubted most would relapse into criminal behaviour. 'Most won't be a problem - the recidivism rate is about 10 per cent,' Ms Jones told Daily Mail Australia. Prison authorities told the ABC Kuncoro was considered 'high risk' and 'unstable' - but he has been let out Kuncoro was the personal assistant of Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of the militant group behind the Bali bombings, Jemaah Islamiyah 'Smiling assassin': Bali bomber Amrozi was one of three men executed by Indonesia in 2008 Three of the militants responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings - where 202 people were killed - were put to death in 2008, including the 'smiling assassin' Amrozi. Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of the militant group jemaah islamiyah, remains behind bars after being sentenced in 2011 to 15 years prison for supporting a terror training camp in Aceh. The release of Kuncoro and imminent freedom of other militants will no doubt raise questions about the Indonesian justice system, amid reports the country is preparing for a new slate of executions. A year ago on Friday, rehabilitated Australian drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan and seven other people were put to death by firing squad. It's unclear how many prisoners would be executed in future killings but there have been reports of increased 'chatter' in the Indonesian government. 165 prisoners were on death row in Indonesia as of the end of 2015, according to Amnesty International. A concerned park visitor says his tank is not big enough for him The turtle known as 'Leonardo' lives at the Australian Reptile Park The heartbreaking sight of a giant freshwater turtle surviving in a fish tank with 'barely enough room to turn around' has angered visitors to a popular reptile park. 'Leonardo' is Australia's largest alligator snapping turtle, he weighs in at around 45kg and is half a metre long but he lives in a cramped fish tank in a small dark room. Melinda Sheldon first saw Leonardo at the Australian Reptile Park in Gosford in November and hasn't been able to get him off her mind. 'Leonardo' is Australia's largest Alligator Snapping Turtle. He currently lives in this fish tank at the Australian Reptile Park in Gosford and has been there since the year 2000 'I was just so shocked to see this giant turtle in a tank crowded with concrete and absolutely no room to move,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I initially thought the tank was a holding tank but later found out he is kept there all the time and is only taken out once a year for a health check.' Since she first saw Leonardo on show at the reptile park she has been researching the exotic creature. Concerned visitors to the park are calling for the 45kg turtle to be moved to a better enclosure 'At first I asked the lass who was working about his tank, and she told me they are a sedentary species. 'But something didn't feel right so I contacted the park again and spoke to the CEO Chris Faulkner who told me the same thing.' Ms Sheldon decided to do some research of her own on the turtles and found adult males of the species have an average territory of 3,495sqm. Snapping turtles are the second-largest freshwater turtle species in the world (stock image) 'The small tank just isn't big enough, turtles with tracking tags have been recorded moving more than 100 metres throughout the night in the wild. 'I would like him to have some vegetation, fish and sunlight possibly in a pond outside any improvement from his current small concrete filled tank would be an improvement.' Leonardo, who is native to the southern states of the USA, arrived at the reptile park in the year 2000 after he was found in the sewer in Sydney. Ms Sheldon says he has been in the same tank since his arrival, despite doubling in size. The turtles are native to the southern states of the USA and can grow to weigh over 100kg (stock image) 'It may have been big enough when he arrived, but it isn't now.' Unsatisfied with the response from the reptile park Ms Sheldon decided to take Leonardo's story public and create an online petition. More than 16,000 people have signed the petition which asks for Leonardo to be moved to a bigger space. 'I'm not surprised he has attracted so many signatures. I think everybody has realised it is wrong to keep him there. 'In fact a lot of the people who have signed the petition admit they have been to the park and been shocked by Leonardo's living conditions,' she said. The Australian Reptile Park's curator Liz Gabriel says Leonardo's enclosure fits all standards set for the species. 'We love Leo, and that is his home,' Ms Gabriel said. 'His welfare, and the welfare of all our animals are our priority.' She wouldn't rule out the possibility of Leonardo getting a new enclosure in the future. They have no natural predators but are hunted by humans for their shell and meat (stock image) The Alligator Snapping Turtle is a threatened species hunted only by humans. They are the second largest freshwater turtle species in the world with some males achieving a weight of over 100kg. The sister of the 19-year-old Canadian woman found stabbed to death in 1969 near the site of the Manson family killings said the original forensic sketches of the body were 'inaccurate.' Police recently identified the woman as Reet Jurvetson, who moved to Los Angeles from Montreal the year she was killed, and lost contact with her family shortly after the move, police said. After going unidentified for years, Jurvetson eventually became known as Jane Doe No. 59. Scroll down for video The sister of the 19-year-old Canadian woman, identified as Reet Jurvetson, found stabbed to death in 1969 near the site of the Manson family killings said the original forensic sketches of the body were 'inaccurate' On Wednesday, Los Angeles police identified the body of a woman found stabbed 150 times in 1969 near the site of the Manson family killings as Reet Jurvetson (pictured), of Montreal Her sister, 73-year-old Anne Jurvetson, said in a statement posted on a memorial website that the forensic sketches bore little resemblance to her sister, ABC News reported. 'Some people thought they recognized her,' Anne Jurvetson wrote in the memorial. 'Unfortunately, these drawings were clearly inaccurate, as anyone can see, and did not resemble her in the least.' Jurvetson's body was found on November 16, 1969, by a birdwatcher in dense brush off iconic Mulholland Drive, about six miles from the site of the Manson family killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski, and four others. Jurvetson, who was born in Sweden and grew up in Montreal, had been stabbed 150 times in the upper torso and neck. She was not carrying identification which led to her becoming known as Jane Doe No. 59. In 2003, an LAPD detective submitted a piece of biological evidence to be uploaded to a national database for unidentified missing and deceased victims, according to ABC News. An initial breakthrough in the case came last June when a family friend looking through the database recognized her. Her sister, 73-year-old Anne Jurvetson, said in a statement posted on a memorial website that the forensic sketches bore little resemblance to her sister, noting they were 'clearly inaccurate, as anyone can see' Police interviewed Charles Manson, now 81, at Cocoran State Prison in October to see if he recognized Reet Jurvetson's photo, but they said 'no new leads were learned'. Pictured is a 1969 photo of Manson Police made the identification, first reported by People magazine, using DNA after Jurvetson's sister recognized a photo of the young woman's body posted online. The confirmation came in December. Investigators questioned Charles Manson, now 81, in prison about Jurvetson's death but learned nothing useful 'and the investigation remains open and ongoing,' police said. 'Finally after all these years, we are faced with hard facts,' Anne Jurvetson said. Manson pictured in 2009. Though detectives have not found any concrete link between Jurvetson and the Manson family killings, they haven't ruled it out 'My little sister was savagely killed... I am horrified to think of how terribly frightened and alone she must have felt as she died.' She described the 'sad, helpless kind of feeling' of not learning what had become of her sister until 46 years after her death 'to always question, to never know, to imagine scenarios, all the while still hoping and dreaming that one day there would be an answer.' Anne Jurvetson told People that the 'free-spirited and happy' teen who had a 'taste for adventure and freedom' went to Los Angeles after meeting and becoming smitten with 'John'. Anne Jurvetson said her sister, the youngest in the family, sent her family a postcard saying she had found an apartment and was happy but that they never heard from her again after that. 'Initially, we believed that Reet was probably in search of more autonomy, and therefore we waited for her to get in touch with us,' she wrote. Jurvetson's parents never reported her sister missing not realizing she had been the victim of a crime. Though she now knows her sister's fate, Anne Jurvetson said she still has a lot to come to terms with and is hopeful that media attention on the case leads the killer or killers. Tate was killed in her home, along with four others, on August 9, 1969, three months before Jurvetson's killing. Though detectives have not found any concrete link between Jurvetson and the Manson family killings, they haven't ruled it out, Los Angeles police Detective Luis Rivera said. Though she now knows her sister's fate, Anne Jurvetson said she still has a lot to come to terms with and is hopeful that media attention on the case leads the killer or killers He pointed out that Jurvetson was stabbed like most other Manson victims, and that her body was found near the site of some of the Tate killings in the same three-month period. 'We don't rule anything out,' Rivera said. 'Everything is on the table until proven otherwise.' Rivera said detectives are trying to track down their best lead, a man known as either 'John,' or the name's French pronunciation, 'Jean.' Nortorious underworld figure Hassan 'Sam' Ibrahim has been caught with a mobile phone hidden in his cell at Sydney's Long Bay jail. Ibrahim, 50, was charged on Thursday after prison officers found a SIM card and phone in a metal tin during a routine search earlier this month, the Daily Telegraph reported. The former bikie boss is currently behind bars awaiting trial on gun trafficking charges, and will appear in Waverly court on June 16. Scroll down for video Notorious underworld figure Sam Ibrahim has been caught with a mobile phone in jail In September last year Ibrahim faced deportation after failing a character test, set out under strict new citizenship law introduced by Federal Government in 2014. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton signed off on deportation papers giving Ibrahim 28 days to appeal the decision, Seven News reported. The Australian Crimes Commission had requested Mr Dutton to consider revoking Ibrahim's residency visa. Fifteen years of new programs, testing, standards, and accountability have not ended racial achievement gaps in the United States. The Stanford Education Data Archive, a massive new database that allows researchers to compare school districts across state lines has led to the unwelcome finding that racial achievement gaps yawn in nearly every district in the countryand the districts with the most resources in place to serve all students frequently have the worst inequities. I think we like to think, Here we have this problem, but its fixable. We know we could figure it out. Its not clear weve figured it out, said Sean Reardon, a professor of poverty and inequality in education at Stanford University. Theres some deep ... problems that we as a society havent faced up to yet. This morning, Reardon and his Stanford colleagues Demetra Kalogrides and Kenneth Shores released the first in an ongoing series of studies based on the new data. The new studies shine a light on how racial disparities in education differ throughout the countryand how school segregation widens the gaps among students.` The Stanford researchers and Harvard University education professor Andrew Ho linked state tests scale scores to the scales for National Assessment of Educational Progress in the same grades and subjects, and used it to compare average achievement gap trends for 3rd-8th grade students in more than 11,000 districts across the country from 2009 to 2013. (For more details on how researchers can compare achievement in districts using different state tests , check out our explainer.) Competition Could Drive Segregation in Well-Off Districts That five-year window enabled researchers to focus the study on districts completing a decade of state and federal accountability initiatives designed to close academic gaps between white students and their black and Hispanic peers. But of the 2,500 school districts with a large enough sample of black students to measure their achievement gaps, Reardon and his colleagues found only one with no black-white gap: Detroit. Detroit is not the poster child for reducing the achievement gap, Reardon said in an interview with Education Week. The achievement gap is zero in Detroit largely because everyones doing really poorly, not because black students are doing particularly well. Moreover, the researchers found some of the biggest black-white achievement gaps in the countrywhere black students lag their white peers by more than 1.5 full standard deviations, or four to five grade levels on the NAEP scalein relatively prosperous university towns, like Berkeley, Calif. (home of the University of California, Berkeley);Chapel Hill, N.C. (home of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill); and Evanston, Ill. (home of Northwestern University). Richer places have bigger achievement gaps than poorer places, all else being equal--which is quite striking and disturbing, since youd hope that those places that have the most resources would be most effective at reducing the gaps, but in fact they seem to have the largest gaps, Reardon said. While the researchers have not yet dug into the personal factors that play into achievement gaps, they do have a theory about why these centers of higher education havent encouraged more equitable K-12 achievement: In the most advantaged places, you have this increased competition and focus on school success as important for kidsa hyper-achievement orientation in those places, he said. And in places where competition is high, resources matter even more than they do in places where you dont have that sort of achievement anxiety. Watch Reardon explain more about his findings. The Segregation Feedback Cycle That parental drive to find the best education for their kids could ramp up economic segregation in neighborhoods, too. A new and separate study by Ann Owens, an assistant sociology professor at the University of Southern California, found that neighborhoods in the 100 largest cities became steadily more isolated by income between 1990 and 2010but the segregation was driven by families with school-age children. Whenever we talk about neighborhood and school segregation, they really go hand in hand, Owens said. Theres really a feedback loop, and its often framed as, we can never have integrated schools while we have segregated neighborhoods, but the flip side is true, as well. As long as schools are unequal and linked to neighborhoods, thats going to play a big role in neighborhood segregation. Reardon agreed. In a second study using the Stanford data set, he looked at the effects of 16 different facets of racial segregation: school and residential isolation, segregation within and between districts, racial or socioeconomic isolation, and differences in how likely students are to be exposed to students of particular races or socioeconomic groups. While all types of segregation were associated with wider achievement gaps for black and Hispanic students compared to their white peers, Reardon found the strongest predictor was the difference in likelihood of attending a high poverty school for white, black, and Hispanic students. This might explain why Detroit seemed to have the lowest achievement gaps: White, black, and Hispanic students were all fairly equally likely to attend high-poverty schools or be in poverty themselves there. Even after you control for kids family backgrounds, its quite clear in the data, he said, adding that the finding suggests its something about school qualitynot only about racial segregation, but about the fact that racial segregation in America almost inevitably leads to these kind of disparities in [students] exposure to poverty and differences in the kinds of resources that schools have. Looking for Successful Outliers Going forward, the researchers are trying to identify common factors in districts that have narrowing achievement gaps for black and Hispanic students. They have also started to analyze how racial achievement gaps vary for boys and girls in different cities and to dig in more deeply into which districts have larger achievement gaps for students in poverty. Really, there are very, very few school districts that serve a large proportion of poor students and that have achievement thats even at the national average, Reardon said. That suggests we may not be able to just school reform our way out of that kind of inequality. Charts: A new study finds a wide range of racial achievement gaps in school districts across the country, with some wealthier districts showing wider disparities. Source: Sean Reardon, School Segregation and Racial Achievement Gaps, and The Geography of Racial/Ethnic Test Score Gaps. reardon segregation and achievement gaps apr2016.pdf Related: Rain is set to drench the east coast as a cold front moves from the south, bringing with it a cool change. Sydney and Melbourne will have a wet weekend, with five to 10 millimetres expected to fall on Saturday. Weatherzone meteorologist Tristan Meyers said Sydneysiders could get a taste of what was to come with potential rain on Friday night, with Melburnians already getting a downpour. Rain is set to drench the east coast as a cold front moves from the south, bringing with it a cool change Sydney and Melbourne will have a wet weekend, with five to 10 millimetres expected to fall on Saturday. Melburnians are already getting a downpour (above) About 4.4mm was recorded at Melbourne Airport by 3.30pm on Friday 'It should be light but it should become heavier tomorrow morning. It should lighten up or clear by the evening,' he said. 'On Sunday, it's a different system. It could be heavier on Sunday depending on how fast the rainfall is falling.' Mr Meyers said areas around Sydney would get most of the downpour 'but around five to 10 millimetres wouldn't be out of the cards'. NSW areas that would bear the brunt of the wet weather would be the Riverina, Central West Slopes and Plains, and the Australian Capital Territory. The cold front will have a similar affect on Melbourne where temperatures would also vary day-to-day NSW areas that would bear the brunt of the wet weather would be the Riverina, Central West Slopes and Plains, and the Australian Capital Territory. Above is a photo of the rain in Melbourne A photo of the rain on a highrise window in central Melbourne FORECAST: WHAT THE WEATHER LOOKS LIKE AROUND AUSTRALIA SYDNEY Saturday : Min 19, Max 26. Showers Sunday : Min 19, Max 25. Possible shower BRISBANE: Saturday : Min 19, Max 28. Possible shower Sunday : Min 19, Max 29. Late shower ADELAIDE Saturday : Min 13, Max 25. Late shower Sunday : Min 12, Max 20. Morning shower DARWIN Saturday : Min 25, Max 35. Possible shower Sunday : Min 25, Max 35. Possible shower MELBOURNE Saturday : Min 16, Max 25. Possible shower Sunday : Min 14, Max 19. Showers easing CANBERRA Saturday : Min 13, Max 23. Showers Sunday : Min 13, Max 20. Rain clearing PERTH Saturday : Min 11, Max 20. Clearing shower Sunday : Min 9, Max 20. Cloudy HOBART Saturday : Min 12, Max 23. Mostly sunny Sunday : Min 12, Max 18. Showers Advertisement It looks Melbourne is experiencing a bit of downpour, with the tram tracks looking slick 'For Sydney, itself we could get a fairly even distribution due to the nature of the system,' Mr Meyers said. In Adelaide, after unseasonable warm weather, the cold front will bring temperatures down at the start of next week before warming up again. 'Particularly on Wednesday, [Adelaide] had a very warm evening,' Mr Meyers said. 'The minimum was 20 degrees and it was about 21 degrees all night. That is seven to nine degrees above the average at night in April.' So far in April, Adelaide has only had one day out of 29 days where the mercury did not reached 20C, the ABC reported. The last time the capital city had recorded more days over 20C in April was back in 1923, according to Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Darren Ray. April 7 was the only day to date when temperatures did not tip over 20C, with a top of 19.9C. The cold front will have a similar affect on Melbourne where temperatures would also vary day-to-day. 'It'll also be pretty wet tomorrow, with showers developing and persisting and becoming fairly heavy towards the evening in some places - about five to 10 millimetres on Saturday,' Mr Meyers said. 'Sunday they would get a pretty strong front arriving and temperatures could drop to a 17-degree maximum.' Rain clouds loom over central Melbourne as the city and others around Australia, such as Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Hobart and Darwin prepare for a wet weekend Over the next three months, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and all of Tasmania have an 80 per cent chance of exceeding their maximum forecast temperatures The rain front will not affect the unseasonably warm weather and nights are likely to be warmer than average across the whole country for the end of autumn and well into winter Rain is also expected in Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Hobart and Darwin over the weekend. Most of the rain will come on Sunday for Brisbane where there will be a 60 per cent chance of rain, with late showers predicted. Much like Sydney, Canberra will be wet across the weekend when a 90 per cent chance of rain is expected. Both Perth and Hobart is forecast to be rainy and cold, both with maximum temperatures in the 20s. Meanwhile Darwin's warm weather will not let up even with a bit of rainfall. Australia has been experiencing an unusual warm spell for the start of autumn and there are no signs of it letting up with balmy weather forecast across the country for the next three months. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, parts of mainland Australia are likely to welcome showers after parts of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania received some of the lowest rainfall on record for the start of 2016. A popular BMX rider has been charged with nearly 200 sex offences including rape and manufacturing child pornography Fabian Meharry, 27, was charged last Friday for 193 offences including four counts of rape, 23 counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16, 20 counts of manufacturing child pornography, 18 counts of grooming and 14 counts of using a carriage service for sexual activity with a child under 16. The alleged offences involved girls aged between 12 and 16 and occurred between September 2011 and August 2015, The Age reports. Mr Meharry, from the northern Victorian town of Echuca on the banks of the Murray River, was well-known in the country town's BMX scene. He lived with his father and had one daughter according to his Instagram. Fabian Meharry, 27, was charged last Friday with nearly 200 sex offences including rape and manufacturing child pornography. The alleged offences involved girls aged between 12 and 16 and occurred between September 2011 and August 2015 The part-time web developer lived in the northern Victorian town of Echuca with his father. He was well-known in the country town's BMX scene The 27-year-old was a regular user of social media, using his Instagram to post images of his riding as well as publicly contact teenage girls Mr Meharry was a part-time web developer, maintaining a number of different websites, though many registered to his name have been shut down. One called Magic Grinding Wax, sold wax to BMX riders and skateboarders. He developed a social networking app 'BMX Net', for riders to message each other and swap information about parks and parts. Another website registered to the amateur rider, called 'Magic BMX Freestyle', posted a video about working with police to help 'make the skate park a safer place'. Mr Meharry was a regular user of social media, using his Instagram to post images of his riding as well as publicly contact teenage girls Fabian Meharry, who is on remand for a separate matter, will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court in July A member of the Echuca BMX scene said Mr Meharry was well-known in the area, but said he seemed really depressed all the time A member of the Echuca BMX scene said Mr Meharry was well-known locally, handing out sponsorships through Magic BMX Freestyle and offering to mentor younger riders: 'He was nice enough but seemed really depressed all the time,' the unnamed rider said. In July, 2015, Mr Meharry posted on his Instagram about needing a break in life and missing his daughter, though he did not state why he had not seen her. 'I just want a break, a break where I can finally live a normal life, a break where people won't be on my back all the time about everything,' he captioned the post. Victorian drug dealer Jessica Short has been sentenced to eight years and six months in jail for flooding rural communities with ice. The Herald Sun reported the woman was sentenced on Friday morning by County Court Judge Frank Gucciardo. Ms short, also knows as 'Shorty', ran the multi-million dollar empire from her fathers home in rural Victoria and referred to those that worked for her as her 'cronies and little slave boys'. Ms Short referred to subordinates as 'little slave boys' and used tasers and violence to retrieve debts The 25-year-old Wangaratta woman readily used violence and tasers on people that owed her money. Local police launched Operation Juliet to target the operation with more than 50 people allegedly involved. Last January she was arrested and then released on bail before she went straight back to drug dealing again. On Friday the judge sentenced Short to eight years and six months in jail and she will be eligible for parole in five years and six months. Ms Short ran the drug syndicate from her father's home which she had covered in surveillance cameras Judge Gucciardo said ice is destroying rural communities. Ms Short would buy the drugs in Melbourne before returning to Wangaratta and selling them to users in the town. Defence barrister Angie Wong said Short was an addict herself and had a history of violent partnerships and bullying at school. Ms Short ran the lucrative drug ring with former friend Jessica Fogarty but the two had a falling out in 2014. Ms Fogarty has already been sentenced to four and a half years for her part in the business. Ms Fogarty (pictured) was the co-ring leader in the lucrative drug syndicate and was sentenced to at least four years behind bars Despite her business being a criminal drug empire, Ms Short kept detailed documents of all her transactions. When she went away and left her subordinates to run the business she left them with a document called 'World Domination'. Police also found a file on her computer titled 'What to do before jail'. male refugee has lit himself on fire at a settlement on Nauru A refugee who set himself alight on Nauru to protest against Australia's detention laws has died in hospital after suffering burns to 80 per cent of his body. The 23-year-old Iranian refugee, identified only as Omid, was filmed dousing himself in petrol and bursting into flames at the Nibok settlement in Nauru after yelling 'I can't take it anymore'. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection confirmed on Friday the man died from his injuries. 'The Department expresses its sympathies to his wife, family and friends,' they said in a statement. Scroll down for video A 23-year-old Iranian refugee, known only as Omid, was filmed dousing himself in petrol and setting himself on fire at the Nibok settlement in Nauru following a visit from UNHCR representatives on Wednesday Earlier shocking footage emerged of the moment the refugee set himself alight on Nauru, and was later filmed screaming in agony in hospital after staging the 'political protest' during a United Nations visit on Wednesday. At least five asylum seekers detained on Nauru have attempted suicide in the past 24 hours as the UNHCR refugee agency visits the island, the Australian Refugee Action Coalition claimed. The confronting footage showed the Iranian, who spent three years in detention, yelling about the conditions he and other refugees have endured on the island before setting himself alight. 'This is how tired we are, this action will prove how exhausted we are. I can not take it anymore,' a witness claimed he said just before setting himself aflame, according to Fairfax. According to reports, witnesses rushed to the man and tried to smother the flames but by the time they reached him his clothes had burned off. He lay smouldering on the ground until medical personnel arrived and is now in a critical condition. Footage also emerged of the man screaming in pain as he was treated in a hospital. The Nauru government released a statement confirming a 23-year-old man was seriously injured as he made a 'political protest to coincide with the visit by representatives from UNHCR'. 'Unfortunately we have seen protests like this during high profile visits, as some from within the refugee community try and influence the Australian government's offshore processing policies,' the statement said. According to the ABC, the man became frustrated after engaging in conversations with UNHCR employees, with three Canberra-based staff witnessing the shocking protest. Upsetting footage has also emerged of the man screaming in pain while being treated for the burns The man is believed to have suffered serious burns to 80 per cent of his body and is being treated in a new hospital on the island Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said an immediate medical evacuation has been requested but that the protester would be returned to Manus as soon as possible afterwards An Iranian woman claimed they did nothing to help the man as he lay burning on the ground. 'None of them helped. None of them called an ambulance, they just called the police and ran away,' she told the ABC. 'Doctors didn't know what to do. They didn't have supplies to help him,' she added. She said doctors told her he had suffered life-threatening burns to 50 per cent of his body, while another source told WA Today that percentage is closer to 80. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said an immediate medical evacuation has been requested but that the protester would be returned to Manus as soon as possible afterwards. 'He is in a very, very serious condition and his outlook is not good at all,' Mr Dutton said from Melbourne. Refugee groups claim four other people previously tried to self-harm by swallowing washing powder over the weekend. Iranian women, Marziyeh Faghih, 28, and Amineh Shajira, 34, have also been missing since Sunday. The man was heard screaming 'I can't take it anymore' before he set himself alight in front of other detainees Peter Dutton said he sympathises with the people detained on Nauru, acknowledging they are in a 'very desperate situation', but confirmed Australia will show no leniency when it comes to border security It is feared that they may have disappeared at sea after trying to flee the island. Police on Nauru also arrested a 38-year-old Iranian refugee last week after he splashed himself with petrol and tried to set himself alight. The string of protests come as Australia's policy of detaining and settling refugees trying to reach the country in foreign nations comes under new pressure. Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled that Australia's detention of asylum seekers on that country's Manus Island was illegal on Tuesday, with the government confirming shortly after that the centre will be closed. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said in a statement on Wednesday that the centre is unconstitutional and would be shut down as soon as Australia makes arrangements for the refugees held there. 'Respecting this ruling, Papua New Guinea will immediately ask the Australian government to make alternative arrangements for the asylum seekers currently held at the regional processing centre,' Mr O'Neill said. Loani Henao, counsel for the PNG opposition leader told Sky News, that the two governments will have to work together to relocate the refugees. 'It effectively means both governments must take steps to effectively shut down the Manus Island detention centre,' he said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said in a statement on Wednesday that the centre is unconstitutional and would be shut down as soon as Australia makes arrangements for the refugees held there Papua New Guinea's Supreme Court ruled that Australia's detention of asylum seekers on that country's Manus Island was illegal on Tuesday. Pictured Manus Island Despite international outcry, Mr Dutton has reiterated the government's tough stance on asylum seekers who tried to enter Australia illegally. He said that while they are in a 'very desperate situation', those who try to gain access to Australia by boat will never be allowed to settle in the country. 'The Government's policy remains absolute and that is that we are not going to allow people to settle in our country if they've sought to come here illegally by boat,' Mr Dutton said on Wednesday. 'We don't want advocates saying to people who are on Nauru or Manus... that if you don't engage somehow you'll come to Australia.' He has urged 'well intentioned' refugee advocates not to deliver false hope to the populations detained overseas. 'It doesn't matter what others are saying to you, it doesn't matter what people from Australia who are sending you social media messages are saying, you will not ever settle in Australia,' he said. 'That has been the absolute determination of this Government from day one.' He confirmed incident occurred while officials from the United Nations refugee agency were on the island but had no advice about whether there was a link between the two. The man had reported facing 'intolerable mental and physical pressure' during his time as a prisoner at Nauru The Nauruan government have warned others to 'refrain' from shocking protests of this nature, adding there is 'no value in such behaviour' According to Fairfax, the man had reported facing 'intolerable mental and physical pressure' during his time as a prisoner at Nauru. The Nauruan government have warned others to 'refrain' from shocking protests of this nature, adding there is 'no value in such behaviour'. Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition, said Nauru was in 'complete social meltdown'. 'The protests and the attempted suicides reveal the sheer desperation of refugees and asylum seekers left in limbo for almost three years,' he said. 'Manus has to close and Nauru has to close.' A Turkish journalist left a poignant goodbye to her readers and followers as she and a colleague were jailed for two years for publishing a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed used by Charlie Hebdo. Hikmet Cetinkaya and Ceyda Karan, who work for Turkish daily Cumhuriyet, were jailed in Istanbul yesterday after being charged with 'inciting public hatred' and 'insulting religious values'. They were hauled in front of the courts after illustrating their columns with the controversial cartoon in a four-page pullout following attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices. Yesterday, as she was jailed, Ceyda Karan sent a final tweet to her thousands of followers, writing: 'Honourable, conscientious and good people good night'. Turkish journalists Hikmet Cetinkaya (left) and Ceyda Karan were jailed for two years for 'inciting public hatred' after publishing cartoons of the prophet Mohammed from Charlie Hebdo Yesterday, as she was jailed, Ceyda Karan posted a poignant goodbye to her 60,000 followers on Twitter The edition did not include the controversial front cover featuring Prophet Mohammed, but a smaller version of the cartoon was included twice inside the newspaper to illustrate columns on the subject The prominent reporters work for a paper which has been openly critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and have even called for a secular state. But the sentences have intensified press freedom fears as Erdogan, who has made Islam the cornerstone of his politics, appears to wage war on critics. Cumhuriyet, which staunchly opposes the Islamic-rooted government of Erdogan, has been regularly targeted by prosecutions as concerns grow over freedom of speech in Turkey. Its editor-in-chief Can Dundar and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul are currently on trial on charges of revealing state secrets and could face multiple life sentences if found guilty. After the verdict, those who initiated the lawsuit shouted 'Allahu Akbar' - Arabic for 'God is the great' - Cumhuriyet reported on its website. Bulent Utku, lawyer for Hikmet Cetinkaya and Ceyda Karan, said: 'We will appeal the ruling at the appeals court,' following the hearing at Istanbul's criminal court. Writing on her Twitter account, @ceydak, Karan also lashed out at the Turkish government, saying: 'Let our two-year sentence be a gift for our liberal fascists #JeSuisCharlie.' On January 14, 2015, Cumhuriyet had published a four-page Charlie Hebdo pullout translated into Turkish marking the French satirical weekly's first issue since a deadly attack on its Paris offices. Hikmet Cetinkaya and Ceyda Karan worked for a Turkish daily, Cumhuriyet, which is openly critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and staunchly opposes his Islamic-rooted government Days before Cumhuriyet printed its special pullout edition, Davutoglu had joined dozens of other world leaders in a march of solidarity in memory of the 17 victims killed in the Charlie Hebdo attacks The pair went on trial on charges of 'inciting public hatred' and 'insulting religious values' after illustrating their columns with the controversial cartoon. The edition did not include the controversial front cover featuring Prophet Mohammed, but a smaller version of the cartoon was included twice inside the newspaper to illustrate columns on the subject by Karan and Cetinkaya. Most other media in Turkey had refrained from publishing the cover. When the edition was published, the daily received threats and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu condemned the publication of cartoons of the Muslim prophet as an 'open provocation'. Days before Cumhuriyet printed its special pullout edition, Davutoglu had joined dozens of other world leaders in a march of solidarity in memory of the 17 victims killed in the Charlie Hebdo attacks and elsewhere in Paris. In the contentious cartoon, the prophet sheds a tear and holds a sign with the viral slogan 'Je suis Charlie' ('I am Charlie'), in a gesture of apparent repentance after the Paris killings. Most Muslims consider portraying the prophet in images to be blasphemous. Writing on her Twitter account @ceydak, Karan (pictured) lashed out at the Turkish government, saying: 'Let our two-year sentence be a gift for our liberal fascists #JeSuisCharlie.' Women's rights group Femen published on its Turkish Twitter account a picture of a topless activist holding a Charlie Hebdo cartoon with 'Karan and Cetinkaya (pictured) are not alone' written on her torso There has been growing concern about the numbers of journalists currently facing legal proceedings in Turkey, many on accusations of insulting Erdogan. Trials for insulting Erdogan have multiplied since his election to the presidency in August 2014, with nearly 2,000 such cases currently open. Reporters Without Borders slammed the verdict on its official Twitter account as 'shameful' and 'unbearable.' In a show of solidarity, women's rights group Femen published on its Turkish Twitter account a picture of a topless activist holding a Charlie Hebdo cartoon with 'Karan and Cetinkaya are not alone' written on her torso. The latest case comes as Europe looks to Ankara to implement a key deal to curb the flow of migrants seeking to reach the European Union from Turkish shores. Advertisement Police clashed with hundreds of protesters outside Donald Trump's rally in Southern California on Thursday night. At least one police car was smashed up as hundreds of demonstrators many of them waving Mexican flags took to the streets outside the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, Orange County where Trump was speaking. The protesters flooded the street outside the amphitheater with some stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and forcefully declaring their opposition to Trump - bringing traffic to a halt and creating a tense standoff with authorities. One Trump supporter was pictured with a bloody face after clashing with the anti-Trump activists, many of whom appeared to be young Hispanic people. The violence in Southern California where Latinos make up a large segment of the population suggests Trump may face more of this in the days to come, as he campaigns ahead of the states June 7 primary. Trump currently leads Kasich and Cruz in the California polls, with an estimated 45.7 per cent of voters, according to Real Clear Politics. Scroll down for video Police in riot gear form a line to break up a group of protesters, one of whom is carrying a Mexican flag, outside Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign rally in Costa Mesa, California on Thursday This still image taken from video shows a supporter of Trump after a protest on Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. Dozens of protesters were mostly peaceful Thursday as Trump gave his speech inside the Pacific Amphitheater. After the event, however, the demonstration grew rowdy late in the evening and spilled into the streets One man, seen wearing a Trump t-shirt, had his head bandaged after being injured in the scuffles outside of the rally Thursday night A Trump supporter wipes blood from his face after clashing with protesters outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, California A protester is seen covering his head as he is surrounded by sheriffs on horseback in chaotic scenes on Thurssday Police officers block traffic to Fair Dr. after protesters stormed the streets near the OC Fairgrounds where Donald Trump spoke earlier in the evening One group of protesters was filmed trying to flip over a police car and arrests have been made outside outside the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa. A patrol car with a smashed window is pictured above Early Friday, authorities said there were no major injuries following the ordeal and that crowds dispersed by 11pm. Traffic came to a stop as protesters gathered and blocked traffic while carrying signs in the intersection of Fair Drive and Fairview Road, The Los Angeles Times reported. Photos from the scene showed a visibly bloodied Trump supporter after he was punched in the face as well as several people being arrested and handcuffed by police. In the chaotic scenes, some of the demonstrators reportedly carried benches and blocked the entrance to the 55 Freeway along Newport Boulevard. As they blocked traffic, a group of protesters waved both American and Mexican flags while others had signs with messages including 'Dump the Trump,' according to the Times. At one point, a demonstrator was seen stomping on a police car, causing the car's windows to smash, while another scrawled an expletive and Trump's name onto a police cruiser. Some of the protesters also reportedly tossed rocks and debris at cars passing by. Officers in riot gear from the Costa Mesa Police Department and sheriffs on horseback lined a roadway and told demonstrators to clear the road, but many remained in the street. At one point, seven women wearing no shirts and Bernie Sanders stickers over their breasts entered the square outside the amphitheater. They said they were protesting Trump's lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and women's rights and had slogans such as 'Dump Trump' and 'Gender Equality' written in marker on their midriffs. 'I feel like he wants to make America great again, but certainly not for women, for the LBGTQ community or for the lower class,' said one of the women, Tiernan Hebron. 'He has, like, done nothing to help with gender equality or women's rights or reproductive rights or anything.' Hundreds of demonstrators flooded the street outside the amphitheater with some reportedly stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and forcefully declaring their opposition to Trump Police in riot gear form a line to break up a group of protesters, one with a Mexican flag, outside Trump's campaign rally In chaotic scenes, a Trump supporter clashes with protesters on Thursday night. There were were nearly 200 officers and deputies at the scene A Trump supporter clashes with protesters outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, California Donald Trump protesters burn their tires to create smoke at the intersection of Fair Drive and Fairview Road near the OC Fairgrounds A protester holds a Mexican flag on the light pole on Fairview Road outside The Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa on Thursday Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets supporters after a rally, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, California During his speech, Trump - apparently unaware of the chaos engulfing the rally outside the theater - told the crowd: 'Our rallies are the safest place to be on Earth, believe me', The Guardian reported. Additional forces from law enforcement agencies had been deployed to deal with tonight's crowd, according to the Los Angeles Times. While Costa Mesa officials had also set up an emergency operations center opposite the fairground and amphitheater, with city spokesman Tony Dodero adding earlier, 'we're prepared for the worst.' There were were nearly 200 officers and deputies at the scene, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. However, as the chaotic scenes played out it seemed police were dealing with a larger and more boisterous crowd than expected. 'It definitely got out of control,' Megan Iyall, 20, who was visiting from Seattle told the Times. 'I shouldn't feel this unsafe.' She added: 'I know people are angry and upset but that should not be happening.' Police in riot gear stand in line as they face protesters in the street during the demonstrations outside Trump's rally Above two protesters are pictured as sheriff's deputies place them in handcuffs during the demonstration A man holds a child on his neck who holds a sign reading 'Spread Love' while sheriffs on horseback are seen in the background Orange County Sheriff's deputies join Costa Mesa Police to disperse a crowd of Donald Trump protesters Andreas Dixon of Costa Mesa, an anti-Trump supporter, confronts a Trump supporter at The Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, California, on Thursday, April 28, 2016 The Republican presidential frontrunner was campaigning on Thursday ahead of the state's June 7 presidential primary, among the last in the nation The Republican presidential frontrunner was campaigning on Thursday ahead of the state's June 7 presidential primary, among the last in the nation. He is vying for votes in the primary election in hopes of narrowing the gap to the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination, before the Republican National Convention this summer. If he doesn't reach that number by then, the convention will be brokered, with delegates making a second vote at the convention to determine the nominee. Trump's rally earlier at the OC fairgrounds attracted a group of supporters who proudly showed their allegiance to him. Some supporters were seen waving a 'Gays for Trump' sign while other signs read 'Latinos for Trump' and 'Black Christian Women for Trump.' Meanwhile, protesters voiced their opposition to Trump's campaign which has been criticized for marginalizing women, Latinos and other ethnic groups as well for his policies on immigration and offensive remarks about Mexicans, claiming Mexico was sending rapists over the border. Earlier in his campaign, he called for a 'total and complete shutdown of Muslims' entering the United States. DONALD TRUMP'S HISTORY OF CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS ABOUT MEXICANS DURING HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that he is beloved by Mexicans and Hispanics on the campaign trail, but his rhetoric has often told a different story. Launching his campaign in New York in June last year, he branded Mexican immigrants rapists, murderers and drug dealers before accusing the Mexican government of deliberately sending such people across the border to America. He later doubled down, saying: Theyre sending people who have lots of problems, and theyre bringing those problems to us. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. He has repeatedly stated his intention to build a wall across the U.S.-Mexican border, albeit with a great big door in it for legal migrants, and has pledged to make Mexico pay for it. When former Mexican president Vicente Fox said that his country would never pay for that f***ing wall, Trump retorted that it had just got ten feet taller. Trump has also accused Mexico of killing the U.S. economically, pointing to a series of companies that have moved all or part of their operation south of the border due, in part, to cheaper labor costs there. Police line the street as protesters take over Fair drive intersection at Fairview Rd at the Trump rally in Costa Mesa Guadalupe Verdugo holds a peace sign in front of police as protests erupt along the street surrounding the Costa Mesa Fair grounds Protesters are pictured holding a sign reading 'Tear down the walls, Trump is a racist, fascist, misogynistic, capitalist pig!' Protesters are pictured as they are pushed off the street by law enforcement after Trump's rally on Thursday A row of riot control police officers line up behind their shields during the confrontation between Trump protesters and supporters A protester unfurls an American flag as he stand before a line of police officers, some of which are mounted on horses Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump jeer members of the press during his campaign rally The rally on Thursday was set to begin at 7pm but kicked off about a half hour later. As a large crowd of mostly Trump supporters gathered outside the venue before it started, there were several scuffles between supporters and anti-Trump protesters, according to KTLA. Trump had kicked off the rally by appealing to conservative California voters with his pledge to crack down on immigration and plans to build a huge wall on the border with Mexico. He also appeared to take aim at Muslims, sharing a now discredited story about a First World War general who was said to have stopped insurgency by ordering his troops to use bullets dipped in pigs' blood to kill Muslim terrorists. 'We're going to have to get a lot tougher than we are because we have problems,' he said, according to the LA Times. He began Thursday's event at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, by bringing out the families of people allegedly killed by illegal immigrants. Protesters are shown above gathered in the street with one adorned in an America flag while another holds a sign that reads 'Dump Trump' A crowd of protesters flood the street with one demonstrator waving a Mexican flag as others follow behind A protester is shown above with a sign that reads 'Immigrants and refugees are welcome NOT Trump' Protesters stand up on top of a Orange County Fairgrounds sign and hold up the American flag at The Pacific Amphitheater 'They're unbelievable, they've suffered. These are great people,' Trump said before handing the mic to Jamiel Shaw whose son, a Los Angeles high school football star, was killed in 2008 by someone in the U.S. illegally. Shaw, who has spoken at numerous rallies, praised Trump's calls to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and his calls for deportation. 'When I saw Trump and what he said, for the first time it gave me real hope, gave me real change,' he said. 'They all have a very similar story to tell,' Trump said after Shaw's speech. 'People that shouldn't have been here, people that should have never been allowed to come over the border and they come here like it's nothing, they walk through it like it's nothing,' he said as the crowd chanted 'build a wall.' 'We're going to stop it and we're going to build a wall.' Trump also used his speech to criticize former Deputy Chief of Staff and Republican Karl Grove who he described as 'grossly incompetent' and a 'bad guy' who 'still thinks Romney won.' Trump has drawn large crowds across the country as he has campaigned for the White House and some of his events have been marred by incidents both inside and outside these venues. Earlier this week, a Trump rally in nearby Anaheim, California turned contentious when his supporters and counter protesters clashed, leaving several people struck by pepper spray. Trump was not present. Trump has drawn large crowds to most of his campaign events, and Thursday was no exception. The Pacific Amphitheater was filled to its capacity of about 18,000 and many hundreds more were turned away. Ly Kou, 47, of Ontario, said she likes Trump because he has vowed to put the country first. 'It's obvious that America loves Trump,' said Kou, who is from Laos, as she pointed at the waiting throng. 'This thing about him being racist? Look around the crowd.' Trump had kicked off the rally by appealing to conservative California voters with his pledge to crack down on immigration and plans to build a huge wall on the border with Mexico Trump is pictured greeting supporters after his rally. He used his speech on Thursday to also criticize former Deputy Chief of Staff and Republican Karl Grove who he described as 'grossly incompetent' and a 'bad guy' who 'still thinks Romney won' A large crowd is seen attending Trump's rally as he is vying for votes in the primary election in hope of narrowing the gap to the 1,237 delegates needed to win the Republican presidential nomination A Trump supporter gathering for the Thursday rally is seen with a sign that reads 'Vote Trump Patriotically Correct ReTRUMPlicans' A woman who stabbed her lover to death with a glass pipe while high on ice after the death of her young son has walked free. Lisa McLaughlin, 51, was sentenced on Friday to time already served, a two-year community corrections order and 100 hours of unpaid community work, The Age reported. McLaughlin, who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her ice-addicted boyfriend Graham Stevens on September 2014, had already spent 537 days in custody after her arrest. Lisa McLaughlin (right) has walked free after serving time for killing her lover Graham Stevens (left) McLaughlin picked up an ice addiction and started seeing Mr Stevens after the death of her son Zane (pictured) Supreme Court Justice Terry Forrest said it was time for the mother to pick herself up for the sake of her remaining two children. McLaughlins life became unhinged and she turned to ice when she lost her five-year-old son, Zane, in a boat accident in April 2008. She cradled her son's lifeless body in her arms until he died after the family's boat collided with another vessel in the Patterson River, southeast of Melbourne. McLaughlin, a successful pharmaceutical executive before the incident, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and a major depressive illness. She lost her job, left her husband and in 2011 started dating Mr Stevens - entering into a volatile relationship that was defined by their mutual drug use. McLaughlin stabbed Stevens, 31, from behind after an argument, fatally piercing an artery. The relationship between McLaughlin and Mr Stevens was volatile and defined by their mutual drug use McLaughlin's son died in a boating accident on the Patterson River, southeast of Melbourne Advertisement Despite risking their lives to flee a Stalinist nightmare of prison camps, poverty and hunger, many North Korean 'defectors' still say they miss their old home country. Tens of thousands of North Koreans live scattered across South Korea and China, while a small handful have made it further to Europe or the U.S., and while they admit that their lives have improved, they long for home comforts, relatives and sometimes even their dictator Dear Leader Kim Jong-Un. The government in Pyongyang, for its part, openly detests North Koreans who flee the country, once calling them 'human scum who betrayed their homeland and people' in an official report. Scroll down for video Home comforts: An employee displays a popular North Korean street food snack called Injogogibap - made from rice stuffed inside bits of tofu - at a restaurant in Incheon, South Korea Traditions: North Korean defectors mark the Chuseok, the Korean version of Thanksgiving Day, at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom, in Paju, South Korea, by bowing towards their home nation that lies on the other side Leaving North Korea has also become much more difficult in recent years, with security tightened dramatically along the border with China the usual method of escape since Kim Jong Un came to power. Last year, 1,277 North Koreans resettled in the South, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry, less than half as many as in 2011. And even if there is plenty they hate about it, there is also much that they miss, sometimes achingly. They miss relatives and friends and the small-town neighborliness that can come, admittedly, in not having many recreation choices. They miss dancing to accordion music in public parks on their days off, and the greasy street food they'd yearn for when they were most hungry. At times, they even miss the three generations of dictators Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un who have controlled the country for nearly 70 years. 'I think all the time about the people I knew there,' said a former coal miner, a gentle man who works at least 12 hours a day in a Seoul convenience store, and who has the disheveled look of someone who rarely gets enough sleep. He left North Korea a decade ago with his family. 'Whenever we're together, and we're eating a good meal, we think about those people.' More than 27,000 North Korean refugees live in South Korea. Thousands more live underground in China, often working menial jobs for low pay, though just how many remains widely debated. A handful of other refugees live in countries ranging from England to the United States. North Korean defectors, now living in South Korea prepare to release balloons carrying propaganda leaflets denouncing recent North Korea's nuclear test, near the Demilitarized Zone on April 29 Park Sang-Hak, right, who heads a group of North Korean defectors, releases anti-Pyongyang leaflets to journalists before a launch of anti-North Korea balloons at a field near the Demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas Adored: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) visits the Thrice Three-Revolution Red Flag Kamnamu (persimmon tree) Company under the Korean People's Army Unit 4302 in Pyongyang The convenience store manager, whose muscular arms still betray his years as a miner, misses the siblings he left behind, and the nieces and nephews he may never meet. Relatives in South Korea paid smugglers to get his family out, he said, but his siblings wouldn't go. 'They were too afraid,' he said. 'Now they regret it.' Like nearly all North Korean exiles, he spoke on condition his name not be used, fearing retribution against extended family still in the North. Researchers say relatives of refugees, particularly those known to live in South Korea, can face punishments from job demotions to imprisonment. He has no warmth for the Pyongyang government, railing against the regime for leaving nearly all North Koreans in poverty as a handful grow rich. But some other refugees disagree. Polls of North Korean refugees, often known here as defectors, say many still have some fondness for the leaders in Pyongyang. 'All three (of the Kim family dictators) really did think of the North Korean people,' said another exile, a former North Korean policeman who acknowledged that he is torn about his feelings. North Korea, he noted, has spent billions of dollars on its military even as so many of its people have gone hungry. In the worst times, hundreds of thousands of people are thought to have died in a famine that ripped through the country in the mid-1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, North Korea's most important patron at the time. But, he added, his homeland is also a small, poor country that has successfully stood up to the world, surviving international isolation and years of economic sanctions. So when Pyongyang sets off a nuclear test or test-fires a missile, he sees a leader proving he cannot be bullied. 'Maybe this is the way Kim Jong Un can protect his family, protect his people, protect his country,' said the former policeman, pride filling his voice. 'If I was in his position, sometimes I think I might do the same thing.' He paused: 'Well, sometimes.' Dear Leader: South Koreans watch a television broadcasting a video image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea North Korean defectors wearing masks of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a rally against North Korea's rocket launch and nuclear test in Seoul, South Korea He knew how that sounded, and it surprised even him a little. But like all North Koreans, he grew up enveloped in an all-pervasive personality cult that portrays the Kims as something akin to gods. They are studied in schools and discussed by every adult in mandatory political sessions. Thousands of monuments to them statues, paintings, busts, inscriptions, memorials, mosaics, historic sites have been built across the country, and occupy central positions in every town and city. In official hagiographies, they defeat every enemy, win every race and outsmart every other world leader. Their titles are repeated endlessly in announcements: the Marshal, the Respected General, the Great Leader of Mankind, the Sun in the Sky. While the famine changed much in North Korea, including how the leaders are seen by ordinary people, it is impossible for North Koreans to escape the worshipful propaganda, and very difficult for them not to be affected by it. Plus, North Korea is more than the Orwellian cliche that it sometimes appears to be in Western headlines. It's a complex place where even those who suffered terribly can remember good times, whether that was visiting grandparents over the New Year holiday, families looking out for one another when food ran low, or the small-town feel with flirting young people and gossiping elders after the staged mass political rallies that can bring tens of thousands of people together. For the ex-policeman, his sometimes-generous view of North Korea is mixed up with his difficulty adjusting to life in South, a common problem among the refugees who live here. He hasn't been able to hold a job for more than few months, and constantly worries that he's being discriminated against. He's overwhelmed by the South, sometimes talks about wanting to return home. Lost amid Seoul's dual whirlwinds of consumerism and competitiveness, he yearns for the days when things seemed simpler. 'In South Korea, tradition only decreases as time goes by,' he said. 'Now it looks like a Western society.' For instance, he says few wives in North Korea would begin eating a meal before their husbands had eaten, an ancient custom that has been largely abandoned in South Korea. A middle-aged woman, once a black-market gold dealer, says she is happy in South Korea. After some initial cultural confusion 'When I first heard rap music I said: 'What is this? Is it a song?'' she has grown to love her life in Incheon, a city near Seoul. What she missed was injogogibap, a popular North Korean street food and meat substitute, made from rice and leftover bits of tofu, that became popular at the height of the famine. Not long ago, she found a couple of restaurants near her new home that serve it. Advertisement Philip Hammond today marked a new age in diplomatic relations with Cuba as he shook hands with his counterpart, becoming the first UK Foreign Minister to visit the communist nation since 1959. Arriving in the capital Havana, Mr Hammond said that Britain was keen to forge 'new links' with the Caribbean nation, which has been almost annexed since the Cold War. His visit follows US President Barack Obama's historic visit last month intended to normalise relations between the two countries after decades of hostility. Philip Hammond today marked a new age in diplomatic relations with Cuba as he shook hands with his counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla (right), becoming the first UK Foreign Minister to visit the communist nation since 1959 Back dropped by a monument depicting Cuba's revolutionary hero Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, center, attends a ceremony at the Jose Marti Monument in Havana Arriving in the capital Havana, Mr Hammond said that Britain was keen to forge 'new links' with the Caribbean nation, which has been almost annexed since the Cold War Hammond arrived in Cuba on Thursday in the first such visit since 1959, to hold talks on cooperation in 'financial services, energy, culture and education'. He is pictured in the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Havana Hammond told reporters in Havana that he was 'the first UK foreign secretary to visit Cuba since the revolution' that brought Fidel Castro to power in 1959. Hammond met with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez and signed several co-operation agreements with other communist government officials. They covered areas such as financial services, energy, culture and education, he said. Hammond said he wanted 'enhanced bilateral cooperation underpinned by increased trade, increased investment and more tourists coming to Cuba' from Britain. Britain was the second-biggest source of foreign tourists to Cuba last year after Canada, with 160,000 Britons making the trip, he said. His ministry said earlier that he would sign a 'bilateral agreement restructuring Cuba's debt to the UK,' but Hammond did not comment about that during his news conference later in Havana. British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Philip Hammond smiles and gestures as he speaks during a meeting with Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, a month after Barack Obama's trip to try and normalise their relationship with the communist nation Hammond (left) met with Bruno Rodriguez (right) and signed several co-operation agreements with other communist government officials He also met with representatives from Cuban civil society and the British business community in Havana, the Foreign Office said. Mr Hammond will hold a series of high-level meetings to discuss recent social and economic changes, human rights and the fight against global health threats such as the Zika virus. He will also sign a bilateral agreement restructuring Cuba's debt to the UK, as well as agreeing future co-operation on financial services, energy, culture and education. 'Britain and Cuba have outlooks on the world and systems of government that are very different,' Mr Hammond said. 'But as Cuba enters a period of significant social and economic change, I am looking forward to demonstrating to the Cuban government and people that the UK is keen to forge new links across the Atlantic. A number of British officials sat on the right of the table to discuss better co-operation between the nations with their Cuban equivalents, sat together on the left, accompanied by a crowd of journalists and cameramen hoping to catch the historic occasion Hammond, seen walking the streets of Havana with aides, said he wanted 'enhanced bilateral cooperation underpinned by increased trade, increased investment and more tourists coming to Cuba' from Britain Mr Hammond is also expected to sign a bilateral agreement restructuring Cuba's debt to the UK, as well as agreeing future co-operation on financial services, energy, culture and education 'That is why Cuba and the UK are set to reach new cooperation agreements on energy, financial services, education and culture, to the benefit of both our nations. 'As the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Cuba since before the Cuban Revolution in 1959, this is an opportunity to hear for myself what Cuba thinks about its present challenges and where it sees its future.' He arrived in Havana from Colombia where he had started his tour of southern and central America. Mr Hammond highlighted the UK's support for the country's peace process and fight against narcotics during high-level talks. It was also announced that Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos will make an official state visit to the UK this autumn after accepting an invitation from the Queen. The Latin American leader will be joined by his wife Maria Clemencia Rodriguez de Santos for the three-day visit beginning on November 1. The Cuban trip is part of a tour of the Americas, and earlier yesterday he had been in Colombia, where he met the country's president and visited a naval base in Cartagena (pictured) Hammond goes to inspect submarines, semi-submersibles and other vehicles seized from drug traffickers by the Colombian Navy Forces The officers let the Foreign Secretary take a look inside during the three-day visit, on which he aimed to to highlight British support for Colombia's peace process and its ongoing fight against narcotics The Foreign Secretary (right) shakes hands with Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos during a news conference at the presidential palace in Bogota, Colombia Mr Hammond will continue on to Mexico to conclude his business later in the week. His visit also follows meetings in recent months between Cuba's President Raul Castro and other top officials and leaders from the European Union. Raul Castro met with French President Francois Hollande on a visit to Paris in February. In March, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini became the highest-ranking EU official ever to visit Cuba when she travelled to Havana. She signed a deal to normalize relations with Cuba, including an agreement on human rights. Hammond's office said he, too, would broach the sensitive topics of human rights and social and economic reform in Cuba. A man who murdered his pregnant wife's lover by driving back and forth over him for about five minutes has been sentenced to 19 years' jail. Gavin Fogwell followed his wife, Pamela, to a petrol station in Deer Park, Melbourne last October and found her there with her lover Adam Moody, the Victorian Supreme Court heard. The men argued about the paternity of her unborn child before Fogwell left, ramming his wife's car as she and Mr Moody tried to drive away. Scroll down for video Gavin Fogwell murdered his pregnant wife's lover by driving back and forth over him for about five minutes Mr Moody got out and yelled, 'You're f***ing dead', at Fogwell. Fogwell then ran Mr Moody over in his 4WD, driving back and forth for about five minutes. Fogwell, 48, told police after he was arrested: 'He was the only one I had to kill.' He could also be heard on video saying: 'I didn't f***ing stop. 'You reckon he was tough? He didn't f***ing survive that.' Justice Bernard Bongiorno called the case tragic and a 'heinous crime' as he sentenced Fogwell to 19 years in jail on Friday, with a minimum of 15-and-a-half years. Gavin Fogwell (centre) followed his wife, Pamela, to a Deer Park petrol station and confronted her lover (right) The court heard Fogwell and Mr Moody had both been told they were the father of the unborn child. Fogwell's wife had not long before moved back in with him after earlier leaving him for Mr Moody. The two were still in a relationship, the court had previously heard. Ms Fogwell gave birth to the baby several weeks ago, but it died of congenital defects within two hours. Fogwell, who pleaded guilty to Mr Moody's murder, has already served 210 days in custody. State differences in testing and accountability systems have frustrated researchers and families alike since the early days of the No Child Left Behind Act. An earlier federal crosswalk study of state tests and the National Assessment of Educational Progress , a set of large, nationally sampled tests in core subjects like math and reading, found states set their thresholds for proficiency at widely disparate levels. A 4th grader who was deemed a proficient reader in Arizona or Virginia could have significantly lower scores on NAEP than a student reading proficiently on reading tests in neighboring New Mexico or West Virginia, for example. The Stanford Education Data Archive goes a step farther than the federal NAEP study. In a four-year project, Sean Reardon, a professor of poverty and inequality in education, and his colleagues at Stanford University compiled a massive database of 215 million state test scores from 40 million students every test taken by a public school student in grades 3 through 8 from 2009-2012and disaggregated by race, grade, subject, and proficiency level. The data include more than 12,000 of some 14,000 U.S. school districts and 384 metropolitan areas, encompassing both regular and chartered public schools. It is the largest and most comprehensive database of its kind to date. (See our main story for more on what researchers are starting to learn from the database about where racial achievement gaps form and why .) Translating Proficiency Across States The researchers ranked districts in each state, both overall and separately by racial/ethnic categories, by comparing their performance at multiple proficiency levels: below basic, basic, proficient, and advanced. This allows them to compare districts within a state. To compare districts across states, they linked state scores to the nationally representative NAEP test , said Andrew Ho, a Harvard University education professor who helped develop the method. The researchers were able to confirm that the system worked by comparing the differences they predicted among major U.S. urban districts to those districts actual performance on the NAEPs most recent Trial Urban District Assessment, which compares NAEP results in 21 urban districts throughout the country. For example, the system accurately predicted that Chicago 4th graders would perform about a half-grade level, or 10 scale-score points, below New York 4th graders in reading in the 2013 TUDA. Their validation checks show that this enables them to conduct research on differences among districts across states, not just within states. Its statistically complicated, but it gives answers that are very accurate, Reardon said. The data dont tell us which school districts are better than others, more effective than others, because test scores of kids in a school district are the result of everything thats contributed to the kids development since conception, Reardon warned. These [data] are really good for big picture stuff, but it shouldnt be used to rank schools that are statistically very similar to each other. Researchers Can Build on Achievement Gap Data A large dataset from the studies will be made available to researchers and the public, and Reardon said he is working to bring in education foundations to provide grants for those who want to analyze the data. However, the statistical method could be used going forward to add and analyze new test data, to help compare educational achievement and progress across the country as states explore different testing regimes and accountability measures under the Every Student Succeeds Act. You can watch Reardon explain more about his findings below. Related: The prime suspect in the the murder of a Rochdale imam 'has fled the UK' as three others remain in custody. Jalal Uddin, 64, from Bangladesh, was found lying in a pool of his own blood with severe head injuries in a children's play area, in Greater Manchester, on February 18. He was taken to hospital for treatment but died a short time later. Imam Jalal Uddin (pictured) was found lying in a pool of his own blood after a brutal attack near a playground The religious leader, who attended mosque every day, was attacked as he left a friends house following evening prayers. Detectives believe that his killing may have been organised by those seeking to stop his efforts to 'de-radicalise' young people in the area. On Thursday police arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of arranging funds for terrorism, and a 28-year-old man on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. A third man, 21, was also being further questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, after he answered bail. While a 17-year-old boy previously arrested on suspicion of murder has been bailed until June pending further inquiries. It has also emerged that the team investigating the murder has been extended to include anti-terrorism officers, reports the Guardian. Assistant Chief Constable Rebekah Sutcliffe, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'The investigation into Jalal's murder has so far been a far-reaching and diligent process with a team of officers working meticulously to examine every lead that has come to light. Police believe the attack could have been organised due to Uddin's efforts to 'de-radicalise' young people Three men have been questioned in relation to the popular imam's murder and remain in police custody 'We are continuing to make good strides in the investigation which would not be possible without the understanding and support of members of the public and I would like to thank them for their patience whilst we work through our inquiries. 'The investigation remains very much active and we are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have information that they believe can assist us to please contact police.' Anyone with information should contact Greater Manchester Police on 0161 856 2538 or 101, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. The tow truck driver can apply for parole after 12 years The illicit drugs have a street value of around $15 million An Australian man found with almost 50 kilograms of cocaine in Fiji has been sentenced to 14 years behind bars. Joseph Abourizk, 30, from Sydney, and 50-year-old Fijian man Josese Muriwaqa were caught with the drugs, worth a street value of around $15 million, in the boot of their car in July last year. The Sydney tow truck driver claimed he was innocent of the drug smuggling charges but was found guilty of possessing the illicit drugs by Fiji's high court, last week, reported the ABC. Jospeh Abourizk from Sydney has been sentenced to 14 years behind bars after being found with 50 kilos of cocaine Abourizk had been holidaying with his wife Karla but she had left Fiji early for work commitments. Abourizk stayed and decided to take a charter cruise off the west coast of the country on July 13, 2015 the day after his wife's departure, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. But on the day of the cruise he was arrested after arriving at the marina in Vuda with the charter boat captain and his co-accused. According to the defence case the captain of the boat travelled to Ba with Abourizk and a local man, and Josese Muriwaqa. The men picked up two suitcases, which would later be found to be carrying almost 50 kilograms of cocaine. When the men returned to the marina to commence their trip they were arrested by Fijian Police, the captain had allegedly left the vehicle shortly before the authorities arrived. Abourizks lawyer, Warwick Korn, claimed his client had no idea what was occurring. 'His position is very simple he had no idea what was in the captain's bags,' Mr Korn said. The Sydney truck driver will be eligible for parole after 12 years after he was found with the drugs worth a street value of around $15 million Then chief of investigations and intelligence, Henry Brown, said the two men were also found with a large quantity of money. 'Further investigations also resulted in the discovery of large amounts of Fijian and Australian currency from one of the suspects' hotel rooms," he said. The arrest occurred after a joint operation between Fiji police and the Australian Federal Police. The pair, who appeared in court for sentencing on Friday, will be eligible for parole after 12 years, local media reports. Auditors have closed around 5,000 suspect Vatican bank accounts following a three year investigation into illegal financial activity. The operation comes after the Institute of Religious Works (IOR) became aware of 544 suspect transactions which were raised concerns of tax evasion. The IOR have previously been caught up in scandal with accounts allegedly being linked to mafia activity, particularly during the 1980s before the Vatican tightened up its financial regulations. A clean-up of the Vatican bank has been completed, with the final tally of suspect accounts that had to be closed nearing 5,000 Tommaso Di Ruzza, director of the Vatican Financial Information Authority, left, flanked by Rene Brulhart, president of the Vatican Financial Information Authority, confirm the completion of the clean-up operation 'We took a very strict line towards any accounts that were not in compliance (with Vatican legislation) and now finally the process of closures is done,' Di Ruzzo told a Vatican press conference. 'A total of 4,935 were closed and that is a final figure.' The FIA was established in 2010 by now-retired Pope Benedict XVI to bring the Vatican's financial institutions into line with international standards designed to reduce the risk of accounts being used for nefarious purposes. Issues surrounding IOR account holders came to ahead with accusations of their use by mafia figures. Scandal gripped the world over IOR following the death of banker Roberto Calvi, whose corpse was discovered hanging under Blackfriars bridge in London. In wake of establishing the FIA, the Vatican signed up for external evaluation by Moneyval, a European body that combats money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Moneyval reported in December that the Vatican had addressed most of its structural weaknesses. But it also questioned why no indictments or prosecutions had ensued as a result of the evidence of wrongdoing gathered and handed to prosecutors. In its latest report, FIA said it had been alerted to 544 suspicious transactions last year, mainly involving possible tax evasion. That was more than three times the number registered in 2014 (147) but FIA President Rene Brulhart said the spike was likely as a result of more zealous monitoring. Issues surrounding IOR account holders came to ahead with accusations of their use by mafia figures. Scandal gripped the world over IOR following the death of banker Roberto Calvi, whose corpse was discovered hanging under Blackfriars bridge in London The Vatican's financial watchdog said Thursday it received 544 reports of suspicious financial transactions last year, thanks in part to beefed-up efforts to flag potential tax cheats who are using the Vatican bank to hide money Rene Brulhart, president of the Vatican Financial Information Authority reveals a copy of the Vatican financial oversight report 'In a process like this you always set a low threshold for reporting to create awareness. I hope in 2016 the figure will be back to normal. Of course ideally we would like a zero figure but that is not realistic.' Prosecutors believe Calvi's 1982 death was linked to money laundering via the Vatican bank. It emerged nearly 30 years later that the Vatican still had no idea of the identity of thousands of IOR account holders and that some accounts were held by people with no apparent connection to the Church or its charitable works. Others contained secret slush funds used for off-the-books spending by Vatican departments, according to books published recently by two Italian journalists, who are now on trial for conspiring in the leak of classified documents. Vatican efforts to put its finances in order initially accelerated after Pope Francis's election in 2013. But an economic reform commission he established has since been disbanded and three of its members are currently on trial with the journalists. Moves to have all the Vatican books externally audited have also been a start-stop affair. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) were appointed in December to do the job by powerful Australian cardinal George Pell, the head of the Vatican's economic secretariat. A corrupt high ranking education department official, one of a number who allegedly stole millions of dollars from needy Victorian schools, could face criminal charges. An investigation which exposed the corruption ring found former finance manager Nino Napoli was the 'principal player' of the corruption ring and was able to funnel the money by 'carefully selecting and grooming principals and business managers' - rewarding them with overseas travel or promotions. The report, by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) estimated at least $1.9 million was channelled to relatives and associates of Mr Napoli between 2007 and 2014 The IBAC report found former finance manager Nino Napoli (pictured) was the 'principal player' of the corruption ring A brief of evidence will be prepared for the Office of Public Prosecutions over the conduct of officials and principals linked to 'serious and systemic corruption' exposed by the IBAC, it's Commissioner, Stephen O'Bryan, says. Mr O'Bryan handed down his long-awaited report on Friday from a major IBAC investigation into the abuse of the Department of Education and Training's so-called 'banker school' system. Banker schools held education funds and would pay invoices for goods and services - sometimes including parties and wine - even if they did not receive the items. WHAT WERE THE VICTORIAN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: IBAC'S FINDINGS? * Former finance manager Nino Napoli exploited weaknesses in the system * Some schools paid for false and inflated invoices or for overseas travel and personal items * Financial abuse was accepted and enabled by a number of school principals and business managers - sometimes in return for overseas travel or promotion * Substantial weaknesses in the department's systems, controls and culture created an environment where misconduct and corrupt conduct flourished It says suspicions have been raised over a further $1.1 million in transactions and $3.3 million worth of contracts. The true figures are likely much higher, and detailed financial analysis is continuing, it adds. Some siphoned money paid for a new toupee for Mr Napoli, worth thousands of dollars, the IBAC hearings last year learned. The investigation found former deputy secretary Jeffrey Rosewarne and other department officials used their positions and understanding of the weaknesses of the 'banker' school system to arrange for payment of inappropriate invoices. On Friday, current department secretary Gill Callister said sweeping changes had already been made and more than 15 people linked to the IBAC investigation no longer worked for the department. IBAC estimates at least $1.9 million was channelled to relatives and associates of Mr Napoli (pictured) between 2007 and 2014 WHAT WERE THE VICTORIAN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS? * Culture and policy reform needed * More investigation to find other schools and officials linked to possible corruption * People linked to corruption should be stopped from working for the department * The Victorian Auditor-General's Office should audit the department * The government and department should provide progress reports to IBAC. 'A combination of better checks and balances, combined with a stronger culture, will turn it around,' Ms Callister told reporters. Mr Napoli, former regional director John Allman and former Keilor Heights Primary School principal Michael Guilieri were sacked during the course of the 2015 hearings. Three principals were suspended and another did not have his contract renewed. Mr Rosewarne had left the department before the hearings began. Victoria Police say it will take time to consider Mr O'Bryan's findings. Jeremy Corbyn has launched an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism in the Labour party amid pressure to expel Ken Livingstone. The panel, led by former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti, will offer guidance about anti-Semitism and other forms of racism - despite the Labour leader insisting yesterday there was 'no crisis'. But on announcing the inquiry and a new 'code of conduct' Mr Corbyn said there was 'no place for anti-Semitism' in the party. Earlier today, Mr Livingstone again defiantly insisted he did nothing wrong by claiming that Hitler was a 'Zionist'. He also signalled he will be using the writings of an obscure Marxist historian to justify his comments to an internal party disciplinary probe. Scroll down for video Jeremy Corbyn, right, leaves his London home after cancelling an election campaign visit to Wales in the wake of the anti-Semitism row that forced him to suspend former London Mayor Ken Livingstone Labour MP Wes Streeting accused Mr Livingstone of 'pouring petrol' on the situation and said he risked seriously damaging the party's prospects in elections next week. 'Given we are days away from a crucial set of elections we need to expedite his expulsion and move on,' he told MailOnline. Ms Chakrabarti has been tasked with drawing up 'a statement of principles and guidance about anti-Semitism and other forms of racism'. The panel - whose vice-chairman is Professor David Feldman, director of the Pears Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism - is expected to consult with the Jewish community and report back within two months. A new set of rules on acceptable behaviour and language will also be drawn up and taken to the party's national executive committee next month. Mr Corbyn said: 'We have taken decisive action over allegations of anti-Semitism since I became leader, suspending all those involved from membership. 'There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of racism in the Labour Party, or anywhere in society. We will make sure that our party is a welcoming home to members of all minority communities.' The Labour leader was forced to abandon a planned campaigning trip to Wales after aides to First Minister Carwyn Jones warned that his failure to tackle the problems made him a liability. Mr Corbyn's own deputy has also contradicted his claim that there is 'no crisis' by insisting the party must 'get a grip' on anti-Semitism among its ranks. The leader was reluctantly forced to suspend his long-standing ally following a tidal wave of protests from Labour moderates. In an extraordinary spat captured by cameras, backbencher John Mann launched a foul-mouthed tirade at the London Mayor outside of Westminster TV studios branding him a 'Nazi apologist'. Mr Livingstone had been defending Bradford West MP Naz Shah - who had the party whip removed earlier this week after Facebook posts surfaced in which she suggested Israel should be 'relocated' to the US. The ex-Mayor refused to answer questions from journalists outside his London home today, merely urging them not to step on the dog he was taking for a walk. But he told Sky News later that he would be found innocent by the disciplinary probe because he had told 'the truth' and been saying similar claims for three decades. Mr Livingstone said his defence would rely on the works of controversial American Marxist historian Lenni Brenner, who has suggested there was collusion between Nazis and early campaigners for a Jewish homeland. As the pressure intensified on Mr Corbyn today: Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson took to the airwaves promising to 'get a grip' on anti-Semitism. Mr Corbyn insisted yesterday that there was 'no crisis' Mr Corbyn cancelled a campaign visit to Wales after sources close to First Minister Mr Jones reportedly suggested he would be a liability An online petition has been launched demanding that Mr Mann face further disciplinary action for accosting Mr Livingstone. The Bassetlaw MP was given a slap on the wrists by Chief Whip Rosie Winterton yesterday but she is said to have refused to impose tougher punishment Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said anti-Semitism allegations are not being dealt with 'properly and quickly enough' Mr Corbyn was due to visit Bridgend College in Pencoed with Mr Jones later. However, it was agreed he would stay out of Wales after discussions between his team officials, according to the Western Mail. A source close to the Welsh Labour election campaign said: 'We've made the campaign about strong leadership and Carwyn's unique position as the only credible First Minister. Ken Livingstone taking his dog for a walk today. He has insisted he did nothing wrong after being suspended by Labour for suggesting that Hitler was a 'Zionist' who wanted to move Jews to Israel 'That's a difficult sell with Jeremy particularly after the last 24 hours.' There not now thought to be any plans for Mr Cobyn to visit Wales before polling day next Thursday. Mr Jones was among a number of MPs who demanded yesterday that Mr Livingstone be kicked out of the party immediately. 'There is no place in the party for these views. These things aren't a matter for debate. Ken Livingstone must be expelled today,' the First Minister said. A source close to Mr Corbyn said he had cancelled the visit due to 'heavy media interest that would have adversely impacted on the ability to carry out the planned campaigning'. Mr Watson stressed Mr Corbyn had acted 'quickly' against Mr Livingstone despite the 'difficulty' of their long friendship. WHY SO MUCH RUBBISH, JEREMY? Piles of rubbish bags were seen stacked outside Jeremy Corbyn's north London home today Jeremy Corbyn was mocked on Twitter today after piles of rubbish bags were pictured outside his north London home. Mystery surrounded what was in the bags and his team said they had no idea. So it was up to observers on Twitter to speculate what was inside. 'Which moderate Labour MPs haven't we seen for a while?' asked one user, while another worried about the whereabouts of Chris Leslie, a leading Corbyn critic. Some joked that the bags were hiding the bodies of Ken Livingstone and Naz Shah - both suspended from the Labour party for making anti-Semitic remarks this week. One Twitter user said - rather harshly - that it was nothing compared to 'the rubbish inside' Corbyn's house. The Labour leader has smartened up recently, so perhaps the rubbish bags contain his 'old corduroy suits' suggested one tweet. 'Probably old speeches & Labour policies,' suggested another. But others thought Corbyn was simply reminiscing about the 'Winter of Discontent'. Advertisement But he suggested the party's existing inquiry into anti-Semitism on university campuses could need to be widened, and rules could have to be toughened. 'If we need to improve our rules and procedures we will do, if we need to resource the people that investigate anti-Semitism we will do that,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'That is why I've come on today to say we're going to get a grip of this and we're going to deal with it.' He added: 'It wasn't easy for Jeremy Corbyn yesterday, Ken Livingstone is a 40-year ally of Jeremy and what he did was act swiftly. 'In fact I don't think he could have acted any quicker to deal with Ken Livingstone. 'He is suspended, he will not be welcome in our party structures until that investigation is over but he has got a right to put his case to our National Executive Committee and that will happen.' Jonathan Arkush, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, urged Mr Corbyn to 'get a grip' on anti-Semitism by overhauling procedures for vetting parliamentary candidates and other measures. 'I always want Jeremy Corbyn to finally say that his own meetings with anti-Semites in the past before he became leader were inappropriate and should not be repeated,' he said. Speaking on BBC Question Time last night, Mr Burnham said: 'These allegations, when they are surfacing, are not being dealt with properly and quickly enough. They need to be dealt with much more speedily in the future,' he said. But he added: 'We are the party that for decades has promoted equality and fought discrimination. Jeremy Corbyn has done that all his political life if you look at his record. 'If I thought for one second that I as was a member of a anti-Semitic party I would cut up my membership card, right here, right now. I don't believe that is the case.' Mr Livingstone was condemned by Labour MPs and activists after making a series of explosive claims, including saying that the Nazi leader backed moving German Jews to Israel 'before he went mad'. As he toured studios repeating the remarks, he was confronted by backbencher Mr Mann, who called him a 'lying racist' and 'disgusting Nazi apologist'. Mr Corbyn came under immense pressure from senior shadow cabinet figures, backbench MPs and Jewish groups to expel Mr Livingstone from the party immediately. However, it was claimed that the Labour leader was extremely reluctant even to suspend Mr Livingstone, and agreed to do so only if Mr Mann suffered the same fate. Backbencher John Mann confronted former London Mayor Ken Livingstone about his comments on Hitler and Zionism outside TV studios in Westminster yesterday Labour whips are said to have refused point blank to exclude the MP, laying bare the tensions at the heart of the party as moderates and the hard-Left wrestle for control. Last night, Mr Corbyn dismissed claims of a crisis in Labour and denied there was a problem of anti-semitism within his party. He suggested the row had been whipped up by moderate Labour MPs plotting to destabilise his leadership because they feared being removed from their seats by his army of militant supporters. The Labour leader said he had 'concerns about the language used' and wouldn't tolerate anti-semitism, but added that he was 'very sad' to kick out Mr Livingstone. The ex-London Mayor said today: 'I suspect most of the pro-Israel Labour MPs have no idea about the history, they certainly don't teach about 1930s Zionist policy in Israeli schools almost everyone in the Jewish community grows up in complete ignorance of this.' How can the truth be an offence - if I had lied that would be offensive.' 'I'll just produce the evidence and I mean it's hard for somebody to decide to suspend me from the party here when all this was there 30 years ago in the public domain and nobody raised a peep,' he said. Referring to the writings of Marxist historian Lenni Brenner, Mr Livingstone said: 'He came to Britain to publicise his book and we did a public meeting together. 'The shocking thing about his book was that he revealed that not only Hitler had wanted to move all of Germany's Jews to Israel, but that the Zionist leadership continued a dialogue privately with Hitler from (19)33 when he became Chancellor to 1940-41. Mr Streeting, vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism, said Mr Livingstone's behaviour was 'jaw-dropping'. 'It is pretty jaw dropping the spectacle of Ken Livingstone pouring petrol on the terrible events of the Labour Party around anti-semitism this week,' he told MailOnline. 'Even after he has been suspended he continues to be out in the media with no regard for the Labour Party or its reputation.' Ilford MP Mr Streeting said he was concerned the row had done serious damage to the party's electoral prospects. 'I have been back in my constituency today and when I was in the cafe getting breakfast I had residents asking me what on earth is going on,' he added. 'They were working quite closely. Lenni's book shows a shared common belief between the Nazis and the Zionists in preserving their race from interracial marriage and things like that. 'They wanted to preserve their ethnic purity and that's why they had a working relationship. This caused quite a stir at the time but everyone's forgotten it.' 'There's no crisis,' he told the BBC. 'I suspect that much of this criticism that you're saying about a crisis in the party comes from people who are nervous about the strength of the Labour Party at a local level.' A petition has been posted on the Change.org website calling for him to be disciplined for 'appalling and unprofessional behaviour' in confronting Mr Livingston. It has received more than 10,000 signatures so far. RED KEN V HISTORY: ANALYSIS OF WHAT LIVINGSTONE CLAIMED AND WHAT THE FACTS TELL US By Matt Dathan, MailOnline Political Correspondent Ken Livingstone was accused of 'rewriting history' with a series of claims about anti-Semitism today. Here we compare Red Ken's claims with the facts. Red Ken's claim: 'Let's remember, when Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. 'He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews.' Actual history: It is very clear from Mein Kampf written in 1925 that Hitler did not support moving Jews to Israel. Hitler wrote: 'While the Zionists try to make the rest of the World believe that the national consciousness of the Jew finds its satisfaction in the creation of a Palestinian state, the Jews again slyly dupe the dumb Goyim. 'It doesn't even enter their heads to build up a Jewish state in Palestine for the purpose of living there; all they want is a central organisation for their international world swindler, endowed with its own sovereign rights and removed from the intervention of other states: a haven for convicted scoundrels and a university for budding crooks. 'It is a sign of their rising confidence and sense of security that at a time when one section is still playing the German, French-man, or Englishman, the other with open effrontery comes out as the Jewish race.' Red Ken's claim: 'Let's look at what someone who is Jewish actually said, something almost very similar to something Naz has just said: Albert Einstein. When the first leader of Likud, the governing party now in Israel, came to America he [Einstein] warned American politicians: 'Don't talk to this man, because he's too similar to the fascists who fought in the Second World War'. 'Now if Naz or myself had said that today we would be denounced as anti-Semitic, but that was Albert Einstein.' Actual history: Albert Einstein did indeed warn about the 'fascist' intentions of Menachem Begin in a letter to the New York Times. But this was 25 years before Likud was even launched as a political party and Begin became first leader in 1973 18 years after Einstein died. Red Ken's claim: He said Naz Shah's remarks were 'over the top' but not anti-Semitic. Explaining his own definition of anti-Semitism, Mr Livingstone told the Daily Politics show today: 'Blurring these two things [criticising Israel and being anti-Semitic] undermines the real importance of anti-Semitism, because a real anti-Semite doesn't just hate the Jews in Israel, they hate their Jewish neighbour in Golders Green or in Stoke Newington. It's a physical loathing.' Actual definition: The definition of anti-Semitism is 'a hatred of Jewish people' so this would logically include 'Jews in Israel'. Mr Livingstone's comments suggest hating Israeli Jews is understandable and even excusable. The Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre said: 'Criticism of the Israeli government is of course entirely legitimate, as it is against any government. 'But when that criticism is expressed in violent language, directed at its people in racist terms or uses references to Hitler and Nazism, it is antisemitic and deeply offensive. 'If the only country in the world that you want to disappear is the Jewish one then you are in very bad company, on the wrong side of history.' Red Ken's claim: He said it was wrong to say anti-Semitism is racism. Actual definition: But as Jeremy Corbyn and even Ms Shah said yesterday: 'Anti-Semitism is racism, full stop.' Advertisement Fury as Labour leadership rebukes MP for confronting Red Ken Labour MPs reacted with fury after John Mann was summoned by the leadership to be told he had made a 'serious' mistake by confronting Ken Livingstone. The Bassetlaw MP accosted the former London Mayor outside TV studios in Westminster, accusing him of being a 'Nazi apologist' for citing Hitler in defence of Labour MP Naz Shah. Mr Livingstone waded into the anti-Semitism row over Ms Shah's Facebook posts by claiming that the fascist dictator supported 'Zionism' before he 'went mad and ended up killing six million Jews'. Shortly afterwards party leader Jeremy Corbyn bowed to a tidal wave of protests from his own ranks by suspending his long-standing ally. But a Labour spokesman added: 'The Chief Whip has summoned John Mann MP to discuss his conduct.' Labour MPs vented their anger on Twitter after John Mann was summoned to see the Chief Whip 'YOU'RE A NAZI APOLOGIST': THE EXPLOSIVE ROW BETWEEN MANN AND LIVINGSTONE The explosive row between Ken Livingstone and John Mann shocked Westminster today when it was captured in full - because it was carried out in front of ITV journalists. Mr Mann confronted the former London mayor and said: 'You're a disgusting racist, Livingstone. A disgusting racist rewriting history. You're a disgusting racist.' Livingstone: 'Are you saying it's not true?' Mann: 'Yes, you're a lying racist.' Livingstone: 'Really? Why don't you go and check the history.' Mann: 'A Nazi apologist.' Livingstone: 'Check the history.' Mann: 'A Nazi apologist.' Livingstone: 'Check your history.' Mann: 'A Nazi apologist. You're a disgusting Nazi apologist, Livingstone.' Advertisement The party said later that Rosie Winterton had 'made it absolutely clear' to Mr Mann that his conduct had been 'completely inappropriate'. The Chief Whip was 'very clear about how seriously this was viewed' and 'John Mann fully accepted and understands this', Labour said. Former frontbencher Michael Dugher branded the move 'outrageous', suggesting that Mr Corbyn was trying to even the score. 'Outrageous that Lab spokes announces Livingstone suspended and @JohnMannMP summoned to see chief whip. 'Like it's 1-1! John Mann was 100% right.' Islwyn MP Chris Evans added that Rosie WInterton should just give Mr Mann a 'pat on the back'. 'I hope the Chief Whip has summoned @JohnMannMP to give him a pat on the back,' he posted. The angry clash at Millbank - yards from Parliament - saw Mr Mann brand Mr Livingstone a 'f****** disgrace'. It came as many Labour MPs demanded swift action from Jeremy Corbyn to suspend Mr Livingstone. Mr Mann said Mr Livingstone was 're-writing history' about the actions of Hitler. The row began as Mr Livingstone walked into the studios while on the phone doing a live radio interview with LBC. Mr Livingstone was heard on the radio saying 'I've got a Labour MP threatening me, sorry about this'. An 80-year-old woman fatally shot a man who broke into her Sultan, Washington, home and stabbed her husband multiple times, police said. The 25-year-old suspect, who police believe was looking to steal prescription drugs, died on the scene around 8.30pm on Thursday. The woman's 75-year-old husband was airlifted to a hospital, where he is in serious but stable condition. A 25-year-old man was shot dead after he broke into an elderly couple's home in Sultan (pictured), an apparent attempt to steal prescription drugs, police said. The woman told police the intruder broke in through a back door. She heard a noise, went to investigate and saw a stranger standing over her husband holding a knife. Merlin Halverson, Snohomish County Fire District 5 chief, told KOMO the woman ran to a bedroom, dug around in a closet and came back with a gun. '[She] comes out, fires several shots and kills him,' Halverson said. It appeared the man was looking for drugs, Halverson said, noting pill bottles near the man's body. The suspect, from the neighboring town of Gold Bar, died at the scene, Ireton said. The woman's 75-year-old husband was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with abdominal stab wounds. He was in serious but stable condition Thursday night. The couple's 45-year-old son was in the home during the incident. Both he and his mother were not injured. Detectives believe the man was attempting to burglarize the home and that he didn't know the residents. The names of those involved have not been released. An investigation is ongoing, and medical examiners are working to identify the suspect. Snohomish County has been cited as an area with high rates of drug abuse, according to the Monroe Monitor. Australian artist Ben Quilty has paid tribute to his friend and student Myuran Sukumaran on the one-year anniversary of the Bali Nine ringleader's execution. He said he was planning to put the convicted drug smuggler's artwork on display next year to mark the 50th anniversary of the last execution of a person on Australian soil. Sukumaran, 34, and Andrew Chan, 31, both from Sydney, were executed by firing squad on Indonesia's Nusakambangan island on 29 April 2015 after trying to smuggle heroin out of Bali. Quilty was introduced to Sukumaran in 2012 after the imprisoned man expressed a desire to paint. Australian drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran (right) and Andrew Chan (left) were executed one year ago on Friday by firing squad - 10 years after being found guilty of smuggling 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia Australian artist Ben Quilty said he was planning to put Sukumaran's on display next year to mark the 50th anniversary of the last execution of a person on Australian soil 'Rest in peace Myu, with a brush in your hand my friend,' Quilty wrote in a Facebook post. 'One year today. Seems a little like it was all just a really bad dream, like when you're a kid with a temperature and the nightmares rollick through your tiny brain. 'Myu was the bravest man I've met. Next year you will prove again to the world the outcome of rehabilitation, the profound importance of forgiveness and compassion and most importantly of all the power of art.' Sukumaran's paintings, including a self-portrait with a gaping hole where his heart should be, became a haunting reflection of his final days on death row. One of his teachers, Melbourne artist Matthew Sleeth, 42, previously said Sukumaran's final works were his finest. In his post, Quilty said that a major retrospective of Sukumaran's paintings will open in Sydney next year. Sukumaran's spiritual advisor pastor Christie Buckingham, who was with him when he was shot 12 months ago, says he asked her to see if his death had made a difference minutes before his execution Sukumaran's paintings, including a self-portrait with a gaping hole where his heart should be, became a haunting reflection of his final days on death row Quilty (pictured) was introduced to Sukumaran in 2012 after the imprisoned man expressed a desire to paint He even extended an invitation to the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. Quilty said the touring exhibition would mark the death of Ronald Ryan, who was hung in Pentridge Prison, Victoria on 3 February 1967. Ryan was the last person to be executed on Australian soil. Sukumaran's private service is expected to be held on Saturday at the DaySpring Church in Sydney's northwest. His final request before he was executed in Indonesia was to see if his death had made a difference. Sukumaran's spiritual advisor pastor Christie Buckingham, who was with him when he was shot 12 months ago, says he asked her for a favour when he was tied to the pole minutes before his execution. 'Ask the question in a year's time, has this made any difference? Has it made any difference in Indonesia? Has it made any difference to the way Australians feel about the death penalty? Ask this question in one year, in five years and in 10 years,' Ms Buckingham told News Corp. Friday marks one year since Sukumaran and fellow Bali Nine ringleader Andrew Chan were executed and Ms Buckingham says she is honouring the promise she made to continue their fight against the death penalty. In his post, Quilty said that a major retrospective of Sukumaran's paintings will open in Sydney next year Chan and Sukumaran were among 14 drug traffickers executed in Indonesia last year, amid intensifying condemnation from human rights activists and international governments She said several members of the Indonesian firing squad apologised to her following the executions on the island of Nusakambangan. 'He pulled his mask down and said 'Maaf, Maaf' (sorry in Indonesian),' Ms Buckingham told the newspaper. 'I just said Myu forgives you, I forgive you, God forgives you.' Sukumaran and Chan were were executed just after midnight or 3.25am (AEST) on April 29 last year - 10 years after being found guilty of smuggling 8.3kg of heroin out of Indonesia. Their family and friends will hold memorial services to mark the anniversary of their executions. Chan's family have booked a Hillsong chapel in Sydney's northwest, while a private service is expected for Sukumaran on Saturday at the nearby DaySpring Church in Castle Hill. Andrew Chan's wife Febyanti Herewila, who he married two days before his execution, said his legacy to abolish the death penalty will continue Chan's brother Michael said the family had been struggling ahead of the anniversary. '(It) has been a roller coaster ride for the family to come to terms with the loss,' he told Reprieve Australia, an organisation fighting the death penalty. 'There has not been a day that has gone by that he is not in our thoughts. Countries need to look at ways to rehabilitate prisoners instead of executing them.' He said he wanted to speak up for others who remained on death row. Febyanti Herewila, who married Chan two days ahead of his execution, said his legacy to abolish the death penalty will continue. 'People make mistakes especially when you are young like him,' she told Reprieve Australia. 'Also Andrew wants the young people from around the world to learn from his life.' Chan and Sukumaran were among 14 drug traffickers executed in Indonesia last year, amid intensifying condemnation from human rights activists and international governments. Sukumaran's pastor Christie Buckingham (pictured at his Sydney funeral), says he asked her to see if his death had made a difference and she promised to continue fighting against the death penalty Sukumaran and Chan were taken from Kerobokan Prison in Bali in March last year after serving a decade Bali Nine ringleaders Chan and Sukumaran were pictured arriving at Cilacap in Indonesia on March 4, 2015, after being transfered to Nusakambangan Island prison in Central Java to face a firing squad The pressure continues with German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressing her country's wish for Indonesia to put an end to capital punishment, during Indonesian President Joko Widodo's recent visit to Europe. Despite this, Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan and Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo have flagged executions are likely to resume this year. Head of Central Java's Corrections Division Molyanto said they were currently building more isolation cells - where those awaiting execution are kept - at Nusakambangan prison. But he denied reports that the 'execution field' is being extended. Sukumaran and Chan's Australian barrister Julian McMahon said it was 'surprising' further executions were back on Indonesia's agenda. Sukumaran and Chan's families and friends will hold memorial services in Sydney on Friday to mark the anniversary of their executions Sukumaran's family (pictured his brother Raji and mother Chinthu) will hold a private memorial service to mark the anniversary of his executions. His funeral (pictured) was held in Sydney in May last year Chan's family have booked a Hillsong chapel in Sydney's northwest for the memorial service. It is the same church where his funeral (pictured) was held in May last year after his body was returned to Australia 'The fact is after the international dismay in April 2015 executions have now stopped for 12 months. The reason has not been publicly identified, except by reference to economic priorities. But most commentators think that international reaction would be very relevant,' he told AAP. Indonesian lawyer Dr Todung Mulya Lubis - who tweeted 'I failed. I lost' after his clients' executions last year - has been campaigning against capital punishment in the country since 1979. Since then he feels they have made 'small progress'. 'We have made people aware of the death penalty ... I believe over time we will be able to score some wins.' While he cannot see the abolition of the death penalty happening in Indonesia 'any time soon', he hopes a bill tabled before parliament last year might prove a 'middle way'. Under the proposed changes, if people show they have rehabilitated themselves, they could see their execution commuted to a life sentence. Channel Nine has dumped its affiliate partner WIN Corporation and signed a new five-year lease with Southern Cross Austereo. From July 1 this year, Southern Cross will broadcast Nine's metropolitan free-to-air television content into regional areas in Queensland, southern New South Wales and Victoria, reported The Australian. Southern Cross will reportedly pay Nine an affiliation fee of 50 per cent of its television revenue. Channel Nine has cut ties with WIN Corporation and entered into a new five-year deal with Southern Cross Austereo This comes after Nine acquired a 9.9 per cent stake in Southern Cross in a deal in March. WIN is reportedly likely to enter into an agreement with Network Ten, whose agreement providing content to Southern Cross Austereo ends in June. Nine and SCA said in a statement that they would be working together on numerous opportunities to 'mutually grow their businesses'. 'This is a great outcome for Nine and SCA,' said Nine's chief executive Hugh Markshad. 'We are confident that, together, we will offer a premium viewing experience for audiences and a best in class platform for advertisers.' Southern Cross Austereo's chief executive Grant Blackley said he was excited SCA was heading into a long term agreement with Nine, describing them as a company who had 'successfully informed and entertained Australian audiences for decades'. Southern Cross Austereo will broadcast Nine's free-to-air television content into regional areas in Queensland, southern New South Wales and Victoria Mumbrella reported that Mr Markshad had shut down the idea of the network acquiring a regional broadcaster earlier on Friday, even if reforms to media laws allowing it were passed. Mr Markshad reportedly told a senate inquiry that acquiring a regional broadcaster 'was not high on our priority list'. 'What does adding an acquisition of regional Australia add to us as a content business? Perhaps very little,' he said. 'We run this company as a content business which is focused on expanding the number of platforms on which we provide content; the business models around that.' A schoolboy who brutally stabbed two strangers to death shrugged his shoulders as he was jailed for life today. James Fairweather was 15 years old when he carried out horrific random attacks on James Attfield and Nahid Almanea in Colchester, Essex. The teenager - who idolised Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe - mouthed 'I don't give a s***' as a judge handed him a 27-year minimum sentence today. Earlier he had given a thumbs up to his mother, who sat in the public gallery of the Old Bailey, and told her to 'keep your chin up'. She broke down in tears as he was led away from the dock. Double killer James Fairweather, pictured wearing gloves and handcuffs after he was caught with a knife looking for a third victim, was freed by a court just three days before his first murder James Attfield - a father who was left disabled after a car accident - and Nahid Almanea - a Saudi Arabian student - were brutally killed in random knife attacks by Fairweather in 2014 Mr Justice Spencer told him: 'I have to sentence you for two brutal and sadistic murders committed when you were 15 years old.' 'When you committed these murders you were acting out your violent, sadistic fantasies, which had been fueled by your obsession with serial killers. 'You had immersed yourself in that obsession for several months at least, reading about serial killers on the internet and in books and watching DVDs.' It emerged during this morning's hearing that he was sentenced for a knifepoint robbery on March 26 2014 and given a Youth Referral Order - the youth equivalent of a community sentence. Just three days later he stabbed 33-year-old Mr Attfield 102 times as he lay helpless in a park. Three months after that, Fairweather attacked Ms Almanea, 31, with a bayonet and stabbed her in both eyes as she walked along Salary Brook nature trail in the town. He was prowling the same area for a third victim when police finally stopped his killing spree in May last year. Police today released a transcript of a 999 call made by the woman who could have been his third victim. Fairweather had been questioned shortly after the second murder but no action was taken. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing gloves and armed with a lock knife. His trial has heard he was 'turned on' by serial killers and researched Ian Huntley, Myra Hindley and Yorkshire Ripper Sutcliffe, who he had a picture of on his phone. Mr Attfield's mother told court today that she could not work as a result of her grief and has been forced to sell her house. She said the family would now have to get used to life without her son and would remember him as the 'fun-loving practical joker that he was'. Father-of-four Mr Attfield had suffered brain damage in a car crash in 2010. He had problems with his speech and memory and was living in semi-sheltered accommodation at the time of his death. Fairweather's mother, Anita, attended his sentencing at the Old Bailey today. The double killer gave her a thumbs up as he was led into the dock In a police interview after he was arrested, Fairweather acted out how he repeatedly stabbed Mr Attfield Miss Almanea's relatives were represented by Saudi embassy officials in court today. Her brother described in a statement his feelings of personal blame at not being able to save her. They were both studying in the UK at the time. On the day of her murder, he said: 'I was full of optimism but came back in the evening full of grief and sorrow.' TIMELINE OF HIS DEADLY ATTACKS March 26: Fairweather is freed from court after being given a Youth Referral Order for a robbery March 29-30, 2014: Disabled James Attfield is killed in a late night attack in which he suffers 102 stab wounds. June 13, 2014: Nahid Almanea is stabbed 16 times and dies in attack not far from the killing of Mr Attfield. June 30, 2014: Attacker is interviewed at his home but officers leave without arresting or charging him. May 26, 2015: After nearly a year evading justice, the boy is arrested in possession of a knife and wearing gloves near the scene of his second killing. He later admits the killings. He said his sister was robbed of the right to get married and be a mother to her own children. Fairweather, who has autism, had played violent computer games Call Of Duty and Grand Theft Auto since he was 13 years old. And he had a stash of horror films including Wrong Turn: The Carnage Collection, which including killings like those he carried out,and a DVD about Sutcliffe. After he killed, he obsessively looked up press coverage of the murders on the internet. Mr Justice Robin Spencer QC said today: 'It seemed to me that one feature of his autism was obsessiveness. 'And it could be said that, to a degree, his obsessive interest in serial killers, which undoubtedly fuelled these killings, could be said at part in least to involve that.' Fairweather admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, claiming he believed he was possessed by the devil and heard voices that compelled him to kill. But the 17-year-old was convicted of murder after an expert told his trial that his description of the hallucinations sounded like something plucked from a horror film. The hunt to find the murderer was 'one of the biggest investigations' carried out by Essex Police, according to Assistant Chief Constable Steve Worron. It emerged today that it cost 2.6million. Some 3,000 personal attack alarms were issued to people who felt vulnerable and a large number of extra officers were drafted in to the area. Fairweather snuck out of the window of his parents' house in Colchester to commit the first of his murders Police at the scene of the murder of Nahid Almanea in June 2014. Fairweather stabbed her 16 times When Fairweather was arrested, he was found to be in possession of this gruesome flick knife In a police video of an officer interviewing Fairweather after his arrest, he demonstrates how he repeatedly knifed his first victim, 33-year-old Mr Attfield. The 38-second clip of his police interview shows Fairweather telling an officer: 'The voices were talking to me and you need to make a sacrifice or we are coming to get you, you need to do it, and I saw him. 'He was laying on the grass, [leans back to show how he was laying down] fast asleep where he was drunk and he goes 'your the one, he's the one, do it, do it' so I went over to him.' Asking the interviewing officer, 'can I stand up?' The teen then mimics how he ruthlessly stood over this victim and repeatedly knifed him in the stomach. He added: 'I went up to him like that [making a stabbing motion towards the ground] I first stabbed him there [as he rubs his upper stomach area], I stabbed him a few times [making a stabbing motion]. The family of Miss Almanea's have previously said they were left 'devastated' by her murder. They said: 'Nahid was a remarkable and gentle person who was loved for her kind and caring nature. 'Publicly, Nahid was a quiet and dignified lady who chose to pursue her academic studies in order to work towards her PhD, and whilst in England she made a decision that she would respect her heritage and traditions in the way that she dressed and conducted herself. 'The amount of people that attended Nahid's funeral is a tribute to how much she was cared for and respected.' Julie Finch, the mother of victim Mr Attfield (left, outside court today and, right, with her son before his death). She has branded Fairweather 'a monster' Miss Almanea's death caused shock in the UK and Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of her countrymen attended her funeral after her body was taken back to the Middle East The murders took place in quiet areas of Colchester. Fairweather was arrested near the scene of one killing Borisade has also been charged with battery after the incident Police attempted to arrest Martinez after she quit her job in a bar A police officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has been charged with battery after he repeatedly punched a woman in the chest while she was in handcuffs. The officer Akinyemi Borisade, 26, has been fired, according to Undersheriff Pat Ivey. Video released by the police department shows Mayra Martinez, 31, being attacked by the officer after she struggles and attempts to kick the officer. Martinez, a bar worker at Scores on University Boulevard in Jacksonville, was arrested at around 5pm on Wednesday and was charged with trespassing and resisting police. According to the police report, Martinez was drunk and belligerent when two officers, including Borisade, attempted to remove her from the bar where she worked after she quit on her first day. She tried to kick and bite the attending officers, according to the report. Sheriff Mike Williams said in a press conference: 'There are ways that this could have been dealt with without striking her. The officer Akinyemi Borisade, 26, has been fired, according to Undersheriff Pat Ivey. Pictured, the officer moving the woman back towards a wall Video released by the police department shows Mayra Martinez, 31, being attacked by the officer after she struggles and attempts to kick the officer. Pictured, Martinez being slammed against the wall 'He could have turned her around and held her in a transporting position that they are trained in.' The woman was not transported to the hospital. Martinez (pictured), a bar worker at Scores on University Boulevard in Jacksonville, was arrested at around 5pm on Wednesday and was charged with trespassing and resisting police Pat Ivey told News4Jax: 'He could have turned her around and held her in a transporting position that they are trained in back over to the location to wait by the door. 'He could have stood there with her, but there was no need to strike her.' The shocking video begins with a handcuffed Martinez walking towards towards Borisade who pushes her back against a wall. Martinez then lifts her leg and appears to kick the officer and he launches into an attack of at least three punches to her stomach and chest. Borisade, who was hired by the force in March 2015, holds the woman against the wall until another officer puts his arm on the officer's shoulder. The woman is released and slumps to the floor. At least two other officers and other bystanders witness the attack but do nothing to intervene or help the woman. In the rest of the video Martinez is left alone on her knees. Corrections officers who witnessed the incident reported it to their supervisors, and it was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Integrity Unit. Sheriff Mike Williams said in a press conference: 'There are ways that this could have been dealt with without striking her.' Pictured, the officer preparing to swing at the victim The video continues with shocking scenes of the officer punching the woman directly in the chest (pictured) Borisade, who was hired by the force in March 2015, holds the woman against the wall until another officer puts his arm on the officer's shoulder Ivey said that Borisade cannot appeal his dismissal because he is a probationary officer. However, if he successfully completes a name-clearing hearing with the police department he could reapply as an officer with another agency. The National Sheriff's Association wrote on social media: 'We give much credit to [the Jackson Sheriff's Office] for their transparency in releasing this video.' MailOnline has contacted the Sheriff's Office about the issue of the other officers standing by and watching the attack but have not yet had a response. The National Sheriff's Association wrote on social media: 'We give much credit to [the Jackson Sheriff's Office] for their transparency in releasing this video' After spending the better part of a decade without seeing an increase in their take-home pay, Alabama teachers are set to receive their first real pay increases since 2008 . (A 2013 raise was offset by benefit cuts.) Under a newly approved education budget, teachers and other K-12 staff with annual salaries less than $75,000 will get 4 percent raises; others will see 2 percent increases. Montgomery lawmakers, concerned that the state was losing good teachers to better-paying states like neighboring Georgia, overwhelmingly passed the increases out of both chambers of the legislature. If you are going to attract quality people to education, it is imperative that you compensate them accordingly, said Arthur Orr , a Republican who is chair of the Senate Finance & Taxation Education Committee. The legislature understands this and that its been nine years since educators have seen a true raise. Im pleased the support was overwhelming. As my colleague Daarel Burnette II reported recently, lawmakers in several states facing looming teacher shortages have proposed pay increases to stave off a potential crisis. In 2014, the average Alabama teacher made just about $49,000, landing them the 35th spot on state rankings of teacher pay. Currently, Alabama teachers salaries are capped far below the $75,000 threshold, so every teacher in the state is set to receive a 4 percent raise. The states current salary schedule climbs slowly from a minimum of $36,867 for starting teachers to a maximum salary of just over $62,000 for teachers with at least 27 years of teaching experience and a doctorate. Teachers with a bachelors degree and 10 years in the classroom make just about $42,000. Under the new legislation, all principals and assistant principals will also receive 4 percent raises regardless of their current salary. Employees of community and technical colleges will also get 4 percent raises. All told the salary increases will cost the state $150 million annually. South Dakota, another state that has traditionally ranked low on average teacher pay, also recently approved legislation to boost educator salaries . A sergeant in the Green Berets who was discharged after 'body slamming' an Afghan police commander who had allegedly been raping a boy can stay in the Army after a u-turn by military chiefs. In September 2011 Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland and his superior, Capt. Daniel Quinn physically confronted an Afghan police chief on their base after a mother told them her 12-year-old son had been raped and she had been beaten up when she protested. He was serving in Afghanistan's war-torn Kunduz Province when he was told Abdul Rahman, who he had trained, had allegedly kept the boy as a sex slave. Sergeant 1st Class Charles Martland (pictured), was serving in Afghanistan's war-torn Kunduz Province in 2011 when he confronted a local police commander who he believed had raped a boy When Rahman laughed off the allegations the two Green Berets shoved him to the ground. Rahman - who was later killed by the Taliban - was not seriously injured but the Green Berets were disciplined. In August last year the decorated soldier and 11-year veteran was discharged, a casualty of the Army's Qualitative Management Program. But he appealed and was supported by California Congressman Duncan Hunter, and Hollywood actor Harvey Keitel, both former Marines. Keitel praised Martland for his 'American values'. Now the Army Board for Correction of Military Records has reversed its decision and allowed him to continue his military career. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Jerry Pionk said it 'will allow him to remain in the Army'. Martland, 34, told Fox News: 'I am real thankful for being able to continue to serve. While he was awaiting his appeal Keitel issued a statement saying: 'Whomever owns the idea that decided to reprimand these two men instead of giving them a medal for their actions should be asked what the hell they would've done if it was their child in question... 'American values are on the line here, and no person I know would not have taken the same actions SFC Martland and Capt. Daniel Quinn did to protect a child, period. That's an American value.' Jay Sekulow from the American Center for Law and Justice said: 'The decision by the Army to retain this hero is long overdue and represents a significant victory for SFC Martland. 'Justice has been served. The U.S. military has a moral obligation to stop child sexual abuse and exonerate SFC Martland for defending a child from rape. 'The Army finally took the corrective action needed and this is not only a victory for SFC Martland, but for the American people as well.' Martland was serving in war-torn Kunduz Province when he shoved an alleged rapist to the ground (file picture) Hunter has been pushing for a so-called Martland Act, which would oblige US military personnel to prevent sexual abuse by their own or allied troops. Hunter told Fox News: 'The Army did the right thing and we won. The American people won. Martland is (the sort of person) who we want out there.' Speaking earlier in the year Hunter said: 'Charles did the right thing in Afghanistan by standing up to a child rapist and corrupt commander, and now it's the Army's turn to do the right thing and reverse the decision to expel him from the service. 'Permitting Charles to continue serving is in the best interest of the Army and the nation.' Kietel (pictured in Reservoir Dogs) wrote: '[When] I was a young Marine I understood we were present in order to help others who did not have the wherewithal to protect themselves' Martland said on Friday: 'I appreciate everything Congressman Duncan Hunter and his Chief of Staff, Joe Kasper did for me.' An internet petition calling for the decision to be reversed was signed by 23,000 people. The petition described Martland as a soldier with 'proven moral fiber, integrity, and courage who has fallen victim to widespread Army drawdown policies'. Fox News said it had obtained a 'memorandum of reprimand' dated from 2011 in which Martland was criticized by the top brass for his intervention after the alleged rape. The fate of the boy is unknown. Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter (file picture) had spoken out on behalf of Martland and wrote to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on his behalf Bearded preacher now fights for ISIS group in Puntland region, Somalia He used to preach at Greenwich mosque, which was occasionally attended by Mohammed Emwazi and Michael Adebolajo Mumin burnt his passport and vowed to dedicate his life to waging jihad A former British-based hate preacher has re-emerged in an ISIS video, leading a band of jihadis in Somalia. Abdul Qadir Mumin used to be a key recruiter and facilitator for the al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in Somalia after fleeing his home in South London. He became one of the few high profile al-Shabaab figures to switch his allegiance to ISIS and has since fled with a small band of jihadis to the remote mountains in Puntland. Scroll down for video: Abdul Qadir Mumin used to be a key recruiter and facilitator for the al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in Somalia after fleeing his home in South London Residents described how Mumin and his small group of ISIS fighters had raided the village, torching houses and attacking civilians for not covering up Mumin used to preach at Greenwich mosque, which is believed to have been where Mohammed Emwazi and Michael Adebolajo occasionally attended prayers. Upon fleeing to Somalia in 2010, Mumin burnt his passport and declared he would spend the rest of his life fighting jihad. Mumin, who also used to reside in Sweden, was reportedly spotted by Somali forces after the government re-gained control of the village of Galgala, according to Sky News. Residents described how Mumin and his small group of ISIS fighters had raided the village, torching houses and attacking civilians for not covering up. Although ISIS have gained considerable territory in Syria, Iraq and Libya, the militant group has struggled to gain a real footing in the Horn of Africa. Upon fleeing to Somalia in 2010, Mumin burnt his passport and declared he would spend the rest of his life fighting jihad. Mumin pictured in an al-Shabaab video earlier last year Despite a deluge of Somali-speaking propaganda videos urging al-Shabaab fighters to join ISIS, the al-Qaeda group retains much of its army in Somalia Only a small number of al-Shabaab fighters, around 20 fighters in Puntland, have followed Mumin in giving bayah (allegiance) to ISIS. Despite a deluge of Somali-speaking propaganda videos urging al-Shabaab fighters to join ISIS, the al-Qaeda group retains much of its army in Somalia. Mumin, also known as Ikrima al-Muhajir, previously served as a senior figure in al-Shabaab before becoming one of the few high profile figures to join ISIS. His switch was announced through an audio statement early last year, prompting an al-Shabaab crackdown on ISIS dissenters. Al-Shabaab insurgents attacked a Somali military base on Tuesday and killed five soldiers in two hours of fierce fighting near the northwestern town of Baidoa, a military officer said. Mumin, also known as Ikrima al-Muhajir, previously served as a senior figure in al-Shabaab before becoming one of the few high profile figures to join ISIS Somali and English speaking ISIS fighters in Libya appeal to Somalis to defect from al-Shabaab to ISIS Al-Shabaab insurgents attacked a Somali military base on Tuesday and killed five soldiers in two hours of fierce fighting near the northwestern town of Baidoa, a military officer said 'Al-Shabaab militants attacked early in the morning. Five soldiers died and 12 others were wounded,' captain Aden Nur told Reuters from Baidoa. Six al-Shabaab fighters were killed, he added. Abdiasis Abu Musab, the group's military operations spokesman, said it had ambushed a truck carrying troops to reinforce the base, killed 11 soldiers and seized seven guns. 'We exploded the truck using a planted bomb and then ambushed,' he told Reuters. It was not possible to verify the death toll independently. Al-Shabaab has inflated casualty figures in the past. The mistake happened due to human errors, process mistakes and equipment failures, a top US general said Friday Sixteen have been disciplined but none were sent to court-martial and none will face criminal charges Investigators concluded that personnel hadn't complied with the law of armed conflict but did not know they were Sixteen military members involved in a US aerial attack on a hospital in Afghanistan that killed 42 people will not face criminal charges. The attack occurred because of human errors, process mistakes and equipment failures, and none of the aircrew or US ground troops knew the target was a hospital, General Joseph Votel told a Pentagon news conference Friday. Investigators concluded that certain personnel did not comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict during the strike that hit the hospital in Kunduz in October last year. But they also determined that these failures did not amount to a war crime, Votel said. 'This was an extreme situation' complicated by combat fatigue among US special operations forces, he added. Scroll down for video Sixteen military members involved in a US aerial attack on a hospital in Afghanistan that killed 42 people will not face criminal charges, General Joseph Votel said during a Pentagon news conference Friday (pictured) A US AC-130 struck a civilian hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan by mistake in October last year, killing 42. Pictured, an employee of Doctors Without Borders, which operated the facility, walks inside the remains The intended target of the US attack was a compound about a quarter-mile away from the hospital. Doctor Without Borders, which operated the civilian hospital, has called the attack a war crime and demanded an independent investigation. Votel said that the trauma center was on a US military no-strike list but that the gunship crew didn't have access to the list because it launched its mission on short notice and as a result did not have the data loaded into its on-board systems. He said the military has sought to avoid similar mistakes in the future by requiring that such data be pre-loaded into aircraft. 'The label "war crimes" is typically reserved for intentional acts - intentional targeting of civilians or intentionally targeting protected objects or locations,' he added. 'The investigation found that the incident resulted from a combination of unintentional human errors, process errors and equipment failures, and that none of the personnel knew they were striking a hospital.' Votel headed US Special Operations Command at the time of the attack last fall. He took over US Central Command, which oversees military operations in Afghanistan, in March. He expressed 'deepest condolences' to those injured and to the families of those killed. The sixteen military members, which include officers as well as enlisted personnel, have been disciplined for their roles in the strike. A two-star general was among the 16 disciplined according to one senior US official. A number of those punished are US special operations forces. Among the 16, some were given letters of reprimand and admonishment; one officer was removed from command; some were suspended from their duties and some were given extensive retraining. No one was sent to court-martial. Sixteen members of the military have been sanctioned for their role in the airstrike that hit the hospital (pictured). But an investigation found they were not guilty of war crimes The Pentagon released a memorandum from Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Friday, ordering military commanders to take a series of steps over the next four months to 'mitigate the potential for similar incidents in the future.' Carter ordered among other things that the Kunduz scenario be incorporated into pre-deployment training as an example of the kind of complicated situations that troops may face in Afghanistan or other war zones. Central Command released a redacted version of the full investigation report on Friday, including details about what led a US AC-130 gunship to bomb the hospital. 'The investigation determined that all members of both the ground force and the AC-130 air crew were unaware that the aircraft was firing on a medical facility throughout the engagement,' Votel said. 'The investigation ultimately concluded that this tragic incident was caused by a combination of human errors, compounded by process and equipment failures.' None of their names of the 16 involved will be released to protect the privacy of the individuals and in some cases because they are still assigned to sensitive or overseas positions, Votel added. The attack occurred because of human errors, process mistakes and equipment failures, and none of the aircrew or US ground troops knew the target was a hospital Votel said Friday (pictured) 'It is important to point out that these adverse administrative actions can carry severe repercussions on the careers and professional qualification of these individuals,' Votel said, to include possible denial of promotion or advancement and possible removal from the service. The crew of the AC-130, which is armed with side-firing cannons and guns, had been dispatched to hit a Taliban command center in a building 450 yards from the hospital, the US military said in November. The crew relied on a physical description that led them to begin firing at the hospital even though they saw no hostile activity there due to problems with their targeting sensors. Votel on Friday confirmed that no hostile firing was seen there. A separate US report on the incident said last fall 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, that report said. The attack came as US military advisers were helping Afghan forces retake Kunduz, which had fallen to the Taliban in September. It was the first major city to fall since the Taliban were expelled from Kabul in 2001. For three years, Ponso the chimpanzee has been marooned on an island with no-one except a nearby villager for company. But now there is hope the loneliest chimp in the world may one day find some new friends after a campaign to relocate him. Ponso has lived in isolation after his wife and children died on the island off West Africa where they were among a group of apes abandoned by a medical testing company decades ago. Scroll down for video Marooned: Ponso the chimpanzee has lived alone on an West African island for the last three years after his wife and children died. There is now hope the loneliest chimp in the world may one day find some new friends after a campaign to relocate him Playful: Ponso's plight touched hearts around the world in February when he was visited by a conservationist, his only contact with humanity save for kind-hearted villager who brings him bananas and bread His plight touched hearts around the world in February when he was visited by a conservationist, his only contact with humanity save from a kind-hearted villager who brought him bananas and bread the ape's only source of food on the tiny island. Now Estelle Raballand, founder of the Chimpanzee Conservation Center (CCC) in Guinea, has returned to test the 40-year-old chimp's health to determine whether he can be moved to a sanctuary. Heartwarming pictures posted online show how just much Ponso enjoyed the company, holding Raballand's hand and playing with her among the trees. 'Today we walked around the island,' Raballand wrote on her last day with Ponso before returning home with his blood samples, it was reported by The Dodo. 'He was holding my hand. My heart just melted.' Ponso, who lost his partner and two children at the end of 2013, immediately embraced Estelle Raballand, founder of the Chimpanzee Conservation Center (CCC) in Guinea, when she visited in February Abandoned: Ponso was one of 20 chimps, all between the ages of seven to 11 years old, relocated to an island off the Ivory Coast in 1983 after being used for testing by the New York Blood Centre It was clear how much companionship when he first met Raballand in February. The chimp immediately embraced Estelle in a huge hug and laughed as she reached out for him, his smile from ear to ear. For those who know Ponso's backstory, his immediate ease and trust in humans might be surprising. Ponso was one of 20 chimps, all between the ages of seven to 11 years old, relocated to an island off the Ivory Coast in 1983 after being used for testing by the New York Blood Centre. The chimps, many captured from the wild, were used for hepatitis research. They were biopsied, anesthetized and chained by their necks to jungle gyms, according to The Dodo. After the tests were completed, the lab reportedly transferred the chimps to a string of islands, intermittently dropping off food and water because there was none in the chimps' new homes. Ponso gets a kiss from a nearby villager named Germain, who had been caring for the entire family Eleven died within months after the relocation and the nine surviving chimps were moved once again. Disease and hunger soon left only Ponso, his mate and their two children standing. But at the end of 2013 they died within days of each other, and Ponso was now completely alone. A nearby villager named Germain, who had been caring for the entire family, said Ponso helped bury them. Although Ponso had long been abandoned, the New York Blood Centre was still caring for the 66 chimpanzees long after the testing program ended in 2005. Cruel: The chimps, many captured from the wild, were used for hepatitis research. They were biopsied, anesthetized and chained by their necks to jungle gyms Ponso and 19 other chimps were relocated to an island near the Assagny National Park after they were used for testing by the New York Blood Center in 1983 But in May last year, the NYBC announced it would be withdrawing all support for the chimps because of a breakdown in discussions with the Liberian government, according to The New York Times. A released statement said there was conflict regarding the government's own responsibilities for the chimpanzees, with the NYBC noting they had 'incurred millions of dollars of costs' for their care. NYBC also claimed it 'never had any obligation to care for the chimps, contractual or otherwise'. The Humane Society of the United States is currently supporting the chimps and trying to raise money for them. And a group called SOS PONSO is trying to do the same for the poor lonely chimp, already surpassing its goal of 20,000 all of which will be used for Ponso's care. For more of the latest Islamic State news visit www.dailymail.co.uk/isis One of the targets investigated is reportedly Eurovision final in May Eurovision Song Contest may be one of the intended targets by the ISIS terror cell which reportedly entered Sweden this week to carry out terror attacks in Stockholm. Eurovision officials have confirmed that they are working with the Swedish security service in the wake of the claims that ISIS is planning terror action in the host nation. 'Seven or eight' ISIS terrorists are already in Sweden with the aim of attacking civilian targets in Stockholm, according to Iraqi security services.. Threat: Swedish media reports that the Eurovision Song Contest final, set to be held at Globen Arena in Stockholm (pictured), is one of the 'potential ISIS targets' investigated by the security service Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter reports that the Eurovision Song Contest final, set to be held at Globen Arena in Stockholm on May 14, is one of the targets being investigated by the Swedish security service (Sapo). According to the newspaper, security services has confirmed that there is a collaboration with Stockholm police ahead of Eurovision. Earlier this week, Eurovision officials had a meeting with Stockholm police regarding security of the event, during which the ISIS threat was reportedly discussed. 'It was a planned meeting withing the specific section created ahead of the event in Globen Arena. Of course we shared all the information we are allowed to share,' Stockholm police spokesperson Kjell Lindgren, who attended the Eurovision meeting, told DN. Sweden has the second highest 'ISIS fighters per capita' in the EU, with intelligence services identifying around 300 who have left the country to join jihadists in the Middle East since 2013. Warning: A cell of 'seven or eight' ISIS terrorists are already in Sweden and planning on carrying out a terrorist attack in the capital, according to Iraqi security services Under threat: ISIS's plan is reportedly to strike against civilians in the Swedish capital of Stockholm 'Swedish security service has received information from Iraqi security officials that seven to eight ISIS terrorists have entered Sweden to carry out acts of terror in Stockholm,' Expressen reported this week. 'According to the information, the terrorists are planning to attack civilian targets in the capital.' The Swedish Security Service, national task force and the Stockholm Police have officially gone into a 'heightened state of readiness' after acting on the Iraqi intelligence, local reported on Tuesday. While the Swedish Security Service (Sakerhetspolisen) would not confirm the reports in both Expressen and Aftonbladet - Scandinavia's biggest tabloid newspapers - but said they are working on analysing the intelligence received. The Swedish Security Service said in a statement that although it is not unusual to receive intelligence of this nature, in this case it was judged that action had to be taken. Sweden has the second highest number of ISIS fighters per capita in the European Union with 300 people having left the country to fight for the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria since 2013 According to Expressen, Swedish security officials travelled to Iraq on Monday to try to get more information on the planned terror attack. 'The Swedish Security Service receive this kind of information relatively often in all of our areas of operation,' a statement reads. 'While sometimes it is more or less reliable, sometimes more or less concrete, it has been ruled that this information is of such character that it can not be dismissed.' Sweden has the second most ISIS fighters per capita in the EU, second only to Belgium, recent statistics show. Some 300 people have left Sweden to join the terrorist organisation in Iraq and Syria in the past two years. Around half of these are from the city of Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city with a population of around 500,000 people. This makes Gothenburg the European city which, in proportion to population, 'contributes the highest number of people to violent extremism,' Swedish integration police chief Ulf Bostrom said last year, branding it 'ISIS's recruiting ground in the EU'. But Abellio Greater Anglia office said: 'We're only giving you 4 pounds' A passenger onboard a train that crashed claims to have been offered just 4 compensation - after the rail company blamed him for not completing his journey. Wil Kitcher, 36, was in the front carriage of the train from Norwich to Cambridge, where he intended to change for London, when it crashed into a tractor, leaving him with severe whiplash. He and other shaken passengers were taken by coach to a nearby station to continue their journey by train to Cambridge. A passenger onboard a train that crashed into a tractor was offered just 4 compensation on his 51 ticket. This image shows the damage to the carriage after the crash near Roundham, Norfolk However, because he was so distressed by his ordeal, Mr Kitcher decided to travel onward to London by other means. But when he tried to seek a refund on his 51 ticket three days later, rail company Abellio Greater Anglia refused, saying he had not completed his original journey. Mr Kitcher claims to have been left so distressed he has not gone to work since the crash, which happened at Roudham, near Thetford, on April 10 at around 12.30pm. He said at the time of the accident he was convinced he was going to die, and had not considered the possibility of compensation until later. 'I sat at home, thinking about it, and thought that I should really be able to reclaim the ticket after what had happened. 'When I phoned Abellio there was no apology and they told me that because I'd got off at Thetford, they had to refund me to that point and offered me 4. 'It was an insult and I didn't take it out of principle.' Wil Kitcher, 36, from Tunbridge Wells, had to be treated for whiplash after leaving the front carriage of the badly-damaged train Three days later, when he'd recovered from the ordeal, he contacted Abellio Greater Anglia about a refund on his 51 ticket Mr Kitcher, from Tunbridge Wells, added that he thought he deserved a full refund and that Abellio had shown 'no compassion'. He also claimed not to have seen any staff from the rail company at the scene of the crash, but a spokesman from Abellio said this was 'simply untrue'. There were 135 passengers on board the train when it crashed. Several suffered minor wounds, including the train driver. The tractor driver suffered non-life threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital. About 10 people were treated at the scene, the ambulance service said. One passenger, Chris Last, from Brighton, who suffered cuts and bruises, said he thought the train would tip over and described the scene as 'carnage'. He said: 'Bits of the tractor shot down the side and took out some of the windows. I was covered in broken glass. 'The train was rocking and grinding, I thought it was going to tip over but thankfully it didn't. It was pretty terrifying.' Another passenger, Alex Youngs, said: 'There was a shower of glass from the imploded windows...people were screaming and there were suitcases flying around. He was stunned when an Abellio Greater Anglia staff member said: 'We're only giving you 4 pounds'. Other passengers were injured in the crash and had to be treated by emergency services A spokesman for Abellio denied it had offered Mr Kitcher 4 compensation 'Everyone was just sort of holding on because no-one knew what was coming next and it did feel as though we might derail.' A spokesman for Abellio denied it had offered Mr Kitcher 4 compensation. He said: 'At this point in the post-incident inquiry, no compensation has been offered or sent as it is inappropriate at this stage. 'However, we have sent 50 vouchers as a goodwill gesture and a 50 cheque to cover any immediate expenses, to all those passengers whose names have been passed to us by the British Transport Police. 'As well as the train crew involved, other members of the Abellio Greater Anglia team went to the scene of the incident and to other relevant stations, such as Thetford, to help passengers.' He added that the company is seeking a full list of passengers from the British Transport Police and the vast majority of customers had praised the way their staff had behaved on the day. A man is seeking to change his guilty plea for the second time after admitting to a triple murder in central Victoria. After 18 months of denials, Ian Francis Jamieson, 65, pleaded guilty to murdering his neighbour Greg Holmes, 48, and Holmes' elderly mother and stepfather Mary and Peter Lockhart near Wedderburn in October 2014. Now Jamieson wants to change his plea again, his new barrister Darryl Wraith told Melbourne's Supreme Court today, ABC News reported. Scroll down for video Greg Holmes (centre) and Mary and Peter Lockhart were found dead at Wedderburn in Central Victoria After 18 months of denials, Ian Francis Jamieson (centre), 65, pleaded guilty to the 2014 triple murder It comes after Jamieson fired his lawyers two days before a plea hearing last week. But his decision to change his plea to not guilty came as a surprise to the court. 'It only happens in exceptional circumstances,' Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said. 'There are a large number of people inconvenienced every time your client flip flops around. 'To describe his attitude as indifferent would be being polite.' Mr Wraith said he would need time to see whether his client had a defence, but Justice Hollingworth said it was a simple case. 'Your client has made full admissions,' she said. 'It's frustrating but I've got to give you some time to get on top of it [the case].' Now Jamieson wants to change his plea again, his new barrister Darryl Wraith told Melbourne's Supreme Court today It comes after a plea hearing at the Supreme Court in Bendigo heard that Jamieson, fueled by animosity towards his neighbours, was carrying a knife when he climbed over a fence from his neighbouring property on October 22, 2014. Mr Holmes made attempts to call police services but was stabbed to death. When police arrived, they found Mr Holmes' body in a paddock near his home. The officers then heard gunshots across the road. Police were called to one of the properties near Wedderburn after reports of a dispute between neighbours Police found the three bodies in separate locations on their property in Wedderburn, rural Victoria They retreated and cordoned off the area before a lengthy negotiation ended with the gunman's surrender. The bodies of 75-year-old Ms Lockhart, and her husband, 78, were later found in separate locations on their property. A Florida zoo has defended its decision to tranquilize rather than kill a rare Malayan tiger that attacked and killed a keeper and was preventing rescuers from giving her aid. Palm Beach Zoo boss Andrew Aiken said rescuers feared a bullet could ricochet off the enclosure and hit Stacey Konwiser, whom the animal was standing over in a 'prey guarding' stance. Mr Aiken also said if the bullet didn't instantly kill the animal, the tiger may have attacked the 38-year-old keeper again during the April 15 ordeal. Zoo boss Andrew Aiken (pictured) said the fact the tiger was endangered 'played no part' in the rescuers' decision to tranquilize rather than kill the animal during the fatal mauling Stacey Konwiser (pictured) was killed by a rare 13-year-old male Malayan Tiger called Hati on April 15 Stacey's husband Jeremy (right) urged people to stand by the Palm Beach Zoo where his wife (left) was killed It took about 11 minutes to fully sedate the animal. Ms Konwiser was taken to the hospital, where she died. Mr Aiken said it remains unknown why the veteran zookeeper entered the enclosure when she knew the tiger was inside. He criticized speculation that the zoo hesitated to kill the animal because it is only one of about 250 Malayan tigers left in the world. The zoo has four - three males and a female. 'We place our employees' lives and their well-being first always,' he said. 'The fact the animal is endangered played no role in the decision making process. 'The decision to use a tranquilizer dart instead of shooting the animal was made during a crisis situation using the best information available to us at the time. 'To be clear, if this was the last animal of its kind and a human life was in danger, we would kill the animal.' Ms Konwiser had worked at the Palm Beach Zoo for three years after working at the Palm Springs, California, zoo. The attack happened in the tigers' night house, an area where they eat and sleep and is not part of the public exhibit. Mr Aiken said it may never be known why Ms Konwiser entered a part of the night house where she knew a tiger was present - she had helped place the animal there that morning and had set the warning sign on the door. She also did not radio her partner to say she was entering the enclosure, as was protocol. He said it is unknown whether Ms Konwiser had not radioed her partner on previous occasions when she entered the night house. No cameras were operating in the area. Mr Aiken said they are only used to monitor breeding efforts, so were turned off during the attack. Mr Aiken said Ms Konwiser had given notice that she had accepted a job with the Food and Drug Administration, but he said the zoo had offered to match her salary and give her new responsibilities in an effort to keep her. She had not given a decision. Her husband, Jeremy, is a Palm Beach Zoo employee. Tony Blair was paid 41,000 a month and a two per cent commission by a Saudi oil company in return for 'unlocking' business deals with China, it was revealed today. The former prime minister personally put PetroSaudi's case to Lou Jiwei, who was chairman of the China Investment Corporation and is now President Xi's finance minister. Leaked emails show how he courted Chinese leaders for Saudi prince Turki bin Abdullah, who agreed to the hefty fees the former Labour leader charged to act as a go-between. Deal: Tony Blair, left, was paid 41,000 a month and offered a two per cent cut of any future deals by a Saudi oil company run by Prince Turki bin Abdullah, right CLose: Mr Blair visited China ten times in a few years - and met with Lou Jiwei, pictured, who was chairman of the China Investment Corporation and is now President Xi's finance minister They also show that PetroSaudi were concerned that City watchdog the Financial Services Authority 'were out to get' Mr Blair, who was still Middle East envoy at the same time. The contract between Tony Blair Associates (TBA) and PetroSaudi signed in November 2010, said Mr Blair would personally arrange introductions to his contacts in China, such as senior politicians. In return PetroSaudi agreed it would not divulge his role without Mr Blair's permission. Ten trips to China followed in the next two and a half years, and he formed a good relationship with Lou Jiwei. Emails seen by the Guardian allegedly show PetroSaudi wanted Mr Blair to 'help deliver transactions, not just make the intros' - but this was not possible because UK financial rules prevent it. A later email explained why not, with PetroSaudi telling Mr Blair's team they could not make deals because authorities 'could deem TB (Tony Blair) to be carrying out regulated activities'. It goes on: 'Certain people at FSA (Financial Services Authority) are out to get him... TB will assist in delivering transactions but cannot have it on paper that this might be the case (which no doubt still causes potential problems with the FSA).' The Guardian said there is no evidence that Mr Blair or PetroSaudi have done anything wrong. A spokesman for Mr Blair said: 'His role was made known to the regulators and he has never undertaken any activity other than making introductions. He does not do "deals". Tony Blair has amassed a personal fortune since standing down as prime minister often acting as an adviser to controversial businesses and regimes. He had already attracted scathing criticism after it emerged that he had given Kazakhstan's autocratic president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, advice on how to manage his image after the slaughter of 14 unarmed civilians. Mr Blair has said claims that he is worth 100million are 'greatly exaggerated'. But the Saudi contract shows how much he has been able to charge for his services. Deal: Tony Blair in 2010 with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, right. Mr Blair signed a contract with PetroSaudi, a firm founded by his son PetroSaudi (pictured is one of its ships) asked that Blair personally introduce them to his Chinese contacts Since leaving Downing Street in 2007, he has amassed a fortune including a property portfolio of 31 homes worth at least 25million. He is one of the world's best paid speakers earning up to 150,000 a speech and has secured advisory roles with US investment bank JP Morgan and Swiss insurer Zurich International. The Saudi contract stated that TBA would help find potential sources of new investment and added that Mr Blair would make 'introductions to the senior political leadership, industrial policymakers, corporate entities and other persons in China identified and deemed by us and you to be relevant to PetroSaudi's international strategy'. The firm agreed it would not divulge his role without permission. The contract read: 'Each party will ensure that no announcements, statements or documentation containing any reference to either party or to Tony Blair will be published or made without the prior express written consent of the other party.' The oil firm was founded by Saudi businessman Tarek Obaid and Prince Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud, a son of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, and has projects in Ghana, Indonesia, Venezuela and Tunisia. Oliver Miles, a former ambassador to Libya, who signed a letter in June that argued Mr Blair's responsibility for the Iraq crisis and lack of transparency of his interests, said this was the latest example of why he was wrong for the unpaid role. Fraudster: Kirsty Trotter, 27, from Plymouth, pocketed up to 45,300 during her benefits scam A benefits cheat 'single mother' who splashed out a fortune on luxury holidays was found out when investigators knocked on her door to find her partner in his pyjamas. Kirsty Trotter, 27, from Plymouth, went on trips to Tenerife and Egypt with her partner and children at the taxpayer's expense before her deceit was finally exposed. She had pocketed up to 45,300 during her scam by claiming she was a single mother-of-two and that her partner was not living with her. Trotter admitted six counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting a benefit claim and two similar charges of failing to disclose information. Judge Ian Lawrie sentenced her to six months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered her to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work. He said: 'You are a good mother. I do not see why I should impose a sentence upon your two children for your dishonesty.' Trotter was in and out of a relationship over the period of the scheme but she has since split up with her boyfriend. Their child was also born during the time she was claiming benefit as a single woman. Judge Lawrie said: 'Her personal relationships are of no concern to this court. She should have been honest.' Julia Cox, prosecuting for the Department for Work and Pensions, said Trotter dishonestly pocketed income support, housing benefit, council tax relief and child tax credits from May until November 2010 and again between November 2011 and January 2014. Miss Cox also said that Trotter only admitted falsely claiming benefit during the earlier period and from June 2012 to January 2014. The court heard that she was either overpaid 37,802 or 45,377, depending on the period. Miss Cox said that Trotter's home was kept under surveillance and investigators found evidence that the mother was living with her partner, for example having joint insurance on a car. Holiday: Trotter went on trips to Tenerife and Egypt (pictured) with the cash schemed during her benefits scam She added that when officials knocked on her door they were answered by Mr White wearing a dressing gown. Miss Cox said: 'Text messages were found on mobile phones which showed an ongoing intimate relationship between them.' Miss Cox said Trotter's partner may have paid for the trips from his wages but the benefits were saving him from spending the money running the household. Ali Rafati, defending, said the mother was unlikely to appear before a criminal court again. The court heard how Trotter had a part-time job but was still claiming benefits. A new report from the National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL) profiles three elementary schools that have made tremendous gains with students from low-income backgrounds by extending the school day. At John Barry Elementary School in Meriden, Conn., 85 percent of the student body comes from a low-income family. At Centennial Elementary in Denver, that number is 70 percent. And, at Hill Elementary School in Revere, Mass., 41 percent of the students are classified as low-income. After several years of struggling to make academic progress, all three schools abandoned the traditional 6.5 hour school day for an instructional day of around eight hours. The NCTL report called, Creating Learning Environments in the Early Grades That Support Teacher and Student Success , details how the schools were able to utilize the extra time to improve student outcomes as well as to provide teachers with additional opportunities to work collaboratively. The report was made possible by support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation . David Farbman is the lead author of the report and NCTLs senior researcher. He says administrators at the three schools liked the additional time because it allowed them to build a schedule around all of the things they wanted to do with kids. So, there was plenty of time for academics, along with social-emotional learning, and physical activity. A longer day makes it so that theres not an either/or choice that educators are forced into, said Farbman. They can either do science or they can do English and math. In the case of early grades, they can either focus on learning or build in time for the social-emotional, social relationship-building kind of things. The longer day is a platform for hitting it all. The report also finds this extra time is particularly beneficial for students who come from low-income families and often start school behind their peers. Research shows that expanded time generally is a positive, but its more positive for at-risk kids, said Farbman. The opportunities for productive learning environments outside of school tend to be limited, so if you can expand their opportunities within the formal school day it will just have more of an impact. Time Management How do the teachers make sure the youngest students dont burn out during these longer days? Theyve been able to build in enough rest time, so that the afternoon hours are as productive as the morning hours, said Farbman. They really do feel like theyre able to hold kids attention throughout the day, that the kids are engaged in serious learning. And, I dont mean serious rote. I mean serious, rigorous, and robust. Farbman says the longer day also means traditional early elementary school-day activities such as unstructured playtime and time for music dont have to be sacrificed for more time spent on academics. Benefits for Teachers In the extended-day model, students spend time with specialists most days, and this gives core academic teachers time to meet. In elementary school, its very typical for teachers to go into their classroom and close the door, said Farbman. Their classroom is their domain and thats it. But at the three profiled schools, teachers worked closely with their peers to figure out how to approach lessons better, and collaboration became part of the culture. That kind of makes them feel more positive about their ability to improve their instruction, said Farbman. They push each other to reach higher expectations. Extended Days for All? While NCTL supports extended school days across the board, Farbman stresses the schedule has to feel right for everyone involved. We very much promote a model where the school leaders and teachers are empowered to design a day that fits their needs and their students needs, said Farbman. There are many, many schools that are serving middle- and high-income kids that probably dont need an extended day. The kids in these communities are engaged in lots of after-school activities, lots of summer learning opportunities. But for kids from low-income communities, its, in many cases, the only source of productive learning that they can get. Photo: Students at John Barry Elementary School in Meriden, Ct., work on a project. (Courtesy NCTL) Slain New Zealand police dog Gazza has been laid to rest in a ceremony, after he was shot dead in a siege on Friday. Wrapped in a New Zealand flag, the four-year-old German Shepherd was farewelled by officers, reported stuff.co.nz. New Zealand Police posted an image of Gazza on Facebook with the caption: 'Today we said farewell to our friend and colleague, Wellington Police Dog Gazza. His job was to obey, serve and protect. This he bravely did.' New Zealand police dog Gazza has been laid to rest after being shot last week during a 26-hour siege insert image of Gazza draped in flag Gazza and his handler Constable Josh Robertson had been involved in a lengthy armed seige in Porirua, north of Wellington, more than a week ago. The 26-hour siege involved a helicopter and armed police before Gazza was shot dead by gunman Pita Tekira. The standoff ended with Mr Tekira's death and a policeman was also injured leaping from a second storey window during the incident. Gazza was handled by Constable Josh Robertson. The four-year-old German Shepherd gained a tough reputation among Kiwi police dogs after he was strangled by a burglar tracked down in a forest after a three kilometre manhunt. 'It is with great sadness that Police can confirm the police dog who was shot during the incident today in Porirua was Gazza,' a statement from New Zealand Police read. Gazza and his handler Constable Josh Robertson (pictured) had been involved in a lengthy armed seige in Porirua, north of Wellington, which had involved a helicopter and armed police before he was shot dead by the assailant Battle-hardy police dog Gazza was shot dead during a siege with on Friday will be remembered for his unrelenting bravery Gazza was set to become a TV star and feature in the upcoming New Zealand television series Dog Squad with his handler. In April last year Gazza tracked down and attacked a burglar after a three kilometre chase through bush, stuff.co.nz reported. When his handler caught up with him, he reportedly found Gazza with his jaw locked on the burglar's forearm who was choking the dog and twisting his ears. Gazza was set to become a TV star and feature in the upcoming New Zealand television series Dog Squad with his handler In April last year Gazza tracked down and attacked a burglar after a three kilometre chase through bush Gazza is the most recent dog shot in the line of duty since police dog Gage was shot and killed in Christchurch in July 2010 'He was getting stuck into the dog, but then dog got stuck back into him,' Constable Robertson told the publication last year. 'He absolutely nailed it.' Police said Gazza's legacy would 'live on' as he was part of their police dog breeding program. His sister Gypsy gave birth to a litter of puppies last month, and police say one will be recruited to a dog section. Gazza is the most recent dog shot in the line of duty since police dog Gage was shot and killed in Christchurch in July 2010. New Zealand Police say that despite 24 dogs being killed in 44 years, the number is incredibly low considering dogs are called out to operations 40,000 times a year. This is the shocking moment two shoplifters were filmed brazenly filling black trash bags with clothes from Victoria's Secret before fleeing the store. The women were spotted by a passer-by who filmed them on her cell phone as they carried out the apparent theft in one of the lingerie chain's shops in Charles County, Maryland. The 20-second footage, taken on Wednesday around 8pm, shows one woman stuffing a bag full of lingerie while another darts in to take a pile of black and white garments by hand. This is the shocking moment two shoplifters were filmed brazenly filling black plastic bags with clothes from Victoria's Secret before fleeing the store Police are now appealing for information in a bid to catch the women, who fled from the scene on foot, according to NBC Washington. The clip of the incident starts with one of the women, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, filling a bag with clothes as she stands in the entrance to the shop. She can be seen looking around her as the items, taken from a display stand at the front of the store, start to fall out of the trash bag and onto the floor. Shoppers can be seen standing outside the store and staring at her as alarms go off in the background. The women were spotted by a passer-by who filmed them on her cell phone as they carried out the apparent theft in one of the lingerie chain's shops in Charles County, Maryland The women can then be seen running through the shopping center as the person filming the incident laughs in disbelief Despite the attention, she continues to brazenly pack the bag as another woman darts in and takes a pile of black and white items from the shelf. The women can then be seen running through the shopping center as the person filming the incident laughs in disbelief. Former Prime Minister Sir John Major is backing the campaign to stay in the EU Sir John Major has come under fire after suggesting that Brexit supporters should 'go to North Korea'. The former Prime Minister insisted the authoritarian state had the most 'undiluted sovereignty' as he urged a vote to stay in the EU. The comments came as the ex-Tory leader made his latest intervention in the increasingly bitter referendum battle. But his views were immediately dismissed by Leave campaigners who pointed to his record of taking the UK into the ill-fated European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). Making a series of swipes at senior figures including Justice Secretary Michael Gove, Sir John dismissed complaints that the country could not govern itself fully within the EU. 'This country is sovereign. We can vote to repeal the Accession Acts to the EU at any time that is sovereignty in its purest form,' he told BBC Radio 'If you want undiluted sovereignty in the modern age when everybody is interconnected then go to North Korea because that's where you'll get it. 'It is certainly true that we share sovereignty. We take some sovereignty from others, we share some of ours, we haven't surrendered it because at the end of the day the House of Commons can say we won't have this, we will leave the EU. 'But in the modern world of interconnectivity you have to share sovereignty or you find yourself isolated and weaker and our prime concern must surely be the economic well-being of our country and the political and diplomatic clout that our country has and both of those in my judgement are better within the EU, working with our partners.' Sir John said Britain had been the 'sick man' of Europe before it joined the union, but was now on track to be the continent's biggest economy. 'If we go it alone we'll lose free trade agreements with over 50 countries, it would take many years to renegotiate them all and we would never get as good a deal as we already have as part of Europe,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Branding the ballot on June 23 a 'fateful choice', he cautioned that leaving would cause serious damage to the 'Special Relationship' with the US. 'If we leave Europe, both the EU and the UK would be weakened,' he said. 'Our relationship with America would wither America needs an ally inside the EU - and it could no longer be us and at home, Scotland could chose to leave the UK.' Ukip MEP Patrick O'Flynn and former Labour MP Tom Harris hit out at Sir John Major on Twitter Sir John accused Brexiteers of using 'emotive mantra' by claiming the 'want our country back'. He took a swipe at Justice Secretary Michael Gove, dismissing his remark that the UK was like a 'hostage' in the back of a car as 'nonsense'. 'To listen to them you would think we were entrapped in the clutches of an evil empire, not in a democratic partnership with our European neighbours, whose sunshine and pavement cafes we enjoy during holiday breaks,' Sir John said. BRITAIN NEEDS TO BE IN THE EU TO TACKLE GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN CRISES, SAYS AID MINISTER International Development Secretary Justine Greening (pictured) warned this morning that Britain's ability to tackle humanitarian crises across the world would be diminished if we vote to leave the EU Britain's ability to tackle humanitarian crises across the world would be diminished if we vote to leave the EU, the International Development Secretary warned today. Justine Greening said the UK would not have been able to play the leading role it played in supporting refugees fleeing the four-year Syrian civil war had it been outside the Brussels club. The best way to meet such global challenges is by 'working in partnership' with nations inside international institutions, she said in a speech in central London today. Ms Greening compared the case for leaving the EU as 'a bit like arguing you should get rid of police tackling crime and just put all your money into putting more locks on your front door'. Speaking to students at the London Business School she warned that a low turnout among young people could swing the vote in favour of Brexit, warning them that 'generations of people growing up in our country will have to live with the consequences of our vote'. 'So for young people this is no vote to leave to others,' she added. Warning that the UK's influence in tackling global challenges was at stake in the EU referendum, Ms Greening said: 'It was Britain, sat around the EU table, making the case that there needed to be more support in the region for Syrian refugees; that the smart response to the refugee crisis last summer was to take people direct from the camps. Something the EU is now doing. 'It was Britain, sat around the EU table, making the case for education for Syrian children, for jobs and livelihoods for Syrian refugees to better support themselves; working with Germany so that we could both lobby the EU and other member states directly at a European Council meeting in December last year. 'And that gave us the platform for our successful London Syria conference earlier this year. 'We just wouldn't have had the network or the sheer lobbying clout to do that outside of the EU.' 'Far from taking back control, yet another mantra of theirs, we would lose control. 'The British people don't need mindless sound bites and faux patriotism. What they do need is a clear explanation based on fact no fantasy of what Brexit would mean for them.' Ukip MEP Patrick O'Flynn said: 'That is John Major who held Britain hostage inside the ERM with disastrous consequences of course.' Vote Leave Chief Executive Matthew Elliott said: 'John Major complained about soundbites before descending in hyperbole about North Korea without even a hint of self-awareness. 'John Major has been wrong on nearly every EU issue over the last twenty years. He said Britain should join the ERM - that was a disaster which cost three million their jobs. 'He signed us up to Maastricht saying it wouldn't give up sovereignty and he refused to rule out joining the euro. 'Now he doesn't want to take back control and stop handing Brussels 350 million a week. He was wrong then and he is wrong now.' In a sign of the deepening splits in the Tory party, the pro-Brexit farming minister, rejected the 'caricature put forward by John Major'. 'There are lots of other independent countries in the world - the United States, Australia, New Zealand,' he said. 'They are not in the European Union, they do not have to put up with the sort of nonsense we have to put up with, being told what to do by European courts and having their decisions second-guessed. 'There are many examples of successful, independent countries in the world who are not isolationist and the UK would never, ever be an isolationist country.' Mr Eustice added: 'If you look at John Major's time in government, the achievements he is proudest of are where he secured opt-outs from the European Union and his greatest disasters were where he opted in to things. 'The ERM [Exchange Rate Mechanism] was a catastrophic economic decision, I was in our family business at the time, it was disastrous for the country, it caused huge unemployment, many businesses went bust. 'But the bits he is proudest of are the opt-out from the euro, the opt-out from Schengen. 'We ought to ask ourselves, if every opt-out we got works and we have delivered better policy outcomes, surely we could do better if we took back control of more areas?' Meanwhile, Ukip leader Nigel Farage has repeated his warning that the men who carried out sexual assaults on hundreds of women in Cologne on New Year's Eve could gain the right to travel to Britain in the near future. Brandishing an EU passport, he told the audience in central London: 'I do not want those young men who were outside Cologne train station to have one of these in a few short years and to be able to come to our country.' On the other side of the EU campaign Justine Greening, the International Development Secretary, warned this morning that Britain's ability to tackle humanitarian crises across the world would be diminished if we vote to leave the EU. She said the UK would not have been able to play the leading role it played in supporting refugees fleeing the four-year Syrian civil war had it been outside the Brussels club. The best way to meet such global challenges is by 'working in partnership' with nations inside international institutions, she said in a speech in central London today. Ms Greening compared the case for leaving the EU as 'a bit like arguing you should get rid of police tackling crime and just put all your money into putting more locks on your front door'. Speaking to students at the London Business School she warned that a low turnout among young people could swing the vote in favour of Brexit, warning them that 'generations of people growing up in our country will have to live with the consequences of our vote'. STAYING IN THE EU WILL MAKE GIRLS IN THE UK VULNERABLE TO A COLOGNE-STYLE SEX ATTACK, WARNS NIGEL FARAGE Nigel Farage (pictured delivering a speech in London today) insisted he wasn't scaremongering by warning a Cologne-style sex attack could happen in a British city if we stay in the EU Ukip leader Nigel Farage repeated his warning today that the men who carried out sexual assaults on hundreds of women in Cologne on New Year's Eve could gain the right to travel to Britain in the near future. The Ukip leader believes German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a big mistake in lifting restrictions on Syrian refugees last summer, letting in hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers. Public support for refugees in Germany plummeted following allegations that hundreds of women were groped, robbed and intimidated at Cologne's central station on New Year's Eve. Brandishing an EU passport, Mr Farage told the audience in central London: 'I do not want those young men who were outside Cologne train station to have one of these in a few short years and to be able to come to our country.' He attacked Remain campaigners for having 'thrown the kitchen sink' at 'trying to frighten the bejesus out of us' by pulling in experts from international organisations to issue stark warnings about the economy. And Mr Farage criticised Vote Leave, the official Brexit campaign which he claims he was barred from joining. He said it had been 'a bit on the back foot,' adding: 'We need to get into the other half of the pitch where the enemy's goal is vulnerable and that is over open-door immigration, that is over an increased risk of terrorism, not to mention some cultural questions, such as what happened in Cologne outside that train station on New Year's Eve.' The Ukip leader admitted he had 'begged' Vote Leave to let him work with its campaign but was 'rebuffed and rejected'. Vote Leave is run by senior Tories, including Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Mayor of London Boris Johnson. They are wary of being associated with Mr Farage in fear of putting off potential Brexit voters. Mark Storms, 46, (pictured) from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting at Keystone Fellowship Church in North Wales on April 24 A churchgoer has been charged with shooting dead a fellow congregation member during a Sunday service, after a row over seating. Mark Storms, 46, from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting at Keystone Fellowship Church in North Wales on April 24. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele says the victim, 27-year-old Robert Braxton, became disruptive during services before church members calmed him down. According to NBC10, witnesses said Braxton arrived at church irritated and cursed at an usher in the back of the church. A church member tapped Braxton on the shoulder to tell him the seats he was in were reserved. Another couple put down two Bibles to save their spots before walking away. Braxton replied to the tap by saying: 'Don't f****** touch me!' according to court documents. Kevin Steele said Storms approached Braxton, showed his carry permit and asked him to leave. He added that Braxton punched Storms, who then fired two shots. Steele said 'it doesn't make sense to bring a gun to church.' Witnesses said churchgoers hid under pews as the incident occurred. A female witness told police Braxton said 'F*** you and your fake badge, get the f*** out of here' to Storms. Another male church member told police Storms revealed his gun and Braxton replied, 'That's not a real gun.' Scroll down for video Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele says the victim, 27-year-old Robert Braxton, (pictured) became disruptive during services before church members calmed him down Another remembered hearing Braxton ask Storms: 'What are you going to do, shoot me?' before punching him, court documents show. In an interview with police Storms said he opened fire on Braxton because he felt his 'person was in great danger' and that he was worried other people in the church. After the shooting, Braxton was taken to Abington-Lansdale Hospital where he died. An autopsy report showed a bullet hit him in the right side of his chest and right arm. More than 50 witnesses were interviewed before charges were brought. Storms remained in custody on $250,000 bail on Thursday. He does not yet have a lawyer. After the shooting, Braxton (pictured) was taken to Abington-Lansdale Hospital where he died More than 50 witnesses were interviewed before charges were brought after the shooting at Keystone Fellowship Church (pictured) A pensioner told a mother wearing a hijab outside a supermarket 'you look like you're about to bomb the place'. Barbara Anne Blauvelt, 77, also told Ritha Ahmed that women in Britain 'don't cover up', a court heard. Ms Ahmed was with two of her children when she was racially abused by Blauvelt outside Sainsbury's in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. Scroll down for video Ritha Ahmed was racially abused by Barbara Anne Blauvelt, outside Sainsbury's, pictured, in Bexhill Police were called and Ms Ahmed said it was the second time she had been abused by Blauvelt after an incident outside a doctors' surgery last September. Blauvelt, of Pinewoods, Bexhill, was convicted at Eastbourne Magistrates' Court of two charges of religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress, Sussex Police said. Following the case, Ms Ahmed said: 'I was born and brought up in Bexhill and I have never come across anything like this. 'I felt I needed to take this further to avoid further verbal abuse on women who choose to dress differently, regardless of whether it is a hijab or a habit. Blauvelt, 77, was convicted at Eastbourne Magistrates Court, pictured, and given a conditional discharge 'Everyone should be able to dress as they please and not have to face getting attacked by anyone.' Praising the police, she urged hate-crime victims to come forward to report abuse. She added: 'I am very proud of being a British citizen as we are a diverse country and, as the saying goes, 'the beauty of the world lies in the diversity of the people'.' Blauvelt was handed a 12-month conditional discharge, and ordered to pay 620 costs and a 15 victim surcharge on April 21, a police spokesman added. Madeleine's parents vigorously deny neglecting her on holiday in May 2007 Said investigators also felt 'compassion' towards Kate and Gerry McCann Madeleine McCann's parents were not prosecuted for leaving her alone while they went out for a meal because officials believed it was a 'peculiar' English custom, a former minister has revealed. Rui Pereira, ex-minister of internal affairs, attacked Portuguese police for not making Kate and Gerry McCann suspects or arguidos for alleged abandonment. Three-year-old Madeleine disappeared in May 2007 after being left in the family's Algarve holiday apartment with her younger twin siblings while her parents went out for dinner. Scroll down for video Madeleine McCann's parents were not prosecuted for leaving their daughter (above) alone while they went out for a meal because officials believed it was a 'peculiar' English custom, a former minister has revealed Rui Pereira, ex-minister of internal affairs, attacked Portuguese police for not making Kate and Gerry McCann (pictured) suspects or arguidos for alleged abandonment after leaving their daughter alone on holiday Mr Pereira told Portuguese channel CMTV: 'At the beginning, there was an extraordinary and ridiculous theory that said the English have very peculiar cultural customs. 'And, therefore, it was natural for them to leave the [children] alone in a bedroom for the parents to go out a few hundred metres away to socialise with their friends.' He added that a charge was considered, but said 'compassion' from investigators towards the parents had also influenced the decision no to proceed, it was reported by Daily Star. His comments were echoed by former police chief Moita Flores, who said the couple would have been arrested for abandonment if they had been Portuguese. He told CMTV: 'Have no doubts. If this had involved a Portuguese child our public ministry would have immediately set off measures which are in place to protect children. 'In our culture, this kind of behaviour would have not been tolerated as reasonable. I am not even sure it is tolerated under Anglo-Saxon cultural values.' The Ocean Club in Praia Da Luz, Portugal, where the McCann's were staying when Madeleine went missing Former Portuguese minister of internal affairs Rui Pereira (pictured) claimed a charge was considered, but said 'compassion' from investigators towards the parents had also influenced the decision no to proceed The McCanns have always vigorously denied neglecting their daughter. A close friend told the Daily Star: 'They were well aware that they could be charged with child neglect. 'They'd have fought tooth and nail. In legal terms, Kate and Gerry were doing everything well within the bounds of respectable parenting. 'A court would have to show they had wilfully neglected their daughter and they did not.' Scotland Yard investigators believe Madeleine was kidnapped by thieves because she woke up while they robbed the apartment. End of the line? Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe says the probe into Madeleine's disappearance will wind down in the next few months once one 'final' line of enquiry has been completed It is believed to be the final line of inquiry mentioned recently by Scotland Yard's boss Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who said two days ago the probe could formally finish within months. Operation Grange, which is estimated to have cost 12million so far, was launched in 2011 after the Portuguese police ended their investigation into Madeleine's whereabouts. British officers searching for Madeleine have taken more than 1,300 statements and spent several days digging up scrubland in the Algarve in the hunt for clues. A nine-year-old girl was horrified when she bit into an Iceland duck pancake only to discover it was infested with what appeared to be dead worms. Imogen Matlala was tucking into dinner with her mother, Lisa, 39, when she went to take a bite and made the grim discovery. They found seven black twisted worm-like strands through the warmed-up meat - some up to five inches long - but Iceland say they were actually duck veins. The five-inch long black 'worm' that was discovered by the Matlala family in the Iceland duck pancake Lisa Matlala, 39, said she the duck was 'disgusting' and that she believed they were tapeworms The family, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, say they believe the bird used to make the product must have been infected with the parasites. Imogen said: 'I was just about to take a bite when I noticed something strange sticking out. It looked like a long black worm.' Ms Matlala added: 'It was absolutely disgusting. The whole of the duck was absolutely infested with them. 'I'm so relieved my daughter spotted the worms before she'd eaten the pancake. I dread to think what would have happened if she'd swallowed them. 'Some of them were only small but the biggest one or two must have been about five inches long. We counted around seven in total. 'I think they were tapeworms. I couldn't believe it. The meat was riddled with them.' But Iceland said the suspicious-looking strands were actually natural duck veins and not parasites The pancakes are being sent back to Iceland for a full investigation and the family has been reimbursed, according to the chain Imogen had pestered her mother into buying the food for dinner after school and bought the frozen meal from the Iceland Foods in Cornhill, Stroud, before heading home. A spokesman for Iceland said their supplier had since been in contact with the family and had cleared up the issue. The spokesman said: Please be assured that we take all complaints extremely seriously. We can confirm that Ms Matlala has been contacted by our suppliers and they are confident that this is not a foreign body, it is a natural part of the duck. 'We have arranged for the product to be collected by our supplier so they can investigate and confirm this to be the case. 'As soon as we have the results of this investigation we will get back in touch with Ms Matlala.' This shocking picture shows the horrific flesh-eating disease that ended up killing six-year-old Manchester terrier Bradley This shocking picture shows the horrific flesh-eating disease that ended up killing a family's pet dog. The six-year-old Manchester terrier, called Bradley, had been walking with its owner near their home in Tyldesley, near Wigan, Greater Manchester. But the black and rust coloured dog had unwittingly contracted a killer condition known as Alabama rot. The deadly disease - which is picked up on the paws and legs during muddy walks - originates from America but was also discovered in Britain around three years ago. Since then there have been at least 61 confirmed cases of Alabama rot, also known as CRGV, in the UK. Bradley's vet has now advised dog owners to stay clear of 'wooded and damp areas' and confirmed that Julie Rothwell's pet died from the flesh-eating disease. Devastated Ms Rothwell, 54, took Bradley and her other dog out for a walk in a popular local area near Squires Lane in Tyldesley and just two days later, the dog began showing signs of pain in his leg. She initially thought Bradley had suffered a broken leg until his flesh began to rot. His condition quickly worsened and Bradley was put to sleep after the disease affected his kidneys and caused severe lesions on his leg and foot. Chad Northcott, from Vetcare Ltd in Leigh, near Wigan, confirmed the Bradley is now warning dog owners to be vigilant to try and avoid the serious skin-eating disease. He said: 'The examination confirmed the case in Tyldesley is in fact Alabama Rot. 'I would like to tell pet owners to keep walking their dogs but to be vigilant and consider keeping dogs on a lead and away from wooded, damp areas as they are the kind of areas this disease seems to be found. 'I think what needs to happen now is for people to test the area to find out what causes this disease and find a cure - but funding is needed for that.' Ms Rothwell, from, Tyldesley, said: 'Bradley never had anything wrong with him in his whole life and all of a sudden we took him and our other dog Lily for a walk and he got this awful disease two days later. 'They hadn't been walked anywhere else as we had been moving so I know it was that day it happened. The six-year-old Manchester terrier called Bradley (pictured) had been walking with its owner near their home in Tyldesley, near Wigan, Greater Manchester. But the black and rust coloured dog had unwittingly contracted a killer condition known as Alabama rot 'God forbid it was a child who got a disease but because it is a pet it is just being left. 'I had two dogs and one died and the other didn't, my other dog Lily is deaf and is now lost without Bradley who acted like her ears. 'To see my dog's leg being eaten by this disease was awful, I hope that people out there do tests on the land and find a cure for this so that other dogs can be saved.' This is the area in Tyldesley, near Wigan, Greater Manchester, where Bradley contracted the deadly disease known as Alabama rot WHAT IS ALABAMA ROT (CRGV)? Alabama rot, also known as CRGV, is a disease which affects all breeds of dogs. The cause is unknown and if it is not spotted early, it can lead to sudden kidney failure. The disease first appeared in the US in the late 1980s affecting greyhounds, and causes ulcer-like skin sores and/or sudden kidney failure. According to Pets4Vets, spotting the warning signs is key to survival. It is believed Alabama rot is picked up on the paws and legs on muddy walks, so it is advised to wash off woodland mud, check for signs of the disease and call a vet if in doubt. Source: Vets4Pets interactive guide Alabama rot was first identified in the US in the 1980, and leads to the dog starting to fester and rot causing in kidney failure, loss of appetite, tiredness and vomiting. The disease first made an appearance in the UK just a few years ago but it appears to be spreading with cases reported across the country. Around 20 dogs died in and outbreak in the New Forest in 2013 and cases between November 2014 and May 2015 included Lambourn, in Berkshire, and Salisbury, Wilts. Karl Battersby, director for environment and economy at Wigan Council, said: 'We are in communication with vets across the borough and nationally on issues such as this and will continue to monitor the situation closely. A Chinese nuclear expert turned MI6 informant jailed for life for murdering a millionaire recluse after plundering his wealth has been granted an appeal against his conviction. Wang Yam battered frail Allan Chappelow to death in his 4.1 million home in Hampstead, north London, to steal his identity and use his cash to pay off his huge debts. Yam denies murdering Mr Chappelow, who confronted him after catching him stealing his post, which the killer was using to extract his bank details. Months later he was arrested after fleeing abroad when the 86-year-old's severely decomposed body was found hidden under a 4ft pile of papers in his crumbling north London mansion. Wax splashed over his body suggested that he might have been tortured before he died. Fresh chance: Wang Yam battered frail Allan Chappelow to death in his 4.1 million home in Hampstead, north London - he has won an appeal after police were accused of witholding evidence Crime scene: The 86-year-old author and photographer was found dead in his Hampstead mansion buried under piles of paperwork Today it has been revealed that the Criminal Cases Review Commission has decided Yam can appeal his 2009 conviction amid claims evidence was withheld by police. Mr Chappelow's neighbour says that after Yam was arrested in 2007 a man stole his post and threatened to kill him, his wife and his baby. Yam's legal team say they were never told and are arguing this proves the 'existence of alternative suspect'. HSBC alerted police to fraud and detectives went to the crumbling mansion (pictured) and found the body - Yam was caught paying cheques in to a bank after pretending to be his victim The key witness told the Guardian: 'I opened the door to find a man with a knife going through our post. He pointed the knife at me and I shut the door. He then shouted through the door that he had been watching our house and knew that I had a wife and baby. 'He said if I called the police he would kill them. He waited in the porch for half an hour. I hid in the house but did not call the police until he had left. 'The police showed a strange lack of interest and just told me to change all my bank accounts It is clear to me that there was a violent person or gang operating in the street and the lack of police interest was very bizarre.' In 2009 an Old Bailey jury found Yam, 47, of Hampstead, guilty of murdering Mr Chappelow in May 2006. He was jailed for 20 years. Yam appealed in 2010 and his handling stolen goods conviction was quashed, but his convictons for murder and burglary remained. His trial was controversial because it was held 'in camera' with the press and public excluded for national security reasons due to Yam's alleged links to the British secret services. Yam was convicted of murder, burglary and theft after two extraordinary trials in which most of his defence was held private for national security reasons. He was the grandson of a senior member of the China's ruling Communist Party but was forced to flee to the UK in 1992 after criticising the regime in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The married father of one became a British citizen in 1998 and posed as a respected financial advisor, wearing Armani suits and Rolex watches. In reality he was a conman who defrauded wealthy new arrivals to the Korean expat community in London with fake mortgage and insurance deals. But his money making schemes could not match his spending and by May 2006 he declared himself bankrupt with debts of 1.1 million. He was surviving on benefits and facing eviction from his Hampstead flat a few streets from Mr Chappelow's home, which he shared with a mistress after splitting from his wife. Grim discovery: The body inside the Hampstead house was so decomposed it was impossible to take prints from his fingers Desperate for cash, Yam broke into Mr Chappelow's home and killed the author, a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts who had spent the final 15 years of his life as a recluse. Over the next month Yam returned regularly to the house to pick up more post containing new bank passwords and credit cards. He was caught on CCTV paying the stolen cheques into a friend's bank account while pretending to be the author and also gained control of his victim's bank accounts. Yam fled the country on Eurostar the day after the discovery of the body and was eventually arrested in Switzerland and extradited for trial. He told police he had never met the writer and was given the cheques and bank card by a gang of Albanian gangsters who, unbeknown to him, had broken into the writer's house, murdered him and stolen his mail. But, following a retrial, the jury rejected his claims and he was convicted of the murder. It is not known when his appeal will be heard, but it is likely to be later this year. A CCCR spokesman said: 'The referral is based on new evidence relating to the failure by police to reveal to the Crown Prosecution Service, and consequently to deprive Mr Yam's defence of, material which might have assisted the defence and /or undermined the prosecution case. 'The material in question relates to police records about an incident which took place near to, and within months of, Mr Chappelow's murder in which someone was threatened in circumstances with features relevant to the case against Mr Yam. Mother of one of the victims said the six year sentence was too light the 'destructive and humiliating' toll of the abuse Samuel Joseph MacBean has been jailed for six years after pleading guilty to to 50 abuse charges A masseur who preyed on female clients, including children and the intellectually impaired, for his own sexual gratification has been sentenced to six years behind bars. Samuel Joseph MacBean was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Friday after having earlier pleaded guilty to 50 charges, including counts of rape and sexual assault, on scores of victims. The court had previously heard he abused five female children and 16 women, including two who were intellectually impaired, when he owned a business called Moorooka Therapeutic Massage in Brisbane's south. The mother of one of MacBean's victims spoke outside court about the damage done by his offending. 'My daughter won't go ever to any masseur; she wouldn't come here to court,' she told ABC. The court had previously heard he abused five female children and 16 women, including two who were intellectually impaired Chief Judge Kerry O'Brien said in sentencing victim impact statements spoke loudly of the destructive and humiliating effect MacBean's conduct had taken on their lives. 'You took advantage of your position for your own sexual gratification, in breach of the trust which had been placed in you.' 'To have secretly filmed those women in those circumstances only makes your offending the more egregious.' In a previous hearing, the court heard he covertly filming sessions in which he touched victims on their genitals and breasts. Crown prosecutor Amelia Lode had told the court one of the victim intellectual impaired victims had become so frightened Mr MacBean would come to her home that the family relocated. She deemed his behaviour to be systematic, premeditated and a perversion of the therapeutic relationship between health professionals and their patients. Mr MacBean was sentenced in the Brisbane District Court on Friday where the judge noted the destructive and humiliating effect the abuse had on his victim's lives The judge also noted a psychological report providing some insight into the reasons for offending, MacBean's apparent remorse and the 376 days already spent in custody. This included touching them in and around their genitals and breasts, as well as capturing footage on a laptop that was covertly filming the session One of MacBean's former clients said seeking out what she thought was his professional treatment would probably be the greatest regret of her life. 'I have been ripped open and exposed to someone who doesn't deserve to know me,' the young woman told the court. 'A fear has been created in me that was never there before.' When it comes to curbing teacher shortages, it looks like Hawaii may have something of an advantage over some other states. Since news got out earlier this month that the aloha state is looking to fill more than 1,000 teaching positions for next year, the states department of education has received a landslide of applications . (Gee, wonder why ....) But heres the catch: A lot of the candidates are nowhere near qualified. I saw one that said, Im a hairdresser. What kind of job do you have for me? department spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz told Honolulu-based KHON-TV . Officials say more than 8,350 people from 98 countries have registered on the departments website, and almost 5,000 of them have submitted applications, according to KHON-TV. Before the online publicity, the department would get 20 to 25 applications a day. On Monday alone, they received 633. The DOE has had to bring in extra staff to go through the flood of emails and applications. Here are some unedited messages the staff has reportedly had to suffer through (all copied verbatim): At the moment I am working as a teacher of French and I also cover Enhlish classes in a primary school in London." "Applying for teacher in hawaii is there an age limit? What are other requirements to be meet. and benefits." "As a Dentist graduated from Egypt with german citizenship, Can i work in my field There?" "Tengo oportunidad de aplicar para alguno de los puestos que ofertan? Que mas debo hacer?" "Do you hire Canadians?" It morphed into something that is out of control, so to bring in the amount of staff to deal with these bogus applications has been frustrating for our staff, because we really want to make sure we get the best and the brightest, Cruz said. Officials say reasons for so many vacancies include retirements, other job opportunities, and relocations. Hawaiis current annual teacher turnover rate is just over 8 percent, according to the department. The department is looking to hire more than 1,000 new teachers (who meet the requirements) for the 2016-17 academic school year. Hairdressers without teaching credentials need not apply. Photo by Flickr user Nan Palmero ; licensed under Creative Commons . More on the nationwide teacher shortage: Endearing footage of baby orphaned elephants wearing blankets is touching the hearts of many. The animals are being cared for in an orphanage in Nairobi National Park in Kenya thanks to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Photographer James Suter, 30, from Cape Town managed to capture sweet footage of the infant elephants - who are being hand-raised before reintegrated back into the wild - during his time there. Cosying up: The animals are being cared for in an orphanage in Nairobi National Park in Kenya thanks to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Warm: Photographer James Suter, 30, from Cape Town managed to capture sweet footage of the infant elephants - who are being hand-raised before reintegrated back into the wild - during his time there One clip shows a calf enjoying having its trunk rubbed by a carer to clear its naval cavities while another shows one wearing a colourful blanket like a little coat. Photographer Antony Kimani explained that the blankets were like a lifeline for the young elephants as without their mothers to cuddle up to they relied on the blankets for warmth and comfort. He said: 'These multi-coloured coats are their secret weapon for survival. 'In the wild baby elephants are sheltered from the wind, rain and sun by their loving and attentive elephant herd, from the cold of the night and cooled in the shadow of their mother from the harsh rays of the sun during the heat of the day. 'At their young age, the elephants need full time protection, not just from poachers and predators, but from the wind, rain, cold and hot sun during the heat of the day. 'This is exactly what the blankets provide. Highly susceptible to pneumonia, without the protection of their fluffy blankets, the cold could claim the lives of many orphaned elephants. Hey buddy: Photographer Antony Kimani explained that the blankets were like a lifeline for the young elephants as without their mothers to cuddle up to they relied on the blankets for warmth and comfort Friends! He said: 'These multi-coloured coats are their secret weapon for survival' Yummy: 'In the wild baby elephants are sheltered from the wind, rain and sun by their herd, from the cold of the night and cooled in the shadow of their mother from the harsh rays of the sun during the heat of the day' 'Although a wonderful tool for raising infant elephants, some orphans become overly attached to their "blanky". 'Just like a human child, the orphans fiddle, suck and play with their blankets, comforted by what it represents. 'Yet there must come a time when each orphan must understand they no longer need the comfort of a blanket, and are slowly and lovingly weaned off their attachment on the journey to become a mature elephant and part of a wild herd. 'This happens when the elephants reach between 12 and 18 months old.' 'Not only do their blankies provide comfort for the young orphans but they also receive a lot of love and attention from the carers at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust who lovingly feed them milk from a bottle and even scratch their little trunks.' Often these elephants are orphaned due to ivory poaching, or habitat destruction, deforestation or drought. Carer: 'At their young age, the elephants need full time protection, not just from poachers and predators, but from the wind, rain, cold and hot sun during the heat of the day Treatmemt: One clip shows a calf enjoying having its trunk rubbed by a carer to clear its naval cavities Check up: Often these elephants are orphaned due to ivory poaching, or habitat destruction, deforestation or drought Authorities were searching Friday for four foster children who were discovered missing from their beds during head count at a private foster care home near Tampa. Officials at A Kid's Place believe the girls - ages 13, 11, 10 and 4 - climbed out a window between 10 pm Thursday and 2am Friday, Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said in a news release. They then either scaled a fence or were able to squeeze through an opening at the gate. Sisters Anabella Gonzalez, 10 (left); Allison Nelson, 4 (center); and Heavenlynn Gonzalez, 11 (right); are missing after running away from a Florida foster care home sometime Thursday night or Friday morning. It's believed that the sisters sneaked out of the house with another girl who lives at the facility, 13-year-old Ashlyn Smith (pictured) A Kid's Place opened in 2009. Then, it was described in local news reports as a $5.2-million, 60-bed facility that serves as a temporary shelter for children from birth to 17 DESCRIPTIONS OF THE MISSING GIRLS Allison Nelson: 4 years old. Caucasian, 3'08", 39 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes. Anabella Gonzalez: 10 years old. Caucasian, 4'06", 66 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes. Heavenlynn Gonzalez: 11 years old. Caucasian, 4'07", brown hair and brown eyes. Ashlyn Smith: 13 years old. Caucasian, 5'06", 120 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes. Carter said 4-year-old Allison Nelson, 10-year-old Anabella Gonzalez and 11-year-old Heavenlynn Gonzalez are sisters. They are with 13-year-old Ashlyn Smith. Officials at the home told authorities they didn't know what the girls were wearing when they disappeared. They have no medical issues or disabilities and don't take any medication. A woman who answered the phone at A Kid's Place declined to answer a reporter's questions. A Kid's Place opened in 2009. Then, it was described in local news reports as a $5.2-million, 60-bed facility that serves as a temporary shelter for children from birth to 17. A woman and her daughter are missing in bushland on New Zealand's North Island after their vehicle was discovered at the entrance to a walking track. Carolyn Lloyd, 44, and daughter Rachel Lloyd, 22, were due to check out of their Palmerston North motel on April 27 and return their rental car at 11am on Friday, reported stuff.co.nz. Family members, the rental company and the motel have heard from either of the women. Rachel Lloyd (left) and her mother Carolyn Lloyd (right) are missing in the Tararua Forest Park Police said their hire car, a grey Toyota Yaris, was found at 5.40pm in Ngatiawa Road, in a car park next to the Kapakapanui Track in the Tararua Forest Park. Central District command centre's Sergeant Dave Fraser said dense bush and terrain meant they could not use a helicopter for the search on Friday night. The search is expected to resume at dawn on Saturday. The pair are originally from North Carolina and Ms Llloyd is in New Zealand visiting her daughter, who is an exchange student at Massey University. The track is listed on the Department of Conservation website as an advanced tramping track with an estimated walking time of six to eight hours. A neighbour on Ngatiawa Road said she had seen the car parked at the entrance to the track. The pair's hire car, a grey Toyota Yaris, was found at 5.40pm in Ngatiawa Road, in a car park next to the Kapakapanui Track in the Tararua Forest Park (pictured) She said it was not uncommon for people to spend two or three days on the track, as there was a hut near the top, but described it as 'a long walk', 'hard work' and that 'it can be rough'. She also mentioned it was possible for the women to get out via Akatarawa Road and Odlins Road, and Otaki Forks could be a place they were headed if they were doing a long tramp. Massey University communications director James Gardiner said the university would offer to fly the Lloyd family to New Zealand if they wanted. 'We are extremely worried and our thoughts are with the family,' Mr Gardiner said. A man offered up a young boy for sex to a tourist in Central Park last night, police say. The tourist, 50, called 911 after a man, who appeared to be the boy's father, asked if he would like to have sex with the child for $300. The Californian tourist declined and followed the pair - aged around 35 and 11 - for a short time as he called the cops. By the time police arrived, the man and boy had gone. The incident took place at around 11.50pm on Thursday. Police were last night searching near Central Park's Bow Bridge on West 74th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, ABC 7 reported. The NYPD said it would study surveillance footage in the park as officers hunt down the man. The tourist said the man was white, had dark hair, was clean shaven and was wearing a black coat with a furry hood and blue jeans. The young boy was also white and was wearing an orange or red jacket. Anyone with information is urged to call the NYPD. Advertisement The death toll from the bombing of a hospital and nearby buildings in Aleppo has risen to 50 including six medical staff and patients, it emerged today. Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which ran the Al-Quds hospital, said the attack had destroyed one of the last remaining places in Aleppo in which 'you could still find humanity.' It came as a second medical facility was struck by an air strike in a rebel-held district of the city today, wounding several people including at least one nurse. MSF warned that the 250,000 residents in the rebel-held parts of Aleppo are in danger of being completely cut off and left without medical care. Muskilda Zancada, head of MSF's Syria mission, said 'the sky is falling in Aleppo'. Syrians carry a body on a stretcher amid the rubble of buildings after an air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in Aleppo Syrians carry an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings after air strikes on Aleppo that also targeted a medical facility A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Earlier this week, 30 people were killed including two doctors when air strikes hit the Al-Quds hospital and a nearby block of flats in the rebel-held Sukkari neighbourhood. The attack on the hospital, which is supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), has been roundly condemned by world leaders, including US Secretary of State John Kerry who said it appeared to be a 'deliberate strike.' More than 200 civilians have been killed in Aleppo over the past week as rebels have pounded government-held neighbourhoods with rocket and artillery fire and the regime has hit rebel areas with air raids. On Friday, air strikes on rebel-held districts killed two civilians, one of them a child, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The air strike on the Al Quds hospital killed at least three doctors, including the city's last pediatrician Dr Wassim. 'This devastating attack has destroyed a vital hospital in Aleppo, and the main referral centre for paediatric care in the area,' said Muskilda Zancada, MSF head of mission, Syria. 'Where is the outrage among those with the power and obligation to stop this carnage?' Six days of bombings and rebel shelling in Aleppo, which is split between government forces and rebels, have killed some 200 people in the city, two-thirds of them on the opposition side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. Civil defense members carry an injured civilian through an area hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria A boy carries a baby to safety from a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district A man reacts as he stands on blood stains in Aleppo's al-Fardous district that was hit by airstrikes by suspect Syrian government jets This image made from video released by Qasion News Agency shows Syrians scrambling through rubble following airstrikes in Aleppo International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Ewan Watson said: 'It is unacceptable, any attack on hospitals is a war crime. But it is up to an investigator and it is for a court to take that decision on whether it is a war crime or not.' The city of Aleppo is at the epicentre of a military escalation that has undermined peace talks in Geneva to end the five-year-old war and UN envoy Stefan de Mistura appealed to the presidents of the United States and Russia to intervene. 'The catastrophic deterioration in Aleppo over the last 24-48 hours' has jeopardised the aid lifeline that delivers supplies to millions of Syrians, said Jan Egeland, chairman of the UN humanitarian task force. 'I could not in any way express how high the stakes are for the next hours and days.' The Geneva talks aim to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world's worst refugee crisis, allowed for the rise of Islamic State and drawn in regional and major powers but the negotiations have all but failed and a truce to allow them to take place has collapsed. An injured woman covered in blood and dust staggers to safety after an air strike hits a rebel-held area of Aleppo Obliterated: Children walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings after air strikes on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings after a reported airstrike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of Aleppo Distraught: Syrians walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings after air strikes on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in Aleppo A badly wounded man is loaded on to a vehicle so he can be taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries A man carries a child after airstrikes destroy a rebel-held area of Aleppo. The violence brings the death toll over 24 hours to at least 61 The White Helmets have been braving the continued bombing in an effort to drag people from the rubble The Syrian regime has been pounding rebel-held areas in Aleppo since the weekend including the hospital Winding up the Geneva talks, de Mistura said he aimed to resume them in May, but gave no date. 'Wherever you are, you hear explosions of mortars, shelling and planes flying over,' Valter Gros, who heads the International Committee of the Red Cross Aleppo office, said. 'There is no neighbourhood of the city that hasn't been hit. People are living on the edge. Everyone here fears for their lives and nobody knows what is coming next,' he said. A Syrian military source said government planes had not been in areas where air raids were reported. Syria's army denied reports that the Syrian air force targeted the hospital. The Russian defence ministry, whose air strikes have swung the war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad, could not immediately be reached for comment. Russia has previously denied hitting civilian targets in Syria where it launched air raids late last year to bolster its ally. The British-based Observatory said 31 people were killed as a result of air strikes on several areas of opposition-held Aleppo on Thursday. Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate a baby from a destroyed building in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in Aleppo Six days of air strikes and rebel shelling in Aleppo, which is split between government forces and rebels, have killed some 200 people in the city, two-thirds of them on the opposition side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says A Civil Defence worker carries a child through the rubble-strewn streets of Aleppo after airstrikes by suspected government forces A civil defence member carries a child to safety after she is pulled from the rubble in Aleppo In addition, it said at least 27 people were killed in the air strike on the hospital that was struck late on Wednesday. Rescue workers put the toll higher. In government-held areas, rebel mortar shelling killed at least 14 people, the Observatory and Syria's state news agency SANA reported. Peace talks, which have been deeply divided on the future of Assad, looked to be over last week when the opposition walked out. They said the Syrian government was stalling for time to advance on the ground and calling for implementation of a UN resolution requiring full humanitarian access to besieged areas. De Mistura voiced deep concern at the truce unravelling in Aleppo and at least three other places, but also said he saw some narrowing of positions between the government and opposition visions of political transition. 'Hence my appeal for a U.S.-Russian urgent initiative at the highest level, because the legacy of both President Obama and President Putin is linked to the success of what has been a unique initiative,' de Mistura told a news conference. Dr Wassim (left), described as the last paediatrician in Aleppo, was among dozens killed when jets attacked the Al Quds hospital (right) The damage at the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed Al Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes in a rebel-held area of Aleppo They should 'be able to revitalise what they have created and which is still alive but barely'. The United States and Russia must convene a ministerial meeting of major and regional powers who compose the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), he said. Egeland said: 'So the appeal of Staffan de Mistura to the United States, to Russia and to the other powers in the ISSG is 'you did it once, you can do it again.'' Bashar Ja'afari, who led the government delegation, said on Tuesday the round had been 'useful and constructive'. But he gave no sign of ceding to the opposition HNC's central demand for a political transition without Assad. The government has said the future of Assad is non-negotiable. De Mistura, asked whether Assad's fate was discussed, replied: 'We didn't get into names of people ... but actually how to change the current governance.' More than 100 people have been killed in airstrikes in Aleppo with scores injured since Friday afternoon The state run media service has blamed many of the deaths on the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front The UN envoy said the two sides remained far apart in their vision of a political transition, but shared some 'commonalities', including the view 'that the transitional governance could include members of the present government and the opposition, independents and others'. Giving a chilling statistic about the backdrop of violence against which the talks played out, de Mistura said that in the past 48 hours there had been an average of one Syrian civilian killed every 25 minutes and one wounded every 13 minutes. Hossam Abu Ghayth, 29, a documentary film-maker living in the rebel-held area of Kalasa in Aleppo which was bombed on Thursday, said by WhatsApp: 'There are still planes (flying)... they're hitting everything, mosques, markets, residential buildings, field hospitals. 'Dozens of people are under the rubble and the Civil Defence cannot dig out the bodies because of the intensity' of the bombardments. Tony Ishak, 26, a resident of the government-held area of Suleimaniya in Aleppo and a politics student, said via WhatsApp: Shocking police dashcam footage has emerged showing officers firing upon a pregnant woman suspected of carrying out an armed carjacking. The video shows police shooting at Danielle Evans, 35, as she attempts to flee along South Street in Orlando. The officers chased the armed suspect, who was five months pregnant at the time of the incident in January, into a parking lot when she tried to maneuver around a pole and attempted to squeeze her car past a building. Police spokeswoman Michelle Guido said at the time that Sgt. Steve Farris, Officer Justin Lay and Officer Clarence Eide were the officers involved. They said they exited their cars but Evans continued to change direction and charged toward an officer who was trapped and then opened fire. Evans, who has four other children, was stuck and tried to flee on foot but was caught soon after. Orlando Police said she was shot in the left arm. Officers said she hit the carjacked Dodge Caliber into one of the police cars during the chase. They said at the time that an 'elderly' man was carjacked about by two men and a woman near the intersection of Curry Ford Road and Conway Road. Shocking police dashcam footage has emerged showing officers firing upon a pregnant woman suspected of carrying out an armed carjacking. Pictured, the officers in pursuit of the suspect The video shows officers shooting at Danielle Evans, 35, as she attempts to flee along South Street in Orlando The officers chased the armed suspect, who was five months pregnant at the time of the incident in January, into a parking lot when she tried to maneuver around a pole and attempted to squeeze her car past a building Before her capture, Evans (pictured) is accused of stealing liquor and cigarettes from six local stores A man in the car with her said he asked her to stop but she allegedly refused because she was 'not going to jail.' Before her capture, Evans is accused of stealing liquor and cigarettes from six local stores. The three officers involved were placed on administrative leave after the shooting. According to police, two men were also involved in the carjacking . Evans was charged with carjacking with a firearm and aggravated fleeing with injury or damage. Guido said two men in the car were questioned but no additional arrests were made. In the video the officer can be seen chasing the vehicle into the parking lot, which is filled with other cars. The officers exit their vehicles and pursue the suspect. One officer can be seen aiming his weapon at the suspect and at least three shots can be heard being fired. The video ends with the officers moving out of view to apprehend the suspect after the shooting incident. Evans, who has four other children, was stuck and tried to flee on foot but was caught soon after It does sound a little intimidating - meet me in the Death Cafe. But an artist, behind the first pop-up in Nelson, New Zealand, has told how the meetings allow people to discuss the usually taboo subject of mortality over a cup of tea and slice of cake. Death Cafes are an increasingly popular phenomenon worldwide, bringing strangers together to discuss a human experience common to all people: death and dying. They present the opportunity to talk about the ethics, practicalities, beliefs, emotions, rituals and everything else surrounding death. An artist, behind the first pop-up Death Cafe in Nelson, New Zealand, has told how the meetings allow people to discuss the usually taboo subject of mortality over a cup of tea and slice of cake Aralyn Doiron, who set up the first Death Cafe in Nelson, told stuff.co.nz that the meetings help people discuss the final rite of passage, something which many people avoid. 'Death Cafe is hoping to change that,' she said. 'It's a huge movement happening for communities all around the world who are reclaiming death, because it has been taken away from us.' Ms Doiron said people are able to discuss anything they wished - but warned that it was not a grief counselling session. Death Cafes are an increasingly popular phenomenon worldwide, bringing strangers together to discuss a human experience common to all people: death and dying 'Then there is the opportunity for those who come to share anything they wish: about their own death, or someone else's, or something they have learned.' 'I heard a great quote the other day,' she said. 'A man with a terminal illness is visited by a friend who asks, 'what is it like to wake every morning knowing you are dying?' to which he replied 'what is it to wake every morning and pretend you are not?'' Originally set up by Jon Underwood, from Hackney in east London, in 2011, the concept has now spread worldwide. Kristine Rose, the founder of Choice Funerals, and Barbara Greene have now organised another Death Cafe in Nelson. Ms Greene, a counsellor and registered Celebrant, described the first meeting as 'moving and beautiful'. 'It feels very precious to witness the development of personal sentiment about the finite aspect of life. Engaging with the topic of death seems to deepen ones engagement with life,' she said. A husband and wife nicknamed the 'Pillowcase Burglars' have been arrested after a four month crime spree across Florida, police say. It is alleged Jessica Baker, 44, and Darren Decker, 41, made off with guns, jewelry and electronics stuffed inside their victims' pillowcases during their robberies. According to WESH 2, police believe the couple are responsible for 60 crimes across five different counties. Husband and wife Jessica Baker and Darren Decker (pictured left and right) have been arrested after carrying out a four month crime spree that saw them nicknamed the 'Pillowcase Burglars', police say This includes the robbery of one home which was stripped of $30,000 of goods, and links to a homicide in January. Captain Brian Dotten, from the Marion County Sheriff's Office, said they were 'confident' the pair were linked to the homicide. He added: 'They selected specific houses without many neighbors. They looked for surveillance cameras; they were very observant.' And officials from the neighboring Citrus County Sheriff's Office also say they are looking into links between the pair and a murder in their region in March. The couple were identified and then monitored by police after they attempted to sell some of the stolen items, Villages-News reported. David Miliband is 'expecting' to be offered a top job in Hillary Clinton's White House, it emerged today - just days after he used a high profile interview to shower the US presidential hopeful with praise. The ex-Labour foreign secretary fled to New York to take up a 425,000-a-year charity job after the humiliation of losing out to his brother Ed Miliband for the Labour leadership in 2010. And despite recent speculation of a return to British politics to have another go at becoming Labour leader, he reportedly told friends on a visit to London earlier this month that Ms Clinton wants to appoint him as a foreign envoy if she wins November's US Presidential election. David Miliband (pictured with Hillary Clinton in January 2010) is 'expecting' to be offered a top job in the White House if the Democratic presidential candidate wins November's election The news of a potential job in a Clinton White House comes less than a month after Mr Miliband gave a cringeworthy interview praising the Democratic presidential candidate as 'very intelligent... very worldly.. and very funny'. He went even further by revealing how he had told his wife that Hillary had a 'fantastic smile'. Mr Miliband was returning the complement after Hillary described him in her memoirs as 'young, energetic, smart, creative and attractive'. The pair became close while they overlapped for a couple of years in their jobs as Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State, attending numerous summits together. A Labour MP told The Sun today: 'David said he is expecting a good job from Hillary. 'They still speak, and it sounded like she may already have offered him something probably an envoy role rather than a job in her cabinet. Hillary Clinton (pictured with David Miliband in 2010) described the former foreign secretary in her memoirs as 'young, energetic, smart, creative and attractive' Hillary Clinton (pictured with David Miliband in 2009) said of their relationship: 'In addition to becoming good professional colleagues, we developed a genuine friendship' 'He'd jump at it. What's the point in coming back here with the mess Labour is going to be in for years?' the MP added. The move would all-but rule out a future in UK politics for Mr Miliband and he might even have to adopt US citizenship to accept a job in the US Government. Ms Clinton is the overwhelming favourite to beat her rival Bernie Sanders to win the Democratic nomination and polls also predict she will beat the likely-Republican candidate Mr Trump to succeed Barack Obama in the Oval Office Writing in her memoirs, Ms Clinton said of her partnership with Mr Miliband: 'In addition to becoming good professional colleagues, we developed a genuine friendship.' And she even admitted that she had a crush on Miliband, who now works as . In an interview in 2009 she said: 'Well, if you saw him it would be a BIG crush. I mean, he is so vibrant, vital, attractive, smart. He's really a good guy. And he's so young!' David Miliband (left) lost his foreign office job after Labour lost the 2010 election and following his failed bid to become Labour leader - when he embarrassingly lost out to his brother Ed - he quit as an MP and moved to New York to take a 425,000-a-year job as president of the International Rescue Committee. But he remains close to Hillary Clinton (right) The close partnership the pair had forged in their respective government roles was cut short after Mr Miliband lost his Foreign Secretary job following Labour's 2010 election defeat. After his failed bid to become Labour leader - when he embarrassingly lost out to his brother Ed - he quit as an MP and moved to New York to take a 425,000-a-year job as president of the International Rescue Committee. Mr Miliband's interview with the Evening Standard magazine last month suggested he was angling for another career change. Speaking of his fondness for Clinton, he said: 'I like to think of her as a friend. People are always surprised by her. She's a very good listener. 'When she came to the Foreign Office, she got her notebook out. She's not afraid of what she doesn't know and she wants to learn what she doesn't know, which is an underestimated quality in politics. She's obviously very intelligent, she's obviously very worldly. 'She's very funny. And as I said to Louise last night, when she smiles the full smile, she's got a fantastic smile. David Miliband (pictured on a train to Baltimore last month) gave a cringeworthy interview to the Evening Standard magazine today praising the Democratic presidential candidate as 'very intelligent... very worldly.. and very funny' He added: 'You know when someone relaxes and you suddenly capture what they're really like. She doesn't take herself too seriously.' With polls showing Ms Clinton as the clear favourite to win the presidential race, a 'Mill-Hill' partnership is on the cards. It was not the first time Mr Miliband has expressed his fondness of Clinton. In his final days as foreign secretary Mr Miliband said Clinton was 'delightful to deal with one on one' and added: 'She's someone who laughs and can tease, and she's got perspective as well.' Mr Miliband also spoke about domestic politics, attacking Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for making the party unelectable. Criticising Mr Corbyn, the former Labour politician said: 'In politics it's really important to know the difference between what you think exists and what is reality. The older of two brothers arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents in California had admitted shooting his father, detectives say. Hasib Bin Golamrabbi, 22, and his 17-year-old brother Omar were arrested on Thursday and accused of the murders of Shamima and Golam Rabbi, 57 and 59, found dead on Sunday. Police say Hasib is claiming he was assaulted at home by a stranger who ordered him to shoot his father, which he did, but says he did not shoot his mother. Charged: Brothers Hasib, 22 (left), and Omar Bin Golam Rabbi, 17 (right), were charged on Friday with two counts of murder each for allegedly killing their parents However, younger brother Omar says his elder sibling shot both parents before asking him to check on his father's body, lying in a garage, to make sure blood was not seeping from under the door. When he was satisfied the crime scene would not be uncovered, the pair drove to a nearby anime convention, police say. Omar made no mention of a stranger. The brothers were arraigned n two counts of murder each in the slayings of their parents, who emigrated from Bangladesh decades ago. Omar Golamrabbi is 17, but he was charged as an adult. Despite the elder boy's apparent confession, both pleaded not guilty, Santa Clara County district attorney's office spokesman Sean Webby said. The parent's bodies, each shot once, were left on the floor of their home in San Jose, next to a chilling note that read: 'Sorry, my first kill was clumsy.' In a jailhouse interview with the San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday, the elder Rabbi said his little brother was not involved in the murders and that the truth will be revealed in court if the case goes to trial. 'The best thing if anyone wants to know what happened is to wait for the trial,' the 22-year-old told the newspaper. 'I want everyone to know what happened,' he added, 'but I cant say anything without a lawyer.' Tragic: Bangladeshi husband and wife Golam and Shamima Rabbi, 59 and 57, were shot dead at their San Jose home on Sunday. Sources said that the couple were at odds with their eldest son over his sexual orientation Crime scene: Their bodies, each shot once, were left on the floor of their home in San Jose, next to a chilling note that read: 'Sorry, my first kill was clumsy'. Another message on the wall read in part, 'I can't love someone without telling them'. Above, the scene outside of the home on Sunday Meanwhile, sources told NBC Bay Area that Hasib and his parents were at odds over his sexual orientation. In the family's native Bangladesh, homosexuality is strictly forbidden. Hasib's cousin Nafees Hasan said that he had never heard about his cousin being gay, but if it were true, the 'family wouldn't have accepted that'. Concerned friends discovered the couple's bodies on Sunday afternoon, when they broke into the home through an unlocked sliding class door. Their bodies, each shot once, were left on the floor of their home, next to a chilling note that read: 'Sorry, my first kill was clumsy.' Aside from the ominous message on the floor, another rambling message was written across the wall. It said in part: 'I can't be like you, telling a lie. I can't love someone without telling them', and claimed that Mrs Rabbi begged for her life before she was killed. CBS reports that another message included the phrase, 'Take care of your brother, or hes next.' It was unknown how long the couple, who were Muslim, had been dead. Police immediately began searching for the couple's oldest son, and initially said that the younger son, a student at Evergreen Valley High School, was not a suspect. But on Wednesday, cops also arrested the younger brother, after tracking down his older brother in Tracy, California. Before being arrested, Hasib posted a message on Facebook, writing: 'F*** yeah to the kids who feel like theyre dying inside but still gather up the strength to roll out of bed, get dressed and leave the house. You are strong and beautiful and worth so much more than you know,' The Mercury News reported. Last message: Before being arrested, Hasib posted a message on Facebook, writing: 'F*** yeah to the kids who feel like theyre dying inside but still gather up the strength to roll out of bed, get dressed and leave the house. You are strong and beautiful and worth so much more than you know'. Above, the crime scene Friend: Matthew Kuch says he harbored his friend Hasib at his home in Tracy in the days after the murder, but eventually turned him into police over fears that he might hurt him or his family Both brothers are being held without bond. The elder brother is expected to appear in court on Friday for a hearing. One of Hasib's friends, Matthew Kuch, told CBS that he hid Hasib in his bedroom closet following the murders, and that he eventually turned his friend into police out of fear for his and his family's safety. But before that, Kuch says that Hasib confided in him details of the murders. 'He told me that he couldnt shoot his father in the head, because thats a dishonor, because he wanted his father to be buried with his face,' Kuch said. Hasib also planned to create a video to throw police off his trail, Kuch claimed. 'He's going to be in his hotel room and he's going to record a video saying that he's either going to run away or commit suicide and after that he'll stop the video and I come in and beat him to make myself seem like the killer and prove his innocence,' Kuch said. Kuch says he went along with the plan initially, out of fear that Hasib would hurt him. He also says that his friend offered him a motive, but his explanation was just as bizarre. 'He told me that somebody has come in and tortured him for several months, and it would not stop unless he killed his parents,' Kuch said. Police haven't released a motive in the killings or any other details. The husband and wife often hosted relatives at their home since moving from Bangladesh to the United States. Mr Rabbi, who was an engineer, liked to hunt and had several guns in the house, friends claim. Evergreen Islamic Center in San Jose said the bodies of the parents were released Wednesday afternoon to relatives and the funeral is being planned for Friday at the Five Pillars Farm Cemetery in Livermore, KNTV reports. Mosque spokesman Faisal Yazadi did not know about the arrest of the younger son until notified by a reporter. 'Needless to say,' he said, 'this is one of those tragedies nobody ever wants to be in. All we can do is pray. This is a family matter and a police investigation.' It was not immediately clear Thursday morning if the two sons have attorneys. Hasan Rahim, from the Evergreen Islamic Center, said the Rabbis often attended services at the mosque. But he said he had warned the couple of the dangers of keeping guns at home. 'I just said be careful. If you have weapons in the house be careful,' Mr Rahim said. 'I've known him for 30 plus years, so it's a loss,' he added. Hasib's cousin Nafees Hasan said that he had never heard about his cousin being gay, but if it were true, the 'family wouldn't have accepted that'. Above, the family's home Video courtesy: KRON 'People were in disbelief, in shock, they were stunned and the loss is so enormous that we are still finding it difficult to come to grips with the truth. 'I still cannot reconcile the tragedy of this whole situation. It is just unbelievable. It is just too much to accept.' Friends described the the husband and his accountant wife as gentle and kind. 'We are surprised that they are no longer with us and especially going away in such a manner is something we just can't come to grips with,' Evergreen Islamic Center member Faisal Yazadi said. 'He always asked me about my family, now I can't answer him back. I can't ask him about his family,' he added. Is It Illegal to Tell Someone to Commit Suicide? There's a case in Massachusetts juvenile criminal court that's creepier than most horror movies. It's the bizarre story of a suicidal teenager and his girlfriend who texted encouragement while he killed himself. She is 17-year-old Michelle Carter, and she faces involuntary manslaughter charges for her electronic missives, telling Conrad Roy III, "The time is right and you're ready." The case is alarming for what it may say about communication today but also, reports Vice, because of the legal issues it raises. A Violation of Free Speech Rights? Civil liberties experts are concerned about the use of Carter's texts to convict and her attorney is arguing that it's a violation of her First Amendment free speech rights. Meanwhile, suicide is not illegal in Massachusetts, which makes it particularly tricky that Carter's charged for her contribution to Roy's death. In light of all the uproar the case has caused, prosecutors have released the texts they retrieved from Michelle Carter's phone, though she reportedly deleted them at Conrad's request. They are chilling: "Tonight is the night. It's now or never," Carter told Conrad. She had helped him research methods of killing himself and reminded him of the steps, instructing Conrad to take Benadryl. "If you do it right and listen to what that guy said in the article, it will 100 percent work. It's not that hard to mess up," she wrote. Her encouragement worked and he was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in a K-Mart parking lot in 2014, truck windows rolled up, running a combustible engine. Carter had reportedly told Conrad, 18, to get back in, she reported in a text to another friend. Analysis of the Carter Case Prosecutors call Carter's texts evidence that she was "engaging in a course of wanton or reckless conduct." She faces 20 years in prison on the involuntary manslaughter charges. But the case has been controversial in great part because suicide is not a crime in Massachusetts. Making aiding in its commission without raising a finger criminal could be a slippery slope, legally speaking. Then, there's the question of free speech. Carter's attorney wants the matter thrown out on constitutional grounds, arguing that her messages are protected under the First Amendment. A Difficult Legal Question As the Carter case illustrates, this is a complex legal issue. Related cases are no less challenging. For example, in an earlier case, a Minnesota man was arrested and charged with assisting suicide after he told people on suicide websites to go ahead and kill themselves. The charges against this man were partly due to the broad language of Minnesota's suicide law. Play it safe: don't encourage anyone to kill themselves, especially if you live in a state where suicide is illegal. Criminally Charged? If you are accused of a crime, don't delay. Speak to a lawyer today. Many criminal defense attorneys consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to discuss your case. Related Resources: A 48-year-old grandmother accidentally fed her grandson methadone, an opioid painkiller, that she keeps in baby bottles. Rose Rej, from Whitinsville, Massachusetts, is facing a child abuse charge after nearly killing her 14-month-old grandson from one of her drug-laced containers, according to the Boston Herald. Rej, who said she keeps her methadone in baby bottles, was visiting her daughter in Nebraska when she woke up around 1.30am to feed her grandson but 'grabbed the wrong bottle', Lincoln police spokeswoman Katie Flood told the newspaper. First responders found the baby boy 'unresponsive in respiratory distress'. Rose Rej (left), 48, is facing a child abuse charge after nearly killing her 14-month-old grandson (right) after accidentally feeding him methadone that she kept in baby bottles Police said Rej realized her mistake when the child was in distress. The baby was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he is recovering, police said. While in the apartment, police also found a glass pipe, rolling papers and a scale. The baby's mother told officers she was aware that Rej was keeping her methadone baby bottle near others that were being used to feed the infant, police told the Herald. Police have filed an emergency request for temporary custody of the baby. Wendy Murphy, a former prosecutor and victim's advocate, told the Herald that Rej's argument that it was an accident 'is so stupid that this woman would literally have had to have been brain-dead to cause it'. Murphy said Rej's argument would 'never fly' in court. Jetta Bernier, executive director of Massachusetts Citizens for Children, told the newspaper that because she had access to all kinds of containers to store the methadone, 'you begin to wonder whether there was a motivation to just keep the baby quiet'. Bernier added that it could have been 'her way of dealing with the infant crying'. The child's mother hasn't been charged in connection with her baby's hospitalization. Rej was arrested after she told police that she 'stores her methadone inside baby bottles', Flood said. She was released from the Lancaster County Jail but is due back in court on May 24. It was Bush who signed into law the Americans With Disabilities Act President George H.W. Bush's face was on Trump's when he mocked disabled reporter Serge Kovaleski, despite claiming he never met the man World War II general Dwight Eisenhower's face was on Trump's as he said Senator John McCain was only a war hero because he was captured Trump was shown as he refused to disavow the KKK with Abraham Lincoln's face on his own She posted video of Trump making statements that contradict the beliefs of past presidents while face-swapping their faces on the campaign trail differed from past R Hillary Clinton has mocked Donald Trump with a series of Snapchat face-swaps after comments he made about his behavior and rhetoric on the campaign trail. Trump told supporters last week in Pennsylvania; 'At the right time, I'll be so presidential, you'll be bored.' Clinton responded to this on Thursday by posting a Snapchat story where she face-swapped Trump and past Republican presidents to show how the billionaire businessman's comments are at odds with the beliefs of some of the men in his party who have been in the White House in the past. Scroll down for video Making her point: Hillary Clinton showed how Donald Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail differed from past Republican leaders on Snapchat Thursday Honest Abe: Trump was shown as he refused to disavow the KKK with Abraham Lincoln's face on his own (Lincoln left, face-swap right) Armed forces: World War II general Dwight Eisenhower's face was on Trump's as he said Senator John McCain was only a war her because he was captured (Eisenhower left, face-swap right) The first example Clinton give is Abraham Lincoln, writing; 'If Trump tries to be presidential like Honest Abe ... Remember the time he refused to disavow the KKK.' Lincoln's face is then shown on top of Trump's in a speech from earlier this year when Trump said of the KKK after being endorsed by white nationalist David Duke; 'I would disavow if i thought there was something wrong.' Trump did later denounce both Duke and the KKK in February. Next up came a photo of Dwight Eisenhower, with Clinton writing before she face-swapped the two two: 'Remember the time he insulted our veterans.' It then shows video of Trump from last year when he said of Senator John McCain; 'He's not a war hero. Hes a war hero cause he was captured. I like people that werent captured, O.K.?' Eisenhower was a general in World War II and largely considered one of the greatest leaders to ever serve in the American armed forces. Next up was Ronald Reagan, the man who Trump has said is one of the greatest leaders of all time. 'If he tried to be as presidential as his favorite president ... Remember that he said women should be punished for having abortions, write Clinton. His favorite: Video shows Trump speaking with Reagan's face over his own as he says 'there has to be some form of punishment' for women who are having abortions if they become illegal (Reagan left, face-swap right) More examples: President George H.W. Bush's face was on Trump's when he mocked disabled reporter Serge Kovaleski, despite claiming he never met the man (Bush left, face-swap right) Recent example: Last up was George W. Bush (left), with Clinton pointing out his desire to ban Muslims and keep out Mexicans with a wall, while showing when Trump called them 'rapists and drug dealers' No word: Trump has yet to respond to Clinton's face-swap story (Clinton above earlier this month) Video then shows Trump speaking with Reagan's face over his own as he says 'there has to be some form of punishment' for women who are having abortions if they become illegal. Reagan allowed abortions when he was governor of California and did not advocate a pro-life agenda while in the White House. Clinton nest showed a photo of George H.W. Bush and in that face-swap Trump could be seen while he mocked the appearance of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski, who he denied ever meeting despite spending extensive time with the man over the years. It was Bush who signed into law the Americans With Disabilities Act. Last up was George W. Bush, with Clinton pointing out his desire to ban Muslims and keep out Mexicans with a wall, while showing when Trump called them 'rapists and drug dealers.' Bush's sister-in-law, niece and nephews are half-Mexican because of his his brother's Jeb marriage to wife Columba. Trump has yet to respond to Clinton's face-swap story. A 94-year-old former SS guard on trial for complicity in 170,000 murders at Auschwitz broke his silence today for the first time since the war, telling victims he is 'truly sorry'. 'I have been silent all my life,' Reinhold Hanning told the Detmold state court that he had never told anyone about his wartime service in Auschwitz from January 1942 to June 1944. 'I want to say that it disturbs me deeply that I was part of such a criminal organization,' he said as he sat in a wheelchair, talking with a weak voice into a microphone. 'I am ashamed that I saw injustice and never did anything about it and I apologize for my actions. I am very, very sorry,' he said. 94-year-old former SS sergeant Reinhold Hanning broke his silence today for the first time since the war, telling victims he is 'truly sorry' Hanning spoke fondly of his time at the front and said as he was recovering from his wounds he asked to be sent back but his commander decided he was no longer fit for front-line duty, so sent him to Auschwitz As he spoke, Auschwitz survivor Leon Schwarzbaum watched from about 5 meters (yards) away with a steely face, afterward saying he was happy Hanning apologized but that it wasn't enough. 'I lost 35 family members, how can you apologize for that?' the 95-year-old said. 'I am not angry, I don't want him to go to prison but he should say more for the sake of the young generation today because the historical truth is important.' Hanning, 94, is charged with 170,000 counts of accessory to murder on allegations that as a guard he helped the death camp function, so can legally be found guilty of accessory to murder. Mr Schwarzbaum is one of some 40 Holocaust survivors who has joined the trial as co-plaintiff as allowed under German law, though only one other was in court to hear Hanning. Prosecutor Andreas Brendel said there was good evidence already that Hanning served in the camp, but that his admission Friday could help win a conviction. Hanning is charged with 170,000 counts of accessory to murder on allegations that as a guard he helped the death camp function, so can legally be found guilty of accessory to murder 94-year-old former SS sergeant Reinhold Hanning arrives in the courtroom in Detmold, Germany, Friday, April 29, 2016. Henning plans to make his first statement to the German court since his trial opened in February on 170,000 counts of accessory to murder over allegations he served as a guard at the Nazis' Auschwitz death camp. (Bernd Thissen/Pool Photo via AP) Mr Schwarzbaum is one of some 40 Holocaust survivors who has joined the trial as co-plaintiff as allowed under German law, though only one other was in court to hear Hanning 'Today's statement contributed a little more to establish that he was there, because he admitted that, and more importantly to the fact that he knew about the killings in the main camp - that also is a crucial fact,' Brendel told The Associated Press. Pleas are not entered in the German system and such statements to the court are not uncommon, and frequently help mitigate the length of a sentence. Hanning faces a possible 15 years in prison if convicted but at his age it is unlikely he will ever spend time behind bars given the length of the appeals process. Ahead of the short statement he made himself, Hanning's attorney Johannes Salmen read a 22-page statement from Hanning detailing how his client had joined the Hitler Youth with his class in 1935 at age 13, then volunteered at 18 for the Waffen SS in 1940 at the urging of his stepmother. He fought in several battles in World War II before being hit by grenade splinters in his head and leg during close combat in Kiev in 1941. Hanning spoke fondly of his time at the front and said as he was recovering from his wounds he asked to be sent back but his commander decided he was no longer fit for front-line duty, so sent him to Auschwitz. He said he didn't know what Auschwitz was at that time, but quickly found out, though he said his initial responsibility was to register patrols and work details coming and going through the front gate, far away from where the killings were taking place. He said he didn't know what Auschwitz was at that time, claiming he was in charge of the patrol rota Auschwitz survivor Leon Schwarzbaum lost 35 family members in the Holocaust and called for the former guard to explain more about his past About one million Jews were killed at the concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II He was later assigned to a guard tower and said all guards had orders to shoot prisoners trying to escape, but he did not say whether he ever shot anyone himself and did not mention any specific involvement in the killings in Auschwitz 'Nobody talked to us about it in the first days there, but if someone, like me, was there for a long time then one learned what was going on,' he told the court in the statement, looking down at the table in front of him as it was read aloud. 'People were shot, gassed and burned. I could see how corpses were taken back and forth or moved out. I could smell the burning bodies; I knew corpses were being burned.' He was later assigned to a guard tower and said all guards had orders to shoot prisoners trying to escape, but he did not say whether he ever shot anyone himself and did not mention any specific involvement in the killings in Auschwitz, where nearly 1 million Jews and tens of thousands of others were slaughtered. 'I've tried my whole life to forget about this time,' he said. 'Auschwitz was a nightmare.' A Wisconsin police chief says a dashcam video appears to show that officers who fatally shot an armed hostage in December gave no warning before they fired outside a motorcycle shop. Neenah Police Chief Kevin Wilkinson commented Thursday on the video, which was obtained and published online by the USA Today Network . It appears to show Michael L. Funk wasn't warned he'd be shot December 5 as he ran from Eagle Nation Cycles shop, where hostages were being held for fours hours by a disgruntled customer after a fight over a motorcycle. Neenah police had said shortly after the shooting that Funk, 60, ignored orders to drop his gun. Shot without warning: Dashcam footage released Thursday shows the moment Michael Funk flees the back door of Eagle Nation Cycles in Neenah (left) armed with a gun and runs in the direction of police (right) Killed: This is the moment Michael L. Funk was gunned down by police. Officials said Funk refused orders to drop the gun he was carrying, however footage of the incident does not appear to show officers cautioning him Wilkinson told The Associated Press that the initial information about Funk ignoring orders was from early interviews with witnesses, who may have been mistaken about when the commands were given, if in fact they were. 'From the video, it appears no warning was given,' Wilkinson said of the nearly five-minute dashcam footage. Wilkinson said it was possible a warning was given but not heard by Funk. Funk and two other men were held hostage at the bike shop in a dispute over a motorcycle. The video shows Funk escaping out the back door of the shop into an alley, falling or diving to the ground and taking cover behind a pickup truck, gun drawn, before moving away from it and coming under police gunfire. Funk, who had a concealed carry permit, does not point his gun at the officers. He was shot at least six times by police, the video shows. Neenah police have said one or more officers opened fire on Funk and that the gunman inside also may have shot at him. Brian T. Flatoff (appears) via teleconference from the Winnebago County Jail during a preliminary hearing at Winnebago County Court on December 9, 2015, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin Police say the gunman, Brian Flatoff, was a disgruntled customer of Eagle Nation Cycles (above) in Neenah, Wisconsin. He took hostages inside the shop and fired shots, police say Funk's wife, attorney and longtime business partner have all said he was a hostage who shouldn't have been killed. His widow, Theresa Mason-Funk, filed a $3.5 million claim in March against the City of Neenah and three police officers. The fatal shooting remains under investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, as required by a state law. The man who authorities say took hostages, 46-year-old Brian Flatoff of Stevens Point, is charged with 11 felonies, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Flatoff also is charged with felony reckless endangerment and other crimes after authorities said he fired a bullet into a woman's bedroom wall after a night of drinking. Those charges arose from events that prosecutors say preceded the standoff. He has pleaded not guilty. A police officer was injured after a bullet bounced off his helmet. The three officers were placed on paid administrative leave after the shooting and returned to desk duty later that month. Neenah is about 100 miles north of Milwaukee. A man who said he and Funk were among those taken hostage described a chaotic scene. Ryan Moderson said police came in repeating "Drop your gun!" He said gunfire erupted and hit a fire extinguisher, filling the room with smoke. Moderson said police pulled out and a short time later, when the gunman asked who was still in the building, he and another man spoke up. Funk was gone, he said. Moderson said the gunman told them to leave, and when he did he saw Funk lying in the alley. The criminal complaint says Flatoff got angry after his friend Eva Lawson-Kranski said she was going to call 911 to get him an ambulance because he was stumbling around the living room. She said he ran into the bedroom with a .45-calier pistol, crawled onto the bed with a pillow as if he was going to put it over her face, straddled her and shot into the wall above her head. Lawson-Kranski said he eventually calmed and decided to go to Eagle Nation to discuss a dispute over his motorcycle. She said she went to bed and woke up to a phone call from her husband telling her about the standoff. She said she then discovered that her Mac-10 handgun was missing. Police have not released much information about what happened inside the motorcycle shop or what caused Flatoff to allegedly hold those inside hostage. Andrew Chan's widow has revealed that she didn't say goodbye to her husband before he was killed by firing squad in Indonesia in March last year. Febyanti Herewila Chan said when families were forced to leave the jail for the final time that she did not say goodbye reported Perth Now. 'I never said goodbye to him,' she said. 'I just said how much I love you and I am always proud of you. I know if I broke down it is going to be so hard for him.' Febyanti Herewila Chan said she never said goodbye to Andrew Chan, instead she told him how much she loved him and how proud she was In March last year rehabilitated Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran and seven other people were put to death by firing squad. Ms Chan said Mr Chan was wearing his wedding ring the night he was executed, but the ring has never been returned to her. She said that every time she thinks about the ring, it gives her pain in her heart. 'He was wearing it. I just wish that I could have it back. Every time I think about it, it gives you pain in your heart.' The couple first met in Balis Kerobokan jail while Mr Chan was on death row and Ms Chan went into the jail to do pastoral work. It took them two years to get together, and Ms Chan recalled she didn't even realise he liked her. Andrew Chan pictured outside his cell in Kerobokan jail in Bali. Mr and Mrs Chan met while she was a visiting pastor at the jail It was only after people around them pointed out that every time she visited Mr Chan, he would cook for her. After both Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran had been told their pleas for Presidential clemency had been denied, and while they were waiting to be transferred from Bali to Nusa Kambangan, the couple got engaged. Ms Chan said it has taken time for the wounds to heal and for the anger in her heart to subside. Andrew Chan (left) and Myuran Sukumaran (right) were executed by firing squad in March 2015 for their part in the Bali Nine drug ring, caught in 2005 trying to smuggle heroin from Australian to Indonesia 'Andrew did, in the last eight years, more than people who live 30 and 60 years of their life. 'How many souls he brought to God and how many souls he saved,' she said. She hopes to set up a youth centre and school on the small Indonesian island of Sabu, to fulfill a dream of hers and Andrew's. She said they had dreamt of the community centre and school to help educate young and underprivileged children and foster future Indonesian leaders who could grow up to also fight injustice. Jitender Singh (pictured), 32, met a woman in India and stalked her for nearly a decade after she refused his marriage proposal A California man who met a woman in India, stalked her for nearly a decade, breaking into her Texas apartment has been sentenced to 19 years in prison. Jitender Singh, 32, was arrested in 2014 after breaking into the woman's apartment and stealing several items, including her Social Security card, jewelry and passport, according to the Dallas Morning News. Singh stalked the woman he met in Delhi, India, where they both attended college, as she moved to several cities in the United States. He was convicted on burglary of a habitation and fraudulent use of information charges and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine. Singh and the woman had only been classmates while in India but in 2006 she refused his marriage proposal prompting him to follow her home and threaten to hurt her, prosecutors told the newspaper. His defense attorney, Joe Padian, said his team is 'disappointed with the sentence' but they do 'intend to appeal'. The woman moved to New York in 2007 to attend school and Singh continued to harass her, even attempting to enroll in the same university, but he was denied admission. He also assaulted her father in India and was convicted in India on charges related to the harassment, threats and assault there. Prosecutors say Singh appealed and signed an affidavit agreeing to stay away from the woman so he could continue his studies in the US, according to the Dallas Morning News. And when the woman took an internship in California, Singh followed her to her home and demanded to see her. When she refused, prosecutors said he told her: 'You can't hide from me. I will always find you.' In 2011, the woman moved to Plano, Texas, to work for an information technology company and Singh continued to harass her through phone calls and other electronic means, according to prosecutors. Singh created a false credit monitoring service account in her name to find out where she was living in Texas in 2014 and then broke into her apartment by persuading a locksmith to open the door. He was then arrested when he was found in the parking lot of her apartment complex with her belongings. A jury in Collin County gave Singh 17 years for burglary of a habitation and two years for fraudulent use of information. Jack Susianta, 17, from Hackney, who died after jumping into a canal at Walthamstow Marshes, east London The grieving family of a psychotic teenager who drowned himself in a canal have said he would still be alive if police had done their job. Jack Susianta, 17, died in a canal at Walthamstow Marshes east London, after suffering a mental episode last year. He smashed through a window at his family home in nearby Hackney, and fled in just a t-shirt, socks and boxer shots. The teen jumped into the water as he evaded capture from police who he thought were not real officers. He had taken MDMA at a music festival a few days before. At St Pancras Coroner's Court a jury reached a unanimous conclusion that his death was both drug-related and accidental. Witnesses have claimed that police refused to enter the water to save him but the Metropolitan Police have denied this, saying one officer risked his life and entered the canal. A family spokesman said: 'When Jack became ill we sought help from professionals because we had never been in this situation before. 'We believe that Jack did not get the help he needed from East London Foundation NHS Trust or from the TSG officers by the River Lee. 'If he had received that help, we believe Jack would be alive today. He will never be forgotten.' Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Territorial Support Group (TSG) attempted to save Jack but had to stop searching Earlier PC Tom Griffiths had told the hearing that he saw Jack go underwater and believed it was in a 'deliberate act' to evade him and fellow officers. He added that is was a 'sad, unfortunate truth' that police were unable to save him. His colleague PC Richard Hughes said he believed the teenager might have 'fought us off in the water'. Sergeant Scott Miller, of the TSG, who was supervising his unit's response, described himself as a 'relatively weak swimmer'. The jury heard it took around nine minutes between the time Jack jumped into the canal at 3.50pm and an officer, PC Richard Wilson, requesting permission to go in after him. Police search for Jack's body in the canal last year after he drowned. An inquest heard police thought he was deliberately evading them when he went under The London Fire Brigade were first called at 3.53pm before the constable asked to enter the water at 3.59pm, which was approximately four minutes after Jack was last seen to have submerged. His family said they were 'relieved' at the jury's conclusion and welcomed the decision by the coroner to compile a preventing future death report. Their spokesman added: 'Jack is a wonderful son, a brilliant brother, a great friend and a bright student. 'He loved life and had everything to live for.' Floral tributes are left at the scene after Jack's death. The jury heard it took around nine minutes between the time Jack jumped into the canal at 3.50pm and an officer, PC Richard Wilson, requesting permission to go in after him 'We are relieved that the jury has not sought to blame Jack for his own death as the police and East London NHS Foundation Trusts have sought to do during this process. 'We hope that this process will result in other vulnerable young people and their families receiving better support from the authorities. 'We welcome the coroner's decision to make a preventing future death report to that end in relation to East London Foundation NHS Trust and the family now looks to the IPCC to do its job in relation to the case.' Lucy D'Orsi, the Metropolitan Police's commander for East London, urged people not to judge police officers whose 'heroic actions' are just 'everyday business'. She said her thoughts remain with Jack's family and friends and that she recognised the impact his death had had on bystanders and the emergency services. Lucy D'Orsi, the Metropolitan Police's commander for East London, urged people not to judge police officers She said: 'My colleagues arrive at work each day ready to face endless unknown and high-risk situations. 'Officers put on their uniform each morning to help people. Sixty per cent of our calls are not directly linked to crime, with many being to help vulnerable people who need assistance. It's this work that actually inspired many of us to join as police officers. 'As police officers we come to work to do a good job and will respond in the best way they can to help all members of the community. 'There are many times when officers' heroic actions never reach the press and to them it's just everyday business. They accept this, as to them it's just part and parcel of being a police officer.' Eventually seven officers came together to tackle Oliynyk and arrest him He began fighting back and holding them off as they hit him with batons Former Olympic medalist argued with officers who pepper-sprayed him This is the unbelievable moment a former Olympic wrestling champion kept seven police officers at bay as they tried to arrest him. Vyacheslav Oliynyk, who won a gold medal for Ukraine in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, shrugged off pepper spray and batons as officers attempted to restrain him in Kiev. The former wrestling champion, who had been celebrating his 50th birthday, was eventually tackled to the ground by police who accused him of drink-driving. The pepper spray appears to send Oliynyk into a rage and he begins grappling with two officers before throwing a punch at one of them Vyacheslav Oliynyk appears to shove one of the officers, who responds by firing pepper spray in his face A video of the incident, which was later released by local traffic officials, shows Oliynyk arguing with police officers after they pull him over. He appears to shove one of the officers, who responds by firing pepper spray in his face. But instead of calming the former athlete, it appears to send him into a rage and he begins grappling with two officers. One can be seen striking him with a baton and it isn't long before Oliynyk is bleeding from his head. The former Olympian is then seen backing away from the officers before launching round two and throwing a punch in the direction of one of them. One of the officers can be seen striking the former wrestling champion with a baton and it isn't long before Oliynyk is bleeding from his head The former Olympian is seen backing away from a large group of officers before launching round two It finally takes seven police officers to tackle Oliynyk to the ground, but even then he continues to fight back and prevents them from putting handcuffs on him. According to reports, the wrestler eventually calmed down for the sake of his young son who was crying in the car. Speaking to local media, Oliynyk said: 'I admit I was partially guilty, I can't tell you the whole thing. I'm partly guilty because I did not stop and I was ignoring the police. 'But I am not a criminal. As far as I can see there will be a court hearing and they will punish me somehow because they always do. 'However the fact that police let me go home on the same day shows I didn't do anything that bad.' Officers swarm the former wrestler and begin grappling with him in an attempt to tackle him to the ground It finally takes seven police officers to tackle Oliynyk to the ground, but even then he continues to fight back and prevents them from putting handcuffs on him Ukraine's Vyacheslav Oleynyk, in red, grapples with Poland's Jacek Fafinski in the Olympic final of the 90kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 Advertisement The U.S Vice President today met the Pope alongside U2 guitarist 'The Edge' as he called for a push to find cancer cures. The trio joined forces to campaign for a change in the way medical research is completed, agreeing that it should be dictated by need and not profit. Mr Biden, who lost his 46-year-old son Beau to brain cancer last year, claimed private and public sector resources should be jointly used to combat cancer as well as rare diseases. The U.S Vice President today met the Pope (pictured together) alongside U2 guitarist 'The Edge' as he called for a push to find cancer cures David Howell Evans, the member of the Irish rock band U2 who is known as 'The Edge' and whose daughter had leukaemia, also attended and is pictured with Irish bishop Paul Tighe (right) He made the speeches to doctors and researchers from around the world at a Vatican conference on regenerative medicine called 'Cellular Horizons' alongside the Pope. In his address, the pontiff called on the scientific community to pay more attention to people suffering from rare conditions. He said these patients often did not receive enough notice because the potential economic returns were deemed insufficient. He added: 'We are called to make known throughout the world the issue of rare diseases, to invest in appropriate education, to increase funds for research, and to promote necessary legislation as well as an economic paradigm shift. 'In this way, the centrality of the human person will be rediscovered.' Mr Evans and Mr Biden, a devout Catholic, laugh as they wait in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican after the speeches on medicine Pope Francis arrives for a special audience with participants at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact Mr Biden (centre), who ruled running for U.S. president after his son died, walks next to cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi (right) at the Vatican Mr Evans, who is also a backing vocalist for U2, clutched what appeared to be an electronic device with a set of headphones as he walked into the hall During his speech, he said he believes the world could be on the edge of a breakthrough in terms of how it is harnessing supercomputing and data analysis to find cures and therapies Meanwhile, the Pope called for research founded on 'solidarity, generosity, magnanimity, sharing of knowledge, respect for human life' The Pope listens intently as Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasito speaks during the conference, which was held at the Vatican today Mr Biden, who ruled out running for U.S. president after his son died, delivered a highly emotional address tinged with personal memories of his family's fight to keep their son alive. The devout Catholic said he believes the world could be on the edge of a breakthrough in terms of how it is harnessing supercomputing and data analysis to find cures and therapies. He said: 'I wished I could have been the president to preside over the fundamental change to cure cancer.' He added: 'The truth is that today, more than any point in human history, we have a genuine opportunity to help more people across the world than ever before. And that's our obligation.' The Pope looked delighted as he shook hands with various officials connected to Mr Bide, who travelled to the Vatican following an unexpected trip to Iraq The vice president echoed the Pope's call for a universal effort to fight disease that put people before prestige and profit. Above, the pontiff continues to shake hands with members of the audience Mr Biden was also warmly introduced to Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi following his speech in the spectacular hall at the Vatican The Church teaches that life begins at conception and condemns embryonic stem cell research. Above, Mr Evans talks to Bishop Paul Tighe In his address, the pontiff called on the scientific community to pay more attention to people suffering from rare conditions Mr Biden clutches a black folder as he walks carefully down the impressive marble steps in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican The vice president also echoed the Pope's call for a universal effort to fight disease that put people before prestige and profit. He said: 'We should be sharing data the moment it's published, immediately, not hiding it behind paywalls that prevent information from being shared for a year or more.' Meanwhile, the Pope called for research founded on 'solidarity, generosity, magnanimity, sharing of knowledge, respect for human life'. The Church teaches that life begins at conception and condemns embryonic stem cell research and therapy because it involves destroying embryos. However, it permits adult stem cell research. Police have charged a man over the death Mengmei 'Michelle' Leng, 25, whose naked body, riddled with stab wounds, was found in a blowhole on New South Wales' Central Coast. A 27-year-old man, believed to be known to Ms Leng, was arrested on Friday afternoon and charged with her murder. Ms Leng appears to have visited the site of her alleged murder in the past, as she posted a photo to her Instagram account of the exact same blowhole almost three years ago on June 13, 2013. Scroll down for video NSW Police have release CCTV footage of Mengmei Leng, 25, shopping at Pitt Street in central Sydney about 3pm last Thursday Her body was found at the bottom of a blowhole near Snapper Point on Sunday. Above is an image from CCTV Ms Leng appears to have visited the site of her alleged murder in the past, as she posted a photo to her Instagram account of the exact same blowhole almost three years ago on June 13, 2013 The man was denied bail to appear in the Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, police said in a statement. Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin said: 'There's a lot of speculation through social media about her activities - at this stage they're lines of inquiry we're following up.' Ms Leng was earlier identified as a University of Technology Sydney graduate, and NSW Police released CCTV footage of her shopping at Pitt Street in central Sydney about 3pm last Thursday. Also known as Michelle, Ms Leng caught a train from St James Railway Station, arriving at Campsie Railway Station about 4.30pm three days before her body was found on Sunday, April 24. Detectives are hoping to piece together Ms Leng's movements from Thursday evening to Sunday morning after she was reported missing to Campsie Police on Monday by a relative. The 25-year-old, who is originally from China, is a University of Technology Sydney graduate who studied economics and hospitality business management. Ms Leng was living with her aunt and uncle at Campsie, in Sydney's south-west, and had been living in Australia for five years. Her mother and brother live in China and she was also studying translation at UTS before her death. A picture of Ms Leng on her graduation day last year after getting her economics and hospitality business management degree Friends of Ms Leng said they last saw her at a bus stop outside UTS on Friday before the long weekend and she may have been planning to meet someone for a date, news.com.au reported. Det Chief Insp Jubelin said on Friday she had been communicating with friends on her mobile phone up until Thursday night and she did not post on social media following that time. He also said it was 'out-of-character' and 'unusual' for Ms Leng to disappear. 'From all the information we've gathered in relation to the young lady, she was very responsible, would always stay in contact with her family, let them know where she was going, so there was concerns when she disappeared,' Det Chief Insp Jubelin said. 'So it is definitely out-of-character for her.' The blowhole at Snapper Point is a notorious spot popular with fisherman. In eight years, there have been 16 deaths at and around the spot Friends of Ms Leng said they last saw her at a bus stop outside UTS on Friday before the long weekend Ms Leng's family have been informed of her death and Det Chief Insp Jubelin said he did not think 'devastated properly describes' the way her relatives were feeling. Chinese media last night reported that her mother was applying for a visa in order to fly to Sydney. 'It is difficult and traumatic for her family so far away at this time,' he said. 'Speaking to the brother, he was shocked by it and there is a lot of pain. 'They're dealing with it as best they can but it's a very sad situation.' Homicide detectives are scouring CCTV and traffic cameras to map out Ms Leng's final movements. They are also speaking to her family members, friends and associates. Det Chief Insp Jubelin said there was no 'clear or concise motive' at this stage of the investigation. 'It just seems like a senseless crime for a lady like that to be killed and murdered in the situation that occurred,' he said. Friends and acquaintances paid tribute to Ms Leng on Chinese and Australian social media sites. 'Devastated. Hope there is no pain in Heaven,' one friend said. The 25-year-old, who is originally from China, is a University of Technology Sydney graduate Ms Leng, also known as Michelle, caught a train from St James Railway Station, arriving at Campsie Railway Station about 4.30pm 'Cherish life, as you never know which day is your last day,' another said. 'Who would've thought she was gone.' Ms Leng was an adventurer who recently travelled to Hobart for a getaway and regularly embarked on day trips around New South Wales. In recent weeks, she posted a video from West Head lookout near Sydney Harbour, pictures from Resolute Beach, north of the city, in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and Werri Beach on the south coast. Like so many girls her age, she would often post pictures of herself having cocktails and glasses of wine with friends and hip Harbourside on weekends. Ms Leng is originally from Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province, according to an old missing persons report circulated online. Ms Leng's body was found floating in a blowhole at Snapper Point at the Munmorah State Conservation Area on Sunday morning. Earlier this week, Det Chief Insp Jubelin said Ms Leng suffered a 'violent assault' before her death. 'The post-mortem revealed the woman had suffered a number of wounds, significantly some stab wounds,' he said. 'Our interpretation of the situation is that she suffered a violent assault prior to her death.' Detectives are hopping to pieces together Ms Leng's movements over the long weekend after she was reported missing to Campsie Police on Monday by a relative Ms Leng's body was found floating in a blowhole at Snapper Point at the Munmorah State Conservation Area on Sunday morning Police released a photo composite of Ms Leng's face when they were unable to identify her after her body was found on Sunday Det Chief Insp Jubelin said her body was found in an area frequented by tourists and rock fisherman, but it was somewhat isolated. 'It is a very beautiful location but for a crime and someone to be disposed of in that manner in the location its a very lonely and isolated area,' he said. Ms Leng was discovered face down on Sunday morning and authorities believe she could not have been there for any longer than 48 hours, and it was likely much less than that. 'She was found at 10.30am so this is suggestive of the fact that perhaps her body hadn't been there very long in the water,' Mr Jubelin said. The detective chief inspector said although the blow hole was about five kilometres from the entrance to the national park, there was a carpark right near the tourist attraction and so it is possible she was transported there by a vehicle. Ohio Police Unravel Family Massacre, Slowly Last week eight members of one family, the Rhodens, were executed in Ohio, in four different homes on the same night. Local authorities still haven't found the killer or killers, and all of Pike County, the rural Ohio region where the slayings took place, is reportedly on edge. There is reason to believe that the murders may have had to do with illegal marijuana growing operations allegedly discovered on the properties where the Rhodens were murdered. There are also stories in the media about the Rhoden family teenage boys being fighters. But despite massive law enforcement efforts, the investigation is moving slowly, writes ABC News, and little is known for sure. The Victims The victims in this gruesome group murder were all shot on the same night in different places and are all related. They are Christopher Rhoden Sr., in his forties, his ex-wife, their three children and the mother of their grandchild (two teens and a young adult parent whose partner was also killed but whose baby was spared), as well as Rhoden's adult brother and cousin. It is notable that a 6-month-old baby, a 3-year-old, and a 4-year-old were all left unharmed. Police have reportedly accumulated 79 pieces of evidence from the four murder locations. The coroner in Pike County said that most of the victims were shot once in the head but one was shot nine times. Authorities, who have sought assistance and information from the public, are also being somewhat circumspect so as not to telegraph information to the killers. They expect this investigation to last a while. The Puzzle Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine told the Wall Street Journal that it would take work to unravel this mystery. "You come upon a body, or in this case eight bodies in four homes," he said. "The killers are long gone, and then it's the old-fashioned detective work. You have to put this together one piece at a time." Although it is not yet clear what pieces of the puzzle police do have at this point, the Ohio AG does seem to believe the killers made mistakes. "No one executes everything perfectly," he told reporters. "We are following the evidence wherever it leads. There's no boundaries." Accused? If you have been accused of crime, don't delay. Speak to a criminal defense attorney today. Many lawyers consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to discuss your case. Related Resources: Shocking footage has emerged of the moment paramedics tried to resuscitate gangland figure Walid Ahmad after he was gunned down in a 'targeted attack' outside a shopping centre. Police have voiced fears that a war between rival Sydney crime gangs, thought to have stemmed from a drugs debt, could escalate following the death of the convicted killer on Friday. Ahmad, 41, was shot dead in a 'well-planned ambush' on the rooftop carpark at Bankstown Central shopping centre in an attack which left his bodyguard and a 31-year-old woman with injuries. A large-scale manhunt is now underway for the shooter and the driver of a getaway car. Distressing images show Ahmad, who went into cardiac arrest immediately after he was shot, lying on the ground covered in blood while a man performs CPR on his chest. Shocking footage has emerged of the moment paramedics tried to resuscitate gangland figure Walid Ahmad after he was gunned down in a 'targeted attack' outside a shopping centre A man gunned down in a busy shopping centre in a 'targeted' attack is believed to be convicted killer and standover man Walid 'Wally' Ahmad Police have voiced fears that a war between rival Sydney crime gangs, thought to have stemmed from a drugs debt, could escalate following the death of the convicted killer on Friday Distressing images show Ahmad, who went into cardiac arrest immediately after he was shot, lying on the ground covered in blood His family and friends can be heard screaming 'Walid, Walid! Don't die on me Walid!' Ahmad, a known standover man, was wanted by police for questioning the fatal shooting of Safwan Charbaji at his smash repairs business earlier this month in Condell Park. This has prompted fears that Friday's shooting could be 'payback' for the killing. Ahmad was also jailed in 2005 after shooting dead Mayez Danny at Greenacre in Sydney's south-west in 2002. Senior police told the Daily Telegraph they feared the killing of Ahmad in such a brazen manner would lead to retaliation. 'There are two distinct crime groups now involved in a feud and they are extremely violent,' one officer said. It has also been reported a large drug debt was at the centre of the long-running dispute between the two crime gangs. A woman is taken away by NSW Paramedics after she was shot in the leg in the car park at Bankstown Central shopping centre in Sydney's south-west just before 12pm on Friday A man was treated by paramedics at the scene for gunshot wounds to his leg before being taken to hospital Police have recovered a car believed to have been used after the deadly shooting at Bankstown on Friday The gunman is believed to have escaped in a Mercedes, which was found burned out less than 1km away 'Somebody didn't pay protection for their coke run,' a source told News.com.au. 'Somebody owes 100 grand and that's what this is all about.' Police are now investigating whether Ahmad's death was payback for the shooting at Condell Park. 'It's clearly targeted, this is not a random shooting,' Detective Superintendent David Eardley said. 'Certainly there's been a recent shooting in Condell Park. Those detectives will be reviewing this today. 'Obviously that will be the subject of an investigation to identify any linkages to the deceased man. 'We're certainly not ruling out any links - we're looking at all opportunists and all avenues of investigation.' He said police believe the gunman may not have been working alone and that the victim was an intended target. 'The indication is that this gunman did not act alone - we had information of a white Mercedes vehicle being used,' he said. 'I can confirm that vehicle has been located burnt-out in the Greenacre area.' Police have released CCTV footage showing the suspected getaway car used Ahmad was shot dead. Police have released CCTV footage showing the suspected getaway car used (driving along the road) Ahmad, a central figure among Sydney's middle eastern crime gangs, was shot dead in a 'well-planned ambush' at Bankstown Central shopping centre, west of the city, on Friday Ahmad's family were seen looking distressed following the shooting at the shopping centre on Friday The wounded man, named as Nael Hamid, is thought to be Ahmad's bouncer and made light of the situation by telling 7 News his injuries were due to 'fireworks' The video shows a white Mercedes driving down a nearby street followed by a white hatchback, shortly before both cars were found burnt-out in Greenacre. Police believe the Mercedes was driven into a car park at the Bankstown Central Shopping Centre about 11.50am. A gunman then exited the car, and opened fire on three people sitting at a table at a cafe. A woman and a 60-year-old man suffered non life-threatening gun wounds to their legs in the attack and they are now recovering in hospital. The man, named as Nael Hamid, is thought to be Ahmad's bodyguard and he made light of the situation by telling Seven News his injuries were due to 'fireworks'. Moments before the attack, a man and a woman reportedly ran into the shopping centre asking about store security. 'Where's store security? Where's store security? Can you call them?' the woman said, according to news.com.au. But the man said: 'There's not enough f***ing time.' The pair then ran towards an escalator, which leads to the third-level gym, cafe and carpark, where the shooting occurred. It is not known who the people were or if they were hurt in the shooting. Ahmad's niece told news.com.au how she received a panicked call from Ahmad's daughter. Ahmad was jailed in 2005 after shooting dead Mayez Danny at Greenacre in Sydney's south-west in 2002 Ahmad was wanted for questioning over the fatal shooting of Safwan Charbaji (pictured) outside the A Team Smash Repairs in Condell Park on April 9 Police surround a man at the shopping centre but say no arrests have been made in relation to the shooting The man who died is believed to have gone into cardiac arrest immediately after he was shot. Paramedics are seen here attending to the two injured people There is believed to have been eight shots fired in the car park of the shopping centre on the corner of Stacey Street and Rickard Street The shopping centre car park was closed as a precaution as police investigated Witnesses say eight shots were fired in the busy shopping centre carpark 'She said, 'Come get me! He's dead! He's dead!' the niece said. Ahmad was on the run after the fatal shooting of Safwan Charbaji outside the A Team Smash Repairs on April 9, according to The Daily Telegraph. He was at the shop when the shots were fired and police wanted to question him in the days after the incident. He was also jailed for seven years in 2005 after shooting dead Mayez Danny at Greenacre in Sydney's south-west in 2002. At the time Ahmad was working as a bouncer at a King Cross nightclub owned by Hassan 'Sam' Ibrahim, Fairfax reported. Mr Danny reportedly became angry when Ahmad punched his nephew and broke his jaw after refusing him entry into the DCM nightclub. Ahmad later shot Mr Dany five times at a meeting at a Greenacre auto wreckers. The 41-year-old, who is believed to be married with children, was also reportedly being investigated over his role in an extortion racket. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that he was well known for intimidation and stand over tactics, particularly in the automotive industry. Police said a torched Mercedes used in the shooting was found in a street just one kilometre from the shopping centre Investigators are looking into the possibility two cars may have been used by a man wanted over the shopping centre shooting at Bankstown in Sydney's south-west on Friday Police were seen talking to residents in Greenacre not far from the street where the burnt-out remains of a vehicle used during a shooting was found Witnesses say eight shots were fired at the busy shopping centre on Friday. 'As I was parking my car, I heard gun shots. I went upstairs and there were three on the floor, two guys and a girl,' a witness told 9News. 'There was a guy lying in a pool of blood. They were trying to revive him, but he [had] passed away already. 'I was in the war zone in Lebanon, but it wasn't as scary as what I just saw.' Police say a crime scene has been established and it will be examined by detectives and forensic specialists. Fatema Islam, who works at the nearby Bankstown Hospital, says she had just parked her car when she heard two gunshots and a woman screaming. 'I thought something probably fell from the fitness (shop) and I tried not to pay attention,' Ms Islam told reporters at the shopping centre. 'A lady came out from over there, screaming and crying, saying, 'Gunshots, gunshots'. I was like, 'That can't be true'.' Bankstown Commander Dave Eardley said police believe the gunman may not have been working alone and that the victim was an intended target A shocked witness said 'there was a guy lying in a pool of blood' in the carpark Bankstown Central shopping centre is located about 20km south-west of Sydney Police say a crime scene has been established and it will be examined by detectives and forensic specialists Ms Islam says she ran inside after hearing the woman's cries. 'All of a sudden the police was here and I heard one person has died and two are injured,' she said. 'I'm sorry, I'm still scared myself. It's pretty scary, especially for local people like us. It's not a very fun place to be.' Ms Islam said she was used to treating gunshot victims, but not like this. 'We deal with this all the time, but it's different when patients come to us with gunshot wounds,' she said. 'It's different when you actually see it on the spot - it's pretty scary.' The shopping centre car park has been closed as a precaution. No arrests have been made at this stage. Drivers are urged to avoid the area for the time being due to traffic delays. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, appropriately named 'Buster' by the driver, was so nervous it was spotted 'shaking' on the bus in east London on Thursday night An unwanted pet dog was abandoned and left to ride on a London night bus for up to 10 hours until an animal charity could come and rescue it. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, appropriately named 'Buster' by the driver, was so nervous it was spotted 'shaking' on the bus in east London on Thursday night. Driver Amos Paul Mak, 44, was travelling along Leyton High Road on the 158 route bus when he noticed the sad-looking pooch sitting in the disabled bay. Mr Amos, from Stratford, east London, then shared the photograph he took on Facebook to try and track down the owner. He even offered to take 'Buster' home, but his employer said he was unable to because of company regulations. The bus ended up at Stratford Bus Station at around 10pm and the stranded dog then stayed on the bus until the 'early hours' because it 'didn't want to be moved'. Mr Amos said: 'I was driving the 158 bus when a dog came on at around 9.30pm. It looked like it came on with two men, but the pair soon got off. 'The dog then stayed so I stopped the bus for five minutes and asked on the tannoy if anyone owned the dog, but nobody came forward. 'Everyone on the bus was quite sympathetic but it seemed like the dog was on its own.' Mr Amos then finished his route after arriving in Stratford and went over to comfort the lonely canine. He added: 'I could tell the dog was starting to become more and more nervous - it was shaking as I was stroking it. But it seemed like it was quite switched on and it seemed like a smart dog. 'Because the bus had terminated at Stratford, the controller took the vehicle back to the yard with the dog still on it. 'I offered to take the dog home, but I wasn't able to because if it had bitten me, I could have sued the company. 'The dog then stayed on the bus overnight because it didn't want to be moved. The bus ended up at Stratford Bus Station at around 10pm and the stranded dog then stayed on the bus until the 'early hours' because it 'didn't want to be moved' The RSPCA picked up the dog on Friday morning and the dog was named 'Buster' by the driver 'The RSPCA then picked him this morning, I'm not sure when, but the dog could have been on the bus until 8am. 'I called him Buster because of where it was found on the bus and I think it was around six years old.' A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said police and the RSPCA were called but neither were able to come out. The spokesman said: 'We then called the police station at Forest Gate, which has a dog pound, but they said it had no space. 'The bus was taken out of service and taken to the bus garage at West Ham. They tried to get the dog off the bus but it was frightened and would not come off the bus.' He added the dog was 'well cared for and kept on the bus' until this morning when it was collected by the dog warden. A Metropolitan Police Service said: 'We were called at 9.30pm to reports of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier left on a bus. We did not attend. TfL then called the dog warden.' An RSPCA spokewoman said: 'We were concerned to hear about a dog that appears to have been left on a bus yesterday in the Stratford area. A fantasist who faked terminal cancer to con her former lecturer out of thousands of pounds has had her jail sentence reduced. Elisa Bianco, 22, duped mother-of-four Sally Retallack with a fake sob story, claiming she only had three months to live. Mrs Retallack, 49, then paid for Bianco to go on a 2,500 'final' trip, before hosting her a 'farewell' party in which she dressed as an angel ahead of her 'ascent into heaven'. Fantasist Elisa Bianco who faked terminal cancer to con her former lecturer Sally Retallack out of thousands of pounds has had her jail sentence reduced. They are pictured together at Bianco's 'farewell' party Bianco, of Fowey, Cornwall, was sentenced to 32 months in jail at Truro Crown Court in December 2015 after admitting stalking causing serious alarm or distress. After she was jailed, Mrs Retallack described how the scam had ruined her life, adding that Bianco was 'sick, sick, sick'. But judges from the Court of Appeal have now cut the sentence to 28 months. Although judges said Bianco's web of lies had a 'truly devastating' impact on Mrs Retallack, they said the sentence failed to reflect Bianco's guilty plea, remorse, and the efforts she has made to find a job. Bianco met Mrs Retallack when she enrolled on a college course in St Austell, Cornwall, taught by the health and social care tutor. Bianco, of Fowey, Cornwall, was jailed for 32 months but has had four months cut off her sentence The then 16-year-old, was living with her mother and passed her first year. But after Mrs Retallack became her personal tutor in the second year, she seemed 'socially isolated' and began spinning a web of lies. The teenager falsely told Mrs Retallack that mother and step-father were alcoholics and persuaded her to let her stay in her family home on a short-term basis. But she ended up staying for months on end, with Mrs Retallack even forking out 750 in rent and equipment for her place at uni. Bianco then left the property in autumn 2012 to continue her studies, but returned three weeks later, claiming she had blood in her urine and collapsed arteries. Mrs Retallack felt compelled to let her return to the family home, where she stayed temporarily, before pretending to undergo a fake kidney removal in February 2013. Mrs Retallack's 83-year-old mother even helped look after the perfectly healthy woman, it was heard. But when Mrs Retallack - who the defendant started calling 'mum' - asked about her getting a job in March 2013, she said she had a benign tumour on the other kidney. Asking to be dropped off at hospital everyday, she would actually sit in the cafe in her pyjamas, buying dressings to used and forging medical letters. Her deep-seated betrayal was backed up by other bizarre tricks. Bianco cut her hair off at the roots to mimic the effects of chemotherapy and kept a plastic bottle hidden under her clothing so that she could squeeze it to mimic the sounds of her ribs cracking. Bianco (pictured) met Mrs Retallack when she enrolled on a college course in St Austell, Cornwall, taught by the health and social care tutor The compulsive liar (left and right) told Mrs Retallack she wanted to die at home and she forked out 2,000 on a bucket list of activities, as well as a 'final' birthday party in August 2013 Her relentless, selfish demands eventually drove a irreconcilable wedge between the woman and her husband Ralph and he moved out of the family home. Bianco - who was by then sleeping in Mrs Retallack's bed because of the 'pain' - then posed as consultant physician 'John' and orchestrated an online relationship between him and Mrs Retallack. She later killed him off, even sending a devastated Mrs Retallack an invented death-bed love note and flowers which tragically arrived the day after he 'passed away'. Meanwhile Bianco told Mrs Retallack she wanted to die at home and she forked out 2,000 on a bucket list of activities, as well as a 'final' birthday party in August 2013. Friends were duped by the compulsive liar and cried at the party, with one even bringing a locket for her to be buried wearing, the court heard. Bianco's lies were exposed when Mrs Retallack came to surprise her at the Royal Cornwall Hospital but nobody on the renal ward, which she said she visited daily, had ever heard of her. After she was jailed, Mrs Retallack (left) said Bianco was 'sick, sick, sick'. The student's relentless demands had driven a wedge between the woman and her husband Ralph (right) and he moved out of the family home Mr Retallack also tracked down Bianco's father, who confirmed that his daughter did not have cancer. A month later the fraudster was questioned by police and confessed she had lied about her home life and medical conditions, forged letters and created a fake email account. Jailing Bianco Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC said: 'It is a very strange and disturbing case. 'You were like an uninvited cuckoo fledgling in the nest of a willow warbler - an unexpected offspring demanding to receive constant attention. 'Most chilling was the callous and cruel deception to create a fictitious hospital consultant. You heartlessly manipulated Mrs Retallack's deepest emotions. 'No sentence will compensate her.' Police in Wisconsin were called to a high school on Wednesday after a student got into a fight with a security guard in a hallway and knocked the man out cold. The incident occurred around 1.30 p.m. at Vincent High School on Milwaukee's northwest side. According to officials, the 17-year-old boy hit the 51-year-old man after the guard caught him speaking on his cellphone. Smack down: This is the moment the 17-year-old student starts arguing with the school security guard (left) before hitting him in the face (right) After hitting the man, the student throws him to the ground and continues to pummel him until some other students pulls the boy off. Police are now investigating A video of the fight surfaced online not long after the incident and has shocked students at the school. 'This morning when I came to school, they was talking about it and I actually know the person who did it, and I heard his name and I'm like, is it a video?' Oscar Rash, a senior, told Fox 6 Now. 'And I got shown the video and when I seen it I said, ''that's disrespectful''. 'I'm cool with him -- but he gets no respect for doing something like that to a person like that. 'He's older. You can't do that.' Officials at the school said the safety officer was treated for minor injuries. Police are currently seeking the 17-year-old student. 'You can't do that': Students Oscar Rash (left) and Taron Edmond (right) said the security guard was well-liked Scene: The incident occurred around 1.30 p.m. Wednesday at Vincent High School on Milwaukee's northwest side and video of the scene quickly surfaced online Other students at the school said the security guard is generally well-liked. 'He was cool. He just stood in the corner, made sure you got to class,' Rash said. 'He made sure we did what we was supposed to do. 'It wasn't like he was a security guard who started stuff with everybody. A South Carolina mother is claiming her 14-year-old son's high school science teacher told him to go back to Africa after he refused to stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance in class this week. Nicole Whitmore said her son, a freshman at Battery Creek High School, was just one of half the students in the room who did not want to stand for the morning pledge on Tuesday. Whitmore said the teacher, whose name has not been released, told them to stand up and her son told a friend it didn't matter because 'Donald Trump is going to send us back to Africa'. Nicole Whitmore said her son, a freshman at Battery Creek High School (pictured) in Beaufort, South Carolina, was told to go back to Africa after he refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in class That's when the teacher, who is white, allegedly told the boy he should go back. The Beaufort County School District is currently looking into the incident, said spokesman Jim Foster. Students are permitted by state law to sit down or leave the room during the Pledge of Allegiance The district said it also reminded teachers and staff that students are permitted by state law to sit down or leave the room during the Pledge of Allegiance as long as it does not infringe on their peers or disrupt classroom activities. Whitmore said she hopes the teacher faces consequences for the alleged comment. 'You don't tell my son to go back to Africa knowing you're a different color that he is,' she told The Beaufort Gazette. 'I'm Puerto Rican and black, I know what I went through.' 'I don't want my son going through anything discriminative.' Whitmore said her son recently revealed to her that reading the news made him upset, specifically stories about Donald Trump and his remarks during the presidential campaign. A Trump supporter made headlines in March when he yelled 'Go back to Africa!' at a group of Black Lives Matters supporters outside a Trump rally in Cleveland. 'These children are not dumb,' she said. 'They can read and they see all of this going on and for (a teacher) to tell him to go back to Africa, of course he's going to feel some type of way.' Whitmore said her son was forced to spend his first period in the school's media center the day after the incident. The school would not comment on whether the teen was being disciplined. Germany should be spying on the country's mosques to ensure they are not stirring up religious hatred, according to a key ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Volker Kauder, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) group in the German parliament, said: 'We need to talk about the fact that in some mosques sermons do not correspond to our understanding of the role of the state. 'The state must control them. It is the duty of the state to keep checks on that.' Scroll down for video Cologne's new central mosque, which is under construction, is one of the most impressive buildings in Germany. There is no suggestion sermons there are under suspicion In an interview with the Berliner Zeitung, Mr Kauder said: 'Germany is a secular country in which religion doesn't take precedence over the state, but vice versa. 'Everyone has to abide by this, and all representatives and adherents to a religion need to accept this,' said Kauder. Germany has so far been unaffected by the jihadist violence which has hit France, Belgium and some other European countries. Angela Merkel has been increasingly on the back foot over the migrant crisis. Volker Kauder is a key ally of hers and he might be But several German citizens have gone to join ISIS in Syria and Iraq and there are fears that ISIS sympathisers might have entered the country during the migrant crisis. The crisis has seen a rise in popularity for the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party, which may draw away support for the CDU. AfD leader Frauke Petry called today for a ban on minarets, which she said were 'an expression of an Islamic claim to power which is in contravention of the German constitution.' She told the Rheinische Post newspaper: 'Whoever wants to live a private Muslim life doesn't need minarets.' The CDU has its roots in Protestant churches and is allied with the Catholic Bavaria-based Christian Social Union (CSU) in the Bundestag parliament. AfD leader Frauke Petry (pictured left, with deputy speaker Albrecht Glaser) celebrate success last month in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony-Anhalt But the CDU has always accepted the secular nature of the Federal Republic of Germany, which was founded in 1949 and took over eastern Germany in 1990 following the collapse of communism. Politicians on the right have been proposing various laws in recent weeks to tackle a perceived problem with integration of German Muslims, many of whom have their origins in Turkey. CSU leader Andreas Scheuer called recently for all mosque sermons to be delivered in German, rather than Turkish or Arabic. Mr Scheuer said imams should be educated in Germany and 'share our fundamental values'. But Mr Kauder disagreed with the idea and said: 'For Italians the holy mass is also given in Italian. In synagogues they pray in Hebrew. That should be accepted.' Mr Kauder also had a dig at those in Britain who are campaigning to leave the European Union ahead of the referendum on June 23 but want a new trade deal with EU members. The step-daughters of multi-millionaire and former Ford Motor Company CEO Henry Ford II are worried that their share of his $350million estate might have driven off into the sunset. Debbie Guibord called police Wednesday to complain that their mom's lawyer was keeping her and her sister from seeing their 75-year-old mother, Kathleen DuRoss Ford, Page Six reported Friday. 'The daughters have only been allowed to talk to their mother by phone with [lawyer L Frank Chopin] on the line in a conference call,' a source told the site. 'Theyve been completely shut out for nearly a year.' Will: The daughters of Kathleen DuRoss Ford (right, pictured in 1981) say they are worried they won't receive the money her husband Henry Ford II (left) gave her when he died - which could now be $304.5million Lawyer: DuRoss Ford's daughters say her long-time lawyer L Frank Chopin (right, with DuRoss Ford in 2012) is stopping them from seeing their mom, and believe he may have had them written out of the will DuRoss Ford, the third and final wife of Henry Ford II, has been collecting $10.5million a year ever since he died in 1987 at the age of 70. Including this year's sum, those payments would total $304.5million. She currently lives in a trust-held mansion in West Palm Beach valued at $34.8million, according to Palm Beach Daily News. But now Guibord and her sister Kimberly, both from DuRoss Ford's previous marriage, fear that Chopin is locking them out in order to get his hands on their mother's fortune. They believe he may have encouraged DuRoss Ford, whose health deteriorated after back surgery, to write them out of her will, Page Six said. If the claims are true, then their fight will mirror the battle their own mother waged to get her share of her husband's money when he died in 1987. Henry Ford II left behind a $350million estate, to be divided up between DuRoss Ford, his three kids from his first marriage - Edsel, Ann and Charlotte - and his grandchildren. DuRoss Ford was left a trust that would pay out at least $1.5million a year - and potentially more, if its trustees agreed. An article from The New York Times in 1988, however, revealed that DuRoss Ford had hired Chopin to take Edsel to court, saying he and another trustee, his lawyer, had tried to lock her out of the money. Battle: Henry Ford II's son Edsel (right, with uncle William Ford) was sued by DuRoss Ford in 1988, who said he was trying to stop her getting the money she was owed. She was represented by Chopin at the time Daughters: DuRoss Ford settled out of court, accepting $10.5million a year. Including 2016, that would total $304.5million so far. Her daughters Debi (left) and Kimberly (right) are worried they won't see the money According to the Times, none of the children liked DuRoss Ford, who met Henry Ford II in 1969 when she was an auto model with two kids and he was in his second marriage to Italian socialite Maria Cristina Vettore. Charlotte and Ann, who were fond of his second wife, even spurned the couple's wedding in 1980. And although Henry Ford II had left a video will hoping to placate all his loved ones, it wasn't enough to keep lawsuits at bay. Before the case could hit the courts, however, a settlement was made giving DuRoss Ford $10.5 million a year, The LA Times reported. At the time the Ford children and their lawyer said that the case was initiated by Chopin so that he could manage the day-to-day business of the trust. Both Chopin and DuRoss Ford denied the claim - she called it 'sheer foolishness.' But now it would appear Chopin is facing similar allegations. Police confirmed to Page Six that an investigation is underway. When contacted by the site, the DuRosses' lawer declined to comment and Chopin did not return calls. Henry Ford II was the grandson of Henry Ford, who founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903. His net worth in today's money would have been $199billion, according to the NY Daily News. Channel Nine demanded that 60 Minutes presenter Tara Brown should be involved at 'critical moments' in the planned kidnapping of two young children in Lebanon, an email has revealed. The veteran reporter was even supposed to board a getaway boat with three TV crew members following the abduction of Sally Faulkner's children in Beirut earlier this month. The email, reportedly sent from a Nine employee to Child Abduction Recovery International founder Adam Whittington, also discussed payment for the illegal operation. Mr Whittington, who is still behind bars, has claimed that Nine paid him a total of $115,000 to snatch Ms Faulkner's two children from her estranged husband Ali Elamine's family on April 6. 'Our stories are based on our reporter being involved at critical moments and that's how I've been able to get approval here for this story,' the email from Nine said, according to the Daily Telegraph. Channel Nine demanded that 60 Minutes presenter Tara Brown should be involved at 'critical moments' in the planned kidnapping of two young children in Lebanon, an email has revealed The veteran reporter was even supposed to board a getaway boat with three TV crew members following the abduction of Sally Faulkner's children in Beirut earlier this month 'The reporter on the story will be Tara Brown, one of our most experienced journalists.' The Nine employee voiced concern that the CARI founder had not been able to guarantee that all four crew members could be on the getaway boat. 'I understand nothing is guaranteed in this business things can go wrong and plans sometimes have to be changed,' the email said. 'But I hope the intention is still for all four of our crew to be on the boat.' The email also discussed a final payment of $46,000 for the planned operation. 'Finally, can you please send me an invoice for the final payment of AUD 46,000, as our accounts department needs an invoice to process payments,' the email said. The email, reportedly sent from a Nine employee to Child Abduction Recovery International founder Adam Whittington (left), also discussed payment for the illegal operation Mr Whittington's lawyer Joe Karam previously released a bank statement which allegedly shows that the Nine Network directly paid at least $69,000 for the failed kidnapping Mr Whittington's lawyer Joe Karam previously released a bank statement which allegedly shows that the Nine Network directly paid at least $69,000 for the failed kidnapping. The documents, which were presented to a Beirut court, show that a payment was sent to Child Abduction Recovery International (CARI) with the reference 'Investigation Into My Missing Child'. Mr Karam also slammed the 'unethical' decision to leave the men in jail, saying that Nine had run away from any responsibility. Brown, her 60 Minutes crew and Ms Faulkner were released after two weeks in a Lebanese jail on Wednesday April 20 after Mr Elamine agreed to drop charges, The reporter arrived back in Sydney the following day along with producer Stephen Rice, sound recordist David Ballment and cameraman Ben Williamson. It is understood that they were released after Nine reached a US$500,000 deal with the father. Brown, her 60 Minutes crew and Ms Faulkner were released after two weeks in a Lebanese jail on Wednesday April 20 after Mr Elamine agreed to drop charges, The moment Brown and Ms Faulkner were freed from prison after two weeks behind bars The reporter arrived back in Sydney along with producer Stephen Rice, sound recordist David Ballment and cameraman Ben Williamson 32-year-old Ali Elamine with five-year-old Lahela (right) and three-year-old Noah (left) Channel Nine's news boss has since admitted that the network needs to reconsider the current strategies on big-money stories. Darren Wick said Channel Nine needs to take responsibility for its actions and analyse the situation to understand what went wrong. 'We can't sit here and think: 'we didn't do anything wrong, we had a bit of bad luck'. You make your own luck,' Mr Wick said, according to the Daily Telegraph. Brown said she did not think it would get so bad when they originally faced questioning. She remembered thinking: 'We are here just to do a story on a very, very desperate mother. 'We're journalists, they'll understand that. They'll see reason, you know? 'I just thought reason would prevail. And it didn't.' The Dutch government has ordered 15 million iodine pills to protect people living near nuclear plants in case of an accident as concerns rise over ageing reactors across the border in Belgium. On Thursday Belgium provided iodine pills to its entire population. Earlier this year police discovered ISIS were working to breach Belgium's nuclear security. The Dutch government is to provide iodine pills, pictured, in case of a nuclear accident after fears were raised about reactors in Belgium Belgian security services learnt in February that two men had been secretly videotaping one of the country's senior nuclear scientists. A Dutch health ministry spokesman, Edith Schippers said on Friday iodine pills, which help reduce radiation build-up in the thyroid, would be given to children under 18 and pregnant women living within a 62 miles radius of a plant. Until now, the tablets have been available within 15 miles of a plant, to everyone aged 40 and under. The Netherlands has only one nuclear power plant - at Borssele in the southwest - but the expansion will also see pills given to people living in border areas near Germany's Emsland plant and two Belgian facilities, Doel and Tihange. The Dutch announcement came a day after Belgium said it planned to distribute iodine pills to its entire population of 11 million people in case of a nuclear accident, with the details to be decided in 2017. Ms Schippers said they would 'follow how (the Belgians) carry out the distribution of these pills and where they will be available - whether people will have to go and find them at a pharmacy or at a local health service.' The Tihange nuclear power plant, pictured, south of Brussels, where the reactors are now 40 years old Once tablets were distributed to children and pregnant women, the rest of the supply of 15 million could be made available to everyone caught up in a potential accident, including 'tourists, visitors and workers'. Belgium's creaking nuclear plants have been causing safety concerns for some time after a series of problems ranging from leaks to cracks and an unsolved sabotage incident. Security fears have also risen after investigators last year discovered surveillance footage of a Belgian nuclear official in the apartment of a suspect linked to the Brussels and Paris attacks. Last week Germany asked for the Tihange 2 and Doel 3 reactors to be turned off 'until the resolution of outstanding security issues', which Belgium rejected, saying the plants were subject to 'the strictest possible safety requirements'. Just hours after the attacks on Brussels airport and the city's metro, the Belgian government ordered the electricity operator to evacuate the two nuclear power stations. A family has claimed a 'peeping Tom' flew a drone outside their teenage daughter's bedroom window in the middle of the night. Ali DiCioccio, 19, heard a strange buzzing noise outside her window at 3am on Wednesday and poked her head out to see what was going on. She says she saw the drone and a video she took on her cell phone appears to include the sound of the device hovering outside the home in Agawam, Massachusetts. Scroll down for video 'Creeped out': Ali DiCioccio, 19, claims she saw a drone hovering outside her bedroom window at 3am Miss DiCioccio was left 'creeped out' by the experience, her furious mother told the Western Mass News. Kristin DiCoccio said: 'She said she saw a white light, going back and forth in the vicinity around her window and the driveway. 'She said she actually opened up her window and stuck her head out with her phone so she could tape it. She said once the thing came back by her window, it took off.' Ms DiCioccio took to Facebook to warn the culprit that if he came back, she would find them. 'We will find you and prosecute. Peeping Toms, whether by drone or in person, on young women will not be happening here. Disgusting this type of jerk is in our area,' Kristin DiCioccio said. 'It is such a violation. Any creep can just sit outside windows in the middle of the night. Shameful behavior,' she added. The teenager's mother, Kristin DiCoccio, said that she will catch the 'peeping Tom' if they return to her home (pictured) with their drone Agawam Police will not investigate because it is not illegal to fly a drone (file picture) over private property in Massachusetts The family told the police what happened and showed them the video, but officers will not investigate because the drone did not land on the family's property. 'This is something we have not dealt with here at the police department,' Agawam Police Lieutenant Jennifer Blanchette said. 'It's definitely disturbing,' she added. According to Lt Blanchette, it is not illegal to fly a drone over private property in Massachusetts. She added that the pilot of a drone can be arrested for trespassing if it lands on someone else's land. It is not known whether the drone was carrying a camera. Ms DiCoccio said she has considered shooting the drone down if it comes back, but in the meantime has adjusted security cameras to monitor the home's upstairs windows. 'Although I am a gun owner, unless threatened I can't obviously shoot it down, no matter how much I want to,' she wrote. Absurd $1.53 Hourly Billing Rate Is Too Low for Florida Marvin Castellanos' attorney spent more than 100 hours toiling on Castellanos' workers' comp claim. And after defeating numerous defenses from Castellanos' employer and its insurer, the attorney was victorious. But when it came time to collect attorney's fees, his reward was only $164, or $1.53 an hour. That's because Florida law sets a mandatory fee schedule based on the amount won -- without allowing consideration of whether those awards are reasonable. And that rate is so "absurdly low" that it's unconstitutional, the Florida Supreme Court ruled yesterday. The Right to Reasonable Attorney's Fees Attorney's fees are a central part of the worker's compensation system, allowing injured employees to bring claims without paying anything up front, since their attorney will be paid out of their benefits or settlement. As the Florida Supreme Court noted, "the right of a claimant to obtain a reasonable attorney's fee when successful in securing benefits has been considered a critical feature of the workers' compensation law since 1941." But those contingency agreements are highly regulated by the states. In California, for example, worker's comp judges may authorize a 10, 12, or 15 percent contingency rate, depending on the complexity of the case. In New York, judges determine the fee amount based on what is reasonable for the circumstances. And Then There's Florida Under Florida's compensation schedule, established in 2003 by then-Governor Jeb Bush, attorney's fees are conditioned on the amount won: 20 percent of the first $5,000; 15 percent of the next $5,000; and 10 to five percent of the remaining benefits. Under that system, a complex, but low-reward case can lead to absurdly low attorney's fees, as it did here. And since the law creates an irrebuttable presumption that those fees are reasonable, there is no recourse for a lawyer like Castellanos' whose left with just a pittance -- that is, no recourse but to not accept low-reward cases, undermining one of the goals of the workers' compensation system. That is, until yesterday. Having concluded that the Florida system violated workers' due process rights, the Florida Supreme Court revived its immediate predecessor, which requires a reasonable award of attorney's fees. So, congrats, Florida lawyers. Next time you get paid for securing benefits, you could actually make a reasonable wage! FindLaw has an affiliate relationship with Indeed, earning a small amount of money each time someone uses Indeed's services via FindLaw. FindLaw receives no compensation in exchange for editorial coverage. Related Resources: A Polish rapist was sent away to Britain in shame by his humiliated family after he attacked a girl in his home country. Marcin Jaworski, 20, made a new life in Derbyshire where police tried to keep his identity a secret to avoid fuelling racial tension after they discovered he was a convicted sex offender. The mushroom farmers son left Czarnkow in northern Poland for a fresh start after he was found guilty of attacking a girl. Marcin Jaworski, 20, was allowed to move to Shirebrook (pictured), in Derbyshire, despite his conviction in 2014 for rape, but officers discovered his past when he breached a court order banning him from drinking in the town centre A former neighbour said his mother Iwona felt humiliated by the 2014 conviction, adding: Marcin and the girl were about the same age and were both drunk when he raped her. He comes from a respectable family and they were so horrified and ashamed they thought it best to send him away. 'Britain made perfect sense. Its in the EU so there was no problem with him living and working there and he could make a new start. Derbyshire officers only found out about his past when he was arrested for drinking in the street. Police bosses have since admitted they were wrong to try to keep the identity of Jaworksi secret over 'community tension' concerns. The Force applied for his name to be added to the sex offenders register but asked for the hearing to be held behind closed doors. It said the rapist lives in an area where there are high tensions between the Polish and British communities, to the extent that there have been episodes of violence between the groups. Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon admitted the coverage of the hearing 'reflects a mistake' made by the constabulary. Chief Constable Creedon said: 'With all sex offender management we are seeking to protect the vulnerable, especially children. 'The media coverage of the recent hearing reflects a mistake made by the Derbyshire Constabulary. 'The reasons for the application were well-intentioned and reflected our concerns about some recent local community tensions, but the media was right to challenge this and the court was right to reject the application. Officers tried to have him added to the sex offenders register in secret proceedings because of the risk he would be targeted by vigilantes. But the judge at Chesterfield Magistrates Court (pictured) rejected the application to have the hearing held behind closed doors 'He has no right to secrecy. Whilst we were concerned that a community protest might drive him underground, he should not have been afforded any protection other than that given to any other offender placed on the sex offenders register.' The application for Jaworskis hearing to be held in private was rejected by the court after The Times and other publications argued that it had breached the principle of open justice. The Mansfield Chad, a local newspaper, also argued that the publication of the case was in the interest of public safety and that keeping it secret would hamper an investigation into why Jaworski was allowed to live in the UK. Rejecting the application for a reporting restriction District Judge Andrew Davison told Chesterfield magistrates court: A fundamental principle is open justice which is the hallmark of the law. The media plays a vital role in the upholding of that principle on behalf of the public. Reporting restrictions were requested in the case because of concerns raised by local officers, Superintendent Jim Allen said. 'There have been widely reported community tensions in the Shirebrook area, in the past, linked to the large number of Eastern European people who now live and work in the area,' he said. 'We respect the decision of the judge who ruled the case should be heard without restriction.' He continued: 'As a result of proactive policing, Marcin Jaworski was questioned after being found drinking in a prohibited area within Shirebrook. Further checks revealed he had a conviction for a sexual offence in Poland. 'We applied for the notification order to ask magistrates to allow us to require Marcin Jaworski to sign the sexual offenders register. re-design, which still must be approved, aims to make the fence more than 11 feet high with sensors to detect 'jumpers' Donald Trump taunted President Obama on Thursday, mocking the plan to install a higher fence around the White House. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Trump drew parallels between the plans to raise the White House fence by five feet and his own plan to build a wall along the Mexican border. 'President Obama understands that you build strong, tall, beautiful walls to keep people out who don't belong,' Trump wrote on his Facebook page, linking to a news story on the fence plan. 'People who get permission can enter the White House LEGALLY!' Scroll down for video Donald Trump taunted President Obama on Facebook on Thursday, comparing the Secret Service's plan to raise the White House fence to his own plans to build a wall along the Mexican border The Secret Service announced the plan last week, as a way to keep potential intruders at bay. The agency tasked with protecting the president has been the source of many embarrassing incidents as of late, with several jumpers getting over the White House fence. The re-design of the fence includes new security upgrades, like sensors to stop trespassers, and would make the barrier harder to scale by increasing the height from six feet to more than 11 feet. The design was submitted publicly to U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on Thursday. They hope the changes will be installed by fiscal year 2018. The last time the fence was tweaked was in 2015 when metal spikes were added to enhance security but its first incarnation was installed under President James Monroe in 1817. The Secret Service announced the plan to extend the White House fence by five feet last week The modifications would include making the fence 11 feet tall, which is five feet taller than the current structure The barrier is currently considered 'entirely scalable', according to Thomas Dougherty, Chief Strategic Officer of the U.S. Secret Service. 'We have now a society that tends to want to jump over the fence and go on the 18 acres. 'The current fence simply is not adequate for a modern era. 'Our priority is to maintain the public's access and their enjoyment of the residence because of the democratic connotations of all of that. 'It is in fact a quintessential First Amendment site,' he added. The new design is just a preliminary concept and might undergo further modifications. Dougherty said the project is moving extremely fast and must be approved by this commission as well as the National Capital Planning Commission. This could be due to a recent damning report about a 2014 fence-jumping incident in which Omar Gonzalez scaled the structure and was able to enter the White House before being stopped by Secret Service. Gonzalez was able to breach multiple layers of Secret Service security before being apprehended. 'This project is the first step in doing permanent improvements towards securing the White House grounds,' Peter May, the associate regional director of lands, planning, and design at the National Park Service, said. The Secret Service is to report to the Inspector General on its progress with the project. A group of high school students who set up cameras inside their lockers to catch thieves caught security going through and stealing their belongings. The students decided to leave their iPhones inside the gym lockers at Evanston Township High School with the cameras recording while they were in class, after some of their things went missing last week. 'So that prompted me and a couple of other students to start filming and that's when we got two different safety officers snooping in our lockers,' student Richard Bahmandeji told ABC 7. Caught on camera: Students at Evanston Township High School in Illinois decided to leave their iPhones recording in their lockers to try to catch a thief, but what they found was a school security guard Under investigation: The footage, which was posted to a school Facebook page, shows the staff member rifling through the locker and then allegedly stealing cash 'We got two different safety officers snooping in our lockers': Richard Bahmandeji is one of the students involved in the sting Bahmandeji said that the footage provided school officials with the evidence they needed to contact the police, who are now investigating. 'The school was pretty supportive. They were glad I got the evidence that I did. They wanted to fix the issue,' he said. A letter was sent home to parents about the video that read, in part: 'ETHS is taking these allegations very seriously and we understand the concerns of students and families as we continue to gather information.' The school's assistant superintendent, Marcus Campbell, acknowledged the investigation in a statement to The Chicago Tribune on Thursday. 'We are investigating the matter thoroughly with the Evanston Police Department,' the statement said, adding that the school will take 'appropriate actions as more details become available'. Scene: Police said that ETHS officials notified police of the video at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday after the footage emerged and spread online Noah McKay, 17, a junior at ETHS, organized a protest after the footage was uploaded to YouTube and posted on a school Facebook page. 'Me and my friend were pretty upset (about the video) and we stayed on the phone until 3 a.m. last night trying to figure out what to do, so we made a flier - a picture of the guy in the video taking stuff,' he told The Tribune. About 100 students gathered near the school's dean's office on Thursday, calling for the security guard to be fired. Another student, Malachi Clark, 17, also a junior, said he knows '10 or 15 people' who have things stolen from their lockers, particularly money. They'll lock their lockers and they'll have $20 or $40 missing,' he told the newspaper. Sen. Bernie Sanders' wife said Thursday that she hopes the federal government will hurry up and conclude its criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton's classified email scandal. 'It would be nice if the FBI moved it along,' Jane Sanders said during an interview with Fox Business Network host Neil Cavuto. But U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is insisting that there's no deadline for concluding what Clinton has more gently termed a 'security review.' The FBI will ultimately complete 'a full, thorough and independent review' of whether Clinton mishandled classified information by keeping it on a private, unsecured email server in her home, Lynch told the 'Charlie Rose' program on the little-watched PBS network. So far 22 of those emails have been deemed classified at the 'Top Secret' level or above. COME ON ALREADY! Bernie Sanders' wife Jane said Thursday that she wishes the FBI moved faster to investigate Hillary Clinton's classified email scandal DON'T RUSH ME: Attorney General Loretta Lynch (left) says FBI Director James Comey (right) will conduct a 'thorough' probe without any prediction of an ending date 'People have to have confidence that we treat every case the same, no matter whose last name is involved, no matter how much publicity it gets,' said Lynch. 'We dont make predictions on the time because that essentially cuts off the independence of that and it cuts off the thoroughness.' Mrs. Sanders' husband Bernie is trailing Clinton in the race for this year's Democratic presidential nomination. He has resisted calls to pull out of the race and endorse the former secretary of state. Pundits have speculated that he is hoping for a bombshell criminal referral that would force Clinton out of contention and leave him as the de facto nominee. Sanders famously deflected questions about the scandal during his first debate with Clinton, saving her bacon by publicly declaring that Americans were 'sick and tired of hearing about your damned emails.' But his wife added an asterisk to his policy of not turning the FBI investigation into a campaign issue. 'What we said right from the beginning ... right after the debate, where he said "enough of your damned emails" he also said "there's a process",' Mrs. Sanders said. 'It's going forward. It's an FBI investigation. We want to let it go through without politicizing it, and then well find out what the situation is.' 'DAMNED EMAILS': Sen. Bernie Sanders has gone out of his way to let Hillary off the hook instead of skewering her on the criminal probe hanging over her head LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO PHILADELPHIA, BUT THEN WHAT? Clinton could become the Democratic presidential nominee in July and then be hit with an indictment Jane Sanders: Would be nice If FBI sped up Clinton investigation (via @TeamCavuto)https://t.co/MeTtzQ0LF4 FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) April 29, 2016 Sen. Sanders continues to shy away from attacking Clinton on the scandal despite the possibility that he could gain political ground with it. 'I am trying to stay away from personal attacks on Hillary,' he told MSNBC three weeks ago. 'How often have I talked about Hillary Clinton's emails? Not one word. How often have I talked about the Clinton Foundation fundraising?' Checking the violin is not an option because it will break, claims Pine Pine claims the airline didn't let her try to fit the violin on board despite a law passed in 2012 allowing musicians to take A world renowned violin player said that she was unlawfully barred from boarding an American Airlines plane in Chicago with her multimillion dollar violin that is nearly three centuries old. Rachel Barton Pine, 41, was traveling with the ex-Bazzini ex-Soldat, an instrument made in 1742 by Joseph Guarneri 'del Gesu,' widely known as one of the two greatest violin makers of all time. Violins made by Joseph Guarneri 'del Gesu,' have sold for almost $20million, according to Flagstaffsymphony.org. World renowned: Rachel Barton Pine, pictured in 2010 in concert, said that she was unlawfully barred from boarding an American Airlines plane in Chicago with her multimillion dollar violin Historic: Rachel Barton Pine was traveling with the ex-Bazzini ex-Soldat, an instrument made in 1742 by Joseph Guarneri 'del Gesu.'Violins made by 'del Gesu' have sold for nearly $20million HISTORY OF THE EX-BAZZINI EX-SOLDAT VIOLIN WORTH UP TO $20MILLION Rachel Barton Pine was traveling with the ex-Bazzini ex-Soldat, an instrument made in 1742 by Joseph Guarneri 'del Gesu,' who is one of the two greatest violin makers of all time. The instrument once belonged to German composer Johannes Brahms' protegee, 15-year-old Marie Soldat. In 1897, Brahms selected a particular Guarneri violin for Soldat to perform his new work. It previously belonged to Antonio Bazzini, an Italian violinist who had recently died. Brahms then persuaded a wealthy Viennese businessman to buy the violin and loan it to Soldat to play for a lifetime. An anonymous patron afforded Pine the same luxury in 2002, when it was loaned for her to use for her lifetime. 'I love the fact that Brahms heard my violin in the hands of his protegee, Marie Soldat. Its amazing to know something of an instruments history and realize that youre the next chapter in its life. Hopefully, it will have lots more adventures long after Im gone,' she told Flagstaffsymphony.org. Advertisement According to Pine, she was told by an American Airlines pilot that the dimensions of the instrument's case were not correct for carry on. Though, Pine claims she has flown over 100,000 miles per year with American Airlines and has successfully tucked her instrument in the overhead compartment numerous times. 'It is not going on because I say so,' the unnamed pilot allegedly told Pine of taking her priceless instrument on the flight to Albuquerque where she is performing with the New Mexico Philharmonic. Pine said checking the violin is simply not a choice for her when she flies because it will definitely break. 'It's not that any violinist is choosing not to check their violin, it's that these are so delicate and breakable that if you check your violin, it will get broken,' Pine told KOB. 'There's no maybe it will get broken. It definitely will get broken.' She claims that the captain and flight attendants would not even let her prove to them that the instrument would fit on board. 'The flight attendant and the captain would not let me even try,' Pine said. This is one of Rachel Pine's violin cases. It's not known if this is the particular case she had with her while attempting to board a plane to Albuquerque, New Mexico Famous: Pine (pictured left with an unconventional violin), who loves many stayles of music, once helped to accept a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award on behalf of Maud Powell (right) 'I fly more than 100,000 miles a year. I've gone more days per year than I'm home, and so I have flown every possible aircraft configuration that you can think of. I have yet to meet an airplane where a violin wouldn't fit,' she said, according to KOB. Pine says that carrying the violin with her is her right and informed the crew about a law regarding instruments that went into effect in 2012. 'This rule requires that carriers must allow a passenger to carry into the cabin and stow a small musical instrument, such as a violin or guitar, in a suitable baggage compartment, such as an overhead bin or under the seats in accordance with FAA safety regulations,' says the rule. American Airlines apologized to Pine after she was not permitted to board a plane with her antique violin. American Airlines spokeswoman Leslie Scott provided the following statement: 'Ms. Barton was offered the option of valet checking the item, but declined. She was subsequently rebooked for travel this morning on larger aircraft that were able to accommodate her instrument as a carry-on item.' Apology: American Airlines apologized to Pine after she was not permitted to board a plane with her antique violin. They said in a statement that they helped her to rebook her flight on a larger aircraft In the past, Pine has called her violin 'her voice.' The instrument once belonged to German composer Johannes Brahms' protege, 15-year-old Marie Soldat. In 1897, Brahms selected a particular Guarneri violin for Soldat to perform his new work. It previously belonged to Antonio Bazzini, an Italian violinist who had recently died, according to Flagstaffsymphony.com. Brahms then persuaded a wealthy Viennese businessman to buy the violin and loan it to Soldat to play for a lifetime. An anonymous patron afforded Pine the same luxury in 2002, when it was loaned for her to use for her lifetime. 'The ex-Bazzini, ex-Soldat is truly my voice. Since I started playing it, Im not even curious to try other violins anymore!,' Pine has said of her prized instrument. 'With the ex-Bazzini, ex-Soldat in my hands,' she said. 'I can never accept that sounding good is good enough. Im always seeking more nuances and subtleties, because whatever I envision can be found in this instrument and I often stumble across colors I hadnt even thought of yet. Its truly a collaborative relationship.' 'I love the fact that Brahms heard my violin in the hands of his protegee, Marie Soldat. Its amazing to know something of an instruments history and realize that youre the next chapter in its life. Hopefully, it will have lots more adventures long after Im gone,' she told Flagstaffsymphony.org. There are less than 200 'Del Gesu' violins in the world today. Pine also made headlines in 1995, when she was 20 and the doors of a Chicago commuter train closed on the straps of her violin case as she tried to get off the train. on Twitter; ''What an Outrage....Alzheimers is not joke...It kills..You should be ashamed all of you' 'Perhaps for your comedy you would like to visit some dementia facilities. I have - I didnt find anything comedic there,' said Patti Reagan's daughter Patti Davis and son Michael Reagan lashed out at Ferrell for agreeing to be in the film on Thursday Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994 and passed away a decade later because of the disease and the intern who convinces him he is an actor playing the president so he can do his job Will Ferrell has pulled out of a planned project about Ronald Reagan and his battle with Alzheimer's after outraging members of the president's family, including his son and daughter. A spokesperson for the actor told Page Six; 'The Reagan is script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered. While it is by no means a "Alzheimers comedy" as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project. Patti Davis and Michael Reagan both lashed out at Ferrell on Thursday, with Michael writing on Twitter; 'What an Outrage....Alzheimers is not joke...It kills..You should be ashamed all of you.' Patti meanwhile spoke of watching her father slowly drift away over the 10 years he fought the disease, and said she now runs a group called Beyond Alzheimers that provides support for caregivers and family members dealing with the disease. 'Perhaps you would like to explain to them how this disease is suitable material for a comedy,' Patti wrote to Ferrell in an open letter. A description of the film when it was named to the Black List said; 'When Ronald Reagan falls into dementia at the start of his second term, an ambitious intern is tasked with convincing the Commander-In-Chief that he is an actor playing the President in a movie.' Scroll down for video Mixed reaction: It was announced earlier this week that Will Ferrell (above as George Bush on Saturday Night Live) would star and produce Reagan, a comedy about Ronald Reagan Not happy: Reagan's daughter Patti Davis (left in 2013) and son Michael Reagan (right in 2011) are lashing out at Ferrell for agreeing to be in the film Tough subject: The film is about Reagan (above in 1982) falling into dementia during his second term as president It was announced earlier this week that Ferrell would star and produce Reagan, a Black List script from writer Mike Rosolio about the actor turned president's second term. That decision did not sit well however with Patti. 'I watched helplessly as he reached for memories, for words, that were suddenly out of reach and moving farther away,' wrote Patti in her open letter to Ferrell on Thursday. 'For ten long years he drifted - past the memories that marked his life, past all that was familiarand mercifully, finally past the fear. 'There was laughter in those years, but there was never humor.' Patti went on to say; 'Alzheimers is the ultimate pirate, pillaging a persons life and leaving an empty landscape behind. It sweeps up entire families, forcing everyone to claw their way through overwhelming grief, confusion, helplessness, and anger. 'Perhaps for your comedy you would like to visit some dementia facilities. I have - I didnt find anything comedic there, and my hope would be that if youre a decent human being, you wouldnt either.' President Reagan died in 2004 as a result of pneumonia that was complicated by his Alzheimer's Patti and her parents had a complicated relationship, which was not helped by the release of her memoir The Way I See It. The book, released in 1992, painted her mother as a remarkably cruel woman and her father as a man who emotionally abandoned his children. Davis also wrote that her mother relied heavily on sleeping and prescription pills during her years in the White House despite her 'Just Say No' campaign. Reagan was also accused of hiding her husband's two children from his first marriage from Davis and her brother in their childhood years. She reportedly received a $500,000 advance for the book, which her parents responded to by releasing a statement saying; 'We have always loved all of our children, including our daughter, Patti. We hope the day will come when she rejoins our family. Toward that end, we see no useful purpose for further comment.' Davis also did not make her mother very pleased when she posed naked for Playgirl in a 1994 issue of the magazine. PATTI DAVIS' OPEN LETTER TO WILL FERRELL Dear Mr. Ferrell, 'I saw the news bulletin as did everyone that you intend to portray my father in the throes of Alzheimers for a comedy that you are also producing. Perhaps you have managed to retain some ignorance about Alzheimers and other versions of dementia. Perhaps if you knew more, you would not find the subject humorous. 'Alzheimers doesnt care if you are President of the United States or a dockworker. It steals what is most precious to a human being memories, connections, the familiar landmarks of a lifetime that we all come to rely on to hold our place secure in this world and keep us linked to those we have come to know and love. 'I watched as fear invaded my fathers eyes this man who was never afraid of anything. I heard his voice tremble as he stood in the living room and said, I dont know where I am. I watched helplessly as he reached for memories, for words, that were suddenly out of reach and moving farther away. 'For ten long years he drifted past the memories that marked his life, past all that was familiarand mercifully, finally past the fear. 'There was laughter in those years, but there was never humor. 'Alzheimers is the ultimate pirate, pillaging a persons life and leaving an empty landscape behind. It sweeps up entire families, forcing everyone to claw their way through overwhelming grief, confusion, helplessness, and anger. 'Perhaps for your comedy you would like to visit some dementia facilities. I have I didnt find anything comedic there, and my hope would be that if youre a decent human being, you wouldnt either. 'Twice a week I run a support group called Beyond Alzheimers for caregivers and family members of those with Alzheimers and dementia. I look into haunted eyes that remind me of my own when my father was ill. I listen to stories of helplessness and loss and am continually moved by the bravery of those who wake up every morning not knowing who their loved one will be that day, or what will be lost. 'The only certainty with Alzheimers is that more will be lost and the disease will always win in the end. 'Perhaps you would like to explain to them how this disease is suitable material for a comedy.' Advertisement Awful: Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1994 and passed away a decade later because of the disease (l to r: Ron, Nancy, Patti and Michael at his funeral) There was a live reading of the script last March in Los Angeles with Lena Dunham, Dennis haysbert and James Brolin, who played Reagan. A woman and a girl have been killed after being hit by a lorry - with the driver reportedly having 'no idea' that a collision had even taken place. Witnesses said the back of the lorry hit the pedestrians when making a turning near an Iceland store in Hull at 2pm today. A 55-year-old man has been arrested on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Scroll down for video. A woman and young girl have been killed after being hit by a lorry in Hull at around 2pm today The lorry driver, who reportedly had 'no idea what had happened', was arrested on on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving Witnesses said the back of the 55-year-old's lorry had hit the pedestrians when making a turning One witness claimed he had to bang on the door of the lorry in order to alert the driver and get him to stop. Nader Moradi said: 'The lorry swung around the corner from Spring Bank into Stanley Street and the back of the lorry struck them. 'I saw the woman and child, she was a young girl. There was nothing I could do to help them. 'The lorry driver had no idea what had happened. I had to punch on his door to stop him.' He added that he was still in shock from seeing the horrific accident. 'I feel so sorry for their family. I'm in deep shock and I can't believe what I saw,' he said. 'It was horrible.' One man claimed he had to bang on the door of the lorry in order to alert the driver and get him to stop Humberside Police confirmed that officers were called to the scene following reports the pedestrians had been in a collision with a lorry Karen Ibrahim, who was in a nearby restaurant, described the scene as 'awful'. He said: 'They were laid on the floor. It happened less than a minute before I saw it. 'Tears came from my eyes seeing a kid. It was awful to see.' Humberside Police confirmed that officers were called to the scene following reports the pedestrians had been in a collision with a lorry. Ambulance crews and the fire service also attended the incident. Police blocked off roads in the surrounding area following the collision. Sailing with their shirts off and without a care in the world, this footage shows the moment the two 14-year-olds who vanished off the Florida coast set off on their doomed fishing trip. The video shows Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos sailing to one of their homes to pick up supplies before heading out into the Atlantic Ocean. In one shot, they pass by a home with a security camera, which captures the final moment they were seen together alive. Earlier on Friday it emerged that a pilot searching for the boys two days after they went missing claims he spotted one of them desperately waving for help as he floated on a piece of debris. Bobby Smith was flying over the coast of Georgia on July 26 with his granddaughter when he is certain he spotted two white pieces of debris tied together with an orange life jacket. He descended to 200ft and saw a boy laying down on the debris while waving his hands over his head, according to a new report released by officials. After noting down the GPS coordinates and taking a grainy photograph, the pilot climbed back to 1,500ft so he could radio in his discovery to the Coast Guard. However, when Mr Smith descended again he was unable to see the boy, and the Coast Guard could not find him either. The new revelation came after an ominous last Snapchat sent from the boys was revealed and fears were raised by Perry's parents that the boat may have been sabotaged. Daily Mail Online can also reveal that the original lead investigator on the search was demoted and replaced halfway through the investigation and has since left the authority altogether. Officials refused to explain why but insisted he took a lower rank voluntarily. Sailing with their shirts off without a care in the world, this footage shows the moment Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, both 14, set off on their doomed fishing trip Friends Austin Stephanos (left) and Perry Cohen (right) went missing on July 24 last year after setting out on a fishing trip from Jupiter, Florida, but never returned The video shows Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos sailing to one of their homes to pick up supplies before heading out into the Atlantic ocean Pilot Bobby Smith says he is certain he saw one of Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen on this piece of debris two days after the pair vanished The first frames show the boys heading under a railroad bridge as they sail to Austin's home to pick up supplies for the trip on the morning of July 24. They are later seen passing by a home as they head out to see - in the last confirmed image of the pair together alive. The search area where pilot Mr Smith said he saw the boy is around 300 miles north of where Austin and Perry set off from in Jupiter, Florida, on July 24. A Snapchat sent by the boys to their friends as they left the Florida coast has also been revealed 'It was obvious it was a person lying on their back,' Mr Smith told the Sun Sentinel. 'When we circled, both arms came up. It was a shock.' The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comm ission (FWC) report also revealed that Brent McCarthy was 'voluntarily demoted' from lead investigator to officer in September last year. He handed the investigation over to a colleague and left the FWC altogether in January. Officials refused to tell Daily Mail Online why he stepped down. The report also revealed that a woman thought she saw a boat with two boys on board broken down 200 to 300 yards off the coast of Jupiter on July 24. Pamela Stabley called the Coast Guard three times but she said it later appeared the boys had got the engine started again and had moved on. Ms Stabley was unable to identify characteristics of people stood on a similar-sized boat at a similar distance when investigators recreated the scene in clear conditions. The new revelations came after it emerged that the boys sent an ominous final Snapchat message saying 'we're f***ed' shortly before they disappeared. Friends of Austin and Perry say they may have been aware of the danger they faced as they weather turned, as they had sent a Snapchat message saying 'we're f***ed'. It was the last time they would hear from the pair who were never seen again after the doomed trip. Their capsized, 19ft Seacraft boat was spotted about 100miles off the coast of Bermuda in March. New evidence has also been released from the vessel which investigators say may indicate the boat had been tampered with. In one shot, they pass by a home with a security camera, which captures the final moment they were seen together alive Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, both aged 14, had set off from Florida's Jupiter Inlet at around 11am on July 24 for the fishing trip Investigators say they have found evidence of potential foul play as the battery and ignition were switched off The boys' fishing boat was discovered capsized 100 miles from Bermuda nine months after they set off Photos released on Wednesday by the FWC show that both the battery and the ignition had been switched off. The Cohens family's attorney, Guy Rubin, say that shows that the battery switch, which is difficult to reach and almost impossible to switch off by accident, had been turned off. He said it could have been done either by one of the boys or possibly another party that may have accessed the boat. 'We do know for sure that boat was disabled intentionally because the battery switch, which is very difficult to get to, was in the off position,' Rubin told WPBF. 'That can't be maneuvered by the passage of time, the current, and other events. The key in the ignition was in the off position. If the storm came and capsized the boat, the battery switch and the key would not be in those positions.' But marine expert Captain Jimmy Hill said the boys may simply have switched off the ignition and battery to try and conserve what little energy they had. Both the bilge pump, to pump out water, and the radio work off the battery so they may have been trying to save the battery to radio in. A boat on the way to Norway spotted the 19-foot Seacraft about 100miles off the coast of Bermuda, and Stephanos' iPhone was among the personal items recovered from the boat As for the ignition, 'If the boat had any type of mechanical failure, it would have been shut off, otherwise the alarm on the engine would have been driving them crazy if they left it on,' he told People. 'Those particular items, by themselves without any other information, are not particularly shocking.' Investigators have now released 128 pages of social media posts, investigative reports, cell phone tower records, interview notes and FBI emails. They reveal that the boys had also messaged their families before they disappeared. Perry had sent a text to his mom Pamela on the morning of that fated trip,People reported. 'Mom, it's Perry. My iPad is dead... I'll text you in a little. Love you,' the 14-year-old wrote at just before 10am on July 24 last year. His mom replied within a minute, telling her son she missed him. 'OK. I wanted you to sleep home tonight,' she said. 'I miss you. We leave Sunday morning for New York. What about your work?' Perry assured her that he's been doing his homework, 'but I was going to sleep at...' That final message - cut off mid-sentence - was the last time Pamela would ever hear from her son. A few hours later, Perry and Austin set out on a fishing trip Jupiter Inlet, never to be seen again, despite a massive US Coast Guard search. The Cohen family's attorney, Guy Rubin, say that shows that the battery switch, which is difficult to reach and almost impossible to switch off by accident Investigators also found other items in the boat belonging to the 14-year-olds, including fishing tackle Perry had sent the texts from Austin's phone as his own was not working that day. Investigators also found Austin had posted 'Peace out Jupiter' on his Instagram and had revealed they were planning to fish 'far off shore' for dolphin. However, records from AT&T show that his iPhone 'pinged' off their offshore cell tower at 11:25am but back inshore at 12:02pm. That same iPhone has now been recovered after their capsized, 19-foot Seacraft boat was spotted about 100miles off the coast of Bermuda in March. It had been severely damaged after months submerged in sea water but Austin's family are working with Apple to try and recover any lost messages and data it may hold. The iPhone has been a source of tension between the families of the two boys who are both desperate to find any clues it may hold. Until recently, Austin's father Blu Stephanos had refused to let state investigators inspect the phone in case it jeopardized his chance to recover the data. He cited the recent controversy over Apple's refusal to help the FBI unlock the functioning iPhone of San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook. The decision had infuriated Perry's family who insisted that the phone could hold vital clues as to what happened in the boys' final hours on board the boat and even filed a lawsuit in an attempt to stop officials in Florida from handing the iPhone to Austin's parents. But yesterday, Mr Stephanos relented and agreed to share whatever information found on his son's recovered cellphone with Perry's family and law enforcement. Mr Stephanos told the Palm Beach Post that while he is doubtful the phone has survived months of salt water damage, 'but I am not giving up hope'. Austin's iPhone was recovered after the capsized, 19-foot Seacraft boat was spotted about 100miles off the coast of Bermuda in March. Clues? Perry's family had appealed to Austin's family to hand over their son's iPhone to investigators - who have now relented The family of Austin Stephanos (left) were initially confident he and Cohen are still alive. The families used a GoFundMe page to raise almost $500,000 for a private search, but that was called off after it failed to yield any new evidence Missing teen Perry Cohen, 14, embraced his mother, Pamela before going missing on a fishing trip with his pal, Austin Stephanos Experts say the phone could contain key clues as to what happened, including the boat's location, speed and direction. It may also contain the last messages the boys may have tried to send and any pictures they may have taken. Mr Stephanos said he had been working with Apple 'who seems willing to help us try to get the phone operational again.' 'That would be the first order of business, since Austin's phone has been submerged in salt water for over eight months,' he said. 'We've also had an IT expert access the phone's Cloud backup and, unfortunately, found that it had never been enabled.' Mr Stephanos added that he had not wanted to scare off Apple by handing the phone over following the phone company's refusal to cooperate with the FBI over one of the San Bernadino terrorist's locked phones. 'In light of the recent San Bernardino incident involving attempts by the FBI to retrieve data from a locked iPhone, we felt that it would be best to avoid the pressures of having these efforts played out in the media,' Mr Stephanos said. 'We didn't want to do anything publicly that might jeopardize the cooperation of the manufacturer. Unfortunately, I feel that the recent publicity and wild speculation may have done just that. 'Of course, any relevant information that might be retrieved from Austin's phone will be shared with the Cohen family and the proper authorities. 'To me, this phone represents a connection with my son, so I thank you all for your continued support and understanding in this very sensitive, and very personal, matter,' he said yesterday. Cohen (left) grew up on the water fishing and is a strong swimmer, his family said. They hope to learn more about what happened to their son through the recovered iPhon Mr Stephanos' decision came just one day after the Cohen family filed a lawsuit against the FWC and the Stephanos family, calling for an injunction stopping the FWC from handing the phone Austin's parents. According to the lawsuit, they feared that other family may try to access the iPhone, which they say could accidentally lead to all of it data being wiped. 'I don't know his last moments and it's haunting and it's terrifying,' Perry's mother, Pam Cohen, told WPBF. 'I miss him dearly and would do anything to get him back.' 'It's the largest search and rescue that the U.S. Coast Guard conducted in modern day time. So the fact that eight months later, two vital pieces of information and evidence has been recovered ... why the investigation wouldn't be reopened to look into that and find the answers, it doesn't make any sense,' she added. Ms Cohen believes that Austin's phone may reveal any last calls or text messages the boys tried to make, as well as any photos or videos they took while on the fishing trips. But she said that the FWC have asked for the consent of Mr Stephanos, Austin's father, numerous times but he will not give permission for the phone to be accessed. 'Blu Stephanos has said no he will not sign the consent form and that he is demanding the phone to be returned to his possession,' Ms Cohen said. Austin and Perry were last seen at about 1.30pm on July 24 when they went on a fishing excursion without adult supervision. The pair had stocked up on $110 worth of fuel for their 19-foot white single-engine boat and did not return to shore that night. The U.S. Coast Guard first recovered the teenagers' 19-foot boat just two days after they went missing in July (pictured), but the towing company was unable to find it when they tried to bring it to shore Perry Cohen, who vanished while fishing off Florida's coast nine months ago along with his friend Austin Stephanos, sent a text to his mom Pamela (pictured with her son) on the morning of that fated trip After just two days, the U.S. Coast Guard found the teens' 19-foot boat capsized some 67 miles off the shore of Daytona Beach. However, the boat then drifted away and was not found until it was discovered by a boat headed to Norway. The ship's crew found the 19-foot Seacraft vessel about 100miles off the coast of Bermuda on March 18. Personal items, including Austin's iPhone, were found and handed over to the FWC. Family members expressed the hope that they would learn more about what happened to the two boys, who were both experienced fishermen. Ms Cohen wrote on her Facebook: 'This is an open Missing Persons case, and we hope that FWC reopens their investigation and utilizes the expert resources of other government agencies as well as the private sector if necessary to extrapolate the data from the recovered iPhone'. Items missing from the boat - including a white Yeti cooler and life jackets - gave the impression that the boys made improvised flotation devices, while a missing engine cover suggested they may have tried to work on the engine. Also missing were a translucent Plano tackle box and a pair of white Royal brand fishing boots. Two life jackets and a boat cushion were later found off the coast of Savannah, Georgia, but they could not be linked to the missing teens. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission confirmed the boat belonged to Stephanos, and his iPhone was recovered on board The Coast Guard and volunteers called off the search after they combed through more than 25,000 square miles of ocean in one week. The families used a GoFundMe page to raise almost $500,000 for a private search, but that was also cancelled after it failed to yield any new evidence. The boys' families were initially very confident they would find the boys alive, with Ms Cohen saying: 'I have 100 per cent faith they'll find our boys.' Cohen's stepfather Nick Korniloff agreed, saying the family were 'people of the water'. He told CNN's New Day: 'I know that we've trained them correctly - we've taught them the respect of mother nature and the power of the sea. 'We've raised these kids right. Our optimism comes from the faith we have. They are strong kids. They are survivors.' Wayne Simmons (pictured), 62, a former TV pundit who falsely claimed that he had worked as a CIA agent for nearly 30 years, pleaded guilty to fraud A TV pundit who falsely claimed that he had worked as a CIA agent for nearly 30 years pleaded guilty to fraud against the government. Wayne Simmons, 62, entered the plea in US district court in Alexandria, Virginia, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. Simmons had appeared on Fox News as an unpaid guest analyst on terrorism since 2002. He claimed that he worked as an 'outside paramilitary special operations officer' for the CIA from 1973 to 2000, and was able to obtain security clearances and an assignment as a defense contractor, where he advised senior military personnel overseas, according to CNN Money. A Fox News spokesperson told CNNMoney that Simmons 'was never a commentator or contributor,' because he was not paid by the network. Simmons regularly made extreme and factually dubious statements pertaining to terrorism and national security. Last year, he claimed there were 'at least 19 paramilitary Muslim training facilities in the United States', according to CNN. Simmons also claimed that waterboarding was not torture and accused President Barack Obama of being a novice who lacked spine. His claims were given greater credence because it was believed that he was a former CIA officer. 'His fraud cost the government money, could have put American lives at risk, and was an insult to the real men and women of the intelligence community who provide tireless service to this country,' said Dana Boente, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Simmons claimed he worked as an 'outside paramilitary special operations officer' for the CIA from 1973 to 2000 and was able to obtain security clearances and an assignment as a defense contractor, where he advised senior military personnel overseas. He's pictured as a guest on Fox News Simmons (right) admitted that he defrauded the government in 2008 when he got work as a team leader in an Army program, and again in 2010 when he was deployed to Afghanistan as an intelligence adviser. He now faces up to 40 years in prison. Simmons pictured during Fox News commentary A grand jury indicted him in October for portraying himself as an 'Outside Paramilitary Special Operations Officer' for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1973 to 2000. Simmons pleaded guilty to charges of major fraud against the U.S. government, wire fraud and a firearms offense. He faces up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing is set for July 15. Simmons admitted that he defrauded the government in 2008 when he got work as a team leader in an Army program, and again in 2010 when he was deployed to Afghanistan as an intelligence adviser, the statement said. He said he made similar false statements in a 2009 bid to get work with the State Department's Worldwide Protective Service. Simmons also admitted to defrauding an unidentified woman out of $125,000 in a bogus real estate investment. The other two children were treated at the scene and released to parents Both the boy and driver were hospitalized with not life threatening injuries She crashed into two parked cars and a fence before plowing into center A toddler boy was hospitalized and two other children were injured after an SUV went crashing into a Massachusetts day care center on Thursday. The driver, a 38-year-old woman, lost control of the car after suffering a 'medical episode' and crashed into two parked vehicles before driving onto the curb and hitting a fence, police said. Her Subaru Outback then crashed through A Brighter Rainbow Learning Center in Billerica, pinning the toddler boy underneath the car. A toddler boy was hospitalized and two other children were injured after an SUV went crashing into A Brighter Rainbow Learning Center in Billerica, Massachusetts on Thursday afternoon The driver, a 38-year-old woman, lost control of the car after suffering a 'medical episode' The Subaru Outback then crashed through A Brighter Rainbow Learning Center in Billerica, pinning the toddler boy underneath the car There were four children total inside the day care. The two who were injured were treated at the scene and released to their parents, according to Deputy Police Chief Roy Frost. The toddler, who was under the age of two, was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not life threatening. Witnesses said he had a gash on his head and was crying. The driver, whose name was not released, was also hospitalized with minor injuries. At least three children and two adults were outside playing in the center's backyard when the crash occurred just after 5.30pm, according to My Fox Boston. Police said witnesses rushed to the scene to try and help after watching the horrifying crash. There were four children total inside the day care. The two who were injured were treated at the scene and released to their parents, according to police At least three children and two adults were outside playing in the center's backyard when the crash occurred just after 5.30pm The woman's car was towed from the day care just before 7pm that night and crews boarded up the building 'That car was airborne, went right through the side of the building like nothing,' Kathy Jones told the station. 'Glass was flying, dust. Kids, people were screaming.' Jones' daughter Krisine said the car jammed against the center's door after the crash, so people began breaking windows to try and get inside. Tyler Tremblay was attending a youth group at a nearby church with two of friends when he heard a 'blood-curdling scream', he told The Lowell Sun. Tremblay said he helped the woman out of her car while his friend pulled the child out from underneath the SUV. The woman's car was towed from the day care just before 7pm that night and crews boarded up the building. Authorities said the incident is still under investigation. Americans are eating more cheese than ever - but it's not enough The moon may not be made of cheese but America soon might be, thanks to a dairy war with Europe that has seen the US stockpiling more than a billion pounds of unsold cheese and butter. USDA statistics show that the US's inventory now numbers around 1.1billion pounds - more than at any point since April 1984. More than half of that amount is made of American cheese and a further two percent Swiss cheese, they reported - and it's because of Europe's recent troubles, Bloomberg reported. Dear dairy: American, Asian and Middle-Eastern consumers are writing love letters to EU cheese and butter, leaving US products on shelves. The result is a massive 1.1billion inventory of American produce in the US Part of the cause is that Russia is no longer in the EU trading game, having embargoed EU products in response to European sanctions for its incursion into Ukraine. That means the EU's producers have been selling into Asian and Middle Eastern markets, eating into consumer bases that would have bought American before. And the strong dollar and wobbling Euro currency have made the EU's dairy products - which are cheaper than before, thanks to the favorable exchange rate - even more attractive. All of this has left many American cheese producers out to pasture, during a record year for production in the country. But it's not just about foreign consumers - Americans, too, are enjoying cheaper prices for European cheeses created by the healthier dollar. US imports of EU butter doubled last year, while cheese imports rose 17 percent. So even at home US producers are losing out. 'It's been difficult for [the US] to export, given the strong dollar, and they're sucking in imports,' Kevin Bellamy, a global dairy market strategist at Rabobank International in the Netherlands told Bloomberg. 'Where the U.S. has lost out on business, Europe has gained.' However, European producers have their own problems, Fortune reported. In 2015, the US went into overdrive on milk production - with excess being poured into ditches - matching huge amounts produced in the EU and New Zealand. That has led to European farmers posting losses in profits, with milk prices at their lowest levels since 2010, International Business Times wrote. This has led to some demanding the European Union introduce measures to provide financial compensation to restrain milk production. As for fixing the problem at home, it won't be as easy as asking American citizens to buy cheese fries for their country, the International Business Times reported. They're already eating 33.7 pounds of cheese each a year on average - a figure that's been increasing year on year since 2013. But it'll take more than that to empty the country's refrigerators. Britain's bombing raids have wiped out 1,000 Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, official figures reveal. RAF warplanes blitzed secret underground bunkers, jihadists hiding in palm trees, vehicles packed with explosives and deadly sniper and machine gun positions. Drone pilots, stationed at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, spent hours spying on targets as they prepared for battle, before killing them with laser-guided missiles and 500lb Paveway bombs. Scroll down for video Britain's bombing raids have wiped out 1,000 Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, official figures reveal. Pictured: Coalition bombs are dropped in the centre of the besieged Syrian town of Kobani as fighting in the city intensifies between defending Kurdish fighters and ISIS Scroll down for video Last night Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: We are making solid progress against Daesh. Now we must push on and defeat them. Figures revealed by the Ministry of Defence in a Freedom of Information request showed that since warplanes deployed to Iraq in September 2014, the RAF has killed at least 996 extremists. The figure includes 22 jihadists killed in Syria, after parliament gave the go-ahead for strikes over the chaotic country last November. In one month alone, 152 militants were killed as they tried to mercilessly murder civilians and local forces. Since more jets were sent to the region last year, RAF pilots have trebled the rate at which they are killing the barbaric terrorists. RAF warplanes blitzed secret underground bunkers, jihadists hiding in palm trees, vehicles packed with explosives and deadly sniper and machine gun positions. Pictured: ISIS rebel militant soldiers on the frontline There have been 582 known hits on targets in the last five months, compared with 170 in the five months previously. It also emerged that Britains handful of Reaper drones which provide an eye in the sky and are equipped with weapons flew for 2,509 hours in the first three months of this year. They provided a 24 hour a day watch on the terrorists and monitored their movements before deploying weapons to halt their advances. In 2015, the drones provided watch for 12,698 hours. Mr Fallon added: Theyve lost 40 per cent of their territory, their oil revenue has been cut by around a third and they are sustaining heavy losses. Local forces on the ground have called in RAF jets to help them take out terrorist rocket and mortar teams, as well as blitzing bomb-making factories and truck-bombs. In January this year 139 fighters were killed, compared with 113 in February and 66 in March. Advertisement Donald Trump's Secret Service detail and private bodyguards had the last laugh on Friday as hundreds of protesters swarmed at the front of a San Francisco airport hotel trying to block him from coming in for a speech at the state Republican Party's annual convention. Instead of partnering with uniformed police in riot shields trying to push the hordes back, they did a law-enforcement head fake leading the billionaire across a grass highway median and in a back-door loading dock at the Hyatt Regency hotel in the suburb of Burlingame. The move left Trump feeling 'like I was crossing the border, actually,' he said. Led by his regular protective detail and Trump's private bodyguard Keith Schiller, the Republican front-runner's arrival became a full-blown media spectacle, with cable news channels interrupting their broadcasts for helicopter live-shots. Their audiences were treated to the sight of the 69-year-old Trump hopping nearly three feet down from a cement barrier to the grass below, skirting between two chain-link fences, and then climbing uphill in his expensive suit and shoes while local police and California Highway Patrol kept liberal activists at bay on the other side of the hotel. Donald Trump's motorcade traveled the three miles from San Francisco International Airport to Burlingame, California, but never approached the front door of the Hyatt Regency hotel where he was to address the California Republican party's annual convention. Trump is pictured directly in front of the silver van at center Outsmarted: Instead, Secret Service and private security guards led Trump (at center, flanked on all four sides) down a concrete ramp to a steep jump down to grass, and then uphill toward the hotel's rear loading dock entrance Pulling a fast one: Without protesters anywhere, Trump entered the building through an alternate door that secret Service had scoped out before he ever arrived With protesters gathering in front of the Hyatt (top right), the Secret Service's sleight-of-hand directed Trump and his closest aides across a grass median and in through a back door 'That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made': Trump joked with the Republican crowd when he eventually took the stage after being smuggled into the venue, saying they got to walk through lobby while he was being pushed in the back 'I felt like I was crossing the border': Trump called back to his showpiece pledge about building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border 'That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made,' Trump joked when he eventually took the stage. 'My wife calls she says, "There are helicopters following you"' 'And then we went under a fence, and through a fence. Oh boy, I felt like I was crossing the border actually, you know? I was crossing the border but I got here.' 'You all walk through the lobby. I'm going under fences!' he told the audience of party loyalists. As he finished his remarks, a mashup of his stump-speech themes, Trump looked offstage to his security detail that was getting ready to take him out the same way he came in. 'I know they're waiting,' Trump said.' They're gonna take me under a fence, through a field.' 'Oh, you have no idea the route they have planned for me to get out of here!' Joel Anderson, the California state senator who introduced Trump inside delivered an update near the end of a half-hour delay before Trump took the stage during a GOP convention luncheon. 'I know a lot of you are sports fans, so I thought I'd give you a little bit of a quick score,' Anderson said. 'Burlingame Police, CHP, 1. Protesters, 0.' The result was worth it for Trump, a complete sidestep of an angry mob that broke barricades to get blitz the hotel's front doors, challenging rows of police and shouting slogans. One group of them formed a human chain, trying to block the entrance entirely to prevent Trump from reaching his audience. At least one person was detained outside as shouting matches between anti-Trump protesters and pro-Trump supporters occasionally clashed. A few protesters even stole an American flag and burned it, drawing angry responses from both sides. A Trump effigy was also burned. Angry protesters push over a barricade as they demonstrate against Trump outside the Hyatt in an attempt to get near the front door, completely unaware that he was nowhere to be seen Detained: At least one protester was arrested during the demonstration outside the Hyatt, although it was unclear what particular issue this person was vocal about Ready for action: A swarm of hundreds of anti-Trump protesters had gathered Friday afternoon but never got to see Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner Didn't see the funny side: While Trump was being smuggled in the back, police in riot gear were forced to hold off angry demonstrators outside the Hyatt hotel Crossing the line: Many protesters were chanting slogans in Spanish as the police looked on, although one particularly noticeable English chant was 'F*** Donald Trump!' Friend or foe? Rabia Keeble hugs a Donald Trump pinata during the protest outside the California Republican Convention Shut down Trump, Open borders: What was left of the pinata of The Donald could be seen in the crowd (left), while masked men chose to hide their identity (right) while making their feelings known Rowdy: While some protesters were content with waving Mexican flags, reports said that at one point people began throwing eggs in the direction of police Viva Mexico: A protester waves the Mexican flag outside the Hyatt, while another can be seen brandishing a poster that reads Trump=Nazi Stop racism: This protester had a Mexican flag tied around his head as he made his message clear; but thanks to the Secret Service, Trump saw none of this Stand-off: Baton-wielding and helmet-wearing police officers form a line in front of protesters outside the hotel Many were in Spanish. One in English, repeated over and over, was: 'F*** Donald Trump!' That message also appeared on at least one sign, waved along with some professionally printed placards from the Service Employees International Union and one home-made poster scrawled with the slogan: 'Capitalism only works on paper.' 'Capitalism kills. #DumpTrump,' another read. CNN reported that protesters at one point started throwing eggs in the direction of police One waved a Giant Mexican flag. Others held Trump pinatas aloft. At one point a banner flew over a pedestrian overpass leading from the hotel to a parking garage, reading 'Make America Aztlan Again.' That line, a play on Trump's 'Make America Great Again' slogan, is a call from some Mexican immigrants' groups to return massive parts of the United States to Mexican rule, including Texas, Arizona, new Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California. Hate and racism not welcome: Mexican demonstrators were not the only ones to take part in the demonstration, as it appeared black protesters and anti-capitalism groups came to the party This particular message outside the Hyatt was delivered in both Spanish and English so there was no chance of it being misinterpreted; it even went as far as to label Trump as an advocate of white supremacy Dump Trump: One typical California protest sign attacked Trump for being a capitalist in a scene reminiscent of Thursday night Say what you really feel: Protestors earlier blocked traffic outside the convention, anticipating that Trump would arrive at the front Eye-catching: Demonstrator Rebecca Marston holds up a bullhorn as she chose a topless protest calling on a ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. She was joined by another scantily clad woman calling on 'Drumpf' to go, echoing John Oliver's joke A fan or a diversion? A Donald supporter wearing his trademark 'Make America Great Again' cap is surrounded by anti-Trump protesters At least some people like you, Donald: Trump supporters in natty cowgirl attire take photos during the convention in Burlingame Trump is known in California for upsetting advocates of citizenship for illegal immigrants, which are largely of Hispanic descent. A law enforcement source told DailyMail.com that the rear-guard action to dodge protesters was planned before Trump's Boeing 757 jumbo jet landed at San Francisco International Airport, just three miles away. Thursday night saw more violent protests further south near Los Angeles, as at least 20 arrests were made in San Mateo outside a Trump speech that attracted more than 31,000 people and thousands more who lined up futilely trying to get into an outdoor amphitheater. Two customers at a Tennessee Checkers went to the bathroom and lost their appetite after finding hundreds of hamburger buns - stored right next to the public toilet. Stephen Stanley, a manager at a nearby McDonald's, was visiting one of the chain's restaurants in Cleveland when he made the disgusting discovery. Stanley took pictures and video of the sight of stack after stack of buns mere feet away from an unflushed toilet before confronting the manager on duty. Scroll down for video Stephen Stanley, a manager at a nearby McDonald's, was visiting a Checkers restaurant in Cleveland, Tennessee when he made the shocking discovery of hamburger buns stored inside the men's bathroom Stanley said a manager told him the store was in the process of trying to get the buns out of the bathroom and into the restaurant He was told that the store was in the process of trying to get the buns out of the bathroom and into the restaurant. 'It's just bad business, poor management and it's disgusting,' Stanley told WRCB. 'My first thought was are they going to serve them.' Stanley stayed at the restaurant more than an hour after his initial complaint to make sure employees put the buns back inside the Checkers. He then called the Tennessee Department of Health's emergency tip-line. Officials from the department were on the scene within 24 hours and an environmentalist was brought in to speak with the manager. 'With all of the bacteria and things that are present in the restroom, it's possible to contaminate the food so that's never acceptable,' Eric Coffee, the department's field office manager, told the station. Stanley (pictured right) took pictures and video of the sight of stack after stack of buns mere feet away from an unflushed toilet before confronting the manager on duty The buns were found in the dumpster during a site inspection on Sunday and thus the department decided not to shut down the restaurant. 'There were no imminent health hazards present while we were there in order to require them to be closed,' Coffee said. Checkers said the buns had been displaced during a delivery, calling the mistake 'completely unacceptable'. 'The buns were never served, and the employees involved in the delivery have been disciplined,' the statement reads. 'We apologize to our guests, and we are taking actions with this franchisee to ensure our operating procedures are followed.' But it won't be enough for customer TC Cooper, who also saw the bathroom buns in person. 'It's a wrap, I'm done,' he said. 'I'm not going to eat there anymore. It's nasty.' A student who helped lead the campaign to tear down a racist statue of Cecil Rhodes at Oxford has boasted about refusing to tip a waitress because she was white. Ntokozo Qwabe bragged online that he and a friend made the woman cry typical white tears after writing on the bill we will give tip when you return the land. The incident, in a cafe in South Africa, provoked a fierce backlash from critics who branded him a hypocrite. Scroll down for video Ntokozo Qwabe, pictured, boasted about how he made a white girl cry working in a South African restaurant The Rhodes Must Fall campaigner, left, wants Oriel College Oxford to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes Mr Qwabe, 24, is one of the leaders of the Rhodes Must Fall movement, which campaigned to remove a statue of the 19th Century imperialist from Oriel College. Although he is a Rhodes scholar himself and received money from the Rhodes estate to study at Oxford, Qwabe and other activists claimed forcing ethnic minority students to walk past the statue amounted to violence. On Thursday, he wrote on Facebook about an altercation with a waitress during a visit to a restaurant called Obz Cafe in the Western Cape, South Africa. He said the incident had left him unable to stop smiling because something so black, wonderful & LIT just happened! He wrote that he had eaten there with a friend, described as a radical non-binary trans black activist, but that the pair had refused to pay the white woman waitress a tip. He said: They take a pen & slip in a note where the gratuity/tip amount is supposed to be entered. The note reads in bold: WE WILL GIVE TIP WHEN YOU RETURN THE LAND. The incident happened in the OBZ Cafe in Western Cape, South Africa on Thursday The waitress comes to us with a card machine for the bill to be sorted out. She sees the note & starts shaking. She leaves us & bursts into typical white tears (like why are you crying when all weve done is make a kind request? lol!). He added that she left the table crying and a white male colleague then approached the table to annoy us more with his own white tears telling us that he finds our act racist. He added: Moral of the story: the time has come when no white person will be absolved. We are tired of not all white people and all other bulls***. We are here, and we want the stolen land back. No white person will be out here living their best life while we are out here being a landless and dispossessed black mass. NO white person shall rest. It is irrelevant whether you personally have land/wealth or you dont. Go to your fellow white people & mobilise for them to give us the land back. His post went viral on the internet, with critics from around the world hitting out at his apparent prejudice. Muhammed Habib Banderker wrote: What an absolute fool of a human being this guy is. Tim Flack said: Oh big man, so chuffed to make a waitress cry. For someone who has gone through so much hardship in his life, Im no longer inspired by you. You are not a role model for anyone, you are a hateful human being. Theres my white tears. Qwabe wanted the statue of Cecil Rhodes, pictured, removed from Oriel College in Oxford Aaminah Masauso said: Have you ever worked as wait staff? Have you ever had to depend on gratuity to make ends meet? How would you feel if it was a black waitress being subjected to such? Riaz Muhammed branded him racist and said: You will amount to nothing. Hypocrite. Yesterday, Mr Qwabe responded to his critics online by accusing the white media of going hysterical. He added: One moment of white tears always makes news despite the everyday unarticulated black pain the dispossessed & landless masses of this cowntry have to live through! WOW. Whiteness is so weak. Cute actually. Mr Qwabe, a South African masters student, was funded by a Rhodes scholarship during his undergraduate law degree at Keble College. Last year, Oriel College said it would conduct a listening exercise after he and other students campaigned for the Cecil Rhodes statue to come down. Eventually the college refused their demand after donors threatened to withdraw funding over the reputational damage the row had caused. Yesterday, the manager of the restaurant, Rush Alexander, confirmed the incident had taken place and said the waitress involved was upset. He added: We were very surprised as everyone in Cape Town just gets along. It was racist and it was unjust. However, we dont think we will take any further action. It was just the words of one ignorant man. A 17-year-old student claims he is the victim of gender discrimination after he was suspended for growing his hair past his shoulders, a rule that doesn't apply to female students in his school district. Mickey Cohen, who filmed himself while his mother cut his hair in a Facebook post that has been viewed nearly 200,000 times, violated the student dress code at Tomball Memorial High School in Tomball, Texas. The school requires male students' hair 'not extend below the bottom of a dress collar or the top of a t-shirt' without specifying a maximum length for girls. Mickey Cohen, claims he is the victim of gender discrimination after he was suspended for growing his hair past his shoulders, a rule that doesn't apply to females (pictured, Cohen getting a haircut from his mother) Cohen said he was placed on in-school suspension for two days even though he always wore his hair tied back in a bun, which disguised the length, he told WBTV. The dress code addresses hair generally, saying it should not be 'styled in any way that is distracting to the learning environment'. Cohen states in the video: 'Women have no such rule. This is gender-biased...As of right now, I'm a straight-A student. I'm doing well in all my classes.' 'I'm not a bad kid. But because of hair, I've been put in ISS and left out of all my classes.' He said school officials even threatened to keep him from walking at graduation before Cohen agreed to cut his hair. The 17-year-old said it was unfair for the dress code to explicitly bar men from wearing their hair long without imposing the same rule on women. The student has filed a complaint with the school district, but officials say they are merely abiding by the set of rules, which each student, including Cohen, signed and agreed to at the beginning of the year. Ted Cruz attempted to walk back a pact reached with Ohio Gov. John Kasich when he said there is 'no alliance' between the two men, in the latest weakening of their deal to try to stop Donald Trump. 'There is no alliance. Kasich and I made a determination where to focus our energies, where to focus our assets, where to focus our resources,' the Texas senator told reporters Friday in Indiana. 'We made a a decision that Governor Kasich was going to pull out of Indiana,' Cruz continued. 'And we were going to go all-in in Indiana. The other end of that agreement was, we were not going to focus our time and resources in Oregon and New Mexico and Kasich was going go all in in those states in those states. That was an agreement of allocation of resources. Candidate Cruz in Indianapolis said today there is 'no alliance' with John Kasich It's just the latest walk-back in the deal, which Kasich minimized just hours after it was reached when he said, 'I never told [Indiana voters] not to vote for me. They should vote for me.' Cruz described the agreement as 'simply a decision where to focus time and resources.' He went on to talk about the importance of the vote in Indiana Tuesday. If Trump is able to prevail, it could put him on a path to win the nomination with an outright majority, undermining efforts by Cruz and Kasich to try to pry it away through a contested convention in Cleveland. 'The country is depending on hoosiers right now. As a party and a nation, we're at the edge of a cliff. We are close to going over that cliff,' Cruz said. He went on to say there would be dire consequences for 'nominating a candidate who agrees with Hillary Clinton on issue after issue,' in a reference to Trump, who he repeatedly says is a New York elite, just like Clinton. Kasich told reporters to 'chill out' about the pact Speaking of Kasich, Cruz said, 'We disagree on a number of policy issues but I'll tell you where we do agree,' Cruz said. 'We agree that as president would be a disaster and we agree that nominating Donald Trump elects Hillary Clinton.' The Kasich campaign said it would 'shift our campaign's resources West and give the Cruz campaign a clear path in Indiana' The pact showed signs of strain almost as soon as it was announced overnight Sunday. On Monday, Kasich couldn't bring himself to say people in Indiana shouldn't vote for him. 'I've never told them not to vote for me; they should vote for me,'Kasich said at a Philadelphia diner. 'I'm not over there campaigning and spending resources. We have limited resources,' he said. 'Everybody chill out.' In the initial statement announcing the pact, Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roe said: 'To ensure that we nominate a Republican who can unify the Republican Party and win in November, our campaign will focus its time and resources in Indiana and in turn clear the path for Gov. Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico, and we would hope that allies of both campaigns would follow our lead.' Trump slammed the pact as 'collusion' between the two candidates. The leading GOP presidential contender issued a scathing statement saying, 'This horrible act of desperation, from two campaigns who have totally failed, makes me even more determined, for the good of the Republican Party and our country, to prevail!' he said. Out of the six Air Force F-35 fighter jets, only one was able to successfully take off during a recent exercise that left the other five grounded due to 'immature systems and software'. The F-35s, which are the world's most sophisticated and most expensive warplanes, were being tested for readiness but only one of the $100 million Lockheed Martin planes was able to boot its software and get itself airborne, according to Flight Global. Details surrounding the failed exercise, which took place at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, were presented to Congress by J Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon's chief weapons tester. Regardless of the software issues, the Air Force still plans to declare its F-35s combat-ready later this year. Scroll down for video The F-35s, which are the world's most sophisticated and most expensive warplanes, were being tested for readiness but only one out of the six $100 million Lockheed Martin plane's was able to boot its software and get itself airborne (file photo) J Michael Gilmore (pictured), the Pentagon's chief weapons tester, said that problems occurred during 'startup that required system or aircraft shutdowns and restarts', which he described as a' symptom of immature systems and software', that 'prevented the other alert launches from being completed' Gilmore wrote that problems occurred during 'startup that required system or aircraft shutdowns and restarts', which he described as a' symptom of immature systems and software', that 'prevented the other alert launches from being completed'. After 15 years of development and billions of dollars of investment, software glitches continue to hamper F-35 operations. The Pentagon plans to spend close to $400 billion to buy nearly 2,500 F-35s for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall and Air Force Lt. Gen Christopher Bogdan, the F-35 program manager, said earlier in the week that they are 'making solid progress' with the F-35 and are confident of overcoming the challenges. Bogdan said he anticipates reducing the per-unit cost of the Air Force's version to under $85 million by 2019. Congress recently asked Air Force bosses to look at the possibility of restarting the F-22 raptor productions line - five years after it was shut down. In its review of the 2017 defense authorization bill, the House Armed Services Committee asked service leaders to look into what it would take to build 194 new Raptors, enough to finally meet the Air Force's long-stated requirement of 381 jets. The request is an attempt to sidestep mounting problems facing the disastrous F-35 program, which most recently suffered flaws with its electronic 'brain' that could see the fleet grounded. Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall and Air Force Lt. Gen Christopher Bogdan, the F-35 program manager, said earlier in the week that they are 'making solid progress' with the F-35 and are confident of overcoming the challenges (file photo) Glitches have affected both the onboard and ground-based software that drive the F-35 and could potentially ground the entire fleet, according to Fortune. Gilmore also said the F-35s recently had to abort their test mission due to software stability issues. Two of four F-35s were forced to abort a test of the aircraft's radar jamming and threat detection capabilities due to software stability problems encountered at startup. The aircraft that were able to fly didn't do so well in the evaluation, according to Gilmore. Bogdan recently said that a new version of the Block 3i software appears to have tripled in stability during tests, going up to 15 hours without a serious software issue. He said earlier this week that the Air Force still plans to declare its F-35s combat-ready sometime later this year and even as soon as August, but more than likely, due to the software glitches, it will be pushed back to October. Another person says their cancer went away One man says that after receiving a sample of the oil, he went to the doctor about a blockage in an artery and it was gone Pilgrims to a Greek Orthodox church outside Chicago have reported miraculous healings which they believe have been caused by an oil seeping out of a painting of St John the Baptist. Since July, the painting at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Homer Glen, Illinois has been 'sweating' an oil parishioners believe is myrrh - one of the gifts the three wise men gave Jesus on his birth. Reverend Sotirios 'Sam' Dimitriou has been collecting the oil, and then giving it out to parishioners and pilgrims alike by soaking it up with little cotton balls, the Chicago Tribune reports. Thousands have been flocking to witness the 'sweating' St John the Baptist painting at Chicago's Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Several believers say that the oil has cured them of sicknesses, including one person who says they are now cancer free So far, he says he's given out 5,000 samples of the oil to the faithful who have flocked to the church. The painting seeps oil from its halo, wings, hands and beard - and not its eyes - which Dimitriou says means the icon offers joy and not sadness. Several believers say that the oil has cured them of sicknesses, including one person who says they are now cancer free. Rev Sotirios Dimitriou uses incense near the icon of St. John the Baptist at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Homer Glen, Illinois, on Thursday, April 28, 2016 Another man says he went to the doctor about a blockage in an artery after receiving a sample of the oil, and found that the blockage was no longer there. Even Dimitriou himself says he's seen an improvement in his health. He tells the Tribune that before the oil started to flow, he would frequently pass out at the alter or in his office due to nerve damage. But now he hasn't been hospitalized since September and he stopped taking his medication in January. While Dimitriou admits that there may be a natural reason for the painting to seep oil, he says he's not looking to solve that mystery. 'When people see this, it's just a reminder that God is still alive and still working through us and it's a reminder that there's still hope in the world for us,' he said. The oil will likely lead to more congregants than usual this weekend, as the Greek Orthodox community celebrates Easter. Advertisement The King of Sweden arrived at the opera in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by his wife and a host of glamorous Swedish royals celebrating his 70th birthday. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia attended a concert of the Royal Swedish Opera and Stockholm Concert Hall and a reception in Stockholm following the birth of their grandson less than two weeks ago - who will be fifth in line to the Swedish throne. It was Princess Madeleine who stole the show at the concert in a lace floral dress and modest heels with pearl detail. The festivities kicked off on Monday and will continue tomorrow - the King's birthday - with a host of events including banquets, a gun salute and carriage processions. Tomorrow, the birthday celebrations will start at 8am when forty-three Swedish flags will be raised in a courtyard in the royal palace. The royal family will attend a thanksgiving service and a luncheon, and will appear on the palace balcony where the King will wave to cheering crowds. A helicopter crash on an island off western Norway, which killed all 13 people on board, will prevent Norway's King Harald and his wife Queen Sonja to cancel a trip to the celebrations in neighboring Sweden. Instead, the Norwegian royal house will be represented by the King's daughter, Princess Martha Louise, and her husband, Ari Behn. Celebration: Sweden's Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf ride an open carriage to the concert at the Nordic Museum in Stockholm Lavish: The King of Sweden arrives at the opera in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by his wife and other glamorous Swedish royals The festivities kicked off on Monday and will continue tomorrow - the King's birthday - with a host of events including banquets Princess Madeleine of Sweden and her husband Christopher O'Neill arrive to the Nordic Museum to attend a concert of the Royal Swedish Opera and Stockholm Concert Hall Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel pictured at the King's birthday reception (left). Pictured right: King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the reception Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden arrive at the Nordic Museum to celebrate the King's 70th birthday King Carl XVI Gustaf pictured giving a speech at a reception in Stockholm, Sweden, today ahead of his birthday tomorrow Residents of Shwe Yaung Pya village and surrounding villages in Thaton Township have made it clear that they want to get paid full compensation for 5,000 acres of land near Shwe Yaung Pya village that villagers claim was confiscated by Max Myanmar Company in 2004. Local sources in the area alleged that under the former military government, the Max Myanmar Company, owned by U Zaw Zaw confiscated farm land owned by villagers from Shwe Yaung Pya, La Oh Kae (Wingyi), Kya Ta Raw (Zeewon) and Klaw Keh (Klout Inn). Naw Mu Dah, a villager from Zeewon spoke to Karen News that with the changing political situation and the change of government, villagers now want to be paid compensation for the loss of their land. Naw Mu Dah said that villagers face hardship without land and are having to rely on being employed as laborers for the rubber plantation that is growing on their confiscated land. Speaking to Karen News, Naw Mu Dah said. As the [company] confiscated our land, we now have nothing to work on. We have to work at their rubber plantation to earn our living. Although we didnt want to give up our land, we could do nothing. Their compensation was far less than our land price and they even had us signed papers. Its difficult to reclaim our land, but we want full compensation from the company. Villagers claim that when Max Myanmar Company confiscated agricultural land in the area for their rubber plantations, locals were given 20,000kyat [$20] an acre as compensation. Then in 2014 and 2015, when villagers asked for 500,000 kyat an acre compensation, the company paid 200,000 kyat [$200] an acre. Villagers claim they were reluctant to complain about the low compensation they got from the company as the company has strong links to military officials and that the company promised to build roads, bridges and schools for the region. Saw Aung Moe Tun, the head of Shwe Yaung Pya village said that the company boss, U Zaw Zaw, promised to develop the infrastructure for the community, but up to now there has only been a few primary schools built for the community. Speaking to Karen News Saw Aung Moe Tun said. U Zaw Zaw said that they would do these thing when their project succeeded. Now rubber trees are old enough for them to produce rubber. But they havent done anything. Since the start, they have not negotiated with the locals about our land that they claim was vacant or fallow land and therefore owned by the government. In reality the land had been cultivated by the local villagers and it is in the KNU controlled area. In the past, we had no right to argue about it, but now we have the right. Padoh Saw Thein Min, the chairman of the KNU Thaton district office said that many businesses had caused similar problems in the community and that local villagers did not understand all the laws and policies about land. Companies took a lot of land some local land owners received compensation and some didnt. While some were satisfied with the compensation, some were not. Land policy and the laws should be explained to the people. There are more than 90 households affected by the alleged land confiscation by the Max Myanmar Company. The Karen Human Rights Group has documented the case and have said that although some villagers received compensation, there are still some who have not received any compensation at all. Lately, theres been a chorus of music label representatives and artists accusing YouTube of mistreating musicians. As the music industry shifts from a business that mainly sold albums and singles to one that earns money from subscriptions and ads, there are bound to be disagreements. But many of the arguments dont do justice to the partnership YouTube has built with artists, labels and the fans who support them. So lets attempt to cut through the noise. First, lets start with where we agree. Music matters. Musicians and songwriters matter. They deserve to be compensated fairly. We believe this deeply and have partnered with the music industry for years to ensure it happens on our platform. Thats why its surprising to see those same labels and artists suggest that YouTube has allowed a flood of 'unlicensed' music onto its platform, depriving artists of revenue. The truth is that YouTube takes copyright management extremely seriously and we work to ensure rightsholders make money no matter who uploads their music. No other platform gives as much money back to creators-- big and small-- across all kinds of content. Decades ago, fans shared their favorite songs or performances on mixtapes. Then the sharing moved online. This was all considered piracy, costing the industry billions. Today, thousands of labels and rightholders have licensing agreements with YouTube to actually leave fan videos up and earn revenue from them. They agree that a world where fans express love for their favorite artists by uploading concert footage and remixes is something to be celebrated. And they see that fan-uploaded content can be a way to drive exposure and boost sales; just this month, a funny video of a Ben Affleck interview helped propel Simon and Garfunkels Sound of Silence to the chart fifty years after it was released. All of this is possible because our technology, , automates rights management. Only 0.5 percent of all music claims are issued manually; we handle the remaining 99.5 percent with 99.7 percent accuracy. Today, the revenue from fan-uploaded content accounts for 50 percent of their revenue. The next claim we hear is that we underpay compared to subscription services like Spotify. But this argument confuses two different services: music subscriptions that cost $10 a month versus ad-supported music videos. Its like comparing what a cab driver earns from fares to what they earn showing ads in their taxi. So lets try a fair comparison, one between YouTube and radio. Like radio, YouTube generates the vast majority of our revenue from advertising. Unlike radio, however, we pay the majority of the ad revenue that music earns to the industry. Radio, which accounts for 25 percent of all music consumption in the US alone and generates $35 billion of ad revenue a year, pays nothing to labels and artists in countries like the U.S. In countries like the UK and France where radio does pay royalties, we pay a rate at least twice as high. Instead of talking about a value gap, we should be focusing on a value shift; if the ad revenue currently spent on radio instead flowed to online platforms, it would double the current size of the music business. The decades-long argument radio makes for not paying artists is that its a promotional tool, raising awareness that artists use to cash in elsewhere. But YouTube offers promotion, toopromotion that pays. And that gets at another argument the industry is making: YouTube hurts emerging artists most. Every musician knows how challenging it can be to get a deal with a label or their song heard on the radio. YouTube is one of the only platforms that allows anyone to get their music heard by a global audience of over one billion people. And it allows artists like Justin Bieber, Tori Kelly and Macklemore to explode from obscurity to build a massive community of fans that generates hundreds of millions of dollars for the industry. YouTube also gives artists data they can use to plan tours, land press and even secure record deals. We believe that transparency is critical to ensuring the music industry works for artists. Were engaged in productive conversations with the labels and publishers around increasing transparency on payouts which we believe can answer many artist concerns. The final claim that the industry makes is that music is core to YouTubes popularity. Despite the billions of views music generates, the average YouTube user spends just one hour watching music on YouTube a month. Compare that to the 55 hours a month the average Spotify subscriber consumes. Make no mistake: regardless of the amount of time people spend watching music, we still feel its core to YouTube. Thats why we worked with labels and publishers to build and implement Content ID. Its why we created a model that offers promotion that paysto date, we have paid out over $3 billion to the music industry and that number is growing significantly year-on-year. And its why we created a custom YouTube Music app and recently introduced YouTube Red, our own subscription service, so that we could drive even more revenue to musicians and songwriters. The Australian woman who was reportedly kidnapped while carrying out aid work in Afghanistan was due to arrive in Australia on Saturday for a holiday. Perth woman, Katherine Jane Wilson, had been working at her office in Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan, in the early hours of Thursday morning when she was snatched by men wearing military uniforms. The 60-year-old, who also goes by the name Kerry, is the director of the non-governmental organisation Zardozi which aims at helping Afghani women utilise their skills to become entrepreneurs. Ms Wilson's concerned father Brian also told Perth Now his daughter would visit him twice a year and was due to arrive for a ten-day holiday days after she was taken. His main concern is that when she does come home she is 'whole in body and mind'. '(Kerry Jane is) level headed, sensible, keeps her head down, doesn't go to the sorts of places where shootings, bombs and trouble is likely to occur. '(She) understands the more pleasurable things of life and is not so single minded that she is unable to think of anything other than her job.' Perth woman, Katherine Jane Wilson, was reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint while working in her office in Afghanistan on Thursday morning Mr Wilson also told ABC he is 'extremely worried.' 'I presume she's a hostage, and that they'll do their best to keep her alive and not harm her, simply because they want to have something or other in return and it's not very good having a dead hostage,' he said. Ms Wilson has worked in Afghanistan for more than 20 years with a number of charities charities. Mr Brian believes his daughter knew the risks involved in working in the region and always took care. 'She's on the security network, it's always dangerous. There's always peril in the background,' he said. 'If she keeps her head down, and is sensible, doesn't go to places where it's a target for trouble, then she should be alright.' In a video posted on Twitter Mr Brian also appealed to his daughter to stay cautious. 'Do your level best, come back safe and sound,' he said. Ms Wilson's 91-year-old father, Brian has appealed for her safe return Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Federal Government is working closely with the family and Afghan authorities but is unable to comment on the situation until a number of matters are confirmed. Ms Wilson previously worked a Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees, or DACAAR, a developmental aid organisation working in Afghanistan. The organisation took to social media after reports of the kidnapping to announce Ms Wilson no longer works with them 'While we are very saddened to hear this news, we wish to make clear, that the person in question does not work for Dacaar or DRC,' said on Twitter. A source who wished to remain anonymous said police had detained eight suspects and the woman hadn't asked for protection,The Daily Telegraph reported. Abductions - particularly for ransom - are common in Afghanistan, with human aid organisation workers often targeted. Earlier in 2016, five Afghan workers for the International Committee of the Red Cross were kidnapped but freed days later. More than three decades have passed since Mo Lea was attacked, but she recalls the terrifying seconds that led up to it like they were yesterday. As she headed home from the pub, a stranger appeared alongside her and started to chat. I realised I didnt recognise him at all and then I noticed his jacket was bulging and he was holding himself strangely, Mo, then an art student, would say of that night in October 1980. I thought: This is really not right, and I started to run and the adrenaline started to kick in and I started to run really fast, but after a while I could hear these footsteps behind me getting faster and faster and faster and then this sheer terror in my body. I was just really terrified and then I had this whack to the top of my head and I just saw the ground coming right up towards me and I was unconscious. Given the sickening assault that followed, the 20-year-old was lucky to ever regain consciousness. Victim Tracy Browne, who was attacked by Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper (right) at the age of 14, was able to give the police this very accurate photofit (left) of the murderer Wielding a hammer, her attacker struck multiple blows to her head and then drove sharpened screwdrivers into her back, narrowly missing her spinal chord. He smashed me on the side of my head, my cheekbone was fractured, my skull was fractured, my jaw was broken open and I lay in a pool of blood in the gutter, she said. To this day Mo, now a senior art lecturer at the University of Bedfordshire, believes she only survived because a passer-by then disturbed her assailant, who ran off. But while police were quickly on the scene, no one has ever been convicted of the crime even though there is little doubt as to who did it. Mo is believed to have been a victim of Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe. But despite the assault bearing all his hallmarks, no link was made at the time. This seems astonishing because the attack fitted perfectly with his modus operandi the initial chat, the blows to the head with a hammer and the subsequent stabbing. Not only that, but the attack on Mo was in Leeds, a location all too familiar to the serial killer, who committed most of his crimes in Yorkshire. The previous month he had attacked Upadhya Bandara in the city, hitting her on the head with a hammer and attempting to strangle her before again being disturbed. Then, weeks later, he would murder Jacqueline Hill, also a 20-year-old student at Leeds University. She would be beaten with a hammer and then stabbed with a screwdriver. Jacqueline was the Rippers last murder victim. He was arrested on January 2, 1981, and convicted of 13 murders and seven attempted murders. Though his first four known victims were prostitutes, it was when he moved on from sex workers during his reign of terror between 1975 and 1981 that the public, in those different times, really woke up to the crimes. The police investigation to catch him became one of the most extensive and controversial of the 20th century as the battered and mutilated bodies of his victims kept being found. Schoolgirl Tracy Browne (pictured) was left laughed out of the police station by one officer but survived the horrific attack Women in the North of England were advised not to go out at night unless absolutely necessary, and only accompanied by a man you know. But the attacks went on. And, as its becoming increasingly clear, he got away with a number of unsolved attacks. Mo appears to be one of them. This week it emerged that detectives from West Yorkshire Police have contacted 13 potential victims with a view to re-examining their cases. Some have been asked to give fresh DNA samples. A relative of one of those quizzed, said: Police knocked on the door and told her she was on a list of possible victims. They asked her to give a new statement and took a sample. They said science has evolved and that they were looking at 13 other cases. They were asking a lot of questions and were glad about that. The police were telling her he could end up back in court. The timing of this new investigation begs a number of questions. For a start, given the passage of so many years, why is it only now that these steps are being taken? Second, how many victims of Sutcliffe could there actually be? And, finally, what prospect of success do police have of securing any further convictions so long after these tragic events took place? The answer to the first question of why it has taken so long to re-examine these cases lies in the belief that, in the aftermath of Sutcliffes conviction, efforts were made to cover up the full extent of police blunders. Sutcliffe was questioned and released nine times by murder squad detectives during the inquiry. Police officers were completely overwhelmed by the scale of the investigation they spoke to nearly a quarter of a million people and took 28,687 statements, but failed to cross-refer vital pieces of evidence which could have stopped the murders. Mo Lea (pictured), a survivor of an attack, believes she was assaulted by the Yorkshire Ripper In a bid to quell rising public criticism, the Government of the day ordered a number of inquiries. Among them was a report by former Inspector of Constabulary Sir Lawrence Byford. When it was completed in 1982 only a summary of his findings was made public in Parliament. The rest was kept under lock and key at the Home Office. Asonishingly, it was only in 2006 that the bulk of the report was finally published, following a Freedom of Information request. What it revealed was that Sir Lawrence had concluded that Sutcliffe had been responsible for multiple attacks on women for which he had not been charged. Byford warned the Home Secretary there was an unexplained lull in Sutcliffes criminal activities between 1969 when he first came to the polices attention after being questioned for hitting a prostitute over the head with a rock concealed in a sock and the first officially recognised Ripper assault in 1975. We feel it is highly improbable that the crimes in respect of which Sutcliffe has been charged and convicted are the only ones attributed to him, he said. This feeling is reinforced by examining the details of a number of assaults on women since 1969 which, in some ways, clearly fall into the established pattern of Sutcliffes overall modus operandi. It is my firm conclusion that between 1969 and 1980 Sutcliffe was probably responsible for many attacks on women, which he has not admitted, not only in West Yorkshire and Manchester but also in other parts of the country. But even then the report was not published in its totality. Among the sections redacted was one entitled: Description of suspects, photofits and other assaults. Since then, efforts to force the Home Office to reveal its contents have been in vain. But The Mail understands that continued pressure recently led officials to request that West Yorkshire Police contact 13 women named in the redacted section of the report to see whether they would object to its publication. At the same time the police force decided they would ask their cold-case review team, set up last year, to look again at each of the cases. Of course, it would be wrong to suggest that the Byford report contained the first hint that Sutcliffe had committed more crimes than those for which he was convicted. In the past a number of attacks, including that of Mo Lea, have been highlighted. Take, for instance, that of Tracy Browne who was attacked in Silsden, West Yorkshire, one evening in August 1975 when she was 14. She and her twin sister Mandy were walking home along a country lane but Tracy had fallen behind because her platform sandals hurt. A man approached her and for much of the next 30 minutes they walked together, chatting. Without warning, Tracy was struck on the head with a hammer. Despite the sickening impact she remained conscious. The first blow sent me crashing down on my knees, she would recall. I fell into the road, pleading with him: Please, dont. But he hit me five times and with so much force that each blow was accompanied by a brutal grunting noise. Im sure hed have kept hitting me until hed finished me off, except he was disturbed by a cars headlights. Before fleeing the scene he bundled Tracy over a barbed-wire fence. Despite having suffered two fractures to her skull she managed to stagger to a farmworkers caravan and he raised the alarm. From her hospital bed she was able to give a detailed description of her assailant painting a picture of a man who closely resembled Sutcliffe. I told the policeman he was 5ft 8in, had very dark, almost black Afro-type wrinkly hair and a full beard, she said. I even mentioned the gap between his teeth and his insipid voice a little man with a high-pitched voice. The Photofit was given to the local Press. So accurate was it that Sutcliffe joked to his mother-in-law that it could be of him. And yet the police never linked the attack to those subsequently perpetrated by the killer. Tracy recalled how police scoffed at her and her mother Nora when they went to Keighley police station after another Photofit was published following the murder of his first victim Wilma McCann, a 28-year-old prostitute, in October, 1975. Local reporter Yvonne Mysliwiec (pictured) was attacked near her home in Ilkley, West Yorkshire in 1979. It is alleged that she was attacked by Peter Sutcliffe Tracy says: I went into the police station with my mum and said, This is him. But the young guy behind the desk just laughed and said: Oh, were having fun and games today, arent we? and he just gave us a form to fill in. I firmly believe that if they had listened, all these people might have been alive today. Other potential victims include Gloria Wood, who was attacked in November 1974. As she crossed playing fields close to her home in Bradford a man approached her and asked if he could carry her bag. The 28-year-old declined the offer and the next thing she recalled was waking up in hospital. She had been struck four times on the head with a ballpeen (metalworkers) hammer a tool used by Sutcliffe in many of his attacks. Then there was the case of Ann Rooney, a 22-year-old student attacked in 1979 in Horsforth, on the outskirts of Leeds. Again she was attacked from behind with a hammer. Again, she was able to give not only a good description of her attacker but also of a car she had seen him in. It was a dark-coloured Sunbeam Rapier a vehicle owned by Sutcliffe at the time and recorded by police as having frequented red light areas in Leeds and Bradford. Her case was not linked because police did not believe the wound was caused by the same the sort of hammer used by The Ripper. There were also similarities in the case of Yvonne Mysliwiec, a 21-year-old local newspaper reporter who was attacked from behind once more with a ballpeen hammer in Ilkley in 1979, suffering a severe head injury. Again, despite her accurate description of Sutcliffe, police dismissed the attack as the work of a copy-cat criminal. So why were they so unwilling to link the attacks? According to Tim Tate, an investigative journalist who, together with former police intelligence officer Chris Clark, last year published Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders, the reason is that police were so overwhelmed by the evidence they already had that they did not want to take on any more. During the Ripper years there was, by West Yorkshire detectives own accounts, substantial pressure from the Forces managers not to add new cases to the growing toll of accepted Ripper victims, he says. Police conduct a fingertip search of the area where Yvonne Mysliwiec, a reporter, was attacked near her home in Ilkley Added to this was the obsessive belief of their most senior detectives that the Ripper only attacked female prostitutes. And so, even when individual detectives believed that one of the unsolved cases should be included within the Ripper Squads portfolio because it matched his known modus operandi their suggestions were dismissed. Incredibly, even when Sutcliffe himself confessed to the attacks on Tracy Browne and Ann Rooney in 1992 nothing was done. This occurred during a series of visits made to Sutcliffe in Broadmoor by the then Assistant Chief Constable, Keith Hellawell. Mr Hellawell has said that files on the case were submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service and a decision was taken not to prosecute in the public interest. But it is not just attempted murders that the Ripper has been linked to. In his book Mr Tate explores the possibility that Sutcliffe was responsible for no fewer than 23 additional murders men and women. Among them was Fred Craven, a bookmaker killed in 1966, almost a decade before Sutcliffes first official attack. He was smashed over the head with a blunt instrument at his shop in Bingley, West Yorkshire, by robbers who stole 200. Police arrested Michael Sutcliffe, the Rippers younger brother though no charges were ever brought but they failed to interview Peter Sutcliffe, who had repeatedly pestered Mr Cravens daughter to go out with him. At the time, the two families lived near each other. Against this background the new police investigation will doubtless be welcomed by survivors and relatives of the dead. But how likely is it to result in a conviction? According to a spokesman for West Yorkshire Police, any new DNA samples taken will be reviewed against exhibits retained by the force. The trouble is that much of the evidence relating to Sutcliffe has been destroyed. Alan Foster, a retired detective constable who worked on the Ripper investigation, has told how he was ordered to destroy many items seized by police after Sutcliffe was caged. He took clothes, shoes and tools to a local furnace. Labels from the exhibits he destroyed make chilling reading: a sharpened screwdriver, womens knickers, a leather apron and gloves, a pin hammer. Against orders, he retained a number of items believing that future advances in DNA testing might prove them to be important. They included a V-neck jumper worn by Sutcliffe during his killing spree as well as a bizarre pair of home-made trousers he wore while carrying out his attacks. They were fashioned from an old pullover. He placed his legs in the sleeves, had fixed kneepads in the elbows, and had the neck at his waist to expose his genitals. Having kept the items safely in his loft for 20 years, the retired detective claims to have returned them to his former force about ten years ago. In reality, given the passing of time, any possible future conviction would rely heavily on circumstantial evidence. However, author Tim Tate believes the first step towards a future prosecution lies firmly in the hands of the Home Office. Everything depends on whether it at long last releases the secret sections of the Byford Report, he says. These detail many of the cases for which Sutcliffe is the prime suspect, and have been suppressed for almost 35 years. If the Home Office finally allows the public to see the report for which, after all, the public paid then the pressure on West Yorkshire Police to take action may become too strong to resist. Police discovered a human fetus inside a purse Bernadette Rivera, 32, was carrying on Thursday while she was being arrested for drug possession Texas authorities discovered a human fetus inside a woman's purse while she was being arrested for drug possession in a San Antonio park. Bernadette Rivera, 32, was initially approached by officers for violating park curfew while at Cassiano Park on Thursday night when they made the discovery, police told Daily Mail Online. She was found with several felonies worth of illegal narcotics, including heroin and methamphetamine, near her private area and was taken into custody, sources told KENS. During the search, Rivera told officers she had a fetus in her purse and that she recently had a miscarriage. She also stated that a nurse had told her to take the fetus home with her, police said. Officers then discovered decomposing tissue about two inches long inside a small plastic Q-Tip box with a napkin inside Rivera's purse. The fetus was estimated to be about eight weeks old, San Antonio Police Department Public Information Officer Romana Lopez told Daily Mail Online. Lopez said a follow up investigation revealed Rivera had gone to a local hospital after she had a miscarriage and that she left with the remains, 'deciding she would determine the disposition of them.' Detectives have since determined that Rivera's possession of the fetus was not a criminal case and the remains have been taken to a local funeral home. The Bexar County Medical Examiners' Office has been in contact with Rivera's family and funeral arrangements are pending. Rivera has been booked on three felony drug charges and no other charges are expected at this time. Fruit industry experts predict the UK is set to enjoy a record-breaking crop of cherries but sales of Bramleys are set to fall Life looks sweet for Britains cherry farmers this year but sales of Bramleys are set to fall. Fruit industry experts predict the UK is set to enjoy a record-breaking crop of cherries. But Britains pudding lovers face a shortage of Bramley apples this summer, a key ingredient in pies, crumbles, sauces and cakes. A shortfall of 2,000 tons, about 12 per cent of UK production, is predicted because falling prices persuaded growers to ditch the variety in favour of more lucrative crops, like cherries. It seems consumers are being attracted to the more eye-catching properties of cherries. Besides helping combat joint pain, cherries contain the useful plant hormone, melatonin, and are thought to ease headaches, lower cholesterol and aid sleep. Studies have shown cherries are also full of anti-oxidants anthocyanins 1 and 2 and are packed with Vitamin C. In previous years, supermarkets imported hundreds of tons of cherries from Turkey, the US, Canada, Chile and Argentina. In 2000 the UK only produced 400 tons of the fruit. This year as much as 5,500 tons are expected to be grown, a 22 per cent increase on last years record-breaking season of 4,500 tons. Homegrown cherries are among the freshest fruit in the country because they can be picked, cooled and delivered to shops the next day. British Cherries, which oversees more than 70 per cent of the nations production, said: Were thrilled that British cherries continue to be such a popular choice for the consumer and hope this continues for many years to come. Were also hoping for more warm weather over the coming weeks as this will help to produce a large crop of delicious cherries. Demand is still high for Bramleys, in part due to the popularity of The Great British Bake-Off. But according to trade organisation English Apples & Pears, the Bramley crop is down from 16,500 tons last year to an expected 14,500 this season. A shortfall of 2,000 tons is predicted because falling prices persuaded growers to ditch the variety in favour of more lucrative crops Growers are not making enough money from them so pulled up many trees to make space to grow other crops. Prices paid at the farm gate for cooking apples fell from 81p per kilo to 61p per kilo last year. Adrian Barlow, CEO of English Apples & Pears told trade publication The Grocer: Bramley apples are unique to Britain and are an iconic product with brilliant taste and texture. For cooking, no other variety comes near it. The uncle of Mengmei Leng allegedly stabbed her more than 30 times before dumping her body in a blowhole at Snapper Point on New South Wales' Central Coast, a court heard on Saturday. Derek Barrett, 27, is accused of murdering his niece between Thursday night and Sunday morning last week. Police believe Ms Leng, returned to her home in Campsie on Thursday afternoon where she lived with her uncle, aunt and cousin, after spending the day shopping in Sydney, Fairfax reported. Scroll down for video Derek Barrett (left) and his alleged murder victim Mengmei Leng whose body was dumped in a blowhole NSW Police have release CCTV footage of Mengmei Leng, 25, shopping at Pitt Street in central Sydney about 3pm last Thursday She was allegedly murdered inside the family home. She attempted to fight off her attacker and suffered a number of defensive wounds, as well as over 30 stabbing blows, the autopsy revealed. It is believed CCTV footage captured a car entering Lake Munmorah national park around 7am on Sunday. Police will allege Ms Lengs body was inside the car. Mr Barrett, a former IT worker, was unemployed at the time of the murder. Her body was found at the bottom of a blowhole near Snapper Point on Sunday. Above is an image from CCTV Police will allege that he stabbed Ms Leng more than 30 times and are awaiting further forensic results. Mr Barrett was arrested on Friday and appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday via video link - he did not apply for bail. He wore a blue forensic jumpsuit and did not speak nor show any emotion throughout the hearing, The Daily Telegraph reported. He will appear at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday. Ms Leng appears to have visited the site of her alleged murder in the past, as she posted a photo to her Instagram account of the exact same blowhole almost three years ago on June 13, 2013 Ms Leng appears to have visited the site of her alleged murder in the past, as she posted a photo to her Instagram account of the exact same blowhole almost three years ago on June 13, 2013. Ms Leng was earlier identified as a University of Technology Sydney graduate, and NSW Police released CCTV footage of her shopping at Pitt Street in central Sydney about 3pm last Thursday. Also known as Michelle, Ms Leng caught a train from St James Railway Station, arriving at Campsie Railway Station about 4.30pm three days before her body was found on Sunday, April 24. The 25-year-old, who is originally from China, is a University of Technology Sydney graduate who studied economics and hospitality business management. Ms Leng was living with her aunt and uncle at Campsie, in Sydney's south-west, and had been living in Australia for five years. Her mother and brother live in China and she was also studying translation at UTS before her death. A picture of Ms Leng on her graduation day last year after getting her economics and hospitality business management degree Friends of Ms Leng said they last saw her at a bus stop outside UTS on Friday before the long weekend and she may have been planning to meet someone for a date, news.com.au reported. Det Chief Insp Jubelin said on Friday she had been communicating with friends on her mobile phone up until Thursday night and she did not post on social media following that time. He also said it was 'out-of-character' and 'unusual' for Ms Leng to disappear. 'From all the information we've gathered in relation to the young lady, she was very responsible, would always stay in contact with her family, let them know where she was going, so there was concerns when she disappeared,' Det Chief Insp Jubelin said. 'So it is definitely out-of-character for her.' The blowhole at Snapper Point is a notorious spot popular with fisherman. In eight years, there have been 16 deaths at and around the spot Friends of Ms Leng said they last saw her at a bus stop outside UTS on Friday before the long weekend Ms Leng's family have been informed of her death and Det Chief Insp Jubelin said he did not think 'devastated properly describes' the way her relatives were feeling. Chinese media reported that her mother was applying for a visa in order to fly to Sydney. 'It is difficult and traumatic for her family so far away at this time,' he said. 'Speaking to the brother, he was shocked by it and there is a lot of pain. 'They're dealing with it as best they can but it's a very sad situation.' Homicide detectives are scouring CCTV and traffic cameras to map out Ms Leng's final movements. They are also speaking to her family members, friends and associates. Det Chief Insp Jubelin said there was no 'clear or concise motive' at this stage of the investigation. 'It just seems like a senseless crime for a lady like that to be killed and murdered in the situation that occurred,' he said. Friends and acquaintances paid tribute to Ms Leng on Chinese and Australian social media sites. 'Devastated. Hope there is no pain in Heaven,' one friend said. The 25-year-old, who is originally from China, is a University of Technology Sydney graduate Ms Leng, also known as Michelle, caught a train from St James Railway Station, arriving at Campsie Railway Station about 4.30pm 'Cherish life, as you never know which day is your last day,' another said. 'Who would've thought she was gone.' Ms Leng was an adventurer who recently travelled to Hobart for a getaway and regularly embarked on day trips around New South Wales. In recent weeks, she posted a video from West Head lookout near Sydney Harbour, pictures from Resolute Beach, north of the city, in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and Werri Beach on the south coast. Like so many girls her age, she would often post pictures of herself having cocktails and glasses of wine with friends and hip Harbourside on weekends. Ms Leng is originally from Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province, according to an old missing persons report circulated online. Ms Leng's body was found floating in a blowhole at Snapper Point at the Munmorah State Conservation Area on Sunday morning. Earlier this week, Det Chief Insp Jubelin said Ms Leng suffered a 'violent assault' before her death. 'The post-mortem revealed the woman had suffered a number of wounds, significantly some stab wounds,' he said. 'Our interpretation of the situation is that she suffered a violent assault prior to her death.' Detectives are hopping to pieces together Ms Leng's movements over the long weekend after she was reported missing to Campsie Police on Monday by a relative Ms Leng's body was found floating in a blowhole at Snapper Point at the Munmorah State Conservation Area on Sunday morning Police released a photo composite of Ms Leng's face when they were unable to identify her after her body was found on Sunday Det Chief Insp Jubelin said her body was found in an area frequented by tourists and rock fisherman, but it was somewhat isolated. 'It is a very beautiful location but for a crime and someone to be disposed of in that manner in the location its a very lonely and isolated area,' he said. Ms Leng was discovered face down on Sunday morning and authorities believe she could not have been there for any longer than 48 hours, and it was likely much less than that. 'She was found at 10.30am so this is suggestive of the fact that perhaps her body hadn't been there very long in the water,' Mr Jubelin said. A pregnant mother has been arrested after Texas police found two severely injured toddlers chained up in her back yard with another six children left alone inside the property. Porucha Phillips, 34, was arrested in San Antonio after concerned neighbors called cops at 11.45pm on Thursday night to reports of a child that would not stop crying. When officers arrived they discovered a two-year-old boy and three-year-old girl suffering from a fractured arm tied up in the back yard by a chain and a dog leash. Porucha Phillips, 34, was arrested Friday morning after police in San Antonio, Texas, were called to this property late on Thursday to reports of children who would not stop crying Officers say they found a three-year-old girl suffering from a fractured arm tied up in the back yard with a dog leash, another boy chained to the ground in the yard, and six more children inside the house Officers said the boy had a chain tied around one ankle with the other end secured to the ground, while the girl was secured to the frame of the back door by a leash. James Keith, spokesman for Bexar County Sheriff's Office, told KENS5 that when police forced their way inside the house where they found six more children left without an adult at home. Those children, believed to be Phillips' biological offspring, are aged between 10 months and 10 years old, according to Keith. He said: 'They were exhausted, tired, dehydrated. There was evidence that they had been previously abused, it makes you sick to see something like this, it makes you angry. 'To call this horrific is an understatement, this is as disturbing as it comes. Everybody is bothered by this. It motivates you to fight harder to make sure this is taken care of.' The toddlers found in the back yard are not thought to belong to Phillips, and detectives are currently hunting for their parents. Phillips denies tying the children up, according to investigators, and says the two found in the back yard were dumped at her house by their parents who didn't want to care for them James Keith, spokesman for Bexar County Sheriff's Office, said Phillips has been charged with child injury but added investigations are ongoing and more charges are expected Phillips and another adult, believed to be the father of the six children in the home, returned to the property in the early hours of Friday morning where they were arrested. Keith said that Phillips is the only one currently charged with child abandonment and injury offences, but that more charges are expected to follow. Those close to the investigation told My San Antonio that the father, who is not married to Phillips, has not been charged because he was at work while the children were left alone. Investigators also revealed that Phillips is claiming she never restrained the two children in her back yard, and they were simply dumped there by their parents. She is claiming she intended to take the children to a fire station and turn them over because she was unable to care for them. It is thought that Phillips' was supposed to be caring for the two children found in her back yard, but her exact relationship to the toddlers and their parents is unknown. Residents close to the house (side alley, pictured) say the children were occasionally let out to play and the parents seemed like nice people The girl and boy in the yard were taken to hospital where the girl was placed into intensive care, according to Fox San Antonio. The girl is reported to be suffering from a fractured arm and wrist, while the boy has abrasions and scarring. KBOI2 reports that Phillips is originally from Sacramento, California, while records show she was in Las Vegas for a time, and was also arrested for soliciting prostitution in Reno, Nevada, in 2003. It is thought that Phillips moved to San Antonio in October, and during the same month police were called out seven times for a disturbance, animal cruelty and burglary. Chris Tippery, who lives nearby, told My San Antonio: 'They didn't come out much. They keep (the kids) in the house for the most part. 'Sometimes you would see them outside in their diapers. They seemed like all right people.' The 169-store chain now has a 571million black hole in its pension fund He drained millions out of firm - right up until it was put into administration The discreet London offices of public relations firm Bell Pottinger have seen a stream of untouchables beat a path to their door. Dictators, despots and at least one killer have turned to the spin doctors to polish what was left of their reputations. But there is one person deemed too toxic to keep on the books: Dominic Chappell, the man who bought the now collapsed High-Street chain BHS from Sir Philip Green. Being given the boot by Bell Potts, as it is known in the City, is quite an achievement. Though it is hired by many respectable clients, the firm in the past has been known for its willingness to take on virtually anyone. Former customers include Asma al-Assad, the wife of the Syrian dictator, a foundation for Chilean dictator General Pinochet and athlete Oscar Pistorius, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend. Dominic Chappell is an incorrigible chancer who has not let two bankruptcies and a string of bad debts stand in the way of his next deal Dominic Chappell, however, was unceremoniously dumped by Bell Potts, which had been advising him on the BHS purchase, virtually the minute the deal was completed. Senior executives at the firm had rapidly become queasy at Chappells tall tales and dubious connections. Which begs the question: why were others, including seasoned retailer Sir Philip Green who sold him BHS last year for 1 seemingly blind to the 49-year-old former racing drivers Walter Mitty propensities? He is a bulls****er extraordinaire, said one former business associate. But it doesnt take much to see through him. Indeed not. Chappell, it transpires, is an incorrigible chancer who has not let two bankruptcies and a string of bad debts stand in the way of his next deal. Even a cursory trawl through the records would have revealed the tangled knot of bankruptcies, nepotism and pretensions that mark his career to date. The way he was allowed to take control of a national institution like BHS, holding the fate of its 11,000 employees in his slippery hands, is a parable for our times. Armed with little more than bravado, the egregious Mr Chappell, who had no retail experience, no credibility and no money, seized ownership of the 169-store chain. No one involved in the deal not the highly paid lawyers, the accountants or Sir Philip himself seems to have displayed the slightest qualm, or lifted a finger to stop him. Chappell and the company he used to buy BHS, Retail Acquisitions, hired accountant Grant Thornton and law firm Olswang as legal advisers. Sir Philip was advised by top legal firm Linklaters, who relied on Chappells lawyers to vouch for his credibility as a buyer. Olswang and Linklaters are both expected to appear in front of a Parliamentary Committee to answer questions over the sale of BHS. When asked this week why he sold the store chain to such a man, Sir Philip mused that plenty of people go out with someone they end up hating because they seemed all right at first. Perhaps emboldened by the lack of scrutiny, Chappell drained millions out of BHS right until the point when it was put into administration this week with a 571 million black hole in its pension fund. Chappell, right, poses with fellow racing driver Phil Andrews ahead of testing for Le Mans in 1994 Not that he appears to be remotely abashed by the downfall of the retailer, any more than he is by the earlier disasters that pepper his personal history. He is probably in talks to take over the British steel industry as we speak, said one of his victims, wryly. True to form, he hatched a plan to buy back the profitable parts of the retail chain from the administrators, shorn of the multi-million-pound pension fund liabilities. To that end, he bought a Las Vegas shell company intended to serve as a vehicle for the takeover from Russian businessman Vladislav Ermolovich for just under 140,000. And the straitened finances at BHS have not prevented him from living as if he were a tycoon, with trappings that include a 200,000 racing yacht and a 1 million speedboat. He drew a 510,000 salary and hired a helicopter that he claims to have flown himself to conduct visits to the down-at-heel stores. His self-image also seems intact, despite the financial devastation he has wreaked on the British High Street. Documents submitted to the U.S. regulator for the Las Vegas purchase describe him as a highly experienced entrepreneur who claims to have achieved sustained growth and longevity for companies under his control, as well as a being a consummate professional known for his ability at motivating staff. No doubt hollow laughter is ringing round the aisles of BHS stores up and down the land at this delusional description. Philip Green sold BHS to Chappell for 1 last year In the same papers, he paints himself as an oil baron with more than 20 years experience in the industry. Bosses at BP can sleep soundly. His company Cadiz Petroleum Ltd had net liabilities of 8,178 in its latest accounts for the year to the end of March 2015, according to corporate intelligence provider DueDil. Nor do these accounts show any trace of a 5 million windfall, supposedly from an oil storage facility in Cadiz, southern Spain, that Chappell has previously claimed helped him to bankroll his takeover of BHS, though it is possible it is recorded elsewhere. When his well-fed figure first emerged on the City scene as the buyer of BHS, Chappell was virtually unknown. Born in Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey, he was educated at the 11,550-a-term Millfield public school in Somerset, better known for its pupils sporting prowess than their brains. Associates say he has talked of a family trust fund based in Gibraltar, while home is an imposing 1.5 million Grade II-listed manor house in a Dorset village. True to form, all is not quite what it seems. Sniffy neighbours in well-heeled Winterbourne Clenston are keen to point out that he is only renting the house he shares with his wife Rebecca, 33, and their two children. Rented or not, few of the BHS staff and pensioners now fearful for their future could afford to live in the gated property, which has a swimming pool and six bedrooms. The estate is part-owned by the family of aristocrat Giles Carlyle-Clarke, a friend of Chappells who was jailed in the U.S. in 2007 for smuggling in cannabis on his boat. When in London, Chappell has been an habitue of the 300-a-night five-star Landmark Hotel opposite the BHS headquarters in Marylebone where he occupied Sir Philip Greens old office. Despite such trappings, alarm bells over Chappells suitability as an owner of one of the countrys biggest store chains should have rung at several points before BHS was entrusted to his mercies. In April last year, around the time of the sale, a public hearing over the debts from his second bankruptcy was being held at the offices of accountancy firm BDO near Gatwick airport in Sussex. The board was also afflicted with nepotism: the chairman, Keith Smith, was Chappells uncle. Seventy-seven-year-old Uncle Keith is well-known in the Square Mile for his time at broker Nabarro Wells. It fell into bad odour due to its involvement with a company called Langbar. The latter was at the centre of a fraud that became one of the worst corporate scandals of the Noughties. The affair triggered a six-year investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. Nabarro Wells was fined 250,000 and publicly censured in 2007 for acting without due skill and care. Smith personally was not subject to any disciplinary action, comment or censure from the London Stock Exchange. If this was not enough, more skeletons were practically tumbling out of Chappells cupboard. His early career, he claims, was as a racing driver who competed in the famous Le Mans 24-hour race. But the impression that he was an aspiring Lewis Hamilton seems as spurious as his pretensions to being a captain of industry. The way Chappell was allowed to take control of a national institution like BHS, holding the fate of its 11,000 employees in his slippery hands, is a parable for our times He had only two starts in F3000 category races a couple of rungs up from karting both back in 1993, according to a motorsport website. Whatever his abilities or lack of them behind the wheel, he had not even reached the age of 30 when he became insolvent for the first time. In 1996, aged 29, he entered an Individual Voluntary Arrangement which allows people to avoid bankruptcy by striking agreements with their creditors blaming it on a personal guarantee he said he gave to a Formula One Team that failed. Nine years later, he was in trouble again when estate agency Foxtons bankrupted him over an unpaid fee relating to the sale of a 1.2 million flat in Fulham, South-West London. His discharge came in December 2006. Nothing if not resilient, Chappell who insists that his name is pronounced French-style as Shap-elle embarked on a scheme with his father Joe to build a marina on the Isle of Wight. This would turn out to be his most spectacular failure: until it was eclipsed by the wreckage of BHS, that is. Chappells name has been mud on the island since his venture went under in 2009 owing 24 million. The Island Harbour Marina development consisted of a restaurant and bar called Bistro, 26 luxury waterside properties and private moorings, as well as a helipad he built for himself. It has since been completed by another company. Locals on the Isle of Wight this week described Chappell as a fantasist who flew in and out of the island in a top-of-the-range helicopter. People often came looking to collect debts, the staff were instructed to say he was not around while he would be hiding out back in the kitchen, said one. It gets to me that he gets away with his flamboyant life while not paying his debts. And hes just done it all over again. You would see him out eating lobster and drinking champagne while the troubles in his business were mounting. Islanders say that when Chappell had a dispute with a company who laid down the turf in the development, he received a rude awakening. A guy turned up one day and was spraying the grass right outside the restaurant . . . he said he was feeding it or something, recalled one resident. But the next day it became obvious he had used weed-killer because the grass had gone yellow in places, spelling out a word I cannot repeat. Chappell, he remembered, would look down on everyone. He thought he was a bit of a playboy. He added: It was the little man that suffered and he didnt give a damn about that, he took everyone down with him and then came out the other end to do it all over again. He should be stopped. One creditor left out of pocket by Chappell was Cross Print Media in Newport, which lost 14,000 after printing the brochures for the Island Harbour development. Managing director Timothy Sell said: We chased him for the money and were put off again and again. By the time we got to the courts over the matter he wound up his company. He ripped me off. Our staff did not get their bonuses that year because there wasnt enough money. He continued with his flash lifestyle on the island. Now hes done it all over again. I just wonder how he could have been allowed to take on BHS. Hamiltons Fine Foods a small family firm that has been running for 21 years was also hit, losing 12,000 in unpaid debts. Owner Andy Gustar, 69, provided Chappell with a sizeable order, ahead of the Isle of Wight music festival that sees thousands descend on the island, for his restaurant. Mr Gustar said: Ive had to pay my suppliers so an unpaid order like that leaves a big hole. It has been horrendous for the small businesses. Chappell did not emerge from this debacle entirely unscathed. The failure of Island Harbour Marina triggered his second bankruptcy, and in an order filed in Bournemouth County Court on October 28, 2009, he was described as unemployed. This was not the only business failure to strike around this time. His father Joes property company Eyot (based in Walton-on-Thames), where Dominic was a director, went to the wall in 2008, owing 230,000 to Lloyds Bank meaning taxpayers picked up the bill because the bank is still partly State-owned. If he was despondent about these sorry episodes, Chappell was to bounce back in spectacular style when he got his mitts on BHS, reportedly with a fraudster named Paul Sutton acting as a middleman between him and Sir Philip Green. Sutton who was convicted of fraud by a French court and sentenced in 2002 to three years in prison that he has never served tried and failed to buy BHS himself. Sir Philip baulked at the idea because of Suttons reputation and is said to have demanded written guarantees that he would not be involved with the sale of BHS to Chappell, beyond making the introduction. Green is understood to have received a dossier from an anonymous source on Sutton. Having read the files, Green decided he did not want to do business with him and threw him out of his office. A former business associate of Chappells, who has now severed links with him, said: I got uncomfortable around Paul Sutton. It became clear that he was involved [in the purchase of BHS] though Chappell always tried to deny it. Sutton does not appear to have had any dealings with the retail chain after the purchase. But he and Chappell were both shareholders in a Panama company called Clarberry Investments, set up in the notorious tax haven shortly after the BHS deal, purportedly to try to buy a Swiss retailer. Under the short period of his ownership of BHS, Chappell bled the company of at least 25 million, which included almost 5 million in fees and salaries for himself and his fellow directors. As part of that, he took a 1.5 million loan, some of which has been used to pay off his fathers mortgage on a four-bedroom home in Sunbury. Separately, Chappell earlier this month moved 1.5 million from the retailer into an outfit called BHS Sweden, which despite the name is not connected to the company. He returned the cash minus 50,000 for foreign exchange fees at the behest of the store chains chief executive Darren Topp. Sources say that at the time BHS went into administration, several million pounds had been paid to Chappells firm Retail Acquisitions the vehicle he used for its purchase for purposes that were unclear. Sir Philip Green is understood to feel he was taken in by Chappells pose as a responsible buyer. Evidence that Chappell was not all he seemed, however, was never very far from the surface. The idea is said to originate from South Korea and Japan and apparently helps Advertisement Visiting a hot spring is always a luxurious affair but one location in China has stepped things up a bit by adding in fruit. The hot spring in Luoyang City, central China's Henan province places apples, oranges and other fruit in the water to apparently help people's skin, Huanqiu, affiliated with the People's Daily Online reports. Visitors to the springs have not been able to resist the temptation of tucking into some of the fruit. Swimming with fruit and veg: A hot spring in Luoyang, central China has added fruit and vegetables into its water Bathing with fruit is good for your health: According to reports, the fruit can help moisturize the skin and also whiten it Various fruit and vegetables such as oranges, lemons and cucumber have been added to the hot springs in Luoyang A good tourist destination during vacation times: There are many hot spring resorts in China that are especially popular in the holidays According to reports, the idea behind the fad originated in Japan and Korea and has since travelled to China. It's said to have a moisturizing effect on the skin and also reportedly has a whitening effect on the skin. Skin Whitening is the latest trend in China with people doing anything to get lighter skin including using creams and even eating certain types of food. Some people even resort to plastic surgery in the most extreme case. Many people who visit the hot spring in Luoyang put cucumbers and oranges on their faces to help with their skincare regime. There are many hot spring resorts in China that are popular with people during the holidays - this weekend marks China's Labour Day holiday. Good for your health: It's said to have a moisturizing effect on the skin and also reportedly has a whitening effect on the skin A good afternoon out in Luoyang: Visitors bathe in water filled with cucumber slices in a hot spring resort Astronomers have discovered signs of a massive stellar explosion 30 million years ago that would have produced the equivalent force of millions of suns blowing up all at once. The ancient star would have ballooned to 200 times the size of the sun and the epic blast would have spewed out material into the universe at 36 million kilometres an hour (22.4 million mph). Researchers believe that their analysis of the supernova, which has been visible in the night sky since 2013, can teach us more about the violent deaths of stars in the universe. Scroll down for video Astronomers have discovered signs of a massive stellar explosion 30 million years ago which would have produced the equivalent force of millions of suns blowing up all at once. Stock image. The team studied observations of the explosion, called Supernova 2013ej, taken by a number of telescopes The international team, led by researchers at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, have analysed the aftermath of the massive stars end, which exploded in the distant M74 galaxy. It is so far away that light from the supernova took 30 million years to reach Earth. There are so many characteristics we can derive from the early data, said Govinda Dhungana, lead author of the study. This was a big massive star, burning tremendous fuel. When it finally reached a point its core couldn't support the gravitational pull inward, suddenly it collapsed and then exploded. The huge supernova, called SN2013ej is believed to be the remnants of an star 30 million light years away in the M74 galaxy (illustrated). Measurements show that the star was far less dense to begin with, at just 15 times the mass of the sun The team studied observations of the explosion, called Supernova 2013ej, taken by a number of telescopes, which capture the corner of the cosmos before the explosion up to 450 days afterwards. DISTANT SUPERNOVA REVEALS THE COSMIC DANCE OF DEATH Supernova 2013ej is believed to be the remnants of an star 30 million light years away in the M74 galaxy. Astronomers believe that it originally had a mass of 15 times the sun, but would have exploded with the force of 100 million suns being detonated at the same time. Observations from a number of satellites show the timeline of the supernova, from before the explosion up to 450 days afterwards. The team said the star may have had planets orbiting, which would have been annihilated. Ten days after the initial explosion it was burning at a fierce 22,000 degrees Fahrenheit (12,200 C), but cooled rapidly to just 7,640 F (4,220) after 50 days. By comparison, the Sun burns at a steady 9,900 F (5,480 C). Advertisement From these they were able to work out how the stars characteristics changed as it exploded including its temperature, mass and radius, and even its composition and how the debris spread. Measurements show that the star was far less dense to begin with, at just 15 times the mass of the sun. Ten days after the initial explosion it was burning at a fierce 22,000 degrees Fahrenheit (12,200 C), but cooled rapidly to just 7,640 F (4,220) after 50 days. By comparison, the Sun burns at a steady 9,900 F (5,480 C). Whats more, the team believes there may have been planets orbiting the star before it exploded. Professor Robert Kehoe, who leads the astrophysics team at SMU, explained: If you were nearby, you wouldn't know there was a problem beforehand, because at the surface you can't see the core heating up and collapsing. Then suddenly it explodes and you're toast. By studying the remnants of the star, astronomers hope to uncover what gets left behind in the wake of supernovae. It is thought that the remains of the star become more dense, but this could lead to a super dense neutron star, but they could go even further, collapsing under their own mass until the form a black hole. Ten days after the explosion it was burning at 22,000 degrees Fahrenheit, but cooled to just 7,640 F after 50 days. By comparison, the sun burns at 9,900 F (5,480 C). There may have also been planets orbiting the star before it exploded. Analysis of brightness in the region (left) shows a huge peak after the explosion (right) One of the ultimate fates of a supernova is a neutron star - a super dense class of star which may be a fraction of its former size, but maintain much of the mass in a condensed core (illustrated). Stock image 'The core collapse and how it produces the explosion is particularly tricky,' said Professor Kehoe. 'Part of what makes SN 2013ej so interesting is that astronomers are able to compare a variety of models to better understand what is happening. 'Using some of this information, we are also able to calculate the distance to this object. 'This allows us a new type of object with which to study the larger universe, and maybe someday dark energy.' By studying the spectral emissions of stars, astrophysicists can work out what they are made up of, with elements of the periodic table giving different spectral readings. But under some circumstances this could go even further, with the star collapsing under its own mass until it forms a black hole (illustrated). Stock image The team reports that by using this information they can provide a stellar CAT scan, peering into the star to work out what it is, or was, made of. And from this, we could even glean more insight into how our own solar system formed. 'Supernovae have death and birth written all over them,' added Professor Kehoe. 'Not only do they create the elements we are made of, but the shockwave that goes out from the explosion -- that's where our solar system comes from.' 'Outflowing material slams into clouds of material in interstellar space, causing it to collapse and form a solar system. 'The heavy elements made in the supernova and its parent star are those which comprise the bulk of terrestrial planets, like Earth, and are necessary for life.' The delegation headed by Dr. Mya Han (President, Myanmar Livestock Federation) included seven senior members from the dairy sector and they were accompanied by the ambassador of Israel to Myanmar. The group was hosted by an Israeli-managed farm near Ho Chi Minh City which was installed by MASHAV Israel's agency for international cooperation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of Ho Chi Minh Province. The members visited the farm's installation, observed milking session and were briefed by the farm's manager on policy, procedures and technology of the Israeli dairy sector, emphasizing the importance of proper management, proper nutrition and cows' health. And now a nuclear physicist has revealed how radioactive the site is Researchers lost the wreck - but it was spotted in April last year by a research submarine Following tests it was scuttled in 1951, loaded with 55-gallon Advertisement Stunning new pictures from a 1946 atomic weapon test on a hundred US ships have been revealed. The newly declassified images show the World War II veteran aircraft carrier USS Independence, which was one of nearly a hundred ships used as targets in the first tests of the atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll in the summer of 1946. The two Bikini tests known as Operation Crossroads were carried out in the immediate aftermath of the atomic end to World War II in Japan, and signaled a new era in world history, the historians involved in the new study say. Scroll down for video The newly declassified images show the World War II aircraft carrier which was one of nearly a hundred ships used as targets in the first tests of the atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll in 1946. Here, Sailors watch the 'Able Test' burst miles out to sea from the deck of the support ship USS Fall River on 1 July 1946. THE ABLE NUCLEAR TEST On 1 July 1946, the United States conducted the first nuclear test after World War II. The explosion took place at the Bikini Atoll lagoon, situated in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The explosion of the fission bomb, largely identical to the weapon used in the attack on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, occurred 158 metres above sea level and had a yield of 23kilotons. The bomb, named Gilda after Rita Hayworth's character in the 1946 eponymous film, was dropped from the B-29 Superfortress Dave's Dream of the 509th Bombardment Group. The main aim was to test the effects of nuclear weapons on ships. 78 vessels, many of which had been captured during World War II, was anchored in the lagoon. The blast sunk only five of them, leaving another 14 seriously damaged. Advertisement The Journal of Maritime Archaeology gave over an entire issue to the collection of documents and photographs from the tests. This era was grimly summarized in a then-classified report on the Bikini tests which suggested that, with the coming of the 'Bomb,' it was possible to depopulate the earth, leaving only 'vestigial remnants of man's works.' The explosion took place at the Bikini Atoll lagoon, situated in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Test Able was to be the first of a series of 67 tests in the atoll and the second U.S. nuclear test of over a thousand to follow. The explosion of the fission bomb, largely identical to the weapon used in the attack on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, occurred 158 metres above sea level and had a yield of 23kilotons. The main aim was to test the effects of nuclear weapons on ships. To that end, a fleet of 78 vessels, many of which had been captured during World War II, was anchored in the lagoon. The blast sunk only five of them, leaving another 14 seriously damaged. 'The Journal of Maritime Archaeology is honored to be able to present the case study of the USS Independence,' says JMA's co-editor-in-chief, Annalies Corbin. 'NOAA's achievements in contextualizing the work ahead for maritime archaeologists around the world as it relates to post-World War II and Cold War archaeology is critical to launching meaningful conversation and developing initial plans for underwater cultural heritage management of vessels like the USS Independence.' The wreck of the USS Independence lies nearly 30 miles off the central California coast. This is where the US Navy scuttled it to take it beyond the reach of potential Soviet espionage at the end of its usefulness as a nuclear test platform in 1951. The US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries worked with the Boeing Company in 2015 to pinpoint the wreck. This image reveals damage to the vessel following these tests. It was sunk near the Farallon Islands on 26 January 1951 loaded with 55-gallon drums of radioactive waste The 'Able Test' of July 1, 1946, dropped a plutonium core 'Fat Man' weapon on the target fleet moored at Bikini The goal was to learn more about it in a deep water test that merged high-resolution sonar and a free swimming underwater robotic vehicle, 'Echo Ranger.' 'Historical and, by extension, maritime archaeology of the recent past can and should include merging documentary evidence with physical remains,' notes NOAA's James Delgado, Director of Maritime Heritage for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and lead scientist for the Independence mission. The bombed-out World War II relic was deliberately sunk - or scuttled - in 1951, loaded with 55-gallon drums of radioactive waste, and was recently rediscovered using sonar equipment. The 'Baker test' of July 25, 1946 detonated a weapon suspended beneath the moored target fleet at Bikini. The resulting cloud of steam, water, and pulverized coral and sand irradiated the target fleet, including USS Independence. And now a nuclear physicist has revealed how radioactive the abandoned aircraft carrier really is, and whether it poses a threat to humans and wildlife. The fourth USS Independence (CVL 22) operated in the central and western Pacific from November 1943 until August 1945. It was later one of more than 90 vessels assembled as a target fleet for the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb tests in 1946. The region, in the Marshall archipelago, was used to carry out 67 nuclear tests, including the explosion of the first H-bomb in 1952. After being transported back to San Francisco for study, the USS Independence was sunk near the Farallon Islands on 26 January 1951 loaded with drums of low-level radioactive waste. In April, a team of researchers used sonar from an autonomous submarine to find the wreckage buried 2,600 feet (792 metres) off the coast of California. It is said to be 'amazingly intact,' with its hull and flight deck clearly visible and the survey showed that the Independence is upright, slightly listing to starboard, with much of its flight deck intact, and with holes leading to the hangar decks that once housed the carrier's aircraft. In April, a team of researchers used sonar from an autonomous submarine to find the wreckage buried 2,600 feet (792 metres) off the coast of California. It is said to be 'amazingly intact,' with its hull and flight deck clearly visible and the survey showed that the Independence is upright, slightly listing to starboard, with much of its flight deck intact, and with holes leading to the hangar decks that once housed the carrier's aircraft. However, given its radioactive past, the marine archaeologists were concerned about how safe it would be to explore and contacted nuclear physicist Kai Vetter. Professor Vetter is head of applied nuclear physics at Berkeley Lab, nuclear engineering professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and the co-founder of the Institute for Resilient Communities. 'They wanted to know if we could ensure the safety of their equipment,' said Professor Vetter. 'And to see if you'd pick up contamination if you went down there.' This wartime views of USS Independence (CVL 22) show the ship as it entered the final stages of the war in the Pacific. Previously declassified, these images from the files of Hunters Point Shipyard document USS Independences condition and how access was controlled to the ship while moored there In short, the answer is no. Professor Vetter said that neither the submersible nor the team was ever in danger of contamination because 'water is an excellent radiation shield'. Underwater, radiation will only extend several inches from contaminated materials and the unmanned research submarine stayed at least 100ft (30 metres) away from the wreck. While contaminated rust particles from the ship are released and transported by water, the dilution factor of the ocean is enormous, essentially nullifying any radioactive effect, Professor Vetter continued. And while a relatively small number of organisms close to the wreck might take up some of these rust particles, the effects of radioactivity are diluted through the food chain because the number of organisms exposed is so small. UNCOVERING THE RADIOACTIVE PAST OF THE USS INDEPENDENCE The USS Independence was rediscovered by a team of researchers led by James Delgado from the Maritime Heritage at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in April. It was found in 2,600 feet (792 metres) underwater off the coast of California's Farallon Islands and is said to be 'amazingly intact,' with its hull and flight deck clearly visible, and what appears to be a plane in the carrier's hangar bay. To study the wreckage, the team of scientists and technicians on board the sanctuary vessel R/V Fulmar, used an 18.5-foot-long (5.6 metres) autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) called Echo Ranger from The Boeing Company. This survey showed that the Independence is upright, slightly listing to starboard, with much of its flight deck intact, and with holes leading to the hangar decks that once housed the carrier's aircraft. USS Independence (CVL 22) operated in the central and western Pacific from November 1943 until August 1945. It was part of the carrier group that took part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and was assigned to strike duties against targets in the Philippines and Japan. It was later one of more than 90 vessels assembled as a target fleet for the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb tests in 1946. During these tests it was damaged by shock waves, heat and radiation, but it survived and was returned to the United States. After being transported back to Pearl Harbor and San Francisco for study, the vessel was later sunk near the Farallon Islands on 26 January 1951 loaded with 55-gallon drums of low-level radioactive waste. 'After 64 years on the seafloor, Independence sits on the bottom as if ready to launch its planes,' said Mr Delgado, chief scientist on the Independence mission and maritime heritage director for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. 'This ship fought a long, hard war in the Pacific and after the war was subjected to two atomic blasts that ripped through the ship. It is a reminder of the industrial might and skill of the 'greatest generation' that sent not only this ship, but their loved ones to war.' The carrier is one of an estimated 300 wrecks in the waters off San Francisco, and the deepest known shipwreck in the sanctuary. Advertisement In contrast, he added that mercury is much more prevalent and widely distributed in the ocean, and this is why its concentration builds up in the food chain. Plus, Professor Vetter said that the isotopes of concern - in this case cesium 137 and strontium 90 - both have a half-life of about 30 years. This means that after 30 years, half the isotopes responsible for the initial contamination transform into other non-radioactive isotopes. 'It has been more than 60 years since the USS Independence was scuttled, which means that less than a quarter of the initial radioactive isotopes remain,' Professor Vetter said. The shipwreck site of the former aircraft carrier is located in the northern region of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Half Moon Bay, California was the port of operations for the Independence survey mission. The first multibeam sonar survey of the Independence site was conducted by the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer in 2009. To demonstrate his findings, Professor Vetter took a team of researchers and students to the harbour in Half Moon Bay to test the submersible after it had captured sonar images of the aircraft carrier He used instruments called dosimeters that pick up ionizing radiation but found no evidence of contamination on the submersible. The NOAA expedition collected its sonar images from a distance, but Professor Vetter hopes to work with a submersible that gets an up-close view of the ship, the 55-gallon barrels, and the radioactivity. Astronomers havefound a first-of-its-kind tailless comet whose composition mayoffer clues into long-standing questions about the solarsystem's formation and evolution, according to researchpublished on Friday in the journal Science Advances. The so-called 'Manx' comet, named after a breed of catswithout tails, was made of rocky materials that are normallyfound near Earth. Most comets are made of ice and other frozencompounds and were formed in solar system's frigid far reaches. The so-called 'Manx' comet, named after a breed of cats without tails, was made of rocky materials that are normally found near Earth. WHERE DID IT FORM? The Oort cloud is a huge region surrounding the Sun like a giant, thick soap bubble. It is estimated that it contains trillions of tiny icy bodies. Occasionally, one of these bodies gets nudged and falls into the inner Solar System, where the heat of the sun turns it into a comet. These icy bodies are thought to have been ejected from the region of the giant planets as these were forming, in the early days of the Solar System. 'We already knew of many asteroids, but they have all been baked by billions of years near the Sun.,' said lead author Karen Meech of the University of Hawai. This one is the first uncooked asteroid we could observe: it has been preserved in the best freezer there is.' Researchers believe the newly found comet was formed in thesame region as Earth, then booted to the solar system's backyardlike a gravitational slingshot as planets jostled for position. Scientists involved in the discovery now seek to learn howmany more Manx comets exist, which could help to resolve debateover exactly how and when the solar system settled into itscurrent configuration. 'Depending how many we find, we will know whether the giantplanets danced across the solar system when they were young, orif they grew up quietly without moving much,' paper co-authorOlivier Hainaut, an astronomer with the European SouthernObservatory in Germany, said in a statement. The new comet, known as C/2014 S3, was discovered in 2014 bythe Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, orPan-STARRS. This network of telescopes scours the night-timeskies for fast-moving comets, asteroids and other celestialbodies. Typically comets coming in from the same region as the Manxgrow bright tails as they approach the sun, the result of icevaporizing off their bodies and gleaming in reflected sunlight. But C/2014 S3 was dark and virtually tailless when it wasspotted about twice as far away from the sun as Earth. Observations with ESO's Very Large Telescope, and the Canada France Hawaii Telescope, show that C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) is the first object to be discovered that is on a long-period cometary orbit, but that has the characteristics of a pristine inner Solar System asteroid. This diagram shows the probable history of this object in both the inner and outer Solar System over a period of more than four billion years.The majority of this time was spent in the cold outskirts, in the Oort Cloud. Later analysis showed that instead of ices typically foundon comets, the Manx comet contained materials similar to therocky asteroids located in a belt between Mars and Jupiter. And C/2014 S3 appeared pristine, an indication that it hadbeen in the solar system's deep freeze for a long time, saidUniversity of Hawaii astronomer Karen Meech, the lead author. The discovery of additional Manx comets could helpscientists to refine computer models used to simulate the solarsystem's formation, Meech said. Google Glass may not have been the perfect start for the search giant's move into eyewear, but now it has taken things a step further. A new patent reveals Google is developing a way to inject smart devices directly into the eyeball. The application reveals a smart vision correction system, complete with sensors and wireless communication capabilities, that would help focus light onto the eyes retina. Scroll down for video The smart vision correction system, complete with sensors and wireless communication, would help focus light onto the eyes retina. HOW IT WOULD WORK The device would be injected into a specially developed fluid that then solidifies to fuse the device with the eyes lens capsule, the transparent membrane surrounding the lens. It would get power wirelessly via an antenna The electronic lens would assist in the process of focusing light onto the eyes retina. The application, dated April 28, 2016, describes a number of tiny components including storage, sensors, radio, battery and an electronic lens. 'The electronic lens can be controlled to provide an optical power within a range of optical powers,' the patent states. It would get power wirelessly via an antenna, meaning batteries would never need to be replaced. The device would be injected into a specially developed fluid that then solidifies to fuse the device with the eyes lens capsule, the transparent membrane surrounding the lens. According to the patent, the electronic lens would assist in the process of focusing light onto the eyes retina. Google is also developing smart lenses for diabetics, and last year signed a deal with health giant Novartis to produce its groundbreaking smart contact lenses. The two will first produce a glucose monitoring lens for diabetics and one to treat farsightedness, it was announced at the time. However, the patent is the first time details of the sight correction version have been released. The project is now run by Verily, Google's 'life sciences' division under its recent reorganisation under alphabet. Andrew Jason Conrad, the head of Verily, is named as the inventor, according to CNET. The firm has also hinted at 'other uses' for the technology - and has recently patented a lens with a built in camera. Google is testing a prototype for a smart contact lens that we built to measure glucose in tears continuously using a wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor. THE SMART LENS FOR DIABETICS The Google lens contains a control circuit, an image capture (camera) component and an image sensor. The system can be wirelessly linked to a mobile phone for data access and to issue commands via audio, although it is unclear if the lens would be powered wirelessly or have a wired link to a battery. 'Novartis announced that its eye care division Alcon has entered into an agreement with a division of Google to license its 'smart lens' technology for all ocular medical uses,' the firm said. The deal is the first to involve the smart lenses, and follow several deal to work with other manufacturers on Glass, the firm's wearable computer. 'Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturization of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people,' said Sergey Brin, Co-Founder of Google. 'We are very excited to work with Novartis to make this dream come true. 'We are looking forward to working with Google to bring together their advanced technology and our extensive knowledge of biology to meet unmet medical needs,' said Novartis CEO Joseph Jimenez. 'This is a key step for us to go beyond the confines of traditional disease management, starting with the eye.' Under the agreement, Google[x] and Alcon will collaborate to develop a 'smart lens' that has the potential to address ocular conditions. The smart lens technology involves non-invasive sensors, microchips and other miniaturized electronics which are embedded within contact lenses. The first product will help diabetic patients manage their disease by providing a continuous, minimally invasive measurement of the body's glucose levels via a 'smart contact lens' which is designed to measure tear fluid in the eye and connects wirelessly with a mobile device. The second will help the farsighted. How it works: The chip includes a sensor, chip and antenna to let wearers know when their glucose levels are dangerously low 'For people living with presbyopia who can no longer read without glasses, the "smart lens" has the potential to provide accommodative vision correction to help restore the eye's natural autofocus on near objects in the form of an accommodative contact lens or intraocular lens as part of the refractive cataract treatment,' the firms said. 'Alcon and Google have a deep and common passion for innovation,' said Jeff George, Division Head of Alcon. 'By combining Alcon's leadership in eye care and expertise in contact lenses and intraocular lenses with Google's innovative 'smart lens' technology and groundbreaking speed in research, we aim to unlock a new frontier to jointly address the unmet medical needs of millions of eye care patients around the world.' Earlier this year it was revealed Google has patented a smart contact lens that could see its Glass wearable computer fit inside a smart lens, o pening the possibility of its Glass system being shrunk down significantly, offering features such as 'superzoom' to wearers and even helping the blind see . Glass without the glass: Google patent contact lens camera According to PatentBolt, the system could even be used to help the blind see. 'For example, a blind person wearing Google's contact lens with a built-in camera may be walking on a sidewalk and approaching an intersection,' it says. 'The analysis component of the contact lens can process the raw image data of the camera to determine processed image data indicating that the blind person is approaching intersection with a crosswalk and establish that there is a car approaching the intersection.' The lens also has wireless capabilities allowing it to link to a smartphone, which can be used to process data and give the user audio commands. Google also says the system will be able to detect faces, potentially allowing the blind to recognise people. The firm is already in discussion with the FDA over the project How they are made: The process starts with a tiny chip, which is then mounted on a ring with the antenna and sensor, and finally mounted onto the lens. 'Were now testing a smart contact lens thats built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material,' they said. Another said: 'The pilots hide in their hutch, there's no back up' He warned that 'sooner or later someone is going to get hurt, or worse' One serving flight attendant reveals how he fears for his safety regularly Cabin crew have a glamorous life but theres a dark side. Two flight attendants have revealed how they struggle to cope with abusive, drunk and sometimes violent passengers, with one warning that sooner or later someone is going to get hurt, or worse. They both spoke candidly to MailOnline Travel about how life at 30,000 feet can be scary and intimidating for them. Two air stewards have revealed how they struggle to cope with abusive, drunk and sometimes violent passengers, with one warning that sooner or later someone is going to get hurt, or worse In the past week alone the police intervened in four incidents involving troublesome passengers, including a stag group stopped from boarding a flight from Manchester to Tenerife, a Scottish stag party who 'intimidated cabin crew with foul and abusive language' and a 55-year-old drunk man who locked himself in a plane toilet. These kind of incidents are becoming an all-too common occurrence according to Dan Air, 33, who currently works as a flight attendant and writes a blog, Confessions Of A Trolley Dolly, about his experiences and the industry. 'Disruptive passenger incidents is an area I am extremely passionately about and, sadly, the number of incidents are on the rise,' he told MailOnline Travel. 'We should never feel scared or intimidated in our work place. Sadly increasing numbers of cabin crew are telling me they feel this way, myself included. Flight attendant Dan Air believes alcohol consumption in airports often leads to mid-air troubles WHAT CAN BE DONE TO END MID-AIR DISTURBANCES? 'Bad behaviour is simply unacceptable. Prevention must start inside the airports. 'Stop the drinks promotions. Train bar and shop staff to limit the amount of alcohol they sell and liaise more with airline staff. 'Gate staff need to be more vigilant and have more support when having to offload disruptive passengers, so that these idiots dont even make it as far as the aircraft door.' Serving flight attendant Dan Air Advertisement 'It's not just verbal abuse the crew are having to deal with. Physical assaults to members of cabin crew have also increased recently and I feel that sooner or later someone is going to get seriously hurt, or worse. 'We should not have to go in to work fearing for our safety but sadly, on certain routes and days, many crew do.' Another flight attendant who has been in the industry for 15 years and wishes to remain anonymous, believes the support mechanisms are not always there for the cabin crew. 'Mostly the passengers behave well but since they've put more seats on planes and have less room for baggage, then they kick off but it's quite rare,' she said. 'I'm afraid we have to tolerate bad behaviour as we don't get supported. The pilots just hide in their hutch I'm afraid, there's no back up any more. People are too fearful. But Air argues that modern security measures are the reason why captain intervention, and ultimately the police being called, is a last resort. 'At my airline our flight crew always back you up and fully support any decisions we make,' he added. 'While it's true they're locked behind a bullet proof door, this isn't their choice as obviously this came in after 9/11 and most will come out to support us on the ground as soon as they can.' The captain is informed immediately of any situations that are developing in the cabin, with Air highlighting that communication 'is a key part of our role on board'. As soon as any rowdy passengers are spotted, the flight crew will be informed straight away. This can either be during the boarding process or during the flight. 'We are the eyes and ears for our flight crew in the cabin as of course they are locked behind a bullet proof door,' he added. 'We have various classes of disruptive passengers from one to four with one being the lowest level and four being the highest. We of course have other "code words" and "names" we may call them, none you would probable be able to print.' Yes, we could throw someone off for swearing at us or for swearing loudly in the cabin Should passengers use rude words, it may be forgiven, but bad language could result in a passenger being thrown off. Air said: 'Yes, we could throw someone off for swearing at us or for swearing loudly in the cabin. 'If there are other passengers seated around, especially those with children and we ask them to watch their language and they continue to swear then they are disobeying orders from the cabin crew and so yes we could throw them off. 'Obviously we wouldnt throw you off for just swearing discreetly.' Should matters escalate, Air's training kicks in. He said: 'In our training we are taught various de-escalation techniques to try and calm a situation, every airline teaches their own techniques, both verbal and physical. 'Some airlines carry restraint devices should the situation become so serious that it warrants the passenger being restrained. Others have to rely on resolving the situation themselves.' Air, perhaps not surprisingly, believes that alcohol is often the source of blame for many of the disturbances in the plane. He points to the fact that airport shops and bars often have special offers on alcohol that many passengers are all too keen to take up. He said: 'Prevention must start inside the airports. 'Stop the drinks promotions. Train bar and shop staff to limit the amount of alcohol they sell and liaise more with airline staff. 'It is against the law in the UK for a passenger to be drunk on board an aircraft and we have the right to refuse passengers boarding if we think they have had too much, although we are unable to actually say to someone that we believe they are drunk.' The ground staff play a key role in marshalling inebriated passengers - but Air doesn't believe they're always effective. He said: 'Our first line of defence are our ground staff, who monitor passengers as they board. If the gate staff feel someone has had too much to drink then they will either have a quiet word with them and inform them that they need to improve their behaviour, or simply remove them from the flight. HOW CABIN CREW DEAL WITH ABUSE - AND WHERE THE RED LINE LIES Where is the 'red line' with disruptive passengers? Dan Air: 'This is a tricky one to be honest. Some crew have a much greater tolerance level than others. For me any types of disruptiveness that affects any members of my cabin crew or my other passengers I deem as crossing the "red line" and I would not tolerate. We need to take a firm stand so that passengers are aware that any type of disruptive behaviour, no matter how big or small, is not tolerated.' What can passengers get away with? Dan Air: 'This really depends on the profile of the other passengers and the time of day or night of the flight. We understand that people want to have a good time and we will gladly allow certain behaviours, if passengers comply with our instructions and requests and are mindful of the other people onboard. Singing - it depends how loud, what they are singing and again if it is disturbing other passengers. Dancing - this is a no no. If theyre up dancing in the aisles then they are blocking our access and of course other passengers access to toilets etc. This is a safety issue so I personally would not allow people to be up dancing. Kissing - again this is something we wouldnt really allow as it can make our other passengers uncomfortable.' Are there any code words the crew use among themselves to identify disruptive passengers? Dan Air: 'We have various classes of disruptive passengers from one to four with one being the lowest level and four being the highest. We of course have other 'code words and names we may call them, none you would probable be able to print.' What techniques do cabin crew use to calm people down? Dan Air: 'In our training we are taught various de-escalation techniques to try and calm a situation, every airline teaches their own techniques, both verbal and physical. Some airlines carry restraint devices should the situation become so serious that it warrants the passenger being restrained. Others have to rely on resolving the situation themselves.' Advertisement If passengers obey the rules and behave appropriately, both they, and the staff working the flight, can have a much more enjoyable journey (file photo) CAN SWEARING GET YOU KICKED OFF A FLIGHT? Dan Air: 'Yes we could throw someone of for swearing at us or for swearing loudly in the cabin. 'If there are other passengers seated around, especially those with children and we ask them to watch their language and they continue to swear then they are disobeying orders from the cabin crew and so yes we could throw them off. 'Obviously we wouldnt throw you off for just swearing discreetly.' Advertisement 'However, as they are often met with hostility some (not all), ground staff will turn a blind eye, leaving the unenviable task to us.' The solution, he said, is twofold. He continued: 'Gate staff need to be more vigilant and have more support when having to offload disruptive passengers, so that these idiots dont even make it as far as the aircraft door.' Dealing with drunk passengers is made that bit harder by the the pre-take-off work load. Air said: 'As crew, our first interaction with passengers is during boarding. Now this is a very stressful part of our job role. 'We are under massive time constraints to ensure the aircraft leaves on time. We are having to deal with baggage issues, passengers issues, liaising with flight and ground crew and this means that spotting the drunken passengers can sometimes prove difficult. 'However, if we believe that someone is under the influence, again we will go down and speak to the individual and then make the decision to either offload them there and then or let them continue their journey and limit, or refuse, the sale of alcohol to them on board. This decision is made as a crew and ultimately our captain has the final say.' Air explained that passengers sneaking alcohol on board exacerbates the problem further. The reason passengers are asked not to drink their own alcohol is so that the cabin crew can monitor the amount they are consuming and prevent alcohol-fuelled incidents from taking place. One member of the party was so drunk he wet himself in his seat However, if passengers are drinking their own then staff are unable to monitor their intake and situations can quickly escalate. 'They [the passengers] have even begun to pour it into their own water or drinks bottles before they board to disguise the true contents,' Air said. 'On a flight last summer I had a group of around 15 men who we believed were drinking their own alcohol. 'We never actually saw any bottles of spirits, just water bottles and when we were out with the inflight service the passengers asked for soft drinks and glasses of ice, a sure sign to cabin crew that theyre drinking their own. 'Around two hours in, the situation began to escalate rapidly. One member of the party was so drunk he wet himself in his seat. Another began arguing with the passengers in the row in front who were travelling with a small child. 'Despite numerous attempts by myself, my fellow crew members and our captain over the PA system, we could not control them and so the decision was made to divert the aircraft and have the men arrested.' Air said it is possible for passengers to let their hair down on a flight, but it must be done in a modest manner. 'We understand that people want to have a good time and we will gladly allow certain behaviours, if passengers comply with our instructions and requests and are mindful of the other people on board,' he added. Even singing in your seat is not necessarily ruled out, but dancing in the aisles and kissing are. 'It depends how loud, what they are singing and again if it is disturbing other passengers,' he added. 'Dancing - this is a no no. If passengers are up dancing in the aisles then they are blocking our access and of course other passengers' access to toilets. This is a safety issue so I personally would not allow people to be up dancing. Shocking footage has emerged of passengers evacuating a plane onto the wing and down the emergency slides after the aircraft slid off the runway on landing in Ecuador. Two people who were taken off the jet on stretchers had to be hospitalised. It is believed heavy rain caused the Embraer 190 jet, operated by Ecuadorian airline TAME, to slide off the tarmac on to grass. There were 93 people on board, 87 of them passengers. Passengers were filmed evacuating the aircraft via the emergency slide and onto the grass The TAME Airlines flight came off the runway and into the grass at Cuenca Airport in Ecuador It is believed heavy rain caused the Embraer 190 jet, operated by Ecuadorian airline TAME, to slide off the tarmac One video shot nearby shows the plane surrounded by smoke, while another was taken on the tarmac and shows the passengers evacuating the aircraft by the emergency slide. Other flyers are filmed making their way out onto the wing from another emergency exit. Cuenca Airport said on its Twitter account that the plane was arriving from the capital of Quito when the incident took place around 8am local time yesterday (Thursday). The two passengers who were taken to hospital are believed to have suffered minor injuries. The accident forced a shutdown of operations at the airport. TAME Airlines released a statement following the incident in which they said they are carrying out an investigation to determine what led to the plane sliding off the runway One person is filmed being put onto a stretcher after being safely escorted from the plane Two people were hospitalised, but the injuries are believed to not be life threatening TAME Airlines released a statement following the incident in which they said they are carrying out an investigation to determine what led to the plane sliding off the runway. Translated from Spanish, it reads: 'During the landing phase a displacement of the aircraft off the runway at Mariscal Lamar de Cuenca airport was registered. 'The crew of the Embraer-190 established procedures for the safe evacuation of the passengers. 'Fortunately, no one was seriously injured and there was no material damage.' TAME is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Ecuador, with its headquarters located in Quito, Pichincha. One video filmed from outside the airport shows the aircraft surrounded by smoke The emergency slides were deployed as passengers sought to make a quick exit from the jet The Embraer aircraft was met by emergency services after heavy rain saw it veer off the runway Advertisement When you hear the words Rolls Royce one thing usually comes to mind - expensive cars. But now two things will potentially come to mind - expensive cars and expensive luggage. The quintessentially British company has unveiled The Wraith Luggage Collection, which is a set of bags only available through Rolls Royce dealerships. It has been designed specifically to fit into the Rolls Royce Wraith like jigsaw pieces and, as can be expected, it comes with a hefty price tag - 24,248 for the set. Scroll down for video Rolls Royce has unveiled the Wraith Luggage Collection, a set of six luggage bags designed to fit into the trunk of the Wraith (pictured) There are two wheeled luggage cases in the set. The wheels are strategically positioned to allow it to easily glide into the back of the boot The garment carrier (pictured) has enough room for a shirt and tuxedo or a ladies gown. It's designed to fit over the rest of the luggage And costs can soar if you're looking to have customisations to the design - a service that the company is offering so that your luggage can perfectly match your car. You can also buy items from the collection as separate pieces. Everything is embellished with the Rolls Royce logo. During the design process, the team had input from head butlers from the world's best hotels to offer 'insight into the interaction between guests and their belongings' according to a statement from the company. They incorporated the requirements of a luxury lifestyle with ergonomic considerations. In the collection is two wheeled suitcases that will slide into the back of the trunk, three weekend bags that can be placed near the boot opening and a garment carrier that goes on top of the other bags. Three weekend bags are included in the collection. Their ergonomic handle incorporates the same stitching as those used on the wheel of the Rolls Royce Wraith Each item in the collection features the Rolls Royce logo. For example, the weekend bags have it in the zips and interiors while it appears in the wheels of the valise There are other points of symmetry between the bags and the car that they're designed for. For example, the handle of the weekend bag has the same stitching used on the steering wheel of the Wraith, which the company says was perfected in Haute Couture clothing. They are also designed to distribute weight evenly. The wheeled luggage, known as the Grand Tourer, has been designed so it that will slide across the ground with stability before gliding into the boot thanks to its strategically placed wheels. Fashioned from carbon fibre, it's also supposed to be light and durable. The garment carrier, which will fit a shirt and tuxedo or a ladies gown, also includes loops for a tie or scarf. Michael Bryden, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer, said: 'The Wraith Luggage Collection consists of six pieces, each carefully considered to reflect the unparalleled design aesthetics of Rolls-Royce motor cars. 'The latest technologies and materials are blended with traditional crafts and techniques, leading to an elegantly executed and thoroughly contemporary luggage collection, designed exclusively for Wraith, the ultimate gentleman's gran turismo.' Two women had to be escorted off an easyJet flight to Spain after they allegedly swore at crew and joked about having a bomb on board, with one reportedly yelling 'we are all here for a f***ing party'. Fellow passengers claimed the women had been drinking before the flight from Belfast to Barcelona, and became abusive towards staff and disruptive towards other travellers during the two-hour journey. Footage captured by a passenger shows the women being removed from the plane by Spanish police officers after it touched down in the Catalonian capital. A passenger claimed the women swore at flight attendants as they were removed from the plane (file photo) The unidentified women, believed to be from Londonderry, travelled to Barcelona with 12 others on Wednesday morning as they celebrated a 50th birthday, the Belfast Telegraph reported. It appears the celebration started before the plane took off around 10am, with one witness telling the newspaper: When the two got on you could tell they had been drinking. The passenger said the women were loud and kept playing music during the flight, even though they were asked to put their speaker away. The passenger added: Then they started verbal abuse and saying We are all here for a f***ing party. One of the women joked that she was a suicide bomber, one of the passengers claimed (file photo) One of their friends moved away from them and the pair became agitated when a flight attendant refused to serve alcohol to them. The passenger said: They shouted at her and then the brunette was joking when she was going to the toilet and said Im a suicide bomber, sure I am. The passenger said people were visibly upset by the joke and there was talk on the plane that some children were left in tears. He told the Belfast Telegraph that the women made rude hand gestures to crew and were extremely rude. In the video, another woman in the party defended the pair and claimed they werent abusive, apparently telling one flight attendant: Change your job, darling. While the women protests their innocence, another member of the group shushes her in an attempt to get her to be quiet. An easyJet spokesman told MailOnline Travel: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY6671 from Belfast to Barcelona was met by police on arrival in Barcelona due to two passengers on board behaving in a disruptive manner. 'Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously and do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on board. 'easyJets cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. A British man who tragically collapsed on a Spanish holiday six months ago has pleaded: 'Please bring me home to die.' Tony Harries from Gorseinon in Wales is trapped in a Barcelona hospital because he is too ill to fly home. And his family are desperately trying to raise more than 5,000 to pay for a private ambulance to take him the 1,100 miles home. Tony Harries from Gorseinon in Wales is trapped in a Barcelona hospital because he is too ill to fly home The trip to Barcelona was Harries's (left) first holiday since wife June (pictured) passed away in January 2014 Harries travelled to Spain with his niece in October for his first holiday since losing his wife June in January 2014. Shortly after arriving, the 57-year-old was taken ill with respiratory disease and has stayed in hospital ever since. Doctors have now said that there is nothing more they can do - only give him pain relief and palliative care. Harries's brother Bryan and sister Diane are now appealing for help to fund the cost of hiring a private ambulance with a paramedic and nurse on board to bring him home as doctors have stated he is unable to fly due to his serious condition. Setting up a JustGiving page, the siblings are aiming to raise the 5,000 before May 25. Diane, who said she cannot fault the care her brother is receiving in Spain, said: 'Tony is desperate to come home. He knows he is dying. We are hoping that we can get him back here in time.' Setting up a JustGiving page, the siblings are aiming to raise the 5,000 before May 25 Bryan added: 'Tony's wish is to come home to Wales to die. 'We are doing everything we can to make this possible but we simply do not have the money we need.' Harries, who has suffered from asthma since childhood and now also has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fortunately has no hospital bills to pay as he has been covered by his E111 card. Gower MP Byron Davies has been liaising with both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and with British Embassy staff in Spain. He said: 'It is tragic that he is losing his life at a relatively young age but the least we can do is try and raise the money needed to bring him home. 'But time is not on our side.' Writing on the donations page, Diane said: 'Our aim is to host events and raise the money as soon as possible so we can bring Tony home to be with his family and friends and spend what little precious time he has left.' Advertisement Incredible aerial shots show mega-cities of the world illuminated like an electric grid by a British airline pilot who has travelled the equivalent of ten round trips to the moon. Taken from the flight deck, the stunning photos show some of the most recognisable places in the world from an-above earthly perspective. Dubai, Bangkok, Tokyo and New York are among the collection of images outlined in bright orange, blue, green and white lights. West Bay in Qatar looks mesmerising from above in one of pilot Jon Bowles' spectacular photos from above This photo shows Dubai at night, with the Burj Khalifa clearly visible along its skyline, populated by tall buildings As well as the cities below, the flight deck of the Boeing 777 is lit up, but it doesn't detract from the views outside Captain Jon Bowles, 55, from Bolton, UK, has amassed these jaw-dropping pictures over the past five years during night-flights that span the globe. A seasoned pilot, Jon Bowles has racked up an astounding five million air miles during his 36-year career as a pilot. 'I look for shapes in the cities, light areas, dark areas and patterns in the way the city is laid out,' said Jon. 'Older cities tend to radiate out of the centre, with ring roads and spokes running into the centre. 'These older cities sometimes look like huge fluorescent growths on the countryside, with tendrils spreading out from the nucleus. 'Newer cities tend to be arranged in grids, but these can have interesting patterns where the local topography has dictated the growth of urban areas. 'Largely, the cities I photograph are dictated by the routes flown, the weather and how the city looks from the air.' This shows the Palm of Dubai from the skies, the circular development extending into the seas of the UAE country Kuwait is heavily orange in this stunning photo shot at night as a Boeing 777 soars above the Middle Eastern country The vibrancy of Bangkok is clear to see in this picture. It's proof that despite shooting from behind glass, beauty can still be captured The size of New York is beautifully demonstrated from this shot taken above Queens as the Boeing roars on by Jon pilots a Boeing 777, sometimes known as the Triple Seven, which is a group of long range wide body twin engine jet airliners. They are the largest twinjets and have a capacity of up to 451 passengers, with a range of up to 9,500 nautical miles. 'There is no danger involved in taking the shots, I only shoot at times of low workload, or occasionally from the jump-seat,' said Jon. 'Shooting through glass has some limitations, distortion can be a problem. 'Also the glass needs to be clean. I have been known to clean the windows myself before a flight. Dubai at night: The Palm Jumeirah, home to the Aquaventure beach, is easy to spot to the right of the shot Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar. A seasoned pilot, Jon Bowles has racked up an astounding five million air miles during his 36-year career as a pilot An aerial view of Budapest, Hungary. The incredible aerial shots show mega-cities of the world illuminated like an electric grid With a perfect contrast of lights and electricity, and mountains, this is a view of the city of Sandanaj, Iran 'Turbulence makes photography impractical, so I only shoot in still air. 'I love how different the world looks at night. I especially enjoy flying at night with no moon and a sky full of stars. 'I love seeing storms flickering in the distance, remote settlements sparkling in the desert, seeing the aurora when it's active. I also like the lights of cities from above. One of the things I love most about flying, whether by day or night, is how it puts things in perspective. Captain Jon Bowles, 55, from Bolton, UK, has amassed these jaw-dropping pictures over the past five years during night-flights A picture showing a view of Kuwait from the flight deck as the airliner descends into the city This special shot shows Tokyo, Japan. The stunning photos show some of the most recognisable places in the world An aerial view of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The British airline pilot has travelled the equivalent of ten round trips to the moon 'When you see the planet from above, you tend to appreciate the world we live on more. It's too easy to get stuck in your immediate environment, to forget that there is a whole planet out there, and that most of our day to day worries are trivial when seen in a planetary context. 'The footprint of the human race on planet Earth is also a message I like to show with my photography. 'At night over heavily populated areas the massive impact of urbanisation on the planet is even more obvious than during the day.' Cairo, Egypt. The photographer says he aims to show 'the footprint of the human race on planet Earth' Buenos Aires under cloud cover. Jon Bowles says that by flying in light, things around the world are 'put into perspective' Nanning in southern China is under some cloud cover as the aeroplane approaches, but the lights of the city still shine through A majority of British holidaymakers would welcome restrictions on in-flight boozing after a spate of diversions or delays caused by unruly passengers, new research suggests. Seventy-nine per cent of those polled in a recent survey said they would back new measures to curb drinking on planes, although they had varying opinions on how far any ban or limit on alcohol should go. One in ten respondents (11 per cent) called for a total ban on booze in the air to prevent further holiday disruption for travellers and costly diversions for airlines. Seventy-nine per cent of respondents said they would back new measures to curb drinking on planes London-based online travel agent Opodo surveyed 1,375 Britons for its study, which found almost four in ten (37 per cent) would welcome a two-drink limit on planes. Twenty-sex of men who were surveyed said they are against a total ban, compared with 16 per cent of women. Britons have a reputation for boozy behaviour abroad and its not unusual to see a group of people, especially men, sinking pints before a morning flight to a sunny resort or party hotspot. This week alone there have been a handful of incidents involving budget airline passengers who were allegedly intoxicated. Almost four in ten (37 per cent) of those surveyed said they would welcome a two-drink limit on planes Yesterday, a drunken fight between two British men forced a Ryanair plane to divert to Limoges, France, while en route to Alicante, Spain, from Liverpool. It was claimed the men were on a stag do. On Wednesday, Spanish police officers were called in to escort two women off an easyJet flight from Belfast to Barcelona after they were allegedly abusive and disruptive. The women were accused of swearing at flight attendants and ignoring orders to turn off loud music, and one even made a joke about being a suicide bomber. Later that night, a man allegedly locked himself in the toilet on an easyJet flight and refused to come out, forcing the Malaga-bound easyJet plane to return to Bristol Airport after less than 30 minutes in the air. Previous incidents have sparked calls for tougher measures from the government to prevent unruly behaviour and punish those who cause problems. Meanwhile, Opodos study found that three times as many Spaniards (31 per cent) and Italians (35 per cent) are in favour of a total ban on booze on board flights. Of those surveyed in France, 28 per cent back such a ban. Those polled in Germany sided with Britons, with just 11 per cent in favour of a ban. Thirty-five per cent of Germans said there should be no restrictions when it comes to drinking alcohol on planes. MyanZen and GoP are the two tech startup teams who will be joining Total Access Communication Public Company Limited (Dtac)s boot-camp programme in Bangkok on May 4. They will also receive a seed funding of up to $50,000 each to power their businesses. MyanZen is a platform which will enable users to sell anything, anywhere and anytime while GoP is a one-stop platform for facilitating travellers and travel agencies, the report said. A father and son have co-piloted their first commercial flight together ahead of the retirement of 64-year-old Richard Hocking after 41 years flying for Thomson. Hocking from East Grinstead and his son Henry both took to the cockpit of the Dreamliner flight from London Gatwick to Cancun, Mexico to mark the momentous milestone. Henry, 33, who has been flying with the Luton-based airline for three years, said he had never before flown with his father due to a clash in their schedules. Hocking from East Grinstead and his son Henry both took to the cockpit of the flight from London Gatwick to Cancun However, ahead of Hocking's retirement, the airline switched the duos timetables allowing them to be sat in the front of the plane together for the first time. Richard, who served as captain during the flight, announced to passengers shortly after take-off that the flight was a special one as sat next to him was his son Henry as first officer. The 64-year-old, who has clocked up more than 25,000 hours behind the controls during his career, revealed that he doesn't plan on giving up flying altogether after retirement as he will still cruise the sky in his own small aircraft. Ahead of Hocking's retirement, the airline switched the duos timetables allowing them to be sat in the front of the plane together for the first time. Pictured: Henry as a child (left) and the father and son (right) Richard, who served as captain during the Dreamliner flight, announced to passengers shortly after take-off that the flight was a special one as sat next to him was his son Henry as first officer (file photo) He said: 'It was a really special moment for me and I was extremely proud to have Henry beside me it was the perfect way to mark my retirement. 'Flying will always be my passion. I part-own a small aircraft at Redhill aerodrome so I will still go up in that from time-to-time when the weather is good.' Henry, who has dreamt of being a pilot since he was young, added: 'Flying with my dad has always been a dream of mine, so this has definitely topped the list as a career highlight. The father and son duo pose with the cabin crew prior to their flight together on the Thomson Dreamliner 'Aviation has always been a huge part of our family's history and my upbringing. In fact one of my earliest memories is being sat in the flight deck with my dad and wanting to press all the buttons. 'My grandfather worked for the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment and used to take my father to air shows as a child. Lindsay Lohans younger brother Michael and his new fiancee Nina Ginz celebrated in Mexico following their engagement last week. Michael Lohan Jr proposed to his girlfriend of ten years in Isla Holbox - an island off of Mexico - at their hotel, Casa Takywara, where they were vacationing. The couple took several beach photos that featured the pair playing in the water and Nina showing off her three-carat diamond ring. A source told Daily Mail Online that Nina and Michael wanted to take their time before getting engaged. Love: Michael Lohan Jr and his girlfriend of ten years Nina Ginz celebrated on the beach of Isla Holbox, an Island off of Mexico, after their engagement announcement Fun in the sun: Since their engagement announcement, the couple have continued to celebrate their engagement during their paradise vacation Beach day: The photo played in the water as Nina flashed her three-carat ring for the camera. The couple are planning on having their wedding next year Michael purchased the round-cut diamond halo ring long before proposing, waiting until just the right time to pop the question, the source said. The couple are planning on getting married in summer 2017. They do not have a planned location, but are aiming for a small, intimate ceremony. Lindsay Lohan has wedding bells in her future, as well - she got engaged to Russian heir Egor Tarabasov earlier this month. She shared the news of her brothers engagement as she congratulated the happy couple on Instagram on Friday, posting a photo of Nina showing off her large diamond engagement ring. 'Congratulations to my beautiful sister in law @ninaginz and my brother @mikelohan!!!' she wrote. Celebrate: Lindsay Lohan congratulated her younger brother Michael and soon-to-be sister-in-law on their engagement on Instagram on Friday 'Sister in law': Lindsay shared a selfie with her future sister-in-law Nina earlier this year Family: Lindsay with her full siblings Michael, left, and models Ali and Cody Lohan Lindsay tagged her 22-year-old fiance Egor's @e2505t handle and added hashtags '#family ties, #LoveYou' and '#trendsoflifelove.' In the photo, Michael beams as Nina raises her hand over her mouth and flashes her diamond ring as they cuddle up in front of a beach hut. Lindsay is the oldest of four children from her mother Dina Lohan's marriage to ex-husband Michael Lohan, including Michael Jr and her sister Ali, 22, and brother Cody, 19, who are both models. Her father also has three other children, who are Lindsay's half-siblings: a 'love child' Ashley Kaufmann, 20, as well as two sons - Landon, three, and one-year-old Logan - from his marriage to Kate Major. Lindsay has been living in London for the past few years after fleeing the LA lifestyle, where she was often in the spotlight for her many arrests and stints in rehab. She recently moved in with Egor in London and has been working to rebuild her acting career and health. Engaged: Lindsay and fiance Egor Tarabasov left Trump SoHo Hotel in New York City last week But the Parent Trap star has been spending time back in her native New York visiting family since her engagement. She was seen shopping with sister Ali, as well as singing onstage at a Duran Duran concert she attended with parents Dina and Michael Lohan last week. The actress also revealed that she has been studying Islam to satisfy her intellectual curiosity, and is open to converting. 'I'm a very spiritual person and I'm really open to learning,' the former child star told The Sun. 'America has portrayed holding a Koran in such a different way to what it actually is.' She balances a bursting fashion portfolio with a hectic social life and motherhood. And as she celebrates her latest career achievement, Pip Edwards, the design director for General Pants Co, has shared some tips on coping with the demands of such a busy life. Speaking at the launch party of the brand's collaboration with David Jones, she told Daily Mail Australia how she had learned to 'just breathe' when becoming overwhelmed with her schedule. Scroll down for video Busy lady: Pip Edwards said she encouraged herself to 'just breathe' whenever she felt overwhelmed by her hectic lifestyle 'There have been some moments. I had to make this pinky promise today [Thursday] for ovarian cancer and my pinky promise to myself was to breathe and enjoy the moment. 'I think you just need to remember that. I think when you think of everything that you have to do, it's too much. So, just breathe,' she said. The 35-year-old is mother to eight-year-old son, Justus Maximus, who she shares with former flame Dan Single. The pair worked together at Ksubi before their split, with Pip also having spent time at Sass and Bide. Posing up a storm: The 35-year-old showed of her svelte figure in a denim skirt with a thigh high slit at the launch of General Pants collaboration with David Jones All smiles: Pip joined David Jones ambassador Jesinta Campbell for a snap at the swanky launch party Mother: Pip has an eight-year-old son, Justice Maximus (seen above together in an Instagram snap) The mother-of-one is now taking on the fashion world with her own range of stylish gym gear, called P.E Nation. 'The sales have been through the roof. Everyone is excited,' she said of the venture, adding that her wealth of experience in the industry had taught her that 'the product comes first.' Pip was among stars in attendance at the event, joining model Jesinta Campbell who is an ambassador the department store. She put on a stylish display in checked shirt and a denim shirt, adding a pair of pointed court shoes to her look. Popping it: Pip showed off her gym-honed figure in a denim coat teamed with trousers and funky sneakers Monochrome style: The beauty showed off her stylish monochrome outfit in a post to Instagram recently Speaking of her new venture, she said she decided to launch a range of workout gear after spotting 'a void' in the market. 'I've built up a lot of knowledge and experience, and I felt there was a void in the market. I felt that I knew enough about the industry and the category that I could contribute something. Telling of her passion for luxury active wear, she said: 'I think it's about lifestyle, health and well being. 'It's first and foremost on everyone's mind. So why not make it fashionably cool.' Rose Byrne is back to work just months after giving birth to her first child. But the proud mother of young Rocco couldn't help but gush about her newborn son during an interview to promote her new movie The Meddler, alongside Susan Sarandon. The 36-year-old Australian actress talked about her three-month-old son during an interview with Sunrise, which aired on Friday morning, admitting her bub is 'pretty mellow'. Scroll down for video 'He's pretty mellow': Rose Byrne opened up about her son Rocco during an interview to promote her new film The Meddler, which aired on Sunrise Friday morning 'He's cute': The 36-year-old actress gushed about her three-month-old son, her first child with partner Bobby Cannavale 'He's cute...he's got a big fat head,' she added with a wry smile, to which quick witted reporter Nelson Aspen responded: 'Ouch, I'm sorry, that couldn't have been easy'. Rose also revealed her 69-year-old co-star has met the 'tiny' tot, leaving Susan to also gush about Rocco. 'He's so cute, and so masculine,' Susan said, adding that he had big eyes. Talking about how she would ensure her son maintained his Australian roots while growing up in New York, the actress joked she would be feeding him 'Vegemite. A lot of Vegemite!' 'Breakfast lunch and dinner,' she added. Australian roots: The actress joked about feeding Rocco Vegemite for 'breakfast, lunch and dinner' to honour his Australian roots while growing up in New York 'He's so cute, and so masculine': Rose's co-star Susan Sarandon gushed about the bub as well during the chat 'Ouch...that couldn't have been easy': Quick witted reporter Nelson Aspen joked with Rose after she revealed her newborn has a 'big fat head' In The Meddler, Susan and Rose play a mother-daughter Marnie and Lori. The duo's relationship goes through a rocky patch after Marnie's husband dies, leaving her to shift all of her time and energy to Lori and getting too involved in her daughter's life. Susan and Rose have been busy promoting The Meddler and have been spotted last week heading into a taping together of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live and even dropping in at the AOL Studios in New York. Screen sirens: Rose and Susan were joined by the film's writer and director Lorene Scafaria (left) as they visited the AOL Studios for interviews More interviews: The duo were also seen at a taping of Watch What Happens Live Rose and her partner Bobby Cannavale, 45, welcomed their first child together when son Rocco Robin Cannavale was born in early February. The couple have been together since 2012 and have worked together in a number of films including Annie, Spy and Adult Beginners. The Meddler hits Australian cinemas in a limited release on May 19. She's one of Australia's top modelling exports. But Jessica Gomes took a seat in the front row for a change to attend the Carla Zampatti Spring Summer 2016 show on Thursday. The 30-year-old beauty donned one of the designer's stylish jumpsuits for the occasion, posing for photographs before the show got underway. Scroll down for video White hot: Jessica Gomes watched on as the models strutted their stuff in the Carla Zampatti Spring Summer 2016 show on Thursday Jessica's slender figure was on display in the stunning white number that featured dramatic flared bottoms. Its racer back highlighted her toned arms and shoulders as she peered over her shoulder to pose for one snap shared online. The beauty's luscious dark tresses were effortlessly styled into a middle part and slightly curled for a simple look. Sharing a handful of snaps from the show, she took to Instagram to also congratulate Carla on her latest collection. Homecoming: The 30-year-old recently arrived back in Sydney after spending time in California celebrating the marriage of her close friend Nicole Trunfio to musician Gary Clark Jr. For makeup she showed off her striking features with a dusting of bronzer across her cheeks and a natural look. The Australian stunner finished her look with a simple gold watch, and let the jumpsuit be the standout. Jessica recently arrived back in Sydney after spending time in California celebrating the marriage of her close friend Nicole Trunfio to musician Gary Clark Jr. Photobooth fun: Jessica and her friends, including the bride, let their hair down for a candid black-and-white snap on the wedding night On her return home she celebrated with a night out with local pals Melanie Grant and Margaret Zhang. The David Jones ambassador posed looking into a car, dressed in ripped jeans with an oversized camouflage jacket while giving a sultry pout to the camera. 'So good to see my babes', Jessica captioned the snap that she later shared on social media. Hot headed supermodel Naomi Campbell is renowned for her diva behaviour, but has her fiery reputation finally scared off prospective employees? The 45-year-ol says she has stopped using personal assistants. I dont have any PAs, I dont want any! I just want managers and agents now, she says. Naomi pleaded guilty to assaulting her PA with a mobile phone in 2000, and seven years later pleaded guilty to assaulting her former housekeeper with a BlackBerry. I want my team to be small so its easier to handle, Naomi adds. Saves on phones, too. Naomi Campbell says she has stopped using personal assistants. I dont have any PAs, I dont want any! I just want managers and agents now, she says Pam Ayres has written a poem in honour of Sir Philip Green: Lets raise a glass to Philip Green, In Monaco with wealth obscene, There he stands upon his yacht, I name this ship The Pension Pot. Lady Alice and Otis bed down in nightclub The Duke of Rutlands fun-loving daughter, Lady Alice Manners, has no intention of tempering her wild behaviour. She celebrated her 21st birthday on Wednesday night at The Box, a louche Soho nightclub, where she ended up in a bed with Bryan Ferrys son, Otis. Revealing her slender limbs in a short dress, Lady Alice laughed as the 33-year-old covered himself with a white duvet. The Duke of Rutlands fun-loving daughter, Lady Alice Manners, has no intention of tempering her wild behaviour. She was seen with Bryan Ferry's son Otis this week It's the end of an era as Prince Charles parts ways with his banking chum, Sir Mike Rake. The former Barclays boss has stepped down from Charless charitable foundation after completing a six-year term as a trustee. Despite the fat-cat salaries that Charless charity pays senior staff, Sir Mikes role was unremunerated so Charles filled the City slickers boots in another way. Palace sources tell me portly Sir Mike, 68, was put out to pasture with a lovely dinner. Baptism for baby Bamford Since JCB heiress Alice Bamford gave birth in October to her first child, Otis, she has not named his father. But she will have to name his godfather when the Bamford family gather tomorrow in France for her childs Roman Catholic baptism. Alice, whose father is billionaire Lord Bamford, shared a picture of herself with Otis and Ann Eysenring, the American estate agent she lives with in California. They were snapped in Paris this week celebrating Alices 40th birthday. Model Cara Delevingne is expected to be named as a godmother. Since JCB heiress Alice Bamford gave birth in October to her first child, Otis, she has not named his father There's no doubt sparks flew between the pair when they were spotted on an intimate date during the eighth and final week of filming for The Bachelor Australia. And there is a chance that Richie Strahan and blonde beauty Nikki Gogan's chemistry could come down to a sense of familiarity. The 30-year-old rope access technician and 29-year-old real estate agent may very well have crossed paths in the past, as the pair share a mutual friend, radio presenter Alana McLean. Scroll down for video The perfect match? Nikki Gogan was unveiled as a contender for Richie's heart on Thursday, and there is a chance their chemistry could come down to a sense of familiarity Mutual friend: The 30-year-old rope access technician (L) and 29-year-old real estate agent (R) may very well have crossed paths in the past, as the pair share mutual friend, radio presenter Alana McLean (pictured) Both Richie and Nikki have been featured in Perth-based Alana's social media snaps, and coincidentally enough, the two reality stars also hail from the Western Australian capital city. In February, Alana shared a photo of herself standing next to Richie, the pair joined by a group of friends as they enjoyed a meal at Perth's Odyssea Beach Cafe. Meanwhile, Alana and Nikki have also become well acquainted through their involvement with horse racing. Good pals: In February Alana shared a photo of herself standing next to Richie, the pair joined by a group of friends as they enjoyed a meal at Perth's Odyssea Beach Cafe Socialising: Alana is a radio presenter in Perth, the very same city Richie hails from Nikki, who hails from Northam in Western Australia, was named as the WA Country Cups ambassador last year - initially taking over the position from friend Alana who she's photographed with. Furthermore, Richie and Nikki's common thread doesn't end there. The pair both share a passion for the outdoors and animals; Nikki is an avid horse lover, whilst Richie has a soft spot for his dogs. Nikki and Richie both also enjoy attending race meets, and both have been seen working the Perth social scene on numerous occasions. Social circuit: Alana and Richie pictured with Joel Creasey at a recent bar launch Fashionista: Nikki, who hails from Northam in Western Australia, was named as the WA Country Cups ambassador last year - initially taking over the position from friend Alana While Richie sought fame during his tenure on The Bachelorette last year, Nikki also seems keen to boost her profile in media. The pretty country girl has experience in front of the camera, previously presenting a number of events and small hosting roles on television. Having been named as the WA Country Cups ambassador last year, Nikki has attended a number of promotional duties related to racing. She was plucked for the role after entering a fashions on the field competition at Ascot races, with her position beginning in July and her contract continuing for a year thereafter. Is she the one? Nikki was seen being wooed by the hunky 30-year-old rope access technician on Wednesday, with Richie seemingly transfixed by the striking beauty However, it seems her role was cut short by five months, finishing in February, perhaps due to her calling on reality television. It also seems that Nikki ticks all the boxes for Richie, even in the looks department, bearing a striking resemblance to his rumoured former love interest, Tully Smyth. Meanwhile, on her Instagram page, Nikki describes herself as a 'fashion enthusiast' and 'lover of life.' Lots in common: The blonde real estate agent and Richie both hail from country towns in Western Australia Day job: Nikki is a real estate agent who hails from Northam, WA Judging by her various on-screen appearances, the blonde beauty comes across as a down-to-earth country girl. With the pair spotted enjoying an intimate date on the eighth week - the final week of filming - it seems Nikki is a strong contender for winning the heart of Richie on the show. The pair appeared to hit it off and looked enthralled as they enjoyed a date in Wiseman's Ferry on Wednesday. Unable to take their eyes off each other, their chemistry almost palpable as they giggled and held hands during the romantic vintage car trip. Common ground: Nikki and Richie both also enjoy attending race meets, and both have been seen working the Perth social scene in the past Set for fame: While Richie sought fame during his tenure on The Bachelorette last year, Nikki also seems keen to boost her profile in media They're love of the party circuit has seen them form a close friendship in recent months. But Nicole Bass and Zara Holland's bond looked to be exceptionally close as they put on a flirty display ahead of the Summer Dreams by Georgia K launch party London's Kanaloa on Thursday evening. The TOWIE star and beauty queen weren't afraid to get hands on as they posed for a series of playful snaps while standing outside of the event. Besties! Nicole Bass and Zara Holland's bond looked to be exceptionally close as they put on a flirty display ahead of the Summer Dreams by Georgia K launch party London's Kanaloa on Thursday evening Nicole. 24, frequently wrapped her arms around Miss Great Britain before they feigned a tender smooch on the lips. The girls worked their angles as different poses saw them stand with their backs to the cameras while their hands rested against the other's shoulders as they pouted up a storm. Dressed to impress for the occasion, Nicole opted for a daring ensemble that flaunted both her ample cleavage and her lean legs. Touchy feely! The TOWIE star and beauty queen weren't afraid to get hands on as they posed for a series of playful snaps while standing outside of the event Strike a pose! The girls worked their angles as different poses saw them stand with their backs to the cameras while their hands rested against the other's shoulders as they pouted up a storm Leggy in lace: Dressed to impress for the occasion, Nicole opted for a daring ensemble that flaunted both her ample cleavage and her lean legs The bronzed beauty was sure to turn heads in a black lace mini dress, which skimmed the tops of her thighs and boasted a provocatively plunging neckline. Nicole appeared to almost fall victim to a wardrobe malfunction in the low-cut garment as she was seen gazing down at her bust and adjusting the neckline while the cameras continued to flash. She allowed her LBD to do most of the talking, keeping her accessories to a minimum and elongating her pins with muted nude stilettos. Setting pulses racing: The bronzed beauty was sure to turn heads in a black lace mini dress, which skimmed the tops of her thighs and boasted a provocatively plunging neckline Whoops! Nicole appeared to almost fall victim to a wardrobe malfunction in the low-cut garment as she was seen gazing down at her bust and adjusting the neckline while the cameras continued to flash Come here, you! Nicole. 24, continously wrapped her arms around Miss Great Britain before they feigned a tender smooch on the lips Giggles: The girls couldn't contain their laughter as they larked around outside of the venue Less excited: The gorgeous duo looked to have settled down once they were inside the party Zara was also bound to set pulses racing as the gorgeous blonde slipped her gym-honed physique into a bright bodycon dress. The frock ensured the pin-up would be hard to miss with its vibrant purple and pink colour scheme. The evening was to celebrate the new swimwear range designed by Nicole's TOWIE co-star Georgia Kousoulou. The extensive collection, which is available in sizes six through to 16, boasts a mix of flirty bikinis and one-pieces as well as pretty beach skirts, kimonos, beach trousers and sunglasses. Sizzling! Zara was also bound to set pulses racing as the gorgeous blonde slipped her gym-honed physique into a bright bodycon dress Nicole Kidman is busy filming the new HBO comedy Big Little Lies and the star was spotted looking dressed to the nines on a location shoot Wednesday in Los Angeles. The statuesque Oscar winner wore her hair piled high into a sophisticated bun and had on a double string of pearls and matching pearl earrings as she prepared to shoot a scene. Kidman, 48, kept her hands in her coat pockets as she got some last minute direction from a crew member on the nighttime shoot. Working late: Nicole Kidman was spotted preparing to shoot a scene for her upcoming HBO comedy Big Little Lies in Los Angeles on Wednesday night The prolific actress stars in the HBO original series with Reese Witherspoon, and the two s are also co-producing the project. Big Little Lies tells the story of what happens when the perfect lives of a group of Southern California moms start to unravel. It's based on the best selling novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty. In character: The actress and Oscar winner, 48, had her hair style din a sophisticated updo and wore a double string of pearls and pearl earrings for her role as a mother whose perfect life starts to unravel The cast also includes Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgaard, Adam Scott and Laura Dern. On Wednesday, Woodley arrived for work on the show casually dressed in skinny black jeans and open necked black shirt with denim jacket. The actress, 24, was make-up free and wore her dark hair pulled back into a messy knot as she walked with a faded woven straw bag slung over her shoulder. More casual: Kidman's co-star Shailene Woodley was working a distinctly more down-to-earth look on Wednesday as she arrived on the location set My Kitchen Rules 'cougar' Cheryl Harris has told of how she had to rush her 26-year-old 'cub' Matt Newman to hospital after he suffered a heart attack scare while the pair were 'fooling around' in bed. The 50-year-old told Daily Mail Australia on Friday how she and her beau were becoming intimate on Monday night when he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Cheryl, who lives in Brisbane with her nine-year-old daughter, took her younger boyfriend to hospital where doctors revealed he had contracted a virus that was attacking the lining of his heart. Scroll down for video Scare: My Kitchen Rules 'cougar' Cheryl Harris has told how she had to take her 'cub' Matt Newman, 26, to hospital after he suffered a heart scare while the pair were 'fooling around' Tests: Matt was diagnosed with pericarditis, inflammation of the lining around his heart, by doctors Speaking of the scare, she said she feared the pair had become 'too rambunctious' while in the throes of passion. 'We were just fooling around in bed and all of a sudden Matt sat up and said: "my chest is killing me". 'He felt like I'd stabbed him in the heart. I thought he was joking but he was just grabbing his chest,' she said. Worried: Cheryl said she feared her partner, who is 24 years her junior, had suffered a heart attack 'A little bit rambunctious': The 50-year-old joked that she was more likely to fall ill in throes of passion given the 24-year age gap between her and her beau Hours later, when the pain had not subsided, she insisted the pair visit a doctor. Once at their practice Matt was sent to hospital immediately where experts confirmed he had pericarditis, an inflammation of the lining around his heart. He has since been given medication to treat the condition and has been told to rest at home. Joking about the pair's 24-year age gap, Cheryl said she felt it ought to have been her who suffered a heart scare and not her younger beau. 'I'm the oldie, I'm the one that's meant to be having a heart attack - not him!' she admitted. Recalling the moment Matt first felt the sharp pain, she said: 'I thought "oh my god, maybe we were getting just a little bit too rambunctious". Though doctors insisted the virus can be contracted anywhere, she said she felt their passionate activity may have 'heightened' its symptoms. 'I'm kind of scared now to do anything, I don't know if I'm being selfish but maybe we just have to test it out and see what happens. 'It was really scary and I'm still feeling really nervous about the whole thing,' she said. Health: Cheryl said she became nervous when doctors told her the condition was common among men Matt's age Fear: Matt missed the MKR final having been kept in hospital by doctors eager to assess his condition The pair had been planning a romantic few days at Cheryl's home after waving her daughter Jade off to school camp. Instead Matt spent three days in hospital, missing the MKR final on Tuesday night as a result. Congratulating Tasia and Gracia on their win, she said both she and Matt had 'pegged them' as the likely winners. While she is concentrating on 'creative' avenues for herself, Cheryl revealed that Matt had taken up work in a pizzeria to save money. 'He's not going back with his parents, he'll stay with me and just do a bit of work at the pizzeria,' she said. The pair have been together for three years, Cheryl insisted they had no plans yet to take their relationship to the next level. Affectionate: Cheryl said she was frightened about becoming intimate with her partner soon after the incident Laughing, she said: 'We're not really the marrying kind. We're just enjoying the time we've got together now. 'I suppose with this recently happening, I guess it makes you think more about stuff like that. 'We're not looking at (marrying) right now. We're just happy to have the life to live at the moment.' Cheryl and Matt celebrated their nicknames of 'cougar' and 'cub' after finding fame on the most recent series of the cooking show. The duo, who boasted of cooking naked at home, were the first team to be eliminated after receiving just 31 out of 100 for their meal. Loved-up: Cheryl said she and Matt (above on the show) had been planning to spend a romantic few days together as her nine-year-old daughter was at school camp We are still investigating the criminals. We have not finished conducting the investigation, said Police Deputy Chief Thant Zaw, the head of Unit (39) Yeof Myanmar Anti-narcotics Association. Deputy Chief Thant Zaw added that the seized items are from two drug dealers, U Soe Moe Oo and Maung Arkar Oo. 228 tablets of Ya Ba (methamphetamine) and one hand-grenade were seized from U Soe Moe Oo, while police also confiscated 30 tablets from Maung Arkar Oo. Those arrested drug dealers are the ones who sell the drugs. They also consume the drugs. In our village, the matters of drug dealing and consumption have been widespread during the past 8 years. Now, even 7-8 grade students are proficient in using the drug, said U Ko Naing Naing, Azin Village Administrator. Likewise, Unit (39)- Ye of Myanmar Anti-narcotics Association, also seized 120 tablets of Ya Ba at U Htay Hlaings house on April 10, in Kaw Cha Village, Kawdut Village Tract, in Lamine Sub-township, southern Mon State. She adds a touch of glamour to any event she graces. And Lisa Snowdon, 44, looked typically chic in a green satin varsity jacket, a semi-sheer pale yellow top and navy skinny jeans for an Urban Decay VIP dinner at Sketch, London, on Thursday. The former model wore a matching pair of peep toe strappy heels to complete her look and drew on her years in the industry to expertly pose for the cameras. Scroll down for video Glowing: Lisa Snowdon, 44, looked typically chic in a green satin varsity jacket, a semi-sheer pale yellow top and navy skinny jeans for an Urban Decay VIP dinner at Sketch, London, on Thursday The brunette beauty wore her tresses loosely from a middle parting and her tanned skin emanated a healthy glow. She decorated her peepers with a thick application of eyeliner and flashed a pearly white smile for the cameras. Lisa was joined by model Amber Le Bon, 26, at the event which celebrated Urban Decay's collaboration with Disney: a make-up collection inspired by the upcoming Alice Through The Looking Glass film. Close display: Lisa was joined by model Amber Le Bon, 26, at the event which celebrated Urban Decay's collaboration with Disney: a make-up collection inspired by the upcoming Alice Through The Looking Glass film Model material: The former model wore a matching pair of peep toe strappy heels to complete her look and drew on her years in the industry to expertly pose for the cameras Striking: Amber Le Bon, Leah Weller and Leomie Anderson posed up a storm at the event Unique: Amber rocked a style that wouldn't look out of place in Tim Burton's quirky take on the Lewis Carroll novel Amber rocked a style that wouldn't look out of place in Tim Burton's quirky take on the Lewis Carroll novel. She sported on-trend denim hair with a heavy emphasis on purple shades which worked well with her cute thigh-grazing floral minidress. A pair of purple stilettos finished her eye-catching look and certainly ensured she stood out from the crowd. Quirky: She sported on-trend denim hair with a heavy emphasis on pink shades which worked well with her cute thigh-grazing floral minidress Style queens: Leomie Anderson and Amber put on a stylish display for the crossover event Fashionistas: Lilah Parsons sat beside Amber for the exclusive dinner On Wednesday Amber debuted her new locks at the OURS restaurant launch party in London, where she cosied up to fellow model Toby Huntington-Whiteley. The London-born model has also been busy this month DJing in Barcelona as part of her Redken muse duties. Meanwhile, the ever in-demand Lisa was recently seen attending the launch of the Hemsley + Hemsley Cafe at Selfridges in London. Camouflage cutie: Becca Dudley covered up in a yellow and black jacket and a racy red dress All that glitters: Lilah Parsons wrapped up in a suede dress as she left the bash Putting her best foot forward: Lisa Snowdown braved the cold in her silk bomber jacket and skinny jeans Leggy lady: Model Chloe Lloyd made the most of her tanned legs in a black silk slip Captain America: Civil War (12A) Rating: Scrapping superheroes are suddenly all the rage. Hardly have the critics stopped mauling the incoherent and insufferably self-important Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice than here comes another clash of irresistible forces and immoveable objects. But this, Im relieved to say, is an entirely different kettle of super-fish. If not quite as stupendously wonderful as some of the breathless early reviews suggest, Captain America: Civil War still deserves a prominent place in what is so grandiosely called the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As befits a film that was colossally expensive to make (Robert Downey Jnrs fee alone is reportedly enough to make the knees buckle), it is spectacular, exhilarating and showy: the action flits from London to New York via Lagos, Vienna, Bucharest and Berlin. If not quite as stupendously wonderful as some of the breathless early reviews suggest, Captain America: Civil War still deserves a prominent place in what is so grandiosely called the Marvel Cinematic Universe But best of all, and unlike the match-up between the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel, it never takes itself too seriously. Wit is at least as important as volume; the essence of any really good superhero movie. Youre being uncharacteristically non-hyper-verbal, says Scarlett Johanssons Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, wryly, to Tony Stark/Iron Man (Downey Jnr), when for a rare moment he falls silent and contemplative. He has much to be contemplative about. One of the problems with the rival DC empires Batman v Superman was that it piled up unsubtle allusions to God, 9/11 and the spectre of nuclear holocaust. But the superhero universe does need to remind us of our own, and in this film the big issue is that ghastly military euphemism for the regrettable slaughter of innocent people: collateral damage. The Avengers and Iron Man have caused far too much of it in the relentless fight against evil, and the United Nations, with the backing of the U.S. Secretary of State (William Hurt), want them brought to heel. But best of all, and unlike the match-up between the Caped Crusader and the Man of Steel, it never takes itself too seriously. Wit is at least as important as volume; the essence of any really good superhero movie Thats what causes the super-schism: Iron Man and Black Widow, plus others including War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Vision (Paul Bettany), think the UN might have a point. They are willing to make themselves more accountable. But Captain America (Chris Evans) volubly leads the opposing gang, insisting that the Avengers should kow-tow to no one, especially not politicians. The formidable band behind him includes Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). Also mixed up in this internecine brouhaha are Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), and the latest Marvel Comics superhero to be made flesh, TChalla/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman, last seen playing the Godfather of Soul James Brown in Get On Up), as well as one rather more familiar character: Peter Parker/Spider-Man. This, however, is a brand new Spider-Man, played by 19-year-old English actor Tom Holland, who made his name on the West End stage as the ballet dancing Billy Elliot. I suppose going from Billy Elliot to Spider-Man is a natural leap. ts always fun to watch Marvel films, as I did, in the company of diehard fans, who cheer every quip and nuance Whatever, Holland should, in forthcoming Marvel movies, become a Spider-Man to savour. He doesnt get much screen time here, but directors Joe and Anthony Russo (the brothers from Ohio who also directed 2014s excellent Captain America: The Winter Soldier), along with writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, weave plenty from what little he has. They give him the lovely Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, and some prize dialogue. Sweetly, Peter is not sure he can get involved in any international superhero business on account of having too much homework. And when he does don his famous skin-tight costume, he is properly indignant when Stark accuses him of sporting a onesie. Even for those of us who arent comic-book devotees, Captain America: Civil War scores as pure cinematic escapism Eventually, inevitably, the two factions collide, in what is basically a giant game of Rock, Paper, Scissors can Captain Americas powers trump Iron Mans? Is Black Widow strong and resourceful enough to deal with Falcon? Our loyalties are divided, which of course is the idea, but we, the audience and they, the superheroes need an antagonist to unite against, and get one in the form of Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl). He not only has Caps former best friend, Bucky Barnes (otherwise known as the Winter Soldier, and played by Sebastian Stan), in his thrall, but might just have masterminded the whole civil war thing in a fiendish bid to get the forces of good destroying each other. Ill give no more away, save to say that its always fun to watch Marvel films, as I did, in the company of diehard fans, who cheer every quip and nuance, and practically hug themselves with delight when the creator of many of these characters that spritely nonagenarian Stan Lee pops up in his usual Hitchcockian cameo role. She's never been shy when it comes to pushing the fashion envelope with a risque ensemble. And on Thursday Imogen Anthony showed off her individual style again in a skin tight black catsuit with a very plunging neckline for Kylie Jenner's nail polish launch party in Sydney. The 25-year-old flashed more than just a hint of skin with zipper detailing from top to bottom that showed off slivers of her slim figure. Scroll down for video Taking the plunge: Imogen Anthony showed off her individual style in a skin tight black catsuit with a very daring neckline on Thursday The aspiring fashion designer's slim waist was cinched in by a belt and a metal chain added another rocker chick element to her look. In an image uploaded to Instagram, she ran her hands through her candy pink coloured locks and gave a sultry gaze to the camera. She captioned the snap: 'Like a glove,' celebrating the garment's perfect fit. Showing some skin: The 25-year-old aspiring fashion designer flaunted her slim figure in the racy black number with zipper detailing throughout Tight fit: The aspiring fashion designer's slim waist was cinched in by a belt and a metal chain added another rocker chick element to her look Doing her thing: She happily posed up a storm in her sexy attire at the swish event For makeup the socialite added a strong highlighter dusted over her cheekbones which created a glowing look paired with winged eyeliner and a nude lip. The aspiring fashion designer wore the number to the Australian launch of Kylie Jenner's nail polish. Unfortunately the 18-year-old sister of Kim Kardashian couldn't attend the event in person, instead appearing via a promotional pre-recorded video. Conservative chic: Earlier in the day Imogen showed off a very style as she posed in a pair of wide legged trousers paired with a vest top and a blazer slung over her shoulder Her usual style: In a daring display Imogen posed dressed in a pair of chaps, flashing a glimpse of her pert posterior to her 110,000 followers Earlier in the day Imogen showed off a very different side of herself as she posed in a pair of wide legged trousers paired with a vest top and a blazer slung over her shoulder. 'Looking all corporate and s**t,' she wrote on Instagram next to an image of her stylish ensemble The conservative look was unusual for the girlfriend of the radio shock jock, Kyle Sandilands, who's social media feed is usually filled with scantily clad snaps of herself. In a daring display Imogen posed dressed in a pair of chaps, flashing a glimpse of her pert posterior to her 110,000 followers. She has been making to most of her time in London, hopping from one venue to another. And Thursday night saw Paris Hilton out on the town once again as she made her way to Sexy Fish restaurant to celebrate her pal Caroline Stanburys birthday. The 35-year-old was dressed to impress for her girls night out as she donned a blue lace Self-Portrait dress which featured a nude underlay. Scroll down for video Dining out: Thursday night saw Paris Hilton out on the town once again as she made her way to Sexy Fish restaurant to celebrate her pal Caroline Stanburys birthday Her slim waist was highlighted by the black belt detail of the dress and she kept her look colour co-ordinated with black heels. She accessorised with a black watch and handbag while she appeared to be carrying a Chanel gift in hand. Paris blonde locks were styled into loose waves while she opted for a fresh and simple make-up look. Paris shared a selfie with the birthday girl during the evening which she captioned: 'Celebrating in London with the beautiful #BirthdayGirl @CarolineStanbury! Just like old times back when we were teens in this city!' Paris takes London: The 35-year-old was dressed to impress for her girls night out as she donned a blue lace Self-Portrait dress which featured a nude underlay She comes baring gifts: Paris accessorised with a black watch and handbag while she appeared to be carrying a Chanel gift in hand The busy DJ then shared a group selfie which she titled: '#SelfieTime at @SexyFishLondon with the #BirthdayGirl! #Blondetourage'. Paris' current trip to London comes after reports that she has parted ways with her millionaire boyfriend Thomas Gross after just one year of dating, according to TMZ. Sources close to the reality star allegedly told the outlet that the duo broke things off over a month go because they could failed to find a balance between running their own empires from one place. That's hot: Her slim waist was highlighted by the black belt detail of the dress and she kept her look colour co-ordinated with black heels Pretty lady: Paris blonde locks were styled into loose waves while she opted for a fresh and simple make-up look Sexy fish: Paris' current trip to London comes after reports that she has parted ways with her millionaire boyfriend Thomas Gross after just one year of dating, according to TMZ Flouncing: She had a sassy spring in her step as she departed the popular London nightspot Happy to meet you! She even stopped to sign a CD for an admirer who waited to catch a glimpse of her In the crowd: She stood out as she posed with a gaggle of fans Thomas is based in Switzerland, while Paris' fashion and DJ work insists the beauty regularly jets between Los Angeles and Ibiza, something she struggled to do from their home in the Swiss Alps. The publication also claimed that Paris found it difficult to be away from her sister and mother, despite her ability to make the 12-hour flight between L.A. and Switzerland on Gross' private jet. It was also suggested that the TV personality missed her dogs, who were forced to remain in LA during her relationship with Thomas. Heading home: Sources close to the reality star allegedly told the outlet that the duo broke things off over a month go because they could failed to find a balance between running their own empires from one place Fans are used to seeing Jesinta Campbell in fancy frocks or rocking her activewear around town. But on Thursday, the David Jones ambassador tried on a different look for the launch of the department store's collaboration with General Pants at their Sydney city store. Not only was the clothing more rock chick but the complementary dramatic makeup and wavy hair was a little different for the starlet. Scroll down for video That's a different look! Jesinta Campbell tried on a different look at the David Jones collaboration with General Pants launch at their Sydney city store on Thursday The 24-year-old wore her ombre locks in a centre part and tucked the front tendrils behind both ears, giving an almost slicked down effect at the crown. The tousled locks then free flowed down the front of her military style jacket. Adding to the effect, the TV personality sported heavy black eyeliner with lashings of mascara and plenty of peach bronzer to highlight her high cheekbones. While the brunette beauty added a nude lip to tone down the look a little. Dramatic do': The 24-year-old wore her ombre locks in a centre part and tucked the front tendrils behind both ears while adding heavy black eyeliner with lashings of mascara and a nude lip Military rock chic: The department store ambassador wore cropped leather trousers with the long-line double-breasted jacket, both understood to be Australian brand Camilla & Marc Jesinta wore cropped leather trousers with the long-line double-breasted jacket, both understood to be Australian brand Camilla & Marc. Accessorising the look, she added a black choker around her neck and patent pointed-toe pumps. Jesinta left the jewellery at home, aside from her whopping diamond engagement ring from finance Buddy Franklin. In good company: Jesinta stopped to pose at the photo wall with stylist and General Pants design director Pip Edwards and CEO Craig King Just a little souvenir! At the event, which featured free tattoos on the red carpet, Pip indulged in a little star on her ankle to cover up a scar Jesinta stopped to pose at the photo wall with stylist and General Pants design director Pip Edwards and CEO Craig King. At the event, which featured free tattoos on the red carpet, Pip indulged in a little star on her ankle to cover up a scar. Fellow David Jones ambassador Jessica Gomes also attended the event and posed with make-up artist Max May. She's the design director for General Pants Co. who are known to push the fashion envelope. And Pip Edwards took things to another level when she got tattooed at the David Jones and General Pants Co. collaboration launch held at David Jones on Thursday night. The 35-year-old was pictured as she took the leap and got the first tattoo of the night from tattooist Gummy Johnson as he is known on social media. Scroll down for video Tatt looks like fun: Pip Edwards took things to another level when she got tattooed at the David Jones and General Pants Co. collaboration launch held at David Jones on Thursday night In the image the mother-of-one placed her right foot on a chair and appeared very relaxed as she was inked. A crowed gathered around as she waited for her new piece of art to be finished, and later on in the evening revealed to Daily Mail Australia that she got a small star to cover a scar on her foot. The snap was posted by David Jones and was captioned: 'This babe Pip edwards takes one for the team with the first tattoo of the night at the #DJsXGeneralPants launch party!' Brave woman: The 35-year-old design director of General Pants Co. was the first one at the event to step up and get a tattoo by artist Gummy Johnson For the launch party Pip was dressed in a loose fitting chequered shirt paired with a denim skirt that featured a racy split in the front. The layered a shiny gold bomber jacket over her shirt and finished her look with a pair of of black and white pointed toe stilettos. She wasn't the only one to be inked at the star studded event, as Adam Hyde from Peking Duck decided to take the plunge and got something tattooed behind his left arm. Inked up: Adam Hyde from Peking Duck decided to take the plunge and got something tattooed behind his left arm Bevy of beauties: Pip was among stars in attendance at the event, joining model Jesinta Campbell who is an ambassador the department store and model Jessica Gomes Pip was among stars in attendance at the event, joining model Jesinta Campbell who is an ambassador the department store and model Jessica Gomes. She has been busy juggling her career and motherhood and explained to Daily Mail Australia at the event that she has learned to 'just breathe' when becoming overwhelmed with her schedule. 'There have been some moments. I had to make this pinky promise today [Thursday] for ovarian cancer and my pinky promise to myself was to breathe and enjoy the moment. 'I think you just need to remember that. I think when you think of everything that you have to do, it's too much. So, just breathe,' she said. The 35-year-old is mother to eight-year-old son, Justice Maximus, who she shares with former husband Dan Single. They are the happy ready-made family who relish in spending time together. However one member of the clan was left behind on Friday, when Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski went out for breakfast with Snez's daughter Eve. Sam's pet chocolate brown Labrador Hendrix was left in the Bachelor star's car as the trio headed out from a meal together. Scroll down for video Family time: Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski took Snez's daughter Eve out for breakfast in Melbourne last weekend Forget something? Sam's pet chocolate brown Labrador Hendrix was left in the Bachelor star's car as the trio headed out from a meal together The family rugged up for the outing, with Snezana hiding her chocolate locks beneath a black beanie hat. She left her chocolate curls cascading down her shoulders and sported minimal make-up for the relaxed outing. The 35-year-old was still wearing her workout gear after perhaps squeezing in one of her beau's fitness programs earlier in the day. Happy: The trio appear to be settling in to life well in their new home in Melbourne Sam was equally laid back in some shorts and a black t-shirt, adding a hat of his own to his look. Eve, Snezana's 10-year-old daughter, opted for a similarly sporty look. Sam and Snezana appear to be settling in to their new home with Eve well, regularly posing for family selfies to share with fans. Reunited: The trio were soon back together again to appear in a selfie with the dog for Sam's Instagram account Settling in: Sam and Snezana recently moved in to their first home together The pair are currently planning their wedding and recently celebrated their engagement party. It comes amid the growing success of Sam's fitness app, 28 by Sam Wood, which has won him legions of fans around the world. After stepping out for breakfast last Sunday they posed for a snap at home - with Hendrix back in view. Captioning the image, Sam said: 'Eve walking H or H walking Eve?'. The dog regularly accompanies the 35-year-old for runs and appears in videos and photographs scattered across his Instagram account. Kim Kardashian enjoyed a fangirl moment on Thursday at a book signing featuring supermodel Naomi Campbell. The 35-year-old reality star beamed as Naomi, 45, signed a copy of her new coffee table book at the Taschen bookstore in Beverly Hills, California. Kim rocked a tight red semi-sheer diamond-patterned Balmain dress with a high collar and long sleeves to the book signing. Book signing: Kim Kardashian attended a book singing on Thursday featuring Naomi Campbell at the Taschen bookstore in Beverly Hills, California The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star wore her dark hair up with a few loose strands framing her face. Kim caught up with the English model who looked typically stunning in a silky red sleeveless gown. The limited edition Naomi coffee table book comes brandished with a sculpting of Naomi's pert bust. Lady in red: The reality queen looked fantastic in a figure hugging sheer red dress from Balmain Big book: The reality star flipped through the large coffee table book Famous faces: Naomi wrapped an arm around Kim at the book signing Fashion fans: Kim is a fashionista and shared a photo on Thursday of herself with Naomi at the 2014 Met Gala Two years ago: Kim shared this photo on Thursday on her website from the 2014 Met Gala in NYC where she was with Naomi, Cara Delevingne and Kate Bosworth Personal note: Naomi signed Kim's book as the reality star beamed Flipping through: Kim flipped through the coffee table book at the event Kim was spotted flipping through the thick book during its Los Angeles launch party. Naomi recently talked to Vogue about the Naomi Campbell book and said: 'Ive been very candid. My life is an open book in many ways. Im honest about who I am.' The book includes an image of Naomi's historic 1989 Vogue US cover that was the first September issue under the editorship of Anna Wintour. Limited edition: The limited edition Naomi Campbell book features her pert bust on the cover Self portrait: Kim took a selfie with Naomi Not their first time: She posted the results on Snapchat Getting close: Naomi gave Kim a kiss as they embraced Fun party: Ashlee Simpson, Evan Ross and Carla DiBello hung out with Kim Singing star: Kim shared a Snapchat video featuring herself and Kelly Rowland 'I'm very proud of this cover to this day. I understood how much Anna had to fight for me to be on this cover, because there were powers that be that didnt want her to put me on the cover, and she had to fight to have a black girl on the cover,' Naomi said. 'Ill be eternally grateful to her and proud of this,' she added. Naomi earlier this month promoted the book at the Taschen Store in London and was joined by her mum Valerie. New book: Naomi showed her timeless beauty at the book signing Got it back: Having recently posed for her first post baby bikini shoot, Kim was clearly proud of her fugure Can't miss a selfir opp: With no pockets to speak of, Kim was left carrying her ubiquitous cellphone On her way: Kim shared a Snapchat video as she headed to the book signing Oh she does like to be beside the seaside. For Kris Jenner looked like she was having a great time with her mother Mary Jo Houghton as they relaxed near the ocean in California on Thursday. The dynamic duo were massive grins as they gurned at the camera while relaxing on a balcony in the affluent town of La Jolla, near San Diego. They could be sisters: Kris Jenner had a great time her mother Mary Jo Houghton as they relaxed near the ocean in California on Thursday. The excited 60-year-old captioned the Instagram image: 'Mary Jo is so cute! What a great day in La Jolla visiting my Mom... #MaryJo #love #memories #mom #sheissocute #LaJolla.' The 82-year-old is an integral member of the Kardashian Klan, and regularly spends time with Kim, Khloe, and the rest of the brood. Kris was actually born in San Diego, the daughter of Mary Jo and her then husband Robert Houghton. Her mother divorced the engineer when she was seven-years-old, and a few years later she got hitched to businessman Harry Shannon. They even dress alike: Kris and the 82-year-old were virtually indistinguisable when they stepped out in LA back in 2014 Helping hand: Mary Jo giving her granddaughter Kim a bath as a baby All grown up: Four generations of the family posed up for this photo Kris also grew up in San Diego, except for a brief spell in Oxnard, and then worked as a flight attendant. Meanwhile Kris tells her own children to 'f*** off,' when they criticise her for helping out her sock entrepreneur son Rob financially. On a forthcoming episode of KUWTK Kim and Khloe infuriate the matriarch, with the latter going as far as to demand she, 'Drop him. Cut. The. Cord.' Fuming Kris tells them: 'No. All of you can f*** off and go think of something else to talk about. I have seen you guys through so much s*** that you do that I have to f***ing put up with.' Hatagirl: Mary Jo and Khloe looked smart in matching fedoras Almost unrecognisable: It is hard to believe the girl on the right is Kendall as they shared a birthday cake Hell bent for leather: Kris and family with her macho motorcycle man then-husband Bruce Jenner back in 1993, long before he became Caitlyn UFC fighters Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne put on a very public display of affection as they arrived at a charity gala in Beverly Hills. The mixed martial arts pros happily puckered up and kissed for photographers on the red carpet at the Erasing The Stigma event held Thursday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. And Ronda, 29, had plenty to celebrate after having just inked a three movie deal with cable network Lifetime. Scroll down for video It must be love! Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne puckered up for a kiss as they arrived for a charity gala in Beverly hills on Thursday night Ronda will help develop new projects that bring 'stories that reflect her passions about empowerment to the screen,' according to Deadline.com. She joins Selena Williams and Janet Jackson who also have deals to executive produce projects focused around strong female figures for the 2016-17 TV season. Following the loss of her UFC title to Holly Holm last November, Ronda has been taking time off from the Octagon and focusing on building opportunities in Hollywood. Going Hollywood: The UFC superstar, 29, had plenty to smile about. In addition to her romance with fellow MMA fighter Travis, she's just inked a three movie deal with Lifetime Free to wed: The two mixed martial arts pros went public with their relationship last October and 33-year-old Travis' divorce from fitness model Jenna Renee Webb came though in February Smooch: The two lovebirds couldn't hide their feelings for one another Ronda and Travis went public with their romance last October, even though he was still married to fitness model Jenna Renee Webb. The 33-year-old's divorce from his wife of one year came through, however, in February. And it was the UFC Heavyweight contender who Ronda credited with getting her through a tough time following her violent defeat by Holm. 'I was literally sitting there and thinking about killing myself and that exact second Im like, ''Im nothing, what do I do anymore and no one gives a s*** about me anymore without this,'' she said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 'To be honest I looked up and I saw my man Travis was standing up there and I looked up at him and I was like, I need to have his babies. I need to stay alive,' she added. Elegant: Ronda was stylish in a monochrome off-the-shoulder dress with an asymmetrical hem that she paired with matching sandal heels and a black purse Going strong: Heavyweight contender Travis was casual smart in an white shirt with dark jeans and a dark gray jacket and brown shoes. He kept a protective arm around his girlfriend as they greeted pohotogrpahers Happy to see you: Also on the guest list at the event that honored mental health advocates was Melissa Rivers, daughter of Joan Rivers He said that over ten vehicles from the Burma Army were heading towards Tangyan on 24 April. Last week, the Burma Armys North Eastern Command ordered the SSPP/SSA to withdraw from the Loi Say-Loi Leng ridge in Tangyan Township by 22 April. This ridge is located to the west of the Salween River near territory controlled by the United Wa State Army (UWSA). On 22 April the commander of the North Eastern Command ordered the SSPP/SSA to allow joint field inspections to be conducted on 27 April. SSPP/SSA spokesperson's Colonel Sai La said: We havent replied to their demands yet. We havent even held a central committee meeting yet. We have no place to stay. We wont withdraw. They said the same thing in the past and attacked us. Now, we have to make ourselves ready for combat. The military wants us to stay only in Wan Hai [the SSPP/SSA headquarters]. Nobody has finalized who should stay where yet. We have been living here for more than 50 years now. When S.H.A.N. contacted the Pyidaungsu Institute's U Khun Sai he said: The Burmese military seems to want to secure as much land as it can before political dialogue starts with the new government. These kind of acts affect trust. According to the SSPP/SSA since 2012 the Burma Army has made similar requests to visit and inspect their bases before launching attacks on SSPP/SSA positions. The Burma Army previously requested to visit the vicinity of Tar Phar Saung Bridge, which is located between Ke See and Hsipaw, before attacking it in 2014. Although the SSPP/SSA has not participated in the signing of the nationwide ceasefire agreement the group participated in the drafting of the ceasefire agreement. It also signed a union-level and state-level ceasefire agreement with the Thein Sein administration. Translated by Thida Linn She is known for showing off her enviable curves in array of swimsuits, lingerie and form-fitting dresses. But Australia's Next Top Model star Simone Holtznagel covered up her famous physique as she touched down in Sydney on Friday. The 22-year-old cut a demure figure as she made her way through the international terminal at Sydney Airport. Scroll down for video Pretty in pink! Simone Holztnagel arrived in Sydney on Friday after working abroad in the US Simone looked stylish in a pair of skin-tight black jeans that featured ripped detailing through the knees and thighs. The Australian model tucked a loose black tank top into the high waisted jeans and added a stylish belt to emphasise her hourglass figure. She added some extra height with a pair of sky-high ankle boots and let the standout piece of her outfit, a pink trench coat, breeze behind her as she strutted through the airport. Reunited: The 22-year-old model donned a pair of skin-tight black jeans paired with a matching tank top and appeared delighted to see her father at the arrivals gate She's a natural: For the flight she opted for minimal makeup and stepped out looking fresh faced with her blonde tresses swept over in a dramatic side part For the flight she opted for minimal makeup and stepped out looking fresh faced with her blonde tresses swept over in a dramatic side part. The beauty appeared in high spirits as she made her way through the terminal with her headphones in listening to music before she was greeted by her father. She looked overjoyed to be reunited with him as he took hold of her trolley piled with suitcases and wheeled it for her. Simone spent the bulk of last year abroad modelling, with many of her shoots picturing her either scantily-clad or completely topless. Covergirl: Simone spent the bulk of last year abroad modelling in racy shoots and landed a Playboy cover Cheeky: Recently she shared a sneak peek of her latest GUESS photo shoot, in which she was dressed in a halterneck frock that highlighted her very busty assets The former ANTM contestant has gone on to international success after she placed third on the show in 2011 and shares plenty of behind-the-scenes snaps with her fans. She was signed to Guess in October 2014 and has since appeared on the runway and in numerous campaigns for the international brand. Recently she shared a sneak peek of her latest GUESS photo shoot, in which she was dressed in a halterneck frock that highlighted her very busty assets. The number hugged her slender figure in all of the right places, and was embellished with silver studs across the front emphasised her chest. Their latest film Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is in theaters on May 19th. So it's no surprise that stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron were ready for a little recreation when they were invited to join Conan O'Brien on his latest Clueless Gamer segment. The skit has become one of the most popular on Conan's show, and features Conan playing a new video game with a special guest or guests. Ready to relax? Stars Seth Rogen and Zac Efron were ready for a little recreation when they were invited to join Conan O'Brien on his latest Clueless Gamer segment In the latest installment, Conan challenges the two actors to several races in the latest Mario Cart game, which Conan notes is very popular amongst fraternity brothers. Of course the movie also features frat brothers and their antics, so Seth, 34, and Zac, 28, decide that the loser must suffer a frat-style punishment. With little delay, Seth and Zac suggest that if an individual loses, a phallus should be drawn on their face. Apparently not quite understanding, Conan summarizes, 'if I lost, you'd draw a d*ck on my face?' How convenient: In the latest installment, Conan challenges the two actors to several races in the latest Mario Cart game, which Conan notes is very popular amongst fraternity brothers They're not kidding: Apparently not quite understanding, Conan summarizes, 'if I lost, you'd draw a d*ck on my face?' Early success: In fact, Conan wins the first bout The two comedy stars respond in the affirmative, with Seth adding that he 'might have to trace Zac's' should Conan lose. In fact, Conan wins the first bout, and produces a board that defines the drawing etiquette in terms of what's allowed on cable television. With the rules set, Seth is the first recipient of a prurient picture. Rules: , Conan produced a board that defines the drawing etiquette in terms of what's allowed on cable television Downward spiral: In no time, Conan then loses several races in a row, resulting in many new inappropriate drawings being added to his face In no time, Conan then loses several races in a row, resulting in many new inappropriate drawings being added to his face. Zac even gets a political jibe in as he adds to Conan's collection. He muses that in America one should be free to draw whatever genitalia they want, adding, 'you should be able to vote for them and draw them,' apparently referring to a prominent politician. By the end of the races, Conan's face is almost completely covered with lewd images, signifying that he indeed was the worst of the bunch. Topical: Zac even gets a political jibe in as he adds to Conan's collection It is not every day one gets the chance to make history. So no wonder Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez looked so pumped as they shot scenes on Thursday as Fast And Furious 8 became the first US film to be shot in Cuba. Excited crowds lined the streets in the communist backwater of Havana, with the thrilled actor punching the air as he sped past them while behind the wheel of what appeared to be a near mint condition 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser. Give the man a cigar: Vin Diesel punched the air as filming began on Fast 8 in Cuba on Thursday Latina lovely Michelle also seemed thrilled to be there, and shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of circular reflective sunglasses. Vin's character in the franchise Dominic Toretto is said to have Cuban heritage, which the thrilled star referenced in a video which he shared on Instagram to mark the moment. The 48-year-old action star said: 'Right now I'm with my director F. Gary Grey. We worked together maybe 17 years ago. And we're at a place that nobody ever thought would be possible. 'We are in Havana, Cuba. And you can see how beautiful it is, with all these beautiful people. They didn't think it could be done. And we're here, we're doing it. And there is a lot of love here. A driven man: Director F. Gary Grey shot film on his mobile as they drove past the excited locals Havana good time: Michelle looked like she was loving the atmosphere in the communist backwater Making waves: Vin saluted the proles as he sped past them in his vintage Mercury Turnpike Cruiser A video posted by Fast & Furious (@fastandfuriousmovie) on Apr 27, 2016 at 7:35pm PDT 'We're just really proud to be here, man. This is paradise. We're in Cuba, where the Torettos started. It's Fast 8. 'It's Dom Toretto here, back in his home, home, homeland. And Gary is about to rip it.' The move to film in Cuba comes just weeks after President Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the island since 1928. Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in December 2014 their countries should normalize relations, which had been frosty since 1961 Making history: Vin and his sidekicks were taking part in the first ever US film production in Cuba Red carpet treatment: It looked like they were driving over some freshly laid tarmac Documentary maker: Vin marked the historical moment by shooting a video on his mobile phone 'This is paradise': The multimillionaire went a bit overboard in his praise of the city While the plot is yet to be revealed, series favourites Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson and Eva Mendes are all returning. Even more excitingly, Big Trouble In Little China Town legend Kurt Russell has also been added to the cast. Fast 8 will be the first film in the franchise, other than 2006 spin-off The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, not to star Paul Walker, who died in a fiery car crash in 2013 after a Porsche he was riding in slammed into a concrete lamppost at around 90 miles per hour. Homeward bound: Vin was thrilled his character Dom Toretto is 'back in his home, home, homeland' Nice chopper: The locals could scarcely believe it when the helicopter passed overhead Casting a shadow: They filmed some moody scenes as the sun went down It is not the only old franchise Vin is milking as he feathers his retirement fund however. For earlier this month he was filming xXx: Return Of Xander Cage continues with Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone in Ontario, Canada The film follows extreme sportsman Xander Cage, played by Vin, who returns from a near death experience to take on yet another tough mission. The movie, which is scheduled for release in January 2017, will also star Australian actress Toni Collette and Samuel L. Jackson. A revolutionary moment: The country's flag flew nearby as filming commenced How the magic happens: A man sat in a perspex box on top of another vehicle Technical operation: Another car held a camera as the action took place He's never one to shy away from getting his hands dirty to do a job. And Alec Baldwin proved on Thursday that he won't shy away from a good sweat either as he was spotted jogging in Los Angeles before attending a film screening later that evening. While the actor, 58, was dripping after his cardio session earlier in the day he cleaned up real nice as he took wife Hilaria to the All The President's premiere that evening. Suited and booted: Alec Baldwin took his pregnant wife Hilaria to All The President's screening in LA on Thursday Leading man Alec wore a dark blue suit with no tie to the event as he spiked his greying hair up. His wife Hilaria, 32, who is pregnant with the couple's third child, showed off her budding baby bump in a tight blue gown. However, it was just hours earlier that Alec soaked his American Museum Of Natural History T-shirt while jogging through Beverly Hills in shorts and trainers. Running man! However, it was just hours earlier that Alec soaked his American Museum Of Natural History T-shirt while jogging through Beverly Hills in shorts and trainers Time for a break: The actor got his heart pounding before stopping to get his pulse level Leading man: Alec wore a dark blue suit with no tie to the event as he spiked his greying hair up Meanwhile, Deadline reported on Thursday that Alec is set to head the reboot of famous game show Match Game this summer. It will be the actor's longest stint on TV since he appeared as quirky NBC executive Jack Donaghy on popular comedy 30 Rock. Match Game, which originally premiered back in 1962 and has be rebooted several times since, pits two contestants against each other as they try to match six celebrities' answers in a game of fill-in-the-blank. Gorgeous: His wife Hilaria, 32, who is pregnant with the couple's third child, showed off her budding baby bump in a tight blue gown Keith Carradine and Hayley DuMond looked well heeled on the red carpet The critic is in! Leonard Maltin smiled broadly at the screening While it's a simple reboot, Alec Baldwin expressed how excited he was for the opportunity in a statement on Thursday. 'I am beyond grateful to ABC and FremantleMedia for the chance to host a summer series of the legendary Match Game,' he said, before revealing a surprising twist. 'Hilaria and I are thrilled to donate this fee to arts-related charities. And we look forward to having a lot of fun.' Classic: Match Game, which originally premiered back in 1962 and has be rebooted several times since, pits two contestants against each other as they try to match six celebrities' answers in a game of fill-in-the-blank. (pictured here with host Michael Burger) According to Deadline, Baldwin is supposedly receiving one of the highest ever salaries for a prime-time host, which makes his plan to donate to Hilaria's arts charities even more impressive. Of course he will be receiving other sorts of compensation as well, including a possible stake in any syndication deals, which are almost always extremely lucrative. Besides hosting duties, the Hollywood vet will also be serving as an executive producer for the reboot. He'll even get to stick close to his growing family, as all ten episodes are set to tape in his home town of New York City. Michelle Bridges is busy juggling her life as a personal trainer and as a new mother. But on Friday, the 45-year-old fitness enthusiast took some time out to herself and snapped a selfie of her freshly groomed eyebrows by a Sydney beautician. Taking to Instagram, the TV star posted the snap of her new brows which appeared to be red after the application of hot wax. Scroll down for video Relaxing: Michelle Bridges is juggling life as a mother and her career and took some time out to herself and snapped a selfie of her freshly groomed eyebrows by a Sydney beautician on Friday Michelle looked radiant in the very up close snap as she lay back on a white sheet that covered the pillow she rested her head on. She let her dark tresses fall loose around her face and appeared to be dressed in a casual navy tank top. Clearly relishing the relaxing time off, the new mother-of-one posted the image to her fans on social media and wrote: 'Ok Amy Jean Eye Couture I'm in your hands! #eyebrowqueen' Balance: The 45-year-old appears to be adjusting well to life as a mother and juggling her thriving career and sharing plenty of snaps of her cherubic little boy with her followers on social media. Michelle and her partner Steve 'Commando' Willis, 39, welcomed their son Axel in December last year. She appears to be adjusting well to life as a mother, and sharing plenty of snaps of her cherubic little boy with her followers on social media. The Biggest Loser personal trainer maintained a high level of her fitness and working out while she was pregnant and came under fire from critics at the time. But last week Michelle spoke to Daily Mail Australia and admitted that despite keeping up the intense workouts during her pregnancy, it's taken some time to get back into her training routine. 'I'm only just starting to get back into my training after having the baby a few months ago,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Family life: Michelle and her partner Steve 'Commando' Willis welcomed their son Axel in December last year 'I'm just taking it at my own pace.. I'm slowly getting there,' she continued before adding being a first time mother is 'going really well.' The trainer spoke to the DMA at her Body Blitz event, which was held at Twitter Australia Headquarters Sydney, where she decided against bringing her tot to the event. 'I didn't bring Axel... I think he's had enough of watching me workout,' she said at the time. Michelle has created plenty of new workout routines that fit in spending quality time with her young son, and still maintaining her fitness levels. He's been spending an awful lot of time with his rumoured girlfriend Chloe Moretz lately. However, Brooklyn Beckham managed to find time to fit in a trip to the dentist on Thursday and even Instagram some of his favourite moments from the visit. In one image, the 17-year-old wore a huge pair of shades to ensure all focus was on his teeth and thanked his mother for his set of pearly whites. Scroll down for video 'Thanks mum for all those years of dentist appointments' Brooklyn Beckham, 17, seemed in high spirits as he was praised for having good teeth at his last visit - posting a couple of snaps on Instagram He wrote: 'So today I went to the dentist and he said I have really clean and strong teeth.Thanks mum for all those years of dentist appointments and braces.' The transatlantic youngster looked over the moon at his appointment, before going home to spend time with his mother. Proudly sharing a stack of clothes from her successful fashion line, he captioned the chic image: 'Fun night with my mum @victoriabeckham.' 'Fun night with my mum @victoriabeckham,' Brooklyn spent quality time with his mother Victoria Beckham, 42 'Love my new @victoriabeckham glasses!' He also ensured to promote items from Victoria's fashion line to his 6.7million users Taking to the social media platform again, the teen shared a mirror selfie where he wore a pair of sunnies from Victoria's eye-wear range. 'Love my new @victoriabeckham glasses! #VBeyewear #VBDoverst #VBHongKong #VBman,' he made sure to promote the product to his 6.7million followers. The trendy teen has been utilising Instagram to highlight a variety other things as well - namely his romance with actress Chloe, 19. He recently shared a sweet snap with the Kick-Ass actress who was seen resting her head on his shoulder in the black and white image, which he captioned with a simple heart emoji. So cute! Earlier this week he shared a sweet black and white snap with the Kick Ass actress Hanging out: The picture confirmation came the day after the teens were spotted side by side, enjoying a London day out The picture confirmation came the day after the teens were spotted side by side, enjoying a London day out. Brooklyn and Chloe were first romantically linked back in the summer of 2014, when they were spotted together on several occasions as friends. With Chloe now back in LA for work commitments, Brooklyn now has to rely on his parents and siblings to pass his time- And Victoria is more than happy to indulge in her motherly duties, alongside her fashion enterprise. She has never been happier as her former band manager Simon Fuller claimed she 'always felt uncomfortable' in the Spice Girls Advertisement They are both keen workout fanatics and it's fair to say that sisters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian were not afraid to flash some flesh when they attended Gigi Hadid's birthday on Thursday evening. The pair joined a host of stars at trendy hotspot The Nice Guy in West Hollywood for the model's 21st bash. Kourtney playfully made a grab for her younger sister's ample assets, which were on full display in a perilously plunging skintight black bodysuit. Scroll down for video Mixing it up: Kourtney (left) and Khloe Kardashian showed off their height difference as they posed for snaps outside Gigi Hadid's 21st birthday bash at The Nice Guy in West Hollywood on Thursday night There's no keeping up with these two! Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian both chose very daring looks for the bash Giggling away, the sisters seemed in good spirits on the evening as they joked around before heading into the venue. Baring every inch of her toned frame, Kourtney opted for a skintight plunging bodysuit that flaunted her ample assets. Featuring a daringly low-cut neckline she showed off her generous cleavage and appeared to forgo underwear for the suit. Bosom buddies! Kourtney playfully made a grab for her younger sister's ample assets, which were on full display in a perilously plunging skintight black bodysuit Sister sister: Kourtney and Khloe joined a host of stars at trendy hotspot The Nice Guy on Thursday evening but stood out with their equally revealing and chic skintight black bodysuits Sisters in style: The siblings held hands as they strutted their way into the star-studded party All smiles: Giggling away, the sisters seemed in good spirits on the evening as they adjusted their low-cut ensembles Helping hand: Kourtney appeared to be helping Khloe adjust her outfit, which featured a plunging neckline that showed her ample cleavage Adding some height to her petite frame she wore a pair of black T-bar strapped heels whilst she held a small chained body bag in her hand. Meanwhile, Khloe also wasn't afraid to flash the flesh in a bodysuit, opting for a skintight black suit with sheer panels. Featuring several swathes of different patterned material, there was nowhere to hide in the eye-catching suit that she wore beneath a satin bomber jacket. Yummy mummy! Baring every inch of her toned frame, Kourtney opted for a skintight plunging bodysuit that flaunted her ample assets and gave her nowhere to hide Peekaboob: Kourtney's plunging bodysuit gave onlookers a glimpse at her surgically enhanced assets Bra-vo! Featuring a daringly low-cut neckline she showed off her generous cleavage and appeared to forgo underwear for the suit Leggy lady! The skintight bodysuit clung to her toned and tanned pins which were elongated by black T-bar heels Part of the gang: The Kardashian sisters made quite the coordinated pair on the evening Adding some glitz to her ensemble she also carried a small glittering Chanel clutch bag. The duo were also joined by the youngest members of the Kardashian clan, Kendall and Kylie who looked as equally as stunning as their older sisters. Also opting to wear black, Kendall, 20, slipped her lithe frame into a printed pair of black flared trousers with an elegant gold print. Giving them an eyeful: Khloe also wasn't afraid to flash the flesh in a bodysuit, opting for a skintight black suit with sheer panels On display: Featuring several swathes of different patterned material, there was nowhere to hide in the eye-catching suit that she wore beneath a satin bomber jacket Bootylicious: Khloe flashed hints of flesh in the sheer panelled bodysuit Flashing flesh: Showing off more skin she wore a cross-backed bodysuit that flashed more flesh Blonde beauty: Khloe wore her golden tresses loose and poker straight in a centre parting Glitz and glamour: Khloe followed suit in similar plunging attire, carrying a glitzy clutch bag Adding a touch of glamour to her ensemble she also donned a matching jacket which was left open to expose her lace and sheer bralet. Wearing her glossy tresses in loose waves she framed her heart shaped face which bore a neutral make-up palette. Meanwhile, Kylie Jenner stood out against her sisters in all white, teaming a pair of loose fitting trousers with a cropped jacket. Top of the crops: Kylie Jenner went for an all-white ensemble, displaying her stomach in her crop top Birthday girl: Making quite the entrance to her birthday bash, Gigi arrived hand in hand with her fellow model friend Kendall Jenner who slipped her lithe frame into a printed pair of black flared trousers Sharing a laugh: Kourtney was clearly entertained by something Jaden Smith had said in this Snapchat post Cake, cake, cake: The festivities featured a birthday cake bearing the image of the 21-year-old model Her No. 1 fan! Gigi pulled a silly face as she hugged her mother, Yolanda, at her star-studded birthday party In good company: (L to R) Taylor Swift, Naomi Campbell, and the birthday girl showed off smiles in a striking Snapchat post She's golden! Kendall and Gigi both showed off balloons that spelled out the birthday girl's name As one of Australia's most successful and biggest names in fashion, it was understandable that Megan Gale would join Australia's Next Top Model as a permanent member of the judging panel. And the 40-year-old certainly looked the part as she met with fellow judges and mentors Jennifer Hawkins, Alex Perry, Cheyenne Tozzi and the Stenmark twins in Sydney on Friday afternoon. The fashion icon cut a stylish figure in an all-black ensemble, draping a chic leather jacket over one shoulder as she entered the Palisade Hotel. Scroll down for video Going hell for leather! Megan Gale cut a stylish figure in an all-black ensemble and leather jacket as she met with fellow Australia's Next Top Model cast in Sydney on Friday The mother-of-one showed off her lithe model figure in a pair of black cigarette trousers, flashing a tiny peek of midriff with a cropped tank top. She accessorised with a black slouch handbag and finished off her look with a pair of pointed-toe pumps. Megan styled her raven locks in loose waves and a gentle side-part, with makeup kept understated except for light blush to highlight her high cheekbones. Chic: The mother-of-one showed off her lithe model figure in a pair of black cigarette trousers Leggy lady! The show's host Jennifer Hawkins showed off her trim pins in a black minidress upon her arrival Prepped for a costume change, the supermodel was also seen to be carrying a large black garment bag. Megan is set to join the cast of Australia's Next Top Model as a permanent judge of the show's tenth season, alongside long-running personalities designer Alex Perry and host Jennifer Hawkins. Megan said recently she was looking forward to the challenge of a more permanent role, and fondly remembered the late Charlotte Dawson from whom she was taking over. 'For me it's a great way to keep talking about her and how great she was for the show, and it's a great way to keep her memory alive,' she stated. He's a veteran! Alex Perry will be returning to the show as a judge Lending their expertise: The Stenmark brothers, Jordan and Zac, are taking on roles as mentors for the first time 'Whilst I definitely don't want to emulate what she did, or fill that place, I feel honoured to be sitting where she was,' she concluded. Megan's appointment on the judging panel comes after a speculated rivalry between her and Jennifer. Also lending their expertise of the industry were the Stenmark brothers, Jordan and Zac, who will be take on the role of mentors on the show for the first time. They've been firm friends since co-starring in the 1999 hit Crazy In Alabama. So it was no wonder Melanie Griffiths seemed in good spirits as she met up with Robert Wagner in Beverly Hills on Thursday. Grabbing some dinner at Craig's restaurant, the 58-year-old actress looked the epitome of youth as she put on a trendy display in a cropped navy jumper and a body-con patterned print skirt. Scroll down for video Old friends: They've been firm friends since co-starring in the 1999 hit Crazy In Alabama. So it was no wonder Melanie Griffiths was in good spirits as she met Robert Wagner in Beverly Hills on Thursday Looking equally as on-trend, Robert, 86, matched his companion in a navy fitted suit that he teamed with a checkered shirt and green necktie. Holding each other in a warm embrace the pair looked delighted to have found the time to meet up in their busy schedules. A topic of conversation no doubt would have been Melanie's daughter, Dakota Johnson, who also starred in Crazy In Alabama when she was just ten years old. Busty: Grabbing some dinner at Craig's restaurant, the 58-year-old actress dazzled in a low-cut dress Dapper chap: Looking equally as on-trend, Robert, 86, matched his companion in a navy fitted suit that he teamed with a checkered shirt and green necktie And Melanie will have been able to give all the updates on her now 26-year-old daughter's life, as she had just returned from visiting her on the set of Fifty Shades Darker. Fresh from visiting her pride and joy on set in Vancouver, the superstar appeared to be in a pensive mood as she walked out in the sunshine. The high-waisted skirt fell just under her knees and she accessorised it with a slinky pair of suede knee-high heeled boots. Firm friends: Holding each other in a warm embrace the pair looked delighted to have found the time to meet up in their busy schedules Pretty in prints: Melanie dazzled in her figure hugging midi dress that she wore beneath a navy jumper Catching up: A topic of conversation no doubt would have been Melanie's daughter, Dakota Johnson, who also starred in Crazy In Alabama when she was just ten years old Quite the trendsetter, the movie industry veteran- who split from actor Antonio Banderas last year- wore a pair of brown-rimmed cat-eyed sunnies, which shaded her make-up free face in the glorious sun. Balancing a hip satchel-style bag on her left shoulder, the Something Wild star was seen playing around with her thick blonde tresses, before letting it fall free past her shoulders. The proud mother visited her 26-year-old daughter Dakota- who she shares with ex-husband Don Johnson- in Vancouver for support this week as she filmed the kinky novel turned movie success. Half her age: Melanie Griffith, 58, looked the epitome of youth as she stepped out in Beverly Hills on Thursday Stylish: She put on a trendy display in a cropped navy jumper and a body-con aztec print skirt All in the detail: Quite the trendsetter, the movie industry veteran who split from actor Antonio Banderas last year- wore a pair of brown-rimmed cat-eyed sunnies, which shaded her make-up free face in the glorious sun Looking outrageously glamorous, the icon managed to overshadow the brunette who reverted back to her straight blunt fringe for the role. Her pretty off-spring however inspired Melanie to share a throwback snap of her with Don from 1974- when they were deep in love. Meanwhile, Dakota recently revealed there is nothing sexy about filming simulated sex scenes for seven hours straight with her hunky co-star, Jamie Dornan, 33. The Social Network star told Interview Magazine: 'It's not... comfortable. It's pretty tedious. 'Well, we're not having actual sex. But I've been simulating sex for seven hours straight right now, and I'm over it. ' Family affair: Dakota beamed as her mum Melanie visited the set of her new film Fifty Shades Darker on Tuesday in Vancouver, Canada this week Chic: Dakota, who plays Anastasia Steele in the racy drama, looked chic in a silky stone-hued trench coat While the How To Be Single star may have grown a little blase about the films that saw her be on Hollywood's radar for more than just who her parents are, Dakota is not blase when it comes to understanding that these days fame can be fleeting. The 26-year-old said: 'It is a bizarre time right now, though. It seems like the world is so fast to move its interest to someone else. 'And now I feel like there's such a weird pressure to find the new face. I don't get it at all. I want to see women evolve. I want to see a body of work. I want to see all of it.' 'With my beautiful Dakota on a beautiful day': Melanie beamed with pride on Instagram as she caught up with her actress daughter 'Don and me... Circa 1974': Melanie and Don Johnson's relationship, which she Instagrammed a snap from this week, resulted in their stunning daughter Dakota, 26 She is an Academy Award-nominated actress with a slew of famous films under her belt. But Naomi Watts wasn't above greeting a very special fan as she made her way down the red carpet at the Oscars earlier this year. The actress, a former attendee of Sydney's Mosman High School, posed for a photo with 15-year-old fan Scout Silbersher after Scout's mother told Naomi that her daughter also went to Mosman High. Scroll down for video Fancy seeing you here! Naomi, a former attendee of Sydney's Mosman High School, posed for a photo with 15-year-old fan Scout Silbersher at the Oscars this year after Scout's mother told Naomi that her daughter also went to Mosman High Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Scout's mother Ricky said: 'I just pointed at Naomi and said 'Mosman High' and then I pointed at Scout and said 'Mosman High' and that was enough Naomi smiled and stopped for a photo with Scout.' Naomi has maintained a strong affinity with her former high school, having even visited its grounds during her holiday to Australia in December last year. While appearing on 2DAY FM's Sam and Rove Show, the 47-year-old explained why she chose to drop by the school during her travels, saying: 'I have driven by it but it was the right moment at that time because I was with my brother [Ben] who also went there.' A family affair! Scout's mother Ricky Silbersher (left) posed with Oscar-winner David White (centre) and Scout (right) on the red carpet 'It was a walk down memory lane and we were both moved by it,' she continued while adding they 'both have great memories there'. 'It was a good sweet moment'. While going into detail Naomi explained that the two siblings attended the high school 'straight away' after they arrived Down Under from their native country of England. Close to her heart: Naomi has maintained a strong affinity with her former high school, having even visited its grounds during her holiday to Australia in December last year During an interview with Network 10's The Project, the Hollywood actress admitted that people regularly quiz her about her nationality. 'It's an on-going you know, question for me and everyone, I suppose,' Naomi said. Naomi recently made headlines when she was announced as the newest cast member of off-beat US drama Twin Peaks. She will be joined by the likes of Richard Chamberlain, Jim Belushi, Michael Cera and Amanda Seyfried. At an estimated $35bn lifetime cost, the new Hinkley C nuclear power station will be more expensive than any other civil engineering project on planet Earth, reports the BBC. The astronomical costs are disputed, but even the government's own figures put it at $25bn. For that sum you could build a small forest of Burj Khalifas the world's tallest building, in Dubai, cost a piffling 1bn ($1.5bn). You could also knock up more than 70 miles of particle accelerator. The 17-mile-long Large Hadron Collider, built under the border between France and Switzerland to unlock the secrets of the universe, cost a mere 4bn ($5.8bn). The most expensive bridge ever constructed is the eastern replacement span of the Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco, designed to withstand the strongest earthquake seismologists would expect within the next 1,500 years. That cost about 4.5bn ($6.5bn). Even the Great Pyramid would cost less than a billion to make, now, and require only a few hundred workers. But there is one man-made object pricier than a new nuclear power station in a western democracy: the international space station, alleged to have cost more than $100bn. The deal seems strangely shady for something so obviously controversial: driven by political wrangling, with building costs offset to France and the project financed by China in return for a promise that the UK will pay twice the going rate for the electricity so expensive that onshore wind farms are cheaper. Even environmentalists OK with nuclear think the idea of a single vast plant powering an entire region is an outdated nightmare in the making. Meanwhile, much smaller plants in France and Finland will apparently be completed at a fraction of the cost but at direct taxpayer expense. Whatever you might say about the project or nuclear power, it's a reminder of how comically bad the British are at planning anything that takes more than few years to complete. She can either be found in the gym or hitting the party scene. And on Friday Millie Mackintosh ditched her usual glam looks for a sporty ensemble as she left her work out and enjoyed a spot of shopping in her stomping ground of Chelsea, London. Millie, 26, dressed down in her gym kit but still managed to show off her incredible figure in a pair of leggings. Scroll down for video Keeping things casual: Millie Mackintosh ditched her usual glam looks for a sporty ensemble as she left her work out and enjoyed a spot of shopping in her stomping ground of Chelsea, London. The ex Made In Chelsea star slipped into a pair of black leggings teamed with a hooded sweatshirt. She tried to keep warm in the chilly London temperatures by adding a zip-detail jacket over the top, and kept her Nike sneakers on after a workout. Millie added a touch of glam with her chain handle bag and a pair of statement round shades. Gym kit: The ex Made In Chelsea star slipped into a pair of black leggings teamed with a hooded sweatshirt Cheer up! The 26-year-old looked a little down in the dumps as she strolled around her local area Despite her layers, the ex reality star looked a little chilly as she wrapped her arms around herself, failing to raise a smile as she headed off solo before meeting a pal. Millie is making big plans in the wake of her new single status. The brunette beauty announced her split from husband Professor Green in February following three years of marriage and she now has plans to move her life Stateside. Sporty: She tried to keep warm in the chilly London temperatures by adding a zip-detail jacket over the top, and kept her Nike sneakers on after a workout Wearing her heart on her bag: The star carried a slogan tote with the wise words 'friends are more important than money' Finishing touches: Millie added a touch of glam with her chain handle bag and a pair of statement round shades Good company: The star was seen meeting up with a pal as they headed to a local cafe In an interview with Look magazine, she said: 'London can be a bit stifling, but when you go away you can get some headspace. 'I also just love LA - the healthy vibes and all the vegan restaurants. I'm actually plotting a move for hopefully next year. 'I'd probably split my time between London and LA.' That's better! Millie seemed to cheer up a little, smiling as she chatted to her girlfriend Heading to the US? Millie is making big plans in the wake of her new single status, revealing that she's thinking about leaving London and moving to LA Need a change: The brunette beauty announced her split from husband Professor Green in February following three years of marriage and she now has plans to move her life Stateside Millie's former Made In Chelsea co-star Binky Felstead also recently said that she would love to see her pal rekindle her romance with her rumoured beau Hugo Taylor. When asked if she'd like to see the pair back together in an interview with the Daily Mirror, she replied: 'I love Hugo and I love Millie, so yes. Pining for the sunshine: In an interview with Look magazine, she said: 'London can be a bit stifling, but when you go away you can get some headspace' Healthy lifestyle: Millie already spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, admitting that the vibe fits in with her health conscious attitude Favourite spot: 'I also just love LA - the healthy vibes and all the vegan restaurants,' she had admitted Her supermodel genes earned her the cover of Vogue Paris earlier this month. And Lottie Moss, the 18-year-old half sister of Kate Moss, took a break from her fledgling modelling duties for a day out at Thorpe Park, London with her pals. The stunning teen looked effortlessly stylish in a cool skull-print scarf and ankle-grazing ripped blue jeans as she headed for her day of adrenaline adventure. Scroll down for video Day of fun: Lottie Moss, 18, took a break from her fledgling modelling duties for a day out at Thorpe Park, London with her pals She teamed the edgy look with a plain black top and bomber jacket and strolled forth with her buddies in a pair of black Nike trainers. The flawless youngster took inspiration from her impressive beauty shoots thus far, by wearing her slick blonde locks free and past her shoulders. She also opted for low-key make-up with flush infused cheeks and a pink pout, alongside lashings of mascara. Trend-setter: The stunning teen looked effortlessly stylish in a cool skull-print scarf and ankle-grazing ripped blue jeans as she headed for her day of adrenaline adventure Lottie was out celebrating a pals birthday and they put on a free-spirited and lively display during their day at the famous amusement park. At one point, she was seen strapped in to a roller coaster whilst her locks billowed in the wind. Later the gang went on to enjoy a more casual water-ride, where they enjoyed a hearty conversation, whilst getting flicked with water. Hanging with her pals: Lottie was out celebrating a pals birthday and they put on a free-spirited and lively display during their day at the famous amusement park Having a blast! At one point, she was seen strapped in to a roller coaster whilst her locks billowed in the wind Working up quite the appetite, she was seen enjoying a hot-dog and chips before they resumed their adventurous duties. Lottie - who is the daughter of Kate's father Peter and his second wife Inger- has been quite the busy bee lately. Joining her on the cover of Vogue was her pal and male model of the moment, Lucky Blue Smith. The stunning cover- which was shot by legendary photographer Mario Testino- saw Lottie channeling a young Kate when she first started modelling, aged just 14. The blonde youngster is dressed in a gold lame dress by Saint Laurent which is high-neck and long-sleeved in design while a thick black leather waistband which afforded her lithe figure some shape. Food break: Working up quite the appetite, she was seen enjoying a hot-dog and chips before they resumed their adventurous duties Stunning model: She also opted for low-key make-up with flush infused cheeks and a pink pout, alongside lashings of mascara The classic! Later the gang went on to enjoy a more casual water-ride, where they enjoyed a hearty conversation Meanwhile, 17-year-old Lucky pulls his best Blue Steel expression with his piercing blue eyes the stand-out feature. While the latest high-fashion feature is Lottie's first for the globally-respected monthly, previous credits include Nylon magazine and Netherlands-based publication L'officiel. Lottie first transformed into a cover girl for L'officiel's March issue last month and in the accompanying interview, she explained she feels 'no pressure' to live up to Kate's legacy. Good-looking pals: Lottie and Lucky are good pals and are deemed as the future of the modelling industry She told the prestigious style bible L'officiel : 'I am who I am and I do what I want, whether that is modelling or anything else. The success of my sister does not affect me in my choices. I feel no pressure in that respect.' Lottie described 42-year-old Kate as 'simply someone other than me' and added it's 'my turn to tell my own story'. The model siblings shared an agency - Storm Management which first scouted Kate as a fresh-faced teen, 28 years ago - until the older of the two quit its booked earlier in the month. Lottie who made her Fashion Week debut last year, has also modeled for major brands such as Calvin Klein and Teen Vogue. She pioneered the original boho-chic trend back in 2006. And Sienna Miller proved her fashion reign is as strong as ever as she stepped out in a funky colour-block jacket for a spot of retail therapy on Friday. The blonde beauty, 34, topped off the quirky ensemble with a pair of cult fur-lined Gucci slippers during the stroll in London's exclusive Notting Hill. Scroll down for video Bold in brights: Sienna Miller stepped out in a funky colour-block jacket for a spot of retail therapy in Notting Hill on Friday The Alfie actress was the epitome of irreverent cool in the green, red and navy cropped jacket in a fashion-forward vinyl texture. She layered the statement piece over a pair of tight-fitting grey jeans that skimmed over her lithe pins. She completed the quirky ensemble with the 'It' shoes of the minute - the leather Princetown mules from the iconic Italian fashion house - which are also coveted by Alexa Chung, Ashley Olsen and Dakota Johnson. Fashion queen: The blonde beauty, 34, topped off the quirky ensemble with a pair of cult fur-lined Gucci slippers - also worn by A-listers like Alexa Chung, Ashley Olsen and Dakota Johnson Simply stylish: The Alfie actress was the epitome of irreverent cool in the green, red and navy cropped jacket in a fashion-forward vinyl texture Her glossy blonde tresses were worn in a casual choppy bob that appeared slightly askew thanks to the windy London climes. Opting for a minimal make-up palette, the Factory Girl star let her striking features shines as she chatted away animatedly on the phone. She accessorised with some large silver hoops and toted a black leather bowling bag. Natural beauty: Opting for a minimal make-up palette, the Factory Girl star let her striking features shines as she chatted away animatedly on the phone Sienna is currently starring in the British dystopian drama High-Rise alongside hunk of the moment Tom Hiddleston. Set in the 70s, the flick explores the rich and less well-off inhabitants of a high-rise tower block in London - and how chaos ensues as its social strata begin to crumble. Speaking to the BBC, Sienna revealed celebrity culture is like its own high-rise, saying: 'People used to celebrate celebrity and obviously it's completely different now. Making a dash: The actress seemed in a hurry as she made her way into a car in the exclusive London neighbourhood 'It's an examination of humanity and the way people behave if they're given enough rein and I think that our culture is really heading towards that - it's alarming. She added: 'I just try to avoid [the actress within the Hollywood bubble] as much of that as possible. 'It's definitely its own world and it's definitely weird - 'Hollyweird'. When you dip in and out there is hierarchy, there are people who are more successful than others. 'Everybody's ambitious and it can get strange and competitive and odd but at the same time most of the people I've worked with have been normal, nice, creative people.' She's never normally one to hide away from the limelight. But Charlotte Crosby came over shy leaving one of her regular restaurants on Thursday night, covering her face with a napkin instead of her posing for the cameras. Charlotte, 25, has been going through a tough time as rumours swirled of her on/off boyfriend Gary Beadle bedded two women while filming MTV reality show Ex On The Beach. Shy: Charlotte Crosby hid her face with a purple napkin when she left Mambos in South Shields on Thursday night as on/off boyfriend Gaz Beadle jetted back into the UK Dressed in a demure golden silk shirt, jeans and ankle boots, love-lorn Charlotte joined the rest of the Geordie Shore crew - minus Gary who was still on his way home from Thailand - for a meal. The reality TV star could have found recent events too much to handle, as she tried to leave Mambos restaurant in South Shields incognito. Meanwhile, Gary was spotted in Heathrow Airport after touching down from south east Asia on Friday Morning. Sheepish: Gary Beadle arrived at Heathrow on Friday morning to face the music with on/off girlfriend Charlotte after rumours emerged about fling with co-star Jemma Lucy, who was also pictured arriving home Wheeling his luggage through arrivals, the 28-year-old looked sheepish. It is thought he will face crisis talks with Charlotte, who he has dated on and off since he joined the Geordie Shore house in 2011. Charlotte voiced her concerns that Gary would was going to play away while he films his second stint on MTV dating show Ex On The Beach - a show centered around dating and dalliances. Geordie stars: Holly Hagan was also pictured leaving Mambos on Thursday, but was happy to be photographed Woman in black: Chloe Ferry was also present at the dinner, which was the first time Charlotte has been seen since the drama emerged about Gary and Jemma Lucy The Sunderland-born beauty insisted that if Gary returns and announces he has romanced a cast mate - she would break things off for good. Her vow comes after reports surfaced claiming he worked his charm on two of his co-stars on upcoming season of the controversial MTV hit - allegedly bedding both Charlotte Dawson, daughter of late comic Les, and returning cast-member Olivia Walsh. A source told The Sun: 'Gaz and the girls barely knew each other, but they were determined to make this the raunchiest series of Ex on the Beach ever and jumped into bed with each other pretty much as soon as the cameras were on. 'It was a total free for all and even though Gaz has slept with over 1,000 women, it'll be a night he never forgets. He definitely wasn't thinking about how Charlotte C may feel.' The claims come as Charlotte threatened to quit Geordie Shore after it emerged Gaz had a fling with another Ex On The Beach star - Jemma Lucy. Sideboob ahoy: Jemma Lucy posted a photo of herself wearing a very low-cut black vest and shorts as she waded through the water The notorious reality star was also pictured arriving back in the UK on Friday. She was seen sporting her Thailand-tan as she waited in the miserable weather at Manchester airport to be picked up. Despite her adamant sentiments, she also revealed that if he managed to stay faithful they could give their relationship a go. She adds: But if he comes back and says: "I didnt get with anyone and I realise I just want to be with you," then Ill say lets be in a relationship. 'I do care so much about the boy and I want more than anything for us to be together. She often treats her fans to a behind the scenes glimpse of her life on Instagram. So Victoria Beckham ensured her 10.2 million followers would be the first to know about her upcoming shoot with renowned photographer Ellen von Unwerth as she snapped some pictures of herself getting ready in her dressing gown on Friday. Taking a selfie with her personalised VB phone case, the 42-year-old designer treated her fans to a tongue-in-cheek look at her day as she posed with her eyes closed and her hair and make-up mid-application. Scroll down for video Dress down Fridays: Victoria Beckham ensured her 10.2 million followers would be the first to know about her upcoming shoot as she snapped some pictures of herself in her dressing gown on Friday 'Happy Friday!!! Getting ready for a shoot!!X thank u @lisaeldridgemakeup and @tinadidit X kisses VB,' she captioned the snap. Clad in a white fluffy dressing gown she flashed her lean and toned legs whilst nestled in a pair of slippers, pouting into the mirror. Half way through her hair and make-up session, she rocked a sweep of jade coloured eyeshadow across her lids whilst her chestnut coloured tresses were styled in loose waves. Refueling: Before her shoot the former Spice Girls star, 42, also managed to squeeze in some lunch as she tucked into a healthy snack of avocado and egg on toast Before her shoot the former Spice Girls star also managed to squeeze in some lunch as she tucked into a healthy snack. With her hair half finished in rollers, Victoria focused intently on the plate of goodies in front of her whilst a friend snapped the picture. 'Lunch time! Eggs on toast and avocado Exciting shoot today with @ellenvonunwerth Kisses from London! X VB #lovingmydressinggown,' she captioned the image. Looking all-white! Victoria was worlds away from her typical tailored and glamorous ensembles Looking the picture of serenity in the shots, Victoria was clearly calm and at ease at the photoshoot - a feeling it took a while to achieve according to her former manager Simon Fuller. The 55-year-old entrepreneur, who managed the star's group explained: 'Victoria, coming out of the Spice Girls, being married to David Beckham, launched a solo career. She never felt comfortable. 'Even in the Spice Girls - it was great fun, she was in the world's biggest group for two or three years - but she didn't feel comfortable. 'She could sing pretty well, she could dance pretty well, but she always felt uncomfortable.' It has been 30 years since Crocodile Dundee put Australian tourism squarely on the map. And tourism executives have now revealed that the iconic film may be given a reboot starring Thor actor Chris Hemsworth. Speaking to News Corp, Kakadu Tourism chair Rick Allert said: 'I'm sure any remake would be successful and Chris Hemsworth would have lots of appeal.' Scroll down for video New leading role? Tourism executives have revealed that iconic 1986 film Crocodile Dundee may be given a reboot starring Thor actor Chris Hemsworth The film's original director Peter Fairman also revealed that Chris would fit the role of the son of Mick Dundee (played by Paul Hogan) in the possible remake. 'I don't think there's any plans from (producer) John Cornell or from Paul (Hogan) to make another one but who knows, somebody else might come along and do it,' Peter Fairman told News Corp. 'It's a matter of striking a chord, and that movie came along at just the right time. It was shot in the right place and had a great character, and a great team of people putting it together in a really timely fashion.' Next generation of croc hunters! The film's original director Peter Fairman also revealed that Chris would fit the role of Mick Dundee's son, who was played by Paul Hogan (pictured) Chris, best known for his role as Thor in the Marvel cinematic universe, followed the footsteps of Paul Hogan earlier this year when he was named Tourism Australia's newest celebrity ambassador. 'In Australia youre surrounded by the most incredible natural beauty. Being in the water or near to it is a way of life for us', said Chris in an official statement. It wasn't a hard decision to move back to Australia because this part of the world is such a special place'.' Australian legend: Chris, best known for his role as Thor in the Marvel cinematic universe, followed the footsteps of Paul Hogan earlier this year when he was named Tourism Australia's newest celebrity ambassador 'This is the place I want my kids to grow up thats the world I want them to be part of.' The red carpet regular moved from Hollywood to Australia's Byron Bay last year in search of more peaceful life for his wife Elsa Pataky and their three young children. 'L.A. is a tough place to get around with kids', explained Chris in an interview with ET. 'There's not a whole lot of foot traffic. It was all about loading up the car and car seats. Here, we just walk out the door and head to the beach down the street. It's a much more simple life'. Bella Hadid was all business on Thursday morning in New York City. The young model was in a jovial mood for her latest modeling job despite missing Gigi's star-studded birthday celebrations in Hollywood. The 19-year-old looked amazing as she strutted around in her chic double denim outfit. Scroll down for video Double denim: Bella Hadid was in a jovial mood for her latest modeling job on Thursday morning as she strutted around New York City in her chic matching outfit She wore a pair of high waisted blue jeans and a small black crop top with a long flowing denim jacket over the top. She accessorized her outfit with a pair of quirky sunglasses, a black choker necklace and a pair of heeled black ankle boots. The model looked runway ready in her sophisticated but chic attire. Hottest model in town: She wore a pair of high waisted blue jeans and a small black crop top with a long flowing denim jacket over the top. She accessorized her outfit with a pair of quirky sunglasses, a black choker and a pair of heeled black ankle boots Bella has made some serious strides in the modeling industry since she started and has proved that further with her latest accomplishment. It's no wonder she was in such a good mood as the brunette model just had the honour of gracing the cover of Vogue. Bella couldn't wait to share her milestone moment on Instagram, posting the cover alongside a gushing thank you note to photographer Sebastian Faena, and stylist Konca Aykan. Modeling milestone: Bella couldn't wait to share her incredible moment on Instagram, posting the cover alongside a gushing thank you note to photographer Sebastian Faena, and stylist Konca Aykan 'I can't believe it!!! My first VOGUE cover !!!Thank you @vogueturkiye and my wonderful @sebastianfaena & so talented @koncaaykan for creating such an amazing story with me,' she wrote. The model looked way beyond her years as she wore glittering cocktail rings, bracelets, necklaces and statement drop earrings from Istanbul-based label Gilan. The crowning glory though is Bella's locks, which were styled in a curly pompadour do, completing the retro feel. Despite being hard at work and loving her job, Bella no doubt was upset to miss out on the festivities going on in Hollywood. 21st celebrations: Gigi ensured she was the centre of attention on her birthday night out, displaying her long and lean legs in a pair of statement black mesh boots and tiny white shorts Blonde bombshell: Taylor Swift showed off her new platinum locks and edgy look as she smouldered for the camera whilst Hailey Baldwin stunned in a nude mesh dress Her sister Gigi celebrated her landmark 21st birthday with a host of her famous friends on Thursday evening. The blonde model put on a seriously sexy display as she arrived at The Nice Guy in Hollywood to kick off her party in stylewith the likes of Zayn Malik, Kendall Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Hailey Baldwin and many more. Gigi ensured she was the centre of attention on her birthday night out, displaying her long and lean legs in a pair of statement black mesh boots. Keeping up up with the Kardashians: Khloe, Kourtney, Kendall and Kylie were all seen attending the star-studded birthday bash as they all stunned in their individual outfits Ryan Reynolds made a young cancer patient's dream come true by showing him a rough cut of Deadpool. The actor remembered 13-year-old Connor McGrath in a long and poignant letter posted to Facebook on Thursday - two days after the Canadian teenager died of cancer - and shared some sweet snaps from their visits. Ryan met Connor three years ago through Make-A-Wish Foundation as the youngster waged battle against the dreaded disease. Poignant tribute: Ryan Reynolds wrote a lengthy tribute on Facebook on Thursday remembering 13-year-old Connor McGrath who died of cancer earlier this week 'He went way too early and it's impossible to reconcile,' Ryan admitted, noting that the two traded humorous texts over the years, 'I called Connor, "Bubba". And he called me "Bubba2". We met because he loved Deadpool.' The star - whose actress wife Blake Lively is expecting their second child - was clearly moved as he began writing his letter. 'For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer... Not sure how... Maybe the cancer cheated... But the fight came to an end two nights ago.' Brave: Ryan wrote: 'For three straight years, my friend, Connor McGrath drop-kicked cancer... Not sure how... Maybe the cancer cheated... But the fight came to an end two nights ago' Biggest fan: The star wrote that he met Connor through Make-A-Wish foundation 'because he loved Deadpool' and that they traded humorous texts over the years 'In my wildest dreams, I can't imagine how hard this is for his parents Kim and Geraldalong with his extended family in Newfoundland.' 'Connor was 13. But this kid... He was smart. He was funny. And not just funny "for a kid"or funny "for a person battling something awful". He was unqualified funny. He had that... thing,' Ryan continued. He added: 'That thing you see in great performers or comedy writers. A running commentary/observational skill people are just lucky to be born with.' Surprise: Ryan surprised Connor in hospital with a rough cut of Deadpool before the film's February release and though it had 'jokes which weren't working' and 'green screens,' the younger 'didn't seem to mind' Grateful: The actor - pictured February 8 - added that he was grateful to 'orbit Connor's world for a brief time' 'Connor was a great friend, a great son, and a light to the people lucky enough to know him. 'While repeatedly punching cancer in the balls, he made everyone laugh. Including the entire staff who cared for him at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital. 'It was the Make-A-Wish Foundation that brought us together. I can't thank them enough. Seriously. Thank you. Because of his wish, Connor was the first person to see Deadpool. 'I traveled up to Edmonton, Alberta, to surprise him with a rough cut of the film. There were still huge sections with wires we hadn't yet painted out, jokes which weren't working (and still aren't) and green screens. 'Connor didn't seem to mind. And I'd never felt luckier to get to be Wade Wilson.' Ryan added that he was grateful to 'orbit Connor's world for a brief time' and for 'the pages and pages of hilarious texts between us,' and to Connor's parents for allowing their boy 'to spend time with a foul-mouthed child in the body of a 39 year old.' Ryan ended his lengthy letter by writing, 'See ya down the road, Bubba.' They didn't exactly have the most amicable of break-ups. But Yolanda Hadid and David Foster put their differences aside on Thursday for the sake of Gigi Hadid. The former couple were both at The Nice Guy in West Hollywood for Gigi's star-studded 21st birthday bash. Scroll down for video Putting their differences aside: David Foster and Yolanda Hadid both attended Gigi's birthday party at The Nice Guy in West Hollywood on Thursday The model is the daughter of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Yolanda but has remained close to her stepfather since they announced their split in December. In January, David supported Gigi and her younger sister Bella as they walked in the Chanel show for Paris Fashion Week, and he also attended Gigi's Versace show. Yolanda, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, looked happy and healthy as she arrived at the celebrity hotspot on Thursday for her eldest daughter's party, arm-in-arm with Gigi's agent Luiz Mattos. The 52-year-old wore a black jacket with lace sleeves which was unzipped to her chest, along with matching skinny jeans and heels. Happy and healthy: Yolanda, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, looked great for the evening Woman in black: The 52-year-old wore a jacket with lace sleeves, skinny jeans and pumps Yolanda rarely wears make-up these days, but showed off smoky eyes, long lashes and pink lips for the special occasion. Meanwhile 66-year-old David looked dapper in a blue suit with a checked shirt, striped tie and black dress shoes. Yolanda's first husband and Gigi's father Mohamed Hadid was also at the event, and joined by his model fiancee Shiva Safai. Arm-in-arm: The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star arrived with Gigi's agent Luiz Mattos Party time: Yolanda, Luiz, birthday girl Gigi and her BFF Kendall all rocked up together The Dutch former model and the billionaire real estate developer have maintained a good relationship for the sake of their children. However earlier this year Mohamed was forced to deny allegations from Lisa Vanderpump that he had denied Bella and Anwar were also suffering from Lyme disease. Yolanda, who changed her surname back to Hadid to match her children's after filing for divorce from David, revealed earlier this month that the split came as a shock. When asked by host Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live if she was 'blindsided', she admitted: 'Yeah. I didn't think that was the end of the road.' Dapper: Meanwhile 66-year-old David looked suave in a blue suit, checked shirt, striped tie and dress shoes Making it work: The composer has maintained a close relationship with his stepdaughter since splitting from Yolanda Yolanda said that she and David broke up in mid-November, two weeks before they announced they were divorcing, and that they are 'in touch a little bit here and there'. While the reality star said she doesn't blame the composer for leaving her, she admitted she had expected him to at least stay with her through her Lyme disease battle. 'I would have hoped to wait until I got 100 per cent well,' Yolanda confessed, however she said people shouldn't 'criticize' David. Date night: Gigi's father Mohamed Hadid was also in attendance, along with his model fiancee Shiva Safai Pout and about: The couple got in the photo booth with Gigi and her half-sister Alana (far right) She added: 'You can't underestimate how much it takes for a man to care of somebody that's sick all the time. He didn't change - I'm the one that changed. And I guess this is the outcome of that.' Yolanda and David married in November 2011 after five years together, and signed a prenup before tying the knot. Their divorce has not yet been finalised. This was Yolanda's second marriage and David's fourth. She was previously married to Mohamed Hadid (father of Gigi, Bella, 19, and Anwar, 16). Meanwhile David was previously married to B.J. Cook (mother of his daughter Amy, 42), Rebecca Dyer (who he has daughters Sara, 35, and Erin, 33, with) and Linda Thompson. He is also father to daughter Allison from a previous relationship. Girl on fire: Gigi sizzled in thigh-high boots, a black camisole and teeny white shorts to celebrate turning 21 Calling it quits: Yolanda and David, pictured in October, announced that they were divorcing in December, after four years of marriage and nine years together It's not unusual for Hollywood marriages to crumble. But actor Billy Crystal has bucked the trend, remaining passionately in love with his wife of 45 years, Janice. In an interview with Sydney Morning Herald's Spectrum, the 68-year-old comedian gushed: 'I still feel like we're dating.' 'I still feel like we're dating:' Billy Crystal opened up about his wife of 45 years Janice in an interview with Sydney Morning Herald The City Slickers star, who met Janice almost 50 years ago, revealed that his parents' relationship set an example for how he wanted his own marriage to be. 'My parents always looked like they loved being together,' he said. The actor added: 'That's what I took from them, and that's how my wife and I are.' Earlier this month Billy announced that he will be touring Australia in July and August of this year. 'My parents always looked like they loved being together, that's what I took from them, and that's how my wife and I are,' the City Slickers star said The acclaimed comedian will conduct a number of live comedy shows across four cities - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, in what will be his first visit Down Under in almost a decade. The nine-time Oscar host will be paired on stage with one of Australia's most renowned comedian and entertainer, Andrew Denton. The shows will take the format of a sit-down interview and will include some stand-up, spoken word stories and retrospective flashback material. Coming Down Under: Billy Crystal has announced he will be touring Australia in July and August of this year The tour begins with a July 10 performance in Sydney and conclude with dates in Melbourne. Billy has said that each show is going to be different, but in each he will discuss his life, family, grandchildren, politics, as well as big issues. 'This show is more relaxed and unpredictable,' he says. 'It's very informal and personal; it's a different, intimate way to be with an audience. And it will be funny,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald. Return: The 68-year-old acclaimed comedian, will conduct a number of live comedy shows across four cities - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, in what will be his first visit Down Under in almost a decade Hilarious duo: The nine-time Oscar host will be paired on stage with one of Australia's most renowned comedian and entertainer, Andrew Denton Last time Billy came to Australia was in 2007. The comedian performed a sold-out one man Tony award winning play 700 Sundays in Sydney and Melbourne. However at the time he was worried audiences wouldn't understand his New York Jewish humour. 'I thought - they're not going to get it. It's about my Jewish family, it's New York stories - well they got everything,' he told The Daily Telegraph. Adding: 'Even better than some American cities.' Tickets for An Evening of Sit Down with Billy Crystal go on sale April 18. Funnyman: The shows will take the format of a sit-down interview and will include some stand-up, spoken word stories and retrospective flashback material She got to know David Gest during her time in Celebrity Big Brother, and the late star was even present when she announced she was pregnant for the first time. So it was no surprise to see Kristina Rihanoff, 38, attend the popular American star's funeral at Golders Green Crematorium, London, on Friday afternoon. The former Strictly Come Dancing star covered her burgeoning bump in a classy navy cape with a fur-lined collar for the celebration of the reality star's life. Scroll down for video Paying her respects: Kristina Rihanoff, 38, attend the popular American star's funeral at Golders Green Crematorium, London, on Friday afternoon She wore a plain pair of black trousers, black suede shoes with a golden stiletto and carried her belongings in a handbag decorated with metallic detailing. In keeping with the idea of celebrating David's life rather than mourning it, Kristina managed to raise a smile as she made her way to the crematorium. She was joined by socialite Lizzie Cundy, and the pair strolled side by side ready to pay their respects to David. Covering up: The former Strictly Come Dancing star covered her burgeoning bump in a classy navy cape with a fur-lined collar for the celebration of the reality star's life Precious time: The pair struck up a friendship inside the Celebrity Big Brother house The star's ashes are expected to be taken to York had been living on and off since 2013. His coffin, which was carried in a black hearse topped with white lilies and roses, arrived at the service just before 2pm, before being brought into the chapel by seven pall-bearers. While in the US, Gest was best known for his tumultuous marriage to Liza Minnelli and his friendship with Michael Jackson, in his adopted home of the UK he forged strong bonds with a steady stream of celebs, thanks to his reality TV stints and busy social life in the capital. A time to remember: In keeping with the idea of celebrating David's life rather than mourning it, Kristina managed to raise a smile as she made her way to the crematorium In it together: She was joined by socialite Lizzie Cundy, and the pair strolled side by side ready to pay their respects to David Celebrity Big Brother champion and West End star Darren Day was also at the funeral and even performed a rendition of Bring Him Home from the famous Les Miserables for David, who often praised his dulcet tones during their time together in the house. Kristina, for whom ex-rugby ace Ben Cohen left his wife Abby in 2014, made the shock announcement that she was pregnant during her appearance on the Channel 5 show earlier this year. She will become a first-time parent when they welcome their child, while he already has twin girls, Harriette and Isabelle, with his estranged wife. French Montana has reportedly bought Selena Gomez's Hidden Hills mansion, which is located in Mureau Estates - the same gated community where his ex Khloe Kardashian lives. According to TMZ - the 31-year-old rapper got the five-bedroom house for a bargain, only paying $3.3M after the 23-year-old pop diva listed it for $4.4M in November. However, the two-time Grammy nominee only shelled out $300K less than Selena - who was plagued with intruders - actually paid for it in 2014. Scroll down for video Closer Khloe? to French Montana has reportedly bought Selena Gomez's Hidden Hills mansion, which is located in Mureau Estates - the same gated community where his ex Khloe Kardashian lives French - born Karim Kharbouch - should enjoy the nearly 8K-square-foot Mediterranean-style home, which also has a guesthouse and two-car garage. There is a teal-and-purple formal dining room featuring two-storey wall of windows and caged chandeliers. Montana will have no trouble fitting his hip-hop wardrobe in a walk-in closet the size of a studio apartment. And when the Wave Gods Intro rapper decides to grill, there's a viking-style outdoor kitchen featuring a brick pizza oven. Poolside view: According to TMZ - the 31-year-old rapper got the five-bedroom house for a bargain, only paying $3.3M after the 23-year-old pop diva listed it for $4.4M in November Stalked out of her property: However, the two-time Grammy nominee only shelled out $300K less than Selena - who was plagued with intruders - actually paid for it in 2014 Moving on up! French - born Karim Kharbouch - should enjoy the nearly 8K- square-foot Mediterranean-style home, which also has a guesthouse and two-car garage Home sweet home: There is a teal-and-purple formal dining room featuring two-storey wall of windows and caged chandeliers A place to hang his coat: Montana will have no trouble fitting his hip-hop wardrobe in a walk-in closet the size of a studio apartment BBQ time: And when the Wave Gods Intro rapper decides to grill, there's a viking-style outdoor kitchen featuring a brick pizza oven Cheers: The Moroccan-born, Bronx-raised star's guests will enjoy eating under the stars on the stone-tiled terrace with fireplace Empty racks: The Ciroc brand ambassador has plenty of room for wine in the cellar, and the Garrett Court house also boasts six bathrooms, steam shower, large gym, and theatre The Moroccan-born, Bronx-raised star's guests will enjoy eating under the stars on the stone-tiled terrace with fireplace. The Ciroc brand ambassador has plenty of room for wine in the cellar, and the Garrett Court house also boasts six bathrooms, steam shower, large gym, and theatre. Moving into the three-acre property with French will be his gaggle of exotic pets, including a monkey called Julius Caesar. Montana also has a six-year-old son Kruz with ex-wife Deen Kharbouch, whom he divorced in 2014 - the same year he began dating Khloe. His very own Capuchin: Moving into the three-acre property with French will be his gaggle of exotic pets, including a monkey called Julius Caesar 'Nothing else matters #myboss #kruzie': Montana also has a six-year-old son Kruz with ex-wife Deen Kharbouch, whom he divorced in 2014 - the same year he began dating Khloe Still amicable or more? The Perfect Match star was last seen with the 31-year-old reality star on April 10 at Hyde Sunset Kitchen and Cocktails in Los Angeles The divorced father-of-one vowed to People last week: 'We're gonna be friends forever, me and Khloe. We got a special kind of relationship. That's one of my best friends' The Perfect Match star was last seen with the 31-year-old reality star on April 10 at Hyde Sunset Kitchen and Cocktails in Los Angeles. 'We're gonna be friends forever, me and Khloe,' the divorced father-of-one vowed to People last week. 'We got a special kind of relationship. That's one of my best friends.' French - whose tour with Chris Brown starts August 12 - will next perform Friday and Saturday at Club NoLimit in the Netherlands. She's made no secret she's a fan of meditation, having even been trained to be a professional yoga instructor. So it was no surprise to see Isabelle Cornish engaging in the relaxing practice on Saturday morning. Taking to Instagram, the 21-year-old younger sister of fellow actress Abbie Cornish, shared a makeup free snap of herself doing yoga in her pyjamas. Scroll down for video In her element: On Saturday Australian actress Isabelle Cornish shared this makeup free snap of herself doing yoga in her pjyamas 'This is what 5:30 am pj yoga and meditation look like ain't no glamour here (sic),' she wrote next to the image. Barefaced and glowing, the Puberty Blues star was seen wearing a dark sweater teamed with a pair of red patterned pyjama pants. Her legs were stretched out across a bright purple yoga mat, while a water bottle was placed nearby to keep her hydrated throughout the yoga session. The social media snap comes after she posted another image a day earlier in which she flaunted her flexibility in a yoga headstand pose. Strike a pose: The social media snap comes after she posted another image a day earlier in which she flaunted her flexibility in a yoga headstand pose 'Anywhere Anytime Anyplace. That's my new yoga motto. Even if I can only roll out my mat for 5 minutes that's all it takes. Getting in my asana #yogaeverydamnday (sic),' she penned next to the photo in which she performed the impressive pose on a purple yoga mat. She sported a sleek black crop top and a pair of grey leggings for the photo, while pointing her toes to perfection to get the most out of the stretch. Isabelle, who despite being a qualified yoga instructor isn't teaching yet, has previously told Daily Mail Australia she owes her sculpted shape to yoga. Fitness enthusiast: Isabelle has trained to be a yoga instructor 'I try and do a lot of yoga in winter, especially because of the hot studio, its nice getting in there and you can get warm and you feel all warm and fuzzy when you leave,' she said. 'Getting outdoors when possible and enjoying the sun when its out.' 'Do exercise that you love, so find something that works for you and your lifestyle, if you like yoga do that. I love health and fitness, I'm really passionate about that,' she mused. Striving to forge an international career like her sister Abbie, Isabelle has been taking acting classes and auditioning for roles in the US. Aid to 1,000 Gaza families suspended after Israel cement ban: UN Reconstruction aid to over 1,000 families in Gaza has been suspended due to a lack of materials, the United Nations said Friday, after Israel banned the private import of cement over corruption claims. Israel suspended the imports of cement to Gaza early this month after some of the supplies were allegedly diverted. The ban has led to acute shortages that have brought much of the reconstruction to a halt, the UN said. A Palestinian woman walks past a building destroyed during a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas-led militants, in Gaza City on January 27, 2015 Mohammed Abed (AFP/File) "Organisations providing assistance have had to suspend cash assistance for house repairs to over 1,370 families as a result of scarcity and acute price increases," a statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. "In addition, payment to 1,550 families scheduled to start reconstruction are being delayed due to the lack of available cement." Cement imports are vital for the Palestinian enclave after a devastating 2014 war between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas which rules the enclave and other Palestinian factions. However, Israel accuses Hamas of using the cement to build tunnels and this month announced the ban after accusing Imad al-Baz, deputy director of the economy ministry, of diverting supplies. He denied the claims. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov warned that anyone misappropriating the cement was "stealing from his own people and adding to the suffering of the people of Gaza." Over 75,000 people whose homes were either destroyed or severely damaged remain displaced, according to the UN. US teen birth rate plunges to all-time low The US teen birth rate has plunged to an all-time low, driven by sharp declines among African Americans and Hispanics since 2006, health authorities said Thursday. Increased access to contraception and teenage pregnancy prevention programs aided the fall, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The birth rate for all young women aged 15-19 in the United States dropped 61 percent from 1991 to 2014, going from 61.8 to 24.2 births per 1,000. The US teen birth rate has plunged to an all-time low, driven by sharp declines among African Americans and Hispanics since 2006, health authorities say on April 28, 2016 Loic Venance (AFP/File) This marks "the lowest rate ever recorded," said the CDC report. Most of the drop was seen in the past decade. "Nationally, from 2006 to 2014, the teen birth rate declined 41 percent overall," said the report. The largest decline was among Hispanics (51 percent), followed by blacks (44 percent), and whites (35 percent). However, the CDC cautioned that the teen birth rate among Hispanic and black teens remains about twice as high as among whites, and that significant socioeconomic disparities remain. "The United States has made remarkable progress in reducing both teen pregnancy and racial and ethnic differences, but the reality is, too many American teens are still having babies," said CDC director Tom Frieden. When teenagers give birth, both the new mothers and their babies may face negative health, economic, and social consequences, the CDC said. Overall, teen births are estimated to cost the United States about $9.4 billion each year. "These pregnancies are usually unintended and the mothers face various socioeconomic disadvantages," said Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. "Teenagers often do not access good prenatal care and this can have a huge impact on the pregnancies." Janay Scott, a women's health expert at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, called the CDC report "heartening," but added: "We should not take this as a clarion call to relax our efforts." She said a combination approach to pregnancy prevention -- including school and community programs that offer accurate information about birth control and access to low-cost or free contraception -- has shown the most promise in reduction in teen pregnancies. "It's not just about the education of anatomy, rather it is empowering teens with knowledge about their bodies and how things work, then to go several steps further," said Scott. North Korea gives Korean-American 10 years' hard labour: Xinhua North Korea on Friday sentenced a detained Korean-American, Kim Dong-Chul, to 10 years' hard labour on charges of subversion and espionage, China's official Xinhua news agency said. The announcement, which comes at a time of elevated military tensions on the Korean peninsula, followed an even harsher sentence of 15 years hard labour passed last month on a US student, Otto Warmbier, for stealing a propaganda banner from a tourist hotel in Pyongyang. The brief Xinhua despatch from Pyongyang said Kim's penalty was handed down by North Korea's Supreme Court. Kim Dong-Chul, who was arrested on espionage charges in October last year, has been sentenced to 10 years with hard labour in North Korea There was no immediate North Korean confirmation of the sentence. According to a prosecutor cited by the Chinese news agency, Kim carried out "reactionary propaganda" against North Korea "and injected into local people fantasies about the superiority of the United States, in order to shake the stability of the political and social system." The 62-year-old, who became a naturalised US citizen in 1987, was arrested back in October. - Espionage charges - Kim was paraded in front of media cameras in the North Korean capital a month ago, when he admitted to stealing military secrets and pleaded for clemency in a carefully orchestrated "confession". His detention first came to public attention when he was produced in January during an interview CNN was conducting with a detained Canadian pastor in a Pyongyang hotel. At that time, Kim said he had been living in China near the North Korean border for the past 15 years, commuting regularly to Rason -- a North Korean special economic zone. According to the North's state media, he had been arrested in Rason as he was receiving a USB stick containing nuclear-linked data and other military information from his source. The Supreme Court prosecutor said Kim started spying in 2013 after South Korean agents tasked him with collecting party, state and military secrets. South Korea has denied any involvement in Kim's case. Foreigners detained in North Korea are often required to make a public, usually officially scripted acknowledgement of wrongdoing as a first step towards a possible release. Observers said the long sentences handed down to Kim and Warmbier reflected soaring military tensions 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 in March. 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. 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. The US State Department "strongly recommends against all travel" to North Korea and specifically warns of the risk of arrest. The Korean peninsula remains the world's last Cold War frontier and the two countries remain technically at war since the 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce and not a formal peace treaty Kim Jae-Hwan (AFP/File) Prison camps of North Korea Shrinking US presence in Afghanistan creates security concerns The dwindling US troop presence in Afghanistan is hampering the Pentagon's ability to train and monitor local security forces, a government watchdog report warned Friday. Since local Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) assumed responsibility for their country's security, taking over from NATO forces at the start of 2015, US troop numbers have dropped to 9,800 -- and are set to fall further still to 5,500 by next year. "With fewer forces in theater, the United States military has lost much of its ability to make direct observations, provide tactical mentoring, and collect reliable information on ANDSF capability and effectiveness," John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), wrote in his quarterly report to Congress. In his report the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said an estimated 5,500 Afghan security forces were killed last year alone Javed Tanyeer (AFP/File) Sopko's report comes at a dangerously fragile time for Afghan security. Despite 15 years of war, the Taliban remain a major threat and has hit local troops hard, including in the brief capture of the major city of Kunduz, jolting confidence Afghan government forces can hold their own. The United States estimates about 5,500 Afghan security forces were killed last year alone and, Sopko warned, no one seems to know exactly how many are left. "More troubling is SIGAR's assessment that neither the United States nor its Afghan allies know how many Afghan soldiers and police actually exist, how many are in fact available for duty, or, by extension, the true nature of their operational capabilities," the SIGAR report states. In addition, America's shrinking presence means US troops are less able to have an impact on the ground, while at the same time the capability of local forces has not risen to fill the gap. "The ANDSF will be increasingly left not only with their own capability gaps in air support, signals, intelligence, and other areas highlighted by US commanders, but without the ability to call on US and coalition military components for help," the report states. Sopko has been a vociferous critic of United States efforts to restore security to Afghanistan, especially through reconstruction. He has penned multiple reports blasting bureaucrats for shoddy record keeping and oversight, and has criticized the Afghan government for waste and corruption. Spoko said Congress has appropriated approximately $113 billion for Afghanistan reconstruction. About $10 billion remains to be disbursed. "The reconstruction effort in Afghanistan is in a perilous state," Sopko said. "Afghanistan has had the lead responsibility for its own security for more than a year now, and is struggling with a four-season insurgency, high attrition, and capability challenges." In all, the United States has spent about $1 trillion in fighting and reconstruction during the years it has been in Afghanistan. Some 2,200 US lives have been lost in the longest war in US history. Gambia prosecutors file new charge against opposition leader Gambian prosecutors charged opposition leader Ousaniou Darboe and 19 other activists arrested for unlawful assembly and rioting with a new charge of conspiracy to commit a felony. Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and his 19 co-defendants, including a new accused Masanneh Lalo Jawla, all pleaded not guilty to the charge at the high court in Banjul. They had previously been charged with unlawful assembly, rioting and incitement to violence. Jawla was also charged with all the counts earlier levelled against his co-defendants. Gambian opposition leader Ousaniou Darboe and 19 other activists facing new charges are among 38 people arrested over demonstrations on April 14 and 16 They are among 38 people arrested over demonstrations on April 14 and 16. Some of them were detained on April 14 after a rare opposition protest demanding political reforms while the others were arrested following a demonstration two days later against the death of UDP official Solo Sandeng, who is reported to have died suspiciously in custody, according to his party and human rights groups. The court adjourned the case to May 5 and did not rule on their bail application. On Wednesday, their lawyers told the court that the defendants had been denied adequate food, access to medical attention and family visits. Defence lawyer Hawa Sisay Sabally said her client Fanta Darboe had "sustained severe injuries" to her right hand and other parts of her body but had not yet received medical attention. Prosecutor Hadi Saleh Barkum rejected the allegations. The court had however ordered prison authorities to allow the defendants access to adequate food, care and visits from their relatives. The small west African nation is ruled with an iron fist by President Yahya Jammeh who came to power in a coup in 1994 and was first elected head of state in 1996. Xi move on faction suggests China elite struggle: experts Allies of Chinese President Xi Jinping are moving against a Communist organisation that is the power base of Premier Li Keqiang, in what analysts say may be a sign of faction-fighting at the top of the ruling party. The Communist Youth League (CYL) has long been a proving ground for young up-and-comers to demonstrate their political talent, particularly those who -- unlike Xi -- are not party "princelings" with the advantage of high-ranking parents. It has produced some of the country's top leaders, including Xi's presidential predecessor Hu Jintao as well as Li, and its alumni are seen as a leading faction within the Communist party. The Communist Youth League has long been a proving ground for young up-and-comers to demonstrate their political talent Fred Dufour (AFP/File) But as Xi moves to consolidate power, the group has come under sustained attack, including direct reprimands from the president himself. The party's internal corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), this week took the group to task for losing sight of its core mission to guide young people's ideological development. On its website, the CCDI published an extensive self-criticism by the CYL's central committee, acknowledging that it must have a greater "sense of responsibility and mission" to the party leadership and the country's young people. The declaration came after an investigation into the CYL found evidence of embezzlement and influence-peddling, according to the Global Times newspaper, which is close to the ruling party. The CCDI is headed by Wang Qishan, widely considered to be Xi's top lieutenant. Analysts say that the charges, although likely legitimate, may also be a convenient cover for the CCDI's real goal: helping Xi jockey for position ahead of next year's 19th Party Congress, which will decide the new line-up for the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), the top organ of political power in China. "To investigate the CYL is a highly political endeavour," said Jean-Pierre Cabestan of Hong Kong Baptist University. "This operation will certainly contribute to consolidating Xi's position." Five of the current seven PSC members are expected to retire at the Congress, and many experts believe Xi and Li are locked in a struggle to fill the vacancies with their own supporters, not to mention protect their own positions. "All indications are that Xi Jinping is trying to reduce the influence of the Youth League" ahead of the event, China expert Willy Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong told AFP. The head of state sees the group "as a political threat", Lam said, adding that in the future the CYL "will be concerned with promoting ideology and political correctness among young people and no longer serve a function as a talent bank". - Tea Leaves - The CYL was formed in 1920 to promote Communist ideology to youth between the ages of 14 and 28, and has historically generally been more reformist than conservative. It had more than 88 million members in 2013 according to the ruling party's official mouthpiece the People's Daily, making it around the same size as the party itself. Chinese elite politics are notoriously opaque, with experts and analysts picking over the smallest details of the leadership's activities -- from minute variations in public language to seating arrangements at official ceremonies -- for hints to the future. The CYL's tea leaves, by contrast, have been unusually clear, with the group suffering a seemingly constant stream of attacks in recent months. Xi himself criticised it last July, blasting its leaders for being too "aristocratic", despite his own descent from so-called "red nobility" -- his father Xi Zhongcun was a Communist military leader and later senior official. In February, the CCDI, according to the official Xinhua news service, slammed the CYL for falling out of step with the party leadership, saying it had "not studied the spirit of the CPC's conference on improving mass organisations". In the CYL's statement Monday, its leaders pledged to "deeply study and grasp the spirit of Party Secretary Xi Jinping's major speeches", noting that the group could only hope to achieve reform by improving its understanding of the president's teachings. Even so there is no sign of a let-up in the assault. The Global Times reported Thursday that following the CCDI report the CYL plans to issue a "detailed plan" for its own reform. Xi's position is clear, said He Weifang, a law professor at Peking University. "His view on what function the CYL should play is definitely not the same as previous leaders," he told AFP. "There is a conflict." As Xi Jinping moves to consolidate power, the Communist Youth League has come under sustained attack, including direct reprimands from the president himself Kenzaburo Fukuhara (Pool/AFP) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Parker Song (Pool/AFP/File) 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. South Sudan forms unity government South Sudan's transitional unity government was sworn into office Friday, with President Salva Kiir sharing power with ex-rebels in a key step in a long-delayed peace process. Under terms of an August 2015 peace deal, the 30 ministerial posts are split between Kiir, former rebel chief turned first vice president Riek Machar, opposition and other parties. "We are going to work together," Kiir said after the ministers were sworn into office, and he shook hands with Machar. "We must learn how to forgive and we must learn how to apologise." South Sudan President Salva Kiir (right) delivers a statement as former rebel leader and new vice-president Riek Machar listens during a ceremony at the Presidential House in Juba Charles Lomodong (AFP/File) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the naming of the ministers was an "important milestone" in the peace process, urging the parties "to cease immediately all hostilities". The transitional government is to remain in place until October 2018. Machar returned to the capital Juba on Tuesday and was immediately sworn into the post of vice president -- a position he was sacked from five months before war broke out. Fighting erupted in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup, claims he always denied. The conflict, which has torn open ethnic divisions, has been characterised by horrific rights abuses, including gang rapes, the wholesale burning of villages and cannibalism. "Cooperation is important," Machar told the new ministers, saying people were still fearful and that leaders needed to show them the peace deal would work. "If we act as groups in the cabinet, we will fail the people of South Sudan." - 'Children are dying' - Kiir loyalists remain in key positions, with Kuol Manyang staying on as defence minister and David Deng Athorbei as finance minster with the job of rebuilding an economy left in ruins by more than two years of war. The all-important petroleum portfolio was handed to Dak Duop Bichok. The foreign ministry goes to Deng Alor, a post he held under a united Sudan, before South Sudan won its independence in 2011. Alor belongs to a group of influential politicians known as the "former detainees", who were jailed at the outbreak of fighting but later released following regional pressure. Opposition leader and outspoken government critic Lam Akol becomes minister for agriculture and food security -- a crucial job in a country where five million are in need of aid, and some areas are on the brink of famine. Ensuring they work together in a unity government, and that the thousands of rival armed forces now in separate camps inside the capital keep their guns quiet, will be a major challenge. Both sides remain deeply suspicious, and fighting continues with multiple militia forces unleashed who now pay no heed to either Kiir or Machar. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million driven from their homes in the conflict, which has reignited ethnic divisions and been characterised by gross human rights abuses. - Political prisoners - Dozens of political prisoners remain in detention, although a former regional governor and a university professor held for months were released this week, Amnesty International said on Friday. Both Joseph Bakosoro, former governor of Western Equatoria state, and Professor Leonzio Angole Onek from Juba University, were arrested in December by the widely-feared National Security Service (NSS). Speaking after his release, Bakasoro said he hoped the new government would work towards peace. "I hope those who will be in the government will do the right thing -- not for themselves, but for the people of this country," he told reporters. "The common citizens are the ones suffering, women are suffering, children are dying." Amnesty said the release of the two men "represents a mere fraction of people being detained by NSS and other security forces such as the military" and called for 33 other prisoners to be charged or released. "Some have been beaten, especially during interrogation or as a form of punishment," Amnesty added, saying their treatment may "amount to torture". South Sudan AFP (AFP) Under terms of an August 2015 South Sudan peace deal, 30 ministerial posts are to be split between President Salva Kiir, former rebel chief turned first vice president Riek Machar, opposition and other parties Albert Gonzalez Farran (AFP) S. Korea, US activists launch balloons with anti-Pyongyang leaflets South Korean and US activists on Friday launched anti-Pyongyang leaflets over the border where tensions have been running high since the isolated state's last nuclear test in January. Some 20 activists, including former defectors from North Korea, launched around 300,000 leaflets in packages tied to gas-filled balloons from a spot near the heavily-militarised frontier. The regular leaflet exercises have long angered Pyongyang, which has threatened military retaliation against the activists. South Korean and US activists release balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets near the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas in the border city of Paju on April 29, 2016 Jung Yeon-Je (AFP) In October 2014, North Korean guards attempted to shoot down some of the balloons, sparking a brief exchange of fire across the border. One balloon launched on Friday carried a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and a slogan calling for his overthrow. "The people of North Korea need to know the enemy of the North Korean people is Kim Jong-Un," said Suzanne Scholte of the US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been running particularly high since the North's nuclear test, which was followed by a long-range rocket launch a month later. There are growing concerns that the North may carry out a fifth nuclear test sometime over the next week, ahead of a rare ruling party congress that begins May 6. Residents flee as air strikes shake Syria's Aleppo Terrified residents fled a new wave of air strikes on rebel-held areas of Syria's divided city of Aleppo Saturday, as key regime backer Russia rejected calls to rein in its ally. Aleppo was left out of a new temporary US-Russian brokered truce that appeared to be holding in the regime stronghold of Latakia as well as Damascus and the nearby rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta. US Secretary of State John Kerry was to travel Sunday to Geneva in a show of support for the truce and will meet the UN envoy to Syria and the Jordanian and Saudi foreign ministers. A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016 Ameer Alhalbi (AFP) The State Department said his talks will focus on "efforts to reaffirm the cessation of hostilities nationwide in Syria". A new round of UN-backed peace talks is set to start on May 10 in Geneva. In Aleppo's rebel-held east, dozens of civilians left the battered Bustan al-Qasr district early Saturday, an AFP correspondent said. "The situation has become unbearable," Abu Mohammed said as he prepared to flee with his wife and five children. "Everything is paralysed." Russia said that it would not ask Damascus to halt air raids on Aleppo. "No, we are not going to put pressure on (Damascus) because one must understand that the situation in Aleppo is part of this fight against the terrorist threat," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said. Washington has appealed to Moscow to keep President Bashar al-Assad's regime in check. Once Syria's economic hub, Aleppo and its surrounding countryside have suffered some of the worst fighting in a conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions. - Watching the sky - At least 246 civilians have died in shelling, rocket fire and air strikes in both sides of the city since April 22, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. At least 10 civilians died in rebel-controlled areas on Saturday, the civil defence said. The few people out on the streets watched the sky anxiously for regime aircraft, running for shelter when one launched a new raid. The Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources on the ground, reported 28 air strikes on eastern neighbourhoods. But in its daily report on Syria, Russia's defence ministry said it had recorded only "three ceasefire violations in the city of Aleppo", blaming them all on the rebels. The SANA state news agency said shelling of western government-held neighbourhoods killed three civilians including a child, and blamed Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front and its allies. A pro-government newspaper said Thursday the army was preparing an offensive to recapture all of Aleppo and the surrounding province. Some families have fled to safer districts, while others left by the dangerous Castello road, the only route out of near-besieged east Aleppo. Hospitals have also been bombed in nine days of escalating violence in Aleppo. Four medical facilities were hit Friday on both sides of the front line, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. A raid on Wednesday hit a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross as well as nearby housing, killing 30 people and sparking an international outcry. On other fronts, fighting halted at 1:00 am Saturday (2200 GMT Friday) in a "freeze" set to last for 24 hours in Damascus and Eastern Ghouta, and 72 hours in Latakia. - Aid for besieged towns - Humanitarian convoys carrying food and medicine meanwhile entered the besieged rebel-held towns of Madaya and Zabadani, northwest of Damascus, on Saturday, the Red Cross said. At the same time, trucks entered the besieged government-held towns of Fuaa and Kafraya, southwest of Aleppo. Madaya became infamous in late 2015 after dozens died of starvation there. In the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, a couple and their two daughters were killed in strikes by unidentified aircraft on a village held by the Islamic State group, the Observatory said. And in northeastern Syria, a suicide bomber killed five Kurdish policemen at a checkpoint in the city of Qamishli, police said. The violence in Aleppo has severely tested the February 27 truce between the regime and non-jihadist rebels intended to pave the way to an end to the five-year conflict. Anas al-Abdeh, head of the Istanbul-based opposition National Coalition, Saturday accused the regime of "war crimes and crimes against humanity" in Aleppo. Human Rights Watch also said the air strikes on medical facilities in the city "may amount to war crimes". Qatar called for an emergency Arab League meeting, and Saudi Arabia condemned the regime strikes. Crisis in Syria: the battle for Aleppo Philippe MOUCHE, Thomas SAINT-CRICQ (AFP) A Syrian boy reacts to the loss of a relative who died in an airstrike in a rebel-held neighbourhood of Aleppo Karam Al-Masri (AFP) Syrians evacuate a toddler from a destroyed building following an air strike on a rebel-held neighbourhood of Aleppo Ameer Alhalbi (AFP) A South African court has ruled that a decision to drop 738 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma should be reviewed, adding to the leader's legal troubles. Judge Aubrey Ledwaba's ruling on Friday allows prosecutors to re-open charges against Zuma which are linked to a multi-billion dollar arms deal in 1999. Zuma, 74, has denied the corruption allegations, which were dropped in 2009 shortly before the election in which he became president. South African President Jacob Zuma is a controversial figure who has made it to the top despite a series of allegations against him. In 2006 he was acquitted of raping a 31-year-old family friend Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said in Pretoria High Court: 'The decision... to discontinue the charges against Mr Zuma is irrational and should be reviewed and set aside. 'Mr Zuma should face the charges as applied.' The prosecutor had justified dropping the charges by saying tapped phone calls between senior officials in then-president Thabo Mbeki's administration showed political interference in the case. Democratic Allicance leader Mmusi Maimane (pictured) spoke to journalists after the ruling in Pretoria High Court and insisted Zuma be tried in court The recordings, which became known as the 'spy tapes', were kept secret but were finally released in 2014 to the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), after a five-year legal battle. DA leader Mmusi Maimane said Friday's court ruling was a major blow against the president, who has faced months of criticism over various corruption scandals and the country's dire economic outlook. 'Today is a great victory for the rule of law. Ultimately Jacob Zuma must face prosecution. We are deeply, deeply delighted. Jacob Zuma must have... his day in court,' said Mr Maimane. The ongoing scandal involving South African President Jacob Zuma has sparked anti-corruption protests in Johannesburg and other major cities The DA called for the National Prosecuting Authority to revive the 783 charges of corruption, racketeering, fraud and money laundering dating back to 1999. But the ruling is likely to be appealed by Zuma. In a statement the president's office said: 'These charges were formally withdrawn... and as such there is no pending litigation before court against President Zuma. 'The president has noted the decision of the court and will give consideration to the judgement and its consequences.' South African President Jacob Zuma controversially used 15million of state funds on 'security upgrades' to his rural home at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province The president last month lost another major legal case when the country's highest court found he violated the constitution over the use of 15m of public funds to upgrade his private residence. The so-called 'security' work included a swimming pool, amphitheatre, chicken run and cattle enclosure. The DA and other opposition parties attempted to impeach him, but the ruling African National Congress (ANC) used its majority to defeat the motion in parliament. Zuma has also been beset by allegations that a wealthy Indian migrant family, the Guptas, had such influence over him that it could decide ministerial appointments. Zuma will have completed two terms in 2019 and is not eligible to run for president again, but the ANC, founded by the late Nelson Mandela, could replace him ahead of the next general election. Kenya demands total ivory ban to stop elephant slaughter Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday demanded a total ban on trade in ivory to end trafficking and prevent the extinction of elephants in the wild. "To lose our elephants would be to lose a key part of the heritage that we hold in trust. Quite simply, we will not allow it," Kenyatta said in the keynote speech at a meeting which groups African heads of state and conservationists to boost awareness of the threat of poaching. "We will not be the Africans who stood by as we lost our elephants." Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) personnel and soldiers stack elephant tusks onto pyres in preparation for a historic destruction of illegal ivory and rhino-horns Tony Karumba (AFP) Africa is home to between 450,000 to 500,000 elephants, but more than 30,000 are killed every year on the continent to satisfy demand for ivory in Asia, where raw tusks sell for around $1,000 (800 euros) a kilo (2.2 pounds). "The future of African elephant and rhino is far from secure, so long as the demand for their products continues to exist," Kenyatta added, speaking one day before he is to set fire to Kenya's nearly entire ivory stockpile. "Any sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn including within legal domestic markets is inherently likely to increase the risk to our elephant and rhino populations," he added. The bonfire will be the largest-ever torching of ivory, involving 105 tonnes from thousands of dead elephants, dwarfing by seven times any stockpile burned before. Another 1.35 tonnes of rhino horn will also be burned. - 'Iconic totem' - It is a grand statement: on the black market, that quantity of ivory could sell for over $100 million (88 million euros), and the rhino horn could raise as much as $80 million (70 million euros). Rhino horn can fetch as much as $60,000 per kilo, more than gold or cocaine. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) banned the ivory trade in 1989. Activists say destroying the stocks will help put anti-trafficking efforts at the top of the agenda at the next CITES conference. China, which has tightened its laws on ivory imports, allows the resale of ivory bought before the 1989 ban, but activists say the trade in legal ivory acts as a cover for illegal imports and call for a complete ban on sales. Kenyatta said he will lead calls for a "total ban on the trade of elephant ivory" at the CITES conference in South Africa in September. "This will ensure Africa's elephant are accorded the highest possible level of protection," he said. The summit, in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki, has highlighted the multiple methods used in the fight against poachers, from the frontline -- where armed rangers combat poachers -- to the court room. President Yoweri Museveni from neighbouring Uganda said he had also taken a tough line against poachers. "We are very strict," Museveni said. "We send them to heaven prematurely." President Ali Bongo from Gabon, spoke of the "massacre" of forest elephants in central Africa. "Unless we take action now we risk losing this iconic totem from large swathes of our continent," he said. - 'Poaching wave' - In Kenya, the combined efforts of government and private game reserves have helped cut poaching, with the number of elephants killed in 2015 down to 93 from 164 the previous year. In the Ol Pejeta private reserve near Nanyuki, a rapid response team of armed rangers who travel by helicopter has been hard at work since 2011. Equipped with night vision gear, encrypted radio communications, guns and sniffer dogs, and trained by British ex-special forces, the teams have helped slash poaching. While the military-style approach is effective, it costs up to $2 million a year. Kenya is also trying to boost prosecution efforts, with five major cases against traffickers currently in court in the port city of Mombasa -- a key point on the smuggling route to Asia, according to Space for Giants' legal expert Shamini Janyanathan. But in a country plagued by corruption, the conviction of key figures involved in poaching and smuggling remains rare. Max Graham, head of the Space for Giants conservation group which helped organise the meeting, notes that anti-poaching efforts is only one part of the response, and that cutting the demand is the "ultimate solution." In the meantime, protecting elephants means they wont be wiped out before the demand can be stopped. "The challenge is we don't know how long it's going to take for that demand to drop off. Is it one year, is it five years? So what we need in the interim is a holding position," Graham said. "It means once this poaching wave has passed, once the demand for ivory and rhine horn has passed, we still have reservoirs for these magnificent animals". Kenya prepares to burn its ivory stockpile Africa is home to between 450,000 to 500,000 elephants, but more than 30,000 are killed every year for their ivory Tony Karumba (AFP/File) Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta arrives at the opening session of the anti-poaching Giants Club Summit in Nanyuki on April 29, 2016 Simon Maina (AFP) Around 16,000 tusks will be set alight in a huge symbolic blaze aimed at sending a strong message about the danger of ivory poaching Tony Karumba (AFP) A rapid response team of armed rangers in the Ol Pejeta private reserve travel by helicopter to track down poachers Carl de Souza (AFP/File) Serena Williams pulls out of Madrid Open with flu World number one Serena Williams has pulled out of the Madrid Open, which begins this weekend, with flu, organisers announced on Friday. "Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from Madrid because I've been battling the flu and I'm not at 100 percent. I look forward to returning soon," said Williams in a statement released by organisers. The 21-time Grand Slam champion, 34, is a two-time winner in Madrid having triumphed in the Spanish capital in 2012 and 2013. Serena Williams, seen here at the Miami Open, is scheduled to open her clay-court season at the Italian Open in May Clive Brunskill (Getty/AFP/File) Last year she reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winner Petra Kvitova, of the Czech Republic. In the absence of Williams, Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, who had been seeded two, will become the top seed. AFP launches 2016 Kate Webb Prize for Asian journalists Agence France-Presse on Friday launched the 2016 Kate Webb Prize to recognise exceptional Asian journalists doing difficult and dangerous work across the region. Photo and video journalists are strongly encouraged to apply for this year's edition as part of AFP's efforts to boost visual and multimedia reporting. The winner, who will be selected by a panel of experienced journalists, will receive 3,000 euros (approximately $3,400) in cash. Thai investigative journalist Mutita Chuachang of non-profit online newspaper Prachatai received the 2015 prize for her reporting on democracy, human rights and the environment Nicolas Asfouri (AFP/File) The winner will be announced during the summer and will be invited to a prize-giving ceremony later in the year. The contest is open to locally hired Asian photo, video and text journalists, for work published during 2015. We would like to encourage more visual journalists to apply this year. Photographers and video journalists are producing outstanding work in Asia and they need recognition and encouragement," said Philippe Massonnet, AFPs regional director for the Asia-Pacific region. There are a lot of very brave unsung heroes doing fine journalism in sometimes very tricky situations across Asia; defying physical danger, political pressure and other difficulties to tell stories that people really need to hear, Massonnet added. Applications will be accepted until midnight in Hong Kong (1600 GMT) on Friday, June 3. Thai investigative journalist Mutita Chuachang of the non-profit online newspaper Prachatai received the 2015 prize for her fearless independent reporting on democracy, human rights and the environment. The Kate Webb Prize was first awarded in 2008 to Pakistani reporter Mushtaq Yusufzai. Other winners were multimedia journalist Patricia Evangelista from the Philippines, Indian journalist and photographer Dilnaz Boga, Indonesian journalist Stefanus Teguh Edi Pramono, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. The prize is named after Kate Webb, one of AFPs finest correspondents, who died in 2007 at the age of 64. Webb, who was born in New Zealand, earned a reputation as a fearless reporter while covering the Vietnam War and other historic events in Asia during a career spanning four decades. Applications will be accepted via email to katewebbprize@afp.com. Applicants should submit the following: 1. A letter to the AFP Kate Webb Prize Jury explaining why you deserve the prize. 2. A CV with two professional references. 3. For reporters and photographers, at least three (3) samples of work published on different dates in 2015. They can be sent in PDF format for printed work or via links to the web versions. 3. For video journalists, at least three (3) samples of work broadcast or published online in 2015 via links to YouTube or other hosting sites. 4. The jury will accept work in English or any Asian national language, provided that there is an English translation. Photo captions must be in English. UN rights chief condemns 'shameful' global response on Syria Major powers backing warring sides in Syria appear to have become "accomplices" in the bloodshed, the UN rights chief said Friday, blasting as "shameful" the failure to pursue justice for victims in the war-ravaged country. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement that renewed violence in Syria, including strikes on markets and medical facilities, showed a "monstrous disregard for civilians lives by all parties to the conflict". But he directed especially tough criticism towards the powerful countries influencing the conflict. Syrians evacuate an injured man after an air strike on Aleppo's rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji, on April 29, 2016 Ameer Alhalbi (AFP) "The persistent failure of the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an example of the most shameful form of realpolitik," Zeid said. "In the minds of many, the world's great powers have in effect become accomplices to the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of human beings, and the displacement of millions." The comments appeared to be reference to both the United States, which is backing some rebel groups and Russia, a key supporter of President Bashar al-Assad. Assuming Damascus does not directly ask the ICC to intervene, referring the conflict to The Hague-based court would require approval of the Security Council's permanent members, including Russia and China which until now have blocked any such referral. The rights chief joined a list of world leaders who have expressed grave concern over the rapid deterioration of a ceasefire declared on February 27. Through March, the fragile truce led to a significant decline in violence and increased access for humanitarian workers. But fighting has surged over the last two weeks, putting added strain on UN-mediated peace talks in Geneva. The main opposition High Negotiations Committee suspended its participation in the talks last week to protest at renewed government offensives. "The violence is soaring back to the levels we saw prior to the cessation of hostilities," Zeid said, warning that all signs pointed to "a lethal escalation" in the conflict. More than 200 civilians have been killed in Aleppo over the past week as rebels have pounded government-held neighbourhoods with rocket and artillery fire and the regime has hit rebel areas with air raids. Fighting has also surged around Damascus, Homs and other areas. Syria's conflict has left more than 270,000 people dead since 2011. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said there had been a "monstrous disregard" for civilians on all sides Fabrice Coffrini (AFP/File) Nepali girls 'marry' Hindu god to protect from widowhood It's a big day for nine-year-old Nepali schoolgirl Riddhima Shrestha and her three-year-old sister, Ishita, as they dress up in silk brocade and gold jewellery, preparing to wed a Hindu god. The two sisters are among dozens of girls taking part in the "ihi" or "bel bibaha" ceremony -- a coming-of-age ritual practised by Kathmandu's indigenous Newar community, whose customs combine elements of Hinduism and Buddhism. The two-day ceremony, usually held several times a year in the capital's historic durbar (royal) square, sees pre-pubescent girls "marry" the Hindu deity, Vishnu, symbolised by the local "bel" fruit. The two-day "bel bibaha" ceremony is held several times a year in Kathmandu's historic durbar (royal) square Prakash Mathema (AFP) The centuries-old custom is believed to protect girls from the stigma of widowhood by ensuring that a Newari woman's first husband -- the god -- will inevitably outlive her mortal spouse. During the ceremony, girls hold the bel fruit, also known as a wood apple, in one palm and touch a statue of the god with the other, symbolically giving Vishnu their hand in marriage. The girl's parents also secure their place in heaven by performing "kanyadaan" -- the practice of giving away one's daughter in marriage -- according to the priests who conduct the ceremony. "These are traditions handed down by our ancestors, we have to follow them and keep them alive. It is our culture," said Dipendra Shrestha, father of the two girls. After the rituals end, with gifts for the bride followed by a feast for family and friends, it's back to school for third-grader Riddhima, who is the first of her classmates to go through the ceremony. "My friends were curious about it, it was fun to tell them about it," Riddhima told AFP. "I really enjoyed myself, I felt like a grown-up, like a bride." Young Nepalese children from the Newari community perform rituals while taking part in the "bel bibaha" ceremony in Kathmandu Prakash Mathema (AFP) The two-day "bel bibaha" ceremony is believed to protect Nepalese girls from the stigma of widowhood Prakash Mathema (AFP) Young Nepalese girls hold the wood apple in one hand during the "bel bibaha" ceremony in Kathmandu Prakash Mathema (AFP) Indian state grants new job quotas after caste violence A state in western India said Friday it will reserve 10 percent of government jobs and university spots for people whose income falls below a certain threshold after deadly caste protests last year. India sets aside a proportion of official positions and post-secondary places for its lower castes to try to counter historic discrimination, but that has caused deep resentment among other communities, who say it freezes them out. At least 10 people were killed when thousands of Patidars, a relatively well-off caste of farmers and traders, took to the streets in the western state of Gujarat to demand they be included in those quotas. India sets aside a proportion of official positions and post-secondary places for its lower castes to try to counter historic discrimination, but that has caused deep resentment among other communities, who say it freezes them out Deshakalyan Chowdhury (AFP/File) They argue that they are struggling to compete with lower castes who are given preferential access to government jobs. Chief minister of Gujarat state Anandiben Patel said Friday a new quota system would be set up to cover those with a household income lower than 600,000 rupees ($9,000) a year, regardless of their caste. "People from general category having annual income limit of Rs 6 lakh (600,000) will get 10% EBC reservation in education institutions & government jobs," tweeted Patel, referring to the category of Economically Backward Class. However the Patidars, who waged fresh protests in Gujarat earlier this month, say they should be included in the Other Backward Castes (OBC) category, whose members have their own, more generous quotas. Community leader Lalit Vasoya accused the Gujarat government of a "political move" to end the divisive protests ahead of elections for the state assembly next year. "Our demand for inclusion under OBC will remain as it is. We do not accept this decision of the government," Vasoya said. Gujarat, the birthplace of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is one of India's most prosperous states, but still suffers from high levels of youth unemployment in its rural areas. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party rules in Gujarat, but has performed poorly in a number of recent elections in other states. Similar caste protests have been held elsewhere in India. Earlier this year around a dozen people were killed in the northern state of Haryana when members of the Jat caste waged violent protests to demand similar quotas. US biotech firm Medivation rejects Sanofi takeover bid US biotech company Medivation rejected an unsolicited $9.3 billion bid from French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi Friday, saying the offer "substantially undervalues" the company. Medivation, which makes the lucrative prostate cancer drug Xtandi, said it is poised to soon commercialize other promising cancer drugs in development. Staying independent will be far more lucrative for Medivation shareholders than accepting Sanofi's proposal, Medivation said. "Over the past several years, we have established a world class oncology franchise and a unique, diversified and highly-promising late-stage development pipeline," said David Hung, founder and chief executive officer of Medivation. Sanofi made a $9.3 billion bid for prostate cancer drug maker Medivation Eric Piermont (AFP/File) "Sanofi's opportunistically-timed proposal, which comes during a period of significant market dislocation, and prior to several important near-term events for the company, is designed to seize for Sanofi value that rightly belongs to our stockholders." US, Russia 'agree freeze' on two Syrian fronts The United States and Russia have agreed on a "freeze" in fighting along two major fronts in Syria, but not in war-ravaged Aleppo, the Syrian and Russian militaries said Friday. Fighting in the rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, and the province of Latakia is set to halt at midnight on Friday (2100 GMT). Syria's army said the freeze would come into effect at 1:00 am and would last for 24 hours in Eastern Ghouta and for 72 hours in coastal Latakia, the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect. Fighting will be halted for 24 hours in Damascus (pictured) and the nearby rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta Louai Beshara (AFP/File) There was no mention of Aleppo, where a week of fighting has killed more than 200 civilians. In February, the US and Russia brokered a partial truce in Syria between regime forces and non-jihadist rebels. The US special envoy for Syria, Michael Ratney, said Friday that the agreement was a "general recommitment" to that truce, "not a new set of local ceasefires." "Likewise, persistent violations in Aleppo have stressed the Cessation of Hostilities and are unacceptable," he said. "We are talking to Russia to urgently agree on steps to reduce violence in that area as well." A Syrian security source in Damascus said the deal had been reached in Geneva between US and Russian officials. "The Americans asked for Aleppo to be included, but the Russians refused," the source said. Russia is a key backer of Assad's regime, while the US has supported various opposition factions in the country. A diplomatic source quoted by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said that Moscow and Washington, co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, "are the guarantors of the 'regime of silence' implementation by the sides." Russian Lieutenant-General Sergei Kuralenko, based in the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia province, said that during the freeze, "all combat and using any weapons will be forbidden". "We call upon all parties interested in establishing peace on Syrian land to support the Russian-American initiative and not disrupt the 'regime of silence'," he said, quoted by RIA Novosti. Although the February 27 truce had seen violence drop across large parts of the country, fighting against jihadist groups continued in Latakia, the eastern province of Deir Ezzor and elsewhere. Eastern Ghouta is held by the powerful Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel group, which has signed on to the truce. But fighting there between Jaish al-Islam and regime forces has been building in recent weeks. Opposition factions in Eastern Ghouta and Latakia were not immediately available for comment on the freeze. More than 270,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests. War in Syria: the control of territory Algeria's Bouteflika home after Geneva medical check Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika returned home to the North African country on Friday from Switzerland after undergoing "routine medical checks", the APS news agency said citing a presidency statement. No further details were given about the results of the checks in Geneva, where Bouteflika went on Sunday at a time of renewed speculation about his health. The Algerian leader, 79, suffered a stroke in 2013 that has impeded his mobility and speech. In December, he underwent two days of medical tests at a cardiology unit in the French city of Grenoble. Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013 that has impeded his mobility and speech Eric Feferberg (AFP/File) On the rare occasions that he appears in public, usually to receive foreign dignitaries, he has been in a wheelchair and speaking with difficulty. Speculation over his successor has been rife in Algerian media and on social media since visiting French Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted a picture of a very weak-looking Bouteflika on April 10. Rumours of worsening health abound, and opposition leaders have spoken of a power vacuum in the country which they say is in effect run by relatives including the president's brother Said. Bouteflika has led Algeria for the past 17 years. In 2014, his decision to seek a fourth mandate sparked criticism from those who questioned his ability to rule. Aleppo: A key Syrian battleground The city of Aleppo, capital of the eponymous northern province, is strategically vital to all sides involved in Syria's five-year civil war and at the centre of escalating violence imperilling a landmark ceasefire. Syria's onetime economic powerhouse, Aleppo and its surrounding countryside has suffered some of the worst fighting in a conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people. The city has been split into zones held by the regime in the west, and opposition in the east, since July 2012. The Al-Quds hospital in Aleppo was destroyed in an airstrike that left 20 dead, including the city's last paediatrician Karam Al-Masri (AFP) A spike in fighting has killed more than 200 people in the past week, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights -- the most serious violations of a truce agreed between the US and Russia that began on February 27. Among buildings hit in the flare up was Al-Quds hospital, where the city's last paediatrician was one of at least 20 killed, and another medical site was hit on Friday. The International Committee of the Red Cross warns that Aleppo is now "on the brink of humanitarian disaster." Meanwhile, jihadists from the Islamic State group, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front, the regime and allied militias, Kurdish fighters and rebels are battling each other throughout the province. - An ancient city - Aleppo is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, dating back to at least 4,000 BC, thanks to its strategic position between the Mediterranean and present-day Iraq. The former manufacturing hub, renowned for its textiles, is situated at the crossroads of major trading routes. It was considered the second city of the Ottoman empire until its collapse after World War I. The city suffered the wrath of the regime of Hafez al-Assad -- former president and father of current leader Bashar -- after an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood between 1979 and 1982. But the city returned to prosperity in the 1990s thanks to its ability to develop commercial, industrial and cultural activities at a time of state-controlled economic liberalisation. - Aleppo enters the war - In April-May 2011, thousands of students demonstrated in Aleppo, which had so far been spared the pockets of unrest that Syria was experiencing. While the protests were brutally crushed, rebels took control of several parts of Aleppo province, which they would later use as launch pads for a massive July 2012 offensive on the city. The army fought back with tanks, leaving Aleppo divided between zones controlled by the rebels and those by the regime, with its province divided up between regime, rebels, jihadists and Kurds. - 'Every side has a stake' - Aleppo's residents have paid a terrible price during the conflict, with its pre-war population of 2.5 million reduced to just one million today. Some 750,000 are in regime-held areas, 200,000 in opposition areas and 100,000 in the Kurdish neighbourhoods. Multiple waves of displacement have followed round upon round of fighting and bombardment, including brutal barrel bomb strikes targeting opposition-held residential neighbourhoods. Most recently, 30,000 people were forced to flee as IS jihadists battled rebels near the Turkish border this week, according to Human Rights Watch. Fighting this week has also left over 200 fighters dead, according to the Observatory, a Britain-based monitoring group. Violence around Aleppo is the fiercest in Syria the ceasefire began, and is especially significant because all sides in the war are present in the province. "Aleppo is the key to war and peace in Syria," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. "Every side in the war has a stake in Aleppo." Syria expert Fabrice Balanche agreed. "The main battleground is Aleppo province. Assad must control Aleppo if he doesn't want to be president of half a country," he told AFP. - Cultural heritage destroyed - The historic centre of Aleppo housed many heritage sites including its renowned 13th-century citadel. In September 2012, a blaze swept through ancient shops in the city's souk, and in April 2013 the minaret of the historic Ummayad mosque collapsed during fierce fighting. Rebels using explosives to reach government positions in Aleppo's Old City destroyed the iconic Carlton Hotel on May 8, 2014. And in July 2015, a blast destroyed part of the ramparts that surround the citadel. Syrian civil defence volunteers and rescuers pull a baby from the rubble of a destroyed building following an air strike in a rebel-held neighbourhood of Aleppo, on April 28, 2016 Ameer Alhalbi (AFP) The city of Aleppo, seen here in 2006, is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world Ramzi Haidar (AFP/File) Syria's army fought back with tanks after rebels launched an offensive on Aleppo city in 2012 Albinos in Malawi face 'systematic extinction' if they continue to be murdered so their limbs can be used in witchcraft, a UN expert has said. At least 65 cases of violence against people with albinism, including killings and dismemberment, have been recorded by police in the country since late 2014. There are an estimated 10,000 albinos in Malawi, out of a population of 16.5m. In nearby Tanzania, a full set of albino body parts can sell for more than 50,000. Femia Tchulani, a 42-year-old Malawian albino woman, sits outside her house in 2015. Albinos in the country are regularly targeted by attackers trying to steal their limbs Ikponwosa Ero, the UN's independent expert on human rights and albinism, said the persecution 'constitutes an emergency, a crisis disturbing in its proportions'. Her call for action came as a court in Malawi jailed two men for 17 years after they murdered a 21-year-old albino woman because they had been told to do so by 'Satan'. After a 12-day assessment of the treatment of albinos in the country, Ms Ero said the crisis required an 'emergency response' from the Malawian government. She said she was 'particularly alarmed' by reports that people with albinism are being called 'money' passers-by on the street. 'Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries and the sale of body parts of persons with albinism is believed to be very lucrative. 'It is thought that albinos can increase wealth, make businesses prosper or facilitate employment. Dorothy Mausen, a 22-year-old Malawian albino woman, pictured in her home in Nkole, Malawi. UN expert Ikponwosa Ero said the persecution of albinos in the country 'constitutes an emergency, a crisis disturbing in its proportions' 'Even in death, they do not rest in peace as their remains are robbed from graveyards.' Albinos, who have white skin and yellow hair as a result of a genetic disorder, are regularly killed in several other African countries including Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania. Albinism affects 20,000 people wordwide, but is more common in sub-Saharan Africa. We talk about protecting wildlife while not even prioritising efforts in protecting people with albinism. UN expert Ikponwosa Ero Attacks against albinos are particularly brutal, at times involving victims being dismembered alive. In one case described in the report, a 17-year-old boy, called Alfred, was found in a pool of blood after being stabbed by machete-wielding attackers. Ms Ero, who is Nigerian and herself has albinism, compared the lack of help for albinos with the huge efforts put into protecting wild animals. She said: 'We talk about protecting wildlife while not even prioritising efforts in protecting people with albinism. 'They are an endangered people group facing a risk of systemic extinction over time if nothing is done.' 'HIS BLADE WAS DULL. HE HACKED AND HACKED': ALBINO REVEALS HORROR OF HAVING LIMBS STOLEN IN ATTACK Miriamu Staford, from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was attacked in her home by men hunting for limbs in October 2008. The 25-year-old corn farmer told MailOnline's Michael Obert that she had just read her young sisters a bedtime story when she heard a loud crack. Then a large stone smashed through the door of her clay hut. Four masked men stormed in, blinding Miriamu with flashlights. One yanked her arm up, another chopped below the shoulder with a machete. 'His blade was dull. He hacked and he hacked,' recalled Miriamu breathlessly, as if it were happening again. 'Blood blood everywhere. There was a jerk, my arm tore off. 'That's when I felt the burning. That's when I screamed in pain.' Miriamu's sisters had run out of the hut, her parents were locked in the next room. The young woman was still fully conscious as the attackers started on the second arm. It is only at the sound of the neighbours shouting outside that they finally stopped and ran off with their prize. The other arm could not be saved and was amputated later in the hospital. Sailors rush for tattoos as US Navy bends rules to recruit An indelible blue drawing of an ornate birdcage, festooned with roses and petals, wraps its way around Navy Corpsman Jessica Bryant's forearm. The 23-year-old sailor's tattoo is large, but not big enough to be considered a "sleeve," the type of design that covers an entire arm. Bryant hopes to remedy that, thanks to new Navy rules kicking in April 30 -- aimed at attracting recruits among young millennials who have adopted tattoos en masse. Butch Johnson, owner of Champion Tattoo Company, works on a former US Marine at his art studio in Washington, DC, on April 18, 2016 Brendan Smialowski (AFP) "When they make this really, really legal, I am going to finish the rest of it," she said during a recent visit to the Champion Tattoo Company in southeast Washington, across the road from a Marine barracks. Until now, sleeve tattoos have been barred under military regulations. The Navy is scrapping the ban -- and going further still -- to adopt the most lenient rules on body art of any US military service. From next month, sailors will also be allowed a tattoo on their neck -- up to one-inch across -- and restrictions will be lifted on ink below the knee or elbow, including on the hands. Additionally, sailors with visible tattoos will be allowed to work as Navy recruiters, a gig that was off-limits to them before. "Everyone's really thrilled," said Navy Corpsman Everette Abney, 28, as he perused tattoo designs to add to the colorful selection already on his forearm. News of the rule change was up on "Facebook for maybe an hour, and it had been shared about 40,000 times," Abney said. His friend, Navy Corpsman Taylor Hoyte, 20, is getting a tattoo of a pair of interlocking hands as part of a design that will eventually be a sleeve. - Millennials and hipsters - "I want to keep going until I run out of room, from the neck down," she said. Tattoos are a longstanding tradition among sailors the world over -- think Popeye and his anchor -- reaching back to the 18th century. But in recent decades, as the military sought for troops to project a more uniform and professional image, even the Navy restricted what kind of tattoo sailors can wear. With the practice more popular than ever among millennials and hipsters, the Navy's latest easing of the policy is aimed at reaching a wider array of potential sailors. According to a Harris poll, nearly half (47 percent) of Americans born in the 1980s and 1990s have at least one tattoo. - 'Warrior spirit' - "This policy has increased the pool of candidates we recruit from. Will we get new recruits that wouldn't have previously applied to the Navy? I think absolutely, yes," Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Nate Christensen said in a phone interview. "The Navy strives to reflect the nation we serve, to attract, recruit and retain the nation's best talent," he added. Offensive, overly vulgar or racist tattoos remain off-limits. Military tattoo restrictions have long stoked ire among rank-and-file troops. Many grumble that if they can die for their country, they should be able to express themselves on their skin. "Today's military needs to understand... that letting service members have tattoos with less restrictions adds to their own esprit de corps. It boosts morale. It allows them to tap into an ancient warrior spirit," said Butch Johnson, owner of the popular Washington tattoo parlor, which is located next to a hip eatery. "It is the one personal item that can be taken into a battlefield and give a service member that extra edge, a feeling of power, a reminder of family, patriotism, pride -- and a tattoo can't be taken away." Johnson says Marine Corps restrictions on tattoo sleeves -- when they were implemented locally in 2012 -- had hurt his bottom line. The bearded artist traced his buzzing tattoo gun over the skin of Tyler McManus, 24, a former Marine who says he wasn't allowed to re-enlist in part because of his extensive tattoos. "A lot of people that had tattoos were 'volun-told' to get out," said McManus, who is getting a huge Polynesian tribal design inked across his back. The popular military phrase: "Si vis pacem, para bellum" -- If you want peace, prepare for war -- stretches across his chest. Since leaving the Marines in 2014, he has had a full sleeve depicting a carp and a dragon in Japanese style etched onto his left arm. Now he is considering enlisting with the Navy because of the service's new rules. "With the lax tattoo policy and the way that I read it, I would be much more obliged to go back into the Navy to serve with them," McManus said. Military tattoo restrictions have long stoked ire among rank-and-file troops Brendan Smialowski (AFP) The US Navy has eased restrictions on tattoos to widen its pool of recruits Brendan Smialowski (AFP) Nearly half (47 percent) of Americans born in the 1980s and 1990s have at least one tattoo, according to a Harris poll Brendan Smialowski (AFP) Libya unity government vows to end jihadist 'scourge' The head of Libya's unity government has announced plans for a concerted campaign to drive the Islamic State group out of the North African country, but without foreign intervention. In remarks marking almost 30 days since his arrival in Tripoli to assert the authority of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj also appealed for a united Libya. He said there were many challenges facing his government, which in order to begin operating has yet to receive the endorsement of the country's elected parliament. Islamic State group militants are shown parading in a street in Libya's coastal city of Sirte in this image from Islamist media outlet Welayat Tarablos in early 2015 A formal endorsement has been repeatedly postponed, although earlier this month dozens of parliamentarians in a statement expressed confidence in the new government. Sarraj has nevertheless pushed to assert the GNA's authority since arriving in Tripoli on March 30 under naval escort, and the new government has already taken control of several ministries. In a on Thursday speech addressed to the "great Libyan people" he said the jihadist IS would be routed by "Libyan hands and not through any foreign intervention". "We have begun to concretely implement a national strategy to put an end to this scourge," Sarraj said, referring to the Sunni extremist group which has fed on years of chaos to establish a stronghold on Libya's Mediterranean coast. His comments came hours after the unity government announced plans to establish a joint military command to tackle IS. It called on "all military forces" in Libya to await instructions and not to launch any unilateral offensive on Sirte, the hometown of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi that is now controlled by IS. The announcement of the joint military command was welcomed by the UN special envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler. - 'Operation to liberate Sirte' - The unity government fears that separate operations in Sirte could spark clashes between the multitude of different fighting forces in Libya and play into the jihadists' hands. Libya has been roiled by turmoil since the 2011 ouster and killing of Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising, with rival forces vying for control of the oil-rich country's wealth. Sarraj said contacts would be made with "all military commands" across the country, insisting on the need for a "united effort" to confront the jihadists. He said the military commands would be asked to "launch the necessary preparations to begin the operation to liberate Sirte". IS overran the coastal city 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli last June, and has transformed it into a training camp for Libyan and foreign militants. With its port and airport, there are growing fears that IS could use Sirte as a staging post for attacks on European soil. Western powers including the United States, Britain and France have openly considered international military intervention in Libya against IS. Experts have said that any future foreign strikes could target Sirte as well as the region around it. The jihadist group is estimated to have around 5,000 fighters in Libya, and is trying to attract hundreds more. Libya also currently faces financial challenges and bickering among rival politicians and militias. Sarraj warned on Thursday that internal conflicts threaten the country's unity and sovereignty. "The challenges still facing us are real," he said, adding that he had high hopes for the support of the Libyan people to overcome them. Libya Kun TIAN (AFP) India releases income tax data after Piketty criticism Only about two percent of Indians filed income tax returns in 2013, long-awaited official data showed Friday, highlighting an exceptionally low tax base that constrains public spending in the world's second-most populous nation. The government was nudged into releasing the figures after celebrated economist Thomas Piketty in January criticised the difficulty of measuring India's wealth distribution since New Delhi stopped publishing income tax data in 2000. Some 28.8 million individuals filed income tax returns in the financial year to March 2013, the most recent for which figures were given -- equating to about 2.3 percent of India's 1.25 billion population. An Indian Income-Tax official scrutinises a tax return form at a collection centre on the penultimate day for filing tax returns, in Mumbai on July 30, 2008 Pai Pillai (AFP/File) In the biggest group of taxpayers, two million Indians declared average annual earnings of 694,000 rupees ($10,400), the data showed. The returns are noticeably sparse at the high end, with just six individuals declaring average income of $10.4 million in the top-earning group. India has at least 84 billionaires, according to Forbes magazine. It suggests a searing shortfall in the amount of income tax paid by the very rich in India, a vastly unequal country where much of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has stepped up efforts to crack down on illicit income and assets known as "black money", often stashed abroad in the form of property or in undisclosed bank accounts. "Our Govt. has taken the landmark decision of publishing the income tax data. It is a big step towards transparency & informed policy making," Modi said on Twitter Friday. "Am sure this data will be used by researchers & analysts & lead to enhanced insights for policy making on taxation," he tweeted. The amount of direct taxes collected in the year 2015-16 equated to just 5.47 percent of GDP, the lowest level in nine years, provisional figures showed. No war crimes charges for US troops who bombed Afghan hospital The US personnel who bombarded a hospital in the Afghan city Kunduz last year and killed 42 people will not face war crimes charges, their commander said Friday. The attack on the Doctors Without Borders trauma center triggered global outrage and forced President Barack Obama to make a rare apology on behalf of the US military still deployed in war-torn Afghanistan. But General Joseph Votel, the head of US Central Command, said an investigation has found the troops involved made a series of mistakes under the stress of battle and had targeted the facility by mistake. Doctors Without Borders said 42 people were killed during the 2015 air strike on its hospital in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan Najim Rahim (AFP/File) This, he argued, does not add up to a war crime, and the 16 personnel found to have failed in their duties will face administrative suspensions or reprimands rather than courts martial. "The investigation concluded that certain personnel failed to comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict," he told reporters. "The investigation found that the incident resulted from a combination of human errors, process errors and equipment failures and that none of the personnel knew they were striking a hospital." This argument did not appease Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an international medical relief agency, which has condemned the strike on its facility as a crime, and has repeatedly demanded an international inquiry. "Today's briefing amounts to an admission of an uncontrolled military operation in a densely populated urban area, during which US forces failed to follow the basic laws of war," MSF president Meinie Nicolai said. "It is incomprehensible that, under the circumstances described by the US, the attack was not called off." Nicolai argued the threshold for deeming an attack on a hospital a crime should not be the soldiers' intent and lamented that the Afghan victims of the strike have no legal recourse against the US military. "The lack of meaningful accountability sends a worrying signal to warring parties, and is unlikely to act as a deterrent against future violations of the rules of war," she said. Last year, Obama called MSF to offer his apologies for the strike, but on Friday his spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters that the president stood by the Pentagon's investigation. "This is the transparent, thorough and objective accounting that the president had asked for," he said. "The United States goes to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and when those casualties do occur ... the United States of America owns up to it." - Taliban victory - On October 3, 2015 US special forces were deployed to Kunduz alongside Afghan forces in order to recapture the northern city from the Taliban, who had overrun it in one of their dramatic successes of the war. At the time of the attack on the hospital the joint US and Afghan force had been engaged in a fierce street battle for four days and, according to Votel, was tired and running low on supplies. Coming under fire once again the troops called for air support from an AC-130 gunship, a powerful war plane based on the airframe of a transport but equipped with cannons and a howitzer. According to Votel, the air crew scrambled earlier than they had expected and failed to take list of protected sites with them. A radio that could have passed on the coordinates in flight malfunctioned. Once over Kunduz the plane was fired upon by a ground to air missile, a rare threat in the Afghan theater, and the crew had to take evasive action before returning to the scene of the fighting. The special forces on the ground attempted to describe the location of a Taliban-occupied building around 400 yards from the hospital. In the confusion, however, the war plane targeted the wrong site. "Our forces did not receive fire from the trauma center during the incident nor did the investigation find that insurgents were using it as a base for operations," Votel said. Despite no fire coming from the hospital, the AC-130 turned its enormous firepower on the target, pummelling it repeatedly over an extended period. Witnesses told MSF that the main central block of the facility housing the intensive care unit was targeted precisely, with nearby buildings unscathed, and many patients burned to death in their beds. This US Army photo shows General Joseph L. Votel, commander, US Central Command,as he briefs the media in the Pentagon Briefing April 29, 2016 in Washington,DC SGT. 1ST CLASS CLYDELL KINCHEN (US ARMY/AFP) Orthodox Christians commemorate Good Friday in Jerusalem Thousands of Orthodox Christians from across the globe marked Good Friday with a procession through Jerusalem's Old City, retracing the steps Jesus Christ is believed to have taken on the day of his crucifixion. The pilgrims, some carrying crosses and others praying, retraced the 14 Stations of the Cross and walked to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus Christ is believed to be buried. Hundreds of Israeli security forces were deployed inside the walled Old City, and around the church, which is in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, an AFP journalist said. Serbian Orthodox Christian pilgrims carry wooden crosses along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering), during the Good Friday procession in Jerusalem's Old City on April 29, 2016 Gali Tibbon (AFP) Their presence was to regulate the flow of worshippers through the narrow streets rather than to calm fears of potential violence, despite weeks of renewed tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Crowds of pilgrims queued to enter the Holy Sepulchre, many scribbling prayers on pieces of paper which they planned to recite inside the church. "We pray for the whole community," Otyrba Ilona, 36, told AFP, explaining she came in a group of 40 people from Abkhazia, a separatist region of Georgia in the Caucasus. "The Georgian Church does not give us our independence. All here are praying for it," she said. Dragan Ilic, 35, who had travelled from Switzerland and was among a group of around 50 Serbians, kept his prayer secret. But, like all the others, he said the visit was incredibly important to him. Thousands of pilgrims came from Egypt, which is the only Arab country besides Jordan to have diplomatic relations with Israel even if the ties are often strained. "This pilgrimage is not an obligation. But it is the dream of all (Coptic Christian) Egyptians,"said Christina Salama, who came with her parents. The majority of the Christians in the Holy Land belong to the Orthodox faith but traditionally do not play a major part in the procession. Divided UN council votes to bring back full W. Sahara mission The UN Security Council on Friday voted to restore the UN mission in disputed Western Sahara but was divided over the steps demanded from Morocco to bring the peacekeeping force back to full operations. A US-drafted resolution was backed by 10 countries in the 15-member council. Venezuela and Uruguay voted against the measure, while Russia, Angola and New Zealand abstained. Morocco last month expelled dozens of civilian staffers from the MINURSO mission in angry retaliation over Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's use of the term "occupation" to describe the status of the territory it claims as its own. An UN vehicle drives past the headquarters of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), in Laayoune, the largest city of the disputed territory Fadel Senna (AFP/File) Extending the mandate of MINURSO for a year, the council emphasized in the resolution "the urgent need" for the mission to return to its "full functionality." Several council members said the resolution was not firm enough toward Morocco by setting a three-month deadline for Ban to report on whether the mission is running at full capacity. If the dispute remains unresolved after three months, the council will "consider how best to facilitate achievement of this goal," according to the resolution. Angolan Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins said the council should have demanded that the mission be restored "immediately and without pre-conditions" and described the resolution as "biased." "If it had been a weaker country which didn't have friends on the Security Council, the Security Council would have not hesitated to impose sanctions," said Venezuela's Ambassador Rafael Ramirez said. - Contentious measure - French Ambassador Francois Delattre defended the measure, calling it "balanced" and saying "the goal is now to create the conditions that will lead to a return to a calmer climate" for talks on restoring the mission. The resolution was adopted after weeks of tense debate at the council over how to address the crisis that threatened to set a dangerous precedent for UN peacekeeping. China, Britain, France, Spain and the United States backed the resolution along with Ukraine, Japan, Egypt, Malaysia and Senegal. UN diplomats warned that governments unhappy with a UN presence in their countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, were watching the council's response. US Ambassador Samantha Power noted that negotiations on the resolution had been "challenging and contentious. That is an understatement." Morocco maintains that Western Sahara is an integral part of the kingdom despite a UN resolution that tasks MINURSO with organizing a referendum on self-determination. MINURSO was established in 1991 after a ceasefire ended a war that broke out when Morocco sent troops to the former Spanish territory in 1975 and fought Sahrawi rebels of the Algerian-backed Polisario Front. The resolution expressed regret that "MINURSO's ability to fully carry out its mandate has been affected as the majority of its civilian component, including political personnel, cannot perform their duties within MINURSO's area of operations." The Polisario Front's UN representative Ahmed Boukhari accused France of blocking moves to adopt a stronger resolution. "These people were expelled in two days, they can come back in two days. Why three months? We blame France for this," said Boukhari. Morocco's Ambassador Omar Hilale said his government "takes note" of the council resolution and will study it. French ambassador Francois Delattre attends the 2015 Trophee Des Arts gala at The Plaza Hotel on November 19, 2015 in New York City Andrew Toth (Getty/AFP/File) Aleppo mourns Syrian doctor killed in air strike Syrian doctor Mohammad Wassim Maaz saved the lives of countless children in the war-ravaged neighbourhoods of Aleppo city before an air strike this week on a hospital took his own. He kept his beard nearly trimmed and maintained an unlikely sense of humour given the horrors he saw on a near daily basis in the rebel-held parts of the northern city. "Dr Maaz was considered the best paediatrician and was one of the last ones left in this hell," one of his colleagues told AFP. Syrian doctor Muhammad Waseem Maaz, pictured, was killed on April 27, 2016 along with four colleagues and 22 civilians when air strikes hit al-Quds hospital in Aleppo Omar Etaki (IDA/AFP/File) Late on Wednesday night, an air strike on the Al-Quds hospital in the Sukari neighbourhood took his life and those of a dentist, three nurses and 22 civilians. Maaz was originally from Aleppo and had been preparing to cross the border into Turkey to visit his family. "Like so many others, Dr Maaz was killed for saving lives," said Dr Hatem, a colleague who preferred not to give his full name. Hatem manages the Children's Hospital in Aleppo, where Dr Maaz worked during the day before tending to emergency cases in Al-Quds hospital overnight. "Dr Maaz and I used to spend six hours a day together. He was friendly, kind and he used to joke a lot with the whole staff. He was the loveliest doctor in our hospital," Hatem wrote in a letter published by The Syria Campaign advocacy group. More than 270,000 people have been killed in Syria's brutal conflict, which has seen hospitals destroyed and medical staff killed across the country. "Dr Maaz stayed in Aleppo, the most dangerous city in the world, because of his devotion to his patients," Hatem said. - 'A terrible loss' - The attack on Al-Quds has been widely condemned, including on Friday by the UN children's agency and the World Health Organization. WHO head Margaret Chan and UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake commended Syrian health workers for their extraordinary efforts, saying they "deserve more than our admiration. They deserve greater protection." Attacks on hospitals "deprive families and communities of essential health care when they need it most." Al-Quds hospital was supported by both Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross. MSF spokeswoman Mirella Hodeib said Dr Maaz was a "very dedicated paediatrician and chose to risk his life to help the people of Aleppo". "His death is a terrible loss," she told AFP by phone. MSF said it had been donating medical supplies since 2012 to the 34-bed Al-Quds hospital, where eight doctors and 28 nurses worked full time. "Out of the eight doctors, there are now only six left," Miskilda Zancada, the head of MSF's Syria mission, told AFP from Kilis in Turkey. She said 95 percent of the doctors in opposition-held parts of the city have left or been killed, leaving between 70 to 80 doctors to treat 250,000 people. "The people who are left in Aleppo are the most vulnerable," Zancada said. - 'The city is bleeding' - A group of seven doctors still practising inside Aleppo city issued a joint letter on Friday commemorating their fallen colleagues and calling for an end to violence. "We will always remember Dr Maaz as the kindest and bravest of souls, whose devotion to treating the youngest victims of this war was unparallelled," they wrote. The doctors also commemorated Dr Mohammed Ahmad, the dentist killed in the strike on Al-Quds. "Another dear friend, Dr Mohammed Ahmad, one of the ten dentists remaining in eastern Aleppo, was also killed in the air strikes," they said. At least 730 Syrian doctors have been killed in the country over the past five years, according to the letter. "Our hospitals are at breaking point. If this isn't a sign that the cessation of hostilities has failed then we do not know what is." "Soon there will no medical professionals at all left in Aleppo -- where will civilians turn to for care and attention?" The fighting in Aleppo city, particularly on its northern edges, threatens to cut off the only remaining route out of the eastern rebel-held districts. The doctors' letter warned that the violence has already disrupted their access to desperately needed medical supplies for their patients. With more than 200 civilians killed over the past week in a fresh eruption of violence, the Aleppo doctors mourn not just their colleagues, but their city. "Over the last week, our worst fears were driven home in the most horrific circumstances. The city is bleeding." Syrians evacuate an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji, in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016 Ameer Alhalbi (AFP) People walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 28, 2016 Ameer Alhalbi (AFP/File) First US Zika-related death in Puerto Rico The first Zika-related death on US soil was reported Friday in Puerto Rico, raising new concerns about the dangers of the mosquito-borne virus. "The patient died of complications related to severe thrombocytopenia," a poor clotting condition related to a low number of platelets in the blood, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. "Although Zika virusassociated deaths are rare, the first identified death in Puerto Rico highlights the possibility of severe cases, as well as the need for continued outreach to raise health care providers' awareness of complications that might lead to severe disease or death," the CDC said. US authorities have issued travel notices due to mosquito-borne Zika virus for 43 countries and territories, mainly in the Caribbean, central and south America Luis Robayo (AFP/File) The patient was identified as a 70-year-old man who died at the end of February, according to the Puerto Rican daily El Nuevo Dia, which quoted the island's health secretary, Ana Rius. He sought medical care because he reported symptoms similar to dengue, but tested positive for Zika. The man suffered from fatal internal bleeding less than 24 hours after seeking medical attention, according to the report. Rius said other cases involving similar complications have been reported, but those patients successfully recovered. - Thousands of suspected cases - The CDC has warned of a potential explosion of Zika cases in Puerto Rico, possibly reaching into the hundreds of thousands. The virus is known to cause the brain defect microcephaly, and is blamed for a recent surge in cases of malformed babies in Brazil. The health authorities urged people in Puerto Rico to "continue to employ mosquito bite avoidance behaviors, including using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and ensuring homes are properly enclosed." Since Zika is also known to be transmitted by sexual contact, partners of pregnant women are being urged to use condoms or avoid sex until the baby is born. US authorities have issued travel notices due to Zika for 43 countries and territories, mainly in the Caribbean, central and south America. Puerto Rico reported its first Zika case -- known as the index patient -- in November. "In December 2015, Puerto Rico became the first US jurisdiction to report local transmission of Zika virus, with the index patient reporting symptom onset on November 23, 2015," the CDC said. The CDC investigated a total of 6,157 suspected Zika cases in Puerto Rico between November 1, 2015 and April 14, 2016. Scientists confirmed that 683 (11 percent) "had laboratory evidence of current or recent Zika virus infection," it said. The most common symptoms were rashes, joint and muscle pain, headaches and fever. Sixty-five pregnant women tested positive for Zika. A total of 17 patients required hospitalization, including five with suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves. Pak pulls out of LPGA Texas Shootout with tea burn South Korean superstar Pak Se-Ri pulled out of the LPGA Texas Shootout in the second round on Friday with a burn on her leg caused by hot tea. Pak, the Hall of Fame-bound legend who has announced this will be her final season on the LPGA tour, opened the tournament with a one-over 72 on Thursday and was one-over for the tournament when she withdrew. The LPGA confirmed on Twitter that she had pulled out "citing an accidental hot tea burn to her lower leg". Pak Se-Ri of South Korea tees off the 18th hole during the LPGA KIA Classic on March 28, 2015 in Carlsbad, California Donald Miralle (Getty/AFP/File) It was unclear exactly when Pak suffered the burn. Pak, 38, was the first of what is now an army of South Korean players on the LPGA tour. She has won five major titles and 25 LPGA crowns overall. Gunmen kill senior Yemen police officer in Aden Gunmen killed a colonel in Yemen's second city Aden on Friday, a day after the temporary capital's police chief escaped a suicide bombing. The unidentified gunmen on a motorbike opened fire at the traffic police chief, Colonel Marwan Abdulalim, as he was in his car going to the weekly Friday prayers in central Aden, a security official said. The attack is the latest targeting senior officials in Aden, the base of the Saudi-backed government. Many of the attacks have been claimed by Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group. Yemeni loyalist forces and onlookers gather at the scene of a suicide attack targeting the police chief in the base of the Saudi-backed government on April 28, 2016 in Yemen's second city Aden Saleh al-Obeidi (AFP/File) On Thursday, a suicide bomber blew up a vehicle packed with explosives when he was stopped at a checkpoint on the perimeter of the compound around police chief General Shallal Shayae's house. Shayae was unharmed in the attack but a security official said one guard was wounded. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks that come after loyalist forces backed by a Saudi-led military coalition seized the key southeastern port city of Mukalla and nearby airport and oil facilities from Al-Qaeda, ending a year-long occupation by the jihadists. Government forces also recaptured Huta, another provincial capital further west, this month. Military sources in Huta told AFP that authorities were on Friday defusing some 250 landmines and 60 explosive devices jihadists had planted near government buildings before fleeing the city. Meanwhile in Zinjibar, capital of the southern Abyan province, hundreds of residents took to the streets after Friday prayers demanding Al-Qaeda militants controlling their city to leave, witnesses said. "No more Qaeda, we want to live safely," they chanted according to witnesses. The protesters said that Zinjibar residents want to spare their city any fighting after government forces launched an offensive this week to recapture parts of the country overrun by Al-Qaeda during the past year. According to military sources, Yemeni government forces are now stationed on a road linking Aden to Zinjibar as they prepare to retake the provincial capital. Transatlantic trade talks claim progress, see deal this year Negotiators on the ambitious TTIP transatlantic trade pact said they had made significant progress in New York this week and hope for a deal in 2016, despite popular opposition on both sides. Both sides said they would not be deterred by increased attacks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, and did not plan to water it down despite vocal objections from politicians and the public on both sides. "The United States has no interest in a 'TTIP light' that would not fulfil the economic promise of the ambitious agreement that we're seeking," said Dan Mullaney, the US Trade Representative's front man in the talks. Opponents of a proposed transatlantic trade deal (TTIP) hold inflatebale letters during a prostest rally in Hannover, Germany on April 23, 2016 John MacDougall (AFP/File) "A TTIP light.. is not workable for the US or for the Europeans," said Ignacio Garcia Bercero, the lead negotiator for the European Commission's Directorate General for Trade. US and EU negotiators told journalists that there were still significant sticking points. While 97 percent of tariff issues had been covered, three percent -- the most challenging, including for farm products, remained and could be some of the last things to deal with. Other key challenges are on the opening of the EU services sector and better European access to US government procurement projects. "Quite substantial work is still ahead of us," said Garcia Bercero. After nearly three years of talks, he said progress on access to US government procurement lags other issues, suggesting that Washington needs to make more concessions on allowing European firms to compete equally in contracts from US public authorities. The US meanwhile wants to see Europe's services sector opened wider to American companies. Both sides said they need to open those doors wider rather than leaving the most politically difficult issues untouched. "We shouldn't reserve significant amounts of space to discriminate against each other," said Mullaney. They also downplayed the affect on their negotiations of critics of free trade deals, including from the US politicians now battling to succeed President Barack Obama; and from the looming referendum in Britain on Brexit, withdrawal from the European Union by a key trading power. "This is not an issue which is impacting our negotiations," Garcia Bercero said of Brexit. "There is a lot of anxiety about globalisation both in Europe and in the United States, and one certainly needs to understand those concerns," he added. "Trade agreements... are instruments to better manage globalization." "TTIP gives the United States and European Union the opportunity to write the rules of trade in a way that reflects important values that we share: rules of law, transparency, standards for protecting the environment, workers and consumers," said Mullaney. UN ready to help on Iran assets dispute if US agrees UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is ready to help settle a dispute between Iran and the United States on Tehran's frozen assets, but only if both countries make that request, a UN spokesman said Friday. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on Ban to use his "good offices" to press the United States to release all frozen assets in US banks, in a letter sent Thursday. "The secretary-general's good offices are always available should both parties to whatever tensions or issue request it," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani leaving after delivering a speech during a conference entitled "Implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) a new chapter in Iran's economy", on January 19, 2016, in Tehran STRINGER (Iranian Presidency/AFP/File) Zarif wrote to Ban in response to a US Supreme Court decision last week that said Tehran's frozen assets can be used to compensate victims of terror attacks. The foreign minister called the ruling "outrageous robbery disguised under a court order" and warned that Tehran reserves the right to take "counter-measures". The Supreme Court ruled on April 20 that Iran must hand over nearly $2 billion in frozen assets to the more than 1,000 survivors and relatives of those killed in attacks blamed on Tehran. The attacks included the 1983 bombing of US Marine barracks in Beirut and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia. "It is in fact the United States that must pay long overdue reparations to the Iranian people for its persistent hostile policies," wrote Zarif. He cited US involvement in the 1953 Iran coup, US backing for Baghdad in the Iran-Iraq war and the shooting down of an Iranian airliner by a US missile in 1988 as grounds for US compensation to Iranian nationals. Under a historic deal reached last year on curbing Iran's nuclear program, tens of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets are to be released. The Supreme Court ruling came after a New York tribunal in March ordered Tehran to pay $7.5 billion to victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon -- and $3 billion to insurers over related claims -- after ruling that Iran had failed to prove that it did not help the bombers. Turkish leaders proudly remember 'forgotten' Ottoman WW1 victory Turkey's leaders on Friday celebrated the 100th anniversary of a rare victory by the Ottoman army in World War I against British-led forces in today's Iraq, urging modern Turks not to forget the exploits of their Ottoman forefathers. The surrender by a British-led force at the garrison in Kut al-Amara (Kut in modern Iraq) is seen as the last Ottoman victory of the war, which ended in the defeat of the Empire and its German allies. "Turkey is changing. We are remembering again our history that was forgotten," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a major ceremony in Istanbul. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu addressing an audience during a seminar at the university in the Qatari capital, Doha, on April 28, 2016 Mohamed Sherif (Qatar University/AFP/File) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the event he rejected any view of Turkish history that only began in 1919, the year of the start of the War of Independence that would culminate in the founding of the post-Ottoman Turkish Republic in 1923. "We throw a black blanket over our history which signifies disrespect to our ancestors and wrongs future generations," he said. "We have regulated our official history for years in the way that... the British wanted," he added. Turkey's rulers have been keen to use the 100th anniversary of World War I as a source of national pride, even though the war ended in defeat for the Ottoman Empire and would ultimately lead to its collapse. Last year, the Turkish government placed great emphasis on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Battle of Gallipoli where Ottoman forces resisted a ground invasion by the Allies. - 'Foundation of the Republic' - The ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Erdogan are eager to show the Ottoman Empire, whose Sultan ruled as the caliph of all Muslims, as a source of inspiration for modern Turks. But Davutoglu denied that the celebration of the victory at Kut marked any rejection of the modern Turkish Republic founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923 in the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. "The spirit of Kut al-Amara is the most significant foundation on which our Republic has risen," he said. "Kut al-Amara is a victory of all of us. Kut al-Amara is the victory of all peoples of the Middle East." Some critics have expressed suspicion at the focus on a handful of Ottoman victories in the war, suggesting Turkey wants to overshadow darker pages such as the mass deportations and massacres of Armenians from 1915 that Yerevan considers genocide. But Erdogan, whose politics mixes political Islam with a growing streak of nationalism, said Turkey was still conscious of how the Ottomans had ruled over Muslim lands from the Balkans to Arabia. "Our physical borders might have been separated. But the borders in our heart have never been separated," he said. The Siege of Kut began in December 1915 when joint British and Indian forces seeking to take Baghdad decided to hold their position in Kut rather than fall back further against advancing Ottoman forces. With their food supplies running low, the Allied troops were besieged by the Ottoman forces for months as British troops sent to relieve them were beaten back in successive battles by the Ottomans. The commander of the British-Indian forces, Charles Townshend, surrendered on April 29, 1916 and thousands of Allied troops who survived were taken prisoner. Townshend however was held captive on a peaceful island off Istanbul, a notoriously luxurious incarceration where he was held as an honoured guest by the Ottomans. Up to his death in 1924, he faced accusations of betraying his troops. Mozambique police probe reports of mass grave in rebel stronghold Police in Mozambique said Friday they were investigating reports of the discovery of a mass grave containing 120 bodies in a region which has seen clashes between the security forces and rebels. Local media reported Thursday evening that farmers in the central Gorongosa region had found a communal grave containing the bodies of villagers. A representative of Renamo, the rebel group that fought a 16-year war against the state ending in 1992 and later became an opposition party, confirmed the find to AFP. A weapon and clothes belonging to members of former Mozambican rebel movement Renamo lying on the ground in Gorongosa on October 17, 2013 Maria Celeste Mac Arthur (AFP/File) A police spokesman in the capital Maputo said a commission had been set up to search the area in question but that "at this preliminary stage, nothing has been found." Police spokesman Inacio Dina added that no resident had come forward to the police with any information as yet. The Renamo official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the grave was located in Canda, near Gorongosa National Park, in a zone known as "76". "The grave contains 120 bodies," he said, adding some were "in an advanced state of decomposition." The Renamo member said the area was close to the place where Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama is believed to have gone into hiding in October 2015. Dhlakama contested the results of October 2014 presidential and legislative elections, which were won by Frelimo, the movement which led the country to independence from Portugal in 1975 and has ruled ever since. Tensions between the security forces and Renamo members intensified in December after Dhlakama announced plans to take power in six of the country's 11 provinces. A spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva said Friday the agency had "received worrying information about ongoing armed clashes in Mozambique between national security forces and members of Renamo." Rupert Colville said the security forces in the southern African nation had been accused of "summary executions, looting, destruction of property, rape, ill-treatment, and other human rights violations" and that "at least 14 local Renamo officials" had been reported killed or abducted since the beginning of the year. Top wine critic Parker to retire as Bordeaux rater American wine guru Robert Parker, whose ratings could make or break Bordeaux vintages for the past 38 years, is to turn his power over to a successor on Sunday, his magazine told AFP. It will be the end of an era for the 68-year-old oenologist, who has however been retiring in stages, in 2014 leaving his British successor Neal Martin to rate "en primeurs" (futures) while continuing to evaluate top Bordeaux vintages. It is this prestigious baton that will pass to Martin on Sunday, while Parker holds on to his role scoring northern California wines, such as those of the Napa and Sonoma valleys. US wine critic Robert Parker, pictured in 2012, is to turn his power over to British successor Neal Martin Patrick Bernard (AFP/File) Parker's extraordinary nose has earned plaudits from the likes of former French president Jacques Chirac, who said he was "the most followed and influential critic for French wines in the entire world. Parker will also stay on as president of Wine Advocate, even though he sold the market-moving magazine to a Singapore consortium in 2012. His parting Bordeaux evaluation will be the top score on his vaunted 100-point scale that he awarded recently to a Pape Clement 2009, a Graves "grand cru" created by the millionaire philanthropist Bernard Magrez. UN council discusses move to enforce North Korea sanctions UN Security Council diplomats were negotiating a draft statement on Friday that would push for tough sanctions on North Korea to be enforced worldwide after Pyongyang's latest test-firing of medium-range missiles. The draft statement, obtained by AFP, requests that all UN member-states report no later than May 31 on the "concrete measures" they have taken to implement the sanctions resolution. It directs a UN sanctions committee to "intensify its work to strengthen enforcement of resolution 2270," which was adopted in March after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test and fired a rocket. This picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 24, 2016 shows the underwater test-fire of a strategic submarine ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on April 23, 2016 The United States and China agreed on the statement but its adoption was delayed after Russia requested more time to consider the text, diplomats said. The statement was now likely to be adopted during the weekend or next week, they said. The measure strongly condemns the most recent failed ballistic missile launches and demands that North Korea refrain from further actions that violate UN resolutions. The 15-member council held urgent closed-door consultations on Thursday after North Korea's unsuccessful launch, the third attempt in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan missile, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam. The United States requested the meeting after a series of test-firings and as fears grew that the secretive country is preparing to conduct a fifth nuclear test. Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who holds the council presidency this month, told reporters that work was continuing on the statement which must be unanimously agreed by the 15 council members to be released. "It is really a volatile situation. The way out is to have political negotiations of the problems that we face," said Liu, renewing a call for the resumption of six-party talks on the Korean peninsula. - No war, no chaos - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday underscored Beijing's commitment to enforcing existing UN sanctions on North Korea and to preventing any instability on its doorstep. "As a close neighbor, we will never allow war or chaos on the (Korean) peninsula," he told a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Beijing. Current UN resolutions bar North Korea from developing any ballistic missile-related and nuclear technology, but Pyongyang has defiantly pressed on with its military programs. Anxiety has been high since Pyongyang conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and a rocket launch a month later that was widely seen as a disguised ballistic missile test. The council responded with its toughest sanctions to date, angering the North, which has since made repeated threats of attacks targeting Seoul and Washington. Among the sweeping measures is a new requirement that all countries must inspect cargo destined for and coming from North Korea, in all airports and sea ports. The resolution bans or restricts exports of coal, iron and iron ore and other minerals from North Korea, and prohibits the supply of aviation fuel including rocket fuel. It was the fifth set of UN sanctions to hit North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution imposing additional sanctions on North Korea on March 2, 2016 Mark Garten (United Nations/AFP/File) The Latest: High-speed rail board approves revised plan SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The Latest on a California board meeting to discuss the revised high-speed rail plan (all times local): 4:30 p.m. The board that oversees California's high-speed rail project has approved the latest $64 billion business plan calling for trains to run from the Central Valley to the San Jose area starting in 2025. FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2015 file photo, a full-scale mock-up of a high-speed train is displayed at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. The board that oversees Californias massive high-speed rail project is meeting in Sacramento on Thursday afternoon, April 28, 2016, to consider a new $64 billion business plan. The updated plan calls for a station in Merced and the first stretch to go from the Central Valley to the San Jose area. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) Board members approved the plan Thursday after delaying the vote by a week. Rail officials have pitched a $21 billion first segment between Merced and San Jose as the only way to ensure a useable segment gets built with the existing funding. Previous business plans had called for the bullet train to head first to the San Fernando Valley. Support for the project has waned since voters approved high-speed rail in 2008. Chairman Dan Richard says although San Jose may get the first trains, Los Angeles County and Anaheim will see the first big spending. ___ 2:30 a.m. The board that oversees California's massive high-speed rail project is meeting in Sacramento on Thursday afternoon to consider a new $64 billion business plan. The updated plan calls for a station in Merced and the first stretch to go from the Central Valley to the San Jose area. It's a change from previous plans that called for the bullet train to first connect high-speed rail from the Central Valley to the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, then to head north. But rail officials say with limited funding, this approach is better because the state can ensure a useable segment gets built for about $21 billion relying only on existing funding. It also avoids the tricky engineering work of tunneling through the Tehachapi mountains and delays residents' complaints for a while. Obama: US can meet goal of accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama says the U.S. can meet his goal of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees by Sept. 30, the end of the federal budget year. Obama says the goal he set last year has been challenging, partly because of the need to assure the U.S. public that refugees are being thoroughly checked out. He says processes are in place to speed up the resettlements. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference with college students in the Brady Press Briefing Room in Washington, Thursday, April 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both called for blocking Muslims from being admitted to the U.S. following terrorist attacks last year in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Obama says accepting Syrian refugees is "the right thing to do" because they are victims of terrorism, violence and suffering caused by Syrian President Bashar Assad. FAA begins early inspection of Allegiant Air operations DALLAS (AP) Federal safety officials are reviewing operations at Allegiant Air two years ahead of schedule, spurred by incidents including an aborted takeoff and a plane that landed low on fuel. The Federal Aviation Administration routinely evaluates airlines every five years but moved up Allegiant's review from 2018. An FAA spokesman said Thursday that the agency is making sure that work Allegiant is doing "to address various internal issues has resulted in the desired improvements." The review began in early April and is expected to run through June. Allegiant said in a statement that it welcomed the review and FAA feedback. "We have every confidence in our operation, and commit to sharing a summary of the FAA's review after it is concluded," the statement said. The FAA sometimes moves up airline inspections because of management changes, labor disputes or other factors. The FAA said the decision to speed the Allegiant review was based partly on two incidents last year. In one, a mechanical failure was blamed for causing the nose of the plane to rise too soon during takeoff. Pilots aborted the takeoff on the runway in Las Vegas. In the other, a plane flown by two Allegiant executives with airline-pilot licenses ran low on fuel and made an emergency landing at a closed airport in Fargo, North Dakota. The FAA closed the case after Allegiant took steps to improve training and procedures. The airline has suffered other high-profile breakdowns and emergency landings, including an engine fire that caused pilots to abort another Las Vegas flight. The president of the union representing Allegiant's pilots said the early FAA review underscores the airline's problems with maintenance. "It's clear that Allegiant's bare-minimum approach to its operation isn't working," said Dan Wells, president of Teamsters Local 1224. The FAA decision to move up the Allegiant review was previously reported by the Tampa Bay Times. Allegiant Air is a unit of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co. ___ Girl testifies in Hawaii high school rape trial HONOLULU (AP) Lawyers defending Hawaii's public school system in a lawsuit alleging a special education student raped his female classmate called the girl to testify in the trial Thursday, but didn't ask her any questions about the 2013 incident. A lawsuit by the girl's mother says that Waianae High School officials didn't do enough to prevent the alleged assault and didn't take the allegations seriously. The lawsuit says a then-senior boy in the then-freshman girl's class raped her in a unisex bathroom. Assistant state Attorney General Marie Gavigan, defending the state Department of Education, asked mostly yes or no questions about letters the girl wrote in class, such as was one of the letters about a field trip. Under questioning by her mother's attorney, Michael Green, the girl wasn't able to read a letter she typed in 2013. He says the girl has the intellectual capacity of a second-grader. Later, during his closing argument to jurors, Green said it was "desperate" for the state to call the mentally disabled girl to the witness stand. "What kind of sick minds are these," he said. "They call her to testify?" School officials had a duty to keep the two students safe even from each other, Green said. They knew there was a previous inappropriate touching incident between the two when they went off campus several months before the alleged rape, he said. A doctor who examined the girl the next day testified that she had tears consistent with a sexual assault. The defense argued those tears could have been caused by something else, such as her scratching herself. Surveillance footage taken near the bathroom doesn't show that the students were inside at the same time, Gavigan said. "It is our position there was no sexual assault in the bathroom," Gavigan said in her closing statement. "But something must have happened between these two." That could have been kissing, but it's not known, she said. Kristin Lindquist, the students' former teacher and a defendant in the lawsuit, testified that when the boy returned from the bathroom he looked "sick," so she asked him what happened. He told her he touched the girl and asked if he would be suspended, she said. She testified that she asked him if he touched her in her private areas and he said yes. It was a mistake to ask such "pointed" questions, Lindquist said, adding that she made the same mistake while questioning the girl about what happened. The girl told the teacher she was raped in the bathroom. The teacher took immediate action and reported the incident to the dean of students, who called the police and had the boy removed from school, Gavigan told the jury in her closing. After the mother filed the lawsuit, the education department sued the boy, saying that if the school is found liable, the boy, now 21, should be responsible. The boy's biological mother shook him as an infant, likely causing his disabilities, his adoptive mother testified. He doesn't understand the allegations against him, she said. Green asked jurors to award the mother $1.4 million in damages and $1.8 million to the girl. Authorities say death at Apple headquarters was suicide CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) Authorities say a young Apple employee took his own life at the company's headquarters this week. The 25-year-old Santa Clara, California, man was found dead Wednesday morning inside a conference room at Apple's world headquarters in California. An autopsy later confirmed he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Sgt. Andrea Urena of the Santa Clara County sheriff's department said Thursday. She said a handgun was used. In this image made from video, people walk out from the entrance of the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., Wednesday, April 27, 2016. An Apple employee that the company described as "young and talented" was found dead in a conference room inside the company's headquarters Wednesday, authorities said. (APTN via AP Photo) Sheriff's deputies were called to the Apple campus about 8:35 a.m. Wednesday for a report of "a person down" and found the man dead, Urena said. "They determined there were no other individuals involved and they believe it was an isolated incident and that there was nobody else on campus or in the public at risk," she said. The sheriff's department provides police services in the town of Cupertino, where Apple is based. In a statement on Wednesday, Apple said its employees were "heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented co-worker." An Apple spokeswoman declined further comment Thursday. Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies investigate a report of a body found at Apple headquarters Wednesday morning April 27, 2016, in Cupertino, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Latest: State: 11M liters of water distributed in Flint FLINT, Mich. (AP) The Latest on the lead-tainted water crisis in Flint, Michigan: (all times local): 8 p.m. Authorities say roughly 11 million liters of state-purchased water have been distributed to Flint residents since an emergency was declared in January over the city's lead-tainted drinking water. Flint, Mich., resident Quincy Murphy speaks during a hearing held by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission in Flint on Thursday, April 28, 2016. Half a century after a civil rights panel investigated Flint's segregated housing, the commission held its first hearing Thursday into whether city residents again faced discrimination or racial bias - this time related to the city's crisis over lead-tainted drinking water. (Rachel Woolf/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT Michigan State Police Capt. Chris Kelenske told the Michigan Civil Service Commission on Thursday that's equivalent to about 927,000 cases of bottled water. He adds the state has coordinated the distribution of 116,000 filters and 47,000 water-testing kits. He also says that officials have visited all homes of active water customers. Kelenske testified during the commission's first public hearing into possible discrimination during the switch to the Flint River for drinking water and the subsequent lead contamination. Dozens of Flint residents attended the hearing, and about 30 shared their concerns with commissioners. ___ 4:30 p.m. Dozens of Flint residents have spoken at the first public hearing into possible discrimination during the switch to the Flint River for drinking water and the subsequent lead contamination. Elaine Connor, who tested positive for lead, told the Michigan Civil Rights Commission people have to think about every movement they make. Others talked about their anger, fear and distrust. Flint is under a state of emergency after lead from old pipes leached into the water supply because of improper treatment. Some residents in the largely minority city say the contamination wouldn't have occurred in a wealthy, predominantly white city. The commission, which investigates civil rights complaints, decided in January to hold hearings. Co-chair Arthur Horwitz said the board has come to the "inescapable conclusion that this is a case of environmental injustice." ___ 3 p.m. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is holding its first public hearing into whether Flint residents faced discrimination or racial bias during the switch to the Flint River for drinking water and the subsequent lead contamination. Residents have begun to testify at Thursday's hearing. Representatives from state agencies also have been invited. Flint is under a state of emergency after lead from old pipes leached into the water supply because of improper treatment. Some residents in the largely minority city say the contamination wouldn't have occurred in a wealthy, predominantly white city. The commission, which investigates civil rights complaints, decided in January to hold hearings. If it finds violations it can order the violator to stop and take corrective action. That order can be appealed to circuit court. ___ 10:45 a.m. A Senate committee has approved a bipartisan deal to offer federal aid to Flint, Michigan, where lead-contaminated pipes have resulted in a public health emergency. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a $220 million aid package as part of a broader bill that authorizes water-related projects across the country for flood control, harbor deepening and other purposes. The bill was approved 19-1 on Thursday. It could come up for a Senate vote in May. The measure would authorize $100 million in grants and loans to replace lead-contaminated pipes in Flint and other cities with lead emergencies and $70 million toward loans to improve U.S. water systems It also includes $50 million to bolster lead-prevention programs and improve children's health nationwide. ___ 2 a.m. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission plans its first public hearing into whether Flint residents faced discrimination during the switch to the Flint River for drinking water and subsequent lead contamination. The hearing Thursday at Flint's Riverfront Banquet Center will include opening remarks from commission co-chairs and a comment period with preference given to city residents. Representatives from state agencies have been invited to appear, and residents will be able to respond to officials' testimony. Before it ends, commissioners plan to discuss testimony and the potential roles of racism, environmental justice and other discrimination in the crisis. The commission decided in January to hold hearings to examine allegations of discrimination. Flint is under a state of emergency after lead from old pipes leached into the water supply because of improper treatment. In this photo taken March 21, 2016, the Flint Water Plant water tower is seen in Flint, Mich. President Barack Obama next week will make his first trip to Flint, Mich. since the impoverished city was found to have lead-tainted drinking water, the White House said Wednesday, April 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Members of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission listen to audience members including Flint and former residents at the Riverfront Banquet Center in Flint on Thursday, April 28, 2016. Half a century after the civil rights panel investigated Flint's segregated housing, the commission held its first hearing Thursday into whether city residents again faced discrimination or racial bias - this time related to the city's crisis over lead-tainted drinking water. (Rachel Woolf/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT Co-Chair Arthur Horwitz of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission listens to audience members including Flint and former residents at the Riverfront Banquet Center in Flint on Thursday, April 28, 2016. Half a century after the civil rights panel investigated Flint's segregated housing, the commission held its first hearing Thursday into whether city residents again faced discrimination or racial bias - this time related to the city's crisis over lead-tainted drinking water. (Rachel Woolf/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT White powder mailed to Trump campaign office ruled harmless NEW YORK (AP) An envelope containing a suspicious white powdery substance caused a scare when it was opened at a campaign office of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, but it later was deemed to be harmless. The envelope was mailed to Manhattan's Trump Tower, near Central Park, police said. A campaign staffer opened the envelope Thursday night and immediately called police. Five Trump staff members working in the office and a police officer who responded were temporarily isolated and evaluated. The substance was tested, and a few hours later authorities said it wasn't hazardous but it would need to be tested some more for them to determine what it is. Police and fire department officers stand outside Trump Tower where detectives and other agencies were investigating a suspicious white powder found inside the building, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York. Six people were being evaluated by emergency medical crews after an envelope containing a white powdery substance was mailed to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign office in New York City. Police said a Trump staffer opened the letter containing the powder and immediately called police. It was unclear if the envelope also contained a letter. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks referred questions about the brief scare to the U.S. Secret Service, which didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Powders sent through the mail have been cause for concern since at least 2001, when anthrax-tainted letters were sent to media outlets and offices, killing five people. In March, an envelope that contained a non-hazardous white powder and a threatening letter was mailed to the apartment of Trump's son Eric Trump, who has campaigned for him. The handwritten note, postmarked from Boston, said: "If your father does not drop out of the race, the next envelope won't be a fake." Two days later, a threatening letter was sent to Trump's sister Maryanne Trump Barry, a judge who sits on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Pennsylvania. The FBI said at the time it was working alongside the Secret Service and the Marshals Service to investigate. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has been criticized by some political rivals and voters for his comments on topics including women, refugees and immigrants, such as when he said some Mexican immigrants in the U.S. illegally are "rapists." New York Police Department Counterterrorism officers stand outside Trump Tower Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York, where police were investigating a suspicious white powder found earlier in the day. Six people were being evaluated by emergency medical crews after an envelope containing a white powdery substance was mailed to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign office in New York City. Police said a Trump staffer opened the letter containing the powder and immediately called police. It was unclear if the envelope also contained a letter. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) New York Police Department Counterterrorism officers join other officials outside Trump Tower, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York, where police were investigating a suspicious white powder found earlier in the day. Six people were being evaluated by emergency medical crews after an envelope containing a white powdery substance was mailed to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign office in New York City. Police said a Trump staffer opened the letter containing the powder and immediately called police. It was unclear if the envelope also contained a letter. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Employees stand inside the lobby of Trump Tower where police were investigating a suspicious white powder found Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York. Six people were being evaluated by emergency medical crews after an envelope containing a white powdery substance was mailed to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign office in New York City. Police said a Trump staffer opened the letter containing the powder and immediately called police. It was unclear if the envelope also contained a letter. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Police officers stand outside Trump Tower on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue where detectives and other agencies were investigating a suspicious white powdery substance found inside the building, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York. An envelope containing the white powdery substance caused a scare when it was opened at a campaign office of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, but it later was deemed to be harmless. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Australian believed to have been kidnapped in Afghanistan SYDNEY (AP) An Australian aid worker is believed to have been kidnapped in Afghanistan, Australian officials said on Friday, as her father issued a plea for her safe return. Australia's government was working with Afghan officials to determine exactly what happened to Katherine Jane Wilson, who generally goes by the first name Kerry, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters. "The details of the reports are still being confirmed with the Afghan authorities but they certainly believe she has been kidnapped," Bishop said. "We are seeking to confirm all of the details but we are in communication with her family." Ahmad Ali Hazrat, chief of the Nangarhar provincial council in Afghanistan, said Wilson was kidnapped Thursday morning in the eastern city of Jalalabad. It was not immediately clear who the alleged kidnappers were or what their motivation was. Wilson, who is in her 60s, has been living in Afghanistan for years and runs Zardozi, an organization that helps support impoverished Afghan women by selling embroidered items they make. Brian Wilson, who lives in the west Australian city of Perth, pleaded for his daughter to be returned safely, saying she had dedicated much of her life to improving the lives of women in the region. "I feel extremely worried indeed," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "But I presume she's a hostage and that they'll do their best to keep her alive and not harm her, simply because they want to have something or other in return and it's not very good having a dead hostage." Bishop rejected any suggestions of Australia paying for Wilson's return. "The Australian government does not, as a matter of policy, pay ransom for kidnappers," Bishop said. ___ UK company fined for misleading Australians over painkillers SYDNEY (AP) An Australian court ordered a British consumer goods company on Friday to pay 1.7 million Australian dollars ($1.3 million) in penalties after ruling that the company misled consumers about the effectiveness of a popular painkiller. The Federal Court ruled in December that British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser deceived Australians by selling Nurofen painkillers that were marketed to relieve specific ailments, such as back pain and period pain, when all of the products contained an identical amount of the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine. The court ordered the company to remove the products from Australian stores. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which launched the court action, had asked the court to impose a AU$6 million penalty on the company, arguing consumers had been tricked into unnecessarily paying more for the drugs. The consumer watchdog said the price of the specific pain products was nearly double that of Nurofen's standard ibuprofen painkiller and other general pain relief products sold by competitors. In issuing the fine on Friday, Justice James Edelman acknowledged the company's actions may have had a negative financial effect on consumers, but said the products had not caused anyone physical harm. Reckitt Benckiser has since changed the packaging for its specific pain line to indicate the drugs are also effective for general pain relief. In a statement, Nurofen said the company had not meant to mislead the public. Iranian refugee dies after setting himself on fire on Nauru SYDNEY (AP) An Iranian refugee who set himself on fire at Australia's immigration detention camp on the Pacific island nation of Nauru died of his injuries on Friday, officials said. The 23-year-old man, who set himself alight on Wednesday in an apparent protest over Australia's strict asylum seeker policies, died in an Australian hospital after being airlifted there for treatment, Australia's immigration department said in a statement. The refugee's actions were a protest intended to coincide with a visit to the island by representatives of the U.N. refugee agency, Nauru's government said earlier this week. Australia refuses to accept asylum seekers who try to reach its shores by boat and pays Nauru and Papua New Guinea to hold them in detention camps instead. The divisive policy has faced fresh criticism in the wake of the man's death and a court decision this week that dubbed Australia's detention of asylum seekers on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island unconstitutional. Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said on Wednesday that he would close the Manus center after the island nation's Supreme Court ruled that detaining asylum seekers and refugees there was a violation of their constitutional right to personal liberty. Memorial set for 25 WWII US soldiers lost in Italian lake ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) A trio of U.S. Army veterans has teamed up to establish a memorial in Italy to the 25 American soldiers who drowned in an Alpine lake when their amphibious vehicle sank during World War II. The marble monument is being dedicated in the northern Italian village of Torbole on Saturday, the 71st anniversary of the sinking of the vehicle known as a DUKW (pronounced duck). The dead included 24 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division and a 25th soldier from another unit. The vehicle sank on the night of April 30, 1945, after a storm blew up while they were crossing Lake Garda during the last days of fighting in Europe. Their bodies were never recovered. A 26th soldier survived the sinking. Army officials later determined the DUKW was overloaded. This photo provided by Rick Tscherne shows a monument in Torbole, Italy, dedicated to the 25 American soldiers who drowned in an Alpine lake when their amphibious vehicle sank during World War II. The marble monument is being dedicated in the northern Italian village on Saturday, April 30, 2016, the 71st anniversary of the sinking of the vehicle. The dead included 24 members of the 10th Mountain Division and a soldier from another unit. (Rick Tscherne via AP) The monument bears the names of the 25 soldiers, along with the insignia of the 10th Mountain Division, based in northern New York since the mid-1980s. The memorial is being established through the efforts of three Vietnam-era Army Ranger veterans Rick Tscherne, Perry Doerr and Ron Hundell and Ben Appleby, a British ex-pat who teaches school near Torbole. Tscherne and Doerr live in northern Italy, while Hundell lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The group started an online fundraising campaign to help cover the $5,000 cost of the monument. Among the donors was Mary Morrison-Kinnear of Phoenix, Arizona. Her uncle, Pvt. William C. Morrison Jr., of Terre Haute, Indiana, was among the fallen soldiers. Born a year after her uncle died, Morrison-Kinnear didn't hear much family talk about the uncle everyone called Billy. Her grandparents, devastated by the loss, rarely discussed their son in front of others. "There was so little news about what happened that my grandparents always felt that my uncle was alive someplace," Morrison-Kinnear said in a phone interview. In 2012, a group that uses sonar to search Lake Garda for wrecks found the DUKW lying in 900 feet of water. The group hopes someday to recover the vehicle, something the U.S. military has said it has no plans to do. The memorial is the second in Torbole dedicated to American soldiers. It will be located across the village's plaza from one dedicated to Col. William O. Darby, who helped form the Army Rangers during WWII. Darby was killed on April 30, 1945, when a German artillery shell landed in the plaza. ___ This story has been corrected to remove erroneous reference to two organizers establishing first memorial. Prominent detentions of foreigners in North Korea Prominent detentions of foreigners by North Korea in recent years: Kim Dong Chul was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison with hard labor after North Korea's Supreme Court convicted him of espionage and subversion. In March, North Korean officials presented him at a press conference where he said he had spied for South Korea and tried to spread religious ideas among North Koreans. The South's main spy agency has said it had nothing to do with Kim. The South Korean-born naturalized U.S. citizen told CNN he was president of a trade and hotel services company in Rason, North Korea. American tourist Otto Warmbier was sentenced in March to 15 years in prison with hard labor for subversion. The 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate said before the trial that he tried to steal a propaganda banner as a trophy for an acquaintance who wanted to hang it in her church. Hyeon Soo Lim, pastor of a Toronto church, was sentenced in December to life in prison for allegedly harming the dignity of North Korea's leadership and trying to use religion to destroy its system. Supporters have said Lim was on a humanitarian trip when he was detained last February. Won Moon Joo, a South Korean studying at New York University, was freed in October after being detained for six months for illegal entry. American Sandra Suh was deported in April 2015 after being accused of making anti-North propaganda while visiting the country. Americans Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae went home in November 2014 after their release was secured through a secret mission by the top U.S. intelligence official. A missionary, Bae had been detained while leading a tour group in 2012 and was serving a 15-year sentence for alleged anti-government activities. Miller was serving six years on an espionage charge after North Korea accused him of wanting to secretly investigate its prison system. Jeffrey Fowle of Ohio was freed in October 2014, nearly six months after he was arrested for leaving a Bible in a nightclub. Australian missionary John Short was deported in March 2014 after he apologized for anti-state religious acts. He told Australian media that he was interrogated for four hours a day during his 13-day detention. In 2011, former President Jimmy Carter visited North Korea to win the release of American Aijalon Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labor for crossing illegally into North Korea from China. Investigators look at overdose in Prince death MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Investigators are looking into whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official said Thursday that among the things investigators are looking at is whether a doctor was with Prince on a plane that made an emergency landing in Illinois less than a week before the star died. The law enforcement official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2015 file photo, Prince presents the award for favorite album - soul/R&B at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles. ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN, citing unidentified law enforcement sources, reported that prescription painkillers were found on the musician and in his home. The Star Tribune, also citing unnamed sources, reported that prescription pills were found but that it wasn't clear whether they had been prescribed to Prince. Prince was found dead in his Paisley Park home in suburban Minneapolis on April 21, 2016. He was 57. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File) The official said investigators are also looking into what kind of drugs were on the plane and at Prince's house in suburban Minneapolis. The official also confirmed some details that have previously been reported by other media outlets, including TMZ. Prince's plane made an emergency stop in Moline, in western Illinois, on April 15 and he was found unconscious on the plane, the official said. The person said first responders gave Prince a shot of Narcan, which is used in suspected opioid overdoses. The official said the so-called save shot was given when the plane was on the tarmac in Moline as Prince returned to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta. The official said investigators are looking at whether Prince overdosed on the plane and whether an overdose killed him, and at what kind of drugs were involved. One possibility is the powerful painkiller Percocet or something similar, the official said. Narcan can be used on people even if an overdose isn't confirmed because it wouldn't necessarily be harmful. While it's premature to say where the investigation is heading, the mention of a doctor calls to mind other celebrity deaths, including Michael Jackson's. Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in prescribing a powerful anesthetic that contributed to the pop star's death in 2009. A second law enforcement official told AP that prescription drugs were discovered at Prince's home when the musician was found dead on April 21. That official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation into Prince's death. The official did not elaborate. An autopsy has been performed, but results aren't expected for three to four weeks. The search warrant for Prince's Paisley Park home and studio carried out the day of his death was filed Thursday under seal at the request of investigators who said it would hamper their investigation if contents were public. An affidavit in support of sealing the warrant, signed by Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud, also warned that disclosing details in the warrant could cause "the search or related searches to be unsuccessful" and risk injury to innocent people. Kamerud declined to comment Thursday on the reports of drugs found at Paisley Park, and told AP that he strongly disputed reports by several media outlets that investigators had asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help in the case. "We have not asked them for help, or asked them to be a part of the investigation," Kamerud said. "We might contact them to help us, but that hasn't happened. We don't have the medical examiner's report yet. We don't know to what extent pharmaceuticals could be a part of this." Leo Hawkins, a DEA spokesman in Chicago, said he had no comment. Prince's death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn't feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city. Prince was scheduled to perform two shows in St. Louis but canceled them shortly before his death due to health concerns. Longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels. ___ Protests break out as Trump speaks in Southern Cal COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) Raucous crowds of protesters took to the streets late Thursday in California as Donald Trump brought his Republican presidential campaign to conservative Orange County after sweeping the Northeast GOP primaries. Dozens of protesters were mostly peaceful as Trump gave his speech inside the Pacific Amphitheater. After the event, however, the demonstration grew rowdy and spilled into the streets. At least four people were arrested and one Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the arena. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented in and other protests sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venue's marquee. A Trump supporter clashes with protesters outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Dozens of cars -- including those of Trump supporters trying to leave -- were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the venue. There were no major injuries and police did not use any force.The crowd began dispersing about three hours after the speech ended. Earlier in the evening, a half-dozen anti-Trump protesters taunted those waiting to get into the venue. Trump supporters surrounded one man who waved a Mexican flag and shouted "Build that wall! Build that wall!" -- a reference to Trump's call to create a barrier between the United States and Mexico to stop illegal border crossings. At one point, seven women wearing no shirts and Bernie Sanders stickers over their breasts entered the square outside the amphitheater. They said they were protesting Trump's lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and women's rights. "I feel like he wants to make America great again, but certainly not for women, for the LBGTQ community or for the lower class," said one of the women, Tiernan Hebron. "He has, like, done nothing to help with gender equality or women's rights or reproductive rights or anything." Trump has drawn large crowds across the country as he has campaigned for the White House and some of his events have been marred by incidents both inside and outside these venues. Earlier this week, a Trump rally in nearby Anaheim, California turned contentious when his supporters and counter protestors clashed, leaving several people struck by pepper spray. Trump was not present. Trump has drawn large crowds to most of his campaign events, and Thursday was no exception. The Pacific Amphitheatre was filled to its capacity of about 18,000 and many hundreds more were turned away. Ly Kou, 47, of Ontario, said she likes Trump because he has vowed to put the country first. "It's obvious that America loves Trump," said Kou, who is from Laos, as she pointed at the waiting throng. "This thing about him being racist? Look around the crowd." Trump was traveling from the rally site to the state's Republican convention in Burlington in the San Francisco Bay area. A Trump supporter clashes with protesters outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Police on horseback and on foot clear the anti-Trump demonstrators after a Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rally at the Pacific Amphitheatre on Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Costa Mesa, Calif. Hundreds of people, most of them apparently anti-Trump protesters, blocked an intersection and some jumped on cars outside the Orange County Fairgrounds, where Trump gave a speech to thousands Thursday night. (Michael Goulding/The Orange County Register via AP) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Law enforcement officers take two protesters into custody after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Police guide people to the Fair Avenue and away from the fairgrounds after the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rally at the Pacific Amphitheatre on Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Costa Mesa, Calif. Hundreds of people, most of them apparently anti-Trump protesters, blocked an intersection and some jumped on cars outside the Orange County Fairgrounds, where Trump gave a speech to thousands Thursday night. (Michael Goulding/The Orange County Register via AP) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT A damaged Costa Mesa Police cruiser sits at the corner of Fair Dr. and Fairview Rd. near the OC Fairgrounds where Donald Trump spoke earlier in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Thursday, April 28, 2016 (Kevin Sullivan/The Orange County Register via AP) Protestors are pushed off the street by law enforcement after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Protestors pushed off the street by law enforcement after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Protestors pushed off the street by law enforcement after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) A law enforcement officer stand in the street after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Protestors pushed off the street by law enforcement after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Protestors crowd the street after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Protestors crowd the street after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Police officers block traffic to Fair Dr. after protesters stormed the streets near the OC Fairgrounds where Donald Trump spoke in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Thursday, April 28, 2016. (Kevin Sullivan/The Orange County Register via AP) Protesters demonstrate at Donald Trump rally at The Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Thursday, April 28, 2016. (Kyusung Gong/The Orange County Register via AP) Lawmaker accused of harassment is all alone with his M&Ms NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Amid the frenzied negotiations, flaring tempers and occasional frivolity marking the end of another Tennessee legislative session, one lawmaker stayed conspicuously alone and quiet. While Republicans and Democrats held emergency caucus meetings to discuss the latest twists in the legislative endgame, Rep. Jeremy Durham sat silently at his desk in the largely deserted House chamber. During floor debates, he mostly stayed clear of the fray, except for padding up the aisle to the desk of a fellow Republican lawmaker who keeps a large supply of M&Ms, pistachios, jerky and other sustenance on his desk. Durham, who is the subject of a sexual harassment investigation by the state attorney general, found himself being shunned after Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell effectively exiled him from the legislative office complex and Capitol for any purpose other than to perform his official duties. In this April 20, 2016 photo, Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, left, listens to a debate in the House of Representatives in Nashville, Tenn. Durham, who is the subject of a sexual harassment investigation by Tennessee's attorney general, has been exiled from the legislative office complex and Capitol for any purpose other than to perform his official duties. At right is Rep. Shelia Butt, R-Columbia. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Harwell took that unusual step after Attorney General Herbert Slatery went public with preliminary findings suggesting that Durham's "behavior may pose a continuing risk to unsuspecting women who are employed by or interact with the Legislature." Such allegations aren't unheard of in legislative arenas, but Durham's end-of-session purgatory added a strange twist to an already odd situation. Durham had begun to take on a kind of walking dead status earlier, after revelations about his personal behavior stalled the meteoric rise of the second-term lawmaker from a heavily Republican Nashville-area district into House GOP leadership. The fact that he had also co-sponsored legislation requiring transgender people to use only the restrooms for the gender on their birth certificates made him a target for late-night comedians. Some commentators suggested that a man called out for his behavior toward women at the Legislature didn't have much standing to protect the privacy of people going to the bathroom. He has resisted calls from GOP leaders, including Gov. Bill Haslam, Harwell, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and state Republican Party Chairman Ryan Haynes, to give up his seat altogether. The attorney general recommended that Durham be effectively quarantined following interviews with 34 current and former lawmakers, lobbyists, staffers and interns. Investigators were told Durham made sexual comments and had inappropriate physical contact with women working at Legislative Plaza. Most of the interviewed women told Slatery's office they felt they could not report Durham's behavior because they feared losing their jobs or being deemed "untrustworthy" by employers, clients or lawmakers. Several said they avoided Durham or refused to be alone with him. Durham, who did not respond to an email seeking comment, has denied any wrongdoing and is seeking re-election this fall. His attorney, Bill Harbison, has objected to what he called an "unusual" investigation. Durham also drew rebukes last year from other lawmakers after he sought leniency for an ex-youth pastor who pleaded guilty to child porn possession and statutory rape of a 16-year-old parishioner. Last week, Durham voted for a bill to strengthen penalties for statutory rape by authority figures. Under intense pressure from Harwell and others, Durham earlier in the session stepped aside as House majority whip, withdrew from the Republican caucus and took a two-week break to seek unspecified medical and pastoral counseling. After returning from that hiatus, he filed for re-election. While he refuses interviews routinely, he is rallying supporters for the fight. Durham has a hefty campaign war chest to take on three GOP candidates who have filed to run against him, but the math could work against them. If they divide up the anti-Durham vote, the only thing keeping him from returning to the Capitol would be a Democratic opponent facing tough odds in the heavily conservative district. The marathon end-of-session floor debates put Durham into constant contact with his colleagues and staff, though most appeared happy to avoid him. When he took to the well Wednesday to present a bill on judicial diversion, he made no comments beyond the required motions and was asked no questions. After about a minute, he was back out of the spotlight. "It is very awkward," said House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga. "But right now, it's up to the voters in his district." Durham's odd circumstances were discussed, briefly, when the House considered an adjournment resolution. Democrats questioned whether approval of the motion would affect the special committee's investigation into Durham's behavior. But they were assured from the well of the chamber that a paragraph had been added to the measure explicitly confirming that any panel "may meet after adjournment for the purpose of considering or investigating any matter of state business." Shortly after the House approved the resolution to set the adjournment in motion but about an hour before lawmakers ended their business for the year Durham quietly gathered his belongings and left the chamber. FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016 file photo, Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, speaks with reporters following a House Republican caucus meeting on the opening day of the second session of the 109th General Assembly, in Nashville, Tenn. Durham is the subject of a sexual harassment investigation by the state attorney general. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) Republicans beginning to make peace with Trump as nominee WASHINGTON (AP) They thought it was impossible. Some still fear it. Others can barely believe it. But leading Republicans are beginning to accept the idea that Donald Trump will be their party's presidential nominee. In the wake of the businessman's commanding wins in five Eastern states this week, a growing number of national Republicans and GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill say Trump has taken on an indisputable air of inevitability. Some argue they should get behind him now and abandon the "Never Trump" efforts still nursed by some establishment Republicans. Embracing Trump, these Republicans say, may be the GOP's only hope of blocking Democrat Hillary Clinton in November. "Donald Trump is going to be our nominee," Florida Gov. Rick Scott wrote on Facebook this week. "The Republican leaders in Washington did not choose him, but the Republican voters across America did choose him. The voters have spoken." FILE - In this April 21, 2016, file photo, Florida Gov. Rick Scott gestures as he speaks during a luncheon at the Republican National Committee Spring Meeting in Hollywood, Fla. They thought it was impossible. Some still fear it. Others can barely believe it. But leading Republicans are beginning to accept the idea that Donald Trump will be their party's presidential nominee. "Donald Trump is going to be our nominee,"Scott wrote on Facebook this week. "The Republican leaders in Washington did not choose him, but the Republican voters across America did choose him. The voters have spoken." (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) "Republicans now need to come together," Scott wrote, warning that continued opposition to Trump "will be nothing more than a contribution to the Clinton campaign." On Capitol Hill, support for Trump has also gotten markedly easier to find. "I don't understand. I mean, it's not 'Never Trump.' It's 'Never Hillary.' Never, never, never Hillary. Come on. Wake up and smell the coffee," said Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, who earlier this week cast his ballot for Trump, along with all members of his large family and 57 percent of Republican primary voters in his state. "I've never seen a party attack one of its own candidates with this aggressiveness," Kelly said of GOP establishment figures who oppose Trump, blaming it on an elitist Washington attitude out of touch with voters. Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a respected senior member of the Senate, previously endorsed Jeb Bush and then Sen. Marco Rubio and said he doesn't intend to endorse Trump. But Hatch said of Trump, "It looks to me like he's going to win, and if he does, I'm going to do everything in my power to help him." Some leading Republicans have forecast that a Trump candidacy could spell electoral disaster, help Democrats win back control of the Senate and even cost safe Republican seats in the House. They point to Trump's disparaging comments about women and minorities that have contributed to high unfavorability ratings. Hatch, along with others, disagreed. "I think he could be great if he'll get serious about being president, and I think he will," Hatch said. "When he gets hit with reality that this is the toughest job in the world, he's a clever, smart guy who I think will want to be remembered for doing good things, so I have a feeling he can make that transition." On Thursday, Trump picked up endorsements from two House committee chairmen: Reps. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, who chairs the Transportation Committee, and Jeff Miller of Florida, who chairs Veterans Affairs. He talked foreign policy in a phone call with Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who heads the Foreign Relations Committee. Corker later was full of compliments about Trump, though he said he had no plans to endorse him. To be sure, not all are on board. Some in the GOP continue to cringe at the thought of vulnerable Senate Republicans and candidates getting linked to Trump's provocative stances or attempting to distance themselves from them. "My feeling about Donald Trump is, I don't think that that's our best foot forward at all," said Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, an outspoken Trump critic. "And I can't imagine being forced to take some of those positions that he's taken. A ban on Muslims, build a wall and make the Mexicans pay for it, you name it." It remains uncertain whether Trump will amass the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination ahead of the Republican convention in Cleveland in July. If he does not, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz hopes to make a play to win the nomination as balloting progresses. Ohio Gov. John Kasich also remains in the race. Next week's primary in Indiana, where polling suggests a close race, could be crucial in determining whether either Cruz or Kasich can continue to argue they have a path forward. Roger Villere, longtime Louisiana state GOP chief and one of the national party's vice chairmen, said a "clear supermajority" at the Republican National Committee spring meeting earlier this month in South Florida were warming to the idea of Trump as standard-bearer. "There were a lot of them who Trump wasn't their first choice, but when we got in closed rooms and everybody started talking, the general consensus was that he's going to be our nominee, and we will rally around him," Villere said Friday. "I wouldn't say it was even reluctance. It's just the reality." Offering a common party refrain, Villere added, "All of our possibilities are clearly superior to what the Democrats have." ___ Associated Press writers Laurie Kellman in Washington, Sergio Bustos in Miami and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report. FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2012, file photo, Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., listens to testimony from State Department officials as the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congressional Republicans are beginning to accept, and even embrace, an outcome that was once unthinkable: Donald Trump as the GOP presidential nominee. I dont understand. I mean, its not Never Trump. Its Never Hillary. Never, never, never, Hillary. Come on. Wake up and smell the coffee, said Kelly, who earlier this week cast his ballot for Trump, along with all members of his large family and 57 percent of Republican primary voters in his state. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) FILE - In this March 9, 2016, file photo, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congressional Republicans are beginning to accept, and even embrace, an outcome that was once unthinkable: Donald Trump as the GOP presidential nominee. Hes looking more inevitable, yeah. Ive been wrong all along, said Flake, an outspoken Trump critic. My feeling about Donald Trump is, I dont think that thats our best foot forward at all. And I cant imagine being forced to take some of those positions that hes taken. A ban on Muslims, build a wall and make the Mexicans pay for it, you name it.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) A Texas medical examiner says the two young daughters of an internationally renowned pianist likely died of asphyxia after their mother allegedly smothered them with pillows. The Tarrant County medical examiner's office released the autopsy reports on Thursday of one-year-old Michela Kholodenko and five-year-old Nika Kholodenko. 'The mechanism of death in this case and the companion case is most likely asphyxia', it read, according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Their mother, Sofya Tsygankova, has been charged in their deaths. Vadym Kholodenko, a Ukrainian-born winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, discovered his daughters' bodies March 17 when he arrived at the Benbrook home the girls shared with their mother to take them to school. Scroll down for video Concert pianist Vadym Kholodenko poses with wife Sofya Tsygankova and daughters Nika, left, and Michela, in 2014. Tsygankova is accused of smothering her two daughters with pillows last month Cause of death: Sofya Tsygankova entered a plea of not guilty at her arraignment in March (pictured). An autopsy released on Thursday reveals that the girls died of asphyxiation Arrest affidavits for Tsygankova, say the girls were found dead on beds. A pillow was found resting near or partially on top of their heads, according to the affidavit. Behind bars: Sofya Tsygankova remains in the Tarrant County Jail with bail set at $2 million The 31-year-old Tsygankova has pleaded not guilty to two counts of capital murder. She remains in the Tarrant County Jail with bail set at $2 million. Tsygankova had a history of mental illness and had visited a Mental Health and Mental Retardation facility in Fort Worth on the day before her daughters were discovered, says the affidavit. She was found kneeling on the floor wearing a blood-stained nightgown and 'rocking back and forth,' the affidavits say. She had wounds on her wrist and chest, and a butcher knife was found near the home's patio. An empty prescription bottle of anti-psychotic drug Quetiapine - used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia - were also found inside the home. Police also found bloodied linens inside her Ford Focus and blood in and around the car, according to the affidavit. Tsygankova's attorney, Joetta Keene, declined to comment on the specific allegations of the affidavit. 'This is, no doubt, a very heartbreaking case for everyone involved,' she said. Her husband - who was a gold medalist at the 2013 Cliburn piano competition - had been staying at a hotel outside of Benbrook that fatal night. He had arranged with his wife to pick up the girls for a regular visit at 9.20am on Thursday. Police received his 911 call just seven minutes later. After finding the bodies of the children - that showed signs that rigor mortis had already set in - police discovered two knives, a blood-covered butcher's knife and a cleaver style knife. Slipt up: Kholodenko filed for divorce from Tsygankova in November 2015 after the couple arrived to the US from Russia in 2014. The family is pictured here in 2014 More prescription bottles were also found including Sertraline, an anti-depressant, and hyrdoxyzine pamoate, an antihistamine that is also used as a sedative to treat anxiety and tension, says the Telegram. The mother also described to police what she believes to be the sequence of events leading up to the bloody incident. She said that she had arrived home that night and recalled that Michaela was already asleep and the babysitter was putting pajamas on the older girl. When asked where she thought her children were, she replied that she hoped they were with their father. She made several references to a 'bad dream' that she had that night was able to fully elaborate. Kholodenko filed for divorce from Tsygankova in November 2015 after the couple arrived to the US from Russia in 2014. He cited discord or conflict of personalities. He had not been living with his estranged wife or daughters since last August. The pair had been married for five years. Nigerian princess seeks funds to help Boko Haram survivors ATLANTA (AP) It pains Nigerian princess Modupe Ozolua every time she hears about the suicide bombings, killings and kidnappings by the Boko Haram militant group in her ancestral homeland. But Ozolua feels just as troubled when the plight of survivors dealing with the aftermath of the attacks goes unheard. The princess, a member of Benin Empire in southern Nigeria, doesn't want those victims to be forgotten. Ozolua is taking a step toward raising awareness and money to assist displaced victims at her inaugural "Rise Above Terror" African Art Gala at the Besharat Gallery on Saturday in Atlanta. She hopes the money can help rebuild schools, homes, provide medical relief and food to help some of the millions who have been unable to leave an area with destroyed schools and burnt villages. In this photo taken Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Princess Modupe Ozolua of Benin Empire, Nigeria, poses for a portrait in Atlanta. Ozolua wants to help survivors enduring the continuous attacks from the Boko Haram militant group through a fundraiser in Atlanta. Ozolua will be raising money to assist displaced victims in her inaugural Rise Above Terror African Art Gala on Saturday, April 30. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) "When people hear about Boko Haram, you think about 'Bring Back Our Girls' only, but it's much bigger than that," Ozolua said. "Figures are being thrown around about how many people are being killed. It's bigger than that. There are millions of people who have survived these attacks, seeing their families killed in front of them. Their lives are completely traumatized. Nobody is giving much attention to them. Our focus is on them. They should be assisted." "Vampire Dairies" actress Kat Graham will co-host the gala. The event will auction off African artwork including 29 paintings and 11 handmade wood and brass carvings. Ozolua, a cosmetic surgery philanthropist, has brought aid to victims in Africa since she started her nonprofit foundation, Empower 54, in 2003. But this is first time she is holding the fundraiser in the United States, calling it a "coming out party." "It's my privilege to join Empower 54 and help internally displaced persons in northeast Nigeria," said Graham, who is of Liberian descent. "The horrors of IDPs losing their loved one's possessions and rendered helpless does not make them hopeless." The Boko Haram militant group has killed and kidnapped thousands in a campaign of violence in recent years as it seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country of 170 million people that is divided almost equally between mostly Christians in the south and Muslims in the north. The Nigeria-based Islamic extremist group has forced young men to be its fighters and girls to be sex slaves or even suicide bombers. The nearly seven-year insurgency, that has launched attacks beyond Nigeria's borders into Cameroon, Chad and Niger, has killed at least 20,000 people, according to Amnesty International. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the violence has also displaced 2.8 million people in the region, mostly those from Nigeria. Millions more face dire food shortages. Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sinful," in the local Hausa language, in 2015 swore allegiance to the Islamic State group. While Boko Haram is thought to have abducted thousands of people over the years, the mass kidnapping of more than 200 girls from a school in the town of Chibok in 2014 brought the extremist group to the world's attention. Ozolua said she wants to give underprivileged children in Nigeria a better option. Last year, the princess said her event in Nigeria raised $100,000. She hopes the gala on Saturday can produce more than $400,000. "A lot of the children there are resentful and hurt," Ozolua said. "If we do not start giving them a reason to have self-worth, and get past this hurt, then someone will give them another direction to point to. Money will be applied to those camps. We have to continue to rebuild schools and provide books so they can have something positive." Ozolua attended college in Los Angeles and traveled much of the country. But she chose Atlanta for the fundraiser after hearing about the work of MedShare, a medical supply recovering organization in suburban Atlanta. The princess said she also felt good about bringing her efforts to Atlanta because of the established Nigerian community and the presence of a consulate general. She doesn't have an official sponsor, but has several partners for the event including the city of Atlanta, the Andrew Young Foundation and the Nigeria High Consulate in the city. "We are a global city with a large diaspora of people from different communities and cultures," Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall said. "Atlanta's legacy in the movement for civil and human rights compels us to partner on issues such as this." ___ Associated Press writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report. ___ Online: http://empower54.org ___ Follow Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jonathan-landrum-jr . At the Vatican, Biden seeks common cause with pope on cancer VATICAN CITY (AP) Vice President Joe Biden found common cause with Pope Francis on Friday at the Vatican for a global commitment to fund cancer research. Biden spoke at a conference on regenerative medicine and ended up sharing the stage with the pope, who used his own speech to decry a profit-driven medical research system. With light streaming through stained glass into an ornate auditorium, the pope called for empathy for the sick and communal guarantees that all have access to care. "Research, whether in academia and industry, requires unwavering attention to moral issues if it is to be an instrument which safeguards human life and the dignity of the person," the pope said. Pope Francis shakes hands with US vice president Joe Biden as he takes part at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, being held in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2016. (L'Osservatore Romano/Pool photo via AP) As he's done several times before, the pope gave voice to the moral argument behind a cause that Biden and President Barack Obama have sought to elevate, helping to skewer traditional partisan divides that tend to overtake political issues in the U.S. The Obama administration has turned to this pope for support on climate change, poverty, rapprochement with Cuba and refugees. For Biden, the stately corridors and costumed Swiss Guards of Vatican City were an about-face from the scene just hours earlier, when the vice president visited Iraq on an unannounced visit. In Iraq, Biden worked to smooth over deep sectarian tensions threatening Iraq's political system; at the Holy See, he appealed for all religions to see defeating cancer as a means to express values of faith, love and hope. Biden told the scientists, researchers and Catholic leaders that as he met with Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders in Iraq the day before, each had wanted to talk to him about one thing: the pope. "I think that's a pretty incredible thing," the vice president said. Biden, who lost a son to cancer last year, called cancer a "constant emergency" for the planet and urged philanthropists, corporations and governments to increase funding and information-sharing in a bid to "end cancer as we know it." Though he said the world is on the cusp of unprecedented breakthroughs, he added that still not done enough is being done. "Cancer's not a national problem, it's an international problem," Biden said. "It's a human problem. It affects all races, all religions." Before taking the stage, the pope greeted Biden privately in a room backstage, where the two exchanged small tokens, the White House said. They were also seen smiling and chatting together as they greeted conference attendees after their speeches, joined by the vice president's surviving son, Hunter Biden, and son-in-law Howard Krein, a physician who's been involved in Biden's cancer push. Last year, Biden's eldest son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, died from brain cancer after his family's hopes of a last-minute medical breakthrough fell short. Months later, his father declared a "moonshot" to cure cancer when he announced he wouldn't run for president. Since then, Joe Biden has launched a task force with Obama's blessing and the White House asked Congress for $1 billion over two budget years for research. Only a fraction has been approved so far. While at the Vatican, Biden met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, at the gold-adorned Treaty Room of the Apostolic Palace. Then he left Vatican City for Palazzo Chigi, the Italian premier's office in Rome, where a military band and honor guard greeted Biden and Premier Matteo Renzi by playing the American and Italian national anthems. The two held a private meeting before Biden returned to Washington. ___ Associated Press writer Frances D'Emilio contributed to this report. ___ Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP Pope Francis shakes hands with US vice president Joe Biden as he takes part at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, being held in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) US Vice President Joe Biden delivers his speech at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, being held in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) US Vice President Joe Biden enters the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, to take part at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact,, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) US Vice President Joe Biden enters the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, to take part at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) US Vice President Joe Biden delivers his speech at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, being held in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pope Francis arrives for a special audience with participants at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, being held in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi shakes hands with US vice president Joe Biden as he takes part at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, being held in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) US urges action by Bangladesh to prevent killings WASHINGTON (AP) Secretary of State John Kerry called on Bangladesh's leader to step up law enforcement to prevent a wave of killings targeting liberal voices, the State Department said Friday amid fears that the traditionally moderate South Asian nation is under threat from Islamic extremists. Kerry called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday and offered U.S. support for the investigation into the slaying of Xulhaz Mannan, a U.S. Agency for International Development employee and gay rights activist, and Tonmoi Mahbub, a theater actor. Their killings were the latest in spate of bloody attacks on secular writers, bloggers, foreigners and religious minorities that began in 2013 but have intensified in the past year. Hasina's government has blamed the political opposition for the attacks although al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have been claiming responsibility. FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2015, file photo, Bangladeshi people hold lighted candles and walk in a rally during Martyrs Day in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The slaying in Bangladesh of a U.S. Agency for International Development employee has intensified U.S. concern that the strategically located South Asian country with traditions of religious tolerance is under threat from Islamic extremists. (AP Photo/A.M.Ahad) "The secretary urged Prime Minister Hasina to ensure a thorough investigation of all of these incidents, and to redouble law enforcement efforts to prevent future attacks and protect those who are at risk," the department said in a statement. While authorities have arrested suspects in some cases, none have been prosecuted, and authorities have yet to identify the masterminds. The assaults have typically been perpetrated by young men wielding knives or machetes and spewing hateful language. Among the fatalities was Bangladeshi-American writer Avijit Roy, who was attacked on a street in the capital, Dhaka, in February 2015. Human rights groups fear for others facing militant death threats as the Bangladeshi government has appeared unsympathetic to their plight. The U.S. says it is considering providing sanctuary to some individuals at risk, although it remains unclear whether that will happen. Human rights groups have been calling for that since December. A broader concern for Washington as it struggles to counter IS worldwide is that ambitious local extremists could enable transnational jihadist groups to gain a foothold in Bangladesh despite the nation's traditions of secularism, free speech and respect for its Christian and Hindu minorities, and its successes in reducing poverty and raising life expectancy among its 160 million people. The No. 2 U.S. diplomat said Thursday that evidence to date suggests extremist groups, either local or affiliated with IS or al-Qaida, are responsible for the killings. "This gives us concern about the potential for ISIL or Daesh to take root in Bangladesh," Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, using alternative acronyms for IS. "That is the last thing we want." In February, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that Hasina's efforts to undermine the political opposition "will probably provide openings for transnational terrorist groups to expand their presence in the country." Hasina has become the country's dominant force, marginalizing the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, which boycotted the last national elections held in 2014. She has pursued war crimes prosecutions leading to death penalties for several leaders of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party, which is allied to the BNP, over alleged involvement in atrocities committed during its 1971 war of independence, when Bangladesh separated from Pakistan. The opposition denies involvement in the attacks and says it is being scapegoated for security failings. Ansar al-Islam, an affiliate of al-Qaida on the Indian subcontinent, said it had killed Mannan and Mahbub because they were "pioneers of practicing and promoting homosexuality." That claim of responsibility has not been verified. U.S. officials say they cooperate well with Bangladesh on counterterrorism and intelligence-sharing, and that despite Bangladeshi denials of the involvement of transnational jihadist groups, in recent months, U.S. and Bangladeshi officials have discussed how to alleviate the risk of those groups establishing themselves in the South Asian country. Both al-Qaida and IS have made clear they want to assert themselves in Bangladesh. In 2014, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri issued a call for jihad there, and Bangladesh has been a focus of recent articles in the Islamic State group's online magazine, Dabiq. Germany worries migrants will try to reach Europe from Libya BERLIN (AP) German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has told reporters the government is concerned that an increasing number of migrants will try to reach Europe this summer by crossing the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy. De Maiziere and his Austrian counterpart, Walter Sobotka, met Friday, and both ministers said that Italy needs to do more to protect its southern sea border. Shipping containers offer welcome homes in Phoenix PHOENIX (AP) A stack of shipping containers sitting in a lot in an industrial section of Phoenix has some developers thinking inside the box. The structures usually used to transport cargo have been transformed into eight apartments. Scuff marks, old serial numbers and shipping company logos remain, but a look inside each unit reveals a 740-square-foot modern home. "It doesn't even feel like a shipping container. It's also insulated really well," said Patrick Tupas, who is in the Air Force and along with his wife signed a one-year lease for $1,000 a month. "It just feels like a regular apartment." In this Wednesday, March 16, 2016, photo, Patrick Tupas, right, with his wife, Maria Real-Tupas, sit on the roof of their shipping container apartment, in Phoenix. In the Containers on Grand project, the apartments are designed in a way that retains the corrugated metal exteriors. Each unit is made of two containers, but inside there are no signs of the cargo hauling days. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) There was a downside, he said passers-by asking questions and sometimes pressing to see inside their home. Housing and retail projects using the containers have popped up in recent years in Las Vegas, Detroit and Washington, D.C., as developers and cities try to cater to millennials and baby boomers who want to live closer to the cultural offerings in urban hubs. To meet those needs, "cargotecture" has become a quick way to fill urban housing gaps. "They are faster, cheaper and now potentially have much more of an aesthetic range," said Dana Cuff, director of cityLAB, a think tank at UCLA that looks at architecture and urban growth. Some mask their shipping origins, but the ones in Phoenix don't, she said. "They're celebrating them," Cuff said. In the Containers on Grand project in Phoenix, the architecture firm, StarkJames, designed the apartments in a way that retained the corrugated metal exteriors. Each unit is made of two containers, but inside there are no signs of the cargo hauling days. The walls are painted white. The original wood flooring is encased in epoxy. There is enough space for a bedroom and living area. The two rooms are connected by two separate hallways. One hallway has the kitchen, oven and some counter space. The other one has closet space and a nook. There is also a washer and dryer unit. Monthly rent averages about $1,000. All but two of the eight units are occupied. One is being marketed as a vacation rental. In Washington's Brookland neighborhood, university students and young professionals have been living in a four-story housing cluster since September 2014. In Las Vegas, containers make up the building blocks of a downtown retail complex. In Detroit, Three Squared Construction is working on $14 million in new projects involving shipping containers because they save time. The company erected the city's first residential shipping-container development in April 2015. The three-story building is used as a showcase with the top floor periodically rented out. CEO Leslie Horn said there's been a high demand among millennials and "empty-nesters." With containers, they only save about 5 percent in lumber costs but even more in terms of time spent. "You're saving a lot of time by getting it done faster," Horn said. StarkJames, of Scottsdale, is on track to build 12 more container homes in downtown Phoenix that will be stacked three-stories high. Despite the progress, they still get ribbing from others in the industry. "We work with a lot of other developers," architect Brian Stark said. "They always ask 'How are the garbage can homes going?'" But the firm is taking the teasing in stride. The downtown development will be called The Oscar after Oscar the Grouch, whose trash can makes him the only container-dweller on "Sesame Street." In this Wednesday, March 16, 2016, photo, Patrick Tupas, right, with his wife, Maria Real-Tupas, who is holding their dog Moon Moon Fitzgerald, sit in the living room at their shipping container apartment in Phoenix. It doesnt even feel like a shipping container. Its also insulated really well, said Patrick Tupas, who is in the Air Force. It just feels like a regular apartment. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) In this Wednesday, March 16, 2016, photo, Patrick Tupas, right, with his wife, Maria Real-Tupas, sit on the roof of their shipping container apartment, as their dog Moon Moon Fitzgerald stands at the front door, in Phoenix. In the Containers on Grand project, the apartments are designed in a way that retains the corrugated metal exteriors. Each unit is made of two containers, but inside there are no signs of the cargo hauling days. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) In this Wednesday, March 16, 2016, photo, Patrick Tupas, right, with his wife, Maria Real-Tupas, who is holding their dog Moon Moon Fitzgerald, sit in the living room at their shipping container apartment in Phoenix. It doesnt even feel like a shipping container. Its also insulated really well, said Patrick Tupas, who is in the Air Force. It just feels like a regular apartment. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) This Wednesday, March 16, 2016, photo shows a view of a shipping container apartment development in Phoenix. In the Containers on Grand project, the apartments are designed in a way that retains the corrugated metal exteriors. Each unit is made of two containers, but inside there are no signs of the cargo hauling days. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) In this Wednesday, March 16, 2016, photo, Patrick Tupas arrives at his shipping container apartment unit after work where he, his wife and dog live, in Phoenix. In the Containers on Grand project, the apartments are designed in a way that retains the corrugated metal exteriors. Each unit is made of two containers, but inside there are no signs of the cargo hauling days. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) 3 with family ties to San Bernardino shooters arrested RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) The brother of the man behind the San Bernardino terror attack and two Russian sisters have been charged with marriage fraud in a case that was unrelated to the December shootings but came to light in the investigation that followed it. The accused include Syed Raheel Farook. His brother and sister-in-law, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, died in a shootout with police after killing 14 people and wounding 22 others on Dec. 2. Also arrested Thursday were Syed Raheel Farook's wife, Tatiana, and her sister, Mariya Chernykh. Prosecutors say Mariya's marriage to Enrique Marquez Jr., the only person charged in the shootings, was a sham designed to enable her to obtain legal status in the U.S. after overstaying a visitor visa in 2009. Members of the media stand outside the home of Syed Raheel Farook, the elder brother of San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook, after the FBI served a warrant to the location, in Corona, Calif., Thursday, April 28, 2016. Syed Raheel Farook was arrested with two others Thursday in what prosecutors say was a marriage scheme to fraudulently allow one of them to remain in the United States. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) Marquez confessed to the scheme when authorities questioned him about the shootings, and he acknowledged getting $200 a month to marry Chernykh, according to his criminal complaint. The three each entered not guilty pleas at an arraignment late Thursday afternoon in federal court in Riverside. They were ordered to stand trial June 21 in federal court in Los Angeles. Federal Judge David Bristow also scheduled a pretrial conference for June 6 in Los Angeles. Bristow ordered that Chernykh, who prosecutors allege was most culpable for the sham marriage, be subject to electronic monitoring. Her boyfriend, who is the father of her child, arrived in court late Thursday afternoon to tell the judge he would post her $50,000 bond. The mother of the Farook brothers posted bonds of $25,000 each for her oldest son and his wife. Her son left court shortly thereafter, declining to speak to reporters. His wife was expected to be released later in the evening. Farook, who like the others appeared in court with shackles on his hands and feet, wept at times during his arraignment and bail hearing, including when his mother came forward to tell the judge she was posting bail. "This is about a misrepresentation of an act of marriage. This is not about terrorism," his attorney, Ronald Cordova, told Bristow as he argued for a reasonable bail, maintaining that Farook is not a flight risk or a danger to society. Outside court he said Farook has cooperated with federal authorities throughout the terrorist investigation. "I think his thorough cooperation may have led to some of the trouble he's going through now," Cordova said, adding that in discussing his family situation forthrightly Farook never stopped to consider that he might be involved in any illegal activity regarding his sister-in-law's marriage. If convicted of conspiracy to make false statements on federal immigration documents, the Farooks and Chernykh face up to five years in prison. Chernykh also is charged with fraud, misuse of visas and other documents, perjury and two counts of making false statements, which could mean up to 25 years in prison. The government may have brought the charges as a bargaining chip in order to get more information that the Farooks and Chernykh haven't shared, said James Wedick, a former FBI agent who was with the agency 35 years. "It suggests to me they weren't talking so the government decided to ask a grand jury to return charges," Wedick said. "If they were cooperating, they'd probably make some kind of deal." While the government can benefit from continued interviews with the trio, Wedick said they also stand to benefit. "It's a mechanism for both the government and the defense lawyers to use to better their position with the government trying to get information relative to terrorism, and the defense looking to resolve the matter without prison time," he said. According to an indictment unsealed Thursday, Syed Raheel and Tatiana Farook participated in the sham by acting as witnesses to the union of her sister and Marquez, and by creating a joint checking account along with a backdated lease to make it appear as if all four of them lived together. Tatiana Farook also accompanied her sister to buy a $50 wedding ring, and Marquez and Chernykh posed in photographs that were staged to make the marriage appear real, prosecutors said. All the while, Marquez was living with his mother next door to the house where the Farook brothers grew up, and Chernykh was living in a different city with her boyfriend, according to the criminal complaint against Marquez. The FBI has not ruled out that someone other than the dead couple knew about or helped plan the attack. "Those questions are still lingering," Eimiller said. "Did they have help? Did they have some support of any form? This is very much a continuing investigation and will be for some time." Syed Rizwan Farook's family maintains they had no inkling about the plot. His mother, Rafia Farook, lived with him, Tashfeen Malik, and their newborn daughter in a townhome near San Bernardino. She said she never saw anything to suggest her son and daughter-in-law were planning a massacre. Malik was from Pakistan and came to the U.S. in July 2014 so she could marry Rizwan Farook, whose parents were born in Pakistan. Farook was born in Chicago and grew up in Southern California. ___ The Latest: Albania stages exercise to prepare for migrants BERLIN (AP) The Latest on Europe's response to migrants (all times local): 11:15 a.m. Albania's Defense Ministry says the navy and law enforcement authorities have held joint sea military exercises in preparation of a possible influx of refugees. A man walks on the rail tracks of a train station turned into a makeshift camp crowded by migrants and refugees, at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Friday, April 29, 2016. Many thousands of migrants remain at the Greek border with Macedonia, hoping that the border crossing will reopen, allowing them to move north into central Europe. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) A statement Friday said some navy ships held the codenamed "Vlora Sarex 16" exercises at Vlora Bay, 145 kilometers (90 miles) south of the capital, Tirana, simulating "prevention of human trafficking and stopping traffickers ... and also a search-and-rescue operation." Albania, a NATO member since 2009, borders Greece, where tens of thousands of migrants have been stranded after the closure of the Balkan corridor, and Macedonia. Though it hasn't been a transit route so far, Albania is cooperating with the European agencies to prepare for a possible flow of migrants. ___ 10:20 a.m. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has told reporters the government is concerned that an increasing number of migrants will try to reach Europe this summer by crossing the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy. De Maiziere and his Austrian counterpart, Walter Sobotka, met Friday, and both ministers said that Italy needs to do more to protect its southern sea border. With the flow of people across the eastern Mediterranean slowing sharply due to the NATO patrols and an EU agreement to return illegal migrants to Turkey, officials say it is likely that those trying to reach Europe will increasingly try to set off from Libya again. The route has seen a number of mass drownings over the past year of migrants packed into unseaworthy boats. The Latest: Biden's grand welcome at Italian PM's residence VATICAN CITY (AP) The Latest on Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Vatican City and Rome (all times local): 3:15 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden has received a grand welcome at the Palazzo Chigi that's the Rome residence of Italy's prime minister. US Vice President Joe Biden, right, listens to the national anthems with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as he arrives for a meeting, in Rome's Palazzo Chigi government office, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) An honor guard and military band awaited Biden in black uniforms and red and white hats. Biden and Premier Matteo Renzi stood together as the band played the American and Italian anthems. The leaders then strolled along a red carpet into the palace for a private meeting. The White House hasn't said what's on the agenda. But Italy, the U.S. and other countries are struggling to deal with the instability in Libya that has fueled the growth of the Islamic State group in the North African nation. Biden plans to return to Washington after his meeting with Renzi. ___ 1:15 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden is meeting with the Vatican's secretary of state at the Apostolic Palace. Cardinal Pietro Parolin awaited Biden in the gold-adorned Treaty Room. The two exchanged a few jokes and said they were glad to see each other again as they prepared to start their meeting. The White House hasn't said what issues the two leaders planned to discuss in their private meeting. The sit-down with the cardinal is Biden's last stop at the Vatican. He spoke earlier at a conference on regenerative medicine in Vatican City and greeted Pope Francis. Biden plans to meet with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi before returning to Washington. ___ 12:50 p.m. Vice President Joe Biden has spoken privately with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Biden is in Vatican City to speak about cancer research at a conference on regenerative medicine. The pope also spoke at the conference, after Biden. The White House says in between their speeches, the pope greeted Biden privately offstage. They also exchanged small tokens. Biden and the pope also spoke briefly after their speeches to the conference as they greeted others in attendance. They were seen smiling and chatting briefly in front of the stage. Biden was joined by his son, Hunter, and his daughter Ashley Biden's husband, Howard Krein. Biden's son in law is a physician who has been involved in his push on cancer research. Biden's other son, Beau, died of cancer last year. ___ 12:35 p.m. Pope Francis is stressing that stressing that research advances in curing diseases must be available to all people. The pope was addressing a conference at the Vatican Friday about regenerative medicine, which included a speech by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden about cancer research. Francis says research, both academic and industrial must give "unwavering attention" to moral issues, so it will "safeguard human life and the dignity of the person." The pope cited his previous comments that when it comes to health care and other areas of progress, "an economy of exclusion and inequality" must be opposed because that would mean "the mechanism of profit prevails over the value of human life." ___ 11:40 a.m. Vice President Joe Biden says the world is on the cusp of unprecedented scientific discoveries and medical breakthroughs. But he says it's critical not to forget that real people's lives are behind that work. Biden is speaking about cancer research at the Vatican at a conference on regenerative medicine. He's reflecting on the death of his son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, to brain cancer last year. Biden says there's always a child, spouse or loved one in pain. He says they're sustained by the hope that there will be a cure. The vice president says the international community must tackle cancer the way it tackles infectious disease. He's calling for greater data-sharing and more global investment in research. Biden says philanthropists, governments and corporations should all step up. ___ 9 a.m. Having pushed to accelerate cancer research at home, Vice President Joe Biden is working to focus the global community's attention on the devastating disease in a speech at the Vatican. At a conference on regenerative medicine Friday, Biden plans to draw connections between medical research and broader societal issues that Pope Francis has shined a light on. Biden will see the pontiff, who also speaks at the conference, but it's unclear whether they will hold a substantial meeting. Last year, Biden lost a son to brain cancer. Months later he declared a "moonshot" to cure cancer. Biden, a Catholic, also plans to meet with Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the Apostolic Palace. He'll also visit Palazzo Chigi to meet with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi before returning to Washington on Friday afternoon. US Vice President Joe Biden, left, reviews a honor guard with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi as he arrives for a meeting, in Rome's Palazzo Chigi government office, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Pope Francis shakes hands with US vice president Joe Biden as he takes part at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, being held in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) US Vice President Joe Biden enters the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, to take part at a congress on the progress of regenerative medicine and its cultural impact, Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) French politicians decry violence at Nuit Debout protest PARIS (AP) French politicians are decrying the violence that erupted at the edges of anti-labor reform protests in Paris and other French cities. French Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 214 people have been arrested nationwide and 78 police officers suffered injuries during clashes on Thursday. In all, 961 people have been arrested during protests in the last few months, Cazeneuve said in a speech Friday in the eastern city of Strasbourg. Protestors damage a car during clashes with riot police officers as part of a demonstration against the proposed changes to France's working week and layoff practices, in Paris, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Protesters across France are again marching to voice their anger at labor reforms being championed by the country's Socialist government. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Paris police overnight evicted anti-reform demonstrators from the "Nuit Debout" ("Night Rising") group from their encampment in the city's Place de la Republique. French protests are routinely marred by clashes as masked rioters smash shops or pelt riot police with projectiles. But Thursday night's clashes were particularly violent. Paris police said they were challenged by about 100 "particularly virulent" demonstrators while trying to clear Place de la Republique early Thursday. Rowdy Trump protests portend explosive California primary BURLINGAME, Calif. (AP) Hundreds of rowdy protesters broke through barricades and threw eggs at police Friday outside a hotel where Donald Trump addressed the state's Republican convention. Several Trump supporters said they were roughed up but no serious injuries were reported. The protest just outside San Francisco occurred a day after anti-Trump protesters took to the streets in Southern California, blocking traffic and damaging five police cars in Costa Mesa following a speech by the leader in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Demonstrators at both locations waved Mexican flags, an action meant to counter Trump's hard stance on immigration and disparaging remarks about Mexico. Police officers push down barricades used by a group protesting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel during the California Republican Party 2016 convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Because of the protest, Trump was rerouted to a back entrance. In a surreal scene, news helicopters showed the billionaire businessman and his security detail walking between two concrete freeway barriers before hopping down onto a grass verge and walking across a service road. "That was not the easiest entrance I ever made," Trump quipped when he started speaking to the convention delegates. "It felt like I was crossing the border." Outside, crowds of anti-Trump demonstrators broke through steel barricades and pelted riot police with eggs as the officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder to keep the demonstrators from entering the hotel. A man wearing a red hat bearing the Trump campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" was punched in the head from behind while being jostled by a group of shouting protesters. Another Trump supporter said he was punched and spit upon by demonstrators who also threw his phone to the ground. "It went gangbusters. They attacked me," said Chris Conway, a mortgage broker from San Mateo. Burlingame is right outside San Francisco, a liberal bastion that became the focal point of the immigration debate last year when an immigrant in the country illegally, and who had been deported multiple times, shot and killed a woman walking with her father. Immigration has been one of Trump's main issues and he often has highlighted the San Francisco killing while touting his plan to build a wall along the entire Mexican border. California's primary is June 7, a date once seen as too late to influence the selection process. Now it is seen as the election that either gets Trump over the threshold needed for the nomination or leaves him just short. He'll likely make many visits to California in coming weeks. That and his hard stand on immigration in a state where millions of immigrants live and that's run by Democrats who generally support more benefits, services and job opportunities for those in the country illegally raise the prospects of more raucous demonstrations. In Orange County, once a Republican stronghold but now home to a surging Hispanic population, a vocal but peaceful demonstration before a rally and Trump speech turned violent afterward. At least 17 people were arrested, five police cars were damaged and an officer was hit in the head by a rock but not seriously hurt, authorities said. One Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the Pacific Amphitheatre area. Dozens of cars including those of Trump supporters trying to leave were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies in front of lines of riot police. There were no major injuries and police did not use any force. ___ Flaccus reported from Santa Ana, California. AP reporter Terence Chea contributed to this report from Burlingame and AP reporter Amy Taxin contributed from Costa Mesa, California. Police officers take a man into custody who was protesting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel during the California Republican Party 2016 convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Erik Lopez, dressed as "Captain Mexico", stands in front of police officers while protesting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel during the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Police officers take a man into custody who was protesting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel during the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Police officers push back a group protesting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel during the California Republican Party 2016 convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the California Republican Party 2016 convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump supporters Cheryl McDonald, left, and Carolyn Gibbs pose for photos before Trump speaks at the California Republican Party 2016 convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump supporter Luisa Aranda gestures as she is interviewed before Trump spoke at the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) UK lawyer: Boyfriend of actress admits killing her LONDON (AP) A lawyer says the boyfriend of a British actress has admitted killing her and her two young children. Defense attorney Jim Sturman told a British court at hearing Friday that Arthur Simpson-Kent admitted killing his partner Sian Blake and her children, 8-year-old Zachary and 4-year-old Amon. Simpson-Kent, 48, appeared via video link from Belmarsh prison. He will remain in custody until July 29, when he is expected to enter a plea. Simpson-Kent flew to Ghana after speaking to detectives in Britain on Dec. 16 about Blake and the children, who had been reported missing. Their bodies were found in January. Ghanaian police arrested him on Jan. 9 in the western coastal town of Butre. He did not contest extradition. Sri Lankan protest demands new probe of journalist's killing COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Hundreds of journalists and media rights activists protested on Friday to demand Sri Lanka's new government start a fresh investigation into the abduction and killing of a prominent ethnic Tamil journalist 11 years ago, during the country's civil war. Those demonstrating in front of Colombo's main railroad station said Dharmeratnam Sivaram was targeted because of uncompromising coverage of political and military matters. Media rights activist Lasantha Ruhunage said even 11 years after, the law enforcement authorities have failed to find the killers and "therefore they should start a fresh investigation and bring the culprits before law." Sri Lankan journalists shout slogans holding a portrait of killed journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram during a protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, April 29, 2016. Hundreds of journalists and media rights activists have protested to demand Sri Lanka's government start a fresh investigation into the abduction and killing of a prominent ethnic Tamil journalist 11 years ago, during the country's civil war. Placard in center reads Sivaram Where is the justice in Sinhala language. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Sivaram was found dead on April 29, 2005, in the capital, Colombo, after being abducted the previous evening. The 30-year civil war ended in 2009 after government troops defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels, who fought to create a separate state for minority Tamils. Scores of journalists and media workers were killed during the war, and several dozen journalists fled the country. The government has promised to implement a compensation plan for 44 journalists and other media workers killed under the former government, but Ruhunage said "more than compensation, the attacks on journalists, media workers and media institutions should be properly investigated and those responsible for the attacks should be punished, in order to ensure justice to the media community." Man shot at TV station charged with arson, other charges BALTIMORE (AP) Criminal charges have been filed against a man shot and wounded by police after walking into a Baltimore TV station wearing an animal costume and a fake bomb, authorities said Friday. Alex Michael Brizzi, 25, of Elkridge, has been charged with arson, malicious burning, threat of arson, reckless endangerment and possessing a phony destructive device, said Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis. Davis said Brizzi walked into the vestibule of Baltimore's Fox 45 TV station just before 1:30 p.m. on Thursday wearing a hedgehog costume and a surgical mask "associated with Japanese anime culture," with a red vest strapped to his torso. Brizzi left the vestibule about 3 p.m., and refused to comply with officers' commands to put his hands up in the air. Brizzi was shot at least three times by police. He was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma and is expected to survive his wounds. A man wearing a full animal costume and surgical mask walks out of a TV station in Baltimore, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Baltimore police say a department sniper shot the man, who police say walked into a TV station displaying what appeared to be an explosive device on his chest. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun via AP) WASHINGTON EXAMINER OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Before entering the station, Brizzi set his own car on fire. Davis said a search warrant was executed on both Brizzi's home and his car, and that no explosives or replica explosives were found. He said the event is in no way connected to any type of organized terrorism. Brizzi's father said his son believed the world was ending and might have been trying to get the message out. Edward Brizzi of Elkridge, Maryland, told news outlets after the shooting on Thursday that his son had a breakdown two weeks ago and said he had a vision from God that the world would end next month. His son was shot four times, but is expected to survive, he said. Edward Brizzi said he didn't know why he chose Fox affiliate WBFF-TV on Baltimore's TV hill. "I think what it is, he wanted to go to a media outlet so he pass his message on that the world's going to end on June the third," Edward Brizzi said in an interview with the TV station. Alex Brizzi gave a flash drive to a security guard and told him he wanted the station to broadcast its contents. Police later determined that what Brizzi claimed to be a bomb consisted of aluminum-wrapped chocolate bars duct-taped to a flotation device. Smith said police don't know what was on the drive. Police said Alex Brizzi barricaded himself inside the station after it was evacuated and his car became engulfed in flames outside as police, fire, arson, bomb squad and SWAT teams arrived. Police don't know what caused the fire. Brizzi then walked out of the building and into the street, where he ignored heavily armed officers' orders to show his hands. Police shot him and then communicated with him via a bomb-detecting robot. When the Brizzi removed the fake bomb, paramedics rushed to him and put him in an ambulance, Smith said. About two weeks ago, Alex Brizzi broke up with his girlfriend and appeared to have a breakdown, Edward Brizzi told news media outlets. He was found sleeping in a neighbor's yard and it took seven police officers to hold him down as he was taken to a local hospital, he said. Brizzi said his son, who lives in the basement of his home, had been reserved since his breakdown, but he didn't have any way of making a bomb and his father didn't know he was planning anything like this. "What he was doing was probably putting himself out there thinking that he wanted to die, I think," he told the station. He said his wife found something with wires in their son's room Wednesday night when Alex Brizzi was out, but they didn't think anything of it, Edward Brizzi said. "It just didn't connect," he said. Brizzi said he agrees with how police handled the situation. "They've got to do their job; they can't assume it's candy bars wrapped around his side," he said. "I'm a firm believer in police." Brizzi said he and his wife couldn't force their son to get treatment after his breakdown since he is an adult, but he said he believes Alex Brizzi will go to a mental health center after he recovers from his physical wounds. "We really didn't think he was a risk to himself and he's never been a risk to anyone else," he said. A man wearing a full animal costume and surgical mask walks out of a TV station in Baltimore, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Baltimore police say a department sniper shot the man, who police say walked into a TV station displaying what appeared to be an explosive device on his chest. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun via AP) WASHINGTON EXAMINER OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Poland again denies entry to nationalist Russian bikers WARSAW, Poland (AP) Poland's foreign minister said Friday that "security regulations" were behind the decision to ban pro-Kremlin Russian bikers from riding through Poland as they mark the anniversary of the end of World War II. It is Poland's second such ban on the nationalistic Night Wolves club. The ban in April 2015 came amid tension between Warsaw and Moscow over Russia's actions in Ukraine. Poland called the ride a provocation. Bilateral relations have deteriorated further after a right-wing government distrustful of Moscow took power in Poland in the fall. In Moscow, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Poland's ambassador, Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz, to protest this "particularly cynical and malicious gesture aimed at deliberate deterioration in Russian-Polish relations. " It said the ban deprived Russian citizens of the possibility to "pay tribute to Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Europe from fascism." Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said that the bikers were refused entry into Poland due to security concerns. He did not elaborate. Ministry spokesman Artur Dmochowski said the decision was dictated by the need to assure public order, and added that Russia's actions are aimed at discrediting Poland. The bikers were planning to pass through Poland on their way from Moscow to Berlin to commemorate the Russian Red Army's and Allied defeat of Nazi Germany 71 years ago. Following the ban in 2015, the bikers took routes bypassing Poland. An organization of Polish bikers that stays in touch with the Night Wolves said the Russians were planning to visit Red Army war cemeteries in Warsaw and Wroclaw and the former Nazi German death camp of Auschwitz, where thousands of Russian prisoners of war were among the victims. Jamaican policewoman shot several times at bus stop dies KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) Authorities in Jamaica say a 54-year-old policewoman was shot several times at a bus stop in the capital of Kingston and has died. Police said Friday that they are searching for two men in the killing of Judith Williams. They said she was attacked early Thursday by two men on a motorcycle for unknown reasons. 2 Birmingham men accused of funding Brussels bomb suspect LONDON (AP) Two Birmingham men were accused in court Friday of giving money to a key suspect in the Brussels and Paris bombings in a case that may link British residents to those plots. Prosecutors said in Westminster Magistrates Court Friday that Mohammed Ali Ahmed and Zakaria Boufassil, both 26, allegedly gave more than 3,000 pounds ($4,400) to suspect Mohamed Abrini in Birmingham in July. The two suspects are charged with violating Britain's Terrorism Act by providing someone with money that they knew, or had reason to believe, would be used for terrorism. Abrini, who is in custody, was the "man in the hat" seen on video footage moments before the deadly March 22 bombings at Brussels airport that killed 16 people. He was also wanted in the Nov. 13 attacks on Paris that claimed 130 lives. A third suspect from Birmingham, Soumaya Boufassil, 29, was also charged along with Ahmed with preparing acts of terrorism between Jan.1, 2015 and April 8. She wore a burka in court and spoke only to confirm name, date of birth and address. The two men also provided personal details but no other information. Man who stalked woman from India to US sentenced in Texas MCKINNEY, Texas (AP) A 32-year-old Los Angeles man who stalked a woman for almost a decade after he met her in India has been sentenced to 17 years in prison after a Texas jury convicted him of breaking into her Dallas-area apartment and setting up a false credit tracking account to locate her. Attorneys for Jitender Singh tell The Dallas Morning News (http://bit.ly/1VEwdf0 ) they'll appeal this week's verdict from a Collin County jury. Prosecutors say Singh was arrested after breaking into the woman's Plano apartment in 2014 and stealing several items. Prosecutors say the two were college classmates in Delhi, India, that she refused a 2006 marriage proposal and that Singh assaulted her father in India. They say he followed her back to the U.S., to California, New York and then to Texas. ___ Finnish report highlights Russian threat of NATO membership HELSINKI (AP) Finland could expect "harsh" reactions from Russia if it decided to join NATO, but would be better off doing so together with neighboring Sweden, an expert panel told the Finnish government on Friday. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned of a "military-technical" response if its "neutral neighbors" became members of the alliance. NATO supporters in the two non-aligned Nordic countries have stepped up calls for membership following the Ukraine crisis and increased assertiveness by Russian forces around the Baltic Sea. Both Finland and Sweden have deepened their partnership with the alliance in recent years but have so far not sought membership, partly because of concern over the Russian reaction. "It's one thing to have neutral neighbors in the north and another to have neighbors who are members of the North Atlantic alliance," Lavrov told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter in an interview published Friday. Asked how Russia would react if Sweden joined the alliance, Lavrov said Moscow "will of course take all necessary military-technical measures at our northern borders, since on the other side of the border there is a military-political bloc that considers Russia as a threat and is trying to contain her in every way." The interview coincided with the release in Finland of a government-commissioned report on the implications of joining NATO. Referring to Russia's reactions to NATO's enlargement in the past, the report said the "political and economic reactions may be strong, even harsh, notably during the transition phase. Even while stopping short of the use of force, specific counter-measures would be difficult to predict." Both countries are concerned about Russian military activities in the region, underscored by hunts for unidentified foreign submarines in Swedish and Finnish waters, and occasional airspace violations by Russian aircraft. In a brief conclusion, the 60-page report stresses the importance of mutual cooperation between the Nordic neighbors when decisions are made about joining NATO, saying it would be "considerably more benign for Finland" if the two countries joined at the same time than if Finland joined alone. "Similarly, a Swedish decision to join NATO and a Finnish decision not to join would leave Finland isolated and exposed," said the report. The two neighbors have worked with the alliance since the mid-1990s when they joined NATO's Partnership for Peace and have actively contributed forces to NATO-led peacekeeping and monitoring missions. Also, they engage in dozens of exercises annually with alliance members and their militaries' weaponry is NATO-compatible. Visiting Helsinki this week, NATO Gen. Petr Pavel told reporters that should Finland decide to join the Atlantic alliance, "it's a matter of just technical procedures." Swedish researchers say it would be even easier for Sweden to integrate. "Sweden is often referred to as the best non-NATO member or partnership country No.1," said Fredrik Doeser, from the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and National Defense University. Joining might be easy technically, but finding the political will is more difficult. Polls in Sweden suggest that the country is split on membership, while a majority in Finland continues to oppose membership. Both countries have a history of neutrality. Sweden became a neutral nation at the end of the Napoleonic wars and stayed out of World Wars I and II. It has deepened its partnership with NATO in recent years, and Swedish fighter jets participated in a NATO-led air campaign in Libya in 2011. Finland, which gained independence from Russia in 1917 after a century of being part of Czarist Empire, didn't declare itself neutral until the mid-1950s, with the memory of two bitter wars against its huge eastern Soviet neighbor hanging over it. In Sweden, opponents of NATO membership, especially among the left and the Greens, feel the nation would lose sovereignty and would be only a minor player in the alliance. Others fear NATO might install nuclear weapons on its soil. Sweden's center-right opposition is positive toward membership and reacted angrily to Lavrov's comments. "Our foreign and security policy is decided by Sweden, not by Russian threats," said Annie Loof, leader of the Center Party. Karin Enstrom, the foreign policy spokeswoman for the main opposition Moderate Party, urged the Swedish Foreign Ministry to summon the Russian ambassador to explain Lavrov's words. In Finland, NATO membership is more of a hot potato. It's not much discussed in a country of coalition governments where consensus rules. Generally, politicians talk about the "NATO option," meaning that Finland has the possibility of applying for membership someday. "It's a controversial subject and politicians are reluctant to speculate and disagree because consensus would be impossible," says Mika Aaltola from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. "And Finnish foreign policy is dominated by consensus." He also points to fears of Moscow's reaction. Russia's nuclear nightmare flows down radioactive river MUSLYUMOVO, Russia (AP) At first glance, Gilani Dambaev looks like a healthy 60-year-old man and the river flowing past his rural family home appears pristine. But Dambaev is riddled with diseases that his doctors link to a lifetime's exposure to excessive radiation, and the Geiger counter beeps loudly as a reporter strolls down to the muddy riverbank. Some 50 kilometers (30 miles) upstream from Dambaev's crumbling village lies Mayak, a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the country's biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facility's decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. The results can be felt in every aching household along the Techa, where doctors record rates of chromosomal abnormalities, birth defects and cancers vastly higher than the Russian average and citizens such as Dambaev are left to rue the government's failure over four decades to admit the danger. In this photo taken on Thursday, April 7, 2016, an old man fishes in a lake that connects to the nearby Techa River, near the village of Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, which is polluted with radioactive waste from Mayak nuclear plant. Mayak has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) "Sometimes they would put up signs warning us not to swim in the river, but they never said why," said Dambaev, a retired construction worker who like his wife, brother, children and grandchildren have government-issued cards identifying them as residents of radiation-tainted territory. "After work, we would go swimming in the river. The kids would too." Thousands already have been resettled by Russia's Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corp. to new homes two kilometers (a mile) inland from the river, leaving Dambaev's village of Muslyumovo in a state of steady decay as shops close and abandoned homes are bulldozed. The evacuations began in 2008, two decades after Russia started to admit disasters past and present stretching from Mayak's earliest days in the late 1940s as the maker of plutonium for the first Soviet atomic bombs. The question, 30 years after the former Soviet Union's greatest nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, is whether Mayak is truly cleaning up its act or remains primed to inflict more invisible damage on Russians. Nuclear regulators say waste no longer reaches the river following the last confirmed dumping scandal in 2004, but anti-nuclear activists say it's impossible to tell given the level of state secrecy. Vladimir Slivyak, an activist for the Russian environmentalist group EcoDefense, has visited villages downstream from Mayak many times to help document the poor health of locals in the area, 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) east of Moscow near Russia's border with Kazakhstan. "My opinion is they're still dumping radioactive waste," he said, "but proving that is impossible unless Mayak says: 'Yes, we're dumping radioactive waste.'" The Nuclear Safety Institute at the Russian Academy of Sciences, which oversees safety standards for the country's nuclear industry, told the AP that Mayak's nuclear waste processing system presents no danger to the surrounding population. The plant also manufactures a range of radioactive isotopes of use for specialist equipment, medical research and cancer treatments that generate lucrative contracts worldwide. Rosatom spokesman Vladislav Bochkov, in response to several Associated Press requests seeking an interview to discuss Mayak's safety standards and operations, sent an email Thursday denying Mayak dumps nuclear waste in the river. Bochkov said the complex "follows all the environmental protection guidelines and has all the approvals it needs for operation." "The level of pollution in the Techa River today completely complies with the sanitary standards of the Russian Federation," he wrote. He said the river water is clean: "You can drink it endlessly." But when the AP took a Geiger counter to the riverbank outside Dambaev's home, the meter reading surged at the water line and the machine began beeping loudly and continuously. Measurements ranged from 8.5 to 9.8 microsieverts 80 to 100 times the level of naturally occurring background radiation. A typical chest X-ray involves a burst of about 100 microsieverts. Nuclear Safety Institute member Leonid Bolshov bills these levels as safe, saying: "The level of pollution in the water today is incomparably less to what it used to be." What it used to be is pretty bad. Environmentalists estimate that Mayak tossed 76 million cubic meters (2.68 billion cubic feet) of untreated waste enough to fill more than 30,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools into the river from 1948 to the mid-1950s as nuclear scientists scrambled to catch up to the U.S. nuclear program. In September 1957, underground storage tanks of overheating nuclear waste exploded, sending a cloud of nuclear fallout 300 kilometers (200 miles) northeast across 217 towns and villages containing 272,000 people, a minority of which were quietly evacuated over the following two years. A decade later, a nearby lake used to dispose of nuclear waste dried up amid a summer drought, and high winds whipped the exposed powdery residue to many of the same population centers. Greenpeace estimates the fallout reached 68 towns and villages containing 42,000 people. Russia suppressed all news of both disasters until the late 1980s, when it acknowledged the two accidents and the Mayak site's very existence. In 1993, Russia said the two accidents combined with longer-term dumping of waste into the river meant that an estimated 450,000 people had been exposed to excess radiation from Mayak. It offered no breakdown of immediate deaths, accelerated deaths or increased rates of illness and disease in the populace. A 2005 criminal case against Mayak's then-director, Vitaly Sadovnikov, revealed that the plant continued to dump at least 30 million cubic meters (1 billion cubic feet) of untreated nuclear waste into the river from 2001 to 2004. Prosecution documents said the dumping quadrupled the volume of the radioactive isotope strontium-90 in the river. A study by Greenpeace in 2007, citing hospital records and door-to-door surveys of Muslyumovo residents, reported cancer rates 3.6 times higher than the Russian national average. Russian scientists have reported residents suffer 25 times more genetic defects than the general population. A decades-long Radiation Research Society study of people living near the Techa River conducted jointly by Russian and American scientists has linked radiation particularly to higher rates of cancer of the uterus and esophagus. In their latest 2015 report, the scientists analyzed 17,435 residents born before 1956, among them 1,933 with cancer. They found that the vast majority of residents had accumulated heightened deposits of strontium-90 in their bones and such "radiation exposure has increased the risks for most solid cancers." Such figures come as no surprise to one of Muslyumovo's longest-serving doctors, Gulfarida Galimova, a gynecologist and family general practitioner who started work in the village's hospital in 1981. Galimova says she was immediately struck by the exceptional volume of pediatric emergencies involving miscarriages, early and still births, and newborns with malformed limbs and other defects. Still, like others she did not know Mayak unmarked on any map at the time and still off-limits to the public today even existed. She recalls 1980s mornings of blissful ignorance washing her hair in the deceptively soft waters of the Techa. "The water was nice and not calcified. Soft water. Your hair would be so fluffy," Galimova recalled. She was among some 280 households that accepted Rosatom's offer to abandon their homes in Muslyumovo for new two-story homes away from the river in what today is called New Muslyumovo. But her 2012 move came too late for her own family. A son born in the village in 1985, and a grandson born last year, both have birth defects that she blames on Mayak radiation. Her son has a club foot; her grandson has heart deformities. One of her neighbors in New Muslyumovo, with its rows of pastel yellow homes with red roofs, blames the new location for her family's health problems. Alfia Batirshina, 28, says a radon deposit beneath the topsoil of the new settlement gives her chronic headaches and her 8-year-old daughter recurring nosebleeds. She is loath to discuss her daughter's own birth defect, a deformed leg, and keeps her out of view of journalists. Her 62-year-old father, Vakil Batirshin, struggles to say anything at all. His neck is painfully swollen from lymph nodes that have grown triple their normal size, leaving his words nearly unintelligible. The homemaker says she and neighbors are resigned to their medical fate living in Mayak's nuclear shadow. "I don't hope for anything anymore," she said. "If we get sick, we get sick." ___ Associated Press reporters Iuliia Subbotovska in Muslyumovo, Jim Heintz in Moscow and Shawn Pogatchnik in Dublin contributed to this story. In this photo taken on Thursday, April 7, 2016, Vakil Batirshin and his wife Minfiza stand in their fenced side yard in the village of New Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia. Batirshin has swollen lymph nodes from radiation-related illnesses. Mayak, is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Iuliia Subbotovska) This photo taken on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, shows the Techa River, near the village of Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, where over 760 million cubic meters (2.68 billion cubic feet) of radioactive waste was dumped between 1949- 1956. Mayak is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Friday April 8, 2016, a sign warns people not to enter the town of Ozersk, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, which houses the Mayak nuclear facility. Mayak is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, Gilani Dambaev shows a copy of his disability card to the Associated Press from his home in Muslyumovo in the Chelyabinsk region, Russia. Dambaev has eight times the normal amount of radiation in his body from years of exposure to radiation. Some 50 kilometers (30 miles) upstream from Dambaevs crumbling village lies Mayak, a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, Gilani Dambaev speaks to the Associated Press from his home in Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia. Dambaev, 61, has over eight times the normal amount of radiation in his body. Some 50 kilometers (30 miles) upstream from Dambaevs crumbling village lies Mayak, a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Thursday, April 7, 2016, the family of Vakil Batirshin are photographed outside their home in New Muslyumovo, Chelyabiksk region, Russia. Batyrshkin's neck is swollen due to problems with his lymph nodes related to radiation exposure. Mayak, is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) This photo taken on Thursday, April 7, 2016, the village of New Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, which was built less than two kilometres away from the old Muslyumovo and the Techa River, which is polluted with radioactive waste. Mayak is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Thursday, April 7, 2016, Alfia Batirshina, step-daughter to Vakil Batirshin, speaks with the Associated Press in the village of New Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia. Batirshina, 28, used to go swimming in the Techa River, which is polluted with radioactive waste from the nearby Mayak nuclear facility. Mayak is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Iuliia Subbotovska) This photo taken on Friday, April 8, 2016, shows a run-off area near the Karabash copper smelting factory in the Chelyabinsk region, Russia. A 1957 explosion, frequently referred to as Russia's Chernobyl, is referred to as the Kyshtym accident because the town of Ozersk, where the explosion took place, was a secret town. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, a dog runs along a street in the town of Sultanovo near the Techa River, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, where nuclear was dumped as recently as 2004. Mayak is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Thursday, April 7, 2016, Gulfarida Galimova is a doctor working in the town of New Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia. Galimova began working in Muslyumovo in the late 1980s and noticed illnesses among her patients, which she later realized were linked to high levels of radiation from the nearby Mayak nuclear facility. Mayak is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Iuliia Subbotovska) This photo taken on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, shows fencing around the Techa River, near the village of Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, which contains radioactive waste from the nearby Mayak nuclear facility. Mayak is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, an abandoned building that served as a children's dormitory until 2001 is situated on the bank of the Techa River, near Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia. Mayak is a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Katherine Jacobsen) In this photo taken on Thursday, April 7, 2016, a dog enjoys the sun in the village of Muslyumovo, Chelyabinsk region, Russia. Approximately 70 km northwest of Chelyabinsk lies Mayak, a nuclear complex that has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Iuliia Subbotovska) In this photo taken on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, Vladimir Slivyak, an activist for the Russian environmentalist group EcoDefense, speaks with the Associated Press about the Mayak nuclear facility. Mayak has been responsible for at least two of the countrys biggest radioactive accidents. Worse, environmentalists say, is the facilitys decades-old record of using the Arctic-bound waters of the Techa River to dump waste from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, hundreds of tons of which is imported annually from neighboring nations. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) The Latest: Skirmishes break out outside Trump event BURLINGAME, Calif. (AP) The Latest on protests against Donald Trump during the GOP candidate's California events (all times local): 4:30 p.m. Hundreds of rowdy protesters broke through barricades and threw eggs at police Friday outside a hotel where Donald Trump addressed the state's Republican convention. Several Trump supporters said they were roughed up but no serious injuries were reported. Protesters hang a multi-story banner against GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel before the California Republican Party Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Blood) Because of the protest, Trump was rerouted to a back entrance. News helicopters showed the billionaire businessman and his security detail walking between two concrete freeway barriers before hopping down onto a grass verge and walking across a service road. California's primary is June 7. 1 p.m. Skirmishes are breaking out between protesters turning out at the Burlingame, California, hotel where Donald Trump is speaking at the California GOP convention and Trump supporters. Adam Harry, a retired aerospace engineer, says he went to the venue to take a look Friday and was confronted by anti-Trump demonstrators who punched him, spit on him and threw his phone to the ground. The scene appeared to calm somewhat after Trump entered the hotel from a back entrance avoiding protesters and took the podium. ___ 12:30 p.m. Dozens of protesters have broken through steel barricades surrounding the California hotel where Donald Trump will address the state GOP convention. The protesters are also throwing eggs at police and chanting anti-Trump slogans Friday. Many other protesters remain on the sidewalk. Dozens of officers have formed a human chain around the hotel entrance and driveway and are standing shoulder-to-shoulder in riot gear in an attempt to keep demonstrators out of the venue. Trump entered the convention from an access point behind the hotel, avoiding protesters. ___ 11 a.m. Several hundred protesters have gathered near a Burlingame, California, hotel where Donald Trump will address the state GOP convention. A dozen protesters linked arms Friday to block the road in front of the hotel but no one is using the street because police had already closed it to traffic. The diverse crowd is otherwise carrying signs and banners at the event near San Francisco International Airport. On Thursday night, Trump supporters and opponents got into confrontations outside a Trump rally in Southern California and raucous protesters damaged police cars. ___ 5:45 a.m. Raucous protesters and supporters of Donald Trump violently confronted each other in California leading to some 20 arrests as the Republican presidential contender brought his campaign to conservative Orange County after sweeping the Northeast GOP primaries. Dozens of protesters were mostly peaceful Thursday as Trump gave his speech inside the Pacific Amphitheatre. After the event, however, the demonstration grew rowdy late in the evening and spilled into the streets. Approximately 20 people were arrested by Costa Mesa police, according to a tweet from the Orange County Sheriff's Department. One Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the arena. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented in and other protests sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venue's marquee. A Trump supporter clashes with protesters outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Law enforcement officers take two protesters into custody after a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Exxon's 1Q profit plunges 63 percent on lower oil prices DALLAS (AP) Exxon Mobil produced its weakest quarter in more than 16 years as lower oil prices pushed its profit down by 63 percent. Revenue tumbled 28 percent, and the oil giant lost money in its vaunted exploration and production business despite a 2 percent increase in production. It made more money, however, in chemicals. Exxon continued to slash capital spending to cope with lower prices, which this week cost the company the perfect AAA credit rating that it had held for more than six decades. FILE - This Jan. 30, 2012, file photo, shows the sign for the Exxon Mobil Torrance Refinery in Torrance, Calif. Exxon Mobil Corp. reports financial results Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File) Exxon said Friday that it earned $1.81 billion in the first quarter, down from $4.94 billion a year ago. It was Exxon's smallest quarterly profit since it earned $1.5 billion in the third quarter of 1999, according to FactSet figures. On a per-share basis, the Irving, Texas-based company said it earned 43 cents per share, which beat Wall Street expectations. Nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research and 20 analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast an average of 31 cents per share. Revenue fell to $48.71 billion but topped forecasts. The FactSet analysts expected $44.75 billion. The company lost $76 million in its exploration and production business because of an $832 million loss in the U.S. A year ago, the so-called upstream business earned about $2.9 billion on a much smaller U.S. loss of $52 million. Exxon's refining and fuels-marketing business was profitable, but not as much as a year ago partially due to weaker margins on refining. The chemical business, however, earned $1.4 billion, an improvement of $373 million over the same period last year. Exxon cut capital spending 33 percent, to $5.1 billion, down 33 percent from the first quarter of 2015. This week Standard & Poor's downgraded Exxon's credit one notch, to AA+. Exxon had been one of just three U.S. corporations with the top AAA rating, but S&P said it downgraded Exxon because of lower energy prices and continuing high dividend payouts. The next day, the company raised its dividend for the 34th straight year but by just 3 percent. Shares of Exxon Mobil Corp. rose 31 cents to $88.34 in afternoon trading. Its shares are little changed since a year ago. _____ Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on XOM at http://www.zacks.com/ap/XOM _____ German prosecutors indict alleged IS member BERLIN (AP) German prosecutors say they have indicted an alleged member of the Islamic State group who is accused of advocating the killing of "infidels" in a propaganda video and violating Germany's war weapons control act. Federal prosecutors said Friday that 27-year-old German citizen Harry S., whose last name was not given in accordance with German privacy law, joined a special Islamic State unit in April 2015 in Syria. He received military education including special combat training and using automatic rifles, but left the unit abruptly in early June. In mid-June he appeared on a German-language IS video calling for viewers to join jihad and, if they're not able to leave for Syria, to attack and kill "infidels" in Germany. Kosovo alleged crime ring leader surrenders to police PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Kosovo police say that a former lawmaker who is accused of leading an Albanian-Serb organized crime ring has surrendered after crossing the border. Police said Friday he is now being questioned. Earlier this week the European Union's police mission in Kosovo conducted a major operation arresting six people as part of a ring believed to have illegally owned properties worth 30 million euros ($34 million). While at large, Syla sent a letter, published in local media, to resign as a lawmaker and deny the charges. Most states do bare minimum on fire-foam contamination The military is checking U.S. bases for potential groundwater contamination from a toxic firefighting foam, but most states so far show little inclination to examine civilian sites for the same threat. The foam was likely used around the country at certain airports, refineries and other sites where catastrophic petroleum fires were a risk, but an Associated Press survey of emergency management, environmental and health agencies in all 50 states showed most haven't tracked its use and don't even know whether it was used, where or when. Only five states Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont and Wisconsin are tracking the chemicals used in the foam and spilled from other sources through ongoing water monitoring or by looking for potentially contaminated sites. The controlled gate is seen at the Federal Aviation Administration's technical center near Atlantic City Tuesday, April 26, 2016, in Egg Harbor Township, N.J. The military is checking U.S. bases for potential groundwater contamination from a toxic firefighting foam, but only five states, including New Jersey, are actively monitoring for the chemicals used in the foam and spilled by other sources. New Jersey officials say they're focused on the Federal Aviation Administration's technical center near Atlantic City, where PFCs, known as perfluorinated compounds, have been found in groundwater and in low levels in municipal wells near the center's fire training area. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) A dozen states are beginning or planning to investigate the chemicals known as perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs which have been linked to prostate, kidney and testicular cancer, along with other illnesses. The rest of the states, about two thirds, are waiting for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to make a move. In addition to the Aqueous Film Forming Foam used in disaster preparedness training and in actual fires, PFCs are in many household products and are used to manufacture Teflon. 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 legally enforceable limit. 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, and the agency is also considering whether to establish a firm limit on PFCs in water. The EPA required large public drinking water systems and some smaller ones to check for PFCs between 2013 and 2015. The full results have not been released because data is still being submitted, but officials in several states told the AP that PFCs were found in their water systems during those checks. Detections were reported by six Massachusetts public water systems, for example. To date, about 4,800 water systems have submitted their findings to the EPA. About 2 percent so far have reported measurable levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), or both, the agency told the AP on Thursday. None of the PFOA levels were above the EPA's guidance, the agency said, but 17 of the PFOS levels were. But beyond public drinking water, there may be contamination elsewhere that could affect private or other water supplies, including from any use of the firefighting foam. The five states forging ahead with wider tracking for PFCs are going well beyond the EPA's minimum requirement. States that are not acting point to the cost of the testing and say nothing in federal law gives them the authority to require water utilities and cities to do it routinely. "We don't have the resources to go out beyond what's required by the EPA at this point," said Mark Mayer, administrator of the drinking water program for the environmental department in South Dakota. "But we have been paying attention to it because there have been issues in other states." A few states could pinpoint situations where the foam had been used. Utah's fire marshal said the fire service there uses it sparingly and only on large flammable liquid fires, which are rare. The foam was also used at the state fire school in Delaware, but isn't anymore, according to the state emergency management agency. In Issaquah, Washington, a large amount of firefighting foam was sprayed during a tanker fire in 2002 near a well that is now contaminated, though the city said it has not confirmed the source of the pollution. The city is installing a filtration system to remove PFCs from the well water by this summer. Most states, though, said they have no way of knowing what individual fire departments are using. Last month, U.S. military officials told the AP they would check 664 sites where fire or crash training was conducted. The Navy has so far identified one site with contaminated drinking water and another with contaminated groundwater. The Army says there are low levels of PFOA in two drinking water systems. The Air Force says there are chemicals in drinking water exceeding the EPA's guidance at three bases, including the former Pease base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Air Force has spent millions so far addressing the contamination there. PFOA was found recently in wells in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire, near where a company making Teflon has plants. Residents in Vermont raised concerns, and the state responded by testing wells and looking for contamination elsewhere, said Danika Frisbie, an official in the state environmental department. "We're responding to some pressure to make sure we're being thorough and planning ahead, and not waiting five to 10 years to see where else PFOA could be," she said. "I think it's just a matter of time before all states are dealing with this issue." The 12 states that are beginning or planning to investigate the chemicals are California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington and Wyoming. Details on what the five states actively monitoring for PFCs are doing: ___ ALASKA The state is reaching out to agencies and businesses that may have used the foam and so far has found six sites with PFC groundwater contamination, including a fire training center in Fairbanks and at least two nearby private wells. ___ MINNESOTA The state's 3M Co. invented PFOA. It began to phase it out in 2002 in response to health concerns raised by the EPA, but wells near the manufacturer's disposal sites were contaminated. The state used money from a settlement agreement and consent order with 3M to sample water statewide for PFCs. State officials say they're still monitoring groundwater and evaluating clean-up options at the Duluth Air National Guard Base and in the city of Bemidji after contamination was discovered in 2008 from the foam. ___ NEW JERSEY State officials say they're focused on the Federal Aviation Administration's technical center near Atlantic City, where PFCs have been found in groundwater and in low levels in municipal wells near the center's fire training area. New Jersey has investigated industrial sites where the chemicals were used, too, and continues to do so. ___ VERMONT The state is sampling water at sites where the chemicals were likely used, including at a fire training academy in Pittsford. The state said last week that the results at the academy showed no contamination. ___ WISCONSIN The Department of Natural Resources has sampled the groundwater at landfills for PFCs for the past eight years and plans to continue. ___ McDermott reported from Providence, Rhode Island. In this photo taken July 16, 2002, firefighting foam is used in an attempt to extinguish a burning fuel tanker truck on Interstate 90 in Issaquah, Wash. The accident took place near one of several wells that supply drinking water to the city of Issaquah. That well is now contaminated and not in use, but the city says it has not confirmed the source of the contamination. The city will install a filtration system on the well by the summer of 2016. (Steve Ringman/The 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 The Latest: Black boxes found in Norwegian helicopter crash COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) The Latest on the crash of a helicopter on an island off western Norway (all times local): 7:55 p.m. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority says the crashed helicopter's flight recorders, the so-called black boxes, have been recovered. A search and rescue vessel patrols off the island of Turoey, near Bergen, Norway, as emergency workers on the shoreline attend the scene after a helicopter crashed believed to be have 13 people aboard, Friday April 29, 2016. The helicopter carrying around 13 people from an offshore oil field crashed Friday near the western Norwegian city of Bergen, police said. Many are feared dead. (Marit Hommedal / NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT Spokeswoman Hege Aalstad told the Dagbladet newspaper on Friday that the boxes had been found but didn't give any further details. Calls to the agency remained unanswered Friday evening. The flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder could help explain what caused the Airbus EC-225 helicopter to crash on a tiny Norwegian island, killing all 13 people aboard, as it flew from a North Sea oil field to Bergen, 120 kilometers (74 miles) away. ___ 6:30 p.m. King Harald of Norway and his wife Queen Sonja are cancelling a trip to neighboring Sweden to attend the Swedish king's 70th birthday on Saturday because of the crash that authorities say killed all 13 people aboard an oil-rig helicopter. In a brief statement, the palace said Friday the king would not travel to Stockholm to attend the birthday celebrations for King Carl XVI Gustaf. Instead, the Norwegian royal house will be represented by the king's daughter, Princess Martha Louise, and her husband Ari Behn. The helicopter was traveling from a North Sea oil field to Bergen, 120 kilometers (74 miles) away on the Norwegian mainland, when it crashed into a tiny island. ___ 5:45 p.m. Norwegian rescue officials say the rescue operation after the helicopter crash near Bergen is over and all 13 people who were on board are presumed dead. Boerge Galta of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center says "we do not believe anyone can be found alive." The operation was called off Friday at 5 p.m. after 11 bodies were found. The cause of the crash Friday was not immediately known. At the same time, the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority says it is immediately was banning helicopters of the same type as the one that crashed Airbus Helicopters EC225LP from flying in the Scandinavian country or near Norwegian offshore facilities. ___ 5:35 p.m. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority says it is immediately banning helicopters of the same type as the one that crashed Friday off its western shore from flying in the Scandinavian country or near Norwegian offshore facilities. The government agency said its decision, affecting all Airbus Helicopters EC225LP registered in Norway or not is "due to the fatal accident." The ban was effective immediately and "would remain in force until revoked." The helicopter was traveling from a North Sea oil field to Bergen, 120 kilometers (74 miles) away on the Norwegian mainland, when it crashed into a tiny island. The crash killed 11 people on the helicopter and left two others missing. ___ 3:50 p.m. Authorities in Britain are deploying air accident investigators to Norway to help assist in the inquiry into a helicopter crash off the coast of Norway. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is taking part because the U.K. has investigated several crashes involving helicopters operating to and from offshore oil fields in recent years. The team will travel to Norway on Saturday. The helicopter was traveling from a North Sea oil field to Bergen, 120 kilometers (74 miles) away on the Norwegian mainland. ___ 3:40 p.m. Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil ASA says it is sending support staff to the city of Bergen to help families of the victims of a helicopter crash off the coast of Norway that killed at least 11 people. Statoil said a minister, psychologists and other experienced staff will be available at a Bergen hotel. The company said the chartered helicopter was "on assignment for Statoil." Norwegian broadcaster NRK said 11 of the 13 people on board were employed by Statoil. The company didn't immediately return calls seeking comment. ___ 3:15 p.m. A rescue official says 11 bodies have been found after the crash of a helicopter on an island off the coast of western Norway. Two people are still missing. Jon Sjursoe, a spokesman for Norway's Joint Rescue Coordination Center, said there were 11 Norwegian nationals, one Briton and one Italian on the Eurocopter EC-225 helicopter that crashed Friday, but he didn't know which were among the confirmed victims. Norwegian broadcaster NRK said 11 of the 13 people on board were employed by Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil ASA. The company didn't immediately return calls seeking comment. The helicopter was on its way from the Gullfaks B oil field in the North Sea to Bergen, 120 kilometers (74 miles) away on the Norwegian mainland. ___ 12:40 p.m. A helicopter carrying 13 people from an offshore oil field has crashed near the western Norwegian city of Bergen, sparking a rescue operation, police and rescue officials said. Many onboard are feared dead. The crash hit the island of Turoey, near Bergen, on Friday. Police spokesman Morten Kronen said the helicopter "is totally smashed." He told The Associated Press there were "reports of an explosion and thick smoke" and that some people were reported to be in the sea. He later said so far police could not confirm any survivors. "It is a very small island and (helicopter) parts are spread partly on land, partly in the sea," said Jon Sjursoe, a spokesman for Norway's Joint Rescue Coordination Center. Sjursoe said the Eurocopter EC-225 helicopter was carrying 11 passengers and two pilots and belonged to CHC Helicopter, which could not be immediately reached for comment. A search and rescue vessel patrols off the coast of the island of Turoey, near Bergen, Norway, as emergency workers attend the scene after a helicopter crashed believed to be have 13 people aboard, Friday April 29, 2016. A helicopter carrying around 13 people from an offshore oil field crashed Friday near the western Norwegian city of Bergen, police said. Many are feared dead. (Rune Nielsen / NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT A search and rescue vessel patrols off the island of Turoey, near Bergen, Norway, as emergency workers attend the scene of a helicopter crash believed to have 13 people aboard, Friday April 29, 2016. The helicopter carrying around 13 people from an offshore oil field crashed Friday near the western Norwegian city of Bergen, police said. Many are feared dead. (Rune Nielsen / NTB scanpix via AP) NORWAY OUT Sevilla's Krohn-Dehli out 7 months after knee surgery SEVILLE, Spain (AP) Sevilla says midfielder Michael Krohn-Dehli will be sidelined for at least seven months after undergoing surgery on a broken left knee. The Denmark midfielder suffered the gruesome injury on Thursday during the 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League semifinals. He was carried off the pitch in the 73rd minute, less than 15 minutes after going on as a substitute. The operation took place on Friday once the team had returned to Spain. Sevilla, the two-time defending Europa League champion, will host the return leg of their semifinal next week. Medivation rejects Sanofi bid, Sanofi to go to shareholders NEW YORK (AP) Drug maker Sanofi says it is still committed to its $9.3 billion acquisition offer for Medivation, even though the pharmaceutical firm has rejected its bid. Sanofi has offered $52.50 per Medivation share. Medivation said Friday that its board decided the bid substantially undervalues the company and isn't in the best interest of shareholders. Sanofi said that even though San Francisco-based Medivation has chosen to not engage in talks, it is still focused on the combination and will go directly to Medivation shareholders with its offer. Couple accused of taking 2 kids on robbery spree, car chase CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) Two South Florida parents are accused of taking their two young children along on shoplifting trip that ended in a police chase. A Coral Spring police report says 36-year-old Undrea Leon Byrd and 29-year-old Ashley Marie Foreman were arrested Tuesday on strong arm robbery, child neglect and other charges. The Sun Sentinel (http://bit.ly/21j8hgM ) reports a security officer at the Coral Springs Mall Macy's stopped the couple and their 4-year-old son and 3-month-old daughter as they left without paying for $448 in clothing. Police say Byrd put his hand in his pocket and threatened to shoot the employee before fleeing. The employee called police. Trump making case to GOP insiders amid chaotic rally scene BURLINGAME, Calif. (AP) Donald Trump took his outsider campaign to the inner sanctum of California's Republican party on Friday, making his case directly to the GOP's state party convention even as angry demonstrators shadowed him outside in a possible harbinger of the controversy he will bring as the nominating process shifts toward the nation's most populous and diverse state. Trump spoke for about 30 minutes in a basement banquet hall in this town just outside San Francisco airport. It was the sort of small-scale interaction with party activists and donors that he has generally eschewed for grander rallies. Trump came to make his pitch as the nominating calendar moves toward its end-game in California, which with 172 delegates at stake on June 7 could decide the GOP presidential nomination. The billionaire front-runner told Republicans they needed to come together after their divisive primary but but also delivered a warning. "There has to be unity in our party," Trump said. "Would I win -- can I win -- without it? I think so, to be honest with you, because they're going to be voting for me" -- and not the party, he added. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Trump supporters snapped up tickets to the luncheon and cheered heartily for their candidate from a ring of tables around the perimeter of the ballroom. But Trump's speech got an icier reception from the party veterans and donors who sat just beneath the stage, separated from the rest of the room by a rope. "We all listened politely," said Gregory Gandrud, an activist and donor from Santa Barbara County who backs Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Kasich spoke to the convention Friday evening, and Sen Ted Cruz and his new vice presidential pick Carly Fiorina, address it on Saturday. All three candidates are looking to galvanize supporters, sway undecided party members or poach from rival campaigns at the convention. "It's going to be a free-for-all," predicted the state party vice chairman, Harmeet Dhillon. That label clearly applied to Trump's Orange County rally Thursday night, which filled the Pacific Amphitheatre to its capacity of about 8,000, with many hundreds more turned away. Protests that stayed mostly peaceful during the event grew in size and anger afterward. Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the arena; one Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive away. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented, and other protesters sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venue's marquee. About 20 people were arrested, said the Orange County Sheriff's Department. On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators pushed to the front doors of the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame before being moved back by police in riot gear. Some protesters infiltrated the hotel building and hung a giant banner reading, "Stop Hate." The Secret Service led Trump in through a rear entrance to the hotel. Trump joked that as he crawled under a fence to get in he "felt like I was crossing the border." Hours later, Kasich framed the chaos as a warning sign to his party. "Did you see what happened today?" he said during a news conference. "People chaining themselves to a fence. Do you see what's happening?" Trump's remaining rivals can't beat him in what's left of the primary season. Their only hope is to deny him a majority of delegates heading into the July convention and wrestle for the prize in multiple ballots there. But questions persist in the party nationally and in California about Trump's electability in the fall and his conservative credentials. The demonstrations showed how polarizing Trump can be, especially in a state where Republicans have become marginalized because they failed to attract growing immigrant populations. Trump's viewed warily by two camps here -- those that want to grow the party and those who view some of Trump's positions betrayals of the conservative movement. The convention crowd defies expectation in a state known as a Democratic fortress. There have been pushes toward moderation, but the group tends toward conservative leanings and favors calls for free markets, tax cuts and shrinking the size of government. It's also socially conservative: The state party's platform defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and wants the Supreme Court's affirmation of abortion rights reversed. Trump has spoken favorably about Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services. He has warned against cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, often targets for conservatives who want to slow government spending. While he will likely spend much of the next month in the state, he's unlikely to be back during the general election, when California would return to its reliably Democratic status. Still, Trump was a popular draw at a brief VIP reception where he posed for pictures with party stalwarts. He later joked about having mud and dirt smeared all over him from his unorthodox entrance during the photo session, and many in the banquet hall laughed heartily. Henri Houdre was thrilled to see Trump live. "We see him as that alpha kid in high school with the leather jacket and slicked-back hair who everybody wants to be," said Houdre, an 18-year-old college student from San Francisco. Trump's call to unity resonated with some. "That's the thing every Republican needs to keep in mind, that we're the same team," said Kevin Krick, the Bay Area regional vice chairman for the party. Kersti Buchanan, 70, a retired translator and party activist from Mendocino County who backs Kasich, was shocked at all of Trump's supporters -- and by the candidate's speech itself. "He's probably the most narcissistic person I've ever listened to," Buchanan said. "It was fairly shocking to see this many people who are eating it all up." ___ Follow Michael R. Blood on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MichaelRBloodAP and Nicholas Riccardi at https://twitter.com/NickRiccardi . ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Pacific Amphitheatre capacity is about 8,000, not 18,000. Police officers take a man into custody who was protesting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel during the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) Women hold up signs protesting Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel before the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Donald Trump supporter Robert Tally wears a button of Trump before the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Protesters hang a multi-story banner against GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump inside the Hyatt Regency Hotel before the California Republican Party Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Blood) People demonstrate against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016, before the California Republican Party Convention. (AP Photo/Michael Blood) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets supporters after a rally Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) This still image taken from video shows a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump after a protest on Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. Dozens of protesters were mostly peaceful Thursday as Trump gave his speech inside the Pacific Amphitheater. After the event, however, the demonstration grew rowdy late in the evening and spilled into the streets. (APTN via AP Photo) Nine sentenced in Kosovo for terrorist offenses PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) A Kosovo court has sentenced nine ethnic Albanians to jail terms for organizing and taking part in terrorist groups for terrorist offenses. A court statement Friday said the sentenced ranged from three to four and a half years. Two others linked with them were sentenced to six months jail for weapons possession. No details on their activities were given and only the initial letters of their names were disclosed, as it is expected they will appeal the verdict. San Bernardino police come under gunfire; 3 held SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) San Bernardino, California, police say no officers were hit in an exchange of gunfire and three people are in custody after officers were ambushed. Lt. Rich Lawhead tells The Sun newspaper (http://bit.ly/1rnib4G ) the officers were in an unmarked car in an alley Thursday night. The officers got out of the vehicle to return fire as the suspects ran off through a motel parking lot and onto a boulevard where they encountered two more officers. Lawhead says one officer fired at one of the men and hit him. A second suspect was taken into custody as he tried to enter a motel room and a third man was later found in a mobile home park. The condition of the wounded suspect was not known. As the incident was unfolding, a car-to-car shooting led to San Bernardino's 25th homicide this year. ___ Park workers in Spain discover huge Roman coin trove MADRID (AP) Workers laying pipes in a southern Spanish park have unearthed a 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) trove of Roman coins in what culture officials say is a unique historic discovery. The Seville Archaeological Museum said the construction workers came across 19 amphoras containing thousands of bronze and silver-coated coins dating from the end of the fourth century. The coins are believed to have been recently minted at the time and had probably been stored away to pay soldiers or civil servants. Museum director Ana Navarro said the discovery Wednesday in the southern town of Tomares outside Seville is unique for Spain and of incalculable value. She said the coins studied so far bear images of emperors Constantine and Maximian, with a variety of pictorial images on the reverse. This photo made available by the City Council of Tomares on Friday, April 29, 2016, shows some of the 19 amphoras containing thousands of unused bronze and silver-coated coins dating from the end of the 4th century. Workers laying pipes in a southern Spanish park have unearthed a 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) trove of Roman coins in what culture officials say is a unique historic discovery. (City Council of Tomares via AP) She told reporters the museum had contacted counterparts in Britain, France and Italy and that the find appeared to be one of the most important from the period. The regional cultural department said Friday that construction work in the park had been halted while archeologists investigate further. The clay pots, 10 of which were said to be intact, were found just over a meter (yard) underground. The cultural department said the museum had no similar coins in its collection. Once the find has been fully investigated the pieces will be put on display in the museum. The Romans began to conquer Spain in 218 B.C. and ruled until the fifth century. ___ An earlier version of this story was corrected to show museum director's surname is Navarro. This photo made available by the City Council of Tomares on Friday, April 29, 2016, shows some of the bronze and silver-coated coins dating from the end of the 4th century Workers laying pipes in a southern Spanish park have unearthed a 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) trove of Roman coins in what culture officials say is a unique historic discovery. (City Council of Tomares via AP) This photo made available by the City Council of Tomares on Friday, April 29, 2016, shows some of the 19 amphoras containing thousands of unused bronze and silver-coated coins dating from the end of the 4th century. Workers laying pipes in a southern Spanish park have unearthed a 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) trove of Roman coins in what culture officials say is a unique historic discovery. (City Council of Tomares via AP) Bouteflika back in Algeria after medical visit to Geneva ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) Algeria's state news agency says President Abdelaziz Bouteflika returned to his country Friday after a five-day visit to Geneva for what his office described as a "periodic medical checkup." No further detail was offered about the nature of the president's visit or his current condition. Bouteflika left for Geneva five days ago, a trip that heightened concern over the 79-year-old's health. Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013 and only rarely appears on television; rumors about the leader's condition intensified after a photo was posted on French Prime Minister Manuel Valls' Twitter account on April 10 in which Bouteflika appeared gaunt and weakened. Autopsy: Famed pianist's 2 daughters likely died of asphyxia FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A Texas medical examiner says the two young daughters of an internationally known pianist likely died of asphyxia. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (http://bit.ly/1TzJh1u ) reports that the Tarrant County medical examiner's office released the autopsy reports Thursday of 1-year-old Michela Kholodenko and 5-year-old Nika Kholodenko. Their mother, Sofya Tsygankova, has been charged in their deaths. Vadym Kholodenko, a Ukrainian-born winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, discovered his daughters' bodies March 17 when he arrived at the Benbrook home the girls shared with their mother to take them to school. Arrest affidavits for Tsygankova, say the girls were found dead on beds. FILE - In this 2014 file photo, concert pianist Vadym Kholodenko poses with his wife Sofya Tsygankova and daughters Nika, left, and Michela, at their home in Fort Worth, Texas. Tsygankova has been charged in the March 2016 death of her two daughters. The Tarrant County medical examiner's office released autopsy reports Thursday, April 28, 2016, saying the two girls died of asphyxia. (Joyce Marshall/Star-Telegram via AP, File) The 31-year-old Tsygankova has pleaded not guilty to two counts of capital murder. She remains in the Tarrant County Jail with bail set at $2 million. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the pianist's wife is called Sofya Tsygankova, not Tysgankova. ___ Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.star-telegram.com Thousands march in Yemen to call for cease-fire SANAA, Yemen (AP) Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets on Friday to call for an end to the fighting in the country's conflict. In the city of Taiz, thousands marched after prayers, residents said. The city has been besieged for months by rebels, known as Houthis, who residents and aid groups say have been indiscriminately shelling Taiz and blocking humanitarian aid deliveries. "We seek to draw the attention of the international community," said demonstrator Mahyoob al-Khalidi, urging the rebels to adopt a U.N. resolution calling for a cease-fire. "The resolution is as obvious as the sun: stop the war and have the usurpers withdraw from the cities and hand over their weapons," he added. In the city of Zinjibar, residents say hundreds marched to demand the withdrawal of al-Qaida forces. Residents who spoke on condition of anonymity did so for fear of reprisals. Yemen has been mired in a conflict pitting the Shiite rebels against the internationally-backed government, allied with a Saudi-led coalition. Militants from al-Qaida and the extremist Islamic State group have taken advantage of the chaos to expand their footprint. Both sides in the fighting have violated a fragile cease-fire that began April 10. The Latest: Candles to honor car crash victims, 22 others ATHENS, Ga. (AP) The Latest on a car crash that killed four University of Georgia students (all times local): 12:30 p.m. The University of Georgia plans a candlelight service to remember four students killed in a car crash along with 22 other members of the university community who have died in the past year. April 28, 2016 Athens - Students hold candles University of Georgia students, faculty and family members hold candles to mourn the deaths of Georgia students killed in a car crash late Wednesday night, during a vigil in Athens, Ga., Thursday, April 28, 2016. Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry told local news outlets the crash occurred just outside Watkinsville when two mid-sized sedans, one driving northbound and the other southbound, collided on Georgia State Route 15. (Taylor Carpenter/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT The service planned for Tuesday evening is an annual event to honor university and employees who passed away. It holds special significance this year, coming shortly after the Wednesday night car crash that took the lives of four students and left one other critically injured. On Tuesday, names of the 26 students, faculty and staff members who have died will be read aloud on the steps of the chapel, following by the toll of the chapel bell and the lighting of a candle as each name is read. ____ 11:20 a.m. The Georgia State Patrol says part of its investigation of a crash that claimed the lives of four University of Georgia students will involve re-visiting the scene of the wreck to recreate what happened using a computer program. Troopers say the four students were killed Wednesday night, when their Toyota Camry crossed the center line and was struck by an oncoming car on a highway south of the Athens campus. State Patrol Capt. Mark Perry says the agency's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team will return to the site to create a scale representation of the scene. Perry said that if there are any charges as a result of the crash, they would typically not come until the accident reconstruction team completes its work at the scene and surviving motorists can be interviewed. ____ 10:30 a.m. A hospital spokesman says a University of Georgia student who survived a car crash that killed four of her friends and fellow students remains in critical condition. Athens Regional Medical Center spokesman Mike Pilcher tells The Associated Press Friday morning that 21-year-old Agnes Kim of Snellville is still listed in critical condition at the hospital. He said he could not give more details on her medical situation due to privacy reasons. State troopers say Kim was driving a white Toyota Camry carrying the four Georgia students who were killed when it veered across the center line Wednesday night and was struck by a blue Chevy Cobalt. Troopers said the Cobalt was driven by 27-year-old Abby Short of Demorest, Georgia. Pilcher said that Short, who was also taken to Athens Regional after the crash, has been released from the hospital. ____ 8 a.m. Flags across Georgia are at half-staff in remembrance of four University of Georgia students killed and another critically injured in a high-speed car crash a few miles south of the Athens campus. The Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate the cause of Wednesday night's wreck on Georgia State Route 15. State troopers say a white Toyota Camry carrying all five students was heading north when it veered across the centerline and was struck by an oncoming car. The students killed were either 19 or 20 years old. All were from the Atlanta suburbs. The driver of the Camry a 21-year-old University of Georgia student from Snellville remained hospitalized Thursday in critical condition. The driver of the other car was injured but expected to survive. University of Georgia students, faculty and family members gather to mourn the deaths of Georgia students killed in a car crash late Wednesday night, in Athens, Ga., Thursday, April 28, 2016. Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry told local news outlets the crash occurred just outside Watkinsville when two mid-sized sedans, one driving northbound and the other southbound, collided on Georgia State Route 15. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT Students gather at a memorial for University of Georgia students that were killed Wednesday in a car crash, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Athens, Ga. Five students were involved in a car crash. Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry said the crash occurred just outside Watkinsville when two mid-sized sedans, one driving northbound and the other southbound, collided late Wednesday on Georgia State Route 15. (Hyosub Shin/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) MARIETTA DAILY OUT; GWINNETT DAILY POST OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT; WXIA-TV OUT; WGCL-TV OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Board renames Virginia school that honored segregationist RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A Virginia middle school that was named in honor of a prominent segregationist will be renamed for a local historically black village. News outlets report that the Henrico County School Board voted 3-0 Thursday to change the name of Harry F. Byrd Middle School to Quioccasin (kwee-ock-a-sin) Middle School. The board had voted last month to remove Byrd's name from the Richmond school following a petition drive. Byrd was a politician who fought against the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end school segregation. More than 1,600 people had suggested that the school be renamed in honor of former student Alysia Burton, who died on Sept. 11, 2001, but the board opted against naming the school after a specific person. TV pundit who claimed CIA ties pleads guilty to fraud ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) Former cable news pundit Wayne Simmons admits he's a fraud. And he admits he's a felon. But despite all evidence to the contrary, he remains adamant that he was a CIA man. Simmons, 62, of Annapolis, Maryland, struck an unusual plea agreement Friday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. He admitted defrauding the government out of $78,000 by lying about his credentials to obtain jobs as a government contractor. He also admitted cheating a private citizen out of nearly $100,000 by claiming he could invest her money in real estate. But when it comes to his claims about the CIA, the wording in his plea agreement walks a fine line. He admits that "there are no records or any other evidence that the defendant had ever been employed by or worked with the CIA." And in his plea agreement, he acknowledges that continuing to claim a CIA career could result in an increased sentence because he would not get credit for acceptance of responsibility. Still, Simmons made clear during and after Friday's hearing that he's sticking to his story about a life in the CIA, where he claimed a 27-year career as an "Outside Paramilitary Special Operations" officer, according to court records. Asked after the hearing why the CIA would then be leaving him out to dry, his attorney, Bill Cummings, interjected and said, "That's what they do." Cummings said there have been similar cases where the CIA has refused to acknowledge an officer's work because it didn't want that work to be exposed. Simmons said after Friday's hearing that he has been left to fend for himself on the allegation because "my wingman disappeared." Cummings cut off more detailed questions about why, if Simmons' work was so sensitive, he touted his CIA career on cable news. Meanwhile, the CIA's director of public affairs, Dean Boyd, was unequivocal about Simmons: "Mr. Simmons never worked at CIA and we're glad to see justice served in this case," he said. The case against Cummings has nothing to do with his work as a pundit, but it proved an embarrassment for Fox News, where he appeared frequently. In a 2009 Fox News clip, he calls House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi "a pathological liar" in a segment about CIA interrogation techniques. Fox has said Simmons was never a paid contributor. The federal charges included allegations that Simmons defrauded the government when he obtained employment with two contractors, BAE Systems and Drop Test International, by lying about his resume. Among other things, he failed to disclose a felony record and a bankruptcy filing. The government says he also lied about the CIA career and his security clearances. In the BAE job, he trained for a period in 2008 and 2009 at Fort Leavenworth to be a team leader on a unit that was being sent to Afghanistan, but prosecutors said he performed poorly and was asked to resign before ever going overseas. With Drop Test, prosecutors said he did make it to Afghanistan as a senior intelligence adviser but was forced to leave after only two weeks when his clearance was revoked. In court Friday, Simmons told the judge that "I believed then and I believe now that my skill sets could be used to fight the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan. In an effort to get to Afghanistan, I made false statements. ... For that, I sincerely apologize." UN urges return to full operation of Western Sahara mission UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. Security Council called Friday for the urgent return of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the disputed Western Sahara to its full operation, a rebuke to Morocco which expelled most of the mission's civilian staff to protest a perceived slight by the U.N. secretary-general. The vote on the resolution was 10-2 with three abstentions, reflecting the sharp division in the council between veto-wielding France, a strong ally of Morocco, countries supporting a referendum on Western Sahara with independence as an option, and those like the United States seeking to defuse tensions and restore the mission. Those voting against or abstaining were angered that the resolution wasn't stronger and failed to condemn Morocco's action, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and others warned could become a precedent for the U.N.'s far-flung peacekeeping missions if it wasn't reversed. Morocco annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in 1975 and fought a local independence movement called the Polisario Front. The U.N. brokered a ceasefire in 1991 and established a peacekeeping mission known as MINURSO to monitor it and help prepare a referendum on the territory's future, which has never taken place. Morocco considers the mineral-rich region its "southern provinces" and has proposed wide-ranging autonomy, but the Polisario Front insists on self-determination through a referendum for the local population as called for in U.N. resolutions, all of which were reaffirmed in the resolution adopted Friday. Last month, Morocco expelled more than 70 U.N. civilians carrying out political activities, de-mining operations and other activities after the secretary-general used the word "occupation" in talking about Western Sahara following a visit to a camp for refugees from the region who have been in Algeria for over 40 years. The U.S.-drafted resolution expresses regret at MINURSO's inability to fully carry out its mandate following Morocco's expulsions. This language is slightly stronger than the initial draft which only expressed concern but it wasn't tough enough for five council members. Venezuela and Uruguay voted against the resolution and Russia, New Zealand and Angola abstained. The resolution asks the secretary-general to report within 90 days on whether the mission's operations have been restored "to full functionality," and if not "to consider how best to facilitate achievement of this goal." The Polisario Front's U.N. representative Ahmed Boukhari called the resolution "a step in the right direction, but is not enough." "Three months to verify what is the quality of the cooperation of Morocco is too much. These people were expelled in two days. They can come back in two days. Why three months?" he asked. "We blame France." Cruz gets Indiana governor's endorsement INDIANAPOLIS (AP) In a setback for Donald Trump, Indiana's governor endorsed the front-runner's chief rival, Ted Cruz, on Friday, injecting new drama into the state's critical Republican primary contest just days before voters head to the polls. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence described Cruz as "a principled conservative" as he made his support official during an afternoon radio interview. "The man has shown the courage of his convictions," Pence said, citing Cruz's fight against government spending, the federal health care law and his "strong and unwavering stand for the sanctity of life." Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and vice-presidential candidate Carly Fiorina applaud during a question and answer session with Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity at The Indiana War Memorial Friday, April 29, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Pence, who faces his own re-election test this fall, also praised Trump, who had personally lobbied the governor to embrace his candidacy or at least to make no endorsement ahead of Tuesday's primary. "I'm grateful for his voice in the national debate," Pence said of Trump, adding, "I'm not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming Republican primary." The Indiana governor's backing could give Cruz a desperately needed boost in his fight to block Trump from claiming the delegate majority before the GOP's national convention in July. A Trump win in Indiana on Tuesday would all but ensure he becomes the presumptive nominee. But Cruz pledged to keep the campaign alive, even with an Indiana loss. "As long as we have a viable path to victory, we are campaigning until the end," he told reporters in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Trump swept all five Northeastern primary elections earlier in the week and enjoys a massive delegate advantage over his Republican rivals. Cruz has been mathematically eliminated from earning the 1,237 delegate majority, but insists he can block Trump from the majority as well, as the 2016 contest shifts to "friendlier terrain" in the West and Midwest. The Texas senator declared he is "all in" on Indiana. Even rival John Kasich has agreed to focus on other states to give Cruz a clear path in Indiana. After his latest round of losses, Cruz bid to regain some footing by making an early announcement of his running mate, tapping Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard executive who dropped out of the GOP race earlier this year. His campaign says it raised $2 million around that announcement. Campaign manager Jeff Roe confirmed the fundraising total to The Associated Press. Cruz also continued his attacks Friday on Trump, blasting him for praising former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who announced his support for the Republican front-runner. "All the tough guys endorse me," Trump said, earlier in the week. "I like that." Cruz reminded the crowd of Tyson's 1992 conviction for raping a beauty pageant contestant in Indiana. "In Donald Trump's world, this convicted rapist is a tough guy," Cruz said. "I have news for Donald Trump. Rapists are not tough guys." Anti-Trump group Our Principles PAC also launched a new television ad to run through Tuesday's election, increasing their total spending in Indiana to $2 million. Scoring the Pence endorsement was a win for Cruz. Pence had been under enormous pressure from pro- and anti-Trump factions. Although he is more closely aligned with Cruz, he risks voter backlash in the fall if Tuesday's primary contest shows Indiana is filled with Trump voters. Trump said this week that he had met the governor and asked for his backing. He said he didn't know if he would get it but did not expect Pence to come out in support of Cruz. Yet Cruz and conservatives who support him pressed Pence from the other direction. "Every day he sits on the sidelines is another day in which he could have made a difference," Republican columnist Erick Erickson wrote Thursday on the website The Resurgent. "He has not used his influence in the conservative movement to rally against Trump." Meanwhile, Trump picked up two more delegates in Rhode Island, giving him 81 percent of the delegates needed to clinch the nomination and avoid a contested convention. The billionaire businessman needs to win 48 percent of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination by the end of the primaries. He won the Rhode Island primary on Tuesday in a landslide. The state GOP says Trump got 12 delegates, Ohio Gov. John Kasich got five and Cruz got two. Overall, Trump has 996 delegates, compared to 565 for Cruz and 153 for Kasich, according to the AP delegate count. ___ Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Julie Bykowicz and Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington and Tom Davies in Indianapolis contributed to this report. Whole Foods exec: No tattoo shops planned for new chain yet NEW YORK (AP) Whole Foods is prepping for the launch of its hipster new grocery chain. But shoppers won't be able to get a tattoo with their cheese just yet. The company says its "365" chain will have a minimalist layout, affordable prices and third-party vendors who set up shop inside the stores. That generated fanfare earlier this year when Bloomberg noted the chain's website said the vendors might include sellers of body care products, record shops and even tattoo parlors. But Jeff Turnas, president of 365 at Whole Foods, said in an interview this week that there are no plans for tattoo parlors to date, and that he doubts that there will be. He said the example was given to illustrate that 365's partners could include any number of possibilities. This March 2016 photo provided by 365 by Whole Foods Market shows Jeff Turnas, president of 365 at Whole Foods Market, at a store in Austin, Texas. Whole Foods is prepping for the launch of its hipster new grocery chain, 365 at Whole Foods Market, which the company says will have a minimalist layout, affordable prices and third-party vendors who set up shop inside the stores. (Karla Ent/365 by Whole Foods Market via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT "I think the point of it is that it's going to be diverse it's not going to be just food," he said. For instance, Turnas noted a pet grooming service that uses organic shampoos has expressed interest in being a partner. Still, Turnas said the press coverage about the potential tattoo parlors sparked genuine excitement among his employees, who started asking if they would be able to use their employee discounts for tattoos. Even if a tattoo parlor isn't likely, Turnas said the idea reflects the culture of Whole Foods employees. "I would say 75 percent of our team members have tattoos," he said of the team working on the 365 chain. That includes Turnas, 44, who has a tattoo on his leg is of a Grateful Dead bear with a lacrosse stick, a memory of his time as a lacrosse player at Michigan State University. The offshoot chain by Whole Foods comes as sales growth has slowed at the company's flagship stores, which are being pressured by traditional supermarkets with expanded organic selections. Whole Foods Market Inc., which has more than 430 locations, says it still sees potential to expand to 1,200 locations in the U.S. Some analysts question whether the offshoot chain will cannibalize sales from Whole Foods stores. But the Austin, Texas company says 365 will help it reach new customers, particularly those who want more affordable prices or are looking for a quicker shopping experience. Turnas noted that 365 stores won't have meat or seafood counters, and described it as Whole Foods' "younger sister, a little scrappy." The first 365 store is slated to open in Los Angeles on May 25; its third-party vendor will be an outpost of a New York vegan eatery. Two more locations are slated for Lake Oswego, Oregon and Bellevue, Washington this year, and 10 additional stores are slated for 2017. __________ Follow Candice Choi at www.twitter.com/candicechoi This image provided by 365 by Whole Foods Market shows an interior rendering of the bakery and frozen sections of the Silver Lake location of 365 by Whole Foods Market, in Los Angeles. Whole Foods is prepping for the launch of its hipster new grocery chain, 365 at Whole Foods Market, which the company says will have a minimalist layout, affordable prices and third-party vendors who set up shop inside the stores. (Courtesy of 365 by Whole Foods Market via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT Police: Older son said he killed father in California SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) The older of two sons charged with murdering their parents at their home in California said he shot his father multiple times, but he did not shoot his mother, according to police. Hasib Golamrabbi, 22, also said a stranger who assaulted him told him to shoot his father, San Jose police Sgt. Patrick Guire said in court documents accompanying a criminal complaint filed Friday. Guire said Golamrabbi's younger brother, Omar, told investigators that Hasib Golamrabbi killed both parents, and then asked him to check the garage where his father was killed to make sure no blood was seeping out before the two drove off to an anime convention in Oakland. The younger brother did not mention a stranger, according to Guire. This undated photo provided by the San Jose, Calif., Police Department shows suspect Hasib Bin Golam Rabbi who was arrested with his brother in connection with the shooting deaths of their parents. Golam Rabbi, 22, and his 17-year-old brother were taken into custody days after their parents were found slain Sunday, April 24, 2016, in their San Jose home. Police didn't release the teen's name because of his age. (San Jose Police Department via AP) The police statement did not include a motive. The brothers were arraigned on two counts of murder each in the slayings of their parents, father Golam Rabbi and mother Shamima Rabbi. The parents had emigrated from Bangladesh decades ago. Omar Golamrabbi is 17, but he was charged as an adult. They both pleaded not guilty, Santa Clara County district attorney's office spokesman Sean Webby said. The parents were shot to death on Saturday at their San Jose home. Relatives spoke to the brothers on Sunday, requesting they come home because their parents were not responding to phone calls or knocks on the door, Guire said. But then the brothers stopped answering their phones. Relatives went to the home and discovered the bodies, Guire said. Hasib Golamrabbi told the San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/1SUERp2) in a jailhouse interview that he is eager to tell the real story but offered no other details. He emphasized that his brother is innocent. "I want everyone to know what happened," he said, "but I can't say anything without a lawyer." It was not immediately known who their attorneys were. Omar Golamrabbi told police he closed the curtains after his brother killed their father, and his brother then killed their mother, Guire said. Guire said police found writing on the walls of the home, one set of which was consistent with Omar Golamrabbi's writing that investigators found in a notebook. Alexis Quinones, a longtime friend and classmate of Omar Golamrabbi, said she believes he is innocent. "I know Omar didn't do anything," she said in an email to the San Jose Mercury News (http://bayareane.ws/1SQ5RmL ). "He always respected people, and was never a hurtful person, and a real pacifist." The double slaying and the arrest of the sons have horrified the tight-knit Muslim community. Hundreds of people attended a prayer service that included a special funeral prayer for the parents Friday afternoon at the Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara. Guest speaker Shaykh Yaser Birjas told the crowd that "forgiveness is the most powerful thing you have" and urged worshippers to make sure parents and children communicate, the Mercury News reported. The victims were popular fixtures at their mosque for three decades and had helped relatives emigrate from their native Bangladesh. Golam Rabbi was an engineer. His wife was an accountant. "This is one of those tragedies nobody ever wants to be in," mosque spokesman Faisal Yazadi said. "All we can do is pray." A makeshift memorial of roses and prayer candles is seen outside home of Shamima and Golam Rabbi, a couple found shot to death in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, April 28, 2016. Two California brothers were arrested Thursday in connection with the shooting deaths of their parents, who were popular fixtures at their mosque for three decades and had helped relatives emigrate from their native Bangladesh. The couple was found slain Sunday in their home. (AP Photo/Paul Elias) The Latest: 4 girls found safe trying to sneak into facility TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The Latest on four girls who ran away from a foster home near Tampa, Florida. (all times local): 8:10 p.m. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says authorities have found four girls who apparently ran away from a facility for foster children near Tampa. In this undated photo released by the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office, three sisters, 4-year-old Allison Nelson, 10-year-old Anabella Gonzalez and 11-year-old Heavenlynn Gonzalez, pose for a photo. Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said officials at A Kids Place believe the girls' ages 13, 11, 10 and 4 " climbed out a window between 10 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2016 and 2 a.m. Friday. They are believed to be with 13-year-old Ashlyn Smith. (Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office via AP) Spokeswoman Debbie Carter said in an email that the children were found Friday evening as they tried to climb back over a fence at the facility. Carter says the girls originally ran away to a nearby park and broke into an abandoned residence. She says the girls stayed there all day and were attempting to return to A Kids Place when they were discovered. The girls are ages 13, 11, 10 and 4. Carter says they will be interviewed by detectives and medially cleared. ___ 4:35 p.m. Officials say they have not yet found four girls who apparently ran away from a facility for foster children near Tampa. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information about their whereabouts. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Col. Donna Lusczynski said during an afternoon news conference that detectives have interviewed school classmates and other foster children. "Our concern obviously gets greater the more time they're gone," she said. The four girls three sisters and a fourth, unrelated girl put pillows under their sheets Thursday night to make it look as if they were in bed. They then slipped out a window and around a fence to leave A Kids Place, a facility east of downtown Tampa. The girls are ages 13, 11, 10 and 4. ___ 11:21 a.m. Officials say four girls who apparently ran away from a facility for foster children near Tampa put pillows under their sheets to make it look like they were in bed. But staff members at A Kids Place discovered the girls ages 13, 11, 10 and 4 missing during a bed check Thursday just before midnight. They had last been seen at 10 p.m. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Col. Donna Lusczynski said at a news conference that law enforcement officials searched door-to-door in the rural neighborhood east of Tampa. They're also checking with the relatives of the girls. The younger three are sisters, who've been at the facility since March. The older child has been there since February. Lusczynski says they're interviewing children and staff at the home. She says at least two girls had discussed running away with other children. ___ 6:53 a.m. Authorities were searching Friday for four foster children who were discovered missing from their beds during head count at a private foster care home near Tampa. Officials at A Kids Place believe the girls ages 13, 11, 10 and 4 climbed out a window between 10 p.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday, Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said in a news release. Then, they either scaled a fence or were able to squeeze through an opening at the gate. Carter said 4-year-old Allison Nelson, 10-year-old Anabella Gonzalez and 11-year-old Heavenlynn Gonzalez are sisters. They are with 13-year-old Ashlyn Smith. Officials at the home told authorities they didn't know what the girls were wearing when they disappeared. They have no medical issues or disabilities and don't take any medication. A woman who answered the phone at A Kids Place declined to answer a reporter's questions. Supreme Court refuses to block Texas voter ID law WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an emergency appeal to stop Texas from enforcing its challenged voter ID law. But the court said it could revisit the issue as the November elections approach. The law has been in effect for recent elections, even after a trial judge struck it down in 2014 and an appellate panel found last year that the law had a discriminatory effect on minority voters. The challengers in the ongoing lawsuit argue there is no reason to allow the requirement to show picture identification at the polls to remain in place. FILE In this June 30, 2014 file photo, the Supreme Court building is seen in Washington. The Supreme Court on Friday, April 29, 2016, rejected an emergency appeal to stop Texas from enforcing its challenged voter ID law. But the court said it could revisit the issue as the November elections approach. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) But justices rejected the plea in a brief order Friday. The full New Orleans-based appeals court will hold a new hearing on the Texas law in May. The high court said that it is aware of "the time constraints the parties confront in light of the scheduled elections." If the full appeals court has not issued a ruling by July 20, the court said, it would entertain a renewed emergency appeal over the voter ID law. Gerry Hebert, who runs the public interest law firm that represents Texas voters challenging the law, said Friday's order gives his clients a chance to again ask the Supreme Court for help if the appeals court does not rule quickly. "This order gives us the opportunity to protect Texas voters if the 5th Circuit fails to rule in time," said Hebert, executive director of the Campaign Legal Center. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the identification requirement a "common-sense law to provide simple protections to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process in our state." He said the state looked forward to defending the law in the appeals court next month. Friday's order was the second time the justices have refused to block the voter ID law in Texas. In 2014, the court allowed the law to be used in the then-imminent general election. The order two years ago was issued two days before the start of early voter in Texas and without explanation, but appeared to be based on the court's view that changing the rules so close to an election would be confusing. Three justices dissented in 2014: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Ginsburg, writing for the dissenters, said the ID requirement created the potential for "racially discriminatory voter disenfranchisement." Other Republican-controlled states, including Wisconsin and North Carolina, have passed similar voter ID measures that also are being fought in the courts. But the Texas law is widely viewed as one of the nation's toughest. It requires one of seven forms of approved identification, but unlike other states with voter ID restrictions, Texas doesn't recognize university IDs from college students. It does, however, accept concealed handgun licenses as proof of identity. Free voting IDs are available from the state, but opponents have said getting those cards still puts underlying financial costs on voters, such as paying for birth certificate copies and travel. The Latest: Kasich calls for balance on gay rights, religion BURLINGAME, Calif. (AP) The Latest on the California Republican Party's convention, a stage for the GOP presidential candidates (all times local): 4:30 p.m. Ohio Gov. John Kasich says gay people are most likely born gay, but he doesn't see discrimination against them as a large enough problem to merit special legislative protection. Erik Lopez, dressed as "Captain Mexico", stands in front of police officers while protesting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel during the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) The Republican candidate for president appeared at a town hall hosted by the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco, where he answered questions on issues that included terrorism and health care as well as discrimination. Kasich says he recently attended a gay wedding even though he doesn't agree with same-sex marriage. He says he does not believe in discrimination, but religious views must also be accommodated. He is urging all people to be more tolerant, instead of turning to divisive and unwieldy legislation. Kasich says he would not sign any laws that discriminate against anyone. __ 1:30 p.m. Donald Trump is giving Republican power brokers a warning he'll beat Hillary Clinton with or without them. Trump tells the California Republican Party convention that the party needs to unify behind him as its nominee. But he adds that even if it doesn't, he thinks he can beat Hillary Clinton. "Could I win without it?" Trump asks the crowd of powerbrokers and activists. "I think so because they're going to be voting for me" and not the party. Trump rarely speaks at state party events, but California is the big prize on June 7, as the primary series wraps up. __ 1:15 p.m. Donald Trump is joking about his unorthodox entrance to the California Republican Party convention. Hundreds of demonstrators ringed the hotel where the Republican front-runner was scheduled to address attendees. The Secret Service led Trump inside through a rear entrance from a nearby freeway. "Felt like I was crossing the border," Trump quipped during his lunchtime speech. __ Noon Donald Trump has picked up two more delegates in Rhode Island, giving him 81 percent of the delegates needed to clinch the nomination and avoid a contested convention. He needs to win 48 percent of the remaining delegates to secure the nomination by the end of the primaries. He has won a majority of the delegates allocated so far. Trump won the Rhode Island primary on Tuesday in a landslide. The Rhode Island GOP says Trump got 12 delegates, Ohio Gov. John Kasich got five and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz got two. The overall AP delegate count: Trump: 996. Cruz: 565. Kasich: 153. ___ 11 a.m. Several hundred protesters have gathered near a Burlingame, California, hotel where Donald Trump will address the state GOP convention. A dozen protesters linked arms Friday to block the road in front of the hotel but no one is using the street because police had already closed it to traffic. The diverse crowd is otherwise carrying signs and banners at the event near San Francisco International Airport. On Thursday night, Trump supporters and opponents got into confrontations outside a Trump rally in Southern California and raucous protesters damaged police cars. ___ 8 a.m. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is dismissing Donald Trump's contention that Hillary Clinton is playing the woman's card in her bid for the presidency. Pelosi says in Washington that Clinton is playing the "experience card" and Trump is playing the joker. Pelosi was the first female speaker when Democrats controlled the House. She calls the prospect of a female president a "wonderful, glorious thing" but says a gender-based argument for a presidential candidacy is not a winning message. Rather, Pelosi says, the most successful argument is capability. Commenting on Trump's swipe at Clinton, she says: "I don't know what card he's playing the joker's card. That doesn't even count in a deck of cards." ___ 7 a.m. Donald Trump, the outsider, is making his case to California's Republican establishment. This, after he kicked off his crucial campaign for the state's presidential primary with a rally marred by confrontations between protesters and his supporters on the streets. The front-runner and his two rivals pitch their campaigns from the stage and in behind-the-scenes cajoling at the GOP convention outside San Francisco, with Trump and Ohio Gov. John Kasich appearing Friday and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and his running mate, Carly Fiorina, up Saturday. It's a key event in the campaign for the nation's largest GOP primary, June 7, an exercise that usually comes after the party nominees are known. This time it looms as a decisive contest that could either clinch the prize for Trump or force him into a contested convention in July. On the eve of the state convention, Trump filled an Orange County arena to its capacity of about 8,000 people. Rowdy protests outside led to about 20 arrests. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that the arena for Trump's rally holds about 8,000 people, not 18,000. Donald Trump supporter Robert Tally wears a button of Trump before the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) A police officer stands outside of the Hyatt Regency hotel before the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Donald Trump supporter Charles Carter stands next to cut out of Trump before the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Donald Trump supporter Charles Carter stands next to cut out of Trump before the California Republican Party 2016 Convention in Burlingame, Calif., Friday, April 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) 5 injured after gunmen storm into Guyana hotel casino GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) Authorities in Guyana say a gang of gunmen raided a hotel casino in the South American country's capital, leading to a shootout in which five people were wounded. Police say they arrested one of the four attackers in Friday's raid on the casino of the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel. Three others fled with an undisclosed amount of money. Pullman's 'Independence Day' call-to-arms lives on NEW YORK (AP) President Thomas J. Whitmore, famed speech-maker and defender of the planet from aliens, has the kind of poll numbers Hillary or Donald dream about. In "Independence Day: Resurgence," Bill Pullman will reprise his much loved president from the 1996 original. His Whitmore was a relatively small piece of the movie, which featured other attractions like Will Smith punching an alien. But his rallying call-to-arms had an outsized impact amid the CGI spectacle. Pullman's full-throated pre-battle speech ("Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!") is like the popcorn-movie answer to the St. Crispin's Day speech of "Henry V." Pullman's big scene has gone down in the annals of movie motivational speeches, alongside Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers" and Mel Gibson in "Braveheart." FILE - In this May 10, 2015 file photo, actor Bill Pullman attends the 30th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards in New York. Pullman reprises his role as President Whitmore in the "Independence Day," sequel, "Independence Day: Resurgence," in theaters nationwide on June 24, 2016. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File) Over the years, he's seen it take on a life of its own. "It's a strange kind of pseudo position I have in the realm of politics," says the 62-year-old actor, who also played a president in the short-lived sitcom "1600 Penn." Pullman's extensive fictional experience in the White House could arguably make him more qualified to run for office than some of this year's presidential candidates. But in Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day: Resurgence," out June 24, his character is out of office and a potential liability in a new war with invading extraterrestrials. Pullman, Jeff Goldblum and Vivica Fox are some of the stars returning from the original, but much of the cast is made of up newcomers: Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher and Maika Monroe, among them. For Pullman, the longevity of "Independence Day" the epitome of the corny, pre-9/11 summer blockbuster is surprising. The original made $817.4 million worldwide, far and away the biggest hit of 1996. "When it was summarized it sounded like maybe it was a cartoon," says Pullman. "I remember there was even some pushback about it being more like a popcorn movie, or something. The fact that it's kind of endured as a classic is good and puts a lot of pressure on the second one." For an actor who starred in "Spaceballs" and David Lynch's "Lost Highway," and performed in Edward Albee and David Mamet plays on Broadway, "Independence Day" is an unlikely touchstone. It even threatened to typecast him. "If I had accepted every presidential role or every politician," he says, "I think it would have been too much." Pullman will, however, play a more earthbound politician, Texas Sen. Ralph Yarborough, in Rob Reiner's upcoming Lyndon Johnson drama "LBJ." ___ Court documents show rope, concrete link man to wife's death FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Court documents show a Texas man was arrested in the drowning of his estranged wife in a Fort Worth-area lake after police determined that a rope around her neck tied to concrete to weigh her down came from his home. Jail records show Rodolfo Arellano is being held in Mansfield on $500,000 bond. Arellano was arrested this week on a capital murder charge in the death of his 28-year-old wife, Elizabeth. Her body was pulled from Lake Worth after authorities were called April 16 about a possible suicide from a freeway bridge. The arrest warrant shows cellphone records contradict his comments to police on his whereabouts before she disappeared. Jail records don't list an attorney for Arellano. Mansfield is about 18 miles southeast of Fort Worth. ___ Clinton endorses all-boys public schools in high-crime areas NEW YORK (AP) Hillary Clinton says she wants a network of all-boys public schools in high-crime areas to "spread across America." In midtown Manhattan, Clinton said she supports the expansion of Eagle Academies, which help thwart the "school-to-prison pipeline" for many boys of color. Six Eagle Academies provide extended school days and mentorship opportunities for 2,500 students in New York and New Jersey. Last year, 88 percent of their high school seniors graduated. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets students of the Eagle Academy during the Foundation's annual fundraising breakfast, Friday, April 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Clinton is credited with helping the first Eagle Academy open in 2004 while she was a New York senator. The Democratic presidential candidate spoke Friday at a fundraiser for the foundation that supports the six schools. She says many boys in inner city neighborhoods are left "feeling their futures are inevitable," which is "a rebuke to the American dream." Brazil's VP says he will not be a candidate in 2018 SAO PAULO (AP) The man in line to become Brazil's next head of state if President Dilma Rousseff is impeached says he won't run for the presidency in 2018 when Rousseff's term comes to an end. Vice President Michel Temer also said he would support a proposal to end presidential re-elections in Brazil. Presidents are elected to four-year terms and can be re-elected to a second consecutive term. A third term is allowed if they take a four-year break after the second. Brazil's Vice President Michel Temer, attends an interview with journalists on the impeachment process of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Rousseff is facing impeachment over allegations her administration violated fiscal laws, in what her foes say was a bid to prop up flagging support through government spending. Brazil's first female president has insisted the procedure amounts to an attempted coup against her. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Temer made his remarks Thursday in an interview with the SBT television network. Local media said it was an attempt to attract the support of the country's largest opposition party, the Brazilian Social Democracy Party. On Friday, Judge Sergio Moro, who is heading the investigation into the sprawling corruption scheme involving state-run oil company Petrobras accepted charges filed by prosecutors against Joao Santana, the political marketing expert who helped Rousseff win two elections. Prosecutors have charged Santana and his wife, Monica Moura, with corruption and money laundering. They allege the couple received $3 million in illicit funds from offshore companies controlled by the Odebrecht construction company, which is under investigation for its involvement in the Petrobras bribery scheme. 33 lions rescued from South American circuses head to Africa LIMA, Peru (AP) Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia headed back to their homeland Friday to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa. The largest-ever airlift of lions was organized by Animal Defenders International. The Los Angeles-based group has for years worked with lawmakers in the two countries to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, where they often are held in appalling conditions. The long journey began Thursday in Colombia where a caravan carrying the first nine lions departed the city of Bucaramanga for a 14-hour drive to Bogota's international airport. From there, they were loaded onto a cargo plane and flown to Peru's capital to pick up the remaining 24. A former circus lion peers from inside a cage transporting it to South Africa, at the port of Callao, Peru, Friday, April 29, 2016. Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia are heading back to their homeland to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa. The operation is the largest ever airlift of lions, organized and paid for by Animal Defenders International (ADI). (AP photo/Martin Mejia) Their flight to Johannesburg departed from Lima's airport Friday evening. A former circus lion is given a piece of meat to lick, held outside its cage to help sooth it before it's transported to South Africa, at the port in Callao, Peru, Friday, April 29, 2016. Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia are heading back to their homeland to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa. The operation is the largest ever airlift of lions, organized and paid for by Animal Defenders International (ADI). (AP photo/Martin Mejia) Workers strap down cages that hold former circus lions being transported to South Africa, at the port in Callao, Peru, Friday, April 29, 2016. Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia are heading back to their homeland to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa. The operation is the largest ever airlift of lions, organized and paid for by Animal Defenders International (ADI). (AP photo/Martin Mejia) In this April 26, 2016 photo, a former circus lion rests in a cage on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia are heading back to their homeland on Friday, April 29 to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa. The operation is the largest ever airlift of lions, organized and paid for by Animal Defenders International (ADI). (AP photo/Martin Mejia) Norovirus sickens 159 on cruise ship docked in Norfolk NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Passengers on a cruise ship docked in Virginia have been sickened with norovirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the Balmoral, which is docked Friday in Norfolk, reports 159 crew and passengers have reported being sick. The ship operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines left Britain April 16. A company spokeswoman, Ruth Burton, says conditions have improved and there are currently just seven guests in isolation. There are more than 1,400 passengers and crew aboard. The Captain of the Balmoral cruise ship, Bent Ivar Gangdal makes a public statement regarding the condition of passengers at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk, Va., on Friday, April 29, 2016. Some passengers of the ship have been sickened with norovirus and are currently in isolation. (Hyunsoo Leo Kim/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT The CDC says it plans to have staff to evaluate the ship when it arrives in Baltimore on Saturday or Sunday. Norovirus can be transmitted from contaminated food or water or an infected person. The gastrointestinal illness typically lasts one to three days and can cause stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. The Captain of the Balmoral cruise ship, Bent Ivar Gangdal makes a public statement regarding the condition of passengers at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk, Va., on Friday, April 29, 2016. Some passengers of the ship have been sickened with norovirus and are currently in isolation. (Hyunsoo Leo Kim/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT The life boats of the Balmoral cruise ship sail on the Elizabeth River as the ship is docked at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk, Va. on Friday, April 29, 2016. Some passengers of the ship have been sickened with norovirus and are currently in isolation. (Hyunsoo Leo Kim/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT American Airlines apologizes to musician for barring violin FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A concert musician who was not allowed to board a flight with her violin says she hopes the incident will raise awareness of regulations that permit violins and other small instruments as carry-on luggage. Rachel Barton Pine was told by a flight attendant and captain of an American Eagle flight that she could not bring her 18th century violin on board the plane Thursday from Chicago to Albuquerque, New Mexico. They offered to valet-check the instrument, but Pine declined. The airline, which is based in Texas, later apologized. "Violins are too delicate to be checked," Pine said in a phone interview Friday. "It's not a question of if it might break. It will break." FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2014 file photo, violinist Rachel Barton appears at the 56th annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Pine says an American Airlines flight attendant and captain would not allow her violin as a carry-on from Chicago to Albuquerque, N.M. She says federal regulations and the airlines own policy specifically permit violins as carry-ons. American spokeswoman Leslie Scott says the American Eagle flight captain determined that the instrument could not be safely secured in an overhead bin or under a seat. Barton was rebooked for travel Friday, April 29, 2016, and received an apology from the airline. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) She said the fact that her violin, a 1742 Guarneri, is a rare and valuable instrument, is irrelevant: "It could be a $50 student violin and the same problem exists." Pine said federal regulations and American Airline's own policies specifically say "a musician may carry a small instrument such as a violin onto the plane" to be stowed overhead or under a seat. "A law is only helpful if people know what it is," said Pine. "I hope that bringing this to light will help other musicians know their rights and obligations." In an email, American spokeswoman Leslie Scott said the captain of the American Eagle flight "determined that Ms. Barton's instrument could not be safely secured in an overhead bin or under a seat." Scott confirmed that the airline offered to valet-check the violin, but Barton declined. She was then rebooked for travel Friday morning on a bigger plane, which Scott said could better handle the instrument as a carry-on item. "American has reached out to Ms. Barton directly to apologize for the inconvenience," Scott said. Pine says she flies 100,000 miles a year with American in every type of aircraft including the type of small regional jet she tried to board Thursday "and I can guarantee that my violin easily fits on the airplane." There's even a photo of her instrument in an overhead bin on her Instagram account. She says while it's slightly longer than a standard rollerbag, it's narrower and thinner. Pine also said that she offered to show the attendant that her violin would fit but she was not permitted to demonstrate, and that she cited the regulations allowing instruments on board to no avail. "There's not enough awareness about the existence of this law," she said, adding that American remains her favorite airline and that "this could have happened with any airline." Pine said she was heading to Albuquerque to play for "inner city kids" and she made it to her Friday appearance on "two hours sleep." She was scheduled to solo Saturday with the New Mexico Philharmonic. ___ The Latest: Dad: Son with fake bomb thought world was ending BALTIMORE (AP) The Latest on Alex Brizzi, the man shot and wounded by police after walking into a Baltimore TV station wearing an animal costume and a fake bomb (all times local): 1 p.m. Authorities say criminal charges have been filed against the man shot and wounded by police after walking into a Baltimore TV station wearing an animal costume and strapped with a phony explosive device. A man wearing a full animal costume and surgical mask walks out of a TV station in Baltimore, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Baltimore police say a department sniper shot the man, who police say walked into a TV station displaying what appeared to be an explosive device on his chest. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun via AP) WASHINGTON EXAMINER OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said Friday that 25-year-old Alex Brizzi has been charged with arson, malicious burning, reckless endangerment and possessing a phony destructive device. Brizzi walked into the Fox 45 television station just before 1:30 p.m. Thursday wearing a hedgehog suit over a life preserver that was disguised to look like an explosive vest. Police shot Brizzi at least three times. He is in the hospital and expected to survive his wounds. Police say Brizzi wanted to deliver a flash drive with recorded rants about the end of the world to the station to play on the air. The man's father says his son believed the world was ending and might have been trying to get the message out. ___ 12 p.m. The father of a man shot and wounded by police after walking into a Baltimore TV station wearing an animal costume and a fake bomb says his son believed the world was ending and might have been trying to get the message out. Edward Brizzi of Elkridge, Maryland, told news outlets after the shooting on Thursday that his 25-year-old son, Alex, had a breakdown two weeks ago and said he had a vision from God that the world would end next month. His son was shot four times, but is expected to survive, he said. The man, wearing what police spokesman T. J. Smith said was a panda suit and what employees described as a hedgehog costume, gave a flash drive to a security guard and told him he wanted the station to broadcast its contents. Police later determined that what the man claimed to be a bomb consisted of aluminum-wrapped chocolate bars duct-taped to a flotation device. Smith said police don't know what was on the drive. Police said the man barricaded himself inside the station after it was evacuated and his car became engulfed in flames outside as police, fire, arson, bomb squad and SWAT teams arrived. Police don't know what caused the fire. A man wearing a full animal costume and surgical mask walks out of a TV station in Baltimore, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Baltimore police say a department sniper shot the man, who police say walked into a TV station displaying what appeared to be an explosive device on his chest. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun via AP) WASHINGTON EXAMINER OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT PICTURED: Highlights of the 2016 race for the White House The candidates in the race for the White House are making the case to voters across the country in a fight to win the Republican and Democratic nominations. Here's a look, as seen in images made by Associated Press photographers on the campaign trail. ___ See the latest AP photo galleries: http://apne.ws/TXeCBN Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) The Archive: Top photo highlights from previous weeks: http://apne.ws/13QUFKJ ___ Follow AP photographers on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP/lists/ap-photographers Follow AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, greets supporters Thursday, April 28, 2016, at an Elkhart, Ind., restaurant. Cruz and his vice presidential choice Carly Fiorina, far right, campaigned in Elkhart. (AP Photo/Joe Raymond) Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a rally in Springfield, Ore., Thursday, April 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang) A Trump supporter clashes with protesters outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., shakes hands with supporters following a rally in Springfield, Ore., Thursday, April 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang) Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at a town hall meeting in Portland, Ore., Thursday, April 28 , 2016. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) Paul Simon, My Morning Jacket close out Friday's Jazz Fest NEW ORLEANS (AP) The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is entering its second weekend. The seven-day festival, taking place over two weekends, draws thousands of people to the city in a celebration of Louisiana music, food and culture. A look at the festival's fifth day: HEADLINERS: The big name acts Friday included Paul Simon on the Acura Stage, the rock band My Morning Jacket on the Gentilly Stage and singer-songwriter Ms. Lauryn Hill who closed out the Congo Square Stage. Hill, wearing a red jacket and a stylish black fascinator, played the guitar as she sang to a packed crowd. Over at the Gentilly Stage, My Morning Jacket paid homage to Prince with a rousing version of "Purple Rain" with Carl Broemel on guitar. They then transitioned seamlessly into their song "One Big Holiday" as the crowd rocked out to the music. A sousaphone player on stage with the band had written the words "Preservation Hall New Orleans" on his instrument, paying homage to the city's jazz traditions. BRING BOOTS, BUT NOT UMBRELLAS: After concert-goers on Thursday had to deal with some heavy downpours, the weather Friday was sunny but windy. But the concert takes place in the infield of a racehorse track which turns into a soggy mess after storms. Experienced concertgoers wore tall rubber boots with their shorts or the white shrimp boots popular in the New Orleans area. Those less prepared went for a cheaper option plastic bags wrapped around their shoes. Ms. Lauryn Hill and her band perform at Congo Square during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds, Friday, April 29, 2016, in New Orleans. (David Grunfeld/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT __ REMEMBERING THE LEGENDS: One of the themes hanging over this year's Jazz Fest has been remembering the musical legends that passed away recently. Many artists have performed songs in tribute to Prince, who died days before the festival. On Friday, artists who knew legendary New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint gathered to talk about him on one of the festival's stages. Toussaint passed away last fall. Before that, the singer, songwriter and musician was a regular performer at the festival often playing in elaborate suits coupled with sandals. "It would take him an hour to get anywhere," at Jazz Fest said journalist Ben Sandmel, who moderated the talk. Toussaint, known for being extremely gracious, would always stop to sign autographs or take photos with fans. __ FLY YOUR FLAG: In front of the main festival stages is usually a sea of humanity as well as a sea of flags. Many festivalgoers bring flags that they plant near their chairs and blankets. There's flags with college emblems, an American flag in the black and gold colors of the New Orleans Saints, the zip code of one New Orleans neighborhood and many others. Don Delguidice from Chicago estimated that he's been to the festival at least 12 times but this is the first time he and his friends have brought a flag, which was flying high above the area where they'd circled their chairs in front of the Acura Stage. On the flag was the face of their good friend who wasn't at the festival but who Delguidice described as the "glue" of their tight-knit group. "He's here in spirit," said Delguidice. Delguidice said the flag also helps him and his friends easily find their seats among the mass of humanity on the field. __ THE PARTY DOESN'T END WHEN THE FESTIVAL DOES: The neighborhood outside the racetrack where the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is held every year can turn into a festival all by itself. Reese Salassi Friday was cooking up jambalaya and crawfish at a friend's house in the Bayou St. John neighborhood that borders one side of the racetrack as throngs of people walked past. He said normally the neighborhood is fairly quiet. But during the festival it becomes something of a block party as bands pop up on the street corners to play to the crowds as they leave and residents gather on their stoops to watch the scene unfold. "When Jazz Fest shuts down these streets jam up," said Salassi. __ Follow Santana on Twitter @ruskygal. People dance in a corner at the Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie show in the Blues Tent at Jazz Fest on Thursday, April 28, 2016 in New Orleans. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT The Tedeschi Trucks Band with special guests Billy F. Gibbons, right, and Jimmie Vaughan, back left, play on the Acura Stage at Jazz Fest on Thursday, April 28, 2016 in New Orleans. (Chris Granger/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT J. Monque'D and his Blues Band with Lil Creole Wild West, perform in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds, Friday, April 29, 2016, in New Orleans. (David Grunfeld/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Quint Davis listens to J. Monque'D and his Blues Band with Lil Creole Wild West, performing in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds, Friday, April 29, 2016, in New Orleans. (David Grunfeld/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Second-lining to Luther Kent and Trickbag in the Blues Tent during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds, Friday, April 29, 2016, in New Orleans. (David Grunfeld/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Ms. Lauryn Hill and her band perform at Congo Square during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds, Friday, April 29, 2016, in New Orleans. (David Grunfeld/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT My Morning Jacket perform on the Gentilly Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds, Friday, April 29, 2016, in New Orleans. (David Grunfeld/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT My Morning Jacket perform on the Gentilly Stage during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds, Friday, April 29, 2016, in New Orleans. (David Grunfeld/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; USA TODAY OUT; THE BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE OUT; THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT Feds call for judge to disband police in polygamous towns SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The police department in a polygamous community on the Utah-Arizona border is inflicted by an entrenched culture of following sect leader edicts at the expense of the constitutional rights of nonbelievers and should be disbanded, the federal government recommended Friday in a new court filing. Outside agencies such as local county sheriffs need to handle the duties because of the deep-rooted control of the town marshals by leaders of a polygamous sect run by imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs, the U.S. Department of Justice attorneys said. The recommendations are proposed punishment for the towns after a jury in Phoenix found in March that the towns denied non-sect followers of basic services such as police protection, building permits and water hookups. A federal judge has set a four-day hearing in October to address the issue. Attorneys for the towns said the government is asking for unprecedented action that is unwarranted. Justice attorneys say less severe remedies, such as assigning an outside monitor to the department, wouldn't be sufficient to change the culture. They say 30 percent of town marshals over the last 15 years have been decertified, including four chiefs since Warren Jeffs took over in the early 2000s. It is not the first time authorities have called for elimination of the department attorneys general in Utah and Arizona have been making similar calls for years but this one has weight because it's the federal government and comes on the heels of the victory in the civil rights case. The government is also asking a judge to assign an independent monitor to watch over municipal staff in Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah, and have access to city meetings and documents. "It's exactly what needs to happen," said Richard Holm, a government witness who left the sect in 2003 but still lives in the area. "To have the light of day shone on all those city council meetings and all that goes on there through open and independent set of eyes is very important." Under the government's proposed punishment, Colorado City would also approve a plan to subdivide properties. The delay of that plan has prevented Utah from reassigning properties that are part of a church trust taken over by the state more than a decade ago after allegations of mismanagement. Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes he backs the plan "if adequate law enforcement resources can be found as a replacement." Justice attorneys don't offer specifics about how it would work other than saying the towns would contract with outside agencies for policing and dispatch. Hildale attorney Blake Hamilton said they'll fight against a proposal that is unwarranted. "We're not talking about a pattern of civil rights violations like the deep South. We're not talking about people being raped and beaten," Hildale attorney Blake Hamilton said. "We're talking about people claiming religious discrimination." The towns denied the allegations during the trial and said the government was persecuting town officials because it disapproves of their religion. Colorado City attorney Jeff Matura said no town officer has been decertified by Utah or Arizona state policing agencies for at least eight years. "The government is saying these officers should lose their jobs because of their religious beliefs," Matura said. "That's a pretty dangerous path to walk down." The civil rights trial marked one of the boldest efforts by the government to confront what critics have long said was a corrupt regime in the two towns. The seven-week trial provided a rare glimpse into the communities that for years have been shrouded in secrecy and are distrustful of government and outsiders. As part of a $1.6 million settlement, nine people in the communities will each receive $173,000. The towns and their water utility also will each pay a $55,000 civil penalty. The towns were accused of doing the bidding of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a radical offshoot of mainstream Mormonism, which disavowed polygamy more than 100 years ago. The civil rights trial is one of several fights being waged by the government to rein in church activities. Eleven church members are facing fraud and money laundering charges on accusations of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar food stamp scheme that diverted at least $12 million worth of federal benefits. The defendants, which include high-ranking leader Lyle Jeffs, have pleaded not guilty. The U.S. Labor Department has a separate action against a ranch with ties to the church over a pecan harvest in which prosecutors allege children were forced to work long hours with few breaks. During the civil rights trial, the Justice Department said town employees assisted the group's leader when he was a fugitive and took orders from church leaders about whom to appoint to government jobs. They say local police ignored the food stamp fraud scheme and marriages between men and underage brides. One woman who was denied a water connection testified that she had to haul water to her home and take away sewage for six years. A former sect member said police ignored hundreds of complaints of vandalism on his horse property because he was no longer part of the church. North Carolina lawmaker defends law, acknowledges fallout RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) A top lawmaker has told business leaders he respects their right to speak out against a North Carolina law limiting protections for LGBT people but that he's not changing his mind about it. Republican Senate leader Phil Berger sent the letter to executives days before the state's legislative session started this week. A copy of the letter was posted online Friday by the Human Rights Campaign. Berger appears to try to assuage the businesses' fears about the law, but also writes in the letter dated April 19: "Make no mistake: I supported, and continue to support, the legislation." He acknowledges the largely negative response from the business community, saying: "You have perhaps received overtures from both sides requesting that you speak publicly for or against the bill. I respect that some of you have already chosen to speak on this issue." A letter seeking the law's repeal has been signed by more than 180 executives from companies ranging from Apple to Xerox. Ben Graumann, a spokesman for Equality NC, said Berger's letter was sent to at least some of those businesses. The law, passed during a special session in late March, blocks local and state protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people at their jobs and in public accommodations. It directs transgender people to use bathrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate in many public buildings, and also takes away people's ability to use state law to sue over workplace discrimination. Berger's letter said the law includes commonsense bathroom privacy and safety measures but also allows businesses to set their own policies. Amy Auth, a spokeswoman for Berger, confirmed the letter had been sent to business leaders. "Senator Berger's substantive and serious letter speaks for itself," she said in an email. She also described a version released by the advocacy groups with red notations between the lines and in the margins as a "juvenile political stunt." The state's Republican leaders have said the law won't be repealed during the legislative session. Berger said shortly before the session that he sees no need to change it, either. Senate confirms first female officer for warfighting command WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate has confirmed an Air Force general to be the first female officer to lead one of the military's warfighting commands. By voice vote late Thursday, the Senate approved Gen. Lori Robinson to be commander of U.S. Northern Command. The command is responsible for preventing attacks against the United States. She has been serving as commander of Pacific Air Forces in Hawaii. She joined the Air Force in 1982 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire. FILE - In this March 8, 2016 file photo, Gen. Lori Robinson speaks to reporters at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia. The Senate has confirmed an Air Force general to be the first female officer to lead one of the military's warfighting commands. By voice vote late Thursday, April 28, 2016, the Senate approved Robinson to be commander of U.S. Northern Command. The command is responsible for preventing attacks against the U.S. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk, File) Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire says Robinson is a trailblazer with the dedication and experience to succeed at Northern Command. The Senate also confirmed Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti to be the top American commander in Europe and Army Gen. Vincent Brooks to lead U.S. forces in Korea. FILE - In this April 17, 2003 file photo, U.S. Army Gen. Vincent Brooks speaks during a news conference at the Central Command Center in Doha, Qatar. The Senate confirmed Brooks to lead U.S. forces in Korea. (AP Photo/Richard Lewis, File) Puerto Rico reports 1st US Zika-related death amid outbreak SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Puerto Rico announced Friday that it has recorded the first Zika-related U.S. death amid an outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus in the U.S. territory. Health Secretary Ana Rius said the victim is a 70-year-old man from the San Juan metro area who died in late February. The U.S. territory is battling more than 700 Zika cases and seeks federal funds to help prevent an epidemic at a time of worsening economic crisis. Officials said the unidentified man recovered from initial Zika symptoms, but then developed a condition in which antibodies that formed in reaction to the Zika infection started attacking blood platelet cells. He died after suffering internal bleeding. An Aedes aegypti mosquito is seen through a microscope at Colombia's National Institute of Health in Bogota, Colombia, Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Margaret Honein, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, said during a press conference in Colombia that apart from microcephaly, babies whose mothers have had Zika during pregnancy may eventually acquire impaired hearing or vision. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) Rius said the man died less than 24 hours after seeking help at a health center. She said three other cases of the condition known as severe thrombocytopenia have been reported in Puerto Rico, and that those patients recovered successfully. Three similar Zika-related deaths also have been recorded in the South American country of Colombia, said Tyler Sharp of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika-related deaths in adults are considered extremely rare. The virus causes only a mild and brief illness, at worst, in most people. But infections in pregnant women have been linked to a brain defect and fetal deaths, and have become an international public health concern. There have been 426 cases of Zika reported in the 50 U.S. states all linked to travel to outbreak areas. But officials think it's likely some small clusters of Zika infections will occur in the U.S. when mosquito numbers boom. The virus is spreading quickly across Puerto Rico, where 89 pregnant women are infected with Zika. Rius said all 14 pregnant women who are infected and have given birth have healthy babies. Nineteen people have been hospitalized in Puerto Rico and at least four are believed to have developed a temporary paralysis condition known as Guillain-Barre because of Zika. President Barack Obama has requested $1.9 billion in emergency money to fight Zika virus, but Congress has not acted. Other Caribbean also are struggling with a Zika outbreak. The government of the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe announced a Zika epidemic on Friday with 2,100 suspected cases. ___ Andrew McCarthy is downright creepy in ABC's 'The Family' NEW YORK (AP) Andrew McCarthy has been recognized in some pretty odd places. He was there when the Berlin Wall came down and was singled out by an East German guard as he tried to take a piece of the wall as a souvenir. "It was chaos and these East German guards were pushing people back and this guard just looked at me, 'You.' I'm just like, 'Everybody else is taking it, too!' He said, 'Catholic Boys,' which is a movie I did." FILE - In this May 17, 2015 file photo, Andrew McCarthy arrives at the at Disney Media Distribution International Upfronts in Burbank, Calif. McCarthy stars in "The Family," airing Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File) And he says his 1989 film, "Weekend at Bernie's," seems to be everywhere. For someone so recognizable, McCarthy, also known for roles in films like "St. Elmo's Fire," ''Pretty in Pink," ''Less Than Zero" and "Mannequin," has spent most of his time working behind the camera as a director. "I love telling the whole story, and the older I've gotten the less interested I am in just my subjective point of view and worrying about what my hair looks like. It became boring to me to a certain degree. I was never particularly comfortable being the center of attention just on a personal level," he said in a recent interview. McCarthy, 53, has directed episodes of TV series like "The Blacklist," ''Orange is the New Black", "Gossip Girl" and the new ABC series "The Family" (Sunday, 9 p.m. EDT). He also has a role in that series, which stars Joan Allen, Rupert Graves and Alison Pill. "The Family" is the story of a family torn apart when the youngest child goes missing. They assume he's been killed, and McCarthy plays the creepy neighbor, Hank Asher, convicted of the crime. Ten years later, a young man appears and says he's the missing child. McCarthy's character is released from jail, but will he be accepted as an innocent man? McCarthy says that when he was approached to appear on "The Family," the character that really interested him was "this strange, disturbed, little man who lives next door." "Hank is probably the most misunderstood guy in town and every mother's worst nightmare all in one," McCarthy said. "He has these really bad sexual predilections and yet he hates himself for having them. He's not just a monster going around doing evil. He's someone trying to fight against it. No one has more hate and contempt for him than himself." Meanwhile, when he can fit it in, travel is McCarthy's favorite thing to do. "I prefer to travel alone. I love traveling with my family and my kids but ultimately I think I'm a solo traveler. ... Travel was the university of my life, I like to say. Travel changed my life." ___ Online: http://abc.go.com/shows/the-family/ http://andrewmccarthy.com/ __ After 2012 stunner, ex-con makes another White House run CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) When Hillary Clinton tries to vanquish Bernie Sanders in West Virginia's Democratic presidential primary next month, she will also have to watch out for Keith Judd. That should be no sweat, right? Judd is a political nobody and a felon, who barely scraped together the $2,500 needed to get his name on the May 10 ballot by using his wages from a job at a Texas hotel. Tell that to President Barack Obama, who couldn't stop Judd from winning 41 percent of the state's primary vote four years ago. This undated photo provided by Keith Judd shows Judd. When Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton battle it out in West Virginia's Democratic presidential primary, they'll have to get past ex-convict Keith Judd. Judd was in a Texas prison when he got 41 percent of the vote against President Barack Obama in West Virginia's 2012 Democratic primary. Now the 57-year-old Judd is a free man. He's running again in West Virginia on May 10 against Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. (Keith Judd via AP) Judd was still behind bars then, and many West Virginia voters had no idea who he was, but they were determined to rebuke Obama, whose clean air regulations remain deeply unpopular in the coal-producing state. "You really don't expect to get that many votes when you're sitting in a prison cell," Judd told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. Now after 15 years in prison, Judd, 57, is a free man, and he is improvising another run for president. His old campaign photo, which looks more like a police mug shot, still shows him with a bushy dark mullet on his website, "Keith Judd for President of USA 2016." In person, Judd has gone gray, cut his hair short and wears a suit and tie. He's taking this race seriously enough to have gotten onto primary ballots in Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Texas, failing to muster even 1 percent of the vote anywhere. He's hoping to do much better in West Virginia and then California, the last primary where his name appears. With coal's future looking grimmer than ever, the potential for another protest vote in West Virginia looms large, particularly because the state's primaries are open, enabling independents to vote for either Republicans or Democrats. Clinton trounced Obama in 2008 in the state, but has since broadly endorsed the federal government's clean air policies, and now trails far behind Trump and Sanders. It didn't help when she said recently that "we're going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business we're going to make clear that we don't want to forget those people." Many West Virginians, already feeling abandoned, focused on the first part of her comment. Judd, who accuses Obama of waging "War on People" by declaring a "War on Coal," said he got permission from his probation officer to campaign in West Virginia this weekend, and "bring some other issues into the national spotlight." Judd's incarceration prevented him from touring four years ago, when Obama won only 59 percent of the vote and lost to Judd in 10 of West Virginia's 55 counties. The party later denied Judd a delegate at the 2012 convention because he hadn't filed some paperwork. "What's different this time is, a majority of West Virginians are familiar with Judd," political scientist and historian Robert Rupp said with a chuckle. "Obama's not on the ballot, Judd is known and we have a very spirited campaign between two formidable candidates, Sanders and Clinton." Rupp, a professor at West Virginia Wesleyan College, also notes that Judd was the only other candidate on the state's Democratic primary ballot when Obama was running for re-election. There are six names to choose from this time, including a West Virginia lawyer, a California businessman and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who dropped out months ago. "We will look back at Judd's showing in the 2012 primary as an aberration," Rupp said. Judd has had political aspirations for decades. In the 1990s, he ran for mayor of Albuquerque and governor of New Mexico. Since 1996, he's managed to get on presidential ballots. His 1999 conviction, he says on his website, involves false allegations that he was threatening and trying to extort his ex-wife during their divorce. He was released in June 2013, then returned to prison five months later for violating parole. Released for good in October 2014, he now shares a home in Midland, Texas, with several of his hotel co-workers and volunteers in his local Baptist church. In the coal county of Mingo, where Judd got 60 percent of the vote last time, Ashley Kominar of Kermit said she simply dislikes Obama, and didn't know when she voted for Judd that he was doing time in Texas. Ban on female guards to be lifted in 9/11 case at Guantanamo MIAMI (AP) The military judge presiding over the Sept. 11 war crimes proceedings at Guantanamo Bay said in a ruling this week that he will eventually lift his order prohibiting female guards from having physical contact with the five defendants while transporting them around the U.S. base in Cuba. But Army Col. James Pohl also said he would keep the ban in place for six more months, according to the order, which was disclosed to The Associated Press on Friday. That is because of what he calls "inappropriate" public criticism of his ban by Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during an October appearance before Congress. Pohl said in his 39-page ruling that the "disparaging" comments by Carter and Dunford could be viewed as creating the appearance that they were trying to influence the death penalty military commission for the five men accused of planning and aiding the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. FILE - In this July 7, 2005 file photo, U.S. Army military judge Col. James L. Pohl arrives for a pretrial hearing for U.S. Army Pfc. Lynndie England at Fort Hood, Texas. In a ruling issued Thursday, April 28, 2016, the judge presiding over the Sept. 11 war crimes proceedings at Guantanamo Bay wrote he will lift his order prohibiting female guards from having physical contact with the five defendants at the U.S. base in Cuba. Lawyers for the prisoners said that contact with women unrelated to them violates their strict Muslim beliefs. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) "These comments were entirely inappropriate," the judge said. "They crossed the line. Senior military leaders should know better than to make these kinds of comments in a public forum during an ongoing trial." Carter called the ban on women having contact with the defendants an "outrage" and "counter to the way we treat service members" in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Dunford called the ban "outrageous." Pohl said in his ruling that the extension of the ban by six months was meant to deter such comments and he would consider ending it earlier if the senior officials took "appropriate action." The court "does not take this action lightly," he said. The judge's ruling was issued Thursday but has not yet been released. Defense attorneys disclosed its contents to the AP. A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Cmdr. Gary Ross, declined to discuss the order, saying that "it would be inappropriate to comment on a document not released to the public." Lawyers for the prisoners said that contact with women unrelated to the defendants offends their strict Muslim beliefs. The judge acknowledged those beliefs, but said the military had a superseding interest in being able to run gender-neutral guard operations and to ensure adequate staffing at the prison. He imposed the ban as an interim order in January 2015. The ruling applies only to the defendants in the Sept. 11 case. They are held in a top-secret section of Guantanamo known as Camp 7 and are moved throughout the prison by special escort teams. Most of the 75 other detainees are held in less restrictive conditions and have little physical interaction with guards. Lawyers for the Sept. 11 defendants had argued that the issue was about more than religion. They said in a hearing at Guantanamo that the use of female guards to move them is traumatic for men who were subjected to extreme treatment, at times of a sexualized nature, that amounted to torture while in CIA custody. Walter Ruiz, the lawyer for defendant Mustafa al-Hawsawi, said he was disappointed the judge intends to reverse his earlier decision. He said some defendants will refuse to meet with attorneys or attend court sessions to avoid contact with unrelated females. "This issue is not about women; this issue is about legitimate religious and cultural sensitivities," he said. Vigil planned for 8 family members killed in Ohio massacre PIKETON, Ohio (AP) A vigil is planned for the eight family members killed in a shooting massacre in rural Ohio. The Pray for Pike County vigil at the Pike County Fairgrounds is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. The Rhoden family members were found shot to death April 22 at four homes in the rural county about 85 miles south of Columbus. Leonard Manley, left, father and grandfather of several murder victims, drives up Union Hill Road away from a roadblock at the outer perimeter of a crime scene, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, near Piketon, Ohio. Several people were found dead Friday at multiple properties near Piketon. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) Investigators remain tight-lipped about any suspects or a possible motive. The funeral for victim Gary Rhoden was held Thursday in Kentucky. The funeral for 20-year-old Hannah Gilley is scheduled for Saturday in Otway, Ohio. She was the fiancee of victim Clarence "Frankie" Rhoden. A funeral for Frankie Rhoden, his parents and two siblings will be held Tuesday in West Portsmouth. Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader speaks to the media alongside Ohio State Attorney General Mike DeWine during a news conference, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in Waverly, Ohio. A coroner's report released Tuesday showed new details of vicious violence in the shooting deaths of eight members of a rural southern Ohio family, finding most victims were shot three to nine times each and some of them were bruised. Meanwhile, the hunt for whoever is responsible continued to expand, with more than 200 law enforcement officials involved. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) White House 2016: Clinton gears up for Trump in fall race WASHINGTON (AP) Waves of campaign staffers are being dispatched to battleground states. Advisers are starting to consider locations for a splashy convention rally in Philadelphia. An army of lawyers is scrutinizing more than two dozen possible vice presidential picks. Though she has yet to clinch the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton and her team are taking early steps into a general election campaign. Aides are working under the assumption that Republican front-runner Donald Trump will be her opponent. Six months before the presidential election, they're looking beyond primary rival Bernie Sanders and preparing their candidate and party for what may be a hard-fought and personally ugly fall campaign. FILE - In this April 26, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, accompanied by former President Bill Clinton walks to stage at her presidential primary election night rally in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) Starting this week, Clinton campaign employees are heading to battleground states across the country, among them Ohio, Florida and Colorado. Democrats are also eyeing the possibility of making a run at traditionally Republican-leaning states such as Georgia, North Carolina and Arizona, calculating that Trump's penchant for controversy could put minority and female voters in play. "Everybody's got their game face on," said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who was going to South Dakota on the weekend to campaign for Clinton. Aides from the primary are getting general election marching orders. Simone Ward, political director of the campaign committee for Senate Democratic races, will run Clinton's Florida operation. Emmy Ruiz, who led a crucial Nevada primary win for Clinton, will handle Colorado. Mike Vlacich led New Hampshire operations in the primary and will do the same in the fall. "The sooner you can get up and running the better," said Dan Pfeiffer, who advised President Barack Obama. "On the Republican side, Trump has not built anything resembling the sort of field operation it takes to win." Plans are also beginning to take shape for a convention that will prominently feature Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and the vice presidential nominee. It's not clear, however, what role Sanders will have. Taking a page from Obama's 2008 convention address at Mile High Stadium in Denver, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a close Clinton ally, is urging the campaign to hold a major speech perhaps even Clinton's acceptance address outside Independence Hall, where the Constitution was signed. Clinton's campaign has started the internal search for a running mate, though people familiar with the process say that effort is in an early stage. A team of lawyers is poring through information about a lengthy list of Democrats, among them Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. Other names mentioned by party insiders include Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Housing Secretary Julian Castro. No final decision is expected until Republicans hold their convention. The search for a running mate is being overseen by campaign chairman John Podesta and Clinton confidante Cheryl Mills, both of whom will help cull the list down to a handful of names in the coming weeks. Clinton advisers are debating whether it's more important to select a strong liberal champion from the Rust Belt to woo Sanders backers and cut into Trump's advantage with working-class white men, or to acknowledge her support among minority voters with a more history-making pick. They note that Clinton's and her husband's personal chemistry with the eventual choice will be a key factor. Clinton has begun broadening her message against Trump, calling for the party to unify around her and shying away from nearly all mention of Sanders. Her team anticipates that Trump will use gender-based attacks against Clinton, probably resurrecting his criticism from earlier this year on her husband's sexual history. This week, her campaign spent days highlighting and raising money from Trump's comments that Clinton's political success was due to her playing the "woman's card." An all-but-settled Democratic race also allows Clinton to raise money and cut primary spending on ads. She's planning a spree of lucrative fundraisers in New York, Michigan, California and Texas next month and has no ads running in coming primary contests. Priorities USA Action, a super PAC backing Clinton's candidacy, is preparing to spend $90 million on television ads attacking Trump in seven states starting June 8 the day after the California primary. An additional $35 million is being reserved for digital ads aimed at bolstering Clinton's coalition of black, Latino and younger voters. The group says they could go on the air sooner, if the dynamics of the race change. Emily's List, an advocacy organization that backs female Democratic candidates, has hired a New York ad agency to help market to millennial voters, a group that Clinton has struggled to win over in the primaries. The effort is testing messages attacking Trump and aimed at motivating young women to come out for Clinton, as part of a $20 million project to elect the first woman as president. "Millennial women are outraged by Donald Trump," said Denise Feriozzi, the group's deputy executive director. "It's our job to turn that outrage into votes." ___ Freiburg promoted, returns to Bundesliga after 1 season away BERLIN (AP) Freiburg secured an immediate return to the Bundesliga, one season after relegation to the second division, with a 2-1 win at Paderborn on Friday. Goals from Mike Frantz and Nils Petersen, both set up by Maximilian Philipp in a three-minute spell just after the break, ensured Freiburg will finish at least second, earning automatic promotion. "It still has to sink in," Petersen said. With two rounds remaining, Freiburg has 69 points, five more than Leipzig, and 10 more than third-placed Nuremberg, which has a game in hand. Even if Nuremberg, which is all but certain of at least a promotion/relegation playoff following St. Pauli's 2-0 defeat at 1860 Munich, wins its remaining three games, it cannot catch Freiburg. It is Freiburg's fifth promotion to the top flight after 1993, 1998 and 2003 all under Volker Finke and then 2009 under Robin Dutt. "I'm quite calm," said current coach Christian Streich, who was relegated with the side last season. "There were a lot of ups and downs over the year. I'm simply happy we managed it, no more." Guatemala declares 24 missing in garbage landslide at dump GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Guatemala City authorities say that 24 people are listed as missing two days after a massive slope of trash collapsed, killing at least four people. Hundreds of rescuers are still picking through the garbage dump looking for survivors or bodies. The city spokesman said Friday the problem is that many people work informally as garbage pickers at the dump, and only some were officially registered as present when the collapse occurred Wednesday. Rescue workers search the city dump for survivors one day after trash collapsed on workers in Guatemala City, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Rescue workers are picking through garbage looking for bodies or possible survivors after the massive slope of trash collapsed, killing at least four people. Authorities say about 1,000 people worked in that area of the dump. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) City spokesman Carlos Sandoval said that "of the missing people, seven are registered" as garbage pickers, who poke through trash looking for recyclable materials to sell. The others are believed to be people who were working without permission at the dump. About 1,200 registered garbage pickers work at the massive dump. The relative of a missing garbage-picker cries as she waits for information at the entrance of the city garbage dump in Guatemala City, Thursday, April 28, 2016. Rescue workers are picking through garbage looking for bodies or possible survivors a day after the massive slope of trash collapsed, killing at least four people. Authorities say about 1,000 people worked in that area of the dump. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) AP National News Calendar Eds: Major scheduled events for the week of May 1 - May 7. Note that many events are subject to change at the last minute. The following economic reports will be issued in Washington (all times EDT) unless otherwise noted: SUNDAY: No events of note. MONDAY: Institute for Supply Management releases its manufacturing index for April, 10 a.m.; Commerce Department releases construction spending for March, 10 a.m. TUESDAY: No events of note. WEDNESDAY: Commerce Department releases international trade data for March, 8:30 a.m.; Labor Department releases first-quarter productivity data, 8:30 a.m.; Institute for Supply Management releases its service sector index for April, 10 a.m.; Commerce Department releases factory orders for March, 10 a.m. THURSDAY: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m. FRIDAY: Labor Department releases employment data for April, 8:30 a.m.; Federal Reserve releases consumer credit data for March, 3 p.m. SATURDAY: No events of note. ____ SUNDAY, MAY 1 No events of note. ____ MONDAY, MAY 2 Defense Secretary Ash Carter visits Germany through May 4 for a change of command ceremony at U.S. European Command and talks with defense ministers about the fight against the Islamic State group. WASHINGTON Supreme Court issues orders. WASHINGTON Congress on break until the week of May 9. ____ TUESDAY, MAY 3 WASHINGTON Supreme Court on break until May 16. WASHINGTON National Transportation Safety Board meeting on an electrical malfunction that filled a tunnel in Washington's subway system with smoke in January 2015, killing one person and injuring dozens. DETROIT Automakers release vehicle sales data for April. BERLIN Automaker BMW releases first-quarter earnings figures. GENEVA Swiss bank UBS reports first-quarter earnings. CVS Health Corp. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens. Pfizer Inc. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens. ____ WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 President Barack Obama visits Flint, Michigan. FRANKFURT, Germany Industrial conglomerate Siemens releases earnings figures for the January-March period, its fiscal second quarter. COPENHAGEN, Denmark Danish shipping group A.P. Moller-Maerk posts its first quarter earnings. Tesla Motors Inc. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes. Whole Foods Market Inc. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes. ____ THURSDAY, MAY 5 Merck & Co. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens. ____ FRIDAY, MAY 6 No events of note. ____ SATURDAY, MAY 7 Romania: police confiscate Byzantine coins from British man BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Romanian border police say they have confiscated 71 Byzantine coins from a British citizen traveling from Turkey to Romania. Police said in a statement Friday they found the coins in five plastic bags Thursday in the luggage of a 43-year-old man as he crossed into Romania from Bulgaria on a bus. The statement said he told police he bought them from a bazaar in Turkey but was unable to provide documents to justify his claims. The metal coins of varying colors have details on them indicating they date back to the Byzantine era and are likely to be objects of cultural patrimony. Byzantine coins were used between the fifth and 15th centuries. Brazil police arrest Colombian drug trafficker SAO PAULO (AP) Brazilian police say they have arrested a Colombian man wanted on drug gang charges in his home country and in the U.S. A Federal police statement issued Friday says that Eduardo Fernando Cardoza Giraldo was arrested Thursday in the city of Ribeirao Preto in Sao Paulo state. Cardoza Giraldo is under indictment in Brooklyn, New York, on charges of cocaine trafficking in connection with his alleged role in controlling a drug debt collection office aligned with the Clan Usuaga gang. Prince death investigation focuses on flight, drugs, doctor MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Authorities are investigating whether Prince died from an overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing drugs for the musician in the weeks before he was found dead at his suburban Minneapolis home. A guide to the latest developments: ___ INQUIRY INTO EMERGENCY LANDING FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2015 file photo, Prince presents the award for favorite album - soul/R&B at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles. ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN, citing unidentified law enforcement sources, reported that prescription painkillers were found on the musician and in his home. The Star Tribune, also citing unnamed sources, reported that prescription pills were found but that it wasn't clear whether they had been prescribed to Prince. Prince was found dead in his Paisley Park home in suburban Minneapolis on April 21, 2016. He was 57. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File) Questions about Prince's health surfaced April 15, when his private plane made an emergency stop in Moline, Illinois. He was found unconscious aboard the aircraft, according to a law enforcement official who was briefed on the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. While the plane was on the tarmac, the person said, first-responders gave Prince a shot of Narcan, an antidote that is used to reverse suspected opioid overdoses. At the time, Prince was returning to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta. The official said investigators are looking at whether he overdosed on the flight and whether an overdose killed him. One possibility is the powerful painkiller Percocet or something similar, the official said. Investigators also want to know whether a doctor was on the plane and whether any drugs were aboard the aircraft or at Prince's Minnesota house. While the investigation is far from complete, the mention of a doctor calls to mind other celebrity deaths, including Michael Jackson's. Jackson's physician, Conrad Murray, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in prescribing a powerful anesthetic that contributed to the pop star's death in 2009. ___ A SEARCH OF STAR'S HOME A second law enforcement official told AP that prescription drugs were discovered at Prince's home when the musician was found dead on April 21. That official also spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation. The official did not elaborate. Prince's Paisley Park home and studio were searched on the same day he died. The warrant and accompanying documents were filed Thursday under seal at the request of investigators who said it would hamper their investigation if the contents were public. An affidavit in support of sealing the warrant warned that disclosing details in the warrant could cause "the search or related searches to be unsuccessful" and risk injury to innocent people. The person who signed that affidavit, Carver County Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud, declined to comment Thursday on the reports of drugs found at Paisley Park, and told AP that he disputed reports by several media outlets that investigators had asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help. "We have not asked them for help or asked them to be a part of the investigation," Kamerud said. "We might contact them to help us, but that hasn't happened." He said authorities did not have the medical examiner's report yet and did not know "to what extent pharmaceuticals could be a part of this." An autopsy has been performed, but results are not expected for three to four weeks. ___ OTHER HEALTH COMPLAINTS, CANCELED CONCERTS Prince's death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn't feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city. Prince was scheduled to perform two shows in St. Louis but canceled them shortly before his death due to health concerns. Longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical problems from his performances, citing hip and knee trouble that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels. ___ 16 blamed for mistakes in deadly US attack on Afghan clinic WASHINGTON (AP) Human error, violations of combat rules and untimely equipment failures led to the mistaken U.S. aerial attack on a charity-run hospital in Afghanistan last fall that killed 42 people, a senior American general said Friday. Investigators called the attack a "disproportional response to a threat that didn't exist." Sixteen military members were given administrative punishments that could stall or end careers, but no one faces a court martial. A senior defense official said one of the disciplined was a two-star general. The AC-130 gunship, bristling with side-firing cannons and guns, fired on the hospital in the northern city of Kunduz for 30 minutes before the mistake was realized and the attack was halted, Gen. Joseph Votel told a news conference as he released the Pentagon's final report on the incident. The intended target was an Afghan intelligence agency building about 450 yards away. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, Commander of U.S. Central Command, briefs reporters on the release of the investigation into the U.S. airstrike on the Doctors With Borders trauma center in Kunduz, Afghanistan, Friday, April 29, 2016, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Molly Riley) No one involved knew the targeted compound was a hospital, Votel said, but investigators concluded the U.S. ground and air commanders should have known. Votel expressed "deepest condolences" to those injured and to the families of those killed and said the U.S. government made "gesture of sympathy" payments of $3,000 to each injured person and $6,000 to each family of the killed. Zabihullah Neyazi, a nurse who lost his left arm, eye and a finger in the Oct. 3, 2015, attack, said administrative punishment for the American service members wasn't enough and said a "trial should be in Afghanistan, in our presence, in the presence of the victims' families, so they would be satisfied." Pharmacist Khalid Ahmad, 24, said those responsible "are criminals, and they must be jailed." Ahmad still has shrapnel embedded in his waist and cannot move his right leg. Doctors Without Borders, the international charity organization whose hospital was destroyed, said Friday that it still wants an "independent and impartial" investigation. It said the punishments were inadequate and "out of proportion" to the deaths, injuries and destruction caused by the mistaken attack. "The lack of meaningful accountability sends a worrying signal to warring parties, and is unlikely to act as a deterrent against future violations of the rules of war," the organization said. The Americans who called in and authorized the attack never laid eyes on either the intended target or the hospital, Votel said. He is commander of U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for military operations in the greater Middle East and Afghanistan. At the time of the Kunduz attack he headed U.S. Special Operations Command. "This was an extreme situation" complicated by combat fatigue among U.S. special operations forces, Votel said. He said the ground force commander who authorized the AC-130 strike justified it on grounds of self-defense, but investigators determined that the attack was "a disproportional response to a threat that did not exist." Investigators concluded that certain personnel failed to comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict, but Votel said those failures did not amount to a war crime. "The label 'war crimes' is typically reserved for intentional acts intentional targeting (of) civilians or intentionally targeting protected objects or locations," Votel said. "Again, the investigation found that the incident resulted from a combination of unintentional human errors, process errors and equipment failures, and that none of the personnel knew they were striking a hospital." Meinie Nicolai, president of Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French initials MSF, took issue with Votel's assertion. "The threshold that must be crossed for this deadly incident to amount to a grave breach of international humanitarian law is not whether it was intentional or not," Nicolai said, noting that with various countries fighting in the region with different rules, "armed groups cannot escape their responsibilities on the battlefield simply by ruling out the intent to attack a protected structure such as a hospital." Votel said none of the names of the 16 will be released to protect the privacy of the individuals and, in some cases, because they are still assigned to sensitive or overseas positions. The hospital was on a U.S. military no-strike list but the AC-130 crew didn't have access to the list because it launched its mission on short notice and did not have the data loaded into its onboard systems. The investigation report, which was released Friday with many segments redacted for security or other reasons, said the person who emailed the data to the airplane while in flight did not follow up to confirm that it was received. It was not received. Votel said the military has sought to avoid similar mistakes in the future by requiring that such data be pre-loaded into aircraft. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has ordered commanders to take a series of steps over the next four months to "mitigate the potential for similar incidents in the future." Among other things, Carter ordered that the Kunduz scenario be incorporated into pre-deployment training as an example of the kind of complicated situations that troops may face in Afghanistan or other war zones. Carter's memo suggested that the Kunduz failure reflected communications problems on a wide scale across the military. He ordered the military to review its policies and rules of engagement to "clarify conflicting or confusing directives." He also cited "problematic guidance" from top commands and problems with "hierarchies of competing policies and authorities." Votel said he was satisfied that those involved were trying to do the right thing. "The investigation determined that all members of both the ground force and the AC-130 air crew were unaware that the aircraft was firing on a medical facility throughout the engagement," Votel said. ___ Associated Press writers Deb Riechmann and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and Rahim Faiez in Kabul contributed to this report. Army Gen. Joseph Votel, Commander of U.S. Central Command, leaves after briefing reporters on the release of the investigation into the U.S. airstrike on the Doctors With Borders trauma center in Kunduz, Afghanistan, Friday, April 29, 2016, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Molly Riley) Army Gen. Joseph Votel, Commander of U.S. Central Command, briefs reporters on the release of the investigation into the U.S. airstrike on the Doctors With Borders trauma center in Kunduz, Afghanistan, Friday, April 29, 2016, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Molly Riley) 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. About 16 U.S. military personnel, including a two-star general, have been disciplined for mistakes that led to the bombing of the civilian hospital in Afghanistan last year that killed 42 people, a senior U.S. official said Thursday, April 28, 2016. According to officials, no criminal charges were filed and the service members received administrative punishments in connection with the U.S. air strike in the northern city of Kunduz. (AP Photo/Najim Rahim, File) Human remains found where ex-pastor said he buried woman OCEAN CITY, Fla. (AP) Authorities have found human remains where a former Florida pastor said he buried a woman's body nearly five years ago. Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Capt. Mike Card told The Northwest Florida Daily News (http://bit.ly/1SUKNhX ) the remains were found Friday in James Ty Flanders' former backyard in Ocean City. The newspaper reports the 47-year-old Flanders pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter in the October 2011 death of 37-year-old Marie Jane Carlson. According to the report, Flanders provided the location of Carlson's body in exchange for pleading guilty to manslaughter instead of second-degree murder. The newspaper reports that Flanders told investigators he and his wife shared a relationship with Carlson. Prosecutors said Flanders described grabbing Carlson and holding her in a "tight bear hug" until she stopped moving. Flanders faces up to 15 years in prison. ___ Study analyzes impact of Washington state coal-export plan SEATTLE (AP) A coal-export terminal proposed along the Columbia River in southwest Washington state could have unavoidable, significant impacts on greenhouse gases emissions, vessel traffic and rail safety, according to an environmental review released Friday. The analysis by the Washington Department of Ecology and Cowlitz County found that greenhouse gas emissions from facility operations to when the coal is burned in Asia would increase by 2.5 million metric tons each year when the project is fully running. While measures can be taken to significantly reduce those emissions, the impact "would still be significant and adverse," the study noted. Other concerns include increased vessel traffic as 840 ships a year are added, and a potential for train accidents along rail routes in Cowlitz County and other parts of Washington as up to 16 mile-long train trips are added each day. FILE - In this May 29, 2012, file photo, a train hauling coal to British Columbia heads north out of Seattle between office buildings, condos and the downtown waterfront. On Friday, April 29, 2016, state and local regulators are releasing a sweeping review of a coal export terminal proposed along the Columbia River in southwest Washington. The analysis is expected to study impacts that extend well beyond the facility site in southwest Washington, from global-warming effects of burning the exported coal in Asia to rail impacts as the coal is from the Rockies throughout the state. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) The study found the project could impact 21 of 23 areas reviewed, and that some of those consequences are significant, Ecology said in a statement. The review looked at fish habitat, water quality, local communities and other issues, and proposed ways for the project developers to reduce those effects. Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview is proposing a terminal that would handle up to 44 million metric tons of coal a year. Coal would arrive by train from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming and the Uinta Basin in Utah and Colorado to be stored and loaded on ships for export to Asia. Construction could begin in 2018. Lighthouse Resources Inc., formerly known as Ambre Energy, owns 62 percent of Millennium and Arch Coal Inc. the other 38 percent. Lighthouse owns the Decker Mine in Montana and the Black Butte Mine in southwestern Wyoming. Millennium CEO Bill Chapman said in a statement Friday that the project is a step closer to creating family-wage jobs in Longview while meeting the state's strict environmental standards. Business and some labor groups also expressed support, saying the project would create jobs, boost the local economy and strengthen the state's trade capacity. "This is an important project for Washington state, and for the people of Cowlitz County and Southwest Washington searching for good paying jobs," said Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business. But environmental, citizens and other groups said Friday that the review confirms their concerns about wide-ranging impacts from moving millions of tons of coal through the Northwest and burning it in Asia. Opponents said the review acknowledges the negative consequences of the project but falls short because it relies on mitigation measures that aren't proven. The study said air pollution from coal dust at the site and along rail lines would be below federal air quality standards. It also said coal dust would exceed nuisance levels, but it would not be significant impact since state or federal standards do not apply. Regulators recommended coal loaded on trains be sprayed with a substance at the mine site and in Pasco, Washington, to reduce coal dust. Steve Charter, a Montana rancher, said in a statement that the Washington coal port is also bad news for his state. He said rail towns would have to deal with traffic delays, diesel exhaust and other consequences. The study found that without rail and road improvements, the increased train traffic would create long vehicle delays during rush hour at railroad crossings in Cowlitz County and beyond. It said crossings in Spokane County would have the largest increases in vehicle delays. The public can comment on the study through June 13, and at three public hearings scheduled in May and June. Regulators plan to incorporate those comments into a final review, a process that could take a year or longer. The state and county got a record number of comments, more than 215,000, earlier in its review. The Army Corps of Engineers, meanwhile, is doing its own separate environmental review. A spokeswoman said a draft is expected in September. ___ This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the Association of Washington Business. Sanders campaign withdraws suit against DNC over data breach WASHINGTON (AP) The campaign of Bernie Sanders has withdrawn a lawsuit accusing the Democratic National Committee of wrongfully cutting off its access to a voter database. Late last year the DNC denied the campaign database access after finding that a staffer with the Sanders campaign inappropriately accessed proprietary data of rival Hillary Clinton's campaign. Sanders himself apologized and his campaign fired a worker, then sued to regain access. The DNC said Friday an outside technology security company, CrowdStrike, found evidence of unauthorized access to the voter database from four user accounts from the Bernie 2016 campaign. Astronaut Tim Peake has taken control of a robotic rover on Earth while in orbit on board the International Space Station, driving it across a test area designed to look like Mars. The former Army test pilot used a console on board the ISS to remotely drive a prototype Mars Rover, called Bridget, around a dark sand-covered yard in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The test was designed to mimic what it would be like to use a robotic rover to explore a dark cave on the red planet, but midway through the test engineers had to come to his rescue after he hit a rock. British astronaut Tim Peake has taken control of a robotic rover to drive it around through a course designed to look like a cave on the surface of Mars. The astronaut used laptops on board the the International Space Station to move the rover across the sandy surface (pictured) It is part of tests leading up to the ExoMars mission that will send a rover to look for signs of life on Mars. While the European Space Agencys ExoMars rover is intended to be autonomous when it is sent to Mars, its navigational cameras and software can struggle in dark conditions. Cut off from its solar power source it will also only have limited battery power to explore a dark cave environment. Instead a human controlling the rover should be able to distinguish between rocks and shadows far more efficiently than the robot can. Major Peake used a bank of laptops on board the orbiting space station to move the cameras on the Bridget rover before then driving it forward into a mocked up cave environment. The astronaut used the mouse and cursors on a laptop onboard the ISS to move the cameras and drive the rover into the darkened 'cave'. As part of the test he had to navigate around the cave and find objects inside From one end of the yard, Bridget will be commanded by Esa until it reaches the edge of the shaded area. At the edge of the 'cave', control will be passed to Major Peake. He will drive Bridget across the yard, avoiding obstacles and identifying potential science targets, marked with a UV fluorescent marker (set up pictured) Using the arrow cursors on his keyboard he was able to inch the robot forward around the course. During the tests he turned the rover's camera to point at the crowd of onlookers watching the test before waving at them from the space station. THE EXOMARS LAUNCH DETAILS Launch vehicle: Proton-M/Breeze-M Launch mass: 4,332 kg (including fuel) Instruments: Orbiter (3732 kg, including 135.6 kg science payload) and Schiaparelli (600 kg) Dimensions: Orbiter: 3.5 x 2 x 2m with 17.5m solar arrays tip-to-tip. Schiaparelli: 1.65 m diameter The launch: The rocket blasted off at 09:31 GMT (10:31 CET) on 14 March, as planned. Before entering the cave, Major Peake got the rover to perform a pirouette and then sent the rover at full speed - just under 9 mph - towards the cave entrance. Although he made the manouvere look easy, Major Peake had to take into account the 45 second delay between him sending a command and the rover responding. This is the time it took for signals to get from his location in orbit to the control centre and then to the rover. Once inside the cave, Major Peake used the rover to search for hidden targets around the cave. The experiment was taking taking place in a hangar at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage. Major Peake took command of the rover at just after 3.20pm BST on Friday afternoon. But around 4.30pm, engineers had to step in to reposition the rover after it became stuck up against a rock. Before taking control of the rover, Major Peake tweeted on Thursday: 'Looking forward to giving rover Bridget in Stevenage, UK, a test-drive from space.' Major Peake drove the rover into the darkened 'cave' and used the rover's cameras to search for hidden objects (marked with red dots on the map above). Major Peake could not see the dots. The red line marks the path taken by the rover since he took control Major Peake used the camera onboard the rover to search for scientific 'targets' inside the cave before identifying them with flourescent tags (pictured) The tests build on previous experimental campaigns by ESA, the UK Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space to investigate how to control robots in a simulated planetary environment. Airbus' Mars yard, in Hertfordshire, was built to develop the locomotion and navigation systems for Esa's ExoMars rover and provides a realistic Mars-like environment to test systems. The experiment will provide valuable data to assess the benefits of human involvement in a rover's path planning. The British astronaut (pictured) is almost four months into his six month mission on board the International Space Station. It took 45 seconds for the commands he sent for the rover to reach the robot from space The series of tests started at 1:30pm BST (8:30am EST) with Major Peake taking control of the rover at 3:20pm BST (10.20am EST). The full schedule is pictured above Once on Mars, the machine (pictured) will look for signs of life in soil samples below the arid Martian surface and take colour images of the surrounding landscape. Bridget is a stripped down version of the rover, missing all its scientific hardware, yet is designed to weigh the same as the machine on Mars, around 441lbs (200kg) Live map of Bridget in the #MarsYard; on ISS, @astro_timpeake does NOT see red dots (obstacles/targets) #METERON pic.twitter.com/RvgO5naSB2 ESA Operations (@esaoperations) April 29, 2016 From one end of the yard, Airbus's rover, named 'Bridget', was commanded from Esoc, Esa's European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany, until reached the edge of the shaded area. Then at the edge of the 'cave', control was passed to Major Peake, on board the ISS. He then drove Bridget across the yard, avoiding obstacles and entered the cave, identifying potential science targets, which were marked with a distinctive UV fluorescent marker. There was a brief, planned lost of signal from the ISS before control was restored. Once the targets were identified and mapped, Major Peake will drove the rover out of the 'cave' and handed control back to Esoc to drive the rover back to its starting point. Testing of the rover prototypes takes place in a giant hangar containing 250 tonnes of sand strewn with artificial boulders, against a backdrop of panoramic photos of the red planet. Testing of the rover prototypes takes place in a giant hangar (pictured) containing 250 tonnes of sand strewn with artificial boulders, against a backdrop of panoramic photos from Mars. The finished rover will have a drill that can bore down 6.5ft (2 metres) below the surface and extract samples to be analysed in its on-board lab The British-built rover has star billing in the second half of the 1.2 billion euro (946 million) joint European and Russian ExoMars mission. The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (pictured) on 14 March and is expected to arrive at Mars in October Artist's impression visualising the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and its entry, descent and landing demonstrator module, Schiaparelli, approaching Mars. The separation is scheduled to occur on 16 October 2016. Schiaparelli will enter the martian atmosphere on 19 October, while TGO will enter orbit around Mars BRUNO, BRIDGET AND BRYAN Bridget belongs to a 'family' of three rover prototypes - the others are named Bruno and Bryan - which are testing the last word in planetary navigation technology. As the ExoMars orbiter hurtles towards Mars at 20,500mph (33,000kph) after its launch on March 14, scientists and engineers are gearing up to start work on the rover that will go into space. Bridget is a stripped down version of the rover, missing all its scientific hardware, yet is designed to weigh the same as the machine on Mars, around 200kg (441 pounds). That is because the pull of Martian gravity is about a third of the Earth's. The finished rover will have a drill that can bore down 6.5ft (2 metres) below the Martian surface and extract samples to be analysed in its on-board laboratory. Unlike any Mars rover before it, the ExoMars rover will look for biochemical signatures of life. Bridget belongs to a 'family' of three rover prototypes - the others are named Bruno and Bryan - which are testing the last word in planetary navigation technology. As the ExoMars orbiter hurtles towards Mars at 20,500mph (33,000kph) after its launch on March 14, scientists and engineers are gearing up to start work on the rover that will go into space. Bridget is a stripped down version of the rover, missing all its scientific hardware, yet is designed to weigh the same as the machine on Mars, around 200kg (441 pounds). That is because the pull of Martian gravity is about a third of the Earth's. The finished rover will have a drill that can bore down 6.5ft (2 metres) below the Martian surface and extract samples to be analysed in its on-board laboratory. Unlike any Mars rover before it, the ExoMars rover will look for biochemical signatures of life. They might be organic molecules with a particular left or right 'handedness' to their structure that indicates a biological origin, or specific minerals left behind by long-dead microbes. The planned landing site is a flat equatorial region known as Oxia Planum where there is geological evidence of surface water long ago. Navigating autonomously, the rover is expected to cover up to 230ft (70 metres) per day and as much as 2.5 miles (4km) in the course of its six-month mission. Newborns to be tested for alcohol amid concerns over drinking in pregnancy Newborn babies in Scotland are being tested for alcohol after researchers raised concerns that some pregnant mothers are drinking regularly. Samples from hundreds of babies born at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow are being studied for molecules which stay inside unborn children when their mothers drink. Results from an initial pilot study suggest around 40% of mothers consume some alcohol while pregnant, with about 15% drinking more than one or two small glasses of wine a week. Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, and the more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk, the Scottish Government warns. Previous research found that e ven moderate drinking during the earliest months of pregnancy may be damaging. Funded by Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, the latest study is to take 750 samples of meconium - the first faeces of a newborn - to look for high levels of alcohol by-products. Mothers will also be asked to complete a lifestyle questionnaire. The occasional drink will not be highlighted by the study, researchers said. It is hoped the work will lead to targeted messages and interventions and reduce the effects of foetal alcohol syndrome, a condition where children suffer developmental problems because their mothers drank during pregnancy. Consultant neonatologist Dr Helen Mactier, who is leading the research, told The Herald newspaper: "Alcohol consumption in pregnancy is almost certainly contributing to a lot of learning disability in Scotland and learning disability is associated with poor school performance and criminality in the long term." Dr Mactier said mothers from all walks of life are involved in the study. She added: "There is an assumption that all problem drinking in pregnancy is associated with poverty and there is no evidence to confirm that. "It is much easier to conceal problem drinking if you are affluent and if you are clever." Dr Mactier said the 15% figure from the initial tests was more concerning. She told BBC Radio Scotland: "We collected over 200 samples and these were analysed for fatty acids ethyl ester and a much newer metabolite, ethyl glucuronide. We found ethyl ester in 42%, which will in some cases indicate alcohol consumption but could also indicate consumption of oils like olive oil eaten by mum. "More importantly, we found raised ethyl glucuronide in 15%, and from literature recently published from America that would suggest that about one in seven women are drinking around about four or five drinks of alcohol several days a week, which we would consider significant alcohol. "I think the headline figure should be 15%, the 42% may be a little bit over-sensitive." She added: "I think we're very well aware that women commonly under-report alcohol consumption in pregnancy. They are scared of repercussions and of being stigmatised and alcohol consumption is normalised in the west of Scotland particularly. "What one person considers a small drink could be considered a larger drink by someone else. I would concur with the chief scientist's message that women should not be drinking at all in pregnancy." The British Pregnancy Advisory Service said pregnant women "need support not surveillance". A spokeswoman added: "This appears to be a worrying development in what is now the increasing policing of pregnancy. "It is known that consuming large quantities of alcohol throughout pregnancy can result in lifelong learning disabilities, but little evidence of this at lower levels. "It is unclear how the information gathered in this study will be used, and whether this will set a precedent for more widespread testing of babies - in order to 'test' their mothers' claims of how much drank while pregnant. 'Splendid isolation' would leave UK weaker, says Sir John Major Former prime minister Sir John Major has accused the Brexit campaign of "offensive" tactics and dismissed arguments about the powers handed to Brussels by claiming that North Korea was the only nation with "undiluted sovereignty" because of its international isolation. The ex-Conservative leader, who is campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union, warned there would be economic and political damage if the country votes to leave in the referendum on June 23. He rejected the claims about patriotism made by some in the Brexit camp, suggesting that their approach of "splendid isolation" would leave the country weaker. Sir John Major accused some Brexit campaigners of 'producing soundbites that are either offensive or inaccurate or just plain silly' "Day after day you have had the Brexit people producing soundbites that are either offensive or inaccurate or just plain silly," Sir John said. "I don't believe that it is patriotic to argue for a case that is going to make this country weaker and is going to make the wellbeing of this country less certain in the future." He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm no starry-eyed Europhile, but I have no doubt where our future lies. "The EU helped free Spain, Portugal and Greece from fascism. It helped rebuild the Balkans after war. "It offered a new future to countries once imprisoned within the Soviet empire, and across Europe old enemies, who for centuries fought against each other, now live and work beside each other. "It has increased our prosperity. Once the sick man of Europe, we are now on course to be the biggest economy in Europe." He warned: "If we go it alone we will lose free trade agreements with over 50 countries. It would take many years to renegotiate them all and we would never get as good a deal as we now have as part of Europe. "Before us all is a fateful choice: if we leave Europe, both Europe and the UK would be weakened. "Our relationship with America would wither - America needs an ally inside the European Union and it could no longer be us. "At home, Scotland may choose to leave the UK." He accused the Brexit camp of using "nonsense" rhetoric about the influence of the EU, saying: "To listen to them you would think we are entrapped in the clutches of an evil empire, not in a democratic partnership with our European neighbours whose sunshine and pavement cafes we enjoy during holiday breaks." He added: "Painting Britain as a victim of Europe is simply ludicrous. We gain more than we give, we win more than we lose." The Leave campaign has said that Brexit would restore sovereignty to the UK, freeing it from the influence of Brussels and the European Court. But Sir John said: "If you want undiluted sovereignty in the modern age, when everybody is interconnected, then go to North Korea because that is where you will get it. "It is certainly true that we share sovereignty. We take some sovereignty from other people, we share some of ours. "We haven't surrendered it because at the end of the day the House of Commons, our representatives, can say 'we won't have this, we will leave the European Union'. "But in the modern world, the modern world of interconnectivity, the modern world with the economy that now exists, you have to share sovereignty or you find yourself isolated and weaker." Responding to the "North Korea" comment, Brexit-supporting Conservative minister George Eustice said: "What we really want is more control over our affairs, we don't want European courts telling us what to do, second-guessing the decisions of ministers. "I don't accept that caricature put forward by John Major. There are lots of other independent countries in the world - the United States, Australia, New Zealand. "They are not in the European Union, they do not have to put up with the sort of nonsense we have to put up with, being told what to do by European courts and having their decisions second-guessed. "There are many examples of successful, independent countries in the world who are not isolationist and the UK would never, ever be an isolationist country." The Farming Minister told Today: "If you look at John Major's time in government, the achievements he is proudest of are where he secured opt-outs from the European Union and his greatest disasters were where he opted in to things. "The ERM (Exchange Rate Mechanism) was a catastrophic economic decision, I was in our family business at the time, it was disastrous for the country, it caused huge unemployment, many businesses went bust. "But the bits he is proudest of are the opt-out from the euro, the opt-out from Schengen. Two men in court charged with funding Brussels 'man in the hat' Mohamed Abrini Two men have appeared in court charged with giving money to Brussels bomb suspect Mohamed Abrini. Mohammed Ali Ahmed, 26 and Zakaria Boufassil, 26, are accused of meeting Abrini - referred to by Belgian police as "the man in the hat" - at Small Heath Park in Birmingham last year between July 9 and 16 where they allegedly handed over 3,000, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard. The pair face one count of the commission of offences abroad on or before July 7 2015 under section 17 of the Terrorism Act. Police have been investigating alleged terrorism offences They are accused of entering into an arrangement in which money was made available to another person, and that they knew, or had reasonable cause to suspect, it would or may be used for the purposes of terrorism. Ahmed and a third defendant, Soumaya Boufassil, 29, are charged with the preparation of terrorist acts between January 1 2015 and April 8 2016, under section five of the Terrorism Act 2016. The trio, all from Birmingham, were arrested on April 14 and 15. Soumaya Boufassil wore a burka and spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address. The two men wore jumpers and also spoke only to confirm their details. The case lasted for 23 minutes. Chief magistrate Howard Riddle sent the case to the Old Bailey for a hearing on May 13. The defendants were remanded in custody. Stars turn out for funeral of 'unforgettable' music producer David Gest Flowers in the shape of a musical note and the words Unforgettable, That's What You Are adorned the coffin of David Gest as stars including Kerry Katona, Kym Marsh and Darren Day gathered for his funeral. Gest, 62, was a music producer and the former husband of Liza Minnelli. He was found dead in a five-star hotel in London on April 12. The coffin arrives for the funeral of David Gest at Golders Green Crematorium in north London Denise Welch, Danniella Westbrook, Gemma Collins, Lizzie Cundy, Vanessa Feltz and Dean Gaffney were also among the mourners at his funeral at Golders Green Crematorium. A wooden coffin with gold handles and adorned with white flowers arrived in a hearse for the ceremony. A white floral display with a black musical note, a butterfly and the lyrics to Nat King Cole's famous song rested alongside it. Mourners embraced and talked quietly as they waited to go inside the chapel. One attendee could be seen sobbing and was consoled by other guests. The American TV personality gained a following in the UK for his appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and ITV's Grease Is The Word. He was married to Minnelli from 2002-2003 but they only officially divorced in 2007. He was also known for being a close friend of Michael Jackson. Gest had been due to tour the country this summer in a musical show called David Gest Is Not Dead But Alive With Soul, a title referring to a misunderstanding in the CBB house. The soul show will now go ahead in his honour. Before the service Gaffney said: "David will be sorely missed, there will be a good turn out for him today." Celebrity Big Brother contestants Jeremy McConnell and Stephanie Davis were also spotted outside the ceremony, alongside Vanessa Feltz and singer Christopher Maloney. Mourners entered the chapel to Gone Too Soon by Michael Jackson before the coffin was carried in as a seven-piece gospel choir sang Here Comes The Gesty. Soap star Marsh led the tributes to Gest, describing him as "my very best friend" and saying she had been a fan of his before she met him. Marsh and Cleo Rocos read out further messages from Dionne Warwick, Petula Clark, Smokey Robinson and Tito Jackson, as well as Gest's sister Barbara Gerber. A film of Gest talking about his life was also played during the service before Day sang Bring Him Home and the choir sang My Way and Oh Happy Day. The service concluded with I'll Be There by Michael Jackson and applause from inside the chapel could be heard outside. A heavy hail storm started as mourners left the service to continue celebrations at a local pub. Actress June Smith, who met Gest through his close friend Imad Handi, said: "It was every emotion under the sun and it couldn't have been a better tribute to a wonderful, flashy, fun yet still modest man who never blew his own trumpet. "It was an amazing service for an amazing person. There were lots of tears, of laughter and of sadness. "I thought David would be looking down saying, 'There is Darren Day singing about me!' I didn't think Darren would be able to hold it together but he did." Floral tributes from the service were left in the garden of remembrance at the crematorium. The most eye-catching one was in the shape of a fruit machine complete with handle, with '777 Heaven' and 'Darling David' spelled out in red roses. The musical note display bore a card saying: "From Liverpool with love." The Four Seasons Hotel in east London, where Gest was found dead, also sent flowers with a card reading: "From your friends at the Four Seasons Hotel at Canary Wharf. You will be greatly missed. Rest in peace." It is expected that Gest's ashes will be scattered at a private event in York attended by his closest friends. Gest, 62, was a music producer and the former husband of Liza Minnelli The producer, who starred in the most recent run of Celebrity Big Brother, was found dead in a London hotel on April 12 Danniella Westbrook was among the mourners Presenter Vanessa Feltz, another former occupant of the Celebrity Big Brother House, attended the funeral service in north London Gemma Collins, of TOWIE fame, appeared on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Gest Comedy actress Cleo Rocos paid her respects to the American Briton killed in Norway helicopter crash A British national has been killed in a helicopter crash in Norway, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said. He was one of 13 people on board the aircraft which came down near the city of Bergen on Friday. A spokesman for Norway's Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) said 11 people were killed and two are yet to be found. A search and rescue vessel patrols off the island of Turoey, near Bergen, Norway, as emergency workers on the shoreline attend the scene after a helicopter crash (AP) The helicopter was carrying passengers from an offshore oil field. An FCO spokesman said: "We have offered our support to the family of a British national who has sadly died in a helicopter crash in Bergen, Norway. "Our thoughts are with all those affected. We will remain in contact with local authorities." Eleven Norwegians and one Italian were also in the helicopter - a Eurocopter EC225 - when it crashed near the small island of Turoey. Broadcaster NRK reported that 11 of those on board were employed by Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil ASA. Police spokesman Morten Kronen told the Associated Press that the helicopter was "totally smashed". Television footage showed smoke billowing from the crash site . Eyewitness Rebecca Andersen told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang that the helicopter's rotor blades "came rushing toward us", before she heard "a violent explosion". Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg posted a message on Twitter which described the incident as "horrifying". A team from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will travel to Norway on Saturday to assist with the investigation because it has carried out inquiries into several crashes involving helicopters operating to and from offshore oil and gas fields in recent years. Sir David Attenborough 'unbelievably lucky' to be nearing 90th birthday Sir David Attenborough has said he feels "unbelievably lucky" to be turning 90. The naturalist and TV presenter will celebrate the milestone birthday on May 8. Asked about how he feels about his 90th, he said: "The truthful answer is that I feel unbelievably lucky. Sir David Attenborough celebrates his 90th birthday on May 8 "I have friends, contemporaries, relatives, people who are my age, who can't walk about. I am unbelievably fortunate." Sir David, who spent Saturday afternoon opening Woodberry Wetlands nature reserve in London to the public for the first time in almost 200 years, said access to the natural world is a "birthright" and should not be regarded as a luxury. He said: "It's not a luxury this, you know. If it isn't there it's a great deprivation, and if it is there, it's what human beings deserve. "We are part of it and if we lose contact with the natural world, you lose contact with a great source of pleasure and delight which is your birthright." The 11-hectare wetlands in Stoke Newington are based around a working reservoir which has been closed to the public since it was built in 1833. Sir David said the nature reserve was vital for children "above all". He said it was important for young people "to see the seasons as they pass, to see not just asphalt and brick and concrete, but reeds and willows. "To see birds coming up here from Africa, to hear above the hubbub of the traffic, to catch a glimpse of a kingfisher." The naturalist's birthday will be marked by a special BBC One programme, Attenborough At 90, which sees tributes from everyone from the Duke of Cambridge to the Prime Minister. The Duke of Cambridge said it is fitting that Sir David and the Queen are celebrating their 90th birthdays just weeks apart as both are "incredible national treasures". He said: "There is something very calming and sort of warm about his programmes. There is something very reassuring about seeing David Attenborough on BBC One doing his documentaries. It is part of the national psyche now. "He's a national treasure and it is very fitting that he is having his 90th birthday only a few weeks after the Queen. They are two incredible national treasures who have done so much over the years." David Cameron wished Sir David a happy birthday on behalf of the country, and said he had grown up watching and learning from the broadcaster. "Your lifelong service has created the most extraordinary educational legacy," he said. "And even today you are pioneering the latest technologies. "Britain is incredibly proud to have the greatest naturalist on the planet. For just as you treasure the world, so the world rightly treasures you." The Duke of Cambridge with Sir David Attenborough at King's College London Sir David with an armadillo from Attenborough's Animals in 1963 Sir David with his daughter Susan and wife Jane after being knighted by the Queen The Duke of Edinburgh said Attenborough was "a national treasure and it is very fitting that he is having his 90th birthday only a few weeks after the Queen" Sir David holding his son Robert while looking at an animal called a coatimundi BBC 1 controller Michael Peacock, controller television programmes Huw Wheldon and Sir David when he was controller of BBC 2 in 1965 Sir David Attenborough with his three-year-old daughter Susan and a sulphur-crested cockatoo called Georgie Prince William and Sir David at the opening of The Darwin Centre at The Natural History Museum, in London Meeting Prince Charles and Princess Anne with Cocky, the cockatoo Sir David with his film actor-director brother Richard Attenborough next to the painting of themselves unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery Sir David Attenborough with a lemur from Life Of Mammals (BBC/PA) The Queen presents Sir David with the Insignia of the Order of Merit, a personal award from the Queen recognising exceptional achievements in the advancement of arts, learning, literature and science Sir David with his Bafta specialist factual award The Queen smiling as Sir David gives a segment of a Christmas Lecture at the Royal Institution of Great Britain Sir David is president of Butterfly Conservation Sir David receiving the Zoological Society of London's silver medal from the president, the Duke of Edinburgh Sir David meeting fans and signing copies of his book, Life Stories in 2009 Sir David Attenborough introduces six-year-old Michael Webb to a capybara in 1956 Sir David talking with Chancellor of Trinity College, Mary Robinson, where he was awarded an honorary degree Sir David at the BBC in 1972 The Attenborough brothers are made distinguished honorary fellows of the University of Leicester Sir David appearing on his first TV wildlife show Zoo Quest in 1956 Radio Times editor Ben Preston presenting Sir David with his induction into the Radio Times' inaugural Hall of Fame Sir David on his wedding day to Jane Oriel in 1950 with his older brother and film actor Richard With percussionist Evelyn Glennie to launch the BBC Proms 2003 Sir David cast in sand sculpture at the Sandworld festival in Weymouth in Dorset Sir David visited the Woodberry Wetlands in north London as it opened to the public for the first time The working reservoir has been closed to the public since it was built in 1833 Two bird watchers search for wildlife at the reservoir U.S. says working to cut off North Korean remittances WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - The United States said Thursday it is working to cut off revenue streams to North Korea by targeting remittances from its overseas workers, after recent nuclear and missile tests by Pyongyang. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a House of Representatives hearing that the United States is working "relentlessly" to get countries to cut off businesses sending money back to North Korea. He also said Washington is working to encourage the sending home of North Korean diplomats not engaged in diplomatic activity and to make sure that people did not travel to North Korea, including for the May 6 congress of the ruling Workers Party. "What we are focused on, besides the implementation of the (U.N.) Security Council resolutions, is relentlessly building pressure on North Korea, working principally with our key allies Japan and (South) Korea," Blinken said. "We are working in various ways to cut off all the revenues going to the regime. For example, they have ... overseas workers whose remittances are not going back to their families, but are going to the regime. We're working to cut those off." Estimates of North Korean workers abroad vary widely but a study by South Korea's state-run Korea Institute for National Unification put the number as high as 150,000, primarily in China and Russia, sending back as much as $900 million annually. North Koreans are known to work abroad in restaurants and on construction sites, and also as doctors. The United States is also working to make sure North Korean officials are not invited to travel abroad and to ensure North Korean ships and aircraft are not allowed to dock or land in other countries, Blinken said. The senior U.S. diplomat for Asia, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, Danny Russel, said last week that another North Korean nuclear test could trigger new sanctions including an effort to choke off hard currency earnings by its overseas workers abroad. U.N. Syria envoy says Aleppo hospital strike appears deliberate BEIRUT, April 28 (Reuters) - United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Thursday he did not believe the targeting of a hospital hit by air strikes in Aleppo overnight was by mistake, Arabic-language Al Arabiya al Hadath television reported. EU would divorce UK before any new relationship -sources By Paul Taylor and Noah Barkin BRUSSELS, April 28 (Reuters) - The European Union would insist on completing a swift divorce with Britain before starting to forge any new relationship if UK voters decide in June to leave the 28-member bloc. Two EU sources familiar with the bloc's latest thinking on a possible Brexit told Reuters on Thursday there was no appetite to grant any extension of the two years provided by the EU's Lisbon Treaty for negotiating a withdrawal, while any new trade partnership would take many more years to conclude. The stark view from Brussels means Britain could initially be cut adrift without any preferential relationship with its biggest trade partner. It contrasts with suggestions by "Leave" campaigners that London could secure a special status preserving market access before it formally leaves the EU. Top EU officials say they are still confident that Britons will ultimately vote in a June 23 referendum to stay in the community they joined in 1973, despite opinion polls showing a close race. However in case of a "Leave" vote, the European Commission has tentative plans to hold a rare Sunday meeting on June 26 to set its strategy, one source told Reuters. EU leaders would hold a brief summit with Britain two days later, at which London would be expected to give formal notice to quit. The 27 other states would then meet without British representatives to decide how to conduct the withdrawal negotiations and take the union forward, based on proposals from the executive Commission. "It is in our interest to do the divorce as quickly as possible. There's no appetite for negotiating new terms in the first two years," one source said. Another source said: "The shorter the better. No one wants to go beyond the two years. The show must go on." Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the acute political sensitivity of any contingency planning for a British departure. SPEEDY SEPARATION The first source said the initial two-year negotiations would cover only issues such as residual EU budget payments to and from Britain, the pensions of British EU civil servants and relocation of EU agencies based in the UK. The EU treaty says exit talks can be extended by unanimous vote among all the member states, but both sources said London's partners would want a speedy separation. Britain would probably leave on July 1, 2018, and become a "third country" in EU parlance. Formal negotiations on some form of trade and partnership agreement could begin only then, the first source said. In Britain, the officially designated "Out" campaign said such comments indicated European officials were detached from reality. "Only Commission officials detached from reality could suggest something that would both not be in their power and would quite obviously harm a euro zone economy already teetering on the brink," said a spokesman for Vote Leave. "Britain is the world's fifth largest economy and the EU's biggest export market. A vote to leave would start a set of discussions about a trade deal that would be in the mutual interest of both the EU and the UK. There's a free trade zone from Iceland to Turkey and outside of the EU we would be part of that." In case of a vote to remain, the Commission has kept in place a small UK Task Force which helped to craft a deal negotiated by Prime Minister David Cameron in February to meet British concerns on migrant workers' welfare rights and relations with the euro single currency zone. The seven-member team led by British EU official Jonathan Faull would oversee smooth implementation of the agreement. That deal lapses automatically if Britain votes to leave, and the first source said a completely different team would be appointed, probably led by a German or French official, to handle exit negotiations. German and French politicians have warned that London would get no special favours and should expect tough talks in case of a Brexit. EU partners would want to discourage other members from trying to renegotiate membership terms or withdraw. "Out means out!" Volker Kauder, leader of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative group in parliament said this week. British Europe minister David Lidington, who supports the "Remain" camp, said on Thursday it was doubtful whether Britain would get any trade agreement with the EU within 10 years. However, "Leave" supporters have argued that the EU would have to conclude a quick free trade deal with London since the continent has a big trade surplus with the UK and stood to lose exports if tariff barriers were introduced. Richard Tice, a co-founder of Leave.eu, another British Out campaign, said the likely roadmap sketched by EU sources was "exactly the sort of scaremongering that we have expected from the Remain camp. Investor network says utilities should face climate change stress tests By Nina Chestney LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Electric utilities should undergo stress tests to show how their business models are in line with limiting global warming, a global network of investors said on Friday. In a guide published on Friday, a network of more than 270 institutional investors with assets worth more than 20 trillion euros ($23 trillion) said they were concerned that utilities' strategies are not consistent with a global target to limit the planet's average temperature rise, compared with pre-industrial times, to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). With renewable energy generation expected to increase, and overall demand low due to efficiency improvements and modest economic growth, traditional centralised power generation is being pushed out of the merit order. The report said such plants would ultimately need to be shut down or retained to provide emergency backup in return for state payments. New entrants such as Google are emerging as competitors with power management solutions. So electric utilities need to design new business plans and focus on cleaner energy, networks, new services and keeping customers, it said. "As investors, we need to know how electric utilities will deal with the vast shift already underway within their industry, how they will address the considerable risks posed by these trends and how they plan to profit from emerging opportunities," the report said. Utilities need to set long-term strategies for managing climate-related risks and opportunities, it added. Even though fossil fuels would continue to have a role in power generation for years to come, utilities needed a clear long-term strategy for lowering their emissions and dealing with a future higher carbon price. Burkina Faso court rescinds warrant against ex-President Compaore OUAGADOUGOU, April 28 (Reuters) - A court of appeals in Burkina Faso has rescinded a series of international arrest warrants, including those against deposed leader Blaise Compaore and neighbouring Ivory Coast's parliament speaker, a senior court official said on Thursday. A military tribunal in Burkina Faso investigating the murder of former President Thomas Sankara nearly three decades ago as well as a failed coup that took place last September had issued a total of 18 international warrants in December and January. However, the appeals court public prosecutor, Armand Ouedraogo, said the tribunal had failed to follow proper procedure when issuing the warrants. "The military court can take these warrants back and correct them," Ouedraogo said. Sankara, an African folk hero, disappeared and is believed to have been killed during the 1987 coup that brought Compaore to power. Compaore himself was ousted in 2014 by crowds opposing his bid to change the West African nation's constitution and extend his 27-year rule. Ivory Coast granted him citizenship and he currently resides there. Members of an elite unit loyal to Compaore attempted a coup against the transitional government that replaced him in September, but the putsch was put down by the regular army. In China's tougher drug market, minnows open back door for 'Big Pharma' By Adam Jourdan SHANGHAI, April 29 (Reuters) - Armed with Beijing funds and friends in the right places, Chinese drug minnows are thriving, luring money from 'Big Pharma' majors struggling to restore the strong growth they once enjoyed in the world's second-largest medicine market. Chinese healthcare mergers and acquisitions nearly tripled last year to more than $50 billion, helped by giants like GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Eli Lilly and Co tapping small biotech and research innovators. The targets offer vital regulatory know-how as Beijing builds a domestic drug industry. For Big Pharma, acquisitions, licensing deals and joint ventures offer a back door into a market where Beijing expects healthcare spending to rise to $1.3 trillion by 2020. The majors need the opening: their China growth has stalled to low single-digit pace from over 20 percent just four years ago as branded generics have lost their shine. "As a China biotech (company) we have the advantage of knowing policy, understanding the environment and being able to mobilise resources to get things done," said Li Chen, 54, chief executive of Hua Medicine. Hua has a deal in place to develop drugs including a diabetes treatment licensed from Swiss giant Roche Holding AG. While firms like Hua can help global drugmakers navigate complex regulatory risks, speeding up approvals in treatment areas like diabetes and cancer, they get something in return - access to what Hua's Li calls "good assets" and in some cases potential partners to sell their wares overseas. For Li, a former Roche scientist, Hua's partnership deal brings the advantages of a tie-up with a global industry leader to a company with a staff of around just 25 people, which he founded himself in Shanghai five years ago. "We were looking for assets around the world so that's a really great match - and I know this asset really well," Li said. Among his firms peers, interest in such tie-ups is growing. M&A BOOM The buzz around China's healthcare industry has helped it outstrip hotspots like India to become the most active region in Asia for pharmaceutical tie-ups, said Wei Zheng, healthcare analyst at BMI Research. Chinese healthcare M&A last year surged to $54 billion from $18.8 billion the year before, according to Thomson Reuters data, not including the value of numerous joint ventures and licensing deals. There have already been deals worth more than $9 billion this year, the data shows, showing demand for the assets remains robust. As well as acquisitions, partnership deals are increasingly being sought after, industry executives say. "A lot of firms are coming here to tap into a cost-effective way of doing drug development," said Mireille Gillings, chief executive of U.S. firm HUYA Bioscience International, which has scouts around China hunting for drug development breakthroughs. At the same time, other small firms are keen to find overseas partners to push their drugs overseas. HUYA has in-licensed a Chinese immunotherapy cancer treatment that is undergoing trials in Japan and the United States. LOCAL NETWORKS Shanghai-based research firm WuXi AppTec is one company that may fit that bill. It now employees around 11,000 people worldwide and said this month it was setting up a joint venture with U.S.-listed Juno Therapeutics Inc to develop innovative cancer drugs - in China. "Honestly, if you manufacture locally, test local and file local, that will give you a time advantage," the firm's chief executive, Ge Li, told Reuters. "It's as simple as that." The tilt in strategy for the majors comes as Beijing accelerates efforts to promote a 'Made in China' drug industry. GlaxoSmithKline's China head, Herve Gisserot, told Reuters late last year that Beijing was putting pressure on off-patent generics, reining in prices and trying to cut out low-quality drugs - positive moves longer-term, but which created short-term challenges. "The only thing for pharma is that some of the things will happen sooner than others. Price erosion will likely be faster than the accelerated approval of new medicines," he said. 'SEA TURTLES' Chinese partners bring an extra dimension: The domestic start-ups aren't shy about their government backing and political connections, an important element to help attract funding and navigate complex regulations. Samantha Du, chief executive of Shanghai-based Zai Lab, which has in-licensed cancer treatment drugs from Pfizer Inc and struck a partnership in March with German pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim, said her firm had "lots of government funding". Du, 52, like Hua Medicine's Li Chen, is a so-called "sea turtle" - one of China's best and brightest, who has returned home after studying and working overseas. She has served on various government-linked committees, she said, noting this had done nothing to harm the firm's prospects. U.S. submits new U.N. Western Sahara draft after criticism By Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday gave the U.N. Security Council a new draft resolution on disputed Western Sahara after some members said an earlier text did not go far enough in pressuring Morocco to allow restoration of a full U.N. peacekeeping mission there. The 15-nation council is tentatively scheduled to vote on Friday on extending the mandate of the United Nations' Western Sahara mission, known as MINURSO. The mandate expires on Saturday. Several council diplomats said the latest U.S. draft would hopefully get unanimous support. Morocco expelled dozens of international U.N. civilian staff from MINURSO after U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last month referred to the North African nation's 1975 annexation of the region from Spain as an "occupation." The expulsions have crippled the mission, the U.N. has said. Wednesday's U.S draft called for the urgent restoration of MINURSO's "full functionality" and for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to report back to the council within 120 days on compliance with the council's demand. Waiting four months to assess Moroccan compliance with the council's demands struck several council members as excessive. New Zealand's U.N. Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen told reporters "we thought a shorter time was needed." An initial U.S. draft had called for Ban to report back within 60 days, but that timeline doubled to objections from Morocco's traditional ally France along with Senegal, council diplomats said. The latest U.S. draft, seen by Reuters, reduced the time to 90 days, which one senior council diplomat said should be an "acceptable compromise." The Sahrawi people's Polisario Front independence movement wants a referendum on the idea of an independent Western Sahara. Morocco says it will only grant autonomy. The controversy over Ban's "occupation" comment, made during a visit to refugee camps for Sahrawi people in southern Algeria, is the worst dispute between the U.N. and Morocco since 1991, when the international body brokered a ceasefire to end a war between Rabat and rebels fighting for independence in Western Sahara. MINURSO was established at that time. After long delay, U.S. Senate approves envoy to Mexico WASHINGTON, April 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed President Barack Obama's nominee for ambassador to Mexico after a long delay and behind-the-scenes maneuvering that included renewing sanctions imposed on Venezuelans and a State Department authorization bill. Obama nominated career diplomat Roberta Jacobson for the Mexico City post in June, but she faced resistance from a few lawmakers for reasons including her role in helping negotiate Obama's relations with Communist-ruled Cuba and concerns the administration had failed to make human rights a priority. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee backed her nomination in November, but Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida placed a "hold" that kept her confirmation vote from going ahead. Rubio, who is Cuban-American and a former 2016 Republican presidential candidate, opposes Obama's moves toward normalizing relations with Havana and often pushes for the White House to take a stronger stand on human rights issues in Latin America. This month, Republican leaders and Obama administration officials came to Rubio to ask what would make him lift his hold on Jacobson. He asked for an extension of a bill he introduced last year imposing sanctions on Venezuelans for human rights violations in connection with the suppression of anti-government protests. The Senate approved a three-year extension of the sanctions measure on Thursday evening. The chamber also approved a State Department authorization bill that was being blocked by Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who is still in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. A Senate aide said Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would block Rubio's Venezuela bill if Rubio did not lobby Cruz to drop his hold on the State Department measure. Cruz dropped his opposition, and the State Department bill also passed the Senate by unanimous voice vote on Thursday night. Spokesmen for Rubio, Cruz and Corker declined to comment. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was pleased the Senate "finally" confirmed Jackson. "No one is more qualified than Roberta to represent the United States in Mexico," he said in a statement. Colombia and Panama agree on financial information-sharing deal BOGOTA, April 28 (Reuters) - Colombia and Panama will sign a financial information-sharing deal aimed at helping Bogota combat tax evasion, the two Central and South American countries said late on Thursday. The deal, set to be signed by the Panamanian and Colombian presidents in June, would establish an initial phase of information sharing until 2018, after which the process would become automatic, the two countries said. "It's important that this information is only used for fiscal issues and that it remains confidential," Panamanian finance minister Dulcidio de la Guardia said after a meeting with his Colombian counterpart in Panama City. The deal would help Colombia improve tax collection and Panama improve transparency in its financial system, de la Guardia said. The accord was reached after lengthy negotiations that began at the end of 2014. The deal would improve Colombian authorities' oversight of funds kept in Panama by its citizens, Colombian finance minister Mauricio Cardenas said. "For countrymen with income or assets in Panama, it's very important that they take advantage of this opportunity to normalize their situation, paying a penalty of 11.5 percent," he said. The agreement comes amid revelations by the Panama Papers that have sparked global scrutiny of offshore banking. North Korea tightens security ahead of congress - South Korea SEOUL, April 29 (Reuters) - North Korea has tightened security ahead of a ruling party congress, South Korea said on Friday, with authorities keen to avoid any "mishap" at the gathering at which advances in the drive for nuclear weapons will likely be hailed. Thousands of delegates are expected in the capital, Pyongyang, from May 6 for the first congress in 36 years at which young leader Kim Jong Un is expected to cement his leadership and formally declare the country a nuclear-armed state. "Strengthening security can be seen as a measure to prevent mishaps over the party congress," Cheong Joon-hee, spokesman at South Korea's Unification Ministry, which oversees dealings with the North, told a briefing. North Korea has in the past taken such steps ahead of major events and has at times also shut down its border with China for the same reason, Cheong said. North Korea announced the Workers' Party congress in October but only confirmed the May 6 starting date on Wednesday. The Daily NK, a website run by defectors with sources in North Korea, said that since mid-April, free movement in and out of the capital has been stopped and security personnel have been summoned from the provinces to step-up domestic surveillance. The congress, expected to last four or five days, will be closely watched for any new policies and for how North Korea presents its pursuit of nuclear weapons, which has intensified since January when it conducted its fourth nuclear test. The nuclear test was followed with a string of missile tests, though not all successful. On Thursday, it tested what appeared to be two intermediate-range ballistic missiles but both failed, the U.S. and South Korean militaries said. South Korea, and others nervously watching the North's defiance of U.N. resolutions aimed at curbing its nuclear and ballistic missile technologies, expect another nuclear test before the congress. Iran moderates eye more gains in run-off parliamentary election By Parisa Hafezi ANKARA, April 29 (Reuters) - Iranians voted in a second round of parliamentary elections on Friday, with allies of reformist President Hassan Rouhani seeking to wrest more seats from hardliners. Rouhani's moderate and centrist allies made big gains in elections on Feb. 26 for parliament and a clerical body that will elect the next Supreme Leader, but they failed to win a majority of the 290-member assembly. People voted on 68 undecided seats in constituencies where candidates failed to get 25 percent of votes cast in the first round. State TV, citing the Interior Ministry, said vote counting had started in nearly all of the 21 provinces across the country. Turnout was "good", it added, without giving figures, and results were expected on Saturday. Some unconfirmed reports on Iranian news websites said Rouhani's rivals won more seats in some constituencies where vote counting had finished. The current parliament is dominated by hardline allies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But moderates won all 30 seats representing Tehran in the first round of elections. Gains by Rouhani's allies outside Tehran were more limited in the first round. Reformist former President Mohammad Khatami last Sunday called for a high turnout in the second round of elections to "repeat the epic", a reference to moderates' big gains in February. Iranian media are banned from publishing the name or images of Khatami, president from 1997 to 2005. But he managed to publish a five-minute video on social media before the February vote that helped to change the balance in favour of moderates. Khamenei also called on Wednesday for a high turnout, saying it would show Iranians' trust in the establishment. The turnout was 62 percent in February. An unofficial tally by Reuters of first round results showed conservatives won about 112 seats, reformers and centrists 90 and independents and religious minorities 29. The figures are approximate because Iran does not have rigid party affiliations. Some candidates were backed by both camps. Moderates have set a target of winning at least another 40 seats. More than a dozen women have also entered the election. If they win seats, the number of female parliamentarians would be more than 20 combined with those who secured seats in February. It will be the highest number of women lawmakers since the 1979 Islamic revolution. More independents with no clear affiliation are expected to enter parliament because of the disqualification of thousands of pro-reform candidates by the Guardian Council, a hardline watchdog body, before the first round vote. Voting in most towns and cities was extended three hours until 10 pm local time (1730 GMT). The new parliament will begin its session on May 27. It has no direct control over major policy matters but it can back the policies of Rouhani to bolster the sanction-hit economy. China steel commodities rebound; enough rebar to build 15,000 Golden Gate bridges By Manolo Serapio Jr and Ruby Lian MANILA/SHANGHAI, April 29 (Reuters) - Commodity futures linked to China's vast steel sector rebounded sharply on Friday, led by iron ore and rebar, as robust construction demand spurred buying even as the country's regulator ordered exchanges to rein in speculative trading. Big bets on Chinese commodities futures this year from hedge funds, retail investors and others have driven up contracts on everything from iron ore to cotton, prompting many analysts to warn of parallels with a boom in China's stock markets that ended in a sharp crash last summer. Steelmaking raw materials iron ore, coking coal and coke were set to end April with their biggest monthly gain on record. Rebar, a construction steel product, is also headed for its biggest monthly rise ever, with volumes in the most-traded contract in Shanghai hitting a record 1.3 billion tonnes - enough to build San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge more than 15,000 times over. Friday's bounce, largely limited to ferrous futures, was backed by firm fundamentals, analysts and traders said, as steel demand in China continued to benefit from a seasonal pick-up. The recovery comes as China's securities regulator ordered the country's major commodity futures exchanges this week to control speculative trading, sources told Reuters. In response, the exchanges in Dalian, Shanghai and Zhengzhou told major institutional investors that lack a commodities background to rein in their trading, three people with direct knowledge of the situation said. All three exchanges have launched a series of measures this week to curb speculation, including higher transaction fees, some of which have been increased more than once. "The upward momentum is still there for the physical market. steel demand is good, while iron ore supply isn't as much as previously expected, so generally there is still potential to rise," said Wang Bing, senior broker with Orient Futures in Shanghai. The most-active September iron ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange was up 4.8 percent at 457 yuan ($71) a tonne by midday. The contract, which earlier rose by the 6 percent maximum allowed by the exchange, has gained 20 percent this month. On the Shanghai Futures Exchange, rebar rose nearly 2 percent to 2,555 yuan per tonne. Rebar, or reinforcing bar that is used in construction, has also risen 20 percent so far in April. "Margins at Chinese steel mills still remain healthy, which should incentivise higher production rates and stronger iron ore demand," Commonwealth Bank of Australia analyst Vivek Dhar said in a note. Demand for spot iron ore cargoes recovered on Thursday as buyers snapped up shipments from Australian and Brazilian miners as Chinese physical steel prices rose, traders said. Iron ore for immediate delivery to China's Tianjin port <_.IO62-CNISI> jumped 4 percent to $62.90 a tonne on Thursday, according to price assessor The Steel Index, following a four-day decline. Other big gainers on the futures market were steelmaking raw materials coking coal and coke. Dalian coking coal rose 3.8 percent to 761.50 yuan a tonne and coke rallied 5.2 percent to 1,099 yuan per tonne. Coking coal has gained nearly 19 percent so far this month and coke has soared more than 40 percent. Iran asks U.N. chief to intervene with U.S. after court ruling By Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS, April 28 (Reuters) - Iran asked U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday to convince the United States to stop violating state immunity after the top U.S. court ruled that $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be paid to American victims of attacks blamed on Tehran. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote to Ban a week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, calling on the Secretary-General to use his "good offices in order to induce the U.S. Government to adhere to its international obligations." Zarif's appeal comes amid increasing Iranian frustration at what they say is the failure of the United States to keep its promises regarding sanctions relief agreed under an historic nuclear deal struck last year by Tehran and six world powers. In the letter, released by the Iranian U.N. mission, Zarif asked Ban to help secure the release of frozen Iranian assets in U.S. banks and persuade Washington to stop interfering with Iran's international commercial and financial transactions. "The U.S Executive branch illegally freezes Iranian national assets; the U.S Legislative branch legislates to pave the ground for their illicit seizures; and the U.S Judicial branch issues rulings to confiscate Iranian assets without any base in law or fact," Zarif said. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's top adviser Ali Akbar Velayati was quoted by Iranian state media as saying that "Iran will never abandon its right and will take any necessary action to stop such an international theft." "This money belongs to Iran," he said. Ban's spokesman and the U.S. mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter or the accusations made against the United States. Zarif told Ban he wanted to "alert you and through you the U.N. general membership about the catastrophic implications of the U.S. blatant disrespect for state immunity, which will cause systematic erosion of this fundamental principle." The U.S. Supreme Court found that the U.S. Congress did not usurp the authority of American courts by passing a 2012 law stating that Iran's frozen funds should go toward satisfying a $2.65 billion judgment won by the U.S. families against Iran in U.S. federal court in 2007. "It is in fact the United States that must pay long overdue reparations to the Iranian people for its persistent hostile policies," Zarif wrote, citing incidents including the shooting of an Iranian civil airliner in 1988. Last week Zarif met several times with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in New York to discuss Iranian problems accessing international financial markets. Tehran has called on the United States to do more to remove obstacles to the banking sector so that businesses feel comfortable investing in Iran without fear of penalties. Real estate relic is painful reminder of Italy's bad debts By Stefano Bernabei and Isla Binnie ROME, April 29 (Reuters) - An unfinished hotel and empty swimming pool sit sadly on the lush hillside of Pitigliano in Tuscany, where they should have welcomed the holidaymakers who flock to central Italy. But the Tosteto spa sits even more heavily on the balance sheet of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which lent 11 million euros to the developer before declaring him in default eight years ago, and is still trying to recoup some of this cash. Monte dei Paschi is one of the weakest banks in a sector saddled with 200 billion euros ($227 billion) in loans unlikely ever to be paid back. These are holding back lending in the euro zone's third-largest economy and strangling growth after a three-year recession. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is set to approve an emergency decree later on Friday aimed at stabilising the industry by cutting the time it takes to recover debts. Until recently, Italian banks took seven to eight years on average to recoup bad loans. That is down to three and a half, and a proposed reform could reduce that to seven to eight months by creating a fast-track system, a central bank source said. But the Pitigliano development highlights the slog lenders still face calling in old debts, which could strengthen their balance sheets, satisfy European capital requirements, and free them up to lend. Monte dei Paschi, which declined to comment for this article, seized the spa in 2010, according to a local court document. Six auctions have failed to attract a buyer, partly because the original developer still holds rights to the land. Pitigliano's mayor, Pierluigi Camilli, described the abandoned hotel as a "relic". "It is there deteriorating because we cannot find a way to give it a future," Camilli said. "When the permits (to develop) were issued it looked like it could boost the local economy." WEAK BANKS Long plagued by low profitability, weak governance and high costs, any further risks to the stability of Italy's banks could hinder the euro zone's bid to get over a debt crisis that has haunted it since 2009. A small reduction this year in the bad loans that built up in the downturn has been thanks to some lenders managing to sell non-performing loans, the Bank of Italy said, underlining how important these sales are. Around 66 percent of Monte dei Paschi's 10 billion euros in bad debts are secured by property like the Tosteto spa, which it can seize and sell to avoid losses if clients stop paying. But these guarantees are worth little unless someone will buy the property. Sergio Gambassi, the original developer at Tosteto, said he never went bankrupt but Monte dei Paschi changed the terms of the mortgage and asked for money earlier than he expected. He said he sold his house by the sea and looked in vain for other funding. "I squeezed myself like a lemon," he said. Renzi's new decree is expected to let creditors seize other assets aside from the property pledged as security for loans, while also trying to help companies avoid crises in the first place. MARKET PRESSURE Pressure to resolve the bad debt problem has mounted this year as bank stocks have plunged 30 percent. Earlier in April, the government persuaded major banks to set up a fund to buy bad loans and subscribe to cash calls. The head of the ABI banking association told parliament this month that making credit recovery cheaper and easier would contribute "decisively to launching the market for bad debt". An entire section of the decree is dedicated to encouraging banks and their clients to reach agreement before starting litigation, a source close to the matter said. The Treasury is keen to avoid the courts getting involved in credit recovery, but the Justice Ministry is more cautious and is dragging its feet, another source said. ABI says reducing recovery times by just one year would shrink the gap between prices buyers are willing to offer for non-performing loans and what banks will accept by 10 percent. For a seventh auction next month, the valuation for the Tosteto spa has been cut to 4.6 million euros from 8.9 million euros at its first auction. There is already an eighth auction scheduled for October, suggesting the sellers are not hopeful. French retailer Casino to sell Big C Vietnam for $1.1 bln By Anshuman Daga and Manunphattr Dhanananphorn PARIS/SINGAPORE/BANGKOK, April 29 (Reuters) - Casino is to sell its Big C Vietnam business to Thai conglomerate Central Group for 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) including debt, giving the French retailer further respite from a debt pile that pushed its credit rating to junk. Casino, facing weak markets in Brazil and fierce competition in France, has said it aimed to raise around 4 billion euros this year by selling off businesses in Thailand and Vietnam plus the sale of real estate assets in Latin America. Casino will make 920 million euros from the sale, which will take the total raised from asset sales to 4.2 billion euros, the company said. The retailer was criticised in December by U.S. activist investor Muddy Waters, which said Casino was "dangerously leveraged" and Standard & Poor's in March cut its credit rating to junk. Casino has rejected the criticism, pledging to cut debt using proceeds from disposals, and promising improved profits and cash flow in its main French market. "This is another piece of good news for Casino. We estimate the deleveraging plan to add 6 euros per share to Casino's valuation" Bernstein analyst Bruno Monteyne said in a note. Casino shares rose about 2 percent in early trading, bucking a 1.5 percent fall in the benchmark CAC 40 Index. They were up 1.03 percent by 1130 GMT. Central, controlled by the Chirathivat family with interests in real estate and retail, beat TCC Group of Thai tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi to take a majority stake in hypermarket operator Big C Vietnam, people familiar with the matter said. The deal, first reported by Reuters earlier on Friday, will give Central access to Big C's 43 stores in Vietnam and 30 malls that generated turnover of 586 million euros in 2015. It marks Central's most significant overseas acquisition since buying assets in Europe, including the 2011 purchase of Italian department store chain La Rinascente SpA. Central will team up with Vietnamese electronics firm Nguyen Kim, 49 percent owned by Central, for the Big C deal, Central Vietnam said in a statement. The two Thai rivals have been expanding into Southeast Asian markets in search of growth. They are betting on Vietnam's demographics and hedging against political and economic uncertainty back home. Through supermarkets, malls, dairy and beer, they are pursuing deals that could top Vietnam's record $4 billion worth of M&A deals achieved last year.. Casino, which entered Vietnam over 18 years ago, is retreating from Asia as part of its plans to cut debt which totalled 6.1 billion euros at the end of 2015. In February, Casino sold its stake in Thai hypermarket operator Big C Supercenter PCL for 3.1 billion euros to TCC, which outbid Central. The Big C Vietnam sale represented a multiple of 1.8 times net sales for 2015. Last year, TCC agreed to buy the Vietnam cash and carry wholesale business of Germany's Metro Group for 1.3 times net sales. AB InBev to sell more SAB assets as seeks EU deal approval By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, April 29 (Reuters) - Brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev plans to sell the eastern European assets of SABMiller, which could fetch almost $8 billion, as it seeks European regulatory approval for its $100 billion-plus takeover of its closest rival. AB InBev has already lined up Japan's Asahi Group Holdings to buy SABMiller's Grolsch, Peroni and Meantime brands for 2.55 billion euros ($2.90 billion), and said on Friday it had put up for sale SABMiller's business in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. AB InBev, maker of Budweiser and Stella Artois, has barely any business in eastern Europe outside Russia and Ukraine, so analysts say the sale is more about preventing regulatory delays and exiting weak spots than ensuring market competition. Beer consumption in eastern Europe has been on the decline, due to shrinking populations, weak economies and tighter regulation. That makes the region much less attractive than the growth markets of Africa and Latin America that are driving what will be the biggest deal in consumer goods history. "The eastern European markets may have provided an unwelcome and unnecessary distraction, and valuation notwithstanding, we regard this asset sale as a net positive" for AB InBev, said Morningstar analyst Philip Gorham. He estimates a sale could fetch $7.75 billion, based on a multiple of 11 times expected 2016 operating earnings of $705 million, with Carlsberg the most likely buyer, though it might face antitrust constraints in Poland. Molson Coors could have antitrust trouble buying the assets, following its purchase in 2013 of eastern Europe's StarBev from CVC Capital Partners. Heineken might also face hurdles from competition regulators. But SAB's business could be attractive to a private equity group or Asahi if it wanted further European expansion, analysts said. AB InBev has notified the European Commission, the European Union's antitrust regulator, which is set to deliver its verdict on the takeover of SAB by May 24. If the Commission chose to open an in-depth investigation into the SAB deal, it would not receive clearance for up to 90 working days, a delay AB InBev may be keen to avoid. AB InBev said in a statement the sale included a number of top brands in local markets, such as Pilsner Urquell in Czech Republic and Dreher in Hungary. It said it expected considerable interest from potential buyers. The sale is conditional on AB InBev concluding its purchase of SAB, expected in the second half of this year. India denies visas to China dissidents hoping to join democracy meeting NEW DELHI, April 29 (Reuters) - India has declined to issue visas to two Chinese activists hoping to attend a conference on promoting democracy, days after it revoked a visa for an exiled ethnic Uighur leader who China says backs militant violence. Lu Jinghua, a U.S.-based dissident, and Ray Wong, a pro-democracy activist, had applied for Indian visas to attend the meeting this week in the northern hill town of Dharamsala, the base of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. India rejects accusations that it is caving into Chinese pressure to stop dissidents travelling to the country. On Monday, India said it had cancelled a tourist visa it had granted to exiled Uighur leader Dolkun Isa, who was due to attend the same conference. China blames unrest that has killed hundreds of people in its far western region of Xinjiang on Uighur militants looking to establish an independent state for the mostly Muslim Uighur minority. Some Uighur activists says government restrictions on human rights fuels discontent, not radical Islam. China denies violating human rights. A senior Indian government official said there were valid reasons for the denial of visas to the two Chinese activists. Lu's visa documents were illegible and there was inconsistency about the purpose of her visit, the official said. Lu told Indian television on Thursday that she was stopped from boarding her flight in New York. Wong's documents included data inconsistencies, said the official, who declined to be identified. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government has sought to be more assertive with its neighbours, including China, and increase its influence, but it is also keen to deepen economic ties with China and attract its investment. Uighur activist Isa is executive chairman of Munich-based World Uyghur Congress, which promotes democracy and human rights. German minister concerned migrant numbers via Libya, Italy will rise POTSDAM, Germany, April 29 (Reuters) - Migrants should no longer be able to get to Germany and Europe via the Balkan route, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Friday, adding that was concerned refugee numbers would rise with people now coming via Libya and Italy. "It's clear that the Balkan route is a thing of the past and no longer will or should be a place again from where people will be waved through to Germany and Austria and to the centre of Europe," he said at a news conference in Potsdam. Australian coal prices plummet as Colombian cargoes head to Asia By Henning Gloystein and Rebecca Jang SINGAPORE/SEOUL, April 29 (Reuters) - Australian thermal coal prices for delivery in June have dropped to 10-year lows as Colombian miners start sending large volumes into Asia for the first time, adding cargoes to an already oversupplied market. Prices for coal cargoes delivered from Australia's Newcastle port by May 31 last closed at $46.60 per tonne, their lowest since 2006. The slump comes just as other commodities such as steel and oil enjoy rallies on the back of new investor appetite. In thermal coal markets, by contrast, an unusual new trade route has opened as low dry-bulk rates allow Colombian miners, who usually supply North America and Europe, to target Asia. South Korea's East-West Power utility (EWP) this month bought 260,000 tonnes of Colombian coal on free-on-board (FOB) terms for loading between June and August, adding to another 410,000 tonnes already on order. "We have currently got ordered 670,000 tonnes of coal from Colombia," said a utility source familiar with the matter. "Currently Colombian coal is about $7-8 (per tonne) cheaper than the Australian coal and if this price trend continues, we are definitely willing to import more from Colombia," said the source, who declined to be identified. Colombian coal appearing in larger volumes in the Pacific has helped push down Australian prices, analysts said. "Coal supply in the Pacific has been rising for more than a month. Shipments from Colombia contributed to this," said Georgi Slavov, head of energy, ferrous metals and shipping research at brokerage Marex Spectron. Although he added that these shipments were part of a bigger increase in supplies, including from Australia itself. Pricing agency Platts reported that the 410,000 tonnes were ordered on a cost and freight (CFR) basis, while the 260,000 tonnes came on a free on board (FOB) basis. Platts said EWP paid $41 a tonne for the FOB cargoes and $52 per tonne for the CFR supplies, making them competitive against the Newcastle price of $46.60 a tonne, which are quoted on a FOB basis. That's still far less than its monthly imports of around 5 million tonnes from Australia and 2-3 million tonnes from Indonesia. But it's a huge jump from Colombia's typical monthly supplies to South Korea of just 1,000 to 3,000 tonnes, and would bring its share of supplies there towards 7 percent. Colombian miners are having to look to new markets as consumption in Europe and North America is stalling due to the rise of renewables, improving energy efficiency, and because of the U.S. shale boom which has made natural gas highly competitive there. The extension of the Panama Canal, almost completed, will further boost Colombian coal exports to Asia. "It will lower the freight costs and make the Colombian coal more attractive to us and other countries in Asia," the Korean utility source said. Australian aid worker believed kidnapped in Afghanistan SYDNEY, April 29 (Reuters) - Australia is working closely with the Afghan government to secure the safe return of an Australian aid worker believed to have been kidnapped, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Friday. Katherine "Kerry" Jane Wilson, a Perth native who runs an aid agency in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, was abducted from her office early on Thursday by two armed men, officials said. "Four men in government forces' uniform abducted the woman, who is an Australian national and about 70 years old, from her office," said Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province. He said Wilson had arrived in Jalalabad on Wednesday and had been staying in a hotel in the city before going early to her office. Bishop told reporters: "We have connections, networks in Afghanistan, and we will be seeking to confirm as many of the details as we can, as soon as possible. In the meantime, we're staying in close contact with her family," Bishop said. Wilson's elderly father, Brian, appealed for his daughter's return in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "I presume she's a hostage and they'll do their best to keep her alive and not harm her simply because they want to have something or other in return." Kidnapping has become a lucrative source of income for militant Islamist groups in recent years, and the topic of whether to pay for their release is hotly debated. Last August, a German citizen working for the German development agency GIZ was kidnapped in central Kabul but was released after two months. Canada and Britain will urge other nations not to pay ransoms to free kidnap victims, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday, the day after a Canadian hostage was found dead in the Philippines. French wheat exports await Indonesia approval By Valerie Parent PARIS, April 29 (Reuters) - French wheat exports to Indonesia are on hold as traders await the approval of a food safety agreement between the two countries, something exporters say is being delayed by Indonesia in retaliation against a French palm oil tax plan. A farm ministry official from Indonesia, the world's largest producer of palm oil, said the delay was a procedural one, and denied any link to the proposed tax. France's additional tax on palm oil, due to come into force next year, is billed as an environmental levy on a product associated with deforestation and other environmental damage. The delay to exports from the European Union's largest grain exporter was on the agenda of France's Secretary of State for Trade Matthias Fekl when he travelled to Indonesia earlier this month. A spokesman for Fekl said trade barriers were discussed, and that he was unable to give further details. Exporters said they had learned that the palm oil tax was at the root of the delay. "The door is closed in retaliation against the project to tax palm oil," one exporter said. "Indonesia is losing a supplier at a time when French wheat is competitive." The problem comes just a few months after France's first wheat exports to Indonesia since the 2008/09 season as a number of factors make French wheat affordable for the country. Indonesian wheat importers bought 300,000 tonnes of French wheat earlier this year. That was just before a new Indonesian food safety law came into force under which all grain, fruit and vegetable must be tested by special laboratories before being exported. France has asked that its own testing systems be recognised under this legislation. It has yet to sign a deal to that effect, and French exporters in the meantime cannot clear their exports. Indonesia's agricultural authorities denied any link with the palm oil tax. "We're now in verification process (on the food safety deal) ... As long as it's not done yet, they can't export yet, and this process is long," Banun Harpini, head of Indonesia's Agriculture Quarantine Body at the agriculture ministry, told Reuters. She added that it had offered France to apply for an alternative laboratory registration but Paris had not done so yet. France's palm oil tax proposal has yet to come into force but Indonesia, along with second-largest producer Malaysia, has protested against it, calling it discriminatory. Indonesia raised the issue at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) earlier in March. A senior Indonesian government official said he was not aware of any restrictions on French agricultural products. Africa leaders, conservationists seek end to slaughter of elephants, rhinos By Edmund Blair MOUNT KENYA, Kenya, April 29 (Reuters) - The future of Africa's elephants and rhinos depends on the ability of the continent's nations to battle together against poaching, Kenya's president and conservationists said on Friday as they met at an East African summit. Signalling its commitment, Kenya will burn 105 tonnes of seized ivory on Saturday, seeking to send a message that the real value of tusks when they are on the live animals that draw tourists to Africa's savannas and forests, where herds have been decimated. From 1.2 million in the 1970s, the number of elephants roaming Africa has plunged to around 400,000. Poaching exceeded 30,000 a year between 2010 to 2012, threatening to wipe them out in some African regions. The future for Rhinos, now numbering less than 30,000, is even more bleak if poaching is not checked. "The poachers do not care about national borders, nor do the criminal gangs who smuggle illegal wildlife parts out of the continent. There is no solution to this struggle that can be implemented by one country alone," Kenyatta said in a statement before the Giants Club summit which he is due to address. "This is a continental issue," Ian Craig, director of Kenya's Northern Rangelands Trust, told the gathering, saying Africans needed to build on successes made since a 2012 poaching peak. "As Africa, we need to coordinate our efforts." In Kenya, 93 elephants were killed in 2015, down from 384 in 2012. But conservations say the East African nation remains a transit point for poached wildlife parts from other countries. Leaders from Uganda and Gabon also joined the summit to outline their efforts to curb illegal hunting by poachers, who in some regions have in the past used belt-fed machine guns to mow down dozens of animals at a time. Botwana's president had been due to attend. It was not immediately clear why he did not turn up. While supporting the battle against poaching, Botswana has opposed burning ivory. Conservationists have called for action ranging from improved prosecution of poachers to slashing demand for ivory and rhino horn abroad, most of it coming from Asia. "Political will, that is the key ingredient," Max Graham, the founder and chief executive officer of charity Space for Giants, speaking before the summit. His group seeks to share techniques to combat poaching and protect habitats for elephants and rhinos. Ol Pejeta Conservancy has been at the forefront of those initiatives, protecting and slowly starting to rebuild Kenya's rhino numbers. Airborne rapid reaction rangers, a helicopter with night vision and better intelligence in the local community helped. But it seems too late for the northern white rhino. Just three individuals of the species remain, guarded 24 hours at the Ol Pejeta site. Scientists are racing against time to work out ways on reproductive techniques for the aging animals. There have also been gains made in stemming international trade in ivory and rhino horn. China and the United States, two of the biggest ivory markets, announced plans last year to enact almost complete bans on imports and exports. The ivory price in Hong Kong, a major trade route to China which also announced plans for a sales ban, has fallen to about $380 per kg from $1,500 per kg in 2014, Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid which campaigns to end the trade, told Reuters. Austrian presidential election too close to call, poll suggests VIENNA, April 29 (Reuters) - Austria's presidential race between an independent and a far-right candidate who secured a record share of the vote in the first round is too close to call, an opinion poll published on Friday showed. The Gallup poll for tabloid daily Oesterreich showed both candidates on 50 percent, but with a margin of error of 5.4 percentage points and based on a small sample of 400 people. The run-off election will be held on May 22. Far-right Freedom Party candidate Norbert Hofer unexpectedly garnered 35 percent of the vote in the first round on Sunday. Polls before the election had regularly shown him running second on less than 25 percent. Former Greens leader Alexander van der Bellen, who is standing as an independent, came second in the first round with 21 percent of the vote. Opinion polls had showed him as the front-runner, but the gap with Hofer narrowed in the closing stages. Thailand jails eight activists charged with sedition BANGKOK, April 29 (Reuters) - A military court in Thailand on Friday jailed eight activists who posted comments critical of the ruling junta and a military-backed draft constitution, the latest opponents of the government penalised for airing dissent. The military seized power in May 2014, throwing out an old constitution, clamping down on dissent and promising an election by mid-2017. But a draft constitution drawn up under military supervision has drawn disapproval from both sides of the political divide, and the junta has responded by banning criticism of the charter in the run-up to an August referendum on it. The activists were detained by the military on Wednesday over Facebook posts criticizing the draft and junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha. They were charged with sedition and computer crimes. "The court has approved the first phase of their jail term which will be 12 days. They are now being taken to jail," Winyat Chatmontree, a lawyer for the group, told Reuters. Under the law, suspects can be detained for up to 12 days, extended seven times, before they are formally tried in court. Demonstrations have been rare since the generals overthrew the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in May 2014, but a small wave of opposition to the junta and the military-backed charter has arisen in recent weeks. The junta has appeared increasingly jittery ahead of the Aug. 7 referendum on the constitution, which the country's two biggest political parties have both criticised as undemocratic. Opponents say the charter would enshrine military power and would not heal political rivalry that has divided the country for more than a decade. The military denies seeking indefinite power and says the proposed constitution would heal divisions and usher in stable, corruption-free politics. At the heart of Thailand's decade of tumultuous politics has been rivalry between populist political forces that have won huge support in the countryside and the Bangkok-based military-dominated establishment. Fifteen people were arrested on Wednesday and later released, after they attended small, silent protests in the capital, Bangkok, including one at the Victory Monument, a central landmark and transport hub. Sunai Phasuk, senior Thailand researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the protests had rattled the military. European committee in German parliament says has invited ECB's Draghi for talks BERLIN, April 29 (Reuters) - The European committee in Germany's parliament has invited European Central Bank President Mario Draghi for talks, the committee's head told Reuters on Friday. "The invitation has been made," said Gunther Krichbaum, the committee's head and a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU). He added that it was "an invitation, not a summons". German conservatives have sharply criticised the bank's loose monetary policy in recent weeks and on Wednesday Bild newspaper reported that Draghi was ready to appear at Germany's Bundestag lower house of parliament to defend the bank's policies. South African court orders review of decision to drop Zuma charges By Tanisha Heiberg PRETORIA, April 29 (Reuters) - South Africa's High Court ruled on Friday that a decision seven years ago to drop 783 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma was irrational and should be reviewed, another setback for the scandal-ridden leader who faces calls for his resignation. The decision in April 2009 to set aside the charges allowed Zuma to run for president in elections the same month. The South African leader has been beset by scandal during his tenure. This year's local elections pose a major risk for Zuma's ruling African National Congress, facing a strong challenge from opponents seeking to capitalize on what they see as the president's missteps. National prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe's decision at the time was based on phone intercepts presented by Zuma's legal team that suggested the timing of the charges in late 2007 may have been part of a political plot against him. However, Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said Mpshe's thinking and behaviour was irrational, especially his failure to disclose his decision to prosecutors until the moment he announced it to the nation at a news conference. "If the decision had been rational and above board, why the secrecy?" Ledwaba said. The ruling adds pressure on Zuma, who has faced calls to quit even from within the ANC since a damning constitutional court judgment against him last month. The three-judge bench ruling does not automatically reinstate the charges against Zuma, a decision that can only come from the prosecuting authorities. It was unclear when such a decision would be taken. The rand hit a five-month high against the dollar after the ruling and government bonds also firmed. "Mr. Zuma should face the charges as applied in the indictment," Ledwaba said, summarising the unanimous ruling. It was not immediately clear whether Zuma would appeal, but the presidency said he would weigh the judgement and its consequences, adding that Zuma faced no charges in court at present. The ANC said the ruling would not harm the party's image or its chances at the local elections in August. Shaun Abrahams, head of the National Prosecuting Authority, told Reuters he was studying the ruling. Opposition Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane, whose party brought the court application, demanded the charges against Zuma be reinstated. "Jacob Zuma is not fit to be the president of this country," he told reporters. "The decision that they took was irrational and we still maintain that Jacob Zuma is corrupt. Jacob Zuma must face the full might of the law. He has already violated the constitution. There is no debate about that." ARMS DEAL Analysts said the credibility of the president and the prosecuting authority were in question after the ruling. "The credibility of the Presidency and the NPA are at stake due this a very far-reaching decision," said Professor Shadrack Gutto, a law lecturer at the University of South Africa. "For the ANC it's a question of what to do ahead of the August elections. Is this the kind of leader they want to have as a symbol? It is going to have a negative on the ANC. Opposition parties are going to take advantage of it." The hundreds of corruption charges relate to a major government arms deal arranged in the late 1990s. Zuma said last week that an investigation into the deal had found no evidence of corruption or fraud. Critics denounced the findings as a cover-up and said they would continue to campaign for justice. Zuma, then deputy president, was linked to the deal through his former financial adviser, who was jailed for corruption. This almost torpedoed Zuma's bid for president until the charges against him were dropped. Earlier this month, Zuma survived an impeachment vote after the Constitutional Court said he breached the law by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his home. PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - April 29 MOSCOW, April 29 (Reuters) - The following are some of the leading stories in Russia's newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. VEDOMOSTI www.vedomosti.ru - An investigation into Dmitry Kamenshchik, owner of Moscow's Domodedovo airport, may involve seizing some of the airport's property, the paper writes. - Russian mobile phone operator Megafon will pay out some 30 billion roubles ($466.38 million) in dividends for 2015 to its shareholders, the paper writes. - Russian internet company Yandex has increased its advertising income by 34 percent in the first quarter of 2016, the paper reports. KOMMERSANT www.kommersant.ru - Russia may introduce a tax free system for foreign visitors before the end of 2016 allowing them to partially claim back taxes off goods purchased in Russia, the paper reports. - Russia's consumer confidence index dropped to 63 points in the first quarter of 2016, its lowest level in the past 11 years, the paper writes, citing Nielsen. - Both rich and poor Russians saw their earnings fall in the first quarter of 2016, the paper writes, citing state statistics. - The Russian Presidential Administration has asked the Mail.ru Group to develop a highly protected messenger service for state institutions to use. The project will require at least $5 million, the paper says. RBK www.rbcdaily.ru - Russian President Vladimir Putin has scolded space officials for a failed rocket launch from the new Vostochny cosmodrome, the paper writes. Ivory Coast cashew prices climb on demand, competition from smugglers By Loucoumane Coulibaly KORHOGO, Ivory Coast, April 29 (Reuters) - High global demand for cashews is pushing up prices in Ivory Coast, the world's leading producer of the nut, where local exporters are battling with smugglers for supplies, farmers and exporters said on Friday. Ivory Coast, already the world's top cocoa producer, surpassed India for the first time last year as production leapt more than 24 percent over the previous season to 702,510 tonnes of nuts. Cashews, a popular snack in Europe and North America, is an essential ingredient in Asian cooking and is increasingly used in products such as dairy-free ice cream. In the northern city of Korhogo, a purchasing hub where dozens of new warehouses have opened in the past five years, buyers said there was intense competition for supplies. "We're under pressure from our (exporter) clients," local buyer Meyeregue Soro said. "Unless you pay 500 CFA francs ($0.86) per kilogram, the farmers won't even look at you." Ivory Coast's government set a minimum farmgate prices of 350 CFA francs per kg for the 2016 marketing season, up from 275 CFA francs last year. But buyers said they were paying between 500 and 550 CFA francs per kg to secure stocks. An Abidjan-based exporter said the reasons for the rising prices were two-fold. First, he said Ivorian output was expected to drop by as much as 20 percent this year due to weather conditions despite a forecast from the Cotton and Cashew Council, the national marketing board, that production would rise to 725,000 tonnes. But he said new taxes on exporters amounting to 45 CFA francs per kg were also fuelling smuggling as some traders sought to circumvent the new levy by shipping Ivorian cashews via other regional ports. "The smuggling is continuing," the exporter said. "(The government) has been able to constrict the flow into Ghana, but now it's going into Burkina Faso. They're shipping out of Accra (Ghana) and Lome (Togo)." He said he expected to see around 40,000 tonnes of nuts illegally exported this season. The taxes do not apply to companies with local processing facilities. The trafficking was confirmed by local buyers in northern Ivory Coast, the West African nation's cashew-growing heartland. "We are aware that there is contraband towards the border with Burkina Faso where some people are sending cashews on moto-tricycles," said Korhogo-based buyer Abdoulaye Cisse as workers dried nuts in front of his warehouse. "We are hearing that sellers over there are earning 100 CFA francs (per kg) more than here," he added. Just a decade ago, Ivory Coast was a middling cashew producer, growing around 80,000 tonnes of raw nuts per year. But with output growing by an average of over 10 percent annually, the sector has attracted thousands of farmers in the impoverished north where many have abandoned cotton, the area's traditional cash crop, in favour of cashews. In the village of Sohouo, some 15 km from Korhogo, most local farmers now grow cashews. "The lives of farmers have changed a lot here in the village these last three years because cashews pay well," said Lacina Silue, standing front of a small, neat house with a satellite dish on the roof. "All my children go to school now with no problem. Growing cashews is even less physically tiring. We think lots of farmers will switch from cotton." South Africa's Zuma to weigh court ruling against him - presidency JOHANNESBURG, April 29 (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma has noted and will give consideration to a court ruling that a 2009 decision to drop 783 corruption charges against him should be reviewed, the Presidency said on Friday. "These charges were formally withdrawn by the High Court in Pietermaritzburg during April 2009 and as such there is no pending litigation before court against President Zuma," Zuma's office said in a statement. Oil rig helicopter crashes off Norway coast, 13 presumed dead By Stine Jacobsen and Ole Petter Skonnord OSLO, April 29 (Reuters) - A helicopter ferrying passengers from a Norwegian oil platform crashed in the North Sea on Friday, apparently killing all 13 people on board, rescue officials said. The 11 passengers and two crew on the flight from the Gullfaks B oil platform, operated by Norway's Statoil, were all Norwegian except for one British and one Italian national, according to the Rescue Coordination Centre for Southern Norway. "The helicopter is completely destroyed," it said. After several hours searching for survivors, 11 bodies were found and the remaining two people were presumed dead. Norway and Britain suspended commercial flights of the type of helicopter involved in the crash, an Airbus Helicopters H225 Super Puma, a workhorse of the offshore oil industry. Airbus later said the grounding had been extended to the whole commercial fleet, 70 percent of which is used to support the global oil industry from the Gulf of Mexico to Asia and Africa. Plumes of smoke rose from the scene in a stretch of sea with many small islands and debris could be seen on the rocks. Several witnesses told Norwegian media they saw the rotor blades separating from the helicopter while still in the air. "While I looked up, the rotor (blades) loosened and disappeared toward the north," John Atle Sekkingstad told the website of local paper Bergens Tidende. "After that, the helicopter turned north and I saw fire at the top of the helicopter, where the rotor had been attached. It caught fire before it crashed." The main body of the aircraft was lying under water, while its rotor was found on a rocky outcrop about 200 to 300 metres (220-330 yards) away, state broadcaster NRK said, quoting the rescue centre. Oil worker Chris Andersen told NRK: "I saw the rotor separate ... It was horrible. There was a huge explosion that you could physically feel. You felt the vibrations." The area, just west of Bergen, Norway's second-largest city, has frequent helicopter traffic to and from offshore oil installations. Weather conditions on the day were normal. Norway's king and the prime minister expressed their condolences to the families of the victims. "You are not alone in your sorrow," Prime Minister Erna Solberg, dressed in black, said in an address to the nation. PRODUCTION, FLIGHTS HALTED Statoil halted production at the Gullfaks B platform, a visibly upset company executive told a news conference. "This is one of the worst accidents in Norwegian oil history," said Arne Sigve Nylund, Statoil's head of production in Norway, adding that the helicopter passengers worked for different companies, but were all on assignments for Statoil. "This is a heavy day ... Some of our colleagues will never come home," he said in a trembling voice. It was the second-worst Super Puma accident after a 2009 crash off Scotland in which the rotors also detached, killing 16 people. Investigators cited a catastrophic gearbox failure. Tracking service Flightradar24 said the helicopter in Friday's crash dropped 2,100 feet (640 metres) in the last 10 seconds. Formerly known as the Eurocopter EC225LP Super Puma, the aircraft is a long-range helicopter widely used in the oil and gas industry, as well as for VIP flights and search and rescue. Eurocopter changed its name to Airbus Helicopters in early 2014. Imposing a temporary ban on commercial flights using the same type of helicopter, the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority said it was too early to determine the cause of the crash. Airbus Helicopters, a subsidiary of Airbus Group, pledged full support for the investigation, which will be carried out by Norway with assistance from investigators based in France and Britain. Norway said late on Friday it had found the two "black box" flight recorders, one capturing data and the other recording cockpit conversations, and would send them to Britain, which has experience of handling several recent helicopter incidents. The crash deals a blow to an offshore industry already suffering weak demand due to low oil prices and puts the Super Puma back in the spotlight after a series of problems in the UK. In 2012, Super Puma fleets were grounded after a pair of controlled ditchings that were later linked to gearbox cracks, prompting Airbus Helicopters to carry out modifications. In 2013, four people died when an earlier version of Super Puma ditched off the Shetland Islands, off northern Scotland, in an accident blamed on crew. The last helicopter crash in the Norwegian oil industry, in 1997, involved a Super Puma in which 12 people died. Airbus Helicopters said it had no information so far to link the latest crash to earlier accidents. The helicopter that crashed on Friday had been granted extended flying hours, or delayed maintenance, twice in 2015, an aviation authority official told Norwegian daily VG. The flight was operated by Canada-based CHC Helicopter, owned by U.S. private equity firm First Reserve. CHC confirmed that the life of a previous gearbox fitted to the helicopter had been extended, but said the gearbox fitted at the time of the crash was new. It said the aircraft was fully compliant with Norwegian rules at the time of the accident. Air Canada looking to firm up Bombardier CSeries order "soon" April 29 (Reuters) - Air Canada, the country's largest airline, said on Friday it was looking to finalize an order to buy 45 Bombardier Inc CSeries jets "soon", looking at firming up an order that was first announced in February. Air Canada also reported a first-quarter profit, compared with a year-earlier loss, due to lower fuel costs, helping send the company's shares up 13 percent to C$9.37 in morning trading. The carrier's order in February to buy the 45 planes, with an option to buy an additional 30, was valued at as much as $3.8 billion at the time, based on the list price of the aircraft. "Subject to final documentation and satisfaction of conditions, we look forward to firming up the order soon," Chief Executive Calin Rovinescu said in an analyst call on Friday. The order was the first in 16 months for the Bombardier CSeries aircraft, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. Delta Air Lines Inc on Thursday ordered 125 CSeries jets. LOWER COSTS Air Canada said on Friday it expects the strengthening Canadian dollar to lower costs for the year. A stronger Canadian dollar helps Canadian airlines as they purchase planes and fuel in U.S. dollars. The carrier forecast earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and aircraft rent to increase 4-8 percent in 2016 from a year earlier. Air Canada said it expects 2016 adjusted cost per available seat mile, which excludes fuel costs, to fall between 1.75 percent and 2.75 percent. It had in February expected these costs would range between a decline of 0.5 percent and an increase of 0.5 percent. Air Canada's operating expense per available seat mile dropped about 3.3 percent in the first quarter, as lower fuel costs more than offset the impact of a weaker national currency. The company reported a net profit of C$101 million ($81 million), or 35 Canadian cents per share, for the quarter, compared with a loss of C$309 million, or C$1.08 per share, a year earlier. GRAINS-Soy slips from more than one-year peak, corn edges up By Nigel Hunt LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - U.S. soybean futures declined on Friday, retreating further from a more than one-year high set in the previous session, with drier weather in Argentina seen aiding harvest progress but crop losses from recent flooding still widely anticipated. Corn futures inched higher on an expected dip in production due to dry weather in Brazil, while wheat prices edged down. The most-active soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade were 0.3 percent lower at $10.24-1/4 a bushel at 1041 GMT. The contract hit a peak of $10.46-1/4 on Thursday, the highest since January 2015. "Much of the crop is reportedly suffering from lower yields and reduced quality," said Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural strategy at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "A dry weather pattern is expected to take place over the next week though, which should at least help to get harvest progress back on track." A third of Argentina's soy farms remain swamped after early April storms. Analysts estimated crop losses at 5 million tonnes as harvesting starts in areas dry enough to support the 30-tonne combines used to bring in the beans. The most-active corn futures rose 0.3 percent to $3.92-1/2 a bushel. Dealers said corn was supported by strong demand for U.S. supplies and a diminished crop outlook in Brazil. Dry weather in Brazil may reduce the country's winter corn crop by 5 million to 10 million tonnes, resulting in a similar drop in exports from the world's No. 2 supplier of the grain, Bunge CEO Soren Schroder said on Thursday. "Brazil's second (Safrinha) crop still requires another round of rain or two, so it is not yet in the clear. Meteorologists though aren't optimistic that they will find what they are looking for in the weather models," Gorey said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday said weekly corn export sales topped 2.6 million tonnes, the highest combined old-crop and new-crop total in four years. Wheat futures declined slightly as the market continued to be weighed by plentiful supplies. The International Grains Council on Thursday raised its forecast for the 2016/17 global wheat crop, citing improving outlooks in the European Union and Russia. "Wheat fundamentals have, if anything, become even more bearish over the week as improving conditions push up production estimates," UK merchant Gleadell said in a market update. Syrian military calls temporary "regime of calm" in parts of country BEIRUT, April 29 (Reuters) - A "regime of calm" will be enforced in parts of Syria's Latakia and Damascus regions from 1:00 a.m. (2200 GMT) on April 30, in order to "secure the implementation of the agreed cessation of hostilities", a Syrian military statement said on Friday. A statement from the Syrian Army General Command did not mention the city of Aleppo, focus of fighting, and did not explain what military or non-military action a "regime of calm" would involve. It would last for 24 hours in the Eastern Ghouta region east of Damascus and in Damascus, and for 72 hours in areas of the northern Latakia countryside. "This is in order to sever the road for some terrorist groups and their supporters, who strive to prolong this state of tension and instability and to find pretexts to target peaceful civilians," the statement said. A Feb. 27 cessation of hostilities agreement was intended to allow an opportunity for peace talks and delivery of humanitarian relief across Syria. How Barclays turned a $10 bln profit into a tax loss By Tom Bergin LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - When Barclays Plc sold a fund management business to U.S. financial group Blackrock Inc. in 2009, the larger-than-expected $15.2 billion price tag was not the only good news for the British bank's investors. The way Barclays structured the sale -- by booking part of the proceeds in Luxembourg -- allowed it to do something not possible under most tax systems: generate a tax loss from a tax-exempt transaction, a Reuters analysis of previously unreported company filings and statements shows. The move has helped Barclays to earn billions of dollars almost tax free. The entirely legal deal is the latest example of the ways in which some companies are able to benefit from tax regimes that regulators around the world are trying to crack down on so they can raise more tax revenue at home. The small European state of Luxembourg is among those coming under scrutiny for its tax regime that local authorities and lawyers say is a legitimate way to attract business. Barclays' tax loss was made possible because it sold its Barclays Global Investors (BGI) business tax free in Britain, but had part of the sale proceeds -- $9 billion in Blackrock shares - paid to a subsidiary in Luxembourg. That way, Barclays was able to offset the risk of the shares losing value, something not normally possible in a tax-free deal. A rise would have netted Barclays profits. When instead the shares fell, Barclays used the loss to claim a tax deduction in Luxembourg that was not available in the UK. Barclays' subsidiary in Luxembourg, one of Europe's smallest states with just half a million people, lost $2.6 billion when the Blackrock shares fell, but has earned almost double the amount virtually tax free since 2012, partly by offsetting some of the Blackrock loss. Barclays spokeswoman Candice MacDonald said the structure of the BGI sale was not aimed at securing a tax reduction but intended to secure a simpler and more certain tax treatment and avoid volatility in the bank's regulatory capital. Blackrock declined comment. Tax advisers say there is nothing wrong with companies organising their affairs to take advantage of generous tax treatments offered by different countries. "It would be very odd to criticise that or say it's inappropriate," said Neal Todd, tax partner at Berwin Leighton Paisner. "If governments aren't happy with the law, they should change it." TAILS YOU DON'T LOSE The European Commission is investigating whether Luxembourg has broken EU rules by not applying its tax rules appropriately, offering companies an unfair tax advantage. Last year it said the state did break those rules in a deal with carmaker Fiat. The Grand Duchy, a founder member of the bloc, says it is making itself an attractive financial centre using only legitimate means. Barclays is not part of the EU investigation, since the structure of the BGI sale involves using an unusual law in a straightforward manner rather than any inappropriate interpretation of the rules. The bank is one of hundreds of companies which lawyers say have benefited from Luxembourg's little-known 'Heads you win, tails you don't lose' tax treatment of significant shareholdings which Reuters reported on in 2013. http://reut.rs/1dKmKcG The treatment runs counter to the symmetry principle fundamental to most tax systems: where profits are taxable, losses are tax deductible, but if a gain or income is tax-exempt, corresponding losses cannot reduce tax on other income. What some politicians say sets Barclays apart is that, like all UK banks, it got significant support from taxpayers during the financial crisis. The government offered more than 600 billion in credit to the banking sector through support schemes and bought stakes in some banks, enabling them to pay their debts to others like Barclays. TAXPAYER SUPPORT Campaigners like Molly Scott Cato, member of the European Parliament for the Green Party, say this makes Barclays' tax savings unacceptable. "They should have greater social responsibility after the financial crisis that we are all still paying for," she said. She also said the Grand Duchy's tax rules should not deviate from international norms like the symmetry principle and help companies shift profits and losses. "It is creating an uneven playing field," she said. The Luxembourg Ministry of Finance did not respond to requests for comment but has previously denied using tax rules to unfairly attract investment and jobs. Barclays has said it does appreciate the taxpayer support it and peers received and it adopted a set of tax principles in 2013 that ensures it behaves in a socially responsible way. These principles bar artificial tax planning. Tax lawyers in Luxembourg say no other EU country offers the same asymmetric treatment of share sales and credit the law with making Luxembourg an attractive location for holding companies. Scott Cato and others say the Luxembourg law should be scrapped, but tax lawyers say it is very difficult for the EU to force countries to change laws covering income and capital gains taxes, since bloc rules give national governments sole responsibility in this area. FROM PROFIT TO TAX LOSS The sale delivered significant windfalls for senior Barclays executives although none of them benefited from the Luxembourg structure, because their gains were assessed under their personal income tax systems. Bob Diamond, the head of investment banking who would later go on to lead Barclays group, netted gains of $33 million, according to a 2009 bank filing. His deputy Richard Ricci was also one of the largest shareholders in BGI, but the head of BGI, Blake Grossman, was the largest beneficiary, as the second-largest shareholder in BGI after Barclays. In all, minority shareholders in BGI - mainly BGI and Barclays executives - received over 500 million pounds from the sale of BGI, according to Barclays 2009 annual report. The possibility that Barclays could benefit from the law was not a given when the bank began courting buyers for BGI in early 2009. Analysts predicted a $10 billion price tag but Barclays agreed a $13.5 billion sale to Blackrock on condition it accepted around half the money in shares, then trading at $180 each. The risk for Barclays was that, if those shares fell in value by the time the bank came to sell them, then the BGI windfall might not end up as large as it hoped. When the deal went through in Dec. 2009, Barclays sold BGI to Blackrock for $6.6 billion in cash and shares now worth almost $9 billion, thanks to a Blackrock share price jump to $227 each. Barclays told Blackrock to issue those shares not to BGI's UK owner Barclays Global Investors UK, but to a recently created Luxembourg company called Barclays BR Holdings Sarl. When Barclays decided to sell its shares in Blackrock in 2012, the U.S. asset manager's stock had fallen back to $160. Even at this share price, the BGI sale had netted Barclays a profit of well over $10 billion, but the bank now had a paper loss of $2.6 billion in Luxembourg, filings show. And being Luxembourg, that loss was deductible against other income. Much of tax loss from the Blackrock share sale remains because Barclays also generated other tax losses from investments held in Luxembourg, the Barclays spokeswoman said. Barclays had no branch network and only 14 staff in Luxembourg. But it structured some of its most profitable deals so that it could also report large profits there. In the three years since selling the Blackrock stake, Barclays has made profits of 2.4 billion pounds in Luxembourg, its filings show. The tax it paid on this income totalled 24 million pounds. Russia: Syrian 'regime of silence' bans military action, any weapons use -Ifax MOSCOW, April 29 (Reuters) - A "regime of silence" agreed by Russia and the United States for several parts of Syria forbids military action and the use of any kinds of weapons, the Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian military official as saying on Friday. General Sergei Kuralenko, in charge of Russia's ceasefire monitoring centre in Syria, was also cited as saying he saw no risk that the situation would slide back into a full-blown military conflict. Kenya calls for ivory sales ban as it prepares to burn tusks By Edmund Blair MOUNT KENYA, Kenya, April 29 (Reuters) - Kenya wants a ban on all sales of elephant ivory, its president told other African leaders and conservationists at talks on Friday on how to save the continent's embattled elephant and rhino populations. From 1.2 million in the 1970s, the number of elephants roaming Africa has plunged to around 400,000. Poaching for ivory killed 30,000 a year from 2010 to 2012. The future for rhinos, now numbering less than 30,000, is even bleaker unless poaching is checked. "The future of the African elephant and rhino is far from secure so long as demand for their products continues to exist," said President Uhuru Kenyatta, adding any sale, even in legal domestic markets, increased risks to the animals. Kenya would seek a "total ban on the trade in elephant ivory" at a meeting on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in South Africa later this year, the president told the "Giants Club" summit. Signalling its commitment, Kenya will burn 105 tonnes of seized ivory on Saturday. CITES approved a ban on commercial trade in African elephant ivory in 1989, but since then has permitted one-off sales. Conservationists want more prosecutions of poachers, the slashing of demand for ivory and rhino horn, most of which is in east Asia, and deeper cooperation across borders to fight poachers. "It has taken a crisis to get us to better collaboration, and the successes are still very fragile," said Iain Douglas-Hamilton, chief executive of the charity Save the Elephants. In Kenya, 93 elephants were killed in 2015, down from 384 in 2012. But conservationists say the East African nation remains a transit point for poached wildlife parts from other countries. Leaders from Uganda and Gabon attended the summit to outline efforts to curb illegal hunting by poachers, who in some regions have used belt-fed machineguns to mow down animals. POLITICAL WILL Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said population pressure threatened animal habitats. "The strategic challenge is to make the African population shift from low-technology agriculture to industry and services," he said. "Political will, that is the key ingredient," Max Graham, the founder of charity Space for Giants, told reporters at Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy ahead of the summit, which was held at a hotel nearby on the slopes of Mount Kenya. Ol Pejeta has been protecting and slowly rebuilding Kenya's rhino numbers. Airborne rapid reaction rangers, a helicopter with night vision and better intelligence in the local community have helped. But it seems too late for the north white rhino. Just three individuals of the species remain, guarded 24 hours a day at the Ol Pejeta site. Scientists are racing against time to work out artificial reproductive techniques for the aging animals. Ol Pejeta is also home to many more black rhino. China and the United States, two of the biggest ivory markets, announced plans last year to enact almost complete bans on imports and exports. The ivory price in Hong Kong, a major trade route to China which also announced plans for a sales ban, has fallen to about $380 per kilogram from $1,500 in 2014, Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid, told Reuters. Others said the ivory price elsewhere remained higher. -Libya outlines ambitious plans to restore oil output By Ahmad Ghaddar and Aidan Lewis LONDON/TRIPOLI, April 28 (Reuters) - Libya's National Oil Corporation has ambitious plans to restore output to pre-2011 levels after years of violence and disruption, officials said. Oil output is now less than a quarter of the 1.6 million barrels per day Libya pumped before Muammar Gaddafi fell in 2011, and the National Oil Corporation (NOC) in Tripoli hopes to ramp it up swiftly with the backing of a new unity government. Full recovery could take years because of shutdowns by disgruntled workers, political rivalry and attacks by Islamic State militants. Militants hit the al-Ghani, Mabrouk, and Dahra fields in the Sirte basin over a year ago, forcing the NOC to declare force-majeure on 11 fields, and there have been further attacks since then. An NOC official in Tripoli told Reuters that at least 200,000 bpd of capacity had been damaged in attacks on oil fields in the western Sirte basin, Libya's most prolific. It may take the NOC until late 2017 or 2018 to bring those fields back to full capacity, the official said, if it can afford the repairs. The first phase of a three-stage recovery plan can be implemented within three months, a second NOC official in Tripoli said, allowing fields like El Sharara and Elephant, with a combined capacity of around 430,000 bpd, to come back on stream. But other fields, including those that have been directly attacked and others that feed via pipeline to Libya's largest export terminals at Ras Lanuf and Es Sider, may take longer to bring back online, he added. Phase two covers six to eight months down the line while the final phase covers fields that will take between eight months and several years to reopen. Infrastructure damage at the ports could take years to repair and will delay the restart of the fields feeding to them. Another big factor is the cost of the repairs. "All those plans depend on security. If proper and robust security at the oil facilities is not in place, then our plans will be in jeopardy," the second official said. Earlier this year militants attacked Ras Lanuf and Es Sider, which can handle 600,000 bpd of crude exports. The two terminals had been closed since December 2014, after an attack on Es Sider. The latest assault left just 12 out of 32 storage tanks at the terminals operational, NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla told Reuters in February. It may take NOC "many years" to rebuild damaged "long lead items" at the ports, he added. MODEST, CONDITIONAL RAMP-UP A U.N.-backed unity government's move to Tripoli last month raised hopes that Libya could restart idled fields and reopen export terminals, and the NOC in Tripoli says it could quickly double production to over 700,000 bpd, if political and security conditions stabilise. The government is still struggling to gain clear support, especially in the east. A parallel NOC in the east exported a shipment of oil independently for the first time this week, further complicating the prospects for recovery. "We are focused now on how to resume oil production. In some places, we'll just have to open the valves," Sanalla told Reuters last week. "But first of all, we need to have stability." Industry sources do not expect production to increase beyond 600,000 bpd within the next few months. "If the new unity government is successful in asserting some control, then output should recover, but only slowly and with setbacks," Energy Aspects analyst Richard Mallinson told the Reuters Global Oil Forum earlier this month. SECURITY CHALLENGE The NOC hopes the unity government can create a unified security force to protect oil infrastructure. For now, security will depend on an array of armed factions including the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), a semi-official corps that has blockaded ports and whose attempt in 2014 to export crude independently was thwarted by U.S. special forces. PFG leader Ibrahim Jathran says he supports the unity government and is ready to reopen the ports of Zueitina, Es Sider, and Ras Lanuf. But the PFG's refusal to allow storage tanks to be emptied at threatened terminals has infuriated the NOC, and Sanalla has called on the PFG to end its blockade immediately. He told Reuters that any future protection force could only gain authority "by acting to protect Libya's assets for all Libya". Meanwhile a rival PFG faction, Battalion 152, has said it is loyal to eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar, whose political allies have blocked the eastern parliament from approving the unity government. The unity government said on Sunday it feared further attacks on coastal infrastructure and oil fields, and that it had received reports that these were threatened not only by Islamic State but also by Gaddafi loyalists and Sudanese rebels. Financing could be a challenge in the short term as Libya has been hard hit by falling oil prices and has had to bear the double burden of a price crash and constrained output simultaneously. . Sanalla has estimated the cost of lost production at more than $68 billion for the past three years, and says Libya loses $30 million every day because of shutdowns. Security worries in some areas mean the NOC has yet to assess the full cost to repair damaged facilities. 3 killed, 25 wounded when rebel-fired mortars hit Aleppo mosque - SANA BEIRUT, April 29 (Reuters) - Three people were killed and 25 wounded when rebel-fired mortars hit a mosque in Aleppo as people were leaving Friday prayers, the Syrian state news agency SANA said on Friday The mosque was in the government-held Bab al-Faraj area of Aleppo. Political splits threaten Tunisia's economic reform By Tarek Amara TUNIS, April 29 (Reuters) - Political divisions in Tunisia's ruling coalition risk undermining economic reforms and paralysing the government as it tries to revive the country's post-revolution economy and tackle Islamist militancy. Until recently, compromise between secular and Islamist parties in the governing alliance had helped keep Tunisia's transition on track after the 2011 overthrow of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, which inspired uprisings across the Arab world. But that consensus looks increasingly threatened by squabbling among secular allies and splits within the coalition. When lawmakers voted for part of an economic reform package last week, the ruling alliance managed to force the bill through by just two votes after many of its lawmakers opposed the motion or abstained. The vote on the bill to protect central bank autonomy was just one of the financial overhauls Tunisia's international lenders are demanding to set the North African state's economy on track after five years of upheaval. But for ruling coalition parties to muster only 73 votes of the 150 they control in the 217-member congress underscored how political splits are starting to undermine those efforts. Tunisia is struggling with lower tourism revenue after three militant attacks last year, protests over unemployment and slow economic revival. "There are some in the coalition that think they can be in the government and the opposition at the same time," said Ajmi Ourimi, a lawmaker with the Islamist Ennahda party, which is part of the coalition. "We're in a crisis of coordination." After elections in late 2014, Prime Minister Habib Essid's cabinet, including ministers from secularist Nidaa Tounes party, Ennahda and other minor parties, has struggled to make progress on economic reforms to match Tunisia's political progress. The International Monetary Fund this month reached a preliminary deal to assist Tunisia with a four-year loan program worth about $2.8 billion tied to economic reforms. That came after offers of aid from European partners. But IMF Tunisia mission chief Amine Mati urged the government to start work immediately. Splits in secular party Nidaa Tounes and its ally Afek Tounes have angered Essid, who felt the loss of political support as he seeks to pass more sensitive austerity-style reforms needing consensus to overcome any popular reactions. "I feel frustrated after I saw the result of the vote on the Central Bank law. I held meetings with the four coalition parties in order to avoid the same scenario," Essid told reporters. But it is far from clear whether their positions will unify for new bills, especially with widening political divides among the four, Ennahda, Nidaa Tounes, Afek Tounes and Free Popular Union UPL party. Nidaa Tounes, the party of President Beji Caid Essebsi, has already splintered over a dispute about the role his son might play in the party and its secretary-general and a group of lawmakers broke away to form a new political movement. In a sign of more rifts, Yassin Ibrahim, the leader of Afek Tounes party, has suggested the formation of a new parliamentary bloc which includes liberal parties but excludes Ennahda. Although Nidaa Tounes leaders rejected the proposal, Ibrahim's comments could further weaken the fragile government. "There has been a crisis in the coalition since the announcement of possible new front in parliament and after the central bank law vote," Abd Elaziz El Koti, a Nidaa Tounes lawmaker. "We're in talks over better coordination now." BAD TIMING Political infighting could not come at a worse time. Tunisia's economy has faltered since the revolt against Ben Ali and problems have been exacerbated by last year's attacks by Islamist militants who targeted foreign visitors and the tourism industry which accounts for 8 percent of gross domestic product. Economic growth in Tunisia was 0.8 percent last year and officials expect 2.5 percent this year, but unemployment stands at 15.3 percent and is far higher among young people. Protests and rioting over jobs and economic opportunities at the start of the year illustrated how sensitive any austerity reforms may be given the simmering social tensions. The rest of the reform package will be presented to parliament in the coming weeks, after a long delay, including the investment bill, retirement bill and banks project law. Analysts say the banks bill may cause controversy after financial experts criticised the Islamic finance portion for favouring Islamic banks over traditional banks. The government's proposal to raise the retirement age by five years - part of efforts to reduce public spending on pensions - is also facing a strong resistance from the powerful labor union UGTT. Labour union protests have already forced the cabinet to act. The government scuppered an attempt to apply a fiscal law obliging thousands of doctors and lawyers to give details on their income after their unions threatened strikes. Germany says Assad's forces probably behind attack on Aleppo hospital BERLIN, April 29 (Reuters) - An air strike on a hospital in the city of Aleppo that killed dozens of people was probably the work of Syrian government forces, a spokesman for the German government said on Friday. A U.S. official has also said the attack on Wednesday night appeared to be solely the work of the Syrian government. Syria's military has denied its warplanes targeted the hospital. German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told a news conference the destruction was targeted and therefore constituted the "murder of a huge number of civilians". "The available information suggests that this attack can, with some degree of probability, be traced back to the troops of (President Bashar al-Assad's) regime," Seibert said, adding that it was a "blatant violation of humanitarian law". The German government warned that the escalation of fighting in Aleppo and elsewhere threatened to undermine peace talks in Geneva. "That must be avoided," said Seibert, adding that Russia had a duty to prevent the ceasefire and the political process from failing. The Geneva talks aim to end a war that has created the world's worst refugee crisis, allowed the rise of Islamic State and drawn in regional and major powers, but a truce intended to allow negotiations to take place has collapsed. Five killed in gun attack in opposition district of Burundi capital NAIROBI, April 29 (Reuters) - Five people were killed in a gun and grenade attack in a district of Burundi's capital which is stronghold of opposition to President Pierre Nkurunziza, police said. Tit-for-tat attacks between Nkurunziza's security forces and his opponents have escalated since April 2015 when he announced a disputed bid for a third term. He won re-election in July. Thursday night's attack struck a bar in Bujumbura's Musaga neighbourhood, where protests were held against the president last year, said deputy police spokesman Moise Nkurunziza. Among the dead were a three-year old child and an unarmed soldier who was in civilian clothes, he said. "It was around 10.10 pm last night when four armed men in civilian clothes attacked a small pub... killing five people," he said. "As they were fleeing, the attackers threw a grenade at a small army base just nearby which didn't do any damage." Residents in Musaga said two others who were wounded in the attack later died. Officials were not immediately reachable to confirm the deaths. TABLE-OPEC oil output to rise 170,000 bpd in April -Reuters survey April 29 (Reuters) - The following table shows OPEC crude oil output in millions of barrels per day (bpd) in April and March, according to a Reuters survey published on Friday. The survey indicates output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries rose by 170,000 bpd in April. OPEC has no supply target. At a Dec. 4 meeting the producer group scrapped its output ceiling of 30 million bpd, which it had been exceeding for months. Totals are rounded. There are no individual quotas for the OPEC member countries. April March Algeria 1.10 1.11 Angola 1.80 1.75 Ecuador 0.53 0.54 Indonesia 0.72 0.72 Iran 3.40 3.23 Iraq 4.35 4.21 Kuwait 2.72 2.82 Libya 0.34 0.33 Nigeria 1.68 1.76 Qatar 0.64 0.64 Saudi Arabia 10.15 10.18 UAE 2.82 2.75 Venezuela 2.39 2.43 TOTAL OPEC 32.64 32.47 The Reuters survey aims to assess crude supply to market, defined to exclude movements to, but not sales from, storage. Saudi and Kuwaiti data includes the Neutral Zone. Venezuelan data includes upgraded synthetic oil. Nigerian output includes the Agbami stream and excludes Oso and Akpo condensates. (Reporting by Alex Lawler; Editing by Susan Fenton) Oil price weakness drives Canada's Imperial Oil to bigger-than-expected loss By Nia Williams CALGARY, Alberta, April 29 (Reuters) - Canadian integrated oil producer and refiner Imperial Oil Ltd reported a slightly bigger-than-expected quarterly loss on Friday, hurt by continued weakness in global crude prices. Imperial's net loss was C$101 million ($81 million), or 12 Canadian cents per share, in the first quarter ended March 31, compared with net income of C$421 million, or 50 Canadian cents per share, a year earlier. The slump in global crude prices, which fell to 13-year lows of around $26 a barrel in the first quarter and are still 60 percent below mid-2014 levels, outweighed benefits from a weak Canadian dollar. Imperial and other Canadian oil producers record expenses in Canadian dollars, while the price of oil is tied to the U.S. dollar, making the weak loonie a positive factor at a time when oil prices remain persistently low. The company's adjusted loss was 15 Canadian cents per share, bigger than the average analyst estimate of 14 Canadian cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Imperial shares were last down 0.2 percent on the Toronto Stock Exchange at C$41.97 following the slight miss on market expectations. "The key differences relative to our estimates were lower-than-expected realized pricing, higher product purchase expenses in the upstream segment, partially offset by higher earnings in the downstream segment," BMO Capital Markets analyst Randy Ollenberger wrote in a note. Imperial said gross production rose 26 percent and averaged a record 421,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Its Kearl mining project in northern Alberta averaged 194,000 bpd in the first quarter, up from 95,000 bpd during the first quarter of 2015, as the project continues to ramp up to full capacity. The company is also seeking approval from regulators for its 50,000 bpd Cold Lake expansion project, which will use solvent-assisted steam technology to extract bitumen. Imperial has not made a final investment decision on the project but said construction could start in 2019 and production in 2022. Income from the company's refining business dropped by 43 percent as margins fell. Exxon Mobil Corp, which owns a majority stake in Imperial, reported a 63 percent drop in quarterly profit on Friday, citing weak prices and lower refining margins. German banks see no quick pick up in Iran business By Gernot Heller BERLIN, April 29 (Reuters) - Restoring German banks' financial ties with Iran will take time given debt owed to Berlin and transparency concerns, the head of the German banking association said on Friday, dampening expectations days before a business summit in Tehran. Iran owes Germany about 500 million euros ($569 million) under so-called Hermes covers, a German government arrangement that protects German companies if foreign debtors fail to pay. "Rebuilding ties with Iran requires patience," Michael Kemmer, head of banking association BDB, told Reuters. "To begin with, the transactions regimen has to work again before the next step of financing projects can take place." German industry has been hoping for a surge in exports to Iran after international sanctions were lifted in January in return for the Islamic Republic complying with a deal to curb its nuclear ambitions. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel will co-chair an economic conference with Iranian counterpart Ali Tayyebnia in Tehran May 2-3, and German companies see the event as a potential catalyst for doubling exports to Iran to 5 billion euros. But the German government has said guarantees for exports to Iran will not be renewed as long as Tehran's debt is not paid. A spokeswoman for the German economy ministry said on Friday both sides were holding "in-depth talks" on the issue and these could soon be concluded. She added companies could apply for Hermes export guarantees and a decision could be made immediately after an agreement. Credit insurer Coface said this week there was a lack of reliable information for doing risk assessments on Iranian corporate partners but medium-term prospects were good. Another barrier for German banks is transparency. Kemmer mentioned a recommendation by an international anti-money laundering group that government financial intelligence agencies give extra scrutiny to transactions and business relationships involving Iran and North Korea. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said in February it remained concerned about what it called Iran's failure to address the risk of terror financing and the serious threat this poses to the global financial system. "It is really important for banks that the FATF re-evaluates the situation in Iran," Kemmer said. "The supervisory standards require that business ties with banks that have high risks lead to higher capital and liquidity requirements." He also said remaining U.S. sanctions on Iran made banks wary of doing business there for fear of hefty fines. Commerzbank AG agreed in March to pay $1.45 billion to settle charges it illegally moved funds through the United States for countries such as Iran and Sudan. Despite lifting most of their economic sanctions, the United States and European Union still forbid business with some Iranian individuals, firms and banks, which forces financial institutions to do lengthy and costly checks to avoid penalties. Canadian GDP slips in February after January growth surge By Leah Schnurr OTTAWA, April 29 (Reuters) - The Canadian economy contracted in February after a strong start to the year, as activity in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors declined, suggesting that low energy prices continue to impede growth. Data from Statistics Canada on Friday showed gross domestic product fell 0.1 percent in the month, in line with forecasts, after increasing for four months in a row. While economists had expected to see some give-back from January's unrevised 0.6 percent gain, they still expect relatively strong growth for the first quarter overall. "Even with that pullback in GDP this morning that was expected ... with March coming in flat you are still looking at 3 percent (first-quarter) GDP," said Richard Gilhooly, head of rates strategy at CIBC Capital Markets. The persistent impact of cheap oil was reflected by February's 0.8 percent drop in the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector. Support activities for the industry retreated, while extraction of non-conventional oil dropped. Activity in the manufacturing sector also pulled back after three strong months. Overall, activity in goods-producing industries dropped by 0.6 percent. Still, weakness in the energy sector is likely to be offset by other exports over the longer-term said Craig Wright, chief economist at the Royal Bank of Canada. "Growth prospects for 2016 are off to a good start, and it looks like we'll see growth in around that 2-percent range," he said. While growth in services was flat, the retail sector was a bright spot, up 1.4 percent. But wholesale trade tumbled 1.8 percent, potentially foreboding weak business investment, as wholesalers sold less machinery, equipment and supplies. The plunge in oil prices since mid-2014 put Canada in a mild recession last year, forcing the central bank to cut interest rates twice. Separately, Canadian producer prices declined for the second month in a row in March as a stronger Canadian dollar helped lower prices of motorized and recreational vehicles. Prices fell 0.6 percent, short of analysts' expectations for a gain of 0.1 percent. February's decline was revised to 1.0 percent from an initially reported decline of 1.1 percent. Higher prices for crude energy products lifted the raw materials index 4.5 percent. Excluding crude energy products, raw materials prices were down 0.3 percent. The Canadian dollar, which hit a 10-month high earlier in the session on stronger oil prices, firmed slightly following the simultaneous release of the GDP and producer price data. Iran snags more European oil buyers in slog for market share By Libby George LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - Two European refiners are set to receive their first oil cargoes from Iran since international sanctions were lifted in January against the country, which is ramping up crude exports in a battle to take back market share. Iran has pledged to increase production following sanctions lifting, and it declined to participate in a meeting on April 17 of producer group OPEC and non-member nations aimed at reaching a deal to freeze output to prop up prices. The talks collapsed. Italy's IPLOM booked a 1 million barrel cargo of Iranian crude that is sailing towards the country aboard the Poetic, industry sources told Reuters. It will be the first post-sanctions cargo to arrive in Italy. Oil trading and shipping sources said Greek refiner Motor Oil Hellas would also receive its first post-sanctions delivery of Iranian crude aboard the Kriti Breeze, which loaded at Kharg Island on April 20. The company did not respond to a request for comment. Both refiners bought Iran's oil before sanctions against the country's nuclear programme effectively halted its shipments to Europe, which had accounted for more than a third of its exports. France's Total, Spain's Cepsa and Greece's Hellenic Petroleum have booked Iranian crude for their European refineries this year. Others, including Italy's Saras and ENI, have expressed interest in buying. But exports have been much slower than Iran targeted due to struggles with shipping and insurance. Iran's exports peaked at just over 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2011, making it the second-largest exporter that year after Saudi Arabia. Its exports fell to a little more than 1 million bpd after tougher sanctions in 2012. According to data from Energy Aspects, global imports of Iran's crude rose in March to 1.90 million bpd, from 1.51 million bpd in February. "Buyers are gradually finding ways to handle the issues with shipping insurance and banking transactions, which in the end are hurdles rather than insurmountable barriers," said Richard Mallinson, an analyst with Energy Aspects. "As more buyers join in we could see flows to Europe increase, which is certainly a goal for Iran." Mallinson noted though that most exports had come from inventories rather than output from oil fields, meaning Iran could struggle to sustain the levels as stocks drawn down. Opinion poll puts Peru's Fujimori slightly ahead in presidential run-off race LIMA, April 29 (Reuters) - Peru's presidential contender Keiko Fujimori is slightly ahead of her rival Pedro Pablo Kuczynski ahead of the June 5 run-off election, with 42.3 percent support compared with 40.1 percent, a CPI opinion poll showed Friday. Both conservatives saw their backing slip by about 1 point, with 8.9 percent of respondents undecided and another 8.7 percent planning to cast spoiled ballots, according to the poll published in local newspaper Diario Correo on Friday. The survey was conducted on April 26-27 and had a 2.3 point margin of error. Algeria's Bouteflika returns from Geneva medical trip - state media ALGIERS, April 29 (Reuters) - Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 79, has returned to Algiers after a brief visit to Geneva for medical checkups, his latest since a stroke three years ago that has mostly kept him out of the public view. "The president of the republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, returned to the country on Friday," the presidency said in a statement on APS state news agency. Bouteflika, who has governed the North African OPEC state for more than 15 years, left a week ago for "regular medical checkups", state media said. He has visited Paris and Geneva several times since the stroke in 2013 that left him in a French hospital for several months. Since his re-election in 2014 to a fourth term, the veteran of the independence war against France has only been seen in periodic state television images and photographs, usually greeting visiting foreign dignitaries at his palace. Bouteflika's illness has prompted speculation about a possible transition from a leader who helped bring the country out of a 1990s war with Islamist fighters and into more economic stability during the times of high oil prices. Swaziland to ask UN body to sell its rhino horn stockpile By Ed Stoddard JOHANNESBURG, April 29 (Reuters) - Swaziland has submitted a proposal to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to sell its rhino horn stocks to help pay for anti-poaching efforts, according to a copy of the submission obtained by Reuters. Swaziland's bid is a surprise after neighbouring South Africa, which will host the next major CITES conference in September, decided not to push to loosen a global ban in trade in rhino horn in force since 1977. It also comes against the backdrop of a surge in poaching of rhinos for the animal's horn, which is coveted in Vietnam and other Asian countries as an ingredient in traditional medicine. A record 1,305 rhinos were illegally killed in Africa last year. African leaders and environmentalists were meeting in Kenya on Friday to dnL5N17W47Biscuss ways of combatting elephant and rhino poaching. For Swaziland's proposal to succeed, it will need to get two-thirds of the countries attending the September meeting to support it - a difficult task as the issue is a red-button one that sharply divides conservationists. Opponents of opening up the trade argue it could lead to more poaching by criminal gangs seeking to launder "dirty" horns in clean markets. Supporters of a regulated trade say it could stem poaching by bringing licit supplies directly to the source of demand. Currently that can only be met illegally. The Swazi proposal seeks "a limited and regulated trade in white rhino horn which has been collected in the past from natural deaths, or recovered from poached Swazi rhino." It also wants to sell horn "harvested in a non-lethal way from a limited number of white rhino in the future in Swaziland." Rhino horn grows back after it is cut off and the animals can be darted for such operations. "This proposal is for Swaziland to sell existing stocks of some 330 kg (700 pounds) to a small number of licenced retailers in the Far East ... The proceeds from the sale of stocks will raise approximately $9.9 million at a wholesale price of $30,000 per kg," the submission says. Swaziland also wants to sell 20 kgs on an annual basis of horn harvested from live rhinos. Funds raise will be used to help boost security in the parks where its population of 73 rhino reside, the submission says. CANADA STOCKS-TSX rises as resource stocks rally on higher commodity prices TORONTO, April 29 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday as mining and energy stocks firmed on higher commodity prices, while shares of its largest airline jumped after quarterly results were reported. The most influential movers on the index included Barrick Gold Inc, which rose 5.1 percent to C$23.15, and First Quantum Minerals Ltd, which advanced 13.5 percent to C$10.395. The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 3.5 percent. Gold and silver rallied to their highest since January 2015 as the Bank of Japan's decision the previous day to hold off expanding monetary stimulus weighed on stock markets and the dollar, while base metal prices also advanced. Air Canada rose 13.3 percent to C$9.38 after it reported a first-quarter profit, compared with a loss a year earlier, helped by a decline in fuel costs. The energy group climbed 0.9 percent, supported by fresh 2016 highs for oil prices. U.S. crude was up 0.6 percent to $46.32 a barrel. TransCanada Corp, the country's No.2 pipeline operator, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by higher income from its Bruce nuclear power plant in Ontario. Its shares edged 0.2 percent higher to C$52.08. At 10:36 a.m. EDT (1436 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 80.54 points, or 0.58 percent, to 13,966.97. It approached the nearly six-month high reached last week of 13,971.83. However, just four of the index's 10 main groups were higher. Brookfield Asset Management Inc fell 0.9 percent to C$42.50. The company is in advanced talks to buy a controlling stake in the water and sewage unit of Brazilian engineering conglomerate Grupo Odebrecht for up to 6 billion reais ($1.72 billion), newspaper Valor Economico said. Railway stocks were also a drag, including a 0.8 percent decline in Canadian National Railway Co to C$78.03. Bombardier Inc fell 4.9 percent to C$1.94, as some of this week's gains were pared. A major CSeries order from Delta Air Lines will likely hold investor attention at the company's annual meeting on Friday, overshadowing discord between the company's founding family and disgruntled shareholders. Uranium producer Cameco Corp fell 1.7 percent to C$16.19 after reporting an unexpected first-quarter adjusted loss as uranium prices continued to soften and demand remained low. Venezuela's top beer maker halts output in dispute with government CARACAS, April 29 (Reuters) - Venezuela's largest beer maker halted the last of its four production plants on Friday in a spat with the government over access to foreign currency, threatening a shortage in a nation already hit by severe scarcities of food and other products. Empresas Polar, the largest private company in Venezuela, had warned it would end production on Friday because President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government was refusing to release it dollars to import malted barley under strict exchange controls. Operations at Polar's plant in San Joaquin, which had been its last still in production, were stopped on Friday morning, a company spokeswoman said. "With this, activities at the four plants of Polar Brewery are halted," she added. Union leader Arquimides Sequera confirmed the halt. "Today the morning shift was suspended at the San Joaquin plant," he said. "That was the last one to be stopped, and Polar's biggest." Polar makes about 80 percent of the beer consumed in Venezuela. Maduro's government often accuses Polar of exaggerating its dollar needs and hoarding products as part of an "economic war" by the business community, politicians and the United States aimed at undermining socialism in Venezuela. The OPEC nation is struggling with a recession, soaring consumer prices and chronic shortages. Officials have said Polar's billionaire president, Lorenzo Mendoza, should spend his own offshore money if he needs dollars. Earlier this week, in an obvious reference to Polar, Maduro threatened to seize any plants halted by private companies and hand them over to workers. "Any plant that is shut will be recovered, it is a serious crime against production," he said. Republicans downplay Trump rally unrest in California By Doina Chiacu and Emily Stephenson WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - The head of California's Republican Party on Friday downplayed chaotic demonstrations that broke out against a Donald Trump campaign rally there, saying protests were typical for the state's politics. About 20 people were arrested on Thursday night near the county fair grounds in Costa Mesa, California, where the Republican front-runner for the White House held his rally. Local media reported that protesters smashed the window of a police squad car and blocked traffic. "If you're a Republican running for president in California and you don't get protested, you're doing something really, really wrong," Jim Brulte, chairman of the California Republican Party, said on CNN on Friday. "Every president I've campaigned with here in California has been protested." Protests have become common outside of rallies for the outspoken New York billionaire in recent months. His campaign had to call off a rally in Chicago last month after clashes between his fans and protesters. Trump visited California on Thursday ahead of its June 7 primary, and he will speak on Friday at the California Republican convention. California boasts the most delegates to the Republican National Convention in June and is key to his hopes of getting the nomination for the Nov. 8 election. Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer blamed Thursday night's unrest on people from the political left. "They're always willing to call out everybody else but when it's their side that disrupts, that creates violence, that ruins public property, there's silence," he told CNN. Trump has accused backers of Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders of fueling tensions at his rallies in the past, a charge Sanders has dismissed. Trump has won a broad following among Republicans in the United States, along with harsh critics, for his tough stand on illegal immigration. He has accused Mexico of sending drug dealers and rapists across the U.S. border, and has promised to solve the problem by building a wall and forcing Mexico to pay for it. The population of Costa Mesa, where he appeared on Thursday, is about a third Latino. Trump appeared at the rally with families of several people who were allegedly killed by undocumented immigrants. Local news afterward showed demonstrators surrounding vehicles, waving Mexican flags and holding signs. At least one demonstrator was shown jumping on top of a police car. A Los Angeles Times reporter posted a photo on Twitter of a man wearing a Trump T-shirt with a bloodied face. GRAINS-U.S. soybeans dip on supply glut; corn flat. By Mark Weinraub CHICAGO, April 29 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures weakened on Friday, weighed down by some end-of-month profit-taking as well as signs that supplies on the cash market remained ample, traders said. Corn futures were mostly steady, with some support from concerns about recent dry conditions damaging Brazil's Safrinha crop. But indications that U.S. farmers will pick up their planting pace in the next week after being sidelined by rain stifled potential gains. Wheat futures fluctuated between positive and negative territory, with technical buyers stepping in on the dips. Bigger-than-expected soybean and wheat deliveries showed that U.S. supplies remained ample in the countryside despite the recent uptick in exports. CME Group on Thursday evening reported 527 deliveries against the expiring CBOT May soybean contract. That topped expectations for zero to 400 deliveries on the first notice day. Soft red winter wheat deliveries of 1,000 contracts were at the high end of expectations, although most analysts had forecast between zero and 300 lots. At 10:50 a.m. CDT (1536 GMT), CBOT July soybeans were down 1-1/2 cents at $10.26 a bushel. CBOT July wheat was 1-3/4 cents higher at $4.87-1/4 a bushel. Improving weather for harvest in Argentina contributed to the weakness in soybeans, but concerns about damage from recent rains limited the decline. "Much of the crop is reportedly suffering from lower yields and reduced quality," said Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural strategy at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "A dry weather pattern is expected to take place over the next week though, which should at least help to get harvest progress back on track." CBOT July corn futures were down 1/4 cent at $3.91 a bushel. Italy's bank bailout fund set to own 90 pct of Pop Vicenza-sources By Andrea Mandala and Gianluca Semeraro MILAN, April 29 (Reuters) - Italy's new bailout fund is set to own around 90 percent of Popolare di Vicenza after investors bought a fraction of the mid-tier bank's 1.5 billion euro ($1.7 billion) cash call, three sources close to the matter said. Popolare di Vicenza, which is due to announce the outcome of the public share offer later on Friday, declined to comment. The Atlante fund - Atlas in English - was hastily set up this month by mostly private domestic financial institutions to bail out weaker Italian lenders and avert a wider crisis in the euro zone's fourth-largest bank sector. Earlier on Friday it said it had raised 4.25 billion euros, at the lower end of a 4-6 billion euro range it had initially targeted, from 67 mostly domestic financial institutions. If the low take-up for the Popolare di Vicenza share sale is confirmed, the fund risks seeing nearly a third of its fire-power invested in a single bank. Alessandro Penati, chairman of the Quaestio investment firm which manages the fund, said Atlante would aim to sell any stake it may get in Vicenza after 18 months. It was not immediately clear whether Popolare di Vicenza, which must raise the cash to comply with capital requirements set by the European Central Bank (ECB), would have enough free float to list on the market next week as planned. The minimum free float required to list is 25 percent of the share capital, but the Milan bourse can make exceptions. Penati said the Atlas fund was set up as a backstop investor to avoid banks like Popolare di Vicenza being wound down and triggering a crisis for the whole industry. The fund targets an annual return of around 6 percent and will spend 70 percent of its cash to invest in cash calls at ailing banks, he said. He added that the rest would be used to buy junior tranches of bad debt from banks at a higher price than that offered by funds specialised in distressed securities, but not at book value - meaning banks would have to book further writedowns. Traders said that contributed to pushing bank share prices down on Friday, with UniCredit dropping 5 percent. Italian banks are saddled with 360 billion euros of gross problem loans but are reluctant to sell them at a discount because that would erode their capital. Presentation slides for Atlante indicated a buying price at 33.8 percent of the loans' gross value compared with around 21 percent usually offered by private equity funds. However, this partly depends on the success of planned government measures to shorten lengthy loan recovery procedures. Analysts say Atlante should have enough money to buy between 20 billion and 35 billion euros of gross non-performing loans. UN demands restoration of Western Sahara mission By Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, April 29 (Reuters) - In a divisive vote, the U.N. Security Council on Friday extended for a year a peacekeeping mission in disputed Western Sahara and demanded urgent restoration of its full functionality after Morocco expelled international civilian staff. Rabat's retaliation against the mission, known as MINURSO, came after United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon referred to Morocco's 1975 annexation of Western Sahara after colonial power Spain's withdrawal as an "occupation." The U.N. has said the expulsions have crippled the mission The U.S.-drafted resolution asked Ban to report back within 90 days on whether the mission's functionality had been restored. It does not threaten any punitive measures against Morocco if the mission remains understaffed. Several council members said the resolution should have gone further in demanding the restoration of MINURSO's full strength. Highlighting the disappointment at its contents, the text received 10 yes votes, just one more than the required minimum, along with two against and three abstentions. Venezuela and Uruguay opposed it, while Russia, New Zealand and Angola abstained. "It should not have been like this," New Zealand's U.N. Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen told the 15-nation council. "The resolution should have stated the reality, that the expulsion of the civilian component has seriously compromised the mission and its ability to discharge its mandate." A split vote on a mandate renewal for a peacekeeping mission is rare. Mission mandates are usually approved unanimously. U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said the weeks of haggling over the wording of the resolution on MINURSO's extension, one of the council's most heated annual battles, was even more difficult this time. "This year's mandate renewal was challenging and contentious," she said. "That is an understatement." Moroccan U.N. Ambassador Omar Hilale said Morocco would study the resolution. He did not address reporters' questions about whether Rabat will accept restoration of full civilian staffing levels. "The important thing for us is that the military component should work well and we have already committed ourselves to provide them with all their needs," he said. The Sahrawi people's Polisario Front independence movement wants a referendum on the idea of an independent Western Sahara. Morocco has said it would only grant autonomy. While the resolution does not explicitly call for a referendum, it "reaffirms" previous resolutions calling for a plebiscite. Polisario's U.N. representative Ahmed Boukhari said the resolution was a "step in the right direction but it is not enough." He blamed veto power France for preventing the council from threatening punitive measures against Morocco if it refused to let MINURSO restore full staffing. French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the resolution was balanced. McDonald's probes copycat burger joint in separatist east Ukraine By Anton Zverev and Maria Kiselyova MOSCOW, April 29 (Reuters) - The McDonald's fast food chain said its lawyers were investigating after entrepreneurs in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine started selling McDonald's-style hamburgers out of a restaurant that the company shut down two years ago. The company said it pulled out of the Ukrainian city of Luhansk in May 2014 for security reasons after pro-Russian insurgents mounted an armed uprising there against Kiev's rule, and unilaterally declared the region's independence. But since then, the company said, the restaurant premises in Luhansk was unlawfully taken over. Photographs sent to Reuters by a witness on Friday showed the restaurant was now open and selling fries and burgers that look similar to those served in McDonald's restaurants worldwide. All McDonald's branding and logos had, however, been removed from the restaurant. On the outside of the building, the McDonald's sign had been doctored to leave only the letters "Mc", and the blue-red-and-light blue flag of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic was attached to the roof. "Our lawyers are working on this issue," said a spokeswoman for McDonald's in Ukraine. The region around Luhansk and the neighbouring city of Donetsk are under Kiev's rule in the eyes of international law but are de facto under the control of separatist administrations which are not internationally recognised. The United States and European Union imposed sanctions on many of the separatist leaders, and their backers in Russia, alleging they colluded to unlawfully seize the territory. The separatists and Moscow said they had to act to protect their regions from persecution by Kiev. The region's unrecognised status makes enforcing property rights enshrined in international law difficult. Photographs posted on social media this week showed the Luhansk restaurant selling food wrapped in McDonald's branded packaging, but Reuters could not immediately verify their authenticity. On Friday, the packaging being used carried no McDonald's branding, and customers were instead being offered plain white plastic bags in which to take their orders home. The spokeswoman for McDonald's Ukrainian operation said no one had asked the company if they could re-open the branch in Luhansk. "The illegal use of trademarks, names and images of products that belong to McDonald's is an example of the violation of the company's intellectual property rights," she added. "In such cases, the corporation reserves the right to resolve questions of the illegal use of the company's names or images using the means set out by law." It was not clear who was operating the business in the McDonald's restaurant in Luhansk. People answering the phone at two numbers listed for the restaurant said they had no connection to the business. Portugal retains investment grade rating from DBRS, outlook stable LISBON, April 29 (Reuters) - Rating agency DBRS delivered a huge relief to Portugal on Friday by maintaining its only investment grade rating, ensuring that its bonds remain eligible for the European Central Bank's bond buying programme and helping keep a lid on its borrowing costs. The decision marks a victory for the Socialist government, which was forced by Brussels earlier this year to adopt extra fiscal measures to reduce its budget deficit by more than initially planned. DBRS said it was keeping Portugal's rating at BBB with a stable outlook. "The rating reflects Portugal's eurozone membership, favourable public debt maturity structure and reduced vulnerabilities, following a substantial correction of the current account deficit over the past few years," DBRS said in a statement. The finance ministry welcomed the news. "DBRS's decision to maintain the credit rating of the Portuguese Republic is a sign of confidence," a spokeswoman said. "The way forward must be paved with rigour, but it is reinforced with the 'Stable Outlook' decision." DBRS is the only major rating agency that still has Portugal at investment grade - a requirement for the European Central Bank for countries to be eligible for its bond buying programme, without which Lisbon would most likely see much higher borrowing costs. "The new centre-left minority government has shown commitment to adhere to the EU fiscal rules, by adjusting its 2016 budget following talks with the European Commission," DBRS said. "However, the ratings could come under downward pressure if there is a weakening in the political commitment to sustainable economic policies or if growth markedly underperforms, leading to a deterioration in public debt dynamics." Earlier this year, Portuguese bonds sold off sharply as global markets shook on concerns of global growth and banks, highlighting Lisbon's challenge of fixing its public finances under the new Socialist government. U.N. chief open to helping in Iran-U.S. dispute over assets By Louis Charbonneau UNITED NATIONS, April 29 (Reuters) - The United Nations on Friday suggested it would be willing to assist in a dispute between Tehran and Washington after Iran requested U.N. help in convincing the United States to stop what the Islamic Republic has described as violations of state immunity. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday to ask him to intervene with his "good offices" after the top U.S. court ruled that $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be paid to American victims of attacks blamed on Tehran. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed receipt of Zarif's letter. "We'll obviously take a look at it," he told reporters. "As a matter of principle ... the Secretary-General's good offices are always available should both parties to whatever tensions or issue request it." It was not immediately clear whether Washington would accept the idea of mediation by the U.N. chief. "We're aware of the letter," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "To the extent that this letter was prompted by the recent Supreme Court decision in the Bank Markazi v. Peterson case, we believe the U.S. laws and the application of those laws by the courts ... comport with international law." Zarif's appeal comes amid increasing Iranian frustration at what Tehran has said is the failure of the United States to keep its promises regarding sanctions relief agreed under an historic nuclear deal struck last year by Iran and six world powers. In the letter, released by the Iranian U.N. mission, Zarif asked Ban to help secure the release of frozen Iranian assets in U.S. banks and persuade Washington to stop interfering with Iran's international commercial and financial transactions. The U.S. Supreme Court found that the U.S. Congress did not usurp the authority of American courts by passing a 2012 law stating that Iran's frozen funds should go toward satisfying a $2.65 billion judgment won by the U.S. families against Iran in U.S. federal court in 2007. Last week Zarif met several times with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in New York to discuss Iranian problems accessing international financial markets. Kerry said Washington was not preventing anyone from doing legitimate business with Iran. Renault board maintains CEO pay deal despite shareholder revolt By Laurence Frost PARIS, April 29 (Reuters) - Renault stuck by its decision to pay Carlos Ghosn 7.2 million euros ($8.2 million) for 2015, defying a shareholder vote against the chief executive's package on Friday. Investors representing 54 percent of voting rights opposed Ghosn's pay deal at their annual meeting. The French state proved decisive in the non-binding vote, a year after increasing its stake in the carmaker. In a hastily convened session afterwards, the Renault board endorsed Ghosn's payout, including 1.23 million euros in fixed salary, 1.78 million in variable pay and a further 4.18 million in deferred bonuses and stock. "The board once again acknowledges the quality of 2015 results," Renault said in a statement. However, it added the remunerations committee had been asked to review pay structures for 2016 and beyond. Executive pay levels are attracting renewed scrutiny at companies from HSBC to BP, where shareholders have forced a review of compensation policies. France's Socialist government, under pressure over its labour reform proposals amid soaring unemployment, has also stepped up criticism of CEO payouts. In past years, Ghosn, who also heads Japanese alliance partner Nissan, has drawn regular criticism from the French state over his pay. His additional Nissan salary for the last fiscal year will be announced in June. The government commands more than 18 percent of voting rights in Renault, or about a quarter of votes cast at the meeting. Ghosn's payout was backed by more than 60 percent of the other shareholders represented. Finance ministry officials confirmed that the state had voted against Ghosn's package. "The government has been consistent in calling for pay moderation, starting with companies under public ownership," said one. Before the vote, Ghosn was publicly taken to task by a representative of shareholder advisory firm Proxinvest, which had recommended that investors reject the pay package. "The board does not decide (on pay) on the basis of caprice," Ghosn told shareholders. "It is the board acting on your delegated authority that decides who runs the company and the remuneration that matches their efforts and talents." Renault shareholders separately approved agreements struck last year to end an eight-month boardroom crisis sparked by France's stake increase. The pacts struck in December limit France's increased voting rights while shielding Nissan against potential interference by Renault, which owns 43.4 percent of the Japanese carmaker. UK regulator suspends flights of Super Puma model that crashed in Norway OSLO/LONDON, April 29 (Reuters) - The British civil aviation authority said it was suspending flights of Airbus Super Puma helicopters of the same type that crashed off the west coast of Norway on Friday. People with albinism risk "extinction" in Malawi, says UN official By Sebastien Malo NEW YORK, April 29 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - People with albinism in Malawi are at risk of "systemic extinction" due to relentless attacks fueled by superstitions, the United Nations' top expert on albinism said on Friday on her first official visit in her new role. At least 65 cases of violence against people with albinism including killings and dismemberment have been recorded by police in Malawi since late 2014, said Ikponwosa Ero, the U.N.'s independent expert on human rights and albinism. People with albinism live in danger in regions of the world where their body parts are valued in witchcraft and can fetch a high price. Superstition leads many to believe albino children bring bad luck. In Malawi, where people with albinism number around 10,000 out of a population of around 16.5 million, the situation amounted to "an emergency, a crisis disturbing in its proportions", she said. Some of the Malawians with albinism she met compared their ordeal to that of endangered species in the wild, Ero told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a phone interview from Malawi. She said people with albinism are "an endangered people group facing a risk of systemic extinction over time if nothing is done." "We talk about protecting wildlife while not even prioritizing efforts in protecting people with albinism," she said. Ero, who is from Nigeria and has albinism, took the job as the U.N.'s first independent expert on the issue last August. Albinism is a congenital disorder affecting about one in 20,000 people worldwide who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes. It is more common, however, in sub-Saharan Africa. Attacks against people with albinism are particularly brutal, at times involving victims being dismembered alive by assailants wielding machetes, Ero said in her first report earlier this year. She said was particularly troubled during her Malawi trip by an encounter with a teenage boy, Alfred. The 17-year-old with albinism had been found in a pool of blood a year ago after being stabbed during his sleep by a machete-wielding attackers. He was silent while meeting her, she said. The boy hadn't recovered and stopped attending school since the attack. "You wonder what will become of this person," said Ero. Truce violations prohibit talk about political process - Syrian opposition's Hijab BEIRUT, April 29 (Reuters) - Syrian opposition figure Riad Hijab said on his Twitter account on Friday negations about the political future of Syria cannot take place while truce violations continue. "The situation is not suitable for talking about a political process in light of the horrific massacres and systematic violations of the truce, which no longer really exists on the ground," said Hijab, who is chairman of the opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) after a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. U.S. stands by S.Korea defense talks despite China, Russia objections WASHINGTON/BEIJING, April 29 (Reuters) - The White House on Friday said talks to install a new anti-missile defense system in South Korea would continue in the wake of nuclear arms and missile tests by North Korea despite calls by China and Russia for the United States to back off. The United States and South Korea have begun talks on possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system after North Korea tested its fourth nuclear bomb on Jan. 6 and conducted missile tests. The nuclear test and missile launches violate U.N. resolutions against North Korea backed by Russia and China. U.S. and South Korean officials have expressed concern the North could attempt a fifth nuclear test in a show of strength ahead of its Workers' Party congress, which begins on May 6. North Korea test-fired what appeared to be two intermediate range ballistic missiles on Thursday, but both failed, according to the U.S. military. On Friday, the White House said it was still in talks with its close ally South Korea and that the system, if installed, would not threaten other countries. "Those discussions are ongoing," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters. "That equipment would be oriented toward the threat that is posed by North Korea, not oriented toward China or Russia." Speaking at joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier on Friday called on the United States to respect "legitimate concerns" of China and Russia over the missile system. "This move goes beyond the defensive needs of the relevant countries. If it is deployed it will directly impact China's and Russia's respective strategic security," Wang said. "Not only does it threaten the resolution of the peninsula nuclear issue, it quite possibly could pour oil on the fire of an already tense situation, and even destroy strategic equilibrium on the peninsula." North Korea's actions should not be used as an excuse to make moves that would escalate tensions, especially the U.S. deployment of an anti-missile system, Lavrov said, according to an interpretation in Chinese. North Korea's drive to develop a nuclear weapons capability has angered China, Pyongyang's sole major diplomatic and economic supporter. But Beijing fears THAAD and its radar have a range that would extend into China. Chinese President Xi Jinping has said Beijing would not allow war and chaos to break out on the Korean peninsula. Earnest gave no timing on when talks with South Korea may concluded but added that "the United States is prepared to invest resources in keeping them safe." Britain sees no immediate threat from Islamic State bases in Libya By Sarah Marsh HAVANA, April 29 (Reuters) - Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Friday he saw no immediate threat to Europe from Islamic State bases in Libya and did not expect the new Libyan government to ask for foreign troops anytime soon. Libya has been in chaos since Western-backed rebels overthrew President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Western states are hoping a new Libyan unity government, which arrived in Tripoli last month, will be able to make Libya's armed factions work together against the militant group, and have said they are ready to provide training for Libyan forces if requested by the unity government. The United States has already conducted air strikes against Islamic State militants in Libya. "I don't expect the Libyan government to ask for foreign troops either in a combat or a training role anytime soon," Hammond said in an interview during a visit to Cuba. "But we have made clear we will support this new government," he told Reuters. Hammond last week told The Telegraph newspaper that he did not rule out sending British troops to Libya to fight Islamic State militants. He reiterated that position, saying Britain would not rule out military action in Libya should there be a "real and substantive threat coming from terrorist bases" there. "I don't think we see that threat at the moment but I simply wanted to be clear that we can't rule out using the capabilities we have to defend our country and protect our people." GRAINS-U.S. corn, soybeans, wheat close firm; post monthly gains By Mark Weinraub CHICAGO, April 29 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade corn, soybean and wheat futures all posted modest gains on Friday, supported by a mild round of end-of-month short-covering as well as technical buying when prices dipped into negative territory during the trading session. Traders said heavy deliveries against expiring soybean and wheat contracts indicated that supplies on the cash market remained ample, which limited gains in those commodities. Forecasts for dry weather around the U.S. Midwest prevented corn from breaking out to the upside. The favorable conditions will allow farmers to pick up their pace of planting after being sidelined for much of this week. "The weather is wet across the corn belt through the weekend, but dries out next week to let the boys back in the fields," Charlie Sernatinger, global head of grain futures at ED&F Man Capital, said in a note to clients. CBOT July soybeans ended up 2-1/4 cents at $10.29-3/4 a bushel. CBOT July wheat was 3 cents higher at $4.88-1/2 a bushel. Concerns about crop damage in Argentina from recent rains added support to soybeans. "Much of the crop is reportedly suffering from lower yields and reduced quality," said Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural strategy at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. "A dry weather pattern is expected to take place over the next week though, which should at least help to get harvest progress back on track." CBOT July corn futures settled up 1/2 cent at $3.91-3/4 a bushel. For the month, CBOT soybeans rose 13.1 percent, their biggest monthly gain since October 2014. Corn posted an 11.5 percent gain in April, the biggest since June, while wheat was up 3.1 percent. CME Group on Thursday evening reported 527 deliveries against the expiring CBOT May soybean contract. That topped expectations for zero to 400 deliveries on the first notice day. U.S. puts countries with big surpluses on monitoring list WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday flagged concerns over economic policies in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Germany and put them on a new monitoring list, mostly due to their large surpluses. It is the first time the U.S. Treasury has implemented provisions passed in Congress this year as part of a trade bill that provided it with new ways to address possible unfair currency practices. None of the five countries satisfied the criteria for enhanced scrutiny, which is triggered when a country has a significant bilateral trade surplus with the United States, a material current account surplus and engages in persistent one-sided intervention in the currency market. Still, Treasury said it would closely monitor the five countries' economic trends and foreign exchange policies. In its semi-annual report to Congress on the economic and currency policies of a dozen major trade partners, the Treasury did not label any major trade partner a currency manipulator, a custom it has kept for the past 22 years. The United States has for years called for countries with current account surpluses to do more to boost lackluster domestic demand. Trade has emerged as a flashpoint in the U.S. presidential campaign, where some leading contenders have blasted trade pacts as having cost American jobs and railed against countries they say have weakened their currencies to boost exports. In its report, Treasury said that China, Japan, Korea and Germany all had a significant bilateral trade surplus with the United States and a material current account surplus. A significant trade surplus with the United States is defined by Treasury as a country with a bilateral trade surplus of more than $20 billion. Treasury determines a country has a material current account surplus when its surplus is larger than 3 percent of that economy's gross domestic product. Low oil prices had swelled the coffers of oil importing countries, including China, Germany, Taiwan and Korea. In particular, Treasury noted Germany had the second-largest current account surplus in the world, part of which could "be used to support German domestic demand." Taiwan was found to have both a material current account surplus and have made "persistent" net foreign currency purchases last year, prompting the United States to call on it to limit foreign exchange interventions to exceptional circumstances and increase transparency. It issued a similar call on Korea to limit currency intervention. China intervened heavily in foreign exchange markets in recent months and "more clarity over exchange rate goals would help to stabilize the market," Treasury said, adding that it expected the renminbi to continue to experience real appreciation over the medium term. Elsewhere in the report, the United States rebuffed recent Japanese efforts to seek informal consent to act against an unwelcome yen rise, saying that the current dollar-yen market was "orderly" and reiterating all countries must abide by G20 and G7 commitments on exchange rate policies. China's Hunan Dakang buys control of Brazil grains trader Fiagril SAO PAULO, April 29 (Reuters) - Brazilian grains company Fiagril Participacoes SA sold a controlling stake to China's Hunan Dakang Pasture Farming Co Ltd, a unit of Shanghai Pengxin Group Co, the Brazilian company said on Friday. Two sources with direct knowledge of the deal said the Chinese firm bought a 57 percent stake in family-owned Fiagril, the latest move by Chinese agricultural merchants seeking to secure future supply of food in Brazil. The first source, who requested anonymity because terms of the deal remain private, said the value of the deal could be around 1 billion reais ($290 million). The second source said that current management will be kept in place. Fiagril released a statement but it gave few details. Under terms of the deal, Pengxin will provide fresh financing to Fiagril through working capital loans, the first source said. Fiagril Chairman Marino Franz said in the statement the company will be able to grow after the agreement. Fiagril, which has grains trading and processing operations, is based in Lucas do Rio Verde in Mato Grosso state, in the heart of Brazil's center-west grain belt. Fiagril negotiates the purchase of soybeans and corn directly with farmers, to whom the company also supplies fertilizers and pesticides. The deal will exclude Fiagril's shipping, biofuels and seed production businesses. The Fiagril acquisition marks a further step in recent efforts by Chinese merchants to get a grip on Brazil's thriving grains production and export market. Flush with cash, Chinese firms including China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corp, or Cofco, are aggressively wrestling market share from their larger Western rivals. Recent transactions include Cofco's purchase of controlling stakes in Dutch trader Nidera Holdings BV and Noble Group Ltd's agribusiness unit, which gave the Chinese firm access to sugar mills and grain production platforms in Brazil and Argentina. An analysis of shipping data by Thomson Reuters found that Cofco and Asian peers bought 45 percent of Brazil's soybean, corn and soymeal exports last year. By comparison, the share purchased by trading houses Archer Daniels Midland Co, Bunge Ltd, Cargill Inc and Louis Dreyfus Corp fell to 37 percent. KP Raghuvanshi, former chief of Maharashtra's anti-terrorism squad (ATS), was understandably absent from the media glare around the Mumbai special MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) court's order of April 25, 2016 that discharged nine Muslim accused from all charges in the Malegaon bomb blasts case of 2006. The retired additional director general of police had led the ATS investigation of the Malegaon blasts as well as the Mumbai train blasts of 2006. Just a few months earlier, in September 2015, he had been prominently present in the MCOCA court at the time of the delivery of the train blasts case judgment, handing out sound bites and interviews to the electronic and print media alike. This time around, however, he was nowhere near the court. Just three days before the court discharged the nine accused in the Malegaon case, Raghuvanshi had appeared in a lengthy exclusive interview with Times Now's Arnab Goswami on prime time television (see video below) defending his investigation and implication of the nine accused and expressing confidence in the trial court. Goswami, in his typical media trial fashion, had even delivered a verdict that he "believed" Raghuvanshi's version. However, when the actual trial court ruling came, Raghuvanshi was unavailable even to the Times Group. Times of India reported that he was "not available for comment, despite repeated attempts by TOI". ATS involved in serious offences Raghuvanshi's reticence obviously stemmed from the court's systematic demolition of his chargesheet and its drawing of conclusions which pointed categorically to Raghuvanshi and his men being involved in a string of actions that actually amounted to serious offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The ATS case rested on the confessions extracted from eight of the accused, one of whom was targeted to be made approver against the rest. When the case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) the confessions were all shown to be obtained under duress, making them worthless as evidence under section 24 of the Indian Evidence Act. It was found by the NIA that the confessions in most cases could not be true as there was conclusive proof that the accused were actually at places other than they were shown to be in the confessions. Accused number two, Shabbir Ahmad, was actually in judicial custody at the time he was shown in the chargesheet to be participating in actions relating to the blasts. The obtaining of such false confessions, under duress, is an offence punishable with imprisonment up to seven years under section 195A and section 330 of the IPC. The other important evidence proffered by the ATS was the matching of soil samples from the blast site and the godown of accused number two which was shown to also contain RDX. The NIA verified this and found "that the panchas/witnesses who are shown on the panchanama of lifting soil were not present at the time of collecting the soil samples but present at some other place" (para 59 of the MCOCA court order). Such a discovery which has been upheld by the court is an extremely serious finding amounting to an offence committed by Raghuvanshi and his investigating team of fabricating evidence with intent to procure conviction for a crime, which is punishable under section 194 of the IPC with life imprisonment. It also raises questions regarding the source of the RDX shown, pointing to possible offences under explosives and terror laws. This would require a separate investigation. The court also debunked the core of the ATS' case to be "highly impossible and improbable" and "not a digestible story". The ATS showed that the accused were making bombs and holding key conspiracy meetings in the godown of Shabbir, accused number two, when Shabbir himself was in custody in a case under investigation by the ATS. Few things could be less believable. The judge also found the "basic foundation or the object" behind the blasts shown by the ATS to be "not acceptable to a man of ordinary prudence". He didn't believe the tale that a Muslim group aiming to stir up Hindu-Muslim riots had targeted a Muslim religious occasion rather than the Ganesh idol immersion that had just preceded the Muslim holy day. He concluded that the nine Muslim accused were innocent and had been made scapegoats by the ATS and therefore ordered their immediate discharge from the case. Discharge is not justice enough The discharged accused welcomed the court's pronouncement with tears of relief and prayers of thanksgiving. When one of the authors (Vernon) spent time with them in jail in 2007-'08 they had come across as simple men who had wrongly been framed. Though they had been shown to be leading activists of the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and operatives of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), they did not show any signs that they shared the ideology and approach of these organisations. They spent their time in jail trying to be of some help to their fellow prisoners. Shabbir had some knowledge of acupressure and his skills were constantly on call - even by the jail staff. Sridhar, one of the co-accused, had his arthritic knees attended to by Shabbir. Vernon got advice on management of bleeding piles from accused number five, Farogh, when he met him in prison. Farogh was one of the two unani doctors implicated in the case. Their jail-time simplicity seems to have continued outside and most of them have not asked for anything more than the present court judgment. But would the MCOCA court judgment suffice? On the day after the judgment, India Today TV's Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted, "No outrage here? no hashtags/trends? No 'framing'? Who will give these men back their 10 years?" Others have called for compensation and punishment of the officers responsible. These calls for justice are correct and will probably go before the higher judiciary. Deeper conspiracy of the higher-ups Justice in a courtroom, however, cannot address a problem that goes somewhat deeper and extends much higher than Raghuvanshi and his men. Malegaon in 2006 was after all only one in a series of bombings of Muslim targets during 2003-2006, that included Parbhani, Purna, Jalna in Maharashtra, Modasa in Gujarat, Hyderabad, Ajmer and Delhi and also the attack on the Samjhauta Express. Most of these were falsely pinned on innocent Muslim men, thus leaving the field open for the actual culprits to continue their terror plans. It was only after the cracking of the Malegaon blasts case of 2008 during the eight-month tenure of slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare that further investigations were made, which made it clear that all these were the handiwork of Hindutva-inspired modules engaged in a deep conspiracy with links to the higher echelons of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and even the state apparatus. As the links started reaching higher there was a definite slowdown in the investigations during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule. With the coming of the BJP in Delhi, there has been a systematic endeavour to subvert the cases. Investigators, prosecutors and witnesses have been pushed to toe the Centre's line. The cap was blown on this by the senior public prosecutor in the Malegaon 2008 case, Rohini Salian, who disclosed how she had been told by the NIA to go soft on the pro-Hindu group Abhinav Bharat that is believed to have been a part of the conspiracy. She was later removed as prosecutor. This plan of going "soft" on the Hindutva terror accused seems also to go hand-in-hand with going "hard" on Muslim accused. This was on display in the discharge of the nine Muslim accused a few days back, and the court order itself referred to the NIA doing a volte face. It had shifted from a "no evidence" stand of 2013 to a "no discharge" stand in 2016. With such directions from the top to the premier agency investigating these blasts, it should come as no surprise that most of the witnesses are turning hostile in the trials of Hindutva accused and there is only a remote chance of any of them getting convicted. This fixing of the court trials is then being used in recent months to run parallel media trials where the principal accused, particularly Lt Col Prasad Purohit, are beind declared innocent. Thus the support to these terror accused, which was relatively discreet in the UPA days, is now on open display. It emanates from the highest levels of government and the state apparatus and from significant sections of the media and civil society. 200416 : SOUTH NASIOI COOPERATIVE SOCIETY JOINS TAMBOLEMA IN BRINGING THE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES TO ITS LOCAL COPRA FARMERS BY HELEN TEVIRI A working relationship was established between a copra buyer, South Nasioi Cooperative Society and Tambolema Holdings, a locally owned copra exporting company. The ceremony held on the 2oth April 2016, at Aropa village, a home for Mr John Ken, former south Nasioi constituency member at 1:00pm Bougainville standard time. Mr John Ken, a spokesman for the society said he was very happy with Tambolema Holdings initiatives in empowering local farmers with cash to meet their family needs. He further stated that he is honoured and thanked the Management for Tambolema Holdings, Mr And Mrs Laukai for accepting the invitation of South Nasioi Cooperative Society in buying their shareholders copra at a much higher price. Mr Laukai in responding to the Board of Directors of South Nasioi Cooperative Society said, their farmers are mobilised and is an advantage for both the farmers and the society to benefit from the services Tambolema will be providing in terms of incentives and better prices at their doorsteps. All the company wants from them is to produce more tonnage of copra and quality copra for export from their designated buying points. Mr Laukai also told the society directors that Tambolema is currently carrying a research which will also facilitate trainings for its copra sellers from KIK on producing quantity and quality copra to meet international market standard. Picture by Helen Teviri 220416 First copra Sale from South Nasioi Cooperative Society to Tabolema Holding Company By Helen Teviri The South Nasioi Cooperative Society has honoured its working relationship by selling its first 30 bags of Copra to Tambolema Holdings on Friday the 22nd April 2016. The thirty (30) bags came from the shareholders from the Roreinang area of the South Nasioi Constituency. The elated Mr John Ken on behalf of his Board of Directors said that like in the past Honourable Regional Mr Momis asked our fathers to form cooperative societies and following this we have started this. To symbolise this, my board of directors and I will drop off the first supply of copra to Tambolema`s main warehouse at Kieta wharf as they did in the past so it gives power and mandate to continue this for Bougainville, Mr Ken said. Friday 22nd April 2016 at 2pm Bougainville time, Mr John Ken and his directors of the society accompanied the copra load and were made by the management of Tambolema Holdings at the Kieta Wharf. Pictures by Helen Teviri On Saturday, Albemarle County police are teaming up with Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital to accept any old or unwanted medications. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Outpatient Care Center, 595 Martha Jefferson Drive, people can drop off any unwanted prescriptions or over-the-counter medications and syringes. To be accepted, medical sharps must be in a puncture-proof container, such as a laundry detergent bottle or a red sharps container. Unwanted medications also may be dropped off at the front entrance of the Albemarle County Police Department, 1600 Fifth St. Extended, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The department will not accept syringes. Saturdays event is part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrations national initiative to take back unused and expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. The service is free, anonymous and no questions will be asked. Last year, Americans turned in more than 702,000 pounds of prescription drugs. The initiative is an effort to stop the epidemic of prescription drug abuse. For more information, visit dea.gov. RICHMOND As the Republican presidential race heads toward a finale, Virginia activists will gather in Harrisonburg this weekend to choose roughly one-quarter of the states delegates to the partys national convention in Cleveland. With 13 of 49 delegates at stake, the Republican Party of Virginia convention will decide Virginias largest single delegate allocation Saturday at James Madison University. The particulars of who represents Virginia at the national convention have taken on greater significance in the year of Donald J. Trump, with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich now hoping for the chaos of a contested convention. After winning the March 1 primary in Virginia, Trump is guaranteed 17 of the states 49 delegate votes in the first round of national convention voting. If Trump is denied the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination outright, all 49 Virginia delegates can vote however they choose on subsequent ballots. Cruz is winning the Virginia delegate push so far. Despite finishing third in the March 1 primary, his supporters have won election to five of six slots already filled at two smaller, district-level conventions. Former state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli who is leading the Cruz campaigns national delegate hunt is on the list of roughly 80 people who have filed paperwork to be a Virginia delegate. Graven Craig, an attorney who works with Cuccinelli in a law firm specializing in gun-rights cases, was chosen to serve as chairman of the nominating committee that will propose the initial delegate slate at the state convention. I think were hopeful that the majority of those on the list will be second-ballot Cruz people, said Sen. William M. Stanley Jr., R- Franklin County, chairman of Cruzs Virginia campaign. The Cruz campaign has long been invested in laying the necessary grassroots foundation to secure the support of delegates, and Virginia is no exception, Cuccinelli said in a statement this month. Corey Stewart, a Prince William County supervisor who heads Trumps Virginia campaign, called Trump the presumptive nominee and said he expects to see a unity slate featuring a mix of Trump and Cruz allies, as well as supporters of Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who finished a close second to Trump in the Virginia primary. I think the campaigns are pretty much in agreement that we want to have some sort of cohesion as we head into the national convention, Stewart said. Stewart said an effort to pack the slate with Cruz supporters would have a devastating impact on the party. It would make it almost impossible to unify after a convention is over, regardless of who the nominee is, Stewart said. Pat McSweeney, chairman of the state GOP from 1992 to 1996, and now a Powhatan County Republican leader representing the 7th Congressional District on the nominating committee, said he doesnt know what to expect when the committee report hits the convention floor. We always had a pretty good picture by this time who the candidate was going to be, McSweeney said. Now that Virginia is a more competitive battleground, the interest is more acute. So the national campaigns are more heavily involved than theyve been in the past. On the first ballot at the national convention, the Virginia delegation will cast 17 votes for Trump, 16 votes for Rubio, eight votes for Cruz, five votes for Kasich, and three votes for retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Under party rules, delegates are bound even for candidates who have dropped out. Most of the 33 delegates awarded from the states 11 congressional districts wont be elected until next month. Three automatic delegate slots will be filled by the party chairman and the states two other representatives on the Republican National Committee. They also are bound on the first ballot. National Committeeman Morton Blackwell and National Committeewoman Kathy Hayden have announced support for Cruz. Though Hayden will serve as a delegate to the national convention, she is not seeking another RNC term. Competing at the state convention to replace Hayden are Suzanne Obenshain, the wife of Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, R-Rockingham; Cynthia Dunbar, a lawyer and former member of the Texas State Board of Education; and conservative activist Audrey Dutton. John Whitbeck, chairman of the state Republican Party, has faced an intermittent challenge from lawyer and Newt Gingrich ally Vince Haley, but Haleys name does not appear on the official list of candidates published by the party. The two-day convention opens Friday night. No voting is expected until Saturday afternoon. Graham Moomaw reports for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Mercedes has been amongst the worst hit by the diesel ban as more than ten vehicles from the automaker's line-up cannot be sold in Delhi since they house motors larger than 2.0-litre capacity. German automaker, Mercedes-Benz has proposed shifting its entire range of diesel passenger and commercial vehicles to run on biodiesel. This proposal comes in the wake of the Delhi diesel ban that disallows sales of diesel vehicles with engines larger than 2,000cc. The interim ban was initially slated to end on March 31, but, was extended till further notice. "Mercedes has given me a letter that they can use 100% biodiesel in their cars and buses," road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said. He went on to add, "Mercedes India chief has told me that the standards which we have prescribed for biodiesel can be easily used to power their motors". The authorities are expected to issue a notification on the matter soon. Nitin Gadkari said he was already in talks with the petroleum ministry to make bio-diesel available at petrol pumps. He also mentioned that other manufacturers, such as JCB had proposed a similar move. The switch to biodiesel will help keep the emissions in check. It is a cleaner source of energy as compared to standard diesel and is renewable as well. Mercedes has been amongst the worst hit by the diesel ban. More than ten vehicles from the automaker's line-up cannot be sold in Delhi since they house motors larger than 2.0-litre capacity. The biodiesel proposal may allow the automaker to resume sales in the capital. Mercedes has been vocal about its displeasure with the ban and went on to say it had been difficult to get investments as well. You can read the detailed report here. Source: CarDekho.com Trupti Desai and the Bombay High Court have changed a 400 year long tradition of non-entry of women into the sanctum sanctorum of Shani Shingnapur temple. The Sabarimala temple entry case is before the Supreme Court. May history repeat itself! Interestingly, Hindu temples have discriminated not only against women and lower castes but Brahmins, too! In 1883, the Bombay High Court ruled in the case of Anandrav Bhikaji Phadke vs. Shankar Daji Charye that Chitpavan Brahmins had a right to exclude Palshe Brahmins from worshipping at a particular temple. But God in his infinite wisdom created a couple of social reformers. In 1888 Sree Narayana Guru consecrated a sivalingam at Aruvipuram and called it the Ezhava Shivan, unmindful of the Brahmin protests. In 1912 he constructed the Sivagiri shrine for the backward classes to worship. In 1931 the communist leaders P Krishna Pillai and A.K. Gopalan led the Guruvayur temple satyagraha, compelling the authorities to throw open worship to all castes. In 1936 the Travancore Maharaja Sri Chithra Thirunal issued the Temple Entry Proclamation at a time when social reformers were striving to break the caste barrier. It stated, There should henceforth be no restriction placed on any Hindu by birth or religion on entering or worshipping at temples A Maharanis visit to Sabarimala in 1939 in the prime of her youth has been chronicled, making it abundantly clear that the ban on young women is of recent origin. Persons who had their choroonu ceremony at Sabarimala are living among us today and that prompts the question Werent the infants accompanied by their young mothers? Some of these mothers are among us too. (How I wish they would speak up!) The Supreme Court will eventually decide whether women can be barred from a place of worship. But temple or mosque entry is not the only issue we need to grapple with. Other questions must be addressed simultaneously. Must sacred rituals be performed only by Brahmin males? Why not by backward caste men and women? No doubt there are a few shrines where puja is performed by women. The eldest woman of the Thazhamon madom (the family of the Sabarimala tantris) officiates at the Chengannur Mahadeva temple during the Thriputhu. At the Mannarsala naga shrine in Alappuzha district the high priestess is a woman. Yellamma temples in Karnataka and elsewhere have women priestesses. But in general, the privileges of priesthood are denied to women and non-Brahmins, thereby making a mockery of the Indian Constitution. Whether it is Sabarimala, Shani Shingnapur, Haji Ali or Trimbakeshwar the most diabolic argument of the conservative lobby aims at respecting the sentiments of the devotees. Should the so-called sentiments of male worshippers supercede and subvert the law of the land? Let the courts decide. Should Women Go To Mosques? A Saudi cleric recently made news by declaring that women, too, can go to heaven, provided they are accompanied by appropriate male relatives. Im not sure Ive got it right. Ive read the Quran but I have not studied it extensively, so I could be wrong. In any case, I like this guy. He is progressive for sure. Imam She?ikh Salah Al-Budair, while preaching at Medina, added a rider, This, of course, implies that at least one man in her family needs to be admitted himself I like this best of all. The good man realises that the majority of men dont qualify for heaven-entry. Understandably, several Imams and religious scholars from across the country denounced him for blasphemy and reiterated that Only men are worthy of going to heaven. Come on guys! Thats not enough! Lets have a fatwa or something. How about a thousand lashes? Do I believe Allah is for real? Well, I do visit mosques sometimes. And on rare occasions I offer prayers. Not in Kerala though, for I dont have the courage. My first visit was to the 700-year old dargah of Qamar Ali Darveesh on the Pune-Satara road, where the miraculous levitation of a huge stone at the feather touch of eleven index fingers has to be seen to be believed. The stone stands outside the dargah, so there was no need to enter. There are no barriers of caste, creed or religion but women are not allowed inside the mosque. Reason? Well, like Lord Ayyappa, Qamar Ali, the Sufi saint, was a bachelor, having died at age 18. The miracle is real though - Ive seen it with my own eyes. The Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur is open to all and so is the Jamia Masjid. The same Islam, but different Indian states, different practices! In Casablanca, Morocco, I stood dumbstruck before the splendid Hasan II mosque which welcomes people of all faiths. This awe-inspiring abode of Allah has the worlds tallest minaret (689 feet) and nocturnal lasers beaming in the direction of Mecca. It straddles the Atlantic, its glass floors enabling worshippers to kneel above the ocean, while the automated sliding roofs open up to the blue skies above. This earthquake resistant building encases Turkish hamaams, Murano glass chandeliers from Venice and a stunning variety of intricate designs. There is no discrimination, gender-based or otherwise. The same faith. But thats another country. I also visited a grand mosque in Alexandria, Egypt. Thanks to my Kerala conditioning, I stood outside, presuming I was not supposed to enter. The taxi driver told me in Arabic that I could go in through a separate entrance. When I hesitated, he led me to the entrance, and gesticulating wildly with his hands advised me to wash my limbs before going inside. I already knew the rules so I understood perfectly, though my Arabic knowledge was a virtual zero. I found plenty of European women inside. The womens section was cordoned off but it was possible to peep through the latticed wooden partition to get a glimpse of the men. The ogling was mutual, but thoughts of the Almighty were uppermost in everyones minds. Or I prefer to think that way. The Quran does contain some ideas that would be unpalatable to modern liberals, including Muslim women. Somalian-born Ayaan Hirsi Ali, writer and staunch critic of Islam, reminds us that wife-beating is recommended as a panacea for disobedience. And we thought it was all about polygamy and triple talaq and unequal inheritance rights. Entering the mosque is one thing, but there are more serious questions, too! Kochi: The Facebook post by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy recalling the role of CPM leaders in indulging in politics of violence has triggered a debate, especially on the social media, on the criminal history of many candidates who are in the fray now. In his post, the chief minister said top CPM leaders including Opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan and CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan are facing criminal cases. While Mr Achuthanandan has been involved in a case related to donating land to a relative, the Lavalin case against Mr Vijayan is still in the High Court, he said. Mr Chandy also listed the names of LDF candidates M.V. Nikesh Kumar, T.V. Rajesh, James Mathew, and A.A. Rasheed as being involved in criminal cases. However, Left supporters on Facebook have challenged the chief ministers attempt to bestow the sole responsibility of political murders at the gate of the CPM. Based on the list of candidates in the 2011 Assembly elections, Farmis Hashim, claiming to be a freethinker, in a post said the Congress and the BJP topped in the first two positions in fielding candidates with criminal backgrounds in the 2011 elections. The post pointed out that that Mambram Divakaran, the Congress candidate contesting against Pinarayi Vijayan at Dharmadam was an accused in the murder of a CPM activist and was convicted for seven years of imprisonment. The Congress leaders questioning the political morality of the CPM fielding Mr Vijayan, living under the shadow of the TP Chandrasekharan murder case, are silent about the propriety of fielding such persons as party nominees, he pointed out. PTRs wife Rukmani blesses her son P. Thiagarajan before he leaves for campaign in Madurai Central Assembly constituency, in front of his fathers photo at their residence in Madurai. (Photo: DC) Madurai: A former Investment banker who survived the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers when working with Lehman Brothers is now in Madurai to reclaim the political legacy left behind by his illustrious father PTR Palanivel Rajan. After seeking the blessings of Madurai Meenkashi Amman at her abode, 49-year-old P. Thiagarajan, accompanied by his aged mother Rukumani, filed his nomination papers on Monday. Supporters of his late father, who still talk glowingly about the various project that Palanivel Rajan, Speaker of the Assembly and state minister, brought to the temple city. Keen on keeping up the family tradition of serving the people, Thiagarajan has ambitious plans for the development of Madurai. As an investment banker, I am sure global investors will come to Madurai if we manage to formulate a master plan for infrastructure development that can attract them, Thiagarajan told Deccan Chronicle. Having returned from the US to contest in his fathers Central Madurai assembly constituency, 10 year after his death, Thiagarajan, who is facing AIADMKs Jayabal and DMDKs Sivamuthukumar, is highly conscious of the legacy of his father and grandfather PT Rajan, a prominent leader of Justice Party, who was CM of Madras Presidency in 1936.So are the local people. Thiagarajan is from a rich and respectful family, he will definitely work for the betterment of the downtrodden and be free of corruption, said Rajan (48), a street vendor at Kazimar Street, who was poring over colourful pamphlets being distributed as part of the campaign. We are facing problems from rowdy elements in the constituency and corrupt politicians have not taken any steps in the last 5 years to improve the basic amenities here, said a group of women. They expressed the hope that the candidate from the US will make a difference. The constituency, in which the world famous Meenakshi Amman temple is located, doesnt have proper roads, underground drainage system and drinking water facilities. Many foreigners visiting the temple have complained about the poor infrastructure, said Ramesh a businessman from South Chithirai Street. We are hopeful of PTRs son developing Madurai, said members of the business community, referring to his main promise in the pamphlet - I will strive hard to fulfil my fathers dream to work for the overall development of the temple city. With drumbeats heralding his arrival, Thiagarajan steps out of the car early in the morning with a broad smile and with folded hands saying `Vanakkam Vanakkam he greets people who have gathered at Kazimar Street, a predominantly Muslim area. Dressed in white with only a DMK towel around his neck, he walks through the lanes to have a direct connect with voters as DMK functionaries, walking ahead of him, raise the slogan: `PTR son has come, asking for votes. He stops to receive the blessing of elders, most of whom introduce themselves as his fathers close friends. He obliges youth wanting to take selfies with him. Voters enjoy listening to his highly accented Tamil, mixed with English words. Thiagarajan, who had done his MBA at MIT Sloans School of Management, feels there is not much difference between business and politics. The fundamental problem Madurai faces today is lack of planning. Though it is the oldest city with a glorious history dating from the Sangam Age, its infrastructure is struck with the past. The population has grown manifold and traffic congestion is a problem that many European countries faced many years ago, he said, adding, they managed to solve the problem through proper planning, while we are yet to fix it. My father facilitated the development of ring roads, construction of four bridges, cleaning up of the Vaigai River and starting of the Madurai bench of Madras High court. But things have not improved after him, he said. My main focus would be to bring Metro rail, introduce walker zones and construct multi-level car parking in the city to reduce the traffic congestion. Then I will focus on improvement of sanitation facilities, said Thagarajan, whose ambition is to make Madurai like Singapore. His mother Rukumani, who has been keeping the memory of her late husband alive in the minds of the local people through her social interactions in the past 10 years, hopes that her son has the blessings of Goddess Meenakshi Amma to inherit PTRPs mantle. Election Commission urging it to take over the powers of disqualifying turncoats immediately as the Speaker due to various obligations. (Representational image) Hyderabad: AP Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy met the Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi at New Delhi on Thursday and asked the poll panel to take over the powers to disqualify defectors, ban political parities failing to fulfil first 10 election promises. He also requested EC to conduct general elections in the GHMC joint capital area and in state of AP at the same day to avoid dual voting. Mr Reddy after meeting CEC said, We have given a representation to the Election Commission urging it to take over the powers of disqualifying turncoats immediately as the Speaker due to various obligations, has been unable to disqualify them and democracy is placed at crossroads, He added, The anti-defection law has been bypassed and some loopholes are being exploited by corrupt leaders by taking away MLAs elected from one political party to another and shielding them from the provisions of anti-defection laws. The Islamic State had taken responsibility for a string of attacks that had taken place in Bangladesh. (Representational image) Washington: The US is working with India on countering violent extremism in Bangladesh, a top American diplomat has said linking recent spate of attacks on secular bloggers and minorities to the rise of ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Muslim-majority country. "We have been both engaging with the government on this problem but also for example with India, given the relationship between India and Bangladesh to raise the concern and to try to work together with them on countering violent extremism before it takes root in Bangladesh," the Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing yesterday. "That's the last thing we want," he said during a hearing on Asia organised by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "We've seen a series of attacks, terrorist attacks, in Bangladesh over the last several months which DAESH or al-Qaeda have taken credit for," he added. Blinken disagreed with the Bangladeshi government's assessment that opposition parties are responsible for these acts of violence. "Now the government has sometimes claimed that these attacks were actually the work of the opposition in one fashion or another but what we've seen based on the evidence to date is in fact that extremist groups whether they are indigenous or whether they really are affiliated with ISIL or DAESH are responsible," he said. "This gives us concern about the potential for ISIL, for DAESH, to take root in Bangladesh, which has been an important country in terms of having a Muslim country with a moderate orientation that can be an important player in dealing with the problem of violent extremism," Blinken said. The top American diplomat was responding to a question from Congressman Steve Chabot on the recent killing of secular bloggers in Bangladesh. "They (Bangladesh) clearly deserve more attention than they often have received either by this administration or a whole range of things but first of all, as we all know, an election was held a while back and Sheikh Hasina of course was re-elected," he said. "Khaleda Zia and her party boycotted the election and so the political situation is a bit iffy there, but let me ask you this Bangladesh has long been considered a moderate Muslim country in resisting Islamic radicalism," he added. There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent months specially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners. Last year, four prominent secular bloggers were killed with machetes, one inside his own home. A Hindu head priest was on February 21 hacked to death by gun-and-cleaver wielding Islamists. In September last, Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was murdered by unidentified assailants in Dhaka, and within five days of that incident Japanese farmer Kunio Hoshi was killed. Also, moderate Sufi saint Khizir Khan, progressive book publisher Faisal Arefin Dipon, and a Sufi shrine worker were murdered while two Christian pastors, one an Italian doctor, narrowly escaped attacks. In the clip the family is seen walking down a crowded street in the beach town of Hua Hin on the evening of April 13, amid festivities for the Thai New Year when they were attacked. (Photo: Videograb) Bangkok: An elderly British couple and their son were savagely attacked during a family vacation in Thailand in the latest blow to the country's image as a welcoming tourist paradise. Police said Thursday they have arrested three alleged attackers and are looking for one more. A video of the attack, which was captured by overhead security cameras and posted this week on social media, has stirred shock and outrage over its brutality and the ages of the elder victims, a 65-year-old woman and 68-year-old man from Scotland. The attack marks the latest act of violence against tourists in the Southeast Asian country. In the clip the family is seen walking down a crowded street in the beach town of Hua Hin on the evening of April 13, amid festivities for the Thai New Year. An altercation breaks out with a group of men on the street who punch all three in the face, kick their bodies and stomp on their faces in an attack that lasts about 2 minutes. Police Col. Chaiyakorn Sriladecho said it started after "the son accidentally bumped into one of the Thai men." The attack stops only when all three victims are seen lying apparently unconscious on the ground. As the Thai gang disappears, bystanders come to their aid. "We have arrested three of the four suspects and have issued an arrest warrant for the other one who is still on the loose," he said. "The men say they are sorry and that they wouldn't have done this if they weren't drunk," Chaiyakorn said. The 43-year-old son and his father suffered head injuries requiring stitches, he said. The mother was more severely injured, suffering a buildup of fluid in the brain that was removed, he said. "The hospital is still holding her for observation for serious head and eye injuries." In March, four French tourists were assaulted on the island of Koh Kut as they walked to dinner. Among them were a mother and daughter who were both raped. Two British backpackers were murdered on the island of Koh Tao in 2014. Autopsies showed the couple, a young man and woman, had been severely beaten and the woman raped. Two Myanmar migrants were convicted of the crime based on DNA evidence that rights groups say was questionable. Government today said in the Lok Sabha that it has issued notices to all the people named in the Panama Papers but tax laws do not allow the proceedings to be made public till cases are filed in courts. Responding to questions on tax evasion and black money, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Panama Papers leak case, notices have been issued to all those whose names have appeared. The minister explained that Section 138 of the Income Tax Act bars the proceedings of a case be made public till a case is filed in a court. Meanwhile, responding to another supplementary, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said the government is looking into papers received from HSBC and Panama and the various laws, including the one on foreign black money, are being invoked. Acting on the Panama Papers leak, the Income Tax department has sent a detailed questionnaire to about 50 individuals and entities figuring in the list of those allegedly holding offshore assets in tax havens, sources had earlier said. In the questionnaire, the IT department has sought to know if the person is indeed the same as named in the list made public recently and enquires about the vitals of their transactions made with the law firm Mossack Fonseca. It includes the year of incorporation, their source of income, details of business transactions done and whether they declared these investments and transactions to the Income Tax department and other regulatory bodies like RBI any time till now. There are about 500 Indians named in the list which includes prominent businessmen, film celebrities and those belonging to lucrative professions. The government has created a Multi-Agency Group (MAG) of probe agencies to go into these cases, comprising the IT department (CBDT), its foreign tax wing, the RBI, Financial Intelligence Unit and the Enforcement Directorate. The Panama Papers leaks contain an unprecedented amount of information, including more than 11 million documents covering 2,10,000 companies in 21 offshore jurisdictions. Each transaction spans different jurisdictions and may involve multiple entities and individuals. On recommendations made by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money, Sinha said a series of recommendations have been received and the government has benefitted greatly by the suggestions of the SIT. For Sasindran Muthuvel, the first Indian-origin Governor in Papua New Guinea (PNG), it has been an eventful journey since he left Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu in search of livelihood over 20 years ago and arrived here after seeing a job advertisement. 41-year-old Muthuvel said he came to PNG to take up a job as a manager in a retail shop. "I thought I will be getting closer to Australia and later I will migrate to that country as a skilled immigrant," he recalled. But destiny had planned something else for him. The shop was shut down and he started his own outlet which expanded into a chain. With rising popularity, he decided to jump into the electoral fray and became Governor of West New Britain in 2009. "I came to Malaysia in 1995 after completing Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Periyakulam and spotted an advertisement in a newspaper in 1997 about an opening in PNG," he told PTI here. "It is actually this advertisement which changed my life completely," he said. Muthuvel became manager of a retail outlet which was owned by a Singaporean national. But "my owner decided to wind up business here and return. "I was shocked with the sudden turn of events. I was left with two options -- either to return or to find my way out in the Island and I chose the latter," he said and added with a smile "I do not have any regrets". "I started a small chain of retail outlets by the name of Hamammas which means in local language 'I am happy' and returned home to get married," he said. His wife Subha hails from Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. Both husband and wife worked hard to expand their business. "We started charity work and extended help to the needy. I do not know how I became popular but then I decided to jump into the electoral arena as I got my citizenship in May 2007. "I floated a new party and contested the elections and won. Later I joined the ruling People's National Party," he said. The initial years were tough. "I have survived merely on rice and yogurt for nearly a year till I started cooking local green vegetables," Muthuvel, who is a vegetarian, said. "I used to miss my sambar and rice and other vegetarian delicacies of my state but as they say when the going gets tough, the tough get going," he said. He enjoys his work today. "I have a sensitive province to handle but nevertheless the cooperation from my people always helps me in solving problems," he said. His wife looks after the business. The Governor, who was awarded 'Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award' by Indian Government in 2012, feels that there is a lot of potential for Indian companies to set up their base in PNG. "The operating cost may be high but the profit is equally high," he said. "I am looking forward to Indian companies coming here and helping us in areas like growing rice and other vegetables, exploration of oil and natural gas, gold mining," he said, adding "I hope that they (Indian businessmen) will come one day." The world woke up to the artistic genius of VS Gaitonde when his abstract landscape fetched Rs 23.7 crore a world record for modern Indian art at Christies India debut auction in December 2013. This was followed by a retrospective at Guggenheim Museum in New York in October 2014 that celebrated his luminous body of work and the artist, in particular. But much before this, around 2010, an idea was taking shape back home to document the life of this reticent artist whose reclusive nature had given birth to several myths about him and created misleading impressions of who he really was. Five years on, the idea converted into the book Vasudeo Santu Gaitonde: Sonata of Solitude, a three-part series that chronicles his growing up years in a chawl in Bombay (now Mumbai), estranged relationship with father, influence of miniature art and Zen philosophy in his oeuvre, an unexpected heartbreak, and his tryst with spirituality. It also highlights his preoccupation with figurative art in the early years of his six-decade old journey. Dotted with interesting vignettes from artists like Krishen Khanna, Akbar Padamsee, Nalini Malani and Ram Kumar, and his friends and acquaintances, this 250-page book also features rare pictures from his early life and handwritten letters exchanged by Gaitonde, popularly known as Gai. It has been a real struggle to gather information on many aspects of his life to create a comprehensive picture of him. It was difficult to piece together his early childhood since he did not encourage his artist friends to visit him at home, Meera Menezes, art writer and critic who has penned the book, tells Metrolife. Helping her find missing pieces of this jigsaw puzzle was Jesal Thacker, founder of Bodhana Arts and Research Foundation, who conceputalised the series on Gaitonde and has published it with The Raza Foundation. I turned to both primary and secondary sources of research in the course of writing this book. This meant going through a lot of archival material, whether newspaper and magazine articles or books on art history, she adds. Menezes, in the first book, has focused on the draughtsmanship of his figurative works, his encounter and deep engagement with the work of Swiss-German artist Paul Klee, domination of geometrical forms in his later works and his slow graduation towards abstractionism. In the introduction, she mentions that one of the reasons for writing this book has been to create a better understanding of the man, his artistic trajectory and his seminal contribution to the idiom of Indian contemporary art... it also sets the record straight by weaving together the narratives of those who knew him. He, unlike his contemporary M F Husain, guarded his privacy fiercely and didnt take kindly to intrusion. One of the anecdotes in the book sums it up perfectly: Once, a well-known artist wanted to tag along with him on one of his walks in Connaught Place, he was told that he could do so, provided he kept his mouth shut. His outspoken nature did build a wall of misconception around the artist which Menezes hopes to shatter. One of the myths is that he was taciturn, silent and forbidding, but I found he had an impish sense of humour, she tells Metrolife. Another myth is that he did not care about his appearance and was frugal but I discovered a man who could be Spartan, and yet he loved the good things in life the opera, a good meal at a restaurant and a finely tailored suit. He was an aesthete in the true sense of the word, she adds. BJP and Congress today launched a privilege war in Parliament as Amit Shah attacked Sonia Gandhi again asking her to explain a "number of relaxations" given to tainted chopper manufacturer AugustaWestland that he said "compromised" nation's interests. Targeting Gandhi, he raised questions telling Congress that instead of adopting an attitude of "thief scolding the cop" should feel "ashamed" and "come clean". Following up on his demand yesterday that Gandhi should name the bribe takers in the Rs.3,600 crore deal, Shah demanded that Gandhi should answer the questions to people of the nation regarding the deal. The Congress hit back and dared the government to come out with the truth in the deal in the next two months instead of issuing threats and launching a "malicious" campaign. "If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when the Monsoon session of Parliament will commence", Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters. Subramanian Swamy, who has needled Congress on the issue for the past two days, tabled a breach of privilege notice in the Rajya Sabha against Azad for his statement that the then UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the parent company of AugustaWestland. The Congress countered it by giving a similar notice against the defence ministry for making a statement on the deal outside the House when Parliament is in session. Shah told the media in Ahmedabad, "there was a provision in the tender that the it can be filed by original equipment manufacturers only but you allowed AgustaWestland International Limited to fill the tender in spite of the fact that the company in its 2012 report had made it public that it was not original equipment manufacturer. He asked Gandhi on whose instruction this permission was given to it (company), why they were declared technically qualified and on whose instructions the conditions of the tender were breached. "As per tender specifications, there was a condition of taking field evaluation trials in India, but it was changed overnight and the company was allowed to give field trials in their own company premises," Shah said raising another question. "Has this not compromised the seriousness of trials and or has this not compromised India's interest. If then Defence Minister had given a go ahead for it (change of tender condition), then Congress president should answer on whose instruction he gave the permission," Shah said. Raising another question Shah wanted to know why there was delay in putting the deal on the hold when Italian media reported about bribe being exchanged in the case. Shah further said that the Congress is claiming that all the money given to the company as bank guarantee have come back but it is far from truth as only a part of that money has come back. "The Congress president should come before the people and media and should give answers to these questions," Shah said. Shah had yesterday targeted Gandhi over the VVIP chopper scam and asked her to name those who received the "kickbacks". On the other side, making light of the attacks on the Congress and its leadership, Azad posed the question whether his party and the UPA leadership would have taken several steps to unravel the truth in the matter if they had something to hide or if they had resorted to corruption. Taking a dig at the Prime Minister and the government, he alleged that the entire government has been tasked to target the Congress and its leadership day in and day out on the issue. "It is all disinformation, a malicious campaign". "They have the entire government with them, the CBI, RAW and Ed...Why they are not finding out as to who is guilty, who has taken money", Azad said. He ignored threat of BJP member Subramanian Swamy to move a Breach of Privilege against him for his remarks that UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica. He said generally breach of privilege is moved against Ministers if they mislead despite having all the information. Asked whether Congress was ready to have a discussion in Parliament on the issue, he said "we are ready for any discussion. We have nothing to hide. We are demanding an early decision by government" to find out the truth. Dismissing BJP's charge that the Congress had compromised national security in the chopper deal, he said that the national security had got compromised when in the Vajpayee government, the then External Affairs Minister had accompanied dreaded terrorists to Kandahar. "National Security gets compromised when we see defence files are selectively leaked to tv channels", he said in an apparent jibe at the Modi dispensation. Party spokesman R P N Singh accused the Defence Ministry of coming out with "half truths" in its clarification on the deal yesterday. Hitting out at the BJP, Azad cautioned it over the campaign. "Those who stay in glass houses, do not throw stones". "The less he speaks, it will be better", he said in a dismissive tone when told that BJP chief Amit Shah has come out with fresh questions for the Congress leadership. He claimed that the campaign against the Congress was aimed at diverting people's attention from the "failure" of the government to deliver. "They had promised the moon, but (what people got) was drought and water scarcity". The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) on Tuesday announced an association with Tamana, a non-profit organisation, which works with the multiple challenged and autistic children, to host a khadi fashion show titled Inclusion Beyond Boundaries in the city. The fashion extravaganza attempts inclusion of the differently abled into the world of fashion. The exhibition will be held on April 30 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the hospitality partner for the event, read a statement, reported IANS. The show will bring forward creations of 10 FDCI designers including Abraham and Thakore, Anju Modi, Gaurav Jai Gupta, JJ Valaya, Payal Jain, Rahul Mishra, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rina Dhaka, Rohit Bal and Samant Chauhan. The style gurus will create ensembles in khadi and present them in pure, simple and versatile forms for the differently abled and fulfil their dreams of walking the ramp with professional models. For the last 10 years, Tamana has been organising the show with the support of the fashion fraternity in their individual capacities. This year, the event is being executed under the umbrella of the FDCI. Tamana founder and president Shyama Chona said, Tamanas annual fashion show has over the years depicted that fashion is inclusive; it does not discriminate, even the disadvantaged can imbibe the latest fashion and fulfil their desires and aspirations of looking good and fashionable. FDCI president Sunil Sethi shared, We respect diversity and inclusion and it is an honour to partner with Tamana for a landmark event like this. Talking about the show, he added, Our designers will make craft soaked ensembles in the fabric of the nation khadi and make the dreams of the differently abled come true by encouraging them through the lexicon of style. Australian High Commissioner to India Harinder Sindhu will be the guest of honour at the event. A 32-year-old Indian-American has been sentenced to 19 years in jail in the US for stalking a college classmate from New Delhi to Texas for nearly a decade and threatening her as she moved to several American cities. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis convicted Jitender Singh on charges of burglary of a habitation and fraudulent use of information and jailed him for 19 years this week. He also was also ordered to pay a USD 4,000 fine. "The jury put an end to this victim's decade-long stalking nightmare," Willis said in a statement. "While we respect the jurys service, we were disappointed with the sentence, and we do intend to appeal," defense attorney Joe Padian said. According to Willis, Singh first met his victim while they both attended college in Delhi. Though merely classmates, Singh asked the victim to marry him in 2006. Willis said the victim, whose identity was not released by authorities, refused the proposal, angering Singh. Singh then began following the victim home and threatened her with violence until she graduated. In 2007, the victim left India to study at a New York university. However, that didn't end Singh's obsession. Authorities say he continued his harassment and assaulted the woman's father in India. Singh was convicted for the crimes in India, but made an appeal and agreement with authorities to stay away from the victim. Singh eventually travelled to New York, where he attempted to enrol at the same university as the victim. He was denied and ordered by the university to stay away from the campus.When the victim moved to California for an internship, he tracked down her address and followed. When the woman moved back to New York, Singh followed. An information technology company hired the victim, and she moved to Plano in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Singh harassed the victim through phone calls and other electronic means, Willis alleged. In 2014, Singh located the victim's address in Plano by falsely creating a credit monitoring service account in her name.While the victim was away, Singh travelled to Plano and broke into her home by convincing a locksmith to unlock her door. Singh took her passport, social security card and other documents as well as several pieces of her jewelry. A suspicious neighbour called Plano police which located Singh in the parking lot of the victim's apartment and arrested him in 2014. The government tonight rebutted allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had struck a deal with Italy on AgustaWestland case and said the central issue was corruption and any other effort to divert from it was "misleading". It also termed attempts to link NSA Ajit Doval and Principal Secretary to PM Nripendra Mishra to one of the accused as totally baseless assertion and indicative of malicious intent. "Those who cannot see Prime Minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prime Minister Modi did not cut any deal of any sort," the government said in a late night statement. It added that a few have even sought to link one of the accused with Doval and Mishra. "This is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent.In reality, there is no such connection," it said. The statement said it is indeed tragic that a small section of the Indian polity has attempted, "unsuccessfully", to divert and defuse the public discourse on this matter. They question the speed of the government processes, especially the investigation but, they do not ask how the corrupt influenced the process of acquisition in the first place and bled the nation, it said. "They do not admit corruption; they instead boldly proclaim, 'catch us if you can'," it said adding that government has taken effective action to bring out the truth and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing all means to bring to justice the corrupt and the wrong-doers in this case. "The investigative agencies remain determined to bring to justice the key perpetrators of this misdeed, both inside and outside the country," it said. In the matter pertaining to acquisition of AgustaWestland helicopters, the undisputed central issue that stands out is corruption, especially bribery, the statement said. "Any other line of assumption, approach and effort, as is being attempted in some quarters, is misleading, tries to hide the wrong-doers and is driven by instincts of self preservation," it said. On opposition allegations about helicopters purchased by the governments of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the statement said the Centre has been proactive in seeking response. "They ask as to whey did Modi government not take any action against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Dr Raman Singh despite an indictment of Chhattisgarh government by CAG in purchase of AgustaWestland Helicopter, which led to loss to public exchequer (according to CAG) of Rs 65 lakh? "But, the government has been proactive in seeking response from the State governments also. As per the State Government of Chattisgarh, the Public Accounts Committee of the Chattisgarh Vidhan Sabha took cognizance of the CAG report regarding the acquisition that was done in 2007, and took the evidence of State Government officials. After analyzing the evidence of officials and the report of the State Government, the PAC closed the matter," the statement said. Similarly, as per the Rajasthan government, the alleged loss to public exchequer according to CAG was not on account of any irregularity in the procurement process, but due to the expenditure incurred on account of lack of planning and basic infrastructure prior to procurement, such as pilot training and maintenance, it said adding that in this case too, the acquisition was done in 2005. "The government appeals to the countrymen to recognize the nature and depth of corruption in AgustaWestland case. The investigative agencies will stay their course in unveiling the corrupt and holding them accountable to our public," it said. Seeking to counter Opposition allegation, the government said ever since it was given the responsibility to serve the people, it has acted with speed, drive and purpose to empower the country's masses. "It continues to relentlessly pursue fearless and transparent governance. One of the core goals of our governance has been to unearth and uproot corruption, and punish the corrupt," it said. The government has acted proactively and with alacrity against Agusta Westland International and Finmeccanica, it said while stressing that it was on July 3, 2014 that all procurement/acquisition cases in the pipeline of six companies figuring in the CBI FIR was put on hold. "In doing so, we did not let the preparedness of our defence forces suffer. At the same time, we also ensured that no new capital procurement was made thereafter from these companies in the tenure of the present government," it said. It said that in their drive to divert the public attention from their own corruption, some have said that the Modi government permitted AugustaWestland to bid for 100 Naval Utility Helicopters in April, 2015. "The fact is that a techno-commercial Request for Proposal (RFP) for Naval Utility Helicopters was issued to eight vendors on August 4, 2012. In response to the RFP, Eurocopters, France and Agusta Westland S.p.A Italy submitted their techno-commercial proposals on March, 4 2013. RFP of the procurement case was retracted by the government on October 13, 2014. "The Indian Navy has hosted on the website a Request for Information for more than 100 Naval Utility Helicopter in October 2014. No Request for Proposal has been issued, therefore the question of permitting Agusta Westland to bid for the Naval Utility Helicopter in April 2015 does not arise. The government is exploring whether their manufacturing can be pursued under 'Make in India'," it said. Talking about the "core issue" of corruption, the government said timeline of actions taken by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate clearly shows due rigour and diligence with which these agencies have pursued all aspects of their investigations, including the arrest and extradition of three foreign nationals namely - Carlo Gerosa, Guido Haschke Ralph and Christian Michel James. It added that CBI has so far investigated over 100 witnesses.Giving details it said in September and November 2014, "couple of accused" have been arrested and their property attached. A criminal complaint was also filed. Letter of Requests were sent out by ED and CBI to Mauritius (July 2013), Tunisia and Italy (December 2013), British Virgin Islands, Singapore and U.K. (September 2014), UAE and Switzerland (December 2014). The agencies are continuing to pursue responses to the LRs from the countries concerned, it said. The statement added that an open-ended non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by CBI against Michel on September 24, 2015. Red Corner notices were issued in December 2015 and January 2016 through Interpol under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Prevention of Corruption Act on charges of conspiracy and abuse of official position in giving favours to AWIL, it said. Bollywood has a long history of portraying gay characters with cliches or using them as an ostensibly comic sideshow. Often they are sexual predators whom the male leads, epitomes of heterosexual masculinity, must be wary of. But several recent movies have challenged those stereotypes, suggesting that attitudes in Indias movie industry, or at least within an influential section of it, may be changing. Aligarh, based on the true story of a gay professor who was hounded, possibly to death, opened nationwide in India in February to critical acclaim. (On May 14 the movie will be the closing offering at the New York Indian Film Festival.) It features mainstream actors with Manoj Bajpayee in the lead role a casting approach without precedent in Bollywood and unthinkable just a few years ago. Aligarh was followed in March by Kapoor & Sons, a multistar big-budget Bollywood movie in which one of the 2 male leads is revealed to be gay. A tale of messy family relationships inspired by Woody Allens Hannah and Her Sisters, the film surpassed roughly $16 million in revenues, the Bollywood gold standard for commercial success. This progressive turn is simultaneously a product of and a response to the changing mores of the urban middle class, which has developed a more tolerant view than other segments of society. This contingent is numerically a minority but it is Bollywoods most significant source of revenue. Hansal Mehta, the director of Aligarh, acknowledged that he would not have found a backer for his movie a decade ago. The audience is more evolved than we think, Shakun Batra, director of Kapoor & Sons, said. The success of Aligarh and Kapoor & Sons is likely to lead to more movies on this theme. One of them, Dear Dad, woven around a road trip involving a father and son, opens nationwide in India on May 6. The Threshold, a short feature about an adolescent boy struggling with his sexual identity, had its premiere on April 8 in Los Angeles, although it belongs to the world of alternative filmmaking that is largely confined to university campuses and the urban elite in India. Timeout, a high school drama about a relationship between brothers that grows strained when one comes out, was released in September, although it did not have much critical or commercial impact. So far the films have been confined to the subject of male same-sex relationships. This efflorescence of movies on the subject has not come about easily. In a country where the struggle continues to legalise gay sex, the movies have faced hurdles almost from their inception. Aligarh was based on a 2010 case involving S R Siras that made headlines in India. Siras, a professor at Aligarh Muslim University, was surreptitiously filmed while having sex with a male companion in his apartment and later suspended by the university on charges of sexual misconduct. The movie narrates his troubled last days, an invasion of his privacy followed by public humiliation and a professional witch hunt that ends in his mysterious death, considered by many to have been a suicide. Through the movie, Siras, in a widely lauded performance by Bajpayee, is a socially troubled man under siege in a homophobic society. Aligarh faced controversy even before the filming began. Opposition arose within Aligarh Muslim University as news of the project spread: Mehta, the director, was preparing to travel to Aligarh, roughly 2 hours from New Delhi, for research when a call from the vice chancellors office warned him of trouble and told him not to come. The hostility led Mehta to move the filming to Bareilly, a town of similar size about 100 miles east of Aligarh. Mehta and Bajpayee never got to Aligarh. The Central Board of Film Certification gave the movies trailer an A rating, equivalent to R in the US, even though it had no graphic or sexual content. The mayor of Aligarh pressured local theaters to take it off the screens, leading to an effective ban. Mehta, who was unaware of Siras until a fan emailed him suggesting that his story had the makings of a movie, said he was not surprised by the backlash. A university that treats its faculty member in this manner is bound to be resistant, he said. A town that renders him homeless is bound to be resistant. LGBT rights Kapoor & Sons, a film even more firmly in the universe of mainstream Bollywood, did not find itself the subject of a public storm. Instead, it was confronted by a movie industry often fearful of change. Five actors turned down the part of the gay lead, Batra said, and his search went on for a year until Fawad Khan, a Pakistani actor popular in India, took on the role. Batra and the movies producers, aware that the films plotline could be commercially risky, decided to avoid any mention of same-sex relationships in the movies promotions. A big part of our society is homophobic, Batra said, and he did not want to alienate audiences by telling them straightaway that this is a coming-out-of-the-closet story, and half of them dont even show up. Batra said that it was high time mainstream Bollywood portrayed gay lives in a dignified way. The impulse came from watching so many bad Bollywood movies that use homosexual characters as caricatures, he said. I was thinking: Why are we making these characters comical? Why are they only there for promiscuous jokes? The movies arrive at a delicate moment in the long battle for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in India. In February, the Supreme Court agreed to review its widely condemned 2013 judgment that reinstated a ban on gay sex, a law known as Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The decision once again raised the temperature of the long-running battle between liberals and conservatives on the issue, a conflict within the society reflected by the reaction to Aligarh and Kapoor & Sons. The embrace of these new movies may also make them something of a bellwether of the direction in which the discourse on LGBT rights in India is moving. Section 377 will eventually be thrown out, Mehta said. Aligarh is part of that larger history that this country is going to experience. Homegrown pre-school chain Kidzee, owned by education company Zee Learn, has planned to expand its range of schools, by adding 300-400 facilities each year, as it taps the pre-school and early childhood care and education (ECCE) needs of the various towns and cities in India. The company currently boasts of a wide network of more than 1,500 schools in over 550 cities, having signed up 509 centres for FY 2015. According to Zee Learn Head (Marketing and Innovation) Abhinav Upadhyay, Kidzee remains focused on nurturing the unique potential in every child. Our primary focus area is on the critical age group of 0-6 years in children, when 90% of the brains development takes place. Kidzee is also involved in making people aware of early childhood needs, and also provides for the same. In terms of opening schools, Kidzee follows an all-franchise model, wherein the franchisee will be required to invest in setting up her school, while the company provides all the required teaching aids and infrastructure standards. Each school may be built over a minimum area of 2,500 sq feet, and will entail an investment of Rs 10-15 lakh, which will be borne by the franchisee. According to our revenue model, Kidzee shares the fees collected on enrolments with the franchisee, Kidzee Business Head Sukhvinder Singh Bindra told Deccan Herald. As per policy, Kidzee allows only women to become franchisees, with the staff at each schools also comprising only women. Each of our pre-school has been mandated to be run by women, since we believe that women, when given the right responsibility and adequate training, respond to early childhood needs better, Bindra said. Through the said franchise model, Kidzee has been able to create 1,500 women entrepreneurs, who are specially trained by the company to tend to the young ones. Meanwhile, for its students, the schools also integrate state-of-the-art technologies as part of their teaching tools, such as audio visual aids and tablets. There are 150 million children in the ages of 0-6 in India, and many towns have not even come across a concept called pre-school. Around 90% of the said Rs 13,000-crore category is unorganised. Yet, even in small towns, there is acceptance for our products, and weve varied fee structures for our different markets, Upadhyay said. Mayor Harinath directed officials to repair all government wells and disconnect illegal water connections in Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) limits to ensure procurement and supply of drinking water in the city. He said the rejuvenation of lakes, such as Gujjarkere and Kavoorkere, will be taken up by the MCC in future. Presiding over a general meeting of the civic body here on Friday, he said the MCC has been taking all possible steps, including identification of water sources in its limits, to manage drinking water supply. Commissioner Dr H N Gopalakrishna said the water stored will last for the next 10 days in the current system of supplying water on alternate days. Hence, 100-120 sources of water, such as wells and borewells, have been identified in the city limits and water will be drawn from them. Water stored at Disha Power Project in Gundya will also be utilised, he noted. Chairman of Town Planning and Development Standing Committee Lancelot Pinto said 22 tankers, procured by MCC from various sources, will be used to supply water to residents. Executive Engineer Lingegowda said dredging is being done as 15 foot sand has settled in MRPL dam. Later, the valve can be opened to release water, he added. Earlier as soon as the meeting started, Opposition member Premanand Shetty said water level has come down by 12 foot in AMR dam in a couple of days according to the statistics. Former mayor Mahabala Marla charged that SEZ and MRPL have lifted the available water from the dam in 24 hours, which resulted in the premature emptying. He also sought the dates on which water was released by the dam to fill Thumbe dam. The Opposition members complained that commissioner Gopalakrishna is not been picking up phone calls of the corporators. The commissioner replied that he could not speak as he was busy in meetings. Deputy Mayor Sumitra Kariya and Chairman of Standing Committee Appi were present. California-headquartered Autodesk, the worlds leading 3D design firm, aims to push MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) adopting technology in a bigger way for designing innovation, a top company executive said. Talking to Deccan Herald, Autodesk Head of the Manufacturing Division India and SAARC operations Varun Gadhok said, In India, we are already well established players in the big OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), and big enterprise level. What we are trying to do now is like going through the grassroots level and encouraging MSME players to adopt technology for design innovation. Gadhok explained, Most of the MSMEs are probably hesitant in applying technology because of funding. Now, Autodesk is providing end-to-end solution on Fusion 360 which can do everything like starting from design till you began manufacturing. Fusion 360 is the first 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE tool of its kind. It connects your entire product development process in a single cloud-based platform that works on both Mac and PC. Recently, Autodesk has signed an MoU with the Government of Maharashtra where Fusion 360 is available for just Rs 999 per year and officially this will be launched on May 1. Autodesk has over 100 partners including Capricot, MicroGenesis, KKM Soft among others. When asked on plans of increasing the partners, Gadhok said, Not every partner can sell manufacturing products, so we keep elevating or graduating our current partner from bronze to silver, silver to gold and gold to platinum. So based on that criteria our partners have authorisation to sell a particular type of software. In a major setback to MLA M K Somashekar, the District Caste Verification Committee has ruled that the legislator does not belong to Kadu Kuruba community. In its order, dated April 20, the committee, headed by Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, has concluded that M K Somashekar, son of Kempanna, a resident of No 318, D Subbaiah Road, Mysuru, had failed to prove that he belongs to Kadu Kuruba community, that comes under Scheduled Tribe (ST). Somashekar, a second time MLA from Congress party, who represents Krishnaraja constituency, is a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In the year 2011, the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) had also given a report against the MLA, after adducing various facts. The DCRE had vetted into the caste records of Somashekars brother M K Mohan, who has mentioned his caste as Hindu Kuruba in his job-related records. Mohan had worked for KSRTC and also Mysuru City Corporation (MCC). The District Caste Verification Committee, in its meeting held later, had upheld the report of the DCRE. However, Somashekar had moved the High Court, that had promulgated an order in the year 2014 to probe the complaints afresh on five different counts. So, a tahsildar-headed committee had been formed to visit Somashekars native place to conduct a detailed study into various aspects. Case This follows a complaint to additional director general of police (ADGP), DCRE, Bengaluru, by former corporator M C Chikkanna in the year 2008. In his complaint, Chikkanna had alleged that Somashekar had obtained a LPG dealership (Shiva Gas Agency, Vidyaranyapuram), reserved for ST category from Indian Oil Corporation in the year 1984. While obtaining dealership, he had submitted dubious records, claiming to be a Kadu Kuruba under ST. The IOC authorities, in their response to Chikkanna under Right to Information (RTI) Act had replied that Somashekar was allotted LPG dealership under ST quota. Earlier, he had also obtained benefits meant for ST while pursuing studies at Sarada Vilas Law College and job at Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru. He had secured false caste certificate from the tahsildars office in the year 1980. Before approaching the DCRE, Chikkanna, in a media briefing, had levelled similar allegations, forcing Somashekar to lodge a complaint in K R Police station, citing deleterious attempts made by the latter to tarnish his image, as it was the election year (2008). To substantiate his caste claim, Somashekar had submitted details related to his ancestors belonging to Diddahalli tribal hamlet, Ammaththi hobli, Channaiahana Kote Gram Panchayat limits, Virajpet taluk in Kodagu district. However, a tahsildar-headed team of officials, who visited the hamlet, made a detailed study into the dwellers, lifestyle, customs and practices. Primarily, it was found that there were no Kadu Kurubas in the hamlet, as a majority of them were Jenu Kurubas. Prima facie, Somashekar had been found at fault, as he had contested elections to the MCC from ward 11, reserved for backward classes A category in the year 1996. Dr H N Ravindra, Congress party candidate for the Legislative Council election from South Graduates constituency, on Friday, said that the criminal cases against him were baseless and the government had submitted a report to the Lokayukta in this regard. Addressing press persons, here, Ravindra said that he had honestly served the people as a medical doctor. The allegation against me about misuse of the salary of an employee is baseless. In the case, a second division assistant (SDA), Ramesh has played mischief, Ravindra added. It can be recalled that Dr K S Savitha of Belagodu PHC (primary health centre) in Sakleshpur taluk, had lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta against Ravindra, on September 9, 2008, alleging that he had misused her four-month salary, when she had been on maternity leave. Based on the complaint, the Lokayukta had filed a criminal case against him and had taken him into custody from September 27 to October 1 in 2008. The Lokayukta submitted a charge sheet against Ravindra before Hassan Lokayukta court in 2013. Then, Ravindra was the administrative doctor at Balupet PHC and was in-charge of Belagodu PHC and Taluk Medical Officer of Sakleshpur. When asked about the opposition from Congress party workers, Ravindra said, All the party workers will support him. A few Congressmen are opposing as they were denied ticket. I will win the elections. He said that being a Medical Council of India executive committee member, Government Medical Officers Association president and Senate member of Rajiv Gandhi Health University, he has served the medical officers and also medical students. As I was a government servant, I could not identify with any political party. But, my father had served the party. So, after I resigned, I have been working for the Congress party, Ravindra added. The Bombay High Court on Friday upheld the order by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to demolish the high-rise Adarsh building at Colaba here. On January 16, 2011, the MoEF had described the construction as unauthorised and illegal and had ordered its demolition. The society in Colaba, a plush locality in Mumbai, was originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil War heroes and their kin but was later extended to 31 floors without mandatory permission. The court, however has given 12 weeks time to allow for an appeal in the Supreme Court against its order. The Adarsh Cooperative Housing Societys building, originally meant for Kargil war heroes, landed in controversy after it was found that several politicians, bureaucrats and defence personnel owned flats there. Senior Congressman Ashok Chavan had to resign as chief minister over the issue. According to the CBI, Chavan had approved additional floor space in Adarsh in exchange for flats for his relatives in Adarsh. The order from a division bench comprising Justice R V More and Justice R G Ketkar came on a bunch of petitions filed by members of the Adarsh society challenging the demolition order of the MoEF. The court told the Centre and the Maharashtra government to consider initiating civil and criminal proceedings against bureaucrats, ministers and politicians for various offences in acquiring the plot on which Adarsh Society stands and also for misuse and abuse of powers. The court further asked the Centre and Maharashtra government to consider carrying out departmental proceeding in accordance with the law against bureaucrats who had erred. The disciplinary authority shall take decision in accordance with law without being influenced by the findings of the high court, said the bench. The bench placed on record its appreciation for the complainant Simpreet Singh, a member of National Alliance of Peoples Movement. Like Singh, others who had demanded action against Adarsh were Pravin Wategaonkar and Santosh Daundkar. HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Friday sent out a tough message to faculties in the IITs, saying action will be taken against those who were slack in their work. She was addressing students and faculties of the IIT-Delhi at an event organised on the campus. We will disabilitate (sic) those teachers who do not take interest in their students, she said, adding that standards of the premier technical institutes have to be maintained as parents send their wards to study in IITs with very high hopes. The minister, however, noted that many of the faculties of the IITs put extra efforts to help students lagging in academics. She described such teachers as unsung heroes and expressed her deep gratitude towards their efforts and commitments. You are unsung heroes of the Indian education system. My hearty thanks to you, she said. Smriti told the students about the IIT councils decision to waive the tuition fee of students coming from economically weaker sections and special students. She also told the students about a special scheme, Udaan, being implemented by the Central Board of Secondary Education to support girls belonging to economically weaker section in preparation of Joint Entrance Examination, conducted in two parts for admissions to centrally-funded technical institutes, including IITs. The minister asked the students to bring it to her knowledge if they come across a student who could be provided support under Udaan or other schemes of the government. At the top level, we are trying for innovative strategy to help students. It is my request to you that if you come to know about a disabled student or a girl belonging to an economically weaker section, do reach us so that we provide adequate support to enable them realise their dream, she said. Of the total 300 girls supported under the Udaan scheme last year, as many as 140 cracked the JEE Main, she said. A similar programme is being implemented in Navodaya Vidyalaya Schools. We had 100% results at our Bengaluru and Pune centres. Irani, who visited IIT-Delhi to inaugurate a new teaching-learning complex built inside, also made a surprise visit to hostels. She observed there was no adequate facility for the students in the summer, prompting the director of the institute to commit installation of air coolers and cool drinking water facilities in all the hostels. During her interaction with students, she asked them to let her know if they want more facilities in their hostels. A former foreign secretary of Pakistan has said that the progress made in mending bilateral ties during Congress-led UPAs stint had been lost after Narendra Modis government took office. One issue that strikes me is that we need to pick up where we left. In the UPA administration a lot of work was done. It seems to us that all of this is sort of lost, said Pakistans former foreign secretary Salman Bashir. These two years of this present administration, in Pakistan we are at a loss to understand if there is really a Pakistan policy for India at this point in time. Bashir, who was Pakistans high commissioner to India from 2012 to 2014, was speaking at an event in New Delhi on Friday. He was also joined by two other former high commissioners of Pakistan to India, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi and Aziz Ahmad Khan, and three former envoys of India to Pakistan, S K Lambah, G Parthasarathy and Shivshankar Menon. The meeting of the former diplomats of India and Pakistan in New Delhi is part of a Track-II or non-official process of engagement between the two nations. This comes at a time when a move to restart the stalled bilateral dialogue came to a pause after the terror attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot. If you suspend the foreign secretary level talks just because the high commissioner (of Pakistan in India) has met the APHC (All Party Hurriyat Conference), it would mean that all that was done on the back channel side, has been lost. Thats the sort of thing that gives us a bit of unease as you are not quite sure where this government wants to take the relationship with Pakistan, said Bashir. The former diplomats of both the countries however suggested that the neighbours need to engage even in trying times including discussing issues as contentious as arrest of former Indian Navy officer Kul Bhusan Jadhav in Pakistan for fomenting unrest in Balochistan. Parthasarathy, who was Indias envoy to Pakistan from 1998 to 2000, emphasised that charges against Jadhav were not based on facts, but agreed with his counterparts from the neighbouring country that the two sides should discuss such issues. He charged that repeated attempts had been made in the past by the Pakistani authorities to abduct Jadhav, who was running a business in Iran. Undeterred by Opposition onslaught, newly nominated member Subramanian Swamy gave a notice in the Rajya Sabha challenging expunging of his words by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien. Kurien told Swamy: If you have given a privilege notice, there is a rule. Chairman Hamid Ansari will first examine to see a prima facie case and only after that the notice will be sent to the Privileges Committee, Kurien elaborated. Swamy tweeted that he has filed a notice in RS challenging the expunging of my words by Dy Chmn (Kurien) since it is arbitrary unreasonable and against RS Rules. Against Azad, too Swamy also moved a privilege motion against the Congresss Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad for falsely stating in the House that the previous UPA government had blacklisted AgustaWestland and its Italian parent company Finmeccanica. The two companies were held guilty by an Italian court for bribing Indian politicians and bureaucrats to clear the copter deal which was subsequently quashed. Later, the NDA government stated that the blacklisting of the two companies took place during their regime. Swamy, in a series of tweets, said: Today I will seek to move a Breach of Privilege (motion) against Ghulam Nabi Azad for falsely stating in the RS that the UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica. Allegations Swamy created a flutter in the Congress camp by naming Sonia Gandhi in the scam sourcing his allegation to the Italian court judgment during a discussion in the House on Wednesday. He did it again the next day by taking the name of Italy a word sensitive to Congress leaders owing to the fact that it was home country of Sonia Gandhi. Both the comments were expunged. Swamy has been belligerent towards Congress president Sonia Gandhi since he took oath on Tuesday. Major revelation A major revelation on AgustaWestland scam will be out soon which will change politics by 2017, Swamy later tweeted. In order to isolate Congress among the Opposition, he has sought discussion on the scam under a rule which seeks voting. Congress members in the Rajya Sabha have submitted a notice of a breach of privilege motion against Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The notice was served to Parrikar for issuing a clarification on the AgustaWestland issue through the Press Information Bureau when the Parliament was in session. In the notice submitted to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on Friday, Shantaram Naik and Hussain Dalwai have contended that Parrikar should have clarified on the AgustaWestland controversy in the Rajya Sabha, which is in session, and not outside. Naik said the Defence Ministrys action amounted to breach of privilege of the members of the Rajya Sabha. Shah hits out at Sonia BJP president Amit Shah on Friday renewed his attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the AgustaWestland chopper deal, asking on whose behest the contract was tweaked. The tender had the condition that only original equipment manufacturers could file the tender. Still, AgustaWestland was allowed to file the tender, despite it not being an original equipment manufacturer. Now, my question to Sonia Gandhi is, on whose behest this tampering with the original conditions was done, he said. Andhra Pradesh on Friday went ahead with its common entrance examination EAMCET despite the Supreme Courts direction to the Centre to conduct unified National Entrance cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) for medical courses. Test were held in 492 centres across the state in which 1.03 lakh students took part. AP and Telangana are protected by Article 371 (D) which bestows them with special privileges. We have decided to go ahead with Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) on Friday after taking legal opinion, L Venugopal Reddy, Chairman AP Higher Education Council (APSCHE) told reporters explaining governments stand. Andhra Pradesh HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said, We had no time to react as preparations have been completed for the test on Friday. More over as of Thursday we are not sure if the NEET will be conducted or not at all. If not the future of lakhs of students wishing will be in jeopardy. In Telangana Meanwhile, the Telangana government has postponed its EAMCET slated for 2 May, citing non-cooperation of private educational institutions in conducting the test. The fight between private colleges and the Telangana government intensified with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao putting off EAMCET and Teachers Eligibility Test in retaliation to the protest by the colleges against the inspections of institutions by the government officials, experts from IIT and BITS Pilani and police. New dates for the tests is likely to be before May 20 and will be held in government colleges and institutions. Reacting to the decision of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of educational institutions to boycott the EAMCET, the chief minister said the private institutions will not be allowed to blackmail the government. The government is very keen to identify bogus institutions which were involved in Rs 1,000 crore scam. How can the government proceed without conducting an enquiry, he said. The government ordered an enquiry following reports that several substandard colleges siphoned off hundreds of crores under fee reimbursement scheme by submitting fake reports. The Hyderabad High Court allowed the Telangana government to continue with its inspection of private colleges to verify faculty and infrastructure facilites in colleges. JAC convener Ramana Reddy said on Friday that they will take a final decision after receiving the copy of the HC directions. The JAC has been demanding that the police must be kept out of the inspection teams. Presence of the police will be intimidating, Ramana Reddy said. Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said the demand for a Dalit chief minister in the state is only to prove the capability of the deprived class. After inaugurating the Integration and Awareness programme organised by Dalit Sangatanegala Okkutta to mark Ambedkar Jayanti at the Government Model Higher Primary School here, Parameshwara said, Dalits have been working for many decades and if the community people get higher opportunities, they will develop self-confidence and trust. However, he said, nothing will change at once if a Dalit becomes a CM. Recalling various incidents in his life, Parameshwara said, I am proud of being a Dalit. I took every insult in my life as a challenge and thus attained this status. JD(S) MLA H K Kumaraswamy, in his presidential address said, except Congress, all political parties in the state have announced their CM candidate. I have no faith that a Dalit from JD(S) can become a CM. At the most, I could become a minister but not the CM, he said. A builder was reportedly duped by a woman who made away with his valuables from a room in Leela Palace Hotel on Old Airport Road. According to the police, Vasanth Rajan, a builder from Tamil Nadu, went to the hotel with a woman on April 23. As they went into his room, Rajan asked her to wait while he went in to have a shower. He removed his gold chain and a diamond chain worth Rs 6 lakh and kept it on the table with an iPad and wallet. After a few minutes, Rajan came out of the room and told the woman he would attend a small party and get some liquor for her. Minutes after he left, he got a call from the woman who claimed that her mother had fallen sick and she had to leave immediately. Rajan, who asked her to leave, came back after a few hours and found the valuables missing. He informed his friend Raj, who was staying in another room in the same hotel. They told their friend Rithvik Shetty, a local politician in Chamarajanagar district, about the incident. On April 25, they lodged a complaint at the Jeevan Bima Nagar police station. Rajan and Raj had come from Tamil Nadu to discuss the purchase of land in Madikeri with Rithvik Shetty, police said. We have vital clues about the woman and will reveal her identity only after she is nabbed. It is suspected that she was flown in from Hyderabad and flew back with the valuables. A team has been sent to Hyderabad to look for her. Shetty also claimed that Rajan was related to a politician in Tamil Nadu. But later, it was found that Shetty made it up just to pressure the police to act quickly, said a senior police officer. Also, Rajan claimed that the woman was a marketing executive and he had called her over some business. But we suspect she was a sex worker and efforts are being made to trace her. The mobile phones of Rajan and his friend have been switched off since Thursday and we are trying to trace them. CCTV footage from the hotel clearly shows Rajan accompanying the woman into his room, added the officer. A case has been registered at the Jeevan Bima Nagar police station. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has asked Narayana Health City to properly segregate biomedical waste and not mix it with general waste. KSPCB Chairman Lakshman visited the hospital on Friday as part of an inspection. During the visit to the campus that houses Narayana Hrudayalaya, Narayana Nethralaya and Mazumdar Cancer Hospitals, it emerged that the hospital staff had not collected biomedical waste in blue bags as is required but in black bags that are meant for general solid waste. Lakshman instructed the KSPCBs jurisdictional officer to issue a notice to the hospital. Dr Devi Shetty, chairman of Narayana Health, was present on the occasion. The KSPCB team also inspected Biocon Industry and Hebbagodi, Kammasandra, Shikaripalya, Bommasandra and Doddatoguru lakes. It found that construction debris was being dumped around the lakes. Lakshman has sought a survey of the lakes by the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner to fix their boundaries. The KSPCB will also write to the Directorate of Municipal Administration to direct the local bodies to stop discharge of sewage into the lakes. A Lokayukta special court has remarked that corruption and extortion cases within the Lokayukta led to the creation of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and also resulted in virtual closure of Lokayukta institution'. Special Court judge D T Devendran, in his order rejecting bail to the accused chargesheeted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), has said that the scam in which Syed Riyaz, former Joint Commissioner (PRO) of Lokayukta and Yerabati Ashwin, son of former Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, were the accused has an effect on society. The bail application was filed by six accused in the first case in the extortion racket. The accused had threatened and demanded money from M N Krishnamurthy, an Executive Engineer at Bengaluru Zilla Panchayat. Apart from the main accused Riyaz and Ashwin, four others - V Bhaskar, Ashok Kumar M B Srinivasa Gowda and Shankare Gowda - had also filed bail applications. The court, while dismissing the bail applications on April 27 said, The offences committed by the accused are so serious that it had led to bringing in an amendment to Karnataka Lokayukta Act with high drama leading to resignation of Lokayukta. The post of Lokayukta is still vacant. In the subsequent move, the government has withdrawn police wing from the Lokayukta and formed the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Thus, the offence committed by the accused has led to virtual closure of Lokayukta institution. Our Constitution no doubt provides for public liberty, equally the interest of society has to be taken into consideration. So, taking into consideration the seriousness of the offences and its effect on the society, I am of the opinion that the accused are not entitled to (be) enlarge(d) on bail. The accused had moved the High Court challenging refusal of bail to them and the High Court had granted them bail. The SIT filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against this order. The apex court, while allowing the criminal appeals, had reserved the liberty to the accused to seek bail before the trial court. So far, three Lokayukta special courts have dismissed the bail applications filed by the accused in four different cases of extortion and corruption chargsheeted by the SIT. A senior official said that in one case, the order on bail applications filed by the accused is posted for orders to May 15. Sonia Narang, DIG (CID), will be out of Karnataka for a period of four years as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) accepted her request for a Central government assignment. The MHA issued an order attaching her to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The state government will soon receive a communication from the MHA and Narang is expected to complete a few formalities. She is likely to report for duty in New Delhi towards May-end and her posting will be decided later. Sonia Narang, who is currently heading the team which is investigating II PU Chemistry question paper leak racket, volunteered for the Central government assignment in January this year. Narang approached the MHA through the state government and her request was accepted. Sonia Narang, considered to be one of the toughest and honest officers, hogged the limelight after she submitted a report to the Lokayukta registrar in May 2015 highlighting corruption in the institution which led to a series of arrests of some insiders, including the then Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Raos son Y Ashwin. Narangs act even resulted in the resignation of Justice Bhaskar Rao. She was recently promoted and posted as DIG (CID) and the II PU Chemistry question paper leak scam came to light. The IPS cadre in every state opts for Central government assignments for better exposure and career development. The Central government ropes in many IPS officers from every state for various central government agencies. Indicating the growing income of people of Karnataka, official data shows that the state has contributed 9% of the total Rs 6.96 lakh crore direct taxes in 2014-15. The data on the income tax of the last 16 years, released by the Centre on Friday, puts Karnataka in third place, behind Maharashtra (40%) and Delhi (13%). Karnatakas share was Rs 60,595.22 crore in 2014-15 when the total direct tax collection was Rs 6.96 lakh crore. In 2013-14, the state paid Rs 59,769.8 crore when the all India-wide direct tax collection was at Rs 6.38 lakh crore. The data for 2015-16 is not available. Karnataka has been one of the states posting highest economic growth in the past decade with the software industry being one of the main pillars of its growth. Karnataka stands first among all the states of India in terms of revenue generated from software exports. But in another startling revelation, the data showed share of direct taxes in Indian economy fell to 5.47% in 2015-16, the lowest in almost a decade. It showed that the direct taxes accounted for only 51% of total taxes collected last year. It was 56% in 2014-15. Worse, only 2.9 crore people filed income tax returns in 2012-13. This was a little over 2% of Indias population of 120 crore. Only six people declared an average income of Rs 68.72 crore in 2012-13. The government said it released the data on popular demand by economists and India watchers. Our government has taken the landmark decision of publishing the income tax data. It is a big step towards transparency & informed policy making. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. For students who aspire to study MBBS or BDS course in Karnataka, cracking the Common Entrance Test (CET) has been their first priority. Probably, not anymore. With the Supreme Court ruling on National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), many students have been forced to concentrate at a short notice on an entrance exam that was at the bottom of their priority list just a few days ago. As per the courts direction, the existing All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Test (AIPMT), scheduled for Sunday, will be the first phase of NEET. Students who are unable to take this exam can appear for NEET-II on July 24. Confusion prevails Students, however, remain confused. Since a number of MBBS/BDS aspirants didnt register for the AIPMT, they fear that if they dont take it on Sunday, they will become ineligible and cannot get another chance. Abdul Qadeer, secretary, Shaheen PU College, Bidar, said that a number of students were asking him about the possibility of skipping NEET-I in the hope they can register for and take NEET-II. Vaishnavi Prakash, a student at Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar in Udupi district, said she had been mainly preparing for the CET given its several advantages. I registered for the AIPMT too, but didnt prepare much for it. The CET it is easier than the AIPMT. The CET doesnt have negative marks but the AIPMT does, she said. I am in a complete state of shock given the short notice of the exam. Undue advantage Many students also feel that those who take NEET-II (on July 24) will get an undue advantage, as they will have at least two months to prepare. Krishnappa Shivapappa, another student, has not registered for NEET-II. All of this has happened so sudden. Karnataka CET was my first preference. It is more entwined with the states pre-university syllabus. I wonder how poor people living in rural areas like me will appear for the AIPMT or NEET. I am very disturbed, he said. He said it would be serious injustice if some students got three months to prepare and others just three days. DENVER (AP) The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it is reimbursing states, tribes and local governments about $1 million for their costs after the agency accidentally triggered a massive wastewater spill from a Colorado mine. The EPA said the money is being paid to Colorado, New Mexico and Utah state governments, the Navajo Nation and Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and Colorado counties and towns. Most of the money is for the cost of responding to the spill from the inactive Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado last August. The agency said it is considering requests for another $570,000 in expenses from the immediate aftermath. The EPA is also considering whether to designate the area around the Gold King Mine as a Superfund site, which would free up millions of dollars in federal aid for a broad cleanup. An EPA-led crew inadvertently released 3 million gallons of water containing arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and other dangerous pollutants while doing preliminary cleanup work. Water utilities briefly shut down their intake valves and farmers stopped drawing from the rivers. The EPA says the water quality quickly returned to pre-spill levels. The spill reached rivers that flow through the three states. The rivers cross the Southern Ute reservation in Colorado and the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. The agency provided The Associated Press with a list of reimbursements after officials in La Plata County, Colorado, complained the EPA turned down their request for up to $2.4 million over 10 years for future expenses, including monitoring water quality. The EPA said it doesnt cover future expenses under the type of agreement the county proposed, but it is providing $2 million to the three states and two tribes for long-term water monitoring. County officials said that differs from what the EPA told them earlier, the Durango Herald reported (http://tinyurl.com/zusgu2y). The EPA provided a breakdown of the reimbursements it is making for costs the states, tribes and local governments have already incurred: $334,000 to the state of New Mexico. The EPA said it is working with the state on an extension of the deadline to request more money. $221,000 to Silverton and San Juan County, both in Colorado. The Gold King Mine is near Silverton in the county. $208,000 to La Plata County, Colorado. $157,000 to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. In addition, the EPA itself spent $1.1 million on the Navajo Nation responding to the spill, the agency said. $116,000 to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Colorado. $2,400 to Durango, Colorado, in La Plata County. The EPA said it is still considering three requests for reimbursement for expenses already incurred: $304,000 from the state of Colorado. $140,000 from La Plata County, Colorado. $128,000 from the state of Utah. Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/dan-elliott. Nokia and Hutchison 3 Indonesia (H3I) have signed an agreement that will see Nokia expand H3I's core network in Indonesia. Indonesia - the fourth most populous country in the world - is experiencing rapid smartphone and 3G data service adoption, with H3I seeing data traffic double approximately every nine months.Under the terms of the agreement, Nokia will supply H3I with packet core technology in Indonesian cities including Surabaya, Semarang, Solo and Yogyakarta. The technology will help H3I better utilise its network resources to deliver a differentiated service experience, while laying the foundation for network evolution to allow it to meet future customer data demands. Nokias services will include network planning and optimisation, network implementation, and care. Other core network elements include its Evolved Packet Core-ready Flexi Network Gateway and Flexi Network Server, as well as the Nokia Flexi Convergent Mediation Device and the Nokia NetAct operations support system. We are pleased to have Nokia's services and technology expertise at our side as we evolve our core network to meet the speed and quality needs of a growing number of connected consumers and business users in Indonesia, said Randeep Singh Sekhon, president director at H3I. The deployment of our mobile core technology in this very important region will provide Hutchison 3 Indonesia with the network flexibility it needs to meet an increasingly diverse mix of traffic today and in the future as subscriber demands evolve, Robert Cattanach, head of Indonesia at Nokia, said. Living in a deprived neighbourhood could lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, according to new research. A Swedish study which looked at 60,000 refugee immigrants has suggested that stress, limited incomes and few employment opportunities could all be contributing factors. Lead author Dr Justin White from the University of California said: Although the increased risk was small, we found that the effect accumulated over time. The increased risk didnt develop immediately, which is consistent with the way neighbourhoods are thought to affect health, and chronic diseases in particular. Researchers analysed data from refugee immigrants aged 25 to 50 who arrived in Sweden between 1987 and 1991. They looked at the percentage of people who had developed type 2 diabetes between January 2002 and December 2010. People with type 1 diabetes and those who were diagnosed with type 2 within five years of arriving in the country were not included in the overall findings. Of the 28,785 refugees assigned to neighbourhoods with high-deprivation, 7.9 per cent developed type 2 diabetes, followed by 7.2 per cent living in moderately deprived areas. A total of 5.8 per cent of people in low-deprivation neighbourhoods developed type 2 diabetes. Dr White said: Our study has direct relevance to the ongoing period of immigration to Europe. Because of the historically high numbers of incoming refugees, combined with already high unemployment rates, the new entrants are encountering less hospitable political and social environments. There are likely to be a number of factors explaining the link, such as increased exposure to chronic stress from living in a high-crime or segregated area, the limited income and employment opportunities that affect a persons ability to afford healthy food, the lack of availability of healthy food in the neighbourhood or its low levels of walkability. The findings were published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal. The system of seven IRNSS satellites will be called NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) and will offer navigation over the India and 1,500km around the mainland The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the seventh and final satellite for Indias own navigation system. The system of seven satellites will be called NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) and the final satellite, IRNSS 1G, was launched into orbit aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). With this, India will be a part of a select group of countries consisting of the United States, Russia, Europe and China, with access to their own navigation systems. The first IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System) satellite was launched by the PSLV on July 02, 2013. The system is an independent regional navigation satellite system that is designed to provide positional information in India, and 1,500km around the Indian mainland. The system offers two types of services, Standard Positioning Services (SPS) and Restricted Services (RS). SRS will be available for all users, while RS will be only be available for authorised users. The aim of the system is to lessen the dependency on foreign navigational systems like GPS. Back in December last year, ISRO held a two-day long meeting in Bangalore. During the meeting, the organisation demonstrated the capabilities and advantages of the system to navigational device manufacturers. mobile phone manufacturers, and Global Information System (GIS) developers. ISRO recommended that manufacturers add a small piece of hardware into devices that will allow it to receive S-Band signals from IRNSS satellites. Manufacturers would also have to include a code into the devices software to receive L-Band signals. Petro Matad revealed it had lost its partner in the Block IV and V production sharing contracts in west and central Mongolia on Friday. The AIM-traded company said that, on 28 April, Shell - through its affiliate company - issued an exit notice to Petro Matads 100% owned subsidiary Central Asian Petroleum Corporation, exercising its option to leave the farmout agreement dated 7 April 2015. The decision by Shell is based on optimisation of its own portfolio and it is not related to the technical prospects for the blocks, Petro Matads board said in a statement. The exit is subject to Mongolian government consent. As required in the agreements, Shells affiliate company will compensate Central Asian Petroleum Corporation as a result of the exit decision. Petro Matad said the amount will be highly material to the company. Its working interest in the two production sharing contracts will revert to 100% from the current 22%. Petro Matad will continue to execute the work program as planned, the board confirmed. Currently, our seismic contractor is mobilising to the field and will soon commence the second phase of the planned seismic acquisition programmes in Blocks IV and V. The FTSE 250 was down in afternoon trading on Friday, as investors picked their way through a raft of corporate earnings and as data showed the eurozone fell further into deflation in April. Valve maker Rotork was among the index leaders in afternoon trading, after it reported a 0.7% increase in first quarter revenues earlier in the day. Order intake rose 2.5% during the period. Currencies contributed 3.1% to offer intake and 3% to revenue, with acquisitions contributing 8.4% to order intake and 9.2% to revenue. Oil and gas remained challenging, with weakness evident in the midstream sector. Power was impacted by continued weakness in China. There was good activity in the water and industrial markets. Geographically, Latin America, parts of North America and India remained subdued, the company said. In a separate announcement, Rotork also said it was acquiring US outfit Mastergear from Regal Beloit Corporation for $25m on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Tullow Oil was another riser, as investors appeared to concentrate on rising crude prices, brushing off a research note from Investec. Analysts there reiterated their rating on Tullows stock as sell, and set a target price of 70p on the stock. That implied a potential downside of 74.7% from its opening price of 276.5p. Tullow Oils 50 day moving average is 211.03p. Shares in Restaurant Group were tumbling after the company warned over its annual profits, highlighting a further deterioration in trading conditions and announcing the departure of its chief financial officer. The company, which owns restaurants such as Garfunkels and Chiquito, said total sales were up 4.7% in the 17 weeks to 24 April, but like-for-like sales were down 2.7%. Restaurant Group also said CFO Stephen Critoph will step down from his role with immediate effect after 11 years, adding that the search for a replacement was underway. Ophir Energy was another stock under pressure, after the firm revealed before markets opened that it had hit a serious stumbling block at the Fortuna floating liquefied natural gas project, offshore Equatorial Guinea, after it was unable to reach agreement with Schlumberger over an upstream participation arrangement. "The Fortuna project workstreams are progressing towards FID. We have been reviewing a number of options and our discussions continue with other quality counterparties that can offer an attractive source of funding, said Ophir CEO Nick Cooper. FTSE 250 - Risers Rotork (ROR) 192.90p 7.53% Centamin (DI) (CEY) 118.30p 5.16% Acacia Mining (ACA) 350.20p 2.07% BGEO Group (BGEO) 2,322.00p 1.71% AO World (AO.) 187.90p 1.57% Tullow Oil (TLW) 285.00p 1.28% John Laing Group (JLG) 212.60p 1.24% Evraz (EVR) 146.40p 1.17% Berendsen (BRSN) 1,191.00p 1.10% Morgan Advanced Materials (MGAM) 238.40p 1.06% FTSE 250 - Fallers Restaurant Group (RTN) 279.90p -25.22% Ophir Energy (OPHR) 76.35p -16.92% IP Group (IPO) 164.30p -6.81% Sports Direct International (SPD) 389.30p -5.51% Telecom Plus (TEP) 952.50p -4.85% Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 585.00p -4.80% Cineworld Group (CINE) 516.00p -4.71% OneSavings Bank (OSB) 286.40p -4.53% Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) 73.70p -4.22% Sophos Group (SOPH) 204.10p -4.22% Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Unleaded 88 fuel is often cheaper, but should drivers use it? Unleaded 88 fuel gives lower gas mileage than regular unleaded but with fewer carbon emissions. So, should you put it in your vehicle? That depends. Interior Commercial Oregon Light-Gauge Steel Framing Commercial Oregon Photos courtesy of NWCB Classroom 200 is semi-elliptical in layout with a ceiling made of hexagonal panels. Oregon State University Learning Innovation Center Location: Corvallis Contractor: Western Partitions Architect: Boora Architects Team (interiors): GTS Interior Supply, Armstrong World Industries, CertainTeed Gypsum, Creative Design Concepts/Mork Associates, Hamilton Drywall Products, Scafco Steel Stud Co. Team (light-gauge steel): Scafco Steel Stud Co. Classroom 100 has a 360-degree elliptical screen. From the outside, this four-story, $65 million brick building looks like most campus buildings, but according to Michael Tingley of Boora Architects, This is the most unique and sophisticated lecture hall in any university in the world. The building contains seven classrooms with raised, circular seating areas supported by radius and sloped framing systems. Classroom 100 has a ceiling consisting of hand-troweled and fireproofed beams. A Uni-Strut system supports the lighting and a state-of-the-art sound and visual display system includes a 360-degree elliptical screen. Classroom 210 has a multilevel acoustical ceiling tile system commonly referred to as a saw-tooth ceiling. Classroom 200 is the buildings showcase. It was constructed in a semi-elliptical shape with sound panels and video screens on two walls. The ceiling has hexagon-shaped metal panels supported by a Uni-Strut system hung from the deck above. Several locations contain a full-height radius sound wall intersecting a large mechanical duct. Special care was taken to ensure the walls were not only structurally sound but also airtight and soundproof to avoid sound transfer from one room to another. Other Stories: Now arriving at UW Station: artistic walls Walls in the stations three-story collection chamber represent the strata of the adjoining soil column. By STEVE MORK Creative Design Concepts Mork Finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel yes, pun intended. I recently arrived back in Seattle after a week-long business trip that swung through San Francisco, Los Angeles and New Orleans. I purposely chose to leave my car at home and use the Link light rail system from Sea-Tac to the newly opened University of Washington Station for my return rather than my usual method of off-site airport parking at the Jet Motel. Like Seattle, San Francisco traffic faces some of the same pressures geographic confinement due to hills, waterways, bridges and unending growth in the high-tech sector only on a more dramatic scale. Navigating the region is demanding and time consuming. Automobile-centric LA is endlessly congested, with dozens of freeways so numerous they need to be referred to with the designation The before every interstate number. Years ago one could always tell when a new DJ moved to a radio station in Seattle from California because they would refer to I-5 as The I-5. After being exhausted by the traffic in those two cities I decided to Uber it in New Orleans rather than rent a car. Once back in Seattle I would use the Link to round out my progression of transportation modalities. How refreshing it is that in Seattle we now have a glimmer of hope for the future as our north-south automobile corridors become increasing congested at all times of the day. I-5 through downtown is a bottleneck with no conceivable fix, and Highway 99 will be in a state of confusion for years as the viaduct and massive Bertha tunnel project progress at their uncertain pace. Photo by Don Wilson, courtesy of Sound Transit [enlarge] Leo Saul Berks artwork Subterranean is a series of perforations cut into the metal wall panels of the underground collection chamber. With the opening of the new Capitol Hill Station and the farthest north station at Husky Stadium, it is possible to move from Sea-Tac Airport north all the way to the U District with ease and comfort. This at a low cost $3.25 for the full length ride. It took me exactly one hour from when I left the terminal and walked to the train platform to my arrival at UW Station in Montlake, all without the hassle of waiting for a shuttle to the off-site parking, and then driving through who knows what kind of traffic just to get to I-5, Interstate 405 or Highway 99. The short walk through the airport parking garage and then along a pedestrian corridor took about five to seven minutes. Curiously, the steady stream of passengers walking to the platform consisted of people of all ages, ethnicities and types. Buying the ticket from the vending machine was simple and I noticed many people reloading their ORCA passes. All three train cars filled to near maximum capacity before departing the station and heading north. Many more passengers boarded at Othello Station and it appeared seats were full, with many passengers standing. While I was curious about the demographics of how people used the system along the 13 stops, my main interest was to see the crown jewel of the stations: UW Station. UW Station The University of Washington is like a second heart in the circulatory system of Seattle. The main beat is downtown pushing and pulling vitality in and out of the central business district and newly built up South Lake Union; but the UW has a multitude of vital influences as well in its arterial flow. LMN Architects designed UW Station to fit into one of the most challenging sites in the city. On the southeast corner of campus sits UW Medical Center, Husky Stadium and Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The Burke-Gilman Trail cuts through the intersection of Montlake and Pacific. Auto traffic feeds to the SR 520 bridge, bus routes span in all directions, and foot and bicycle traffic related to the UW and surrounding neighborhood is ubiquitous. It is hard to imagine how it would be possible to fit a 156,000-square-foot transit facility into this already crowded site. LMN accomplished this by going deep underground. The three-story collector, one of the largest interior volumes of space in the city, houses the escalators and elevators that move people from the platform level to either the street level or the overpass level, allowing pedestrians and bikes to access the UW campus without the necessity of crossing Montlake Boulevard. The exterior the structure on the surface is a two-story glass building that provides transparent views of Husky Stadium, Lake Washington and the surrounding UW campus. The glass structure also feeds light into the upper portion of the main circulation chamber. This building connects to both the street level via an exterior stairway leading toward Husky Stadium and Montlake Boulevard, while the upper level opens to the pedestrian and bike overpass connecting to the UW campus and the Burke-Gilman Trail. Elegance and beauty are found at every level of the project. The glass structure above ground is clean and crisp and does not impede the views of Husky Stadium, or intrude on the tight intersection, while the compound curves of the overpass are narrow and somehow enhance the intersection in a modernistic way rather than impose itself on the fabric of the already busy landscape. Art Without question the geometry of the collection chamber in conjunction with the artists design representing the strata of the soil column from 100 feet below grade are the most interesting and stunning aspects of the station design. The three-story underground collection chamber housing the escalators is not a rectangular box, nor is it shaped exactly as a parallelogram, rather its a combination of the two shapes that lead the eye to the intriguing artwork on the walls of the chamber. Leo Saul Berks sculpture Subterranean consists of complex and stylized perforations cut into the metal wall panels of the collection chamber, suggesting the geographic make-up of the glacial till that layers the soil from the surface to the depth of the platform at 100 feet below ground. The walls are backlit, making the sculpture come alive. It is truly stunning, worth a visit to the station even if you are not planning to ride the train. Art, form and function come together to create an experience at the station. I left the station and walked along the Burke-Gilman Trail for a distance to where my son picked me up at an easy auto access point. As I walked the tree-lined trail on one of the first sunny spring days in Seattle, I though how idyllic and magical this place is. My second thought was that UW Station elicits that same feeling. Seattle is becoming a better place to live as this transit system matures. Steve Mork is a local representative for a variety of custom architectural products, including LA-based Ceilings Plus, maker of custom perforated acoustical ceilings used in the UW Station and Sea-Tac Airport. Other Stories: Subscriber content preview By NATNICHA CHUWIRUCH Associated Press BANGKOK A British couple and their son were savagely attacked during a family vacation in Thailand in the latest blow to the country's image as a welcoming tourist paradise. Police said Thursday they have arrested the four suspected attackers. A video of the attack, which was captured by overhead security cameras and posted this week on social media, has stirred shock and outrage over its brutality and the ages of the victims, a 65-year-old woman and 68-year-old man from Scotland and their 43-year-old son. The attack is the latest act of violence against tourists in the Southeast Asian country. . . . BPCL to invest an additional Rs3,000 cr in Bharat Oman Refineries Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will invest up to Rs3,000 crore in Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL) to increase its stake in the joint venture refinery. Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL) is a joint venture of BPCL and Oman Oil Company Limited (OOCL). BORL has commissioned a 6 MMTPA (120,000 barrels per day) refinery at Bina in Madhya Pradesh, at a project cost of about Rs12,754 crore. The investment will be done by way of subscription of convertible warrants / other instruments that are convertible into equity shares to be issued by BORL. The union cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gave its approval to enhance BPCL's investment in Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL), beyond DPE guidelines issued in August 2005. Currently the refinery operates at 100 per cent of its installed capacity. The company plans to undertake debottlenecking at the refinery to further increase refining capacity from 6 MMTPA to 7.8 MMTPA. The estimated project cost is Rs3,072 crore, with an overall implementation schedule of 36 months from date of receipt of environmental clearances. The debottlenecking project also includes certain modifications to produce products in accordance to the new Auto Fuel Policy. Hence, there is a need for immediate infusion of funds in BORL by the shareholders. The joint venture partner, OOCL, while expressing support for the project, had indicated that it is not prepared to commit further funds for the project at this stage. Therefore, BPCL board has decided to infuse funds to the tune of Rs3,000 crore for the debottlenecking project and for meeting the extraordinary losses suffered on account of the sharp fall in the prices of crude oil and finished products. The government has, accordingly, decided to grant approval to the proposal of BPCL to enhance its investment in BORL by an additional amount of up to Rs3,000 crore for completion of the de-bottlenecking project. The infusion of funds by the BPCL will enable BORL to overcome the problem of erosion of net worth. Besides it will help in the industrial development of Madhya Pradesh, enhance the availability of petroleum products in the northern and central parts of the country and substantially increase employment and tax earnings in the state, a petroleum ministry release stated. The steel crisis could ''shut the doors'' on Britain's manufacturing industry, a top Tata boss warned on Thursday. Director Bimlendra Jha rang alarm bells for the UK, which was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution as he gave a gloomy assessment of the sector's future. And he insisted India-based Tata ''cannot continue to bleed'' cash at Port Talbot, as he pressed the need for a quick sale. Jha insisted no deadline had been fixed for a pull out of its UK businesses. But he underlined the company will not allow the South Wales site to survive indefinitely. ''There is no dead drop time that has been given, though you will appreciate with the kind of losses that there are, urgency is important,'' he told MPs. ''What if no buyer emerges? We cannot continue to bleed.'' Blaming the UK's ''structural weaknesses'' for the decision to sell, Jha told the Commons Business select committee, ''We have seen over a period of time that manufacturing in Britain has been on a decline. ''It cannot be only steel, it is the entire supply chain. Steel is a foundation industry that feeds into that supply chain.'' He feared steel's decline sector could ''shut the doors on the Industrial Revolution that began here in Britain''. Tata's shock decision to abandon its British plants plunged 15,000 direct jobs into jeopardy, with another 25,000 at risk in the supply chain. Ministers last week signalled they are ready to buy 25 per cent of the Port Talbot plant if a ''credible buyer'' can be found But David Cameron warned the rescue bid could fail if no firm puts forward a viable plan. Labour MP and committee chairman Ian Wright asked Jha, ''Can you pledge that Tata would be committed to keeping all of your steel facilities in the UK open, all jobs safeguarded within those facilities until such time as a buyer is found a deal formally done?'' Jha admitted, ''We cannot give any such commitment.'' Defending the timescale, he added, ''We have to remove uncertainty for our customers, for our employees, for our suppliers, for our shareholders ... by doing it in a very, very short time.'' UK Steel director Gareth Stace said the industry was ''in intensive care'', adding, ''This isn't just about Port Talbot, this isn't just about Tata this is a sector crisis that we are in.'' He called on the government to do more to improve competitiveness for the beleaguered industry. Coal scam: court orders framing of charges against Jindal, others A court in Delhi today ordered the framing of charges in a coal block allocation case involving the Jindal Group. Special Judge Bharat Parashar ordered that charges relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act be brought against former parliamentarian, industrialist and senior congress leader Naveen Jindal, former union minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and others. The court was hearing a case related to the allocation of Jharkhand's Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Gagan Sponge. The Central Bureau of Investigation said there was sufficient evidence to frame charges against the accused in a case related to the allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to these entities. Jindal, Rao, Koda and others have denied the allegations and sought being discharged from the case. The CBI in April last year filed a charge-sheet against Jindal, Koda, Rao, former coal secretary H C Gupta with six other individuals. The six others include New Delhi Exim director Suresh Singhal, Jindal Realty director Rajeev Jain, Gagan Sponge directors Girish Kumar Juneja and R K Saraf, Sowbhagya Media's managing director K Ramakrishna and chartered accountant Gyan Swaroop Garg. Five private companies -- four based in Delhi and one in Hyderabad -- have also been named in the chargesheet. The companies are Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt Ltd, Jindal Reality Pvt Ltd, New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd and Sowbhagya Media Ltd. Popular Ballybofey garage to shut its doors next week Popular Ballybofey garage to shut its doors next week By paddy Walsh For forty-three years the name Dunnions has been synonymous with the motoring industry in the Twin Towns. But on Monday next the bonnets will come down and the wheel braces put away for the last time when the well known Ballybofey establishment shuts its garage doors and motors into the pages of local history. Last year, Lidl Ireland made an offer for the site of Dunnions Whitehouse Motor Service, the adjacent Gregory Cottage and surrounding grounds on the town's Donegal Street. And after due consideration, proprietor Peter Dunnion agreed to take up the offer. "It will be very sad after having been so long in the business. I'll certainly miss the business and the clientele. We had a lot of very good customers down the years," said Peter yesterday. The original garage on the site was built by the late Mickey Bradley in 1935. Peter reflected on a conversation with Willie McGranaghan of Sessioghneill who worked there as a mechanic in 1940. "He told me his wages were 3-10 shillings per week." Peter and his brother, Michael, purchased the garage in 1958 at the knock down price of 15,900 when it went on the market with the estate agent being the late Seamus Meehan. Not that the motor trade was where Peter Dunnion expected to end up even if he always had an interest in the cars of that period. He had originally gone to England and took up employment in the hairdressing business which he remained in until 1967. Returning home, he secured a job in a Gents hairdressers in Omagh where he worked for a year. But unable to secure a permit, Peter was forced to give up his job. That coincided with the garage Mickey Bradley had built going on the market and a complete change of career for Peter Dunnion. It wasn't long before he realised he had a flare for selling cars and that he could make a decent living from it. He re-employed the same staff who had worked there previously including the late Michael Timony who was a sales manager and the mechanics, Frank Mullen and Maurice Dowds, both of whom are deceased, and Willie McGranaghan. Peter recalls the mid to late sixties when the Morris Minor and the Volkswagen Beetle were popular choices among car buyers at a price tag of 475. He also had the main dealership for Standard Triumph Motors in the county. "We sold a a huge amount of them throughout the North West," he maintains. A number of the mechanics who worked at Dunnions have on to open their own successful businesses including Seamus Gallagher, Tommy Gallen, Tommy Dullaghan, Joe Thompson and Harry Gillespie. Terence Doherty and his son, Barry, are due to open their own workshop after January 31st. As for Peter himself, he's unsure where his next venture will take him but wife, Angela, is now hoping to see more of him! "He'll miss it for sure but hopefully he can relax for a while." And while the people of the Twin Towns and surrounds will miss the presence of the long established garage and its employees, Peter considers that the arrival of a major multi-national will help transform the commercial face of Ballybofey bringing much needed employment for the future. A secondary school girls choir, directed by a Donegal woman, has wowed the Britain's Got Talent judges. Veronica McCarron (pictuted right), whose parents are from Irvinestown, was born in Scotland and lives in Ballyshannon area. Although now retired from teaching, she still travels to Kilkenny twice a month as musical director of the Presentation School Choir there. When the choir appeared on Britain's Got Talent last Saturday night, both they and their musical director made quite an impression. Ms McCarron's stylish glasses caught the attention of the normally hard to impress Simon Cowell. He told her, I like your glasses, by the way, you look cute. The remark prompted a wolf whistle from a member of the audience. This caused Ms McCarron to blush but the embarrassment didn't stop her from leading the choir into crowd-pleasing rendition of Karl Jenkins' Adiemus. The wonderful performance led the entire audience to spring to their feet. The judges - Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden, David Walliams and Simon Cowell - were equally impressed, unanimously voting the 57-strong choir, aged 14-18, through to the next round. Simon said the choreography was fantastic, Alesha and Amanda both praised Veronica while David Walliams said the choir was a beautiful blend of voices. The next day, the choir performed in front of 60,000 people, including President Michael D. Higgins, at the Dublin v Kerry match. Ballyshannon Drama Society return triumphant from the festival circuit with a final performance of Old Times before the All Ireland Finals. The Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon is hosting a Gala Night this Saturday, April 30, complete with music by John Mc Neill and Lorraine Walls, wine, finger food, and, of course, the last local presentation of the Harold Pinter classic. The play, directed by Conor Beattie, features Rachel OConnor as Kate, Richard Hurst as Deeley and Trish Keane as Anna. The story is set on a late summers eve when husband and wife Deeley and Kate welcome Anna, Kates old friend and flatmate, into their home. Over the course of the evening, and many brandies, the trio recall the old times in London, 20 years earlier. It soon becomes obvious, however, that not all memories are recalled equally, leading to tension and questions for everyoneincluding the audience. Old Times is considered by many to be one of Harold Pinters finest dramatic creations. First produced in 1971 in the Aldwych Theatre in London, starring Pinters first wife Vivien Merchant, the play has rarely been out of production since, and is currently enjoying a high profile revival on Broadway, starring Clive Owen, Eve Best and Kelly Reilly, with a score by Radioheads Thom Yorke. This production also marks a return to Ballyshannon for Harold Pinter, who performed in the town in 1952 as part of Anew McMasters touring company. This show has won a plethora of awards on the festival circuit: four 1st Place; three 2nd Place; 1 Third Place; Best Performer in Festival for Rachel O'Connor, and Best Actress for Rachel O'Connor as Kate; four Best Actor Awards for Richard Hurst; three Best Actress Awards for Trish Keane; four Best Director Awards for Conor Beattie; two Best Set Awards for John Travers; Four nominations for Best Lighting/Technical for Mark Fearon; and one Best Decor Award. Tickets for the Gala Night, which starts at 8.15pm are 15 from the Abbey Centre on 071 9851375. Ballyshannon Drama Society perform Old Times at the RTE All Ireland Drama Finals, Athlone on May 2. Phone Abbey Centre for more info. The late superstar known as Prince may never have played in Donegal but a number of years ago one of Donegals top companies paid tribute to this enigmatic artist by dedicating their shopfronts to him in their flagship store. General manager Stephen Harron told the Democrat, Really it was only a few years ago and to be honest it was more the lyrics of Purple Rain that inspired our designer Michelle McKee at the time. Lets face it we do get the odd few rainy days in Donegal but it was the colour purple that was the true inspiration. Drive all along west Donegal, or up the bog road to Pettigo and there is no shortage of that vibrant colour - the great spread of heathers , the rhododendrons - its just a blanket of colour. You could really say the purple is to Donegal is like what green is to Ireland. It is very much reflected in all our creations. We may be reintroduce Prince to our windows over the next few weeks as a tribute to the enjoyment he gave so many people. Halloween creatures owls, crows and bats all live at Crossroads, and that makes us very happy, for these scary animals make a positive contribution to the habitats of the preserve. We don't even mind black cats, IF they are kept indoors. Feral and outdoor cats are exceedingly harmful to wildlife ... and that's not a superstition! But to tamp down superstitions, we at Crossroads will spend the week demystifying Halloween creatures. On October 28, 2022, at 6 p.m. will be our Evening with Owls. The Open Door Bird Sanctuary will be at Crossroads, offering a one-hour presentation followed by the opportunity to meet and greet live birds. Learn all about owls and the other incredible birds in the care of the Sanctuary! Down through the centuries, in many cultures throughout the world, owls have been associated with evil and death. Truth is, owls probably are not smart enough to be evil. But researchers agree that owls are about as dim as the nighttime forests in which they hunt. Owls don't need to be smart. They have everything else going for them. They are muscular. They fly silently. Their huge eyes enable them to see in the dark. Their beaks and talons are strong and wickedly sharp. But their sensitive ears are what make owls extraordinary hunters. Most people assume that the plumicorns (a.k.a. "horns) of an owl are its ears. Not so. The actual ears lie under feathers on the sides of the head, and they aren't symmetrical. Because one ear is higher than the other and the ears are unequal in size, sound is different from different directions, helping owls locate prey, which they do almost unfailingly, even in total darkness. Owls do not smell their prey. As with most birds, the sense of smell is insignificant, if it exists are all. Great Horned Owls frequently prey on skunks. Enough said. But well-developed intelligence? Researchers have observed owls beating their wings on bushes to try to flush out little birds. Is this learned behavior? Is it problem-solving? Maybe. For the most part, owls do not have a lot of problems to solve. They appropriate abandoned nests of other birds, so they don't need building skills. They are stealthy by nature, and they pounce on and usually catch anything they hear, so they don't need hunting techniques. In spite of ghost stories, legends of American First People, and superstitions from Europe and India, hooting owls do not foretell impending death, although their nocturnal calls are spooky. We hear them now and then this time of year, but we will regularly hear those eerie calls at Crossroads in January or February. In contrast to owls, crows are noisy all year round and they are amazingly intelligent. They can learn. They can remember. They can solve problems. They can even identify individual humans. And they detest owls, though whether this is innate or learned behavior is not clear. Those curious about crows will want to attend the Crossroads Book Club on Wednesday, October 26, at 10:00 a.m. This month, the book Crow Planet, Essential Wisdom for the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt will explore the fascinating world of these remarkable birds. The program is free and open to all, whether or not they have read the book. So bring the family to our program on owls, learn about crows at the Crossroads Book Club, or learn about bats at our pre-school Junior Nature Club on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. or our Family Science Saturday program at 2:00 p.m. Costumes are encouraged but not required at Junior Nature Club and Science Saturday, and adult visitors are welcome. Residents interested in an initiative launched earlier this year to identify the needs of unemployed workers, and then connect them to resources, will have a chance to register for the initiatives first job readiness program next week. From 12 to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Get Hired Dothan will accept applications at the main branch of the Dothan-Houston County Library at 445 N. Oates St. for a one-week job readiness program. The program, which is free and set to begin Monday, May 16, is expected to offer training in resume writing, interview skills, social media etiquette, financial literacy, GED resources, and more. Only participants who apply to the program are able to register for the actual course. Tiana Patrice, an initiative partner, said a hiring fair will be held exclusively for those who finish the program. Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz launched Get Hired Dothan in March in an effort to bring awareness of available jobs in the area and the challenges facing employment. A goal of the initiative has been to find what jobs are available, what those jobs require, and the time frame it takes to prepare job seekers to meet those requirements. According to Get Hired Dothan, as many as 12 local businesses have partnered with the initiative. A high-speed chase with speeds exceeding 100 mph and two shootouts ended the manhunt for a fugitive wanted for murder and multiple armed robberies across Alabama and Florida. According to a statement from the Troy Police Department, police arrested Raymond Jerome Pruitt, 39, of Montgomery, around 2 p.m. Friday after he crashed the stolen Hyundai Tucson he was driving into the side of the roadway. Pruitt was wanted charges of murder and multiple armed robberies stretching from Montgomery to Pensacola, Florida. According to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service, law enforcement have charged Pruitt in connection with a crime spree that began on April 5 in Montgomery when he allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, and shot her with her own pistol as she tried to escape. According to the statement, Pruitt has since been identified and charged in five armed store robberies in Montgomery, Ozark, Troy and Prattville. According to a Troy police statement the following unfolded during Pruitts capture: Officers received an anonymous tip that Pruitt was in the Troy area. They found his vehicle at the Sunoco station on Highway 87 around 1:45 p.m. and saw him leaving the station and entering nearby Southland mobile home park. Officers attempted a felony traffic stop leading Pruitt to crash his vehicle through a chain link fence on Highway 87. Shots were fired at that scene . Pruitts vehicle crashed into a truck driven by Troy Police Chief Randall Barr, and then continued on Highway 87 toward Enterprise, with multiple officers in pursuit. The statement said speeds reached approximately 100 mph before Pruitts vehicle crashed. He attempted to flee the scene, and additional shots were fired before officers subdued him, Barr said in the statement. The officer-involved shootings are under investigation by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Barr said a weapon was found when Pruitt was arrested, and police believe it to be the gun used in the robberies. The U.S. Marshals statement said Pruitt was taken into custody after he crashed his vehicle into a tree. The U.S. Marshals statement also said Pruitt suffered non-life threatening injuries from the crash and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The Troy police statement said the arrest involved a multi-jurisdictional effort with officers from the Troy Police Department, the Pike County Sheriffs Office, Troy University and the Alabama State Troopers. According to the U.S. Marshals statement, Pruitt has since been identified and charged in five armed store robberies in Montgomery, Ozark, Troy and Prattville. The Escambia County Sheriffs Office in Pensacola, Florida, also identified Pruitt and charged him in the armed robbery on April 26 in Pensacola where he allegedly shot and killed a store clerk. According to the departments Facebook posts, sheriffs investigators have charged Pruitt with the robbery of the A&E Food Mart on Pace Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. During the robbery, the suspect shot and killed the clerk working behind the counter. The Escambia County Sheriffs Office charged Pruitt in the shooting death of 53-year-old Chung Lun Chiang, the owner of the A&E Food Mart. Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walker said police charged Pruitt with the robbery of the Shell Station on U.S. 231 and Deese Road on April 20. Walker said even though Pruitt is from Montgomery, it's believed he has family in the Troy and Ozark area. According to a statement from Central Alabama Crime Stoppers, Pruitt faces eight felony charges from four different law enforcement agencies. The statement said Pruitt faces five felony counts of first-degree robbery, first-degree domestic violence, attempted murder and first-degree theft of property. A $5,000 reward has been offered by the Humane Society of the United States for information leading to an arrest in the recent dumping of a mother dog and her 11 puppies in Barbour County. According to a HSUS statement and the Clayton Police Department, the 11 puppies and their mother were found inside a sealed black garbage bag last weekend. The mother and one puppy were found dead. All of the dogs were found on the ground near the Barbour County Health Department in Clayton on Sunday, April 24. Renee Klein, with PAL of Barbour County Inc., said volunteers with the nonprofit organization are taking the puppies into foster care. She said the 10 surviving puppies appeared to be around two days old when they were found last Sunday. She said the mother and puppies appeared to be a Labrador mixture breed. A report was filed with the Clayton Police Department, which is investigating what happened to the dogs. The Clayton Police department takes animal abuse seriously and if the proper information is forthcoming, criminal charges will be levied, said the Clayton Police Chief Jamey Williams through a HSUS statement. Klein and volunteers with PAL of Barbour County Inc. passed out fliers this week seeking information about who abandoned the dogs. Alabama has laws in place to protect defenseless animals from this type of cruel treatment and I hope the reward will bring the necessary information to light resulting in an arrest and criminal charges, said Mindy Gilbert, the Alabama senior state director for the HSUS. Anyone with information about who abandoned the dogs can call the Clayton Police Department at 334-775-8011. Alabama lawmakers passed a measure this week that would have a great impact for some families wrestling with particular difficult-to-treat medical conditions. The bill to decriminalize a cannabis derivative passed both houses with overwhelming support, and goes to Gov. Robert Bentley to be signed into law. The measure overcame the misperception associating cannbidiol with marijuana, the plant from which it is derived. Cannabidiol is marijuana oil containing minute amounts of the active ingredient of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The amount of THC in marijuana oil doesnt trigger the reaction that marijuana does; however, it does provide relief for some patients suffering from seizures. Some Alabama residents with children whose medical conditions are drastically improved by CBD oil have moved to other states so that the oil can be legally procured. The Alabama bill clears the way for CBD oil containing up to .3 percent THC. A study at the University of Alabama in Birmingham is underway with Epidiolex, a pharmacy-grade oil that contains .2 percent THC; a March report on the trials estimated about half of the patients in the study experienced sustained improvement in seizure control, according to the Associated Press. Lawmakers should be commended for clearing legal hurdles in the pursuit of research for new strategies for vexing medical challenges. Fort Rucker general awards Ozark woman lifetime achievement award BY EBONY DAVIS OZARK Mary Jane Collins said she was a child growing up in north Alabama when she first caught a glimpse of Fort Rucker while visiting her uncle, who was stationed there. She said she didnt realize then that she would marry out of college her schoolmate, Clarence Ray Collins, and travel the world with him as a military spouse before retiring and serving in the Wiregrass area. Fort Rucker Commanding General, Maj. Gen. William K. Gayler, presented the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award to Collins earlier this month at a Volunteer Award Ceremony at the post for her commitment to assisting military families and spouses for several decades. According to the Army Flier, the award was one of six given among more than 100 volunteers recognized by the Fort Rucker leadership for contributing hundreds of hours of service to the Army and Fort Rucker through various efforts, saving Fort Rucker more than $825,000. After Collins' husband retired after 28 years of service, she and her husband made their home in Ozark. She said her recognition as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient was a testament of the courage and service of so many others. I inherited a legacy of service from my grandparents and parents. I have been privileged to witness through the years examples of people who continue to contribute to the lives of others, and have been enriched myself through the process, she said. Any contribution I make to others, I truly contribute to the Lord. Collins, who has served in multiple capacities with family-based organizations at each military post in which her husband was stationed, was a pianist, youth officer and board member in her church in Hartselle before graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in secondary education. She said she joined her husband after her first year of teaching while he completed flight school. She has taught high school honors English in Alabama, Texas and Mannheim, Germany. Collins connected with military wives groups and volunteer organizations in duty stations throughout the United States and in Germany and Korea. She was recognized for the Fort Rucker award for her role as an officer or board member of many spouses clubs, and especially the Fort Rucker Community Spouses Club, where she assisted with fundraisers and community involvement programs. On Fort Rucker, Collins is known for her service at Lyster Army Hospital, tutoring at the elementary school, and participation in post chapel events. Collins continues to participate in various capacities with her church, Ozark First United Methodist Church, and in annual Claybank heritage celebrations held in Ozark. Collins is currently chaplain of the spouses club and a member and past president of the Retired Officers Wives Association. She is currently the Retired Officers' Wives Association liaison, and serves on five administrative boards. Collins said she considers nothing exceptional about the commitment she makes to others, but that she was humbled by Fort Ruckers award. I appreciate the friendships, and knowing that each one of us has a special gift to offer to the community. So many others share this award because of their contribution into our lives, she said. We as military wives have a connection through our experience within the military lifestyle and we share some of the concerns and the joys that we have experienced. As retired wives we try to continue to mentor and support the active duty personnel and family members, and serve the community in various ways. In addition to Collins award, five others were recognized as volunteers of the year. They were as follows, according to the Army Flier : Angel Brown, Youth Volunteer of the Year; Staff Sgt. John Koones, Active-Duty Volunteer of the Year; Sue Hunt, Adult Volunteer of the Year; the Brown family, Volunteer Family of the Year; and Tori Evans, the Helping Hand Award. 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. Dabur posts positive results; lift in Nepal's blockade recoups Revenues Dabur India, the FMCG giant known for its personal products, has posted better than expected Q4FY16 results. This home grown company has seen a marginal growth QoQ; but YoY results have given a double digit growth. Companys consolidated Revenues have come in at Rs 2161.3 crores in this quarter as against Rs 2127 crores in Q3FY16, an increase of 1.6 per cent. Companys EBITDA has come in at Rs. 415.35 crores as against Rs. 378.19 crores, an increase of 9.8 per cent. Companys Food business has seen a substantial growth of 84.7 per cent at Rs 309.85 crore as against Rs 167.72 crore in the last quarter. On the contrary, December quarter Revenues from Food business had seen a decline of 38.2 per cent after operations at its juice manufacturing plant was hit by a prolonged border blockade imposed by Nepals Madhesi people. The blockade was later lifted recently in February which brought the revenues back on track. Companys Net Profit stands at Rs 331.93 crore in Q4FY16 as compared to Rs 318.79 crore in the last quarter i.e. an increase of 4.2 per cent. Accordingly Food Business has seen a net profit growth of 252.7 per cent at Rs 43.85 crore. The Year on Year (YOY) results show that, Companys consolidated Revenues have risen 10.9 per cent which was Rs 1949.7 crore in the same quarter last year. EBITDA of company has risen 20.2 per cent from Rs 345.65 crore YOY. Net profit (PAT) too has witnessed an increase of 16.6 per cent from Rs 284.76 crore. March 2016 closed on a positive note for Dabur India. Companys consolidated Revenues have increased by 8.1 per cent at Rs. 8435.95 crore for the year ended March 2016 as compared to Rs 7806.37 crore for FY15. EBITDA has surged at Rs. 1519.78 crore for FY16 as compared to Rs 1316.41 crore in FY15, an increase of 15.4 per cent. Net profit too has grown from Rs 1065.83 crore in FY15 to Rs 1252.71 crore in FY16, an increase of 17.5 per cent. Dabur India stock is trading at Rs 272.55 i.e. an increase of 1.08 per cent. It's about time they stopped acting the maggot and formed a government becuase all they're doing at the moment is shaking the life out of post offices and trying to colse them down. the comment was made last week by Ardee postmaster Michael Farrelly as the Department for Social Protection made moves to get social welfare payments processed through the banks. The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) said the department is systematically transferring post office business to the private banks and has called on the acting Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to immediately cease and reverse this policy. The IPU has met with Minister Burton to highlight their frustration following a letter which the department sent to casual and part-time workers, seeking their bank details for future payment. The letter made no reference to the post offices, or that people could continue using the post office if they choose. Postmasters said customers believed they had no choice and are being forced to the banks where they are faced with bank charges in order to collect their payments. IPU vice president and north east spokesperson Ciaran McEntee said Minister Burton had refused to withdraw the letters and to cease the transfer of post office business to the banks. Social protection transactions accounts for 50 per cent of our business. Taking this work away from us will close post offices all around the country, Michael Farrelly said. We cant understand why the minister is applying this policy when there is very strong public support for local post offices. The IPU collected half a million public signatures before the election calling on the Government support the network. A working group supported by the Government, An Post and the IPU, is developing a five-year plan to grow and diversify post office services. So you have a group led by the Department of Communications working to develop post offices, while the Department of Social Protection is sending letters that will close them down? Its just crazy. Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain. Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred. For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here. The YMCA's Healthy Kids Day will be held Saturday. (CONTRIBUTED) Free Family Fitness Classes in our Aerobic Room & Pool Niagara County Sheriff Dept. Child Safety Seat Inspection Fitness Screening height, weight, BMI, strength & flexibility measured for 6 year olds plus. Sports Challenge test your sports and game skills, while you learn a few new skills for the 12 year old and under crowd. Health & Youth Fair local community agencies will share their youth health tips Youth Obstacle Course Lockport City Firefighters will test your fire fighting abilities Preschool Fun - exercise with our Preschool staff and take home a YMCA craft project Healthy Snacks learn more about nutrition and make your own healthy snack Youth Fitness Center Orientation tour the fitness center and learn the YMCA fitness policies for teens Outdoor Education & Nature Activities get ready for summer with Camp Kenan staff Lobby Games share family time by playing lobby games like pool, foosball and ping-pong Family Open Swim enjoy free time for the whole family in the Y pool Family Open Gym spend some quality family time shooting hoops Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope. The Lockport Family YMCA will hold a free community event Saturday to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active -- the 25 th annual YMCAs Healthy Kids Day.The day-long event features activities such as games, fitness screenings, demonstrations, arts and crafts to motivate and teach families how to develop healthy routines at home.YMCAs Healthy Kids Day, celebrated at over 1,300 Ys across the country by over 1.2 million participants, works to get more kids moving and learning, creating habits that they continue all summer long, which is a critical time for kids health.When kids are out of school, they can face hurdles that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Research shows that without access to out-of- school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically. Kids also gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year. As spring turns to summer, Healthy Kids Day is a powerful reminder not to let children idle away their summer days. Instead, the Y hopes to focus on wowing them with their potential and make this their best summer ever by staying active and learning.The Y believes in the potential of all children, and we strive to help kids find the 'wow' factor inside themselves. A childs development is never on vacation and Healthy Kids Day is a great opportunity to educate families and motivate kids to stay active in spirit, mind and body throughout the summer, said Laurie Ferris, Youth Director of the Lockport Family YMCA.Saturday's schedule follow:8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.11 a.m. - 1 p.m.1 - 4 p.m.Those that join the Y on Saturday will have their joiner fee waived -- a $25 - $75 savings. There will also be raffles, giveaways, prizes, family fun and more! For more information, contact the Y at 434-8887 or visit www.LockportYMCA.com. Check out East Niagara Post videos on YouTube, Vine and Periscope. WHEATFIELD -- The makers of Original Pizza Logs have will break ground on its new Wheatfield facility at 10 a.m. Tuesday, marking the latest chapter in the story of a company that started making its products by hand in the back of a Niagara Falls convenience store more than a quarter-century ago.Jason Cordova, the owner of Finger Food Products, Inc., the maker of Original Pizza Logs, and an assortment of county, town and city leaders will be on-hand at a groundbreaking ceremony where Cordovas flagship product is set to take center stage -- with samples sure to be on-hand.Were pleased with our companys growth profile since we began partnering with the Niagara County Center for Economic Development, Cordova said. He noted that, prior to acquiring the site where the Original Pizza Logs manufacturing facility is set to be built, he utilized business incubator space at the Vantage Point building.The chairwoman of the Niagara County Legislatures Economic Development Committee, Legislator Kathryn Lance, R-Wheatfield, said county officials were pleased to be retaining a popular brand associated with Western New York in the county.People know that Original Pizza Logs grew up here, in Niagara County, in the same way they associate chicken wings with Buffalo, Lance said. We were able to provide an environment that fostered private capital investment and job creation, and we are glad that Original Pizza Logs will continue to be a Niagara County brand. By pushing legislation they may not fully understand, lawmakers would be harming more than abortion providers. Theres a reason legislators should leave the medical decision-making to doctors and patients: medical care isnt their area of expertise. And in their haste to appease anti-choice voters, Michigan legislators are pushing poorly written legislation that could have serious unintended consequences including hampering the work of hospitals and researchers. Since I wrote about SB 564 and SB 565 a set of fetal tissue bills that would outlaw the already-illegal practice of selling fetal tissue for a profit it has been voted on and passed in the Michigan Senate. Next stop for these bills would be the House Health Policy Committee, where they would decide if the bills should come to a vote on the House floor. But these bills shouldnt go anywhere, and certainly not as written. One section in particular would have the disastrous outcome of imposing criminal penalties on doctors, researchers and other medical providers who are simply doing their jobs. In February 2016, ACLU of Michigan Legislative Director Shelli Weisberg wrote to Senator Jim Stamas, one of the co-sponsors of SB 564 and 565, expressing concerns about the language of the bills, particularly Section 2 of SB 564. Weisberg makes the case perfectly in her letter, so Ill let her explain: it is already illegal to profit from the procurement and contribution of fetal tissue for research. However, an entity can collect the reasonable cost of procurement and transfer of fetal tissue, which follows exactly the same rules as procurement of organ donation. This would include the expenses incurred for storing, packaging and hiring a company to transport to a lab tissue or organs for research. SB 564 and 565 seek to go further and prohibit the reimbursement of the cost of procurement for fetal tissue designated for research if that tissue is the result of an elective abortion. In Sec 2690 (2) of SB 564, there is a more expansive prohibition against anyone financially benefiting from or receiving ANY type of compensation for the distribution or transfer of a portion of an embryo obtained as a result of an elective abortion. [] This section (2) means that a company that stores and transports medical tissue and organs, or a company that is a medical waste disposal company could not accept payment for their services if the medical products included tissue from an elective abortion. Here is why this is so problematic and likely beyond the intent of this legislation. 1. Doctors and hospitals perform abortions due to fatal or severe fetal anomalies and the parents often decide to have the tissue either donated or sent to a lab for genetic testing to determine if the mother should risk becoming pregnant in the future. Severe fetal anomalies are devastating to a family. Important and lifesaving research is being conducted to help women understand whether they face a recurring risk, and asking a woman with a history of fatal fetal anomaly to bring a pregnancy to term or wait for a spontaneous expulsion of a fetus that she knows will not survive is horribly cruel. This bill contains no exception for that. This section of the bill would make it a crime for a transfer company to take that tissue to a lab, or for a medical waste disposal company to receive that fetal tissue. 2. Doctors and hospitals often perform a D&C due to an impending miscarriage. Although SB 564 makes an exception for a miscarriage, there is no consensus on when a miscarriage is complete. For example, some women actively miscarry for several days before the fetus is spontaneously expelled. This can be dangerous because the woman can become septic during a prolonged miscarriage, which is why most hospitals will perform a D&C. But some hospitals wont call it a miscarriage as long as there is a fetal heartbeat. The risk is that if the D&C is performed before the fetus has died, a zealous prosecutor might decide it was an elective procedure and the medical waste company that is hired by the hospital or doctors office would be subject to criminal penalties under this section of the bill. Despite Weisbergs well-presented and legitimate concerns, the language of Section 2 remains in SB 564. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan is troubled by the potential impact on medical research, too. Heres what the organization said in a message to supporters explaining how SB 564 and SB 565 would limit fetal tissue research in Michigan by placing unprecedented restrictions on the regulated, legal and life-saving practice of fetal tissue donation: Historically, fetal tissue research has led to life-saving vaccines and treatments for polio, measles, shingles, rabies, and Hepatitis A, among many other diseases and conditions. Just last month, fetal tissue research findings on the Zika virus were published. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognizes the value of fetal tissue as a critical resource for lifesaving research for many diseases and debilitating conditions. Its obvious that SB 564 and SB 565 were pushed through the Michigan Senate to appease anti-choice voters. It cant be a coincidence that the bills suddenly moved after sitting for months and were put to a vote in the Senate on Right to Life of Michigans 2016 Legislative Day in Lansing. But its hard to believe that even the most zealous anti-choice legislators would be so reckless as to punish medical providers and researchers for simply doing their jobs. The Michigan Legislature needs to understand the dangerous repercussions of passing this legislation. Contact House Health Policy Committee Rep. Mike Callton not to bring SB 564 and SB 565 before the committee. Passing redundant laws is, at best, a waste of time. But placing criminal penalties on hospitals, doctors, researchers and other medical providers for delivering lifesaving care and advancing vital research would be an act of legislative malpractice. [Image via Pixabay.] Facebook on Wednesday announced its board of directors is proposing a new class of shares that will allow its founder to pursue a number of different initiatives while maintaining long-term control over the company. The news came on the heels of a blockbuster first quarter earnings report. The plan calls for Facebook to offer non-voting Class C capital stock, which will allow CEO Mark Zuckerberg to pursue his long-term vision, as well as outside philanthropic work, while protecting Facebook from a dilution of voting stock and mitigating risk of a succession plan. Zuckerberg is committed to the long-term success of the company, he wrote in a note posted Wednesday, and he intends to stay focused on initiatives like growing the use of video, increasing the availability of high-speed Internet around the world, and developing artificial intelligence and virtual reality. He and his wife Priscilla have pledged to give away the vast majority of their Facebook shares through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, he noted, in an effort to better society at large. While helping to connect the world will always be the most important thing I do, there are more global challenges that I feel a responsibility to help solve, Zuckerberg said. Like helping to cure all diseases by the end of this century, upgrading our educational system so its personalized for each student and protecting our environment from climate change. The companys quarterly earnings report didnt hurt his case. Facebook announced an 87 percent in adjusted first-quarter earnings to more than US$2.2 billion, or 77 cents a share, beating Wall Street estimates. Shares hit an all-time high of $120.79 on Thursday, before closing at $116.73, an increase of more than 7 percent above Wednesdays close. Shares closed Friday at $117.58. Believe in Mark Facebooks board believes that a large part of the companys success is thanks to Zuckerbergs leadership and that the company will need that leadership to ensure its long term success, wrote General Counsel Colin Stretch in a Wednesday post. When the company was created, a dual class structure was set up in part to avoid some of the short-term pressures that can be placed on a startup, he explained. Under the new plan, for every Class A and Class B share owned by an investor, Facebook plans to give out two new Class C shares. The shares will have the same economic rights as Class A and Class B, but the Class C shares will have no voting rights. The plan will be subject to shareholder approval at the companys annual meeting on June 20; however the actual record date for the payment will be set by the board at a later date, Stretch said. Class A shares will continue to trade under the FB stock symbol, but Class C shares will trade under a different symbol, following payment of the dividend. Stockholders will be able to continue to trade the Class C shares. Investors should feel comfortable that Zuckerberg has guided the company on the right path with his pursuit of video and research and development, remarked Brian Blau, research vice president at Gartner. Best for Everyone? However, the new stock structure might not be the best long-term move for the company, according to Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research. Everything goes through lifecycles, including companies and industries, and what you often find is that the management that excels in one phase of the company or the industry life cycle, does not excel in others, he told the E-Commerce Times. Is Zuckerberg one of the very few people that can lead the company through multiple cycles like Steve Jobs? he wondered. Is he an entrepreneur genius that should be focused on his next startup? Or is he a lucky one-hit wonder? An army of 39,000 workers this week went on strike against Verizon in one of the biggest labor actions in the U.S. in several years. Fast food workers have joined in a show of support, and both Democratic candidates for president have entered the fray. Thousands of wireline workers from Massachusetts to Virginia walked off the job at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning after the company was unable to reach an agreement with labor leaders on health benefits, flexibility to utilize technicians away from home, and a host of other issues. Verizon has trained thousands of non-union employees under a contingency plan to make sure customers are not disrupted by the massive strike, the company said. The two sides appear to be hardened in their positions, and an immediate resolution does not appear to be on the table. Were more than prepared, and thats our primary focus right now meeting the needs of our customers with minimal disruption, Verizon spokesperson Ray McConville told the E-Commerce Times. Verizons Story Company negotiators have worked hard over the past 10 months to find a resolution with unionized workers, represented by the Communication Workers of America and the IBEW, Verizon maintained. Unionized workers have an agenda that is rooted in the past and ignores todays digital realities, said Marc Reed, chief administrative officer at Verizon. The average wage and benefit package of 36,000 employees involved in the strike is US$130,000 per year, according to Verizon. About 99 percent of those workers support the wireline business, which provided 29 percent of the companys revenue in 2015 but only 7 percent of its operating income. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service on Monday offered to provide mediation if the unions would extend the strike deadline, Reed noted, but they declined. The Unions Side Among the workers beefs is that Verizon has sent more than 5,000 jobs overseas and wants to outsource even more jobs, including call center jobs, according to CWA spokesperson Candice Johnson. Verizon wants to make technicians work up to four months away from home in the mid-Atlantic region in order to help make repairs to the network or do emergency work, she told the E-Commerce Times. Thats one reason Bernie Sanders and other politicians have joined the picket line, Johnson said, which resonated well with working class people who feel that the economy is rigged against them. These companies are not sharing, if you will, the increased productivity gains with the workers at all, Johnson maintained. Verizon has told them it is heavily focused on the needs of its wireless business at the expense of its landline business, she noted. The company is under investigation for allegedly failing keep promises to build out broadband infrastructure in several jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania, some parts of New York City, and other communities, Johnson pointed out. Promises to Keep Verizon is in the wrong in this dispute, said analyst Craig Settles, who follows the broadband industry closely. The workers have legitimate concerns, and these are also the concerns of customers and businesses that use Verizon services, he told the E-Commerce Times. The buildout issue is of particular resonance, he said, noting that these communities in many cases exemplify the struggle to get adequate service for low-income and rural communities that Verizon and other telecoms do not view as potentially profitable. Intense speculation that Verizon would put its wireline business up for sale began circulating late last year. I think if Verizon could snap their heels together and make a wish, they would want to get out of local phone service, wireless industry analyst Jeff Kagan told the E-Commerce Times. Verizon has gone from nearly 100 percent market share 10 and 20 years ago to roughly 30 percent today, and its still dropping. Meanwhile, the company is one of the leading candidates to acquire the Web assets of Yahoo in an effort to build up its content business, which includes America Online. 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As a girl, I found pieces of myself in the characters of Ramona, Anne of Green Gables, Laura Ingalls, Jo March, Harriet the Spy, Jane Eyre. By the time I got out of college, like any bright-eyed 20-something, I was searching for myself. I had taken my share of psychology classes. Armed with my now-tattered volume of Carl Jungs Memories, Dreams, and Reflections, I decided to take the Myers-Briggs personality test. Back then, before the age of the Internet, you had to find somebody to administer it. I seem to remember quite a lot of questions about parties. Its Friday night. Would you rather attend a party or stay home and read a book? Read a book. At a party, do you get tired and leave early or are you the last one to leave? Leave early, so I can go home and read a book. Would you rather spend time alone or host a dinner party? Spend time alone so I can read a book. You get the idea. I had to wait a week for the results. When I returned to the testing center, I sat across from a thin-faced, bespectacled woman in sensible shoes. I confess my palms were sweaty, and my heart was pounding a bit. After all, I was about to discover who I was. The woman looked over my scores, peered at me over her glasses, and said: I dont know what to tell you. You should have been a nun. Call me bookworm. We live in a world full of noise, a world full of sparkle and glitter, an extroverted world, and I had just discovered that I was an off-the-charts introvert. These days, I have only to close my eyes to go back to the chaos and noise of my 3rd grade playground. But when the crowds of the cafeteria and the pushes and shoves of the playground got to be too much, guess where an introvert like me could always go to be at home? A small, nearly hidden, often-dusty corner of the schoolthe library. Reading saved me. Not only did the library provide quiet and a safe haven, it also gave me a community of young Emily Dickinsons and Charles Schulzes who loved books as much as I did; a librarian who gave me the opportunity to feel a part of something by inviting me to stamp date-due cards and shelve books and create book displays; and a wider community of fictional friends in books. The school library made me less lonely. In Susan Cains Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Cant Stop Talking, she points out that without introverts, we would not have van Goghs sunflowers or the personal computer, Chopins music or the theory of relativity. Imagine a world without the Cat in the Hat or Charlie Brown or Harry Potter. These were born of an interior space where the introvert goes to find strength and creativity and inspiration, to know ones self, to find expression, to find voice. For many children, the school library is their only access to books. Without it, they are missing out on an entire universe of learning." In our overscheduled world, this space can be hard to find. Cain speaks to the urgent need to create restorative niches in our overwhelmingly busy schools and workplaces. The school library is just such an oasis. We use the expression to get lost in a story. But in a story, I was found. That began, at my school library. It shaped who I was to become, who I am. I created my book-series character Judy Moody out of the universe of the introvert, but I wanted her to be able to meet the world. The award-winning childrens author Katherine Paterson has said of being an introvert: To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another. I wanted Judy to be flawed and fearless, in her own way. For some of us, the call of the wild is the call of the book. I will be forever grateful that the school library called me home. As a young student and reader, then a librarian, then a writer and author, Ive been connected with school libraries my whole life. Ive visited school libraries that were nothing but a laundry basket of books on the school bus and those that have mahogany-shelved, green-glass-lamped reading rooms to rival New York Publics famous one. I read recently that in my home state of California, its possible to enter kindergarten and graduate from high school never having gone to a school that has a library . This stopped me. How is that possible? I cant imagine a childhood without a school library. It breaks my heart that not every school has a library, and not every school library has a librarian. After all, the school library is all about access to books. Its also about the librarian, ones best advocate for getting those books into the hands of children. For many children, the school library is their only access to books. Without it, they are missing out on an entire universe of learning and creativity and imagination, a world of story. I remember taking a storytelling class when I was in library school in the mid-1980s. I remember someone telling a story about an indigenous people of southern Africa. The details may be fuzzy now, but the significance has stayed with me all these years. They had a tradition of firelight storytelling every evening. Then they were given a television. They watched it the first night. But on the second night, they returned to the fireside to listen to the storyteller. They were asked why. Why go back to the storyteller, whose tales you have already heard, when the television had new ones every night? Their reply: The storyteller knows us. Similarly, I was visiting a local school a few days ago in honor of School Library Month. The library was dark, as in closed, when I first arrived. The librarian, you see, doubled as an aide in a 1st grade classroom. Inside that small library, snug on a reading rug, surrounded by books, I asked a group of 2nd graders why they thought the school library was important. One child told me she wished the librarian were there every day. Why? I asked. She knows me, answered the child. I can tell her that I read Judy Moody, and shell find me another really good book to read. And guess whatshe doesnt even have to look it up on the computer! Magic. The EIB Group, formed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund (EIF), is providing EUR 100 million for a private equity fund designed to support investment in midcaps mainly in the technology and industry sectors. With a first closing of EUR 400 million, the fund has also attracted a EUR 100 million participation by the Centre for Technological and Industrial Development (CDTI) as well as private investment. This is the first operation signed in Spain in 2016 under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and the first fund supported by EFSI aimed at capitalising tech and industrial firms. The EUR 40 million provided by the EIB comes on top of the EUR 60 million committed by the EIF, making a joint EIB Group participation of EUR 100 million that sparked the interest of private investors and enabled the fund to achieve its target size of EUR 400 million at first closing. Managed by N+1 Capital Privado, S.G.E.I.C., the fund will take majority stakes in unlisted Spanish and Portuguese companies. It is designed to invest in mid-sized firms with strong international growth potential, focusing mainly on the tech and industry sectors. Individual equity investments will range from EUR 35 million to EUR 75 million. Signing the agreement, Roman Escolano, EIB Vice-President said that this equity participation is representative of what we want to do under the Investment Plan for Europe and demonstrates the EIB Groups commitment to fostering the growth of mid-sized tech and industrial companies. I would also like to underline the Groups close cooperation with CDTI in this operation. European Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said: "The agreement signed today under the Investment Plan for Europe is excellent news for technology-oriented companies in Spain and Portugal. Each week, the EFSI is helping small and medium-sized businesses all over Europe gain access to the finance they need to grow their companies and create local jobs." Ely, Cambridgeshire is best known for its majestic cathedral dubbed the 'Ship of the Fens' because it dominates the flat landscape. The city, which is the second smallest in England, is about 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about 80 miles by road from London. 07:48, 24 OCT 2022 February 24, 2022, the day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, will go down as a tragic date not only for the Ukrainian people, but also for the whole civilised world. Bishop brands same-sex marriage law a 'well intentioned mistake' Marriage - and the concept that underpins it - is not a "generalist term" and should not be used as such on the Isle of Man. That's the opinion of the Island's Bishop who voted against the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill being introduced earlier this week. He was joined in his opposition to legalise same-sex marriage by MLCs David Anderson and Geoff Corkish and MHKs Eddie Teare, Chris Robertshaw and Zac Hall. Despite their efforts the bill passed and is now awaiting Royal Assent - Robert Paterson said he made his decision with a "heavy heart": Media Robert Paterson Vanderpump Rules has officially been renewed for a fifth season. On Wednesday, Bravo announced the renewal of 14 of its shows and on the docket for a late 2016 premiere is the SUR Lounge-based series. "Bravo has ordered new seasons of 14 of its current series, including new installments of 'Real Housewives' set in Orange County, Beverly Hills and Atlanta," The Wrap reported. "Other renewed series include 'Manzod with Children,' 'Flipping Out,' and 'Dont Be Tardy,' which will premiere in the summer, and 'Married to Medicine Atlanta,' 'Below Deck,' 'Ladies of London,' 'Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles,' 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' and 'Vanderpump Rules,' which will premiere later in 2016." Months ago, Kristen Doute spoke of the show's possible return. "We assume so," Doute said during an appearance on Inappropriate Earl, via Fashion & Style. "We haven't gotten the official word yet, but this is the longest season we've ever had. They can't really tell us, 'No.' Our ratings are good. I mean, that would be a huge mistake [to cancel]." "I think there are certain new cast members that definitely put a little bit of a show on. I don't buy it, James [and] Lala," Doute continued. "For myself and the core cast, we've been [real] since day one. Trust me, if I was trying to amp it up [for the show], that would not work in my benefit." When the host brought up Ariana Madix's season four negativity, Doute said she and her co-stars were hoping she'd quit the show befor season five. "That's kind of how we all feel," Kristen responded to the claim that Ariana is always negative on the show. "F**king quit. Do us all a favor." As for what fans can expect out of the new season, Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz are currently engaged and planning to wed, which could be featured, and when it comes to Stassi Schroeder, her return to a full-time role seems likely now that she's close with nearly all of her co-stars. Vanderpump Rules season five will air on Bravo later this year. Despite vast capital growth in Sydney and Melbourne prime residential markets over the seven-year period to December 2015; overall the broader mainstream markets have significantly outperformed. The value of prime (luxury) global residential property markets globally rose on average by 1.8% in 2015 according to the Knight Frank Prime International Residential Index (PIRI); similar to the 2% growth recorded a year earlier. Ranking the top 100 cities in the PIRI 100, Vancouver leads the rankings by some margin, with prices accelerating 24.5% in 2015. Sydney follows in second place, with growth of 14.8%. Many comparisons can be drawn between the two cities a lack of prime supply, coupled with foreign demand, spurred on by a weaker Canadian (and Australian) dollar are factors explaining both cities stellar performances. Melbourne prime property was ranked 6th globally with prices growing 11.9% in 2015. Price growth in the Sydney and Melbourne prime residential markets, although lagged, has generally followed an upward trajectory in the Australian share market, when indexed to December 2008. Post the Lehmans collapse to December 2015, coming off a lower base, the Melbourne prime market recorded cumulative growth of 31% while prime Sydney prices grew by 30%. Despite this vast capital growth in both prime markets over the seven-year period to December 2015, the broader mainstream market in Sydney and Melbourne significantly outperformed at 80% and 52% respectively. In late 2008 and the years following, the federal government introduced several fiscal stimulus packages, including an extension to the First Home Owners Grant. This resulted in a recovery of the mainstream market at a faster rate than the prime market in 2009 and into the first half of 2010. Since this time, the upswing in the share market, along with other stimulus such as favourable business conditions and more recently a stable political environment has renewed the confidence in the prime end of the market. Across the past decade there has been limited new supply of prime residential properties built by global standard; especially within close proximity to the Sydney CBD and with uninterrupted harbour views. However, over the next 10 years, there are potentially three prime residential towers in the revamped Circular Quay precinct; within close proximity to the renovated Circular Quay wharves and the new Sydney Light Rail Terminal. There are another four towers in Barangaroo proposed, including part of the new Crown Casino. In the pipeline for Melbourne city, One Queensbridge will accommodate high-end luxury with the most expensive apartments Melbourne has yet to experience, as well as Australia 108, which is now under construction. Both are well-positioned for vantage points along the Yarra River, and enjoy views of the CBD. There continues to be limited new stock available at the high end of the market in prime locations especially in Sydney yet there is continued demand from foreign buyers not meeting the investment migrants criteria of the Significant and Premium Investment Visas. These foreign buyers must buy a new property in order to comply with the federal governments foreign investment regulation. This demand for foreign buyers comes at a time when the purchasing power of the lower Australian dollar has been much stronger, notwithstanding a recent rally. Many foreign buyers have already seen success in other global cities after buying into new projects where new life has emerged in once obsolete inner-city areas; these buyers are now in a position to add a Sydney or Melbourne property to their global portfolio. Looking forward, Knight Frank has analysed the annual prime residential price growth for 10 global cities in 2015 and forecast prices in 2016. Sydney prime is expected to remain the best performer, although the pace of price growth is expected to slow from close to 15% year-on-year in 2015 to 10% in 2016. Melbourne prime is likely to see annual growth closer to 6%. Australias economic slowdown, uncertainty surrounding the Australian leadership with a federal election looming, weaker share market performance in the past 12 months and the new foreign investment fees explains the lower rate of growth likely in 2016. It is time to break the mythical divide between general higher education that raises consciousness, and professional education that is instrumental to employment and marketable research. Media discourses surrounding the events at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have revealed a sharp polarity in views on the meaning and purpose of higher education. Is public funded higher education in a developing country meant to produce thinking citizens or employable youth? Should taxes fund scholarship that has no impact, nor is market friendly, at least, in the short term? Is political activity on campuses a distraction from academic pursuits? Each of these questions has pointed to a fundamental divide, or what seems to be a black and white choice between a higher education that raises consciousness and illuminates the horizon, and one that must be instrumental to employment and marketable research. In the Indian scenario it plays out through the increasingly unsustainable, and somewhat facile, divide between general higher education and what is known as professional education. Impact of Policy A discourse that dichotomises the important roles of higher education is perhaps a reflection of a system that has come to be gripped by very narrow disciplinary and vocational confines. Colonial policies recast in new moulds at the time of independence and during economic reform established such a framework. Occupational education, as it was first designated by the Woods Despatch of 1854, acquired fresh significance after 1947. In colonial India, such education serviced the need for artisans, artificers and other technical personnel in the public works. On the eve of independence, the Sarkar Committee situated technical education at the heart of nation building through industrialisation. The Radhakrishnan Commission felt the need to break away from a liberal arts emphasis in colonial educationone that produced civil servants and white collar workers. The National Policy of Education 1986 reinforced the separate universes occupied by technical and general higher education. Following economic reforms in the 1990s, private engineering colleges expanded rapidly, particularly in regions touched by the information technology sector (Krishnan 2014). Technical Education for Development In Nehrus India, higher education in general and scientific education in particular was envisaged as a crucial agent of socio-economic transformation. Science and technology at the service of industrialisation would promote economic self-sufficiency, while the practice of science would inculcate the spirit of scientific inquiry and scientific temper. Disciplinary compartmentalisation was perhaps a strategy for expediting the nationalist project. Decades later, however, there is little evidence to suggest that such ties have sustained. The exodus of students from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other public institutions of technical education to Western countries and the advent of information technology and related sectors have meant that technical education now has closer ties to the research and market imperatives of advanced industrialised nations than to Indias own developmental needs (Sohoni 2012). Further, a slew of low quality technical institutes churn out unemployable graduates aspiring to join the information technology (IT)-enabled services (ITES) sector, which accounts for nearly a quarter of the organised workforce in the private sector. This has grave consequences for other sectors of the economy such as manufacturing and public works, which benefit little from the surfeit of engineers in the country. The shrinking manufacturing sector fails to provide employment while inadequate public services deepen the problems of access and equity. The disconnect of many educated youth with Indias indigenous problems is then located, at least in part, in the uncritical reproduction of engineering education in the country. Middles Classes and the State It has to be said that the IT boom of the 1990s tried to construct a meritocracy that promised to liberate the aspiring middle classes from the stranglehold of a much discredited public services system. Employment in the IT industry required a combination of skill and cultural capital, which meant that social hierarchies based on caste and class were often reproduced (Upadhya and Vasavi 2006). Nevertheless, it came to redefine the symbolism attached to technical education. The powerful agent of nation building came to be viewed more as a means of socio-economic mobility or as a pathway to middle class membership. Technical education at the service of IT was instrumental in distancing the middle classes from the state. The flourishing of private sector engineering colleges, many of which ran on capitation fees, diminished the role of public education. It is therefore not surprising that a rising middle class that wants to stake a claim in the system does not demand better public universities. For similar reasons, the issue of corruption strikes a chord with middle class professionals, while that of redistributive justice does not. The argument rests on the model of corporate citizenship where social justice is a matter of philanthropy rather than of political engagement or demand for rights. Challenges before Public Universities On the other side of the education divide rest the traditional colleges and universities, most of which are publicly funded. They also account for over 50% of enrolments in higher education. Plagued by the shortage of qualified faculty and a curriculum that does not reflect new developments or emerging challenges, Indias public university system is neither vigorous nor adequate. The deemed unemployability of a large section of such graduates in fact points to the production of a graduate underclass that is both undereducated and underemployed. Expectedly, there is also little evidence to suggest that such education has produced innovators and entrepreneurs. Besides, there is the long standing concern of universities being captive to organised political interests, which further contributes to its falling signaling value in the labour market. Historically, Indias public universities have been at the forefront of social movements. This must be owed in good measure to the very nature of such institutions. As various social groups come together in a more or less egalitarian space, the voices of radicals and subalterns begin to be heard (Deshpande 2016). The freedom struggle and the anti-emergency movement had gathered strength on university campuses and delivered stalwart politicians. JNU, in particular prides itself for the defiance of Indira Gandhi at the peak of her Emergency powers. Its robust tradition of student activism is also credited with effecting progressive changes in admission policy, instituting intra-university mechanisms for gender justice and campaigning forresearch scholarships. Yet student activism is being discredited for promoting personal aggrandisement and disruptive activities. The moot question is whether a university like JNU can then proclaim the virtues of blue-sky thinking and consciousness raising without trivialising the problems of teaching, curriculum, and uninspired student politics in public universities. Conclusions The occurrences of the past few weeks have demonstrated how Indias university students can be powerful agents for widening democratic participation. In reminding the political class of the founding values of the Indian republic, they have also situated the debates on public education and the role of universities in perspective. But just as higher education cannot be reduced to a market enterprise guided by corporate interests, it also cannot remain a rarefied realm of higher thinking unconcerned with employability and innovation. If a university is a site for building the values of citizenship and raising the stakes for participation in the countrys future, it has to nurture critical thinking, employable skills and creative entrepreneurship all at the same time. A higher education system that feeds Indias much touted knowledge economy cannot rest on facile splits and policy-induced chasms. References Deshpande, Satish (2016): The Public University after Rohith-Kanhaiya, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol 51, No 11, http://www.epw.in/journal/2016/11/university-under-siege/public-university-after-rohith-kanhaiya.html. Krishnan, Simantini (2014): The Political Economy of Indias Tertiary Education: Persistence and Change, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol 49, No 11, http://www.epw.in/journal/2014/11/special-articles/political-economy-indias-tertiary-education.html. Sohoni, Milind (2012): Engineering Teaching and Research in IITs and its Impact on India, Current Science, Vol 102, No 11, http://home.iitk.ac.in/~anindya/MilindSohoniArticle.pdf. Upadhya, Carol and Vasavi, AR (2006): Work, Culture and Sociality in the Indian IT Industry: A Sociological Study, Final Report Submitted to Indo-Dutch Programme for Alternatives in Development, August, http://eprints.nias.res.in/107/2/idpadfinalreport.pdf. Business / Economy by Staff Reporter Zimbabwe has been experiencing cash shortages for over a month and the central bank now hopes proceeds from tobacco will help ease the cash crunch, state media reported on Thursday.The latest cash crisis started in March and the authorities attributed it to payment of bonuses to government employees and people keeping money outside the formal banking system.The Governor of the Reserve Bank, Zimbabwe's central bank, John Mangudya, last month said he had asked the African Export-Import Bank for 200 million U.S. dollars to mitigate the crisis.Banks have since introduced stringent cash management systems including limiting withdrawals, switching off ATMs and de-activating the Zimswitch facility which processes ATM and Point of Sale transactions in most banking institutions.The Herald newspaper reported that some retail supermarkets that usually give cash backs were only giving the cash to customers who purchase goods worth 30 dollars and above.The deputy president of the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe, Webster Rusere, was quoted by the newspaper as urging the public to use credit cards to avoid cash limitations."We are aware of the cash shortage, but measures are being put in place to address that," he was quoted as saying.Mangudya also said the situation was expected to improve as tobacco inflows picked up.Tobacco is Zimbabwe's major foreign currency earner and this year's tobacco marketing season opened last month."Cash importation is a process, but we expect the situation to normalize as tobacco inflows begin to filter through," he said.Instead of limiting imports, the central bank was working with the business community on a priority list of imports so that only critical products and services were imported to ensure less cash was spent, according to Rusere. Bahasa Indonesia (pdf) ETAN, Amnesty International, Tapol and Watch Indonesia: Truth-Seeking and Formal Public Apology Essential for 1965/1966 Resolution Luhut Panjaitan Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Affairs Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No. 15 Jakarta Pusat 10110 Indonesia 29 April 2016 Dear Minister, TRUTH-SEEKING AND FORMAL PUBLIC APOLOGY ESSENTIAL FOR 1965/1966 RESOLUTION Indonesia symposium Examining the 1965 Tragedy: A Historical Approach' Photo by AJAR. Amnesty International, ETAN (East Timor and Indonesia Action Network), TAPOL and Watch Indonesia! are writing to urge you to take the important steps necessary to ensure that the national symposium on the 1965 tragedy, held in Jakarta on 18 and 19 April, leads to justice, truth and reparation for victims. Amnesty International, ETAN (East Timor and Indonesia Action Network), TAPOL and Watch Indonesia! are writing to urge you to take the important steps necessary to ensure that the national symposium on the 1965 tragedy, held in Jakarta on 18 and 19 April, leads to justice, truth and reparation for victims. This initiative must be followed with a full investigation into human rights violations committed between 1965 and 1966. This is to not only establish the truth of what happened but also, where sufficient admissible evidence exists, ensure that those suspected of committing crimes are prosecuted. Further, the authorities must also ensure that victims and their relatives are provided with full and effective reparation. A formal public apology, including acknowledgement of the facts and acceptance of state responsibility, must not be ruled out. The symposium, 'Examining the 1965 Tragedy: A Historical Approach' Membedah Tragedi 1965: Pendekatan Kesejarahan), brought together survivors, scholars, human-rights activists, artists, members of the Indonesian military and government officials to give testimony about the events that happened across Indonesia following an abortive coup in September 1965. These crimes, which have been documented by human rights organisations, include: unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances, rape sexual slavery and other crimes of sexual violence, slavery, arbitrary arrest and detention, forced displacement and forced labour. Many victims and their families faced violations of their social, economic and cultural rights, and continue to experience discrimination in both the law and in practice. There have been many instances where internal meetings or public events about the 1965-1966 violations held by victims or human rights NGOs, especially around the 50th anniversary in 2015, were disbanded or harassed by vigilante groups while police failed to intervene. ),following an abortive coup in September 1965. These crimes, which have been documented by human rights organisations, include: unlawful killings, torture, enforced disappearances, rape sexual slavery and other crimes of sexual violence, slavery, arbitrary arrest and detention, forced displacement and forced labour. A three-year investigation into the violations was carried out by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) and completed in July 2012. The Commission found evidence of widespread human rights violations committed across the country between 1965 and 1966, and that violations continued at a lower level well into the late 1970s. According to the Commission, these findings meet the criteria of gross human rights violations, and include crimes against humanity, as defined by the Indonesian Law No. 26/2000 on Human Rights Courts. To date, however, there has been no indication that the Attorney General will even launch an investigation. Meanwhile attempts to establish a truth commission on the national level have stalled due to a lack of political will. A number of key recommendations were highlighted in the concluding comments delivered directly at the symposium to move the process forward. Some of these calls echo those made over decades by many human rights groups calling for an end to impunity for the appalling human rights violations committed across Indonesia between 1965 and 1966 including: the need to recognise state involvement and its role in the events; the need to provide right to truth, justice and reparation victims and their families; an end to the stigmatisation of survivors and the discriminatory laws and practices that prevent them enjoying full citizenship; and a call to authorities to end all forms of restrictions against the right to freedom of expression and assembly for any public discussion of the events. The symposium will serve as a useful step towards ending impunity for human rights violations committed by the Indonesian security forces against suspected members and sympathisers of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) between 1965 and1966. Our organizations reiterate that the government's commitment to establish a non-judicial mechanism to resolve past human rights cases, does not change Indonesia's obligations under international law to investigate and, if sufficient admissible evidence exists, prosecute those suspected of human rights violations and crimes under international law in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty. Furthermore, this mechanism does not replace the government's obligations to provide rights with an effective remedy including the truth and full and effective reparation to address the harm they have suffered. RECOMMENDATIONS: Amnesty International, ETAN, TAPOL and Watch Indonesia! call on the Indonesian government to undertake the following steps as a matter of priority: Take steps to ensure that the Indonesian authorities fulfil their obligations to provide the victims of 1965 rights with access to truth, justice and reparationsand include a full investigation into human rights violations committed between 1965 and 1966 to establish the truth and, where sufficient admissible evidence exists, ensure that those suspected of committing crimes including those with command responsibility, are prosecuted in civilian courts in proceedings which meet international fair trial standards, without recourse to the death penalty; Issue formal public apology, including acknowledgement of the facts and acceptance of responsibility; Ensure that all forms of restrictions against public discussions on 1965 are lifted and ensure that the government starts listening to victims and others, instead of supressing their voices. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We would be pleased to discuss this matter with you. Yours sincerely, Rafendi Djamin (Director for Southeast Asia Pacific Regional Office of Amnesty International) John Miller (National Coordinator of ETAN) TAPOL Alex Flor (Watch Indonesia!) cc: Sidarto Danusubroto The Presidential Advisory Council Agus Widjojo Governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) M. Imdadun Rahmat Chairperson of the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) see also ETAN ALERT: Shatter the Silence, Reveal the Truth, Acknowledge the Crime ETAN Supports Senate Resolution on 50th Anniversary of 1965 Mass Violence in Indonesia ETAN's Backgrounder: Breaking the Silence-The U.S. and Indonesia's Mass Violence Additional Background and links on the 1965-66 killings, the film, and human rights and justice Watch the documentaries and support ETAN Blu-Ray DVD Blu-Ray DVD SUPPORT ETAN! ETAN is "A voice of reason, criticizing the administration's reluctance to address ongoing human rights violations and escalating oppression in West Papua and against religious minorities throughout Indonesia." Noam Chomsky Donate Today! Younited Italia, Nicola Manzari e il nuovo Coo, Luca Faccini e Head of Growth e Domenico Petraroli e General Counsel News / Local by Stephen Jakes Zanu PF is reportedly facing resistance from the traditional leaders and villagers in Mashonaland East on issues of forcing people to support the party.This has been revealed by the Zimbabwe Peace Project in its March monthly report."However, while in a number of areas, membership of Zanu-PF seems to dominate with the ruling party generally repressive of others, it is interesting to note how March reports show pockets of resistance from various quarters," said ZPP. "For instance in Mashonaland East, some chiefs protested against the repressive instructions and orders. This was also seen in at least two other instances where resistance to Zanu-PF supremacy seems to be repeating itself in various corners."ZPP said all in all disregard for people's Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Expression as enshrined in the Constitution continued to be the order of the day for March as in previous months."As Independence Day approached ZPP noted with concern a number of human rights violations which had occurred in the 36 years since the country transitioned to majority rule. Even though most of the rights against which violations were noted are enshrined in the Constitution, violations continue unabated," said ZPP. "The struggle for Constitutionalism is real and continues to be elusive." WASHINGTON, D.C.-- One in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy over the course of a lifetime. In advance of the June 23-26 Partners Against Mortality in Epilepsy (PAME) Conference, epilepsy experts and people who face seizures are sounding the alarm on a greatly underestimated problem - epilepsy-related deaths. Although epilepsy affects 3 million Americans, communication and understanding around the risk of mortality remains low, creating a blind spot for caregivers that can prove devastating. The most common cause of death in epilepsy is Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which takes more lives annually in the United States than fires and sudden infant death syndrome combined. Cases of SUDEP occur without warning in otherwise healthy people living with epilepsy, and when no other cause of death is found. "No words can describe the horror and devastation of unexpectedly losing a child or loved one to epilepsy. SUDEP has been a silent killer for far too long. PAME, a unique and dynamic collaboration of families and professional, is calling on the medical community to confront and disclose all risks of epilepsy, including SUDEP, so that individuals and families are empowered with information to make safe and informed decisions," says Gardiner Lapham, bereaved mother, PAME Co-Chair, and Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) board member. Beyond SUDEP, epilepsy-related deaths also occur from status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), suicide and fatal accidents that occur during a seizure, such as drowning, burning, choking, or falling. Yet, epilepsy is often not listed as a cause of death on death certificates, making it difficult for public health officials to quantify and draw attention to the problem. Without accurate, systematic data to count epilepsy deaths, doctors and researchers are hampered in their goal of understanding what circumstances make someone more vulnerable. The lack of data also challenges clinicians in deciding what to disclose to patients and families about their level of risk and in advising them on how best to prevent SUDEP. To increase understanding of mortality in epilepsy, the PAME conference will unite physicians, scientists, health care professionals, people with epilepsy, caregivers and bereaved family members from around the world for a unique conference that facilitates collaboration and spurs action. The 2016 PAME Conference will be held June 23-26, in Alexandria, VA. To learn more about the PAME conference or to register, please visit http://pame.aesnet.org. Now in its third meeting, PAME offers more than 50 presentations on the latest research in epilepsy mortality through panels and educational sessions designed to close the gaps in knowledge and understanding including: Mortality in people with epilepsy - Studies suggest that epilepsy-related deaths are under-reported. A panel will explore ways to improve epidemiology and surveillance, increase data collection and explore populations that aren't typically counted. Factors that predispose people to die from epilepsy - The risk factors and SUDEP remain unclear. Researchers have proposed explanations including irregular heart rhythm and genetic predisposition to accidental suffocation during sleep. A panel of leading genetic and epilepsy experts explores what we know and don't know about the biomarkers and other risk factors of death in epilepsy. Genetic analysis and discovery in SUDEP - Much of the research into the genetic risks of SUDEP has focused on single gene mutations that cause both epilepsy and sudden death. New research is emerging linking these genes to SUDEP. Options for prevention - Though much remains to be discovered about underlying causal mechanisms of mortality, there are prevention strategies available to us now that we can and should employ. Areas to be explored include the latest in device research, upcoming practice guidelines and patient education needs. Major contributing organizations include the American Epilepsy Society, CURE, the Epilepsy Foundation, the Danny Did Foundation, and the Patrick Ring Foundation. Discounted rates for early registration end on May 16. ### Researchers writing in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society recently learned that older women who are frail, and who have six or more chronic health conditions, are twice as likely to have a lower quality of life compared to women with less than three risk factors. Frailty is a condition associated with aging that boosts risks of poor health, falls, disability, and death. Signs of frailty include weakness, weight loss, slower walking speed, exhaustion, and low activity levels. Though frail older adults can develop age-related problems, many can still maintain a good quality of life as they age. The research team examined data from 11,070 frail women, aged 65 to 84, who were enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. They found that the following risk factors can worsen a frail woman's quality of life and raise the risk for death: The researchers suggested that managing chronic health problems well may help older, frail women enjoy a better quality of life. ### This summary is from "Identification of Risk Factors for Mortality and Low-Quality-of-Life Survival in Frail Older Women Participating in Women's Health Initiative Observational Study". It appears online ahead of print in the April 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study authors are Oleg Zaslavsky, PhD; Nancy F. Woods, PhD; Andrea Z. LaCroix, PhD; Jane A. Cauley, DrPH; Karen C. Johnson, MD, MPH; Barbara B. Cochrane, PhD; and Shira Zelber Sagi, PhD. About the Health in Aging Foundation This research summary was developed as a public education tool by the Health in Aging Foundation. The Foundation is a national non-profit established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society to bring the knowledge and expertise of geriatrics healthcare professionals to the public. We are committed to ensuring that people are empowered to advocate for high-quality care by providing them with trustworthy information and reliable resources. Last year, we reached nearly 1 million people with our resources through HealthinAging.org. We also help nurture current and future geriatrics leaders by supporting opportunities to attend educational events and increase exposure to principles of excellence on caring for older adults. For more information or to support the Foundation's work, visit http://www.HealthinAgingFoundation.org. High risk, potentially cancer causing human papillomavirus infections are common among women in Papua New Guinea. But self sampling with vaginal swabs may provide materials that screen as accurately as the more labor-intensive approach using cervical samples obtained by clinicians. This finding is critical to developing same day screening and treatment, which is key to ensuring that women with precancerous lesions are treated in this largely unconnected (electronically) country, and in others like it. The research appeared online April 13, 2016 in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, which is published by the American Society for Microbiology. "This is the first time there's been a direct comparison between self-collected vaginal swabs and clinician-collected cervical specimens using a screening device that can provide same day results," said corresponding author Andrew Vallely, PhD, Associate Professor, Public Health Interventions Research Group, The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Evaluating self-collected samples was a critical milestone towards meeting the ultimate goal of this research: to enable same-day screening and treatment. Same-day treatment is needed in high-burden, low-income countries such as Papua New Guinea because when patients leave the clinic, it often becomes impossible to find them again, should their results show that they need treatment. "The majority of the country's population live in rural communities, many of which are very isolated," explained Vallely, who is also Professorial Research Fellow, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka. A dearth of roads, and difficult terrain exacerbates the isolation, as do limited or absent mobile phones and internet connectivity, and postal services that are very poor and unreliable. Self sampling, combined with use of a new, high speed, fully automated molecular assay for high risk HPV infection, called the Xpert HPV Test, makes it possible to screen and treat patients in a single day. Self-sampling alleviates pressure on highly skilled clinical staff who would otherwise only be able to screen women by conducting a time-consuming pelvic examination to collect specimens, said Vallely. "By readily identifying women who have a high risk HPV infection, this clinic-based self-sampling strategy would allow health services in low-income settings such as Papua New Guinea to focus their efforts on those women who are most at risk of cervical pre-cancer and cancer," said Vallely. Once those at increased risk are identified by the Xpert HPV Test, the final step in screening is to paint the screened women's cervixes with acetic acid -- vinegar, said Vallely. The acetic acid causes the precancerous lesions, which are not visible to the naked eye, to stain white. The clinicians then ablate the lesions using cryotherapy -- a relatively non-invasive procedure to obliterate the abnormal tissues that allows the women to leave for home the same day. (Women who have developed malignancies are referred to specialists.) Papua New Guinea has a very high burden of disease, said Vallely. The rate of new cases is six to seven times higher than in Australia and New Zealand, and mortality is around 14 times higher, making HPV-associated cancers a leading cause of premature death. ### The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 47,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences. ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications and educational opportunities. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences. In a paper to be published today in the journal Science Advances, lead author Karen Meech of the University of Hawai`i's Institute for Astronomy and her colleagues conclude that C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) formed in the inner Solar System at the same time as the Earth itself, but was ejected at a very early stage. Their observations indicate that it is an ancient rocky body, rather than a contemporary asteroid that strayed out. As such, it is one of the potential building blocks of the rocky planets, such as the Earth, that was expelled from the inner Solar System and preserved in the deep freeze of the Oort Cloud for billions of years [1]. Karen Meech explains the unexpected observation: "We already knew of many asteroids, but they have all been baked by billions of years near the Sun. This one is the first uncooked asteroid we could observe: it has been preserved in the best freezer there is." C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) was originally identified by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope as a weakly active comet a little over twice as far from the Sun as the Earth. Its current long orbital period (around 860 years) suggests that its source is in the Oort Cloud, and it was nudged comparatively recently into an orbit that brings it closer to the Sun. The team immediately noticed that C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) was unusual, as it does not have the characteristic tail that most long-period comets have when they approach so close to the Sun. As a result, it has been dubbed a Manx comet, after the [tailless cat]. Within weeks of its discovery, the team obtained spectra of the very faint object with ESO's Very Large Telescope in Chile. Careful study of the light reflected by C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS) indicates that it is typical of asteroids known as S-type, which are usually found in the inner asteroid main belt. It does not look like a typical comet, which are believed to form in the outer Solar System and are icy, rather than rocky. It appears that the material has undergone very little processing, indicating that it has been deep frozen for a very long time. The very weak comet-like activity associated with C/2014 S3 (PANSTARRS), which is consistent with the sublimation of water ice, is about a million times lower than active long-period comets at a similar distance from the Sun. The authors conclude that this object is probably made of fresh inner Solar System material that has been stored in the Oort Cloud and is now making its way back into the inner Solar System. A number of theoretical models are able to reproduce much of the structure we see in the Solar System. An important difference between these models is what they predict about the objects that make up the Oort Cloud. Different models predict significantly different ratios of icy to rocky objects. This first discovery of a rocky object from the Oort Cloud is therefore an important test of the different predictions of the models. The authors estimate that observations of 50-100 of these Manx comets are needed to distinguish between the current models, opening up another rich vein in the study of the origins of the Solar System. Co-author Olivier Hainaut (ESO, Garching, Germany), concludes: "We've found the first rocky comet, and we are looking for others. Depending how many we find, we will know whether the giant planets danced across the Solar System when they were young, or if they grew up quietly without moving much." ### Notes [1] The Oort cloud is a huge region surrounding the Sun like a giant, thick soap bubble. It is estimated that it contains trillions of tiny icy bodies. Occasionally, one of these bodies gets nudged and falls into the inner Solar System, where the heat of the sun turns it into a comet. These icy bodies are thought to have been ejected from the region of the giant planets as these were forming, in the early days of the Solar System. More information This research was presented in a paper entitled "Inner Solar System Material Discovered in the Oort Cloud", by Karen Meech et al., in the journal Science Advances. The team is composed of Karen J. Meech (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i, USA), Bin Yang (ESO, Santiago, Chile), Jan Kleyna (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i, USA), Olivier R. Hainaut (ESO, Garching, Germany), Svetlana Berdyugina (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai'i, USA; Kiepenheuer Institut fur Sonnenphysik, Freiburg, Germany), Jacqueline V. Keane (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i, USA), Marco Micheli (ESA, Frascati, Italy), Alessandro Morbidelli (Laboratoire Lagrange/Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur/CNRS/Universite Nice Sophia Antipolis, France) and Richard J. Wainscoat (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i, USA). ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world's largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre European Extremely Large Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky". Links Photos of the VLT - http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/category/paranal/ Contacts Karen Meech Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i Honolulu, HI, USA Tel: 1-808-956-6828 Cell: 1-720-231-7048 Email: meech@ifa.hawaii.edu Olivier Hainaut ESO Astronomer Garching bei Munchen, Germany Tel: 49-89-3200-6752 Cell: 49-151-2262-0554 Email: ohainaut@eso.org Richard Hook ESO Public Information Officer Garching bei Munchen, Germany Tel: 49-89-3200-6655 Cell: 49-51-1537-3591 Email: rhook@eso.org Hamilton, ON (April 27, 2016) - Researchers at McMaster University's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute have made significant steps forward in understanding the stem cells of the human blood system after discovering how a key protein allows for better control and regeneration of these cells. This discovery, published today in the scientific journal Nature, illustrates how a protein called Musashi-2 regulates the function and development of important blood stem cells. This knowledge provides new strategies that can be used to control the growth of these cells -- cells that can be used as therapeutics for a range of life-threatening diseases but are, in general, in very short supply. The senior author is Kristin Hope, principal investigator at the Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute and assistant professor with McMaster Universitys Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences. The research also involved collaborators from the University of California San Diego, University of Toronto and the University of Montreal. Hope says the discovery could be impactful for the tens of thousands of patients suffering from a range of blood-based disorders including leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, sickle cell disease and more. "We've really shone a light on the way these stem cells work. We now understand how they operate at a completely new level, and that provides us with a serious advantage in determining how to maximize these stem cells in therapeutics. With this newfound ability to control over the regeneration of these cells, more people will be able to get the treatment they need." The research team specifically looked at stem cells from umbilical cord blood, a proven but under-utilized source of stem cells for the treatment of adult blood cancers. These stem cells have the potential to become an important therapeutic for the thousands of people suffering from blood cancers who are awaiting the life-saving transplants. Cells from umbilical cord blood have unique properties that make them easier to use for transplantation, including accessibility and adaptability. As a result, they allow for safer and more effective transplants. The problem, Hope points out, is that there are very few stem cells available in individual cord blood samples -- only about five per cent of all samples actually contain enough cells for a transplant. The team's research into the importance of Musashi-2 and its role in expanding the number of stem cells in a given cord blood sample could help ease the current stem cell shortages. Gene Yeo, associate professor at the University of California San Diego, co-corresponding author of the study, adds, "Most stem cell studies focus on proteins that bind DNA to control gene output. The prominent role we found for Musashi-2, a protein that instead binds to RNA, also underscores an urgency to study this second layer of gene regulation in stem cells." Hope says: "Providing enhanced numbers of stem cells for transplantation could alleviate some of the current post-transplantation complications and allow for faster recoveries, in turn reducing overall health care costs and wait times for newly diagnosed patients seeking treatment." "By expanding the stem cells as we have done, many more donated samples could now be used for transplants." ### The study was supported by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Blood Services, Health Canada, the National Institutes of Health and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Editors: Pictures of Kristin Hope and slides of stem cells may be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/1pxUIw1. For more information, contact: Veronica McGuire Media Co-ordinator Faculty of Health Sciences McMaster University 905-525-9140, ext. 22169 vmcguir@mcmaster.ca Researchers with the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, have collaborated with physicians and medical geneticists around the world to create the Atlas of Human Malformation Syndromes in Diverse Populations. Health care providers can use the new atlas to diagnose diverse patients with inherited diseases by comparing physical traits (called phenotypes) and written descriptions of their symptoms with photos and descriptions of people with the same condition and ancestry. Previously, the only available diagnostic atlas featured photos of patients with northern European ancestry, which often does not represent the characteristics of these diseases in patients from other parts of the world. The free electronic atlas was announced online in Genetics in Medicine. "This atlas is long overdue and much needed," said Daniel Kastner, M.D., Ph.D., NHGRI scientific director. "The impact of such a resource will be immediate and profound for all health care providers who are diagnosing and treating birth defects and genetic diseases in people of diverse ancestry." Congenital malformations, also known as birth defects, are the leading cause of infant deaths and diseases worldwide. Examples include heart defects, such as missing or misshaped valves; abnormal limbs, such as a clubfoot; neural tube defects, such as spina bifida; and problems related to the growth and development of the brain and spinal cord. Birth defects can be caused by genes not working properly, missing or extra chromosomes or mothers' exposure to medications and chemicals during pregnancy. "The atlas will enable health care providers to diagnose patients as early as possible," said Maximilian Muenke, M.D., atlas co-creator and chief of NHGRI's Medical Genetics Branch. "Once they have an accurate diagnosis, health care providers can provide better care and information for patients and their families." The first disorders added to the atlas are Down syndrome and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition, affecting roughly 1 in 1,000 babies worldwide and representing a diagnostic challenge for doctors. A feature of Down syndrome in persons of European descent is the skin fold of the upper eyelid, covering the inner corner of the eye. But these epicanthal eye folds are completely normal in people of Asian descent without Down syndrome, which means they are not a distinguishing characteristic. The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, also known as velocardiofacial syndrome, affects 1 in 4,000 newborns and is characterized by a combination of cleft palate, heart defects, differences in the way the kidneys are formed or work, a characteristic facial appearance, learning problems, and speech and feeding problems. When complete, the atlas will consist of photos of physical traits of people with many different inherited diseases around the world, including Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, South America and sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to the photos, the atlas will include written descriptions of affected people and will be searchable by phenotype (a person's traits), syndrome, continental region of residence and genomic/molecular diagnosis. The need for the tool became evident after three clinical geneticists from NHGRI - Dr. Muenke, Paul Kruszka, M.D., and Adebowale Adeyemo, M.D. - visited children's heart clinics in Africa. "We found ourselves struggling to diagnose the African children," Dr. Kruszka said. "We were doing our best but we needed reference photos that didn't exist." They were not the only ones with this problem. In Lagos, Nigeria, the three physicians presented sessions on clinical genetics (the practice of medicine focused on genetic disorders) to a standing-room-only audience. Afterward, they had discussions with a long line of doctors, many holding phones with photos of affected children they needed help diagnosing. Over dinner that night, the three cemented a plan to build the atlas. Over the next year and a half, the group brought together a network of experts from China, India, Mali, the Middle East, Malaysia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, South America, Thailand and Uganda. From this group, NHGRI formed an advisory board to guide the project, maintain the website and oversee potential ethical issues. Ethical issues Before posting photos of diverse people affected by genetic diseases, the team requested an ethics consultation from the NHGRI Bioethics Core. Based on this input, health care providers sought permission from patients and their caregivers before contributing unpublished photos of affected patients to the atlas. Informed consent, the process of informing participants of the risks and benefits of contributing to the project, is tailored to local communities and translated and administered through the use of local interpreters. "The job of the ethicist is to shed light on the aspects of the project that might harm the person sharing information, and to think about ways to reduce those risks," said Sara C. Hull, Ph.D., director of the NHGRI Bioethics Core. "We wanted to weigh carefully those risks in light of the justice-oriented benefits of this important project." To ensure the atlas does not make mistaken connections between race, ethnicity and genetic diseases or reinforce stereotypes that were potentially harmful to different groups, health care providers are relying on participants' descriptions of his or her four grandparents' nationalities and about their ethnic and cultural identity. The photos and descriptive information included in the atlas are organized by disease and by continental ancestry, so a health care provider can compare their patient to someone of similar ancestral origin. Now that the atlas is established, the next step is to inform physician communities -- pediatricians, family physicians, internists, cardiologists, neurologists and craniofacial surgeons -- about the atlas, said Dr. Adeyemo, atlas co-founder and deputy director of the NIH Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health. "This project was born out of a real need," Dr. Adeyemo said. "The doctors who approached us after our talks in Nigeria, the ones who regularly send us photos of affected children and our clinical colleagues seeing patients in Africa, Asia and South America will now have the help they need to diagnose their patients." ### For more information on the Atlas of Human malformation Syndromes in Diverse Populations, please visit: http://www.genome.gov/atlas. NHGRI is one of the 27 institutes and centers at the NIH, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The NHGRI Division of Intramural Research develops and implements technology to understand, diagnose and treat genomic and genetic diseases. Additional information about NHGRI can be found at: http://www.genome.gov. National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 institutes and centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov. Nearly 10 billion years ago, the black hole at the center of a galaxy known as PKS B1424-418 produced a powerful outburst. Light from this blast began arriving at Earth in 2012. Now astronomers using data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other space- and ground-based observatories have shown that a record-breaking neutrino seen around the same time likely was born in the same event. "Neutrinos are the fastest, lightest, most unsociable and least understood fundamental particles, and we are just now capable of detecting high-energy ones arriving from beyond our galaxy," said Roopesh Ojha, a Fermi team member at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and a coauthor of the study. "Our work provides the first plausible association between a single extragalactic object and one of these cosmic neutrinos." Although neutrinos far outnumber all the atoms in the universe, they rarely interact with matter, which makes detecting them quite a challenge. But this same property lets neutrinos make a fast exit from places where light cannot easily escape -- such as the core of a collapsing star -- and zip across the universe almost completely unimpeded. Neutrinos can provide information about processes and environments that simply aren't available through a study of light alone. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, built into a cubic kilometer of clear glacial ice at the South Pole, detects neutrinos when they interact with atoms in the ice. This triggers a cascade of fast-moving charged particles that emit a faint glow, called Cerenkov light, as they travel, which is picked up by thousands of optical sensors strung throughout IceCube. Scientists determine the energy of an incoming neutrino by the amount of light its particle cascade emits. To date, the IceCube science team has detected about a hundred very high-energy neutrinos and nicknamed some of the most extreme events after characters on the children's TV series "Sesame Street." On Dec. 4, 2012, IceCube detected an event known as Big Bird, a neutrino with an energy exceeding 2 quadrillion electron volts (PeV). To put that in perspective, it's more than a million million times greater than the energy of a dental X-ray packed into a single particle thought to possess less than a millionth the mass of an electron. Big Bird was the highest-energy neutrino ever detected at the time and still ranks second. Where did it come from? The best IceCube position only narrowed the source to a patch of the southern sky about 32 degrees across, equivalent to the apparent size of 64 full moons. Enter Fermi. Starting in the summer of 2012, the satellite's Large Area Telescope (LAT) witnessed a dramatic brightening of PKS B1424-418, an active galaxy classified as a gamma-ray blazar. An active galaxy is an otherwise typical galaxy with a compact and unusually bright core. The excess luminosity of the central region is produced by matter falling toward a supermassive black hole weighing millions of times the mass of our sun. As it approaches the black hole, some of the material becomes channeled into particle jets moving outward in opposite directions at nearly the speed of light. In blazars, one of these jets happens to point almost directly toward Earth. During the year-long outburst, PKS B1424-418 shone between 15 and 30 times brighter in gamma rays than its average before the eruption. The blazar is located within the Big Bird source region, but then so are many other active galaxies detected by Fermi. The scientists searching for the neutrino source then turned to data from a long-term observing program named TANAMI. Since 2007, TANAMI has routinely monitored nearly 100 active galaxies in the southern sky, including many flaring sources detected by Fermi. The program includes regular radio observations using the Australian Long Baseline Array (LBA) and associated telescopes in Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and Antarctica. When networked together, they operate as a single radio telescope more than 6,000 miles across and provide a unique high-resolution look into the jets of active galaxies. Three radio observations of PKS B1424-418 between 2011 and 2013 cover the period of the Fermi outburst. They reveal that the core of the galaxy's jet had brightened by about four times. No other galaxy observed by TANAMI over the life of the program has exhibited such a dramatic change. "We combed through the field where Big Bird must have originated looking for astrophysical objects capable of producing high-energy particles and light," said coauthor Felicia Krauss, a doctoral student at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany. "There was a moment of wonder and awe when we realized that the most dramatic outburst we had ever seen in a blazar happened in just the right place at just the right time." In a paper published Monday, April 18, in Nature Physics, the team suggests the PKS B1424-418 outburst and Big Bird are linked, calculating only a 5-percent probability the two events occurred by chance alone. Using data from Fermi, NASA's Swift and WISE satellites, the LBA and other facilities, the researchers determined how the energy of the eruption was distributed across the electromagnetic spectrum and showed that it was sufficiently powerful to produce a neutrino at PeV energies. "Taking into account all of the observations, the blazar seems to have had means, motive and opportunity to fire off the Big Bird neutrino, which makes it our prime suspect," said lead author Matthias Kadler, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Wuerzburg in Germany. Francis Halzen, the principal investigator of IceCube at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and not involved in this study, thinks the result is an exciting hint of things to come. "IceCube is about to send out real-time alerts when it records a neutrino that can be localized to an area a little more than half a degree across, or slightly larger than the apparent size of a full moon," he said. "We're slowly opening a neutrino window onto the cosmos." ### NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is an astrophysics and particle physics partnership, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden and the United States. For more information about NASA's Fermi, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/fermi Depression symptoms that steadily increase in older adults are more strongly linked to dementia than any other types of depression, and may indicate the early stages of the disease, according to the first ever long-term study to examine the link between dementia and the course of depression, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal. Symptoms of depression are common in people with dementia, but previous studies have often looked at single episodes of depression, failing to take into account how depression develops over time. The course of depression varies greatly between individuals - some might experience depressive symptoms only transiently, followed by full remission, others might have remitting and relapsing depression, and some might be chronically depressed. Different courses of depression may reflect different underlying causes, and might be linked to different risks of dementia. The study included 3325 adults aged 55 and over, who all had symptoms of depression but no symptoms of dementia at the start of the study. The data was gathered from the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study of various diseases in the Netherlands [1] which allowed the authors to track depressive symptoms over 11 years and the risk of dementia for a subsequent 10 years. Using the Center for Epidemiology Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression (HADS-D), the authors identified five different trajectories of depressive symptoms - low depression symptoms (2441 participants); initially high symptoms that decreased (369); low starting scores that increased then remitted (170); initially low symptoms that increased (255); and constantly high symptoms (90) (figure 1). Of the 3325 participants, 434 developed dementia, including 348 cases of Alzheimer's disease. Among the group with low symptoms of depression, 10% (226/2174) developed dementia. The researchers used this as the benchmark against which to compare other trajectories of depression - the study did not compare the risk of dementia following depression with the risk of dementia for adults in the general population (without depression). Only the group whose symptoms of depression increased over time was at an increased risk of dementia- 22% of people (55/255) in this group developed dementia (table 2). This risk was particularly pronounced after the first 3 years (table 5). Individuals with remitting symptoms of depression were not at an increased risk of dementia compared to individuals with low depressive symptoms. The authors say that this suggests that having severe symptoms of depression at one point in time does not necessarily have any lasting influence on the risk of dementia. The authors say their findings support the hypothesis that increasing symptoms of depression in older age could potentially represent an early stage of dementia. They also say that the findings support previous suggestions that dementia and some forms of depression may be symptoms of a common cause. They say that at the molecular levels, the biological mechanisms of depression and neurodegenerative diseases overlap considerably including the loss of ability to create new neurons, increased cell death and immune system dysregulation. According to Dr M Arfan Ikram, Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, "Depressive symptoms that gradually increase over time appear to better predict dementia later in life than other trajectories of depressive symptoms such as high and remitting, in this study. There are a number of potential explanations, including that depression and dementia may both be symptoms of a common underlying cause, or that increasing depressive symptoms are on the starting end of a dementia continuum in older adults. More research is needed to examine this association, and to investigate the potential to use ongoing assessments of depressive symptoms to identify older adults at increased risk of dementia." [2] Writing in a linked Comment, Dr Simone Reppermund from the Department of Developmental Disability and Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, says: "In conclusion, several factors can contribute to the development of both depression and dementia. The questions are if, and how, the presence of depression modifies the risk for dementia. The study by Mirza and colleagues provides an answer to the first question: depression, especially steadily increasing depressive symptoms, seems to increase the risk for dementia. However, the question of how the presence of depressive symptoms modifies the risk of dementia still remains. More studies of depression trajectories over a long period, with inclusion of biological measures, are necessary to understand the link between depression and dementia, in particular the underlying mechanisms. A focus on lifestyle factors such as physical activity and social networks, and biological risk factors such as vascular disease, neuroinflammation, high concentrations of stress hormones, and neuropathological changes, might bring new treatment and prevention strategies a step closer." ### NOTES TO EDITORS: This study was funded by Erasmus Medical Center; ZonMw; the Netherlands Ministry of Education Culture and Science; and the Netherlands Ministry for Health, Welfare and Sports. [1] The Rotterdam Study is a population-based study of adults aged 55 years or older in Rotterdam (Netherlands), ongoing since 1990. Its aim is to investigate factors that determine the occurrence of cardiovascular, neurological, ophthalmological, endocrinological, and psychiatric diseases in elderly people. http://www.erasmus-epidemiology.nl/research/ergo.htm [2] Quote direct from author and cannot be found in text of Article IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE A LINK TO THIS PAPER FOR YOUR READERS, PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING, WHICH WILL GO LIVE WHEN THE EMBARGO LIFTS: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(16)00097-3/abstract Ebola virus samples taken from patients in Liberia in June 2015 are strikingly similar in their genetic makeup to other Ebola virus sequences from Western Africa, according to research published online today in the journal Science Advances. The study sheds light on several aspects of the "flare-ups" that have occurred in Liberia since the country was initially declared free of Ebola virus disease. As described in the paper, genomic analysis and the epidemiological investigation indicate that the June 2015 flare-up was a re-emergence of a Liberian transmission chain originating from a persistently infected source. This was also the case with a March 2015 Liberian flare-up. Neither event was caused by re-introduction of the virus from an animal reservoir or from a neighboring country with active person-to-person transmission, according to the research team. While the March flare-up was traced to sexual contact, no definitive link has been found for the June event. "When the June cluster of cases was first detected, the initial expectation of investigators was that it likely originated from a re-introduction of the virus from Sierra Leone or Guinea, where human-to-human transmission was active," explained study co-first author Jason T. Ladner, Ph.D., of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). "This explanation was favored because the typical route of Ebola virus transmission is through infectious body fluids from individuals in the acute phase of the disease, when they are most symptomatic." However, genomic sequencing, combined with epidemiological investigation, indicated that the cases did not represent a re-introduction from a neighboring country, but instead were the result of virus transmission from a "persistently infected" source within Liberia--meaning, for example, a disease survivor who continued to carry the virus for several months. "Although this finding did not necessarily play a major role in the control of this particular cluster, it certainly emphasized the risk for additional flare-ups, even within areas where active spread of the virus has been stopped," Ladner said. "This understanding has led to heightened vigilance, which has allowed for rapid response to the additional flare-ups that have occurred." Ebola virus causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates with high mortality rates and continues to emerge in new geographic locations, including Western Africa, the site of the largest recorded outbreak to date. More than 28,000 confirmed, probable and suspected cases have been reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with more than 11,000 reported deaths, according to the World Health Organization. In the paper, the research team--which includes scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Liberian Ministry of Health, and USAMRIID--points out the risk of Ebola virus disease flare-ups even after an outbreak is declared to be over. Since the June 2015 flare-up, at least four more documented flare-ups have occurred (2 in Liberia, 1 in Sierra Leone and 1 in Guinea), according to the authors. "From an epidemiological standpoint, this research demonstrated the value of full genome sequencing during an outbreak," said co-senior author Gustavo Palacios, Ph.D., of USAMRIID. "The viral genomes from the June flare-up were compared to what had been sequenced already, which allowed us to determine that the virus was indeed Liberian in origin. This helped confirm what the epidemiological teams were finding in their investigation and focused efforts on looking for potential sources of persistent infection within and around the affected community." According to Palacios, the study was made possible by the in-country laboratory capability established by USAMRIID in 2015 in collaboration with the Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research (LIBR) and the Liberian Ministry of Health. This state-of-the-art, high-throughput sequencing facility allows the team to conduct near real-time genomic sequencing. The viral genomes also helped to tell another story, said USAMRIID co-first author Michael R. Wiley, Ph.D. He noted that a reduced rate of evolution was associated with the June 2015 flare-up--meaning that the genetic signature of the virus had not changed significantly over time. When the team looked at the March 2015 cluster, which had been associated with sexual transmission, they found the same signature--a reduced rate of evolution. That "signature" could be a useful tool for evaluating the source of future outbreaks, according to Wiley. Specifically, it indicates that the virus likely replicates at a lower rate during persistent infections, as compared to the acute phase of the disease. "It's not clear what processes are driving this reduction in replication rate, or what role this change in rate may play in establishing or maintaining persistent infections," Wiley said. "It's important, therefore, to better understand the nature of these persistent infections in order to prevent the continuation of an outbreak once human-to-human transmission via acute individuals is controlled. Also, there is a need to develop treatment methods that are effective at curing these persistent infections, which may be contributing to the long-term chronic health problems associated with some Ebola virus disease survivors." Palacios said the team is continuing to investigate additional Ebola virus flare-ups that have occurred in Liberia, including the cluster of cases in November 2015 and the recent cluster of cases that occurred earlier this month. They are also further investigating the rate of viral evolution during persistent infections by sequencing Ebola virus genomes from the semen of disease survivors. ### USAMRIID's mission is to provide leading-edge medical capabilities to deter and defend against current and emerging biological threat agents. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to medical solutions--vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and information--that benefit both military personnel and civilians. The Institute plays a key role as the lead military medical research laboratory for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense. USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. For more information, visit http://www.usamriid.army.mil Reference: D Blackley et al. Reduced evolutionary rate in reemerged Ebola virus transmission chains. Science Advances DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600378 Funding: This work was funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Global Emerging Infections System, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Global Biosurveillance Technology Initiative agencies from the U.S. Department of Defense. Additional support was obtained through Battelle Memorial Institute's prime contract with the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Contributors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--David J. Blackley, Terrence Lo, Christopher Gregory, Stewart Coulter, Zephaniah Balogun, William Nwachukwu, John Saindon, Ute Stroher, Stuart T. Nichol, Stephan S. Monroe, A. Scott Laney, and Athalia Christie U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases--Michael R. Wiley, Jason T. Ladner, Merle L. Gilbert, Suzanne Mate, Jonathan D'ambrozio, Jeffrey Kugelman, Karla Prieto, Brian Kearney, Meagan Wisniewski, Mariano Sanchez-Lockhart, and Gustavo Palacios Liberian Ministry of Health--Mosoka Fallah, Adolphus Yeiah, Fred Amegashie, Moses Massaquoi, Francis Kateh, and Tolbert Nyenswah Illumina, Inc.--Gary Schroth Liberian Institute for Biomedical Research--Lawrence Fakoli and Fatorma Bolay Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3--Joseph W. Diclaro II Integrated Research Facility, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health--Jens H. Kuhn, Lisa E. Hensley, and Peter B. Jahrling World Health Organization--Peter Clement and Alex Gasasira University of Edinburgh and Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health--Andrew Rambaut News / Local by Staff Reporter Proceedings are underpay at the ZITF grounds in Bulawayo where the 57th edition of the fair is to be officially opened by Togolese President Faure Gnassinbe.President Robert Mugabe who arrived in Bulawayo earlier today for the official opening, was met at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport by the two vice presidents, Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, senior government officials and service chiefs.16:31 - After officially opening the fair, President Gnassinbe presents awards to outstanding exhibitors at the fair.16:30 - President Gnassinbe urges Zimbabweans to remain resilient in the face of western imposed economic sanctions, saying Togo has also been through that phase.16:20 - President Gnassinbe: "There is need for innovation through research, investing in technology, education, prioritising public private partnerships (PPPs) and through funding agricultural activities in rural areas to reduce poverty and uplift the livelihoods of all African people."16:19 - President Gnassinbe calls for increased trade among African countries, urging fellow African states to investment more on value addition.16:18 - He calls on African states to integrate and by-pass artificial borders created by the colonialists, which are hindering trade and development on the continent. He says in West Africa, there is a railway line linking Dakar (Senegal) and Lagos (Nigeria), adding that African states should learn from such a development to increase integration and linkages.16:15 - President Gnassinbe takes to the podium and is delivering his address, he notes the cordial relations that exist between Zimbabwe and Togo.16:11 - Cde Bimha requests the honour of the Togolese President to officially open the trade showcase.16:03 -Industry and Commerce Minister, Cde Mike Bimha takes to the podium.15:56 - Mr Nkomo welcomes President Mugabe who is ZITF patron and his Togolese counterpart, President Gnassinbe to the 57th edtion of the ZITF. He says it is important for the country to be more innovative in order to industrialise.15:55 - Mr Bhekithemba Nkomo, the ZITF President takes to the podium and invites 'Prophet' Bothwell Phiri to pray.15:49 - The guard of honour marches and off the arena.15:33 - President Gnassinbe inspects Guard of Honour mounted by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.15:31 - singing of the national anthem and flypast by Airforce of Zimbabwe jets.15:09 - after touring various stands, the guest of honour President Gnassinbe and president Mugabe have arrived in the main arena for the official opening.14:15 - A total of 19 countries including Russia, Botswana, Cyprus, China, Ethiopia Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Poland, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia are taking part in this year's ZITF. University of Arizona Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University researchers are one step closer to understanding the genetic and biological basis of diseases like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and rheumatoid arthritis TUCSON, Ariz. - Researchers are one step closer to understanding the genetic and biological basis of diseases like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and rheumatoid arthritis - and identifying new drug targets and therapies - thanks to work by three computational biology research teams from the University of Arizona Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University. The researchers' findings - a method demonstrating that independent DNA variants linked to a disease share similar biological properties - were published online in the April 27 edition of npj Genomic Medicine. "The discovery of these shared properties offer the opportunity to broaden our understanding of the biological basis of disease and identify new therapeutic targets," said Yves A. Lussier, MD, FACMI, lead and senior corresponding author of the study and UAHS associate vice president for health sciences and director of the UAHS Center for Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics (CB2). The researchers are striving to better understand the common genetic and biological backgrounds that make certain people susceptible to the same disease. They have developed a method to demonstrate how individual, disease-associated DNA variants share similar biological properties that provide a road map for disease origin. Over the last ten years, genetics researchers have conducted large studies, called Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS), which analyze DNA variants across thousands of human genomes to identify those that are more frequent in people with a disease. However, the impact of many of these disease-associated variants on the function and regulation of genes remains elusive, making clinical interpretation difficult. A method to explore the biological impact of these variants and how they are linked to disease was developed through the collaboration of bioinformatics and systems biology researchers Dr. Lussier; Haiquan Li, PhD, research associate professor and director for translational bioinformatics, Department of Medicine, UA College of Medicine - Tucson; Ikbel Achour, PhD, director for precision health, CB2; Jason H. Moore, PhD, director, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; and Joshua C. Denny, MD, MS, FACMI, associate professor of biomedical informatics and medicine, Vanderbilt University, along with their teams. In their new paper, the researchers demonstrate that DNA risk variants can affect biological activities such as gene expression and cellular machinery, which together provide a more comprehensive picture of disease biology. When DNA risk variants for a given disease were analyzed in combination, similar biological activities were discovered, suggesting that distinct risk variants can affect the same or shared biological functions and thus cause the same disease. More detailed analyses of variants linked to bladder cancer, Alzheimer's disease and rheumatoid arthritis showed that two variants can contribute to disease independently, but also interact genetically. Therefore, the precise combination of DNA variants of a patient may work to increase or decrease the relative risk of disease. The team of researchers also is pursuing the development of methods to unveil the biological incidence of "long-time overlooked" DNA variants with the aim to more precisely inform clinical decisions with treatments tailored to a patient's genetic and biological background. Since two of these research teams (Lussier's and Denny's) recently committed to the White House Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI), this innovative study demonstrates how strategic collaboration is key to making precision medicine a reality, noted Dr. Lussier. The paper, "Integrative genomics analyses unveil downstream biological effectors of disease-specific polymorphisms buried in intergenic regions," has been identified as one of the best 30 of the year in computational biology and bioinformatics, and will be presented as a "highlight of the year" at the 2016 Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB) conference, the largest international conference of computational biology/bioinformatics, in July in Orlando, Fla. ### In addition to Drs. Lussier, Li, Achour, Denny and Moore, study contributors included Joanne Berghout, Vincent Gardeux, Jianrong Li and Kenneth S. Ramos (UAHS); Lisa Bastarache (Vanderbilt); Younghee Lee (University of Utah); and Lorenzo Pesce, Xinan Yang and Ian Foster (University of Chicago). Drs. Haiquan Li, Achour, Berghout, Gardeux, Jianrong Li and Lussier also are members of the UA BIO5 Institute, and Dr. Lussier is a member of the University of Arizona Cancer Center. The work also was conducted in part at the University of Illinois. The study was supported in part by grants from the Computation Institute BEAGLE Cray Supercomputer of the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory (NIH 1S10RR029030-01), the NIH National Library of Medicine (R01-LM010685, K22-LM008308, LM009012, LM010098, LM010685), the University of Arizona Cancer Center (NCI P30CA023074), the University of Arizona Health Sciences (UL1RR024975), the University of Illinois CTSA (UL1TR000050) and the Vanderbilt University CTSA (UL1TR000445). About the University of Arizona Health Sciences The University of Arizona Health Sciences is the statewide leader in biomedical research and health professions training. The UA Health Sciences includes the UA Colleges of Medicine (Phoenix and Tucson), Nursing, Pharmacy and Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, with main campus locations in Tucson and the growing Phoenix Biomedical Campus in downtown Phoenix. From these vantage points, the UA Health Sciences reaches across the state of Arizona and the greater Southwest to provide cutting-edge health education, research, patient care and community outreach services. A major economic engine, the UA Health Sciences employs almost 5,000 people, has nearly 1,000 faculty members and garners more than $126 million in research grants and contracts annually. For more information: http://uahs.arizona.edu The scientific breakthrough, carried out by researchers at UGR and the Spanish National Research Council, is of great significance to the field of biological anthropology. It also has further implications for paleoanthropology, paleodemographics, forensic science and orthodontics, among other disciplines. The scientists discovered that the differences that help to distinguish between the jaw bone of a male and that of a female are different if the subject has a meso-, dolico- or braqui-facial pattern (the three types of anthropometric profiles). As a result, before determining the gender of skeletal remains, it is necessary to establish the vertical facial pattern. Scientists at the University of Granada and the National Museum of Natural Science (of the CSIC) have applied a new, more accurate technique in order to analyze the differences in mandible size and shape which are linked to gender. The new technique will be useful when determining whether a bone comes from a man or a woman. Their study, published in the Journal of Comparative Human Biology, perfects the technique currently used to identify the gender that a jaw bone comes from. The results are of great importance to the field of biological anthropology and have further implications for paleoanthropology, paleodemographics, forensic science and orthodontics, among other disciplines. The scientists discovered that the differences that help to distinguish between the jaw bone of a male and that of a female are different if the subject has a meso-, dolico- or braqui-facial pattern (the three types of anthropometric profiles). As a result, before determining the gender of skeletal remains, it is necessary to establish the vertical facial pattern. The head author of the study, Jose Antonio Alarcon Perez of the Department of Stomotology at the University of Granada, explains that "the dolico and braqui-facial subjects present specific patterns of sexual dimorphism in the mandible. These differences could be attributed to the different physiological demands and the difference in the size of the nasal cavity between women and men. Men present higher daily energy expenditures, higher air intake from breathing and differences in body composition compared to women." A study of 187 jaw bones The UGR and CSIC study analyzed how the differences linked to gender in the size and shape of the jaw bone varied in function of the vertical and sagittal patterns of the face. Vertical patterns are classified as meso-, braqui- and dolico-facial; sagittal patterns are classified as Class I (normal maxillomandibular relationship), Class II (mandibular retrognathism versus maxillary prognathism) and Class III (mandibular prognathism versus maxillary retrognathism). In carrying out their study, the authors analyzed the jaw bones of 187 adult subjects (92 men and 95 women) from Granada using lateral teleradiography of the cranium. The size and shape of the jaw bones were studied using specific geometric morphometric techniques. They found statistically significant differences in the size and shape of the bones between men and women. This sexual dimorphism can be clearly observed in all the patterns, both vertical and sagittal, that were analyzed. The male jaw bone is bigger across all subgroups. ### A new Cochrane Review, published in the Cochrane Library today, suggests that yoga may have a beneficial effect on symptoms and quality of life in people with asthma, but effects on lung function and medication use are uncertain. Asthma is a common chronic disease affecting about 300 million people worldwide. The many typical symptoms of asthma include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Yoga has gained global popularity as a form of exercise with general life-style benefits, and recent studies have investigated the potential of yoga to relieve asthma-related problems. A new Cochrane Review summarizes the results of randomised trials and has found evidence that practicing yoga might be able to improve asthma quality of life and symptoms to some extent. However, researchers also warned that higher-quality studies with more participants would be needed to draw any firm conclusions about the effects of yoga. The team of Cochrane researchers wanted to find out the effects of yoga in people with asthma. They found 15 randomised controlled trials which involved 1,048 men and women. Most of the trials were conducted in India, followed by Europe and the United States. The majority of participants had mild to moderate asthma for six months to more than 23 years. Six studies looked into the effects of breathing alone during yoga exercise, whilst the other studies assessed the effects of yoga that included breathing, posture and meditation. Most people continued to take their usual asthma medication while participating in the studies. The studies were conducted over a time period of two weeks to over four years. The researchers found some moderate quality evidence from five studies that yoga exercise reduces the impact of asthma on people's quality of life. However, evidence about yoga's impact on the participants' lung function is more uncertain because the results varied. The effects of yoga on medication use and any side-effects of yoga are also uncertain, because only a few very small studies reported these outcomes. Lead author, Dr Zuyao Yang from the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong commented, "Our findings suggest that yoga exercise may lead to small improvements in asthma quality of life and symptoms. However, it is unclear whether yoga has a consistent impact on lung function and we don't yet know if yoga can reduce people's medication usage, or if there are any side-effects of yoga for people with asthma." Deputy Co-ordinating Editor of the Cochrane Airways Group, Rebecca Normansell, added, "At present, we just don't have enough high quality evidence to determine the effects of yoga as a type of exercise for helping people manage their asthma. Because there is uncertainty about the effects of yoga on lung function and use of asthma medication, it's important that people with asthma continue to take their medication, as prescribed. The findings of this Cochrane Review will help people make more informed choices about their future treatment options." ### Full citation: : Yang Z-Y, Zhong H-B, Mao C, Yuan J-Q, Huang Y-F, Wu X-Y, Gao Y-M, Tang J-L. Yoga for asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD010346. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010346.pub2 URL Upon publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/14651858.CD010346 For further information please contact: Jo Anthony, Senior Media and Communications Officer, Cochrane at M +44(0) 7582 726 634 or janthony@cochrane.org, pressoffice@cochrane.org. Sarah Sharples: Senior Communications Officer, St George's, University of London.Email: s.sharples@sgul.ac.uk; Phone: 020 8725 5180 About Cochrane Cochrane is a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers and people interested in health. Cochrane produces reviews which study all of the best available evidence generated through research and make it easier to inform decisions about health. These are called systematic reviews. Cochrane is a not-for profit organisation with collaborators from more than 120 countries working together to produce credible, accessible health information that is free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest. Our work is recognised as representing an international gold standard for high quality, trusted information. Find out more at http://cochrane.org Follow us on twitter @cochranecollab About Wiley Wiley is a global provider of knowledge and knowledge-enabled services that improve outcomes in areas of research, professional practice and education. Through the Research segment, the Company provides digital and print scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising. The Professional Development segment provides digital and print books, online assessment and training services, and test prep and certification. In Education, Wiley provides education solutions including online program management services for higher education institutions and course management tools for instructors and students, as well as print and digital content. The Company's website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. If you would like to request complimentary media access to the contents of The Cochrane Library, please email sciencenewsroom@wiley.com. April 29, 2016 - With an ever-increasing volume of electronic data being collected by the healthcare system, researchers are exploring the use of machine learning--a subfield of artificial intelligence--to improve medical care and patient outcomes. An overview of machine learning and some of the ways it could contribute to advancements in plastic surgery are presented in a special topic article in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). "Machine learning has the potential to become a powerful tool in plastic surgery, allowing surgeons to harness complex clinical data to help guide key clinical decision-making," write Dr. Jonathan Kanevsky of McGill University, Montreal, and colleagues. They highlight some key areas in which machine learning and "Big Data" could contribute to progress in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Machine Learning Shows Promise in Plastic Surgery Research and Practice Machine learning analyzes historical data to develop algorithms capable of knowledge acquisition. Dr. Kanevsky and coauthors write, "Machine learning has already been applied, with great success, to process large amounts of complex data in medicine and surgery." Projects with healthcare applications include the IBM Watson Health cognitive computing system and the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Dr. Kanevsky and colleagues believe that plastic surgery can benefit from similar "objective and data-driven machine learning approaches"--particularly with the availability of the ASPS's 'Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons' (TOPS) database. The authors highlight five areas where machine learning shows promise for improving efficiency and clinical outcomes: Burn Surgery. A machine learning approach has already been developed to predict the healing time of burns, providing an effective tool for assessing burn depth. Algorithms could also be developed to enable rapid prediction of percentage of body surface area burned--a critical piece of information for patient resuscitation and surgical planning. A machine learning approach has already been developed to predict the healing time of burns, providing an effective tool for assessing burn depth. Algorithms could also be developed to enable rapid prediction of percentage of body surface area burned--a critical piece of information for patient resuscitation and surgical planning. Microsurgery. A postoperative microsurgery application has been developed to monitor blood perfusion of tissue flaps, based on smartphone photographs. In the future, algorithms may be developed to aid in suggesting the best reconstructive surgery approach for individual patients. A postoperative microsurgery application has been developed to monitor blood perfusion of tissue flaps, based on smartphone photographs. In the future, algorithms may be developed to aid in suggesting the best reconstructive surgery approach for individual patients. Craniofacial Surgery. Machine learning approaches for automated diagnosis of infant skull growth defects (craniosynostosis) have been developed. Future algorithms may be useful for identifying known and unknown genes responsible for cleft lip and palate. Machine learning approaches for automated diagnosis of infant skull growth defects (craniosynostosis) have been developed. Future algorithms may be useful for identifying known and unknown genes responsible for cleft lip and palate. Hand and Peripheral Nerve Surgery. Machine learning approaches may be useful in predicting the success of tissue-engineered nerve grafts, developing automated controllers for hand and arm neuroprostheses in patients with high spinal cord injuries, and improving planning and outcome prediction in hand surgery. Machine learning approaches may be useful in predicting the success of tissue-engineered nerve grafts, developing automated controllers for hand and arm neuroprostheses in patients with high spinal cord injuries, and improving planning and outcome prediction in hand surgery. Aesthetic Surgery. Machine learning also has potential applications in cosmetic surgery--for example, predicting and simulating the outcomes of aesthetic facial surgery and reconstructive breast surgery. The authors also foresee useful applications of machine learning to improve plastic surgery training. However, they emphasize the need for measures to ensure the safety and clinical relevance of the results obtained by machine learning, and to remember than computer-generated algorithms cannot yet replace the trained human eye. "These are tools that not only may help the decision-making process but also find patterns that might not be evident in analysis of smaller data sets or anecdotal experience," Dr. Kanevsky and coauthors conclude. "By embracing machine learning, modern plastic surgeons may be able to redefine the specialty while solidifying their role as leaders at the forefront of scientific advancement in surgery." ### Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is published by Wolters Kluwer. Click here to read "Big Data and Machine Learning in Plastic Surgery: A New Frontier in Surgical Innovation." Article: "Big Data and Machine Learning in Plastic Surgery: A New Frontier in Surgical Innovation" (doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000002088) About Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery For more than 60 years, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/) has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery brings subscribers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, experimental studies, maxillofacial reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, burn repair, and cosmetic surgery, as well as news on medico-legal issues. About ASPS The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. You can learn more and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at http://www.plasticsurgery.org or http://www.facebook.com/PlasticSurgeryASPS and http://www.twitter.com/ASPS_news. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer is a global leader in professional information services. Professionals in the areas of legal, business, tax, accounting, finance, audit, risk, compliance and healthcare rely on Wolters Kluwer's market leading information-enabled tools and software solutions to manage their business efficiently, deliver results to their clients, and succeed in an ever more dynamic world. Wolters Kluwer reported 2015 annual revenues of 4.2 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, and employs over 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information about our products and organization, visit http://www.wolterskluwerhealth.com, follow @WKHealth or @Wolters_Kluwer on Twitter, like us on Facebook, follow us on LinkedIn, or follow WoltersKluwerComms on YouTube. Written by ACM *Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/-Speaking to "Eurofora" just after the Debate and Adoption, by CoE's PanEuropean Assembly, of his Report on "New Challenges" about "Forced Migration", mainly by recently Growing Major Environmental Upheavals, provoked by Natural or Man-made Catastrophes and/or Climate Change, French MEP Philippe Bies, of the Governing Socialist Party, from Strasbourg, gave a Stern Warning about Possible, or even Probable Dengers in the foreseable Future, against which, Europe and the whole International Community should find the adequate and Efficient ways to Fight in "a Race against Time", as he stressed. Indeed, a CoE's Resolution adopted Today observes that," according to the UNHCR, about 50 Millions People have been Displaced Woerldwide in Recent Years", both "because of Conflicts, Persecution and Violence", and "as a Result of Natural, Chemical or Nuclear Disasters", while, in addition, "according to the InterGovernemental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)", "the Flow of Environmental Migrants will reach 150 Millions by 2050", othe relevant Organisations speaking about "200 Millions". Such Estimations come kust a few Years after the World Meteorological Organisation had Warned about a Recent and Growing Trend towards a Repetition and even Multiplication of various "Extreme Weather Events" (EWE), in Many Countries, (that some attribute to Climate Change). Questioned by "Eurofora" if he thinks that there might be a real Risk to approach, at least partly, a situation like that, against which had warned the Famous Brittish Writer Orwell in his Book "1984", where he describes a Europe surrounded by Exceptional Events, Catastrophes, Wars, etc., which Force a lot of People to Seek Refuge, and, thus, Massively Emigrate in adverse conditions, CoE's Rapporteur didn't Deny such a Risk, in the forseable Future, even if he pointed mainly at Locations situated further away : - In fact, "the idea (of his Report) is for Europe to take an Initiative for the Definition of ?orced Migration" by Environmental Disasters, (See Infra), "even if it's (EU) Not the most affected" Directly by those Events, Bies Replied to "Eurofora". - Because, "those who are the most Immediately Concerned are in Other Continents, such as, f.ex., India, Bangladesh, Central Asia, etc, which don't have, however, an exclusivity on Natural Catastrophes, since they might occur also in Europe". => - "My aim is to Anticipate : We know that these Phenomena Exist, that they are Growing. So, we should try to Monitor them in the Best Possible way", CoE's Rapporteur explained. - "At the same Time, we should accomplish things that we master less than others, such as COP21 ; Concerning Climate Change, it's COP21 which should Today incite the Countries to Monitor the Energies used, to Care for a more Human and Ecological Development, etc", Bies pointed out, speaking at the CoE in Strasbourg, the Same Day that, in UNO's Headquarters at New York, the latest COP21 Agreement, reached last Year at the relevant International UNCCC Summit in Paris, was opened for Signature by the interested Countriesn, which already reached the Number of 170. -+ But, "There is also a Legal aspect : That's the Review of the Definition of who is a "Refugee", CoE's Rapporteur added. For that purpose, make a New, Specific Treaty, would be "too Complicated". "I think that we must try to make it as Simple and Efficient as posible", f.ex. by "an Additional Protocol to the (general) Geneva Conventions (on Refugees). That's it", he advised. - "I don't know how Long it might take. I suppose some Years. For the moment, I try to Contribute by bringing a First Stone" to the overall Edifice, Bies said modestly. - Because, concerning the Various Possible Dangers, "in fact, they are Important. it's a Race against Time !", he Warned. - Therefore, Action should be taken "on Both Levers" : - (A) "If we can Prevent Population Displacements, we must do it. This goes through the Fight against Climate Change". But, "despite the Success of COP21, everybody knows that there are Countries which won't make enough efforts. So that, perhaps, it might Delay Climate Change, but not yet Stop it", he observed. - (B) "And, afterwords, it's that Legal Issue, which is Important". Because, "once a New Definition given", Forced Environmental Refugees could be Protected. On the Contrary,- "Let's imagine what might happen", f.ex. "in case of Climate Change provoking a Big Population Movement, without having, previously, added to Political Refugees also a Legal Definition of a Status for Environmental Refugees... It's as Simple as that", CoE's Rapporteur pointed out. - When "Eurofora" reminded to Bies the notorious 2003 Heatwave in France, which Killed some 15.000 Persso,s and THreatened the Energy Independence of the Country, (f.ex. by Reducing Water flows needed to ReFresh Nuclear Reactors, etc), added to the 2010 Russian Heatwave, which filled Moscow with suffocating Smog, and provoked huge Fires at the Countryside, Destroying.Crops and Threatening Nuclear and Military Defense Installations, etc., the PanEuropean CoE's Rapporteur agreed that, "Yes, this might Happen even in Europe !". - "However, in order for any Population Movement to result in real Refugees, they must get Out from one Country and go to anOther", he reminded, "you can't be a Refugee inside your own Country", as he pointed out. Even if he spoke in Strasbourg, Near the Franco-German Border, too Easy to Cross in just a Few Minutes, as "Eurofora" observed, making him smile. + While, in addition, even Inside one Country, various areas of Different Conflicts or Catastrophes throughout the World, unfortunately have experienced the Tragic Phenomenon of the so-called Massive Forced Movements of "Internaly Displaced People", or "IDP"s, according to the usual acronym used in such cases by the UN, (f.ex., in Cyprus, in ex-Yugoslavia, Ukraine, etc). In case of Natural or Environmental Catastrophes, such Events have partialy occured even inside China, (f.ex. after Huge Mudslides and/or Floods, etc), and/or the USA (f.ex. after the 2005 "Katrina" Giant Hurricane Disaster, when a lot of American People were Obliged or Ordered by the Government to Evacuate and Leave away from their Homes at the Southern Mississipi area), etc. => That's why, inter alia, the Resolution adopted Today by CoE's Assembly includes also a Call for the "Integration of Persons Displaced for Environmental Reasons, whether they are Internaly Displaced, or have been Forced to Emigrate to anOther State". + Moreover, CoE's Resolution adopted according to Bies' Report, "underlines that the Impact of climate change and natural, chemical or nuclear disasters Varies depending on the Vulnerability and adaptability of the Populations concerned, and on the Capacity of States to prevent or deal with such events". Therefore, the PanEuropean Assembly "recommends that Member States" : "acknowledge the Vulnerability of these Groups and ensure that their fundamental Rights are fully observed". ++ In General, States should "give greater Priority to devising Protection Policies and Norms for Victims of Natural, chemical or nuclear Disasters and for the victims of the consequences of Climate change", "adopt measures to prohibit any over-exploitation of natural resources", and "take the necessary measures to Resettle the Populations concerned", while also "Reviewing the relevant international Rules and expand them to include a definition for these migrants", particularly by "Revising the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees", (Comp. Supra). - The Issue doesn't seem to provoke a lot of Political Controversy among Various Parties of MEPs, as it appeared also by the Fact that Experienced ChristianDemocrat/EPP French MEP Andre Schneider, speaking on the name of his Political Group, strongly supported Bies' Report on most of its main points, reminding also that he had pzersonaly drafted, already as early as since 2012 another relevant Report, for the National Assembly in Paris, on "the Impact of Climate Change on Security and Defence", where he had Warned about "Environmental Migrations" : "F.ex., in Egypt, a 50 cm rise in the level of the Mediterranean might provoke an Exodus of 4 Millions People fleeing the Nile Delta for Higher regions", observed Schneider. (../..) *** ("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version, may be published asap). **** Mifid II will bring in new requirements for asset managers, including more specific order execution policies, and although FX spot is not a covered instrument, asset managers might find themselves including it as though it were. Jill Sigelbaum, Traiana In short, there will be a more detailed requirement for asset managers to report where and why they executed on their chosen execution venues, notes Jill Sigelbaum, Traianas head of FX. And Vikas Srivastava, managing director, business development at Integral Development Corp, suggests asset managers are already rethinking their currency trading systems. Asset managers have also taken advantage of the availability of FX experts from the hedge fund community to enhance their knowledge and understanding of market pricing and distribution, suggests Glen Sargeant, product manager, buy-side FX at FlexTrade. The FX trading teams of asset managers will have had access to deep liquidity in the past, facing a great number of counterparts across all FX types, he says. However, this approach may have to change. The management of forward-dated exposure in compliance with Mifid II requires a great deal of administration and one approach to minimizing this would be to reduce the number of counterparties faced for forwards. Not only must an asset-management firm have staff to run a trading operation it will also require dedicated system resources to help meet Mifid requirements, adds John Halligan, president of Global Trading Analytics. Predictability Another challenge, according to Andy Woolmer, CEO of New Change FX (NCFX), is that fund managers tend to have very repetitive, predictable business in both spot and forward markets, so price-makers can easily guess what they will do each time they ask for a price. The price-maker will then make a tight spread, but will skew the price against the manager in the knowledge of what the manager will do, he says. These skews are built into trading systems so a machine will seek to maximize the likelihood of getting the deal and making money from it by making a tight price outside of the market. A report by Deloitte on the implications of Mifid II for markets Navigating Mifid II: Strategic decisions for investment managers notes that all-to-all trading venues can provide investment managers with an additional source of liquidity, particularly as prudential requirements continue to restrict the sell side. Anna Pajor, principal consultant and director at GreySpark Partners, says the evolution of market structure from dealer-to-clients to all-to-all presents new opportunities for asset managers to access attractive liquidity pools. The market is not yet organized around the all-to-all models, though, which suggests not everyone is aware of or exploring those new opportunities, she says. Stephane Malrait, ING According to Stephane Malrait, global head of financial markets ecommerce at ING, the large asset managers are starting to talk to their execution management system providers to plan for the necessary upgrade for Mifid II. He suggests the directive provides an opportunity to continue to support the principal trading model. The principal model is still very dominant on most FX currency pairs and the main trading model for all emerging-market currencies and FX derivative instruments, notes Malrait. For asset managers, best execution and transparency requirements can be achieved under this model. Best suited In general, asset managers are one of the client segments best suited to principal trading, agrees Jim Foster, deputy head of eFX trading at State Street Global Markets. Their trading tends to be non-correlated in the short term, making it practical to internalize their flow and gain access to more aggressive pricing than is available to agency clients, he says. Additionally, many asset managers have complex workflows, trading across many accounts and value dates simultaneously, which are more challenging to provide in an agency environment. Glen Sargeant, FlexTrade While there are some advantages to the principal model for example, internal netting of trades and lower transaction costs FlexTrades Sargeant suggests that increasing compliance requirements for instance, being able to demonstrate there is no conflict of interest between funds implies increasing costs. As a result, some asset-management firms have abandoned it in favour of the agency model, he says. In other cases it makes sense to use a single-dealer relationship, but to tender the business every three years and use an independent rate as a component of the contract to ensure that best execution is achieved on a relationship basis, adds NCFXs Woolmer. For some it may be appropriate to use a multi-dealer approach on either a principal or agency basis, but what is absolutely clear is that these choices can only be made once a sensible understanding of costs has been reached, he concludes. On Thursday it issued a precautionary injunction, halting the transfer of a tranche of bonds (PTBENKM0012) from state-rescued Novo Banco back to bad bank BES and demanded they be transferred back to Novo Banco. The move was requested by Merrill Lynch, an investor in the bonds. The Bank of Portugal was given 10 days to respond. "There has been no definitive decision by the court," insists the Bank of Portugal. "The Lisbon administrative court provisionally issued a precautionary injunction concerning one series of bonds, without hearing the Bank of Portugal's position. "The Bank of Portugal respects the provisional decision, but will immediately request that it be lifted." The Bank of Portugal has taken an aggressive stance in its attempt to bail in bondholders and plug Novo Banco's capital hole. The patience of the Portuguese public has been sorely tested with a series of bank bailouts and the central bank's options are limited. The transfer of these bonds together with four other tranches of bonds back to BES at the end of last year provoked uproar in the market and was an inauspicious debut for Europe's Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive. For the full story see Banking: Portugals bail-in bombshell. Many unrelated animals, from bacteria to birds, have tiny particles of magnetite in their bodies. For many years, biologists assumed that these magnetized bits of iron were the key to understanding the geomagnetic sense in migrating organisms: cells sense the torque of these iron crystals when they align north, like tiny compass needles. This theory, however, might be only part of the story. The real key may rely on proteins that respond with intrinsic iron atoms of their own. At least, thats the working hypothesis currently growing in popularity. Cryptochromes are light-sensitive proteins in the retina that respond to blue or green light. They are thought to form pairs of free radicals in response, perhaps interacting with iron-rich proteins. This would link magnetoreception to vision and to circadian rhythms, which also involve cryptochromes. Kenneth J. Lohmann, who has long studied magnetic navigation in sea turtles, was intrigued by the hypothesis from Chinese physicists writing in Nature Materials last January. As we noted last November when the discovery was first publicized, they proposed that the long-sought mechanism is a magnetic protein biocompass involving cryptochromes and an iron-containing protein named MagR. In the same issue of Nature Materials, Lohmann described how maddeningly difficult it has been to discover the secret shared by such diverse animals as sea turtles, birds, mollusks, and insects. Resolving the debate between the cryptochrome hypothesis and the more orthodox magnetite hypothesis has been difficult because magnetic fields pass right through the body and are not localized to a specific organ. Trying to locate a small number of submicroscopic structures of unknown appearance, scattered throughout an animals body in unknown places, is an enormous challenge, he says. The new cryptochrome hypothesis looks promising, but Lohmann offers this caveat: the putative magnetoreceptor has been identified largely on the basis of theory, genomics, biochemistry and three-dimensional protein-structure modelling. Pigeon genes for MagR and cryptochrome were expressed in bacteria and the resulting proteins were found to co-purify. This is certainly an important first step, yet whether the complex actually exists in any animal, much less whether it functions as a magnetoreceptor, remains unknown. Also, at least two crucial elements of the current model remain to be elucidated. The first is whether and how cryptochromes interact with MagR to mediate light-dependent effects. The second involves the fundamental question of transduction how the putative magnetoreceptor converts a stimulus into electrical signals that can be interpreted by nerve cells. [Emphasis added.] A team of theoretical physicists at Oxford has now added their support to the cryptochrome model. Their March 2016 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences doesnt, unfortunately, satisfy either of Lohmanns crucial elements. But if they are right, magnetoreception puts animals on the cutting edge of human understanding of quantum mechanics. The American Physical Society explains: One explanation [for why radiofrequency interference disrupts a birds magnetic sense] is that the electromagnetic noise has quantum-level effects on cryptochromes performance. This would suggest that the radical pairs in cryptochrome preserve their quantum coherence for much longer than previously believed possible. Such a finding could have broader implications for physicists hoping to extend coherence for more efficient quantum computing. The fact that they are considering a biomimetic application implies that the physicists didnt know quantum coherence could last so long. Birds know more about quantum mechanics than the human experts! The paper says: the spike discussed here is undeniably a quantum effect, arising from the mixing of states associated with avoided energy-level crossings, and is not captured by the semiclassical theory. In this sense, radical pair magnetoreception may be more of a quantum phenomenon than hitherto realized. For reasons unrelated to the actual lab research, the lead physicist, Peter Hore of Oxford, lugged Darwins theory into the discussion. Physicists are excited by the idea that quantum coherence could not just occur in a living cell, but could also have been optimized by evolution, he said. Theres a possibility that lessons could be learned about how to preserve coherence for long periods of time. Heres how the Oxford team inserted evolutionary speculation into their paper: the compass could have been optimized by evolution . We conclude that there is ample scope for a cryptochrome-based radical pair compass to have evolved with a heading precision sufficient to explain the navigational behavior of migratory birds both in the laboratory and in the wild. random mutations in the sequence of the protein could have provided evolution with the scope to optimize the compass precision. this is another property [spin relaxation time] that could have been optimized by evolution. Because the spike only emerges when the coherence time exceeds 1 s, its presence could explain why slow relaxation might have evolved. All of these comments are superfluous to the research. The authors provide no evidence of specific beneficial mutations that arose and were selected, or how the compass arose in the first place so that it could be optimized in some aimless fashion. The comments are all hedged in suppositions: could have been and might have evolved. Lohmann points out that MagR is conserved evolutionarily, allowing a sort of universal magnetic-sensing structure that can be adapted for different purposes by different animals. Is it helpful to say that a structure with a purpose can be adapted by all kinds of unrelated animals? How many miracles of chance did that take? Far more productive to the research is the reason they tackled the problem in the first place. Heres what they describe as significant: Billions of birds fly thousands of kilometers every year between their breeding and wintering grounds, helped by an extraordinary ability to detect the direction of the Earths magnetic field. The biophysical sensory mechanism at the heart of this compass is thought to rely on magnetically sensitive, light-dependent chemical reactions in cryptochrome proteins in the eye. Thus far, no theoretical model has been able to account for the <5 precision with which migratory birds are able to detect the geomagnetic field vector. Here, using computer simulations, we show that genuinely quantum mechanical, long-lived spin coherences in realistic models of cryptochrome can provide the necessary precision. The crucial structural and dynamical molecular properties are identified. The precision, the mechanism, and the extraordinary ability of birds motivated this research. Design, not evolution, made them excited to understand it. To migrate successfully over large distances, it is not sufficient simply to distinguish north from south (or poleward from equatorward). A bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica baueri), for example, was tracked by satellite flying from Alaska to New Zealand in a single 11,000-km nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean. A directional error of more than a few degrees could have been fatal. Because the magnetic compass seems to be the dominant source of directional information, and the only compass available at night under an overcast (but not completely dark) sky, migratory birds must be able to determine their flight direction with high precision using their magnetic compass. Studies have shown that migratory songbirds can detect the axis of the magnetic field lines with an accuracy better than 5. The news item, indeed, begins by pointing to one of the champions of Illustras documentary Flight: The Genius of Birds. Each year, the Arctic Tern travels over 40,000 miles, migrating nearly from pole to pole and back again. Other birds make similar (though shorter) journeys in search of warmer climes. How do these birds manage to traverse such great distances when we need a map just to make our way to the next town over? The next film in Illustras Design of Life series, Living Waters, includes a list of two dozen animals, including birds, reptiles, mammals, insects, and fish that are able to navigate by the earths magnetic field. How could evolution deal with those empirical observations? As Tim Standish notes, theres a better explanation. Darwinian natural selection is blind. It doesnt know that a solution has been arrived at in some other organism. It cant think, Wow, the salmon have that elegant solution to the problem. Why dont we evolve towards that in the turtles? Its not an explanation thats possible. Now conversely its not surprising at all to see an intelligent agent know of a solution to a problem and apply that same solution under different circumstances over, and over, and over again. This is what we see intelligence do. And its not what we would expect from an unguided process. As the current work shows, a cause able to provide birds, sea turtles and salmon with quantum-mechanical precision points to intelligence at a very high level. Image: Arctic tern, by Jos Zwarts [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons. News / Local by Staf Reporter Togolese President Faure Gnassinbe has urged Zimbabweans to remain resilient in the face of western imposed economic sanctions, saying his country has also been through that phase.Officially opening the 57th edition of Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) at the ZITF grounds in Bulawayo today, President Gnassinbe said Zimbabwe and Africa at large should work hard to improve the livelihoods of its people through prioritising innovation and integration, which can be mightier weapons against western sanctions and sabotage."Togo has been through such difficult times, but we can say to Zimbabwe is that don't lose hope in the quest to develop your economy," said President Gnassinbe in English at the climax of his address, which was predominantly in French."This year once again, the ZITF did not depart from its reputation of quality which is testified by the presence of a number of international exhibitors. There is need for innovation through research, investing in technology, education, prioritising public private partnerships (PPPs) and through funding agricultural activities in rural areas to reduce poverty and uplift the livelihoods of all African people," added President Gnassinbe.He also called for African states to invest in value addition and increase trade among themselves."Integration is a dream that Africa has dreamt of since the beginning of independence of the continent. We inherited Africa with artificial boundaries which hindered integration. In West Africa for instance, there is a railway line linking Dakar (Senegal) and Lagos (Nigeria), so African states should learn from such a development to increase integration and linkages," he said.After officially opening the fair, President Gnassinbe presented awards to outstanding exhibitors at the fair.Earlier on, President Gnassinbe and his counterpart, President Robert Mugabe toured various stands at the trade fair, where corporates were showcasing various wares.A total of 19 countries including Russia, Botswana, Cyprus, China, Ethiopia Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Poland, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia are taking part in this year's ZITF. News / Local by Thobekile Zhou Zanu PF is ideological bankrupt and wasting energy through organising worthless demonstrations by its youth league, MDC leader Welshman Ncube has said.Writing in his weekly opinion piece, Ncube said Zanu PF should instead be "marching against poverty and unemployment".He wrote, "You cannot imagine the time and energy invested in high offices by members of the so-called Young Turk G40 and Team Lacoste to conspire and counter-conspire against each other."Everything that a ZANU PF cabinet minister does now has more to do with appeasement of either faction or as proof of allegiance to the so-called 'centre of power'."A case in point are the delusions of the ZANU PF Youth league national Deputy Secretary Kudzanai Chipanga who is at pains to convince the nation that it is a worthwhile cause investing time and money to mobilise 100 000 youths from 10 provinces for a one-million-man match'.He added " At a time when millions of these youths are unemployed and thousands of college graduates churned out to a life of poverty, should ZANU PF youth structures not be 'marching against poverty and unemployment'?"What manner of ideological bankruptcy is it that a party can mobilise resources merely to prove that " we are the vanguard of the party and we will mobilise ourselves for the march in solidarity with our President, who is also our 2018 candidate"?At a time when three million rural Zimbabweans are facing hunger arising out of the drought and the country is struggling to settle a ten billion-dollar foreign debt, how can we Zimbabweans tolerate such trivia of gigantic Jurassic proportion? My conclusion - and no doubt millions of other Zimbabweans - is that this political party that claims to have a more than two-thirds parliamentary majority is taking us for fools. The ruling party ZANU PF should not have been; must not be and should never be taken seriously. Their ideals are not about the revolution, national emancipation or empowerment. Lawyers acting for British citizens fighting a legal battle for the right to vote in the European Union referendum in June are to appeal to the UK's Supreme Court after their arguments were rejected by two High Court judges.The case was taken to the High Court hearing on behalf of 94 year old Harry Shindler, a Second World War veteran who lives in Italy, and lawyer and Belgian resident Jacquelyn MacLennan.Lawyers for the two argued that under the EU Referendum Act 2015 they are being unlawfully denied the right to vote on the UK's continued membership of the EU as the legislation excludes British people who have lived elsewhere in the European Union for more than 15 years, from voting in June.They told the Court that if the vote in June is to leave the EU then all British citizens will lose their status as EU citizens. This means that those British citizens living outside the UK but in the EU will become "resident aliens" living and working abroad under sufferance rather than by right and no longer able to claim the protections of EU law.The Court also heard arguments that the current 15 year rule acted as a penalty against British citizens for having exercised their free movement rights. The rule prevented them from participating in a democratic process, the result of which might bring to an end the very EU law rights on which they rely and base their working and private lives every day.However Lord Justice Lloyd Jones and Mr. Justice Blake said they accepted the Government's claims that there were significant practical difficulties about adopting a new electoral register which includes non-resident British citizens whose last residence the United Kingdom was more than 15 years ago for this referendum."In our view, Parliament could legitimately take the view that electors who satisfy the test of closeness of connection set by the 15 year rule form an appropriate group to vote on the question whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union," they said in their ruling.Following the judgment Richard Stein, the lawyer from legal firm Leigh Day representing the expats, said they were disappointed that the High Court has denied them the opportunity to challenge the decision by the Government to exclude British citizens from the EU referendum."We now intend to take the legal battle to the Supreme Court, the highest Court in the country, so that all British citizens living elsewhere in the EU can be part of the democratic process to vote in this referendum which will have a very real impact on their lives," he explained."We believe that there is precedent for fast track legislation being put through Parliament in a matter of days in response to court judgment, so there would be no need for the referendum to be delayed if the Supreme Court rules in our favour," he pointed out."Since this is a vote in a referendum rather than in an election there is no need to link the votes of Britons in Europe to any particular constituency in the UK. Possession of a British passport should be enough," he added.Jacquelyn MacLennan pointed out that the current Government made a manifesto commitment to give all British citizens a vote, no matter how long they have been abroad. "If British citizens maintain British citizenship that brings with it rights, obligations and a connection with this country, and that that should endure. We just want the Government to keep its promises," she added. The best approach might be to contact your neighbors and/or anyone you know in any local expat clubs or associations you belong to. Maybe someone in your neighborhood has a cat (or two or more) and you could approach them about looking after yours. Might be a sneaky way to get to know some of the neighbors. Cheers, Bev MissThing said: I'll figure out how to deal with it all better... Click to expand... The way to deal with it is to ask 'how much' up front - pretty much all the time.We go to a great dentist. She and her sister, also a dentist - and very nice people, share an office. A one hour cleaning is 300 pesos. A filling is 300 pesos. My wife needed a crown. Every crown I have in my mouth - and I have quite a few - the dentist in the States would stick an approximate fit in my mouth and start whittling away asking - how does that feel - then whittle away some more. This dentist had THREE crowns made for my wife because the first two were not done right. No whittling allowed.In the 'neighborhood' we are the ONLY non-Mexicans - for miles. I probably go to the ferreteria 3-4 times a week (today I went twice). I go in my beat up t-shirt and my shorts with holes all over. The only piece of jewelry my wife and I wear are the $20 USD wedding bands we picked up 35 years ago. No watches. My cell-phone is an old LG flip-phone I picked up on ebay for $3 USD.When we have someone come to the house - like the metal-works guy who has now made perhaps 6 things for us over time - the first time he came to the house he had this image of me that I just described. Well he sees the house and he sees the view and his head tilts and one of his eyes close and he just smiles. His prices are still GREAT !Last time we had the car to the mechanic he had the car for 2 days. When I went to pick it up I asked how much. He said you don't owe me anything - I don't think I fixed it - you really need to go to this other shop and have them fix the leaf-packs. I went to that shop and the guy quoted 800 pesos. He said it would take 2 hours. Well it turned out to be a MUCH bigger job than that and it took 2 men 4 hours each to get it done. When I tried to offer him more money - because I KNEW he was entitled to it - he said 'don't worry about it - we honor our quotes - come back'. News / National by Stephen Jakes The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has reported that the country in March alone had a total of 123 violations recorded which had 318 victims altogether.The organisation said of these victims 35 people (11.6%) were from ZimPF, which is a significant increase from 18 victims in February (4 % of the total 441)" said ZPP said. "While the number of victims for March in general was less than from February, for ZimPF, the number of victims doubled. There is continuously (over the months) a large number of victims whose political affiliation is unknown (55.3%). This seems to signify that for a good number of people their political persuasion is not something they are open about."The ZPP said on the other hand the profile of perpetrators continues to show that members of the security sector are involved in political violation."March showed of 235 perpetrators, 80.4% were from Zanu-PF, which always leads month after month. The police made up 6% of perpetrators, the army 4.3%; while suspected members of the Central Intelligence Organisation made up 0.4%. MDC-T had 6.8 of the perpetrators, while MDC party which is led by Welshman Ncube had 0.4 perpetrators," ZPP said. "It is interesting to note that PDP posted its own numbers of perpetrators at 1.3%. These were mainly a result of intra-party conflict which has also reared its ugly head in the relatively young PDP."ZPP said as the reports for March show, intra-party conflict continues to be quite rampant across the board."An issue that recurred this year as before is that of civil servants, particularly teachers being forced to contribute their hard earned monies for Independence Day celebrations. For a workforce that earns very little which of late has often come erratically, it is rather unfair for teachers to be made to fund the celebrations especially when it is not by choice," ZPP said."Politicised food aid distributions continued in cases across the country. In those instances Zanu-PF membership continued to be the "passport" to get food aid. On page 29 we carry our recommendations for food aid distribution including guidelines and minimum standards." For the third consecutive year, most homeowners across Bexar County have opened their annual tax appraisal notices to find that their property values and thus probably their tax bite have gone up. Bexar County Appraisal District officials said this week that residential real estate values have risen an average of 7.5 percent, compared with 2015, which comes on the heels of an 11 percent jump last year and a 7 percent increase in 2014. Thats a three-year tax jolt that generally mirrors the reheated San Antonio housing market. The average market value for a single-family house in Bexar County was $188,000 for this year. The total 2016 value of all property in the county was roughly $163 billion, an increase of $13 billion over 2015. RELATED: 2015 average residential property value increases in Bexar by ZIP code Owners of some 532,000 properties of all kinds received notices that their valuations had gone up by $1,000 or more. People are very upset, said Mary Kieke, the districts deputy chief appraiser. The tax system is absolutely broken. But they have been exceedingly civil at our offices when they come in to complain. A 12-year veteran with the district, Kieke said Texas property tax system has been manipulated by an army of tax agents and lobbyists at the Legislature who have defeated any effort to require disclosure of real estate sales prices, making it nearly impossible to systematically know the fair market value of larger commercial properties shopping centers, corporate campuses, resorts and to tax them accordingly. Sales prices are sometimes available from secondary sources. For example, Kieke said, the Bank of America building at 300 Convent sold in December 2014 for $105 million. We had it valued at $57 million. That happens all over the city. Virtually every (hotel) sues us every year (to lower their valuations.) So do the apartment complexes. They always have. They always will. She said Bexar County had $19 billion in 2015 commercial valuation tied up in litigation. All of this shifts the tax burden to homeowners, Kieke said. A record 89,000 property owners protested their valuations last year, but the sad fact is that commercial property owners do so much better than residential people in tax protests, she said, adding that most middle-class homeowners cant justify paying some professional and taking time off work to come down here and fight. Daniel Gonzalez, legislative director for the Texas Association of Realtors and a longtime opponent of real estate sales price disclosure, rejected Kiekes argument. I think its unfortunate, said Gonzalez, that your great city has to put up with people like the Bexar County Appraisal District. Sales price ultimately has no bearing on what market value is of the property. We think all property in Texas is fairly valued (because) the state comptroller says it is within a 5 percent margin of error. The system isnt broken. But maybe there is a lack of knowledge at the local level. By sector, Kieke said, there were across-the-board increases. Industrial property valuations went up 24.6 percent, apartments 15.7 percent, offices 15.9 percent, raw land 20 percent, hotels 21 percent and residential 7.5 percent. Asked if those numbers contradict her belief that commercial property owners arent pulling their weight, Kieke said the figures reflect valuations for commercial owners, not what they actually pay after lengthy protests and lawsuits. In 2015, she said, commercial property owners were able to reduce their valuations by $4.16 billion, while tens of thousands of residential owners managed reductions totaling only $639,000. Suzanne Simpson, a real estate agent who lives in Olmos Park in a 1930s-era, four-bedroom stone and stucco home with a big yard and pool, felt slightly conflicted by the appraisal notices. She benefits from increased sales in the active market but saw her home appraisal jump some $76,000, or 9 percent, compared with 2015. Im disappointed, Simpson said. But I wasnt surprised. Ill go downtown to fight it again. They dont take into account the actual condition of the home just the neighborhood. My kitchen and bathrooms are outdated. We live on a very busy street. I dont think we could ever sell our house for what they appraised it at. Tim Brown, a broker with RE/MAX Corridor who has sold several homes in Schertz and Cibolo, said that while he thought most county appraisals were roughly equal to market values, he agreed that protesting homeowners should document the actual condition of their houses. If the valuation is way too high for the neighborhood, Brown said. They need to work with a Realtor to get comps (comparable values) of similar nearby homes and protest it. The appraisal district is responsible for supplying fair market valuations to some 63 taxing entities within the county, including 17 school districts, 27 cities or towns, the Alamo Colleges district and the San Antonio River Authority. Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector Albert Uresti, who at this time of year is quick to remind voters that he does not set their tax rates or their tax appraisals his office just collects the money said he must constantly remind senior citizens, the disabled and disabled veterans that they are often entitled to exemptions on their property taxes. Uresti also offers what he said is the states only 10-month, interest-free payment program for property taxes. Those unhappy with their propertys appraisal have until May 31 to file a protest. It can be done my mail, fax or in person at the appraisal district at 411 N. Frio St. Email is not accepted. Details are available at www.bcad.org. bselcraig@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The City Council sided with developers Thursday in a contentious zoning case that pitted real estate interest groups against Northwest Side neighborhoods. Residents in the area complained of a litany of problems associated with an undeveloped 36-acre tract near Prue and Babcock roads they say attracted vagrants, illegal dumping, dangerous firearms target practice and graffiti, among other things. And building a high-density apartment complex there would overstress lagging roads and drainage, strain public schools and hurt their property values, they said. Members of the real estate community argued that downgrading the zoning on the property constituted a taking by reducing the value of the land and would send a negative message to investors and lenders. They argued that the proposed action would set a bad precedent in San Antonio that the city might arbitrarily change a propertys zoning on a whim. But what unfolded was as much about local politics as it was about zoning procedures and stressed infrastructure. In the vast majority of zoning cases, the council defers to the wishes of the council member whose district contains the subject property. Councilman Ron Nirenberg was unable to persuade enough of his colleagues to side with him. Though he hasnt declared that hes running for mayor, Nirenberg is seen by many at City Hall as preparing for a campaign against Mayor Ivy Taylor. Taylor, who as a council member also lost a zoning case in her district, has said she couldnt support Nirenbergs proposal, in part because she didnt feel like hed worked hard enough at a compromise between the property owner and neighbors. Council members Mike Gallagher and Shirley Gonzales sided with Nirenberg in the 3-7 vote. Nirenberg attempted to make a case that the council stood on firm ground in rezoning the property, that it had the legal authority to do so. He argued that it wasnt an issue of property rights and that it wasnt a taking because the land was owned by taxpayers when the council in early January unanimously approved a resolution to start the rezoning process. The facts are this: We had a compelling reason to start the zoning process; we have the authority to do so, and we have an objective determination in the best interest of the community at-large, he said. This case is about quality of life in my district. City staff recommended that the areas planning documents be amended and the zoning be changed to a less-intensive use. Both the Planning Commission and the Zoning Commission rejected the recommendation, and because the property owner, Babcock Riverwalk LLC, opposed the proposal, Nirenberg needed a supermajority to change the zoning. The process to rezone began in early January, when the property was owned by the U.S. Treasury Department. The feds had seized the land from an alleged financier of a Mexican drug cartel and set it for auction in late January. At that auction, bidders were notified that the council had initiated a land-use review and zoning analysis to align the propertys zoning with the area. Nirenberg said hed known long known that neighbors had issues with the property and the federal ownership gave the city a unique opportunity to change the zoning. Ultimately, an out-of-town investor submitted the high bid at the Treasury Departments late January auction, purchasing the land at $2.25 million a price that would only allow for significant multifamily development. On Thursday, residents from the adjacent Jade Oaks and nearby Tanglewood neighborhoods showed up in force, pleading with the council to prevent another massive influx of residents. They were matched by developers and others from the real estate community, who, Gonzales noted, were paid to be there. Were here just for our own neighborhood and for the land that adjoins our property, resident Susan Storrie told the council. Ive been told by several Realtors that if theres an apartment complex beyond my backyard, the value of my home will go down because nobodys going to want to walk out of their back door and see apartment complexes. The land was bought by an out-of-town real estate speculator, Nirenberg said, who along with all other bidders had been notified of the rezoning process that was underway. Despite a staff recommendation to rezone from high-density multifamily to a category that would allow for homes and small multifamily, up to quadplexes, the Zoning Commission voted this month not to rezone the land. The Planning Commission also rejected the proposal. Though Nirenberg and residents from the Jade Oaks and Tanglewood neighborhoods argued that the zoning process began when the property was owned by taxpayers, the business and development communities pushed a successful campaign to deem the action as a taking because the value of the land would drop significantly if the property were rezoned. The area residents are the ones who will have to live with the councils decision, he said, and it is those neighbors I speak for, and their interests are the ones that I want to protect. Councilman Roberto Trevino said he believed the decision was about fairness, and while the city might have a firm legal footing, rezoning the property wouldnt be fair to its owner. The ostensible and most-discussed public interest for the down-zoning is to reduce the pressures of the future development on traffic congestion along Prue Road, Babcock Road and De Zavala Road. Traffic congestion is already intense in this area. The development of several hundred apartments would incrementally exacerbate this congestion. However, it would not fundamentally alter the nature of these corridors. To place the burden of the stress on the infrastructure atop one property owner is unfair, Trevino said. Sometimes, he said, fairness should take precedence in our decisions. jbaugh@express-news.net Twitter: @jbaugh REYNOSA, Mexico A wave of deadly gunfights between Mexican authorities and drug cartels has swept across this border city in recent days, with violence spilling into the streets and at one point forcing terrified residents to seek shelter behind shop counters. After two days of skirmishes, violence erupted again Wednesday with marines in a helicopter firing on criminal groups in one area of the city, while marines in a separate incident clashed with cartel members in a mall, trapping hundreds of people inside amid the melee. It was crazy, said the owner of a store in the mall, which is anchored by the popular Soriana supermarket. The woman declined to give her name, saying she feared for her safety. People were jumping behind my counter. I found one person hiding in my office. For nearly two hours, the mall was on lockdown as the gunbattle raged through the late afternoon. The store owner had planned to attend the signing of a sister city agreement between McAllen and Reynosa; instead, she was caught inside, paralyzed with fear. The fight began on the street and burst into the mall unexpectedly, and to prevent anyone from escaping, the exits were closed, with shoppers inside, she said. An ambulance came. Six or seven were killed, she said, referring to suspected cartel members. But we dont know for sure. The marines told us not to record or take photos, that theyd be searching each store for the bad ones. Officially, there were no casualties, yet social media was filled with reports of the violent spectacle. Mexican authorities reported that at least 10 criminals were killed in Reynosa on Monday and Tuesday, but no deaths had been reported for Wednesday. The store owner isnt the only one who fears for her safety and that of her family. Residents across the city are increasingly concerned about the continued violence breaking out in populated areas, especially as the race for governor of Tamaulipas heats up. Public safety has dominated the first month of the campaign season, with an anxious public set to vote June 5. Baltazar Hinojosa Ochoa, the Institutional Revolutionary Party candidate for governor, was in Reynosa on Thursday to meet with leaders of the maquiladora industry in this factory town. But for at least a half-hour during a news conference, he fielded questions about the violence wreaking havoc in the state. Its wearing to have these types of events, Hinojosa acknowledged, adding, however, that he believes that the military is doing its job. What is important is that they be effective and not expose the public (to danger) unnecessarily. In addition to having an active military and a state police presence, Hinojosa is promoting the creation of citizen groups, comprising business and community leaders, that have been credited with helping to reduce violence in Ciudad Juarez and other Mexican cities. Hinojosa said his security plan would also include the formation of a professional police force based in the outlying colonias, which have been especially vulnerable to the influence of criminal gangs. The city police force was disbanded by order of the federal government over corruption charges, and an uneasy peace is now kept by convoys of heavily armed military troops and state police that roam the city. Tamaulipas gave rise to the vicious Gulf Cartel and the Zetas, but the toppling of crime bosses in recent years has splintered their ranks into smaller groups with shifting alliances, causing outbreaks of violence throughout the state, in small towns and large cities. Months of relative calm ended in March as new gunbattles between rival cartel groups and authorities paralyzed areas of Reynosa, Matamoros and the capital of Ciudad Victoria. To try to put a stop to the violence, the military deployed 900 troops to the troubled state, which shares nearly 350 miles of border with South Texas. anelsen@express-news.net Twitter: @amnelsen This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two months after a South Texas woman was refused permission to bury the ashes of her Hispanic husband in a whites only cemetery in rural Bee County, a civil rights group is suing to end the discriminatory practice. The federal lawsuit by the American G.I. Forum against the Normanna Cemetery Association charges that caretaker Jimmy Bradford violated long-standing civil rights protections when he turned away Dorothy Barrera in early February. It is widely known to Normanna residents that the San Domingo Cemetery is whites-only, and that the Del Bosque Cemetery is for Latinos and other non-Anglos. No Latinos are buried within the gates of the San Domingo Cemetery, asserts the suit, prepared by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. According to the suit, The Rule against allowing non-Anglos to be buried in the San Domingo Cemetery has not been rescinded despite the highly publicized incident with Mrs. Barrera. Postmortem racial segregation in the 21st century is astounding. This case demonstrates how regrettably deep the roots of anti-Latino prejudice are in this country and in Texas, said Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF president and general counsel. While segregated cemeteries were once the custom around rural Texas, and can still be found even after decades of advances in civil rights, few cemeteries follow the practice. But when Barrera, 74, approached caretaker Bradford in February, she said he was adamant in his refusal to accept Pedros ashes, and offered an alternative. He told me if I went a little further, to another town, there was another cemetery there for niggers and Mexicans, she recalled. Bradford allegedly also told Barrera, who is an Anglo from Indiana, that the cemetery board had been made aware of her interest in burying Pedros remains at San Domingo, and had instructed him to refuse the request, she said. Bradford did not return calls Friday seeking comment. Bee County Constable Cliff Bagwell, who attempted to mediate the conflict between Barrera and Bradford after she contacted the media in February, said he was surprised that the issue remains unresolved. At that brief meeting in February, he said, Bradford gave Barrera permission to bury Pedros ashes at San Domingo. That should have took care of it. Both of them were real nice. She said youll have to talk to my attorney. I dont know if he was buried there or not, he said. Bagwell expressed some personal ambivalence about the dispute. From what I understand, its kind of a private cemetery. But Ive also heard its supposed to be for citizens of Normanna. Everything was running real good until this one person made trouble. She cant fit in. She wanted it her way and that was it, he said of Barrera. Mrs. Barrera said she did not act on Bradfords offer because she does not trust him to act in good faith, and still has her husbands ashes with her at home. I know they havent changed their policy. Hes made the statement that the only way I could bury my husband there is if Obama came down and said Bury him, she said Friday in a telephone interview. Dorothy Barrera, who was married to Pedro for 44 years, said the whole experience has left her badly shaken. Im scared, but Im not giving up. Im going to fight for everyone, red, yellow, black or white. The Bible says we are all Gods children and Im going to fight for that, she said. I was very hurt by what he told me about my husband. I never thought of him being a Mexican. We were married 44 years and I really havent had time to grieve, she added. At this point, she said, shes not sure what will become of his remains. I dont know where I want to bury him. Im real shook up right now. Its rough, she said. jmaccormack@express-news.net News / National by Spotlight Zimbabwe In a desperate bid to make an omnipresence clampdown on private media in the country, and independent website publications, President Robert Mugabe's administration, has reportedly set up what government insiders describe as the "most notorious and secretive organ" targeting the fourth estate, allegedly aimed at cracking down on critical scribes and reports against Zanu PF ahead of the 2018 historic Presidential and Parliamentary elections, Spotlight Zimbabwe reported.The dreaded undercover Soviet-style organ, according to high level cabinet sources is code named ZiPress (Zimbabwe Press), and is said to be Mugabe's press secretary, George Charamba's brainchild, in collaboration with media experts from Harare's secret service, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), bent on controlling and monitoring new technologies and platforms used by the media, especially social media, which the ruling party has been struggling to curb, as it's punitive arsenal of laws such as the Public Order and Security Act (Posa) and its evil Siamese twin, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Aippa) cannot operate in cyberspace.ZiPress our informations shows, is also covertly funded and has the backing of elements within the military establishment, keen on pervasive and strict censorship of the press, to blockade the mainstream covering of national security issues and leaked State secrets.Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Christopher Mushohwe, early this year warned journalists not to meddle in security sector issues.Mugabe himself has recently shown open anger in the way the private local media, and some online websites on Zimbabwe based abroad, are covering his succession jig-saw puzzle, prompting senior officials in Zanu PF to go after each others throats. The ruling party strongman is also not happy with what he has condemned as daily lies and "fiction" about him in newspapers. To act against such deeds, Mugabe late last year threatened to introduce tough and rigid media laws, while speaking at the luncheon of the third session of the 8th Parliament."This is not the journalism that we would like to see. Vanyanya (They have gone too far) they even write things that I have not thought of haa," Mugabe said. "When we start being rigid and take control don't cry foul. We want freedom but not this. They are busy setting party leaders against each other. They love to see people fighting."The mysterious ZiPress is being likened to Soviet era organisations, Goskomizdat and Gosteleradio, which were responsible for censoring print media and radio and television broadcasting respectively, only that this time Harare is seeking to ratchet up her legislative arm to the online realm of independent media, including political blogs, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and access to Google accounts.In 2014, government indicated it was preparing to send a team of investigators to Google and Facebook in the US, to investigate the shadowy figure of Baba Jukwa, who gave Zanu PF nightmares and a good run for their political money in the run-up to the 2013 elections.Baba Jukwa disclosed sensitive ruling party information to the public, on his page, much to the embarrassment of Mugabe's government, with US$300 000 reward money being offered to anyone who could unmask the whistle-blower, who was wanted dead or alive."ZiPress is Zimbabwe's own version of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in the UK, which has began running a covert program similar to PRISM in the US. However in our case it is a special organ set up to place private media and journalists, under round the clock clandestine surveillance and they are not even aware of it," our insider sources said."It is nothing you have seen or heard of. Instead of mass surveillance targeting the whole population, it is more effective and cheaper to zero in on the media, because their activities and interaction with their public alone, gives away a lot of valuable information. You already know that a decade ago, intelligencia seized controlling stakes in three of Zimbabwe's independent papers, now they are putting their troops on the ground, who are armed with IT skills to infiltrate and hack all media reporting on the country, following disclosures that some journalists working for the private media are now on the payroll of foreign NGOs and governments. The authorities are pretending to be stupid, but they're eyes are on the ball. It is also known that these reporters receive their brown envelops and cheques from South African bank accounts."Spotlight Zimbabwe has also been told that, ZiPress operates under the formal direction of the Joint Operations Command (JOC), foreign affairs and military intelligence. It also allegedly has a staff complement working in the President's office, under Charamba's watch.Other intelligence sources indicated that ZiPress kingpin, Charamba himself, known to use a plethora of pseudonyms in State newspaper columns, and in some instances literally deciding daily political headlines, including planting presidential and Mugabe succession stories from his office at Munhumutapa, has been tasked with writing recommendations for new media laws, expected to be introduced soon to cater for the changing media industry.The government's spokesman was in cloud nine, in February, when he told a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Broadcasting Services, that plans are under-way to introduce new Bills, to "reform" the media industry.Concurring with Mugabe's remarks when he was addressing the 8th Parliament's luncheon Charamba said journalists must not feel unfairly treated, when the hammer descends on them."If you are in the media and you choose to leave the media desk to become an extension of the publicity department of a political party we treat you as a politician," Charamba said. "And please don't cry wolf. Don't feel unfairly treated when the hammer descends on you because wada mabrickbats yet you are staying in a glass house. I will recommend most effective ways of controlling errant behaviour in the newsroom. So you will have a piece of legislation that seeks to restrain rather than enable media practices."Another administration official knowledgeable about the information ministry, said Charamba is enjoying a new spring in his step, because of his proximity to military generals who have made him their blue-eyed media boy, owing to his relationship with them, as he sometimes writes speeches for them, especially Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga."These so called new Bills which Charamba is penning, will in fact increase his unofficial powers and influence using the ZiPress conduit," they said. "Charamba wants government to pass legislation to bar foreign investors and donors from investing in the private media, as the last big step in achieving ultimate control of the press, in the name of Zimbabwe having to tell her own story and owning the wholesale content. I won't be surprised if he lands a big promotion for his efforts." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Nico LaHood and Steve Hilbig are feuding over who wears the pants in the Bexar County Courthouse, or, more precisely, who decides what pants are worn. LaHood, the first-term district attorney, has tried to create positive morale in his office by allowing his prosecutors to wear jeans to court (as long as theyre not in trial) during Fiesta and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and as special one-day rewards for helping to raise money for charity. Hilbig, the first-term 187th Criminal District Court judge (and former DA), maintains a strict adherence to court rules requiring attorneys to be in business attire. Most courtrooms around the country prohibit casual attire for attorneys. Over the past year, attorneys from LaHoods office periodically have asked Hilbig if he would allow them to wear jeans to his courtroom the following day, and Hilbig has consistently refused the request. The conflict boiled over last week during Fiesta. I get decorum. Im a person that believes in absolute order, LaHood said. But Im also reasonable, and people need to be rewarded for hard work. He has cheated our prosecutors out of all those special events, and Ive kept my mouth shut. But Fiesta for me was too much. LaHood struck back by mandating that his attorneys wear jeans to court from Wednesday through Friday of this week. When Hilbig made it clear that he wouldnt allow any prosecutors to do business in the 187th District Court over those conditions, the result was a judicial standoff: Jeans-wearing prosecutors showed up at Hilbigs court Wednesday morning with files in their hands but couldnt enter the courtroom. Thats when the situation went from silly to seriously awkward. On Wednesday, Hilbig didnt necessarily require the presence of prosecutors to handle the motions that came before his court. But its not a sustainable situation. Our folks have their files, and theyre in the conference room (for the rest of the week), conferring with defense attorneys, LaHood said. Hilbig declined to comment on the stalemate, but he has made it clear that he regards business attire as an important way of demonstrating respect for the victims and defendants whose cases come before his court. No one questions that Hilbig has the discretion to determine the dress code in his court. But LaHood sees the judges zero-tolerance policy on jeans as a manifestation of a deeper problem; what he regards as Hilbigs lack of respect for the prosecutors in the DAs office. He points out that Hilbig has been the only local judge unwilling to bend on the dress code for Fiesta and other special events. It has nothing to do with the jeans, LaHood said about his decision to rebel against Hilbig this week. It could have been over chewing gum for me. Its the principle behind it. To be sure, there are issues roiling under the surface of this denim drama. As a former two-term Bexar County district attorney, Hilbig inevitably maintains strong ideas about how things should be conducted in his old office. Theres also the fact that Hilbig is a Republican and LaHood is a Democrat who unseated Hilbigs Republican successor, Susan Reed. Finally, both of these men have iron wills, and neither one has the word capitulate in his vocabulary. If local court rules favor Hilbig, LaHood can point to historical precedent. Reed, during her 16 years in office, routinely allowed her prosecutors to wear jeans during Fiesta and the rodeo and on Spurs playoff game days. She did it for the same reason cited by LaHood: to build morale and create a sense of fun in the workplace. I would send out a memo every year, Reed said, adding that she always made it clear that her relaxed dress policy was subject to the approval of individual judges. Reed said she never heard about any judges objecting to the casual attire. It was a permission, it wasnt a mandatory thing, Reed said of her policy. I didnt tell them (the attorneys), Wear jeans. I said, You may. And I dont recall anyone objecting. LaHood points to that history as evidence that he, and not Hilbig, is being the reasonable one. Me and Susan dont agree on almost nothing, but we agree on this, he said. We all know about local rules, but we all make an exception for certain events, because were people. We have families and lives, and people need to let their hair down sometimes and just enjoy each other as colleagues and enjoy our culture and festivities. Meanwhile, LaHoods prosecutors will continue to camp out in the conference room next to Hilbigs courtroom. Theyre easy to spot. Theyre wearing jeans. ggarcia@express-news.net Twitter: @gilgamesh470 AUSTIN The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday denied a request from U.S Rep. Marc Veasey and civil rights groups to block Texas' voter ID law from being used during the 2016 elections, but the high court left open the potential it could intervene in the case in the near future. Texas' controversial law requiring voters to show picture identification at the polls was found by a federal judge in 2014 to have violated parts of the Voting Rights Act. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with that ruling last year and ordered the law to be fixed. But the Fifth Circuit has allowed the law to stay in effect without change following both rulings, and now the full appeals court has now agreed to rehear the case on May 24. Veasey, D-Forth Worth, and the civil rights groups suing Texas asked the Supreme Court last month to vacate a Fifth Circuit ruling that has allowed the voter ID law to continue being implemented unchanged and to reinstate an injunction against the measure. The groups argued that the Fifth Circuit's schedule is likely to prevent a ruling in time for the 2016 elections. Texas starts its election preparations in June, just days after the full appeals court will revisit the case. In an order Friday, the high court shot down the request to vacate a stay on the law. But the order said if the Fifth Circuit does not issue a ruling by July 20 that Veasey and the civil rights groups can come back to the Supreme Court at that point and ask for the law to be blocked during the November elections. "The Court recognizes the time constraints the parties confront in light of the scheduled elections in November, 2016," the order reads. "If, on or before July 20, 2016, the Court of Appeals has neither issued an opinion on the merits of the case nor issued an order vacating or modifying the current stay order, an aggrieved party may seek interim relief from this Court by filing an appropriate application. An aggrieved party may also seek interim relief if any change in circumstances before that date supports further arguments respecting the stay order." Attorney General Ken Paxton applauded the decision in a statement. "Texas enacted a common-sense law to provide simple protections to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process in our state," said Paxton. "We appreciate the Supreme Court allowing the law to remain in effect at this time and look forward to defending the merits of our case in front of the entire Fifth Circuit next month." BEIRUT Syrias divided city of Aleppo plunged back into the kind of all-out war not seen in months Thursday, witnesses and health workers said as they reeled from government airstrikes that demolished a hospital in the insurgent-held side and from retaliatory mortar assaults by rebels on the government-held side. At least 27 people, including three children and six staff members, were reported killed in the strike on the hospital, which turned it into a smoking pile of rubble Wednesday night, and 20 were reported killed in airstrikes Thursday. At least 14 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the mortar attacks on government-controlled areas, said officials at a hospital where casualties were streaming in throughout the day Thursday. The deadly destruction in Aleppo punctuated a drastic escalation in fighting over the past week that has shattered a partial truce in a war that has consumed Syria for more than five years. The escalation also threatened to derail renewed attempts at peace talks in Geneva by the United Nations. Once Syrias commercial center, Aleppo has been an intermittent combat zone for much of the war, split into insurgent and government halves. Until now, it had enjoyed somewhat of a respite since the partial truce took effect Feb. 27. There was no indication that the Syrian government forces of President Bashar Assad and their Russian allies were any closer to retaking the entire city. But it had become apparent in recent days that the truce was unraveling in the surrounding area, with more airstrikes by the government and increased shelling by rebels. The location of Al Quds hospital, the destroyed facility on the rebel side of the city, was well-known, and the hospital was assisted by the international charity Doctors Without Borders. This devastating attack has destroyed a vital hospital in Aleppo and the main referral center for pediatric care in the area, the head of the charitys Syria mission, Muskilda Zancada, said in a statement. Where is the outrage among those with the power and obligation to stop this carnage? Russias military denied it was responsible. The International Committee of the Red Cross called on all parties to stop indiscriminate attacks and to avoid harming civilians or Aleppo would face what it called a new humanitarian disaster. Wherever you are, you hear explosions of mortars, shelling and planes flying over, said Valter Gros, who heads the Red Cross Aleppo office. Everyone here fears for their lives and nobody knows what is coming next. News / National by Prosper Dembedza A 30-year-old Harare man fatally shot his maid with his service rifle after accusing her of deliberately infecting him with HIV, the court heard yesterday. It is alleged that Phelimon Chigwada shot his wife Memory Mahari who is battling for her life at Parirenyatwa Hospital after she had tried to cool his temper.Chigwada, who is a security guard, was facing murder and attempted murder charges when he appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.He was remanded in custody to May 5 and advised to approach the High Court for bail application. Allegations are that on April 23, Chigwada had a misunderstanding with Chiedza Rambanepasi whom he was accusing of deliberately infecting him with HIV.The court heard that during the dispute, Chigwada took his service 303 rifle and shot Rambanepasi who died on the spot. It is the State's case that after shooting Rambanepasi, Chigwada turned to Mahari and shot her in the jaw.A report was made leading to Chigwada's arrest.Meanwhile, a jilted Harare man appeared in the same court on Monday accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend with a kitchen knife in the heat of a dispute. Emmanuel Chikwanda (25) was charged with murder. He was remanded in custody to May 9 for trial. by Blake Barfield | Thu, Apr 28th 5:19pm EDT Jeff Francoeur got the start in left field in Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox. He went 0-for-4 and was struck out once. Atlanta will look to escape Boston on Thursday with a win to finish off the series. by John Aubin | White Sox Correspondent | Fri, Apr 29th 5:11pm EDT Joe Kelly (shoulder) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Friday, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports. Kelly has been on the 15-day DL since April 20 and is now beginning to throw bullpen sessions as part of his rehabilitation. He is expected to throw another bullpen session Tuesday and, depending on how it goes, could be close to starting a rehab assignment. (Alex Speier on Twitter) by Jonathan Ebanks | Thu, Apr 28th 7:31pm EDT Spencer Hawes sprained the MCL in his right knee during the Hornets' win in Game 5 and will miss the rest of the series against the Miami Heat. (Miami Herald) News / National by Staff reporter Workers have rejected government's proposal to host this years may day celebration saying they would rather be with opposition political parties.On Wednesday labour minister Prisca Mupfumira announced that Gvt would host workers day commemorations as it seeks to re-establish links with the few working people in a country with an unemployment rate of over 80 percent.Zimbabwe congress of trade unions president Japheth Moyo said that his organisation had no intention of abandoning its planned programme to commemorate May Day.He said ZCTU would commemorate the day with workers at 17 centres countrywide with the main event being held at Gwanzura stadium, the traditional venue. Govt has invited both ZCTU and the Zimbabwe Federation Of Trade Unions to attend the joint celebrations.Workers have very little to celebrate at this year's Workers' Day commemorations on Sunday as the Zanu-PF government has run down the economy, with the majority of able-bodied people now vendors and loafers, opposition political parties and analysts have said.Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T born in 1999 out of the labour movement said Zimbabwe should actually rebrand Workers' Day to Vendors' Day.MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said on Wednesday there was really nothing to celebrate or commemorate other than taking note of the depressing scenario that the Zanu-PF regime had reneged on its promise to create 2,2 million jobs. Rural insurer NFU Mutual has increased its support for farmers to help them through the current income crisis. Support payment to the National Farmers Unions NFU England and Wales, the NFU of Scotland and the Ulster Farmers Union - have been increased to 7.3m - an increase of over 250,000 on 2014. Mutual Bonus has been increased by 2.5% for all general insurance customers. This means that 82m will be returned to policyholders up from 63m in 2015. In 2015, NFU Mutual paid out 760 million in claims for incidents including fire, farm accidents, theft, animal disease and loss of income. An estimated 50 million of these claims was paid to farmers, business owners and families who were affected by the December 2015 floods which left many celebrating Christmas in alternative accommodation. NFU Mutuals Charitable Trust has announced a donation of 30,000 to farming and rural charities to support their ongoing work to help people badly-affected by the floods that struck large parts of Northern England. Lindsay Sinclair, NFU Mutual Chief Executive Officer Mutual said: We are acutely aware of the financial difficulties farmers are facing and are working with our partners in the unions to help them. We have a long-term commitment to support UK farmers through the insurance services we provide via the network of over 300 local offices we share with the farming unions and financial support for the unions, - which over the last decade totals over 60.6m. Through the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust we are also continuing to provide major funding to help farmers work safely and providing bursaries for post-graduate students studying agriculture. Farmers Union of Wales officials recently met with the United States Department of Agriculture to discuss the future of the Welsh agricultural industry. Welcoming the United States Department of Agriculture representatives Stan Phillips, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs and Steve Knight, Agricultural Specialist, were FUW President Glyn Roberts, the Unions Managing Director Alan Davies and Senior Policy Officer Hazel Wright. "We welcomed the opportunity to provide an insight into Wales current political, economic and social situation and share information on the Welsh farming sectors, its geography and the current incomes and exports arrangements with the US Department of Agriculture," said Glyn Roberts following the meeting. "Sharing experiences and information with our US colleagues is vital in the process of establishing an export market for our Welsh Lamb and Beef," he added. The FUW was keen to use the opportunity to promote the high quality of Welsh agricultural produce and the high environmental and welfare standards that producers adhere to. 'Strong relationship' "We highlighted the strong export relationship we have with the European market today by explaining that the market for Welsh red meat in Europe is worth close to 200 million a year and accounts for 90% of Welsh agricultural exports. "In 2014, export figures show that approximately 35% of sheep meat produced in Wales was exported to the European Union with 93% of Welsh lamb exports, 93% of Welsh beef exports and 98% of dairy exports destined for EU countries," said Mr Roberts. Given the ongoing Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership developments between the EU and the US, the FUW was also keen to discuss the use of equivalencies in regulation, the protection of PGI Welsh lamb and the move towards better and more accurate food labelling. "The FUW was pleased to hear that significant progress has been made on Welsh beef and lambs exports into the US and we will be interested to see how this market develops in the future", added Mr Roberts. Farmers preparing to submit their claim for the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) are being urged to consider how they could reduce their exposure to exchange rate losses when converting funds from Euros to Sterling. Andrew Naylor, head of agriculture at Lloyds Bank, says producers opting to receive their subsidy in Sterling will be subject to a Euro/Sterling exchange rate based on the average throughout the month of September, whereas those receiving it in Euros have more flexibility over conversion date. Both have their own pros and cons, says Mr Naylor. If youre comfortable with the average exchange rate provided by the Rural Payments Agency, receiving Sterling removes the need for you to carry out a separate currency exchange on receipt of the subsidy or at a later date. But receiving the funds in Euros gives you flexibility around the date the currency exchange is carried out. For example, you can choose to hold the funds in a Euro bank account and exchange in several months time, allowing you to benefit if the rate moves in your favour. The downside with this is that the exchange rate could move against you. Mr Naylor says that over the past five years, the exchange rate has fluctuated between 0.904:1 and 0.694:1. The difference between highest and lowest exchange rates over this period could change the value of a subsidy payment by as much as a fifth. Even for the 2015 payments, a farmer opting to receive a 100,000 claim in Sterling would have received 73,129, based on the September 2015 exchange rate. If the payment had been received in Euros but held until early April to be converted, the recent weakness in Sterling would have lifted the value of the payment to around 80,000. But you have to be aware that the exchange rate could have moved the other way. A third option, he says, is to opt to receive the funds in Euros and then forward fix the rate at which the currency will be exchanged. While that would make it impossible to benefit if the exchange rate moved in your favour, knowing what you will be receiving in Sterling does bring certainty in at least one aspect of the business at a time of significant volatility for the sector. Its also possible to fix your exchange rate long before the Rural Payments Agency fixes its Sterling rate. Mr Naylor adds that anyone seeking to take up this option should talk it through with their bank manager or financial adviser before making a decision. Stark research into the cash flow pressures faced by farmers is released by The Princes Countryside Fund today. The report was commissioned following growing concerns in the sector about serious cash flow issues affecting an increasing number of farm businesses. This is putting a huge strain on suppliers, affecting the health and wellbeing of farmers and affecting the prospects of the wider rural economy. Levels of farm borrowing have almost doubled in the past 10 years. This trend is set to continue as farms across all sectors are affected by the continued decline in commodity prices. The worst affected sectors are cereals, milk and pigs where incomes are dropping sharply 17 per cent of farms face major financial problems as their liquidity ratio demonstrates they do not have the ability to pay off their short term debt. Half of UK farms are no longer making a living from farming alone, and 20 per cent of farms generated a loss even before accounting for family labour and capital The businesses surveyed identified that on average more than half the proportion of their farming customers were currently experiencing cash flow issues. The volatility of output prices does not just negatively affect farming businesses but the decreased cash flow filters through the wider agricultural sector. This negatively impacts other businesses from input suppliers, vets, auction marts to consultants. Its effects include reduction in available work, decreasing income and potential staff redundancies although the full extent is not completely understood. 'Very bleak picture' Lord Curry, Chairman of The Princes Countryside Fund said: "The research presents a very bleak picture not only for farmers; but also for the wider rural economy. "Volatile commodity markets are not just affecting farmers; decreased cash flow is affecting the industry as a whole, from vets to feed and machinery suppliers to auction marts." The full extent of the crisis is not yet fully understood. "As a result we are witnessing a trend towards increased and sometimes risky borrowing by farmers. "Distressingly the outlook does not look set to change in the short-term and the degree of uncertainty about the future is affecting everyone. "This in turn is causing suppliers to consider making job redundancies and think about coming out of agriculture. "It is essential that farm businesses seek professional advice, have all the support they need to cope and that they are equipped with risk and business management tools. "Confidence, better cooperation and communication throughout the supply chain are needed if they are to survive. The Princes Countryside Fund commissioned The Andersons Centre in March 2016 to complete snapshot research to gain a greater understanding of the cash flow pressures at farm level and their impact on the wider agricultural sector. Through an analysis of recent data and a series of telephone interviews with 21 agricultural businesses an overview of the current situation resulting from the cash flow challenges in farming and its knock on effect to with wider rural economy has been identified and evaluated. 12 months into the turnaround of First Milk, Mike Gallacher and the First Milk Board have been briefing co-op members at meetings across the UK this week. While the industry outlook remains hugely challenging, the team has reported strong progress against the plan outlined in 2015. Over this period the business has made major changes in its strategic direction, governance and leadership, putting a focus on its core cheese and brokering business and bringing in a heavyweight commercial leadership team. The business has moved fast to reshape to fit the new strategy, exiting loss making ventures and driving operational improvements. Combined, this has delivered a return to operating profit at year end. The business now expects to deliver an operating profit (before restructuring costs) of 4m for the year to 31 March 2016, versus a loss of 20M for the prior year. At the same time, the debt of the business has reduced to 33M from a peak of 84M in 2014/15. 'Worsening dairy market' First Milks CEO Mike Gallacher reported to members: "We are on track and have made significant progress in reshaping the business and improving the operational performance, against a backdrop of a worsening dairy market. "As we move into the second year of our turnaround, the focus will be on continuing to drive a wide range of operational improvements aimed at improving our efficiency and delivering a better service to our customers. "Progress will allow us to start to improve our relative performance on milk prices as we implement a new operating system based on a stable P&L and transparent Milk Price Index. "Our aim is to repay the loyalty of our members who have supported their business so strongly." Following the arrival of the new CEO, Mike Gallacher, at the end of March 2015, First Milk has implemented a turnaround plan, following a number of years of poor business performance. A Chinese lantern started a huge fire on a nature reserve in Dorset. Fire fighters were called to Hartland Moor near Wareham a few days ago to a member of the public saying there was a bonfire that had spread to the heath. However, when crews arrived shortly after 8.10pm they found that it was a blaze sparked by a Chinese lantern landing on the shrubland. Crews from Wareham and Poole attended the fire, although no indication was given of its severity. The fire was put out by 8.34pm. There was a second false alarm caused when someone spotted another Chinese lantern on Hartland Moor. Craig Baker from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service said: "With Chinese lanterns, you're basically throwing a naked flame into the sky with no control over the direction it will take or where it will land. "There is no guarantee that the fuel source will be fully extinguished and cooled when the lantern eventually descends, and that presents a real fire hazard. "Chinese lanterns are very attractive when they're in the sky, and we fully understand why they are so popular. "We would just urge people to think very carefully about where they will be released." Farmers and the rural community are urging people to ban the usage of sky lanterns due to the risk they pose to livestock and property. Evidence has shown that the frames of lanterns can harm or even kill farm animals if they are ingested, fields of standing crops and buildings are at significant risk of being set alight, while littering is also a major problem. In 2014, the Trading Standards Institute published a new code of practice following discussions between the government and industry. The code offers guidance for those designing, manufacturing, distributing, retailing or using the lanterns. 'Not just livestock affected - many other valuables are' NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said: "I know from personal experience just how dangerous sky lanterns can be after losing a cow from my own herd which died after eating some fine wire from a lantern that landed on the farm - the post mortem revealed that this was the cause of death. "But its important to point out that its not just farm animals which can be affected. Sky lanterns cause fires to crops, grassland on moors and bales of hay and straw that have been stacked, which can lead to a loss of buildings. "It is really encouraging that local authorities are now starting to see sense and have banned the release of lanterns on their land. "However, we would like to see many more follow suit. Members of the public can play a big part by writing to their local councils spelling out how dangerous sky lanterns can be. "Please back British farming and think twice before setting sky lanterns alight and releasing them into the environment. "The NFU continues to call for an outright ban and we will continue to lobby government until action is taken." The profitability of UK farming fell by a staggering 29% in 2015, a loss of over 1.5 billion. Defras first estimate for 2015 shows a 29% fall in Total Income from Farming (Tiff) on 2014 to 3.77bn. The knock-on effect to the UKs GDP was a 14% fall year-on-year, representing 1.39bn less going into the economy. This is the biggest year on year fall since the millennium and latest official statistics shows that farming profitability is at its lowest level since 2007, highlighting the cash flow crisis facing the agricultural industry. A cocktail of higher production around the world, subdued demand due to slowing economies, the strength of sterling in 2015 and over 24 months of falling farmgate prices across the sectors has led to plummeting profitability. For many, the cash flow impact has been exacerbated by the delayed delivery of BPS payments, with farmers still waiting to receive their advance payment. 'Alarming figures' NFU chief economist and international affairs adviser Gail Soutar said: "These figures are alarming to say the least. They remind us that farmers up and down the country and across the majority of sectors are dealing with the impact of devastating cuts in the value of their products. Lots of farm businesses find themselves in a loss-making situation. If prices and profitability dont change, it is not just those farms that are at jeopardy, but our food processing sector, our rural communities and the environment. "The numbers must serve as a wakeup call to others in the supply chain and government. We need everyone in the food supply chain to intensify their efforts to back British farmers. "For example we need longer term relationships that deliver some certainty on pricing and give farmers the confidence that food production can be profitable. "And we need government to do all it can including making sure that farmers dont face the same crippling delays to farm payments that they have in 2015, with immediate action for those still waiting for 2015 payments to arrive. "The latest NFU farmer confidence survey of its members has this week also confirmed that both short and medium-term confidence has fallen to the lowest level since this 6 monthly survey began in 2010. "Profitability and industry confidence are closely related. That confidence also impacts investment levels in the agri-food supply chain, and indirectly on jobs and economic growth. "The effects of the downturn in farming profitability are not just confined to the sector itself but will also have a knock-on impact on the wider economy and rural communities." Defras second estimate for 2015 will be made in November using additional data. Plant tracking specialist AMI Group works closely with clients and police forces all around the country to help recover stolen plant and agricultural machinery. In the companys latest recovery, a JCB 2CX Airmaster Backhoe Loader worth 40,000 was stolen from a construction site in Bolton, Greater Manchester, and was recovered within 90 minutes of notification after being found on a travellers site some 35 miles away. The owner of the JCB realised that the machine had been stolen upon arrival at the site in Hardy Mill Road, Bolton, in the morning. They immediately notified AMI Group, as fortunately the 2CX Airmaster had been fitted with an AMI Nexis GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking system to help protect it against theft. AMIs monitoring station immediately logged onto the companys web-based Nexis software portal and was able to utilise the very latest Google mapping and GPS positional information to establish the exact time of theft, the route taken by the thieves and its current destination. From Google mapping, AMIs monitoring station could see that the stolen machine had been taken to a travellers site in Fogg Lane, Little Lever, Bolton, and was hidden in a far corner of the site. AMI Group advised the customer that they needed to act quickly and speed was of the essence, as it was likely that the machine would be transported elsewhere. The Police were notified and the customer headed to the GPS location, where the stolen JCB was found just 90 minutes after the customer notified AMI Group that it had been stolen. Peter Stockton, Operations Director at AMI Group said: "This was a high value machine and using the AMI Nexis data platform we could track the exact route that the thieves had taken. "We knew that the Backhoe Loader had been transported 35 miles away and we could pinpoint to our customer its exact location on the travellers site, as it was a large site with multiple caravans, mobile homes and vehicles. "One distinct advantage of our tracking devices is that they are so small and covert, they can be very well hidden on plant machinery and thieves simply dont realise they are there." AMI Group offers a number of state-of-the-art tracking solutions and fleet management systems for applications including plant and vehicle tracking. One of the companys latest innovations is the AMI Nexis AT5, a self-contained, battery operated tracking device which utilises state-of-the-art GPS, GSM and RF technology. Reporting to and visible via the AMI Nexis software platform 24/7, the AT5 is lightweight, small sized (21 x 55 x 52mm) and can be concealed almost anywhere on any asset. Via its advanced battery management software, the unit has the capacity to last up to 15 years and it is backed by IP68 waterproof rating, ensuring it is robust and heavily protected. The device has the ability to be traced both outdoors and indoors even in very remote locations. In situations where GPS is unavailable, the device relays GSM cell site positions and the internal RF beacon can be activated to assist in locating stolen assets. News / National by Staff reporter As internal strife continues to rip apart Zanu-PF, former Deputy Minister of Energy Munacho Mutezo has now officially left the burning governing party to join the Zimbabwe people first (ZPF) led by former vice president Joyce Mujuru.Since 2014 when Zanu-PF of charged Mujuru with treason witchcraft and corruption, several top officials have been ditching the ruling party and insiders say more are lining up to jump ship 'as they have realised that the ruling party will not take Zimbabwe anywhere'.Zanu-PF central committee member and minister of state for Manicaland province Mandi Chimene confirmed that Mutezo had formally told the province that he was joining Mujuru. Is Wawa coming to Fayetteville? Heres what we know. Wawa, a Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain that residents have long clamored for, could be coming to the area. News / Press Release by Gorden Moyo PDP Secretary General Preamble WE Committed Dedicated Introduction Creating employment Social contract Labour law reform Upholding of the fundamental right to organize and assembly Conclusion the People's Democratic Party (PDP);to pan-Africanism, good governance, social democracy, protection of human rights, respecting the principle of constitutionalism;to the protection and promotion of workers' rights and the decent work agenda;Determined to uplift and transform the lives of our people, join the working people of Zimbabwe in commemorating the International Workers Day 2016 under the theme: "Celebrating the international labour movement".The International Labour Day is celebrated globally as part of recognition of working people's struggles and it is also a day for the working people to reflect on the struggles that have been fought in the quest for better working conditions, fair remuneration and indeed work place democracy.It is from these struggles that great working people's movements were born and have played vital role in pushing for democracy as well as economic and social justice.Indeed it is from the womb of the labour movement that the bulk of our post liberation movements, of which the PDP is proud to be one, were born and nurtured in its great culture of solidarity, struggle and social justice.This year's commemorations come at a time when the nation is facing insurmountable challenges underlined by a decaying economy, high unemployment, total collapse of service delivery, a ravaging drought and general hopelessness among the generality of the people.98% of the youths are in the informal sector, 60% of the industries which we had operating in 2010 have shut down, 83% of our people live on less than US$1 a day and our women still die while giving birth because our hospitals lack basic facilities and medicines.The commemorations also come on the back of one of the darkest days for the working people, 17 July 2015, when the government of the day via its courts betrayed the workers and conceded to private capital in the case of Nyamande &Anor vs Zuva Petroleum.While the politicians in government attempted to distance themselves, it was very clear to all and sundry that they had a hand in the case as the government and various parastatals went on to dismiss thousands of workers on the basis of the 3 months notice provided for by the ruling.More critically, the commemorations come at a time when the NRZ workers are engaged in a struggle to demand their salaries some dating to many years back from the carefree administration at the parastatal and the government of the day has shown little concern on the matter.In light of the foregoing, we in the PDP make our pledge to the working people of Zimbabwe as follows:We will work to ensure that we come up with a clear programme of economic recovery which is hinged on creating jobs for the working people as outlined in our policy document HOPE. This will be in the areas of the agro -economy, infrastructure development, manufacturing and beneficiation and value addition on our mineral wealth.We commit ourselves to the establishment of a social contract which will respect the fundamental pillars of working class struggles as captured in the Kadoma Declaration which the government of the day has long discarded.We commit ourselves to reforming the labour laws of the land to ensure there effective in the protection of workers' rights while ensuring productivity. Further we pledge to harmonize the labour laws so as to give equal rights to all workers in Zimbabwe.Unionism is about organizing and assembly, it is about mass mobilization and as such we commit ourselves to respecting these fundamental rights already in the constitution. In order to do this we pledge to repeal such draconian laws as the Public Order and Security Act which has been used to persecute trade unionist in our country.The struggle for emancipation of the worker and the creation of a social democratic state underpin the transition towards socialism which would represent the most advanced form of working class democracy. It is in furtherance of this noble goal that as the PDP we commit ourselves to be in solidarity the working people of Zimbabwe in undertaking the immediate mission of torpedoing the failed and incorrigibly corrupt ZANU PF government.Workers of the world unite; Shinga mushandi shinga; Qhina sisebenzi qhina! Prosecutors in Hefei City said they arrested the former legal representative and president of a local pharma and charged him with organizational bribery under Section 393 the Criminal Law. Yang Ling was the president of Hefei Tianxing Pharmaceutical Services Co Ltd. He was arrested in February but the Procuratorate (the prosecutors office) made the announcement on April 11. The case is under investigation, the Procuratorate said. The same prosecutors also recently arrested the former president of Hefei Jingu Hospital, a former employee of Hefei Medical Insurance Center, and the former cashier of Hefei Xifei County Hospital, charging them with the crime of receiving bribery. Its unclear whether those arrests are related to a same bribery scheme; however, the Chinese prosecutors usually charge both sides of the bribery in this type of case. Hefei Tianxing Pharmaceutical is a subsidiary of Nanjing Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a public company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Nanjing Pharmaceutical, the parent company, released a clarification announcement on April 26, that said it didnt receive any prior notice from the local prosecution regarding the arrest, and that the companys business operations are in normal order. The company also said in the announcement that it will comply with any anti-bribery laws and regulations, and will cooperate with the governments investigations. Another pharma China Traditional Chinese Medicine Co. Limited, a Fortune 500 company listed on Hong Kong Exchange said on April 6 that one of its subsidiaries received a complaint from Guangzhou Intermediate Peoples Court, charging the company with the criminal offense of organizational bribery. According to the complaint, the legal representative of Jiangyin Tianjiang Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Tan Dengping, was involved in organizational bribery in December 2006. The announcement said that Tan is under investigation and has resigned from all his positions, but there are currently no other claims against the company. The company said it will improve its internal anti-bribery compliance system and cooperate with any further government investigations. Under Chinas Criminal Law, it is crime to give or receive bribes for businesses and government officials. Section 393 of the Criminal Law makes it an offense for an organization (including private companies, non-profits, and other entities) to give bribes to government workers. The criminal liability of organizational bribery can be imposed upon the managers or other persons directly responsible for the bribery of the organization. The Supreme Court of China recently published new judicial interpretations of the anti-bribery provisions of the Criminal Law. Notably, the amount required to charge a person or entity with criminal liability is lower only RMB10,000 or about $1,540, compared to the normal RMB30,000 threshold or about $4,620 if the bribe is given to a government worker in charge of the regulation or supervision of medicines, which may include hospital employees and other government officials that pharmaceutical companies frequently interact with. _____ Chang Liu is an attorney in Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck, LLP based in the firms Woodbury, New York office. Prior to law school at Hofstra University, he worked for a defense contractor in China on cross-border transactions. Hes fluent in Chinese and Spanish. He can be contacted here. News / Regional by Mashudu Netsianda A HIGH Court judge yesterday ordered prominent Matabeleland South commercial white farmer David Connolly to vacate Centenary Farm and blasted the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Paddy Zhanda for allegedly shielding him.Connolly, through his company, JC Connolly and Sons (Pvt) Ltd, has since 2014 been locked in a protracted legal wrangle with the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Ray Ndhlukula, over the ownership of the farm.The ruling by Justice Joseph Musakwa of the Harare High Court follows an application by Connolly who sought the confirmation of a provisional order which was granted in his favour in 2014.The order, by a Bulawayo High Court judge, barred Ndhlukula from evicting Connolly from Centenary Farm. The order also interdicted Ndhlukula from occupying the farm and bringing in his cattle into the disputed piece of land pending the finalisation of the matter.Justice Musakwa said Connolly was in occupation of gazetted land, which was compulsorily acquired by the state in 2000.In discharging the provisional order, Justice Musakwa said although Connolly has not been charged for unlawful occupation of the disputed farm, he had no right to remain on the property."The applicant has no legal right to the land in question and the elements of a clear right as a requirement for the interdict hasn't been met. In my final analysis, the provisional order is hereby discharged with costs," ruled Justice Musakwa.The judge also blasted government officials, among them the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Paddy Zhanda, for "legitimising" Connolly's occupation of the farm through their frequent visits to encourage him to continue with his farming activities."It matters not that the applicant has received covert encouragement from government officials. In fact, it was duplicitous of those government officials to have given the applicant such false hope without ensuring he's issued with a legal permit to remain on the land," said Justice Musakwa.Connolly, through his lawyers Webb Low and Barry, argued that since the acquisition of the farm he has been in peaceful and undisturbed occupation of the property and productively utilising the land.Ndhlukula, through his lawyer Gerald Mlotshwa of GN Mlotshwa and Company, said Connolly failed to establish a clear right to the land. He said the farm belonged to him, arguing that he had an offer letter from the Lands and Rural Settlement Minister Douglas Mombeshora.In March last year, Connolly celebrated a short-lived victory after the Bulawayo High Court ordered Ndhlukula off the farm and subsequently sentenced him to a suspended 90-day jail term on condition that he complied with the order issued in 2014 within 14 days. Alicia Vikander has seen off some tough competition to land the coveted role of Lara Croft in the new Tomb Raider reboot. Alicia Vikander The Oscar-winning actress is set to play a younger version Lara Croft as the iconic video game character returns to the big screen, according to The Hollywood Reporter. However, Vikander's casting does come as a surprise as Daisy Ridley had been linked to and looked like the hot favourite to land the role. Emilia Clarke and Gemma Arterton were believed to be some of the other actresses who had been considered for the role. But Vikander, who is a favourite here at FemaleFirst, has seen off the competition and this is set to be one of the biggest roles of her career to date. It will only send her star rocketing even further. There are no more details about the upcoming film project except that we know Roar Uthaug will be in the director's chair. Graham King is serving as producer. It was Angelina Jolie who brought this character to the big screen for the first time in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider back in 2001 - a role that she would reprise two years later in The Cradle of Life. There has been talk about a reboot of the franchise for quite some time and now the movie seems that it is not too far away. As for Vikander, 2016 has already been a hugely successful year as she scooped the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her wonderful performance in The Danish Girl, alongside Eddie Redmayne. We are going to be seeing plenty more of her this year as she has already completed work on Tulip Fever, The Light Between Oceans and she is one of the big new additions to the Jason Bourne cast list. The movie will see her team up with filmmaker Paul Greengrass for the first time while Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Tommy Lee Jones, and Vincent Cassel are also on board. The Oscar-winner is currently filming new movie Submergence with James McAvoy, which is an adaptation of the novel by J.M. Ledgard. by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary today (29.04.16). Prince William and Duchess Catherine Prince William and Duchess Catherine tied the knot in Westminster Abbey in London five years ago and celebrated with a lavish reception at Buckingham Palace. A message on Kensington Palace's Twitter page read: "Happy anniversary to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!" It was accompanied by a short video with the caption: "Some of our favourite moments from the past five years ... (sic)." The couple are planning a "low key" celebration at their country estate, Anmer Hall in Norfolk. A source told Us Weekly: "It will be low-key and private. They already feel like they've been celebrating." The college sweethearts got engaged in October 2010 and their wedding was televised to 72 million people worldwide. They have gone on to have two children together, Prince George, two and Princess Charlotte, who will turn one next week. William and Catherine recently represented Queen Elizabeth on a royal trip to India, while the children remained in the UK with their nanny. The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has opposed a Labour Ministry proposal to set the minimum wage to be paid to contract labourers at Rs 10,000 per month.It said such a move would drive up the costs for the labour-intensive apparel sector and drag down garment exports by 10 per cent, or Rs 11,000 crore, a year. The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has opposed a Labour Ministry proposal to set the minimum wage to be paid to contract labourers at Rs 10,000 per month. It said such a move would drive up the costs for the labour-intensive apparel sector and drag down garment exports by 10 per cent, or Rs 11,000 crore, a year. The industry# The industry witnesses peak demand between October and February, while orders decline by around 30 per cent in other seasons. With the proposed increase in wages, the industry will not be able to exercise its flexibility of engaging more labour to meet its peak-time requirements and will lose to competitors in Bangladesh and China, who already have a cost advantage, said AEPC Vice Chairman HKL Magu.The Labour Ministry had recently proposed amendment of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Central Rules suggesting Rs 10,000 as the minimum payable wage to contract labour. The Ministrys initiative is part of the governments efforts to check exploitation of labour employed by the industry on a contractual basis.According to the AEPC, if the provision is uniformly implemented across all States, the result will be over 90 per cent increase in wages for contract labour in States such as Odisha and Rajasthan and over 30 per cent in most other States.Apparel companies will effectively have to pay Rs 14,100 to a contract labourer after factoring in increase in PF (12 per cent), ESI (4.75 per cent) and Bonus (8.33 per cent) and service tax, Magu said.He argued that the Labour Ministrys proposal is arbitrary, as wages are fixed according to the work performed and on the basis of skills of a labourer. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The importance of offering a returns service that meets with customer expectation has been underscored by a new study into customer expectation around online delivery in the UK.The IMRG Blackbay UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2016, the eighth in the series, asked 1,000 online shoppers 50 questions to gain a comprehensive view of their developing expectations and perceptions in this key part of the customer experience. The importance of offering a returns service that meets with customer expectation has been underscored by a new study into customer expectation around online delivery in the UK. The IMRG Blackbay UK Consumer Home Delivery Review 2016, the eighth in the series, asked 1,000 online shoppers 50 questions to gain a comprehensive view of their# Overall, UK shoppers are relatively satisfied with the quality of online delivery and we have seen gradual improvements in a number of measures over the eight years we have been tracking progress in this area, the review said.However, we have also recorded a gap developing between customer expectation and customer satisfaction in the area of returns while 74 per cent consider a good returns service important when selecting the retailers they shop with, only 61 per cent are actually satisfied with the returns service they receive, it noted.The ability to drop-off the return or have it collected are important and the solutions to enable this are in place but the main thing customers want relates to information. Access to real-time tracking, updates on the status of their return and conformation of return are all required to keep customers happy and loyal.Andrew Starkey, head of e-logistics, IMRG, said, Customers are also saying they want to be kept informed as to the progress of their delivery so they can plan to be available to receive their orders accordingly.The market continues to advance and improve the service offering for consumers, however there is still a lack of consistency in delivery and returns performance and a general lack of control given to the consumer throughout the parcel journey, said Nigel Doust, CEO, Blackbay.Blackbay is a leading provider of mobility enabled solutions for the transport and logistics Industry. IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) has been the voice of e-retail in the UK. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The government has said that it does not set a production target for the textile and garment industry which is predominantly in the private sector.Production of textiles and garments is predominantly in the private sector. Therefore, the government does not prescribe specific production targets to the textile and garmenting industry, Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said during the Question Hour in Lok Sabha on Thursday. The government has said that it does not set a production target for the textile and garment industry which is predominantly in the private sector. Production of textiles and garments is predominantly in the private sector. Therefore, the government does not prescribe specific production targets to the textile and garmenting industry, # He said the data available on production and exports show an increasing trend during the last three years and the current year.Gangwar said the government has not received any report of textile workers facing problems due to recession in the sector.The Minister said that increasing the production of textiles and garments through policy initiatives was among the foremost objectives of the government.The government has launched various policy initiatives and schemes for technology upgradation, funds and development of powerloom sector to strengthen the textile industry in the country and protect the interests of textile workers, Gangwar said. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Magic, a leading global fashion trade-show produced by UBM, and JFW-International Fashion Fair (IFF), a Japanese bi-annual fashion tradeshow by Senken Shimbun, have joined forces to launch the first IFF Magic Japan event in Tokyo from April 26-28 2017. With the launch of IFF MAGIC Japan, UBM aims to facilitate commerce for retail buyers and attendees while providing a unique experience to the Asia market. IFF MAGIC Japan 2017 will be held as the cornerstone of Japan Fashion Week and will feature a re-merchandised show floor with new brands to maximise the experience for both retailers and exhibitors. Magic, a leading global fashion trade-show produced by UBM, and JFW-International Fashion Fair (IFF), a Japanese bi-annual fashion tradeshow by Senken Shimbun, have joined forces to launch the first IFF Magic Japan event in Tokyo from April 26-28 2017.With the launch of IFF MAGIC Japan, UBM aims to facilitate commerce for retail# Fashion is a truly global industry, and we are thrilled for Magic's upcoming expansion into the Japan market in partnership with JFW -International Fashion Fair, and UBM Japan. Our combined expertise will help IFF Magic Japan evolve quickly to meet the dynamic needs of the Japanese market and provide a new platform for UBM Fashion's global customer base to find new business partners and brands in Japan as well, said Chris DeMoulin, managing director, Fashion, UBM America's. IFF MAGIC Japan will serve as a high-profile showcase for Japanese fashion brands and designers to promote themselves to Japan and the global market, and also as an opportunity for international brands and suppliers to access the lucrative Japanese market. (HO) UBM Opinion / Columnist THE increase in the number of road traffic accidents has resulted in a long backlog in patients in need of neuro surgeries, an expert said.Professor Kazadi Kalangu said while the country already has more than 100 patients requiring nuero surgeries, road traffic accidents and lack of adequate equipment are some of the major challenges the country is facing."We do have quite a long backlog, I think more than 100 patients are on the waiting list. It was mainly a challenge of equipment and theatre time operation."Backlog has also been increased due to traffic accidents and these have resulted in spinal and brain surgeries requirements. This means we will then have to prioritise the accident victims who usually take precedence over those that are not critical further increasing the backlog," he said.The other issue has been that of theatre allocation at Parirenyatwa hospital where we only used to do one surgery a week."We used to have theatre time allocation challenges where we only used to perform one surgery per week which was later increased to two and now we can do four surgeries since last month".Professor Kalangu was speaking on the sidelines of a neuro surgeon seminar being hosted by the Zimbabwe Association of Neurological surgeons in the capital.The seminar that has several experts from more than 10 countries will also see the delegates performing sic surgeries in the country."This is a very unique workshop from the usually theoretical trainings that we are used to. This will include more hands on as we go from theory to practise. This will be an opportunity to share experiences and learn."Right now there is a team that is performing operations together with local surgeons," he said.Speaking at the same function, Health and Child Care Minister, David Parirenyatwa hailed the move to have hands on participation by all delegates."This type of knowledge transfer is greatly appreciated. With time our local surgeons will acquire significant and sufficient skills to reverse the trend whereby our citizens have to go abroad to seek expert medical services."At this rate of collaboration, I can foresee neurosurgeons in this country developing to such an extent that we will in fact attract patients from across our boarders and compete with others on medical tourism." A team of scientists from the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences has won first prize in the inaugural Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge for an innovative and environmentally friendly textile dyeing technology using nanocellulosic fibers, the University said on its website.Conventional dyeing processes require large amounts of water and create toxic effluent, or waste, that can be costly to treat. The wastewater from dye facilities often contains synthetic dyes and toxic chemicals , which leaves substantial ecological footprints, said research associate Yunsang Kim. A team of scientists from the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences has won first prize in the inaugural Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge for an innovative and environmentally friendly textile dyeing technology using nanocellulosic fibers, the University said on its website. Conventional dyeing processes require large# "The problem is that most of these textile dyeing industries are located in developing countries in which the regulation and societal concerns for environmental issues are really loose compared to developed countries," Kim said.The team's project involves the production of nano-structured cellulose and the use of nanocellulose in a sustainable dyeing process that significantly reduces the amount of wastewater and toxic chemicals.The competition, sponsored by Germany's Leuphana University and Elsevier, a leading publisher of scientific and academic journals, promotes projects that best offer sustainable processes, products and resources suitable for use in developing countries. Nearly 500 proposals were submitted for the competition, with five selected as finalists after an extensive review process.Kim presented the project on behalf of the UGA team at the Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference in Berlin this month."It was amazing," Kim said of hearing the announcement. "We now have an opportunity to develop our project to the next stage in which we will be able to contribute to helping people in developing countries."The team's process involves using cellulose to dye materials. During a homogenization process, cellulose, a readily available natural polymer found in the primary cell wall of green plants, is converted into a hydrogel material consisting of nanocellulose fibers.Compared to cotton fibers, nanocellulose fibers have 70 times more surface area with high reactivity, allowing for the efficient uptake and attachment of dye molecules.Dyed nanocellulose hydrogels are then transferred to a textile by a conventional printing method."We were able to reduce the amount of water and dye auxiliaries such as inorganic salt and alkali by a factor of 10," Kim said. "We are also working on the incorporation of other functionalities onto textiles using nanocellulose as a vehicle, capitalizing on its extremely large surface area and strong affinity to cotton-based textiles."The project is part of the recently announced Advanced Functional Fabrics of America Institute, a national public-private consortium established to revolutionize the fabric and textiles industry through commercialization of highly functional, advanced fibers and textiles for the defense and commercial markets. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India India's viscose staple fibre (VSF)-based textile industry which has grown remarkably in the last five years, has warned that tampering the existing anti-dumping duty structure will affect its growth" in the light of increased dumping by China and Indonesia."Before anti-dumping duty was imposed, Chinese and Indonesians had nearly killed our market. Now both the countries are again trying to flood the market with heavy discounts," Ramesh Natarajan, Director of Indian Man-Made Yarn Manufacturers Association, told PTI.The anti-dumping duty, imposed in 2010, is due for review and a section of the textile industry is calling for ending duty protection, citing rising input cost.Among those pushing for scrapping the anti-dumping duty is the Indian Spinners Association (ISA). It has said continuation of the duty on the fibre will have a "deleterious effect" on the textile sector, which is already reeling under high cost of production and sagging export demand.Before the government imposed the anti-dumping duty, Chinese and Indonesian companies were selling their products at Rs 185-190 a kg while the domestic prices were much higher, Natarajan said. But the quality of domestic VSF is unmatched, he added.He warned that if the anti-dumping duty is rolled back, it will kill the domestic industry.Natarajan claimed that the industry has already lost over two lakh direct jobs, with one lakh in the Coimbatore-Erode belt of Tamil Nadu alone. He warned of more job losses if the government succumbs to international and domestic pressure. Natarajan said the biggest VSF-based textile hub is the Coimbatore-Erode belt which consumes over 20,000 tonnes of the textile a month, while the intake in the rest of the country is only 5,000 tonnes. "The government must ensure that there are adequate safeguards in place for all products of the VSF value chain so that this industry attracts more investments and drives local manufacturing, which is the key focus of the present regime," P S Sundaram, Managing Director of Erode-based Victory Spinning, said. Over the past five years, the domestic VSF industry grew at a CAGR of 11 per cent while exports clocked 14 per cent CAGR, the report said. Exports jumped from 249 tonnes per day (tpd) in 2011-12 to 424 tpd in 2015-16, and domestic sales grew from 590 tpd to 853 tpd. This growth has been driven by the largest domestic VSF producer Grasim Industries, initiatives like creating robust consumer demand and collaboration with SMEs, among others. Development of the VSF supply chain has also attracted major global brands. According to the report, top international brands like American Eagle, Kohls, Bershka and GAP, among others, have increased their intake from India by around 20 per cent, the report said. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The Gorgeous lady Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set for her upcoming film, Sarbjit. And yesterday night (April 28, 2016), the diva was seen promoting Sarbjit at the different platforms. While promoting Sarbjit, many beautiful pictures of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Malaika Arora Khan came out and we just can't stop staring at all these beautiful pictures. Check Out All The Pictures Here: One side there is Malaika Arora Khan, whose smoldering figure is bound to grab your attention while, on the other side, there is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is slaying us with her 'oh-so-gorgeous' ethnic look! 30 Unseen Romantic Pics Of Karan Singh Grover With Ex-wife Jennifer Recently, while talking to media, Aishwarya had told that Cannes will be the best platform for showcasing of the Sarbjit biopic. "I do not know if the team will be able to make the opportunity possible on that platform as well because Cannes will be happening in the last week. Given the timeline, if it is possible, the team will look for the opportunity. However, if there are too many deadlines to match regretfully, that chance may have to be cut off," she said at an event. Bewitching! Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's New L'Oreal Ad Photoshoot The 69th annual Cannes Film Festival is scheduled to be held from May 11 to 22 and Sarbjit is slated to release on May 20. "We have to wait for the last 10 days to announce but that would have been the perfect platform to share the film. Somehow, it is coinciding with the final week with Cannes," she said. Along with Aishwarya, Sarbjit also casts Randeep Hooda, Richa Chadha and Darshan Kumar in the pivotal roles. The film is directed by Omung Kumar of Mary Kom fame. Captain America: Civil War, falls short on its opening day but manages to collect a hefty $ 14.9 Million on day one in 15 international markets . Disney reported that that the new marvel movie is behind last year's biggest Wednesday opener for the marvel studio Avengers: Age of Ultron which collected a staggering $ 946 Million. The movie opened in Europe and Asia and holds the number 1 spot in both the markets says the reports. The leading country to contribute to this $ 14.9 Million comes from South Korea with a total of $ 4.3 Million, followed by France with $2.4 million, overtaking Taiwan by just 100K, Philippines comes in third at $ 1.5 million and Taiwan at $1.4 million. Hong Kong and Thailand have contributed $ 1.1 million each. Arguably, Avengers: Age of Ultron has been the biggest opener for the Marvel Movies so far, the Korean Market saw an almost blanketed market by 91% of Captain America: Civil War. The Korean market has had the third-largest opening day of all time. Similarly, The French, and the Philippines saw an increase in their opening day market shares but both fell short of Avengers: Age of Ultron by 16% and 4% behind respectively. While only a few percentage of the people were lucky to watch it first, a large amount of close to 63% of the world wide opening is due on Sunday and on Thursday countries like Germany, Australia, Brazil, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Portugal, Malaysia, Singapore, Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia will be opening its doors for the New Marvel movie. Based on the pre-release tracking estimates, experts estimate that the movie would collect a total of $ 200 million by the end of first five days in theaters. Even with all this hype and anticipation, it is estimated the movie would come close to Avengers: age of Ultron but wouldn't surpass it, The Ultron movie stacked a whopping $212 million for its world wide opening weekend. Captain America: Civil War is hitting the theaters on May 6th worldwide. Indonesia is set to welcome its first publicly listed power company after Cikarang Listrindo started pre-marketing for an initial public offering on Thursday. Bankers familiar with the independent power producer's IPO said the total deal size could be around Rp4 trillion ($300 million) and will comprise both new shares and existing shares sold by a number of shareholders, including property developers Brasali Group and Pentakencana Pakarperdana. Since Indonesia is not known for having a lot of sizable and internationally marketed IPOs each year, the listing -- tentatively expected in June -- will provide foreign investors with a rare opportunity to access the local primary market. Mitra Keluargas $343 million share sale was the largest Indonesian IPO last year and the only one in the $100 million-plus category. Two other notable deals Puradelta Lestaris $78 million IPO and PT Kinos $73 million offering were largely domestic in nature. The looming Cikarang Listrindo deal follows a gradual recovery in Indonesian equities, after President Joko Widodo in September delivered a series of economic reforms to improve public spending and encourage greater investment in social programmes and infrastructure. The benchmark Jakarta Composite Index has rallied 17% since then and is close to recovering the losses made last summer as China led a rout in global stock markets. Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, UBS, and Indo Premier Securities are joint bookrunners on the IPO. Exclusivity Indonesias supportive policies towards infrastructure investment could be favourable to Cikarang Listrindo, which has exclusive rights to provide electricity to five industrial estates in Cikarang, West Java. Due to that exclusivity, Cikarang Listrindo is able to charge higher electricity tariffs compared with other power producers, including state-owned Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN). According to a UBS research report, the companys tariff rate of about Rp1,850 per kilowatt hour was 32% higher than the Rp1,400 charged by PLN last year. UBS expects Cikarang Listrindo's net profit to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 19.8% between 2016 and 2018, mainly due to the contribution from a new coal-fired power plant. The new plant is expected to complete in the second half of this year and will diversify its fuel mix. Currently it operates two gas-fired power plants with total installed capacity of 865 megawatts, which could increase to 1,145 megawatts after the completion of the new plant. Valuation Due to the absence of any publicly listed power company in Indonesia, syndicate analysts have benchmarked Cikarang Listrindo against other independent power producers across the Asia-Pacific region. Based on UBSs fair value estimates of $1.82 billion to $2.77 billion, the business could be valued at 13.5 to 20.6 times 2017 earnings and 8.1 to 11 times enterprise value to Ebitda. In terms of valuation it will be richer than most of the other IPPs which are trading at sub-10 times earnings. Almost all the IPPs with a similar market cap to Cikarang Listrindo are trading at a deep discount to its estimated fair value. For example, Malaysias YTL Power International trades at 9.1 times earnings and Indias JSW Energy trades at 8.2 times. A source familiar with the deal told FinanceAsia that Cikarang Listrindos valuation premium could be justified by its stable revenue due to its exclusive power distribution rights, as well as its minimal exposure towards foreign exchange risk. The majority of businesses in the Cikarang industrial region are foreign enterprises including General Electric, Mitsubishi, Siemens, and Alstom. So the companys tariffs are US dollar-denominated and unaffected by currency fluctuations. However, Cikarang Listrindo might not be the best pick for yield-play investors looking for defensive and income-generating assets in the short term. According to the terms of its 6.95% senior note due 2019, its dividend payout ratio is limited to a maximum of 50% until the note matures. By comparison, most of the other utilities companies generally have a dividend payout of at least 70%. In addition, the company has a relatively high funding cost in what is a capital-intensive business. Cikarang Listrindo is a high-yield credit according to both Standard & Poors and Moodys, which rate the company BB- and Ba2, respectively. Higher-rated PLN (BB+/BBB-/Baa3), for example, was able to pay a coupon of just 5.125% on a 10-year note in 2014. China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) raised $300 million from a debut dollar-denominated bond offering on Thursday, joining a fundraising rush of Chinese borrowers. The unrated three-year Reg S deal comes one week after A-/A- rated BOC Aviation, the aircraft leasing unit owned by Bank of China, sold a $750 million 10-year bond. The Hong Kong-based company, which is partly owned by state-owned conglomerate China Everbright Group, is raising funds to almost triple its fleet to 172 by the end of 2022. It plans to keep up China's growing demand for eco-friendly aircraft and the need to replace older aircraft. Thanks to a strong support from anchor onshore and offshore mainland investors, the group captured an order book of $550 million with participation from 46 accounts. One banker said the entire book was well covered by institutional investors, leaving less allocation for private banking investors contrary to what many market participants had been expecting. A total of 48% went to banks, 15% to private banks, 10% to funds and insurers and 27% to corporates and other. "The company received very strong indications of interest after a series of roadshows in Hong Kong and Singapore," the banker commented. The Hong Kong-listed company initially issued guidance around the 6% area, before tightening it to 5.9 to 5.95%. The issue vehicle was CALC 1 Ltd with a guarantee from the parent. Final pricing was fixed at par on a yield of 5.9% according to a termsheet seen by FinanceAsia. Bankers said the closest comparable was unrated Founder Informations 5.5% 2018 bond, which was trading on a cash price of 102.25% to yield 4.36%, or a Z-Spread of 343bp on Thursday. The other was China Energy Reserves unrated 5.25% 2018 bond, which was trading on a cash price of 99.75% to yield 5.38%, or a Z-spread of 446bp. A third comparable from a similar sector Hong Kong Airlines unrated 6.9% 2019 bond outstanding. This was trading Thursday on a mid-yield of 6.69%. According to the groups preliminary offering circular, total debt to total assets stood at a fairly high 86.7% at the end of 2015, while the interest coverage ratio was a fairly low 1.76 times. The group also said that current liabilities exceeded current assets by HK$1.87 billion. However, its recent 2015 annual results were in line with forecasts with revenue coming in at HK$1.55 billion and net profit up 26% to HK$380 million. The group was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in July 2014. At the end of 2015 it had a fleet of 63 aircraft. It has also started to make ground overseas delivering five aircraft to Air India and four to Air Macau. DBS Vickers reports that overseas clients now account for 14% of its client mix by fleet number. Over the longer term it hopes to achieve a 50/50 split between domestic and overseas clients. As with many Chinese companies, investors will have been aware of the credits key man risk. Last year, the company's founder and former chief executive officer, Mike Poon, disappeared for about six months and was said to be assisting a graft probe surrounding China Southern Airlines. According to the company's annual report, Poon resigned as chief executive on June 18. Joint bookrunners for the bond deal were China Everbright Bank (Hong Kong) and DBS, while Bocom International and CEB International as joint leads. This article has been updated since first publication with final deal stats. Chinese property developer Evergrande Real Estate has agreed to acquire a further 17.28% stake in Shengjing Bank for Rmb10 billion ($1.5 billion), continuing its buying spree in the face of mounting debt. Hong Kong-listed Evergrande said it would buy about 1 billion shares through a subsidiary from five domestic stockholders of Shengjing Bank, lifting its stake in the local commercial lender to 27.24%, according to a filing with the territorys stock exchange on Thursday. The acquisition is expected to generate high investment [returns] and will prove to be a reasonable investment, Hui Ka Yan, Evergrande's chairman, said in the filing. Evergrande did not respond to emailed requests for further comment. Evergrande, Chinas second-largest developer by revenue after Vanke, plans to pay Rmb10 (HK$11.97) per share, representing a 8% premium over Shengjing Banks closing share price of HK$11.08 on Wednesday. The transaction comes one month after the Guangzhou-based developer paid HK$3.9 billion for 5.59% of the bank. Its mainly an equity investment. Investing in a bank doesnt mean much to Evergrandes business. I dont think the deal will create synergies or real business between the two companies, Kevin Leung, director of global investment strategy at Haitong International Securities, told FinanceAsia. Established in 1996 by Hui, one of Chinas richest men, Evergrande soon developed into a major player in the domestic property market. In recent years, it has stepped out of its core real estate business to new sectors including banking, healthcare, and new energy. Since the start of 2015 it has splurged $16 billion on assets at home and overseas, according to Dealogic data. Last week it announced that it would pay Rmb3.6 billion to acquire a 52.78% stake in domestic developer China Calxon Group. It is also actively buying financial assets. For instance, it bought Great Eastern Life Insurance (China) for Rmb3.9 billion ($600 million) last November and injected Rmb9 billion into the still loss-making insurer this month. Evergrandes pursuit of debt-funded expansion to support its business growth has resulted in a high level of debt leverage. The capital injection will likely consume some of Evergrandes cash on hand, which will in turn constrain its ability to control further debt growth, Moodys analysts said in a note on April 22. The companys total debt rose from $44 billion in 2013 to $95 billion last year, pushing up its net debt-to-equity ratio to 136% from 87% over the same period. Nevertheless, the scale of the Shengjing Bank investment looks manageable, seeing as it accounts for just 6% of Evergrandes cash-on-hand of Rmb158 billion (on an unaudited basis, as of end 2015). Motives According to Moodys, Evergrandes acquisitions of financial institutions offer limited strategic benefits to its core property business, apart from potential indirect funding arrangements. Leung of Haitong International Securities agrees that becoming a big shareholder in Shengjing Bank could help the heavily indebted Evergrande with financing but thinks this might not be the companys main rationale. They just keep spending money as they have a lot of cash but meanwhile a lot of debt too, Leung said. "I don't think help on financing is the main reason as they have not shown much intention over the past few years to make their debt situation look any better." According to him, Evergrandes latest string of acquisitions could potentially be part of a plan to exit from Hong Kong for a relisting on the A-share market for a higher valuation. They want to buy more assets to expand the companys asset base. If they do return to the A-share market, they could boost the valuation, Leung said. In late March, Dalian Wanda Groups commercial property arm announced it was considering going-private just 15 months after it went public in Hong Kong through a $3.72 billion initial public offering. It will not be a surprise if Evergrande were to express its intention to privatise, Oscar Choi, a property analyst at Citi Research, said in a note last week. Shenyang, Liaoning province-based Shengjing Bank has a market capitalisation of $8.34 billion and runs both retail banking and funding operations in mainland China. It was among the first batch of 15 domestic financial institutions to receive a consumer finance licence in January from the banking regulator. CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/16 -- Western Energy Services Corp. ("Western" or the "Company") (TSX: WRG) announces the release of its first quarter 2016 financial and operating results, as well as a revised credit facility with an amended covenant package which aligns with the Company's needs in a cost effective manner. Additional information relating to the Company, including the Company's financial statements and management's discussion and analysis as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("Non-IFRS") measures and abbreviations for standard industry terms are included in this press release. All amounts are denominated in Canadian dollars (CDN$) unless otherwise identified. First Quarter 2016 Operating Results: -- First quarter Operating Revenue decreased by $68.8 million (or 68%) to $32.2 million in 2016 as compared to $101.0 million in 2015. In the contract drilling segment, Operating Revenue decreased by $53.3 million (or 70%) to $22.3 million in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to $75.6 million in the first quarter of 2015; while in the production services segment, Operating Revenue decreased by $15.7 million (or 61%) to $9.9 million as compared to $25.6 million in the first quarter of 2015. Operating Revenue was impacted by decreased commodity prices, such as West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") crude oil, which dropped to its lowest level in over a decade in the first quarter of 2016, resulting in a dramatic decrease in customer spending in the period. The lower utilization and pricing in both the contract drilling and production services segments is described below: -- Drilling rig utilization - Operating Days in Canada decreased to 18% in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 49% in the first quarter of 2015, reflecting a 63% decrease. Utilization for Western's Cardium class rigs was most impacted in the period, averaging 13%, as these rigs typically operate in highly competitive conventional resource plays, whereas utilization for Western's Montney and Duvernay class rigs were impacted to a lesser extent, averaging 22% and 26% respectively, in the first quarter of 2016. First quarter 2016 drilling rig utilization - Operating Days of 18% represented a discount of 200 basis points ("bps") to the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors ("CAODC") industry average, as compared to the 1,400 bps premium to the industry average realized in the first quarter of 2015. The CAODC industry average utilization of 20% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was the lowest first quarter industry utilization on record. The change in the Company's utilization relative to the CAODC industry average is partially due to a number of Western's customers, who typically have substantial drilling programs, significantly cutting their capital spending in 2016. Additionally, changes in the industry rig mix, as competitors continue to decommission older and shallower rigs in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin ("WCSB"), and add rigs that directly compete with Western's drilling rig fleet, impacts Western's relative utilization as compared to the CAODC industry average. Additionally, lower activity and increased competition in the first quarter of 2016 resulted in downward pricing pressure on all drilling rig classes, which reduced Operating Revenue per Revenue Day in the contract drilling segment in Canada by 25%, as compared to the first quarter of 2015; -- In the United States, drilling rig utilization - Operating Days decreased to 17% in the first quarter of 2016, as compared to 48% in the same period of the prior year, while Operating Revenue per Revenue Day in the United States decreased by 9% in the first quarter of 2016 due to the decreased commodity price environment; and -- Well servicing utilization decreased to 17% in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 42% in the same period of the prior year. Reduced activity, coupled with a 14% decrease in well servicing hourly rates, due to pricing pressure in all areas, resulted in a $13.5 million (or 64%) decrease in well servicing Operating Revenue in the period. -- First quarter Adjusted EBITDA totaled $3.4 million in 2016, a $37.2 million (or 92%) decrease, as compared to $40.6 million in the first quarter of 2015. The year over year decrease in Adjusted EBITDA is due to lower utilization and pricing in both the contract drilling and production services segments, offset by cost reduction measures including an approximate one third reduction to salaried headcount, wage reductions to all employees and other cost control measures. -- Administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and stock based compensation, in the first quarter of 2016 decreased by $1.8 million (or 25%) to $5.5 million as compared to $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2015. The decrease in administrative expenses is due to a reduced employee headcount, a 10% rollback to all employee wages and directors' fees implemented in the first quarter of 2016, coupled with additional cost control measures. -- Net income decreased by $21.6 million to a loss of $6.3 million in the first quarter of 2016 (a loss of $0.09 per basic common share) as compared to net income of $15.3 million in the same period in 2015 ($0.20 per basic common share). The decrease in net income in 2016 can be attributed to the following: -- A $37.2 million decrease in Adjusted EBITDA due to lower utilization and pricing in both the contract drilling and production services segments; and -- A $0.7 million increase in finance costs, due to lower capitalized interest; Offsetting the above mentioned items are the following: -- A decrease in depreciation expense of $6.1 million due to lower activity levels; -- A $1.5 million increase in other items, mainly relating to foreign exchange gains; and -- An $8.9 million decrease in income tax expense due to lower taxable income. -- First quarter 2016 capital expenditures of $0.9 million included $0.4 million of expansion capital and $0.5 million of maintenance capital. In total, capital spending in the first quarter of 2016 decreased by 95% from the $17.9 million incurred in the first quarter of 2015. The majority of first quarter 2016 capital expenditures relate to the production services segment, which incurred $0.6 million in capital. These expenditures mainly relate to the purchase of additional oilfield rental equipment. Additionally, $0.3 million was incurred in the contract drilling segment relating to maintenance capital. Credit Facility and Covenant Amendments On April 27, 2016, the Company amended the covenants and elected to reduce its syndicated revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Facility") from $175.0 million to $40.0 million and has reduced its previously uncommitted operating demand revolving loan of $20.0 million to a committed operating line (the "Operating Facility") totaling $10.0 million. Western's decision to reduce its Revolving Facility and Operating Facility (the "Credit Facilities") is estimated to save the Company $1.5 million in standby fees annually. The interest coverage ratio, which previously required EBITDA to exceed interest expense by 2.0x or more, has been permanently removed and the senior debt to EBITDA ratio has been increased. The revised facility now includes a borrowing base calculation, based on the value of Western's accounts receivable and property and equipment, and a current ratio covenant of 1.15x. The Revolving Facility includes an accordion feature, whereby an incremental $60.0 million of borrowing would become available, subject to approval of the lenders. The Company believes the amended Credit Facilities provide the financial flexibility to effectively manage through the current slowdown in oilfield service activity. Selected Financial Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (stated in thousands, except share and per share amounts) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31 Financial Highlights 2016 2015 Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 33,937 105,850 (68%) Operating Revenue(1) 32,200 100,958 (68%) Gross Margin(1) 8,867 47,891 (81%) Gross Margin as a percentage of Operating Revenue 28% 47% (40%) Adjusted EBITDA(1) 3,364 40,637 (92%) Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Operating Revenue 10% 40% (75%) Cash flow from operating activities 8,604 39,337 (78%) Capital expenditures 921 17,863 (95%) Net income (loss) (6,319) 15,294 (141%) -basic net income (loss) per share (0.09) 0.20 (145%) -diluted net income (loss) per share (0.09) 0.20 (145%) Weighted average number of shares -basic 74,646,292 74,686,828 (1%) -diluted 74,646,292 74,702,482 (1%) Outstanding common shares as at period end 73,646,292 74,578,128 (1%) Dividends declared - 5,593 (100%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) See "Non-IFRS measures" included in this press release. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31 Operating Highlights 2016 2015 Change --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contract Drilling Canadian Operations: Contract drilling rig fleet: -Average 52 49 6% -End of period 52 49 6% Operating Revenue per Revenue Day(1) 19,437 25,947 (25%) Operating Revenue per Operating Day(1) 21,970 28,707 (23%) Operating Days(1) 861 2,154 (60%) Drilling rig utilization - Revenue Days(1) 21% 54% (62%) Drilling rig utilization - Operating Days(1) 18% 49% (63%) CAODC industry average utilization(1)(2) 20% 35% (43%) United States Operations: Contract drilling rig fleet: -Average 5 5 - -End of period 5 5 - Operating Revenue per Revenue Day (US$)(1) 27,097 29,645(3) (9%) Operating Revenue per Operating Day (US$)(1) 31,504 33,738(3) (7%) Operating Days(1) 78 214 (64%) Drilling rig utilization - Revenue Days(1) 20% 54% (63%) Drilling rig utilization - Operating Days(1) 17% 48% (64%) Production Services Well servicing rig fleet: -Average 66 65 2% -End of period 66 65 2% Service Rig Operating Revenue per Service Hour(1) 740 858 (14%) Service Hours 10,386 24,712 (58%) Service rig utilization(1) 17% 42% (59%) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) See "Non-IFRS measures" included in this press release. (2) Source: The Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors ("CAODC"). The CAODC industry average is based on Operating Days divided by total available days. (3) Excludes shortfall commitment and standby revenue from take or pay contracts of US$3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financial Position at (stated in Mar 31, Mar 31, Dec 31, thousands) 2016 2015 Change 2015 Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Working capital 68,145 92,300 (26%) 70,679 (4%) Property and equipment 759,205 841,576 (10%) 773,647 (2%) Total assets 842,492 1,049,145 (20%) 876,608 (4%) Long term debt 264,118 264,207 - 264,155 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Western is an oilfield service company focused on three core business lines: contract drilling, well servicing and oilfield rental equipment services. Western provides contract drilling services through its division, Horizon Drilling ("Horizon") in Canada, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Stoneham Drilling Corporation ("Stoneham"), in the United States ("US"). On December 28, 2015, Western wound up its partnership, Western Energy Services Partnership (the "Partnership") and rolled all of the Partnership's assets into IROC Drilling and Production Services Corp., which then changed its name to Western Production Services Corp. ("Western Production Services"). As a result, Western now provides well servicing operations in Canada through Western Production Services' division, Eagle Well Servicing ("Eagle") and oilfield rental equipment services in Canada through Western Production Services' division, Aero Rental Services ("Aero"). Financial and operating results for Horizon and Stoneham are included in Western's contract drilling segment, while Eagle and Aero's financial and operating results are included in Western's production services segment. Western currently has a drilling rig fleet of 57 rigs specifically suited for drilling horizontal wells of increased complexity. Western is the sixth largest drilling contractor in Canada with a fleet of 52 rigs operating through Horizon. Of the Canadian fleet, 25 are classified as Cardium rigs, 19 as Montney rigs and eight as Duvernay rigs. As compared to the Cardium classified rigs, the Montney class rigs have a larger hookload, while the Duvernay class rigs have the largest hookload. Additionally, Western has five Duvernay class triple drilling rigs deployed in the United States operating through Stoneham. Western is also the fourth largest well servicing company in Canada with a fleet of 66 rigs operating through Eagle. Western's oilfield rental equipment division, which operates through Aero, provides oilfield rental equipment for frac services, well completions and production work, coil tubing and drilling services. Crude oil and natural gas prices impact the cash flow of Western's customers, which in turn impacts the demand for Western's services. Overall performance of the Company was affected by the continued decline in crude oil and natural gas prices throughout 2015 and into the first quarter of 2016, when prices were at their lowest levels in over a decade. The following table summarizes the average oil and natural gas prices, as well as the average foreign exchange rates for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2016 2015 Change ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average oil and natural gas prices(1) Oil West Texas Intermediate (US$/bbl) 33.45 48.63 (31%) Western Canadian Select (CDN$/bbl) 26.29 42.13 (38%) Natural Gas 30 day Spot AECO (CDN$/mcf) 1.83 2.75 (34%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average foreign exchange rates US dollar to Canadian dollar 1.37 1.24 10% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) See "Abbreviations" included in this press release. The significant reduction in commodity prices led to a corresponding decrease in the demand for oilfield services in both Canada and the United States. As a result, first quarter drilling rig counts in both Canada and the United States were at or near 30 year lows in 2016. The CAODC reported that for drilling in Canada, the total number of Operating Days in the WCSB decreased approximately 44% for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015. Similarly, as reported by Baker Hughes Incorporated, the number of active drilling rigs in the United States decreased approximately 60% for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Well servicing hours were also impacted by the decline in demand, as the CAODC reported that Service Hours in the WCSB decreased approximately 34% in the first quarter of 2016, as compared to the first quarter of 2015. Outlook Currently, 7 of Western's 57 drilling rigs (or 12%) are operating under long term take-or-pay contracts providing a base level of future revenue, with 3 of these contracts expected to expire in each of 2016 and 2017, and 1 expected to expire in 2018. These contracts each typically generate between 250 and 350 Revenue Days per year. Western's revised capital budget for 2016 of $7 million remains unchanged, and is comprised of $2 million of expansion capital and $5 million of maintenance capital. Western believes the revised 2016 capital budget provides a prudent use of cash resources and will allow it to maintain its premier drilling and well servicing rig fleets, while remaining responsive to customer requirements. Western will continue to manage its operations in a disciplined manner and make any required adjustments to its capital program as customer demand changes. The continued pressure on commodity prices in 2016 has resulted in significant year-over-year reductions to the capital spending plans for the majority of Western's customers. As a result, active drilling rig counts in both Canada and the United States are expected to be at or near 30 year lows for the remainder of 2016. Activity levels throughout the oilfield service industry in the second quarter of 2016 are expected to be extremely low. Lower activity and pricing pressure will continue to impact Western's Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow from operating activities. The Company has taken a proactive approach to reducing administrative and fixed overhead costs including reducing fixed headcount since the beginning of 2015 by a third and implementing a 10% company-wide wage rollback to salaried employees and directors' fees, as well as reducing various other office related costs. In addition, Western's variable cost structure, under which approximately 80% of operating and administrative costs are variable, the previously announced suspension of the Company's quarterly dividend and a prudent capital budget will aid in preserving balance sheet strength. In addition to $50 million in cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2016, Western has $50 million undrawn on the Company's Credit Facilities, which do not mature until December 17, 2018 and no principal repayments due on the $265 million Senior Notes until they mature on January 30, 2019. Oilfield service activity in Canada will be impacted by the development of resource plays in Alberta and northeast British Columbia including those related to liquefied natural gas projects, increased crude oil transportation capacity through rail and pipeline development and foreign investment into Canada. Currently, the largest challenge facing the oilfield service industry is customer spending constraints as a result of lower commodity prices. Western's view is that its modern drilling and well servicing rig fleets, reputation, and disciplined cash management provide a competitive advantage which will enable the Company to manage through the current slowdown in oilfield services activity. Non-IFRS Measures Western uses certain measures in this press release which do not have any standardized meaning as prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). These measures which are derived from information reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other reporting issuers. These measures have been described and presented in this press release in order to provide shareholders and potential investors with additional information regarding the Company. These Non-IFRS measures are identified and defined as follows: Operating Revenue Management believes that in addition to revenue, Operating Revenue is a useful supplemental measure as it provides an indication of the revenue generated by Western's principal operating activities, excluding flow through third party charges such as rig fuel, which at the customer's request may be paid for initially by Western, then recharged in its entirety to Western's customers. Gross Margin Management believes that in addition to net income, Gross Margin is a useful supplemental measure as it provides an indication of the results generated by Western's principal operating activities prior to considering administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, how those activities are financed, the impact of foreign exchange, how the results are taxed, how funds are invested, and how non-cash items and one-time gains and losses affect results. The following table provides a reconciliation of revenue under IFRS, as disclosed in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, to Operating Revenue and Gross Margin: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (stated in thousands) 2016 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Revenue Drilling 22,324 75,607 Production Services 9,886 25,573 Less: inter-company eliminations (10) (222) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32,200 100,958 Third party charges 1,737 4,892 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue 33,937 105,850 Less: operating expenses (32,489) (71,475) Add: Depreciation - operating 7,311 13,365 Stock based compensation - operating 108 151 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross Margin 8,867 47,891 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA Management believes that in addition to net income, earnings before interest and finance costs, taxes, depreciation and amortization, other non-cash items and one-time gains and losses ("Adjusted EBITDA") is a useful supplemental measure as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company's principal operating segments similar to Gross Margin but also factors in the cash administrative expenses incurred in the period. Operating Earnings Management believes that in addition to net income, Operating Earnings is a useful supplemental measure as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company's principal operating segments similar to Adjusted EBITDA but also factors in the depreciation expense incurred in the period. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income under IFRS, as disclosed in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, to earnings before interest and finance costs, taxes and depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), Adjusted EBITDA and Operating Earnings (Loss): ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three months ended March 31 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (stated in thousands) 2016 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income (loss) (6,319) 15,294 Add: Finance costs 5,538 4,758 Income taxes (2,495) 6,422 Depreciation - operating 7,311 13,365 Depreciation - administrative 420 429 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EBITDA 4,455 40,268 Add: Stock based compensation - operating 108 151 Stock based compensation - administrative 931 812 Other items (2,130) (594) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted EBITDA 3,364 40,637 Subtract: Depreciation - operating (7,311) (13,365) Depreciation - administrative (420) (429) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Earnings (Loss) (4,367) 26,843 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Debt The following table provides a reconciliation of long term debt under IFRS, as disclosed in the condensed consolidated balance sheets to Net Debt: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (stated in thousands) March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long term debt 264,118 264,155 Current portion of long term debt 709 761 Less cash and cash equivalents (49,852) (58,445) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Debt 214,975 206,471 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Drilling rig utilization - Operating Days: Calculated based on Operating Days divided by total available days. Drilling rig utilization - Revenue Days: Calculated based on Revenue Days divided by total available days. Operating Days: Defined as contract drilling days, calculated on a spud to rig release basis. Revenue Days: Defined as Operating Days plus rig mobilization days. Service Hours: Defined as well servicing hours completed. Service rig utilization: Calculated based on Service Hours divided by available hours, being 10 hours per day, per well servicing rig, 365 days per year. Contract Drilling Rig Classifications Cardium class rig: Defined as any contract drilling rig which has a total hookload of less than or equal to 399,999 lbs (or 177,999 daN). Montney class rig: Defined as any contract drilling rig which has a total hookload between 400,000 lbs (or 178,000 daN) and 499,999 lbs (or 221,999 daN). Duvernay class rig: Defined as any contract drilling rig which has a total hookload equal to or greater than 500,000 lbs (or 222,000 daN). Abbreviations: -- Barrel ("bbl"); -- Basis point ("bps"): A 1% change equals 100 basis points and a 0.01% change is equal to one basis point; -- Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors ("CAODC"); -- DecaNewton ("daN"); -- International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"); -- Thousand cubic feet ("mcf"); -- West Texas Intermediate ("WTI"); -- Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin ("WCSB"); and -- Western Canadian Select ("WCS"). 2016 First Quarter Results Conference Call and Webcast Western has scheduled a conference call and webcast to begin at 10:00 a.m. MDT (12:00 p.m. EDT) on Friday, April 29, 2016. The conference call dial-in number is 1-866-223-7781. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible on Western's website at www.wesc.ca by selecting "Investors", then "Webcasts". Shortly after the live webcast, an archived version will be available for approximately 14 days. An archived recording of the conference call will also be available approximately one hour after the completion of the call until May 13, 2016 by dialing 1-800-408-3053 or 905-694-9451, passcode 1621805. Forward-Looking Statements and Information This press release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to Western that are based on the expectations of Western as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Western which may constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that Western anticipates or expects may, or will occur in the future (in whole or part) should be considered forward-looking information. In some cases forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as "forecast", "future," "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "potential", "enable", "plan", "continue", "contemplate", "pro forma", or other comparable terminology. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements relating to the declaration of dividends; commodity pricing; the future demand for and utilization of the Company's services and equipment; the terms of existing and future drilling contracts in Canada and the US and the revenues resulting therefrom (including the number of Operating Days typically generated from the Company's contracts); the Company's expansion and maintenance capital plans for 2016, including the ability of current capital resources to cover Western's financial obligations and the 2016 capital budget; the Company's expected sources of funding to support such capital plans and the Company's ability to adjust capital spending for the remainder of 2016 if market conditions, including customer demand, continue to change; the expected benefits from cost control measures; the use and availability of the Company's Credit Facilities; expectations as to the increase in crude oil transportation capacity through rail and pipeline development; expectations as to the necessary approvals for liquefied natural gas projects being obtained; the expectation of continued foreign investment into the Canadian oilfield industry; and the expectation that producer spending constraints will continue to be a large challenge facing the Company in 2016. The material assumptions in making the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, assumptions relating to, demand levels and pricing for oilfield services; fluctuations in the price and demand for oil and natural gas; the continued low levels of and pressures on commodity pricing; the continued business relationship between the Company and its significant customers; general economic and financial market conditions; the development of liquefied natural gas projects, crude oil transport and pipeline approval and development; the Company's ability to finance its operations; the effects of seasonal and weather conditions on operations and facilities; the competitive environment to which the various business segments are, or may be, exposed in all aspects of their business; the ability of the Company's various business segments to access equipment (including spare parts and new technologies); changes in laws or regulations; currency exchange fluctuation; the ability of the Company to attract and retain skilled labour and qualified management; the ability to retain and attract significant customers; and other unforeseen conditions which could impact the use of services supplied by Western including Western's ability to respond to such conditions. Although Western believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information as Western cannot give any assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risk that the demand for oilfield services will not improve for the remainder of 2016 and that commodity price levels will remain low, and other general industry, economic, market and business conditions. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and assumptions are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect Western's operations and financial results are included in Western's annual information form which may be accessed through the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Western does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Contacts: Western Energy Services Corp. Alex R.N. MacAusland President and CEO 403.984.5916 403.984.5917 (FAX) Western Energy Services Corp. Jeffrey K. Bowers Senior VP Finance and CFO 403.984.5916 403.984.5917 (FAX) www.wesc.ca CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has sold his stake in Apple Inc. (AAPL), he said in an interview with CNBC on Thursday, citing concerns about China's attitude toward the company. Icahn said Apple is a great company but no longer a 'no-brainer' as an investment choice. The activist investor said he was worried 'about China's attitude' toward Apple, and said the nation 'could be a shadow' for the company. In the interview Thursday, Mr. Icahn praised Apple's Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and said the company has a 'tremendous future'. In an open letter to Tim Cook in May 2015, Icahn said that the company was undervalued and its shares were worth $240. On Tuesday, Apple reported its first year-over-year decline in iPhone sales since its launch in 2007, reflecting a saturated smartphone market. Sluggish economic growth in China-- Apple's second-biggest market after the U.S, less frequent upgradation of iPhones by customers and mediocre reception of new iPhone SE also contributed to iPhone sales decline. Apple's revenue dropped to $50.56 billion from last year's $58.01 billion, its first year-over-year quarterly sales drop since 2003. AAPL closed Thursday's regular trading at $94.83, down $2.99 or 3.06 percent. 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. Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5259 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/ Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. ICT Systems Laboratories Server Technologies Lab E-mail: Retimer_ISSCC2015@ml.labs.fujitsu.com TOKYO, Apr 28, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today reported profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent was 86.7 billion yen, down 53.2 billion yen from fiscal 2014.Consolidated revenue for fiscal 2015 was 4,739.2 billion yen, essentially unchanged from fiscal 2014. In Japan, revenue from network products and PCs declined, but revenue from system integration services increased. Outside Japan, revenue from network products declined, but results benefited from foreign exchange movements.Fujitsu recorded an operating profit of 120.6 billion yen, down 58.0 billion yen from fiscal 2014. The company recorded business model transformation expenses of 41.5 billion yen which include 32.4 billion yen for business outside Japan, 5.1 billion yen for network business realignment mainly in the Technology Solutions segment, and 3.9 billion yen for Ubiquitous Solutions business realignment. The operating profit margin was 2.5%, down 1.3 percentage points from the prior fiscal year.Net financial expenses were 7.2 billion yen, representing a deterioration of 18.9 billion yen from fiscal 2014, when the company recorded a net gain on foreign exchange because of the sharp fall in the value of the yen. Income from investments accounted for using the equity method, net, was 18.4 billion yen, an increase of 9.9 billion yen from fiscal 2014. Fujitsu's system LSI device design and development business was transferred to an affiliate. In addition, Fujitsu recorded a dilution gain from changes in equity interest stemming from an offering of shares of an affiliate on China's Shenzhen Stock Exchange.As a result, profit before income taxes was 131.8 billion yen, down 67.0 billion yen from the previous fiscal year.Comparison with Earnings Forecast Announced in January 2016Revenue fell short of the projection by 60.7 billion yen, primarily because of the lower yen value of revenue outside Japan resulting from the rapid strengthening of the yen toward the end of the fiscal year and also on lower-than-anticipated revenue from network products-related business. Operating profit fell short of the projection by 9.3 billion yen due to such factors as business model transformation expenses for business outside Japan (in North America and elsewhere). On the other hand, profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent was essentially in line with the January projection because of improvements in income from investments accounted for using the equity method and lower income tax expenses.Business Segment Financial ResultsRevenue in the Technology Solutions segment amounted to 3,283.3 billion yen, essentially unchanged from the previous fiscal year. Revenue in the Services sub-segment in Japan rose due to growth in system integration services on higher investment by customers in the financial services sector and public sector. Revenue in the Services sub-segment outside Japan declined because it was a slow period for large-scale deals in the UK and due to weakness in the US. In the System Platforms sub-segment, however, revenue in mobile phone base stations in Japan and optical transmission systems in Japan and North America declined due to continuing investment constraints by telecommunications carriers. In addition, in server-related business, revenue fell, particularly in mainframe-related business, due to a reduction in large-scale deals in Japan. The segment posted an operating profit of 186.2 billion yen, representing a decline of 36.2 billion yen compared to the previous fiscal yearRevenue in the Ubiquitous Solutions segment was 1,040.9 billion yen, a decrease of 2.1% from the previous fiscal year. For both enterprise and consumer PCs, revenue declined. For mobile phones, revenue fell due in part to the decline in unit sales of feature phones. The segment posted an operating loss of 7.6 billion yen, representing a deterioration of 16.4 billion yen from the previous fiscal year. In PCs, in addition to lower revenue, higher procurement costs for US dollar-denominated components in Europe and Japan, due to the continuing weakness of the yen and of the euro against the US dollar, adversely impacted results, resulting in a significant deterioration. In mobile phones, the deterioration was caused by the impact of lower revenue and the impact of expenses incurred in the first half of the fiscal year to deal with a defective mobile phone model.Revenue in the Device Solutions segment amounted to 603.9 billion yen, up 1.4% due in part to the effects of the weak yen. The segment posted an operating profit of 30.3 billion yen, down 6.5 billion yen from the previous fiscal year due to the impact of transferring the system LSI device business to an affiliate, as well as the impact of revenue declines due to lower total demand for smartphones and PCs, especially in the second half.Fiscal 2016 Consolidated ProjectionsFor fiscal 2016, Fujitsu is projecting revenue of 4,600 billion yen. This represents a decline of 2.9% from fiscal 2015, however, excluding the impact of foreign exchange movements, it is essentially unchanged from fiscal 2015. The forecast for operating profit is 120.0 billion yen, essentially unchanged from the previous year. In fiscal 2016, Fujitsu plans to continue to transform its business model, and anticipates expenses associated with these measures of 45.0 billion yen. The projected profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent is 85.0 billion yen, approximately the same as in fiscal 2015.Assumptions on exchange rates for fiscal 2016 are 110 yen for the US dollar, 125 yen for the euro, and 160 yen for the British pound.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 159,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702; ADR:FJTSY) reported consolidated revenues of 4.8 trillion yen (US$40 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Opinion / Columnist Whenever the country moves towards a commemoration of a national event such as the Independence Day holiday, it has become the norm for some habitual doomsayers to not only write obituaries about the country's economy but also to dismiss the celebrations as unhelpful to the cause of the country.These pessimists stand ready to pour cold water on any commemorations in the country.Now that the country faces the Workers' Day commemorations, they are already saying there is nothing to celebrate for the workers.Despite indications of gradual improvement in the economy, the doomsayers continue to preach doom and gloom.They are throwing around statistics of workers who were retrenched last year due to an outmoded Labour Act inherited from colonial times as justification why workers have nothing to celebrate on Workers' Day.They also talk of supposedly poor conditions of work at workplaces.While clasped in the cloud of negativity, they fail to appreciate some positive developments in the country's labour market and other positive prospects in the economy that herald better times for the workers.Although these nattering nabobs are fond of evoking the half-empty-glass innuendos about the retrenchment of around 20 000 workers, they forget to point out that workers now have more to celebrate as the pernicious Labour Act was amended at the behest of Government.Government spearheaded and fast-tracked the amendment of the Labour Act in a bid to protect the workers from the predatory behaviour of capitalist business people who sought to capitalize on the 17 July 2015 Constitutional Court ruling that allowed companies to retrench workers on three month's notice without compensation.The law was eventually amended to become the Labour Amendment Act that seeks to cushion employees from the inconsiderate and whimsical behaviour of employers who were summarily dismissing them from work.The Labour Amendment Act might not be perfect and could contain loopholes, which by the way would naturally be corrected with the passing of time, but it stands as a symbol of Government's commitment to protect and promote the rights of workers, and this is an apt cause for celebration for workers who are now assured of a secure tenure at work.More so, Government is moving to financially assist the retrenched workers by setting up a fund to help them in starting small to medium business enterprises.Reports indicate that through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO), the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, will soon avail some National Social Security Authority (NSSA)-underwritten loans to the retrenched workers to enable them to set up business units.Similarly, Government, through the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Government Programme, is also spearheading programmes that would empower employees at workplaces by ensuring that they become shareholders in companies they are working for under the Employees Share Ownership Schemes.Notably, several companies, including Old Mutual Zimbabwe and Schweppes Limited have ceded shares to their employees thus empowering them and boosting their long-term financial needs.In addition, Government has always maintained an open door policy towards labour unions who are accommodated under the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) that gives them space to air their concerns to policy makers and assist them in shaping the destiny of the country.Also to demonstrate its undiluted support for workers, Government has this year re-assumed its role of organizing the Workers' Day commemorations and has thus shouldered any expenses and logistics thereof related to the event as well as giving workers a plump opportunity to relay their concerns to Government.Besides the labour related developments, there are more positive economic spinoffs taking shape in the country that could be a cause of celebration for the workers.There are indications that some companies such as Zimplats, which recently recorded an increase in production of 71 percent, are emerging from the economic quagmire and have witnessed a growth in capacity utilization after squirming under a protracted period of an economic blizzard.Such increase in capacity utilization is likely to translate into creation of more job opportunities for the workers.Cognisant of the above-mentioned developments, it would be foolhardy for anyone to claim that employees have nothing to celebrate on Workers' Day commemorations this year.There is more for workers to celebrate and be grateful for having a job at a time the country is saddled with unrelenting vilification and deleterious economic embargoes. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. Department of Justice announced that KeyCorp (KEY) and First Niagara Financial Group Inc. have agreed to sell 18 of First Niagara's branches in and around Buffalo, New York, with approximately $1.7 billion in deposits, to resolve antitrust concerns that arose from KeyCorp's planned acquisition of First Niagara. The department said that the divestitures will ensure that the transaction does not harm competition for retail banking services in the Greater Buffalo area. As a result of the acquisition, KeyCorp will become the 13th largest bank in the nation, with about $135 billion in assets, $99.8 billion in deposits and more than 1000 branches across 15 states. Under their agreement with the department, the companies have agreed to divest 13 branches in Erie County and 5 branches in Niagara County, New York. The divested assets will include the commercial loans associated with the divested branches. The companies have also agreed to suspend existing, and not to enter into new, non-compete agreements with their small business and middle market relationship managers and their retail regional and branch managers, in the state of New York, for a period of 180 days following the consummation of their merger. Further, the companies have agreed to sell or lease branches closed within two years of the consummation of the merger in the state of New York to other depository institutions. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 04/28/16 -- Canadian Metals Inc. (The "Corporation") (CSE: CME) is pleased to announce the results of a positive PEA study that was completed by Viridis.iQ GmbH in collaboration with GeoLogic, GeoForbes and Biofilia, respectively responsible for metallurgy and mineral processing, resource estimate and environmental. The PEA study demonstrates that the Project has robust economics and potential to become a profitable producer of silicon metal. Highlights of the PEA are summarized below: Operational Highlights: -- Quarry Life estimated at a minimum of 35 years based on measured resources -- Metallurgical grade silicon metal mgSi production of 50,000 tonnes per year (Phase 1 only) -- Microsilica - high quality production of 24,000 tonnes per year (Phase 1 only) Financial Highlights After-Tax and in US dollar: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preliminary Economic Assessment Highlights Dynamic Best- Dynamic Base- (Phase 1 only) Case Case ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NPV at a 7.3% Discount Rate $543 M $380 M Internal Rate of return (IRR) 23.6% 20.7% Payback Period Following the 36 Months Investment Period 3.75 years 4.2 years -------------------------------- -------------------------------- Average Annual Silicon Metal Production 50,000 tonnes Average Annual Microsilica Production 24,000 tonnes Direct Capex $190.0 M Indirect Capex $49.4 M Other Costs - Subtotal $39.5 M Working Capital Assumption $23.7 M Total CAPEX $302.6 M ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The capital cost per ton installed for the proposed CME smelter is estimated to come in at approximately US$5,050/ton, approximately 7% below the average capital cost per ton installed from a peer-group of recently announced new entrant greenfield silicon smelter projects of US$5,450/ton. MINERAL RESOURCES ESTIMATE - April, 2016 Canadian Metals - Langis Project ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Material Resources Volume Density SiO2 Tons (m3) (t/m3) (%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silica Measured 1,398,000 2.5 98,57 3,495,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silica Indicated 1 600,400 2.5 98,52 1,501,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silica Indicated 2 814,000 2.5 98,92 2,035,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The project economics are robust and I am very pleased with a NPV of US$543 million After-Tax," commented Stephane Leblanc, President and CEO. "Our goal is to continue toward delivering a feasibility study before the end of Q2 2017. Quebec is emerging as a global silicon metal centre driven by the ever increasing demand for solar panels and for the Next Generation of Lithium-Ion batteries and other key industries. "The project capitalizes on the unique benefits of both the Langis Deposit and Canadian Metal's position in the field of newcomers to the metallurgical silicon world," according to Lou Parous, Executive Director of Viridis.iQ GmbH. "This PEA is the result of a rigorous technical and economic assessment of the project fundamentals and reflects the seriousness and diligence of Canadian Metals to its investors and stakeholders. Metallurgical silicon remains a key raw material to sustain the world's increasing renewable energy demands, which will continue to grow as solar energy is globally disseminated and the Canadian Metals project will be instrumental in providing a source of this material to the solar and other key industries." The Technical Report will be posted on Canadian Metals website at www.canadianmetalsinc.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, within 45 days following this news release. Quality Control and Assurance Valdiney Domingos, M.Sc. Eng., MBA, of Viridis.iQ. is the independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, for the purposes of the PEA. Lou Parous, Eng., a Qualified Person for Viridis.iQ has read and approved this press release. Qualified persons for resource estimate Alain Tremblay Geol.Eng. of Consultations GeoLogic, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for the Langis Silica resource estimate and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Viridis.iQ GmbH (http://www.viridis-iq.de/home.html) Viridis.iQ GmbH is an independent German engineering, consulting and technology firm with unique expertise in the silicon and ferroalloy value chain. Viridis.iQ provides process design and optimization as well as operations knowhow transfer and technical project development to international green-field manufacturing projects from metallurgical silicon and ferroalloys production, in the metals field, to polysilicon, solar cell and module production in the photovoltaics sector. With its in-house experts, engineers and specialists on silicon based manufacturing from quartz ores to solar panels, Viridis.iQ provides independent engineering, consulting and operating knowhow to private and corporate project developers, investors and lenders, and industry associations and governmental institutions worldwide. About Canadian Metals Canadian Metals Inc. is focused exclusively on the development of its Langis Project, a high-purity silica deposit located in the province of Quebec. The Company is rapidly positioning itself to eventually become a North American silicon metal producer. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contacts: Stephane Leblanc President and CEO (418) 717-2553 sleblanc@canadianmetalsinc.com www.canadianmetalsinc.com CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen strengthened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday. The yen rose to nearly a 2-week high of 121.89 against the euro, a 1-week high of 156.71 against the pound and nearly a 2-1/2-year high of 111.01 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 122.69, 157.84 and 111.81, respectively. Against the U.S, the Australian, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the yen advanced to a 1-1/2-year high of 107.08, more than a 2-week high of 81.73, nearly a 2-week high of 74.76 and a 10-day high of 85.39 from yesterday's closing quotes of 108.08, 82.38, 75.18 and 86.08, respectively. If the yen extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 120.00 against the euro, 151.00 against the pound, 110.00 against the franc, 106.00 against the greenback, 80.00 against the aussie, 73.00 against the kiwi and 83.00 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. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen continued to be strong against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday amid rising risk aversion, following the sell-off on Wall Street overnight and as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) shocked financial markets by keeping its monetary policy steady despite multiple headwinds plaguing the economy. Crude oil for June delivery are currently down $0.03 to $46.00 a barrel. Oil prices fell, as output in the Middle East may slow rise in April, even though U.S. crude production and U.S. dollar fall are backing support. The Japanese market is closed for Showa day holiday. Thursday, the yen rose 2.79 percent against the euro, 2.58 percent against the pound, 3.00 percent against the yen and 2.56 percent against the franc. In the Asian trading, the yen rose to nearly a 2-week high of 121.89 against the euro, a 1-week high of 156.71 against the pound and nearly a 2-1/2-year high of 111.01 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 122.69, 157.84 and 111.81, respectively. If the yen extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 120.00 against the euro, 151.00 against the pound and 110.00 against the franc. Against the U.S, the Australian, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the yen advanced to a 1-1/2-year high of 107.08, more than a 2-week high of 81.73, nearly a 2-week high of 74.76 and a 10-day high of 85.39 from yesterday's closing quotes of 108.08, 82.38, 75.18 and 86.08, respectively. The yen may test resistance near 106.00 against the greenback, 80.00 against the aussie, 73.00 against the kiwi and 83.00 against the loonie. Looking ahead, German retail sales data for March is due to be released in the pre-European session at 2:00 am ET. Swiss KOF leading indicator for April, BOE U.K. mortgage approvals for March, U.K. M4 money supply data for March, Eurozone core CPI data for April, preliminary eurozone GDP data for the first quarter and eurozone unemployment data for March are slated for release later in the day. In the New York session, Canada GDP data for February, industrial product and raw materials price indexes for March, U.S. personal income and spending data for March, U.S. Chicago PMI for April and the University of Michigan's final U.S. consumer sentiment index for April are set to be published. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Regulatory News: Skanska has signed a contract with Lifeway Christian Resources to manage the construction of its new corporate headquarters in Tennessee, USA. The contract is worth USD 70M, about SEK 590M, which will be included in the order bookings for Skanska USA Building in the second quarter 2016. The project consists of a nine-story, 25,000-square-meter office building and 820-car parking garage. When complete, the Lifeway Christian Resources Headquarters will house 1,100 employees. This project is part of the emerging 32-acre Capitol View campus, a mixed-use urban development in Nashville's central business district. Construction began in April 2016 and is slated for completion in November 2017. Skanska USA is one of the leading development and construction companies in the country, consisting of four business units: Skanska USA Building, which specializes in building construction; Skanska USA Civil, specialized in civil infrastructure; Skanska Infrastructure Development North America, which develops public-private partnerships; and Skanska USA Commercial Development, which develops commercial projects in select U.S. markets. Headquartered in New York, Skanska USA has more than 10,000 employees and its 2015 revenues were SEK 54.5 billion. Skanska AB discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Market Act. Skanska is one of the world's leading project development and construction groups with expertise in construction, development of commercial and residential premises, and public-private partnerships projects. Based on its global green experience, Skanska aims to be the clients' first choice for Green solutions. The Group currently has 43,100 employees in selected home markets in Europe and North America. Skanska's sales in 2015 totaled SEK 155 billion. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160428007156/en/ Contacts: For Skanska: Skanska USA Shelby Adams, 972-281-64 51 Communications or Skanska AB Andreas Joons, +46 (0)10 449 04 94 Press Officer or Direct line for media, +46 (0)10 448 88 99 This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com ROME (dpa-AFX) - Italian oil and gas company Eni SpA (E) reported Friday that its first-quarter net loss was 792 million euros or 0.22 euro per share, compared to last year's profit of 832 million euros o 0.23 euro per share. Loss per American Depository share was $0.48, compared to profit of $0.52 per share last year. Net loss from continuing operations was 803 million euros, compared to profit of 617 million euros a year ago. Adjusted net loss was 479 million euros, compared to prior year's profit of 454 million euros. Hydrocarbons production for the quarter grew 3.4% to 1.75 million boe/d. Net sales from continuing operations declined to 12.36 billion euros from 20 billion euros a year ago. Looking ahead, the company expects fiscal year 2016 production to be largely in line with 2015. The company noted that its financial and operating results allow it to confirm 2016 guidance of a 20% reduction in capex, organically financed at $50/bl, and its targeted leverage. 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) - At 3:00 am ET Friday, the Swiss Economic Institute releases leading indicator for April. The indicator is seen unchanged at 102.5 in April. Ahead of the data, the Swiss franc held steady against its major rivals. As of 2:55 am ET, the Swiss franc was trading at 1.0970 against the euro, 1.4105 against the pound, 0.9637 against the U.S. dollar and 111.36 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. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - The Restaurant Group plc (RTN.L) reported that, for the 17 weeks to 24 April, total sales were up 4.7% and like for like sales were down 2.7%. The Group said, since it updated on current trading with the preliminary results on 9th March, it has seen a further deterioration in trading conditions, with Leisure business, in particular, continuing to be impacted by the structural and business challenges referred to in the March Preliminary results statement. In the short term, the Group does not anticipate any improvement to underlying like for like trends and, on this basis, now expects full year like for like sales to be down between 2.5% and 5.0% which would translate into full year profit before tax in the range of 74 to 80 million pounds. The Restaurant Group said it has been agreed that Stephen Critoph, CFO, will leave the company with immediate effect. The Board has commenced the search for a new CFO. 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. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Kenmare Resources plc (KMR.L) reported that its ore mined in the first-quarter of 2016 increased 120% to 7.06 million tonnes, mainly due to improved power supply quality and consistency in 2016. Heavy Mineral Concentrate production in the latest-quarter increased 90% in to 274,800 tonnes. Ilmenite production increased 39% to 185,000 tonnes. Zircon production increased 12% to 11,600 tonnes. Mining output through 2016 is expected to benefit from a significantly more stable power supply, with Heavy Mineral Concentrate or HMC also benefitting from an increase in grade from the latter part of Q2 2016 onwards. Future plant availability is anticipated to improve as a result of mechanical reliability improvements completed. In addition, further recovery improvement projects are being implemented though 2016 in the non-magnetic section of the plant. 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) - 3i Infrastructure plc (3IN.L) Friday said it has signed an agreement to invest approximately 200 million euros, subject to completion adjustments, in TCR, in a consortium with Deutsche Asset Management. Belgium-based TCR is an asset owner of airport ground support equipment and operates at approximately 100 airports. Completion of the transaction is conditional upon receiving clearance from the European Commission under the EU Merger Regulation which is anticipated by the end of August 2016. 3i Infrastructure and Deutsche AM's infrastructure investment business will each acquire economic interests in TCR of up to 50% with the remaining equity being retained by the existing management team. 3i Infrastructure and Deutsche AM are purchasing their interests from the current owners, Chequers Capital and Florac. Separately, 3i Infrastructure announced that it has committed to invest approximately 5 million euros to acquire a significant majority stake in Coeur du Sud B.V., a Special Purpose Vehicle created for the Hart van Zuid primary Public Private Partnership project in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which has today reached financial close. The other shareholders are entities of the Heijmans and Ballast Nedam groups. 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. Opinion / Columnist There is no one blinder than one who refuses to see!Apologists, bootlickers and sycophants are an obnoxious group of those who not only refuse to see the truth but, worse still, they "see" what is not there and trumpet it as the reality and factual truth. Obi Egbuna Jr. Simunye is one these blind bootlickers given to praising Robert Mugabe to the high heavens ignoring the reality that he is a corrupt, vote rigging and murderous tyrant who has made the lives of millions of Zimbabweans a living hell-on-earth."For many Africans at home and abroad, when President Mugabe presented not only Zimbabwe, but all of Mother Africa's case before the United Nations last Thursday concerning Sustainable Development Goals, he without question invoked the memory of three fallen yet eternally beloved warriors the Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, W.E.B DuBois and Malcolm X," wrote Obi in his latest article entitled "President embodies African fighting spirit".Why is it that nincompoops like Obi can see Mugabe's "fighting spirit" against the West but refuse to see how Mugabe has applied the same "fighting spirit" to deny the people of Zimbabwe their freedoms and basic human rights including the right to free and fair elections and even the right to life itself!Mugabe went all the way to New York to accuse; the accusation was delivered with the usual the vitriolic gusto to impress the impressionable simpletons; the West for Africa in general but Zimbabwe in particular's failure to achieve any meaningful development. The tyrant had already conveniently forgotten he had just admitted a few weeks before that Zimbabwe had lost a staggering $15 billion of Marange diamond revenue for looting.Many people have blamed mismanagement and corruption for Zimbabwe's economic collapse. All these years Mugabe has vehemently denied that there was corruption and blamed the country's economic woes on drought and other causes but especially sanction. Even a simpleton like Obi has to admit that there was no way the Zimbabwe economy could hope to thrive given the seriousness of the corruption Mugabe himself had just acknowledged is happening in Zimbabwe. $15 billion constitute Zimbabwe's current GDP; how can any nation sustain such wholesale economic wealth haemorrhage!Of course Obi can see that corruption and not sanctions are the root cause of Zimbabwe's economic woes, he is only pretending that the sanctions are the cause because he is paid and paid well to do pretend.Mugabe does not represent Zimbabwe or Africa; he stopped doing that a long, long time ago! The people of Zimbabwe lost confidence in him a long time ago but have failed to remove him from office because he rigs elections. He has murdered over 30 000 innocent Zimbabweans to establish and retain his de facto one-party dictatorship. This is Mugabe's sadistic "fighting African spirit" people like Obi Ogbuna Jr. refuse to see and insult the millions of Zimbabweans who are the victim of this tyrannical rule with these denial of reality.The Herald has Obi Egbuna Jr. Simunye as "a US Correspondent to The Herald and the External Relations Officer to ZICUFA(Zimbabwe-Cuba Friendship Association)". In other words Obi is probably one of those foreign nationals who are abusing Zimbabwe's hospitality by joining the brigade of Zimbabwean born Mugabe apologists and bootlickers in praising Mugabe and insulting the suffering masses. God knows, Zimbabwe has more than its fair share of home-grown Mugabe apologists and boot-lickers without having to import other nations' rejects, sell-outs and morons.The day Mugabe's tyrannical dictatorship collapses, Obi Egbuna Jr and his ilk must leave Zimbabwe with nothing other than the cloths they are wearing. They have done so much to defend the totalitarian Zimbabwe; they will not be welcome in a democratic and free Zimbabwe; persona non grata. BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Hungary's producer prices decreased at a stable rate in March, figures from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office showed Friday. The producer price index fell 1.6 percent year-over-year in March, the same rate of decline as in the previous month. The measure has been falling since August 2015. Domestic market producer prices dropped 5.1 percent annually in March, while foreign market prices edged up by 0.1 percent. During the first quarter of this year, total producer prices slid 1.7 percent as compared to the corresponding period last year. 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. VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - Austria's producer prices continued to decline in March, preliminary figures from Statistics Austria showed Friday. The producer price index dropped at a stable pace of 3.1 percent year-over-year in March. The measure has been falling since February 2013. The annual decline in March was primarily due to the falling prices in the field of energy and intermediate goods. At the same time, the price index for capital goods sector was more expensive than a year earlier. On a monthly basis, producer prices edged up 0.1 percent in March, in contrast to a 0.7 percent drop in the prior month. 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) - At 4:30 am ET Friday, the Bank of England is scheduled to release U.K. mortgage approvals data for March. The number of mortgage approvals is seen at 74,200 in March versus 73,900 in February. Ahead of the data, the pound fell against its major rivals. As of 4:25 am ET, the pound was trading at 0.7789 against the euro, 1.4069 against the Swiss franc, 1.4606 against the U.S. dollar and 156.36 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. For immediate release 29 April 2016 KELLER GROUP PLC BOARD APPOINTMENT Keller Group plc ("Keller"), the international ground engineering specialist, today announces the appointment of Peter Hill CBE as Non-executive Chairman to succeed Roy Franklin who retires from the Board on 26 July 2016. This follows a thorough search process undertaken by the Nominations Committee of the Board, led by Paul Withers, Keller's Senior Independent Director. Peter will join the Board as a Non-executive Director and Chairman Designate with effect from the close of the Company's Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2016. Roy will retire as Chairman and from the Board after its meeting on 26 July 2016, when Peter will become Chairman of the Board. Peter will also replace Roy as Chairman of the Nominations Committee at that date. Ahead of his retirement and as part of an orderly leadership transition, Roy will work closely with Peter. Peter is currently Chairman of Volution Group plc, a Non-executive Director of Essentra plc and a Non-executive Director of the Royal Air Force. He was previously Chairman of Alent plc from 2012 to the end of 2015; Chief Executive of the electronics and technology group Laird PLC from 2002 to late 2011; a Non-executive Director on the Boards of Cookson Group plc, Meggitt plc and Oxford Instruments plc, and was a Non-executive Board Member of UK Trade and Investment. His early career was spent with natural resources companies Anglo American, Rio Tinto and BP; he was an Executive Director on the Board of Costain Group plc, and he has also held management positions with BTR plc and Invensys plc. Peter holds a degree in Mining Engineering and an MBA from the London Business School, and is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Minerals, Materials and Mining. He was born and brought up in the Middle East, has lived and worked in the USA and Southern Africa, and has longstanding business connections with Continental Europe and Australasia. Commenting on today's announcement Paul Withers, Keller's Senior Independent Director, said on behalf of the Board: "Roy has been an excellent Chairman. Keller has come a long way in the past seven years and Roy has done a great job of helping to build the Company and of chairing the Board. We wish him all the very best in the future. "We believe Peter brings significant leadership credentials, experience and knowledge to the Board at an exciting time in the Company's development. We look forward to working with Peter and warmly welcome him to Keller." Roy Franklin, Chairman, commented: "Peter's considerable international experience is a great asset. His appointment has my full support as well as that of the Board and the senior executive team, and I wish him and Keller well for continued success in the future." Peter Hill added: "I am delighted to be joining Keller, and look forward greatly to working with my fellow Board members to contribute to Keller's continued successful development." In accordance with paragraph LR 9.6.13R of the Listing Rules, Keller confirms there is no information to be disclosed in terms of LR 9.6.13R (2) to LR 9.6.13R (6) inclusive in respect of Peter Hill's appointment. Details of his current and previous appointments to publicly quoted companies are included in the main announcement. For further information, please contact: Keller Group plc Paul Withers, Senior Independent Director Kerry Porritt, Company Secretary 020 7616 7575 Finsbury Gordon Simpson/Rowley Hudson 020 7251 3801 Notes to Editors : Keller is the world's largest independent ground engineering specialist, providing technically advanced and cost-effective foundation solutions to the construction industry. With annual revenue of around 1.6bn, Keller has approximately 10,000 staff world-wide. Keller is the clear market leader in North America and Australia; it has prime positions in most established European markets; and a strong profile in many developing markets. The following statement is made pursuant to section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006:- Roy Franklin will continue to receive fees for his services whilst a director but will not receive any payment in lieu of notice or for loss of office. As Non-executive Chairman, Roy was not entitled to participate in the Company's bonus, employee share plans or pension arrangements. 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. Panevezys, Lithuania, 2016-04-29 11:50 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AB "Linas" General Meeting of Shareholders didn't take place on April 29, 2016 because there was no quorum.Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders of AB "Linas" (company code 147689083, address S. Kerbedzio str. 23, Panevezys) will be held on May 16, 2016 acc.to the decision and initiative of the Board.Date of the meeting - May 16, 2016, Monday.Time of the meeting - 12:00 a.m. Registration of participants from 11:00 a.m. till 11:45 a.m.Place of the meeting - AB "Linas" premises, S. Kerbedzio str. 23, Panevezys.Agenda of the meeting:1. The conclusion of the auditor about consolidated and Company's annual financial reports set of year 2015 and annual report.2. Confirmation of consolidated and Company's annual financial reports set of year 2015 and presentation of consolidated annual report.3. Company's allotment of profit (loss).The accounting date of Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders is May 09, 2016. In the Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders have the right to participate and vote persons who were company's shareholders at the end of accounting date (May 09, 2016), personally or their authorized persons, or persons with whom voting right transferring contract is signed.The Company doesn't form the right to participate and to vote in the meeting with the help of electronic communication equipment.Decision projects on the agenda, documents which will be presented for General meeting of Shareholders will be announced in company's web page http://www.linas.lt . Company's shareholders have the right to acquaint with this information on working days from 9:00 a.m till 16:00 a.m. at company's premises S. Kerbedzio str.23, Panevezys.Shareholders the shares of whom provide not less than 1/20 of all votes, can offer new decision projects for the questions which are included or will be included into the agenda of the meeting. Offers can be presented in written form or by e-mail. The offers in written form can be taken till May 16, 2016, 10:00 a.m. (on working days) to the company's premises or sent by registered letter to address S. Kerbedzio str.23, LT-35114, Panevezys. Offers by e-mail are sent to address office@linas.lt . During the meeting there will be discussed only offers received in the company till May 16, 2016, 10:00 a.m.Shareholders have the right to provide questions in relation with agenda of the meeting in advance. Shareholders can provide questions by e-mail office@linas.lt not later than 3 working days till the meeting. The company will present answers by e-mail till the meeting. The company has the right not to give answers to shareholder's questions if they are in relation with company's commercial (production) or confidential information.All the persons who are participating in General Meeting of Shareholders and have the right o vote have to present the document certifying person identification. Representative of the shareholder for the meeting has to present the original of authorization acc.to law indicated form and content. The company doesn't indicate special form of authorization. The shareholder has the right with the help of electronic communication equipment to authorize other natural or legal person to participate and to vote in the meeting in the name of shareholder. The shareholder has to inform the company about the issued authorization by e-mail office@linas.lt not later than till the last working day 16:00 p.m. to the meeting. In the report the shareholder has to indicate web page from which the shareholder's electronic signature checking program could be sent for free.It would be able to vote on the Repeated General Meeting of Shareholders questions completing the general voting bulletin in written in advance. Printed general voting bulletin is available at company's premises, address S. Kerbedzio str.23, Panevezys. If the shareholder requires, then the company is sending general voting bulletin by registered letter or handle with written confirmation not later than 10 days till the meeting. Shareholder or his authorized person has to sign general voting bulletin. If the general voting bulletin is signed by the representative, then the document confirming his right for voting has to be added to the bulletin. Properly completed voting bulletins with the attached documents should be presented to the company personally, through authorized person or by registered letter to the address S. Kerbedzio str.23, LT-35114, Panevezys, not later than the last working day to up to the meeting.AB "Linas" chief of finance department Daiva Minkeviciene +370 45 506141 Ameresco UK has identified substantial savings through ESOS audits Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC) a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company stated today that some UK businesses are sitting on millions of pounds worth of energy cost savings that are waiting to be implemented. According to energy efficiency and sustainability specialist Ameresco UK, significant potential annual savings have been identified for its clients through ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme) audits. ESOS was launched by the Government in 2014 to assess the energy used through buildings, industrial processes and transport and identify cost-effective energy saving and carbon reduction measures. Businesses and not-for-profits with more than 250 staff or turnover in excess of 50m had to comply with the scheme. Ameresco UK conducted audits on behalf of a variety of private sector businesses nationwide, including high street retailers, pharmaceutical, commercial, industrial, and utility companies. The measures identified are expected to reduce electricity and gas consumption by up to 35% with very attractive project economics. Britta MacIntosh, Vice President, Ameresco UK Operations, said: "Businesses should seriously consider following through on the recommendations made by the energy experts. Many of the recommendations provide great opportunities for businesses to save both energy and money, often without a substantial time or cost commitment. This is a chance for organisations to drive grassroots change that can have strong long-term corporate and community benefits." "Ameresco UK's ESOS audits have pinpointed various solutions that could unlock huge savings for clients running into the hundreds of thousands, from implementing LED lighting, HVAC, controls, CHP and heat recovery to consolidating utility bills." Britta MacIntosh continued: "We believe that the Department of Energy Climate Change (DECC) and the Environment Agency have outlined a compelling business case for ESOS. They've calculated that if businesses covered by ESOS achieved just 5% of the cost-effective energy efficiency potential identified for buildings and industrial processes then collectively they could save more than 250m. However, we believe the savings could be even greater for certain businesses." "We appreciate that companies have no obligation to act on the ESOS recommendations, but it is simply good practice to heed advice and take action the business case is clearly set out in the significant cost savings available. A commitment to sustainability supports business and brand development as well as creating marketing opportunities around corporate social responsibility." With the ESOS audit phase now complete, the real benefits are just beginning to materialize as businesses start to implement energy savings programs based on their identified energy efficiency recommendations. Ameresco is currently assisting many of their clients to implement their ESOS recommendations. About Ameresco Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe. Ameresco's sustainability services include upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005106/en/ Contacts: Ameresco, Inc. CarolAnn Hibbard, 508.661.2264 news@ameresco.com Panevezys, Lithuania, 2016-04-29 11:57 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draft Resolutions suggested by the Board of AB "Linas" for the Repeated Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 16 May 2016:1. Audit conclusion regarding the consolidated and Company's Annual Financial Accountability and Annual Report of year 2015.Project of resolution: to pay attention to the auditor's conclusions confirming AB "Linas" consolidated and Company's financial accountability of year 2014 and to agree to the consolidated annual report of the company of year 2015.2. Confirmation of consolidated and company's annual financial accountability of year 2015 and presentation of consolidated annual report.Project of resolution: to confirm AB "Linas" consolidated and company's annual financial accountability and to agree to consolidated annual report of year 2015.3. Company's profit (loss) allocation of year 2015.Project of resolution: to confirm AB "Linas" profit (loss) allocation:1) retained loss of the previous financial year at the end of the accounting year - 1.123.863 EUR;2) net profit of the accounting year 501.625 EUR;3) profit (loss) of the accounting financial year unrecognized in the statement of comprehensive income - 0 EUR;4) transfers from mandatory reserve 0 EUR;5) transfers from reserve for business projects 0 EUR;6) transfers from reserve for the support 0 EUR;7) transfers from profit for dividend paying 0 EUR;8) shareholders contributions to cover company's looses 0 EUR;9) allocated loss totally 622.238 EUR;10) share of profit set for the mandatory reserve 0 EUR;11) share of profit set for the reserve for purchase of own shares 0 EUR;12) share of profit set to other reserves 0 EUR;13) share of profit set for dividend paying 0 EUR;14) share of profit set for annual allowances (bonuses) for the members of the board, for the employees premiums and other purposes 0 EUR;15) retained loss at the end of the financial year transferred to the next financial year 622.238 EUR.AB "Linas" director Ramunas Lenciauskas Tel.: +370 45 506100Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=559447 The Company's announcement released at 7am today appears badly formatted, with the financial information mainly illegible. The content has therefore been re-released below VALIANT INVESTMENTS PLC ("Valiant" or the "Company") UNAUDITED FINAL RESULTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2015 Valiant Investments plc, the ISDX Growth Market traded investment company, announces its final results for the 12 months to 30 November 2015. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S STATEMENT Since my last report to shareholders I am pleased to confirm that there has been positive developments with the Company's investment portfolio as outlined herewith. GROAFRICA LIMITED GroAfrica Limited ("GroAfrica") is focused on developing alternative green energy and on the production of food stocks in various countries of Africa, which can be profitable to both its host country and its rural populations. The primary objective for GroAfrica is to develop the first bioethanol refinery in Zambia and for the production of bioethanol from Zambian Cassava. The tender process initiated by the Government of Zambia in late 2014 to procure the indigenisation of ethanol was not concluded. Nonetheless, GroAfrica has been advised that enterprises are able to progress their plans for the generation of ethanol in Zambia, and is currently in discussions with the Government of Zambia to negotiate the terms of an offtake agreement. GroAfrica maintains its 250 hectares of land in Luapula Province for the intended Ethanol Refinery, and has 45 farm co-operative agreements for the supply of cassava feedstock. Valiant continues to hold 2.5% of GroAfrica, and further information on this investee company is available on its website www.groafrica.com. AGRI GREEN ENERGY LIMITED Agri Green Energy Limited ("Agri Green") has developed a similar ethanol from the cassava plant for Liberia, whose Government has been very receptive. It has proposed to build a cassava mill for fine flour for the country, a product that is currently all imported. Agri Green is in advanced planning stages and seeking Government approval to proceed. Valiant continues to hold 1.7% of the equity in Agri Green. ALL STAR MINERALS PLC The unsecured convertible loan note of 20,000 provided to ISDX Growth Market Company, All Star Minerals plc ("All Star"), continues to be outstanding and earn interest that is paid in the form of ordinary shares of All Star. To date, Valiant has been issued with 5,974,999 shares, equivalent to 0.74% of the issued share capital of All Star. The principal asset of All Star is its investment in ISDX Growth Market Company, NQ Minerals plc ("NQ"), in which it holds 5,519,545 ordinary shares, representing 3.9% of NQ's issued share capital. At the time of writing, with a mid-price of 7.5p, All Star's holding in NQ is valued at 413,965. NQ MINERALS PLC Valiant has been issued with 29,242 shares in ISDX Growth Market company, NQ Minerals plc. The shares were issued as part of the Members Voluntary Liquidation of Blue Doe Gold plc, in which Valiant is a shareholder. FLAMETHROWER PLC In line with its strategy, Valiant has formed a new subsidiary, Flamethrower plc, which is focussed on building a portfolio of mobile apps for use on smartphones and tablets. The Company looks forward to keeping shareholders updated on the progress made by Flamethrower as it develops. Valiant currently holds 83.33% of the issued share capital of Flamethrower. FINANCIALS The financial results for the 12-month period to 30 November 2015 show a loss after taxation of 70,041 (2014: 68,518). The basic loss per share was 0.01p (2014: 0.02p). The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend for the year ended 30 November 2015. If it becomes known to the Directors of the Company that the audit report is to be qualified or modified in relation to going concern or otherwise, the terms of such qualification or modification will be announced immediately. OUTLOOK The near-term focus of the Company is on developing Flamethrower plc, which we believe, in time, has the potential to deliver significant value for shareholders. The Company looks forward to updating shareholders on developments with Flamethrower in the coming weeks. Conrad Windham CEO, Valiant Investments plc 29 April 2016 The Directors of Valiant Investments accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. ENQUIRIES: Company Valiant Investments plc Conrad Windham Telephone: 01366 500722 Corporate Adviser Peterhouse Corporate Finance Limited Guy Miller or Mark Anwyl Telephone: 020 7220 9796 VALIANT INVESTMENTS PLC PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2015 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Year ended 6 month period Year ended 30 Nov 2015 ended 31 May 2015 30 Nov 2014 GBP GBP GBP Administrative expenses (74,416) (30,439) (66,806) ________ ________ ________ OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT (74,416) (30,439) (66,806) ________ ________ ________ Gain on disposal of investments - - 7,560 Amounts written off Investments - - (15,582) ________ ________ ________ LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE INTEREST AND TAX (74,416) (30,439) (74,828) Interest receivable 4,375 - 6,310 Tax - - ________ ________ ________ LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER INTEREST AND TAX (70,041) (30,439) (68,518) LOSS PER SHARE: Basic & Diluted (Pence per share) (0.01) (0.01) (0.02) VALIANT INVESTMENTS PLC STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2015 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Year ended 6 month period Year ended 30 Nov 2015 ended 31 May 2015 30 Nov 2014 GBP GBP GBP LOSS FOR THE YEAR/PERIOD (70,041) (30,439) (68,518) Movement in fair value of available for sale investments 4,538 - (1,386) _______ _______ _______ TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS & LOSSES (65,503) (30,439) (69,904) VALIANT INVESTENTS PLC BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2015 Unaudited Unaudited Audited At 30 Nov 2015 At 31 May 2015 At 30 Nov 2014 GBP GBP GBP Tangible fixed assets - 50 100 Investments 33,288 20,000 20,000 33,288 20,050 20,100 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 2,872 1,565 1,873 Cash at bank and in hand 61 3,789 5,055 ______ ______ ______ 2,933 5,354 6,928 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (38,068) (27,157) (63,372) NET CURRENTLIABILITIES (35,135) (21,803) (56,444) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILIES (1,847) (1,753) (36,344) CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up equity share capital 546,977 511,977 446,977 Share premium account 1,042,510 1,042,510 1,042,510 Investment revaluation reserve 4,538 - - Share option reserve - - - Profit and loss account (1,595,872) (1,556,240) (1,525,831) DEFICIT (1,847) (1,753) (36,344) Notes: 1. The financial information for the year ended 30 November 2015 and the six months ended 31 May 2015 has not been audited and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. 2. Basic loss per share has been calculated using the weighted average number of shares of 578,476,666 (31.5.14: 475,313,762; 30.11.14: 409,173,926. Given the loss per share, there are no dilutive instruments in issue. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (ICAGY.PK, IAG.L) Friday reported profit for the first quarter, compared to loss in the prior year, mainly reflecting higher passenger revenues and increased capacity. For fiscal 2016, IAG still expects to generate an absolute operating profit increase similar to 2015 as it expects to reduce underlying ex-fuel unit costs by around one percent. IAG shares were losing around 5 percent in the morning trading in London. The company also said its revenue trends in the second quarter have been affected by the aftermath of the Brussels terrorist attacks, as well as some softness in underlying premium demand. As a result, IAG has moderated its short term capacity growth plans. The company's first quarter profit before tax was 124 million euros, compared to loss of 37 million euros last year. Basic earnings per share were 4.9 euro cents, compared to loss of 1.5 euro cents a year ago. Profit before tax, before exceptional items, was 111 million euros in the latest quarter. Operating profit surged to 155 million euros from 25 million euros last year. Total revenue increased 7.9 percent to 5.078 billion euros from 4.707 billion euros a year ago. Passenger revenue increased 8 percent from last year to 4.47 billion euros and 0.7 percent excluding Aer Lingus. Cargo revenue decreased 1.5 percent, or 5.9 percent excluding Aer Lingus. Passenger unit revenue for the quarter was down 3.5 percent to 6.75 euro cents per ASK from lower yields partially offset by higher volumes. IAG increased capacity by 11.9 percent to 66.15 billion Available seat kilometres or ASKs. Traffic volumes rose higher and seat factor improved 1.2 points to 78.9 percent. Excluding Aer Lingus, capacity increased 4.8 percent partially due to the extra day in February. Fuel costs decreased 14.3 percent, with fuel unit costs down 23.4 percent from lower average fuel prices net of hedging. IAG Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh said, 'This is a good performance with a strong increase in what is traditionally the weakest quarter. January and February's revenue was in line with Q4 2015 trends. March revenue was affected by the timing of Easter and the Brussels terrorist attacks with the latter continuing into quarter two.' In London, IAG shares were trading at 524.50 pence, down 4.81 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Newmarket Gold Inc. ("Newmarket" or the "Company") (TSX: NMI)(OTCQX: NMKTF) is pleased to announce financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2016. All figures are in United States ("U.S.") dollars, unless otherwise stated. Full Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis documents can be found at www.sedar.com and the Company's website, www.newmarketgoldinc.com. First Quarter 2016 Highlights -- Strong Financial Position: Cash position to $52.1 million as at the end of Q1, 2016, a $15.6 million increase from year-end. Working capital of $38.6 million at quarter-end and only $1.6 million in long-term debt following full conversion and redemption of convertible debentures. -- Solid First Quarter Gold Production: Consolidated gold production of 58,057 ounces increased 9.2% over Q4, 2015 and a decline of 2.7% over Q1, 2015. -- Record Quarterly Performance at flagship Fosterville Mine: Fosterville achieved record quarterly production of 33,138 ounces with record average grade of 7.34 g/t, up 28% year-over-year, and recovery of 86.8% -- Record Low All-In-Sustaining Costs ("AISC"): Record low consolidated AISC per ounce sold of $908 (2016 guidance of $950 to $1,025). -- Operating Cash Costs In-Line: Consolidated operating cash costs per ounce sold of $701 (2016 guidance of $650 to $725). -- Fosterville Achieves Low Operating Cash Costs and AISC: Fosterville operating cash costs and AISC per ounce sold of $473 and $723 respectively. -- Generating Free Cash Flow: Operating cash flow of $18.3 million or $0.13 per share based on basic weighted average number of shares outstanding, based on revenue of $66.1 million from 57,796 ounces sold. Free cash flow of $8.9 million based on operating cash flow less capital expenditures of $9.4 million, and after investing $3.8 million into growth programs. -- Net Income: Net income of $6.5 million or $0.04 EPS, compared to net income of $15.7 million in Q1, 2015 or $0.13 EPS. Q1 2016 EPS reflects an increased weighted average number of shares outstanding as a result of the conversion and redemption of Debentures and the exercise of warrants during the quarter. Douglas Forster, President & CEO, Newmarket Gold commented: "Our strong first quarter performance reflects solid consolidated gold production of 58,057 ounces, operating cash costs of $701 and record low AISC of $908 per ounce sold. Costs continue to reflect our improving consolidated grade and recovery profile, largely driven by record grade at our flagship Fosterville mine, and cost containment initiatives. With our strong first quarter performance we generated $8.9 million in free cash flow, after investing $3.8 million in growth exploration, and we increased our cash position 43% to $52.1 million further strengthening our balance sheet. With the full conversion and redemption of our convertible debentures, which eliminates interest payments of C$2.8 million per year, we ended the quarter essentially debt-free with only $1.6 million in long-term debt on the balance sheet." "Looking ahead, Newmarket is well positioned to achieve 2016 production and cost guidance. With a significantly higher grade profile and the commissioning of the gravity circuit at Fosterville, and improved grades and recoveries at Cosmo, we will continue to deliver positive operating results and generate significant cash flows this year. Additionally, we will continue to invest in near term exploration programs that support organic growth initiatives with the aim of adding quality ounces to support a multi-year goal of extending mine life across our operations." First Quarter 2016 Financial Results Financial Results (in thousands, except per share and per ounce amounts) Q1 2016 Q1 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenue ($) 66,055 72,897 Cost of operations, including depletion and depreciation ($) (48,502) (53,135) Mine operating income ($) 17,553 19,762 Net (loss) income ($) 6,463 15,703 Net (loss) income per share ($/share) - basic and diluted (i) 0.04 0.13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash generated from operating activities ($) 18,299 27,486 Capital investment in mine development, property, plant and equipment ($) 9,434 13,460 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average realized gold price per ounce ($) 1,139 1,185 Average quoted gold price per ounce ($) 1,183 1,218 Operating cash costs per ounce sold ($)(ii) 701 683 All-in sustaining cash costs per ounce sold ($)(ii) 908 938 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)Pre-Transaction net (loss) income per share is presented after giving effect to the Arrangement share exchange ratio of 0.2456. (ii) Refer to non-IFRS measure disclosures below. Operational Results Q1 2016 Q1 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ore Milled (t) 572,451 585,720 Grade (g/t Au) 3.63 3.58 Recovery (%) 86.8 86.4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Oz Produced 58,057 59,676 Gold Oz Sold 57,796 61,294 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Quarter 2016 Review Newmarket Gold achieved consolidated production of 58,057 ounces in Q1 2016, which included record quarterly production from the Fosterville Gold Mine of 33,138 ounces. Fosterville's performance represented a 14% increase over Q1 2015, driven by a record mill grade of 7.34 g/t, reflecting higher grade development and stope production in the Lower Phoenix where both west and east dipping lenses are being extracted. Cosmo produced 16,340 ounces in Q1 2016, a 27% increase over Q4 2015 as a result of higher grades, reflecting a combination of mine sequencing and improved grade control, and improved mill recoveries. Production at Cosmo decreased 21% compared to the corresponding period of 2015, predominantly due to lower grades. Production at Stawell in Q1 2016 was 8,579 ounces, down 13.6% compared to the prior year, with underground ore deferred due to delays in ground support activities being replaced in the mill with lower grade oxide stockpile, resulting in a 18.3% decrease in mill grade. Consolidated gold production decreased slightly from Q1 2015, as the record production from Fosterville was offset by lower comparative production from Cosmo and Stawell. Revenue for Q1 2016 was $66.1 million based on 57,796 gold ounces sold at an average realized gold price of $1,139 per ounce. Revenues decreased 9.4% compared to the corresponding quarter of 2015 as a result of a 3.9% lower average realized gold price, and the sale of 2,750 ounces of gold bullion in Q1 2015 which were held on the balance sheet at December 31, 2014. The lower average realized price compared to the average market price in Q1 2016 was the result of pricing of a large portion of production in the earlier part of the quarter. Mine operating income in Q1 2016 was $17.6 million compared to $19.8 million in Q1 2015, noting that the prior period included approximately $1.0 million of operating income relating to the sale of gold bullion. Total operating expenses of $39.7 million for Q1 2016 decreased 3.9% compared to the prior year, largely reflecting the impact of a lower Australian dollar relative to the US dollar. Operating costs in Q1 2015 also reflect the carrying costs of the bullion sold in that period. Royalty expense of $0.8 million for the first quarter of 2016 increased compared to Q1 2015 due the commencement of the Stawell 1% NSR royalty as of January 1, 2016, which is held by AuRico Metals. Operating cash costs per ounce in Q1 2016 were $701 per ounce, in line with operating cash cost guidance for 2016. The increase from Q1 2015 operating cash costs of $683 reflects the impact of lower comparative grades for Cosmo and Stawell, resulting in lower production at a similar operating cost profile. Operating cash costs per ounce for Fosterville in Q1 2016 of $473 per ounce were down 12.7% compared to Q1 2015, reflecting strong grade performance. Depletion and depreciation is down 28.7% to $7.95 million for Q1 2016, impacted by the lower Australian dollar but mainly the result of lower book values at Cosmo and a larger resource denominator for Fosterville. Net income for the first quarter of 2016 was $6.5 million or $0.04 per share, compared to net income of $15.7 million in Q1 2015, or $0.13 per share. Per share information in the most recent quarter is reflective of the increased weighted average number of shares outstanding as a result of the conversion and redemption of Debentures and the exercise of warrants during the quarter. Net income in Q1 2015 benefited from the sale of 2,750 ounces of gold bullion, generating mine operating income of $1.0 million. Net income for the most recent quarter includes the impact of $3.8 million of exploration and evaluation spending on growth programs, an increase of over $3 million compared to the prior year. Net income was also impacted by a $1.0 million increase in share based compensation due to the vesting of a tranche of the Company's performance share units, as a result of the strong performance of the Company's share price during the period. General and administrative expenses have also increased compared to Q1 2015, reflecting the increased corporate capacity as a result of Newmarket's amalgamation with Crocodile Gold, and increased capital markets activity. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company also recognized a deferred tax expense of $2.4 million, compared to $0.6 million in the corresponding quarter of 2015. The expense relates mainly to estimated use of non-capital losses relating to Fosterville and Stawell, as Fosterville continues to achieve record production and low cash cost results, and the Australian dollar gold price continues to remain strong. Cash Flow Operating cash flow in Q1 2016 was $18.3 million compared to $27.5 million in the corresponding period of 2015. Revenue in Q1 2016 was down $6.8 million from Q1 2015, which benefited from the sale of 2,750 ounces of bullion for revenue of approximately $3.3 million, and a 3.8% higher average realized gold price. Lower revenues were partially offset by a 3.9% reduction in total operating expenses. Operating cash flow in Q1 2016 also reflects exploration and growth spending of $3.8 million, an increase of over $3 million compared to Q1 2015 as the Company continues to invest in growth programs to drive near-term resource growth. Newmarket invested $7.5 million in mine development in Q1 2016, which includes underground development and resource definition. Development was focused at Fosterville, which accounted for $6.6 million of the total expenditure. Mine development at Cosmo was comparatively low at $0.5M, with a focus on operating development in the now-accessed Mining Block 8, and also on the 640 drill drive growth development which provides a drill platform for the Sliver lode and the Eastern Lode footwall targets, in addition to grade control drilling. Total mine development was down from $11.1 million in Q1 2015, mainly due to decreased underground development at Cosmo. Property, plant and equipment expenditure in the quarter was $1.9 million, down slightly from the prior year and mainly relating to Fosterville, including approximately $0.3 million for the installation and commissioning of the gravity gold circuit to enable the optimal recovery of coarse gold. All-in sustaining cash costs for the first quarter of 2016 were $908 per ounce, down 3.2% from $938 in Q1 2015. The higher operating cash costs per ounce due to the lower relative grade profiles at Cosmo and Stawell were offset by the lower capital expenditures and the lower average Australian dollar exchange rate. Notably the all-in sustaining cash costs per ounce for Fosterville decreased 15.8% to $723 per ounce in Q1 2016, from $859 in the corresponding period in 2015. Net cash provided from financing activities in first quarter of 2016 of $4.3 million reflects the proceeds of $5.1 million on the exercise of 4,250,769 share purchase warrants, which had an exercise price of C$1.63 per share. Financing activity cash flow also reflected the final payment of $0.7 million in interest on the conversion and redemption of the convertible debentures. Foreign Exchange Newmarket Gold has generally benefited from the decrease drop in the Australian dollar exchange rate relative to the US dollar, which has markedly increased the gold price in Australian dollar terms (the functional currency of its operations) while having the effect of lowering cash costs in US dollar terms. Since January 1, 2016 to the date of this MD&A, the Australian denominated gold price, which opened the year at A$1,450, has traded at an average of approximately A$1,630 and has exceeded A$1,700 on many occasions. The Australian dollar closed at $0.7667 on March 31, 2016, an increase of 5.2% compared to Q1 2015. The average Australian dollar exchange rate for the first quarter was $0.7211, down 8.3% compared to the same period in 2015. Cash Position and Working Capital At March 31, 2016, the Company had a cash balance of $52.1 million, a $15.6 million increase from the December 31, 2015 cash balance of $36.5 million. Newmarket Gold's working capital position at the end of Q1 2016 was $38.6 million, a significant increase from $22.3 million at December 31, 2015, reflecting net free cash flow from mine operations, the receipt of proceeds on the exercise of share purchase warrants, and the reduction of current debt relating to the Debentures. With the full conversion and redemption of the convertible debentures, the Company is essentially debt-free with only $1.6 million in capital lease obligations. Outlook 2016 In 2016, Newmarket remains an established plus 200,000 ounce gold producer well positioned to execute a strategy of both organic growth as well as growth through the consolidation of high quality gold assets in the world's most desirable mining jurisdictions. Newmarket's strong senior management team, proven operating team, and board of directors with tremendous industry experience, are all focused on creating substantial shareholder value through continued safe and sustainable operating performance from its three existing operations and through a disciplined approach to growth. Production and Cash Cost Guidance for Fiscal 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fosterville Cosmo Stawell Consolidated ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold Production (ounces) 110,000 - 60,000 - approx. 205,000 - 120,000 65,000 35,000 220,000 Operating Cash Costs per Ounce(1) $500 - $575 $720 - $795 $900 - $975 $650 - $725 AISC per Ounce(1) $950 - $1,025 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sustaining Capital Expenditures ($ $37.5 - $10.0 - $50.0 - million) $42.5 $12.0 $2.5 - $3.0 $57.5 Growth Expenditures ($ million) $5.0 - $10.0 Corporate General and Administrative Expenses ($ million) $5.0 - $6.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Operating Cash Costs per ounce and AISC per ounce reflect an average Australian dollar to US dollar exchange of $0.75. First Quarter 2016 Earnings Conference Call Details In connection with our first quarter 2016 financial results, Douglas Forster, President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Dufour, Chief Financial Officer, and Darren Hall, Chief Operating Officer will also host a conference call to discuss the results on Friday, April 29, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). Participants may listen to the call by dialing toll free 1-800-319-4610 or 1-416-915-3239 at approximately 10:50 a.m. (EDT) and ask to join the Newmarket Gold conference call. International or local callers should dial 1-416-915-3239 at approximately 10:50 a.m. (EDT) and ask to join the Newmarket Gold conference call. The call will also be webcast live at http://services.choruscall.ca/links/newmarketgold20160429.html and at www.newmarketgoldinc.com in the Events and Webcast section under the Investor Relations tab. The live audio webcast will be archived and made available for replay at www.newmarketgoldinc.com. Presentation slides which accompany the conference call will be made available in the Investors section of the Newmarket Gold website, under Presentations, prior to the conference call. Upcoming Events -- May 25, 2016, Annual General Meeting, Toronto, Ontario - 4:00 p.m. EST Qualified Person Mark Edwards, MAusIMM (CP), MAIG, General Manager, Exploration, Newmarket Gold, is a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information and data included in this press release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Douglas Forster, M.Sc., P.Geo., President & Chief Executive Officer About Newmarket Gold Inc. Newmarket Gold is a Canadian-listed gold mining and exploration company with three 100% owned operating mines across Australia. The Company is focused on creating substantial shareholder value by maintaining a strong foundation of quality gold production, over 200,000 ounces annually, generating operating cash flow and maintaining a large resource base as it executes a clearly defined gold asset consolidation strategy. The Company is focused on sustainable operating performance, a disciplined approach to growth, and building gold mineral reserves and mineral resources while maintaining the high standards that the Newmarket Gold core values represent. NON-IFRS MEASURES Newmarket Gold has included in this press release certain non-IFRS performance measures as detailed below. In the gold mining industry, these are common performance measures but do not have any standardized meaning. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Operating Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold - Newmarket Gold calculates operating cash costs per ounce by deducting silver sales revenue as a by-product from operating expenses per the consolidated statement of operations, then dividing by the gold ounces sold during the applicable period. Operating expenses include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing and administration as well as royalties, however excludes depletion and depreciation, share-based payments and rehabilitation costs. All-In Sustaining Costs per Ounce of Gold - Newmarket Gold has adopted an all-in sustaining cost performance measure that reflects all of the expenditures that are required to produce an ounce of gold from current operations. While there is no standardized meaning of the measure across the industry, the Company's definition conforms to the all-in sustaining cost definition as set out by the World Gold Council in its guidance dated June 27, 2013. The World Gold Council is a non-regulatory, non-profit organization established in 1987 whose members include global senior mining companies. The Company believes that this measure will be useful to external users in assessing operating performance and the ability to generate free cash flow from current operations. The Company defines all-in sustaining costs as the sum of operating cash costs (per above), sustaining capital (capital required to maintain current operations at existing levels), capital lease repayments, corporate general and administrative expenses, mine exploration within the known resource, and rehabilitation accretion and amortization related to current operations. All-in sustaining costs excludes capital expenditures for significant improvements at existing operations deemed to be expansionary in nature, exploration and evaluation related to growth projects, rehabilitation accretion and amortization not related to current operations, financing costs, debt repayments, share-based compensation not related to operations, and taxes. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain information set forth in this news release contains "forward-looking statements", and "forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements, which include the Company's expectations about its business and operations, and are based on the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which may prove to be incorrect. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans", and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are included in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Contacts: Newmarket Gold Inc. Laura Lepore Director, Investor Relations 416.847.1847 llepore@newmarketgoldinc.com Newmarket Gold Inc. Ryan King VP, Corporate Communications 604.559.8040 rking@newmarketgoldinc.com www.newmarketgoldinc.com HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Joe Kainz Tel: +852 2584 4216 Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org HONG KONG, Apr 29, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - Retail industry experts took part in the Trendwatcher: Gifts & Premium Retailing seminar held on 28 April, examining the retail scene and updating attendees on the latest consumer trends. The seminar, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), was part of the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair (27-30 April), which is underway at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.Speakers included industry experts, Philippe Mechin, Journalist, BM2C Media Group, Andrea Rossi, Managing Director, Moleskine Asia Ltd. and Nowel Liu, Merchants Commercial Manager, Watsonsmall.com, eLab, A.S. Watson Group. They each spoke about their company's background and current consumer engagement strategies in light of the current trends impacting their business and the gifts and premium retail market.Exploring the gift-giving cultureHighlighting his experience in the French market, Mr Mechin opened the seminar by exploring the importance of gift-giving in French culture and discussing the reach of this trend in the global gifts market. He emphasised the importance of the gifts industry saying that, "as soon as you are born you will receive gifts until the end of your life." He explained that in French culture gift-giving is a romantic practice and that, in general terms, a "gift must be useful" otherwise people will re-sell and recycle the gifts online. Mr Mechin stated that some of the top trend categories for gifts are gift boxes featuring travel or other experiences, high-tech products, company gifts and green products. He stated that as a Western nation, these trends in France extend to Europe and other Western markets. Focusing on company giving, another French gift-giving practice that is also important globally, he said it is "not a question of price, it shows that a company takes care of you". He explained that company gift-giving is a "stable and big market" valued at over EUR 1 billion.Understanding changes in consumer behaviourDuring his presentation, Mr Rossi explored the changes in consumer behaviour and the challenges facing retailers today, in particular those entering the Asian market. Referencing Moleskine's history and "fast growing company story", Mr Rossi examined brand mind-set and strategy as a key solution to appeal to consumers. He explained that Moleskine has chosen to present themselves as a lifestyle brand and marketing company rather than a retail goods manufacturer. He defined Moleskine's target audience as the "creative class in a modern concept", a group of "not just artists, poets and thinkers" but extending to international travellers, college students and business professionals. He said that the modern "creative class" has a "high level of education, lives in an urban environment and is highly digitalised". He noted that even though buyers can easily find a wide variety of quality notebooks in the market, Moleskine is different because "we are not manufacturers, we are marketing people" and "we work to position ourselves as a premium lifestyle brand" with a global reach. Discussing the evolving behaviour of consumers, he said that in the business-to-business (B2B) channel, corporate customers are unique because they are "people who are obliged to take rational decisions respecting some organisational constraints" like budget and organisational procedure. He said that it is important for a supplier to be "flexible" and "reliable" to minimise the risks for buyers of your product. Mr Rossi said that there is "growing interest from corporate customers for brands" and that B2B customers are shifting away from "cheap, unbranded products". In the business-to-consumer (B2C) market, he said that consumers are different because they are "driven by emotion". Touching upon obstacles faced when entering the Asian market, he stated that it is important for brands to create a strategy to deliver a "local product proposition consistent with Asian consumer tastes". For Moleskine this meant finding a "balance point between European traditional culture and heritage of our brand and what is appealing." To further appeal to local tastes, Mr Rossi suggests partnering with the "local cultural and artistic environment", like Moleskine did with the Hong Kong Film Festival, to create products with local appeal.Adapting to Consumer NeedsMs Liu shared the current strategy of A.S. Watson Group to use "omni-channel" consumer engagement and examined the growing trend for retailers, in Hong Kong and globally, to cater to consumers' evolving and diverse needs. She said that "consumer buying behaviour is changing the total retail ecosystem" and that their lifestyles have changed in today's "fast-paced world". Examining the Hong Kong experience as a bricks-and-mortar retail operation, she said that companies should embrace an "omni-channel" sales and communications strategy to adapt to shifting consumer needs in addition to dealing with rising rent and operation costs. She explained that A.S. Watson Group is adapting to consumer needs by implementing an "omni-channel strategy" that blends online-to-offline (O2O) sales, customer relationship management (CRM), Big Data, social media, physical strategy, and mobile communications. She also detailed A.S. Watson Group's plans to launch Watsonsmall.com, an online e-commerce market place, in the third quarter of 2016 to bring value-added products and new customer experiences to the Hong Kong market. She explained that her company chose Hong Kong as their launch market because it is an "international business hub" with "international business know-how" and the gateway to Asia.The 31st edition of the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, which concludes Saturday, features a record of more than 4,300 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions showcasing various gifts and premium products.Fair Website: http://www.hktdc.com/fair/hkgiftspremiumfair-en/Photo Download: http://bit.ly/1SUBTRvTo view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tcAbout HKTDCA statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdcTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdcLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-councilSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2016 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. PLANO, TX and DUBLIN, IRELAND--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - FieldAware, a leader in mobile, cloud-based field service automation solutions, has announced the availability of its Spring product release, the latest software release for its mobile field service management solution. This release includes integration to leading accounting software packages and moves the solution forward globally with its availability in French language localization. "We continue to focus our software releases on bringing additional value to our customers and adding market-driven features and functionality," said Andy Murphy, director of product development at FieldAware. "Today we are announcing our latest accounting integrations to further strengthen our integration portfolio. This means businesses with established technologies already in place can seamlessly add FieldAware to their current infrastructure with minimal risk and accelerated benefit. In addition, we have quickly reacted to increased international demand by leveraging our agile software to release our first in a series of language localizations." The integration of FieldAware's mobile solution with the Sage, Xero and Quickbooks Online and Desktop platforms enables customers to streamline invoicing. When a work order is complete, and a job is closed-out on a field worker's mobile device, an invoice can be automatically generated in the back office. The invoice includes all costs related to the work order, such as the cost of service and any parts/inventory consumed, and can be sent to the customer immediately. The result should be an improvement in days sales outstanding (DSO) metrics by getting the job billed immediately; and less leakage because nothing falls through the cracks, every part is accounted for and every job is billed, by connecting the job in the field directly with accounting. Integration of FieldAware with a customer's accounting system also means that new companies, contacts and parts can be created in either system and automatically synced to both platforms. "Integration with best-in-class technology platforms will continue to be a priority for us," said Lynn Jones, VP, Marketing at FieldAware. "Integrations like these accounting packages, and our NetSuite and Salesforce.com integrations, help our customers drive their businesses strategically and extend the value of their incumbent systems." French is the first language to be released as part of FieldAware's language localization and international expansion strategy. Available on both the FieldAware web-based app and mobile app, it allows French-speaking businesses to immediately take advantage of the mobile-first field service offering provided by FieldAware. Additional languages will be added with each new quarterly feature release. FieldAware's made for mobile solutions provide field personnel with mobile tools that increase their productivity, generate more revenue and turn customers into brand advocates. Its Web-based back office functions are built on a flexible, cloud-based architecture with unlimited configurable fields that can accommodate virtually any business process. FieldAware's solution is integrated with the leading CRM, ERP and accounting systems and easily integrates with a business's custom back office applications. About FieldAware FieldAware is re-shaping the field service industry. Its field service management software is easy to use and built with incredible flexibility -- a combination that enables field service organizations to better serve their customers and outperform the competition. The FieldAware software was architected as a cloud-based, native mobile platform. It works seamlessly with a business's existing applications, and has no incumbent legacy technologies to modify or migrate from. FieldAware combines its software with the industry's best professional and support services, enabling companies to take full and rapid advantage of the power of mobility. For more information, visit fieldaware.com. Contact: Matt Burke matt.burke@fieldaware.com +1 603.315.0618 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX: AR) ("Argonaut", "Argonaut Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a $30 million revolving credit facility. Additionally, the Company is pleased to highlight results of an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for its 100% owned San Agustin gold project in Durango, Mexico prepared by Kappes, Cassiday & Associates ("KCA"), Resource Modeling Inc. ("RMI") and Argonaut Gold's management team. In accordance with National Instrument ("NI") 43-101, a Technical Report will be filed within 45 days. The Company also announces it has received approval on the San Agustin Environmental Impact Study from the Mexican Environmental Authority (SEMARNAT). All dollar amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. Debt Facility The Company has completed arrangements for a $30 million revolving credit facility (the "Facility"). Bank of Montreal ("BMO") acted as lead arranger, bookrunner and the administrative agent for the Facility. In addition to BMO, The Bank of Nova Scotia is also participating as a lender. The three-year Facility remains undrawn at present but is immediately available. The Facility includes customary terms and conditions, will initially bear interest of LIBOR plus 2.50% and subsequently on a sliding scale between 2.25% to 3.25%. Standby fees for the undrawn portion of the Facility are also on a similar scale basis between 0.51% and 0.73%. The uses of proceeds are for general corporate purposes and future project development, possibly including, San Agustin. Dave Ponczoch, CFO of Argonaut Gold, stated: "Our strong balance sheet and projected cash flows provide us an opportunity to access funds at a low cost of capital. The funds from the Facility combined with current cash on hand and internal cash generation will be available to fund growth opportunities such as the development of San Agustin." San Agustin Project Updated PEA Highlights using $1200/ounce gold and $15/ounce silver -- Pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of $126 million using a 5% discount rate -- After-tax NPV of $89.9 million using a 5% discount rate. -- After-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 50%. -- Initial estimated capital expenditure investment of $42.6 million, including $7.3 million in contingency. -- Average annual production of over 80,000 gold equivalent ounces ("GEOs")((i)). ((i)) Gold equivalent ounces ("GEO" or "GEOs") are based on a conversion ratio of 80:1 for silver to gold. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Agustin PEA Results(1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life of mine ("LOM") (years) 6.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indicated GEOs recovered (000s)(2) 536 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash cost per GEO $648 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOM Capital costs: (millions)(3) Initial $42.6 Sustaining $42.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- After-tax NPV @ 5% discount rate (millions)(4) $89.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- After-tax IRR(4) 50% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1)PEA incorporating work by KCA, RMI and Argonaut Gold to be filed within 45 days of this release in accordance with NI 43-101. The PEA is preliminary in nature, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. (2)GEO production was calculated at 80:1 conversion using $1,200/ounce gold and $15/ounce silver (3)Initial capital costs of $42.6 million including $7.3 million in contingency and $3.1 million in internal engineering, procurement, and construction management. (4)NPV and IRR calculations are based on after-tax expectations with a long term gold price of $1,200 per ounce and silver price of $15 per ounce. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- San Agustin Production Specifications -- Total Indicated Mineral Resource proposed to be processed includes 72.4 million tonnes containing 745,000 ounces of gold with an average grade of 0.32 grams per tonne ("g/t") and 24.5 million ounces of silver with an average grade of 10.6 g/t. -- LOM strip ratio of 0.4:1. -- No Inferred Mineral Resources were included in the mine or production plan. -- Total contemplated LOM production of 488,000 ounces of gold and 3.8 million ounces of silver from the Indicated Mineral Resource. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Production Statistics: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOM (years) 6.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Indicated Mineral Resource tonnes processed (000s) 72,400 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total tonnes waste (000s) 28,600 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOM strip ratio (waste: mineralized material) 0.4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall average gold grade (g/t) 0.32 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall average silver grade (g/t) 10.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall average gold recovery - 2-stage crushed material 66% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall average gold recovery -1-stage crushed material 57% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall average silver recovery - 2-stage crushed material 16% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overall average silver recovery -1-stage crushed material 9% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gold ounces recovered (000's) 488 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silver ounces recovered (000's) 3,804 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average annual production GEOs 80,200 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Modeled Operating Costs (LOM Average) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost / Tonne Mineralized Material $4.79 Mining $1.52 Processing $2.92 G&A $0.35 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash Cost Per GEO $648 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Modeled Capital Costs (millions) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mine (pre-production) $2.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Process $21.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Infrastructure $5.3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Capital $29.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contingency, EPCM, owner & indirect costs $12.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Initial Capital $42.6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sustaining Capital $42.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total LOM Capital $84.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peter Dougherty, President and CEO of Argonaut Gold stated: "The updated PEA of San Agustin shows a significant reduction of the initial capital requirement and a considerable increase in NPV and IRR, primarily due to synergies with El Castillo and throughput increases. We believe San Agustin will be producing ounces within a year of a construction decision. We anticipate that decision will be made during the second half of 2016. While we envision the initial capital of the project will be funded with existing cash and projected cash flow, the Facility is a low-cost backstop which provides us with considerable flexibility." NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment Report The updated PEA for Argonaut's San Agustin project is based on a mineral resource estimate initially prepared by RMI on July 8, 2014, and presented in a NI 43-101 Technical Report dated October 3, 2014. That Technical Report was then updated on February 18, 2015 as a PEA Technical Report on the heap leach potential of San Agustin. Those two Technical Reports disclosed an Indicated Mineral Resource of 82.2 million tonnes containing 845,000 gold ounces and 28,263,000 ounces of silver at average gold and silver grades of 0.32 g/t and 10.7 g/t respectively. The San Agustin mineral resource estimate is based on approximately 500 drill holes totaling nearly 80,000 meters of drilling. The relatively small Inferred oxide mineral resource estimate was not used in the February 2015 PEA or in the updated PEA. Path forward: The Company recently received approval of its Environmental Impact Study for San Agustin. The Company requires additional land and the Change in Use of Soils permit before it will be in a position to make a construction decision. Technical Information Mineral resources referenced herein are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Company cautions that a PEA is preliminary in nature and that it relies upon mineral resource estimates which have the considerations noted above applied to them. There is no certainty that the PEA will be realized or that any of the resources will ever be upgraded to reserves. For further information on the San Agustin project please see the technical report titled "Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment, San Agustin Heap Leach Project, Durango, Mexico" with an effective date of October 3, 2014 and available on the Company's website or on www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. Mr. Michael Lechner of RMI located in Stites, Idaho who is an "Independent Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101 and the lead person responsible for completing the San Agustin resource has reviewed this press release as it relates to the San Agustin project. Mr. Richard Rhoades, Chief Operating Officer of Argonaut Gold, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the person responsible for the mine plan and mining related capital and operating costs, has reviewed this press release as it relates to the San Agustin project. Mr. Carl Defilippi of KCA located in Reno, Nevada who is an "Independent Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101 and the lead person responsible for completing the metallurgical work for the new San Agustin resource has reviewed this press release as it relates to the San Agustin project and has overseen the metallurgical and recovery methods, infrastructure, and non-mining related operating costs and capital costs. The release of this information was approved by Thomas Burkhart, Argonaut Gold's Vice President of Exploration and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. About Argonaut Gold Argonaut Gold is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration, mine development and production activities. Its primary assets are the production stage El Castillo mine in Durango, Mexico and La Colorada mine in Sonora, Mexico. Advanced exploration stage projects include the San Antonio project in Baja California Sur, Mexico, the Magino project in Ontario, Canada and the San Agustin project in Durango, Mexico. The Company also has several exploration stage projects, all of which are located in North America. Creating Value Beyond Gold Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Argonaut Gold Inc. ("Argonaut" or "Argonaut Gold"). Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimation of mineral resources at mineral projects of Argonaut; the realization of mineral reserve and resource estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; economics of production; estimated production and mine life of the various mineral projects of Argonaut; the future price of gold and silver; synergies and financial impact of completed acquisitions; the benefits of the development potential of the properties of Argonaut; success of exploration activities and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Argonaut, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Argonaut and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include variations in metal grades, changes in market conditions, variations in recovery rates, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, changes in project parameters, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. These factors are discussed in greater detail in Argonaut's most recent Annual Information Form and in the most recent Management Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Argonaut cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Argonaut believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Argonaut undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. Although Argonaut 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 anticipated, estimated or intended. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed. Contacts: Argonaut Gold Inc. Dan Symons Vice President, Investor Relations 416-716-6466 dan.symons@argonautgold.com BOCA RATON, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- FranNet, the U.S. premier franchise consulting firm, is inviting the community of SouthEast Florida to join them on the evening of Monday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. OR the morning of Tuesday, May 17 at 10 a.m. for a two-hour exposition where you can meet the franchise companies expanding in SE Florida. During this showcase, attendees will learn the important ins and outs of selecting the best franchise fit for them. The event will be held at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel in Boca Raton (2000 NW 19th St, Boca Raton, FL 33431 -- see driving directions). Rick Shampaine of FranNet of South Florida, a 35-year veteran of the franchise industry, will host the event. Collaborating in the event are the Small Business Development Centers in Palm Beach County and Ft. Lauderdale, as well as the Palm Beach SCORE Chapter. Representatives of these offices are available to help clients with their every business need, including start-up advice, operating information, and funding. This is a private, NO COST, special event, but registration is required. To reserve your seat, please go to www.FloridaFran.com, or simply call (813) 563-5602. FranNet of South Florida is also partnering up with SCORE to provide local workshops in South Florida. To learn more about local SCORE workshops as well as FranNet webinars, and Radio & Podcasts related to the world of franchising, please visit http://www.southfloridafranchises.com/ About FranNet FranNet, recognized by INC magazine as one of the top 500 fastest growing private companies in America, helps individuals interested in franchise ownership research and select the business that best fit their professional and personal goals and objectives. About Palm Beach SCORE Palm Beach SCORE is a nonprofit organization that provides small business counseling and training and works closely with the Small Business Administration (SBA). PB SCORE has over 60 local mentors from virtually every business category you can imagine: marketing, manufacturing, service, retail sales, export, legal and many more. About the SBDC Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide assistance to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the United States and its territories. SBDCs are hosted by leading universities and state economic development agencies, and funded in part through a partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA). Embedded Video Available Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2999908 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2999921 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2999924 Embedded Video Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2999928 Contacts: Rick Shampaine Senior Associate FranNet of South Florida 813-563-5602 Email Contact NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Impossible choices are being made every single day by the more than 125 million people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance around the globe. To spark action ahead of the first-ever World Humanitarian summit, the United Nations (UN) today launches a global, interactive digital experience that aims to inspire commitment to meaningful change in the name of humanity. The digital challenge at ImpossibleChoices.org features a three-minute, online journey based on real experiences people in crises often face. At the end of the online experience, users can share results across their respective social platforms and call upon global leadership to attend the Summit, and take bold action. "Arguably one of the most powerful tools at our disposal today is social media -- it can give a voice to the voiceless, create instant awareness and drive change in ways never before seen around the world," said Stephen O'Brien, UN Humanitarian Chief. "With Impossible Choices, we are calling upon the digitally-connected to help create a movement towards showing world leaders that the world is looking to them to make bold decisions and act for the good of humanity." Celebrity influencers have also joined the call to action with a powerful short film highlighting the current global humanitarian crisis. Global stars, including Daniel Craig, Forest Whitaker, Rosario Dawson, Cody Simpson, Big Sean, Michael Douglas, Alfre Woodard, Yara Shahidi, Mallika Sherawat, Catarina Furtado and Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, speak passionately to the current refugee crisis and, together with thought-provoking footage of the ongoing plight of displaced people, address the core struggles and impossible choices being faced daily by men, women and children around the globe who are homeless, without healthcare or education and being subjected to constant violence. The announcements will be broadcast on Turkish Airlines flights, a World Humanitarian Summit Sponsor, and across social media throughout the month of May leading up to the Summit. In an effort to ensure the campaign maintains the most authentic possible voice, the UN has also appointed 20 Champions for Humanity, a group of influential individuals -- from CEOs to photographers, philanthropists to entertainers -- to kick-off the Impossible Choices campaign and gather support from within their networks. Today is just the start. Impossible Choices aims to build momentum towards the World Humanitarian Summit, set to take place in Istanbul from May 23 - 24. The Summit is the result of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's three years of consultations with more than 23,000 people in 150 countries. It will bring together heads of state, business leaders, civil society representatives, and humanitarian workers to create clear, actionable goals for change, grounded in the one value that unites us all: our common humanity. For more information about the World Humanitarian Summit, go to www.worldhumanitariansummit.org. To take Impossible Choices the three-minute challenge, go to www.impossiblechoices.org About the World Humanitarian Summit The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, set to take place in Istanbul on 23 -24 May 2016, is a call to action by UN Secretary-General to place humanity at the centre of global decision-making. @WHSummit This press release was made possible through our media partner PVBLIC Foundation, an organization focused on using media to drive impact and social change. PVBLIC utilizes existing and emerging technologies to increase issue awareness around important causes and to help non-profits amplify their message. @PVBLICF or visit http://www.pvblic.org/ ** News, Media, PR and Content distribution provided by 1-800-PublicRelations, Inc. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2999901 Media Contacts: Mr. Herve Verhoosel (F/E) Spokesperson of the Summit +1 917 345 52 38 verhoosel@un.org Seth Grugle ICR +1 646 277 1272 seth.grugle@icrinc.com Asetek A/S' board of directors has on April 28th 2016 decided to issue warrants to board members and key employees in the company and its subsidiaries. The board's decision is made in accordance with the shareholder authorization to the board adopted as Article 6.1 of the articles of association and the company's general guidelines regarding incentive programs. A total of 600,000 warrants have been issued for subscription of up to 600,000 shares of a nominal value of DKK 0.10 at an exercise price of NOK 19.50 per share. The exercise price is established as the share price ("closing price") for the Company's share as of April 28, 2016. Prior to the issue of any shares under this program, Asetek A/S has 25,361,340 shares outstanding. Warrants granted to employees in a Danish entity are limited by and governed by the Danish Act on Options for Employees (the Stock Option Act/aktieoptionsloven) regarding termination of employment prior to exercise of warrants. The warrants become exercisable gradually within a period of 1 to 4 years and the warrants will lapse 7 years after they have been subscribed. Under this program five board members will receive a total of 73,785 warrants. The executive management will receive a total of 163,572 warrants and other senior management members will receive a total of 107,008 warrants. Information regarding board members' and senior management's share and option/warrants holdings is available on the company's' website. The award of warrants will incur consequential amendments to the articles of association. About Asetek Asetek is the world leading provider of energy efficient liquid cooling systems for data centers, servers, workstations, gaming and high performance PCs. Its products are used for reducing power and greenhouse emissions, lowering acoustic noise, and achieving maximum performance by leading OEMs and channel partners around the globe. Asetek's products are based upon its patented all-in-one liquid cooling technology with more than 3 million liquid cooling units deployed in the field. Founded in 2000, Asetek is headquartered in Denmark with offices in California, China and Taiwan. For more information, visit http://www.asetek.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005495/en/ Contacts: For further information, please contact: Peter Dam Madsen, Chief Financial Officer Mobile: +1 408 813 4147, e-mail: investor.relations@asetek.com Elementis plc (the "Company") In accordance with the provisions of the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency rules, the Company announces that it has an issued and voting share capital of 463,193,944 ordinary shares of 5p each at 29 April 2016. The Company holds no such ordinary shares as treasury shares. The above figure of 463,193,944 may be used by shareholders as the denominator when calculating their interests in the Company for the purpose of determining whether they are required to notify their interest under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. Wai Wong Company Secretary 020 7067 2999 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. TORONTO, ONTARIO and NUCLA, COLORADO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Western Uranium Corporation (CSE: WUC)(OTC PINK: WSTRF) ('Western' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated April 4, 2016, it has completed an initial Closing of Cdn.$680,760 of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of 400,447 units (the "Units"), subject to final approval from the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company issued 400,447 Units at a price of $1.70 per Unit for gross proceeds of Cdn$680,760. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company ("Share") plus one (1) common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole such warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one Share at a price of $2.60 for a period of 5 years following the Closing Date of the Offering. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four (4) month plus one (1) day statutory hold period. A finders' fee of up to 5% may be paid in cash or Units to certain eligible finders. The Company intends to use the gross proceeds of the Offering for costs of completion of the Black Range Minerals Limited transaction including the payment of Black Range Payables, the further development, permitting and licensing of the Ablation Mining Technology, the costs of the OTCQX listing, the Sunday Complex mine planning and preparation, the additional hiring of specialized personnel and for working capital purposes. To satisfy the strong demand for Units under this Offering, the Company has determined to make Units available under this Offering by exercising the Over Allotment Option and by extending the Closing Date of the second tranche until May 16,2016. About Western Uranium Corporation Western Uranium Corporation is a Colorado based uranium company focused on the near-term production of uranium and vanadium in the western United States. This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Contacts: Western Uranium Corporation George Glasier President and CEO Office: 970-864-2125 gglasier@western-uranium.com Western Uranium Corporation Michael Skutezky Chairman of the Board Office: 416-564-2870 mskutezky@western-uranium.com PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - Unirisx, LLC (Unirisx), a global provider of SaaS-based, policy administration solutions for the property and casualty (P&C) insurance marketplace, is pleased to announce the completion of a comprehensive rebranding effort and the launch of a new website. The rebranding project involved significant industry research and focus groups, resulting in a shift to messaging which highlights the strengths of Unirisx technology, the global capabilities of the system, and the introduction of a new logo and tagline-Accelerating Insurance Innovation. "Our mission is our client's total success," said Akhil Tripathi, CEO of Unirisx. "Our new messaging, branding and website reflect our commitment to helping our clients expand globally. At the heart of it, Unirisx is dedicated to accelerating insurance innovation and enabling our customers to meet and exceed the demands of current and potential customers as efficiently and effectively as possible." Today, the expectations and demands of consumers are growing faster than the capabilities of many insurance companies. This simple fact makes new technology with robust multi-language and multi-currency capabilities a necessity for insurers looking to roll out new products in record time, more effectively evaluate market acceptance, and compete on a global playing field. By utilizing pre-built templates within the Unirisx system, insurers can quickly and easily build and launch new products, or test modified products in existing markets. And, true speed-to-market is more easily achieved when insurers have access to Unirisx powerful Product Design Center and expert advice from the company's many insurance subject matter experts. Unirisx new branding, messaging and website draw on experience gained across multiple insurance markets and lines of business to emphasize the company's culture of innovation, agility, and ability to enable the globalization of insurance businesses. Well-known already for providing highly-configurable, SaaS-based solutions which deliver results for insurers around the world, Unirisx plans to continue to enhance the features and functionality of the company's flagship offering, the Unirisx Insurance Solution Suite, while adding elements of the new brand and messaging to social media and other industry-facing communications. The Unirisx Insurance Solution Suite is a comprehensive policy administration system which enables insurers, agents and partners to quote and bind personal, commercial, specialty, workers' compensation, and group benefits insurance business, quickly, efficiently, and with the benefit of enhanced communication between parties. For more information, please contact Tom Temple (Americas) at tom.temple@unirisx.com or Julian James (EMEA) at Julian.james@unirisx.com respectively,or visit the company website at www.unirisx.com About Unirisx, LLC (Unirisx) Unirisx configurable software enables forward-thinking insurers to innovate at high speed without corresponding high costs, disruption, or risk. With our system, brokers and underwriters can customize and manage virtually any type of policy in real time with our proven and secure cloud-based software solution. Insurers can launch new products and distribution channels at high speed without corresponding high costs or high risk. And companies can expand their global reach and simplify administration with a solution that's been proven across four continents and 21 countries. Compared to traditional technologies, insurers can achieve up to 30 to 50 percent savings on technology investments, thanks to Unirisx SaaS/cloud-based platform. For more information, visit www.unirisx.com. Media Contact: Jennifer Overhulse St. Nick Media Services 859.803.6597 jen@stnickmedia.com SAN FRANCISCO, CA RagingStallion.com has released the first scene from the latest feature, Drive Shaft, starring A-Team Exclusives Sean Zevran and Tegan Zayne. The scene will go live on RagingStallion.com on April 29, followed by the availability of the DVD and scene downloads on May 20, 2016 on the Falcon Studios Group Store. In the new update, mechanic Sean Zevran is revved up by checking out coworker Tegan Zayne bent over a car with his crack hanging out. Tegan glances back at Sean and asks, do you like what you see? Sean nods and things get lubed and oiled from there. There's something sexy and dirty about a mechanic and auto repair shops, states director Tony Dimarco. The place has a scent of sweaty men, mixed with oil and grease to get your motors running. Sean Zevran and Tegan Zayne made a perfect pairing and give excellent performances. RagingStallion.com, featuring over 2,000 scenes, and the World Premiere of the debut scene from Drive Shaft starring A-Team Exclusives Sean Zevran and Tegan Zayne is available for promotion through the Buddy Profits affiliate program. Affiliates can choose between $35 pay-per-signup or 50 percent revshare for all memberships they refer, including trials. Affiliates are encouraged to visit BuddyProfits.com for promotional material. For more information about the Buddy Profits affiliate program, contact the Affiliate Manager at [email protected] SAINT HELIER (dpa-AFX) - While reporting its first-quarter financial results today, Shire plc (SHP.L, SHPG) reiterated its financial outlook for fiscal 2016. For fiscal 2016, the company reaffirmed its outlook for adjusted earnings per ADS growth in the 7 to 10 percent range, or 9 to 13 percent on an adjusted CER basis, and product sales to increase by 11 to 14 percent on a reported basis in 2016, or about 13 to 17 percent on an adjusted CER basis. The company said that the Baxalta Inc. (BXLT) acquisition is on track with integration progressing well. Shareholder votes are set for May 27 and closing of the transaction is anticipated in early June. 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. Press Release Krasnodar April 29, 2016 PJSC "Magnit" Announces the Change of Share of the Entity under the Issuer's Control Krasnodar, April 29, 2016: PJSC "Magnit", Russia's largest food retailer (the "Company", the "Issuer", MOEX and LSE: MGNT), announces the change of share of the entity which is under the Issuer's control. Full company name and address: Joint Stock Company "Tander" 185, Levanevskogo street, Krasnodar, Russia Taxpayer Id Number: 2310031475 Principal State Registration Number: 1022301598549 Object of acquisition/ disposal: Ordinary registered uncertified voting shares with a state registration No. 1-01-60525-P of 04.03.2004, International Stock Identification Number (ISIN) RU000A0JKQU8 Disposal of shares Date of change: April 26, 2016 Amount of disposed shares: 3,396 shares (0.003591% of the total equity) Basis for disposal: Sale and Purchase Agreement executed in the trading of MICEX Stock Exchange Amount of votes before disposal: 36,357 votes (0.038448% of the total number of votes) Amount of votes after disposal: 32,961 votes (0.034857% of the total number of votes) Acquisition of shares Date of change: April 27, 2016 Date of the fact being reported to the Issuer: April 29, 2016 Amount of acquired shares: 2,400 shares (0.002538% of the total equity) Basis for acquisition: Sale and Purchase Agreement executed in the trading of MICEX Stock Exchange Amount of votes before acquisition: 32,961 votes (0.034857% of the total number of votes) Amount of votes after acquisition: 35,361 votes (0.037395 % of the total number of votes) For further information, please contact: Timothy Post Head of Investor Relations Email: post@magnit.ru Office: +7-861-277-4554 x 17600 Mobile: +7-961-511-7678 Direct Line: +7-861-277-4562 Investor Relations Office MagnitIR@magnit.ru Direct Line: +7-861-277-4562 Website: ir.magnit.com/ Media Inquiries Media Relations Department press@magnit.ru Company description: Magnit is Russia's largest food retailer. Founded in 1994, the company is headquartered in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar. As of March 31, 2016, Magnit operated 34 distribution centers and about 12,434 stores (9,715 convenience, 382 hypermarkets, and 2,337 drogerie stores) in 2,385 cities and towns throughout 7 federal regions of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the audited IFRS results for 2015, Magnit had revenues of RUB 951 billion and an EBITDA of RUB 104 billion. Magnit's local shares are traded on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX: MGNT) and its GDRs on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: MGNT) and it has a credit rating from Standard & Poor's of BB+. Measured by market capitalization, Magnit is one of the largest retailers in Europe. Alytus, Lithuania, 2016-04-29 14:30 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The General Meeting of shareholders of Snaige AB was held on 29 April 2016.At the meeting was made following resolutions:1. THE AGENDA QUESTION: Consolidated a nnual report of Snaige AB on the company's activity for 2015. In the meeting taken for information the consolidated annual report of Snaige AB on the company's activity for 2015.1. THE AGENDA QUESTION: Auditor's conclusion on the company's financial statements for 2015. In the meeting taken for information with the auditor's conclusion on the company's financial statements for 2015.1. THE AGENDA QUESTION: Approval of the set of financial statements of the company for 201 5 . THE DECISION: The set of financial statements of the company for 2015 has been approved1. THE AGENDA QUESTION: Approval of distribution of profit (loss) of Snaige, AB for 201 5 . THE DECISION: The distribution of profit (loss) of Snaige,AB for 2015 has been approved:Non-distributed profit (loss) at the end of the last financial year: EUR -3,841,012 Net result - profit (loss) of financial year: EUR 508,977 Distributable result- profit (loss) of financial year: EUR -3,332,035 Transfers from reserves: EUR 885,477 for social and cultural needs: EUR 0 for investments: EUR 0 Transfers from reserve foreseen by law: EUR 885,477 Transfers from reserve of share premium for covering of loss: EUR 0 Contributions of shareholders to cover loss: EUR 0 Distributable profit (loss): EUR -2,446,558 Distribution of profit (loss): EUR 885,477 Portion of profit allocated to reserves foreseen by law: EUR 885,477 Portion of profit allocated to other reserves: EUR 0 - for support and charity EUR 0 - for social and cultural needs EUR 0 Portion of profit allocated for payment of dividends: EUR 0 Portion of profit allocated for payment of premiums: EUR 0 Portion of profit allocated for payment of tantiemes: EUR 0 Other: EUR 0 - portion of profit allocated to reserve for acquisition of own shares: EUR 0 - portion of profit allocated to reserve for investments: EUR 0 Non-distributed result - profit (loss) at the end of financial year: EUR -3,332,0355. THE AGENDA QUESTION: Revocation of the member of the Board and the new board member election for the term until the end of term of the Company's Board. THE DECISION: Olga Kuznecova was revoked from the Board members of the Company. The new board member was not elected because any candidates were proposed. The General Manager of the Company was authorized (including the power to delegate) to perform all necessary actions, sign and submit documents related with changed information to the Register of Juridical persons.6. THE AGENDA QUESTION: Election of the audit firm for auditing purposes of financial statements and establishment of terms regarding the payment for audit services. THE DECISION: UAB KPMG Baltics has been elected for 2016 auditing purposes of annual financial statements. The General Director was authorized (with the right to delegate) of the company to sign the agreement with the audit firm by establishing the terms of payment for the audit services and other terms.Managing Director Gediminas Ceika +370 315 56206Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=559551 BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Commerce Department is scheduled to release its personal income and spending report for March at 8:30 am ET Friday. Economists expect personal income growth of 0.3 percent month-over-month, while personal spending may have increased by 0.2 percent. Ahead of the data, the greenback showed mixed trading against the other major counterparts. While the greenback held steady against the euro and the pound, it recovered from early lows against the yen and the franc. The greenback was worth 1.1403 against the euro, 0.9633 against the franc, 1.4620 against the pound and 107.33 against the yen as of 8:25 am ET. 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. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - British drug maker AstraZeneca plc (AZN.L, AZN) said that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use or CHMP of the European Medicines Agency has issued a positive opinion, recommending the approval of a new antibiotic, CAZ AVI 2g/0.5g powder. CAZ AVI is being jointly developed by AstraZeneca and Allergan plc (AGN) to treat a broad range of Gram-negative bacterial infections that are increasingly resistant to antibiotics, including multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Increasing antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is a growing public health concern because of the limited new treatment options for these serious infections. In Europe, Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for two thirds of the annually reported 25,000 deaths resulting from antimicrobial resistance. The CHMP's positive opinion on CAZ AVI will now be reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union or EU. The final decision by the EC is expected in the coming months and will be applicable to all 28 EU member countries plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. 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. OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. ("Cornerstone" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE: CGP)(FRANKFURT: GWN)(BERLIN: GWN)(OTCBB: CTNXF) announces the following project update for the Cascabel copper-gold porphyry joint venture exploration project in northern Ecuador, in which the Company has a 15% interest financed through to completion of a feasibility study. SolGold Plc is funding 100% of the exploration at Cascabel and is the operator of the project. HIGHLIGHTS: -- Hole 16 final results received, returning another high grade intersection from the Alpala deposit of: -- 1145.6m @ 0.63% Copper and 0.78 g/t Gold (1.25% CuEq) from 516m, including 856.0m @ 0.80% Copper and 1.04 g/t Gold (1.62% CuEq) from 548m. -- This broad zone of porphyry style copper and gold mineralization includes two high grade zones: -- Upper Zone -- 152m @ 1.18% Copper and 1.69 g/t Gold (2.52% CuEq) from 612m (cut greater than 0.7% Copper) -- 108m @ 1.46% Copper and 2.19 g/t Gold (3.19% CuEq) from 656m (cut greater than 1.0% Copper) -- Lower Zone -- 373.6m @ 1.00% Copper and 1.34 g/t Gold (2.06% CuEq) from 928m (cut greater than 0.7% Copper) -- 367.6m @ 1.01% Copper and 1.35 g/t Gold (2.08% CuEq) from 934m (cut greater than 1.0% Copper) (i) Copper Equivalent (CuEq) is calculated using the following equation: Cu Eq. = Cu% + (Au g/t x 0.79), using a copper price of $2.25/pound and gold price of $1225/oz and 100% recovery of metals. All reported intervals referred to in this news release are core lengths. At present the true thicknesses of the Hole 14-16 intersections are uncertain due to the early stage of drilling. Figures, table and photographs referred to in this news release can be seen in PDF format by accessing the version of this release on the Company's website (www.cornerstoneresources.com) or by clicking on the link below: http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/i/pdf/NR16-09Figures.pdf. DETAILED INFORMATION: The Cascabel Project is located within the northern portion of the Andean copper belt, which hosts numerous large porphyry copper-gold targets identified by coincident geophysical and geochemical anomalies that are interpreted as a cluster of prospective porphyries. They occur in a relatively unexplored section of the northern Andean copper belt that produces very oxidized, gold rich porphyry deposits (refer Figure 1 - Location, and Figure 2 - Regional Setting). The deposit at Alpala continues to grow with each new drill hole. At 12 noon Central America time on Wednesday April 27, 2016, Hole 15R2 (CSD-16-015R2) was drilling at a depth of 1496.6m and Hole 17 (CSD-16-017) was drilling at a depth of 618.6m. Both drill holes continue to intersect porphyry style copper-gold mineralization at the Alpala deposit. These final assay results from Hole 16 extend the known extent of the Alpala deposit by a further 120m to the southeast, and increases the known strike range of copper and gold mineralization along the greater Alpala trend, from Hole 13 in the northwest to Hole 16 in the southeast, to some 700m in length (refer Figure 3 - Drill Hole Location Plan). A summary of drill hole intercepts to date is shown in Table 1 (refer Table 1 - Cascabel drill hole intercepts). The Alpala Central deposit, which outcrops in Alpala Creek, is open in virtually all directions, and is to date defined at greater than 0.7% copper over a strike length of 625m, a lateral width of 300m, and a vertical extent of 1,800m (refer Figure 4 - Three Dimensional Model). Photographs showing examples of the intense porphyry style stock work veining and mineralization encountered in Hole 16 are shown in Figure 5 (refer Figure 5 - Examples of Mineralization). The extension of Alpala Central to the south east is accompanied by increased intensity of bornite mineralization at surface and increasing intensity of veining with depth. Sub-horizontal vein sets and the prevalence of strong magnetite alteration (a magnetically susceptible iron-oxide mineral used as a temperature proxy to high temperature copper mineralization in porphyry systems) could indicate significant mineralization potential surrounding the Alpala Central system (refer Figure 6 - Three Dimensional Magnetic Model). About Cascabel: SolGold Plc owns 85% of the equity of Exploraciones Novomining S.A. ("ENSA"), an Ecuadorean company that holds 100% of the Cascabel concession in northern Ecuador. Cornerstone owns the remaining 15% of ENSA, which also holds the rights to the La Encrucijada gold-silver project. SolGold is funding 100% of the exploration at Cascabel and is the operator of the project. Cornerstone's 15% interest is financed through completion of a feasibility study. Cascabel is located in northwestern Ecuador in an under-explored northern section of the richly endowed Andean Copper Belt, 60 km northeast of the undeveloped inferred resource of 982 million tons at 0.89% Cu Junin copper project (0.4% Cu cut-off grade; Micon International Co. Ltd. Technical Report for Ascendant Exploration SA, August 20, 2004, pages 28 & 29). Mineralization identified at the Junin copper project is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Cascabel Property. Qualified Person: Yvan Crepeau, MBA, P.Geo., Cornerstone's Vice President, Exploration and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Cascabel project for Cornerstone and has reviewed and approved the information contained in this news release. Logging, sampling and assaying Holes referred to in this release were or are being drilled using HTW, NTW, NQ and BQ core sizes (respectively 7.1, 5.6, 4.8 and 3.7 cm diameter). Geotechnical measurements such as core recovery, fracturing, rock quality designations (RQD's), specific density and photographic logging are performed systematically prior to assaying. The core is logged, magnetic susceptibility measured and key alteration minerals identified using an on-site portable spectrometer. Core is then sawed in half at the ENSA core logging facility, and half of the core is delivered by ENSA employees for preparation at LAC y Asociados ISO 9001-2008 certified sample preparation facility in Cuenca. Core samples are prepared crushing to 70% passing 2 mm (10 mesh), splitting 250 g and pulverizing to 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) (MSA code PRP-910). Prepared samples are then shipped to MS Analytical Services (MSA), an ISO 9001-2008 laboratory in Langley, BC, Canada where samples are assayed for a multi-element suite (MSA code IMS-230, 0.2g split, 4-acid digestion, ICP-AES/MS finish). Over limit results for Cu (greater than 1%) are systematically re-assayed (MSA code ICF-6Cu, 0.2 g, 4-acid digestion, ICP-AES finish). Gold is assayed using a 30 g split, Fire Assay (FA) and AAS finish (MSA code FAS 111). Over limit results for Au (greater than 10 g/t) are systematically re-assayed (MSA code FAS-415, FA, 30g., gravimetric finish). Drill hole intercepts are calculated using a data aggregation method, defined by copper equivalent cut-off grades and reported with up to 10m internal dilution, excluding bridging to a single sample. Quality assurance / Quality control (QA/QC) The MSA Analytical Laboratory is a qualified assayer that performs and makes available internal assaying controls. Duplicates, certified blanks and standards are systematically used (1 control sample every 15-20 samples) as part of Cornerstone's QA/QC program. Rejects, a 100 g pulp for each core sample and the remaining half-core are stored for future use and controls. Plans: SolGold has announced it is planning a resource statement at Alpala, the most advanced target at Cascabel, during 2016, in addition to drill testing the other key targets at Aguinaga, Trivino, Alpala NW, Hematite Hill, Alpala SE, Cristal, Tandayama America and Chinambicito within the Cascabel concession. By the end of 2016 SolGold has reported it is planning further metallurgical testing, and completion of early stage mine and plant design and a scoping study (which may or may not be the approximate equivalent of a preliminary economic assessment as defined under National Instrument 43-101) for an economic development at Cascabel. About Cornerstone: Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, and a proven ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit. The company's business model is based on generating exploration projects whose subsequent development is funded primarily through partnerships. Further information is available on Cornerstone's website: www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter. This news release may contain 'Forward-Looking Statements' that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstone's plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words "potential," "anticipate," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "may," "project," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify 'Forward-Looking Statements.' Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these 'Forward-Looking Statements' are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views subsequent to the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements. On Behalf of the Board, Brooke Macdonald President and 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. Contacts: For investor, corporate or media inquiries, please contact: Investor Relations: (613) 421-6923 ir@cornerstoneresources.ca CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Tuscany Energy Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: TUS). Tuscany is pleased to report on its financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2015. Financial Tuscany reported oil and natural gas sales of $10.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared with $17.6 million in 2014. The Company reported cash flow from operations of $1.2 million, compared to $8.1 million for 2014. Lower commodity prices resulted in Tuscany reporting a $2.5 million impairment of its Alberta oil and gas assets for the year, which contributed to a loss of $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Operations Due to the low heavy oil prices, the Company deferred drilling activities and focused on well optimization and the expansion of infrastructure. This included the addition of higher volume pumps on a number of wells, as well as increasing the capacity of water disposal facilities at both the Macklin and Evesham properties. In December 2015, the Company drilled a successful exploratory horizontal heavy oil well on a Dina prospect at Winter, Sask. The well was drilled to satisfy Tuscany's flow- through share commitments on shares issued in 2014. The Winter well is a new pool heavy oil discovery that may lead to six offset development wells. The new well produced an average of 67 Bopd in December 2015 and 85.4 Bopd in January 2016 before being shut-in in February until oil prices recover. Tuscany was also active in abandoning wells in Alberta to improve the Company's Licensed Liability Rating ("LLR"). As a result Tuscany has restored its LLR to above one and recovered its $1.1 million of security from the Alberta Government. Production The Company reported average production of 789 BOEd for 2015, slightly higher than the 751 BOEd in the prior year, though lower than the 844 BOEd reported for the first half of 2015. Tuscany was able to maintain its production levels with limited drilling activity. Strategic Review Process On December 2, 2015 Tuscany announced that it had initiated a process to identify and examine strategic alternatives for the purpose of enhancing shareholder value. Such review process is ongoing and may include a number of alternatives including a corporate transaction, consisting of a sale or amalgamation of the Company, an asset sale, an issue of new equity or debt instruments or a combination of any of these. Tuscany has engaged a financial advisor in connection with the comprehensive review and analysis of strategic alternatives. At December 31, 2015, the Company had a production loan facility with a Canadian financial institution, with a lending limit of $8.5 million, repayable on demand. At December 31, 2015, Tuscany's working capital deficit was $9.1 million including $7.9 million drawn on the facility. The Company is not in compliance with the working capital covenant in its credit facility agreement. Tuscany has obtained a temporary waiver from its lending institution of the breach of its covenants in order to allow it to remedy the breach. The Company has committed to supply the lending institution with a plan to remedy the breach in a timely manner. Corporate Summary Three months ended Year ended December 31, December 31, 2015 2014 2015 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ($ Thousands, unless otherwise indicated) Financial Oil & gas revenue 1,750 4,689 10,113 17,609 Cash flow from (used in) operations (1) (679) 1,925 1,197 8,077 $ per share, basic and diluted (1) (0.01) 0.04 0.02 0.15 Net loss for the period (2,297) (5,874) (6,574) (5,087) $ per share, basic and diluted (0.05) (0.12) (0.13) (0.12) Capital expenditures, net of dispositions 905 3,584 2,646 11,525 Net debt (1) (9,128) (6,763) (9,128) (6,763) Total assets 27,281 38,324 27,281 33,503 Total shares outstanding at period end 50,637 51,041 50,637 51,041 Operations Production Oil and NGLs (Bopd) 519 777 632 609 Gas (Mcfd) 1,138 834 943 852 BOEd (6 Mcf = 1 Bbl) 709 916 789 751 Product Prices Oil ($/Bbl) 31.10 61.89 39.91 73.19 Gas ($/Mcf) 2.53 3.43 2.63 4.30 (1) See Non-GAAP Measures in MD&A for the Year ended December 31, 2015 Tuscany has filed Audited Financial Statements and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2015 on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Where amounts are expressed on a barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) basis, natural gas volumes have been converted to barrels of oil on the basis of six thousand cubic feet (mcf) per barrel (bbl). BOE figures may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion of six thousand cubic feet per barrel is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6 mcf: 1 bbl, using a conversion on a 6 mcf: 1 bbl basis may be m isleading as an indication of value. References to oil in this discussion include crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs). 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: Robert W. Lamond, President & CEO TUSCANY ENERGY LTD. (403) 269-9889 (403) 269-9890 (FAX) Donald K. Clark, Vice President Operations TUSCANY ENERGY LTD. (403) 269-9889 (403) 269-9890 (FAX) www.tuscanyenergy.com CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Americas Petrogas Inc. ("Americas Petrogas" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: BOE) announces that it has filed its 2015 audited consolidated financial statements, including the Auditor's Report thereon, and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") relating to its 2015 year-end results. These filings can be accessed on SEDAR's website at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.americaspetrogas.com. The Company has also filed on SEDAR a Statement of Reserves Data and Other Information for the year ended December 31, 2015 as prescribed by National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities. The following Summary of Selected Financial and Operational Highlights have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and MD&A. Readers are strongly encouraged to review the entire audited consolidated financial statements, including the Auditor's Report thereon, and MD&A. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Summary of Selected Financial and Operational Highlights December 31, December 31, ($ in thousands) 2015 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and cash equivalents $ 56,671 $ 14,718 Working capital(1) $ 62,594 $ 5,518 Year ended December 31 ($ in thousands, except share, per share, and per barrel amounts) 2015 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crude oil sales $ 24,733 $ 30,999 Net revenue(2) $ 20,336 $ 26,033 Net income (loss) attributable to owners of the Company(3) $ (40,451) $ (52,851) Earnings (loss) per share - basic and diluted $ (0.17) $ (0.24) Capital expenditures $ 10,032 $ 20,773 Average barrels sold per day 710 968 Average selling price per barrel $ 95.48 $ 87.71 See Notes 1, 2 and 3 further below. Highlights and Recent Activities CORPORATE - On August 28, 2015 the Company closed the sale of Americas Petrogas Argentina S.A. The Company, through its other wholly-owned Argentine subsidiary, Energicon, has retained interests in several non-producing conventional and unconventional properties in the Neuquen Basin of Argentina. - As at December 31, 2015, the Company had $56.7 million of consolidated cash and cash equivalents and had a positive consolidated working capital position of $62.6 million (working capital is calculated as current assets ($83.2 million) less current liabilities ($20.6 million)). - In December 2015, the Company entered into settlement agreements with certain dissenting shareholders (the "Dissenting Shareholders") holding 22,523,667 common shares (the "Dissented Shares") in the capital of the Company. The consideration paid for the Dissented Shares was issued in settlement of statutory rights of dissent exercised by the Dissenting Shareholders. Under the terms of the settlement agreements, the Dissenting Shareholders received $0.295 in cash and 0.22 common shares of Americas Petrogas (the "Settlement Shares") for each Dissented Share held. The aggregate consideration paid for the Dissented Shares was $6.6 million in cash and 4,955,206 in Settlement Shares (paid and issued in February 2016). PERU - An update of the Bayovar Phosphate Mineral Resource estimate incorporating the 24 drill holes drilled in late 2014 and early 2015, and the infill sampling of drill holes from 2011 and 2012 resulted in a total of 21.4 million tonnes (dry) of Indicated Resources (average grade 13.99% P2O5; Bayovar 6 & 7 combined) and 408.7 million tonnes (dry) of Inferred Resources (average grade 13.84% P2O5; Bayovar 6, 7 & 8 combined). See note 4 below. - The Company has completed additional boreholes on the Bayovar 5 & 7 concessions. Drilling commenced in Q4-2015 on the Bayovar 5 concession block with eight (8) wide spaced reconnaissance drill holes drilled to test for near surface phosphate-bearing beds. Additionally, follow up infill and resource expansion drilling was conducted in Q4-2015 and Q1- 2016 on the Bayovar 7 concession block using 800 and 400 meters spacing. The target phosphate bearing Diana Formation has been encountered with depth to top of the first phosphate bed encountered at 3-4 meters below surface in the Lower Playa Zone and 15-18 meters below surface in the upper Tablazo Zone. The Company expects to have a further resource update in June 2016, which will incorporate this additional infill and reconnaissance drilling on the Bayovar concessions. - The Company announced on February 16, 2016 the engagement of WorleyParsons and Golder to undertake a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Bayovar 5 and Bayovar 7 concession blocks. The project is progressing on schedule, and the Company anticipates releasing the results in June 2016. - A pilot evaporation pond for Carnallite/Kainite and other minerals from the brine reservoir area on the Bayovar 5 concession has been constructed. Favorable results from these pilot evaporation ponds has led the Company to proceed with an expansion of these ponds in 2016 for further study and to determine future plans for commercial production. - Early in 2016, the Company's Peruvian subsidiary, APPSA, acquired the remaining 30% interest in the Bayovar concession from the Peruvian Co- venturers. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, cash payments to be made to the Peruvian Co-ventuers total US$8.0 million payable over a period of approximately three years. ARGENTINA - Totoral -The Company received approval for an extension of the Company's commitment obligations on the Totoral block (90% net working interest) to September 2017. As part of the extension approval, the Company relinquished its interest in the Yerba Buena and Bajada Colorada blocks. The financial commitment on the Totoral block is estimated to be US$5.5 million. - Loma Ranqueles - The Company and its joint venture partner, Tecpetrol, received approval for an extension of the commitment obligations on the Loma Ranqueles block to June 2017 (the Company has a 25% net working interest). The Company's share of financial commitment on the Loma Ranqueles block is estimated to be US$1.0 million. - Vaca Mahuida- The Company acquired an additional working interest in the Vaca Mahuida block for no cost in April 2016, bringing the Company's working interest to a total of 50%. As part of the acquisition of the additional working interest, the Company acquired operatorship of the block. Discussions are ongoing with the Province of Rio Negro and the 50% partner as to future plans for the area. - Rinconada Norte - The Company relinquished its rights to this block in early 2016. - Huacalera -There are no immediate plans for this block at this time. The Company continues to explore various options to maximize the value of its assets in Argentina. 2016 CAPITAL BUDGET and G&A Capital spending program in 2016 of approximately US$12.5 million includes the following: - Peru (approximately US$12.0 million) -- additional borehole drilling on Bayovar 5 & 7, assay/lab testing and resource updates, Preliminary Economic Assessment Report, expanding the Carnallite/Kainite production ponds, and acquisition payments. - Argentina (approximately US$0.5 million) -- production tests of two shut-in gas wells at Vaca Mahuida and further technical studies on the remaining blocks. General and administrative expenses for 2016 are expected to be approximately US$5.5 million. Abby Badwi Executive Chairman of American Petrogas stated, "In 2015, the Company initiated several changes with an objective to focus on enhancing the value of its primary mining assets in Peru, realizing adequate returns from its remaining oil and gas blocks in Argentina, lowering its corporate G&A, and conserving the cash received from the sale of its Argentina assets by prudent capital spending to ensure delivering maximum value to its shareholders." FILING OF UPDATED PHOSPHATE MINERAL RESOURCE TECHNICAL REPORT Americas Petrogas and its subsidiary, GrowMax Agri Corp. are pleased to announce the filing on SEDAR of the National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 Updated Mineral Resource technical report on the Company's drill holes on the Bayovar 6, 7 and 8 concessions on its Bayovar Property located in the Sechura Desert, Peru. The report, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and initially announced on March 14, 2016, was prepared by Golder Associates ("Golder"), under the supervision of Jerry DeWolfe, MSc. P.Geo, an independent Qualified Person defined under NI 43-101. The report provides an update of the details on the Company's inaugural phosphate mineral resource originally filed in May 2015. Notes: (1) Working capital is a non-GAAP measure and is calculated as current assets less current liabilities. Working capital is used to assess liquidity and general financial strength. Working capital does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. It is unlikely for non-GAAP measures to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Working capital should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than current assets or current liabilities as determined in accordance with IFRS. (2) "Net revenue" is an additional GAAP measure because it is presented in the consolidated statement of income (loss). Net revenue is calculated as crude oil sales less royalties. The Company uses "net revenue" as an indicator of operating performance. (3) For 2015, net loss attributable to owners of the Company included $3.2 million non-cash foreign exchange gains (2014 -- $17.9 million foreign exchange losses) on intercompany loans. During the year ended December 31, 2015, as a result of the sale of 100% of the common shares of Americas Petrogas Argentina S.A., the Company reclassified $18.0 million of previously recognized other comprehensive loss as foreign exchange loss through the statement of income (loss). (4) The resource report entitled "Updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Technical Report on the GrowMax Bayovar Phosphate Project, Piura Region, Peru" was filed on SEDAR on April 28, 2016. This resource report, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, was prepared by Golder, under the supervision of Jerry DeWolfe, MSc. P.Geo, an independent Qualified Person defined under NI 43-101. For additional information, including applicable disclosures, please refer to that resource report. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this Press Release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian and US securities laws. Any information or statements contained herein that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events should be viewed as forward-looking information. Such information relate to analyses and other information that are based upon forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Such forward-looking information 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 than those results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, statements (express or implied) contained herein or in the Company's MD&A regarding the following should be considered as forward-looking information: the Company's goals, growth strategy, objectives, strategic plan, business plan, and restructuring; enhancing the value of assets; realizing the value of assets; lowering G&A; targeted general and administrative and capital spending; work programs and budget; drilling programs, timing, activities, commitments and costs; exploration efforts, drilling results and activities on the Bayovar concession (including results from the pilot evaporation pond, the expansion of the pilot evaporation pond and timing thereof, and drilling on the Bayovar 5 and Bayovar 7 concession blocks); the undertaking and timing of an initial PEA for the Bayovar 5 and Bayovar 7 concession blocks; the completion of a further resource update and timing thereof, plans for commercial production on the Company's Bayovar concession, production testing at Vaca Mahuida, technical studies on remaining oil and gas blocks, and timing, results and finding of all reports, economic assessments and studies on the Company's Bayovar concession. In addition, information regarding the reserve and resource estimates attributable to the Company's oil and gas properties or mineral resource properties should be considered forward-looking statements. In particular, the presence of phosphates in samples is not necessarily indicative that phosphates are capable of being successfully produced in commercial quantities or at all. There is no assurance reserves will be assigned to such phosphate-bearing formations. There is no assurance that future wells will be drilled on the Bayovar Property or that if drilled, will be successful mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional forward-looking information is contained in the Company's MD&A, and reference should be made to the additional disclosures of the assumptions, risks and uncertainties relating to such forward-looking information in that document. There is no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could vary or differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements contained in this Press Release. This cautionary statement expressly qualifies the forward-looking statements contained herein and in the MD&A. Forward-looking information is based on management's beliefs, expectations, estimates and opinions on the date statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information and whether the beliefs, expectations, estimates and opinions upon which such forward-looking information is based has changed, except as required by applicable law. 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 THE RELEASE. Contacts: Americas Petrogas Inc. Abby Badwi, P. Geo. Executive Chairman +1 587 390 7015 inquiries@americaspetrogas.com www.americaspetrogas.com During first 3 months of 2016, Valmiera Glass Group's consolidated net turnover reached EUR 33.08 million During the first 3 months of the year 2016, JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra", together with its subsidiary companies, has reached a consolidated net turnover of 33.08 Million euro, thus maintaining the record-breaking turnover level of the 1st quarter of the year 2015, as stated in the unaudited consolidated inter-period report of JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra" for the 3 months of the year 2016. The Group's consolidated net profit has reached EUR 2.06 million, whereas EUR 1.32 million have been invested into development - for the modernisation of the current technical and technology solutions and for development of new products.During the first 3 months of the year 2016, the products produced by JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra" were exported to 37 countries of the world thus raising the amount of export to 97%. Over the 1st quarter of the year 2016, the key export markets of the products remained unchanged: European Union countries (72%), North America (17%) and other countries. Considerable growth is observed in the export market of the North American region, with the sales volumes increasing by 37% in the first three months against the same period last year.From a product segment perspective, sales volumes have increased for high added-value products - SiO2 glass fibre products and mats. In the first 3 months of this year, the sales of these products has grown by 65% on average compared to the same period in 2015. Sales volume in other product segments continues to be stable.On the basis of the results of the first quarter of the year 2016 and the overall development trends, the Group's management maintains the forecasts expressed for both with regard to the Group's planned this year's net turnover of EUR 141 million and the planned net profit of EUR 8.6 million. Hereby, we inform you that in 2016, it is planned to invest EUR 6.2 million into the Group's development, excluding investments in relation with the production expansion project in the United States of America.The year 2016 has started for Valmiera Glass Group also with positive business achievements. The construction of a large-scale BJK Vodafone Arena in Istanbul, Turkey was completed in April, in which JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra" subsidiary Valmiera Glass UK Ltd was contracted to supply the roof cover for the building: architectural glass fibre textile membrane. Participation in the large-scale project is a significant achievement for the Valmiera Glass Group that demonstrates that the products made by the Group comply with the modern quality requirements.About the Valmiera Glass Group:JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra" and its subsidiaries (hereinafter "the Valmiera Glass Group" or "the Group") are among the leading glass fiber manufacturers in Europe. The Valmiera Glass Group companies operate in two continents and in three countries: Latvia, the United Kingdom and the United States. JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra" production facilities have more than eighty years of experience in textile processing, and their products are aimed at various industrial markets. The Group is composed of four companies: the parent company JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra" and its three subsidiaries - Valmiera Glass UK Ltd. in the United Kingdom, Valmiera Glass USA Corp. and Valmiera Glass USA Trading Corp. in the United States of America.Contacts: Marika Nimante JSC "Valmieras stikla skiedra" marketing project manager Phone: +371 64202276, +371 26635509 Fax: +371 64281216 E-mail: Marika.Nimante@valmiera-glass.com More information about company: www.valmiera-glass.comAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=559613 Vilnius, 2016-04-29 15:16 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The resolutions of the General Shareholders Meeting of Invalda INVL, AB that was held on 29 April 2016:1) Presentation of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL consolidated annual report.Shareholders of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL are presented with the consolidated annual report of Invalda INVL for 2015 (There is no voting on this issue of agenda).2) Presentation of the independent auditor's report on the financial statements of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL.Shareholders of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL are presented with the independent auditor's report on the financial statements of Invalda INVL and audit's committee report for 2015 (There is no voting on this issue of agenda).3) On the approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2015 of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL.To approve the consolidated and companies financial statements for 2015 of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL.4) Regarding the distribution of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL for 2015.To distribute the profit of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL for 2015 as follows:Article (thousan d EUR) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Retained earnings (loss) at the beginning of the financial year of the 24,515 reporting period -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net profit (loss) for the financial year 4,481 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Profit (loss) not recognized in the income statement of the reporting (4) financial year - retained earnings transferred during the split-off -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfers from reserves - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- from reserve to purchase of own shares - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- from legal reserve - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- from share premium - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholders contribution to cover loss (if all or part of loss is - covered by the shareholders) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Profit distribution: 28,992 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Profit transfers to the legal reserves - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Profit transfers to the reserves for own shares acquisition - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Profit transfers to other reserves - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Profit to be paid as dividends - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Profit to be paid as annual payments (bonus) and for other purposes - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Retained earnings (loss) at the end of the financial year 28,992 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. Regarding purchase of own shares of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL.Executing the resolution of the General Shareholders Meeting on 30 April 2015 on the acquisition of own shares, Invalda INVL purchased its own shares for a total of 550 thousand euros. The remaining amount of the unused reserve for own shares is 10,571 thousand euros.To use the reserve for the purchase of own shares and to purchase shares in Invalda INVL under these conditions:1. The goal for the purchase of own shares - to ensure for shareholders a possibility to sell company's shares2. The maximum number of shares to be acquired - the nominal value of own shares may not exceed 1/10 of share capital.3. The period during which the company may purchase its own shares - 18 months from the day of this resolution.4. The maximum and minimal one share acquisition price: the maximum one share acquisition price - value of consolidated equity per one share calculated according to the last publicly announced data of the consolidated equity of Invalda INVL before the decision of the Board, minimum one share acquisition price - EUR 1.5. The conditions of the selling of the purchased shares and mininal purchase price: Purchased own shares may be cancelled by the decision of the General Shareholders Meeting or sold by the decision of the Board upon the condition that minimum sale price for one share isn't lower than value of consolidated equity per one share calculated according to the publicly announced data of the consolidated equity of Invalda INVL before the decision of the Board, and the sale procedure will ensure equal possibilities for all shareholders to purchase these shares.The Board of Invalda INVL, AB is delegated on the basis of this resolution and the Law on companies of the Republic of Lithuania to organize purchase and sale of own shares, to organize purchase and selling procedure own shares and to determine an order and timing for purchase and sale of own shares as well as the amount of shares and shares price, and to complete all other actions related with purchase and sale procedure of own shares.From the date of this resolution the resolution of the General Shareholders Meeting on 30 April 2015 on the acquisition of own shares expires.6. On the approval of Invalda INVLemployee stock option policy.To approve the Invalda INVL Employee stock option policy (enclosed).To authorize the Board of Invalda INVL to ensure the proper implementation of Employee stock option policy.7. Regarding the specific number of ordinary registered shares of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL for which during year 2016 employees shall be offered options contracts and regarding the price of the shares.It is offered for the employees of Invalda INVL and of the companies, in which Invalda INVL owns 50 per cent or more of shares, during year 2016 to make options contracts, on the basis of which according to the procedures and terms established in options contracts in year 2019 employees will be able to exercise the right to acquire 52,906 ordinary shares of Invalda INVL of EUR 0.29 nominal value, by paying for every acquired share 1 (one) euro. The acquisition price of shares is fixed, it does not change depending on performance results of the company and / or other companies' of the group or on ordinary registered share price of Invalda INVL on a regulated market.The person authorized to provide additional information: Darius Sulnis President Phone +370 5279 0601 E-mail: darius.sulnis@invl.comAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=559621 Rokiskio suris AB, Pramones str.3, Rokiskis, Lithuania, 2016-04-29 15:29 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The approved resolutions of the 29 th April 2016 General Meeting of Shareholders:1. Auditor's findings regarding the consolidated financial reports and annual report.Debriefed.2. The Audit Committee report.Resolution:To endorse the report of the Audit Committee.3. The Company's consolidated annual report for the year 2015.Debriefed with the consolidated annual report for the year 2015 of Rokiskio suris.4. Approval of the consolidated and company's financial accounting for the year 2015.Resolution:To approve the audited consolidated and company's financial reports for the year 2015.5. Allocation of the profit (loss) of the Company of 2015.Resolution:To approve the following profit (loss) distribution of the year 2015:Title kEUR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Non-distributable profit (loss) at beginning of year 45,614 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Approved by shareholders dividends related to the year 2014 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Transfers from other reserves 2,585 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Non-distributable profit (loss) at beginning of year after dividend 48,199 payout and transfer to reserves -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Net profit (loss) of the Company of fiscal year 3,879 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Distributable profit (loss) of the Company 52,078 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Profit share for mandatory reserve - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. Profit share for other reserves - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Profit share for dividend payout (2,342 ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. Profit share for annual payments (tantiemes) to the Board of 775 Directors, employee bonuses and other as accounted by Profit (loss) statement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Non-distributable profit (loss) at end of year transferred to the 49,735 next fiscal year --------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 It is distributed the profit earned by 2009Dividends for the year 2015 are allocated to 33,453,391 shares, i.e. 0.07 eur per share (before taxes).Persons entitled to receive dividends are those who are actual shareholders of the Company at the end of the tenth day after approval of the resolution for dividend pay-out by the general meeting of shareholders (shareholders proprietary right accounting day), i. e. May 13, 2016.Pursuing the Laws of the Republic of Lithuania, dividends paid to physical bodies resided in the Republic of Lithuania as well as in foreign countries are subject to 15 per cent of residential income tax; Dividends paid to juridical bodies of the Republic of Lithuania as well as foreign countries are subject to 15 per cent of profit tax, unless it is stated differently the law.6. Election of the Company's auditor and establishment of payment conditions.Resolution :To elect an audit company UAB PricewaterhouseCoopers to perform an audit of annual consolidated financial statements and evaluation of the annual report of the Group of AB Rokiskio suris and the Parent Company. Remuneration for the audit shall be identified by the Board of Directors. The Company's manager is authorized to sign an agreement with the audit company.Dalius Trumpa Board Chairman +370 458 55200Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=559637 Group Utenos trikotazas has earned 94 thousand Euros of operating profitUtena, Lithuania, 2016-04-29 15:30 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Consolidated sales of AB Utenos Trikotazas Group for the I quarter of 2016 reached EUR 5.0 million, 14.4 % more than during the same period in 2015.AB Utenos Trikotazas sales for the I quarter of 2016 reached EUR 4.2 million, 16.1 % more than during the same period in 2015.Operating profit of AB Utenos Trikotazas Group for the first quarter of 2016 was EUR 94 thousand, as in the same period in 2015, the Group has suffered EUR 50 thousand of operating losses. The Group has suffered loss amounting to 50 thousand Euros before tax whereas the sum of suffered losses before tax in 2015 amounted to 486 thousand Euros.AB Utenos trikotazas incurred EUR 31 thousand of operating loss for the first quarter of 2016, as in the same period in 2015 the Company incurred EUR 146 thousand of operating losses. The Company has suffered 54 thousand Euros of loss before tax, whereas the suffered loss before tax in 2015 amounted to 175 thousand Euros."Investment in the upgrading programme in 2015, in particular, the purchase of the only in the Baltic countries digital printing equipment, has enabled the company to expand the range of its production capabilities and to attract new customers and orders," comments the performance Chief Executive Officer of AB Utenos trikotazas, Eimundas Maciulis. "There has been a significant increase in sales of higher value added products, which means that we have succeeded to maintain the strategic area over the past year - to offer innovative and customised solutions to the continuously increasing number of target clients."Performance during the first months of 2016 was positively influenced by own brand sales. "For example, I quarter sales of About and Utenos trikotazas, compared to the previous year, has grown by more than 50 percent," says pleased E. Maciulis.Over the year, the company produces more than 9 million meters of materials and sews over 3 million pieces of clothing. 90 percent of the company's goods are exported, mainly, to Germany, Austria, Sweden, and Switzerland.AB Utenos trikotazas is one of few textile enterprises with a complete vertically integrated production cycle and capable of offering its clients a full range of services - from manufacture of yarn and materials required to a final product.For more details on the material event, please contact Eimundas Maciulis, Chief Executive Officer of AB Utenos trikotazas, by tel. +370 389 51445.Chief Executive Officer AB Utenos trikotazas Eimundas MaciulisAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=559336 Compliance Training Platform Ushers In a New Era in Ethics and Compliance Training TEMPE, Arizona, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global integrity and compliance firm The Red Flag Group today released Compliance Interactive, a revolutionary compliance training platform designed to transform the way employees of large companies receive compliance training. Using engaging, storyline-driven modules, an entertaining cast of CGI-animated characters and a relatable activity-based narrative, Compliance Interactive is designed to optimize employees' learning experiences through an enterprise-wide e-Learning platform, changing the way that companies fulfill their compliance and ethics training obligations. "For years, compliance training has involved dry content that was rolled out and made 'mandatory' despite a good deal of it being irrelevant to most of the employee base," said Scott Lane, chairman of The Red Flag Group. "Compliance Interactive puts the 'one-size-fits-all' training model to rest, with no more wasted hours on unnecessary or irrelevant training." As opposed to licensing and implementing standard training titles from a catalog, the Compliance Interactive Adaptive Course System dynamically builds a single course specific to each employee- based on his or her role, responsibilities and location- from a selection of more than 600 modules. "We developed Compliance Interactive with the understanding that each employee is different," said Lane. "From managing teams, working across cultures or engaging in high risk activities, employees' activities dictate what they need to know from a compliance perspective. Therefore, compliance training should be tailored accordingly, to enable each employee to be most effective." Each course contains animated real-life scenarios paired with engaging narrative, encouraging the learner to become part of the story. "This is the next best thing to real-life experience, as the learner experiences first-hand the character's actions, can see what their motives are and how this can unfold in everyday life," explained Lane. "The consequences of the character's actions are both memorable and tangible, with the learner being able to relate to how those actions would impact his or her specific job role and experiences." Key features and benefits of Compliance Interactive include: Tailored Topics . While the full Compliance Interactive course covers more than 200 topics and scenarios, individual learners will only receive the elements that are immediately relevant to them- and the information they need to know to perform effectively. . While the full Compliance Interactive course covers more than 200 topics and scenarios, individual learners will only receive the elements that are immediately relevant to them- and the information they need to know to perform effectively. Customizable policies and procedures. For companies that want specific content, Compliance Interactive can be easily coupled with specific customizations that can easily be changed at any time. For companies that want specific content, Compliance Interactive can be easily coupled with specific customizations that can easily be changed at any time. Fast implementations with minimal administrative burden . Implementing one course with no complex course assignment rules results in fewer variables in the equation, dramatically reducing the time-intensiveness of administering multiple courses. . Implementing one course with no complex course assignment rules results in fewer variables in the equation, dramatically reducing the time-intensiveness of administering multiple courses. Multiple languages for global companies. Compliance Interactive is available in all key languages for global companies, with more available on request. "Employees deserve a compliance program that is tailored for them, and not something that they need to study before working out how they can apply it to their environment," added Lane. "Compliance Interactive distills compliance training down to a single course, so those who engage with the platform save time by not receiving information that's irrelevant to their job functions." To learn more about this product, visit www.redflaggroup.com. About The Red Flag Group The Red Flag Group is a global integrity and compliance risk firm. It applies its unique set of advice, technology and business intelligence applications to manage the integrity and compliance risks of its customers. The Red Flag Group assists companies in developing and maintaining efficient and effective corporate governance and compliance programs, and has a proven track record in providing integrity due diligence investigations in 194 countries.For more information, visit www.redflaggroup.com. Contact: Rebecca Raudabaugh or Ben Arens L.C. Williams & Associates 800-837-7123 or 312-565-3900 rraudabaugh@lcwa.com or barens@lcwa.com Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151022/8521506986LOGO OTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Northern Graphite Corporation (TSX VENTURE: NGC) ("Northern" or the "Corporation") announces that subsequent to the recent expiration (on April 18, 2016) of stock options to purchase 2,025,000 common shares of the Corporation at a price of $0.50 per share held by certain senior officers and non-executive directors of the Corporation, it has granted stock options to purchase 3,050,000 common shares of the Corporation at a price of $0.50 per share and exercisable until April 27, 2021, to the same senior officers and non-executive directors. The grant is pursuant to the stock option plan of the Corporation. The Corporation currently has 51,484,279 common shares issued and outstanding and after giving effect to the grant, will have 4,625,000 options outstanding. For the last two years management and the board have reduced salaries, fees and bonuses. The granting of stock options under the stock option plan is a meaningful part of the Corporation's annual compensation policy, particularly in such circumstances. Included in the total are 500,000 stock options granted to non-executive directors who held 500,000 stock options of the Corporation which were voluntarily cancelled in December, 2015. As a result, the grant of these 500,000 stock options is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval and disinterested shareholder approval and these options may not be exercised until such approvals have been obtained. The balance of the stock options are exercisable at any time. The Corporation also announces that it has retained the services of Renmark Financial Communications Inc. to assist with its marketing and investor relations activities. The service contract includes a monthly retainer of $2,500 that commenced on April 1st, 2016. Renmark does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in Northern or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest. About Northern Graphite Corporation Northern's Bissett Creek graphite deposit is a pre-development stage project with a Feasibility Study completed and its major environmental permit in hand. Construction of the project is subject to the completion of ongoing operational and species at risk permitting and full project financing/strategic partnerships. Located near the Trans-Canada highway in eastern Canada, Bissett Creek has the highest reported percentage of large/XL/XXL graphite flake and the highest operating margin of any new graphite project. Bissett Creek has a reasonable capital cost and a competitive advantage in the lithium ion battery ("LiB") industry as its high quality concentrates yield a high percentage of anode material which can be produced using cost competitive, proprietary, environmentally friendly technologies. Northern Graphite is well positioned to benefit from the rapid growth in the use of LiBs and supply concerns relating to anode material from China. This press release contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of statements that include words such as "could", "potential", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "likely", "will" or other similar words or phrases. These statements are only current predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. 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. Contacts: Northern Graphite Corporation Gregory Bowes CEO (613) 241-9959 Northern Graphite Corporation Stephen Thompson CFO (613) 241-9959 MEXICO CITY (dpa-AFX) - The Mexican Peso gained ground against the U.S. dollar in New York trading on Friday, as latter declined across the board after the Fed dashed hopes for an imminent rate hike. The Mexican Peso climbed to 17.0504 against the greenback, a level not seen since December 2015. The Mexican currency may locate resistance around the 16.00 area. The pair closed deals at 17.2622 on Thursday. 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. In conjunction with a conversion of shares, the company is obliged, according to the Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980), to disclose information concerning the change. Regulatory News: During April 2016, 3,000 Series A shares were converted to Series B shares at the request of shareholders. Accordingly, the total number of votes in the company totals 598,476,932. The total number of registered shares in the company amounts to 419,903,072, of which 19,841,540 are Series A shares, and 400,061,532 are Series B shares. This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com/media Skanska is one of the world's leading project development and construction groups with expertise in construction, development of commercial and residential premises, and public-private partnerships projects. Based on its global green experience, Skanska aims to be the clients' first choice for Green solutions. The Group currently has 43,000 employees in selected home markets in Europe and North America. Skanska's sales in 2015 totaled SEK 155 billion. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005721/en/ Contacts: Skanska AB Andre Lofgren, Senior Vice President Investor Relations tel +46 (0)10 448 13 63 TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- OMERS Private Equity ("OPE"), the private equity arm of OMERS, has agreed to sell Give and Go Prepared Foods Corp. ("Give & Go") to affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. ("THL"). Founded in 1989, Give & Go is a market leader in the North American bakery industry delivering value-added, branded and private label programs across a range of consumer segments including Mini-Treats, Cupcakes, and Better For You Snacking. Give & Go's well-known offerings include its bestselling two-bite and Kimberley's Bakeshoppe brands, and well-positioned Mason St. Bakehouse, and The Worthy Crumb Pastry Co. brands. OPE acquired Give & Go in 2007. Working together with the current management team, Give & Go more than doubled U.S. sales by executing on an aggressive expansion plan including the development of important partnerships with many leading supermarket retailers, and gained market share by providing these customers with innovative, on-trend products. Under OPE ownership, Give & Go made two strategic acquisitions as well as significant capital investments to support its growth. The company now operates four best-in-class manufacturing facilities in Toronto, Ontario. Phillip Mauchel, Managing Director at OPE said, "This transaction represents the logical next step in Give & Go's continued progress as an industry-leading platform. We are proud of our affiliation with the company and its CEO, Joel Flatt and COO, Todd Parsons. We have partnered with Joel and Todd since 2007, helping nearly double operational capacity, add exciting new product lines and expand sales channels in the US." Michael Graham, Head of North America, for OPE said, "Today's announcement marks another successful realization in the OPE portfolio - the seventh exit in the last three years. Give & Go has performed very well as an investment for OMERS returning approximately 3X our original investment. We sincerely wish Joel and his entire team continued success." Joel Flatt, CEO of Give and Go, commented, "The OPE team have been great long-term partners, and have provided significant support to our growth agenda over the past decade. We are excited about our new partnership with THL who have an excellent track record, and are aligned with our own desire to build Give & Go through continued innovation leadership and an accelerated acquisition plan. I am confident that we found the right partners to aggressively expand and scale with more value-added consumer-driven programs." RBC Capital Markets, Scotiabank and BMO Capital Markets served as financial advisors. Goodmans LLP and Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal counsel. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016, subject to customary conditions. About OMERS Private Markets ("OPM") and OMERS Private Equity OMERS Private Markets (OMERS Private Equity ("OPE") and Borealis Infrastructure) invests globally in private equity and infrastructure assets on behalf of the OMERS pension plan. OPE's investment strategy involves active ownership of a portfolio of industry-leading businesses across North America and Europe. Through partnership with world class management teams and delivering on growth strategies, OPE's investments are aimed at generating strong returns to help deliver secure and sustainable pensions to OMERS members. Recent OPE transactions include the acquisition of Forefront Dermatology, Kenan Advantage Group, and ERM Partners and the successful sale of Marketwired. OPM has offices in Toronto, New York, London and Sydney. OMERS is one of Canada's largest pension funds with net assets of CAD$77 billion. For more information, please visit www.omerspe.com or www.omersprivatemarkets.com. About Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. is one of the world's oldest and most experienced private equity firms. The firm invests in growth-oriented businesses, headquartered principally in North America, across three broad sectors: consumer and healthcare, media and information services, and business and financial services. Since its founding in 1974, THL has raised over $20 billion of equity capital and invested in more than 130 businesses with an aggregate purchase price of more than $150 billion. THL strives to build great companies of lasting value and generate superior investment returns. For more information, please visit www.thl.com. Contacts: Media Contacts: OMERS Neil Hrab 416-369-2418 nhrab@omers.com THL Matt Benson/Robin Weinberg/Devin Broda 212-687-8080 29 April 2016 Acron Posts Draft 2015 Annual Report on its Website Acron (Moscow Exchange and LSE: AKRN) has released draft 2015 Annual Report on its website http://www.acron.ru/en/. To comply with the Russian law, the draft is subject to approval by the annual general meeting. Media contacts: Tatyana Smirnova Tel.: +7 (495) 777-08-65 Public Relations Contacts for investment companies: Ilya Popov Tel.: +7 (495) 411-55-94 (Ext. 5252) Investor Relations Additional information: Acron Group is a leading global vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally with a diversified product portfolio consisting of complex and straight nitrogen-based fertilisers, as well as industrial products. In 2015, the Group's sales volume was 6.3 million tonnes. Acron sells its products in 60 countries. Russia and China are its key sale markets. In 2015, the Group posted consolidated revenue under IFRS of RUB 106,055 million (USD 1,740 million) and net profit of RUB 16,706 million (USD 274 million). Acron's shares are listed on the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 13,000 people. A high degree of vertical integration, including three chemical production facilities, a phosphate mine, a potash-mining project, wholly owned transport infrastructure and an international distribution network, create a platform for the Group's dynamic growth. Further information is available on our website at www.acron.ru/en. 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: ACRON via GlobeNewswire [HUG#2008578] B3BS5Q4R51 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. Final Required Regulatory Approval Launches Last Stages of Transaction Process Acceptance Period Ends May 13, 2016 This is a joint press release by FedEx Corporation, FedEx Acquisition B.V. and TNT Express N.V. pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 paragraph 3 and Section 15 paragraph 2 of the Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) in connection with the recommended public offer by FedEx Acquisition B.V. for all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the share capital of TNT Express N.V., including all American depositary shares representing ordinary shares (the Offer). This announcement does not constitute an offer, or any solicitation of any offer, to buy or subscribe for any securities in TNT Express N.V. The Offer is made solely pursuant to the offer document, dated August 21, 2015 (the Offer Document), approved by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiele Markten) (the AFM). Terms not defined in this press release will have the meaning as set forth in the Offer Document. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005827/en/ FedEx Corporation (FedEx) (NYSE:FDX), FedEx Acquisition B.V. (the Offeror) and TNT Express N.V. (TNT Express) jointly announce that on April 29, 2016, they obtained the unconditional approval of the Ministry of Commerce People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) in connection with the Offer. With the approval of MOFCOM, the Offer Condition with respect to Competition Clearances has now been fulfilled. Shareholders are reminded that in accordance with the dispensation (ontheffing) granted by the AFM and the joint press release dated 8 January 2016, the Acceptance Period shall end at 17:40 hours CEST (11:40 hours New York time) on 13 May 2016 (the Acceptance Closing Time "I want to thank the team members who collaborated with regulatory authorities around the world to help us reach this important acquisition milestone," said David Bronczek, President and CEO, FedEx Express. "As we work towards closing the acquisition, we look forward to welcoming TNT Express team members to the FedEx family of companies as we expand our portfolio of solutions and connect even more people and possibilities." "With this final regulatory approval, we are one step closer to making the vision of combining the complementary networks of FedEx and TNT Express a reality," said Tex Gunning, Chief Executive Officer, TNT Express. "This intended acquisition will bring value for our customers, shareholders and employees." Acceptance by holders of Ordinary Shares Shareholders who hold their Ordinary Shares through an Admitted Institution must make their acceptance known via their custodian, bank or stockbroker prior to 17:40 hours CEST, on 13 May 2016. Custodians, banks or stockbrokers may set an earlier deadline for communication by Shareholders in order to permit the custodian, bank or stockbroker to communicate acceptances to ING Bank N.V. (the Settlement Agent) in a timely manner. Admitted Institutions may tender Ordinary Shares for acceptance only to the Settlement Agent and only in writing. In submitting the acceptance, the Admitted Institutions are required to declare that (i) they have the Tendered Shares in their administration, (ii) each Shareholder who accepts the Offer irrevocably represents and warrants that the Tendered Shares are being tendered in compliance with the restrictions as set out in Section 2 (Restrictions) and Section 3 (Important Information) of the Offer Document and the securities and other applicable laws and/or regulations of the jurisdiction(s) to which such Shareholder is subject, and no registration, approval or filing with any regulatory authority of such jurisdiction is required in connection with the Tendered Shares, and (iii) they undertake to transfer (leveren) these Tendered Shares to the Offeror prior to or on the Settlement Date, provided the Offeror declares the Offer unconditional (gestand wordt gedaan Acceptance by holders of Ordinary Shares individually recorded in TNT Express' shareholders' register Holders of Shares individually recorded in TNT Express' shareholders' register (Registered Holders) wishing to accept the Offer in respect of such Shares must deliver a completed and signed acceptance form to the Settlement Agent in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offer, no later than 17:40 hours, Amsterdam time (11:40 hours, New York time) on 13 May 2016. The acceptance forms are available upon request from the Settlement Agent. The acceptance form will also serve as a deed of transfer (akte van levering) with respect to the Shares referenced therein. Acceptance by holders of American Depositary Shares Holders of ADSs in registered form, either in ADR form or in uncertificated form through the Direct Registration System (a system administered by the DTC pursuant to which Citibank, N.A., the depositary for the ADSs (the U.S. Depositary), may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs in its books), may accept the Offer and tender ADSs to Citibank, N.A. (the ADS Tender Agent) by delivering to the ADS Tender Agent a properly completed and duly executed ADS Letter of Transmittal, with any applicable signature guarantees from an Eligible Institution, together with the ADRs representing the ADSs specified on the face of the ADS Letter of Transmittal, if applicable, prior to the Acceptance Closing Time. The ADS Letters of Transmittal and other associated forms are available upon request from the ADS Tender Agent. ADS Letters of Transmittal properly completed and duly executed, together with the corresponding ADRs, if applicable, should only be sent to the ADS Tender Agent and should not be sent to the Offeror, the U.S. Depositary or the Settlement Agent. ADS Letters of Transmittal properly completed and duly executed, together with the corresponding ADRs, if applicable, must be received by the ADS Tender Agent prior to the Acceptance Closing Time. The method of delivery of ADS Letters of Transmittal and, if applicable, ADRs, and all other required documents, is at the ADS holder's option and risk, and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the ADS Tender Agent. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, an ADS holder should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. No acknowledgement of receipt of documents will be given by or on behalf of the Offeror or the ADS Tender Agent. Shareholders holding ADSs in book-entry form, all of which are held through the facilities of DTC, must instruct the financial intermediary through which such Shareholders own their ADSs to arrange for a DTC participant holding the ADSs in its DTC account to tender such ADSs to the DTC account of the ADS Tender Agent through the book-entry transfer facilities of DTC, together with an Agent's Message, no later than 11:40 hours, New York time, on 13 May 2016. DTC has informed the Offeror that it can only cut off book-entry tenders of ADSs at the end of a business day, New York time, and the Offeror has agreed that it will accept valid book-entry tenders of ADSs up until 17:00 hours, New York time, on 13 May 2016. Financial intermediaries may set an earlier deadline for communication by holders of ADSs in order to permit the financial intermediary to communicate acceptances to the ADS Tender Agent in a timely manner. Accordingly, holders of ADSs through a financial intermediary should contact such financial intermediary to obtain information about the deadline by which such holders of ADSs must accept the Offer and comply with the dates communicated by such financial intermediary. Tendered Shares Any Shares and ADSs representing ordinary shares tendered prior to 8 January 2016 which are not withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer. Post-Closing Acceptance Period If and when the Offer is declared unconditional (gestand wordt gedaan), the Offeror will publicly announce, in accordance with article 17 of the Decree, a Post-Closing Acceptance Period to enable Shareholders, including holders of ADSs, that did not tender their Shares during the Acceptance Period to tender their Shares, including ADSs, under the same terms and conditions applicable to the Offer. The Post-Closing Acceptance Period will commence on the 1st (first) Dutch Business Day following the date on which the Post-Closing Acceptance Period is announced and may be up to 2 (two) weeks in length. Further Information This announcement contains selected, condensed information regarding the Offer and does not replace the Offer Document and/or the Position Statement. The information in this announcement is not complete and additional information is contained in the Offer Document and the Position Statement. Digital copies of the Offer Document are available on the website of TNT Express at http://www.tnt.com/corporate/en/site/home/investors/fedex_offer.html and on the website of FedEx at http://investors.fedex.com. Such websites do not constitute a part of, and are not included or referred to in, the Offer Document. Copies of the Offer Document are also available free of charge from TNT Express, the Settlement Agent, ADS Tender Agent and the Information Agent at the addresses mentioned below. TNT Express: TNT EXPRESS N.V. Address: Taurusavenue 111, 2132 LS Hoofddorp, P.O. box 13000, 1100 KG Amsterdam, The Netherlands Telephone: +31 88 393 9500 Fax: +31 88 393 3000 E-mail: investor.relations@tnt.com The Settlement Agent: ING BANK N.V. Address: Foppingadreef 7, 1102 BD Amsterdam, The Netherlands Telephone: 31 20 563 6619 and +31 20 563 6546 Fax: 31 20 563 6959 E-mail: iss.pas@ing.nl The ADS Tender Agent: CITIBANK, N.A. Address: c/o Voluntary Corporate Actions, P.O. Box 43011, Providence, RI 02940-3011, United States of America Telephone: +1 800 308 7887 The Information Agent: GEORGESON EUROPE Address: Westplein 11, 3016 BM Rotterdam, The Netherlands Telephone: European Toll Free Helpline: 00800-3915-3915 American Toll Free Helpline: +1 800 561 2871 Email: tnt@georgeson.com About FedEx Corp. FedEx provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $49 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 340,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, please visit www.fedex.com. About TNT Express TNT Express is one of the world's largest express delivery companies. On a daily basis, TNT Express delivers close to one million consignments ranging from documents and parcels to palletised freight. The company operates road and air transportation networks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. TNT Express made 6.9 billion in revenue in 2015. For more information, please visit www.tnt.com/corporate. Notice to US holders of TNT Express Shares The Offer is being made for the securities of TNT Express, a public limited liability company incorporated under Dutch Law, and is subject to Dutch disclosure and procedural requirements, which are different from those of the United States. The Offer is being made in the United States in compliance with Section 14(e) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the U.S. Exchange Act), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including Regulation 14E, and is subject to the exemptions provided by Rule 14d-1(d) under the U.S. Exchange Act and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Dutch law. Accordingly, the Offer is subject to certain disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to the Offer timetable and settlement procedures that are different from those applicable under U.S. domestic tender offer procedures and laws. The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a U.S. holder of TNT Express shares may be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes and under applicable state and local, as well as foreign and other, tax laws. Each holder of TNT Express shares is urged to consult his independent professional advisor immediately regarding the tax consequences of acceptance of the Offer. It may be difficult for U.S. holders of TNT Express shares to enforce their rights and claims arising out of the U.S. federal securities laws, since TNT Express is located in a country other the United States, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of a country other than the United States. U.S. holders of TNT Express shares may not be able to sue a non-U.S. company or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of U.S. securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-U.S. company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment. To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulation, including Rule 14e-5 of the U.S. Exchange Act, in accordance with normal Dutch practice, FedEx and its affiliates or broker (acting as agent for FedEx or its affiliates, as applicable) may from time to time after the date hereof, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirect purchase, or arrange to purchase, ordinary shares of TNT Express that are the subject of the Offer or any securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for such shares. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. In no event will any such purchases be made for a price per share that is greater than the Offer price. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in The Netherlands, such information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other means reasonably calculated to inform U.S. shareholders of TNT Express of such information. No purchases will be made outside the Offer in the United States by or on behalf of FedEx. In addition, the financial advisors to FedEx may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of TNT Express, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities. Restrictions The distribution of this press release may, in some countries, be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, FedEx and TNT Express disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of that jurisdiction. Neither FedEx, nor TNT Express, nor any of their advisors assumes any responsibility for any violation by any of these restrictions. Any TNT Express shareholder who is in any doubt as to his or her position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay. The information in the press release is not intended to be complete, for further information reference is made to the Offer Document. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or an invitation to acquire or dispose of any securities or investment advice or an inducement to enter into investment activity. In addition, the Offer made pursuant to the Offer Document is not being made in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or other laws or regulations of such jurisdiction or would require any registration, approval or filing with any regulatory authority not expressly contemplated by the terms of the Offer Document. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements," such as statements relating to the impact of this transaction on FedEx and TNT Express. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words "anticipated," "expected" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Although FedEx and TNT Express believe that the assumptions upon which their respective financial information and their respective forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, they can give no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, FedEx's ability to successfully operate TNT Express without disruption to its other business activities, FedEx's ability to achieve the anticipated results from the acquisition of TNT Express, the effects of competition (in particular the response to the transaction in the marketplace), economic conditions in the global markets in which FedEx and TNT Express operate, and other factors that can be found in FedEx's and its subsidiaries' and TNT Express' press releases and public filings. Neither FedEx, nor any of its advisors, accepts any responsibility for any financial information contained in this press release relating to the business, results of operations or financial condition of the other or their respective groups. FedEx expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160429005827/en/ Contacts: FedEx Corp. Media: Patrick Fitzgerald, 901-818-7300 patrick.fitzgerald@fedex.com or Media Contacts Europe: Citigate First Financial Uneke Dekkers / Vivian ten Have, +31 (0) 20 575 40 10 Mobile: +31 (0) 6 50261626 / +31 (0) 6 46233900 or Investor Relations: Mickey Foster, 901-818-7468 mickey.foster@fedex.com or TNT Express Media: Cyrille Gibot, +31 88 393 9390 Mobile: +31 65 113 3104 cyrille.gibot@tnt.com or Investor Relations: Gerard Wichers, +31 88 393 9500 gerard.wichers@tnt.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Violence outside of a Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa, California, on Thursday has led to the arrest of approximately 20 people. Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters blocked traffic on the streets outside an Orange Country amphitheater as the real estate tycoon held a rally for more than 30,000 supporters inside. The gathering descended into chaos as fights broke out between protesters and Trump supporters and at least one police car was damaged. Police officers on horseback and others in tactical and riot gear eventually moved in and managed to disperse the crowd. A 21-year-old man identified as Jose Cruz told the Los Angeles Times the protests reflect the anger people have against Trump, citing the Republican frontrunner's inflammatory rhetoric. Meanwhile, a self-described Trump supporter identified as Colby Nicholson told the paper, 'These are all underage Mexican high-schoolers who have nothing to do.' Trump rallies have frequently been the site of hostility, although NBC News described last night as the worst violence since an event in Chicago in March. The billionaire has repeatedly claimed that he does not provoke violence, largely blaming the outbreaks on those protesting against him. (Photo Credit: Michael Vadon) 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. NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release - 29 April, 2016 Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant Announces 2015 Consolidated Financial Results Chelyabinsk, Russia - April 29, 2016 - Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant (LSE, MOEX: CHZN), Russia's largest producer of zinc and zinc alloys, is pleased to announce its audited consolidated IFRS financial results for the year ended December 31, 2015. 2015 HIGHLIGHTS Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant's (CZP) revenue totaled RUB 24,013 mln . EBITDA amounted to RUB 4,789 mln or 20% of revenue. Net profit was RUB 3,750 mln or 16% of revenue. Consolidated financial results (in millions of Russian Roubles) 2015 2014 Change, % Revenue 24,013 16,508 45% Gross profit 5,945 4,715 26% Gross margin, % 25% 29% EBITDA(1) 4,789 3,825 25% EBITDA margin, % 20% 23% Profit before income tax 4,886 2,955 65% Net profit 3,750 2,353 59% Net margin, % 16% 14% (1) EBITDA, for any relevant period, represents operating profit before interest, income tax, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a measurement of CZP's operating performance presented in the financial information, prepared in accordance with IFRS, and should not be considered as an alternative to operating profit or any other performance measure derived in accordance with IFRS or other relevant financial framework. Revenue 2015 consolidated revenue increased by 45% to RUB 24,013 mln as compared to revenue for 2014. The average LME zinc price in 2015 decreased by 11% as compared to 2014 and amounted to US$1,928 /tonne. The average LME lead quotes decreased by 15% to US$1,784 /tonne. Positive effect on revenue was made by the growth of exchange rates (US Dollar, Pound Sterling, Kazakhstan Tenge) against the Russian Rouble. Revenue structure In 2015, revenue of JSC CZP increased by 42% as compared to 2014 and amounted to RUB 17,942 mln (2014: RUB 12,644 mln). The growth of revenue was due to 59% increase of USdollar/Russian Rouble exchange rate (2015: RUB 61.3; 2014: RUB 38.6) and increase of zinc and zinc alloys sales on the domestic market and export by 27% (2015: 119.7 thousand tonnes; 2014: 94.0 thousand tonnes). Revenue of the Brock Metal Company Limited for 2015 amounted to RUB 5,406 mln, 58% higher than in 2014 (RUB 3,412 mln). This increase was due to 48% growth of Pound Sterling/Russian Rouble exchange rate (2015: RUB 93.7; 2014: RUB 63.4) and 12% growth of zinc alloys sales (2015: 36.4 thousand tonnes; 2014: 32.5 thousand tonnes). Revenue of LLP Nova Zinc for 2015 increased by 47% compared to 2014 and amounted to RUB 666 mln (2014: RUB 452 mln). The increase was due to 32% growth of Kazakhstan Tenge/Russian Ruble exchange rate (2015: RUB 0.28; 2014: RUB 0.22) and growth of lead concentrate export sales. Cost of Sales Cost of materials and consumables used primarily comprises of the cost of zinc concentrate, zinc containing raw materials, materials for alloys production and auxiliary materials used in the production process. The main reasons of changes were the growth of raw materials price due to increase of exchange rates against the Russian Rouble, volume growth of purchased raw materials (due to structure changes of zinc and zinc alloys sales related to JSC CZP) and growth of auxiliary materials prices. Net profit Net profit for 2015 totaled RUB 3,750 mln compared to RUB 2,353 mln for 2014. The main factors of net income growth were the Russian Rouble devaluation, growth of zinc and zinc alloys domestic and export sales and also the reversal of previously accrued impairment loss of LLP Nova Zinc property, plant and equipment. About Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant Chelyabinsk Zinc Plant is the leading Russian zinc producer. In 2015 the plant produced 171,002 tonnes of saleable SHG zinc. According to consolidated IFRS accounts, revenue in 2015 was RUB 24,013 mln and EBITDA was RUB 4,789 mln. Ordinary shares of CZP are traded on the Moscow exchange under ticker CHZN and Global Depository Receipts (GDR) are traded on the London Stock Exchange under ticker CHZN. Investor and Media Contacts: Natalya Vasilieva, PR, ngv@zinc.ru Tel: +7 (351) 799-01-52 Evgeny Ponomarev, IR, eyp@zinc.ru Tel: +7963 998-55-58 This announcement may include forward-looking statements. CZP's actual results may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement. By their nature, forwarding-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Even if the actual results are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods. CZP does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that arise after the date of this announcement. PV on a shopping list This week started with the exiting news for all solar lovers. On Monday, IKEA opened "Solar Shop" in three of its U.K. stores and online, offering homeowners to purchase their own solar systems. Is there anything that could boost customer interest for residential solar more than selling PV at IKEA? Hardly, considering that this magical place can make even the ugliest paper boxes and plush stuffed crocodiles look like the most important things in your house. IKEA's own research found that 33% of homeowners in the U.K would like to invest in solar panels. The study also showed that the average homeowner in the U.K. could cut up to 50% of their electricity bills if they installed solar panels. IKEA has recruited one of the world's oldest solar companies, Solarcentury, to be its business partner in the initiative and provide essential expertise. The systems that are offered by IKEA are paid off in approximately 11 years, and will continue to generate free energy after that. The flight continues More good news arrived from California, as the Solar Impulse 2, world's first solar-powered aircraft successfully completed Pacific crossing, racking up a number of world records along the way. The Hawaii to California leg of the journey took 62 hours and 29 minutes, with the Solar Impulse flying at an average speed of 65,39 km/h. The solar world's beloved experiment started in 2015, when the aircraft took off in Abu Dhabi, aiming to complete round-the-world sun powered flight. Due to serious battery damage, Solar Impulse was grounded in Hawaii for seven month. Finally, last weekend, the aircraft returned to the skies. In mid-flight across the Pacific Ocean, one of the pilots Bertrand Piccard spoke to the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, just as 175 countries were signing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change at the United Nations headquarters in New York. At the side event of the New York meeting, International Solar Alliance (ISA) launched its first two initiatives, aiming to ensure affordable financing for solar projects and scale up solar applications for agricultural use. Energy ministers of France and India, the two countries behind ... Den vollstandigen Artikel lesen ... WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Indiana Governor Mike Pence announced his support for Senator Ted Cruz, R-Tex., on Friday, just days before the potentially pivotal Republican presidential primary in the Hoosier State. In a radio interview on WIBC in Indianapolis, Pence praised Cruz for his dedication to advocating for the agenda of former President Ronald Reagan. 'I really admire the way Ted Cruz has been willing to stand up for taxpayers in opposing runaway spending, deficits, and debt, calling for and leading on repealing Obamacare,' Pence said. The governor also said he was impressed by Cruz' knowledge of the U.S. Constitution as well as his unwavering stand for the sanctity of life. The endorsement from Pence comes ahead of the Indiana primary on Tuesday, which could determine whether Cruz is able to stop frontrunner Donald Trump's march to the GOP nomination. Indiana is a winner-take-all state on the Republican side, and a win for Cruz could make it difficult for Trump to secure the 1,237 delegates he needs. However, while Pence said he would vote for Cruz, he also commended Trump for giving a voice to the millions of working Americans frustrated with the lack of progress in Washington. Pence said he is particularly grateful that Trump has taken a strong stand for jobs in Indiana and stressed that he would support whoever becomes the eventual Republican nominee. The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows Trump with a 38.8 percent to 33.5 percent lead over Cruz in Indiana. Ohio Governor John Kasich comes in third at 18.5 percent. Announcing an agreement between the campaigns on Sunday, Cruz said he would focus on Indiana and in turn clear the path for Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico. A victory for Trump in Indiana on the heels of his sweep of the primary contests in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island would further solidify his role as the presumptive nominee. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Stompy Bot Corporation (CSE: BOT) (the "Company") announces that it will be late in filing its annual financial statements and management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2015, on the prescribed deadline of April 29, 2016. The Company has made an application with the applicable securities regulators under National Policy 12-203 - Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("NP 12-203") requesting that a management cease trade order be imposed in respect of this late filing rather than an issuer cease trade order. The issuance of a management cease trade order generally does not affect the ability of persons who have not been directors, officers or insiders of the Company to trade in their securities. The Company has been unable to complete the required filings due to a lack of capital to complete its audit. As a result, the Company requires additional time to raise sufficient capital to complete its annual financial statements, MD&A and audit. The Company is in discussions with a potential purchaser in connection with a proposed asset sale transaction involving the Company's various mineral properties. The Company anticipates that it will be able to secure sufficient funding from the sale transaction to prepare and file the annual financial statements and MD&A on or prior to May 31, 2016. The Company confirms that it will satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of news releases for so long as it remains in default of the filing requirements to file its financial statements and MD&A within the prescribed period of time. The Company confirms that there is no other material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed. Forward-Looking Information Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law. Contacts: Stompy Bot Corporation Jon Gill 416-722-1166 jgill@stompybot.com WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Chatsworth Products' (CPI) intelligent eConnect Power Distribution Units (PDUs) not only monitor power availability, energy consumption of individual IT equipment and provide environmental monitoring, but also address new challenges in security. The overall rack power distribution market grew 4.7 percent, year-over-year, with the intelligent versions being significantly higher than that, according to a 2015 report by IHS Technology. As the need for data center infrastructure management (DCIM) continues growing, data center managers are making the shift towards intelligent rack PDUs. With the rise in intelligent rack PDUs, comes new challenges in security. CPI's eConnect intelligent rack PDUs address security in several different ways: Onboard Web Interface -- supports HTTPS protocol, which uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) to transmit and encrypt data. Centralized Management Software -- provide support for Standard Network Management Protocol (SNMP) version 3, which supports authentication and Data Encryption Standard (DES) encryption. Text Based/Serial Communication -- supports Secure Shell (SSH), which provides remote login and other network services for secure operations. Local Display/Remote Interface -- Local Display should be used for monitoring only, while remote interface should be left for users to manage and control power, thresholds and more. For additional security and accountability, eConnect PDUs maintain an exportable log of all major events, such as threshold violations, configuration changes and power control operations. eConnect PDUs also feature CPI's new patent pending Click Secure Technology, which allows locking outlets to prevent accidental disconnections. Overall, intelligent rack PDUs address several challenges in modern data centers. To keep equipment safe and secure, security features should be included on PDUs. CPI's eConnect PDUs include security features to protect your technology investment. For more details about the security aspects of intelligent rack power distribution, read the article in the recent edition of Electronics Protection Magazine by Ashish Moondra, CPI Senior Product Manager of Power, Electronics & Software. Also, visit CPI's power web page. About Chatsworth Products At Chatsworth Products (CPI), it is our mission to address today's critical IT infrastructure needs with products and services that protect your ever-growing investment in information and communication technology. We act as your business partner and are uniquely prepared to respond to your specific requirements with global availability and rapid product customization that will give you a competitive advantage. At CPI, our passion works for you. With over two decades of engineering innovative IT physical layer solutions for the Fortune 500 and multinational corporations, CPI can respond to your business requirements with unequalled application expertise, customer service and technical support, as well as a global network of industry-leading distributors. Headquartered in the United States, CPI operates from multiple sites worldwide, including offices in Mexico, Canada, China, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. CPI's manufacturing facilities are located in the United States, Asia and Europe. CPI is listed with the General Services Administration (GSA) under Federal Supply Schedule IT 70. Products are also available through GSA Advantage and through Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), including GSA Connections and NITAAC-ECS III (www.chatsworth.com/gov). While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all information, CPI does not accept liability for any errors or omissions and reserves the right to change information and descriptions of listed services and products. 2016 Chatsworth Products, Inc. All rights reserved. Chatsworth Products, CPI, CPI Passive Cooling, eConnect, MegaFrame, Saf-T-Grip, Seismic Frame, SlimFrame, TeraFrame, GlobalFrame, CUBE-iT PLUS, Evolution, OnTrac, QuadraRack and Velocity are federally registered trademarks of Chatsworth Products. Simply Efficient is a trademark of Chatsworth Products. All other trademarks belong to their respective companies. Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3000255 Media Contact Shannon Erdley Public Relations Specialist Email Contact Chatsworth Products Corporate Office 31425 Agoura Road Westlake Village, CA 91361 Phone: (818) 735-6100 Fax: (818) 735-6199 www.chatsworth.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Canadian Orebodies Inc. (the "Company" or "Orebodies") is pleased to announce that it has sold its 100% interest in the Greenbush Lithium Property to Sunrise Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Argonaut Resources NL ("Argonaut"), an ASX listed company. As consideration, Argonaut made a cash payment of CAD$100,000 and granted to Orebodies a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty. Bateman Lake Property Orebodies is also pleased to announce that it has earned a 50% interest in the Bateman Lake Property (the "Property"), located approximately 75km north-east of Cochrane, Ontario, by contributing to the cost of staking. The Property was worked by Dome Exploration Canada Limited ("Dome") in the 1970s with electromagnetic and magnetometer surveys being completed in 1975. The results of the geophysical surveys showed a number of strong conductors with good continuity that indicated a strong possibility that they may represent graphitic zones. In 1977, Dome drilled 10 diamond drill holes totalling 3,812 feet spread over the Property and the surrounding area to test the electromagnetic anomalies. Two of these diamond drill holes were completed on the Property and showed intersections of graphitic breccia, graphitic tuff, and graphitic schist. The target area is centered on a strongly conductive body that coincides directly with a magnetic low. The Company believes the Property is highly prospective for the discovery of graphite mineralization. About Canadian Orebodies Inc. Canadian Orebodies is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with a portfolio of properties in Nunavut and Ontario. For more information please visit www.canadianorebodies.com. Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements relating to mineral resources, potential mineralization, exploration results and the Company's plans with respect to the exploration and development of the Properties) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, changes in commodity prices, changes in equity markets, failure to establish mineral resources, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory approvals, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other ecological data, and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Contacts: Canadian Orebodies Inc. Gordon McKinnon President & CEO (416) 644-1747 www.canadianorebodies.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- KWG Resources Inc. (CSE: KWG)(FRANKFURT: KW6) ("KWG") has received and accepted subscriptions of $390,000 to close the private placement of units previously announced, for a total of $1.75 million including $0.6 million in settlement of amounts payable to directors, officers, employees and consultants. Each unit will comprise one new treasury share and one warrant; each warrant may be exercised to acquire a further treasury share for $0.05 at any time within five years from closing. KWG has agreed to pay finder's fees equal to 604,500 units on the further subscriptions. The proceeds will be used to pay the initial costs of the feasibility study to be undertaken by China Railway First Survey & Design Institute Group Co., Ltd. and for working capital. The Company also announced that it will issue 141,250 common shares to RBL Communications Inc. for the last payment under the shares for services contract announced January 21, 2015. In addition the Company will issue 1,808,000 shares to Agora Internet Relations Corp. for its services in the production of a documentary to chronicle the history of the Ring of Fire. Relief granted: KWG applied for and was granted relief to the CSE's minimum price rule. All shares issued have a hold period of four months. About KWG: KWG has a 30% interest in the Big Daddy chromite deposit and the right to earn 80% of the Black Horse chromite where resources are being defined. KWG also owns 100% of CCC which has staked claims and conducted a surveying and soil testing program, originally for the engineering and construction of a railroad to the Ring of Fire from Aroland, Ontario. KWG subsequently acquired intellectual property interests, including a method for the direct reduction of chromite to metalized iron and chrome using natural gas. The Company is prosecuting patent applications for both the direct reduction method and for a method of producing high purity chromium metal by continuous smelting. Shares issued and outstanding: 960,868,218 Contacts: Bruce Hodgman Vice-President 416-642-3575 info@kwgresources.com BRUSSELS, BELGIUM -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Note to editors: An image is included with this press release on Marketwired's website. Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Hunter Tootoo concluded a series of successful meetings during Seafood Expo Global in Brussels, Belgium. During this Ministerial mission, Minister Tootoo met with Canadian exporters, European importers as well as representatives from governments and the diplomatic community. Trade and sustainable economic development were a common theme of the trip with much focus on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. Once CETA is finalized, it will give Canada access to the world's largest market with more than 500 million people in 28 different countries. The seafood expo was also an opportunity to advance Canada's interests in a number of important areas such as lobster exports. Minister Tootoo met with his Norwegian and EU counterparts to discuss finding sustainable solutions that would address the reasons for Norway's ban on imported live lobster from Canada as well as a similar request from Sweden that could result in a ban across the European Union. While in Brussels, the Minister also signed a joint statement with European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella that outlines Canada's commitment to working together to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which harms the marine environment, depletes resources, robs the world economy of billions of dollars, and endangers the lives of fishers. In addition, the European Union released its new Arctic policy on April 27. This new policy aligns closely with Canada's approach to the Arctic, which advocates for a precautionary, science-based approach to unregulated high seas commercial fisheries in the central Arctic Ocean. It also emphasizes the need for more scientific cooperation. Finally, Minister Tootoo met with European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Carlos Moedas to discuss the valuable work carried out under the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation that helps coordinate scientific and research collaboration between Canada, EU and US. This summer, Canada, the European Union and the United States will launch the fourth joint expedition on board the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Louis S. St-Laurent to resume exploring and mapping a vast swath of the North Atlantic Ocean seabed between Canada and Northern Europe. The new seabed data will be used to further our understanding of marine habitats, conservation and navigation. Quote "We made sure our EU partners understood the importance of the lobster fishery for Canadian families and were happy that they were receptive to ongoing dialogue on this priority issue. We also had important discussions on enhancing trade through CETA that will help create jobs for Canadians and agreed to collaborate to combat illegal fishing, protect the Arctic and further scientific research." The Honourable Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Related Products Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing - DFO Website Canada's High Seas Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Activities Canada and the European Union Work Together to Fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Minister Tootoo to Stress Market Access at Seafood Expo Global 2016 in Brussels To view the image accompanying this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/MinTootoo_EU_Comm_Vela_Belgium.jpg Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca Follow us on Twitter! www.Twitter.com/DFO_MPO For more information about the Canadian Coast Guard, visit www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca. Follow us on Twitter! www.Twitter.com/CCG_GCC Contacts: Media Relations Fisheries and Oceans Canada 613-990-7537 Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Patricia Bell Press Secretary Office of the Minister Fisheries and Oceans Canada 613-992-3474 MISSISSAUGA, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Axios Mobile Assets Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AXA) ("Axios" or the "Company") is providing this bi-weekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 respecting Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("NP 12-203"). On April 5, 2016, the Company announced (the "Default Announcement") that it has identified certain errors in the financial statements previously filed for the periods ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015 as well as the disclosure contained in its associated management's discussion and analysis for such periods and that, as a result, it would be restating such filings together with the accompanying CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the "Required Filings"). As a result of this delay in the filing of the Required Filings, the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") granted a management cease trade order (the "MCTO") on April 27, 2016 against the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and former Chief Financial Officer, as opposed to a general cease trade order against the Company. The MCTO prohibits all trading in securities of the Company, whether directly or indirectly, by the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and former Chief Financial Officer. The MCTO does not affect the ability of other shareholders to trade their securities. However, the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities could determine, in their discretion, that it would be appropriate to issue a general cease trade order against the Company affecting all of the securities of the Company. The Company's Board of Directors and management confirm that they are working expeditiously to file the Required Filings and that they anticipate that these will be filed on or about May 3, 2016. Pursuant to the provisions of the alternative information guidelines specified in Section 4.4 of NP 12-203, the Company reports that since the Company's press release dated April 18, 2016: The Company is continuing to work expeditiously in order to complete the restatement of the financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the applicable periods. This work involves correcting the errors identified in the Company's press releases dated April 5, 2016 and April 18, 2016 as well as assessing the potential impact of year-end audit adjustments on the periods ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015; The Company's audited financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015 are near completion but for confirmation of certain information from the Required Filings. It is anticipated that the audited financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015 will be filed concurrently with the Required Filings; There have been no failures by the Company to fulfill its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative reporting guidelines; There has not been, nor is there anticipated to be, any specified default subsequent to the default which is the subject of the Default Announcement other than the associated delay in filing the audited financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2015; and There is no other material information respecting the Company's affairs that has not been generally disclosed. Until the Required Filings have been filed, the Company intends to continue to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines specified in Section 4.4 of NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of further press releases, which will also be filed on SEDAR. The Company will file, to the extent applicable, its next default status report on or about May 13, 2016. Should the Company fail to file the Required Filings by June 6, 2016, fail to provide bi-weekly status reports in accordance with NP 12-203 or have a further default, the OSC can impose a cease trade order on Axios, such that all trading in securities of the Company cease for such period as the OSC may deem appropriate. Resignation of Osama Arafat The Company also announced today that Osama Arafat has resigned as a director of the Company effective today. Mr. John Albright, a current director of the Company, will take over as Chairman of the Board. "On behalf of the Company and the Board, we wish to thank Mr. Arafat for his contributions to the Company and wish him well in his future endeavors," said Richard MacDonald, President & CEO. The Company will take steps to fill Mr. Arafat's board seat as soon as practicable. About Axios Mobile Assets Axios Mobile Assets Corp. is a supply chain logistics company. Axios is becoming a key supplier of pooled pallets primarily in the perishable food category. The Axios Solution includes proprietary tracking and information systems that deliver actionable data that helps improve supply chain visibility and food safety. The Axios Solution is gaining market acceptance based on its unique attributes: lower total cost, lighter weight, sanitary pallets, and real time data. Further information concerning the Company can be found at www.axiosma.com and www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements in respect of among other things, the filing of the Required Filings and the timing thereof. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of the Company as at the effective date of such statements and, in certain cases, information provided or disseminated by third parties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this document, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risk factors set forth in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period ended September 30, 2015 under the heading "Risk Factors", a copy of which is filed on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. These statements are made as at the date hereof and unless otherwise required by law, the Company does not intend, or assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. 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 NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Richard MacDonald President & CEO Email Contact 877-762-9467 x601 Peter Murray Shareholder Contact Email Contact 778-839-8382 WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - Today the Security Council voted to renew the mandate for MINURSO, the United Nations' (UN) peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara. Moroccan Ambassador to the UN Omar Hilale welcomed the resolution for reiterating the fundamental parameters of the negotiation, among them calling for "a fifth round of negotiations" based on "realism and a spirit of compromise" to reach "a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict." MINURSO was established in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire between Morocco and the Algeria-backed separatist movement known as the Polisario Front. After more than a decade of failed attempts to organize a referendum on the status of Western Sahara, the UN decided in 2002 to abandon the idea and instead pursue a negotiated political solution to the conflict. In 2007, and with the encouragement of the United States, Morocco proposed such a compromise solution based on broad autonomy for the Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. This year's UN Security Council resolution yet again "[took note] of the Moroccan proposal presented on 11 April 2007 to the Secretary-General and the serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution." The document specifically reaffirmed resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), 2099 (2013), 2152 (2014), and 2218 (2015), all of which call for a negotiated political solution and make no mention of a referendum. In 2008, concluding that "an independent Western Sahara is not an attainable goal," then-UN negotiator Peter van Walsum had proposed that the fifth round of negotiations focus only on a negotiated political solution based on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. The resolution also "[recognized] that achieving a political solution to this long-standing dispute and enhanced cooperation between the Member States of the Maghreb Arab Union would contribute to stability and security in the Sahel region." "Everyone agrees that this conflict has gone on for far too long, to the detriment of the stability, security, and prosperity of North Africa -- a region of the world that is very vulnerable right now," said former US Ambassador to Morocco Edward M. Gabriel. "The United States understands this, and that's why it has endorsed Morocco's 2007 proposal as the best option out there." At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing held earlier this week, Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told members of Congress that the State Department had worked closely with Morocco on this year's UN resolution, recognizing that Morocco "is one of our closest partners in the region and indeed around the world." And US policy toward Western Sahara supporting autonomy of the region under Moroccan sovereignty "has remained consistent for many years," according to numerous State Department statements. At the third US-Morocco Strategic Dialogue, held in Washington last year, Secretary of State John Kerry remarked that "Morocco's autonomy plan is serious, realistic, and credible, and that it represents a potential approach that could satisfy the aspirations of the people in the Western Sahara to run their own affairs in peace and dignity." Secretary Kerry and Morocco's Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar also reaffirmed their "shared commitment to the improvement of the lives of the people in the Western Sahara and discussed appropriate ways to meet that goal." Today's Security Council resolution noted Morocco's efforts in this regard. "Encouraging the parties to continue in their respective efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps, including the freedoms of expression and association," the Security Council resolution "welcomed... the recent steps and initiatives taken by Morocco, and the role played by the National Council on Human Rights Commissions operating in Dakhla and Laayoune, and Morocco's interaction with Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council." The resolution also "[reiterated] its request for consideration of a refugee registration in the Tindouf refugee camps and [invited] efforts in this regard." "Today's resolution paves the way for the next step in this process: a fifth round of negotiations based on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty," added Ambassador Gabriel. The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials, and interested publics in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. This material is distributed by the Moroccan American Center for Policy on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. CONTACT: Jordana Merran 202.470.2049 jmerran@moroccanamericancenter.com TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/29/16 -- Carpathian Gold Inc. (CSE: CPN) (the "Corporation" or "Carpathian") advises that further to the previously announced agreement by Yamana Gold Inc.'s Brio Gold division ("Brio") to purchase from Macquarie Bank Limited ("Macquarie") and the subsequent completion by Brio of such purchase of all Macquarie's rights and interest in its secured loan to the Riacho dos Machados gold project of Mineracao Riacho dos Machados Ltda. ("MRDM") in Minas Gerais, Brazil, Brio has acquired all of the Corporation's interest in MRDM in accordance with the amended and restated restructuring agreement (the "Amended Restructuring Agreement"). On April 29, 2016, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) issued an order approving, among other things, a credit bid transaction, which was initiated by Brio with the cooperation of the Corporation, and the sale to Brio of all of the Corporation's direct and indirect equity interests in MRDM (the "Restructuring"). Brio has delivered to the Corporation and the directors of the Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries a full release and discharge with respect to any liability under (i) the project loan facility, the gold purchase agreement and the gold sale and purchase agreement and related guarantees previously entered into by Macquarie and the Corporation, MRDM and certain other subsidiaries of Carpathian, and (ii) Macquarie's security in respect of the foregoing agreements previously acquired by Brio from Macquarie, including the Corporation's guarantee thereof. None of the other assets of the Corporation have been affected by the Restructuring, and the Corporation continues to own its Romanian assets. Furthermore, as contemplated by the Amended Restructuring Agreement, Brio has entered into a subscription agreement with the Corporation whereby Brio has agreed to purchase 70,194,444 common shares (the "Shares") in the capital stock of the Corporation at a price of CAD$0.018 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds of US$1,000,000 (CAD$1,263,500) on a private placement basis. The subscription price for the Shares is based on the 20-day volume weighted average price thereof as of the close of business on April 26, 2016. The Corporation applied for and was granted an exemption from the Canadian Securities Exchange's minimum price rule in this regard. Closing of the private placement is expected to take place on May 2, 2016. About Carpathian Carpathian is an exploration and development company whose primary business is focused on advancing its exploration and development plans on its 100% owned Rovina Valley Au-Cu Project located in Romania. Forward-Looking Statements: Statements and certain information contained in this press release and any documents incorporated by reference may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation which may include, but is not limited to, information with respect to the Corporation's expected production from, and further potential of, the Corporation's properties; the Corporation's ability to raise additional funds; the future price of minerals, particularly gold and copper; the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources; conclusions of economic evaluation; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; capital expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; currency exchange rates; government regulation of mining operations; and environmental risks. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements/information 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 statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements/information is based on management's expectations and reasonable assumptions at the time such statements are made. Estimates regarding the anticipated timing, amount and cost of exploration and development activities are based on assumptions underlying mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and the realization of such estimates are set out herein. Capital and operating cost estimates are based on extensive research of the Corporation, purchase orders placed by the Corporation to date, recent estimates of construction and mining costs and other factors that are set out herein. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Carpathian and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include: uncertainties of mineral resource estimates; the nature of mineral exploration and mining; variations in ore grade and recovery rates; cost of operations; fluctuations in the sale prices of products; volatility of gold and copper prices; exploration and development risks; liquidity concerns and future financings; risks associated with operations in foreign jurisdictions; potential revocation or change in permit requirements and project approvals; competition; no guarantee of titles to explore and operate; environmental liabilities and regulatory requirements; dependence on key individuals; conflicts of interests; insurance; fluctuation in market value of Carpathian's shares; rising production costs; equipment material and skilled technical workers; volatile current global financial conditions; and currency fluctuations; and other risks pertaining to the mining industry. Although Carpathian 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 to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein or incorporated by reference are made as of the date of this presentation or as of the date of the documents incorporated by reference, as the case may be, and Carpathian does not undertake to update any such forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained or incorporated by reference in this document is presented for the purpose of assisting shareholders in understanding the financial position, strategic priorities and objectives of the Corporation for the periods referenced and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Contacts: Carpathian Gold Inc. Guy Charette Interim Chief Executive Officer +1(416) 368-7744 Ext. 233 +1(416) 363-3883 (FAX) info@carpathiangold.com www.carpathiangold.com MARKHAM, ON--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - Extendicare Inc. ("Extendicare" or the "Company") (TSX: EXE) is pleased to announce the continued growth of its home health care business with an expansion into the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. ParaMed, the home health care division of Extendicare, was awarded this government contract after a competitive bidding process. This contract represents about 330,000 hours of service and over $11.5 million of annual revenue for the provision of home support services in the Richmond Community of Care Area. Currently, ParaMed only operates in the Fraser Health Authority in British Columbia and this new, four-year contract will allow for an expansion of service delivery in the province. This contract will also allow the Company to leverage economies of scale and efficiencies from existing business and may create new opportunities with a variety of private-pay strategies. "We are pleased to be embarking on this partnership with ParaMed," said Jennifer MacKenzie, Chief Operating Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health-Richmond. "We are confident our clients will experience high quality, flexible and responsive services that support their well-being and quality of life." "With our success in earning this business through a competitive request for proposal process we have demonstrated our continued ability to grow in new geographic areas," stated Tim Lukenda, President and CEO of Extendicare. "This will significantly increase our presence in British Columbia and we look forward to welcoming these new clients and staff." ABOUT EXTENDICARE Extendicare is a leading provider of care and services for seniors throughout Canada. Through our network of 118 operated senior care and living centres (64 owned/54 managed), as well as our home health care operations, we are committed to delivering care throughout the health care continuum to meet the needs of a growing seniors' population in Canada. Our qualified and highly trained workforce of 23,300 individuals is dedicated to helping people live better through a commitment to quality service and a passion for what we do. Forward-looking Statements Information provided by Extendicare from time to time, including this release, contains or may contain forward-looking statements concerning anticipated financial events, results, circumstances, economic performance or expectations with respect to Extendicare and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, statements regarding its business operations, business strategy, and financial condition. Forward-looking statements can be identified because they generally contain the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "objective", "plan", "project", "will" or other similar expressions or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements reflect management's beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available, and Extendicare assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable securities laws. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Extendicare to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Extendicare's forward-looking statements. Further information can be found in the disclosure documents filed by Extendicare with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com and on Extendicare's website at www.extendicare.com. For further information, contact: Sofia Mavumba Communications Manager Phone: (905) 470-5494 Email: smavumba@extendicare.com Visit Extendicare's Website at www.extendicare.com Chennai: Noting that the relationship between the two nations is "highly constructive", British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith today said his country is looking forward to start new ventures in banking, textile and garments and other sectors with India. "UK and India are strategic partners and UK is a major trading for India. The relationship between the two countries is highly constructive and substantially economic," Asquith, who called on Governor K Rosaiah here, was quoted as saying in a Raj Bhavan release. "Britain looks forward to start new ventures in the field of banking, textiles and garments, leather, IT, education and allied areas," he said. Stressing that India and Britain were known for the "rich cultural heritage", he said the Indian diaspora in UK was the largest ethnic community. Deputy High Commissioner Bharat S Joshi, Governor's Principal Secretary, Ramesh Chand Meena were among those who were present on the occasion, the release added. Mumbai: After a failed attempt to sell Kingfisher House, erstwhile headquarters of Vijay Mallya's defunct carrier, lenders will auction the trademarks of the airline, including for 'Kingfisher' logo and once-famous 'Fly the Good Times' tagline on April 30. The reserve price for the trademarks, which also include Flying Models, Fly the Good Times, Funliner, Fly Kingfisher, Flying Bird device, has been kept at Rs 366 crore. The airlines had pledged the trademarks as collateral with banks at the time of taking loans from them. In its annual report for 2012-13, KFA said at its peak it was the largest airline in India, with a five-star rating from Skytrax. A valuation report from Grant Thornton put its brand value at USD 550 million on resumption of operations. The airline's brand had been registered separately from the Kingfisher beer trademark. The online auction is being conducted by SBICAP Trustee Company, subsidiary of SBI Caps, on behalf of lenders. According to the experts, the auction is unlikely to generate any interest from bidders as the value of brand has deteriorated. "KFA brand value has deteriorated in last few years. In this case the owner has been the ambassador of the brand and the way Vijaya Mallya has been behaving, there are some negative connotations which are being associated with the brand. I don't think the auction is going to generate too much interest," N Chandramouli, CEO, TRA, a brand intelligence and data insights company said. "If at all, it could see some interest from players who are from other sectors and want to enter the aviation industry." Last month, lenders made a unsuccessful attempt to auction Kingfisher House. The auction failed as none of the bidders came forward due to high reserve prices of Rs 150 crore. The property has a built-up area of over 17,000 sq ft in Vile Parle area near domestic airport here. Lenders had taken over Kingfisher House in February last year in a bid to recover part of their dues totalling over Rs 9,000 crore, which includes unpaid loans and accrued interest. The government was forced to take a U-turn on the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) issue yet again on Friday when it increased the rate to 8.8 per cent from 8.7 per cent decided earlier. The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) had originally recommended 8.8 per cent. The reversal came after trade unions threatened nationwide protests to press their demand. On Thursday, the labour minister, Bandaru Dattatreya, had said he will discuss the issue with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. "I am happy that finance ministry has agreed to 8.8 per cent for 2015-16," Dattatreya told reporters in Delhi on Friday. This is the third time the government is forced to take back his decision on the EPF issue since February. First was when the government proposed in the 2016 Union Budget to tax 60 per cent of the EPF corpus, which it had to roll back almost immediately on account of mass protests. Second was when the amendment on the age limit to withdraw the retirement corpus to 58 years from 54 earlier was brought in, only to roll back after trade unions protested. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday paid homage to the soldiers, including many Indians, killed during World War-II, while fighting along with the British forces, and laid to rest at Bomana cemetery in Papua New Guinea. Mukherjee, the supreme commander of Indian armed forces, walked up to a pillar erected in memory of the troops and placed a wreath there. This was the second engagement of Mukherjee, who arrived here on Thursday, on the first ever state visit from India to this largest island in the Pacific. Immediately after meeting with the Governor General of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Sir Michael Ogio, the president drove to the war cemetery, located 20 km from there. As he placed the wreath, a Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) band sounded the "Last Post," signifying the end of the troops' journey in life. A minutes' silence was observed in their memory after which Mukherjee went around the cemetery. The cemetery contains 3,824 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, out of which 699 of them are unidentified. Around 250 of the unidentified soldiers are from undivided India, who were fighting along with the British and allied forces. Indian High Commissioner to PNG, Nagendra Kumar Saxena, has been extensively working on the role of Indians during the World War. During the banquet hosted by the Ogio, in honour of the President last night, the Governor General also said the link between the two countries goes back to the Second World War in which Indian servicemen, some 615 brave sons who were part of the British Army and Allied Forces, fought and died in PNG. "Their mortal remains lie buried in war cemeteries throughout the country," he said. The troops were fighting the Japanese forces who had landed at Lae and Salamaua in March 1942 with Port Moresby as their chief objective. Pune: Family members of the slain rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare on Thursday asked whether the government was serious about the probe into two cases. While Dabholkar, an anti-superstition activist, was murdered in Pune in August 2013, CPI leader Pansare was murdered in Kolhapur in February 2015. Maharashtra police have arrested one person in Pansare case, while CBI has failed to make any arrest in the Dabholkar murder case. "It has been 32 months since Dabholkar was murdered and 16 months since Pansare was murdered. However, there is no concrete development in both cases. It seems the government is not serious enough to solve them," said Shaila Dabholkar, Narendra Dabholkar's wife. If the government did not take murders of rationalists seriously, India would have the same situation as in the neighbouring Bangladesh where secular bloggers and activists were being killed with impunity, she said. Hamid Dabholkar, the murdered rationalist's son, said the family had sought a meeting with the Prime Minister. "Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had assured us that he would facilitate a meeting with the honourable PM, however, to date, we have not succeeded (in meeting the PM)," he said. Pansare's wife Uma said the Maharashtra police's SIT arrested Sameer Gaikwad, former follower of the conservative Hindu outfit Sanatan Sanstha, in connection with the murder, but then the probe stalled, showing lack of political will to take it to the conclusion. "SIT officers do not have time to look after the case, so despite having evidence against Gaikwad, the probe has slowed down," she alleged. "Now they are framing charges against Gaikwad...with incomplete evidence, he might be acquitted," she said. The question, therefore, arises whether the state government was shielding the masterminds of the murder, she said. Bhagat Singh became one of my heroes when I was a teenager. Bipan Chandra introduced me to him as a nationalist, an intellectual, a courageous hero of Indias freedom struggle. In fact, Professor Bipan Chandras modern history textbook, which I studied in Class VIII, gave me a fascinating sense of how the Republic of India and its ideals came about. He introduced me to Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, as well as to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Henry Derozio. Bipan Chandra wrote a history of inclusiveness, of integration, of social reform, of the formation of modern India. Subtly, in the corners of the minds and hearts of young people, that history shaped patriotism, a commitment to an India that nourished, cherished and embraced. It is perhaps only natural that historians of an integrating, inclusive India are getting short shrift in a time when the divisive politics of Hindutva is on the ascendant. But this is extremely sad, for the recent attacks on Bipan Chandra and other integrationist historians could grievously injure the Indian republic. Chandra has been accused of describing Bhagat Singh as a terrorist. This is plainly mala fide. In fact, Chandra contributed hugely to valorising Bhagat Singh. In his later work (2006), Chandra wrote that `Bhagat Singh was not only one of Indias greatest freedom fighters and revolutionary socialists, but also one of its early Marxist thinkers and ideologues. Even when he and his co-authors used the term `revolutionary terrorist in an earlier work, they made it clear that they used it without any pejorative intent, and only because there was no obvious alternative to adequately describe Bhagat Singhs methods. In October 2007, Chandra gave a clarion call for the word `terrorist to be changed. `It was a word of praise then and was used to distinguish Bhagat Singh from the other streams of freedom struggle. But the word terrorism has assumed a very different meaning now. I would not like it to be used now, he told The Times of India. The fact that, despite all this being on the public record, his provisional use of the word in 1988 has nevertheless been used to attack Chandra and his co-authors suggests that the intent is malicious. The most dangerous aspect of this in the long term is that, in attacking integrationist nationalist historians, Hindutva communalists could undermine the integration that has been achieved since the 19th century across the axes of language, caste, sect and religion. Perhaps the saddest part of the intellectual war that is going on is that the attack against integrative nationalism by the Hindutva-based alternative is drawing its power and ammunition from intellectual streams that question nationalism entirely. The attack against Professor Chandra surely stems from the crisis that enveloped JNU after anti-India slogans were raised there on 9 February. Chandra is closely identified with JNU, for he was one of the Universitys founding professors. He retired as professor emeritus and was also designated a national professor. It is tragic that integrationist historians such as Chandras successors are caught in a cleft stick. On the one hand, Hindutva ideologues are determined to wrest the narrative of Indian nationalism from them. On the other, non-nationalist streams of scholarship often disparage them even more. The latter have greater salience, if only because streams of scholarship associated with post-modernism have been enthusiastically cheered in the academically dominant West. By contrast, academia generally considers Hindutva communal and xenophobic and disparages nationalism as statist and passe. Driven most often by altruism, schools of historiography such as subaltern studies have done valuable work to research the histories of tribal, caste and other groups that may otherwise have been ignored or subsumed in larger narratives. In so doing, some of them have at times supported, either openly or tangentially, movements that critique Indias unity as oppressive for subaltern groups. They must respect the thin line between highlighting oppressive policies and undermining the constitutionally established system. Recent events in several countries have demonstrated the terrible consequences of weakening a system, even a flawed one. On the other hand, those who are uneasy about such academic work should see that it adds vital layers and dimensions to our understanding of our country. It presents perspectives from which the project of nation-building can usefully be questioned, analyzed and corrected. It can help us to focus on and validate dimensions of society within the constitutionally established republic in order to minimize threats to the vision of the constitution. Even though such schools of scholarship have often disparaged what I have called integrationist historiography the most, integrationist historians who worked closely with Chandra took the forefront in defence of those who gave space to Kashmiri agitators at JNU on 9 February on the ground that, even if the slogans raised were objectionable, it was a University matter that ought to have been dealt with within the University rather than by police, politics and a high-pitched media trial. It is for that courage to defend principles that they are paying a price and Professor Chandra is being posthumously attacked. The ruling establishment has seized the opportunity to set upon them with vigour since they have in the past criticized the RSS sharply not only for communal thrusts that undermine the integrationist project, but over RSS leaders timidity during the freedom struggle. This is a sad and sorry spectacle. For it weakens the country. Nation-building is a constant, relentless process. It is a journey a difficult one. In the Indian context, it is a journey of a vast and variegated caravan. To carry along all those who participate in this caravan is a tough task. Fellow-feeling and sensitivity are vital. Attacking and pulling down sections of the caravan slows down and unsettles the entire caravan, and leaves it vulnerable to attack and to dissipation. National leaders must ensure that this does not happen, not try to make it happen. Thiruvananthapuram: After holding office for a year, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is patting himself on the back. But critics are not impressed. With the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government set to mark its first anniversary Friday, Chandy seems to be riding an uncertain horse because of the nature of his coalition. Chandy led the UDF to a narrow victory last year, getting 72 seats, just edging past the Marxist-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) that bagged 68 seats in the 140-member assembly. Although he formed a government, the Congress managed just 38 seats, behind the 45 of its arch foe, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). Known for his down-to-earth style, Chandy started with a bang when he opened his office to the world through a round-the-clock web cast. His "mass contact programme" in all 14 districts has been applauded. One day, he went without food for more than 18 hours at a stretch as he immersed himself in sorting out the problems of the man on the street. So what does he feel about the first anniversary? "I am fully satisfied with the performance," Chandy told IANS. "I am delighted I got the wholehearted support of my party, my coalition and even the opposition, who despite their political differences, extended their support," he added. Chandy said he would now devote himself to infrastructure development. "Infrastructure is the backbone for development. My government will now set high standards for achievements in this area. "We are confident that the 'Emerging Kerala' campaign will provide the much-needed boost to this sector," said Chandy. Chandy, however, faced a torrent of criticism when he decided to give another ministerial berth to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second largest member in the UDF. The chief minister played down the episode. "In a democratic set-up, differences of opinion are bound to happen. "But please tell me, can anyone point fingers at us?" The CPI-M of course has a different point of view and is going hammer and tongs at the government ahead of an assembly by-election at Neyattinkara on 2 June. "The government's days are numbered because of its anti-people policies," thundered Pinarayi Vijayan, the powerful CPI-M leader in the state. Another CPI-M leader, A Anandan, added that "all the good work done by our government (2006-11) has been undone by this government". "The electricity charges are going to go up. Power cuts have already started. Kerosene, freely available in our time, has become out of reach for the common man because of a cut in supply by the central government. "Prices of essential items are rising. I do not know what this government is doing." However, the murder of a former Marxist firebrand in Kozhikode, blamed on CPI-M workers, has led to another showdown between the CPI-M's Vijayan and former chief minister VS Achuthanandan. The murder has become Kerala's talking point, the CPI-M's discomfiture providing some relief to Chandy. Gala first anniversary celebrations will take place only after the by-election. In the meantime, Chandy's ministers are busy preparing their own score cards of what they achieved in one year. IANS If you thought you have seen it all when it comes to staging a protest, think again. In a bizarre case, Maharashtra Baldhana's locals performed 'Nagin dance' to protest against the PWD officials' apathy. The men were protesting the poor condition of roads near Chhatrapati Shivaji Market, and were angry with PWD for inaction despite several complaints, reports India Today. The protestors brought garlands with them and started dancing after the officials refused to hear their grievances. With inputs from agencies Arvind Kerjriwal has a go at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yet again! This time its over the latters academic record. He has written to the Chief Information Commissioner, asking him to make the educational qualification of the prime minister public. If you responded to the news headlines about the same with a mild shake of the head and a smile, and moved on to the next story quickly, dont fret about missing the whole text. Most of us did exactly that. Kejriwal has become so predictable with his criticism of the prime minister that it has lost its novelty value now. A street smart politician, he himself wont be unaware of that. However, beyond such routine jibes, a lot other things are happening in the Aam Aadmi Party. In the wider political context of the country these things are interesting. For example, the party has finally shed its inhibition about expanding its political footprint beyond Delhi. The party has announced office-bearers for its top decision-making bodies. The representation in these reflect the partys target states, both immediate and long-term. The party has invested a lot of energy in creating a mass base in Punjab already. The fact that five members of the national executive are from the state shows that Punjab, which goes to polls early next year, will remain the priority area for the party. Goa, Maharashtra and Haryana are likely to be the next target states. The timing for going national could not be more right for AAP. The vacuum created in the national opposition space after the 2014 general election continues. The Congress suffered a humiliating loss, ending up with only 44 seats in the election. Yet, with a shade above 19 percent of the total vote share it remained, on paper at least, the only national alternative to the BJP. It was expected that the party would strike back and present itself as a strong ideological voice against the BJP. Two years on, the party remains exactly how it was, confused and rudderless. It is yet to find a leader who would be a match to Narendra Modi. Worse, it is still under attack for it's share of cases in this summer of scandals. The others who could have filled the vacuum are regional players such as Nitish Kumar. After his spectacular victory in Bihar, it was expected that he would move into the national space quickly and provide a robust counter to the Modi narrative, both in terms of personality and ideology. He is still in the process of finding allies beyond Bihar to bolster his pan-nation presence. Regional satraps, such as Mamata Banerjee, are too tied up in their home states to aim national at this point. Thus, it is the best time for AAP to expand. With the BJPs support base more or less solid now, it can expand only at the cost of the Congress. In Delhi, it grew at the cost of the party, weaning away its traditional vote banks, such as the Muslims. It also managed to become the magnet for anti-BJP votes. This would be the script for other states too. In Punjab, it is expected to mark a strong presence by cutting into Congress votes and that of the Akali Dal too. It may not emerge as a winner, but AAP is in the process of creating a solid permanent vote base in the state. A similar change in equations is likely to repeat in Goa, and states where the BJP and the Congress are in a direct fight. It could be a matter of time before AAP decided to target Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and even Gujarat. Politics abhors a vacuum. With a leader in Kejriwal who comes across as different from the run-of-the-mill kind, AAP is likely to move in fast. Udhampur (J&K): Both India and Pakistan need to address the problem of terrorism like other countries which are coming closer to combat terrorism, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday. Talking to reporters in Udhampur, she said, "Both India and Pakistan need to address the problem of terrorism and alienation of youth. If we keep fighting then this would pose a threat to our existence." Terming Muslim nations as the worst victims of terrorism, she said, "Nations across the world are coming closer, terrorism has emerged as the biggest challenge for all countries. Muslim nations are the worst victims of terrorism." Pitching strongly for peace initiatives, Mehbooba said that terrorism has emerged as the biggest threat and "the money being spent on animosity can be instead diverted towards good purpose". She lauded the resumption of peace talks between India and Pakistan. "It is good that talks have resumed again. Terrorism is the biggest challenge for us. See what is happening in Syria, Libya and Pakistan. Western countries too have now such problems," she said. "I think it (terrorism) is a global phenomenon. It is not confined to a region or a country, it is now global. Pakistan is facing terror blasts and they are using drones to eliminate terrorists," she said. Mehbooba said Pakistan needs to take lessons and keep good relations with neighbouring countries as it has already lost three wars to India. "Pakistan needs to take lessons as to how long its will fight as it has lost three wars (with India) and we need keep good relations with out neigbhours," she said. She expressed optimism and lauded the efforts on Indo-Pak engagements for peace talks despite the deadly terrorist attack on Pathankot IAF station. "The talks have begun. The Prime Minister had gone to Lahore where an informal meeting was held. After that, unfortunately the Pathankot incident took place, but despite that talks went on. Even recently, the talks were held," Mehbooba said. She said if both the countries come together and mutually resolve their issues through friendly relations, then even Jammu and Kashmir would get peace and normalcy, adding, Prime Minister talks on development would be possible only if their is peace. "Peace is only interest of people of Jammu and Kashmir. We want good Indo-Pak relations as if affects us," she said. The State cabinet, which met under the chairpersonship of Mufti in Udhampur, welcomed resumption of Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks. Puthuppally (Kerala): Notwithstanding various allegations, including solar scam against him, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy seems to be confident of sailing through comfortably in his home constituency of Puthuppally for the 11th time in a row in the 16 May Assembly polls. 29-year-old Jaik C Thomas (CPI-M), the state president of Students Federation of India who is challenging 73-year-old Chandy, does not seem much of a threat to the senior Congress leader, political observers say. Chandy, Chairman of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), is spearheading the campaign hoping to create history by retaining power in a state where rivals UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF have come to power alternatively in the last three decades. "I am getting full support of the people. We had come to power with a thin majority of two MLAs. There were even talks that the government will not last for 6 months. Today we have completed 5 years and now the talk is about continuation of this government," Chandy told PTI. He said he had received unstinted support from his party and UDF partners. People are going to support UDF for the radical liquor policy which envisages total prohibition in 10 years and various developmental initiatives undertaken during the five-year rule of the UDF government, he said. Listing out the development projects, including Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport, Kannur Airport and Kochi Metro, Chandy said, "People of the state will vote for development rather than the politics of violence pursued by CPI(M) in the state." The UDF victory in three Assembly byelections, Parliament and civic polls, after this government came to power in 2011, clearly showed that people have rejected the various allegations against his government, he said. Chandy, who filed his nomination papers today, immediately left for campaigning in the constituency. A leader, who always draws energy by being in the midst of party workers and people, Chandy was first elected to Assembly from his home segment Puthupally in 1970 when he was a 26-year-old and there has been no looking back ever since. Chandy's pocket borough, Puthupally, in the central Travancore district of Kottayam, is encircled by rivers, paddy fields and hills and is home to many NRIs. Constituted in November 1965, the constituency comprises 8 panchayats Akalakunnam, Ayarkunnam, Kooroppada, Manarcad, Meenadom, Pampady and Puthuppally in Kottayam Taluk and Vakathanam Panchayat in Changanassery Taluk. He had won by a margin of 7,288 votes in the 1970 elections against E M George (CPI-M). In 2011, Chandy defeated Suja Susan George of the Marxist party by 33,255 votes and is hoping to improve his margin further this time. A mass leader, Chandy jumped into the political arena as an activist of Kerala Students Union (KSU), Congress's students wing, along with contemporary leaders of that time - A K Antony and Valayar Ravi. Affectionately called "Kunjunju" by his supporters, Chandy prefers to be at his home in Puthupally, especially on Sundays, when people from all walks of life and from different parts of the state flock to meet him with their woes. His "Mass Contact Programme", which has won him praise even from the United Nations, had endeared him among the masses, though the opposition did target him with barbs for undertaking a "panchayat clerk's duties". However, an unfazed Chandy continues to accept petitions from people who approach him. While some want urgent medical assistance or financial assistance for children's education, there are some even who come to him for settling family disputes. His poll managers say that though the LDF continues to attack him with the solar and bar scams and 'tainted' ministers in his cabinet, it is not likely to cut much ice with this electorate. However, Jaick C Thomas is focusing on corruption charges against the UDF government during campaign and his main target is to woo young voters. "I also hope that people in the constituency will vote for a change," he said. BJP has fielded George Kurian from here. 12:43 (ist) Manohar Parrikar explains AgustaWestland deal: "AgustaWestland chopper was 100 cCore. We had to test the helicopters in Indian conditions. The other two vendors didn't agree to do so and conducted the test outside the country. this was against the clause in the country. Out of the 6 vendors who were given tenders, AgustaWestland Italy was also one of the vendors. But AgustaWestland UK took over the tender. Only AgustaWestland got the concessions. They created a single vendor situation. In 2008, the price oh AW101 was 15 million Euros and oin 2010, it was listed as 27 million. Benchmark cost given by CNC(Contract negotiations committee) was 6 times higher than that of AoN (Acceptance of Necessity) There was no explanation for this.In 2012 February, then the government had written to the embassy through the MEA. The government even went to the investigating agency but nobody wrote to the company. This deal should have stopped in 2012. But yet, 3 helicopters were delivered in December 2012 and we accepted it. In January 2013, Chief exec of Finmenccancia was arrested, Within hours our defence minister wrote to CBI immediately. If he wasn't arrested, they would not have taken this up. After the CBI took it up, in Feb 2013, there was a notice issued to stop the deal. Legal action forced the termination of the deal, it was not a proactive step, it was forced. Bank guarantee needed to be revoked and that was done. When the Milan Court argued, they said that 166 Euros could be returned and the money for the 3 helicopters will not be returned. I am not making allegations, but it is our Endeavour that we will take action. Defence Ministry initiating procedure to blacklist AgustaWestland. If that is our job, why is the Congress worried? " In an indication that a new alliance of regional parties might be taking shape before the 2019 general elections, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday endorsed Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United (JDU) President Nitish Kumar's plan to forge a 'secular alliance' to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "He is a popular chief minister and has taken an important initiative. It is a good initiative," The Times of India quoted Pawar as saying. In an interview to The Economic Times, the former Agriculture Minister said that Nitish's victory in the Bihar election has sent a signal that voters, fed up with both Congress as well as the BJP, are looking for some other alternative. With a clean, pro-poor image, the Bihar CM is currently the only leader who can act as a cementing force and bring different opposition parties together, he claimed. In the same interview, he also expressed concern over the state of the Congress, saying that it is currently not in a good position. However, noting some improvement in Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, he said that he is the only leader who is spending most days of a week touring India. The idea of a secular alliance has gained traction among the opposition after Nitish Kumar allied with Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and defeated the BJP in the 2015 Bihar polls. New Delhi: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday, submitted a breach of privilege notice in the Rajya Sabha against Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for "lying" that the UPA government had blacklisted helicopter maker AgustaWestland and its Italian parent Finmeccanica. Swamy, in a tweet, said that the notice pertained to the breach of privilege committed by Azad "for wilfully telling a lie to RS (Rajya Sabha) on AW (AgustaWestland) blacklisting". I will just after 11 am raise the breach of privilege committed by Ghulam Nabi Azad for wilfully telling a lie to RS on AW blacklisting Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 29, 2016 Azad is the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Swamy became a member of the upper house, on Tuesday, as one of the nominees of the BJP-led central government. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader raised the issue soon after the house met, and said he had submitted a privilege notice. "The notice is under Rule 187 for breach of privilege against Ghulam Nabi Azad," he said. Swamy had said before entering parliament that Azad "lied" about blacklisting. "No blacklisting took place. It is also untrue that we removed the blacklisting. We gave orders that there would be no fresh purchase by the defence ministry until court gives decision," Swamy said, responding to Congress' allegation that the present government took the helicopter maker off the supposed "black list". As Swamy spoke, he was interrupted by Congress members, including Kumari Selja who questioned why his microphone was "always on". Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien urged the Congress members to be quiet and told Swamy that his notice will be examined by Chairman Hamid Ansari. "There is a rule by which privilege notices are dealt with. The notice will be first examined by the chairman, if he prima facie finds there is some case he will refer it to the privileges committee," Kurien said. The BJP and the Congress have been battling it out in Parliament since it emerged that bribes were paid in India during the UPA rule for the Rs. 3,600 crore deal with AgustaWestland for 12 VIP helicopters. Soon after joining the Rajya Sabha, Swamy has been leading the attack on Congress on the helicopter deal or the 'AgustaWestland scam'. On Wednesday, he named Congress president Sonia Gandhi in connection with the scam the comments that were later expunged from the records. Swamy protested against the expunction. "I have also filed a Notice in RS challenging the expunging of my words by Dy Chmn since it is arbitrary unreasonable and against RS Rules," he said in one of his tweets on Friday. I have also filed a Notice in RS challenging the expunging of my words by Dy Chmn since it is arbitrary unreasonable and against RS Rules Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 29, 2016 In another tweet, Swamy said Hamid Ansari has assured him a hearing over expunging of his remarks in the Rajya Sabha. April is the cruellest month, said TS Eliot. It has certainly been true this year in the context of scandals involving politics and the establishment. We have seen the high and mighty, mostly politicians but also journalists, athletes, film stars and so on, named and shamed in this series of revelations, and there may be parallels between them, even though they are spread all over the world. In the US, the #28pages issue is that of a redacted chapter of 28 pages from the 9/11 enquiry commissions official report. Some suggest that these pages that have been seen by a limited number of people were deemed too damaging to one of the USs principal allies, Saudi Arabia. A former senator, Bob Graham, who had seen the impugned pages, suggests so in so many words. The #PanamaPapers scandal established the fact that there are many loopholes and tax havens that are used by the rich and powerful to hide their (possibly ill-gotten) gains from the taxman. The US has been, quite indignantly, suggesting that offshore tax havens have hidden billions of dollars from the eyes of their Internal Revenue Service, and have forced many countries, including the famously secretive Switzerland, to reveal details about those who might be doing so. The #Ishratfile revelation, in Indias case, suggests a nexus of politicians, journalists, lawyers and various others engaging in a clear conspiracy to hide certain facts about that dead young woman. For the first time has such a scandal hit P Chidambaram, who has hitherto been untouched, partly because he has such authority that nobody dares question him, although his election in 2009 in Sivaganga, commentators have noted, did seem a trifle odd. The court case about that drags on. The #AgustaWestland scam is both more and less sensational than #Ishratfile. The latter does not surprise in the sense that most of us suspected that Ishrat Jahan was indeed a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative: Well, for one thing, the LeT itself said so before quietly removing that from its website. The extent to which the Nehru dynasty has been willing to go to eliminate Narendra Modi (literally or metaphorically is not surprising either: Remember the maut ka saudagar meme, for instance). The extent of the AgustaWestland scam is sensational, however, especially because the revelation could not be blamed on partisan politics (as it has always been: The mainstream media will suggest that it was a witchhunt by the BJP, and thus, sweep it under the carpet). The fact that an Italian court (yes, Italian!) has said in so many words that Sonia Gandhi was directly involved makes a big difference to the Congress and its pets in the mainstream media. They responded with thunderous silence. The problem with all these scandals, of course, is how far they go in identifying and punishing the culprits. In Indias case, there is a history of major scams being buried if they somehow touch the Teflon-coated Nehru dynasty. For instance, the Bofors scandal really didnt go that far in punishing the guilty. There are at least two reasons for this: One is the compromised judiciary, and the other is the compromised media. The third may well be that the BJP has no stomach for a fight. Just as Bofors essentially fizzled out, there is the fear that AgustaWestland also will. The media that should be the watchdogs of society, is clearly shown to be the lapdogs of certain vested interests in the AgustaWestland case: One of the principals had a multi-million dollar war-chest with which to influence media people. We knew this after all, journalists who have been traditionally penurious, suddenly began to own Rs 52-crore houses (in at least one case involving an arch-dynast). The case of the judiciary is more complex. Most people are afraid to say anything about them because of the fear of contempt-of-court, and I too shall desist, but only point out that there are two concerns: One is judicial over-reach, as the judiciary is taking on functions that properly belong to the executive and legislative branches, partly because they have been weak. A graver concern is the very structure of the judicial system. For some strange reason, frivolous PILs (public interest litigation) can be brought directly to the Supreme Court, and the court wastes its time and energy on unimportant and downright ridiculous issues, such as IPL betting and the possibility that a condom label is obscene. There should be a wholesale revamp of the system so that the Supreme Court hears constitutional matters, and only constitutional matters, as befits an apex court. To give the state high courts their independence, there should be the equivalent of the US Federal District Courts in various parts of the country to hear issues that are related to the Indian Union, and not to a state. There should also be the equivalent of Federal Appeals Courts, and only the rarest of the rare, weighty, constitutional matters, should be elevated to the Supreme Court. Today, any fool with deep pockets can bring any ridiculous PIL. There are other issues with the courts, for instance their insistence on incestuous appointments (and the number of family members of former judges who get judgeships should raise an eyebrow or two), but it is better to not go there. The third concern, of course, is that the BJP is not serious about bringing the Nehru dynasty to book. That has appeared true in the past, but may not be so any more, given that there is progress on the National Herald case, and now that the indefatigable Subramanian Swamy is in the Rajya Sabha, I get the feeling that we have not heard the last of #AgustaWestland. But I see that the heat and light behind #28pages has diminished it was probably timed to hurt Hillary Clinton in the New York Democratic primary, but failed to do so. Similarly, the outrage over the #PanamaPapers has vanished. It is hard for people to remain angry, as they get fatigued and distracted by newer and juicier scandals. I do hope that #Ishratfile and #AgustaWestland will not also vanish without a trace. In this, I am trusting Chidambaram: If he (and his son Karti with his vast global business empire) go down, I am pretty sure hes going to bring down Sonia Gandhi and son, as well. Hes not likely to go gentle into that good night, as Dylan Thomas said. BURLINGAME, Calif. Protests erupted in California for the second day in a row on Friday against U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is moving closer to winning the Republican nomination after a string of victories this week. The billionaire businessman was forced to halt his motorcade and go through a back entrance to a hotel to give a speech to the California Republican convention and avoid several hundred loud protestors gathered outside. "That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," Trump told the gathering in Burlingame, south of San Francisco, after weaving around a barrier and clambering across a road to get to the venue. "It felt like I was crossing the border actually." Demonstrators, some of whom held Mexican national flags, at one point rushed security gates at the hotel and police officers had their batons out. The mogul had already drawn protests in California, with chaotic scenes on Thursday outside a Trump rally in Costa Mesa. Anti-Trump protesters smashed the window of a police patrol car and blocked traffic and some 20 people were arrested. Protests have become common outside rallies for Trump who has earned ardent critics, as well as support from Republican voters, for his rhetoric against illegal immigration. His campaign abandoned a rally in Chicago last month after clashes between his supporters and protesters. He has accused Mexico of sending drug dealers and rapists across the U.S. border and has promised to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. Trump, who described himself this week as the party's presumptive nominee, would take a large stride towards knocking his Republican rivals out of the presidential race if he wins the Indiana primary next week. On Friday, he said he is approaching the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. Trump, who has run as a political outsider and only recently started making inroads to the Republican establishment, called for the party to band together behind him. But said he could win the White House without them if needed. "There should be and there has to be unity. Now with that being said, would I win, can I win without it? I think so, to be honest," Trump told the convention. His speech drew applause, though not the fervent reception of his usual campaign rallies. INDIANA FIGHT Trump's main rival, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, on Friday picked up the backing of Governor Mike Pence of Indiana in a rearguard battle to damage Trump's chances. "I'm not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming Republican primary," Pence said on an Indiana radio show. Cruz, from Texas, is trailing the former reality TV star in the Midwestern state after losing to him by a wide margin in all five Northeastern states that held nominating contests on Tuesday. A CBS poll earlier this week found Trump with about 40 percent of support in Indiana, compared to 35 percent for Cruz. The poll had a margin of error of 6.6 points. Other polls have also shown Trump ahead. The Republican front-runner was in California ahead of its June 7 primary, when the most convention delegates of the Republican nominating cycle will be at stake. After his speech, Trump made a similarly unconventional exit out of the hotel via the back door. Cheryl McDonald, 71, of Discovery Bay, said she had to pass through protesters to get inside the hotel. "They were yelling. I think the only words they know in the dictionary are profanity," said McDonald, who said she is a Trump supporter. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Timothy Ahmann in Washington and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Writing by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Alistair Bell) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New York: Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India, but New Delhi has "signalled" it is only interested in talking about terrorism which does not bode well for the prospects of diplomatic progress between the two nations, Islamabad's envoy to the United Nations has said. Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN ambassador Maleeha Lodhi's remarks came just a day before Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met in New Delhi on April 26 on the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' regional conference. "While Islamabad has repeatedly urged Delhi to resume the broad based, comprehensive peace process, India has yet to agree and has instead signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism. This, she said, does not make the prospects of diplomatic progress too bright," she said. Lodhi addressed students and faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge on 25 April as part of 'South Asia Week' being held at the institution and talked about Pakistan's role in regional stability. According to a press release issued by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN here, Lodhi said that Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India by finding political solutions to outstanding disputes. In their first formal bilateral meeting after the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January, the Foreign Secretaries focused on a range of issues including probe into the attack and Kashmir, which the Pakistani side has asserted was the "core issue". Lodhi said that Pakistans priorities included economic revival, defeating terrorism and elimination of violent extremism in and around Pakistan. Another priority for Pakistan is building regional peace and stability, which required an end to the conflict in Afghanistan, and normalisation of Pakistan-India relations on an equitable and durable basis, she said. On China, Lodhi said the country is a "cornerstone" of Pakistan's foreign policy and Islamabads relationship with Beijing is "strategic, historic, trouble free and pivotal to the country's foreign policy." Lodhi said that the strategic evolution of the Pakistan-China relationship has accorded the bilateral partnership added significance at a time of a "fundamental change in the global balance of power brought about by China's rise as a global economic powerhouse." In recent years, she said bilateral ties with China have broadened and diversified from the traditional focus on defence and military cooperation toward a greater economic and investment orientation. On how Pakistan will balance its relations with China as well as with the US, she said "to those who ascribe a zero-sum nature to Pakistan's relations with China and America, a recall of history would help to invalidate this flawed notion," according to the release. Citing Pakistan's "good relations" with the US and China from the time of the Cold War, she said "Pakistan intends to play the same role in the future and maintain good relations with both even as the two engage in global competition". Washington: US President Barack Obama was "disappointed" at not being able to visit the iconic Taj Mahal during his trip to India last year, the White House has said. "The President was quite disappointed to not have an opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal on his last visit to India," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Thursday. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama had visited India in January last year to be the chief guest of at the annual Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama were scheduled to visit Agra but the trip was cut short as the US President decided to go to Saudi Arabia to pay condolence to the Royal family following death of King Abdullah. "That (a visit to the Taj) had originally been part of the itinerary, but the President had to cut short his visit to India because of the untimely death of the King of Saudi Arabia. So the President travelled to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects at that point," Earnest said. "I think the President wishes I could promise that he would have an opportunity to visit Taj Mahal before the end of his presidency, but I'm not sure that will happen," the White House Press Secretary said indicating that this wish of Obama would remain unfulfilled when he leaves his presidency on January 20 next year. WASHINGTON Republican White House hopeful Ted Cruz won backing from Indiana's governor on Friday ahead of the state's primary, where the Texan is fighting a rearguard battle to damage front-runner Donald Trump's chances of winning the nomination. The endorsement from conservative Governor Mike Pence could boost Cruz's hopes of winning Indiana on Tuesday, depriving Trump of some of the delegates he needs at the Republican National Convention in July, which will decide the nominee. "I'm not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming Republican primary," Pence said on an Indiana radio show. "I see Ted Cruz as a principled conservative who's dedicated his career to advocating the Reagan agenda," said Pence, referring to Republican President Ronald Reagan. Trump, who described himself this week as the party's presumptive nominee, would take a huge stride towards knocking his Republican rivals out of the presidential race if he wins Indiana. Cruz, a U.S. Senator from Texas, is trailing the New York billionaire in the Midwestern state after losing to him by a wide margin in all five Northeastern states that held nominating contests on Tuesday. A CBS poll out earlier this week found Trump with about 40 percent of support in Indiana, compared to 35 percent for Cruz. The poll had a margin of error of 6.6 points. Other polls have also shown Trump ahead. Despite his endorsement of Cruz, Pence also had kind words for Trump. The governor said he had met with all of the Republican presidential candidates and commended Trump for representing Americans' frustration with Washington politicians. Pence was once considered a possible presidential candidate but his popularity dropped a year ago after he signed a "religious freedom" bill that critics said was discriminatory against gay people, and then softened the law under pressure from rights groups and businesses. In a bid to slow Trump's momentum, Cruz named former business executive Carly Fiorina on Wednesday as his vice presidential running mate should he win the nomination. Trump described the move as "desperate." ANTI-TRUMP PROTEST Trump was in California on Friday ahead of its June 7 primary, when the most convention delegates of the Republican nominating cycle will be at stake. He planned to speak to the state Republican convention later in the day. About 20 people were arrested outside a Trump rally on Thursday near the county fair grounds in Costa Mesa, California. Media reported that protesters smashed the window of a police patrol car and blocked traffic. Local news showed demonstrators surrounding vehicles, waving Mexican flags and holding signs. At least one demonstrator was shown jumping on top of a police car. But the head of California's Republican Party downplayed the demonstrations, and said protests were typical for the state's politics. "If you're a Republican running for president in California and you don't get protested, you're doing something really, really wrong," Jim Brulte, chairman of the California Republican Party, said on CNN on Friday. "Every president I've campaigned with here in California has been protested." Protests have become common outside rallies for Trump. His campaign had to cancel a rally in Chicago last month after clashes between his supporters and protesters. Trump has won a broad following among Republicans in the United States, along with ardent critics, for his stand on illegal immigration. He has accused Mexico of sending drug dealers and rapists across the U.S. border, and promised to end it by building a wall and making Mexico pay for it. The population of Costa Mesa, where he appeared on Thursday, is about a third Latino. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Timothy Ahmann in Washington and Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Writing by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Alistair Bell) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. New York: An envelope containing a suspicious white powdery substance caused a scare when it was opened at a campaign office of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, but it later was deemed to be harmless. The envelope was mailed to Manhattan's Trump Tower, near Central Park, police said. A campaign staffer opened the envelope Thursday night and immediately called police. Five Trump staff members working in the office and a police officer who responded were temporarily isolated and evaluated. The substance was tested, and a few hours later authorities said it wasn't hazardous but it would need to be tested some more for them to determine what it is. Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks referred questions about the brief scare to the US Secret Service, which didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Powders sent through the mail have been cause for concern since at least 2001, when anthrax-tainted letters were sent to media outlets and offices, killing five people. In March, an envelope that contained a non-hazardous white powder and a threatening letter was mailed to the apartment of Trump's son Eric Trump, who has campaigned for him. 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Check out the new FoneArena Daily video that gives you a quick roundup of todays technology news. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5wU9IQBu0U Motorola has sent out invites for an event in New Delhi on May 17th where it is expected to launch Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus smartphones. Two Nexus smartphones made by HTC called M1 and S1 internally with codenames Marlin and Sailfish are reportedly in the works. Worldwide smartphone shipment growth fell flat for first time and this is the smallest year-over-year growth on record. According to a report from IDC, vendors shipped a total of 334.9 million smartphones worldwide in the first quarter of 2016. A government panel headed by Secretary of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has recommended exempting iPhone and iPad maker Apple from mandatory local sourcing norms. Todays deal Canon Pixma MG2577s All-in-One InkJet Printer at Rs. 2499. Google has appointed former Motorola executive Rick Osterloh to head its new hardware division. The new hardware division will be responsible for Nexus, Chromecast, OnHub, Pixel C, Chromebook, Glass, and more. Osterloh is joining Google as a Senior Vice President and will report directly to CEO Sundar Pichai. All the aforementioned divisions will now report to Osterloh. He had led product development during Motorolas tenure under Google and helped develop the Moto X, Moto 360 and early Droid efforts. Osterlohs appointment comes more than a month after he exited as Motorola Head. At the moment specifics of Osterlohs role are not known. Just yesterday, M1 and S1 Nexus devices for 2016 had surfaced along with a report that Google seems to be testing Snapdragon 820 SoC for its upcoming Nexus device. source We know some visitors come to the website because a domain name leads them to here. If you are interested in buying Once asked how to learn about investing, Warren Buffett pointed to a pile of annual reports and suggested investors should read as much as they can. "I read 500 pages like this every day. That's how knowledge builds up, like compound interest," he said. It's neither new nor novel advice, but Buffett's success is a function of his ability to learn from his investment experiences, good and bad. Some of his earliest investments laid the groundwork for what his sidekick, Charlie Munger, calls "mental models," or frameworks of ideas that can be translated into new areas and new investments. Though we often think of the modern Berkshire Hathaway as being the owner of railroad BNSF, car insurer GEICO, and countless other household names, several forgotten investments shaped Buffett's thinking and ultimately crafted what Berkshire Hathaway has become today. Here are three early investments that had a major impact on Buffett's later investments. 1. An early rewards program Before credit cards made rebates computerized and ubiquitous, rewards programs took the form of paper stamps. Retailers would give their customers a certain number of stamps based on what they purchased, and in what quantity. The stamps could be affixed to a booklet and redeemed for household goods like toasters and, later, cash. Buffett loved the business model because retailers paid for the stamps months and years before the stamps were redeemed, if they were at all. Thus, the stamp company could invest the money and earn a return on it before it was paid back out. He ultimately bought a large share of Blue Chip Stamps for himself and Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett wasn't new to the idea that a business could generate cash to invest. He had earlier been enamored with this model after investing in insurers, namely GEICO. But it cemented Buffett's love for businesses, non-financial or otherwise, that could finance their own growth with funds from their customers. Modern examples come in the form of retailers like Amazon and Costco Wholesale, which turn their inventory into cash before they have to pay their suppliers. The two also generate a tremendous amount of cash by selling memberships (Prime, in the case of Amazon) on pre-paid terms. The net result is that retailers effectively fund their growth with free financing from their customers and suppliers, leaving a heftier return on less capital contributed by their investors. 2. A tiny bank In Berkshire's earliest days, it took interest in a tiny Illinois-based bank by the name of The Illinois National Bank & Trust. Buffett knew it was "one of the most profitable banks" he had ever seen, and he wanted to have it for himself. The Illinois Bank & Trust was already a target of another acquirer, but they began to show their unease with the bank. The would-be suitor wanted a full audit of the company, and its 71-year-old CEO, Gene Abegg, who Buffett described as being "pretty dominant," wanted nothing to do with being shaken down through an audit process. Buffett ultimately made an offer, which admittedly came in about $1 million below what the original acquirer was willing to pay. He had few reservations, highlighted only a few things he wanted to change, but indicated he wanted Abegg to remain in his role. Abegg called another major shareholder to discuss the deal and ultimately decided to sell out to Buffett at his price. From here, Buffett realized that executives who are excellent at their craft would prefer a friendly and easy acquisition at an OK price rather than an unfriendly takeover at a perfect price. Notably, Abegg, who rank the bank, also owned 25% of the company and would lose out on roughly $250,000 by accepting a lower bid. Still, he'd prefer to work for Buffett than leave the bank having sold at a better price. Warren Buffett continues to use the friendly acquirer role to his advantage, once saying that being part of Berkshire is like selling art to a museum compared to private equity investors' porn shop. His hands-off approach is best exemplified by the fact that he speaks to many of his managers only once every two years by letter, reminding them about their basic role to defend Berkshire's reputation. 3. A candy cash cow The Blue Chip Stamps business that cemented Buffett's interest in capital-light business models lead him to invest in See's Candies, a West Coast confectioner of chocolates and other premium candies. Buffett was introduced to See's by Blue Chip's then-president. See's Candies was something new for Buffett, a company that essentially survived and thrived on the value of its brand name. Buffett believed the company had the capacity to raise prices given its premium position in the candy business and the fact that most candies are purchased as gifts -- its customers would prefer to pay more than look for alternatives. Buffett agreed to purchase the company, believing he could increase pre-tax earnings by raising prices just $0.15 a pound. He believed the company's then-current earnings of $4 million before taxes could be closer to $7 million. Just three years later, in 1975, See's earned 2.5 times more than it had when Buffet acquired the company for Berkshire. Buffett's fixation with brands that turned commodities into products with pricing power never really ended. Pricing power underlied part of his thesis for buying brands like Coca-Cola, Gillette, and Moody's, among countless other companies that have been part of the Berkshire stable, helped in no small part by his early success with a small candy confectioner. There was a time when getting married in your 30s was considered scandalously late. That attitude has since changed, especially given the increasing number of people who are delaying marriage, whether for their education, their career, or another reason. Back in the 1950s, the average age to get married was 20 for women and 23 for men. Nowadays, women are tying the knot at 27 on average, while men are doing so at 29. While holding off on marriage is a matter of circumstance rather than choice for some folks, there are benefits to getting married later in life that you should consider. 1. You're more likely to have an established career When you first graduated college, you probably took the first job you could find to pay the bills and get your foot in the door. But with any luck, your career advanced over the years, along with your salary. Entering marriage with an established career can be a major advantage, and not just for the money. Once you and your spouse are both set on a specific job or industry, you can make an informed decision on where to live. Plus, having established careers gives you some degree of job security, which may be good for your marriage, especially since research from Ohio State shows that long-term unemployment is a risk factor for divorce. And the more secure you are in your career, the more easily you can jump into other life changes that often go hand-in-hand with marriage -- namely, homeownership and parenthood. 2. There's more time to have built savings Although a longer stint in the workforce doesn't always translate into higher savings, it stands to reason that someone who's been working for, say, 12 years has amassed a bigger nest egg than someone who's only been at it for a year or two. Getting married later in life means that both you and your partner may enter the marriage with a bit of money, and that could go a long way toward helping you achieve goals such as buying a house. Furthermore, having some money in the bank will make it easier for you to pay for your wedding in the first place. In the U.S., weddings cost upward of $30,000 on average, and about 33% of couples take on debt to finance their nuptials. Starting your marriage $30,000 in the hole won't exactly work wonders for your relationship or your bank account. Not only that, but borrowing $30,000 will cost you much more than $30,000. Even if you manage to pay off that loan over three years, if you're charged 10% interest -- less than what many credit cards demand -- you'll wind up paying over $35,000 when all is said and done. Furthermore, being financially stable might allow you to start building a family sooner. Raising kids from birth through age 18 costs an estimated $250,000 per child on average, not including college, so the more money you have when you first get married, the more prepared you'll be. 3. You're more likely to have paid off student debt Most people who borrow money for college have 10 years to pay back those loans. If your student debt is gone by the time you get married, you and your spouse will have more flexibility to spend your salaries elsewhere, be it to upgrade your car, travel, or, better yet, save and invest. According to a recent survey by SunTrust Bank, money is the leading cause of stress in relationships, and it's also a leading cause of divorce. Entering a marriage debt-free means there's less room for resentment when you can't buy new furniture or take that vacation because one of you still has a nagging student loan balance. While there are certainly some financial benefits that come with getting married later in life, there's another advantage to consider as well: For many of us, with age comes experience, clarity, and wisdom. Taking the time to understand who you really are and what you want out of life makes for a pretty solid marital foundation. Mercedes Rosberg looked more comfortable than Hamilton in FP1, but the latter turned the tables in FP2. The Englishman was fastest on the soft-compound Pirelli tyres and got a great lap out of his supersofts, whereas Rosberg was six-tenths off on that rubber and didnt get a good lap on the red-banded rubber. Both men had off-track moments, Hamilton also spinning in both sessions. The team uprated both power units that were previously used in China, after spending two development tokens to enhance the fuel system and hence power throughout their supply range. Lewis Hamilton - FP1: 1:38.127, P2; FP2: 1:37.583, P1 Its good to be back in the car after whats felt like a pretty long wait since China. Its been a constructive day to start the weekend, too. We got through most of our programme except one last little bit at the end as some of my tyres were flat-spotted but no big drama there. I think were looking strong here but we need to keep working hard if we are to try and stay ahead of the Ferraris. They look like they might be another step closer this weekend. Weve got a few things to look at to make sure we perfect the setup for qualifying, so we shall see how it goes... Nico Rosberg - FP1: 1:38.849, P1; FP2: 1:38.450, P3 Its been a solid start to the weekend. Its difficult to get it right at this track, as theres only a small window where the tyres work perfectly and a lot of places where you can easily make mistakes. I didnt manage to hook up a full quick lap on the supersoft in FP2. But, aside from that, it was a good day. The car felt good on a quick lap this morning and again on the longer runs this afternoon, so thats very encouraging. Its great to back here in Russia and I very much look forward to the rest of the weekend. Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical) We ran a fairly regular programme today. There are two main challenges of this circuit. The first is to get a clean lap, as there are a number of tricky braking zones particularly at Turn Two. The second is to understand how to get the best from the tyres. As a relatively new circuit, the tarmac is still very smooth, making it difficult to generate temperature in the rubber particularly in cooler conditions like weve seen today. Nevertheless, we end the day reasonably happy, with all of our Friday homework complete and both drivers satisfied with setup thus far. Weve brought some minor upgrades to the power unit this weekend, including a new engine oil from Petronas. The main test item of the day was to make sure that this package was all working correctly for the rest of the weekend, which seems to be the case. Tomorrow will be all about understanding how to get the best single lap pace out of the car for what will undoubtedly be a close qualifying battle with Ferrari. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 3 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Paddy Lowe (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 Executive Director (Technical) at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Toro Rosso Sainz found a decent balance early on and was happy with the way his day went, but Verstappen admitted that he was struggling with oversteer as his STR11s sweet spot continued to elude him. Carlos Sainz - FP1: 1:40.654, P10; FP2: 1:39.465, P11 It feels good to be back here in Russia. As I said before arriving here, this is a track that I enjoy and today we were able to cover all of our run plan with no issues, so Im happy with that. Im pleased with the car so far and Im looking forward to the rest of the weekend. As weve seen during the first three races, the midfield is extremely tight so we need to keep working because its not going to be easy. Max Verstappen - FP1: 1:41.134, P15; FP2: 1:39.501, P12 Quite a difficult start to the weekend. I experienced a lot of oversteer and we havent found the right solution for this yet. It felt very tricky out there today its difficult to enter the corner in the right way because when you try to go a bit faster you easily end up off track. Fortunately though, its only Friday, so we still have some time to work on this it will be a long night but Im confident we will be ready for tomorrow. Phil Charles, Chief Race Engineer It was a bit of a mixed bag for us today. The track was quite low grip and we found the last sector in particular quite hard to master for a lot of the running. Overall Carlos was a bit happier: he hit on a balance he was quite happy with in the long-run on soft tyres, but we didnt really get a clean lap in with him on the shorter runs. For Max it was a bit of a different story; we clearly have a bit of work to do tonight because we didnt really hit a sweet spot with him today, so we will put the hard work in tonight to get him happy and back to where he normally is. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 2 Carlos Sainz jr (ESP) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR11 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Max Verstappen (NED) Scuderia Toro Rosso at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Renault As Sirotkin made an impressive debut in Magnussens R.S.16 in FP1, Palmer had a torrid time coping with the same vicious snap oversteer that hampered him in China. He fruitlessly tried to find a decent balance while completing aero assessment work which included back-to-back front wing comparisons, a spin and a few off-track excursions. In the afternoon Magnussen did the tyre assessment work and was cautiously optimistic for the weekend. Kevin Magnussen - FP2: 1:40.193, P15 First impressions are okay after today and the car isnt too bad here. Evaluating the tyres was the main job in FP2 and the track was fairly consistent throughout the session. Its quite distinct with the tyres here actually; there is no big difference between the soft and super soft tyres and there is very low degradation so itll be interesting for the race. We have a few things to work on before tomorrows morning practice session, though the pace we showed today is probably not far from where we are. Hopefully we can have qualifying with no mistakes or issues, then take it onto the race and seize any opportunities that come our way. Jolyon Palmer - FP1: 1:41.671, P18; FP2: 1:40.688, P18 I wasnt able to get a good balance or find the sweet spot today which is always a little frustrating. Fortunately, weve had a good reliable day with both cars so theres plenty of data for us to work from to make improvements for tomorrow. The tracks quite slippery out there but we accumulated a lot of laps without drama. We just need to dial-out the unwanted oversteer and I think theres more pace to come. Sergey Sirotkin - FP1: 1:40.898 My target for today was to give the team exactly what they wanted from the session. I tried to remain very calm even though it is, of course, very exciting to get to drive a Formula 1 car. Obviously, its always beneficial when your lap time looks good but I felt comfortable delivering at todays level even if it wasnt as comfortable as it could have been with my seat. I am happy that I have started this long programme with Renault Sport Formula One Team in a positive manner. Alan Permane, Trackside Operations Director A productive first day for us. It was Sergeys first time in the car and he did a very positive job for us. We werent able to get the seating position perfect for him yet despite this he delivered good pace and feedback. Jolyon had a straight-forward couple of sessions concentrating on aero development in the first session and a further front wing back-to-back comparison as well as tyre work in the afternoon. Kevin didnt suffer from missing FP1 and was able to deliver everything required from FP2. Weve still got some work to do, in particular with an oversteer balance. There are improvements possible, but its a reasonable start to the weekend. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 3 Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Renault Sport F1 Team at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Thursday 28 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Jolyon Palmer (GBR) Renault Sport F1 Team RS16 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Sergey Sirotkin (RUS) Renault Sport F1 Team RS16 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Williams Massa had a clutch problem for most of the morning, but recovered to go fifth fastest on supersofts. Bottas was quicker in FP2, and believes the team can be more competitive here. Felipe Massa - FP1: 1:39.365, P5; FP2: 1:39.289, P9 I think it was a positive day. Im happy with how the car is performing in the short runs and the long runs with the tyres. I think that maybe this is a better track for us than other tracks. But we just need to wait and see, and try to do the best we can. Valtteri Bottas - FP1: 1:39.802, P7; FP2: 1:39.185, P6 It was a good Friday. We managed to test everything we had planned to, including a number of new aero parts. The results from these tests are looking good which is positive. Tyre behaviour is the key at this track and that will be our focus tonight. Well be trying to get a bit more out of the shorter runs and maybe we can also still improve on the longer runs, although our long run pace is looking good at the moment so Im hopeful that we can do well over the weekend. Rob Smedley, Head of Performance Engineering We had a very complex test programme today. We looked at various suspension and set-up options, weve been looking at aerodynamic configurations with the front wing, and weve been doing our homework on the tyres, so its been really busy. Weve collected all of the data that we need to but we have a long night ahead to make sure we have the car optimised for tomorrow. The teams done a good job in getting through the programme after the clutch actuation problem we had with Felipes car this morning, which put us on the back foot, but we managed to recover and get through everything that we needed to. The car looks reasonably competitive on low and especially high fuel, which is what were always working towards. So for this stage of the weekend we are where we need to be, maybe even a little bit further up the road. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 2 Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams with his father Luiz Antonio Massa (BRA) at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams FW38 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Ferrari Ferrari brought new upgraded power units for both SF16-Hs, plus new front wings. Vettel was third fastest in FP1, but on the basis of his single lap on supersofts in FP2, and Hamiltons sole good lap on them, the deficit from red to silver was 0.6s. Adding to Ferraris disappointment, Vettels car then developed an electronic problem which forced him to sit out nearly an hour of the afternoon session and lose out on valuable race running. Raikkonen struggled for pace relative to his team-mate in FP2, having been close in FP1, and said it was hard to get the tyres working properly. There was further bad news in the evening when it was revealed that Vettel will have to take a five-place grid penalty as his gearbox needed changing. It is not yet clear whether that was related to the electronic problem. Sebastian Vettel - FP1: 1:39.175, P3; FP2: 1:38.235, P2 Looks like we had an electric problem, but I am sure we can fix it. Still, it is a shame, because now we are lacking some laps, especially in the long runs on race trims, which would have allowed us to see how competitive we are. But Kimi did the homework for the team, so it is not too bad. Also, here in Russia we know roughly what to expect. I think we can still learn a lot from what other people did. In qualifying trim we still have some stuff to improve. I think the car was getting better though. The track was quite dirty in the morning and then during the day it came more towards us. I felt happier as the day continued, it's true that for the race we are lacking a bit of information, but we will see tomorrow morning, when we have another practice session. Kimi Raikkonen - FP1: 1:39.332, P4; FP2: 1:38.793, P4 It was not an ideal day, one of those days you struggle to make the tyres work and get the car where you want. I wasn't doing any proper lap, but today it's only practice, I'm sure we can improve for tomorrow. Overall I think we just have to work on the set up to make it as we want and then it should be ok. We have a new engine and new parts on the car, so far it has been working well. We wouldn't use any new thing if we did not expect it to be good. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 2 The car of Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari SF16-H is pushed by the marshals in FP2 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Thursday 28 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close McLaren Button had a spin in FP1, and both he and Alonso had some exciting off-track moments in FP2. Each felt that there is work to do on the balance of the MP4-31, but there is optimism this weekend that at least one of them will make it through to Q3. Fernando Alonso - FP1: 1:40.771, P12; FP2: 1:39.400, P10 Getting at least one car into Q3 tomorrow would be good news for us. I think thats possible. I know in the past that our results on a Friday make us perhaps a little over-optimistic about our chances for Saturday, but the car felt good today. Were not 100 percent there yet theres still a little bit more to come from McLaren. Lets see if thats enough to get us into the top 10 in qualifying. "The car was a little unbalanced in certain corners, and we maximise the power, and make the tyre work at the right temperature, then we can improve on 12th position. I hope tomorrow we can maximise our potential. Jenson Button - FP1: 1:40.663, P11; FP2: 1:39.196, P8 Its been a positive day, overall. Weve been quick on Fridays before, and we know that we face the prospect of having to save some fuel in the race, but hopefully well be able to knock on the door of Q3 tomorrow and be capable of scoring some points on Sunday. If we can qualify inside the top 10 tomorrow, well be somewhat limited on tyre choice, but itll be possible to race well from there; youre with the quicker cars, able to run in the DRS and can let them pull you along. This circuit tends to be quite easy on tyres were able to do a lot of laps on them. I think people are still thinking about one or two stops in the race most probably one. I think itll be an interesting weekend. Eric Boullier, racing director The Sochi track is deceptively challenging and todays sessions underlined the fact that finding a perfect balance around here is tricky. In the morning, we undertook a significant amount of aero and set-up development work. That made it difficult to get an accurate read on the balance, both drivers complaining that the car felt unpredictable and difficult to drive with confidence. Fortunately, we made a good deal of progress over the lunchbreak, with the result that Jenson and Fernando reported that the car felt much better in this afternoons session. Its encouraging that we managed to get both cars into the top 10 this afternoon. While qualifying inside the top 10 brings additional strategic challenges on race day, its our aim to get both cars into Q3 tomorrow. Such a result will certainly prove motivational for the entire team, and a good indicator of the solid progress we continue to make. Yusuke Hasegawa, Honda R&D Co Ltd head of F1 project & executive chief engineer As both drivers have carried over their power units from the Chinese Grand Prix, Hondas key focus during todays free practice sessions was to provide stable running, which in turn enabled the team to concentrate on Sundays race set-up. Its too early to tell how representative Jensons and Fernandos practice results are, because all of the teams ran different fuel-loads and settings, but overall our longer stints on the soft tyres have been solid and with decent pace. We know that fuel economy will be tough here, so our main focus now is to manage this in the best way possible for Sundays race. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 2 Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren MP4-31 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Force India Both race drivers got through their programmes, though Hulkenbergs was necessarily halved so that Celis could get another run in FP1. Nico Hulkenberg - FP2: 1:39.795, P13 The track conditions were not great this afternoon and the wind made it a bit tricky, but it was the same for everyone and this is what you expect on a track so close to the sea. I still think we have a lot of information to help us make the right tweaks to improve our performance for tomorrow. I am feeling good about the weekend: the track is very enjoyable to drive and it throws quite a few challenges your way. Sergio Perez - FP1: 1:40.287, P9; FP2: 1:39.867, P14 Its still quite early in the weekend, but the first feeling is positive. We completed a busy programme with several long runs, so we already have a good understanding of the tyres. Theres still a bit of work to do in terms of balance, but we should be competitive and fighting for a place in the top ten in qualifying tomorrow. Alfonso Celis - FP1: 1:43.432, P22 I am happy about the work I did today and also about writing a page of Mexican motorsport history together with Sergio and Esteban with three Mexicans on track. My main priority was to avoid mistakes and complete the programme the team had planned for me. I wanted to take a few more risks compared to Bahrain, but the track conditions were quite tricky and in these circumstances you cant be selfish you need to focus and ensure you keep your nose clean. We had a busy programme of aero evaluation and I am happy I was able to deliver the information the team needed. Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer All in all, a routine Friday, even though the overcast conditions this morning made the air a bit colder than what is forecast for qualifying and the race. The afternoon was a bit better and we collected all the data we need to analyse this evening. Sergios plan focussed more on long run performance, while Nico had a slightly different programme to account for him sitting out FP1. I feel we can get more out of the car in qualifying trim, so that will be our main focus tonight and during FP3. We are happy with the indications we are getting from our long run data, but choosing the right strategy will be crucial because its not easy to overtake here and track position counts for a lot. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 3 Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India VJM09 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India VJM09 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Alfonso Celis jr (MEX) Force India VJM09 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Sauber Nasr was happier than of late after getting a new chassis for the weekend, and this time it was Ericsson who was struggling at the Swiss team. Marcus Ericsson - FP1: 1:41.962, P19; FP2: 1:41.652, P22 It was not the ideal Friday for me. Nevertheless, I ran many laps today gathering a lot of information on the car-side. This track has a unique asphalt, which makes it challenging to get the tyres to work. We saw it last year, and again today, and I have been struggling to get the tyres in the right window. We have tried different set-ups, but we are not going in the right direction yet. We have to look into the data and see what we can make better for the rest of the weekend. Felipe Nasr - FP1: 1:41.085, P14; FP2: 1:40.740, P19 I was able to complete the programme as planned today. I covered a decent mileage, which was important in order to understand how the tyres behave compared to last year. The car is a lot more together compared to the previous race weekends. I was satisfied with the pace on soft tyres, but we have to work more on the supersoft compound. We tried some set-up work for the run on supersoft tyres, which did not work out as we wanted it to. We have to analyse this, but I think there is room for improvement. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 2 Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Thursday 28 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Felipe Nasr (BRA) Sauber at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Thursday 28 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Haas Like many, Haas struggled to find grip all day as the tyre temperatures failed to reach their optimum, and Gutierrez also lost a bit of time in FP1 when his VF-16s battery needed recharging. Romain Grosjean - FP1: 1:41.385, P17; FP2: 1:40.260, P16 It was good to be back in the car. Sochis a track I quite like. We didnt have a very easy day trying to assess how to work our tires and how to work the car. We can improve and make the car better. Hopefully, we can find those answers for tomorrow, as our performance is not exactly where we want it to be right now. Again, its all about working and learning everything. Were struggling a little bit today, but Im sure the guys are going to react well. Esteban Gutierrez - FP1: 1:41.238, P16; FP2: 1:40.508, P17 Im pretty happy how the day went overall, as we managed to complete a lot of laps. Were not as competitive as I would have hoped, but we gathered a lot of data today. Well be looking over that to try and optimize our set-up as much as we can. In FP1 we had a small interruption this morning, and then this afternoon we looked to be heading in the right direction. Were still working on our setup with the supersoft tyres, so I think FP3 will be important for us to get a good reference for qualifying. Guenther Steiner, team principal FP1 we had a small issue with Estebans car, which took us about 50 minutes to fix. Then we had to recharge his batteries, but it was no big issue. Between the two practice sessions we had good runs. We did quite a lot of laps - more than weve done before in two free practice sessions. We are still chasing our set-up for here. We need to get the tyres in the window where they work properly. Otherwise, we got a lot of running in and well see what we can come out with for tomorrow morning in FP3. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 2 Romain Grosjean (FRA) Haas F1 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Thursday 28 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Haas VF-16 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Manor Haryanto lost a lot of FP1 when his MR05s steering rack had to be changed, while Wehrleins car needed a new floor. Both were frustrated by the circuits refusal to rubber in, and compounding that at the end of FP2 the German rolled to a halt with a lack of power. Pascal Wehrlein - FP1: 1:42.483, P20; FP2: 1:41.148, P21 It was a difficult day today. The track was very slippery and so we struggled with a really low grip level. As more and more rubber goes down the conditions will keep improving so we remain positive for the rest of the weekend. Well have a good look at the data tonight and see what we have to do to prepare for a better day tomorrow. Rio Haryanto - FP1: 1:42.687, P21; FP2: 1:41.080, P20 During the first session, we had a problem with the steering rack, so we lost about an hour of track time, but it was good that we still made it out before the end of the session. The mechanics did a very good job. Overall weve completed some good low and high fuel runs, so we collected a lot of data and looking at the pace it was also pretty good, but we still need to improve to get closer to the other teams. Dave Ryan, Racing Director Weve had our fair share of frustrations today. This morning we had to change the steering rack on Rios car, which cost him a lot of time in the garage, and around the same time we had to replace the floor on Pascals car, which was less than ideal. However, the crews did an exceptional job to recover the situation but even so we could have done without the interruption. By comparison, this afternoon was pretty straightforward in that both Rio and Pascal got through their respective programmes. This is good in that we have a lot of information about the tyres to go through this evening but at the same time we are very aware that we have quite a bit of work to do to improve our performance in time for qualifying tomorrow. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 2 Rio Haryanto (IDN) Manor Racing at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Pascal Wehrlein (GER) Manor Racing MRT05 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Red Bull Ricciardo briefly trialled the new Red Bull aeroscreen at the start of FP1, then just kept his usual fifth place behind the Mercedes and Ferraris and ahead of Bottas Williams, in FP2, despite being the only one of them to rely on the soft rubber. Daniel Ricciardo - FP1: 1:39.650, P6; FP2: 1:39.084, P5 It was different this morning running with the aeroscreen, not having the wind rolling on me and the engine sound was different as well. The visibility was pretty good, so first impressions were fine, it was driveable. Where we have the structure in place is pretty much where the mirrors are so I wouldnt say it hindered any more than we are now in terms of visibility. Peripheral vision was fine as well. The talk about open cockpits has been going on for a while and thats fair enough. It would be great to keep it as it is but obviously with accidents that have happened, especially more recently, I think not exploring this seems a bit disrespectful. The plan is to probably try it again on a different circuit with different scenery, a bit more undulation or something like that or maybe a night circuit. The lights could be interesting how they reflect off the screen so well give it a bit more running. Daniil Kvyat - FP1: 1:40.218, P8; FP2: 1:39.193, P7 I think all in all it was quite successful running today. We did a useful amount of laps, and did short runs and long runs. The tyres will be very challenging here - to understand which one works better for which conditions and so on, so it will be interesting tomorrow to understand the strategy for qualifying. We have plenty of data to analyse tonight, we have to really see what the options are and what the best things to do are for Saturday and Sunday. This track has always been quite interesting in terms of tyre behaviour, so we really have to make that work. Its quite close between us and Williams at the moment, its one of the tracks which should suit them the best this year. If we can take the fight to them and maybe get ahead of them, thats our goal, that would be good. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 2 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB12 with aeroscreen at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Red Bull Racing RB12 at Formula One World Championship, Rd4, Russian Grand Prix, Practice, Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, Friday 29 April 2016. Sutton Motorsport Images Info Close Image source: Dexcom, Inc. Worry that its valuation had run too far, too fast has resulted in DexCom's shares tumbling from more than $100 last September to less than $70. However, the maker of medical devices that help diabetics better track their blood sugar has only begun to penetrate a big and growing market. Can DexCom expand itself from a niche maker of products for type 1 diabetes into a much larger company, or is this as good as it gets? Some backgroundDiabetics with type 1 disease have been using finger sticks to manage their blood sugar levels for decades, but according to DexCom, that approach isn't nearly as effective as it may seem. Despite patients being well educated on the risks associated with being out of their desired ranges, the average person with diabetes is outside of their target blood glucose range 70% of the time. Because blood sugar highs and lows can lead to diabetes progressing to a point where it can cause heart disease and other life-threatening complications, innovating new strategies that allow patients to more accurately track and manage their blood sugar levels is critical. Image source: Dexcom, Inc. Capitalizing on a new approachRather than evaluating blood glucose levels via random finger sticks, DexCom has developed a blood glucose monitor that uses sensors to continuously track and report levels to patients. Because DexCom's devices provide a level of clarity that has previously been lacking, increasing use by patients eager to chart their levels has led to increasingly larger sales of monitors and the disposable sensors necessary to use them. Although payer reimbursement headwinds have limited the adoption to type 1 patients and out-of-pocket purchasers, DexCom reports that sales still increased 60% to $116.2 million in the first quarter. That performance comes on top of a 55% increase in sales to $402 million last year. That growth is impressive, but it may just be the beginning. An estimated 500,000 people under age 14 are living with type 1 diabetes, and the number of people with type 1 is growing 3% annually. Since DexCom's penetration is measured in the tens of thousands of patients, it's arguably only scratching the surface of its addressable market. Looking aheadDexCom's weakest quarter has historically been the first quarter, and according to management, this year's results were in line with its expectations. As such, the C-suite reiterated prior guidance for revenue of at least $540 million this year. If the company can hit that target, it should help put DexCom on the path to profitability. However, headwinds that could delay profitability include an increase in investments to boost capacity and spending related to R&D. For example, the company inked a collaboration deal with Verily last year to develop next-generation, smaller, and less-burdensome sensors and transmitters. Technological innovation that improves the patient's experience will help drive customer retention and, thus, sensor sales, especially as the installed base of devices grows. However, an even bigger impact on future revenue could come from a labeling change to DexCom's devices by the FDA. As it stands today, a confirmatory finger stick is required by the label. However, DexCom believes it has a good shot at removing that requirement, and the FDA has agreed to put the matter in front of an advisory committee in July. Assuming the advisory committee agrees with the company, an eventual label change could clear the way to Medicare reimbursement. That would be a big win, because a significant number of elderly diabetics forego buying the device because of its cost. Additionally, the majority of DexCom's sales are generated within the U.S., and efforts to win reimbursement in other major markets overseas, such as Germany and France, are progressing. If those markets open up, international sales could climb far beyond their current $19 million. Overall, DexCom's sales pace demonstrates that its products resonate with consumers, and the more global payers that sign on to reimburse its products, the better it will be for investors. The article Are DexCom's Best Days Behind It, or Still to Come? originally appeared on Fool.com. Todd Campbell has no position in any stocks mentioned. Todd owns E.B. Capital Markets, LLC. E.B. Capital's clients may have positions in the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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: CARTER'S INC. Carters released first-quarter 2016 results Thursday morning, and shares were little changed on the day. But that doesn't mean investors in the children's clothing retailer shouldn't be happy with its latest performance. In fact, Carter's managed to exceed quarterly earnings expectations for the 11th consecutive time. More specifically, Carter's quarterly revenue climbed 5.7% year over year, to $724.1 million. That translated to 8.4% growth in net income, to $54 million, and 11% growth in earnings per diluted share, to $1.04. On an adjusted basis, which excludes an unusual charge of around $0.6 million related to amortization of acquired trade names, earnings per diluted share climbed 7.9% year over year, to $1.05. By comparison, Carter's guidance called for revenue to climb 4% year over year, to $712.2 million, and for adjusted earnings to remain flat over the same period, at $0.97 per share. Of course, that's not to say analysts weren't anticipating Carter's habit of under promising and over delivering. But even then -- and with the caveat that we don't lend much credence to Wall Street's near-term demands -- consensus estimates predicted adjusted earnings of just $1.00 per share on revenue of $716 million. "We saw increased demand for our brands and achieved a record level of sales and earnings in our first quarter," added Carter's CEOMichael Casey. "We achieved good growth in our wholesale, retail and international businesses, and meaningfully increased the distribution of capital to our shareholders." On buybacks, segment resultsCarter's bolstered its per-share earnings by repurchasing and retiring 722,364 shares of common stock for $71.6 million during the quarter. And those repurchases have continued so far into the second quarter; year to date through yesterday, Carter's has bought back a total of 1,241,174 shares for $125.5 million, or an average price of $101.09 per share. That leaves $449 million remaining under Carter's recently increased repurchase authorization. Carter's top line was once again driven by growth from its core namesake brand. More specifically, Carter's retail segment revenue climbed 5.7% year over year, to $272.3 million, thanks primarily to new units. Carter's retail comparable sales fell 0.1%, as 15.2% growth in e-Commerce comps was offset by a 4% decline in stores comparable sales. Based partly on analysis of credit-card transactions during the quarter, Carter's believes the strong dollar once again deterred international consumers from shopping in its U.S. locations and websites -- a problem that should resolve itself in time as currency headwinds inevitably revert to the norm. Next, Carter's wholesale segment grew revenue 4% year over year, to $280.1 million, driven by a combination of higher product demand, timing of orders, and a new playwear initiative. Meanwhile, Carter's OshKosh retail segment delivered 11.9% growth in revenue, to $81.8 million. This result was driven by both new locations and a 2.7% increase in retail comps, as 19.8% growth in OshKosh eCommerce sales was only partially offset by a 1.9% stores comparable-sales decline. But similar to Carter's, OshKosh retail suffered dampened demand from international shoppers, given the strong dollar. OshKosh's wholesale segment revenue fell 25.8% year over year, to $11.9 million, primarily driven by lower seasonal bookings. Finally, Carter's international businesses grew sales 13.9%, to $77.9 million, as foreign-currency pressure was more than offset by continued strength for the brand in Canada -- which turned in impressive 14.9% comps, including 46.6% e-Commerce comps, and stores comparable-sales growth of 12.8% -- as well as new e-Commerce sales in China. On a constant-currency basis, international revenue would have risen 20.1%. On guidanceLooking forward, Carter's anticipates second-quarter revenue will increase 3% to 4% year over year, or to a range of $631.1 million to $637.3 million,while adjusted earnings per share are expected to decline 10% to 15%, or to a range of roughly $0.62 to $0.66. By comparison, analysts' consensus called for second-quarter earnings of $0.80 per share on revenue of $651.6 million. During the subsequent conference call, however, Carter's CFO Richard Westenberger explained the company is implementing significant investment spending in the first half of the year to support longer-term growth and planning across the business, notably in marketing, technology, and improving the supply chain. Finally, for the full-year 2016, Carter's reiterated its guidance for revenue to increase in the range of 6% to 7% over 2015, or to a range of $3.18 billion to $3.21 billion. But it also raised guidance for the bottom line, calling for 2016 adjusted earnings per share to increase 10% to 12% (up from previous expectations for 8% to 10% growth), or to a range of $5.07 to $5.16. In the end, there were really no big surprises in Carter's latest report -- just more of the same modest outperformance from this promising company as it works to supplement steady growth with generous capital returns. The article Carter's, Inc. Turns in Another Beat, Invests for the Future originally appeared on Fool.com. Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Carter's. 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: Gilead Sciences, Inc. After reporting first-quarter financials that were shy of industry watchers' forecast, Gilead Sciencesshares were trading down 5% after the bell today. Investors wondering if Gilead Sciences shares are a buy or sell might want to consider these nine numbers (plus a bonus!), each of which offers additional insight into whether the company is worth owning in portfolios. $7.7 billion. That's the amount of money Gilead Sciences raked in last quarter from its medicines, including its widely used HIV and hepatitis C drugs. The haul was slightly bigger than the $7.6 billion the company reported a year ago. $4.3 billion. This is how much Gilead Sciences had leftover in adjusted net income after it covered its operating costs and paid its taxes. Clearly, this is a big chunk of money, but it's still down from adjusted net income of $4.6 billion a year ago. $3.14. Industry watchers were modeling for non-GAAP EPS of that amount, but they got only $3.03 instead. $800 million. That's how much product sales slumped in America versus last year following the approval of Merck & Co.'s Zepatier in January. Last year, U.S. product sales were $5.2 billion, but this time around, they were just $4.4 billion. $1.1 billion. Sluggish U.S. sales following Zepatier's launch were offset by a surge in sales in Japan. Combining Japan's $1.1 billion in Q1 2016 sales with the $571 million generated in other international locations, excluding Europe, gives you $1.67 billion. For comparison, total international sales were $364 million a year ago. Image source: Gilead Sciences, Inc. $1.6 billion. That's how much less its top-selling Harvoni brought in versus last year in the United States last quarter. U.S. Harvoni sales fell to $1.4 billion from $3.02 billion last year. Global Harvoni sales, however, slipped by less. Thanks to sales growth overseas, Harvoni revenue was $3 billion in Q1, down from $3.6 billion a year ago. $2.86 billion. Gilead Sciences' combined sales of its HIV drug franchise clocked in at this pace, giving its HIV drugs an annualized run rate of $11.44 billion. For comparison, Gilead Sciences' HIV sales were $2.4 billion in Q1, 2015. $30 billion to $31 billion. After all the quarter's give and take, this is how much Gilead Sciences still expects to generate in product revenue this year. The amount is a reiteration of guidance announced in February, and it reflects a slight dip from 2015's $32.2 billion in product revenue. $8 billion. Management's appetite for its own shares surged last quarter, resulting in share repurchases totaling this amount. Bonus: $21.3 billion. After covering costs, buying back shares, and paying its dividend, the company still has a cash war chest of this size exiting March. Tying it togetherThe biggest takeaway from Gilead Sciences' quarter has to be the drop in U.S. Harvoni sales and the corresponding increase in revenue that was likely enjoyed by Merck. Merck reports its first-quarter financials on May 5, and it will be intriguing to hear what the company says about prescription trends. Although Harvoni's sales decline was a drag on Gilead Sciences' top line, the drop was made up for by demand in other markets, most notably in Japan. Overall, the company's HIV sales continue to impress, and given that a FDA approval of the company's arguably best-in-class next-generation hepatitis C drug this summer could reverse market share lost to Zepatier last quarter, it may be best to stick with Gilead Sciences rather than unload its shares based on today's report. The article 9 Figures That Sum Up Gilead Sciences' First Quarter originally appeared on Fool.com. Todd Campbell owns shares of Gilead Sciences. Todd owns E.B. Capital Markets, LLC. E.B. Capital's clients may have positions in the companies mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Gilead Sciences. 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. Having disappointed the market by failing to meet guidance in 2015, the onus is on 's (NYSE: BWA) management to restore confidence in their forecasting -- which goes a long way toward explaining the cautionary tone taken by CEO James Verrier during Thursday's earnings call. The first-quarter earnings themselves were good, and despite some operational disappointments, management of the auto parts supplier kept full-year earnings guidance intact. On the other hand, when any company's leadership says current risks outweigh opportunities, investors will want to take notice. Let's take a closer look at the quarter and what was said. BorgWarner's first quarter: The raw numbers The headline figures: First-quarter sales of $2.269 billion compared to a guidance range of $2.149 billion to $2.248 billion. First-quarter net non-GAAP EPS of $0.80 compared to a guidance range of $0.75 to $0.79. In short, it was a good quarter for BorgWarner, and second-quarter guidance is positive: Second-quarter net sales growth is expected to be in the 10.6%-to-16% range. Excluding the impact of foreign currency and the Remy acquisition, net sales growth is expected to be 1.5% to 4.8%. Net diluted EPS is expected to be in the $0.78-to-$0.83 range, including $0.03 from the Remy acquisition. As you probably could surmise, BorgWarner's results have a lot of moving parts: foreign currency issues, acquisition adjustments, integration costs, restructuring expenses, tax adjustments, etc. You get the picture. That said, let's look closely at the subtle change in full-year guidance: Full-year net sales are now expected to be in a range of $8.879 billion to $9.253 billion, implying growth of 12.7% to 17.5%, compared to a previous estimate for 13.2% to 18.3% growth. Excluding foreign currency headwinds and the impact of the Remy acquisition, net sales growth is still expected to be 2.5% to 5.5%. Net diluted EPS is still expected to be in the range of $3.11 to $3.32, including $0.12 from Remy. As noted earlier, the earnings guidance remains the same. The slight reduction in full-year net sales is primarily due to "lower growth expectations from Remy's commercial vehicle business." But here's the thing: The key takeaway from the earnings is not so much about the slight reduction in sales growth. It's more about what it represents -- the potential for more disappointment down the line. Risks outweighing opportunities Verrier's remark, "I would say the risks a little outweigh the opportunities as we see the world at this point," is clearly intended to reflect the key uncertainties facing BorgWarner and the automotive market in 2016: Ongoing weakness in the commercial vehicle market, a key sector for BorgWarner. Outlook for vehicle sales in China now that the initial impact of government incentives there has hit. Whether North American car sales have hit a plateau, and if so, what it implies for car inventory reductions going forward. The impact of the previous two points on its biggest customer, Weak commercial vehicle sales are part and parcel of the current dichotomy in the global economy -- consumer spending is good, business spending is bad -- and Verrier served notice that some of the new programs the company had targeted in recent years were "coming into question and review." Turning to vehicle sales in China and North America, as you can see from the graph below, vehicle sales inChina received a boost from tax-cut stimulus at the end of 2015, but it's unclear whether that will cause a pull-forward effect leading to a future sales decline. Similarly, U.S. vehicle sales look like they have peaked. IMAGE SOURCE: TRADINGECONOMICS.COM. BorgWarner's biggest customer, Volkswagen, has obviously had issues during the last year, but on the same day BorgWarner gave its results, the German car company's management offered a surprisingly bullish outlook for 2016. Said Volkswagen CEO Michael Muller: It's good for BorgWarner investors to hear positivity from Volkswagen, but the market will want to see that optimism confirmed in the automaker's sales figures over the next few quarters. Looking ahead BorgWarner's first-quarter results were solid enough, but as management pointed out, the coming quarter is likely to indicate the direction of the global auto market in 2016. Looking at it from a "glass half-empty" perspective would suggest that Verrier's cautionary commentary could prelude disappointment in future quarters, but those with a "glass half-full" perspective will take heart from management's confidence that it will hit its guidance, and also see the upside should the auto market positively surprise in 2016. The article BorgWarner Earnings Results Good, but Commentary Raises Concerns originally appeared on Fool.com. Lee Samaha has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends BorgWarner. 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. The International Space Station is now equipped with a permanent 3D printer thats commercially available. Image source: NASA. If you're ever zooming around in space and find yourself in need of a 3D printer, just stop by the International Space Station. On March 26, the ISS became equipped with a permanent 3D printer, supplied by privately held Made In Space and partnerLowe's Innovation Labs, the innovative hub of the home retailer. The 3D printer was among cargo delivered to the orbiting lab as part ofOrbital ATK'sfifth commercial resupply mission for NASA, and its available for use by NASA and others for a fee. This story is a testament to how far 3D printing has come since it was largely invented by the founders of3D Systems andStratasys in the mid-1980s as a quite basic technology to speed up prototyping. Heres what you should know. The historic significance of the"Additive Manufacturing Facility" Image source: Made In Space. While this 3D printer -- dubbed the "Additive Manufacturing Facility" -- is the second 3D printer in space, its the first 3D printer thats a permanent fixture there, as well as the first thats commercially available. Made In Space, founded in 2010 and based at NASA's Ames Research Center, launched its first 3D printer to the ISS in September 2014, as part of its "3D Printing in Microgravity Experiment" demonstration. It used findings from that mission to develop the AMF. The AMF is also the first "hardware store in space," with Lowes the first retailer operating off-Earth. While Made In Space owns the 3D printer, Lowe's will use it to produce branded tools that will be commercially available. Autodesk also clinched a first: Its software was used to design the printer. (Made In Space also used Autodesks software to design its first 3D printer.) About the AMFThe AMF is an extrusion-based 3D printer that has a build envelope of 14 cm (w) x 10 cm (d) x 10 cm (h) -- equivalent to about 5.5 x 3.9 x 3.9 inches. In addition to having a larger print volume than its predecessor, it also has expanded materials capabilities. Initially, it will print in more than 30 polymers, including ABS (which is the plastic from which Legos are made), HDPE, and PEI/PC, but its designed to print with other materials as they become approved for ISS operations. The printers resolution capabilities are in the 0.1-to-0.44-millimeter range, depending upon material. The 3D printer can be operated locally and remotely, including from Earth. This remote operability feature opens up the AMF for commercial use, as it allows Made In Space personnel and customers on Earth to upload designs to be 3D-printed. It also provides backup support to those operating the AMF locally. Image source: Made In Space. The AMF isavailable to research and commercial entities, as well as to NASA and the U.S. National Laboratory on board the ISS. It can be used to produce hardware for experimentation, tools, parts, education purposes, and microgravity research. Built to be modular and upgradable, the AMF will also be used as a research platform to advance other in-space manufacturing techniques. NASA and other customers will pay Made In Space to use the AMF. The cost will generally range from $6,000 to $30,000 for one print job, Made In Space's head of product strategy, Spencer Pitman, toldTech Crunch,though there are discounts for education initiatives. Pitmansaid that the company already has orders from more than 20 customers, including for medical research components, parts for satellites and other spacecraft, and parts for school projects, according toTech Crunch. Benefits of in-space 3D printingThe benefits of in-space 3D printing include faster delivery time; the ability to design lighter, more optimized parts; and increased safety. Some benefits also result in cost savings. Being able to produce spare parts and tools in space will be tremendously valuable to NASA and astronauts. Currently, NASA has to launch considerably more parts than any mission will need, which is extremely costly. After all, it's not like astronauts can make quick jaunts tothe nearest hardware store or call a contractor like we earthlings can if we're in need of a quick fix. Another advantage relates to the design of the parts themselves. Objects made on Earth often need to be structurally reinforced to withstand the stresses of the launch, which subjects them to gravitational forces three to nine times those on Earth. This additional weight isnt needed once the object is in orbit, so in-space printing will allow for the creation of ultra-light objects. Less material use means less cost. These facts illustrate the potential for in-space 3D printing to make life in space easier and considerably less costly: About 30% of the parts on the ISS could be replaced by 3D-printed constructs, according to Made In Space. It costs roughly $10,000 to launch just one pound of payload into orbit, according to NASA. However, the true cost is likely far higher because all the materials and parts going to the ISS have to go through a lengthy and costly certification process. NASA has already spent $1.2 billion on spare parts for the ISS, the vast majority of which will never be used, according to Made In Space. Ultimately, NASA's goal is to include 3D printers on all space missions. Beyond the moneysaving and convenience factors, there's the safety aspect. There's no way even a group of rocket scientists can foresee every conceivable emergency scenario. So, having a 3D printer on board to crank out jerry-rigged fixes on space missions could be lifesaving. Kick-starting the burgeoning "space economy"The AMF's availability for commercial business should help kick-start the burgeoning space economy, which some predict could ultimately be a trillion-dollar market. Self-sufficiency, or at least near-self-sufficiency, is a must if humans are to eventually colonize other planets, such as Mars, which SpaceX founder and Chairman Elon Musk believes will occur within 20 years. The first object -- a prototype of a spacecraft -- ever 3D-printed from asteroid material. Image source: Planetary Resources. A few companies, such as Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries, have formed with the goal of mining asteroids to use as feedstock for off-Earth manufacturing. Planetary Resources, in fact, together with its partner 3D Systems, revealed the first object ever 3D-printed using asteroid material at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2016. One giant leap for investors?Off-Earth 3D printing will certainly eventually present investment opportunities for individual investors. While Made In Space is currently a private company, there's the possibility that it could go public to raise capital to help fund expansion. Companies entering the asteroid mining business also bear watching. Planetary Resources, which is building spacecraft for harvesting asteroids, counts billionairesLarry Page, CEO and co-founder ofAlphabet(parent company of Google), and Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, among its founding investors. 3D Systems and Stratasys? Personally, I don't think they'll enter the off-Earth 3D printing "space," as it has extremely high barriers to entry, and they have enough potential business on Earth. One thing's for sure: The sky is no longer the limit for 3D printing -- or its profits. The article The First 3D Printing Facility in Space Is Open for Business! originally appeared on Fool.com. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Beth McKenna has no position in any stocks mentioned, and will leave the Red Planet to Martians and billionaires if it doesn't have pretty greenery, but will contribute to science by looking after Musk's digs during his extended absence. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A and C shares). The Motley Fool recommends 3D Systems and Stratasys. 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. Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduces the Model X. Source: Tesla. FamedentrepreneurElon Musk has been a regular Chicken Little when it comes to artificialintelligence. The billionaire founder of both Tesla and SpaceX has spokenout about the dangers of the emerging technology on several occasions in recent years, warning that it could bringdisastrousconsequences for all of humanity. Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn't buying it. In an interview with Germany's Axel Springer (via Business Insider), the founder of the social networkcharacterizedMusk's warnings as "hysterical." While the discussion may seem somewhat nebulous, bordering on the realm of science fiction, artificial intelligence is one of Facebook's central prerogatives, and it could become fundamental to the company's business model in the years ahead. It's nothing to worry aboutZuckerberg touched on several subjects in his conversation with Axel Springer's CEO Mathias Dpfner, but one of the more interesting points of the discussion centered on artificial intelligence. Two different business modelsMusk's companies are pursuing a wide variety of interesting new technologies, but none center around artificial intelligence. Tesla, for example, remains committed to changing the automotive industry, slowly shifting the market from traditional internal combustion engines to electric cars. Tesla's challenges relate to its battery technology, its distribution network, and the world's long-entrenched addiction to fossil fuels. Better batteries and more favorable laws surrounding dealer networks would benefit the company. Tesla's autopilot software does, somewhat ironically, represent a form of artificial intelligence, but outside of it's self-driving aspirations, it's not clear how artificial intelligence would help drive Tesla's core business forward. Facebook, in contrast, is committed wholeheartedly. "Artificial intelligence is a long-term effort for us," Zuckerberg said on the company's most recent earnings call. "But we're already using it in lots of ways. Right now, our Moments app is using face recognition to help you share pictures with your friends. We're using AI to show the most relevant content in news feeds, filter spam and messaging, and even help blind people understand what's in their friends' photos by reading explanations of them aloud." AI also factors heavily into Facebook's bet on chatbots. Earlier this month at its F8 developer conference, Facebook announced an aggressive new effort to court businesses for its messenger platform. By leaning on the power of AI, businesses can create chat bots to interact with their customers. Zuckerberg touched on how AI could factor into Messenger's long-term future on the company's most recent earnings call. For now, the differing views of Musk and Zuckerberg isn't having an effect on Facebook's business, but that may not always be the case. "I'm increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight [for artificial intelligence technology], maybe at the national and international level," Musk said. The last thing Facebook needs is government regulators clamping down on Messenger or Newsfeed. For now, Facebook's AI efforts remain relatively pedestrian, but the company's ambitions are much broader. For long-term Facebook shareholders, the discussion surrounding AI may be just as relevant as the company's most recent quarterly earnings report. The article Mark Zuckerberg Thinks Elon Musk is Wrong on AI originally appeared on Fool.com. Sam Mattera has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook and Tesla Motors. 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: American Tower. American Tower continues to both grow its global tower footprint and organically add new tenants to its existing tower portfolio. That's proving to be a powerful combination, enabling the company to deliver solid double-digit growth in revenue and adjusted funds from operations again this quarter. Given the current trends in mobile data growth, the company expects to continue its double-digit growth pace for the foreseeable future. American Tower results: The raw numbers Q1 2016 Actuals Q1 2015 Actuals Growth (YOY) Revenue $1.3 billion $1.1 billion 19.3% Adjusted Funds from Operations $602.5 million $513.6 million 17.3% AFFO/share $1.41 $1.25 12.8% Data source: American Tower. What happened with American Tower this quarter?American Tower connected on another solid quarter. American Tower's U.S. property segment was a solid performer, with revenue up 13% to $718 million due primarily to the company's Verizon tower transaction. tower transaction. Looking overseas, Latin America, which is the company's second largest market by revenue, was strong after revenue increased by 24.8% to $211 million. Driving that growth was the TIM Cellular transaction in Brazil. Meanwhile, growth in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) was also solid, with revenue jumping 17% to $76 million. That segment is expected to get another boost starting next quarter, after the company reached an agreement to acquire 1,350 towers in Tanzania for $179 million from Bharti Airtel. Finally, revenue in Asia increased by 20% to $57 million. However, the company expects Asia to be an even bigger revenue driver in 2016 after recently closing its transaction to acquire a 51% controlling interest in Viom Networks Limited, which operates 42,000 sites in India. What management had to sayIn commenting on the quarter, CEO Jim Taiclet said: As Taiclet noted, American Tower continues to benefit from strong demand for additional space on its towers, which is driving organic growth. During the first quarter, the company delivered 8.7% organic core growth, which is revenue growth from towers added prior to the first quarter of 2015. That's a key number for the company because it means its legacy towers are becoming all the more profitable, which is boosting its returns and cash flow with little incremental investment needed on its part. Looking forwardThat said, acquisitions continue to be the big near-term driver, with the company expecting new property growth of 14% this year against 7% organic core growth, which will combine to drive 21% total core growth for the company. In fact, as a result of the recent closing of the Viom deal, as well as recent changes in the foreign exchange market, the company is now boosting its full-year guidance. It sees revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and AFFO higher by $40 million, $25 million, and $20 million, respectively, from the midpoint of its prior guidance, with favorable currency swings offsetting a delay in the closing of the Viom deal. The article Mobile Growth Continues to Push American Tower Corp's Earnings Higher originally appeared on Fool.com. Matt DiLallo owns shares of American Tower and Verizon Communications andhas the following options: long January 2017 $80 calls on American Tower. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends American Tower and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2017 $80 calls on American Tower. 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. A data analytics dashboard for a manufacturing operation. Image source: Qlik. Qlik Technologies reported its first-quarter 2016 earnings after the market closed on Thursday. The data analytics software company reported strong year-over-year revenue growth of 15%, and 18% in constant currency, while adjusted earnings per share were unchanged from the year-ago period. The company edged up its full-year 2016 guidance on Q1 results that exceeded its expectations. Qlik's stock rose 4.8% in after-hours trading on Thursday. This rise can be attributed to revenue and adjusted earnings exceeding analysts' estimates, as well as the company's guidance. The stock was down 14.8% for the one-year period through Thursday. It has struggled since hitting an all-time high in August, however, it's made a considerable comeback since mid-February when the company reported fourth-quarter earnings. Part of this rebound can be attributed to activist-investor hedge fund Elliot Management buying an 8.88% stake in the company in early March. Qlik's key quarterly numbers Metric Q1 2016 Q1 2015 Growth (YoY) Revenue $138.0 million $120.3 million 15% (18% in constant currency) Operating income (GAAP) $(24.8) million $(24.1) million (3)% Operating income (adjusted) $(12.3) million $(13.5) million 8.9% Earnings per share (GAAP) $(0.29) $(0.33) 12.1% Earnings per share (adjusted) $(0.9) $(0.9) 0% Data source: Qlik. Qlik's revenue and adjusted EPS solidly beat the $134.4 million and negative $0.12, respectively, that analysts were expecting.Long-term investors shouldn't pay too much heed to Wall Street estimates, as analysts are very short-term-focused. However, expectations help explain market reactions, so they can be worth knowing. More importantly, the company exceeded its internal revenue and earnings guidance. It had expected an adjusted EPS loss in the range of $0.14 to $0.12 on revenue of $132 million to $136 million. What happened with Qlik this quarter? Licensing revenue increased 9% year over year, or 12% in constant currency, to$59.8 million. The company's pipeline, as reflected by its licensing activity, continues to look healthy. Qlik completed 98 deals with license and first-year maintenance of more than $100,000 in the quarter. Of those, 38 deals brought in more than $250,000, and five brought in more than $1 million. This compares to the 88 deals for more than $100,000, including 17 for more than $250,000, and three for more than $1 million, in the prior-year period. It generated 74% of license and first-year maintenance billings from existing customers, compared to 66% in the prior-year period. This likely reflects customer satisfaction. Another plus is that it's usually less costly for companies to sell to existing customers than to obtain new ones. Obtaining new customers, of course, is also critical to fuel continued long-term growth. Geographical revenue performance in constant currency was as follows: The Americas increased 21% over the prior-year period; Europe increased 11%; and rest of the world rose 36%, a nice jump, as weakness in Asia Pacific has recently been dragging this result down. What management had to saySaid Qlik CEO Lars Bjork in the company press release: Looking forwardQlik established Q2 guidance and increased its 2016 revenue and earnings guidance range set last quarter. Q2 guidance: Metric Q2 2016 Guidance Q2 2015 Result Projected Growth (YoY) Revenue $164 million to $168 million $145.8 million 12% to 15% (13% to 16% in constant currency) Earnings per share (adjusted) $0.01 to $0.03 $(0.01) N/A Data source: Qlik. Full-year 2016 guidance: Metric FY 2016 Guidance 2015 Result Projected Growth (YoY) Revenue $704 million to $714 million $612.7 million 15% to 17% (reported and constant-currency basis) Earnings per share (adjusted) $0.42 to $0.45 $0.23 83% to 96% Data source: Qlik. Original guidance was for EPS of $0.41 to $0.44 on revenue of $695 million to $705 million. Going into earnings, analysts were projecting that Qlik would earn $0.42 per share on revenue of $698.8 million in 2016. So, the lower end of the company's revenue range expectation exceeds analysts' estimates, while the low end of its earnings expectation range matches the consensus. In short, Qlik posted results that suggest it's on target to deliver strong full-year 2016 results. The article Qlik Technologies Raises 2016 Guidance on Q1 Results That Exceeded Its Expectations originally appeared on Fool.com. Beth McKenna has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Qlik 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. Image Source: Suncor Energy corporate website. As oil and gas prices have declined, one of the assumptions Wall Street has made about oil and gas companies is that those with exposure to oil sands will be some of the most deeply affected. Based on Suncor Energy's recent results, though, it would seem that this isn't necessarily the case. Sure, cheap oil has taken its toll on earnings, but beneficial factors such as foreign exchange rates and improving performance at Suncor's oil sands facilities has helped mitigate some of the pain. Let's take a quick look at the numbers for this past quarter, and check in on some of the company's most-recent moves to see what investors can look forward to in the future. By the numbers Results (in millions, except per share data) Q1 2016 Q4 2015 Q1 2015 Revenue $5,577 $6,593 $7,386 EBITDA $871 $1,352 $1,867 Net Income $257 ($2,007) ($341) Earnings per share $0.17 ($1.38) ($0.24) Source: Suncor Energy earnings release, S&P Capital IQ. As you might expect, lower oil prices had an impact on the company's business, but there were some things that were working in Suncor's favor that helped to generate profits this quarter. A large part of it had to do with an $885 million non-cash gain on the revaluation of its debt denominated in U.S. dollars. That gain was in the company's corporate, energy trading, and eliminations segment, so it didn't really change the earnings performance of the individual segments. Here's how those segments did. Source: Suncor Energy earnings release, authors chart. With so many charges related to foreign currencies and asset writedowns, Suncor's earnings can look pretty skewed from a quarter-to-quarter basis, but it's much harder to skew figures like operational cash. For the quarter, the company's operational cash flow declined 53%, to $682 million. This decline in cash is a rather inopportune time for Suncor, as it is just now ramping up construction of its Fort Hills oil sands project that is expected to be operational by 2017. The operational highlights The company also announced this past quarter that it will acquire Murphy Oil's 5% stake in the Syncrude oil sands project for $937 million. The deal will increase Suncor's stake in the Syncrude project to 53.7%. Suncor was able to lower its cash operating costs at its oil sands facilities by 15%, to $24.25 per barrel. Total production from oil sands came in at an all-time high of 453,000 barrels per day. Exploration and production volumes were also up 10%, to 72,000 barrels per day, as its Golden Eagle offshore facility doubled its production capacity. Refining and marketing results declined as Suncor's refineries saw lower refining margins across the industry, and total refining input declined modestly. The company spent $1.4 billion in capital expenditures for the quarter compared to $1.23 in the first quarter of 2015. Most of the gains in spending went to Suncor's oil-sands business Straight from managementLike other oil and gas companies that have assets across the value chain in oil, Suncor CEO Steve Williams was quick to point out in his statement that the company has been able to keep from suffering deep losses thanks to its more-diversified business model: One thing that you have to give Suncor credit for is going out and making some moves while oil prices remain disastrously low. By acquiring a much-larger stake in Syncrude through both the Murphy Oil and Canadian Oil Sands Limited acquisitions without stretching itself too far with debt, the company should be able to reap strong rewards from this move when oil and gas prices rebound. OutlookThe increased stake in Syncrude, and the development of the Fort Hills project, will fuel some pretty significant increases in production for Suncor. Management expects these two projects and other smaller additions will generate 6% production growth annually until 2019. On top of that, Suncor expects to reduce its operating costs by $500 million this year, and that's on top of the $900 million in savings the company realized between 2014 and 2015. These moves aren't leading to large profits today, but they will do wonders for the income statement as oil and gas prices rise. The article Suncor Energy's Earnings Had a Helpful Boost From Foreign Exchange originally appeared on Fool.com. Tyler Crowe has no position in any stocks mentioned.You can follow him at Fool.comor on Twitter@TylerCroweFool. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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: Celldex Therapeutics Over the past year, clinical-stage biotechCelldex Therapeutics has lost over 86% of its value.A phase 3 failure during a generally bearish period for your industry can do that to a company that spends over $100 million a year on R&D without a product to sell. If you think the market went way too far in punishing the stock after Rintega failed to beat the standard-of-care in brain cancer this March, you're not alone. Wall Street seems to have overlooked a couple important points about this promising biotech. First, its runner up drug candidate to Rintega,Glembatumumab Vedotin (formerly CDX-011, and affectionately dubbed Glembat for the rest of this article) is in several clinical trials, any one of which could support a new drug application. What you'll find even more shocking is that the company finished last year with cash and marketable securities of nearly $290 million. With a market cap of around $400 million, that puts an awfully small price on the company's existing pipeline. In fact, I'll argue that Glembat alone makes this company a buy. Let's have a closer look. Delivering death to cancer cellsGlembat is a harmless protein attached to a chemotherapy drug so potent, it can't be used as chemotherapy.Glembat binds specifically to gpNMB, another protein found all over the surface of several different tumor cell types. It's like a tiny Trojan horse: once Glembat binds to gpNMB, it's invited inside -- and then it releases its super-chemo drug. Image source: Celldex Therapeutics, Turns out gpNMB is overexpressed on the surface of lots of different tumor cells. Celldex is taking the financially responsible route, and focusing on larger indications first such as breast, skin, and (most recently) lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute is so thrilled with Glembat's potential that it's sponsoring two early stage trials with patients suffering from extremely rare forms of eye and bone cancer. A positive for triple-negativeWhile Celldex has gained some recent attention for beginning an early stage trial in lung cancer patients, it's an ongoing study with Glembat in triple-negative breast cancer that overexpress gpNMB that investors should stay focused on. The trial, named Metric, began in 2013 and is limited to the U.S., Canada, and Australia. In late 2014, members of theEuropean Medicines Agency (the EU's FDA) suggested some changes that would expand patient criteria. Those amendments boosted the number of patients to 300, and its success could support an application in the U.S. and EU. Image source: National Cancer Institute. In a previous trial with 122 heavily pretreated breast cancer patients with lots ofgpNMB on their tumors, Glembat slowed progression of the disease and lengthened overall survival, but not enough to be considered statistically significant. When investigators sifted out patients with triple-negative breast cancer, progression free and overall survival resultswere significant. Triple-negative breast cancer gets its name because the tumor cells don't express three common targets for existing therapies, leaving these women with a poor prognosis and limited options. It accounts for just 10% to 15% of all breast cancers,or about 170,000 cases annually worldwide. Just how many of these women's tumors overexpress gpNMB is hard to pin down. So far it seems like a high percentage, and gpNMB is frequently seen in metastatic tumor cells -- the extra-dangerous type that break free from their first location and set up shop elsewhere. A buy? Oh yeah.Given the lack of options available to triple-negative breast cancer patients, I think an approval in this indication alone would give the drug billion-dollar blockbuster potential. With four additional indications in exploratory trials, it could go much further. The only upsetting part so far about Glembat is that enrollment of these patients in the trial that could lead to its approval isn't expected to complete until the second half of the year. I wouldn't expect results until well into 2017. At least the wait won't be dull. Glembat is just one of several clinical-stage candidates at Celldex. It's immuno-oncology candidate, varlilumab, inspires the immune system to attack tumor cells and is in combination studies withBristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo andRoche'satezolizumab. While I think just one highly specific breast cancer indication for Glembat makes Celldex a buy, it's only the tip of this stock's iceberg. The article This One Drug Alone Makes Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. a Buy (Hint: It's not Rintega) originally appeared on Fool.com. Cory Renauer has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Celldex Therapeutics. 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: Flickr, courtesy Andrew Bain. Friday brought a poor end to the week for the stock market, and the Dow and S&P 500 finished down between a third of a percent, and a half-percent on the day. Anxiety about the broader global economic picture weighed on investor sentiment despite some strong performances from many of the companies that have released earnings this month. Many investors fled stocks in favor of perceived safe-haven plays like Treasury bonds, which rose in price, and fell in yield to finish the week. Yet many individual companies saw big gains from a variety of positive factors. Among them were Freeport-McMoRan , LogMeIn , and Genworth Financial . Freeport-McMoRan climbed 11% as the company benefited from higher commodity prices. Gains in the crude oil market largely evaporated, but with levels holding near $46 per barrel, Freeport is in a better position to benefit from current prices than it has been in recent months. Moreover, gold prices jumped $27 per ounce to approach the $1,300 level, and copper prices jumped almost $0.05 to $2.29 per pound. Given the massive charges that Freeport has already had to take because of the declines in commodity prices, it'll take more than these minor bounces for the stock to regain all of its lost ground. Nevertheless, with the U.S. dollar losing ground against many major foreign currencies, and with most of the company's products having risen dramatically from their worst price levels, investors in Freeport-McMoRan are getting more bullish about its longer-term prospects. LogMeIn jumped 13% despite reporting a loss in its first-quarter financial report Thursday night. The cloud-based connectivity specialist saw revenue jump 30%, and after accounting for certain extraordinary items, adjusted net income climbed 7%, to $0.35 per share. That was better than what investors had expected, and CEO Bill Wagner noted that "our Collaboration, Identity and Access Management, and Service Clouds all saw double-digit year-over-year revenue growth, and our strategic produts significantly outperformed the business overall." With so much emphasis on cloud-based business lately, LogMeIn investors hope that the company's business success could lead to interest from would-be acquirers, or simply result in faster growth rates for its core business going forward. Finally, Genworth Financial climbed almost 20%. The provider of mortgage and long-term care insurance products issued its first-quarter financials Thursday night, and Genworth said that it had made significant process in its restructuring plan to move away from traditional life insurance and annuity products toward focusing on what it sees as its core businesses moving forward. Profit gains in the U.S. mortgage-insurance business weren't able to offset declines in operating income in its Canadian and Australian operations, but Genworth CEO Tom McInerney did say that he was "pleased with the continued strong performance of our [mortgage insurance] businesses," along with solid performance on the life side of the business, as well. Genworth has a long way to go before it can declare victory over its challenges from the past couple of years, but the report is a step in the right direction. The article Why Freeport-McMoRan, LogMeIn, and Genworth Financial Jumped Today originally appeared on Fool.com. Dan Caplinger 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. Office Depot's BusinessSolutions segment continues to decline, a result the office supplies retailer blames on the delays being experienced in its merger with Staples. Image source: Office Depot. Does the fact that Office Depot reported first-quarter earnings that sorely missed internal expectations -- let alone Wall Street's forecasts -- validate Staples' argument that it needs to merge with its rival for both of them to survive, or does it undermine it, thereby seemingly endorsing the market's dour view of the deal? Since Staples made known in early February 2015 that it intended to buy Office Depot, its shares have lost 40% of their value, either because the market thought the FTC would never approve the deal, or because investors viewed the union of two troubled retailers as a poor decision. Office Depot's stock has lost about one-fifth of its worth in that time frame. Disruptive technologyOffice Depot says sales fell 10% in the first quarter to $3.5 billion largely due to the disruption being caused by delays in the merger process. Retail sales were down 9% mostly because of store closings, but business solutions sales fell 7%, allegedly because it's having trouble adding more customers due to the uncertainty surrounding its acquisition. While that may be true, Office Depot's contract market wasn't all that robust to begin with. Sales in 2014 were essentially flat even after the addition of OfficeMax's business, and last year, while it also attributed falling sales to disruption caused by the merger, it was suffering weakness in Canada and lower catalog sales as well. Earlier on, the business solutions operation was reportedly already in decline. In contrast, Staples has been gaining sales in the space, up 2% last year, 3% in 2014, and flat to up incrementally before that. So it seems understandable why the market may not be enthused about the two businesses joining together. When Sears, Roebuck bought K-Mart to create Sears Holdings, it didn't result in a better retailer, but rather saddled one sick business with another. A too-big footprintStaples, though, is not Sears, and there is still a lot of sense to be found in merging the two companies together, at least on the retail side. Between the 1,500 stores Office Depot operates and the 1,607 stores in Staples portfolio, there are simply too many bricks-and-mortar office supply locations for this weak economic environment. Shedding more stores will be necessary to right-size the company, particularly as it faces more competition from the likes of Wal-Mart, Costco, and the 800-pound gorilla in the room, Amazon.com . It is, of course, Amazon that is central to Staples' argument as to why it needs Office Depot. As the e-commerce leader rolls out its business-to-business platform, both office supplies retailers will feel the pinch even more in the segment of their operations that provides them with 40% of their revenues. In pursuing its case against the merger, the FTC tried to pressure the Internet retailer to lie about how ready it was to take on the B2B market, yet there is some merit in questioning whether Amazon can be effective in it. Wide open spacesAmazon Business is the e-tailer's third attempt at entering the space, and though it refused to acquiesce to the government's efforts to get it to misrepresent its capabilities, its executive also testified in the trial that it's only won one contract with a business having more than $250 million in revenues, despite numerous attempts. Even so, it also characterized the opportunity in the space as a "land grab" over the next few years. Moreover, CEO Jeff Bezos has characterized its Amazon Web Services, Marketplace, and Prime membership program as "three big pillars" that allowed Amazon.com to grow to $100 billion in annual sales faster than any company before. He says it is looking for a fourth such pillar, and certainly the business-to-business marketplace has the potential to be that one. Office Depot's earnings certainly are stressed, though whether that's simply a result of "disruption" due to the merger's delay, or something deeper, like losing opportunities to rivals, is still unclear. Regardless, it suggests the market cannot sustain two major bricks-and-mortar retailers that have the prospect of a multibillion dollar Internet rival looming over them. Its latest quarterly report indicates Staples really does need to buy Office Depot, and the sooner the better. The article Will Office Depot's Weak Earnings Convince the Market It's Better Off Merged with Staples? originally appeared on Fool.com. Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon.com and Costco Wholesale. 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: WisdomTree. Market turbulence is bad news for money managers like WisdomTree Investments , because nervous investors tend to pull money from exchange-traded funds and other managed financial products. The fact that the stock market has recovered from its losses early in 2016 hasn't lessened the nervousness among ETF shareholders, and coming into Friday's fourth-quarter financial report, WisdomTree investors expected to see pressure from the market's fluctuations on its revenue and earnings. WisdomTree's results did indeed show signs of those negative impacts, but the company still managed to keep sales and net income stable to slightly higher despite the headwinds. Let's look more closely at how WisdomTree did and whether shareholders can expect a stronger recovery in the near future. WisdomTree holds its ownWisdomTree's first-quarter results didn't show the high growth that investors got used to seeing in the past, but they still were reasonable given adverse market conditions. Revenue rose just over 1% to $60.9 million, growing slightly faster than investors had expected. Net income of $12.1 million was nearly identical to year-ago figures, and that translated to earnings of $0.09 per share, exactly matching the consensus forecast among investors. Looking more closely at the operational numbers for WisdomTree, assets under management for its U.S. ETFs reflected the market downturn and responses among fund shareholders. At the end of the quarter, assets under management stood at $44.3 billion, down more than 20% from year-ago levels. Outflows of $5.4 billion accelerated from last quarter's pace. In Europe, WisdomTree's European ETFs kept gaining transaction, posting nearly $200 million in inflows, but the total $885 million in assets under management is inconsequential compared to the U.S. business. Advisory fees stayed steady at 0.52%. On the expense side of the equation, WisdomTree benefited greatly from a 22% decline in compensation and benefits-related costs. That drop reflected decreases in incentive compensation because of outflows. The fund company used all of those savings to boost its spending on marketing and advertising, and sales and business development. Professional and consulting fees also jumped substantially due to WisdomTree's acquisition of commodity-ETF specialist GreenHaven. CEO Jonathan Steinberg put WisdomTree's performance in perspective. "Against a backdrop of equity and currency market headwinds, our largest Japan and European based exposures experienced outflows in the first quarter," Steinberg said. "However, despite this difficult operating environment, we achieved solid financial results, underscoring the efficiency and durability of our business model." Can WisdomTree get its growth going again?Steinberg is optimistic about WisdomTree's growth trajectory. As the CEO said, "We are continuing to build on our market leadership position and invest in initiatives for future growth, including expanding our product footprint with 29 new ETF listings across equities, fixed income, commodities, and alternatives since the start of 2015." Moves to break into new categories and enhance distribution have already started to pay off and should enhance results in the future as well, as should the commencement of operations in Japan during the first quarter. WisdomTree also said it plans to enter the Canadian ETF market in the near future, and launches of numerous new products should continue to add to its assets under management over the long run. WisdomTree also expressed confidence in its own stock. The company boosted its authorization to repurchase shares by $60 million, bringing the total amount to $100 million. WisdomTree sees the move as a sign of its financial strength, again supporting the durability of the ETF business model even under tough market conditions. The program extends through 2019. WisdomTree investors didn't seem entirely convinced by the company's performance and explanations, sending the stock downward by almost 3% in the morning trading session following the announcement. Yet given how the ETF provider is so closely linked to the prospects of the financial markets, a recovery should bring investors back into the fold and get WisdomTree growing again at a healthier pace. The article WisdomTree Weathers Market Storms, Boosts Buyback originally appeared on Fool.com. Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends WisdomTree Investments. 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. Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus is telling donors that he now has a solid relationship with GOP front-runner Donald Trump, and has indicated that he believes that Trump could wrap up the nomination if he wins the Indiana primary on Tuesday, the FOX Business Network has learned. But Priebus also said that Trumps best chance at becoming the GOP presidential candidate is if he attains the majority of the partys delegates before the GOPs July convention in Cleveland, Ohio and avoids a so-called open convention where delegates are free to switch to other candidates in a second or third ballot. Priebus made those comments in recent days during a series of private meetings with party fundraisers that have yet to be made public. Select groups of big money GOP donors huddled with the RNC chief after Trumps resounding wins in the New York primary last week and Tuesdays primaries where the real estate developer and reality television star swept five states. Trump is now closer to amassing a majority or 1,237 delates needed to win the nomination on the first ballot. Trump has 996 delegates compared to his main opponent, Texas Senator Ted Cruzs 565 delegates. Ohio Governor John Kasich, the other remaining candidate vying for the GOP nod, has just 153 delegates. As Trump closes in on winning the GOP nomination, Priebus has been holding these gatherings in an effort to unify a divided party as the convention and the 2016 presidential election draws near. A spokeswoman for the RNC Lindsay Walters confirmed that the meetings took place, though she took issue with the notion that Priebus explicitly stated that Trump has the nomination locked up if he wins Indiana on Tuesday and its 57 delegates. There are only 57 delegates in Indiana, she said. So it puts him a little bit below. You need 1237 bound delegates. Indiana does not get him there. It only gets him just below 1,000, he is still going to be short. She did not deny Priebus description of his relationship with Trump, or his explanation of how the billionaire is less likely to win the nomination on a second or third ballot. Nor did she dispute the notion that Priebus is now working overtime to mend fences in a fractious party. Walters explained, Hes calling for unity. He will rally behind the party whoever the nominee is. You have heard him echo the comments over and over again. Despite his front-runner status, Trumps unconventional campaign stylefrom his ad-libbed speeches to his penchant to demean opponents through name-callingcontinues to rankle many party officials, including donors who will be called upon by RNC officials to fund the Republican effort to defeat likely Democratic Party nominee, Hillary Clinton, and other races that are up for grabs in the fall election. Many Republican donors worry that Trumps poor ratings among women, for instance, will hurt the partys chances to retain control of Congressa point they made during the recent meetings with Priebus. Trump, meanwhile, has attempted to portray his campaign as an uphill battle to wrestle the nomination from party elites. He has attacked both the RNC and the partys delegate system as rigged because in certain states delegates can switch their support to those candidates who have not won the popular vote. Cruz, for instance, has been able to pick up delegates in Louisiana even though Trump won the popular vote in the states primary because of such rules. Priebus, these people say, has been careful in the meetings not to criticize any specific candidate. He has stressed the need for party unity, underscoring the fractious condition of the GOP, and the difficultly he faces in mending fences as he prepares for a general election fight. Trumps erratic style and lack of policy credentials (South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham recently attacked a foreign policy speech by Trump as unnerving and pathetic) are considered liabilities, but Cruz also has baggage. Former Republican House Speaker John Boehner recently lambasted Cruz as Lucifera miserable son of a bitch, for his style of governing while in the senate. One attendee said that Priebus made a point of telling donors that for all of Trumps attacks against the party leadership, his relationship with Trump is personally very good, a point spokeswoman Walters confirmed. Priebus also said that in one meeting with the GOP front runner he urged Trump to assemble a more seasoned campaign team to understand the party election rules. The attendee said Priebus took credit for Trumps recent hiring of veteran political handlers, such as Paul Manafort, to guide him through the campaign as it reaches its final weeks. Maybe most startling to donors was Priebus prediction about the aftermath of a possible Trump victory in the upcoming Indiana primary. According to people present, Priebus indicated that he believes a Trump victory in the state will likely provide Trump with enough momentum to win the nomination. Indiana is a winner-take-all state, and the donors said that Priebus indicated through his comments that a win there for Trump would make it likely that he could win over the remaining delegates needed to take the nomination on the first ballot. But if Trump doesnt get to 1,237, Priebus also explained to donors that he believes the advantage switches to Cruzs favor given the Texas Senators strong ground game in maneuvering the delegate process and his inroads among important constituencies in the Republican Party including religious conservatives. Priebus also made it clear that he has no intentions to change party rules that call for the nominee to compile a majority of delegates, despite Trumps public comments that whoever has a plurality should be given the nomination. He said the party rules have been in place a long time and he has no intentions of changing them, said another attendee. Ariel Winter is headed to college. The "Modern Family" star was accepted to the University of California, Los Angeles and had to share the exciting news on Wednesday. Winter, who turned 18 in January, posted an Instagram pic of her admission notice, which she captioned, "It's an AMAZING DAY! I'm going to UCLA -Thank you to everyone who has been there for me on this journey! #bruinsbaby." WATCH: Ariel Winter Channels the 'Bad B**ches' of 'Mean Girls,' 'Gossip Girl' and 'Clueless' Winter has not yet revealed what her major is going to be, however she has previously expressed interest in studying business and law, following her legal emancipation from her mother in May 2015. In December, Winter took to Instagram to share her senior yearbook portrait."My senior photo arrived thank you to all that saw the light in me and helped me get where I am! You know who you are," she captioned the cute photo. WATCH: 9 Brainy Celebrities Who Earned Advanced Degrees In College Dez Dickerson, who spent five years as Princes guitarist until 1983, is thankful he maintained a close relationship with the musical legend. Im thankful I had a very authentic relationship, he told FOX411. Obviously, he was my employer but at the same time there was a level of respect and because of the window of time I worked with him it was in that critical point where you go from off-the-radar to dominating the radar. I think, more than anything else, I really felt, and he demonstrated, that he saw me as not just a band member or employee but more as a confidante big brother and we had an authentic relationship. Prince died at the age of 57 at his Paisley Park mansion last week in Minnesota. Investigators are currently looking into whether Prince died of an overdose, according to the Associated Press. However, Dickerson is adamant Prince did not have problems with drugs and alcohol. Absolutely none... During the period time that I worked closely with him for 5 years, we spent more time with each other as a band than we did with any other human beings on the planet at that time, he explained. He had never done drugs in his life, didnt drink, his only focus was music and working harder in a more human fashion that anyone I had ever seen. Three weeks before Princes death, the former band members spoke on the phone for about a half hour. Dickerson said he is determined to keep that conversation confidential. However, he did share that the Purple Rain icon revealed he was suffering from pain in 2004. When we talked in 2004, he shared with me that he had stopped wearing the high heeled boots he used to wear when I was in the band, he said. He had these wedge platform sneakers that were custom made for him. He mentioned that he had been experiencing some pain and discomfort and the shoes really helped. Many media outlets reported the legend refused to have surgery on his hips due to his religious beliefs. In 2001, news broke that Prince had become a devout Jehovahs Witness. The faith does not allow blood transfusions, so several outlets reported in the years that followed that Prince was avoiding surgery. Dickerson shared the biggest lesson he learned from Prince. Never stop growing and improving no matter how much you or those around you think you have achieved. You can always reach for more. And he revealed that the pop legend will undoubtedly be remembered. Hes going to be remembered differently by different people as is always the case with prominent people. There are folks that knew him well in the context of friend or family member or colleague. For pop culture in general, (Prince is) one of those major once-in-a-generation talents and influences from Sinatra to Elvis to the Beatlesthat kind of figure. A Chicago family has sent a worldwide callout for birthday cards for a young boy whose nearly four-year battle with cancer has turned terminal. Lucas Bear Cervone was diagnosed with pediatric leukemia in August 2012 and went into remission after three years of treatment, NBC Chicago reported. But then another type of cancer this time, incurable attacked the 5-year-old. Following a stem cell transplant and a months-long stay in the hospital, Lucas returned home in February to celebrate a late Christmas with his older brother, Franco. However a few weeks ago, doctors informed the Cervones they had found an incurable tumor near Lucas heart, NBC Chicago reported. "It has been decided that there are no further curative options," the family wrote Monday on a Facebook page for Lucas. "In simplest terms, there is nothing more we can do to fight this. We have started palliative chemo to attempt to slow the growth of the tumor. The tumor is wrapped around the pulmonary artery and is pressing on Lucas' heart." As the family tries make Lucas last days on Earth the happiest possible, they are asking for birthday cards for the boy, who turns 6 on May 7. For Christmas, he received 500 cards from strangers. According to NBC Chicago, letters and cards can be sent to: Lucas Bear Heroes or Lucas Bear 40 E. Chicago Ave., No. 162 Chicago, IL 60611 "What we want to show him is his family will be here with him, as well as everyone else," Anthony Cervone, Lucas father, told NBC Chicago. I am disgusted by todays Hollywood. I dont mean the talented men and women who truly create art, and are pillars in the cultural foundation of our country and the world, I mean the attention-seeking stunt artists who pick a movie subject purely based on shock value. Todays target: movie writer Mike Rosolio, who sent a script to comedian and serial presidential impersonator, Will Farrell, about a dementia-stricken President Ronald Reagan. The latest report is that Farrell will not pursue this role, and it comes only after the outrage that followed news of the script which will focus on President Reagan at the beginning of his second term, as he tragically falls into dementia. The plot line reportedly revolves around an intern tasked with attempting to convince Reagan that he is playing the president in a movie. Criticism came in from all over, with Reagans children blasting the idea of a comedy based on Alzheimers disease, as well as patients families who know there is nothing funny about watching as a loved one slowly becomes a shell of the person they once were. To think, that with all of the problems this country is facing, a writer would find humor in the topic of Alzheimers, or even insinuates that battling dementia is funny, is an outrage, and not the least bit creative. Rosolio, I think its time you found another job. Alzheimers is a very serious disease that affects more than 5 million people in this country alone. It doesnt only affect the person with the disease either, as it creates terrible pain among their families and friends. There is no cure for this disease, which robs you of the simplest freedoms, like knowing your own name. Imagine one day your memory begins to fail you and youre lucid enough to know whats happening, but in the next moment youve forgotten what it was you noticed. Next, you forget the faces of the people that you love, and you forget what you did just moments ago. The degenerative process of Alzheimers, with the destruction of nerve cells by amyloid plaques, leaves the patient isolated. What about that, seems funny to you? Thousands of men and women are working tirelessly toward finding a cure and are searching for a deeper understanding of what causes this disease. The race to raise funds and efforts to allocate tax dollars toward research centers is never-ending. To make a so-called comedy or parody about Alzheimers while refusing to acknowledge what a toll this disease takes on patients and their families is the lowest form of existence. I would never call anyone who chose to star, film, write or produce that kind of junk a true talent. Its cheap, its lazy, and it sends a horrifying message to todays youth about the ethics of our country. While I know and understand that beauty and art is in the eye of the beholder, a so-called piece of work that inflicts pain on society can only be called torture. Its time for Hollywood to do a deep cleanse, and rid of all the waste and attention-seekers. From the mindless reality television that plays continuously on our networks, to the garbage-quality scripts that reach the directors table, we are allowing these so-called Hollywood stars to flood our society with uncreative waste. Instead of making money on these ridiculous shock-value gimmicks, how about creating a piece of art that would raise funds or research and awareness about the disease? How about, Rosolio, instead of producing vile films that you call work, you spend a day caring for a patient with Alzheimers, and then maybe youll rethink about what qualifies as funny. Two companies are on the cusp of taking a new treatment for opioid addiction to the U.S. market at a time when lawmakers are seeking ways to arrest an epidemic of heroin and painkiller abuse that kills 78 Americans every day. Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc and privately owned Braeburn Pharmaceuticals have together developed a matchstick-sized implant that analysts expect will be approved next month, despite mixed reviews. Implanted into the arm, the treatment is designed to be less vulnerable to abuse or illicit resale than the oral drugs that are currently used to treat opioid addiction. The market for the implant could also be much bigger than first envisaged should a bill gaining bipartisan support on Capitol Hill become law. The bill aims to raise limits on the number of addicts that an individual doctor can treat. Drug overdoses have overtaken motor vehicle crashes and firearms as the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says. Of the estimated 2.2 million Americans who need treatment for abuse of heroin or prescription painkillers, fewer than half are receiving help, according to the U.S. Centers for Human and Health Services (HHS). This has become an issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, and experts say there is a strong appetite for updated legislation. President Barack Obama is already pushing for $1.1 billion in new funding to expand treatment. Two drugs are predominantly used to treat opioid addiction: methadone, which is dispensed only in government-endorsed clinics, and the less-addictive buprenorphine, which exists as a pill or strip of film. The implant, known as Probuphine, offers an alternative by administering buprenorphine for up to six months after users have first been stabilized on the oral form of the drug. It was developed by Braeburn, owned by New York City-based venture capital firm Apple Tree Partners, and Titan, a San Francisco-based developer of proprietary therapeutics. "This epidemic isn't going away," Braeburn Chief Executive Behshad Sheldon said in an interview. "No matter who is in the White House or Congress, there is going to be a continual push to come up with new and innovative solutions." Staff at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have raised reservations about possible complications from the insertion and removal of the 26mm (1-inch) long implant. Trial data has also shown that some users still need oral buprenorphine. However, an independent panel of experts to the FDA has voted largely in favor of the treatment. Given the size of the epidemic, analysts say they expect FDA approval by May 27. Other companies could also enter the market. Indivior Plc, spun off from British consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, has a buprenorphine injection in a late-stage study. Raleigh, North Carolina-based BioDelivery Sciences International Inc, which already sells buprenorphine film, is also working on an injectable. WAITING LISTS Despite recent guidelines to prescribe fewer opioids for pain relief, the U.S. market is expected to grow to $18 billion by 2021 from $11 billion in 2014, according to GBI Research. Yet fewer than 30,000 of the country's 800,000 or so physicians are eligible to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction, according to the National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment. Under current law, a doctor can treat only 30 addicts within a year of obtaining a waiver, rising to a maximum 100 after procurement of a second waiver. This is done to minimize the risk of illicit redistribution, as well to ensure an adequate level of care for each patient. But opponents argue that it has left the healthcare system unable to cope with the rising number of addicts. "Even at 100, all of us that are active in the field still have a waiting list," said Dr. Richard Soper, chief medical officer of the Nashville-based Center for Behavioral Wellness. A bill called The Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act aims to change this. It includes a provision to raise the patient cap to 100 in the first year and 500 thereafter. It would also exempt from the cap any treatment directly administered by a physician - such as an implant or injection. Backed by Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator Edward Markey, the bill won the unanimous backing of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on March 16. Since then, Titan's shares have risen more than 70 percent. To be sure, the bill's passage is far from assured. Should it falter, a plan B exists in the form of a proposal by the Centers for Health and Human Services to raise the patient limit to 200, which would not require congressional approval. However, the cap would still begin at 30 and would rise to 200 only in stages - not enough to make a significant difference in the eyes of drug developers. Seeing double is common at this Indian school, which has 28 sets of twins enrolled in classes. Teachers at Cramford English Medium High School, located in the city of Chittoor in southern India, struggle to keep their students names straight because there are so many twins. Some of these twins are identical ones, so teachers are left in the lurch a lot of the time as they cant tell whos who, C Mahesh, the schools spokesman, told Caters News Agency. But we have gotten used to these kids. He added that while there are a large number of twins 10 sets of girls, 12 pairs of boys and six sets of fraternal sets it helps that not all of them are identical. Administrators first noticed the growing number of twins enrolled at the school, which has 1,020 kids enrolled, a couple of years ago. Click for more from the New York Post. Some men simply don't like the way they look without their shirt on. But one man in Germany who went to doctors with concerns about his appearance had a more unusual reason for wanting to avoid being seen bare chested, a new case report suggests. The 60-year-old man went to see a surgeon because he was dissatisfied with the gnarled and bulging appearance of his chest more than 50 years after he had part of his esophagus the tube that connects the back of the throat to the stomach removed. Back when he was just a 7-year-old boy, a portion of the man's esophagus was burned after he ingested an alkali substance, resulting in a completely narrowed section of this important passageway, according to the surgeons at the University of Freiburg in Germany, who published a report on the man's case Wednesday (April 20) in The New England Journal of Medicine. He probably swallowed a type of substance called a caustic lye, such as bleach, which can eat away at the lining of the esophagus, said Dr. David Hackam, a surgeon-in-chief at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, who was not involved in the man's case. Back in the day, when this man underwent the original operation to bypass this damaged area, removing a part of the esophagus was considered a pretty aggressive surgery, Hackam said. The procedure would have involved removing the middle part of the esophagus and leaving the upper part behind, he said. [11 Surprising Facts about the Digestive System] Then, surgeons would have taken a part of the man's intestine and moved it up into the neck region, using it to create a pouch and attaching it to the remaining part of the upper esophagus, Hackam said. Next, the doctors would have hooked up the lower end of the esophagus to the small intestine, he said. By doing the procedure this way, the surgeons are basically rearranging the plumbing and making a pipe, Hackam told Live Science. Over time which, in this man's case, meant more than five decades the section of the intestine that was placed into the man's neck grew, swelled and became twisted, Hackam explained. By age 60, the man's bare chest revealed the twists and turns of his remodeled esophagus and intestine, clearly visible under the surface of his skin. Reconstructed esophagus This photograph is a very unusual, graphic and revealing look at his restructured intestine, Hackam said. "Doctors don't see this every day," he added. [16 Oddest Medical Cases] "It's an interesting picture, and a good warning to doctors not to do this particular operation this way any longer," Hackam said. Nowadays, physicians generally use other treatments for a burned esophagus, such as using medicines that can help heal the lining, he said. Even in cases requiring surgery, the kind of operation this man had as a young boy is not done much anymore. These days, surgeons are more likely to perform what's known as a "gastric pull-up" instead, Hackam said. A gastric pull-up involves bringing up the stomach from the abdomen into the chest area, and attaching it to the remaining portion of the esophagus, Hackam said. But because the stomach is brought into the chest near the heart, it is a very difficult and very risky operation, he said. The case report revealed that the man had cosmetic concerns about his previous surgery and didn't like its appearance. But the report also said that a test showed that he had no problems with swallowing. The man was found to have a hernia, an area in which his small intestine was bulging through a weak spot in his abdominal wall, according to the case report. After his surgeon explained the risks and benefits of repairing the hernia, the man decided not to go through with this operation, the report said. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Last November, shortly after a CIA drone strike killed the infamous Jihadi John in Raqqa, Secretary of State John Kerry got behind the microphones and gleefully pronounced to ISIS that your days are numbered and you will be defeated. Good luck, Mr. Secretary, with your melodramatic and shallow statement made meaningless by subsequent events in San Bernardino, Paris, Brussels, and less publicized ISIS inspired attacks in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Radical Islamist groups such as Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, and Abu Sayyaf have blossomed by demonstrating their pledged allegiance to ISIS through horrendous terrorist attacks. Secretary Kerrys empty words are now echoed by Donald Trump, who in his long awaited speech on foreign policy stated And then theres ISIS. I have a simple message for them. Their days are numbered. He went on to say I wont tell them where and I wont tell them how. We must as, a nation, be more unpredictable. But theyre going to be gone. And soon. Wishful thinking? Id say so. Even if Trump becomes our new president, beefs up the military as he has promised, forms stronger alliances with friends in the region, and unleashes our power, however much he may have enhanced it, no amount of effort by our military, our diplomats, or any forged coalitions President Trump could cobble together will ensure that ISIS is gone. Its simply not possible, and thats the truthful message Americans need to hear and understand. Students of contemporary terrorism can reflect quickly on the Irish Republican Army. A small number of zealots waged a brutal war against both other Irish nationals and against the British. Between 1969 and 1994 the IRA killed approximately 1,800 people, both in Ireland and England. In a lull since then, an investigation into the assassination of a former IRA leader in 2005 revealed that at least some remnants of the IRA were again operational. Now, earlier this month, a leading UK newspaper published an article claiming that the IRA and ISIS were working together to launch a car bomb campaign against Britain. Trumps optimistic pronouncement about the numbered days of ISIS is unsurprising, perhaps spurred by the constant Pentagon P.R. bulletins claiming success against ISIS. The flow of jihadi recruits has slowed dramatically according to a senior Obama general serving in Baghdad. Depending on perspective, that may or may not be a good thing. When radical Islamists travel to Iraq or Syria, they head for the battlefield. Once there they become part of a mass of martyrdom-seeking ISIS soldiers who we can pinpoint, target, and eliminate. When they dont travel to the region they stay in their home countries, simmering in jihadi hate, eager to glean inspiration and to learn killing tactics from the internet - to be acted upon whenever they wish. Traveling to the region is not a prerequisite for being a follower of jihad. As good as some of the news about our achievements over ISIS is, none of it leads to a conclusion that ISISs days are numbered. To be sure, over the next few years we will continue to slam them, inflict casualties, deprive them of certain safe havens, deny them the opportunity to run rampant over the plains of Iraq and Syria, and make life miserable for them. But none of that means the end of ISIS is in sight. A better campaign statement regarding ISIS would be one thats totally honest with the American people such as, ISIS is here and likely to be here for a long time. But we will continue to pursue them in a relentless and unforgiving way. A good start might also be within a platform that says any American found to have any affirmative relationship with ISIS, al-Qaeda, or any other terrorist organization devoted to jihad, killing, or attacking America in any fashion will get a mandatory sentence of not less than 20 years, and possibly more. Secondly, we need a policy on the actual Syria, Iraq, and Libya battlefields. One that is similarly relentless and unforgiving. Any ISIS flag, no matter where it flies, should be a target. We shouldnt have to wait for a platoon of non-combatant military lawyers to fret and anguish as to whether its a viable target. We didnt win World War II because of lawyers. We won because of leaders like General Patton, whose motto was attack, attack, attack. The law of unmet expectations is a cruel one. Donald Trump has offered Americans a tall order when he says that ISISs days are numbered. Trump will be reviled by the left and much of the international community if he eviscerates the rules of engagement imposed by both Bush and Obama and unleashes the hounds of war. And if he doesnt, every ISIS attack, here or abroad, will be laid at his feet as a reminder of his hollow words. And those of John Kerry. More than one million people have decided they will no longer buy their Nutter Butters or Wet Wipes at Target. The American Family Association launched a boycott of the nations second largest retailer a week ago over Targets corporate policy allowing men who identify as women to use the bathrooms and fitting rooms of their choosing. Click here to join Todds American Dispatch: a must-read for Conservatives! We believe that everyone every team member, every guest, and every community deserves to be protected from discrimination, and treated equally, the company wrote in a statement. Consistent with this belief, Target supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals, and opposes action that enables discrimination. American Family Association, one of the most prominent and respected family advocacy groups in the nation, warned that Targets policy puts women and children in danger. Nearly everyone has a mother, wife, daughter or friend who is put in jeopardy by this policy, AFA President Tim Wildmon said. Predators and voyeurs would take advantage of the policy to prey on those who are vulnerable. And its pretty clear that more than a million customers agree with the American Family Association. Everybody knows its wrong for men to use the same bathrooms and fitting rooms with little girls, Wildmon told me. Target has decided they dont care about the vast majority. They only care about the tiny, tiny minority. The American Family Association stressed that their boycott has nothing to do with the transgender community. We want to make it very clear that AFA does not believe the transgender community poses this danger to the wider public, Wildmon said. Rather, this misguided and reckless policy provides a possible gateway for predators who are out there. Ive never been one to tell you how to spend your hard-earned money. Its not my place. But I dont mind telling you that the Starnes family has joined the boycott. Granted, Target has every right to determine its corporate policies. But I also have a right to buy my Cocoa Puffs at a place that respects common sense. For the sake of inclusivity, would Target allow a 16-year-old who identifies as a 21-year-old to purchase a six-pack of beer? Would Target provide a senior citizen discount to a 30-year-old who identifies as a 70-year-old? Wildmon told me the Target boycott struck a nerve with a significant section of the country. Many people have grown tired of Hollywood and Big Business trying to bully and intimidate local governments. Corporate America must stop bullying people who disagree with the radical Left agenda to remake society into their progressive image, he said. This boycott is a reaction to the bullying weve seen in places like North Carolina and Mississippi. Among the most vocal supporters of AFAs boycott is evangelical leader Franklin Graham. A man shouldnt be able to enter the womens restroom or dressing room because he says he feels like a woman today, Graham wrote on Facebook. Thats ridiculous. The fact is, gender identity isnt something we choose or feel. We are the sex God created us to be male or female. How a person feels doesnt change the facts. Its as if an anatomical fog has rolled across the fruited plain causing befuddlement in bathroom stalls from coast to coast. So perhaps I can provide some clarity to the Great Latrine Wars of 2016. Those of you with man-parts should use the mens room and those of you with lady-parts should use the ladies room. I suspect that right about now youre probably thinking your friendly neighborhood columnist is a bit politically incorrect. Well, its true I am. When I was growing up we just had boys and girls (him and her, not ze and zir). Our bathroom choices were limited to our God-given plumbing. So maybe Target ought to consider going old school. Its pretty much a fool-proof system -- unless you happen to be at Long John Silvers and then the men should use the buoys room and the ladies should use the gulls room. And no matter if you identify as a him or her or ze or zir -- be sure to courtesy flush. President Obama's pick for ambassador to Mexico has been confirmed by the Senate after enduring a nearly nine-month block by former presidential candidate Marco Rubio. Roberta Jacobson, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, was approved by voice vote Thursday evening. Back in November, Rubio, a senator from Florida, objected to her nomination because of her work negotiating the Obama administration's normalization with Cuba. At the time, Rubio had been in the midst of a running a campaign for president. Jacobson was selected by Obama in June, after his previous choice, Maria Echaveste, withdrew in January 2015. Jacobson was approved by the foreign relations committee in early November by a 12-7 vote in which Rubio voted against her. Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com **Want FOX News First in your inbox every day? Sign up here.** Buzz Cuts: California chaos Kasich kaput Power Play: Hillary can now pivot, but how? Clinton Cash, the movie Waiting on an, ahem, cat-a-logue? CALIFORNIA CHAOS It had been so long since there were violent riots at a campaign event that we almost forgot it was 2016. But California came through in a big way on Thursday with bloodshed, smashed police car windows and mass arrests outside a Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa. But dont expect that to do anything to dampen enthusiasm for Trump in the Golden State. Quite the contrary. For whats left of Californias Republican Party, Trump is a fantastic fit: A celebrity of the Schwarzenegger scale but with the kind of hardline talk on illegal immigration that has broad appeal in a state where residents have borne the worst of the problem over the past 40 years. The riots and rage on the other side should only serve to conform to the states beleaguered Republicans that they are on the right track. And if Trump is still plowing the primary calendar when he arrives there, theres plenty of reason to think that he can lock up the nomination in California on June 7. But with 159 of 172 delegates apportioned among 53 congressional districts in a closed primary, it gets tricky. There are plenty of places in coastal California where Republicans are all-but invisible. How will their scant numbers be voting? Consider Californias 13th Congressional District, which includes Oakland and Berkeley. Mitt Romney took just 9 percent of the voter there four years ago. And there are 17 districts in the state where Romney got less than 30 percent of the vote Thats why Trump and remaining rival, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, along with his prospective running mate Carly Fiorina, will all be at the state Republican Partys convention, which starts today. Trump wants to slam the door shut there next month. And while winning Tuesday in Indiana could make his task much easier, everyone knows that California is the key. Cruz, on the other hand, needs to look beyond must-win Indiana. He has been cultivating California for longer than any other candidate and hopes to hold his own when the delegates are awarded. Likely, the violence and uproar will help Trump. His supporters want revolution in a state where many voters in the states white minority believe they have been badly mistreated and taken advantage of for decades. The outrage Trump sparks on the other side is likely seen as evidence that he is just the disruptor theyve been looking for. Fox News Sunday: Double header! - Both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz sit down for separate interviews with Mr. Sunday. Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace airs at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel. Check local listings for broadcast times in your area. [Pew Research Center found Republican levels of favorability dropping to its lowest levels since 1992.] Indiana ad wars - In a new ad in Indiana, Trump slams Cruz for supporting trade bills that sent American jobs overseas arguing that Trump is the only one who will stand up to China and Mexico. Cruz, however, was out with an ad of his own in the Hoosier State, featuring running mate Carly Fiorina, who says only Cruz is a defender of the Constitution. A pro-Cruz PAC also announced they plan to increase ad spending in the state by $350,000 in addition to the $1.6 million ad buy they already have. [Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is reportedly making a major announcement today at noon ET one Team Cruz certainly must hope involves a primary endorsement.] Cruz responds to Boehner - Ted Cruz responded to attacks from former House Speaker John Boehner on Thursdays The Kelly File saying that he, I dont know John Boehner. He and I have never worked together. Watch here. Cruz poised of Old Dominion domination this weekend - Politico reports that Republican Party of Virginia insiders expect Ted Cruzs supporters to dominate at Saturdays state party convention. Kasich kaput - In his deal with Ted Cruz to stand clear of Tuesdays Indiana primary, Ohio Gov. John Kasich laid claim to both New Mexico and Oregon. According to a new poll, it looks like Kasich has bigger problems than Cruz in the Beaver State. He clocked in with only 17 percent of the vote, 9 points behind Cruz, and 26 points behind Donald Trump. [GOP delegate count: Trump 994; Cruz 566; Kasich 153 (1,237 needed to win)] WITH YOUR SECOND CUP OF COFFEE Paris Review: One of the many treasures preserved in the British Librarys audio archive is this vintage lesson in English Conversation. As a document of instruction, its interesting enough. But it also bears the distinction of being an early recording of J. R. R. Tolkien. Of course, Tolkien would go on to international fame and fortune for his fiction, all of which was informed by his fascination with language and history. But in 1929, he was known as a respected professor and lecturer, making a little extra money as a contributor to the Linguaphone Conversational Course, a series issued on seventy-eights by the Linguaphone Institute of London. On these recordings, the thirty-eight-year-old Tolkien not only provides introductions, but plays one of the roles in the sample conversations. Now, the wireless might not exactly provide a scintillating sample conversation but as played digitally, in 2016, its a source of both postmodern and historical interest." Got a TIP from the RIGHT or the LEFT? Email FoxNewsFirst@FOXNEWS.COM POLL CHECK Real Clear Politics Averages National GOP nomination: Trump 43 percent; Cruz 30 percent; Kasich 21 percent National Dem nomination: Clinton 49.5 percent; Sanders 45.8 percent General Election: Clinton vs. Trump: Clinton +8.5 points Generic Congressional Vote: Democrats +2.3 POWER PLAY: HILLARY CAN NOW PIVOT, BUT HOW? The Democratic race is over. Yes, Bernie Sanders pledges that he will continue to run until the last contest on June 14, but cmon. This is good news for presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton who can now focus on the general election. While Clinton can be happy that the GOP process has been such a mess and Democrats are confident about her chances against presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, there are still worries. How can she most affectively make her case to voters? MoveOn.org 2016 spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre and GOP strategist Mercedes Schlapp look at Clintons strategies and assess her chances. WATCH HERE. [Schlapp and Jean-Pierre also broke down the GOP side of things with a look ahead to Indiana. WATCH HERE.] Scramble - WSJs Peggy Noonan writing on the Peroist appeal of Trump in the general election: He positioned himself to Hillary Clintons left on foreign policyshe is hawkish, too eager for assertions of U.S. military power, and has bad judgment. This will be the first time in modern history a Republican presidential candidate is to the left of the Democrat, and that will make things interesting. It reminded me of how Mr. Trump, in his insistence that he will not cut or add new limits to entitlement spending, could get to Mrs. Clintons left on that key domestic question, too. Hillary lets supporters buy Trumps woman card - TPM: The Hillary Clinton campaign wasnt going to let an opportunity to fundraise off of Donald Trumps latest jab at her just pass it by. Supporters of the former secretary of states campaign received an email offering them a literal woman card, a reference to Trumps comments TuesdayChip in and we'll send you your very own Official Hillary Clinton for America Woman Card, the email said. Clinton Cash, the movie- The book that told stories of questionable money ties and corruption by the Clinton family, Clinton Cash, has been turned into a film that will be featured at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The U.S. premiere is set to take place on July 24, the eve of the Democratic National Convention, in Philadelphia, but the trailer is already out for your viewing. Ummm - Sun Sentinel: Bob Sutton, chairman of the Broward County Republican Party, used a startling metaphor to explain his view that Donald Trump would perform better than Hillary Clinton in a presidential debate. I think when Donald Trump debates Hillary Clinton shes going to go down like Monica Lewinsky, he said in a quote attributed to him by The Washington Post. Why Bernie cant come back - FiveThirtyEight goes back in Democratic primary history to explain why, barring a catastrophic and unforeseen act, Bernie Sanders cannot be the nominee: [A]fter the mad scramble for the first 10 percent of delegates, no candidate ever crosses over the 50 percent line. That is, the king stays the kingThe reason for this is pretty simple: Proportional allocation of delegates makes comebacks really, really hard. You cant just notch wins in a string of states, as Sanders did in late March and early April. You have to start consistently trouncing your opponent by large margins in every contest. You need, well, a political revolution. [Heh - The Washington Free Beacon wants MSNBCs Morning Joe to know they got the message.] #mediabuzz - Host Howard Kurtz breaks down the weeks media coverage. Watch Sunday at 11 a.m. ET, with a second airing at 5 p.m. [Dem delegate count: Clinton 2165; Sanders 1357 (2,383 needed to win)] Bully! - Fox News Contributor Pete Hegseth is out with his first book, In the Arena, on strengthening American leadership in the 21st century. The book is out May 3, but you can catch Hegseth at the Heritage Foundation in Washington on May 2 at noon, or in New York on May 3 at the Republican Jewish Coalition at noon. WAITING ON AN, AHEM, CAT-A-LOGUE? The Guardian: A couple have been told to restrain their cat or face having their mail deliveries suspended. Matthew Sampson said he was notified by the Royal Mail last week of a potential hazard at his home in Patchway [England]which was affecting deliveries. According to a letter sent to Sampson by the Royal Mail, four-year-old Bella was a threat to staff. In the letter, the Royal Mail said it had been experiencing difficulties in delivering mail to Sampsons home because of the actions of a cat. The postman had reported that when he pushed mail through the letterbox, a black and white cat snatches the mail and puts his fingers at risk of injuryThe couple have been advised to restrain their cat at all times or provide an alternative safe post box, or deliveries would be suspended. AND NOW, A WORD FROM CHARLES [Ted Cruzs] appeal has never been personal. Its always been ideological. Im a conservative and now he says Trump is not. So thats what it all hinges on. -- Charles Krauthammer on Special Report with Bret Baier Chris Stirewalt is digital politics editor for Fox News. Sally Persons contributed to this report. Want FOX News First in your inbox every day? Sign up here. We may have had a dangling chad. Were looking into it, said Tommy Pope with a smile. The tall, courtly lawyer, who serves as speaker pro tem of the South Carolina House of Representatives, was gamely trying to entertain a crowd of GOP activists while a few of them spent a full hour poring over paper ballots that 80 of them had just cast in a non-descript ballroom at the local Holiday Inn. Welcome to the Republican Party convention for South Carolinas fifth congressional district, where the main business of the evening was the election of three delegates to the partys convention this summer. GOP front-runner Donald Trump handily won the Palmetto States primary on Feb. 20, and in so doing swept all of its seven congressional districts. That means that all of South Carolinas 50 delegates to the convention are bound to support the New York real estate mogul on the first ballot in Cleveland but all of them become unbound on the second ballot. This makes it crucial for the national campaigns to ensure that their supporters occupy the delegate slots that are filled in district conventions like this one. By evenings end, it was clear that the majority share that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has captured of these district delegates in South Carolina, despite losing the primary, was in no danger of being overturned. The three top vote-getters were Steven Blanton, a finance director for a beef packing firm who cast his vote two months ago for Ohio Gov. John Kasich; Shery Smith, a bookkeeper for an assisted-living facility who served as a field director for Cruz; and Linda McCall, who, as the wife of a Republican National Committeeman, had chosen to remain uncommitted. Blanton told Fox News he wouldnt even vote for Kasich on a second ballot in Cleveland, however, because to do so would defy the will of the people as expressed in the Feb. 20 primary. We crossed a certain line the other night, when Trump swept those states, said Blanton. If you were talking about a delegate count where were even, and there were a tie issue at stake, yeah, I would probably want to do something for Kasich. But I think were out of those woods right now. Smith, of Sumter County, said she has been networking for five years to reach this point, and would absolutely vote for Cruz on a second ballot. Toward that end, she told Fox News she hopes the senator, now trailing Trump by more than 400 delegates, will stay in the race through the end of the primary process, in June. Senator Cruz is a very brilliant man, and he does have a long game plan. He adapts as the circumstances change, she said. Her advice to him now: Step it up a notch! Matt Moore, the chairman of the state Republican Party who has disagreed with some of Trumps policy proposals, said the selection of delegates is a two-year process in the Palmetto State. A number of Cruz supporters, frankly, were involved at this time last year, Moore told Fox News. Asked if Trump carries a disadvantage in the delegate-selection process at the district level, Moore said: The fact is he maybe started a little bit late in the process but again, its a process, and it has to be respected. One of the mysteries of the cycle is how free an agent these delegates actually are once they become unbound. Some analysts say these local activists will defer to the wishes of party officers superior to them in rank, such as a district convention chair, a state party chair, or even a governor. They will be very cross-pressured, agreed Karen Kedrowski, the political science professor who is the dean of Winthrop Universitys College of Arts and Sciences. They are going to be hearing from everybody in every direction about what they ought to do. But in an interview on the universitys picturesque campus a few hours ahead of the Holiday Inn balloting, Kedrowski suggested the unbound delegates will be motivated by something more fundamental than fear of consequences from party higher-ups. What they want is to win the White House. And so what they are going to be thinking about, first and foremost, is not What do I have to answer for when I get home? but Who is most likely to beat Hillary Clinton? Fox News' Serafin Gomez contributed to this report. A government encirclement of the Syrian rebel stronghold of Aleppo could be imminent, according to military and humanitarian observers, some of whom point to United Nations-sponsored peace talks as having given the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad maneuvering room. If Syrias largest city is surrounded by government troops, the strategic situation in Syria could change very rapidly for the worse, not only for Syrians, but also for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoganand for the Obama Administration, which has banked heavily on the crumbling peace talks to end five years of civil war and an expanding presence for ISIS amid the chaos. The encirclement would also be a major strategic advance for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has drawn down his forces in Syria, but has also been helping the Assad regime conduct more focused military operations under a two-month cessation of hostilities.. A number of signs, including a higher concentration of air strikes, the movement of Russian artillery support for regime forces, and a variety of skirmishes near a 3-to-4 kilometer gap that still keeps Aleppo from being besieged, all show that they are getting ready to move, says Chris Kozak, a Syria analyst with the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. Recent air attacks on civilian institutions in Aleppo, including the Wednesday bombing of an underground hospital, and attacks on civilians in other centers are also symptoms of the impending military move, says Valerie Szybala, executive director of the Syria Institute, a Washington-based non-profit research organization. The assault on Aleppo that everyone has been expecting is beginning, she told Fox News. It doesnt look good. We think they will move to besiege Aleppo City as soon as they can, Dr. Khaled Almilaji, a doctor providing emergency medical training for relief workers in the Turkish city of Gazientep, not far from the Syrian border. We are stockpiling medical supplies in Aleppo City as much as we can. The pessimistic analysis of the situation on the ground contrasts sharply with the message of strained optimism that emerged yesterday from U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, who briefed the U.N. Security Council on his efforts to keep the faltering peace talks on life support. Those talks, he related to journalists after his briefing have instead been overshadowed, lets be frank, by a substantial and indeed worrisome deterioration of the cessation of hostilities, in the past several weeks, following a decision by Syrian opposition forces to withdraw from the talks on April 19. That withdraw in turn was sparked by opposition charges that the Assad regime and its supporters were already using the cessation of hostilities to carry on their military actions. The cessation is still alive, but barely, de Mistura insisted, while adding that the perception is that it could collapse at any timea distinction not felt by those affected by recent bombings. The U.N. envoy declared that even while the Geneva-based peace talks were frozen, progress had been made in a series of substantial technical meetings and consultations among the warring sides, interested nations and other Syrian civil groups that had taken place elsewhere. The commonalities from those meetings, according to a mediators summary made public by da Mistura, included the need for a new Syrian constitution, and a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political transition in the future, overseen by a new, credible and inclusive transitional governance that could include members of the present government and the opposition, independents and others. CLICK HERE FOR THE MEDIATORS REPORT Da Mistura hailed the commonalities as an opportunity of going deeper in future rounds of peace talks, and declared that we have at least one or two more rounds before July, when a timetable passed by the Security Council called for the peace process to turn the commonalities into actual facts. Meantime, however, regime aircraft are bombing on a daily basis, according to a media spokesman for the volunteer Civil Defense units known as White Helmets, who lost five of their own members during attacks this week,. The attacks are occurring not only in Aleppo but in other major Syrian opposition centers such as Idlib, where rebels have charged that barrel bombs were used. Many aid workers, as well as opposition forces, have charged that Russian aircraft were used in the Aleppo hospital strikecharges that have not been confirmedbecause regime aircraft are not deemed capable of accurate night-time attacks. A least 14 people, including two doctors, died in the hospital bombing. Nearby buildings were also struck, bringing the death toll, including children, to 25 and rising. The outrageous targeting of yet another medical facility in Syria was roundly condemned by, among others, Muskilda Zancada, the head of Syrian operations of Medicins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders, which supported the hospital. Overall, according to da Misturas Wednesday briefing, In the last 48 hours, we have had an average of one Syrian killed every 25 minutes. A tightening of border controls with neighboring Turkey means that refugees from the violence are less and less able to flee the country even as humanitarian supplies that cross the Turkish border face greater difficulties in reaching the besieged populations. At the same time, the crisis in long-besieged opposition centers such as the town of Daraya is continuing to be absolutely dire, according to Ashley Proud, humanitarian director for Syria for Mercy Corps, the biggest non-government relief organization involved in cross-border relief operations. It is very important for us to support the U.N. but we also need genuine, sustained humanitarian aid for Syrian populations. Humanitarian discussions so far only include discreet convoys for U.N. relief. And despite the lengthy cessation of hostilities, she added, most of the places where we work are still really tightly under siege. All of those situations would grow dramatically worse in the event of Aleppos encirclement, according to the Institute for the Study of Wars Kozak. It would be a tremendous morale blow to the opposition, he told Fox News, and a tremendous opposition blow to opposition power. One result could be to cause links between opposition factions to break down, and drive some in the direction of extremist groups like ISIS, and cause a deeper radicalization of the opposition in northern Syria. The longer term danger is that the military shift would be a direct blow to the strategic perspective of Turkeys Erdogan, who has heavily backed the insurgents, and if Erdogan decides to take a position of support, it would invite retaliation by Russia. Indeed, Kozak added, I think Russia would be ecstatic if Erdogan takes military action. Moscow is already embedding military support with Kurdish groups on the Turkish border who would put additional pressure on that country, a NATO member, and thus provide a new front to pressure NATO. Kozak also declared himself pessimistic that Western backers of the anti-ISIS campaign and a brokered peace arrangement in Syria would react effectively to any strategic shift caused by Aleppos encirclement. They are going to be strategically surprised by the most obvious strategic surprise, he declared. It may already be too late. If so, added the Syria Institutes Szybala, she believes a major factor in the darkening perspective has been the much touted cessation of hostilities, which has worked to the Syrian governments benefit. The regimes big conundrum was that it was unable to carry out offensives on multiple fronts, she said. The ceasefire allowed them to focus militarily on a few key areas. Their continued military actions have been tolerated by the international community because no-one wants to see the ceasefire dead. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory defended his states controversial new that blocks transgendered people from using the public restroom of their choice, telling Fox News Megyn Kelly Thursday night the law is about protecting privacy and children. When [someones] daughter or son goes into a facility, they expect people of that gender that biological sex or gender to be the only other ones in that, the Republican governor told the host of The Kelly File in a contentious exchange. "The Obama administration is now putting requirements on federal money given to states [so] that they also have to have this gender identification requirement for schools North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory The law, known as the bathroom bill, has prompted a firestorm of criticism, from companies including PayPal, which canceled plans to open a 400-employee global operations center in Charlotte, to artists including Bruce Springsteen, Demi Lovato and Pearl Jam, who have refused to perform in the Tar Heel state. In addition, President Obama has called the law wrong. Proponents say the law is necessary to keep perverts from posing as transgenders to enter restrooms to peep at the opposite sex. Kelly told stalls in womens restrooms provide enough protection for people concerned about abuse of the law, and added that most male child molesters attack people they know, not strangers in a public restroom Ive been in womens bathrooms my whole life, and we dont have the urinal situation; weve got like, the stalls, Kelly said. We get to go in and we do our business, and we dont see each other. So why are you concerned about girls exposing themselves or seeing somebody else exposed in a womans bathroom? McCrory said his state has drawn a line in the sand, and accused Obama of planning to force its bathroom policies on public schools. The Obama administration is now putting requirements on federal money given to states [so] that they also have to have this gender identification requirement for schools, he said. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory responded to the backlash stemming from the so-called bathroom bill on The Kelly File Thursday night. The bill essentially prevents cities and counties in the state from passing their own anti-discrimination rules. However, McCrory has been criticized over the language in the bill that bars transgender people to use the rest room aligned with their gender identity. McCrory said his main focus in signing the law was his concerns for childrens privacy. Respect for privacy that individuals have especially our youth have when they go into a locker room to shower or restroom, he said he was concerned about. They expect only people of their gender to be there in that shower, locker room or rest room. McCrory continued saying that it doesnt make sense to change the rules that have been set for years and said that it should be left for schools to make special accommodations for those with unique gender identification issues. Its the basic expectation of privacy that I hear from moms and dads and families that when their daughter or son goes into a facility, they expect people of that gender or biological sex to be the only other ones in (there). Thats the expectations weve had for many, many years, he added. Several companies and musical acts have pulled out of the state or stopped performing in the state. McCrory took special exception to PayPal. The selective hypocrisy is outrageous by PayPal when theyre doing business in Singapore when you can get arrested for chewing gum in public. McCrory warned businesses about getting into politics and called their outage at the states law inconsistent. They might need to examine their own practices in other states which have the exact same rules North Carolina does, he added. Over 21 other states have exact same rules North Carolina does. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Friday backed Ted Cruz for president, days ahead of the states vital Republican primary contest. The Republican governor announced his choice in an interview on WIBC radio. He prefaced his announcement by saying he likes and respects and has met with all three of the Republican presidential candidates. Im not against anybody but I will be voting for Ted Cruz, Pence said. I see Ted Cruz as a principled conservative whos dedicated his career to advocating the Reagan agenda. The announcement is a setback for Trump, who has been barnstorming Indiana with famed Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight by his side trying to rally voters ahead of Tuesdays election and sideline Cruz for good. Cruz is desperately seeking momentum in his fight to block Trump from claiming the delegate majority before the GOP's national convention in July. Trump swept all five Northeastern primary elections earlier in the week and enjoys a massive delegate advantage over his Republican rivals. Cruz has been mathematically eliminated from earning the 1,237 delegate majority, but insists he can block Trump from the majority as well, as the 2016 contest shifts to "friendlier terrain" in the West and Midwest. The Texas senator declared he is "all in" on Indiana. Cruz said earlier Friday he would "enthusiastically welcome" Pence's support. Pence, who faces his own re-election this year, had been under enormous pressure from pro- and anti-Trump factions. Although he is more closely aligned with Cruz, he risks voter backlash in the fall if Tuesday's primary contest shows Indiana is filled with Trump voters. Pence, though, made sure to praise Trump during his remarks Friday. He commended Trump for giving voice to the frustration of millions of working Americans with the lack of progress in Washington, D.C. Fox News John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Texas' controversial voter identification law will remain in effect, possibly through November's elections, after the Supreme Court on Friday denied an emergency request from a coalition of Latino advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers who say the measure is discriminatory. The unsigned order from the justices did not explain their reasoning, or whether there was any opposition. While it is a temporary decision, it could affect enforcement of similar laws in other states during a hotly contested presidential election year. A lawsuit challenging the Texas law known as SB 14 is still pending in a federal court, and the immediate issue was whether it could be enforced until the legal issues are fully resolved. A federal appeals court will hold a hearing next month on the issue, and the Supreme Court indicated it could revisit the issue later this year. One of the strictest such laws in the country, it requires voters to provide certain government-issued photo ID in order to cast a ballot. Texas officials and the U.S. Justice Department agree more than 600,000 eligible voters in the second-largest state lack one of the required IDs. Opponents say a disproportionate number are poor Hispanic and black voters. But state officials claim there have been no problems such as large numbers of eligible voters being turned away. A federal appeals court ruled the 2011 law had a "discriminatory effect" in violation of the landmark Voting Rights Act. But the Supreme Court two years later struck down the VRA's key enforcement provision, muting much of the federal government's ability to monitor and block state laws that may deny voters fair, unfettered access to the polls. Against that backdrop is the Texas voter ID law, affecting more than 14 million voters this election cycle. The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is poised to take another look at the issue in coming months, but both sides are at odds over its continuing enforcement. The ID requirements were used during the Texas primary last month, as well as the 2014 elections. The high court case is Veasey v. Abbott (15A999). The Obama administration appears to be bowing to international pressure and pursuing under-the-radar alternative ways to bring in more Syrian and other refugees -- as soon as this year. The latest indication that the administration is preparing to take in more than the 10,000 Syrians this year it already has committed to follows a March 30 high-level meeting on Syrian refugee admission in Geneva, Switzerland -- convened by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. At the meeting, attended by State Department officials, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi called for countries to pursue alternative avenues for refugees such as student and work visas, and expanded family reunification programs. These pathways can take many forms: not only resettlement, but also more flexible mechanisms for family reunification, including extended family members, [labor] mobility schemes, student visa and scholarships, as well as visa for medical reasons, Grandi said. This followed an adviser suggesting the U.S. ask universities to offer scholarships to Syrian students, and help Syrian-Americans bring in their extended families outside the time-consuming refugee resettlement process. The State Department immediately issued a media note reaffirming the commitment to resettle at least 10,000 Syrians in FY 2016 and increase the total number of resettled refugees from around the world to 100,000 by the end of FY 2017. Additionally, in a wordy statement, the State Department appeared to agree with many of Grandis conclusions. The United States joins UNHCR in calling for new ways nations, civil society, the private sector, and individuals can together address the global refugee challenge. The United States encourages other countries to consider expanding resettlement and other forms of admissions for all refugee populations, ensuring that more of those in need have the opportunity to start their lives anew in safety and with dignity, the note said. Nayla Rush, senior researcher at the Center for Immigration Studies, said she thinks the administration is 100 percent behind the idea. My fear is they arent really going to let anyone know about it, Rush said. Unclear is whether the refugees can be properly vetted, especially if they come in through an array of different visa programs. The Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for lower immigration levels, reported on the U.N. meeting earlier this week. In its media note, the State Department said the U.S. has created a program to allow U.S. citizens and permanent residents to file refugee applications for their Syrian family members. Rush believes this is a sign the Obama administration is already expanding the family reunification program. Why create a family reunification program for Syrian refugees when refugees in the U.S. are already entitled to ask for their spouse and unmarried children under 21 to join them? Unless of course, the aim is to widen family circles to include aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, grandmothers and grandfathers, Rush said in a blog post on the subject The State Department did not say if it was looking at expanding the student visa or family reunification programs, but told FoxNews.com that Syrians being considered on non-immigrant and immigrant visa categories must be considered in accordance with U.S. immigration law. The department has worked with the Syrian Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis since 2012 to help students and scholars impacted by the bloody civil war. A State Department official said this consortium includes U.S. colleges that have committed to hosting Syrian students and scholars. The official said several immigrant visa options are available to Syrians, including family-sponsored visas. Shuffling potential refugees into other programs could prove problematic. On one hand, standard immigration vetting often requires a higher degree of documentation, as officials are more likely to waive requirements for asylum-seekers or refugees who are assumed to have fled their homes quickly. However, the Obama administration repeatedly has heralded its two-year process for refugees as one of the most rigorous in existence. Standard immigration programs usually take much less time. Any attempt to expand the process could encounter opposition from Congress. In November, the House passed a bill to enhance Syrian refugee screening, but the legislation stalled in the Senate amid Democratic opposition. Last month, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who co-authored the bill, wrote in a FoxNews.com op-ed that the Syrian refugee crisis risked becoming a terrorist Trojan horse. The Associated Press contributed to this report. It only takes until the second paragraph of GQs profile of Melania Trump for the condescending tone to break through. The Donalds wife, at their wedding, wore a $100,000 Dior dress that laborers hands had toiled upon for a legendary 550 hours, affixing 1,500 crystals. Message: Shes a wealthy trophy wife who shies away from politics and doesnt have much to say. A good mom, but not much more. Take this blind quote from a supposed friend: Shes smart for the things shes interested in, like jewelry. Shes not stupid, shes not a bimbo, but shes not especially clever. Meow. Writer Julia Ioffe did plenty of reporting for the piece, but makes clear her frustration that she doesnt get much from her subject: She is just like her husband. Shes alluringly opaque. She makes meaningful eye contact and emphatically repeats affirmative, folksy banalitiesshe has a thick skin, she takes things day by day, she follows the news from A to Zuntil the interviewer either is transported into a supra-verbal understanding or decides its pointless to press for specifics. The author even suggests that the former model had a boob job, which Melania denies. But the egregious part here has to do with Melanias family back in her native Slovenia. Before her dad married her mother, according to GQ, he had to pay child support to a girlfriend after a paternity suit. Melania has never met the guy, who the author tracked down. What, therefore, does this secret half-brother have to do with the potential first lady or with Donald Trump? Why is this news? Has her dad in any way tried to become a public figure or feed off the Trump candidacy? Melania asked the magazine to respect her fathers privacy, but that request was denied. In a Facebook posting, Melania says: "The article published in GQ today is yet another example of the dishonest media and their disingenuous reporting. Julia Ioffe, a journalist who is looking to make a name for herself, clearly had an agenda when going after my family. There are numerous inaccuracies in this article including certain statements about my family and claims on personal matters. My parents are private citizens and should not be subject to Ms. Ioffes unfair scrutiny. I get that everyones life is fair game when they run for president, and that includes their immediate family. But does that extend to what Trumps father-in-law, Viktor Knavs, did in Slovenia back in 1965? Ive had a couple of short conversations with Melania Trump and she seems like a savvy, classy lady with no desire to bask in the spotlight. Heres how GQ describes her husband summoning her at a political event: Obediently, she teetered out onto the stage on vertiginous Louboutins, a long-legged doll in a summery dress the color of sea foam. She was unseasonably tan, clearly comfortable in this role: being admired as a specimen of physical beauty. Too bad the magazine could find little to admire in her beyond that. Update: Julia Ioffe stands by her story and says it was fact-checked. She has been hit by a wave of anti-Semitic slurs and threats online, which is a despicable and troubling response no matter what the merits of the piece. Tooth marks on the leg bone of a hominin, an ancient human relative, suggest that the poor soul had a gristly end, a new study finds. The tooth marks and fractures on the roughly 500,000-year-old femur indicate that a large carnivore, likely an extinct hyena, chewed on the bone, the researchers said. However, it's a mystery as to whether the tooth marks were a result of hunting or scavenging, the researchers said. It's not surprising that a large, carnivorous predator would hunt down a hominin, said study lead researcher Camille Daujeard, a researcher in the Department of Prehistory at the National Museum of Natural History in France. [Image Gallery: Our Closest Human Ancestor] "During this period, early humans likely competed for space [such as natural caves] and resources with large carnivores, who occupied many of the same areas," Daujeard told Live Science in an email. Researchers first discovered the hominin bone in 1994, in a Moroccan cave named Grotte a Hominides, near Casablanca. The cave contained ancient stone tools and a trove of bones, including those of the hominin Homo rhodesiensis and other animals, such as gazelles and jackals, dating to the Middle Pleistocene (a period lasting from about 781,000 to about 126,000 years ago.) However, the femur sat unstudied for years, until study co-researcher Denis Geraads rediscovered it recently. Intrigued by the tooth marks and various fractures on the bone, the researchers did an intensive analysis of it. They concluded that a hyena likely caused the damage, largely because the fractures and tooth pits and punctures matched those of the big meat eater. Moreover, the marks were covered with sediment, indicating that they were very old and were likely made at the time of death or shortly after it, the researchers said. Hominin-eating hyenas Other large carnivores might have fed on hominins as well, the researchers said. "Extinct hyenas were the only large carnivores in Africa, Europe and Asia that regularly accumulated dense concentration of bones, especially in cave sites, but [this finding] does not imply that they were the greatest consumers of Plio-Pleistocene hominins," Daujeard said. Likewise, hominins hunted local carnivores. "We know that hominins were quite capable of slaughtering large gregarious prey, of evicting large carnivores off of their habitats and even occasionally hunting or exploiting them," Daujeard said. So both hominins and carnivores could have been predators, prey and scavenged leftovers, she said. There are other Plio-Pleistocene remains of human relatives in caves used as hyena dens, some of which also contain tooth marks. But the newly studied femur is the first evidence that carnivores ate hominins in this part of Morocco during this time period, Daujeard said. The study was published online April 27 in the journal PLOS ONE. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. An adult bald eagle in Pittsburgh was seen on an online livestream Tuesday bringing a cat back to the nest for its two young eagles. Some viewers watching the Hays nest site were disturbed by what they saw on the video. Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania spokeswoman Rachel Handel told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the feeding behavior was perfectly normal. While many may cringe at this, the eagles bring squirrels, rabbits, fish (and other animals) into the nest to eat multiple times each day, she wrote in a Facebook message. To people, the cat represents a pet, but to the eagles and to other raptors, the cat is a way to sustain the eaglets and help them to grow. Handel said the group couldnt determine whether the cat was a pet or feral. The Post-Gazette noted that eagle watchers have experienced other cringe-worthy moments. A raccoon attacked the nest in 2014 and only one of three eggs survived the Hays nest this year. Handel said that the livestream of the nest gives humans a better appreciation of the wildlife around them. A lot of people have an idyllic view of these eagles. I think the eagle cameras are providing an education of what it takes to survive and raise offspring in nature, she added. The two young eagles hatched about six weeks ago and now take up almost the entire nest. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A girl who just wanted to take her first ride on an airplane has Russian authorities scratching their heads and working to review standard security procedures at Moscows Vnukovo airport. On Tuesday, a 10-year-old, whose name has not been released flew from Moscow to St. Petersburg on Rossiya Airlines without identification or a ticket, according to a report filed by Russian police. The girl reportedly left home for school on Tuesday and did not return later that evening, which alarmed her parents. Alexander Rzhanenkov of St. Petersburg's city hall told Russian news agencies that the girl went to Moscow's Vnukovo airport where she mingled with a small crowd, which enabled her to somehow slip through security undetected. CCTV footage also reveals the gaffe. Rzhanenkov said that after the young girl made it through security, she boarded a Rossiya Airlines plane with a large family with children. Upon landing at Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg, policewho had been tipped off by the girls parents-- picked her up at the airport where she was wandering around unaccompanied. According to RT, the girl, who later told authorities she just wanted to fly on a plane, was immediately returned to Moscow and never got to explore St. Petersburg. Children's rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said on Wednesday the girl's trip sends "a serious alert sign" about airport security. The mother of the child told local media that she plans to sue both the Moscow airport, and the carrier, for failing to carry out proper security protocols. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Whale watching tours have become a popular addition to many cruise line itineraries. But for years, it seems companies have just been skimming the surface. Now French liner Ponant wants to take cruisers on a truly immersiveor submersiveadventure with the launch of four new expedition ships featuring underwater observation lounges for optimal aquatic mammal viewing. Unlike the standard mega-liners which can hold thousands of guests, Ponants new yachts will carry about 184 passengers, served by a crew of 110, reports Cruise Advice. Details on the Explorer Class fleet were unveiled earlier this month at a gala in Sydney, Australia. Some of the ships first cruises will take place in the Kimberley region off the Western Australia coast, an area known for its Humpback whale population. The four ships will double Ponants existing fleet, though the new ships are slightly smaller than the liners four sister ships Le Boreal, LAustral, Le Soleal and Le Lyrial which welcome up to 264 guests per sailing Each of the new ships will be Ice Class rankedmeaning they can travel through Polar regions and easily maneuver through secluded coves largely off-limits to huge ships. In addition to boasting underwater observation lounges, the ships will have Infinity glass-edged swimming pools, allowing guests to swim right to the side of the vessel which Ponant claims is a first for an expedition ship. The ship interiors will house 92 stateroomseach with a private balcony-- a gym, spa treatment facility, formal and casual dining spaces and multiple bars. Ponantwhich was recently granted approval to sail to Cubasays construction on the four ships is set to begin in Norway soon. The first two ships are expected to be delivered in 2018. You win Dubai. Your new glass observation deck is indeed the most ridiculous. Mashable introduces us to the AYKON Dare, an observation deck that will sit on the 79th and 80th floors of the new AYKON City set of towers in Dubai. Lets strap in and head over to the installations website to see what this Dare things is all about. The observation experience will live at the top of the tallest structure in the City, which is itself a group of soaring skyscrapers in proximity to one another, according to the company building the tower. At about 285 meters up-- over 935 feet-- you will be able to take a brisk walk into the open air on a glass floor that makes you feel like youre floating. Its as if we died and went to heaven-- a heaven that features experiences that make us feel that we are absolutely going to die. Ah, but fear not, because you will be strapped in. Now before we get further along on the observation deck, here is a video that introduces you to the City aspect of the area: More from TravelPulse Tour Insights: Cuba Fever in the USA No, A Cruise Line Didn't Just Leave Kids Onboard Without Their Family Dispatch: In Search of the Big 15 in the Galapagos 4 Over-the-Top Hotel Welcome Amenities for Kids Celebrate the Life of Prince in his Minneapolis Hometown Yep, as you see, you can essentially hang out over the city, which is precisely how you re-gift your breakfast meal. Thats not a problem, because the AYKON Dare will feature a restaurant. It will also boast a view that, on a clear day, encompasses 37 miles into the distance. It sounds like a real treat. But then we have to remind you that you are hanging out by a harness nearly 1,000 feet in the sky. A less extreme version can be had on YouTube in the form of this 360-degree video of AYKON City: As Mashable states, the entire complex will be finished by 2021. But if you're looking to simulate this daredevil experience, you do have plenty of glass observation decks around the world in the meantime. Even Los Angeles U.S. Bank Tower recently unveiled its plan to feature an observation slide on the side of its 70th story. And there are transparent walkways and bridges all over the world, such as at Chicagos Willis Tower and Londons Tower Bridge. However, none of these make their respective tourists strap in to actually enjoy the pinnacle of the experience. Each year, more than 3.5 million American workplaces open their doors to over 37 million employees and their children on Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day. The White House urged workplaces and organizations to work together to include all kids on Wednesday. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga participated in this request by urging all staff and Bigs to bring their Littles or children to their place of employment. A United Airlines pilot pulled off the welcome home party of a lifetime by surprising his son returning to the U.S after a long deployment in Kuwait. Captain Mario Lopes, who is based in the Washington, D.C. area, agreed to pilot a military-chartered flight on April 14, taking his sons unit back to the statesand the young solider had no idea his father was in the cockpit. A video of the moment Lopes surprises his son, First Lieutenant Mario Lopes, is now going viral with over 300,000 views. Very overwhelming, pilot Mario Lopes told FOX 5 DC. A lot of support from a lot of people. Apparently this video has made a lot of people cry. It made me cry. The flight crew and soldiers were all surprised and touched by the captains gesture. But the moment was extremely emotional for the reunited father and son. When I was hugging him, I did say welcome home, I love you and kissed him on the cheek and we just hugged for a few minutes, the older Lopes recalls. And he says his son starting tearing up right away. His eyes opened up like saucers and he was extremely surprised and we just embraced and hugged. Captain Lopes, who lives in Gainesville, Va., says that once he saw the opportunity to fly his son home he signed up right away. United was chartered to do a military charter, the pilot said. I happened to see it and was able to pick it up, so my wife and I kept that a surprise. We wanted to surprise him on his return home. First Lieutenant Mario Lopes is based at Fort Story in Virginia Beach. He had been serving in Kuwait for nine months. The surprise reunion happened in Frankfurt, Germany just before the plane took off. Captain Lopes has been a United pilot for 40 years but he never thought hed be able to pull off something quite this special. Said the captain, "It's nice that something touches our hearts and we are all human and caring human beings. Authorities in Southern California said early Friday that at least 20 people were arrested as protesters created havoc after a Donald Trump rally. Costa Mesa police confirmed the arrests. Authorities said there were no major injuries and the big crowds had dispersed by 11 p.m. Thursday. #OCSDPIO Post Trump Rally Protest over. Approx 20 arrests by Costa Mesa PD. No major injuries. Crowd dispersed by 11pm. No further updates OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSD) April 29, 2016 Dozens of protesters were mostly peaceful as the Republican presidential front-runner gave his speech inside the Pacific Amphitheater. The crowds began to get rowdy as the rally was over and demonstrators took to the streets. One Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the area. One man jumped on top of a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented in and other protesters sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venues marquee. Dozens of cars -- including those of Trump supporters trying to leave -- were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the venue. There were no major injuries and police did not use any force. The crowd began dispersing about three hours after the speech ended. As helicopters circled overhead, protesters at one point shut down the entrance to the 55 freeway along Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa, the Los Angeles Times reported. Earlier Thursday, a half-dozen anti-Trump protesters taunted those waiting to get into the area. Trump supporters surrounded one man who wave a Mexican flag and shouted Build that wall! Build that wall! a reference to Trumps call to create a barrier between the U.S. and Mexico to stop illegal border crossings. At one point, seven women wearing no shirts and Bernie Sanders stickers over their breasts entered the square outside the amphitheater. They said they were protesting Trump's lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and women's rights. "I feel like he wants to make America great again, but certainly not for women, for the LBGTQ community or for the lower class," said one of the women, Tiernan Hebron. "He has, like, done nothing to help with gender equality or women's rights or reproductive rights or anything." Many protesters told the Los Angeles Times that they were drawn to the streets to rail against Trumps policies on immigration and his remarks about Mexican immigrants. This is the anger people have against Trump, Jose Cruz told the LA Times. Its not because hes white, its because of what hes said. Trump has drawn large crowds across the country as he has campaigned for the White House and some of his events have been marred by incidents both inside and outside these venues. Earlier this week, a Trump rally in nearby Anaheim, California turned contentious when his supporters and counter protestors clashed, leaving several people struck by pepper spray. Trump was not present. Trump has drawn large crowds to most of his campaign events, and Thursday was no exception. The Pacific Amphitheatre was filled to its capacity of about 18,000 and many hundreds more were turned away. Ly Kou, 47, of Ontario, said she likes Trump because he has vowed to put the country first. "It's obvious that America loves Trump," said Kou, who is from Laos, as she pointed at the waiting throng. "This thing about him being racist? Look around the crowd." Trump was traveling from the rally site to the state's Republican convention in Burlington in the San Francisco Bay area. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Thousands of New Yorkers are being discreetly informed by NYPD detectives that their names have appeared on a list of potential targets, possibly compiled by terrorists, authorities confirmed to FoxNews.com. NYPD officials confirmed the existence of the list of more than 3,000 names, but did not elaborate on how it was formulated or the process of contacting subjects. A Brooklyn woman who told FoxNews.com she was approached by two plainclothes detectives Wednesday and said they told her that her name was on the list, referred to a notecard and advised her to watch for fraudulent charges on her credit cards and other irregular transactions, she said. Sources told FoxNews.com the NYPD was working with the FBI after the list was discovered, with the police doing the legwork. "While our standard practice is to decline comment on specific operational and investigative matters, the FBI routinely notifies individuals and organizations of information collected during the course of an investigation that may be perceived as potentially threatening in nature, an FBI spokesperson said. Potential threats may relate to individuals, institutions, or organizations, and are shared in order to sensitize potential victims to the observed threat, and to assist them in taking proper steps to ensure their safety. The woman who spoke to FoxNews.com is not a government worker or member of the military, and said she doesnt know why her name would surface on a list. Detectives offered few details, but said her name could have been added to the list after coming up in an Internet search. Theyre (ISIS) hoping that a person with a mental health issue thinks theyre a soldier. John D. Cohen, the former counterterrorism coordinator at the Department of Homeland Security In October 2014, Fox News reported that U.S. military personnel were sent an Army intelligence bulletin warning them to be vigilant after Islamic State militants called on supporters to scour social media for addresses of their family and to show up and slaughter them. John Cohen, the former counterterrorism coordinator at the Department of Homeland Security and currently a professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey, said the list sounds like a clumsy attempt by ISIS to create the impression it has global reach through the web. He said the names may have been randomly selected from a social media platform like Facebook. They hope that some person may be sitting home and get inspired, he said. Theyre hoping that a person with a mental health issue thinks theyre a soldier. Once such a list circulates, police are obligated to inform people whose names may appear, he said. At the very least, a terrorist group accomplishes one goal: Getting law enforcement to tie up valuable resources. You have to stay vigilant, Cohen said. Lawmakers in Oklahoma Thursday moved to close a loophole in state law that allowed a 17-year-old boy to walk free after prosecutors accused him of forcing a heavily intoxicated girl to perform a sex act. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals pointed out that while the state's rape law addresses unconscious or intoxicated victims, the forcible sodomy law does not. Prosecutors called the ruling insane and offensive. The case involved two Tulsa high school students who had been drinking in a park in 2015, Fox 23 Tulsa reported. A forcible sodomy conviction could have put the teen behind bars when he turned 19 and was no longer eligible for youthful offender status. Prosecutors had charged him with forcing a 16-year-old girl who was passed out drunk to perform oral sex. He had also been accused of rape but that charge was dropped because of a lack of evidence, according to Oklahoma Watch, a nonprofit journalism website, which first reported on the ruling. The Legislatures inclusion of an intoxication circumstance for the crime of rapeis not found in the five very specific requirements of forcible sodomy," the appeals court wrote. Tulsa prosecutor Benjamin Fu told Oklahoma Watch the courts interpretation was insane, dangerous and offensive. Fu also spoke to Fox 23. My concern here is the court is now saying that there is a separate class of victims and those are intoxicated victims, he told the station. I dont believe for a moment that the court, if she suffered a medical seizure, or low blood, or some other condition that caused her to become unconscious and the same act happened, that anyone would stop for a moment and say is that illegal, he said. Republican State Rep. Scott Biggs, a former prosecutor, said he was "horrified" by last month's decision and is drafting language that legislators could consider as early as next week. "I think the judges made a grave error, but if they need more clarification, we are happy to give it to them by fixing the statute," he said. Click here for more from Fox 23 Tulsa. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Hawaii's most infamous cold case got a major break when the parents of Peter Boy Kema Jr. were indicted Thursday in connection with his death 19 years ago. Peter Kema Sr. and Jaylin Kema were indicted by a Hilo grand jury and charged with second-degree murder in the death of their son. Peter Jr. was 6 when he vanished, and his body was never found. The little boy, who suffered horrific and extensive abuse from the time he was just days old and endured abuse throughout his short life, became a symbol for critics who called for reform of child care services. It was just absolutely horrifying the torture this child was subjected to, said Meaghan Good, founder and editor of The Charley Project, a website that is tracking 9,500 unsolved murder cases including that of Peter Boy Jr. I read all 2,000 pages about the case released by the Department of Human Services in 2005, and it very obvious what happened to Peter Boy Jr. Speaking to reporters after the indictment, Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said the charges were "a long time coming." "Peter Boy, this Sunday, would have been 25 years old." Mitch Roth, Hawaii County prosecutor "Peter Boy, this Sunday, would have been 25 years old," he said. Peter Boy disappeared from his Hawaii Island home in 1997. On Nov. 4, both his parents were arrested on unrelated charges. His father was charged with drug and gun offenses, but later released, while Jaylin Kema was charged with welfare fraud. They had long been the main suspects in their son's disappearance, but police did not have enough evidence to bring charges. It is not known publicly what new evidence led to the indictments. The Kemas could not be reached for comment. Their public defenders have not been assigned yet, according to the prosecutor's office. The Kemas did not report him missing for several months after he was last seen alive, and only then after a social worker alerted police. Peter Kema Sr. told hed taken the child to another island, Oahu, and turned him over to a family friend who he did not know how to reach. Police were unable to locate her or even confirm her existence. Peter Boy Jr.s three living siblings agree that although they were all abused by their parents, Peter Boy Jr. bore the brunt. In 1998, they told authorities Peter Boy Jr. endured frequent beatings, was rarely fed and forced to eat off the floor. He was made to sleep either tied to the bed, on the bathroom or closet floor or outside without bedding, and was often left handcuffed or tied up with rope, they said. It was so shocking and repulsive - the kind of abuse this kid suffered at the hands of the people he trusted, said Michael W. Perry of KSSK Radio, Hawaiis most well-known radio commentator. He was so young, and there were so many dark corners over so long a period time. In the wake of Peter Boy Jr.'s disappearance, records surfaced showing how time and again, state Child Protective Service officials missed or ignored signs the boys was being abused. When Roth was elected in 2012, one of his pledges was to solve the islands many cold case murders, including Peter Boy Jr.s. It has been a long time in coming, Roth told FoxNews.com. We are happy able to start to bring closure for the family and for the community. In an effort to solve the case, police and prosecutors have looked at the evidence with fresh set of eyes Roth said, reviewing thousands of pages of evidence, re-interviewing witnesses and following new leads. We want the public and the family members to know we have not forgotten, and we are still looking for answers and justice, Roth said. A pilot told FoxNews.com that two days after two Florida teenage fishermen disappeared at sea last summer, he may have spotted one of them desperately signaling for help on a makeshift raft off the coast of Georgia. Bobby Smith, 63, believes he saw either Austin Stephanos or Perry Cohen with hands raised when his Piper Warrior flew over debris east of St. Marys, Ga., on July 26. No doubt about it, Smith told FoxNews.com Friday. There was a small person lying on that debris. He described it as two large pieces of Styrofoam lashed together with a bright-colored life vest. Smith told investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission what he saw during his search for the missing boys. The interview is part of a 128-page investigative report the agency released this week describing the unsuccessful effort to find the boys. Stephanos and Cohen set out on a fishing trip from Tequesta, Fla. on July 24. They disappeared when their boat capsized during a severe storm. Their bodies were never recovered, but a Norwegian cargo ship spotted their 19-foot boat near Bermuda last month and recovered it. Onboard were Austin's iPhone and some fishing gear. Heart-breaking aint the word for it. Pilot Bobby Smith The Cohen family filed a lawsuit this week asking that law enforcement be allowed to search the phone. A judge and both families agreed to send it to Apple in order to try getting the data inside. Smith told the Sun Sentinel that after searching the water for two hours, his 10-year-old granddaughter spotted something in the water. He circled three time to within 200 feet for a closer look. It was obvious it was a person lying on their back, Smith told the paper. When we circled, both arms came up. It was a shock. He told the newspaper Thursday he was certain it was one of the teens. Smith said his granddaughter took cellphone photos of what they saw as the plane climbed to a higher altitude so he could contact the Coast Guard. His step-daughter was also in the plane, he said. The photos show a blurry object in the water. A Coast Guard plane arrived at the spot within 20 minutes, but was unable to find anything in the water. Heart-breaking aint the word for it, Smith told FoxNews.com. He speculated that a wave may have washed over the debris before the Coast Guard got there. He said he volunteered to search for the boys through a Florida friend. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Investigators said Friday they were looking into the "suspicious" disappearance of an Air Force veteran from South Florida who was reported missing after she failed to pick up her 2-year-old daughter. Tricia Todd, 30, of Hobe Sound, Fla., disappeared on Wednesday. The Martin County Sheriffs Office said her car was found in her neighbors driveway that day, Fox 29 Palm Beach reported Thursday. Her keys were in the ignition, her purse was in the car, but her wallet and cellphone were missing, the station reported. Deputies, detectives, sheriffs posse members and Corrections Department bloodhound teams searched Friday morning for any sign of Todd from the ground and the air, the sheriffs office reported. The search area included the woods in state parks and the neighborhood near her home. Marine Units are actively searching area beaches where Tricia was known to take early morning walks, the sheriffs office said. She had dropped off the child with her former husband late Tuesday for an overnight visit. It was very unusual for her not to retrieve her daughter, her brother told the station. You could put a hurricane through her, she would (still) go pick up her daughter, Nathan Todd said. The mother is an Air Force veteran and registered hospice nurse, the Palm Beach Post reported. The ex-husband serves in the Air Force and was returning to North Carolina where he is stationed, the paper reported. A relative of his is taking care of the child, Sheriff William Snyder told the Post. Click here for more from Fox 29 Palm Beach. At least 27 people, including children, were killed at a hospital in Aleppo, Syria overnight, activists said Thursday, in what Secretary of State John Kerry called a "deliberate [air]strike" by government forces on a "known medical facility." The incident was part of a wave of nighttime airstrikes by Syrian warplanes in embattled Aleppo that killed at least 61 people overall. An official from the Syrian opposition claimed Russia may have also participated in the strikes. Some of the overnight strikes hit the well-known al-Quds field hospital in the Sukkari district in Aleppo, according to Doctors Without Borders, opposition activists and rescue workers. They said 14 doctors and patients were among the dead. "Whoever carries out these massacres needs a war tribunal and a court of justice to be tried for his crimes." Mohammed Alloush, chief Syrian opposition negotiator Kerry said in a statement later Thursday that the attack on the hospital appeared to be "a deliberate strike on a known medical facility." "[This] follows the Assad regimes appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders. These strikes have killed hundreds of innocent Syrians," Kerry said. A separate blitz in Aleppo reportedly killed 20, raising the 24-hour death toll in the key city to at least 61. Senior opposition official Anas al-Abdeh, the head of the Syrian National Council, claimed Syria's ally Russia may have taken part in the strikes as well. Russian defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov denied his country flew any jets near Aleppo over the past several days. The chief Syrian opposition negotiator Mohammed Alloush told The Associated Press the latest violence showed how negotiations, such as the February talks that led to a short-lived cease fire, were not realistic. "Whoever carries out these massacres needs a war tribunal and a court of justice to be tried for his crimes. He does not need a negotiating table," Alloush told the AP in a telephone interview. "Now, the environment is not conducive for any political action." "Russia has an urgent responsibility to press the regime... to stop attacking civilians, medical facilities, and first responders, and to abide fully by the cessation of hostilities," Secretary of State John Kerry responded. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that Aleppo was on the brink of a humanitarian disaster as a result of the renewed fighting. "Wherever you are, you hear explosions of mortars, shelling and planes flying over," Valter Gros, who heads the ICRC office there, was quoted as saying Thursday in a statement, Reuters reported. "There is no neighborhood of the city that hasnt been hit. People are living on the edge. Everyone here fears for their lives and nobody knows what is coming next," he added. Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym MSF, said in a series of tweets that the death toll was expected to rise. "Destroyed MSF-supported hospital in Aleppo was well known locally and hit by direct airstrike on Wednesday," it said. The Civil Defense, a volunteer first-responders agency whose members went to the scene of the attack, put the death toll at 40 and said the dead included six hospital staff, including a dentist and one of the last pediatricians remaining in the city. The agency, also known as the White Helmets, said the al-Quds hospital and adjacent buildings were struck in four consecutive airstrikes. It said there were still victims buried under the rubble and that the rescue work continued. A video posted online by the White Helmets showed a number of lifeless bodies, including those of children, being pulled out from a building and loaded into ambulances amid screaming and wailing. It also showed distraught rescue workers trying to keep onlookers away from the scene, apparently fearing more airstrikes. Marianne Gasser, head of the ICRC mission in Syria, said the attack on the ICRC-supported hospital is "unacceptable and sadly this is not the first time the lifesaving medical services have been hit." The ICRC also said stocks of contingency food and medical aid are expected to run out soon and warned that an escalation in fighting means that they cannot be replenished. Alloush, who was one of the leading negotiators of the opposition in the Geneva talks, described the airstrikes as one of the latest "war crimes" of Assad's government. But a Syrian military source told Reuters Thursday that government warplanes had not been used in areas where the airstrikes were reported. The Feb. 27 cease-fire has been falling apart in the past weeks as casualty figures from violence mount, particularly in Aleppo and across northern Syria. Airstrikes earlier this week also targeted a training center for the Syrian Civil Defense, leaving five of its team dead in rural Aleppo. Since April 19, nearly 200 people have died, including at least 44 in an airstrike on a market place in rebel-held area in northern Idlib province, as well as dozens of civilians in government-held areas from rebel shelling. The U.N. envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, briefed the U.N. Security Council via videoconference late Wednesday about the largely stalled indirect talks between the Western- and Saudi-backed opposition and envoys from Assad's government, which has the backing of Moscow. He said that after 60 days, the cessation of hostilities agreed to by both sides "hangs by a thread." "I really fear that the erosion of the cessation is unraveling the fragile consensus around a political solution, carefully built over the last year," de Mistura said in his council briefing obtained by The Associated Press. "Now I see parties reverting to the language of a military solution or military option. We must ensure that they do not see that as a solution or an option." The talks foundered last week after the main opposition group, called the High Negotiating Committee, suspended its formal participation in the indirect talks with Assad's envoys to protest alleged government cease-fire violations, a drop in humanitarian aid deliveries and no progress in winning the release of detainees in Syria. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An appeals court in Burkina Faso has thrown out an international arrest warrant for former President Blaise Compaore. Last year, a military tribunal issued the warrant against Compaore, who was forced to resign in late 2014 amid a popular insurrection after nearly three decades in power. Compaore faced assassination charges in connection with the killing of revolutionary president Thomas Sankara during a coup in 1987. However, Compaore had become a citizen of Ivory Coast, a move critics said blocked him from facing extradition. The Burkina Faso court of appeal announced Thursday the warrant was being annulled because of procedural errors. Also on Thursday, an arrest warrant for Ivorian politician Guillaume Soro was set aside. Soro had been accused of playing a role in a foiled coup last September. For the second time in less than a month, a Russian fighter jet conducted a barrel roll over a U.S. spy plane in the Baltic Sea Friday, flying within just 100 feet of the aircraft, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News. The Russian Su-27 zipped past the U.S. RC-135 surveillance plane in international airspace, the official said. In the first barrel roll, on April 14, the jet flew within just 50 feet of the spy plane, Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters. Russian aircraft have conducted a series of daring maneuvers calling out U.S. forces in recent weeks. Video on April 11 captured two Russian jets zooming past the USS Donald Cook, a Navy destroyer in the Baltic, flying only 100 feet off the ground. A U.S. defense official called it a "simulated attack profile." Secretary of State John Kerry responded, "We condemn this kind of behavior. It is reckless. It is provocative. It is dangerous." He said forces on the destroyer could have shot down the jets under U.S. military rules of engagement. But a Russian defense spokesman said the jet pilots carefully turned around. Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov claimed he didn't understand the "distressed reaction of our American counterparts." The Pentagon called the first barrel roll "unsafe and unprofessional." Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report. U.S. Senator Bob Corker, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, on Thursday applauded the decision by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to reopen its new Truth in Lending Act-Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Integrated Disclosure rule for public comment. Senator Corker sent a letter to CFPB Director Richard Cordray in March requesting increased clarity regarding the TRID rule. Senator Corker also questioned Mr. Cordray about the regulation during a Senate Banking Committee hearing earlier this month, asking if the CFPB would consider steps to alleviate confusion. These new mortgage disclosure requirements have created some challenges for consumers and institutions, said Senator Corker. I commend Director Cordray for taking this important step to provide more clarity. The TRID rule is impacting millions of Americans, and we must ensure it is implemented in the most transparent and effective manner possible. ISIS executioner Jihadi John easily dodged British authorities, riding in the back of a truck to exit the UK before boarding a flight in Belgium -- despite being on a terror watch list -- according to a chilling account by a jihadist who traveled with him through six countries before reaching Syria. ISIS' English-language magazine Dabiq details how the London-raised Jihadi John -- whose real name was Mohammed Emwazi -- and his unnamed terror associate eluded security forces on their way to Syria, where they would train to kill in the summer of 2012. The two-page article, released Jan. 19 in Issue 13 of the magazine, eulogizes the 27-year-old Emwazi, who was killed in a drone strike last year. The Kuwaiti-born terrorist was responsible for the beheadings of American and British hostages -- including U.S. journalist James Foley -- that were videotaped and posted online by the terror network. "The controls are much stricter entering the U.K. than outgoing." ISIS fighter The article refers to Emwazi as "Abu Muharib Al-Muhajir" and details how he and the unnamed fighter fled the UK "right under the nose of the much-overrated MI5 British intelligence agency," according to MEMRI, which translated a copy of it. Because their names were on terror watch lists, the fighter says he and Emwazi decided to leave the country "hidden in a lorry" and noted how "the controls are much stricter entering the UK than outgoing." "Despite the efforts of MI5, Abu Muharib [Emwazi] never ceased in his struggle to make hijrah for the sake of Allah. On his last attempt to leave the UK for his homeland of Kuwait, Abu Muharib was stopped at the airport and kept for questioning by MI5, the result of which was their refusal to allow him to travel," the article claims. "During the interrogation, Abu Muharib would present himself as unintelligent, as was his method when dealing with intelligence agencies," the article said. "One particular agent said to him, 'You're not going anywhere. We are going to be on you like a shadow.' The joke would eventually be on him, for it was just a matter of days before Allah opened for Abu Muharib the opportunity to make hijrah to Sham [Syria]." The identity of the ISIS jihadist is unknown, though he is reportedly believed to be Somali-born terror suspect Ibrahim Magag from London. The fighter says the two, carrying approximately $44,000, made it to France and then on to Belgium, where they shaved their heads and beards to disguise their identities. The two were carrying British passports, but Belgium police did not stop them as they boarded flights and eventually made their way to Greece, according to the fighter. There, an ISIS fixer guided them onto a boat across to Turkey and eventually into Syria to join the Islamic State. On Thursday, MEMRI released a statement, calling the Emwazi eulogy "only one of many ISIS articles and statements boasting to followers and supporters about ISIS members' evasion and circumvention of European security apparatuses as they move back and forth between the Middle East and Europe, and about their ability to conduct surveillance of potential targets in Europe and to plan attacks undisturbed." According to the article, Emwazi came from the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula, and his mother was of Yemeni origin. It says that at a young age he and his family moved to London, adding, "This would become a place he grew to hate along with its kafir [infidel] people, whose customs were far-removed from the praiseworthy values he was much accustomed to." FoxNews.com's Cristina Corbin contributed to this report. North Korea on Friday accused U.S. soldiers of trying to provoke its frontline troops with "disgusting" acts and encouraging South Korean soldiers to aim their guns at the North. A North Korean military statement warned U.S. soldiers to stop what it called "hooliganism" at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom or they'll meet a "dog's death any time and any place." "GIs hurled fully armed MPs of the South Korean puppet army into perpetrating such dangerous provocations as aiming at" the North Korean military side last week, said the statement carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency. It said U.S. troops pointed their fingers at North Korean soldiers and made strange noises and unspecified "disgusting" facial expressions. North Korea occasionally accuses South Korean and U.S. troops of trying to provoke its border troops and vice versa. After North Korea's first nuclear bomb test in 2006, the U.S. accused North Korean troops of spitting across the border's demarcation line, making throat-slashing hand gestures and flashing their middle fingers. The latest North Korean accusation came a day after South Korean and U.S. officials said two suspected medium-range missile launches by North Korea ended in failure. In recent weeks, North Korea fired a barrage of missiles and artillery shells into the sea in an apparent response to annual South Korea-U.S. military drills that end Saturday. The U.S. and South Korean militaries had no immediate official responses. About 28,000 American troops are deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice and not a peace treaty. Panmunjom, located inside the 2.5-mile-wide Demilitarized Zone that bisects the Korean Peninsula, is where the 1953 armistice was signed. It remains one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints, but Panmunjom jointly overseen by North Korea and the American-led U.N. Command is also a popular tourist spot drawing visitors on both sides. Visitors from the southern side are often told by tour guides to be extremely careful about what gestures they make so as not to antagonize the nearby North Korean soldiers. North Korea on Friday sentenced a U.S. citizen of Korean heritage to 10 years in prison after convicting him of espionage and subversion, the second American it has put behind bars this year. Kim Dong Chul had been detained in the North on suspicion of engaging in spying and stealing state secrets. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor after a brief trial in Pyongyang. North Korea's Supreme Court found Kim guilty of crimes and espionage and subversion of under Articles 60 and 64 of the North's criminal code. Further details were not immediately available. When he was paraded before the media in Pyongyang last month, Kim said he had collaborated with and spied for South Korean intelligence authorities in a plot to bring down the North's leadership and had tried to spread religion among North Koreans before his arrest in the city of Rason last October. South Korea's National Intelligence Service, the country's main spy agency, has said Kim's case wasn't related to the organization in any way. Kim's sentencing comes on the heels of a 15-year sentence handed down on Otto Warmbier, an American university student who the North says was engaged in anti-state activities while visiting the country as a tourist earlier this year. 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 entire Korean Peninsula. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt they later said were coerced. Most of those who are sentenced to long prison terms are released before serving their full time. 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 Mathew Miller, also arrested after entering the country as a tourist, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012. Jeffrey Fowle, a U.S. tourist 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. Welcome to the secret high-class sex parties for North Koreas elite, where schoolgirls as young as 13 are allegedly forced into servitude for their leaders pleasure. The girls are picked out at random by soldiers sometimes from their own school classrooms. Their family and medical histories are closely examined, and routine check-ups are performed to ensure their virginity is intact. Over the following decade, these girls are expected to service the small military circle of North Koreas elite. They are known as the leaders Pleasure Squad or Gippeumjo. These are the claims of various defectors who managed to escape North Korea over the past decade. Each one describes the mysterious group in similar terms - a bizarre secret world where girls are plucked out of society and trained as high-class adult entertainers. The Pleasure Squad is made up of 2000 North Korean girls, and divided into three specialised groups - one for sexual services, one for giving massages, and one for live singing and dancing, which they can be made to do semi-nude. Within the walls of North Korea, the practice is incredibly secretive, and knowledge of its existence comes solely from defectors who have fled to China or South Korea. Even the families of girls in the Squad are not told where they are going - only that they are taking part in important government projects. From that moment on, the girls are not permitted to see or speak to their relatives. Less than six months after his fathers death, the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim Jong Un, the current leader of North Korea, was seeking new entertainers for his own Pleasure Squad, just after the formal three-year mourning period for his father. Click for more from News.com.Au Their daughter was stolen by terrorists, forced to "marry" the leader of ISIS and ultimately killed, and Carl and Marsha Mueller can only wonder if it all could have been different. Kayla Mueller was an idealistic aid worker who went to Turkey in 2012 to help refugee children. She was taken hostage in August, 2013, when she and her boyfriend traveled to an Aleppo, Syria, Doctors Without Borders hospital. She would spend nearly a year-and-a-half in captivity before U.S. officials confirmed she had been killed. "We believe that Kayla could have been released and still have many unanswered questions, Marsha Mueller said Thursday at a conference convened by the Holy See's ambassador to the world body. "Maybe we can get enough people together to really make a stand and persuade our government, our president to do something besides talk. Carl Mueller In the years before she was taken hostage, and in a letter she was able to send her parents from within the Raqqa compound where she was held, Mueller told of the desperate plight of Christians in the Middle East. But only last month did the United States formally declare the grim situation amounts to genocide, a term that could spark UN action. Helping the suffering was her lifes work, Carl Mueller said. We worried about Kayla. We worried about what she was witnessing." The knowledge of their daughter's suffering under ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and her death has spurred the Prescott, Ariz., couple to pressure Washington and the UN to act now to protect Christians and stop the black-clad jihadist army. We have to do it now, Carl Mueller told FoxNews.com later. She would be ecstatic that this is finally going on. As far back as 2011, she was trying to bring this to attention of our government and no one would listen. No one cared. [Many] people still dont care," he continued. "But if we can get this [issue] out into the public, if we can squeeze it in between the political election news that is out there now ... maybe we can get enough people together to really make a stand and persuade our government, our president to do something besides talk. Kayla Mueller was moved to take action as early as 2011, when images of children displaced at the beginning of the Syrian civil war prompted her to leave home and offer herself to the Danish Refugee Council and the humanitarian organization Support to Life. Kayla was one courageous voice, calling the world to speak with one voice and with our actions," her mother said. "To have the same courage and commitment. Carl Mueller said carrying forward their daughter's cause is their way of keeping her memory alive. We do it for Kayla and for the people that are suffering," he said. "Although we didnt witness it first-hand, we saw how it affected her and we knew what we were hearing was true. And today, I feel like Kayla finally got her chance to show it to the world, which she was so desperate to do. Syrian rebels shelled a mosque in a government-held area of war-torn Aleppo Friday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 30, state media reported, as government forces reportedly launched new airstrikes after a morning lull. State TV said several rockets hit the Malla Khan mosque in the Bab al-Faraj neighborhood -- and its surroundings -- as worshippers were leaving after Friday prayers. At least one person died in the new Syrian airstrikes, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The carnage in Aleppo was particularly intense on Wednesday and Thursday, when airstrikes and artillery killed dozens of people, including patients and one of Syria's last pediatricians at a Doctors Without Borders-supported hospital. Aid agencies warned that the contested northern city is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster with the collapse of a two-month cease-fire and stalled peace talks in Switzerland. The Syrian army declared a temporary truce for the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, and the coastal province of Latakia but not for Aleppo. What impact the unilateral declaration would have was not immediately clear. It's unlikely the opposition would abide by it after days of government airstrikes and bombardments in Aleppo, The Associated Press reports. The announcement was read on Syrian state TV on Friday. The army says the cease-fire will go into effect at 1 a.m. on Saturday. The military statement said it will last 24 hours in Damascus and its suburbs and three days in Latakia. Opposition activists say that only over the past week, more than 200 civilians have been killed in Aleppo. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders said the death toll from the bombing of a hospital and nearby buildings in Aleppo late Wednesday rose to 50, including six medical staff and patients. The organization, also known by its French acronym MSF, said in a Friday statement that the bombing a day earlier of Quds hospital, in a rebel-held neighborhood of the city, destroyed one of the last remaining places in Aleppo in which "you could still find humanity." MSF warned that the 250,000 residents in the rebel-held parts of Aleppo are in danger of being completely cut off and left without medical care. Airstrikes on the hospital drew international condemnation. Muskilda Zancada, head of MSF's Syria mission, said "the sky is falling in Aleppo. The Russian Foreign Ministry Friday also condemned the shelling of its consulate in the Syrian city of Aleppo, calling it a "terrorist attack." The ministry said no one was injured when one mortar hit the consulate grounds and three more exploded just outside the fence the previous afternoon. All Russian diplomats were transferred out of Aleppo in January 2013, and since then the consulate has been guarded by Syrian citizens. Russia said it believed the mortar attack had been carried out by the Al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front and its allies. The ministry statement said such attacks should be rebuffed and called for improved coordination between Russia and the United States in their efforts to monitor the partial two-month-old cease-fire. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 1Heart Welcomes Las Vegas Nevada Franchise LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (PRWEB) April 29, 2016 - In its efforts of bringing quality senior care and expanding reach to seniors all across USA, 1Heart Caregiver Services continues its successful franchise development and expansion as it welcomes Ferdie Vasquez of the new 1Heart Caregiver Services Las Vegas Franchise. Ferdie has an extensive managerial and administrative experience in his 32 years of working in various industries. He had been a Franchise owner of a mailing company in Asia and he knows the importance of having an established brand as an Expert Consultant helping to build his business. His strong decision-making skills, time management discipline and his focus on current projects to deliver desired results at all times are very positive business attributes that he can bring to his Las Vegas franchise. Ferdie is truly knowledgeable in the concept of senior care. "Our parents taught us to love, respect and take care of the elderly and since then I made it my philosophical belief to apply what they taught whenever the situation allows." says Ferdie. This holds true especially in the late 1990's when Ferdie and his siblings took care of his ailing aunt (which he regards dearly as his second mother) who suffered a stroke 3 times. "Providing 1Heart's services to our seniors is my way of extending this love and care to the senior community in Las Vegas, he adds. The contract signing took place last 4th of April 2016, at 1Heart Caregiver Services corporate head office on Wilshire Boulevard in Downtown Los Angeles. 1Hearts CEO, Belina C. Nernberg and 1Hearts Director of Business and Franchise Development, Randolph Clarito were present during this landmark event including Vice-President of Operations Kevin Tagarao and Senior Client Care Manager Arnold Navarro. This is 1Hearts first Franchise location outside of California. It is a great achievement for the 1Heart team to be able to continue to build traction on its regional franchise development and expansion efforts. We are very excited to extend our excellent system of quality senior care in Las Vegas. says Randolph. There are 3 additional franchise locations signed for the month of April and preparing for all requirements for Californias Home Care license, Randolph proudly announced. Belina is very optimistic about the new Las Vegas Franchisee. I am happy to see that Ferdie is very excited and motivated to start this business. He is a dedicated individual and a successful entrepreneur and I believe can successfully bring the great quality of service that 1Heart has provided for more than a decade to his Las Vegas franchise location. I am glad that he is now a part of the growing 1Heart Family. says Belina. About 1Heart Caregiver Services Franchise 1Heart Caregiver Services is a rapidly expanding Home Care Franchise based in California. The 1Heart brand,http://www.1HeartFranchise.com has established a solid name in the Los Angeles area, representing more than a decade's worth of outstanding service to the home care community. 1Heart's success and growth is largely due to the company's commitment to provide high-quality in-home care through a client-centered and service-oriented approach. 1Heart is a member of IFA International Franchise Association, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and IFPG International Franchise Professionals Group. SOURCE 1Heart Caregiver Services Franchise Contact: Randy Clarito 1Heart Caregiver Services +1 (805) 338-8100 ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Amada Senior Care Expands to Southern New Jersey Orange County Based Senior Care Franchise Opens Office in Cherry Hill CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY (PRWEB) April 29, 2016 - Amada Senior Care, premier provider of non-medical in-home care and assisted living placement counseling, recently opened its newest office in New Jersey its South Jersey location. Amada franchise partner Diane Ramey came to the senior care industry with over 25 years of experience in durable medical equipment and medical device sales. Her husband, Terry Ramey, has an extensive executive experience in supply chain management, process improvement, and technology. Their grand opening will take place on Monday, May 2nd. Dianes passion for serving others comes from being a caregiver for her handicapped younger brother for her entire life. She said Amada South Jersey works to provide quality care that fits the needs of each senior. Our services include things like bathing, meal preparation, light housekeeping anything that allows your loved one to maintain independence in their own home, she said. Amada South Jersey also provides seniors and their families with senior housing advisory services. If a senior is no longer able to stay in their home, we will find the best senior living options available for them, Diane said. Terry said it is common for seniors and their families to be worried about funding long term care, which is why Amada South Jersey offers help with navigating the many financial options available. Whether it means unlocking a long-term care insurance policy, leveraging veterans benefits or a life insurance policy, or possibly even a government program, we will work with you to help you fund the care that is needed, he said. Terrys parents both needed long term care, and his sister drove hours everyday to help their mother with activities of daily living. I was 500 miles away, Terry said. It was very frustrating not knowing what was going on with my mothers care, how she was feeling, and what she did that day. He said Amada South Jersey offers a family portal and monitoring technology that tells the exact care a senior receives on a daily basis. Whether youre around the corner or across the country, you will know exactly whats going on, he said. We provide a full family-based care plan. The grand opening of Amada Senior Care South Jersey will be held on Monday, May 2nd. The office is currently looking for qualified full and part-time caregivers to work with their clients. For more information, you can visit the website athttp://www.AmadaSouthJersey.com or call 856-312-3762. About Amada Senior Care Amada Senior Care is committed to enriching lives. We provide nurturing, compassionate non-medical in-home care and guide families through the many senior housing options available for assisted living. We also offer expertise in handling long-term care insurance claims and in certain forms of government aid, including Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits. Headquartered in San Clemente, California, Amada was founded in 2007, and is currently assembling an elite team of franchise partners to expand our business on the national level. For more information, visit amadaseniorcare.com. SOURCE Amada Senior Care Contact: Taylor French Amada Senior Care 949.284.8036 ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions Presents Manual Villareal with the 2016 Technician of the Year Award ORLANDO, FL (PRWEB) April 29, 2016 - During the annual Filta Franchise Owners conference, recently held in Orlando, Florida, Filta announced the recipient of the 2016 Technician of the Year Award. In recognition of the Filta Technician that has gone above and beyond in the service of the companys clients and Franchise Owners. All Filta Franchisees are eligible to nominate a technician that has been employed for at least one year. Nominated employees must demonstrate loyalty, dedication, work ethic, outstanding customer service and support. This years recipient is Houston, Texas based technician Manuel Villareal. Mr. Villareal is employed by Filta Franchise Owner Mike Powers. Technicians are the life blood of our business and I can think of no one more deserving than Manny", said JJ Paul, Franchise Advisory Council Chairperson. JJ continued, "Manny was one of four-hundred employees eligible for last year's award, and elected by the network of Filta Franchise Owners. We are proud of our employees and recognize their outstanding efforts building our brand." For more information about Filta, please visit http://www.filta.com About Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions Established in the United Kingdom in 1996 and brought to the USA in 2002, Filta is the worlds leader in commercial fryer and cooking oil management services and offers its services through a worldwide franchise network. Filta is dedicated to saving its clients money, creating a safer working environment, and providing customers with the tools to increase the quality of their product, all while preserving the environment. Filta services over 5,000 customers every week and has recycled over 1/2 of a billion pounds of oil and counting! http://www.filta.com SOURCE Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions Contact: Rob Totten Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions +1 (407) 583-4212 ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Pieology Pizzeria Opens Second Florida Location Popular Personalized Pizza Concept Now Open in Ponte Vedra Beach April 29, 2016 // Franchising.com // RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, California Pieology Pizzeria, where pizza lovers go to create artisan-style custom pizzas in endless flavor combinations for one affordable price, is excited to announce the opening of its second Florida location in Ponte Vedra Beach. Located in Nocatee Town Center East, Pieology Ponte Vedra Beach features the companys newly introduced custom salad program and offers locals the opportunity to enjoy personalized pizzas and made-to-order custom salads, using an unlimited selection of over 40 toppings. Were thrilled to introduce Pieology to Ponte Vedra Beach and provide the community with a brand new way to enjoy pizza and custom salads, said Ted Cheng, franchisee. Pieology has made huge strides to cement its position as the leader in the popular fast casual pizza segment, such as the companys recent alignment with Panda Restaurant Group, and we are extremely happy with our decision to join such a phenomenal company. The Pieology experience starts with fresh house-made dough that is pressed into 11.5-inch thin pizza crusts, which is typically larger than others in the custom pizza space. Guests select from eight signature sauces, moving down the line to choose from more than 40 fresh and flavorful meats, cheeses, vegetables, herbs and spices. The customized pizzas are then stone oven fired to perfection in less than three minutes. To finish, guests have the option to add after-bake Flavor Blast sauces, including fiery buffalo, pesto and BBQ, to really make it their own! Pieology also offers gluten-free crust, whole wheat crust and a selection of seven signature pizzas, which can be customized upon request. Pieologys custom salads allow guests to create made-to-order salads by choosing from three fresh lettuce options of organic field greens, romaine hearts or spinach. Guests then select from any of Pieologys large variety of toppings, including sunflower seeds, garbanzo beans and candied walnuts, along with a choice of five dressings made in-house. Pieology also offers a signature Classic and Caesar salad, which can be personalized with additional ingredients upon request. The generous portioned salad and pizza are the perfect pairing for a shareable meal. Pieology Ponte Vedra Beach features an industrial-chic and friendly environment where inspirational quotes decorate the walls, menus and employee uniforms. The restaurant is open Sunday Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pieology Pizzeria Ponte Vedra Beach 641 Crosswater Parkway East, Ste E&F Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081 (904) 508-0803 For more information about Pieology, locations and the complete menu, visit www.pieology.com. About Pieology Pizzeria Using only the freshest ingredients along with signature sauces and crusts, award-winning Pieology Pizzeria offers hand-crafted, artisan-style custom pizzas in unlimited flavor combinations that are stone oven fired in less than three minutes and always at one affordable price. The recently introduced custom salad program is available at select locations with plans to roll out chain wide by the end of 2016. Founded in 2011 by Carl Chang, Pieology was created from the simple idea to turn Americas most crave-able food into an affordable and interactive experience. The mission of Pieology Pizzeria is to inspire individual creativity in a positive atmosphere where guests can gather with family and friends, while enjoying their delicious pizza creations. Along with providing great food and a memorable dining experience, Pieology is committed to making a positive difference in the communities it serves, one pie at a time. In 2016, Pieology announced a strategic investment from Panda Restaurant Group (PRG), one of Americas largest and most successful family-owned restaurant companies operating more than 1,900 locations around the globe. While the brand steadily expands its U.S. footprint, this alliance provides Pieology with the access to PRG's unlimited resources including real estate, buying power and vendor relationships. For more information, visit www.pieology.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SOURCE Pieology Pizzeria Media Contact: Chelsea McKinney Pieology Pizzeria Powerhouse Public Relations, LLC (949) 261-2216 chelsea@powrhousepr.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus The student body gathered on the Spencer McCallie III Quadrangle to dedicate another space to another former McCallie headmaster. Students, alumni, Trustees, faculty and friends of McCallie came together to officially dedicate Walker Hall, the schools new science and technology center. Walker Hall is named after former Headmaster Dr. R. Kirk Walker Jr. 69, who led the school for 15 years from 1999-2014. Dr. Walker helped lead the team that raised the money for the new building, which features state-of-the-art science facilities as well as new spaces for interactive learning such as the Lebovitz Innovation Lab, the Turner Global Conferencing Center, and the Engineering Lab. Outgoing Board Chairman Elliott Davenport 78 told of how Dr. Walker was mislead about the about the naming of the new building even as he helped with the fundraising for the project. As Dr. Walker was leading the team raising the more than $14 million to build Walker Hall, the Board of Trustees met without his knowledge to propose and approve naming the building in his honor. Knowing of Dr. Walkers humility, he was not offered the opportunity to contest the decision. This new building represents McCallies commitment to the students by giving them the opportunity to learn by doing, Headmaster Lee Burns 87 said. It represents a new day for the school and is an extension of the leadership and hard work of Dr. Walker and everyone involved in making this day a reality. Senior day student Ace Damodaran spoke for the student body in thanking the alumni and others for making Walker Hall a reality. When I first came to the Upper School, the Robotics Club met in old Alumni Hall, the former dining hall, and we had to keep our equipment in boxes stacked in a closet, Ace said. I wish the upperclassmen from those days could see the facilities we have now to work on projects and develop solutions to problems in the real world. Classes began in Walker Hall in February, and faculty and students have already begun taking advantage of this new space. With the beginning of the 2016-17 school year this fall, the opportunities for even more new learning opportunities are just around the corner. GPS Senior Story DeWeese and GPS alumna Betsy Blunt Brown 92 were among those honored as Women of Distinction at the 2016 Awards Luncheon presented by the American Lung Association on Tuesday. Story was one of six high school seniors recognized as having distinguished themselves within their school and community; Ms. Brown joined nine others as one of the Chattanooga areas most accomplished women. Story is the president of the GPS Honor Council and a member of the lacrosse team. A member of the National Honor Society and the May Day Court, she has participated in Model UN. Co-founder and webmaster of the GPS Computer Science Club, she interned at the University of Southern California Engineering School and has been named a runner-up in a national information technology competition. She serves annually as a counselor for Young Life camps and has contributed her talents to the Chattanooga Public Library and AIR labs. Ms. Brown is the founder of Pendleton Square, a financial services business. She is a trustee of GPS and a partner of The JumpFund, an angel investment fund for women-led startups. She serves an array of organizations in a volunteer capacity, including the AIM Center, the Rotary Club, the Nature Center, and the Association for Visual Arts. Many family members and GPS graduates, including Head of School Autumn Graves, were present to congratulate these two women, as well as salute the over 40 other GPS alumnae who have been honored in the past as Chattanooga Women of Distinction, Tennessee Women of Distinction, and Young Women of Distinction. During the week of May 1-7, the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office will celebrate National Corrections Officers Week at the Hamilton County Jail. Several events will be going on internally during this week to honor and celebrate the staff who work in the Corrections Division. The official kick-off event will occur on Wednesday, May 4, at 2 p.m. when Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger will deliver a proclamation at the Hamilton County Jail at 601 Walnut Street. The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office is responsible for operating and maintaining the Hamilton County Jail and currently employs over 156 corrections personnel (both sworn and civilian) who help make sure the HC Jail operates efficiently and safely. I am very proud of the men and women who represent the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office Corrections Division, stated Sheriff Jim Hammond. They work tirelessly to provide a safe and secure environment for our community and the inmateswho temporarily reside in the Hamilton County Jail. 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. Del. Nick Freitas, RCulpeper, evoked fast food hamburgers in recent remarks at the statehouse aimed at restricting government funding for organizations that provide abortions, namely Planned Parenthood. The freshman delegate, in his speech April 20, said, sardonically, that he loved the statistics claiming that abortions comprise only a small percentage of the total services provided by the womens health organization. Frietas then compared Planned Parenthood's operations to those of a well-known fast food franchise. Using that same logic, I could prove that McDonalds is not actually a fast food place, Freitas said last week during the General Assembly veto session. McDonalds is actually a straw distribution facility because if I take into account the straw and the cups and the napkins and everything else, actually, they give away most of the services for free and hamburgers, thats just really secondary. Its not about what constitutes the overall distribution of Planned Parenthoods services, he went on, its about how the organization is majority funded. Freitas comments referred to Gov. Terry McAuliffes veto of a General Assembly-backed measure the local delegate had co-sponsored, House Bill 1090. The legislation would have prevented the Virginia Department of Health from entering into contracts or providing any funds to organizations offering abortions not eligible for Medicaid dollarsoutside of cases of rape, incest or gross female anomalies. McAuliffe announced his veto of the bill at a Richmond-area Planned Parenthood, saying, Were here today to smack down the latest attack on womens health care rights. The governor said the bill was aimed at Planned Parenthood and would have harmed thousands of Virginians who rely on the group for affordable health care. On April 20, the House attempted to override the governors veto on the issue, but fell one vote short. Freitas said the bill would not have shut down abortion clinics or Planned Parenthood. What it does it says were not going to subsidize it with tax money, he said. Freitas said he wanted to reprioritize the health department dollars to clinics that provide healthcare and have no part in destroying human life. The Virginia League of Planned Parenthood said if the bill had become law, $24,000 in funding would disappear and 1,300 women would lose access to healthcare, according to media reports. The murder trial of Ricardo Powell, one of six Fredericksburg-area men charged in the Oct. 31, 2014, stabbing death of 19-year-old Corey Clanagan has been called off. The request for a jury trial, which set to begin Tuesday, has been withdrawn, according to Culpeper County Commonwealth Attorney Paul Walther. Powell was originally charged with murder while part of a gang, but that and other lesser charges are expected to be lowered at the June grand-jury term day. Two of the six men arrestedJonathan Milton and Tyrece Branchcombhave already pleaded guilty to lesser charges and are awaiting sentencing, Branchcomb to being an accessory after the fact and Milton for the wounding of 21-year-old Conner Settle at the Halloween party that turned violent. Tonie Jones and Donell Easter are awaiting trial on lesser charges. All five are expected to be witnesses in the trial against Daniel Akordor, who is charged with first degree murder after allegedly stabbing Clanagan 24 times. Walther is expected to ask the court for a continuance in the Powel case on Tuesday. All six men have been held without bond since they were arrested in late 2014 and early 2015. Update, 2:17 p.m. All students at A.G. Wright Middle School in Stafford County have returned to their classrooms after a bomb threat was called in Friday morning. The Stafford County Sheriff's Office said in a statement the school was "thoroughly searched with the assistance of K-9s from Stafford, Prince William and Quantico." Nothing suspicious was found, according to the sheriff's office. ORIGINAL STORY Students were evacuated from the building that houses A.G. Wright Middle School and Garrisonville Elementary School following a bomb threat called in around 9:30 this morning (Friday), school officials said. "The building is clear and the sheriff's department is in control," said Linda Powell, administrative assistant for the schools' office of safety and security. All students and staff are safe, according to Stafford County Schools' public information office. Wright students were sent to Mountain View High School, and Garrisonville students were routed to Rock Hill Elementary School. The students will be returned to the school as soon as the building is declared safe today, if possible Powell said. WASHINGTONThe Beach Boys will be the headliners for this years Memorial Day concert on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Producers announced plans Thursday for the concert, which honors Americas service members and veterans. For the 11th consecutive year, actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise will host the event. Both are longtime advocates for veterans issues. In addition to the Beach Boys, performers include country singer Trace Adkins, pop singer and actress Katharine McPhee and soprano Renee Fleming. The National Symphony Orchestra participates in the concert each year. Trent Harmon, the winner of the final season of American Idol, will sing the national anthem. The concert will be broadcast live on PBS from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on May 29. Environmental activists slapped Gov. Terry McAuliffe with a D+ grade in a report issued Thursday, citing in part his support for offshore drilling and new natural gas pipelines. The coalition of advocates seeking to raise the pressure on the Democratic governordescribed his tenure as a significant disappointment to date. But it added he could turn things around in their view by taking a strong stance on the states approach to the Clean Power Plan. We see the implementation of Virginias Clean Power Plan as a critical opportunity for the governor to truly lead, said Joelle Novey, director of Interfaith Power & Light, a faith-based climate change group and one of four organizations involved in the gubernatorial report card. Were calling on Gov. McAuliffe now to implement a strong Clean Power Plan in Virginia that maximizes reductions in heat-trapping climate pollution, she said. The Clean Power Plan is a federal mandate that sets a national goal of reducing carbon pollution from power plants by 32 percent, compared to 2005 levels, by the year 2030. Its currently entangled in the courts where over two dozen states are arguing the rules constitute an illegal federal power grab. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay halting implementation of the plan until the legal challenges are sorted out. McAuliffe, a supporter of the Clean Power Plan, has said Virginia should press on and continue planning its strategy to meet the emissions goals while the stay is in place. States were given broad leeway to determine how to meet the new pollution standards. Environmental activists are urging McAuliffe to opt for a comprehensive cap on total carbon emissions allowed from both existing and future power plants. The state could choose to focus on existing power plants only or adopt another approach that restricts the average rate of emissions per unit of electricity produced without capping the total amount of carbon emissions allowed. Dominion Power has so far favored the per-unit standardarguing in part it would help keep costs down for customers and give power generators more flexibility to meet rising demand as new development and growth comes to the state. But environmental advocates contend that approach wont bring true reform as the state could continue releasing rising levels of total carbon pollution. McAuliffe hasnt tipped his hand on the issue yet. His administration is currently reviewing how and if the states planning work will proceed. The Republican-led General Assembly added a provision to the new state budget to bar the Department of Environmental Quality from spending any more of its funding on the project unless the court stay is lifted. Thursdays coalitionwhich also included the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Virginia Organizing and Virginia Student Environmental Coalitionsuggested the state could tap into other resources to continue the work. In an email, Brian Coy, spokesman for McAuliffe, said the governor is reviewing his options. He and his team are evaluating recent budget language with respect to the future of the Clean Power Plan, Coy wrote, but the Governor will take whatever steps he can to continue preparations to turn this policy into an environmental and economic win for Virginia. The environmental report card issued gave McAuliffe credit for his advocacy on coastal flooding concerns, efforts to expand renewable energy and role in continuing the state moratorium on uranium mining. But it contended most gains on clean-energy priorities have been modest, and would be overshadowed if proposals like offshore drilling or the Mountain Valley Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline came to fruition. McAuliffe has been a vocal supporter of the proposed natural gas pipelines and said they can be built in an environmentally responsible way. He also backed federal discussions about allowing oil and gas drilling off the coast of Virginia, provided the state could share in the revenues. Federal authorities dropped the idea earlier this year. The wide-ranging report card suggested several ways that McAuliffe could boost his rating, but said the Clean Power Plan was the biggest opportunity for turnaround. Coy said the governor has been a strong supporter of clean energy and pollution reduction initiatives throughout his tenure. The Governor has made reducing carbon emissions and preparing for climate change a centerpiece of his administration and will continue to advocate for policies that will make Virginia a global leader in clean and low-carbon energy and technologies, he wrote. BEIRUTSyrian President Bashar Assad scored a minor, if bizarre, publicity victory Thursday, receiving a part-time state senator from America at a time when U.S. officials have repeatedly asserted Assad has lost his legitimacy to rule the war-torn country. Outspoken Virginia state Sen. Dick Blackwho resigned as co-chairman of Sen. Ted Cruzs presidential campaign in Virginia just before his triptold reporters outside Damascus it would be beneficial for the U.S. to speak directly to Assad. Black has no role in official U.S. foreign policy, and its highly unusual for a state lawmaker to contradict the State Department line. He is one of the most vocal social conservatives in Virginias General Assembly, and has drawn national attention for his opposition to abortion and gay rights. In 2014, he raised eyebrows when he sent a letter to Assad praising him. It was posted on the Syrian presidents Facebook page. The U.S. has called publicly for Assad to step aside in the wake of a brutal crackdown against demonstrations demanding his ouster in 2011. The country has since descended into all-out war. Black, however, said there is no moderate opposition in Syria. I wish that the U.S. could take a stronger stand and recognize that most of these groups are simply terrorists, he said. The senator called on the U.S. to lift its economic sanctions against the government, saying they have crippled the countrys ability to provide its wounded with medical care. But various human rights groups say the government and its allies have targeted hospitals as a strategy of war. A report by Physicians for Human Rights last year said the Syrian government systematically violated the principle of medical neutrality by targeting medical facilities and doctors; detaining patients; and arresting, torturing, and executing doctors. The Syria conflict has claimed over a quarter-million lives, according to the U.N., which stopped counting casualties last year. Around half of the countrys population has been displaced. LONDONBritish police on Thursday charged two men and a woman from Birmingham with terrorism-related offenses in a probe that began after the deadly extremist attacks on Paris and Brussels. West Midlands Police said the three have been charged with a variety of offenses under Britains terrorism laws. Police said Soumaya Boufassil, 29, and Mohammed Ali Ahmed, 26, were charged with intending to commit acts of terrorism or helping someone else to do so by raising money. Police said this happened between January 1, 2015 and April 8, 2016. Ahmed and Zakaria Boufassil, 26, were charged with entering into a deal in which money was made available to another person when they had reason to suspect it would be used for terrorism. Police said this happened on or before July 7, 2015. The three were among five people arrested April 1415 in Birmingham and at Londons Gatwick Airport, and are to appear Friday in Westminster Magistrates Court in London. The teacher crisis is real, and were not going to work our way out of it simply by making it easier to hire teachers. Establishing this endowed international visiting fellowship to Fred Hutch stems from our commitment to translate scientific discoveries into innovative therapies that cure patients with blood-related cancers, said Dr. James A. Bianco, co-founder, president, and CEO of CTI BioPharma who himself was a research fellow at Fred Hutch, working alongside Thomas in the late 80s and early 90s. Selim, an Egyptian citizen, has been a visiting investigator in the Fred Hutch laboratory of Dr. Soheil Meshinchi and a visiting transplant physician at Seattle Childrens and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance since her arrival in Seattle last spring. Her research focuses on studying ways to better detect and manage early disease relapse, particularly acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, in children. In the Meshinchi Laboratory, she is working to develop a test to evaluate treatment response, and predict disease progression and survival outcome in transplant patients. Selim received specialty training in hematology/oncology as a resident and fellow at Childrens Hospital of Ain Shams University in Cairo, one of the largest childrens hospitals in Egypt. She also received a bachelors degree in medicine and general surgery, a masters degree in pediatrics, and a doctoral degree in pediatric hematology from ASU, after which she participated in a three-year hematopoietic transplant fellowship at Nasser Institute in Cairo, the first government-based transplant center in Egypt, and later joined its Bone Marrow Transplant Service. Currently, shes pursuing a second doctoral degree in pediatric oncology, focusing on outcomes of autologous transplantation for the treatment of Hodgkin disease. Her fellowship began on April 1 and is up for renewal after a year. Kristen Woodward / Fred Hutch News Service Approximately 500 degrees and certificates will be awarded during Cleveland State Community Colleges 51st Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m. in the L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium. Nothing is more satisfying or rewarding to an educator than to see students learn, grow and reach their potential, stated Dr. Bill Seymour, CSCC president. They are why we are here. Each one has strengthened us and inspired us to continue the mission for decades to come. There will be two keynote speakers for Saturdays ceremonyWalter Presswood and Anna McDade. Mr. Presswood was in the first graduating class of Cleveland State Community College in 1969, and McDade will graduating with the class of 2016 on Saturday. After receiving his associate degree from Cleveland State, Mr. Presswood went on to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in English-Journalism from Tennessee Technological University and his Master of Science in Journalism from West Virginia University. Mr. Presswood spent 19 years on the staff at Cleveland Stateserving as instructor of English, Speech and Journalism, director of Institutional Advancement, executive director of the Cleveland State Foundation and served as the colleges principal spokesman for 16 years. He was elected four terms to the Bradley County Board of Education where he served as chairman for eight years. He was instrumental in the formation of five local education-related non-profit foundationsCleveland State, Kiwanis Club, Polk County Education Foundation, Gibson Woods Foundation and the Bradley - Cleveland Public Education Foundation. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award, Distinguished Faculty Award and Distinguished Alumnus Award at Cleveland State. He was also the first president of the student body and first editor of the student newspaper at Cleveland State. He is past President of the Cleveland Kiwanis Club and represented the Cleveland Rotary Club on a group study exchange trip to India, where he met Mother Teresa. He and his wife, Sheila, have two children and two grandchildren. Both his wife and his son are Cleveland State graduates, as well. Currently, he is a small business owner of Presswood Antiques in Cleveland, and he is a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. Ms. McDade is a 2012 graduate of East Henderson High School in East Flat Rock, North Carolina. Since enrolling at Cleveland State, she has taken an active role in many clubs and organizations on campus. She is a member of the Chemistry Society, Student Ambassadors, Supplemental Instruction Leader where she tutored students in Biology, a peer advisor helping high risk students navigate through their first year of college, a senator for Student Senate and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) President. During her time with PTK, McDade was chosen as an All-American Team Scholar at the Regional Convention and was also chosen as the recipient of the Bronze Scholar award through Coca-Cola and the Community College Academic Team. Ms. McDade has been able to balance all of these extracurricular activities while still maintaining a 3.7 G.P.A. When she is not at school or studying, she enjoys volunteering at her church, First Baptist Church of Cleveland, where she serves as a Team Leader. She and her husband, William, enjoy rock climbing and going to jump parks. She also enjoys traveling and toured Ireland as a part of Cleveland States international studies program in 2015. Ms. McDade plans to transfer to Lee University to pursue her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in the fall. For those who are unable to attend the commencement ceremony, it will also be broadcast live online through the Cleveland State website at www.clevelandstatecc.edu. It will be archived and can be viewed later by visiting the website. Infrared Consultants Brady Infrared Inspections Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. is celebrating its fifteen year anniversary and reveals some of its big wins and challenges it faced getting this far. Learn more about infrared consulting and thermal image scans at http://bradyinfrared.com/about/ -- Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. is celebrating their 15th Anniversary, which commemorates fifteen challenging and rewarding years in business. This is a huge milestone for the Stuart, FL-based Infrared consultants and thermal imaging inspections business, which provides predictive maintenance services to Fortune 500 companies, industrial and manufacturing plants, power utility providers and the healthcare industry since 2001. Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. got its start in 2001. Founder James Brady shared this with us: Having always been self employed since high school, where he painted houses during summers and college breaks, Jim provided great services and customer referrals always kept him busy. He knew eventually he would end up starting his own company. One of the earliest challenges Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. faced, like any new business, was developing a steady customer base. "But what made Brady Infrared different was finding the best companies out there as their clients" says Brady. While every business of course faces challenges, some, like Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. are fortunate enough to enjoy real successes, through key milestones early in their career. One such victory came when they were hired by a large hospital group in Orlando during their second month in business. That contract provided Brady Infrared with 3 months of steady work and got the ball rolling. This gave Brady Infrared a lot of confidence and allowed them to go out and sell our services without being stressed. "People can sense a confident person and more often than not will select to do business with them", said Brady. James Brady, Owner at Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. was also quoted when discussing another important milestone. "One of the high points of Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc.'s history occurred when becoming a sub-contractor for a large utility provider in the State of Florida. They started off inspecting their key account facilities. Over the course of two years, they gained a lot of field experience, met a lot of people and built name recognition in the infrared business by writing technical papers and presenting case studies at conferences and trade shows. Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc.'s Founder, James Brady says that they are delighted to be celebrating their fifteen Year Anniversary. Brady believes that the secret to getting this far in business today is the ability to sell himself to clients and deliver on promised services. This involves listening and brings innovative and cost effective solutions to the table. In the beginning, countless cold calls to companies they wanted to work for were made. Some companies took over 5 years before they eventually set foot in their facility. There are still some today that they are patiently perusing, a never ending journey. Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. currently consists of 4-5 employees and has big plans for the upcoming year. One of their core objectives is to be amongst the upper echelon infrared consultants in the country. There is a market for high quality services that survives no matter what the economy is doing. Being the best is not always the cheapest, but it's always the best. Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. would also like to thank friends, customers and all its partners for their well wishes on this happy occasion. More information on the business can be found at http://bradyinfrared.com For more information about us, please visit http://bradyinfrared.com Contact Info: Name: James Brady Organization: Brady Infrared Inspections, Inc. Address: 935 SE Pine Castle Court, Stuart, FL 34996 Phone: 772-288-9884 Release ID: 112785 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) 1.5 Billion Damage in Fort Worth & Dallas By Hailstorm Damage Dallas Forth Area suffered 3 hail storms, the last one causing 1.5 billion in damage. -- A recent estimate found this week's hailstorm that hit Collin County caused more than $300 million in damages. The latest storm that hit Wylie and parts of Plano isn't going to be the most expensive in North Texas but does push well over $1.5 billion in hail costs in less than four weeks time. Between the broken windows, A/C units and battered roof, it will be a while before Wylie homeowner Michelle Schupbach's house is whole again. DFW Best Roofing company owner, Justin Stanfield said, "Whenever damage at this scale happens, there is always a lot of scams." The Fort Worth Roofing company owner also emphasised homeowners should take pictures of all the damages and make sure the to get a roof inspection from a local company. "We have an adjuster coming out Thursday so we are just now starting really," said Shupbach. "We have over 20 holes in our roof and we've had them covered. But that's basically it." Shupbach is not sure what repairs will cost but expects it's going to take at least $50-70 thousand. And the Shupbach family is just one of many families facing major repairs. "Everything facing north in Wylie has just been trashed," said Joel Beckman with BCC Roofing & Storm Repair. "These things actually got damage to the brick." The Insurance Council of Texas toured the damage on Friday. It estimates the price tag of Monday's storm, the third major hail event to hit North Texas since March 17, is around $300 million. "Of the three storms, this probably was the largest hail," said Mark Hanna. "And probably did the most damage but to a smaller footprint." That's on top of an estimated $700 million in damages on March 23 when large hail battered Plano. Six days before that, Tarrant County was hit hard to the tune of $600 million. The latest storm puts the overall total in North Texas at around $1.6 billion, and it's still early in the spring storm season. "It's a pretty bad omen, you know," said Hanna. "You just don't know what to expect." For more information about us, please visit http://www.dfwbestroofing.com Contact Info: Name: Delana Shatley Email: info@dfwbestroofing.com Organization: DFW Best Roofing Address: 7800 Mockingbird Ln Phone: 7083730017 Release ID: 112670 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Baltimore county, Maryland Furniture assembly service launched by Furniture Assembly Experts. Furniture Assembly Experts will also be offering their same day service in Baltimore which is a service that is highly favored by clients of the other areas -- Furniture assembling is no doubt not an easy thing to do, especially when it comes to assemble bigger furniture, for example bed, dresses, TV stands etc. The facility of assembling furniture services is expanding to all parts of the nation. Recently, Furniture assembly service in Baltimore MD has been launched by furniture assembly experts. A company who has complete knowledge and skills of assembling any type of furniture by providing the best trained professionals and experts. Furniture Assembly Experts is a well-known name for their extraordinary work, and is recognized in the market for their ability to give a satisfactory result to the customers. Furniture Assembly Experts' furniture assembly service in Maryland is not a new name because they have been successfully providing their high quality services for many years in various areas of Maryland. Furniture assembly experts work with qualified and experienced professional, for them assembling any type or from furniture from any brand is not a big deal, whether it is office furniture, furniture needed for commercial use or for home furniture assembly experts can assemble them all. Furniture Assembly Experts will also be offering their same day service in Baltimore which is a service that is highly favored by clients of the other areas. The company provides the services to homeowners, apartment renters, apartment communities, business office, restaurants, bar, small business, churches, corporate child care, day care, us army soldiers, us navy soldiers, property management companies, real estate agent, interior design firms, construction companies, us air force soldiers, college students, universities, nonprofit organization, public schools, high schools, middle schools, retail stores and more. Furniture assembly experts work 30 days a week and now providing their best services in Baltimore country, Maryland. The company provides their services only on appointments. The details of the furniture should be provided before scheduling an appointment with furniture assembly experts. The company asks for the model no before visiting any customer's address for assembling furniture. The experts inquire the customer about the details of the furniture before making any appointment, because it allows them to do the work without any hassle and in a short period of time. For further details log on to www.furnitureassemblyexperts.com About us: Furniture assembly experts provide on-site furniture assembly service of Ready-to-assemble furniture your home or office after delivery in Washington DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia. For further details log on to www.furnitureassemblyexperts.com Media contact: Furniture Assembly Experts 9418 annapolis rd, suite 204, Lanham MD 20706 info@furnitureassemblyexperts.com Call : (240) 764-6143 www.FurnitureAssemblyExperts.com For more information about us, please visit http://www.FurnitureAssemblyExperts.com Contact Info: Name: Furniture Assembly Experts Email: info@furnitureassemblyexperts.com Organization: Furniture Assembly Experts Phone: (240) 764-6143 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/baltimore-county-maryland-furniture-assembly-service-launched-by-furniture-assembly-experts/112799 Release ID: 112799 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) StitchyBox: A Monthly Subscription Business, is Now Using inFlow Inventory for Inventory Management and Stock Control StitchyBox, a small business in Washington is now using inFlow Inventory for inventory management. The company sends a variety of threads, unique embellishments and accessories to their subscribers on a bimonthly basis. -- StitchyBox is the original cross stitch subscription service, offering subscription options to stitchers world-wide. Every two months subscribers receive a variety of threads plus unique embellishments and stitching accessories. With all the items and stock to manage, small business owner Liz Westlake looked for a solution to better manage her inventory. "inFlow Inventory allows me to keep track of exactly what we have and what we need. As a one-woman show, it is vital that I have tools that allow me to work as efficiently as possible, so my focus can be on my customers," Liz said. "inFlow allows me to see all the data I could ask for regarding our inventory and sales with a few clicks." About StitchyBox StitchyBox's mission is to encourage creativity and adventurousness in every stitcher. StitchyBox is the original cross stitch/counted thread subscription box service. Our flagship subscription, StitchyBox, brings a curated selection of threads, fabrics and embellishments to hundreds of stitchers every two months. Over the past year, StitchyBox has launched a second subscription service, Just the Threads, targeted at all needle workers, as well as a line of limited edition cross stitch kits, StitchyBox Presents. For more information, please see www.stitchybox.com For more information about us, please visit http://www.inflowinventory.com Contact Info: Name: Matt Kostanecki Email: matt@inflowinventory.com Organization: inFlow Inventory Address: 260 Carlaw Ave. Unit 207, Toronto, Canada, M4M 3L1 Phone: 1 866 923 4974 Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYolNxR0RiM Source: http://marketersmedia.com/stitchybox-a-monthly-subscription-business-is-now-using-inflow-inventory-for-inventory-management-and-stock-control/112621 Release ID: 112621 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Trav-Tech Enters IT and Business Professionals World With Managed IT Services For Edmonton Trav-Tech has offered IT support in Edmonton for years, and now looks to be a permanent fixture in their client's world by offering fully comprehensive managed IT services. -- IT is fundamental to the success, maintenance and development of any business, and as such has the potential to make or break a business. For anyone seeking IT support in Edmonton, Trav-Tech has been a recommended name for more than a decade. In that time they have kept pace with the rapidly changing and developing world of business IT, and can now claim to be at the forefront of the industry. They are developing their lead by offering managed IT services in Edmonton for the first time, for businesses of all scales. Trav-Tech is known for its disaster recovery, backup and restore services, as well as for its network design and implementation, hardware and software procurement and network support services. They are now doubling down on all their services by offering complete managed IT for businesses. This includes consulting, support, administration and cloud services to keep everything performing seamlessly. The website provides full details of what is included in the managed IT package together with insights as to what is involved in the service as well as it can mean for businesses, including helping businesses reduce costs, maximize revenue and reduce the risk associated with IT failure. A spokesperson for Trav-Tech explained, "We are pleased to be able to offer the businesses of Edmonton, whatever their size, a practical and advantageous solution to managing their IT networks, software, hardware and cloud solutions. The all-in-one package ensures that businesses have IT solutions that are optimized to their specific needs and are in the best working order at all times. We offer cutting edge disaster recovery and backup to ensure all work is saved and can be made available within minutes, even in the case of catastrophic error. Businesses will benefit hugely from our managed IT services, and we look forward to demonstrating this with new clients throughout 2016." About Trav-Tech: Trav-Tech Since 2005, Trav-Tech has dedicated their skills and services to guide small and medium businesses to overcome technological obstacles. They are there to make sure that clients get to enjoy the full benefits and advantages of modern technology without letting the complexities slow them down. Offering hosting, security, cabling, infrastructure design and complete Managed IT services. For more information about us, please visit http://www.trav-tech.com/ Contact Info: Name: PRWhirlWind Organization: PRWhirlWind Address: #200, 10711 102 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5H 2T8 508 East Kent Avenue S Vancouver, BC V5X 4V6 Phone: +1 (855) 260-7333 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/trav-tech-enters-it-and-business-professionals-world-with-managed-it-services-for-edmonton/112856 Release ID: 112856 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) BlackLoveAdvice.com to Donate 5% of Profits to Black Lives Matters Movement The Site is Urging Other Black Owned Businesses and Celebrities to Join, Reports Spokesman -- Recent studies have shown that 70% of black women are single, 46% of black women are unmarried. Out of all the new HIV cases reported each year among women, nearly 75% of those women are African American, and nearly 78% of African American children are born to single mothers. With these statistics in mind, BlackLoveAdvice.com seeks to offer detailed dating and relationship advice to educated African American women, helping them overcome problems common to many women of their race. Says BlackLoveAdvice.com content manager and digital strategist Quentin Witt, "We provide expert tips and hold no punches! Each one of our writers has been thoroughly reviewed to make sure our readers receive nothing but the best love, dating, and Relationship advice possible. Educated women know the best way to attack a problem is scientifically, with research and the best possible counsel. If the problem is they keep dating the wrong men, then the way to stop the cycle is with better Dating advice and research about how to achieve success next time." The relationship advice website (BlackLoveAdvice.com), which explores many different topics including why jealousy is not a sign of love and sexual addiction in men, is a proactive site for African American women to take control of their lives and relationships, says Mr. Witt, "Black women deserve to be treated like the Queens they are, and they should walk away from relationships that are taking away their joy. Our website helps give them the tools to recognize when and how to do this. We want to help women find the secrets to forming a healthy, strong relationship, for through that, we can strengthen our communities." The Black Love site, which launched in 2012 and has helped thousands of black women achieve relationship success, has today announced that going forward they will be donating 5% of all profits generated by BlackLoveAdvice.com to the Black Lives Matter Movement. Quentin Witt and the rest of BlackLoveAdvice.com's staff are also urging other black owned websites, businesses, cultural icons and celebrities including Steve Harvey, Jay Z, Beyonce, Kevin Hart, Kanye West, Stephan Curry, Lee Daniels, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Debra Lee, and The BET Networks to follow suit and do the same. The international activist movement Black Lives Matters campaigns actively against violence towards black people, organizes protests centered around deaths and killings by police officers and issues including racial profiling, brutality by law enforcement, and racial inequality in the criminal justice system. About BlackLoveAdvice.com Blackloveadvice.com provides detailed relationship advice to educated African American women through articles, interviews, videos, and other forms of digital media. For more information about us, please visit http://www.blackloveadvice.com Contact Info: Name: Quentin Witt Organization: BlackLoveAdvice.com Phone: 1-866-611-7792 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/blackloveadvice-com-to-donate-5-of-profits-to-black-lives-matters-movement/112849 Release ID: 112849 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Reflex Chiropractic is evolving into Reflex Spinal Health ( April 29, 2016 ) Reading, Berkshire -- The very successful and well known Reflex Chiropractic centre in the district of Caversham within Reading, Berkshire, is very soon to be moving into a brand new purpose built premises. This Reading Chiropractic clinic has been owned and run for over 10 years by the dynamic chiropractic husband and wife team of Dr's Laura and Andy Green. When asked about the development of the practice Dr Andy Green said, "This is a very exciting time for us and Reflex Chiropractic is evolving into Reflex Spinal Health with the move to the new centre and addition of two fantastic Osteopaths to compliment our chiropractic team. The centre has grown over the last decade, having started in two small rooms within a local gym, and then moving to the centre where we have been for nearly 6 years. We now serve several hundred people per week and the centre is bulging at the seams." The brand new spinal health centre is located only a few hundred yards from their current practice, but will boast four adjoining rooms and comfortable waiting area. The addition of Osteopathy to the team was something that Dr Green was very excited to develop. "It is not too usual to see Chiropractors and Osteopaths working side by side. However, my experience of working at the 2012 London Olympic Games in a large multi-disciplinary team was fantastic and I particularly enjoyed working side-by-side with the Osteopaths. There is a significant overlap between the professions and our skills complement each others in a very positive way." As well as the core conditions that are expected to be treated at such a centre Reflex Spinal Health will also offer prescription foot orthotics and spinal rehabilitation. So, whether you are looking for a Chiropractor or Osteopath in Reading then the Reflex Spinal Health team will be very happy to help you feel great again. About Reflex Chiropractic Ltd - UK: Reflex Spinal Health is the trading name of Reflex Chiropractic Ltd Clinic address: 17 Church Road, Caversham, Reading, RG4 7AA Phone Number: 0118 946 2100 Website: www.reflexspinalhealth.com Reflex Spinal Health offers excellent chiropractic and osteopathic care in Reading, Berkshire, UK. The clinic is owned and managed by Doctors of Chiropractic, Andy & Laura Green. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) Top Pest Killers Toronto Launch New Website To Promote Local Pest Control Services Online Top Pest Killers Toronto is a comprehensive bug extermination company, and has just launched a website that will help people discover their services when searching online for pest control. -- Spring has sprung and summer is coming, and in the hottest months of the year the proliferation in the animal kingdom is second to none. Unfortunately for those living in the urban centers of the world, many of the animals that survive and thrive there qualify not as treasures but as pests, and can have a seriously detrimental effect to both people and their properties. Top Pest Killers Toronto is a company that has an outstanding reputation in the city for dealing with unwanted pests, and has now launched a website to promote these services online. The Top Pest Killers Toronto website (http://www.toppestkillers.ca) has been designed within a fully responsive framework, that enables individuals to load the website seamlessly on any device, displaying the content beautifully on mobiles, laptops or tablets. The content combines beautiful imagery with dynamic multimedia content and plain English descriptions of the company and their services. The website (http://www.toppestkillers.ca/toronto/bed-bug-exterminator/) is designed to help the company promote their services to local audiences, and as such is imbued with the very latest local SEO techniques, making the website easily discoverable by the algorithms of major search engines, so people can find the best pest control services Toronto has to offer. A spokesperson for Top Pest Killers Toronto explained, "We have gone from strength to strength for years in Toronto based solely on personal recommendations, but as a business we felt now was the time for us to go mainstream and ensure that everyone, not just a privileged few, had access to our affordable, expert and effective pest control services. This will make the difference for many people between multiple expensive trips by a lesser company having the problem comprehensively dealt with first time round. We look forward to helping more new clients than ever in 2016." About Top Pest Killers Toronto: Top Pest Killers Toronto is a company formed by a dedicated team of expert exterminators who are committed to providing the very best pest control services in Toronto and the surrounding areas. The company offer a wide variety of approaches tailored to the needs of the client and the nature of their bug problem. For more information about us, please visit http://www.toppestkillers.ca/ Contact Info: Name: Sam Jackson Email: support@toppestkillers.ca Organization: Bed Bug Exterminator Toronto Phone: (647) 492-5119 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/top-pest-killers-toronto-launch-new-website-to-promote-local-pest-control-services-online/112916 Release ID: 112916 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Model Beau Hartwick Launches New Orlando Towing Company Website More than just looks, Beau Hartwick has taken over the Orlando towing market with the release of a new mobile-friendly, 24-7 towing website, reports http://www.orlandotowingcompany.com. -- Orlando Towing Company, a Florida-based service owned by model Beau Hartwick, has recently announced the launch of their brand new website. The website is now responsive and mobile-friendly so that it's easier for those who require a towing service to find the information they're looking for when they're in a bind. The company invites drivers in Orlando and the surrounding areas to use the website any time of the day or night to take advantage of their fast, reliable service. Beau Hartwick, the model behind the Orlando Towing Company brand, commented "We are truly excited to be launching this new website for our Orlando drivers. We understand how frustrating it can be to have a car break down at an inconvenient time or be involved in an unexpected accident. This is why we've created the new OTC website. Whether a driver is in need of a Wrecker when a bad accident renders their car non-operational or finds themselves broken down or locked out in the middle of the night, our new mobile-friendly company website with tap-to-call technology makes it easy to contact our experienced technicians for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." Orlando Towing Service offers a full suite of options for drivers who have experienced a car breakdown, accident, or are otherwise in need of help. Their towing service is available for emergency situations as well as to haul heavy-duty trucks or move vehicles long distances. OTC has also made emergency Roadside Assistance available to customers who may need a jump start, experience a flat tire, run out of gas, or are locked out of their vehicle. Their Roadside Assistance services are AAA-approved, which means that drivers can count on them for high-quality service. As Hartwick goes on to say, "I want our potential clients to know that Orlando Towing Company is dedicated to earning their business. We understand that over the years the towing industry in Orlando has been tarnished by unethical behavior, which is why my partners and I decided to take action. We fully understand that being in the towing business is about serving people in their time of need, and launching this new responsive website is just one of the ways that we can better serve the drivers of Orlando." About Orlando Towing Company: Simply put, Orlando Towing Company tows cars. Their team provides 24/7 emergency towing service, wrecker service, and roadside assistance services to all of Orlando, Florida. For more information about us, please visit http://www.orlandotowingcompany.com Contact Info: Name: Beau Hartwick Organization: Orlando Towing Company Phone: (407) 720-9242 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/model-beau-hartwick-launches-new-orlando-towing-company-website/112899 Release ID: 112899 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Direct Dental Sales Explode: Smile Perfected Announces Direct Sales Rival Distributor Model The Dental distributor model is at risk of dying a slow death announced dental product company Smile Perfected, well known for their popular in-office whitening systems. -- In a question and answer statement issued by the teeth whitening company responsible for the Prophy Plus(TM) and the 20-Minute Whitening System(TM), Smile Perfected(TM) revealed a surge in direct to doctor sales for their products and shared their concerns for the dental distributor model dominant for decades in dentistry - pulling no punches. "The major dental distributors aren't as necessary anymore, and don't provide the value to the dental practices they supply or the product manufacturers as they used to. The internet has put them in danger of becoming irrelevant - if they don't adapt," stated Dr. Balanoff, Smile Perfected CEO & Founder, Dr. William Balonoff, DDS, MS, FICD. Dr. Balanoff attributes their success with being able to communicate directly (doctor to doctor) with practice owners without a gatekeeper. The Smile Perfected 20-Minute Whitening System was designed to fit perfectly into an office's existing routine. Patients can get a pain free, sensitivity free whitening treatment in just 20 minutes, and it's easy for the hygiene team to perform. It was designed by a dentist with a dentist's needs in mind and the system was made available online here: http://www.smileperfected.com/direct-sales/. Dr. Balanoff made it clear that the large distributors (the Big 3 including: Henry Schein, Patterson Dental, and Benco) have been great partners throughout his career as doctor, practice owner and dental product manufacturer. "We have a product that provides incredible value to practice owners and group dentals, which can dramatically raise hygiene revenues, increase patient satisfaction all without tying up doctor time," stated Dr. Balanoff. The company found the catalog / sales rep system predominant in many dental offices across the U.S. insufficient at getting this message out to dentists who could benefit according to the statement. The company revealed they began to see the sales of their popular whitening system explode when they began to reach dentists directly, sidestepping the traditional gatekeeper. Doctors would get it immediately, and understand the value of the Smile Perfected 20-Minute Whitening System(TM) for their dental office - when they could reach them. Companies like Henry Schein, the largest distributor of dental products which supplies 100,000 dental offices, Benco and Patterson Dental thrived providing a catalog of dentistry products, and provide a real convenience to doctors who just want to practice dentistry according to Dr. Balanoff. Sales surged past their initial benchmark of 150 partnered offices, and new office acquisitions from large dental suppliers only account for a small fraction of the new offices added, according to the Smile Perfected. "Working direct with dental offices interested in our product allows us to provide insane value, and our product support is unsurpassed," added Dr. Balanoff. Great companies offering dental supplies like Henry Schein, Patterson & Benco aren't going away and will likely be with dentists for years to come - but they will need to adapt to an internet age to stay relevant, according to at least one dental product manufacturer. About Smile Perfected: Smile Perfected was established in 2014 by Dr. William Balanoff. Dental products include the Smile Perfected 20 Minute Whitening System(TM), designed to fit seamlessly into an offices current patient process after a prophy. Imagine a patient getting a quick, noticeably whiter smile with a non-invasive dental service... no drilling, no shots... just whiter teeth in 20 minutes. To learn more visit: https://www.smileperfected.com For more information about us, please visit https://www.smileperfected.com Contact Info: Name: Dr. William Balonoff, DDS, MS, FICD Organization: Smile Perfected(TM) Address: 3000 Ravenswood Road, Suite #1A, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 Phone: 877-624-6674 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/direct-dental-sales-explode-smile-perfected-announces-direct-sales-rival-distributor-model/112815 Release ID: 112815 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Area young professionals are invited to join the Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga (YPAC) for a celebration of the 2015-2016 Protege Chattanooga mentorship program on May 12 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Camp House. This evening serves as a graduation for the eight Protege mentees, who spent many hours over the past several months gaining insights and seeking advice from some of our citys most influential leaders, said Zach Hutcherson, YPAC president and 2012 Protege graduate. Theyve received exposure to a wide range of perspectives on the challenges of leadership and development perspectives which will help them develop their own strengths and skills as they advance in their careers. The event, presented by Douglas Heights, includes a networking reception and a brief presentation from one of this years Protege Chattanooga mentors, Joe Smith of the YMCAs Y-CAP youth intervention program. We are very proud of the efforts of this Protege class, said Callie Starnes, YPAC vice president. From August to April, theyve made the most of the opportunities to learn and grow in the program. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for these young professionals. Protege Chattanoogas Class of 2015-2016 includes the following young professionals: Lucky Ramsey, Pathfinder Joe Kane, Unum Joda Thongnopnua, Lamp Post Group Audrey Mosley, One to One Personal Physicians Network Josh Lee, LBMC Mary Carlie Corbitt, TVA Jamie Ann Phillips, Papercut Interactive Josh Jolley, HHM Mentors for the 2015-2016 program include: Rick McKenney, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Hamid Andalib Andy Berke, Mayor of the City of Chattanooga Donnie Hutcherson, HHM Alison Lebovitz, WTCI Kevin Spiegel, Erlanger Health System Mike Sarvis, Cohutta Bank Joe Smith, YMCA Bluegrass performers David Davis and the Warrior River Boys will perform at the 26th Annual Boxcar Pinion Memorial Bluegrass Festival at Grand Theater, Raccoon Mountain Campground and RV Park at 319 West Hills Dr. on Friday, May 6. Music begins at noon. The three-day event begins Thursday featuring Davis and 22 other acts. Raccoon Mountain Campground is located West of Chattanooga on I-24, Exit #174 (Lookout Valley), North 1.3 miles on Hwy. 41, left into campground. For more information, call 706-820-2228 or 423-605-7975 or visit http://boxcarforeverbluegrass. com/ Review for David Davis: Carrying on an Alabama family tradition directly linked to the origins of Bluegrass Music, David Davis' love of traditional roots music grew organically. Back in the 1930's, his father and two uncles played and sung in the brother style traditions of early Country music. Uncle Cleo joined Bill Monroe as the very first Bluegrass Boy in 1938. David's father, Leddell, went off to WWII and lost his right hand in a mortar accident. While his dad's dream of making music may have been shattered, he never lost his love and devotion to the music. In fact, David carried his father's love shared in the family farmhouse near Cullman, Ala. innocently down the road, never suspecting the impact on his life. David Davis and the Warrior River Boys also offer audiences a rare glimpse at the role of front man in American music as did Muddy Waters and the legendary Howlin' Wolf in Chicago blues and Bill Monroe in bluegrass music. Rather than operating under trendy "hit" oriented marketing schemes, front man / mandolinist David Davis simply nurtures his roots with integrity, tonal depth and prose. After a couple of Rounder label projects in the early 90's, he guided recordings on Ray Davis' Wango label throughout the decade and into the early 2000's. These legendary "Basement Recordings" have garnered a cult following over the years, many sides resurfacing on the Time Life label. Their highly acclaimed Rebel releases "Troubled Times" and "Two Dimes And A Nickel" continue to take the listener deeper into WRB soul and offer testimony to the band's musical evolution. Among his desires were to harness the traditional energies of the past and charge through to a new sound and new look that would appeal to larger audiences, he said. I wanted to pull from my influences from the Louvin Brothers to Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, to honor their contributions but at the same time forge a path and sound for myself in the country music industry where many artists simply mimic whatever seems to be popular at the moment, he said. Millions of people, from all backgrounds in countries around the world still tap their toes when they hear Flatt and Scruggs, they are still moved by the high lonesome sound of Bill Monroe or the haunting voice of Ralph Stanley. Millions of fans have seen him in person at concerts and festivals and millions more on television on RFD-TV and radio. After 30 years of continual touring and recording, David and the band have received many laurels, both individually and collectively. A 2010 inductee to the Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, David is widely recognized as one of the foremost practitioners of the Monroe mandolin technique. He will be inducted in 2014 to the National Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame beside Hee Haw star Lulu Roman and John Carter Cash. Collectively, David Davis and the Warrior River Boys continue to be at the forefront of defining traditional music to today's audience. Whether festivals, big city night clubs, concert halls or local coffeehouses " ...front man David Davis and the Warrior River Boys jam a big bluegrass wallop into a concise package for today's audiences...hard-charging energy that makes it stand out from the pack..." (Bluegrass Unlimited) Among the Warrior River Boys are Marty Hays playing bass, Robert Montgomery on banjo, Stan Wilemon on guitar and Ben Sanders on fiddle. For more information about the group, visit www.daviddavisandwrb.com . For more information about Rebel Records, visit www.rebelrecords.com The Dalton Police Department said goodbye to an old friend on Friday with a ceremony to mark the retirement of Chaplain Donald Treick. Mr. Treick is leaving his post to move to Pensacola, to be closer to his son. Mr. Treick has volunteered as one of the departments chaplains for more than 12 years. Chaplain Treick moved to Lookout Mountain with his wife, Maureen, 14 years ago. He began looking for an agency where he could volunteer his time as a chaplain. He joined the Dalton Police Departments chaplains in February 2004 and has served the agency faithfully since. On Friday, the department marked his retirement with a reception at the Police Services Center. Del Farris, the associate director for civilian chaplaincy for the Presbyterian and Reformed Chaplain Commission, presented Mr. Treick with a small bust of an eagle that the commission presents to retiring chaplains. Former Dalton Police Department Chaplain Jim Cox, now a chaplain with the Wythe County, Virginia Sheriffs Office, presented Mr. Treick with a certificate from the International Conference of Police Chaplains. DPD Chief Jason Parker presented Mr. Treick with a glass plaque and his chaplains badge. Officials said, "We thank Chaplain Treick for his service to the department and wish him a happy and sunny retirement." There can be many strategies available for advisers to use when it comes to attracting high net worth clients, but what is the best one for your firm? Talking on these issues to Simoney Kyriakou, content plus editor for FTAdviser, were Nick French, head of UK wealth management for Russell Investments and his colleague Alex Boni, associate director at Russell Investments. One method which has been touted is to use technology and big data to find out what wealthy clients might want and to use this in marketing. However, Mr Boni said: There is a place for this but I think when we talk about big data, we maybe think about bigger corporations harnessing that. For financial advisory practices their real strength is in their personability and in having a personal relationship with individuals. And when you start to resort to the kind of techniques the larger companies - private banks, DFMs - use, you start to forgo your trump card. I would focus more on the personal aspect. There may be useful information you can glean from big data but I do not think this is the silver bullet. Mr French agreed there was no silver bullet, and said the starting point was for advisers to look at their own business models first and understand what they really want to achieve. He said: Once they focus on reassessing what they do and how they do it, I think what they can do then is focus on building out other plans. The crucial thing to remember is attracting high net worth clients is a business strategy, not a marketing strategy. 4881844338001 MyExperience4881844338001 Many advisers may consider in order to attract high net worth clients, they themselves will have to put in a lot of money and time. Would it be worth their while to invest and does it show in the revenue stream? Mr French answered it was a misconception that advisers have to spend money to get high net worth clients. He explained: A lot of the impact derived from attracting such clients is just the adviser making changes to what they do today, refocusing the business, providing information in a different way and improving communication. In terms of time there is a cost but theres not a huge investment required. Obviously marketing the brand costs money, but I think in the beginning, attracting more high net worth clients does not need to cost more money. Mr Boni and Mr French were speaking after a Financial Adviser masterclass, held at the FTs offices in London, during which they spoke about building up trust, communication and creating confidence in the client-adviser relationship. You can read more about the masterclass in the 5 May edition of Financial Adviser. www.ftadviser.com/fa simoney.kyriakou@ft.com Tom Slater, manager of the 390m Baillie Gifford American fund, said tech giants like Facebook and Amazon should choose a hit to profits over engaging in reputation-damaging tax avoidance. Mr Slater, who also co-manages the 3.4bn Baillie Giffords Scottish Mortgage investment trust, said it would be good if international companies paid more tax in the jurisdictions they operate in. His American fund currently has 7.6 per cent exposure to Amazon, and 5 per cent invested in Facebook. Both companies, however, have recently come under fire for not paying their fair share of UK tax in the UK. Facebook - which generates global profits of around 1bn a quarter - faced a public backlash when it was revealed it paid just 4,327 in corporation tax in the UK in 2014. Speaking during a roundtable event in Edinburgh yesterday (28 April), Mr Slater argued tax avoidance tarnishes the brand value. He said it is important companies are seen as good corporate citizens, particularly because these technology giants are so dependent on the good-will of consumers. I would rather companies be less profitable in the immediate term if they are paying more tax because it increases the value of the future cash flows. Facebook has since announced plans to pay out some 280m in share bonuses to staff to cut the amount of net profit on which it would have to pay corporation tax. Mr Slater - who started co-managing the fund in November last year - said part of the problem is there is not necessarily a framework in place for dealing with international levels of profit. He argued the tax treatment has in many ways been created by technology giants - because the infrastructure did not exist to deal with such huge global profits. Over five years, the American fund has underperformed its benchmark slightly, delivering 12.5 per cent in that time against the S&P 500 Composite Index which has returned 13.3 per cent. Addressing this, Mr Slater admitted the fund had a period of weak performance where it wasnt where the team wanted it to be, but said one of the reasons he joined the American fund management team was part of a conserted effort to address this. He added: We feel we havent put as much resource behind our US efforts in the past as we want to going forward. katherine.denham@ft.com The January edition of The Unitholder (as MM was previously titled) was unsurprisingly heavily weighted towards unit trusts. It was a time when these investment vehicles were gathering interest from the general public, as month by month returns in 1967 and 1968 were highly impressive - in 1968 alone, the FTSE rose by a huge 46.3 per cent. However, during 1969 the economic climate changed and these previous highs could not be sustained as the index dropped 12.6 per cent. After allowing for reinvested net income and capital tax gains paid, only three unit trusts delivered a gain. However, more data showed that 81 out of the 182 trusts managed to contain or outperform the 1969 fall, showing the importance and skill of the fund managers. Offshore funds had rapidly increased in popularity, and were now being launched at a faster rate than unit trusts. This was partly due to the difficulty obtaining positive returns in the UK market, so managers looked overseas for growth. The expectation for the remainder of the year was for offshore funds to become more prominent which, looking back retrospectively, was correct. In fact, offshore funds have been in the mainstream news just recently. Panama springs to mind. A feature titled How to give money to your child was pretty self-explanatory. Two illustrations detailed the most effective way of passing down funds to future generations, in response to the 1968 and 1969 Finance Acts. The 1969 budget, removed the right to re-claim tax within an accumulation settlement when a child reached the age of 21, which caused issues for parents who were benefiting previously. Between 1969 and today, the challengeof effectively gifting assets has played on the minds of many investors, who have been constantly looking at various trusts as potential means of passing assets for future generations. Although inheritance tax thresholds, especially concerning property, are due to be increased in the next few years, trusts will still form a key consideration. Finally, on page nine we asked the question Is the most important financial decision of your life the appointment of your investment manager? Im sure for many it was, just as choosing an adviser is today. In other news.. The age of majority was reduced from 21 to 18 under the Family Law Reform Act 1969. Two Little Boys by disgraced Australian entertainer Rolf Harris was number one. MASH was the months big film release. And. A boeing 747 landed at Heathrow Airport, becoming the first jumbo jet to land in Britain. September 1988 June 1975 June 1977 When it comes to pensions freedoms one year on, we have seen a sea-change in the way people can access their pension pots. However, we are yet to see a sea-change in peoples behaviour and habits. Perhaps thankfully, nobody seems to have been cashing in their pension pots willy-nilly and blowing all the money at once. At the same time, we are still seeing a huge swathe of money heading towards annuities and little real development in terms of new pension products across the board. Will this change if the government decides to make any more changes to pension taxation? What will happen if pension Isas see the light of day? These questions and others were posed to a panel of experts during the FTAdviser On Air debate. Talking to Emma Ann Hughes, editor of FTAdviser, were: Steve Webb, director of policy for Royal London; Billy Burrows, director of Retirement Advantage; and Ben Gaukrodger, manager of savings policy for the Association of British Insurers. During the debate, the panel was asked if there was any point pushing pensions if the government really does want to make sweeping changes to the existing pensions taxation regime? 4865843980001 MyExperience4865843980001 Mr Webb said: Constant tinkering with tax certainly undermines confidence in pension saving. For employees it still makes sense to stay in automatic enrolment and benefit from an employer contribution, which is likely to be a good deal under almost any potential tax regime. But the sooner we have certainty and stability, the better. In agreement, Mr Burrows said while the government may well still tinker with tax, he believed saving into a pension was still important. He said: Of course there is a point in recommending pensions pensions still offer valuable benefits not found elsewhere. Mr Gaukrodger said while it was true government could change tax settings in the future, he said this held true for any tax wrapper. More importantly though, when changes do occur, it is extremely rare for them to be retrospective. He added: The outcome of the Treasurys consultation on pensions tax relief was that there were no changes to the tax treatment of pensions, so a presumption of future change is not the right starting point. HMT have been clear that auto enrolment is a primary focus for the Government, and they dont want to do anything that will damage it. That is an explicit endorsement of pensions by the government. Watching the video qualifies for 30m worth of structured CPD. Visit the link here on FTAdviser to complete the questions and bank your 30m CPD A lamb has been killed in an apparent crossbow attack on a farm in north Wales. The devastated farmer, who does not want to be named, discovered the dead lamb on a farm in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd. Sergeant Rob Taylor, from the North Wales Police rural crime team, uploaded a picture of the lamb to his Twitter account. See also: Police vow to step up fight against rural crime Lamb killed in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Shockingly we think with a crossbow through the head. Please contact us if info pic.twitter.com/AA2wNjeTDI Sgt Rob Taylor (@NWPRuralCrime) April 29, 2016 The picture also showed the lambs legs had been tied together by a piece of orange twine. Anyone with any information on the attack is asked to call North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Attacks against livestock have been increasing on farms in recent weeks, according to both police and insurance companies. Police in South Yorkshire are still hunting an attacker who went on a killing spree in the Doncaster area last month. Up to 20 lambs were killed or were put down after they were shot on two separate farms. One lamb was stabbed to death. Story Highlights Worries slightly higher in all seven financial issues measured Not having enough money for retirement still top concern (64%) Six in 10 worry about unexpected medical costs WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans express slightly greater worries than they did last year about seven financial issues, with significant increases in concern about being able to pay medical costs in the event of a serious illness or accident and being able to maintain their standard of living. Americans continue to be most worried about not having enough money for retirement, with 64% saying they are "very worried" or "moderately worried" about this. Americans' Specific Financial Worries, 2015 vs. 2016 Please tell me how concerned you are right now about each of the following financial matters, based on your current financial situation -- are you very worried, moderately worried, not too worried or not worried at all? 2015 % 2016 % Change (pct. pts.) Not being able to pay medical costs of a serious illness/accident 55 60 +5 Not being able to maintain the standard of living you enjoy 46 51 +5 Not having enough to pay your normal monthly bills 36 41 +5 Not having enough money for retirement 60 64 +4 Not being able to pay medical costs for normal healthcare 42 45 +3 Not being able to pay your rent, mortgage or other housing costs 32 34 +2 Not being able to make the minimum payments on your credit cards 20 21 +1 April 6-10, 2016 Gallup has asked Americans how concerned they are about all seven financial issues each April since 2001 as part of the annual economically focused survey. These data come from Gallup's April 6-10 Economy and Personal Finance survey. Worries about not having enough money for retirement increased four percentage points and edge out not being able to pay for serious medical costs as the No. 1 worry. Now a majority, 51%, also worry about maintaining their standard of living. Nearly half of Americans report being concerned about not being able to pay medical costs for their normal healthcare (45%), while about one in three worry about not being able to pay their rent, mortgage or other housing costs (34%). Americans are least concerned about not being able to make minimum payments on their credit cards (21%), though like all of the issues measured, this is up from the prior year. Additionally, 37% of Americans report being worried about not having enough money to pay for their children's college, which is consistent with the range of 34% to 43% who have reported such worries since Gallup first asked this question in 2007. Retirement, Unexpected Medical Costs Have Consistently Been Greatest Concerns Since Gallup began polling Americans in 2001 about their financial concerns, a majority have continually been worried about not being able to afford retirement -- the top overall concern in each of those 16 years. Americans were less likely to worry about retirement in the early 2000s, with percentages ranging from 52% to 54%, but 60% or more have worried about retirement since 2005, including a peak of 67% in 2012. Serious medical costs, meanwhile, have consistently ranked as the second-most-expressed concern since 2001, with majorities in all but one poll in the past decade who said they were worried about the costs. The level of worry about serious medical costs peaked in 2012, at 62%. Prior to 2005, a smaller 45% to 50% of Americans expressed such concern. While less than half of Americans indicated concern about their ability to maintain their standard of living from 2001 to 2007, this became a majority concern by 2008 -- peaking at 58% in 2011. Concern about maintaining one's current standard of living subsided gradually each year after 2011, settling at 46% in 2015 before climbing yet again this year to 51%. Bottom Line Americans' elevated concerns about various future or potential costs are in sync with their lower confidence in the U.S. economy now than a year ago and the fact that their spending has not changed over the prior year. Americans' retirement funding remains atop their lists of concerns, with majorities also skeptical of their ability to pay for treatment of serious medical issues and worried their standard of living will deteriorate in the future. Despite some signs of gains for the economy, average Americans aren't feeling them -- and are a bit more concerned than they have been in recent years. Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics. Survey Methods Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted April 6-10, 2016, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 1,015 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting. Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods. View complete question responses and trends. Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia was among the right people enshrined on the memorial wall on Saturday, Oct. 21. Oregon State University is home to the 286th chapter of Phi Beta Kappa following a formal installation on the Corvallis campus Thursday night. After completing a years-long evaluation process, the nations oldest and most prestigious academic honor society welcomed OSU into its ranks with an elaborate ceremony that included the conferring of a charter, the adoption of bylaws and the election of officers. Several hundred people, including OSU faculty and high-level Phi Beta Kappa officers in full academic regalia, were on hand for the 75-minute event, held in the theater-in-the-round-style auditorium of the Learning Innovation Center. Some 104 Phi Beta Kappa members were inducted as charter members of the OSU chapter, officially known as the Epsilon Chapter of Oregon. Catherine White Berheide, the societys national president, offered her congratulations and spoke about the value of a liberal education. An arts and sciences education is critical for individual success, but also for the common good, she said. Training is preparation for the predictable. A liberal arts education is preparation for the unpredictable. The chapters first class, just over 200 students, was also initiated into the society. OSU President Ed Ray congratulated the new members and told the story of how he came to join the honor society as a young undergraduate at City University of New York nearly 50 years ago. He almost turned down the invitation because his family couldnt afford the $25 cost of a Phi Beta Kappa key, the societys emblem. But a family friend provided the money, and Ray became a member. Ray and his late wife, Beth, established an endowment in the womans honor to help cover membership costs for low-income OSU students, and he urged the new inductees to find ways to pay it forward in their own lives. Having a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa here at Oregon State University has been a long time coming and something I have hoped for since arriving here in 2003, Ray told the group. Were very proud of you, and were looking for great things from you. Founded in 1776 at William and Mary College in Virginia, Phi Beta Kappa is an academic society that promotes excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and advocates for liberal education. Only about 10 percent of U.S. colleges and universities have a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. OSU is the fifth institution in Oregon to establish a chapter, following the University of Oregon, Reed College, Lewis & Clark College and Willamette University. The Philomath School District will hire the coordinator of the University of Oregon's Office of Global Education Programs to serve as principal at Philomath High School. Brian Flannery will take over for the retiring Ken Ball in July, the district said last week. Flannery has done professional development with educators from around the world over his five years at Oregon. Flannery, a Corvallis resident who has been commuting to Eugene for his work, said Thursday that he was drawn to the Philomath position because of the schools great students, community support of education, high quality staff and the chance to work under Superintendent Melissa Goff. Flannery said he has lived in Benton County for 20 years, and he has taught at both Corvallis and Crescent Valley high schools in addition to serving as the Corvallis School Districts career and technical education adviser. Before working at the University of Oregon, he spent four years as principal of Toledo Junior/Senior High School. He said Philomath High School, which had a graduation rate of nearly 91 percent in 2014-15, is already a great school, but he still wants to push the school to a higher level. Philomath is a great community, he said. "There is a strong commitment to the schools. The challenge will be not accepting where we are at." Flannery said hed like to do a visioning process with all of the district's stakeholders to try to figure out how they can continue to move the district forward. All the ingredients are there in Philomath for high achievement and to take it even higher, he said. He said his educational philosophy is to believe in every student, give them the confidence to believe in themselves and continually challenge them. The district said in its release on Flannerys hiring that more than 50 students, parents, staff, and community members participated in the hiring process. It was crystal-clear throughout each stage of the hiring process that Brian was the best fit for Philomath, understanding the strengths of our high school and our opportunities for growth on behalf of students, said Superintendent Goff. Goff said the district pays Ball $100,028 annually, plus benefits of $1,200 per month. Goff said Flannery will be making $105,000, opting for an increase in salary in lieu of most benefits (the district will only be spending $100 a month on his benefits). Chicago House Party In Millennium Park Will Celebrate Frankie Knuckles And More Millennium Park (Photo by fotomattic via the Chicagoist Featured Photos pool on Flickr) The weather is starting to get good, and you know what that means: Chicago is getting ready to party. Millennium Park will host an epic celebration of House music on May 28; more than 12,000 people have already RSVP'ed to the event on Facebook, and that number is growing fast. The partywhich will take place the Jay Pritzker Pavilionwill be both an enormous dance party and a sort of tribute to Chicago's own Frankie Knuckles, who died just over two years ago. Hosted by Dana Divine of WBGI 107.5, the party will feature performances by the gigantic House Legacy Project, as well as featured performances from House stars Peven Everett and the Vick Lavender Ensemble. There will also be a DJ sets from Joe Smooth, who is a House legend of his own accord; and Steve Miggedy Maestro. The outdoor party will begin at 3 p.m. and is scheduled to end at 9 p.m. Of Chicago's many legacies, House music is definitely among its most epically awesome. Born in the early '80s from Chicago radio jocks and club DJs, the hypnotic electro dance music spread across the nation, and hasn't left the music scene since. Frankie Knuckles was arguably the godfather of House and a practical demigod, who tragically passed away at the age of 59 in 2014. When Frankie Knuckles died, though, the people of Chicago doubled down to make sure that his legendary music never would. Since his death, there have been regular tributes and concerts, and this year's House Party may be the largest one yet. Eva Mozes Kor forgave Nazis despite being subjected to bizarre experiments Eva Mozes Kor, a Nazi death camp survivor who endured the twisted medical experiments of the notorious Josef Mengele yet still found it in her heart to forgive her tormentors, will give the keynote address at Oregon State Universitys 30th annual observance of Holocaust Memorial Week. Kor will give a free public lecture on her experiences, titled The Triumph of the Human Spirit: From Auschwitz to Forgiveness, at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Austin Auditorium of OSUs LaSells Stewart Center, 875 S.W. 26th St. Her Corvallis talk will follow a similar presentation at a Portland synagogue on Sunday. She and her family, Romanian Jews, were detained by the Nazis and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944. Eva and her twin sister Miriam, then 10 years old, were selected for medical experimentation. Their parents and two older sisters died in the gas chambers. Eva and Miriam were among nearly 1,500 pairs of twins who were subjected to Mengeles crude and often deadly experiments. Only about 200 individuals survived. After the war the sisters emigrated to Israel. In 1960, Eva moved to the United States after marrying American citizen Michael Kor, himself a survivor of the Holocaust. She now lives in Terre Haute, Indiana. In 1984 Kor founded an organization called CANDLES, or Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors, and ultimately located 122 other surviving Mengele twins. A decade later, during a ceremony at Auschwitz marking the 50th anniversary of the concentration camps liberation, Kor created a sensation by publicly forgiving the Nazis for their wartime atrocities. While she has repeatedly said she has no desire to gloss over the horrors of the Holocaust, she has also become a champion for peace and the healing power of forgiveness. Her Corvallis talk will kick off a week of lectures, panel discussions and academic presentations at OSU, where the School of History, Philosophy and Religion hosts what has become the largest Holocaust memorial observance in the Pacific Northwest (see box for details). This years program will include a theme of genocide and a focus on human rights. All events are free and open to the public. ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation. RASPBERRY (razbere) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer. We hereby deliver: ROSES to those of you who have taken the time to fill out the city's "Imagine Corvallis 2040" survey online. Those of you who are putting this off until the bitter end need to remember that the end is actually quite near now: Despite rumors that the city planned to extend the deadline for a few days, the survey will be pulled off the city's website at the end of this month. The online survey is meant to supplement the city's series of three Imagine Corvallis 2040 workshops held over the last few months. The survey is a reasonable facsimile of the process workshop participants went through: Respondents answer a series of questions similar to those posed at the workshops: What do you appreciate most about Corvallis? What is the biggest challenge facing Corvallis? What is your vision for the future of the Corvallis and what is one strategy that could help attain that vision? The same questions are asked in each of six broad focus areas, and participants can elect to answer the questions in any of the areas or can shoot for the whole enchilada, so to speak, and answer questions in all six. People we've talked to who went to the workshops said that they were generally fun and thought-provoking. They also said that they suffered a bit from the Corvallis "usual suspects" syndrome that is to say, they tended to attract the same people you see at all these events. There's nothing wrong with that, but it would be great if we could cast the net a little wider. This is a great opportunity for you to add your voice to the conversation. But speak up soon. You can find the survey on the front page of the city's website, corvallisoregon.gov. ROSE-BERRIES to Corvallis' vibrant classical music scene and to whatever glitches are driving the scheduling of these concerts. The city's classical music scene, unusually rich for a city of this size, is one of the undeniably cool things about living here. But for at least the second time this year, classical music fans are faced with a weekend that's jammed with compelling events: A Friday night chamber music performance. An intriguing choral music performance Saturday night. A performance by a world-renowned pianist on Sunday afternoon. Now, it's possible that if you had the time (and the dough), you could catch all three of these events. And, to be fair, it's always worth remembering that sometimes local promoters have no say as to when performers are available; they often squeeze in Corvallis in the midst of a West Coast swing. It is also true that it can be tempting to schedule an event in the midst of Moms & Family Weekend at Oregon State University, which brings a lot of people to Corvallis. But our hunch is that the combined attendance at the three concerts would have been higher if the events had been spaced out more. At the recent arts summit hosted by the Corvallis Arts and Culture Advisory Board, one of the topics of discussion was the perceived need for some kind of shared calendar listing all the scheduled events. We're not convinced about that; it seems like a variety of organizations, including this newspaper, already run lengthy calendars. But what would be useful is some kind of calendar that can be used by schedulers looking to avoid, whenever possible, the sort of arts gridlock we're experiencing this weekend. On the other hand: Three really good musical events on one weekend is a lot better than none. So maybe we complain too much. ROSES to former Oregon State Police Sgt. John Burright of Albany (a Corvallis native), who was honored last week when a Salem city street was named in his honor. The ceremony took place at the site of the future Oregon State Police headquarters building in southeast Salem. Burrights family was presented with replicas of the sign for Burright Lane, which will lead to that new facility. Mignano and Hoerauf were killed; Burright was critically injured. He later medically retired due to being disabled. ROSES to those of our readers, inspired by the May 17 primary election, who are getting ready to write letters to the editor about that election. We love to get your letters, but we have some advice: First, write early: At some point as the election draws near, we will reach a point when we can no longer fit all of your letters into the print edition. Those late letters will go online, but we know some of you prefer to see your letters in print. If you're one of those people, write early. One last word: While you are welcome to take full advantage of our 250-word limit for letters, sometimes a shorter letter sneaks in because it fits better in the available space than a longer letter. We're just saying. There's A Trash Fire Problem In Lakeview By Mae Rice in News on Apr 29, 2016 6:45PM Photo of a trash fire that was not in Lakeview, via Spot Us on Flickr Early Monday morning, a rash of trash fires broke out in Lakeview and Lincoln Park, police announced Friday. From 4:30 until 5:30 a.m., at least six trash fires were lit in alleyways; some of the fires migrated to garages. Police believe that these fires were arson. The Chicago Police Department's News Affairs office told Chicagoist that "any new fires, at this point we believe they may be connected [to Monday's fires] in some manner." The Monday morning fires took place at the following locations: * 2800 Block of N. Cambridge Ave. at 4:28 a.m. * 1100 Block of W. Oakdale Ave. at 5:04 a.m. * 2900 Block of N. Seminary Ave. at 5:09 a.m. * 700 Block of W. Oakdale Ave. at 5:16 a.m. * 1100 Block of W. Wolfram St at 5:24 a.m. * 2700 Block of N. Racine Ave at 5:28 a.m. The investigation into these fires is ongoing. For now, police advise that Lakeview residents secure their city garbage cans and leave bulky items out on pick up days only. Anyone with information about the fires should call (312) 746-7618. David vs. Goliath To the Editor: The St. Pauls debate has been heavily dominated -- in the media and public meetings -- by sermons from save the building advocates. The latter group is... POAs start primary process open to all residents As previously announced, the four Property Owners Associations (Western, Estates, Central and Eastern) have made changes to their processes to nominate residents to serve as trustees for the Village Board of Trustees (BOT) and the Board... Now the time has come To the Editor: The Governance Committee should be appreciated for their work which generated several meritorious recommendations relating to the Village government. I was present when two members of Governance... School tax bill fiasco To the Editor: The county assessments are now in a 5-year phase-in program thanks to our past county executive's changes to the assessment process. Also, the Star program which once... You are here: Home Xu Xiang [File photo] Xu Xiang, general manager of Shanghai investment firm Zexi Investment, has been arrested in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao for insider trading and manipulating stocks prices. Qingdao's public security bureau announced the arrest on Friday along with that of Cheng Boming, general manager of CITIC Securities. Cheng is suspected of similar crimes to Xu. Liu Jun and Xu Jun, another two senior members of CITIC staff, have also been arrested. Allegations of supporting terror group : Apartment searched in Siegburg Siegburg Federal authorities searched an apartment in Siegburg. A man is accused of supporting a terrorist group in Syria. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Investigators from the Federal Criminal Bureau searched an apartment in Siegburg on Thursday morning. Federal prosecutors say the search was in connection with a man from Siegburg who is currently on trial. According to a spokesperson, he is accused of supporting a foreign terror group through financial transfers. Junud al-Sham is the name of the group which he is accused of supporting; it is involved in the Syrian civil war. The spokesperson said computers and other electronic data storage devices were confiscated and statements were taken from witnesses. The material will be evaluated to see if there is any significant information related to the trial. An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand. You are here: Home Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Thursday opened a new international arbitration center to help solve disputes involving foreign businesses. The center will deal with international cases and those involving business from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao. It has 44 scholars and lawyers that specialize in international trade law, international investment law and intellectual property law to offer consultation and arbitration. The center was set up to better protect the rights of the city's businesses as Chongqing, a major industrial base in west China, attracts more foreign investment as a result of the "Belt and Road" initiative and the construction of the Yangtze Economic Belt, said Zhang Jiandong, vice secretary-general of the China Chongqing Arbitration Commission, which administers the center. 1. We think it is important that a smartphone has a good display for an awesome visual experience. While most smartphones in the budget segment come with HD display, the Honor 5C features a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display of Full HD quality, offering 1080x1920 pixels resolution, which should be a visual delight. Moreover, the 5.2-inch display seems big enough in size, and should be easy to use single-handed operation, and handy for carrying it around or slipping down in pocket. It measures 147.1x73.8x8.3mm and weighs 156 grams. 2. It is powered by Huawei's in-house HiSilicon Kirin 650 octa-core processor (quad-core Cortex A53 clocked at 1.7GHz + quad-core Cortex A53 ticking at 2GHz). The chipset is flanked by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded via microSD card (up to 128GB). With such tech-specs, the phone should perform smoothly, even while multitasking and running heavy graphics. 3. In the camera department, the Honor 5C adorns a 13MP rear-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture and LED flash. What steals the limelight is its 8MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture lens, which seems good enough to impress selfie enthusiasts. 4. Speaking of software, the Honor 5C runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS with the company's own Emotion UI 4.1, which brings an array of extra features and customizations. 5. A fingerprint scanner is kind-of-a MUST HAVE feature for smartphones across price range. After all, it does enhance security of the phone and gives users the liberty to navigate directly to an app by scanning the finger registered for it. On the Honor 5C, the fingerprint scanner has been placed on the rear panel for a quick access. 6. The 4G enabled Honor 5C is a dual-SIM smartphone with 4G LTE connectivity on both the SIM card. As per the company, the phone supports LTE Cat. 6, which results in download speeds of up to 300Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps. Other connectivity options in the phone include, 3G, GPRS/ EDGE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS/ A-GPS, Glonass. However, you may miss the USB Type-C on it as it comes with regular Micro-USB charging port. 7. The phone packs in a battery of 3000mAh capacity which should give you a good battery backup to last for a day of mixed-use. Huawei welcomes government's move on panic button for phones News oi -GizBot Bureau Smartphone maker Huawei and its sub-brand Honor on Thursday welcomed government's decision to make a panic button mandatory for all mobiles phones from next year. The move aims to help improve security of women and assist law enforcement agencies, it said. "Our research and development center in Bengaluru innovated this functionality and today, Honor smartphones sold in the Indian market already come embedded with a SOS feature," the company said in a statement. These 7 Similar Night Photos from Galaxy S7 & Xiaomi Mi 5 Will Tell You What's the Real Difference ! "All our smartphones are equipped with in-built GPS systems to provide assistance to our customers at any given time. Last year, we introduced SOS feature in all our smartphones to ensure women safety. The SOS feature which sends instant messages to three pre-set numbers," Allen Wang, president of consumer business group, Huawei Telecommunication India said. Source: IANS Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications The Translators Association of China holds a press conference in Beijing on April 28. [China.org.cn] A language service promotion will take center stage at the fourth China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services on May 31, aimed at brokering deals between language service providers and customers. The promotion, the first of its kind held at the fair, is designed to highlight the theme of the "Belt and Road" initiative and language services and will gather executives from leading players in the industry including Microsoft, Huawei, Baidu, Alibaba, Pacteraa nd LeTV. Yang Ping, deputy secretary-general of the Translators Association of China that organized the promotion, believes that the promotion will provide a rare opportunity for industrial players to buckle down the discussion of challenges and opportunities brought by the "Belt and Road" initiative and the strategy of "Go Global." As the "Belt and Road" initiative and "Go Global" strategy pick up steam, language services have come to the fore as an important vehicle in helping Chinese companies gain a foothold in the overseas market. According to data issued by the Translators Association of China, China had 55,975 companies providing language services at the end of 2013, an increase of 25 percent when compared with 2012. As a vehicle of communication and culture, language plays a significant role in building the "Belt and Road." Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Counter-ISIL Effort Makes Gains in Iraq, Syria, Chairman Tells Senate Panel By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, April 28, 2016 The U.S. military is addressing the transnational nature of the threat that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant poses,but the most dangerous threat remains the core of ISIL in Iraq and Syria, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. During a hearing on hearing on counter-ISIL operations and Middle East strategy, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford said the main U.S. military mission continues to be preventing "attacks against the homeland, the American people [and] our allies and partners, regardless of the source." ISIL Loses Momentum The chairman visited Iraq last week to confer with Iraqi and U.S. leaders and assess coalition efforts to strike ISIL and train indigenous forces. "While the situation is complex with no shortage of military or political challenges, I was encouraged by what I heard and saw on the ground," he said. Last fall, ISIL had the momentum, the general said. "I do not believe that is any longer the case," he said. U.S. strikes in support of Iraqi forces, the peshmerga and Sunni tribal forces have reduced ISIL-controlled territory, demolished the terror group's "aura of invincibility" and destroyed much of its war-making capability, Dunford said. The terror group is becoming increasingly isolated and morale inside ISIL is being degraded, the chairman said. "More importantly, the progress of the last several months has instilled confidence in our Iraqi partners," he added. "They believe they can defeat ISIL." Aggressive Counter-ISIL Campaign Iraqi forces continue operations in Anbar province, even as they conduct shaping operations for the eventual liberation of Mosul, Dunford said. "In the months ahead, Iraqi forces, the peshmerga and Sunni tribal forces will bring increasing pressure to bear against Mosul," the general said. "We will be aggressive in looking for opportunities to reinforce success," he added, "and we will seize every opportunity to maintain the momentum and increase the effectiveness of our partners." The same pressure is being exerted in Syria, with ISIL finding itself isolated and under attack there from increasingly effective counter-ISIL forces, the general said. U.S.-supported local Kurdish and Arab forces have retaken a significant portion of the territory previously under ISIL control in northeast Syria, Dunford said. Other vetted forces, he added, are fighting along the Syrian-Turkish border that will put further pressure on ISIL and help stem the flow of foreign fighters and supplies to the terror group. "The recent authorization of additional U.S. forces into Syria will allow us to increase the capacity and capability of indigenous forces and set the conditions for operations against Raqqa," the general said. The progress in Iraq and Syria is real, Dunford said, "but we're not satisfied or complacent. We won't be satisfied until ISIL is defeated in Iraq and Syria and wherever it attempts to take root." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Carter Details U.S. Strategy to Accelerate ISIL's Defeat By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, April 28, 2016 Moves made last year in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have proved effective and U.S. officials have capitalized on that success to accelerate the counter-ISIL campaign, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. The decisions to base additional aircraft in Turkey and field advisors have paid off, he said, through increased counter-ISIL indigenous force capabilities, improved intelligence on ISIL, regained territory and increased ISIL isolation. "Based on the results we've had, and our desire to continue accelerating ISIL's lasting defeat, we are conducting the 'next plays' of the military campaign," Carter said. Next Moves Against ISIL The next moves in the counter-ISIL campaign include stabilizing Iraq's Anbar province, generating enough Iraqi forces to envelop Mosul, and identifying and developing more local forces in Syria able to isolate and pressure Raqqa, the secretary said. Coalition forces, he added, will also provide more firepower, sustainment and logistical support to partners to enable them to collapse ISIL's control over both Mosul in Iraq, and Raqqa. The United States will place advisors with Iraqi forces down to the brigade and battalion level, Carter said. "We'll be leveraging Apache attack helicopters to support ... efforts to envelop and then retake Mosul," Carter said. U.S. artillery units will support the Iraqi ground offensive against Mosul, and the United States will provide up to $415 million to the Kurdish peshmerga, "one of the most effective fighting forces against ISIL," he said. In Syria, U.S. actions are aimed at helping indigenous forces isolate and pressure Raqqa -- ISIL's self-styled capital. "We're increasing U.S. forces there six-fold, from 50 to 300," the secretary said. "These additional 250 personnel, including special operations forces," Carter said, "will help expand our ongoing efforts to identify, train and equip capable [and] motivated local anti-ISIL forces inside Syria, especially among the Sunni Arab community." Local Forces Fight ISIL The additional U.S. forces will also serve as a hub to incorporate special operators from Europe and the Persian Gulf states, who "will augment our coalition's counter-ISIL efforts there," the defense secretary said. U.S. strategy looks to begin training counter-ISIL forces inside Syria, he said, keeping the focus "on battle-hardened, proven anti-ISIL leaders whom we can make more capable as enablers and amplifiers of our effects." Iraq and Syria represent the most dangerous portions of ISIL, Carter noted, but the terror group has spread to other areas and the U.S. military is addressing it in those areas as well. "In Afghanistan, since we authorized our forces to conduct targeted strikes against ISIL there, we've been able to degrade the terrorist group's elements in the country," he said. "And in Libya, we have continued to follow ISIL activities closely, undertaking a successful strike last year in which we took out ISIL's key leader in the country, and another strike in February against an ISIL training camp." As Libya's new government gains strength and credibility, the United States will support its fight against ISIL, the secretary added. "We will counter ISIL and work with partners wherever ISIL has or tries to gain a foothold, whether in Yemen, West Africa, or South and Southeast Asia," Carter said. Yet, all is not suddenly rosy in Iraq and Syria, the secretary told the senators. The Iraqi government is feeling political and economic pressures that may influence the pace of the military campaign, he said. Challenges "In Iraq, as the proximity of the ISIL threat against Baghdad has diminished, political ambitions have created discord, and, in some instances, ethno-sectarian competition has increased -- creating an added burden and distraction for Prime Minister [Haider al-Abadi's] government before the task of defeating ISIL is complete," Carter said. "This, of course, is occurring while Iraq struggles with significant fiscal challenges due to the lower price of oil and a huge reconstruction bill as it retakes cities from ISIL." In Syria, competing agendas for the future of the political transition inhibit generating and coalescing anti-ISIL forces, he said. "I've articulated a clear strategy with the end-state being a lasting defeat of ISIL -- and that means it must be achieved by local forces," the secretary said. "Our strategic approach is therefore to enable such forces to collapse ISIL's control of Mosul and Raqqa by bringing to bear in support of them the full might of the U.S. military through some of our most cutting-edge capabilities. "Enabling local forces -- not substituting for them -- is necessary to ensure a lasting defeat [of ISIL]," he continued. "And sometimes, that means our pace is predicated on the speed at which local forces can absorb our enabling." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-153-16 April 28, 2016 DoD Releases Department-wide Strategy to Prevent Retaliation Associated with Reporting Sexual Assault or Harassment Today, the Department of Defense released a department-wide strategy to improve the way it provides support to service members who experience retaliation and to align prevention and response efforts across the services. The DoD Retaliation Prevention and Response Strategy (RPRS) provides support to individuals who experience retaliation after reporting sexual assault or sexual harassment. It also applies to service members, bystanders/witnesses and first responders. "Supporting those who make the difficult decision to report sexual assault or harassment not only upholds our commitment to them, but also influences others who may be considering whether to make a report," said Maj. Gen. Camille Nichols, the director of the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. "Service members reporting sexual assault or sexual harassment should be able to do so without the fear of retaliation by their peers or leadership. Reporting the crime is the only way offenders can be identified and held appropriately accountable." The DoD conducted several data gathering efforts to capture sexual assault victim experience with retaliatory behavior in 2012 and 2014. DoD and RAND surveys in 2014 indicated that well over half of military women who experienced a sexual assault and reported the matter to a DoD authority perceived some kind of retaliation associated with doing so. In May 2015, Secretary Carter directed the development of a Department-wide strategy to address retaliation. The RPRS aligns departmental efforts in combatting retaliation and responding to it with respect to (1) standardizing definitions, (2) improving data collection and analysis, (3) building strong and supportive systems of investigation and accountability, (4) providing comprehensive support to reporters, and (5) creating a culture intolerant of retaliation. "The department is committed to eliminating retaliatory behavior, improving resources for reporters, and providing tools for commanders, supervisors, and peers to prevent and respond to retaliation against those who report violations," said Clarence Johnson, director of the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity. "Ending retaliation is crucial to effectively addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military." Members of the DoD community can anonymously report retaliation through a secure web form at safehelpline.org, which will report the incident directly to the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. Those who have experienced or witnessed retaliation also have the option to share their personally identifiable information with the DoD Inspector General Hotline to begin the official retaliation reporting process. The RPRS is available online at www.sapr.mil http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/745476/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wu Qian, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense,takes questions at a press conference held in Beijing on Thursday. [Photo: mod.gov.cn] China says it will be part of a multinational anti-terrorism exercise expected to be held from May 2 to 12. The exercise will take place in Brunei and Singapore and in waters off the two countries. Navies of the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will participate in the drills, along with those from China, the U.S., Russia, Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. Wu Qian, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, outlined further details about the exercise. "The exercise will include joint military training, sailing in formation, escorting, searching at sea, helicopter landing on each others warships, and the fight against terrorism. The Chinese military will send missile destroyer Lanzhou along with 12 SWAT soldiers and four staff officers to the exercise." The exercise is the first maritime security and counter-terrorism drill within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' MeetingPlus. It's intended to boost pragmatic cooperation in defense and security amongst all the parties taking part. Hu Weihua, task commander and head of a Destroyer Division of the Chinese Navy, said such cooperation helps countries in the Asian-Pacific region to handle cross-border non-traditional security challenges together. "Chinese warships have participated in ASEAN ADMM-Plus joint military drills many times, making a big contribution to pragmatic cooperation in such fields as humanitarian rescue and aid, maritime security, military medical science, anti-terrorism and peacekeeping." U.S. Bill Backs More Defense Spending For Europe, Ukraine April 28, 2016 by Mike Eckel WASHINGTON -- A key U.S. congressional committee has backed a substantial increase in defense spending to reassure European allies jittery about Russian military maneuvers. Lawmakers on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee also voted April 28 to allocate $150 million to help train and equip Ukrainian government forces in their fight against Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country. But the bill appears to stop short of heeding Kyiv's repeated requests for weaponry other than the defense equipment Washington has been providing to date. At $610 billion, the legislation is one of the largest single annual budget measures considered by Congress, covering a sweeping range of U.S. defense policy. This year's package authorizes more money for more advanced fighter jets, new navy ships, and cyberwarfare, as well as more mundane matters like service members' salaries and health-care expenses. But the bill also reflects foreign policy priorities, and the alarm that many lawmakers and policy officials have voiced regarding Russia's stepped-up military actions in Ukraine, Syria, and elsewhere figures notably in the legislation. Lawmakers backed an administration proposal called the European Reassurance Initiative, $3.4 billion effort to increase the U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe. The Pentagon is planning to increase the number of combat brigades rotating into Europe, as well as station heavy weaponry and equipment in some places. "I think the lack of debate about the European Reassurance Initiative is a reflection that there is a pretty broad consensus on what the administration has proposed," said Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. "If anything, there may be people who want to add more money, not less." Committee members also took aim at a key treaty that authorizes countries to conduct surveillance flights over one another's territory to monitor military forces. The Treaty on Open Skies has been used by both the United States and Russia to gather information, but U.S. officials in February publicly complained about a Russian request for a flight using advanced digital cameras. "I cannot see why the United States would allow Russia to fly a surveillance plane with an advanced sensor over the United States to collect intelligence," Mac Thornberry (Republican-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in February. The bill passed by the committee on April 28 aims to cut off funding for cooperation with Russia on U.S. overflights until intelligence officials say there is no threat from the flights. It also tackles the question of another major arms agreement: the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty. The United States has reported for the past three years -- most recently on April 11 -- that Russia has violated the 1987 treaty, which is considered a bedrock Cold War arms-control agreement. Moscow has strenuously denied any violations, but the Defense Department has drawn up several options to respond to the alleged violations, including reportedly putting missiles back in Europe. U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, meanwhile, has declined to implement the proposals. The House legislation aims to force the White House's hand by withholding Defense Department funding. Committee lawmakers also debated restrictions on the use of Russian-built rocket engines in launching U.S. military satellites. Since U.S. sanctions were imposed on Russia following its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, American officials have proposed curtailing the use of the RD-180 engines, which are built by a Russian state-owned corporation. But Air Force officials have said that there won't be a viable American-built alternative to the Russian-built engines for several years. "There's no reason to line Putin's pockets right now," committee member Duncan Hunter (Republican-California) said. "Just realize that, when we vote yes or no, that if you vote yes, you are literally contributing directly to Russian military modernization." Lawmakers ultimately voted to raise the cap on the number of Russian rocket engines. One other substantial policy change included a requirement that American women be eligible to be drafted into the military. Under existing U.S. law, all men between 18 and 25 years old are legally required to register with the federal government, potentially to be drafted in the event of war. Though able to serve in all branches of the U.S. armed forces, women have long been barred from combat positions, as well as exempted from registering for the draft. Late last year, however, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that all combat positions would now be open to women for the first time. The bill passed by the committee on April 28 broadens the effort with a measure that would require women to register as well. The 60-2 vote on the entire defense bill pushes it for a vote by the full House of Representatives, expected next month. It would then head to the Senate, where John McCain (Republican-Arizona), who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, is widely expected to make more changes. Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/us-bill-more-defense- spending-for-europe-ukraine/27705097.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council approves final extension for UN mission in Cote d'Ivoire, citing 'remarkable' progress 28 April 2016 The United Nations Security Council today renewed the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cote d'Ivoire for a final period, extending it until the end of June next year, and also decided to terminate all arms, travel and financial sanctions against the country, with immediate effect. Welcoming Cote d'Ivoire's progress in relation to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform, national reconciliation and the fight against impunity, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2284 (2016) deciding that, until 30 April 2017, the mission would be mandated to support efforts by the Ivorian security forces to protect civilians, and by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire to consolidate peace and stability in the country while addressing border security challenges. The 15-member Council also unanimously adopted resolution 2283 (2016), deciding to terminate all arms, travel and financial sanctions against the country, with immediate effect, and to dissolve the Committee established by resolution 1572 (2004) to oversee those measures, and the Group of Experts established under resolution 1584 (2005) to assist that body. The Council also endorsed the Secretary-General's withdrawal plan for the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI), taking into account the security conditions on the ground following the successful conclusion of the presidential election held on 25 October 2015. For his part, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the adoption of the resolutions, reiterating the UN's continued commitment to Cote d'Ivoire. "The Secretary-General welcomes the determination of the people and the Government of Cote d'Ivoire in overcoming the political and security crises that led to the deployment of UNOCI in April 2004," Mr. Ban said in a statement attributable to his spokesperson. "It is the continued positive evolution of the situation in Cote d'Ivoire, including the successful conclusion of the presidential elections last year, which has enabled the United Nations to enter the final stage of peacekeeping in the country," the UN chief said. The Secretary-General recognized the "important role played by partners throughout the Ivorian crises," in particular the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the troop and police contributing countries and the UN country team, which he said facilitated the achievements made by UNOCI. "The Secretary-General underscores the importance of the continued engagement of all partners during the transformation of the United Nations' engagement in Cote d'Ivoire over the course of the next year, in particular through the United Nations Country Team, and following the closure of UNOCI," the statement said. Concerning UNOCI's mandate, the Council authorized the mission to use all necessary means in carrying out its mandate, and requested that the Secretary-General complete the withdrawal of all its uniformed and civilian components by 30 April 2017. Regarding force structure, the Council decided to decrease UNOCI's military and police units, with a view to completing their withdrawal. It also decided to extend, until 30 June 2017, the authorization of the French forces to support UNOCI within the limits of their deployment and capabilities. In resolution 2284 (2016), the Security Council welcomed the "enhanced ongoing political dialogue among all political parties, further welcoming the important gestures made to this end by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire and the receptive spirit with which they have been received, and encouraging all political stakeholders to continue in this regard throughout the 2016 legislative election period and beyond." In particular, the Council emphasized the "crucial progress made by the people and Government of Cote d'Ivoire toward achieving national reconciliation and social cohesion," and noted the "importance of the work achieved by the Commission dialogue, verite et reconciliation (CDVR) as well as that being undertaken by the Commission nationale pour la reconciliation et l'indemnisation des victimes (CONARIV)." Earlier in April, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous said that with Cote d'Ivoire now firmly anchored on the path of peace, stability and economic recovery, it was perhaps time to consider wrapping up the UN mission and begin to consider the Organization's future role in supporting and consolidating the country's gains. In particular, Mr. Ladsous welcomed the Government's ongoing reforms to the expansion of the political space and strengthening of unity and national cohesion, adding that discussions were under way for the holding of a constitutional referendum planned by the end of the year, and the adoption of a new Constitution that would better reflect developments in Cote d'Ivoire over the past decade. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Targets in Iraq, Syria From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 29, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq and Syria yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted six strikes in Syria: -- Near Raqqah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL vehicles. -- Near Mara, five strikes struck five separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, four ISIL mortar positions and an ISIL vehicle. Strikes in Iraq Bomber, fighter and ground attack aircraft and rocket artillery conducted 16 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Baghdadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL heavy machine guns and an ISIL bunker and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Fallujah, four strikes struck two separate large ISIL tactical units; destroyed three ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle and two ISIL-used bridges; suppressed a separate ISIL tactical unit; and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Hit, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Kisik, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units, destroyed an ISIL assembly area and two ISIL tunnel entrances and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL fuel and service station and suppressed an ISIL mortar position. -- Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an ISIL tunnel entrance and denied ISIL access to terrain. -- Near Ramadi, a strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area. -- Near Sinjar, a strike destroyed an ISIL rocket position. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan ups the ante in protest against seizure of fishing boat (update) ROC Central News Agency 2016/04/29 12:31:04 Taipei, April 29 (CNA) Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lin () on Friday summoned Japan's de facto ambassador in Taipei to lodge a formal protest against the seizure earlier this week of a Taiwanese fishing boat on the high seas near a Japanese-controlled atoll. Taiwan's Legislature, meanwhile, was planning to issue a strong condemnation of Japan's action, which the Legislature said had damaged the long-lasting friendly relations between the two countries. A coast guard vessel and a ship belonging to the Taiwan's Council of Agriculture will depart Sunday for waters near Okinotori to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area, the Coast Guard Administration said. During their meeting at MOFA, Lin told Mikio Numata, chief representative of the Japan Interchange Association's Taipei Office, that Taiwan will never accept Japan's claim that Okinotori is an island. The atoll is located in the Western Pacific to the east of Taiwan at a distance of more than 1,700 kilometers from Tokyo. Given that an atoll is not entitled to an exclusive economic zone, Taiwan has the right to fish on the high seas, Lin said, adding that he hopes the two countries can discuss the latest fishing dispute. The fishing boat "Tung Sheng Chi No. 16," which is registered in the southern Taiwan county of Pingtung, was seized by the Japanese coast guard early Monday some 150 nautical miles east-southeast of Okinotori. The boat and its crew were released Tuesday after the owner paid a security deposit of NT$1.76 million (US$54,442) to the Japanese authorities at the latter's request. Taiwan has protested Japan's actions at the highest level. President Ma Ying-jeou () issued a statement Wednesday strongly condemning Japan's seizure of the boat. He pledged to fight for fishing rights on the high seas and to safeguard the rights of Taiwanese fishermen. Ma also condemned what he said was Japan's illegal expansion of power. According to the president, the Okinotori atoll was originally less than 9.9 square meters in area, "but has been expanded to hundreds of square meters by means of artificial construction." Japan's claim to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone around Okinotori is a "violation of international law and the definition of an island under Article 121 of the United National Convention on the Law of the Sea," Ma contended. Before Lin's meeting with Numata on Friday, the foreign minister told the press that he intended to convey Ma's views on the issue to Japan and seek dialogue with Japan on the matter as soon as possible. "Everyone concerned should take the next step and discuss how to establish a cooperation mechanism," Lin said. He also said that Japan should respect the rights of Taiwanese to fish on the high seas. In Taiwan's Legislature, a protest statement was expected to be issued after a plenary session Friday afternoon, following a meeting in the morning of the legislative caucuses, which was chaired by Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan (). Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming () told reporters after the caucus meeting that the Legislature will strongly condemn the Japanese coast guard's seizure of the "Tung Sheng Chi No. 16" on the high seas, its handcuffing and strip search of the boat's crew, and its demand for a NT$1.76 million security deposit before releasing the boat and crew. Such conduct is a severe violation of fishermen's human rights and their right to fish on the high seas, the Legislature will say in the statement, according to Ker. Also speaking to reporters, Kuomintang caucus whip Lin Te-fu () said Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties are very angry over Japan's conduct. He said Japan had forcibly detained Taiwanese fishermen near Okinotori, which is not even an island, and had treated them "inhumanely." Taiwan and Japan have enjoyed otherwise cordial bilateral relations in recent years. (By Tang Pei-chung, Wen Kuei-hsiang and Elizabeth Hsu) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Sudan unity government takes oath of office Iran Press TV Fri Apr 29, 2016 4:1PM South Sudan has formed a transitional unity government with 30 ministers sworn in, bringing an end a two-year deadly conflict in the country. The ministerial portfolios were divided between President Salva Kiir, former rebel leader Riek Machar and other parties, consistent with an August 2015 peace deal. Machar was sworn in as first vice president shortly after returning to the capital on Tuesday. "We are going to work together," Kiir said after the ministers took the oaths of office on Friday. "We must learn how to forgive and we must learn how to apologize." Thousands of people have been killed and more than two million forced to flee their homes because of clashes between rival factions. Machar fled Juba at the start of the civil war in December 2013. "Cooperation is important," Machar told the new ministers, calling on the leaders to show fearful people that the peace deal would succeed. "If we act as groups in the cabinet, we will fail the people of South Sudan." United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the move as an "important milestone" in the peace process, and called on the parties "to cease immediately all hostilities". The Juba cabinet is scheduled to remain in place till October 2018. Kiir holds the important ministerial portfolios with Kuol Manyang remaining as minister of defense and David Deng Athorbei as finance minsiter. Meanwhile, Machar appointed Dak Duop Bichok as minister of petroleum. The "former detainees", a group of important politicians jailed at the eruption of fighting, appointed Deng Alor to represent them. Alor was handed the foreign ministry that he had held before South Sudan's independence in 2011. Lam Akol, opposition leader and outspoken government critic, was named as the minister for agriculture and food security. Charge or release political detainees On Friday, Amnesty International called on Juba to release or charge 33 prisoners, saying the recent release of Joseph Bakosoro, former governor of Western Equatoria state, and Professor Leonzio Angole Onek from Juba University was "a mere fraction of people being detained by NSS and other security forces such as the military". Bakosoro and Onek, who were detained in December 2015 by the National Security Service (NSS), were freed this week. Amnesty noted that some of the prisoners "have been beaten, especially during interrogation or as a form of punishment." The treatment of detainees may "amount to torture", the watchdog added. The bloody civil war in South Sudan, the youngest country in Africa, began in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Machar of plotting a coup against him. The two sides then became involved in a cycle of retaliatory killings that split the impoverished country along ethnic lines. Despite the August 2015 peace deal, battles persist across the country. There are numerous militia forces that do not abide by peace agreements and are driven by local agendas. In January, UN rights monitors offered details about a long list of horrific abuses in the destructive war. A joint report by the UN peacekeeping mission, UNMISS, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) cited "gross violations" of human rights, including "gang-rape, sexual slavery and forced abortion," by the warring sides. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas to continue anti-Israel 'resistance': Haniyeh Iran Press TV Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:54AM Hamas says it is determined to continue "resistance" against Israel as it warns of an "explosion" amid Tel Aviv's crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip. Addressing thousands of residents in Gaza on Thursday, top leader Ismail Haniyeh said, "Hamas and the sons of Hamas are committed to resistance and determined to pursue the intifada (uprising)." "We say to the Zionist occupier that our people can no longer stand the blockade" which Israel imposed on Gaza in 2006. "It is our right to have a port and an airport," in Gaza, he added. Haniyeh warned that there "will be an explosion" unless the regime in Tel Aviv lifts its blockade on the enclave of 1.8 million people. He made the comments amid rising tensions between the Israeli military and settlers and Palestinian protesters. More than 210 Palestinians, including children and women, have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since the beginning of last October. On April 18, an explosion hit a bus in al-Khalil (Hebron), injuring 20 Israelis on board. Tensions have intensified since August 2015, when Israel imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds (Jerusalem). Troops scuffled with Palestinians in Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday and Thursday as they tried to secure the area for Israeli extremists near Joseph's Tomb. The Israeli army troops fired tear gas and grenades to disperse the Palestinians. Israel rejects French 'peace' plan On Thursday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a French plan to push forward "peace" efforts, saying direct talks were the only way to resolve the conflict. Israel also rejected the Palestinian Authority's request to stop all military operations in Area A of the West Bank, prompting chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat to hit out at Tel Aviv's intransigence. "This is a ratification of the Israeli government's decision to continue on with their crimes and offenses," Erekat said. He also said Netanyahu's call for bilateral negotiations is "an attempt at legitimizing its settlement enterprise and the imposition of an Apartheid regime." Erekat called on the international community to acknowledge the "overdue" recognition of a Palestinian state and ban products made in Israeli settlements. He also urged world leaders to issue overarching condemnation of Israeli policies that he said were "systematic violations of international law and UN resolutions." Protection for Palestinians In New York, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said the United Nations Security Council is set to discuss providing international protection for Palestinians during an informal May 6 meeting. "We would like to see an international force to separate between us and the Israeli occupying authorities," Mansour said. The Palestinians, he said, are already discussing the matter with the office of UN chief Ban Ki-moon to see if there are steps that can be taken to protect the Palestinians even without a new resolution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China and Russia Urge US to Drop THAAD Proposal People's Daily Online (CRI Online) 19:01, April 29, 2016 Russia is joining with China in opposing any US plans to establish a missile system in South Korea. Russia's opposition to any deployment of the THAAD system is being voiced following a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "Countries shouldn't be using Pyongyang's acts as pretext to increase their military presence on the Korean Peninsula. We believe the possible deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system won't resolve this problem. We hope the six-party talks can be resumed as early as possible, as we have built-up experience in resolving the nuclear issue through negotiations in the past." Meeting with Lavrov on the sidelines of the now-concluded Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Beijing, Wang Yi says the THAAD system represents a potential threat. "Both sides are gravely concerned about the possible deployment of the THAAD, or Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence system in South Korea by the US, because it goes beyond the actual defence demands of relevant countries. The deployment of the system will directly harm the strategic interests of China and Russia." The US and South Korean government's have been discussing the potential deployment of the anti-missile system around Seoul and locations in-range of North Korean short-range missiles. However, the THAAD system has the potential to fire missiles which could hit targets in China and Russia's far-east. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Initial Indications Reveal N. Korea Missile Launch Attempts Unsuccessful Sputnik News 22:04 28.04.2016(updated 22:25 28.04.2016) The initial assessment by the United States of the two attempted missile launches by Pyongyang on Thursday and Wednesday showed that they turned out to be unsuccessful, the US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) announced in a press release. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Earlier on Thursday, the Strategic Command announced in a release that it detected two attempted missile launches by Pyongyang on Thursday and Wednesday. "After additional analysis, US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) assesses that both launch attempts of presumed Musudan intermediate range ballistic missiles occurred from Wonsan," the release said. "Initial indications reveal the tests were not successful." The North American Aerospace Defense Command determined Pyongyang's launches did not pose any threat to North America, it added. On Tuesday, reports emerged of North Korea preparing to launch another medium-range ballistic missile later in April. On April 14, North Korea reportedly deployed up to two Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles on its eastern coast. The following day, the South Korean military said the North appeared to have tried a missile launch, which ended in a failure. In early January, North Korea successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, putting a satellite into orbit a month later, in violation UN Security Council resolutions. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Aggressor Forces and S. Korean Puppet Army Warned against Their Reckless Provocations Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS) Pyongyang, April 29 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Panmunjom mission of the Korean People's Army (KPA) released a statement Friday in connection with the fact that the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces side is getting extremely undisguised in its provocative acts of rattling the nerves of the KPA side in the area of Panmunjom. The statement said: GIs hurled fully armed MPs of the south Korean puppet army into perpetrating such dangerous provocations as aiming at the KPA side at Oryonggye post on April 20 and 21. Such provocation continued till April 26. Earlier, GIs on patrol duty pointed their fingers at KPA service personnel on guard duty, making weird remarks on April 7. On April 10 they mocked at the KPA side through disgusting expression and behavior. Moreover, they are intentionally causing confusion by letting a lot of military personnel mill around in the area of the meeting room of Panmunjom under the pretext of "topographic survey" and " confirmation of duties." They are even kicking up a row, staging an odd farce of "notification" with a loudspeaker near the Military Demarcation Line. What should not be overlooked is that such serious provocations are timed to coincide with the unprecedented all-out offensive to stifle the DPRK by force such as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle 16 joint war drills. The area of Panmunjom, where two rival parties are leveling their guns at each other all the time, is the hottest spot where any slight accidental provocative act may result in catastrophic consequences baffling human imagination at a moment. It is well illustrated by a lot of incidents that occurred in the area in the past. The U.S. aggressor forces side must be aware of this. It is, however, resorting to serious provocations against on-duty service personnel of the other side, prompted by its premeditated and intentional sinister design. It will have to pay dearly for its ill-advised attempt to impair the high prestige of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK by straining the already acute situation to the maximum by provoking the KPA side in the sensitive area of Panmunjom and passing the buck for it to the KPA side. The service personnel of the KPA in Panmunjom keep themselves fully ready to mercilessly punish the provocateurs if their reckless actions go beyond the tolerance limit. If any clash occurs under the present situation where there is no legal and institutional mechanism to prevent physical clash between both sides, it is bound to cause an unpredictable incident. The U.S. imperialists and their stooges should not forget even a moment what miserable end provocateurs met while going reckless in the area at the risk of death. There is a limit to the patience of the greatly infuriated service personnel of the KPA. If they persist in their hooliganism despite its repeated warnings, they will meet dog's death any time and in any place. The KPA will closely follow the future moves of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces' side from this moment. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Russia warn US over Korea missile deployment plan Iran Press TV Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:22AM Russia and China have vowed to mutually counter increasing US military presence on the Korean Peninsula, calling on Washington to forgo the installation of a new anti-missile system in the region. Meeting in Beijing on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, expressed opposition to Washington's deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea. "Relevant countries shouldn't use Pyongyang's acts as a pretext to increase their military presence on the Korean Peninsula," Lavrov said during a joint news conference. South Korea and the US accuse North Korea of pursuing controversial missile programs aimed at delivering nuclear warheads. They have been in formal talks since early this year for the deployment of the THAAD missile system. "We believe the possible deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system won't resolve this problem," Lavrov said. China has also called on the US to refrain from deploying the sophisticated missile system in the region, saying it would "directly affect strategic security of Russia and China," Wang said. He said the deployment could "add fuel to the fire of an already tense situation and even possibly wreck the regional strategic balance." North Korea launched a long-range rocket in February this year, which it said was aimed at placing an earth observation satellite into orbit. The US and the South, however, denounced the move as a cover for an intercontinental ballistic missile test. Pyongyang was recently placed under the toughest sanctions in two decades. The country, however, has pledged not to relinquish its nuclear power unless the US ends its hostile policy and dissolves the US-led military command in South Korea. On Friday, North Korea's military said US soldiers have been trying to provoke its border troops with "disgusting" acts and encouraging South Korean forces to aim their guns at the North. A statement, carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), called on the US troops to stop "hooliganism." Pyongyang accuses the US of sending spies to North Korea and plotting with South Korea to topple its government. Several Americans have been held in North Korea in recent years. On Friday, North Korea's Supreme Court sentenced a Korean-American man to 10 years of hard labor for subversion. Sixty-two-year-old Kim Dong Chul, who had been arrested for espionage in October, had admitted to committing "unpardonable espionage," including stealing military secrets, according to KCNA. An American university student was also sentenced to 15 years of hard labor last month. Otto Warmbier, 21, had been arrested in Pyongyang in January while visiting the country as a tourist. UN considers new sanctions On Thursday, Pyongyang reportedly fired two mid-range Musudan missiles from a submarine, which the United States quickly dismissed as a "catastrophic" failure. In New York, the United Nations Security Council is preparing to take new measures against Pyongyang over the test launch. After a closed-door meeting on Thursday, Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said that diplomats were unanimous in condemning North Korea's latest launches. South Korea and the US are concerned that the North is preparing to conduct a fifth nuclear test. The South Korean military says Pyongyang is technically ready for a nuclear test. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry (right) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart S.Jaishankar before their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad in March 3, 2015. After weeks of futile brinkmanship, the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India met on April 26 in New Delhi on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference. They exchanged warm handshakes, followed by photo-ops, grim smiles and heady exchanges of usual allegations. The session ended without any agreement to revive a stalled peace process, dashing hopes of millions of people in both countries who want peaceful ties based on the simple principle of co-existence. As there was no formal joint communique at the end of the talks, the two sides quickly resorted to social media to offer "glimpses" of the discussion. The selective stuff dished out to the media was an effort to cater to domestic elements, which are ever hungry to feed on anything antagonistic for bilateral relations. The pattern of India-Pakistan meetings has become predictable. The two countries often waste months (and sometimes years) in posturing and then suddenly a major activity is announced out of blue. Serious preparations for peace are seldom made, while officials spend time repeating the same set of age-old allegations against each other. The media outlets in the two countries carry the same stories, which have been going in the press for decades. After formal interactions, a new chill creeps into the relationship. The best example of this off-the-cuff diplomacy was the visit of military leader Pervez Musharraf who dashed to New Delhi in July of 2001 with the hope of creating history. It was the most hyped visit in the history of the two countries. The kind of media coverage Musharraf received was unparalleled. His every move was captured and printed. But the purpose of the visit failed. After two-days of hectic talks in the historic city of Agra, Musharraf flew back empty handed. The visit failed primarily due to a lack of a properly defined agenda and options to disentangle the heated disputes. In the very near past, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on the fine morning of December 25, 2015 that he planned to land in the Pakistani city of Lahore to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The purpose was to create goodwill and possibly pave the way for the beginningof formal talks. Since the visit was sudden and without any proper homework, it failed to achieve solid results, and its impact was washed away by the terrorist attack at India's Pathankotair base on January 3. The latest meeting between the foreign secretaries was overdue since January 15, when the Indian foreign secretary was supposed to visit Pakistan for a formal meeting to start the Comprehensive Dialogue Process which was agreed between the two sides in December when the Indian foreign minister visited Pakistan to attend the Heart of Asia conference. The dialogue failed to progress due to the airbase attack. Later on, the atmosphere was further vitiated when Pakistan announced that it arrested an Indian spy who was involved in supporting militancy and creating instability. In fact, the two issues, an airbase attack and the capturing of a spy, apparently dominated the meeting between foreign secretaries in New Delhi. Several other issues can be mentioned which are sources of tension between the two neighbors. To my mind, the real problem is a lack of trust and the existence of dominant rival narratives regarding each country's intentions. Pakistan was created by the partitioning of India in 1947. Hundreds and thousands of people were killed and millions more migrated when the Hindu and Muslim populations exchanged sides to settle either in Pakistan or India. The bloody events set the tone for the future ties. It has been roughly seven decades, but the bloodbath is still being used to whip up sentiment. Various efforts have been made in the past for sobering relations, but they lacked a healing touch and enthusiasm for better relations. Instead of chalking out a peaceful future for the coming generation, these occasional officials' meetings are wasted by highlighting previous grievances. The rivalry is institutionalized and supported by influential individuals, religious groups, political parties and security establishments. In fact, some groups thrive on the prevailing atmosphere of mistrust and enmity, and try to perpetuate it. The two sides have conveniently forgotten that the current state of relations hardly fits into the vision of their respective founding fathers. Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Iraqi forces thwart Daesh attacks south of Mosul Iran Press TV Fri Apr 29, 2016 5:17PM Nearly one hundred members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group have been slain when Iraqi security forces foiled two separate attacks by the terrorists against two villages in Iraq's troubled northern province of Nineveh. The Baghdad-based War Media Cell announced in a statement that Iraqi security personnel killed at least 91 Daesh members as the terrorists mounted offensives against the villages of Mahana and Kharbadan, south of the militant-held city of Mosul, on Friday. The developments came only a few days after Iraqi security forces repelled a Daesh assault against the village of Nasr south of Mosul. Also on Friday, Iraqi security forces killed a number of Daesh militants in Shemal Nahr district, on the western outskirts of Baghdad, as they struck the terrorists' base and cleared the area of their presence. Elsewhere south of Fallujah, located roughly 69 kilometers (43 miles) west of Baghdad, fighters from the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units destroyed a Daesh pick-up truck loaded with anti-tank and guided Kornet missiles. On Thursday, Iraqi security forces also killed a high-ranking Daesh commander, identified by the nom de guerre Abu Suhaib al-Maghrebi, and three of his aides during a counter-terrorism operation in the Zakhikhah district of the western province of Anbar. The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by gruesome violence ever since Daesh terrorists mounted an offensive in June 2014. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Attack on al-Quds Hospital in Aleppo, Syria Press Statement John Kerry Secretary of State Washington, DC April 28, 2016 We are outraged by yesterday's airstrikes in Aleppo on the al-Quds hospital supported by both Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which killed dozens of people, including children, patients, and medical personnel. While we are still trying to gather the facts surrounding the circumstances of this attack, it appears to have been a deliberate strike on a known medical facility and follows the Assad regime's appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders. These strikes have killed hundreds of innocent Syrians. The United Nations today assessed the situation in Aleppo to be catastrophic, and the regime's most recent offensive actions there despite the cessation of hostilities compound the violence and undermine the cessation of hostilities. Russia has an urgent responsibility to press the regime to fulfill its commitments under UNSCR 2254, including in particular to stop attacking civilians, medical facilities, and first responders, and to abide fully by the cessation of hostilities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With Syrian truce 'barely alive,' UN envoy urges Russia and United States to help revitalize talks 28 April 2016 The United Nations envoy mediating a resolution to the crisis in Syria warned that the latest round of talks was overshadowed by a substantial deterioration of the cessation of hostilities, and called on the leaders of the Russian Federation and United States to help salvage the "barely alive" pact. "What we need to do and to hear is that the cessation of hostilities is salvaged and [] is saved from a total collapse," Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria, told reporters following a briefing to the Security Council yesterday. "It's still there. It's still there because in many areas, it's still there. But it's in great danger. It's still alive, but barely. And the perception is that it could collapse at any time." The Special Envoy said that the previous round of intra-Syrian talks had received a boost and support linked to the beginning of the cessation of hostilities and a "clear commitment" to move ahead with an accelerated pattern of humanitarian access to besieged areas. "This round of talks has instead been overshadowed, let's be frank, by a substantial and indeed worrisome deterioration of the cessation of hostilities," he said. "We cannot ignore that and we have not ignored it." The most recent round of talks had seen air strikes on a hospital and the killing of a paediatric doctor, among other attacks, the Special Envoy said. "Let's put it in a few words: In the last 48 hours, we have had an average of one Syrian killed every 25 minutes. One Syrian wounded every 13 minutes," he said. Other senior UN officials expressed deep concern about the situation on the ground, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemning yesterday's aerial strikes against the hospital in Aleppo. According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, civil society groups report at least 20 people were killed as a result of the attack, including three children and the area's last paediatrician. In the statement, the UN chief echoed Mr. de Mistrua by calling on the warring sides in Syria to immediately renew their commitment to the cessation of hostilities. Mr. Ban also encouraged the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), in particular its two co-chairs, Russia and the United States and including the United Nations, the Arab League, the European Union and 16 other countries and which has been seeking a path forward for several months to exert pressure on all concerned to stop the fighting and to ensure credible investigations of incidents such as the attack on Al Quds hospital. Meanwhile, in his briefing to the Security Council, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien said that for many in Syria who are merely surviving, "life is miserable." He lamented: "Deliberately deprived of food and medicine, many face the most appalling conditions of desolation, hunger and starvation. We must all be ashamed that this is happening on our watch." Commonalities on political transition Mr. de Mistura said that despite such incidents, the talks had continued from 13 April until 27 April. He had prepared a mediator's summary indicating that there has been "some progress," and including his own understanding of what have been differing visions of the political transition from different points of view. "After all, we are talking about a political discussion regarding a conflict which has been going on for more than five years, and as you can see is still ongoing there are some commonalities on the political transition," Mr. de Mistura said. One of the commonalities is that there is "no doubt" that there is an urgent need for a credible political transition, he said. "You remember when the word transition, at least in certain area, was taboo? Not anymore. Everyone acknowledges that that is the agenda," the envoy stressed. The envoy also said that there is a clear understanding that a credible political transition should be overseen by a new credible and inclusive transitional governance that will be replacing the present governance arrangements. The other common point is that the transitional governance should include members of the present Government, opposition, independents and others, he said. Mr. de Mistura said that another commonality is that Syria does require a new constitution, and that the key responsibility for this transitional governance will be to oversee the drafting of the new constitution. In addition, any new governance should be agreed upon in UN-facilitated intra-Syrian talks "on the basis of mutual consent," he said. "Having said that, [there is] no denial that there are still major differences officially on the major issues," the envoy stressed. Calls for revitalization for next round of talks The Special Envoy also recalled the initiative by Russia and the United States in February that had led to the cessation of hostilities. "The Russian Federation and the US, as you remember, had a very strong initiative, which produced basically a miracle, because on 27 February, suddenly within hours, we had a dramatic collapse not of the cessation of hostilities but of the hostilities. And that produced a great feeling among everyone that in fact the political discussions and everything else had and should have a chance," he said. "We need that to be urgently revitalized," he continued. "And [] the Russian Federation and the US, as they did when they launched suddenly everything related to the cessation of hostilities, need to come back again and relaunch it." In that vein, he appealed for an "urgent initiative" at the highest levels for the next round of talks. The next round of talks would be meaningful "only if and when the cessation of hostilities is brought back to the level we saw in February and in March," Mr. de Mistura said. "Hence, my appeal for a US-Russian urgent initiative at the highest levels, because the legacy of both President Obama and President Putin is linked to the success of what has been a unique initiative which started very well and needs to end very well." In addition, a new International Syria Support Group meeting at the ministerial level would also be necessary, the special envoy said, in order to "relaunch what has been for a moment put in danger." "That is what we want to obtain before we actually announce the new round of talks, because that would certainly help the round of talks to become credible and effective. And we are ready for doing so because a lot has been done so far," he concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Mediator Urges US, Russia to Save Syria Talks by Luis Ramirez April 28, 2016 Talks on ending the five-year Syrian conflict have ground to a halt in Geneva, and the United Nations mediator on Thursday appealed to the United States and Russia to help put the peace process on track as violence worsened in Syria. "There is no reason that both of them, who have been putting so much political capital in that success story and have a common interest in not seeing Syria ending up on another cycle of war, should not be able to revitalize what they created, and which is still alive, but barely," Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. mediator, said early Thursday. The latest round lasted two weeks and failed to produce a face-to-face meeting between the government and opposition delegations. Seeking compromise The main divide is on the question of whether Syrian President Bashar al- Assad should remain in power. In a desperate effort to salvage what was the third round of proximity talks since January, mediators floated alternatives, including the formation of a transitional government run by a council made up of military officials and moderate rebels. None of the options was accepted by either side. Last week, most of the opposition walked out of the talks in protest of what rebels said were the government's continued attacks that were making the delivery of humanitarian shipments impossible, in violation of a cease-fire brokered by the U.S. and Russia in February. "How can you have substantial talks when you have only news about bombing and shelling?" de Mistura said Thursday. Renewed violence Hours after he spoke, violence flared yet again. Doctors Without Borders said at least 14 people were killed in airstrikes at a hospital run by the group in the city of Aleppo. Syrian state media said a total of 27 people died in violence that included shelling by rebel forces. It was the latest incident in what has been a week of reported airstrikes, rocket attacks, and gunfire in the city. Cease-fire in jeopardy "The cease-fire agreement was an American-Russian deal. For it to continue, we need them to remain very determined to keep it going," Rim Turkmani, a researcher at the London School of Economics' Civil Society & Human Security Research Unit and a senior adviser to de Mistura, told VOA after returning from Geneva. "Both of them need to keep working together, make sure they don't do something the other doesn't want. It's not time to fight each other. They both need to rally behind one solution in Syria," she said. Moscow and Washington are divided on whether Assad should remain in power. Russia supports the Assad government and wants Assad to stay. The United States wants him to leave. High-level talks between U.S. and Russian officials have been under way for the past week. One of the aims of the discussions is to set a date for a meeting of the International Syria Support Group to bolster the peace process. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria plans offensives on Dayr al-Zawr, Raqqah: Russia Iran Press TV Fri Apr 29, 2016 11:36AM Syrian and Russian officials say the Army plans major operations to retake the eastern cities of Dayr al-Zawr and Raqqah and Aleppo from Takiri militant groups. The Syrian daily al-Watan, citing political and military officials, said the Army and its allies are gearing up for a "decisive battle" to liberate Aleppo. "The time has come to liberate Aleppo from the contamination of terrorists," it cited officials as saying. The report said the Army had sent letters to terrorists, warning them against using civilians in Syria's second city as human shields. 'Regime of calm' in Damascus and Latakia The report came as the Syrian army declared a temporary truce for the capital, Damascus, and its suburbs, and the coastal province of Latakia. The announcement was read on Syrian state TV on Friday, with the army saying the ceasefire will go into effect at 1 a.m. on Saturday. The military statement said the ceasefire will last 24 hours in Damascus and its suburbs and three days in Latakia. Alexei Borodavkin, Russia's ambassador to the UN office in Geneva, said the Syrian army would soon launch the offensive in Dayr al-Zawr and Raqqah with the support of the Russian air cover. "In line with UNSC [UN Security Council] Resolution 2254, the ceasefire regime in Syria does not apply to Daesh, al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups," Borodavkin said. "As a result of operations by the Syrian armed forces with the support of Russian combat aircraftoffensive operations are being planned in the direction of Day al-Zawr and Raqqah," he added. Russia began airstrikes on Takfiri targets in late September on the request of the Syrian government. Borodavkin accused the foreign-backed opposition groups of "deliberately" violating an existing ceasefire, saying arms flow into Syria continued through the Turkish border. "We are constantly talking about the need to block the Turkish-Syrian border through which terrorist group fighters flow and weapons, military equipment and ammunition are smuggled," he said. "It is necessary to firmly curb this flow in order to strengthen the ceasefire regime," Borodavkin added. UN-brokered peace talks were brought to a halt after the foreign-backed opposition walked out of the discussions and militants declared a new war against the Syrian government. On Friday, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said over 200 people had been killed during the past seven days of intensified violence in Aleppo. Russia and Syria have dismissed accusations that their warplanes had targeted a hospital in Aleppo, with Moscow suggesting the US-led coalition was responsible for the incident. In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Moscow had conducted no airstrikes in Aleppo in recent days. 'War crimes' in Aleppo Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said terrorist attacks targeting Aleppo for days now amount to war crimes. "What has happened in Aleppo over the past days of terrorist rocket and sniper shooting attacks is considered a real war crime that needs no further proof or evidence," he said. "There can no longer be room for patience or silence on these crimes that are targeting the Syrians indiscriminately," he added. Zoubi also accused Saudi Arabia, Turkey and "other terrorism-sponsoring forces" of fomenting crimes in Aleppo. He said terrorists have used internationally-banned weapons against locals in the city. US senator urges support for Damascus On Thursday, a US state senator held a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, calling for more support for the government. Contracting the official US stance on the conflict in Syria, Republican State Senator Richard Black voiced strong criticism against the Syrian opposition. He described the foreign-backed opposition as "a group of terrorists fighting against the legitimate government and the Syrian people." The Syrian official news agency SANA said Black arrived in Syrian for a three-day visit, the first visit of an American senator in Syria since 2012. "What is happening in Syria is terror. The issue is that terrorists are fighting against the Syrian people and their legitimate government," he said upon arrival. "There is no such thing as 'moderate opposition' in this country," he said. "Many people misunderstand the situation in Syria, and refuse to believe that all the groups fighting against the Syrian regime are terror groups," Black added. "I know that the Syrian President Bashar Assad wants to have a modern state, where people would enjoy freedom of religion," he said. Black said Assad is a legitimate president, since "he was legally elected in 2014 elections." Expressing wonder over the Saudi intervention in Syria, the senator asked: "How can states like Saudi Arabia, where elections have never taken place, push for elections in Syria and demand that it changes its constitution?" In his meeting with the Syrian parliament speaker Mohammad Jihad Lahham, Black said: "The conflict in Syria affects the future of our civilization." "Hence, if Syria loses this war, our civilization specifically and the humanity in general will suffer dangerous repercussions." Black said that when he gets back to the US, he will warn the American administration "not to provide military aid to the terrorists and mercenaries that are fighting in Syria." In an interview in March 2015, Black stated: "if Assad falls, ISIS (Daesh) will march to Europe." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. 'Outraged' By Syrian Hospital Strikes, Urges Russia To Restrain Assad April 29, 2016 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington is "outraged" by air strikes on a hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo that killed dozens and injured many others. Kerry said on April 28 in Washington that the attack matched a pattern by Syrian warplanes on health-care facilities that "have killed hundreds of innocent Syrians" during the country's civil war, which began in 2011. He said the previous day's attack on the Al-Quds hospital in Aleppo, which is supported by the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, had "killed dozens of people, including children, patients, and medical personnel." Kerry said Russia has "an urgent responsibility to press the [Syrian] regime to fulfill its commitments" under Security Council Resolution 2254 to stop its attacks on civilians and medical facilities. The attack was the latest in a string this week that has seen more than 150 civilians killed since April 22. Russia has been conducting air strikes in conjunction with Syrian warplanes against opposition forces and Islamic groups since September. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura appealed to the presidents of the United States and Russia to intervene to salvage a cease-fire that was "barely alive." Jan Egeland, the head of the UN humanitarian task force on Syria, said on April 28 that there had been a "catastrophic deterioration" of the situation in Aleppo and parts of Homs during the previous 48 hours. He said the strikes on the hospital and neighboring buildings had killed more than 60 civilians. Egeland said he "cannot express how high the stakes are for the next hours and days" as diplomats try to restore a fragile cease-fire deal that is in tatters. Syria's army on April 28 denied that it intentionally targeted the hospital. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/us- outraged-syrian-hospital-strike-urges-russia- restrain-president-bashar-assad/27705560.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish Multi-Purpose Military Base in Qatar Starts Operating Sputnik News 16:07 28.04.2016(updated 16:53 28.04.2016) The Turkish military base in Qatar has started its work, Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday. ANKARA (Sputnik) Turkey built a multi-purpose military base for its air force and navy in Qatar, which will become home to some 3,000 soldiers. Alongside the US, Ankara now has a site for military deployment in the small Gulf nation. The new outpost will allow Turkish troops to participate in military operations in the Red Sea, Northern Africa, and the Persian Gulf. Thus, for the first time since 1950 the Turkish navy will have access to the Pacific. "Today, an agreement was signed on military cooperation, in accordance with which the Turkish Armed Forces' military base in Qatar started its work," Davutoglu said. Davutoglu is currently on his visit to the Qatari capital of Doha to discuss prospects of bilateral cooperation with the country's leadership. The new base will be the Turkish military's second-largest overseas deployment, after the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Commands, and the motivations for the expansion remain unclear. Qatar is home to the biggest air base in the Middle East, Al Udeid, which houses some 10,000 military personnel. It is the forward headquarters of United States Central Command, under the subsequently extended 1991 Defense Cooperation Agreement between Washington and Doha. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey deploys troops to its military base in Qatar Iran Press TV Fri Apr 29, 2016 4:59AM Turkey has announced the deployment of soldiers to its first overseas military base, which has been set up in Qatar. Speaking to students at the Qatar University in Doha on Thursday, Turkish Prime Minster Ahmet Davutoglu said the number of the soldiers deployed will be specified later. He did not give details about the size or the precise location of the base, either. Davutoglu claimed that the base was not intended for any specific operation but was a "presence for stability." He said the security of Turkey and Qatar are intertwined, and that Turkey faces the same "threats" as Qatar. "I can tell you now that the security and stability of Qatar is like the security and stability of Turkey. We want a stable and secure [Persian] Gulf. Turkey and Qatar, we have the same destiny," he added. "We face the same threats." The base has been set up in Qatar as part of a security agreement signed in 2014. Turkish troops now could take part in military operations in the Red Sea, Northern Africa, and the Persian Gulf. Back in December 2015, Turkey's ambassador to Qatar Ahmet Demirok said that around 3,000 ground troops would be stationed at the base. He said air and naval units, military trainers and special operations forces would also be deployed. Davutoglu further said the military establishment would pave the way for Qatar to set up its own military base on Turkish soil. Qatar hosts the largest US air base in the Middle East, Al Udeid, where around 10,000 military personnel are stationed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address RAF jets fly on Baltic policing mission 29 April 2016 The UK has taken up a leading role policing the skies over the Baltic states to deter threats such as aggression from Russia. The Defence Secretary has announced today that four Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoons, flying from the Amari airbase in Estonia, will join the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission until the end of August. The jets, alongside pilots and engineers, will be on 24/7 stand by to launch a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) in response to any aggression directed from Russia, or others. Two of the four Typhoons will be ready to take off at moment's notice to provide security to the airspace over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "This deployment underlines our commitment to the sovereignty of the democratic nations of Eastern Europe." "24 hours a day, seven days a week for the next four months, our RAF Typhoons will be ready to respond instantly to Russian aggression in Baltic airspace." This is the third consecutive year the UK has committed to BAP, after rotations in 2014 and 2015. Last time, Typhoon fighters were scrambled 17 times, and intercepted over 40 Russian aircraft. During one launch last July, the Typhoons intercepted 10 separate Russian aircraft, including eight fighters. Wing Commander Gordon Melville, Commanding Officer of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing RAF, said: "I am very proud to be leading 140 Expeditionary Air Wing as we again provide air policing support to our Estonian NATO allies." "Although we are all far from our families and friends while over here, our hosts have given us a warm welcome and we are looking forward to working with them over the next four months." BAP is an enduring defensive NATO effort that sees alliance members without their own air policing assets assisted by others in four-monthly cycles. The UK's key role, which includes operating alongside the Portuguese Air Force, has been welcomed by NATO and its Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Philip Breedlove. The UK is playing a central role in responding to Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. In addition to Baltic Air Policing, we are: - Training the Ukrainian Armed Forces in countering-IEDs, operations in urban environments, medical care, logistics and operational planning. The UK has also gifted over 1million worth of equipment to the country. - Making a substantial contribution to NATO Assurance Measures, in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Plans are in place to contribute over 4,000 Armed Forces personnel to assurance activities in 2016, including participation in NATO exercises, and conducting airborne surveillance of NATO's Eastern Flank by committing an E-3D Sentry aircraft to the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force. - Provide reassurance and training support to the armed forces of the Baltic States and Poland as part of the US-German Transatlantic Capability Enhancement and Training (TACET) initiative. - Deploying HMS Iron Duke to the Baltic sea between January and July as part of a multinational NATO task group which includes participation in exercises and operations. - Contributing five ships including HMS Iron Duke, HMS Ocean and HMS Pembroke to the maritime exercise Baltops 16, in the Baltic Sea. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Says Stronger Cease-Fire Needed To Make Political Progress April 29, 2016 by RFE/RL Ukraine told the UN Security Council that its cease-fire with separatists in the east must be strengthened before progress can be achieved on a political solution to the two-year conflict. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko suggested the Orthodox Easter holiday this weekend might provide an opportunity to shore up the truce after a surge of violations in recent months. "If we can start with that, we can then proceed to withdrawal of forces and resolving of all the problems -- demining, humanitarian problems -- all the way down to a political resolution," he told the council on April 28. It was the first Security Council meeting on Ukraine since December. Ukraine requested the meeting to discuss cease-fire violations in the eastern Donetsk region that OSCE monitors say have reached worrying levels over the past few weeks. Ukraine detailed accusations that Russia is providing military backing for the separatists, a claim Moscow rejects. "Russia has organized and deployed in Donbas a 34,000-strong hybrid military force consisting of regular Russian troops as well as of foreign and local militants," Prystaiko said. "Russian generals and military officers provide direct command-and-control of this illegal military entity [which is] impressively heavily armed," he said. Prystaiko dismissed Russian claims that the separatists' arms were purchased in local hardware stores. "Last time I checked, you will hardly be able to buy a decent knife in Ukrainian hardware stores, not to mention the multiple-launch rocket systems and jet flamethrowers," he said. The United States, France, and Britain back Ukraine's assertions and have blamed Russian aggression for starting the conflict. "What is happening today is the result of Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which began with its occupation of Crimea more than two years ago and expanded with substantial military on the ground and weapons support for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine," U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power told the council. Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin countered that the Ukrainian crisis was provoked by a "coup d'etat with external support," and rejected claims that the source of conflict was "Crimea's union with Russia." Moreover, Ukraine's case before the council was "very disappointing," he said, particularly because it lacked specifics on achieving peace. "Over the entire crisis, the UN has been used as a propaganda platform," he said. "There is a lot of rhetoric but no specific plan about how to implement the Minsk agreement" forged in February 2015, he said. Churkin said he hopes the cease-fire will hold over the upcoming holiday weekend. "Easter is one thing that continues to unite us, Russia and Ukraine," he said. Russia sought to circulate a resolution reaffirming the UN's commitment to the Minsk agreement, but failed to gain consensus approval because it also called for an investigation into the killing of Russian protesters in Odesa in May 2014 without mentioning violations by separatist forces. Foreign ministers from France, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia are expected to meet in early May to try to further the peace effort outlined in the Minsk agreement. With reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine- says-stronger-cease-fire-needed-make- political-progress-conflict-in-east/27705566.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Flash The so-called "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea conducted by the U.S. military are "very dangerous," a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense said Thursday. The U.S. operations are political and military provocations against China and could easily lead to unexpected incidents, spokesman Wu Qian said at a monthly press conference. The Chinese military will continue to closely monitor the situations in the South China Sea and will take all necessary measures as needed, he said. The "freedom of navigation" has been used by the United States as an excuse for intervening in disputes in the South China Sea, according to the spokesman. In fact, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is not in question, Wu stressed, criticizing the U.S. side for destabilizing regional peace and undermining coastal nations' security interests. The U.S. military operations in the South China Sea cannot stop China's continued development and growth, the spokesman stressed. On the same day, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing that China has always respected and supported "real freedom of navigation" in accordance with international law and is firmly opposed to all acts that harm China's sovereignty and security interests under the name of "freedom of navigation." Alan Burkitt-Gray speaks to Michael Wheeler, executive vice president at NTT Ltd, about a name change for the company, NTT's contribution in the midst of the pandemic and all things network security. Flash The United Nations on Thursday said that the latest launch of ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is "extremely troubling," and urged Pyongyang to stop any "further provocative action." "We would just repeat that these type actions by the DPRK are extremely troubling and we would yet again encourage the DPRK to cease any further provocative actions and return to full compliance of its international obligations," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. The DPRK on Thursday fired what was believed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile, but it appeared to have failed, South Korea's defense ministry said. A South Korean Defense Ministry official told Xinhua on the phone that the DPRK launched a projectile, estimated to have been a Musudan missile, at about 6:40 a.m. local time from the Wonsan area in northeastern DPRK. The official said the launch appeared to have failed as the projectile was believed to have crashed several seconds after liftoff. If confirmed, it would mark the DPRK's second test-firing of a Musudan missile after the launch on April 15. South Korea's military saw the April 15 launch as failure as the missile exploded in mid-air several seconds after liftoff. Also on Thursday, the UN Security Council met behind closed doors on the DPRK's latest missile launch at the request of the United States, diplomats and UN officials said here. Relevant Security Council resolutions prohibit the DPRK from any ballistic missiles launches. The proposed site for a hotel near Little Switzerland ski hill in Slinger is seen in this December photo. John Ehlke/Daily News A psychologist has determined that Benjamin Rios Tovar, who is charged with second-degree murder of a man whose body was found at a Collinsville motel, is not mentally competent to stand trial. And on Thursday, a judge in Henry County General District Court ordered that Tovar receive treatment at an in-patient psychiatric hospital to restore his competency. Judge Lee Stilwell made that ruling at the request of Tovars lawyer, Tracy J. Evans II of Harrisonburg. Henry County Commonwealths Attorney Andrew Nester did not object. The evaluation report by psychologist Dr. Jennifer Melerski is closed to the public. Under Virginia law, a defendant may be declared mentally incompetent to stand trial if he "lacks substantial capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist his attorney in his own defense." Tovar "has a long history of mental health issues, and has twice been hospitalized in Texas as a juvenile for mental health issues," Evans stated in a court motion late last year requesting that Tovar undergo a psychological evaluation to determine his sanity at the time of the offense. Tovar, 28, of Dallas, Texas, was charged July 8 with second-degree murder in the death of Sandesh Rajendra Dhavan, 23, whose body was found July 7 in a room at Knights Inn on Virginia Avenue in Collinsville, according to previous Bulletin reports. Tovar also is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for allegedly driving a motor vehicle to Texas without consent, after the slaying. Dhavan, who was from India, was in the area on a work study program. He was in Henry County to work on cell phone towers, and Tovar was his driver, Dhavan and Tovar shared a room at Knights Inn. Dhavans body was found around 11:30 a.m. July 7 in a room at Knights Inn after he and Tovar could not be contacted by their employer. An autopsy showed that Dhavan died from multiple stab wounds, according to previous Bulletin reports. According to a criminal complaint, the Henry County Sheriffs Office responded to a room at Knights Inn on July 7 and found an unresponsive male with blood on him who was not breathing and had no pulse, indicating he was deceased. It was determined through witnesses and personal items, the victim was Dhavan. According to the complaint, Lionel Dsouzq, an acquaintance of Dhavan, said the weekend before July 7 (which was a Tuesday), that Dsouzq, Dhavan and Tovar hung out. Dsouzq and Dhavan were looking at the policy and procedures from their employers. Dhavan found out he was supposed to have a copy of the vehicle lease and he was supposed to have the Sheetz gas card. Tovar told Dhavan he threw the lease in the dumpster and he reluctantly gave Dhavan the gas card. Dsouzq said he could tell that Tovar was not happy about the new procedures. Dsouzq saw Tovar, while drinking a beer, take a 3- to 4-inch folding knife and stab a hole in the beer can to shotgun the beer. Dhavan told Dsouzq that Tovars behavior changed and he had started acting weird. Dhavan told Dsouzq he thought it was because of the gas card, according to the criminal complaint. It adds that Dsouzq said that Tovar and Dhavan gave him a ride to Lynchburg on Sunday, July 5. They dropped Dsouzq off about 1:30 p.m. and Tovar and Dhavan left together. Dsouzq called and talked with Dhavan at 7:16 p.m. that same day. Dsouzq said he called Dhavan seven times the next day (July 6), but the calls went straight through to voice mail. Dsouzq also tried to call Tovar at 7:11 p.m. and 9:12 p.m. on July 6 but he never answered and no messages were left. Tovar called Dsouzq back on July 6 at 9:35 p.m. and said he was back in Dallas, Texas, .to see a doctor for a skin rash. Dsouzq asked Tovar why Dhavan was not answering his phone, and Tovar said that he must be asleep. The criminal complaint adds: "Benjamin (Tovar) saw a local doctor for his rash; his prescription was left on the body of the victim with Benjamins name and doctor that prescribed the medicine. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds to the upper torso, face and a laceration to the neck. Once the victim was moved a wallet was found under him containing Benjamin Rios Tovars identification, Social Security Card, drivers license and a letter talking about killing. All of Benjamins other property was gone. It appeared that the suspect took a shower in the hotel room prior to leaving, and left dried red stains in the shower." Certificates of analysis from the Virginia Department of Forensic Science in the court file indicate: n A buccal sample (from inside the cheek) was used to develop a DNA profile for Tovar. Blood was indicated on fingernail clippings from Dhavans hands, and a DNA profile was developed for him. n A blood-stained T-shirt was analyzed. Blood was indicated on the inside front chest area (designated stain A), the inside front bottom (designated stain B), the inside upper back area (designated stain C) and the inside back bottom center (stain D). (According to Under the Scope, an educational bulletin, sometimes when two people bleed on a piece of evidence near the same vicinity, analysts are able to determine if one persons DNA is present in a higher concentration than the other persons DNA. In that case, the person who contributed the most DNA is called the major contributor, and the person who contributed the least DNA is called the minor contributor.) For stain A (inside front chest area), Tovar was not a major contributor. The chance of Dhavan being a major contributor is more than 7.2 billion times more probable than a coincidental match to an unrelated person in the white, black and Hispanic populations, with some exceptions. Dhavan was not a minor contributor. The chance of Tovar being a minor contributor is 340,000 more probable than a coincidental match to an unrelated person in the white population, 990,000 more probable than a coincidental match to an unrelated person in the black population, and 230,000 more probable than a coincidental match to an unrelated person in the Hispanic population, with some exceptions. For stains B and D (B-the inside front bottom of the T-shirt, and D-the inside back bottom center), Tovar was not a contributor. The chance of Dhavan being a contributor is more than 7.2 billion times more probable than a coincidental match to an unrelated person in the white, black and Hispanic populations, with some exceptions. For stain C (the inside upper back area of the T-shirt), Dhavan was not a major contributor. The chance of Tovar being a major contributor is more than 7.2 billion times more probable than a coincidental match to an unrelated person in the white, black and Hispanic populations, with some exceptions. Tovar was not a minor contributor. The chance of Dhavan being a minor contributor is 7.2 billion times more probable than a coincidental match in the white, black and Hispanic populations, with some exceptions. n Blood was indicated on a swab from an air conditioner -- Tovar was not a contributor. The chance of Dhavan being a contributor is more than 7.2 billion times more probable than a coincidental match to an unrelated person in the white, black or Hispanic populations, with some exceptions. n Blood was indicated on swabs from a TV, bathroom door frame and bathroom floor. Dhavan was not a contributor. The chance of Tovar being a contributor is more than 7.2 billion times more probable than a coincidental match to an unrelated person in the white, black and Hispanic populations, with some exceptions. n Blood was indicated in a swab from bath tub. Tovar was not a major contributor. The chance of Dhavan being a major contributor is greater than 7.2 billion times more probable than a coincidental match of an unrelated person in the white, black and Hispanic populations, with some exceptions. Due to limited information obtained, the minor DNA type was not suitable for comparison. nA latent (invisible to the naked eye) fingerprint matching Tovar was found on a one-page letter ending with thank you. SATAN". Concise letters 250 words or fewer on topics of local interest will receive first consideration for publication. All letters are subject to editing for language and clarity. Mailing Address: Letters to the Editor, The Register & Bee, 700 Monument St., Danville, VA 24541 Letters submitted by mail must include the writer's name, signature, address and a daytime phone number. Fax: (434) 799-0595 Email: letters@registerbee.com Or submit a letter via our online form: Submit a letter A new kind of bank is coming to Richmond. And its nothing like a traditional brick-and-mortar retail branch with teller windows. Its casual open space with a coffee bar and free Wi-Fi connection. Capital One Financial Corp., a banking and financial services company, plans to open a cafe branch in Carytown, where Secco Wine Bar and Sheppard Street Antiques now operate at the southeast corner of Cary and Sheppard streets. The McLean-based company also plans to open a banking cafe in Midlothian and another in Short Pump Town Center in western Henrico County, sources close to the deal say. Capital One, the largest employer in the Richmond area with more than 11,000 workers, will lease the site on Cary Street beginning July 1, said Jeanne Bridgforth, a real estate agent with One South Realty Group in Richmond, on Wednesday. Bridgforth was involved in the early negotiations for the land lease at 2931 and 2933 W. Cary St. The parcel includes two retail spaces fronting Cary with an attached building facing Sheppard, where the antiques store is located, as well as a small shop that butts up to an alley behind the building and a parking lot on the other side of Sheppard. The Cary Street location appealed to Capital One because of the high level of pedestrian traffic in the shopping district, Bridgforth said. Given our longstanding history and local roots, we couldnt be more excited to bring our Capital One Cafes to the city of Richmond, according to Capital One spokeswoman Stacy Jones. Capital One Cafes will provide Richmonders a space where they can recharge their bank accounts, devices and lives while learning new ways to manage their finances, try out new digital and financial tools and grab a great cup of coffee. Capital One traces its roots to a credit card division formed in 1988 by Signet Banking Corp. Signet spun off that division as Capital One in November 1994 with that process was completed by March 1995. Jones declined to elaborate, saying she will be able to talk more about the plans in the coming weeks. However, she did confirm the Carytown and Short Pump lease locations for future Capital One Cafe sites. The other location will be at 11872 W. Broad St. in Short Pump Town Center. Secco Wine Bar is relocating to 325 N. Robinson St. in Richmonds Fan District, which is owned by local developer Charlie Diradour. The property was bought by his grandfather in 1937 and his mother and her three siblings were reared on the second floor. He is renovating the building top to bottom and said Secco Wine Bar is scheduled to open there in September. Its unclear what will happen to the antiques shop. The owner could not be reached for comment. According to a Capital One website, the cafe bank model is built on digital tools and human connections, where customers can explore digital banking services, speak with an employee and have access to a fee-free ATM or just get cozy with free Wi-Fi and handcrafted Peets beverages. The company has five cafe branches in the Boston area, where it opened its first in 2014, and six others across the nation, the website says. Legislation recently introduced by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine could ensure rural Virginia hospitals receive fair Medicare reimbursements a move receiving praise by leaders from both Danville Regional Medical Center and Centra Health. Delivering quality care has always been a priority at Danville Regional Medical Center, Danville Regional Medical Center CEO Alan Larson said in a statement. The proposed legislation would help provide the resources needed to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our community. The legislation would make sure federal Medicare funding is reflective of the costs of providing care. Under the bill, Warner said 21 hospitals operating in five of the commonwealths 11 statistical areas would receive reimbursements that reflect their operating costs. Rural hospitals are a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Virginians, and are at the heart of many of our communities, Warner said in a news release. However, hospitals in rural areas face unique challenges and many struggle to stay afloat challenges that are exacerbated by the federal governments skewed payment system for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries at these hospitals. Centra Health CEO E.W. Tibbs said the legislation is a needed focus on local hospitals. This policy proposal aims to assist health systems like Centra that are major employers, economic engines and vital health care providers, Tibbs said in a statement. This legislation represents an important step forward in recognizing the financial burdens health systems like Centra face daily with dwindling government reimbursements. Centra operates Gretna Medical Center and has plans to build another in Danville. In 2014, there were 14,839 Medicare recipients in Danville, or about 35 percent of the population. There were 10,481 recipients in Pittsylvania County, or about 17 percent of the population. Kaine said the challenges faced by rural hospitals affect both access to care and long-term viability. The bipartisan Fair Medicare Hospital Payments Act aims to reform the way hospitals are reimbursed by Medicare for services by establishing a national standard, as opposed to the status quo which places an undue burden on rural hospitals in economically disadvantaged areas, Kaine said in a release. The legislation would create a national area wage index of 0.874, which is based on a hospitals wage level in a geographic area compared to the national average. According to the Virginia Hospital Association, 29 hospitals in Virginia fall below this threshold, and would benefit from the legislation. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ TSX-V: CUG and CUG.DB MONTREAL, April 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Cyprium Mining Corp. (TSXV: CUG) ("Cyprium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a second closing of its previously announced private placement of up to 8,000,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.065 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $520,000 (the "Offering"). In this closing, Cyprium issued 2,300,000 Units for gross proceeds of $149,500 (the "First Tranche"). Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Corporation ("Common Share") and one (1) share purchase warrant of the Corporation ("Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable into one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.10 expiring two (2) years from the date of issuance. The net proceeds made available through the sale of the Units will be used by the Company to pay for the continued development of the Company's Potosi mining project in Mexico, the costs of the Offering, for working capital and general corporate purposes. Cyprium has paid finders a cash commission of up to 8% of the proceeds that have resulted from such parties efforts, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws. The finders have also been granted warrants to purchase up to 8% of the number of Units sold under this second closing, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Unit at CDN$0.065 per Unit for a period of eighteen months from the second closing. The Company announces that it has completed certain of its previously disclosed conversion of certain secured and unsecured debts into convertible debentures of the Company (the "Debt Conversions"). Arm's length holders of $90,000 of secured debt and US $21,000 (CDN $28,000) of non-secured debt by a company wholly-owned by the Chairman and CEO of the Company have been converted into convertible unsecured debentures (the "Convertible Debentures"). The Convertible Debentures will mature three (3) years from the date of issuance and will bear interest at a rate of 8% per annum payable quarterly in cash. The principal amount of the Convertible Debentures shall be convertible at any time at the option of the holder into Common Shares of the Company at a price of $0.08 per Common Share in the first year following closing and $0.10 per Common Share thereafter, and upon giving effect to such conversion, all accrued and unpaid interest will be paid in full within 60 days. The Company has also received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. (the "Exchange") to complete up to $570,887 in various debt settlements by way of either Units and/or Common Shares to be issued at a price of $0.065 per Unit and/or Common Share. The Company has entered into and completed debt settlements with eleven creditors who are not insiders of the Company for an amount of $413,588 by way of issuance of 6,362,891 Units of the Company. The Company expects to shortly close an additional two debt settlements with arm's length creditors for a total of $54,025 by way of issuance of 831,154 Units. A further debt settlement in the amount of $95,900 to be completed by the issuance of 1,475,385 Common Shares to four insiders of the Company is subject to the approval of disinterested shareholders at the Company's next annual shareholders meeting. Final closing of certain Debt Conversions and the issuance of the Common Shares and the Convertible Debentures pursuant to the same is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the Exchange. Pursuant to applicable securities laws, all securities issued pursuant to the Debt Conversions will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day following the closing of the Debt Conversions. About Cyprium Mining Corporation For the description of Cyprium Mining's business and the Company's Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer which form an integral part of this news release please visit our website at: http://www.cypriummining.com/en/investors/disclaimers Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and "forward -looking statements" (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "propose", "project", "outlook", "foresee" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Such statements include, among others, those concerning the Company's anticipated plans for developments of the Company and its mining projects. Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, management's expectations regarding future growth, plans for and completion of projects by Company's third party relationships, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, operational risks in the completion of Company's anticipated projects, delays or changes in plans with respect to the development of Company's anticipated projects by Company's third party relationships, risks affecting the ability to develop projects, risks inherent in operating in foreign jurisdictions, the ability to attract key personnel, and the inability to raise additional capital. No assurances can be given that the efforts by the Company will be successful. Additional assumptions and risks are set out in detail in the Company's MD&A, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company's securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law. Investors should note that, while the mineralized material being processed by the Company is assayed, there is no certainty that the proposed operations will be economically or technically viable. Investors should also note that the Potosi silver mine and La Chinche property have no established mineral resources or mineral reserves as defined by NI 43-101. Although Cyprium Mining has made a production decision regarding the Potosi silver mine based on historical production records, historical results of sampling and drilling, a feasibility study of its projects has not been completed and there is no certainty that the proposed operations will be economically or technically viable. SOURCE Cyprium Mining Corp. Sudbury, Ontario (FSCwire) - This press release corrects the press release disseminated April 28, 2016 at 11:12 a.m.ET. The press release contained incorrect information in the 4th and 5th paragraphs. The corrected press release is below: Sudbury, Ontario April 28, 2016 - Houston Lake Mining Inc. (TSX.V: HLM), is a mining exploration company which is actively exploring for rare metals lithium, tantalum, rubidium and cesium by currently advancing its 100% owned and optioned PAK Lithium Project in northwestern Ontario, Canada. HLM is announcing it has formed an Advisory Board. Under the Terms of Reference for the Advisory Board, HLM may appoint one or more advisors whereas such advisors will be referred to as Advisory Board Members. The Corporation will seek to select individuals based on their knowledge, expertise and experience, in either business affairs generally or HLMs industry in particular, who are capable of making a valuable contribution to HLMs business. HLM is pleased to announce that Peter J. Vanstone, P.Geo is the first member appointed to the advisory board. Mr. Vanstone has specialized expertise in rare metals with over 35 years of lithium, tantalum, cesium and rubidium exploration and mine production in the Canadian Shield. He is a former Chief Geologist with the Tantalum Mining Corporation of Canada Ltd. (Tanco). The Tanco facility, located in southeastern Manitoba, is a cesium chemicals producer that also produced lithium mineral concentrates from 1986 until operations were suspended in 2009, and tantalum mineral concentrates until March 2013. He is a graduate of Lakehead University with an HBSc in geology and is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientitsts of Ontario. HLM is also pleased to report that it has received a positive response from two creditors concerning a Shares for Debt Financing. HLM proposes to issue up to 1,666,254 common shares at a price of $0.24. The financing is a 10% discount to the current market, subject to regulatory approval and would have a hold period of four months. $339,901 of debt is owed to a company owned by one non-arms length individual. The non-arms length portion of the proposed financing is therefore 1,416,254 common shares at a price of $0.24 per share. A $60,000 debt is owed to one non-arms length individual. This non arms length portion of the financing is therefore 250,000 common shares at a price of $0.24 per share. Management believes that the proposed Shares for Debt financing will strengthen the balance sheet and increase the attractiveness of the Company for future financings. The Company also announces that it has granted an additional 800,000 stock options. The options are set for a period of five years, expiring on April 28, 2021. The options are priced at $.24 and are subject to regulatory approval. About the PAK Lithium Project The PAK Lithium Project lies close to the boundary between two geological sub-provinces of the western Superior geologic province in northwestern Ontario and hosts a rare metals pegmatite deposit. The deposit is an LCT (lithium- cesium- tantalum) type pegmatite. These types of pegmatites have been the principal source of hard rock lithium, tantalum, rubidium and cesium ores mined in the world but there are comparatively few commercially-viable deposits. HLM is actively exploring its 100% owned and optioned project which contains the Pakeagama Lake pegmatite. The deposit is one of the highest grade lithium deposits in North America which has a current Measured and Indicated Resource of 7.89 million tonnes of 1.73% Li2O Eq. and Inferred Resource of 295,600 tonnes of 1.35% Li2O Eq. which has a technical/ceramic grade spodumene with low inherent iron (below 0.1% Fe2O3). The deposit has adjacent zones that are enriched in rubidium and tantalum. HLM is also evaluating the phased co-production of tantalum and mica-product concentrates once lithium mineral production has been commercialized. The deposit now has a known 500m strike length with an estimated true width varying from 10m to 125m with a sub-vertical orientation. The resource remains open to depth and along strike to the northwest and southeast. About Houston Lake Mining Inc. HLMs goal is to become a fully integrated lithium, rubidium and tantalum producer with development of the PAK Lithium Project in Ontario, Canada. Based on the PAK deposits high-purity, technical-grade spodumene, a relatively lower capital requirement to enter in to the lithium supply market is possible by firstly becoming a technical-grade lithium concentrate supplier. HLM is focused on a staged approach to indirectly participate in the burgeoning lithium battery industry by taking advantage of the disruptive change to market fundamentals by targeting the ceramic-glass industry (industrial users). Currently, the glass/ceramics segment is the second largest in total lithium demand whereby supply pressure is taking place due to the threat of lithium battery growth. HLM has a total of 119,301,940 common shares issued and outstanding. For additional information, please visit the company website at www.houstonlakemining.com. Company Contact Information Trevor R. Walker, President Henry J. Kloepper, CEO 2736 Belisle Drive T. +001 416.520.0187 Val Caron, ON P3N 1B3 CANADA T.+001 705.897.7622 F.+001 705.897.7618 Forward-looking Statements 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. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Companys registered filings what are available at http://www.sedar.com To view this press release as a PDF file, click onto the following link:public://news_release_pdf/HLMcorrrective04282016.pdfSource: Houston Lake Mining Inc. (TSX Venture:HLM) http://www.houstonlakemining.com/ Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2016 Filing Services Canada Inc. Toronto - Tsodilo Resources Limited (TSX Venture Exchange: TSD) (the "Tsodilo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the Private Placement Financing (the "Financing') previously announced on April 26, 2016, for gross proceeds to the Company of CDN $605,369.The Financing is for 1,008,948 units of the Company (the "Units"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share priced at CDN $0.60 and one common share purchase warrant per unit, each such warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share of the Company for a period until the close of business on April 29, 2018 at USD $0.60.The common shares to be issued as a result of the Financing will have a statutory four month hold period expiring on April 30, 2016.No commissions have been or will be paid in connection with this Financing.The proceeds of the Financing will be used by Tsodilo for advancement of the BK16 kimberlite and metals projects in Botswana, and for general corporate working capital.Tsodilo Resources Ltd. is an international diamond and metals exploration company engaged in the search for economic diamond and metal deposits at its Bosoto (Pty) Limited (Bosoto) and Gcwihaba Resources (Pty) Limited ("Gcwihaba") projects in Botswana and its Idada 361 (Pty) Limited (Idada) project in Barberton, South Africa. The Company has a 100% stake in its Gcwihaba project area consisting of twenty-two (22) metal (base, precious, platinum group, and rare earth) prospecting licenses and eight (8) radioactive mineral licenses all located in the North-West district of Botswana. The Company has a 75% stake in Bosoto (Pty) Ltd. which holds the BK16 kimberlite project in the Orapa Kimberlite Field in Botswana. Additionally, Tsodilo has a 70% stake in Idada Trading 361 (Pty) Limited which holds the gold and silver exploration license in the Barberton area of South Africa. Tsodilo manages the exploration of the Gcwihaba, Bosoto and Idada projects. Overall supervision of the Company's exploration program is the responsibility of Dr. Mike de Wit, President and COO of the Company and a "qualified person" as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101.The Company has offices in Toronto, Canada and Gaborone and Maun, Botswana. Please visit the Company's website, www.TsodiloResources.com, for additional information and background on our projects.This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements relating to the development of the Company's projects) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, changes in equity markets, political developments in Botswana and surrounding countries, changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration results and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration business. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.James M. Bruchs, Chairman and Chief Executive OfficerJBruchs@TsodiloResources.comDr Michiel de Wit, President and Chief Operating OfficerMdeWit@TsodiloResources.comHead OfficeTelephone +1 416 572 2033Facsimile + 1 416 987 4369Website http://www.TsodiloResources.comCopyright 2016 Filing Services Canada Inc. Kathy Tsaples is the owner of the award-winning Sweet Greek at Prahran Market in Melbourne. At Sweet Greek everything is made fresh every day and reflects the Greek heritage of this modern, Australian-born woman. In Kathy's world, food is the essence of life and a vital ingredient of all the precious events we share. She has shared some recipes from her first book, Sweet Greek: Simple Food, Sumptuous Feasts for Orthodox Easter, this year celebrated on Sunday May 1st. Her second cookbook, Zoi, is due to be published in October 2016. Any time is a good time for Kathy Tsaples' yiaourtopita. Photo: Sweet Greek Thiples (pronounced zipless with a lisp) Thiples are for celebrating life and special occasions - we serve them on big platters drizzled with honey and sprinkled with walnuts, at weddings, christenings, engagements and Christmas. At Easter we serve them to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. They're a tradition and a labour of love made by all the women of the family gathered together in the kitchen. For pastry 16 eggs (for the best results, they must be fresh and organic) Thiples are served at Easter. Photo: Sweet Greek 2kg special white flour (approx) 1 litre sunflower oil juice of 12 lemon Advertisement 12 cup of ouzo 25g packet of vanilla sugar 2 12 tbsp sugar Recipes from Kathy Tsaples's 'Sweet Greek'. Photo: Joe Armao 3 cups of walnuts Syrup 2 cups of honey 12 cup of lemon juice 1 cup of water 1 stick of cinnamon 2 cups of sugar To serve 1 cup of sesame seeds, toasted (to serve) 1 tsp of cinnamon Method 1. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla sugar,lemon juice and ouzo. 2. Add the flour to form a stiff dough. It should not stick to your hands. 3. Knead it for about 5 minutes and allow it to rest for about 3050 minutes. 5. Take a piece of dough the size of your fist and, using a pasta machine, roll the dough out until it is thin. Cut your pastry into squares approximately 6 by 6 inches in size. 6. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan. Drop the pastry squares into the hot oil and, using a fork, roll them up to form a cylinder. Admittedly, this step does require a bit of practice. Don't worry if they are not perfect to begin with. Drain the Thiples after frying. 7. Create the syrup by bringing all the syrup ingredients to a boil and simmer for about 510 minutes. 8. Dip each of the Thiples into the warm (not hot) syrup. Serve in a beautiful platter and sprinkle with the finely chopped walnuts, sesame seeds and a little cinnamon. Yiaourtopita (yoghurt cake with lemon) You don't need an excuse or reason to make Yiaourtopita, which is a delicious cake for any occasion. Make it for your family and friends, and serve it with a cup of coffee or tea. You will need an electric mixer. 2 tsp lemon rind 3 cups of self-raising flour 3 tsp baking powder 1 cup of butter, softened at room temperature 1 12 cups of yoghurt (preferably full-cream) 6 eggs icing sugar (for dusting) 1 12 cups of sugar a pinch of salt Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C. 2. Grease and flour a cake tin (approx. 26cm in diameter). Separate the eggs by placing the whites in a clear stainless-steel bowl. Whisk these with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form. 3. In a separate bowl, beat the butter combined with the sugar using the paddle-wheel attachment of the electric mixer. 4. Add the egg yolks one at a time, followed by the lemon rind then the yoghurt. 5. Using a big spoon and with the mixer on the slowest speed setting, gradually add the flour and baking powder. 6. Fold in the egg whites. 7. Bake the cake for 4045 minutes. Confirm that the cake is fully cooked by inserting a knife in the middle you'll know it's ready when the knife comes out clean. 8. Once out of the oven and while still hot, dust the cake with icing sugar. This is an extract from: Sweet Greek: Simple Food, Sumptuous Feasts by Kathy Tsaples, Melbourne Books, 2013, $39.95. Kathy's second book Zoi (Melbourne Books) focuses on her contemporary interpretation of Greek cuisine. "Zoi is about life, a cherished past and future promise. It's a book to use, full of recipes that will become a part of your life story too." Flash Violent clashes between riot police and demonstrators erupted during protest marches across France on Thursday with scores of youth arrested and several policemen injured. In Paris, a reported 60,000 people responded to the call of seven trade and student unions to take to the street to voice their opposition to reform labor laws that they say favor business leaders and weaken workers' rights. The Interior Ministry put the number at up to 15,000 protesters in the French capital where seven policemen were injured with one in serious situation after they clashed with groups of masked youth hurling projectiles. Five of them were arrested. Violent incidents were also reported across French cities. In the southern town of Marseille 57 people were arrested, while in Nantes 23 others were arrested and six policemen were wounded, according to local reports. Denouncing violent clashes, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 124 people were arrested and 24 police officers were wounded during the demonstrations. Some 170,000 demonstrators across the country took part in the country's rallies against changing labor laws, police data showed. On March 31, a protest drew an estimated 390,000 people. With the national unemployment rate at 10.2 percent, the Socialist government plans to loosen labor rules by making layoffs easier, reducing overtime pay and economic redundancies and opening to negotiation working hours and holidays. French unions and leftist politicians, however, say such move would create more low-paid jobs and further weaken workers' finances. Under pressure, the French government unveiled earlier this month new aid to youth worth up to 500 million euros (566.83 million U.S. dollars) With a large slice of jobseekers are between 18 and 25 years, the governing Socialists said they would impose additional taxes on short-term contracts to encourage companies to recruit young workers on full-time contracts. They also promised aid to apprentices and students. "The government has already made some moves, but they are clearly insufficient. This mobilization is both against the government and also against the parliament," Claude Mailly, head of Force Ouvriere (FO) union, was quoted as saying by local media. The National Assembly will examine the draft text to reform labor laws next Tuesday. The Tejas Brothers including Dave Perez, lead vocalist, songwriter and accordion player will play at Blaine's Pub this weekend. Contributed photo SHARE Contributed photo The Tejas Brothers sound has a melting pot of influences, including country, rock, blues, cumbias and traditional, accordion-based Conjunto music. Band cites diverse group of influences By Federico Martinez, Federico.Martinez@gosanangelo.com / @tejasjukebox It's going to get "muy caliente" when the always popular Tejas Brothers bring their electrifying blend of Tex-Mex, honky-tonk soul to Blaine's Pub on Saturday. The Fort Worth-based band has long been recognized by fans and music critics as one of the best live bands in Texas. "We want people to have fun at our shows," said John Garza, the group's bassist and co-founder. "We're not activists or political. There are plenty of bands out there doing that. "Maybe we are making a political statement by just saying we want to have fun playing music that our audience can enjoy and just forget their problems for a little while." The band includes band co-founder Dave Perez, lead vocalist and songwriter and whose sizzling accordion skills never fail to bring the audience to their feet; James Shelton, pedal steel and vocals; John Albertson, lead guitar; and Tim Crispin, drums. Albertson is the most recent addition to the band, which appears to jell well on stage. "Many bands think having the best musicians make for the best band," Garza said. "Dave and I think chemistry is the most important factor for long-term success. "Look at a band like Van Halen. They've had some great lineups, but have a hard time getting along and staying together." Their camaraderie doesn't mean the band isn't loaded with talent, too. "Shelton is a virtuoso; there's a bit of mad scientist about him," said Garza, who noted that Albertson is a very talented guitarist and Crispin's drumming helps drive the band's sound. Perez and Garza came together in 2006, and their band quickly became a fan favorite. Their self-titled debut album, originally released in 2008 and rereleased in 2009, was recognized as the seventh-most-played album of 2009 by the American Music Association. It hasn't always been an easy ride, the band said. The decision to name the band the Tejas Brothers, for example, initially caused problems. When country radio stations heard the name, they automatically assumed the group played Tejano music, Garza said. Tejano radio stations and fans quickly rejected them because they also incorrectly assumed the band played Tejano. It took several years to gain a foothold, playing small bars and events and introducing fans to their brand of music which includes a melting pot of influences, including country, rock, blues, cumbias and traditional, accordion-based Conjunto music. "We're still out on the fringes," said Garza, referring to the band's sound. "We have a lot of diversity in our music. I think Roger Creager said it best when he said, 'I'm just a Texas music artist.' That's what we consider ourselves." Their music reflects that diversity: "Your Baby, My Honey" is an accordion-driven rock song. If you close your eyes and listen to "I Can't Sleep," you can imagine the legendary Doug Sahm or Texas Tornados performing the song. "Boogie-woogie Mamacita" is a high-octane honky-tonk sprinkled with Spanish phrases. "Yo Soy El Rey" is sung primarily in English, but its melody is a blend of country and Conjunto sounds. "The Castle" sounds like a song Freddy Fender, another Texas legend, would perform. "Some people are afraid to mention the resemblance to the Texas Tornados or Freddy Fender because they think we'll be offended," Garza said. "Not at all; it's a matter of pride when you start digging into history and diversity of musicians that have influenced you." Perez, whose personal tastes include conjunto, Tejano and cumbias, has intentionally written songs that are reminiscent of Fender, who is one of his favorites, Garza said. Garza, who has played in several blues bands, brings blues and country influences to the table, although he said he personally enjoys listening to hard-rock bands like AC/DC and Pantera. Ironically, neither Perez nor Garza is fluent in Spanish. Perez learned to speak and sing in Spanish by performing weekly at a Mexican restaurant several years ago. Garza said he sings Spanish words phonetically but doesn't always know the meaning of the words. He's made a habit of learning the meaning of the Spanish words in advance because it helps him sing with more expression, he said. Like many Mexican-Americans of his generation, Garza was not given the opportunity to learn Spanish. His parents, Juan and Petra Garza, experienced prejudice and discrimination when they were younger and wanted to spare their children the same grief. "God bless our parents," Garza said. "They had our best interests at heart, but they overcompensated." Garza grew up in Irving, a predominately white suburb of Fort Worth. Juan Garza, who owned an excavating business, sent all four of his children to private Catholic schools. In high school, Garza began singing in his best friend's group, the Yale Street Band. He began playing guitar, then switched to bass when his friend moved away. The "garage" band never performed publicly, he said. Perez's father grew up as a hardworking migrant farmworker, which prompted Perez to write and dedicate the song "Rich Man" to his father. The song was also selected as the title of the band's second album. "The song's message is that you can be rich without any money," Garza said. "What makes a person rich is their friends and family. Even after all these years I still see people in the audience moved by it. It has a very poignant message." If you go What: Tejas Brothers perform When: 10:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Blaines Pub, 10 W. Harris Ave. Cost: $10 Contact: 325-653-7074 SHARE By Traci Watson, USA TODAY NETWORK Seniors who insist they feel far younger than they look have been vindicated: Scientists have found a genetic combination that makes people look older than their true age. Certain varieties of the so-called MC1R gene add as much as two years to the face, researchers report in this weeks Current Biology. Oddly, the newfound genetic varieties dont do their dirty work by etching crows feet or sprinkling liver spots. Instead the culprit forms of MC1R make people look older in some undefined way that scientists dont yet understand. Its possible that the gene affects facial structure, such as lip height. Or perhaps it deepens the crease between the nose and the corners of the mouth. However it acts, the gene is linked with how old you look and not necessarily with how old you are, says study co-author Manfred Kayser of Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam in the Netherlands. And thats important for more than vanitys sake, he adds, because there is a link between how old you look and how healthy you are. Earlier research pointed to pieces of the genetic code related to spotty skin and to the damage wrought by sun exposure. But the scientists behind the new finding wanted to study the genetics of perceived age, the age a person looks to others, says study co-author David Gunn, a scientist at Unilever. The company makes personal-care products. The researchers directed teams of people to estimate the ages of 2,700 Dutch seniors. Then the scientists looked for stretches of DNA common to the study subjects whose perceived age was older than their true age. To confirm their findings, the scientists repeated the exercise with 600 additional Dutch seniors and some 1,200 British seniors. The results pointed to MC1R, known previously as a gene for red hair and freckles. Its also involved in DNA repair in the skin, which may be the role that allows it to add years to the face. Erwin Tschachler of Austrias Medical University of Vienna, who was not involved in the current study, says the new research is well done and confirms his own work connecting MC1R and the leathery skin created by exposure to the sun. But another scientist points out that the study doesnt account for smoking or body-mass index. Both can affect wrinkles, notes Anne Chang of Stanford University Medical School. Study author Gunn of Unilever hopes that by learning what happens inside the skin of people who look older than their years, we can come up with things which will help people age as best they can. But he warns that only half a persons perceived age can be chalked up to genetics. In other research, he found that smoking, more sun exposure, and poor care of ones teeth also make people look older. Blaming it all on your genes that doesnt work, Keyser agrees. You may look two years older because of your MC1R variant but if, on top of that, you smoke, youre most likely looking even older. tribune content agency Memorable seaside views, whitewashed homes scrambling up the hillside, well-worn harborside cafes perfect for lingering and no cars all combine to make Hydra my ideal Greek isle. SHARE By Rick Steves There's nothing like an island break in the middle of your travels to really make you feel like you're on vacation. Some of my most vivid travel memories are recharging on an island, where time seems to slow down, and the only thing on the agenda is finding the perfect perch for watching the sunset. Denmark's Aero Island is one of my favorite island getaways. This sleepy, 6-by-22-mile isle near the German border is a peaceful and homey place, where baskets of strawberries sit for sale on the honor system in front of farmhouses. I enjoy biking into the idyllic countryside, past farms and windmills, struggling uphill to the island's 2,700-inch-high summit, then winding down past a fine 12th-century church, a 6,000-year-old burial place, and a little brewery. If I time it right, I arrive at the beach just past the main town of Aeroskobing before the sun sets. Along the beach is a row of Monopoly-sized huts, each lovingly painted and carved, stained with generations of family fun, sunsets and memories of pickled herring on rye bread. I'll never forget picnicking with the mayor of Aeroskobing here, watching happy children splash in the water as the late summer sun sank heavy and red into whatever Danish sea was out there. As the shrimp and wieners sizzled on the hibachi, the mayor strummed his guitar and taught us Danish sea chanties. To Denmark's north, Stockholm offers more spectacular island escapes. Part of an archipelago, Stockholm is surrounded by both the sea and a large lake, with an amazing playground of islands stretching 80 miles from its center. Of the thousands of islands, more than a hundred are served by ferries. One of the joys of a trip to Stockholm's Archipelago is to grab a perch on the breezy sun deck with Swedes as they enjoy their island wonderland. A popular destination is Vaxholm, an hour away, with a well-preserved fortress just off its busy harborfront and a charming old town. For an even more remote destination, ride a couple of hours past Vaxholm, to the island of Svartso, with 80 year-round residents. Renting a bike is a fine way to see the island. Within moments you're out in the countryside, immersed in pastoral farm land and pristine nature. At the end, stop at the excellent restaurant. I requested the house specialty and was overwhelmed with the bounty of the Baltic. While northern Europe has plenty to offer, the Mediterranean is what most people envision for "island getaway." But be warned: Mediterranean islands can be unpleasantly crowded and expensive in summer. Countless islands sit off Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, stretching north from Dubrovnik. Two good destinations are Hvar and Korcula, both with rugged limestone scenery, historic port towns, pebbly beaches and crystal-clear water. Hvar is glitzier, while Korcula is sleepier more salt of the earth. In either place, enjoy strolling the back streets, try to listen to some "klapa" Dalmatian folk music sung a cappella and savor island life over a cup of "bijela kava" (white coffee). Touristy Mykonos and Santorini are classic Greek island stops. But my favorite is Hydra, less than two hours by ferry from Athens yet a world apart. One of the island's greatest attractions is the absence of cars and motorbikes. Instead, donkeys do the heavy hauling today, just as they have through the centuries. Hydra is one of the prettiest towns in Greece. Its superb harbor is surrounded by an amphitheater of rocky hills, covered in a maze of narrow, cobbled streets, flanked by whitewashed homes. The clutter of red-tiled roofs looks like a sloppy pile of Triscuits tumbling up the hill away from the harbor. The beauty of a Hydra day is that there is no need for an agenda. Your wake-up call is a chorus of tinny church bells, which sound like dinner triangles on a cowboy ranch. The bells also seem to call the barnyard awake: dogs, roosters, a million baby birds cry for breakfast, and old burros snort, clearing their sinuses. You can spend the day exploring the town and museums, hiking to nearby villages and beaches, or circling the island by boat. But I do have one ritual: At day's end, I walk 15 minutes along the coastal path to the rustic village of Kaminia, with its pocket-size harbor that shelters the community's fishing boats. On the bluff just above is Kodylenia's Taverna, where owner Dimitris takes his boat out early in the morning to buy the day's best catch directly from the fishermen, before they come back to port. Here, with a glass of ouzo and some munchies, as the sun slowly sinks into the sea and boats become silhouettes, you can drink to the beauties of an island escape. Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook. SHARE Howler monkeys show lots of personality by exploring and playing, so they are fun to watch, said Liz Kellerman, the zoos animal behaviorist. And these guys are famously loud. Their howls can be heard three miles away. Black howler monkeys are an endangered species native to Latin America, and this troop is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plans, conservation programs that maintain healthy populations of vulnerable animals to help prevent extinction. Black howler monkeys are an endangered species native to Latin America, and this troop is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plans, conservation programs that maintain healthy populations of vulnerable animals to help prevent extinction. By Staff Report ABILENE, TEXAS Zoo fans may hear some wild new sounds in the park this week as the zoo welcomes a troop of howler monkeys. The family of four is now on exhibit after arriving from the Cleveland Zoo earlier this month. Black howler monkeys are an endangered species native to Latin America, and this troop is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plans, conservation programs that maintain healthy populations of vulnerable animals to help prevent extinction. Howler monkeys show lots of personality by exploring and playing, so they are fun to watch, said Liz Kellerman, the zoos animal behaviorist. And these guys are famously loud. Their howls can be heard three miles away. Another interesting trait is the monkeys have sexually dimorphic features. Mature males are black and have large necks and jaws for howling, while females and youngsters are petite and blond. The troop includes a breeding pair: Dante is a 7-year-old male and Springer is his 13-year-old mate. Their offspring include a 19-month-old male named Yoder, and an 8-month-old female named Hazel. Yoders fur will turn black as he matures. The monkeys use their prehensile tails as a fifth limb and to grip tightly to tree branches or food. The howler monkeys inhabit the enclosure that once housed the Colobus, who have moved into new digs in the Giraffe Safari area. Since its founding in 1966, the Abilene Zoo has stood as a place of learning and adventure, where visitors make memories, share the joy of discovery and become inspired to preserve wildlife. Situated on 16 acres in the award-winning Grover Nelson Park, the zoo provides a special encounter in a lushly landscaped walkable setting with more than 1000 animals of 270 species from around the globe. The zoo serves more than 225,000 visitors per year, and offers VIP behind-the-scenes tours, as well as popular classes, camps and after-hours family events. The zoo is open 7 days a week (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admittance is 4 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4.50 for children ages 3-12, $6 for seniors aged 60 and older. Members are admitted free. www.abilenezoo.org. 325-676-6085. SHARE By Rashda Khan, Rashda.Khan@gosanangelo.com / @Rashda_SAST About 88 percent of officers recently surveyed by a state organization indicated morale in the San Angelo Police Department is not high and the administrative team consisting of Chief Tim Vasquez and three assistant chiefs doesn't appreciate input. However, a high number of respondents also indicated they enjoy their current assignments and would be content to finish up their careers at the SAPD. The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas conducted the survey on behalf of two labor organizations with local members: San Angelo Coalition of Police, which is a CLEAT affiliate, and the San Angelo Police Officers Association, which is associated with the Texas Municipal Police Association. The survey was sent to 149 sworn officers on April 20. Of those, 123 or 82.5 percent responded, according to CLEAT. The city's Human Resources Department said there are 150 sworn officers, four part-time sworn officers and 14 recruits on the payroll for the SAPD. Vasquez is running for re-election in the May 7 elections. He is challenged by Frank Carter, Jeff Davis and Mike Hernandez. Early voting started Monday. Chief Vasquez, who had not received an official copy of the survey results Thursday, was not happy with CLEAT. "I hate to see state CLEAT involving our officers in this way," he said. "It's sad officers are put in the middle." He said that is one reason he never asks SAPD officers to endorse him. "Even our San Angelo Police Association doesn't endorse anybody in the police chief race," he said, adding that San Angelo officers would participate in the election process. "Voting and getting involved in ugly politics are two very different things." Vasquez also contested the survey's numbers. "This is not a true sampling," he said. "It was done on Survey Monkey, and anybody could have voted multiple times." John Moritz, spokesman for CLEAT, said the survey was conducted in a professional manner and there are safeguards in place that would prevent that. "The results paint what we believe is really an accurate picture of what's going on inside the police department." Moritz added that one of the questions on the survey asked whether officers believe the chief values employee input. The overwhelming response was that he doesn't, and his reaction to the survey result "bears that out," Moritz said. According to the survey results, nearly 75 percent of officers believe Vasquez does not value their input. Most officers, however, believe their own direct supervisors value their input, the survey showed. The assistant chiefs also were rated on that topic. According to the survey, 75.42 percent felt Assistant Chief Kevin Hollway didn't value their input, 34 percent felt that way about Assistant Chief Robert Martinez, and 35 percent felt that way about Assistant Chief Jeff Fant. "To be an effective chief you have to put people in place that complement you," Vasquez said in an interview with Standard-Times earlier this month. "Each of them should be able to do things so that I can focus on chief stuff." According to the SAPD website, Martinez oversees investigations, Hollway is in charge of field operations, and Fant is in charge of administration including computing, statistics and other data. Vasquez questioned the timing of the survey, conducted after CLEAT endorsed Frank Carter in the San Angelo police chief race and the results released in the midst of early voting. "This is not valid. It was a politically motivated survey," Vasquez said. "Why didn't they give me a copy and share the results with me before releasing it to the media? I'm more than ready to entertain a valid survey after I'm re-elected so we can tackle some of the issues brought up." Moritz said CLEAT conducts such surveys periodically and generally at the request of local members. It is one of the many services the organization provides its membership. To add to his argument, Vasquez pointed out that Abilene recently conducted a similar survey, but it was handled in a markedly different manner. The Abilene Police Officers Association worked with CLEAT to conduct a workplace satisfaction survey at the Abilene Police Department in March. Out of 185 sworn officers then working at the department, 163 took the survey, said Abilene Chief Stan Standridge, who was appointed to the position. Similar to the San Angelo survey, the Abilene one had questions related to pay and benefits, equipment and staffing levels, communication, supervision and morale among other things, said Detective Adam Becker, president of APOA. He said the organization decided to work through CLEAT because they do offer such assistance to their members and because they wanted to have an independent third party involved to preserve the integrity of the process. CLEAT offered them a choice between electronic and paper options, and APAO decided to go the paper route. "We felt that was the best way to maintain the integrity of the survey," Becker said. "We had people come in person and mark their name off a (department) list (which stayed with the CLEAT representative) to get a survey, fill out the survey in person and on paper, and turn in the survey to the CLEAT rep." The Abilene police administration was involved both in the pre- and post-survey stages. APOA and CLEAT put together the questions and statements for the survey, then shared the draft with police administration and the Abilene city manager for their input. As a result of the feedback, questions were modified, deleted and added. When the results came back, the association, police administration and the city manager again visited about the issues highlighted by the survey. Standridge said police administration meets with APOA about quarterly, usually at the request of the association. According to the SAPD survey, 78 percent of the respondents do not have confidence in the Chief of Police's ability to lead the department into the future. The title was used rather than an individual's name for this question. Vasquez said he feels good about the race and about his chances. However, if he were to lose, he and his assistant chiefs would return to their previous ranks. For Vasquez, that would be sergeant. "But the reality is all of us would retire," he said. "I could seek an appointed chief position elsewhere because I would be qualified for it, but I want to stay home." See the full survey results here. SHARE The remarkable durability of non-establishment candidates Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump in this year's presidential race may reflect the widely held theory that, despite their rhetoric, our two major political parties are so close together that it doesn't really matter which one is in power. This theory has never been better expressed than by the colloquial George Wallace, former governor of Alabama and perennial presidential candidate: "There's not a dime's worth of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats." The idea implies that citizens who want real change are attracted to non-establishment candidates such as Trump ("shake things up") and Sanders ("political revolution"). But, at best, this theory encourages cynicism and disengagement from politics, which corrode a basic foundation of our republic, an informed and interested voting constituency. Further, the theory's just not true, at least in recent decades, if it ever was. This is nowhere more evident than in foreign policy. Cuba is a good example. Whether you believe it's a good idea, President Barack Obama's rapprochement with Havana after a feckless 50-year embargo is not something that would happen under any of the Republican candidates for president. Trump's indifference about Cuba ("I think it's fine, but we should have made a better deal.") separates him from more conventional Republicans. Under President Cruz or erstwhile candidate Marco Rubio, Cuba would continue to be a half-century-old Cold War anomaly. On climate, the difference between the two parties is vast. At least Obama acknowledges the existence of an international crisis, and halting steps have been taken. Sanders and Hillary Clinton are willing to talk about climate change, as well. Again, Trump is indifferent about the climate ("I believe it goes up and it goes down, and it goes up again.") Other times he's more emphatic ("The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese.") Ted Cruz, on the other hand, is an outright denier. Here's another difference: Iran and Saudi Arabia. For almost 40 years, Iran has been our "enemy" and Saudi Arabia has been our "friend." This is despite the fact that Iran has a democratic tradition that dates back over a century and in recent years has been showing significant signs of moderation and inclination toward modernization and the West. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is a hereditary kingdom in which women are not permitted to drive or vote. In terms of the future of the Middle East, these two are the essential nations. Their rivalry is built on jealousy of each other's power and regional influence, and it is stoked by the ancient Sunni/Shia divide. This is a dangerous stalemate, largely beyond our control. The best we can do is to be smart, diplomatic and reluctant to come down on the wrong side. Thus Obama negotiated a nuclear deal with Iran last year, a calculated move that gives up some things in exchange for others but which, overall, has a decent chance of urging Iran toward moderation and integration with the rest of the world. Then Obama visited Saudi Arabia last week. The atmosphere lacked the glad-handing cordiality of the past. Riyadh isn't thrilled about potential reconciliation between the U.S. and Iran; the Saudis would rather have us entirely on their side. But, beyond our support for Israel, some ambiguity about our precise position might be healthy for the players in the region. It's called diplomacy. The Republican candidates for president are less subtle. They've talked casually about carpet bombing and making the desert sand glow in the dark. Trump has said clearly that we will be on Saudi Arabia's side ("how much will Saudi Arabia pay us to save them?") Cruz says, "I will rip to shreds" the Iran deal on his first day in office. This imprudent language reflects the kind of carelessness that led to the source of many of the current problems in the Middle East, George W. Bush's ill-advised invasion of Iraq. It's impossible to imagine that Al Gore would have taken that action if he had been elected in 2000. Whom we vote for does appear to make a difference. John M. Crisp, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi. Contact him at jcrisp@delmar.edu. Flash Kenya Airways has cancelled all its Thursday night flights due to disruptions caused by the ongoing pilots strike. A statement from the airline said all the night flights except domestic ones to the coastal city of Mombasa would remain cancelled until 0200hrs. The cancellations came after some pilots failed to turn up for work, inconveniencing passengers who were due to depart to various destinations across the world. The Kenya Airline Pilots Association (Kalpa), whose membership is about 500 pilots, had vowed to down their tools in protest of alleged mismanagement on the part of Kenya Airways, one of the largest carriers in Africa. The pilots said Kenya Airways CEO Mbuvi Ngunze's efforts to turn around the airline would not be successful while accusing the airline's management of being responsible for the woes affecting the national carrier. The airline's flights to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Lusaka and Zanzibar including Johannesburg, Yaounde, Jeddah, Entebbe, Addis Ababa and Kinshasa were among those cancelled. The airline said it was in constant contacts communication with its customers on the mitigating measures for the cancelled flights. The industrial action continues despite a court order Kenya Airways obtained on Wednesday, stopping pilots from going on strike from Thursday until the case is heard and determined. Flash Wildlife campaigners on Wednesday hailed China's financial and technical support that has led to significant decline in poaching of elephants and rhinos in Kenya. File photo shows firemen pouring fuel on contraband ivory in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. [Photo/Xinhua] Speaking during the launch of a new anti-poaching campaign involving Kenyan celebrities and global conservation lobbies in Nairobi, the campaigners said Beijing is a strategic partner in efforts to conserve the country's wildlife heritage. Peter Knights, Executive Director of WildAid noted that Sino Kenya bilateral cooperation has revitalized the war against poaching of iconic mammals like elephants and rhinos. "There is no doubt China has contributed immensely to the war against poaching in Kenya and the region. The country has provided funds, vehicles and state of the art equipment to the wildlife agency to help monitor and arrest criminal syndicates involved in this vice," Knights told Xinhua in Nairobi. WildAid and a host of global conservation lobby groups have partnered with Chinese government and celebrities to raise awareness on the plight of African elephants and rhinos in the middle kingdom. Knights noted the robust campaigns have paid dividends as evidenced by China's growing support for anti-poaching efforts in the continent. "There are positive developments in China courtesy for these anti-poaching campaigns. They include law enforcement and a growing number of Chinese citizens in favor of a total ban on ivory trade, "Knights told Xinhua. He revealed that awareness about poaching among the Chinese people has increased by 50 percent in the last two years while 95 percent of the population is in favor of a ban on ivory trade thanks to public education. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, during his State visit to Kenya in May 2014 said China would enhance cooperation with Kenya to protect wildlife and promote sustainable development. The country has donated anti-poaching gear to the Kenya Wildlife Service. Knights also hailed Chinese companies based in Kenya for supporting wildlife conservation as part of their social responsibility. Daudi Sumba, a senior official at African Wildlife Foundation said that China has supported strategic interventions to reduce poaching in Kenya. "We have seen tremendous awareness in China on the negative impacts of poaching thanks to the ongoing campaigns. Our influential partners in China have also supported anti-poaching initiatives in Kenya and the entire region," Sumba said. There used to be an unwritten -- and oft-repeated -- understanding among state officials: Higher education expenditures were not going to be part of a statewide performance measurement system. Today, that notion is changing. At least 20 states are at some stage of developing performance-based systems for funding their universities, according to research done on behalf of Complete College America, a nonprofit organization. Although other sources offer up different numbers, all agree that this phenomenon is expanding.To get a handle on the changes taking place, the Washington State Auditors Office reviewed the status of performance-based funding in a number of states. The report noted that Utah, which has had performance based funding since 1999, added mission-based funding in 2012-2013. Campuses propose specific metrics based on their distinct missions, according to the Washington report. Each institution specifies a description, rationale [and] outcome assessment criteria to measure success and budget implementation plans. This added specific institution-based measures to the more general, systemwide information that was already being reported.The kind of measures used varies widely from state to state. In many instances, the performance measures are simple outputs, such as the number of students attending state universities. Thats hardly the kind of outcome measure that could be most helpful in evaluating the success of universities in achieving their missions. As Michael Pagano, dean of the College of Urban Planning & Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago, puts it, Legislatures always want to know, how large are our classes, and what is the graduation rate after six years? When you have data like that, you know a student has a degree, but you dont know if a student has learned anything.New Mexico announced that it was moving into a performance-based funding formula a couple of years ago. But the state has never established targets. They havent told the institutions of higher learning what they want them to do, says Charles Sallee, deputy director of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee. As a result, the performance measures in the funding formulas -- including course completions, research grants and points for students who reach 30 and 60 credit hours -- are only used to compare one state institution to another and to divide up the 5 percent of funding that is tied to performance. But the funding formula doesnt really work. Each higher ed institution ends up competing, and it comes at the expense of the other institutions. Theyre cannibalizing themselves, Sallee says.One state that has added more results-based measures to its funding formulas has been Tennessee. In 2011, it adopted a new outcome-based model for the almost 5.5 percent of state appropriations governed by performance. The metrics include student satisfaction, job placement results, academic program accreditation, and the use of licensure/certification exams whenever possible.In addition to the different measures states use, the degree to which they impact actual funding also varies place to place. In Illinois, only about 1 percent of funding was tied to performance, according to the Washington report. In Ohio, its been 10 percent and may be going up.Increasingly, universities are actively involved in working with state legislatures to develop means for tying funding to measurement. Theres been a recognition that they have to be at the table with the legislature, says Bruce Vandal, senior vice president of results at Complete College America.This isnt necessarily a sign of genuine buy-in. Rather, it may be a case of co-opting reality. If the legislature is going to pursue measurement as a means for funding universities, its better to help create the system rather than be required to comply with an approach developed without input.Underlying that is a fact of life: Generally, colleges tend to be hostile to government oversight. They dont like accountability and they dont like oversight, says Michael Meotti, a former commissioner of higher education in Connecticut. State institutions want to find ways to protect their own turf. Not every single one of them, but most of them.Of course, the goal of tying funding to performance is to focus attention on improving performance. The Washington report indicated that Oklahoma officials, who implemented performance funding in 2013, have shifted their focus from cost to improvements in higher education performance.Still, some Oklahoma officials argue that it is difficult to change the thinking within higher education. Some presidents, they noted, are invested in the old system and have difficulty transitioning to performance-based methods.It has long seemed to us that the best way to measure the effectiveness of higher education is on the value it adds. Universities that admit mostly top-notch students are inevitably going to find it easier to achieve a whole variety of goals. Wed argue that the universities that have lower admission standards could be more dramatically instrumental in raising the quality of their students professional and personal lives -- and that is just the kind of thing that should be rewarded. When New York state Chief Information Officer Maggie Miller testified in February before the state legislature, she warned lawmakers of a looming IT staff crisis. Within the next few years, she said, her agency expects to lose 25 percent of its staff to retirement. As those retirements unfold, they will reduce the average level of experience for senior state IT workers from 40 years to 11 years.New York is not alone. Maine is also facing a mass exodus of its IT workforce. It estimates that 24 percent of IT workers are eligible to retire in the next two years. A National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) report last year found that 40 percent of states expect that between 11 and 20 percent of their workers will be eligible to retire in the next year, while 86 percent found it challenging to recruit new workers to fill vacant IT positions. CIOs also cited a lack of funding for training as one of the top three impediments to developing, supporting and maintaining IT services, according to the survey.State technology agencies are responding to the problem in several different ways, including hiring human resources directors who specialize in IT recruitment, developing internship programs to generate interest among young people and investing in training programs.Colorados Office of Information Technology (OIT) faces the dubious task of trying to recruit new workers when unemployment in the IT field is at a very low 2.4 percent in the Denver region. Just about everyone who wants a job in technology has one, says Karen Wilcox, director of human resources at OIT. With the state unable to match private-sector salaries, recruiting workers to fill retiree and new slots isnt easy.Wilcox has shelved the old recruitment strategy known as post and pray in favor of more proactive approaches, such as widening candidate pipelines by seeking out IT workers through, for example, social media, software developer meet-ups and internships. The latter, in particular, is one way to engage future candidates who may still be in high school but want to learn about technology and the public sector.Attracting IT workers in a red-hot tech market also calls for creative branding, says Wilcox. We promote working at OIT by telling prospective candidates that we do important work. It isnt boring work.OIT uses metrics to track how quickly it takes to fill positions -- the average is 45 days, though more senior positions can take longer -- and to measure job satisfaction. Colorado has also added training and development into the mix to keep IT skills up to date. Its a hot-button issue [that we need to] keep as current as possible, Wilcox says. Business Tycoon Upsets Utah Governor's Race Where Veterans Are Serving in State Legislatures Virginia Governor Gives Ex-Felons the Vote Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who's had his job since 2009, is having a more difficult than expected time trying to keep it.Last weekend, he came in second place at the state's Republican convention, failing to secure the nomination and sending him into a June 28 primary. He'll face Overstock.com Chairman Jonathan Johnson, who won 55 percent of the delegate vote at the convention, while Herbert finished with just 44 percent.Herbert, however, starts the primary race with several advantages over Johnson. He has plenty of name recognition; $805,000 in campaign cash, compared to Johnson's $11,500; and a huge lead in the polls , 58 percent of GOP voters to Johnson's 20 percent.Johnson criticized Herbert at last weekends gathering for raising taxes, for not doing enough to gain state control over federal land and for supporting Common Core curriculum standards in schools.Herbert, meanwhile, defended his record by touting Utahs robust economy and high graduation rates.Johnson has also repeatedly faulted Herbert for his role with the National Governors Association (NGA), which Herbert currently chairs.The business executive called the NGA a left-of-center Washington D.C.-based group, led by its staff of bureaucrats. Johnson specifically took issue with the NGAs role in developing Common Core; lobbying Congress to let states collect online sales taxes; and helping states negotiate with the federal government to expand Medicaid to more low-income people. (All governors are invited to join the NGA, and Republicans currently hold a large majority of gubernatorial seats.)Utah needs to stop looking to Washington bureaucracies to solve Utahs problems," Johnson said, according to his campaign website. "In general, I oppose increasing Utah reliance on the federal government."The Overstock executive also pointed out that Herbert was the only Republican governor to support federal efforts to settle Syrian refugees in his state.The winner of the GOP primary will go into the November contest with Democratic candidate Mike Weinholtz as the heavy favorite. Utah, however, hasn't elected a Democratic governor since 1980.Roughly 14 percent of all state lawmakers in America have some military experience, according to a new analysis from the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute.The legislatures with the highest percentage of lawmakers who are veterans are New Hampshire (23%), Nevada (22%), Alabama (22%), North Dakota (21%) and Tennessee (21%).Utah claimed the lowest percentage of veterans, with just 5 percent of lawmakers, followed by California (6%), Minnesota (6%), Massachusetts (7%) and Illinois (7%).Nationally, nearly two-thirds of the state lawmakers with military backgrounds are Republicans. But Democratic veterans outnumber their GOP counterparts in Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Rhode Island.In time for them to participate in the upcoming presidential election, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued an order last week restoring voting rights to more than 200,000 felons in the state.The governor, who previously restored voting rights for 18,000 residents, said his action comes in response to the fact that Virginia has one of the most restrictive laws against felons voting in the country.This action means that these Virginians, who have served their sentences and returned to live in our communities, will no longer be second-class citizens who must jump through onerous hoops to have a voice in our society, he said.Republicans balked at the move, noting that McAuliffe did it to help Hillary Clinton in November. Most of the people who will regain their voting rights are African-Americans, a group that overwhelmingly tends to favor Democrats.It is hard to describe how transparent the governors motives are, said William Howell, the Republican speaker of Virginias House of Delegates, in a statement Howell and other Republicans also argue that McAuliffe's action, which is based on the governor's authority to grant pardons, violated the state constitution. The charter requires governors to report those actions on a case-by-case basis to the state legislature.The issue of restoring felons voting rights is often tinged with partisan accusations. As reported , Matt Bevin, the newly elected Republican governor of Kentucky recently rescinded an order from his Democratic predecessor much like the one McAuliffe issued last week. And in Maryland, the new GOP governor vetoed a measure passed earlier this year by the states Democratic legislature to restore voting rights -- but the legislature overturned that veto. The City Council on Tuesday made it illegal for anyone to use a public bathroom that doesn't align with the gender they were born with.The new law, approved unanimously by the council's members, restricts a person's use of public bathrooms and changing rooms to the facilities designated for use by those of the gender listed on his or her birth certificate. The law applies within both the city's limits and police jurisdiction.After members approved the new city ordinance, Council President Steven Waits read from a prepared statement.Waits said he and the council sought the law "not out of concerns for the 0.3 percent of the population who identify as transgender," but "to protect our women and children."He said the measure isn't meant to be discriminatory, and comes in direct response to the bathroom and changing-room usage policy put forth by supermarket chain Target, which has a store at Oxford's Exchange shopping center.The company posted that policy in a blog on its website last week, referencing "recent debate around proposed laws in several states."That debate has been heated in North Carolina, where news outlets report that scores of protesters have been arrested this week while demonstrating for or against a statewide law that extends similar restroom restrictions."We welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity," read the company's post, put online last Tuesday.Waits said he's received an "overwhelming" number of complaints from city residents regarding the company's policy since it was announced.Under the new law, alleged violations must be reported by a witness or committed in front of a police officer to be prosecutable.Those found to have violated the law would be fined $500, or sentenced to six months in jail.There are some exceptions to the new rule, though: Adults are allowed to accompany children under the age of 12 into the restroom. Those who need to do janitorial or maintenance work, to offer emergency medical assistance, or to assist the disabled, likewise are permitted to enter any bathroom. Description GIS - 29 April, 2016: The opportunities and challenges related to employment of Mauritian seafarers were the focus of a one-day workshop which was held yesterday at the Maritime Training Academy in Pointe aux Sables. Around 150 representatives from different ministries and parastatal bodies operating in the field of employment, education and tourism as well as recruiting agents from the maritime industry were present. The opportunities and challenges related to employment of Mauritian seafarers were the focus of a one-day workshop which was held yesterday at the Maritime Training Academy in Pointe aux Sables. Around 150 representatives from different ministries and parastatal bodies operating in the field of employment, education and tourism as well as recruiting agents from the maritime industry were present. Organised at the initiative of the ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands, this one-day workshop aimed at identifying weaknesses and bottlenecks, ways to promote careers in the maritime industry, and how to improve the provision of services between the various players. Present at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands, Mr Premdut Koonjoo, pointed out that the blue economy has become the talk of the globe, with vast opportunities for job creation, wealth and economic development. According to him, the ocean economy will serve as a major platform for playing out our efforts to make of Mauritius a high value-added services economy by harbouring a regional platform for marine finance, marine ICT, ship registration and marine biotechnology based on successful country models. He recalled that the demand for a high calibre workforce is unlimited in the maritime industry especially with the forthcoming expansion of port areas and the promotion of Port Louis as a strategic bunkering and transshipment hub, as well as the creation of a regional shipping line. Hence the need for the youth to be sensitised and provided with the appropriate and relevant knowledge and skills to develop the right attitude to be in tune with the fast evolving maritime sector where Mauritius aspires to be a key player in this region of the world, he said. According to statistics from the MMTA, 800 people in 2015 and 300 this year till date have been trained. For his part, the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training, Mr Soodesh Callichurn, recalled that the growth of the maritime industry has been soaring over the past decades, with more seafarers coming from developing countries and more women joining this industry. His ministry, he said, has created a database for job seekers willing to take up employment in the maritime industry. He also spoke about his intent of reviewing the Recruitment of Workers Act to curb illicit practices in the recruitment of workers and to enhance business facilitation. Flash The Supreme Court of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday sentenced a South Korea-born U.S. citizen to 10 years of hard labor for subversion of the DPRK social system and espionage activities. Kim Dong-chul, who was born in 1953 in Seoul and immigrated to the United States in 1972, was charged with plotting to subvert the DPRK system, slandering the supreme leadership of the socialist country and gathering state and military secrets for espionage. In 2005, Kim moved to Yanji, a Chinese city some 10 km from the border with the DPRK and later in 2008 established a trade company named Dongmyong in Rason, a special economic zone in North Hamgyong Province of the DPRK, where a large number of Chinese businesses operate. After his company was founded, he continuously carried out reactionary propaganda against the DPRK and injected into local people fantasies about the superiority of the United States, in order to shaken the stability of the political and social system of the country, according to the prosecutor. Kim started espionage in 2013 after coming into contact with several South Koreans who tasked him with collecting top party, state and military secrets of the DPRK, including its nuclear facilities, nuclear tests and photographs of warships as well as other information, inside the DPRK. He was arrested on Oct. 2, 2015 when he was receiving an SD card that contained photos of local markets in Rason and documents about the DPRK's nuclear programs from a local resident in Rason whom he had bought off, said the prosecutor. Kim confessed to the charges, repented of his crimes and appealed for gracious treatment in court. (TNS) -- PROVIDENCE, R.I. Rhode Island's 10-year wait at the Division of Motor Vehicles for a modern computer system to process transactions goes on.The state and contractor Hewlett-Packard have again pushed back the launch date for the new system, this time by two months, Raimondo administration officials told lawmakers this week.Work first began on the new computer system in 2006 and, after numerous false starts and setbacks, was scheduled to be up and running in September. Now the target date is December, Robert Hull, Director of the Department of Revenue said at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee.And how solid is the new estimate that the $16.5 million project will be finished by the end of this year?"If I said it was without risk and I had no anxiety, that would be dishonest," Hull, whose department oversees the DMV, told the committee.The state and HP need extra time to test the new system, which will replace a 1980s mainframe, and train all the workers who process vehicle transactions on how to use it, said Thom Guertin, the state's chief digital officer who then-Gov. Lincoln Chafee designated to rescue the DMV computer project.Asked if HP would be compensating the state for missing its latest project completion target, Guertin said that had not been determined yet.Although two months would be a relatively short delay in the context of the DMV project, it did not sit well with Sen. Louis DiPalma, D-Middletown, who questioned whether HP was entering another spiral of missed deadlines."We know the end is in sight, but I am not sure how much confidence I have in December," said DiPalma, a longtime watcher of the DMV project. "If we don't make December, then we are into 2017, then it is April, then it is June."When it is operational, the new computer system is expected to streamline operations at the DMV, reducing wait times and making more online transactions possible.The state this year decided to delay issuing new license plates from July to next April at least partially to make sure the new computer system is in place.The state has not released the new design for the license plate, which was supposed to feature Rhode Island's new tourism marketing brand.panderson@providencejournal.com(401) 277-7384On Twitter: @PatrickAnderso_2016 The Providence Journal (Providence, R.I.)Visit The Providence Journal (Providence, R.I.) at www.projo.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) -- Buffalos undersized tech sector has gotten a boost with word that IBM Corp. has been selected to receive a key state contract that could bring about 100 jobs to the new technology center in the Key Center.The facility is expected to result in 500 new jobs in the area by September 2021. While it still needs to be formalized, the state contract to provide technical support and solutions for state agencies will help IBM reach that goal.The IBM Buffalo Innovation Center is currently housed in temporary space in the Key Centers north tower. The company plans to move this summer to a permanent location on the top six floors of the buildings south tower, formerly headquarters of Delaware North Cos.From there, IBM will offer a variety of clients the ability to crunch the endless streams of data companies collect from various sources, and use it to improve their businesses.Were drowning in data. The key is using that data effectively, said Jay Goodwyn, the centers executive director.Information from sources such as store loyalty cards and even the ubiquitous traffic cameras is valuable to businesses and government agencies if the important can be sorted from the inconsequential.Someone has to make sense of it all, and why not have it done in Buffalo Niagara, where the quality of life is high and the cost of living relatively low?This is the type of industry that requires specialized skills. The shortage of experts in the field will require hiring out-of-towners or ex-pats, but even that may change as the company develops relationships with colleges across upstate: University at Buffalo, Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester, along with Cornell University and Clarkson University.This is just the incentive for UB, which does not have a specific data analytics major within its computer science and engineering school, to develop one. Until such time, the company will have to continue recruiting data analytics experts from Virginia, Seattle, Houston and elsewhere.As News business reporter David Robinson wrote Tuesday, using information from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the information sector is one of the fastest-growing parts of the national economy. Yet, it accounts for less than 3 percent of all economic activity in this region, compared with 5 percent nationwide.The IBM technology center is being built with $55 million in state funding through Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos Buffalo Billion economic development initiative. In turn, the company has pledged to create 500 jobs, either direct IBM employees at the center or workers at partnering companies that will provide services to the center.The Western New York Regional Economic Development Council has noted the regions lack of entrepreneurs and its small technology sector. Jump-starting the industry is neither easy nor cheap. Convincing IBM to locate its innovation center here meant the state agreed to invest $25 million to buy, build out and equip the six floors in the Key Center to be used by the IBM facility, and spend an additional $30 million to acquire the software the center will use.Howard Zemsky, the development councils co-chairman at the time and now CEO of Empire State Development, said investments in IBM and life sciences companies address the fact that the region was punching below our weight on the innovation economy.Buffalo will never be a tech heavyweight like Silicon Valley, but the new emphasis should start tipping the scales. (TNS) -- Its not just the Republican Party thats struggling to navigate its relationship with real estate mogul and presidential candidate Donald Trump. Google is, too.On Thursday, a representative of the Silicon Valley giant quietly accepted an online petition signed by more than 400,000 people asking the company not to have any role in the GOP convention in Cleveland. Petitioners dont want Trump to have a national stage for his divisive politics.To ramp up pressure on Google, the activists hired a plane to fly a banner across Bay Area skies, reading, Google: Dont be evil #DumpTrump.Representatives for Google which is planning to live-stream the convention did not respond to the request, according to the small group that hand-delivered the appeal at the companys Mountain View campus. Google also declined to respond to phone calls or emails from The Chronicle on the subject Thursday.But the company and a handful of others petitioned by the civil rights group ColorOfChange appear to be weighing their involvement.The protesters have done at least one thing: Theyre creating fear and making corporations think twice, said Subodh Bhat, a professor of marketing at San Francisco State University who specializes in controversial advertising and branding.However, Bhat said, the companies examination of the issue doesnt necessarily mean they should or will change course.I dont think companies can boycott something as important as the convention of one of the two big parties in the U.S, Bhat said. Most people will be seeing this as supporting the Republican convention, not Trump.ColorOfChange, which has been joined by several activist groups representing women and minorities, has since February been pressuring such corporations as Google, Microsoft, Walmart and Coca-Cola to refrain from sponsoring the convention.Companies have participated in the nominating events, both Republican and Democratic, for decades. Some businesses provide technological assistance, while others pay to publicize their brand. Google live-streamed both the Republican and Democratic conventions in 2012.But Trumps status as the Republican front-runner this year has upset activists.We think its really important that major brands like Google dont align with Trumps racism, xenophobia and misogyny, said Heidi Hess of the group CREDO Action, who helped deliver the petition Thursday.Microsoft and Walmart, like Google, did not respond Thursday to inquiries about the convention. Coca-Cola said in an emailed statement, Our support helps the host committees run these large events and contributes to local economic development but does not represent an endorsement of any specific party or candidate.According to ColorOfChange organizer Arisha Hatch, Coca-Cola capped its funding this year after hearing from the group though the company did not attribute its action to the group. Coca-Cola has given $75,000 to the 2016 convention, much less than it gave in 2012.We believe that Coke will not be the last to cut spending, Hatch said.Thursdays actions were timed with the state GOP convention, which begins Friday in Burlingame. Trump is expected to deliver a speech at noon at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport. Candidates Ted Cruz and John Kasich are also scheduled to speak over the weekend. When natural disaster strikes San Diego County, residents know to dial 2-1-1 for information about shelters, clean drinking water, evacuations and more. But not all Californians have the free service available.Legislation by Sen. Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, seeks to expand the 2-1-1 number to the 21 counties that dont yet have it and provide a single, easy-to-remember number for essential services.You have different services in different parts of the state, Hueso told TechWire in an interview. With something so essential, there is a need to create a common language. We want a number everybody is familiar with.SB 1212 would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to tap into existing money in the California Teleconnect Fund to help counties set up 2-1-1, as well as support a comprehensive statewide database that could connect callers to information and referrals.Established in 2005, 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to roughly 95 percent of Californians, according to the bill analysis. In San Diego, more than 130,000 residents used the service in five days when wildfires ravaged the county in 2007. Counties have partnered with nonprofits and other local entities to set up call centers,But many Californians who live in rural areas of the state still lack what advocates describe as a vital service in times of disaster. The startup costs have been prohibitive in places vulnerable to forest fires, floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters.The bill also describes 2-1-1 as a service that Californians could call for other public needs. For example, callers could find information concerning child care services, housing assistance, physical and mental health resources, aging and hospice services, educational and other programs.Some question whether such a robust program is needed because several existing 800 numbers connect Californians to a variety of social services and disaster response help. County area agencies on aging, for example, are mandated by state and federal law to provide information and assistance about aging services. Part of their outreach is an 800 number.This bill doesnt recognize any of these services, said Derrell Kelch, executive director of the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Its duplicative, and I think it will create confusion.Hueso said his bill is an attempt to help Californians by providing a single number for them to remember no matter where they are in the state.Were trying to unify the state around a common language that makes it easy for people to obtain help and emergency services, he said. Imagine if we had different numbers for 9-1-1.Ten counties are currently developing a 2-1-1 service: Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Mono, Plumas, Placer, Siskiyou, Sutter and Yuba. Another 11 counties do not have programs in development for 2-1-1: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Del Norte, Inyo, Lake, Madera, Modoc, Sierra, Trinity and Tuolumne.The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee approved the bill by a 10-0 vote earlier this month. It is now before the Senate Appropriations Committee. (TNS) -- When the FBI paid more than $1 million to crack into the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone 5C, it paid only for a hacking tool, not the source code, so it is not able to publicly disclose how the phone was broken into."The FBI purchased the method from an outside party so that we could unlock the San Bernardino device. We did not, however, purchase the rights to technical details about how the method functions, or the nature and extent of any vulnerability upon which the method may rely in order to operate," Amy Hess, the bureau's executive assistant director for science and technology, said in an email.Because it doesn't have the technical details, the FBI can't submit any software weaknesses to an interagency White House process that weighs whether such defects should be disclosed to manufacturers, like Apple, or developers. Hess said that process, known as the Vulnerabilities Equities Process, "cannot perform its function without significant details about the nature and extent of a vulnerability."The decision ends any speculation on whether Apple will be able to shore up some of its outdated devices against the exact exploit the FBI used.But the announcement still hasn't ended mistrust of the agency, its tactics or the very process the government uses to alert private industry of such problems."Dual missions are a lie," said security researcher Dan Kaminsky, who has strongly supported Apple, referring to the government's goal of both using and fixing bugs. "An organization motivated enough to fully weaponize an exploit, or pay those who have, is not going to turn around and destroy their own newfound capability."Disclosing this particular issue is extra important, said Oren Falkowitz, co-founder and CEO of San Francisco cybersecurity company Area 1 Security and a former official with the National Security Agency.The FBI "is taking the side of making 24 million people less secure, and that seems not to be on the best side of technology, and all the people who have those phones," he said, referencing the number of iPhone 5Cs that have been reportedly sold. "That's extremely troubling."The lack of transparency in the equities process is, perhaps, what's causing that sentiment to spread among Silicon Valley firms, said Katie Moussouris, the founder and CEO of Luta Security, which advises organizations and governments on vulnerability disclosure and bug bounty programs."We want to trust whoever has these vulnerabilities is defending critical infrastructure as the greater good, and ideally making most decisions toward that end," she said. "But we don't know."The revelation last month that the FBI had managed to get into the work phone of Syed Rizwan Farook, who along with his wife killed 14 people in the December attacks in San Bernardino, halted an extraordinary court fight that flared a month earlier when a federal magistrate in Riverside directed Apple to help the FBI hack into the device.The Associated Press contributed to this report. #CityHall is Trending: How to Take Advantage of All the Tools The drivers' representative body, the GPDA, made a bid to derail the new chassis regulations that will be introduced in 2017. Several drivers have argued that speeding up the cars next year by adding downforce is not the right move for F1. "Just like with the new qualifying, you hope the engineers who know what is going to happen are proven wrong," said reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver has argued repeatedly that the 2017 changes could actually make overtaking - what the fans really want - more difficult. So GPDA director Jenson Button on Thursday revealed that a letter from the body was sent to the F1 Commission earlier this week. "Jean (Todt) asked us to comment on the direction of the sport so we wrote a letter which was read at Tuesday's meeting," said the McLaren-Honda driver. The F1 Commission, however, is believed to have pressed ahead with the 2017 changes anyway. But not everyone is concerned that the 2017 changes are necessarily wrong for F1. Fernando Alonso, for instance, argues that all the worrying about overtaking might be misplaced, as some of the most memorable races in F1 preceded the heavily-degrading Pirelli tyres and 'DRS' era. "First we need to wait for the final version of the rules," said the Spaniard, "but I think the direction is correct. The cars will be faster and they will look better. "I remember the races at Imola in 2005 and 2006, my fights with Michael (Schumacher) -- there were two or three overtakes the entire race, but the fans witnessed a fascinating spectacle," he said. "That's why I think not so much attention should be paid to overtaking," Alonso added. "Now, it is possible for someone in 16th or 17th place to put a fresh set of tyres on at the right moment and overtake a Mercedes. I think that's hard to understand for the audience. Overtaking has ceased to be real, as it was in the past. "To make an exciting show, the cars should be faster and louder and more drivers should be in the fight for the title," he said. (GMM) Italy's automobile club chief has admitted political changes this week could be a "step forward" in Monza's quest for a new grand prix deal. Reportedly after a running dispute with Bernie Ecclestone, the boss of the circuit operator Sias, Andrea Dell'Orto, stepped down. "We could say it is a step forward," Angelo Sticchi Damiani, boss of the Italian automobile club Aci, told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are confident things will fall into place but to get into Ecclestone's head is never easy," he added. Damiani suggested that the biggest sticking point now is a financial one. "We are always negotiating to reach a meeting point between the demand and what we are offering," he said. "There is a difference that we will try to bridge in a reasonable amount of time." It is expected the first draft of F1's 2017 calendar will be compiled in the next two months, so when asked if Monza will be on it, Damiani said: "I really hope so." (GMM) Fernando Alonso said he is finally back to "100 per cent" fitness, more than a month after his huge crash in Australia. The Spaniard missed Bahrain and returned to action in China, but said in Russia for the fourth round of 2016 that only now is he no longer "taking any pills". "I have no aches and I'm training without any difficulty," the McLaren-Honda driver, who injured his lung and fractured two ribs in Melbourne, told Spanish media. "After China for a few days I had a strange feeling, but since then everything is fine," Alonso added. "The recovery process took longer than I expected -- after Melbourne it was 42-43 days until I was 100 per cent, but that's probably the way it should be." Meanwhile, Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad said on Thursday that the 34-year-old is also happy with progress at McLaren-Honda, after the awful 2015 season. "I sincerely believe that the path is correct," he told Radio Marca. "Now I see the drivers satisfied when they get out of the car that big progress is being made. We are now less than a year behind." McLaren-Honda has expressed interest in retaining Alonso beyond the end of his contract next year, but manager Abad said: "We are in a quiet situation from the contractual side. "We will see as things unfold what the next steps are, but the bottom line is that Fernando Alonso has been in Japan (with Honda) these last days, which is an unequivocal sign of a driver's commitment," he added. (GMM) NEW YORK UNC-Greensboro art professor Sheryl Oring and her students used technology from another era to encourage the public to express themselves to presidential candidates this week at New Yorks Bryant Park. As part of the PEN World Voices Festival on Wednesday, Oring created a modern-day typing pool, where typists listened to messages to presidential candidates from passers-by, typed them out using several dozen vintage manual typewriters. The event caught the attention of NPR and the San Francisco Chronicle. Oring, a former journalist, has presented I Wish to Say performances around the country since 2004, soon after she made the transition to art. To date, she has held 67 performances of I Wish to Say at 57 venues, including a park on Skid Row in Los Angeles and a laundromat on the Navajo Nation in Arizona. In 2004, she was featured as ABC News Person of the Week for her letter-typing on the streets of New York during the Republican National Convention. This was her largest I Wish to Say project, with more than 100 volunteers including UNCG students and PEN America members. The project offers our students a unique chance to learn by doing, to make art happen outside of the studio and in collaboration with the public, Lawrence Jenkens, the head of UNCGs art department, said in a news release. Oring will mail cards typed during the festival to the candidates. Messages will be integrated into a show at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem in the fall. Grants The National Geographic Societys Conservation Trust Advisory Board has awarded the North Carolina Zoos Dr. Corinne Kendall a $20,000 grant in support of her project, Protecting Tanzanias Endangered Vultures: Understanding their Movement and Creation of a Long-term Monitoring Program. The associate curator of conservation and research at the zoo, Kendall oversees zoo-based research and is involved in several international conservation projects run by the zoo. Kendall has been studying vultures in East Africa for more than eight years. *** Horsepower has received a $9,055 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Horsepower will use the grant to purchase a SureHands Lift System. The lift will allow them to serve additional individuals with acute physical disabilities, weight limit concerns, and/or disproportionate weight distribution issues. Authorities in California have indicted two men from California, not Greensboro in the curious case of the Napa Valley wine heist. Still unknown: Who around here bought some of that allegedly stolen wine? But the indictment does provide new details about a story that is as complex as it is fascinating. It says this unnamed local buyer purchased a total of 133 bottles of world-class wine on three occasions. The buyer sent thousands of dollars to the men, it says, through multiple wire transfers, cashiers checks and, on one occasion, a blank money order. On Wednesday, federal authorities arrested Alfred Georgis of Mountain View and Davis Kiryakoz of Modesto, according to the Napa Valley Register. Their alleged crimes are outlined in an indictment unsealed Friday by the U.S. District Court in San Jose. It says Georgis and Kiryakoz committed conspiracy, transportation of stolen goods, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. Theyre accused of stealing a total of 271 bottles of world-class wine from a San Francisco dealer and two fancy restaurants between March 2013 and December 2014. Georgis and Kiryakoz also are accused of selling 133 bottles of that wine to someone referred to in the indictment only as Buyer or Buyer in North Carolina. Theres good reason to believe the buyer is local. Deputies from the Napa Valley Sheriffs Office said in January 2015 that they found in the Greensboro area some wine allegedly stolen from one of the restaurants, The French Laundry. The deputies flew in and out of the Piedmont Triad International Airport. At the time, they said the person who had the wine wasnt in trouble, and was an unsuspecting or unwitting buyer. Brian Walker, a Greensboro attorney who has said he represents the buyer, told the Triad Business Journal in November that he got a call from a very frightened client who had realized through some of the reports in the national media that the wine had been stolen. My client was the one left holding the bag. My client had to turn over a valuable asset, but was happy to do so out of fear of prosecution and because it was the right thing to do. Walker didnt return a call from the News & Record on Friday. The indictment said some of the wire transfers came from a Sun Trust Bank account named Wine Liquidators. The indictment, however, doesnt say where the account originated. There are companies named Wine Liquidators in High Point and Raleigh. The case received a lot of attention, mostly because the wine in question was so rare and expensive. The Napa Valley Sheriffs Office said it recovered bottles of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, which wine connoisseurs will recognize as among the best in the world. Also in the mix, according to investigators: Screaming Eagle cabernet, one of the most exclusive labels made from Napa Valley grapes. The indictment outlines three times wine was stolen in the Napa Valley area, and three times Buyer bought bottles from Georgis and Kiryakoz. Each time, the buyer paid for the wine with several payments under $10,000. According to the indictment: On March 27, 2013, the men allegedly stole 142 bottles from Fine Wines International in San Francisco. That same day, an unindicted co-conspirator called the buyer about a possible wine purchase. The buyer eventually bought 50 bottles, paid for with blank money orders allegedly cashed by Georgis and Kiryakoz. Authorities say they traced the bottles to the San Francisco dealer. On Nov. 8, 2014, the men allegedly stole 29 bottles from Alexanders Steakhouse in Cupertino, and contacted the buyer the same day. The buyer made two wire transfers, each for $5,750, and ultimately received 17 bottles. Again, authorities say it was the same wine stolen from the restaurant. On Dec. 26, 2014, Georgis and Kiryakoz allegedly took about 100 bottles from The French Laundry worth about $300,000. Over the next few days, they discussed with the buyer the possible purchase of 66 bottles at a total price of $120,000 to $150,000. The buyer paid for it with several wire transfers under $10,000. The wine came from the restaurant, authorities said. On that last occasion, the indictment says, Georgis and Kiryakoz were demanding additional payments even as the buyer was realizing the wine was stolen. It says the men told the buyer to send more money or return the wine as late as Jan. 22, 2015. That was just days before the Napa Valley authorities flew to Greensboro to recover those bottles. An appeal of a federal judges decision upholding North Carolinas election law will likely be heard this summer. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is fast-tracking its review of U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeders decision, according to court documents. Late Monday, Schroeder issued a 479-page written decision that dismissed legal challenges against the 2013 election law, known as the Voter Information Verification Act. The laws best-known provision requires voters to show a valid photo identification, such as a drivers license, passport or military ID. But the law also eliminated or reduced practices disproportionately used by black and Hispanic voters same-day voter registration, early voting and out-of-precinct voting. The North Carolina NAACP and others filed a lawsuit soon after the law was passed, charging that it violated the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. They alleged in court papers that the law put undue burdens on blacks, Hispanics and poor people. On Tuesday, the day after Schroeders decision, the state NAACP and the League of Women Voters filed notices of appeal. Penda Hair, one of the attorneys for the state NAACP, said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters that she wanted the appeal to be expedited so a decision is made before the Nov. 8 general election. That election will likely have high turnout because it includes what many predict will be a highly contested presidential race. Over the past several years, the states election law has put North Carolina in the national limelight. Voting-rights activists consider the law to be one of the most sweeping and stringent changes in voting practices since the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. That section required all or parts of 15 states, including North Carolina to get federal approval, known as pre-clearance, before making any changes in voting laws. The U.S. Supreme Court decision came down in June 2013. North Carolinas election law was passed through the General Assembly in July 2013. On Aug. 12, 2013, Gov. Pat McCrory signed the legislation. During trials in January and last July, attorneys representing the state argued that North Carolinas election law was not discriminatory and that the changes were needed to stamp out potential voter fraud and improve efficiency. In his decision, Schroeder essentially sided with the state and argued that plaintiffs had failed to prove that the law was passed to intentionally discriminate against racial minorities. He also said that black voter turnout in 2014, which increased over 2010, undercut plaintiffs argument that the law was discriminatory. Plaintiffs have hope that the 4th Circuit will overturn all or at least part of Schroeders ruling. In 2014, the 4th Circuit overturned part of Schroeders denial of a preliminary injunction and blocked two provisions of the law same-day voter registration and out-of-precinct voting. That temporary block is still in effect for the June primary. Whatever decision the 4th Circuit makes will likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Its not clear when the 4th Circuit will hear oral arguments. The U.S. Justice Department, which also sued over the elections law, has not yet indicated whether it will appeal Schroeders decision. Republicans said Iran would cheat, and it has. While President Obama has already signed an executive order that imposes new sanctions, these will have little effect on Tehrans goals. Ballistic missile tests will continue, and Iran will continue to prop up President Assad of Syria. Will inspectors have access to military facilities? No. Iran agreed to provide inspectors more access to its nuclear program, allowing investigation of suspicious sites, but it has not happened and there are no guarantees it ever will. Back in July 2015, Obama told the American public the Iran deal is not built on trust it is built on verification. What has gone untold is that real verification was not part of the agreement that was signed. Hillary Clintons promise to fulfill Obamas legacy is just as ill-conceived as her pushing for the Iran deal. Better thinking can prevail if Americans see to it. Steve Salkow Reidsville Will TK break out one of those world-class bottles to celebrate? Thomas Keller got most of his fancy wine back last year, and now the cops may have found the men who raided his cellar. Alfred Georgis and Davis Kiryakoz, from Mountain View and Modest in Napa Valley, respectively, were arrested on Wednesday and charged in federal court in connection with the 2014 theft of world-class wine from Thomas Kellers flagship French Laundry. Accused of transporting the pricey, rare wine stolen across state lines, the men face one count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods and two more counts of transportation of stolen goods. It was a serious haul: 76 bottles worth $300,000 were stolen, some retailing for as low as $70 but most being of the rare, extraordinarily expensive variety, like a 1992 bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon that is often called one of the worlds priciest. The looting was discovered because a door was hacked into splinters, and most of the bottles turned up in North Carolina in 2015. The thefts, though, according to the indictment, go beyond Kellers cellar: 142 bottles were stolen from a San Francisco wine merchant in 2013, and another 39 bottles were stolen from Alexanders Steakhouse in Napa Valley in 2014. [Napa Valley Register] The new location, in the flesh. Photo: Michael Thomas/Starbucks So far, Starbuckss various social causes have mostly led to a lot of cringing. Solving racism by writing on cups didnt work out, telling underpaid baristas to be very sensitive to angsty Wall Street stockbrokers didnt go over super well either, and a campaign to wipe out youth unemployment likewise fell a little flat. Its no surprise, then, that people had their doubts when the chain said last year that it would help rebuild and revitalize Ferguson, at the time still reeling from months of racial unrest, by benevolently giving the town its first Starbucks location. Well, that store opens tomorrow, and as Pollyannaish as cynics argue the idea is, the chains plan actually isnt such an eye-roller. The new store is one of 15 the company has pledged to open to fight inequality in low-income or minority neighborhoods. (A somewhat less high-profile location opened last month in Queens.) CEO Howard Schultz has said income inequality is his pet social issue because he grew up poor in New Yorks housing projects. The Ferguson grand opening comes after almost a year of careful work, and the 30-barista team largely hails from within a five-mile radius of the cafe and sounds like a model for workplace inclusivity: We have all walks in this building African-American, Asian, white, male, female, gay, straight, the manager tells USA Today. Religious affiliations that go all over the place. Starbucks also hired a minority-owned local contractor to build the store, and designed it to include a conference room that nonprofits like the Urban League will use to run job-training programs. The pastry case will have the usual scones and pumpkin bread, but there will also be caramel cake from Natalies Cakes and More, a bakery right by the Ferguson police station that made national news when it was destroyed by rioters. Luckily, a sea of donations poured in, and her shop ended up with almost $300,000 from crowdfunding sites. But she says Starbucks met with her and told her to start dreaming big, and now she runs the bakery 24 hours a day four days a week and nearly quadrupled the size of her staff to supply cakes to the Ferguson store and about 30 others in the area. [USAT] These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. The Galaxy J5 (2016) and J7 (2016), which were first unveiled late last month in China, have been officially announced by Samsung in its home country of South Korea. Carrying a price tag of KRW 290,000 (around $255) and KRW 363,000 (around $320), respectively, the handsets will be available for purchase from local carrier KT, which will be selling them in the black and gold color options. An important thing worth mentioning here is that the South Korean Galaxy J7 comes with 720p display and 2GB RAM, compared to the full HD display and 3GB RAM that the Chinese version features. In addition, Samsung also revealed that the Galaxy J3 (2016) will also be landing in South Korea soon. If you're in Europe, it's worth knowing that the Galaxy J7 (2016) is already available for purchase there, although Samsung is yet to make a formal announcement about the European launch. The J5 (2016), however, is expected to arrive there soon. Source | Via Published on 2016/04/28 | Source Actor Lee Min-ho mentioned enlisting. Advertisement A Chinese media source released an interview with Lee Min-ho. The same media source also expressed the disappointment in getting an interview with a Hallyu star as it's very complicated and picky prior to the release. An interview with a Hallyu star requires prior evaluations, blocking of questions that come up on the spot and the correct translations. However, the interview with Lee Min-ho went quite well. There was the matter of supervision by the marketing team and communication problems, but Lee Min-ho's professionalism in the interview was great. The mention of 'enlisting' and 'facial edema' weren't allowed but he mentioned them first. About a Chinese fan who shaved her head to share the pain of having to serve his country, Lee Min-ho said, "I saw that on the news and I was touched. Nothing is specific about my National Service, but the fan shaved her head much earlier so I think by the time I go, her hair will grow back". "As an actor, I am grateful to know I can be supportive to someone and others' lives. I want to share more love in return for the support everyone's given me". When he was asked if he was worried about his popularity while he's gone, he said, "If I compare myself to a book, there's the process of completing this book so there's no knowing to the ending, but I think this page will be remembered forever. It all depends on me". Meanwhile, Lee Min-ho is starring in the movie "Bounty Hunters" that was taken in Korea, China, Hong Kong, Thailand and more. Published on 2016/04/29 | Source Contestants of Supertalent of the World pose at Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul on Thursday. /Yonhap Advertisement "Kung Fu Panda" dolls are set up to appeal to Chinese shoppers at a department store in Seoul on Thursday. rothel receptionists victory against her employer as a result of an adverse action ruling is a timely reminder for HR to respect the rights of employees. The Federal Circuit Court of Australia recently found Melbourne brothel Daily Planet - had taken adverse action against a receptionist that had worked there from 2008 until 2011, until she was dismissed by the brothels owner. The adverse action involved threatening to alter her employment arrangements, threatening to dismiss her and then eventually dismissing her unlawfully. In the case - Rosa v Daily Planet Australia Pty Ltd & Anor it was revealed the receptionist was a single mother that had negotiated particular shifts. Her conditions included working 10.5 hours a day, four days a week, with no sick leave, annual leave or benefits beyond her hourly rate, and no breaks. The receptionist alleged adverse action was taken against her when she was threatened with dismissal and reduced shifts, and again when her hours were cut and she was dismissed due to not signing an employment agreement. The court agreed the termination had occurred as a result of the receptionists decision to exercise her workplace right not to sign an employment agreement which would have effectively made her casual, rather than part-time. Daily Planets assertion that it had terminated her because she no longer had a mangers licence because of drug offences was dismissed by the court, as the former receptionist had never actually had a managers licence. Boutique employment law firm Workplace Law said the case reminds employers they cant terminate, threaten termination or detrimentally alter the position of an employee on the basis that they chose to exercise a workplace right. Workplace Law said employers should also note the courts will look at the motivation of the employer in its decision to take adverse action. After helping set a Guinness record in China for the worlds largest display of cheese varieties, a Wisconsin trade delegation helped convince that countrys northernmost province to boost its imports of state agricultural products, a delegation official said. Wisconsin exporters of frozen semen and embryos, farm equipment and feed all have opportunities to take advantage of Heilongjiang provinces plan to invest $200 million on livestock expansion over the next three years, said Sandy Chalmers, assistant deputy secretary for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Wisconsin and Heilongjiang Province have been sister states for more than 30 years, and what unites us is our common interest in dairy, said Chalmers, who led the delegation. Province officials announced the plan this week after the state trade delegation of businesses and professionals attended the 2016 China International Dairy Expo and Summit April 22-24 in the provinces capital, Harbin. The expos record-seeking organizers enlisted the help of workers from Wisconsin-based Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery and UW-River Falls to help Wisconsin businesses and DATCP to identify and gather more than 500 varieties of cheeses from Wisconsin, the Netherlands and China showcased at the record-breaking display, Chalmers said. The state also showcased 417 cheese varieties and products from 24 of its cheese producers/distributors along with other state produced products in a Wisconsin Pavilion coordinated by DATCP for the expo, Chalmers said. Because this event was covered by both national and provincial media, it was a unique opportunity to introduce Chinese consumers to Wisconsin cheese, Chalmers said. China is becoming a nation of consumers, and they are interested in purchasing high-quality Western foods, including dairy products. The delegation that included representatives from six state businesses also promoted other Wisconsin agribusinesses and encouraged trade and educational exchanges at the expo, which was attended by business representatives from dozens of countries from around the world, Chalmers said. DATCP economic development consultant Jennifer Lu, who was part of the state delegation, said relationship-building is a big part of doing business in China. Meeting face to face not only creates the opportunity to build awareness of Wisconsin products, services and expertise, it also sets Wisconsin apart, she said. The delegation also met with researchers from the Fuli Food Science Institute of Zhejiang University and Zhejiang Agricultural Academy of Sciences in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, to explore potential educational exchanges and to gain a better understanding of Chinas food safety issues, especially with regard to dairy and infant formula. China imported $222 million worth of Wisconsin ag products in 2015, ranking it behind only Canada and Mexico. Products in demand were hides and skins, whey, lactose, lumber, ginseng and bovine semen. When a country does something like what China just did, thats a big thing, said Bob Tramburg, the president and chief executive officer of VitaPlus, a Madison-based livestock feed company. It should improve their ability to feed their population, and thats a good thing. rsquo;ve all seen tears and tantrums after telling someone theyre fired but what about witnessing a worker wreck a $6.6 million plane as payback? Thats exactly what one video claims to have captured in Russia. The footage shows a passenger aircraft being partially crushed by a large plane with several media outlets reporting that the damage was being carried out by a disgruntled former employee whod just been dismissed. The aircraft appears to belong to the UTair Aviation fleet, headquartered at Khanty-Masiysk Airport and based at Roshino International Airport near Tyumen. Released widely on both LiveLeak and Youtube, the original version of the video was captioned; Pilot owed some money tractor driver and multiple copies of the video have been captioned Airport Worker Destroys Jet After Getting Fired. The full, 30-second clip can be seen below: However, despite the apparent carnage, some users have questioned the authenticity of the footage, claiming the company actually planned to have the vehicles destroyed. UTair doesn't currently have any active Yak-40's in their fleet, wrote one user. I'm guessing these are defunct aircraft. Watauga County Habitat for Humanitys second annual Big Kahuna contest ended this past Saturday and the winner of this years event is Justin Davis. Justin was crowned the 2016 Big Kahuna at the Don HoDown, the culminating event that was hosted by Appalachian Mountain Brewery. In all, this years Kahuna participants combined to raise a total of $16,200, all of which will go directly towards helping Watauga Habitats next partner family have a decent, safe, energy efficient, affordable place to live. The Big Kahuna is a fundraising campaign in which prominent members of the community compete to see who can raise the most money on behalf of Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. Each competitor reaches out to their friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to see who can help them raise the most money to help solve the problem of the lack of affordable housing in Watauga County. Its great what these friends of Habitat have been able to do to help such a good cause. Hats off to them and all of their supporters for helping make our community a better place to live. Said Alex Hooker, Executive Director of Watauga Habitat for Humanity. Thanks to all of this years participants for helping provide a Watauga County family a safe and stable home. Your 2016 crew of Big Kahuna contestants includes: Patrick Morgan, Keller Williams High Country Megan Carmody, Black Cat Burrito Ricky Pedroni, Casa Rustica Adam Julian, ASU Jen Teague, The Senior Center Scott Eggers, Quality Steel Corporation Rob Dyer, The Best Cellar and Inn at Ragged Gardens Pete Herbert, Boone Saloon Justin Davis, The Town Tavern (Blowing Rock) John Welch, ASU Watauga Habitat for Humanity strives is to provide decent, affordable housing to Watauga County residents. We do this by building modest homes with volunteer labor, land and materials that are donated or purchased at reduced cost. Habitat offers zero interest mortgages to the home owners. Homes are sold at no profit. For more information, to donate, or volunteer go to wataugahabitat.org. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket By Bailey Faulkner Dont miss your chance to support young Appalachian musicians by celebrating the life and music of Prince at The Local. Originally scheduled for May 3, this event has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 10. Local funk-rock fusion band Bafoodus will raise money for the Boone chapter of Junior Appalachian Musicians with a night of exclusively Prince covers. Unlike most of Bafoodus performances, Tuesdays benefit show at The Local will be open to all ages. The nights proceeds will go directly to JAM, a nonprofit organization that promotes music education in and around the High Country. Taking the opportunity to help out the community by celebrating the life of the legendary musician, the members of Bafoodus hope to inspire young musicians as Prince inspired them. Junior Appalachian Musicians JAM was founded by Helen White in the spring of 2000. Originally located in Alleghany County, North Carolina, the program has now expanded to almost 30 locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. JAM strives to provide communities the tools and support they need to teach children to play and dance to traditional old time and bluegrass music. The nonprofit envisions a world in which all children can be engaged members of their communities by participating in traditional Appalachian music together. Boones JAM chapter is stationed at the Jones House in downtown Boone. On Thursday evenings, kids age 6 to 18 can take instructional classes on the fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele and dulcimer. In addition to offering these classes, the chapter provides opportunities for kids to perform in front of live audiences. The program also features guest artists throughout the year. JAMs teacher-student ratios are usually 8:1 or lower. With this small group instruction, JAM gives young aspiring musicians the unique, hands-on opportunity to learn the instruments and history of the Appalachian area. The nonprofit encourages its chapters to provide scholarships to children whose families cannot easily afford music lessons. The programs tuition is determined by a students public school lunch status, with $10 weekly fees for full-paying students and $5 weekly fees for students on free or reduced lunch. For more information about Boones JAM chapter, click here. Bafoodus Each Bafoodus member cites Prince as a major musical influence. After the initial shock upon learning of Princes death, Scott Haynes, Mike Runyon and I decided we should honor his musical legacy by performing an all-Prince cover show. We are all long time fans and have enjoyed performing his tunes for years, guitarist Andy Page said. The lineup for Bafoodus benefit will be: Andy Page (guitar) Scott Haynes (bass, vocals) Mike Runyon (keys) Chaisaray Schenck (drums) In addition to the lineup, special guest Laura England will bring her vocal talents to the mix. Other guests may be announced in the next few days leading up to the show. You can click here to stay posted. The High Country favorites will be dedicating their entire show to covering Prince songs, so you better get ready to dance! The band has around 16 covers planned for the night. In line with Princes history of charitable donations, we decided to hold a benefit for local music instruction by donating 100% of the proceeds to the Boone chapter of Junior Appalachian Musicians. Hopefully, this will provide some inspiration to make music in our community as Prince has inspired so many with his music, Page said. Throughout the years, Bafoodus has played to packed crowds around Boone and the High Country. The band plays an irresistibly danceable mix of funk, rock and pop with hints of jazz. You can check out the bands music here. Benefit Show Bafoodus is especially thankful for The Locals generosity in opening the show to all ages and providing a venue with great space and quality sound reinforcement. For more information on The Local, click here. If you want to check out Bafoodus, click here for more information on the band and its benefit show. The show will start at 10 p.m. There will be a $5 cover charge at the door. Dont miss out on your chance to support young, local musicians and celebrate the life and music of Prince! Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket (Bloomberg) Fortress Investment Group LLC is exiting its Convex Asia strategy, the latest to divest control of a business amid the hedge-fund industrys biggest shakeout since the 2009 financial crisis. City Financial Investment Company Ltd., based in London, has agreed to take over the Fortress Convex Asia Fund and its management team in Singapore in the second quarter, according to a Fortress letter to investors obtained by Bloomberg News that didnt disclose the terms of the deal. The move is part of a reorganization at Fortress, which includes a bigger focus on event-driven strategies, the letter said. To read this article: Adi Roche and Ali Hewson after they were honoured for their humanitarian work Bono's wife Ali Hewson has urged governments to treat migrants with respect and to ensure they are given a safe place to live. Ms Hewson, speaking at the University of Limerick where she received an honorary doctorate in recognition of her charity and humanitarian work, said the number of people being driven out of their homes due to conflict had quadrupled. Future "We have to learn how to look after these people, how to give them a chance for the future. It's likely they won't be going back to their homes for a very long time," she said. When asked if she ever tried to get her husband to influence any world leaders she joked about the "odd bit of pillow talk". "If you have a relationship with someone you talk about everything that's on your mind. He rarely takes my advice," she joked. The University of Limerick conferred Honorary Doctorates on six people from the fields of humanitarianism, business, the arts and the public sector. Adi Roche, founder of the Chernobyl Children's Project International, accepted her honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. She paid tribute to the "army of people" who provide crucial services. "Ali [Hewson] and I are really just the front people, but around and behind us we are surrounded by an army of people," she said. "This is honouring all of them. We are the voices but, really, they are the foot soldiers, they are the life blood, they are the bones on the body of the charity." Another recipient was Michael Flatley, who said he was looking forward to "climbing other mountains" now that he had retired from his dancing career. An indicted De Pere businessman who owes the states job-creation agency more than $1.2 million has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Ron Van Den Heuvel filed for bankruptcy on behalf of Green Box NA Green Bay in Wisconsins Eastern U.S. District Court on Wednesday. Such a filing allows companies to reorganize while paying off debts. The filing shows the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. as one of 21 creditors. It says Green Box has less than $50,000 in assets and owes between $10 million and $50 million. WEDC loaned the company more than $1.2 million in 2011-12 to help create 116 jobs as part of a more than $13 million project to turn fast-food wrappers and other waste paper into synthetic fuel and paper products while producing zero waste. Last week a judge issued an arrest warrant for Van Den Heuvel after he was found in contempt of court for selling company machinery to someone in another state and not being able to repay creditors. He was also charged with 13 counts of federal bank fraud last week for an alleged scheme dating back to 2008 and 2009. He is due in court May 6. A young woman slapped her boyfriend in the face when gardai told her to move off the Liffey boardwalk while she was out celebrating on St Patrick's Day, a court heard. Kelly Kinsella (23) was among a group of drunken people who refused to move on when gardai ordered them to. She had been out drinking before walking into the city centre and her boyfriend was trying to make her obey the garda's orders. Judge John Lindsay dismissed the case, leaving Kinsella without convictions after she admitted public order offences in the episode. Kinsella, with an address at Sean McDermott Street in the north inner city, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour with intent to cause a breach of the peace. She also admitted failing to obey garda directions. Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at 10.30pm at the boardwalk at Bachelor's Walk on March 17. Kinsella was among a large group of intoxicated people, a garda witness said. Officers told the group of revellers to move on and leave the area, the prosecuting garda told Judge Lindsay. Uninjured The group of people refused and Kinsella was seen hitting a man in her company. She hit the man on the side of the head and gardai arrested her, the prosecuting garda said. The man Kinsella hit was uninjured and declined to make an assault complaint. Kinsella had since apologised for what happened, her lawyer said. The court heard Kinsella had gone into the city centre, had a few drinks and was "very drunk" when gardai arrived. "Her boyfriend was the person who got the slap in he face because he was trying to move her on as well," Kinsella's lawyer said. She thought she could "deal with it herself" when she sobered up, her lawyer added. Kinsella had a number of previous convictions. She apologised to the court for her behaviour on the night of the incident. The accused had also contacted the gardai to apologise for what she had done, her lawyer said. Judge Lindsay applied the Probation Act, meaning Kinsella was left without a recorded conviction. He also assigned free legal aid following an application by her lawyer and no objections by the gardai. She did not address the court during the hearing. Parents Greville and Anne-Louise Miley had raised concern about their child Jude after he had to have surgery (Courtpix) A hospital has apologised to a four-year-old boy left profoundly brain damaged after an operation when he was a baby. The apology was read to the High Court as part of settlement of Jude Miley's action with an interim payment of 3.5m over the next two years. Counsel for Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin, Emily Egan, turned to face Jude's parents and read out the statement in which the hospital offered an "unequivocal, unreserved and heartfelt" apology for what had happened him. The hospital said it "appreciated and greatly regretted the huge trauma" suffered by the baby and his family. Jude was only six months old when a suture used in an operation to release his diaphragm and help his breathing remained untrimmed, causing damage to the heart muscle. Two days later he had a heart attack and had to be rushed to theatre for emergency surgery, which saved his life. Jude, of Holywell, Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin, had, through his father Greville Miley, sued Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children. Jude was born on July 16, 2011, and by January of the following year a condition regarding the contour of his diaphragm was diagnosed. Necessary surgery was carried out on January 24, 2012, which, it was claimed, was below the standard of care. It was claimed a suture was placed in the wrong place, damaging the heart and resulting in the baby deteriorating, culminating in the baby suffering a cardiac arrest on January 26, 2012. Senior counsel Liam Reidy, for the Mileys, told the court that Jude's little heart was being pierced by the suture. His mother, Anne Louise Miley, who was a public health nurse, had raised concerns about her son after his operation but these were dismissed, counsel said. Greville Miley told the court he and his wife were told their son would be in a vegetative state but as a result of therapies in the UK and the US he can now walk and run, talk and eat normally though slowly. He said Jude is the happiest child he knows. Dismissed Mr Miley said friends had set up a trust fund for Jude and that was how the family were able to travel to the US and the UK. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross thanked the Mileys for the care they had given their son to date. In a statement afterwards, the Mileys said their concerns after their son's operation had been dismissed "as those of fussy parents". However, their son had sustained permanent and catastrophic brain damage. In three years' time Jude's case will come back before the court when the child's future care needs will be assessed. A 45-year-old man accused of killing his stepson told gardai "I wish it was me", a jury has heard. David Mahon (45) also told gardai he did not mean to kill his stepson, Dean Fitzpatrick, "not in a million years". When asked by gardai if he thought the force used had been excessive, he responded: "Obviously I do, he's dead, isn't he?" He said he grabbed a kitchen knife from his stepson in his apartment and put it in his back pocket because he thought "it would be safe there". He told gardai he then took the knife from his back pocket, showed it to Mr Fitzpatrick, and asked him "why are you pulling a knife on your auld fella". He said Mr Fitzpatrick "walked into the knife", and he thought he had just been nicked. Mr Mahon also told gardai during interview "I wish it was me", referring to his stepson's death. The jury heard that Dean Fitzpatrick's medical notes revealed he had self-harmed on three occasions and had previously expressed a death wish in terms of feeling guilty about his missing sister, Amy, and had gained psychological release by cutting himself. Worried Mr Mahon, of Ongar Village in Clonsilla, has denied murdering 23-year-old Dean Fitzpatrick on May 26, 2013. Mr Fitzpatrick was the brother of Amy Fitzpatrick, who went missing in Spain in 2008. The father-of-one was stabbed to death outside Mr Mahon's apartment at Burnell Square, Northern Cross in Malahide. The Central Criminal Court heard that gardai conducted a total of five interviews with Mr Mahon. During the interviews, he told officers he was worried about his partner, Audrey, Dean Fitzpatrick's mother, telling them her son's death was going to kill her. "I thought that when Amy went missing [it] was the worst thing in the world, and now this. How am I going to face Audrey?" Mr Mahon told gardai his stepdaughter Amy was "an angel, but Dean was no angel". He said Dean was always pulling knives on him, and he once pulled a gun on him, but he was never afraid. Mr Mahon admitted he once hit Dean, but that was "in Spain years ago". He told gardai that he and his partner Audrey were "millionaires in Spain" and owned eight or nine houses and bars, but that they spent all their money looking for Amy. Mr Mahon said that when he and Audrey returned to Ireland, he had to ask his dad for the money for the flights home. Mr Mahon told gardai that Mr Fitzpatrick had called up to his apartment on May 25 and the pair had argued, and Dean said "you don't care about your grandson". He said Mr Fitzpatrick pulled a knife on him in the kitchen, but he grabbed it off him and put it in his back pocket. Mr Mahon said Dean then told him "I'll f*ck you up", and he was embarrassed that his friend John McCormack had heard this. He said Mr McCormack took Dean out of his apartment onto the hallway, and he followed them. Dean was roaring and shouting, he told gardai. Mr Mahon said he asked Dean "why are you pulling a knife on your auld fella". He said he thought Mr Fitzpatrick was going to "loaf" him, but no punches were thrown. He said Dean walked into the knife, and he knew he had nicked him. He heard Dean say "ah" and he ran off down the stairs. He said he "didn't think it was that serious". Mr Mahon added: "I can't believe he's dead. This will kill Audrey. She took an overdose before." The jury heard Mr Mahon previously said he'd kill Mr Fitzpatrick, that he'd stab him, but "that's the language he uses. I've never stabbed anyone. I'm not a violent man". He also told gardai Mr Fitzpatrick "walked into the knife", and said "I'm starting to doubt myself, did I push him?" He added: "Is it an accident or murder? I don't know, but it's my fault". The accused also told gardai: "He's a little b*****d but I wish it were me dead". He said that "part of him thinks he [Mr Fitzpatrick] wanted it", adding that Dean "walked into the knife". Mr Mahon said he "never thought he'd killed him" and if he'd realised how serious it was he would have called an ambulance. The jury heard Mr Mahon then left the apartment and he got into a taxi with his friend Karl O'Toole. Denied He said he threw away the knife, "don't ask me, I don't know why". On Tuesday, the jury had heard from Dean Fitzpatrick's former girlfriend Sarah Rourke, who claimed that Mr Mahon rang her on May 25, 2013, and threatened to come out to her home and stick a knife in her neck. This allegation was put by gardai to Mr Mahon during interviews and he denied screaming at her. He said it was "bullsh*t", and he had not been in contact with her. Mr Fitzpatrick's medical notes were also opened to the court, and they revealed he had had problems with cannabis, cocaine and tablets from the age of 11, and had self-harmed on at least three occasions to "relieve tension". The medical notes further revealed that Mr Fitzpatrick told professionals he had a conviction for attempted murder of a police man in Spain. The prosecution case has now closed. The trial continues before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. Legal aid has been granted to Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy in relation to his trial on charges of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton during a water charges protest. A trial date has not yet been fixed for Mr Murphy (32), of The Copse, Woodpark, Ballinteer in Dublin. He was sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on two charges of false imprisonment of Ms Burton and of Karen O'Connell at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, on November 15, 2014. Objection Yesterday, a solicitor acting for Mr Murphy said he was making an application for legal aid and handed in a statement of means. He said the State were on notice and had no objection. He said the case could last four to six weeks. The State solicitor confirmed that there was no garda objection based on the figures in the documentation and added that the decision was a matter for the court. Judge Melanie Greally said that, based on the average weekly income that was in the documentation, she would assign legal aid. The figures in the documentation were not disclosed in open court. Ms Burton and her entourage had left a graduation event at An Cosan Education Centre at Jobstown, Tallaght, when an anti-water charge demonstration was held which delayed her for about two hours on November 15, 2014. Ms Burton and her team had been attempting to travel by car to the nearby St Thomas' Church for the rest of the graduation ceremony when it is alleged the incident in question occurred. Mr Murphy's case will be before the court again on May 3 next for mention. Mr Murphy first won a seat in the Dail in the October 2014 by-election - when he replaced Fine Gael's Brian Hayes, who had just been elected to the European Parliament. He won his seat in the 2016 General Election on the second count in the Dublin South-West constituency. The "New IRA" member shot dead as part of the Hutch/Kinahan feud has had robbery charges against him formally dropped. Michael Barr (35) was murdered at the Sunset House in Summerhill, Dublin 1 on Monday evening. Barr (35), of Premier Square in Finglas, Co Dublin, but originally from Tyrone, was due to be sentenced yesterday for handling stolen electrical equipment at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, Co Dublin on July 18, 2014. Raided The hotel is under the directorship of the Mansfield family, and was previously owned by Jim Mansfield Snr before his death in 2014. The Finnstown House Hotel was raided by two masked gunmen last year. A night porter was tied up during that incident on October 27. The staff member was not injured during the robbery, and the raiders eventually fled with 6,000 in cash. Gardai in Lucan are investigating the incident. In November 2014, Barr had also been charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, on the same date as the first offence. However, after Barr pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods, the State entered a nolle prosequi on the IRA charge, which meant the charge was dropped. It's believed Barr was murdered by the Kinahan cartel because they suspected him of sourcing weapons for the Regency Hotel murder. Automatic On February 5, Kinahan lieutenant David Byrne (33) was shot dead when five gunmen, three armed with automatic weapons, stormed the hotel. Yesterday, a case of handling stolen electrical equipment against Michael Barr was formally dropped at the Special Criminal Court. The court agreed to mark Barr's indictment with the words "accused deceased". Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Flann Brennan, made the order. Love/Hate star Tom Vaughan-Lawlor has shot down any chance of a return of the hit series. The Dublin actor said it was highly unlikely the popular gangland show would ever return to TV screens. He said that, despite the repeated pleas from fans for another series, the show reached the perfect climax in the bloody 2014 finale, when his character was shot by bomb-maker, Patrick. "It was a brilliant show, a groundbreaking drama for Ireland - and I think it compares well to any of the other great drama series around the world," he said. Climax "When you think we had just one writer and a tiny budget compared to other dramas, it shows just how good it was. "It ended with a great climax - and sometimes it's best to just call time." The in-demand Dublin-born actor - who lives in Kent in England with wife Claire Cox and their five-year-old son, Freddie - next appears on our screens as Irish rebellion hero Padraig Pearse. He said he hoped that viewers would take to his portrayal just as much as they did that of gangland boss Nidge. The talented Irish actor - who is best known for playing the psychotic gangster over five seasons of the award-winning show - returns to TV screens tomorrow night in Trial of the Century. It's a three-part drama which imagines an alternative history in which the 1916 rebel leader is spared execution. Tom (38) said being cast as Pearse was "one of the greatest honours" of his acting career. He added that he repaid the producers' faith in him by reading up on the 1916 icon as much as possible. But he said that playing a long-departed political figure in a fictitious drama also gave him a creative licence to develop the character on his own terms. "Padraig Pearse is one of the most important figures in our history and it was incredibly humbling to play him," he said. "It certainly made me realise more than before the significance of what he did, and how extraordinary it was at the time. It was incredibly eye-opening." Tom will appear alongside Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston in big-budget US film The Infiltrator this summer. Speaking of his respect for Cranston, he added: "I was a massive fan of Breaking Bad and it was nerve racking meeting him. But he's a very unaffected, very talented, and very kind." Trial of the Century will air tomorrow, Sunday and Monday from 9pm on TV3 Former Sen. Russ Feingold still isn't saying who he voted for in Wisconsin's presidential primary on April 5, but he signaled on Thursday that former Hillary Clinton is likely on her way to being the Democratic nominee. "Hillary Clinton, she knew how to do this in 2008 she fought as hard as she could, and when it was clear that the handwriting was on the wall, she did the right thing," Feingold told reporters Thursday after a WisPolitics.com luncheon in Madison. "Bernie Sanders, if he ends up not winning, is going to do the same thing. Ive seen this time and again. Ive seen it the way he was speaking last night and this morning. He will do the right thing when the time is right." Feingold argued nothing positive can come from him sharing the details of his ballot and said he hasn't even told his wife who got his vote. His goal, he said, is to unify supporters of both the former Secretary of State and the Vermont senator. He also said his opponent, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, has every right to keep his vote a secret as well. The Democratic primary will "work out fine," Feingold said, taking a swipe at the instability of the Republican contest. "There is no big hurry. People have to take time to get their feelings out about the differences," Feingold said of the Democratic race. "There are differences. There are a lot of young people that are invested in Sen. Sanders campaign, and what he did was great. And what hes doing is great. He helped make Hillary Clinton a better candidate, and what he did on his own, raised issues that frankly Ive been raising for decades, that needed to be raised about the power of big money in politics, and the dominance of Wall Street." Asked whether it's clear Clinton is the party's presumptive nominee, Feingold said he doesn't know and it's not important for him to weigh in on the issue. Feingold leads Johnson among Wisconsin voters, 47 percent to 42 percent, according to a Marquette University Law School poll released last month. Democrat Russ Feingold wont say who he voted for in Wisconsins recent presidential primary. Feingold, D-Middleton, speaking as a U.S. senator in 2008, disclosed that he voted for then-Sen. Barack Obama in that years primary. But now Feingold running to reclaim the Senate seat he once held from Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who beat him in 2010 wont say if he voted for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. Im not saying, and I didnt even tell my wife, Feingold told reporters Thursday in a press conference in Madison. It does no good, since my goal is to help unify the supporters on both sides. I dont see anything positive about talking about what happened with my secret ballot. Johnson, R-Oshkosh, also has declined to publicly say which presidential candidate he supports. Sanders, I-Vt., carried Wisconsin solidly in its April 5 primary. But Clinton now is on the verge of locking up the Democratic nomination after recent wins in large northeastern states such as New York and Pennsylvania. Asked if Clinton is now the presumptive nominee, Feingold declined to say. But Feingold likened the dynamics of the race now to the late stages of the 2008 primary, which led to Clinton conceding the Democratic nomination to Obama. When it was clear that the handwriting was on the wall, she did the right thing, Feingold said. Bernie Sanders, if he ends up not winning, is going to do the same. He will do the right thing when the time is right. There is no big hurry. Feingold and his former Senate colleague, Sanders, have much in common. Both are progressives, and were so even at times when progressives lacked the influence within the Democratic Party that they have now. Both emphasize curbing the influence of money in politics and have sharply criticized global trade deals. The political action committee Feingold founded, Progressives United, contributed to Sanders campaign in January 2015, before he launched his presidential bid. Feingold credited Sanders on Thursday for raising issues that frankly, Ive been raising for decades that needed to be raised about the power of big money in politics and the dominance of Wall Street. Feingolds relationship with Clinton has been more complicated. He endorsed her Democratic rival, Obama, in 2008. And Feingold reportedly clashed behind closed doors with Clinton in 2002 over the landmark campaign finance law on which Feingold collaborated with Republican Sen. John McCain. The sound of bagpipes filled the air at King University Friday as about 100 seniors, who will graduate today, donned their caps and gowns to be the first to walk the newly laid brick path on the 150-year-old campus. The oval had fallen into disrepair over the years and was newly restored. Never be bored again keep up with what's hot with What's NXT. Why was Sir-Mix-A-Lot's 'Baby Got Back' in 'Alvin and the Chipmunks'? Guest Reviewer | 29 April, 2016 by Michael Foust FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Christian Examiner) Digital marketer Ash Greyson spends a lot of his time thinking about movies and working to promote them, but even he grows tired of taking his children to watch supposedly "family films" that turn out to be anything but fully kid-friendly. Take, for instance, the 2015 PG film "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip," in which Theodore sings and dances to the sexually suggestive Sir-Mix-A-Lot song "Baby Got Back." Most of the movie was innocent enough, but he and other parents were left wondering: Why was that in there? "I then have to go and explain to my mother-in-law why my 5-year-old is singing, 'I like big butts and I cannot lie,'" Greyson told the Christian Examiner, laughing while also making a point. Greyson, the founder of the digital marketing company Ribbow Media, has worked on some of the top faith-based films of all time, including "War Room." He believes Hollywood and the Christian film industry is missing an opportunity by not making faith-based animation films aimed at the entire family, whether it is a biblical movie or simply a film with biblical references and a strong moral message. Although a plethora of successful faith-based films have hit theaters in the past five years, not one of them has been animated. In fact, among the Top 50 grossing Christian films of all time, only three "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" (2008), "Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie" (2002) and "The Prince of Egypt" (1998) were animated. Compare that to the Top 50 mainstream domestic gross list, where a total of 10 animated movies led by the likes of "Shrek 2" (2004), "The Lion King" (1994) and "Toy Story 3" (2010) are ranked. Although those latter two films were G-rated and mostly innocent, Shrek 2 was rated PG for crude humor, a brief substance reference and suggestive content a fact that supports Greyson's point. "Please give me more films like 'Prince of Egypt,'" Greyson said. "I know atheist parents who will let their kids watch 'Prince of Egypt.'" Although animated films are notoriously more expensive to make, Greyson said he thinks the Christian community would "show up in droves" if the film is done well. Scott Wysong, an associate professor of business at the University of Dallas, is another faith-based market expert who believes the Christian community would support an animated faith film. Wysong is a branding expert who gives business advice to filmmakers. "Obviously, kids are a big market for toys, and so if you've got a faith-based animated movie, then you can tie in with retailers and fast-food restaurants," Wysong told CE. "I think the whole kid market would be lucrative." Although some mainstream restaurants may not be as quick to support a Christian animated film with toy giveaways, other restaurants such as Chick-fil-A might do so, Wysong added. Animated films allow studios to "get the whole family there" in the theater, perhaps doubling or even tripling the number of tickets that otherwise would be sold, he said. Greyson said that even with the best of faith-based films, you "have to get a babysitter." "We have to plan ahead," Greyson said of him and other parents with small children. "I can't take my kids because a lot of these movies deal with adult issues. To me, the lack of animated films is the biggest disconnect [in the faith film industry] that we haven't cracked." Planned Parenthood Document Casts Doubt About Its Real Motives GREENWOOD, Wis., April 29, 2016 / Then president of the Population Council, Bernard Berelson, asked Planned Parenthood vice-president, Frederick Jaffe, for ideas on how to reduce America's population. The infamous response has come to be known as "The Jaffe Memo." Dr. Anthony Horvath, a pro-life advocate and executive director of a Christian apologetics ministry, The memo calls into question Planned Parenthood's real reasons for promoting birth control and abortion on demand. Horvath says, "Planned Parenthood paints itself as an organization that advocates for women's rights, but the Jaffe Memo proves that they were more than willing to dispense with such ideals in a pinch. The memo actually suggests that women be forced--actually compelled--to get abortions. So much for 'pro-choice.'" Other proposals that they considered worthy of consideration included adding fertility control agents to the water supply and forcibly sterilizing people who have more than two children. The organization even contemplated forcing women to work, and then ensure that there were few child care facilities. "The idea was to make women choose between a family and their career. If child care was scarce and expensive, women would make the 'right' call and have smaller families. The goal was to get women to do what Planned Parenthood wanted them to do, but have the women think it was their own idea," Horvath explains. Horvath says, "If there really is a 'war on women,' documents like the Jaffe Memo suggest that perhaps it is Planned Parenthood and its allies that are the ones carrying it out." To make matters worse, Jaffe cataloged which proposals would have more impact on certain racial groups. According to Horvath, "Black communities have long been suspicious about the number of abortion clinics in their neighborhood. The 'Jaffe Memo' suggests that those suspicions are well-founded. If I were a woman or a black person, I'd worry less about Cruz and Trump, and worry more about my supposed 'allies,' like Planned Parenthood, with its continued demand for Federal funding." The memo can be viewed in full at Share Tweet Contact: Anthony Horvath, Athanatos Christian Ministries , 202-697-4623, director@athanatosministries.org GREENWOOD, Wis., April 29, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- A 1969 document produced by a former vice-president of Planned Parenthood suggests the organization cares less about women and minorities than it does in controlling their fertility.Then president of the Population Council, Bernard Berelson, asked Planned Parenthood vice-president, Frederick Jaffe, for ideas on how to reduce America's population. The infamous response has come to be known as "The Jaffe Memo."Dr. Anthony Horvath, a pro-life advocate and executive director of a Christian apologetics ministry, Athanatos Christian Ministries , tracked down the complete memorandum written by Jaffe and sent to Bernard Berelson, and has made it available at www.jaffememo.com The memo calls into question Planned Parenthood's real reasons for promoting birth control and abortion on demand.Horvath says, "Planned Parenthood paints itself as an organization that advocates for women's rights, but the Jaffe Memo proves that they were more than willing to dispense with such ideals in a pinch. The memo actually suggests that women be forced--actually compelled--to get abortions. So much for 'pro-choice.'"Other proposals that they considered worthy of consideration included adding fertility control agents to the water supply and forcibly sterilizing people who have more than two children. The organization even contemplated forcing women to work, and then ensure that there were few child care facilities."The idea was to make women choose between a family and their career. If child care was scarce and expensive, women would make the 'right' call and have smaller families. The goal was to get women to do what Planned Parenthood wanted them to do, but have the women think it was their own idea," Horvath explains.Horvath says, "If there really is a 'war on women,' documents like the Jaffe Memo suggest that perhaps it is Planned Parenthood and its allies that are the ones carrying it out."To make matters worse, Jaffe cataloged which proposals would have more impact on certain racial groups.According to Horvath, "Black communities have long been suspicious about the number of abortion clinics in their neighborhood. The 'Jaffe Memo' suggests that those suspicions are well-founded. If I were a woman or a black person, I'd worry less about Cruz and Trump, and worry more about my supposed 'allies,' like Planned Parenthood, with its continued demand for Federal funding."The memo can be viewed in full at www.jaffememo.com . Horvath is available for interviews at director@athanatosministries.org What a "turn around"... I read this recently in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) digest under the heading "British Chief Rabbi Calls for Islam to Be Taught in Jewish Schools." It surprised me and I feel you should know about it too: "Britain's Chief Rabbi EPHRAIM MIRVIS has recommended that children be taught about Islam as part of government proposed changes to the curriculum for religious studies. Beginning in September, British schools will be required to teach two faiths as part of their curriculum in order to receive a General Certificate of Secondary Education certification in religious studies. This new curriculum would amount to a 25 percent reduction of the time currently allocated to Jewish studies. Religious groups had lobbied against the new requirement. While this is a 'serious loss for Jewish school education, the Chief Rabbi said that the change provides 'a valuable opportunity' for children to learn about a 'poorly understood religion. It is more important than ever that our children have a better understanding of Islam and that we build strong relationships with British Muslims.' The government instituted the changes last year in an effort to counter rising hate crimes and religious extremism." (Judging by the huge rise in European anti-Semitism, this may not be a bad idea. It is surely worth a try. Also, why not institute such an idea where Muslim children learn more about Judaism?) Mazel Tov Department... Congratulations to MATTHEW WOLFE and his entire family on recently passing his bar exams and becoming an attorney at law. Matthew is the son of IVY and DAVID WOLFE of Winter Park. He and his entire family are long time residents and involved members of our Jewish Community. Matthew was born here and had his bar mitzvah at Congregation Ohev Shalom with Rabbi RUDOLPH ADLER officiating. He is a bright young man. After graduating from Barry Law School he clerked at numerous law firms in town. He is the first attorney in the family. After his swearing in ceremony recently, conducted by Orange County Judge LeBlanc, (See photo) his family, beaming with pride, celebrated with dinner out. Now Matthew, with an extensive background in law, is searching for a local law firm where he can share his knowledge and offer his services. A reminder... This Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. the Congregation Ohev Shalom Seniors, with President BERNY RAFF, present a fabulous vocalist for your listening pleasure. MARK STEVEN SCHMIDT will be performing some of our most beloved songs followed by refreshments and beverages. For cost, directions or any other questions, phone Berny at 407-767-6763. A true mensch... I'm referring to LOIS SILVERBERG. Lois Silverberg has been active with the Jewish Pavilion for more than ten years. In the earlier years, she and Pat Rubenstein secured flower donations and created beautiful arrangements for resident in long-term care. Each gift was delivered with a smile and amiable conversation. For the last three years, she has participated in a weekly ice-cream social/sing- along at Savannah court in Maitland. Lois has become exceptionally friendly with all of the residents and takes time to greet and say goodbye to every individual. She is the first to arrive and the last to leave. In addition to helping at Savannah Court, She too participates in holiday festivities in many of the senior facilities. Lois exudes warmth and her zest for life is contagious. Shout out... Lois Silverberg (r) with resident What terrific service I had recently from a waitress at the Perkins Restaurant on University Boulevard in Winter Park! Her name is SAMANTHA SMITH and she was most caring and wonderful at what she does! One for the road... Bernie is a very wealthy man indeed. One day in June, he goes on holiday with his latest, much younger girlfriend, Sarah. As the days in the sun wore on, Bernie and Sarah began to talk about the differences in their ages and interests between them. Bernie took this opportunity to ask Sarah what was, to him, an important question. He asked, "If I lost everything, all my money, my mansion, my Rolls Royce, tomorrow, would you still love me, Sarah?" "Yes, darling," said Sarah, "and I'd miss you too." A few years ago, my friend J. Zel Lurie, a Delray Beach resident and founding editor of Hadassah magazine, decided he wanted to do something special to mark his 100th birthday. He decided to publish the illuminated pages of an ancient manuscript he had photographed in 1978 in Cairo at the synagogue of a Jewish sect known as the Karaites. The manuscript was the legendary Cairo Codex, originally known as the Codex of the Prophets, which had been in possession of the Karaites-a group that rebelled against Jewish rabbinical authority in the years following the Roman sacking of Jerusalem and the Second Temple-for nearly 1,000 years. Lurie, then in his 60s, was transfixed by the Codex, with its 554 gazelle-hide parchment pages inscribed with three columns of gracefully handwritten Hebrew. He was especially taken with its 13 illuminated pages, decorated with meticulous micrography-delicate lines of tiny Hebrew letters that formed complex geometric patterns, interlaced with color and gold leaf. Though not a sentimental man, Lurie was moved by their beauty. The Codex had a storied past told in part by its colophons-statements at the end of codices explaining their origins. According to its first colophon, it was commissioned by a Karaite, written by a Karaite scribe in 894 CE and given to the Karaites in Jerusalem to keep in their synagogue. But after it was seized by the Crusaders when they plundered Jerusalem in 1099, a wealthy Cairo Karaite paid a vast sum to ransom it and gave it to the Karaite community in Old Cairo, where both the Karaites and their Codex survived centuries of Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman, French and British rule. The colophons also contained a warning: "Nobody shall be permitted to bring it out of the synagogue except if it is done-may God prevent it-by compulsion. One shall return it at the time of tranquility. Whoever changes this condition and this holiness shall be cursed by the Lord and all curses shall come upon him." The era of the Karaites in Egypt began to come to an end with the anti-Zionist riots that occurred when the State of Israel was established in 1948. By the time Lurie visited in 1978, only a few dozen Karaites remained in Cairo; they, too, would soon depart-largely for Israel, but also to Europe and the United States. The last left in the mid-1980s, around which time the Cairo Codex vanished. Lurie hadn't noticed this development-most people hadn't- until he visited the only American Karaite synagogue in Daley City, California in 2012. It was there that Lurie made up his mind to have the illuminated pages professionally photographed and printed in a book-and learned that the manuscript was missing. The retired journalist decided to track the Cairo Codex down. Though he spoke with many Karaites during his search-who all told him the Codex was most likely in Egypt-Lurie was convinced they weren't telling the truth. Just one, a physician and scholar who died in 2014, told Lurie a different story: The Codex had been smuggled out of Cairo to Israel, and was being kept in a climate-controlled sub-basement room in the National Library. In May 2014, Lurie, then 100, flew to Israel to pursue this theory. Despite statements implying otherwise from a Karaite leader and a National Library curator, Lurie came away certain that the Codex was, in fact, at the library. But no one would admit it. By this time, Lurie's sight and hearing were failing, and he could no longer keep searching. And so I traveled to Israel last fall to follow up on Lurie's hunch. Despite denials from both the library and the official Karaite community, I was able to confirm that it is indeed in Israel-and, in fact, in the library. At the same time, it was revealed that the manuscript, which shares much in common the famed Aleppo Codex-now ensconced at the Shrine of the Book in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem-has not been seriously restored. In the process, I received warnings that the Codex was better left unfound. Some of these warnings included the concern that its reappearance could spark a diplomatic crisis between Israel and Egypt, which I determined to be highly unlikely. A more likely reason for the secrecy was that the disclosure of its location could spark ownership tensions between the library and Israel's Karaite community, most of whom immigrated from Egypt. Today, Lurie is 102, and he still hopes to publish a book with new color reproductions of the illuminated pages. Israel's National Library has not, however, yet made the codex accessible. Lurie wants the Codex to be shared with the world and believes it is a tragedy that a high-quality edition of the entire Codex is not available online. "It is," he says, "time to liberate the Cairo Codex from the shackles of fear that have kept it hidden." To read the full story about this fascinating manuscript, its importance and how it was found, download The Mystery of the Cairo Codex, a free e-book with photographs at momentmag.com/ momentmag.com/cairo-codex-ebook. By Natalia Baqueiro Shabbat 1000! Uniting Jewish students! The Pegasus Ballroom was transformed into an elegant, intimate place where hundreds of students, faculty and staff members came together to celebrate Shabbat 1000 on Friday, April 1. For its fourth consecutive year, the traditional Shabbat dinner, hosted by Chabad at UCF, expected to reach hundreds, where Jewish traditions were celebrated with, Shabbat dinner, singing and traditional customs. The evening is true display of Jewish unity with all Jewish groups on campus uniting and take part in this incredible experience. Rabbi Chaim Lipskier, executive director of Chabad at UCF, explained that the holy day of Shabbat is a day to disengage from the daily grind of the week and to be with family and friends. "The Jewish day starts at night, so Friday night is the holy day of Shabbat," Rabbi Lipskier said. "Typically, Jewish people around the world go to synagogue Friday night and pray with the community, and then go home and have a festive dinner with their family. It's a Jewish commandment not to work on the Shabbat; we don't drive, or use electricity. It's a day we spend in prayer, in celebration and with family." Preparation for this event started last year, taking almost six months and around 50 volunteers for it to come alive. "This is an event that many students look forward to all year; there's a lot of excitement around it," Rabbi Lipskier said. Aviel Yashar, president of Chabad Jewish Student Group, said the event wasn't only for Jews, but for anyone who was interested. "It's a huge cultural experience," Yashar said. "It's informative [and] it's a great way to meet other people and network. It's a lot more than just the religious aspect." Some students were excited about dinner, while others such as Yashar were excited for the impact of this event. "It's important for people to have union, and events like this really harvest that," Yashar said. "It's an incredible thing for all the Jews to get together and celebrate our heritage." Isabel Voskoboynik, an economics freshman, was a first-time attendee. She said she was excited to see UCF had Jewish events, such as Shabbat 1000. Before the Shabbat dinner, Israeli musician Gilad Segev performed live. His performance was followed by Dr. Terri Susan Fine Stenzler, professor of Political Science at UCF and the Chabad Jewish Student Group's adviser sharing a few words, followed by Yashar, and then Rabbi Lipskier welcomed everyone and thanked the sponsors and volunteers. All the tables had candles for women to light and to welcome prosperity and light into their lives, their families' and their community. Rivkie Lipskier, co-director of Chabad at UCF, explained why the candle lighting tradition is so special and important. "Candles are very similar to your soul," she said. "With most physical things, the more you give, the less you have. You can take a flame and light hundreds of candles with it. Each candle gives warmth and light into a room, into life-into whatever it [lights]. Every single one of us have a soul, it's like a fire [with] it's warmth and it's yearning to connect to something higher, to godliness... it's always searching to connect to a higher source, so does your soul. It's always trying to connect to a higher source, to G-dliness and Shabbat is the soul of the week." After the candlelighting and Kiddish, people washed their hands for bread, returned to their tables to enjoy their Shabbat meal filled with singing and good times. Shabbat 1000 was a memorable and uplifting experience and the planning for next years is already under way. Save the date-Friday March 31, 2017 in Pegasus Ballroom. To learn more about Chabad at UCF please visit jewishucf.com! Natalia Baqueiro is a contributing writer for the Central Florida Future. Shabbat 1000! Uniting Jewish students! The Pegasus Ballroom was transformed into an elegant, intimate place where hundreds of students, faculty and staff members came together to celebrate Shabbat 1000 on Friday, April 1. For its fourth consecutive year, the traditional Shabbat dinner, hosted by Chabad at UCF, expected to reach hundreds, where Jewish traditions were celebrated with, Shabbat dinner, singing and traditional customs. The evening is true display of Jewish unity with all Jewish groups on campus uniting and take part in this incredible experience. Rabbi Chaim Lipskier, executive director of Chabad at UCF, explained that the holy day of Shabbat is a day to disengage from the daily grind of the week and to be with family and friends. "The Jewish day starts at night, so Friday night is the holy day of Shabbat," Rabbi Lipskier said. "Typically, Jewish people around the world go to synagogue Friday night and pray with the community, and then go home and have a festive dinner with their family. It's a Jewish commandment not to work on the Shabbat; we don't drive, or use electricity. It's a day we spend in prayer, in celebration and with family." Preparation for this event started last year, taking almost six months and around 50 volunteers for it to come alive. "This is an event that many students look forward to all year; there's a lot of excitement around it," Rabbi Lipskier said. Aviel Yashar, president of Chabad Jewish Student Group, said the event wasn't only for Jews, but for anyone who was interested. "It's a huge cultural experience," Yashar said. "It's informative [and] it's a great way to meet other people and network. It's a lot more than just the religious aspect." Some students were excited about dinner, while others such as Yashar were excited for the impact of this event. "It's important for people to have union, and events like this really harvest that," Yashar said. "It's an incredible thing for all the Jews to get together and celebrate our heritage." Isabel Voskoboynik, an economics freshman, was a first-time attendee. She said she was excited to see UCF had Jewish events, such as Shabbat 1000. Before the Shabbat dinner, Israeli musician Gilad Segev performed live. His performance was followed by Dr. Terri Susan Fine Stenzler, professor of Political Science at UCF and the Chabad Jewish Student Group's adviser sharing a few words, followed by Yashar, and then Rabbi Lipskier welcomed everyone and thanked the sponsors and volunteers. All the tables had candles for women to light and to welcome prosperity and light into their lives, their families' and their community. Rivkie Lipskier, co-director of Chabad at UCF, explained why the candle lighting tradition is so special and important. "Candles are very similar to your soul," she said. "With most physical things, the more you give, the less you have. You can take a flame and light hundreds of candles with it. Each candle gives warmth and light into a room, into life-into whatever it [lights]. Every single one of us have a soul, it's like a fire [with] it's warmth and it's yearning to connect to something higher, to godliness... it's always searching to connect to a higher source, so does your soul. It's always trying to connect to a higher source, to G-dliness and Shabbat is the soul of the week." After the candlelighting and Kiddish, people washed their hands for bread, returned to their tables to enjoy their Shabbat meal filled with singing and good times. Shabbat 1000 was a memorable and uplifting experience and the planning for next years is already under way. Save the date-Friday March 31, 2017 in Pegasus Ballroom. To learn more about Chabad at UCF please visit jewishucf.com! Natalia Baqueiro is a contributing writer for the Central Florida Future. Firefighters and rescue personnel at the scene of a bus bombing in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem, April 18, 2016. JERUSALEM (JTA)-At least 21 people were injured in a bus bombing in Jerusalem, police said, in the first such attack in Israel in years. A city bus exploded and went up in flames Monday evening, April 18, on a major thoroughfare in the southern end of the capital. The blast set a second bus and a car nearby on fire. Two people were seriously injured in the attack, with seven moderately injured and 12 lightly injured. An explosive device was planted in the rear half of the bus, which was stopped on the major thoroughfare at the time of the explosion, according to the Israel Police. Police are examining the possibility that a suicide bomber committed the attack and was among the injured. "We're looking into where the explosive came from, who placed it, how he got to the bus," Jerusalem Police Commissioner Yoram Halevy said, according to Israeli news website Ynet. "We had no specific warning about this explosive. We are fully prepared ahead of the holidays and ready for any eventuality." Or Bondy was aboard the No. 12 bus on Moshe Baram Road near Hebron Road when it blew up. He had just sent his father, Tzadok, a text saying "What's up, dad?" The newly married 25-year-old, who was on his way home after a day at work, received burns on his face, arms and legs. Two hours later, Or Bondy was entering a CT machine barely able to talk. "I always pushed it aside," Tzadok Bondy told reporters regarding Jerusalem's terror attacks. "Now it's infiltrated my family." The explosion engulfed the nearly empty bus in flames. The flames scorched an adjacent bus, as well as a nearby car. A large fire raged at the intersection and sent smoke billowing into the air. At Hadassah Medical Center, Ein Kerem, seven of the victims were hospitalized. Three were anesthetized and receiving oxygen. The victims had burns on their upper bodies, as well as wounds from nails and ball bearings packed into the explosive device. The wounds, according to Avi Rivkind, head of Hadassah's trauma unit, were similar to those from previous Jerusalem terror attacks. "We'll settle the score with these terrorists," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech in the Israeli city of Binyamina on Monday night. "We're in an ongoing struggle against terror-terror of missiles, terror of shooting, terror of explosives, of missiles and also terror of tunnels." The attack follows a six-month wave of stabbing and shooting attacks in Jerusalem, the West Bank and across Israel. The rate of those attacks had declined to normal levels, though Israeli officials remained concerned about a flare-up in violence surrounding upcoming religious holidays, including Passover. Israel experienced a wave of bus bombings during the second intifada in the early 2000s. The bombings killed hundreds of people and deterred many Israelis from riding buses. Bus bombings declined following an Israeli military operation in the West Bank and the construction of Israel's West Bank security barrier. In recent years, most Palestinian terror attacks come in the form of either stabbings, shootings or car rammings at public transit stops. Deputy Jerusalem Police spokesman Assi Aharoni said the police were hunting for suspects and urged the public to be alert. Ninety percent of Congress sent a clear message to President Obamaback Israel. House Republicans and Democrats united in urging President Barack Obama to reject any one-sided actions by the United Nations attempting to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that are biased against Israel, a move Obama is reportedly considering. In a letter sent to Obama on Thursday, authored by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and signed by 394, including Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, House members warned that one-sided initiatives may come up at the U.N. in the coming months. They say the proposals should be vetoed because they could dangerously hinder the prospects of the two sides resuming the direct negotiations that are key to resolving their differences. We are deeply troubled by reports that one-sided initiatives may arise at the U.N. in the coming months concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the letter says. Such efforts dangerously hinder the prospects for resuming direct negotiations, the lawmakers wrote. We therefore urge you to continue to insist that it is only at the negotiating tableand not at the UNthat the parties can resolve their complicated differences. Your continued commitment to longstanding U.S. policy to veto one-sided U.N. Security Council resolutions remains fundamentally critical. The letter calls on the administration to refuse support for counterproductive efforts aimed at imposing a solution on the parties and to oppose and, if need be, veto one-sided United Nations Security Council resolutions. By Caleb R. Newton Families from the Druze community of Israel came to the Jewish Academy of Orlando late after Shabbat on April 16, to share their stories of loved ones who died while serving in the Israel Defense Force throughout the past decades in several different conflicts. The families wanted to share their experiences with Central Florida to help build bridges between our communities and to recognize the bridges that are already present. "This...demonstrates the high level of partnership between the Israeli Druze Community and the Israeli Jewish people," said Victor Eyal, organizer of the event. This partnership extends to the Jewish community of Florida as well. Not only were personal stories shared, but Dr. Ramzi Halabi, former mayor of northern Israel's Druze town Daliyat al-Karmel, also shared some of the history and culture of the Druze communities in Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East. He named a few keys to understanding such culture, according to Halabi: Two of the most basic principles are the secrecy of the Druze religion, and the tendency to settle on high places. Deeper into the Druze culture, there are a few more important tenets, according to the former mayor. These include the religious belief in reincarnation and preordained destiny according to God's plan. Out of these beliefs, the Druze have a strong sense of the need to protect one's clan and to be peacemakers. They live their lives according to making the most peace possible with the world. To them, it is much more than the immediately visible and tangible. According to Halabi, the context for this peacemaking for Israeli Druze is the state of Israel. They see themselves fully as Israelis. And it is in this context that the rest of the visiting Druze shared their stories. They had all, including Halabi, lost a family member in the service of the state and people of Israel. Kamal Zaidan, who served in the IDF for decades, lost two sons-Fuah and Saleh, who wanted to follow in their father's footsteps of service. His wife, who was also present, lost her brother, Saleh Hamdan. Fuah Zaidan was killed while protecting visitors to the city of Bethlehem during Christmas decades ago. Saleh was killed defending his commander from a terror attack during the Lebanon War. The incident reached the news in Israel before Zaidan knew that the casualty was his son. Zaidan had tried to dissuade Saleh from going to the front in the aftermath of the passing of his elder brother, but to no avail. Zaidan said, through an emotional translation by Eyal, that neither he nor the rest of the family could "convince themselves that this was not what he was supposed to do." Monir Assad, who served for 35 years in the Israeli border police, lost his brother, Samir, as a prisoner of war to terrorists in Lebanon in the 1980s. The process, though, was dragged out by the terrorists for almost a dozen years, as they pretended that Samir was alive for awhile. They then claimed that an Israeli airstrike was responsible for his death. Israeli government officials assured the Assads that this was not true, and he was in fact killed soon after his capture. It took a long process, however, to retrieve his body. In the end, the Israelis exchanged a living terrorist and two terrorists' bodies for the body of Samir Assad. In explaining his reason for hosting this event and others like it, Eyal stated, "Ronit [Eyal] and I were looking to do 'something' for Israel's defense efforts, for a while. During the 2014 'Protective Edge' operation we were taken by daily losses of our soldiers and decided to do that 'something' in the form of treating parents of the IDF soldiers who gave their lives during their service in the IDF." The Eyals decided to opened their home to the families of deceased Israeli soldiers. They host the parents at their home in groups of four couples per visit. Each visit lasts a week. Uri and Miriam Argov of Tourico Holdings, have been providing all transportation from Israel and back, tickets to local attractions, and caring for the guests' trips after their stay here, normally for another week, to other places in the U.S." The Druze families who visited would like to "express their deep gratitude" to the Central Florida Israeli and Jewish community for hosting them and sharing in the telling of their stories. Caleb R. Newton is a global affairs analyst living in Central Florida and the founder of Global News Breakdown. Find him at Bipartisan Report, Dissecting Society, and the Times of Israel. Contact him at calebrnewton@globalnewsbreakdown.com. Over a hundred Jewish Academy of Orlando students and their families celebrated storytelling, reading, and writing at Family Read Aloud Night. The lively event featured literacy themed festivities throughout the entire campus. Teachers and staff set up classrooms with various a hands-on activities, including poetry, digital storytelling, crafts, and games. The Seminole County Library System, Maitland Public Library, and Winter Park Public library all hosted storytelling sessions for students and families. Local author J.J. Howard dazzled students with a reading from her new middle-grade novel, "Sit, Stay, Love." Jewish Academy Middle School students presented stories in Hebrew and Spanish. Students also cuddled up with a good book and a dog, with a visit from Be an Angel Therapy Dogs. In addition, students participated in a book exchange, and brought in book donations to spread their love of reading throughout the local community. It was night of happy reading! For more information about the Jewish Academy of Orlando or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact Alan Rusonik, Head of School, at arusonik@myjao.org or 407-647-0713. By Caleb R. Newton The University of Central Florida (UCF) community has been hit a few times recently with anti-Semitic or otherwise racist incidents. The incidents include anti-Semitic vandalism at the end of last year, and, according to police, personal attacks on African-American students. In this light, the Anti-Defamation League, working in concert with the UCF Office of Diversity and Inclusion, hosted on Monday, April 18, a forum called "The Power of Symbols: When Hate Visits Our Community." The forum was a panel discussion with Central Florida Hillel CEO Aaron Weil and Hillel director of Community Relations Sam Friedman; Deputy Police Chief Brett Meade; and David Barkey, the Anti-Defamation League's Southeastern Area counsel. The discussion was moderated by the ADL's Florida Region associate director, Lonny Wilk. A focal point of the discussion was to understand the breadth of what hate speech is, as understood through symbols, and what that means to citizens of Central Florida. The panelists spent a bulk of the time discussing responses to these symbols. They answered questions like, "How can one tell what speech is free, and what is just hate speech?" and "What is an appropriate response to hate speech?" According to the panelists, it is "important to remember" that you are, in the United States, "free to be a bigot." Hate speech crosses into the realm of hate crime when it is accompanied by an actual criminal act. For example, calling a Jewish person a derogatory term is not against the law. But when that speech is accompanied by a physical assault, then it becomes a prosecutable hate crime. This distinction helps to protect free speech, which is, at least in theory, a foundation of American society. This distinction, however, is not to say that pure hate speech should not be taken seriously. Often, as noted, hate speech leads to actual hate crimes, either on the part of the person who first uttered the words or on the part of someone who overheard and took the incitement. Meade emphasized that his department wants to know about hate speech for precisely that reason. He said that he will work "1000 percent" with any person who brings such a report to him, citing his ability to do so in most circumstances because of his working "very closely with various aspects of the university." These "relationship webs" are an important part of what all the panelists cited as the best defense against hate speech. Maybe hate speech is not illegal, but it is virulent. So, what should be done against it, according to the panelists, is more speech. More speech that is strongly standing against hate together with everyone in the community. As they stated, an attack on one group is an attack on every group. Laws can't do everything to help us. We must stand up ourselves and refuse to just be "bystanders." Weil had this to say, the conclusion of which was met with a round of applause, "I'm not concerned about racism. Racists out themselves. What does worry me and keep me up at night is the response to this racism. Back in the '30s and '40s, Hitler wasn't the danger, and it wasn't just warmongering that led to the war that killed tens of millions. The real danger was the resounding shrugging of the shoulders from the people of Germany and the rest of the world. Today, the same questions that we ask those who watched millions be killed must be asked. And if any school or job comes before standing up to hate, it's time for a serious reality check." The UCF campus is not as bad as some other areas, such as the University of South Florida. Still, as the panelists emphasized, no hate can be tolerated, and the community should continue to be built up to fight it. Caleb R. Newton is a global affairs analyst living in Central Florida and the founder of Global News Breakdown. Find him at Bipartisan Report, Dissecting Society, and the Times of Israel. Contact him at calebrnewton@globalnewsbreakdown.com. Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2016 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando on Aug. 17. For almost 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award, said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last years recipient was Berny Raff. Former recipients have included Wolf Kahn (1999), Robert Petree (2007), and Loren London (2014). According to Gaeser, Each recipient chose their own path, but made considerable and long-lasting contributions to the Jewish community. Nominees for the 2016 award are individuals who do not look for recognition, but perform tikun olanrepairing the worldout of internal motivation. Nominations should be emailed to news@orlandoheritage.com with the subject Human Service Award, or typed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and sent by mail to Heritage Florida Jewish News, Human Service Award, 207 OBrien Road, Suite 101, Fern Park, FL 32730. Included should be the name and phone number of the nominee, a documented list of his or her accomplishments, and the name and phone number of the nominator(s). The Heritage is accepting nominations until Friday, June 3. By Julie Levitt "I want to thank G-D for allowing us to celebrate Passover together," said a teary-eyed Life Care resident, who rarely speaks. That statement alone justifies the importance of the Jewish Pavilion. To witness hands on, the joy that we bring to the Jewish seniors makes all our hard work, worth it. Morris and Sheila Rashy with Donald and Barbara at Consulate. I had such pleasure organizing nine Pesach seders at nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Altamonte Springs, Maitland, and Apopka. Knowing that there are many Jewish elders that will not be able to physically share Pesach with their loved ones, it was my obligation not only to the Jewish Pavilion, but as a fellow Jew, to bring seders to them. I truly believe that I may have gotten as much delight from celebrating this holiday with them, as they did with me. I could not have made these fabulous seders possible had it not been for the generous contributions from our beloved sponsors. I am also very fortunate to work with some amazing volunteers, whose devotion and big hearts touch so many lives. If you would like to become involved in the Jewish Pavilion and continue to enhance the lives of the seniors in our community together, please call 407-678-9363 for more information. Through the generous grants and donations from its many supporters, Jewish Family Services Orlando has recently expanded its Counseling, Growth and Development Program and is building on its foundation of licensed professional counselors. The team of five therapists, overseen by JFS Orlando's Clinical Therapist Supervisor Teresa Brown, MSW, LCSW, provide couples, family, children/teen and group mental health counseling. JFS Orlando also has increased the number of insurance panels it can accept, and partners diligently with agencies in the community to increase referral sources. "Our therapists have a variety of backgrounds and utilize various therapeutic modalities and philosophies," said Brown. "During the intake process, I place clients with the therapist that best meets the needs of the client and client concerns. Each therapist provides something a little different and I think that makes the services richer and more holistic for providing services to the community and our clients." Brown, a licensed clinical social worker, likes the holistic approach to counseling. "If the basic needs aren't met, you can't focus on the next level of need," she explained. And this is why she was attracted to JFS, because within this facility an individual or couple or family can have all their needs met. JFS also offers one of the most cost-effective programs in the area, accepting most insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid and using a sliding scale based on income and how many people are in a household. "We try to make it as affordable as possible," Brown stated. The diverseness of the therapists is a plus because of the variety of clients who have different needs and issues. It has been said that life is like a roller coaster ride-everyone experiences the ride differently: While some cling tightly to the handlebars, terrified; others let themselves go in the ups and downs of life, completely enthralled in the experience. "I am very impressed with our therapists. There is no one way to treat someone," Brown explained. "Every issue is different, every family is different." Each counselor has a caseload of between seven to 10 clients at any given time. How long they work with each case depends on the progress made. "Our goal is not to keep people in therapy forever, but to help them with what they came in for," Brown explained. With this in mind, JFS Orlando places its therapist in their areas of expertise. Daniel Fisher, Ed.S., LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor. He works with teens 14 years of age to adults, helping them identify issues in their lives through the use of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy. Through Fisher's approach, his clients develop a well-rounded approach to making decisions, thus improving their lives. He has experience in helping young people through change of life issues that include college entrance, career guidance and identity issues as they become adults. "His clients love working with him. They love his style of therapy," Brown said. Working closely with Fisher is Marlene Schiro, LMHC. Also a licensed mental health counselor, she has practiced in Central Florida for 30 years and has helped clients struggling through grief, loss and depression. Encouraging her clients to stay focused on their priorities and goals, she said that therapy is "like peeling off the layers of the onion to find their true, genuine and authentic self they were born to be." She also has had great success with her clients in dealing with the issues that cause addiction. Schiro helps her clients in recovery by dealing with the issues that led to drug abuse. JFS Orlando does not offer drug rehabilitation, however the therapists do work with clients who are in recovery. "They have to be clean for 30 days or longer," stated Brown, who makes sure potential clients are not still using, or verbally saying they aren't using. She emphasized that they don't turn people away, but will refer them to an agency that can help them. That includes any situation. If someone calls JFS with a need that the agency is not able to fulfill, the staff will go out of their way to point them to the right agency that can help them. "We spend the extra few minutes it takes to help get a resource for anyone who calls in needing assistance," Brown said. Barbara Coffee, Ph.D, ABD, LMFT, works one-on-one with families and couples. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist. The ABD stands for "all but dissertation," and she is currently working toward completing her Ph.D., but this doesn't stop her from being an expert in the field of couples counseling, family therapy and child abuse issues. She helps her clients discover that they have within themselves everything they need to succeed, to overcome anxiety, depression or relationship stress. She believes that relationships are really what life is all about. "When we know how to develop and maintain healthy relationships, our life is so much richer." Carla Fischer, MA, LMHC, a licensed mental health couselor, has used her extensive travel experiences to understand various cultures. Bilingual in English, Spanish and German, she approaches mental health with an open heart and mind and uses body centering or emotional-centered therapy to help her clients, who range in age from 4 years through teenager, develop positive self-esteem. Stacey Greenberg, MSW, LCSW, in tandem with Fischer, works with children. She specializes in clinical issues related to adoption, foster care, attachment and adjustment to family changes. She also works with adults 65 and older. Both Fischer and Greenberg are excited about the prospect of developing a teen support group that will cover topics such as self-image, how to make friends, transitions from one school to another, and bullying, among many other topics. In addition to a teen support group, other programs are in the planning stages or already set up. With the aid of a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, and in cooperation with Hospice of the Comforter, JFS just started a Grief Support Group on April 5. The program, facilitated by Greenberg and Hospice of the Comforter's bereavement manager, Flavia Cipollaro, LMHC, meets at Congregation Ohev Shalom from 10:30 a.m.- 11:45 a.m. each Tuesday for six weeks. Another new support group is a Transitions Support Group, which will be offered at The Roth Family Jewish Community Center, May 12-June 16, facilitated by Daniel Fisher. "We are all going through transition all our lives-employment changes, retirement, getting older, marriage, divorce. There are common things in all transitions-common, but different issues. This group will discuss how we cope with change, transitions," said Brown, who is excited about this new group, which will be open to all ages. "I see such potential and how groups really help with connecting those in the community, and learning different coping skills that will transcend to different parts of their lives." To learn more about these programs as well as all the services provided by JFS Orlando, visit http://www.jfsorlando.org. JERUSALEM (JTA)-During the five-plus years of Syria's civil war, Israel has striven to stay neutral-supporting neither the government of President Bashar Assad nor the rebels, and certainly not the Islamic State. But on one issue, senior Israeli politicians have gladly taken sides: Israel keeping the Golan Heights. Facing reports of an international call for Israel to leave the territory as part of a settlement of the Syrian crisis, the Israeli Cabinet met Sunday on the Golan. The unprecedented meeting aimed to demonstrate that Israel's 21,000 citizens in the heights, in addition to some 20,000 Druze residents, weren't going anywhere. "The Golan Heights will forever remain in Israel's hands," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the meeting in Katzrin, the Golan city 120 miles from Jerusalem. "Israel will never come down from the Golan Heights." It wasn't so long ago that the heights, which Israel conquered from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, were up for negotiation. Israel annexed the mountainous strip of land on its northeast corner in 1981, a move the international community has never recognized. But until the Syrian civil war began in 2011, rumors had frequently abounded that it would be returned as part of an Israel-Syria peace deal. Israel had already signed treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. As Israel and the Palestinians flirted with a final accord in the 1990s, Israelis wondered if peace with Syria, their last major Arab adversary, was also in the offing. Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin declared at a 1994 Cabinet meeting that he would be willing to agree to a phased withdrawal from the Golan Heights in exchange for full peace and normalization. But those talks-as well as subsequent rounds through 2000 and again in 2008-went nowhere due to enduring gaps in the two sides' positions. As with the Palestinian negotiations, Israelis who opposed withdrawal from the heights mounted a vigorous public protest campaign. They argued the Golan was an essential strategic asset that Israel couldn't cede. For years, bumper stickers displaying the slogan "the nation with the Golan" freckled cars, lampposts and public spaces. In 2008, a poll showed that 59 percent of Israelis opposed giving back the Golan, with only 25 percent supporting withdrawal. As Syria's war has become only more complex, opponents of Golan withdrawal are claiming vindication. Some on the right have drawn a link between returning the Golan and withdrawing from the West Bank, calling them equally foolish. Speaking last June at the Herzliya Conference, Israel's premier defense gathering, pro-settler Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett called for Israel to quintuple the Golan's Jewish population to 100,000 within five years. "Whom should we give the Golan to, to al-Nusra? To al-Qaida?" he asked at the conference, referring to terror groups in Syria. "Why do they still not recognize the Golan? What's the reasoning? If we had listened to the world, we would have given away the Golan, and ISIS would have been on the Sea of Galilee." While a population surge is unlikely, Israel's Cabinet voted Sunday to devote additional funds to the Golan as a show of permanence there. Through 2018, Israel will spend an additional $2.3 million on culture, energy efficiency and preservation of historical sites in the area. 7 members of alleged Jewish terror cell indicted in Israel JERUSALEM (JTA)Seven members of an alleged Jewish terror cell were indicted Monday in an Israeli court. An Israeli soldier and two minors were among those charged in Petach Tikvah District Court with setting Palestinian vehicles on fire, throwing firebombs at Palestinian homes and assaulting Palestinians in the West Bank, near Ramallah. The cell members also are accused of belonging to an illegal organization and causing grave bodily harm. The accused terrorists were arrested earlier this month in a joint operation of the Shin Bet security services and the Israel Police. In addition to confessing to the attacks in the Gush Talmonim area, some of the cell members reenacted their actions at the scenes of the attacks, the Shin Bet said. The Shin Bet described the cell as extreme and violent and said it systematically harmed Palestinians and their property, with full knowledge that human lives could be harmed, even after the result of the arson attack on a home in Duma. The July firebombing of a Palestinian home in that West Bank village killed a Palestinian baby and his parents, and seriously wounded his brother. The Shin Bet said the attack was an inspiration to the suspects. The suspects have been identified as a soldier in the Netzah Yehuda infantry battalion whose name is under a gag order; Yisrael Shendrofi, from the settlement of Nahliel, and his brother Pinhas; Michael Kaplan from Beit Shemesh; Itamar Ben Aharon from Jerusalem; Shneor Dana from the settlement of Maale Efraim; and the two minors, whose names are being withheld from the public. Tens of thousands hear priestly blessing at Western Wall JERUSALEM (JTA)Tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers gathered Monday at the Western Wall in Jerusalem for the traditional priestly blessing. The crowdestimated by the office of the rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites in Israel at 50,000 - converged on the Old City for the blessing, called Birkat Kohanim in Hebrew, during the second intermediate day of Passover. The mass blessing also is held on Sukkot and Shavuot, the other of the pilgrimage festivals, when the Jews would ascend to the Holy Temple. Religiously observant Jews who pray daily in a quorum, or minyan, observe the rite during the services. Hundreds of kohanim, members of the priestly class, raised their hands and blessed the worshippers, including many visitors from the Diaspora. The crowd also recited the prayers for the State of Israel, the safety of Israeli soldiers and for Israeli police officers. Additional security forces protected the worshippers due to increased tensions at the Temple Mount, located above the Western Wall, and throughout the city. Today everyone felt a wonderful unity at the Priestly Blessing ceremony, attended by Jews from all over Israel and abroad, regardless of their outlook, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovich, the rabbi of the Western Wall, said in a statement. The pilgrimage to Jerusalem is an impressive testament to the Jewish Peoples attachment to the remnant of our Temple; when the masses of Israel come to touch its stones, Rabinovich also said in the statement.This joyous sight of the masses of Israel completely filling the streets is somehow reminiscent of ancient times when crowds of pilgrims would come to see and be seen. More than a commemoration of the Temples destruction, it is a commemoration of the Temple itself. The chief rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Rabbi David Lau, as well as Rabinovich, greeted the visitors after the services. On Sunday, the Women of the Wall group held Passover holiday prayers at the Western Wall, but did not hold a priestly blessing ceremony after being banned by Israels attorney general, who ruled that holding a female version of the ceremony violated a law enforcing local customs at religious sites in Israel. Also on Monday morning, police removed two Jewish visitors from the Temple Mount for violating the sites visitation rules, reportedly by attempting to pray there. Jewish prayer is forbidden at the site, which is holy to both Jews and Muslims. The previous day, 13 Jews were removed from the site. Ted Cruz is in, Bernie Sanders out on senators letter urging more robust defense package for Israel WASHINGTON (JTA)An AIPAC-backed letter to President Barack Obama urging a more robust defense package for Israel reportedly has garnered the signatures of 83 senators, including Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz but not Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders. Reuters reported Monday that 51 Republicans and 32 Democrats, more than four-fifths of the Senate, had signed on to the document. The letter, initiated by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chris Coons, D-Del., was one of the lobbying day requests during the American Israel Public Affairs Committee annual conference last month. Reuters said Cruz, of Texas, had signed and Sanders, an Independent of Vermont, did not. Sanders is the first Jewish candidate to win major party nominating contests. Israel and the United States are negotiating a 10-year defense assistance package, or Memorandum of Understanding, to follow the package set to expire next year that guarantees $3 billion annually. The new agreement is widely expected to be significantly larger. AIPAC praised the letter. We applaud this statement from the Senate of overwhelming bipartisan support for a robust, new Memorandum of Understanding with Israel that increases aid while retaining the current terms of the existing program, the prominent Israel lobbys spokesman, Marshall Wittmann, said in a statement. The letter does not specify an amount to increase the overall defense assistance package, but notes that Congress is already considering increasing the nearly $500 million annually it budgets for missile defense cooperation, which until now has been considered separately from the defense package. It cites a series of what it depicts as enhanced threats in the region, including a missile buildup by Hezbollah in Lebanon; Syria becoming a battleground for an array of forces hostile to Israel, including Iran and militant Sunni Islamist groups, and an increase in terrorism in the Sinai. The letter also notes what it says is the influx of weapons into the region and the possibility that Iran will abrogate the recent nuclear deal and seek nuclear weapons. The nature and breadth of the current threats mean that the United States must enhance its investment in the long-term security requirements of our closest Middle East ally, the letter said. We urge you to conclude an agreement for a robust MOU that increases aid while retaining the current terms of our existing aid program. Rabbi Marc Schneier resigning from Hampton Synagogue, reportedly under pressure (JTA)Rabbi Marc Schneier, one of New Yorks higher-profile spiritual leaders, is resigning from The Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach after 26 years, with one report saying he was leaving under pressure. Schneier, 57, went public with his decision to step down this summer from the Orthodox synagogue he founded in a letter emailed to congregants earlier this month. In the letter, the rabbi said he wants to dedicate more time and resources to my work to strengthen relations between Muslims and Jews. The New York Jewish Week published the letter on its website. I will continue to be a part of our community, as you all have a very special place in my heart, the letter also said. The rabbi told The Jewish Week he will remain in New York and not move to Israel, saying he had unspecified professional opportunities in the private sector that he planned to pursue. However, the New York Post reported Sunday that Schneier resigned under pressure from well-heeled synagogue members threatening to withhold pledges and payments until he was off the pulpit. Last June, Schneier was expelled from the Rabbinical Council of America following an ethics inquiry into his behavior prompted by reports in the New York tabloids that he had had an extramarital affair with a woman, Gitty Leiner, who in 2013 became his fifth wife. He divorced his fifth wife, with whom he has a daughter, in 2015. Schneier gained prominence not only for the exploits that have landed him on newspaper gossip pages but also for running celebrity-filled programs for his wealthy synagogue community in the Hamptons on Long Island. He also presides over the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, an organization devoted to bridge building between Jews and other ethnic groups such as blacks and Muslims. Russell Simmons, an eminent music producer and hip-hop impresario, chairs the foundation. A new rabbi will take over in January 2017, Schneier said in his letter to congregants, following a search that will bring Nationally acclaimed rabbinic candidates (to) spend several Shabbatot with us in July and August so that together we will choose my successor and determine the future of our community. Far-right candidate wins 1st round of presidential elections in Austria (JTA)A member of the far-right Freedom Party in Austria won the first round of presidential elections, clinching the movements best electoral showing ever. Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party, or FPO, took 36 percent of the vote in Sundays election, with the runner-upan independent, left-leaning candidatetaking 20 percent. Hofer, whose campaign focused on keeping migrants from Syria and Iraq out of Austria, and Alexander van der Bellen, an environmentalist with a pro-refugee agenda, will face off in the final vote on May 22 for the largely ceremonial post.. Hundreds of thousands of the refugees have passed through Austria in recent months. Popular opposition to their arrival offers only a partial explanation to the FPOs successes, according to Karl Pfeifer, a veteran journalist and anti-fascist activist who formerly edited the official publication of Viennas Jewish community of 8,000 people. The Jewish Community of Vienna has shunned FPO, which it regards as having problematic ties to neo-Nazis. FPO Chairman Heinz-Christian Strache has denied the allegations and recently visited Israel, where he met with Likud party officials. In 2012, Strache apologized for posting on Facebook a caricature depicting an obese, hook-nosed banker wearing star-shaped cufflinks. The success of the FPO reflects the political centers failure to provide an alternative, Pfeifer told JTA on Monday. Instead of confronting the FPO, the political establishment either ignored it or shifted rightward to steal would-be FPO voters, but the voters went to the source and cut out the middleman. Another independent candidate, the right-of-center former judge Irmgard Griss, garnered 19 percent of the vote. She has not yet endorsed either candidate in the final round. In France, mainstream rival parties put aside their differences and endorsed one another to keep the far-right National Front from winning. But this sort of behavior does not occur in Austria, Pfeifer said. If Hofer wins, Pfeifer said, It is my opinion that the Jewish community will have no choice but to cooperate with him, as it is bound to work with Austrias elected leadership. He added: I fear for what this victory means for Austria and for Europe in general because it signals a slide into a restrictive democracy of the kind that exists in Hungary. Reporter who revealed fake Polish rabbi taking heat from community leader WARSAW, Poland (JTA)The Polish reporter who revealed the imposter rabbi serving in Poznan said the Jewish communitys leader has insisted he stop writing about the case. In a report published Monday, Glos Wielkopolski said Alicja Kobus, head of the Poznan Jewish community and vice president of the Union of the Jewish Communities in Poland, threatened the newspaper over the report several days earlier by Krzysztof Kazmierczak exposing Jacoob Ben Nistell, who claimed to be a rabbi from Haifa, Israel, but in fact was a cook from the Polish city of Ciechanow named Jacek Niszczota. Kobus reportedly has tried in recent days to intimidate Kazmierczak, demanding that he stop writing about Nistell. According to the Glos Wielkopolski report Nistell, who served the community for several years, is not Jewish, does not know Hebrew and is not familiar with Jewish customs. In Poznan, Nistell ran a kosher kitchen for tourists from Israel and guests of the Jewish community, according to Glos Wielkopolski. He served food for our guests, but so what. Everyone has such a right, Kobus, also vice president of the Union of Jewish Religious Communities in Poland, told the newspaper. And he did everything from cooking to taking out the garbage. The restaurants menu, posted on Facebook, included falafel, stuffed grape leaves, cholent and kreplach. Nistell reportedly has disappeared from the community and deleted his Facebook page. Kazmierczak said he has not met with any other negative reactions from Jews. True Jews and people interested in Judaism say it is very good that I revealed the sham, he told JTA. Kazmierczak said he believes Kobus knew for a long time that Nistell did not come from Haifa, especially since the imposter rabbi read Hebrew prayers in Polish transliteration. Meanwhile, leaders of Polish Jewry have criticized the Poznan communitys lack of knowledge about the rabbi. It is said that the wild animals come where there is an empty space, Shalom Ber Stambler, chief Chabad rabbi in Poland, told Glos Wielkopolski. Thats what happened in Poznan; it shows that in a place where there is no real Jewry, bad things happen. Warsaw Jewish leader Przemyslaw Szpilman told JTA: The Polish Rabbinate should read Glos Wielkopolski; many of them will learn something new. Szpilman called the revelation a cosmic embarrassment to the Polish Rabbinate. I knew from the start that this guy was in disguise. But the rabbinate for so long did not attempt to find out who is the man claiming to be a rabbi and taking part in community celebrations, he said. Szpilman said he was speaking publicly on the issue as an individual member of the Polish Jewish community and not on behalf of either the board of the Jewish community in Warsaw on which he serves or as the director of the Jewish cemetery in Warsaw. In a statement shared with JTA, Polish Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich and Lesaw Piszewski president of the Union of the Jewish Communities in Poland, said Nistell was never employed through the union. Mr. Jacek Niszczota, also known as Jacoob Ben Nistell, has never held a position of a rabbi in the Jewish Community of Poznan, according to the statement. Moreover he has never been hired by the Community. He is a private individual and has never represented the Union of the Jewish Communities in Poland nor the Polish Rabbinate. He visited Communal premises as a guest or a volunteer. The U.N. has passed yet another anti-Israel resolution denying historical and archaeological evidence proving a long-existing Jewish presence on the Temple Mount. In blatant disregard of history, archaeology and plain common sense, the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a resolution on Friday that ignores Jewish historical ties to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall in Jerusalem. With 33 votes in favor, six against, and 17 abstentions, the resolution solely refers to the Temple Mount areas by their Muslim names-Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif-with the exception of two references to the Western Wall Plaza in parentheses, the Jerusalem Post reported. The resolution also referred to the Western Wall plaza by its Muslim name, Al-Buraq Plaza. Last October, UNESCO dropped language from a resolution led by six Arab states Algeria, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates on behalf of the Palestinians, that called the Western Wall an "integral part" of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on the Temple Mount. But that language was removed from the resolution in order to garner more support for the measure. At the time, UNESCO did confirm then that the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, two prominent Jewish holy sites, are part of the none-existent "State of Palestine. The latest UNESCO resolution criticized a number of Israeli actions on the Temple Mount, such as plans to build an egalitarian prayer space near Robinson's Arch, and called on Israel not to restrict Muslim worshippers from the Temple Mount, an unsubstantiated claim. The measure also condemned ongoing violence on the Temple Mount, but solely focused on alleged Israeli actions and not Muslim rioters. The resolution calls on Israel to restore the status on the Temple Mount to what it was prior to September 2000 when the second Intifada broke out. At that time, according to the resolution, the Jordan Wakf had full control of the Temple Mount, including maintenance and restoration work and regulating access. The resolution also charged that Israel had placed "Jewish fake graves" in other Muslim cemeteries located on Wakf property east and south of the Aksa mosque. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday rejected the measure as "another absurd" U.N. resolution. "This is yet another absurd U.N. decision. UNESCO ignores the unique historic connection of Judaism to the Temple Mount, where the two temples stood for a thousand years and to which every Jew in the world has prayed for thousands of years," Netanyahu said in a statement. "The U.N. is rewriting a basic part of human history and has again proven that there is no low to which it will not stoop," he charged. This article was written by JNS.org and United with Israel Staff. Bernie Sanders drew a reported 28,000 people to a rally in Brooklyn. Thats a lot of folks for a 74-year-old man to draw to a speech. But, it doesnt seem to translate into wins in primaries. Bernie has struck a chord with unhappy Democrats (and Socialists) who feel the odds stacked against them in the present system of politics and big business. And, pretty much they are right. The five biggest financial institutions issue 75 percent of the credit cards in this country as well as most of the car loans and mortgages. So, what to do about it? Bernie is a little fuzzy on the details of breaking up banks and getting middle class folks earning more money. Where he is really fuzzy is on foreign affairs. God bless him, he stays on message. Ask him about ISIS and hell say something like: Bad peoplebut so are the one percent who... yadda, yadda, yadda. On Israel? Well, lets say he is more than muddled. He has come down on the side of the Anti-Israel J Street, the far left misinformed and various anti-Semites. He says that Israel over reacted in its response to Palestinian rockets during the Gaza war. That it was disproportionate. Bernie, Bubbie, if somebody is trying to kill you and announces their intention, what is a proportioned response? What other nation on earth would robo-call everyone in a building to tell them to get out because it is going to be bombed? Israel did that in Gaza, even though it also alerted terrorists deliberately targeting Israeli civilians. Do Palestinians have it rough? Damn betcha. But, they selected Hamas as their government, one dedicated to ending the Jewish State and killing Jews world-wide. So, if not as a Jew, at least as a member of society, Bernie should take a step back. Bernie should balance his anti-Israel Jewish back office staff with some kids who have been on BirthRight. Ohthe Two State Solution? Bernwho you going to negotiate with? Which leads directly to BDSthe Boycott, Disinvest and Sanction anti-Israel movement. To even think of a Jew being involved in this dastardly activity fueled with Arab dollars boggles ones mind. This movement lies about Israel, its laws, its customs, its very way of life. It is at its core, anti-Semitic. Whats really at stake? A Jewish Nation. The people back in their homeland have risen from abject poverty and a barren desert land. It was founded in great part by people who lost everything and had nothing when they landed on its shoreswho created the twelfth largest economy in the world. And thats with a population of less than seven million people! Lets tie that in with J Street. A lot of the money flowing into J Street comes from some dubious contributors. J Street offers an alternative to The Forces of AIPAC. Well, we Jews know all about that. Put two of us in a room and you will get three opinionsif not more. But, its main message is a virulent and loud condemnation of the government of Israel. OK, but until you live there, pay taxes there and hesitate to visit a market or get on a bus for fear of not getting home; shut up. Joe Biden went to a J Street Conference and stated the problem holding up a Two State Solution was settlements. Settlements? Netanyahu put a freeze on all settlements for nine months. Did Abbas or anyone else show up at the table? The PA/Hamas alliance is dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish State. Period. Ah, now to the Saudis. The Saudis come from the Sunni side of the street. It all harkens back to when Muhammad died. He left no heir. So a son-in-law and a cousin fought it out. The family battle has been going on for at least 1200 years. None of our politicians can really justify why we are involved in that internecine battle. Since 2003, we have lost thousands of lives of brave youngsters for no discernable good reason. The Sunni Saudis are terrified of the Iranians. The Iranians are Shia (the other side of the family feud). In 1976, the Holy City of Mecca was attacked by terrorists. It took French commandos to get them out of the Sacred Mosque during the height of the Haj. The Saudis quickly made a deal with a number of Sunni terrorist groups. Leave us alone and we will fund your Madrassas to train young terrorists and preach Wahhabism (the most violent of Koran-inspired religions). They are the main salesmen of Kill the Infidels. Which of course, means you and me. Lets get back to Bernie and J Street. We have enough real enemies out to eliminate Jews and Judaism without doing it to ourselves. COLUMBUS, Ohio (JTA)There are many opinions as to what criteria should be used in deciding who gets my fellow Republicans vote as their nominee for president of the United States. But I think the only valid question should be this one: Which candidate can actually beat Hillary Clinton in November? Do Republicans really want to be sitting here next year asking ourselves how we could have nominated someone who all the polls show was trailing the Democratic candidates by double digits? This is all the more painful for those of us who recognize that our most experienced candidate is also the only candidate who those same polls predict can win the election. As a proud Republican and a committed Jew, I want to see as our next president someone who understands and respects the interests of the Jewish community and has a strong record of support for the State of Israel. As a father and an American, I want our next president to be someone with a strong command of national security issues who can hit the ground running on Day 1 as commander in chief. And finally, as a businessman and fiscal conservative, I want our next president to be someone who has actually put conservative budget policies to workat the national and state levelsto create jobs and bring common sense to government. I can personally attest to the fact that during his 18 years in Congress, John Kasich was the go-to person in the Ohio congressional delegation when it came to matters of Israels security. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Kasich had a track record of unwavering support for the unique partnership between the United States and Israel. Not surprisingly, he has been a vocal critic of how President Obama has neglected and even called into question the strength of our countrys relationship with Israel. Last November he cleared his desk to travel to Washington, D.C., to show support for Prime Minister Netanyahu when he addressed Congress. In an interview with the N.Y. Daily News just last week, Kasich stated: Im for Israel. Period. End of story. Give them the superiority they need. And I think every single day, try to get through the day. I dont think theres any silver bullet for peace. A two-state solution, if they can work it out amongst themselves, fine. But Im not an optimist on permanent peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis. I havent changed anything, folks. Nothing, OK, on any of my positions. I can change, if you point something out. Im willing to take a look at it. I had a friend who told me one time, cause I was saying, Were gonna have peace. He says, John, stability is what we want there. I happen to agree with that. I think the Israelis have to have the superiority in weapons, and its a very, its just an impossible situation. John Kasichs history with the American Jewish community is so strong that on more than one occasion he has actually challenged us and held us accountable. While he was delivering remarks at his first Holocaust remembrance service as governor of Ohio, he turned to Jewish community leaders and said that while the ceremony of remembrance was important, the central Ohio community and the state needed to do more to share the message and lessons of the Holocaust. He then announced his commitment to construct a permanent Holocaust memorial on statehouse grounds, the first of its kind in our nation. Beginning that day, he led a three-year effort to build the extraordinary Ohio Holocaust & Liberators Memorial that sits on the Ohio statehouse lawn. Kasich is both a trusted friend of the Jewish community and someone who is committed to a robust U.S.-Israel relationship. He has a deep understanding of and experience in national security and will keep us safe, and he has a demonstrated track record as a fiscal conservative who has balanced budgets at both the national and state government levels. Hes my choice for president, and I believe hes the right choice for anyone looking for a Republican candidate who has all these attributes and can actually deliver a victory to our party in 2016. Bradley R. Kastan is co-chair of the Ohio Holocaust and Liberators Memorial Commission, past chairman of the Columbus Jewish Foundation and past Ohio chairman of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee. He has been a friend and adviser to Ohio Gov. John Kasich for more than 35 years. WASHINGTON (JTA)Today, Israel is surrounded by more turmoil than ever, and the world also presents great challenges to the United States. Iran is developing missile technology that can reach Israel, and providing ever-more-sophisticated rockets to Hezbollah and Hamas. Russia is making aggressive military movement from Ukraine to Syria. China is claiming new territory and seeking to militarize the South China Sea. At such a perilous time for the Jewish state and for the U.S., supporters of Israel in the Democratic Partyboth Jews and non-Jewsought to seriously consider which candidate is most prepared to serve as commander in chief. America needs a leader who will protect our security interests across the globe, including our most important ally in the Middle East. And with that test in mind, Bernie Sanders is simply no match for Hillary Clinton. Senator Sanders has many admirable qualitiesevery day he shows his basic decency, intelligence and candor on the campaign trail. American Jews are rightly proud of the first serious Jewish American presidential candidate. His support for Israel is unquestionable. His family has history in the Holocaust, he worked on an Israeli kibbutz and his Senate voting record shows regular support of Israel. But in times like these, good intentions are no match for good qualifications. And unfortunately, his credentials for leading the defense of Americaand helping that of Israelare paper thin. Sanders has spent most of his highly disciplined campaign promoting his own self-proclaimed democratic socialism. Many of his ideas, like free college education, are implausible and unaffordable. Some, like opening Obamacare to major surgery, would give Republicans an opening to roll it back or repeal it, and are downright threatening. But perhaps most concerning of all is that in nearly a year on the campaign trail, national security issues have not even been on his agenda. In sharp contrast, Hillary Clinton would be a superb commander in chief. She is on a first-name basis with nearly every major foreign leader. From her years as first lady, to two terms as senator, to a full term as secretary of state, Clinton has been widely admired as a staunch ally and defender of Israel. She was a key backer of the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system for Israel, which has saved countless lives. She helped negotiate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in 2012, ending the rain of rockets from Gaza on to Israel. And she has called for taking the U.S.-Israel relationship to the next level to deal with the many shared threats we face, including providing Israel with some of the most sophisticated arms and technology in the U.S. arsenal. Hillary Clintons commitment to Israels security and to the Jewish people is not just campaign rhetoricI know from experience that its personal for her. As first lady, she was committed to justice for Holocaust victims, and it was her recommendation to President Clinton, after meeting with then-president of the World Jewish Congress Edgar Bronfman, that led to my appointment as special adviser of the president and secretary of state on Holocaust issues. During the Clinton administration, I negotiated over $8 billion of recoveries for Holocaust survivors and families of victims. Throughout those difficult discussions, then-first lady Hillary Clinton frequently asked me for briefings, and was instrumental in getting me the support I needed to secure $5 billion for the German slave labor agreement. She carried on this work as senator and secretary of state, leading on the issue of Holocaust restitution and working tirelessly to combat efforts to marginalize Israel on the world stage. There has never been a time in its history when Israel found itself facing more threats than it does today. Thats why we need a president who understands these dangers, and can deal with them forcefully and effectively. We need a president who understands that the United States has a strong and enduring national interest in Israels security, and an interest in and commitment to a more peaceful, more stable and more secure Middle East. I believe that president will be Hillary Clinton. During the Clinton administration, Stuart E. Eizenstat was the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, undersecretary of commerce, undersecretary of state, deputy secretary of the Treasury, and special representative of the president on Holocaust issues. During the Carter administration, he was the presidents chief domestic policy adviser. A lie conceals the truth. And ugly but hidden truths never have a chance of being acknowledged, addressed, and ultimately ameliorated. Because of this simple truism, one of the greatest lies of our agethat violence committed in the name of Islam has nothing to do with Islamhas made an intrinsically weak Islam the scourge of the modern world, with no signs of relief on the horizon. One of the latest manifestations of this lie took place in Pakistan. On Easter Sunday, March 27, a suicide bombing took place near the children rides of a public park, where Christians were congregated and celebrating the resurrection of their Lord. At least 74 peoplemostly Christian women and childrenwere killed and nearly 400 injured. There was human flesh on the walls of our house, recalled a witness. Whoor whatwas responsible for this assault? We claim responsibility for the attack on Christians as they were celebrating Easter, said Jamaatul Ahraar, a splinter group of the Taliban. In a media statement, the group said it had deliberately targeted the Christian community, adding that we had been waiting for this occasion. The Taliban and its affiliates are not alone. Click here, here, here, here, and here, for numerous examples of similarly lethal attacks on Christians celebrating Christmas or Easter by other Islamic groups and individuals around the world who also had been waiting for this occasion. Even the terror cell that struck in Brussels [last month, killing 34] was planning to massacre worshippers at Easter church services across Europe, including Britain, intelligence chiefs believe. Still, connecting the dots and understanding what binds all Islamic terrorist groups is a big no-no for the so-called mainstream media (MSM). The problem, we will be told, is the Taliban, which has nothing to do with Islam. Rather, its a finite, temporal, localized problem: defeat it, and the problem vanishes. Meanwhile, about 5,000 miles west of Taliban territory, in Nigeria, Christians are also under attack. Indeed, according to a new report, since 2000, some 12,000 Christians have been slaughtered for their faith and 13,000 churches destroyed. Just last month, over 500 Christians were butchered. According to the official narrative, something called Boko Haram is responsible. This is another group that defines itself exclusively according to Islam; another group that habitually bombs churches during Christmas and Easter; and another group that, we are told, has nothing to do with Islam, but rather is a finite, temporal, localized problem: defeat it, and the problem vanishes. About 5,000 miles west of Nigeria, in the U.S., Americans were told that something called al-Qaeda attacked and killed 3,000 of their countrymen on 9/11; defeating that finite group would cease the terror. Its leader, Osama bin Laden, was killed, and victory loudly proclaimedexcept that an even more savage manifestation, this time called the Islamic State (it too has nothing to do with Islam) came on the scene and has gone further than al-Qaeda couldve ever dreamed, in great part thanks to the Obama administration. It gets worse. The problem is not only that the media and decision-makers refuse to connect the dots and insist on treating each of the aforementioned groups as disparate, finite groups with different motivationsnone of which has to do with Islam. The problem is that regular Muslims who are not called Taliban, Boko Haram, al-Qaeda, ISIS, ad infinitum, commit similar acts, and much more frequently, though this is rarely ever mentioned by the MSM. Thus, although the Taliban was behind the recent Easter Day massacre, it is everyday Muslims who discriminate against, persecute, enslave, rape and sometimes murder Christians every day in Pakistan; it was everyday Muslims who burned a young Christian couple alive due to unsubstantiated rumors that they had insulted Muhammad. Those who slaughtered 500 Christians last month in Nigeria were not Boko Haram but rather un-affiliated (but Muslim) herdsmen. Likewise, Northern Muslim political and religious elite are also major actors of targeted violence toward the Christian minority. Although ISIS claimed the Brussels attack, it is everyday Muslims who ban, burn, bomb, and urinate on Christian churches, and who, as in Pakistan and other Muslim majority nations, target non-Muslim European women for rape on the basis that they are subhuman infidels. This is the real issue. While the media may name the terrorist groups responsible for especially spectacular attacksfollowed by the customary admonitions that they have nothing to do with Islamfew dare acknowledge that Muslims in general engage in similar acts of violence and intolerance against non-Muslims. According to a recent study, Muslims of all races, nationalities, languages, and socio-political and economic circumstances, hardly just terror groupsare responsible for persecuting Christians in 41 of the 50 worst nations to be Christian in. These statistics are consistent with a recent Pew poll finding that, in 11 countries alone, at least 63 million and as many as 287 million Muslims support ISIS. Similarly, 81 percent of respondents to a recent Al Jazeera poll supported the Islamic State. In sum, what extremist terrorist and militant groups (that have nothing to do with Islam) are doing is but the tip of the iceberg of what Muslims are doing all around the world. (See Muslim Persecution of Christians, reports which Ive been compiling every month since July 2011 and witness the nonstop discrimination, persecution, and carnage committed by everyday Muslims against Christians. Each monthly report contains dozens of atrocities, any of which if committed by Christians against Muslims would receive 24/7 blanket coverage.) Media arent just covering up for Islam by pretending that the spectacular attacks committed by Islamic groups on non-Muslims have nothing to do with Islam. They are covering up for Islam by failing to report the everyday persecution non-Muslims experience at the hands of everyday MuslimsMuslim individuals, Muslim mobs, Muslim police, and Muslim governments (including Americas closest friends and allies)not just Muslim terrorists. Because of these entrenched lies, the world must continue to suffer from Islamic terror. Not only have these lies allowed countless innocents to be persecuted into oblivion in the Muslim world, but they have allowed the same persecution to enter America and Europe, most recently via mass immigration. The fact remains: an ugly truth must first be acknowledged before it can be remedied. It may be hard to acknowledge an ugly truththat Islam, not radical Islam, promotes hate for and violence against non-Muslimsbut anything less will just continue to feed the lie, that is, continue to feed the jihad and terror. Raymond Ibrahim, a Middle East and Islam specialist, is author of Crucified Again: Exposing Islams New War on Christians (2013) and The Al Qaeda Reader (2007). His writings have appeared in a variety of media, including the Los Angeles Times and Middle East Quarterly. Ibrahim regularly briefs governmental agencies, provides expert testimony for Islam-related lawsuits, and testifies before Congress. He is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, an Associate Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Media Fellow at the Hoover Institution, 2013. Reprinted with authors permission from FrontPage Mag. ELKINS PARK, Pa. (JTA)The Conservative movements leadership must drop its ban on Conservative rabbis officiating at interfaith weddingsbefore its too late. The Rabbinical Assemblys unequivocal rule is that a Conservative rabbi may not officiate at an intermarriage. But after 42 years as an active rabbi, during which I abided by that prohibition, I now believe it is no longer in the best interests of Conservative Judaism or the Jewish community. Reality has overtaken us. Sixty percent of Jews who wed marry someone from another faith. The Conservative movements prohibition is ineffective as policy if our goal is to reduce intermarriage. It is counterproductive if we are trying to influence Jewish souls and bring them closer to the Jewish community. It needs to be modified if we are to serve our congregants faithfully. We all want a strong future for our Jewish community. Intermarriage, the argument goes, weakens that future. But thats not necessarily so. In most cases of intermarriage, Jewish partners are not abandoning Judaism or rejecting their heritage, family, congregation or people. They just want to marry the people they love. Often they want a Jewish wedding, which is why they want the officiant to be a rabbi, preferably one with whom they have a relationship. That is why they are so hurt when we refuse. As they plan their interfaith ceremony, they learn more about the elements of a Jewish wedding. They typically choose to have a huppah, blessings over wine, seven marriage blessings, a ketubah and the breaking of the glass. They include these elements not to please their parents but for themselves. They often express surprise at how important these rituals turn out to be for them. We do not know which interfaith couples will raise their children as Jews. We do not know which of their childrenwhether their parents raise them as Jews or notwill want to claim their own Jewish identity. The landmark 2013 Pew Research Center study of U.S. Jewry found that among millennials, 61 percent of those born to intermarried couples consider themselves Jewish. We need to recognize that even when two Jews marry, there is no guarantee that their children will be dedicated Jews. Some argue that if Conservative rabbis officiate at intermarriages, it will further lower Jewish standards and encourage intermarriage. This is nonsense. It is delusional to think that a rabbis refusal to officiate will change any couples mind about whether to wed. Who would forgo a life with their beloved just because their beloved rabbi cant be at their wedding ceremony? The Conservative movement has approached intermarriage with ambivalence. Rabbis must refuse to be part of intermarriage ceremonies (were not even supposed to attend such ceremonies, though many of us do), but after the wedding we open our arms to the newly married couple and invite them to become part of our community. But those we push away on Saturday night are not so ready to come back on Sunday morning. It is not easy to get over the initial sting of rejection and the stigma of the ambivalent way we view their marriage. For a decade or so before my retirement from the pulpit in 2014, I increasingly felt uncomfortable sending young people for whom I had been their lifelong rabbi and our congregation their lifelong place of worship to a rabbi they did not know to perform the most sacred ceremony of their life just because their beloved was not Jewish. I felt I was abandoning them. The issue became personal after I retired. My stepdaughter became engaged to someone who is not Jewish. Initially I thought I would approach one of my Reform colleagues to do the ceremony. But the couple wanted me to marry them, not a stranger. We talked about it. They wanted the ceremony to be as Jewish as possible. The religious symbolism would be exclusively Jewish, and I would be the only clergy officiating. So I agreed. Looking back, I cant believe I even gave it a second thought. Since then, I have agreed to do similar ceremonies for people dear to me, out of a sense of friendship, loyalty and love. In each case, I have been impressed by the sincerity of the couples and their desire to make their wedding both a personal and Jewish statement. I have been touched by their gratitude for my presence as a rabbi, blessing their most emotionally intimate moment in life and affirming the promise of their place in the Jewish community. We can no longer stand on the sidelines, piously refusing to involve ourselves in intermarriage ceremonies. If we extend ourselves with acceptance, if we affirm the legitimacy of the loving choices people make by agreeing to be part of their ceremonies, more couples would be inclined to seek the spiritual fulfillment that comes from Jewish commitment. At the very least, a superfluous impediment to couples involvement in our Conservative Jewish houses of worship would be removed. Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom retired recently after 36 years as spiritual leader of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. He is now the president of the Jewish Social Policy Action Network. SILVER SPRING, Md. (JTA)I want to tell you about the person I have worked with closely for the past two years. Sen. Ted Cruz is not just my boss, but has become my mentor and my friend. There is no greater friend of the Jewish people and of Israel. We started together in the summer of 2014, a very bitter and difficult summer, with a war raging between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Early that summer three innocent Israeli teenagers were kidnapped in the West Bank. Senator Cruz took to the Senate floor and spoke passionately about the boys in order to humanize them in the eyes of the world. He called upon Hamas to release them immediately. When they were subsequently found murdered, the senator sponsored legislation to offer a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of the killers. A few weeks later, a Hamas rocket landed a mile from Ben Gurion Airport and the Federal Aviation Administration banned all commercial flights into Israel. Senator Cruz again took to the Senate floor and demanded to know why the FAA had launched what amounted to an economic boycott of Israel while it was fighting a war in Gaza. He questioned why the ban coincided with Secretary of State John Kerrys arrival in Israel to try and force a cease-fire. Whats more, the senator announced he would put a hold on all State Department appointees until his questions were answered. The very next day the FAA lifted the flight ban. That September, Senator Cruz was scheduled to speak at a dinner in Washington hosted by a group called In Defense of Christians, whose goal was to bring attention to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East by radical Islamic terrorists. As an evangelical Christian, the senator considered this an issue of deep concern. However, on the morning of his speech, we got word that there were pro-Hezbollah speakers at the conference and that many in the crowd seemed anti-Israel. All day our office struggled with the decision of whether or not the senator should cancel his speech. Finally, the senator said: Im going to go and speak the truth, no matter the consequences. As he began his remarks, Cruz said: Christians have no greater ally then the Jewish state. Those who hate Israel, hate America; and those who hate Jews, hate Christians. At that point there were boos and catcalls from the crowd. The senator continued: If you hate the Jewish people, you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ. The boos worsened, and I actually became afraid for the senators personal safety in the hostile crowd. Cruz then said: If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. And with that he walked off the stage. Not a day goes by that Senator Cruz does not think about the Jewish people and Israel. Whether it is putting together a coalition of evangelicals, national security experts and conservative Tea Party groups to oppose the Iran deal; or fighting against the BDS movement, discriminatory labeling of products from the West Bank and global anti-Semitism. People often ask me why the senator focuses so much on these issues. I believe he relates to the struggles and hopes of the Jewish people because his father also fled oppression in a foreign country and came to America seeking freedom and opportunity. While he would never compare what his father went through to what the Jews suffered in the Holocaust, he always quotes his father as saying: When I fled Cuba, at least we had somewhere to go. If we lose America, where do we go? The senator believes that Israel, like America, is an important beacon for hope and freedom. America is at a crossroads. Like in 1980, when Americans rejected the failed foreign and domestic policies of Jimmy Carter and elected Ronald Reagan, we have an opportunity in this election to restore Americas leadership in the world, grow our economy and create jobs, and return our country to constitutional principles, including religious liberty. The Jewish community can play a significant role in electing Ted Cruz as the next president of the United States. Nick Muzin, M.D., J.D., is senior adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Yale Law School, and lives in Silver Spring with his three children. Israelis of a certain age have a saying that translates from Hebrew as, Weve already seen that movie. Its the approximate equivalent of, Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. It came to mind after seeing the most recent full-page ad in the New York Times that was sponsored by advocates of a Palestinian state. At the top was photo of Jimmy Carter, Menachem Begin, and Anwar Sadat, next to the headline, Israel Made Peace With Egyptand Got Peace. That was followed by a photo of Bill Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin, and King Hussein, next to the words, Israel Made Peace with Jordanand Got Peace. Those two were followed by a third headline, If Israel Makes Peace with the Palestinians, It Will Also Get Peace. I wonder how many readers of the New York Times will realize why there was no photo next to that third headline. There should have been a photo, of course. If the sponsors of the adthe S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peacehad been honest, they would have displayed the photo of Bill Clinton, Yasser Arafat, and Yitzhak Rabin at the signing of the Oslo Accords on the White House lawn in September 1993. But printing that photo would have undermined the ads central message. The entire purpose of the ad was to blame Israel for the absence of peace. The ad sought to convince the public that Israel has it in its power to make peace or not. All Israel supposedly has to do is make peace, and, voila, It Will Get Peace. Showing the photo from 1993 would remind the public that Israel already made peace with the Palestiniansand it didnt get peace in return. To put it another way: acknowledging the historical record interferes with the campaign to pressure Israel into making even more concessions to the Palestinians. Its also important to address the myth that Israel got peace as a result of its treaties with Egypt and Jordan. It didnt. In the 1979 treaty with Egypt, Israel surrendered the entire Sinai Peninsula. It gave up a huge strategic buffer zone; and it gave up oil fields that supplied a significant portion of Israels energy needs. In return, Egypt promised to educate its people to sincerely accept the idea of peace with the Jewish state. But thats not what happened. What Israel received in exchange for the Sinai was a long extension of the cease-fire with Egypt that had been in place since the end of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. I am not revisiting the question of whether that was a good trade-off for Israel. I am only pointing out that today, 37 years after the treaty, large numbers of Egyptians remain hostile to Israel. Note that when Egypt recently held democratic elections, the fanatically anti-Israel Muslim Brotherhood was voted into power. Fortunately, the generals who overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood have chosen to preserve the ongoing cease-fire with Israel. But thats a far cry from a genuine, deeply rooted peace. Likewise, it wasnt the treaty with Jordan that got peace. Israel has had a cease-fire on its border with Jordan since the end of the 1967 Six-Day War. King Hussein, and his son and successor King Abdullah, understand that Israel could crush them if they try to make war against the Jewish state. So they have preferred to hold their fire. The 1994 treaty merely codified the existing situation on the ground. The Jordanian masses, however, have not been educated to embrace peace, which is why we periodically read about large numbers of Jordanian parliament members adopting extreme anti-Israel resolutions. And that, by the way, is the same reason that the Oslo Accords did not produce peace with the Palestinians. Israel made all the concessions that it promised, and more. It withdrew from the areas in Judea and Samaria where 98 percent of the Palestinians live. It withdrew from all of Gaza. It stopped building new settlements in the territories back when Yitzhak Rabin was prime minister. In exchange, the Palestinians promised peace. The Oslo Accords prohibit the Palestinian Authority (PA) from engaging in hostile propaganda. But as we know, the PA engages in hostile propaganda every single day. Instead of educating Palestinian children for peace, it educates themand trains themfor war against Israel. The folks at the S. Daniel Abraham Center cant fool us. What they call making peace with the Palestinians nowthat is, giving them a statewill not bring peace. How do we know? Because making peace with them in 1993when Rabin permitted the creation of the PA regime, which is already close to being a de-facto statedid not bring peace. They can leave photos of Oslo out of a newspaper ad, but they cant change the historical record. Weve already seen that movie. Stephen M. Flatow, an attorney in New Jersey, is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ In his 11th outing from his home constituency Puthuppally in central Travancore, Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy is only bothered about his victory margin. For Chandy, the assembly polls are a crucial test. When the Congress high command declined seats to some of his ministers who were facing charges, the chief minister also offered to keep away from the elections. However, after a six-day drama in Delhi, the leadership had to bow before his demands. I dont have to tell you anything about this poll. Ensure your votes are not wasted, says the CM. A grassroots leader, Chandy calls his voters by name when he visits a colony. My opponents have lost count of the charges they raised against me, he says. Since his hands are full, Chandy has only spent two days in his constituency, but his people know the daunting task ahead. Hes the ruling UDFs biggest crowd-puller wherever he goes. Though the solar scam and the bar bribery cases dominate the political contest in other parts of the state, people in Puthuppally are least concerned about the charges. Most of his voters feel the accusations will help Chandy gain sympathy. This time, his margin will cross 40,000, says Tony, an engineering graduate. Unlike his mentor ex-defence minister AK Antony Chandy is not a prisoner of his image. He is known to take instant decisions and implement them without worrying about consequences. I live in the midst of people and nobody can sully my image, he says. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Kolkata Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her core team will test their fortunes on Saturday when Trinamools citadel of South Kolkata and fringe areas go to the polls in the crucial fifth phase of the assembly elections. Almost all of them appear to be sitting pretty despite growing opposition hopes of unsettling three of them panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee, urban development minister Firhad Hakim and Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatteree who were seen accepting wads of notes on a video from a representative of a fictitious company. Two other ministers testing their fortunes are power minister Manish Gupta and fire and emergency services minister Javed Khan. All eyes, however, will be on the five constituencies from where the members of Mamatas core team are contesting. Among them, urban development minister Firhad Hakim (Kolkata Port seat) has come under attack from opposition camps and civil society members, not only because he featured in the Narada tapes but also he was viewed as one of those conniving at the syndicate raj that contributed to the flyover collapse on March 31. Ill comment on the allegations after the election results are out. Let the people have their say. I am confident people will reject the malicious campaign against me, said Hakim. Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee, too, betrayed no nervousness vis-a-vis the oppositions relentless campaign against him over the Narada tapes. Write it down, Sovan Chatterjee and Partha Chatterjee will be in the Assembly and sitting on the treasury bench, Chatterjee, the Behala East candidate, said, sporting a wide smile while stepping into the hoodless jeep for a joint campaign with Partha Chatterjee on Thursday. Sports, housing and youth affairs minister Arup Biswas looked releaxed. Instead of touring his constituency Tollygunge, he spent the last few hours of campaign on Thursday participating in Mamata Banerjees rally straddling Jadavpur, Kasba and Rashbehari constituencies. In all the seats from where Mamatas core team members are contesting, the BJP may play spoilsport for the Left-Congress alliance if it manages to retain its share of votes of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 2015 civic polls. Bollywood actor Sunny Leone is back with yet another risque film and this one deals with one-night stands and stalking. When asked which actor she would love to stalk in real life, Sunny chose a safe option and named Hollywood hunk Ryan Gosling and Ruby Rose, Deepika Padukones xXX: Return of the Xander Cage co-star. The two actors often share pictures and videos of each other on social media. She said, I would love to stalk Ruby Rose today and yesterday it was Ryan Gosling. Never safe... A photo posted by Ruby Rose (@rubyrose) on Apr 13, 2016 at 4:13pm PDT When asked whether she has been stalked ever by a male or female fan, the Jism 2 star said, I have never been stalked by any male or female fan. Yes, I have had few interesting fans but I wont term it as stalking. Coming back to her work, Sunny will soon be seen in film titled, One Night Stand. Written by Bhavani Iyer, the film also features actors Nyra Banerjee and Tanuj Virwani in lead roles. Read: Watch Sunny Leone, Tanujs sizzling chemistry in One Night Stand trailer The music for the film is composed by Jeet Gannguli, Meet Bros, Tony Kakkar and Vevek Kar while the background score is composed by Sandeep Shirodkar. The film hits the screens on May 6. After a failed attempt to sell Kingfisher House, erstwhile headquarters of Vijay Mallyas defunct carrier, lenders will auction the trademarks of the airline - Kingfisher logo and Fly the Good Times tagline on April 30. The reserve price for the trademarks, which also includes Flying Models, Fly the Good Times, Funliner, Fly Kingfisher, Flying Bird device, is Rs 366 crore. The airline had pledged the trademarks as collateral with banks at the time of taking loans. A valuation report from Grant Thornton put its brand value at $550 million on resumption of operations. The airlines brand had been registered separately from the Kingfisher beer trademark. The online auction is being conducted by SBICAP Trustee Company, subsidiary of SBI Caps, on behalf of lenders. According to the experts, the auction is unlikely to generate any interest from bidders as the value of brand has deteriorated. KFA brand value has deteriorated in last few years. In this case the owner has been the ambassador of the brand and the way Vijaya Mallya has been behaving, there are some negative connotations which are being associated with the brand. I dont think the auction is going to generate too much interest, N Chandramouli, CEO, TRA, a brand intelligence and data insights company said. If at all, it could see some interest from players who are from other sectors and want to enter the aviation industry. Last month, lenders made a unsuccessful attempt to auction Kingfisher House. The auction failed as none of the bidders came forward due to high reserve price of Rs 150 crore. The property has a built-up area of over 17,000 sq ft in Vile Parle area near domestic airport in Mumbai. Lenders had taken over Kingfisher House in February last year in a bid to recover part of their dues totalling over Rs 9,000 crore, which includes unpaid loans and accrued interest. A new industry report tracking Indian companies based in Britain has revealed that many of them are boosting growth rates in the country, registering a combined increase in revenue of 4 billion: from 22 billion (Rs 2.1 lakh crore) in 2014 to 26 billion (Rs 2.5 lakh crore) in 2015. The report, titled India meets Britain: Tracking the UKs top Indian companies by consultants Grant Thornton UK and CII shows that while there has not been a large increase in the total number of Indian companies in the UK over the last year, the number of Indian companies growing at more than 10% the key benchmark for inclusion in the tracker has nearly doubled, from 36 to 62 firms. It says that the performance could be attributed in part to the high-growth sectors in which many of them operate notably technology & telecoms (32% of high-growth Indian firms in the UK), and pharmaceuticals and chemicals (19%). Bharti Airtel tops the list of Indian companies contributing most to Britains growth, followed by HCL Technologies, Emcure Pharma, Apollo Tyres,and Wockhardt, among others. The true value of Indian companies doing business in the UK is highlighted by Grant Thorntons analysis of tax contributions from Indian companies and their employment footprint. The research shows that Indian-owned companies pay combined UK corporate tax of almost 650 million (Rs 6,240 crore), up from 500 million (Rs 4,800 crore) last year. However, the total value of tax contributions is considerably higher when additional taxes such as payroll and sales tax are taken into account. According to the analysis Indian companies employ almost 110,000 employees in the UK, with the automotive sector accounting for the highest number of employees at 36%, the CII said in a release. Of the 62 firms in the tracker, 30 are SMEs with a turnover of 5 million to 25 million, 27 are mid-sized (turnover 25 million-250 million) and five are large corporates (turnover of above 250 million). Anuj Chande, head of South Asia Group at Grant Thornton UK, said: The India Tracker shows that the level of investment in the UK by Indian companies remains high. In 2015, investments from India rose by 65%, making it the third -argest source of FDI in the UK. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Norm of 30% for branded tech production makes little sense. Glad this govt realises this, tweeted Amitabh Kant, the chief executive of NITI Ayog, following news that the government has allowed Apple to set up its own retail stores without having to comply with the 30% minimum local sourcing requirement. Kant is not the only one relieved. Other companies have followed in Apples footsteps to apply for the waiver. Interesting, two of them, just like Apple, are cellphone makers Chinese companies Xiaomi and Le Eco. According to government sources, both are likely to be exempted from minimum sourcing norm. The argument in favour of retaining the local sourcing norm is growing weaker by the day, experts said. The idea to have local sourcing norm in the policy itself was to ensure that global majors come and create jobs and let the Indian SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) sector grow further and not just take away the revenues by entering the Indian markets. Such a clause actually makes them impart skills, technology and help the SMEs grow in the country. But the dilution in the clause over the years is defeating this argument, said a past DIPP secretary who was key in the policy formation for single-brand retail, who did not wish to be quoted. Global players, including IKEA, H&M, have been talking to the government to bring further changes in the local sourcing norm. Interestingly, the mandatory local sourcing norms in the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy for allowing global majors to set up shops under the single-brand retail format has undergone several changes over the years and has been diluted. First, the government replaced the word mandatory with preferably and later on created a caveat, saying, companies, which bring cutting edge and state-of the-art technology to the country can open single-brand outlets without 30% compulsory sourcing of materials, subject to government approval. The panel comprises the secretary of the DIPP, member of the NITI Aayog and representative of the administrative ministries, including telecom and information technology. The government allowed 100% FDI in single-brand retail in January 2012. Up to 49% FDI is allowed through the automatic route and above that with the approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board. Beyond 51% FDI, it is required that 30% of the value of goods be sourced from India, preferably from micro, small and medium enterprises, village and cottage industries, artisans and craftsmen. Already, IKEA has presented their point of view to DIPP seeking a further relaxation in the policy, and recently Swedish apparel brand H&M to approached the government and has been asked to make a presentation, detailing its overall sourcing from India for the global market after the company raised concerns over the sourcing norm for single-brand retail. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the countrys largest selling carmaker, has recorded a 30% rise in the sale of hybrid and CNG cars in the national capital region (NCR) in the past three months. Since the last odd-even ban, when the company sold about 10,000 such cars every month, the sales of hybrid and CNG cars has gone up to 13,000, every month. This is expected to go up even further, as we are selling only hybrids in our diesel Ciazs and Ertigas, said a Maruti spokesperson. Hyundai Motors, which fits CNG kits at the dealerships, might have recorded about a 10% jump in the sale of CNG cars in the past three months, said some market watchers. The company, however, declined to disclose its sales in the NCR. It is difficult to determine the increase in sales, but dealers tell us that more CNG kits are being fitted in cars, said a Hyundai spokesperson. In the absence of any authentic data, analysts estimate the sales of CNG vehicles and kits to have gone up by 50-100% in the past three months in the NCR. Before the implementation of the odd-even scheme, 10% of the vehicles sold in the NCR were hybrid and CNG. Now, the figure has gone up to 15-20%, said Abdul Majeed, partner at PwC. Majeed also said a large number of cars that had been sold earlier were being retro-fitted with CNG kits. However, he mentioned that this could compromise the safety of the car and affect the warranty of the vehicle. The exact number of such fittings is impossible to determine as these are mostly done in unorganised workshops. But market watchers said that there was at least a 40-50% rise in the retrofitting of CNG kits. Most carmakers have also started selling CNG kits, which can be mounted on the car, once it is sold. Its not only Maruti, but companies like Toyota have full hybrid technology in high-end cars like the Camry. Analysts said that after the ban on diesel cars with a capacity of over two litres, a lot of people are thinking of buying hybrids like the Camry. Maruti introduced the Suzuki Smart Hybrid Vehicle (SHVS) technology sometime in September. The patented technology that is implemented in all Ciaz and Ertiga diesel cars may also be in high demand. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: The aviation ministrys proposal to charge Rs 8,000 per landing on domestic flights to fund regional connectivity has been opposed by other ministries as well as carriers, sources said. To enhance regional connectivity, the aviation ministry had initially proposed a 2% cess on domestic flights (except the ones that fly to smaller cities) and international tickets in the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, which is likely to be taken up by the Cabinet soon, towards creating a regional connectivity fund (RCF). The ministry had proposed the RCF would be used to subsidise regional flights by capping fares at Rs 2,500 per hour of flying. However, the note circulated by the ministry for inter-ministerial consultations, a fortnight before the policy goes for Cabinets approval, scrapped the plan to charge a 2% cess, and instead proposed levying Rs 8,000 per landing on domestic flights operated by planes with 80 or more seats. The move is likely to garner an estimated Rs 500 crore annually. Sources said the proposal, which would result in a hike in fares as the airlines would pass on the additional charges on to the passengers, has been opposed by some ministries who have argued that there is no legal provision under which the government can levy such a charge on airlines. The objections have been sent to the aviation ministry, a ministry official said. Domestic carriers have also strongly opposed the propsed charge. The aviation ministry may still go ahead and push the proposal, but it is certain that it would be legally challenged. The government will need Parliaments approval to impose this additional charge, said a senior executive of a budget carrier, who did not wish to be named. Instead of reducing the exorbitant taxes on aviation turbine fuel, and other charges that make life so difficult for airlines, the government wants to levy new charges. The charges would be passed on by airlines to customers, but why should passengers flying between big cities fund regional travel? questioned official of another airline. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel is the single-largest element contributing to airline costs and accounts for 45% of the operating cost of Indian carriers. Ends SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Panama needs a little more time to comply with OECD standards on exchanging tax information, but remains committed to greater financial transparency, President Juan Carlos Varela has said. Meanwhile, the two Central and South American countries said late on Thursday that Colombia and Panama will sign a financial information-sharing deal aimed at helping Bogota combat tax evasion. Varela did not specify how much time Panama was seeking to meet the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Developments (OECDs) reporting standards for automatically exchanging tax information. Revelations in the so-called Panama Papers, which showed how one Panama law firm set up 200,000 offshore entities for wealthy clients around the globe, have thrown Panamas secretive financial sector under intense international scrutiny. OECD officials say they have long tried to get Panama to agree to their common reporting standards on exchanging tax information, to no avail. Panama insisted on bilateral accords on the matter, rather than the OECDs multilateral one. But last week, during a visit to Japan, Varela told Kyodo News in an interview that his country had decided to join the OECDs reporting standards. His officials were to meet with an OECD technical team to find ways to come to an agreement, he said. No progress on the issue has been announced, and Varelas comments on Thursday suggested more discussions were needed. In the meantime, Panama has been put on Frances blacklist of tax havens. Paris is also pushing EU and OECD partners to follow suit. Varela, though, told the reporters on Thursday that he had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and she had offered her support to Panama as it pursues reforms of its financial sector. The Panamanian leader said he would make a state visit to Germany in October to sign a bilateral agreement on exchanging tax information based on the OECD standards. BOGOTA TAX EVASION Panamanian and Colombian presidents in June are set to sign a deal that would establish an initial phase of information sharing until 2018, after which the process would become automatic, the two countries said. Its important that this information is only used for fiscal issues and that it remains confidential, Panamania finance minister Dulcidio de la Guardia said after a meeting with his Colombian counterpart in Panama City. The deal would help Colombia improve tax collection and Panama improve transparency in its financial system, de la Guardia said. The accord was reached after lengthy negotiations that began at the end of 2014. The deal would improve Colombian authorities oversight of funds kept in Panama by its citizens, Colombian finance minister Mauricio Cardenas said. For countrymen with income or assets in Panama, its very important that they take advantage of this opportunity to normalize their situation, paying a penalty of 11.5%, he said. The agreement comes amid revelations by the Panama Papers that have sparked global scrutiny of offshore banking. Many Colombians legally keep funds in dollar-denominated accounts in Panama, which has signed financial agreements with around 20 other countries, including an information-sharing accord with the United States. Seeking parity in pricing and value-added tax (VAT), three members of Petrol Pump Dealers Association, Punjab, (PPDAP) on Friday proceeded on indefinite hunger strike in SAS Nagar. In case the issues of the dealers are not addressed the association has decided not to purchase petrol from May 1 in nine districts, which may lead to drying up of the petrol pumps. Dealers from nine districts, bordering other states, are participating in the protest call given by the association against high taxes on petroleum products which it said were the highest among northern states. We have been apprising the government, including the chief minister, for quite some time over equalisation of VAT and state-specific taxes on petroleum products, but there is no response, association president Paramjit Singh Doaba said. He said the petroleum dealers have been losing customers owing to high taxes. Politicians are often pilloried, and rightly so, for hanging on to government accommodations far beyond their official entitlement. But they are not alone in this propensity to annexe subsidised homes. In fact, the government appears to be more than accommodating when it comes to artistes who have overstayed in official premises. Instead of pushing for them to vacate, it has decided to relook a recommendation to evict 27 prominent artistes who have overstayed or not fulfilled the norms for such allotments. This is to avoid any controversy as among the artistes are Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj, santoor player Bhajan Sopori and painter Jatin Das. Read | Govt goes slow on artistes overstaying in allotted houses The guidelines for such accommodation were framed years ago and it was meant for a period of three years for those between the ages of 40 and 60 years and who were earning less than Rs 20,000 a month. All three earn way above that mark for their craft. While there is a case to revise the financial ceiling, there is no call for people like Birju Maharaj or even dancer Raja Reddy to have stayed in such accommodations for 36 and 21 years, respectively, given their earning capacity. We are all too familiar with the reluctance of politicians to give up the perks of office, the principal being a bungalow in Lutyens Delhi, long after they have demitted office. This practice should be scrapped. In other democracies, there is no such thing as official accommodation except for the president or prime minister. There is no provision for State accommodation after the persons tenure is over. Here, official perks have become an entitlement with leaders and artistes who have no qualms about squatting on government property even after eviction notices have been served. Certainly, there is a case to revise these rules. Read | The plots are stricken: 3 Union ministers seek downgrade of houses In principle, artistes should not be entitled to government accommodation. But in an exceptional case, the allotment should be time-bound. Millions of Indians do not have a roof over their heads. The governments endeavour should be to address this problem rather than find accommodation for the already privileged. In the case of politicians, since providing State houses is an established practice, the least that can be ensured is that they do not overstay in these places. But successive governments have been anxious not to court controversy and have overlooked the transgressions of artistes and politicians. What they should do, at least now, is not to relax the rules but make sure that the system of entitlements for the undeserving is quickly dismantled. Confusion prevailed over the National Eligibility Entrance Test on Friday as the Centre asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its order to hold the test in two phases. The government also said states should be heard in the matter. On Thursday, the Supreme Court brushed aside stiff opposition from states and private colleges to rule the NEET be held in two phases the first on May 1 and the second on July 24. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi suggested on Friday that instead of a two-phased NEET, it can be held on one day on July 24. An apex court bench headed by justice Anil R Dave said the court would consider hearing the matter later. Rohatgi also suggested that court allow the exams being conducted by the state governments along with the NEET for this year. The court was urged that if there was any difficulty in the bench sitting on Friday, then the hearing could take place on Saturday (April 30) as it involved the future of lakhs of students. The SC order came after the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) and the Medical Council of India (MCI) gave a joint undertaking to conduct the exam in two phases. CBSE counsel, additional solicitor general Pinky Anand, said the board had fixed May 1 for the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) and that would be rescheduled as the first phase of the NEET. She said over 670,000 students had already enrolled themselves for the paper. According to Anand, around 250,000 students were left who, she said, could be accommodated in the second phase after they deposited the required fee. Combined result of both the tests shall be declared on 17th August, 2016. CBSE will provide All India rank. Admitting authorities will invite applications for counselling and merit list shall be drawn based on All India rank, the bench ordered, directing state governments, institutions and police departments to extend necessary support for the NEET. If there is any difficulty with regard to implementation of orders of this court, the stakeholders may approach this court, it said, disposing an application filed by a trust seeking the NEET be held this year. On April 11, a five-judge SC bench had recalled its 2013 verdict quashing the MCI notification introducing the NEET. The judgment was delivered on a batch of petitions challenging the common entrance exam. But there was uncertainty over whether the NEET would be implemented this year as the top court decided to examine the MCIs notification afresh. The states and a consortium of private colleges contested the application on the grounds that some colleges had already held exams. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan took strong exception to justice Dave heading the three-judge bench to decide the application. He said the judge dissented in the 2013 verdict. Its a dissenting judge pushing his case, he told the court. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the MCI, created an uproar after he said students who did not enrol themselves for the AIPMT were not serious medical students. In view of the submissions made on behalf of the respondents, we record that NEET shall be held as stated by the respondents. We further clarify that notwithstanding any order passed by any court earlier with regard to not holding NEET, this order shall operate. Therefore, no further order is required to be passed at this stage, the bench said, dismissing the states contention that they be allowed to carry on with their exams. The court clarified that its order would not affect the case before a constitution bench on the NEETs legitimacy. The Union health ministry welcomed the move and offered all the help to conduct the exam successfully. Despite the challenges to conduct the exam this year, the ministry is geared up to work with the other partners and stakeholders to ensure that the entrance exams are successfully held, health minister JP Nadda said. The first phase of NEET will be conducted as per schedule for government college seats and the second phase will include all medical colleges under the purview of MCI, including deemed universities, a senior MCI official said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Registrations for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced exams began on Friday (April 29) and will continue till May 4. Only candidates declared eligible for JEE (Advanced) 2016 can register. JEE (Advanced) is conducted for admissions to various Bachelors degree programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian School of Mines (ISM) and other engineering institutes of repute. Read more: JEE (Main) 2016 results declared, check it here JEE (Advanced will be conducted on May 22, by the seven zonal IITs under the guidance of the Joint Admission Board (JAB) 2016. The examination consists of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, each of three hours duration. The first paper will be held between 9 am and 12 noon while the second between 2 pm and 5 pm. Read more | JEE (Main) 2016: What top scorers across India said after results How to register: Visit the online registration portal and log-in with your roll number and password. Provide your basic data including the choice of the language of question paper (English or Hindi) and the choices of cities where you want to appear for the examination. Upload scanned copies of documents required and pay the registration fees. You will not be allowed to make any changes once the registration process is over. The registration fee is neither refundable nor transferable. For detailed information, visit the official website. Read more: JEE (Main) 2016: Amitys Soumya Sharma is Delhis topper More and more men are now becoming interested in yoga, but many styles and forms of the practice still remain female-dominated, and many classes still focused on the female form. So for men who are looking for something new on their yoga journey, or for those who arent quite yet convinced that yoga is for them, here we have rounded up some of the styles which although for everybody, could also encourage men onto the mat. Thanks to the encouragement of partners and the enjoyment of working out together, couples yoga is helping to get more men interested in yoga. (Tumblr) 1 Couples yoga Thanks to the encouragement of partners and the enjoyment of working out together, couples yoga is helping to get more men on the mat and interested in yoga. Whether its a starting point for guys as they are introduced to yoga through partner poses, or the next step in their yoga journey, couples yoga will not only strengthen your body but also help strengthen your relationship by spending quality time together connecting both body and mind. Read: Yoga can help asthma patients breathe better, says new study As you move together through breathing and movement it can also give both partners a chance to deepen their poses, and their connection, with the physical and mental support that it brings. Many workouts and poses are available online for you to try together, or try a website such as Principle-Based Partner Yoga to find out more. Power yoga that mixes meditation and intense physical yoga practice may appeal to guys. (AFP) 2 Baptiste yoga This form of power Vinyasa Yoga was originally founded in the 1940s by Walt Baptiste and has now been developed and carried on by his son Baron Baptiste. Read: Sonam Kapoors new fitness obsession is aerial yoga As well as meditation practice, Baptiste Yoga also focuses on an intense physical yoga practice, which takes place in studios heated to temperatures around the mid-90s F, providing an even greater challenge which could appeal to men looking for something more physically intense. It also promises impressive results in a short amount of time. Baptiste Yoga DVDs are also available to buy online. Yoga that draws on martial arts is popular with some men. (AFP) 3 Budokon yoga Founded by ex-PT and martial arts black belt Cameron Shayne, Budokon mixes yoga with martial arts and meditation and according to Shayne offers a total mind and body experience. Meaning the way of the warrior spirit when translated from the Japanese, Budokon honors the traditional flow of Hatha Yoga, but also follows a martial arts system in which followers work through a six-belt system from white to black. Read: Yoga and meditation can cut healthcare cost by 43% Although suitable for both men and women, as a traditionally male sport Budokons martial arts element may be particularly appealing for men, and offer them a new modern way to enjoy this traditional practice. As a parting gift, heres a gif that shows yoga is for men: Its no secret that Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine is quite the heartthrob and he keeps his body looking good with a little yoga. (Tumblr) Fast cars, beautiful women and a pumped-up Vin Diesel. Fast and Furious 8 has officially started shooting in Cuba, a first for any American film since 1961, and it seems the country has been taken over by cars. Make it cars and Vin Diesel. The franchises Dom Toretto was everywhere pumping the air, posing for selfies and keeping the tempo high. He was accompanied by films star Michelle Rodriguez as they drove down Havanas roads in a 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser. Read: Charlize Theron officially joins Fast & Furious 8 as the villain Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez film for the latest installment of the Fast and Furious movie franchise in Cuba. One of the most successful movie franchises in Hollywood, it has grossed billions worldwide with films that pay tribute to souped-up street-racing cars and carefully planned multi-million dollar heists. (AP) Director F Gary Grey was close on their heels, capturing the action on the camera. The 48-year-old action star told media: Right now Im with my director F. Gary Grey. We worked together maybe 17 years ago. And were at a place that nobody ever thought would be possible. Actor Vin Diesel drives a vintage American car next to actress Michelle Rodriguez and another unidentified person in the back seat while shooting Fast and Furious 8 in Havana. (AP) Dom is supposed to have Cuban roots so this is a sort of a homecoming for Vins character. Were just really proud to be here, man. This is paradise. Were in Cuba, where the Torettos started. Its Fast 8, the actor told Daily Mail. We have more images from the Fast & Furious 8 shoot. Check them out... Cubans look on at one of the helicopters from Universal Studios during the shooting of Fast & Furious 8 in Havana. (AFP) Cubans take snapshots of cars used during the shooting of Fast & Furious 8 in Havana. (AFP) Cubans look at one of the helicopters from Universal Studios of Hollywood used during the shooting of Fast & Furious 8 in Havana. (AFP) Cubans look at cars used during the shooting of Fast & Furious 8 in Havana. (AFP) And last, the poster of Furious 8 which was previously shared by Vin Diesel... Eleven children in a government-run institution for the mentally challenged in Jaipur have died of infection in the past 10 days, triggering allegations of negligence and food contamination. The government constituted a three-member committee to investigate the deaths of the children aged between six and 15, most of whom were orphans. Eight children are still in hospital and three are critical. Prima facie, the cause of death is not contaminated food or water but gut infection, said Arun Chaturvedi, social justice and empowerment minister. The department will cremate all the deceased, he added. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a notice to the state government, asking for a report in two weeks and said the alleged negligence in upkeep of the institution amounted to a human rights violation. The Jamdoli government home, 10 kilometres outside Jaipur, houses around 200 children, 10-15 of whom share a room. Experts suspect the infection was triggered by a contamination of food or water and quickly spread due to the crowding. Today water tanks were cleaned and chlorination done. Two doctors have been deployed at home round the clock to keep a watch on the health of the children, said Narottam Sharma, chief medical and health officer, Jaipur. The inquiry committee, headed by the departments principal secretary Sudarshan Sethi and comprising medical college professor and Jaipur chief medical and health officer, will submit its report in 15 days, the minister said. Blood, urine and water sample were taken for investigation. The post-mortem report is awaited yet and strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible, Chaturvedi said. Children began arriving in hospital on April 16 with diarrhoea, vomiting and showed signs of septicemia and septic shock. Medical superintendent Dr Ashok Gupta told HT 15 children between 6 and 15 were brought to the hospital last Thursday. One child died that day and the rest succumbed to the infection later. On the directions of Sawai Man Singh medical college principal Dr US Agarwal, a team of doctors and paramedical staff gave necessary medicines to the children at the home last Sunday. Gupta said the deceased children include four males and three females. The problem started in stomach either due to contaminated food or water, he added. The NDA government on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not entertain an offer by Christian Michel, the British middleman in the VVIP chopper scam, to get questioned in India because he is a criminal wanted by law enforcement agencies. This came in response to the Congress counter-offensive against the government, asking why the PM did not take any action in response to Michels offer, made last November, to be questioned by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. In a press release, the government denied allegations linking one of the accused in the chopper deal with national security adviser Ajit Doval and principal secretary to the PM, Nripendra Mishra. This is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent. In reality, there is no such connection, said the official release. Earlier in the day, Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh had said that the main accused, retired air chief marshal SP Tyagi, is a leading member of the Vivekananda International Foundation of which Doval, along with other BJP and RSS luminaries, was also a member. Referring to Michels letter to the PM, the government said, It is well known that any understanding/agreement with an accused outside the frame of law is a criminal act in itself. Michel is a criminal wanted by the Indian law enforcement agencies. We are pursuing all legal means to arrest him and have him extradited to India. The government also rubbished allegations that Modi had met his Italian counterpart and cut a deal involving evidence against Congress president Sonia Gandhi in exchange for freedom of Italian marines. It also rebutted opposition parties claims that Modi government permitted AgustaWestland to bid for 100 naval utility helicopters in April 2015. The enforcement directorate (ED) summoned former air force chief SP Tyagi on Friday for questioning in a controversial helicopter scam, the latest twist in a corruption row that has rocked Parliament. Tyagi is accused of meeting the middlemen who cleared the way for AgustaWestland to bag the deal for supplying 12 VVIP helicopters to the Indian Air Force. He has been summoned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The date of hearing has not been disclosed. A subsidiary of Italian defence major Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland allegedly paid around Rs 375 crores as bribe, a revelation that led to the agreement being scrapped by the then UPA government in 2014. Read: In 5 points: All you need to know about AgustaWestland deal Tyagi was summoned after two days of BJP offensive against the Congress on the graft allegations, especially against Sonia Gandhi, the president of the opposition party. On Thursday, BJP chief Amit Shah tore into Gandhi and demanded to know who received the kickbacks in the case. Where are those who received the kickbacks? Who were in power at that time? They are responsible and they should bring out the truth, Shah said. The Congress condemned the remarks on Friday and burnt Shahs effigies, daring the BJP to come out with conclusive proof. If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when monsoon session of Parliament will commence, Ghulam Nabi Azad, leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, told reporters. Read: Barbs fly thick and fast over VVIP chopper deal as Sonia takes on BJP The BJP wants to use the corruption charges to push the Congress on the back foot after the opposition party stalled Parliament repeatedly over the past two sessions and hurt the governments reform agenda. The charges over the VVIP chopper deal erupted three days ago when documents in an Italian court hearing the AgustaWestland case referenced middlemen mentioning top Congress leaders, including Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh. The BJP alleges the bribe was paid to top Congress leaders and is attacking the opposition party inside and outside Parliament at a time when assembly elections are going on in four states. Read: India has approached UK for extradition of AgustaWestland middleman Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has been vociferous and direct in targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the same breath in an attempt to venture beyond the national capital. In a series of tweets on Thursday, Kejriwal had dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to arrest Gandhi and other leaders of the party in connection with the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal. He had also questioned Prime Ministers silence on the issue and wondered why CBI raids have not been conducted against Congress leaders in connection with the case. Modi ji got CBI raid conducted against me, but not against Sonia ji and Vadra ji. Gandhi family seems honest to Modi ji, Kejriwal again tweeted in Hindi on Friday. The row over the VVIP chopper deal erupted earlier this week when documents in an Italian court cited handwritten references to Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmed Patel and former Air chief SP Tyagi by a middleman in a judgement that convicted the helicopter companys chief executive. A subsidiary of Italian defence major Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland allegedly paid around Rs 375 crore as bribe, a revelation that led to the agreement being scrapped by the then UPA government in 2014. Had I been named in the Italian court order, Modi ji would have arrested me. But Soniaji has not even been questioned. Why? he tweeted. On the face of it Kejriwal seems to be attacking Modi and the saffron party over the issue, but the AAP leader - whose tenure as national convenor was extended by the partys national executive two days ago for three years - is not sparing the Congress and the Gandhi family either. Party leaders describe the development as a politically perfect line to toe at a time when the AAP has set its sight on expanding its political footprint beyond the national capital. The AAP is confident of winning the Punjab and Goa assembly elections due in 2017. While the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP coalition is in power in Punjab, the party considers Congress as the primary opponent in the 2017 polls in the state. In Goa where a BJP government is in place, the AAP thinks it will face the main challenge from the ruling party. The targets for the upcoming battles are clearly drawn, a senior party leader said. In Delhi, the Kejriwal government has been on a warpath with the Modi dispensation after engaging in a turf war with the lieutenant governors office over administrative jurisdiction. With neither relenting, the undercurrent gets reflected in the positions taken by the respective parties. The AAP rose on the political horizon in 2013 by unseating the Congress that had been ruling Delhi for past 15 years. A year after a brief 49-day stint, the party came to power in February 2015, decimating both the Congress and the BJP in the process. Fighting graft was the biggest political pitch of the AAP that was formed in November 2012, following the anti-corruption movement led by social activist Anna Hazare. In its endeavour to go national, the AAP is now working on its political strategy to cement its own support base even as it makes its ideological line on key political issues like reservation and foreign policy widely known. The AAP unseated Congress in Delhi by making inroads into the latters core vote bank in the unauthorised colonies, JJ clusters, reserved constituencies and the minorities. The Kejriwal-led party has been making attempts to appropriate this vote bank of Congress in other states as well. Dalits make almost a third of the total electorate in Punjab. Some opinion polls have even shown a groundswell of support for the AAP in the north Indian state. We are confident of winning Punjab. Once that happens, AAP will be the only party besides BJP and Congress to have governments in two states. It will be a huge leap towards going national ahead of the 2019 polls. That will pitch the AAP in direct contest with the BJP in the next general elections, a senior party leader said. Over 15 passengers bound to Abu Dhabi travelling on board an Air India Express flight were offloaded at Thiruvananthapuram airport after some of them allegedly assaulted the cabin crew, tried to barged into the cockpit and kick open the aircraft door on Thursday evening. Tempers begun to fly after a technical snag caused minor delay in take-off and poor airconditioning made the aircraft cabin hot. The passengers ire reached the tipping point when a women flier, unable to deal with the heat, passed out on board. Four travellers among those offloaded had turned extremely unruly. They were trying to enter the cockpit. When the crew tried to stop them a male purser was badly assaulted, said airline sources. Sources added that while the airline decided to offload the four travelers, the others including women and a child also left the aircraft as they were related to the offenders. Airline sources added that the cooling inside the cabin was poor be cause the auxiliary power unit (APU) that powers an aircraft on ground was not working properly. The aircraft originally scheduled to leave for Abu Dhabi at 5.20pm left four hours behind schedule, officials added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The three major national parties - the Congress, the BJP and the CPI-M - should give details about their unknown sources of income as huge funds are said to have been collected by them in the last few years, a Trinamool Congress MP said on Friday. I was most surprised when it came to light that a party like CPI-M could collect a staggeringly high amount of Rs.417.26 crore from 2005 to 2011 as accounted by the Marxist party itself in their audit report submitted with the Election Commission, Swagat Roy said. Of the amount the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), by its own admission, told the Election Commission that 53% of this amount was from unknown sources. Earlier, Roy raised the issue during zero hour in the Lok Sabha and also levelled similar charges against Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress audit accounts submitted to the Election Commission said of its Rs.598 crore shown as income in 2013-14, 82.5 percent earning was from unknown sources. For BJP out of Rs.673 crore and Rs.959 crore earning in 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively, 73% of the amount was from unknown source. So I raised it during zero hour today that these parties should come clean and reveal their unknown sources, he said. The five recognised national parties - BJP, Congress, CPI-M, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - were asked by the Election Commission in 2014 to submit details of audit accounts of their respective income. Roy said: The commission had also said that actions could be taken for non-submission of the audited account. So I raised the issue today. I have the list of CPI-M contributors and they include the likes of promoters, resort owners and hoteliers, he said. In fact, CPI-M and other left party members clashed with Roy in the Lok Sabha when the submission was being made. Among others, left members M.B. Rajesh and P.K. Teacher told Roy that they have contributed to the party fund. Responding to this, Roy said: My objection is not to their contribution. I want to know who are unknown sources. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Mallikarjun Kharge were also present in the Lok Sabha when the Trinamool member was speaking. Trinamool sources later said that Kharge also sought more details from Roy on the matter. BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Friday gave a notice to move breach of privilege motion against leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad for allegedly misleading Rajya Sabha with his remarks on the VVIP chopper scam. The Congress too gave a similar notice in the upper house against the defence ministry for releasing a statement on the AgustaWestland chopper case when Parliament was in session. Deputy chairman PJ Kurien told Swamy his notice would be examined by chairman Hamid Ansari and if he found a prima facie case, the notice would be referred to the Privileges Committee. Swamy gave the notice for moving breach of privilege motion against Azad for stating in the house that the UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the parent company of AgustaWestland that is embroiled in the chopper scam. Today I will seek to move a Breach of Privilege against Ghulam Nabi Azad for his falsely stating in RS that UPA had blacklisted Finmeccanica, Swamy tweeted on Friday morning. Speaking in the house on April 27, Azad said the UPA government had blacklisted AgustaWestland but the Modi government had involved it in the Make in India initiative. If an MP is guilty of breach of privilege, he could lose his membership. Congress MPs Shantaram Naik and Hussain Dalwai moved the breach of privilege notice against the defence ministry, arguing that the statement released by it on Thursday should have been given in the house as the session was on. In the official statement issued on Thursday, the ministry asserted that it was the NDA government that put on hold all dealings with six companies figuring in the FIR registered by the CBI (including AgustaWestland International Ltd and Finmeccanica) through an order dated July 3, 2014. The release virtually rubbished Congress claims that the firms were blacklisted by the UPA government. The Bombay high court on Friday ordered the demolition of Adarsh Housing Society, an illegal apartment block in the plush Colaba area of Mumbai that became a symbol of political corruption and led to the ouster of Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra chief minister. A bench of justice Ranjit More and justice Rajesh Ketkar asked the Centre and the Maharashtra government to consider initiating civil and criminal action against politicians, ministers and bureaucrats involved in the scam for misuse and abuse of power. It also asked the state government to inquire as to how the construction of the 31-storey building was allowed. The cooperative housing society has also been directed by the high court to pay Rs 6 lakh as costs to several officials of the Union ministry of environment and forest and state government. The cost of the demolition of the building is also to be recovered from the housing society. The court, however, gave the housing society 12 weeks to approach the Supreme Court. The Adarsh Housing Society made national headlines after it came to light that a nexus of politicians, army officials and bureaucrats had colluded to obtain flats built on prime defence land to house army officers, war heroes and widows. The defence ministry and the state government were also embroiled in a legal battle over the ownership of the plot. The tower was built without proper clearances, permissions and the mandatory coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) nod required for plots falling in this zone. It was also granted an additional FSI by misusing the existing provisions of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, 1966. In 2011, the environment ministry ordered demolition of the tower in which 21 bureaucrats and several politicians or their kin owned flats in the tower in their name or through benami transactions. The societys lawyer had said order by the Centre to demolish the building was unfair and challenged it in court. All three former chief ministers of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sushilkumar Shinde and Chavan had come under the scanner for their role in granting clearances to the tower. Only Chavan was named as accused in the case by the CBI. The Adarsh commission report had also indicted only Chavan of quid pro quo as it was revealed that three of his family members his sister-in-law, mother-in-law and uncle of his wife owned flats in the tower. The report had said that Chavans decision of giving exemption from 15% reservation ground, which allowed for the building to go higher, cannot be considered innocent. The report also indicted Shinde, Deshmukh and former ministers Sunil Tatkare, Shivajirao Nilangekar Patil, of giving the society political patronage. In February this year, governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao gave the sanction to the CBI to prosecute Chavan in the case. Chavan had stepped down in 2010 in the wake of the scam. His case was in virtual cold storage since December 2013 after the last governor refused sanction to prosecute. Fifty people, including financiers of some of the flats, had been charge sheeted by CBI in the case. Some of those charged include former MLA Mukund Mankar, five bureaucrats, including former UDD secretary Ramanand Tiwari, former BMC commissioner Jairaj Phatak, former UDD deputy secretary PV Deshmukh, former collector Pradeep Vyas and former principal secretary in CMO Subhash Lalla. BJP MP Ajay Sanchetis brother Abhay and his family members have also been charged for owning benami flats in the case. The state cabinet on Friday approved the Haryana amnesty scheme, 2016 for registered traders and shopkeepers whose properties were damaged or destroyed during the Jat quota agitation in February. Properties worth crores of rupees belonging to hundreds of people, including shopkeepers and traders, were damaged or completely destroyed during the Jat stir in several district of the state. Under this scheme, benefits would be provided to the affected traders as VAT and CST payable by the affected dealer on turnover of goods sold by him during Jat stir in February 2016 had been waived. The date of payment of tax under the Haryana Value Added Tax Act and the CST Act by an affected dealer liable to pay tax on quarterly basis had also been extended by three months from April 30 to July 31. Also, no interest would be charged on extended period. An affected dealer who had failed to use the goods surchased due to damage in agitation would get amnesty from penalty under section 7(5) of the VAT Act and from penalty under section 10A of the CST Act 1956. In case of affected dealer who had lodged claim before designated authority, the time for submission of returns for the period January 1 to March 31, 2016 is extended up to July 31. Vehicle number charges hiked The cabinet approved amendment in Haryana Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993 to revise fee for obtaining preferential registration numbers of non-transport vehicles and transport vehicles. In case of non-transport vehicles, the transport department would now charge Rs 1.50 lakh for the registration marks 0002, 0007 and 0009 in any series while for remaining single digit numbers 0003 to 0006 and 0008 in any series, the fee would be Rs 1 lakh instead of `75,000 earlier. However, fee for number 0001 would remain unchanged that is Rs 5 lakh in any series. Numbers like 0010, 0011, 0022, 0033, 0044, 0055, 0066, 0077, 0088, 0099, 0100 and 786 would cost Rs 75,000 each instead of Rs 50,000 earlier. Vehicle registration numbers 0012 to 0021, 0023 to 0032, 0034 to 0043, 0045 to 0054, 0056 to 0065, 0067 to 0076, 0078 to 0087, 0089 to 0098, 0111, 0200, 0222, 0300, 0333, 0400, 0444, 0500, 0555, 0600, 0666, 0700, 0777, 0800, 0888, 0900, 0999, 1000, 1111, 2000, 2222, 3000, 3333, 4000, 4444, 5000, 5555, 6000, 6666, 7000, 7777, 8000, 8888, 9000 and 9999 would cost Rs 50,000 each, instead of Rs 25,000 earlier. Any other registration mark for preferential allotment on out-of-turn basis within the running series would cost Rs 20,000 each. Earlier, Rs 10,000 was charged for any other out-of-turn number of choice within the running series. In case of transport vehicles, the registration numbers 0002 to 0021, 0022, 0033, 0044, 0055, 0066, 0077, 0088, 0099 and number 786 would cost Rs 20,000 each. Any other registration mark for preferential allotment on out-of-turn basis within the running series, including 0100 would cost Rs 10,000. Draft enterprises promotion rules The cabinet approved the draft Haryana Enterprises Promotion Rules, 2016 to achieve the objectives and provisions contained in the Haryana Enterprises Promotion Act, 2016. The Haryana Enterprises Promotion Board (HEPB) would be constituted under the chairmanship of the chief minister to oversee time-bound clearances, sanctioning special packages for mega projects and to approve policy initiatives. It would be a two-tier system for project clearances. Projects with investment of more than Rs 10 crore and involving CLU cases of more than one acre land would be cleared by the empowered executive committee (EEC) of the HEPB and projects with investment up to Rs 10 crore and CLU cases of up to one acre in conforming zones will be cleared by district-level clearance committee headed by concerned deputy commissioner at district level. More vehicle pollution checking centres The cabinet approved the proposal to amend Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993 (Pollution) to establish more pollution checking centres and revise the fee to be charged for issuing pollution under control certificate. The revised rates of issuing these certificates in respect of various vehicles would be on the pattern of Delhi. Two wheelers of petrol, CNG, LPG would pay a fee of Rs 50. Three and four wheelers of petrol, CNG or LPG would pay Rs 80 and diesel vehicles would pay a fee of Rs 100 to get pollution under control certificate. Time frame for mutations The cabinet also approved the proposal to waive off the mutation fee of all the pending mutations in the state, provided these were carried out within a time frame of three months. This would facilitate consignment of jamabandis, incorporation of mutations in the software and online jamabandi. It also approved to increase the mutation fee from Rs 200 to `250 per mutation. Also, Rs 50 per mutation would be charged as service charges, which would be deposited in the district information technology (DITS) at the district level. Dept name changed The cabinet approved the proposal to change the name of agriculture department into agriculture and farmers welfare department. The central government has already changed the name of the ministry of agriculture. New HSSC formula The cabinet approved the proposal of new formula to be followed by Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) to call candidates for the interview for the posts which are advertised by it. According to the new formula, if the number of posts is less than or equal to three, the number of the candidates called for interview would be eight times the number of posts. If the number of posts is from four to ten, the number of candidates called for interview would be 30. In case of 11 or more posts, the number of candidates called for interview would be thrice the number of posts. The Opposition on Friday mounted an assault on the Centre over its alleged failure to check violent incidents in Jharkhand following the hanging of two Muslim cattle traders in March, demanding a parliamentary panel be set up to probe the matter. JD(U) member Gulam Rasool Balyavi raised the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, alleging that the state government had failed to protect the minority community that was living in fear. He said, They were part of an old trade of buying and selling cattle. They were brutally hanged. I think even the British did not do this to Indians. Mazlum Ansari (32), and Imteyaz Khan, the teenage son of another cattle trader, were found hanging from a tree in Jharkhands Latehar district, in what appeared to be killings linked to a suspected Hindu vigilante group opposed to cow slaughter. Balyavi found strong support from the Opposition. The House witnessed angry protests from the Opposition after minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi questioned the credibility of Balyavis allegations. The member made an emotional speech, but what is the truth, said Naqvi, drawing an angry response from the Opposition. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government had failed to take any action after to check violent incidents that took place after the hanging. He said he wrote a letter to the PM after the two traders were hanged but no action was taken. MPs from Congress, SP, CPI (M) and SP stormed the Well of the house, shouting slogans against the government. Naqvi said the house could have a debate on communal atmosphere in the country, but the Opposition demanded that an all-party parliamentary committee be set up to get to the bottom of the matter. In her intervention, minority affairs minister Najma Heptulla said she would write to the chief minister, get the facts and find out what happened. If this happened, it is very bad. But I urge the member not to get emotional, though I know it is a very emotional issue, she said. Her comments further angered that Opposition that attacked the government over its casual approach to the two-month-old matter. CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury accused the Centre of complicity in the matter. He said two months had passed and the minorities affairs minister would now write to the government to find out what happened. He said the house needed to look into the matter as it was a communal issue and not a state law and order matter. Amid the din, the house was adjourned for five minutes before question hour. India has asked China to stop its reported construction activities in parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Friday. A spokesperson for the armys Udhampur-headquartered Northern Command said in a statement: There have been no instances of incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory. At the same time, he added that there was no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. There are areas along the border including in Ladakh where India and China have differing perceptions of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur. Regarding construction activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the government has seen such reports and has conveyed its concerns to China about their activities and asked them to cease such activities. The spokesperson said there had been 118 infiltration attempts from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir last year. Of these, only 33 succeeded while the rest were foiled by troops. Up to March 31 this year, there were 24 infiltration bids on the LoC (Line of Control) and only 18 succeeded. The spokesperson said issues related to infiltration along the India-Pakistan border were taken up with Islamabad at the appropriate level. Necessary steps are taken to ensure that the national security concerns are adequately addressed through capability and infrastructural development. This is a continuous process, the statement said. India has registered its protest against the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that runs through a part of Pakistani Kashmir. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP ) to arrest Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders of the party in connection with the controversial Rs 3,600 core AgustaWestland chopper deal. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modis silence on the issue and wondered why CBI raids have not been conducted against Congress leaders in connection with the case. I dare BJP 2 arrest Sonia ji n those cong leaders named in Italy court order n interrogate them (sic), Kejriwal tweeted on Thursday evening and went on to questions BJPs intentions. BJPll never do it. BJPS intentions are bad. For five years, BJP will engage in political rhetoric. There is a strong relationship between Congress and BJP, Kejriwal said in another tweeted. BJP'll never do it. BJP , 5 Cong/BJP (2/2 Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 28, 2016 This is the first time Kejriwal has directly named the Congress chief since the row erupted in Parliament. He had been demanding the arrest of all Congress persons involved in the murky deal. Earlier in the day, the AAP chief asked whether those named in Italian court order should not be immediately arrested and interrogated. Why is the PM silent on Agusta? First BJP spared Vadra, now protecting entire Congress top brass in Agusta? the Delhi chief minister said on Twitter, referring to Sonia Gandhis son-in-law Robert Vadra. In another tweet, the Delhi chief minister asked whether those named in Italian court order should not be immediately arrested and interrogated. Read | VVIP chopper deal: BJP rolls out heavy guns against Sonia Gandhi In December last year, CBI had raided the office of Kejriwals principal secretary Rajendra Kumar in connection with an alleged corruption case. Kejriwal had then accused the PM of getting CBI raid conducted at Delhi Secretariat. The controversial deal to buy VVIP choppers and the alleged bribes paid in clinching it have triggered a political storm after an Italian court cited handwritten references to Sonia, her political secretary Ahmed Patel and former Air Chief S P Tyagi by a middleman in a judgement that convicted the helicopter companys chief executive. A Congress member in Rajya Sabha raised the issue of police lathicharge at NIT in Srinagar on Saturday and accused the ruling BJP of not allowing the students to hoist the national flag there. During the Zero Hour, Pramod Tiwari said ever since BJP government came to power at the Centre, organisations related to it were trying to create unrest in educational institutions, be it Hyderabad university, JNU or NIT Srinagar. He accused the ruling party of adopting double standards regarding the Tricolour, saying BJPs policy regarding the national flag in Kashmir was different from the rest of the country. Students of the NIT wanted to hoist the national flag at their campus, but they were beaten up, he said, adding that these NIT students were now protesting in Delhi. They (students) were only demanding that they be allowed to hoist the national flag and BJP government is not letting them hoist the tricolour...They are not permitting this, the Congress member said while criticising BJP and organisations related to it. He alleged that the BJP was sowing seeds of poison in educational institutions of the country. Prabhat Jha (BJP) raised the issue of spread of cancer among children in the age grouo of 1-14 years. Citing a report, he said about 50 children in this age bracket die of cancer on an average each day. The toll due to cancer in the children is about 18,000 a year, he said. He asked the government to study the report and demanded a national policy for detection and prevention of cancer in the children. Deputy chairperson P J Kurien said that cancer is so rampant that government should take the issue very seriously as the disease is spreading like anything in the country. Responding to it, minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was taking steps to deal with the problems posed by cancer. In his Zero Hour mention, Motilal Vora (Cong) Mahyco Monsanto Biotech Ltd (MMBL) was illegally extracting money from cotton farmers. He said farmers were being cheated of Rs 1,300 per 450 gram packet of cotton seeds. He asked the government to recover the illegal extractions made by the company. A mere 12% of men accused of child rape are convicted of the crime by specially designated sessions courts that deal with cases filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO.) Between 2014 and 2015, the city sessions courts delivered judgments in 170 POCSO cases, according to the Delhi district courts website. Only 20 cases resulted in guilty verdicts. The accused were acquitted in the remaining 150. Thirty child rape victims claimed the accused threatened them prior to filing the case and 114 complainants turned hostile before the court. Child psychologist Dr Roma Agarwal explains the high hostility rate saying, The questions are very sexually graphic and can be very traumatising for the child and make them very, very uncomfortable. Part 1 of Rape and the City: In Delhi, a rape accused has 83% chance of acquittal Judgments also reveal that the police often discourage child victims from undertaking a medical examination, even when the crime is reported on the same day. Forensic evidence makes a critical difference and corroborates the childs testimony but according to Hindustan Times data analysis, medical tests were conducted in only 52% of the cases. Sometimes its the doctor, sometimes its the police who will say things to the victim like the hymen is torn, it will come out as official and then no one will marry you, an NGO lawyer dealing exclusively with POCSO cases told Hindustan Times. (Graphic: Aastha Mittal and Amit Mathur) An analysis of the data also shows that 86 percent of the accused were known to the children. Strangers were accused in 24 cases and caretakers in two. However, 56 of the accused were former lovers, 33 were neighbours and 27 of were family members. Of the 56 cases lovers, 40 were acquitted and in 13 other cases, the survivor told the court her parents had filed a complaint after she eloped. Part 2 of Rape and the City: Why most rape victims turn hostile during trial At least 27 accused belonged to the childs family and a conviction took place in only one of these cases. Lawyers dealing with child complainants said that it is especially hard to procure a conviction in POCSO cases if the accused is known to the victim and gets bail from court. Former additional solicitor general, Indira Jaising explains the complication. The mother of the child is also dependent on the men in the family for her own sustenance and therefore would tolerate the victim saying she was not raped. (District courts data compiled by interns Srishti Juneja, Vidushi Gupta, Tanuj Dayal. Data analysis by Avantika Mehta and Vignesh Radhakrishnan) Overseas citizens of India exploit surrogate mothers, the Centre has told the Supreme Court, refusing to relax surrogacy guidelines. OCIs (overseas citizens of India), the government said, were foreigners and the countries they were citizens of didnt recognise surrogacy, denying visa and citizenship to the child. It didnt want to bear the burden of stateless surrogate children, the government told the court on Thursday. According to the government, India does not want to bear the burden of stateless surrogate children whose country of origin does not wish to raise such a child whose existence is offensive to them. The Centre submitted is stand on the status of OCIs in response to a petition challenging the November 2015 notification that prohibits such Indians from commissioning surrogacy in India. The guidelines will remain in force until Parliament passes legislation regulating surrogacy. Read | Overseas Indians challenge govt order on surrogacy Solicitor general Ranjit Kumar and advocate Swarupama clarified the government viewpoint before a bench headed by justice Ranjan Gogoi who dismissed the petition filed by an OCI. The court said it could not interfere in a policy matter and noted the new bill was ready to be placed before Parliament. The Centre said most of the foreign nationals including OCIs come from European countries where surrogacy is banned and because cheap surrogate mothers are available in India. A lot of them are gay and same-sex couples who enter into international surrogacy arrangements that are commercial, which the government is opposed to. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Family members of the slain rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare on Friday asked whether the government was serious about the probe into two cases. While Dabholkar, an anti-superstition activist, was murdered in Pune in August 2013, CPI leader Pansare was murdered in Kolhapur in February 2015. Maharashtra police have arrested one person in Pansare case, while CBI has failed to make any arrest in the Dabholkar murder case. It has been 32 months since Dabholkar was murdered and 16 months since Pansare was murdered. However, there is no concrete development in both cases. It seems the government is not serious enough to solve them, said Shaila Dabholkar, Narendra Dabholkars wife. If the government did not take murders of rationalists seriously, India would have the same situation as in the neighbouring Bangladesh where secular bloggers and activists were being killed with impunity, she said. Hamid Dabholkar, the murdered rationalists son, said the family had sought a meeting with the Prime Minister. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had assured us that he would facilitate a meeting with the honourable PM, however, to date, we have not succeeded (in meeting the PM), he said. Pansares wife Uma said the Maharashtra polices SIT arrested Sameer Gaikwad, former follower of the conservative Hindu outfit Sanatan Sanstha, in connection with the murder, but then the probe stalled, showing lack of political will to take it to the conclusion. SIT officers do not have time to look after the case, so despite having evidence against Gaikwad, the probe has slowed down, she alleged. Now they are framing charges against Gaikwad...with incomplete evidence, he might be acquitted, she said. The question, therefore, arises whether the state government was shielding the masterminds of the murder, she said. Former Bollywood starlet Mamta Kulkarni and her husband Vicky Goswami are being investigated in connection with a Rs 2,000 crore drug bust in Thane and Mumbai. Thane police had last week seized 18.50 tonnes of ephedrine and 2.50 tonnes of acetic anhydride, both banned party drugs, from a pharmaceutical factory in Solapur and other locations. Read more | Mamta Kulkarni, husband under probe for involvement in narcotics racket Goswami, who has been busted for drug trafficking earlier, married the former actress in 2013 and the couple is said to living in Kenya. Five things to know about Vicky Goswami Vicky Goswami is the son of a police officer from Gujarat. He first entered into the nexus of selling illicit liquor in Gujarat, a dry state. He later graduated to selling drugs and was a known name in the late 90s Bollywood circuit. Goswami moved to Dubai in the late 90s, and with the blessings of the Dawood Ibrahims company, settled into the business of selling Methaqualone, popularly known as Mandrax. He again moved to Zambia, but had to flee as he became a wanted man following a major crackdown on drug mafia in the country. Goswami moved to South Africa and continued his business. In 1998, Abu Salem, who had a bitter rivalry with Chotta Shakeel, tipped off Dubai authorities about Goswami. He was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He spent 16 years in jail before allegedly converting to Islam which got him clemency. He moved to Kenya where he was arrested in 2014 with the Akasha brothers, known drug lords in the country. Haryana government on Friday issued transfer and posting orders of seven IAS officers with immediate effect, an official spokesman said. Keshni Anand Arora, additional chief secretary, School Education and Electronics and Information Technology departments, has been posted as additional chief secretary. Revenue and disaster management and consolidation departments vice Dalip Singh, retiring on Saturday. PK Das, additional chief secretary, home, jails, criminal investigation and administration of justice departments, has been posted as additional chief secretary, school education department, in addition to his present duties, vice Keshni Anand Arora. Devender Singh, principal secretary, industries and commerce department, has been posted as principal secretary, electronics and information technology department, in addition to his present duties vice Keshni Anand Arora. Amneet P Kumar, chief executive, Haryana Khadi and Village Industries Board and Rippudaman Singh Dhillon, additional secretary, Secretariat Establishment and Finance departments will swap their place of respective posting. CG Rajinikaanthan, director and special secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, has been posted as special secretary, finance department against a vacant post. Shekhar Vidyarthi, director and special secretary, Welfare of Schedule Castes and Backward Classes department, managing director, Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance Development Corporation and Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam has been posted as director and special secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, in addition to his present duties vice CG Rajinikaanthan, it added. Liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, who flew to London last month as banks pressed him to repay around Rs 9,000 crore owed by his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, has said in an interview to a UK daily that he is in forced exile. In an interview with the Financial Times in central London, Mallya said he wanted to close a painful chapter. We have always been in dialogue with banks saying: We wish to settle. But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before. By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money, he added. The ministry of external affairs has written to the British high commission seeking Mallyas return so that his presence can be secured for investigations against him under an anti-money laundering law, spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday. Last week India revoked his passport, after Mallya repeatedly failed to appear before investigators looking into financial irregularities at Kingfisher Airlines, which ceased operating in 2012. A court last week issued an arrest warrant for the 60-year-old, once dubbed the King of Good Times for his lavish lifestyle. It is important to understand the environment in India today. The electronic media is playing a huge role not just in moulding public opinion but in inflaming the government to a very large extent, Mallya said in the interview. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court said details of Mallyas overseas assets would be shared with the banks chasing him over Rs 9,000 crore in unpaid loans, despite his protest the information should be kept private. Mallya said this sum is inflated. It is grossly unjust to apply compound interest and artificially inflate this figure. He said his offer of a final settlement of Rs 4,000 crore was way, way in excess of the World Bank average for settlement of bad debts. Read: Vijay Mallya may face expulsion from Rajya Sabha The Enforcement Directorate has accused him of siphoning off money from Kingfisher to buy property abroad -- a claim the company denies. Mallya denied the charge. I am absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff like that. I am perfectly happy with a stable government [with a majority in the lower house]. I will be happy when there is a majority in the upper house too [for the Modi government]. As professional bankers, they would like to settle and move on but, because of my image as portrayed, they are reluctant to be seen as giving me any discount, he said. It will attract huge media criticism and inquiries by vigilance agencies in India. With inputs from agencies Eighty-year-old Kanchi Shankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswati, and eight others were acquitted in the auditor Radhakrishnan assault case. A sessions court judge said, All the accused are acquitted. You are free to go. Recently, the additional sessions court, Chennai, summoned Jayendra Saraswati and eight others to appear before it in connection with the case. The Shankaracharya was accompanied by a battery of lawyers. He submitted to the court that all allegations against him were false. A former associate of Kanchi Mutt in Kancheepuram, auditor S Radhakrishnan, was attacked and seriously injured. Chennai police had registered a case against Saraswati and 11 others. A charge sheet was filed in 2006 alleging conspiracy and attempt to murder. (With PTI inputs) Pakistan Prime Ministers Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz has said the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir must be resolved in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council, media reported on Friday. Aziz on Thursday said Pakistan remains fully committed to the objective of lasting peace, the Daily Times reported. The senior diplomat said if Asia were to regain its lost power and glory and contribute to global peace and development commensurate with its true potential, we would have to assume our responsibilities and act on several fronts. We also have to draw attention to root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, and the urgent need to address them. This should be main message as a part of the theme of promoting peace and security through dialogue, he remarked. We must find peaceful political solutions to the conflicts in Syria and Yemen and Palestine. Pakistan supports the UN-led diplomatic initiatives in this regard, he added. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not initiating any action against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in connection with the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland chopper scam. Modi ji made CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) raid my office, but not raiding Sonia ji and Vadra ji (Robert Vadra). Modi Ji believes Gandhi family is honest, Kejriwal wrote in a series of tweets in Hindi. In another tweet, the Delhi chief minister alleged, If my name would have appeared in the Italian court orders, then by now I would have been arrested. But they are not interrogating Sonia Ji yet. Why? Kejriwal also took a dig at BJP president Amit Shah, and wrote, Amit Shah is asking Sonia ji with folded hands Please tell us who had taken the bribe? Are investigations carried in this very way? Then shut down ACB and the CBI. Kejriwals remarks came after an Italian court judgement cited handwritten references to the Congress chief, her political secretary Ahmed Patel and former air chief SP Tyagi by a middleman. However, in December 2015, the CBI had raided the office of the Delhi chief ministers principal secretary Rajendra Kumar in connection with an alleged corruption case. A 32-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 19 years of prison in the US for stalking a woman from New Delhi to Texas for nearly a decade. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced the sentence for Jitender Singh on Wednesday. The jury put an end to this victims decade-long stalking nightmare, Willis said in a statement. According to Willis, Singh first met his victim while they both attended college in Delhi. Singh asked the victim to marry him in 2006. Willis said the victim, whose identity wasnt released by authorities, refused the proposal, which sparked Singhs anger. Singh then began following the victim and threatened her with consequences. In 2007, she left India to study at a New York university. However, that didnt end Singhs obsession. Authorities say he continued the harassment and assaulted the womans father in India. Singh was convicted for the crimes in India, but made an appeal and agreement with authorities to stay away from the victim. Singh eventually travelled to New York, where he attempted to enrol at the same university as the victim. He was denied and ordered by the university to stay away from the campus. When the victim moved to California for an internship, he tracked down her address and followed. When she moved back to New York, Singh followed back. An information technology company hired the victim, and she moved to Plano in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Singh harassed the victim through phone calls and e-mails, Willis alleged. In 2014, Singh located the victims address in Plano by falsely creating a credit monitoring service account in her name. While the victim was away, Singh travelled to Plano and broke into her home by convincing a locksmith to unlock her door. Singh took her passport, social security card and other documents as well as several pieces of her jewellery. A suspicious neighbour called Plano police which located Singh in the parking lot of the victims apartment and arrested him. Army said on Friday said that a bullet-riddled body of a militant was recovered from Putshai village in Lolab of north Kashmirs Kupwara district, The militant was killed in the exchange of fire last night between the security forces and the militant in the area, and the body recovered early morning today, an army official said, adding a weapon has also been recovered.. Security forces had launched an operation following information about the presence of militants in the area. He said during the gunbattle the militant entered a mosque and there was stone-pelting from locals, which led the troops to disengage. The body has not been identified yet. Meanwhile, after the recovery of the body, large number of people came out on the streets and staged protests. The mood went sombre as President Pranab Mukherjee, the supreme commander of Indian armed forces, arrived at the historic Bomana cemetery in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to pay his respects to the fallen World War-II soldiers, including from India. 80-year-old Mukherjee walked up to a pillar erected in memory of the troops killed during World War-II while fighting along with the British forces. This was the second engagement of the Mukherjee, who arrived here yesterday on the first ever state visit from India to this largest island in the Pacific. President Pranab Mukherjee after laying a wreath at Bomana War Cemetery at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea on Thursday. (PTI) Immediately after meeting the Governor General of PNG Sir Michael Ogio, President drove to the war cemetery, located 20-km from here, to lay a wreath on the pillar. As he placed the wreath, a Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) band sounded the Last Post, signifying the end of the troops journey in life. A minutes silence was observed in their memory after which Mukherjee went around the cemetery. The cemetery contains 3,824 Commonwealth burials of the second World War out of which 699 of them unidentified. Around 250 of the unidentified soldiers are from undivided India who were fighting along with the British and allied forces. Indian High Commissioner to PNG Nagendra Kumar Saxena has been extensively working on the role of Indians during the World War. During the banquet hosted by the Ogio in honour of the President last night, the Governor General also said the linkages between the two countries go back to the second world war where Indian servicemen, some 615 brave sons who were part of the British Army and Allied Forces, fought and died in PNG. Their mortal remains lie buried in war cemeteries throughout the country, he said. The troops were fighting the Japanese forces who had landed at Lae and Salamaua in March 1942 with Port Moresby as their chief objective. PTI SKL NSA AKJ NSA Finance Minister Arun Jaitley informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that notices had been served to certain individuals named in the Panama paper leaks for tax evasion and charges of stashing money overseas. Approximately 500 Indians including top Industrialists and Bollywood stars have been named in documents leaked by Mossack Fonseca, a Panama Law firm that has been at the centre of controversy for helping rich and famous individuals make secret investments. All necessary steps are being taken by the government. Notices are being served to other individuals as well, Jaitley said in answer to supplementary questions on the issue of tax evasion during Question Hour. Responding to issues raised by Nana Patole and Kirit Somaiya (both BJP) and Bharatuhari Mahtab (Biju Janata Dal), Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha complimented the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in tracking black money within and outside the country. The SIT has also made helpful recommendations on tracking black money within the country. Necessary steps are being taken, Sinha said. Earlier, Mahtab demanded to know whether the government was proposing to amend existing laws with the aim of keeping a stricter vigil on tax evaders. Speaking on the issue, Somaiya named a political leader of Maharashtra who is currently in jail. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan reprimanded him for this, saying: You know everything. Why are you taking somebodys name. Speaking in reference to the Maharashtra leader, the Minister of State for Finance agreed that there were instances of false declaration of agricultural income by moneyed people. BJP member Nana Patole said the contention that agricultural income was growing could not be true. If this had been the case, the farmers would not be committing suicide, he argued. Pakistan wants to normalise ties with India, but New Delhi has signaled it is interested in talking about terrorism which does not bode well for the prospects of dialogue between the neighbours, Islamabads envoy to the UN has said. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistans permanent representative to the UN, made the remarks a day before foreign secretaries of India and Paksitan met in New Delhi recently on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia regional conference. While Islamabad has repeatedly urged Delhi to resume the broad based, comprehensive peace process, India has yet to agree and has instead signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism, she said. This does not make the prospects of diplomatic progress too bright. India used its first high-level contact with Pakistan since the January 2 attack on Pathankot airbase to send out a clear message on Tuesday. During talks with Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry Chaudhry, S Jaishankar sought early and visible progress in Pakistans probe into the Pathankot attack that killed seven securitymen and the trial of the alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. Read: Foreign secy talks: India asks Pakistan to crack down on terror groups Lodhi addressed students and faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge on Monday as part of an event marking South Asia Week being held at the institute. Lodhi said Pakistans priorities included economic revival, defeating terrorism and elimination of violent extremism in and around Pakistan, according to a press. Another priority for Pakistan is building regional peace and stability, which required an end to the conflict in Afghanistan, and normalisation of Pakistan-India relations on an equitable and durable basis, she said. On China, Lodhi said the country is a cornerstone of Pakistans foreign policy and Islamabads relationship with Beijing is strategic, historic, trouble free and pivotal to the countrys foreign policy. Read: Foreign secretary-level talks in India: Heres what Pakistani media says Lodhi said the strategic evolution of the Pakistan-China relationship has accorded the bilateral partnership added significance at a time of a fundamental change in the global balance of power brought about by Chinas rise as a global economic powerhouse. In recent years, she said bilateral ties with China have broadened and diversified from the traditional focus on defence and military cooperation toward a greater economic and investment orientation. On how Pakistan will balance its relations with China as well as with the US, she said to those who ascribe a zero-sum nature to Pakistans relations with China and America, a recall of history would help to invalidate this flawed notion, according to the release. Citing Pakistans good relations with the US and China from the time of the Cold War, she said Pakistan intends to play the same role in the future and maintain good relations with both even as the two engage in global competition. Read: Pakistan cooperating closely on Pathankot attack: Sartaj Aziz BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is known to have more enemies than friends in political circles given his questioning and criticism of rivals. He created a stir in Parliament two days in a row by referring to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in his notice over the Agusta Westland scam. Swamy has been a Rajya Sabha member for three days and parts of his speeches have already been expunged twice in the House. Read more | Wont lie low: Swamy rocks Rajya Sabha over AgustaWestland on first day A look at the political personalities who have often been his target: Sonia Gandhi, Congress president For many years now, Swamy had been attacking the Congress chief over various reasons. The National Herald case is the latest in his long list of efforts to corner Gandhi. Swamy had filed the case against Gandhi and other Congress leaders in 2012, alleging they were involved in cheating and breach of trust. Read: Key facts about National Herald case Swamy remains a vocal opponent to Gandhi and has often tried to raise the issue of her foreign origin even though it fails to create any political buzz. Rahul Gandhi, Congress vice-president Over the years, Swamy has expanded his ambit to malign Rahul Gandhi too. The BJP leader was the first to complain about Rahuls alleged British citizenship, a charge vehemently denied by the younger Gandhi. What turned out to be a mistake by an accountant, Swamy tried to blow into a major issue and even wrote to the Prime Minister against the Congress vice-president. P Chidambaram, Congress leader The former finance minister and Swamy both hail from Tamil Nadu. But no sense of regional bonhomie seems to tie Swamy to Chidambaram. Instead, he loves to hate him. Swamy had complained to the Supreme Court that Chidambaram, along with the then communications minister A Raja, was involved in deciding the 2G spectrum price a controversy that unsettled the DMK government in Tamil Nadu led to Rajas arrest. None of the charges were established; on the contrary, Chidambaram has never been implicated by any court over the scam. Swamy, however, refuses to stop targeting Chidambaram. J Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu chief minister Swamys spree to file cases against top politicians saw him lodging a criminal complaint against amma, as Jayalalithaa is popularly called, in 1996 for amassing disproportionate assets. While the trial court took cognizance of his complaints and even prosecuted the AIADMK leader, Jayalalithaa was ultimately acquitted of all charges in May 2015. Late Ramakrishna Hegde, former Karnataka chief minister In 1988, Swamy made public a letter alleging phones of many key politicians in Karnataka had been tapped. The controversy snowballed to the extent that then chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde had to resign. A furious Hegde later filed a case against Swamy. BJP leader Subramanium Swamy on Friday sought a discussion in Rajya Sabha over reports that money was allegedly paid to middlemen for managing the Indian media to produce favourable news on the AgustaWestland deal. During the Zero Hour, the nominated member said the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 47th report laid on May 7, 2013 had dealt with the issue of paid news. Now the paid news has acquired the character of a cancer in our democracy. Recently in the AgustaWestland deal also. Perhaps one of the news channels had published a contract, which was signed between the middlemen and the company for managing the Indian media to produce favourable reports on the deal, he alleged. I am rising here to request the House, through you (Deputy Chairman P J Kurien), that this is an important matter that should be discussed in short duration in the House, he said. Related stories Arbitrary, unreasonable: Swamy challenges expunging of comments in RS BJP vs Cong: Subramanian Swamy moves privilege motion against Azad BJP leader Subramanian Swamys hit list: Top names in crosshairs VVIP chopper deal: BJP rolls out heavy guns against Sonia Gandhi On Thursday, the BJP had raised the AgustaWestland chopper deal issue in Lok Sabha, expressing concern over the reported misuse of media by the Italian company which had earmarked Rs 50 crore for the purpose to clinch the VVIP chopper deal. Meenakshi Lekhi had suggested that middleman Christian Michel had been given the amount to manage the media. Reports had it that Christian Michel, a British businessman and an alleged middleman in the deal, was paid millions of dollars by AgustaWestland. Interpol had issued a red corner notice against Michel on Indias request in December 2015. A temple in Karnataka has emerged as the latest flashpoint of a caste war in former prime minister HD Deve Gowdas parliamentary constituency, escalating a raging debate over the social divide in the country. The intervention of the state government and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has so far failed to resolve the dispute between the dominant upper caste, Vokkaligga, and the Dalit community in Sigaranahalli, a village of 330 households in Hassan district. The tussle, which has even led to violence, has drawn in the former prime minister, whose son HD Revanna is the local MLA. The sign has now been painted over. (HT Photo) Trouble began in August last year after some men of the dominant Vokkaligga caste objected to four Dalit women entering the temple to offer prayers. They were chided and fined Rs 1,000 each. The matter rested there until a Kannada newspaper reported that Dalits were barred from even entering the local community centre named Vokkaliggara Samudaya Bhavan and partially built with development funds allotted by Deve Gowda. The NHRC intervened and asked ordered the district administration to sort out the issue. The Vokkaliggas to which Deve Gowda belongs retaliated by locking the temple and imposing a social boycott on the Dalits. On April 1, the upper caste reopened the temple after performing cleansing rituals for which they reportedly spent about Rs 2 lakhs. The Dalits complained to district officials, and when top officials arrived at the village, they were attacked. Rahul Kumar Shahapurwad, the superintendent of police, was among those injured. The violence forced the local officials to act. They have since taken control of the temple and tasked the village accountant to open it twice a day for everyone including Dalits. The name of the community centre has also been erased with a fresh coat of paint. But the tensions are far from being buried with members of the dominant caste abandoning the temple altogether. What harm have we done to these people? Why do they treat us like this? asked Thayamma, one of the four Dalit women fined for entering the temple. We must have justice. Deve Gowda, on his part, said he is ashamed at the developments in Sigaranahalli, just 5km from his own native village of Haradanahalli. I have represented the constituency since 1964. Has there been any such instance reported till now? Why is this happening now, for the last 8 months, he asked. But political rivals say he is to be blamed. For one, Vokkaliggas of the area are mostly his supporters. Deve Gowda is allegedly pandering to them by rooting for a separate community hall for the Dalits. They (Gowdas) are least bothered about upholding the constitutional rights of the Dalits of their constituency. If Deve Gowda would just come once to the village and hold a meeting the issue will be resolved instantly, said Dharmesh, the district secretary of the CPIM. The Gujarat governments decision to give 10% reservation to the economically backward among upper castes is politically smart, but it may not withstand judicial scrutiny in view of the 50% ceiling on quota in government jobs imposed by the Supreme Court. Aimed at apparently placating the influential Patidar community, which has been violently agitating for quota in the state benefits since last year, the move will benefit all upper caste families with an annual income of less than Rs 6 lakh. But the Anandiben Patel governments decision is bound to hit legal hurdles as the new quota is in addition to the existing 49% reservation for Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Read: Gujarat announces 10% quota for economically backward in gen category While upholding the VP Singh governments decision to give reservation to OBCs in government jobs, the Supreme Court in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India popularly known as the Mandal case ruled in 1992 that reservation cant exceed 50%. Tamil Nadu does have 69% reservation in government jobs but that is due to the fact that its been placed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution that protects laws from judicial scrutiny and the challenge against it is still pending in the SC. But even if the Gujarat governments decision is placed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, it will be vulnerable to a legal challenge. Article 368 gives power to Parliament to amend the Constitution. But Article 13 of the Constitution restrains the State from making any law inconsistent with the fundamental rights. Post independence, the restriction was coming in the way of the government enacting and enforcing land reforms laws, as property was then a fundamental right. Added to the Constitution by the First Amendment in 1951 along with Article 31-B, the Ninth Schedule gives a protective umbrella to laws, including land reforms laws, placed under it. Article 31-B gives fictional immunity to laws enacted under it and placed in the Ninth Schedule even if such laws violated fundamental rights. In January 2007, a nine-judge Constitution Bench upheld Parliaments power to place a particular law in the Ninth Schedule, but said such laws did not enjoy a blanket protection from judicial scrutiny. The SC laid down a two-fold test to examine the validity of a law placed in the Ninth Schedule. First, it has to be examined whether the law in question violates any fundamental right or not. Read: Hardiks outfit rejects Gujarats 10% quota for economically backward And if yes, whether the violation also damages or destroys the basic structure of the Constitution. If the answer to both the questions is in the affirmative, then only a law placed in the Ninth Schedule can be declared unconstitutional. Terming the 10% quota for Economically Backward Classes insufficient, the Congress in Gujarat on Friday demanded that it should be raised to 20%. Given the fact that the state is going to polls next year, the Congress may provide legislative backing to the move both in the state assembly and in Parliament for placing it in the Ninth Schedule. But clearing the legal hurdles would be an uphill task. The Vile Parle police have registered a case against a couple for human trafficking after a 17-year-old girl from Bangladesh, who was rescued from Andheri station, alleged she was molested. According to the police, the couple had employed the girl as house help a year ago. The couple had in fact registered a kidnapping case against an unknown person after the girl went missing from their residence at the Vile Parle police station. The couple is out of town and we are on the lookout for them, said senior police inspector Raksha Maharao of Vile Parle police station. The 57-year-old woman is small time actress, while her husband works with a private firm in Dubai, the police said. The girl told the police that she came to the city with her parents when she was 11. Her parents, who were working as labourers, were arrested by the police as they were illegal immigrants and deported to their country. The girl, however, was left behind. She lived with her aunt, who is also from Bangladesh, she said in her complaint. The aunt made the girl work as a house help in a few households before finally she started working with the couple at their residence in Vile Parle (East). I spend two Diwalis with the couple in Vile Parle, the girl said in her complaint. One day, in the absence of the woman, her husband forcibly took me to the bedroom and touched me inappropriately and passed obscene comments. Fortunately the woman returned home and her husband rushed out of the bedroom. Back then, I kept quiet out of fear, she told the police. The girl fled the couples residence in March. She was found at Andheri station by the GRP officials, who sent her to the child welfare centre. She then narrated her ordeal to child welfare officer Ravi Yadav. After the girls statement was recorded, the complainant in the previous FIR was made the accused. It all began with the Ministry of Defense forwarding a reference to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to enquire into the allegation that a prime piece of land in plush Colaba area admeasuring 3,758 square meters - belonging to the defense had been allotted by Maharashtra government to a co-operative housing society. The scam came to limelight only after newspapers revealed the shocking allotment of land by the state government. City activists Santosh Daundkar and Simpreet Singh then unearthed several more shocking facts and lodged formal complaints with the Maharashtra Anti Corruption Bureau. They moved high court after the ACB failed to take any action on the complaints alleging that not only the plot was allotted arbitrarily, but Floor Space Index to the extent of 2,700 square meters, of an adjoining plot of land reserved for BEST bus depot was also allowed to be consumed by the controversial housing society. Besides, they alleged that, though the plot falls within Coastal Regulation Zone, no prior environmental clearance was obtained before putting up the 31-storied structure. However, despite hue and cry over the alleged illegalities in the allotment of the plot, permission to consume FSI of adjoining plot reserved for BEST bus depot and allotment of flats in the society to the near and dear ones of the political leaders and bureaucrats at the helm of affairs, no concrete action was taken by the CBI until it received a severe rap from the Bombay high court. This is clear cut manipulation by Collectorate and the Urban Development and Revenue ministries, the division bench of Justice BH Marlapalle and Justice UD Salvi had said on December 21, 2010, while hearing PILs filed by Simpreet Singh and others. It appears everybody who handled the files (pertaining to Adarsh) has been gifted with a flat, Justice Marlapalle had added referring to mysterious incorporation of names of some star members like NCP MLC Jitendra Avhad, Shivsena leader Suresh Prabhu, NCP leader Dilip Valse-Patil, chairman of Legislative Assembly Babasaheb Kupekar and kins of senior bureaucrats like Onkar Tiwari, Ranjitsing Sangeetrao, Devyani Khobragade. The court was also upset with the CBI inquiry apparently leading nowhere, and sought to know what concrete action was being proposed. Dont tell us that you are going to set up an Enquiry Commission, we have seen enough of commissions, Justice Marlapalle had slapped, adding, We want time bound and stern action against erring officials. Finally, on January 29, 2011, the CBI registered an FIR and booked 13 persons, including former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, for their purported role in the housing society scam under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. On July 4, 2012, CBI filed a 10,000-page charge-sheet against 13 persons, including former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, late ex-MLC Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, serving bureaucrats Jairaj Phatak and Pradeep Vyas and retired bureaucrats Ramanand Tiwari, PV Deshmukh and Subhash Lalla. The countrys premier investigating agency however, dropped prosecution against two former defense estate officers PK Rampal and Romesh Chandra Sharma named in the FIR owing to lack of evidence, and instead roped in a new accused RK Bakshi. Meanwhile, in November 2010, after a team of CBI officials from Delhi visited the office of the Collector, Mumbai Island City, and MMRDA seeking documents related to the land, MMRDA in December 2010 revoked the Occupancy Certificate granted to the controversial housing society. The revocation of the Occupancy Certificate for the building, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) disconnected water supply to the building and the BEST undertaking disconnected electricity supply to it. The housing society, then approached high court challenging the action taken by the three authorities revocation of OC by MMRDA and disconnection of water and electric supply by BMC and the BEST respectively. But, it failed to get any relief from the high court, which rejected the societys plea for interim relief on December 23, 2010. At this time, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) was conducting hearings on a notice issued to the housing society, as to why its building should not be ordered to be demolished for not obtaining prior environmental clearance. Eventually, in January 2011, MoEF declared the 31-storey structure as illegal being constructed without valid environmental clearance and directed the society to pull down the high-rise in plush Cuffe Parade area. Maharashtra government had in January 2011 set up a commission headed by Justice JA Patil, retired high court judge, and P Subramanyam, retired Maharashtra chief secretary, to inquire into various issues surrounding allotment of land, utilization of FSI in construction of 31-storey structure of Adarsh Co-operative Housing Soceiety. The commission, in its interim report, said that the land belonged to the state government, and was not reserved for anybody. Later it submitted its final report confirming the interim opinion. One of the 14 accused named in the charge sheet of the Yadav Singh corruption case surrendered at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Friday. The CBI had named 14 persons, including representatives of private firms, in their charge sheet submitted on March 15. Following the summons for appearance issued by the court on March 29, Vinod Kumar Goel, managing partner of Tirupati Construction in Noida appeared at the court on Friday. He was sent to judicial custody after he surrendered at the court. The other accused could not appear as the summons could not be served to all, BK Singh, special public prosecutor with CBI, said. The next date of hearing in the case is June 3. Of the 14 accused, both Yadav Singh, the suspended chief engineer of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities, and his close aide Ramendra Singh are presently lodged at Dasna jail under judicial custody. The investigation conducted by the CBI revealed that Yadav Singh allegedly accepted bribes from engineers of the authority and other accused persons from three private firms -- Tirupati Constructions, NKG Infrastructure and JSP Constructions -- for allotting the project of laying underground cables. It was alleged that in March 2011 that the authority decided to initiate the process of laying underground cables at Master Plan-1 road at an estimated cost of `92.02 crore. It was also alleged that the tenders, called in March 2011, were not opened till November 2011. There were also allegations that the work of laying cables underground had already begun in September 2011 before the contract was signed in December, and nearly 60% of the work had already been completed. The CBI in its charge sheet had mentioned that Ramendra Singhs wife was shown as an employee of Tirupati Constructions and was paid a salary of `25,000 per month. Besides, the office premises of the company was also found to be allegedly owned by her and was paid rent of `20,000 per month. The CBI court took cognizance of the charge sheet on March 29. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is all set to launch an anti-drugs campaign, primarily in Delhi and Punjab, with poet-politician Kumar Vishwas as its face, a party source said on Friday. The campaign, Ek Nasha, comes at a time when the party has stepped up its efforts to win next years assembly elections in Punjab. We are trying to bring on board some NGOs which work on anti-drug awareness and some of the victims who have been rehabilitated to create an understanding among people on the hazards of consuming drugs, the source told IANS. Consumption of illicit drugs is a major problem in Punjab. According to a National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) report, opioids worth Rs 7,500 crore are consumed in Punjab every year. Of these, heroins share totals Rs 6,500 crore. Based on previous studies, Punjabs opioid dependents are four times more than the global average. While around 2.3 lakh people are opioid-dependent in Punjab, around 8.6 lakh are estimated to be opioid users. Heroin-dependents are the highest at 123,414, the sources quoted the report. AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has blamed a section of the police, bureaucrats and politicians for the spread of drugs in Punjab. Also read II Cong to get zero, SAD-BJP less than 10 seats in Punjab: Kejriwal In its orders issued on Thursday, the district administration has warned private schools against seeking donations during admissions besides telling them to stop all commercial activities on their premises with immediate effect. Grappling with the issue for the past few days, the district administration, after conducting inspections at various schools of the city, also directed private schools to adjust the overcharged fee in the next quarter. We have clearly asked the schools to refrain from taking any sort of donations and also shut all sorts of shops on their premises. As there was lack of transparency in accounts of the schools, we have also told them to get the audit done of the fee taken from students, said deputy commissioner Varun Roojam. Roojam said during the inspection it was found that schools were fleecing parents by levying various charges other than fee. They have been clearly told not to collect any other charges from parents and exempt them from late-fee fine. The deputy commissioner also said it was found that schools were violating the norms of the Central Bureau of Secondary Education (CBSE), and the board has been informed about it. If any school is found violating the orders, the state government will be informed, and it will write to the CBSE to cancel the affiliation of the school, he said. District education officer (secondary) Satinder Bir Singh who along with his deputy Satish Kumar and district science supervisor Sudeep Kaur is conducting inspections in various schools is in the process of preparing the final report to be submitted to local bodies minister Anil Joshi. Parents meet Joshi Earlier in the day, parents met Joshi and gave him a memorandum, accusing private schools of looting them. The minister assured them that the issue will be taken up in the cabinet meeting on April 30. Parents said schools should be stopped from taking re-admission fee every year and hiking the tuition fee by more than 10%. The parents also complained about donations being taken by schools besides charges under various heads. Parents also met the DC and sought his help. Tarn Taran district administration orders sealing of five non-registered schools Tightening the noose around private schools in the wake of ongoing protests by parents, Tarn Taran additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Bakhtawar Singh has ordered to seal five non-registered private schools in the district. Presiding over a meeting with district-level education advisory committee members, including district education officer (DEO) Parmjit Singh, the ADC also directed the officials to go forward with the proposal of sealing five other schools that are not following the rules. Bakhtawar Singh also directed the DEO to write to the state government about shortage of teachers in government schools. Raising concern over the decreasing number of students in government schools, he said parents should be convinced that government schools are a better option than private ones, which are fleecing them. The ADC also said that students safety cannot be compromised at any cost and all private schools should keep it as their top priority. The official also conducted meetings with advisory committees of other departments, including health and police. He directed the officials to redress peoples grievances. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Parliamentary panel has pulled up the Competition Commission for watching silently airlines charging exorbitant fares during the recent Jat agitation in Haryana and at the time of making last minute bookings. Besides, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has sought to know the preparedness of the government to proactively intervene in instances of cartelisation, price parallelism and abuse of dominance, especially in the wake of new business models such as electronic and mobile commerce. In a report tabled in Parliament today, the panel said it took up the case of airlines charging exorbitant fares during the recent agitation in Haryana and also from passengers reserving their seats at the eleventh hour. CCI, which is empowered to examine anti-competitive conduct not only in India but also on acts taking place outside India, watched silently and only now on being pointed CCI has woken up and have informed that the issue of abnormal rise in airfare is currently under consideration of the Commission, it noted. Further, the panel said it would like to be apprised of the outcome in the case at the earliest. In February, during the Jat agitation, the price of air tickets for flights in certain routes from Chandigarh was exorbitantly high for sometime. Earlier, there have been concerns expressed from various quarters, including from Parliamentarians, that air tickets were priced very high during certain periods. The committee, headed by Congress leader Veerappa Moily, has made the observations in its report on the Demand for Grants (2016-17) of the Corporate Affairs Ministry (MCA). CCI comes under the administrative control of MCA. The panel said it would like to be apprised of the Ministrys efforts in a system which can proactively intervene in cases of cartelisation, price parallelism and abuse of dominance especially when new business models like e-rail, e-commerce and m-commerce will come. Further, the committee has sought to know the preparation of CCI as a watchdog to intervene where Government of India have/will allow 100 per cent FDI in e-commerce in the interest of consumers. According to the report, CCI has received 680 cases and out of them, 582 have been decided, 49 are pending and 69 are stated to be under consideration of the Commission. Of the 377 merger filings received, decisions have been taken only with respect to 353 cases, it noted. The committee would like to be apprised of the steps the Commission has taken so far to bring the pending cases to their logical conclusion. The committee also desires a similar appraisal in case of 24 merger filing cases, the report said. A day after HT highlighted the failure of justice Mongia committee as well as the UT education department to address the issue of yearly hefty fee hike in Chandigarhs private schools, the governors office has asked the UT adviser to look into the matter and take appropriate action. The decision comes against the backdrop of a representation by city-based RTI activist RK Garg addressed to the administrator, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Gargs representation had highlighted an HT report of April 27 that had documented that the Mongia committee had failed to submit a report to the Punjab and Haryana high court on the issue, even as three years had passed since its formation. The UT had also failed to come up with a permanent mechanism to regulate fee hike within six months as directed by the HC in April 2014. Gargs representation Pointing out that the UT had failed to come up with a permanent mechanism to regulate fee hike within six months from April 2014, as directed by the HC, Gargs representation added that the Mongia committee had collected `5 lakh towards sitting fee through the education department of Chandigarh administration during May and June 2013. He has also raised concern over how the Mongia panel had not managed to collect details from 23 private unaided schools, even as it had the backing of the HC. He also questioned the total figure of 73 as has been touted since, saying that the number of such schools needed to be verified. The representation also points out UTs failure in seeking the advisers intervention to inquire into why and how the schools had not cooperated with the Mongia committee. Guv office response Responding to the plea, the governors office stated that the matter had been considered by the governor of Punjab and the administrator, UT Chandigarh, and the same has been sent to the adviser, UT, for taking appropriate action on his behalf, on Thursday. Principal secretary to the governor MP Singh confirmed the development. UT adviser Parimal Rai said he could not comment till he received the letter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab will purchase solar energy from a Delhi company for at least 50 paise-a-unit more than the Rs 6.5 offer from its own farmers. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited now will buy the same renewable electricity for Rs 7.03 from Sam Solar and even pay it Rs 3 crore (or 30% of the project cost, whichever is lower) subsidy on every megawatt (Rs 15 crore, thus) it will generate by installing solar panels along irrigation canals. Punjab Energy Development Authority (Peda), the PSPCL, and the company signed two power-purchase agreements to this effect in March. Subsidy from the central government is also available to the developer. The deal came after Peda halted its project of installing solar panels on farms, for which it had engaged 280 farmers on the basis of reverse bidding. They were to sell renewable energy to the government for between Rs 6.25 and 6.89 per unit and have a capacity to produce 500 megawatts of electricity. The dream of converting farmers into entrepreneurs as part of the diversification plan involved getting farmers to generate 1-to-2.5 MW power for 25 years based on individual capacity. Peda aborted the move after collecting Rs 14.5 crore from the successful bidders, many of whom had sold off their assets to raise loan for the venture. Govt decision: PEDA director Confronted, Peda managing director Amarpal Singh said it was decided at the government level. Punjab principal secretary for power Anirudh Tiwari confirmed that the scheme involving farmers was now scrapped. We cannot compare the two cases, as the Delhi company has been hired for installing solar panels along canals, he claimed. Ducking the query on the logic of purchasing the same power for a higher price, he said generating solar power along canals was innovative. This (the power-purchase agreement or PPA with the Delhi company) refers to only 5 MW as experiment, while that (the farmers project) was for 500 MW, he said. On the subsidy of Rs 3 crore per MW, he said it was under the provision dictated by the central government. Legal tangle A section of the 280 farmers had moved the Punjab and Haryana high court after Peda had halted the project after the bidding process. Peda, the PSPCL, and the principal secretary for power, as respondents in this case, have received notice to explain why. On March 28, the states counsel submitted in the court that the scheme had not been scrapped and that Peda was not inviting fresh tenders. A day after, on March 29, it signed the PPA with the Delhi company. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Medical Council of India (MCI) has allowed Government Medical College, Amritsar, to fill 50 more MBBS seats from this academic session. The college has been permitted to fill 200 seats instead of the 150 till now. The college had been trying this for some time. The MCI has also allowed Patiala and Faridkot government medical colleges to fill 200 and 100 MBBS seats, respectively, for third year in a row. Confirming this, medical education secretary Hussan Lal said the decision was taken at an MCI meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. The final orders to be issued by the ministry of health and family welfare were expected soon, he added. Initial inspection reports of these colleges pointed to some deficiencies, which were removed on time, he said. With this, the total number of MBBS seats in the three government medical colleges in the state has gone up to 500. Permission is now awaited for 150 seats at Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, and 100 seats at Chintpurni Medical College, Pathankot. Hussan Lal said the MCI would hear these colleges in due course. The admission would be allowed in case they managed to get the MCI nod before the counselling began, he said. Scrapping of PMET only after AG opinion Hussan Lal told HT that though the Supreme Court judgment on implementation of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was clear that there would be only single medical entrance exam in the country from this year, the state government has sought legal opinion from the state attorney generals office before officially scrapping its Pre-Medical Entrance Exam scheduled for May 15. He agreed that there was confusion among students and parents over the single medical entrance exam. But we hope for some clarity in the near future as to how we will fill the state quota undergraduate medical seats, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON At the core of controversy between Akali MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment Pargat Singh and the Punjab government, the fate of the much-needed solid waste management plant for the Doaba region hangs fire. Replying to a question about the plant coming up in Jamsher village in Pargats constituency, which the MLA rejected vehemently and led to the refusal of accepting the post of chief parliamentary secretary (CPS), chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday told the media that the plant was not coming up in Jamsher. The CMs revelations have upset the Jalandhar municipal corporation authorities as it had decided to set up the plant at Jamsher after going through lengthy procedures, including permission from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The state government had awarded the project to Jindal Urban Waste Management Jalandhar Limited (JUWMJL) and when Pargat opposed the project in August last year, the company had completed the ground work to set up the machinery at the site. However, the project was stopped in August when Pargat declared that he would go to any extent to oppose it. Following this, the CM formed a committee led by principal secretary SK Sandhu to visit the site and the committee after holding talks with residents submitted its report to the CM. To date, the government is mum on the project even as the MC had shot off five reminders to clear the status of the waste management plant. I dont know what the CM has told the media in Chandigarh. As far as we are concerned, we have written many times to the government to allow us to initiate the project at Jamsher as it was almost impossible to shift the site plan as we have got all permissions. Shifting the site would mean to keep the project pending for more years, said Jalandhar mayor Sunil Jyoti. There was also pressure from the NGT to start the project at the earliest, he added. Sources say since the project site is going to be a major issue in Jalandhar Cantonment in coming assembly polls and even Pargat has refused to accept the post of CPS, government is unlikely to start the project fearing voters backlash. The mayor said the delay in start of the project may harm the citys chances to get the smart city tag because cleanliness conditions were the most important component of the marking system under the smart city project. Senior manager of JUWMJL Vipul Sharma denied reports that the state government had not given permission for the start of the project. When we met the deputy CM recently to know the delay in the implementation of the project, he assured us that the project would be set up in Jamsher only. Changing site at this time wont be possible, said Sharma. As per project plan, the solid waste collected from 27 civic bodies falling under the Doaba region would be treated in the plant at Jamsher village. In past one year, the issue also witnessed war of words between local bodies minster Anil Joshi and Pargat with the SAD legislator on various occasions accusing Joshi of not listening to the people and bypassing health issues if the project is set up at Jamsher village. The project, termed as the dream project of the government, has a political significance as its effective implementation will make all cities and towns of the Doaba region waste free. With the full operations of the plant in place, the JUWMJL, who has been awarded the project, would start door-to-door collection of the solid waste and the garbage collected from the towns would be brought for treatment at Jamsher plant. In the ongoing meetings with MLAs and halqas-incharge of the SAD-BJP coalition, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday met representatives of the saffron party, and asked them to ensure timely completion of development works going on in their constituencies. Besides the sitting MLAs, the BJP had called the candidates who had lost in the assembly polls of 2012, to represent the constituencies. Out of 117, the BJP had contested on 23 constituencies and won on 12. The meeting was held at the government guesthouse at SAS Nagar. Sukhbir had got a survey done of the 23 BJP seats. The objective of the meeting was to share feedback/findings of the survey. Questions in the survey pertained to corruption, drugs, development and accessibility of MLAs. In one-on-one meetings with the representatives in which newly appointed president of the state BJP Vijay Sampla was also present, Sukhbir asked them to publicise the development works going on in their constituencies, and send requisition for more funds, if required, for other development works. Sampla, who already seems in election preparedness mode, along with Sukhbir, discussed peoples perception about the SAD-BJP coalition government in different constituencies. A few party MLAs and party cabinet ministers Madan Mohan Mittal, Anil Joshi and Surjeet Kumar Jyani were not present at the meeting. Sampla was asked to convey the outcome of the meeting to them. Mittal said the message for the meeting came on Wednesday night while he was already in Delhi, so he deputed an aide to attend it on his behalf. Navjot arrives after Sukhbir leaves CPS Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who arrived to attend the meeting after Sukhbir had left, told HT that she had given a list of development works pending in her constituency. She said she got late for the meeting as she had flown in from Delhi after meeting her husband Navjot Singh Sidhu, who took oath as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. I stick to my stand that I would not contest the forthcoming assembly polls in case the BJP continued its alliance with the SAD, she said, adding that it is her personal view and her husband might have a different view on it. Kamal didnt let development work take place: Nannu Two-time MLA from Ferozepur, Sukhpal Singh Nannu, told HT that he had conveyed in the meeting that former state BJP president Kamal Sharma didnt allow proper development in the constituency and never kept him in the loop on the progress of the development work going on. He said now that he had been asked, he would come up with the works to be done in the constituency. Sharma is preparing to contest from the constituency. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tamil actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan on Friday revealed the name of his upcoming trilingual project. Its called Sabaash Naidu in Tamil and Telugu and Sabaash Kundu in its Hindi version. During the official launch of the film in Chennai, Haasan revealed that his next project will be simultaneously shot in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. To be directed by TK Rajeev Kumar, the film will also star Ramya Krishnan, Shruti Haasan and Brahmanandam. In the film, Haasan will revive the popular character Balram Naidu from his 2008 Tamil action-comedy Dasavatharam. Popular Telugu comedian Brahmanandam will play his sidekick. Read: Kamal Haasan to give Dasavatharams Balram Naidu a reboot Read: Im just following Brando, Kumar, Ganesan, says Kamal Haasan While the Telugu and Tamil versions will have comedian Brahmanandam as his sidekick, the Hindi version will feature Saurabh Shukla. (iKamalHaasan/Facebook) Produced by Raaj Kamal International, the makers plan to go on the floors in the second week of May. The film has music by maestro Ilayaraja. ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop After getting nominated for an Oscar with Creed last year, Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone is all set to make his TV debut with a mafia drama series called Omerta, based on a novel written by The Godfathers Mario Puzo. The 69-year-old actor is expected to portray a mob boss in Antoine Fuquas television series. Omerta is the final novel in the Puzos mafia trilogy that started with The Godfather and The Last Don. Stallone is set to work with The Equalizer director Antoine Fuqua for the project. The news comes just weeks after Fuqua signed a multi-year TV deal with Weinstein Co. The director is now gearing up for the release of his new movie The Magnificent Seven starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt. Read: Sylvester Stallones brother goes crazy on Twitter after Oscar snub Meanwhile, Stallone is expected to reprise his iconic role as Rocky Balboa in Creed 2 after he won a Golden Globe and received an Oscar nomination, thanks to the first movie. His other films include Ratchet & Clank and Animal Crackers. Michael B Jordan and Sylvester Stallone in a still from Creed. (YouTube) Follow @htshowbiz for more Syria declared brief local truces near Damascus and in one province on Friday but made no mention of halting combat on the main battlefield in Aleppo, after a surge in fighting the United Nations said showed monstrous disregard for civilian lives. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said airstrikes and government shelling had killed at least 131 civilians, including 21 children, in rebel areas in the past week, while rebel shelling of government areas had killed 71 civilians including 13 children. At least six people died and more were injured and trapped under fallen buildings in air strikes on Friday on rebel-held areas, the Observatory said. The new regime of calm, to begin from 1am on Saturday, would last just one day in the capitals eastern Ghouta suburb and three days in the northern countryside of the coastal province of Latakia, the army said in a statement. Both districts have seen intensified fighting in recent days. The statement made no mention, however, of the city of Aleppo, scene of the worst violence, which is divided between rebel-held and government areas. An airstrike on an Aleppo hospital killed at least 27 people this week. Russian news agencies quoted an opposition figure saying the new truce would also apply to Aleppo, but there was no separate confirmation of this. The Syrian military statement gave no details of the meaning of the term regime of calm, but Russias Interfax news agency quoted the officer in charge of a Russian ceasefire monitoring centre as saying it meant all military action would cease. Caught in an anti-Semitism row that saw the suspension of an MP and a senior leader, the Labour Party is likely to take a hit during the May 5 elections to choose the next London mayor and assemblies in Scotland, Wales and northern Ireland. Party chief Jeremy Corbyn has been asked to stay away from campaigning in Wales after Labour MP Naz Shah and senior leader Ken Livingstone were suspended this week over anti-Semitic comments made by Shah before she became a lawmaker. Livingstone, a former London mayor, defended her but his comments about Adolf Hitler originally wanting to move Jews to Israel but subsequently killing six million Jews added fuel to the fire. Corbyn insisted the party had a grip on anti-Semitism. However, reports from Wales said he was scheduled to visit on Friday but cancelled following discussions with local party officials. It was claimed his handling of the row made him a liability for the party. Besides elections for the next London mayor, polls are due on May 5 for the Scottish parliament, Wales assembly, northern Ireland assembly, local councils in England and for police and crime commissioners. The row has been unnerving for the Labour candidate for the London mayor polls, Sadiq Khan, who is pitted against Conservative Zac Goldsmith, who is of Jewish. London has a significant number of Jewish voters. Undeterred by the suspension, Livingstone, a long-standing hard left leader who gained much popularity during two terms as mayor of London, said: Everything I said yesterday was true and I will be presenting the academic book about that to the Labour Party inquiry. Deputy party leader Tom Watson told BBC that Corbyn did act swiftly to suspend his ally of 40 years, Livingstone, for his vile comments. He added: To link Hitler and Zionism in the way he did must have been designed to create offence. It was for Labours ruling national executive committee to decide whether to expel Livingstone, Watson said. He and Corbyn were looking at whether Labours structures needed changing to make sure that we send a very clear signal to people in our party that we will have a zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Is Priti Patel, the minister of state for employment and the Indian Diaspora Champion in the David Cameron government, out of step with mainstream opinion in the Indian community that Britain should stay in the European Union? It would appear so, after several Indian-origin MPs and members of the House of Lords declared themselves firmly in the Remain camp. Patel is one of six ministers in the Cameron government campaigning for Britain vote to exit the EU in the June 23 referendum. According to her, Britains ties with India will receive a massive boot if Britain leave the EU, on the ground that it would be easier to have a trade deal directly rather than through the EU contention disputed by the Remain camp and others yet to decide on the referendum. Called British Indians for IN, the Indian-origin parliamentarians launched the cross-party group on the grounds of the palaces of Westminster this week, insisting that EU membership helps to enhance and strengthen Britains relationship with India. Nearly 1.2 million people of Indian origin and Indian citizens here for six months or more are eligible to vote in the referendum. Besides Patel, no other parliamentarian of Indian origin has joined the Brexit camp. The 15 parliamentarians backing the group signed an open letter on the issue: We are British Parliamentarians of Indian-origin and whilst we represent different political views, on a whole range of matters, we believe that membership of the EU is an issue which transcends party politics. We are united in our belief that the UK is stronger, safer and better off as a member of the EU. Contrary to the argument made by some, that Britain needs to leave the EU in order to strengthen its ties with Commonwealth countries, we believe that our membership of the EU helps to enhance and strengthen the UKs partnership with countries like India. In the lead up to the EU referendum on 23rd of June we will be encouraging everyone to vote to remain in the European Union, including the 1.2 million British Indians eligible to vote whose votes could prove to be decisive in determining the outcome of the referendum. The signatories to the letter include: Karan Bilimoria, Navnit Dholakia, Rajinder Loomba, Seema Malhotra, Dolar Popat, Diljit Rana, Alok Sharma, Virendra Sharma, Ranbir Suri, Bhikhu Parekh, Shailesh Vara, Keith Vaz, Valerie Vaz, Sandip Verma, and Rumi Verjee. Conservative MP Sharma, who is helping to co-ordinate the campaign, said: British Indians are outward looking internationalists which is why so many of us believe that Britains place belongs in the EU, where we are leading the agenda for reform. A vote to remain guarantees us continued unfettered access to Europes free trade single market of 500 million consumers, meaning lower prices, more jobs, increased investment and financial security. It also means a seat at the table as the EU negotiates some of the biggest trade deals in history such as the ongoing discussions with the United States, China and India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two US lawmakers have asked the Obama administration if China provided Pakistan the massive 16-wheel vehicle that carry Pakistans newly unveiled medium-range nuclear missiles. If yes, would it be in violation of any US or UN-mandated laws and sanctions, which would attract punitive action from America, the lawmakers asked, in a letter sent earlier this week. Read the full letter here. Pakistan unveiled its new 2,750-km medium range nuclear ballistic missile Shaheen III in March, rolling it out on a 16-wheel vehicle called the Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL). It looked very much like the one China gave North Korea, Mike Rogers and Ted Poe, the lawmakers, said in their letter, citing an American expert on Chinese military technology. Richard Fisher, the expert, pointed to the design similarities between the Shaheen III TEL, the Sanjiang Special Vehicle Corporation of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) WS51200 TEL, and Chinese provided TEL North Koreas new KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile. This led him to conclude, CASIC has again enabled a Pakistani nuclear capability, the lawmakers added. In the letter, addressed to secretary of state John Kerry, defence secretary Ash Carter and director of national intelligence James Clapper, the lawmakers said this kind of transfer of technology would have to have been approved at the highest level in China, if not also the Peoples Liberation Army. And this kind of cooperation between China and Pakistan, they said, would represent a threat to the national security of the United States and its allies. The lawmakers, both Republicans who head powerful congressional bodies Poe is chairman of the House subcommittee on terrorism and proliferation and Rogers heads subcommittee on strategy forces wanted to know from the administration if it knew about the transfer. They asked what the US was doing to stop China from transferring this technology to Pakistan, and make it take back the TEL Pakistan is brazenly displaying as part of its arsenal. They wanted to know if there is any other evidence the Chinese supporting Pakistans ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programmes, and whether this road-mobile delivery system for Pakistans nuclear weapons changes the security posture of the US, Israel and other allies. A former senator of Pakistans Awami National Party (ANP) has been named as one of the suspects in the assassination of prominent Sikh lawmaker Sardar Soran Singh, who was gunned down by contract killers last week. Former senator Amarjeet Malhotra has been included in the list of suspects involved in the killing of 52-year-old Singh, who was the special assistant to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister with the status of provincial minister. Senator Amarjeet Malhotra belongs to Tehsil Barikot of Swat district and has political affiliations with the ANP. Main accused Baldev Kumar, who is in custody, also belongs to Tehsil Barikot. Singh was shot dead on April 22 by contract killers allegedly hired by his miffed Hindu rival Baldev after he failed to secure a ticket for elections in 2013. Baldev, a Swat district councillor and minority leader of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), hired contract killers by promising them Rs one million, police had said. He was miffed at being overlooked for the ticket which was given to Singh who was comparatively new entrant to the PTI. Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility for the murder. Two secondary-school students accused of carrying out a bomb attack on a gurdwara in the German city of Essen almost two weeks ago have admitted to being involved in the incident, claims a ministers report, adding that the two radical Islamists are sympathisers of Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda terrorist outfits. The two are charged with detonating a fire extinguisher filled with explosives at the entrance of Gurdwara Nanaksar Satsang Sabha on the evening of April 16. Before setting off the blast, the two 16-year-olds tried to break into the Sikh place of worship, North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) interior minister Ralf Jaeger has said in a report presented on Thursday to the home affairs committee of the state parliament in Duesseldorf. They have admitted to carrying out the attack but denied that the motive was religious, the report adds. The boys are reported to have told their investigators that they did it just for the kick of building fireworks. The two from Essen and the neighbouring town of Gelsenkirchen are known to police as members of the radical Salafist sect of Islam, the report claims. It adds that during police interrogation in connection with his involvement in cases of causing grievous bodily harm and attempted burglary, he expressed his sympathy for the IS and al-Qaeda. Read: German cops say gurdwara terror suspect a repeat offender His accomplice has been participating in a special programme of the interior ministry for Salafists, who have a tendency to get involved in violence and are in danger of being drawn to IS and other terror organisations. He came under police radar attention after threatening a Jewish fellow-student and attempting to obtain firearms, the report has said. They were arrested four days after an explosion at the entrance hall of the gurdwara hosting a wedding ceremony. Most of the wedding guests had left for nearby hall for a reception when the bomb got off. A gurdwara priest was injured seriously, while two others were treated for minor injuries. The gurdwara building was damaged severely. Police tracked the two boys down on the basis of clues from a security-camera footage and moved them to preventive custody. North Korea on Friday sentenced a US citizen of Korean heritage to 10 years in prison after convicting him of espionage and subversion, the second American it has put behind bars this year. Kim Dong Chul had been detained in the North on suspicion of engaging in spying and stealing state secrets. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour after a brief trial in Pyongyang. North Koreas Supreme Court found Kim guilty of crimes and espionage and subversion of under Articles 60 and 64 of the Norths criminal code. Further details were not immediately available. When he was paraded before the media in Pyongyang last month, Kim said he had collaborated with and spied for South Korean intelligence authorities in a plot to bring down the Norths leadership and had tried to spread religion among North Koreans before his arrest in the city of Rason last October. South Koreas National Intelligence Service, the countrys main spy agency, has said Kims case wasnt related to the organization in any way. Kims sentencing comes on the heels of a 15-year sentence handed down on Otto Warmbier, an American university student who the North says was engaged in anti-state activities while visiting the country as a tourist earlier this year. 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 entire Korean Peninsula. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt they later said were coerced. Most of those who are sentenced to long prison terms are released before serving their full time. 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. Both had crossed North Koreas border from China illegally. It took a visit in November 2014 by U.S. spy chief James Clapper to bring home Mathew Miller, also arrested after entering the country as a tourist, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012. Jeffrey Fowle, a U.S. tourist 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. Protests at a California rally for Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump reportedly turned violent Thursday, with 20 people arrested after a police car window was smashed and rocks were thrown. Hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police outside the Orange County amphitheatre in Costa Mesa during a Trump campaign stopover, which drew a crowd of thousands ahead of the states June 7 primary, the Los Angeles Times said. At least four people were arrested and one Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the arena. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented in and other protests sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venues marquee. Dozens of cars -- including those of Trump supporters trying to leave -- were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. Read: Trump attacks Clinton on gender, risking backlash from women Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the venue. There were no major injuries.The crowd began dispersing about three hours after the speech ended. Earlier in the evening, a half-dozen anti-Trump protesters taunted those waiting to get into the venue. Trump supporters surrounded one man who waved a Mexican flag and shouted Build that wall! Build that wall! -- a reference to Trumps call to create a barrier between the United States and Mexico to stop illegal border crossings. At one point, seven women wearing no shirts and Bernie Sanders stickers over their breasts entered the square outside the amphitheatre. They said they were protesting Trumps lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and womens rights. I feel like he wants to make America great again, but certainly not for women, for the LBGTQ community or for the lower class, said one of the women, Tiernan Hebron. He has, like, done nothing to help with gender equality or womens rights or reproductive rights or anything. Read: Wary world to watch as Donald Trump outlines his foreign policy Trump has drawn large crowds across the country as he has campaigned for the White House and some of his events have been marred by incidents both inside and outside these venues. Earlier this week, a Trump rally in nearby Anaheim, California turned contentious when his supporters and counter protestors clashed, leaving several people struck by pepper spray. Trump was not present. Trump has drawn large crowds to most of his campaign events, and Thursday was no exception. The Pacific Amphitheatre was filled to its capacity of about 18,000 and many hundreds more were turned away. Ly Kou, 47, of Ontario, said she likes Trump because he has vowed to put the country first. Its obvious that America loves Trump, said Kou, who is from Laos, as she pointed at the waiting throng. This thing about him being racist? Look around the crowd. Trump was traveling from the rally site to the states Republican convention in Burlington in the San Francisco Bay area. Islamic State may exult in online portrayals of jihadis sweeping victoriously across Iraqi battlefields, but a camera recovered from the helmet of a dead fighter offers a contrasting picture of chaos and panic in a battle with Kurdish peshmerga. A fighter named Abu Hajer is shown in footage seized by Peshmerga firing from one of three Islamic State armoured cars advancing across a barren plain towards a Kurdish position. His rifle slips and he fires off a shot inside the vehicle. Abu Hajer! Stop firing! shouts Abu Radhwan, the camera in his helmet picking up anguished faces as it swings erratically from views of rifles and munitions on the floor of the armoured car to the brown fields and blue sky ahead. A man in an armoured vehicle, said to be a suicide bomber about to go out on a mission, talks to other Islamic State fighters in Iraq. (REUTERS) A second fighter, Abu Abdullah, shouts out above the sound of shooting: Abu Hajer! I told you to aim higher! Whats wrong with you? Youre firing the bullet casings straight at us! Abu Radhwan then turns his attention to Abdullah Abu Abdullah, aim higher and be careful! Abu Abdullah youre going to kill us! The hurried nature of the operation was clear from the start as Islamic State fighters in desert fatigues and helmets ushered a suicide bomber into one of the vehicles. Do not be sad for me, he says. Come on, hurry up brothers! says another fighter, beckoning him aboard. There are (war) planes around, please. All spoke in Arabic. Chaos and disarray are no strangers to soldiers in the thick of conflict, though the discipline of established professional armies might restrict battlefield anger and recrimination. Many fighting for Islamic state are new recruits, some from Europe, with limited combat training. An armoured Islamic State vehicle is hit in Iraq, in this still image taken from an amateur video. (REUTERS) Ive been wounded! But Islamic state has fostered online images of a disciplined, invincible force surging almost unchecked through enemy lines, video often overlaid with heroic music. Two years ago the militants appeared unstoppable as they seized large swathes of Iraq including the major city of Mosul, but in recent months they have been pushed back from some areas. The footage taken last December showed in graphic detail one of the setbacks through the eyes, as it were, of the fighter Abu Radhwan in the moments leading up to his own death. Get out, get out, but dont go too far! shouts one of the fighters as Radhwan and his fellow fighters abandon the armoured car. Abu Radhwan: Wheres my weapon? Clear of the armoured car, an obvious target now for Kurdish fighters seen by the United States as one of the strongest opponents of Islamic Sate in both Iraq and Syria, Radhwan picks up a grenade launcher and runs. An Islamic State fighter is seen carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in Iraq. (REUTERS) The camera swings around. He is turning back towards the vehicle as a shot appears to strike home. Ive been wounded! he shouts. The camera view reels as he rolls over and over, shots of a cloudless blue sky alternating with desert dust. An explosion rings out. Radhwan turns his head, and with it the camera, back towards their armoured car. The last, fixed, camera shot shows the burning vehicle on the dusty plain, a plume of smoke rising into the sky. Peshmerga lieutenant-colonel Yasir Abdulla said the battle had begun in late afternoon last December and continued until the early hours of the morning. When we finished (fighting) Daesh with the help (of) air strikes, we went next day, checking the bodies. They have helmets on and they have video you know ... They want to film it all over, to show it to their world. If elected, Republican front-runner Donald Trump will free the Pakistani doctor who is in jail now for helping the US raid Osama bin Ladens hideout in Abbottabad in 2011. I think I would get him out in two minutes, he said in response to a question during a Fox News interview Thursday, when asked if he would free Shakeel Afridi. . A file photo of Pakistani surgeon Shakeel Afridi who worked for the CIA to help find Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. (AFP) And how would he do it? I would tell them let him out and Im sure they would let him out. He plans to leverage US aid, because we give a lot of aid to Pakistan. We give a lot of money to Pakistan. Read | Trump says may seek Indias help over unstable Paks nukes Afridi was jailed in 2012 for 33 years for running a fake vaccination campaign that is believed to have helped the US intelligence agency CIA track down bin Laden, who was killed in the raid. That sentence was overturned in 2013 and the doctor is now in jail awaiting a new trial. Read | Nuclear-armed Pakistan a very, very vital problem: Donald Trump Trump, who has been extremely critical of Pakistan in recent remarks, went on to accuse it of taking advantage of the US as everyone else. Asked about Afghanistan, Trump said he would keep 10,000 troops in that country in view of Pakistans nuclear weapons. I would stay in Afghanistan. Its probably the one place we should have gone in the Middle East because its adjacent and right next to Pakistan, which has nuclear weapons. So I think you have to stay and do the best you can, not that its ever going to be great, but I dont think we have much of a choice. Read | Trump aide lobbied for group that was front for Pakistans ISI Allies of Chinese President Xi Jinping are moving against a Communist organisation that is the power base of Premier Li Keqiang, in what analysts say may be a sign of faction-fighting at the top of the ruling party. The Communist Youth League (CYL) has long been a proving ground for young up-and-comers to demonstrate their political talent, particularly those who unlike Xi are not party princelings with the advantage of high-ranking parents. It has produced some of the countrys top leaders, including Xis presidential predecessor Hu Jintao as well as Li, and its alumni are seen as a leading faction within the Communist party. But as Xi moves to consolidate power, the group has come under sustained attack, including direct reprimands from the president himself. The partys internal corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), this week took the group to task for losing sight of its core mission to guide young peoples ideological development. On its website, the CCDI published an extensive self-criticism by the CYLs central committee, acknowledging it must have a greater sense of responsibility and mission to the party leadership and the countrys young people. The declaration came after an investigation into the CYL found evidence of embezzlement and influence-peddling, according to the Global Times newspaper, which is close to the ruling party. The CCDI is headed by Wang Qishan, widely considered to be Xis top lieutenant. Analysts say the charges, although likely legitimate, may be a convenient cover for the CCDIs real goal: helping Xi jockey for position ahead of next years 19th Party Congress, which will decide the new line-up for the Communist Partys Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), the top organ of political power. To investigate the CYL is a highly political endeavour, said Jean-Pierre Cabestan of Hong Kong Baptist University. This operation will certainly contribute to consolidating Xis position. Five of the current seven PSC members are expected to retire at the Congress, and many experts believe Xi and Li are locked in a struggle to fill the vacancies with their own supporters, not to mention protect their own positions. All indications are that Xi Jinping is trying to reduce the influence of the Youth League ahead of the event, China expert Willy Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong told AFP. The head of state sees the group as a political threat, Lam said, adding that in the future the CYL will be concerned with promoting ideology and political correctness among young people and no longer serve a function as a talent bank. Reading the tea leaves The CYL was formed in 1920 to promote Communist ideology to youth between the ages of 14 and 28, and has historically generally been more reformist than conservative. It had more than 88 million members in 2013, according to the ruling partys official mouthpiece the Peoples Daily, making it around the same size as the party itself. Chinese elite politics are notoriously opaque, with experts and analysts picking over the smallest details of the leaderships activities from minute variations in public language to seating arrangements at official ceremonies for hints to the future. The CYLs tea leaves, by contrast, have been unusually clear, with the group suffering a seemingly constant stream of attacks in recent months. Xi criticised it last July, blasting its leaders for being too aristocratic, despite his own descent from so-called red nobility his father Xi Zhongcun was a Communist military leader and later senior official. In February, the CCDI, according to the official Xinhua news service, slammed the CYL for falling out of step with the party leadership, saying it had not studied the spirit of the CPCs conference on improving mass organisations. In the CYLs statement on Monday, its leaders pledged to deeply study and grasp the spirit of Party Secretary Xi Jinpings major speeches, noting the group could only hope to achieve reform by improving its understanding of the presidents teachings. Even so, there is no sign of a let-up in the assault. The Global Times reported on Thursday that following the CCDI report, the CYL plans to issue a detailed plan for its own reform. Xis position is clear, said He Weifang, a law professor at Peking University. His view on what function the CYL should play is definitely not the same as previous leaders, he told AFP. There is a conflict. Two women who work in the advertising department at The New York Times have filed a federal class action lawsuit against the paper alleging that age, gender and race discrimination is endemic there. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of two black female employees in their 60s in New York on Thursday, argues that under CEO Mark Thompson's leadership, the paper has become an environment "rife with discrimination." "Unbeknownst to the world at large, not only does The Times have an ideal customer (young, white, wealthy), but also an ideal staffer (young, white, unencumbered with a family) to draw that purported ideal customer," the lawsuit said. The plaintiffs, Ernestine Grant and Marjorie Walker, who have been with the paper for 16 and eight years, respectively, argue that diversity has been subverted at every turn throughout the organization and in one example say that the workplace has become a place where "strong older female voices are considered 'pushy' and 'difficult' rather than 'assertive' and 'aggressive.'" For example, the company's advertising directors, who had previously been a mix of races and ages, have become "increasingly younger and whiter." "Older advertising directors of color found themselves pushed out through buyouts, or outright terminated, but those vacancies were rapidly filled with younger, white individuals," the lawsuit said. Furthermore, they claim that any attempts to complain about such discrimination was retaliated against and only met with further discrimination. So, just how much merit does this lawsuit have? If The Times' board of directors and executive is any indication, then it has quite a bit. According to the lawsuit, only four of the 14 members of the Times board of directors are women, while only one of the 10 members of the company's executive committee is female. Speaking out against the lawsuit, Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy called the suit "entirely without merit" and said the company intends to "fight it vigorously in court." "This lawsuit contains a series of recycled, scurrilous and unjustified attacks on both (president & CEO) Mark Thompson and Meredith Levien. It also completely distorts the realities of the work environment at The New York Times," Murphy said. In the meantime, Grant and Walker are seeking monetary damages and attorney costs. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. P lans for a 700 million tower in Dubai that will be taller than the city's famous Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the world's highest building, were unveiled today. Although the exact height has not been revealed, developers Emaar Properties confirmed that it would be taller than the 2,716ft-high Burj Khalifa, which was completed in 2009. READ MORE Simply named The Tower, the super-skyscraper will dwarf China's Shanghai Tower (2,073ft), Saudi Arabia's Abraj Al-Bait Tower (1,972ft), New York's One World Trade Centre (1,776ft) - and will be up to three times higher than London's The Shard, the tallest building in the European Union, standing at a mere 1,016ft. The world's tallest tower 1 /9 The world's tallest tower The Tower Already the builders of the world's current tallest building, Burj Khalifa, Dubai-based property developer Emaar Properties has unveiled plans to build an even taller structure. Inspiration Inspired by a lily and traditional minaret towers, the new tower will offer residential accommodation including villas, apartments and penthouses; retail precincts including shops, cafes and restaurants; commercial property and 22 different hotels. Construction Construction is set to start in July this year in Dubai Creek Harbour and will take four years to complete. It's expected to cost $1 billion (700 million) to build. The Pinnacle Room The tower will also offer a observation deck known as The Pinnacle Room. The Pinnacle Room will have fully glazed rotating balconies that extend outward, rotating outside the main skin of the tower. Dubai Creek Harbour Located along the historic Dubai Creek, the harbour is often called the Riviera of the Middle East. Each building in the harbour is designed around the waterfront. Creekside 18 Creekside 18 consists of twin residential towers providing 450 one-, two- and three-bedroom glass fronted apartments. The reception rooms have floor to ceiling glazing and open onto a private balcony with waterfront views of the harbour. Open plan All homes in Creekside 18 have a open plan living and dining room. The tower will be the centrepiece of Dubai Creek Harbour, a new waterfront destination of hotels, homes, shops and restaurants. A main observation deck in the tower, called The Pinnacle Room, will have fully glazed balconies that rotate outside the main skin of the tower. New apartments, villas and penthouses alongside the tower will be priced from 184,135, equating to an average of 260 sq ft, compared to 2,000 sq ft for luxury homes in prime central London. Construction is due to begin this July, with a 2020 completion date to coincide with Dubai's World Expo. It will be built around a reinforced concrete core, tethered to the ground by a series of cables, and have a slender glass and steel facade. Just as Burj Khalifa serves as the centrepiece of downtown Dubai, The Tower will position Dubai Creek Harbour as one of the most desired residential and leisure destinations in the city, providing residents and visitors with a modern and luxurious environment in which to live, work and entertain," says Ahmad Al Matrooshi, managing director of Emaar Properties. More than 19,000 UK nationals own property in Dubai and more than 850,000 tourist and business visitors now come from the UK every year, a 10 per cent year-on-year increase since 2012. A marketing suite featuring large scale-models of the mega-development will be on the second floor of Harrods until August 2016. A new report reveals that more than a third of UK homes are in areas that are out of reach of first-time buyers. Londoners face the biggest leap to reach the first rung of the ladder, with the average property in the capital now costing 498,000, almost 20 times more than the average first-time buyer's income of 25,000. But the Post Office Money's Priced Out report, which compares average house prices with average wages over the last 20 years, reveals that it's still possible to find a starter home in 40 per cent of the city. Unsurprisingly, the most affordable areas are in the capital's outer districts, such as Barking and Dagenham, Newham, and Bexley and Havering, where one- and two-bedroom flats can still be found for under 200,000. The UK's most affordable cities for first-time buyers 1 /18 The UK's most affordable cities for first-time buyers Brighton Average house price in 2015: 305,149 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 9% Average house price in 1995: 54,209 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 100% Rex London Average house price in 2015: 498,714 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 41% Average house price in 1995: 89,528 Amount of city available to first-time in buyers 1995: 81% Graham Hussey Cardiff Average house price in 2015: 185,487 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 48% Average house price in 1995: 52,760 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 90% Rex Bristol Average house price in 2015: 219,432 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 56% Average house price in 1995: 49,486 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 95% Rex Leeds Average house price in 2015: 154,156 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 68% Average house price in 1995: 49,386 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 91% Rex Newcastle Average house price in 2015: 142,232 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 76% Average house price in 1995: 44,028 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 93% Rex Sheffield Average house price in 2015: 140,071 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 80% Average house price in 1995: 43,860 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 97% Rex Birmingham Average house price in 2015: 46,188 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 82% Average house price in 1995: 143,538 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 96% Rex Plymouth Average house price in 2015: 160,665 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 84% Average house price in 1995: 44,943 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 100% Rex Manchester Average house price in 2015: 133,979 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 86% Average house price in 1995: 38,362 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 95% Rex Liverpool Average house price in 2015: 117,121 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 87% Average house price in 1995: 39,460 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 97% Rex Nottingham Average house price in 2015: 115,985 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 89% Average house price in 1995: 40,581 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 100% Rex Norwich Average house price in 2015: 169,946 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 93% Average house price in 1995: 39,870 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 100% Rex Southampton Average house price in 2015: 183,443 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 2015: 94% Average house price in 1995: 49,734 Amount of city available to first-time buyers in 1995: 100% London is now the UK's second least affordable city for first-time buyers after being overtaken by Brighton, where speedy commutes to the capital and demand for comparatively cheaper properties have pushed up prices by 24 per cent to 305,000 over the last five years. This has left just nine per cent of the city affordable to first-timers. "Cities such as Brighton are becoming unaffordable blackspots for those looking to get on the ladder, with average property prices far beyond the typical budget. These figures highlight the challenges facing todays first-time buyers," says John Willcock, head of mortgages at Post Office Money. "The London property market has always been more challenging for new buyers to break into, which is why many instead turned to surrounding areas within a commutable distance which in turn are becoming increasingly unaffordable. With average house prices of 183,500, 94 per cent of Southampton is affordable to first-time buyers, making it the UK's most affordable city for first-timers, closely followed by Norwich in the east and Nottingham in the East Midlands. However, getting on the ladder still requires compromise, with nine out 10 buyers being forced to lower their expectations to get on the ladder by looking outside their ideal area and buying further from transport links. News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits. Tuesday, October 25, 4:30 7 p.m. Orr Area EMS Open House Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798. Orr Fire Hall 4540 Lake St., Orr Tuesday, October 25, 12 6 p.m. Essentia Health Job Fair Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org. 901 9th St. N., Virginia LIAT Airlines has been a vital factor in the commercial and tourism life blood of the Caribbean for decades. However, the company has now had three CEOs and two Acting CEOs in the last seven years, evidence of LIATs challenges. Commentary on its unfathomable financial strategy, its lack of published accounts and its, arguably, unnecessary and hugely expensive fleet replacement is already well published. The perception over many years of poor operations management, ineffective marketing and gross over staffing has made the LIAT brand a liability, rather than an asset, in the international airline world. I will not add further here to the list of wo es. Given the ongoing expansion of three competitor airlines in the Eastern Caribbean, it is possible that LIAT will soon succumb to private sector competition or, maybe, a merger can save it. In any event, one significant challenge remains for LIAT and its competitor Caribbean based airlines. To quote David Evans, LIATs newly departed CEO, I can give you many examples of journeys around the region where the tax on the ticket is the same amount as the ticket. Evans continued, We will sell you a ticket for US$100 dollars in LIAT but you will actually pay US$200 for it because the other $100 will be tax. Thats an extreme example but by and large 40 to 50 per cent of all the tickets that we sell, that proportion is the amount of tax so thats a major issue. The tax situation Evans refers to above is one of the more obvious examples of Caribbean governments targeting the stay-over visitor as part of their attempt to balance budgets in these continuing difficult economic circumstances. The various airline ticket taxes place a significant financial burden on business people travelling between the islands and on tourists from within and outside the region. The result is that the volume of Caribbean inter island air traffic has declined steeply over the last decade and the law of diminishing returns surely applies to the associated tax revenues. A similar situation exists with Caribbean hotels, where several governments in the region have again increased hotel occupancy taxes, imposing a direct additional cost for those same stay-over visitors - business people and tourists. Hotel room taxes now average well over 10% across the Caribbean. Given the very high operating costs of hotels, particularly for smaller properties on the smaller islands, any additional occupancy tax cannot be absorbed within their room rates. The overall tax burden is part of the reason why there is a significant lack of re-investment in many Caribbean hotels with a consequent reduction in their level of competitiveness in an ever tougher global market place. Under financial pressure, many governments have reduced their tourism boards destination marketing budgets, which also most directly impacts the smaller hotels and the smaller islands. By contrast, Sandals remains successful because of its high budget direct consumer marketing and its economies of scale, although even that company has had to implement some cost reduction strategies over recent years. At the same time, on most Caribbean islands, hotels represent the largest percentage of private sector employers and, consequently, drive the largest part of income tax revenue and national insurance contributions. The hotel sector is also a significant generator of government revenue from import duties, corporation tax, property taxes and VAT (where applicable). Stay-over visitors spend significant amounts of money on hotels and restaurants revenue which is quickly and widely dispersed throughout an island economy. Many economists might argue that, as the largest earners of foreign currency in many islands, hotels should enjoy greater fiscal benefits as an export industry. With justification, Caribbean governments will argue that they are under enormous pressure to balance budgets and need to increase tax revenues in order to provide an adequate standard of public sector services to their citizens. However, there is one obvious target where tax revenue could be increased from a sector of the tourism industry, other than the milk cow of the Caribbeans hotels and airlines. That sector is the cruise line industry, which currently makes a much lesser direct economic contribution in most islands than the local hotels and airlines. Cruise lines have transformed their business model in recent years larger, more cost efficient ships with more onboard facilities and lower ticket prices. These changes have resulted in 82% of the discretionary spend of a cruise ship passenger now being captured onboard. That change, combined with shorter stays in ports and lower budget passengers means that many cruise passengers avoid hiring a taxi ashore and they spend much less money in island shops, bars or restaurants. Over the last two decades cruise lines have increased their share of shore excursion prices from 10% to 50%, resulting in a further decrease in local island company revenue. Through this transformation in their business model, cruise lines have become hugely more profitable, operating high occupancies on a year round basis winter in the Caribbeans high season, summer in Alaska or the Mediterranean. Cruise ships operate in a virtual no tax / low tax offshore financial environment with lower build costs and operating costs than an equivalent Caribbean resort. However, no Caribbean government in recent times has increased the level of port taxes on cruise ships. The very low port taxes currently levied in the Caribbean total only 12 15% of the cruise ticket price and that percentage total is shared between the governments of all the islands visited on any particular cruise itinerary, say, 3% per port. Compare that low percentage with the 100% tax burden imposed on almost half of LIAT flight itineraries and the average 10%+ for hotel room taxes per night. Three multi-billion dollar cruise line corporations own over 80% of the ships visiting Caribbean ports. They are tough negotiators and employ skilled public relations people. Every Caribbean government would need to come together, maybe through CARICOM, to negotiate higher port taxes but the cruise lines can afford to pay more. Ports in Alaska, New England, Canada and Bermuda have all negotiated higher rates in recent years. On New England / Canada cruise itineraries, port taxes can represent up to 33% of the cruise ticket price. Today, around 60% of the worlds cruise ships spend the winter in the Caribbean. In spite of the cruise lines bluster, currently there is no alternative to the Caribbean for them - a winter cruising area with a high level of differentiated tourism infrastructure and port facilities, located close to North America and Western Europe, which are the major outbound cruise markets. No sane person wants to see cruise ships leave the Caribbean but the cruise lines could, and should, make a greater contribution to Caribbean government tax revenues. A rebalancing of the tax burden would assist the Caribbeans own airlines and hotels to improve, expand and achieve a greater level of economic sustainability. Robert Maclellan MacLellan & Associates +599 520 5679 MacLellan & Associates According to ADB's Africa Tourism Monitor 2015, global tourism has continued to grow prodigiously to 1.133 billion arrivals in 2014 a 4.3% increase over 2013. The report further indicates that Africa saw 65.3 million arrivals, representing 5.8% of total international arrivals in 2014. With US$ 43.6 billion in receipts, Africa holds 3.5% of this market share. Tourism development is not only viewed as a key pillar for African development, but also as a major reflection of economic activities that directly or indirectly stimulate its growth. With vital contributors that influence tourism in Africa (both positively and negatively), we cannot fail to acknowledge the fact that when tackling the tourism hype; various economic factors have to be put into consideration. Prevalently, consumer demand by far determines tourism trends not only in Africa but also globally. Tourists are the basic consumers in the tourism market, thus their preferences go a long way in determining for instance the cost of goods in the various destinations. If the cost of let's say accommodation is affordable in destination A, it is likely to attract an influx of tourists, which means more money coming into the continent. This leads to higher production of even more affordable products and services and the consumption cycle repeats itself. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the international tourism sector accounted for 8.1% of Africa's total GDP in 2014. Sustained infrastructural development has also contributed to this solid growth. Economic expenditure by governments into the continent's infrastructure including road and rail networks, rehabilitation of airports and seaports; has attracted investments both locally and internationally into the tourism sector such as developments of world class hotels. The uptake of E-commerce in Africa cannot be left out when discussing economic influencers of tourism. If the ability for travellers to conveniently book their flights as well as accommodation online is anything to go by, then the entry of online travel agents such as Jovago and Expedia among others is just the genesis. According to a market-research firm- Euromonitor- 2013 saw online travel agents (OTAs) with combined bookings of $278 billion. A report by Regional Economic Outlook forecasted growth in sub-Saharan Africa to remain strong, at about 5 percent in 2014 and 5 percent in 2015. This general economic growth has played and continues to play a major role in the industry. Jovago's Managing Director Estelle Verdier notes that tourism and economy should also be seen as a two-way-street with Africa's economic road map anticipating tourism as an indispensable contributor, which will lead to revamping the continent's economy in futurity. It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home UPDATE: Noah 40 Shebib has reposted the snapshot of the VIEWS production list originally shared by Drake to his own Instagram. In the caption of his post, 40 acknowledges some additional producers that arent included in Drakes list. Those names are: Metro Boomin, Vinylz, Hagler (Marvin Thomas), Jordan, OZ, CueBeatz, and Di Genius (Jamaican dancehall producer). He also notes that U With Me, originally thought to be produced by himself and Kanye West, received additional production from DJ Dahi, Ricci Riera, and Axelfolie. Original text below: Just after revealing the VIEWS features including Rihanna, Future, Popcaan, and more by using his own memes, Drake has revealed the albums production credits, also via his Instagram. While Drake rolled out the features one by one, each collaborator given his or her own meme with Little Drake himself, he has decided to share all of the VIEWS producers in one post. Noah 40 Shebib has production credits on 10 of the albums 20 tracks, and other elite names include Kanye West (U With Me?), Boi1da (4 tracks), Nineteen85 (5 tracks), Southside (Grammys), and Frank Dukes (Pop Style). Young Canadian producer Murda Beatz, most known for his work with Migos, produced the track With You, and little-known Toronto producer Maneesh, who had contributed to Charged Up, is the sole producer of three individual tracks on VIEWS. Take a look at the tracklist as well as the producers behind each individual track in the post below. Drake The Marlay Park summer spectacular is looking increasingly impressive, with another massive batch of acts joining Kendrick Lamar, The National and Major Lazer on the bill A star-filled second batch of acts for Longitude has been revealed. Acts like Run The Jewels, The Coronas, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Annie Mac and Diplo have been added to the bill for the Marlay Park event, joining the previously confirmed headliners Kendrick Lamar, The National and Major Lazer. The other newbies are deep breath Vic Mensa, Daughter, Stormzy, Laura Mvula, Nina Kraviz, Christine & The Queens, Perfume Genius, Kelela, Ryan Hemsworth, Section Boyz, Lucius, The 2 Bears, Shura, Bears Den, Hayden James, Izzy Bizu, Rationale, Marlon Williams, Frances, Declan McKenna, Elias, Hare Squead, Joseph and BARQ. The day-by-day breakdown for the July 15 17 event is below. Multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Hickey debuts teaser of his forthcoming album As devout fans of multi-instrumental powerhouse Jeremy Hickey, better known as R.S.A.G., Team HP was already very much looking to his forthcoming album and now we've got a taste of what to expect, we're positively dying for it! 'Leave A Light On' is the first teaser of his third studio LP, and it's an exciting one; more vocally-centered than we might be used to, driving brass tones underpinned by Hickey's trademark effervescence behind the drum kit dominate a track which has us hopping about the office this Friday afternoon. Give it a digital spin below. Oil field services company Baker Hughes posted a $981 million loss in the first quarter of 2016, widening significantly from the same period a year ago, the Houston company reported Wednesday. Revenue for the quarter came in at $2.7 billion, down $1.9 billion, or 42 percent, from the previous quarter of 2015. The company's net loss grew from $593 million in the first quarter of last year, up about 65 percent. Baker Hughes attributed the declining profitability to low oil prices and expenses related to its still-pending merger with industry rival Halliburton. The two companies agreed to a nearly $35 billion merger in November 2014, but the Justice Department has sued to block the deal. Many analysts now expect the merger to be scuttled. Chief executive Martin Craighead blamed the wider loss in part on the merger agreement, which requires Baker Hughes to keep businesses the company would have otherwise shuttered as part of a cost-cutting push. "We are retaining costs in our operating profit margins in compliance with the merger agreement," he said in a statement. Baker Hughes said it was holding onto more than $110 million in after-tax costs as part of its deal with Halliburton. The sharp decline in drilling that has followed the plunge in oil prices has battered the oil services industry. Schlumberger last week reported that its first quarter profits fell by about half and it cut 8,000 jobs in the first three months of the year. Halliburton, which delayed its full earnings release on Friday, reported that its first quarter revenues fell 40 percent to $4.2 billion from $7.05 billion a year earlier, and it cut another 6,000 jobs. Halliburton employs 55,000, down from its 2014 peak of more than 80,000 workers. Baker Hughes has already cut more than 20,000 jobs or about one-third of its workforce since the oil downturn began nearly two years ago. The company said it can cut further if their merger falls through. Baker Hughes didn't provide an update on its combination with Halliburton. Halliburton has delayed its conference call and earnings release to May 3 - after the April 30 deadline for the merger. Baker Hughes shares rose by $1.14, or 2.5 percent, to $46.94 in trading Wednesday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Lacking the success of cities like Orlando, Chicago or Los Angeles in repeatedly luring major trade shows and big-spending annual association meetings, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau decided five years ago to launch homegrown events to fill the city's hotels, restaurants and cavernous convention halls. By creating its own conventions, the bureau would no longer have to "scrap and claw" to persuade associations and trade groups to commit to Houston, bureau President Mike Waterman said. "We're creating our own breaks," he said. Part of that includes investing in specific events in an effort to ensure long-term commitments, an uncommon strategy that Waterman said puts Houston "on the leading edge." Houston First Corp., the quasi-public group that oversees the millions of dollars collected in hotel/motel taxes, also invests in some of the locally produced events, said Waterman, who is also executive vice president of Houston First. He wouldn't say how much either the bureau or Houston First has invested. The new approach has drawn attention in the tourism industry. Waterman said other convention and visitor bureaus are calling to ask how to take a similar approach. More for you Convention bureau sues comic convention over 'Space City'... But it's also leading some political leaders, academic experts and others to ask whether the financial investments will spur the bureau to unfairly favor its own productions over those in which it doesn't have a financial stake. Howard Feiertag, instructor at the hospitality and tourism management department in Virginia Tech's College of Business, said he's never heard of anything like it before. He questioned the wisdom of local tourism leaders investing in risky convention productions. "I don't know why the city would do something like that," Feiertag said. "It's a big gamble." He said the job of picking and choosing which shows succeed should be left to the private marketplace. One of the people unhappy about the arrangement is George Comits, founder of Space City Comic Con. Comits believes the bureau won't help promote his show, which drew 18,000 visitors last year, because the bureau owns a 50 percent equity stake in a competing event, Comicpalooza. The dispute took a legal turn recently when the bureau sued Comits and Space City Comic Con, alleging trademark infringement. The bureau says it owns the trademark "Space City" and filed suit in federal court in an effort to force the show to change its name. Comits scoffs at the claim, pointing to email correspondence with the bureau in which he's used "Space City" going back to 2012. Instead, Comits believes competitive pressure is driving the case. His show over Memorial Day weekend at the NRG Center is three weeks earlier than Comicpalooza, which the bureau calls "Houston's Official Comic Con." Comicpalooza will be held over Father's Day weekend at the George R. Brown Convention Center. It's the bureau's job to support all economic growth in Houston, he said. "This is the business you are in," he said. Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack called the bureau's lawsuit against Space City Comic Con "silly and stupid." "Is there anything logical about being with the convention bureau and turning down conventions?" Radack asked. "It makes no sense." Harris County operates NRG Center. Many cities got "convention fever" and built expensive meeting halls in hope of attracting major trade shows, said Peter LoCascio, founder of Trade Show Consultants in Salem, Ore. But it hasn't been as easy to land the really big ones that fill up thousands of hotel rooms and boost air travel. "I kind of pat them on the back (for trying) to do something to get something into the halls," said LoCascio, who works with exhibitors. The bureau teamed up with the Texas Medical Center to launch Medical World Americas, a conference that began in 2014 with 2,300 attendees. The bureau owns 50 percent, and Houston First has a "small percentage," Waterman said. The bureau used the same ownership structure to capitalize on interest in space commercialization by joining forces with NASA to start SpaceCom. The first conference was a three-day event in November at the George R. Brown that drew 1,700 participants. Another is planned for later this year. The bureau bought its initial stake in Comicpalooza in 2013. While the bureau upped its ownership interest to 50 percent last year, Houston First is not an investor, Waterman said. "It's proven to be one of the shining stars," he said, pointing to the 16,000 room nights the show generated last year. Not all of the shows have caught on. The bureau owns a 30 percent stake in Total Energy USA, an event in 2012 and 2013 that drew on participation from local energy companies. But with oil prices down, the show is on hiatus. Vincent Polito, managing director of VP International in Westport, Conn., said he got the idea while he was consulting with the bureau to develop its new investment model. As for whether it ever made money, Polito said that's a question for the bureau. Waterman said the bureau is continually looking for more long-term opportunities. "We don't want one-and-dones," said Waterman. "We want legacies that go on year to year." Houston still lags far behind other cities when it comes to attracting tourists, but the head of the local convention bureau said he wants to turn it around by doing a better job selling the city and developing more attractions and events. "We've been asleep at the wheel for the past 10 years on the tourist side," Mike Waterman, president of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, told a group of about 100 hospitality professionals at a luncheon sponsored by the Hotel and Lodging Association of Greater Houston. Houston had 14.9 million visitors in 2014, and Waterman wants to ramp that up to 20 million by 2018. But even that figure pales to tourism in other major cities, he said. New York attracted 54 million visitors last year, Chicago 42 million and San Antonio 31 million. Most of Houston's visitors come from around the Houston area. Tourism is the 10th-largest industry in Houston. One way the convention and visitors bureau is trying to boost tourism is by investing in local conventions that might bring in visitors from beyond Texas, including a 50 percent stake in the convention for comic fans, Comicpalooza. The bureau also invested in a health care convention known as Medical World Americas and SpaceCom, a show that focuses on the commercial applications of the space industry. By taking an ownership stake in the conventions, the bureau is able to have more control of the events and improve them by providing professional services such as marketing and promotion, he said. Bureau-backed shows, he added, attract better sponsors. The bureau also is trying to encourage more visitors from Mexico through a new advertising campaign called "Hola Houston." The bureau hired Houston street artist GONZO247 to paint a mural of Houston images in Mexico City, much like a mural he painted in downtown Houston. Many Mexicans come to Houston to shop, and the campaign is designed to focus on the city's cultural and culinary offerings. The bureau is making commercials promoting the city that feature local celebrities such as Jim Parsons, star of the television show "The Big Bang Theory." It has staff available to help filmmakers scout locations in Houston, Waterman said. An effort to beef up taxi service - which Waterman calls the first and last impression of Houston that many visitors receive - is also in the works. "Top Taxi" was launched to teach all 3,700 taxi drivers in Houston to smile, welcome visitors to town and open car doors. To date, 500 drivers have been trained. Waterman said development in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center will turn the once-congested avenue into a pedestrian promenade with new outdoor cafes and parklike space. It's not just for convention-goers, he said, but also for Houstonians to enjoy. WASHINGTON - Interest in importing U.S. natural gas remains strong across the Atlantic Ocean, providing opportunities for the American industry as European nations try to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies, European diplomatic officials said Thursday. Shale gas produced by Houston and Texas companies, and exported by companies such as Cheniere Energy, could play an increasing role in global geopolitics. Following Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to shut off a pipeline running through Ukraine last year, officials from Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia said their nations are working to get terminals and other infrastructure built to import more liquefied natural gas from abroad. "We are small. We are very much industrialized, with not a lot of energy resources," Jan Kuderjavy, director of economic diplomacy in the Slovak Republic, said Thursday during a forum at the Atlantic Council, an international affairs think tank. "Energy diversity is very dear to us, and we're trying to find a solution." With a glut of natural gas in the United States, producers in shale fields across Texas and Pennsylvania are eager to ship LNG to Europe where Russia, the world's largest gas exporter, has long reigned supreme. A series of terminals designed to liquefy natural gas for shipment abroad are in various stages of development along the Gulf and East Coasts. The first, Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass terminal, began operation earlier this year and has made at least seven shipments abroad, although only one was bound for Europe. Robin Dunnigan, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for energy diplomacy, said much work remains in Europe to build the terminals, pipelines, and port facilities necessary to import LNG from across the Atlantic Ocean, but progress is being made. She cited an import terminal that opened in Poland last year and pointed to projects under discussion in Greece and Croatia. "The U.S. will be a reliable supplier to global markets. That's not only good for us but for our allies around the world," she said. "But it doesn't matter how many molecules of gas we put on the market if once it gets to Europe it can't move freely around" through pipelines. Right now the United States exports 1.8 trillion cubic feet of gas a year, almost entirely to Mexico and Canada through pipelines. But there is a push in Washington to expand LNG exports to Europe and Asia, using American energy supplies to counter those of its rivals. "Countries like Russia are major suppliers to NATO countries," Sen.John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in February. "They can easily use their control of energy resources to hold our partners over a barrel." But it's still unclear how much natural gas U.S. suppliers will be able to sell overseas. Leslie Palti-Guzman, director of global gas at the consulting firm The Rapidan Group, testified before the Senate this week that she didn't expect to see much demand for American LNG abroad until after 2017, at least in part due to the current stability of supplies from Russia and the Middle East. "Building U.S. LNG facilities was in retrospect the easy part," Palti-Guzman said. "Now the U.S. LNG needs to sell." Russia is sending signals it will not cede the European gas market easily. Gazprom, the state-controlled gas giant, has lowered rates on its existing pipelines, said Bud Coote, a resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. So far, Russia has not made good on its threat to shut down one of its European pipelines. But Putin's decision to send troops into Ukraine in 2014 raised the specter of a return to Soviet-style imperialism in Eastern Europe - and Putin's willingness to use its control of energy resources as a weapon. Dependence on Russian gas remains most acute in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly among smaller countries without sea access, officials said. But even for larger countries not as reliant on Russia, there is an incentive to bring U.S. gas to Europe, said Vaclav Bartuska, ambassador-at-large for energy security for the Czech Republic. "The issue now is the price of gas," he said. "We welcome another boring exporter of natural gas, one that plays by the rules and doesn't use energy as a weapon." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Halliburton and Baker Hughes have spent the last 18 months trying to close a $35 billion merger that would have stitched together two of Houston's oldest and most storied energy companies into the dominant player in North American shale fields. But with a deadline that allows the parties to walk away from the deal coming Saturday, most analysts say it's almost certain the two will go their separate ways. That would mark the end of a grand plan to combine the world's No. 2 and No. 3 energy services companies, and the start of a new future for both firms as they try to navigate the worst oil bust in three decades. In the short term, analysts said, the failure of the merger, which was strongly opposed by antitrust regulators, would mean thousands more layoffs as the companies shut businesses to reap savings they might have gained by merging. But tougher, long-term questions remain: What will their businesses look like when oil recovers, and how will they survive in what is expected to be an extended period of low oil and gas prices? Halliburton faces a huge bill at a particularly trying time for failing to complete the merger by April 30, a date that allows Baker Hughes to walk away from the deal without penalty and collect $3.5 billion. Baker Hughes, which lost nearly $1 billion in the first three months of the year, gets the money, but still finds itself in the unenviable position of being third in the market, well behind two dominant companies, Halliburton and Schlumberger. "After what could have been two enemies getting together, now you go back to having more competition," said Matthew Marietta, an analyst at investment group Stephens. "They have to move on from this deal and get their core businesses in line." At Halliburton, the company's core businesses were already widely considered to be among the strongest in the industry. The company has spent the past decade building the premier hydraulic fracturing fleet in the United States, which analysts say can pump water and sand into shale formations more efficiently than any other in the business. Slashing costs - and jobs Baker Hughes doesn't have the same kind of marquee business to lean on as the oil industry recovers. But analysts say the company could invest the breakup fee in fresh equipment to make its fracking business competitive by the time prices recover. "Baker Hughes has cash, and they've got options," said Rob Desai, an analyst who follows the company for financial services firm Edward Jones. More Information By the numbers $4.2 billion: Hallibur-ton's revenue in thefirst quarter, down from $7.05 billion a year ago. 6,000: Halliburton jobs cut in the first quarter. 40 percent: Amount that Baker Hughes' revenue dropped in the first quarter. See More Collapse The history of the two Houston companies reaches back to the early days of Texas' oil rush in the first decades of the 20th century, introducing new products, services and innovations that helped make Texas and Houston the energy capital of the world. When the companies agreed to merge in November 2014, executives hoped the new company would have the size and scale to compete with the international giant Schlumberger. But the Justice Department, concerned the combination would stifle competition and give Halliburton too much power over pricing, held up the deal, ultimately suing to block it on April 6. As the process dragged on, oil prices collapsed, falling from $75 per barrel when the merger plan was unveiled to just over $45 per barrel today. The number of active drilling rigs plunged to just 343 from more than 1,600. Both companies make money by offering exploration and production firms a range of services from drilling wells to analyzing geology. As drillers cut back, profits at contractors vanished. Halliburton last Friday delayed its earnings report until May 3, but announced that its first-quarter revenue fell to $4.2 billion - from $7.05 billion in the same period last year - and that it cut another 6,000 jobs in the first three months of 2016. Baker Hughes reported that its first-quarter revenue plunged more than 40 percent, to $2.7 billion from $4.6 billion in 2015, and its losses widened to $981 million. Both companies have tried to stop the bleeding by cutting costs and jobs as dramatically as revenues have fallen. Halliburton in better shape The long period of uncertainty as they pursued the deal hurt both companies, limiting how they could respond to the crisis. Halliburton, for example, held on to office support staff - lawyers, accountants and middle managers - and some assets in the field that it would need to manage a larger business. Baker Hughes also has kept its businesses larger than they otherwise would be, estimating that it carried an extra $110 million in costs in the first quarter to comply with the terms of the merger. If the deal fails, analysts expect those positions to be cut quickly. It isn't clear how many workers could be cut, but analysts' estimates range from hundreds to the thousands. Many of Halliburton's businesses are in better shape, and the company isn't expected to cut quite as deeply. Halliburton will be $3.5 billion poorer after it pays the breakup fee, but it still has plenty of cash, analysts said. Baker Hughes needs the money, analysts said. Much of its equipment needs to be refurbished, and it could plow that money into new equipment to become more efficient, said Robin Shoemaker, who tracks the company for KeyBanc Capital Markets, an investment bank. Investors will be waiting to hear the plan, Shoemaker added. "They have been not communicating with their investors during this one-and-a-half years since this deal was announced," he said. "What Baker Hughes has to do, next week at the latest, is come out and lay out a plan." Baker Hughes might also become a target of a new buyer. GE Oil & Gas, a unit of General Electric Co., has long been rumored to be interested in buying it. "They're obviously trying to build an oil and gas business," said Darren Gacicia, an analyst with banking firm KLR Group. "It just depends on how grandiose they want to be." Houston-based ATM operator Cardtronics wants to relocate to London in a move that will cut the company's U.S. tax bill. But don't call it a tax inversion, the company says. Well, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, how is it not a duck? Cardtronics relies on a technicality to escape the stinging tax inversion label. Rather than buying a smaller company overseas and then moving to its location, CEO Steve Rathgaber created a foreign subsidiary and merged with it. Big difference, right? The result is the same. Cardtronics will become a British company and pay a lower tax rate in the United Kingdom. The new company will also be able to use accounting procedures to strip out all of the profits from U.S. operations to avoid paying taxes here, a process known as earning stripping. Using tax inversions to avoid paying U.S. taxes has been angering the public and Congress for years now, which is another reason why Cardtronics is quick to reject the label. The U.S. Treasury Department has also been using regulations to crack down on inversions because Congress refuses to act. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer gave up on its merger with Allergan earlier this month because Treasury intervened. Cardtronics, though, has some legitimate reasons for making the move and will likely avoid getting into trouble. There's an exemption if more than 25 percent of the company's assets, people or revenues are in the country where it is incorporating. Cardtronics said 60 percent of the company's employees already reside in the UK, and most of its business expansion will be outside the Untied States. Noble Corp. made the same argument when it left Houston and moved its headquarters to the Cayman Islands in 2002 and ultimately to London in 2013. Whether a company has a good excuse, or not, the real problem is a U.S. tax code that encourages companies to move overseas. In a bid to keep U.S. companies from moving operations outside the country, Congress decided to tax every penny a U.S. company makes worldwide. Many countries, like the UK, only tax the company on the money it makes at home. The U.S. tax code is in desperate need of revision for this and many other reasons. But rewriting the code will require Republicans and Democrats to work together and negotiate compromises. Unfortunately, our political system doesn't seem up to it. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Tom Carter's eyes dart about behind smoky, plastic-framed glasses. He takes in the black-and-white handbills on the walls at Sound Exchange that tout shows by bands that don't exist anymore at venues that don't exist anymore. Carter exudes no sentimentality or nostalgia. His face - often with minimal expression - is framed by a neatly trimmed beard, which is going gray. His voice, too, is understated and hushed, whether he's talking about a music scene from days past, his band or a health crisis a few years ago that should have killed him while he was on tour in Europe. "People tell me my playing has changed since then," the guitarist says of a 2012 hospitalization for septic shock. "I really couldn't hear it. But maybe there's something different in my approach. I don't feel like there's anything noticeably different in what I'm doing." Despite his measured demeanor, Carter gets a warm welcome at Sound Exchange, the Montrose record store where he worked long ago. It's where a customer with the surname Charalambides gave him and his then wife, Christina, a name for their band. Third members would come and go from Charalambides, but the two-Carter core has now been together a quarter century, creating a dark, meditative and improvisational version of psychedelic music. More Information Speakeasy Featuring Charalambides, Jawwad, David Dove, Helen Money and Soldier Kane When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Charalambides on Friday) Where: Lawndale Arts Center, 4912 Main Tickets: $20-$35; lawndaleartcenter.org See More Collapse In doing so, Charalambides endured divorce, dislocation and near death. For the first time in nearly a decade, the band will play Friday in Houston, where its dark and experimental sound took shape. The city sound Carter arrived here in the mid-'80s to attend the University of Houston. He grew up in Ohio in a religious household, "not in the holy roller sense but where the church was the center of my mom's social life." There was a piano in the house, and Carter studied music while playing the saxophone in band class. "I got here and hated it," he says. But he met a girl and found himself in a band, Mike Gunn, a much loved psychedelic rock act that formed here in the late '80s. Carter was still playing in Mike Gunn when he started a very different project with Christina, which allowed him to pursue stranger sounds that the band wouldn't accommodate. The group's first recording, "Our Bed Is Green," was a defense mechanism of sorts. The Carters didn't feel like they were ready to play live, but a friend at KTRU wanted to get them on his show. "We just gave him a cassette instead," Carter says, "this simple and gestural thing." Charalambides was formalized with that recording. They'd work in a trio format more often than not early on, playing music that could be droning and somber with sharp punctuations of feedback. "Now I can see how we mapped out a sound," Carter says. "But the idea was to leave room for something new." The use of acoustic guitars drew descriptions of their music as outsider folk, but the Carters never thought "folk" fit. Their music wasn't the sound of rural America: It was modern and unnerving at times. "It sounded like Houston to us, in the sense that we really wanted it to sound urban. People still review our albums and talk about the desert and vast open spaces. I'm not sure they're hearing what I hear. We thought we were making music that sounded like freeways and concrete." Furthering that aesthetic, covers for Charalambides albums were often stark in black and white. The cover for 1998's "Houston" was a snippet of skyline, but not the gleaming iconic skyline. "When I think of the skyline, I don't think of the Shell building," Carter says. "I don't think of the steel and glass monsters. I think of the backside of downtown, or maybe Brays Bayou over by the jail." After making albums that distinctly represented their hometown - with titles such as "Market Square" and "Houston" - the Carters eventually moved to Austin. They later divorced, and Carter moved to the Bay Area in California and later to Queens in New York, where he still lives. There they made "Exile" in 2011, an album that had a bit more polish than its predecessors - nothing so formal as a breakout - theirs was still decidedly complicated and difficult music - but still a distinctive recording in which Christina's lyrics and voice pushed more to the fore. They took the album to Europe, and then things got complicated. An unfortunate event Charalambides story nearly ended in Germany. Carter had been feeling unwell during that 2012 tour, and he knew it was something more than influenza or tour flu. "It seemed unusual; my body felt weaker than it ever had before," he says. Carter decided to seek medical treatment, but an acquaintance in Germany suggested he skip the big hospital in Berlin and instead go to a smaller military hospital where he'd be treated more quickly. That decision may have saved Carter's life. "They'd never have gotten to me as fast at the bigger hospital because it was supposed to be a mess," he says. "And about the time I got there, that's when the sepsis exploded." Carter was placed in a medically induced coma when his body temperature sailed past 104 degrees. "People ask how bad it was," he says. "I really don't remember any of it after going to the hospital. When I woke up, that's when it got really weird. I had a hard time distinguishing between what was a dream and what was reality." He spent nearly 40 days in ICU and then had another three weeks of therapy so he could build up the strength to get home. Carter recovered, though arterial fibrillation is the kind of health crisis that leaves a lasting mark. His heart, he says, won't ever operate as efficiently as it did before. But he was never a screamer or one prone to fits about the stage with his instrument. Instead, Carter always preferred to play seated. Now all he needs is a chair, his guitar and a few effects pedals. If the incident will affect future recordings of Charalambides, he's not likely to admit it. "I have this immense gratitude for some people who helped, with both work and money," he says. "Beyond that, there's not a whole lot I took from the experience. I guess a sense of mortality." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The beloved Pi Pizza is rolling to a more permanent location by the end of the year. Owner Anthony Calleo will take his love for pizza from the food truck to a brick-and-mortar building after partnering with Lee Ellis and his Cherry Pie Hospitality food group. RELATED: Pi Pizza's annual free pizza promotion offer involves body art "It's the chance to expand it, really bring pizza to more people and do it in a venue that makes a better product," Calleo said. "I can't express how shocked and humbled I am." Calleo started Pi Pizza four and a half years ago. He said bringing his business out of the truck and into a building has always been his goal. Lisa Gochman, who does PR for Ellis, said Pi Pizza should be moved into a building by fall. Pi Pizza will be at 181 Heights Blvd., where Funky Chicken used to be. RELATED: Chicago pizza favorite Connie's coming to Houston's Heights Ellis said he met Calleo in 2008 after getting a cold call while the pizza maker was working in real estate. Since then, Ellis said Calleo has always been working hard to achieve his dream. "It's really important for us to give Anthony a break. He's been working really hard in that truck," Ellis said. "He loves what he does and is very passionate about it. That's important to us at Cherry Pie." Ellis owns Lee's Fried Chicken and Doughnuts. He said that he plans to expand that business and to be involved with other Houston businesses in the very near future. RELATED: Houston joints where you can eat up National Pizza Day "We're going to have several concepts," Ellis said of his upcoming plans. He also sees Pizza Pi expanding once it's moved into a building. "It's all for exciting for us." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Show More Show Less Portions of Interstate 45 have reopened after the freeway was shut down Friday morning while police investigated a fatal shooting that occurred hours earlier in southeast Houston. The northbound lanes were blocked around 9:30 a.m. near Almeda Genoa for the investigation, according to the Houston Police Department. A man's body was found with gunshot wounds around 12:30 a.m. Friday in the U-Turn lane near Almeda Genoa. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Show More Show Less A man and woman have been accused of forcing a 17-year-old girl into prostitution after the teen was found pleading for help at a motel along Interstate 45 in north Harris County. Anthony Rideaux and Lashera "Nikki" Powell were arrested Thursday and charged with compelling prostitution of a minor, a first-degree felony, according to the Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 4. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FORT LEE, Va. - It reads like a John le Carre novel. A young woman dresses as a man, enlists in the Army and engages in combat. Later, she becomes a spy, repeatedly crossing enemy lines disguised as an Irish peddler and a black laundress, among other identities. Sarah Emma Edmonds fought for the Union during the Civil War. Her fascinating story is one of many I discovered at the U.S. Army Women's Museum in Fort Lee, Virginia. My wife and I made the trek to Fort Lee, an Army base near Petersburg, to explore this small museum that honors the role of women in the nation's defense. We learned a lot as we viewed its displays, posters, photographs, maps and videos, which are arranged chronologically by conflict. Before entering the museum gallery, we stopped to watch a short video outlining women's contributions to the Army since 1775. Edmonds, it explained, was just one of thousands of women willing to sacrifice everything to defend the country. The recent decision on policy change by the Defense Department allowing women into combat positions is controversial, but in truth women have faced combat since the beginning. We stopped first at the American Revolution exhibit. There a figure in a bright-blue Continental Army coat and white bonnet stands next to a cannon, a ramrod at her side. When Margaret Corbin's husband was mortally wounded at the Battle of Fort Washington in Manhattan, the exhibition text recounts, she took his place loading and firing the cannon at Hessian troops until she was severely wounded herself. For her heroics, Corbin was awarded a military pension by Congress, becoming the first American woman to receive one. Corbin's pension was a rarity, but the willingness of women to serve despite being denied recognition, opportunity and reward was not. The Civil War display explored the many ways - both overt and covert - that women found to serve. More than 400 women on both sides disguised themselves as men, many engaging in combat. Sally Tompkins ran a Confederate hospital with such efficiency that she received an officer's commission during the war. And for her valor in risking her life treating soldiers and civilians alike, Mary E. Walker received the Medal of Honor, the only woman ever to do so. "There are eye-openers all throughout the exhibits," said Pat Sigle, 63, a volunteer at the museum. One was Cathay Williams. A former slave, Williams assumed a new identity as William Cathay and enlisted in the Army. As a member of the 38th Infantry, she was assigned to garrison duty in the New Mexico Territory. She has the distinction of being the only female Buffalo Soldier, the name given to members of all-African-American Army units formed after the Civil War. In the World War I exhibit, a mannequin wears the green coat and skirt of the Radio Corps, another the royal blue of the Signal Corps, and a third a nurse's white uniform and brilliant red cape. Nurses' duties could be hazardous; many volunteers in the Women's Nursing Corps served near the front tending wounded soldiers and facing artillery barrages and the horrors of mustard gas attacks. Although women were welcome in these roles, they were strictly limited as auxiliary members and contract workers attached to the military. Because they were not considered part of the armed services, they were not eligible for veterans' benefits regardless of the danger they faced. Yet despite these restrictions, they volunteered. Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts dedicated herself to redressing this injustice. On the wall nearby, I read her vow: "I was resolved that our women would not again serve with the Army without the same protection the men got." World War II ushered in great changes. The need for women to serve as clerks, drivers, cooks and typists in areas all over the world led to the creation of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942. Among the several World War II exhibits is a re-creation of barracks at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, where many women were trained. Two models in Army uniform sit on bunks with a gas mask nearby and a "Loose Lips Might Sink Ships" poster on the wall. Still, women in the WAAC weren't considered part of the armed services, either. They laundered their own clothes and could be charged for any replacement clothing. If they were sick or wounded, they received only limited Veterans' Administration benefits. The pressure to truly include women in the armed forces reached a critical stage in 1943, when the Women's Army Corps (WAC) was formed, giving women equal rank and benefits. Congresswoman Rogers's vow finally bore fruit. In the World War II exhibits, the walls are covered with photos of WACs training and marching, repairing truck engines and serving food. Later, jobs expanded to radio operators, airplane mechanics and sheet-metal workers. We stopped to admire a patriotic poster of a proud mother and her two soldiers - a son and daughter in uniform. A nearby display depicted two women standing at a table sorting mail. These women were part of the 6888th Postal Battalion, an all-African-American unit that served in England and France. Their role was to unclog the enormous backlog of mail that accumulated at bases in Britain in the buildup to the D-Day invasion. The battalion's motto was "No Mail, Low Morale." Women have been fully integrated into the Army since 1978, when the WAC was disbanded, and now serve in the same units as men. In recent conflicts, women have found themselves in complex roles, particularly when serving in countries where women and men are segregated. A painting depicts Maj. Sherry Lynn Womack, a physician assistant, providing care to a child in Afghanistan in 2002. She was one of the Army medical providers assigned to work specifically with women and children because of cultural sensitivities. Female soldiers also increasingly find themselves in combat situations. A display illustrates the role played by Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester and fellow soldiers in her company during a 2005 attack on their convoy in Iraq. For her role in the attack, Hester became the first woman ever to be awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. In the hallway just outside the galleries, a tree adorned with metal tags caught my eye. I had missed it on the way in, but perhaps it served as a better way to end the tour. These are the dog tags of the more than 100 female soldiers who have fallen since 9/11. "When you see this tree, it really hits you - it really brings it home," Sigle said. "We owe them all our thanks." - - - Lee is a freelance writer living in Virginia Beach. - - - If you go Where to stay The museum is in Fort Lee, Va., but many lodging and dining options are in nearby Petersburg. Hilton Garden Inn Richmond South/Southpark 800 Southpark Blvd., Colonial Heights 804-520-0600 hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com Located 10 minutes from Fort Lee off Interstate 95. Six floors, 155 rooms. No pets. Free parking. Restaurant open for breakfast and dinner. Rooms from $124. The Ragland Mansion 205 S. Sycamore St., Petersburg 804-861-1932 raglandmansion.com Italianate antebellum bed and breakfast fully restored with lovely solarium and ballroom. Nine guest rooms, each with a private bath. Children and pets by prior arrangement. Peak rates (April 1-Oct. 31) from $75. Where to eat Brickhouse Run 407-409 Cockade Alley, Petersburg 804-862-1815 brickhouserun.com Traditional British public house with bar and dining room located in two 200-year-old buildings. Exposed beams, stone floor and brass rail at bar. No televisions. Pub fare from $9. Entrees from $14. Andrade's International Restaurant 7 Bollingbrook St., Petersburg 804-722-0344 andradesinternational.com Latin-American restaurant featuring cuisine from Bolivia, Peru, Cuba and more. Located in Old Towne Petersburg. Entrees from $11. Dinner enchilada combos from $10. Alexander's Fine Food 101 W. Bank St., Petersburg 804-733-7134 alexandersfinefood.com Small restaurant that has been around for 30 years. Offers Greek, Italian and American cuisine. Entrees from $11. What to do U.S. Army Women's Museum 2100 A. Ave., Fort Lee 804-734-4327 awm.lee.army.mil Visitors must stop at the welcome center to the right of the Lee Avenue gate for a visitor's pass. Valid ID is required (state driver's license, passport, etc.). Once a background check is complete, visitors are issued a day pass. Museum gallery open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. -5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Free admission. Visitors may also want to check out the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum next door. Information lee.army.mil petersburgarea.org This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Michelle Chaney, a 23-year-old sales associate at Wal-Mart with long black braids and a warm smile, watched in horror as floodwaters rose into her Greenspoint area apartment. She waited hours for someone to rescue her and her three children. "We're trying to get out of there, and nobody's there to help," she told me on Wednesday at a mayoral information session at Harvest Time Church. Finally, she said, as she was searching for shoes and jackets for the kids, a dump truck came, and someone hauled her children off without her. She panicked, but soon tracked down the kids at a nearby mall. When we spoke, she said work was calling her to come back, but she was still draining her car with buckets, and she had no idea where they'd spend the night, let alone how they'd pay an unsympathetic apartment manager demanding the rent. Her biggest loss? Practically everything she owns. Mark Grimley, meanwhile, is a 48-year-old Meyerland resident, a father of a tween and a teen, who works in sales for AT&T. I found him Wednesday at his two-story home, wearing a "Life is Good" T-shirt and supervising workers as they removed wet sheetrock. As we talked near a plastic-wrapped pool table and furniture on paint cans, he told me how he watched the 7-or-so inches of water flow in through his front door, but how, unlike last Memorial Day, his family was prepared. His biggest loss? Time, he said. The family will have to live upstairs, once again, while first-floor repairs are completed. While the recent flooding affected Chaney and Grimley in different ways, they had something in common: Neither felt they were all that important to city leaders. "It's a matter of priorities. They fixed the Medical Center. They haven't fixed here," Grimley told me. "Somebody's just got to say, 'Let's spend money on this,' as opposed to whatever they think it takes to get elected." It's a sentiment I heard over and over again talking with flood victims last week. And it's a sentiment to which Mayor Sylvester Turner seems keenly sensitive. In both Greenspoint and Meyerland, he held information sessions attended by an impressive array of city, county and state officials, and their staffers, on hand to answer questions. In Greenspoint, an estimated 1,000 displaced people, some who had harrowing tales of escape, crowded into a large church building and were remarkably patient. "The point that I really want to make," Turner said, "we're not here today and gone tomorrow." 'Something is wrong' All the residents could do was believe the mayor when he assured them that eventually, someone would hear their stories. And after a while, officials and staff fanned out with pens and forms, offering guidance for finding housing and assistance. For Tatisha Jackson, a 36-year-old mother who works at an Amazon sorting center, it wasn't enough. She didn't blame Turner, because he's still new on the job. But she felt like her neighborhood was left to fend for itself, to float to safety on air mattresses and refrigerators while residents elsewhere were rescued in boats. She said she and her family walked half a mile in waist-deep water only to have a "police tanker truck" drive past them. Her mother took a wider view. For years, she's heard talk of drainage improvements and projects to widen bayous, and she wonders why that didn't prevent last week's disaster. "Something is wrong. Somebody lyin' somewhere," said Lea Porche, who was putting up her daughter in her small senior-living apartment. "If you're doing the work, there shouldn't be no floods like this. It shouldn't be this bad." She's right. Certainly, billions have been spent on efforts that have reduced flooding damage. As wetlands expert, professor and Texas A&M extension specialist John Jacob says: "We wouldn't be able to live here if there wasn't massive drainage infrastructure." But it's not enough. Eight people died last week. More than 2,000 homes flooded in Harris County alone. Time for action Turner plans to appoint a flooding czar, someone to focus on this issue alone and work with neighborhoods, civic associations, developers and others to find solutions. "This issue is a top priority of mine," Turner told the Meyerland crowd. "It's a top priority of the city." Words are fine. Now we have to see action. When the carpets are replaced and the new drywall is installed, we can't forget to plan for next time. Quite a few essays have been written on the flooding, several published on the Chronicle's Gray Matters site, all weighing in on causes and solutions: It's the developers. It's suburban sprawl. It's paving over wetlands. It's the easily gamed permitting process. It's building in floodways. It's global warming. Truth be told, it's probably a little of all of it. The one idea I don't accept is that, since flooding is inevitable in a city built on a swamp, so is death and destruction. "It's not inevitable that we have to be in harm's way," Jacob told me. Houston's laissez-faire attitude toward development and storm preparedness can't continue. Turner and other officials talked to thousands of people this week, and those people are counting on a sea change in leadership on flooding. A humble plea: Don't let their stories, their suffering, be for naught. Not again. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEEDVILLE - She knelt at the water's edge, her young daughter at her side, and used a pink plastic bucket to dip for perch. The stream was calm where it flowed past her, but at its center it looked like white-water rapids on some wild river in Idaho or Wyoming. A low-water crossing, they call this spot. Last week it was a barrier stranding Sherry Melchior, her daughter Kaitlyn and their neighbors in a remote Fort Bend County subdivision known as Tierra Grande. The floods that pummel the Houston area with disturbing frequency inflict misery in many ways. They ruin homes, furniture and clothing. They submerge roads. They cause mold that makes people sick. They kill. In Tierra Grande, about 45 miles southwest of downtown Houston, the rising water displays a distinctive type of cruelty. Again and again, floodwaters rush across a low spot in the only road in or out of a chunk of the subdivision, creating a tough choice for the 20 or so families who live there: They can leave, knowing it might be a week or longer before they can get back. Or they can stock up on supplies and wait it out. Greg Watson's family split the difference. Watson gathered up some clothes and drove out April 20, just as the first trickles of water began sluicing across the road. He checked into a motel so he could get to his job as a nurse in Rosenberg. His wife and two kids stayed home. "We've been through this so many times," Watson said last Friday, as he stood watching the rushing waters that separated him from his family. They were fine; his house was fine. But he was stuck. He peered at a mid-stream marker that showed the water's depth at 3 feet. The river was moving so rapidly that trying to cross, on foot or in a vehicle, would have been beyond foolish. "It's gonna be about a week before it comes down," Watson said then. 'Each year gets worse' James R. Wenzel, an aide to Fort Bend County Commissioner Richard Morrison, was more optimistic when I spoke to him at the scene about an hour before Watson showed up. He thought the road would be passable by Monday. (He was right, as it turned out.) Until the late 1990s, a bridge spanned the low spot, but it kept washing out during floods. The county decided to live without the span; rather than replace it, Wenzel said, officials would reinforce the road bed so that damage to the road could be repaired more quickly, and inexpensively, after the floods pushed through. The Tierra Grande residents "would have been stranded a lot longer if the bridge and the road had washed out," Wenzel said. Watson is convinced that some simple drainage improvements would keep the road open. His home has been cut off eight times, he said, and he's sick of it. "It's a pretty simple fix," he said. "You don't have to be an engineer to figure it out." Watson's frustrations are not unique, of course. We've heard them from flood victims in Greenspoint angry that rescuers took so long to heed their distress calls. We've heard them from Meyerland homeowners who believe pressure from real estate developers is keeping city development regulations weak. Sherry Melchior, the woman I had seen fishing with the bucket, sent me a text after a friend sent her my number. "We are all pulling together to make sure everyone is safe and has everything they need," she wrote. "This happens every year, but each year gets worse!" In fact, everyone I spoke with seemed to agree that the floods were becoming more frequent - and more severe. "We had this problem on Memorial Day (last year), but not to this degree," Wenzel told me as he watched the water rush past. Possible causes I mentioned that I had heard a number of perspectives on possible causes: climate change, inadequate drainage, upstream development. Wenzel nodded and said he could "poke holes" in all these theories. And then he delivered the same, unsatisfying message that people like Greg Watson and Sherry Melchior have heard from public officials for decades. Climate and topography, according to this narrative, make the suffering of flood victims in the Houston area inevitable. And who is responsible for climate and topography? "You've got to talk to one person," Wenzel said. He pointed up, toward a bright blue sky. A middle school teacher in the Houston Independent School District has been charged with injury to a child following an incident earlier this month. Errick Waters, a teacher at Edison Middle School, was reassigned following the alleged incident Friday, April 22, but has since been charged with felony injury to child, according to a statement from HISD. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate This week's top stories: Some Greenspoint-area flood victims face a crippling choice Eight privately owned, federally subsidized low-income housing complexes are within Houston's 100-year floodplain. Now, after devastating flooding this spring, residents are faced with an impossible decision. By Rebecca Elliott For more coverage of Houston flooding, read Swamped. Syrian refugee finds herself in political crosshairs after crossing Texas border After fleeing war-torn Syria, Maissoun Hanaa Halawi became one of many refugees stuck in legal limbo at a federal detention center. By Nora Olabi Residents lament neighborhood conditions in 'new colonias' In east Montgomery County, residents of the Kings Colony neighborhood are living in conditions akin to the infamous colonias lining the Mexican border. By Matthew Tresaugue City denies request for chemical data After a fire destroyed a Spring Branch chemical warehouse in May, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner called for increased transparency regarding hazardous chemical facilities. But a recent records request for the city's information on those businesses was denied. By Matt Dempsey For more, read Chemical Breakdown, an investigation of the dangerous chemical facilities close to the public. Prosecutors accused of hiding evidence, inventing testimony in death penalty case In recent hearings, prosecutors in a Houston woman's death row case were accused of coercing witnesses and hiding evidence. By Lise Olsen At 73, Martha Karolyi keeps focus on a final Olympic journey After 16 years, lauded U.S. women's gymnastics national team coordinator Martha Karolyi is preparing for her final Olympics. Story by David Barron ******************************************************** More highlights from previous weeks: The deceptive diversity of Houston beyond oil The oil downturn has highlighted that Houston's economy depends more on oil and gas than local leaders would like to admit. By Lydia DePillis Transgender Latinas faced a 'legion of stigmas' How the leader of Texas' only organization dedicated to empowering transgender Hispanics overcame shame, trauma and stigmatization. By Olivia P. Tallet Man shot at St. Joseph files suit alleging excessive force and negligence A St. Joseph Medical Center patient experiencing a mental breakdown who was shot by Houston police in his hospital room is now suing the city and the four officers involved. By Gabrielle Banks For more coverage of officer-involved shootings in Houston, read The Unarmed. Supersized Panama Canal could increase Houston's direct trade with Asia The expansion of the Panama Canal has the potential to bolster the Port of Houston's international trade. By Andrea Rumbaugh & Emma Hinchliffe Houston area seen as a major hub for Medicare fraud Houston's burgeoning medical industry has made the city ripe for Medicare fraud, federal prosecutors say. By Gabrielle Banks Local family faces uncertain future after Supreme Court deadlock After the Supreme Court struck down President Obama's plan to protect illegal immigrants from deportation, many families remain in limbo, their future unclear. By Lomi Kriel Will 'Brexit' deliver another blow to Houston economy? What Brexit means for Houston's already struggling economy. By David Hunn Despite abortion ruling, damage already done, supporters say Though the Supreme Court's ruled that Texas' House Bill 2 is unconstitutional, pro-choice supporters say several years of legal limbo have already caused significant damage to abortion access. By Bobby Cervantes and Andrea Zelinski Undocumented immigrants in Houston desperately needing kidney dialysis overwhelm public hospitals Undocumented immigrants in need of dialysis must obtain it in the most inefficient and expensive way: waiting until they're close enough to death to receive emergency treatment. By Markian Hawryluk Veterans: Report validates wait-time allegations at Houston VA Houston-area veterans say their experiences are reflected by a recent VA's Office of Inspector General report alleging officials manipulated scheduling to obscure long wait times for appointments. By St. John Barned-Smith & Samantha Ketterer Fifteen years later: Andrea Yates hopes for change through children's fund A look back at how the Andrea Yates case transfixed the nation and put a spotlight on postpartum depression and psychosis. Yates was sentenced to life after drowning her five children in 2001. By Brooke Lewis Ship channel pilots say low-sulphur fuel likely caused 2015 collision and chemical spill The Houston Pilots Association and the National Transportation Safety Board have clashed over the cause of a March 2015 crash and major chemical spill in the Houston Ship Channel. By Lise Olsen Falkenberg: Woman emerges from a life spent hiding and fearful A transgender woman shares how the debate over the use of public bathrooms has impacted her life. By Lisa Falkenberg Unleash the drones! This week's infographic by Rachael Gleason allows you to explore drone registrations in Texas by zip code. Hint - they're clustered in big cities. A related story by columnist Chris Tomlinson suggests that under new FAA rules, the buzzing from drones may soon be "as ubiquitous as the leaf blower." Chemical Breakdown: Part 3 The federal government claims that Local Emergency Planning Committees could prevent the next significant chemical disaster. But many of the committees in Texas are either defunct or barely functioning. By Mark Collette & Matt Dempsey Subdivision never flooded, until it did, and residents want answers After flooding swept through the same subdivision twice in a little more than a month's time, many residents find themselves living in fear and looking for answers. By Mike Tolson For more coverage of Houston-area flooding, read Swamped, an ongoing series. Year after Supreme Court ruling, officials struggle to meet affordable housing demands The Houston Housing Authority faces a tough task: reviving some of the city's most distressed neighborhoods while simultaneously providing affordable housing options. By Rebecca Elliott and Erin Mulvaney The case against Big Oil As investigators probe what oil executives knew about climate change and when, Big Oil is resisting comparisons to the litigation against the tobacco industry. By James Osbourne Former shelter residents find connections through books A book club helps former emergency shelter residents heal. By Monica Rhor Massive city sewer struggles will mean higher water bills With Houston facing a federal decree to fix its sewage systems, city residents could see a sharp increase in water bills to cover the costs. By Mike Morris HISD seeks to combat chronic absenteeism In Houston and across the country, the regular, repeated absence of students puts school districts at a financial disadvantage and those students at risk of falling behind or dropping out altogether. Story by Lauren Caruba, interactive by John D. Harden A fired detective's ethical lapse may affect at least 8 pending murder cases The firing last year of a homicide investigator with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for sleeping with a key witness could impact eight pending murder cases. By Anita Hassan A mother makes tough choice to have her son detained One mother fights to get help for her son as his mental health rapidly deteriorates. By Emily Foxhall HPD clears off-duty officers who shot hospitalized patient Alan Pean was in the midst of a psychotic break when a Houston police officer shot him in his hospital room. In the aftermath, Pean faced aggravated assault charges that were later dropped, and the officers were cleared of wrongdoing. By Lise Olsen Inside the probe into Trump University that Abbott's office launched and then ended When Governor Greg Abbott was attorney general, he investigated Trump University for bilking Texas consumers. But the agency dropped the case once the real estate investment training program left Texas. By Brian M. Rosenthal & Gabrielle Banks Explore a database of 2014 campus rape data Nearly 100 colleges and universities had at least 10 reports of rape on their main campuses in 2014, according to federal campus safety data. Explore the data below. By Rachael Gleason From Whitewater to Baylor, different pictures of Ken Starr emerge Ken Starr, once lauded in some circles for his thorough investigation of President Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky, now faces heavy criticism of his handling of several sexual assault cases involving Baylor University athletes. By Kevin Diaz After Cincinnati, a gorilla guru mulls life at the zoo After the tragic death of Cincinnati Zoo gorilla Harambe, a Houston zookeeper looks back at her experiences with the animals. By Claudia Feldman For years, the Houston area has been losing ground Houston and surrounding communities have been steadily sinking for decades, making the area's regular floods even worse. By John D. Harden Turner uses search firm to keep police chief candidates from public view Unlike his predecessor, Houston's mayor refuses to release records on the candidates for the city's new police chief, a move that critics decry as lacking transparency. By James Pinkerton Lawsuit says man beaten unconscious in jail after arrest for misdemeanor A 28-year-old construction worker arrested on a pair of misdemeanor charges says in a federal lawsuit that detention officers at the Harris County Jail strip-searched and beat him unconscious. By St. John Barned-Smith For more, read Jailhouse Jeopardy, an investigation probing issues at the Harris County Jail. Officials move to end de facto severance pay for state workers Gov. Greg Abbott has directed several state agencies to stop using emergency pay as de facto severance for terminated staffers, a practice that has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. The issue surfaced in news reports. By Brian M. Rosenthal Just about anything Pope Francis touches, it seems, can turn to gold. In January, reports Religion News Service, a papal Fiat 500L sold for $82,000 at a charity auction arranged by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Two months later, another Fiat, retailing for about $19,000, was sold at an Archdiocese of New York charity auction for a cool $300,000. Now, a papal silk skullcap, called a zuchetto, has sold for more than $18,000 on the Catawiki auction site. The skullcap was said to have been passed by the pope to the host of an Italian television program during a 2014 papal audience in St. Peter's Square. The news service explained that it is traditional for the pope to hand off his skullcap when given a new one by the faithful. You can view the 2014 exchange here. Zuchettis typically sell for about $100. Part of the money raised through the sale will be donated to the Israeli charity, Save A Child's Heart, which provides cardiac care for children in developing countries. You can learn more about the charity here. Federik Jamees, Catawiki specialist for religious articles, told Crux, a Catholic news service, that auctioning a papal skullcap was "extremely rare." "The pope's clothing is made especially for him and after his death the articles automatically become relics, meaning that they are no longer allowed to be sold," he said. "This auction is a unique opportunity for museums, collectors and devout Catholics to acquire a 'relic in the making' and also help others by donating money to Save A Child's Heart." You can read the entire Religion News Service report here. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Rosa Ruiz and her five children had been living for a week in an apartment with half walls. Crews had knocked out the drywall and insulation from the chest down at her two-bedroom home in Greenspoint, to prevent mold from growing after the deadly April 18 flood. Clothing was piled high on her remaining furniture. Ruiz, 42, surveyed what was left of her apartment - $595 per month - and worried her children would get sick by continuing to sleep here. But she saw no other option. "I don't have anywhere to go," she said in Spanish. "There's no money to look for another apartment." Of the more than 1,900 Greenspoint-area families whose apartments took on water during last week's deluge, hundreds have moved in with relatives or sought shelter from the Red Cross, ultimately receiving temporary hotel rooms from the city. In the storm's immediate aftermath, these residents who took refuge elsewhere received most of the public's attention. Overshadowed were victims like Ruiz, who have stayed in soaked units with nowhere to turn. Now, with the due date looming for May rent, these families - thought to be in the hundreds - are facing smaller paychecks and cars that still don't start, as a dank odor sets in. Nestled just south of Bush Intercontinental Airport, Greenspoint sits at the intersection of Interstate 45 and Beltway 8, anchored by the dilapidated mall for which it is named. The area has one of the highest concentrations of multi-family housing in the city and a median household income of $27,000 as of 2012, nearly $18,000 below the city average. Greenspoint did not suffer substantial flood damage in past rains, meaning much of the city's concern about storm preparedness was focused on other flood-prone areas, such as Meyerland. Yet 72 percent of Greenspoint's apartments are located in a flood zone, said Susan Rogers, director of the University of Houston's Community Design Resource Center. Roughly 17 of the 70 complexes located within the boundaries of the management group, the Greenspoint District, flooded April 18, with 210 of the 1,943 inundated units taking on over 6 feet of water. Cannot find help More than 125 families staying at the nearby M.O. Campbell shelter were relocated to area hotels last Friday, at a cost of about $1,000 per family per week, funded by the nonprofit Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund. That figure climbed to 151 on Thursday. Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city was prepared to keep them in hotels for several weeks before moving them into available housing. Meanwhile, many of those who chose not to go to a shelter have continued to struggle on their own. Turner spokeswoman Janice Evans said the city does not know how many flood victims are living in their damaged apartments but is working to determine that figure. "It's an issue, and we're aware of it," Evans said. "In some instances, yes, they should not be there." A dehumidifier hummed as Jorrick Banks, 28, stood in the living room of his family's unit at Durham apartments. "The living conditions - you might want to say it's horrible," Banks said, as his girlfriend tried to peel apart the pages of medical textbooks she had set out to dry. Banks and his family had stayed at the M.O. Campbell shelter for three nights last week, but he said the Red Cross told them they had to leave after 72 hours. He, his girlfriend and her mother returned to their apartment, where speckled green mold already had begun to creep up the wall of the porch closet. Banks heard that President Barack Obama issued a disaster declaration for Harris County on Monday, allowing flood victims to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but he said he didn't know what that meant for him. "It's my first time being in this situation," he said. Red Cross officials said Thursday they could not think of an instance in which they informed someone at M.O. Campbell that they would only have 72 hours in the shelter. Despite city, nonprofit and Red Cross efforts to communicate available resources to victims through door-to-door canvassing and Turner's community meeting in Greenspoint, many echoed Banks in feeling in the dark about how to access services. 'No place to go' "I already called too many places. They gave me numbers and numbers and numbers and that's it," said Zulema Lopez, Ruiz's neighbor at Maison de Ville apartments. Lopez, 44, said she was told Tuesday morning that she had four days to vacate her flooded apartment. Lopez's pet goldfish swam in a white bucket, their makeshift bowl, a few paces from the musty bathroom. A mattress leaned against the wall in the dark, amid heaps of belongings. "We're living like that right now," Lopez said, walking through. "We don't have no place to go. We don't have no money to rent another apartment. We already asked for all these apartments, they don't have nothing." Maison de Ville's manager Irma Cortez confirmed that tenants of all 61 flooded units had been asked to move out but said there was no specific deadline. "I mean, do you want to sleep in here?" Cortez asked, pointing to office walls that had been torn out at the bottom, revealing insulation. Cortez said she would have liked to put all of the complex's flood victims upstairs, but there was no space. Instead, management provided residents with contact information for the Red Cross and other area apartments. Asked what would happen if residents were unable to find alternate housing, Cortez said, "Well, they're going to be sick if they stay inside." Robert Fiederlein of the Greenspoint District estimated that rental occupancy in the area neared 100 percent in the last week, up from 93 percent as of late March, according to Houston-based Apartment Data Services. Average rent in the Greenspoint area was $654 per month as of March, according to Apartment Data Services, compared with $968 in greater Houston. "We were tight, and then of course after the storm it got tighter," Fiederlein said. "Some of them may have to move farther afield just to find space." Turner said Wednesday the city had identified just 90 available units in the Greenspoint area. Facing limited housing alternatives, the city's Public Works and Engineering Department has determined that residents may stay in their damaged units during the repair process, as long as outlets are covered by electrical plates, light fixture switches have covers, and wires are positioned behind the studs. "It's not ideal, but in this case we don't have a lot of options," said Nancy Brewer, manager of the department's habitability division. Public works inspectors visited each of the 17 flooded complexes at the end of last week, Brewer said, assessing water damage in at least one unit in every building. The goal is for owners to finish repairs on 15 of the 17 apartment complexes by the end of May, Brewer said, though the complexes hit hardest - Arbor Court and the Royal Phoenician - likely will take longer to bring back online. Brewer said she expects all of the complexes to be rebuilt, noting that the damage appears to be less than 50 percent of the property values. If the damage were to hit that threshold, owners would be required to raise the apartments above "base flood elevation," a costly undertaking. Making ends meet Already, the city has partnered with organizations like Neighborhood Centers, the Texas Organizing Project and Catholic Charities to canvass the Greenspoint area. It also is set to deploy 80 health department officials Friday morning to knock on doors and determine the needs of residents still living in their apartments. "We'll continue to assess the need, because there are others who are trying to stay in their apartments or in their homes, and it may be conditions that are not safe for them, so it remains a dynamic and fluid situation, and we'll continue to work with all Houstonians that continue to find themselves in a very stressful and dramatic situation," Turner told City Council on Wednesday. Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle Even for those able to move in with friends or family temporarily, however, making ends meet has been difficult. Joyce Taylor, a 30-year-old certified nurse assistant and mother of two, has been staying with her mother-in-law in northeast Houston since the flood but still must figure out how to pay May rent. Taylor heard she might get a 25 percent discount on her $650 bill, but she wasn't sure. To her, it didn't make sense to pay for an apartment she views as uninhabitable. "I guess more people are just focused on the apartments that are down the street from us, Arbor Court, and they're not realizing that people like the Durham got flooded real bad," Taylor said, adding that Red Cross officials told her she could continue living in her apartment. Steve Moore, who owns Durham and nine other flooded Greenspoint-area apartments, confirmed that tenants whose units flooded are slated to receive 25 percent off their May rent. They are required to pay, even if they have chosen to stay elsewhere temporarily. "We think it is livable," Moore said. "If we start telling people they can live here rent-free, this place is going to get shut down." For Taylor and her husband, who each missed two days of work unpaid last week, coming up with that money will be difficult. "They feel like our apartments are still livable, which I don't understand, because there's no way that somebody with kids can be in that apartment like that," she said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A $70 million expansion project will increase the number of operating rooms at Harris Health System's Ben Taub Hospital from 11 to 18, but funding challenges will leave six of the rooms unused, hospital officials said at a board meeting on Thursday. The hospital system is facing an $8.6 million operating loss for the fiscal year ending Feb. 28, 2017, and officials estimate it would need an additional $135 million per year to fully equip, staff and use the remaining six rooms. "We are building it out entirely," Harris Health CEO George Masi said, "but what we won't be able to do is operationalize it." Construction of the new operating rooms - the first in almost 30 years - is scheduled to begin this summer and will take two to three years to complete. At that time, Harris Health expects to use six of the new rooms and six of the existing ones. One of the new operating rooms will be used only for trauma cases. "The new ORs are bigger, better and fully up to code," said Michael Norby, executive vice president and chief financial officer of the health system. "Part of the challenge that we have today because of the limited ORs and the limited size of the ORs is we consistently have to bump scheduled cases for trauma cases," Norby said. "Adding 'right-sized' ORs, and one more, substantially adds flexibility and should reduce the amount of cancellations that we have to do." The new operating rooms were needed to maintain the hospital's Level 1 trauma center status, which will not be affected by the decision to shutter six of the rooms. But the shortfall will limit the hospital's ability to expand its surgical and trauma care. "It just feels like we keep putting Band-Aids on a leaky boat," Dr. Kimberly Monday, a board member and practicing neurologist, said at the meeting. "We're going to have to let the public and the Commissioners Court know that we need more money." Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann Texas Trauma Institute operate the only two adult Level 1 trauma centers in Houston, representing a major undersupply of capacity for the most complex emergency cases. When those trauma centers are filled to capacity, trauma patients must be transferred as far away as Galveston or San Antonio. Norby said even if the hospital system could find the additional $135 million to operate the remaining six rooms, the system also would have to build additional primary and specialty care capacity to generate the demand for more surgical procedures. "Patient volume doesn't come out of thin air," he said. "For operating room cases, it has to work its way through the system." The hospital also would need to find additional inpatient hospital beds for the patients after surgery. Ben Taub already is operating at full capacity. A fraction from taxes The expansion will be financed with $70 million in 20-year bonds, issued by Harris County and supported by real estate property taxes. Property taxes in the county are expected to add a fraction of 1 cent to the 17 cents per $100 in valuation to cover the nearly $5 million per year in interest and principal repayment. Harris County Commissioners Court approved spending $70 million for the upgrades in November, and the Harris Health board formally approved the expansion plan at the Thursday meeting. The Commissioners Court now will have to approve the bond issue at its July meeting and assign the necessary property tax rate increase in September. Ben Taub was built in 1990 with 11 operating rooms and one special procedure room. Since that time, however, there have been no upgrades to the operating rooms. Several years ago, hospital administrators had taken three operating rooms out of service because they no longer met standards for air exchange or square footage. But that left the hospital with insufficient capacity to operate a Level 1 trauma center. Funds reallocated Harris Health initially had budgeted $67 million to renovate the rooms, but budgetary pressures forced officials to reallocate those funds. The American College of Surgeons, which accredits trauma centers, conducted a routine visit of Ben Taub in late 2014 and cited the lack of operating room capacity. The group required the hospital to come up with a plan of correction to retain its status. The inspectors returned Nov. 3 and, after reviewing the hospital's plans for the expansion, renewed the trauma center's certification earlier this year. County property taxes allow Harris Health to provide free or almost free care to low-income, uninsured residents of Harris County. But fiscal shortfalls have forced the health care system to cut back on eligibility this year. Most of those who lost coverage were eligible for subsidized health insurance through the Obamacare exchanges. More powerful thunderstorms are expected to batter the Houston region Friday and through the weekend, sparking threats of flooding, high winds, hail and tornadoes. Rain, meteorologists expect, should start Friday, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Heavier rain is then expected overnight, amplified by high moisture levels in the area. It should slow down Saturday morning, with scattered showers and thunderstorms that afternoon. The heaviest rains are expected north and northwest of U.S. 59, with anywhere from 1 to 5 inches. The thunderstorms could bring isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and hail, the National Weather Service said. A flash flood watch for the area begins Friday at 1 p.m. through 7 a.m. Sunday, according to the weather service. It includes Harris, Fort Bend, Waller, Austin, Grimes, Montgomery and Walker counties. Areas to the south and east of Houston are not expected to be affected. Most of the bayous and creeks in the area have come down from the recent flooding, meteorologist Charles Roeseler said. Cypress Creek, however, is still slightly elevated. It's not yet clear which areas might be hit hardest by any new flooding. The recent storms have left the ground throughout much of the region saturated, raising the risk of fallen trees even from light wind. Downed trees could lead to power outages. "The ground is so soft the weight of the tree can come down on its own, let alone with wind," Roeseler said. The ground saturation could also turn heavy rain into runoffs more quickly, increasing the risk of flooding. The rain is predicted to persist into Sunday and Monday. The storms come days after another bout of severe weather packing high winds uprooted trees and downed power lines in the region. Wednesday, a 62-year-old woman died when a tree fell on her home near Tomball. Dozens of other toppled trees badly damaged several homes. More than 120,000 customers lost power. Much of the area is still drying out from even deadlier flooding, especially in northwest and north Harris County when another line of powerful thunderstorms hit April 18 and rainfall lingered for days. Eight people died in those storms. HUNTSVILLE - Jack Harry Smith spent most of his 78 years behind bars, much of it on death row, so it only seemed right that when the time came, he would spend eternity close to the world he knew best. Smith, his body unclaimed by family or friend after he died earlier this month, was buried Thursday in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery, joining more than 2,000 former prisoners who drew their last breaths in custody, some of them as far back as the late 1800s. With the sun burning through the last of the morning haze, prison chaplain David Collier said a few words before Smith and three others were placed in recently dug holes near the bottom of a gentle slope on Peckerwood Hill. Seven prison trusties were the sole mourners. Until he passed on April 8, Smith was the oldest inmate alive on Texas' death row Collier had the advantage of having known Smith when he served as chaplain of the Polunsky Unit where he was housed. But in truth, he didn't know all that much about the man he was burying. More for you Twice-convicted Houston killer Max Soffar dies days before... "He was a Christian and of the Pentecostal faith," Collier said. "Jack always was talkative, unless he was having a bad day. We all have bad days. But he often wanted something to read and I'd take it over to him." Message of forgiveness A stepsister had met with Collier briefly earlier Thursday morning at a nearby church, standard practice for inmates who are to be buried at state expense. However, she chose not to come to the cemetery. By custom in such cases, all the inmates to be buried are set side by side and given a brief collective prayer and send-off. "What I say is really for the benefit of the living who are there," Collier said, referring to the group of trusties, most of whom will be released in the near future. "I remind them that they don't want to be buried here someday." He touched each casket, recited each of the deceased's names and age and cause of death, then spoke to the men who had prepared the graves about the story of David and Bathsheba, reminding them that God does not forsake even those who have greatly sinned. "If nothing else gives you heart, that should," Collier said. "There is nothing you can do that God will forsake you. He will never walk away - only you can." He turned away toward the top of the hill where a handful of relatives stood. If mourners show up, Collier always does right by them with a broader acknowledgment of the departed, and a longer prayer. In the great majority of deaths of those in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - there were 432 in all units in 2015 - relatives take the remains for private burial. But 100 or so a year are left with the agency to dispose of. Most end up buried at Joe Byrd, as has been the case for more than a century. Avoided execution Smith entered death row in 1978 following his conviction for the killing of Roy Deputter during the robbery of a Pasadena convenience store. Before that, he had served 17 years of a life sentence received because of a robbery and assault. He was paroled in 1977 but soon resumed his criminal ways. He was out of prison for only one year before the murder that earned him a death sentence. But in an ironic twist, health problems complicated Smith's early years on death row, and he never got a date with the executioner. It was thought, instead, that he would die of natural causes. A heart operation worked and he lingered on through years of appeals, though others connected to the case were not so lucky. Two of his lawyers and the judge overseeing the case died, putting Smith in limbo. His case essentially fell through the cracks as he grew older. In 2001 and already into his 60s, Smith expressed anger that nothing was happening in his appeal. "I feel that the system is waiting for me to pass away of old age," Smith said in an interview with the Associated Press. "I'm angry at the justice system, at the courts for wasting taxpayers' money, for giving me this hospitality." It may have been a false anger. Collier suggested that Smith was pretty much resigned to his fate, knowing he would never go to the execution chamber. Although the Harris County District Attorney's Office maintained that Smith's case was still active - officially - in truth both sides mostly were going through the motions. Avoiding bad PR Smith's last lawyer, David Dow, said in 2014 there was no way the DA's office would push for an execution date, knowing that even if it were successful, the sight of an octogenarian prisoner being wheeled into the death chamber would make for bad PR. And one of Smith's former prosecutors agreed. An accomplice had been given a life sentence. By sheer fortune, Smith had ended up with one, too. Nobody seemed to mind all that much that he had cheated the hangman. Relatives of the victim were not clamoring for action. And Smith was far from the worst of death row's murderers. He would just keep getting older until the day arrived when he wouldn't. His grave will be marked with a small, simple headstone bearing his name, prison ID number, and his date of death. Whether anyone ever will show up on Peckerwood Hill with flowers can't be known. Most of the graves here are bereft of any such loving remembrances. Decades of erosion have stripped some of the headstones of all markings, and they no longer even carry the name of those whose remains lie below. More than most cemeteries, Joe Byrd is a place of the forgotten, and in many cases, the unmourned. Jack Harry Smith, number 615, now rests among them. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate According to the Houston Business Journal, it looks like Houston will soon be home to a new IKEA distribution center. The European furniture warehouse giant known for modern furnishings and quirky art is looking at a plot of land near the Port of Houston at Cedar Port Industrial Park. There is already a collection of buildings there that Ikea would lease. RELATED: 22 ingenious ways to repurpose old junk According to a Business Journal source, the company is looking at 1 million square feet of space to use near the port. This would also be IKEA's first distribution outpost on the Gulf Coast if the deal comes to fruition. As of yet, nothing has been finalized in the deal. IKEA has three locations in Texas, in Houston, Round Rock and Dallas. The company is also building a 1.3 million-square-foot distribution center in Joliet, Ill., set to open in early 2018. It will bring some 100 jobs to that area, with plans for a second warehouse already in the works. RELATED: IKEA's billionaire creator turns 90 today here's how he built the world's largest furniture store The company has two distribution centers on the West Coast and three on the East Coast. The Illinois center would be the first to serve the Midwest. Ingvar Kamprad, the Swedish business magnate who founded IKEA, turned 90 years old earlier this spring. Kamprad started IKEA more than 70 years ago. Though he no longer actively manages the company one of his sons serves as chairman he remains a senior adviser. From humble beginnings selling holiday tchotchkes to his neighbors as a child, Kamprad started a revolutionary, privately held furniture giant with $33 billion in sales and became one of the richest people on the planet in the process. IKEA boasts some 123,000 employees in 25 countries. According to the company over 198 million copies of its catalogs are printed a year, spanning 56 editions and 27 languages. Most customers might assume that the word IKEA is a Swedish word or that its just a nonsense word but actually its Kamprads initials, the name of the farm he grew up on, and the name of the town it was located in, all put together. BAGHDAD - In an unannounced visit shrouded in secrecy, Vice President Joe Biden came to Iraq on Thursday for the first time in almost five years, hoping to help a weak prime minister and bolster the military campaign against the Islamic State. The intense security and clandestine nature of the trip reflected the challenges Iraq still faces 13 years after the U.S.-led invasion. Biden arrived for the visit, which had been under discussion for months, at a moment when the country's political leadership is mired in yet another crisis. Biden planned to urge the Iraqis to put the good of their nation above sectarian, regional or personal interests as the country confronts a constellation of threats: militarily, from the extremists of the Islamic State; economically, from low oil prices; and politically, from the stalemate between Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and parliament over al-Abadi's efforts to reconstitute his Cabinet. After arriving at the U.S. Embassy by helicopter, Biden was driven to the nearby Government Palace to meet al-Abadi. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Secretary of State John Kerry have also made unannounced visits to Iraq this month. Politics a distraction? And in Saudi Arabia last week, President Barack Obama said U.S. officials had been telling their Iraqi counterparts that "they have to take the long view and think about the well-being of the country at a time when they're still fighting" the Islamic State. Biden last visited Iraq in November 2011, just weeks before the last U.S. troops in Iraq were scheduled to leave. In a solemn ceremony, Biden saluted Iraqi troops, trained and equipped with billions of dollars from the United States, saying he hoped they would safeguard the country. Three years later, those forces disintegrated in the face of an onslaught from Islamic State fighters and the inability of a corrupt central government to support and supply them. The United States has added nearly 5,000 troops in Iraq, and it is using airstrikes and providing logistical support to bolster the country's slow campaign against the Islamic State, which still occupies large swathes of territory. While the military campaign is showing signs of progress, U.S. officials fear that renewed political turmoil in the country could hinder it. In one example, enormous street protests led by Muqtada al-Sadr, a radical Shiite cleric, prompted al-Abadi to withdraw troops from the fight against the Islamic State to bolster security in Baghdad. The protests turned out to be peaceful, and the troops were returned to the front lines afterward. But U.S. officials said the episode showed how political turmoil can be a troubling distraction. Biden gave a speech last year at the National Defense University hailing Iraq's political class for rallying from defeats to create a strong and united government. "Iraqi leaders can't afford to lose that sense of political urgency that brought them to this point," Biden said. Aid needed But since then, the political situation in Iraq has become so fluid that Biden's team has sometimes been unsure whether officials he planned to meet with would still be in office when he arrived. Iraq will need billions of dollars in aid to reconstruct parts of the country shattered by warfare. U.S. officials worry that the aid will not be forthcoming until donor countries see signs that Iraq's politics are more settled. As the military campaign approaches Mosul, a multiethnic and multisectarian city, delicate negotiations will be needed between the central government's forces and those of the Kurdish forces in the semiautonomous north to determine who will do what, U.S. officials said. AUSTIN Attorney General Ken Paxton's office has declined to represent the Texas Ethics Commission in a lawsuit challenging a state law that bars the use of archived House and Senate footage in political ads. The move is uncommon, ethics experts said, since the primary job of the attorney general's team of lawyers is to defend state laws and agencies in court. But the attorney general's office has the authority to deny legal representation to an agency and has done so before. In this case, Briscoe Cain, a Texas House candidate in a runoff with state Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, is suing the state in an attempt to invalidate a law that prohibits "a person from using in political advertising any audio or visual materials produced by or under the direction of the legislature or of a house, committee, or agency of the legislature." According to the lawsuit, Cain wants to use in campaign ads archived livestream footage from the House floor of Smith during the 2013 and 2015 legislative sessions. But Cain, who claims his free speech has been limited, is worried about running afoul of the law and getting fined by the ethics commission, which enforces the statute. A hearing has been set for May 13 in Harris County district court. The commission made a recommendation to lawmakers to change the law during the 2015 legislative session, saying it was ripe for a legal challenge. No legislation was filed. In a letter Wednesday, the attorney general's office did not cite a reason for denying the commission's request for representation, but said the agency can ask for approval to hire outside lawyers for the case. "The Office of the Attorney General has determined it is not appropriate to make an appearance on behalf of the Texas Ethics Commission in this matter," wrote Associate Deputy Attorney General Shelly Dahlberg. Paxton's office did not return a request for comment. Natalia Luna Ashley, the commission's executive director, said the agency is still weighing its options. The commission could also choose to represent itself. "We haven't made a decision or hired outside counsel, but it's fair to say we are considering outside counsel," she said. In February, the commission rejected an advisory opinion that would have given Paxton legal cover to let out-of-state supporters pick up the tab for criminal defense in his ongoing securities fraud case. The attorney general's office has represented the commission, which regulates campaign finance and lobbying, in a number of lawsuits throughout the years. That includes several pending cases. One exception is when the commission in 2014 asked the attorney general if it could hire outside lawyers in a case dealing with an appeal to an agency fine against conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan. Buck Woods, an ethics expert, said it is an unusual move the by the attorney general's office but that it's not unprecedented. "The attorney general has that authority and they have used it through the years," Woods said. "They might say 'Agency X you're taking a position we don't support and we're not going to represent you." How do you sell your national birthright? If you're the Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, you do it through a stock offering. The state-owned Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil producer and source of the royal family's wealth, is planning a historic IPO. It is part of a plan by Prince Mohammed bin Salman to raise money for a sovereign wealth fund that will help diversify the kingdom's economy away from oil in the wake of the petroleum price bust. This project is unique in its size and scope, but the underlying idea isn't new. For decades, Texas has relied on revenues from oil and gas leases to fill the coffers of the Permanent School Fund, which helps support primary and secondary public schools, and the Permanent University Fund, which helps support the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems. It isn't the sort of sweeping economic transformation that the Saudi prince is proposing, but our schools and universities do help train the doctors, engineers and businessmen who work in our state's major industries outside of oil and gas. A recent report by the Brookings Institution on fracking and permanent trust funds pointed to Texas as a model for other states to follow. It may seem counterintuitive, but oil-rich economies often suffer from a "resource curse" as extraction industries stunt the growth of higher-skill, high-tech fields. Our universities have worked to diversify the Texas economy and helped us weather the recent oil and gas downturn. There's no doubting the success of Texas' higher education fund, but what happens when oil no longer pays the bills? Saudi Arabia is preparing for the biggest hedge against oil in modern economics. The threat of a permanent oil slowdown scared Saudi Arabia's leaders into radical reanalysis of their economy, and Texas needs to take a similarly unencumbered look at how we distribute our higher-education resources. Because right now, things don't look good. The University of Texas System is moving forward on a $450 million Houston campus without seeking approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which is supposed to, well, coordinate higher education. Meanwhile, Texas A&M is planning to spend about $70 million on new stadiums just after pouring $485 million into a Kyle Field renovation. Texas has six different public university systems - University of Texas, Texas A&M, University of Houston, University of North Texas, Texas State and Texas Tech - in addition to four independent public universities and 50 different public community college districts. These educational networks overlap in their geographic boundaries and institutional goals. Competition is great in the private sector, but pitting tax-funded institutions against each other threatens to waste limited public funds. There is a sense in the Texas Capitol that our public universities need some important retooling, but so far the action has been limited to fights with the University of Texas Board of Regents, campus carry legislation and complaints about rising tuition. Before spending time on the nitty gritty of running a university, our elected officials need to take a big-picture look. Otherwise, we risk selling out an education system that should be a birthright for every ambitious Texas student. Andrew Harnik/STF Mark could fix anything. Light switch out, call Mark. Roof leaking, call Mark. Refrigerator broken, bathroom need remodeling, sprinkler system out of whack, call Mark. He would appear in a flash and fix it. No fuss, no muss, keys jangling on his belt, ponytail neatly tied back. What he couldn't fix was his health. Mark suffered from Hepatitis C. Recent advances in treatment could cure him, but they are outrageously expensive: $84,000 for a course of one such drug, more than Mark could pay. He had no insurance. He could not get insurance at any price because he had a pre-existing condition. The Affordable Care Act took effect just in time to treat the liver cancer that was a direct result of his untreated Hep C. But not in time to save Mark's life. He died for lack of insurance. He was 58. This page doesn't often use anecdotal tales to make its point. But a recent report from Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association paints a statistical picture of its post-Affordable-Care-Act policyholders, and those statistics need a face - a hard-working, honest, loving father and grandfather face like Mark's. According to Blue Cross, its newly insured customers are sicker than their neighbors who were lucky enough to have had consistent and adequate health care. They have higher rates and more advanced cases of diabetes, HIV, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, depression, Hep C, and their care is more costly. As a result, Blue Cross plans in many states are raising premiums. What do some politicians and special interests do when scientific evidence contradicts their political agendas? They attack the researchers. First, tobacco companies attacked scientists who revealed the many health harms caused by smoking. Next, fossil fuel companies went after researchers who provided evidence that human use of carbon fuels is changing the climate. And now politicians are denouncing experts whose data expose the health consequences of limiting access to reproductive health care. In 2013, Texas legislators cut funds for family planning clinics run by Planned Parenthood, but the federal government refused to allow them to limit choices for Medicaid patients. So Texas sidestepped this regulation by setting up its own state-funded family planning program without the Planned Parenthood clinics. Legislators asserted that women on Medicaid would still be able to get care. However, researchers from the University of Texas and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission decided to look at contraceptive use and births to Medicaid patients in the years before and after the exclusion of Planned Parenthood. They found that in counties that had lost access to Planned Parenthood clinics, fewer women used long-acting birth control and more of these women got pregnant. Instead of responding to this evidence by considering how to improve the situation, several Texas politicians criticized the study and condemned the researchers for revealing facts that contradicted their claims that the new program would provide care as well as Planned Parenthood had. They were outraged that the two employed by the Health and Human Services Commission had functioned as true public servants - reviewing public data to evaluate the health impact of public policy. Threatened with punishment, one of those researchers has now retired. In the cases of cigarettes and fossil fuel, the attacks on science are presumably motivated by a desire to keep making profits. What motivates the politicians who denounce scientific evidence about reproductive health? Clearly, many of them are opposed to abortion. The eyes of the nation are currently on Texas as the Supreme Court decides whether the state's medically unnecessary requirements for abortion clinics create undue burdens for women seeking legal care. However, defunding family planning clinics has nothing to do with abortion. In fact, it makes abortion more likely as the lack of contraception leads to unintended pregnancies. Could politicians be trying to increase births among poor women in Texas? They certainly have not enacted policies that would support poor mothers as Texas has a very low minimum wage, no paid family leave, no earned income or dependent care tax credits, and has rejected the Medicaid expansion offered by the Affordable Care Act. It has long been difficult to be a poor mother in Texas. In 2002, I worked with a group of researchers, including from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, to assess how poor mothers of young children with asthma (or other chronic illnesses) fared under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families' new requirements that they work in order for their children to receive benefits. We found that these mothers faced rocks and hard places. If they took their children for needed medical care, they missed work and then lost their jobs and benefits. If they did not take their children to the doctor in order to attend work, their children missed medical appointments and got sicker. In this case, the data showed that it was structurally impossible for mothers of sick children to comply with both the work requirements and the health care needs of their children. This could have led to redesigning the program. Americans hold a wide range of opinions about regulating industries, poverty and reproductive decisions and services. So let's argue straightforwardly about our political disagreements rather than cover up the science and evidence that could inform these debates. It is the responsibility of public employees to scrutinize public data to inform public policy. In Texas, the scientists who did so got hurt. And the poor women of Texas were hurt, too. Chavkin is a physician and public health researcher at Columbia University. Texas is in the midst of a crisis that, if not addressed with the highest urgency, will create lasting damage for generations to come. Every 30 minutes, a child in Texas is removed from his or her home due to evidence of abuse or neglect. These children are placed in a structurally unsound and overburdened system that is meant to protect them, but in reality often subjects them to further trauma, abuse and neglect. In recent days, news headlines and editorials have exposed the failings of our state's child protection system again and again - and the system shows little indication of improvement. From excessive caseworker turnover and management flaws, to a shortage of foster placements due to an increased number of removals, the system has reached a breaking point that is already resulting in more harm to children, and more tragic child fatalities. In December, U.S. District Judge Janis Jack ruled that the Texas foster care system violates the constitutional rights of many children in its care by failing to protect them from harm. Whether or not you agree with this ruling, the poor conditions described in the opinion, by both current and former foster children and youth, are undeniable and heartbreaking. As if this is not enough, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), which oversees the child protection system, has experienced wholesale turnover among its top leadership. Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed a new team to lead DFPS in the hope that they can begin to address the system's failings. Texas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) welcomes this new leadership, but we also recognize they face a difficult job as many problems in the system are long-standing and seemingly intractable. We have heard too many horrific stories of the system betraying the very children it is meant to protect. Texas CASA understands the issues are not all clear cut, but want to underscore several key shortcomings. We urge the new DFPS leadership team and state leaders to concentrate on these areas which have not been successfully addressed through previous reforms: Targeted prevention: Focusing on prevention is the best way to address child abuse, and we must use data more effectively to predict which families may need help. We need to change the way we think about and utilize data to provide prevention and intervention services to these children and families. Additional resources: Repairing the system will require additional resources to better enhance recruitment, training, manageable caseloads and adequate compensation for caseworkers in order to decrease the devastating turnover. Trauma-informed approach: Understanding the needs and challenges of children in the system requires an understanding about how the trauma they have experienced affects their behaviors and outcomes. We believe, based on years of research, that a system based on trauma-informed care is the best way to improve outcomes for children. Increased capacity: In addition to the well-documented shortage of foster care homes, we face a critical problem of placing many children far from their home communities and schools, away from their families and friends. Currently, 60 percent of children are placed out of their home county, and nearly 20 percent are placed in a different region, creating unnecessary trauma for children and decreasing the likelihood of restoring families. Equal accountability: Abuse or neglect allegations in state-licensed foster care homes and facilities receive inferior investigations compared with similar allegations made outside of the system. It is necessary that ALL such allegations should be investigated by well-trained CPS investigators, not regulatory personnel, and paid caregivers should be held to the same standards as biological families. In the midst of this turmoil, Texas CASA will continue to work with DFPS and state leadership as well as partner organizations to advocate for policies in the best interest of Texas' children. The challenge is not in getting everyone to work together, as we are all focused on the same mission: ensuring every abused and neglected child has a safe, permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. The challenge lies in maintaining a sense of urgency and in determining and implementing the best possible short- and long-term child-focused solutions. As we prepare for the 85th Legislature to convene, these five critical issues must be priorities for lawmakers. Spriggs, is CEO of Texas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates.) April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Everyone has a duty to report suspected abuse or neglect - please report any suspicions to the CPS hotline at (800) 252-5400. You can help the vulnerable children caught in the middle of this catastrophe by becoming a CASA volunteer. Get more information here: www.BecomeACASA.org. This week, Rice University released its 2016 Kinder Houston Area Survey, which showed that a majority of residents favor the Democratic Party over the GOP for the first time in 30 years 52 percent to 30 percent. While Democratic support shot up seven percentage points since 2012, the GOP saw no change from four years ago. For the first time since the early 1980s, Democrats in Harris County have a clear majority over Republicans, at least according to this one survey. The numbers are the story, of course, but there is a more important undercurrent here that the Chronicles Lomi Kriel pointed out: the share of undecided and new potential voters (in Harris County have) swung largely Democratic. Consider just how many new Texans come to the state every year. In the last decade, more than 6 million people moved here, and a large majority of them easily more than 5 million left another state for Texas. The Texas Tribune put it this way in a report this month: In that time period, Texas grew by an average of 345 people per day, accounting for people who moved here from other states and those who left Texas. For Democrats who hope to win a statewide race in the next decade, the numbers prove beyond any doubt that they will have to appeal to the millions of new voters. The bulk of them can be found in surprise Harris County and, to a lesser extent, the states other major metro areas where Democrats are more successful. Republicans will have to go there, too, as the days when they can rely on rural, white voters alone to control the state are coming to an end. So, this is news Democrats will welcome, and that Republicans will have to counter if they want to be competitive in big cities. For both of them, it bolsters every prediction over the last decade that Latino voters are the future of the state. However, the same week the survey was released, another one surfaced that will be just as important to that next-decade narrative. Nationwide, 400,000 Latino children were not counted in the 2010 Census, according to a report from the Child Trends Hispanic Institute and NALEO. When the Census was taken, about 9,000 children were overlooked in Harris County, the reports lead author told the Chronicle. The states most affected are California, Texas, Florida, Arizona and New York, which make up 72 percent of all young Latinos who were left out. And in Texas in particular, the uncounted children were found to live mostly in Harris, Dallas or Tarrant counties. Any area that doesn't get its fair share of population count doesn't get its fair share of political representation, said William OHare, the reports author. Both surveys released this month are the latest examples of a cycle that has dogged Latino communities in Texas. Theyre growing at an unprecedented pace, and that will continue over the next 10 years, but what will they have to show for it? Remember when Ted Cruz won the Wisconsin Republican primary earlier this month? It was hailed as a much needed win for the Stop Trump movement, a sign that maybe the forces who have long tried to damage Donald Trump might have found a playbook going forward. Then came the New York moguls wins in the Northeast that clobbered his two remaining opponents, Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. The contest in Wisconsin in early April, and then the ones in New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, among other states, this week, were some of the easiest calls of the cycle. Now comes Indiana on Tuesday, which has been painted as the latest must-win contest for the Cruz campaign and allied forces who want to deny Trump the possibility of sewing up the nomination before the convention. The problem with that is, the Indiana race is not at all shaping up like Wisconsins, the last time Cruz was riding high. The Wall Street Journal had an excellent story this week detailing why thats the case. The populations of Indiana and Wisconsin, the Journal notes, are similar in demographics and demeanor, but Cruz just hasnt caught on in the Hoosier State the way he did in Wisconsin with the help of local conservative media and activists. Compare Indiana Gov. Mike Pences endorsement of the Texas senator against what happened in Wisconsin as an example. While Scott Walker, the union-busting governor of Wisconsin, came out strongly for Cruz ahead of the primary there, Pences endorsement today was, well, lukewarm. Im not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the Republican primary, Pence said on a radio show. I see Ted Cruz as a principled conservative who has dedicated his career to advocating the Reagan agenda, and I am pleased to support him. Then remember how Walker put it when he endorsed Cruz in March: I wanted to make sure I was supporting someone I wasnt against someone. I want to be for something. Clearly, Pence doesnt want to be seen as anti-Trump, just pro-Cruz. CNN reported Pence is in talks with the Cruz campaign to hit the stump with the candidate just days before voters go to the polls, but theres another part of the Pence interview thats raising eyebrows: I particularly want to commend Donald Trump, who I think has given voice to the frustration of millions of working Americans with the lack of progress in Washington, D.C.," Pence said, adding that he wants voters to make up their owns minds and that hell support whomever the party nominates. In Indiana a state as, if not more, crucial to Cruzs presidential ambitions than Wisconsin this major endorsement the senator has been holding out for could have been much stronger. A win is a win, though. Cruz, in a statement that skipped over Pences praise for Trump, said he was proud to have the governors endorsement. The success of Indiana shows that conservative ideas work, the statement said. I look forward to working together to continue to coalesce Republicans around this campaign. Maybe every high-level Republican endorser has to qualify their statements at this point, considering that the partys elite are now resigned to the notion that Trump will be nominee. Taking a page from Pences playbook, they can say theyre pro-Cruz right now, but it has become increasingly rare to hear a top GOP leader say theyre anti-Trump. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. People view buying a home as a milestone. It's a time to offer hearty congratulations, to give gifts and hold housewarming parties. Millennials, however, see a home as more of an investment than a turning point in their lives. And according to the Bank of Montreal (BMO), they're putting off the decision to buy until they feel it's the right time. A survey commissioned by the bank found that 70 per cent of millennial respondents preferred to delay the decision to buy a home, even though 60 per cent of them are sick of renting. Advertisement Seventy-eight per cent were concerned that they'll find something wrong with a property after they acquire it, while 66 per cent worried that its value could plummet. Only about a quarter (26 per cent) of millennials are likely to buy homes in the next year, and there are a number of reasons for this. Forty-four per cent of respondents said they weren't comfortable making major purchases at this point in their careers. Advertisement Meanwhile, 42 per cent said they'd rather spend money on travelling, starting a business or going to school; 38 per cent said they don't want to lose all their disposable income. "The return on a home purchase is important to millennials and they take a thoughtful approach to how their home will fare in the current housing market," Damon Knights, BMO's director of home financing, said in a news release. The survey spoke with 2,079 people aged 19 to 35 years old. There are many pros and cons to buying a home. It's a huge expense, and only becoming more so in certain cities. In a number of cases, it might be smarter just to keep renting. Last year, York University business professor Moshe Milevsky told CBC News that renting a home has bonuses that buying doesn't. Advertisement Repairing your unit, for instance, only requires a call to your landlord. It's your problem to fix when you own a place. "I think the biggest advantage to renting is the flexibility and the ability to change paths in your career, in your life without having to worry about selling a house," he told the network. Also on HuffPost: Well, that's one way to crack down on bullying! Parents in Shawano, Wisc. could face a $366 fine if their kids bully others, according to a new city law. Police in the Wisconsin town are trying to curb bullying by holding parents accountable if they find their child fits the description. Advertisement "It creates an avenue for us to work with parents to help find solutions," Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl told WGBA. Parents of students under the age of 18 will be given a 90-day warning from police if their child is caught bullying others. The definition of bullying includes physical, verbal and cyberbullying. Police will be working with the Shawano School District to identify which children are bullying and promptly notify the parents. If the child is found to still be bullying and the parent doesn't do anything to stop it, they will be charged the hefty fine. If the child commits a second offence within a year, the fine almost doubles to $681. According to Kohl, many parents don't realize their child is being a bully, and the hope is that these fines will help them be more aware of their child's actions and prevent the bullying from continuing. Advertisement Naturally, this new law has created some divided opinions, with some parents embracing the fine and others saying it doesn't help the core issues of bullying. I really believe parents should just discipline their kids in the right way, and I think its a good idea, one woman told WGBA. People got to learn to get along with each otherI dont think fining is the answer to it, said another. What do you think of this law? Should parents be fined if their child is a bully? Let us know in the comments below! Also on HuffPost "Bodies Aren't Ugly. Bullying Is" See Gallery A Canadian-operated hospital in Syria was completely destroyed by airstrikes on Friday, according to an Ontario-based aid agency. The Union of Syrian Medical Relief Organizations (UOSSM-Canada) says the Al Marjeh Primary Health Centre in Aleppo was struck by bombs dropped by Syrian regime and Russian planes. Advertisement The facility was closed for the weekend during the time of the attack, according to Dr. Anas Al Kassem, a Canadian-Syrian surgeon with UOSSM-Canada. No doctors, aid workers, or patients were on site at the time. Al Marjeh Primary Health Centre damage. (Photo: UOSSM-Canada) Al Marjeh Primary Health Centre damage. (Photo: UOSSM-Canada) A man examines the damage at Al Marjeh Primary Health Centre in Aleppo. (Photo: UOSSM-Canada) Bomb blasts also severely damaged the facility's adjoining dental clinic. We dont have an estimation about the damage yet, Al Kassem told The Huffington Post Canada in an interview. Such acts, those targeting hospitals and health centres, constitute a war crime, he said. The Al Marjeh facility is one of eleven healthcare centres operated by the aid agency in Syria. Opened in 2014, the hospital serves 1,900 people monthly, most being refugees. According to UOSSM-Canada, 80 per cent of its patients are women and children. We dont know when this is going to end, unfortunately. Dr. Anas Al Kassem, UOSSM-Canada Everyone is scared and panicking now. Its not going to be an easy job, Al Kassem said of the prospect of fundraising money and organizing efforts to rebuild. Advertisement With the country locked in a ongoing five-year civil war, its medical facilities have repeatedly been made the target of attacks. We dont know when this is going to end, unfortunately. Citys last pediatrician killed Wednesday Fridays attack marks the second time an Aleppo civilian hospital has been bombed in three days. On Wednesday, an airstrike killed at least 60 people after hitting Aleppos Al Quds Hospital. Among the casualties included Dr. Muhammad Waseem Maaz, who was the citys most-qualified pediatrician and reportedly its last remaining. In a HuffPost blog, a former colleague praised Maazs devotion to his patients. Its what kept him in the most dangerous city in the world, working in hospitals continually caught in government and Russian crosshairs. He explained what the protocol is when airstrikes hit hospitals. When the bombing intensifies, the medical staff run down to the ground floor of the hospital carrying the babies incubators in order to protect them, wrote Dr. Hatem, director of Aleppos Childrens Hospital. Crimes against humanity UOSSM-Canada has provided $3 million in supplies to the eleven medical facilities in the past two years. Those supplies include sterile needles, tools for lab and blood work, and medications ranging from painkillers and treatments for asthma. Advertisement Al Kassem said it's time the international community took action to stop these crimes against humanity, adding his group will urge the federal government to step up and protect medical facilities. Health Canada did not respond to The Huffington Post Canadas request for comment before publication. Also on HuffPost: This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Canada. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com City News A pregnant Toronto reporter may be pressing charges after an unidentified man yelled "FHRITP" at her on live television. City News reporter Anna Vlachos was performing a live news report in Toronto's Little Italy district on Thursday, when verbal abuse was hurled at her by an unidentified man. A police cruiser could be seen in the background. Advertisement "Little Italy can expect some big headaches this summer," Vlachos says in the segment, before being interrupted by a man who yelled "f*** her right in the P****!" on camera. What should the consequences be for people who hurl #FHRITP on live TV? Is social shaming enough? pic.twitter.com/vdBor1Q5PL CityNews Toronto (@CityNews) April 27, 2016 Vlachos ignored the man's abuse, lightly tapped him away, and continued the rest of her live hit. In an interview with the Toronto Sun, Vlachos said that the man approached her camera crew before they began recording and fist-bumped the cameraman. He then tried to talk to them as they were setting up, ignoring their attempts to continue working. Vlachos had been verbally harassed by "FHRITP" taunts right before the incident, as well as the week before. City News reports that a man on a bike had harassed her only minutes before, as she was rehearsing. Advertisement "You dont even know me, I am feeling so vulnerable because I am pregnant," Vlachos told the man. "Now I cant even do my job properly. She's considering pressing charges against the harasser caught on-camera, however she isn't certain it's the right choice. "If I press criminal charges, I have to deal with the fact I might be ruining his life. He might lose his job," she said. "These are all things that are weighing on me." At the same time, Vlachos, who is six months pregnant, acknowledges that drawing attention to this issue would make a difference to her and her unborn daughter. "I don't want her [my daughter] to face what I faced. This type of harassment, this type of vulgarity," Vlachos said. Viewers and fellow reporters commended her on Twitter and expressed their disgust in misogynistic behaviour. "I'm 6 months pregnant w/a girl.I have to be able to tell her that her mom stood up for herself." @CityAnnaV contemplates #FHRITP charges. Avery Haines (@CityAvery) April 27, 2016 @CityAnnaV did I just witness what I think I just witnessed on live TV??? Is that bullshit still going on?? Guys r still doing that shit?? David (@Haynes_rants) April 27, 2016 @CityAnnaV I could not believe that it happened I did a double take and then checked that my daughter (7) didn't catch it. She watches w/ me Andrew Templeton (@aj_templeton) April 27, 2016 No one deserves to be harassed while working. I was shocked and surprised. You've done a great job. @CityAnnaV Kazi Hossain (@OfficeRealtor) April 27, 2016 Advertisement The degrading taunt seems to have originated from an obscene video that went viral over two years ago. The FHRITP meme, engineered by a Youtube user John Cain, was revealed to be a hoax and has been used to sell "FHRITP" T-shirts sold by Cain. In spite of the joke's hoax history, people have taken it upon themselves to use the crass phrase as a go-to way to interrupt mainly female journalists from doing their on-camera jobs. Here's the "FHRITP" confrontation from the TFC game last night. Please retweethttp://t.co/Lrot7E9fUQ Shaunacitynews (@shaunacitynews) May 11, 2015 Another City News reporter, Shauna Hunt, was on the receiving end of a "FHRITP" heckle from men passing by in 2015. In a now-viral video, she fired back at the men on live television. Hydro One employee Shawn Simoes was fired after the incident, and then re-hired after six months. While public ire has shamed those who have engaged in yelling "FHRITP" at reporters, no criminal charges have been laid in Canada. Potentially, the crass term could be considered an obscenity under the Criminal Code Section 175, wherein "FHRITP" could be a public disturbance through "screaming, shouting, swearing, singing or using insulting or obscene language" and prosecuted under a summary conviction. Advertisement Also on HuffPost As British Vogue is set to celebrate their 100th anniversary, U.K. department store Harvey Nichols is teaming up with the well-known fashion publication to create one of their most sensational ad campaigns yet, featuring 100-year-old model Bo Gilbert. This marks the first time a 100-year-old has graced the pages of the high-fashion glossy. Advertisement According to the department store, the ad "aims to highlight and challenge ageism in the fashion industry." "Vogues 100th anniversary seemed like such an important moment, so we wanted to celebrate it by doing something symbolic," Ben Tollett, executive creative director at Harvey Nichols ad agency adam&eveDDB told The Guardian. "Were really proud to be involved in a project which proves the older generation can be fearlessly stylish too. Ageism is so last century." Though this is Gilbert's first campaign, she's definitely no stranger to fashion. In the Kell Mitchell-directed special documentary film above, the centennial recalls her favourite fashions from over the years. Even sharing that the first time she saw "a lady in a trouser suit" was during the 1950s. Gilbert herself has seemed to have embrace the trend, wearing pants by The Row, along with bespoke Valentino glasses, a Dries Van Noten coat, a Victoria Beckham top and a Lanvin necklace for the shoot photographed by Phil Poynter. Advertisement "We devised a campaign that reflected the playful attitude Harvey Nichols is famous for, celebrating both the 100th Anniversary of British Vogue and also style in its entirety," Shadi Halliwell, creative and marketing director at Harvey Nichols, shared with Vogue U.K.. "It was a privilege to work with Bo, she is a fabulous, independent lady who epitomises timeless style." British Vogue's centenary issue lands on newsstands Thursday, May 5, 2016. Follow Huffington Post Canada Style on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter! Also on HuffPost Spring brought some great premieres to Netflix Canada, such as new seasons of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "Daredevil" and "House of Cards." And the momentum doesn't stop in May. One of the top picks for the month is "Tangled," a Disney film that was a favourite among kids until "Frozen" blew it right out of the water. Advertisement It tells the story of Princess Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), she of the long hair who was locked in a tower. Longing to see the world, she remains there until a bandit named Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi) stumbles upon her. And that's just one of many titles you can see on the streaming service this month. Scroll below the slideshow to see the best of the content that's coming. Movies "Bridge of Spies" Criminally underseen when it hit theatres, this Steven Spielberg thriller tells the story of Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), a suspected Soviet spy who is arrested in the United States. Insurance lawyer James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) is tasked with defending him in court and, subsequently, his return to the Soviet Union. Rylance won the Oscar for Best Actor for his stoic performance as Abel. "Edge of Tomorrow" Tom Cruise starred in this sci-fi actioner from Doug Liman, director of "The Bourne Identity." It tells the story of an arrogant military officer who is thrust into combat with aliens and finds himself stuck in a time loop, forced to live the same day over and over again. The film didn't draw nearly the audience it deserved in theatres. Netflix users can right that wrong. Advertisement "Mission Impossible Rogue Nation" Tom Cruise is back for the fifth instalment of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. The Impossible Missions Force (IMF) is on the cusp of being disbanded, and Ethan Hunt is forced to do battle with a dangerous organization known as the Syndicate. Watch the film if only to indulge one of the greatest actions scenes ever to take place in a concert hall. TV "Bloodline," season 2 Kyle Chandler of "Friday Night Lights" fame stars in this family drama about a black sheep of a brother (Ben Mendelsohn) who causes turmoil when he comes home. For Cleopatra Kambugu, feeling welcome in her home country of Uganda would be a luxury. With the African nation's strict anti-LGBT movement still heavily brewing, being an openly transgender woman at this time is simply out of the question. But she's ready to share her brave story in the film "The Pearl of Africa," premiering at the Canadian international documentary film festival, Hot Docs, in Toronto. Despite being assigned male at birth, Kambugu explains in the film's trailer that she has always felt like a woman, "Beneath, I'm feminine and free," she says. "But as I step out of this dream, I wake to this body, and carry on through hell." Advertisement In 2009, Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill "to establish a comprehensive consolidated legislation to protect the traditional family by prohibiting (i) any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; and (ii) the promotion or recognition of such sexual relations in public institutions." The bill also suggested that homosexual individuals and couples made the children and youth of Uganda "vulnerable" to sexual abuse and deviation and were a "threat" to the traditional family. But while the bill was later struck down in 2014, some opposition groups still planned to pass new anti-LGBT laws at the time. Advertisement About a week after the bill was passed seven years ago, Kambugu remembers being outed as transgender on the cover of Red Pepper, one of the biggest tabloids in Uganda, with the headline, "How We Became Homosexuals." "I officially lost my job and several of my family members abandoned me fearing for their safety," the 28-year-old recalls. "It was a tough time, my mom had to come up with food on the nights so we would have something to eat." Kambugu later moved to Nairobi, Kenya, with her boyfriend Nelson, where she was offered not only a job, but a sense of security. For Kambugu, her primary wish is to showcase the trans community in a whole new light for her home country. Watch the trailer above to find out more about her story. Advertisement "The Pearl of Africa" premieres at Hot Docs on Saturday, April 30th, 2016. For tickets and more info, click here. Also on HuffPost Rex Murphy has painted quite the gloomy picture for his home province. The CBC commentator dedicated his latest Point of View segment to Newfoundland and Labrador's latest budget, "a document of bite and chill." The budget includes a buffet of tax hikes, new fees and cuts while forecasting a deficit of $1.8 billion. "The government chose to meet this fearsome projection not so much by spending reduction, as by introducing fees on everything but getting out of bed," Murphy says. Advertisement One of the budget's most peculiar items is what the government is calling a deficit reduction levy, which is essentially a tax on Newfoundland residents, depending on their income, according to CBC News. Rex Murphy says Newfoundland is once again in a "hard spot." (The National/YouTube) "This levy, in conjunction with the personal income tax, is collecting money that the province needs right now," Finance Minister Cathy Bennett said. Murphy takes slight issue with the word "levy." "The Liberal government, by the way, called it a levy because they already overworked the word tax, and they thought they better save 'kick in the taxpayer's groin' until next year," Murphy says in the segment. Advertisement The budget, the Liberals' first since getting elected in December, also includes a new tax on books, a first for a Canadian province. Newfoundlanders also recently found out the province would be closing more than half of its libraries. The province's library resources board announced on Wednesday it was adopting a new "regional library model," which would shut down 54 branches over two years, leaving 41 open. On Friday, hundreds turned out to protest the budget in St. John's, blasting the government for the new measures. I'd say there's more than 1,000 people at Confederation Building right now. But it's hard to tell. #nlpolipic.twitter.com/gmcsu32IMf Ariana Kelland (@arianakelland) April 29, 2016 The situation has put the province in a "hard spot," Murphy says, and "no political party home, PC, Liberal or NDP, has the slightest clue where things are headed." Also On HuffPost: A new poll suggests interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose would have considerable support if she decided to pursue the job permanently. But there are two big problems: the party rules forbid it, and she says she doesn't want the gig. According to numbers from Mainstreet Technologies for Postmedia, released Friday, Ambrose would enter the race with 26 per cent support among decided and leaning Tory voters. Businessman Kevin O'Leary's support is pegged at 20 per cent, while former senior cabinet minister Peter MacKay is at 16 per cent. Advertisement Conservative Interim Leader Rona Ambrose talks with media in Ottawa on March 22, 2016. (Photo: Matthew Usherwood/Canadian Press) Current MPs and former Harper-era ministers Tony Clement and Maxime Bernier round out the top five with support at seven and six per cent, respectively. The poll also lists: Leitch, like Bernier, has already declared she's running. When Ambrose's name is removed from consideration, Mainstreet found that MacKay has a slight lead over O'Leary 23 per cent to 22 per cent. The firm stated in its summary that Ambrose's "potential candidacy" seems to diminish support most for Leitch and Raitt. "Approvals for Rona Ambrose among Conservative supporters are impressive, by far the highest among all the contenders and possible contenders." Sixty-eight per cent of those surveyed had a favourable view of Ambrose, compared to 53 per cent for MacKay and 48 per cent for O'Leary. "Approvals for Rona Ambrose among Conservative supporters are impressive, by far the highest among all the contenders and possible contenders," Mainstreet president Quito Maggi said in a release. But Maggi also pointed out that the leadership race will ultimately be decided by party members who pay a fee, not Tory voters. While the results act as a "barometer of support," experienced candidates with strong teams can be expected to outperform public support in the contest. Advertisement The poll surveyed 1,676 Conservative supporters by interactive voice response between April 26-27. It has a margin of error of 2.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Party rules forbid Ambrose from making bid Mainstreet noted in the poll summary perhaps rather provocatively that they included Ambrose's name in their polling because Conservatives are "beginning to discuss the possibility of allowing their interim leader to run in the leadership." According to the Conservative Party constitution, an interim leader cannot become a candidate "in the leadership selection process." But in the months since Ambrose took over the temporary job, some have suggested the best possible leader for the Tories is the one they can't have. On Friday, National Post columnist John Ivison reported that at least three Tory MPs Scott Reid, Shannon Stubbs, and Pierre Poilievre support a "Draft Rona Ambrose" movement that will push the party to change its rules so she might run. Advertisement Tories' 'fun grandma' Ambrose told The Huffington Post Canada late last year that the interim leadership was a better fit for her, comparing it to being a grandma that gets to "have fun and then pass it on to the next person." She also said she looked forward to highlighting leaders in her party and helping them launch leadership bids. "I'm a bridge-builder," she said. "I enjoy working as a team, I'm very comfortable sharing power." The situation is reminiscent of the one faced by former interim Liberal leader Bob Rae in 2012, who was reportedly encouraged to run for the full-time job despite party rules prohibiting such a move. Rae decided not to break his promise and stayed out of the Liberal leadership race. Also on HuffPost Rona Ambrose, Interim Conservative Leader See Gallery Dynamic Graphics via Getty Images Child covering mouth with hands Generally, swearing is never allowed in school. So after one U.K. mom made a sudden outburst at a teacher, all parents were been banned from entering the premises. The incident took place at Ebbsfleet Academy, in Kent, England, BBC reports. A recording of an anonymous mom reveals her swearing profusely at school staff while trying to take her child out of detention. The school has deemed the mothers outburst violent and abusive. Advertisement But the mother wasnt the only parent to demonstrate this kind of inappropriate behaviour. According to Kent Online, there has been a small minority of parents who has caused problems with school staff in the past, resulting in the ban. Parents are no longer allowed to enter school grounds unless they have an appointment. Ebbsfleet Academys principal, Alison Colwell, says this is to ensure the safety of all students. The students don't deserve to witness that, to hear that. My staff don't deserve to be subject to that, Colwell told BBC. All of the people that work here are totally committed. As part of your working life to have to take that level of abuse is just unacceptable. Advertisement Just last year, a similar incident occurred at another school in Kent, U.K. Eythorne Elvington Community Primary School banned parents from smoking and swearing on school property after a number of students complained about their behaviour. The students don't deserve to witness that, to hear that. My staff don't deserve to be subject to that. The children at the school have a strong sense of what is right and what's not right, Principal Liz Bird told the Daily Mail. With the parents seeing it is the children who have brought it up, it's going to have more of an impact than the school saying it. Nonetheless, parents were still outraged by the ban. While cursing in front of children is generally deemed inappropriate, psychologist and swearing expert Dr. Timothy Jay says its not necessarily a bad thing to curse in front of our kids. I think it's part of them learning about their emotions and emotional expression and how their parents handle emotion, Jay says. So I think if you look at it as just part of being angry or frustrated or happy or surprised, that is all normal. That's built into all of us. Advertisement However, he strongly believes it is the parents duty to teach children when it is and isnt appropriate to swear. If you fear your kids potty mouth is getting out of hand, check out parenting expert Alyson Schafers advice on how to get them to stop. ALSO ON HUFFPOST: Happy anniversary you two lovebirds! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrate five years of marriage on Friday since they tied the knot on April 29, 2011 you know, the televised wedding most of us watched in the early hours of the morning. Before the arrival of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, we admired the couple for their bond, cheesy love quotes and the first few royal tours as a duo. Not to imply that we still don't, but it has been great to see this relationship grow. Advertisement In a sit-down interview in 2010 with Tom Bradby of ITV News, Prince William told the reporter the first time he met Kate Middleton. "It's a long time ago now, I'm trying to wrack my brain. We obviously met at university at St. Andrews we were friends for over a year first and it just sort of blossomed from then on. We just spent more time with each other had a good giggle, had lots of fun and realized we shared the same interests and had a really good time," he said in the interview. According to a report from US Weekly, the two plan on celebrating their five years of marriage with a "low-key, private" celebration. But what have the two been up to in the last five years? Take a look in the video by ET Canada above. Advertisement Also on HuffPost It's not every day that a multinational corporation, a "one-of-a-kind Internet original," comes up for sale... on Craigslist. Some wisecracker posted the ad on Thursday, listing Yahoo for US$8 billion or best offer under the antiques section. Advertisement "A beautiful piece in good-to-fair condition, showing some signs of wear but easily restored in the hands of the right person," the ad reads. Included are a billion users, an endless archive of Kim Kardashian pictures, "a really nice gym," and Katie Couric, it says. Screengrab of the Yahoo Craigslist ad. Sale of the company is inevitable, the company's former president Susan Decker told CNBC on Friday, though she presumably doesn't mean on Craigslist. "When you think of Yahoo, they had a shot to do what Vox is doing, in terms of taking content and distribution, and really focusing on news, sports, finance," she said, adding unfortunately the company became mediocre as the company grew bigger. Advertisement Bids for the company may reach as high as US$8 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. That may sound high for a Craigslist bid but considering the company turned down a US$44.6-billion offer from Microsoft eight years ago, it's low. Also on HuffPost When the only thing standing in the way of saving a child's life is a lack of money, we need to collectively pause and reflect on our priorities as a global society. Last year, a funding shortfall to one of the most successful global health programs in history, meant that 40 million children were left unprotected from one of the most contagious diseases the world has ever known: Measles. Investments in the measles vaccine are considered one of the best buys in global health. Yet we are still coming up short and failing the world's most vulnerable children. A leading cause of death among children worldwide, measles affects 20 million people each year, and complications from the disease kills 315 children every day. Those statistics may be shocking. But even more shocking is the fact that we have had a safe, effective, and cheap vaccine against measles for more than 50 years. We know how to protect against measles and we have the tools to do it. In fact, at less than $2 each in low-income countries, the measles vaccine is one of the cheapest to deliver. Investments in the measles vaccine are considered one of the best buys in global health. Yet we are still coming up short and failing the world's most vulnerable children. Advertisement UNICEF vaccinates 40 per cent of the world's children from a multitude of deadly illnesses and co-founded the Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI). This initiative has been working since 2001 to protect almost two billion children across 88 countries through vaccination. The results have been nothing short of remarkable. Between 2000 and 2014, we've seen a 79 per cent reduction in global measles deaths due to large-scale vaccination campaigns. That equates to 17.1 million deaths prevented, and most of these in countries where children have poor access to medical care and where options for treatment would be limited should they contract the disease. Canada has played a key role in making that happen. In total, Canada has contributed nearly $47 million to the Measles & Rubella Initiative since 2002, and has been an outspoken leader in the effort to eliminate measles completely. And, by matching funds donated by UNICEF supporters in a major drive last year, the Government of Canada will help with the purchase of measles-rubella vaccines for nearly 300,000 boys and girls in Haiti. This will support the Expanded Programme on Immunization in Haiti, promoting quality health care services for children and improving routine vaccination coverage to at least 90 per cent coverage in the country. Advertisement The last week of April is World Immunization Week, a chance for all of us to remember the more than 1.5 million children around the world who die annually from diseases that can be prevented by immunization, and to help refocus public attention on the importance of vaccination for all -- particularly those who are consistently excluded. Through the Global Vaccine Action Plan, UNICEF and our partners have outlined clear goals for expanding immunization coverage globally: for every country to ensure that at a national level, 90 per cent of children under one year of age are reached through routine immunization, and at least 80 per cent in every district or equivalent administrative unit, by the year 2020. But it's going to take concerted effort on everyone's part to get there, including Canada's. The Government of Canada recognizes the value of immunization in saving lives, which is why our country has a long history of support towards eradicating polio, maternal and neonatal tetanus, and measles, to name a few. Building on this history, UNICEF is calling on the Government of Canada to support the eradication of measles through a $75 million contribution to M&RI over five years. Advertisement This will help save millions of children's lives. You can't put a price tag on that. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: Maskot via Getty Images Rear view of wonderlust couple walking through forest By Susan L. Prescott and Alan C. Logan Our first meeting was on a bus in Tokyo, Japan, in 2003. We began talking about the influence of mindfulness and natural environments on human health. Microbes are an unseen part of nature and an essential part of the biodiversity that sustains life. Thus, we wondered about the relationship between biophilia and the hygiene hypothesis. Biologist Edward O. Wilson proposed biophilia as rich, natural pleasure derived from being surrounded by living organisms, including a diversity of plants and animals. The focus was on visible forms of life. The hygiene hypothesis (and its variants) suggests global elevations in non-communicable diseases could be related to diminished early-life opportunity exposure to a diversity of microbes via sanitization and modernity. Advertisement Dysbiosis means life in distress/difficult living. It can describe unhealthy shifts in microbes residing on the skin, in the gut or other locations. Dysbiosis in the microbial sense is environmentally driven. We wondered if humans might actually subconsciously receive natural pleasure -- via immune responses -- with help from diverse groups of microorganisms encountered in natural environments. We had reason for such outlandish thoughts. Independently, our respective research had examined the hygiene hypothesis, explaining the protective potential of microbes in early life, and provided a contemporary framework for microbial influences on fatigue, cognition and depression. Microbes encountered in nature have been directly and indirectly influencing the immune system of our genus for nearly three million years. We also discussed shinrin-yoku (Japanese term for forest bathing, or taking in the forest air). Throughout the 1990s, Japanese researchers examined forest-based exercise in patients with diabetes. They also reported improved mood and lower stress hormone production when healthy adults walked in forests as opposed to indoor treadmills. Scientists report lowered stress hormones, decreased markers of inflammation, improved immune functioning and positive mental outlook after walks in green space compared to built environments. Shinrin-yoku places emphasis on breathing -- the intake of airborne aromatic chemicals and other unseen elements emitted from trees and forest floors. It involves mindfulness, present-moment awareness and "absorbing" nature through all senses. There was much to encounter beyond the visual while walking in woodland. Mindfulness involves orientation to experience. That is, being oriented to the present moment with curiosity, openness and acceptance. Examples include listening to the sounds of birds or ripples of water, examining details in leaves, feeling tree-bark texture, letting soil aromas hit the nasal passages... as if it were the first time. What were we breathing in as we walked in nature? How does air within vegetation-rich areas differ from air in a built environment? Is built-environment air simply filled with human-generated particulate matter, or is it absent of therapeutic substances secreted from trees? Were inhaled microbes different, too? What about personal orientation to nature? Recently we have explored these questions. More than a dozen years on from our bus ride, scientists have published volumes of research on natural environments and biodiversity for human health. Research on shinrin-yoku has shifted to more accessible urban and semi-urban forests. Scientists report lowered stress hormones, decreased markers of inflammation, improved immune functioning and positive mental outlook after walks in green space compared to built environments. Mindfulness can bridge the gap between the inherent value of natural environments and maximizing potential for individual well-being. Personal nature relatedness -- an individual's fascination with and desire for nature contact -- is associated with mental well-being. Mindfulness and the ability to perceive and engage with natural beauty are linked to nature relatedness. Advertisement Microbes in the air and soils of natural environments can be unique. Microbial differences on the skin of those living in close proximity to more diverse vegetation may directly influence immune function throughout the body and may even influence mood. Indirectly, microbes help manufacture the airborne phytonides -- natural chemicals secreted from trees -- that are linked to healthy immune functioning. Researchers continue to uncover the mechanisms behind the therapeutic value of nature and the products of biodiversity. Benefits are not exclusive to remote wilderness. Local nature and backyard biodiversity are often within easy reach, and they can provide ample benefit. We have much to learn, and in the meantime, the outdoors beckons. The David Suzuki Foundation is once again challenging Canadians to get outside into nature for 30 minutes daily during May. The benefits of engagement are many. Elizabeth Nisbet, co-developer of the Nature Relatedness Scale, has found that 30x30 participants double their usual time in contact with nature, and experience reduced stress and improvement in mood and vitality. Participants of 30x30 experience greater connectedness to nature, which links to improvements in personal well-being. A British study involving a 30-day engagement with nature program reports similar findings. Engagement brings sustained increases in happiness, health, connection to nature and pro-environmental behaviours. The results demonstrate that 30x30 is a win-win-win for personal, community and planetary health. Connecting with local biodiversity illuminates the connectivity of all life, and the importance of equitable access to nature as a fundamental right. Consideration of mindfulness during 30x30 might provide an "extra strength" dose of personal vitality. Advertisement Susan Prescott is a professor in the School of Paediatrics and Child Health Research at the University of Western Australia. She has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles, and several books, including Origins: Early-life Solutions to the Modern Health Crisis (UWA Publishing, 2015). Alan Logan is an independent researcher, contributor to Harvard School of Public Health's Natural Environments Initiative and co-author of Your Brain on Nature (Harper, 2012). Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: FL-photography via Getty Images 'A male face with a taped mouth and a red cross on it symbolizing censorship.Censorship is all around.Freedom of speech is the political right to communicate one's opinions and ideas via speech. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, as with libel, slander, obscenity, copyright violation and incitement to commit a crime.' Disclaimer: I consider myself a moderate progressive. I believe in gender equality, racial justice and free speech. It's important you remember that, because this piece contains keywords and ideas that radical progressives really, really hate. Last year Jerry Seinfeld, possibly the world's most politically correct comedian, made headlines for his criticism of how society was heading towards an unrealistic expectation of politeness. Political correctness -- a worn out buzz term at the very least -- had gotten so extreme that even Seinfeld was on the receiving end of complaints, mostly from millennials who were angry over some of the material in Seinfeld's act. Advertisement The new social order has a whole list of things we cannot say if we want to remain in their good graces. This phenomenon has now touched every facet of modern life, especially on social media. The main problem is that anyone who doesn't agree with strict rules on language is often labelled as a rabid right-winger, even if they are actually moderate progressives. What used to be a characteristic of the left wing fringe is now creeping into the mainstream ether, a pitchforks and torches method of forcing regular people to abide by unwritten rules of interaction. These members of the reactionary class are known as social justice warriors. Disclaimer: By mentioning the term "social justice warriors," I have given radical progressives a way to label me as an enemy, as they tend to do. I'm not the enemy. I'm a moderate progressive. So, obviously it's not easy to find the right words when writing a piece like this. The new social order has a whole list of things we cannot say if we want to remain in their good graces. This is what it is like to live in polarized times, where you are either a social justice warrior or a closed-minded conservative. Trying to navigate a nuanced position between those two groups will result in fending off vitriolic accusations from both sides; a bizarre experience and one that shows the common tactical thread connecting otherwise polar opposites. Advertisement One example of something you simply cannot talk about is the act of committing a false allegation, often attributed to individuals who lie about being sexually assaulted. While widely considered to be a rare occurrence, false allegations do exist, but suggesting an allegation might be false will cause the reactionary class to immediately dismiss you as misogynist or a rape apologist, even if you are merely trying to have a robust discussion. This reaction is actually an exercise in projection where social justice warriors subconsciously assume that everyone must also be looking through a lens of activism. In this example, SJWs react as if they are now engaged in a debate with a men's rights activist. MRAs are often vocal critics of feminism and include members who are known for misogynistic opinions. Disclaimer: By using false allegations as an example, social justice warriors believe I am subliminally waving the banner for rape apologists. I'm not. I'm still a moderate progressive. I just think we should talk about anything we want. By the way, this trend -- where debate and discussion are traded in for an Orwellian expectation of uniformity -- is not sustainable. In Canada, a recent high profile trial became a perfect case study of how the new era of social justice controlled the discussion on what makes an opinion legitimate. First and foremost, you had to begin by stating an unequivocal belief that the defendant was guilty. He wasn't just guilty of something; he had to be seen as guilty of everything, especially to support the overriding narrative that an individual would never, ever lie about being victimized. Advertisement Lost on the reactionary class is the notion that the most important time to defend things like due process is when an alleged criminal looks guilty. When the public discovered that the alleged victims had either lied under oath or to the police, activists dismissed the judge, excoriated the defendant's attorney and said the inconsistencies were actually symptomatic of being victims of trauma. It didn't matter that a trial was happening and truthfulness is paramount to justice, because the starting point of assuming the defendant's guilt would override the idea that witnesses had to tell the truth. If you were to point out that it was possible that maybe one of the alleged victims might not have been a victim after all, well, you would immediately be dismissed as being a contributor to rape culture, no questions asked. He was guilty of everything, now shut up. Disclaimer: I thought this defendant was probably guilty of some of the charges, and I'm not sure about some of the other charges. Not that it should matter what I think. It really doesn't matter what any of us think. Also, I did not mention his name because doing so would result in having to write another disclaimer. Lost on the reactionary class is the notion that the most important time to defend things like due process is when an alleged criminal looks guilty. Convicting a person through public opinion poisons the well of justice and prevents a person who is found not guilty from rejoining society, a society whose hands are still stained with the tar it used to feather the person on trial. The same is true for defending free speech. Free speech is most important when it is being used to say something controversial. You don't have to agree with what is being said, but defending the person's right to say it is what matters most. These two bedrock foundations of a democratic, free society are being torn to pieces by people with infallibility complexes, unable to separate their prejudices from the system they live under, and therefore undermining the very system that allows them to be so obstinate in the first place. Advertisement Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: WPA Pool via Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 6: Prince Harry is seen outside Buckingham Palace on April 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Jeremy Selwyn - Pool/Getty Images) It's a real life fairytale moment in Toronto, an eligible and undeniably handsome prince will be visiting our fair city. For the first time in 25 years, the dashing Prince Harry will be in Toronto on May 2 to launch the countdown for the third Invictus Games, held in September 2017. For those of you hoping for a Cinderella moment (or at least a glimpse of his royal highness), here are my dos and don'ts if you do happen to run into prince charming. Prince Harry will visit Toronto on 2nd May to mark the launch of the countdown to the 3rd Invictus Games in September 2017 @InvictusToronto Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 6, 2016 Advertisement 1.Address him by his proper name Although in the media Prince Harry definitely comes across as an approachable, down-to-earth fellow, he is still fifth in line to the throne, which means we should do him the courtesy of addressing him properly. While his full name is His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales, if you do have the chance to speak with him, you should address him first as "Your Royal Highness." Then,if the conversation continues, it would be "sir." "Hey, Harry!" isn't going to cut it. 2.Look but don't touch One of the most common breaches of royal etiquette over the years has been faux pas of hugs and back pats of members of the royal family. It is appropriate to shake hands with His Royal Highness if he extends his hand first, but otherwise it's hands to yourself and you'll just have to charm him with your witty conversation. 3.You don't have to curtsy Although in very formal situations female guests would curtsy and gentlemen would bow as a sign of respect and tradition, it is definitely not required if you're standing in line. However, if you're feeling inspired by the fairy tale moment, then go for it but nothing too dramatic -- a small curtsy will do the trick. 4.Be patient, don't start the conversation If His Royal Highness does come up to you to greet you, please wait for him to begin the conversation. Once he's said hello you're welcome to continue the conversation. May I suggest doing some research on the Invictus games, which are amazing, so that you have some common ground? Advertisement 5.Please don't ask for his autograph or a selfie! Unfortunately members of the Royal Family are not allowed to give out of their autograph, as it is a breach of protocol. As for selfies, Prince Harry is not a fan, so please don't ask him for one. If you must capture the moment just take a regular pic of him so you can show your friends and family who your future husband might be. You never know! Unfortunately for you @FLOTUS and @POTUS I wasn't alone when you sent me that video - H.https://t.co/sjfSQvkzb6 Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 29, 2016 Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: Paul Bradbury via Getty Images Business people giving high five in office Gone are the days when an HR manager's work was dedicated to "hire, fire and retire" administration. HR leaders are now stepping up as strategic partners driving cultural change, succession planning, leadership strategies and workforce readiness. They work across the business and are accountable to top executives to support bottom-line results for the organization. All of this requires them to be incredibly nimble, strategic and adaptive to keep up with the ever-changing dynamics of the 21st century workforce. Changes in the way we view talent today and major advances in technology have enabled HR leaders to contribute to strategic decision-making at the executive level. Advertisement I had the pleasure of speaking with some of Canada's top business leaders in a recent ADP Roundtable discussion, The Talent Agenda. Though their titles ranged from CEO to CFO, the dialogue around the shifting relationship between HR leaders and the CFO, and the changing approaches to how we evaluate performance was quite consistent. The truth is, CFOs, CEOs, general operations staff and others all speak a common language: financials and metrics. Today's HR leaders are building their data fluency and learning to communicate better with the C-suite, which bodes well for the future of the Canadian workforce. But how does a company's HR team help executives interpret data? What does the CFO really want (and need) from HR? Speaking the language Ken Scott, CFO at Accelerated Connections, was one of our panelists, and he pointed out that "CFOs are pretty straightforward. We want to be shown exactly why a specific decision makes sense financially. When HR leaders talk about metrics, what they are really talking about is talent, performance and engagement." HR professionals need to be able to deliver metrics that help CFOs understand the impact and ROI of labour costs, productivity, retention, and learning and development. HR leaders should also be letting their CFOs know that strategic workforce planning includes data that extends beyond simple demographics to include information such as tenure, job distribution and the skill sets required by an organization now and in the future. Most importantly, HR can show how using that information to make staffing decisions is directly tied to delivering growth. Advertisement EY recently published a study tracking the relationship between finance and HR at top performing organizations in North America. They found that at high-performing companies, the CFO makes a larger contribution to strategic workforce planning, and there is greater collaboration between finance and HR on this activity. Big data and analytics By now everyone understands the essence of big data: simply put, it's a set of data that is too big to analyze with desktop tools. But what does having access to all this data get you? To use a generic example, the courier industry is a great case study of big data at work. The need for a large number of package handlers fluctuates with peak shifts and seasonal demands. They also tend to operate out of a number of different facilities nationally and internationally. The impact of staffing shortages, especially during the peak holiday season, would be dire. To manage this risk, some courier companies have implemented more analytical elements in their applicant pipeline. This lets them analyze historical hiring data and track the real time status of every candidate in their system. With this data they can predict the probability of candidates being hired, the time required to hire them and where their talent pipeline may be a little light to meet forecasted staffing needs. They can then take action before the shortfall affects their clients. This is a shining example of the value that HR analytics can deliver; however, many companies overlook this valuable opportunity. According to global research done by SAP, 78% of companies still have no HR analytics. Imagine if your company had no financial analytics? No operational analytics? No sales numbers? Advertisement Teaming up with the Finance Department For HR leaders looking for a data-driven conversation with their CFO, a great place to start is, you guessed it, the finance department. Most companies actually have more data on their workforce than they realize, but lack the tools and expertise to pull insights from it. If, like many, you don't have ready access to data, the finance team should be your first stop: after all, they are the experts in data analysis. Teaming up with finance enables the two teams to speak that common business language and develop a holistic story about the workforce and the company's competitive position. With this information in hand, you can accurately align your people strategy with your business strategy. Looking ahead, HR leaders should start rethinking the core skill set in their departments. In addition to the basic HR skills, people management will increasingly require team members with deep expertise in data visualization, predictive analysis, general business, and project management skills. As the HR department becomes more data driven, tasks such as payroll, recruiting, time and attendance and benefits management are going to need to be streamlined or outsourced to create more agile HR teams that can focus on business imperatives such as strategic workforce planning, culture and leadership. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: BANARAS KHAN via Getty Images A Pakistani health worker administers polio drops to a child during a polio vaccination campaign in Quetta on April 26, 2016.Islamist outfits including the Pakistani Taliban say the polio vaccination drive is a front for espionage or a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims. / AFP / BANARAS KHAN (Photo credit should read BANARAS KHAN/AFP/Getty Images) Among the first pictures I took of my newborn daughter was a close-up of her chubby thigh and the pink bandage attached to it. It was her first polio vaccination. I became a father in 2013, four months after leaving Pakistan where I was working with UNICEF to support the polio eradication program. As the two remaining polio-endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the final pieces of the eradication puzzle. Advertisement As long as children are left unprotected in one country, all unvaccinated children are vulnerable. So it seemed important for me to capture and share that moment with my red-faced and screaming daughter. I wanted to send my friends and colleagues in Pakistan a simple message: I'm doing my part. Doing my part in New York is easy. Parents here, just like in Canada, haven't had to worry about polio for a while. Trained health staff deliver readily available vaccines at hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices across the country. For most of us, polio means a stamp on our vaccination records, and exists mainly in the memories of our parents and grandparents. We've never met someone with the disease or even seen an iron lung, let alone worried about our child needing one to breathe. For parents in Pakistan, however, polio is still in circulation and still a very real risk. National door-to-door vaccination drives, enormous in scale and ambition, are needed to keep their kids protected. Thousands of brave community workers and vaccinators work tirelessly to reach an estimated 34 million children under five. That's like reaching every single Canadian citizen at their doorstep. And not just once. In 2016 alone, campaigns have taken place every month to repeatedly vaccinate the highest-risk children with the oral polio vaccine in some of the most challenging environments on earth. Advertisement If that wasn't challenging enough, the polio vaccine must also be cold to be effective. That means refrigerated transport and storage, and ensuring all vaccinators have ice packs and coolers. Each vaccine vial even has its own temperature monitor confirming the vaccine's cold chain has been maintained. Behind it all a nationwide surveillance system must be sensitive enough to find, diagnose and confirm potential cases. It is an extraordinary and inspiring national public health effort. And after many years, it seems to be working. In 2016, Pakistan has seen a drop in numbers of cases, a reduction in wild polio virus samples found in the environment and fewer children missed thanks to ever-improving campaigns. Vaccination is an act of global solidarity. That's the big picture. But talk of "cases" and "high-risk communities" can obscure the children and the families whose lives are forever changed by a polio diagnosis. During my last trip to Pakistan, I sat with a father in a clinic outside Peshawar. A doctor was examining his young son, whose leg was suddenly weak and unable to support his weight. The father watched quietly, but it wasn't hard to imagine his thoughts: What does this mean for my son? Will he walk again? How can I afford his care? My own daughter inevitably came to mind. Advertisement At its peak, the disease struck this kind of fear in Canadian parents. In 1953, polio killed 500 in Canada alone, and resulted in more than 9,000 cases of paralysis, mainly among young children. With the introduction of Salk's vaccine in 1955 and Sabin's oral polio vaccine in 1962, cases plummeted and Canada was finally certified polio-free in 1994. But we know that as long as children are left unprotected in one country, all unvaccinated children are vulnerable. Disease has an uncanny way of finding the most vulnerable kids -- whether it's polio in Southern Afghanistan or measles in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. So, it's no exaggeration to say that Pakistan's success is Canada's success; that my daughter is linked to that man's son in Peshawar. When Canadians vaccinate their children against polio, we are contributing to the global campaign to eradicate the disease forever. Vaccination is an act of global solidarity. Canada's recent contribution of $40 million to Pakistan's efforts to eradicate polio is further acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of the world, of parents and of the common good that is protecting all children from preventable disease. It's a message that says, "we're in this together and we're doing our part." Advertisement Michael Coleman is a Canadian working for UNICEF's polio eradication program in community engagement and communication. He has lived and worked in Angola, Honduras, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam and Pakistan. Currently based in New York, he is the father of two well-vaccinated daughters. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: Getty Images/iStockphoto Written by Dr. Andrew Healey, Medical Director of Critical Care, William Osler Health System and Chief Medical Officer, Trillium Gift of Life Network In Ontario alone there are 1,600 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and the need does not discriminate. People of all ages, faiths and cultural backgrounds can find themselves in need of a transplant. Advertisement It may come as a surprise to learn that while we all have the potential to be an organ and/or tissue donor, the reality is that the opportunity is quite rare. Only two to three per cent of hospital deaths happen in a way that is conducive to organ donation. At William Osler Health System (Osler) we have made it a priority to ensure that when donation is a possibility, every family is provided the opportunity and the information to make the choice that is right for them. Osler prides itself on quality end of life care, and that has to include the opportunity for organ and tissue donation. Families can find hope in knowing that there is the potential to save eight lives through organ donation and up to 75 more through tissue donation. Trillium Gift of Life Network, the Ontario agency that manages and coordinates organ and tissue donation, has been looking to international examples of successful donation programs and applying learnings here in Canada. One key change has been to engage physicians in the process, adding hospital donation physicians at nearly 60 hospitals across the province as well as six regional medical leads. Advertisement The work of Osler's Hospital Donation Physician Dr. Alex McMillan and two full-time organ and tissue donation coordinators, Susan Lavery and Michele Scott, has meant that an integrated support network is available to the donation teams -- offering education and expertise. Highly skilled donation coordinators are there to support families through every step of the process. When TGLN began publicly reporting the donation performance of Ontario's hospitals, Osler was not considered a leader. Over the last three years, a true culture of donation has been developed and as a result, more families have been offered the opportunity to choose donation. Osler's conversion rate -- the measure of how many referred donors actually go on to save lives through donation -- rose from 22 per cent in 2012/2013 to 67 per cent after the first three quarters of the 2015/2016 fiscal year. Routine notification also jumped from 80 per cent in 2013/2014 (when first publicly reported) to 97 per cent at the end of 2015. Routine notification measures the average rate at which TGLN is notified by hospitals when a patient has died and there may be potential for donation. Public reporting on hospital donation performance is one way TGLN has enhanced accountability and monitored progress of 70 designated hospitals in Ontario. In 2015, Osler cared for 20 organ donors -- the most of any hospital in the Greater Toronto Area and the third highest number in Ontario. Organ donation is a complex process, and this impressive year reflects how well the team at Osler works together to make donation possible. The patient population hasn't changed, but the shift in the culture has meant that every department at Osler -- from the ER to the OR -- now see it as a priority that all families are given the opportunity to choose donation. Nothing will ever take away from the tragedy of losing a loved one, but families can find hope in knowing that there is the potential to save eight lives through organ donation and up to 75 more through tissue donation. The strength we see in the donor families at Osler is special. Their ability to work through their grief and provide consent for donation is truly something to behold. Advertisement By registering your wishes, you relieve your family of the burden of making that decision. We also know first-hand that registration saves lives. When a family is presented with proof that their loved one registered consent, they almost always move forward with donation. Without this knowledge, families choose donation just half of the time. As BeADonor month comes to a close, let's all register at www.BeADonor.ca and talk to our family about our wishes. One day, this act could help save a life. Dr. Andrew Healey is the Medical Director of Critical Care at William Osler Health System and Chief Medical Officer for Trillium Gift of Life Network. Originally from Newfoundland, Dr. Healey has completed fellowship training in emergency medicine, critical care medicine, and echocardiography at McMaster University. He also completed a Masters in the donation of organs, tissues, and cells for transplantation at the University of Barcelona, Spain. His main academic and research interests are in ultrasound, end of life care, non-perfused organ donation, and optimization of the process of organ donation for families. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: The five things you need to know on Friday April 29, 2016 1) KEN GOES NAGASAKI The 5.40 at Chepstow today has a horse at 3/1 favourite: Jezza. Those around Jeremy Corbyn may well put a few quid on it as a symbol of their determination to stick by the man who won the Labour leadership by a landslide last year. Advertisement And the wagons are circling around him. JC himself yesterday made plain to the BBC that he felt that some of his MPs wanted to nobble him, by exploiting the whole Ken Livingstone debacle we witnessed on TV, radio and online. Ken finally self-imploding with a mushroom cloud of cod Hitler history and anti-semitism-isnt-exactly-the-same-as-racism claims was truly an extraordinary spectacle. His nuclear meltdown was so severe that his suspension was inevitable, and one key trigger was the withdrawal of support from Jon Lansman. As someone who is Jewish, a fierce critic of Israeli government policy and a close ally of Corbyn and John McDonnell, Lansman had the perfect qualifications to say enough was enough. His tweet that it was time for Ken to retire from politics came just after 1pm, 20 minutes before Kens suspension was confirmed. Note too that Tom Watson retweeted Lansman, another significant move. Some in Corbyns team argued strongly that Ken could not be suspended explicitly for anti-semitism, but it was agreed that his remarks on BBC Radio London had been inflammatory and so a charge of bringing the party into disrepute was chosen instead. Advertisement During frantic discussions between Corbyn (on a visit up north) and the party down in London, Im told the idea of suspending John Mann was certainly discussed. The idea of equating Manns conduct with Kens prompted outrage, and a dressing down for Mann by the Chief Whip was the compromise finally worked out. But I understand the episode has deepened the determination of some in Team Corbyn to finally overhaul the Whips Office in a coming reshuffle to get it under the leaders control. Theyve tried before to sack Rosie Winterton and her top team, but if they try again, thats when we really could see Labours civil war erupt. In one of the more surreal moments of yesterday, George Galloway put out a video declaring the coup against Jeremy Corbyn has begun. And allies of the leader suspected careful coordination in more than 30 MPs tweeting Ken should be suspended within minutes of his radio interview. Corbyn himself made clear on the BBC that he felt some of his critics were motivated by fears over deselection and a failure to recognise the party in the country had changed. His key quote was this: I suspect much of this criticism that you are saying about crisis in the party actually comes from those who are nervous of the strength of the Labour Party at local level. John Woodcock hit back that after this horrible dayI would urge Jeremy not to do anything that seems to cast doubt on their motives for speaking out. Nah Shahs contrition may well lead to her suspension being lifted at some point. Kens stubborn refusal to ever admit any mistakes may make his own expulsion more likely. The key issue on both will be timing. Simon Danczuks suspension has lasted months, but will the NEC want to delay on Ken? Jon Trickett on Newsnight stressed that fresh steps would be taken by Corbyn to root out anti-semitism and try to heal the rift with British Jewry. Meanwhile, Kens suspension means he cant run for the NEC (and Lansmans withdrawal of support made him look like a dead duck anyway). It also means he cant influence the defence review. And with those NEC elections looking increasingly crucial in any showdown with the leadership, and Tom Watson warning of the damage done to the May elections effort by the row, that talk of a July coup is very much alive again. Advertisement At least theres one prince-over-the-water who looks like he wont be taking part directly in any plot. The Sun reports that David Miliband recently confided in friends in the UK that he expected Hillary Clinton would give him a job, possibly as a foreign envoy. Imagine if it was to Israel and Palestine? 2) RUBBER DUBS Like a rubber ball, he keeps bouncing back again. And again. Yes the doughty octogenarian Labour peer Alf Dubs is a big worry for the Government as his amendment on child refugees wings its way back to the Commons the first Monday after the local elections. Yesterday, he gave a warm welcome to the Daily Mail for its full-page opinion piece backing his compromise plan to take in a specified number of children from European camps. He liked the article so much so that when I heard about todays editorial I went out and bought the paper for the first time in my life. Alf has given us an interview today and hes revealed some poignant memories of being a boy in Nazi Czechoslovakia, recounting how his textbooks had to have pages replaced with Hitlers image. He also has a moving account of his father (a Jew who fought for Austria Hungary in the First World War) handing him a box of toy soldiers before he died. He also warns that further Government intransigence would be shameful. And it looks like the continuing Dubs effect, plus that Mail piece, is having that impact on those Tory MPs who abstained this week. The Times suggests that ministers are indeed rethinking what they do. The Government won by just 18 votes on Monday, but four DUP MPs stayed away (the other four split two for and two against the Dubs amendment). The DUP is hinting is may get all its MPs to back the new amendment. As I said yesterday, David Cameron would do well to listen and take the initiative rather than face defeat. Advertisement 3) BAD KOREA MOVE For Inners, todays Radio 4 Essay was delivered on the 8.10 slot by Sir John Major, a man who knows more than most about the vehemence of Tory Eurosceptics. He really went for it on No.10s behalf declaring if you want undiluted sovereignty in the modern age when everybody is interconnected, then go to north Korea because thats where youll get it. The aim was to make Brexiteers sound like loons, but it could backfire because of the sheer hyperbole. Major chuckled when asked if Ken Clarke was right that Cameron wouldnt last 30 seconds if he lost the referendum. But he was swift to seize on Brexit economist Patrick Minfords line that Brexit would mean the elimination of British manufacturing. With a new poll showing a clear majority of farmers back Brexit, it was left to the Commonss most famous former strawberry farmer and now farming minister George Eustice to put the counter case. And while Bernard Jenkin claimed a cash for questions style scandal over No10 agreeing concession on the Trade Union Bill, I hear that some unions (the FBU and Napo among them) are actually just as furious with Brendan Barber for teaming up with David Cameron yesterday, and are writing to the TUC to complain. Penny Mordant is seen by some Eurosceptics as having had a good war in the referendum campaign and her name is whispered (along with those of Dom Raab and Andrea Leadsom) as future dark horse Tory leadership contenders. Shes given an interview with The House magazine in which she warns that Europe is sleepwalking into civil unrest thanks to the continuing forced harmonisation of the eurozone. BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR Watch a tuna fish (looks like a shark but really is a fish) eat a seagull by mistake - and then spit it out again. Advertisement 4) PLAYING THE JOKER Last nights Westminster Correspondents Dinner (a bit like the White House equivalent, though we have better jokes and worse dental work) saw George Osborne as the guest of honour. He kept true to tradition with some risque gags that youd never get from a US President, as well as delivering a policy nugget to help local newspapers. The Chancellor had a dig at John Bercows ego and referred to the Albanian model of Brexit, joking thats enough about John Whittingdale. Whitto, to his credit, was in the audience and laughed like a drain. But the real ridicule was reserved for one big fat blond target: Boris. Referring to dessert, he said Im sure the Eton Mess was a bit of a joke. He also had a dig at Bojos perceived lack of friends among MPs, saying that the Members Dining Room venue for the dinner was known to the Mayor as "strangers'". It was the innest of in-jokes by an inner about an outer. If you see what I mean. Osborne did have the obligatory self-deprecating gag, however. He admitted he had pined for an "uncontested leadership election. If Boris does ever get to host one of these gigs in future, you can bet hell have a whole routine devoted to his pal George. 5) STRESS TESTS Ive mentioned it before, but away from the ongoing forced academies row (and full marks to Lucy Powell for getting that phrase off the ground, unchallenged by DfE ministers, a bit like the bedroom tax), the real under-the-radar issue in schools is this years primary school tests. Advertisement The return of a test for 7-year-olds is causing genuine anger among parents and a slow-burn resentment against Nicky Morgan. And even though the spelling bit of it was abandoned after being leaked online, the other tests have prompted a boycott. In north London the Let Kids Be Kids movement will see lots of parents taking their offspring to the park for the day of the tests in protest. Teachers have also slammed the new assessments for the stress theyre causing. But just as stressful have been the SATS for the final year of primary, with new SPAG (spelling and grammar) tests introducing grammar papers so difficult even English graduates find them too hard. Today the headteachers union, the NAHT (often seen as the moderate wing of the teaching unions) slams the inappropriate content of the SATS and the chaotic way theyve been introduced. The DfE is standing firm insisting higher standards are needed but this looks like a major headache - and one the Government can do without right now. We have an excellent round up from a parent and former teacher on six reasons teachers are so angry about the changes. COMMONS PEOPLE Listen to our latest podcast on the whole Ken row, Naz Shah and the child refugees amendments. If youre reading this on the web, sign-up HERE to get the WaughZone delivered to your inbox. When my youngest child Gloria was four she got a severe form of malaria. The doctor gave her treatment but her temperature didn't go down and she started to get jaundice. She was very ill and spent five days in the health clinic on a drip. Now she's nine and very healthy, but that was a scary time for my family. I have also had malaria, but because I have worked in the health department in the Government since 1998 I can recognise the symptoms. When I got a fever I went to the nearest health centre. I took tablets for three days and I was ok. Around the same time that Gloria was unwell, in 2011, I started working with Malaria Consortium in Mbale district in east Uganda to tackle the malaria issue. Advertisement I was passionate and motivated to stop this issue of malaria. At that time malaria was one of the commonest causes of death for children under five in Mbale district. My daughter Gloria was almost one of those children. At that time in 2011 if you went to the hospital you would find that half of the patients in the ward were malaria patients. We visited the villages to talk to the community about why people are dying. It started with wanting to know what problems the community is facing. We discovered one of the major issues was transportation of the patients from the community to the health centres. One mother had a very sick child with severe malaria. Unfortunately this mother did not have any money to pay for transport to take her child to Mbale hospital. She had to sell her goat to pay for transport and drugs. Luckily her child recovered. Advertisement There was another sick child who was referred to hospital. The family had so little money to pay for transport that it took her a long time to reach the hospital, where she unfortunately died. To help we launched motorcycle taxis , locally called 'boda-boda's, to take sick children from villages to health centres. We also discovered that people lacked knowledge about where to seek healthcare and when to seek healthcare. When Gloria got ill I had the skills and knowledge about the management of malaria to get the help we needed. Since 2011 we have trained 184 health workers in health facilities in the management of severe forms of malaria and trained them how to test for malaria. We have also created village health teams and have trained 748 people who can diagnose and treat malaria. They can be called by their neighbours at night. They are relied and trusted people in the community. They can monitor and diagnose these issues. And they are working more and more on malaria and issues of mosquito net use. They have created awareness about the causes of malaria and how to get to the nearest health centre. Advertisement In May 2015 there were reduced cases of malaria incidents. People are taking anti-malarial drugs. Communities are preventing malaria, using nets. So there are fewer cases than there used to be. It is very wonderful as we don't want to want to go back to the number of deaths we had I need to make sure that the communities have a good health system. That all the people can reach the health facilities in less than four hours. I also want the drugs in the communities to be easily accessible so I can offer the best care. I will work until the last person contracts malaria. For more information on the fight against malaria, visit ComicRelief.com Last week I enjoyed a quick lesson in coding from a Gospelware developer. Gospelware are a fast growing digital startup in the heart of Newcastle. They breathe energy, dynamism and digital possibilities. Andrew from Sunderland (pictured) explained to me that the computer now checked and colour coded the syntax of the code as you wrote it, a vast improvement from my days as a software engineer. The last time I actually coded for a living was two decades ago, in France, working for Nortel, a Canadian-American equipment manufacturer. They had many British engineers in their lab at that time, when the UK was in recession. None of us had visas but that didn't matter: we were all members of the European Union. During my visit Gospelware explained to me why they valued that European membership today. It is important to them to have access to European skills. Their employees come from Newcastle and Sunderland and also Latvia and Holland. They also value the single European market, being able to sell to anywhere in Europe. They were worried about the uncertainty in terms of finance and markets which renegotiating all the existing trade treaties would bring. As a young, dynamic company they identified more easily with a strong, forward-looking Britain proud of its role in Europe and the world, than with a fearful inward-looking drawbridge-up Britain. Advertisement Gospelware are not alone. The UK's thriving tech sector is overwhelmingly pro-EU. A full 92% of SMEs in the tech sector have a positive outlook on the next two years' potential for growth, but are also concerned that a vote for Brexit would damage these prospects. This nearly unanimous concern across small tech businesses is hardly surprising. Right now it's never been a better time to be part of the UK digital sector, good news for the 1.4 million people it employs. It is Europe's leading Digital Economy and worth 118.3 billion to Britain. This is thanks in no small part to Britain's European membership. 43% of UK digital exports go directly to the EU, and many British small businesses benefit from European funding to support research, development and innovation. Figures from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills show that 72% of EU funding to UK business goes to small and medium sized businesses. The digital sector is not concentrated in one big London hub. Tech clusters have developed across the UK from Bristol to Belfast. The number of tech businesses in the North East jumped up 9.2% last year, second only to London. Advertisement But that could all change, and not only because a vote for Brexit would bring uncertainty around what would replace EU funding to SMEs. An even greater loss, I believe, would come from blocking our companies' access to a world first in business and trade: The Digital Single Market. Completion of the Digital Single Market (DSM) will see the EU framework brought to the cutting edge, seizing on the opportunities created by new technologies like Cloud Computing and The Internet of Things, and making it ever easier for consumers and businesses to take advantage of the common market. With the DSM will come greater and consistent protection for consumers purchasing goods and digital content online as well as the EU-wide Online Dispute Resolution platform. This means you can pretty much buy stuff anywhere in the EU and know that you can enforce your rights if it's faulty or not as described. Dismantling the varying rules around shopping online in different countries would also give SMEs and entrepreneurs easier access to new markets, paving the way for Europe-wide platforms for buying and selling across a market of 500 million EU consumers. The UK is a world leader in e-commerce, and this should help us build on that success. Other benefits of the DSM are cross-border portability of content and harmonised roaming charges - meaning UK consumers can stream videos from sun-loungers across the Mediterranean without sky high data bills. These benefits for both buyers and sellers demonstrate why the Single Market beats any bilateral trade deal. The Single Market has a whole dedicated foundation at its back, so it can evolve and respond to new sectors and developments in the wider economy. Without such a framework, how long would it be before a UK-EU trade deal followed dial-up internet into obsolescence? Advertisement To leave the European Union now would be a golden opportunity missed - for Britain and for digital. Britain is by far the best positioned EU member to benefit most from the 500 million consumers the Digital Single Market gives access to, and our frontline techies know it. As both the "in" and "out" campaigns gain momentum ahead of the EU referendum, many people are wondering how a Brexit would affect their day-to-day lives. While the 'facts' may still be up for debate and fuelling uncertainty, we're seeing the UK workforce become more concerned about job security and less likely to jump into a new role. Our research found that the number of people planning to remain in their jobs is at its highest in five years, with four in 10 UK workers planning to stay in role for at least the next 12 months. This bucks recent trends we've seen in other markets, where job hopping is more prevalent in younger workers who are hungry for varied working experiences. Active job-seeking has also declined, indicating that people are putting their job searching on hold. Over half of UK workers (52 percent) are instead taking a passive approach to job-hunting, waiting for the opportunities to arrive in their inboxes rather than proactively sending out CVs to recruiters or potential future employers. Advertisement Despite planning to stick with their employers, workers aren't necessarily happy. Dissatisfaction stems from a lack of future career opportunities, development and recognition. The main trigger isn't more money, a nicer boss or a better work-life balance, but a lack of new experiences that will help them develop - whether that be exposure to new skills, a different team or the chance to live abroad. That means job switchers today are people who can't see the opportunity to develop, so they leave to find something that will give them that chance to grow. What else makes people leave? Our research showed that UK employees are particularly dissatisfied with meritocracy in the workplace. Just 23 percent of workers are happy with how their organisation rewards or promotes people based on the quality of their work. This job dissatisfaction combined with people wanting to stay in their jobs is a potent combination, leaving the UK at risk of becoming a nation of inactive and uninspired workers. The inevitable consequence of this is lower productivity and poorer results delivered by people who are choosing to stay for stability rather than being engaged in their day-to-day work. Brexit or not, employers need to measure workforce engagement to ensure effort and energy is aligned to and directed towards achieving the firm's goals. Armed with this insight, companies should engage employees in conversations about career development. Managers can use these discussions as an opportunity to learn about employee's personal aspirations and career goals, and take the time to talk about new skills that will help expand their capabilities and employability. Having honest conversations will help employees assess whether their company can deliver on those goals that matter most and give them a renewed sense of enthusiasm for their jobs. Advertisement During times of uncertainty, companies should avoid making promises about stability that they ultimately won't be able to keep. Empty promises can drive down employee commitment by as much as 17 percent. Instead they should set realistic expectations for stability and focus more on elements they can genuinely control. Crucially, the way that employee contribution is recognised and rewarded should not be limited to bonuses and promotions, if companies want to maximise engagement and performance they need to offer employees new opportunities and experiences. Don't laugh, but dogs really are like us... some demonstrative, some distant, some needy, others uncomfortable with little if any shows of affection (let's call these essentially British in nature). And in answer to the recent 'don't hug your dog' research, I'd like to offer my last two dogs as an argument that you MUST give your dog what they need and demand no more, no less, just like a baby who's being goo, goo'd by annoying but well-meaning aunties. No one likes their cheek being squeezed by a hyperventilating womb, but we babies tend not to growl or bite when overwhelmed, however we do scream, turn puce and sometime projectile vomit. But why does this article sound a little like the parenting specialists who prescribe NOT going to your screaming baby as it's simply testing you? My old beloved dog Victor was a very male beast (and yes, they are that different...the sexes I mean, just like us) who wanted admiration, a quick back rub, some squeezes and a kiss and then was most happy moving over to the other side of the room to luxuriate in our admiring glances. I knew he didn't go in for hugs, and that if he wanted extended shows of affection, he'd seek me out. Yes, I wanted a big cuddly teddy, and that's what he looked like, but that wasn't him and I respected that. Advertisement However my present dog Doris is the most affectionate, tactile and all round demonstrative pal one could ever have. She'd be absolutely the wrong companion for an emotionally shut down humanoid, (someone with a kitchen that looks like a coroner's morgue) but with me she's found her match. Seriously, when my husband gives her the first morning rub, she emits sounds that would normally be expected in the "bedroom". She's a shameless cuddler, lap sitter and leg leaner, very typical of the Labrador breed I know, but more so, and has been since she came into the world, wrapped around her sister like spooning piglets (who's exactly the same and owned by one of my best friends). I just made a quite hilarious music video which features Doris who, in a real-life Wallace and Grommet style, comes across as the smart one out of the two of us. Viewers have asked me "how on earth did you get her to do that", about her furrowed brow as I make a total fool of myself and the final beautiful moment where stretched across my lap she gently paws me as if to say "I know you're acting like a total tit but I still love you..." Anthropomorphic you might say, but honestly this is just who she is and why I'm the luckiest person to have such a creature in my life. So yes I'm sure dogs have become very good at giving us what we want, for food and affection etc, and it's still about the personality of the dog, nature and nurture. It's NOT a human, so don't expect that. But if your dog, like mine, loves lying on you anywhere, anytime, whilst tending to look very deeply into your eyes what would you or for that matter any animal psychologist suggest? Wearing a strait jacket perhaps? I once remember getting an animal behaviourist over to help with puppy Victor's barking when we ate dinner. He trained us in less than 5 minutes, but before leaving did let it slip that personally he'd hate it if his dogs didn't jump all over him when he walked through the door. I've never forgotten that, it's up there with my other favourite theory... "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar". Right now I'm 6 thousand miles away from my girl and am looking forward to Face Timing her with her new family of kittens who also love to curl around her. She's in dog heaven and so am I just looking at her with them. Amazing...I've been vindicated by kittens! When Orange was not quite two, I remember counting in my head the number of doctors, nurses, specialist consultants, therapists and support workers that had been involved in our lives as a result of his difficulties since he was born. I was astounded when I got to 46 and was sure that I wasn't done counting. Since then, Team Orange has grown considerably. I stopped counting some years ago but in his five years I can be sure that well over 100 and probably over 200 health and social care professionals have been involved in Orange's care to date. And that doesn't include the hundreds of administrators and officials who we speak to day in day out to coordinate appointments, medication reviews and prescriptions, equipment deliveries and repairs, blue badges, disability benefits and education, health and care plans. That's an awful lot of people to welcome into your lives. An awful lot of people to open up to, to place your trust in and to rely on to do what's needed for your child. An awful lot of people who need to work together, in a coordinated fashion, to deliver the right support and care for your child and for you, when you have no idea what you are doing and are learning as you go. Advertisement If I have learnt anything in raising a child who has severe disabilities and complex medical issues but with no diagnosis for his condition, it is that I cannot do this alone. It is too big a job. When you have a child who has complex needs but no diagnosis there is no well-trodden pathway, no yellow brick road to follow. No-one will show you the way. Here are some things I wish I had known, that would have given me confidence, in the early days of us discovering Orange had a syndrome without a name. Advertisement You will have to cut your own path, often in a forthright and determined fashion, even when you are at your most worn out and frightened. You will have to do this to access simple things like the right schooling, essential medical support, suitable childcare so you can work, or fit-for-purpose home adaptations for basic daily care like having a bath, or essential tasks like leaving the house. You will do it, because you are strong and because no-one else will. Lots of people will enter your lives that you didn't expect. Some invited and some uninvited. Sometimes this is exactly what you need. Sometimes it will drive you nuts. Often at the same time. Roll with it but know that you can press pause if you need to. You are in control. You will learn to trust people. You will also learn when not to. Your gut instinct is always right. Use it. Lean on the people who you trust and ask for a change of professional in circumstances where you feel there is a lack of trust or understanding. You will know when you need to do this. You will learn to ask for help (sometimes unceremoniously). This is something I wish I had learned sooner. It took me four and a half years to actually open up to a professional who could help us get the respite care we needed to keep our family on an even keel. It wasn't pretty. It shouldn't be like this but often it is. Ask for help. Loud and clear. And do it now, don't wait until you are at crisis point. You will see the best in humankind and it will make your heart swell. And sometimes you will see the worst and it will make you want to sink into the ground. But most of the time you will just see people, normal people. Some who can answer your questions, some who can't, and plenty who want to ask fountains of questions of you. Consultants, educational psychologists, social workers, parents of disabled children - these are all groups of people I had preconceived ideas about. And in the most part, I was wrong. We are all just people, for the most part trying to do our best in life and be fulfilled and happy. Remember that always. Advertisement You will find people just like you. You are not alone. There are thousands of families with children posing similar quandaries to professionals all over the world, who have complex conditions and no diagnosis, despite years of testing and the best, cleverest minds in genetic research on the job. These people will hold you together when your child stops breathing and you are in an ambulance racing to hospital with a child in status epilepticus, not knowing if he will pull through. These people will help you when you have to fill in 40 pages of disability living allowance forms that are not written with complicated, undiagnosed conditions in mind and you have no idea where to begin. These people will celebrate with you when your child takes a small step that for them is a gigantic leap. Putting a spoon in their mouth for the first time, turning the page of a book, smiling in response to your smile, or squeezing your hand with affection. These people will laugh with you, cry with you, rant with you, stand and campaign with you at Westminster, share your ups and downs, solve problems with you, hold your hand and drink wine with you. Advertisement These people are everybody who makes up the community that is SWAN UK, the small but growing charity that supports families who have children with undiagnosed syndromes. Through SWAN UK we have found our people. Without them we would be lost. As Emily Thornberry, Shadow Defence Secretary, closes the consultation period on her defence review, critics of the review have been engaging on the substance. They worry that minds currently are just a little too open to alternatives for comfort, and that a non-Trident alternative could become Labour policy. Kevan Jones, former junior Defence Minister and consistent Trident advocate, this week sent around Labour MPs a detailed critique of the air-launched, F35/B61-12 option promoted by CentreForum's Toby Fenwick. This development deserves attention beyond the technical community, because being a great deal cheaper than Trident renewal and offered up as a serious minimum deterrent, it could come to occupy that elusive middle ground for those seeking compromise on the issue, a step down the nuclear ladder without stepping off it quite yet. It is likely to become more compelling as the costs of Trident escalate and the uncertainties over its effectiveness grow. Fenwick's proposal involves scrapping the plans to construct ballistic missile submarines currently in development and instead deploying a UK free-fall bomb based upon the new US B61-12 design. His proposal, using dual-capable F-35 aircraft the UK is buying from the United States anyway, takes at face value the UK policy of deploying a minimum nuclear deterrent. This implies the capability to deliver just enough damage on an aggressive Russia that even were the UK to face them alone they would not consider the damage sustained acceptable whatever the perceived benefit. Minimum deterrence is all too often defined in official statements in relation to what the UK currently deploys, rather than any realistic assessment of the psychology of any possible future Russian leadership. Jones' assessment repeats this fallacy. The fact that a system based upon the free-fall bomb is less capable is irrelevant if it meets the minimum deterrence criteria, and could be an argument in its favour. Advertisement Much store is placed upon the scenario of Britain facing Russia alone. Of course, even a United States led by a President Trump or Sanders would never stand by if a resurgent Russia were to attack Europe and gain a major and global-threatening strategic advantage. But it is believed this independent capability complicates the calculations of any potential aggressor and assures the Americans that Europeans are taking their fair share of the nuclear burden. Readers can make their own mind up whether this justifies the risk, expense and damage to international non-proliferation efforts. Nevertheless, Fenwick bases his proposal on just such criteria, and picks a high bar - the Joint Intelligence Committee's Duff?Mason assessment from the late 1970s at the height of the Cold War. Fenwick's detailed modelling shows a highly coordinated British attack upon Russian air defences immediately prior to delivering nuclear bombs upon a heavily defended St. Petersburg. Contrary to Jones' assertion, there is nothing in the Duff/Mason criteria that asserts an attack has to be missile based. As I outlined in a response to Fenwick's proposal in February 2015, the Trident SSBN system based upon a continuous patrolling posture is inflexible and blocks the UK's ability to engage in further disarmament moves. As a dual-capable system using weapons platforms and delivery systems that have conventional missions, Fenwick's proposal avoids the scale of dedicated capital investment to nuclear weapons that Trident commits us to, and would be the obvious choice of platform for the flexibility to take further steps down the ladder, if we are to field nuclear systems beyond the life of the existing Vanguard submarines. Indeed, Fenwick - a former HM Treasury official - estimates the nuclear specific capital costs of such a system at substantially less than 10bn, less than a quarter of the current Successor SSBN costs. Advertisement Jones' assessment includes a great deal of well-argued, balanced detail on NATO's burden-sharing arrangements, rightly highlighting many of their shortcomings that arise from the dual-key arrangements. His forthright statement that these arrangements offer little credibility and that tactical nuclear weapon systems are dangerously destabilising have much to be commended. But this is hardly relevant to a British replacement of Trident. The critiques of the B61-12 that Jones cites from my colleagues in the United States are based upon its comparison with earlier generations of free-fall bomb. The B61-12 is simply more accurate and useable and therefore dangerous. But the relevant comparison for our purpose is with the capabilities of the Trident missile and warhead. Trident can land a sub-strategic nuclear warhead with minimal warning and with extraordinary accuracy. In contrast, the F35 B61-12 combo would require a very public, concerted attack with some warning that would involve the loss of the majority of the aircraft on the bombing run. It is difficult to see how a shift from Trident to a free-fall bomb makes the system more useable and therefore destabilising, and there is no a priori basis for Jones' statement that a more visible deployment of nuclear weapons is more escalatory. Equally, Jones' criticism that the risk of aircraft losses and therefore leaving the UK unable to conduct conventional strikes rather misses the point that a UK nuclear strike is only conceivable in a state of general war - and that there is unlikely to be much of the UK left to return in the event of a Russian nuclear attack on the UK. Indeed, if you believe in nuclear deterrence there is a strong case that a bomber-based nuclear force, with several levels of preparation, offers more chance of signalling at a time of crisis. Advertisement It is argued that flexible dual-capable systems present other signalling problems. How could Russia tell whether an approaching British squadron of F35 aircraft were carrying nuclear bombs? But if the UK were to be flying such a large squadron in hostile formation towards Russia could we not reasonably say that the deterrence mission had by then failed? Large scale conventional hostilities between nuclear armed states are not actions we should be contemplating with any sense of comfort. Jones also claims that a British version of the B61-12 would require a testing programme. It is true that unarmed bombs would be tested for their flight and delivery characteristics (as the US is doing right now), but as the B61-12 uses the well-proven B61-3 warhead there would be no need for nuclear tests. The UK has free-fall bomb designs on the shelf, a mission relatively simple when compared to the stresses for warheads from ballistic missile flight. His conclusion that NATO's nuclear strategy depends upon British Trident springs from nowhere. On the contrary, extensive discussions I have had with those on the 'front-line' in eastern Europe suggest they focus their assurance entirely upon US strategic nuclear systems. Indeed, the paper that Jones extensively cites, by Karl-Heinz Kamp and Maj Gen Robertus Remkes, explicitly refers only to US Strategic Nuclear Systems as the backbone of NATO's nuclear posture (the only mention of Britain's nuclear contribution being in a footnote reference to formal NATO statements). The strongest pro-nuclear argument against Fenwick's proposal is that the aircraft are vulnerable to air defences whilst on their attack run. He does not claim that the British F35 force would survive the attack (as Jones claims), but simply that there would be a very high confidence of it penetrating defence forces with a high attrition rate, and deliver several nuclear bombs on St Petersburg. Bear in mind the circumstances. We are talking about a nuclear war. Airfields and ships are vulnerable of course to pre-emptive attack. But two things should be considered. First, as Fenwick correctly models, the UK will have 7 to 9 minutes warning from Fylingdales of a ballistic missile launched from Russia, allowing time for the alert aircraft to scramble from their bases. Second, the assumption, repeated by Jones, that Trident is invulnerable is open to question. The near future is likely to see large numbers of high tech miniature sensors based upon unmanned platforms. Even in peacetime submarines can go missing, be isolated, or be taken out secretly in international waters. An attack on dispersed airfields in Britain or a very visible and well defended aircraft carrier would be a more explicit act of war. Advertisement The discovery of my old school magazine from 1987 has made me even more proud to be associated with Founders4Schools, an ambitious tech-led non-profit, whose mission is to improve the life chances of students by giving them access to inspiring business leaders in their community. First up, though - a confession. Any of my previous (or current) employers, or teachers - you may want to skip this bit. Business training is rubbish. Any course that I've been sent on, whilst at school or in work, I have always been the one at the back, chewing my pencil and trying to arrange my features in a "I'm listening and open to this learning experience" face. I have always had a suspicion of anything that markets itself to the business community as "the new way" of doing anything, preferring to find mentors and advisers, and learn on the job. Advertisement With the discovery of a pile of old school magazines, I'm beginning to make sense of this. The 1987 school magazine contains my article about the "Challenge of Industry" conference (alongside the ads for secretarial colleges) that I had been selected to attend. As an exercise in persuading a teenage girl not to go into business it was perfectly conceived. Held at the local boys' school, highlights of this day included negotiating with the trade unions over the length of coffee breaks (25 or 15 minutes?), undertaking a disciplinary hearing for a night watchman who was absconding to the pub, and dealing with the product launch of wire bound notebooks, which was delayed by strikes. Delivered by a "tall man in a pinstripe suit who resembled in voice and actions John Cleese", you don't need to read between the lines to conclude that there was at least one attendee who would rather have been left to organise - as the school magazine relates - German Club, Drama Club or the sketching in Paris school trip. Fast forward to the '90s and a series of business training days organised by UCL. The general gist of these were military style training days where we were driven to deepest Somerset, left in a field with a tent and then asked to make a raft in the morning. This time it was the Big 4 accountancy firms sponsoring the weekends. Both times, I was selected without any form of preamble, suggestion or discussion - it seems that academic staff were happy to send this young woman along to business training, and eventually their intuition proved correct. Advertisement However, they all missed a trick. If the idea was to get me into business, all they needed to do was give me 5 minutes with one of the many charismatic, inspirational and individual women that were hard at work carving out careers and growing businesses. The day Goldman Sachs did that in a small and stuffy room towards the end of my postgraduate studies in Cambridge, was the day that I became a business evangelist. These women didn't need tents or rafts, pinstripe suits or industrial disputes to persuade me that working in a growth industry (at the time, investment banking), was a good thing for a woman to do. The talk was of new business products - automated trading, ecommerce - independence, travel, the chance to earn great money and build a business. When anyone is elected to a position of power by a democratic process you can expect a degree of trepidation. One of the most crucial aspects of democracy and freedom of speech is that by allowing people to speak their mind you shine a light on the darkest corners; exposing and examining their character in exchange for the power they need to exact change. That, in theory, is the crux of democratic accountability and the reason why, for the most part, extremists don't get much traction in the UK. That is, unfortunately, not what is happening to Malia Bouattia, the newly elected President of the National Union of Students'. I had the good fortune of meeting Malia whilst our paths crossed at the University of Birmingham - we shared a platform on many important issues as we both campaigned against the introduction of tuition fees and highlighting the plight of Palestinians in accessing quality education without fear of harassment. These issues remain vitally important to the heart of the NUS and what it strives to achieve - the NUS explicitly claims that it will fight barriers to education and empower students to shape the world around them. Historically the NUS has never shied away from international politics - playing a crucial role in the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa over fifty years ago. Malia is the victim of a smear campaign which is designed entirely to defame her character and weaken her position as the democratic leader of student unions and the student body as a whole. It is absolutely right that we should expect a degree of examination for anyone democratically elected - but such a campaign is designed to dethrone Malia by virtue of her appearance and her religion. The fact that the NUS have elected their first black President - who also happens to be a Muslim - should be celebrated by the student body across this country. It's a milestone in itself given that every article I've read on Malia's election refers to former NUS Presidents - and proceeds to list a dozen white men who have gone on to become influential political thinkers and Members of Parliament. Malia's election is clearly an indication that the student body is becoming more inclusive and more representative which is testament to campaigners like herself. Advertisement The elephant in the room are the accusations of anti-Semitism against Malia. Having shared a platform with her before and having been on the committee of the Friends of Palestine Society at the University of Birmingham I was exposed to similar accusations and smears. There is nothing more abhorrent than racism and anti-Semitism - but baseless accusations devalue and deface the tireless work which anti-racism and anti-fascists campaigners have done for years. Fortunately it is only a minority of students who would use anti-Semitism as a sword to beat down critical thought and dissenting opinion - but often these stories gain traction because of their emotional rhetoric. It is reassuring that Malia has met with the Union of Jewish Students - it is only through collaboration that anti-Semitism can be stamped out and it is only through discussion and education can people become aware that criticising the political motivations of the state of Israel is not equivalent to criticising Jewish people or their Jewishness - in the same way that tearing apart fundamentalist Islamism isn't akin to dismissing the thoughts and actions of millions of Muslims around the world who want to live in peace. Fairfax Media It's election season in Australia, and with that comes a set of tried and true traditions -- candidates kissing babies and shaking hands in shopping centres, election day sausage sizzles, and immigration policy. For almost every election since 2001, the year where the word 'refugee' blazed itself into the Australian mainstream with the Tampa incident, immigration and asylum seekers have been a headline election issue; and so it is again in 2016. A string of events has occurred in recent days, throwing major spanners in Australia's controversial and stained history of offshore detention. Australia's detention centre on Manus Island was ruled illegal by the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court, while a chain of suicide attempts on Nauru -- culminating in the tragic and horrific death of a 23-year-old Iranian refugee, who had set himself alight -- cast doubt on the suitability of that island as a stop-gap replacement measure. Such a confluence of ugly and politically damaging events is rare, and should have had the Labor opposition jumping for joy. Advertisement They weren't. Because, of course, Labor is as much to blame for Australia's marred detention policy as the Coalition government is. Opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton have been sparring publicly and strangely in a tit-for-tat press release war, each accusing the other of being the softest on immigration. All the while, refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru allegedly swallowed razor blades and washing powder, and the men on Manus were left in limbo as to what their future would be. This election will be a race about who is the toughest on immigration. Influential commentators Phillip Coorey and Waleed Aly have already noticed (here and here). Both Liberal and Labor have been posturing and chest-beating, naming their respective policies the toughest and their opponents' the weakest. Expect this to continue. The Greens have been preaching compassion, for the asylum seekers to be brought to Australia and processed on-shore. Both major parties have all but ignored the Greens' ideas. Expect that to continue, too. Aly called it the "monstrous failure of our bipartisan asylum seeker policy". For as far back as 2001, the Coalition locked itself into a "tough on boats" policy. John Howard famously told us that "we will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come". Tony Abbott wouldn't stop telling us about how he "stopped the boats." It locked Labor into espousing similar policies, lest they be seen as weak on borders, and -- as the Coalition has, and will continue to, hammer home -- by extension, weak on national security. Advertisement Nauru 2001 was about the Tampa and children overboard. Since then, "boats" and "boat people" have been the boogeymen that politicians have tried to scare us with. Most elections since then, respective leaders have outlined their plans to change that policy or close this detention centre or open that swap deal with that country. "Whatever decision the Australian Government takes, it must not risk sending a green light to people smugglers that they can revive their deadly trade," Marles said in a release. "The reality is Labor will talk tough before an election and cave-in in government bringing a return of the people smugglers boats and the illegal maritime arrivals. Labor will never keep the boats stopped," Dutton shot back. But while the major parties cater their messages to the (not small) crowd who don't want "boat people" arriving in Australia, neither are looking at the other end of the spectrum -- the large, and growing, part of society who recoil in horror as a man sets himself on fire on Nauru, who are alarmed at others swallowing washing powder and razor blades, who are disgusted at vulnerable women being raped and being denied abortions in detention centres, who think there must be some middle ground between stopping people smugglers while avoiding placing people fleeing from some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones in tents in far-flung foreign islands they've barely heard of. Severe heartache, man suffering from chest pain, having heart attack or painful cramps, pressing on chest with painful expression. On a recent overnight shift in the emergency room, a woman who was having vague abdominal pain and chest discomfort for several days was referred to me. When her symptoms began, after searching google, she came up with a diagnosis list that included everything from influenza, to Zika, to lupus. She came to the hospital several days later when it became hard to breath and it turned out that she had a massive heart attack. Cardiac pain originates from the heart muscle, most typically when blood flow to the heart (through vessels called coronary arteries) become blocked. In the heart muscle, there are nerve endings which transmit signals to the brain which get interpreted as chest pain. Unfortunately, just like other pain arising in other organs in the body, cardiac pain is poorly localized. Think of when you had stomach cramps after eating some food you probably shouldn't have--the pain is often vague and generalized, as opposed to being isolated to one specific location. Furthermore sensations arising from other organs in the chest, such as the esophagus, can produce pain indistinguishable from cardiac pain. Adding to this ambiguity is depending on your sex, race, and other factors, your description of pain may be significantly different than someone else. Topping it off, different healthcare professionals may also interpret your description of pain very differently. To help cut through the mountain of linguistic ambiguity, studies are now being done using artificial intelligence (AI) to help decode our description of symptoms to provide more accurate diagnoses. Advertisement At the recent American College of Cardiology meeting, I had a chance to discuss some of the developments in medical AI with Dr. Catherine Kreatsoulas, a Fulbright Scholar working at Harvard University. Dr. Kreatsoulas's research focuses on gender differences in cardiovascular disease and symptom differences between men and women. "There is a perception that women's symptoms are different than men" said Dr. Kreatsoulas. Her research suggested that while the symptoms between women and men may not be that different, "the way [women] describe symptoms are different." She also points out that "There may be differences in the way physicians interpret the symptoms described by men and women". Her research, dubbed the HERMES study, is testing how AI algorithms can help predict the likelihood of cardiovascular disease based on what patients are saying and how they describe symptoms. This study will be evaluating outcomes based on patients who are going for a coronary angiogram, the gold standard in identifying blockages in the coronary arteries. These AI algorithms will develop over time and can be further refined with more data. The hope is that these algorithms will eventually lead to developing a lexicon that can help identify cardiovascular disease in women and men based on how they describe their symptoms. From a medical standpoint, the implications of using linguistic AI algorithms are substantial. When calling 911 for help, based on how and what someone says, these AI algorithms may identify someone at high risk for a heart attack and can make appropriate triaging recommendation. Or conceivably, you can talk into your phone, and based on the lexicon of words being used, combined with your risk factor profile, your risk of cardiovascular disease can be accurately identified. These AI algorithms can be extended to other acute emergencies that need urgent intervention such as strokes. Advertisement Watch Rahaf and Habari #TalkToMe and read the story of my family... My mother was a Polish refugee, born in Palestine. She lived in a refugee camp in Germany awaiting a country to accept her, not knowing which that would be for two years. My grandparents had been taken from their home in Poland during World War II on a cold freight train to a Siberian work camp. After three years they escaped and walked many miles through the snow, in below freezing weather, to join the Polish army and obtain passage out of the Gulag. They journeyed through Iran, Iraq, Egypt, and eventually to Palestine, where my mother, her brother, and sister were born. They then traveled through Syria, into Europe, and lived in a refugee camp in Germany. Advertisement A distant, unfamiliar relative in the U.S., sponsored them into the United States, with the help of the church. As he lived in Oregon, they thanked him profusely, but never met. My mother, at six years old, arrived by boat into the New York harbor on a freezing January day in 1951. My grandmother had experienced incredible trauma from the war and had left her own mother to die in Siberia, to save her child. Her father, had been beaten to death in a Polish prison, for hiding the maps of the church altars and art during the German invasion. My grandma's son, who was born in Siberia and survived the journey to Iran, died there at age three. My grandmother was alone, as my Grandfather was out fighting in Italy, at the time of her child's death. It was the last proverbial straw and she checked out mentally. She had been a lovely, college educated woman from an old aristocratic family, and after everything was taken from her, found herself with no family left, alone in Iran. With no home, no mother or father, a dead child and a husband long gone all in the course of a year, she lost all of her memory and checked out. After recovering from Amnesia, yet never fully regaining her mental health, she had three more children in Palestine. My mother was the youngest. My "Babci" raised my mother, sister, and brother with great love and affection but remained introverted and reclusive, and never regained her full memory or total faculties. As a child, I never knew her to be a participant of "our world", as we knew it. She asked for nothing, monetarily never bought new clothes, or participated in activities. I bathed her, listening to her speaking Polish, as I combed her hair. She was conversing with the other female soldiers in the Polish army. She would laugh and cry, but it was never in the present. Babci re-lived her traumatic past in a permanent state of PTSD. I photographed her beautiful blue eyes. They showed so much beauty, love, and pain. In the spring of 2015, I traveled to the Turkish border of Syria with a small camera crew to make a documentary about the women in the Syrian refugee camps. I wanted to hear their stories and see what the women, who had left their homes, were going through. What I found was an incredible resilience, despite everything they had been through. Women in the World for The New York Times and Huffington Post published my short film. I met Rahaf in the art room of the refugee camp in southern Turkey. She was utilizing art, as a tool to ease her pain and suffering. Drawing, painting, and writing poetry, helped Rahaf express what she was feeling. Advertisement Rahaf's family fled their home in Deir ez-Zor in 2012 after her 14 year old brother was killed by the regime. Instead of fleeing to safety in Turkey with the rest of the family, Rahaf stayed behind in Syria to complete her education and study civil engineering at the university in Raqqa, until ISIS came and bombed her school. Although she survived, the bomb destroyed Rahaf's left eardrum. Her intention was to receive an education as she knew that Turkey would be too expensive for a Civil Engineering degree. Rahaf fled to Damascus and enrolled in another University. After three months, the regime occupied the city. A classmate overheard the guards searching for her because her family was on the "list". The "list" included anyone whose family members were killed by the regime. These people were deemed as "terrorists" solely because their relatives were murdered by Assad's regime, as had her younger brother. Rahaf ran from the guards in Damascus and hid in the back of a truck transporting carpets. She begged the driver to allow her to hide inside the carpets from town to town, as she lay still from checkpoint to checkpoint. At a stop in Northern Syria, a guard found her in the back of the truck. She pleaded, "Please, don't kill me, I have nothing. Everyone in my family has been murdered. If you kill me, nothing will change." The guard spared Rahaf's life and she was able to make it to Turkey and re-join her family in the refugee camp. When Rahaf saw the documentary that I made, featuring herself and other women in the camps, she realized just how trapped she had become. In the documentary, Rahaf said, "All people want is Freedom!" and "There is no life without work!". The camp offered her protection from the war, but she had no opportunity for the future. She wanted to do great things in the world. She wanted to be a civil engineer, doctor, psychologist, and to help people. Not possible there, from a camp, Rahaf wrote to me on Facebook and asked if I could help her get to Sweden. I said, "I will try but I'm not sure how". Rahaf convinced her frightened mother to allow her to go to Sweden to find a better life. She had read that it was a great place for independent women. Her mother said, "Okay you want to go... go, but you must take your sister Habari with you." Habari and Rahaf left the camp and made their way to northern Turkey and Istanbul in August, 2015. There the sisters met with smugglers and spent weeks trying to get to Greece. Their third attempt to board the boat was successful and Rahaf wrote to me from Greece, "Aliya, I am now in Greece!". That began the long journey through Europe. I spoke with the girls every step of the way, each day, sometimes several times. They were teargassed by the Greek police as they made their way into Macedonia. Rahaf called me crying, "I thought Habari was dead". "Her eyes were so red and although we couldn't see, we had to continue running." Before the girls arrived in Hungary, I read that Budapest just shut down trains for all refugees so they couldn't pass into Europe. I had to break the news to the girls (via Facebook messenger). I rented an apartment in Budapest on airbnb so they could rest safely when they arrived, but the hosts said that they had no reservation. I rented a Best Western Hotel in Budapest under Rahaf's name, but the front desk would not allow the girls to check in. The hotel worker said that she would call the police if the girls didn't leave. I called the hotel and begged them to allow the girls to stay. I had already paid for the room, but the hotel still denied them entrance because they were Syrian refugees. The girls slept in the train station in Budapest for six nights, too terrified to sleep, too tired to stay awake. As things deteriorated, the police started arresting all the Syrian people at the train station. I convinced the girls to change their clothes and remove their hijabs so that they could blend in with the Hungarian people and be safe. I located a group of underground filmmakers who agreed to house the girls for a few nights until things cooled down. Simultaneously, the girls coordinated with a smuggler and got on a train to Austria. I received word from my local contacts that those trains were being re-routed to a holding pen where the police were rounding up all Syrian people and holding them in a barbed wire fenced-in area. I thought of Auschwitz as I fought with the girls to get them off the train. They wanted to depart Hungary so intensely, yet I had to convince them that the trains were a hoax and they needed to go to the safe house that I had pre-arranged for them. The Syrian refugees in Hungary finally joined together and marched to the border of Austria in a revolutionary manner. I booked a flight to Budapest and told the girls to meet me at the safe house. As I was departing for JFk airport, I received word that Germany was sending, "safe busses" to carry the refugees out of Hungary and into Germany via Austria. The girls called me and told me not to come to Hungary. Rahaf said, "Meet us in Stockholm, we are on our way and we are now going to make it!". I re-routed my trip for Stockholm and rented an apartment on airbnb, where we could all stay. When I arrived at the apartment in Stockholm and texted my host, A tall, handsome man next to me said, "I think you're looking for me!". I thought he was flirting with me so I said, "No I'm fine, thanks." He replied, "Yes, you rented my apartment." "Oh, sorry!", I said. The man asked why I was there, "Well, I will tell you the truth.... I've been helping these two girls who are Syrian refugees. They have all been through hell and will need a safe place to rest." He said, "I'm a psychologist and I work with children with trauma, specifically refugees," let's talk!". Deo and I went to lunch and we discussed everything the girls had been through. He helped me understand how they might be feeling when they arrived and what to expect. He had been a refugee from Uganda. His family fled after the Idi Amin era. Deo was adopted and raised by a lovely Swedish woman named Lottie. Then, I received a message from Rahaf that they were being held in a Danish jail. Deo decided to help me locate the girls, and assisted in getting them to safety in Sweden. I was grateful to meet someone so caring and willing to help. Over the next couple days, Deo and I formed a special bond (a romance). Finally the girls made it to Sweden and Deo and I picked them up at the train station. I filmed the experience and you can see it here on Refinery29, in a very personal short film. I brought the girls safely back to the house and made them a fresh, home-cooked meal. The following day we went to immigration in Stockholm where they informed us that they would separate the girls and send Habari to a children's camp, because she was under 18 and Rahaf to another camp for adults. Another problem we encountered was that the girls' abusive, estranged father, lived in a camp in the South of Sweden, and wanted them to join him so he could receive money for them. Both of these options seemed bleak. I looked to my new romantic psychologist Deo for advice. He said, "There are no problems, only solutions!" We had two good choices... Hide Habari like Anne Frank for seven months until she turned 18. Or claim responsibility for Habari and "adopt" her. We chose the latter. It is time to privatize family planning. There is no reason our government should be involved in family planning issues. Family planning is the right and decision of women, their partners, other family members, the family doctor and in some cases, clergy, if desired. As a for-profit business, the primary outcome would be providing underserved women with free family planning products and services. Additionally let's all remember that the most controversial service, abortion, is legal. We have to stop fighting for it as though it is not legal, as this only serves to somehow diminish its validity. A for-profit company would only solidify the legitimacy of the current legal status of abortion. A business model to emulate is that of Newman's Own, which has run effectively and efficiently for years: a for-profit entity that funds its nonprofit entity with after-tax profits. Here's how it would work. The for-profit side of the business would offer products through an 800 number, 1-800-FAM-PLAN (same as say, 1-800-CONTACTS), and a website. This Amazon.com-like warehouse would carry everything under the sun related to family planning (think birth control pills, condoms, pregnancy tests, Viagra, the morning after pill, etc.) - anything and everything you can get at your local drug store and pharmacy. But there's more, this one-stop shop will also offer all types of hygiene products (from tampons to deodorants) and sexual well-being complements -- lubricants, enhancers, vibrating or otherwise. Now we're making money. Advertisement This after-tax profit will be transferred over to the nonprofit side of the company. The result will be a network of family planning centers with relationships to hospitals in every city in every state. These could be supplemental to or separate from Planned Parenthoods - which the company would, without doubt, also fund. Additional remote locations connected to the Centers will help reach families in rural locations. If need be, women will be escorted (by plane, train, bus, minivan or personal driver) to be counseled, offered products and services, cared for and protected (with our own security detail) in any and all ways. It will be a positive force in America's market, with growth and job opportunities, and a healthy consumer-friendly, pro-active way to help women, men and families with every family planning need. Imagine his thriving free-market entity, managed entirely without a single tax dollar. If the government (federal, state or local) were to interfere, they would be sued for obstruction of business. We are after all, a capitalistic country - who would stop a business from the pursuit to be profitable? That would simply be un-American. Speaking of this, it is important to understand that the current state of family planning with limiting of access and services is racist. The fact is, if abortion is ever illegal, those with means, who also happen to be (demographically) predominately white, will be able to travel to Canada or Europe for an abortion if necessary. Those without means, the majority who happen to be minorities, will not have the same access and privilege to do so and will further be trapped in the cycle of poverty and continued institutional racism based on the laws our governing bodies impose. Advertisement The slew of recent articles about abortion has only reinforced the importance of getting our government and its laws off our bodies. The old joke that if men got pregnant, abortions would be handled "drive-through" like at a fast food restaurant -- is no joke. It is no surprise Viagra is covered by almost all insurance companies, but birth control is not. Women in rural areas are often beholden to conservative pharmacists' decisions of whether they can even get their birth control prescription filled. Even in liberal New York City one cannot easily get Plan B (the "morning after pill" -- which by law is supposed to on the public shelves as it is over-the-counter) because it is behind the pharmacy counter. Concerned about its availability for my daughter's friend who was in need of it, I checked my local pharmacy here in lower Manhattan and when I found it was behind the counter, I asked the pharmacist why? He shrugged. I reminded him it was the law to have it on the public shelves in the store, he shrugged again and said that he didn't want it getting into the wrong hands. I had no idea who those wrong hands might be - young women in need? Those hands are "wrong?" Based on a study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Medical Center (2014), pharmacists have refused to sell Plan B to women, or asked for their I.D., and in many cases, even refused to sell it to men. And then there are many pharmacies that specifically do not stock it - making their stance perfectly clear. Throw in, for the sake of covering all business functions and angles, the recent article about a Harvard-educated woman trying to build a better tampon for women but can't because she can't get funding because she's a woman? Because it is a woman's product? Guess what -- 1-800-FAM-PLAN will also fund this kind product development and R&D. UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 25: Job postings hang on a wall near a table of job seekers in a New York State Labor Department career resource center in New York on February 25, 2004. (Photo by Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Life doesn't always work out the way you expect it to. That's a lesson I've learned many times since my mother moved us to America when I was 12. When we first got to our apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, there were times when I wanted to go back home, to Barbados. But I adjusted in my first few years, making new friends and discovering life in New York City. I dreamed that I might have a career in computer science one day. But as a sophomore in high school, my grades started to slip. I stopped going to class and eventually dropped out. That wasn't how I expected my teenage years to go. In my twenties, learning a trade seemed like the best way to get back on the path to earning a living and supporting myself. I enrolled in APEX technical college in Long Island City, Queens to pursue certifications in carpentry and electrical skills. But while attending vocational school, I didn't stay on track. In late 2009, I was arrested and convicted on three felony charges. I spent nearly five years -- from ages 27-32 -- in prison. Advertisement Every day that you're locked up, you think about your future: What do I expect of myself? How am I going to adjust when I get out? What is my plan for coming home going to be? I wanted to spend my time inside doing more than just sitting around. So I took advantage of the opportunity to earn my GED. I signed up for a bricklaying apprenticeship and obtained vocational titles in construction. I was committed to preparing myself for the life I wanted when I got out. I wanted the stability of a regular working person. I returned home to Brooklyn in late 2014. After being gone for so long, you need support to transition back into society. You need information. You need a network. You need people around you who actually have access to the services that will help you. And you need those right away if you want to earn money and sustain yourself. The past 18 months would have been different for me if re-entry services weren't there on day one to help me do just that. On my first check-in with my parole officer, a recruiter from an organization called the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) spoke about the services that the organization offered men and women just coming home from prison. He was impressed by the GED and bricklaying experience I had obtained in prison. When he told me that CEO has connections in the construction industry, it was like hearing that I could pick back up where I left off. I signed up on the spot. My first week in the program, I completed a five-day life skills training that taught me how to best apply for jobs and get employers to see me for my qualifications and not for my criminal convictions. On the second week, CEO gave me a pair of boots and put me to work. I did light construction and maintenance work on transitional job crews four days-a-week, earning a paycheck after every shift I worked. Advertisement With CEO, I enrolled in additional training courses and obtained the construction safety certifications needed to work in this city. I even completed a three-month carpentry class at Hostos Community College. And I never had to come out of my pocket to cover the payment -- CEO covered all the costs. In May 2015, I worked with CEO to set up a job interview with a Brooklyn construction company. I nailed the interview, got the job, and have been working full time as a mason for over a year now. Everything that I prepared for while incarcerated, I'm actually doing today. That's what programs like CEO are for, to provide the support that people returning home from prison need to stabilize their lives and fulfill their dreams. elephant carries a flag USA, isolated on white background This piece is appearing in newspapers in my conservative congressional District in Virginia. Which party do you think of when you hear the phrase, "defender of the Constitution"? I would wager that members of both parties would immediately think of the Republican Party, because they are the ones who most loudly proclaim their deep allegiance to our founding document. Yet in recent years, the leaders of the GOP have engaged in an assault on our constitutional system in ways unprecedented in American history: Advertisement 1)In the torture memos, the George W. Bush administration set a precedent that could enable any future president to shield his or her administration from prosecution for any illegal actions. Just tell your lawyers to draw up a memo declaring a crime to be legal. Such a memo can shield those who commit the illegal action, for they can claim that they relied on the memo. Meanwhile the lawyers who wrote the memo can't be prosecuted because they did nothing but render an opinion. 2)In pardoning Scooter Libby, the Bush administration freed the only person tried and convicted of a crime performed in an administration that deliberately flouted several major laws (including warrantless searches, which are felonies under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and the torture of prisoners, in violation of both federal law and binding treaties). Even though Libby was prosecuted by an outstanding Republican attorney, and found by a jury to be guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice in the Valerie Plame case, the president snatched him from the grasp of the law with a pardon that was tantamount to a declaration that this Republican administration was above the law. 3)The Republicans decided even before Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009 to do all they could to prevent him from performing his presidential role by obstructing whatever he sought to accomplish. ("If he was for it, we were supposed to be against it," a Republican Senator from Ohio, George Voinovich, later said.) They expected the American people to blame the president for his failure and hand power back to the Republican Party. Even if this isn't a legal violation of the Constitution, it is clearly against the spirit of the Constitution to prevent that person from doing his job whom the American people have hired to perform a function the Constitution treats as of great importance. 4)Never until President Obama's first term had a Senate minority applied the filibuster -- a Senate rule intended for special circumstances, to protect vital concerns of a Senate minority -- so that every matter before that body would require 60 votes, rather than a simple majority, to move forward. (Since the Senate gives an equal number of seats to states with few people as to states with many, this meant that for the first six years of this Democratic presidency the representatives of a mere 11% of the nation's population could thwart the desires of the other 89%.) The Constitution indicates that the Senate shall operate by the principle of "majority rule" - otherwise why have the Vice President empowered to break a tie? In the American system, the Constitution takes precedence over a mere law. But the Senate Republicans used not even a law but a mere Senate rule to override the Constitution. Advertisement 5)Right now, the Republicans in the Senate are refusing to honor the Constitution's statement that the president "shall appoint" a justice to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. These Senate Republicans have been obstructing presidential appointments -- to the courts and otherwise -- to an unprecedented degree for some time. But never has this disregard for the presidential role been so blatant as when the Republicans announced within hours of the death of Justice Scalia that they would refuse to consider any nominee this president might put forward. A succession of "justifications" for this conduct all proved hollow, based on misrepresentations of both history and the Constitution's clear meaning. All this from the Party that, when it in 2011 it took over the House of Representatives, began the term by reading the Constitution aloud from the House floor. One form of brokenness in the human world is when people act the opposite of what they loudly claim they stand for, marching off under the most noble of banners to do ignoble things. Andrew Bard Schmookler -- the Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia's 6th District in 2012 -- is the author of What We're Up Against: The Destructive Force at Work in Our World--and How We Can Defeat It. Businesses often get badmouthed for being selfish and cold. However, if you look at some of today's most successful entrepreneurs - and their businesses - it's clear that this is nothing more than an overly exaggerated cliche. There are plenty of businesses doing the right things - and they often get rewarded as a result. The Greed Fallacy Corporate greed is a real thing - and it's recently been brought into the spotlight by presidential hopeful, Bernie Sanders - but it's important that people stop lumping all businesses together under one label. While large organizations and Fortune 500 companies do sometimes live up to the label of "greedy," entrepreneurs and their small businesses don't deserve to be placed in this category. According to a study compiled by Harris Interactive in cooperation with Ernst & Young, entrepreneurs and small businesses are much more likely to give back to charitable organizations. In fact, of the 146 entrepreneurs surveyed, 61 percent say that they're (a) more inclined to give back and (b) more likely to allocate more than twice the percentage of profits to charity than larger organizations. Advertisement Furthermore, 90 percent of entrepreneurs donate money (both personally and through their businesses), while 70 percent also donate their time. Other interesting takeaways include: 26 percent of respondents say that corporate philanthropy was purposefully built into the original business plan. 73 percent of respondents encourage employees to volunteer, while 53 percent offer programs specifically designed to encourage donating. 62 percent of respondents believe that giving back makes their companies stronger in the long run. Say what you want about Wall Street, but it's time to reevaluate the popular opinion in regards to entrepreneurship and small business. In this case, greed is a fallacy. Advertisement Three Benefits of Giving Back For entrepreneurs and their businesses, giving back comes with a number of advantages. Let's take a look at some of these in order to get a better idea of why so many are committed to charitable giving. 1. Better Connection to the Community If your business is closed off in an imaginary bubble, it's hard to gain any traction in the community. There's very little interaction with customers, and you're probably out of touch with the things that they really want. By giving back to charities and getting involved with causes, you can forge a much stronger connection with the community. You'll begin to understand who your customers are, why they do the things that they do, and what pain points they have. Aside from serving them through charitable giving, this also allows you to serve your customers and clients better in the future. 2. Employee Engagement Charitable giving is about more than just writing a check and sending it off to an organization. Even more meaningful than donating money is sacrificing your time. When you align your business with a good cause, you'll be able to engage your employees and to give them a greater sense of purpose. In a competitive job market where employees want more than a paycheck, this is a wonderful way to set your organization apart from the competition. 3. Positive Publicity "Sponsoring a charitable program and volunteering your business' time are great ways to raise awareness about a specific cause and also promote your business in partnership with the organization or event," says business expert Ben Gran. Advertisement In addition to creating your own content and sharing it on your website and social platforms, you'll also gain traction in other places. For example, the charity or organization that you're working with will probably promote your business on their own website with logos and write-ups. If you have the connections, you can also reach out to members of the local media to get a spotlight article or news segment. There are endless possibilities. How to Get Involved with Charities If your small business isn't currently involved with charitable work, it's probably because you aren't aware of the opportunities that exist right in front of you. Here are a few different ways that you can get involved. 1. Find a Related Cause In many cases, there are extremely obvious and natural ways to give back. Take Albert Scaglione of Park West Gallery as an example. He and his wife are deeply committed to serving their community by giving monetary gifts and art collections to specific organizations. They've had the opportunity to work with renowned artists such as Guy Harvey and Romero Britto, among others. For Scaglione and his business, this is a natural fit. It isn't forced or uncomfortable. Park West Gallery is in the business of selling art, so providing art collections to local organizations is a seamless extension of what the business does. Can you find related causes that would work well with your business? Think about the products you sell, and then seek out charitable organizations and need-based opportunities that could use your expertise. Believe it or not, there are probably a handful of them in your area. Advertisement 2. Donate a Portion of Sales Another popular strategy is to donate a portion of your company's sales to a specific cause, charity, or need. This is essentially what entrepreneur Blake Mycosckie does with TOMS Shoes. He noticed a need, started a business, and now gives a portion of sales (in the form of a pair of shoes) directly to a pressing need. While you don't have to develop a "buy one give one" strategy, you can commit to giving a small percentage of your profits to charity. This is an easy way to build goodwill with customers and to do something worthwhile. 3. Establish Your Own Fund If you can't find a suitable or relevant charitable cause, why not start your own? Plenty of entrepreneurs have done it, and it can be incredibly meaningful to your organization and to the people whom you serve. Take Rich Schaden, founder of hit restaurants such as Smashburger and Tom's Urban, as an example. He and his wife, Cheryl, founded America's Road Home in 2008. The foundation, which works closely with Urban Peak and Nexus C.A.R.E.S., raises awareness for family homelessness in Denver and other cities around the country. It's a wonderful organization that's serving a huge societal issue. Think of things about which you're passionate. They don't even have to be related to your business. Sometimes, it's good if the cause isn't related to your business, as it shows that you're doing it for the right reasons. Regardless, launching your own charity or fund is a fantastic way to give back. Advertisement Giving Back is Good for Everyone Entrepreneurs and small business owners shouldn't feel bad about being successful. That's the beauty of the country we live in: anyone can launch a business and pursue financial freedom. However, it's also important to recognize the value of giving back to others. Thankfully, a large percentage of today's small businesses are already giving back (though you wouldn't know it from listening to the way the media talks about selfish organizations and greedy business owners). Four score and seven years ago, my mother was born into an America swarming with pathogens. Many were simply known as diseases of childhood; not all children survived them. My mother remembers how her family suffered when a cousin died during infancy from meningitis. Even closer to home was the scare when her younger brother developed encephalitis from the measles virus. My mother began having children of her own in the 1950s--my brothers and sister and I were born before the breakthrough measles, mumps and rubella vaccines came out the next decade. Our family was spared the terrible wave of congenital rubella that struck thousands of Americans in the 1960s. It resulted in 20,000 infants born with birth defects or deafness - on top of 2,000 cases of encephalitis, 11,250 fetal losses, and 2,100 newborn deaths. Watching the Zika virus spread in Latin America, I can't help imagine how frightening that earlier epidemic of virus-induced birth defects must have been for families in America. I came to the CDC in 1988. That year, the World Health Assembly announced a commitment to eradicate polio--which every day paralyzed 1,000 children. Today polio is on the brink of extinction, clinging to existence in only two nations. The year I came to CDC, the Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) conjugate vaccine was just beginning to be used to prevent life-threatening meningitis and sepsis. Now Hib disease is nearly eliminated in the U.S., and the Vaccines for Children program makes sure vaccines are available to every child in America, and the GAVI Alliance has helped Hib vaccine be introduced in the poorest countries of the world. Other things have changed since I came to CDC. Soon after I arrived, the U.S. experienced a major measles outbreak--55,000 cases and 123 deaths--and 1.9 million children worldwide were estimated to die from measles each year. By the year 2000, measles was eliminated from the U.S. And by 2014, worldwide measles deaths had declined to 115,000, with efforts in Africa and Asia accounting for most of the progress. Twenty-five years ago, I made my first trip to West Africa to look for places to test a meningococcal A conjugate vaccine. In the past five years, 235 million people in the African meningitis belt have lined up to get the low-cost MenAfriVac developed by the Meningitis Vaccine Project. Today, epidemic group A meningococcal meningitis is gone. Of course it's not all smooth sailing now. We can't take lifesaving vaccines for granted. In parts of Europe, we've seen many people forgo having their children immunized. The result: large outbreaks of measles that have been very difficult to control, including cases imported to the U.S. The progress in Africa is fragile -- there've been very large measles outbreaks in the same countries that experienced Ebola, a result of interrupted health services and a tragic consequence of the Ebola epidemic. Working with global partners and national governments, it is crucial we prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks before they spread; finish the job of polio eradication and secure its legacy through resilient immunization systems and sustained high coverage of measles vaccine. Now I've reached the "mature" stage of my CDC career, and we are fighting a new threat called Zika. Our Ebola response showed we could move candidate vaccines from pre-clinical testing into large-scale field trials faster than ever. Zika, with its link to birth defects and miscarriage, provides an echo of the terrible rubella outbreak of the '60s. Improvements in science and global collaboration can help vaccine development against Zika advance even more rapidly. As I reflect on the 1960s when my parents were busy with five young children, it amazes me to consider what a different world their great-granddaughter Maya will inherit, and just what kind of future she can expect. She has a greater chance than ever to grow and thrive, free of vaccine-preventable diseases and complications like vaccine-preventable cancers caused by human papillomavirus. She can grow up in a world that is free of polio for every generation to come. A world where no child dies from measles - anywhere. Nature will continue to pose new and unexpected disease threats. But thanks to strong partnerships and political will, we are today, and can be tomorrow, better prepared to overcome them. And thanks to the voices of immunization champions, we can hear the voices of parents around the world and imagine prospects for their children as if they were our own. Image: Savik Shuster, a TV talkshow host in Ukraine, began a hunger strike on Tuesday to protest the government's decision to revoke his work permit. Shuster says the move is politically motivated. By Aleksandrit (CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikipedia) Journalist Savik Shuster knows what it's like to get expelled from a former Soviet country for his reporting and commentary. Shuster, who was born in Lithuania during Soviet times but now holds dual Canadian and Italian citizenship, was host of a popular political talk show in Russia during the early 2000s. Advertisement It was a free-wheeling affair. Shuster and his guests were often critical of the government, which was headed by a new president named Vladimir Putin, who chafed at some of the show's barbs. In 2005 Russia refused to renew Shuster's work visa. He took up residence in Ukraine, where he also became as a political talk-show host. The show's criticism of the Poroshenko administration recently led to his being kicked out of another ex-Soviet country for the second time in 11 years. The boot came this month, when Ukraine revoked his work visa on grounds that he is being investigated for tax evasion -- an allegation Shuster said is bogus. His two deportations are indicative of the former Soviet Union's penchant for expelling foreign correspondents who get under their leaders' skin. Russia has made two high-profile deportations of Western journalists in five years. The first was Luke Harding, a correspondent for Britain's Guardian, in 2011. He was the first Western journalist Russia to have been expelled since Soviet times. Advertisement The stage was set for his expulsion in 2007, the year he arrived in Moscow, when he reported that Putin was worth $40 billion, making him one of the world's richest men. Other Western journalists would report later that Putin was the world's richest man, worth upwards of $100 billion. Russian leaders resented Harding more than the others, however, because he opened the door to reporting on the topic. Putin denied Harding's $40-billion report at a press conference in 2008, saying that those who write such accounts "dig it out of their noses and smear it on their papers." Harding also reported on Wikileaks disclosures that embarrassed Russia. One was an American diplomat's description of Russia as a "virtual mafia state." Putin left the presidency in 2008 to become prime minister because the Russian constitution prevents a president from serving more than two terms consecutively. But he was still the power behind the throne in Russia, and thus would have had to sign off on Harding's expulsion, which caused a diplomatic row between Britain and Russia. Russia's justification for deporting him was that he had committed a visa violation. The same excuse was served up when Russia expelled American journalist David Satter in 2014. Satter, a former Financial Times reporter, was in Moscow as a consultant for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty when he was deported. Advertisement That work was probably not what got him expelled, however. The real reason was likely Russian officials' lingering anger over his accusation in a book in 1999 -- "Darkness at Dawn" -- that Russia's security service, the FSB, was responsible for the bombings of apartment buildings that killed more than 300 people. The FSB's contention that Islamic radicals were behind the bombings gave Putin, when he became president in 2000, a justification for starting a second war in 10 years against Chechen insurgents. Putin was dissatisfied that previous Russian government had failed to crush the radicals. To this day the FSB's official stance is that the bombings are still unsolved. In an irony, sometimes the journalists whom countries in the former Soviet Union expel are not Westerners, but from other ex-Soviet countries. That was the case when Turkmenistan expelled a Russian working for the RIA Novosti news service in 2005. Turkmenistan maintained that Viktor Panov had used a journalist's cover to spy for Russia. While many countries in the former Soviet Union toss out foreign correspondents whose reporting they dislike, some of them welcome correspondents when they believe they can make use of them. Advertisement In early April of this year the worst fighting in two decades flared up in the Nagorno Karabakh region that has been a source of contention between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the late 1980s. The ethnic Armenians who are in control of the enclave tried to get foreign journalists on their side by inviting them to the territory for briefings and to look around and talk with people. Because the Nagorno Karabakh functionaries had little experience with foreign reporters, press-relations people from Armenia scurried to the enclave to help. One was Samvel Farmanian, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's former press secretary and now a member of parliament from Sargsyan's Republican Party of Armenia. Farmanian asserted that his press-facilitation work in Nagorno Karabakh was strictly as a volunteer. Other Armenians who rushed to the enclave to help included television personalities Narek Margaryan and Sergey Sargsyan, and even actress Nazeni Hovhannisian, presumably in a morale-bolstering role. Advertisement The examples in Ukraine, Russia, Turkmenistan and Nagorno Karabakh indicate that if foreign correspondents can be of use, then let them in, but if they're stepping on your toes, get rid of them. And, as always in the former Soviet Union when it comes to journalists, the truth be damned. The author arrived early to help bring tusks of a record-setting 105-tonne cache to the burn site at Nairobi National Park. It will be set on fire on Saturday. The Giants Club, founded by His Excellency Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta with the presidents of Botswana, Gabon and Uganda, with support from the international NGO Space for Giants, has giant ambitions to bring various stakeholders in elephant conservation together to solve the global crisis. These ambitions have materialised in the first-ever summit of its kind that in addition to tackling the poaching crisis through various approaches, will provide guidance and financial mechanisms to protect and maintain the continent's most significant elephant landscapes well into the future. Advertisement Leaders from the key range countries are in the same room committing their power and influence to a worthwhile cause. We, a few leaders of some select NGOs, are here to lend our support and if asked, to put their feet to the fire. The summit commences tomorrow at the Mt. Kenya Safari Club and will feature panel discussions on frontline protection, the role of influencers in policymaking, and the maintenance of safe habitat for these majestic animals. I am honoured to join top CEOs, philanthropists, conservationists and dedicated celebrities in discussing this multi-national crisis. However powerful, it's a nimble group, limited to only 100 participants and their key advisors. Space for Giants founder Evgeny Lebedev hosts a dinner that night, where participants will be encouraged to share their conservation investments with others one-on-one. We are excited to present our recent project tenBoma--which has already shown results in tracking poaching networks so as to stop them before they can slaughter elephants--with the people who can support its future in whatever way possible. Advertisement The following morning, the presidents of the Giants Club will announce key conservation interventions and donors will make pledges to the cause. Following this gathering, we will all travel to Nairobi National Park to be witnesses as the Kenyan government sets fire to 105 tonnes of elephant ivory and rhino horn - the largest stockpile to be burned by any country at one time. Since 1989, Kenya has destroyed more than 30 tonnes of ivory. Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Moi destroyed five tonnes in 2011 and 12 tonnes in 1989 respectively before H.E. Kenyatta set ablaze 15 tonnes last March. The burning of the 12 tonnes in 1989 captured media attention and helped lead to the international ivory trade ban in 1990. Since 2011 more than 100 tonnes of ivory have been destroyed by countries such as Belgium, Cameroon, Chad, China (including Hong Kong), The Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE and the US. The gravity of these few days is felt every moment I am here. The outcomes will make huge strides for elephant protection in the African continent. Advertisement Francis Gurry, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) of the UN, stands accused of manipulating WIPO's procurement process to steer a contract to a friend and abusing his authority by directing his security team to steal DNA samples from his staff in order to link them to anonymous letters critical of him. The first offense is indicative of unethical conduct and the second suggests - at best - a psychotic episode. Anders Kompass, Director of Field Operations and Technical Cooperation at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), was accused of leaking confidential information when he reported to law enforcement, through proper channels, child sexual abuse at a camp for the displaced in the Central African Republic (CAR). At worst, the allegations against Kompass suggest that he is too effective and ethical to be working for the United Nations. Clearly, one of these two men should have been suspended pending an investigation. And one of them was: Anders Kompass. Francis Gurry remained (and remains) in his post, consulting with representatives of the WIPO Member States about the distribution of the investigators' report finding him culpable of misconduct. Advertisement As for Kompass, in response to his reporting the sexual abuse of children to law enforcement, the High Commissioner, Prince Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein of Jordan, had him suspended nine months after the fact. Zeid explained his decision by saying that he feared Kompass would destroy evidence. After Kompass filed suit with the UN Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) protesting his suspension, the judges ordered that he be reinstated, citing the obvious: if he had wanted to destroy evidence of the alleged crime of reporting crimes to the police, he would already have done it. In the meantime, Gurry suppressed evidence in plain view of, and in consultation with, the Chair of the WIPO General Assembly (GA). The report recounting his culpability has been withheld from the Member States, while an ambiguous and duplicitous three-page "summary" circulates. The summary, concocted by the WIPO GA Chair, Gabriel Duque, and Gurry, admits that the investigators found misconduct warranting discipline, but trivializes and conceals the details. In consultations, Duque is proposing to Member States that they issue a mild reprimand and move on, without having access to the full report. The great irony is that Gurry fired the President of the WIPO Staff Association, Moncef Kateb, days before Kateb was scheduled to blow the whistle on Gurry (yet again) to the WIPO GA. The General Assembly did nothing effective in response to any of this. In short, Gurry remains untouchable today, and most distressing, seemingly unaccountable to the Member States charged with the oversight of WIPO. For their part, the WIPO Member States seem content with the 'mushroom' treatment given them: they are kept in the dark and periodically dosed with manure. This, they accept as they entertain statements about 'zero-tolerance' for this and that, and, from time to time, issue their own diplomatic manure about their commitment to transparency and accountability. Linking both the WIPO debacle and the horrors at OHCHR is whistleblower Miranda Brown. Dr. Brown was an adviser to Gurry and first reported his efforts to identify staff members who criticized him. When he discovered her role, he harassed her until she resigned. Dr. Brown then went from the frying pan to the fire. She took a position at OHCHR, where she reported to Anders Kompass. When she realized that the investigation of child sex abuse had been obstructed and a retaliatory campaign was in the offing against Kompass, she reported the child sex abuse to the US delegation to the UN in Geneva. Then, two days after she appeared as a witness in an internal WIPO investigation of Gurry, which was later shut down by Gurry himself, Zeid informed her that her contract at OHCHR would not be renewed. He later decided to renew her contract but transfer her to Fiji, a move she could not make for documented medical reasons. In December 2014, her OHCHR contract ended and she is currently without a job. Advertisement To recap, one UN official reports soldiers for raping and sodomizing children and is suspended pending the conclusion of an investigation. A UN Tribunal must intervene to halt the retaliation. Another official demonstrates for his staff that procurement regulations are merely decorative and orders his subordinates to steal genetic material from staff members he imagines have criticized him anonymously, and nothing happens to him. The whistleblower, Dr. Brown, is harassed out of her position at WIPO, and her contract is terminated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United States delegation, which insisted on a policy to protect whistleblowers from retaliation at both the United Nations Secretariat and at WIPO, stands by as Gurry expels the whistleblower and Zeid terminate her. The Member States of the United Nations common system fund OHCHR and UN peacekeeping, and their nationals finance WIPO through fees for patent applications. Currently, they wring their collective hands helplessly as Kompass is pilloried and Brown's career is wrecked, then diplomatically request that Ambassador Duque provide them with the report establishing Gurry's guilt. This posture is simply not credible. The Member States of WIPO and the UN Secretariat are effectively the Boards of Directors of the Organizations. They elect the Director General at WIPO and the Secretary General of the UN Secretariat. The Member States are responsible for the integrity and the credibility of the United Nations common system, which they established and fund. When the Director General of a UN Specialized Agency such as WIPO is allegedly corrupt and unstable, and the UN High Commissioner retaliates against a staff member for reporting crimes against children, the Member States are responsible for taking definitive action. They must order Zeid to: Advertisement Reinstate Miranda Brown at the OHCHR. Her disclosures should have been protected and would have been if she had been accorded even a modicum of due process. The fact that the retaliation against her emanated from the highest reaches of WIPO and OHCHR does not relieve the Member States from the obligation to protect her. The Member States must also resolve to: -Suspend Francis Gurry immediately and remove him from the process of disciplining himself. -Issue a public apology to Anders Kompass for the public ordeal to which the High Commissioner for Human Rights subjected him. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 48.1 million Americans have insecure access to food, including 32.8 million adults and 15.3 million children (approximately 1 out of 5). Several restaurants recognize these needs, and are trying to win the war against hunger. For example, Rosa's Fresh Pizza in Philadelphia, has a "pay-it-forward" concept allowing customers to feed local homeless people a slice of pizza for one dollar. Inspired by TOMs shoes, the company that gives a pair of shoes to someone in need with every pair sold -- Even Stevens, a new restaurant based in Salt Lake City, gives a sandwich to a local hungry person with every sandwich sold. According to their website, Even Stevens has donated 444,022 sandwiches so far. Advertisement Conscious capitalism as the concept behind Even Stevens The founder of Even Stevens, Steve Down, is a serial entrepreneur with several start-ups he's currently trying to build to IPO. As the father of millennials who care deeply about social consciousness and giving, Down saw the opportunity to use his skills as an entrepreneur to turn the food service industry into a force for social good. The result is "a sandwich shop with a cause." Even Stevens is growing rapidly, with two new restaurants opening per month. During the month of April, 2016, they opened three new locations: Logan, Utah Ogden, Utah Boise, Idaho These three new additions make seven current locations since the first opened in Salt Lake City in June, 2014. Down plans to have 20+ locations open by the end of 2016. The 10 year plan is to have 4,000 locations feeding over 1,000,000 people per day. To put these numbers in perspective, Subway has approximately 34,000 locations and Chipotle has approximately 2,000. Advertisement Anyone inside the restaurant industry would consider the objectives of Even Stevens to be ludicrous. Yet, Down doesn't care about these perceptions; but believes it takes someone outside the industry to approach things differently. He believes the results of Even Stevens speak for themselves, with each location currently opened achieving profitability within the first 30-60 days. Down believes the success of Even Stevens comes down to a few things: Creating "raving fans" with an emphasis on social consciousness. Having a product worth coming back for, meaning the food has to be delicious. Amazing service and customer experience, with local art and graffiti decorating each restaurant. Profitability. Difficulties getting Even Stevens "off the ground" There are two primary challenges Even Stevens has faced getting to where it's at: Getting people to invest during the early days. It's not uncommon knowledge that most restaurants fail the first year (90 percent to be exact). And to have a restaurant that gives thousands of sandwiches away every day. That was a tough sell. However, says, "With several profitable locations open and many more close to opening, many people are eager to invest now." Originally, the idea was to have the staff make all the sandwiches and deliver them to the non-profits. Good in theory, bad in practice. It wasn't sustainable or scale-able. So they tweaked it. They developed their own system for having food delivered to the non-profit based on need. Non-profits are used to feeding their clients "left-over" food, so this innovative system facilitating fresh and wholesome food makes a lot of people happy. Conclusion According to Steve Down, every company should have a "give-back." Not only is it socially conscious, and right, but according to Down it's also good business. Advertisement The U.S. high school graduation rate continues to climb, with recent reports suggesting an all-time high of 82 percent. That should come as welcome news. But we should think critically about our collective path to progress. In most districts, graduation rates are buoyed by the emergence of credit recovery programs - alternative schooling aimed at helping students catch up after falling behind. Falling hardware costs, high speed internet access, and a multiplicity of self-paced or adaptive software programs have made it easier for districts to launch programs that enable students who have to juggle real-world demands to progress at their own pace. And they are having an impact. But the Center for Education Policy characterizes dropout recovery as "highly decentralized, unregulated and under-researched." Concerns about "diploma mills" abound. Savvy parents and educators wonder whether alternative programs are adequately preparing students for their lives after graduation. Advertisement Rising graduation rates alone won't provide students with the competencies to succeed. How should state and district leaders evaluate the quality of programs to ensure that district improvement doesn't come at the expense of opportunity for students? Here's our short list of red flags and non-negotiables. Ask What Comes Next A high school diploma, while vital to opening doors for the future, will do little to keep those doors open if graduates lack the fundamental skills and knowledge that document is supposed to signify. Accelerated credit-recovery programs might be appealing to students in the short term, but they may not provide a pathway to a student's goals after high school. Not all community colleges accept alternative education graduates. Even the Department of Defense has expressed skepticism about the readiness of students who participate in self-paced, online programs. Completion is a worthy goal, but it should not create a ceiling. Students who enroll in credit recovery programs are often years behind their peers. Alternative educators need to meet them where they are. But parents and district leaders should set college ready expectations. That starts with asking whether recovery students enter into or succeed in college at similar rates. Ask local military recruiters whether students complete basic training? Are students offered transitional support for finding jobs, enrolling in trade schools or applying for college? Students who succeed in credit recovery programs should be able to pass high stakes exit exams to preserve the same postsecondary and workforce options as traditional students. Ask Who's Teaching Much of the debate in alternative education and credit recovery centers on creating exceptions. And exceptions matter. Like the students they serve, recovery programs don't fit neatly within vestigial policies that govern seat time or "count days." But exceptions often come in the form of waiver requests for uncertified or non subject matter teachers. Advertisement But flexibility can't come at the expense of great teaching. And the impact of great teaching is not diminished in credit recovery programs. Technology can play a powerful role by customizing content delivery and enabling students to accelerate through content areas that they have mastered. It can produce data to tailor academic plans and inform instruction. A blend of wraparound and social services often necessary to help students navigate life obstacles that threaten to derail their academic and career goals. Credit recovery programs can leverage accredited programs, licensed teachers, and professional certification. But credit recovery can also be a photocopied packet of papers or multiple-choice guess-and-click computer program. Certified, professional teachers have an outsized role in ensuring that students develop the academic skills that they need to succeed after graduation. They know when to raise the bar, and when to pursue a new strategy. And they help students to develop resilience, and other non-cognitive skills that a high school diploma represents. If It Looks Like A Duck... Credit recovery courses with higher completion rates than the equivalent traditional courses should be looked upon with significant skepticism. Students in need of credit recovery, after all, are overwhelmingly those whose initial pathway to graduation was blocked by significant life obstacles. Those obstacles do not suddenly disappear when a student enrolls in a credit recovery course. The faster and more sharply graduation rates rise in the wake of the adoption of a credit recovery program, the more reason there is to cast an uncertain eye at the program. Marginal gains can and should be expected -- the result of offering an alternative route to students who have only a class or two to complete before graduation. These "last milers," however, are typically the minority of individuals in need of credit recovery. A more typical recovery student is two years deficient in credit accumulation and all too often has math and reading skills that fall within the expected range of middle school students. Helping these individuals earn meaningful diplomas is a slow (but worthwhile) process. These are absolutely the right questions to be asking - questions which credit recovery providers and the schools with which they partner should be able to answer. These are not questions intended to rain on anyone's parade. The advent of record-setting graduation rates nationwide may indeed be something to celebrate. But a far greater and more justified celebration should be reserved for the day in which we can say we have truly offered every American an equitable chance to earn a high school diploma, that every one of those diplomas stands for a comprehensive and consequential education, and that every graduate is ready for their next step in education or a career. Advertisement Throughout Exxons global operations, the company knew that CO2 was a harmful pollutant in the atmosphere years earlier than previously reported. DeSmog has uncovered Exxon corporate documents from the late 1970s stating unequivocally there is no doubt that CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels was a growing problem well understood within the company. It is assumed that the major contributors of CO2 are the burning of fossil fuels... There is no doubt that increases in fossil fuel usage and decreases of forest cover are aggravating the potential problem of increased CO2 in the atmosphere. Technology exists to remove CO2 from stack gases but removal of only 50% of the CO2 would double the cost of power generation." [emphasis added] Those lines appeared in a 1980 report, Review of Environmental Protection Activities for 1978-1979, produced by Imperial Oil, Exxons Canadian subsidiary. [click on any of the screenshots in this story to see a PDF of the full document] A distribution list included with the report indicates that it was disseminated to managers across Exxons international corporate offices, including in Europe. [click here to download the full PDF version of The next report in the series, Review of Environmental Protection Activities for 1980-81, noted in an appendix covering Key Environmental Affairs Issues and Concerns that: CO2 / GREENHOUSE EFFECT RECEIVING INCREASED MEDIA ATTENTION. [click here to download the full PDF version of InsideClimate News unveiled much new information in its Exxon: The Road Not Taken series clearly demonstrating the depth of climate science knowledge among Exxons U.S. operations. Additional revelations about the company's early climate research were published by the Los Angeles Times in collaboration with the Columbia School of Journalism. Advertisement A 1980 Exxon report explained the companys plans: CO2 Greenhouse Effect: Exxon-supported work is already underway to help define the seriousness of this problem. Such information is needed to assess the implications for future fossil fuel use. Government funding will be sought to expand the use of Exxon tankers in determining the capacity of the ocean to store CO2." Now DeSmogs research confirms that the knowledge of the carbon dioxide pollution threat was indeed global across Exxons worldwide operations, earlier than previously known, and considered a major challenge for the companys future operations. The new documents revealed today were found by DeSmog researchers in an Imperial Oil (TSE:IMO) archival collection housed at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta. We first learned of the existence of the collection in one of the articles published in the Los Angeles Times in collaboration with the Columbia School of Journalism. "Since Pollution Means Disaster..." A document discovered by DeSmog reveals that Exxon was aware as early as the late 1960s that global emissions of CO2 from combustion was a chief pollution concern affecting global ecology. Those details were found in a 1970 report, Pollution Is Everybodys Business, authored by H.R. Holland, a Chemical Engineer responsible for environmental protection in Imperial Oils engineering division. [click to download PDF of "Pollution is Everybody's Business] Holland wrote: Since pollution means disaster to the affected species, the only satisfactory course of action is to prevent it -- to maintain the addition of foreign matter at such levels that it can be diluted, assimilated or destroyed by natural processes -- to protect mans environment from man. Included in Holland's report is a table of the "Estimated Global Emissions of Some Air Pollutants." One of those "air pollutants" on the table is carbon dioxide with the listed sources as "oxidation of plant and animal matter" and "combustion." Advertisement The double asterisks beside CO2 in Holland's list of pollutants refer to a citation for a 1969 scientific study, Carbon Dioxide Affects Global Ecology, in which the author explains the connections between the burning of fossil fuels, the rise in CO2 in the atmosphere and the potential effects this will have on future weather patterns and global temperatures. Holland emphasized the need to control all forms of pollution through regulatory action, noting that a problem of such size, complexity and importance cannot be dealt with on a voluntary basis. Yet the fossil fuel industry has long argued that its voluntary programs are sufficient, and that regulations are unneeded. Exxon Understood Climate Science, Yet Funded Decades of Climate Science Denial Despite Exxons advanced scientific understanding of the role of CO2 pollution from fossil fuel burning causing atmospheric disruption, the company shelved its internal concerns and launched a sophisticated, global campaign to sow doubt and create public distrust of climate science. This included extensive lobbying and advertising activities, publishing weekly op-eds in The New York Times for years, and other tactics. Exxon and Mobil were both founding members of the Global Climate Coalition, an industry front group created in 1989 to sow doubt despite the GCC's internal understanding of the certainty. While the GCC distributed a "backgrounder" to politicians and media in the early 1990s claiming The role of greenhouse gases in climate change is not well understood, a 1995 GCC internal memo drafted by Mobil Oil (which merged with Exxon in 1998) stated that: The scientific basis for the Greenhouse Effect and the potential impact of human emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2 on climate is well established and cannot be denied. And the most obvious evidence of Exxons pervasive efforts to attack science and pollution control regulations lies in the more than $30 million traced by Greenpeace researchers to several dozen think tanks and front groups working to confuse the public about the need to curb CO2 pollution. FROM THE DESMOG RESEARCH DATABASE: ExxonMobil's Funding of Climate Science Denial As the science grew stronger, Exxons embrace of its global, multi-million dollar denial campaign grew more intense. Advertisement Imperial Oil's Public Denial Grew Stronger In 1990s Despite Its Own Prior Scientific Certainty Imperial Oil, Exxon's Canadian subsidiary, as these documents demonstrate, had a clear understanding of the environmental and climate consequences of CO2 pollution from fossil fuel combution, yet its public denial of these links grew stronger throughout the 1990s. Imperial Oil chairman and CEO Robert Peterson wrote in " A Cleaner Canada " in 1998: "Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant but an essential ingredient of life on this planet." (DeSmog will take a deeper look at Imperial Oil's conflicting CO2 positioning in public vs. its internal communications in future coverage.) Reached for comment, Imperial Oil did not respond by press time. ExxonMobil media relations manager Alan Jeffers provided the following response: "Your conclusions are inaccurate but not surprising since you work with extreme environmental activists who are paying for fake journalism to misrepresent ExxonMobils nearly 40-year history of climate research. To suggest that we had reached definitive conclusions, decades before the worlds experts and while climate science was in an early stage of development, is not credible." Advertisement Legal Implications of Fossil Fuel Industrys Knowledge of CO2 Pollution and Climate Impacts Calls are growing louder to hold Exxon and other fossil fuel interests accountable for funding climate denial campaigns given their advanced understanding of climate science and the implications of CO2 pollution for the atmosphere going back many decades. In multiple U.S. states and territories including New York, California, Massachusetts and the Virgin Islands state Attorneys General are investigating Exxons depth of knowledge regarding the climate impacts of burning fossil fuels, and whether the company broke the law by fueling anti-science campaigns through corporate contributions to organizations and individuals working to sow doubt and confusion about global warming. [DeSmog coverage: State Investigations Into What Exxon Knew Double, and Exxon Gets Defensive] Climate activists and even presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are urging the Department of Justice and other relevant government agencies to investigate the fossil fuel industrys deliberate efforts to delay policy action to address the climate threat. Democratic U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Ed Markey (MA) and Brian Schatz (HI) introduced an amendment to the energy bill expressing Congresss disapproval of the use of industry-funded think tanks and misinformation tactics aimed at sowing doubt about climate change science. But it remains to be seen what action Congress might take to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for delaying policy solutions and confusing the public on this critical issue. Imagine where the world would be had Exxon continued to pursue and embrace its advanced scientific understanding of climate change decades ago, rather than pivoting antagonistically against the science by funding decades of denial? "Vibes: a person's emotional state or the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others." - Oxford Dictionary By 12:30 a.m. on a Tuesday most of us are fast asleep. Unless you're Julieanna Goddard. Her night just was starting. The ubiquitous 25 year old Miami native, better known as YesJulz, wasn't alone either. Hundreds of her followers were packed into a Brooklyn event space awaiting her arrival. When not throwing events across the country -- like the one that was about to begin -- brands from T-Mobile to Beats by Dre have called upon YesJulz for her social media savvy. That's because she's a millennial brand builder without peer. Advertisement Her marketing tool of choice? Snapchat. By leveraging services like Snapchat, she went from Miami's local nightlife scene to the international event mainstream. In between working with big brands and speaking with media like AdAge, YesJulz promotes her own unique events. With hundreds of thousands of engaged followers all across her social media -- and hundreds packed into tonight's event -- she practices what she preaches. Her and I spoke backstage but it was getting difficult. The energy in the next room was too strong to ignore. As soon as she stepped out, the place erupted. Cameras and cell phone flashes lit up the room. She made her way onto the stage, took the microphone and set the tone for the night: "This isn't a networking event. This isn't a club or a lounge. It's a turn up!" she said. The DJ dropped the first track of the note and the place erupted again. But what is it that makes her events so different? For one, there's no VIP. No bottle service. No dress code. "Just vibes" she emphasizes. Despite the big names who often show up -- Joey Badass and others were in attendance -- her events lack the pretentiousness you'd find at, say, a popular nightclub. Advertisement The focus is on two elements: having fun and letting loose. It's what's attracted hundreds of thousands of followers and superstar friend like LeBron James. But there's another component that makes Julz different then most. It's how she leverages her platform. It's not all parties with her. Giving back is another major focus. She explained this during an interview with Elite Daily: It's mind-boggling to me that there are people out there with 22 million people following what they do every single day, and all they do is talk about themselves. You have the largest platform in the world and you're not even doing anything to bring a light to dark situations, or use your connections or money to make the world a better place? What kind of legacy are you leaving? She's also big on inspiring her followers by painting an accurate picture of what it takes to succeed at pursuing one's passion. It's why she started the #nevernotworking campaign. She explained her philosophy during an interview with Highsnobiety: If I started showing off what I was working on instead of the things I was buying or clothes I was wearing, then I could really help to change the direction social media was headed. I was tired of seeing pictures of girls lifting up their foot just enough so that we could see that their bottoms were red. I wanted to see passion, projects, progress! That's how the hashtag came about. It's this lust for life, passion for work and focus on having fun and making a difference that separates her from most online influencers. While most social media celebrities appear to focus on their best interests, it's clear she focuses on those of her audience. Advertisement It's an example we could all learn from. If you need a lower student loan payment but don't know how to get it, answering five simple "yes" or "no" questions could now bring you closer to a plan. On Wednesday, the White House unveiled a new tool that shows which repayment options apply to you and how to sign up for them. It works on mobile, so you can use it anywhere; it asks you just five questions about your loans, so you can get help fast. The government hopes the tool will encourage more federal student loan borrowers to enroll in income-driven repayment plans, which tie your bill to your earnings to make student loan payback more affordable. Private student loans don't come with similar benefits. Advertisement Here's how it works, plus a few other student loan initiatives to keep an eye on. How to use the repayment tool The U.S. Digital Service, along with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid, developed the studentloans.gov/repay website primarily for borrowers who know they want to lower their payments but don't know how to get started. "The challenge, we think, is that oftentimes folks aren't aware of their options or don't understand which option may work best for them," said John B. King Jr., secretary of education, in a press briefing. The tool asks questions about the type of loans you have, what year you borrowed them and whether you've paid them on time, and offers suggestions for next steps to take. Depending on your goals, you'll get detailed instructions on how to sign up for income-driven repayment, certify for student loan forgiveness or consolidate your loans. If you have private student loans, the tool sends you to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website, where you'll answer additional questions. You'll get advice on how to contact your private student loan servicer and what repayment options you may have, though private lenders are less flexible regarding repayment than the federal government. Advertisement Why it's useful Student loan servicers are required to help borrowers identify and enroll in repayment plans and forgiveness programs. But the CFPB found in September 2015 that borrowers' experiences with their servicers vary widely and that they don't always get the help they need. In contrast, the new repayment tool gives all borrowers a single place to see their personalized options, which is especially useful for those who are having trouble paying their bills. In August 2015, the Government Accountability Office reported that 70% of borrowers in default were eligible for income-based repayment, an alternative that could have kept their loans in good standing. The tool could lower the barrier to entry for income-driven repayment, helping the government meet its new goal to enroll 2 million more borrowers in income-driven plans in the next year. Additional student loan resources to watch for Also on Wednesday, the CFPB released a prototype of its new Payback Playbook. It's a document that would show borrowers individualized repayment options on their monthly student loan statements, in emails from their loan servicers or on their servicers' websites. For instance, say a borrower meets the requirements for the Pay As You Earn income-driven repayment plan, which would cap her monthly bill at 10 percent of her income. PAYE would appear on the Playbook as one of two alternatives to her current plan, should the borrower choose to switch. A borrower who has missed a payment would see a recommendation for PAYE on the Playbook to help get back on track. Advertisement The CFPB has asked borrowers to submit comments on how to improve the Payback Playbook prototype by June 12. The agency says it will work with the Department of Education to finalize it in the next several months. Other initiatives in the works include: Improved entrance and exit counseling on studentloans.gov. The Student Debt Challenge, a series of actions by partner organizations that have pledged to help borrowers understand their repayment options (NerdWallet is among them). A new single student loan servicing portal that will make it easier for borrowers to repay their loans. The department announced the plan earlier this month and is accepting proposals from potential partners for the portal until May 9. Brianna McGurran is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: bmcgurran@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @briannamcscribe. Consumer Federation of America (CFA) report "Special Problem of Special Access" Highlights: New Network Institute's (NNI) Financial Analysis on Special Access CFA Press Release, Joined by NNI I'll return to these items in a moment. Background On April 28th, 2016, the FCC started the process to take actions to fix the broken $40 billion special access market, now called "Broadband Data Services" (BDS). As we discussed in our 'primer', special access services are NOT special, but are based on basic, aging copper, as well as fiber optic wires that are part of the state utility networks and are mostly provided and controlled by the incumbent phone companies--AT&T, Verizon and Centurylink. And these are the wires that go to the cell sites for wireless calls or are used by businesses for broadband. Advertisement And special access issues have been dragging on and on and on. The original complaint was filed, after years of abuse, by the previous incarnation of AT&T, against the "Bells", who are now AT&T, Verizon and Centurylink--way back in 2002. The Table of Contents listed these two items. And if you want crazy...? In the FCC news release for the upcoming new order and request for comments, the Agency said that some of the prices are 'unjust' and there are 'illegal terms' in the offerings to competitors and customers which need to be removed. "The item includes an Order resolving an investigation of existing special access tariffs filed by... AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink and Frontier. The Order finds that certain terms and conditions of these tariffs were unjust and unreasonable, and had the effect of decreasing facilities-based competition and inhibiting the transition to new technologies. These companies will be required to withdraw the illegal terms of these tariffs and file new tariffs within 60 days of release of the Order." So, AT&T finally got a partial decision 14+ years later against, well, AT&T. Moreover, this is far from settled as the FCC will most likely be taken to court over this decision. Advertisement But the real question is (and to return to the opening): Will the FCC Stop Verizon & AT&T's Manipulation of Financial Accounting & Special Access (BDS) Overcharges? Consumer Federation of America (CFA), joined by New Networks Institute (NNI), put out a release to discuss the issues tied to the FCC's announcement, below, which I slightly tweaked for this article. Washington D.C.--The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has declared that the absence of competition for Special Access services has resulted in pricing abuse by the dominant local telephone companies who have a virtual monopoly over these services. After fifteen years of obvious abuse, this is a step in right direction. However, the FCC has decided to address only a small part of the problem (contract terms and conditions that impede competition), while it tries to figure out exactly how bad the pricing abuse is and how future abuse can be controlled in the large part of the market where competition is not likely to be possible and sustainable. "Banning anticompetitive contract terms may improve the prospects for new entrants, where market conditions will support competition, but that will take time and there are many markets that will remain monopolized," Mark Cooper, CFA's Director of Research said. "After seeing the confidential data selectively and partially interpreted and misinterpreted, CFA went in search of detailed "official" data that could shed more light on special access costs and revenues. This is particularly urgent now, since the FCC is about to try to figure out how to regulate rates in situations where there is little competition and no cost data. We think the New Networks Institute (NNI) data is a good place to start." Advertisement "The New Networks Institute's estimate of access charges, based on accounting data reported to a state regulator, was very close to the total that the FCC had estimated, and CFA had used in our earlier analysis," Cooper added, "Since their data has a great deal of detail behind it, it provides a platform for getting behind the numbers that has been absent since the FCC stopped collecting data." "Over the last 6 years, we have uncovered public but unexamined financial data about the state utilities, such as Verizon New York," Bruce Kushnick, founder of NNI. "Our analysis sheds important light on the problems. The manipulation of the accounting for costs, glimpses of which could be seen in the last few years of data the FCC did collect, has continued. As a result, the current level of abuse is massive." "We found that the majority of expenses were diverted to 'Local Service', while the Verizon affiliate companies were able to a) dump expenses into the local service part of the state utility financial accounting, b) not pay market prices that other competitors pay, and c) use this massive financial shell game to claim that the local networks are unprofitable to invent policy justification to 'shut off the copper', 'migrate customers to more expensive services, including data capped wireless, and use this to create obscene profits in special access services. "As the attached examples from data filed in this proceeding show, the FCC created a large part of the problem fifteen years ago, when it "froze" the productivity factor to reflect the year 2000 (in a space where technology was driving massive improvements in efficiency) and undermined its own ability to size the problem when it gave up data collection and analysis." "When a wireline phone customer pays for monthly service, low income families, small businesses, or any other customer, should not be paying the expenses to run broadband and data wires, known as special access, to a Verizon cell site," Cooper added. "And it shouldn't be supporting massive profits for other special access services, where the majority of expenses somehow end up being used to claim the company needs rate increases. Subsidizing these services with money from captive, local ratepayers is not only unfair, it is illegal under federal and state laws that prohibit such cross subsidies." Advertisement "While some have taken a stab at sizing the problem, they were forced to do so by analyzing cost and revenue trends at a very high level of aggregation. We have actual micro level data to make the case much stronger," Kushnick added. "While the FCC tackles special access, there has been no mention of how it plans to fix the cross-subsidies where low income families, small business have paid the majority of expenses -- which was created by FCC's own 'Big Freeze Accounting'." "The local phone companies have been shifting costs onto captive local intrastate ratepayers and taking profits in their unregulated and interstate services," Cooper, concluded. "Because the rate of profit on special access services is astronomical, the FCC can arrive at "just and reasonable" rates by both lowering the price of special access and correcting the misallocation of costs to local service." "We look forward to helping the FCC achieve an effective solution, giving the relief to captive customers that they truly deserve, and creating the conditions for competition where it might be able to flourish." Returning to the opening links: The first link is to the CFA report, "Special Problem of Special Access" which found $150 billion in customer overcharging and economic harms over the last 5 years; this research dovetails with the New Networks Institute findings. The NNI 'Highlights' supplies a few details of the massive financial manipulations and cross-subsidies we found by examining Verizon, some of which we have discussed in previous articles. However, these problems are national in scope and similar, if not identical, to the practices in the AT&T and CenturyLink controlled states as the FCC's Big Freeze are federal rules. And the final link is to the official CFA press release we just highlighted. Advertisement Complaints that our electoral process is undemocratic abound. Donald Trump wants a simple majority of the Republican Convention delegates to determine the nominee. Bernie Sanders supporters bemoan any primary--like New York's--limited only to long-registered party members. Super delegates, assigned by the "party establishment," act as they see fit, representing the party's needs over the views of voters. The phrase "party establishment" gets tossed around like a curse. The system, especially at the primary level, has been widely declared to be "broken." The discussion currently focuses on the primary process, since we are in the midst of that contest. The primaries were added to the electoral process in the nineteenth century, when parties became an accepted part of American politics. In the primaries, party voters, acting state by state, choose delegates to attend a convention that will in turn choose a party candidate. None of this was set up at the founding of the United States; all of it was the invention of the parties themselves. States choose according to their own specific rules--whether caucusing or voting, whether allowing non-party members to participate or not. In the end, some delegates are pledged to a candidate, although they can shift their support over the course of a convention; other delegates enter the arena free to choose. The process is anything but democratic. Since parties came to have a lock on our choice of Presidential candidates, the interests of the party--to choose electable candidates who will further its specific party goals but also maintain its power (sometimes sacrificing ideological purity to do so)--are paramount. Those interests are patently not to simply reflect the will of the people, but are instead about harnessing that will to party ends. Advertisement Lest you conclude that parties have hijacked the political process, making it less democratic, remember: the founders who advocated for the U.S. Constitution feared democracy. They were not advocates for majority rule, but its opponents. In the immediate aftermath of the American Revolution, when the U.S. government was only a loosely-united collection of states, state politics trumped central decision making. The Articles of Confederation gave the central government no coercive power. If states wanted to send money (say, to support the Continental War effort) they did; if not, they did not. Some men, perceiving a need to address the lack of power at the center, felt motivated to alter the basis of government, giving more power to the new federal government and concomitantly less to states. Most who opposed the Constitution did so because they saw it as anti-democratic. Constitution advocates thought the initial system had been too democratic and diffused, and they wanted the emerging national elite to wield more power. So democracy, far from being the goal of the Constitution, was seen as an excess to be curbed. A suspicion of democracy was utterly consistent with the political theory of their day, which posited that excess in any direction lead to dysfunctional government. If party elites follow the lead of the founders in suppressing democracy, it is also the case that the founders would not have loved this solution to the problem of excess democracy. They utterly opposed political parties. Deriding the idea of party with the word "faction," they asserted that those who entered into party configurations acted for their own self-interest rather than for the common good. When they created the new federal government, they hoped parties would never arise. Their hopes were quickly foiled, as the election of 1800 (just a dozen years after the adoption of the Constitution) witnessed the first party configurations. Parties went in and out of existence, shifting and changing names, from that time until the era of the Civil War. Since the end of that conflict, the two parties we have now, Republican and Democratic, have been in existence. Whatever their particular ideological stripes of the moment, the parties exist to block competitors (hence the deck is stacked against Independents), and to maintain the power and influence of parties. The primary system, while it accords with the founders anti-democratic impulses, is the creation of the parties. The parties the founders denigrated now defend the anti-democratic impulses those same men endorsed. I can still remember taking my kids to their pediatrician for their first shots. As a new mom, I was eager to protect them and a bit concerned about how they would react to their visit to the doctor. It's an experience I remember vividly every year during World Immunization Week. Parents want the best for their children and making sure they are immunized is one of the simplest and most important actions they can take. However, in the developing world, there are challenges. In countries with little health infrastructure, parents confront a terrifying reality that I can't imagine as an American mother -- diseases such as measles, tetanus and pneumonia that can kill children or disable them for a lifetime. And, all too often, that's just what happens. Worldwide, an estimated 1.5 million children die every year from a disease we could have easily prevented with a low-cost vaccination that takes seconds to administer. It is frustrating that false claims about the effects of vaccines on children have frightened some in the U.S., when the overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that vaccines are both safe and effective. In fact, vaccines are one of the main reasons global child mortality has plummeted since 1990, saving an estimated 2.5 million lives each year. By working with governments, partners, local health workers, community volunteers and parents, UNICEF has helped increase the number of children vaccinated against childhood diseases from 20 percent in 1980, to 86 percent in 2014. The progress we've made is remarkable. Advertisement Take Nigeria, for example. In the early 2000s it was on the verge of eradicating polio when a handful of community leaders questioned the safety of the polio vaccine. Fear spread. As a result, thousands of children missed their immunizations and contracted polio. In response, religious and community leaders, educators and vaccinator teams -- many of them polio survivors themselves -- reached out to educate and reassure parents, and to deliver lifesaving vaccines. As a result, on July 24, 2015, Nigeria marked the first year in its history without a single case of wild polio. What have we learned from initiatives like these? That collaboration is the key to protecting children from preventable diseases. In 1988, UNICEF joined with the World Health Organization, Rotary International, CDC, and other partners to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. To date, 2.5 billion children have been immunized. The number of cases of wild polio has dropped from 350,000 in 1988 to just 74 cases reported globally in 2015. Now we're on the verge of eradicating polio all over the world in a few short years -- a milestone in public health. Yet, tragically, global immunization levels against major childhood diseases have stalled since 2008. Why? The answer is complex. Sometimes we face severe logistical challenges. Children may not be immunized because they live in remote communities in countries with rudimentary transportation infrastructure. Even in cities, where it's easier to ship vaccines safely, some kids from marginalized communities are particularly hard to reach and consistently miss out on accessing health services. Advertisement Sadly, war and violence also keep children from being immunized. Not only are health centers and hospitals routinely attacked but when children flee their homes, health workers often can't reach them. Annually, more than 18.5 million infants remain unvaccinated, and nearly two-thirds of these live in countries ravaged by conflict. In Syria, for example, immunization rates have dropped sharply since the conflict began, from 80 percent in 2010 to 43 percent in 2014. Worst of all, lack of funding is a major obstacle. This is particularly frustrating since we're just about to stamp out child-killing diseases in many countries. The way to tackle this is through continued collaboration with governments to reach every child, no matter where they live, or whatever their circumstance. We must also ensure that the public, here and abroad, understands what can happen if we don't immunize our kids. We must strive to protect all of the world's children from early childhood diseases that kill and we cannot afford to stall our efforts. The cost in lives and potential is too great. I remember being eight years old and looking at my (not-so-nice but very "grown-up") babysitter, who was 12 years old, thinking, "When I am 12, I will be like an adult!" But as adults we all know that 12 year olds are not like adults. As the United States Supreme Court has recognized in Miller v. Alabama and Graham v. Florida, and everyone who has experience with them knows, children do not have the appreciation of risk, the self-control, the judgment or the overall maturity of adults. The courts also recognize that children have "a greater capacity for change." The conclusion that children have this increased capacity for growth and reform goes beyond experience and common sense; extensive scientific study has established that, as the Supreme Court stated in Miller, "children are different" because their brains are developing. This is why juvenile court systems were created. Despite the establishment of this understanding in law, science, and common experience, Florida's system of "direct file" allows children of any age - even those younger than 12 - to be charged and treated as adults from the moment they are first arrested until they reenter their communities. For children charged with a felony, Florida places barriers to positive change, reform, and reentry at every step in the path. Once a child is charged as an adult, s/he is held in adult jail (often in isolation) and, if convicted, sentenced to adult prison. Children in the state prison system are denied access to education and mental health services, and are vulnerable to extreme violence, including rape and murder. One example is R.W., a 16-year-old boy who was sentenced to an adult prison where he was raped and beaten as part of an institutionally accepted initiation ritual, or "test of heart." Then, he was housed in isolation after he reported it. Now one year from release, he has received no education, training, or other services to help prepare him for reentry. Most likely, he will receive only a one-way bus ticket to his county of residence and $100 "gate money." The injustice of these conditions aside, a successful return to the community after such experiences is extremely difficult. The Florida Institutional Legal Services Project (FILS), a civil legal aid provider advocating for people in state custody, is litigating R.W.'s case, and several others, to improve the conditions for children in Florida's prisons, but litigation is a long and uphill battle, throughout which inmates continue to bear the brunt of the system's cruelty. How can we honestly expect R.W., and the hundreds of other young people released from Florida's prisons each year to succeed? Florida incarcerates more children in adult jails than any other state in the nation, but provides virtually no reentry services to them when they are coming back to our communities hoping to rebuild their lives. (According to Human Rights Watch, more than 12,000 juvenile crime suspects in Florida were transferred to the adult court system between 2009 - 2014.) Just like adults with felonies in Florida, children with felony convictions struggle to obtain identification, employment, and housing. They are forever prohibited from obtaining government student loan assistance, which effectively bars many from pursuing a college degree. School districts are allowed to suspend children who are charged with an adult felony, and to expel children who are convicted of one, making even a high school diploma difficult for many to achieve. As the director of FILS, I see the harm these policies cause each year to hundreds of children, their families, and their communities. The damage can seem insurmountable, but I stubbornly believe positive change is possible. So do U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and her colleagues at the Department of Justice, whose inaugural National Reentry Week is shining a light on the problem nationally, and on solutions like civil legal aid, providing a beam of hope that we can improve criminal laws and reentry policies for Florida's children. In Florida, FILS and other civil legal aid organizations are on the front lines of pushing against obstacles to reentry. FILS advocates for our young clients to get fair and humane treatment while incarcerated. And once they have served their time, we and other legal aid providers work to give a "leg up," helping them overcome barriers to housing, employment, and education. But the children in Florida's criminal justice system need and deserve more. It is time to remove the barriers to reentry that render success after incarceration virtually insurmountable. Legislators, government officials, including prosecutors and leaders of prisons and jails, and allies across disciplines must act to do the right thing. While FILS and other civil legal aid providers are working hard to improve the system for children at multiple points, improving reentry services for children would be a good and necessary starting place for officials of good conscience to intervene. By Thomas Kennedy Growing up undocumented was a stressful experience. I lived with the nagging fear that any little mistake, any circumstantial event that found me in the wrong place at the wrong time, could potentially end with the deportation of my parents and I and everything we had worked so hard for as a family would be taken away from us. I resolved my legal status through marriage in 2011, but my parents are undocumented. They are among 11 million undocumented immigrants who work hard every day to provide a better life for themselves and their children, while at the same time strengthening this country's economy with their labor. I fight for all of them because I can never escape how my parents, and my community as a whole, are treated by politicians who seek to divide and attack us in their quest for power. There are thousands of young immigrants who are future voters like me, who will be naturalized citizens one day and who will forever remember who stood with us and who stood against us. Applications for citizenship increased by 11 percent in the 2015 fiscal year over the year before and rose 14 percent during the six months ending in January, federal data shows. I register voters for a living in Florida and I know Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has a lot to do with the increase. Those immigrants want to become U.S. citizens so they can vote against the man who has described us in the vilest of terms and used us as a wedge with other Americans. Advertisement It is for that reason that we, the members of pro-immigrant community-based organizations, made up of workers and students, are organizing a May Day rally and march in the city of Miami. We are not alone. Immigrants in cities across the country -- New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit and so many more -- will hold rallies and demonstrations this Sunday. Our goal is to drive home the message that the climate of hate permeating this electoral cycle is destructive to the nation. Our immigrant communities have rightfully earned dignity and respect through years of hard labor without any relief. Miami is a cosmopolitan city. The immigrants that make up the spine of this multicultural metropolis will not tolerate hateful rhetoric that characterizes us as rapists, killers and thieves. It has been heartbreaking and discouraging to see the debate over immigration policy shift away from comprehensive reform with a pathway to citizenship to proposals about massive deportations, border militarization, and the complete ban of all Muslims entering the country. Fortunately, protest is at the heart of our right to freedom of expression and a necessary exercise for a healthy democratic system. Advertisement This May Day we will take to the streets demanding that our voices be heard and we will unite in pushing for a progressive platform centered around people that truly empowers and looks out for our communities. We call for a return to real debate over immigration, including much-deserved reform with a pathway to citizenship, a raise in the minimum wage to $15 an hour, the end of the for-profit prison system, affordable college education, voter restoration rights to the thousands of disenfranchised voters across the country, equal rights for the LGBTQ community, and climate justice to protect communities, such as those in Florida, that are on the front lines of climate change and sea level rise. By Cam Klose and Charlie Wood, 350.org Australia Australia's fossil fuel industry has suffered vast losses in public and corporate support, its destructive activities rightfully condemned by the community. Yet, despite this, the Federal Government - the same one that has repeatedly called for an end to the 'age of entitlement' - continues to prop up this polluting and, increasingly, economically unviable industry. With the Federal Budget due to be released on Tuesday and the election set for July, the coming weeks will shed some light on the positions of both major parties in regards to the fossil fuel industry, and whether they are willing to break free from its dirty and corrupting influence. Unfortunately, the signs are not looking great. We know that mining for coal, oil and gas across Australia is destroying local communities, particularly indigenous communities. Advertisement Australians from the Hunter Valley, the Pilliga, the Darling Downs and along the Reef Coast in Queensland have seen the country they love dug up, poisoned, and left tarnished by the ugliness of such industries. All the while compromising the health of residents, before being abandoned once the resources are gone. Once a small but vocal minority of people speaking out against mining corporations, the actions of these communities have now become a veritable and diverse movement of people. They are united by their anger and frustration at the injustice brought upon them by the fossil fuel industry with their Government's complicity. People are rightly asking: why are governments putting the destructive fossil fuel sector above communities? And they are pressing on the big question: why, when we know what climate devastation fossil fuels bring, are will still digging them up, exporting them, and burning them at record levels? Currently, it seems that neither of the major political parties have the backbone to stand up to an industry that flows rivers of gold into their coffers. Advertisement And therein lies the problem. Next week the Government will hand down its third budget, crucial in the context of the upcoming election. Budgets are often portrayed as mere fiscal documents that outline the health of an economy by reporting on revenue and spending, which distills into the ever-pursued surplus or the loathsome deficit. In reality however, budgets are political manifestos that embody the ideologies, values and priorities of a government, indicated by how funds are accrued and allocated. As a signatory to the recent Paris Accord, the Australian Government has a responsibility to take meaningful action on climate change. We are currently run by a Government of mainly-white-men Government, who are pretending climate change doesn't exist and have no vision. Leaving us adrift without a meaningful climate policy and no vision to tackle the greatest challenge of our generation. The Government currently spends billions of public dollars every year subsidising fossil fuel mining in Australia. It is confounding to consider that so much taxpayers' money is handed over to multinational corporations so they may further pollute our environment. In this profoundly undemocratic arrangement, public money paid in subsidies directly funds the destruction of communities, farmland and scarce water supplies. Meanwhile, polling shows that the majority of Australians want this fossil fuel gravy train halted and for the country to transition to a completely renewable energy future. Advertisement Right now, there is unprecedented energy and desire among the community to put a stop to the folly of the Government. Next weekend, thousands of Australians will risk arrest and fines by peacefully protesting at the world's largest coal port in Newcastle as part of Break Free From Fossil Fuels, the largest ever global movement of actions to shut down the world's most dangerous fossil fuel projects. By putting their bodies on the line to stop the export of dangerous coal, these brave community members hailing from all walks of life will demonstrate to our Government that they want to see an end to fossil fuels and a transition to a clean energy future. Farmers, grandparents, pacific islanders, faith leaders, business people and politicians will stand side by side to create a strong, united voice to deliver this message. Australia is proving to be an embarrassment and a laggard in the global fight against climate. As our governments continue to pander to their small coterie of fossil fuel donors facilitate them to extract coal, oil and gas to export, the rest of the world is moving away from the dirty energy of centuries passed: aware that the only way to avoid dangerous global warming is to keep fossil fuels in the ground. In the face of such enormous challenges, the sad truth is that we cannot look to our political leaders for guidance on this issue; the influence of fossil fuel lobby groups over both parties is too strong. Advertisement The Coalition will continue to prop up the dying industry with subsidies, wedded to the dirty donations. Meanwhile, the ALP does not provide a viable alternative as it, too, is too compromised to take the necessary action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. The climate policy released by Labor this week kind of ignores the biggest contributing activity to climate change: the extraction, export and combustion of fossil fuels. On closer inspection, however, we can find leadership on climate change all around us. We can look to the leadership of the traditional owners suing multinational mining corporation Adani for breach of native title. We can look to the leadership of Victorian town of Yackandandah, which has pledged to transition to a 100% renewable energy source, or to that of the 20 Australian local councils that have sworn off fossil fuels. While we may not be able to rely on our Government, we can take heart from these inspiring grassroots actions. Australians are participating in a global movement that is gaining momentum: that of ordinary people taking a stand against powerful corporations and government corruption to demand that our land, resources and communities be protected from harmful climate change. As in all struggles for justice, activists must force the reluctant ruling class to respond, as power and profit are never given up freely. los angeles feb 10 beyonce... Almost a week later and my glass is still half full. I've watched Lemonade three times and have yet to drink it all in. Sorrow, man problems, Becky's, daddy issues and the uninterrupted euphoria that overtakes your soul as you bust the windows out his car, the album basically pulls a chapter from every black woman's autobiography. It's #BlackGirlMagic in action. It's Beyonce . And while most of the world rejoiced at Lemonade's authenticity and rawness, some found it to be a little, well, sour. They weren't ready. Weren't ready for Bey the black feminist. Bey who wants more from a man than to get her bodied. Bey who clearly doesn't need a man, but out of the kindness of her reign chooses to keep one around. If you weren't in formation, Lemonade was a lot. And in the wise words of 3LW, hatas gone' hate (however in their defense, if Deandre Way, a.k.a. Soulja Boy, can get a credit on a Beyonce album, I too would feel some type of way about the end product). But I digress. Advertisement There's something about an empowered black woman that will always threaten the very fabric of America. The world wasn't built with us in mind. Maybe someone knew our bodies would eventually interrupt originally scheduled programming in the form of a leotard clad Serena Williams. Or all this time, while the world was not watching; we were plotting, one by one getting into formation, fluffing our 'fros and strategizing ways to go H.A.M. simply by existing. Or perhaps someone knew after centuries of withstanding pain only imaginable to most, there'd come a day when we would quietly unleash our rage on the world, shading countries with a whip of our neck while twirling on our haters and giving zero f**ks along the way. Maybe that's why Lemonade is such a bad a$$ piece of art. It's a collection of pain, and the reluctant but necessary forgiveness that comes with it. When you think about it, it's something the world, on its most progressive day, will never be ready for. Now cue the bee traps. From talk show commentators to social media pundits, not everyone was drinking the lemonade. In fact, they were sipping mass tea. But thankfully the Bey Hive remains ready when it comes to matters of their Queen. So in the event you're confronted by a non-beeliever who doubts the pure awesomeness of Lemonade; myself and the Bey Hive approve these clapbacks. She an Entertainer, Not an Activist (This One's For You Piers Morgan) Hey guys, she's actually a black woman. She woke up like that. Before there was the verb Beyonce, there was a Houston bred black girl living and learning while overtime developing a distaste for trifling men. Her entire life was spent in that skin. And with that sun-kissed skin comes wide hips, textured hair and a lifetime filled to the brim with heartache, laughter, love, grief and a few middle fingers to the world. Advertisement It's Overpriced It's $17.99. So was your dinner at Applebee's last night and this is far more beneficial to your overall health. It Wasn't Bey's Brainchild Ok, people have been saying this for years about Mrs. Carter. Yes, the "Single Ladies" choreography is eerily close to Bob Fosse's "Mexican Breakfast" and the video for "Countdown" may be uncomfortably similar to the choreography of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, but it's apples to oranges and today we're talking lemonade so technically the foundation of this argument doesn't even apply. Since when does labeling something a visual and musical masterpiece become contingent upon its sole ownership or lack thereof? A good leader is only as strong as their team and Ms. Knowles clearly knows how to assemble the ultimate dream team. According to the album notes, 72 writers collaborated to write Lemonade. Yes that's a big number, but to make an album dripping in multiple musical genres ranging from a Creole/country mash-up, to a psychedelic haze circa 2016 requires many minds. Bey never claimed to be a Pulitzer Prize-winning artist, but she is a creative mofo who had a hand in every aspect of the Lemonade project, just check the credits. Oh, and until whoever is making these claims stops time for approximately one hour on a Saturday night, the lemonade stand that consumed Rachel Roy shall officially be your new resting place. Lemonade is basically a Four-Page Letter to Jay-Z If your final thoughts after watching Lemonade were "dang, she's really mad," first, read this, then watch it again. Is Lemonade 12-tracks of a woman scorned? Little bit. But more importantly it's the tale of a woman empowered. A woman who has found her voice, refuses to silence it and is unapologetic about what may come out. It's a love letter to black woman. A nod from the Queen that she gets it because she's lived it. She knows the struggle, feels the heartache, has shed the tears and climbed the mountains to be able to shout "Who the f**k do you think I is?" to the world. It's validation of our collective story and hope to any woman doubting her own swag. I don't like it. Huh? In the words of pretty much everyone, Lemonade is a masterwork. Some real grown, black woman ish. The type of stuff unbreakable young black girls who will soon be unbreakable black women are made of. It's sweet, it's sour, at times hard to swallow yet refreshing to the palate. It's lemonade. Drink up. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed an executive order Wednesday that bans what he called "gay colors" to be worn by boys in public elementary and secondary schools in the state. Pence referred to pink, chartreuse, teal and magenta, in particular, as "gateway colors" for young boys who might have an inclination toward homosexuality. "Governor Pence believes that if boys wear clothes with colors traditionally worn by young girls, this can cause gender confusion for the boy," said Hugh Strait, a spokesman for the governor. Advertisement Pence's announcement comes as the state prepares for Tuesday's presidential primary. The executive order comes as other states have passed laws that critics say discriminate against gays and LGBTs. In recent weeks, North Carolina passed a law that says that LGBTs must use public restrooms that conform to the gender on their birth certificates. Mississippi passed a law protecting business owners who don't want to serve same-sex couples. The Tennessee Legislature approved a bill that allows counselors and therapists to reject gay patients if their homosexuality runs contrary to their religious beliefs. The state's governor has not yet signed the measure. Pence's spokesman said that the governor wanted to remind Hoosiers that he was supporting discriminatory laws long before other states. Advertisement "The governor wants to emphasize to people in his state and to the rest of the country his commitment to intolerance, whenever and wherever it exists," Strait said. A year ago, Pence signed the so-called "religious freedom" law that allows business owners to refuse to serve customers such as gays who offend their religious beliefs. The law was criticized throughout the 21st century. Pence's executive order bans boys from wearing clothing with bright colors in public elementary and secondary schools because of a concern, he said, they act as "gateway colors." "There are boy colors and there are girl colors," Pence said, "Once we started letting boys wear girl colors, what's next? I don't want to think about it." The governor's spokesman was asked who would decide what is or is not a "gay" color. "The governor knows a 'gay color' when he sees it," Strait said. The executive order comes several months after political conservatives criticized Frito-Lay for offering rainbow-colored Doritos -- in green, blue, purple, red, and orange -- to benefit a non-profit LGBT group, It Gets Better. Advertisement Curious polar bear explores ice floes with cub in the Arctic Ocean. Photo Credit: NOAA We have successfully stopped Big Oil in the Arctic and we are not letting up now! Shell has decided to stop their bids to drill in the Arctic Ocean and recently the Obama administration made an important step by removing the Atlantic Ocean from its offshore leasing program for 2017-2022. But this plan still leaves the door open to other companies drilling in both the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas just off the coast of the biologically-sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the Gulf. The Arctic Ocean and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be at risk if drilling moves forward. Join me and thousands of others in saying no more to offshore drilling on Sunday, May 15 at the White House. No place has potentially more to lose due to climate change than the Arctic, and the president has promised to continue to be out front in leading the fight against climate change after having seen the fragile and sensitive Arctic region for himself. The president has made a commitment to climate change and saving the Arctic must be part of that equation. It is high time for the president to take the Arctic off the table and continue his Arctic legacy. Advertisement With the high risk of a large oil spill, drilling in America's Arctic is irresponsible and risky. The Arctic is prone to hurricane-force storms, 20-foot swells, widespread sea ice, frigid temperatures and months-long darkness. There is no proven way to clean up an oil spill in these extreme conditions. Shell's Arctic exploits have proven that the oil industry cannot be trusted in America's Arctic. What's more, by the Department of the Interior's own estimate, there's a 75 percent chance that a major spill--one of more than 1,000 barrels of oil--could occur if production moves forward in the Chukchi Sea. These are all of the reasons why I will be joining in on a day of action on May 15 at the White House. People will be calling on the Obama administration to strengthen our coastal communities and not risk their ruin. The history of treating the Gulf as a "sacrifice zone" must come to an end by focusing on a transition that brings the region more economic prosperity, not more drilling. And in Alaska, we must preserve the ability of people to subsist off of traditional food gathered in on the clean lands and in the clean waters of the Arctic as has been done for thousands of years. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally in Central Falls, Rhode Island, April 23, 2016. REUTERS/Mary Schwalm For many decades the U.S. has vacillated between interventionism and isolationism, so the stark contrast between George W. Bush's brash 'engagement' with the world versus Barack Obama's 'withdrawal' from the world is not outside the historical norm. Given that the U.S. has now been in an isolationist mode for almost for 8 years, what might the presidency of either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump imply for the coming 4 years in the area of foreign policy? The short answer is that there is likely to be less difference between the two than one might expect, particularly given that they would face similar obstacles. At its core, Obama's approach to foreign policy has been based on not wanting to become entangled in seemingly endless military undertakings, and not wanting to do 'stupid stuff', but the Obama Doctrine is also very much about realpolitik -- the American public has had enough of wars, doesn't know what to believe when politicians speak, and is more interested in taking care of things at home. This is not likely to change when the next president takes office, and Clinton and Trump know it. For that reason, it appears probable that both of them will continue many of the core elements of Obama's foreign policy, while wanting to distinguish themselves enough to be able to say that each of them has their own 'doctrine'. Advertisement Clinton's Hawkishness will be in Check Hillary Clinton's predilection toward hawkishness is well demonstrated, having voted for the Iraq War, strenuously supported regime change in Libya, and having promised to "totally obliterate" Iran if it were to attack Israel. All of these positions have, in the end, harmed her politically (given how each has turned out), but her supporters believe that her unvarnished 'realism' about the way the world works is the hallmark of her approach to foreign policy. I would argue that her interpretation of how international relations function actually lacks realism, has been short-sighted, is based on a conventional view of how nations operate (in what has so far been a rather unconventional century), and is devoid of much insight or a futuristic orientation. A president Clinton would undoubtedly wish to carry forward many of the core elements of the Obama Doctrine, but she is likely to find herself similarly constrained, whether by an uncooperative Congress, budgetary limitations, or forces outside her control beyond America's borders. Even if by some miracle Clinton wins and the Democrats take both houses of Congress, it would make passing laws and funding easier, but that will do nothing to change what the world thinks of the U.S., or the many challenges it faces around the world. Nearly 8 years after Obama has tried to alter the world's view of America following the Bush era, much remains unchanged. Clinton will find, just as Obama has, that the world no longer snaps to attention when America speaks. Trump's Bravado will also be in Check For the same reasons that Clinton will find it difficult to achieve all she may wish to achieve in foreign policy, Trump will find it doubly difficult. Trump's bombastic demagoguery sounds good on paper to some, but achieving many of the things he has said he will do as president will be far from easy to do. For example: 1.Building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico (regardless of who ends up paying for it) would prove problematic, based on current international and environmental law. It would also require that the U.S. purchase the steel to build it from overseas (more than likely, China, since American steel builders shifted to manufacturing high-end steel products years ago. That would do wonders for America's trade balance with China); and Advertisement 2.Establishing trade barriers between his great list of offenders (such as China, Japan and Mexico) would take years to pass and implement -- even if he had support in Congress -- not to mention whether any such actions would contravene current global trade pacts, which the U.S. has signed on to. The World Trade Organization may end up overruling any such actions, anyway, although it may take years to do so. As problematic as it is ordinarily the case to get to the finish line in the foreign policy arena when the climate is favorable and a lengthy list of friends and allies is on board, imagine what it would be like when many (if not most) of America's traditional allies found Trump as distasteful as president as they find him as a candidate for president. America's staunchest allies have all expressed grave concern for what a Trump presidency would imply - for America and the world. Putting together future 'coalitions of the willing' under a Trump presidency would be a pipe dream. How They Would Stack Up on Major Issues Clinton and Trump would undoubtedly come in on the same side of a range of issues, for the reasons stated above, such as: China: Both would want to try to do something about China's economic and political march across the world (and the South China Sea), and both would fail. This is China's century, there is nothing that can be done to stop its military development, and within five years it will be the largest economy in the world. With so many economies having tied their fortunes to that of China, anything the U.S. may do to harm China has global implications. Russia: Both would oppose Putin's actions on a variety of issues (i.e. Ukraine, Syria, and Iran) and both would find it rather difficult to make real progress on any of them. Until and unless Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, nothing will change, and Russia holds many of the cards on both Syria and Iran (though Trump would probably have an easier time dealing with him at the outset, given their declared mutual admiration for each other. Let's see how long that lasts). Syria: After 5 years, and given the current state of affairs, neither of them are going to be inclined to commit ground troops, or attempt to alter the landscape much beyond where Obama has gone. Given the current 'failure-in-progress' of the latest round of peace talks, look for more of the same on the ground, with drones and special forces being the weapons of choice. Iran: Both would probably hold Iran to greater account on its lack of strict compliance with the terms of the P5+1 Agreement, but in the absence of some truly egregious breach of the Agreement, a rap on the knuckles is all that Iran is likely to get from either. Saudi Arabia: Neither is likely to deviate much from Obama's approach to the Kingdom, particularly given America's self-sufficiency in oil production and the Kingdom's pivot toward China. If Obama wants the Kingdom to carry more of its weight in fighting ISIS, you can be sure Clinton and Trump will want the same. ISIS: Neither favor outlandish ideas such as carpet bombing ISIS (which would in any event never work, given how spread out the organization is). Given that ISIS is here to stay, expect more of the same in terms of maintaining superior intelligence capabilities and using tactical approaches to fighting it. Short of committing hundreds of thousands of ground troops on a long-term basis (which simply isn't going to happen), or witnessing a miraculous turn of events in either Iraq or Syria, there is little else that can be done. Impact on the Global Economy Since politics do not function in isolation from economics, what would the impact of either as president be on the global economy? While global stock markets would no doubt prefer the status quo predictability that would come with a Clinton presidency, in reality, the occupant of the White House makes less difference to the global economy than the composition of the Congress. Since Clinton is far likelier not to want to rock the boat economically, those who favor more of the same would welcome a Clinton presidency. But would that be smart in the longer term? In the U.S., and globally, we are now well overdue for another recession. More of the same isn't what would be needed to manage that effectively, particularly given that the U.S. does not have the same range of fiscal and monetary weapons to throw at the problem next time around. Trump as the 'outsider' and 'businessman' may prove to be a better bet in the long run. Assuming his protectionist rhetoric were to be toned down once he is in office, he is more likely to embrace the concept of genuine reform, which is what would be required when (not if) the next recession hits. If Trump were to be able to substantially reduce America's trade deficit with much of the rest of the world, it would clearly have major benefits for the U.S. economy, but it may also force other economies to be more competitive and focus on enhancing domestic consumption (at least, for the larger economies). That, in turn, would encourage other countries to shift their wealth generation to the rising global middle class, thereby creating other locomotives of growth over time. That would be to everyone's benefit. By the same token, there is naturally a risk that engaging in a trade war - particularly at a time when a recession may be looming - could send the world over the edge, prompting a domino effect. The 'soft landing' China has come to expect on a perpetual basis could turn into a hard landing, with ripple effects throughout the global economy. The Chinese leadership would not take too kindly to that, and it isn't difficult to then imagine that a frosty relationship develops not only between the U.S. and China, but many of the world's major economies. If so, say goodbye to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Advertisement Making China Great Again Of the many topics facing the U.S. in the medium to long-term, China's rise poses the greatest challenge to America on a wide range of issues, ranging from economic competitiveness, to international influence, to dominance in business. It seems clear that Clinton would be China's preferred choice, given her presumed intention not to challenge China too strongly while maintaining the status quo, but would that be preferable to Trump's approach? China has proven itself rather adept at letting other parties slug it out (i.e. Iraq) and then swoop in for the spoils (i.e. oil contracts). As the Bush Administration fought the Iraq War, China was busy spreading its influence, making friends, and doing business in countries around the world. While Trump would presumably be busy offending countries, tearing up trade agreements, and 'making America great again', it is not unreasonable to assume that many of the same countries on the receiving end of a Trump crusade would seek solace in the warm embrace of China. If so, would he then not risk making China even greater in the process? High Stakes American voters should think beyond their wallets, short-termism, and what 'feels' good when they enter the voting booth in November. There is more at stake in this election than any in a generation. The U.S. and the world face unprecedented problems, some of which did not have the reach and severity that they do today, such as the man-made risks of climate change, cyber risk, and terrorism. The same is true for some of the world's most intractable foreign policy challenges. While both Clinton and Trump face the same set of constraints, how they choose to tackle these challenges is sure to have long lasting implications. A status quo Clinton presidency could work as long as she trades her realism based on conventionalism with realism based on outside-the-box, future-oriented, practical thinking on foreign policy. A brash Trump presidency could work if he were to discard his extremist views for core values that are both realistic and achievable, without too much cost of any kind, recognizing that foreign policy is not anything like a simple business transaction. Neither will work well if they don't change their campaign rhetoric and consider not only what is most important, but within the realm of reason. America's allies will not forgive them if they fail to do so; its enemies are just waiting for them to make critical mistakes. Daniel Wagner is CEO of Country Risk Solutions and co-author of "Global Risk Agility and Decision Making". Six years ago the Philippines faced a critical choice in its presidential election, and its voters ended up making the right choice. The election of President Aquino in 2010 was the smartest thing the Filipino people could have done - for their country and for themselves. The country was falling further and further behind other Asian countries in terms of its growth rate, basic economic indicators, and perceived desirability as a place to do business. As a result of Aquino's policies, and many of the changes he has made to the way the Philippines functions, today it is a better place on many levels - as a place to do business and as a place to live. Next month, voters face a similar choice - whether to maintain momentum and continue the path Aquino has set for the country, or change course. The current front-runner for the presidency is Rodrigo Duterte, a tough-talking, foul-mouthed mayor whom many analysts portray as Asia's version to Donald Trump. Duterte is praised by some as someone with a record of getting things done - as a mayor. He is also known for his approval of (and admitted involvement in) extra-judicial killings as a means of enforcing the law in Davao since the 1990's -- during and since his second term as mayor. No doubt, a significant reason why Duterte has such appeal with voters is that the Philippine National Police reported a 46% increase in crime nationwide in the first half of 2015. Crime is a problem, clearly, but do Filipinos really want a future in which vigilante justice rules and armed militias are roaming their streets with the approval of the government? Can that really be the answer? Advertisement Leading in the vice presidential polls is Senator "Bongbong" Marcos, son of former president Ferdinand Marcos. The Marcos clan has long been revered in their home province of Ilocos Norte, and the Marcos name remains golden in local and regional politics. Voters from the province continue to deliver members of the Marcos family to a variety of elected offices. But the idea of having the son of the late dictator a heartbeat away from presidency is unsettling for many outside the province, three decades after his parents were forcefully removed from office. Do Filipinos really want to return the son of a man who ruled with an iron fist for decades and looted the Philippine nation to Malacanang Palace? How is doing so likely to be beneficial for the country in the long-term? While recent surveys show Duterte overtaking Senator Grace Poe, these surveys do not capture Duterte's latest fallout after publicly joking about a 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary, whom Duterte described as "so beautiful" that "the mayor should have been first, what a waste." After trading barbs with the U.S. and Australian ambassadors to the Philippines following their strong condemnations of his remarks, Duterte said he would "cut ties" with their countries once he becomes president. Seriously? Do the Filipino people want to elect a man to the highest office in the land who jokes about rape and threatens to cuts ties with two of its most important allies as a result of their ambassadors objecting to his outrageous and inflammatory statements? Since the last of the televised debates among presidential candidates, Duterte has offered no coherent foreign policy, no policy for the domestic economy and job generation, and no form of behavior even closely resembling statesmanship. Indeed, he has a lot in common with Donald Trump, who is also riding a wave of discontent in the U.S. to lead in the Republican polls. Other than a singular conviction to end criminality in the Philippines in "3 to 6 months" by "killing all criminals", Duterte is the least distinguished candidate in terms of original policy making, and appears to be perfectly content "copying" the platforms of his competitors. Advertisement What is driving Filipino voters to prefer Duterte and Marcos over the plethora of other choices in this election cycle? Apart from being in the habit of voting for family names they know well, part of the answer may be disillusionment with Aquino's daang matuwid (straight path) governance. In a prior article, we noted that while President Aquino has been successful in moving the economy forward, inclusive growth and unemployment will remain the top two issues for his successor. Duterte has addressed neither, but he does argue (wrongly) that his solution to criminality will be the solution for everything else. Like Donald Trump, Duterte has succeeded in turning a deep sense of dissatisfaction over daang matuwid into a platform for sustained demagoguery. And, like Trump, Duterte has given no meaningful explanation for how he intends to accomplish his stated objectives, while being perfectly happy to prey upon voters' worst fears. While Aquino's legacy includes garnering at least eight sovereign credit rating upgrades (with the Philippines having attained 'investment grade' status), and despite Aquino enjoying a high degree of public trust, the gains of the Aquino administration have not been transposable to anyone else. Voters appear to think that Aquino's anointed successor, former interior secretary and investment banker Mar Roxas, is too disconnected from the supermajority of Filipinos who are poor (although this has not stopped voters from electing a slew of other candidates in the past who came from wealthy families). Surely, never before have Filipinos been faced with so many electoral options and viable national-level candidates, yet, contrary to what logic and common sense would appear to dictate, voter preferences cutting across all classes are indicating an unshakeable nostalgia for 'quick fix' solutions under a strong man - despite the dangers they must know that implies. This is no more evident than in the rise in popularity of Senator Marcos as forerunner for the vice presidency. Analysts will agree - although many will outwardly deny it - that Marcos Jr. has been able to slowly revise the true historical narrative of martial law during his father's rule, recasting his father's rule as one that, had it not been for the 1986 EDSA revolution, would have catapulted the Philippines into greater heights -- despite clear evidence to the contrary. That is simply preposterous. Yet, truly surprisingly, voter demographics show that the biggest voter segment who favor Marcos Jr. actually belong to the 35 to 54 age group, and not the millennials who are routinely accused of knowing anything about what the Philippines was like under martial law. Thirty years after the fact, can the EDSA revolution have meant nothing? The Philippines and its people clearly deserve better. Rather than ascribe to abrupt change, the Philippines and its leaders need a balanced mix of continuity and reform. Senator Poe's platforms are anchored on inclusive growth (Walaang Maiiwan, or 'let no one be left behind') and Gubyernong May Puso (compassionate governance), and focus on the development objectives of health and education. Instead of relying on 'bullets' and 'murderous violence', Poe proposes to end criminality by ending poverty. She has incorporated many of Aquino's programs, such as the conditional cash transfer program as a vehicle for poverty alleviation, but has proposed to take this a step further by adopting measures aimed at enhancing policies and programs in place without taking too radical a departure from them. Given the progress that has been made under President Aquino, a 'radical' departure is not what is needed. Advertisement Aside from wanting to transpose the gains in the economy into tangible gains in poverty alleviation and inequality (which remains a necessity), Aquino's successor must be able to translate economic leadership into a more meaningful role in regional politics. This is in large part because of China's brinkmanship in the South China Sea, known to Filipinos as the 'West Philippine Sea'. Under President Aquino, the Philippines has taken forceful action to oppose China's antics, being the first country to oppose China at a UN-sanctioned international tribunal, and by re-engaging the U.S. in joining forces to ramp up their military presence in the region. Since the Philippines has taken the lead in hauling China into an international court, other countries that have also experienced violations of their territorial sovereignty from China -- such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and recently, Malaysia -- have contemplated taking similar legal action and look to the Philippines as an example in that area. Poe's view on that portion of the South China Sea adjacent to the Philippines can be summed up in one brief statement: "The West Philippine Sea is ours." Poe believes that the Philippines must be able to balance economic diplomacy with territorial and maritime concerns, the latter being bilaterally non-negotiable. Between Poe and Duterte, Poe is clearly the better statesperson. Despite being relatively new to politics, Poe has taken on the strongest and most progressive position in Philippine foreign policy of any presidential candidate. In addition, Poe is keen on revising the country's national security policy and formulating a more detailed national security strategy within her first 100 days of office, along with establishing credible defense and armed forces modernization through a combination of pragmatic diplomacy, constructive engagement, and managing relations with its allies under existing mutual defense pacts. By contrast, Duterte has displayed an appalling lack of knowledge or interest in international affairs. Governments and business communities around the world are concerned about a Duterte presidency, as they are about a possible Trump presidency, seeing either as a huge step in the wrong direction. The difference is, the Philippines faced its cross-road 6 years ago, and bolted boldly into the future, with excellent results. The U.S. faces that cross-road today. Both countries have a much better option staring them in the face; Both have female candidates who have a strong command of the issues, are clear about what they plan to do, and have their peoples' interests at heart. Advertisement The upcoming elections in both the Philippines and the U.S. should not be about demagoguery, manipulating voters' worst fears, and spewing incendiary rhetoric. Nor should they be about perpetuating lowest common denominators and the fanciful notion that there are quick fixes to big problems. These elections are about maintaining momentum, implementing policies that ooze with common sense, and having a long-term orientation. If you want that, vote for Poe! *Edsel Tupaz is a public interest attorney and legal academic, based in Manila. Follow Edsel Tupaz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/edseltupaz. Last week passersby in London were stunned when they were greeted with adverts reading "Imagine London without gays..." There was an uproar on social media as people demanded to know who was responsible for the adverts and some wondered whether it was an attack campaign. However unlikely in this day and age that such creative would be approved, the adverts stirred people's feelings. The following day it was revealed that the campaign was launched to attract visitors to this year's Tel Aviv gay pride. Advertisement The campaign certainly had an impact, but the problem behind its ill-thought through collateral was that to a passerby on day one, the adverts were asking individuals to imagine a city devoid of gay people. Without the punchline, people were allowed to genuinely ponder the question -- and we all know there are still plenty of people who would happily see the vision come true. I spoke personally to the Israel Tourism Ministry in London about the campaign and they acknowledged that their messaging "was controversial and lacked information." The messaging was indeed controversial. My travel company OutOfOffice.com works closely with suppliers in Israel and with the tourism ministry but it's well known that the country is seen as controversial by many. Indeed, the campaign is believed to have cost around $2.9 million (11 million shekels) and many in Israel have called on people to boycott the parade citing claims that the state only spends 1.5 million shekels a year supporting LGBT organizations. Advertisement Be nice to your pastors. Their mental health may depend on it. Clergy who serve flocks that support them in their times of need and let their pastors know how much they mean to them are much more likely to be satisfied in their ministry and have a higher quality of life, according to a new study. However, the more clergy feel isolated in their work and forced to meet unreasonable demands, the more likely they are to suffer anxiety, depression and emotional exhaustion, research indicated. The study by researchers from Duke University, Azusa Pacific University and the University of New Mexico is said to be the first to consider the unique predictors of positive versus negative mental health among clergy. Advertisement The findings may serve as a wake-up call to churchgoers who, researchers said, "may be unaware of the effect they can have on their pastor's health." Demanding work There are a lot of aspects of clerical life that foster good mental health, the Duke study noted. Many clergy believe they live lives filled with meaning. They feel a strong calling for their work. And they can make a difference in the lives of both congregants and communities. However, the lives of clergy are also filled with many potential stress points. They are exposed to the pain of people they care about. They must balance personal and professional needs in a generally low-paying profession. And they are expected to always be on call to meet the needs of congregants. So the tipping point for a pastor's mental health may lie in the difference between having a congregation that is supportive and caring or one that is critical and judgmental, research suggests. Advertisement The price can be particularly high for spiritual leaders trapped in churches known as "clergy killers," congregations where a small group of members are so disruptive that no pastor is able to maintain spiritual leadership for long. One online study found 28 percent of ministers said they had at one time been forced to leave their jobs because of personal attacks and criticism from a small fraction of their congregations. Clergy who had been forced out were more likely to report lower levels of self-esteem and higher levels of depression, stress and physical health problems, researchers said. The new study analyzed data from nearly 1,500 United Methodist clergy from North Carolina who participated in the 2012 wave of the Duke Clergy Health Initiative Longitudinal Survey. The results were shared in the latest issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. A sense of social isolation was one of the strongest predictors of symptoms of depression, anxiety and emotional exhaustion. One in 10 respondents reported feeling "very" or "extremely socially isolated." An additional 20 percent reported feeling "moderately socially isolated." Advertisement Other strong predictors of poor mental health included serving churches that they considered unusually demanding and critical and worrying about their personal finances. But the way church members made life difficult was only part of the story. People in the pew also were able to play a positive role in their pastor's health. Peace be with the pastor The Duke study indicated several ways congregations may support their pastors, including: Being nicer to one another: Positive congregations that are more of a close-knit than a dysfunctional family were associated with pastors having a greater sense of accomplishment, taking more satisfaction in their ministry and experiencing a higher quality of life. Making every day pastor appreciation day: Or at least choosing to recognize the good work clergy do and refraining from constant criticism. Congregations that make their pastors feel loved and cared for and are willing to step in and share the work when their spiritual leaders are ill contribute to several measures of positive mental health for clergy. Church committees might consider how to buffer negative interactions, "paired with ways to show appreciation for their clergy," researchers said. Taking a pastor to lunch: Providing social support was a major factor related to better mental health. This may seem odd given that clergy are constantly surrounded by people. Yet, "it is possible that loneliness for them is not about social contact, but rather hinges on having people with whom they can be authentic and vulnerable." Advertisement Paying a living wage: Relieving financial stress and educating churchgoers on the need for clergy to have days off also may contribute to better mental health, the study found. Don't know how this happened but I enrolled in the art institute and I'm not sure if it was a smart choice. These guys are incredibly pushy. It started from a job advertisement that I found on Twitter. It was supposed to be an ad for a pet store nearby, so I applied for it and set up a phone interview for the next day. I called 10 minutes early for a phone interview and the guy started asking me some questions. He's the guy who works for gigats. It's a company that matches you with job openings in my area. He also asked me if I was willing to go back to school if there was nothing interfering with it. I said yes. He also stated that his company will pay for the college education. That was when he directed me to an education counselor who mentioned that the Art Institute has programs for my major. I was uncomfortable with this at first, but I went along with it. I was then directed to the Art Institute, it was a 3 hour call with a guy telling me about the school, and attempting to register me. It involved registering me, getting fafsa set up, and talking to financial aid advisors.... I was very adamant about the No Loans. The guy kept asking me why I don't want loans, and without loans, it would be hard to pay for school. And he kept persuading me to get a loan, and saying it's not that bad. I still said no. I also selected that I wish to start classes within a month, and he kept asking me why. I just wanted to prepare, and this guy just constantly asks me questions after question over something that's my personal choice. I said I prefer to take an on-site class, on campus with an actual physical class, but the guy kept pushing me to go online, saying it's not that bad. After talking to the advisors, after their special Achievement Grant which is $3,000 for one semester(out of $10k for the program.), and $1.7k after pell grants, I would only owe about $3000 just for the semester. So after some small research, I don't know what to think. I don't know if the Art Institute is an actual school that could help me put my foot in the door for employment, which I could really use right now. I don't know if it's a scam. I don't even know if I should pursue it. I signed a lot of paper work, so I'm really scared. I didn't pay for anything but if it's going to be a scam, I don't want to use my pell grant for it. I'm worried that I'll be piled with bills. GOP presidential contender Ted Cruz gave irrelevance to the oft-quoted line from Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 Vice President pick John Nance Garner, who famously said the vice presidency "is not worth a warm bucket of spit," or some such variance of that. By picking Carly Fiorina even before he won the GOP nomination, the pick was clearly designed to strengthen his position with the GOP base, among conservative women, and to attain the Holy Grail of a presidential ticket, and that's balance -- in this case, gender balance. The vice president pick has been a major political, strategic, and yes, potentially winning move by presidential contenders since John F. Kennedy picked Lyndon Johnson in 1960 as his running mate. Kennedy was a moderate, wealthy, erudite, Massachusetts senator who needed the southerner Johnson to assure the popular and electoral votes of the South. This election the burden of getting the VP pick right is even more crucial for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, who barring a miracle or gross, naked, and crass backroom maneuvering by some in the GOP establishment who still cling tight to the stop Trump fetish, will almost certainly face off in the fall. It doesn't take much to see why both need to pick carefully and right their VP. They both have the highest negatives of any major presidential candidates in recent presidential history. They both are from the same liberal, northeast state, New York. They both have potential gender, Clinton, and unorthodox non-politician issues, Trump. They both have opponents who have rallied legions of voters to harangue, lambaste, demean, and ridicule them within their party. Many of whom vow that they won't vote for them no matter what. So the big questions are who will both candidates nab for their running mates, and what will he or she bring to the ticket that will help seal the deal for one or the other? Advertisement First, there's Clinton. The names that have been bandied about most prominently have been Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Elizabeth Warren, and even Bernie Sanders. It could well be any of them since they all are seasoned politicians, well-connected, have some name identification, and with the exception of Warren and Sanders, bring the much prized geographical balance to the ticket. But it will take more than that. It will take someone with few negatives, and the ability to pull legions of independents to the Clinton banner. They now make up more than forty percent of the general electorate. This is a historic high. Hillary is a woman, so it almost guarantees that her pick will be a male. And given the loathing of many of Sanders' most rabid backers of Clinton, it will take someone who sees close to eye to eye with Sanders on the issues, or at least someone who won't alienate them further. The resume of that candidate will have to be top flight in every one of those areas. Now there's Trump. He's shown that he has surprising appeal to a lot of the voter demographics that the GOP has traditionally craved, and that's the right side independents, lower income, less educated blue collar workers, and voters ticked off, disgusted, and alienated from deal-making, special-interest laden Washington Beltway politicians of both parties. He's going to need every one of their votes to offset the iron-clad backing that Clinton has from African-American, Hispanics, LGBT, and middle income, middle class, college-educated white women. Trump has hopelessly alienated all of them. The names that have been bandied about include: Governors Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Rubio, Mary Fallin, Susannah Martinez. And even John Kasich. Martinez and Fallin make some sense as conservatives, women, and in Martinez's case, she's Hispanic, which could make some think that Trump is not the manic anti-immigrant basher that he is. Advertisement The combative and oft-time alienating Christie brings name identification, and campaign stump skills to the ticket; Walker and Rubio bring the regional balance and are favorites of ultra conservatives and evangelicals. Rubio and Kasich carry the imprimatur of the GOP establishment. They are all governors, and there's always an allure with governors because of their supposed prowess with fiscal and administrative management skills. Trump gave one clue when he said that his pick should be a party insider who knows his way around Washington, presumably to balance off while he's busily lambasting that very establishment. The single biggest asset, though, that a VP pick brings to the presidential table is that he or she can turn on more voters than their potential boss can or has turned off no matter what part of the country they hail from, their gender, or their rank in the party. Whoever can accomplish that tricky feat will get the second biggest prize in the presidential derby. That's more important than ever this go round since that pick can make or break Trump or Clinton. This week, stage spellbinder Mary Zimmerman returns to Berkeley Rep where she has staged numerous productions. Over the years, the playwright and director has conjured poetic, witty and fresh new ways to tell very old stories. Zimmerman, who won a Tony for her spin on Ovid's Metamorphoses, has made a career of revamping classics, reinventing ancient myths and fables in surprising ways to remind us of their relevance. She has jazzed up Greek myths, Ming Dynasty legends, Arabic folk tales, and other far-flung sources. Her new play, Treasure Island, an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel, continues her fascination with epic journeys. Past adaptations include "The Odyssey, Metamorphoses, Argonautika and Journey to the West. "The voyage in all of them is a voyage towards the self, I suppose," said Zimmerman. A unifying theme to her eclectic oeuvre is "the longing of the principal character is to return home and home, I think, stands for the self, the authentic self." In Treasure Island, "the journey is for gold, but the real journey is towards maturity." Even though Stevenson's' book is mostly considered kids' lit, Zimmerman thought it was extraordinarily written. She never read the novel as a child; she discovered an old edition at a tiny library during one of her many summers in Maine when she was on the lookout for maritime stories. "I was galvanized by the vitality of the dialogue, the beauty of the narration, and its complete lack of sentimentality." Advertisement "Treasure Island is primarily a story of a boy and a treasure map, but it is also very much about a choice Jim has before him," said Zimmerman. "What sort of person is he going to grow up to be." Zimmerman's superb Argonautika showed another epic journey at sea with symbolism interwoven into the adventure. Staged in 2006, Argonautika took a new look at the Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. As Zimmerman explained, "the voyage is to retrieve the Golden Fleece, but it is also for Jason to come into his rights as King." All of Zimmerman's plays have arresting and witty visuals with attention-grabbing razzle dazzle. Her plays are radiant reminders of the magic of low-tech. The stage designs are often gorgeous impressionistic tableaus. Zimmerman says because her plays contain fantastical events, her challenge is "figuring out how to stage the impossible. I have to find some visual metaphor to embody those events." Advertisement An onstage pool gives Metamorphoses its eye-candy clout. It serves as Narcissus' mirror, the River Styx, the sea and a stream where a woman melts from grief. In her adaptation of the Chinese legend, The White Snake, the snake appears as a slithery, silky rod marionette. Later, angled paper umbrellas moving in unison become the scales of a coiling snake. Argonautika's striking vessel, The Argos, faces storms, puppet harpies and giants and a sea monster suggested by green cloth. Another big ship takes center stage in Treasure Island. There's pirates and treasure but "nothing actually impossible," said Zimmerman. " I don't need to stretch so far to represent the elements of the tale." Her other plays, including The Odyssey and Journey to the West, have monsters that the heroes and heroines must contend with. In Treasure Island, the monster is Long John Silver and the other pirates. Recently, in Jersey City at Mayor Steven Fulop's Reentry Conference organized by former Governor Jim McGreevey, people from all walks of life got together--from Reverend Al Sharpton to Governor Chris Christie; from women just getting out of prison to representatives of Koch Industries. We all shared a common stance on a pressing issue: the challenge of prisoner reentry into society. Before getting into specifics, I want to highlight just how important this issue is. The U.S. is 5 percent of the global population, but we have 25 percent of the world's prison population. We are by far the largest jailer among industrialized nations, and mass incarceration costs the government $80 billion a year, which is 3-4 times more than we spend on education. The prison system is the biggest business in the United States. While Hollywood loves a good redemption story, and as a society we say we believe in second chances, our behavior towards ex-offenders tends to be contradictory. Barriers like the criminal felon box on job applications and the inability to get a basic bank loan or a driver's license make a smooth re-entry back into society nearly impossible. Advertisement In the end, people are coming out of prison but they aren't really coming out of prison. Ex-offenders now refer to the stigma as The Scarlet F, meaning that the act of committing a felony nearly becomes embedded in their DNA. The Scarlet F is what contributes to our country's 75 percent recidivism rate... yes 75 percent of former inmates in America wind up back in prison! As declared by Attorney General Loretta Lynch, this week is National Reentry Week. Because of my passion for giving women second chances, and the HBO film I produced called Prison Stories: Women On The Inside, I came up with a different strategy to give women ex-offenders the dignity of work. Same Sky America's women, all of whom were recently released from Hudson County Jail, work with a flexible schedule in the comfort of their Transitional House to make Same Sky Benefit bracelets. We trust the women to log their own hours and to work with expensive jewelry materials; with that trust they have built their own self-esteem and self-confidence. Same Sky's methods are rooted in respect and opportunity, which has proven to be extraordinarily successful. After almost 4 years, we have a 0 percent recidivism rate, which is unheard of in this country. My partner, Reverend Gloria Walton of the Most Excellent Way Transitional House in Jersey City, said the Same Sky women now have the tools to rewrite the narratives of their own future. What Same Sky hopes to convey is that respect is contagious. In fact, the women are now working to open their own Same Sky storefront. Mark Holden, a featured speaker at the Reentry Conference, a prisoner reentry activist and Koch Industries representative shares this sentiment. He says, "Jobs are the best way to stop a bullet." At Koch Industries, giving second chances through employment is an integral part of their corporate model. Holden said that they have found their previously incarcerated employees to be "humble, hardworking, and hungry." Advertisement But as we discussed at the conference, time after time, ex-offenders are not only denied employment opportunities, they are denied basic necessities like an ID card. Life without an ID is basically equivalent to pulling a "Go To Jail" card. If not back to jail, life without an ID card almost certainly results in living in a homeless shelter. Ex-offenders who can't get an ID card cannot even get into the building where their children go to school. There are up to 6,000 criminal laws in Congress, and one in three Americans have a criminal record. One in 14 children in this country have a parent in prison. With this many people in prison, we need to start the reentry process early, perhaps while some are still in prison. We can break the recidivism cycle by getting the logistics sorted for an ID card early on, which leads ex-offenders to have access to a bank loan, and a housing sublet, all of which lead to family reunification. Nelson Mandela said if you want to really get to know a nation, visit its prisons. As of now, people would judge our nation as an institution that doesn't believe people have the capacity to learn and change; a nation that doesn't believe in second chances. It comes down to a lack of hope--not that the offenders won't get out of prison--but that they will never get out of the confines of being a "prisoner." Fetishistic objectification is a term used by some psychoanalysts to refer to receiving stimulation from a part of the anatomy or the lingerie that is used to cover it. So for instance when you talk about a man's package or a woman's rack you're indulging in a form of fetishistic objectification. It's a little like an erotic form of synecdoche, the figure of speech which refers to taking the part for the whole. For instance, fifty head for cattle, the White House for the presidency, the law for the police are all examples of synecdoche. Synecdoche, New York was also the name of a Charlie Kaufman movie which starred the late Philip Seymour Hoffman and which employs another kind of fetishizing that occurs when you attempt to make art out of life or vice versa. But this erotic form of synecdoche also occurs in the sex act itself. We refer to getting laid rather than making love and then there are the varying kinds of foreplay, fellatio, cunnilingus, analingus which all seem to thingify sex. When you talk about getting or giving a blow job, about fucking or getting fucked you are attempting to create an illusion that sexuality is devoid of emotion. It's just another act like say brushing one's teeth or masticating a piece of meat. The fact is that butt fucking someone is an activity that is laden with emotion. Without the emotion, the act would be so denuded of significance as to be lacking in stimulation. The same is true about sucking a penis. It's a statement. It's fun and exciting to suck or be sucked for that matter, but under normal circumstances most people don't want a large object inserted into their mouths, unless that object has meaning for them. Sometimes you need to see tragedy up front, with your own eyes to realize our traditional institutions aren't always the best way to solve a crisis. It is the moment, as an individual, you realize you can wield tremendous impact in the world around you. That happened to me a few months ago on the Island of Lesbos, the Greek Island that has become a landing for many of the millions of Syrian refugees who are now Europe's largest exodus of people since the Second World War. We were driving along a rocky beach when we saw flashlights shining into the ocean. We stopped our car and soon heard the sound of a boat accompanied by hushed voices coming towards our shore. The source was a small group of men, women and children, fleeing the refugee camps of Turkey and the chaos of Syria, searching for safe harbor and a new life. What we experienced next literally left me speechless. We waded into the water, joined in pulling their tiny boat to shore and helping these exhausted refugees carry their belongings and children to landfall. Were our efforts enough? Was our ad hoc humanitarian effort a drop in the ocean? What did it matter in an exodus of humanity that was literally being counted in the millions? Upon reflection, that wasn't the correct question. It wasn't whether what we did that night on Lesbos was enough. The question was, could we do more? My answer was yes. We live in a world where institutions long counted on as our social instruments to build a moral and stable world -- national governments, The United Nations, religious organizations and a plethora of NGOs -- are stretched to their limit. They all have their roles. But they are simply no longer enough. I believe we need to embrace the new philanthropy powered by the fortunate -- the affluent individuals and enlightened corporations who can fill the "action vacuum" in amazing and measurable ways. All it takes are three conscious steps: Take the time to see a problem, whatever its nature or location; and organize around it. And then fix the problem by finding partners and taking tangible actions as quickly as possible. It is a simple formula really, though one too often forgotten. That night on Lesbos was just the beginning of a much bigger effort in proving this formula can work in many different situations. And the results have been undeniable. This past December, in partnership with The Radcliffe Foundation and the International Rescue Committee, a 24/7 Reception Centre was built to help refugee children and families who were landing daily on Lesbos. The Centre provided essential information and services, basic survival goods such as food, clothes, blankets and medical treatment. Since that night, when we stepped into the sea and pulled in that boat of strangers, everything we had read about the thousands that had drowned in the same attempt, really hit home. At that point the Greek coast guard was too under-equipped to properly patrol the treacherous waters off Lesbos. The Radcliffe Foundation is now making donations, in partnership with the Emergency Response Centre International (ERCI) and Vancouver Search and Rescue, to bolster search and rescue operations with more boats and qualified rescue staff to keep children and families drowning on their desperate journey. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign event in Huntington, West Virginia, U.S., on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Sanders' single win in Rhode Island out of the five contests held on Tuesday puts his opponent Hillary Clinton on the brink of the Democratic presidential nomination. Photographer: Ty Wright/Bloomberg via Getty Images For the record, I still believe Bernie Sanders will become president, especially since the FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails and server. According to The Daily Banter recently, "She almost certainly isn't going to be indicted." This is about as reassuring as phrases like "It's highly unlikely you won't die from this medication," and "Don't worry, the brakes on your car have an 85% chance of working." In reality, what loyal supporters of Hillary Clinton fail to realize is that even best case scenarios (she doesn't get indicted, but the FBI confirms Obama's assertion that she was "careless"), will only hurt Clinton's already low national favorability ratings. Six months before Election Day, she's not far from Trump in terms of negative favorability ratings, and in some polls, Trump is seen as more trustworthy. Advertisement If Clinton circumvents political repercussions from storing 22 Top Secret emails on a private server, and becomes Democratic nominee, there are alternatives for Bernie Sanders. I state the case for Bernie Sanders to run as an independent, if he must, in this YouTube video. Thus far, Bernie has defied the odds. Vermont's Senator has already achieved the unimaginable, almost tying Clinton nationally and winning 18 contests. Bernie is "in it to win it," but that doesn't mean he shouldn't consider an independent run. He could win the presidency, running as an independent. The myth that Ralph Nader gave us Bush's Iraq War ignores the fact Hillary Clinton voted for Iraq, didn't regret her vote in 2004, and stated the Iraqi insurgency was failing in 2005. According to CNN in 2004, Clinton stated "No, I don't regret giving the president authority because at the time it was in the context of weapons of mass destruction..." If the Democratic Party blatantly ignores the values and beliefs of millions, and then risks a mutiny from an independent campaign because of this hubris, then it's the DNC that must acquiesce; not the voters against Clinton's neoconservative appeal, or ties to Wall Street. Advertisement If you're a Hillary supporter and fear the repercussions of a Trump presidency if Bernie runs as an independent, then switch to Bernie if he runs an independent campaign. This way, you'll ensure that your candidate isn't at risk of an ongoing FBI investigation, and you'll ensure (since Bernie Sanders defeats Trump by a wider margin), that Trump will be defeated. Refusing to support Bernie's independent run, would also be admitting that you don't truly fear a Trump presidency; you just want to instill that fear into others. From war to Wall Street, and flip flops on everything from the TPP to Keystone XL, a great many Bernie supporters will never support Clinton. On a national stage, Clinton has negative favorability ratings in every single national poll. Beyond the confines of the Democratic establishment, it's a different ballgame. The DNC can't limit debates with Trump, and believe me, Trump won't watch his tone. No, America isn't a closed Democratic Primary. Bernie Sanders should run as an independent, if he must, since he could easily win the presidency. Ralph Nader won 2,882,955 votes in 2000, in a world where gay marriage, diplomatic relations with Cuba, an arms treaty with Iran, and an African American president were seen by millions as virtually impossible. Times have changed, and Bernie is a Democratic-socialist, not a Fox News socialist. That poll you've heard cited, even by Democrats, is completely irrelevant. Bernie Sanders has thus far earned 8,967,401 votes, despite widespread allegations of voter suppression and a DNC that limited debates; stifling his name recognition for early contests. Advertisement Most importantly, Bernie Sanders finally enjoys name recognition. Bernie is now only 3.7 points behind Clinton, nationally. This 3.7-point lead includes recent wins for Clinton, illustrating Bernie's overall strength among voters. Imagine if the Democratic Primary started today, instead of February 1, 2016. Bernie Sanders could choose to ride his momentum into November 8, 2016; with independents and Republicans also able to vote in a general election. Worried about Trump? Bernie beats Trump by a wider margin that Clinton. Bernie Sanders defeats Donald Trump by 15.2 points. Hillary Clinton is said to be more qualified, but wins by only 8.5 points. Remember, this 8.5 points is before Donald Trump pivots into a semi-normal human being, where he pretends to care about babies and alludes to the fact he "identified" as a Democrat not long ago. Also, Hillary Clinton squandered astronomical leads over Obama and Bernie Sanders, losing them both in a matter of months. Name recognition helped Obama and Sanders immeasurably against Clinton, and once voters know there's another choice out there, they tend to pick Clinton's challenger. Like Seth Abramson writes in The Huffington Post, "...on Election Day -- among voters who've been present and attentive for each candidate's commercials, local news coverage, and live events -- Sanders tends to tie or beat Clinton." Also, Sanders would easily beat Trump at his own game. Independent voters are the biggest partisan group in the United States, with around 43% of American voters identifying politically as independent. Advertisement With around 43% of American voters independent, 44.7% of independents favor Bernie Sanders, while 25.9% choose Trump, and only 8.6% side with Hillary Clinton. As for trustworthiness nationally, Quinnipiac states that 74% of independents find Clinton "not honest and trustworthy." Independents find Trump more trustworthy than Clinton, with 65% of independents finding him "not honest and trustworthy." Why should Bernie Sanders run an independent campaign? Because he'd win. Unlike the battle of lesser evils between Trump and Clinton, Bernie Sanders has the highest favorability ratings in 2016, and 68% of Americans find him trustworthy. True, Clinton has earned 12,135,109 votes in the Democratic Primary. However, a great percentage of these votes came early on in the primaries, when Americans nationwide, and Democrats, didn't know Bernie Sanders. Tony Brasunas explains why Bernie's name recognition matters in a Huffington Post piece titled Only Voter Suppression Can Stop Bernie Sanders: Bernie is the one national candidate who people like the more they get to know him. As people learn more about Clinton, Trump, and Cruz, they like them less. As the country learns more about Bernie, they like him more. He's still relatively unknown compared to Clinton and Trump, yet he already outpolls them. Looking at the current trends, one would predict that Bernie Sanders will be the most popular politician in the country come November, just as he is now. Trump's candidacy is almost a third-party run; a great many Republicans will not vote for him on Election Day. Another big issue is the fact 25% to 33% of Bernie voters will never support Hillary Clinton. There are Bernie supporters in America who make H. A. Goodman look like Huma Abedin. Also, the more a pro-Hillary super PAC uses it's $1 million to "correct" Bernie voters online, the more animosity generated among Democrats. It's late April. We have a little over 6 months before Election Day. Bernie is almost tied nationally with Clinton; before the FBI discloses its findings. About 1 out of 3 Bernie voter won't support Clinton (this will increase), and many Republican won't support Trump. Bernie Sanders dominates both Trump and especially Clinton with Independent voters, and Sanders also has great support among Democratic voters. Many Republicans also like Sanders. Establishment Democrats worried about Bernie splitting the votes, or future Supreme Court justices, will have to put their fears to the test and vote Bernie Sanders, if indeed these fears are real, especially since he defeats Trump by a wider margin. Venetian first; Italian second. Just as her people proudly proclaim themselves natives of their city over their country, Venice is a city that transcends history: not quite Italian, but something mystical, unique. Venice is born of the ocean and taken by the ocean, caught in a push and pull with time, faced with her own mortality constantly, yet immortal - and perhaps this is why so many are drawn to her flooded shores, drawn by the sense that she has survived so long only to possibly disappear with our generation, drawn to meet and fall in love with this immortal city before she vanishes into dreams. Here are some tips for your visit to Venice - a city of endless duality, mystique, and beauty. Enjoy an Apertif in Piazza San Marco The most popular location in Venice, Piazza San Marco is a vast square that looks on St. Mark's Cathedral; across the square, pigeons dive onto tourists for crumbs of bread, strands of classical music float from scattered stages, children run, chasing the birds, tumbling across the rough cobblestones. The tables robed in white cloth with tuxedoed waiters offer a perfect viewpoint for the frenzy of activity. While there, step into the magnificent St. Mark's Basilica and marvel at the age old, gold-lined soaring ceilings covered in art from across the centuries. Climb the next-door tower for a view across the canals and bridges and alleyways out to the ocean. See Her Most Famous Bridges Any must-see list of Venice includes a "tale of two bridges" that have captured visitors' attention for years: the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. The Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge on the Grand Canal; built between 1588 and 1591, the bridge is a stunning arch with detailed stairs on either side leading into a soaring portico where lovers snap selfies and every language can be heard crowding into one another. The Bridge of Sighs has a far sadder tale - built in 1600, the window of this corridor bridge was the last view convicted prisoners had of Venice before being led into the dark jail cells of the next building. Advertisement Visit Murano and Burano Any visitor to Venice will find the storefronts littered with glistening bits and bobs of glass. If you would like to see the origins of the famous Venetian glass - ferry to the island of Murano. Take an hour or so to wander the empty backstreets, many stores, and glass making tours; there you will see the most masterful pieces, created by men trained in the creation of glass as an art. The island seems dark even in the afternoon light with spots of sun darting through onto the streets and alleyways, but the glass is truly a marvel, the bright spot on this little island. A word of warning: always ask where the glass is from or look for authentication tags in any Venetian store, many of the small or cheaper looking pieces are imported from China and passed off as Venetian. Burano is Murano's vivid sibling: this little island is jam-packed with rainbow colored houses, bubblegum pink melting into turquoise into marigold - one house after another after another of seemingly brighter and brighter colors. Even the laundry seems to be in on the island's color scheme, dancing in the island's breeze: starch white and fire red and daisy orange and sky blue. Cross the bridges and soak in the quaintness of this little island in comparison to the crumbling grandeur of Venice. Both these islands are easily reached via an inexpensive ferry. Ride in a Gondola - or Water Taxi What better way is there to pass the crowds flooding through the pedestrian only streets than to hop onto a gondola or water taxi and tour the city underneath its leaping bridges and towering buildings. The gondoliers know their city well and are always ready for a laugh - when you are walking across a bridge, watch out for a friendly poke in the leg from one of their oars! I adore Venetian water taxis and usually hop on one from the airport into Venice. They race across the open lagoon, as fearless as NASCAR drivers. For the full effect, stand in the open back of the boat and let the wind whip around you as the city grows closer and closer. Advertisement Explore the Peggy Guggenheim Museum Peggy Guggenheim's former home, an 18th century palazzo on the Grand Canal, houses her extensive modern art collection. This striking white stone museum with overflowing greenery houses pieces by Miro, Picasso, Pollock, Magritte, Calder, Dali, and Ernst (her former husband). Step out onto the back deck, look across the Grand Canal, and imagine living within this pale palace and possessing such a grand view. Tour the Jewish Ghetto Venice's Jewish quarter was the first instituted ghetto - in fact, the word "ghetto" stems from Venice. Jewish citizens were forced to live in this quarantined area until their liberation by Napoleon. Visit the five synagogues that spot the ghetto; this niche of Judaism in highly Catholic Italy still thrives. Try traditional Jewish cuisine at Gam Gam - my favorite restaurant in Venice and Number 5 on My Top 30 Meals Around the World. This historic area is perfect to spend a lazy afternoon meandering and losing yourself in the twisting streets. Take a Walk Parco delle Rimembranze sits on the waterfront, a spot of green amidst the deep variegated browns of the city. Meander along the bridges and paths on the waterfront - this park is a straight-shoot from St. Mark's and a welcome refuge from the heat and crowds that drown the city in summer. Marvel at Santa Maria della Salute She is impossible to miss - on the Venetian skyline, in the paintings of artists like J.M.W. Turner, on post cards in shops across the city. Santa Maria della Salute was built after a severe bout of the plague that wiped through Venice in 1630 and is a baroque style church of towering white walls and pale blue domes. The inside is as awe-inspiring as the out, with paintings by the likes of Tintoretto and Titian. Sit on the steps and look across the Grand Canal and at the people surrounding you, both Venetian and tourist, old and young, singles and couples - Venice is a city of duality, yet dark and light, like and unalike mingle despite all odds. If all you knew about Jennifer Kerns was her job title of executive editor of the Colorado Statesman, a newspaper covering Colorado politics, you may have been surprised if you attended last Thursday's meeting of the North Jeffco Tea Party, where she provided an evening lecture titled, "Brokered Brand: How the GOP continues to compromise its brand and lose elections... and what you can do about it." A couple days before her Jeffco speech, Kerns' Tea-Party conservatism was blaring from KNUS 710-AM, where she subbed for arch conservative Dan Caplis: Kerns: We can't forget that we have a big senate race coming up here in 2016, the race against Sen. Michael Bennet, one of the more liberal members of the U.S. Senate, very similar to Mark Udall, except, in my view, there's one big problem with Senator Bennet, and that is, whereas Mark Udall was concerned about one thing and one thing primarily, your uterus--That was his nickname at least on the campaign trail, given to him by The Denver Post.--Sen. Michael Bennet has many, many interests that he wants to control in your life. And to talk about that a little bit is the executive director of Advancing Colorado, Jonathan Lockwood. ... I want to go through some of the attacks you've made on Sen. Michael Bennet and rightfully so, given his track record. Let's start with his support of President Obama's nuclear deal that gives Iran basically unfettered access to nuclear material... Great work you're doing, Jonathan Lockwood.... This doesn't sound like a journalist who, a couple weeks later, would be writing a front-page Statesman article about the Bennet race. But, yes, Kerns authored the April 13 piece, headlined "Bennet will have a fight, but how much of one is TBD." The headline was fair enough, but the article hit a low note by repeating an inaccurate conservative attack against Bennet: "[Bennet's] initial support of transferring prisoners from Guantanamo Bay detention camps was an unpopular sell to many Colorado voters," Kerns reported. Bennet never supported transferring GITMO prisoners here, and Kerns was immediately challenged on Twitter by "MissingPundit," who pointed out that Politifact found it untrue that Bennet supported bringing Gitmo detainees to Colorado. In response, Kerns called Politifact a "lefty site," again repeating a conservative talking point that ignores the fact that Politifact won the Pulitzer Prize in 2009. Kerns tweeted that Politifact is "lefty" in the same way America Rising is "righty." In reality, America Rising was established to expose the "truth about Democrats", while the mission of Politifact is fact checking. In any case, to the Statesman's credit, the falsehood about Bennet was later removed from the digital version of the article, but, unfortunately, there was no indication that a correction was made. Asked to discuss this error and her conservative activism, Kerns, who's also a favorite of KNUS' Peter Boyles, referred me to Statesman publisher Jared Wright. First, Wright said, he's obviously aware of Kerns' conservative background, and he points to her bio, often printed in the newspaper and online, as proof that the newspaper is being transparent about her: Advertisement Jennifer Kerns is an executive editor at The Colorado Statesman. She is an accomplished conservative political writer and contributor to several national publications including The Blaze, The Washington Times, and The Heritage Foundation's Daily Signal. She also served as the communications director and spokeswoman for the 2013 Colorado recall elections to defend Coloradans' Second Amendment rights. [and California's Proposition 8, BigMedia addition] Calling the recall elections an effort "to defend Coloradans' Second Amendment rights" is biased itself, but Wright said, "All of her stuff [online and print] goes through another editor and the fact-checking process. And there have been a number of times when we said, 'You need to go get comments from the other side. You need to make sure the other side has its say." Wright said it's "no excuse," but his small newspaper has been hit with an overlapping staff crisis and vacations recently. A written correction should have been made on Kerns' Bennet article, in line with the newspaper's policy, and he promised to look into it. The short staffing, he said, was partly the reason Kerns was writing the Bennet article in the first place, said Wright. The executive editor job is "more of an executive officer or an assistant to the editorial department," he said. But Kerns will "pinch hit" as a reporter, as she did when writing the "Hot Sheet" feature when Wright, who usually writes the informative daily political briefing, was away recently. Wright believes that advocates can make good journalists at a political newspaper like the Statesman, due to their insider contacts and deep political knowledge. Advertisement But, I told Wright, Kerns looks like a conservative operative at work at the Statesman, which, two sources say, is under the majority control of conservative power-broker Larry Mizel. Wright said he expects Kerns' outside political work to end soon, though she'll still have her opinions, and some of it was on tap before she started. "I'm fully aware that Jennifer has her bent, probably more than anyone else on our staff," said Wright, who's a former GOP state lawmaker, now a registered independent. "I want to have people who are opinionated," said Wright, emphasizing his newspaper will be as transparent as possible. "It's important to have journalists but also to have people who have been very active in politics, and of course, the only place you are going to find those people is on one side of the aisle or the other. So as long as we have a balance of those people on the team, I think we'll be in good shape." Who's the balance for Kerns, who started last month? "You know, we've also got [Statesman Capitol Bureau Chief] John Tomasic," Wright said. "John will tell you he's very opinionated on the progressive side and has worked for progressive publications [like the Colorado Independent]." Advertisement Kerns has a track record as an operative; Tomasic is a journalist, I told Wright. He agreed that the two staffers are not comparable "in the way they are currently operating." He said he might add a writer with a progressive background to his staff. With respect to Tomasic, he said, "There are times when we have to say, 'John, you have to go talk to the other side. John, sometimes correctly, doesn't trust the other side, and doesn't have those contacts. It's just all of us, working as a team, and keeping each other on track." Donald J. Trump unveiled his foreign policy program this past week in a speech in New York, claiming he wanted to put America first and would not go abroad in search of enemies, suggesting that foreign aggression would not be his first instinct. That Trump was introduced at the outset of his speech by Zalmay Khalilzad does not inspire confidence he will actually fulfill his vision and reflects much deeper inconsistencies in Trump's rhetoric on foreign policy. Khalilzad if you recall was a main U.S. emissary to the war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq who was a power-broker behind the scenes promoting leaders that would be amenable to U.S. interests. He served the George W. Bush administration as a National Security Council adviser, cultivating particularly close ties to Afghan leader Hamid Karzai, who presided over the world's leading "narco-state" ranking near bottom on the world's corruption indexes. In his recently published memoirs, The Power-Broker of Kabul blamed Barack Obama's pulling America's support from both Afghanistan and Iraq. In Iraq, Mr. Khalilzad cites as a "tragedy" Mr. Obama's decision to withdraw, "rejecting military recommendations to leave a substantial residual force in the country." That move paved the way for the terrorists of ISIS and opened the gates wider to Iran. This myopic analysis exemplifies Khalilzad and neoconservatives' unwillingness to take any responsibility for the catastrophe unleashed by the Bush administration's 2003 invasion which Khalilzad championed as a member of the Project for the New American Century. Advertisement And Obama in fact did leave a considerable force in Iraq that included huge numbers of private security contractors and asked for $100 million in refurbishment for the gargantuan embassy which employed thousands of employees and was nearly as large as the Vatican. In Afghanistan, at the same time, Obama with backing from Hillary Clinton, instituted a major troop surge modeled after the one promoted by Khalilzad and his cronies in Iraq. He intensified drone strikes and military training programs whose net effect has been to sow further violence and strengthen the Taliban. Does Khalilzad seriously think sending even more U.S. combat forces would magically change the situation, especially in light of Afghanistan's history as a "graveyard of empires" which as an Afghan-American he is surely aware of? Khalilzad embodies an imperialistic world view in which the United States is the only force capable of engendering stability in Middle Eastern countries. He claims there are many decent people in the Middle East who "would not have had a platform or a voice but for our interventions," the Afghans and Iraqis seemingly being unable to produce good leaders on their own. Khalilzad also exemplifies the connection between money and politics which Trump claims to be against. After Obama was elected, he founded an investment and advisory company, Gryphon Capital Partners which represented petroleum companies who competed for concessions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Khalilzad advertised his capabilities in serving as liaison to foreign government leaders. At one point, Khalilzad even faced a money laundering probe from the Justice Department. Donald Trump has presented himself as an insurgent candidate challenging the foreign policy establishment, and he was attacked by figures like Lindsey Graham for even suggesting a more isolationist course and by the New York Times for invoking America First (whose history the Times distorts - see my previous column). However. Trump's choice of Khalilzad raises serious questions about the authenticity of his commitment to renewed isolationism and a transformation of U.S. policy. Advertisement During the 2000 election cycle, George W. Bush also claimed in a PBS debate to be concerned about "over-committing U.S. troops around the world," and emphasized the importance of the United States being a "humble nation." We all know now how that turned out. Given his track record and appeal to base nationalist sentiments, there is no reason to believe Trump would be much different. Sadly, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton, may actually be worse than Trump on foreign policy. A devastating portrait of Ms. Clinton was provided last week in the New York Times Magazine which emphasized that Hillary was more hawkish often than the Joint Chiefs and figures like former Defense Secretary Robert Gates. As Secretary of State, Ms. Clinton championed the surges in Afghanistan and Iraq and war in Libya, gloating after Muammar Qaddafi had been lynched. She manipulated public opinion by claiming Qaddafi had killed ten times more people than he actually had. "Hillary the Hawk" was also a key voice inside the Obama administration pushing for the arming of Syrian rebels and bombing of Syria after it was alleged but never proven that the Assad government had used chemical weapons. This was another possible act of political deception reminiscent of the WMD debacle with Iraq, though in this case the public rejected the demand for bombing. Clinton's mentor on military affairs, Gen. Jack Keane, was an intellectual architect of the Iraq surge who is a well- compensated member of the military industrial complex. He sits on the board of General Dynamics and has been a strategic adviser to Academi, the former Blackwater. Advertisement "Hillary the Hawk" was also influenced by her father Hugh Rodham a staunch Republican anticommunist. After graduating law school, she actually tried to enlist in the Marines, and later appears to have made up a story that she had dodged sniper fire in Bosnia after her C-17 military landed at Tuzsla. This places in her class of people like NBC anchor Brian Williams who fabricated a story about his helicopter being shot down in Iraq. It reflects a dangerous martial culture prevalent today in the United States at a time the country is engaged in military operations all around the world. If the current front-runners hold up, American voters will be faced with a terrible choice of candidates when it comes to foreign policy. On side you have an unscrupulous billionaire who's warm up act is a central architect of foreign military interventions he purports to oppose; on the other an unrepentant war hawk who has deceived the public time and again. Pity those of us on the left who want a sane and pacifist oriented foreign policy. We have no good horse to back in this race if Sanders does not make it, although we haven't really had one in any election in the recent past. Jeremy Kuzmarov is author of Modernizing Repression: Police Training and Nation Building in the American Century (Massachusetts, 2012). Images: JoAnn Kim A month after returning to New York from a six-month work assignment in Paris, I find myself settling into my smallest Manhattan studio in the last ten years. After having taken painstaking steps to liquidate my previous studio and lighten my load before moving abroad, I thought that giving away and selling most of my furniture, housewares, books, DVDs, old race t-shirts, and hopeful items from my "last five pounds" collection were enough. But, boy was I wrong... As I try to optimize the scarce living space, I continue to bump into one very large, imposing box preserving my unworn couture, silk wedding gown. Like an albatross around my neck, this beautiful dress has followed me all the way from San Francisco to every Manhattan studio for the past decade. It is the first thing I see when I come home, and the last thing I see when I leave. Nearly fourteen years ago, my then-boyfriend asked me to marry him on the bench where we shared our first kiss. I agreed, surrendering my left hand, while burying the trepidation in my young heart. After all, wasn't the coveted diamond engagement ring, the brass ring for many women in America? Advertisement For nearly a year, I wore those three months of salary on my hand as we shuttled to and from various wedding related appointments. Proof that my fiance loved me. Or that advertising works. It was a cold, glimmering 1.3 carat reminder that something didn't feel quite right. I was there physically, head-to-toe at all those wedding appointments, though my heart and mind do not tag along. A crystal comb sits atop my head, a custom veil in the works, slivers of cake tease my taste buds. My arms hug our friends and future in-laws at engagement parties. My hand adds china patterns and a panini press to our registries like I was on a shopping spree. Yards of ivory, shantung silk couture are like a glove on my body. Silk-covered buttons, boning, off-the-shoulder, drop waist, chapel length train. "My shoulders need to kill it at the wedding," I tell my special occasion personal trainer. I miss half the sessions. I remember it all vividly. Recorded, as if I were watching scenes from a movie about someone who is getting married. In real life, I was suffering. The impending wedding and our future together weighing heavily on me. I was no longer able to avoid the trepidation in my heart. A month before the wedding, I revealed my feelings, setting off a series of events like a tragic misstep next to a world record domino attempt. To this day, I know it was the worst thing I ever did, but, in my heart, I know it was also the best thing I ever did. Yet, I don't know that anyone ever really understood. How do you explain why you can't marry a guy who tried to give you the world? How do you explain yourself when all you had to do was show up in a month? How do you explain this to your sick mother? His parents? Our friends and family? How do you explain this to him? The quintessential it's me, not you. You can't. And so you stay together another year and a half. The PR story: a mutual agreement to postpone. Advertisement And eventually you move to the other side of the country. Alone. No job, no apartment, nothing to lose. But, somehow you bring with you a massive box preserving an unworn wedding gown, along with a custom veil, crystal comb, and fairytale silk shoes. For ten long years, you somehow find a space for the "wedding that never was" box in every Manhattan studio you live in, unable to find an organization or a bride to take it, on your own. A foyer in a studio, the curb, or public storage is no place for this dress. I sincerely hope to find a deserving bride and allow her to have the dress of her dreams, my gift to her and to the kind of love I have yet to find for myself. This is not just an exercise to free up precious physical space in a 300 sq. ft. studio, but an exercise to free up the space in my heart and mind from the wedding that never took place. And free the dress from its preservation box prison to adorn a beautiful, deserving bride on her special day. Friends, I cannot schlep the "wedding that never was" box yet another step, and would love to find a bride who can wear it as she takes one of the most important steps of her life. Every June, thousands of dogs are slaughtered for their meat in southwest China. They aren't consumed for their nutritional value or to stave off starvation. Rather, they're the main delicacy at the annual Lychee and Dog Meat Festival in Yulin, a city in Guangxi Province, for which an estimated 10,000 dogs are killed each year. Unsurprisingly, this festival draws a lot of criticism, not just from animal welfare organizations, but from lots of regular folks who find eating companion animals cruel and appalling. More than 1 million people signed this petition asking the Chinese government to step in and stop the 2015 festival. Even a year after it was created, hundreds of people still sign it every day. In a world where an issue is lucky to get 15 minutes of fame, the enduring outrage and desire for change shows there's plenty of passion that could be harnessed to put an end to the cruelty. The Yulin Dog Meat Festival is held each June and ostensibly celebrates the summer solstice. The way its defenders talk about it, you'd think the festival is an ancient tradition. In fact, the first festival was in 2009. While the Chinese and other nearby countries have consumed dog meat for generations (it was considered a delicacy during the Han Dynasty 1,800 years ago), the "tradition" of eating dog meat and drinking lychee liquor to celebrate summer only began in the 1990s. Advertisement Despite a long history of using dogs for food, dog meat festivals are losing popularity as more Chinese families keep them as pets. Still, keeping pet dogs is often considered elitist and has not wholly supplanted the idea of dogs as food. A 2014 editorial in the People's Daily railed against a "dog infestation" and in 2015, one province decided to kill its citizens' dogs in an effort to keep their region clean. Locals in Yulin often defend consuming dog meat as a cultural preference, akin to Americans' taste for turkey. Activists counter that the animals' treatment--from beating and butchering to being crammed in small cages to ensure dangerous transport-- makes Yulin particularly cruel. Worst of all, there's evidence that many of the dogs are stolen pets. Making a difference from afar The Yulin Dog Meat Festival burst onto the international community's radar in 2015 spurred by the #StopYulin2015 social media campaign, mobilizing celebrities like Ricky Gervais and Chinese pop stars Chen Kun and Yang Mi. The attention and awareness-building led the city to distance itself from the festival and downplay it as an informal activity among residents, rather than a state-sanctioned holiday. That's a big shift from their original stance that the event would be a tourism boon. The work in 2015 was a great start, but with the 2016 festival still slated for June, there's more to be done. For those of us living many thousands of miles away, one of the best things we can do is continue to raise awareness through social and traditional media. Petitions are one of the best tactics: they're easy to share in online networks, give people a concrete way to make a difference, and, with a strong enough groundswell of support, make news that demands coverage. Educating people about an issue is a critical first step and mobilizing them into supporters builds a movement. There's a history of success in drawing attention to animal welfare across the world and in China. Years of work mobilized thousands of petition signatures called for an end to bear bile farming, a cruel industry that harvests bear bile, an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. In 2012 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature passed a motion to end it. Two years later, a large pharmaceutical company announced it would work toward a synthetic alternative. Advertisement We've already seen the power of awareness-building when it comes to Yulin. In addition to weakening official support for the festival, some reports argue that last year's viral campaign resulted in fewer dogs killed. These publicity tactics don't just convey ideas to the people in charge, they can embarrass them or force them to address an issue, rather than just sweeping it under the rug. Forcing change on the ground Last year, Chinese activists with help from Humane Society International (HSI) saved an estimated 1,400 dogs on their way to Yulin in just a week and a half. The year before, local activists again successfully saved thousands of dogs headed for slaughterhouses. Activists also engage in direct action to take the sentiment expressed online and in petitions directly to the Yulin community. One hundred thousand local activists protested the festival in Yulin in 2014. The following year, HSI and Chinese animal welfare organizations led a 50-city protest campaign across China. You don't have to be in China to participate. Hundreds gathered outside the Chinese embassies in London and Dublin in June 2015 to protest. This work not only saves individual animals, but makes the logistics of hosting the festival more difficult and expensive. With enough pressure, the scales tip and holding the festival is no longer worth the trouble. And for those of us unable to travel to China, we can support the people and organizations on the ground with donations both for saving dogs and contributing to their care post-rescue (another huge challenge). Taken together, these coordinated campaigns with online and on-the-ground action can be highly effective. In 2011, another dog meat festival in Jinhua was canceled amid international outcry driven by online activism. Unlike Yulin, the Jinhua was a 600-year-old festival that commemorated a major battle win, supposedly by killing the city's dogs to preserve the element of surprise. Winning there proves compassion for animals can overcome tradition. You can participate this year to repeat the success in Jinhua, by using the #StopYulin hashtag and sharing information and opportunities for action with your networks. Advertisement Look at the big picture The Yulin festival is a particularly visible and dramatic example of the lack of animal protection in China. The country's first animal welfare legislation wasn't proposed until 2009, and it failed to pass. In 2014, an update to their country's wildlife protection law recognized "animal welfare" for the first time, but that still doesn't apply to farm or pet animals. Until Chinese law gets a makeover, dogs won't be safe from Yulin and other instances where they're treated like food, not friends. Real change will require not only codifying restrictions on animal cruelty, but also tackling the dog meat trade, which, according to a multiyear investigation by Animals Asia, relies on pets and strays. In addition to national laws, local authorities will need help dealing with strays and curbing the theft of family pets. Underlying this is the need for cultural change that values dogs as more than a meal. The good news is that change is already in the air. As of March 2016, more than 8 million Chinese citizens voiced their support for banning the dog meat industry. Animal activism is growing in the country focused not only on pet welfare, but ending bear bile farming and ending abuse in zoos. The key will be keeping up the pressure, both locally and abroad, online and on the ground to ensure that someday soon, no dogs will be killed for dinner. For the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Thursday, headliner Elvis Costello sported the sartorial splendor of a purple hat with a button picturing the late Allen Toussaint front and center. Elvis Costello Photo by Adam McCullough Musical brothers, Elvis and Allen toured the world post-Hurricane Katrina with their album "The River in Reverse," and once when I had the chance to thank him for raising awareness for New Orleans through his work with Toussaint, Costello said: "I should be thanking him." He's still thanking his mentor, with a set that included Toussaint's "I Have Cried My Last Tear" and a sweet reminiscence of their studio work together. Overall, Costello blazed through a set with The Imposters that was anything but somber. He wielded a bullhorn with gusto during "Watching The Detectives," and any song with props inspires rocking out. Advertisement Buffi Sainte-Marie Photo by Jeff Beninato Across the track, Buffi Sainte-Marie was burning down the house, after a compelling interview by Alison Fensterstock. With a dedication to Leonard Peltier and other Native American revolutionaries, she belted out a "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" that seemed to make the afternoon rain retreat quietly back to the heavens. With Brandi Carlile, The Suffers, Rickie Lee Jones with Spider Stacy and The Lost Bayou Ramblers - it was an afternoon of powerhouse women vocalists including Mia Borders with her take on Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U." The Suffers Photo by Jeff Beninato The other theme of the day was guitars, and plenty of them. Tedeschi Trucks Band with Jimmie Vaughan and Billy F. Gibbons, Gary Clark, Jr. and Sonny Landreth had scorching sets on a rainy day. To say nothing of Elvis Costello, with and without bullhorn. Jazz Fest weekend two kicked off with a bang. Gays stopped traffic on Santa Monica Blvd. in Boystown and on Sunset Blvd. outside the Whiskey, laying down and drawing chalk marks on the street to illustrate victimization at the hands of the police. In fact, the West Hollywood cityhood movement in 1984 had been powered by gays who fled into the then-unincorporated area to escape the LAPD, believing the Sheriff's department was less anti-gay. Thanks in large part to Lambda Legal's Jon Davidson, the LAPD harassment of out gay cop Sgt. Mitch Grobeson (who was denied backup in a dire situation, among other abuses) and the department's blatant homophobia (police code for gays was "NHI," or "No Human Involved") was documented in the Christopher Commission Report following the riots. "I am sorry to hear of the passing of former LAPD Chief Willie Williams. Chief Williams was the first African-American to lead our Police Department, and he took stewardship following the civil unrest of 1992 -- a difficult period in the history of law enforcement in our city. He served at a time when many of the reforms proposed by the Christopher Commission were being implemented, setting the department on course to become an international model for community policing. My thoughts are with his loved ones," L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. One of Williams' mandates was to try to restore public confidence after 14 years of the iron-fist rule of Daryl Gates, who was respected in a military chain-of-command fashion by at least some closeted gays. But leaders such as the late Gay Liberationist Morris Kight were a perennial thorn in his side, as was closeted city council member Joel Wachs, who kept trying to force the LAPD to adhere to the city's anti-discrimination policy and allow LGBT officers to come out and recruit at the CSW Pride events. When Williams was introduced to the city on April 16, 1992, I was invited as a freelance journalist for the gay press to come to the live televised press conference at City Hall. I wore a bright pink jacket and sat on the floor up front to increase my chance to be called upon. Bradley called on several of the TV reporters first, but then Williams called upon me. I knew I had one shot at a question: should it be about how he'd handle gay protesters like ACT UP or about gay cops? .After first welcoming the new chief to the city, I decided on the latter, asking him what kind of non-discrimination policy he would have toward gays, especially in terms of gay officers, coming out, being hired and promoted. You could hear a pin drop in the room after my question and then suddenly click, click, click as the still cameras exploded taking shots. No one had thought of the question and everyone thought the answer would make news. Bradley and councilmembers Wachs and Zev Yaroslavsky froze: they hadn't thought of the question either, hadn't prepped Williams about the city's LGBT community and were clearly nervous as to how he might answer. But Williams was unfazed. He looked at me and said that he would have a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination in the ranks and towards the public, including gays, just as he had in Philadelphia when he instituted their community policing program. And that included coming out, hiring and promotion. "We have 80 different ethnicities out there (in Los Angeles). We have people with various sexual preferences. The police department must be reflective of the city of Los Angeles and we will recruit from all communities," Williams said. It might not have felt like it for the other mainstream reporters in the room who simply included that response in their larger news packages that day--but some of us, including Wachs and Yaroslavsky, knew that it was a significant turning point, at least officially. And in the para-military world of the LAPD, that meant something. I got a number of calls from closeted LAPD officers who were grateful for getting Williams on the record. Grobeson, who'd left and sued the LAPD, thought about coming back. Things seemed to change. In Aug. 1992, Williams came to the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center as one of the first stops on his community-outreach tour. The Center, while appreciating his response on gay officers and hiring practices, was well aware of how Philly cops under Williams had beaten and mistreated ACT UP protesters during a 1991 visit by President George H.W. Bush. Center spokesperson David Smith (Center executive director Torie Osborn's right hand gay man) told the Philadelphia Inquirer that although a Williams-appointed panel ruled that the officers had indeed used unnecessary force on the demonstrators, "there are some indications that he was acting for pure political reasons -- to show Los Angeles how he would react to something like the King beating." Williams told a room full of lesbian and gay leaders and activists that he considered the gay community to be part of the larger L.A. community (as opposed to inherently deviant individuals, as the LAPD's internal "God Squad" saw gays) and would mandate that all citizens would be treated respectfully. Though the meeting was closed to the press (except me), he said the same thing to the throng of media awaiting him outside the room at the Center's headquarters on Highland Ave. in Hollywood. In 1993, Williams awarded LAPD Officer Lisa Phillips and her partner Daniel Nee the Medal of Valor for their courage and heroism saving a trapped woman during the L.A. riots. Lisa had only recently come out to her partner but made the decision to come out to the entire department -- and the city -- when she accepted her medal from Williams, with two tables of screaming lesbians cheering her on. "At the time, in 1992/1993, only a few brave cops had come out--six to be exact. It was not a good atmosphere. The LAPD had no anti-discrimination policy and we had never aggressively recruited in the LGBT community. It was not and did not feel like a safe place to be a gay police officer. Cops that were thought to be gay would be taunted, picked on and not protected if they made any kind of complaint against a peer or supervisor," Phillips remembered in an essay commemorating the 20th anniversary of the riots. "For these reasons, I came out on a large scale. I wanted to show my fellow officers, my superiors, the City leaders, my community, that we were there, we could do the job just as well as anyone else--and that most of all, we deserved to be on the job." But with the hiring of Willie Williams, Sgt. Phillips remembered, "Things began to change. The Grobeson Settlement started taking hold and I began working in the Recruitment office, and began aggressively recruiting in the LGBT community, everywhere I could: the rodeo, the parade in WeHo, Long Beach, The Valley. Radio shows, recruitment posters, LGBT papers. With the help of many in the community, we petitioned Chief of Police Willie Williams to create a position in his office that would reach out to the LGBT community. That position was, and still is, the Liaison to the LGBT community. That position opened many doors, and continues to push those doors even further open." World drug policy is changing, a sea change evident in the speeches and discourse at the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem held in New York between April 19 and 21st. The fact that the UNGASS was even held this year at all, given that the next scheduled date is 2019, was a triumph in itself, achieved by the persistence of the delegations of Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala in Vienna at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and at UN Headquarters itself. The real political drama that has played itself out at the CND in the past few years has been that of the Latin American countries challenging the US, whose weakened hegemony in dictating the terms of the global war on drugs, has left a leadership vacuum at the top. Violence -- which has ruled the drug war until now -- is mute, as Hannah Arendt has said, and speech is political. UNGASS was the stage for many political speeches that defined the new global reality. It's a case of the young bulls (figuratively since most of the senior diplomats are about my age --- late 50s) challenging the old order. U.S. state legalisation and regulation of cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes, as well as the so-called "opioid addiction crisis," and mass incarceration of young men and women of colour has delegitimized the old drug warrior order. The US has proven quite conclusively that it cannot solve its domestic drug problem through coercion, and is trying new strategies, under the leadership of state legislatures and civil society organisations, among others. Advertisement The Latin American countries, long the victims of drug war colonialism that displaces violence generated by the US and European hunger for psychoactive substances other than alcohol, onto the usually non drug consuming communities of the global south, have taken the political lead on the global stage. A generation now used to democracy, civic participation and human rights, after decades of (often U.S. backed) dictatorship, is demanding that the world chart a new drug policy course to minimise the damage to their societies and to vulnerable "affected communities" such as people who use drugs problematically, small-scale producers, patients who need controlled medicines, incarcerated women, and children affected by the drug trade. The ghosts of the tens of thousands of people killed in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia as a result of the drug trade, and those executed or who have died in compulsory detention or from AIDS, inform this iteration of the debate. Speeches on the plenary floor represented the absent voices of the victims of the drug war. The public rhetoric at the UNGASS plenaries and roundtables, presided over by panels of (largely male!) experts (there are plenty of female experts, and the World Drug Problem will not be solved by men alone!) and the more private speech at the side events hosted by UN agencies and member states, clearly favoured situating global and national drug policy within the synergistic framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. This requires cross-sector collaboration between ministries, agencies, civil society, and the private sector. Such collaborations have no institutional precedent. The vision of solving the world drug problem through institutional re-tooling calls for creativity and leadership. This energy and leadership will largely come from structured interactions with civil society, a pool of talent that the more authentically democratic member states are starting to tap. Member states that shun civil society, fearing its disruptive potential to established power elites, are less likely to support creative and sustainable responses to the World Drug Problem. Advertisement Hence the fragmentation what used to be known as the old global drug policy consensus, forged by the US and USSR during the post-War period through the first decade of the twentieth century. Once the Cold War was over and that partnership of superpowers disintegrated, all bets were off, and what was a multi-polar world shattered into fragile regional and ideological alliances. Those regional alliances were very much in evidence at UNGASS, global civil society was powerful, and unified over key issues such as the death penalty, access to controlled medicines, and the need for a public health approach to drug policy. Civil society colleagues who defined a "successful" UNGASS as one that produced a unanimous rejection of the concept of a "society free of drugs" were doomed to disappointment. However, important lines were drawn and gauntlets thrown down. The overall success of the meeting was evident in the clarity of public statements made by individuals and member states, backed up by substantial constituencies and regional alliances. World Drug Policy as we know it has changed, following the laws of quantum mechanics and systems biology, which state that even a small, definitive variations can cause large changes within the macro-system. Now it is the job of global civil society to support the countries already enacting change -- not waiting for any CND say so -- because only by "being the change we want to see" will drug policy change at the national or global level. The most deep-rooted memory I have about someone I've never met is that initial interaction. It stays with you and often speaks volumes as to who that person is. Today I'm at Pebble Beach Food & Wine waiting for a young man who has the distinction of being the only Master Sommelier in Boston, MA out of just 147 other Master Sommeliers in North America. To say I'm intrigued would be an understatement. Passing the MS exam is a feat akin to a rebirth. You abandon life as you know it and sacrifice everything for the cause. It's a one person rodeo and you are riding the bull, most are thrown and never reach the holy grail of wine accreditation known as the Master Sommelier. The first thing I notice as we progress is the unpretentious ease with which Callahan carries himself. The halls of the in Pebble Beach are filled with interesting looking people. The scent of wine & champagne permeates the corridors and I can only imagine what captivating & cerebral experience they will provide. I've been walking back and forth through them trying to figure out exactly where is best to meet and do this interview. While on my hunt I notice people at this event come from all walks, some dripping in jewelry and others understated and refined, still others casual and comfortable. All I encounter are buzzing, smiling and laughing. I suspect they have the same anticipation I have, with the promise of something fantastic coming out of this day. Advertisement I recognize Brahm immediately. He is one of the few in a suit and he has the coveted Master Sommelier pin on his lapel. He is dressed impeccably. His demeanor, beyond his years. Well mannered, polite, and professional. We look for a quiet place to do the interview and end up on a gorgeous patio on the lower level overlooking the ocean. The area is already set up for an event happening later in the day. We grab a couple of chairs, get over the initial awkwardness and begin our conversation. The first thing I notice as we progress is the unpretentious ease with which Callahan carries himself. He realized he enjoyed wine far more than his schooling. Brahm Callahan is the Master Sommelier & Beverage Director for Himmel Hospitality Group, Boston MA, Grill 23 & Bar, the iconic Harvest Restaurant, and Post 390. He's been in restaurants for 20 years, literally since he was 11. He has a Master's Degree in Classics from Boston College and was working in wine at the same time he was getting his degree. He did not initially embrace wine as a career, but as time went on, while he was still in school, he realized he enjoyed wine far more than his schooling. At that point he decided to make a career out of it. In 2015 he joined 6 other individuals to become a Master Sommelier. His official role has him covering beer, wine and liquor, or as he says: "Equal Opportunity Enjoyer". Each program is unique and has its' strengths. Grill 23 has 2,000+ wine selections. Post 390 is more bar driven, hip and funky on the wine list side, with a well rounded beer list. Does he have a favorite? No. It's like kids. They each have their individual charm and nuances of something special. He has a clear industry perspective on wine. I asked him what the definition is of cult wine from his perspective, "Anything that will push the market. Small production. Collections/Auctions. People willing to pay over to get a bottle. Somebody is willing to chase it, usually at a higher price. Sometimes people will overpay to add it to their collection." While he tastes these revered champagnes pretty regularly, it is rare to have all nine side by side. On smaller boutique winemakers ... Not owning a vineyard isn't necessarily a bad thing. You have an abundance of sources and you can "paint a different picture" with your wine each year because of that you have more freedom. You aren't always at the mercy of the land. The drawback? You don't have the consistency of the all in ones. He remembers the wines & taste by color. I'm looking for the word and he says it. Synesthesia. At the Food & Wine event Callahan spoke on three panels. The one he seemed most intrigued with was: . Essentially about the best bottle of champagne that a producer could make. There were nine bottles of Rose champagne on the panel which provided a very unique experience. While he tastes these revered champagnes pretty regularly, it is rare to have all nine side by side. One has an opportunity to discover the difference of the cepage in the winemaking and get a better view on the profiles comparatively speaking. "Joseph Phelps is the founder of what we call the modern wine movement." What he learned during this tete de cuvee experience was each wine is uniquely like a personality in memory. "So some were personalities I remembered. In the context of the flight some were a little bit more playful or masculine." he says, reflecting on the experience. I asked, "Do you have visual recall?" He says remembers the wines & taste by color. I'm looking for the word and he says it. Synesthesia. Another highlight for Callahan, speaking at the Joseph Phelps Insignia 40th anniversary tasting, (he has vast experience with the brand). "Joseph Phelps is the founder of what we call the modern wine movement. They've always invested in vineyards and really produced iconic wines. It's a privilege to be on a panel and speak on a wine that has had such an influence on an industry." Advertisement "Pairings", he says, "are very personal." We move on to the best way for people to utilize the services of a sommelier. Beginning with dispelling the snobbery of wine on a Sommelier level. Ideally know yourself, know what you like in wine and are able to describe it. Not so much in technical terms but in the sense where the Sommelier can get a better idea of your tastes. Callahan describes this as, "Certainly the more the Sommelier knows about you, the better the experience they can create, so be clear on what kind of flavor profiles you like. Descriptions such as crisp & clean, lush and round, aggressive and structured are very helpful." It's a brutal journey, but the journey makes you stronger. "Pairings", he says, "are very personal." You have to experiment with pairings to understand whether or not they are going to work. The almost last thing he thinks about when pairing is the protein. "Think about chicken. It's a pretty neutral protein. But if you grill it, it's going to taste different than if you smoke it , pan sear it or roast it. All four preparations will result in a different accompaniment. Roasted potatoes, vegetables, will affect it and it will all be very different if you are going to be putting BBQ sauce on it." In essence the hard fast rules are out the window. The air of superiority dispelled in Callahan's opinion because this is truly a service industry. Sommeliers need to make the experience a better one for the customers. They do that through sharing what they know and being helpful. Not necessarily lauding over others. Refreshing! For those thinking about a career as a Master Sommelier. Brahm says the process is brutal and you have to be doing it for yourself. If you do it for anyone else it probably won't happen. It's a brutal journey, but the journey makes you stronger. You have to be 100% committed to it because it will own your life. Throughout the interview two things stayed with me about Callahan. He has fun. Serious fun. He loves what he does and he loves helping improve the customer experience. He doesn't take himself or the job too seriously but is fully vested in the importance of what he does for the people he works for and the customers he works with. He has a great sense of humor and he is incredibly knowledgable about wine and food. Coauthored by Donald R. Cravins, Jr., Senior Vice President for Policy and Executive Director of the National Urban League Washington Bureau Approximately 60 percent of the 2.3 million incarcerated Americans are Hispanic and African-American. The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that two-thirds of prisoners will be arrested again for a new crime within three years of their release from prison. When the formerly incarcerated do not have the skills, training or support needed to fully reintegrate into the workforce as productive members of society, this cycle continues. At a recent conversation hosted by the National Urban League and Bank of America, we discussed some of the challenges confronting these individuals as well as the need to focus on preventative measures that help keep young people on track and out of prison. We believe that economic mobility, particularly for young people of color who have been impacted by disproportionate unemployment and incarceration rates, is a defining social justice issue of our time - that impacts each community's ability to thrive. Advertisement It's clear that there is no single solution to this growing crisis. Collaboration between government, nonprofits and the private sector is an essential ingredient to move the dial on reentry into the workforce as well as ensuring that young people in our country see themselves on a trajectory for success. Some observations on how to advance this work: Build a pipeline of success for young people. According to MENTOR: The National Partnership, there are nearly 16 million at risk youth in this country without access to a mentor. Each of us has skills and perspectives that are immensely valuable to a young person as they navigate school and how to prepare for their future. Keeping them on track through support such as mentoring is essential. In addition to the soft skills imparted, our young people can benefit from a broader understanding of professions - and begin to see themselves as part of the workforce. Connecting them to jobs and opportunities to learn better money habits will put them on a path to success. Provide alternative pathways for those who have fallen off track. For young adults who have dropped out of school and found themselves on the margins, we can do better. By connecting them to programs that build skills and offer employment opportunities such as Year Up's model of apprenticeships combined with education credentials, we can help them move along the economic continuum toward long-term stability. Offer those who deserve a second chance an opportunity to rebuild their lives. Social enterprises across the country, such as DC Central Kitchen in Washington, DC, are doing tremendous work to help the formerly incarcerated as well as others with barriers to employment obtain job training and placement. Job training is key, but to see measurable results we need holistic services that offer men and women support on challenges ranging from lack of transportation, unstable housing, and child support. Individuals who participated in the National Urban League's Adult Re-entry Program received this kind of comprehensive support, and 96% of participants did not return to prison. The National Urban League's Urban Youth Empowerment Program uses a holistic approach to prepare Opportunity Youth, ages 14-24, for pathways to economic stability through a comprehensive set of services. These types of programs improve the lives of the formerly incarcerated and their families and benefit entire communities. They build a thriving workforce, which is good for businesses everywhere. Inspired by the beloved children's book, Albert by Ole Lund Kirkegaard, this lively, animated tale whisks you on a journey that has to be seen to be believed! Albert is a smart and cheeky boy, but his taste for mischievous pranks make him a menace in his small hometown. When he accidentally destroys the statue of a local hero and famous hot-air balloon captain, Albert is determined to make up for his mistake. He decides to venture into the world with his best friend Egon and return as a hot-air balloon captain himself! But Albert and Egon's quest takes a detour when a mean bandit takes advantage of the clueless boys to help him steal the world's largest diamond. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ryan R. comments, "Albert Up, Up, and Away! is a cute animated DVD for younger kids that delivers positive messages about friendship, kindness and making smart choices." Albert Up, Up and Away Reviewed by Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12 Advertisement Albert Up, Up, and Away! is a cute animated DVD for younger kids that delivers positive messages about friendship, kindness and making smart choices. The story revolves around two best friends, Albert and Egon and the adventures they share. Not an average kid Albert learned to walk and talk at two months old. He has a tenacity for getting into trouble but never on purpose. His parents knew he would change the world one day. Years pass and Albert decides he wants get an air balloon and become its captain so he can replace the statue that he accidentally destroyed when he was younger. His best friend Egon wants to become a pirate captain. However, a mean bandit takes advantage of the bewildered boys and wants them to help him steal the world's biggest diamond. Together they have to face this obstacle while their adventure develops. This is a good film. The animation is well done but I found myself comparing it to other animated and it scores about average. I liked it although the storyline was too predictable for me, and the pace a bit slow. It is definitely better suited for a much younger audience. I recommend it for ages 3 to 7. It has good, clean humor and lots of action scenes, which younger kids would enjoy. The menu offers scene selection, trailers and setup. Or you can just play the film. I enjoyed the scene selection feature because it makes it easy to return to where you left off. I enjoyed the trailer because it filled me in on what the movie looks like and gave me the general idea about the film before I started watching it. Advertisement I give this film 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to people who like action, adventure and children films. It is now available now on DVD so, so go check it out. Albert Up, Up And Away! By Morgan B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 11 I found this movie to be very cute, quirky and funny. At first this movie reminded me of Dennis the Menace as it starts off in super hyper mood, but as the movie moves forward Albert calms down. I found this movie to be very cute, quirky and funny. I loved the graphics and all the detail that went into creating the village scenes. It is crisp and clear and has incredible dimension to it. I re-watched the scene when Albert flies down a hillside in a barrel several times because it is so amazing and laughable. The characters are like most kids their age. You can see yourself hanging out with them. Albert is my favorite because of his great heart and his willingness to tackle anything, to do the right thing and make people happy. He is very trusting which gets him into all kinds of trouble. This makes him a believable kid because, really we all want to trust people and believe that they are all good at heart. Unfortunately, there are bad people in the world that muck it all up. Advertisement When they set out to find another statue for the town, their adventure begins and we meet new characters and find Albert getting into the middle of a diamond heist with pirates. The pirates amused me with their comedic lines. They reminded me of vaudeville comedy. You wanted to shout "boo" whenever you saw them. They are the villains you love to hate. You can tell what they are planning and I found myself yelling at the screen, "Albert don't do it!" The street market is full of rides, food and games. It made me think of summer and I wanted to join in on the fun. One of the many lessons learned here is "do not steal." It's a great lesson everyone should learn. Also, I know that it is hard for children to know who to trust and who not to. Another less is "you can't trust everyone you meet." Friendship is very valuable as friends can help you out. Last lesson: If you make a mistake, just admit it and have an adult help you figure out a solution. This was a very funny film with lots of lessons and laughs. I love that this was released in countries other than the United States such as Denmark. They use words which are not in our everyday vocabulary such as cheeky, which is my new favorite word. I recommend this film for ages 5 to 18 and give it 4.5 out of 5 hot air balloon stars. It is quirky and funny and a cute comedy - sure to make you laugh out loud! Ryan R., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12 What makes your country prosper? What makes it resilient in a rapidly changing and challenging security environment? As ambassadors of the Nordic countries, we are often asked how our region has been able to stay relatively tranquil in an increasingly troubled world. It is hardly a coincidence that President Barack Obama has invited the leaders of the five Nordic countries -- Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden -- to Washington on May 13. He will host a U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit in the White House with close allies and partners to discuss issues of mutual interest and joint concern. Advertisement The leaders will debate the root causes of conflict, and how to create stability in fragile states and conflict areas, such as Syria and Iraq. They will also discuss how to manage the refugee and migration crisis, which has long-term and widespread implications. The crisis is rocking Europe at its foundations, and is a tragedy of historic proportions for people fleeing from war and destruction. We support President Obama's decision to host a Leaders' Summit on Refugees in September. As strong proponents of multilateral cooperation, the Nordic countries value President Obama's emphasis on a collaborative international approach to important global issues. Other major topics of the summit are climate change, energy, the Arctic, global health and education, innovation, and trade across the Atlantic. These are all global themes where Nordic and American views, policies and actions often coincide. The Nordic countries and the United States have much in common. We all share the fundamental values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. We strive toward societies based on non-discrimination, equality and inclusion, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious background. The Nordic countries have taken global leadership in gender equality. We were among the first in the world to grant women the right to vote. Women's influence in politics and social development has been very significant ever since. The prosperity of the Nordic region owes much to our long-term investments in our people, through healthcare, education and parental support. This insurance makes us stronger and less vulnerable as societies, but it also makes economic sense. Giving all an equal chance to take part in the workforce is profitable to the society as a whole. Advertisement The United States and NATO have for decades had a central role in maintaining and enhancing security in Europe. This is highly valued by the Nordic countries. Denmark, Iceland, Norway and the United States are members of NATO, whereas Finland and Sweden are close partners of the organization. Cooperation is comprehensive. Conflict prevention and resolution, international crisis management, disarmament, non-proliferation and the fight against terrorism are prime examples of widely beneficial cooperation in the field of security. As a whole, the Nordics are strong contributors to international security. We share the burden not only in our own region, but also globally. Terrorism and violent extremism are major challenges for the international community. The United States and the Nordic countries work together in countering these threats. As members of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, our aim is to degrade the capabilities of and defeat this terrorist organization. Military efforts must be followed by civilian support and stabilization. Nordic ties with the United States are strong and profound. Millions of Americans claim Nordic ancestry. A Nordic footprint can be seen especially in some of the northern states of the U.S. Thousands of Nordic companies -- and companies with a substantial Nordic ownership -- employ several hundred thousands of Americans. Nordic investments in the U.S. are counted in billions of dollars. The United States, as the biggest economy in the world, has a considerable impact on the economies of the Nordics. The Nordic countries are small in size compared to the United States, roughly 27 million people altogether. Seen together we are, however, the world's 12th largest economy. We are modern and innovative economies with a highly educated population. These conditions have allowed Nordic companies to prosper in international business. We punch above our weight in innovations and cutting-edge technologies, to name just a couple of areas. We are also at the forefront of promoting sustainable development and sustainable management of resources. Times are exceptional in Europe and globally. Challenges are best solved when we do it together. We need to continue our active and close transatlantic dialogue on a wide range of issues. The Nordic countries are ready for that. We look forward to a fruitful summit in Washington. Advertisement Jean Gerber via Unsplash When my husband died suddenly at a fairly young age, I felt as if I'd forever be suspended in grief, but when the phone began ringing incessantly thanks to insurance reps, mortuary salesmen, and an array of other services in which I had no interest, I realized that the business of life moves on whether or not you're ready to. However, there is good that comes out of being pushed to get your financial ducks in a row: you'll feel empowered even in the midst of your grief. You'll still mourn deeply, but this empowerment will remind you that you can and will persevere. There will be many moments where decisions are a little too personal, but there is no right or wrong -- just what's best for you at that time. For instance, soon after my husband's death, I decided to sell his SUV: I couldn't afford the extra monthly payment nor did I want such a visible reminder of him. In retrospect, it may have made more sense to sell my own older car and keep his, but in situations like these, there aren't always clear-cut answers, and that's OK. On the other hand, there are decisions that need to be made that truly are simple and straightforward, and they usually have to do with getting the affairs of the deceased in order. It may seem daunting and overwhelming, but with the right guidance and preparation, you'll find that you can absolutely tackle this endeavor. Advertisement After an emotional week of funeral arrangements and then the funeral itself, I consulted with an estate planning attorney. (Never hesitate to seek help when you're grieving. I couldn't have gotten through the toughest parts of my grief had it not been for the ability to set aside my pride and get comfortable asking for help.) The attorney said that I needed to assess my husband's debts and assets, and submit claims for benefits due to me as his spouse -- but to do so, first I had to gather the following documents: At least 10 original death certificates (which you may request through the funeral home or the Vital Statistics office in the state in which the death occurred) Will and trust documents Insurance policies (including life, health, and auto) Most recent credit card and mortgage statements Investment account statements Past three years of tax returns (in case of audit) Marriage, birth, and (if applicable) divorce certificates of the deceased's spouse and children Credit report Checking and savings account statements Mortgage and other loan documents Car registrations Social security information Once I had all that information at my fingertips, I notified the following institutions of his death and was easily able to provide them with anything they required to close his accounts and submit claims: Advertisement Employer (in my husband's case, he was self-employed, but had he been employed, I may have been eligible to receive pension benefits, 401(k) funds, unused vacation and holiday time, etc.) Social Security (800-772-1213 or socialsecurity.gov) Veterans Affairs, if applicable (800-827-1000 or va.gov) Post office Department of Motor Vehicles Election board Insurance companies Credit bureaus Financial institutions -- including banks, mortgage and credit companies (and any other lenders), investment firms, and pension services Service providers -- including utilities, cell phone, gym memberships, club dues, magazine subscriptions, etc. Miscellaneous -- such as charities that automatically withdraw a donation every month from a checking account These lists are not all-encompassing as some individuals may have much more complicated financial situations, but they will provide you with a good starting point that can save you time, money, and energy. Nevertheless, did it feel cold and callous to close my husband's accounts and remove his name from our shared bank accounts so quickly? Indeed, it felt like a betrayal. But I also remembered that my husband would have wanted me to make smart choices and keep myself safe from financial fraud. (My attorney warned that there are thieves who specialize in studying obituaries and stealing the identities of the deceased.) The pictures and videos I captured during my first trip to Palestine in October 2010 came at a cost that included several hours of detention and interrogations at the Tel Aviv airport, courtesy of the fine members of the Israeli military, Shin Bet and the Ministry of the Interior. After a 13-hour international flight, I was held for hours without food or water -- and I was forced to use the single-toilet restroom with the door cracked open and a roomful of men on the other side. And that was just the beginning of incessant stops, searches and other harassment I was subjected to throughout my trip because of the scarf I wear on my head (the non-Muslims in our group did not face the same treatment). What happened to me as a white, middle-class convert to Islam in no way compares to the daily oppression Palestinians endure. But the experience traumatized me nonetheless. It also strengthened my resolve to document the insanity that passes for occupation and to come home and tell anyone who would listen. Obviously, I do not speak for Palestinians; they tell their own stories best. But in my capacity as the media director of an organization dedicated to forwarding the Palestinian narrative, my experiences, which are strengthened by my photographs, play a role in educating the American public. In 2010, Israeli soldiers barred me from crossing Shuhada Street for more than 20 minutes because of my headscarf. Those pictures carry with them the heavy import of the truth. They are more than just snapshots from an "exotic" vacation. They are a documentation of the world's longest-lasting military occupation in modern history. When I returned from my trip, I uploaded my pictures and video on Picasa, owned at the time by Google, but which predated Google Plus. Google later absorbed Picasa and then redirected Picasa albums to its Google Plus site, according to CNET. Now, Google is killing off Picasa all together, several tech sites report. Storing pictures on Picasa was just like storing them on Facebook or Flickr. The platform allowed users to upload all their pictures, which would appear on the home page in a somewhat random order. Users also could organize their photos into albums, which is what I did. I spent hours creating at least 14 albums from this trip with names like "settlements," "unrecognized villages" and "checkpoints and security." This is useful when I need to incorporate pictures from my trip into PowerPoint or video presentations that accompany talks I give on the occupation. I've drawn from my albums numerous times in the past six years. But when I recently accessed my account, something seemed amiss. It was like coming home alone but sensing someone else had been there before me. That's when I found two strange albums. Albums I did not create. One was labeled "Trip to Israel, a story by Kristin Szremski." It was a slideshow comprised of pictures from my album called "Palestine." Worse, the other was called "Israeli Services." It contained one photograph of a street sign for an Israeli settlement called Ya'el, copied from my album called "settlements." I say worse, because the settlement industry is at the root of much Palestinian suffering. While my original albums remained intact, and Google spokeswoman Victoria Cassady later told me the auto-generated albums were only "suggestions" I could share or delete as I saw fit, I found the intrusion unacceptable. I do not need some bot suggesting to me how to best utilize my pictures. Outraged, I tweeted a screenshot, saying "Google Plus renamed my photo albums from "Palestine" to "Trip to Israel" and from "settlements" to "Israeli Services." Google Plus renames my photo albums from "Palestine" to Trip to Israel and from "settlements" to Israeli Services pic.twitter.com/vgLfGGEvSh Kristin Brookhouse (@kristin_scribe) April 4, 2016 After hundreds of retweets, Google Photos replied that it'd "like to help." In a private message, Google Photos said it would like to investigate the situation further and asked for greater access to my account. Obviously, in light of the unwarranted Google intrusion, I was not about to grant this request. Instead, I asked for a company spokesperson to clarify the issue for an article I intended to write. They sent an email for Cassady, who said she was the spokesperson for Google, Google Plus and Google Photos. Though several people on Twitter responding to my Tweet blamed Google for discriminatory algorithms, I didn't want to jump to conclusions. I asked Cassady via email whether someone could have hacked my account. I was clear I was writing an article about the incident and sent her a screenshot of the two albums. Advertisement She admitted via email, "We only autogenerated a title for the story on the right, not the album on the left, titled 'Israeli services.'" In other words, Cassidy explained to me, using "image recognition technology to determine landmarks that might appear in an image, photo metadata, and location history" as well as Google Maps, Google Photos created a slideshow and titled it "Trip to Israel, a story by Kristin Szremski." The "Israeli Services" moniker may have appeared because of a "bug," she wrote. To be clear, some of the pictures in the slideshow were taken in Palestinian areas of what today is called Israel, but there were also shots from East Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The flippant title negates the existence of Palestinians and Palestine. It disregards the stories of the families from the unrecognized village of Zbadet, who, though tax-paying Israeli citizens, receive no municipal services, such as electricity, water, education or health care, according to the Palestinian-Israeli NGO Association of Forty, which led us on a tour of the pre-1948 Palestinian village it monitors and which Israel doesn't recognize. It ignores the struggles of the Palestinian families I met while picking olives near the Sea of Galilee who do not enjoy the same rights and privileges that their Jewish counterparts do, even though they also are Israeli citizens. When she answered my first email, Cassady said: "We have a feature that used to be called 'Stories' but has recently been incorporated into 'Albums.' It works by automatically creating a new album for you, including when you might have taken a trip. When we create these albums they may include suggestions for a title and/or suggestions for the places you visited." A screenshot of some of my Google Plus photo albums. The pictures for the Google-generated album named 'Trip to Israel' came from the album I named Palestine. "Stories" was something the tech giant moved toward two years ago, according to a July 2014 article in The Atlantic. Wanting to enhance user interaction with their own photographs, the company decided to create "human storytelling," via a bot named Boswell. Using algorithms, Boswell would turn the stored snapshots into a "narrative biography" by using geotagged photos, Google Maps or by inferring location using "machine vision on certain landmarks." Whether Boswell actually ever drew breath is unclear, but Google Photos did and still does auto-generate photo groupings, whether they're called "Stories" or the new smart albums, launched in March 2016. "We have a whole bunch of algorithms that we run over the data, and we basically try to figure out if we have enough signal that we have some clue of where you went," Google social web engineer Joseph Smarr was quoted as saying in the Atlantic article. What happened to me is not the first time Google's intrusion went wrong. About one year after the Atlantic article, Google apologized when its photo identification program labeled black people as "gorillas." Google changed the term "Palestinian territories" to "Palestine" across all its platforms in 2013, Cassady said, and complaints about Google Photos generally deal with functions like adding or editing a photo, not content. (Google still labels the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in Syria as Israel though). And to be fair, Google isn't the only software giant with problematic software that discriminates, according to a report by Charles Pulliman-Moore in Fusion. But that's no excuse. This demolished house lies in ruins outside East Jerusalem. I took this picture from our bus while on a tour with the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions. I have spent much of the last decade tirelessly educating the public about the illegality of settlements, the theft of Palestinian land, home demolitions, bypass roads and settler violence. I have supported the Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. I do this in attempts to help build grassroots pressure that one day will influence the creation of a more fair and balanced foreign policy for everyone who lives in that region. The two albums "suggested" by Google Photos are set on private, Cassady said. "You can edit them however you'd like or simply save, ignore, or discard them." I plan to delete them as soon as this issue is resolved to my satisfaction. Nonetheless, it is beyond offensive to see that after devoting my life to this work, the albums appeared in my account at all. Their very names disregard the conditions of Palestinians living and dying under occupation. Cassady apologized for the "offense it caused," and vowed to "look more closely at how we can improve the album suggestions we create." "We're trying to present the essence of the thing," Google's Smarr said in the Atlantic article. "And, it is harder to distill the essence than it is to regurgitate the user's data back at them." If it's so hard to "distill the essence," then maybe Google should best leave it alone. All I know is the Palestinian children that appear on Google's auto-generated album cover trusted me when we were playing under the olive trees that October day in 2010. Not only did Google Photos break that trust, it missed the essence of that afternoon and the reason for my trip entirely. Earlier on WorldPost: In the United States alone, there are more than 3 million registered nurses. To put this number in perspective, there are only about 900,000 doctors. That means that nurses outnumber doctors more than 3 to 1. There are only a few of us who cannot connect a nurse to some aspect of our lives -- be it a friend, relative, or acquaintance. Let's be honest -- almost all of us have that one nurse that we can call occasionally with medical questions when we aren't sure whether to believe WebMD. Still, even with our close proximity to nurses, few people can truly define what a nurse does. To test this theory, I went to the handiest survey tool out there -- Facebook. I surveyed my friends, a healthy mix of both health care providers -- nurses, doctors, and emergency medical personnel - and civilians not involved in the health care field. I asked a simple question: What does a nurse do? The answers ranged from the comical "they take care of my booboos when I get a big ouchy," to the more serious "almost everything a doctor does, at a quarter of the salary." The overwhelming response though, was that nurses care. And they're right -- nurses do care. But there are other health care workers that care. Doctors care, nursing assistants care, physical therapists care... even those not directly tending to patients care. So what sets nurses apart? Advertisement What makes nurses caring different than the caring of every other employee at the hospital? The answer boils down to this: It's not the fact that nurses care that is important, it's what they care about. A doctor generally specializes in one area and sticks with it. There is an -ologist for just about every human function you can think of. Cardiologists, nephrologists, ophthalmologists, gynecologists. Consider a patient who is admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure. This patient may have multiple specialists following them: usually a Cardiologist, Nephrologist, Internal Medicine specialist, etc. Each of these doctors (while obviously concerned about the overall patient condition) is focused mainly on their own specialty. The Cardiologist defers to the Nephrologist for kidney issues and the Nephrologist defers to the Cardiologist for heart issues. As a nursing student at Gwynedd Mercy University, we learn that nurses focus on the entire body. We are taught from the get go that we should be holistic in our care, considering the needs of the patient's mind, body, and spirit. Regardless of how many specialists are seeing the patient, it is the nurse that is communicating with all of them and coordinating the care that they prescribe to ensure the safety and healing of the patient. Advertisement The nurse is responsible for all of the treatments, medications, diagnostics, and therapies ordered. If the Cardiologist orders a drug that interacts with another drug ordered by the Nephrologist, it is the responsibility of the nurse to ensure that they can safely be given together. If the patient is to undergo a procedure, it is the responsibility of the nurse to ensure that they are properly prepped and ready to go. When the patient's lab results are back, it is the responsibility of the nurse to evaluate them and decide if the doctor needs to be notified immediately. If the patient seems unsteady on their feet, it is the responsibility of the nurse to mark the patient as a fall risk to ensure safety. If a nursing assistant notices a patient is suddenly confused and anxious, it is the nurse who will immediately go to the room and assess the patient. Ultimately, the bulk of the patient's care and safety falls onto the shoulders of the nurse. We are responsible for the majority of the care given by everyone else on the floor -- even the doctors. Gone are the days of nurses acting as doctors' handmaidens. If a doctor orders a dangerous medication or treatment and the nurse administers it, both the nurse and the doctor are responsible for that treatment and they may both be at risk of losing their licenses. All of this monitoring and evaluating means nurses must be smart, adaptive, educated, and skilled in critical thinking. We must know the underlying background of our patients' health care problems: what causes them, how they relate to one another, how one can impact another, and what treatments are needed to help heal the patient. We must be skilled in assessing each body system, from the neurological state of our patient all the way down to their bowel function. In an emergency, we have to be able to evaluate a patient with a single glance, taking in their color, breathing pattern, and overall appearance. Advertisement I write my blogs and columns as a way to bridge the gap between people outside the gender binary and those living deeply within it. I frame issues in a way to create dialogue and mutual understanding. This is important to manifest true change and foster open conversations around "controversial" issues. This is the nature of who I am and the style I will continue to maintain (except today). As a person living outside the social norms of gender, I'm carving out space here to be outraged at the injustice. To be pissed at the 44 bills across the U.S.that targeted transgender people. To feel a sting in my soul at The Advocate's headline "REPORT: 2016 Is the Most Dangerous Year for Transgender Americans." 1. F*ck you! To the 26 bills trying to prevent transgender people from using public facilities that match their identity. Advertisement Ok, most of these bills deal with public restroom usage. I'm mean, for fuck's sake, do you realize how enraged most Americans would be if their bathroom usage was trying to be regulated. I want to do some public shaming here. Washington has five of these bills. They repeal laws and regulations that protect transgender people. Really? Didn't your parents teach you that you don't give something to someone and then take it away? I've got to call Massachusetts out as well. Dude, you were the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. You now have a bill that wants to require people to use public facilities according to their anatomical sex. F*ck you. Also, how are you going to regulate this one? The Penis Police? The Vagina Vics. Indiana, I'm sorry but I have to pick on you. You're near and dear to my heart. I love you so, but frankly, it's getting harder and harder to defend your beauty and sweetness. You're an abusive partner that I once adored but then you keep doing crazy shit. You had two bills that say, hey, let's use your gender assigned at birth as a way to decide what bathroom you use. First, do you realize how ridiculous it's going to look to try to sort by this system? Take a look at the Instagram hashtag "transgender." Ok. How do you decide? Hmmmmm???? Who was assigned male at birth and female? Good luck! 2. F*ck you! To the bills that are trying to allow people and businesses to discriminate against transgender people. Advertisement Can we take a minute and realize these bills violate the simplest ideals the majority of us were taught as children? Be kind to others. Don't hit. Try to understand some people are different from you. Yet, we have grown-ass adults wanting the legal sanction to be dicks. 3. F*ck you! To the bills that are working to prevent transgender people the ability to change their legal documents to their gender identity. I've kept my legal documentation all female because for me it's a tiny bit of activism in my daily interactions. Forcing people to rethink the legal definition of female. But trust me, it's been awkward and sometimes even caused me to avoid social situations. But this has been my decision. However, if some of these bills pass many transgender people will be forced to carry documentation that doesn't recognize their gender identity. This will not only be awkward but dangerous. Imagine showing your ID to buy beer and you have a beard and a female marker. There are people who will literally kill you. Let's say you're 5'8 and weigh 145. You get your driver's license and they have you at 6'5 and 210. That'd make you uncomfortable, right? Well, take that feeling and multiple it times 100,000 and you get a hint of what it feels like for a transgender person. Advertisement All jokes aside. Why is it so hard to accept that some people aren't going to stay the gender they were assigned at birth? People's decision to do this has no affect on you. Let it go. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at her presidential primary election night rally, Tuesday, April 26, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) As the primaries move into their final act, Sanders supporters confront a perplexing question: How could so many progressives vote for Hillary over Bernie? After all, you would think that progressives would race toward the first self-declared socialist in American history who actually has a chance at becoming the nominee of a major political party, and even of winning the Presidency. What does Hillary offer to progressives that Bernie can't provide in abundance? Advertisement 1. Hillary's a proven winner? This argument has two parts. First, Hillary progressives point out that she's beating Sanders in primary after primary, especially in diverse states. Therefore, she clearly is the stronger candidate both now and in the fall. The second part is that Hillary progressives (especially older voters) believe that she would be a much stronger candidate against the Republican attack machine in the fall. She's already been through those wars and knows how to fight back. The only problem with this argument is that the first part does not lead to the second part. There are multiple reasons for why Hillary is winning the primaries, ranging from the order of the contests, the initial strength of the Clinton machine, Hillary's strong base among African-American voters, as well as the tacit support of President Obama. None of this is proof that Hillary would be the stronger candidate in the fall, especially since she is far weaker than Bernie among independents. For example, the Michigan exit polls show that Bernie beat Hillary among independents 71% to 28%. Hillary progressives cling to this winner meme even though poll after poll shows that Sanders is running better against all the Republican candidates. In the most recent poll from GWU/Battleground, Hillary is up only three points over Trump while Bernie leads him by 10%. Advertisement Hillary's favorable/unfavorable ratings according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls is -15.2%, while Bernie's is +5.2%. And the more Hillary campaigns, the worse her ratings have become. So how does this translate into more electability? It doesn't. It's as if Hillary progressives just can't believe that Americans are ready for a straight-talking social democrat who is willing to directly tackle runaway inequality and Wall Street. 2. Hillary knows how to get things done? You would think Hillary progressives would be concerned about many of her past accomplishments. If Hillary wants to take credit for the Clinton presidency when it comes to job creation, she must also shoulder the responsibility for dismantling "welfare as we know it," the crime bill which helped make the U.S. the world leader in prisoners, and NAFTA which helped to gut good-paying industrial jobs. Going forward, her proposals are smack in the middle of the neo-liberal paradigm. She wants to use corporate tax incentives and "public-private partnerships" to urge businesses to invest in the U.S. and to rebuild depressed areas. If she gets these things done it's because the biggest beneficiaries will be those corporations and local developers. This corresponds precisely with the 2014 landmark study done by Professors Martin Gilens (Princeton) and Benjamin Page (Northwestern). They reviewed 1,779 congressional bills and found that the average citizen had "near zero" influence over policy. The only bills that passed where those that coincided with the wishes of the wealthy and corporate interests. Advertisement Because she has internalized these constraints, Hillary will not advocate for proposals that would redistribute wealth and power from Wall Street to Main Street. She opposes a financial speculation tax. She opposes breaking up the big banks. And she opposes free higher education (and instead she wants some kind of cap on student loans that would hardly dent the trillion dollar student loan industry.) Under a Hillary administration, it is likely that more women and people of color will find their way into elite positions within the current political and economic hierarchy. However, her idea of "breaking all barriers" does not include breaking the biggest barrier of them all -- runaway inequality. 3. Hillary is realistic, Bernie is not? Hillary Clinton supposedly sees the world the way it is, rather than the way Bernie wishes it were. As a result Hillary progressives believe that she has a much better command of the policy details and, therefore, how to move a progressive agenda. Meanwhile, Bernie, allegedly, is guaranteed to disappoint. Like Obama, he promises hope and change, but will be unable to deliver it. This surprising Hillary-progressive critique misses the fundamental difference between the Clinton and Sanders political approaches. Bernie wants to mobilize the country into a "political revolution" for fundamental change. Hillary has no interest in such a movement. She sees herself as the change-maker-in-chief. It's all about her ability to produce pragmatic changes, not about our ability to force such changes into existence. Sanders knows that an election of one person to high office is just the beginning. Unlike Obama he would not demobilize his backers after the election. Rather he would ask us to become extremely active -- from mass marches on the capital to engagement in state and local campaigns. As he points out repeatedly, real change only comes from below -- from a dedicated mass movement that is willing to take to the streets. Advertisement It's hard to figure out how progressives could miss this difference, or so readily dismiss it. 4. Hillary is more experienced in foreign affairs? She certainly is, and virtually none of it is progressive. It is hard to distinguish her record from the neoconservatives. She supported the Iraq War (and please no excuses about how she was misled.) She called for more troops to surge in Afghanistan than even the leading generals wanted. She engaged in nation-building in Libya and tacit regime change in Honduras. Plus she wants a no fly zone in Syria that most generals say would require tens of thousands of support troops. Going forward, there is every reason to believe that there will be little daylight between her Middle-East policies and those of the Netanyahu administration. She still thinks that Libya can turn out to be a success story and that military surges could be highly effective. In short, Hillary Clinton is a hawk -- more hawkish than Obama, more hawkish than her husband, and far more interventionist than Sanders. (See "How Hillary Became a Hawk" NY Times Magazine 4/21/16) The primaries provide a classic "hawk vs dove" choice, and Hillary progressives are going with the birds of prey. 5. Hillary breaks the glass ceiling? No question about it, Hillary would make history by becoming the first female president, while Bernie would be the first with a Bar Mitzvah. A Hillary administration should be able to make progress on equal pay for equal work and on women's health issues, including the right to choose. It's interesting that having the first female President seems to be extremely important to older women, but much less so to younger ones. Perhaps a generation of struggle by the previous generation has paved the way for younger women to worry less about sexism. Or perhaps younger women have not as yet have had to juggle work and family, and discriminatory pay scales. Advertisement Whatever the reasons, young women are supporting Sanders by a remarkable 61% to 30%. They are saying that it would be good to have a progressive (man or women) to run the country. Hillary is not that progressive. 6. Hillary will do more for people of color? Hillary certainly has achieved commanding victories among people of color. This is proof positive for some progressives that Hillary will do more to fight racial injustice and therefore should have our support. But like so many pro-Hillary arguments, this one is also based on a faulty twist of logic. Getting most of the black and brown vote is no guarantee that her administration would do more for people of color than a Sanders administration. The vote gathering among people of color has a great deal to do with the political apparatus that the Clintons have established over the past three decades. They have provided support to a great many black and brown political leaders. They have appointed them to office, campaigned for them and involved them in their own campaigns and charities. They have worked very hard for these votes, and Hillary is reaping the rewards. That can't be denied. But what has been Hillary's impact on those who suffer the most from poverty and discrimination? That record is far murkier. Welfare reform causes real pain to low income people, especially people of color. Getting tough on crime has been an unmitigated disaster for black and brown young men. Studies of the Clinton's public-private enterprise zone investments in inner cities show few gains from these efforts. Advertisement Going forward Hillary rejects free higher education, a Sanders program that would disproportionately benefit young people of color and their families. It took Bernie to push her during the NY debate to embrace (sort of) a $15 an hour federal minimum wage. It's just damn hard to find a Hillary program that will rearrange the economy so that those at the bottom gain significantly more resources. She has no war on poverty, no public sector jobs program for inner city youth, no expansion of public education, and no crusade to integrate schools or housing. The Clinton idea that "the era of big government is over" is a disaster for working people, especially women of color, who struggled their way into the middle class through public employment. Young people of color are far less convinced by the Clinton machine. Internal Sanders campaign polls show that among young black primary voters Sanders is winning 51% to 43%, and among young Latino voters, he is winning 65% to 30%. Facts don't matter? Hillary progressives seem immune to most of these facts and figures. Regardless of what the polls say, they are sure that Hillary is the stronger candidate and that she can best trump Trump. They also seem certain that Bernie is too socialistic for this capitalist country, and therefore he would get slaughtered, just like George McGovern, the anti-Vietnam liberal in 1972. Advertisement But what if these polls do matter? What if Hillary really is the weaker candidate? What if Trump is able to successfully label her as the candidate of Wall Street? We already hear the rumblings from the Hillary camp. They will blame Bernie and his idealistic supporters for weakening her in the primaries. They will claim that he provided Trump with all the ammunition needed. And, they will blame young Bernie people for not voting in large enough numbers for Hillary. But should this nightmare afflict us, Hillary progressives will have great difficulty explaining to others, and to themselves, why they did not back the most progressive and most electable candidate. (Runaway Inequality on Facebook.) by John Gable The Internet is having the greatest, positive transformative effect on our society since the printing press. And just like the printing press, it also drives polarization and chaos. That isn't to say the Internet is not great. It is great. I drank the cool-aid well before working for Netscape in the 90s. The benefits are so obvious and omnipresent that I don't need to list them. And it holds the keys to a better, less polarized future. But if you think it is all wine and roses, you are wrong. See how the Internet is helping divide us. (Don't worry, it can help unite us, too.) Advertisement To better understand the problem, and the opportunity, let's learn from history. We think of the printing press as giving birth to the Reformation, and it did. But what is less commonly known is that it actually increased chaos and divided people, especially in the early years. I believe we are in a similar stage with the Internet, an early "Dark Ages" stage where disruption and chaos are prominent and the Reformation hasn't yet taken hold. It is up to us to move the Internet forward to a more enlightened stage. The parallels are startling. From "The Printing Press as an Agent of Change" by Elizabeth Einstein, we learn the printing press was used to spread "seemingly authoritative" writings that were actually misinformation. Groups that had or wanted power could "exploit print's potential as mass medium and for propaganda." Witch-hunts? Uncompromising literal fundamentalism? Increasingly extreme disagreements between Catholics and Protestants? All precipitated by print. Advertisement Instead of coming together to talk with each other in person where they could understand and appreciate each other's point of view and humanity, people started getting their information and gossip all alone, separated from others. "To read a printed report encourages individuals to draw apart," Einstein writes. "The wide distribution of identical bits of information provided an impersonal link between people who were unknown to each other." All of these things can be said today about the Internet today. Misinformation - check. Manipulation of the masses by those who want power - check. Growing divides that sometimes become violent - check. Putting distance between people - check. But both the printing press and the Internet also unite people. The Internet in particular is a social platform, a place where we communicate with friends, share personal experiences, even meet our spouses. While the Internet is uniting us within groups of friends and within tribes, it is also helping fuel division between tribes, between people who don't get the same information, don't share the same worldview, and don't know each other. Look at online comments and forums. Too often there is no real listening here but just voicing one opinion or worldview, usually ignorant and dismissive of the other side. Advertisement News media usually sways its coverage to fit their own bias or perspective. That is fine and good for opinion pieces, but not so good for news and facts. Just go to AllSides.com to see how much the news coverage varies across news outlets day to day. Even searches on Google fall short, providing us the most popular or best-marketed results while often burying other relevant perspectives. So for important, controversial issues, we often only see one side and miss the other - leaving us more confident but ignorant of what we don't know and less tolerant, even dismissive of others who disagree. So, what can you do to move us forward to a more enlightened stage? First, get news and information from different perspectives. When you read the news, pick different sources. And don't just read one bias that best fits you. If you generally read The New York Times and The Huffington Post, also check out Fox News and The Washington Times. For issues important to you, realize that if you cannot make a compelling argument for the other side, you don't really see the full picture. Start with a Google search, but then do some things differently. To avoid getting custom Google search results filtered by your personal profile, click the globe icon in the upper right. You can also go into private mode on your browser (Firefox, IE and Safari call it "private", Chrome calls it "incognito"). Now you have (mostly) unfiltered results. Advertisement Your results will still be slanted toward the most popular, best-marketed sites, so you might only see one perspective. To break through that bubble, either dig deep on multiple pages or use AllSides Search to automatically filter out different political perspectives. Want to get more into policy? Try AllSides Think Tank Search. Then have conversations with people who you disagree with. As always, nothing beats person-to-person contact. Living Room Conversations provides a process for talking and listening across differences, even about controversial political topics. Even if you are not going to do a formal conversation, there are lots of valuable tips to take away. Online, use comments to be a reasonable voice that listens and recognizes others and contrary viewpoints. Encourage that good behavior in others by being a model yourself. On Facebook, respectfully bring up a different perspective than what your friends have already offered. This gives others the permission to be different, and ultimately strengthens your personal bonds through openness and honesty. Finally, support companies, groups and technologies that are moving the Internet and human interaction forward. Many of us are working hard to evolve the Internet and our online relationships to a better place - help us do that. If you see something you really like, contact them directly to learn how you can help. Advertisement Part of the solution to the problems caused by the printing press was that people learned that they couldn't believe everything they read, that writings frequently were biased or inflammatory, and that you still needed to come together person-to-person to appreciate each other and move forward. Now it's time for us to learn how to use the Internet better. Quotes about the printing press come from "The Printing Press as an Agent of Change" by historian Elizabeth L. Eisenstein, nicely summarized here by Clay Spinuzzi. What does it take to singlehandedly outwit the Taliban ... in their own country? Bravery, to be sure. A willingness to accept the consequences, no doubt. But above all else, perhaps, is the knowledge that it's okay to be afraid -- even when your life is on the line. Sakena Yacoobi possessed all of these qualities and more when a group of nine Taliban members stormed into her office in Peshawar, Pakistan, demanding to know why she was teaching young girls. Her legs literally shook with fear; she knew the danger she was in. But she also knew that she was a leader, and it was her job to hold it together for her staff. It was her job to show strength in the face of oppression. "What are you doing? Don't you know that school is banned for girls?" they asked her. Her reply? "What school? Where is the school?" When they pressed her further, she didn't hesitate. Her explanation for why there were students in attendance was simple: they were learning the Koran. "And you know," she added. "Koran says that if you learn the Holy Book, the woman, they can be a good wife, and they can obey their husband." When Sakena shares this story with audiences across the world today, she is greeted with appreciative laughter and applause. Her ability to think on her feet in the face of what one can only imagine would be absolute terror not only convinced the Taliban that she had nothing to hide -- it allowed her to continue hiding her underground movement, the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), which went on to operate 80 secret schools for 3,000 girls in Afghanistan during the time of the Taliban regime. And that was only the beginning of this woman's remarkable career. During last week's seventh annual ASU GSV Summit, I had the opportunity to meet this inspiring woman, freedom fighter and mother of education in Afghanistan -- a true hero. Sakena was recently honored with the 2016 Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education, which recognizes outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving education through innovative approaches. Her speech at the awards ceremony had me at the edge of my seat; it was full of heart, with a touch of wry humor that captivated the crowd. After all, this is a woman who has witnessed immense heartache. But what separates Sakena from others who have seen firsthand the sorrow that humans can inflict upon each other -- and has no doubt made her and her organization so successful -- is her ability to find optimism and hope in the direst of situations. Since establishing AIL in 1995, the organization has positively impacted the lives of more than 12 million Afghans, more than 70 percent of whom have been women and girls. Especially meaningful is AIL's holistic approach to learning. For Sakena and her team, "providing education is key to systemic change, especially education for women and girls, but in tandem with this must be good healthcare and linked health education so that change in habit becomes ingrained through knowhow." Think about it this way: it's one thing for an organization to teach individuals who are living a "basic survival existence" how to read and acquire an academic, skills-based education. It's quite another to provide this type of learning alongside training in health, women's rights and, more broadly, human rights and core values. This focus on learning of the human spirit has allowed the Afghan people served by AIL to not only find jobs, but also move forward and rebuild both their lives and their communities. Sakena said it best in her TED talk: "Education transforms people. When you educate people, they are going to be different. ... By having compassion and having love, you can conquer the world. And I tell you, we could. And if we could do it in Afghanistan, I am sure 100 percent that everyone can do it in any part of the world." Advertisement Mary Kingston Roche, Reuben Jacobson and Martin Blank, of the Coalition for Community Schools, all contributed to this article. "Wraparound Services Alone Won't Improve Student Outcomes." is the title of a recent blog by Paul Hill Director of the Center for Reinventing Public Education. As leaders of the community schools movement we couldn't agree more. The community school is a classic vision of schools as centers of our communities. It is being remade for the 21st century to bridge the tensions between poverty and academics; we must tackle both, together. We don't have the luxury anymore of "either-or" propositions between wraparound services or strong academics. There are no silver bullets and we must do both-and that is what community schools do. Through results-focused partnerships, community schools marshal the assets of a community -- human, financial, and institutional -- and align them with the school to support and enrich students' learning and development. Community schools do focus on organizing health and social supports, but family and community engagement, and a robust curriculum with expanded learning opportunities during and beyond the school day are also part the equation. We advocate a curriculum that incorporates the real world in which children and youth live and challenges young people to address issues in their communities. To realize this vision, community schools are reorganizing existing community resources so they are aligned with the mission of public schools. The assets of health systems, cities and counties, higher education institutions, United Ways and community-based organizations are being aligned around the education of our children. Community schools are using existing space - the public's schools -- as the place to make this happen because schools are where the challenges students face emerge, where student learning must improve and where communities gather. And many parents, working as part of education organizing groups, have adopted community schools as their chosen vision for their public schools. Advertisement Cincinnati has received well-deserved attention for its pioneering community schools work. It is noteworthy that Cincinnati's Oyler Community Learning Center (aka community school) is the focal point of Dr. Hill's blog. Virtually no students who left Oyler Middle School graduated from high school before Oyler was transformed into a K-12 community school. In 2013, 40.5 percent of its high school students graduated in four years. In 2015, the rate was 48.7%. This year Oyler's graduates have been accepted to college. To understand what a significant achievement this represents and to understand the impact of poverty on education, readers are encouraged to view the documentary Oyler: One School, One Year. Now more than 150 communities have adopted community schools as a key focus of their education reform agenda. Congress incorporated community school principles and a Full Service Community Schools program into the Every Students Succeeds Act. Governors and state legislators from New York to Minnesota to Maine are introducing and approving legislation and funding for community schools. Mayors, including nearly every city along the Amtrak Northeast regional line from Boston to Richmond, are choosing community schools to tackle persistent challenges in their schools and communities. These leaders are seeking to address the deep inequities that poor children and particularly children of color face, and ensure that they have access to all the developmental and learning opportunities that will enable them to succeed. Now is the time to think big about what we want for the young people in our nation's 100,000 public schools. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), devolves power back to the states and local school districts. It affords us the opportunity to rethink how educators and their communities can work together to help students thrive. Advertisement A news junkie like myself is constantly on the look for new and fresh voices to allay my exasperation in the face of today's sobering reality in the Arab world. Most recently, I find relief and hope in political cartoons. No! Not in Charlie Hebdo. Brave youthful artivists (activist artists) from the region are raising their voices through still illustrations. They are witty and steadfastly unconstrained by editorial shackles. The wave of terrorist attacks and ongoing conflict the world is witnessing are amplifying voices of divisiveness. They are also muffling Arab and Muslim voices that condemn and give context to these heinous acts, perpetrated in the name of Islam. Perhaps they get lost in translation. Political cartoons, however, seem to transcend these barriers in simple yet powerful sketches, sometimes in color, other times in binary images of black and white. "Cartoons are approachable, breaking language barriers just like silent films, everybody understands Charlie Chaplain" says Khalid Wad AlBaih, an independent Sudanese cartoonist. Khalid embraced caricatures as a medium of expression out of passion for art and comics, but also a penchant to be part of an Arab movement for change and to "ask questions" in a culture of absolutism. Osama Hajaj, another prolific cartoonist from Jordan also sees cartoons as an "important tool to express the voice of people" through "satirical images; obviating the need for pages of mere talk." Advertisement A new Golden Age of Cartoonists What makes it challenging for Khalid, Osama and other artivist cartoonists to emerge more forcefully is the freedom deficit that has historically been characterized with the region. According to the Arab Federation of Journalists' recent report, press freedoms have been severely restrained in comparison to the two years prior to the Arab revolutions, due, in large part to political instability and the threat of violent extremism. However, "The 'Arab Spring' also galvanized more artists" who were already working in cartoons before the revolutions, notes Jonathan Guyer, a Cairo-based fellow of the Institute of Current World Affairs, ushering in a "new golden age of cartoonists" akin to the 1950's and 60's in Egypt, where the first Arab political cartoon was published in 1877. After the 'square' revolution unleashed more than a million people protesting oppression, Egyptian cartoonists such as Andeel, Anwar and Doaa ElAdl reemerged, sharpening their pens with punchy creativity. In one English titled cartoon, Andeel has a crumbling ballot box at the shrink's office bemoaning how it cannot "live with the guilt;" of the 'fixed' democratic process in Egypt. Silencing Extremism The new wave of Arab political cartoons is also transcending global borders in condemning violent extremism. Osama's depiction of the Brussels attack depicted the yellow and red colors of the Belgium flag as an embracing couple, weeping drops of blood next to a mysterious hovering shadow in black. "I fight terrorism and extremism in all its forms with my cartoons. I also try to capture the voices of the innocent and victims of political gamesenship," notes Osama. Advertisement Where extremism reigns, "cartoons allow us to start a conversation" in a global public sphere and resuscitate a much needed dialogue," says Khaled. This conversation is even more pertinent for the region today given the seemingly unstoppable political turmoil that is pushing people to the brink. Having studied Arab cartoonists since 2012, Guyer notes there are "hundreds of cartoonists who are trying to capture local audiences," who, in turn, "find solace in cartoons" after terror attacks in their locale. Doaa Al Adl's "Evolution of IS" (Islamic State) shows a reversed Darwinian evolution of man where a short bearded harpy-looking man leading a flock of three other men, each representing a more civilized looking man in descending order. Akin to Doaa, other cartoonists from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and elsewhere are expressing anger at ISIS and violent extremist groups, mocking them with a local sarcastic flavor. Photo by Daniel Zetterstrom The transformational music festival has become a living organism that is continuously evolving, progressing, adapting and improving. Though fundamentally similar, each festival offers a unique adventure that changes depending on location, lineup, and years of experience (or lack thereof). What The Festival is yet another comfortingly familiar yet excitingly diverse event that has become one of the Pacific Northwest's most anticipated parties. Located in the lush landscape of Dufur, Oregon overlooked by the towering Mt. Hood is What The Festival, a transformational and eco-conscious event taking place during the weekend of June 17th to the 19th. With an electronic and jam based lineup that boasts artists such as Thievery Corporation, Bonobo, Lettuce, Claude Von Stroke, Mr. Carmack, G Jones, French Kiwi Juice and many more, there are several sweet treats luring in patrons from all over the Pacific Northwest, California and beyond. Check out my exclusive interview with What The Festival's co-producer, Keely Montgomery, where we discuss its origins, mission statement and much more. Morena: What is the history and core team of What The Festival? Keely: Glen founded and sold a high tech company in the early 2000s and during his early retirement he fell in love with Burning Man. After years of running a theme camp there, he and his wife Tiffany wanted to start a business together. They both saw a need for an art focused music festival in the Pacific Northwest. After meeting Peter Clark, who was involved with many festival productions as well as running a music production company, the 3 decided to embark on the adventure of starting their own festival called What The Festival. I joined the team shortly after its founding, bringing with me a long history of event production skills and become the 4th pillar of the company. Advertisement Morena: Tell me about the venue. What are your favorite aspects of it? Keely: Wolf Run Ranch is owned by the producers, which is a rare occurrence in the festival industry and allows us to put a personal touch on every aspect of the event. Wolf Run Ranch is 250 acres and just east of Mt. Hood. We are surrounded by national forests and have breathtaking views of both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. All of our walk-in camping is nestled in between oak and pine trees. A large portion of the property is used for what we call 'The Illuminated Forest,' where we curate both large and small art installations ranging from live painting to tech-art and immersive custom stages. Morena: Sounds beautiful! What would you say is your mission statement? Keely: Our mission is to move people: their bodies, their senses, their souls. Morena: What makes WTF stand out among other transformational festivals? Keely: One of the many things that sets us apart is comfort. We believe that no matter your age or economic bracket, you should be able to have an elevated comfortable experience at What The Festival. There are places to sit and relax everywhere. We also hand pick delicious local food and craft vendors but what truly sets us apart is that we have 8 different stages all curated for the diverse times of the day, including a daytime 'Splash Pool' for you and thousands of your friends. Morena: Are there any new elements added to 2016's event? Keely: We are always adding and fine tuning. This year you will see a third pool, more camping, new art, new themed bars, more food and craft vendors, and a new stage. We are also adding what we are calling the 'Easy Speak Talks.' These are workshops during the day that cover educational topics such as permaculture, sustainability, consent, and manifesting your dreams, just to name a few. Morena: How does WTF bolster the leave-no-trace philosophy? Keely: We are proud that a majority of our participants come from a pre-acculturated leave-no-trace community. We reinforce this by social media posts and again as participants arrive at the greeters station. Additionally, we offer free water onsite throughout the festival grounds, which dramatically reduces single use water bottles. We also have a reusable cup program that is available to participants. Advertisement Morena: What is the projected amount of people in attendance this year? Preserving every ounce of one's African-ness is a duty several expats have taken on. For many, wearing "African" wax print is a means to not only affirm but also reinstate their identity in foreign lands. For others belonging to the Old African diaspora, flaunting a Kente head wrap or strutting a fabulous ankara (commonly called in Nigeria) maxi skirt becomes a means of identifying with Africa. However, the authenticity of our beloved "African" fabric comes into scrutiny when discussing the historical origins and commercialization of these products. During the 1800s Indonesians used a wax resisting dyeing technique for pattern making known as Batik. As a result of colonization Batik was introduced and quickly gained popularity throughout Europe. Roller print machines allowed for mass production, however, these imitation fabrics never found foot in the Indonesian market. As a result, French, British, and Dutch companies sought new markets, which they found in Africa. European wax prints were not originally intended for African markets, yet Africa became the largest consumer of their imitation Batik styles. By the end of the 19th century European fabric companies sold wax fabrics along the Gold Coast on the trading path to Indonesia. These fabrics quickly became synonymous of high quality and fashion throughout West and Central Africa. The presence of an enthusiastic market along the Gold Coast led Dutch companies to adapt the printed pattern styles to West and Central African tastes. Advertisement Although "African" wax fabrics carry designs and prints found in African textile, it isn't authentically African. From weddings to funeral ceremonies, every major event in West and Central African culture almost always requires for its attendees to be adorned with various "African" print fabrics. In very traditional ceremonies these wax fabrics have major roles to play. Yet, the supposed African-ness engrained in each fiber is merely a reflection of Europe's continual exploitative relations with Africa. From the onset, each stage of production was void of any African's perspective on the patterns, designs, and motifs. The tragedy isn't the fact that a major aspect of West and Central African culture was prescribed, but that the very thing by which we affirm our identity continues to benefit the prescriber. The widespread popularity and use of wax fabric is an economic gain for its manufacturers. Major producers of "African" wax are European owned. Before the 1960s every fabric sold in West and Central Africa was manufactured in Europe. Today, Ghana is home to the production of high quality wax prints. Manufacturers in Ghana include Woodin and Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL). Sadly, Woodin and ATL are subsidiaries of Holland's Vlisco and Britain's ABC Textiles, respectively. The list of top beneficiaries in the African print market is void of African ownership. Multiple Africans have been placed to occupy executive positions (displaying a mirage of African ownership) but the real financial benefits are continuously rendered to outsiders. Advertisement Street shops in la Briqueterie, a Hausa neighborhood in Yaounde Cameroon, strategically display an array of wax fabrics. Pieces of folded cloth hang in front of doors, transforming dusty street roads into beautiful sceneries of splendid patterns and breathtaking colors, a sight worthy of admiration. The atmosphere and scenery of la Briqueterie is a familiar one across West and Central Africa. Young and old vendors enthusiastically wait for customers to stop and shop, overflowing with excitement at the sight and sound of prospective foreign customers whose presence ushers in uncommon profits. As I failingly attempt to haggle over the price for a six yard Woodin wax fabric, a wave of sadness rushes down my spine at the realization that this very transaction unfairly prospers the pocket of another in a foreign land, leaving this elderly woman as a mere recipient of chicken change. Wearing my ankara dress around town in the hot New England heat over floods my soul with an overwhelming amount of African pride. A reaffirmation of my African-ness takes place during such moments. Do you remember studying the Holocaust? The Great Leap Forward? The Spanish Flu of 1918? Regardless of where you grew up, or the schooling you experienced, you surely learned about catastrophic events that left scars on our world. The numbers are appalling: the 6 million Jews tortured, the 35-70 million Chinese dead, the 4 million soldiers in World War I who never saw their families again. It's these events that make me wonder what was the rest of the world doing? How could a community of billions watch a few individuals diminish millions? The terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels have become prominent discussion on social media platforms. The hashtags "#prayforparis" or "#prayforbrussels" circulated the Internet at the time of the attacks. We were exposed to their realities and thus contributed to this movement, whether it was updating our statuses or changing our display pictures. Why wasn't the same done for the explosion in Kabul on April 19th, the chemical attack in Syria on April 4th, the car bomb in Turkey on March 13th? Why is there an inequity of compassion? Sure, many of us may relate more to people in Paris or Brussels, but we are fundamentally no different than those in Kabul, Syria, or Turkey. There is a barrier that prevents us from this realization. Moreover, our conversations should not end once the resonance of the attacks does, as the core questions are not answered. There is a gap in our understanding and perception of these events. Advertisement One may think perceptions might be blurred with distance, but we can also examine issues closer to home. The Flint Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan is a prime example. This issue of contamination began in 2014, and has since been saturated with bad decisions. Throughout 2015, the city and officials stated there was not much to worry about, and earlier this year, a state of emergency was declared. Between 6,000 and 12,000 children were exposed to the drinking water with high levels of lead. This exposure is reflective of serious health problems that the WHO believes to be irreversible. Lack of systematic change and good governance, rather than a responsive government demonstrative of consistent concern was responsible for the absent resolutions. Given Flint is a city in which 41.6% of residents live below the poverty line, this public health crisis exacerbated the problem for residents. We encounter pictures and videos that truly expose us to these events, but rather than taking the pictures, we should be changing them. These instances should not be viewed as headlines; they are catalysts for change. And if we're not doing anything to resolve them, then we're also part of the problem. As an Indian, Canadian, and British woman studying at New York University with aspirations of becoming a doctor, I've made a diagnosis here. I call it: apathy. The word apathy stems from the Greek work apathes ("without feeling") and pathos ("emotion"). It was commonly used by the Stoics to describe an indifference or lack of concern, emotion, and feeling. Apathy is not subjective to energy or effort from the brain, but nonetheless, it can be exhausting. Our body uses apathy to make the irregular regular, or to cope with distress that appears impossible to solve. Problems, unlike before, are more transnational than ever. In the past, issues could be tackled through the framework of the international state system; whereby a problem within one's border was handled by state jurisdiction. This is simply not the case in today's ever changing landscape. Disputes have broken boundaries, become more convoluted, and thus we have great difficulty comprehending them. It is this increase in complexity that parallels with a surge in apathy. We innocently want to avoid negative feelings, or distance ourselves from obstacles with hurdles seemingly too perplexing to fathom. Perhaps it's because we feel helpless, and believe potential solutions are insufficient. Advertisement Apathy is more than just indifference; it's an attitude we need to abandon. There seems to be some propensity to wait for someone else to act and take initiative. We are at a time in the world's history in which there are 1.8 billion youth in the world - the largest population of youth ever. Youth engagement can truly revolutionize the world. It can foster a change that begins at the root, repairing and preventing adverse outcomes. We must focus on increasing awareness - not telling the world what, but explaining why, and discussing how. Penetrate what you know in order to discover these problems beyond their surface. Awareness is more than just knowing - it's understanding what to do, say, and act. We should strive to actively champion change, demonstrate compassion, and transform the way we look at problems to solve them in a way never done before. We are at the forefront of discovery and the bearers of innovation. Our access, scope, and diversity can diffuse boundaries, if we ourselves do. We have many tomorrow's ahead of us, but for some people this is simply not the case. While we may worry about getting a job or battling a disease 30 years from now, others worry about finding food every day of their life; having a future is a luxury we take for granted. So, if apathy is the diagnosis, what's the prescription? I say: be part of the conversation, advocate for equality, and actively engage in and support efforts currently in place. Our world's prognosis will be extremely short if ignorance amplifies altruism. Hold officials in Flint accountable, eradicate the ignorance that permeates terrorism, share the stories rather than headlines. Let us act against apathy. Advertisement Image Source: publicdomainpictures.com Growing up Buddhist in America, I've encountered a wide range of people who have had very interesting notions about Buddhism and Buddhists in general. I've found misunderstandings about Buddhism to be prevalent in a variety of topics, ranging from Buddhist ideas on life after death to how Buddhists practice in their daily lives. So, given there are so many misunderstandings about Buddhism among those in the West, I have decided to break down some of the common misconceptions that surround Buddhism. Advertisement Vegetarianism Probably one of the most common misconceptions I hear westerners talk about in Buddhism is the notion of Buddhists being vegetarian. Not only is it false that Buddhists have to be vegetarian, in many sects it is not even encouraged. It is even generally agreed that the historical Buddha himself and his monks ate meat. So what is the Buddhist view on vegetarianism? The answer to this really comes in which form of Buddhism you are referencing. In Theravada Buddhism for instance, the practice of vegetarianism is typically separate from Buddhism, with a handful temples that do encourage it. In fact, one of the most famous stories about the Buddha's life was when one of his monks, Devadatta, suggested that monks restrain from eating meat, a rule the Buddha rejected as unnecessary. Theravada Buddhism isn't alone in this belief; many schools of Vajrayana Buddhism also allow the eating of meat even by monastics. The Dalai Lama himself ate meat; however he did eventually turn toward advocating vegetarianism later in life. Advertisement The sect of Buddhism that is probably the most responsible for this stereotype is Mahayana Buddhism. While not unanimous in this belief, many traditions of Mahayana Buddhism do require vegetarianism for monastics, and it is indeed highly encouraged for laypeople of these traditions to take on vegetarianism. So before preparing a vegetarian meal for some Buddhists guests you might be having over, be sure to check whether or not preparing one is truly necessary. Uniform Language Another common misconception is that Buddhists have uniform terminology. Most westerners I've met are most familiar with Sanskrit terms, used by the Mahayana and Vajrayana sects of Buddhism, as opposed to the Pali language that is used in Theravada Buddhism. A few Sanskrit words are Dharma, Prajna, Sutra and most famously Karma. The Pali equivalents of the above are Dhamma, Panna (pronounced Panya), Sutta, and Kamma, respectively. Being a Theravada Buddhist, it was not uncommon for me to strike a conversation with an American Buddhist over a Sanskrit word I didn't know like Prajna, only to say "oh, you mean Panna" later. This western preference for Sanskrit over Pali is so prevalent that most of the Sanskrit words I listed weren't even flagged by my spellcheck when I was writing this, while my every single one of the Pali equivalents was. Tradition-Specific Beliefs Image Source: publicdomainpictures.com In college, I remember visiting a temple where I heard one statement that really resonated with me. The statement was "When Buddhism spread; it never completely eliminated the indigenous beliefs in the places it spread to." I heard it from a Japanese Buddhist Reverend at the Buddhist Temple of San Diego. Advertisement Another misconception I noticed that many westerners have is they don't realize that certain beliefs in Buddhism are unique only to specific traditions. The fact that I even used a quote from a Buddhist reverend (as opposed to a monk), should raise some eyebrows about Buddhism's uniformity. While pretty much all Buddhist sects and traditions believe in the same core tenants that make up Buddhism, several details that are unique to only certain traditions are often mistaken to be Buddhist overall, vegetarianism being only one of many things associated with Buddhism that is more tradition-specific. Other tradition-specific details in Buddhism that are often mistaken as being a part of Buddhism overall are things like the Buddhist Perfections, and holiday celebrations to name a few. The Six Paramitas (Sanskrit for perfections) of Buddhism are actually specific to Mahayana Buddhism, with Theravada Buddhism believing in Ten Paramis (Pali for perfections). Three Statues representing the Buddhist Trikaya (Three bodies of Buddha) Image Source: Wikipedia.com As for Buddhist holidays, in respect to Vesak Day, the Buddha's Birthday, it is celebrated by all Buddhists but in different ways. The "Bathing of the Buddha" ceremony is probably the most iconic part of celebrating Vesak Day, and I have heard many American Buddhists say it's "supposed to be this way." But some people don't realize that that is only in Mahayana Buddhism. Advertisement In fact, growing up with Theravada Buddhism, I have never even heard of the idea of bathing the Buddha for Vesak day until I was exposed to it in college, when I attended a Mahayana Vesak celebration. A few other examples are the idea of the Trikaya (not done in Theravada), the system of Lamas (only in Vajrayana), and monks shaving their eyebrows (unique to Thailand and Laos). Heaven Another common misconception is the notion that Buddhists don't believe in heaven or that nirvana is the Buddhist version of heaven. Contrary to popular belief the Buddhist idea of reincarnation, or rebirth to be more accurate, isn't quite as simple as "you die and then are reborn as someone else." In reality, Buddhism has a very complex afterlife system that does include a set of non-permanent heavenly realms. While the Buddhist concept of heaven may be different than what westerners are used to in that it is not eternal, pretty much everything else about how these realms are described in Buddhist scripture are what one would typically describe heaven. The heavenly realms and higher are even mentioned in the Buddha's first and most famous sermon. Non-Materialistic Advertisement Image Source: publicdomainpictures.com While there definitely are a few more stereotypes that surround Buddhism, the last one I would like to touch upon is the notion of Buddhists being non-materialistic. I was first intrigued by this stereotype when I was in college. Another student asked me my major and when I said economics, the student said, "that's odd, Buddhists aren't supposed to be materialistic." This stereotype definitely isn't unfounded, the Buddha did indeed teach about detaching oneself from desire as the key to enlightenment. But if you take a close look at the passages regarding such a mindset, most are directed toward monastics who ordained with the explicit goal of liberating themselves from the cycle of existence and achieving enlightenment. His teachings toward regular lay people were generally more focused on improving their lives than on spiritual liberation. For regular everyday Buddhists, who take up the vast majority of the Buddhist population, such a goal is not a priority; and while it is not beneficial to be materialistic in Buddhism, it is certainly okay. What is the business case for the Sustainable Development Goals? This was the question that I answered at a recent event at the UN in Geneva to bring business, the UN and civil society together. Why are the SDGs relevant for business? Why should business care? How can businesses approach the SDGs? What are the challenges we face? The goals have been welcomed by the sustainable business community, it's an important milestone for the profession as we drive forward efforts on corporate sustainability and responsibility. The SDGs recognise and give an international platform to the fact that business can and should have a role to play in furthering sustainable development. Why are the SDGs relevant for business? 1.The world is changing! We have finite natural resources, dwindling biodiversity and ecosystems, are in the midst of a digital revolution and we have an increasingly urbanized and migrating population. Business doesn't just impact on these global trends but business is also impacted BY these trends. Especially in the case of changing business expectations. We don't just expect business be economically viable anymore- one purpose of making a profit, we expect them to be environmentally mindful and socially responsibly. 2.This becomes even more apparent amongst the millennial generation who are changing the landscape of the working world as we know it. Millennials don't want to work for organisations that exist just to make a profit but rather they want to work for businesses that have values, make ethical decisions, have responsible supply chains, value human rights, are environmentally conscious and active in the communities where they do business. They believe in purpose beyond profit. This is relevant because of the fact that millennials will make up 75% of the US workforce by 2030, the deadline by which we aim to achieve the global goals, and businesses will need to find new ways to attract, retain and engage and motivate these employees. 3.We need to think of the SDGs as a potential business opportunity, as a driver of investment. Tackle it like any business issue and take advantage of the opportunity to move the needle on Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability from the margins of business to being fundamental to business strategy, embedded in business as usual. Advertisement So what could some of these business opportunities look like? The obvious route we look to is through formal CR or Sustainability programmes but we need to think broader! It's a chance to look for commercial solutions to social and/or environmental problems. Of course, one business cannot save the world but should focus efforts on where they can create shared value. Reflect on; what is your business model? Where are your strategic priorities? What resources, skills, talent, finances, and networks can you deploy to have the greatest impact on society? And then, map that to the goals to identify which ones to tackle. And this is exactly what progressive businesses are starting to do. The below goals seem to resonate the most with business; Goal 5: Gender Equality It will take 117 years to achieve to achieve gender parity despite the fact that the business and economic case seems clear. We know share prices have the potential to rise by 26% if a company has one or more women on the board. We know we can add $12tn to global growth if we achieve gender parity. Couple this with the fact that by 2028 the global income of women is predicted to rise from $13 to 18trn, meaning more financial independence, more decision making and importantly for businesses looking for opportunity, more spending power. Goal 8: Economic Growth and Decent Work A goal many businesses have identified as key and can contribute to simply by virtue of their existence, providing employment and paying taxes, etc. Entrepreneurs and SME's are massive drivers of economic growth and development especially in emerging countries but with 50% of SME's lacking access to finance this significantly hinders their growth. Financial products like microfinance and microinsurance can play a role here. They are commercial solutions to social and environmental issues. Advertisement Goal 13: Climate Action Climate change is predicted to drive 100 million more people into poverty in the next 15 years unless action is taken. We know the most poor in the world will be the most affected but no one is immune. Climate change could cut the value of the world's financial assets by $2.5tn, according to the first estimate from economic modelling, potentially propelling us into another financial crisis. And over 60% of investors are concerned about the risk that 'stranded assets' may pose. Capital market investment is required to invest in the transition to a low carbon economy and we've seen the likes of the rise of climate and green bonds driven by early adopters recognising the business value of taking climate action. The arrest of Donald Trump campaign operative Corey Lewandowski was an ordinary criminal matter that was resolved in a typical fashion. The charge was "simple battery" - no malice required. As a psychologist and forensic examiner, I am routinely involved in such "simple" cases, usually when sanity or competency issues have generated complexity. Among chronic offenders and prison inmates, it is routine to see multiple arrests where prosecution was "declined" or the case was dismissed in the "interest of justice." Explaining his decision not to prosecute, Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg validated the findings of the Jupiter Police Department: "We agree that probable cause exists." Advertisement Probable cause may be enough for an indictment, but a prosecutor's judgment must also consider the question of reasonable doubt and the burden of proof. In that regard, Aronberg concluded: "Although the facts support the allegation that Mr. Lewandowski did grab Ms. Fields' arm against her will, Mr. Lewandowski has a reasonable hypothesis of innocence." This decision did not signal innocence simpliciter. The State Attorney added: "there is no reasonable doubt that Mr. Lewandowski pulled Ms. Fields back as she was attempting to interview Mr. Trump ... obviously (an apology) would be encouraged ... We always appreciate when people take responsibility for their actions." Lewandowski's hypothesis of innocence was founded on the assertion that he acted in response to a reasonably perceived threat, within Trump's "protective bubble." The hypothesis invokes what legal theorists refer to as the law of excuses. Advertisement The fact that there was a reasonable defense argument was enough to define Aronberg's duty under Florida law. That, however, did not stop him from pointing out the flaws in the defense - the factors that "might undermine" it. In addition to other flies in the defense ointment, Aronberg noted that: "soon after the incident, Mr. Lewandowski publicly denied ever touching Ms. Fields in any way." The hurdle for the defense was illustrated on the Today Show. In an interview with Lewandowski attorney Brad Cohen, Matt Lauer noted that irrespective of the outcome, "the verdict is in on one thing - Corey Lewandowski lied." The excuse - it was unremarkable and he didn't remember - made it worse. If the incident was so forgettable, how could he remember it later as a matter of threat and exigency? Was it a repressed memory? The Lewandowski matter (aka "Grabgate") is remarkable not as a criminal case, but instead, because the dynamics are like those involved in civil harassment and retaliation complaints. In a criminal matter, the accused will typically not set out to attack the character of the identified victim or complaining witness (the tactic usually backfires). In organizations, however, complaints almost routinely elicit this response - activating the machinery of denial. Institutions tend to view complaints as threats to the status quo, rather than an opportunity to fix things. Judgment is clouded by the competing loyalties at play (pawns must be sacrificed for knights). And the decisions are fateful - institutions know that once they take the side of an accused superior, there is no going back without damaging the organization. Trump had reason and opportunity to say "you're fired" to Lewandowski. Failing that, he was all in. Advertisement I am quite familiar with institutions going "all in" - defending with pretext and distraction, dishonesty and defamation. I have written about workplace retaliation and have studied dozens of such cases. I learned from my own work and because my wife sued her employer, California State University, Sacramento - twice. Before retiring with her full pension, my wife had a long and distinguished career, founding and directing the CSUS Engineering College Career Center. In 2009, she filed a lawsuit that forced the retirement of an "esteemed" professor with a documented history of sexual stalking - a professor who assaulted a staff member and threatened to shoot three others. The case settled quickly, and then the retaliation began. The Engineering Dean took half her office space and all of the money she had independently raised, bad mouthed her in the community, excluded her from meetings, and wrote to HR claiming that she had suddenly become a disruptive and "dangerous" employee. Observers said "she won't last long." Despite the effort to constructively terminate her, she just kept working and eventually filed a second lawsuit. The insults and indignities continued unabated. Not wishing to be shamed a second time, CSUS went all in. They wanted her head - immediate retirement - and otherwise, it was: "we'll see you in Court." My wife's case was heard by a jury in a Federal Court. When she rested her case, the University chose not to present a defense. She was not forced out, could again control her funds, and was given her office back. The Dean who tormented her was terminated for other "performance issues." Before it was over, CSUS claimed that my wife was "delusional" (which means insane) and described her as an hysterical whiner. In court papers, the institution mocked her for having cried at work one day. Advertisement Exactly the same thing happened to Michelle Fields. They said she was a threat, which means she must be "dangerous." Lewandowski tweeted "You are totally delusional." Trump and his minions mocked her and tried to shame her, saying she lied and exaggerated. They questioned her motives and her character, painting her as a histrionic opportunist. It is a warning to all those who might have reason to complain and the explanation as to why so many victims of sexual harassment and workplace violence fail to stand up and tell their stories: if you complain, you will be punished. Retaliation is more likely than not. Psychologists have identified these dynamics - using the term "institutional betrayal" - and have documented the trauma that can result. Similar retaliation dynamics have been observed by anthropologist Janice Harper in academia and in indigenous tribal cultures. As an anthropologist, Harper uses the terms shunning, shaming and mobbing. Cathy from Canada enjoying Holi at Thamel (Photo : Nepal Tourism Board's Facebook) Mt. Everest is the tallest peak in the world which lies 8848 km above the sea level. Everest became a brand in the international arena after Tenzing Norgay of Nepal and Edmund Hillary of Australia stamped their flag over its summit. Before them many climbers lost their lives in an attempt to scale the top of the peak, which is called Sagarmatha by the local residents. With the branding of Everest in Europe and Australia, the flow of tourists began increasing, creating chains of businesses in the base camp. Solukhumbu began bustling with visitors from all over the world. Travel agencies began springing up to fulfill the demands of the tourists to tour the Everest. Government of Nepal created a provision for all the interested party with a special permit from Nepal Tourism Board. Everest became a major source of foreign remittance for Nepalese Government. Everest, thus became a great center to connect Nepalese to people from all around the world. Locals of Solukhumbu like Sherpas were the ones mostly engaged in entertaining the tourists and helping them along the Everest base camps, a trip which is often dangerous due to avalanches and cold winds. These winds have devoured lives of many aspirants of Everest summit. Amazing Mustang with beautiful mountain parallel and barren landscape(Photo : Nepal Hiking Team's Facebook) Advertisement Tourist attraction can be increased by promoting the Everest stories at international level. The sanitation issues at the Everest Base Camp and the garbages in the area caused tremendous loss of image for the brand during the last decade. Lately, new companies have started providing helicopter rides over Mt. Everest. Though dangerous very often, helicopter rides have proven very effective for the tourist industry. Lot of developments were made in the tourism industry sponsoring these tours during Keshav Sthapit as a Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan Area. Birth Place of Buddha- Lumbini Lumbini which is located in Bhairahawa region is a place where Siddhartha Gautam, empounder of Buddism,also known as Lord Buddha was born by the tree as a son of Yashoda, wife of King Sudhyodhana of Shakya Dynasty. Buddha later left the palace in search of enlightenment and obtain full knowledge at Gaya while sitting under the Bodhi tree. Buddha took his new knowledge across India to China and Japan despite the resistance from the Brahmins and priests of his time. Lumbini is today visited by Buddist pilgrims from across the world. Pilgrims from Japan and China flock amidst the Ashoka Pillar where Buddha took his first seven steps after birth. Lumbini international Airport is the latest development in promoting tourism in this area. Town of Bhairahawa is also growing at a rapid pace. Nearby Butwal is a fast paced market. Local markets that provide clothing for the Boudha Bhikshus are being established. Most of the visitors here are Buddist monks from different parts of Tibet, China and Japan. Advertisement After the establishment of Tribhuvan International Airport in Sinamangal, the Nepal Airlines began its domestic flights throughout Nepal. With further establishment of infrastructures, Air India and few other countries started operating through Nepal's Air Space. Today Nepal has several airlines of its own. Buddha Air, Tara Air and Himalayan Airlines are few among many airlines originating from Nepal. Besides, Pokhara International Airport and Gautam Buddha International Airport are among recently added airports with international connection via TIA. Maoist government began changing names of all the government agencies including RNA to Nepal Air Lines thus disintegrating the basic fabric of Nepalese society. TIA operates in a region very close to residential and school areas thus disturbing the local community very often. There's been several close encounters of the planes with crows and other birds in the Tinkune area. Pashupati temple has a great prospect both for its religious and economic value. It is the only spot visited by most of the Indian neighbors. Hinduism is a major bond that binds India and Nepal together despite all differences. Temple complex is itself a work of wonder with all its grandeur. The magnificence was visible to the outsiders during the funeral rites of King Birendra and his family members. The temple has been foundation of the country itself. There's not a single King or Prime Minister before the Maoist regime who hasn't visited the shrine and bowed down before the Supreme Pashupatinath who lives and plays his leelas in different ways. The aura of temple unites majority Hindus and Buddists of the country because Buddism also has its foundation from Lord Shiva himself with deities like Mahakaala in Buddism. Advertisement Senator Bernie Sanders has come a long way without other people's advice. The progressive lone ranger is now leading in the polls nationally as the preferred candidate to defeat Donald Trump -- ahead of Hillary in that matchup. Now, however, Bernie Sanders is facing the verdict of closed primaries in many states which bar independent voters from voting for any of the Democratic or Republican candidates. Pointedly, Senator Sanders won only one of the five states with primaries on April 26, 2016: Rhode Island. Why? Because that state has an open primary allowing independent voters, heavily pro-Sanders, to carry him to victory. Had the other closed primary states -- Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut and earlier New York -- held open primaries, he would likely have defeated Hillary Clinton as Obama defeated Hillary in 2008. Sanders would also have the possibility of changing the minds of many permanent superdelegates. Advertisement Chalk up another blockage of the people's will to the state laws obstructing the rights of voters and insurgent candidates. Twenty states have open primaries, presumably to increase voter choice and turnout, and to justify having taxpayers pay for the primaries of private political parties. Now, Bernie Sanders has some agonizing choices to make as a trustee for millions of voters, especially young voters, who rallied to his and their agenda for a more just society. He has pledged to support the Democratic Party nominee for president which is likely to be Hillary Clinton, barring the revelation of old scandals or the release of secret transcripts of her speeches to closed-door business conferences that paid her $5000 a minute! When he goes to the Democratic Convention this July in Philadelphia, he will undoubtedly want to reform the Party platform and expel the influence of un-elected superdelegates, such as members of Congress, and Party leaders, who wield voting powers without receiving any primary votes. The superdelegates scheme was cooked up to avoid "weak candidates" or any bottom-up "revolts" against the Party establishment and their ever-present consultants. He will lose this demand. The Sanders contingent will want to have their proposals for a $15 minimum wage, tuition-free public colleges and universal health insurance (single payer) adopted in the Party platform. These and other highly popular Sanders reforms, including a Wall Street speculation tax, will be strenuously opposed by the business-as-usual delegates. Party regulars don't want a "political revolution" or a bold progressive in their platform. Advertisement Sanders will not get far on the platform, much less tying any words on reform to promises by Hillary Clinton to send implementing legislation to Congress. The Clintonites will try to assuage Sanders with a prime-time speech to the Convention. Do you remember any former prime time speeches? Thus, the Sanders movement is confronted with utter dissipation and disappointment at the Convention, where the victorious vanquish the runner-ups with arms locked and hands raised high on the convention stage. Following this display of party unity, the vanquished are expected to retire to the shadows and take their orders for forthcoming full-throated campaigning for the nominee. This falling off the cliff must be resisted by Sanders or he risks large-scale withdrawal, disappointment and cynicism by the supporters of his scandal-free candidacy with the resounding message against the "billionaire class". The question is how? Here is my suggestion. The Sanders movement should organize a massive demonstration in August or September on the Mall in Washington, DC, preceded and followed by a series of mobilizing workshops on his campaign redirections and reforms to advance our country. The rally would champion the issues that the major parties should take heed of and run on, since many of them have left/right support. The rally should pass the buckets to raise donations for establishing immediately an office in Washington to press forward with the event's momentum but not specifically endorse any of the two major party candidates. Advertisement Then, regional rallies and workshops around our country could lead to the creation of a political force with specific agendas which candidates for all offices - local, state and federal - may wish to adopt. Clearly the two parties, imprisoned by corporatism, corporate cash and the war machine and laced with exclusionary electoral practices and rules that entrench their status quo, bring out the worst from our nation. These parties have to be taken over by energies of fair play for people or replaced with viable third parties. Earlier this month, there were well-organized civic demonstrations and non-violent civil disobedience that led to many hundreds of arrests outside of Congress and other locations. They were organized by two groups -- Democracy Spring and Democracy Awakening -- and supported by many civic and labor associations. They represented new momentum for the public interest or what a functioning democracy must be all about. Right now, Bernie Sanders is the man of the hour. Before the spotlight moves on, he needs to use the enthusiastic political capital he and his colleagues have amassed to lay the foundation for fundamental progressive change rooted within the local communities of America. Presidential authority to allow investment and negotiations on confiscated properties by US persons, including Cuban-Americans Cuba seized the Cuban situs properties of U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals and Cubans in Cuba starting in 1959, with the bulk of the expropriations taking place in the second half of 1960. The laws issued by the Cuban government to implement the expropriation of the holdings of U.S. and Cuban nationals contained undertakings by Cuba to provide compensation to the owners. Nevertheless, in almost all cases, no compensation was ever paid. The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, (Helms-Burton) in its Title III (the "Act") allows all U.S. nationals as of March 1996 including those who were not eligible to file an expropriation claim with the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission ("FCSC") under the Cuban Claims Program in earlier years, to bring an action for damages against third-country nationals "trafficking" in the properties that were confiscated from them by the Cuban government. U.S. nationals include Cuban naturalized US citizens prior to March, 1996. There is, however, a significant restraint in this right of action under the Act. The President of the United States has authority to suspend the effective date of Title III for discrete six-month periods if the President determines that the suspension is necessary to the national interests of the United States and will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba" (See Section 306(b)(1)(a) of the Act). This suspension has been applied for consecutive periods since the enactment of the Act. The President can also, at any time, rescind any suspension of the applicability of Title III by "reporting to the appropriate Congressional Committees that doing so will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba" (See Section 306(d) of the Act). Advertisement The Act also allows the confiscated claimant and the trafficking defendant to settle any lawsuit without obtaining licenses from any U.S. government agency, thereby bypassing the licensing procedure by the U.S. Department of Treasury that would otherwise apply under the terms of 31 C.F.R. Part 515 (See Section 302(7) of the Act). This provision could be utilized by claimants and potential defendants to settle their claims, and would permit the defendants to continue their activities in Cuba without further hindrance from the former owners. This process was applied in at least one instance, the case of ITT and the Italian telecommunications firm STET in connection with STET's investment in the Cuban telephone company, confiscated from ITT in the early days of the Cuban Revolution. In July 1997, the U.S. State Department approved an agreement between STET and ITT stating it constituted a major step toward the enforcement of the Act, reinforcing the principle of respect for the property rights of U.S. citizens, and serving as a disincentive to other foreign firms currently operating or considering investment in confiscated U.S. property in Cuba without authorization of the U.S. prior owner claimant. Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution, gives the President the constitutional authority to settle U.S. Claims with the Republic of Cuba on behalf of any American claimant, for any amount and under any terms whatsoever. Federal courts have held this "Doctrine of Espousal" to effectively supersede the Fifth Amendment prohibition against the taking of private property without due process of law or just compensation, and to be binding upon the claimants, being the sole remedy for the claimant even when the amount obtained is a fraction of the certified value. The U.S. government has rarely negotiated a settlement that truly meets the international law requirement for "prompt, adequate and effective" compensation for expropriation by a foreign government. Precedent shows that U.S. courts defer to the Executive Branch's prerogative to sacrifice bona fide fair compensation to claimants in order to normalize diplomatic relations with the expropriating foreign government. Advertisement The recent announcement from both the US and Cuban Presidents to reestablish relations and to open an agenda to discuss among other subjects the expropriation of the properties would create a unique opportunity to implement a "self-help" strategy to maximize the compensation of the expropriation claims for both US certified claimants and legitimate Cuban-Americans before the governments settle the claims for political purposes. The President of the United States under his authority to alter the specific requirements and conditions applicable to each of the existing general and specific license provisions of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) should permit legitimate owners of claims to properties confiscated by the Cuban government to: Negotiate lease-license agreements with foreign companies authorizing the use of confiscated properties in Cuba; Negotiate the settlement of the claims with the Cuban government or a compensation schedule with a foreign entity; Negotiate transfer of titles, assignments and other property rights with the current possessor of such confiscated properties; Permit direct or indirect investments in confiscated properties by the prior owner and assignees; Permit the purchase, re-acquisition, usufruct and assignment of property rights on industrial, commercial and agricultural properties with the consent of the legitimate claimant and approval of the Cuban government; Permit the purchase of residential dwellings in Cuba with the consent of the prior owner and legitimate claimant as permitted by Cuban laws; Permit the remittance of money to improve such properties, the exportation of renovation and construction materials and the hiring of Cubans to make such improvements; and Permit travel to engage in all the above activities. Therefore, we recommend adding these paragraphs and a note to Section 515.208 of the CACR: "The entry into a transaction affecting property or interests in confiscated properties (as defined at 336 of these Regulations) in this section may be authorized either by a general license or on a case-by-case basis by a specific license". "The transfer of a Foreign Claims Settlement Commission (FCSC) certified claim or interests in certified claimants are prohibited absent specific authorization by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). These transfers should be authorized in the interest of the fair compensation process. "Note 1 to 515.208: Each person relying on the general authorization in this section must retain specific records related to the authorized transactions. See 501.601 and 501.602 of this chapter for applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements." So what happens after your husband, who is also your co-founder of the company you've built for 18 years, tells you he's in love with one of your friends? The night we ended our 20-year marriage, my now ex and I binged on Game of Thrones while sharing a magnum of Ornelia, the Tuscan wine made in Bolgheri, the same village where our Lucini olive oil is produced. By 2:00 a.m. that July night -- after many truths revealed -- my fantasy of working off the grid for the past few months was jump started. A bit of history here: my husband and I first met and worked in Los Angeles in the music business. Together we made one great CEO, so we searched for our own opportunity. After pursuing several prospects in music, it was our honeymoon to Florence and love for all things Italian that inspired Lucini. We kept our day jobs in music, went to UCLA at night, and started our first product on our kitchen table. A few months after that July moment of truth, my two children and I began our 16,000-nautical-mile voyage followed by a series of volunteer holidays for the next two years. We took Mark Twain's advice of not letting school get in the way of an education. The trip couldn't have happened without my supportive ex, who agreed this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and co-parented by flying halfway across the world several times to meet our kids when we reached land. Advertisement This was a chance for me to make up for lost family time and to stretch us so that our "normal" expanded. Putting us in the middle of the ocean allowed us to test the theory that saltwater -- sweat, tears, and the sea -- cures everything. Our six month on-land prep was extensive: the US Coast Guard and a local Marine taught us nautical, safety, and self-defense courses, including strategies on entering each port. I purchased a trawler, the kind of boat that can go around the world; Navy-grade night-vision equipment to track "man-overboard"; a back-up dingy; an extra rubber fuel tank; a drone for previewing marinas, an Iridium phone for when the satellite phone didn't work; and a boom swim with attached shark detractors. After a weekend practice trip to Catalina, I thought we were ready. Seriously? What was I thinking? I hadn't skimped on hiring professional captains to get us safely to land on the big crossings. Even though one of them hated kids, one acted like a kid, and another was so large he couldn't fit into the head (or the loo, giving new meaning to poop deck), I wouldn't change a thing. Our journey, christened by my kids as "Mom's Crazy Trip," gave me the most rewarding days of my life. It was a beautiful thing witnessing my children teach English in a Sri Lankan school after scrubbing algae off endangered turtles; create a water game on the small, sinking island of Fanning in Kirabati with local youngsters; and scooping elephant dung in Thailand's challenging 100 heat until they cracked themselves up. Advertisement During the trip, I discovered how my experiences at sea shared quite a bit of similarities to what transpires in the boardroom -- revealing what you are truly made of. Comparable to leading a company, going to sea requires preparation and risk; effective and efficient decision making; patience and grit. The sea bequeaths your quietest moments and your most stimulating ones. It is said we are happiest in pursuit of a goal. As we did at sea, smart entrepreneurs prepare for their luck and enjoy the journey. Part of my journey was selling the company, which had grown to over sixty SKUs during our tenure. Despite receiving support from the federal government, the LGBT community continues to face discrimination as North Carolina recently enacted an anti-LGBT law that limits bathroom access for transgender individuals. Discrimination of this form, or any kind for that matter, severely limits communities, schools, and businesses from accepting or encouraging diversity and growth. In particular, businesses have proven to greatly benefit from diversity as recent research has found that a diverse work team is great for business due to diversity of thought. By employing a staff with a varied scope of ideas and approaches to solving problems, managers may be able to create a workforce that has a positive effect on the bottom line. For example, a diverse work team naturally possesses a variety of perspectives and opinions that enhance creativity and innovation. This greater range of ideas can spawn differences in approach to decision-making and problem solving. Whereas homogeneous groups suffer from the limiting idea that there is "one right way" to approach a task, groups that value and encourage a person's unique view are saved from a stagnancy of ideas and are able to understand that there may be numerous paths to success. When the members of a diverse group are able to work together, they are able to engage in more complex thinking, enhancing the team's performance and outcomes. Advertisement The creativity and innovation that comes with diversity also boosts a business' adaptability because employees can present a variety of actions to take on the tasks and problems that arise. Companies are then able to offer a broader range of services due to the wide range of knowledge, skills, and experiences of the employees. The deeper decision-making skills and complex thinking of a diverse group lead to new sources of revenue and more effective services, eliminating the wasting of resources on research or outsourcing expert opinions. Also, keep in mind that an organization's ability to relate to its customers can greatly increase the bottom line as well. As a social equity scholar, I understand that integrating diversity efficiently and successfully may be a challenge, so managers should note the key areas of focus that a recent study from Deloitte found for increasing diversity in the workplace. Hiring with diversity in mind may require a new approach. Managers should look to hire candidates who are not exactly like themselves, but rather individuals who may be able to bring a new perspective to the business. It is also important that managers understand their team's needs. Being able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current employees will not only help managers use their staff effectively, but it will let them know what skill sets and perspectives to look for in new hires. It is also helpful to think about how your workforce resembles the customer base to whom you are marketing. While at work, managers should continuously encourage their team to speak their opinion. The innovative ideas that come from a diverse group of employees are meaningless if no one feels comfortable enough to speak their minds. While it may be hard for managers to hear their own ideas be contradicted, instead of shutting down conflict, it can be beneficial to use conflict to initiate new ways of thinking about an issue. By creating a necessary space for disagreements, conflicting ideas can be fleshed out, evaluated and utilized for productive and innovating thinking. Overall, managers need to be open to fresh ideas in order to nurture diversity and improve their business growth. Having an openness to an individual's unique experiences and conflicting points of view can provide insight to all members of an organization and their target audience. Smart managers, the ones who truly care about their company, will understand the growing importance of workplace diversity and continue to seek ways to integrate diversity and thought diversity to foster fresh ideas and boost the bottom line. Fifty years ago, David Rockefeller, Chairman and CEO of the Chase Manhattan Corporation, gave an address to the National Industrial Conference Board (now The Conference Board). It was The Conference Board's 50th anniversary, and his words changed how the business community viewed the arts world. Rockefeller has always been a visionary who understood a half century ago that the arts could go a long way towards helping businesses as well as humanity. He called for businesses to assume a much larger role in supporting the arts for the many ways that they improve both the business and the community. He helped lead the formation of the Business Committee for the Arts (BCA)--since merged with Americans for the Arts--which has encouraged, inspired, and paved the way for businesses to support the arts in the workplace, in education, and in the community. Rockefeller invited 100 business leaders to join him as the organization's first members, and the Honorable C. Douglas Dillon was named the first chairman. The membership roster was a who's who of business and included Katherine Graham, publisher of the Washington Post, Robert O. Anderson, founder Atlantic Richfield Oil, Robert Sarnoff, chairman of RCA, and Gavin K. MacBain, chairman of Bristol-Meyers Squibb. Advertisement In 1966 businesses were allocating $22 million to the arts; today they are allocating more than $3 billion, 5 percent of all income for the not-for-profit arts in America. These great strides have been made owing to strong business leaders who recognize the power of the arts and lead by example. These leaders are often best known for their professional trade, but their careers have often been shaped by their passion and engagement in the arts, and their understanding of how the arts benefit their businesses should also be celebrated. Next week, Americans for the Arts will celebrate Rockefeller's legacy with a lecture by David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The Carlyle Group. As part of the David Rockefeller Lecture series--advancing Rockefeller's mission to ensure that the business community supports a thriving and vibrant arts community--Rubenstein will address the vital connection between arts and business. He is known by many as head of the largest private equity firm in the world, but his passion for and investment in the arts--whether through the restoration of the Washington Monument or as chair of the Kennedy Center--sets the stage for creativity and innovation nationwide. Rubenstein is not alone. Joining the CEOs on today's board of the BCA, led by Chairman Edgar Smith, CEO of World Pac Paper, are CEOs across the country who understand the benefits of the arts to their company and employees. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, is a lover of literature and poetry, and this sets him apart from the expected. In employee emails he has quoted and referenced Friedrich Nietzsche, Oscar Wilde, and Bohemian-Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke as a way to encourage employees to challenge themselves, transform as individuals, and embrace change. He also compares poetry to coding and says that "the best code is poetry." Microsoft is no stranger to arts partnerships--the company has one of the world's largest corporate art collections, with nearly 5,000 works of art displayed in more than 180 buildings throughout the world. Microsoft Research's Studio 99 artist-in-residency program provides a space for science and the arts to interact, with the hope of inspiring new kinds of human expression, both scientific and artistic. Advertisement Renowned real estate developer Jorge Perez, Chairman and CEO of The Related Group, also sees that the arts help people understand the world in a deeper way. Growing up, Perez developed an interest in how Latin American artists used their work to reflect the community's spirit and, over time, as a force for positive change. Later, Perez saw the opportunity to contribute to the reconstruction of the former Miami Art Museum as a way to allow all of the city's children, regardless of socioeconomic standing, the chance to experience the kind of artwork that so deeply impacted his own personal and professional growth. The Related Group integrates artists' work into their development projects and partners with arts organizations in the hopes of creating inspirational spaces and promoting Miami as a thriving cultural center. Artist residencies in manufacturing plants, corporate battles of the bands, employee improvisation and creativity training through jazz and visual arts, the transformation of utility facilities for artist exhibitions--these all help improve community relations. They help businesses be better businesses, while corporate support helps the arts be better at art. Around the country we see examples of the arts partnering with businesses and contributing to thriving cultural hubs, essential in attracting companies and talented people to the region and fostering a creative workforce. Many examples of this can be found on the pARTnership Movement site. According to the Ready to Innovate study--a partnership of The Conference Board, Americans for the Arts, and the American Association of School Administrators--72 percent of business leaders cited creativity as the number one skill they sought in new hires. Yet, 85 percent of those employers reported that they could not find the creative applicants they sought. The survey results reflect employers' recognition that building an innovative and engaged workforce depends on developing employees' creative abilities. Business leaders must be accountable for engaging their teams with opportunities for creative growth. As Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has made clear in recent speeches, the United States is seen as a beacon of freedom and promoter of universal human rights around the globe. As a world leader, we have an obligation to challenge both our allies and adversaries when their behavior does not align with American values. And this is especially true in China, South Korea and Myanmar, where all these countries have been aggressively cracking down on free speech. In Asia, China's repressive tactics used to suppress the majority Uighur Muslim population in Xinjiang province are fundamentally wrong. Amnesty International has strong criticized the local Chinese government officials for criminalizing "illegal religious" and "separatist activities" and clamping down on "peaceful expressions of cultural identity." The Chinese government has gone to great lengths to suppress free speech in Xinjiang province and erode the basic human rights of the local population. In the case of China, our political leaders need to speak out when any nation does not ahere to American values. In South Korea, the situation is even worse. In February 2016, a large group of South Koreans led by Amnesty International took to the streets to condemn the crackdown on free speech by the administration of President Park Geun-hye, after requests to hold a peaceful rally were rejected. In November 2015, 70,000 people took to the streets in downtown Seoul to protest the government's push to pass union-busting laws, attempts to criminalize certain kinds of free speech and the incarceration of journalists. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd, while 50 individuals were arrested for peacefully protesting. Advertisement South Korean President Park who is the daughter of General Park Chung-hee, South Korea's military dictator from 1961 to 1979, appears to be personifying some of the policies implemented by her father's autocratic regime. One of these tragic cases is that of South Korean author Park Yu-ha, a professor at Sejong University in Seoul. Professor Park Yu-ha greatest mistake was speaking the truth and challenging the status quo in South Korean society. The eminent academic wrote a book, that contained a large volume of rich research and interviews with historical figures. Based on primary research, Professor Park Yu-ha raised some legitimate questions in her writings. Sadly, free speech is not tolerated in President Park's South Korea. The academic was immediately detained by South Korean security services, allegedly tortured in custody and then placed under house arrest. The soft spoken academic is being prosecuted for presenting a historical argument based on extensive research that does not align with the position being promoted publicly by political allies with ties to President Park's father. As history has taught us, any assault on freedom of speech is normally a first step towards greater crackdowns on free speech and a direct assault on human rights. South Korea is an American ally and our political leaders in the United States need to speak out when an American ally cracks down on free speech and does not adhere to American values. In Myanmar, human rights abuses were once the worst in the world. Aung San Suu Kyi, the winner of the 1991 Nobel Prize for Peace was placed under house arrest for speaking out against crackdowns on freedom of speech and dictatorial rule. In 2010, after nearly 15 years under house arrest, the Nobel Peace Prize winner was released from custody as a result of the United States and our allies in international community standing up for freedom of expression and the promotion of universal human rights. Advertisement President Obama welcomed the release as "long overdue." In 2015, the Nobel Prize laureate led the National League for Democracy (NLD) to a win in Myanmar's first openly contested election in 25 years. While improvements are now taking place in Myanmar, Amnesty International reports that security forces continue to commit human rights violations. The United States needs to continue our work to ensure that human rights reforms are fully implemented in Myanmar, South Korea and China. Close-up of a memorial plaque Recently, one of my friends sent me an email, saying that his daughter just returned from a high school study tour to Poland and was shocked by the overly nationalistic messages that were propagated during that trip. As a negative reaction, she came home and emphasized in her own reflections the universalistic messages that she learned on her own from this experience. While the Shoah was a unique Jewish experience, it was at the same time a time when people from many other national, religious and gender persuasions were also massacred by the Nazis and their accomplices. And then I opened my morning newspaper and read that one of the leading Holocaust educators in Israel was saying very much the same thing. In an article published in Haaretz (April 27, 2016), Director of the Museum of the Ghetto Fighters' House, Dr. Anat Livne, strongly criticized high school trips to Poland and the March of the Living program: Advertisement Such a trip is important only if it's part of an entire process of guidance, study, in-depth involvement in the memory of the Holocaust. The moment it becomes a mass project, mechanical, wholesale and without genuine internalization, the trips should be eliminated. The way it's done today, both in the high schools and in the army, is not to my taste at all. I couldn't agree more. These trips have been contributing to a dangerous trend of increasing ultra-nationalism in recent decades that is separating us from the rest of humanity and increasing xenophobic attitudes among Jewish youth in Israel (and the Diaspora). The same can be said about most Yom Hashoah ceremonies in Israel today. Dr. Livne criticized these gatherings as "too massive and triumphant" and they lack any humanistic messages that should be part of Holocaust Memorial Day. When asked about what alternatives can be suggested to these ceremonies, she responded: A memorial event that begins with a modest ceremony centered on study and thinking. For the first time, there will be a discussion entitled "A Different Gathering on Holocaust Day." We'll talk in small groups of survivors and their children, as well as friends of the museum from the kibbutz and the surroundings, about texts related to the Holocaust and to shaping memory. Actually this won't be the first time that this will happen in Israel. Last year, I was fortunate to participate in "a different gathering for Holocaust Day" in Jerusalem, which was one of 10 experimental groups organized by a team of scholars and practitioners from all over Israel, led by Michal Govrin of the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. My wife and I attended such a gathering at Kehillat Zion in Jerusalem, led in a meaningful and participatory way, by Rabbi Tamar Elad Applebaum, spiritual leader of this new religious community in Jerusalem. It was by far the most meaningful Yom Hashoah commemoration experience that I have ever had in my 36 years in Israel. Since we were a small group, each and every one of us was able to share memories and thoughts about members of our families and our communities who were affected by the Shoah. How did this come about? Govrin gathered a group of experts from a variety of disciplines, including historians, artists, curators, brain scientists, clerics and psychoanalysts, each of whom also embodied a specific population group (ultra-Orthodox, Ashkenazi, Sephardi, etc.). Following three years of monthly meetings at Van Leer, the group came up with a format for a ceremony that has been designed to be experiential and to spur active involvement on the part of participants, based on the model of the Passover Seder. Each gathering is planned to be carried out by the participants themselves under the guidance of a moderator. In an interview in Haaretz last year, Govrin explained: It's a modular format, and each 'community' will be able to choose the texts it finds appropriate. There will be times of singing and also times when the participants will be invited to share their thoughts and memories. There will be a small intimate gathering at Kehillat Zion in Jerusalem again this year on the evening of Holocaust Remembrance Day. And, at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute a revised version of the ceremony, based on the success of last year's pilot version, will also take place. For Hebrew readers, it is possible to download to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day at home with family and friends or in a community. (an English translation is being prepared for the future). In addition, the new ceremony will be implemented in several new places in Israel this year, including the Museum of the Ghetto Fighters House in the north of Israel and in communities in Tel Aviv, Modi'in and at a central event in downtown Jerusalem. In 2013, I wrote a column in this space where I talked about the very personal conversion I had regarding my feelings on same sex marriage. I had grown up with a deep and profound respect for the Bible, and the teaching of my Christian faith. Throughout my education, I developed a profound respect for the rule of law as well. As a state senator, and later as governor, these passionately-held beliefs guided my decisions as an elected leader. It is because of my love of the law and my commitment to Christianity that I tell you the Mississippi Religious Freedoms law is far worse than you have read about. We live in a democracy, and elections have consequences. The elected leaders of my beloved home state have a right to govern by principles that guide them, because the people gave them a right to do so. I will let higher powers judge their motives and its impact on our collective ability to love one another and care for those less fortunate. But whatever principles do govern their leadership have driven them to create a truly terrible law. Advertisement Public disagreements on policy are natural in a republican democracy. But I'm not talking about that. The unintended consequences of this law, technically speaking, create a once in a generation debacle. As a former policy maker, I can say they should be ashamed. As a lawyer, I'm just embarrassed. This law sets in motion the very real possibility where anyone can demand that state and local governments take any and all actions necessary to accommodate religious beliefs regarding sex and marriage. This is the legal equivalent of a soup sandwich. For example, if a person's deeply held religious beliefs suggest that gay marriage is wrong, an individual can demand that the local school district (or any other public agency) fire any and all gay school teachers (or agency employees). If the school district does not, that person could file suit against the school district to enjoin the district and collect damages and attorney's fees. There is no definition of sex, and there are no protections for the accused. The law is specifically intended to subjugate people who might be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. And if that isn't bad enough, it doesn't stop there. The burden of proof for how this hypothetical teacher proves they are NOT gay - or a Salem witch for that matter - is left open ended. The only protections in the law are for the accusers; there are no protections for those who are minding their own business and might find themselves caught in the web of state-endorsed discrimination set in motion by HB1523. Advertisement Maybe your deeply held religious beliefs suggest that a DHS worker should be fired for pre-marital sex with a boyfriend, or a State Trooper for cheating on his/her spouse. In any of these events, "a person" can disrupt and drain the city's, county's, state's or school district's coffers with virtually limitless lawsuits seeking damages and attorney's fees. Proponents of HB1523 will surely say "not true." But there is absolutely nothing in the bill to prevent such interpretations as those above. This law will have a profound economic impact on existing Mississippi businesses, however. This is a state law, but it is an international issue. The U.S Navy recently moved a ship commissioning of the USS Portland from Pascagoula after the mayor of Portland refused to travel to Mississippi for the ceremony. Minnesota, New York, Washington and Vermont -- have banned non-essential travel for state employees to Mississippi. There were more than 20 films made in Mississippi last year. Two projects have already cancelled plans to shoot there this year. Travel and tourism is the fourth largest private sector employer, providing over 85,000 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs. If travel to Mississippi decreases 10 percent, we are looking at more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs being eliminated. It would reduce state and local tax revenues by almost $620 million. We don't have as many multi-national employers based here, or as many new economic development projects in the making. And because of actions like this, they're not going to be coming here anytime soon. Advertisement While the major corporations are not based in Mississippi, they make up a huge portion of the employment base. Walmart was a large reason why the bill in Arkansas got significantly altered. The NCAA was the driving force behind halting a similar (though less egregious) bill in Indiana. It will take significant pressure from major employers to begin to turn the tide on this issue - and stop future legislation. When I wrote that article about same sex marriage two years ago, I was overwhelmed by the very personal and private messages of support and thanks. The messages came from people I barely knew, but also some I have known and worked with for years. I had friends and members of my family tell me for the first time they were gay. Of course, I hope members of the local, national and international business community stand up to the Speaker of the House who wrote this bill, and the Governor who signed it. I also hope they can begin to recognize - as I did - how their own friends, people they work with, and members of their own family are directly impacted by this bill. As if you needed any more proof, new data shows that millennial employees won't settle for less than an engaging workplace. A survey to be released this month by Fidelity finds that 25-to 35-year-olds who are looking for a new job prioritize a better quality of life at work over a bigger salary. In fact, young people would rather give up an average of $7,000 in compensation than forfeit engagement goodies like healthier work/life balance and more career development. It's just another reminder that millennials are different than older employees who have a greater tolerance for soul-crushing jobs. Younger employees demand a more meaningful work experience, and with nearly half looking for a new job while working at their current job -- or at least remaining open to new opportunities -- company leaders have one more reason to build cultures of high and viral engagement. We know that one of the strongest ways to build a resonant corporate culture is by integrating purpose into the workplace. And leaders of companies with strong CSR programs are noticing the bottom-line results predicted by Project ROI, a study led by Verizon and Campbell's Soup; namely, employee productivity up by as much as 13 percent, reductions in turnover by as much as 50 percent, and workers willing to take up to a fiver percent pay cut to work for a company doing CSR well. Advertisement The key word there is "well." It's not enough to give lip service to CSR; your program must be thoughtful in its planning and strong in its execution if you want to engage employees. At Causecast, we know that just because a client signs on to our volunteer and giving platform it doesn't mean that their employees -- even all those purpose-hungry millennials -- will suddenly rush in droves to make the most of this giving-back resource. One step towards a strong CSR program is having the right tools, but it must be accompanied by the right program design, communication and support around these tools. That's why we advise clients to focus on four key ways to boost engagement on our volunteer and giving platform. Whatever platform your company might be using, the same tips apply: 1.Let your internal communications channels work for you Send group-specific email reminders about upcoming campaigns/volunteer opportunities in your platform. Post campaign highlights on your company's intranet to be a 'set it and forget it' reminder for employees to see what's happening on the site. Send a company-wide email highlighting the great work an employee achieved through the platform. 2.Create an on-site presence Coordinate small Lunch and Learn tutorials or a large All Hands meeting to make the platform as accessible as possible. Designate Community Leaders to help you generate excitement on a grassroots level. Your employees are always going to be your best advocates for engagement, so get them involved and give them ownership. Causecast client Emera, a Canadian-based energy company, does a fantastic job with this by creating a volunteer network of empowered employees through their Community Engagement Council, manned by employees who manage the governance strategy around the company's volunteering program. The council interfaces with Community Engagement Team Leads, who are out in the community acting as liaisons with signature nonprofits and other community organizations with whom employees may volunteer. Meanwhile, the company's community leaders are tasked with overseeing quarterly events around these nonprofits and mobilizing engagement amongst Emera employees. This sort of formal structure sends a message to employees about how seriously Emera treats their community volunteer and giving efforts and how much their peers are leading the way. Organize a desk drop. This can be as simple as signage explaining how to log into the platform, or something more creative. Organize a Sign-Up Fair. Employees can sign up in person for the platform and register for volunteer opportunities. Coordinate a Nonprofit Fair. Connecting with nonprofit leaders in person encourages employees to get involved. 3.Make it competitive Create a competition among teams or offices to see who can achieve the highest number of active users within a one-month span. The office/team who wins can get a prize (ie. give a donation to the nonprofit of their choice). Or companies can get the competitive juices flowing through incentives like matching gifts. Global learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the publisher of A Long Walk to Water and a Causecast client, decided to celebrate the book's one million copies sold milestone by donating $15,000 to Water for South Sudan for the drilling and installation of a new well. Then the organization took its corporate philanthropy one step further by offering a challenge to its employees to raise an additional $15,000, leveraging its matching gift initiative to accelerate this goal and fund the build of a second well. To the surprise of everyone, the employees reached $15,000 in just two weeks, and the effort spiked the levels of program engagement throughout the company. Advertisement 4.Demonstrate leadership involvement Above all, company leaders need to roll up their sleeves and volunteer themselves! There's nothing like volunteering side by side with the CEO to make employees feel more connected to their company. Conversely, the absence of top management at volunteering events can make employees feel like the hired help executing a social mission that's purely cosmetic. If you want to generate real social impact and deepen your corporate culture, it all starts with leadership showing up, and not just for a photo op, either. Send out a video or emails from the company's CEO promoting the platform. Get your CEO writing about how excited they are to attend the upcoming day of volunteering (see step #1), or how much fun they had at the recent event, what the cause means to them, congratulating the team on their giving campaign, discussing some creative new fundraising ideas, forwarding a blog about the company's civic activities, writing that blog to begin with - and then continually link that activity back to the volunteering platform. Whatever the communication, just communicate. The troops need to continually hear from their leaders about the company's social mission in order for it to remain relevant, and to inspire them to find out more on the platform. For those companies that have made the commitment to a strong volunteer and giving program by investing in a platform, bravo! You've taken the first critical step towards creating a robust culture of purpose that will reap dividends in engagement. If you follow that investment up with a careful strategy around creating and promoting an ongoing program of cause engagement, your commitment to giving back will redound back to you over and over. Last Wednesday, I spoke on a panel at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs In DC. The conference, co-hosted by the Center's Religious Freedom Project and the Center for Islam and Religious Freedom, looked at the historical sources of blasphemy laws and their implementation in countries around the world today. One panel addressed the correlation between blasphemy and extremism. American Muslim organizations focus on the way forward for American Muslims- how they can understand blasphemy laws and how such laws are an anathema to the very values we hold dear as people of faith. As Muslims, we can participate in ensuring the removal of these laws in Muslim-majority countries, and removing blasphemy laws will in fact serve to protect religion, not harm it. There is no punishment for blasphemy or apostasy in the Quran. These acts are sins which fall under God's jurisdiction, and does not fall under man's law; punishment in the area of religious belief or non-belief is left up to God. What is misunderstood or overlooked is that the primary and clearly defined goals of Sharia are to protect life, protect the freedom of expression and thought, protect religious freedom, protect property and protect family lineage (especially for inheritance rights). Advertisement Unfortunately, anti-Muslim sentiment in the US feeds into the rhetoric of extremist groups whose main claim is that Muslims are not welcome in the West. In addition, American anti-Muslim sentiment provides false legitimacy to extremists because they are seen as the only people talking about real grievances that exist around the world. Their messaging highlights the double standard in the West, which has resulted in the absence of serious discussion about the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar and the unraveling of any real solution for Palestinians. Extremists make use of the idea that what preceded the genocide in Bosnia during the early 1990's was anti-Muslim propaganda, the same kind of propaganda that we are seeing today, that Islam is a false religion, that American Muslims are a foreign invasion, that they are not part of the endemic culture. Unfortunately, the effect of geopolitics is that it dehumanizes the people of the regions concerned. Thus, Muslims are seen mostly through the lens of security and CVE (countering violent extremism), policies toward the Middle East reflect oil interests, and our support for Israel is driven by geopolitical interests in the region, as are our relationships with compliant rulers. The result is that geopolitical aims and policies trump the needs of the people that are most affected. Current use of apostasy and blasphemy laws are mostly about power, and sometimes about economic issues. (For more information about the context of using religious decrees in general, see Tariq Ramadan's book on Radical Reform: Islamic Ethics and Liberation). Apostasy charges are used to silence political opponents. The rationale is really about treason (or what state actors view as treasonous to their hold on power) and not about a change of religion or insulting a religion. Advertisement When there is anti-Muslim rhetoric in the US (and 25% of the US population seems to support candidates who say Islam hates America and that the US should ban Muslim immigration), we are perpetuating an image to the rest of the world that the US has a restricted and unsophisticated worldview that does not consider nuances or the needs of ordinary citizens. Legal solutions to the problem of hate speech against Muslims may not be possible, but we should have socio-political ones. Our national leaders must speak out more about anti-Muslim bias and harassment, to serve as a corrective to the dialogue of hate and ignorance. Sebastien Madau La Marseillaise http://www.lamarseillaise.fr/analyses-de-la-redaction/decryptage/47247-cuba-etats-unis-un-conflit-asymetrique Salim Lamrani is a university professor who specializes in relations between Cuba and the United States. In this interview he turns to the issue of human rights, a point of divergence between the two countries. The United States accuses Cuba of not respecting human rights, while Cuba demands a change in the criteria. Sebastien Madau: The United States has said that they wish to discuss the issue of human rights on the island with Cuba. What aspects in particular concern them? Advertisement Salim Lamrani: The issue of human rights in Cuba has long been manipulated by the United States for political purposes. It should be recalled that since 1991, Washington has brandished the argument of "human rights" in order to justify its hostility toward Havana and maintain economic sanctions that chokes the island's population. To justify its siege against Cuba, American diplomatic rhetoric has fluctuated over the years: for example, since the 1960s, Washington has referred successively to the nationalization of property, the alliance with the Soviet Union, the aid Cuba provided independence movements in Africa and the revolutionary groups in Latin America and, finally, to human rights. For the United States, human rights and democracy are automatically synonymous with multi-party systems, market economies and privatized media. Clearly, Cubans do not share this point of view. SM: Cuba, for its part, says it is ready to tackle this issue, but on the condition that the human rights situation in the United States be included in the discussion. What does this position aim to accomplish? SL: Cuba has always expressed its readiness to address all conceivable subjects with the United States, provided that three basic principles are respected: sovereign equality, reciprocity and non-interference in internal affairs. Advertisement Cuba considers that economic and social rights are as important as civil and political rights. Thus, it is essential that all citizens, whatever their ethnic origins, their geographical or social backgrounds have universal access to education, health, culture, leisure activities and security without discrimination of any kind. Obviously, American society is far from offering any such guarantees. Nearly 50 million Americans lack access to any social services worthy of the name. Minorities in this rich country suffer from high levels of unemployment, social precariousness and they constitute the main victims of violence committed by the security forces. Equitable distribution of wealth is non-existent. Yet any democracy worthy of the name must distribute national wealth fairly so that every citizen can live with dignity. SM: Between Cuba, which does not intend to abandon its socialist system, and the United States, whose aim is to maintain its position as the world's premier capitalist power, is it possible to imagine this debate arriving at a status quo with relations between the two countries restored? SL: We need to remember that the conflict between Cuba and the United States is asymmetric. On one side there is an aggressor, the United States, which has imposed economic sanctions that affect all categories of the population for over half a century; which illegally occupies Guantanamo, a part of the territory of a sovereign country; which finances an internal opposition intended to subvert the established order, an action that is illegal under international law; which foments, through the Cuban Adjustment Act and the Cuban Medical Program, the illegal migration of Cubans, an action designed to empty the country of its human capital; and which continues to increase the number of radio and television programs on Radio and TV Marti, media intended to sow discord in Cuba in violation, once again, of international law. On the other side we have Cuba, a small nation of 11 million people, with its virtues and limitations, which has never attacked the United States, which has always expressed its willingness to maintain peaceful relations based on international law with all countries of the world, and which aspires to choose its own path and build a different society while respecting the sovereign will of its people. Thus, everything depends on Washington. If the great Northern Neighbor accepts the reality of a different Cuba, one that is independent and sovereign, that is unwilling to negotiate either its political system, or its social or foreign policy models, then the two countries can live in cordial agreement and the two peoples, who have so much in common, can strengthen their fraternal ties. Translated from the French by Larry R. Oberg. A Doctor of Iberian and Latin American Studies at the University of Paris IV-Sorbonne, Salim Lamrani is a lecturer at the University of La Reunion, and a journalist specializing in relations between Cuba and the United States. His new book is Cuba, parole a la defense !, Paris, Editions Estrella, 2015, with a preface by Andre Chassaigne. Planning a visit to a huge country like Argentina can be challenging in deciding what to see. The landscape changes dramatically from the barren and dry north to the glaciers and big ice of Patagonia. To help you make some tough decisions, here are the top eight places to visit in Argentina. 1. Nature imitating art along the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy province This is mother nature showing off. The Quebrada is a multicoloured mountain range that stretches 155km along the valley of the Rio Grande. Part of the extensive network of Inca trails dating over 10,000 years back, archeological and historic sites are plentiful along this valley. Tilcara is a great village to explore the area from. It's rich in history and traditions also offers a pre-Incan fortress nearby, Pucara de Tilcara. For those looking for a larger town to spend some nights in, head straight to the capital of the province, San Salvador de Jujuy. 2. Fancy vibrant colonial architecture? Make sure you stop in Salta, Salta province A great city to explore by foot, Salta offers bright coloured churches, manicured town squares and cobbled streets. It's charming colonial architecture is said to resemble Andalusian villages in Spain, whilst the culture is a mix of european, indigenous and non-indigenous. A unique quality that differentiates Salta from the much more European influenced cities further south. Advertisement If you've come to Argentina in search of the best steak, you will find it here. Try El Viejo Jack and their Bife Chorizo (US$8) with an accompanying bottle of Malbec (US $8). You'll spend much of the rest of your life searching for one that compares. 3. Food and wine lovers find their paradise in Mendoza, Mendoza province Supplying almost two thirds of the entire country's wine production, Mendoza is spectacularly nestled afoot the snow capped Andes towering over its vineyards. Malbec, Tempranillo, Torrontes and Chardonnay are the stars of the show, thriving in the higher altitudes of Mendoza's wineries at around 2,000-3,600 feet. Accommodation and cafes around town and near the wineries range from international Michelin quality to rustic family style experiences. Take a day trip to Aconcagua and its glacier capped peak, to experience the Andes up close. Javier from Plaza Italia B&B tailors personalized boutique wine tours for small groups which include a five-star lunch at award winning winery Ruca Malen. 4. More ice than Elsa could ever poke her magic at in El Calafate & Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz province Advertisement El Calafate is the gateway to spectacular Los Glaciares National Park and home to it's most famous attraction, Perito Moreno. A day trip by boat is the way to see this wonder. Tours include hotel pick up, a boat trip past floating ice bergs and 4 majestic glaciers before revealing the 60m high Perito Moreno. Watch large chunks of ice crash into the water below in Hollywood movie worthy fashion. Central El Calafate has a ski-village feel with souvenir shops housed in wooden huts and plenty of hot coffee aromas filtering through the air. Other opportunities include glacier treks and a well executed glacier museum, the Glaciarium. Eat tender open fire roasted Patagonian lamb with views over the town at Don Pinchon. 5. The ultimate hiking destination. El Chalten, Santa Cruz province Still within the Los Glaciares National Park lies hikers paradise El Chalten. Purely a tourist village, hikers come here for the warmer months (November to February) to visit the surrounding Cerro El Torre and Cerro Fitzroy. Walkers are rewarded with spectacular views of valleys, glacial rivers and lakes reflecting adjoining mountains on paths varying in degrees difficulty. The centrally located tourist office has hiking maps and advises on potential dangers and path closures. There are a limited number of guest houses available which fill up in summer, so book ahead. 6. Ever wondered what the end of the world looks like? Find out in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego At Argentina's 'End of the world' lies Ushuaia. Not entirely postcard worthy itself, it's everything surrounding Ushuaia that is spectacular. Foremost, it's the jump on/off point for adventure cruises to Antarctica. Great walking opportunities, such as the hike up to Glacier Martial just 10 minutes by taxi from town are plentiful. Wildlife lovers, hop on a tour to Harberton Ranch, a 1886 missionary pioneer home housing a laboratory for the study of sea mammals and birds. Many trips include a boat ride across the Beagle Channel to Isla Martillo where you can experience a large penguin colony up close. Return to Ushuaia via a boat cruise down the Beagle Channel showing off snow capped mountains, bird and sea lion inhabited rocks, not to mention the southernmost 'Lighthouse at the end of the world'. 7. Look down the 'Devil's Throat' at Iguazu Falls, Misiones Tourists descend on the frontier city of Puerto Iguazu to witness nature's great forces of the Iguazu falls. There isn't much to the town itself, but the waterfalls are deemed one of the world's natural wonders for a reason. The acoustic impact alone can make your heart stop but standing on top of the falls looking down the "Devil's throat" of the falls is visually and viscerally inspiring and a little frightening. 8. The country's saucy mistress: The Autonomous City of Buenos Aires Opulent architectural structures along wide boulevards could convince you you're in Europe. This is also reflected in Buenos Aires' famous cemetery, Recoleta, resting place of their once 'spiritual leader of the nation', Evita Peron. The city's many quarters offer light and shade. Once shady La Boca today is mostly a tourist attraction known for it's vibrant streets, souvenir shops, restaurants and Tango performances on the weekends. Palermo on the other hand is the trendy quarter with lots of parks, cafes, restaurants bars and boutiques. Its bohemian sister, San Telmo is more rustic with antique shops and markets connected by cobbled streets. Puerto Madero has transformed from industrial port to warehouse apartments and high end restaurants lining the waterfront. Get involved in a mate ceremony, indulge in dulce de leche and enjoy the warm hospitality of Argentina! Sandra is a freelance writer and spends most of her cash on travel and food. She captures those experiences at www.sandrashakespeare.com Advertisement Also on HuffPost: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks to the media as Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif listens Friday, April 22, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) The nuclear deal reached between Iran and the P5+1 world powers last summer, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was predicated on a basic give-and-take. In exchange for Iran agreeing to intrusive international inspections and monitoring and limits on its enrichment and heavy water capacity for a confidence-building period, the P5+1 would respect Iran's right to nuclear enrichment and remove all nuclear-related sanctions. Today, the future of this quid pro quo is under threat -- and not from the Iranian side. The consequences of the JCPOA falling through would not only be on the size and scope of the Iranian nuclear program. For Iran, the JCPOA was a criterion for judging whether it could trust the West to cooperate on other issues. If the United States faithfully abides by its commitments under the deal, then the view of Iranian leaders towards broader negotiations would be positively affected. However, if the United States acts with ill intent and makes it difficult for Iran to receive the benefits it is due under the deal, then the belief of Iranian leaders that the United States is insincere and cannot be trusted will be reaffirmed. Years of diplomacy will be undone and a zero-sum mentality will once again take hold between the two countries -- with disastrous consequences for the region. Advertisement By the JCPOA's "implementation day" on Jan. 16, Iran had followed through on all of its commitments; reducing its enriched uranium stockpile by 98 percent, capping its number of centrifuges enriching uranium to 6,000, modifying its heavy water reactor and implementing strict surveillance measures, among other obligations the International Atomic Energy Agency has verified and Iran has abided by. However, now that the JCPOA has been implemented, Iran has yet to derive the expected benefits from sanctions relief. As Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said: "They [the United States] write on paper that banks can cooperate with Iran, but in practice they promote Iranophobia so that no one trades with Iran. American officials say that sanctions are still in place so that foreign investors get scared and do not come." If the U.S. acts with ill intent and makes it difficult for Iran to receive the benefits it is due under the deal, then the belief that America is insincere and cannot be trusted will be reaffirmed. Indeed, fearful of existing non-nuclear sanctions and the prospect of new sanctions, international banks and corporations with U.S.-based operations have been fearful of trading with or investing in Iran. Major European banks have in the past paid billions in fines due to supposed Iran sanctions violations. As a consequence, Iran has not been able to receive expected foreign investment or have international banks facilitate the business agreements it has signed since the JCPOA's implementation. Advertisement "The most important problem is that the United States is taking a back seat after eight years of scaring everybody off, imposing heavy penalties on people who wanted to do business with Iran," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said in a recent interview with The New Yorker's Robin Wright. "The United States needs to do way more. They have to send a message that doing business with Iran will not cost them." U.S. sanctions have also prevented Iran from repatriating its much-hyped frozen oil revenues, which have been held at banks abroad. For Iran to retrieve this money, much of which was denominated in U.S. dollars, requires the foreign banks to conduct dollar-clearing sanctions for Iran, which they are hesitant to do for fear of running afoul of U.S. sanctions. According to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Iran has so far been able to repatriate only $3 billion of its $55 billion to $100 billion in frozen funds abroad. Adding insult to injury, the U.S. Supreme Court also recently broke all precedent by ruling that families of American victims of a 1983 Beirut bombing can sue Iran for $2 billion worth of frozen Iranian assets. Iran's centrist and pragmatic president, Hassan Rouhani, called the decision a "continuation of hostilities against Iran" and a "flagrant theft and a legal disgrace." Iran's Central Bank Chief Valiollah Seif also placed blame on the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad administration for making investments in dollars, which were among the frozen assets the Supreme Court ruled on. Secretary Kerry heads to Vienna for "implementation day" of the nuclear deal. (KEVIN LAMARQUE/AFP/Getty Images) In January, the United States also adopted new visa regulations requiring Europeans who visit Iran to attain a visa before entering the United States, creating another barrier to European trade with Iran. All of these measures have not just spurred frustration in Iran, but also in Europe. Advertisement "Europe is being taken hostage by American policy,"declared Marietje Schaake, the vice president of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the United States. "We negotiated the nuclear deal together, but now the U.S. is obstructing its execution." With all of this said, there is still reason to hope that these hurdles will be overcome and Iran will reap the benefits it is due from sanctions relief. Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister Zarif met twice last week to discuss how to resolve the problems with Iran receiving sanctions relief. Kerry said after his meeting with Zarif: "The United States is not standing in the way and will not stand in the way of business that is permitted with Iran since the (nuclear deal) took effect." He added: "We've lifted our nuclear-related sanctions as we committed to do and there are now opportunities for foreign banks to do business with Iran. Unfortunately, there seems to be some confusion among foreign banks and we want to try to clarify that as much as we can." If the deal collapses, not only would there be no chance for any compromise between Iran and the U.S on any other issue, but Iran would also lose its faith in the Security Council. The Obama administration recognizing these problems and declaring it is willing to clarify what transactions foreign financial institutions can conduct with Iran is a hopeful sign. The JCPOA was the first major agreement between Iran and the United States, and also involved the rest of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany. For it to be a step towards a more constructive relationship between Iran and the West, it is imperative that all sides faithfully implement their commitments. Advertisement Foreign Minister Zarif said in this regard recently: "As the Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] said last year, if the experience of the nuclear negotiations proves that the United States is changing its approach toward Iran -- is basing its approach to Iran on mutual respect and interests -- then there is a chance of change." If the JCPOA collapses, not only would there be no chance for any compromise between Iran and the United States on any other issue, but Iran would also lose its faith in the U.N. Security Council. Unfortunately, there are powerful forces in U.S. politics that seek to increase U.S.-Iran enmity and revert Iran and the United States back onto the path to war. These special interest groups are doing everything in their power to destroy the landmark diplomatic agreement and have strong sway over Congress, which is pushing for over a dozen new sanctions against Iran. The efforts of these groups, sadly, are done more at the behest of the Israeli and Saudi governments and done more for the purpose of obstructing President Obama's foreign policy goals than enhancing global peace and security. Ambassador Seyed Hossein Mousavian is a research scholar at Princeton University and a former spokesman for Iran's nuclear negotiators. His nuclear book, "The Iranian Nuclear Crisis: A Memoir," was published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His latest book, "Iran and the United States: An Insider's View on the Failed Past and the Road to Peace" was released in May 2014. Sina Toossi in an analyst focusing on the Middle East and Iran. He tweets @SinaToossi. Earlier on WorldPost: Finally ready to take the leap from full-time daydreaming, wanderlusting and map obsessing to full-time nomad? Good, it's about time. If you want to be successful at living a life moving from place to place, it is in your best interest to get some preparation out of the way. Yeah, some of it is boring and tedious but if you deal with it before you set off, it will be all smooth sailing. This isn't a vacation, it's your life, so you better get ready! Sell Your Stuff My training in writing would tell me that using the word "stuff" is a lazy way to get my point across when the thesaurus holds so many more colorful options. However, "stuff" is the perfect way to describe all of those things that are taking up space in your house right now. The less stuff that you have, the less attached you will be to your static life in your home country, making it that much easier to abandon it all to live your dreams. The clothes that you never wear, the furniture that you want your parents to save in their basement-forget about it. Have a garage sale, utilize Ebay, Craigslist or your local newspaper and get rid of everything that is weighing you down. If you can't fit it in a backpack and you won't use it at least once a week, toss it aside, you probably won't remember it a year from now. Advertisement Get a Power of Attorney Not the first thing that usually comes to mind when people are looking towards a life of travel, adventure and life-long dream fulfilling-yet, a power of attorney can make all of the difference in your success. A legal agreement made through a lawyer either in person or online, a power of attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to deal with your finances in your place. Filing taxes, speaking with loan companies or withdrawing money from your bank account, your power of attorney makes it a whole lot easier for you to deal with your finances from across the world. Set up a Way to Handle Your Finances Finances are on everyone's mind and it is important to organize yours before beginning this new lifestyle. If you have bank accounts in your home country, make sure to let your banks know where and when you will be traveling so that they do not flag your card for security reasons. If you are planning to withdraw money from those accounts quite frequently from ATMS, switching your bank to a Charles Schwab account is a fantastic money-saving option. Travelers often use this account as it has no ATM or international conversion fees. If you can't pay off your credit card and student loan debt before you leave, make sure that you have enough funds to continue the payments and even set them up to come out of your account automatically so you don't forget. Make a Loose Plan of Action A little planning can be a lot of fun but too much can leave you feeling tied down. Don't over-plan. Hell, don't plan your trip at all and just see where it takes you. However, you should come up with a basic idea of how you are going to sustain your lifestyle. Being a full-time nomad isn't just about bumming around from country to country but actually building a life for yourself that can be sustained without having to crawl back home and start all over again after your bank account is dry. Spend some time researching opportunities for you to learn some useful skills, make money or trade services for free room and board. There are plenty of companies hiring for English language related positions, farms looking for a hand or organizations looking for volunteers on their projects. Whatever you choose, make it interesting, exciting or just something that you are going to enjoy day in and day out. Advertisement Carnival Cruise Lines will be setting sail after all for Cuba with US passengers, regardless of where they were born, following the reversal of an earlier decision that would have prohibited Cuban-born Americans from cruising to Havana on a US-based cruise ship. Cuba now will allow all US passengers to cruise to Cuba. This reversal results from mounting pressure from the United States government, civil rights lawsuits, protesters, and the media, who were collectively astonished and offended by Carnival Cruise Lines' discriminatory and offensive decision to cooperate with the Cuban government's prohibition against Cuban-born US citizens from cruising to Cuba as either passengers or crew. Advertisement The uproar began when Carnival agreed to follow Cuba's discriminatory law, opting for corporate profits by being the first US-based cruise line to sail to Cuba in over 50 years. This debacle was certainly the first public misstep and most colossal PR mistake Carnival has made since CEO Arnold Donald took over a few years ago. Initially Donald had announced that Carnival would delay cruises until the issue was resolved. We strongly believe that Cuba needs Carnival--its ships, infrastructure, and most importantly the potential billions of passenger dollars--far more than Carnival needs Cuba. Fortunately it appears that Cuba's reversal will now lift its ban on Cuban-born US citizens, and Carnival's Fathom is back on schedule to depart for Havana from Miami May 1. Our maritime law firm is based in Miami, which has a huge Cuban population, and we have received a dozen inquiries on behalf of Cuban-born Americans wanting to sue Carnival for discrimination. My classmate from the University of Miami School of Law, Tucker Ronzetti, has already filed suit and in Federal Court in Miami, and we applaud him for this. Our cruise ship blog has reported for years how excited we are by the prospect of American-based cruise lines carrying passengers to Cuba, and candidly, we were hoping to be among the first passengers to experience Cuba--legally. Advertisement This post is by Elaine Fletcher and originally appeared on The Well, Jopwell's editorial hub. Seven is my lucky number. Seven was also the number of Black students in my 400-person graduating class in high school. I never found myself held back academically on account of my skin color. But it was difficult not to be keenly aware of the fact that the individuals sporting a complexion "closest" to mine were of Sicilian descent. Beginning college as a chemistry major on the honors track, I once again found myself a minority, not only because of my mocha complexion in a sea of vanilla, but also due to my lack of testosterone. I made friends both in and out of the classroom, but as time passed, I felt like something was lacking in my social spheres. So I went in search of others more "like me." As a first generation Ghanaian-American, I discovered a home in the Ghanaians at Cornell (G@C) community. I found people who cooked Jollof rice like my father and pronounced "HE-PO-PO-TAY-MUS" like my mother. Yet while I have been to Ghana on several occasions, the others in the organization were mostly international students whose upbringings differed immensely from my own. Advertisement I also ventured to the Black Students United (BSU), where I began attending sister circles and general body meetings about the status of interracial relationships and "selling out." Within BSU, I found a community of people who were born and raised in the U.S. like me and who shared many of the same experiences I had in high school. As I navigated the two organizations, I discovered that much of the difficulty I was having with my own identity was due to the inherent separation between predominantly Black-American organizations -- such as BSU -- and predominantly African organizations -- such as G@C, the Nigerian Students Association, and the Coalition of Pan-African Scholars. As someone who is Ghanaian-American and also Black, I recognize that these two groups are not mutually exclusive. In our increasingly global world, Black-Americans and Africans are seen externally as the same. Our hair and our skin color, regardless of our country of origin, draw us together as one. Many of the same adversities faced by one group are faced by the other. Having never been in a situation where there were enough Blacks for divisions to form, I was caught off guard when I got to college. When we talk and read about being Black in America, absent from the conversation is the fact that we, as a people united by our complexion, are divided amongst ourselves. Advertisement We separate into team "light skin" and team "dark skin." We separate into Afro-Caribbeans, Africans, and Black Americans. We continually fragment our presence into smaller and smaller pieces. I've found, for example, that very few people attending BSU events self-identify as African. Even if you ascribe to the notion that Black Americans are not African, the reverse is not true. One cannot deny that the majority of Africans are indeed Black. So why is it that so few Africans participate in Black Students United? Why is there no greater effort to truly unite? As a co-host of my school's BSU radio station, I have attempted to change the narrative through open discussions about race and the adversities we face as a community. I have discussed cultural appropriation and what it means to be Black. I have used BSU Radio as a platform for discussion within the Black community, including "talking White," movements such as Black Lives Matter, and the struggles of being Black in a predominantly White institution, to name a few. I have interviewed Black professors and students to share their stories and experiences, hoping that these conversations serve to unite rather than divide. I challenge you, as readers, to reflect on your experiences in the Black organizations you are a part of and observe whether they perpetuate division or bring all our people together. As written in Mark 3:25, "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." This essay is one of five first-place winners of Jopwell's 2016 Black Student Experience Essay Grant. Senator Bernie Sanders has blamed the "big banks" of Wall Street for the financial crash of 2007-2008 and the Great Recession that followed, while Secretary Hillary Clinton has pointed in the direction of the "shadow banking" sector. These two views have stirred a lively debate, but who got it right? It turns out that neither although Secretary Clinton's view is closer to the truth. Below I list the three culprits for the Great Recession. Monetary policy Several authors, like professor John B. Taylor, have argued that the monetary policy was too loose for several years before the crisis. This was likely to accelerate the housing boom and thus make the bust worse. The vitality of the US economy at the beginning of the 2000s also persuaded capital inflows that fueled both the asset boom and speculation. The US housing market The US government has been deeply involved in the housing market with several Acts regulating the mortgage market. Of these, at least the following were directly aimed at expanding credit to "subprime" borrowers and thus likely to accelerate the housing boom. The Community Reinvestment Act passed in 1977 prohibited the indiscrimination of borrowers according to their income level. The Housing and Community Development Act passed in 1992, ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (Government Sponsored Enterprises, GSEs) to direct a substantial portion of their financing to the lower middle-income and poor households. The American Dream Downpayment Assistance Act passed in 2003 provided the low-income communities down payments and closing cost assistance. Advertisement Mismanagement of the risk and the onset of the crisis Since the 1970s, banks have removed the risks of mortgages from their balance sheet by selling them to investors. This risk management took a leap forward in the 1990s, when Credit Default Swaps, or CDSs, were innovated. In CDS, some third party insures a mortgage or a credit line between two other parties. This led to the rise of the "shadow banks", because banks needed some third party to insure their CDSs. To accomplish this, banks created, e.g., Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) which were independent companies and thus in the "shadows" (outside the balance sheets of banks). In this setup, a bank creates a SPV, which insures the risk of banks' credit lines, like mortgages, and receives a payment (interest payments, etc.) for this insurance. SPV then securitizes these payments and sells them to investors as bonds backed by the CDS. Because only a miniscule fraction of borrowers are assumed to default, SPV needs to sell a limited amount of bonds to cover the insurance, which made this arrangement, called Synthetic Collateralized Debt Obligations, or CDOs, markedly profitable. CDOs were originally used in the corporate loans, where default probabilities of different firms were fairly well known, but no such information was available on mortgages. For example, the correlation of default risks related to different mortgages was unknown. This was particularly problematic for the credit rating agencies, who assessed the risks related to CDOS and other securitized mortgage products. Despite this, the securitization of mortgages became highly popular and exploded in the 2000s. Some of the CDOs were given the highest credit rating (triple A). This implied that they were considered as reliable as the bonds of the US government. Banks created Structured Investment Vehicles (SIVs), which were part of the banks' balance sheet but who still had their own funding, to insure and buy the loans issued by banks. Because banks provided them only short-term credit lines, they were not obligated by the Basel I to hold any capital against those loans. As a result, the "shadow banking" sector took on a massive portion of the risks related to the government subsidized US mortgage boom. Advertisement The crisis erupted, because the collapse of the US mortgage market led to dramatic falls in the values of the mortgage backed assets (CDOs, etc.) due to the clustering waves of defaults in mortgages especially among the subprime borrowers. This in turn led to the runs of the assets in the primer broker balances and in the repo and commercial paper markets, which took the majority of the "shadow banks" operating in those markets into bankruptcy. Their losses reverted back to the balance sheets of banks inducing a freeze on the interbank lending market that caused the systemic crisis. What can be done to avert the next crisis? Senator Sanders has proposed that the big banks should be broken down and Secretary Clinton has suggested that the shadow banking sector should be regulated to improve financial stability. Unfortunately, both of these measures are likely to be ineffective in averting the next crisis. The size of the banks was in no way associated to the depth of the Great Recession. "Too-big-to-fail" is also more of a problem in Europe, where the assets of some banks are several times larger than the GDP of the country they originate from. Iceland showed that even this is not a problem during a financial crisis. The assets of the three major banks were over 900 % of the GDP of Iceland before the crisis erupted in 2008. Iceland let the banks fail and saved the depositors. This led to a collapse, but also to rapid economic recovery. Regulating the "shadow banking" would probably help, but regulators tend to lag the financial innovation indicating that it is extremely difficult to assess the risk related to new financial products beforehand. As soon as the clock hits 5:45, I begin to sweat bullets. I shift in my seat. I obsessively check my phone. All of the wonder and excitement of the writer's room transforms into a small ball of nausea casually traveling up my throat. I have 15 minutes to wrap everything up and get to my child's daycare before it closes. Elle Magazine contributor Katharine Zaleski wrote an article this week entitled: "I'm A Successful Working Mom Thanks To My Nanny." In the article she details the "dirty little secret" of high-powered women who seem to have it all. That secret is that someone helps them. I am at the age where all of my friends are just beginning to have babies. A new mother friend shared the article, with the caption: "thoughts?" I prepared myself to have my choices deemed irresponsible, non-motherly, and non-loving. I braced myself for the question "Why have children if someone else is going to raise them?" My husband and I wanted to have children. When I became pregnant, it was not planned, but it was welcomed. Both of us had moved to Los Angeles some six years earlier to pursue our lives' dreams. He is a drummer. Within his first six months of being in Hollywood he was on his first world tour with an American Idol. Advertisement The trajectory for an aspiring Performing Showrunner was much different. I had grown up on television, but after a hiatus to attend college, I might as well have been a new face. I had to write, take classes, schmooze with this person and that person, all while figuring out how to still make money in the meantime. It would take me 4 1/2 years before I would start getting paid in film and television. Everything after that was based on momentum. In this industry, your momentum matters. It never once was an option for me to stop my career to raise my child. That just wasn't our plan. Besides feeling that the best thing I could do for my children was live my purpose so as to inspire them to live theirs, we live in LA. We need two incomes. My husband leaves for tour periodically throughout the year. I am lucky enough to have a grandma that does not work and can come help in those times. But those one-off shows? Those random gigs? Studio sessions? Those happen in the off time. Child care is needed. Three months after giving birth I was offered a job as a showrunner's assistant. I would get to learn exactly what I wanted to do, under someone who was doing it, and do it with him. He would allow me to be in the writers room. Give input. It was the perfect job. In many ways, it was the stepping stone to go from independent productions to break into network/cable television. There was a glimmer of light at the end of this hustle tunnel. It was also not set hours as my former job had been. I couldn't work from home when there was no help as I had with my former job -- nor would I want to. I would miss everything happening in the room. My family would have to get help. Long-term. Permanent. As we searched (and remain searching) for a nanny, my child is in daycare. A daycare that had a two-month waiting list. A daycare that literally takes almost half of my weekly pay. Because of my husband we can afford it. But if he's out of town (as he is right now) I have to be out the door at 5:50 or I will be late getting my son. I nervously have to tell my boss "I have to leave by a certain time to get him." For less than $100 more, I could have a nanny 30 hours a week and not have that problem. Or the continual runny nose. Advertisement I want the nanny. I have been enormously blessed to have bosses that get it. My current boss, the showrunner, has two daughters of his own and is a world-class parent. He never makes me sacrifice my child for the job because he wouldn't. When you're off, you are off. If you need to leave early, leave early. He gives me parenting advise. He's a Godsend. He is also not the norm. Most bosses, male or female, would hear my parenting woes and consider me a woman with baggage. "She's great, but she has kids..." Men do not have to make the same sacrifices. If a man has to leave early to go pick up his kids he's hailed a "great father." If he watches his children alone, he's even more incredible. Conversely, if he needs to leave for work, works late, or has to miss an important event, it's acceptable. Daddy has to work. That treatment is not afforded to mothers. Many women would laud my personal and professional life until they found out I missed every one of my son's monthly checkups except the first one. His Dad took him alone. The daycare knows my husband much better than they know me. Often, he gives me time to sleep in and he bathes and feeds the baby because I went straight from work, to mommy duty, to wife duty, then back to work until I fell asleep. Probably in the clothes I wore all day. Maybe still in my shoes. I am painfully aware that to many he deserves the father of the year award. I would support that. In comparison, many of those same people wouldn't think so highly of me. Some people would ask why do all of that? Isn't that too much work? Don't you miss enjoying life? I say no. Because I enjoy the work. Because this work will ultimately (hopefully) lead to a career where I can afford my son and his siblings a very comfortable life. Because I believe that the work I'm doing is important to shaping culture and I want my children to work hard on things they believe in too. I can show them much better than I could tell them. Advertisement More importantly, I know mothers and fathers who stay at home or work shorter hours and their relationships with their children are still fractured. I know parents who are home all the time and are never present. I know men and women who silently resent their families because they had big plans for their lives that they never pursued; or worse they become dependent on their children because they gave up their dreams to raise them. Their children's lives are stifled because their parents don't know who they are or what they will do outside of being a parent. I have my passions. My husband has his. We plan on cultivating that same inner knowing and awareness of purpose in our kids. My son is still breastfed. I read him stories. We take swimming lessons and have silly songs and rituals. My family has a home-cooked meal every night. I am still VERY present. I also shouldn't have to explain any of that to anyone simply because I am a woman, nor would I be any less of a mother if one of the responsibilities mentioned was my husband's. I want my son and any other child I have to live their life to the fullest. They will learn to do that through us. To make that happen, we need help. Sometimes that means friends. Sometimes that means family. For the day-in and day-out, it seems that will mean a nanny. Ted Cruz has many extremist policy positions -- many that are particularly and purposefully harmful to women. Cruz would force a raped teenage girl to carry the resulting rape-pregnancy to term. In announcing my quixotic attempt to enter the GOP nomination contest as a "write-in" candidate (detailed best by Pema Levy of Mother Jones) to disqualify Cruz from the late-primary state ballots, I referenced Cruz's extremism. Perhaps 2016 is indeed the year of the outsider, the academic effort garnered much media and citizen interest. So little wonder that Senator Cruz picked Carly Fiorina as his fake-running- mate. But Carly Fiorina can not explain away Cruz's many extremist, anti-women policy positions. She started off with a few problems of her own. And someone needs to break the news to the Princeton-man and Harvard-lawyer that adding the Texas-born Fiorina to the mix does not cure his (Canadian-born) constitutional ineligibility to be Commander-in-Chief. Advertisement Personal Disclosure: An Exceptionally and Personally High Regard for the Father of Carly Fiorina (nee Cara Carleton Sneed). While a first-year law student at University of California-Hastings in San Francisco, I had had the honor of clerking (externing) for Ms. Fiorini's father, the great Ninth Circuit- U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Joseph T. Sneed, III (1920- 2008). Although Joe Sneed preferred that his clerks be "natural-born" from Texas, the appellate judge made an exception for me as a natural-born Arkansan. It was sufficient that my too-sweet--for-this-world mother (Hazel Juanita Jonas) had been born in Tyler, Texas - and that I acknowledged, during my interview for the clerkship, that Tyler, Texas remained the "Rose Capitol of the World." So as a newbie first-year law student in the summer of 1988, I attempted to provide modest research help with the project that became Joseph Sneed's Footprints on the Rocks of the Mountain: An Account of the Enactment of the Fourteenth Amendment (1997). Advertisement I came to know Joseph Sneed to be one of finest law teachers, legal scholars, law school deans, and federal judges ever to serve this nation. Judge Sneed encouraged me to go on to do graduate law study at Columbia University Law School and to enter law teaching not as a job but as a calling. (And I will never forget his personal stories about being Deputy Attorney General in Richard Nixon's Justice Department). But above any of that, I remember Judge Sneed was a very proud father. I chose not to comment on what he would have said regarding Cara Carleton present political dalliance with the likes of Rafael Edward Cruz. But Carly Fiorina Can Not Help: Cruz is an Extremist Ideologue Who Would Make All Choice a Crime Carly Fiorina can not explain why Senator Cruz tried to shut down the government. Carly Fiorina can not explain why, during the extremist-GOP debt-crisis, Senator Cruz tried to stop Social Security, Veterans, Medicare/Medicaid, Treasury bond servicing, national defense, and even homeland security payments. Cara Carleton Sneed Fiorina can not explain away the fact that Ted Cruz would force a teenage girl who was raped to carry the rape-pregnancy to term. Cruz would force the raped young woman to deliver the rapist's child - then Cruz would give the rapist paternal rights. Carly's Long Game? -- Democrats Will Spend Many Millions to Disqualify Ted "Canadian" Cruz from the Fall Election Ballots Advertisement Article II, Section 1 allows only a "natural born [American] Citizen" to be President. Since 2008, conservative have all been dedicated to educating the nation that the Commander-in-Chief must be born on the American soil. But Texas-born Carly Fiorina will not be able to magically make the Canadian-born Ted Cruz eligible for the presidency. But perhaps that is Ms. Fiorina's long game - just wait for more expertly litigious Democrats to successfully remove Ted Cruz from the fall election ballots. Then, by default, Carly Fiorina would become the GOP Nominee. There should be no surprise if the brilliant Ninth Circuit Judge Joseph Sneed's daughter turned out to be just that clever. ______________ In addition to being an active candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, Victor Williams is an attorney in Washington D.C. and clinical assistant professor at Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. Victor Williams founded the American Institute for Disruptive Innovation in Law and Politics -- DisruptiveJustice.org.. U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump puts his notes back in his jacket after talking about Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton at a Trump for President campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina December 4, 2015. The notes read, "Beat Hillary, No Strength, No Stamina, Goes Away". REUTERS/Jonathan Drake You've seen the headlines: Can Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton? The short answer: Of course he can. And so can she beat him. It's a long time until November, and so much can (and will) happen between now and then. But some obvious points about the volatility of this year's presidential race: 1. Both candidates have high negatives. An NBC/Wall Street Poll suggests that 68% of voters doubt whether they could vote for Trump - and 58% of voters doubt they could vote for Hillary. High negatives suggest lack of enthusiasm as well as antipathy. Turned off by the candidates, many voters may simply stay home in November. And that makes for a volatile race. Advertisement 2. Trump is prone to gaffes. The man will say almost anything: Women seeking an abortion deserve to be punished. Women reporters who challenge him are cranky from their period. Mexican immigrants are thugs and rapists. Muslims must be banned from the U.S. Terrorists' families should be hunted down and killed. Protesters at his rallies should be punched and thrown out. And on and on. So far, Trump has been a Teflon candidate: His outlandish statements have not harmed him appreciably. But how long before he says something equally offensive, or worse, as we head toward the general election this fall? 3. Trump's business record. Trump University, anyone? That trial should be interesting. As lawsuits stalk Trump, how long before some past deal, either dodgy or dishonest, blows up in his face? 4. Hillary's political record. Benghazi, anyone? But potentially worse than Libya is the ongoing FBI investigation into Hillary's emails. Perhaps she'll be cleared of wrongdoing, but the taint of wrongdoing will remain. Indeed, a hint of scandal has always surrounded the Clintons - and it's not just because of a "vast right-wing conspiracy." 5. Hillary's lack of political acumen. It's hard to get enthusiastic about Clinton. Other than the fact she'd be the first female president (a big milestone, of course), there's nothing new about her. Consider her race against Bernie Sanders. It was Bernie who drove the narrative. It was Bernie who won the vote among the young, both male and female. Hillary is the staid old establishment. When she raves, it's about continuity. But who wants continuity in America today? What American is truly happy with the status quo (besides members of the establishment, of course)? Advertisement 6. Wildcard events. Another 9/11-like attack. A bear market on Wall Street. Wider conflict in the Middle East. An incident with China in the Pacific. A Russian move against Ukraine. Will a crisis favor the "experience" of Clinton, or will people prefer Trump because "he gets things done" or "puts America first"? As Yoda the Jedi Master says, "Difficult to see. Always in motion the future." 7. Finally, consider the fact that Bernie Sanders has run an issues-oriented campaign against Clinton. He hasn't attacked her on her emails. He's left Bill Clinton's past behavior out of the mix. But just wait until the fall when the Republican attack dogs are unleashed. Hillary is fond of saying she's seen it all from Republicans, but with the stakes this high, I'm guessing there's much she hasn't seen. So, yes, Trump can beat Clinton, and vice-versa. The sorry fact is that regardless of which candidate wins, the country will be left with a deeply flawed leader who'll be despised or disliked by more than half the electorate. We can't let civilians starve to death because of this tragic civil war in Syria. But right now in the town of Darayya, in Southern Syria, thousands of innocent civilians have no food or medicine. The Syrian government won't let the United Nations bring humanitarian aid into the town, despite repeated requests. They allowed UN observers to come, but would not let them bring food and supplies. The UN mission said the "nutrition situation is very bad" in Darayya. Children without nutrition will suffer lasting physical and mental damage or death. They need the food now. Advertisement A previous World Food Programme report said that in Darayya "In the most severe cases, they are enduring entire days without eating, sending children to beg and eating grass/ wild vegetation." President Obama, Russian president Putin and other leaders have to pressure the Syrian regime to end it's starvation tactics on civilians. Food must be allowed into Darayya and other cities under siege. The world cannot look away from these atrocities. President Obama just ordered hundreds more U.S. special forces to Syria to help the fight against ISIS. Syria is the home base of the terrorist group, having emerged there during the chaos of the five year civil war. While the U.S. forces will assist in a non-combat role, it demonstrates an increasing scale of involvement in Syria. But the other critical part of our strategy for Syria is food. As we speak there are civilians hungry and displaced by the war throughout the country. We also have to step up funding to make sure there is enough food to meet emergency needs. Innocent Syrians depend on our Food for Peace program to survive. Food for Peace, which was started by President Dwight Eisenhower, is our main program that donates to fight hunger overseas. President Obama and Congress need to increase funding for Food for Peace, especially during wartime. Where there is conflict, you will find deadly hunger and malnutrition. The World Food Program USA, Catholic Relief Services and others are urging Congress to increase funding levels for Food for Peace and other aid programs. Advertisement Food for Peace funding is critical as it's the single largest donor to the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP, which depends on voluntary donations, leads the hunger relief mission in Syria. Video footage of WFP food deliveries into besieged Syrian cities earlier this year. (courtesy of WFP) At this very moment civilians are fleeing offensives by ISIS in northwest Syria, as the terrorist groups seeks to gain territory. Some of these victims were already living in camps, having been displaced by prior fighting. Now they are being forced to run for their lives again, as the front lines move toward them. Everywhere ISIS goes hunger follows. WFP leads teams that rapidly respond to displacement in Syria by delivering ready to eat food rations. Only through funding can they provide this life-saving food. To demonstrate how challenging the Syria mission is we need to look no further than the city of Deir ez-Zor. Over 200,000 Syrians there have been starving under ISIS siege. The WFP cannot reach them by ground because of the ISIS blockade. So WFP has started air dropping food from high altitude to avoid being shot down. A World Food Programme aircraft readies for take off to airlift food to Syrians trapped by ISIS in the city of Deir ez-Zor. (photo courtesy of Shada Moghraby/World Food Programme) Advertisement These extremely difficult drops are starting to work effectively. Syrian civilians are being reached with food dropped by WFP and distributed on the ground by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. WFP is now increasing the number of drops to reach more hungry people in the city. Staffan de Mistura, the UN Syria peace envoy, says, "To do so they will be requiring more funds, but I hope there will be no problem because for an operation like that, which is quite unique and can be replicated elsewhere, funds should not be a problem." Exactly. While we cannot control everything that goes on in Syria, we can make sure there are funds for food aid. We can make sure there are no shortages or ration cuts because of low funds. That we can control. We have to power to make sure these incredible hunger relief missions in Syria go forward. By funding our Food for Peace program we save lives and help people get through conflicts and disasters. Food is one of the few stabilizing forces they have. Food helps bring about peace. Syria will need food as long as the civil war continues. Umm Hassan, a single mother whose husband was killed by ISIS, depends on food aid to survive. Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images SRIHARIKOTA, Jan. 21, 2016-- PSLV-C31 rocket of Indian Space Research Organisation carrying IRNSS-1E satellite lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, Jan. 20, 2016. India Wednesday successfully launched its fifth navigation satellite from the spaceport of Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. (Xinhua/ISRO via Getty Images) On Thursday, India's space agency ISRO launched the satellite IRNSS-G1 with the help of the PSLV-C33 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The navigational satellite launched from Andhra Pradesh's Sri Hari Kota will become the final piece of the puzzle for India's own GPS (Global Positioning System). Here is all you need to know about the Indian GPS. What is Indian GPS? With IRNSS-G1, India will now have a total of seven satellites which will help scientists build a strong navigational network. Indian GPS is officially called Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) or Navigation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC) as suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi After the launch. The system will consist of a total of 9 satellites. Seven in the orbit and two on the ground as stand-bys. Advertisement When will it be functional? Right now ISRO's mission control center will work on aligning the newly launched IRNSS-G1. After that tuning and synchronization of all seven satellites with the ground control center along with their relative positioning will be done for three or four months. Once the tests are successful ISRO will declare the GPS system open for manufacturers and developers to work on. The IRNSS is a new system. We will wait and see how the market evolves so that we can decide on getting into manufacturing of the receivers, S.Rangarajan, CEO of Chennai-based Data Patterns (India) Pvt Ltd, told IANS. How it will be used? The satellite will be used for terrestrial navigation for military and travellers alike with different accuracies and applications. It will also help the army to monitor the marine and the aerial space. Other generic usages are disaster management and mobile navigation. Advertisement The Indian system provides positional accuracy of 10 metres. For civilian usage to bloom and costs to come down, more manufacturers have to start making the navigation signal receivers. That will happen once the IRNSS is formally declared operational, A.S.Ganeshan, retired programme director of ISROs Satellite Navigation Programme, told IANS. What is the cost of the project Each satellite costs about 150 crores and each PSLV-XL rocket costs about 130 crores. So the total costs of satellites and rockets would 1050 crores and 910 crores respectively. ISRO said that the other facilities and total project cost is 1420 crores. How is India going in a global context? India becomes only the fifth entity to have a GPS system of their own. Apart from India, US has Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia has Glonass, Europe has Galileo and China has BeiDou as their navigational systems. NAVIC will reduce the dependencies on the other systems for the country. That means that even in a war-like situation there would be no interruption of the information. India has been making great progress in space and research fields. Indian GPS would certainly boost country's credentials in this field. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Handout . / Reuters India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends a meeting with Saudi King Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 3, 2016. REUTERS/Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. The Central Information Commission (CIC) on Friday asked the Prime Minister's Office and the Delhi and Gujarat Universities to disclose Prime Minister Narendra Modis graduation details as soon as possible. In its response to an RTI application filed by Arvind Kejriwal, the commission ordered the Central Public Information Officers (CPIO) of Delhi and Gujarat Universities to provide the Delhi chief minister with Modis graduation details. Advertisement Gujarat University and Delhi University had in the past denied RTI requests seeking information about Modi's educational qualifications. In his election affidavits, Modi has said that he has a BA degree from Delhi University and an MA from Gujarat University. Observing that Modis prime ministership cant be questioned based on his educational qualification since there is no prescribed educational qualification for the post, the commission said, where there is a prescribed educational qualification for a position, and its existence was doubted, its disclosure will be in public interest. That is not the point in this case. However, when a citizen holding the position of chief ministership wants to know the degree related information of the prime minister, it will be proper to disclose, it held. Advertisement Delivering its verdict, the Commission asked the CPIOs of the respective universities to carry out the best possible search for the information regarding degrees in the name of Narendra Modi in the year 1978 (Graduation in DU) and 1983 (Post Graduation in GU) and provide it to the appellant... In a letter to the CIC a day ago, Kejriwal had said he did not object to government records about him being made public and wondered why the Commission wanted to hide information on Modi's educational degree. "There are allegations that Narendra Modi does not have any degree. The people of the country want to know the truth. Despite that you have refused to make records regarding his degree public. Why did you do this? This is wrong," Kejriwal said in the letter. Last month, the CIC had asked why Kejriwal should not be declared a public authority as he is an MLA, in a case that sought to know how he was allowed to change his address during 2014 Delhi Assembly poll nominations. "You want to make all my records public and I do not object to that. But I am surprised that you want to hide information about Narendra Modi's degree," Kejriwal said, adding, it will make people question the Commission's neutrality. Advertisement "I urge you to show courage and make public records pertaining to Prime Minister Narendra Modi while making my records public," he had written. You can read the CIC's full order here. Mint via Getty Images NEW DELHI, INDIA - AUGUST 6: Congress MP Naveen Jindal after attending Parliament Monsoon session at parliament house on August 6, 2013 in New Delhi, India. Naveen Jindal is the Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, a part of the $17 billion diversified O.P. Jindal Group founded by his father. (Photo By Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times) NEW DELHI -- A special court today ordered framing of charges against industrialist Naveen Jindal, former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao and 13 others for criminal conspiracy, cheating and other offences in a coal block allocation scam case. Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar said, "Charges to be framed against all accused under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 409 and 420 of IPC and under sections 13(1)(c), 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act." Advertisement The court, however, said charges would be formally framed against the accused later on. Apart from Jindal and Rao, the court also ordered to put on trial ex-Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, former Coal Secretary HC Gupta and 11 others, who were chargesheeted by CBI in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Private Ltd (GSIPL) in 2008. Besides them, the other accused are -- Rajeev Jain, Director of Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, Girish Kumar Suneja and Radha Krishna Saraf, Directors of GSIPL, Suresh Singhal, Director of New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd, K Ramakrishna Prasad, Managing Director of Sowbhagya Media Ltd and chartered accountant Gyan Swaroop Garg. These accused are currently out on bail. Besides them, five firms -- JSPL, Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, Gagan Infraenergy Ltd (formerly known as GSIPL), Sowbhagya Media Ltd and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd -- are also accused in the case. Meanwhile, the court issued notice to CBI and 14 accused on a plea by Suresh Singhal for pardon and turning approver in the case. Advertisement He filed the application on 21 April, seeking to make a disclosure statement which was later on recorded by a magistrate and placed before the special judge in a sealed envelope. "Trial proceedings in this case would be appropriate to be conducted after adjudication of this issue," the court said and fixed 11 May for hearing submissions of CBI and the accused on Singhal's plea. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also See On HuffPost: Hindustan Times via Getty Images NEW DELHI, INDIA - MAY 16: Former Telecom Minister and DMK MP A Raja arrive at Parliament house to attend the budget session on May 16, 2012 in New Delhi, India. He was released yesterday on bail in 2G spectrum case. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times via Getty Images) On April 22, former Telecom Minister and Propaganda Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), A Raja, drove to Kothagiri in the hilly Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. His missive from the party high command was singular pacify the warring factions of the DMK in the area and hold reconciliatory talks. However, as Raja reached Kothagiri, he was in for a shock. Hundreds of his own party men surrounded his car, throwing eggs and slippers at it. The angry protesters were supporters of the sitting Coonoor MLA K Ramachandran of the DMK. They wanted their leader to be given the ticket this time too. Instead the party high command had chosen another candidate Mubarak over Ramachandran. Expectedly, Ramachandran was furious. But the open rebellion sent shock waves through the party leadership. Advertisement When all the sitting MLAs have got their ticket for contesting, why have I been denied? asked an angry Ramachandran. Without any explanation, a newcomer has been given the ticket which is a sure way to lose this constituency. The open rebellion sent shock waves through the party leadership. Ramachandran hails from the Baduga tribe, a community that comprises close to 60% of the population of Coonoor. I belong to their community and I have been working for their welfare for many years and have earned their affection and respect, continued Ramachandran. At this juncture announcing a person who is not a Baduga is a sure way of losing. From the day the candidate list was announced we have been protesting. Now the time for filing nomination papers has come but the high command keeps mum, which has saddened all of us, he said. Advertisement Ramachandran wants amends to be made. Either give me the ticket for contesting from this area or else give me the post of District Secretary of the party. I have conveyed this to the high command. Coonoor candidate for 2016, Mubarak says the party is what brings in the votes, at least in this area. The party has announced my nomination and I am working towards winning this constituency, said Mubarak. One should not look at this area as belonging to one community. Here people vote for the Party and not for the candidate. Coonoor candidate for 2016, Mubarak says the party is what brings in the votes, at least in this area. It is not just in Coonoor though, where the DMK is a divided house. Sholinganallur, in south Chennai area, too has witnessed factional feuds within the DMK. The candidate for Sholinganallur, Arvind Ramesh, is said to have been pushed through by Duraimurugan, veteran DMK leader and its Deputy General Secretary. South Chennai district deputy secretary of the DMK, Palavakkam Viswanathan, expressed his anger and his supporters protested and burnt Duraimurugans effigy. In Vellore district too, DMK cadre are protesting against the candidature of Amulu Vijayan for the KV Kuppam seat. Over 20 leaders of the DMK here expressed willingness to contest. But the ticket was given to Amulu Vijayan who hails from Kallur near Gudiyatam. Since the nomination was given to an illiterate candidate who did not belong to the area, Vellore DMK cadre have decided to continue protests until a candidate from KV Kuppam itself was announced. Advertisement In Vellore district too, DMK cadre are protesting against the candidature of Amulu Vijayan for the KV Kuppam seat. Political analyst Gnani Sankaran told HuffPost India: During election times this always happens, this time the protests are more in the DMK, he said. This shows the dissonance between the cadre and the high command. In some constituencies seniors are fighting with the younger new candidates whereas in other places the youngsters say that the seniors still dominate those areas. The fight for retaining power and the fight for grappling the power from the seniors will always continue, he said. The list of areas where dissidence is boiling over within the DMK is growing longer. Anaikattu, Nagai District, Sirkazhi, Trichy, Thiruverumbur, Krishnagiri and in Palayamkottai, DMK cadre is protesting against the candidate who has been given the seat. Due to pressure from the cadre, DMK has changed the candidates for Arakkonam, Orathanadu, Cholavandaan, Vriddachalam and Alangudi. Press Trust of India After her successful right-to-pray campaign centred around the Shani Shingnapur and Trimbakeshwar temples in Maharashtra, Trupti Desai of the Bhumata Ranragini Brigade was all set to enter the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai, when she was stopped short. Refusing to even let her out of her car, angry crowd of protesters surrounded her vehicle, banging the car's doors and windows, shouting, "Wapas jao, wapas jao (Go back)." Advertisement According to Mumbai Mirror, the cops, who were posted there to stop from any situation getting out of hand, advised her not to get out of the car and go back. Desai also said that she had received an anonymous call from a person present at the dargah that they had kept a bounty of 1,00,000 to kill her if she went back there. Later, Desai started a march to the Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' bungalow to meet him. Advertisement But there too, Desai and the protestors were stopped by the police as they informed her that she needed an appointment to meet the chief minister. "Police have stopped us on our way to the CM's residence. They are asking us to first take an appointment with the CM for a meeting," she told ANI. "We were attacked today and there is a threat to our life, even then if we have been asked to take an appointment to meet the CM, then in what type of democracy we are living in?" "Whether the Chief Minister meets us or not, we will stage a sit-in at his residence till he calls us. Is this the 'good days' for women of which the BJP keeps on talking," she said. Earlier this year, the Haji Ali Dargah Trust had defended its ban on women, saying that it was a "grievous sin" as per Islam for women to be in close proximity of the grave of a male Muslim saint. Advertisement "The issue is unnecessarily blown out of proportion," Rizwan Merchant, a trustee of the dargah had said. "Our sisters are not prohibited or stopped from visiting the Dargah. There is a separate corridor and between the corridor and the Dargah, there is a line of those offertory boxes where devotees come and offer what is required to be offered. Behind that particular portion, an area of nearly 150-200 square-feet has been demarcated only for our sisters." But Desai, though furious, is in no hurry. "Today is only the first day of our movement, and we'll carry it forward till the point women are allowed and offer prayers at the dargah. We are not acting in haste. The matter is subjudice since 2012. We are demanding equal rights to the women," she said. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also See On HuffPost: REUTERS FILE PHOTO / Reuters Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya speaks to the media during a news conference in Mumbai November 15, 2011. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/Files LONDON -- Embattled tycoon Vijay Mallya has said he is in a "forced exile" and has no plans to return to India where things are flying at him "fast and furious". Mallya, whose passport was revoked this month, said he wants a "reasonable" settlement with creditor banks for his defunct airline, but they "are not getting any money" by taking his passport or arresting him. Advertisement He told Financial Express: "I definitely would like to return to India. But things are flying at me fast and furious. My passport has been revoked. I don't know what the government is going to do next." Mallya, 60, said he remains an Indian patriot, who is "proud to fly the Indian flag", but as the outcry around him continues, he is more than happy to stay safe in the UK and has no plans to leave that country. "It is important to understand the environment in India today. The electronic media is playing a huge role not just in moulding public opinion, but in inflaming the government to a very large extent," he said in what FT termed as a four-hour interview in Mayfair, Central London. The Indian government yesterday wrote to Britain seeking deportation of the liquor baron against whom a non-bailable warrant has been issued in a money-laundering investigation. Mallya, who flew first class from Delhi to London on March 2 as a group of state-owned banks knocked on the door of the Supreme Court to recover about 9,000 crore owed by his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, said he was "absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff like that". The government, he said, can appoint the world's best forensic auditor to audit the accounts of Kingfisher and audit how banks loans were utilised. "I am sure they are not going to find anything, because that's the truth." He said he has always maintained that "notwithstanding anything else", he was interested in settlement with Kingfisher bankers. Asked who was behind his woes, he said, "I wish I knew." Pressed if the people after him were bureaucrats or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "All I can say is the manner in which my passport was first suspended and then revoked was done in an extraordinary haste." Advertisement "First, notice of suspension came on a public holiday last week... I replied. And my reply was not considered and the passport was revoked on Saturday," he said. . Asked if he had made mistakes, Mallya said, "I must have made many mistakes." On being asked if he misjudged public mood as it turned against flamboyant multi-millionaires in business in India, he said he cannot understand why he was labelled as a wilful defaulter. "We have invested over 610 million into Kingfisher Airlines, we tried everything conceivably possible to save the airlines. A combination of macroeconomic factors and then government policies unfortunately could not save Kingfisher." "People think I am flamboyant, but actually I am quite simple," he explained. Stating that he has worked hard all his life, he said he wanted "to try and settle with the banks and live my life in peace. That's my focus right now". Mallya said he has acted as a brand ambassador for his brands in the 'media dark environments' while referring to prohibition on advertising for alcohol. Advertisement Trying to explain that the King of Good Times label was actually a slogan for the Kingfisher beer brand, he expressed dismay as to what could have gone wrong. He made it clear that he does not intend to sell his current businesses in India. "These businesses are doing very well. If I had a passport, I could. But right now, I am in a forced exile," he said. "(I am) willing to clear my name." Mallya added that he has expressed willingness to settle with banks and a "very sincere" settlement offer was proposed to the Supreme Court of India. The apex court has directed the Debt Recovery Tribunal to dispose of the main matter in two months. "Notwithstanding that legal process, my offer for settlement stands," he said, adding that the filings before DRT by the consortium of bankers is of principal amount of a little over 500 million and the rest is towards unapplied interests. Advertisement Asked about 9,000 crore outstanding claimed by banks, he said, "I don't know whether it's the banks or the media or the combination of the two... I have never been able to understand where this 9,000 crore or 900 million figure came from. But as I said, if there is a reason and rationale all around, the banks can be settled along with other creditors." "...we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before... would like to repeat that I will reach out if they are interested in making a settlement," Mallya clarified. Asked if he would consider raising his offer to settle outstanding loans, he said, "The banks also need to consider that there are other creditors which also need to be paid off and satisfied. I can't be seen giving preference to the banks just because of this extraordinary pressure on me by government agencies." ALSO READ: SC Asks Mallya To Disclose Personal And Family Assets Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also See On HuffPost: Aatpaat Production It appears that Nagraj Manjule has a thing for depicting birds in flight flocking together in a pattern, a phenomenon known as murmuration when used for starlings. Its a leitmotif that is visible several times in his sophomore Marathi language feature Sairat, a follow-up to his award-winning debut Fandry (2014) that scooped up over 60 awards at various festivals around the world and earned him a National Award nearly four years ago. Perhaps the idea of birds of a feather flocking together as a visual metaphor is something that best describes his approach to telling stories. In Sairat, just as in Fandry, Manjule takes a look at young love through the translucent veneer of caste. Set once again in a small village in Maharashtra Karmala, in Solapur district a young boy from a lower-caste family falls madly, hopelessly in love with a privileged, upper-caste girl, who this time around reciprocates his feelings. Theyre two birds of different feathers who want to break out of their respective flocks and create their own patterns. Advertisement Just as nature comes with its own unwritten laws, so does society. Very early on, you learn that there is a difference between you and them, he says, in a phone conversation on the eve of his films release on Friday. Its almost a part of your education. You dont question it, because it is not something youre supposed to say out loud. It just is. While Fandry was a calm, mature, and unhurried exposition of village life, shot mostly verite-style, Sairat is its juiced-up, protein-shake-drinking younger sibling. Manjule sheds his arthouse tag and gives us a rip-roaring, near-three-hour-long musical that could easily be classified as commercial. The production budget for this film is four times what it cost to make Fandry. The visual language now incorporates the usage of RED Epic cameras, jimmy-jibs, and flycams, amongst others. The music, composed by Ajay-Atul, includes a number of songs whose arrangements include folksy percussion and a full-on live string ensemble thats often led by a heart-rending baansuri a sound weve come to know as Ilayaraja-like. For 38-year-old Manjule, this was an attempt to lend the bombast and grandeur of on-screen romances to experiences from his own life. Why cant the love story of a village boy be just like those we see in Bollywood movies? he asks. Why cant he be portrayed the same way Shah Rukh Khan is portrayed? Advertisement Debutants Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar in a still from 'Sairat' In Sairat, he uses fresh-faced debutants to convey those aspirations. Young Akash Thosar, playing the male lead Prashant Kale (known to everyone as Parshya), dives off a boat and sprints towards a well when he hears that Archana, referred to as Aarchi, is there. Young Rinku Rajguru, who won a special mention at the 63rd National Awards for this spirited performance, plays her. Unbelievably, she is only 15 years old; yet, her lovely, nuanced work suggests the emotional maturity of a much older girl. She was even younger around 12 or 13 when Manjule first set eyes on her, in 2013. I was in Akluj [a small town in Solapur district] conducting auditions, he says. Her mother, who is from my village, had come there to visit me and gotten her along. Despite her age she was in seventh standard then, I think I knew she was my Aarchi. The film had its world premiere two months ago at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, competing in the Generation 14-plus category. While it didnt take home any awards, Manjule says the reception was overwhelming. People were laughing, clapping, and whistling during the movie, he says. And these werent even Indians; and the few Indians who came for its [three] screenings were often non-Marathi speakers. It was a very heartening experience. Even when you figure out how the story is manipulating you, it ceases to matter because you have spent enough time with those characters to feel like youve lived them a little. It must be said, though, that Sairat is one of those films that either charms you or doesnt. Its biggest strengths are its performances props especially to the actors who play Parshyas best friends Salya and Pradeep, as well as the actress who plays the couples generous benefactor in the films second half, set in Andhra Pradesh. Manjule, acutely aware of the nuances that define caste- and class-boundaries, gender divides, and politics in rural Maharashtra, comes up with a number of beautiful moments that are sometimes funny, sometimes heartwarming, and occasionally gut-wrenching. There is much joy to be gained from the way he turns the oldest story in the book star-crossed lovers a la Romeo and Juliet; a reinterpretation of Mansoor Khans Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak for a new generation on its head. From a hero who is rarely heroic in the traditional sense to a firebrand girl who makes all the moves, Sairat defies convention even while sticking to established tropes. Those unaffected by its spell could well complain that the film, at 165 minutes, is about 20-25 minutes too long. One could also complain about certain aesthetic choices, an overuse of slo-mo, as well as a few convenient time-jumps in the story that gloss over certain obvious, practical questions. Parts of it may even remind viewers outright of Habib Faisal's Ishaqzaade (2012). But approaching a film like this cerebrally, which one might be tempted to do since it is from the maker of Fandry, is probably the wrong way to go about it. This is a film of simple pleasures based on astute insights, in which young men break out into dance upon hearing a silly ringtone for so long that they miss a highly anticipated call and dont have enough pre-paid balance to call back; in which a girl asserts her ability to speak English as the final word to win any argument in her hometown, but finds herself tongue-tied in a city where English might have helped her communicate, possibly because it was an empty threat she could afford to make as an individual of privilege, which doesnt exist anymore. Even when you figure out how the story is manipulating you, it ceases to matter because you have spent enough time with those characters to feel like youve lived them a little. The ending, which, like Fandry, feels like a bottom-line powerful moment the film has been building up throughout its run-time, works even though some may see it coming from a mile away. Advertisement You know, everyone has been telling me the story is like Romeo and Juliet, but Ive never even read it, says Manjule, with a laugh. Ive just tried to show, in an entertaining manner, what I think is the reality of the world. And it will continue being the reality until we banish it from our hearts and our heads never mind laws. 'Sairat' is playing in theatres in Maharashtra as well as a few in Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Indore with English subtitles. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also see on HuffPost: Hindustan Times via Getty Images NEW DELHI, INDIA - APRIL 28: BJP Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha Subramanian Swamy during the Parliament Session on April 28, 2016 in New Delhi, India. The government and opposition benches struck a temporary truce on Thursday, shelving their political differences to enable the Rajya Sabha to vote through two bills and press on with its lawmaking work. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) NEW DELHI -- Rajya Sabha's newest entrant Subramanian Swamy has monopolized the second part of the Budget Session of Parliament, and newspaper headlines, this week. He has dragged Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi into the AgustaWestland helicopter bribery case, twice made remarks which had to be expunged from the records, and dealt a low blow by referring to the "Italian Constitution." Riding alone and unarmed like some kind of Hindu-nationalist Lochinvar, Swamy has charged into the Upper House, assuming a frontal attack role on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party, while sating his formidable appetite for hounding the Gandhi family. Advertisement With his rapier wit and quick comebacks, Swamy can conjure a Parliamentary spectacle almost at will, and in a way few others--whether in treasury or Opposition--can or do unhesitatingly. For a floor management strategy point of view, he's a useful asset to have in your arsenal--there will always be occasion when you need a little diversion from another issue or a distraction to prevent a critical debate from consuming too much time. But the BJP is going to realize soon enough--and there are already signs this is happening--that its newly minted Rajya Sabha MP is going to be a double-edged sword, to be used sparingly and with great discretion. Modi and BJP has a massive majority in Lok Sabha, but our bicameral Parliamentary system as well as some conventions that the BJP itself had vigorously pursued in the past, makes sure that it is hardly a sufficient condition to push urgent legislative work through. Nothing stops the Opposition from disrupting Parliament at the slightest provocation (and since BJP has done this while it was in Opposition, the moral persuasion in its anger while in power would be weak). Besides, the BJP's early dreams of achieving an absolute majority in Rajya Sabha over time looks more out of reach subsequent to the last few Assembly elections, than it had in the immediate aftermath of the sensational 2014 victory. In other words, working with the Opposition is not optional for the ruling party. The Monsoon Session last year was disrupted by the Lalit Modi-Sushma Swaraj scandal, as well as the government's Land Acquisition Ordinance. And the Winter Session was disrupted by allegations of "vendetta politics" over Swamy's pursuit of the National Herald case. Essential legislation is now mounting. More hostility and ill-feelings from its rivals should be a frightening prospect for the Modi government, which has failed to push through critical bills since the Monsoon Session. Advertisement Escalating hostilities is antithetical to the interests of the BJP in the long run. But it remains to be seen if Swamy, a maverick political animal who thrives on attention, will agree to pipe down in BJP's strategic interests. When Parliament holds debate on Agusta helicopter scam, then on behalf Government Parrikar will smash Congi and expose their lies. Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 28, 2016 Swamy has come back to Parliament after nearly two decades. During the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he was expelled from the Rajya Sabha for running a "systematic anti-India campaign" because he made the world aware about the clamp down on the media, political leaders and human rights violations unfolding in India. Since the seventies, the former Harvard University professor has served thrice as a lawmaker in the Lok Sabha, when he led the Janata Party, and twice in the Rajya Sabha. Swamy's nomination by the Modi government is widely regarded as the establishment showing its appreciation for his relentless pursuit of corruption charges against the Gandhi family. Undaunted by warnings of disciplinary action and summons to the Speaker's chambers, Swamy has thrown himself into the role of a crusader. While legions of his fans are thrilled, Swamy's provocative behavior is coming at a time when the BJP and the Congress Party are already on edge over the constitutional crisis in Uttarakhand, the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, and the Agusta Westland helicopter bribery allegations. Advertisement Somehow, in the midst of all this acrimony, the Modi government is hoping to make headway on the embattled Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, and push through other legislation such as the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Code, Railways Appropriation Bill, 2016, Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, the Finance Bill, 2016, among many others. In light of all this pending work, not everyone in the BJP is pleased with Swamy's behaviour. The Economic Times reported today about an informal meeting between senior leaders of the Congress Party and the Modi government in which they agreed to tone down the ruckus in Parliament. The meeting, which included Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and senior Congress Party leader Anand Sharma, was reportedly convened because there is bipartisan understanding that the toxic exchanges in Rajya Sabha isn't helping anyone. Endorsement for the meeting reportedly came from the top leadership of both parties. The need to establish some sort of working relationship with the Opposition is not lost on the Modi government. During the Winter Session last year, senior leaders of the BJP made several efforts to reach out to the Opposition in public as well as behind the scenes, especially over the need to pass the GST Bill, which is key to tax reforms and to retain the support of industry. In his Lok Sabha speech during the first part of the Budget Session last month, Modi ripped into his political rivals for disrupting parliamentary proceedings, and implored that Parliament be allowed to function. Advertisement But BJP leaders may find it hard to subdue Swamy, who must relish being in the political mainstream after a long time in relative wilderness. Speaking in Rajya Sabha and having his speeches beamed all over the country is no doubt more satisfying than tweeting. Just like that, the BJP has an MP to watch in its own ranks. I will just after 11 am raise the breach of privilege committed by Ghulam Nabi Azad for wilfully telling a lie to RS on AW blacklisting Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 29, 2016 Also on HuffPost India: Hindustan Times via Getty Images NEW DELHI, INDIA - JANUARY 24: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressing the gathering during the inauguration of the newly elevated road from Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk, a six-lane elevated road on the Outer Ring Road which shall contribute significantly to making the peripheral route signal-free, the second section of Vikaspuri-Wazirabad elevated corridor project on Outer Ring Road, on January 24, 2016 in New Delhi, India. Kejriwal said, 'This construction of this elevated road began during the time of Sheila Ji. It was to cost Rs. 425, but the AAP government built it at Rs. 300 crore.' (Photo by Sushil Kumarl/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) The Morning Wrap is HuffPost India's selection of interesting news and opinion from the day's newspapers. Subscribe here to receive it in your inbox each weekday morning. Essential HuffPost In a piece of happy news for Feni connoisseurs, the Goa state government has now proposed to amend the four decade-old Goa Excise Duty Act to ensure that the exotic drink is marketed and sold across all states. "We want to place Feni alongside tequila and scotch, which used to be country liquor once," Excise Commissioner Menino DSouza said. Advertisement The HRD Ministry has asked the Delhi University to make corrections in a text book that described freedom fighter Bhagat Singh as "terrorist". The step was taken after a book titled India's Struggle for Independence, authored by historians Bipin Chadra and Mridula Mukherjee, mentioned Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Surya Sen and other freedom fighters as "revolutionary terrorists" in Chapter 20. The Indian government, who is the country's largest litigant responsible for nearly half of the three crore cases pending in courts across the country, is doing little to unclog the overburdened system. From disputes involving civilians suing either the Centre or the state governments; to government bodies suing one another, precious judicial bandwidth is clogged, sometimes even for procedural matters which could easily be resolved through internal arbitration. The Modi government is no longer asking Urdu writers in India to refrain from producing content which is critical of the government, but they are still asking them to desist from writing anything which is 'against national interest' or which 'creates hatred' among communities. Main News Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has dared the BJP to arrest Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders of the party in connection with the controversial 3,600 core AgustaWestland chopper deal. He also claimed there was a 'strong relationship' between the Congress and the BJP via a series of tweets. Advertisement The SC's order directing the Medical Council of India to hold the National Entrance and Eligibility Test (NEET) from this year onwards has put medical aspirants from Maharashtra and other states in a fix. The order has put a question mark over the fate of state-level CET, which is slated to be held on 5 May. While the state CET is based on Maharashtra board (SSC) syllabus, the All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Test (AIPMT), now called as NEET, is crafted on the CBSE syllabus. The confusion and the re-application process has left Maharashtra students with less than three months to prepare for the exam. After being barred by JNU from pursuing any course in the university for the next five years, Anirban Bhattacharya has received a notice from the universitys Chief Procter over his alleged participation in the screening of a documentary titled, Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai, on campus without prior permission of the administration. The varsity has asked him to appear before the Procter to present his defence. Off The Front Page Gender activist Trupti Desai's plan to make sure women are allowed to enter and pray the inner sanctum of Mumbai's Haji Ali dargah went awry on Thursday. Because when she drove down to protest the cause, she was met with violent and angry protestors who banged on her car window and refused to let her get out. She was eventually asked by the police to leave the site to diffuse the volatile situation. Impressed with Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU)'s online paper delivery system, Japan has now signed an MOU with the Karnataka-based university to hire 40,000 engineers from the state. After a failed attempt to sell Kingfisher House, erstwhile headquarters of liquor baron Vijay Mallya's defunct carrier, lenders will auction the trademarks of the airline, including the 'Kingfisher' logo and once-famous 'Fly the Good Times' tagline on 30 April. Advertisement Opinion Several studies demonstrate that high-quality preschool learning makes a child school-ready, with greater chances of academic success, faster adjustment to school, and reduced behavioural problems, writes Sashwati Banerjee in Hindustan Times. "An active public-private partnership must be initiated to reformulate policies for providing universal access to high-quality, educational content for young learners. The power of emerging media and advanced communication can be used effectively to help children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, reach their highest potential," she writes. The industrys herd approach to investing in the past has led to capital being concentrated in a few segments and created valuation bubbles, writes Snigdha Sengupta in Mint. "Most active venture capital firms in the country are well capitalised but are using the correction to evaluate deals more carefully and spend time understanding businesses. While that doesnt imply that me-too ideas wont get funded the consumer internet sector remains a top draw with investors as more India-appropriate businesses are beginning to attract investor attention," she writes. In a time of dating apps, serial short-term monogamy is viable. "But you know how it is with progress - there's always an environmental cost," writes Paromita Vohra in Mumbai Mirror. "Jumping into sexual relations in the world of seduction has shifted from a talent or an art to a listicle or formula... One misses the thrill of slowly unfolding ambiguous communication," she writes. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India JESUS VECINO via Getty Images Me stand near a wild fire in XXXXX in northwest Spain on December 20, 2015. Some 230 firefighters were dispatched to battle around 100 wildfires which broke out in northwest Spain on Saturday night, emergency services told AFP, but there were no reports of casualties. AFP PHOTO / JESUS VECINO / AFP / JESUS VECINO (Photo credit should read JESUS VECINO/AFP/Getty Images) The Uttarakhand government has decided to double the number of personnel engaged in dousing wild fires in different parts of the state from 3000 to 6000. Governor KK Paul took the decision late on Thursday evening while addressing problems of forest fires and drought in the state at an Advisory Council meeting. Advertisement In every district, 100 PRD personnel will be posted for the safety of revenue forests. This number may be increased later, an official release Dehradun said. It was decided that Rs. 5 crore would be released for buying fire control equipment from SDRF. Tankers will be sent to provide water in wildlife parks and DMs have been instructed to arrange for extra tankers according to the requirement in their respective districts. All officials concerned have been directed to work under an action plan on a war footing to deal with forest fires and drought conditions. For immediate relief, tankers should be arranged and on a long term basis, traditional water sources should be revived and preserved, it was directed. Advertisement The Governor said all directions given till now about forest fires must be followed strictly. All Van panchayats, mahila mangal dals, self help groups and yuvak mangal dals must be active and support the efforts to check forest fires. Police and homeguard personnel have already been activated. Commandant of SDRF has been asked to provide help to DMs. DMs have been told to monitor the situation on a daily basis. The governor will review the work on a weekly basis. The first review will be on April 30 through videoconferencing. The DMs have been instructed that they should immediately provide the compensation amount to families affected by the forest fires. It was also decided that other departments should also work in coordination with each other to check forest fires. A strict watch be kept on elements who are involved in illegal felling in forests. Van panchayats and home guards can help in doing this, the Governor said. Any negligence in following the directions given for checking forest fires and for providing potable water will not be allowed, he said. Advertisement People would have to be made aware of the perils of burning garbage near forests, throwing burning cigarette stubs into them, and burning trees for clearing land which usually lead to the fires, he said. Meanwhile, former chief minister Harish Rawat asked the Governor to declare the state as fire disaster stricken. He asked the Governor to take steps like constitution of disaster management and fire extinguishing teams, allocation of different forest beats to them, involving the local population in the exercise by offering them insurance coverage and making them eligible for compensation in case of an accident. Noting that Uttarakhand's forests will not be able to overcome ill-effects of the fires if they continue unabated like this, Rawat said even water bodies are being polluted due to the fires which will endanger the wildlife dependent on them. Pradesh Congress President Kishore Upadhyay wrote to party workers, asking them unite to save the state's precious forest wealth. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Also See On HuffPost: Hutchinson's Salvation Army started in 1894 In 1910, under Captain George Seeds, the citadel at 114 West Sherman St. was built. The city of Cleveland is gearing up to host the 2016 Republican National Convention in July, and worries over what might go wrong are top of mind.To shift some of that burden, the city is setting aside $1.5 million for the services of an insurance broker and a very specific type of coverage: law enforcement professional liability insurance.Colloquially known as protest insurance, the policy covers potential lawsuits related to police conduct for the event, including mistreated protestors and resulting injuries.Theres such a huge range of things that can happen when you have that many people with so many different viewpoints together in a city, Christine Link, executive director of the Ohio ACLU told the Huffington Post.And thats no exaggeration. In 2004, New York City played host to the GOP Convention and resulting protests ended in the arrests of 1,800 participants. Ten years later, the city came to an agreement with two groups of protestors who sued it, settling for a record $18 million.Though obviously not as large as the Big Apple, Cleveland is expecting between 50,000 and 75,000 extra people in its downtown area during the upcoming convention. And with crowded quarters and passions running high, protests could get out of hand, police could respond inappropriately, and the city could be made open to civil rights violations.There is something special about this year, too. With no GOP primary candidate yet securing enough delegates to clinch the nomination process, a contested convention is almost guaranteed. The presence of Donald Trump, whose controversial candidacy has continued to grab headlines, is also a point of potential contention.Insurance Information Institute President Robert Hartwig said that while police training is key to crowd control, proper coverage is also key.Nerves are on edge because of the possibility of a contested convention, he explained to the Huffington Post. It could cause tempers to flare on the parts of various parties. Any good risk management program is now contemplating that possibility.Cleveland has already hired Aon to procure the policy, a spokesperson said, to assist the City in identifying and procuring law enforcement professional liability and related insurance.The coverage will be paid for through a $50 million federal security grant.St. Paul, which played host to the 2008 Republican convention, took out a $1.1 million policy from AIG to cover law enforcement liability. Just $175,000 in settlements have been reported. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has suspended new and renewed flood insurance policies in Indianapolis and Marion County, Illinois, the Indy Star reported Thursday.According to the agency, the city made mistakes in updating its flood protection map and ordinance. Now, as many as 7,000 homeowners required to purchase insurance could be affected.City attorneys have filed a request for a temporary restraining order in the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, saying Indianapolis ordinance was in order and the suspension from FEMA could [strip] thousands of Indianapolis households and prospective homebuyers of their eligibility for federal flood insurance.FEMAs suspension comes during the height of the spring rainy season, the complaint says. Should Indianapolis flood during the period of FEMAs suspension while homeowners are without flood insurance, the economic consequences for Indianapolis could be disastrous.Marion County had been working on a plan to update its flood protection ordinance for about a year, finally sending it to the Department of Metropolitan Development and the City-County Council for approval earlier this month, in accordance with federal government requirements.However, FEMA told the city the ordinance had at least 10 mistakes that needed to be fixed in order for insurance policies to be issued or renewed.The Indy Star said the city changed six of the alleged errors, but four others need time to go back through the city and council approval process and the group doesnt meet until May 9.For its part, the city says the 10 allegations of non-compliance from FEMA were technical and semantical, and which they had no problem changing. However, the lack of advanced notice of suspension or communication with FEMA is troublesome, they say.FEMA has steadfastly refused to stay or modify its decision, opting instead to strip flood insurance eligibility from thousands of homeowners and prospective homeowners, the city said in its court brief.The exact number of homeowners that will be affected by the suspension is unknown, as the city doesnt keep records of upcoming policy renewals. However, as many as 7,000 people could be at risk. Leo Goldberger speaks about his family's escape from Denmark, detailed in his book 'The Rescue of the Danish Jews: Moral Courage Under Stress,' and the two rescuers who made it happen. Darnell Henry explains what he found out about Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz. Molly Wojnicki was impressed by the compassionate rebel Aristides de Sousa Mendes. Teacher Michael Little has been teaching the Holocaust program for 11 years. The speakers' books were available for sale and to be autographed. Williams College professor Jim Shepard reads from his novel, 'The Book of Aron.' Shepard signing autographs. Goldberger was impressed with much the school could do on Holocaust studies with so little money. Shepard takes questions from the audience. Poster boards from past programs were interspersed with this year's to provide more context. Meeting with the students afterward. PreviousNext Clarksburg Holocaust Program Remembers the Rescuers CLARKSBURG, Mass. Clarksburg School's Holocaust Studies program has in the past explored the roots of genocide, discrimination and prejudice, the failure of political will to protect individual rights, and the rise of Nazism. For its 11th annual exhibit on Thursday night, this year's eighth-grade class tackled a subject of hope through their research and the evening's two guests who offered a look at the Holocaust through a literary perspective and from personal experience. With the theme "Rescue and Remembrance," the 15 students told the stories of the saviors, including Miep Gies, Raoul Wallenberg, and Chiune Sugihara, who had risked their lives and careers to help Jews escape Nazi Germany's "Final Solution." Recognized as the "Righteous Among the Nations," many defied their own governments to help those fleeing the Nazis. "It is important when discussing the Holocaust to keep a dual memory," said Leo Goldberger, who spoke of his escape from Denmark, detailed in his book "The Rescue of the Danish Jews: Moral Courage Under Stress." "The worst, the unspeakable terror, the genocide essentially that is the Holocaust. ... "And there is the light occasionally shown by these wonderful people that we are seeing today described. The rescuers." Goldberger, a psychology professor emeritus at New York University, has studied stress and trauma on the psyche. He has written and co-authored a number of books and papers, and has been a consultant to Holocaust resource centers. He told the room that he'd felt a bit ashamed to be called a survivor because he had escaped to Sweden while so many others had ended up in concentration camps. In the years after the war, there had been far greater focus on the remembering the millions killed. It was something of a way to counter the "tons of stuff" about the Nazi leaders. "We were fascinated by the bad guys, which made the victims feel terrible," he said. "They didn't think anybody cared." As the focus shifted, more survivors began speak about their experiences. And then the rescuers began to be more fully recognized. Goldberger credits two rescuers in saving his family, one of whom was featured in Thursday's exhibit and another he's asked Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, to acknowledge without luck. His family had moved from Czechoslovakia to Denmark when Germany occupied the small nation in 1940. Goldberger was 10 years old but retains a clear memory of the event. "I heard the drone of airplanes overhead ... the sky was darkened with airplanes," he said. "It was April the 9th, 1940." Denmark with its tiny army and 13 planes was no match for the German juggernaut and surrendered within hours but with the caveat that it would retain its sovereignty as long as it did not resist. Danes went about their business for most of the next three years until resistance fighters became too active for the Germans to ignore. There was always the fear that the Nazis would strike out against the Danish Jewish community. One night, Goldberger heard the "menancing sound of gun butts against the front door" and feared the German soldiers would break down the door and take his father away. But an upstairs neighbor leaned out the window and threatened to call the police, confusing the soldiers. The neighbor then told the soldiers that the Goldbergers were at their "summer home" and they went away. Plans were made to round up the country's Jews around Rosh Hashanah, but a German military attache with the Nazi embassy in Copenhagen, Georg Duckwitz, alerted his Danish friends and the resistance. Goldberger couldn't fathom why Duckwitz, who was close to his Nazi boss, would to do that: "He had a heart." More than 6,000 Jews were evacuated to Sweden by various means with the help of their fellow countrymen before they could be deported. For the Goldberger family, that was made possible by a Lutheran minister by the name of Henry Rasmussen. Rasmussen provided the family with 20,000 kroners to take a boat to Sweden. The family was only able to take a few things with them and had to hide under a stinking fish tarp until the boat's captain could hail a Swedish fishing boat to take them the rest of the way. Goldberger remembers Rasmussen apologizing profusely to his father. "As a Christian, I feel so guilty to what happened," he recalled the minister saying. He said Yad Vashem wouldn't recognize Rasmussen because his sect was trying to convert Jews. "He was a good man," Goldberger said. "He wasn't trying to convert my father or us." Seventy years later, he still remembers the rage and anger that overcame him as his family huddled in the bushes on a beach, waiting for the boat to take them away. "What the hell did I ever do, or my parents," he said. "It didn't make sense to me." The students and their subjects were: Holly Boudreau, "Miep Gies"; Brandon Girard, "Father Pierre Benoit"; Madison Goodell, "Raoul Wallenberg"; Gretchen Harflage, "Irena Sendler"; Darnell Henry, "Carl Lutz"; Samuel Ingalls, "Pope John XXIII"; Julia Jammalo, "Chiune 'Sempo' Sugihara"; Zoey LaCasse, "Corrie ten Boom"; Carson Marsh, "Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz"; Emily McLain, "Oskar Schindler"; Vincent Mulder, "King Christian X of Denmark"; Iris Navom, "Irene Opdyke"; Nicholas Shepard, "Varian Fry"; Nathan Simard, "Pastor Andre Trocme"; and Molly Wojnicki, "Aristides de Sousa Mendes." Williams College Alumna Wins Gates Cambridge Scholarship Yue-Yi Hwa WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Williams College graduate Yue-Yi Hwa, class of 2011, has been awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a doctorate in education at St. Catharine's College at Cambridge. Hwa is currently doing education policy research at the Penang Institute in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After earning an masters in philosophy at the University of Oxford in 2013, she taught in a high-need school for two years with Teach for Malaysia. Her plan for graduate research at Oxford is to acquire expertise in education policy. Afterward, she plans to work in the Malaysian government or at a research institute or university doing policy research. Hwa graduated from Williams magna cum laude with highest honors in political economy. She had a second major in Arabic studies. Hwa was the recipient of a Williams Donovan-Moody Fellowship to study for her master's degree at Oxford. While at Williams, she served as editor-in-chief of The Williams Record, co-founded The Williams Telos, volunteered at shelters for homeless and at-risk youth in Springfield, Mass., and built Habitat for Humanity houses in New Orleans. Carr Hardware Joins Forces to Expand into Connecticut PITTSFIELD, Mass. Brightwood Hardware out of Longmeadow has forged a partnership with Carr Hardware & Supply Co. of Berkshire County, both members of the True Value Co-op. Moe Fieldstein, of Brightwood Hardware, started out in the hardware business at the age of 8, working for his father Jacob at his store located in the Brightwood sector of Springfield. Brightwood Hardware would later move to its current location in Longmeadow. During that same time period, Marshall Raser was making his way in the hardware industry. After discharge from the Army, Marshall worked at his familys hardware store in Quincy before relocating to take over Carr Hardware in Pittsfield in 1962. Raser and Fieldstein have provided passion for the hardware business and have passed the torch on to the next generation. That next generation comes in the form of Bart Raser and Ken Cohn, who learned they could leverage each others strengths by partnering together to grow the business. This partnership will come in the form of Carr Hardware at Brightwood Center, located under one roof on Route 5 in neighboring Enfield, Conn. WNEU Provost Linda Jones, MCLA President James F. Birge and WNEU School of Law Dean Eric Gouvin a 3 + 3 articulation agreement. Front row, from left to right, WNEU Provost Linda Jones, President Birge, WNEU School of Law Dean Eric Gouvin. Back row, from left to right, MCLA Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Cynthia Brown; Dr. Ben Taylor, MCLA assistant professor of history, political science and public policy; and Dr. Matthew Silliman, MCLA philosophy professor. PreviousNext MCLA Signs Agreement with WNEU School of Law NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has signed a 3 + 3 articulation agreement with Western New England University School of Law to establish a joint program leading to a bachelors degree and a juris doctor degree. With this agreement, signed Tuesday by MCLA President James F. Birge, WNEU Provost Linda Jones and WNEU School of Law Dean Eric Gouvin, qualified undergraduates at MCLA may substitute the first year at the law school for their senior year at MCLA. As a result, they may earn their bachelors degree and juris doctor degree in six years instead of the typical seven. According to Birge, this new partnership allows both MCLA and WNEU to better serve the citizens of the commonwealth, as it draws outstanding students to both institutions. We are pleased to sign this agreement with the Western New England University School of Law, Birge said. This 3 + 3 arrangement will attract qualified and ambitious undergraduate students who seek a career in law. An accelerated course of study, this program will save them one years worth of time and tuition as it maintains high academic standards and provides a challenging and comprehensive curriculum. Cheshire Elementary's top readers got to throw pie at their principal. PreviousNext Cheshire Elementary Makes Reading Easy As Pie CHESHIRE, Mass. Cheshire Elementary School held its second annual Reading Challenge - with a sweet twist. Principal Peter Bachli challenged the students to read 1,000 books from March 15 to April 15. If the challenge was met, the top five students in grades K-2 and the top five students in grades 3-5 along with the two top staff members would be able to throw a pie in Mr. Bachlis face. Students were required to keep a reading log and tallies were added up and recorded on a giant pie right outside the principals office. The Book Blast Rally was held on Friday, April 15. All the students and staff members gathered in the back yard of the school to see if the challenge had been met and if so, who the lucky pie throwers would be. At the Pie Book Blast Rally, Machli announced that not only had the kids reached their goal of 1,000 books, they exceeded it by reading 3,653 books, more than double last years amount. Then, the lucky top readers got ready and one by one came up to throw their cream pie at Principal Bachli. All the kids and staff cheered during this fun event. True North Insurance Appoints Broker, Vice President Brian Drake WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Brian Drake has joined True North Insurance as an employee benefits broker and a vice vresident. "Brian brings over 14 years of experience and a passion for employee benefits to our team. He possesses the depth, agility, and integrity required today to guide employers through the complexities of insurance. We are delighted that Brian chose to make MountainOne and the Berkshires his home," Holly Taylor, president & chief operating officer said. Brian's appointment builds upon True North's national partnership with Digital Benefit Advisors, the largest employee-benefits-only agency in the country. The Digital partnership has repositioned True North Insurance to meet client needs with a wide range of insurance, technology, and compliance resources." As an employee benefits specialist and vice president, Drake will be responsible for developing new business relationships and providing strategic guidance to employers on their medical, dental, life and disability insurance plans and benefit administration solutions. Imperial Valley News Center Defending Democratic Space in the DRC Washington, DC - The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing a historic year that should according to that countrys constitution culminate in the DRCs first democratic transfer of executive power. The United States supports the Congolese people in their pursuit of timely, free, and fair elections and underscores the importance of open political space to a credible electoral process. We are deeply concerned by the governments arrest and intimidation of Congolese citizens participating in and preparing for peaceful political activity in Kinshasa and Haut Katanga Province the weekend of April 24. The DRC government has, under its own constitution and its international human rights obligations, the responsibility to respect its citizens human rights including the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. Repression destroys the trust and confidence of the very citizens who are needed for any credible dialogue amongst all Congolese stakeholders. The United States underscores UN Security Council resolution 2277s pronouncement that a peaceful and credible electoral cycle, in accordance with the constitution, is critical to the DRCs long-term stabilization and consolidation of democracy. As Secretary Kerry told President Kabila recently, we stand ready to support those committed to such elections. The United States strongly believes that the Congolese people, free of fear, should shape the future of Congo. Imperial Valley News Center China's Passage of the Law on the Management of Foreign NGO Activities Inside Mainland China Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "I am deeply concerned that Chinas new Law on the Management of Foreign NGO Activities inside Mainland China will negatively impact important people-to-people ties between our two countries and the development of civil society in China. The engagement of U.S. civil society organizations with the people of China has enriched our bilateral relationship. A vibrant civil society is a crucial and growing contributor to development in every country around the globe. "Among its benefits, a free and flourishing civil society drives innovation, contributes to stability, and helps to counter violent extremism. "I have discussed these issues routinely with my Chinese counterparts over the past year since the first version of the law was released to the public. The final version of the new law contains certain improvements from the original draft. It also creates a highly uncertain and potentially hostile environment for foreign non-profit, non-governmental organizations and their Chinese partners that will no doubt discourage activities and initiatives. "We urge China to uphold the assurances it has given that it will welcome and foster engagement with civil society, including an active role for non-governmental organizations from other countries." Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Issues Bulletin to California Law Enforcement Agencies Detailing Eviction Protections for Californians Los Angeles, California - Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued an information bulletin to California law enforcement agencies to reinforce integral eviction procedures under the California Homeowner Bill of Rights. Under current California law, occupants of a foreclosed property who are not named in eviction documents - such as tenants - can present a Claim of Right to Possession form to temporarily stop the eviction process up to and including when the Sheriff comes to remove them from the property. Following the 2012 national mortgage settlement, Attorney General Harris sponsored the landmark California Homeowner Bill of Rights (HBOR), which took effect on January 1, 2013. The legislation package included additional protections for homeowners and tenants facing foreclosure. Although HBOR has been in effect since 2013, advocacy groups have reported cases in which Sheriffs proceed with the eviction process despite being presented with a Claim of Right to Possession form. This bulletin provides guidance for Sheriffs performing evictions following a foreclosure. This bulletin clarifies integral protections and due process available under the Homeowner Bill of Rights, said Attorney General Harris. I sponsored this bill to provide a fair process for vulnerable Californians who are facing the loss of their homes. I thank the advocacy organizations for their tireless work on behalf of those affected by the foreclosure crisis." Prior to HBOR, occupants who were not named in an Unlawful Detainer Complaint were required to respond to a Prejudgment Claim of Right to Possession within 10 days of service. This is no longer the case. Under HBOR, certain post-foreclosure occupants, such as tenants, can temporarily stop the eviction process by presenting a Claim of Right to Possession, including at the time of the lockout, to the Sheriff at the property. Once a claim is presented, the Sheriff should take no further action until notified by the court. The bulletin further instructs Sheriffs on how to respond when presented with a Claim of Right to Possession. HBOR provides critical protections for tenants in foreclosed properties. Western Center on Law & Poverty is grateful to the Attorney General for providing guidance to the sheriffs who play a key role in implementing these protections and ensuring that innocent tenants will not be evicted without notice, said Madeline S. Howard, Senior Staff Attorney at the Western Center on Law and Poverty. Over 1 million California tenants suffered displacement after their landlords foreclosure from 2008-2012. The tenant protections of HBOR helped address this crisis, and the Claim of Right to Possession gave tenants a new tool to assert their rights. However, many tenants have had difficulty using this procedure because it was new and education was limited. Tenants Together believes that this Bulletin will significantly improve the use of the Claim of Right to Possession and ensure that Sheriffs across the state are able to properly follow the legal process, said Leah Simon-Weisberg, Legal Director at Tenants Together. Western Center and Tenants Together have received calls asking for assistance with the prejudgment claim process and reports of post-foreclosure eviction abuse from tenants in the Central Valley, Inland Empire, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Attorney General Harris has worked to ensure that Californias homeowners are treated fairly and with consideration during the foreclosure process. In 2011, she created the Mortgage Fraud Strike Force, which was tasked with the responsibility to investigate and prosecute misconduct related to aspects of the mortgage process. In February 2012, Attorney General Harris secured more than $20 billion for struggling California homeowners from the nations five largest banks. The Attorney General has also taken steps to improve relations between the public and law enforcement agencies. In 2015, she directed a review of her Division of Law Enforcement's policies on implicit bias and the use of force. Following the 90-day Review, Attorney General Harris created the first POST-certified course on Procedural Justice and Implicit Bias in the United States. In 2016, she sponsored legislation that would create a stand-alone course for peace officers on principled policing, procedural justice and implicit bias. She later formed the 21st Century Policing Working Group, which has convened several times to discuss its current progress and strategies to improve policing policies to fit the needs of today. In addition, Attorney General Harris sent a bulletin to law enforcement making clear that federal immigration detainers are voluntary and that law enforcement agencies should direct resources in a manner that best serves their community. Ambassador Daniel A. Sepulveda Travels to Geneva to Chair the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2016 Washington, DC - Ambassador Daniel A. Sepulveda, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, will serve as Chair of the WSIS Forum 2016 to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, May 2-6, 2016. The WSIS Forum 2016 is an annual gathering of the WSIS community to discuss how best to use information and communications technologies (ICT) for development, including efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The forum is a platform for discussion and sharing best practices among all stakeholders. More than 1600 participants from government, civil society, academia, and technical and business communities representing 150 countries are expected to attend. This years Forum will focus on catalyzing efforts to create a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society through the WSIS Framework that was reaffirmed last year by the UN General Assembly following its ten-year review of WSIS implementation. Upgrade to Navy COOL Mobile App Includes Advancement BIBs Pensacola, Florida - The Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL) app for mobile devices received a significant upgrade April 28 with the addition of advancement exam bibliographies (BIBs). Added to the Navy COOL website last month, BIBs on COOL allows Sailors, including the Reserve forces, who are preparing for advancement examinations to access their references without the need for a Common Access Card (CAC). The direct links to the Navy COOL website BIBs enhance the functionality of the COOL app for mobile devices. "Adding the BIBS to the Navy COOL CAC-free website was a major win for the Sailor," said Master Chief Electronics Technician - Nuclear Power (SS) James Berhalter, command master chief for the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC). "Adding that same tool to the Navy COOL app makes it even more convenient, with the ability for active-duty and Reserve Sailors to prepare for advancement exams virtually anywhere." According to Keith Boring, Navy COOL program manager, adding the BIBs to the app is a major accomplishment, but is just one of the upgrades. "Many of the documents in the app have been compressed, making downloading it easier," said Boring. "We've also added supporting files for the Learning and Development Roadmaps, Rating Information Cards and Joint Service Transcript files. App users should see noticeable improvements after downloading the update." The Navy COOL app is a bring-your-own device tool designed to work on personal devices outside of the NMCI domain. Users can download the Navy COOL app from the Apple store and Google Play Store at no cost. To find the free Navy COOL app, search "Navy COOL" in app stores or in your web browser. To update the existing Navy COOL app on your mobile device (if you haven't received a notification), check the page in the device store and there will be an upgrade option -- choose 'upgrade' and download. The Navy COOL office is located at the Center for Information Dominance at Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station. CID is the Navy's learning center that delivers information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations. NETPDC, located on board NAS Pensacola Saufley Field, provides products and services that enable and enhance education, training, career development, and personnel advancement throughout the Navy. Primary elements of the command include the Voluntary Education Department, the Navy Advancement Center and the Resources Management Department. President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts Washington, DC - Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: Angela L. Ripley Member, Board of Directors of the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Gail H. Marcus Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Kate Marshall Member, Election Assistance Commission Leslie Bowman Member, National Council on the Humanities George Sanchez Member, National Council on the Humanities Kent Hirozawa Member, National Labor Relations Board President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post: Emanuel Chirico Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations President Obama said, I am pleased to announce that these experienced and committed individuals have decided to serve our country. I look forward to working with them. President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: Angela L. Ripley, Nominee for Member, Board of Directors of the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Angela L. Ripley is the President of VW Brown Insurance Service, a position she has held since 2000. Ms. Ripley has also served as National Director for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America since 2014. Ms. Ripley worked at Erie Insurance Group from 1994 to 2000, as a small claims adjuster and then Senior District Sales Manager. She has also served in various positions with the Independent Insurance Agents of Maryland, including State National Director in 2014, Chairman in 2012, Vice Chairman in 2010, and Director-at-Large in 2009. Ms. Ripley received a B.S. from Frostburg State University. Dr. Gail H. Marcus, Nominee for Member, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board Dr. Gail H. Marcus is an independent consultant on nuclear technology and policy, a position she has held since 2007. Dr. Marcus served as Deputy Director-General of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development from 2004 to 2007. From 1999 to 2004, she was Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology at the Department of Energy. Dr. Marcus held a number of roles at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from 1985 to 1999, including Acting Deputy Executive Director for the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards/Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste from 1997 to 1998, a senior executive in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation from 1992 to 1997, NRC Liaison to Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1992, Technical Assistant to NRC Commissioner Rogers from 1987 to 1992, and a senior executive in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research from 1985 to 1987. Dr. Marcus was Assistant Chief for the Science Policy Research Division at the Congressional Research Service from 1980 to 1985 and Deputy Chief for the Support Systems Division of Analytic Services Inc. from 1972 to 1980. She has served as President of the American Nuclear Society and as Chair of the Engineering Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Marcus received an S.B., S.M., and Sc.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Kate Marshall, Nominee for Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission Kate Marshall has been a Principal at her own legal consulting firm, Marshall Legal Consulting, since 2015. From 2015 to 2016, Ms. Marshall was the Executive Director of Opportunity Alliance Nevada. She is the former Nevada State Treasurer where she served from 2007 to 2014. From 2002 to 2006, she was a solo practitioner at the Law Offices of Kate Marshall. Ms. Marshall served as Executive Director of Advanced Telecom Group, Inc. from 2000 to 2002 and was Senior Deputy Attorney General in the Nevada Attorney Generals Office from 1997 to 2000. Ms. Marshall also worked in the Antitrust Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, first as a trial attorney in the San Francisco Field Office from 1990 to 1994, and then as a trial attorney for the Telecommunications Task Force from 1994 to 1997. From 1983 to 1985, Ms. Marshall served as a teacher for the U.S. Peace Corps stationed in Kenya. Ms. Marshall received a B.A. and J.D. from University of California, Berkeley. Leslie Greene Bowman, Nominee for Member, National Council on the Humanities Leslie Greene Bowman is President and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, a position she has held since 2008. Previously, she was Director and CEO of the Winterthur Museum from 1999 to 2008, and Executive Director and CEO of the National Museum of Wildlife Art from 1997 to 1999. From 1980 to 1997, she served in various curatorial and management positions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Ms. Bowman was also a Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She was appointed to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House in 1995 and was reappointed in 2013. From 2002 to 2008, she served on the Board of the Association of Art Museum Directors. Ms. Bowman received a B.Phil. from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and an M.A. from the University of Delaware. Dr. George Sanchez, Nominee for Member, National Council on the Humanities Dr. George Sanchez is Vice Dean for Diversity and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Southern California (USC), a position he has held since 2010. Dr. Sanchez is also Director of the Center for Diversity and Democracy at USC and is Professor of American Studies & Ethnicity and History, positions he has held since 2007 and 2005, respectively. He has held numerous administrative and academic positions since joining the faculty of USC in 1997 including Vice Dean for College Diversity from 2009 to 2010, Director for College Diversity from 2008 to 2009, and former President of the American Studies Association from 2001 to 2002. Dr. Sanchez also held numerous academic appointments at the University of Michigan and the University of California, Los Angeles. He received the inaugural 2011 Equity Award from the American Historical Association and the 2010 Outstanding Latino, a Faculty in Higher Education Award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, Inc. Dr. Sanchez received a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Stanford University. Kent Hirozawa, Nominee for Member, National Labor Relations Board Kent Hirozawa is a Member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a position he has held since 2013. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Hirozawa was chief counsel to NLRB Chairman Mark Pearce. Prior to that, he was a partner in the New York law firm Gladstein, Reif and Meginniss LLP from 1990 to 2010 and an associate from 1986 to 1989. Mr. Hirozawa previously served as a field attorney for the NLRB from 1984 to 1986. He was a Law Clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1982 to 1984. Mr. Hirozawa received a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from New York University School of Law. President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individual to a key Administration post: Emanuel Chirico, Appointee for Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations Emanuel Chirico is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Phillip Van Heusen (PVH Corp.), positions he has held since 2007 and 2006 respectively. Mr. Chirico has been at PVH Corp. since 1993 and has served in multiple capacities including President and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to PVH Corp., Mr. Chirico joined Ernst & Young in 1979 and served as Partner from 1989 to 1993. He was previously on the Board of Trustees of Fordham University, and currently serves on the boards for Save the Children and Dicks Sporting Goods. Mr. Chirico received a B.S. from Fordham University. President Obama Nominates Eight to Serve on United States District Courts Washington, DC - Today, President Obama nominated Judge Patricia D. Barksdale, Judge Todd E. Edelman, William F. Jung, Judge Philip R. Lammens, Judge Florence Y. Pan, Regina M. Rodriguez, Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson, and Anne Rachel Traum to serve on the United States District Courts. Throughout their careers, these nominees have displayed unwavering commitment to justice and integrity, said President Obama. Their records are distinguished and impressive, and I am confident that they will serve the American people well from the United States District Court bench. I am honored to nominate them today. Judge Patricia D. Barksdale: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida Judge Patricia D. Barksdale has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida since 2013. Prior to her appointment as a Magistrate Judge, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida from 2005 to 2013, during which she served as Senior Litigation Counsel from 2011 to 2013. From 2004 to 2005, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Timothy J. Corrigan of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Judge Barksdale worked as counsel for CSX Transportation, Inc. from 2000 to 2004 and as an associate in the Jacksonville, Florida office of McGuire Woods, LLP from 1997 to 2000. She began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Emmett R. Cox of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from 1996 to 1997. Judge Barksdale received her J.D. Order of the Coif and with high honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1996 and her B.A. from the University of Florida in 1993. Judge Todd E. Edelman: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Todd E. Edelman has served as an Associate Judge on the Superior Court for the District of Columbia since 2010. Prior to his appointment to the court, from 2008 to 2010, he was a Visiting Associate Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center. From 2005 to 2008, he was of counsel at the law firm Bredhoff & Kaiser, P.L.L.C. in Washington, D.C. He worked for the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia from 1997 to 2005, during which time he served as a Staff Attorney for the Trial Division from 1997 to 2001, a Supervising Attorney for the Trial Division from 2001 to 2002, the Chief of the Serious Felony Section from 2002 to 2004, and the Training Director from 2004 to 2005. From 1995 to 1997, he was an E. Barrett Prettyman Fellow at Georgetown University Law Center. Judge Edelman began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable William B. Bryant of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia from 1994 to 1995. He received his J.D. cum laude from New York University School of Law in 1994 and his B.A. cum laude from Yale University in 1990. William F. Jung: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida William F. Jung is a partner at the law firm of Jung & Sisco, P.A. (formerly Black & Jung, P.A.) in Tampa, Florida, which he co-founded in 1993. He specializes in white collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation. Prior to starting his own firm, Jung served as an Assistant United States Attorney for six years first in the Southern District of Florida from 1987 to 1990 and subsequently in the Middle District of Florida from 1990 to 1993. From 1985 to 1987, he was an associate for the Tampa, Florida office of Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, P.A. From 1984 to 1985, he served as a law clerk to then-Justice William H. Rehnquist of the Supreme Court of the United States. Jung began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Gerald Tjoflat of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He received his J.D. summa cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1983 and his B.A. magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 1980. Judge Philip R. Lammens: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida Judge Philip R. Lammens has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida since 2012. Prior to his appointment as a Magistrate Judge, from 2008 to 2012, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida. From 2006 to 2008, he served as Assistant General Counsel for the City of Jacksonvilles Office of General Counsel. Judge Lammens worked in the United States Department of Justices Civil Divisions Torts Branch Constitutional and Specialized Tort Litigation Section from 2005 to 2006. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Joel F. Dubina of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from 2004 to 2005. Judge Lammens began his legal career serving as a law clerk to the Honorable William Terrell Hodges of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida from 2002 to 2004. He received his J.D. Order of the Coif and with high honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2002 and his B.A. with high honors from the University of Florida in 1999. Judge Florence Y. Pan: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Florence Y. Pan has served as an Associate Judge on the Superior Court for the District of Columbia since 2009. Prior to joining the court, from 1999 to 2009, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, where she also served as Deputy Chief of the Appellate Division from 2007 to 2009. From 1998 to 1999, she worked at the United States Department of Treasury, first as a Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Financial Markets in 1998 and subsequently as a Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary for Domestic Finance in 1999. Judge Pan worked for the United States Department of Justice from 1995 to 1998, during which time she was a Bristow Fellow in the Office of the Solicitor General from 1995 to 1996 and an attorney in the Appellate Section of the Criminal Division from 1996 to 1998. From 1994 to 1995, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ralph K. Winter, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Judge Pan began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Michael B. Mukasey of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York from 1993 to 1994. She received her J.D. with distinction from Stanford Law School in 1993 and her B.A. and B.S. summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988. Regina M. Rodriguez: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Colorado Regina M. Rodriguez is a partner in the Denver, Colorado office of Hogan Lovells US LLP, where she specializes in mass tort and product liability defense. Previously, from 2002 to 2016, she worked in the Denver office of Faegre & Benson LLP (now Faegre Baker Daniels LLP) as a special counsel until she was elevated to partner in 2005. She served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado from 1995 to 2002, during which time she served as the Deputy Chief of the Civil Division from 1998 to 1999 and as Chief of the Civil Division from 1999 to 2002. In addition, from 1997 to 1998, she served a four-month detail as Deputy Senior Counsel for Alternative Dispute Resolution in the United States Department of Justice. Rodriguez began her legal career as an associate in the Denver law firm of Cooper & Kelly, P.C. (now defunct) from 1988 to 1995. She received her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1988 and her B.S. with honors from the University of Iowa in 1985. Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson has served as the Vice Chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights since 2015 and Commissioner from 2014 to 2015. Prior to her appointment to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, she served as an Associate Justice for the Supreme Court of North Carolina from 2006 to 2012. From 1997 to 2005, she served as an Associate Judge for the North Carolina Court of Appeals. From 1984 to 1997, she served as a State District Court Judge for the North Carolina District Court for the Twelfth Judicial District. Prior to her judicial service, from 1983 to 1984, Justice Timmons-Goodson was a staff attorney for Lumbee River Legal Services. From 1981 to 1983, she served as an assistant district attorney for the Office of the District Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial District. She began her career working as a district manager for the United States Census Bureaus Charlotte Regional Office from 1979 to 1980. Justice Timmons-Goodson received her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1979 and her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1976. She also received an L.L.M. in Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law in 2014. Anne Rachel Traum: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Nevada Anne Rachel Traum is a Professor of Law at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law. She is currently on leave from the law school and serving as Special Counsel in the Office for Access to Justice at the United States Department of Justice. Professor Traum joined the University of Nevada-Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law faculty in 2008, and she has served as the Director of the Appellate Clinic since 2009. She also served as the Associate Dean for Experiential Legal Education from 2013 to 2015. From 2002 to 2008, Professor Traum served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Federal Public Defenders Office in Las Vegas, Nevada. She served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Nevada from 2000 to 2002, while on detail from the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice, where she worked from 1998 to 2000. She began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Stanwood R. Duval, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Professor Traum received her J.D. Order of the Coif and cum laude from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1996 and her A.B. with honors from Brown University in 1991. Attack on al-Quds Hospital in Aleppo, Syria Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "We are outraged by yesterdays airstrikes in Aleppo on the al-Quds hospital supported by both Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which killed dozens of people, including children, patients, and medical personnel. "While we are still trying to gather the facts surrounding the circumstances of this attack, it appears to have been a deliberate strike on a known medical facility and follows the Assad regimes appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders. These strikes have killed hundreds of innocent Syrians. "The United Nations today assessed the situation in Aleppo to be catastrophic, and the regimes most recent offensive actions there despite the cessation of hostilities compound the violence and undermine the cessation of hostilities. "Russia has an urgent responsibility to press the regime to fulfill its commitments under UNSCR 2254, including in particular to stop attacking civilians, medical facilities, and first responders, and to abide fully by the cessation of hostilities." A resolution has been reached between the HSE and the forensic examiners who provide the Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment (CASAT) service in Galway and the service has fully resumed, the Executive has confirmed. Speaking at the announcement, Paediatrician Dr Joanne Nelson said: I am delighted to announce that the Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment Service in Galway has resumed full service following agreement and funding to meet minimum standards for best practice. Tony Canavan, HSE Chief Officer for Community Services in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, added: We have been able to come to an agreement with the team who provide this service. We would like to acknowledge that this is the only 24-hour service in Ireland where young victims of sexual abuse or alleged rape can be forensically examined. The service, based in Ballybrit, was established in 2011 by Dr Nelson and Dr Roger Derham. It provides 24-hour forensic medical care access to children and adolescents under the age 14. Last year, the unit assessed or treated more than 70 children. gary.culliton@imt.ie This Isnt Our Last Love Letter Dear Don Don, Way back in 92 I walked into the room and knew Never felt this way before I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes And the feeling grew As I took a seat I knew A love that would have my heart Forever I knew Way back in 92 They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true We were the exception to that rule Our love had no where to hide A spark set fire As if this is how the universe started I never doubted our love or what we could do Together we grew Forming a bond everlasting That became our glue My euphoria was YOU Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared For how fortunate we were : to have and to hold through sickness and in health Til death do us part Until we are together again This isnt our last love letter I love you with all my heart and soul Yours forever, Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow) Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus. A True American Hero I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus. I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years. I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years. But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us. In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about. Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle. I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life. I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life. No one will ever do what he did. I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO David Jurist IMUS IN THE MORNING FIRST DAY BACK! Notice Asking Women Advocates Not to 'Arrange' Hair in Open Court in Pune Sparks Outrage Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Daniel Bruhl is recounting one of those outer-body experiences actors get working on a Marvel movie. Recruited to the cast of the latest superhero venture, Captain America: Civil War, he arrived on set keenly. I, being very German, was overpunctual and stepping in the make-up trailer five minutes before my time. And all the seats were occupied by Scarlett [Johansson], Chris [Evans] and Robert [Downey Jr]. This was one of these moments where I thought, Shit, Im here! This rollercoaster ride, as he puts it, hasnt stopped since. The first floor of the London hotel where Bruhl is holed up, dutifully promoting his role as the villainous Zemo, is awash with Avengers. A beefed-up Evans, who plays Captain America, stalks the corridor. Elizabeth Olsen, who joined the franchise as Scarlett Witch in last years Avengers: Age of Ultron, glides down it with all the precision of a catwalk model. And Anthony Mackie aka The Falcon can be heard booming with laughter in the next room. By comparison, Bruhl is simply attired, in a pale grey pullover and navy slacks, quietly sipping his afternoon coffee. In the past hes worked with Quentin Tarantino, playing the German sniper in Inglorious Basterds, and Ron Howard, winning Bafta and Golden Globe nominations for his turn as Austrian racing driver Niki Lauda in Rush. But, still living in Berlin where he was raised, youre just as likely to find him in a German, French or Spanish-language movie. He was at least able to call on one A-List friend before taking the plunge to join the Marvel team: Thor star Chris Hemsworth. The two became friends after starring in Rush. I emailed him and said, What do you think? He said, Do it. Definitely. You will enjoy it. They will take care of you. Sadly, Hemsworths Thor is one of the few Avengers not to return for this enormous and hugely entertaining superhero showdown. I would have loved to have a scene with Thor, Bruhl smiles. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Show all 34 1 /34 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 1. Captain America: Civil War Release date: 6 May 2016. Iron Man and Captain America are set to face off in this superhero blockbuster that will feature nearly all the Avengers but wont be an Avengers film. It will also mark the first time Spider-Man will feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Sony having made a deal with Marvel Studios. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 2. X-Men: Apocalypse Release date: 27 May 2016. Following the success of Days of Future Past, Apocalypse will follow the young X-Men team as the battle against Oscar Isaacs titular villain as he gathers his four horsemen; Magneto (Fassbender), Angel (Hardy), Storm (Shipp), and Psylocke (Munn). Expect carnage and no Wolverine. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 3. Suicide Squad Release date: 5 August 2016. The first supervillain film, Suicide Squad is also based in the DCEU (DC Extended Universe, where Batman and Superman live) and will introduce the world to Margot Robbies Harley Quinn and Jared Letos Joker. One of the more exciting upcoming DC films thats for sure. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 4. Doctor Strange Release date: 4 November 2016. Benedict Cumberbatch will debut in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Captain America and Iron Man live) as the Sorcerer Supreme. The film already has an incredible cast, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachael McAdams and Tilda Swinton. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 5. Untitled Lego Batman film Release date: 20 February 2017. Kicking off 2017 is the Lego version of Batman, who will lead his own spin-off, having already featured in the amazing Lego Movie. Will Arnett voices the titular character, while Zach Garfianakis - from the Hangover - will voice The Joker. But will he better than Leto? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 6. Untitled Wolverine film Release date: 3 March 2017. Having not starred in X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine will return to the big screen in a solo film which was recently made R-Rated following the success of Deadpool. It is expected to be Hugh Jackmans last outing as the titular character. Fox 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Release date: 5 May 2017. Chris Pratt and the crew are returning to space in the sequel to the surprisingly successful Guardians of the Galaxy. According to director James Gunn, the film will not feature Thanos, even though he will to play a major role in phase MCU Phase 3. Cast includes newcomers Kurt Russell and Pom Klementieff, as well as, rumour has it, Sylvester Stallone. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 8. Wonder Woman Release date: 23 June 2017. Gal Gadot is returning to the DCEU in her very own film, marking the first female-led superhero film on this list. Chris Pine is on board to play Wonder Womans love interest. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 9. Untitled Spider-Man reboot Release date: 7 July 2017. Yes, it is another Spider-Man reboot, having previously been redone with Andrew Garfield as the lead. However, this time it is part of the MCU, with Tom Holland as the titular character, and a heavily rumoured cameo by Iron Man could be in the pipeline. We can dream. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 10. Untitled Fox film Release date: 6 October 2017. In a strange announcement, Fox decided to withhold the release of Gambit until a future, as-yet unannounced date, which could be here, or this could be a completely separate project. Many suspect Deadpool 2 could nicely fit here, Fox capitalising on the success of the first film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 11. Thor: Ragnarok Release date: 3 November 2017. Chris Hemsworth will be returning as the Norse God in his third solo MCU film. Flight of the Conchords Taika Waititi is on board to direct, and promises a fun adventure that will likely lead into Marvels next project, Infinity War. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 12. Justice League Part One Release date: 17 November 2017. Hot on the heals of Thor comes Justice League Part One, the first DCEU team-up flick which will see Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg work together to fight bad guys. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 13: Untitled Fox film Release date: 12 January 2018. Kicking off 2018 will likely be the second Deadpool film, but then again, this could very well be another X-Men team-up. Theres also talk of an X-Force film, with Deadpool and other mutants teaming up to fight evil. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 14. Black Panther Release date: 16 February 2018. The first non-white male-led superhero film in the MCU comes in the form of Black Panther, with Chadwick Boseman reprising the titular role, having also starred as the Panther in Civil War. Creeds Ryan Coogler is on to direct what could be a very exciting film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 15. The Flash Release date: 16 March 2018. The Flash will be the first DCEU film since Justice League, and sees Ezra Miller take the lead. Phil Lord and Chris Miller were supposed to pen the film before Disney snapped them up for the Han Solo-film, leaving Seth Grahame-Smith to take charge. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 16. Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 Release date: 4 May 2018. And so, we finally get to the point of all these Infinity Stones! Thanos will be the big bad, with the Avengers needing to team up to defeat their biggest foe yet. It has previously been described as the end of the Avengers as we know it. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 17. Ant-Man and The Wasp Release date: 6 July 2018. Peyton Reed will be back to direct this surprise sequel to one of the better received MCU films. While the name is ridiculous, at least Marvel are finally having a leading female superhero. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 18. Untitled Fox film Release date: 13 July 2018. Again, not much word on this one except it is thought to be X-Men spin-off New Mutants, something Josh Boone has been hit up to write. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 19. Animated Spider-Man Film Release date: 20 July 2018. Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, and Amy Pascal - the team behind the live-action Spider-Man films - are producing this unrelated animated adaptation of the hero. Because you can never have too much Spider-Man, right? 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 20. Aquaman Release date: 27 July 2018. Another Justice League spin-off, Jason Momoa plays the leading man. Furious 7s James Wan is on to direct, but little else is known about the film. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 21. Captain Marvel Release date: 8 March 2019. Weve hit 2019, and the first confirmed superhero film will be the first proper female-led MCU film. No-one is confirmed to be in the titular role of Carol Danvers just yet. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 22. Shazam Release date: 5 April 2019. Dwayne Johnson stars as the villain in this DCEU film which will be somewhat separate to the other DC films. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 23. Avengers: Infinity War Part 2. Release date: 3 May 2019. The conclusion to the long drawn MCU saga. Expect a big finish with at least a few planets being destroyed. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 24. Justice League Part Two Release date: 14 June 2019. Soon after the Infinity War story reaches its conclusion, so will the Justice Leagues. Not much is known, except Darkseid will likely be the villain for at least one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 25. Inhumans Release date: 12 July 2019. The concept of Inhumans (or Marvels mutants) has already been introduced in TV, through Marvels Agents of Shield, yet the film is expected to introduce the Royal Family who have yet to be seen in the show. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 26. Cyborg Release date: 3 April 2020. Having debuted in Justice League Part One three years previously, Cyborg will finally be making his own outing, with Ray Fisher as the titular character. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 27. Untitled MCU film Release date: 1 May 2020. The first of three untitled Marvel films. There are a couple of contenders, the first is a likely sequel to Spider-Man with Sony, or a third Guardians of the Galaxy film, thus finishing the trilogy. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 28. Green Lantern Corps. Release date: 19 June 2020. Before you start to worry, this has nothing to do with the Ryan Reynolds-starring flick that hit cinemas a little while ago. Instead, this will be another DCEU film that will likely spin-off from Justice League after the Green Lantern Corps cameo in one of the parts. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 29. Untitled MCU film Release date: 10 July 2020. As well as Spider-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy sequels, a Doctor Strange or Black Panther one could fit in nicely here. Or perhaps Black Widow may finally get the solo-film she deserves. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 30. Untitled MCU film Release date: 6 November 2020. Some speculators also think a Blade film could fit in here, marking over 20 years since the first Blade. But many believe the character may be better suited to a Netflix series, as with Daredevil and Jessica Jones. Theres also talk of a Runaways film reaching cinemas at some stage. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 31. Untitled Ben Affleck Batman film Release date: TBA. Now were onto the TBA release dates, the first of which is a Batman solo film, written and directed by Ben Affleck. When this is due, no one is quite sure but expect it sooner rather than later if Batman v Superman is a success. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 32. Suicide Squad 2 Release date: TBA (rumoured 2017). A sequel to Suicide Squad is expected to come in 2017 according to recent reports, but nothing has been confirmed. If the first is successful, it should come as no surprise for Warner Bros to rearrange their schedule to fit in this surefire hit. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 33. Venom Release date: TBA. This is an odd one, as it has been confirmed Sony are wanting to release a Venom film completely unrelated to the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. Venom, as you may know, is a Spider-Man villain, intrinsically linked to Spider-Man, so it seems odd they would release a film unrelated to the rebooted project and not linked to the MCU. 33 Superhero films set for release between 2016 and 2020 Anything else? Well, now you mention it, theres also that sequel to Fantastic Four that has seemingly been dropped by Fox. Plus, theres the Gambit film which has been put on hold (but will likely fill an untitled Fox slot so we havent added it extra). Then again, it could be shoehorned in somehow Marvel It hardly matters, with a story that draws from the 2006-2007 comic series written by Mark Millar, in which the Avengers are pitted against each other after a law is brought in to regulate their activities following the bloody fallout of a rescue mission in Lagos. Thats why I was attracted to this story, says Bruhl. All these moral questions these superheroes haveAre we really that perfect? What damage are we causing? As the films global PR campaign cranks into gear, you can expect to see #TeamCap and #TeamIronMan everywhere, as Evans Captain America and Robert Downey Jrs metal-suit-sporting Tony Stark go head-to-head. To see who is choosing which side is fascinating, says Bruhl. But what about his character? Cant we get #TeamZemo trending? Thats what I said, he chuckles. I need some support! Hes hardly the first European to join the Marvel universe following in the footsteps of Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Delpy and a number of Brits but his presence indicates the savvy nature of uber-producer Kevin Feige, who met with Bruhl in London long before the shoot began. The actor admits hes not exactly an expert in the source comics. I was very scared before the first meeting. I thought, Oh God, what if hes asking me professional Marvel questions...? Fortunately, there was no entrance exam to pass. Bruhls character is also markedly different from the Baron Zemo in the comics, who wore a purple mask to disguise a disfigured face. Rather than the typical army-raising, world-conquering nemesis, his character in the film is a shadowy figure (with a penchant for bacon and coffee). It was much more interesting to have this mysterious guy in the background who pulls all these strings. Chris Evans as Captain America, his seventh appearance as the superhero (Rex) Bruhl isnt quite so mysterious. Born in Barcelona to a German father and a Spanish mother (the story goes, she didnt trust German hospitals and wanted to give birth in Spain), he also had a splash of French in the family. I grew up with half-French cousins because two of my German uncles married French women, so I always consider myself as very European, he says. Thats why my goal was to work in different languages and different film cultures. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up His late father Hanno Bruhl was a director of both documentaries and TV features, and Bruhl got to work with him when he was 19 on the 1999 TV movie Hin und Weg. That was very strange, he admits. His career escalated quickly, with 2003s Bafta-nominated Goodbye Lenin! In the very same year he was profiled as one of the Berlin Film Festivals Shooting Stars. This February, he presented the award to a new crop of young talent. I felt like a grandfather, he groans. Yet there can be no doubt that the 37-year-old Bruhl is now one of the top European actors of his generation. Hes a really intelligent guy, very believable, admits Michael Winterbottom, who cast him in The Face Of An Angel, his film inspired by the Amanda Knox case, in which Bruhl played a documentary filmmaker. Other directors who have been drawn to him include Anton Corbijn (for A Most Wanted Man) and Bill Condon (The Fifth Estate). Bruhl will next be seen alongside Emma Watson in Colonia, a harrowing true-life tale set in Pinochet-era Chile. Playing a German citizen kidnapped into the abusive Colonia Dignidad sect, he met a real victim as part of his research. With somebody who is alive and tells you stories...you realise that...sometimes it was unbearable to listen to these stories, he stammers. And the film, we couldnt possibly show the whole horror, because it would be impossible for an audience to see that. Having also shot two forthcoming Second World War stories, Alone In Berlin and The Zookeepers Wife, with Jessica Chastain, its been a tough year. Hes barely been at home. Now I feel a certain homesickness, because Ive been travelling so much. I want to take it easy now and only do the stuff I really believe in. So this is a change which just happened this last year. Making back-to-back movies is a young mans game. I was like that when I was a 'Shooting Star', he chuckles. Now Im an old man. Captain America: Civil War opens in cinemas on 29 April. Colonia is released on 1 July. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Film classics like Ingmar Bergmans 1966 Persona are sometimes difficult to place within cinematic trends and traditions, but this Vimeo montage might make it a little easier. Despite being pretty avant-garde, the Swedish psychological drama clearly influenced a huge number of directors many years after its release, particularly in terms of the way it played with foreground and background, mirroring, symmetry and breaking the fourth wall. The influence of Ingmar Bergman's Persona is legion, explained Steven Benedict, who put together the video. This short video-essay uses but 29 examples to position his masterpiece in terms of what came after it (from Apocalypse Now and The Silence of the Lambs to Heat, The Truman Show and Fight Club) and what went before (from Orphee and Vertigo to Psycho and Shadows). It shows how Bergman visualised his central theme of identity by way of reflections, splitting the screen, and shadows. Which recent movies will become classics? Show all 21 1 /21 Which recent movies will become classics? Which recent movies will become classics? Birdman - Undoubtedly Alejandro G. Inarritus masterpiece will surely be remembered for years to come - fiercely original in its concept, brave in its single take(esque) format and the perfect satire of a very specific and bizarre era of cinema we find ourselves in. What perhaps was so astonishing about this Best Picture Oscar winner was that in spite of its experimental format and lofty intentions, it still also managed to be hugely entertaining, and is eminently rewatchable. - Christopher Hooton Fox Searchlight Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? There Will Be Blood - Potentially Inherent Vice feels like its been forgotten already, The Master was great but too weighty for some, but There Will Be Blood is the Paul Thomas Anderson film that comes up time and time again in pub film conversations, whether theyre between cinephiles or more casual fans. A blank yet brutal indictment of lucre, Daniel Day Lewis gave one of his best ever performances as oil man Daniel Plainview, and Jonny Greenwoods fearsome score is still being performed live several years after its release. But mainly, I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP! - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Avatar - Probably not Its undeniable that James Camerons gargantuan blockbuster Avatar will find its place in the cinematic history books. With a worldwide gross of over 2.7 billion, its currently the highest earning film of all time - even Star Wars' The Force Awakens return couldn't topple it. But will it actually be remembered fondly? Its ground-breaking special effects already betray the first signs of aging, and though its use of 3D was revolutionary at the time, its now so pedestrian as to be found in a Glee concert movie. What is there to revere then? The patronising narrative re-hash of the plot to Dances With Wolves? Or the bit where two cat-aliens had sex by plugging their hair braids into each other? - Clarisse Loughrey Which recent movies will become classics? Whiplash - Within its own genre at least Whiplash was perhaps the most buzzy, "have you seen it yet?" film of 2014, and winning major Oscars off a budget of $3.3 million was no mean feat. Damien Chazelle managed to make a film about drumming absolutely edge-of-your-seat stuff, and succeeded by not patronising his audience - trusting that even if they didnt understand the music theory detail, they would still be able to revel in it. Unfortunately, it might just be too small a film to be remembered as a classic, but will certainly be circling the top of best movies about music lists for some years to come. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Skyfall Depends whos Bond next Best Bond of all time? Skyfalls slick, true, but its status as an icon seems heavily premature. Were still clinging onto the Craig era, and its hard to argue that Skyfall doesnt do the same; trading its entire dramatic tension on the premise that weve long been deeply attached to this grizzled Bond and equally grizzled M. In Silvas personal vendetta, or in the neat metaphors of Skyfall Lodges crumbling exteriors and Bonds crumbling interiors of a post-Vesper Lynd world; its only once the franchise has moved on to new pastures that well truly start to see whether Skyfall can go the distance. Doesnt help that Spectre was a bit of a disappointment, though. -CL Which recent movies will become classics? Mad Max: Fury Road - A gutsy yes Yes, its a madly confident move to already claim Fury Roads going to a bonafide classic within its first year of release, but Fury Road is a mad movie. 36 years after its original incarnation, George Miller returned to the wasteland to conjure the greatest adrenaline hit of the cinematic decade. Breathlessly edited, hued with the colours of dust and dirt and rage; packed to the brim with practical stunt work unseen in the digital age. Plus, its a film that actively dismantles the patriarchy through a gun-slinging, metal-armed Charlize Theron. If its not remembered as one of the greatest blockbusters of its time, itll certainly be remembered as one of the gutsiest. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? The Great Beauty - No, but it damn well should be It won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2014, but this Paolo Sorrentino masterpiece is still unknown to most. It centres on a group of aging intellectuals partying on rooftops across Rome to Eurodance, and within this frame of superficiality it manages staggering profundity. The dialogue is rich, the cinematography sumptuous, and if Fellini is considered classic, this fellow Italians work certainly should be too. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Little Miss Sunshine - Within its own genre, yes The Sundance Effect has unfortunately developed a near plague of insufferable, self-conscious mawkishness over the years. Misfit boys finding new meaning to their existence in the arms of pink-haired manic pixie dream girls; sun-dappled bike rides as the latest band to feature a ukulele solo play softly in the distance. Some have indeed come off this false and cloying (Zach Braffs Garden State), others smarter and keener (last years Me and Earl and the Dying Girl); but as the fires of kook devour all in sight, there will always remain one film left standing in the ashes: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Little Miss Sunshine. One scene that guarantees its elevation above the rabble sees teenager Dwayne (Paul Dano) realise hes colour-blind, and thus will never be able to achieve his dream of becoming a jet fighter. Danos meltdown here is so raw, and so positively tragic, that itll be a hard job to ever forget that epic f-bomb as the years pass. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? Lost in Translation - I'll still be watching it in my 80s at least Really a perfect movie. The casting couldn't have been better and Sofia Coppola conveys the choking feeling of an overly air-conditioned hotel room like no-one else. So many of the shots were beautiful in their simplicity. Bill Murray making a nice crisp, clean golf shot before walking off down the course. The flower arranging scene. Bill lightly grabbing Scarlett Johansson's foot and this subtly serving as the film's 'kiss'. It's the unconventional romance at the heart of the film that makes it so great, though, which is as much about companionship as physical and emotional love. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Crash - Hahahahahahahahaha Seriously, how did it win that Oscar? Even the director doesn't know. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Pans Labyrinth - Absolutely Guillermo del Toro dreams on celluloid; hes a weaver of fairy tales in an age where innocence is presumed dead. Its through innocence, through innocent eyes, that we witness the darkest excesses of human nature in a way that so exposes the incomprehensibility of evil committed in the pursuit of power. Through young Ophelias perspective we watch the horrors of Francos Spanish regime play out, the barbaric cruelty of her stepfather Captain Vidal; she fears not the horned faun who lives in the labyrinth when its so clear her own patriarchal figurehead is the true monster. And though its finale may be heart-breaking, del Toro still allows innocence a certain victory. Victory through Ophelias eyes, those pure and hungry enough to see beyond the borders of her bleak reality to find an escape from the seemingly unstoppable monstrosities of adulthood. - CL Warner Bros. Which recent movies will become classics? Im Still Here - When everyone realises its genius Initially admonished for being exploitative of Joaquin Phoenixs condition, it was astonishing that, when this Casey Affleck-directed mockumentary was revealed to be a hoax, most critics didnt give it a second review, and those who did still disliked it. In hindsight this was so much more than a prank. Phoenix stayed in character as a failed actor turned hip-hop artist for months on end. This dedication wasnt for nothing either (unlikely say, DiCaprio in The Revenant), Im Still Here is actually a very funny, moving and subtly satirical film, and definitely original. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Boyhood - I doubt it While it too was an unprecedented piece of cinema, Boyhood for me faded from the memory very quickly. Dismissing this film as essentially a puberty timelapse might be a little harsh, but the set-up did ultimately come off gimmicky and as a coming of age story it failed to resonate. Admirable, but not a classic - CH Universal Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? The Social Network - Yes I was less than thrilled at the prospect of a movie about Facebook, but then pleasantly surprised upon watching it. A holy production trinity of David Fincher (director), Aaron Sorkin (screenwriter) and Trent Reznor (score) told a story that changed all of our lives with such panache. Texting, the internet, social media etc are so prosaic that many authors and filmmakers disingenuously leave them out of their stories, but here they were central and yet still the film was engrossing, stylish and human. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Django Unchained - Hell yeah/hell maybe Swiping its titular characters name from a 1966 Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Corbucci, Tarantino utilised his trademark flair for ultra-violence and nihilistic humour to create the perfect meeting point between revisionism and classicism. Django channeled brutality in the name of righteous fury, allowing the freedom fighting slaves of a pre-Civil War Deep South their own legendary cowboy of the John Wayne or Clint Eastwood type. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? The Tree of Life - A few people will kid themselves its classic Terrence Malicks experimental drama couldnt really have been more ambitious or tried to chip away at a bigger chunk of existence. As such, it was automatically lauded by many who didnt really know what to make of it, but looking back, was it worthy of the praise? The Brad-Pitt-is-a-family-man-in-the-50s plot strand was actually pretty unremarkable, and were it not for the brazenness of the extended shots of the universe being formed I doubt it would have made top ten lists the way it did. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Her - Yes, as a historical document Films depicting the future remain fascinating decades later because they show, in retrospect, how we wanted the world to progress and what developments we simply couldnt have conceived. As such Her will definitely still be getting talked about in years to come, whether or not we do indeed end up falling in love with our computers. (Also see: Ex Machina) - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Any of the space movies? Maybe Interstellar We seem to get a big budget space movie annually these days, and while none of them really have the creativity of Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar stands a chance of staying atop VOD libraries. Gravity and The Martian, while technically brilliant, were pretty forgettable, and dont get me started on Sunshine. Interstellar was very impressive though, and if a Christopher Nolan films going to stand out Id rather it be this one than - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Inception - Please no Yes, its insanely watchable and the plot zips along nicely, but seriously, can we stop pretending people falling backwards off chairs and out of camp, alpine sub-dream worlds amounts to anything more than an overly convoluted, albeit pretty, action movie? - CH Which recent movies will become classics? The Wolf of Wall Street - Not compared to Scorseses earlier work If theres a burden of the artistic revolutionary, its that revolution is only ever momentary in its form; Martin Scorsese made his mark back in 1973 with Mean Streets, and its one thats been difficult to paint over in the 43 years which have since passed. The Wolf of Wall Street faults itself only in being pure Scorsese; its a film which trades purely in the breathless, macho style already so entrenched in cinematic culture. Essentially, Scorseses own genre-defining genius has doomed to obscurity any latter work which dares to fold into the directors own natural form of expression; its made derivative any work which doesnt actively rebel against what hes been most celebrated for. A tough reality, but a reality nonetheless. - CL Paramount Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? Nymphomaniac - Maybe if Part II hadnt happened Even the truest of arthouse directors are culpable for the whims of Hollywood franchises. Yes, with his dual Nymphomaniac films, Lars von Trier managed to ruin the potential classic of his career by needlessly stretching his narrative across two films; churning out the NC-17 answer to Peter Jacksons Hobbit trilogy in the process. Strip Nymphomaniac of the controversy and media hysteria surrounding its use of pornographic actors in its sex scenes; and theres a torn, throbbing soul at its centre. For all its salaciousness, von Triers exploration of the crippling effects of shame society burdens those, especially its women, who dare seek sexual pleasure is genuinely haunting. Thats in Part I, however; by the time Joes life story sees her grow from Stacy Martin into Charlotte Gainsbourg, von Triers epic dissolves into the bang of a drum in continuous, endless cycles. Shes horny and sad; we got it, Lars. - CL Read more: Watch actors playing actors acting Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Rogue One actor Mads Mikkelsen clearly didnt get the Disney memo titled DONT TALK ABOUT STAR WARS EVER ahead of his Sky News interview today, revealing hes playing Jyns dad. "I mean, I wasn't really sure whether I was wearing a Storm Trooper outfit or anything like that at that point," he explained. "I read the script and it was very beautiful and Felicity's [Jones] playing Jyn, a young and very strong woman. I play her father. He very, very swiftly added: And that was too much, I'm sorry." The anchor replied: Everyone in the gallery just went *gasp*. We do already have a trailer for Rogue One, but it didnt give a huge amount away, especially with regards to Mikkelsens character. The actor was also asked about Darth Vaders potential involvement in the movie, but realised hed already given away too much. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in cinemas on 16 December in the UK and US. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Drake's new album Views (formerly Views from the 6) has dropped. You can find out how to navigate your way through the always messy release strategy and actually listen to the thing here, and what follows is some very scattered initial thoughts from my first listen, track-by-track. Keep the Family Close A sparse, orchestral opening. 'Sparse' isn't right, it's more like stately. Almost Bond theme-esque in its strings stabs. Reminiscent of that 'big' sound The Weeknd went for on his latest album. Trust issues form the theme, centring around the line 'All of my "let's just be friends" are friends I don't have anymore'. Made me laugh a little that Drake sings this line with a straight face: 'Always saw you for what you could've been / Ever since you met me / Like when Chrysler made that one car that looked just like the Bentley'. Love a vehicular simile. 9 Oh boyyyyy. This beat. Producers 40 and Boi-1da take a fey shimmer that sounds like a waterfall on some distant tropical planet, riddle it with hi-hats and underpin it with an almost video game-sounding synth. Track's all about his hometown, I turn the six upside down, it's a nine now - Drake saying hes turned Toronto on its head. A pretty chilled start to the album so far. U With Me? DMX sample. Another twisted love song, Drake is anxious about whether his girl is really with him. It's not the dancehall record some expected so far - this track feels like it could be on Take Care or even Thank Me Later. Listen out for the third verse, which builds from monotone rap into a half sung/half shouted kind of thing. Huge. Expect 'A lot of n*ggas cut the check so they can take this flow' to be slapped on myriad Instagram captions this summer. Drake - 'Views' album pics Show all 11 1 /11 Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Drake - 'Views' album pics Feel No Ways The most 80s snare Ive ever heard. Hes still holding off on the usual Drake braggadocio, at least for now, this being another relationship-focused track - in this case about being stuck in a lazy, parasitic one. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Can definitely feel the Majid Jordan influence on the production here. Though Im not sure Im down with it, there are a lot more interludes in between tracks than we usually get with Drake. Hype Oh lord, a track with this name was only ever going to one way and yep, its an ominous beat with pneumatically-drilled hi-hats and Drake going hard. Sounds like there's a deranged music box in the background. Track kind of reminiscent of '10 Bands' or 'Worst Behavior'. Weston Road Flows By contrast, much more of a throwback, 90s feel, which is appropriate as it's a song about his past. Drake grew up on Weston Road in Toronto (you may remember him referencing it in You & The 6: Do you remember back to Weston Road, Scarlett Road?). The sample here comes from Mary J. Bliges Marys Joint. Redemption Another slow jam! This is like Marvins Room: The Album. Im fine with that though, If Youre Reading This Its Too Late and What A Time To Be Alive were filled with enough bangers to fill the clubs for years. Drakes long-serving collaborator 40 really holding back here, just a wavering synth and simple kick and snare. The line Relationships slowin' me down, they slow down the vision pretty much sums up Drakes latest excuse for staying resolutely single on this album, which must be weighing on his mind more than ever as his peers all start to settle down. With You First proper spine-tingler/head-nodder of the album. Still stripped back but with more of a dancehall-y rhythm and Party Next Doors heavy reverb vocals over the top. This song feels like it belongs to this summers afternoons, setting sun peeking through the trees as everyone makes evening plans. Faithful After all the soulful stuff, Southern hip hop legend Pimp Cs more abrasive style stands out. Not a hugely memorable track on the whole, but those pitch-shifted vocals in the background are a nice nod to the Drake of old. A top-down track (or at the very least, sunroof open). Still Here Incredibly sinister intro and then comes the BOUNCE. I can already imagine this one being sung back to me in a kitchen at some ungodly hour. N.B. - those unhinged percussion hits at 2:22! Controlla Friend whos also listening somewhere right now: man i fucking love controlla, that beat gets me so happy. Indeed, such a feel good song that sounds like 'Hotline Blings twin. But we already knew that, Controlla having leaked recently. One Dance Same goes for this one. Were getting more up-tempo now, the keys stabs from Kylas Do You Mind reworked into afrobeat are irresistible, as is that machine gun volley. Would like to see Drake explore this genre more, if only so we get more dad dancing. This album's heating up. [*A side note on this. Drake said of Views: "What I used to tie it all together is winter to summer then back to winter again. It's to show you the two extreme moods we have, because were very grateful for our summers but we also make our winters work. And theyre harsh and our summers are hot and its a very unique place, you start to value your days more when seven months of them are spent in ice coldit creates a different type of atmosphere, a different sound in the music, a different type of person even. I thought it was really important to make the album here in winter."] Grammys Youll be hearing this Future collab a lot, as the pair are going on tour this summer. Future kicks off his verse with what is possibly a dig at his derivative, Desiigner, before repeating They gon think I won a Grammy. Kanye was tweeting recently about how the trapper should have been included in the last Grammys ceremony given that he owned the clubs the past year. Childs Play Soul clap! This sounds like a grower. Fast beat initially made my mind jump to Kelis and Andre 3000s Millionaire but now weve dropped into half-time and its a real scrunch-your-face-up-like-theres-a-bad-smell track. Im enjoying this record a lot, although theres been no obviously massive, Vine-ready moments a la Know Yourself yet. Pop Style We know this one well and its really the single of the album. The haunting vocal that sounds like its falling off a cliff is really moreish. Not surprised Jay Zs verse has been dropped given it contributed approximately nothing (I cant believe he was allowed back after Pound Cake) but I miss Kanyes bars in all their take you to the garage and do some karate ridiculousness. [Update: Allegedly Drizzy wasn't happy with Hov being on the track] [Update II: It was more that he just wanted him to actually do more than one line]. Too Good I always enjoy a Rihanna-Drake collab, and this is a continuation of the vibe of Work. I like how their four collabs (inc. Whats My Name and Take Care) all have that 'warring couple' setup. There isnt really a strong hook here, though. Summers Over Interlude Haha what the hell is this? Some kind of Smokey Robinson meets The Eagles porn soundtrack? Moving on. Fire & Desire Wow. Slow, off-kilter, triplet hi-hats give way to an incredibly smooth jam (sampling Brandys I Dedicate). Thats the kind of intro youll want to immediately wheel back. Views Title track so Im expecting big things. Immediately reminded of '6PM in New York,' Drake asking the big questions of himself over a really ecstatic, hopeful beat. Theres more veiled shots at Meek Mill - he really needs to let that thing go - but this is a really invigorating end to the album. Hotline Bling And he really should have left it there. Obviously Hotline Bling bangs, and I know its only supposed to be a bonus track, but it feels jarring as a finisher. Overall thoughts: A lot to take in at 9am in the morning (20 tracks), but a solid album. Definitely less dancefloor-orientated than his recent efforts, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Tracks I immediately want to listen to again: '9', 'Hype', 'Grammys', 'Still Here', 'With You', 'Fire & Desire', 'Views'. Only gripe - this doesnt feel like a huge step forward or progression in Drakes sound. If anything you could imagine Views sitting chronologically between Take Care and Nothing was the Same. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} BT is about to hike prices for millions of households, and other companies are likely to follow. Prices across its broadband, phone and TV packages will be hiked up from this summer, the company has announced. It has put up costs substantially in recent years, and each hike has usually been followed by a similar move from its rivals. Landline charges will go up by 1, it said, rising 5.5 per cent to almost 19. The most popular call package will also have its price increased by about 7 per cent. 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 Most broadband packages will also go up by about 2 per month, it said. BT promised those customers that they would receive extra usage allowances and some increases in speed. The prices for ringing people outside of contracts will also go up, BT said. And the cost for BT sport will increase by 1, to 6. Customers will get letters informing them of the increases. They will go into effect on 3 July. BT Consumers chief executive, John Petter, said that the hikes would allow the company to pay for faster repairs, more and better timed Premier League games and faster internet. Read More: Find the best TV and broadband package deals He said: "We realise that customers never welcome price rises, but we have again ensured that low-income customers avoid increases. "And we continue to highlight money-saving options for all customers, including those who just want a great value package of a line and calls, such as Home Phone Saver 2019. "But we know that customers also want great service and to be protected from nuisance calls. That's why we have invested to be able to promise that we'll answer 80% of our customers' calls in the UK by the end of this year. "And we will also be launching a comprehensive defence against nuisance calls that will divert up to 25 million unwanted calls a week before they ever bother BT customers." Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Britains child mental health crisis is far worse than most people realise and we risk "medicalising childhood" through botched attempts to address the problem, the Governments mental health champion for schools has said. Natasha Devon, a child mental health specialist appointed by the Government to address how schools support childrens mental wellbeing, issued the warning as she called urgent cultural change in how the education system tackles the issue. She told The Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference: We need to ask ourselves what is causing mental health problems in the first place. Because its my belief that many of these struggles could be avoided if we get our approach right. And if we dont were giving away with one hand and taking away with the other. And we run the risk of medicalising childhood. If a child is being bullied and they have the symptoms of depression because they are being bullied, what they need is for the bullying to stop. They need to feel safe again. They dont necessarily need anti-depressants or therapy. Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Show all 10 1 /10 Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 30 per cent of people deal with anxiety by talking to a friend or relative, or by going for a walk. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report Almost one in five people feel anxious all or a lot of the time. PA Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 22 per cent of women feel anxious a lot or all of the time, compared to 15 per cent of men. Roman Levin/Flickr Creative Commons Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 45 per cent of people who feel anxious in everyday life cite financial issues as their biggest cause of worry. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report And 26 per cent of people who feel anxious say fearing for the welfare of their children and loved ones leaves them burdened with worry. And 26 per cent of people say fearing for the welfare of their children and loved ones leaves them burdened with anxiety. Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 27 per cent of people who suffer from anxiety say work issues, such as long hours, are the source of the problem. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report But 16 per cent use alcohol to cope, while 10 per cent turn to cigarettes in the face of anxiety. Unemployed people are more likely to resort to these harmful strategies: 27 per cent use alcohol and 23 per cent use cigarettes. AFP/Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report Only seven per cent of people who say they suffer from anxiety seek help from their GP. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report People are thought to be more anxious than they were five years ago. Alessandra/Flickr Creative Commons Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report The stresses of modern life are thought to have created "The Age of Anxiety". Getty Ms Devon added that the pressures of modern life mean that young people are under more pressure than ever before. She said: Being a young person today is harder than its ever been Time and time again over recent years young people- and the people who teach them- have spoken out about how rigorous a culture of testing and academic pressure is detrimental to their mental health. She said excessive academic assessment from a young age and student debt were factors which heightened anxiety levels in some children, saying: At one end of the scale weve got four year olds being tested, at the other end of the scale weve got teenagers leaving school and facing the prospect of leaving university with record amounts of debt. Anxiety is the fastest growing illness in under 21s. These things are not a coincidence. Last week, an online Government resource was launched aimed at children experiencing mental health problems and their families. The website MindEd provides advice for parents and children on a variety of issues including self-harm, sexual orientation and gender identity, eating disorders and being a parents in the digital age. Research has found that 850,000 children aged 5-16 in the UK are currently living with a mental health issue. It is believed that in a typical school classroom at least three children will therefore be affected. Of adults currently living with a mental health condition, more than half began to experience symptoms before the age of 14. Clinicians say that early intervention can be crucial in identifying concerns and helping manage such conditions into adolescence and adult life. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} On the back of the National Living Wage, can employers cut benefits and perks? After the introduction on 1 April 2016 of the National Living Wage (NLW), all eyes have been on employers making cuts to perks and benefits. Zizzi has reportedly limited its free food menu for eligible employees (to a margherita pizza or a spaghetti pomodoro) and reduced the amount waiting staff can earn from tips. Caffe Nero has stated that it would stop giving free lunches to staff. Eat is reportedly no longer paying staff during their lunch breaks. Tesco, The John Lewis Partnership and B&Q have also been in the news for changing Sunday, Bank holiday or overtime rates. Most of these businesses, though, have denied that the changes are being introduced because of the NLW. From a legal perspective, are businesses able to take away employees perks and benefits? The starting point is to see whats written in the contract of employment. If theres clear wording that the employee is entitled to a benefit, such as a free meal, paid lunch breaks or an overtime rate, then theres likely to be a contractual entitlement. The employer couldnt change or withdraw the benefit without the employees consent. Usually, though, there will be some reference to the benefit being discretionary and the employer reserving the right to amend or cancel the benefit at any time. If theres some discretion, the employee will probably not have a right to the benefit. Could it be argued that over a period of time the benefit has become contractual? Could you imply a term into the contract to that effect? Supposing, for instance, through custom and practice, an employer gives employees free lunches? Unfortunately for the employees, just because they have free lunches for a number of years will not necessarily make the benefit contractual. Relevant factors to consider would be whether the free lunches were known to the whole workforce and published in an accessible document such as a staff handbook; on how many occasions and over what period the free lunches were provided; and whether the position ever changed. Ultimately, the key question would be whether the parties intended the free lunch benefit to form part of the contract. The other thing to remember is that nothing can be implied if its inconsistent with an express term of the contract, unless theres an intention to vary the term. So taking the free lunch example, if in the contract of employment the employer had discretion to offer free lunches, you could only imply that over the years the benefit had become contractual where there was an intention by the employer and employee to change that discretion. What if an employer cuts a benefit that the employee is contractually entitled to without their agreement? The employee could continue working but make it clear that theyre working under protest. Alternatively, the employee might consider resigning on the basis that the employer had fundamentally breached their contract of employment. Depending on the circumstances, various claims could be considered. Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year. However, if an employer cannot get the employees agreement theres another option for the employer. Providing the employer can demonstrate a sound business reason for cutting the benefit, carries out consultation as required, warns that any continued refusal could result in the employment being terminated and offers re-engagement on the new terms, a subsequent dismissal could be fair. So, employers who do cut benefits and perks to compensate for the extra costs of the NLW may well be acting within the law. Matt Gingell is a partner at Gannons Solicitors, and specialises in employment law. Read all of his articles at www.mattgingell.com For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Pakistan city of Quetta has got its first McDonald's - and the Taliban aren't happy about it. Quetta, 1,300km southwest of Islamad, became known as a meeting point for the Taliban in 2015, when it emerged that leaders of the terrorist group were holding strategy meetings there. The new McDonald's has riled Taliban members since it opened in April. One said "we don't even consider it as food." McDonald's has modified its menu to appeal more to Muslim customers, who don't eat pork for religious reasons. All the food served is Halal, while the sausages in the sausage and egg McMuffin is made of chicken. Ehsanullah Ehsan, a senior militant commander with the group, laughed when an NBC reporter asked him what he thought of the new McDonald's. Ha, so you are asking me about McDonald's food, Ehsan said. Yes, I know McDonald's and its food but we will never eat it. We don't even consider it as a food. This isn't our food ... We live in the rough, tough mountainous areas and need energy and power to fight against the enemy. Another Taliban fighter told the same reporters that he found McDonald's too expensive and tasteless. He said that Taliban fighters prefer mutton and rice. We know it's an American food company and our religious scholars have forbidden us from consuming any Western food and beverages, the militant added. He said he might visit the Quetta McDonald's with friends but would not eat the food. McDonald's Next Show all 8 1 /8 McDonald's Next McDonald's Next Open plan McDonalds Next has what is calls a Real & Fresh theme. The open-plan design of the shop front, kitchen, transparent "theatre" kitchen and McCafe allows customers to view food preparation. McDonald's McDonald's Next Digital walls The modern McDonalds Next is equipped with digital gallery-walls, providing an ever changing array of food icons McDonald's McDonald's Next Salad bar McDonalds Next incorporates glass extensively throughout its design. McDonald's McDonald's Next Self-order kiosks A new Self Ordering Kiosk allows customers to build their own Salad or Burger. McDonald's McDonald's Next Table Service McDonald's Next offers table service every night after 6pm. McDonald's McDonald's Next Charging stations Over a quarter of the seats at McDonalds Next come with air charging platforms McDonald's McDonald's Next Salad options 19 ingredients are available for selection in Salads, including two choices of salad greens, two kinds of cheese, three flavours of sauces and a plethora of other ingredients. Customers can also select grilled chicken, crayfish egg mayo and quinoa cous-cous mix to go with the salad. McDonald's McDonald's Next Ambient lighting The new restaurant features adjustable lighting McDonald's Customers can get a McArabia, a shawarma-meets-gyro wrap, for $3 at the new outlet and add on drinks and fries for a total bill of less than $5, according to reports. Photos from the McDonald's Facebook page showed that the new outlet was already a hit with locals. Young children were shown waving Pakistan and McDonald's flags. Another showed long queues at the store. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The UK Parliament may not have the power to stop or reverse the privatisation of the NHS if the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership passed at EU level, Unite has warned. The union cites a letter from Lord Maude of Horsham, the minister for trade and investment, in response to a query from a constituent of Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick about how TTIP would pass into law in the UK. In the letter, Lord Maude of Horsham says that the UK Parliament could delay the ratification of the final text of TTIP indefinitely by repeatedly voting against it in the House of Commons and the Lords. Gail Cartmail, Unite assistant general secretary, said that it was a scandal that MPs may not have the democratic power to stop TTIP, which she said threatens the irreversible sell-off of our NHS. The House of Commons will have the power to delay the trade deal but it would only be a matter of time before TTIP eventually slips through, Ms Cartmail said. A spokeswoman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that under EU law, treaties of this kind are subject to approval by each individual EU member state before coming into force. All such agreements are subject to Parliamentary scrutiny before they are finalised, the spokeswoman said. But similar agreements such as the EU-Korea free trade agreement have shown that trade agreements can be provisionally applied before being ratified by national parliaments. A lot is still up in the air right now and will depend on how the competence battles between the Commission and the Member States play out. But there is of course the possibility that the agreement was provisionally applied in parts before Member State parliaments had their say on it, said Gabriel Siles-Brugge, a politics lecturer at the University of Manchester who has written a book on TTIP. Tamara Hervey, a professor of EU law at the University of Sheffield, said that it was legally debateable what kind of process the UK Government would go through to pass TTIP in the UK and whether opposition in parliament would delay it indefinitely. Either way, it would be possible to protect the NHS by excluding it from TTIP negotiations altogether something that the UK Government has so far declined to do. The UK government could include a reservation in the agreement to say that it does not include the NHS. As far as I understand, that isn't on the table, even though several other EU countries have already put such reservations in the negotiating text, Professor Hervey told the Independent. Austria, Germany, Greece and Italy do have explicit reservations in the TTIP text to protect existing rules relating to healthcare. But the UK hasnt entered any reservations in this part of the TTIP text, Professor Hervey said. Cyprus seems more worried about US hairdressers than the UK is about this. It has a reservation for hairdressing services, she notes in a recent blog post on the issue. A series of polls commission by the campaign group 38 Degrees has shown that Scottish voters are more opposed to TTIP than those in the UK. A poll of more than 2,000 Scots revealed that 70 per cent of Scottish voters oppose the inclusion of the NHS in the TTIP agreement. A similar poll conducted in the UK found that 44 per cent were opposed. Supporters of TTIP say it could boost the European and US economies by hundreds of billions of dollars by making it easier for companies on either side of the Atlantic to trade with one another. Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year. Opponents say the deal could lead to the dismantling of the NHS by removing barriers to trade. Obama used a recent visit to the EU to push for the completion of TTIP, promising it would remove regulatory and bureaucratic irritants and blockages to trade. If we dont complete negotiations this year, then upcoming political transitions in the United States and Europe could mean this agreement wont be finished for quite some time, he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn is still attempting to quell the outcry surrounding claims by Ken Livingstone that Adolf Hitler supported Zionism before he went mad which have led to his suspension. The Labour leader has been forced to deny his party has a problem with antisemitism after the outspoken former Mayor of London suggested the Nazi leader was a Zionist. But Livingstone has a history of making controversial and provocative comments, often refusing to back down in the face of a fierce backlash. Some of his most memorable exchanges are listed below: In 2005, one of his remarks sparked an uproar that saw Livingstone embroiled in a protracted battle with the Evening Standard and refusing repeated demands to apologise. Livingstone was approached by the Standard reporter Oliver Finegold as he left a party. After finding out which paper he worked for, Livingstone asked: What did you do before? Were you a German war criminal?" Recommended Read more Full transcript of what Ken Livingstone said about antisemitism Finegold responded: No, I'm Jewish, I wasn't a German war criminal and I'm actually quite offended by that. So, how did tonight go? Livingstone replied: Arr right, well you might be [Jewish], but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you? Read the full transcript of the conversation here. People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015. In 2012, Livingstone faced calls to retract a comment after saying the Tory party was riddled with homosexuals. [The public] should be allowed to know everything, except the nature of private relationships - unless there is hypocrisy, like some Tory MP denouncing homosexuality while they are indulging in it, he told the New Statesman during a discussion about privacy. As soon as Blair got in, if you came out as lesbian or gay you immediately got a job. It was wonderful. You just knew the Tory party was riddled with it, like everywhere else is. He later defended his remarks as a backhanded compliment and insisted they were meant to be read humorously. Speaking to the Guardian about his autobiography, ironically entitled, You Cant Say That, in 2011, Livingstone insisted he had never made a mistake throughout his spell as Mayor of London despite losing to Boris Johnson. "The press keep asking me, what was your biggest mistake? But if I had made a big mistake, they'd all be writing about it, wouldn't they? Livingstones allegory for the 2012 mayoral election also proved deeply contentious when he jokingly described the contest as a simple choice between good and evil. I don't think it has been so clear since the great struggle between Churchill and Hitler, he went on. Those who don't vote for me will be weighed in the balance come Judgment Day. The Archangel Gabriel will say, 'You didn't vote for Ken Livingstone in 2012. Oh dear, burn forever. Your skin flayed for all eternity.' Last year, a heated exchange about Syrian airstrikes on Question Time culminated with Livingstone blaming Tony Blair's decision to go to war in Iraq for the 7/7 terrorist attack in London. If I was there [in the shadow cabinet], Id say bombing on its own isnt enough. We shouldnt get caught up again. I remember when Tony Blair was told by the security services: 'If you go into Iraq, we will be a target for terrorism,'" he said. "And he ignored that advice and it killed 52 Londoners." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Harry Wu, a Chinese dissident who mounted an international campaign to expose the horrors of his countrys labour camps, where he endured 19 years of captivity as an alleged counter-revolutionary, has died aged 79. Mr Wu settled in the United States in 1985 after a ghastly odyssey in the Chinese prison system in which he withered to less than six stones in weight. He was worked nearly to death and survived, in part, on food that he foraged in rats nests. His offence, as a university student in the years after the Chinese Communist Revolution, had been to criticise the 1956 invasion of Hungary by the Soviet Union, the worlds other major Communist power. Mr Wu was imprisoned in 1960. After his release in 1979, three years after the death of Communist leader Mao Zedong, he built a profile as a human rights activist and self-described troublemaker who repeatedly slipped back into China to gather undercover footage of the prison camps. The footage was aired on the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes and on the BBC in the 1990s. With those reports, Mr Wu helped to draw widespread attention to Chinese practices of using forced labour to produce exports among them wrenches and artificial flowers ultimately banned by the US and harvesting organs from executed prisoners. According to his research, more than 50 million prisoners passed through the system over 40 years. He was compared to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Nobel Prize-winning Russian writer who documented the atrocities of the Soviet gulag system. Mr Wu described the prisons, which purported to deliver laogai, or reform through labour, as the Chinese gulag, and said he would not rest until the word laogai appeared in every language dictionary in the world. In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, he described them as the cornerstone of the Chinese Communist dictatorship and the machinery for crushing human beings physically, psychologically and spiritually. By his account, Mr Wu stole from prisoners and collaborated with police to survive in prison. I became an animal, he told The Washington Post. Unless you are an animal, you cannot survive. He endured solitary confinement and suffered a broken back when a runaway cart struck him in a coal mine. When his captors discovered that he had hidden Western books, including Victor Hugos Les Miserables, they broke his arm. A turning point came with the death of a fellow inmate and friend. Human life, he recalled thinking, has no more importance than a cigarette ash flicked in the wind. But if a persons life has no value, then the society that shapes that life has no value either. If the people mean no more than dust, then the society is worthless and does not deserve to continue. If the society should not continue, then I should oppose it. The Washington Post Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One Autumn day in 1974, when he was 9, Sergio Canavero visited his regular newsstand on a bustling street in Turin, Italy, to buy a comic book. As a bullied schoolboy, the man who now claims he can complete the first human head transplant was dismally aware of his pitiable social status - cookie-cutter nerd - and sought fictional escape. His attachment to Spider-Mans Peter Parker, another dweeb, lured him deep into the comic book world of Marvel, with its dose of futuristic medicine. That fateful day, he bought Issue 51 of Marvel Team-Up, in which Dr. Strange boasts to Spider-Man and Iron Man, I myself have surgically rejoined severed neurolinkages. The nerve endings have been fused, the healing process begun. This marked Canaveros first encounter with the idea of spinal cord fusion. And he wanted more. Three years ago, Canavero, now 51, had his own Dr. Strange moment when he announced hed be able to do a human head transplant in a two-part procedure he dubs HEAVEN (head anastomosis venture) and Gemini (the subsequent spinal cord fusion). Valery Spiridonov, a 31-year-old Russian program manager in the software development field, soon emerged from the internet ether to volunteer his noggin. He suffers from Werdnig-Hoffman disease, a muscle-wasting disorder, and is desperate. Canavero likens Spiridonovs willingness to venture into a new medical frontier to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarins bold resolution to become the first human to travel to space, back in 1961. Recommended Read more There are so many problems with the idea of a human head transplant But many dismiss Canaveros plans as fantasy. And if he has a comic book-like nemesis - or maybe hes the hero here? - it is Arthur Caplan, founder of the Division of Bioethics at New York Universitys School of Medicine. I think hes a charlatan, a quack and a self-promoter, says Caplan, who also labels Canavero a Looney Tune whos peddling false hope. Those judging Canavero generally assign him to one of two categories: either an outlandish Dr. Frankenstein seeking fame without regard for risk or an innovator willing to try what others consider impossible. Meanwhile, Canavero claims his detractors publicly denounce him but then approach him to learn more. And in a world of heart, lung, kidney, uterus and hand transplants, he wonders why we cant yet transplant the human head. After all, back in 1970 American neurosurgeon Dr. Robert White conducted the first successful transplant of a head to another body when he operated on a rhesus monkey. Modern spinal cord fusion technology had not yet been developed, and the monkey lived only a few healthy days. But in 1999, White predicted that what has always been the stuff of science fiction - the Frankenstein legend - will become a clinical reality early in the 21st century. Canavero has a plan, delineated in a June 2013 paper in the peer-reviewed journal Surgical Neurology International and presented in 2015 as the keynote address of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopaedic Surgeonss 39th annual conference. Its a 36-hour, $20 million (14 milion) procedure involving at least 150 people, including doctors, nurses, technicians, psychologists and virtual reality engineers. Valery Spiridonov has volunteered to be the first person to undergo a head transplant (REUTERS) In a specially equipped hospital suite, two surgical teams will work simultaneously - one focused on Spiridonov and the other on the donors body, selected from a brain-dead patient and matched with the Russian for height, build and immunotype. Both patients - anesthetized and outfitted with breathing tubes - will have their heads locked using metal pins and clamps, and electrodes will be attached to their bodies to monitor brain and heart activity. Next, Spiridonovs head will be nearly frozen, ultimately reaching 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, which will make him temporarily brain-dead. Doctors will then drain his brain of blood and flush it with a standard surgery solution. A vascular surgeon will loop sleeve-like tubes made of Silastic (a silicone-plastic combination) around the carotid arteries and jugular veins; these tubes will be tightened to stop blood flow and later loosened to allow circulation when the head and new body are connected. Then the two teams, working in concert, will make deep incisions around each patients neck and use color-coded markings to note all the muscles in both Spiridonovs head and that of the donor, to facilitate the reconnection. UK Biobank Brain Scans explained Next comes the most critical step of all. Under an operating microscope, doctors will cleanly chop through both spinal cords - with a $200,000 diamond nanoblade, so thin that it is measured in angstroms, provided by the University of Texas. Then the rush is on: Once sliced, Spiridonovs head will have to be attached to the donors body and connected to the blood flow within an hour. (When the head is transferred, the main vessels will be clamped to prevent air from causing a blockage.) Surgeons will quickly sew the arteries and veins of Spiridonovs head to those of his new body. The donors blood flow will then, in theory, re-warm Spiridonovs head to normal temperatures within minutes. If all that goes as planned, Canavero can then make good on his Dr. Strange inspiration with Gemini. The lengths of the transected spinal cord stumps will be adjusted so theyre even, and the myelinated axons, the spaghetti-like parts of nerve cells, will be fused using a special type of glue made of polyethylene glycol, an inorganic polymer that Canavero says is the procedures true magical elixir. In this way, spinal cord function will be established by enabling the cytoplasm of adjacent cells to mix together. 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 Then its time to make sure the spinal fusion is secure with a few loose sutures applied around the joined cord and threaded through the thin membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. To finish securing Spiridonovs head, the previously exposed vertebral arteries of the donor and Spiridonov will also be linked to achieve proper blood flow. In addition, the dura, the tough outermost membrane covering the brain and spinal cord, will be sewn watertight with wires and clamps. Doctors will similarly reconnect the trachea, esophagus, vagi and phrenic nerves, along with all of the severed muscles, and plastic surgeons will sew the skin for optimal cosmetic results. Throughout, doctors will ensure a suppressed immune system through medication, and after the transplant, doctors will regularly screen Spiridonovs blood for anti-donor antibodies while he lies in a drug-induced coma for four weeks to allow his brain to recover. During that time, doctors will electrically stimulate the spinal cord to promote communication between neurons and improve Spiridonovs motor and sensory functions. Once he awakens, Spiridonov will start his rehabilitation, including virtual reality training. Canavero predicts his patient will be able to walk three to six months after surgery. Despite the thoroughness of the presentation at the Annapolis, Maryland, conference, Canavero and Spiridonov faced vitriol and doubt. Spiridonov fielded a question about the ethics of this surgery by asking if anyone would like to be in his shoes: needing assistance with defecation and urination and living a life without sex. A hush fell over the audience. The Russian said he would rather risk death in this experimental surgery to achieve a higher quality of life than suffer the burdens of his current existence. If he is going to die, Canavero said later, he is the only one who can decide. Canavero understands. A self-described womanizer who says he studied German-language Spider-Man comics as a bachelor to seduce German-speaking women, he is a hedonist who wants his patients to experience all of lifes pleasures. Canaveros collaborator, Xiaoping Ren of Harbin Medical University in China, recently completed a monkey head transplant. And Canaveros colleague, C-Yoon Kim of the Konkuk University School of Medicine in South Korea published a study in the journal Spinal Cord showing how his team re-established motor movements in mice whose neck spinal cords had been severed and re-fused. Dr. Michael Sarr, professor emeritus of surgery at the Mayo Clinic and co-editor-in-chief of Surgery, recently accepted one of Canaveros head transplant papers for his publication. Hes a little bit fantastic, but hes a serious guy, Sarr says. Hes not just a showboat. This is not science fiction. This is now science. Theres experimental work that supports the concept of nerve membrane fusion. Sarr is particularly interested in how this technique could be applied more widely to treat traumatic spinal cord injury patients. Of course, he admits the surgery has serious risks and wonders about how well Spiridonov will be able to function - should he survive. Conceptually, much of this could work, but the most favorable outcome will be little more than a Christopher Reeve level of function, says Dr. John Adler, a neurosurgeon and professor emeritus at Stanford Universitys School of Medicine, referring to the Superman actor who was left paralyzed from the neck down after a horse-riding accident. In other words, Spiridonov might end up with a body that functions not much better than the one he left. Adler says each piece of Canaveros method is viable from a strictly technical sense, but together theres too much risk of failureparalysis or death for Spiridonov. The challenges range from whether the axons in the joined section of the spinal cords will form any sort of meaningful connections to the possibility that Spiridonovs brain will suffer irreparable damage when it is without blood flow. Some skeptics are more outspoken. In my opinion, this procedure has no feasibility at all, says Dr. Lorenzo Pinessi, director of the Neurology Clinic at Italys University of Turin. It is demented. Washington Post Sign up for a full digest of all the best opinions of the week in our Voices Dispatches email Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Voices Dispatches email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} British astronaut Tim Peake has undertaken a pioneering mission, managing to successfully control a robot on Earth while some 250 miles above the planet on the International Space Station. Major Peake commanded the rover on Friday through a simulated Martian landscape in a hangar in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Before the experiment, Major Peake was told he had to guide the robot over the fake sandy, rocky surface into a cave and find painted targets before exiting in 90 minutes. The exercise was part of the Multi-Purpose End-To-End Robotic Operation Network (METERON) programme looking at how astronauts can work robots from space in the hope that such devices can be controlled on other planets from Earth. Under his guidance the rover, nicknamed Bridget after film star Bridget Bardot, travelled around 20m during the two-hour test and entered the fake cave. As the experiment drew to an end loud cheers erupted from Stevenages Airbus Defence and Space control room, while Major Peakes driving was described as measured and careful by mission robot engineer Dr Elie Allouis. "We're inside the cave and the first target has been identified," Major Peake told mission control during the live streamed experiment. ExoMars rover "Bridget" is controlled by British astronaut Tim Peake from the International Space Station during a live experiment at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage, Hertfordshire (PA) British astronaut Tim Peake controls ExoMars rover "Bridget"from the International Space Station during a live experiment at Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage, Hertfordshire (PA) The experiment did encounter problems when the rover briefly became stuck on a large fake rock and lost signal for around ten minutes, but was ultimately deemed a success. Dr Allouis said his team were elated by the results of the experiment, adding: Tim found targets, avoided obstacles - almost all of them - and returned to the entrance of the cave. Bridget weighs around 300kg and can travel at a maximum speed of 2cm per second on a flat surface. Last year, Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen guided a rover on earth to insert a peg into a hole from the ISS. The ExoMars rover is scheduled to be launched to Mars in 2018. It will take nine months to reach the Red Planet and use parachutes to land safely on the surface. It will be the first rover sent to Mars specifically designed to find evidence of past or present life. Additional reporting from agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two men from Birmingham have been charged with giving money to the "man in the hat" in Isis' Brussels attacks. Mohammed Ali Ahmed and Zakaria Boufassil, both 26, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday morning alongside a female suspect, Soumaya Boufassil. Ahmed and Zakaria were charged with making a quantity of sterling currency available in the knowledge that it would be used for terrorist purposes, West Midlands Police said. They are accused of entering into an arrangement with Abrini in July last year. Paris attacks: Abrini arrested Prosecutors said the pair handed 3,000 to Mohamed Abrini during a meeting at Small Heath Park in Birmingham. Abrini is charged with terror offences after admitting being the "man in the hat" caught on CCTV minutes before the bombings at Brussels Airport last month. The 31-year-old was previously wanted in connection with the Isis attacks on Paris in November, having been spotted in a car with fellow suspect Salah Abdeslam. Ahmed and Soumaya, 29, are additionally accused of accruing monies in preparation for terror attacks as part of the same case between January and April last year. The trio, who live in the Small Heath area, were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 13 May. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 Britain's former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Conservative MP, Rishi Sunak leaves from an office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2022 Visitors at the PoliNations garden in Victoria Square, Birmingham, which is made up of five 40ft high tree installations and over 6,000 plants. The PoliNations programme aims to explore how migration and cross-pollination have shaped the UKs gardens and culture PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2022 Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews take part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2022 The Massed Pipes and Drums parade during the Braemar Highland Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park PA Ahmed is a British national, while both Zakaria and Soumaya, his sister, are Belgian-Moroccans, the BBC reported. They were arrested alongside two others in an operation carried out with French and Belgian authorities on 14 and 15 April. A fourth man, 40-year-old Fazal Sajjad Younis Khan, was charged with possession of CS spray and has been bailed to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court on 13 May. A 59-year-old man remains on bail with strict conditions while the West Midlands Police investigation continues. Additional reporting by PA For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A teenage "monster" obsessed with serial killers mouthed "I don't give a s***" as he was detained for 27 years for stabbing two strangers to death. James Fairweather gave a thumbs-up sign to his mother Anita and father James as he stood in the dock at the Old Bailey on Friday, and motioned to his mother to keep her "chin up". Judge Justice Robin Spencer described Fairweather as "sadistic" for carrying out the random attacks on James Attfield and Nahid Almanea in Colchester. "It is plain you were seeking to emulate other serial killers, such as Peter Sutcliffe," he said. The teenager was just 15 years old when he stabbed Mr Attfield 102 times in March 2014 and Ms Almanea with a bayonet three months later. Mr Justice Spencer told Fairweather the attack on Mr Attfield was "brutal, relentless and cowardly", adding: "You are well aware of the publicity this first murder attracted. I have no doubt you relished the sense of power and control that it gave you." Fairweather was found guilty of the murders and faces a minimum sentence of 27 years in prison, despite claims he was possessed by the devil during the attacks. Prosecuters said he would have likely received a whole life sentence had he been older, as a result of his "sadistic conduct". The court had been told the teenager was "turned on" by serial killers and had researched Ian Huntley, Ipswich serial killer Steve Wright and Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, of whom he had a picture on his phone. His favourite serial killer was American Ted Bundy, who sexually assaulted, murdered and decapitated his victims. Fairweather pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, claiming he heard voices that compelled him to kill. He said he wanted to emulate the serial killers he idolised and fantasised about killing his headteacher and parents. The year-long operation to find the murderer was said to be "one of the biggest investigations" carried out by Essex Police, costing 2.6m. Additional reporting by PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The family of one of the missing workers trapped in the collapsed Didcot A Power Station say they will fight the decision to demolish the rest of the site with explosives. Steve Hall, the son-in-law of Ken Cresswell, said: "We want the men back in one piece, not many pieces." RWE Npower announced plans to bring the parts of the building which remained standing after the collapse. Images show Didcot destruction Show all 10 1 /10 Images show Didcot destruction Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot Part of the collapsed building is illuminated as emergency serviceswork at the decommissioned power station in Didcot Reuters Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot A still taken from ITV News footage showing the scene at Didcot power station following the explosion ITV News Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot A still taken from ITV News footage showing the scene at Didcot power station following the explosion ITV News Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot Smoke rising from Didcot power station in Oxfordshire where a 'major incident' has been declared Blaine Morris-Smith/PA Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot A major incident has been declared at Didcot power station in Oxfordshire Stephen Griffin/Twitter Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot A major incident has been declared at Didcot power station in Oxfordshire Andrew Harvey/PA Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot Emergency services on the scene at Didcot power station in Oxfordshire BBC News Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot An image taken from BBC News coverage showing the destruction at Didcot power station following the 'major incident' BBC News Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot An image taken from BBC News coverage showing the destruction at Didcot power station following the 'major incident' BBC News Images show Didcot destruction 'Major incident' in Didcot An image taken from BBC News coverage showing the destruction at Didcot power station following the 'major incident' BBC News Mr Hall added: "We are totally against it and we will fight and do whatever we have to to stop that blast." Mr Cresswell, 57, was one of four demolition workers killed when Didcot A's boiler house collapsed unexpectedly in February. His body remains trapped under the rubble, along with those of Christopher Huxtable, 34, and John Shaw, 61. Rescue workers say the rubble is too unstable to search, as engineers think it could collapse at any time. 'No signs of life' at Didcot The body of Michael Collings, 53, was recovered from the site. The cause of the collapse is being investigated by police and the Health and Safety Executive. In a statement, RWE Npower said: We understand that any potential work involving further explosive demolition on site causes distress for the families. "Having explored other manual options, our experts have made it clear that the quickest and safest way to bring the building down is by controlled explosive demolition. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Emergency services across the country have offered solidarity and support after an ambulance driver was killed in a collision with another ambulance in North Wales. The Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust (WAS) said an urgent response ambulance collided with a patient care service vehicle on a stretch of the A499 in Pwllheli, Gwynedd shortly before 3pm on Thursday. The driver of the patient care service, named locally as John Clift from Pwllheli, died at the scene. Three other people, including one elderly person, were also in the ambulance on a 999 call. All three were taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor with serious injuries, said WAS. Wales Air Ambulances, North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene. WAS say they are absolutely devastated at the death of its employee and their thoughts are with everyone involved. Richard Lee, WAS's director of operations, said: "As an ambulance service we deal with road traffic accidents on a daily basis. These are always difficult for our staff to deal with, but even more so when they involve our colleagues. Emergency services and unions from across the country have also offered messages of condolence, including Londons Metropolitan Special Constabulary, the West Midlands Ambulance Service and Dublin Fire Brigade. The Northern Ireland College of Paramedics said it was "very tragic news" and West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Our deepest sympathies go out to our colleagues in WelshAmbulance who lost one of their own in a crash today. Jim Hancox, aircrew supervisor at Midlands Air Ambulance's Strensham base, wrote: "Words can't express the sadness and loss our Welsh Ambulance colleagues will be feeling tonight. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you..." Unison, which represents the ambulance driver, said it was devastated by the tragedy. Regional secretary, Margaret Thomas, said: We pay tribute to our colleague who died, to his service and to patients in Wales. We also offer all our solidarity and support to his family at this harrowing time. Unison would also pay tribute to paramedics and technicians who came to the aid of their colleagues yesterday as well as the two Welsh Ambulance helmed teams. There can be few more difficult jobs to have to do than work to preserve the life of your colleagues. Additional reporting by Press Association Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The US-led bombing campaign against Isis will drive more jihadists to launch terror attacks in the West, a former militant who grew up in the UK has said. Harry Sarfo joined the so-called Islamic State in Syria and appeared in one of its notorious propaganda execution videos before becoming disillusioned with the scale of brutality he saw and fleeing the group. In an exchange with The Independent from the German prison where he awaiting trial on terror charges, Sarfo claimed that the use of air strikes by the US-led coalition is inspiring more followers to commit atrocities in places including mainland Europe. Harry Sarfo took the name Bilal when he converted to Islam (Instagram) The bombing campaign gives them more recruits, more men and children who will be willing to give their lives because theyve lost their families in the bombing, he said. For every bomb, there will be someone to bring terror to the West. They know the West is scared to put boots on the ground. Even if that happens one day, theyve got plenty of men waiting for Western troops to arrive. For them the promise of paradise is all they want." Sarfo was born in Germany and moved to London as a teenager, where he went to college and later converted to Islam. He was radicalised back in Germany before joining the caliphate in April 2015. He was arrested upon his return to Europe three months later and has now been indicted on charges including being a member of a foreign terrorist group and violating German weapons laws. German prosecutors say that Sarfo, who they name as Harry S, "declared himself prepared to fight in a special unit of the organisation and was given specialist combat training handling automatic weapons. British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Show all 10 1 /10 British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet takes off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Pilots and ground crew prepare combat aircraft Panavia Tornados at RAF Marham at RAF Marham, UK Getty British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Eurofighter Typhoon jet takes off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A RAF Tornado arrives at RAF Akrotiri to begin operations in Akrotiri British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet ahead of taking off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, as RAF Tornado jets carried out the first British bombing runs over Syria, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The air strikes were carried out within hours of a vote by MPs in the Commons to back extending operations against Isis from neighbouring Iraq British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Personnel work on a British Tornado after it returned from a mission at RAF Akrotiri in southern Cyprus British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria Two RAF Tornado GR4's, both with remaining weapons ordnance, approach RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, as they return to the base after carrying out some of the first British bombing runs over Syria British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A RAF Tornado takes off from RAF Akrotiri, on the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria A Tornado jet leaving RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland British jets prepare for air strikes in Syria AKA RAF Tornado arrives at RAF Akrotiri to begin operations in Akrotiri, Cyprus. The RAF has sent two further Tornado aircraft and six Typhoons to bolster aircraft now flying sorties to both Iraq and Syria After leaving the unit in June 2015, he appeared carrying Isis' black flag in a video that called for Germans to join Isis in Syria, or attack infidels at home. In an interview conducted over email via his lawyer, Sarfo says the bloody consequences of Isis' extreme interpretation of Sharia law drove him to turn his back on the terror group. I was training in the Islamic State's special force in Syria and around Raqqa, where women are totally covered and members of the Islamic State are armed with weapons such as Kalashnikovs, M-14s and M-16s, he said. Shops are closing when the call of prayer starts and open again once prayer is finished. There are checkpoints everywhere with bombardments nearly every day. I witnessed stonings, beheadings, shootings, hands chopped off and many other things. I've seen child soldiers - 13-year-old boys with explosive belts and Kalashnikovs. Some boys even driving cars and involved in executions. My worst memory is of the execution of six men shot in the head by Kalashnikovs. The chopping off of a man's hand and making him hold it with the other hand. The Islamic State is not just un-Islamic, it is inhuman. A blood-related brother killed his own brother on suspicion of being a spy. They gave him the order to kill him. It is friends killing friends. The suicide bombers who attacked Brussels had travelled back into Europe from Isis' territories in Syria After an upbringing marked by poverty, displacement and crime that eventually landed him in prison with a known jihadist recruiter, Sarfo recalled the image of people from all parts of the world reunited under one flag as the key attraction to the group. During his time in Raqqa, Sarfo described overhearing many discussions about attacks in Europe, saying he and other foreign jihadists were asked whether they would be prepared to carry out atrocities in the UK, Germany and Dar al-Kufr - the land of disbelievers. He insists he declined but it appears that many of his fellow European fighters had no such reservations. Just months after he was questioned by recruiters in April, a group of militants exploited the refugee crisis to re-enter Europe and prepare for the massacres that would kill 130 people in Paris. Ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud told a friend he was among 90 Isis terrorists who returned to the continent and gone to ground in preparation for further atrocities, possibly including the bombings that left more than 30 people dead in Belgium last month. Europol estimates that up to 5,000 European jihadists may have undergone training at terror camps and the agency's director has warned the continent faces its biggest terror threat in more than a decade from returning fighters. Sarfo moved from his hometown of Bremen to London as a teenager and went on to attend three colleges in the British capital, converting to Islam at the age of 20 after being introduced to the religion by friends and becoming a speaker to local Muslim youth himself. Harry Sarfo moved to London from Bremen as a teenager and converted to Islam in the British capital (Instagram) After studying for courses in English, construction and housing, and gaining part time work at Royal Mail and Wickes, his life in the UK was cut short when he was forced to return to Germany to serve a prison sentence for a 2010 robbery. In jail he found himself in close quarters with a known jihadi recruiter linked with al-Qaeda, who taught him the ideology of tajweed and jihad before he joined a since-closed radical mosque in Bremen upon his release. A failed attempt to travel to Syria on a supposed charity mission resulted in repeated arrests and Sarfo blames police treatment for his eventual decision to join Isis in early April 2015. He said security measures that saw him forced to hand over his passport and ordered him to report to a police station twice a week as his home was repeatedly raided drove him into the hands of a jihadist recruiter. I wanted to start a new life for me and my wife, he said. The police and the authorities destroyed it. They made me become the man they wanted. Similar arguments have been made by several convicted extremists, alongside their families, friends and supporters. Mohammed Emwazi, the British Isis militant known as Jihadi John, was memorably described by the Cage advocacy group as a beautiful young man before being subjected to what it characterised as four years of harassment by security agencies. Charlie Winter, a terrorism analyst, said blaming security services has become a standard refrain in the current discourse on extremism, especially from from individuals who are trying to blame others for the choices they have made. Mohammed Emwazi and Harry Sarfo are among many former convicts to join Isis Mr Winter, a senior research associate and terrorism analyst at Georgia State University, said that although police treatment and alienation may have compounded existing grievances, it alone would not cause someone to embrace Isis ideology. You will see people claiming its not my fault, its persecution, someone made me do it trying to avoid their own agency, Mr Winter added. Its clear that Sarfo possibly had a terrible time. A troubled person, petty crime, prison, a charismatic radical teacher thats a pattern thats being repeated time and time against and its not very surprising. He added that the former fighters claims that the international bombing campaign against Isis was inspiring more terror attacks by killing civilians parroted the groups own propaganda. Mr Winter said: In any sort of military campaign, collateral damage will be welcomed by the group in question - not openly, but they will present it as crimes being committed against them as a way of legitimising their presence as a group. It serves Isis agenda, claiming to be the protectors of Sunni Muslims. The fact of the matter is that the victimhood narrative is always going to be used. His claims that coalition air strikes have killed women and children in Isis territories could not be verified, although the Pentagon has admitted several civilian deaths during the period he was in Syria and is investigating other alleged incidents. Isis has citied air strikes against its strongholds as the motivation for the attacks in Brussels and Paris, as well as the downing of a Russian passenger plane in Egypt. The Home Office, German interior ministry and federal prosecutor declined to comment on Sarfos claims while the case continues. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Sanctions imposed on thousands of benefit claimants for not taking part in the DWPs so-called back-to-work schemes are unlawful, a court has ruled. Three Court of Appeal judges upheld an earlier decision by the High Court, potentially paving the way for millions in refunds to people who had their incomes cut while they were unemployed. After a previous Supreme Court judgment ruled some sanctions unlawful the Government passed a new law to make them legal. But ministers argued that the new law also retroactively applied to people whose sanctions had been imposed before the law was passed. The High Court and Appeal Court have now both ruled that the retroactive legislation is not lawful, however. We have held - upholding the decision of the High Court - that in the cases of those claimants who had already appealed against their sanctions the Act was incompatible with their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, Lord Justice Underhill said. Under the Human Rights Act that 'declaration of incompatibility' does not mean that the 2013 Act ceases to be effective as regards those claimants; it is up to the Government, subject to any further appeal, to decide what action to take in response." Stephen Crabb has recently been appointed as the new Work and Pensions Secretary (AFP/Getty) The sanctions had originally been ruled unlawful because a court said the Government had not provided sufficient information to claimants on how to make representations before benefits were stopped. That ruling was won by university graduate Cait Reilly, from Birmingham, who challenged having to work without wages at a local Poundland outlet. The sanctions system has been widely criticised, including by MPs on the Work and Pensions Select Committee. A report by the committee suggested the system might be 'purely punitive' and not aimed at helping people find work. The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned Show all 16 1 /16 The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "One case where the claimants wife went into premature labour and had to go to hospital. This caused the claimant to miss an appointment. No leeway given" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Its Christmas Day and you dont fill in your job search evidence form to show that youve looked for all the new jobs that are advertised on Christmas Day. You are sanctioned. Merry Christmas" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "You apply for three jobs one week and three jobs the following Sunday and Monday. Because the job centre week starts on a Tuesday it treats this as applying for six jobs in one week and none the following week. You are sanctioned for 13 weeks for failing to apply for three jobs each week" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A London man missed his Jobcentre appointments for two weeks because he was in hospital after being hit by a car. He was sanctioned" 2011 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Youve been unemployed for seven months and are forced onto a workfare scheme in a shop miles away, but cant afford to travel. You offer to work in a nearer branch but are refused and get sanctioned for not attending your placement" 2013 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "You are a mum of two, and are five minutes late for your job centre appointment. You show the advisor the clock on your phone, which is running late. You are sanctioned for a month" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man with heart problems who was on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) had a heart attack during a work capability assessment. He was then sanctioned for failing to complete the assessment" Rex The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man who had gotten a job that was scheduled to begin in two weeks time was sanctioned for not looking for work as he waited for the role to start" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Army veteran Stephen Taylor, 60, whose Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) was stopped after he sold poppies in memory of fallen soldiers" 2014 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man had to miss his regular appointment at the job centre to attend his fathers funeral. He was sanctioned even though he told DWP staff in advance" 2014 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Ceri Padley, 26, had her benefits sanctioned after she missed an appointment at the jobcentre - because she was at a job interview" Jason Doiy Photography The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man got sanctioned for missing his slot to sign on - as he was attending a work programme interview. He was then sanctioned as he could not afford to travel for his job search" 2012 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Mother-of-three Angie Godwin, 27, said her benefits were sanctioned after she applied for a role job centre staff said was beyond her" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Sofya Harrison was sanctioned for attending a job interview and moving her signing-on to another day" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Michael, 54, had his benefits sanctioned for four months for failing to undertake a weeks work experience at a charity shop. The charity shop had told him they didnt want him there" Getty The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Terry Eaton, 58, was sanctioned because he didnt have the bus fare he needed to attend an appointment with the job centre" Getty Images The Government had originally feared that up to 130 million could be paid back in refunds, but the DWP now believes it will only have to pay back under 2 million because of the limited scope of the judgement. The latest court judgement is the latest in a string of legal setbacks for the Governments benefit reforms. The controversial bedroom tax was branded discriminatory and unlawful by a court in January of this year. Last month the Department also lost a legal challenge to keep problems with Universal Credit under wraps after a freedom of information request from campaigners. A spokesperson for the DWP said: It's only right that jobseekers do all they can to find work while claiming benefits. We are considering the judgment. Additional reporting by PA Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn has launched an independent inquiry that will be tasked with probing and tackling antisemitism, as he seeks to calm tensions within the Labour Party. The announcement comes after a torrid week for the Labour leader, in which he has come under considerable pressure to stamp out antisemitism in the party following the suspension of his long-time ally Ken Livingstone and Labour MP Naz Shah. A code of conduct will also "make explicitly clear for the first time that Labour will not tolerate any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, in the party" and provide guidance on acceptable language. An inquiry will be led by Shami Chakrabarti, the former head of the rights group Liberty, who will be tasked with opening a dialogue with the Jewish community and will report back to Labour headquarters within two months on how the party can best tackle antisemitism and other forms of discrimination. Recommended Read more Corbyn needs basic competence in rooting out antisemitism in Labour Ms Chakrabartis deputy chair will be Prof David Feldman, director of the Pears Institute for the Study of Antisemitism. The Labour leader said his party was anti-racist and has a long and proud history of standing against racism, including antisemitism. He added: I have campaigned against racism all my life and the Jewish community has been at the heart of the Labour party and progressive politics in Britain for more than 100 years. We have taken decisive action over allegations of anti-semitism since I became leader, suspending all those involved from membership, and have set up an inquiry under Baroness Royall into reports of anti-semitism in the Oxford University Labour club and elsewhere. I am now proposing to Labours National Executive Committee that it adopts a code of conduct on anti-semtism and other forms of racism, and establishing an inquiry into tackling anti-semitism and other forms of racism under the former director of Liberty Sham Chakrabarti. There is no place for anti-semitism or any form of racism in the Labour Party, or anywhere in society, and we will make sure that our party is welcoming home to members of all communities. On Thursday Mr Corbyn was forced to deny his party had a problem with antisemitism after Ken Livingstone, one of his oldest political allies, suggested Adolf Hitler was a Zionist. It's not a crisis. There's no crisis, he told the BBC. Where there is any racism in the party it will be dealt with and rooted out. We are totally opposed to antisemitism in any form within the party. Mr Livingstone said: Lets remember, when Hitler won his election in 1932, his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism this before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews." Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Show all 14 1 /14 Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Israel and Palestine The simple fact in all of this is that Naz made these comments at a time when there was another brutal Israeli attack on the Palestinians; and theres one stark fact that virtually no one in the British media ever reports, in almost all these conflicts the death toll is usually between 60 and 100 Palestinians killed for every Israeli. Now, any other country doing that would be accused of war crimes but its like we have a double standard about the policies of the Israeli government Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Antisemitism in the Labour Party As Ive said, Ive never heard anybody say anything antisemitism-Semitic, but theres been a very well-orchestrated campaign by the Israel lobby to smear anybody who criticises Israeli policy as antisemitic. I had to put up with 35 years of this Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Naz Shah Its completely over-the-top and rude, but who am I to denounce anyone with all of that. It was wrong. I dont think she is antisemitic, it was incredibly rude but I dont believe she is an antisemite. When the NEC investigation is finished they'll say it was rude and over the top but they wont find any evidence that she actually hates Jews. Weve got to investigate all these charges and the context in which they are made. If she is antisemitic like the other three or four members weve found who are antisemitic, shell be expelled Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On other alleged antisemites in Labour That is part of the classic antisemitic thing about an international Jewish conspiracy that is the reason we need to have an investigation. Ive got an open mind. Ive seen nothing to suggest to me that she is antisemitic. I wouldnt have supported her if I [thought] she was antisemitic Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On whether what Hitler did was legal, as stated by Naz Shah Thats a statement of fact Hitler, Im sure, passed all those laws that allowed him to do that its history literally, Hitler was completely mad, he killed six million Jews. Shes not saying its legal to kill six million Jews: what they were doing in that country allowed them not just to kill six million Jews, kill all the communists, kill all the leftists like me, my father almost died when a Nazi sub sank his boat. I have no sympathy with Hitler Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On another alleged antisemite in Labour No, that is, and thats why shes been suspended or expelled. What Ive said is that in 47 years of the party in all the meetings Ive been in Ive never heard anyone say anything antisemitic. There are bound to be in a party of half a million people youll have a handful of antisemites, youll have a handful of racists. Youve managed to dig out virtually every antisemitic comment that Labour members have made out of half a million people. Ive never met any of these people. Theres not a problem. Youre talking about a handful of people in a party of half a million people. Jeremy Corbyn has moved rapidly to deal with them Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Jeremy Corbyns response to the allegations He met with Naz and she agreed she would stand down while the investigation is going on. He called her in to see her. Theres been a huge investigation of virtually everything that anybody put on the internet many of these people are quite new and recent members of the party that joined in the big influx. 300,000 new people came in Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On his meeting a man accused of antisemitism in London This is the man who called for Muslims around the world to donate blood after the attacks of 9/11 when he came to London I went with him to the Regents Park mosque where he said no man should hit a woman and you should not discriminate against homosexuals. So I cant equate what I heard him say he made no antisemitic statement while he was here in London. I dont investigate people. Ive simply said what I believe to be true which is that Naz was not antisemitic. She was completely over the top, very rude, but that does not make her an antisemite Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Manns comments He went completely over the top. I was actually doing a radio interview at the time that he was bellowing that Im a racist antisemite in my ear. Ive had that with John Mann before a few weeks ago screaming that I was a bigot down the phone. Im not an apologist for anyone who makes antisemitic statements. What Im saying is dont confuse antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government policy Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On calling a Jewish journalist a concentration camp guard whilst Mayor of London I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On claims about Hitler and Zionism I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Mann Id simply say to John Mann go back and check. Is what I say true, or is it not? The BBC, youve got a huge team of researchers, it will take just an hour or two to go back and confirm. I was asked a question, I answered it. I have never in 45 years since I won my first election, I have never lied. I have always answered the question Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On raising the issue if Hitler It lays you open to people smearing and lying about you. Ive always answered the questions put to me and that simple fact is weve had a handful of people saying antisemitic things in the Labour Party, theyve been suspended, some of them are on their way to being expelled, some of them have been expelled already Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On people calling for him to be suspended All my usual critics but the simple fact is I agree with them; there is no place for antisemitism in the Labour party. For them to suggest I am antisemitic is a bit bizarre considering we worked with Jewish groups and put on exhibitions about the scale of the holocaust, we worked with Jewish groups to tackling the scale of antisemitism back in the 1970s. Ive always opposed every form of racism whether its against black people or Jews. Im going to stay in the Labour party and continue to fight against all forms of racism and discrimination as I have my entire life It came less than 24 hours after Ms Shah was suspended from the party after social media posts emerged of her appearing to endorse the relocation Israelis to the US. Speaking in the Commons the MP said she wholeheartedly apologises. In a Facebook post in 2014, before she became MP for Bradford West, Ms Shah shared a graphic which showed an image of Israel's outline superimposed onto a map of the US under the headline "Solution for Israel-Palestine Conflict - Relocate Israel into United States", with the comment "problem solved". Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told The Independent in March that if people express these views, full stop theyre out. Asked if bans should be permanent, he said: "My own view is yes. People might be able to reform their views and the rest of it. On this? I can't see it...people might say 'I've changed my views' - well, do something in another organisation." Shortly after the inquiry was announced, Mr McDonnell added: My aim is that something good comes of this dreadful week. Well restore Labour as leading anti-racist force in UK. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} George Galloway has defended Ken Livingstone's comments that Hitler supported Zionism as "historical fact" but criticised them as poorly judged. The former Labour MP said scholars are agreed that Zionist leaders in Germany and the Nazi Chancellor signed an agreement to send German Jews to Palestine. While Mr Galloway admitted the statement was poorly timed and worded, he added that Jeremy Corbyn should not have been pushed to suspend Mr Livingstone from Labour - and accused a core of its members of orchestrating a "coup" against their leader. "This is an entirely synthetic crisis," he said. "Ken Livingstone said absolutely nothing wrong, everything he said was the truth, historic fact, proven. Recommended Read more The truth about Hitler and Zionism "There was an agreement between the Nazi filth of Hitler and the Zionist leaders in Germany to send Germany's Jews to Palestine, because both of them believed that German Jews were not Germans [...] "So in that sense, Nazism and Zionism were two sides of the same coin." Mr Galloway said this Havaara agreement between Hitler and the German Zionists was well-documented by German, Israeli and Jewish scholars. Yet while Mr Livingstone's delivery was "ill-judged" he could not be accused of anti-semitism, said Mr Galloway. "Now should Ken Livingstone have gone around the studio saying that? I think not. I wouldn't have, neither on timing nor would I have used the words and imagery he used," he said. "But [...] Ken Livingstone's entire life has been spent fighting racism. In fact, he'd still be Labour mayor of London if he hadn't gone so out on a limb to help ethnic minorities." While Mayor of London, Mr Livingstone launched anti-racism campaigns and spoke out against Islamophobia. He has been accused before of antisemitism. Mr Galloway concluded that Sadiq Khan and John Mann were part of a "coup" to destabilise Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. "They're trying to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn, there's a slow motion coup. The real target is Jeremy Corbyn [...] "They will say with all this chaos, we can't go on like this, we need a new leader." Mr Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 over allegations of party disloyalty over the Iraq war, which he opposed. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn is under pressure to do more to stamp out antisemitism in the Labour Party following the suspension of his long-time ally Ken Livingstone. The Labour leader insisted the party was not in "crisis" after it was announced Mr Livingstone was to face investigation over his incendiary claim that Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism. However, former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the party had been too slow to respond to complaints of antisemitism within its ranks and called for an "action plan" to deal with the problem. Mr Livingstone's comments came in a radio interview on Thursday in which he sought to defend Labour MP Naz Shah who had been suspended the previous day over a series of antisemitic tweets made before she entered Parliament. Mr Corbyn - who has pulled out of a planned campaign visit to Wales - has insisted the problem was confined to "a very small number of people" in the party. He said that much of the criticism of Labour's record appeared to come from people who were "nervous" of the strength of the party at local level since he had become leader. But after a series of senior Jewish figures spoke out over the failure to deal with the problem, Ms Cooper, who unsuccessfully ran against Mr Corbyn for the leadership last year, said more had to be done. "The Labour Party needs to do more than simply to have suspensions of people who have been saying antisemitic things," she told Channel 4 News. "We've actually got to have an action plan to deal with this in order to have strong processes so that there is swift action because you can never tolerate that kind of discrimination in the party." Shadow communities secretary Jon Trickett, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, rejected claims he had been slow to act against Mr Livingstone and said the Labour leader would be making a series of announcements "shortly" regarding anti-Semitism. "Jeremy Corbyn acted within almost moments - certainly within a couple of hours - of hearing Ken's comments, notwithstanding the fact that they have worked together on and off for many, many years," he told BBC2's Newsnight. However, shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said the party had to act more swiftly when such allegations were made. "These allegations, when they are surfacing, have not been dealt with properly and quickly enough. They need to be dealt with much more speedily in the future," he told BBC1's Question Time. Labour MP Wes Streeting, the vice chairman of the all-party parliamentary group against antisemitism, warned that inaction by the leadership was damaging the party's reputation. Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Show all 14 1 /14 Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Israel and Palestine The simple fact in all of this is that Naz made these comments at a time when there was another brutal Israeli attack on the Palestinians; and theres one stark fact that virtually no one in the British media ever reports, in almost all these conflicts the death toll is usually between 60 and 100 Palestinians killed for every Israeli. Now, any other country doing that would be accused of war crimes but its like we have a double standard about the policies of the Israeli government Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Antisemitism in the Labour Party As Ive said, Ive never heard anybody say anything antisemitism-Semitic, but theres been a very well-orchestrated campaign by the Israel lobby to smear anybody who criticises Israeli policy as antisemitic. I had to put up with 35 years of this Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Naz Shah Its completely over-the-top and rude, but who am I to denounce anyone with all of that. It was wrong. I dont think she is antisemitic, it was incredibly rude but I dont believe she is an antisemite. When the NEC investigation is finished they'll say it was rude and over the top but they wont find any evidence that she actually hates Jews. Weve got to investigate all these charges and the context in which they are made. If she is antisemitic like the other three or four members weve found who are antisemitic, shell be expelled Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On other alleged antisemites in Labour That is part of the classic antisemitic thing about an international Jewish conspiracy that is the reason we need to have an investigation. Ive got an open mind. Ive seen nothing to suggest to me that she is antisemitic. I wouldnt have supported her if I [thought] she was antisemitic Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On whether what Hitler did was legal, as stated by Naz Shah Thats a statement of fact Hitler, Im sure, passed all those laws that allowed him to do that its history literally, Hitler was completely mad, he killed six million Jews. Shes not saying its legal to kill six million Jews: what they were doing in that country allowed them not just to kill six million Jews, kill all the communists, kill all the leftists like me, my father almost died when a Nazi sub sank his boat. I have no sympathy with Hitler Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On another alleged antisemite in Labour No, that is, and thats why shes been suspended or expelled. What Ive said is that in 47 years of the party in all the meetings Ive been in Ive never heard anyone say anything antisemitic. There are bound to be in a party of half a million people youll have a handful of antisemites, youll have a handful of racists. Youve managed to dig out virtually every antisemitic comment that Labour members have made out of half a million people. Ive never met any of these people. Theres not a problem. Youre talking about a handful of people in a party of half a million people. Jeremy Corbyn has moved rapidly to deal with them Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Jeremy Corbyns response to the allegations He met with Naz and she agreed she would stand down while the investigation is going on. He called her in to see her. Theres been a huge investigation of virtually everything that anybody put on the internet many of these people are quite new and recent members of the party that joined in the big influx. 300,000 new people came in Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On his meeting a man accused of antisemitism in London This is the man who called for Muslims around the world to donate blood after the attacks of 9/11 when he came to London I went with him to the Regents Park mosque where he said no man should hit a woman and you should not discriminate against homosexuals. So I cant equate what I heard him say he made no antisemitic statement while he was here in London. I dont investigate people. Ive simply said what I believe to be true which is that Naz was not antisemitic. She was completely over the top, very rude, but that does not make her an antisemite Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Manns comments He went completely over the top. I was actually doing a radio interview at the time that he was bellowing that Im a racist antisemite in my ear. Ive had that with John Mann before a few weeks ago screaming that I was a bigot down the phone. Im not an apologist for anyone who makes antisemitic statements. What Im saying is dont confuse antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government policy Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On calling a Jewish journalist a concentration camp guard whilst Mayor of London I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On claims about Hitler and Zionism I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Mann Id simply say to John Mann go back and check. Is what I say true, or is it not? The BBC, youve got a huge team of researchers, it will take just an hour or two to go back and confirm. I was asked a question, I answered it. I have never in 45 years since I won my first election, I have never lied. I have always answered the question Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On raising the issue if Hitler It lays you open to people smearing and lying about you. Ive always answered the questions put to me and that simple fact is weve had a handful of people saying antisemitic things in the Labour Party, theyve been suspended, some of them are on their way to being expelled, some of them have been expelled already Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On people calling for him to be suspended All my usual critics but the simple fact is I agree with them; there is no place for antisemitism in the Labour party. For them to suggest I am antisemitic is a bit bizarre considering we worked with Jewish groups and put on exhibitions about the scale of the holocaust, we worked with Jewish groups to tackling the scale of antisemitism back in the 1970s. Ive always opposed every form of racism whether its against black people or Jews. Im going to stay in the Labour party and continue to fight against all forms of racism and discrimination as I have my entire life "What has been most frustrating when it comes to dealing with individual examples of antisemitism in the Labour Party has been the flat-footed response of the Labour Party which has given the impression that we are apathetic to tackling antisemitism or indifferent," he told BBC News. "This ostrich strategy cannot be allowed to continue. Our credentials as a party of tackling racism in all its forms is taking a battering." Labour backbencher John Woodcock said that the party should now release details of the numbers of complaints of antisemitism which it has received so that people could see the scale of the problem. "Clearly these things are recorded and my clear sense is that that number has significantly grown," he said. He said there was "a particular strand within the hard left" which had been associated over the years with the Soviet Union and who saw the way it had turned "violently antisemitic" in the years after the Second World War. "Some of those people now think that there is an opening within the Labour Party caused by Jeremy Corbyn being elected," he said. Press Association Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} British politics is in chaos after a scandal over Israel and anti-Semitism devolved into a vicious fight over the views of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The scandal had already seen Naz Shah, one of the UK's few female Muslim members of Parliament, suspended from the Labour Party on Wednesday. On Thursday, Ken Livingstone, the controversial former mayor of London, was also suspended from the party and publicly accused of being a "disgusting" Nazi apologist by a Labour colleague. For many, the scandal is seen as part of a wider problem for Labour's left wing, which has come to dominate the party after Jeremy Corbyn's selection as leader last year. This wing of the party has generally supported Palestinian causes but some rivals say that support has been tainted by anti-Semitism within the party's ranks. How the scandal began Labour MP Naz Shah (Rex Features) (Rex) On Tuesday, Shah, a Labour MP for Bradford West, was accused of anti-Semitism for a series of Facebook posts made in 2014. Shah had only entered Parliament last year, winning a bitter contest for a constituency seat in Bradford, a poor city in the north of England with a large Pakistani minority. Shah herself was born in Bradford to Pakistani parents and sent back to Pakistan as a teenager. Shah enjoyed a quick rise to a position of power, becoming the parliamentary private secretary to John McDonnell, shadow chancellor of the exchequer, in early 2016. Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Show all 14 1 /14 Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Israel and Palestine The simple fact in all of this is that Naz made these comments at a time when there was another brutal Israeli attack on the Palestinians; and theres one stark fact that virtually no one in the British media ever reports, in almost all these conflicts the death toll is usually between 60 and 100 Palestinians killed for every Israeli. Now, any other country doing that would be accused of war crimes but its like we have a double standard about the policies of the Israeli government Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Antisemitism in the Labour Party As Ive said, Ive never heard anybody say anything antisemitism-Semitic, but theres been a very well-orchestrated campaign by the Israel lobby to smear anybody who criticises Israeli policy as antisemitic. I had to put up with 35 years of this Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Naz Shah Its completely over-the-top and rude, but who am I to denounce anyone with all of that. It was wrong. I dont think she is antisemitic, it was incredibly rude but I dont believe she is an antisemite. When the NEC investigation is finished they'll say it was rude and over the top but they wont find any evidence that she actually hates Jews. Weve got to investigate all these charges and the context in which they are made. If she is antisemitic like the other three or four members weve found who are antisemitic, shell be expelled Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On other alleged antisemites in Labour That is part of the classic antisemitic thing about an international Jewish conspiracy that is the reason we need to have an investigation. Ive got an open mind. Ive seen nothing to suggest to me that she is antisemitic. I wouldnt have supported her if I [thought] she was antisemitic Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On whether what Hitler did was legal, as stated by Naz Shah Thats a statement of fact Hitler, Im sure, passed all those laws that allowed him to do that its history literally, Hitler was completely mad, he killed six million Jews. Shes not saying its legal to kill six million Jews: what they were doing in that country allowed them not just to kill six million Jews, kill all the communists, kill all the leftists like me, my father almost died when a Nazi sub sank his boat. I have no sympathy with Hitler Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On another alleged antisemite in Labour No, that is, and thats why shes been suspended or expelled. What Ive said is that in 47 years of the party in all the meetings Ive been in Ive never heard anyone say anything antisemitic. There are bound to be in a party of half a million people youll have a handful of antisemites, youll have a handful of racists. Youve managed to dig out virtually every antisemitic comment that Labour members have made out of half a million people. Ive never met any of these people. Theres not a problem. Youre talking about a handful of people in a party of half a million people. Jeremy Corbyn has moved rapidly to deal with them Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Jeremy Corbyns response to the allegations He met with Naz and she agreed she would stand down while the investigation is going on. He called her in to see her. Theres been a huge investigation of virtually everything that anybody put on the internet many of these people are quite new and recent members of the party that joined in the big influx. 300,000 new people came in Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On his meeting a man accused of antisemitism in London This is the man who called for Muslims around the world to donate blood after the attacks of 9/11 when he came to London I went with him to the Regents Park mosque where he said no man should hit a woman and you should not discriminate against homosexuals. So I cant equate what I heard him say he made no antisemitic statement while he was here in London. I dont investigate people. Ive simply said what I believe to be true which is that Naz was not antisemitic. She was completely over the top, very rude, but that does not make her an antisemite Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Manns comments He went completely over the top. I was actually doing a radio interview at the time that he was bellowing that Im a racist antisemite in my ear. Ive had that with John Mann before a few weeks ago screaming that I was a bigot down the phone. Im not an apologist for anyone who makes antisemitic statements. What Im saying is dont confuse antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government policy Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On calling a Jewish journalist a concentration camp guard whilst Mayor of London I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On claims about Hitler and Zionism I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Mann Id simply say to John Mann go back and check. Is what I say true, or is it not? The BBC, youve got a huge team of researchers, it will take just an hour or two to go back and confirm. I was asked a question, I answered it. I have never in 45 years since I won my first election, I have never lied. I have always answered the question Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On raising the issue if Hitler It lays you open to people smearing and lying about you. Ive always answered the questions put to me and that simple fact is weve had a handful of people saying antisemitic things in the Labour Party, theyve been suspended, some of them are on their way to being expelled, some of them have been expelled already Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On people calling for him to be suspended All my usual critics but the simple fact is I agree with them; there is no place for antisemitism in the Labour party. For them to suggest I am antisemitic is a bit bizarre considering we worked with Jewish groups and put on exhibitions about the scale of the holocaust, we worked with Jewish groups to tackling the scale of antisemitism back in the 1970s. Ive always opposed every form of racism whether its against black people or Jews. Im going to stay in the Labour party and continue to fight against all forms of racism and discrimination as I have my entire life However, Shah was forced to resign from that position after a Facebook post from her in 2014 was unearthed and made public by the right-wing Guido Fawkes blog. In the post titled Solution for Israel-Palestine Conflict Relocate Israel into United States, Shah suggests that Israeli Jews should be relocated to the United States so that Palestinians could "get their life and their land back." Shah was also soon found to have made other posts around this time comparing Israeli policies to those of Hitler. In an initial statement published just hours after the discovery of the first Facebook posts on Tuesday, Shah said that she apologised "unreservedly" for the posts, which were made "when emotions were running high around the Middle East conflict." How it got worse Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons (PA) By Wednesday, the scandal was on the front pages of newspapers. Corbyn issued his own statement that called Shah's actions "offensive and unacceptable" and stated that the Labour Party was "implacably opposed to antisemitism and all forms of racism." Later that day, Shah herself published a second apology in the Jewish News, a newspaper that serves Britain's Jewish community. "If politicians put their hands up when they get something wrong it would help to restore faith in politics," Shah wrote. "I hope that by writing to those who I have hurt, I am practicing as I preach and calling myself out." Shah then apologized again in the House of Commons. "As an MP I will do everything in my power to build relations between Muslims, Jews and people of different faiths and none," she told her colleagues. Despite these words, some observers criticised her phrasing, noting that they did not make clear that Shah thought her posts were anti-Semitic. On Wednesday afternoon, facing criticism for acting too slowly, Corbyn suspended Shah from the Labour Party. The move means she is currently barred from taking part in party activities or being involved with Labour groups in Parliament. How it became a disaster After a day of controversy Ken Livingstone leaves Millbank Labour HQ (Rex) That might seem like a natural place for the scandal to end. It didn't, however. It got worse. In a BBC Radio London interview on Thursday, Ken Livingstone, former London mayor and member of Labour's National Executive Council, defended Shah, arguing that criticising Israel wasn't the same as anti-Semitism. Livingstone went on to say: "When Hitler won his election in 1932, his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews." Livingstone's comments about Hitler immediately sparked controversy. The former mayor had long been one of the best-known figures in the Labour Party's left wing, but he had also made a number of comments about Israel in the past that have led to accusations of anti-Semitism. John Mann MP call Ken Livingstone MP a 'Nazi apologist' Later on Thursday, Livingstone was confronted by the Labour Party MP John Mann as he walked to the BBC's offices in Westminster. In front of a scrum of reporters, Mann shouted at Livingstone, calling him a "f---ing disgrace" and a "Nazi apologist." Livingstone's subsequent interview on the BBC's "Daily Politics" didn't go much better. Hitlers policy when he first came to power [was] to move Germanys Jews to Israel," Livingstone said on the show. Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, a fellow guest on the show, criticised Livingstone's comments, telling him he had entered "into this weird contorted maze" by bringing up Hitler when talking about Israel today. As Livingstone left the BBC, things got even worse. The politician was forced to hide in a bathroom to escape an even larger crowd of journalists now awaiting him. As many Twitter users noted, the situation had the hallmarks of the BBC's well-known political satire, "The Thick of It." The Labour Party soon announced that Livingstone, too, was suspended from the party pending an investigation, for bringing the party into disrepute. Mann was also summoned to see Labour's chief whip. What it means for Britain's left Former Labour leader Ed Miliband is the son of European Jews who had fled to Britain during World War II (Getty) While the Labour Party was once considered a supporter of Israel, in recent years it has had a difficult relationship with the Jewish state. Even under former leader Ed Miliband, the son of European Jews who had fled to Britain during World War II, the party was accused of deteriorating ties with the British Jewish community. After losing last year's general election badly, centrist Miliband was unexpectedly succeeded by Corbyn, a representative of the party's leftist wing. Corbyn and many of his newly-powerful Labour allies were considered critics of Israel. This put them at odds not only with their Conservative rivals, but also with some of their own Labour colleagues, who favored not only more support for Israel but also more centrist policies in general. Corbyn on Livingstone remarks Critics on both the right and left have said that Corbyn failed to adequately address the problems with anti-Semitism in his party. Right-wing bloggers, such as Guido Fawkes, appear to have been combing over comments made by Labour members for remarks against Jews. The chaos within Labour has even managed to overshadow the problems facing the party's right-wing rivals, the governing Conservative Party, which has recently been rocked by divisions over an upcoming vote to leave the European Union and Prime Minister David Cameron's family wealth. Copyright: Washington Post Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The row over alleged anti-Semitism in Labour is somehow related to the party trying to win the votes of Britains Muslim population, Ukips leader has claimed. Nigel Farage argued that Labour was engaging in sectarian politics in Bradford, where suspended MP Naz Shah sits as MP. I do feel that [criticism of Israel] begins to spill over sometimes, in what is the word Israel being used as cover for anti-Semitism, he told LBC radio. Recommended Read more Full transcript of what Ken Livingstone said about antisemitism I think what has happened in Bradford, is that left-wing support and sympathy for anti-Israel/anti-Israeli views has now become allied to a very big growth in the Muslim vote in this country. I think what you have in Bradford is sectarian politics. I loathe it because if you think about the other part of the UK that has been plagued by sectarian politics, its called Northern Ireland, with Protestant versus Catholic, and look where that has got it. Im worried that the left of the Labour party have always had this view; theyre now linking it in a desperate attempt to get all the Muslim votes in this country, and I think theyre in a bad place. Ms Shah defeated former Respect MP George Galloway, who held the seat until 2015 after winning it in a by-election in 2012. It had been held by Labour since the 1970s. She was suspended by the party this week, after it emerged she had suggested support for a plan to relocate Israel to North American before becoming an MP. She has since apologised and said her views have changed. Veteran Labour figure Ken Livingstone was also suspended for comments he made about Israel and Hitler in the course of defending Ms Shah on air the next day. Mr Farage was asked whether Labour should expel Mr Livingstone or Ms Shah, and he suggested they would have been expelled from Ukip had they been members. The row follows a series of expulsions and suspensions by the party for activists alleged to have made anti-Semitic statements. The Independent reached out to the Muslim Council of Britain for comment on this story. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Governments controversial manifesto pledge to allow housing association tenants to buy their own home at a discount has not been accurately costed, is open to abuse, and may well end up exacerbating the UK housing crisis, an influential committee of MPs will warn. The Chairman of Public Accounts Committee said that the controversial Right to Buy scheme was based not on a back of an envelope calculation because there was no envelope at all. Meg Hillier added that while the policy would affect many thousands of people, ministers had failed so far to provide even basic information on how the scheme would work. The committee, which is made up of both Tory and opposition MPs, said the Government should provide a full analysis showing how this policy is to be funded, provide a clear statement of where financial and other risks lie, and spell out its contingency plan if its policies prove not to be fiscally neutral. It added that the Department of Communities and Local Government should also publish detailed data on how it intended to ensure that every home sold off would be replaced with a like for like social property. Experience of the reinvigorated Right to Buy for council tenants shows that meeting such one-for-one replacement targets can be difficult, the committee said. Moreover, replacement homes can be in different areas, be a different size, and cost more to rent. Where new homes are built in different areas, or are let at higher rents or sold as Starter Homes, the Departments policy of extending the Right to Buy could mean a long-term reduction in homes for social rent in some areas. The Committee called on the Department to publish a full impact assessment of the policy and a full analysis showing how it is to be funded, provide a clear statement of where financial and other risks lie, and spell out its contingency plan if its policies prove not to be fiscally neutral. Ms Hillier said that the Government should be embarrassed by the findings of the report which is one of the few done by the PAC in advance of the policy becoming law rather that after the event. Extending Right to Buy will affect many thousands of people yet we have heard vague assertions about what it will accomplish and how, she said. The approach to paying for this policy seems to be entirely speculative. On the basis of evidence heard by our Committee, there are no costings or workings out. We are not talking about a back of an envelope calculation there is no envelope at all. Similarly scant regard appears to have been paid to the practical impact on social housing tenants, the long-term knock-on costs of the loss of social housing and potentially of a change in the mix of housing types. The fallout from Right to Buy over the past 30 years means there is a now a chronic shortage in local authority housing (Getty Images) We can form our own views about the Governments motives for this but Parliament and the public are being asked to take a leap of faith about how this will stack up financially, and that is completely unacceptable. The Local Government Association said their projections showed that extending the Right to Buy scheme to housing association tenants could cost 6 billion over the next four years, as almost 100,000 households take up the offer. We share the Committees concerns about the difficulty in assessing the impact of this in each local area, and have opposed proposals for it to be funded by forcing councils to sell much needed housing, said Sharon Taylor, vice chair of the Association. We are urging MPs to vote for a vital amendment that will mean councils retain sufficient funds to replace any higher value home they are forced to sell to fund the policy one-for-one and with a tenure that best meets local need. But a Department of Communities and Local Government spokesperson said the Government made no apology for helping people into homeownership. Our voluntary agreement with housing associations will mean 1.3 million tenants will have the chance to own their own home, while every home sold will be replaced with a new affordable property, they said. "We are currently working jointly with the housing association sector, and are running a pilot to assess the operation of the scheme and have always been clear we will set out further information. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tony Blair helped a Saudi Arabian-owned oil company lobby the Chinese government during his time as Middle East peace envoy, an investigation has claimed. The Guardian newspaper reports that Mr Blairs firm was paid 41,000 a month and 2 per cent commission on any multi-million pound deals that were secured. Documents reportedly show the former Labour prime minister courted senior Chinese officials in 2010 and introduced them to representatives of PetroSaudi. Recommended Read more Tony Blair used undisclosed trust to bank consultancy earnings While the oil company pushed for Mr Blair to help deliver transactions, not just make the intros, his ultimate extent of involvement was more limited. There is no suggestion of any impropriety by Mr Blair or PetroSaudi. A spokesperson for Mr Blair told the newspaper he had only made introductions between the Chinese regime and Saudi oil company. Mr. Blair is the beneficial owner of the businesses, and is named in our public accounts. His role was made known to the regulators [on establishment of the business] and he has never undertaken any activity other than making introductions. He does not do deals, the spokesperson said. The work Tony Blair Associates did for PetroSaudi International Ltd, which is based in the UK, was undertaken five years ago for a limited period of a few months and was completely unrelated to the Middle East. It is ludicrous to suggest that we would use PetroSaudi for anything related to Quartet work, and our contract with them clearly stipulated that this could not occur. Also, as we have said on previous occasions, neither TBA nor Mr. Blair has arranged any meetings with any British minister for PetroSaudi or for any other clients. PetroSaudi is co-owned by Prince Turki bin Abdullah, who at the time was the son of the Saudi monarch. The Independent has attempted to contact Mr Blair for further comment on this story. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnson has tried to link Labours Sadiq Khan to alleged antisemitic comments by Ken Livingstone despite Mr Khan having branded them as inexcusable. Labour was engulfed in a row over antisemitism this week after it emerged that one of its MPs, Naz Shah, had endorsed a plan to relocate Israel to North America. Mr Livingstone took to the airwaves on Thursday to defend Ms Shahs action but found himself also suspended after making a historical reference to Adolf Hitler in a discussion about Israel. Mr Khan was the first high-profile Labour figure to call for Mr Livingstone to be suspended. Ken Livingstone's comments are appalling and inexcusable. There must be no place for this in our Party, the Labour candidate had tweeted around an hour after the controversial interview aired on BBC London. However Mr Johnson, the outgoing Mayor of London, has tried to leverage the row over Mr Livingstone into the Conservative mayoral campaign. He told LBC Radio on Thursday afternoon there was an ideological continuum between the two politicians, despite Mr Khans loud criticism of Mr Livingstone. Theres plainly some sort of virus of anti-Semitism within the Labour party that needs to be addressed, he said. Boris Johnson accused Mr Khan of having an 'ideological continuum' with Mr Livingstone (PA) It seems to me theres an ideological continuum between the views of Ken Livingstone about Israel and the position of Jeremy Corbyn and indeed the views of their candidate for London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The Tories campaign to elect Zac Goldsmith as Mayor of London has been forced to deny suggestions that it is running a racist operation. Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance Show all 7 1 /7 Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance Sadiq Khan - Labour The MP for Tooting, Sadiq Khan says the mayoral election will be a 'referendum on the Tory housing crisis'. He has also pledged to freeze fares until 2020. Son of a bus driver, and doesn't let anyone forget it. His Conservative opponent has made claims about people who he has previously associated with - but attacks so far have failed to stick Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance Zac Goldsmith - Conservative The MP for Richmond, Zac Goldsmith is a longstanding campaigner against the expansion of Heathrow airport. Despite his environment credentials - he once edited The Ecologist magazine - the Tory candidate has said he would 'rip out' Boris Johnson's cycle lanes if they don't work. A very wealthy man, his campaign has been dogged by accusations of racism against Sadiq Khan Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance Sian Berry - Green Party A councillor in the London Borough of Camden, Sian Berry is campaigning on improving homes for renters, cleaning up London's air pollution, and flattening fare zones to help Londoners. She previously ran as the party's mayoral candidate in 2008. In 2012, the Green Party came in third place Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance Caroline Pidgeon - Liberal Democrat A Liberal Democrat London Assembly member for eight years, Caroline Pidgeon has a strong record on the Assembly's transport committee standing up for commuters and cyclists alike. She wants to set up a 2 billion housing investment fund and make all the capital's buses zero emission Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance Peter Whittle - UKIP UKIP hasn't fared so well in London in previous elections, but is hoping for a breakthrough this time. Peter Whittle has been UKIP's culture spokesperson for two years. He tends to focus on the impact of immigration on London's housing crisis Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance George Galloway - RESPECT George Galloway has made a habit of defying the odds and pulling off stunning victories when standing for Parliament. His campaign - based on the slogan 'a London for all' has so far failed to make headway in the polls - has his luck run out? Mayor of London 2016 - the candidates at a glance Sophie Walker - Women's Equality Party A journalist, Sophie Walker is campaigning for the little-known Women's Equality Party. She is pledging to make 'equality and diversity the fuel that drives our nation's capital' with measures to increase women's representation in enterprise, more affordable homes and flexible childcare It has previously described Mr Khan, who is a Muslim, as radical, and has sought to highlight instances where he had met with extremist figures. Critics have suggested the core strategy of Mr Goldsmiths campaign is to draw attention to Mr Khans faith. Mr Johnson appeared to call into question Mr Khans sincerity over his condemnation of Mr Livingstone. John Mann MP call Ken Livingstone MP a 'Nazi apologist' I think its very prudent of the Labour party candidate to do that although I note that Sadiq Khan had previously called upon Ken Livingstones services as an adviser and indeed Sadiq Khan had nominated Jeremy Corbyn, as I recall, to be leader of the Labour party, Mr Johnson added. The outgoing Mayor himself was criticised last week for suggesting that US president Barack Obama might have an ancestral dislike of Britain due to his party-Kenyan heritage. Londoners will vote to elect the Mayor of London and London Assembly on 5 May 2016. The elections take place on the same day as Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, and some local and police elections. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Pentagon has confirmed that 16 US military staff who bombed a hospital in Afghanistan last year have been disciplined. The attack on the hospital in Kunduz last October left at least 42 people dead. Recommended Read more US military faces punishment following bombing on Afghan hospital The Pentagon confirmed on Friday that the attack, authorized by General John Campbell, the US Commander in Afghanistan, was the result of human error and was not a war crime because it was unintentional. 16 staff have either been suspended or received lesser sentences. No one faces criminal charges. It also said the Doctors Without Borders hospital, known by its French acronym MSF, was properly entered on a no-strike list yet the gunship crew did not have access to that list. Army General Joseph Votel, commander at US Central Command, told reporters on Friday that there is a constant effort underway to review their processes and the aircraft that was used during the attack. This was not a systemic problem, this was a failure at that point, he said, regarding a faulty radio antennae system on the plane that would have told the crew of no-strike areas. Nato-backed Afghan forces were fighting with insurgents for control of the northern provincial capital one month after the Taliban seized the city. The strike was authorized under the rules of self-defence. Mr Votel insisted that when the air crew were notified they were firing at a hospital, they withdrew fire. There is a lot on the ground, its a fast moving situation. We have young leaders trying to make the right decision in a heated combat and sometimes it comes up wrong, he said. After the bombs started to fall, panicked hospital staff called and send text messages asking the US forces to stop. The plane crew took 17 minutes to react. MSF also said it repeatedly gave its coordinates of its trauma center in Kunduz to the US military as late as 29 September to avoid being bombed. This did not prevent the accident from happening just four days later. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When a man walked into a Baltimore TV station donning an animal costume and a fake bomb strapped to his chest, he believed the world was about to end, according to his father. Recommended Read more Man wearing animal suit shot by police after bomb threats Edward Brizzi told reporters that his 25-year-old son, Alex, had a breakdown and received word from God that the world would end on 3 June. Baltimore Police did not release the name of the suspect, but Mr Brizzi confirmed to WBFF that it was his son. Mr Brizzi wasnt sure why his son chose the specific FOX affiliate. I think what it is he wanted to go to a media outlet so he pass his message on that the worlds going to end on June the third, he said. Mr Brizzi said that his son did not have a history of problems with mental health aside from a 2012 suicide attempt using over-the-counter pain relievers. He did say his sons girlfriend broke up with him two weeks ago, which may have sparked the breakdown. The man reportedly entered the TV station wearing a hedgehog onesie and a fake bomb made out of chocolate bars and wires. He asked the stations news director to air the contents of a USB drive he supplied, saying that it contained information on the same level as the Panama Papers. According to Baltimore Police spokesperson TJ Smith, the man barricaded himself in the news station after the building had been evacuated. When he exited the building, heavily armed SWAT officers followed the man, who ignored their commands as he paced along the road. The standoff came to an end when a police sniper shot the suspect three times. Mr Brizzi told WBFF that he had four wounds in his neck, left wrist, left buttocks, and right leg. The one [doctors are] worried about is the one in the neck, he said. Theyre going to do exploratory surgery. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Colombia has become the fourth Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage, following a ruling by countrys highest court. The ruling, by the Constitutional Court, allows gay couples to get married in the same way as heterosexual couples for the first time. As part of the proceedings, President Juan Manuel Santos government argued in favour of marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. Colombia joins Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay as the only Latin American nations to have legalised same-sex marriage. Argentina was the first to take the decision in July 2010. The judges affirmed by a majority that marriage between people of the same sex does not violate constitutional order, presiding Judge Maria Victoria Calle told the court, AFP reports. LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russias antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT propaganda allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this crime since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty The definition of the institution of marriage in civil law applies to them in the same way as it does to couples of the same sex. Thursdays ruling had been anticipated after the constitutional court dismissed a petition against equal marriage rights for heterosexual and same sex couples on 7 April. Six of the courts nine judges approved the ruling that all people are free to choose independently to start a family in keeping with their sexual orientation receiving equal treatment under the constitution and the law. Previously gay couples in the conservative Roman Catholic nation were only allowed to form civil unions. However, these partnerships often occupied a grey legal area with many officials refusing to register such unions as congress had not enshrined equal marriage rights in law, prompting protests from gay rights campaigners. LGTB activists demonstrate outside the Colombian Congress in Bogota in 2013 (Getty images ) (Getty images) Around 70 unions previously registered as civil partnerships will now be automatically converted into full marriages under the new ruling, Alberto Rojas, the judge who presented the motion told AFP. The decision will become an irrevocable constitutional ruling within a month, making it legally valid. To date 21 countries, including, Colombia have legalised same-sex marriage, the first being the Netherlands in 2001. In Mexico, gay marriage is legal in the capital and in certain other states. Additional reporting by Associated Press Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The clashes began before Donald Trump even arrived in California. On Tuesday, pro- and anti-Trump activists faced off at City Hall in Anaheim the home of Disneyland while the local council debated whether to formally denounce the Republican presidential front-runner for his divisive rhetoric. The council decided against the resolution. Outside, their constituents fired insults and pepper spray at one another. On Thursday night, before The Donald touched down a few miles away in Costa Mesa for his very first California rally, a phalanx of mounted sheriffs deputies tried to maintain the peace between the property moguls supporters and protesters chanting Fuck Trump. But later, as the event at the Orange County Fairgrounds concluded, hundreds of young protesters spilled into the streets outside, vandalising police cruisers and tossing rocks at passing traffic. If this was a taste of whats to come as the Trump campaign turns its attentions to the Golden State, then the candidate himself appeared all but oblivious. Inside the Pacific Amphitheatre, his rhetoric was as divisive as ever. No state in America has suffered worse from open borders than California, he insisted, promising once more to build a wall the length of the US-Mexican border, and grinning as the crowd yelled, dutifully, Build the wall! Mr Trump began the rally by inviting to the stage campaigners from the Remembrance Project, a group for people who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Jamiel Shaw, whose teenage son was shot dead in Los Angeles in 2008, said the billionaires harsh anti-immigration proposals had given him something to hope for. Mr Trump also repeated an anecdote he enjoys about US General John Pershing dipping bullets in pigs blood before executing 49 Muslim fighters in the Philippines in the early 1900s, a long-debunked story that the presidential hopeful tells admiringly, as a motivational aid for the fight against the Islamic State. By the way, he added, Muslims? Great people. If it is possible, the candidate seemed more confident than ever, devoting at least half of his hour-long speech to himself, to his poll numbers and to his previous GOP primary victories, including his clean sweep of the five eastern states that voted earlier this week. Im so good at this stuff, Mr Trump said, standing at the podium in front of a 50-foot-high stars-and-stripes. If I dont win, I will consider it a total and complete waste of time, effort and money. The most populous state in the US usually votes too late in primary season to affect the overall result. But this years California primary on 7 June promises to be uncharacteristically significant. It is worth 172 delegates to the GOP candidates, by far the most of any state in the race. It may be the anti-Trump factions final opportunity to deprive him of the 1,237 delegate majority he needs to secure the nomination ahead of the partys convention in July. Or it may be Mr Trumps triumphant middle finger to his Republican opponents as he tramples them one last time. During his Thursday night campaign appearance, Mr Trump reeled off several dubious California crime statistics. He repeatedly claimed the crowd numbered 31,000, even though the venues capacity is fewer than 10,000. In the past, he has been accused of similarly inflating the size of his own fortune. But when it comes to his poll numbers, he has no need of fanciful accounting. In California, he is currently more than 15 points ahead of his nearest rival, Ted Cruz. Should he make it as far as a general election, however, Mr Trump will find deep ranks of opposition here. Democrats comprise 43 per cent of the states 17.2 million voters, almost as many as Republicans and independents combined. Latinos, a group poorly disposed to The Donald, now make up a larger share of the California population than non-Hispanic whites. Jocelyn Gutierrez, an 18-year-old high school student, came to the Orange County Fairgrounds to protest with three of her friends, after hearing about Mr Trumps rally on social media. She said his stance on immigration was the main reason she opposed him, though far from the only one. Im surprised hes here. I didnt think he was really going to come, she said. Theres so many people in California that hate him. Some minority voters were keen to show their support for the Republican front-runner, however. Mike Kaplan, a vodka importer from Los Angeles, brandished a home-made sign reading Gays for Trump. Its not seen as cool to be a Trump supporter as a gay man, said Mr Kaplan, who is 35. Theres an implication that hes against every single minority, but Im here to tell my fellow gay men that he loves us. Mike Kaplan is behind Mr Trump, and Mr Trump is behind Mike Kaplan. A lot of my gay male friends are closeted Trump supporters. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The friend of the white man charged in the killings of nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about what he knew prior to the massacre. Joey Meeks, 21, agreed to the plea deal - which included failure to report a crime - and now faces up to eight years in prison. Prosecutors say if he is helpful in their case against the alleged gunman, Dylann Roof, he could receive a shorter sentence. Recommended Read more Justice Department to investigate Charleston shooting as terrorism The Associated Press says that Mr Meeks admitted that Mr Roof had planned on carrying out the shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church on 17 June 2015 for more than six months. He also told authorities that Mr Roof intended to start a race war with the shooting. Mr Meek had previously told the AP that Mr Roof complained during a drunken rant that blacks were taking over the world and someone needed to do something about it for the white race. Mr Roof is charged with nine counts of murder in state court and hate crimes in federal court. After Mr Roof killed the nine members of the Emanuel AME church, including South Carolina state senator Clementa C Pinckney. Their deaths brought issues of race and racialised violence to the forefront of American consciousness. Amid growing national pressure, South Carolina Gov Nikki Haley had the Confederate battle flag removed from outside the statehouse in Charleston. The flag represented pro-slavery states during the Civil War, and has since become a popular symbol among US white supremacy groups. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of the largest grassroots, community-led efforts to send donations to Syrian refugee children happened in the unlikeliest of places. In well-heeled Greenwich, Connecticut, the town of Donald Trumps former country estate, four friends decided they could not sit back any longer and ignore what they described as the largest humanitarian crisis of their time. What started as a plan to pack extra suitcases on a trip to Europe evolved into a 40-foot-long container measuring 7,700 cubic feet, full of provisions for children in refugee camps in Macedonia. Anne Ferguson, Margaret Anker, Sue Parkin and Kirsten MacDonald all live in the town and have children in local schools. Their project was not easy, however. It was only though a tenuous connection - one of the womens nannys friends, Katerina Ilievska, who was working for the Nobel Peace-prize nominated organization SOS Children's Villages in Skopje, Macedonia - that they could even start to organize sending aid. This is the humanity crisis in our lifetime and could potentially change the demographic of the continent we grew up on, said Ms Anker. We were very careful when we were asked questions [from local people]. We said it was a humanitarian issue. We are not raising money or providing visas. Not everyone has the same intention to help. Referring to Syrian children refugees coming to Greenwich, presidential candidate Donald Trump said in February: I can look them in the face and say you cant come here, and suggested their parents might be ISIS members. It might seem telling to some that the four women who decided to help these children are non-US citizens - they were all born in Europe and South Africa. From left to right: Kirsten MacDonald, Margaret Anker, Anne Ferguson and Sue Parkin (Anne Ferguson) Although anti-Muslim feeling increased after 9/11, the volunteers did not feel any aversion to helping refugees. Ms Anker was six months pregnant when one of the Twin Towers knocked down her husbands office next door - he was at home at the time - and Ms Ferguson was also in New York in 2001. Terrorism had the potential to change sentiment around their efforts. The original deadline to get donations was 30 October 2015, then it was pushed back to 15 November, two days after terrorists attacked Paris. Some people said we were very lucky to do it now as it might have been a different response afterwards, said Ms Ferguson. Little help came from the office of their Democrat Governor Daniel Malloy as it was already overstretched with helping Syrian refugees to settle in the state, Ms Anker said. Around 90 Syrians have moved to Connecticut since last summer, as reported by Courant. In fact, Mr Malloy has been praised for speaking out to welcome Syrians and fight against more hate-filled rhetoric from the likes of Mr Trump. But the volunteers said their mission was nothing to do with politics or religion, and that they received tremendous support from schools, pupils and their parents, and even mosques, synagogues and churches. One family even wrote a cheque to ship the container, which cost over $4,000. They collected more than 16,000 Mylar blankets, a low-weight blanket made of reflective, plastic sheeting designed to reduce body heat loss, as well as clothing and shoes. Its easy to write a cheque, said Ms Ferguson. It felt like people were waiting for us to come up with the good idea. Kirsten MacDonald and Margaret Anker sort out hundreds of boxes of donations (Anne Ferguson) Not everyone gave items that could be of use. That included a kitchen knife and a bottle of bleach, Ms Anker said, but she laughed it off and claimed people were just clearing out their cupboards. Their children, who are at different schools, gave presentations to their classmates on the subject. Children in Greenwich, New York help Syrian refugees Ive lived in a a lot of places and always been welcomed and if me or my children were not [welcomed] I would have been distraught, said Ms Ferguson. "Its very important to involve our kids and see it all the way through. The campaign was inspired after the four friends saw a picture last year of a small boy who was washed up on a beach in Greece. People can spend eight years in refugee camps, said Ms Anker. It always comes back to the children. A whole generation is getting lost. The volunteer group received word in January that the donations had been received, after months of anxiety that their container might not make it through customs or be intercepted en route. Ive seen the pictures of the loading on your end, but, to be honest, I couldnt even imagine the amount you managed to raise and ship until I saw it with my own eyes It is impressive, it is incredible, Ms Ilievska wrote in an e-mail, as reported by Greenwich Time. The stars have to align for something like this to happen, said Ms Anker. They are now looking to start a new project to build schools in Lebanese refugee camps in association with a foundation called Kayany. Connecticut has one of the highest number of Syrian refugees in the US but efforts to resettle more families has been slow. President Obama may miss his target of welcoming 10,000 refugees to the US by October 2016. Would local residents be so happy to help if more Syrian refugees arrived to live in Greenwich? Ms Ferguson and Ms Anker looked at each other, hesitant to reply. We were helped by so many different groups of people, so I hope they would welcome them, said Ms Ferguson. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} North Korea has sentenced an American citizen to a decade behind bars for spying and stealing state secrets. Kim Dong Chul, a 62-year-old man of Korean origin, will serve 10 years of hard labour after he was found guilty under Articles 60 and 64 of the countrys criminal code at his short trial in Pyongyang. Details of his alleged espionage and subversion were not immediately available. When he had been escorted in front of the media the previous month, Mr Kim made an apparent confession that he had been working for South Korean intelligence authorities to bring down the Norths government, and that he had wanted to spread religion among its citizens. Mr Kim, who used to live in Virginia, said he was introduced to the agency via US officials. South Koreas National Intelligence Service, the main agency in the country, has denied that it employed Mr Kim. He was arrested last October in the city and special economic zone of Rason. North Korea accused him of owning a USB stick with military and nuclear secrets saved on it. The arrest follows a 15-year sentence handed to Otto Warmbier, an American university student who was accused of anti-state activities while visiting the North as a tourist in 2015. Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old University of Virginia undergraduate student from Ohio, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour (Associated Press) A Canadian pastor, Hyeon Soo Lim, was sentenced to a life of hard labour in December for so-called crimes against the state. North Korea believes the US uses spies to overturn its government and let South Korea gain control. The country has previously detained people until senior US officials came to secure their release. This included former president Bill Clinton making the trip to secure the release of US journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who entered North Korea illegally through China. US spy chief James Clapper went over in November 2014 to bring back Mathew Miller, who was also arrested as a tourist, and Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American who had been in jail since November 2012. Many US prisoners are forced to confess the US accuses North Korea of using its citizens as pawns in a diplomatic game but they are often released well before their full sentences are over. Jeffrey Fowle, a US tourist, was in jail for six months before being sent home on a US government plane. He deliberately left a Bible in a local club, which is considered an offence in North Korea. Meanwhile the dictatorship has continued to break UN sanctions by recently carrying out a series of missile tests after its fourth nuclear test in January. On Thursday it launched two mid-range ballistic missiles which crashed, spurring an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Agencies contributed to this report. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A lawsuit has been filed against social media giant Snapchat after a teenager allegedly used the app while driving and crashed, severely injuring another person. Lawyers said Christal McGee, 18, was using Snapchats speed filter as she was driving her car, but became distracted and crashed into another road user at more than 100 miles per hour. The driver of the second car, Wentworth Maynard, was left disabled and in need of constant care. His lawyers are now filing charges against Ms McGee and Snapchat for negligence, holding that the speed filter, in which users can record their speed and impose it on an image, is inherently dangerous and distracts drivers. Recommended Read more Driver boasted of 142mph speeding on Snapchat hours before killing Lawyers for Mr Maynard allege Ms McGee was ending her shift at a restaurant around the same time as Mr Maynard was beginning his shift for Uber in Hampton, near Atlanta, Georgia. McGee had her phone in her hand, and she started driving fast, MLN lawyers said in a statement. One of her co-workers in the backseat was pregnant. She asked McGee to consider this fact and slow down. But McGee was caught up in Snapchat, a smart phone app for sharing photos and videos with friends. McGee wanted to post an image of herself going fast. She argued that she was, Just trying to get the car to 100 miles per hour to post it on Snapchat. Meanwhile, Mr Maynard was pulling onto the road, which had a speed limit of 55 mph. The MLN statement continues: The passenger in McGees Mercedes saw the speed on the Snapchat filter hit 113 miles per hour. McGee said Im about to post it. At that moment, the passengers saw the Mitsubishi [driven by Mr Maynard] ahead and screamed. The most controversial internet crazes Show all 7 1 /7 The most controversial internet crazes The most controversial internet crazes Gun Selfies Where it actually came from remains a mystery, but the 'Selfie' remains a popular feature on the internet - it was even named word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries in 2013. However, a number of gangs in America have taken it a step further, posting 'gun selfies' of themselves. Last year, two men were charged for 142 counts of possession of a firearm and were bailed by police after posting numerous photos. The craze has led to several calls for photos to be taken down, with parents fearing that children could try and create their own poses. Instagram The most controversial internet crazes Planking Originating in Australia in 2008, the trend of 'planking' swept Britain a year later. The craze, in which people form a straight figure with hands down by their sides, had thousands of participants uploading their efforts on to Facebook. While most were harmless enough, the more daring have been known to plank across railway tracks and between buildings, causing major health concerns. In 2011, a 20-year-old man died after 'planking' on a seven-story building in Australia. Twitter The most controversial internet crazes Twerking Twerking, a mixture of twisting and jerking, has been around since the late 1990s, but its popularity dramatically increased after Miley Cyrus 'twerked' at the 2013 MTV VMA awards with Robin Thicke, prompting fans to upload their own versions on Youtube - we've even had twerking stormtroopers. It's since been accused of corrupting the minds of young people and, last year, 33 students were suspended after making a video of themselves 'twerking' using school equipment. Machinima The most controversial internet crazes Happy Slap It's been almost a decade since the Happy Slap craze broke out in the UK, but what started out in as a small joke between friends in Lewisham in 2004 eventually became a nationwide phenomenon. Happy Slapping involved a victim being filmed on a camera phone getting slapped. As the craze spread, incidents became more and more vicious and it was linked to a rise in bullying in school playgrounds. In 2008, a teenage girl was sentenced to two years' detention after filming the fatal beating of a man. nydailynews.com The most controversial internet crazes Tombstoning 'Tombstoning' emerged in 2012 as a much more dangerous fad. It involved finding the highest rock to leap from, giving jumpers sufficient time to change their body position to resemble a tomb falling into the sea. It was invented initially as a way to keep cool during sizzling temperatures, but as the challenges became more daunting, some experienced horrific injuries as a result of jumping into shallow or rocky waters. Twitter The most controversial internet crazes McDiving While not as dangerous as other internet fascinations, McDonald's staff are now finding themselves on the receiving end of another internet craze. 'McDiving' started last year and normally comes at the end of an alcohol-fuelled night out, where it is then customary for a 'McDiver' to go to the nearest McDonald's and launch themselves over the counter. McDonald's franchises have even started hiring bouncers at peak times of the day to deal with any mischief makers. YouTube The most controversial internet crazes Gallon Smashing Given that glossy floors are prominent in supermarkets, it would be deemed acceptable to see the occasional person slip over. But this is no accident. Gallon smashing started to appear on Youtube last year and has becoming increasingly popular in the US. It sees agile teenagers throw gallons of milk in the air as well as hurtling themselves on to the ground. However, with the mess, cost and inconvenience that is caused, the 'gallon smashing' craze has seen security stepped up in supermarkets. YouTube The lawyers argue the Ms McGee was traveling so fast there was no time to react and she ran into Mr Maynards car, forcing it violently across the road and into an embankment. Investigators later estimated the collision impact speed to have been 107mph. Both cars were badly damaged in the incident but Ms McGee and her passengers escaped with minor injuries. A Snapchat image was posted reportedly of Ms McGee with a bloodied face and on a stretcher, along with the words Lucky to be alive. However, Mr Maynard was considerably more hurt by the collision. Lawyers said he was hospitalised for more than two months because of a severe traumatic brain injury and suffered trauma that would alter the rest of his life. Mr Maynard, who used to be completely independent, is now completely reliant on round-the-clock care, according to his family. Wentworth would get up on his own, make his breakfast, go to work and cook dinner, said his wife, Karen Maynard, a co-plaintiff to the case. Now hes so tired he falls asleep in his wheelchair during the day. We used to sit on the sofa and watch TV in the evening, and Wentworth would hug me. Now, he cant do that anymore. Citing other car accidents where drivers have allegedly caused and documented crashes on the app, the lawsuit alleges: "Despite actual knowledge of the danger from using its products speed filter whilst driving at excessive speeds, Snapchat did not remove or restrict access to the speed filter." Snapchat told The Independent: No Snap is more important than someones safety. We actively discourage our community from using the speed filter while driving, including by displaying a Do NOT Snap and Drive warning message in the app itself. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Teenage girls are increasingly asking their doctors to perform cosmetic surgery on their labia. The number of girls aged 18 and under undergoing labiaplasties has nearly doubled. In 2014, 222 girls underwent the procedure, up to 400 in 2015, according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Labiaplasty surgery reduces the size of the labia, and is mainly requested for cosmetic reasons. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has issued guidelines about how doctors should talk to adolescents about labiaplasty. Variety in the shape, size, appearance and symmetry of labia can have particularly distressing psychological effects on young women, said Julie Strickland, the chair of ACOGs Adolescent Health Care Committee and the lead author of the guidelines. Doctors conduct a vagina surgery on a patient at a private clinic in Jakarta, 13 June 2007. (Getty Images) Ms Strickland told Vocativ the surgery comes with the risk of serious complications, including, pain, infection and scarring. The paper suggests young women are increasingly considering labiaplasty because of "increasing trends in pubic hair removal, exposure to idealised images of genital anatomy, and increasing awareness of cosmetic vaginal surgery". It also encourages gynaecologists to recommend nonsurgical alternatives and educate and reassure adolescents seeking medical treatment. In 2014, Theresa May warned "designer vagina" cosmetic surgery in the UK could fall into the same category of crime as female genital mutilation. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The US Supreme Court rejected an emergency appeal to stop Texas controversial voter ID law, but are open to revisiting the matter before the general election in November. Recommended Read more Supreme Court looks split down middle on immigration In a brief order released Friday, the Court noted the time constraints of the appeal, and said that if the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals does not issue a ruling on the law by 20 July, the justices will consider revisiting the case if the complainant submits a new emergency appeal. The 5th Circuit court is scheduled to hear oral arguments beginning 24 May. The Texas legislature passed the voter ID law in 2011, which would require voters to show government issued identification before they can cast their ballot. Opponents of the law believe it will place undue financial burden on low-income people in the state and will violate the Voter Rights Act. And while the state does issue free voter identification, critics of the law say that still does not factor in the cost of documents like birth certificates, as well as travel. They also say the law disproportionately affects poor black and Latino voters. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was pleased with the Supreme Courts decision to uphold the common-sense law. We appreciate the Supreme Court allowing the law to remain in effect at this time, Mr Paxton said in a statement, and look forward to defending the merits of our case in front of the entire 5th Circuit next month. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters massed outside the California Republican Convention venue close to San Francisco on Friday, as the divisive property mogul prepared to address the Golden States GOP faithful. In scenes by turns joyful and tense, the protesters brandished placards and Mexican flags, chanted slogans and faced off with police outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Burlingame. Donald Trump himself was forced to enter the hotel by a side door to avoid the demonstrations. Local news helicopter footage showed the billionaires motorcade stopping on the nearby motorway; Mr Trump and his entourage of aides and secret service men then crossed the crash barrier and scrambled up a grass bank to get to the hotels side entrance. Recommended Read more Donald Trump greeted with protests as he makes his California debut Around the time Mr Trump was due to begin speaking, several protesters managed to break through the barricades and sprint towards the hotel, though they were quickly stopped by police. Mr Trumps GOP rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich are also set to speak at the convention this weekend, but the placards and chants appeared to be aimed squarely at the front-runner. When he finally began his speech, Mr Trump opened by saying, That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made, adding: It felt like I was crossing the border. The demonstrations came a day after Mr Trump made his first California campaign appearance in Orange County, where his rally was met with protests that verged on violence. Seventeen people were arrested outside the Orange County Fairgrounds after young anti-Trump activists spilled into the streets, vandalising police cruisers and tossing rocks at passing traffic. California, a largely Democratic state where Latinos outnumber non-Hispanic whites, could prove hostile to the Trump campaign in a general election. However, The Donald looks set to dominate the state's Republican primary on 7 June, with a poll lead of more than 15 points over his nearest rival, Mr Cruz. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Indiana Governor Mike Pence has given a somewhat lukewarm endorsement to Ted Cruz ahead of his states crucial presidential primary. The Hoosier State vote on 3 May could be Mr Cruzs last chance to stop Donald Trump clinching the GOP nomination, after the Texas Senator picked up just one delegate from the five eastern states that voted earlier this week. But while Mr Pence said he was backing Mr Cruz, he also heaped praise on the front-runner. I particularly want to commend Donald Trump, who I think has given voice to the frustration of millions of working Americans with a lack of progress in Washington, DC, the Republican governor said, in an interview with conservative Indianapolis radio host Greg Garrison. Im also particularly grateful that Donald Trump has taken a strong stand for Hoosier jobs, Mr Pence went on, referring to Mr Trumps criticism of the Carrier air conditioner companys imminent manufacturing move from Indiana to Mexico. Im not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming Republican primary. Recommended Read more Donald Trump greeted with protests as he makes his California debut The Indiana primary is a must-win for Mr Cruz, who is running out of opportunities to lure delegates away from The Donald, prevent him securing the necessary 1,237 majority and thus force a nomination fight at the parts convention in July. Earlier this week he announced former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as his running mate, in a bid to reclaim the momentum. Mr Trump nonetheless remains some five points ahead in Indiana polls. Mr Pence described Mr Cruz as a principled conservative, who had opposed runaway spending, Obamacare and abortion, saying he was very impressed with Ted Cruzs devotion [to] and knowledge of the Constitution of the United States. Speaking in Indianapolis ahead of the Governors endorsement, Mr Cruz said he had tremendous respect for Mr Pence, adding: He has been an incredible leader for the state of Indiana. He has really demonstrated that when you cut taxes, when you reduce regulations, that jobs follow. Mr Pences conservative tenure has been controversial, even in a state long considered a Republican stronghold. He recently faced protests after signing a restrictive abortion bill, and last year suffered a backlash for approving Indianas so-called religious freedom law, which was seen by its opponents as anti-gay. This weekend the remaining GOP candidates Mr Trump, Mr Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich will all descend on San Francisco for the Californias state Republican convention. When Donald Trump arrived in Orange County on Thursday for his first campaign appearance in California, he was met with protests that verged on violence. In a taste of what could be to come as the Trump campaign turns its attention to the Golden State, around 20 people were arrested outside the rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds, after which hundreds of young anti-Trump protesters spilled into the streets, vandalising police cruisers and tossing rocks at passing traffic. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A baby boy born on a passenger plane has been named in honour of the airline. Saw Jet Star was successfully delivered on a three-hour flight from Singapore to Yangon in Burma. Delivered by three doctors who happened to be travelling on the flight, the baby boy weighed in at six pounds, seven ounces. He and his mother were described as being in good health on leaving the plane for a Yangon hospital where they were later discharged. The budget airline said on Facebook it will donate 1,000 Singaporean dollars (508) worth of baby supplies to the family. Jetstar policy towards expecting mothers requires a doctor's letter from pregnant women travelling, 28 weeks into their pregnancy or more, to confirm their good health. Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 1) Angela Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor Axel Schmidt/Getty Images Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 2) Beverley Actress and singer Beverly Knight Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 3) Carol Former 'Countdown' presenter Carol Vorderman Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 4) Debra Former 'Will & Grace' actress Debra Messing Jason Merritt/Getty Images Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 5) Diane Fashion designer and inventor of the wrap dress Diane Von Furstenberg Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Diane Von Furstenberg Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 1) Bertrand The late philosopher Bertrand Russell Hulton Archive/Getty Images Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 2) Cecil The late artist Cecil Beaton Hulton Archive/Getty Images Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 3) Clarence American actor Henry Fonda pictured in 1975 rehearsing at the Piccadilly Theatre in London for his one man play about the famous trial lawyer Clarence Darrow Getty Images Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 4) Clive Actor Clive Owen Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images Baby names 'at risk of dying out' - In pictures 5) Cyril Cyril Rioli, an Australian rules footballer Matt King/Getty Images A spokesman for Jetstar said: "Our crew are trained to respond to all kinds of events on our aircraft, and we're proud of the way they assisted with the help of generous doctors onboard to ensure the safe delivery of our youngest ever passenger on a Jetstar Asia flight." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A British man has spoken out about the attack he and his parents endured on the streets of a Thai resort town. Lewis Owen, along with his parents Rosemary and Lewis, was set upon by a group of street thugs who punched and kicked the trio into unconsciousness. The incident, which was caught on CCTV, took place during New Year celebrations in the beach resort town of Hua Hin. All three family members, who have been visiting Thailand since the 1980s, have vowed never to return. Mrs Owen, 65, needed an operation to ease swelling on her brain while her 68-year-old husband sustained heavy bruising, two black eyes and needed six stitches in his forehead. Their son Lewis Owen, who is a Singapore-based graphic designer, said: "I'm not going back to Thailand again. Mum and Dad won't be either. "We were all unconscious. My mum did not even realise she had been kicked in the face. "I did not know my head had been stamped on." Warning: The CCTV footage below includes upsetting scenes British family beaten unconscious at Thai beach resort He added: "We had never seen the guys before we left the bar we were in "It was just out of the blue." Four local men have been arrested and charged in relation to the attack. A spokesman for the Tourism Authority of Thailand said: "If found guilty, the perpetrators of this incident will face full justice under Thai law. "The Tourism Authority of Thailand would like to express our deepest sorrow to the family who were subjected to the assault in Hua Hin during the Songkran celebrations." Neighbours of the Owens in Wenvoe, South Wales, have described the couple as lovely and peaceful people. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Excessive sightseeing helicopter flights over the upper reaches of Mount Everest are causing avalanche concerns. A series of disasters have halted Everest expeditions for the last two years. In 2014, sixteen Sherpas were killed by an avalanche that swept down a climbing route. Last year, at least 18 climbers died at Base Camp after an earthquake triggerd an avalanche. While tourist flights are not allowed to fly above Base Camp, which is at an altitude of 5,364 metres (17,000ft), a BBC investigation found tourist companies fly over the Khumbu Icefall. An aerial photograph of the Khumbu Icefall along Everest's West Shoulder (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) Concerned mountain guides told the BBC they fear "that the vibrations caused by helicopters can crack ice blocks and snow packs on mountains overlooking the Khumbu Icefall". "Pasang Kaji Sherpa, a mountain guide with a military expedition team now on Everest, said: "There is a deep-seated fear among Sherpa porters that they may be hit by avalanches this year as well and these helicopters are increasing fears." However, airline officials insist there is no danger, as their helicopters fly 2,340 feet above the ground and maintain at least 1km distance from the mountains. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has since warned airlines not to conduct flights over the Khumbu Icefall. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In the year 1900, there may have been as many or more than 100,000 tigers roaming this planet's forests. And every year since then until now, that number has decreased. But a combination of better and broader monitoring techniques and, governments say, increased vigilance against poachers has led to the first increase in tiger numbers in over a century to 3,890 this year. Some of the biggest increases were in India, which, in its latest tiger census, claimed a 30 percent population increase in the past four years to 2,226, almost three-quarters of the global total. But ever since the numbers were released earlier in April, the scientific community has sought to dampen what it has seen as the Indian government's self-congratulation. "All of this tom-tomming and arm-waving, claiming we've had stupendous success, is ridiculous and unscientific," tiger expert K. Ullas Karanth, science director for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Asia, told the Associated Press. The steep growth figure is widely seen as implausible. Tiger populations may be experiencing a small rebound from historic lows, but a good deal of the increase is surely attributable to simply missing fewer animals in their counting, experts say. "I'd prefer to say there are 30 percent more known tigers rather than say there is actually an increase in tigers. We might not have counted them all earlier," Anurag Danda of the World Wildlife Fund, one of many groups that participated in the census, told the AP. And this week, the Wildlife Protection Society of India released its quarterly poaching toll data and revealed that more tigers 28 have been killed throughout India in the first quarter of this year than all of last year 25. Altogether, 58 have died, including from natural causes, infighting among the tigers themselves and killings by people in self-defense. The maximum sentence for poaching in India is three years, though one state, Maharashtra, famously decided it would allow park rangers to shoot poachers on sight without repercussion. Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species Show all 7 1 /7 Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species AP Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species REUTERS/Wayne Maddison/Conservation International/Handout Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species STEVE RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species REUTERS/Steve Richards/Conservation International/Handout Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species WAYNE MADDISON/AFP/Getty Images Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species STEVE RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images Spiders and frogs identified among 50 new species REUTERS/Wayne Maddison/Conservation International/Handout To be sure, conservation efforts, some spearheaded by governments such as India's, are the reason we still have any tigers to speak of today. And the international conservation community's goal, set in 2010, to double the tiger population by 2022 is regarded by the community as a challenge but a doable one. South Asian countries are leading that effort, and Russia has seen a population rebound, too. Cambodia, on the other hand, declared tigers extinct within its borders earlier this month. The challenges include a 40 percent habitat loss in just the past decade and the persistence of a market for tiger body parts that fuels poaching. There is also the need to continue to improve monitoring techniques; cameras and spoor sightings (droppings and footprints) inform most surveys, and census numbers are then extrapolated from those samples. Such improvements are necessary if only because industrial development interests may point to the wrongly inflated numbers as a success and lobby for a relaxing of regulations. Copyright: Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A 94-year-old former Auschwitz guard has spoken openly about the murder of at least 170,000 people at the death camp. Reinhold Hanning is accused of overseeing the selection of prisoners who were sent either for labour or to the gas chambers. He told the court in Germany he regretted being part of the "criminal organisation" that killed so many people and caused such suffering. "I'm ashamed that I knowingly let injustice happen and did nothing to oppose it," the former Nazi SS officer said, while seated in a wheelchair in the court in Detmold. Former SS guard Reinhold Hanning faces trial this week Holocaust survivors have pleaded with the accused to break his silence in what could be one of the last Holocaust court cases heard in Germany. Reading a statement to the court, he said: "I want to tell you that I deeply regret having been part of a criminal organisation that is responsible for the death of many innocent people, for the destruction of countless families, for misery, torment and suffering on the side of the victims and their relatives. Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Show all 29 1 /29 Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Auschwitz death camp survivor Zofia Wareluk, 70, poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 12, 2015. Wareluk was born in Auschwitz two weeks before the camp was liberated. Her mother was sent to Auschwitz when she was four months pregnant. As the liberation of Auschwitz approaches its 70th anniversary this month, Reuters photographers took portraits of now elderly survivors. About 1.5 million people, most of them Jews, were killed at the Nazi camp which has became a symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust and World War Two, which ravaged Europe. The camp was liberated by Soviet Red Army troops on January 27, 1945 and about 200,000 camp inmates survived. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Auschwitz death camp survivor Barbara Doniecka, 80, who was registered with camp number 86341, poses for a photo in Warsaw January 12, 2015. Doniecka was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising when she was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau with her mother. As the liberation of Auschwitz approaches its 70th anniversary this month, Reuters photographers took portraits of now elderly survivors. About 1.5 million people, most of them Jews, were killed at the Nazi camp which has became a symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust and World War Two, which ravaged Europe. The camp was liberated by Soviet Red Army troops on January 27, 1945 and about 200,000 camp inmates survived REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Doniecka holds up wartime photo of herself. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Auschwitz death camp survivor Imre Varsanyi, 86, holds up a photo of fellow survivors during World War Two, as he poses for a portrait in Budapest January 12, 2015. Varsanyi was 14-years-old when he and his family were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was the only member of his family to survive. After the war Varsanyi did not talk about Auschwitz for 60 years because he felt ashamed of having survived. As the liberation of Auschwitz approaches its 70th anniversary this month, Reuters photographers took portraits of now elderly survivors. About 1.5 million people, most of them Jews, were killed at the Nazi camp which has became a symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust and World War Two, which ravaged Europe. The camp was liberated by Soviet Red Army troops on January 27, 1945 and about 200,000 camp inmates survived. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Auschwitz death camp survivor Jerzy Ulatowski, 83, who was registered with camp number 192823, poses for a photo in Warsaw January 12, 2015. Ulatowski was taken by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau when he was 13-years-old. In January 1945 he managed to escape with his family, as there was a lack of power in the barbed wire surrounding the camp. As the liberation of Auschwitz approaches its 70th anniversary this month, Reuters photographers took portraits of now elderly survivors. About 1.5 million people, most of them Jews, were killed at the Nazi camp which has became a symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust and World War Two, which ravaged Europe. The camp was liberated by Soviet Red Army troops on January 27, 1945 and about 200,000 camp inmates survived. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Auschwitz death camp survivor Erzsebet Brodt, 89, poses for a portrait in Budapest January 12, 2015. Brodt was 17-years-old when she was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau along with her family. Remembering the journey to the camp she said that those who were "sick or about to give birth were forced out and put into one wagon. When the wagon was opened in Auschwitz we saw that everyone was dead inside." As the liberation of Auschwitz approaches its 70th anniversary this month, Reuters photographers took portraits of now elderly survivors. About 1.5 million people, most of them Jews, were killed at the Nazi camp which has became a symbol of the horrors of the Holocaust and World War Two, which ravaged Europe. The camp was liberated by Soviet Red Army troops on January 27, 1945 and about 200,000 camp inmates survived. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Brodt holds a picture of her family, who were killed in the concentration camp during World War Two. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Jacek Nadolny, 77, who was registered with camp number 192685, poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 7, 2015. Nadolny was seven during the Warsaw Uprising, when he was sent with his family to Auschwitz-Birkenau by train. In January 1945 the family was moved to a labour camp in Berlin. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Nadolny holds up a wartime photo of his family. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Laszlo Bernath, 87, poses for a portrait in Budapest January 12, 2015. Bernath credits his father being a practical man with his survival of Auschwitz. He was 15 when they were taken but his father told him to lie about his age so that they would not be separated. Even whilst in the camp, Bernath had no idea about the gas chambers. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Bernath holds up a picture of his family, who were all killed in the concentration camp during World War Two. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Janina Reklajtis, 80, who was registered with camp number 83043, holds a photo of herself taken during the war as she poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 7, 2015. Reklajtis was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising when she and her mother were sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. They were sent to a labour camp in Berlin in January 1945 and were kept there until they were liberated. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Danuta Bogdaniuk-Bogucka (maiden name Kaminska), 80, poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 5, 2015. Bogdaniuk-Bogucka was 10-years-old when she was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp with her mother. Bogdaniuk-Bogucka was part of Josef Mengele's experiments when she was in Auschwitz. After the war she met her mother again and they discovered they had both been at Ravensbruck camp at the same time, but they had not realised this. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Maria Stroinska, 82, gestures as she poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 12, 2015. Stroinska was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising when she and her sister were sent from their house to a camp in Pruszkow before she was moved alone by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Stroinska holds a family photo taken before the war. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Janos Forgacs, 87, holds a document as he poses for a portrait in Budapest January 12, 2015. Forgacs recalls that he was in a group transported to a camp in a cattle wagon, with the windows sealed with barbed wire. An military officer told them to hand over their belongings, telling them they would not need them anymore. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Bogdan Bartnikowski, 82, who was registered with camp number 192731, poses for a portrait in Warsaw December 18, 2014. Bartnikowski was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising, when he and his mother were sent to Auschwitz Birkenau camp. They were moved between camps several times. After the war Bartnikowski worked as a pilot and then became a journalist and writer. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Bartnikowski holds a family photograph. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Henryk Duszyk, 80, who was registered with camp number 192692, poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 12, 2015. Duszyk was 10-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising in August, 1944. He was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau with his father, brother and stepmother. The family were separated and Duszyk only saw his father once more before he was killed at the camp. Duszyk, his brother and stepmother were kept at Auschwitz-Birkenau until the camp was liberated. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Halina Brzozowska, 82, who was registered with camp number 86356, poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 12, 2015. Brzozowska was 12-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising when her family were sent to a camp in Pruszkow, she and her 6-year-old sister were then moved by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Brzozowska said that it was hard to say what had happened to them, that they were taken from their homes, family and lost their childhood. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Brzozowska holds a picture of herself which was taken during the war. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Lajos Erdelyi, 87, holds a drawing made by a campmate as he poses for a portrait in Budapest on January 13, 2015. Erdelyi was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in May 1944 and was later moved to another camp. When he was freed he weighed under 30kg, but tried to walk home. He collapsed, and was taken to a hospital by a farmer. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Stefan Sot, 83, who was registered with camp number 192705, poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 5, 2015. Sot was 13-years-old during the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, when he was sent from his home to a camp in Pruszkow prior to being sent by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. He was later moved to a labour sub-camp, where he worked in a kitchen for S.S. officers. After the war he worked as a typesetter at a printing house. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Sot holds a picture of himself taken during the war. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Elzbieta Sobczynska (maiden name Gremblicka), 80, who was registered with camp number 85536, gestures as she poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 7, 2015. During the Warsaw Uprising, when Sobczynska was 10-years-old, she was sent with her mother and brother from their home to a camp in Pruszkow and then moved by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau. There they were separated into blocks for woman, girls and boys. Sobczynska said that she was robbed of her childhood, and lost the chance to experience a different kind of life. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Sobczynska holds her father's watch, which was kept by her brother while they were in the camp. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Eva Fahidi, 90, holds a picture of her family, who were all killed in the concentration camp during World War Two, as she poses for a portrait in Budapest January 12, 2015. Fahidi was 18 in 1944 when she and her family were moved from Debrecen to Auschwitz-Birkenau. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Jadwiga Bogucka (maiden name Regulska), 89, who was registered with camp number 86356, poses for a portrait in Warsaw January 12, 2015. During the Warsaw Uprising in August, 1944, when Bogucka was 19, she and her mother were sent from their house to a camp in Pruszkow and then moved on August 12, 1944 by train to Auschwitz-Birkenau. They were liberated by the Red Army on January 27, 1945. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel Beautiful portraits of survival show Auschwitz prisoners 70 years later Auschwitz survivors, 70 years on Bogucka holds a picture of herself from 1944. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel "I have remained silent for a long time. I have remained silent all my life," he added. Hanning was sent to Auschwitz after being wounded in battle, and having his request to rejoin the front had been rejected twice. "I've tried to repress this period for my whole life. Auschwitz was a nightmare; I wish I had never been there," he said, in a statement read by his lawyer. Hanning in court in Detmold, western Germany, today (GETTY) "People were shot, gassed and burned. I could see how corpses were taken back and forth or moved out. "I could smell burning bodies; I knew corpses were being burned," the statement added. The former SS sergeant denies he was involved in the mass killings in the infamous camp, maintaining he was stationed in the part of the camp where the gassing of victims did not actually take place. Last Holocaust-Related Case? 94-Year-Old Former Auschwitz Guard Stands Trial Auschwitz survivor and co-plaintiff Leon Schwarzbaum, 95, said: "I accept his apology, but I can't forgive him." He said Hanning should have recounted everything that happened in Auschwitz and "what he took part in". Although Hanning is not charged with having been directly involved in any killings in the camp, prosecutors accuse him of facilitating the slaughter in his capacity as a guard. Auschwitz survivor Leon Schwarzbaum attended court in Germany to give evidence (EPA) A precedent for such charges was set in 2011, when Auschwitz guard Ivan Demjanjuk was convicted. Last year, a German court sentenced Oskar Groening, 94, to jail for four years over his role in the murder of 300,000 people in the death camp. A third man, who was a member of the Nazi SS guard team at the concentration camp, died at the age of 93 earlier this month, days before his trial was due to start. More than six million people, mostly Jews, were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust their "Final Solution to the Jewish Question". Other victims included gypsies, homosexuals, the disabled and those considered to be political opponents. A verdict is expected on 27 May. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Belgium is changing its rules to hand out iodine pills to all of its citizens because of concerns over a potential nuclear disaster. The government's health minister has told the Belgian government to issue everyone within a 100km radius of the country's nuclear power plants with the pills, which help to limit the effect of radiation on the body. Maggie De Block has said the pills for Belgians within a 20km radius should be extended to five times that distance in a distribution that would essentially cover the whole country. The move is thought to be in response to the possibility of a Fukushima-like meltdown, but Isis-linked terrorists in Belgium have also been reportedly planning to build a dirty nuclear bomb. A senior Belgian nuclear official was also reportedly monitored by suspects linked to the 13 November Paris attacks. Some UK politicians have questioned the power plants' vulnerability to terrorist attack, saying nuclear was "never a safe technology". Molly Scott Cato, Green Party MEP for south west England, told The Independent that handing out iodine pills was "absolutely not" a solution to the risks of nuclear power. "There are so many other isotopes apart from iodine which come out as well. Stronium-90 sits in your bones, ticking away," she said. "The solution is not to have nuclear power. Nuclear power was never a safe technology." The new nuclear power stations in UK Show all 4 1 /4 The new nuclear power stations in UK The new nuclear power stations in UK 260428.bin Getty Images The new nuclear power stations in UK 260429.bin Reuters The new nuclear power stations in UK 260430.bin Getty Images The new nuclear power stations in UK 260432.bin Getty Images Ms Cato said there was the risk of terrorist threat to the nuclear reactors in Belgium and the UK was also too reliant on nuclear power. "We know they don't really have a grip on the terrorist situation in Belgium and we know that terrorists have had links to the nuclear power plants there," she said. "While other countries have reduced their nuclear power, in Britain that debate after Fukushima was not had and we still have Hinkley and so on." In Belgium, Jean-Marc Nollet, from the green policy Ecolo Party, welcomed the move but said the use of nuclear power needed to be limited. "The government is finally accepting the recommendation of the Health Ministry. Given the population density and the risk of a nuclear disaster, this was absolutely necessary, he told La Libre. The only solution is to respect the original plan and not extend the lifespan of Doel 1 and Doel 2 [the country's nuclear power plants] and suspend the restarting of the cracked reactors at Doel 3 and Tihange 2, which has been requested by Germany, Luxembourg and many ordinary citizens." Radiation leaks cause radioactive iodine to gather in the thyroid gland and decay at a half-life of eight days, damaging internal organs. Taking iodine pills fills the thyroid with stable iodine which is harmless instead. The move in Belgium highlights the concern in government about the safety of its two active power plants. Germany asked "critical questions" in December last year after hairline fractures and a water leak caused the Doel 3 reactor near Antwerp to be shut down, while more cracks were found at the Tihange 2 reactor near Liege. The country is also still reeling from the terrorist attacks on Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station. Iodine pills would not limit all the effects of a explosion or leak at the plants. Other dangerous radioactive elements include stronium-90, plutonium-241 and caesium-137. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When Jean-Baptiste Michalon posted a notice on the outside of his general store last year, he hardly imagined that it would create a national outcry. "Sisters on Saturdays and Sundays only," the note read. Michalon's message to customers in the French city of Bordeaux: Women were welcome only on weekends. Men could shop on weekdays. On Tuesday, a court fined Michalon $560 for making such a distinction, despite his argument that he had posted the sign to protect his wife, who was also working in the store, and other women. The countries with anti-women laws Show all 5 1 /5 The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws The countries with anti-women laws "We put this in place at the request of the sisters who preferred when my wife was behind the counter. It is a shop where we sell clothes," Michalon, who converted to Islam four years ago, told the French news agency Agence France-Presse last year. Following the outrage created by his note, the Frenchman closed his store and "admitted it was a blunder and tactless," according to a statement from his lawyer. Local politicians and Muslim leaders stressed that Michalon's behavior did not represent mainstream opinions. The city's mayor, Alain Juppe, a former prime minister of France, called the practice "discriminatory." Anti-women laws that still exist in 2016 Multiple studies have also found a growing problem with racism in France, mainly directed toward Muslims, who are believed to constitute about 7 percent of the French population. Muslims frequently complain that they have a hard time getting jobs, but conservative French commentators and politicians have emphasized that the country should not give up its founding promises of equality in order to please radical Islamists. Copyright: Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two teenagers suspected of carrying out a bombing on a Sikh temple in Germany are Isis sympathisers. Three people were wounded, one of them seriously, in the attack on 16 April which targeted a Gurudwara in the western city of Essen. The citys police chief, Frank Richter, called the attack "an act of terror". Recommended Read more Obama calls for stronger Europe in face of Isis threat However, the teenagers have denied intent to kill and said they were acting in high spirits', believing the building to be empty at the time, according to Spiegel Online. The interior ministry of North Rhine-Westphalia state told regional lawmakers on Thursday that one of the two 16-year-old suspects had been in a violence prevention program aimed at Islamic extremists. 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 A ministry spokesman said the boy once threated to break a fellow Jewish students neck, according to German news agency DPA. The blast, described by police at the time as quite violent, is alleged to have targeted a wedding, although many guests had already departed to another location. A priest had to be hospitalised and two others treated at the scene. There was also significant damage to the building caused by the bomb, allegedly a fire extinguisher filled with explosives. The Sikh communitys annual Nagar Kirtan a traditional religious procession in which worshippers march through town chanting prayers - went ahead later in April despite the attack. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} I wish it was me, not you a young boy cried as he wept over his brothers body after a wave of air strikes in Aleppo. Dozens of civilians have been killed in bombing raids on rebel-held areas of the city, including one that killed more than 50 people at a hospital. A young boy was filmed crying next to his dead brother in the al-Soukour district. He was seen stroking his face and calling him the love of my father before rescuers zipped up the body bag and took it away. Warning: Video contains distressing scenes Dozens killed in wave of air strikes in Syrias Aleppo A fresh round of bombardment started on Wednesday, shattering an increasingly fragile ceasefire struck between the Syrian regime and opposition rebels with UN support. Air strikes and artillery rained down on Aleppo amid reports that forces are gathering on the citys outskirts, raising fears of an assault on rebel areas by Bashar al-Assads forces and allies. Video posted online by opposition activists showed rescuers pulling bodies from shattered buildings in the neighbourhoods of al-Soukour, Kallasa and Bustan al-Qasr. The Al Quds hospital was reduced to flaming rubble by strikes on Wednesday night, killing at least 55 and injuring 60 more according to the Syrian Civil Defence group, including children, patients and vital doctors. Footage showed childrens bodies being pulled from the rubble, some of them horrifically mutilated. In pictures: Syria conflict Show all 40 1 /40 In pictures: Syria conflict In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrians carry children amid debris following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian man carries a girl on a street covered with dust following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrians react as they stand amid debris following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian man carries a girl amid debris following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis An injured Syrian man walks out from the rubble of a destroyed building following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian woman makes her way through debris following a air strike by government forces in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis People stand on the rubble of collapsed buildings at a site hit by what activists said was a barrel bomb dropped by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in the Al-Fardous neighbourhood of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrian residents stand amid the rubble of destroyed buildings In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian resident grasps a mattress amid rubble in the al-Firdous neighborhood of the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A view taken from Tel al-Sawadi shows a large explosion allegedly at the Wadi Deif Syrian army base in northwestern Idlib on May 14, 2014, which opposition fighters have been trying to capture for more than a year. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Islamist rebels detonated explosives planted in a tunnel under the army base killing or injuring dozens. AFP In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A bullet-riddled parking sign stands amid debris in a deserted street leading into the old city of Homs In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A general view shows abandoned buildings on a deserted square in the old city of Homs after Syrian government forces regained control of rebel-controlled areas In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A military vehicle that belongs to the Free Syrian Army is seen in Al-Amariya district in Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A mosque is pictured through shattered glass in the old city of Homs, as rebel fighters withdrew from the city centre in line with a negotiated withdrawal deal with the government after having held out under tight siege for nearly two years In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Buses carrying Free Syrian Army fighters leaving Homs. Exhausted and worn out from a year-long siege, hundreds of Syrian rebels left their last remaining bastions in the heart of the central city of Homs under a cease-fire deal with government forces. The exit of some 1,200 fighters and civilians will mark a de facto end of the rebellion in the battered city, which was one of the first places to rise up against President Bashar Assad's rule, earning it the nickname of "capital of the revolution" In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrian government forces hold up a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad (L) while others raise the national flag on top of a pole in the old city of Homs In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad run through Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr crossing after their release by rebels. They were freed as part of a larger deal which saw the last remaining Syrian rebels in central Homs city evacuate their positions and free captives in several locations in northern Syria In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian woman and two children walk past heavily damaged buildings in the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A man carries a wounded girl following a reported bombardment with explosive-packed "barrel bombs" by Syrian government forces in the al-Mowasalat neighborhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A wounded man sits as he is treated at a makeshift hospital following a reported bombardment with explosive-packed "barrel bombs" by Syrian government forces in the al-Sakhour district of the northern city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Debris rises in what Free Syrian Army fighters and Islamic rebels said was an operation to strike Al-Sahaba checkpoint, which is considered a gateway to Al-Dayf valley, and remove forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad in Maarat Al-Nouman, Idlib province In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Men try to put out fire at a site hit by what activists said was an air strike by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the town of Azaz, north of Aleppo, near the border with Turkey In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Civil Defence members try to put out fire In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Survivors react at a site hit by what activists said was an air strike by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the town of Azaz, north of Aleppo, near the border with Turkey In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Residents queue as they wait to receive food aid distributed by the UNRWA at the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, south of Damascus In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Belongings of Syrian rebels inside a chapel at Crac des Chevaliers, the world's best preserved medieval Crusader castle in Syria. The village was destroyed in fighting between the government and rebel forces while the castle, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, also has been damaged over the past two years In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Hosen Sabah, a 16-year-old student is comforted by his mother at a hospital in Damascus. Nosen was wounded by a mortar outside his school, while 14 other students were killed and over 80 wounded In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Free Syrian Army fighter works on a locally made launcher before firing it towards forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad in Mork town In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrian policemen and citizens inspecting the site of a car bomb at the entrance of Moadhamiyet al-Sham neighborhood in rural Damascus. According to Syria's Arab News Agency (SANA), a car bomb explosion has gone off in the countryside of Damascus and initial information say there are casualties, where a car rigged with explosions was remotely detonated at the entrance of Moadhamiyet al-Sham neighborhood in rural Damascus during engineering units it was trying to dismantled it In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Opposition fighters carrying a rocket launcher during clashes against government forces in the Sheikh Lutfi area, west of the airport in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian man helps a woman to make her way through debris following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian man reacts as he carries the body of injured boy following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 33 civilians were killed in the attack In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrian rescue workers carry the body of a woman following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A Syrian woman walks past the burning wreckage of a car following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A man and two children run to a safer place following reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A man holds an injured child after, according to activists, two barrel bombs were thrown by forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad in Hullok neighbourhood of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis An injured man talks on a walkie-talkie after, according to activists, two barrel bombs were thrown by forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad in Hellok neighbourhood of Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis A man walks inside a mosque damaged by, according to activists, a barrel bomb thrown by forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad in Old Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Syrians gather at the site of reported air strikes by government forces in the Halak neighbourhood in northeastern Aleppo In pictures: Syria conflict Syria crisis Rebel fighters carry their weapons as they run to avoid snipers loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the town of Morek in Hama province Mothers were seen crying and searching for their children as some were found alive to huge cheers from crowds of rescuers. The hospital was supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), who both condemned the carnage. MSF categorically condemns this outrageous targeting of yet another medical facility in Syria, said Muskilda Zancada, MSFs head of mission in Syria. This devastating attack has destroyed a vital hospital in Aleppo, and the main referral centre for paediatric care in the area. An estimated 250,000 people remain in Aleppo, where regime forces are close to completely encircling rebel areas, leaving only one major road in and out. Over the last week, several other medical structures have been attacked and destroyed in the city and five rescue workers from the Syrian Civil Defence organisation have been killed, MSF said. People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr (AP) John Kerry, the Secretary of State, said American authorities were still gathering information but believed the hospital strike was a deliberate attack by Syrian forces, adding: This follows the Assad regimes appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders. A Syrian military official in Damascus denied the government had hit the hospital and Major General Igor Konashenkov said Russian planes had not flown any missions in the region for several days. The US-led international coalition conducting air strikes against Isis in Iraq and Syria also said it was not involved. Syrian state media said more than 1,000 mortar rounds and rockets were fired at government-held districts, killing 22 people during the same period. Humanitarian organisations have warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in Aleppo as stocks of contingency food and medical aid run out with little prospect of being replenished if fighting continues. A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo (AP) The cessation of hostilities that started on 27 February excluded internationally designated terrorist groups including Isis and its rival al-Qaeda branch, Jabhat al-Nusra. Operations against the two groups continued but wider violence has been rising in recent weeks around Aleppo and northern Syria, with almost 200 people dying since 19 April including in an air strike on a market. Staffan De Mistura, the UN envoy to Syria, told the Security Council that the truce hangs by a thread. Peace talks stalled last week after the oppositions High Negotiating Committee suspended its formal participation to protest alleged ceasefire violations by the government, a drop in humanitarian aid deliveries and no progress in winning the release of detainees. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A doctor has paid an emotional tribute to a leading paediatrician in rebel-held Aleppo, who was killed in a wave of bombings that left dozens of civilians dead. Dr Hatem, director of the nearby childrens hospital, said his former colleague was among those killed in air strikes that destroyed Al Quds Hospital. Much of the building was reduced to rubble in Wednesday nights attack, with footage showing childrens bodies being pulled from the rubble as distraught rescuers attempted to save survivors. Warning: This video contains distressing scenes Dozens killed in wave of air strikes in Syrias Aleppo At least 27 staff and patients were killed, Dr Hatem said, saying his friend Dr Muhammad Waseem Maaz had been the areas most qualified paediatrician. To help as most people as possible, he worked at the childrens hospital in the day and went to Al Quds to handle emergencies at night. Dr Maaz and I used to spend six hours a day together, Dr Hatem wrote in a Facebook post paying tribute to his friend. He was friendly, kind and he used to joke a lot with the whole staff. He was the loveliest doctor in our hospital. The paediatrician was reportedly planning to visit his family, who have fled to Turkey, having not seen them for four months. The attacks inflicted significant damage on al-Quds hospital in the rebel-held area of Aleppo (AFP) Dr Hatem said he remained in Aleppo, which faces being completely besieged by regime forces, because of his devotion to his patients. Air strikes in the days leading up his death saw rockets hit metres away from the childrens hospital, causing doctors and nurses to pick up babies inside their incubators and rush them to safety on the ground floor. Like so many others, Dr Maaz was killed for saving lives, Dr Hatem said, paying tribute to his humanity and his bravery. The situation today is critical - Aleppo may soon come under siege, he added. We need the world to be watching. A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo (AP) His Facebook post, put online by the Syria Campaign advocacy group, had been shared almost 23,000 times by Friday morning. The United Nations has warned that the situation in Aleppo is catastrophic with the threat of more air strikes as aid deliveries to millions of Syrians are in jeopardy. Zeid Raad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said Dr Maazs death and the bombings across Aleppo and rebel-held areas of Syria showed a monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all parties in the civil war. The Syria Civil Defence group has put the death toll from bombing in recent days as at least 55, including children, while the destruction of Al Quds Hospitals cardiology, neurology and other units makes treatment for the injured even more difficult. The facility was supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), who both condemned the carnage. In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Show all 20 1 /20 In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Syrian citizens check a damaged house that targeted by the coalition airstrikes, in the village of Kfar Derian, a base for the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a rival of the Isis group, between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A Syrian boy (L) looking at a destroyed car that activists say was targeted by the coalition airstrikes, in the village of Kfar Derian, a base for the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a rival of the Islamic State group, between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Parts of a missile that activists say was fired by coalition airstrikes, in the village of Kfar Derian, a base for the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, a rival of the Isis group, between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Tthe guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launching Tomahawk cruise missiles against Isis targets In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria The USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launches a Tomahawk cruise missiles in the Red Sea, to conduct strike missions against Isis group targets in Syria In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) launching a Tomahawk cruise missile against Isis targets in Syria, as seen from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Arabian Gulf In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria US navy sailors standing watch on the bridge while Tomahawk cruise missiles are launched against Isis targets in Syria, aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), in the Arabian Gulf In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria An F/A-18C Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 prepares to launch from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Arabian Gulf, to conduct strike missions against Isis group targets AFP/Robert Burck In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria The US-led airstrikes in Syria against Isis targets in and around the city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A fighter from the Isis group holds a piece of what the IS is saying is a US drone that crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Fighters from the Isis organisation pray at the spot where the jihadist group said a US drone crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Fighters from the Isis group load a van with parts that they said was a US drone that crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Fighters from the Isis group load a van with parts that they said was a US drone that crashed into a communications tower in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Fighters from the Isis group gesture as they load a van with parts that they said was a US drone that crashed into a communications tower in Raqqa. A US-led coalition on carried out its first air strikes and missile attacks against jihadist positions in Syria, with Damascus saying it had been informed by Washington before the operation began In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A Syrian man rides his bike past a communications tower that was destroyed after a US drone crashed into it, according to fighters with the Isis group, in the Syrian city of Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria People inspect a shop damaged after what Isis militants say was a U.S. drone crashed into a communication station nearby in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A man holds the remains of what Isis militants say was a U.S. drone which crashed in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria Resident gather in the back of a van the remains of what Isis militants say was a drone which crashed in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A man inspects the remains of what Isismilitants say was a U.S. drone which crashed into a communication tower in Raqqa In pictures: Syria air strikes (2014) Syria A man inspects the remains of what Isis militants say was a U.S. drone which crashed in Raqqa Air strikes and artillery have been raining down on Aleppo amid reports that forces are gathering on the citys outskirts, raising fears of an assault on rebel areas by Bashar al-Assads forces and allies. John Kerry, the Secretary of State, said American authorities were still gathering information but believed the hospital strike was a deliberate attack by Syrian forces, adding: This follows the Assad regimes appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders. A Syrian military official in Damascus denied the government had hit the hospital and Major General Igor Konashenkov said Russian planes had not flown any missions in the region for several days. The bombardment was feared to hail the end of a fragile cessation of hostilities that started on 27 February excluded internationally designated terrorist groups including Isis and its rival al-Qaeda branch, Jabhat al-Nusra. Staffan De Mistura, the UN envoy to Syria, told the Security Council that the truce hangs by a thread". For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Another medical facility has reportedly been bombed in Syria just days after dozens of people were killed at a hospital in Aleppo. Air strikes and shelling in rebel and government-held areas of the city resumed on Friday, with at least two people reported dead and several injured so far. Bebars Mishal, a volunteer from the Syria Civil Defence group, told Reuters that one attack hit a clinic in Aleppo's al-Marja district, while others struck near mosques where prayers had already been suspended over fears of further violence. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an adult and child were killed, while another activist group, the Local Coordination Committees, said at least three died in the strikes. People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr (AP) A nurse was said to be among several people wounded when the air strike hit the clinic, which had been providing dental services and treatment for chronic illnesses for about five years, the AFP news agency reported. Bombardment in rebel-held areas of Aleppo has killed 123 civilians including 18 children during the past seven days, according to the Syrian Observatory. Seventy-one civilians, including 13 children, were killed by rebel attacks on government-held areas of the city during the same period, monitors said. Syrian state television said people had been wounded and a building set on fire during continued shelling of government-held quarters of Aleppo on Friday. The attacks inflicted significant damage on al-Quds hospital in the rebel-held area of Aleppo (AFP) Rebels reportedly shelled the Malla Khan mosque in the regime-controlled Bab al-Faraj district, killing at least 15 people and wounding 30. The violence came ahead of a temporary truce sponsored by Russia and the US elsewhere in the country. Syrian forces said a "period of silence" will apply for 24 hours in Damascus and the surrounding area and for 72 hours in Latakia, starting at midnight on Saturday. The United Nations and humanitarian groups have been pleading for calm as the cessation of hostilities agreed between Bashar al-Assads government and opposition groups in February hung by a thread. A fresh round of bombardment started in Aleppo earlier this week amid reports that forces were gathering on the citys outskirts, raising fears of an assault on rebel areas by regime forces. Warning: Video contains distressing scenes Dozens killed in wave of air strikes in Syrias Aleppo Videos posted online by opposition activists showed rescuers pulling bodies from shattered buildings in the neighbourhoods of al-Soukour, Kallasa and Bustan al-Qasr. The Al Quds hospital was reduced to flaming rubble by strikes on Wednesday night, killing at least 55 and injuring 60 more according to the Syrian Civil Defence group, including children, patients and vital doctors. The hospital was supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), who both condemned the carnage. An estimated 250,000 people remain in Aleppo, where regime forces are close to completely encircling rebel areas, leaving only one major road in and out. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, said American authorities were still gathering information but believed the hospital strike was a deliberate attack by Syrian forces, adding: This follows the Assad regimes appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders. A Syrian military official in Damascus denied the government had hit the hospital and Major General Igor Konashenkov said Russian planes had not flown any missions in the region for several days. Additional reporting by Reuters For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ireland is set for a minority government after a deal was struck to pave the way for its formation following an inconclusive general election result two months ago. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, the Republics two main parties, reached an agreement on Friday evening that will lead to a coalition. The parties have established the framework of a pact to enable a Fine Gael administration to govern for the period covering the next three budgets in the Irish parliament. Fianna Fail will remain on the opposition benches in the Dail, the Irish parliament. After an agreement was thrashed out between both parties negotiating teams at Trinity College Dublin, a joint statement released, read: "Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have reached a political agreement to facilitate a Fine Gael led minority government. Recommended Read more Irish election may force bitter rivals to work together in coalition "Both party leaders are now being briefed, extensive drafting has to be done and then both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will hold separate parliamentary party meetings to outline the details of the confidence and supply arrangement." Fine Gael leader and acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin will now seek the backing of party colleagues. Fine Gael and Labour, its junior coalition partners in the last government, suffered major losses at the election in February after five years in power administering an austerity programme. While Fine Gael retained its position as the largest party, it did not have the strength to form a workable majority coalition government. With a so-called "grand coalition" with Fianna Fail proving a step too far for rivals whose enmities were forged in the Irish Civil War, a minority Fine Gael led administration, with the support of a number of independents, has been the only realistic option for a number of weeks. If Fine Gael manage to conclude negotiations with the independents in a short time frame, a new Taoiseach could be elected as early as next week. Three previous attempts in the Dail to elect a Taoiseach in the wake of the election ended in failure. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams accused Fianna Fail of campaigning in the election to put Mr Kenny out of office but striking a deal to keep him there. The Louth TD claimed Fianna Fail had forfeited its right to lead the opposition. "Whatever deal has been reached will I have no doubt fallen well short of delivering the change and investment required to tackle the housing and homelessness crises and fix our health service, and will not bring about a fairer, more equal society, as Fianna Fail claimed to want to deliver in their manifesto," he said. Additional reporting by Press Association Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Q Remind me of the background? For years, the domestic mobile phone market in the UK has been highly competitive. Also for years, some international travellers have been paying sky-high rates for making and receiving calls, sending texts or using data abroad. Critics say that the telecom firms are levying charges that are out of line with the actual cost of providing the service, and that international travellers are seen as a rich source of revenue. The mobile providers point out that they have to set up wholesale deals with telecom operators in each country, and the rates for those deals depend on local conditions. Inertia among customers is also a factor. Typically, users find a good domestic deal and stick with it even if the roaming rates are painfully expensive while they are on holiday; and many business travellers have been price-insensitive because their company is paying. The EU started putting the squeeze on intra-European roaming charges in 2007, with a series of increasingly demanding price caps. They apply for outgoing calls made from any country in the European Economic Area (the 28 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) to any other EEA country. On 15 June 2017, such roaming charges are due to be abolished. Q And until then? Another round of price caps, in effect on 30 April 2016, further restrict the charges that mobile phone providers can levy. An incoming call will cost you no more than a penny a minute. Apart from that, the new rules dont explicitly reduce the maximum you could pay for using your phone within Europe; it could be as high as 16p per minute for making a call and 5p for sending a text. But in the latest round of caps, the EU is assuming that people are happy with their domestic phone deals. So it is limiting the surcharge that telecom firms can add to the customers basic mobile package for using the phone in a different European country. Q What are the new rules? For intra-European calls, the most a mobile provider can add to your domestic tariff is 0.05 per minute. For each text, its 0.02. And for each megabyte of data, you will pay your domestic price plus 0.05. All of these are subject to local rates of VAT. Q So what do they cost in real money? For outgoing calls, the maximum surcharge is 4.3p per minute; for texts, 1.7p; and for data, 4.3p per MB. Q Do the rates change every day depending on the pound-euro exchange rate? No. For the purposes of the new rules, the exchange rate is based on the average exchange rate on 1 March, 1 April and 1 May 2015. At the time, the pound was relatively strong (1 = 1.374 on average), which has the welcome effect of keeping the charges about 8 per cent lower than if the rate today was used. Q I still dont like the charges. What are my options? Dont use your smartphone for normal calls, texts or downloads. Instead, hook up to free wi-fi in hotels, cafes and public spaces. Use Skype, FaceTime (for iPhone users) or WhatsApp Calling. They use the internet connection rather than you mobile signal, and are free. Waiting until you are in free wi-fi territory of course, is not always convenient. So you could sign up for a plan that offers a bundle of calls, texts and data abroad. For example, Vodafones EuroTraveller adds 1GB of data for a 3 daily fee for pay-as-you-go customers. Three's Feel at Home scheme automatically applies the normal domestic tariff in popular countries such as France, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Sweden. It also covers Switzerland, which is outside the EEA and has been the source of some very high bills for users who assume the EU caps apply. Carphone Warehouse's iD TakeAway plan offer the same concept for key holiday destinations including Croatia, Greece and Portugal. And Tesco Mobile has a summer promotion (23 May-3 September) that will remove roaming fees across the EEA, providing a foretaste of the European telecom landscape from 15 June next year. Q Any other pitfalls? Yes. If you are on a cruise or a ferry in the EEA - for example in the Mediterranean, the Baltic or the North Sea - and the ship uses a satellite-based comms provider, then you could pay as much as 5p per second to make or receive calls. Keep your phone switched off until you are in telephonic reach of land, or use the vessel's wi-fi system - it may look expensive, but is certain to work out cheaper than using your mobile. Q What is the best way to keep roaming costs down outside Europe? The only legal restriction is on data. The EU says: To protect you against excessive data roaming bills, the volume of downloaded data on your mobile device is capped, worldwide, at 50, unless you have agreed to a different limit with your operator. You will also receive a warning when you reach 80 per cent of this agreed limit. So deploy the same principles as for keeping costs down in Europe: use free wi-fi to make calls; buy a bundle that reduces the cost of calls, texts and data; or use a provider that offers free roaming in specific countries. For example Carphone Warehouses iD TakeAway and Threes Feel at Home both offer normal UK rates in Australia and the US. For countries that are off the cheap calls map, such as much of Africa, a good strategy is to wait until you get there, then buy a local pay-as-you-go SIM. This will provide you with a local number that your family and friends can dial at no cost to you (and, if they call wisely, for example via Skype's dialling system, at little cost to them). You can use the credit that comes with the SIM card to text them your number, or just give them a missed call so your number registers on their phone. Or go one step further and buy a brand-new phone. In Namibia, faced with a charge of 2.50 per minute to make a call (or to answer a cold call from PPI bandits), I bought a 15 Nokia complete with SIM card with a fiver's worth of credit. After six minutes conversation, it had paid for itself. It can be used anywhere else, with a locally bought SIM. And if I lose it, I'll just buy another. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At the Giants Club Summit, Lee White, head of Gabons national parks agency, re-iterated his commitment to saving the continents elephants, highlighting in particular the plight of the forest elephant. Almost entirely covered by thick rainforest, Gabon is home to about two thirds of Africas forest elephants despite holding only 12 per cent of the subspecies preferred habitat. White, whose eco-guard force is fighting a bitter war against poachers in the north east of the country, has transformed Gabons national park service into one of the continents best. He is one of many conservationists who yesterday joined African heads of state, business-leaders and philanthropists at the Giants Club Summit, a historic gathering to save Africas elephants. He said: We need rapid high level political intervention, and while we wait for that intervention, we have soldiers act as body guards for the elephants because otherwise were going to lose them. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Oscar-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyongo is the latest global figure to throw her support behind efforts to save Africas elephants. Speaking as global leaders arrived in Kenya for the inaugural Giants Club Summit, she expressed regret that her role in an upcoming Broadway production means she is unable to attend the event. In the video-clip, which was filmed by wildlife charity WildAid, she reflects on the largest ivory burn in history, which the Kenyan government is undertaking this Saturday immediately after the summit. She said: This is a very important step were taking as a country to show our support for elephant conservation with this ivory burn. A short timeline of elephant poaching Show all 10 1 /10 A short timeline of elephant poaching A short timeline of elephant poaching 1880s.jpg Robert H. Milligan, New York Public Library A short timeline of elephant poaching 1910.jpg Creative commons A short timeline of elephant poaching 1979.jpg Surreal Name Given, Flickr A short timeline of elephant poaching 1980s.jpg Scotch Macaskill A short timeline of elephant poaching actual elephant forensic.jpg Space for Giants A short timeline of elephant poaching 1990s.jpg Space for Giants A short timeline of elephant poaching 1999.jpg Vidhi Doshi A short timeline of elephant poaching Ivory elephants.jpeg Space for Giants A short timeline of elephant poaching elephantfence.jpg Space for Giants A short timeline of elephant poaching Elephant dust (1)_1.jpeg Space for Giants The summit has already gained the support of US President Barack Obama, who has sent a message of support to be broadcast at the event. Nyongo won the best supporting actress Oscar for her breakthrough role in 12 Years A Slave. Last year she became a WildAid global elephant ambassador, saying I am proud of my Kenyan heritage, and part of that heritage is the incredible wildlife haven that is in our care. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Paul Ssali served as chief warden in three of Ugandas largest national parks at a time when top conservation jobs rarely went to black Africans. During his life he contended with poachers, habitat destruction and an assassination attempt by Idi Amin. A 1974 documentary on his life, The Wild and the Brave, was nominated for an Oscar, and his story is being made into a Hollywood feature film. Here his son Josh reflects on his fathers legacy. Why did Paul Ssali become a ranger? He fell in love with wildlife the very time he visited a national park aged 14 in 1956. The following year he set out on a 700 mile round trip around Ugandas wildlife and geographical sites. His journey was covered on national radio. Why did Amin want to kill him ? At first Amin was impressed with Pauls conservation efforts and the fact that he was confident enough to stand up tothe feared dictator. This is why he entrusted my father with running Kidepo and Murchison Falls national parks simultaneously. Trouble came when certain high ranking commanders, who were in cahoots with poachers, spread rumours that my father was helping anti-Amin rebels. How did Amin try to kill him? My father was a pilot and they tried to booby-trap his aircraft with a grenade. Following behind was an execution squad in case he survived. He escaped by masquerading as a bus driver to pass roadblocks. What Challenges did your father face that todays rangers dont face today? Todays rangers dont have to face a ruthless dictator, undisciplined army officials, armed rebels, poor and inconsistent pay. Nor do they have to source their own equipment by lobbying international conservation agencies. What challenges do todays rangers face that Paul Ssali didnt face? Todays rangers are up against more sophisticated poaching syndicates and ammunition my father warned this would happen. Is your father well known in Uganda? Despite being awarded a medal by the President, he is relatively unknown to the current crop of younger conservationists. In Uganda we are not so good at preserving our conservation history. Were you tempted to follow your father in the field of conservation? It might be a different kind of conservation, but as a marketer, I help wildlife causes by promoting sustainable tourism. I am also a film tourism consultant and film producer. My first film, an adaptation of a conservation story, will raise awareness of environmental issues. Has poaching in Uganda increased or diminished since your father was a ranger? Poaching has significantly reduced since he was a chief warden but it requires persistent effort as we still have incidents. What is your fathers legacy? Today tourism is Ugandas number one foreign currency earner and that is thanks to the effort of people like my father whose conservation efforts, especially in Kidepo National Park, which has been designated one of the best parks in Africa at the World travel awards four years in a row. If it hadnt it been for his courage and steadfastness during the turbulent Idi Amin years, we would not be in this strong position. To find out more about The Giants Club Summit go to: http://spaceforgiants.org/giantsclub/summit. To donate go to: http://spaceforgiants.org/giantsclub/donate Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} I am proud of the fact that the Labour Party took steps yesterday to remove those who make anti-Semitic remarks from the party. The scourge of anti-Semitism is a dangerous and unwelcome phenomenon. I am glad that Jeremy Corbyn took decisive action to distance the Labour Party from the claims made by Ken Livingstone. Any party that claims to represent all of the people must be entirely inclusive and opposed to any form of racism or discrimination. As a Labour supporter, I like many others make fighting all forms of discrimination my lifes work. We do not need a debate about whether or not to oppose this form of racism - as to opposite it is in the blood of real Labour supporters. But while I welcome Jeremy Corbyns remarks and the Partys decision to suspend those who have made anti-Semitic remarks I am forced to confront a double standard that has emerged in our society. The level of scrutiny applied to Ken Livingstones remarks was completely correct. It is a shame that we do not see this level of scrutiny applied to Tory ministers who make disparaging remarks that are similarly discomfiting. Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Show all 14 1 /14 Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Israel and Palestine The simple fact in all of this is that Naz made these comments at a time when there was another brutal Israeli attack on the Palestinians; and theres one stark fact that virtually no one in the British media ever reports, in almost all these conflicts the death toll is usually between 60 and 100 Palestinians killed for every Israeli. Now, any other country doing that would be accused of war crimes but its like we have a double standard about the policies of the Israeli government Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Antisemitism in the Labour Party As Ive said, Ive never heard anybody say anything antisemitism-Semitic, but theres been a very well-orchestrated campaign by the Israel lobby to smear anybody who criticises Israeli policy as antisemitic. I had to put up with 35 years of this Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Naz Shah Its completely over-the-top and rude, but who am I to denounce anyone with all of that. It was wrong. I dont think she is antisemitic, it was incredibly rude but I dont believe she is an antisemite. When the NEC investigation is finished they'll say it was rude and over the top but they wont find any evidence that she actually hates Jews. Weve got to investigate all these charges and the context in which they are made. If she is antisemitic like the other three or four members weve found who are antisemitic, shell be expelled Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On other alleged antisemites in Labour That is part of the classic antisemitic thing about an international Jewish conspiracy that is the reason we need to have an investigation. Ive got an open mind. Ive seen nothing to suggest to me that she is antisemitic. I wouldnt have supported her if I [thought] she was antisemitic Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On whether what Hitler did was legal, as stated by Naz Shah Thats a statement of fact Hitler, Im sure, passed all those laws that allowed him to do that its history literally, Hitler was completely mad, he killed six million Jews. Shes not saying its legal to kill six million Jews: what they were doing in that country allowed them not just to kill six million Jews, kill all the communists, kill all the leftists like me, my father almost died when a Nazi sub sank his boat. I have no sympathy with Hitler Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On another alleged antisemite in Labour No, that is, and thats why shes been suspended or expelled. What Ive said is that in 47 years of the party in all the meetings Ive been in Ive never heard anyone say anything antisemitic. There are bound to be in a party of half a million people youll have a handful of antisemites, youll have a handful of racists. Youve managed to dig out virtually every antisemitic comment that Labour members have made out of half a million people. Ive never met any of these people. Theres not a problem. Youre talking about a handful of people in a party of half a million people. Jeremy Corbyn has moved rapidly to deal with them Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Jeremy Corbyns response to the allegations He met with Naz and she agreed she would stand down while the investigation is going on. He called her in to see her. Theres been a huge investigation of virtually everything that anybody put on the internet many of these people are quite new and recent members of the party that joined in the big influx. 300,000 new people came in Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On his meeting a man accused of antisemitism in London This is the man who called for Muslims around the world to donate blood after the attacks of 9/11 when he came to London I went with him to the Regents Park mosque where he said no man should hit a woman and you should not discriminate against homosexuals. So I cant equate what I heard him say he made no antisemitic statement while he was here in London. I dont investigate people. Ive simply said what I believe to be true which is that Naz was not antisemitic. She was completely over the top, very rude, but that does not make her an antisemite Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Manns comments He went completely over the top. I was actually doing a radio interview at the time that he was bellowing that Im a racist antisemite in my ear. Ive had that with John Mann before a few weeks ago screaming that I was a bigot down the phone. Im not an apologist for anyone who makes antisemitic statements. What Im saying is dont confuse antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government policy Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On calling a Jewish journalist a concentration camp guard whilst Mayor of London I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On claims about Hitler and Zionism I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Mann Id simply say to John Mann go back and check. Is what I say true, or is it not? The BBC, youve got a huge team of researchers, it will take just an hour or two to go back and confirm. I was asked a question, I answered it. I have never in 45 years since I won my first election, I have never lied. I have always answered the question Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On raising the issue if Hitler It lays you open to people smearing and lying about you. Ive always answered the questions put to me and that simple fact is weve had a handful of people saying antisemitic things in the Labour Party, theyve been suspended, some of them are on their way to being expelled, some of them have been expelled already Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On people calling for him to be suspended All my usual critics but the simple fact is I agree with them; there is no place for antisemitism in the Labour party. For them to suggest I am antisemitic is a bit bizarre considering we worked with Jewish groups and put on exhibitions about the scale of the holocaust, we worked with Jewish groups to tackling the scale of antisemitism back in the 1970s. Ive always opposed every form of racism whether its against black people or Jews. Im going to stay in the Labour party and continue to fight against all forms of racism and discrimination as I have my entire life The most obvious example of this is Boris Johnsons remarks in a column for The Sun during Obamas UK visit last week. As Obama openly campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU, Brexiteer Boris suggested that the part-Kenyan president might have an ancestral dislike of Britain, and that this could have factored in to his decision to urge the UK not to stay in the European Union. It was a low blow, and he faced accusations of dog whistle racism. When the Prime Minister was asked to comment on the saga, he simply said that "questions for Boris are questions for Boris". Unfortunately this is not good enough. When the Mayor of London and one of his own MPs makes such racially charged remarks, it is a question for David Cameron, just as yesterday Jeremy Corbyn was rightly asked to comment on the issues within the Labour Party. Dog whistle racism is a phrase many have thrown around recently in reference to Tory tactics, not least in the case of Zac Goldsmiths campaign for London Mayor. The Conservative candidate has released statements decrying Sadiq Khan for giving platform and oxygen to extremists, going as far as to suggest that he has provided cover for extremists. The Evening Standard ran the front page headline ZAC BLASTS SADIQ OVER EXTREMISTS a few weeks ago, which voiced concerns that Khan had met with a radical extremist imam. It subsequently emerged that Goldsmith had posed for a picture with the same imam, that the imam is in fact a Tory himself, and that he was invited to a meeting to help canvass for the party by Dan Watkins last year. Corbyn on Livingstone remarks Yvette Cooper has suggested that the Tory campaign against Khan amounts to dont vote for him, hes a Muslim. Cooper was drawing on the fact that Goldsmiths campaign has labelled Khan radical, divisive and dangerous while publishing leaflets to the British Indian community warning that Khan secretly plans to tax their jewellery. There is no hierarchy of racism. Discrimination in whatever form it rears its ugly head is wrong and damaging, and should have no place within society, never mind politics. Labour is taking steps to sort this out within their own party - and its time the Tories sorted themselves out too. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn said on Thursday: Its not a crisis theres no crisis. This posed two questions. One is about competence, the other is whether the Labour Party is serious about dealing with antisemitism. It is a matter of simple discipline that you avoid repeating damaging words and phrases put to you by journalists. Asked if there is something of a crisis in your party, the practised politician explains the vigorous action being taken to ensure that what the interviewer thinks is a problem is not a problem. Another easy-to-remember rule is that you treat journalists, even if you believe them us to be the scum of the Earth, with affable politeness at all times. Mr Corbyn forgot that yesterday, asking who was approaching him with a camera and turning away with a curt Goodbye when the journalist said he represented Sky News. Perhaps these basics of media relations ought not to matter, but they do and Mr Corbyn is no good at them. That makes it harder for him to get his point of view across. Which makes it harder in turn for him to persuade the fair-minded and possibly somewhat incredulous observer of this weeks circus that, as he claimed, we are not tolerating antisemitism in any form whatsoever in our party. The Independent accepts that Mr Corbyn is resolutely opposed to antisemitism, but his reaction to a Labour MPs past hateful social-media posts, and to Ken Livingstones attempt to minimise them, suggests that he may not care about it as much as he should. No doubt Mr Corbyn believes that allegations of antisemitism are a smear by his opponents many of them his own MPs to try to discredit his support for the Palestinian cause and his opposition to the policies of the Israeli government. He came close to saying so in his short interview on Thursday, when he said: I suspect that much of this criticism that youre saying about crisis in the party actually comes from those who are nervous of the strength of the Labour Party at local level. But this is no time for his self-regard. Mr Livingstones comments about Hitler raised legitimate questions about the Labour Partys attitude to antisemitism and Mr Corbyn has a solemn obligation to answer them. Unfortunately, he weakened his declaration that he did not tolerate antisemitism by adding, or indeed any other kind of racism. He was not being asked about other kinds of racism. The Labour Party is not accused of other kinds of racism. It is accused of putting up with people whose criticism of the government of Israel crosses the line into prejudice against Jews. Naz Shah, the MP for Bradford West, now suspended from the party, accepts that what she said was antisemitic, and it is for the party to decide whether her contrition is genuine and she has really changed. On the other hand, Mr Livingstone, a member of the party's National Executive Committee, refuses to accept that her comments about relocating Israel to America were antisemitic and is unapologetic. His suspension should become an expulsion. The Labour Party may not be in crisis, but this is serious. That Mr Corbyn cannot bring himself to condemn Ms Shahs comments and Mr Livingstones defence of them outright, without referring irrelevantly to other forms of racism, is unsatisfactory. The Labour leader now needs to demonstrate basic competence in asserting his intolerance of antisemitism. The competence is secondary, but without it the important thing is lost. Mr Livingstone must go, and the party must act quickly and firmly against any new allegations of antisemitism. And Mr Corbyn must say so, categorically and without diluting it by denying things of which he has not been accused. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of the ailing King Salman and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, has launched a highly ambitious plan under which he says his country will speedily end its addiction to oil. In terms of its revolutionary ambition, lack of realism and potential for disruption, the plan has parallels with Mao Zedongs Great Leap Forward in 1958 which aimed to change China rapidly from an agricultural to an industrial economy, but produced only disaster. The Saudi version of the Great Leap Forward is outlined in Vision 2030, a summary of the reform made public last week of which more details will be given in the National Transformation Plan that is to be published in late May or early June. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed, who is defence minister and controls foreign and economic policy, wants the Kingdom to develop its own industries and services, sell off part of the state oil company Aramco to create the worlds largest sovereign wealth fund, and end or reduce subsidies for fuel, water, electricity and other essentials. In practice, he wants to end the long-standing social contract under which Saudi nationals get easy jobs in the government sector and a high standard of living in return for political passivity and loyalty to the House of Saud. 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 It is not going to work. It is not the first time the ruler of an oil state in the Middle East believed that it would be a good idea to build up a diversified non-oil economy paid for by oil revenues. Saddam Hussein, already effective ruler of Iraq in the late 1970s, made a brief effort before the Iran-Iraq war to build factories and irrigation schemes, the wreckage of which can still be seen on the outskirts of Baghdad. But the most striking and ominous - precedent for Prince Mohammeds reforms is not Mao or Saddam, but the Shah of Iran in the five years before the revolution in 1979. Using Irans oil revenues, he proposed in 1974 for Irans economy to grow by a quarter every year under an expanded version of the Fifth Five Year Development Plan. The outcome of the Shahs manic desire for growth and modernisation was destabilisation and popular rage that contributed significantly to his overthrow. At the heart of the Shahs downfall was ill-informed hubris and wishful thinking which led him to saw through the branch on which he was sitting. Monarchs and autocrats notoriously live lives detached from the real world by nature of their status, but this is doubly true of the leaders of oil states who mistake their ability to throw unlimited funds at a problem for real ability to cope with the world around them. This was true not only of Saddam and the Shah but of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki whose vastly expensive army and security apparatus collapsed instantly when Isis attacked Mosul in 2014. The Vision 2030 document might be dismissed as one more costly and far-fetched whim of an oil state autocrat fostered by self-interested advisors and consultants. Few take seriously Prince Mohammeds belief that in 2020 we can live without oil. The share of the private sector in the economy is to rise from 40 per cent to 65 per cent by 2030 and Saudi Arabia, the third largest defence spender in the world, is to raise the proportion of arms made in the Kingdom from 2 per cent to 50 per cent over the same period. Experience shows that breakneck economic development, propelled by orders from the top, encourages pervasive corruption, while privatisation in unaccountable autocracies mostly benefits, going by what happened in Syria and Libya, a politically well-connected coterie close to the ruling family. Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Show all 8 1 /8 Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Abdullah al-Zaher was arrested at the age of 15 for attending a protest and he is was the youngest in a group of juvenile offenders put on death row Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher Previously held alongside fellow juvenile offender Ali al-Nimr, whose case sparked outrage around the world, Abdullah has now been moved to solitary confinement at a new facility and could be beheaded at any moment Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Abdullah al-Zaher His family and lawyers believe he was forced to sign a document without knowing its contents, and which later was used as a confession in the closed trial against him Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Ali Mohammed al-Nimr faces imminent beheading and crucifixion for crimes he reportedly committed as a child Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr The UN has issued an urgent call for Saudi Arabia to halt his execution but a Saudi court has upheld the sentence of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, the son of a prominent government dissident, despite growing and high-level international condemnation Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Ali Mohammed al-Nimr Mr al-Nimr, who was arrested in 2012 for his participation in Arab Spring protests when he was just 16 or 17 years old, could now be put to death at any time Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon Dawood al-Marhoon was 17 year old when he was arrested for participating in an anti-government protest Juveniles on death row in Saudi Arabia Dawood al-Marhoon After refusing to spy on his fellow protesters, 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 It is easy enough to be derisive or dismissive about Prince Mohammeds revolutionary changes within the Kingdom. But the danger is that his naive arrogance is not confined to his handling of the economy. He is also pursuing a double-or-quits foreign policy of confrontation with Saudi Arabias neighbours. Since his father King Salman succeeded to the throne last year, Saudi Arabia has escalated its involvement on the rebel side in Syria and has launched a war in Yemen. On 17 April, it was a phone call from Prince Mohammed that terminated the talks between leading oil producers meeting in Doha who came close to agreeing a freeze on oil production. By vetoing any deal without the participation of Iran, which is seeking to rebuild its share of the oil market post sanctions, Prince Mohammed showed the extent and arbitrary nature of his power. The German intelligence agency BND warned late last year that the concentration of so much power in the princes hands harbours a latent risk that in seeking to establish himself in the line of succession in his fathers lifetime, he may overreach. In the one-and-a-half page document, which was surprisingly made public, the BND expressed fears that Saudi Arabia had started an impulsive policy of intervention. Everything that has happened since confirms the BND view. Saudi Arabia, which of all countries in the Middle East has an interest in containing chaos, is instead helping to spread it. Saudi Arabia certainly faces real problems that are not of Prince Salmans making. The population of the Kingdom in 1950 was three million and today is 31 million, though eight million of these are foreign nationals. With the price of oil unlikely to reach its previous heights, oil revenues will be insufficient to look after a fast growing population of young Saudis and bribe them with non-jobs and subsidized living. The problems may be real but old regimes are notoriously at their most vulnerable when they recognise their failings and seek to remedy them by ill-advised and disruptive measures. Saudi Arabia agrees on economic reform plan Some have a more cynical explanation for Saudi Arabias proposed Great Leap Forward, with its heady talk of Saudi citizens getting down to work, starting their own businesses and working in their own factories. They argue that the scheme is a tactic to divert the attention of Saudis away from the progressive privatization of Aramco, the one institution in the country that does make money and on which all else depends. Initially just 5 per cent of Aramco, though the percentage may grow, will be floated with the proceeds being placed in a sovereign wealth fund that will eventually exceed $2 trillion. This will invest in the Kingdom and will presumably be under the control of Prince Mohammed. But sceptics say that turning the value of Saudi Arabias main asset into a liquid form is also be highly convenient for the Saudi royal family. They may calculate that the political and economic tide has permanently turned against them. If the Saudi royals ever have to flee like the Shah, then it is much in their interests to have their wealth in a form that they can be held abroad or swiftly moved to safety. Patrick Cockburn is the author of Chaos and Caliphate: Jihadis and the West in the Struggle for the Middle East, published by OR Books, price 18. Readers can get a 15% discount by using the code INDEPENDENT Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Simmering tension within the British Labour Party over claims of antisemitism has boiled over. First MP Naz Shah was suspended; now the partys former London mayor, Ken Livingstone has joined her. Its an ideal moment to consider what antisemitism actually is. Many probably perhaps secretly gave up puzzling over antisemitism long ago. Theyve moved on to some other issue, like battery hens, where the oppressors are shamefaced and the victims cant speak. The first step towards conquering antisemitism fatigue is to admit that you have the problem. I need to do it every day. Perhaps Shah and Livingstone, and a few others, might do so too. Allow me, if I may, to return to a few basics for deciphering our perennial Jewish problem. Semitic cultures and languages, largely traceable to the Middle East, include both Arabs and Jews. Unsurprisingly, people often bristle at the very phrase antisemitic: how dare the Jews act as if theyre the only Semites, let alone accuse Arabs of antisemitism? Naz Shah apology Indeed, how dare the Jews even pose as victims of racism, detracting attention from victims of real racism? After all, the average European Jew often physically and socially resembles the average indigenous European. So problems with Jews are simply white on white. For more than a millennium a term such as anti-Jewish would have made more sense than antisemitism. Some Jewish writers still believe it better captures the earlier source of the hostilities, which were often justified in theological terms. The term antisemitic kicks in with the Enlightenment, through the rise of race theory and the concomitant racialisation of Jews. Heart of the matter By the 19th century, rapidly growing upheavals wrought by market forces propelled the association of Jews with finance and behind-the-scenes control. Of course, Jews had over centuries turned to finance in part due to their rigorous exclusion from other economic activity, and, far more importantly, despite the fact that the overwhelming majority lived in poverty. Leftist antisemitism tends not to be about treacherous genes, but the treacherous heart. It links Judaism to Zionism, Zionism to imperialism, and imperialism to global control. Of course, many Jews have long pioneered leftist and anti-imperialist politics. When they criticise Israel with fervour, they all too easily become the voice of authenticity, the pure hearts. Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Show all 14 1 /14 Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Israel and Palestine The simple fact in all of this is that Naz made these comments at a time when there was another brutal Israeli attack on the Palestinians; and theres one stark fact that virtually no one in the British media ever reports, in almost all these conflicts the death toll is usually between 60 and 100 Palestinians killed for every Israeli. Now, any other country doing that would be accused of war crimes but its like we have a double standard about the policies of the Israeli government Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Antisemitism in the Labour Party As Ive said, Ive never heard anybody say anything antisemitism-Semitic, but theres been a very well-orchestrated campaign by the Israel lobby to smear anybody who criticises Israeli policy as antisemitic. I had to put up with 35 years of this Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Naz Shah Its completely over-the-top and rude, but who am I to denounce anyone with all of that. It was wrong. I dont think she is antisemitic, it was incredibly rude but I dont believe she is an antisemite. When the NEC investigation is finished they'll say it was rude and over the top but they wont find any evidence that she actually hates Jews. Weve got to investigate all these charges and the context in which they are made. If she is antisemitic like the other three or four members weve found who are antisemitic, shell be expelled Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On other alleged antisemites in Labour That is part of the classic antisemitic thing about an international Jewish conspiracy that is the reason we need to have an investigation. Ive got an open mind. Ive seen nothing to suggest to me that she is antisemitic. I wouldnt have supported her if I [thought] she was antisemitic Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On whether what Hitler did was legal, as stated by Naz Shah Thats a statement of fact Hitler, Im sure, passed all those laws that allowed him to do that its history literally, Hitler was completely mad, he killed six million Jews. Shes not saying its legal to kill six million Jews: what they were doing in that country allowed them not just to kill six million Jews, kill all the communists, kill all the leftists like me, my father almost died when a Nazi sub sank his boat. I have no sympathy with Hitler Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On another alleged antisemite in Labour No, that is, and thats why shes been suspended or expelled. What Ive said is that in 47 years of the party in all the meetings Ive been in Ive never heard anyone say anything antisemitic. There are bound to be in a party of half a million people youll have a handful of antisemites, youll have a handful of racists. Youve managed to dig out virtually every antisemitic comment that Labour members have made out of half a million people. Ive never met any of these people. Theres not a problem. Youre talking about a handful of people in a party of half a million people. Jeremy Corbyn has moved rapidly to deal with them Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On Jeremy Corbyns response to the allegations He met with Naz and she agreed she would stand down while the investigation is going on. He called her in to see her. Theres been a huge investigation of virtually everything that anybody put on the internet many of these people are quite new and recent members of the party that joined in the big influx. 300,000 new people came in Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On his meeting a man accused of antisemitism in London This is the man who called for Muslims around the world to donate blood after the attacks of 9/11 when he came to London I went with him to the Regents Park mosque where he said no man should hit a woman and you should not discriminate against homosexuals. So I cant equate what I heard him say he made no antisemitic statement while he was here in London. I dont investigate people. Ive simply said what I believe to be true which is that Naz was not antisemitic. She was completely over the top, very rude, but that does not make her an antisemite Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Manns comments He went completely over the top. I was actually doing a radio interview at the time that he was bellowing that Im a racist antisemite in my ear. Ive had that with John Mann before a few weeks ago screaming that I was a bigot down the phone. Im not an apologist for anyone who makes antisemitic statements. What Im saying is dont confuse antisemitism with criticism of the Israeli government policy Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On calling a Jewish journalist a concentration camp guard whilst Mayor of London I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On claims about Hitler and Zionism I cant tell if a journalist is Jewish or Catholic or anything. If a journalist is chasing you down the street at nine of clock at night you might be rude to them. Some people might have hit him! He said he was just doing his job. We went all the way to the High Court and the judge opened his judgement by saying I hope no one here is going to suggest that Mr Livingstone is antisemitic. We won the case Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On John Mann Id simply say to John Mann go back and check. Is what I say true, or is it not? The BBC, youve got a huge team of researchers, it will take just an hour or two to go back and confirm. I was asked a question, I answered it. I have never in 45 years since I won my first election, I have never lied. I have always answered the question Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On raising the issue if Hitler It lays you open to people smearing and lying about you. Ive always answered the questions put to me and that simple fact is weve had a handful of people saying antisemitic things in the Labour Party, theyve been suspended, some of them are on their way to being expelled, some of them have been expelled already Labour antisemitism row: What Livingstone said On people calling for him to be suspended All my usual critics but the simple fact is I agree with them; there is no place for antisemitism in the Labour party. For them to suggest I am antisemitic is a bit bizarre considering we worked with Jewish groups and put on exhibitions about the scale of the holocaust, we worked with Jewish groups to tackling the scale of antisemitism back in the 1970s. Ive always opposed every form of racism whether its against black people or Jews. Im going to stay in the Labour party and continue to fight against all forms of racism and discrimination as I have my entire life Again the Holocaust, again racism Resentment is also commonly expressed at the particular association of the Holocaust with Jews. The death camps, after all, claimed other victims, such as communists, Roma, homosexuals, the disabled, and Christian clergy. Millions of people were slaughtered by Nazi forces throughout Europe. Of course, anyone who seriously follows Holocaust remembrance knows that Jews have never claimed to be the only victims, and recall others in their commemorations. Nor, contrary to ubiquitous opinion, do Jews use the Holocaust to justify their presence in Israel or that states controversial military and security measures. To reduce the intricacies of the Arab-Israeli conflict to such a simplistic formula is an act of epic reductionism. Still, the distinctness of a particularly Jewish Holocaust runs far deeper. Nazi doctrine of course vilified many humans they deemed to fall short of some fantasy Aryan ideal. Other groups were at times portrayed as useless or defective, but Jews were singled out as the signal enemy of all humanity ironically, the hidden force behind both imperial capitalism and Soviet Bolshevism. That image of Jews not merely as less-than-human but as the opposite of human, merely racialised, hence modernised, the age-old equating of Judaism with Satan. Even secular Europeans continue to believe de-contextualised appropriations of the maxims eye for an eye or chosen people. These are turned into opposites of what they originally meant: that Jews ought not to seek justice out of proportion to any wrongdoing done to them, and that God bestows not particular privileges but rather particular duties upon Jews. Hate crimes So yes, others were unquestionably brutalised in the Holocaust. But when the citizens of Vienna chose to force a group to its knees to clean the streets it was not any of those other groups. It was Jews. When shop windows were systematically painted in a boycott campaign and then later destroyed, they belonged to Jews. When towns boasted their compliance with Aryanisation, they erected signs advertising themselves Free of Jews (Judenrein). Hitler, in countless speeches and writings rehearsed gripes against any number of groups, but when he dug to the root of all those problems he found not them, but Jews. When Nazi tabloid Der Sturmer adopted front-page slogans about Germans misfortune, the group causing it was none of those others, but Jews. When a German film about treating cancer included an educational animation, it displayed SS-men exterminating not members of any other group, but a tight cluster of grotesequely caricatured Jews. No apologies Anyone who denies the outright racialisation of Jews, and antisemitism as full-blown racism, perpetrated not only by Nazis but throughout Europe over centuries, reveals a frightful ignorance about the histories, meanings, and consequences of racism. When invective like Nazi or apartheid is then hurled at Jews, often with breathtakingly myopic readings of colonial and post-colonial histories and yes, even when dissident Jews dramatise their views with such language, however well-meaning may be their intentions then dont be surprised that it comes across as antisemitism. Because it is. When we read daily reports revealing massive new waves of antisemitism by educated and influential people, tidied up with apologies (quite frankly, open and candid admissions about what they really do think would serve us all far better than the endless train of Oops, I didnt really mean it fudges), then dont be surprised that it comes across as antisemitism. Because it is. This article first appeared here in The Conversation. The owner of British Airways boosted profits on the back of its takeover of Aer Lingus, despite the effects of the Brussels terror attacks. International Airlines Group (IAG) said its operating profit jumped more than five times to 155 million euro in the three months to the end of March compared with a year ago, boosted by the purchase of Aer Lingus completed last September. The group, which also owns Iberia and Vueling airlines, beat City expectations of 145 million euro of operating profit and shot past last year's 25 million euro outcome. It said revenue in January and February was in line with last year, but in March sales were affected by the Brussels attacks and the timing of Easter. IAG chief executive Willie Walsh added that the effect of the Brussels attacks had continued from the first quarter into the second quarter of the group's year. Mr Walsh said: "March revenue was affected by the timing of Easter and the Brussels terrorist attacks, with the latter continuing into quarter two." The group added that it has also seen softer underlying demand for its key business and first-class seats. It said as a result the firm would "moderate its short-term capacity growth plans". But it added that it expected fuel costs to fall by around 1% this year. Due to oversupply, Brent crude has slumped by some 70% since its peak in the summer of 2014. IAG said it expects to generate a similar increase in operating profit to that seen in 2015 thanks to continued cost savings. Last year IAG spent 1.4 billion euro to acquire Aer Lingus. Over the last few years, IAG has fared better than its key European rivals - Lufthansa and Air France-KLM - which have been hit by strikes over cost-cutting plans and heightened competition from Middle Eastern and budget airlines. Each week about 10 people are being newly-diagnosed with HIV in Ireland Campaigners are alarmed at a surge in HIV cases in Ireland after they jumped by more than third over the last five years. Almost 500 people were diagnosed as living with the infection last year - up from 372 on the previous year. Around 10 people are being newly-diagnosed with HIV every week in Ireland. HIV Ireland, a national charity set up to battle the spread of the infection, has urged a country-wide campaign to stem the "worrying trend". Niall Mulligan, the charity's executive director, said he is "alarmed at the relentless upward trend in HIV diagnoses". "Official figures are likely to understate the scale of the crisis," he added. "According to the World Health Organisation, 30% of people living with HIV are undiagnosed. "It is therefore likely the number of people living with HIV in Ireland is considerably higher than the number of diagnosed cases." Mr Mulligan has said the new government, when it is formed, needs to mount a public awareness drive, including free condoms and testing nationwide. "We also need to focus on people who face a higher risk due to their circumstances - being homeless, being addicted to drugs, working within the sex industry, being in prison, suffering from poor mental health," he added. "Failure to do so runs the risk of creating a catastrophe out of a crisis." The pedestrian died in the accident on Finglas Road A man walking in north Dublin was killed when he was hit by a van, gardai have said. The incident happened on Thursday night at around 11.15pm on Finglas Road. The victim was aged in his forties and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to Dublin City Morgue where a post-mortem examination is to be carried out. Forensic experts have carried out an examination at the scene of the collision. Gardai have appealed for witnesses to get in touch. Doug Rowlands, vice president, real estate client service, MSCI; Hugh Markey, Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland; and Aine Myler, director of operations, SCSI, at the property investment seminar yesterday Ireland's commercial property market is now seen as a "normal" part of any investment portfolio, in the latest sign of the growing long term confidence in the sector. That was the message from property data service MSCI, which believes that the Dublin market is now classed alongside the likes of Barcelona and Edinburgh when it comes to the state of the commercial property market. At a presentation in Dublin. MSCI's Doug Rowlands said Dublin is now seen as a strong European city, not competing with the likes of London or Paris, but positioned in the grouping of cities below that. Part of the attraction to Ireland was the strong media and technology sector in the Dublin docklands, while the rents in the Dublin office market remained strong. Despite the strong growth, total returns in the Irish market were down by a quarter year on year at 2.9pc between January and March 2016. A number of short term, opportunist funds bought property in Ireland in the depths of the crash and have since sold on their assets at huge profits to more conservative institutional investors. That is a sign of growing market stability, said U+I chief executive Matthew Weiner. Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr Weiner echoed Mr Rowlands' suggestion that Ireland and the Dublin market in particular was now an essential part of any diverse property portfolio. London-based U+I is developing a number of properties around the city, most notably it is building a huge new office block, known as 'The Vertium' building, on Burlington Road. It is building there in partnership with Germany's Union Investments and developers Johnny Ronan and Paddy McKillen. "Absolutely Dublin is seen as a normal place for investors to put their money into today," he said. "Union has proved that with its investment in Burlington Road. "When it was at the planning stage, I expected we would need to have the building about 40pc pre-let before we would get an investor like Union on board. Of course we are getting it built without a pre-let. "Dublin has now established itself in that bracket of solid European cities because it punches to that weight," Mr Weiner said. "Whether we as a company arrived in Dublin by fortune rather than explicitly strategy, it has worked out very well for us. "You just have to look at the quality of capital here now and that gives you a strong sense of how solid the market is now." Mr Weiner was speaking after U+I released annual results which saw its net asset value - the key measure of value for a property company - rise 5.4pc to 291 pence per share. London-listed U+I shares 5.5pc to 202.5 pence. An angry farmer attempted to spray Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson with manure on Wednesday after she broke a court injunction to stage a protest against fracking on his land. Ms Thompson and her sister Sophie entered a field on the Lancashire farm, where energy company Cuadrilla is planning to frack for shale gas, and baked renewable energy-themed cakes in a Greenpeace-backed protest stunt. An injunction has been in place banning protesters from the land near Preston since 2014. The farmer, who was said to be "very upset" about being prevented from getting on with work in the field, proceeded to drive a muck-spreader around the protesters, narrowly missing the Thompson sisters and their cakes. Emma Thompson said she was staging the so-called "Frack Free Bake Off" in order to "show the government that we will not allow fracking to scar our countryside and fuel yet more climate change". "What better way to do that, here in Britain, than hold a Bake Off?," she asked. Local cake shop owner Kate Styles, who took part in the stunt, dismissed the farmer's retaliation. "The stink was temporary - unlike the impact of fracking on this community if Cuadrilla get their way," she said. Cuadrilla said it was reviewing whether to take action over the injunction breach. Francis Egan, Cuadrilla chief executive, said: "Celebrities from London trespassing on a Lancashire farmers land, preventing him from working whilst lecturing us on where the UK should get our natural gas from is beyond ridiculous. The company's application to frack at the site was thrown out by local councillors last year and an appeal has been 'called in' to be decided upon by the Government. Officers from Lancashire Police attended the site and spoke to the Thompson sisters but took no action and made no arrests. Ken Cronin, UKOOG chief executive, suggested the protest was hypocritical because Sophie Thompson, who is known for her appearance on Celebrity Masterchef, uses gas stoves. "It is ironic that a celebrity, who uses gas stoves in videos to promote her own cook books, and her sister, who described Britain as a cake-filled misery-laden grey old island, should want to attempt to hijack the UKs love of baking for an ill-conceived publicity stunt," he said. A police spokesman said: "We were this morning made aware of a protest on land at Plumpton Hall Farm at Little Plumpton. "A local neighbourhood patrol attended and spoke to a representative of the protestors to establish their intentions. "It was not felt necessary or proportionate to maintain a police presence at the site but resources are available to attend again if necessary." Richie Boucher and Archie Kane at the annual shareholder meeting in UCD yesterday. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Bank of Ireland has said it will repay its 1bn of contingent convertible (CoCos) capital notes, which were sold by the State to private investors in 2013, at the end of July. At the bank's annual shareholder meeting yesterday, the lender said the costly bonds, which carry interest charges of around 10pc per year, or 100m, has a fixed repayment date of July, and that the bank would meet this target. Strong investor demand allowed the Government to sell all of the Bank of Ireland CoCo bonds it owned three years ago. CoCo bonds are regarded as higher risk than standard debt owed by banks because bondholders are automatically "burned" if a bank gets into trouble, when the bonds convert into riskier bank shares. But they are less risky than ordinary shares that get wiped out when a bank fails. The bank said the repayment will help its net interest margin (NIM). Chief executive Richie Boucher said he believes the bank should see some net interest margin expansion in the future if it achieves its targets. The meeting at University College Dublin was at times fractious, with a number of shareholders questioning the salary of Mr Boucher, and why the bank's directors do not own more shares. One questioned whether the entire executive board should be removed. The bank's chairman, Archie Kane, reiterated that the bank intended to pay a dividend to shareholders in 2017, although he suggested this would be determined by a number of external factors that could upset the plans, including a Brexit, and global growth fears. However, he said that he believes the bank is well positioned to deal with the outcome of a Brexit vote. Mr Kane also gave a robust defence of Mr Boucher. "Richie has worked incredibly hard over a number of years for this bank," he said. "The results are due to Richie and his team who have put in an incredible effort over a considerable period of time. "The net result is that we have a profitable bank, a growing bank, a strong capital base, and we're the only bank that has received state aid who have fully repaid it. I think the facts speak for themselves," he said. He said Mr Boucher had the full confidence of the board. Independent TD Shane Ross, who is also a shareholder, criticised the number of shares held by the board members. Mr Kane previously said that the directors own more than the minimum number of shares required, and that beyond that was a matter for them. Mr Ross said this was not an adequate answer, claiming they were not prepared to spend money to buy the shares. "I think they [BOI board] have done very well, because they have stayed clear of Bank of Ireland shares in a way that the rest of us haven't been able to do. They've lost very, very little money," he said. He also asked about the high rates on variable mortgage rate mortgages. Mr Kane said the bank had focused on the pricing of its fixed rate products and had made it as "easy as possible" for existing customers to move from variable rates to fixed rates. He said the bank's focus was on its net interest margin. And he said there had been 36 repossessions since the start of the year. CRH chief executive Albert Manifold has defended his remuneration package after over 40pc of shareholders voted against a motion to increase the capacity of his bonus. The motion was to allow Mr Manifold to be awarded a maximum bonus payment of more than twice his base salary. Mr Manifold was speaking at the company's AGM in Dun Laoghaire yesterday where he told reporters he recognised he was well paid. "The reality of life is that CRH is a FTSE50 company it's a highly competitive sector and there are very demanding criteria for companies that operate in that sector," he said. The CRH chief said 80pc of what he could potentially earn is based on variable performance measures against "demanding" targets. "If I were to achieve a large portion of that potential compensation package, it would only be in the case where shareholders would themselves achieve superior returns on their investments at CRH," Mr Manifold said. Following the meeting the company said it would now discuss pay issues with shareholders. CRH has been linked with a move for its rival LafargeHolcim's Indian unit. It's understood to be up for sale for around $1.5bn. However, Mr Manifold reiterated that CRH is focusing on generating cash and deleveraging this year. "If we saw, and it's a very big if, we saw something of such compelling value that we would be wrong to turn away from it then perhaps we might be tempted. "But the reality of that the chances of that happening we're talking about less than 1pc," he said. The board was quizzed by one shareholder about its use of a Luxembourg financing firm. Independent shareholder David McCabe asked the board whether or not CRH's governance committee had approved the use of the Luxembourg-based subsidiary. CRH said that its tax structure is entirely legal and that its effective tax rate last year was around 30pc. Group finance director Senan Murphy said the tax bill for the year is effectively an aggregation of taxes paid in each of its jurisdictions. "We do seek to maximise value for shareholders so all of our operations are legitimately organised in a tax-efficient manner," Mr Murphy said. "We do have investment companies in Luxembourg that do look to raise finance and funding for the group and provide funding around the group." When asked whether the tax structuring had been put to the governance committee, CRH chairman Nicky Hartery said: "All I can say to you very clearly is, legitimate tax structuring is employed so it would have been approved through the process as and when it came through the process." While Brexit remains a threat to the firm, most of its UK business remains local with small amounts of imports and exports. "It's more an issue for Europe and Britain generally if there is a slowdown in confidence and a slowdown in economic activity," Albert Manifold said. "That's what would concern me but of course you don't know what other action could be taken to prevent a potential slowdown." CRH is poised to deliver earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of almost 1bn in the first half of this year. Prior to the merger of its rivals Holcim and Lafarge, CRH spent 6.5bn on the acquisition of some of their assets. Proforma sales at the company in its first quarter, which is typically a quiet time for the firm, rose by 9pc. Pre-tax profits at the manufacturing arm of consumer healthcare giant Procter & Gamble decreased marginally to 11.68m last year. New accounts just filed by Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Ltd show that revenues rose by 3.6pc to 96.77m. Numbers employed by the firm last year decreased from 652 to 626 with staff costs totalling 43.73m. The firm operates plants in Newbridge and Nenagh and according to the directors' report "the financial year ended June 30, 2015, has been challenging for both sites with Newbridge growing by 1pc and Nenagh decreasing by 7pc". The directors state that initiatives have been taken at both sites to remain cost competitive resulting in improved productivity metrics. The directors add that cost remains a challenge with an increase in commodity prices being partially offset by internal cost savings and productivity initiatives. The directors state that operational results for the year were satisfactory. The company incurred redundancy costs at the Newbridge and Nenagh plants during the year "due to changes in headcount requirements as a result of productivity improvements". The total cost of the redundancies was 5m. The creation of a new Cabinet post for housing would be a "waste of time" unless it was given real powers, according to outgoing Environment Minister Alan Kelly. Mr Kelly said he hoped the plans to appoint a Housing Minister do not end up representing "tokenism". The Tipperary TD said constraints that existed in his own department held back his "ambitions" for addressing the housing crisis. And if the new minister is to become a "tsar" for housing, he or she would need to have "control of all the levers," according to the Labour Party deputy leader. "Appointing a minister with the title and just taking the powers from the Department of Environment is an absolute waste of time," Mr Kelly said. "Unless you take sections from the Department of Finance, Department of Public Expenditure, Department of Social Protection, and dare I say it, any other agencies, well then they're certainly going to be left in the position myself and (my predecessor) Paudie Coffey were left in," he added. Mr Kelly made the remarks as he addressed yesterday's committee on housing and homelessness. He said the housing role should have the power to cut building taxes and improve rent supplement. He also suggested that NAMA could have a role to play in providing housing, before adding that, in principle, he had "no objection to" the ministry. Mr Kelly claimed other politicians were "contradictory for criticising housing projects once finished," which he said was "incredible". A probe into banks taking tracker mortgages off people who should not have lost them will not be completed until next year, it has emerged. Thousands of people had trackers wrongly taken off them and are now in line to have them restored, have overpayments refunded to them and get compensation once the bank-wide review is finished. The final number of families affected could be as high as 10,000. But it will be 2017 before the industry-wide probe is completed, the Central Bank said. In an update, that was posted on the Central Bank's website but not issued to the media, it emerged that banks have set out their plans for dealing with the investigation. The banks' plans for dealing with the tracker loss are now being reviewed by regulators. "The scale and complexity of this examination means that this work will be ongoing through 2016 and will conclude in 2017," the statement said. Banks have been told by regulators to now move to the next phase of the investigation and identify any customers impacted by their failure to restore them to trackers. Last summer Permanent TSB conceded that it has to restore almost 1,400 people to trackers and to compensate them. These people lost trackers when they opted for a fixed rate when European Central Bank rates began to rise in 2007 and 2008. They expected to revert back to the tracker when the fixed-rate period was up, but were denied this option by their bank. Financial expert Padraic Kissane estimates that up to 10,000 families across all banks may have wrongly lost trackers. "The number could be up to 10,000, which is a huge amount of families being overcharged." AIB is estimated to have around 3,000 cases. He called on the Central Bank to speed up its investigation. "Families have been in the waiting room too long. Some are four to five years being overcharged and they should not be facing another summer of overcharging," he said. Ulster Bank has admitted that the Central Bank is taking enforcement action against it over customers losing tracker mortgages. This is the second bank to face an enforcement action from regulators over the issue, following the move against Permanent TSB last summer. Ulster Banks parent, Royal Bank of Scotland, said in a financial results presentation: Separately, on 15 April, the CBI [Central Bank] notified UBIL [Ulster Bank] that it was also commencing an investigation under its Administrative Sanctions Procedure into suspected breaches of the Consumer Protection Code 2006 during the period 4 August 2006 to 30 June 2008 in relation to certain customers who switched from tracker mortgages to fixed rate mortgages. The Central Bank has the power to administer sanctions for contraventions by regulated financial firms and bank managers if it finds there have been failings. Fines of up to 10m can be imposed. Thousands of people had trackers wrongly taken off them and are now in line to have them restored, have over payments refunded to them and get compensation once the bank-wide review is finished. The final number of families affected could be as high as 10,000. But it will be 2017 before the industry-wide probe is completed, the Central Bank said this week. Production at Irish mining company Kenmare was slowed by a 57-day power outage at its Mozambique mine, which in turn caused revenues to dip to $142.6m (125m) last year. Heavy mineral concentrate production slowed by 15pc down to 1.1 million tonnes while production of ilmenite fell by 11pc to 763,500 tonnes. The drop in output caused group EBITDA to swing to negative $11.5m down from a positive of $9.4m last year. Cash flow in the year increased to plus $3m, up from minus $18.8m in 2014. Kenmare managing director Michael Carvill said the company's balance sheet has been over reliant on debt for this stage of the commodity cycle. "The cost of debt service and the risk it poses to the Company intensified the decline in our share price during 2015. "Kenmare has proposed a radical deleveraging plan which will create a robust balance sheet and allow the company to benefit from the expected recovery in titanium feedstock prices and sales volume growth," Mr Carvill said. The company's new deleveraging plan aims to raise $100m by selling stock in the firm to British Virgin Island-listed King Ally Holdings. Kenmare is also looking to source another $200m from Oman's sovereign wealth fund and its existing shareholders. The mining firm will look to gain $100m from the Oman fund. Stockbroker firm Numis said the plan would be good for the company that defaulted on its debts earlier in the year. "After a challenging 2015, Kenmares production now appears to have turned a corner with the reduction in shipments appearing to be largely a timing issue. The deleveraging plan would be a positive for the company, however, we note that the lenders have not yet agreed to it." Royal Bank of Scotland has reported a first-quarter pre-tax loss of 968m (1.24bn) - more than double last year's figure of 446m. The loss reflects the impact of its 1.2bn payment last month to the Treasury to buy out a crucial part of its 45bn bailout. The payment ended a dividend access share (DAS) agreement with the Government which was put in place in 2009 and prevented it paying dividends to any shareholders before the Treasury. The bank said: "RBS remains on track with its plan to build a strong, simple, fair bank for customers and shareholders." Income fell from 3.5bn to 3bn following the sale of its Citizens business in the US and the decision to dramatically scale back its overseas and investment banking offering. The cost of restructuring the bank came in at 238m, with RBS expecting the number to grow to 1bn for the year. RBS chief executive Ross McEwan said: "Today's results show the strength and resilience of the bank we are fast becoming. This bank has great brands and great market positions and, piece by piece, we are building a solidly performing, profitable bank doing great things for customers and returning value for shareholders. "One quarter in, capital remains strong, costs continue to fall, our customer scores are improving and we're seeing growth in the businesses and the markets we like." On Thursday, RBS warned of a greater-than-expected hit from plans to spin off its Williams & Glyn arm. The group, which is 73pc owned by the taxpayer, also said there was a "significant risk" that it would not meet the deadline to separate the 316-branch Williams & Glyn business by the end of 2017. It is now looking at other ways to spin off the business, adding that the "overall financial impact on RBS is now likely to be significantly greater than previously estimated" due to complexities of separating the business. The upcoming Tomb Raider movie has cast Alicia Vikander in the lead role of Lara Croft. The film doesn't have a release date yet. The new Tomb Raider movie has found its Lara Croft. Alicia Vikander has been cast as the tomb raiding adventurer. The Force Awakens' Daisy Ridley was previously rumoured to be a frontrunner for the role, Variety reports that Vikander was "always in the driver's seat" to play Lara. Vikander has a Best Supporting Actress Oscar under her belt for The Danish Girl, and is set to appear in Jason Bourne and The Ocean Between Us later this year. The upcoming film is to be directed by Norwegian filmmaker Roar Uthaug and is being produced by Graham King. Lara Croft previously appeared on the big screen in 2003 with Angelina Jolie in the lead role. While Lara Croft has been a face of video games for the best part of 20 years, the reboot of the Tomb Raider series in 2013 put her back in the public eye and bolstered interest in the series once more. US president Barack Obama speaks in front of the European Union Flag at the Hanover Messe Trade Fair in Germany (AP) As we sat at our desks on the morning of Monday, April 18, the UK's Department of Finance, HM Treasury, released a comprehensive document painting a pretty bleak outlook if the UK electorate votes to leave the European Union. It warned that the British government could lose 36bn in net tax receipts, equivalent to 8p on the basic rate of income tax or 7p on VAT, if the UK leaves the EU and negotiates a bilateral trade agreement with the remaining members of the EU. The almost apocalyptic paper concluded that a Canadian-style model (if the UK negotiated a new trade deal with the EU that did not require freedom of movement) would reduce Britain's GDP by 6.2pc, with many press articles running with the Treasury's forecast that an exit could cost households 4,300 a year. Two days later, it was the turn of Bank of England Governor Mark Carney to throw his tuppence worth at the debate. Unlike Treasury's paper, he focused more on London's role in the overall UK economy. He warned that if Britain leaves the European Union, the City of London should expect its pre-eminent role in the global financial system to begin to wane. Dr Carney also spoke of the uncertainty the referendum is currently causing and he again highlighted the fact that the imminent EU vote is the biggest risk to the UK's financial stability. The BoE chief justified the Bank of England's stance, saying it would be "political to suppress important judgments". Much to the delight of the Irish export sector and sterling sellers, the single currency slumped to three-week lows (sub 0.79) against a resurgent Pound. It was, however, the intervention of US President Barack Obama late last week that set tongues wagging. In an impassioned, WWII reference-strewn speech, he hammered home the many and varied reasons why he thinks the UK should most definitely 'remain'. Standing alongside British PM, David Cameron, the leader of the world's largest economy vehemently recommended that the UK should remain in the EU. President Obama went as far as to say that if the UK left the EU it would move to the back of the queue for negotiating a trade deal with the US, possibly taking anywhere between a mouth gaping five to ten years to negotiate. Hillary Clinton, favourite to win the Democratic nomination and in turn the US Presidential race, also weighed in echoing President Obama's stance over the weekend pushing the pound higher again as Asian markets opened late last Sunday evening. Supporters of the 'remain' campaign rightly used the US intervention to prove that one of the leave campaign's core arguments (ability to quickly negotiate a better trade deal) is intrinsically flawed. Without doubt, it was a good week for all things 'remain' with the single currency closing well below the 0.78 level (the bottom of recent ranges) reflecting that very sentiment. It seems that last week's Treasury report, Dr Carney's testimony and President Obama's US intervention are seeing some risk premium of a Brexit unwind in currency markets. At present, most bookies odds for 'remain' are now at 1/3 (ie, a 75pc chance that the UK will vote to stay), from 4/9 a fortnight ago. We stand by our core view that the UK electorate will vote to 'remain' on June 23 but if the past fortnight is anything to go by, the remaining eight weeks could very well throw up a few surprises. Using the Scottish referendum and last year's UK general election as yardsticks, we think it likely that we'll see an increase in volatility in both the polls and the pound as we get closer to June 23. This may very well throw up some decent sterling hedging opportunities to parties on both sides of the trade spectrum. Justin Doyle is senior treasury dealer at Investec Dublin Comment Midway through the press screening of Captain America: Civil War, I found myself envying a tightly-knit group to my right who seemed to be having a much better time than I was. They were Marvel fanboys, no doubt, that much maligned species of super-enthusiast that lives for these Avengers-related events, and must find the long gaps between film releases intolerable. While I found myself wondering how much this cinematic fireworks display had cost, and how much longer it was all going to last, they gasped and chortled as though witnessing some miraculous mash-up of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Citizen Kane. They seemed positively transported: if only I could have joined them. This is, to get our facts straight, the third Captain America film, and the 13th instalment in the Marvel cinematic universe. Captain America is of course an Avenger, and has also appeared alongside Thor, Hulk and Iron Man in two massively successful action spin-offs. I rather liked the first Captain America film, First Avenger, which explored Steve Rogers' origins as a seven-stone 1940s weakling who's turned into a chemically enhanced superhero after submitting to a secret government experiment. He kicked Nazi butt before getting cryogenically frozen. In Winter Soldier, he woke up in the present day (imagine his confusion - what is a Kardashian?) to do battle with a brainwashed Soviet sleeper assassin, and joined forces with the Avengers to save the world at least twice. But in Civil War, trouble's brewing. Cap (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) are in Lagos hunting down a gang of super villains when their operation goes wrong, leading to numerous civilian casualties. The Avengers (not all of them - Hulk and Thor appeared to have previous engagements) are summoned by US Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt), who insists that change is necessary. The Avengers must now agree to sign an accord submitting themselves to UN oversight: they will henceforth only engage after being given a UN mandate, and their combat actions will be subject to scrutiny. While Iron Man (Robert Downey), Black Widow, War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Vision (Paul Bettany) are in favour of the agreement, Captain America believes the Avengers should remain autonomous, and is backed by Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Falcon, Scarlet Witch and the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). A nasty spat seems inevitable, and things get worse when a terrorist bomb kills dozens at the Avengers' treaty signing ceremony in Vienna, and Winter Soldier appears to be the culprit. Captain America: Civil War rumbles busily towards a confrontation between Cap and Iron Man, but that fistfight is perhaps the least interesting bit of this frenetic, hyperactive and intermittently enjoyable film. You can't say it's badly made: in fact the special effects, character arcs and one-liners are interwoven so skilfully that they purr at times like the pistons of a Rolls Royce engine. Cap himself is a bit of a bore, an upright stiff who's totally upstaged by Robert Downey's mouthy and staggeringly arrogant Tony Stark. In the film's funniest scene, Stark pays a visit to Peter Parker, (Spider-Man), and makes fun of his arachnid "onesie". It's slick alright, but also soulless: worst of all, it is not a standalone movie. Fans of the Marvel universe have dressed up the interconnected nature of these films as "long-form storytelling", but that's just a fancy way of saying that none of these stories ever actually ends. There's always a teaser for the next film, always a link to the last, and that means it's not really possible to sit down and watch this without having seen all the others. So it's not really cinema at all, just huge screen episodic television. Read More Captain America: Civil War (12A, 147mins). Paul Whitington reviews this week's other big releases - Demolition starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Son of Saul, and Atlantic. There's a bookish, literary feel to Jean Marc Vallee's Demolition (2*, 15A, 101mins) that promises depths it never plumbs. In it, Jake Gyllenhaal plays a popular literary trope, the affluent but tragically disconnected American male. Davis Mitchell is a wealthy Manhattan investment banker who lives with his wife Julia (Heather Lind) in a plush but cold ultra-modern home. The house, of course, is a symbol of their unhappiness, and things are about to get worse. In movies you always know there's going to be a crash because things get quiet and no one is looking at the road: Julia dies when their car is blind sided, leaving Davis widowed and miraculously unscathed. He seems untroubled as well, and returns to work as though nothing happened, to the fury of his father-in-law (Chris Cooper), who's also his boss. But Davis's grief emerges in unlikely ways, and when he starts writing wistful letters of complaint to a vending company whose machine failed to cough up a bar of chocolate, he attracts the attention of an employee called Karen (Naomi Watts). They meet, and a tentative friendship offers hope of an emotional breakthrough. And meanwhile Davis acts out, taking a lump hammer first to his domestic appliances, then his entire house. The symbolism of all this is appallingly obvious: Davis wishes to deconstruct his old life, and begin a new one. He does so slowly and unconvincingly in a film that takes itself extremely seriously but never manages to breathe earth and life into flimsy characters. Mr Gyllenhaal's performance has substance, however. A lot of films have tried to recreate the lunacy of the Nazi death camps, but Son of Saul (5*, 15A, 107mins) is the only one I've seen that actually makes you feel like you're in one. Made for just 1.5million by first-time Hungarian director Lazlo Nemes, the film immerses you in the horror of Auschwitz from the get-go. Geza Rohrig is Saul, an ashen-faced inmate who's part of a special unit charged with disposing of gas chamber bodies. Saul watches impassively as new, disposable inmates are herded towards the 'showers' with false promises and food, and betrays no emotion as their last despairing wails echo through the locked steel doors. He's a sonderkommando, a prisoner given extra food and temporary safety in return for his labour, and long months of this ghastly work has robbed Saul of his humanity. At least it has until he comes across a corpse he's convinced is his son's. Suppressing emotions, the display of which might be fatal, he sets out to find a rabbi who'll give his boy a decent burial. But it's late 1944, the Allies are closing in, and the Nazis' frantic work schedule is about to inspire a prisoner revolt. Any cinematic depiction of the Holocaust can be fraught, and open to accusations of trivialising the greatest organised slaughter in human history, but Mr Nemes' film is surely above such reproach. It is relentless, horrifying, and skilfully implies the endless carnage going on in the background while driving forward a simple but powerful narrative which proves that, even in hell, you never stop being a parent. In 2010, Risteard O'Domhnaill encapsulated the nasty war between Shell Oil and the people of Rossport in The Pipe. In Atlantic (4*, No Cert, IFI, 80mins), he broadens his focus to address the exponential damage being done to the North Atlantic, and Ireland's baffling disregard for its territorial waters. We're reminded of how easily our politicians were bribed and outmanoeuvred into giving away fishing and drilling rights, and join Irish fishermen to mournfully watch foreign super-trawlers hoovering up the seabed. But we also visit Scandinavia and Newfoundland to find out how activists have taken on the multinational bullies and won. It's a fine, if rather depressing documentary. Video of the Day Read More Coming soon... Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant); Knight of Cups (Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett); Bad Neighbours 2 (Seth Rogen); Evolution (Roxanne Duran). New RTE blind-dating series First Dates Ireland spent months searching for perfect matches. But they got more than they bargained for when Dubliners Gemma Byrne and Mark Casey turned up at the Gibson Hotel - only to realise that they had already dated before. It was not a case of second date, second chance for Sandymount native Gemma (39), who told the Herald she was disappointed after turning up to meet her perfect match, only to realise she had met Mark several years ago. "I felt like I was robbed. With this whole thing, you take the risk because you really feel that they will be able to match you up with somebody that you could be suited to," she said. "I think we both felt a little bit like 'ah, Jesus' - but what can you do? It's not the show's fault." Expand Close Gemma Byrne / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gemma Byrne Gemma quickly realised that she had been on a date with Dubliner Mark six years ago. The pair said they felt let down that they were not matched with a new and exciting mystery man or woman. Expand Close Mark Casey / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mark Casey "As soon as I walked into the bar I thought, 'Sweet Jesus, I know this guy'," Gemma said. "He didn't seem to know me though, so I was a bit shocked and I fully expected the crew to come in and tell us to leave - but we were left to it." Gemma said that herself and Mark got on well during their original first date, but he had to cancel unexpectedly and that was that. "I thought that I knew her from somewhere, but I couldn't remember where exactly," Mark told the Herald. "I was a bit disappointed but, saying that, we decided we were going to have a good time. It turned out to be a great night." While the pair enjoyed their second "first date", they both decided that there wasn't enough of a spark to go on a second date. Video of the Day "I would love to have an opportunity to go on an actual first date, so we'll see," Gemma said. "Some people are getting a bit of slagging from the show, but I would do it again." The community worker initially applied to the show as "a distraction" following a break-up, but has no regrets about going on the series. Read More "It was a great distraction from being single again, and I did it to take my mind of the break-up, but I found the whole process great craic," she said. Mark from Swords applied for the show after growing tired of the online dating scene. Read More "I would absolutely do it again, but I would give producers a list of names of people I have been on dates with," Mark said with a laugh. "Myself and Gemma both agreed that we got on really well, but that there wasn't going to be a second date." Read More The Dubliner will celebrate his 40th birthday next week at the luxurious Farnham Estate in Cavan. Goodnight sweetheart: Sarah Hadon and James Franco star in time-travelling caper 11.22.63 on Fox, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. I must admit, I adore Stephen King, but some of his books have left me cold. Under The Dome was a tough one. In fact, it took me so long to dutifully plod my way through what was a fairly shoddy rehash of The Tommyknockers, he had already written a new book by the time I'd finished. Similarly, 11.22.63 was a bit of a slog. Coming in at more than 800 pages and providing a dual use as an emergency doorstep, this was classic King in the sense that it brought him back to his favourite era, the early 1960s, and one of his favourite subjects, the assassination of Kennedy. Again, it was a bit of a slog, but the news that it had been adapted into an eight-parter for TV was welcomed - with some caution. Adaptations of the great man's material for the screen has been patchy at best. In fact, the most recent book-to-screen venture was the aforementioned Under The Dome, which was so lacklustre it should have been called 'Under The Weather' - and don't even get me started on the forthcoming Dark Tower movie, which has changed a fundamental plot dynamic in the name of politically correct pandering. But 11.22.63 comes armed with some serous firepower, produced as it is by JJ Abrams, scripted by Bridget Carpenter (Parenthood, Friday Night Lights) and starring James Franco as Jake Amberson, a lonely English teacher who discovers that his local diner contains a portal which brings you back to 1960. As you do. Franco is a hard chap to figure out. Given his academic extra-curricular activities and long-professed love for the great Cormac McCarthy, I'm still not sure if he is a genuine Renaissance man or merely a shrewd operator who realises that in a culture of vapid stupidity, even the mundane act of reading a book deems you part of the intellectual resistance. Thing is, I'm not sure he really knows, either. There's no doubt that he's a smart cookie, but he's also an underrated actor, even if he is in possession of one of those knowing smirks which seems to fill people with the urge to thump him. He's certainly smart enough to know that the days when a big screen star would only ever do TV as an act of financial desperation have long passed, and we should be grateful - because he's quietly marvellous in 11.22.63. While hanging out in his local diner, where the burgers taste great and are always remarkably cheap (there's a clue in there), the owner, Al, ushers him into a closet and when he emerges on the other side he has gone from 2016 to 1960. Video of the Day When he returns to the present day, he discovers that time travellers always go back to the exact spot and date and no matter how long you stay in the past, a mere two minutes has elapsed in our time. Before you know it, Al has asked Jake to go back and spend the next few years trying to figure out if Lee Harvey Oswald was really a lone gunman bent on assassinating Kennedy. If he was, kill him to save JFK. If not, then the conspiracy theorists were right all along. But time is stubborn and doesn't like being changed, so as Jake begins his long task to discern the truth about Oswald and prevent the assassination, the universe begins to kick back against him. It's all complete hokum, of course, and you could drive a truck through the gaping logic holes (grandfather paradox, anyone?). In fact, there are times when it all comes across like a mash up between Back To The Future and Goodnight Sweetheart. But I mean that as a compliment, and King being King, there are plenty of suitably eerie undercurrents. It's already a few episodes into its eight-episode run, but the joys of Catch Up mean you can watch them all at once if you missed the start. And you could do worse things with your time this weekend... From one attempt to use time travel to change a pivotal moment in a country's history comes the Irish answer - Wrecking The Rising. Taking itself rather less seriously than its American peer, Wrecking The Rising is yet another example of the subversive brilliance that is emerging with increasing regularity from TG4. The excellent Klondike has been picking up awards everywhere it goes and Wrecking The Rising, which sees three thoroughly modern young men somehow transported back to the GPO just in time for the fun, deserves to be mentioned in the same breath. Peter Coonan, Owen McDonnell and Sean T O Meallaigh all do a fine job as the enthusiastic modern day re-enactors who suddenly find themselves getting a little too close to reality for comfort and this is yet another feather in the cap of the little station that could, TG4. Let's put it this way, if someone had told me that one day I'd happily sit down to enjoy drama and comedy in Irish I would have laughed at them. Well, I'm not laughing now, as Bob Monkhouse used to say. You don't get many laughs for your buck when it comes to the end of the world, largely because people tend to get all mawkish in the face of the end of humanity. The Last Man On Earth makes a good fist of it, but I was moved to tears by one scene this week when the remaining survivors found a karaoke machine and two of them insisted on singing Glen Hansard's dirge-tastic Falling Slowly. Truly, the living will envy the dead. Murder accused David Mahon told gardai he did not mean to kill his stepson - "not in a million years". David Mahon (45) also told gardai "I wish it was me" that was dead, a jury has heard. Mr Mahon, of Ongar Village in Clonsilla, has denied murdering 23-year-old Dean Fitzpatrick on May 26, 2013. Mr Fitzpatrick is the brother of Amy Fitzpatrick who went missing in Spain in 2008. He was stabbed to death outside Mr Mahon's apartment at Burnell Square, Northern Cross in Malahide. The jury heard Dean Fitzpatrick's medical notes revealed he had self-harmed and had previously expressed a death wish in terms of feeling guilty about his missing sister, Amy, and had gained release by cutting himself. Gardai conducted a total of five interviews with Mr Mahon. During the interviews, he told officers he was worried about his partner, Audrey, Dean's mother, telling them her son's death was going to kill her. Mr Mahon told gardai his stepdaughter Amy was "an angel but Dean was no angel". He said Dean was always pulling knives on him, and he once pulled a gun on him. He said Mr Fitzpatrick had called to his apartment on May 25, 2013 and the pair were arguing, with Dean saying "you don't care about your grandson". He said Dean took a knife from the kitchen but he grabbed it off him and put it in his back pocket as he thought "it would be safe there". He followed Dean out to the hallway, took the knife from his back pocket, showed it to him and asked "why are you pulling a knife on your auld fella". He said he thought Mr Fitzpatrick was going to "loaf" him. He said Dean then walked into the knife, and he knew he had nicked him. He heard Dean say "ah" and he ran off down the stairs. He also told gardai he was "not a violent man" and Mr Fitzpatrick "walked into the knife", saying "I'm starting to doubt myself, did I push him". He added: "Is it an accident or murder? I don't know but it's my fault". The accused also told gardai that "part of me thinks he {Mr Fitzpatrick} wanted it". Mr Mahon said he "never thought he'd killed him" and if he'd realised how serious it was he would have called an ambulance. The jury heard Mr Mahon then left the apartment and got into a taxi with his friend Karl O'Toole. He threw away the knife, "don't ask me, I don't know why", he told gardai. Mr Mahon also said it was "bullsh*t" that he rang Mr Fitzpatrick's former girlfriend Sarah Rourke and threatened to stick a knife in her neck. The prosecution case has now ended. The trial continues. A 45-YEAR-old man accused of killing his stepson "cooked up" a story for gardai that it had been a terrible and "wholly innocent accident", a jury has been told. However, minutes after Dean Fitzpatrick was stabbed, David Mahon (45) told his friend Karl O'Toole he thinks "Dean is dead" and "the knife went through him", prosecution counsel, Remy Farrell SC has said. Mr Farrell has begun his closing speech in the trial of David Mahon, who has denied murdering 23-year-old Dean Fitzpatrick on May 26, 2013. Mr Fitzpatrick is the brother of Amy Fitzpatrick who went missing in Spain in 2008. The father-of-one was stabbed to death outside Mr Mahons apartment at Burnell Square, Northern Cross in Malahide. In his closing speech, Mr Farrell told the Central Criminal Court that in some respects this case was not terribly complicated, and was about "a split second". Mr Farrell said there was no contest about a lot of the evidence. There was no contest Mr Mahon had the knife in his hand and it entered Dean Fitzpatrick's abdomen, killing him, he said. The jury was told it must decide on Mr Mahon's intent, "was it his intent to kill him, to cause him serious harm". Mr Farrell told the jury "judge a man by his actions, judge a man by his words". He said Mr Mahon spent the Saturday that Mr Fitzpatrick died "frenetically" trying to get in contact with his stepson. He said there were 12 mobile phone calls from Mr Mahon to Mr Fitzpatrick between 9.40pm and 10pm on the Saturday night. There was also six calls to Dean's former girlfriend, Sarah O'Rourke. Mr Farrell said it appears Mr Mahon was frenetically trying to get in touch with his stepson, and had sent him a text message earlier in the day threatening to stab him. He told the jury we also know something about Mr Mahon's mood, with Ms O'Rourke telling the court he was "aggressive". Mr Farrell said Ms O'Rourke told the jury Mr Mahon was looking for Dean and he threatened he would "stick a knife in her neck". Mr Farrell said the defence has not suggested that Ms O'Rourke made up this threat. The jury was also told that after Dean was stabbed Mr Mahon told his friend Karl O'Toole to get him out of the apartment. The pair left in Mr O'Toole's taxi and they drove around north Dublin. Mr Farrell said Mr O'Toole gave evidence that Mr Mahon said to him he thinks "Dean is dead" and he thinks "the knife went through him". The jury heard that in the minutes after Mr Fitzpatrick's stabbing, Mr Mahon was giving "a very good impersonation of a man who has just admitted murder". Mr Farrell said Mr Mahon told gardai "lie after lie after lie" in the five interviews which they conducted with him, and cooked up" a story that it had been a terrible and "wholly innocent accident". Mr Mahon told gardai it wasn't his style to "run and hide" but that was exactly what he did by fleeing the scene, said Mr Farrell. The jury heard that one of the biggest lies Mr Mahon told to gardai was that he didn't know how serious the injury was, as Mr O'Toole's evidence is that he had told him "Dean is dead". Mr Farrell said Mr Mahon left Dean "to die on the street", while he threw away the murder weapon and drove around the roads of north Dublin. He said that if Mr Mahon's defence is that of accident or suicide then he must be the "most unfortunate man in Ireland due to a confluence of remarkable events that put him in the wrong place at the wrong time". Mr Farrell said that the reality was that Mr Mahon was drunk, angry and agitated and that he stabbed his stepson and then set about doing everything he could to try and "get away with murder". Mr Farrell has now finished his closing speech. Defence counsel, Sean Guerin SC, will begin his closing speech on Tuesday, and then the judge will give her charge to the jury. A DUTCH man, who was arrested in a luxury Dublin apartment during a Garda operation targeting the Kinahan organised crime gang, has been further remanded in custody on bogus passport charges. Naoufal Fassih (35), who is of Moroccan origin, appeared at Cloverhill District Court yesterday/today (fri). He was further remanded in custody by Judge Victor Blake to allow time for directions to be obtained from the DPP. The State had asked for an adjournment and the court heard the defence consented. Mr Fassih represented by solicitor Niall O'Connor will face his next hearing on May 6. He had been initially refused bail on Apr. 15 by Judge Cormac Dunne at Dublin District Court. Gardai had said he had 800 runners and three designer watches in total worth 83,000 were found at an apartment where he arrested. He is charged three offences under the Theft and Fraud Act for possessing a fake Belgian and a false Dutch passport and using them to incite an other to believe they were real. He was arrested at an apartment on Lower Baggott St on Apr. 7, the court heard. He has also been charged with an offence under the Immigration Act and a minor drugs charge for simple possession of cannabis. Garda Eoin Kane, of Kevin St station's Drugs Unit had said that the man was arrested during an operation targeting members of the Kinahan organised crime gang. Gardai later established his real name and that he is a Dutch national and they argued that he was a fight risk. Gda Kane said that when he was arrested in the apartment also found there were: 300, Stg 12,825, a Rolex watch worth 8,350, another Rolex watch valued at 35,000 and an Audamars Piguet Royal Oak limited edition Michael Schumacher watch valued 40,000. Mr Fassih has also failed in a High Court action to get released. Directions from the DPP have to be obtained and a decision has to be made on whether the the case will remain in the jurisdiction of the district court or instead go forward on indictment to the circuit court. The charge for using false documentation can carry a maximum 10-year sentence. He has not yet entered a plea. THE High Court has dismissed a convicted rapist's challenge to a law preventing prisoners over 65 years from receiving the state pension while they are in prison. The 75-year-old is serving a 12 year prison sentence after he was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of multiple charges of raping and sexually assaulting his daughter. Following conviction in March 2011, he was disqualified from receiving the pension payment of 230 per week and payments he had been receiving suspended. He claimed this amounted to an extra judicial punishment imposed by the State which it is not entitled to impose. It was estimated he would lose out on more than 95,000 in pension payments because of the disqualification order. Mr Justice Donald Binchy dismissed the man's action saying he had no right to receive the pension while in prison. He also rejected claims there had been a breach of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) arising out of the disqualification order. The action was against the Minister for Social Protection, Ireland and the Attorney General. They opposed the action. The Irish Human Rights Commission was a notice party. With full remission the man is due for release in approximately 3 years time. He will receive pension payments on his release. The man claimed section 249.1 of the 2005 Social Welfare Consolidation Act, which "disqualifies" prisoners of pensionable age from receiving the State Pension (contributory) or old age pension, breaches provisions of the Constitution and the ECHR. The State denied the claims. The man does not have a constitutionally protected right to receive payment of the pension simply because he has made the required number of PRSI contributions during his working life, Mr Justice Binchy said. The right to receive this payment "is a statutory right only" and is "subject to conditions of eligibility laid down by the Oireachtas" the judge said. The man claimed that as he is unable to do any prison work on health grounds, he is destitute in prison. The only money he gets is a prison gratuity of 11.90 per week. The judge said while the man was subject to hardship he was not satisfied the complaints were of a sufficiently serious nature to establish a violation of his right to personal autonomy. The demand for Georgian investment properties in north Dublin resulted in intense bidding wars and high sale prices. A SOLDIER who admitted driving the getaway car for a bomb attack has been jailed for eight years after a judge said his experience in the Defence Forces was an aggravating matter in the case. Mark Cassidy, (31), then a private in the Irish defence Forces based at Finner Camp in Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to having an explosive device in the driveway of a home in Manorview, Letterkenny on November 22, 2013. Cassidy, 31, from Ballyderowen, Burnfoot appeared was caught after an Improvised Explosve Device (IED) was found at his home. Forensic experts linked that bomb to the one used in the Letterkenny bombing. He is already serving a three-year sentence for Burnfoot offence and was discharged from the army when convicted in 2014. Det Gda Michael Galvin said a Mercedes car parked at Cassidys home matched one captured on CCTV on the night of the attack on the home of the Coyle family. He said that when Cassidy was questioned about the attack he claimed that he was taken at force by a masked man and ordered to drive to the Coyle family before a device was planted beneath Alan Coyle's jeep. In his victim impact statement Alan Coyle said his life had been destroyed since the attack and that he had suffered a nervous breakdown and tried to take his own life. His wife Geraldine said she did not leave her home for months after the attack. She said damage to the family jeep and their home wasnt covered by insurance as she had been told that it was an act of terrorism. "Mr Cassidy needs to be held accountable for his actions, she said. The couple's teenage daughter Catherine said the attack was the worst night of her life. "I felt completely unsafe in my home and I was worried it would happen again and that he would kill all of us," she said. Defence barrister Peter Nolan said his client had served overseas in Chad and had suffered from post-traumatic stress even though he had never come under hostile enemy fire. He said he also wanted to say that his client took the anti-malaria medication Lariam. Judge John OHagan jailed Cassidy for eight years, suspending the final two years for a period of two years. The judge said the Coyle family still didnt know why they were targeted on the night of the bomb attack and their lives had been changed as a result of it. He said Cassidy had served with distinction in the Defence Forces and had experience with munitions and explosives while serving in an artillery unit. The fact that he has used his profession as a soldier to be involved with this incident puts the case on the higher level of seriousness. It is an aggravating factor, said Judge OHagan. An eminent US surgeon with early onset dementia who fell victim to a phishing scam which culminated in him bringing 100,000 of cocaine into Dublin Airport will be sentenced next week. Dr Carlos Cruz Soriano (76) began responding to phishing emails after becoming isolated and depressed following his retirement from a glittering career, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told. The scammers told him a long lost relative had died and he was due to inherit US$2.3 million. They gained Soriano's trust over a number of years, including sending him on a dry run to Hong Kong, before flying him to Columbia where he was given the paperwork for his inheritance as well as a gift in a red bag for Irish banking officials who would facilitate the transfer of funds. Soriano, of Cove Circle, Riverview, Florida, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine valued at 107,000 inside the red bag in the arrivals hall at Dublin Airport on September 1, 2015. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody here since his arrest. Judge Melanie Greally said Soriano's isolation and the deterioration in his mental health had contributed to him being susceptible to manipulation by sinister forces. She said she accepted he did not appreciate the serious nature of his conduct. She noted that rather than availing of other options he had chosen to plead guilty at an early stage. Judge Greally indicated that she would impose a five-year sentence which she would fully suspend on condition he leave the country. She adjourned the case until next week for finalisation to allow arrangements be put in place for his return to the United States. Sergeant Fergal Finnegan told Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that immigration officials had concerns about Soriano on his arrival in Dublin as he had no return ticket to the US and only $300. Soriano, who had travelled to Ireland from Bogota via Panama and Paris, told customs officials that a red bag he was carrying contained a gift for banking officials which would facilitate the transfer of a US$2.3 million inheritance from a long lost relative he had never heard of until recently. He was very co-operative with the officials and agreed to allow them x-ray and examine the bag. It was found to contain 1.86 kilograms of cocaine in three packets. Sgt Finnegan said gardai were initially sceptical that Soriano could have fallen for the scam but as the interviews went on they became aware that there were underlying issues. Gardai found documentation that Soriano had printed out about other phishing scams. He said that he knew they were scams but he was lonely and would respond to them for a little bit of fun. Sgt Finnegan said despite this he remained adamant that the inheritance was still due to be claimed. Soriano told gardai he had become isolated and very lonely at home after martial and family problems arose when he lost money on a previous occasion to a Nigerian phishing scam. Sgt Finnegan agreed with Caroline Biggs SC, defending, that Soriano had a glittering surgical career over 40 years but had become very lonely after his retirement. The communication with the email scammers had became his only contact with the outside world. He agreed with Ms Biggs that Soriano had become excited when it was explained to him he was going to prison as he thought he would be around people and have a chance to make friends. Ms Biggs told the court Soriano had an eminent career as a surgeon, had written a book about his life, published papers and had been honoured with the keys to the city of St Petersburg, Florida. Psychologist Dr Ian Gargan told Ms Biggs that Soriano had bipolar and depressive disorder and early onset dementia. He agreed with Ms Biggs that following his retirement Soriano's life had fallen apart causing him to become isolated and lonely as well as intellectually frustrated. He agreed with Ms Biggs that Soriano was highly suggestible. He said Soriano was afraid that he might die before he was released from prison. Dr Gargan said it was a very extreme and very sad case. Sgt Finnegan said the scammers made initial contact with Soriano via email three years previously. They posed as churchmen looking for relatives of a Peter Soriano who had died intestate. They said they were finding it difficult to contact relatives of the man in order to facilitate a $2.3 million inheritance. Soriano had never heard of this relative but engaged with the scammers. Sgt Finnegan said in order to gain his confidence the scammers sent Soriano on a dry run to Hong Kong where he was given hotel and pocket money while the documentation was being sorted out. He was then told there was a difficulty and the inheritance could not go ahead but would on a later date. He was treated well and returned home without anything happening. Soriano told gardai he was later bought flights to go meet people in Colombia. In Bogota he was given what he was told was the documentation needed to get his inheritance. He was to travel to Ireland and on the way to the airport he was given the red bag. He was told it contained a gift which would facilitate the release of the funds. Soriano was suspicious and had a look inside the bag to make sure it did not contain a gun or bomb. He attempted to speak to a official at Bogota Airport but it appears they could not understand him. Soriano told gardai he was a surgeon with a practice in Florida until he retired in 2004. He said he had not expected to live so long and his savings were all gone leaving him and his wife living on social security. He is married with four children and seven grandchildren. A teenage girl with cerebral palsy has secured 5.56m and an apology from Mayo General Hospital under a final settlement of her High Court action against the HSE over alleged negligence in the circumstances of her birth. The settlement brings to more than 7m the total sum for Mary Malee, a 16-year-old Transition Year student, who in a statement afterwards said: "Cerebral palsy won't kill me but I have to learn to live with it... it's for life... This shouldn't have happened to me and others like me." "Justice has been done and I'm bringing closure to this, we can move on with our lives," she said. Earlier, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly said he had "no doubt" Ms Malee would achieve her ambition of becoming an advocate for people with disabilities and described the girl and her family as "heroic". Several family members wiped away tears as Ms Malee read a statement to the judge in which she said, while aware this was a final settlement "and I don't know what the future holds for me", the stress of ongoing engagement with the HSE and the courts "is not what I want". There is "an undeniable reality to the circumstances put upon me because of the HSE and their doctors", she added. Ms Malee, Shanaghy, Bohola, Swinford, Co Mayo, through her mother Maura, sued the HSE over alleged negligence in the circumstances of her birth at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar on October 11th, 1999. In an apology read in court, the general manager of Mayo General Hospital expressed its "deep regret" to Mary and her family "for the circumstances surrounding your birth on October 11th 1999". It acknowledged "the many challenges that you have faced as a result of the treatment provided to your mother Maura at the time of your birth", adding it did not underestimate "how difficult this has been for you and your family". Ms Malee secured a 1.5m interim payment in 2014 under a settlement made without admission of liability. Her case was adjourned in anticipation laws allowing for phased payments for catastrophically injured claimants would be in place but, because they are not, she and her parents sought a final settlement. Having heard from Bruce Antoniotti SC, for Ms Malee, the plaintiff and her mother, Mr Justice Kelly approved the final 5.56m settlement as a "very good result". He was "astonished", having read of her disabilities, at what she had achieved and believed she would, as she hoped, become an advocate for the disabled, he said. The judge said he has long advocated using mediation in such cases without need for a full trial and said it was regrettable legislation allowing for phased payments is not yet a reality "despite years of waiting and years of promises". Previously, the court heard Mrs Malee had, during her pregnancy with Mary, attended as a private patient with the consultant gynaecologist who had delivered her other three children. On October 8th 1999, he advised her she had raised blood pressure, to go to hospital the next day and be prepared for induction of labour. The gynaecologist, since deceased, also told her he could no longer attend her as he had just been diagnosed with cancer, was about to begin treatment and her care would be transferred to another consultant, it was claimed, Mrs Malee was admitted to the Mayo hospital on October 9th with symptoms of pre eclampsia. On October 11th, she was transferred to the labour ward and a fourth CTG shortly after 6am showed a series of decelerations. When the consultant to whom her care was allegedly transferred was contacted at 6.07am, he called back at 6.25am saying he was in Letterkenny, it was claimed. Another consultant was contacted who assisted in the delivery which was complicated, the baby was not born until 7.20am in very poor condition and a caesarean section should have been carried out earlier, it was claimed. A man who killed two friends in an horrific car crash has been jailed for three years. Noel Carr, (25), from Newmills, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was due to go on trial for dangerous driving causing death before a jury at Letterkenny Circuit Court in January but changed his plea. His sentencing hearing heard how Matthew Crawford (21) and Shaun Graham (19), both from Letterkenny, died when Carr crashed his 2001-registered vehicle into a wall outside Rathmullan at 3.20am on August 3, 2013. A third passenger, 23-year-old Damian Gallagher, was seriously injured. In heartbreaking victim impact statements read to the court, the parents of the dead men spoke of how their lives had been turned upside down by their deaths. Matthew Crawford's mother Joan said she was haunted by the image of seeing her dead son in hospital. She said she had been waiting for answers. "I understood the court process but found it hard to deal with. I felt like an extra in the whole process. I am serving a sentence because of my son's death," she said. "My house doesn't feel like a home any more without Matthew here, now it's just a house. "He was spoilt and I loved spoiling him. I am a typical Irish mother." Shaun's parents Michael and Caitriona Graham had their statement read by prosecuting counsel Patricia McLaughlin. The couple, who both work at Letterkenny hospital, went there to identify their son. "The scene will be etched in our memories for the rest of our lives," they said. "We remember being asked by the undertaker to pick a coffin for Shaun. No parent should ever be asked to choose a coffin for their child." Carr took to the witness box to apologise to the families. "I will never forgive myself for what I did," he said. He said he had visited the families after the crash but couldn't find the words to apologise. "I want to tell you how sick, sorry and ashamed I am. I only wish I had the answers. I am deeply sorry," said Carr. The court heard Carr had previous convictions including careless driving in Ballyshannon in November 2011. In sentencing, the judge said he had to refer to the sentence handed down by the Court of Appeal to Shaun Kelly who killed eight people in the 2010 Clonmany crash. "The Court of Appeal lays the gauntlet down to me," said the judge. Judge O'Hagan had sentenced Kelly to four years in prison with the final two years suspended. The Court of Appeal had doubled the sentence. The judge said Carr had "killed two of his pals stone dead". He said that was punishment in itself. He sentenced Carr to four years in prison, but suspended the final year. He also banned Carr from driving for 10 years. Mia Goidin (9), Siobhan Ni Riordain (11) and Eva Bheineid (8), from Gaelscoil Naomh Padraig in Lucan, Co Dublin, which was named one of Irelands eight Travel Schools of the Year by An Taisce yesterday. Photo: Naoise Culhane Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan has delivered a stinging attack on the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) over how it does its business with members. She also signalled moves to go over the head of the union and 'speak' directly to teachers by posting information relevant to a forthcoming ASTI ballot on the Department of Education website. Ms O'Sullivan's criticism was delivered by her department's secretary general, Sean O Foghlu. The minister's views were expressed at the annual conference of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), which represents managers in about 370 schools directly affected by the ASTI's decisions. It comes amid mounting concern in hundreds of schools where the ASTI is blocking junior cycle reform and threatening industrial action on a number of fronts. Mr O Foghlu questioned the level of information the union offers to its 18,000 members before ballots on key issues such as the new-style Junior Cert and pay and productivity agreements. Such comment on a union's internal affairs is highly unusual, and it reflects a more widespread frustration about the ASTI's lack of engagement on issues of importance both to students and teachers. The union continues to refuse to co-operate with changes to the junior cycle, although hundreds of schools where it has no, or few, members are embracing the reforms. Mr O Foghlu accused the ASTI of providing a "deficit of information" to members before a crucial vote last year on junior cycle changes, which are aimed at improving the educational experience of teenagers. He also criticised its plans for a ballot seeking support for a withdrawal from working the Croke Park Agreement hours from September, and for failing to engage with the Department of Education. That ballot, and other fronts opened by the union, could result in the closure in September of more than 400 schools where the ASTI has members. Ms O'Sullivan's tenure as minister is expected to end next week. But JMB president Fr Paul O'Connell echoed the sentiments when he expressed concern about the "uncertainty" facing their schools. On junior cycle, Mr O Foghlu referred to detailed proposals worked out in lengthy negotiations last year, and contrasted the ASTI's approach to a ballot with that of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI). "The ASTI decided not to make a recommendation for acceptance. "Nor did they engage with their membership to explain the changes or the rationale underpinning them." Understanding He said that the low turnout in the ballot "may have reflected that poor level of engagement", while "the deficit of information provided has also left an uncertainty over the understanding among ordinary ASTI members of important details". Then he turned to the forthcoming ballot on the Croke Park hours, starting next week, and said a refusal to do these would amount to an effective repudiation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. He warned of the possible implications, including loss of supervision and substitution payments due in September, the extension of increment freezes, and the loss of improved terms for teachers on a contract of indefinite duration (CID). He accused the ASTI of not providing full information to members on such consequences and said that the department would make it available on its website. The ASTI said they were inflammatory remarks, and said the union had sent a newsletter to members this week, had put information on its website and would be holding information meetings. Business groups in Dublin have welcomed the new National Children's Hospital getting the go-ahead but a children's charity is "disappointed" at the location and cost of the hospital. Jack and Jill Foundation chief executive Jonathan Irwin said that his foundation had done everything in its power to have the location of the hospital moved to Blanchardstown, near the M50, the same location as the current Connolly Hospital. Mr Irwin said he "really thought common sense would prevail" in the hospital's final location. "I am disappointed for myself, but more so for the families under the wing of Jack & Jill," Mr Irwin said yesterday. However, the Faculty of Paediatrics at the Royal College of Surgeons sees it as a 'radical improvement' of services for children across the country. "The new hospital will improve the standard of care by having an integrated service between child health experts - medical, nursing and allied health staff, for all children who need treatment for acute illnesses and chronic or long-term illnesses," said Raymond Barry, dean of the faculty. The Dublin Chamber of Commerce believes the hospital will provide a long-term jobs boost in the area. CEO Gina Quin said the hospital would provide paediatric care for more than one million children under the age of 15, with more than 1,000 jobs being created over the next five years. "Locating the new children's hospital at St James' campus, an already mature teaching hospital, will also facilitate excellent teaching of the practice of paediatric medicine," Ms Quin explained. Meanwhile, the Liberties Business Forum regards it as "an unprecedented urban regeneration opportunity for the area". Chair of the forum, Catherine Heaney, said it had fully supported the project from its beginning. "The development of the National Children's Hospital at St James's is a project of huge importance to Dublin 8 and its community," she said. "It will see the location of a world-class facility for paediatric services right in the heart of our community," she added. The National Maternity Hospital should maintain its independent governance when it moves to the campus of St Vincent's Hospital, Health Minister Leo Varadkar has indicated. A spokesman for the minister said he told the board overseeing the St Vincent's campus that co-location, where hospitals maintain their independence, is government policy. He was speaking as the board of the St Vincent's Healthcare Group met yesterday to discuss the impasse which is holding up a planning application to construct a new building for the maternity hospital on its site. The board of the national maternity hospital, currently located at Holles Street in Dublin, wants to maintain its governance structure which includes the system where it is headed by a master when it moves to the new site. The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has said it has concerns about the implications for women's reproductive health care if the board of St Vincent's Healthcare Group takes over the running of the national maternity hospital. However, this has been dismissed by the St Vincent's board as "ridiculous". The failure of hospitals to agree on governance issues has impacted on the running of some mergers in recent decades. The hospital to suffer most in recent times was Tallaght Hospital which ended up with a huge board in order to satisfy all the hospitals which were teaming up in the one location. In a letter to staff St Vincent's chairman James Menton said: "We do not propose the elimination of decision-making capacity for the National Maternity Hospital at senior clinical and corporate level. "Our proposal concerns the governance of the campus and not the day-to-day decision-making within the hospitals. "Our shareholders (Religious Sisters of Charity) have never interfered with our consultants' work to provide all services permitted within the law. "We are satisfied that the consultants can be assured that their work will not be compromised," he told staff. People with red hair have long been the butt of unfair jokes, but a study suggests that when it comes to ageing they may have the last laugh. Dutch scientists have discovered that a gene which keeps people looking young is the same gene responsible for red hair and fair skin. Researchers at Erasmus University in Rotterdam studied the faces of almost 2,700 elderly Dutch Europeans and found that those carrying a variation of the MC1R gene, which influences skin colour, looked on average two years younger than they were. MC1R is known to play a part in other biological processes, such as inflammation and DNA damage repair, which may be why it is linked to youthful looks. Prof Dr Manfred Kayser, who co-wrote the study, said: "For the first time, a gene has been found that explains in part why some people look older and others younger for their age. "Looking young for one's age has been a desire since time immemorial. The desire is attributable to the belief that appearance reflects health and fecundity." The findings are particularly good news for redheads, as the data suggests they may be ageing slower and therefore be healthier. Perceived age has been shown to predict a person's health and mortality, suggesting that the age we perceive a person to be from the appearance of their face might also be related in important ways to a person's biological age and health. During the study, published in the journal 'Current Biology', front and side images of the participants' faces were analysed by a 3D image assessment system. It looked for more than 25 criteria, such as pigmented spots, wrinkles, skin tone and face shape. This information was then subjected to an algorithm, which came up with a perceived age. Prof Kayser said that understanding the molecular biology of perceived age would be vital in identifying new ageing therapies, among other purposes. "Our study provides new leads for further investigating the biological basis of how old or young people look," he said. The association between the MC1R variant and perceived age found by the Erasmus University study has been replicated in two independent cohorts, including a study of 530 middle-aged French women, which also linked the gene to skin ageing. The authors of the latest research said more investigation is needed to identify precisely how specific features, such as skin sag or skin repair, could be linked to MC1R. Dr David Gunn, of Unilever, which participated in the study, said: "The perception of age is one of the best and most exciting ways to measure how well people are ageing, which we hope will lead to further breakthroughs in health and ageing research." An injured woman reacts at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Old Aleppo, Syria. Photo: Reuters The Acting Tanaiste has claimed refugees from the Syrian conflict are snubbing the chance to come to Ireland as they would rather be reunited with family members in other European countries. Just 10 people out of the planned 2,600 have relocated to Ireland from refugee camps in Greece and Italy under an EU relocation programme. Joan Burton said the small numbers could be explained by the fact refugees were seeking to join relatives elsewhere. "They would like to go to friends, relatives and communities and these are, for the most part, in Germany, Austria and the Scandinavian countries. That is what refugees do," she said. Ms Burton likened the situation to the Irish exodus to the US after the Great Famine. "They went to America because they had a sense of kith and kin there. They were more economic migrants but in modern-day parlance they would be called refugees," she said. However, despite the low numbers arriving to date, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald insisted Ireland remained committed to relocating the numbers committed to under the EU plan. She said the initial pace of relocations had been slow but was beginning to accelerate. An additional 31 people currently at a camp in Greece have undergone security checks and are expected to arrive in Ireland in the coming weeks. In the past week a further pledge had been made in relation to another 40 refugees in Greece, she said. Ms Fitzgerald said Ireland had committed to taking 2,600 refugees under the EU relocation programme by the end of next year and 4,000 overall when other schemes are included. The minister said the EU relocation programme had faced two main challenges. The first was the complexity of establishing "hotspot" locations in Greece and Italy to process the refugees. The second was misinformation spread by people smugglers which encouraged migrants and asylum seekers not to cooperate with the registration process at hotspots. "As the EU arrangements come on stream with greater numbers claiming asylum, particularly in Greece, the numbers and frequency of arrivals are expected to increase considerably over the coming months," she said. The pace of relocations was criticised by the Irish Refugee Council, which said the impending arrival of 31 refugees fell far short of commitments made last September. The council's chief executive, Brian Killoran, said the broad political agreement in the Dail that Ireland should act with humanity was not being followed through with action. Some 90,000 passengers were left without a tram service as the drivers held another one-day strike. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie Striking tram drivers strongly rejected claims they were being "greedy" in seeking bigger than normal pay rises and insisted their job was more than "just pushing a lever." Picketing Luas drivers stood outside the Red Cow Luas depot yesterday and claimed they were being "demonised." Some 90,000 passengers were left without a tram service as the drivers held another one-day strike. The strikers claimed there was a campaign being waged against them and their critics on social media were ill- informed about the stress endured by drivers. "I feel we are being demonised by our own company as we do far more than just push a lever," said striking driver Eileen Carolan (52) from Kilpeddar, Co Wicklow. "We transport thousands of passengers every day and it's a stressful job," she said. "People who call us greedy b*****ds should think about us when we're starting our working day at 4am. We're being entirely reasonable in looking for decent pay for bringing 100 people at a time safely on their journeys," she said. Dermot McMahon (45), a father-of-two from Harold's Cross, complained about insults levelled at tram drivers by "keyboard warriors" on social media. Drivers had to work very difficult hours, sometimes finishing at midnight on a Sunday and having to begin a week of 5am starts just 29 hours later. James Watson (49) from Drumcondra said their work rosters had different start times that were so erratic it had caused "marital problems" for a number of drivers that he knew. The new cross-city tram service will entail longer trams with a consequent increase in responsibilities regarding the safety of more passengers, he said. Drivers with long service are paid 42,750 a year while new drivers start at 32,000 a year. Transdev's rejected pay offer of 18.5 pc over 33 months would have been partly financed by cutting the pay of recruit drivers to 29,000, said driver Tony Moore (50) from Drimnagh. "That would be robbing Peter to pay Paul and was completely unfair," he said. "We have safety concerns about driver fatigue. "The company wants us to work longer shifts. But when the Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe was in opposition he had told the Dail that longer shifts would give rise to safety concerns," he added. Driver John Dean said drivers were holding an evening meeting to plan a response to a company threat to cut strikers' pay by 10pc. Dublin TD Paul Murphy arrived and joined the picketing drivers in walking in a circle outside the depot. A number of members of the public living outside Dublin who expected to get on a tram at the Red Cow were dismayed to discover a strike in progress. "It's scandalous. I'm bringing children home and we planned to use the Luas for some of the journey. "We'll be hours late getting home," said Newbridge mother Joanne Murray (32). "It's disgraceful. We were depending on the Luas today," said Portlaoise mother Louise McCormack (46). Ten defining moments in Irelands battle against water charges: 1. Groundhog Day this all started four decades ago What many millennials might not realise is that the battle against water charges goes back much further than the current row. In 1977/78 Fianna Fail abolished domestic rates, which included funding for water infrastructure. During his Dail speech this week outgoing Environment Minister Alan Kelly said: Let nobody think we are in anyway experiencing new politics here and this is the birth of a new political maturity, if the current speculation is accurate. This is 1977 all over again. Groundhog day. Somewhat threateningly, he concluded: We will regret it, just as we did in 77. 2. Rural-urban divide on water In 1985 the Labour Partys Dick Spring introduced a local authority domestic service levy. But much like today it met huge opposition, particularly in Dublin. As a result much of rural Ireland was paying for water while Dublins councils declined to bring in charges. 3. Goodbye water charges again Outgoing Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin abolished water charges completely in 1996. Any infrastructure was to be funded from general taxation but of course as history no government made water a priority. 4. Imagine if charges had been set at 500 Fianna Fail, the Green Party and PD coalition discussed water charges at a Cabinet meeting in July 2010. At the time a figure of 500 was suggested as the average cost per household. The current regime has capped charges at 260 and thats before you claim back your 100 water conservation grant. 5. Economic collapse makes water charge inevitable As part of the 85bn EU-IMF bailout the government commits to introducing water charges by 2013 and to moving responsibility for water infrastructure from local authorities to a new water utility. 6. Was Phil Hogan really the man for the job? Phil Hogan announced in June 2011 that every home would get a water meter but as the anti-water charges movement grew he seemed to regularly stoke the fire when threats such as reducing the flow from taps to a trickle if people didnt pay. Ultimately Fine Gael disappeared Mr Hogan to Europe (where his salary is 250,000). 7. Everybody hates consultants In one of the most badly judged interviews in recent times Irish Water chief executive John Tierney revealed on radio that the company spent 50m on consultants. This was really the moment that public opinion turned against Irish Water and charges. 8. People power took over Tens of thousands of people marked on Dublin and through towns across the country in opposition to the charges. It was on a scale not seen in recent years. European media outlets regularly questioned why Irish voters didnt fight back against austerity but this was the straw that finally pushed people onto the streets. Bills were boycotted in huge numbers meaning the long-term financial viability of Irish Water was likely to fall back on the State. 9. Tanaiste is trapped in her car Tanaiste Joan Burton was trapped in her car by water protesters for more than two hours while attending an event in Jobstown in November 2014. The incident is likely to get a prominent section on Reeling in the Years. A number of court cases in relation to what happened that day are still ongoing. 10. An Irish solution to an Irish problem In theory Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have only agreed to suspend water charges but in reality they are gone for good. By setting up a commission to study the issue and an all-party committee to study the commissions view, the parties have conspired to produce the ultimate fudge. Not a single TD in Leinster House honestly expects water charges to be reintroduced at the end of the process. Tears for fears: Naomi and Diarmuid Lavelle with daughter Caer - who overcame her fear of mannequins through CBT with the help of her therapist dad - and sons Culann and Rohan. Photo: Andrew Downes For years I didn't believe him. He was acting up, just trying to avoid it, being difficult. I mean, who on earth is actually afraid of fruit? As a baby he would eat the pureed mush that they all do - bananas and berries, or carrot and mango - but gradually things changed. There wasn't one defining moment or traumatic experience that I could put it down to - but somewhere along the line my son Baxter, now seven, developed a fear of fruit that was as real as any adult's fear of heights or spiders. Just because I hadn't heard of it before didn't mean it wasn't real. And he wasn't the only one suffering from it either - oh no, there's even an actual term for it: carpophobia. Who knew? In the early years, before taking it seriously, I got frustrated. It was just an apple, a nice crisp apple, couldn't he just try a bite for goodness sake? Then I got crafty. So you don't like apples, son? Well then you wouldn't be interested in this freshly-baked apple pie and ice cream then, would you? He wasn't. Then the party invites started to come in and he begged me not to make him go. I couldn't understand it. There was seemingly no rhyme nor reason to the parties he was avoiding - even some of his best friends got rejected. And then I realised it was the place, not the person in question. One particular local venue serves platters of fruit before the kids had their burgers and chips, so for him, it was a no-go area. Naturally enough, as all good siblings do, his brother and sister picked up on it and began taunting him. If he started to annoy one of them, they would walk in brandishing a banana and he would literally run screaming from the room. He won't sit at the same table as us if we are drinking orange juice and even more distressing is the fact that he won't allow me to hug or kiss him if I have eaten a piece of fruit or had a morning smoothie. Many's the day I've waved him off from the school gates after pleading unsuccessfully to let me kiss him goodbye - not a good look, I can assure you. Almost stranger than the actual phobia itself is the levels of fear it entails. He tells me that the worst offenders are oranges and bananas, while apples are on the other end of the scale. So where did this fear come from? David Carey, child pyschologist, explains: "Phobias can arise from a real-life event that is sudden and frightening such as seeing a mouse or a spider and feeling threatened. "Some phobias aren't so easy to explain, such as fear of outdoor places or fear of ducks. Yes, there is a duck phobia. These often arise out of early childhood traumas and aren't so easy to discover as causal factors." But is there a difference between a normal childhood fear of something and an actual phobia? "A phobia is an extreme and intense reaction, accompanied by the fight or flee response and usually experienced as a terror," adds Dr Carey. So not really a laughing matter. Other parents I spoke to have had similar experiences with different objects - balloons, feathers and even Christmas trees were mentioned. Wexford mother Nicola Naessons has struggled to understand her 11-year-old daughter Caoimhe's deep-rooted phobia - a fear of clowns and other characters who are 'dressed up' - and where it came from. "We are pretty certain it was triggered, or we definitely noticed, when she was only a toddler," says Nicola. "We were attending a family event in Wexford at Halloween, a parade and fireworks. As we were making our way along the street a very, very tall witch leaned over us and roared. "The poor little thing was petrified, I was so annoyed, it was a really silly thing to do to a toddler in the first place. "From that point on her fear has been very apparent." Over the years things have improved somewhat, says Nicola. "The dance school she attends take part in the St Patrick's Day parade every year and the first year she was in the school, we had to bring her home again as there were too many dressed-up characters, but in the last couple of years, with the help of her friends, she has taken part and enjoyed it." But the main fear - fear of clowns - persists. "She would never entertain the idea of going to the circus," says Nicola. "We were at a family wedding last year and a clown appeared to entertain the children. Poor Caoimhe went white as a sheet and we had to take her out of the room. She was petrified." "We just avoid putting her into situations where she might get a fright, while that may not be the best way of managing it, it certainly makes her feel better as she trusts we'd never knowingly put her in an uneasy situation." Other odd phobias that people have are xanthophobia, fear of the colour yellow; turophobia, fear of cheese, and ombrophobia, fear of rain (not great when you live in Ireland). So what can parents do if they notice their child has developed a phobia? Dr Carey says there are a couple of different methods that can be followed up by an expert. "The most common treatments for phobia are two: one is behaviour, and uses what is called systematic desensitisation, a gradual exposer to the phobic object. The other is a combination of relaxation, meditation and cognitive behaviour therapy." News from the US last month showed a more drastic breakthrough in combating the problem. Researchers at Menzies Health Institute Queensland at Griffith University's Gold Coast are tackling children's crippling phobias by exposing them to the very things they fear the most. It is called intense exposure therapy and it is curing childhood anxiety disorders in less than a day. It uses a twin-pronged approach - play therapy, plus controversially, the use of a drug called D-Cycloserine, once used to fight tuberculosis. However, GP Dr Ciara Kelly says that if you are looking for such treatment in Ireland you would have to wait, and that currently as it stands she certainly wouldn't recommend it. "It's at trial stage so no one could recommend it's use until the results of that are assessed. That's not to say it may not work, it just means until the evidence is there we wouldn't take a position in it." Although personally I would rather my child not eat fruit than take unnecessary medication, the exposure to the phobia does make sense. Like many schools in Ireland, Baxter's school took part recently in the Food Dudes initiative. The aim is of course to encourage kids to try a variety of different fruits and vegetables over a two-week period. Since Baxter couldn't leave school for two weeks, he was exposed to fruits every day. He began the first day close to tears, but progressed to touching and then, to everyone's surprise, actually tasting a Granny Smith. And yes, he may have acted like Snow White choking on her poisoned apple as he did it - but he knows now that he lived to tell the tale. Surely that apple pie isn't far away. 'Logic does not work with phobia, let the child take control of the challenge' Naomi and Diarmuid Lavelle from Galway have seen at first-hand how upsetting having a child with a phobia can be. Their daughter Caer's problem began when she was about two, but was successfully treated by Diarmuid, who is a therapist. Caer is now 12 , and has overcome her fear. Diarmuid says : "Caer had a fear of mannequins, in particular ones that moved, such as Halloween characters and Santa Clauses. "It began from a young age, probably about two years old. We first noticed it at Halloween, when our local supermarket had a life-sized, dancing Frankenstein." Then it began causing problems in their day-to-day life. "It was impossible to get Caer into any shops that contained these types of figures, especially at Halloween. I can't say I blame her - it was a genuine fear. One day I had to return home without making it into the shops, we literally had no milk or bread. We had to wait until one of us was able to go to the shop alone. "When Caer was older, we took a family trip to Disneyland Paris. We didn't factor in this fear. I remember one particular ride where you had to walk by a very large Buzz Lightyear while queuing, he moved as you got closer. Poor Caer was absolutely terrified and we had to abandon that ride and carry her out. After that we co-ordinated all rides so that she was not exposed to anything like that." Diarmuid decided he needed to tackle the problem directly. He says: "As a father, I didn't want to see my daughter stressed like that so we tended to step back from the object, get down on her level and talk to her to reassure her. When we felt it was necessary we walked away with her. "As a therapist I have dealt with fears and phobias a lot, more so with adults, but I applied a few simple steps that I would typically recommend to clients, such as normalising the fear. "Using a fear scale we visualised different situations and outcomes, a technique known as graded exposure from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). "After we had assessed the fear using our imagination, we then gradually began to approach real-life situations, while constantly keeping an eye on fear levels and not allowing the fear to escalate beyond an uncomfortable level (that is very important)." "Caer is now confident around mannequins and often points them out and comments 'remember when I used to be scared of those'. The reply often being 'yes, you probably would have grown out of the fear soon enough all by yourself' to give her a sense of her own autonomy." Diarmuid's expert advice to other parents in the same situations is this: "Don't make the fear bad or wrong. Fear is a protective mechanism and is usually unconscious. "Comment on all the other things your child is not afraid of and normalise his/her fear as being healthy and normal. "Logic does not work with phobias, fear is all about feeling and phobias are part of a perfectly normal brain. "In reality, use graded exposure while the child is relaxed and feeling good and never allow too much discomfort, let the child decide and let them take control of the challenge. The change is more powerful this way, and gives more autonomy to them, a nice positive affirmation to move on with in life." A couple's determination to leave nothing to chance is one of the reasons why their eight-year-old daughter is alive today. It's a tale that may prompt others to take action before it's too late. That is certainly what Liam Corr and his partner Liga, who are both in their 40s, hope will happen. Their story begins in Rush, Co Dublin where Liam used to raise plants to sell to vegetable growers. There, he fell in love with agri-worker Liga Plata, who comes from Latvia. In mid-2007, they were delighted when their daughter Nikola was born. Liam says Nikola had no health problems, apart from the usual childhood ailments. However, late in 2013, he and Liga began to notice a "strange shine" in the six-year-old's right eye. It was only an occasional thing at first, but as Christmas came and went, the shine became more obvious. "At times, you'd see a sort of half-moon," explains Liga. So on January 6, 2014, they took her to Specsavers in Swords, where she had a thorough examination. "Pictures were taken of the eye and then she was seen by optician Sean Douglas, who said the images showed a cloud forming," explains Liam. "He urged us to go to A&E. We landed up at Temple Street [Children's University Hospital]. The doctor there said she'd never seen anything like it and told us to come back in two days." When they returned, Nikola was examined by Professor Michael O'Keefe, who specialises in paediatric eye surgery. He immediately ordered an MRI scan. "The staff had to inject a dye into her vein before they put Nikola in the scanning drum," says Liga. "They were very reassuring, so she was really calm throughout the whole procedure. Later she had further eye tests under anaesthetic." Soon a diagnosis of unilateral retinoblastoma was confirmed. This is a rare condition, mainly affecting young children, that causes a malignant tumour to form in the retina. If left untreated, the cancer may spread to the other eye, and to other parts of the body, including the brain and the spine. Nikola also had vitreous "seedings" - minuscule fragments of tumour in the eye. "We were warned that the tumour had to be dealt with quickly," explains Liam. "Otherwise it could mean a call to the church, instead of the hospital." An initial assessment of Nikola's situation pointed to the removal of the affected eye. Liam and Liga were stunned. They did not want that eye removed. Who could say that the same thing wouldn't happen to the other one? "I pleaded for an alternative solution," says Liam. "My very real fear was that she'd be blind for the rest of her life." Given that only a handful of cases of retinoblastoma occur in Ireland each year, experience in dealing with the condition is somewhat limited. So Prof O'Keefe suggested contacting centres of excellence for this type of cancer in Canada and Switzerland. He emailed them Nikola's medical records and summoned Liam and Liga as soon as he got a response. Just four days after they first walked through the doors of Temple Street Hospital, they learned that the top experts in Canada agreed the only solution was to remove the eye, while the Swiss doctors thought they might be able to save it. "We were completely downcast when we heard the Canadian response," says Liam, "and we rejoiced when we heard the verdict from Switzerland." The next few days were characterised by a frenzy of form-filling, phone calls and acute anxiety. Liam sent off the paperwork for the HSE's treatment abroad scheme. When he contacted them by phone, he says he was told that applications generally take 15 to 20 days. So he explained that Nikola couldn't afford to wait that long. Thankfully, a few days later, the HSE application was approved. "I sat in the car and cried and cried," admits Liam. Within days, they had arrived at the Jules Gonin Hospital in Lausanne, where Nikola was examined by Professor Francis Munier. "She was categorised as group E, the last stage," explains Liga. "After that, they would have had no option but to remove the eye. We were told that if we'd waited one more week, it would have been too late to save the eye, and it could have spread, as this is an aggressive form of cancer." The following morning, another examination was done under anaesthetic; Nikola's first chemotherapy was also administered directly into the eye during that procedure. After a few hours in recovery, she was able to go back to the hotel, wearing a plastic protective shield. There were two prongs to Nikola's treatment: intra-arterial and intravitreal. In the first instance, (intra-arterial) a tiny tube was inserted into an artery in her thigh and then coaxed up through the body, before entering the ophthalmic artery. The chemo was then delivered to the tumour. In the second instance, (intravitreal) medication was injected directly into the eye to eliminate the "seedings". After their second visit to Switzerland, Liam decided to close his plant-growing business, so he could concentrate on supporting Nikola in her recovery. He now drives a lorry for a relative. The family made a total of 24 visits to Switzerland. Nikola has now been cancer-free for two years. Liam and Liga are eternally grateful to Prof O'Keefe for sending them to his colleague in Switzerland so speedily. "We met people from all over the world who have children whose lives have been saved by Prof Munier," explains Liam. "He has huge experience in treating kids like Nikola. This disease presents differently in every single child, and requires very specialised treatment. And he gives that to them. The only way I can describe Prof Munier is God's right hand." Liam and Liga are also immensely grateful to Sister Bernie Lanigan who so ably assisted Prof O'Keefe in his work. "She did so much for us," says Liam. He also thanks Sean Douglas for putting them on high alert, and to St Catherine's National School staff in Rush, who took such great care of their very special daughter. "If she so much as sneezed, they called us," says Liga. "And even though she missed three months of school, they helped her catch up." With that, Nikola smiles sweetly before resuming the important business of eating her delicious chocolate croissant. Specsavers says eye examinations are an "important health check". To find your local Specsavers store (the chain has 50 nationwide) or to make an appointment, see specsavers.ie The rental crisis is never out of the headlines these days, with its most catastrophic and heart-breaking consequence being the rising incidence of homelessness in Ireland, particularly in Dublin and our other major cities. The failure on the part of successive governments to build enough social and affordable housing for the people who need it, and the consequence of ever-increasing rents in the private sector, has a ripple effect that is felt in every aspect of society and the economy. Most obviously, high rents impact upon individuals. If you are from Dublin and your family is from Dublin, what do you do when it is time for you to leave the home in which you have grown up and get somewhere of your own? What if you grew up in a community such as Ringsend/Irishtown - now seen as uber-desirable because of its proximity to Silicon Docks, but where you want to live because it's where your parents live and they help out with the childcare? The general rule of thumb - the one that you probably learned in your Junior Cert business classes, or that your parents drummed into you when you first moved out - is that you should spend no more than 30pc of your income on rent. But it's one of those economic truisms that goes out of the window when it comes to the hard reality of finding somewhere to live. If you work in Dublin and need to live in Dublin, because commuting is either unfeasible or unpalatable, then you are going to be forced to spend a greater portion of your income on rent. The 30pc rule is arbitrary anyway, in that it doesn't take account of individual circumstances - a single person on a salary of 100,000 is in a very different situation to a couple with two children on a combined salary of the same amount - and it doesn't make sense at a time when incomes are largely static and housing costs are rising because of a shortage of supply. And for emotional as well as aesthetic reasons, most of us, if we have the option, would prefer to pay a bit more in rent to be able to live somewhere half-decent rather than somewhere grotty. It's our home, and the notion of home as a place of comfort and refuge from the vicissitudes of life out there in the big bad world is deep-rooted. But if you are spending more than the magic 30pc on rent, if you are spending 40pc or even 50pc of your income on rent, then something's got to give. For every extra euro that you are spending on rent, that's a euro that you are not spending elsewhere. Once you have paid your bills and your transport costs, once you have bought your food for the week (probably in a discount supermarket rather than in the farmers' market or from a local artisan producer) then you probably don't have a whole lot left. God help you if you have to pay for childcare on top. That extra euro that you are spending on rent is a euro that you are not spending in the pub, or on eating out, or on going to the cinema or theatre. You're not spending it going clothes shopping at the weekend. Hell, you're probably not even spending it on health insurance, and you've definitely put that pension contribution on the long finger again. And as for saving for a deposit to get you on the property ladder and into a home of your own? That's definitely not happening. The phenomenon is what Michael Stone, a professor at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, who has been studying the subject since the 1970s, terms 'shelter poverty'. So high rents don't just impact upon individuals, they also impact on all those businesses where you are not spending that extra euro that's been diverted to cover your rent. High rents also have an effect on labour markets. They have a negative impact on Ireland's competitiveness, in that they restrict labour market mobility, raise business costs and exacerbate inequality, factors which in turn hamper economic growth. When we hear about companies deciding whether or not to locate in Dublin, competitiveness is a key factor. Never mind the top executives parachuted in from abroad who can afford to rent a penthouse apartment in Grand Canal Dock, or a D4 period mansion close to all the best fee-paying schools along the Dart line. They are not the people that we should be worried about. In competitiveness terms, we need to think about the average workers, the employees on average salaries. If our Irish cities become unaffordable for these people - and there are indications that this is already happening - then businesses that might otherwise locate here will consider other, more affordable, cities. They'll look to set up shop in cities in which their employees will be able to afford to rent a decent apartment and still manage to go out for dinner, buy clothes and enjoy discretionary spending. That's not good for any of us, whether we are employed by one of those companies or not. Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year A dreamy cabin in Westmeath was last night crowned the winner of RTEs Home of the Year. Judges Hugh Wallace, Deirdre Whelan and Declan ODonnell fell in love with the lakeside abode, owned by Egon Walesch and his partner Richard Goodwin. Expand Close Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year The property was refurbished when Egon inherited it from his late father six years ago and the interior design lover was keen to keep the memories of his family life a main feature of the home. To achieve their dream home, the couple knocked internal walls to create an open-plan living space bringing together the kitchen and sitting room areas and opening up the high ceilings with exposed rafters. The lake is easily accessed by sliding doors which make the most of the cabins beautiful surroundings. The couple split their time between their Westmeath bolthole and London, and came out on top of stiff competition throughout the series. Its our dream home and then to have other people like it is fantastic, I think my parents would be really, really proud, said Egon. Richard added: We put a lot of effort and love into that house so have that repaid today is an immense feeling. Judge Hugh Wallace explained why the cabin was the clear winner of the series. I am so relieved, this place had it all for me from top to toe. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Egon Walesch and Richard Goodwin's lakeside cabin in Westmeath is RTE's Home of the Year I mean it was the surprise of opening the door that made is exceptional. Over the last few years, with money being scarce, Irish people have become more inclined to repaint furniture than replace it. If a shabby old chair, side table or cabinet meets your requirements, why chuck it out when a lick of paint can work wonders? Painting furniture can transform it, update it and, generally, jolly it along for another couple of years. When we paint our furniture, we're tapping into an old Irish tradition. Until the mid-20th century, the vast majority of Irish furniture was painted. Eric Cross described a typical scenario in his novel The Tailor and Ansty (1942). "Twice a year the settle and the dresser and the doors and the shutters of the windows are painted by Ansty until by now the accumulation of paint must be near to half an inch thick. The Tailor never gives a hand and views it all with cynical amusement. The only good that he can see in it is that it keeps the paint manufacturers busy and makes them rich." Not much has changed. Painting furniture is still a predominantly female pleasure and the paint companies are happy to oblige. In 1953, Irish emigrant Ronan O'Connor returned from America to establish a paint company called General Paints. He set up his factory in an old Famine workhouse in Celbridge, Co Kildare. By the 1960s, they had become the first European paint company to manufacture a water-based acrylic paint. Now, under the Colourtrend brand, the company still specialises in water-based acrylics. It's a type of paint that works just as well on furniture as it does on the walls. When you're looking for a change, you'll find that a litre tin of Colourtrend Eggshell (22.50) is a lot cheaper than a new piece of furniture. Kevin Haughey of Colourtrend has noticed the recent surge of interest in painting furniture, and that the woman of the house is often the driving force. "Colourtrend is a very female-friendly paint," he says. "There's no smell and it's very easy to use!" He also think that there's more to the trend than post-recessionary economy. "I don't think it's just the recession. It's a creative thing too. People can be brave with furniture. You're not going to paint your room in a mad colour but you might just experiment a wee bit with a chair." Haughey feels that the key to painting furniture is to get the preparation right. "Give it a good sanding and two coats of primer, and it will take any abuse you can throw at it." Traditional Irish country furniture was painted in a thick coat of gloss, but now the preference is for something a little less shiny. The British paint company Little Greene Paints recommends its Intelligent Eggshell range, which is certified safe for children's rooms and furniture. It costs 32 for a one-litre can. Kevin Coughlan of MRCB, one of Little Greene Paints' Irish suppliers, also recommends careful preparation. "Priming is an important process because it hides imperfections and provides a surface for the paint," he says. "You'll need to apply three coats of paint, allowing six to eight hours between each coat." Now, I'm going to divide the human race into two categories. People in the first group are natural craftspeople who love the painstaking process of preparation, pay attention to detail, and take their time getting a job right. They do it once and do it well. I admire these people, but I'm not one of them. I belong to the second group of people who like quick results, tend to be slapdash, and are liable to botch a paint job because they can't be arsed waiting for it to dry. Luckily, there's a paint product for us too. Annie Sloan, inventor of Chalk Paint, discovered the joy of painting furniture when she was at home with two children. "By the time I had finished preparing the project I was bored of it. I had a limited amount of time and I wanted to get straight to the creative part," she says. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint has been formulated so that you can skip the preparation. "There's no sanding and no priming. You just get on with it," she says. "Each piece needs a coat and a half; then you apply a clear wax over the lot. It's not a difficult job." The name "chalk paint" comes from the surface quality of the paint rather than the ingredients. "Many paints have chalk in them," she says, "but... I was referring to the softness and the velvety feel of the finish." Sloan also works with painters-in-residence, like the stylist, designer and blogger Janice Issitt, who works with these paints to produce showcase pieces. "I use chalk paints on every imaginable surface," says Issit. "The paint will stick to anything, so it's a great way to tie all your pieces together to get a more cohesive interior look." Annie Sloan paint costs 27.95 for a litre tin and is also available in 100ml tins (9). In Ireland, it's only available from small retailers who have received training in how to use the paints and will be well-placed to help you get started. If you're interested in finding out more about painting furniture, or in getting free advice from the experts, drop in to the interior design event, House, in the RDS from May 20 to 22. Annie Sloan will be taking the Inspiration Stage and showing her paints with her Irish distributor, Margaret Corscadden of Twenty Six in Nenagh. Colourtrend will also be among the exhibitors, as will Little Greene Paints. See house-event.ie; anniesloan.com; colourtrend.ie; littlegreene.ie; mrcb.ie; twentysix.ie; and janiceissittlifestyle.blogspot.com There is a dispute of some kind going on between the managements of the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) on the one hand, and the St Vincent's Healthcare Group (SVHG) on the other. I can't pretend to fully understand it, but somehow or another, the nuns of the Religious Sisters of Charity have been shoved to the front of it. The mention of the nuns has had the effect on some people of waving a red flag in front of a bull. The NMH is due to move from Holles Street to the Elm Park campus on Dublin's southside, where St Vincent's private and public hospitals are located. These come under the SVHG, and in turn this comes under the Religious Sisters of Charity. Two of the sisters sit on the SVHG's 14-person board. If the NMH moves there, it is due to come under the SVHG, meaning, nominally, the nuns also. What will this mean for the health and welfare of Irish mothers, we have been asked? The spectre of involuntary adoption, mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries and symphysiotomy have all been raised as test-case examples of why nuns, even today, cannot be let next nor near pregnant women. Let us leave all that to one side for a moment, however, and ask whether a relocated National Maternity Hospital would, in fact, be governed by a Catholic ethos. The chairman of the SVHG, Jimmy Menton, has strongly denied this. In a communication to staff at St Vincent's, he has said: "It is regrettable that media sources have been fed a groundless, sensational tale of nuns attempting to control Irish maternity services." Menton says that the NMH, if it moves to the Elm Park campus, will have clinical autonomy, its own budget and its own brand. However, there would be "integration" of other aspects of corporate governance. Is maintaining clinical autonomy, its own budget and its own brand enough for the NMH or does it want to be totally its own fiefdom while at the same time moving onto grounds managed by another body? I don't know. I don't know whether this is really behind the media stories about the 'wicked nuns' conspiring to take control of women's bodies. I don't know what is best here from a purely managerial point of view. But I do know that raising the spectre of the nuns - with our image of nuns now firmly conditioned by endless repeats of movies like 'The Magdalene Sisters' - is simple scaremongering. The fact is that the nuns are rapidly ageing and dwindling in numbers and even if they had the will, they wouldn't have the capacity to launch a take-over bid of the NMH. It hard to know how much practical control they even exercise over St Vincent's. Although officially a Catholic hospital, St Vincent's very readily agreed to carry out abortions on its premises under the terms of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. This includes abortions when a woman is deemed to be suicidal, even though no study has ever shown that abortion helps suicidal women. The fact that the nuns could be so easily used to alarm certain sections of society is very telling, however. People used to give the nuns some credit for founding hospitals in the first place, not just here, but all over the world, and for giving their lives over to service. This is no longer balanced against the negative side of the ledger, it seems. It cannot be doubted that a highly authoritarian Church often did terrible things, although many of the things it did, such as the running of mother and baby homes and involuntary adoption, happened on a widespread basis in other societies until quite recently, societies in which the Catholic Church had little or no influence. In Sweden, for instance, a secular, Social Democrat-controlled state, starting in the 1930s and not ending until the 1970s, sterilised tens of thousands of women, including in many cases, single mothers. Sometimes they were forced to have abortions. If the children were born, they were commonly put up for adoption. But to expect nuns today to do what some of their predecessors did in the past, would be like expecting Social Democrats today in Sweden to do exactly the things their forebears did. To pretend that they would do today what they did then is crude propaganda. However, it will still be claimed that it is impossible to run a hospital along Catholic lines and provide the best standards of modern medical care because 'Catholic dogma' will keep getting in the way. This is a very big claim in need of plenty of evidence to back it up. Are there reputable studies showing that, all other things being equal, Catholic hospitals (in the US for instance) have worse patient outcomes than their secular counterparts? It will, of course, be claimed that a Catholic hospital cannot give proper care to a pregnant woman if an abortion seems necessary to save her life or health. This obviously brings us straight into the abortion debate. A Catholic hospital knows it is looking after two patients when presented with a pregnant woman. It does its best to look after both patients. A 'pro-choice' hospital will look after two patients only if the woman wants to have the baby, otherwise it will look after only one. The question then becomes; which of these hospitals is providing better all-round patient care, the pro-life hospital or the pro-choice one? This question can be expanded out. What should be the basic governing ethic of the best hospitals; an ethic that says 'do not kill', or a pro-choice one? A fully pro-choice hospital will not only perform abortions, it will also, as in the Netherlands and Belgium, carry out euthanasia and assisted suicide. It will do this in the name of 'patient autonomy', a principle which increasingly has no limits whatsoever. It should really be plain and obvious that the hospital which seeks to preserve life is vastly ethically superior to the one which is happy to take life, specifically the lives of unborn children and of the old and infirm, in the name of 'autonomy'. In the future, it is entirely possible that the only hospitals left in some countries which operate on the principle 'do not kill' will be Catholic ones. This is an incredible proposition, but an entirely realistic one. And it is beyond appalling that it is the ethos of Catholic hospitals that should be under pressure rather than the growing number of hospitals that are happy to violate the most basic precept of patient care there is: do not kill. 'If it wasn't for the library in Tullamore, I'd be in real trouble. It's a lifesaver." The person talking to me isn't a pensioner looking for magazines and company. It's an established Offaly businessman whose only option for ordering goods or filing official documents is to drive several miles to a public library three times a week. William Edgill runs Mount Briscoe Organic Farm in Daingean, a village in east Offaly. Broadband in his area, he says, is "non-existent". But business utilities, from banks to the Revenue, now require him to do more and more online by default. Mr Edgill isn't alone. A blanket requirement to use 'the cloud' for previously available offline activities, such as banking, is causing rural-based businesses and householders considerable difficulty. "The time is fast approaching when all farmers will be required to complete their (EU) Basic Payment Scheme applications online," said Seamus Sherlock, chairman of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association. "When you don't have access to broadband, it will cause serious difficulties." Some doubt the validity of referring to a 'digital divide'. But there is evidence that such a divide is starting to have a quantifiable cost in economic development. According to the European Commission's most recent research on e-commerce potential, Ireland is the most divided country in Europe. The Commission's 'Digital Scorecard' found that just 8pc of rural Ireland is covered by fast broadband, a fraction of the European average of 25pc. For those caught in these internet no-go zones, the opportunity foregone is seismic. The same European Commission study finds that small businesses which happen to be in broadband-rich Irish cities are the most advanced in Europe for e-commerce and online trading. When surrounded by fibre, we flourish: a third of Irish small to medium-sized businesses sell products or services online, which is twice the European average of 16pc. Similarly, Irish small and medium-sized businesses record 19pc of turnover from e-commerce activities, compared to an average of 9pc of turnover across the rest of the EU. How much potential is being lost for rural businesses waiting for broadband infrastructure to make it to their areas? How many times have companies turned down the prospect of investing in a non-urban setting because of a lack of suitable modern internet? The Government has a 500m National Broadband Plan to connect users like Mr Edgill to proper, modern internet lines at the same price as urban services. But it has been delayed, meaning that it won't be completed until 2022, at the earliest. It looks like rural business owners like Mr Edgill may have to get used to public libraries for a while yet. There was an elderly woman sporting a rather heart-warming pair of hedgehog socks. There was Shane Ross beating his drum about the paltry number of bank shares held by the directors and a number of elderly men who rightly felt the AGM experience was not quite complete without a little nap. Into this respectable gathering of Bank of Ireland shareholders wandered solicitor Brian O'Donnell who had comfortably pushed to the back boiler the fact that he owes them all 70m. "You see, the bank wrote off the debts in 2010 and was rescued by the Irish State and has not in fact suffered any loss," as he explained. So it's not the shareholders who have taken the hit then, it's us. A mere trifle. Even so, Brian O'Donnell is dismayingly on his uppers. Expand Close Brian ODonnell with daughter Blaise and son Blake at UCD for the Bank of Ireland AGM. Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brian ODonnell with daughter Blaise and son Blake at UCD for the Bank of Ireland AGM. Photo: Frank McGrath In fact, things are so bad that he has an income which is "probably not much more than what you get," he said - directing his remarks at the UTV reporter who was very actively earning his crust out in the frozen cold. Things have been very stressful. "But we are a strong family and we will fight on, we will keep going because we know we are right," said O'Donnell. There were "many more" people in their position. The sums involved were "irrelevant" because the results are the same - "the same upset, the same suicide rates and so on under pressure from bank officials," O'Donnell added rather airily. This AGM had none of the fireworks of last year when O'Donnell threw "the bloody keys" at CEO Richie Boucher. The board visibly stiffened as O'Donnell, daughter Blaise and son Blake walked into the room taking prominent seats in the front row. But it was all very civilised. O'Donnell didn't even raise his voice once, having magnanimously moved on from his own finances to matters of wider concern. Like how the Bank of Ireland is being run: "A shambles," he claimed. He has now reinvented himself as Bank of Ireland saviour, setting up a UK-based company, Remove BOI Board Ltd, which aims to gather enough proxy forms to depose the four key board members, including Richie Boucher. Gorse Hill remains unsold, revealed Blake O'Donnell, adding that they understand the bank have spent "up to a million" on security. The family have lodged proceedings in the Court of Human Rights. In the meantime, we heard that Bank of Ireland have carried out 36 repossessions so far this year. "People are going to bed in this country cold and hungry and the way you'll have it, they'll be out on the side of the road," shareholder Seamus Flood told the board. Apparently the O'Donnell's still regard themselves as being no different. It is good news that the National Children's Hospital has got the go-ahead to be built. Construction is due to start this summer, and they say it will be open by 2020. At long last. This hospital was first proposed more than 20 years ago. After much politics and power playing between the three existing children's hospitals, and wrangling over the best place to locate the hospital, the Government endorsed the Mater hospital as the site in 2006. The hospital was meant to be open by 2014. But in 2012, planning permission on the Mater site was refused by An Bord Pleanala on the basis that it would constitute "overdevelopment". It was back to the drawing board, and in 2014, the St James's Hospital site was chosen. Yesterday, planning permission was granted at this location. The outgoing Government's Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021 states that the new children's hospital represents the "largest health infrastructure project ever undertaken in Ireland". But hospitals are not just about buildings. They are about providing high-quality services to children through the right care pathways and integrating the staff, expertise and care of the three existing hospitals. This, as well as the bricks and mortar, needs to be adequately resourced. Only then will Irish children get the standard of care they deserve. In the interim, and for the next four years, children will continue to be treated in hospitals that are unfit for purpose. But the Capital Plan also specifies that it will support the "reorganisation of national maternity services", which includes the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent's campus in south Dublin. Towards the later years of the plan, the Rotunda, the Coombe and Limerick maternity hospitals will move to Connolly Hospital, St James's Hospital and University Hospital Limerick, respectively. But no specific timelines are given. It has also emerged that there is a stand-off between Holles Street and St Vincent's hospitals, delaying progress on the new, much-needed, national maternity hospital. First proposed in the late 1990s, it is currently housed in buildings on Holles Street first erected in the 1700s. When Holles Street was criticised for not meeting hygiene standards by HIQA in February of this year, Holles Street's Master Dr Rhona Mahony responded by admitting the hospital was "unfit for purpose" for delivering over 9,500 babies annually. The activity level also "far exceeds the capacity of the building". "It is for this reason that for the past 20 years the hospital has sought relocation to a modern facility that is fit for purpose," she added. In May 2013, then Health Minister James Reilly announced the relocation of Holles Street to St Vincent's, where it would be co-located alongside the adult hospital. Planning progressed between Holles Street and St Vincent's, the site was identified, the new hospital is fully designed and the planning proposal is ready to go. But St Vincent's won't submit the planning application until Holles Street agrees to certain requirements which Holles Street finds unacceptable. In effect, St Vincent's is looking for overall control of the clinical and financial management of the new National Maternity Hospital. Currently, all three Dublin maternity hospitals operate under a 'mastership' system, whereby the Master is both CEO and the lead consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, with overall corporate and clinical responsibility. The Master reports directly to the board of each of the three Dublin maternity hospitals. According to the new national maternity strategy published in February 2016, the mastership is "unique to the three Dublin maternity hospitals" and has "served the country well". It added: "There are no plans to change the mastership system at present. The mastership system demonstrates a sound governance model, operating with clear lines of accountability and responsibility." So government policy is that the mastership system continues and that the national maternity hospital is located on the grounds of St Vincent's hospital. But due to the stand-off on governance and control, the future of the new national maternity hospital on the site of St Vincent's is in jeopardy. What is it with major health infrastructure projects in Ireland? Why do we get it so wrong? The demographics are clear, we have the second-highest fertility rate in Europe and an ageing population. We also have a health infrastructure that is largely unfit for purpose and needs sustained investment to bring about 21st-century facilities. It is perfectly possible to do this. But in order to do so in a timely and efficient way, government needs to plan for this and then allocate money and supports to make it happen. Other health capital commitments in the government plan include the National Forensic Mental Health Services facility in Portrane, which will replace the Central Mental Hospital; new intensive rehabilitation mental health units, cancer facilities, primary care centres and nursing homes, none of which have specific timeframes or earmarked budgets. No further detail is available, as the HSE has not published a capital plan since 2014. The man currently responsible for these health projects, acting Health Minister Leo Varadkar, is busy negotiating a new minority government. These discussions have been dominated by the issue of charging for water. Varadkar said yesterday that the "suspension of water charges was the wrong thing to do and was not in the public interest". Delaying critical, major health infrastructure is also the wrong thing to do, and not in the public interest. It's a pity the political squabbling between the two largest political parties could not focus on right things that are really in the public interest. Why not start with getting the site of the new national maternity hospital sorted and delivering the other vital health capital projects? Projects that a make a difference between life and death. Ireland's notoriously strict defamation laws have been called into question ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. This is not a letter to discuss the merits of Irish Water, an argument on the company's feasibility or its possible necessity - instead, it seeks to raise a point as to how the worth of any idea lives or dies on how it's delivered. Let it first be said that historically, there has been some extremely poor public policy allowed to occur all on the back of the well-managed delivery of the message. In recent years, we've had the dissolution of the Health Boards, the establishment of the National Roads Authority and selling of toll roads to private operators, and the abolition of Town Councils. All were extremely short-sighted policies that were successfully passed by capturing the public mood, and delivering in a language that empathised with the fears of key demographics. It was a simple, successful formula for political persuasion. But when Irish Water happened, the wheels came off. This was the first time in the history of the modern State that bullet points and power phrases could not outweigh the inquisition of its public. Thousands of engaged individuals spent hour upon hour across a myriad of social media platforms discussing the merits of the Government's proposal, the vagueness of its language, the justification of its figures. It has been an examination of policy like none other. Irish Water and its charges were announced without expectation of significant organised opposition, and a misguided belief that the austerity years had quelled the public's ability to question 'what had to be done for the common good'. Classic policy delivery was dead. This generation has been force-fed political engagement through austerity and recession. No policy will ever again go without its trial in the public eye. So what should be the mechanism for policy delivery? How do you calm the digitalised masses who have found an easily accessible medium to share their opinion and discuss their concerns? I believe the language of honesty and plain speaking will go a long away to win back public trust. It would be easy to write much more on the subject of political policy delivery, and how we can thank Irish Water for killing off the smug, shiny PR-delivered days of statements without answers, but I would like to leave the matter on a positive note. So here's to Irish Water, the car-crash mechanism of its delivery, and the sharp lessons we all learned from the experience, long may they last. Aidan Pendlebury Clonakilty, Co Cork Voting rights for all In his Comment piece (Irish Independent, April 21) Kevin J. Sullivan advances his reasons as to why Irish emigrants living abroad should be given the vote. However, I venture to suggest that Mr Sullivan is overlooking a group much nearer to home, and arguably more deserving. A large population of foreigners have settled here, but because they are not Irish nationals, they are denied voting rights. Unlike those Irish who are domiciled in foreign lands, this group pays taxes in Ireland, probably have businesses in Ireland, as a result of which they may well be employers in Ireland. Thus, they are contributing much more to the well-being of this country than any of those who chose to leave. I am an Anglo American. Because of my British birth I can vote here, but my American wife cannot. However, because I am not Irish, I am not permitted to vote in a referendum, the subject and outcome of which may have a direct impact on the lives of me and others who live here. Obviously, the franchise for such residents must have a qualification, which I suggest could be seven years of permanent uninterrupted residency before us migrants would be able to vote here in any election or referendum. If not, should we invoke the battle cry of 'no taxation without representation'? Michael Dryhurst Co Roscommon Vulnerable being ignored We might have a government after waiting 61 days. Three years ago, I waited 10 months to have a tumour removed from my face. I am currently waiting 42 weeks for a hospital appointment. I wrote to my local politicians asking why waiting lists were so long. I received a reply in January. I am still waiting for an appointment. I am working for the last 46 years with no break in service, and yet I wait. No one cares about Accident & Emergency, homelessness, shootings, young people and the suicide epidemic and yet everyone is talking about water. Name and address with Editor Luas strike affects all workers Re the lack of support for Luas workers, is this because so few people are in employment, or because those who are employed do not realise the results of a race to the bottom will affect them too? Eve Parnell Dublin 8 A message for our politicians Former British prime minister Clement Attlee said: "If the king asks you to form a government you say 'yes' or 'no', not 'I'll let you know later'". Mattie Lennon Blessington, Co Wicklow The legacy of Easter 1916 If the executed leaders of 1916 were asked to envision the Ireland for which they were about to die, what would they have said? Who can say for sure. However, if they were then told that exactly 100 years later there would be the political debacle of the last couple of months, they would have gone to their deaths as sad, sad men. Shame on us all for allowing our country descend to such a level. Philip Byrne Bray, Co Wicklow Pastafarianism not a religion Ian O'Doherty asks: 'If Pastafarianism is not recognised as an official religion in this country, why not?' (Irish Independent, April 27). The answer is because it is not a religion, but a fiction created for the sole purpose of mocking religion. The State has more serious things to do than to join in the satirical efforts of private individuals or groups. Revd Patrick G Burke Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny Climbdown on water Dam it, dam it, dam it! Enda Kenny's reaction after he was "forced" to climb down on the water charges issue by Fianna Fail. Damien Carroll Kingswood, Dublin 24 Old Drogheda Society 1916 Commemoration Lectures are taking place this week. Evening Lecture Wednesday April 27th at 8.00pm in the Governor's House, Millmount: Reporting the Rebellion - Drogheda Media Easter 1916 by Audrey Smith A special press censorship office was set up in Dublin after the rebellion which aimed to prevent the publication of seditious or inflammatory material. The impact of censorship was such that it provided little by way of an accurate account of daily events. The result was that there was no strictly contemporary newspaper reporting from the actual scene of the rebellion. It would not be until the beginning of May that hard news about the rebellion began to filter through. For many publications, however a lack of information and hard fact did little to slow the rush to judgement. Drogheda citizens were served by several newspapers during this period and this lecture will present new research on how local media played a role in shaping local opinion of the 1916 Rising. Audrey Smith is a native of Drogheda and she is a recent Hons History graduate from Trinity College, Dublin Lunchtime Lecture Friday April 29th at 1.05pm in the Tholsel: 'The Lead up to the Rising;the Story of a Bold Fenian Man' by Brendan Matthews What were the events and circumstances that lead to the Rising and who where the men behind the insurrection. Brendan Matthews , needs no introduction as he has been part of the Drogheda Museum Milmount's research team for over ten years. All lectures are open to the public. A series of concerts are bringing music to communities of older people in County Louth during Bealtaine Festival 2016, programmed by CreateLouth, the Arts Service of Louth County Council. "Musical Memories" brings professional musicians from the concert stage into local care settings, hospitals ,nursing homes and senior citizens clubs, so that all members of our communities can access professional live music regardless of their circumstances and in comfortable and familiar surroundings. Building on previous engagements with theatre companies and musical ensembles, the series of concerts will both stimulate and revive memories of past musical experiences. The Musical Memories Ensemble, featuring Grainne Hope, Cello, Julie Maisel, Flute, Brendan McCreanor, Uilleann Pipes, and Liam Merriman, Voice/Guitar, will bring a programme of popular classics and old-time favourites into six settings throughout Louth in May. Concerts will take place in The Barbican Centre Drogheda, Carlingford Nursing Home, St. Gerard's Senior Citizens Club, Dundalk, St. Oliver's Hospital, Dundalk, The Birches Alzheimer's Centre, Dundalk, and Ardee Daycare Centre. Brian Harten, County Arts Officer explains - "Music has the capacity to inspire creativity. Music also has the ability to prompt recollections and reminiscences of days gone by. Both of these properties of music are in evidence in "Musical Memories", as some of Ireland's finest musicians will perform for a wide cross section of older people in Louth". The Drogheda event is in The Barbican Centre on Wednesday 4th May 2.30.pm. Admission Free, Contact, The Barbican, 041 9807416 The annual May Day Procession of 'Our Lady of Fatima and St Joseph the worker' will take place on Sunday, 1st May with the central theme of this year's procession to promote 'The 2016 year of Mercy' and to mark the 100th anniversary of the first apparition of the Angel of Portugal to the children of Fatima in 1916. The procession is being conducted with the approval of Archdeacon Carroll, St. Peters Church, and will be attended by the mayor and representatives of the Municipal District, Knights of St. Columbanus; St. Johns ambulance, The Red Cross, the members of the Eucharistic Adoration Apostlate, Marian groups and various religious fraternities. This year's Procession will be led by The Lourdes Brass Band and will commence from 'The Holy Door' of St. Peters Church, West Street, at 6:15pm and process via, Shop Street, Dyer St, and Haymarket, to arrive for 7pm Mass at St Mary's RC Church, where the procession will be received by Rev. Fr.Phil PP. Members of An Garda Siochana will be in attendance also. 'All clergy, laity and youth organisations of all religious denominations are invited to participate,' a spokesperson stated. James Joyce and Ulysses is about as famous as they come, but there's one comment in the book that has a wonderful local link. 'Crowded on the spit of land silent shapes appeared, white, sorrowful, holding out calm hands, knelt in grief, pointing. Fragments of shapes, hewn. In white silence: appealing. The best obtainable. Thos. H. Dennany, monumental builder and sculptor.' Leopold Bloom, Martin Cunningham, and friends turn on to Finglas Road on the final stretch of their journey on Bloomsday before they reach Glasnevin (Prospect) Cemetery for Paddy Dignam's funeral. On their right they pass a "spit of land" crowded with monumental figures in the yard of Thos. H. Dennany, "monumental builder and sculptor". Dennany plays no part in Ulysses other than as the owner of the Stone and Marble Works. But that Thomas Hammond Dennany was born in Drogheda, around 1840, and was the son of James Dennany, a mechanic and apparent ardent nationalist, and his wife Kate Hammond. In June 1850 James and Kate took their family from Liverpool to New York on the SS Aberdeen to emigrate from the Famine. But they came back to Drogheda three years later, with Thomas heading to Dublin. Thomas clearly made a bit of money as he owned a row of houses in Prospect Avenue and even had a corner named after him. The area would later become part of Botanic Avenue. All the Dennany's would become stone cutters and they made the cross on the grave of the 'Manchester Martyrs.' I wonder was this Dennany family any relation to the Patrick Dennany who fought in 1916 and is buried in Donore? More than 20 uniformed and 'armed' volunteers, some of them relatives of the Volunteers of 1916, will occupy Enniscorthy Athenaeum this week re-enacting the five-day Easter Rising occupation of 100 years ago to the day. The volunteers will commence their occupation on Wednesday morning and continue to next Sunday, May 1, at 4p.m. re-enacting the time, duration and circumstances of Easter week. In 1916, the then volunteers entered the Enniscorthy Athenaeum on Castle Street on 27th April at 4.00 a.m. and surrendered on 1st May at 4.00 p.m. The organisers will conclude the occupation on Sunday, May 1 with a recreation of the sensational arrest of the volunteers including Robert Brennan, Sean Etchingham, Richard King, Michael de Lacey and Seamus Doyle by the British military on that day outside the Athenaeum. They will also re-create their handing over to the officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) at the site of the old RIC barracks, now accountants' offices, beside the Supervalu carpark at Abbey Square. Helen Ashdown, secretary and public relations officer of Enniscorthy Athenaeum and author of the book The Last Surrender, an account of the Rising in County Wexford, said that the national commemorations were focussed on Easter because it was early this year. However, the exact dates and timing were from April 27 to May 1. She said that this week in the Athenaeum members of the Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society together with relatives of the Volunteers will be in full uniform of the time and will be armed with Mauser and Webley handguns and Lee Enfield rifles. They will drill, converse, play cards, sit around, joke, have tea and say their prayers just as they did there in 1916. The members will tell of the field hospital created by Cumann na mBan in the ballroom of the Athenaeum at the time and show how they trained in the application of first-aid, bandages and dressings. The officers of the Volunteers made their office in the billiard room with billiard tables being used as desks. These rooms have been transformed into a museum with artefacts of 1916. The museum will be opened on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Colm Galligan, son of Commandant Peter Paul Galligan, one of the leaders in the Enniscorthy garrisson and said by British intelligence to be the 'most dangerous man' in the country, will address the opening ceremony. Members of the board of the Enniscorthy Athenaeum include Tony McClean, chairman, Helen Ashdown, secretary, Josie Flood, treasurer, Maura Flannery, Maria Nolan and Paddy Byrne. The daa chief executive is hoping to convince neighbours of Dublin Airport of his view that two planning conditions imposed on its new 320 North Runway development that will restrict night flying in and out of the airport 'don't make any sense' and would be akin to building a new lane on the M50 to ease traffic congestion and then banning motorists from using it. In an extensive interview with the Fingal Independent in the wake of the announcement that the runway project is being resurrected by the daa to cope with rapidly growing passenger numbers into and out of Dublin Airport, the authority's chief executive, Kevin Toland mounts a robust defence of the development and explains why he believes it is important to overturn the very two planning conditions that residents under the flight path are desperate to see stay in place. Asked why the development of a new runway is important for the airport's future and the future of Fingal itself, Mr Toland said: 'There's a couple of key things. One, it is absolutely critical for the development of the country but also for the core access and the trade links in and out of the country for business, whether that's foreign direct investment in here, Irish businesses exporting, tourism, which is a core industry for us - as an island nation, we absolutely need the runway, all the way down to individuals being able to travel. 'I think, critically, the second key reason is that aviation, not just the airport but all the things around aviation, whether it's ourselves, the airlines, the companies who supply the airlines - all are massive contributors to the Irish economy. There's about 16,000 jobs directly associated with Dublin Airport and the airlines and the companies serving it but there's 100,000 jobs in the broader Irish economy, which is 7 billion of GDP or about 4% of our GDP, associated with aviation. 'When we get closer down to our home neighbourhood of Fingal and north Dublin, we are absolutely dependent on Fingal and north Dublin for our workforce and our supplies and for making this a successful airport and that translates I think, to about 20% of the employment and 20% of the economic value added. I suppose the advantage as we build and bring on the new runway, is there's going to be more jobs. There's about 1,200 jobs on average through the life of the construction project and then estimated, by 2023, there will be another 7,000 jobs in the economy.' The daa chief executive said the development of the runway cannot wait any longer. He said: 'We need to do it now. Dublin Airport has been growing very, very quickly. We were the second-fastest growing airport in Europe last year. We are now in the premier league, one of twelve or thirteen in terms of size in airports in Europe. So, that's good news and that's growth and with growth comes the challenges of how you keep getting it and keep dealing with it and we are full at a number of key hours. 'From five in the morning to midnight, 80% of our runway slots are gone. If I took even, on the way out for departures, we are full at six in the morning, seven in the morning and four in the afternoon. For arrivals, we are full at eight, eleven and three o'clock. So for a number of our key juncture hours, we are full which means that it is very difficult to keep growing and developing and that is critical, not just for Fingal and north County Dublin and the airport but for the broader Irish economy. 'It's a really important, exciting, once-in-a-lifetime time for us here in the airport. The last runway came online in 1989. It really is a step change in a generation and while we have loads and loads of things that go on in the airport, in terms of developing it and adding more capacity and security and coping with more passengers and adding more gates here and there, you can't add a bit of a runway, you have to bring on a full one so that's why it's such a big deal and such an exciting deal and it's one that you have to weigh up very, very carefully when you do it.' Two planning conditions, one that will ban night-flights on the new runway and the other which will reduce night-flights on the existing runway infrastructure at Dublin Airport, are being challenged by the daa but these same two conditions are considered crucial to be kept in place by residents in affected areas like St Margaret's, Portmarnock and parts of Swords. The daa chief executive has explained why he feels it's important to remove those conditions and said he hopes he can persuade the airport's neighbours of his case. He explained: 'We had planning permission in 2007 and there were 31 conditions in total and two of those conditions are particularly problematic for the business. One condition means we can't use the new runway between 11 at night and seven in the morning and the second condition is that we are constrained in the number of flight we can have between 11 at night and 7 in the morning, to 65 (across the existing runways). 'Let me take the first one, as I said earlier, we are full at six in the morning and at seven in the morning for departures so it would be like being on the M50 and it's congested so you build a new lane and you're not allowed to drive on it. It just actually doesn't make any sense. 'The second one, right now we have no constraints on when we fly or how we fly. We obviously manage all of that very sensibly but we are not constrained by law and there's no basis or reason why we would be. This summer we have 99 flights flying between 11 o'clock at night and seven o'clock in the morning and they are really, really important for the Irish economy because 70% of those are with what we call, home-based aircraft.' Secondly, the daa chief executive believes that one of the fastest growing and increasingly crucial aspects of its business on long-haul routes, depends on night-time flights. Mr Toland also believes the business has fundamentally changed since those planning conditions were imposed on the runway. He explained: 'We think the business is fundamentally different and the economy and the needs are fundamentally different, compared to ten years ago. One, we will be about 18% busier this year than we were in 2006 and peak hour will be 35% busier so, we are an awful lot busier in that peak hour which goes to that first condition. Our long haul business is three times larger than it was a decade ago and the people who are using Dublin Airport to connect through is six times bigger.' The aircraft flying in and out of the airport have also changed, according to the daa chief executive, who explained: 'At the same time, we think there is a logical reason why this (the runway development) should not be a bad thing. One, aircraft are less noisy - 95% of the planes that come in and out of Dublin Airport are what we call 'chapter four' which is the quietest type of aircraft. 'Secondly, the people working in Dublin Airport and the people working for the Government were very far-sighted a number of years ago when they preserved a lot of green space in the airport and in the land bank around the airport, so that they could set up to minimise the impact of the airport and make it as unobtrusive as could be possible. 'Thirdly, we have very, very strong noise management, abatement and control procedures in place. We work very closely with the air traffic control people and all the airlines. When aircraft fly into Dublin Airport, they fly in what are called 'environmental corridors' which are designed to put them in places to minimise the impact on the population.' Asked what the options open to the daa are, in terms of challenging those conditions, Mr Toland said he wanted to convince and persuade the authorities and the airport's neighbours of the case first. He said: 'We are working our way through that at the moment. One of the things we have been doing since the decision to proceed and the formal announcement of that a number of weeks ago, is talking to the various public bodies and also engaging with our neighbours. We are absolutely dependent on our neighbours, not just here right beside us but in the broader Fingal and north County Dublin area. 'We are getting out to them and explaining what we are doing, explaining why we are doing it, explaining the various measures and controls that in place and making the case with them to see will they support us as we move forward. So, we will be embarking on very detailed conversations and we will be listening very carefully to everybody's views and we will be trying to find a way through that everyone is best happy with.' Asked if the runway could go ahead with those conditions still in place, he said: 'We believe that one, there is a very, very strong case that those conditions should be addressed. It's a very logical case, a very understandable case and we would be confident that we would be able to work with people to make that case successfully. 'Secondly, it's really important to say we are the key airport for the country and a key piece of the economic activity in the country. We had record tourist numbers last year which is one of the factors that benefited us, and how we support the continued ability of people to get in and out of the country is critically, critically important. The impact of those conditions, actually, if we didn't address them, for example, is that we would have to reduce our passenger numbers compared to this year.' The airport chief said that Dublin Airport would then be in the position of having a new runway but being able to carry fewer passengers than today. He said: 'That wouldn't be very good for anybody and would mean we wouldn't be able to support of the development of the country, wouldn't be able to support the development of tourism and wouldn't be able to underpin the routes that we have and wouldn't be able to add the additional jobs. So we think there's a very clear and sensible case for working together to address those conditions.' Mr Toland said he 'wouldn't even countenance' failure, adding: 'We are planning to succeed and hoping to succeed and we have been working very, very hard with people to persuade them and to work with them and find a way to be successful as we have been. We have relied on the support of, and have had a long-standing relationship with our neighbours in the area and we have relied on their support. We need them for our workforce and we need them for the viability of the entire airport system, so we will be talking to them and explaining and discussing and trying to work through solutions to make sure we are able to do this together successfully as this airport and its community has grown successfully now for 75 years.' Is he looking forward to presiding over this giant project for the airport? Mr Toland said: 'Absolutely. Sometimes you can be focussed on the things you have to work your way through, like these conditions but absolutely, it is a tremendously exciting business. We have had record numbers, we have got great customers and we've got great people and we've got really interesting plans to develop this as one of the best airports in the world and I am privileged to be here in a once-in-a-generation moment when we're saying that we are bringing on the next runway which is 26 years since the last one. So, I feel absolutely privileged and excited.' A leading company in the development of solar energy in Ireland has announced plans to invest 30 million in six solar farms in Listowel and Killarney within the next 18 months. Terra Solar will submit plans to Kerry County Council in the coming weeks for the development of its first two farms which will be located in Trieneragh outside Listowel and Madam's Hill near Killarney. Up to 60 jobs will be created during the construction phase of each farm, each of which, the company predicts, will generate power to an estimated 1,200 homes and businesses in their respective areas. Director of Terra Solar, Andre Fernon, was in Kerry this week to announce details of the project - the first of its type in Ireland - and told The Kerryman that the company has received a very positive response from both the local authority and the landowners in each area. "We are delighted to be bringing this project to Kerry and there has been a hugely positive reaction from people who realise that we need to hit climate change targets," he said. Mr Fernon explained that the farms will measure an average 20 hectares acres each, with the panels not exceeding nine feet in height "No noise is generated by the panels, they are rarely visible above the existing hedgerows and trees and because we use panels with an anti-reflective surface any reflection will be dull and minimal," Mr Fernon explained. "Every care has been taken so that we are sensitive to the natural environment and the land will remain in agricultural use , even when the solar panels are installed." Planning is due to be submitted for the first two farms within two weeks, and once permission is granted there will be a 10-12 week construction period for each farm. However, because the solar farms will be connected to the national grid, their operation will be determined by the ESB, but Mr Fernon expects that they should be up and running by the end of 2017 or the beginning of 2018. Each project has an operational lifespan of 25 years so once this period has lapsed, the facility will be decommissioned and the land will be returned to its original condition. "Solar power is one of the cleanest sources of energy and has minimal impact on the environment as it does not emit any pollution when it's produced and consumed," Mr Fernon told The Kerryman. "This is very important in a county of natural beauty like Kerry, which has a very strong tourism industry. The county has huge potential to derive energy from its natural sources and Kerry County Council is committed to increasing energy supplies from renewable sources." Church retreat today-Sunday SCHUYLER -- Living with the Church is a retreat scheduled for today through Sunday at St. Benedict Center, with Father Prior Mauritius Wilde, OSB, Ph.D. He will discuss how the Church is more than the organization the public sees. The blessings received through the Church as well as the struggles people have been challenged with as will be addressed. For more information, call 402-352-8819. Clothing drive over weekend COLUMBUS -- A clothing drive for the Orphan Grain Train, relief for human need worldwide, will be held Saturday and Sunday at Peace Lutheran Church, 2720 28th St. Hours of collection will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday in the church parking lot. CDA to meet for Mass, breakfast COLUMBUS -- Court Little Flower #988 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas will meet for Mass at 9 a.m. Sunday at St. Isidore Catholic Church. The May breakfast will follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 3115 Sixth St. Members of the Knights of Columbus will be serving the breakfast at 10:30 a.m. The May Crowning will take place at the May breakfast. Mental health session slated COLUMBUS -- The public is invited to attend the fifth in a series of free mental health information sharing sessions from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Word of Life Church, 3701 23rd St. This presentation will focus providing information about local resources that can benefit youth, adults and families at no cost. Child care will be provided and bilingual interpretation will be available. The panel will be facilitated by Jill Colegrove. Guest evangelist at Federated COLUMBUS -- Guest Evangelist Karissa Johnson of Omaha will present a program Exploring the Will of the Lord at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Federated Church Fellowship Hall. A meal will be served at 5:30 p.m. preceding the program; cost for the meal is $6. Johnson has a degree in international community development and has traveled to all seven continents. For meal reservations or other information, call 402-564-0264. Kids carnival at city church COLUMBUS -- North Park Church, on the corner of 18th Avenue and 38th Street, will hold a kids carnival from 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday. The event will include free food, prizes, face painting, games and bounce house. The public is welcome to attend. For more information, call Crystal at 308-627-6835. Prayer lunch set Thursday COLUMBUS -- A YMCA prayer luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Columbus Family YMCA as part of the National Day of Prayer. The guest speaker will be Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson. Suggested lunch donation is $5. Prayer in the Square slated COLUMBUS -- The public is invited to attend Prayer in the Square at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Frankfort Square. Bill Williams, co-founder of Patriotic Productions, will be this years featured speaker. Williams helped organize the Heartland Honor Flights, which took World War II and Korean veterans to Washington, D.C. The National Day of Prayer Praise Choir will also perform. Those attending are advised to bring lawnchairs or blankets. Veterans section at Day of Prayer COLUMBUS -- Veterans are invited to sit in a special section at the national Day of Prayer event at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Frankfort Square. Those attending are advised to bring lawnchairs or blankets. Guest speaker Bill Williams will talk about the mission to help sponsor Honor Flights for veterans visiting national monuments in Washington, D.C. CDA meeting slated May 9 COLUMBUS -- Court Little Flower #988 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas will meet at 7 p.m. May 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 3115 Sixth St. Meeting will be election of officers. Archbishop of Havana quits HAVANA (AP) The Vatican says Cardinal Jaime Ortega, who oversaw a warming of relations with the Communist government and played a role in the secret negotiations that led to U.S.-Cuba detente, has stepped down. He is being replaced as archbishop of Havana by Juan de la Caridad Garcia Rodriguez, the archbishop of the eastern city of Camaguey. Church statements Tuesday did not say if Garcia will be appointed cardinal. The church said Pope Francis accepted Ortega's resignation, which was presented in 2011 under a church rule requiring archbishops to offer their resignation when they are 75. Ortega was named Archbishop of Havana in 1981 and oversaw three papal trips to Communist Cuba. He was so trusted by Cuba that he ferried messages between Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama during detente negotiations. Racist graffiti found at church SEATTLE (AP) Seattle police are investigating after vandals broke into a church and spray painted racist messages on the walls. The Curry Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church was preparing to celebrate its 66th anniversary when church members discovered the vandalism Sunday morning. Church members found a Swastika and racist insults in black spray paint on the walls inside the church. One message told the congregation to "go back" to Africa. Church elder Charles Eakers says he doesn't understand who would want to harm a church. Court: Baker can't cite religion DENVER (AP) Colorado's Supreme Court has refused to take up the case of a suburban Denver baker who would not make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, letting stand a lower court's ruling that the Masterpiece Cakeshop owner cannot cite his Christian beliefs in refusing service. The American Civil Liberties Union applauded today's development, saying it affirmed that no one should be turned away from a business serving the public because of who they are or who they love. Baker Jack Phillips has said he has no problem serving gay people at his store, but that making a wedding cake for a same-sex wedding would violate his Christian beliefs. His attorney, Nicolle Martin, says Phillips should have the same conscience rights as artists like Bruce Springsteen who has refused to perform in North Carolina to protest a law limiting LGBT rights. 3rd man charged in 'Eve' slaying DETROIT (AP) A third man has been charged in the fatal shooting of a Detroit musician who was killed after performing at a Christmas Eve church service. An ex-convict, 28-year-old Devan Williams, was arraigned Monday on charges of murder and carjacking, among other crimes. He was returned to jail without bond. A lawyer will be assigned. Police say Anthony Tolson was ordered out of his Chevy Trailblazer on Dec. 24 and was shot on Detroit's east side. He had played bass guitar at a Christmas Eve service and was heading to his mother's home with gifts for his three children. Police say the 33-year-old Tolson was killed over the expensive rims on his car. "Roger Casement was not just a great Irish patriot, he was also one of the great humanitarians of the early 20th century - a man who is remembered fondly by so many people across the world for his courageous work in exposing the darkness that lay at the heart of European imperialism. In his own time, few figures attracted the sympathy and admiration of their contemporaries as widely as Roger Casement. Those who knew have all emphasised Roger Casement's idealism, his passionate empathy for the hopeless and the oppressed. And yet, none of the leaders of 1916 has excited as much controversy just before their death and ever since. Casement was undoubtedly a complex personality, and he was centrally involved in one of the most contentious episodes of the Irish revolutionary period. A hundred years on, with the benefit of hindsight, we are able to see in a new light the life and legacy of Roger Casement. The events that unfolded here in Kerry a hundred years ago have become iconic - they are remembered in song and in legend; but the background to these events, and, above all, their many ramifications and consequences abroad are sometimes cloaked in confusion although they are of immense importance in understanding the events that would take place in Dublin during that Easter Week 1916. It is well known, for example, how, upon learning that Casement had been captured and that the arms were lost, leader of the Irish Volunteers Eoin MacNeill issued his countermanding order calling off the Rising. However, popular memory has often omitted to register that, upon coming back to Ireland, Roger Casement's intention had been to try and prevent the planned rebellion from taking place. Recognising his own recruitment and procurement efforts to have failed, and not aware of the separate efforts of John Devoy, Casement was anxious to avoid the unnecessary loss of Irish lives. Casement, the first whistleblower on Imperial abuses Roger Casement, having seen through the moral breakdown of the free-trading Empire he had willingly served for several decades, was in no doubt, by Easter 1916, where his loyalty lay. Roger Casement himself claimed that it was his Irish identity that allowed him to fully grasp the oppressive nature of European colonial rule in the Congo and the Amazon. Indeed he would become the whistleblower of imperial colonial greed in two continents. Although Casement's transformation is indeed quite an astonishing one - five years after being knighted in recognition of his investigations in the Putumayo on behalf of the British Foreign Office, he was put on trial for his separatist revolutionary activities and hanged for high treason - there is coherence and integrity to this journey. Recent scholarship has shown how Casement's 'reading' of Ireland as a victim of conquest informed his outlook on the oppression of the indigenous peoples of Africa and South America. In turn, his experience in these sites of plunder, exploitation and degradation probably crystallised his view of Ireland's subjugation to British imperialism in all its different forms, including the subjugation of Ireland's culture and language. Casement's sexuality used by British to mask injustice of trial While much of the controversy surrounding the trial has revolved, up to our times, around the question of Roger Casement's sexuality, the more important question always related to the various distortions of justice that characterised these legal proceedings. The trial was outrageous for its imperilling of an adequate defence by the circulation of material that would strike a populist and ignorant note and blacken the defendant in an extra-judicial attempt at undermining the international campaign for clemency. Beyond and above all these considerations, the ongoing commemorations offer an important opportunity, I believe, to engage with the fundamental questions Roger Casement raised about power and human rights, about the rights of communities and indigenous peoples, and about the rules guiding foreign policy and international trade. His was an epoch that is sometimes referred to as that of the "first globalisation" - an era when capital moved freely between countries and when the flow of goods exchanged within and between Europe's huge colonial empires increased dramatically; an era, too, when tens of millions of Europeans left the old continent to seek their fortunes in what was called the New World." More than 650 people attended a moving Spirit of Freedom concert in Clonroche on Saturday and Sunday night which celebrated the heroics of the men of 1916. The event - which was part funded by Wexford County Council and New Ross Municipal District - took place at Clonroche Community Centre, involving 150 musicians and actors, including 60 children. The 1916 musical dramatisation of the story of the Easter Rising 1916 and the immediate aftermath told some of the real-life stories behind Ireland's most famous week in history. Scenes such as the GPO siege, the tension-filled meeting in Liberty Hall, the reading of the Proclamation, as well as the family tragedies of the execution of the Rising leaders were all portrayed through music, drama and song, interspersed with well loved ballads and more modern songs. Performed by the Carrigbyrne Pike group and choir, Mel Doyle, James Dobbs, Peter O'Connor, Joe O'Neill, Liam Spratt, Ned Hogan, Sean O'Brien and Billy Murray, among others. A day of remembrance and commemoration took place on Sunday with a memorial mass at Sacred Heart Church, Newbawn, where Carrigbyrne Pike Choir performed. A commemoration ceremony took place at Carrigbyrne Picnic Area memorial Celtic cross on Sunday, which included a parade lead by St Colman's Pipe Band from Ballindaggin, a wreath laying by Mr Murray and a reading of the Proclamation by John Cullen. (L-R), Meav Ui Ghallchoir, Mick Loftus, Jimmy Murphy and Harry McGowan pictured at the official opening of the South Sligo Summer School in St Brigid's Hall Tubbercurry last Sunday evening The South Sligo Summer School in Tubbercurry celebrates its 30th year in existence this coming July. The summer school is renowned across the country for being one of the top events of its kind for Irish music each year. This year's event kicks off on July 10th, continuing until July 16th. There is a full schedule of events for the week, and all details can be found on the website at www.sssschool.org. Daily classes take place each day from 10am to 1pm, with Sean Nos dancing classes later in the afternoons. There will be interactive workshops, master classes, ceilis and recitals taking place all during the week, and with the full schedule announced now, it is definitely worth checking out. The Monday night (July 11th) concert in St. Attracta's school, pays tribute to local musicians and teachers who have contributed to the South Sligo music scene and even the school over the years. Last year, this Tribute Concert honoured local musician Michael Hurley. one of the school's long serving tutors, Leeds native and longtime resident of Ballymote, flute player and music teacher Michael Hurley, at a packed concert. Michael was joined on stage by family members including his daughter Eileen, son Sean and brothers Drew and Des. He was also joined by twenty or more of his former pupils from around the county and beyond, flute players one and all. Many of his fellow teachers at the summer school played tunes in Michael's honour as did his fellow musicians from the Paddy Killoran Comhaltas branch in Ballymote. The night was brought to a rousing conclusion with the mighty music of the Swallows Tail Ceili Band. This year local artists Shane McGowan and Seamie O'Dowd will be honoured for their contribution to the school over the years. Both highly regarded and sought after champions of traditional music on guitar, Seamie and Shane's family and musical roots are in South Sligo. Shane's father Harry has been a mentor for the school since it's early days and both Seamie's parents, Joe from Gurteen and Sheila from Bunninadden were among the first fiddle tutors at the school. A spokeswoman said: "We look forward to an excellent evening with them and their friends." The Friday night concert (July 15th) will feature a variety of students, teachers and visiting friends. Last year's program included tutors Declan Folan, Michael Hurley, Junior Davey, Angela Deane, Alisha McMahon, Laoise Kelly, Jack Talty, Aiden Shannon, John Dwyer, Marion Eagan, Fionnuala Kearins, Philip Duffy, Gavin Collis, Ann Conroy Burke, Annette Owens, Steve Sweeney, Mairead Ni Fhlatharta, Paddy Ryan and Niamh McGloin. Local and visting musicians Megan Duffy, Jason McGuinness, Alannah Thornburgh, Charlie Lennon, Keith Frein, Adrian Frein, Joseph O'Dowd and Cliodhna Henry all joined the list of talented musicians taking part in the event. The concert also featured Paddy Ryan's international Fiddle brigade. Seana Haughey says the event is extremely important to the town of Tubbercurry. "It's of huge importance to the town. Economically it is massive. People always call it 'music week'," she said. Preparations for the event began when the 2015 one ended, it is a year round process. The organisers do not require fundraising, as they work within their grants each year, along with generous donations from members of the public. They are expecting between 2-3,000 at the July event. "Some people register as students for the week, and others might just come down for a day or two. "Some people will come along to the ceili events in the evenings. We have lots of return attendees too. But this year we've had a lot of new enquiries. "We have a folk group of ten coming from Holland, a girl coming from Canada and people from all over the world really," said Seana. Because it is the 30th year of the event, the organisers have introduced new teachers, classes and completely new aspects. "It's remained very steady. We have never put too much of a focus on growing it but we have extended masterclasses, we have audo classes as well just to try to attract a different audience." And Seana says the atmosphere even attracts locals who may now have such an interest in the music side of things. "Locals would always come in to the events in the evenings to soak up the atmosphere. It always has a real festival atmosphere to it," she said. More details can be found on www.sssschool.org. A Garda told Sligo Circuit Court he didn't recognise a man he knew he was so badly beaten about the face following an assault by two men in a house. Garda James Connelly said he knew Kyle Casey but when he came across him at Avondale in the early hours of April 8th 2014, he did not recognise him such were his injuries and he had to ask him his name. Mr Casey suffered a broken eye socket, fractures to facial bones, two black eyes and a small bleed to his brain following an assault at a house in the estate. Ricky Pugh, Maryville, Finisklin and Gary Philips of West End Village, Blanchardstown, Dublin both admitted a charge of assault causing harm to Mr Casey. The men had been drinking together in the house where Pugh's sister lived. Mr Casey went to the house around 11pm and were drinking and chatting in the sitting room. Other people had gone to bed, leaving Mr Casey and the defendants downstairs. Mr Casey told Gardai that out of the blue he was struck with a bottle four or five times by Philips after there had been "some slagging." Pugh joined in with punches and kicks but he was not as involved. On receiving a call from the public Gardai went to the estate and came across Mr Casey on the green area of the estate. "He was unrecognisable to me from his injuries even though I knew him. His face was badly swollen and bruised and I asked him for his name," said Garda Conneely. Mr Casey had received kicks to the head. The Garda observed two men standing at the door of a nearby house and he went over to them. There was blood on their hands. "Both were in a highly intoxicated and aggressive state at the time," said Garda Conneely. In reply to Ms Dara Foynes with State Solicitor Mr Hugh Sheridan (prosecuting), Garda Conneely agreed that it was the view of the men that Mr Casey "didn't get half enough." Inside the house bloodstains were visible on the couch. The men, Pugh and Philips, were both arrested at 3.40am and taken to Sligo Garda Station. Pugh was subsequently brought from the Garda Station to Sligo University Hospital after complaining that his ankle was sore from kicking Mr Casey in the head. He later returned to the station where he was interviewed. Pugh told Gardai he had begun drinking at 1.30pm with Casey arriving at the house around 9.30pm. Pugh said Mr Casey made remarks about his parents who are both deceased. He claimed Mr Casey hit Philips before he (Pugh) then hit him and it "went out of control." Pugh said he rang for an ambulance for Mr Casey. In response to Mr Keith O'Grady BL with Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor (defending), Garda Conneely agreed that Pugh would have had an underprivileged upbringing He had met Mr Casey at the Maryville Hostel. Pugh apologised in court to Mr Casey who accepted it. Pugh said he didn't have any compensation in court but had worked previously as a chef and hoped to return to employment as one. Mr O'Grady pleaded for the court to allow the probation services to work with Pugh. Judge Keenan Johnson said it was a savage assault on Mr Casey and normally such matters attracted a prison term. He said Mr Casey had shown enormous generosity of attitude in accepting the apology from Pugh. The Judge adjourned sentencing of both men to July 19th. He wanted Pugh to make efforts to get a job and he is to remain under probation supervision. Mr Joe Barnes BL (for Philips) said the defendant had got himself off drugs and alcohol. A probation report was ordered for July 19th. This year's annual May Day ceremony to mark International Workers Day will be celebrated with a commemorative event at the site of the Lynch memorial plaque in New Street, Sligo, on Sunday at 8pm. Speaking to The Sligo Champion, one of the organisers, Cllr Declan Bree said: "It's appropriate that our May Day ceremony will take place in New Street outside the former home of John Lynch. "John Lynch was a political activist, a socialist and internationalist. "He was a close colleague of James Connolly and he played a major part in the development of the labour and trade union movement not only in Sligo and Leitrim but also at a national level. "He also played a prominent role in Sligo in the national independence struggle and the anti-conscription movement and as a result of his political and union activities he was imprisoned by the British on a number of occasions. "John Lynch was elected a member of the first 'Republican County Council' in 1920. "He was also Mayor of Sligo on three occasions and served the people with distinction until his death in 1939," said Councillor Bree. A car load of burglars involved in a robbing spree in County Wicklow attempted to reverse over a Garda who tried to apprehend the three-strong gang last week. A major manhunt is on the way after all three suspects were identified. While making their escape, the gang also crashed their black Skoda into parked three cars at Rosanna, Ashford, and were last seen heading in the direction of Dublin. The shocking incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, April 20, outside the Heatons stores in Wicklow town. Two gardai, a male and female, who happened to be off-duty at the time noticed a woman exiting the store with a number of items, activating the shop's alarm system in the process. She got into a waiting Skoda which contained two males. The off-duty gardai suspected the female had stolen items from the store and approached the vehicle. After identifying themselves, one garda reached in and removed the keys from the ignition. There was a large quantity of goods stored in the back of the vehicle, mostly clothing with labels and security tags still on them. The two men then exited the car and began tussling with the male garda for up ten minutes. He was also assaulted and eventually had the car keys wrestled out of his possession. The three suspects then jumped into the car and nearly reversed over the male garda, clipping his leg with an open door. They then drove off on the wrong side of the road toward Rathnew. Gardai say the items stolen totalled around 750, and included clothing from Avoca Handweavers in Kilmacanogue. Tiffany Pensatucky Doggett has had one of the biggest transformations since she burst in to Litchfield as its racist, homophobic bully in season one. Both physically (thanks to a new set of teeth in season two) and personally, evolving in to one of the Penitentiary's most lovable felons. It's been a personal journey for actress Taryn Manning too, who has relocated to NYC for the role, getting to know the city and making new friends, on and off camera. Joining the cast as a racist and a homophobe six episodes in wasnt easy, the teeth were bad, people were just like, whose that girl? Manning says. When youre acting, hopefully if youre good, youre sincere. I was a real asshole, she laughs. I would leave there with my head down just because I was so in to it. Taryn was so emotionally drained playing the shows unofficial bad guy at first, that she couldnt audition for other parts. As actresses well put ourselves on tape for another movie coming up, down the road, were always looking for our next job, but her approach for OITNB was more method, a first for her, I couldnt really audition things, I was just in it. Not like, out on the streets in my own free time, there just wasnt any other character I wanted to dive in to. I was loyal to her. Expand Close Taryn Manning in Orange Is The New Black / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taryn Manning in Orange Is The New Black A much more harmonious Pennsatucky featured heavily in last season and viewers got to learn about her life before Litchfield. Incarceration didn't grant the former preacher any reprieve though, as Doggett endured a harrowing sexual assault at the hands of a prison guard. A modest Manning says shes enjoying Tiffanys character arc, although I did enjoy when she was more nuts, she jokes. With season four under her belt, the California girl has had to adjust to living in New York, where the show is filmed. Im kind of getting it down. It takes a minute though. Weve all made friends, weve all broken off in to little squads because there are so many of us. However the squads are nothing like the show, she insists. Her next role sees Manning tackle a troubled bi-polar mother in soon to be released, A Light Beneath Their Feet.' She researched the role tirelessly, trying to understand life battling bi-polar and "tortured herself" in the process. Although a mother to her dogs, the star has no children and says playing a mother for the first time was interesting, even if seeing herself as one took some getting used to. I dont look like a mom, I look, like Im 12. A former meth-head in prison, a bipolar parent: Manning has been tackling some heavy content lately but doesnt seek out dark parts, she insists. Theyre the roles being offered to her, they come down the path. Video of the Day Shes trying to do more comedic work, including directing a web series with comics and actors that make her laugh. Im really not all dark, I even made a promise to myself that I dont want to die too many more times in a film. I think I have died 12 times in my career, I think I have been pregnant five times. The petite actress really enjoyed working on the series of 5 minutes shows, that she cast and directed, Its all real things that happen to us but that are taboo. You know when youre on your first date and you have to take a dump so bad and youre suffering. Having fun and joking around is important to the actress, thats the spirit of who I am. My dad was the most funny person on the planet but then he committed suicide and all of this friends always tell me, they never saw this coming because he was always so funny and so, just not, we didnt know he had such demons or such sadness. Not saying I do too, I can tap in to all that stuff. When probed on what the future looks like, Manning turns to music. She has over a hundred songs ready for release and is planning on putting together an EP of five songs, that will hopefully appeals to her current audience. People are like, now she sings? she says with a big smile, Because they dont know but I have always sang and I write and I play guitar. Expand Close Actress Taryn Manning attends the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Taryn Manning attends the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Thats my next year, an EP! I feel like giving it to people in little chunks is easier to digest in our OCD world! Actress Courteney Cox (L) and songwriter Johnny McDaid attend The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Musician Johnny McDaid (L) and actress Courteney Cox attend the Amazon premiere screening for original drama series "Hand Of God" at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on August 19, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Amazon Studios) Director Courteney Cox (L) and Musician Johnny McDaid attend the official after party for Courteney Cox's directorial debut "Just Before I Go" hosted by BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin at The Flatiron Room on April 24, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire) After a brief split, Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid are back together and ready to walk up the aisle. The Friends actress (51) and Snow Patrol musician (31), from Derry, are engaged once again and planning to exchange vows later this year after splitting in 2015 and reuniting in March. And contrary to their initial plans for a wedding in Malibu, where they have a home, they are said to be focusing on Ireland as their destination of choice - looking at previous celebrity wedding venues for inspiration. "Courteney and Johnny are planning a fall wedding, an insider told US tabloid Life & Style. They just took a trip to London to meet with their wedding planner. Expand Close Actress Courteney Cox (L) and songwriter Johnny McDaid attend The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Courteney Cox (L) and songwriter Johnny McDaid attend The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) "They are considering Castle Leslie where Paul McCartney married Heather Mills, as well as Ballintubber Abbey where Pierce Brosnan got married." Castle Leslie is one of Ireland's premier wedding destinations with McCartney and Mills famously marrying there in 2002, while Irish stars like Jennifer Maguire and Aoife Cogan and Gordon D'Arcy also we at the five star Monaghan castle hotel. The pair previously looked at Ashford Castle in Co Mayo as a potential location back in 2014, but Courteney preferred a wedding closer to home. At the time of their split, it was reported that Johnny wanted to spend more time in Ireland and Courteney joining him here for a certain chunk of the year was a condition of their reconciliation. Expand Close Castle Leslie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Castle Leslie A former circus lion looks out from inside a cage transporting it to South Africa, at the port of Callao, Peru (AP) Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia are heading back to their homeland to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa. The largest-ever airlift of lions was organised by Animal Defenders International. The Los Angeles-based group has worked with politicians in the two South American countries for years to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, where they are often held in appalling conditions. The long journey began in Colombia on Thursday, where a caravan carrying the first nine lions departed the city of Bucaramanga for a 14-hour drive to Bogota's international airport. From there, they were loaded onto a cargo plane and flown to Peru's capital to pick up the remaining 24. They are expected to depart Lima for Johannesburg later on Friday. The baby boy weighed at six pounds and seven ounces Jetstar Asia/Facebook A baby boy born on a passenger plane has been named in honour of the airline. Saw Jet Star was successfully delivered on a three-hour flight from Singapore to Yangon in Burma. Delivered by three doctors who happened to be travelling on the flight, the baby boy weighed in at six pounds, seven ounces. He and his mother were described as being in good health on leaving the plane for a Yangon hospital where they were later discharged. The budget airline said on Facebook it will donate 1,000 Singaporean dollars (653) worth of baby supplies to the family. Jetstar policy towards expecting mothers requires a doctor's letter from pregnant women travelling, 28 weeks into their pregnancy or more, to confirm their good health. A spokesman for Jetstar said: "Our crew are trained to respond to all kinds of events on our aircraft, and we're proud of the way they assisted with the help of generous doctors onboard to ensure the safe delivery of our youngest ever passenger on a Jetstar Asia flight." North Korea attempted unsuccessfully to launch two suspected powerful intermediate-range missiles yesterday, South Korean defence officials said, bringing the number of apparent failures in recent weeks to three. The reported failures come ahead of a major North Korean ruling party meeting next week at which leader Kim Jong-Un is believed to want to place his stamp more forcefully on a government he inherited after his father's death in late 2011. The launches were believed to be the second and third attempted tests of a Musudan, a new intermediate-range missile that could one day be capable of reaching far-off US military bases in Asia and the Pacific. Yesterday morning, a projectile fired from a North Korean northeastern coastal town crashed a few seconds after liftoff, a South Korean Defence Ministry official said, requesting anonymity because of office rules. It wasn't immediately known whether it crashed on land or into the sea. Then, in the evening, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the North fired another Musudan missile near Wonsan but that launch also presumably failed. There were no other details. South Korea's Foreign Ministry called the launches a provocation and said it will try to increase international pressure on North Korea. Violations Japan's UN Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa condemned what he called a "series of grave and very clear violations of Security Council resolutions." "This is a threat to Japan's national security," he said. Yoshikawa said the UN Security Council is preparing a statement in response to the launches. The launch attempts come amid North Korean anger over annual South Korean-US military drills that it calls a rehearsal for an invasion. The North has fired many missiles and artillery shells into the sea in recent months in an apparent protest against the drills, which end tomorrow. Yesterday, it was reported that North Korea has constructed a scale replica of the Blue House, the official residence of the South Korean president, and is preparing to use it as a target in an artillery exercise. Satellite images have identified the half-size copy of the Blue House at the Taewon-ri firing range, on the outskirts of Pyongyang, the 'Chosun Ilbo' newspaper reported. Defence officials added that around 30 artillery pieces had been detected under camouflage screens less than 2km from the structure. The destruction of the mock-up of the official residence of Park Geun-hye is likely to be filmed and may be used in North Korean propaganda films. North Korea has sentenced a US citizen to 10 years in prison after convicting him of espionage and subversion. Kim Dong Chul had been detained on suspicion of engaging in spying and stealing state secrets. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour after a trial in Pyongyang. North Korea's Supreme Court found Kim guilty of espionage and subversion under Articles 60 and 64 of the North's criminal code. Kim's sentencing comes after a 15-year sentence was handed down to Otto Warmbier, an American university student who the North says was engaged in anti-state activities while visiting the country as a tourist earlier this year. North Korea regularly accuses Washington and Seoul of sending spies to overthrow its government. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt they later said were coerced. Most of those who are sentenced to long prison terms are released before serving their full time. In the past, North Korea has waited until senior US officials or statesmen personally bailed out detainees, such as when former president Bill Clinton visited in 2009 and secured the freedom of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling. Both had crossed North Korea's border from China illegally. In November 2014, US spy chief James Clapper secured the release of Mathew Miller, also arrested after entering the country as a tourist, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012. Jeffrey Fowle, a detained US tourist, was released just before that and sent home on a US government plane. He left a Bible in a local club hoping a North Korean would find it, which is considered a criminal offence in North Korea. A protestor is arrested by riot police during a protest against the proposed changes to France's working week and layoff practices, in Lyon, central France MoRe than a hundred demonstrators were detained and 24 security officers injured as clashes broke out during protests across France against planned labour law reforms yesterday, the interior minister said. Striking workers burned tyres and tens of thousands of protesters marched through the streets in Paris, Rennes, Nantes, Marseille and other cities. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said three officers had been badly hurt in clashes in the capital, and one was in a critical condition. Frances powerful CGT union says the legislation, due to be debated in parliament next week, will let employers bypass regulations on basic worker rights by giving bosses greater freedom to set terms of pay, rest and overtime rates. We want it withdrawn as long as the goal means the law is no longer the rule, and that every company can opt out on work time or overtime rates. Thats unacceptable, CGT chief Philippe Martinez said. Trade unions say the proposed legislation is not the way to address an unemployment rate which President Francois Hollande promised to haul down but which has remained stubbornly above 10pc. Hollande faces a testing few months against a backdrop of protests and sluggish economic growth, before he announces whether he will contest next years election or not. Italian police have arrested four terror suspects, including a Moroccan-born man living in Italy who had received Isil orders to carry out attacks on Rome during Holy Year, prosecutors said yesterday. Milan prosecutor Maurizio Romanelli told reporters that investigators intercepted communications from within Isil-held territory ordering attacks in Italy, "with particular attention to the city of Rome" and focusing on the Holy Year pilgrimage, now under way. He said the messages promoting lone-wolf attacks were "very strong, very serious and very efficient," indicating that Isil's current policy is to push for attacks in locations where foreign fighters are residing "as the best way of creating terror within Western countries". Interior Minister Angelino Alfano told Sky TG24 "there was a serious intention to hit Italy," and while the suspects weren't yet involved in the material preparations for an attack, "there was a decision, an accentuated willingness, to proceed". Mr Romanelli said authorities acted quickly to close the investigation, arresting four people in the northern Lombardy region and issuing arrest warrants for two others believed to be in Isil-held territory. "This is a new profile, because it was not a generic indication, but an indication given to a specific person who was invited to act within the territory of the Italian state," Mr Romanelli said. He said the death in battle late last year of a foreign fighter with ties to the group within Isil-held territory had contributed to the radicalisation process. The fighter had been expelled from both Italy in 2015 and later from Switzerland before traveling to Isil territory, where he was killed. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi praised the anti-extremists operation as "very important." Authorities arrested the Moroccan-born man, identified as Abderrahim Moutahrrick, and his wife, Salma Bencharki, who allegedly were planning on travelling from their home in Lecco, north of Milan, to Isil-held territory with their children, aged two and four. Mr Romanelli said Mr Moutahrrick had taken Italian citizenship and was an accomplished kick-boxer. Another Moroccan man who was planning to travel with them, identified as Khachia Abderrahmane (23), was arrested in the northern city of Varese, prosecutors said. It was the death of his elder brother that prosecutors identified as the radicalising event. Prosecutors also issued arrest warrants for an Italian-Moroccan couple who left to join Isil last year with three small children. Mr Romanelli said that man, identified as Mohamed Koraichi, had become an Isil fighter and had communicated the orders to carry out attacks in Italy while making arrangements for the other family to join Isil. The fourth arrest was of Mr Koraichi's sister, prosecutors said. Editor's note: Reporter Elizabeth Anna Valla will spend the spring and summer trying out various jobs in the Columbus area and sharing her experiences in The Telegram. To kick off this series, she went all the way back to the beginning by joining a first-grade class at Shell Creek Elementary School. COLUMBUS This is not the first grade I remember. I dont recall much about first grade, but I don't remember it being this hard. First of all, having to wake up before the sun rises, not my cup of tea. I dont know which is harder, being the teacher or the student, but on Wednesday morning it was definitely harder being me. No one really wants to be interviewed around 6 a.m., which is great for a reporter because there is no need to wake up that early unless theres a fire ... literally like a house burning down. Also, I doubt most first-graders have to worry about painting their face with makeup before going out in public. Then there's the 40-minute drive, with stops for gas and coffee. By the time I sat down for class at about 8:15 a.m., I was ready for a nap. And yes, if you caught that time reference I was 15 minutes late, but thats only because I had to stop for coffee and also got a little lost. In my defense, Shell Creek Elementary isnt exactly in an easy-to-find area. I was off to a great start at being the teachers pet, just like in high school and college (and that children is how sarcasm is used). I digress. When I sat down at my tiny desk, I realized I was surrounded by very well-behaved children. This was nothing like high school or college. I quickly discovered I was out of my league when I leaned over to whisper something to Kaylee, a girl in my group, but she was too busy listening to Mrs. Paben teach. I entered during reading time, a state-required 90-minute reading block scheduled at the beginning of each day. Oh, I got this, I thought to myself, I mean I do this for a living. This is going to be my shining moment. That was until Mrs. Paben flipped around the poster and the kids started chanting these little rhymes. I was lost. So I guess Hooked on Phonics isnt cool anymore? Because I literally had no idea what was going on. Supposedly letters like cl and sw are called blending consonants, whatever that means, but they knew what it meant. Back in the day, I'm sure I wasnt memorizing groups of letters and the words theyre grouped with, I was eating glue and coloring on walls. Going into this little step into their shoes experiment, I originally wanted to join a third-grade class because it seemed they would be at a learning curve between perfecting coloring within the lines and memorizing multiplication tables. But when Mrs. Pabens first-grade class volunteered to be part of my story, I chose to not look a gift horse in the mouth. I thought Id be learning to color, share or tie my shoes, not doing an uninterrupted block of practically relearning the entire English language. Were a complicated people with an even more complicated language with our blending consonants and silent letters. Lord knows we cant spell knee or knife without a k. Right as I was about to give up on life and switch careers because its all apparently been a lie up to this point, Mrs. Paben announced it was time for recess. I was beginning to think they were too mature for recess, but it turns out our teacher simply didnt notice it was past 10 a.m. Whew! Between sitting cross-legged and clapping out our syllables, I dont know which cramped more, my legs or my brain. Remember walking into class and seeing the TV strapped to one of those rolling, metal carts and feeling totally overjoyed? Thank God not everything has changed. I dont know whats with kids sitting on floors these days and not on chairs, but Im going to need to see a chiropractor for weeks after this little experiment. We quickly gathered on the floor in front of the television as our music teacher pressed play. It was "Mary Poppins." Oh good, one I havent seen. We were observing key elements in the movie such as singing and dancing, but all I could smell was popcorn and all I could think about was how much my legs were killing me. I observed as finally some of the kids started getting restless, kicking their feet and stretching into their neighbor's "space bubble." Before I knew it, it was 10:40 a.m. and music was over. On to the next class: spelling. Luckily Presley was willing to help get me through the more difficult words with their blended consonants and secret silent letters. I underestimated how much work kids go through at school these days. Weve all been there. Weve all thought at least once in our grownup life, I wish I could be a kid again with no worries in the world. But that was a pretty stressful day, filled with homework, worries and uncomfortable sitting positions, and it wasn't even lunchtime yet. First of all, Mrs. Paben has what seemed like endless energy and is one of those teachers you never want to make mad because she's your favorite. Im convinced thats why everyone was on their best behavior. I can tell you a couple of things. I got home and slept for a 12-hour uninterrupted block and I never want to be a student again. But now I have a greater appreciation for what kids go through on a daily basis. It may not be a 9-to-5 job, but it's pretty darn close. The last paediatrician in rebel-held Aleppo was among as many as 30 people killed yesterday in a Syrian regime airstrike on a hospital backed by the Red Cross. Dr Muhmmad Wassim Maaz, five colleagues and at least three children being treated at the hospital in the district of Sukkari died when it was hit by four direct strikes just before midnight yesterday. Fresh strikes during the day hit the rebel-held north Aleppo neighbourhood of Kalasa. Hossam Abu Ghayth (29), a documentary film-maker living in Kalasa said: "There are still planes (flying). They're hitting everything, mosques, markets, residential buildings, field hospitals. Dozens of people are under the rubble and the Civil Defence cannot dig out the bodies because of the intensity" of the bombardments. Meanwhile, there were unconfirmed reports last night that US troops had entered Syria through the north-east. The al-Quds hospital hit in the night, which is supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is one of few remaining available to residents in the opposition-controlled areas around eastern Aleppo. MSF said the 34-bed, multi-storey hospital was the main referral centre for paediatric care and provided a casualty unit, intensive care and an operating theatre, which had all been destroyed. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A man carries a child after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria A Civil Defense worker carries a child after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria An injured woman reacts at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Old Aleppo, Syria. Photo: Reuters The scene in Aleppo, Syria, after a series of air strikes and shelling (AP) United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man carries a child after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria Another of the victims was a nurse named only as Safaa, killed with her husband and two children, and the hospital's dentist, Dr Mohamed Ahmad. The White Helmets, a British-funded volunteer rescue team, were yesterday continuing to dig through the debris of the hospital in an attempt to locate and recover survivors. "It hit in the middle of the night," one rescuer said. "The children were sleeping in their beds - we fear some of them are still missing under the rubble." A video posted online showed a number of bodies, including those of children, being pulled from a building and loaded into ambulances amid screaming and wailing. "Dr Wassim was the last paediatrician in Aleppo and a respected member of our extended team," the Relief International charity said last night. "We grieve for him and the two colleagues we lost." The Syrian government later denied responsibility, but the airstrike was one of a number of attacks reported by emergency workers over the past week, suggesting a broader pattern of the targeting of hospitals. Days earlier, five members of the White Helmets were killed when warplanes bombed one of their bases in al-Atarib, west of Aleppo. Mohammed Alloush, the political leader of the main opposition group Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam), condemned the attacks, saying, in a reference to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: "Whoever carries out these massacres needs a war tribunal and a court of justice to be tried for his crimes. He does not need a negotiating table." An intensification in fighting in Aleppo, the country's former commercial hub, where some 250,000 still live, has killed at least 186 people in a week and threatens to finish off the fragile ceasefire once and for all. Rebels have controlled its eastern districts since 2012. The Syrian government claims large areas are held by jihadist rebels, including al-Qa'ida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, and are therefore not covered by the ceasefire agreed two months ago. Hospitals that they say are under al-Nusra control are considered legitimate targets. The regime, backed by Russian warplanes, is preparing a much larger offensive to retake the whole of Aleppo. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that stocks of contingency food and medical aid were expected to run out soon and such an escalation meant that they could not be replenished. It said in a statement yesterday that the fighting was putting millions of people at grave risk. Reports emerged yesterday that 150 US troops had entered Syria through the northeast of the country. They were said to be in Rmeilan airfield, in an area controlled by the Kurdish YPG militia. The Syrian government said the move would violate its sovereignty and described it as an act of "blatant aggression". Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy for Syria, meanwhile, begged the US and Russia to help revive stalled peace talks in Geneva and a ceasefire which he said "hangs by a thread". ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Kim Dong Chul, a US citizen detained in North Korea, is escorted to his trial in Pyongyang (AP) A US citizen of Korean heritage has been jailed for 10 years in North Korea after being convicted of espionage and subversion. Kim Dong Chul had been detained in the North on suspicion of engaging in spying and stealing state secrets. He is the second American to be put behind bars this year. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour after a brief trial in Pyongyang. North Korea's Supreme Court found Kim guilty of crimes and espionage and subversion of under Articles 60 and 64 of the North's criminal code. Further details were not immediately available. When he was paraded before the media in Pyongyang last month, Kim said he had collaborated with and spied for South Korean intelligence authorities in a plot to bring down the North's leadership and had tried to spread religion among North Koreans before his arrest in the city of Rason last October. South Korea's National Intelligence Service, the country's main spy agency, has said Kim's case was not related to the organisation in any way. Kim's jail term follows a 15-year sentence handed down to Otto Warmbier, an American university student who the North says was engaged in anti-state activities while visiting the country as a tourist earlier this year. 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 entire Korean Peninsula. Some foreigners previously arrested have read statements of guilt they later said were coerced. Most of those who are sentenced to long prison terms are released before serving their full time. In the past, North Korea has held out until senior US officials or statesmen came to personally bail out detainees, including 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 US spy chief James Clapper to bring home Mathew Miller, also arrested after entering the country as a tourist, and Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, who had been incarcerated since November 2012. Jeffrey Fowle, a US tourist 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 offence in North Korea. Bob Waldrep, who spent 17 1/2 years serving as an Anderson County council member and state senator, appears at a preliminary hearing as the defense attorney for accused drug trafficker Alexander Chance Partain. A judge dismissed two of the eight charges against Partain during the Dec. 16 hearing. SHARE By Kirk Brown of the Independent Mail Bob Waldrep, one of Anderson County's most recognizable political figures, made a rare appearance this month as a criminal defense lawyer at a preliminary hearing. Though he has been a practicing attorney for more than four decades, Waldrep is best known for the 17A years that he spent serving as a state senator and as an Anderson County Council member. At the Dec. 16 hearing, Waldrep represented an Iva man accused of drug trafficking, 26-year-old Alexander Chance Partain. Partain was arrested Oct. 24 at 134 Perry Drive in Iva by members of the Anderson County sheriff's Criminal Apprehension Through Community Help team. Deputy Erik Nubern testified during Partain's hearing that the team members were following up on a tip received during a routine traffic stop. While searching the mobile home on Perry Drive, Nubern said, deputies found a plastic bag in the closet of a bedroom where Partain was keeping his possessions. The bag contained 18 grams of methamphetamine, less than an ounce of marijuana, eight Loritab pills and two Xanax pills, according to Nubern. He testified that two handguns were found in the same room. After deputies found the drugs and weapons, Partain ran out of the residence, Nubern said. Partain fled through a thick patch of branches and thorns, cutting his face and left ear, sheriff's spokesman Chad McBride said after his arrest. Deputies caught up with Partain and subdued him with a Taser gun as he tried to climb a fence, according to a deputy's report. While being questioned by Waldrep at the hearing, Nubern said Partain told deputies that he had found the drugs and guns lying beside a road in Iva. Deputies didn't believe his story, Nubern said, because a love letter addressed to Partain also turned up in the bag of drugs. As the unusually lengthy hearing dragged on, Waldrep pointed out that no drugs were found on Partain. He argued that his client's "mere presence around drugs is not the same as possession." Judge Dan Sharp dismissed two of the four weapons charges against Partain at the hearing. But he also ruled that there was probable cause to move ahead with four drug charges against Partain, including one count of trafficking in methamphetamine. Waldrep declined to discuss the case during an interview Thursday, except to say that Partain is an acquaintance. Court records show that Partain received a 14-month prison sentence and three years of probation last year after being found guilty of shooting a gun at a car with a woman and two children inside in May 2008. Partain was represented by Greenwood attorney C. Rauch Wise in that case, according to court records. Besides criminal cases, Waldrep handles automobile negligence disputes, domestic litigation and real estate contracts. He shares a West Whitner Street law office with his daughter, attorney Elizabeth Waldrep. "I do a variety of things," Waldrep said in an interview Thursday. "It just depends on what's happening." Waldrep, who switched political parties at least twice during his political career, resigned from the county council in June 2010 after he was appointed to serve on the South Carolina State University Board of Trustees. In November 2008, Waldrep was one of two council members who voted against awarding then-county administrator Joey Preston a $1.1 million contract buyout. Three months later, Waldrep sided with newly elected council members in voting to fire Preston's replacement, Michael Cunningham. The moves sparked costly litigation that continues today. Waldrep says he occasionally longs for the rough-and-tumble nature of county politics. "I miss the violence," he said with a chuckle. Elections in Anderson County: How to vote early and what to know What to know about the 2022 general election and voting in South Carolina, which has passed new legislation to create a period for early voting. FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, file photo, a medical researcher uses a monitor that shows the results of blood tests for various diseases, including Zika, at the Gorgas Memorial laboratory in Panama City. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco, File) SHARE By Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Public health officials say the first South Carolinian to test positive for Zika virus contracted it while traveling abroad and wasn't contagious upon returning home. The Department of Health and Environmental Control announced the case Friday. Dr. Teresa Foo told The Associated Press the person went to the doctor as a precaution, though symptoms experienced while traveling had subsided. Foo gave no details on the person or the trip, citing patient confidentiality. There have been 426 cases of Zika reported in 50 states all linked to travel to outbreak areas. The virus is primarily spread through mosquitoes. Zika causes a mild and brief illness, at worst, in most people, with symptoms including fever, rash and joint pain. But infections in pregnant women have been linked to a brain defects. INDEPENDENT MAIL FILE PHOTO Spectators sit in lawn chairs minutes at the 2015 Spring Water Festival outside the Williamston Municipal Center. SHARE By Mike Ellis of the Independent Mail Williamston's mayor would see his pay go from $800 to $2,000 a month under the budget the Town Council will consider Monday. Council members' pay would increase from $400 to $600 a month under the plan. Rockey Burgess, one of the four council members, said the increase for the mayor in the proposed 2016-17 budget is largely because the town doesn't have an administrator and. The increase would take the mayor's salary go back to where it was about a decade ago when the town went broke, forcing it to sell assets and cut the mayor's salary, Burgess said. The proposed budget would start July 1 and calls for $2.9 million in revenue and expenses for the general fund, an increase of $117,000, or about 4 percent, over the current budget. Most of that increase will come from an expected increase in property tax revenue. Tax rates won't change, however, because the increase is the town adjusting expectations based on the past three years of actual property tax collections instead of its previous, more conservative, estimates, Mayor Mack Durham said. The town also is expecting to get more delinquent tax revenue (an extra $10,000) and $20,000 extra each from a bigger franchise fee from Duke Energy and more insurance premium rebates from the Municipal Association of South Carolina. Most of the increased expenditures would go toward paying higher health insurance costs. The budget proposal includes increases in several departments, including parks and recreation and streets, but those increases are due to moving around employees from department to department. "When you have a small city, you have somebody who may be doing parks most of the time but garbage collection other times," Durham said. For the last two years, the town has been moving employees to the department where they spend the most time, he said. There are no new hires for the town in the proposed budget, Burgess said. He and Durham said they have an ideological difference on how to pay for a money-losing garbage collection program. The town's garbage collection loses tens of thousands of dollars every year, Durham said. To make up for it, he is looking to increase the garbage fee. Town clerk Michelle Starnes said the fee is currently $7 per home per month. Burgess said he would prefer to increase property taxes as opposed to raising fees. The council will vote on the budget at its 6:30 p.m. Monday at Williamston Town Hall. The council has previously had budget workshops. Follow Mike Ellis on Twitter @MikeEllis_AIM SHARE By Elbert Menees, Anderson Some people, perhaps a majority, take the position that America is not in serious trouble today and does not need a populist rascal like Donald Trump in the White House to clean up a nonexistent mess. Trump may be suspect, but there is no doubt that America is a troubled country. Yes, we have handled bigger problems in the past, but the problem now is cumulative. It is evolutionary and cannot be compared to specific events in our history. We have reached a point where the power struggle between the well-positioned ruling class and the beleaguered middle class has become visible and increasingly embittered. With the submission and allegiance of the dependency class, the ruling class is going all out to keep the middle class in check and hold on to the power and control it wields over the rest of us. If this is not a class power struggle, how can we explain the fact that powerful ruling class Republicans are desperately trying to dethrone the leading presidential candidate in their own party. The media is not unbiased in this struggle and will not acknowledge it. Those in control are themselves part of the ruling class. America is not just troubled; it may have morphed into a place where true democracy can no longer be assured. The city of Warwick approved a controversial ordinance Monday night clearing the way for the use of license plate readers in the city. The move comes a year after the city of Cranston made a similar move and is touted by officials as a way to improve safety by alerting police officers if a certain license plate is detected. Critics of the ordinance, including the Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU, expressed concern over the use of such cameras, expressing concerns over privacy, how data would be used and who they might target. Do you support the use of license plate recognition cameras in your community? Why or why not? Let us know in this week's poll question below. You voted: By: Dezan Shira & Associates Editor: Kabir Narang Pune is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra after the capital, Mumbai. It is also the ninth most populous city in India. Home to several educational institutes and universities that contribute to a skilled labor force, it also has a strong industrial belt dominated by manufacturing (process control equipment) and automotive plants. Pune fares well for both real estate developers and builders. According to the National Housing Bank (NHB) residex, a housing index that measures indirect wealth creation via movement of prices in the residential housing segment, Pune showed the highest growth in home prices in the January-March quarter of 2015, indicating healthy demand. The city has a rich cultural history, having once been the seat of the once-dominant Maratha Empire and a vibrant biodiversity, making it a popular tourist destination. It is also well connected to other parts of Maharashtra and India by road, rail, and air. Important Sectors Manufacturing: The industrial township of Pimpri-Chinchwad, just north of Pune city, houses over 4000 manufacturing units that contribute to the citys economy. The Kirloskar group is credited with first bringing industry to Pune. They are Indias largest manufacturer and exporter of pumps, the largest infrastructure pumping project contractor in Asia (Kirloskar Brothers Limited), and Indias largest diesel engine company (Kirloskar Oil Engines). Tata Motors, Thermax, KSB, Cummins, and Hindustan Antibiotics have also set up operations in the outskirts of the city. Serum Institute of India, the worlds fifth largest vaccine producer by volume, has its manufacturing plant located in Pune. Currently, U.S. $10.7 million (Rs 71 crore) is being invested into creating an electronics cluster and incubation center in Pune to spur R&D in engineering and semiconductors. The city is also being transformed into a fruit and vegetable processing cluster through an initiative funded by the World Bank. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is to implement the project. Pune has also attracted several foreign manufacturing firms. According to the Indo-German chamber of commerce, Pune is the single largest hub for German companies with over 225 established businesses. The German group, ThyssenKrupp, aims to double its revenue from India to U.S. $1 billion in the next three-four years, while the groups elevator unit, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, plans to invest U.S. $50.5 million (EUR 44 million) to set up a manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune. Last year, Foxconn signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra state government to invest U.S. $5 billion over the next three years to set up a manufacturing unit between Mumbai and Pune. Swiss elevator manufacturer Schindler has also began production. Automobiles: Pune is nicknamed the Detroit of India or the auto-city due to the large number of greenfield facilities set up near the city by companies such as Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, General Motors, Land Rover, Jaguar, Renault, Volkswagen, among others. General Motors has invested U.S. $977 million (Rs 6500 crore) in its manufacturing facilities while its American rival, Chrysler, is investing U.S. $255.6 million (Rs 1700 crore) to manufacture its marquee brand Grand Cherokee. The Automotive Research Association of India, which is responsible for the certification of all vehicles available in India, is also based in Pune. Education: Pune is known as the Oxford of the East, and boasts of many public and private universities and research institutes that provide technically skilled labor. This has attracted a steady stream of migrant students. The University of Pune, Symbiosis, and ILS Law College are among some of the institutions that are highly ranked nationally. Pune is also home to some important research institutes such as the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, National Chemical Laboratory, and the National Institute of Virology. IT: The skilled labor pool has created a sizeable graduate workforce (more than 30 percent), triggering an IT revolution in the city. Almost all of the top IT companies in India have their presence here, making it the second biggest software hub in the country. Hinjewadi IT Park is the most important IT hub in Pune along with Rajiv Gandhi IT park. Infosys, Cognizant, Wipro, Capgemini, and Tata Consultancy Services have their offices in Pune. Initiatives Smart City: Pune is on the list of cities chosen to be developed as a smart city by the Union Ministry of Urban Development along with the Maharashtra government. Under this program, the city will be retrofitted with smart solutions that include being equipped with basic infrastructure, assured water and power supply, proper waste management, efficient public transport system, and a system of e-Governance to improve the overall quality of life. Make in India/Make in Maharashtra: Pune aims to increase the amount of FDI and local investment to promote industrialization by easing regulatory pressures on business. The Make in India objective is to get multinationals as well as national companies to start manufacturing within Indias borders. Policy Implementation The above initiatives will be fulfilled via regulatory developments and planned Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policies. Pune has eased doing business by enforcing special taxation, allocation, duty and licensing schemes. Recent implementation of policies have only augmented the citys attractiveness to foreign and domestic investors, as highlighted below. The Integrated Industrial Area (IIA) policy has an implication on all private SEZs, including Bharat Forge Limiteds proposed one near Pune. It allows for the conversion of non-starter SEZs into IIAs. Earlier, the total land dedicated to an SEZ was divided equally into residential and industrial halves. According to the policy, an additional 10 percent is to be given to industry. Developers of SEZs can also exit their original projects and build residential townships in the same areas. 20 percent of total housing will be reserved for the economically weaker section, where the laborer community will get assured homes with basic amenities. Another 10 percent of the total township area is reserved for schools, colleges, shopping centers, and other amenities. The Board of Approval, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has allowed land developers to sell their shares partly or fully to other promoters and firms, including foreign ones. Foreign real estate players will now be able to own property in SEZs in India, even though there are restrictions on FDI in this sector. This promotes asset divestment via the dilution of equity and provides SEZ business owners with a greater range of exit strategies when they own functional industrial units. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has agreed to accommodate the forecast increases in rental demand. IT firms are to be charged the same property tax as residential properties. Occupancy costs will be much lower, proximity to the financial capital, and a steady supply of technologically skilled labor will pivot Pune as the premier IT destination in India. Food business operators can now cut down on operational costs by avoiding long trips to the Food and Drugs Administration Office. Those in the business of manufacture, sale, distribution, or transportation of any kind of food material across the state can simply log on to the designated website, pay a fee on a supplementary window, and register their business, obtain, and renew the necessary licenses. Future Prospects The economic outlook for Pune is positive. Booming manufacturing, education, and IT sectors have contributed to Punes expanding economic potential; facilitating blue and white collar job creation, providing a skilled workforce, and attracting an influx of FDI. The citys lagging infrastructure will soon be upgraded through the governments Smart Cities program, giving impetus to the real estate business and associated industries. Various government reform initiatives will also add to Punes future prospects for doing business, while promising higher working and living standards. 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 india@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. Managing Your Accounting and Bookkeeping in India In this issue of India Briefing Magazine, we spotlight three issues that financial management teams for India should monitor. Firstly, we examine the new Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS) system, which is expected to be a boon for foreign companies in India. We then highlight common filing dates for most companies with operations in India, and lastly examine procedures and regulations for remitting profits from India Using Indias Free Trade & Double Tax Agreements In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we take a look at the bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that India currently has in place and highlight the deals that are still in negotiation. We analyze the countrys double tax agreements, and conclude by discussing how foreign businesses can establish a presence in Singapore to access both the Indian and ASEAN markets. Passage to India: Selling to Indias Consumer Market In this issue of India Briefing magazine, we outline the fundamentals of Indias import policies and procedures, as well as provide an introduction to engaging in direct and indirect export, acquiring an Indian company, selling to the government and establishing a local presence in the form of a liaison office, branch office, or wholly owned subsidiary. We conclude by taking a closer look at the strategic potential of joint ventures and the advantages they can provide companies at all stages of market entry and expansion. Ethiopias production of major oilseeds - sesame, Niger seed and soybeans - is expected to increase to nearly 790,000 metric tons in MY15/16 (Oct-Sep). Sesame exports - one of the Ethiopias biggest sources of foreign exchange - are forecast at 318,000 metric tons, just shy of the current record. Oilseed production and consumption, especially for soybeans, is expected to keep growing as demand increases for cooking oil and livestock feed ingredients. Ethiopias oilseed sector, which is rapidly growing to meet both local and foreign demand, plays a vitally important economic role in generating foreign exchange earnings and income for the country. In fact, approximately one-fifth of Ethiopias total export earnings are generated from oilseed exports, with sesame being the second largest export-revenue generator after coffee. Last year, sesame exports were valued at little more than $480 million, while Niger seed added just 14 million. In addition, the oilseed sector provides income to millions of growers and others involved in processing and trading. In contrast to grain production, the impact of the drought on oilseed production was minimal. In fact, the production of major oilseeds - sesame, Niger seed and soybeans - is forecast to increase by 28,000 metric tons to 788,000 metric tons in MY15/16 (Oct-Sep). This increase is attributed to anticipated production gains of sesame and Niger seed, which require relatively less moisture compared to other crops. As for soybeans, production fell slightly because of insufficient moisture. Looking further ahead, production of oilseeds is likely to increase to meet the growing demand for cooking oil and livestock ingredients, most notably soybean meal for poultry production. Powered by Commodity Insights Bombay Rayon Fashions Limited - Trading Window Bombay Rayon Fashions Limited has informed the Exchange that in terms of the Company's Code of Conduct for Prevention of Insider Trading, the Trading Window for dealing in the securities of the Company shall remain closed for all Designated Persons (as defined in the code) from April 29, 2016, to May 4, 2016 (both days inclusive). A new wave of good tidings awaits borrowers in the new financial year. April 1st saw the ushering in of the Marginal Cost of funds Lending Rate (MCLR). Borrowers should expect to start benefiting from this change. For existing borrowers, the secrecy over how banks arrive at how much you pay for your loan is addressed by this new regime. Here are some benefits of the MCLR loan pricing regime.Banks are expected to respond faster to policy rate revisions as directed by the Central Bank. While standing guided by the regulators formulae, lenders will peg lending rates on the cost of acquiring funds. This is primarily the interest paid for customer deposits and the costs incurred in administering these deposits. For instance, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced a 25 point reduction in the repo rate. This is anticipated to translate to a much faster lowering of borrowing rates for borrowers under the MCLR regime.Whereas new borrowers will have their rates calculated under the new regime automatically, existing borrowers will have to part with a conversion fee of 0.5 percent to 1 percent of the loan amount. The choice of adopting the new formulae on an existing loan will, therefore, be dependent on the outcome of a cost versus benefit analysis, similar to one conducted when contemplating loan refinancing options, on an individuals loan. If the costs outweigh the benefits, it is advisable to delay the conversion.Though it is still possible for the lenders to fix margins between MCLR and lending rates, the new methodology in the pricing of loans is better regulated and more dynamic. Borrowers under the new regime will benefit from faster transmission of changes made in the monetary policy. MCLR is also expected to foster better compliance by banks.The overall effects of the new regime on the financial sector are expected to be positive for the consumer, lender, and regulator in the long run. A faster adoption of lowered rates as an announcement by the RBI to is an indicator of benefits of the MCLR loan pricing regime. Hotelbeds is the largest independent business-to-business (B2B) bedbank globally, offering hotel rooms to the travel industry from its inventory of 75,000 hotels in over 180 countries to its customer base across more than 120 source markets. In addition to hotel accommodation, the Company provides transfers, excursions and tours, meetings and events, visa processing outsourcing and cruise handling services. Hotelbeds main clients are tour operators, travel agencies, corporate clients and consumers. The Bedbank business, which generates the majority of the Companys profitability, has demonstrated double digit volume growth in both its hotel portfolio and room nights over the past five years. Headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, the Group was established in 2001 and employs 6,150 people worldwide. Cinven and CPPIB believe Hotelbeds is an attractive investment opportunity on the basis of: European private equity firm Cinven and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board announce an agreement to acquire Hotelbeds Group, the global provider of travel services based in Spain, from Tui Group for a total enterprise value of 1.165 billion.Hotelbeds is the largest independent business-to-business (B2B) bedbank globally, offering hotel rooms to the travel industry from its inventory of 75,000 hotels in over 180 countries to its customer base across more than 120 source markets. In addition to hotel accommodation, the Company provides transfers, excursions and tours, meetings and events, visa processing outsourcing and cruise handling services. Hotelbeds main clients are tour operators, travel agencies, corporate clients and consumers.The Bedbank business, which generates the majority of the Companys profitability, has demonstrated double digit volume growth in both its hotel portfolio and room nights over the past five years. Headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, the Group was established in 2001 and employs 6,150 people worldwide. Strong financial performance with double digit total transaction value (TTV) growth in the Bedbank business over the last five years; Strong underlying market growth supported by an expected increase in global hotel bookings; Hotelbeds highly experienced, proven management team, led by Joan Vila, CEO, with an outstanding track record of driving organic growth in both its hotel supply and customer base; Market consolidation opportunities in Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Americas given market fragmentation and potential for further margin improvement through economies of scale; Opportunity to improve bedbank distribution via travel agents and tour operators - particularly in emerging economies - via investment in its sales and contracting team, as well as investment in R&D and IT systems to improve customer efficiencies and services. Cinven has a strong track record in the travel technology business, following its successful investment in Amadeus, the leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry, which invested more than 1 billion in R&D and doubled EBITDA during Cinvens ownership, generating a return of 7 times. Commenting on this transaction, Jorge Quemada, Partner at Cinven, said Hotelbeds Group is a strongly performing business with the largest accommodation distribution network within the overall B2B bedbank market offering broad client reach globally. We believe there are considerable growth opportunities through further investment in IT as we did successfully with another global business based in Spain, Amadeus; growth in Asia and other markets supported by our Hong Kong-based portfolio team; and market consolidation as the wholesale accommodation market remains highly fragmented. Hotelbeds is run by a highly experienced and skilled management team, led by CEO, Joan Vila, whom we are looking forward to working with, along with our partner, CPPIB. Shane Feeney, Managing Director, Head of Direct Private Equity, CPPIB, said Hotelbeds is a unique opportunity to invest in the leading operator within the hotel accommodation distribution market, an industry which has strong long-term prospects that will support continued growth. Backing a best-in-class management team, with an exceptional track record of organic growth that we will support in driving industry consolidation in the coming years, provides a terrific opportunity for CPPIB. We look forward to working with our long-standing partner Cinven, and Hotelbeds strong management team to continue to grow and build further value for the business. Chris Good, Senior Principal at Cinven, added Hotelbeds has demonstrated exceptional growth and built an outstanding market position as a result of its market-leading proprietary technology and strong customer and supplier relationships. Its focus on diversifying into new market segments is proving highly successful and generating impressive growth rates in all of its new ventures. This investment perfectly illustrates how the Cinven team has been able to combine its sector and regional team capabilities working across our Business Services and TMT teams, along with our German and Iberian colleagues, to identify and execute this transaction. Joan Vila, CEO of Hotelbeds Group, commented We are excited about Cinven and CPPIBs investment in Hotelbeds which will enable us to continue improving the quality and range of services we provide to customers as a financially solid, independent and scalable bedbank operator. The Bedbank segment continues to grow fast and with the backing of Cinven and CPPIB we will be well placed to invest more strongly than ever in technology, innovation and distribution. We look forward with anticipation to supporting the growth of our trade partners in this next stage of our development. The transaction is subject to customary approval from the relevant regulatory authorities. Advisors on the transaction included: Bain & Co. (commercial); Freshfields (legal); Lazard, Morgan Stanley, HSBC and PwC (M&A); Deloitte (tax); PwC (financial, labour and IT) Group of Ministers constituted by the Central Government to guide reforms for the road transport sector will hold its first meeting in New Delhi tomorrow. The GoM, headed by Yunus Khan, Minister for Transport, Rajasthan and comprising State Transport Ministers, seeks to find solutions to the various problems plaguing the road transport sector in the country so as to improve road safety and facilitate ease of transport. Theconstituted by the Central Government to guide reforms for the road transport sector will hold its first meeting in New Delhi tomorrow. The GoM, headed by Yunus Khan, Minister for Transport, Rajasthan and comprising, seeks to find solutions to the various problems plaguing the road transport sector in the country so as to improve road safety and facilitate ease of transport. India is facing severe problems in terms of deteriorating road safety. The number of fatalities has been increasing steadily and stands provisionally at 1,46,000 deaths in the year 2015. As a signatory to Brasilia Declaration, India is committed to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities by 50% by 2020. The road transport sector also plays a major role in the economy of the country, bearing 75 % of the total load of passenger and freight transportation. Its share in the country's GDP is close to 4.5%. The sector however suffers from archaic rules and practices and needs urgent reforms to support the high growth rates of Indian economy. The Road Transport and Safety Bill was brought by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to strengthen road safety as well as improve ease of transport across the country. Discussions have to be held with all state governments to remove any apprehensions or misgivings they may have. In order to ensure road safety and improve customer satisfaction there is an urgent need to make administrative changes, amend the Motor Vehicles Act and make optimal use of technology to cut down delays The GoM aims to develop a road map for achieving the above deliverables. A preparatory meeting of Principle Secretaries of Transport of States and Transport Commissioners was held in New Delhi on 22" April, 2016, to crystallize the agenda points for the meeting of the Group of Ministers to be held tomorrow. Among other issues the focus points for deliberations tomorrow are likely to be how to deal with non- motorized transport on roads like pedestrians and cyclists or non road vehicles plying on public places; testing for issue of Driving License which would include discussion on having unified driving license, use of automation, mandatory driver training, rationalization of categories and periodicity for license renewal. Grant of fitness for transport vehicles is another subject on the agenda and would include issues like reviewing periodicity of vehicle fitness in view of better technology, introduction of automation in vehicle fitness, third party fitness testing by dealers or other authorized service stations. Deliberations will also be held on framing rules of road regulations and increase in penalties for traffic violations, with a part of the penalty collected going into improvement of traffic management. For enhancing customer experience discussions will be held on simplification of forms and linking with Aadhar for bio-metric verification, making forms online, inclusion of accidental insurance cover for commercial drivers in third party insurance scheme and also removing provisions regarding dress code for drivers. Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), reports a business daily. The Government is looking at divesting as much as 10 per cent stake in state-owned(HUDCO), reports a business daily. The resolution has been passed in the companys general body meeting, a person close the development told the financial newspaper. Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, M. Venkaiah Naidu, is expected to sign the file in a day or two after which it will be sent for Cabinet approval, the official told the daily. The move is in line with the Governments plans to encourage listing among public sector units (PSU), apart from enhancing efficiency and corporate governance. This would be the Governments third attempt to sell its stake in HUDCO, which is wholly-owned by the Centre. HUDCO falls under the administrative control of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation. Earlier, the UPA Government had proposed to sell a 10 per cent stake in HUDCO in 2012 but the same did not materialise. Before that, UPA had attempted to sell a 15 per cent stake in HUDCO in 2006 but the Left parties opposed the move. HUDCO was established in 1970 under the Companies Act with an equity of INR 2 crore. It undertakes housing and urban infrastructure development programmes in the country, provides long-term finance for construction of houses and also finances setting up of new or satellite towns and industrial enterprises. As on March 31, 2015, HUDCO had total assets worth Rs. 33,113.37 crore and reported profit of Rs. 777.63 crore. The Government in Rajya Sabha on Thursday refused to rollback 1% excise duty on non-silver jewellery, saying that luxury items cannot be kept out of tax ambit for perpetuity.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley refuted the Opposition's allegations saying that when items of common use were being taxed, how could luxury items be kept out.Jaitley said that corporate jewellers with up to INR 12 crore turnover last year came under the tax ambit and those with up to INR 6 crore turnover are exempt from it in the current fiscal."Small jewellers and artisans are not covered within the ambit of this excise levy, Jaitley said.When there is excise duty on items like soap, toothpaste, razor, pencil, ink, fruit juices and baby food, why should the luxury items be exempted from it, the Finance Minister said.Jaitley said that even imitation jewellery attracted 6% excise duty.If they (opposition parties) were so concerned about it (excise duty on jewellery), they should get the 5% value-added tax (VAT) removed in Kerala, Jaitley said.Each state imposes VAT on gold and in Kerala it is as high as 5% and if you (opposition) are so much concerned then get it removed from Kerala, he said. The Indian government has asked the UK government to deport UB Group Chairman Vijay Mallya.The Centre has written to the UK high commission in New Delhi, seeking Mallyas deportation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Thursday.The request was made within days of a special court issuing a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of Mallya, who flew to the UK on 2nd March.We will continue to pursue this matter with UK authorities, Swarup said, adding that the Indian high commission in London will be issuing a similar note verbale to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.The Government last week revoked Mallyas diplomatic passport in an effort to bring him back to India. It had suspended the passport on 15th April for four weeks on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing money-laundering allegations against him.On Monday, the Ethics Committee of the Rajya Sabha decided unanimously to expel Mallya from Parliaments Upper House, and gave him a weeks time to explain the default on bank loans worth over INR.9,000 crore to Kingfisher Airlines. S&P BSE Sensex ended at 25,606.62, up 3.52 points and NSE Nifty closed at 7,849.80, up 2.55 points in what was a topsy-turvy trading day. The BSE Mid-cap Index and BSE Small-cap Index closed at 0.22% and -0.05% respectively. Sun Pharma, ONGC, Axis Bank, Coal India, Cipla, HDFC, Tata Steel, Maruti, Lupin are among the gainers, whereas ICICI Bank, Asian Paints, HCL Tech, HUL, Bharti Airtel, M&M, RIL are losing sheen on BSE. Some buying activity is seen in healthcare, Oil and gas, sectors, whereas telecom, tech, consumer durables, utilities, banking, Auto, Metal, realty are showing weakness on BSE. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Electricite De France (EDF), France for Implementation of six Evolutionary Pressurised Water Reactors (EPR) at Jaitapur, Maharashtra together with associated fuel, fuel services and other services. The scope of work under the MoU is also to define technical configuration to meet the Indian statutory and regulatory requirements for certification and design. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. Sr. No. Organization Vehicle Name Notification Date for Recall Defect Target No. of Vehicles 1 Ford India pvt. Ltd. Figo & Fiesta Classic (All) 23-Jul-12 Minor crack in Rear Twist Beam (RTB) emitting unusual metallic cracking noise 111000 Figo & Fiesta Classic (Petrol variants) 23-Jul-12 Minor oil leak in the PAS Hose System and potential fume might exhume from the identified leakage area 17655 2 Toyota Kirloskar Private Limited Toyota Camry (Imported from Japan) 10-Oct-12 Notchy/Sticky feeling of using sliding electrical Contact module in driver's side Power Window Master Switch (PWMS). Commercial lubricants applied on it may result in melting of switch assembly 1904 Toyota Corolla Altis (Manufactured in India) 10-Oct-12 Notchy/Sticky feeling of using sliding electrical Contact module in driver's side Power Window Master Switch (PWMS). Commercial lubricants applied on it may result in melting of switch assembly 6782 3 Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. CBR 250 (Standard) 19-Nov-12 Possibility of limited ineffectiveness in front brake application 11506 4 Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. XUV 500 (W6 and W8 variants) 6-Mar-13 Oil seepage from a hose that leads to gradual increase in steering efforts 24695 5 Nissan Motor India Private Limited Micra (all variants) 22-May-13 Seal of Primary and/or secondary circuit of brake master cylinder may get twisted resulting in brake fluids to pass the seal. When operating the system under light braking force, driver may experience brake pedal sinking to the floor 6286 Sunny (all variants) 22-May-13 Seal of Primary and/or secondary circuit of brake master cylinder may get twisted resulting in brake fluids to pass the seal. When operating the system under light braking force, driver may experience brake pedal sinking to the floor 15902 6 Renault India Pulse (All variants) 22-May-13 Seal of the primary and/or secondary circuit of the brake master cylinder may get twisted, resulting in brake fluid to pass the seal. When operating the braking system under light braking force, the customer may experience brake pedal sinking to the floor. 2836 Scala (All variants) 22-May-13 Seal of the primary and/or secondary circuit of the brake master cylinder may get twisted, resulting in brake fluid to pass the seal. When operating the braking system under light braking force, the customer may experience brake pedal sinking to the floor. 4180 7 Toyota Kirloskar Private Limited Toyota Corolla Altis All Variants Diesel (Manufactured in India) 24-May-13 FR Drive shaft coming off from the inboard joint resulting in loss of drive 1077 8 Honda Cars India Limited City (Manual and Automatic) 29-Jun-13 Melting of Power Window Master Switch 42672 9 Ford India pvt. Ltd. EcoSport (Diesel) 11-Jul-13 Glow Plug Module may require replacement or relocation 972 10 India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. Yamaha Cygnus Ray (2 Wheeler - 1GC1 Variant) 18-Jul-13 Some Handle bars may crack or break by vibrations while vehicle is running due to Inadequate welding. Hence replacement of the Handle Bar will be done in all affected range. 56082 11 Jaguar Land Rover Limited Jaguar XF (UK Built) 2.2L Diesel 8-Aug-13 Fuel odour and fuel on the ground after driving. Diesel fuel leaking from engine mounted injector spill rail spigot to return pipe connector joint. 1 Jaguar XF (UK Built) 2.2L Diesel 8-Aug-13 Fuel odour and fuel on the ground after driving. Diesel fuel leaking from engine mounted injector spill rail spigot to return pipe connector joint. 516 12 Ford India pvt. Ltd. Figo & Fiesta Classic (All) 13-Sep-13 Ford India is extending the existing recall for RTB issue to recall the remaining batches of the vehicle 131922 Figo & Fiesta Classic (Petrol variants) 13-Sep-13 Ford India is extending the existing recall for PAS Hose System issue to recall the remaining batches of the vehicle 34099 13. Maruti Suzuki India Limited Swift (Petrol & Diesel Variants) 26-Nov-13 Check for unapproved Steering Column Assembly 176 416 Swift Dzire (Petrol & Diesel Variants) 26-Nov-13 130 451 Ertiga (Petrol & Diesel Variants) 26-Nov-13 78 228 Astar (Petrol Variants) 26-Nov-13 13 14 Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. Scorpio Ex 1-Dec-13 On certain production vehicles, a pressure regulating valve may not operate optimally, Should this condition continue, it will lead to jerk being felt by rear seat passengers 985 15 India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd. R1 (Assembled Condition - Import from Japan) 3-Mar-14 Improper headlight connector couples due to thermal expansion causing flick due to vibration while riding. Continued use may lead to melting and malfunction. 138 16 Maruti Suzuki India Limited Swift (Petrol & Diesel Variants) 9-Apr-14 Possibility of fuel smell and leakage in extreme condition if fuel is filled upto the Fuel Cap level due to inadequate setting resulted due to improper screw shape 14919 32318 Swift Dzire (Petrol & Diesel Variants) 9-Apr-14 11853 30628 Ertiga (Petrol & Diesel Variants) 9-Apr-14 3197 10396 17 Honda Cars India Limited Amaze - Manual (Petrol - Non ABS) 5-May-14 Possiblity of certain cars have mis-assembly of Brake Proportioning Valve 15603 Brio - Manual (Petrol - Non ABS) 5-May-14 15623 18 Hyundai Motor India Limited Santa Fe 23-May-14 Stop Lamp Switch Malfunction 2437 19 Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. Scropio EX 7-Jul-14 In some vehicles, a pressure regulating valve may interfere with a nearby body panel and may not operate optimally. This may ultimately cause damage to the pressure regulating valve 23519 20 Honda Cars India Limited Accord 16-Jul-14 passenger airbag inflators may contain propellants with low density caused by production conditions. The deployment, the pressure inside the inflator case rises excessively and may rupture. 1075 CR-V 253 Stream 1 21 Maruti Suzuki India Limited Old Dzire (diesel) 30-Sep-14 Improper fitness condition of wiring harness which might cause interefernce between wiring harness and battery tray. 54858 1080 Old Swift (diesel) 12470 16 Ritz (diesel) 1131 22 Audi India (Division of Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt Ltd) Audi A4 28-Oct-14 Software update of the airbag control unit to rectify an incorrect parameter in the triggering algorithm. 6758 23 Nissan Motor India Private Limited Micra (all variants) 27-Oct-14 some airbag inflators were assembled with incorrect outer baffle plate at Takata facility. Excessive pressure results from restricted gas flow, causing inflator to rupture during deployment. 5895 Sunny (all variants) 27-Oct-14 104 24 Honda Cars India Limited Brio (Petrol) 27-Oct-14 Incorrect baffle plates assembled during Driver Side Airbag Inflator assembly process. When such airbags are deployed, pressure inside inflaotor case rises excessively and the case may rupture. 1040 Amaze (Petrol& Diesel) 1235 CR-V (Petrol) 63 Accord 15-May-15 At the time of airbag deployement the inflator body may be ruptured due to excessive internal pressure. Replacement being done as a preventive measure 10805 575 CR-V 1 Civic 25 Audi India (Division of Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt Ltd) Audi Q7 15-Sep-14 Engine oil may enter brake servo via vacumm lines. This might cause damage to diaphram in the brake servo via vacuum lines 382 26 Toyota Kirloskar Private Limited Camry 12-Nov-14 Inspect and replace the front suspension lower ball joint 119 27 Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. XUV 500 (W4, W6, W8) 15-Nov-14 on some of the production engines, the vacuum pump may malfunction which will lead to noise from engine and damage it. 2341 Scorpio (Vlx, Slx, Lx) Xylo (H9, H8, H6) 28 Ford India pvt. Ltd. Fiesta (Diesel) 21-Nov-14 Deisel engine can get affected in wet conditions 3072 29 Toyota Kirloskar Private Limited Corolla Altis 25-Nov-14 engine oil leakage from turbochager/vacuum pump and accumulates in the air intake system, which may lead to consequential damage 5834 30 Ford India pvt. Ltd. Titanium O 16-Dec-14 side airbags, seat belt pre-tensioner and side impact sensor circuits incorrectly oriented. 19441 Titanium (1.0 & 1.5 Tivct) Vapour line and fuel prone to collision 2716 31 Renault India Pulse 12-Jan-15 some airbags inflators were assembled with incorrect outer baffle plate. Therefore, excessive pressure can be created by restricted gas flow, potentially causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment. 620 Scala 26 32 Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. XUV500 12-Feb-15 99283 33 Volkswagen Audi A4, Q5, A6, A7, Q7, A8 26-Feb-15 Avoiding a possible unfavourable combination of tolerances can cause leak in injection system. If fuel retaining bracket not sufficiently rigid, may cause tension at the connection b/w bracket and fuel rail. 25 34 Maruti Suzuki India Limited Alto 800, Alto K10 (Petrol/CNG:19780/13318) 10-Mar-15 Replace door latch assembly Front & Rear (Right side only) in the affected vehicles 33098 35 Nissan Motor India Private Limited X-Trail 13-May-15 Part of ongoing investigaion in to smokeless passenger inflator 587 Teana 92 Almera 2 Patrol 2 36 Nissan Motor India Private Limited X-Trail 24-Jun-15 Takata inflator issue, Nissan will expand the ongoing Takata inflator airbag inflator campaign . 310 Teana 410 37 Nissan Motor India Private Limited Micra 25-Jun-15 voluntary recall for certain variants equipped with engine push button start 6495 Sunny 5106 38 Toyota Kirloskar Private Limited Corolla 2-Jul-15 improperly manufactured propellant wafers assembled which might cause ator to rupture and front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally during crash 36 39 General Motors India Beat, Spark, Enjoy 13-Jul-15 Safety issue of remote keyless entry accessory issue 155000 40 Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. CBR 250R Standard Suspected that sealant may have been applied incorrectly during assembly of the starter relay swicth which may increase resistance across main fuse, potentially interrupting the motorcycle's battery voltage to the electrical system. The interruption may cause the engine to not start or stall while riding or even catch fire in extreme cases 13706 ABS CBR150R Standard Deluxe 41 HARLEY Davidson XG 750 27-Aug-15 Poor fuel pump inlet which could lead to interruption of fuel supply at low fuel levels. The motorcycle may hesitate and restore power abruptly leading to loss of control 3698 42 Renault India Pulse (All variants) 9-Sep-15 Rework the start stop button to avoid an excessive interference condition 970 Scala (All variants) 1138 43 Honda Cars India Limited CR-V 18-Sep-15 Rupturing of inflator body due to excessive internal pressure at the time of airbag deployment 646 Civic 11159 CR-V 1 CR-V 11494 Civic 40083 City 2646 CR-V 7684 City 140508 Civic 43129 Jazz 15707 44 Volkswagen Polo 8-Oct-15 hand break lever arm in rear brake drum assembly may break, making it ineffective 1439 45 Honda Cars India Limited City 23-Oct-15 Existing CVT control software can result in higher stress to the CVT during certain CVT operation mode 3879 46 Volkswagen Polo, Vento, Jetta, Pasat 1-Dec-15 Software updation required 198300 47 Honda City 10-Dec-15 Fuel leakage observed from fuel return line and subsequently engine stops due to no fuel in tank 64428 Mobilio 10-Dec-15 25782 48 General Motors India Chevrolet Beat Diesel 15-Dec-15 Clutch pedal lever are suseptible to cracking 101597 49 Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. VFR1200FDA 5-Jan-16 driveshaft universal joint bearing may not have been properly assembled and may not have swpecified durability due to manufcaturing errors 28 50 Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. CBR250R (standard/ABS) 5-Jan-15 Sealant may have been applied incorrectly during assembly of the starter relay switch, this can increase resistance across main fuse, potentially interrupting motorcycle's battery voltage to the electrical system. 13706 CBR150R (standard/ABS) 2,122 51 Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. VFR1200FDA 5-Jan-16 driveshaft universal joint bearing not assembled properly, and even if done, may not have specified durability. 28 ICICI Bank Indias largest private sector bank, will announce its Q4 numbers today. IIFL estimates that the banks net profit is likely to plunge to Rs. 2,315 crore, at a rate of 21% yoy and 23% qoq.The company has announced the re-introduction of Methergine (methylergonovine maleate) Oral Tablets 0.2mg for the prevention and management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).Marico will announce its Q4 numbers today. IIFL estimates the companys net profit to soar to Rs.140 crore, at a rate of 27.4% yoy; however, the same is expected to fall 29.1% qoq.Berger Paints India Ltd and Nippon Group of Japan have signed formal agreements to transfer some of their automotive paints businesses in India to their existing joint venture (JV).The Government in Rajya Sabha on Thursday refused to rollback 1% excise duty on non-silver jewellery, saying that luxury items cannot be kept out of tax ambit for perpetuity.The companys consolidated revenue stood at Rs. 2,161.30 crore, up 10.85% yoy and 1.61% qoq.Essel Propack, global leader in laminated plastic tubes, reported consolidated net profit of Rs.41.45 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, registering decline of 8.72% yoy and 3.47% qoq.Akzo Nobel NV has proposed to set up a joint venture (JV) with Atul Ltd to manufacture monochloroacetic acid (MCA), a key raw material for crop protection and other chemicals, in India. The company will announce its Q4 numbers today.The net profit of the company plunged 24.7% to Rs.575.6 crore in Q4 compared with Rs.764.2 crore in Q3.EBITDA margin was at 38.1% vs 34.7% qoq, whereas EBITDA surged 15.6% to Rs.3,616 crore vs Rs.3,128 crore qoq.Jubilant Consumer offloaded 3.6% stake in Jubilant FoodWorks, which operates Domino's Pizza and Dunkin Donuts chains, for over Rs. 303 crore through an open market transaction, as per media reports.The company reported 4.4% decline in net profit at Rs.304 crore for the quarter ended March 31, compared with Rs.318 crore in the same period last year.The companys standalone revenue stood at Rs. 293.95 crore, up 7.25% qoq and 27.1% yoy.ACC, country's largest cement and concrete maker, reported consolidated net profit of Rs. 226.95 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, registering decline of 4.05% yoy but growth of 121.65% qoq.Tata Power announced the successful commissioning of its 44 MW Lahori wind farm project, located in Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh.Hindustan Construction Company Ltd posted a net profit of Rs. 191.40 mn for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as compared to Rs. 206.50 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.Can Fin Homes, home loan providers, reported standalone net profit of Rs. 47.44 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, registering growth of 107.28% yoy and 12.47% qoq.The companys consolidated revenue stood at Rs. 72.20 crore, up 7.6% qoq and 37.29% yoy.Astra Microwave, one of the leading defence goods providers in the country, will announce its Q4 results today.IIFL estimates the companys net profit to be at Rs.10 crore, which constitutes 89.9% rise yoy and 26.4% decline qoq.The company posted a net profit at Rs.18.49 crore for the Quarter ended March 31, 2016.The net sales for the quarter was at Rs.308.8 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Marico Ltd stock ended 3% higher at Rs. 258.The Group has posted a net profit of Rs. 1384.386 mn for the Quarter ended March 31, 2016 as compared to Rs. 1100.350 mn for the Quarter ended March 31, 2015. Total Income has increased from Rs. 12450.148 mn for the Quarter ended March 31, 2015 to Rs. 13345.939 mn for the Quarter ended March 31, 2016. Tata Metaliks Ltd stock ended 16% higher at Rs. 131.The Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on April 28, 2016, inter alia, has recommended a dividend of Rs. 8.50 per Non-Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares of Rs. 100/- each and a dividend of Rs. 2/- per Equity Share of Rs. 10/- each for the year ended March 31, 2016. Dabur India Ltd ended 2% higher at Rs.276. The company reported a 16.6% rise in net profit for the quarter ended 31 March 2016. Net profit for the full year increased 17.5%. Lupin Ltd rose 2.11% to Rs.1,607. The company strengthened its branded drug portfolio in the US market with the relaunch of a drug to control postpartum hemorrhage (post delivery blood loss). Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd ended 5% lower at Rs.21. The company said that its consolidated net loss for the full year widened to Rs.318.14 crore from Rs.159.45 crore. HCL Technologies Ltd closed 6% lower at Rs.750. The IT firm posted disappointing results for the third quarter ended March 31, 2016, missing street estimates. Tata Metaliks Ltd stock was higher by 12% at Rs.126. The Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on April 28, 2016, inter alia, has recommended a dividend of Rs. 8.50 per Non-Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares of Rs. 100/- each and a dividend of Rs. 2/- per Equity Share of Rs. 10/- each for the year ended March 31, 2016. The scrip opened at Rs. 120 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 129.1 and Rs. 119 respectively. So far 2233594(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 286.28 crore. The BSE group 'B' stock of face value Rs. 10 has touched a 52 week high of Rs. 129.6 on 05-May-2015 and a 52 week low of Rs. 78 on 12-Feb-2016. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 119.7 and Rs. 112 respectively. The promoters holding in the company stood at 50.09 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 3.41 % and 46.5 % respectively. The stock is currently trading above its 200 DMA. If you ever visit Priyanka Chopra on set, you might just find her hiding in one corner and hogging on a burger or a slice of pizza. Yes, a meat-lover, she doesn't like salads or soups. And she doesn't even work out. Remember how she won the chicken wings eating competition on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon? Yet whenever required, she swiftly slips into swimwear, flaunting her well-toned body! "It's bad. I know." deccanchronicle Priyanka will be seen taking to the beach in a bathing suit while playing baddie Victoria Leeds in her Hollywood debut Baywatch. While she might have joined her co-stars including Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron on the sets of the film, she is not accompanying them to the gym. She just doesn't have to, as she is genetically blessed with a fit body. "I'm actually not a big fan of working out. I have genetically blessed Indian genes where I don't need to train, but Kelly Rohrbach has been trying to convince me to train with her, and every morning when she tries to get me to go with her, I'm just like, 'Oh, can I just get a half an hour more sleep? Or I say my tummy's hurting and make excuses'. But they train like beasts! So I hide behind my towels and eat my burgers because everyone else is on salad, and I feel guilty." Red carpet prep!!! Yummmmmm! #PCAs tonight #BurgersAreTheBest A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Jan 6, 2016 at 4:55pm PST The Bollywood actress is happy to have landed the Baywatch gig. With her wits in place, she said she is the lucky one! "How many people can take on The Rock? I think Baywatch will be a summer blockbuster and I'm not just saying it because I'm in it. I saw a bunch of scenes right now and it's the funniest movie ever. Dwayne and Zac have the best chemistry, and I come and interrupt their chemistry." Priyanka also said she has to do a lot to get into her character! "I have to wear extra-high heels so that I can look intimidating because I'm the villain in the movie. Otherwise, you know, I'm so little and so tiny, and I have to look up to them, and it doesn't work." (Also read: Priyanka Chopra And 6 Other Indians Make It To TIME Magazine's Most Influential List!) Priyanka, who wrapped up her American television show Quantico, also made a classic appearance at the swanky Time 100 Gala. Dressed in a white androgynous ensemble, her suited up look was far from her elegant attire at the Oscars. PC knows how to show the various sides of her bold and beautiful personality. Mind you, all this and without any treadmill sessions! tumblr awardsdaily The full trailer of Oliver Stone's Snowden is out and Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays National Security Agency contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden. The film is based on the true story of Edward Snowden, who uncovered NSA's extent of spying on the American public and handed over the intelligence over to journalists. Last we checked, he sought asylum in Russia and hasn't been heard of ever since. Watch the trailer here. Snowden, 32, whose supporters say he boldly exposed government infringements of privacy, fled the United States in May 2013 and now lives in Russia where he was granted asylum. The US government filed espionage charges against him for leaking intelligence information. Here are 5 things you must know about the real Edward Snowden, so that you can decide for yourself whether he did the right thing or not. Edward Snowden/sputniknews 1. Edward Snowden was an American computer professional, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee, and former contractor for the United States government . 2. He copied and leaked classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013 without prior authorisation, which stirred up quite a storm in the US. 3. The information he leaked revealed numerous global surveillance programs, many run by the NSA, and the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments. This basically meant that the US government had access to all communications of a common man without his knowledge. 4. Snowden left his job with the NSA and revealed the classified information to journalists, and the information formed the basis of various news stories in The Guardian and The Washington Post, and other major news publications of the country. 5. He was eventually accused of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and theft of government property, following which he fled to Russia and got asylum there. He has been called several things in the past including hero, a whistleblower, a dissident, a patriot, and a traitor. With the AgustaWestland deal taking Indian political corridors in Delhi by storm, these are the latest developments that have taken place since the judgement of the Milan Court of Appeals earlier this week. 1. The BJP filed a notification for a discussion on the Agusta scam in both houses of Parliament. To show it has nothing to hide, Congress also sought discussion. 2. "The identity of the bribe-givers has been established...now the identity of the bribe-takers" has to be revealed, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament. 3. Angry Congress MPs protested and forced an adjournment of the Rajya Sabha when the BJP's Subramaniam Swamy sought to name Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in the scam. Mrs Gandhi's name later was expunged by the chair. Jagran 4. "All the accusations they are throwing at us are false, said Sonia Gandhi. The BJP had decided to target her in Parliament after documents placed in the Italian court referred to her as "the driving force" in the deal. 5. "There is no case, my party will respond on this," former PM, Manmohan Singh, responded over allegations. Washington Post 6. The Congress clarified that once talk of kickbacks erupted in Italy, the then UPA had cancelled the Agusta deal. It had also allegedly blacklisted the company and asked the CBI to investigate the scam. 7. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar challenged the Congress to prove its innocence, and on whether the UPA had blacklisted AgustaWestland or not. IndianExpress 8. The Italians claim that then Air Force chief SP Tyagi received kickbacks for the contract. Although the former IAF chief denied all allegations, the statements in the judgement show that he had received undue favours from the middlemen in exchange of helping in the deal. In their first visit to the campus after converting to Buddhism, Rohith Vemula's mother Radhika and brother Raja, arrived at the UoH (University of Hyderabad) on Thursday, but were denied entry once again by varsity authorities, triggering protests. ndtvimg The duo, along with Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of BR Ambedkar, was invited by the Ambedkar Students' Association, who were observing Ambedkar Jayanti on Thursday. The duo was also supposed to participate in an anna-daan programme on the occasion. "I just wanted to offer flowers at Rohith's memorial since this is our first visit after we converted to Buddhism a few weeks back. However we were not allowed by university security, " said Radhika. wildcatinindia Rohith's family has been repeatedly denied entry into the campus for the past four months now. "It is shameful that the university did not allow the blood relative of Ambedkar into the campus, when the entire country is observing Ambedkar Jayanti," said Raja. Meanwhile, students cooked food that was meant to be distributed by Rohith's family and carried it outside the university main gate for guests. Annie Sinha Roy is a proud woman. Working in a male-dominated realm, she is least bothered about what's to come tomorrow. Precisely because being India's first and only woman tunnel engineer, she has played a monumental role in the Bengaluru Metro Project. The Hindu Business Line Annie has helped develop the 4.8 km east-west underground track of Namma Bangalore - the country's first underground metro line in southern India - that will run from Cubbon Road to Vidhana Soudha. Facebook Annie, who hails from a middle-class family in North Kolkata, wanted to earn a post graduation degree after studying Mechanical Engineering from Nagpur University. However, things turned out differently after her father passed away. She got a job to help with her family's financial crunch which led to her joining Senbo, a contractor company with Delhi Metro in 2007. On her first day of the job, Annie heard someone say: "she must be a visitor." Recalling one of her first experiences as a tunnel engineer, Annie said, "After a couple of hours, I was standing in front of a huge machine that had to break the ground but it was stuck. A German engineer and my boss asked me to get inside it and open a nut. Even before I realized what I was doing, my face was gushed by hydraulic oil. The colleague said my face would glow for the rest of my life. Today tunnelling is my life." Saggere Radhakrishna/Business Standard It was in 2009 when she took up work with Chennai Metro, after which she flew to Doha in 2014 for six months. She started working with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) in 2015 as assistant manager. In BMRC, Annie single-handedly steered Godavari - the tunnel-boring machine that recently finished carving out the underground track from Sampige Road to Majestic. She called it her tunnel because the moment she hopped on board, the machine got damaged. After that moment, Annie started spending eight hours in the tunnel every day. TOI "Sometimes when people see me with the helmet and jacket and learn that I work for Namma Metro, they would only ask when the work will get over," added Annie. When asked what message she had for all the women out there, Annie said, "I want women to drive a tunnel boring machine. I want them to work in the tunnel." US House speaker Paul Ryan has invited Narendra Modi to address a joint session of the US Congress on June 8, virtually confirming that the Prime Minister will be traveling to Washington on a state visit although the trip is yet to be officially announced by the White House or the PMO. financialexpress Ryan spoke of the invitation during his news conference, saying the "address presents a special opportunity to hear from the elected leader of the world's most populous democracy on how our two nations can work together to promote shared values and to increase prosperity." "The friendship between US and India is a pillar of stability in an important region of the world," Ryan said. "We look forward to welcoming him to the United States Capitol," the House speaker said, even as India's foreign secretary S Jaishankar met senior US officials to chalk out modalities and agenda for the visit. This will be Prime Minister Modi's fourth visit to the US since he assumed office two years ago, but his first State visit. He will also be the fifth Indian PM to address the joint session of Congress, a tradition that dates back to 1824, when Marquis de Lafayette of France spoke in the House chamber. newindianexpress US will be in the throes of the presidential election during Modi's visit, with the California primaries, scheduled for June 7, the day Modi is scheduled to arrive. Although it is almost certain that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will respectively be the Democratic and Republican candidates, Modi will have a chance to watch the action from close quarters and engage prospective leaders and officials of the next administration, even as President Obama bookends his two terms with state banquets for Indian Prime Ministers. Days after Union HRD minister Smriti Irani kicked off a controversy by asking IITs to teach Sanskrit to its students, the minister has clarified that it was only an elective subject or language, for those who want to study it, and not compulsory for all. Rajya Sabha TV The minister issued the clarification on Thursday through a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. She also clarified that the decision was taken following the recommendations of a panel, chaired by former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, which suggested the introduction of the language in the country's premier educational institutions would facilitate study of science and technology as reflected in Sanskrit literature. BCCL "In consonance with the recommendations, IITs have been requested to offer Sanskrit as an elective subject or as a language course for students who wish to study the language," Irani said. The announcement had come under heavy criticism from opposition calling it the government's move to saffroninze the education sector and an attempt to sneak in the agenda of the RSS. Irani wants IITs to teach Sanskrit texts to tech students. Is she serious? Would she go ahead and rename HRD as Hindu Rashtra Development Ministry, eminent lawyer Prashant Bhushan had asked lashing out on Irani. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had mocked it in tweets, saying computer language should be declared "anti-national". Defending the government's decision, BJP leader and former HRD minister Murli Manohar Joshi had claimed that "Sanskrit is the best language for IT." The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 was one that shook the entire world. The region located in modern day Ukraine and Belarus witnessed the evacuation of 116,000 people along with the resettlement of another 2 lakh people, vacating more than 4200 sq km of land. Here are some images that remind the world of the horror that struck on that fateful day. A painting of a girl decorates an empty building in the abandoned town of Pripyat REUTERS/Damir Sagolj This was taken in the exclusion zone around the closed Chernobyl nuclear power plant on March 31, 2006. For residents of Chernobyl, a three-day evacuation turned into a thirty-year exile. A lamp hangs in a flat which was evacuated after an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in the ghost town of Pripyat, Ukraine, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich The interior of a kindergarten is seen in the abandoned city of Prypiat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant April 4, 2011. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich An interior view of a flat in the abandoned city of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine on April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich A child's gas mask and a shoe are seen at a kindergarten in the abandoned city of Prypiat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, April 4, 2011. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich An interior view of a building shows a double bass in the abandoned city of Prypiat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, on February 24, 2011. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich A room containing disused appliances in the abandoned city of Prypiat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine February 22, 2011. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich A picture of Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin is seen through wild flowers inside a hospital in the abandoned town of Pripyat REUTERS/Damir Sagolj A doll is seen among beds at a kindergarten in the abandoned city of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine March 28, 2016. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich The coat of arms of the former Soviet Union is seen on the roof of a house in the abandoned city of Pripyat near Chernobyl nuclear power plant. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich A guard is seen at a checkpoint in the abandoned city of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich A swimming pool in Ukraine's ghost town of Pripyat, which was evacuated after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich A traffic policeman checks vehicles entering the restricted zone surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear station. REUTERS Mikhail Gorbachev has since said he considered Chernobyl one of the main nails in the coffin of the Soviet Union which eventually collapsed in 1991. A child drinks an anti-radiation iodine solution in a Warsaw clinic following the Chernobyl disaster. REUTERS A Greenpeace report ahead of the 30th anniversary cites a Belarusian study estimating the total cancer deaths from the disaster at 115,000, in contrast to the World Health Organisation's estimate of 9,000. A wedding party crosses a street weeks after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the settlement of Polesskoe, near Chernobyl. REUTERS/Vladimir Repik A worker at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant checks the radiation level in the engine room of the first and second power units. REUTERS The number four reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant after completion of the work to entomb it in concrete. REUTERS Alexander Kovalenko, the former Information Chief of the Chernobyl clean up holds a radiation meter. REUTERS/Meg Bortin This shows a level of 2.3 milliRoentgens (hundreds of thousands of times less than in the first days after the accident). In the background are the third and the adjoining damaged fourth reactor now entombed in concrete. A view of the Chernobyl nuclear plant, with reactor no. 4 in the foreground. REUTERS/Dominique Dubouble Heap Leach Solutions 2016 is the fourth in this conference series created in 2013 in Vancouver by InfoMine and the University of British Columbia (UBC). The series has quickly become a highly acclaimed forum in the field of heap leaching, as demonstrated by the very successful conferences held in 2013 in Vancouver, Canada, in 2014 in Lima, Peru and in 2015 in Reno, Nevada, USA. With this conference series we seek to share knowledge and facilitate interaction between heap leach practitioners and researchers from a wide range of disciplines. Theory and practice are very well balanced in the conference programs, which discuss various aspects of the activities during the life cycle of a heap leach project, from ore testing to development and operations, and, finally, closure. This conference is relevant to everyone engaged in the development, design, construction, and closure of heap leach projects. Academics, regulators, and personnel from mining, consulting, engineering, and financial companies will find this conference of great interest. You will have the opportunity to network with hydrologists, geochemists, biogeochemists, water treatment and reclamation specialists, and many other experts from South America and around the world. Themes: Regional seismicity Impact of heap leaching in comparison with tailings State-of-the-art of geotechnical engineering in heap leach design Reduction in construction and operational costs Heap leach closure Water balance and consumption optimization Trends in 3D stability analysis Geotechnical monitoring Metallurgical ore testing Metal recovery in copper and precious metal heap leach projects Case studies Developing and permitting new mines Environmental considerations for heap leach facilities Geosynthetics and heap leaching Get the most of your trip to Lima and take a short course on Recent Advances in Heap Leach Pad Design, offered on October 18, prior to the main conference. Never miss important news and updates about this conference. Sign up for alerts in English or Spanish. Register for the conference. Organized by InfoMine, in partnership with Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering, University of British Columbia, and Anddes Asociados. The International Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar is the premier seminar series for the worldwide aluminum extrusion industry. ET is truly global in its scope and appeal, attracting more than 1,200 industry professionals from more than 50 countries. The ET Seminar has a reputation of quality and commitment to excellence that is highly respected by those in the aluminum extrusion industry. Delegates from around the world gather to hear about the latest industry developments from the brightest minds in business and academia. At the core of the ET program are the technical sessions, and technical papers must be of the highest caliber to be accepted for presentation. All of the research is new or updated, which makes ET unique in the industry. The 11th International Aluminum Extrusion Technology Seminar & Exposition ET '16 is a comprehensive event that features a robust program addressing every facet of the aluminum extrusion industry. Event Overview The World DRI & Pellet Congress returns for a 4 th year with Dubai playing host for this crucial industry gathering. With constant technological innovations, growing interest DRI in emerging markets and shifting iron ore supply dynamics it has never been more important to stay up to date and make crucial business contacts in this evolving market. Topics to be explored: Hillary: Wall Streets Golden Girl By Pepe Escobar April 28, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Counterpunch "- So its a go for Zeus to launch the thunderbolt. Neo-Athena minus the wisdom Hillary Clinton, Queen of Chaos, Goddess of War, Empress of the Perma-Smirk, will finally have her shot at the U.S. presidency. After the Battle of New York, shes on top on number of votes; number of states; number of pledged delegates; number of superdelegates. It seems as inevitable as death and offshore accounts. I dont think shes going to be indicted; thus spoke Donald Trump to Fox News in relation to Servergate. The Democratic Party is going to protect her. And yet, assuming he clinches the presidency, Trump said he would pursue charges against Hillary concerning her subterranean email server. Charles Koch, for his part, now admits Hillary might make a better President than, well, Trump or any other Republican (Its possible, its possible) as much as, in some respects, he considers Bill was a better President than George W. Bush. So would Kochs billions support Hillary? We would have to believe her actions would be quite different from her rhetoric. Which brings us to Hillary as Queen of Turbo-Charged Casino Neoliberalism. And once again, the evidence insists to suggest that her actions do not exactly match her rhetoric. Hillary takes no prisoners when it comes to imprint on public opinion shes a dedicated apostle of the No Bank Is Too Big To Fail ethos, and is fully committed to their reform. She may have won the Battle of Wall Street, at least as far as the Democratic Party is concerned. But that was never a battle. Enter, once again, those by now notorious three Hillary Clinton speeches to Goldman Sachs executives in the fall of 2013, which translated into a hefty $675,000 add-on to Hillarys piggy bank. This may or may not be a Pandoras box. One of the speeches ($225,000) was in a summit in Arizona, where Hillary seems to have been busy impersonating a Goldman Sachs managing director. Glow, Goldman, glow. Other speeches were, at a minimum, friendly. Hillary repeatedly refused to release transcripts of the speeches. So its up to at least another speech to offer a lateral clue. Here is Hillary talking to Goldman Sachs executives including CEO Lloyd Blankfein on September 2014, during the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York. Goldman Sachs, predictably, is a top CGI sponsor. My machine is Too Big To Fail The Clinton machine-Goldman Sachs dangerous liaisons stretch back to the early go-go 1990s, when Bubba was not even in da (White) House. Most of the trail is a mater of public domain; Bob Rubin then co-senior partner of Goldman Sachs falling in love with Bill and becoming the economic advisor to his 1992 presidential campaign; Rubin engineering the deregulation frenzy that gave us toxic CDOs and apocalyptic derivatives; Goldman Sachs as a top financier of Hillarys 2000 Senate campaign, only behind Citigroup; Bill bagging $650,000 for four speeches between December 2004 and June 2005 (once again; no transcripts); then bagging another $600,000 between 2006 and 2014. In 2011 the Clinton Foundation moved to a new HQ in downtown Manhattan conveniently, in a Goldman Sachs building. In the spring of 2014, top Clinton Foundation donors discussed a bright future together inside Goldman Sachss corporate HQ. Gary Gensler, formerly from Goldman Sachs and also former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is the Hillary Clinton campaigns chief financial officer. As extensively dissected, the record spells out Goldman Sachs as the Clintons number one Wall Street contributor, based on speaking fees, charitable donations, and campaign contributions, the three foundations of what Simon Head chose to brand, appropriately, the Clinton system. So forget about the extensively documented dodgy practices of Goldman Sachs before, during and after the 2008 financial crisis. Forget about Goldman Sachs being ordered to pay a paltry $5 billion for its mortgage racket (Hillary: no comments.) The record shows that for the Clinton system, Goldman Sachs is a sacred cow. Thus those lavish speeches, the glowing P.R., the revolving door always open. Not exactly poetic justice rules that the system (Clintonian and otherwise) as well as stalwart Goldman Sachs are Too Big To Fail. You dont need to be Leibniz to know thats the best of all possible worlds for the Goldman Golden Girl. Pepe Escobar is the author of Globalistan: How the Globalized World is Dissolving into Liquid War (Nimble Books, 2007), Red Zone Blues: a snapshot of Baghdad during the surge and Obama does Globalistan (Nimble Books, 2009). His latest book is Empire of Chaos. He may be reached at pepeasia@yahoo.com. Guess Who's Funding Anti-Russian Protests in Armenia? New Armenia Protests, Same US-Backed Mobs By Tony Cartalucci April 28, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " NEO "- Another day, another protest in Armenia. And if we were to simply believe the Western media regarding this other protest, we might get the impression that the Armenian people are upset with Russian policy and Putinism. In reality, the protests are led by the same verified US-proxies exposed at the height of the Electric Yerevan protests mid-2015 which sought to undermine and overthrow the current government of Armenia in favor of a pro-Western political front more to Wall Street, London, and Brussels liking. The International Business Times in their article, Armenia-Russia Ties Under Question Amid Fighting, Anti-Moscow Protests, would report regarding the recent protests that: At a recent thousand-strong demonstration in the capital of Armenia, Davit Sanasaryan took out a couple of eggs and threw them at the Russian Embassy. The gesture provoked both ridicule and approval in this small landlocked country that traditionally values very close ties with its large northern neighbor. Our protests are not against Russia but against Russian policy and Putinism, activist and politician Sanasaryan said in an interview with International Business Times last week. Davit Sanasaryan (also spelled David Sanasaryan), among other things, is an opposition politician with the Heritage Party who helped lead the previous US-backed Electric Yerevan protests in mid-2015. He is also an associate of the Armenian-based National Citizens Initiative (NCI), revealed in the NCIs own news bulletin titled, NCI Focuses on Armenias Mining Sector, which reports (emphasis added): NCI associate Davit Sanasarian welcomed the audience with opening remarks. The exploitation of the Teghut mine is an actual matter and it calls for serious discussions and proper suggestions prior to the undertaking of this project, he said. This bulletin alone seems innocuous enough, however, another NCI bulletin would reveal itself to be coordinating with and receiving aid from the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The bulletin titled, NCI Partakes in a Civil Society Meeting, states (emphasis added): The National Citizens Initiative (NCI) representatives attended, between 14 and 15 April 2011, the conference entitled Assisting Armenias Civil Society Organizations. This event was an initiative of the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) organization and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Yerevan Office, and it was organized with the assistance of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The objective of the conference was to contribute in developing the capacity of Armenias civil society organizations by way of cooperation and exchange of know-how with Central and Eastern European civil society associations. Of course, considering that the US NED is chaired by pro-war corporate-financier representatives, developing the capacity of civil society organizations in Armenia was not actually on the agenda. Instead, creating a proxy front with which to control Armenia on behalf of foreign interests was, merely couched behind civil society. Sanasarians association with the NCI in this context, is troubling to say the least. But Sanasarians association with the US NED extends far beyond this. He is also on the board of trustees of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs (AIISA), an alleged think-tank that is directly funded by the US NED. His position on the board of trustees is revealed in an AIISA bulletin titled, AIISAs Third Evening DemSchool: Challenges to Democracy, which claims: In partnership with the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the third 11-day evening DemSchool was launched at the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs with Challenges to Democracy heading. It also stated: Certificate award ceremony was held on the DemSchool 11th day. David Sanasaryan, member of AIISA Board of Trustees, young politician and activist, also participated in it. Added to this, is Sanasarians role in the US-backed 2015 protests. It was revealed in mid-2015 that the so-called Electric Yerevan protests were in fact led entirely by US-funded and directed nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Sanasarians involvement then, again implicates him in coordinating with and receiving aid from a foreign government in a bid to undermine his own government. At the time, US State Department-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) would report in its article, Armenians Say Theyll Restart Electric Yerevan Protest, that: At a Yerevan rally attended by several hundred activists on July 17, Rise Armenia leader and opposition Heritage party city councilor Davit Sanasarian said a new campaign against the electricity price hikes would take place from July 27 to July 31, with demonstrators blocking the central streets of Yerevan and other cities around the country. We continue our fight. We will be distributing leaflets from door to door, Sanasarian said. We will be successful. RFE/RL would inadvertently admit that the protesters were simply using electricity prices as a pretext to come out into the streets and that their next move would be of a more political nature, targeting Armenias sitting government. In other words, it was a US-funded color revolution couched behind legitimate concerns regarding utility prices. Considering these extensive ties to US-backing, Sanasarians role leading the current anti-Russian protests portrays him not as a politician or an activist, but as a foreign-funded proxy, and the protests themselves as foreign-engineered meddling, not legitimate dissent. Claims that he is fighting against Russian influence, while all along he is serving as a conduit for Wall Street, London, and Brusssels influence touches upon the sort of hypocrisy seen again and again amid engineered protests targeting the many enemies of Western hegemony worldwide. Tony Cartalucci, Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer, especially for the online magazine New Eastern Outlook Trump Vows To Seek Better Relations With Russia If Elected By Radio Free Europe Full Event April 28, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Radio Free Europe "- Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has vowed to seek improved relations with Russia and China if he is elected to the White House, saying Washington and Moscow "should seek common ground based on shared interests." In an April 27 foreign-policy speech, Trump said that while the United States and Russia had "serious differences," he believes it is "absolutely possible" to ease current tensions with Moscow if Washington approaches the relationship "from a position of strength." "Common sense says this cycle -- this horrible cycle of hostility -- must end, and ideally it will end soon," Trump said as Russia's ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, sat in the front row for the candidate's wide-ranging speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. U.S.-Russian ties have plunged to levels of acrimony unseen since the end of the Cold War following Russia's military seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and an ensuing war between Kyiv's forces and Russia-backed separatists that has killed more than 9,100 people. Both U.S. President Barack Obama's administration and the European Union have slapped several rounds of sanctions on Moscow in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, punitive measures that have angered the Kremlin. Trump, who described Obama's overall foreign policy as "a complete and total disaster," said Washington and Moscow can find common ground, in part, because Russia "has also seen the horror of Islamic terrorism." "Some say the Russians won't be reasonable," Trump said. "I intend to find out. If we can't make a deal under my administration, a deal that's great -- not good, great -- for America, but also good for Russia, then we will quickly walk from the table. It's as simple as that." Kislyak, who has served as Moscow's envoy to Washington since 2008, declined to comment on Trump's comments about Russia when questioned by RFE/RL following the candidate's speech. Trump was critical of U.S. allies for not "paying their fair share of the security burden" and said other NATO members must step up their spending or Washington would "let countries defend themselves." The United States and its European allies have strengthened NATO's presence on the alliance's eastern flank, where member states that were under Moscow's domain during Soviet times have voiced particular alarm about Russian expansionism in Ukraine. Trump, who has previously said that the Ukraine conflict was "really a problem that affects Europe a lot more than it affects us," said that NATO had an "outdated mission." If elected, he said, "we will discuss how we can upgrade NATO's outdated mission and structure grown out of the Cold War to confront our shared challenges, including migration and Islamic terrorism." Trump said the United States was in a "war against radical Islam" and pledged to wipe out the militant Islamic State (IS) group that controls parts of Syria and Iraq. "Containing the spread of radical Islam must be a major foreign-policy goal of the United States and indeed the world. Events may require the use of military force, but it's also a philosophical struggle, like our long struggle in the Cold War," he said. Trump also accused Obama's policies of turning Iran into "a great, great power in a short time," and that U.S. foreign-policy mistakes in Iraq, Egypt, and Libya had helped to "throw the region into chaos." Trump, 69, is currently far ahead of both U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich in the race to become the Republican presidential candidate. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 2016 See also- Hybrid war hyenas tearing Brazil apart - Pepe Escobar : Op-Ed: The gloomy and repulsive night when the female president of the 7th largest economy in the world was the prey of choice fed to a lynch mob of hyenas in a drab, provincial Circus Maximus will forever live in infamy. Fruit of the Poisonous Tree By Judge Andrew P. Napolitano April 28, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Creators "- Would all of our lives be safer if the government could break down all the doors it wishes, listen to all the conversations it could find and read whatever emails and text messages it could acquire? Perhaps. But who would want to live in such a society? To prevent that from happening here, the Framers ratified the Fourth Amendment, which is the linchpin of privacy and was famously called by Justice Louis Brandeis "the right to be let alone the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men." He wrote those words in his dissent in the first wiretapping case to reach the Supreme Court, Olmstead v. United States, in 1928. Roy Olmstead had been convicted for bootlegging on the basis of words he used in overheard telephone conversations. Because he had used a phone at his place of work that the government had tapped without breaking and entering his workplace, the high court ruled despite the fact that the government had not obtained a warrant that he had no right to privacy. Brandeis dissented. Over time, the Brandeis dissent became the law. The Fourth Amendment, which protects the privacy of all in our "persons, houses, papers, and effects," was interpreted to cover telephone conversations and eventually emails and text messages. So today, if the government wants information contained in those communications, it needs to obtain a search warrant, which the Fourth Amendment states can only be given by a judge and only upon a showing of probable cause of evidence of a crime contained in the communications it seeks. If the government does not obtain a search warrant and listens to phone conversations or reads emails or text messages nevertheless and attempts to use what it heard or read to acquire other evidence or directly in the prosecution of a defendant, that is unlawful. That type of information is known as the fruit of the poisonous tree. Evidence procured that is the fruit of the poisonous tree has been inadmissible in federal criminal prosecutions in the United States for the past 100 years and in state criminal prosecutions for the past 50 years. Until now. Now comes the super-secret court established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, reaffirmed by Congress last year under the so-called USA Freedom Act. Beware the names of federal statutes, as they often produce results that are the opposite of what their names imply; and this is one of them. Congress has unconstitutionally authorized the FISA court to issue search warrants on the basis of governmental need a standard that is no standard at all because the government can always claim that it needs what it wants. The FISA court does not require a showing of probable cause for its warrants, because it accepts the myth that the government is listening to or reading words by foreign people for foreign intelligence purposes only, not for prosecutorial purposes. Never mind that Congress cannot change the plain meaning of the Constitution. Never mind that the Fourth Amendment protects all people in the United States, American or foreign, from all parts of the government for all purposes, not just criminal prosecutions. Yet the FISA court still grants general warrants look where you wish and seize what you find exposing our innermost thoughts to the prying eyes of the intelligence community in direct contravention of the Fourth Amendment. Enter the USA Freedom Act. One of its selling points to Congress was that it would permit the FISA court to appoint a lawyer to challenge hypothetically some of its behavior. The court recently made such an appointment, and the lawyer appointed challenged the policy of the National Security Agency, the federal government's domestic spying agency, of sharing data it acquires via the unconstitutional FISA warrants with the FBI. She argued that the data sharing goes far beyond the stated purpose of the FISA warrants, which is to gather foreign intelligence data from foreign people, not evidence of domestic crimes of anyone whose emails might be swept up by those warrants. The challenge revealed publicly what many of us have condemned for years: The NSA actually makes its repository of raw data from emails and text messages available for the FBI to scour at will, without the FBI's obtaining a warrant issued by a judge pursuant to the Fourth Amendment. In an opinion issued in November but kept secret until last week, the FISA court rejected the hypothetical challenge of its own appointee and ruled that the NSA could continue to share what it wants with the FBI. There are several problems with this ruling. The first is the hypothetical nature of the challenge. Federal courts do not exist in a vacuum. They do not render advisory opinions. They can only hear real cases and real controversies involving real plaintiffs and real defendants, not hypothetical ones as was the case here. The whole apparatus of hypothetical challenge and hypothetical ruling is constitutionally meaningless. It was the moral and legal equivalent of a law school moot court oral argument. Yet federal and soon state law enforcement will interpret it as giving cover to the NSA/FBI practice of data sharing, which is clearly unconstitutional because it is the use of fruit from a poisonous tree. FISA and the USA Freedom Act were enacted under the premise the pretense that the data collected under them would be used for foreign intelligence purposes only so that attacks could be thwarted and methods could be discovered. Yet the use by the FBI of extraconstitutionally obtained intelligence data for ordinary criminal prosecutions defies the stated purposes of the statutes and contradicts the Fourth Amendment. US Apocalypse in Mosul in the Guise of Bombing ISIS By Felicity Arbuthnot The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants. Albert Camus, 1913-1960 April 28, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Dissident Voice "- On May 1st, 2003, George W. Bush stood in a dinky little flying suit on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and in a super stage managed appearance told the lie of the century: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the Battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. The illegal occupation and decimation of Iraq continued until December 2011. In June 2014 they returned to bomb again in the guise of combating ISIS. As the thirteenth anniversary of Bushs ridiculous appearance with a vast Mission Accomplished banner behind him, Iraq is largely in ruins, Iraqis have fled the murderous liberation and its aftermath in millions, and there are over three million internally displaced. The nation is pinned between a tyrannical, corrupt US puppet government, a homicidal, head chopping, raping, organ eating, history erasing, US-spawned ISIS and a renewed, relentless US bombardment. So much for the 2008 US-Iraq State of Forces agreement, which stated that by 31st December 2011 all United States forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory. On the USS Abraham Lincoln Bush stated: In this battle, we have fought for the cause of liberty, and for the peace of the world Because of you, our nation is more secure. Because of you, the tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free. In what has transpired to be monumental irony, he continued: The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror. We have removed an ally of al-Qaida, and cut off a source of terrorist funding. There was, of course, no al-Qaida in Iraq, no funding of fundamentalist terrorism under Saddam Hussein. It is the invasions conception, birth, now reached maturity from Baghdad to Brussels, Mosul to the Maghreb, Latakia to London. In Iraq, US terrorism from the air is back in all its genocidal force. Incredibly on April 23rd, the Independent reported another staggering piece of either disinformation or childish naivety, in a predictably familiar script: A spokesperson for the US military said all possible precautions were taken to avoid collateral damage', but in approaching 7,000 airstrikes the number of confirmed civilian deaths had risen on Planet Pentagon to just forty one. In another past its sell by date mantra: Colonel Patrick Ryder, a spokesperson for Central Command, said the casualties were deeply regretted but maintained that the campaign was the the most precise air campaign in the history of warfare. And heres another familiar one: In this type of armed conflict, particularly with an enemy who hides among the civilian population, there are going to be, unfortunately, civilian casualties at times. The Geneva Convention, amongst other Treaties, Principles and Conventions, is specific on the protections of populations in conflict, Colonel Ryder should familiarize himself with the texts. So another onslaught in a quarter of a century of bombing Iraq is underway another mass murder with a silly name Operation Inherent Resolve. Here is reality from Dr Souad Al-Azzawi, Award winning environmental scientist who gained her Ph.D from the Colorado School of Mines. She states of just the onslaught on Mosul, her home, the ancient university city of 1.5 million, that the stated figures from US spokespersons are: either misinformed about the real situation on the ground, since they are using drones and guided missiles, or airstrikes blindly, intentionally not saying the truth. She adds: I would like to list SOME of what the Americans airstrikes have been targeting and killing in Mosul: Destroyed are all state services buildings, including Municipalities in right and left sides of Mosul. When they bomb at night, all security personnel get killed or injured, also residents of close by areas, and adjacent properties are destroyed. Bombed and destroyed all communication centers. Destruction of Dairy Production Factories in both left and right sides of Mosul. Casualties of these two are one hundred deaths and two hundred injuries among civilians who gathered to receive milk and dairy products from the factories. Dr Al-Azzawi reminds that this is reminiscent of the bombing of the baby milk factory outside Baghdad in 1991 with the claim it was a chemical weapons factory. This writer visited the factory ruins just months later. There were still charred containers of milk powder the machinery was provided and maintained by a company in Birmingham, England which specialized in infant food production. * Bombing of Mosul Pharmaceutical Industries. * Mosul University was bombed with ninety two deaths and one hundred and thirty five injuries. Earlier estimates were higher, but many were pulled from the rubble alive. They were students, faculty members, staff members, families of faculties, and restaurants workers. *Al Hadbaa and Al Khadraa Residential Apartment compounds. Fifty people killed (families) and one hundred injured. * Hay al Dhubat residential area in the right side of Mosul, two days ago, five women women and four children killed and the whole house destroyed. The father is a respected pharmacist who has nothing to do with ISIL. * Destruction of houses in front of the Medical College, killed twenty two civilians eleven in one family. * Bombing Sunni Waqif Building, twenty deaths and seventy injuries which included those in nearby commercial and residential buildings. * Car maintenance industrial areas in both left and right sides of Mosul destroyed with civilians casualties. * Bombing of flour factories in both sides of Mosul. * Rafidain and Rasheed banks and all their branches in both sides of Mosul. Destruction of all commercial and residential areas in the vicinity of these places, with as yet unknown civilian casualties. (My emphasis.) * Central Bank of Mosul in Ghazi Street, with nearby residential and commercial properties. * Pepsi factory, currently producing ice cubes only. Three deaths and twelve injuries among the workers. * The Governors house and close by guest house. * Mosuls old industrial compound destroyed, with parking area for fuel Tankers and cars. Three days ago, huge explosion of fuel tankers, one hundred and fifty deaths and injuries. * Urban Planning Directory in Hay al Maliyah bombed. * Engineering Planning Directory in Hay al Maliyah bombed. * Food Storages in left side of Mosul bombed. * Drinking water treatment plants bombed. * All electrical generation and transformer stations in the left side of Mosul bombed. * Domez land communications center in left side of Mosul destroyed. *Al Hurairah Bridge and many more. There is a sickening familiarity to some of the targets food, pharmaceuticals, water treatment plants, electricity generation, communications and educational facilities, bridges (the country, towns and cities are divided by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers) have been favoured targets since 1991. Every time painstakingly and imaginatively restored they have been re-bombed for a quarter of a century. During the 1990s a Canadian film crew captured footage of US planes dropping flares on harvested wheat and barley, incinerating entire harvests in a country, which due to the strangulating embargo, there were near famine conditions in parts of society. When Iraqi civilians looked into the faces of our servicemen and women, they saw strength, and kindness, and good will, said George W Bush in his Mission Accomplished speech. No, they saw invaders destroying their lives, their families, their history, raping, pillaging. They saw Fallujas destruction, Abu Ghraibs horrors and the eleven other secret prisons and nightmares ever ongoing. On April 25th, Dr Al-Azzawi added: More war crimes have been committed by American Coalition, yesterday April 24, 2016. The coalition airplanes bombed Rashidiya water treatment plant left side of Mosul city and Yermouk electricity generation station in the right side of Mosul. Through targeting these populations life sustaining necessities, the coalition is committing genocidal action towards Mosul residents in the pretext of fighting ISIS. Also on 25th April, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kate Gilmore, on returning from a week in Iraq wrote starkly of the government: Iraqis are crying out for fairness, recognition, justice, appreciation and meaningful participation in shaping their future a process that goes forward and not backwards We all have responsibilities towards the people of Iraq. While there is an international military coalition in place, a comparably resourced international coalition of practical compassion is also needed to help with the building blocks towards a sustained peace in Iraq. In the US military lexicon it seems compassion has been replaced by their missiles of choice. Ms Gilmore also stated that Iraq was being run by a failed government and warned foreign powers not to be complicit in its neglect of the plight of normal Iraqis. Further: The international community must not allow itself to be made complicit with the failed leadership of Iraq There is political paralysis in Iraq. There is no government in Iraq, she stated blisteringly of America and Britains illegal, abortive, parliamentary project. Our commitment to Liberty is Americas tradition We stand for human liberty, concluded Bush on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Were mistruths ever bleaker? And when will George W. Bush, Charles Anthony Lynton Blair and their cohorts answer for their crimes in a Court of Law? Felicity Arbuthnot is a journalist with special knowledge of Iraq. Author, with Nikki van der Gaag, of Baghdad in the Great City series for World Almanac books, she has also been Senior Researcher for two Award winning documentaries on Iraq, John Pilger's Paying the Price: Killing the Children of Iraq and Denis Halliday Returns for RTE (Ireland.) Its a relationship fact that all couples fight, no matter how much they love each other or how happy they are together. There are silly, normal fights, and then there are fights that are indicative of something bad happening beneath the surface.INFORMATION NIGERIA brings to you in this piece 6 common things couples quarrel about. The You Need To Stop Hanging Out With This Person Because I Dont Like Them Fight Im not saying that you have to be besties with everyone whos important to the person youre dating. The only requirement is that you need to be cordial and that you respect the relationship they have with that person. Saying that your boyfriend or girlfriend needs to cut of all ties with their lifelong best friend, or relative is really not okay. You dont get to have that kind of say in someone elses life, even if you are dating them. Its rude to start that fight. Of course, you want your boyfriend or girlfriend to be around people who recognize how great they are and dont treat them like shit, but thats different than encouraging a dissolution of an important friendship just to make you more comfortable. The You Should Know Why Im Mad Fight No, your partner isnt a mind reader. Theres nothing like the passive aggressive cold shoulder subtle hinting that you might be angry. Part of having a happy relationship is effectively communicating with the person youre dating in a way that isnt mean spirited or awful. If they lit your house on fire and are clueless about what they did wrong, thats one thing, but if something they did got you upset and they dont know about it tell them. Thats the only way to fix this problem. No one is going to intuit your triggers and apologize without you letting them know that they hurt you in some way. The Why Did You Look At My Phone/Facebook/Etc Fight Happy couples dont sneak around and spy on each other. They dont look through each others texts, read each others messages, or try millions of times to break a passcode. If you suspect that youre being cheated on, talk about it. Trust that you arent being lied to and that they will tell you the truth. If you dont trust this person to tell you the truth, this maybe isnt a person you should be dating. I get it if you see a text come up on someones phone and you happen to catch it, but theres no need to actively go rifling through someones personal messages or to be sneaky about it. The I Dont Want You To Go Out Without Me Fight A healthy relationship involves two people who still have their own lives outside of each other. Of course you two should hang out with each others friends and be involved in other aspects of each others lives, but you dont need to be attached at the hip doing everything together in fact, you definitely shouldnt be doing that. If you cant let your partner go out with their friends without you or do anything that doesnt involve you, thats not okay and vice versa. Its controlling, and a happy couple does not try to control each other. They let each other flourish and do the things that make them happy. The Youre Being Mean Fight If you find yourself constantly begging bae to be nicer to you, thats not okay. At all. Happy couples arent mean to each other. Sure, they might fight over stupid things and once in a while they snap at each other. But they arent emotionally abusive or mean they dont insult each other or say things just to hurt the other person. If thats happening in your relationship, get out now. The You Better Do This Or Were Breaking Up Fight Ultimatums suck. Lobbying some action or behavior over someones head and threatening to break up if they dont follow through is not okay, and its not something happy couples do. However, arguments like please stop cheating on me or we need to break up are okay because that involves an actual deal breaker that may lead to an actual break up, but controlling behaviors like stop wearing skirts to work, I dont like other guys looking at you, or well break up is not okay in the least. Using this ultimatum so frequently takes away the actual weight or meaning of it and makes it seem like your relationship is constantly on the line. No one likes to live in that state of uncertainty and it makes people really insecure about their relationship and it needs to stop. which do you engage in??? The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on Thursday condemned Mondays attack on Ukpabi Nimbo Community in Enugu State, describing it as most unfortunate and barbaric. National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, commiserated with the government and people of Enugu state over this unfortunate ugly incident and called on security agencies to unmask the perpetrators, so as to end current dangerous generalisation of Fulani herdsmen as being responsible for the attacks. Nigeria cannot afford to graduate from Boko Haram insurgency to an unwarranted attack by unknown gunmen alleged to be Fulani herdsmen. The traditional Fulani nomads have coexisted peacefully with their host communities and have been grazing their cattle for decades all over Nigeria without any such attacks. ACF is therefore disturbed and seriously concerned with this recent development. It therefore calls upon the security agencies to do a thorough investigation into the identities of the suspected gunmen in order to stop this dangerous generalization of labelling certain tribe or people of certain faith as responsible for these attacks. This will cause mistrust and likely incite people of different tribes and faith who have lived together peacefully for decades. Criminals hiding under whatever guise and committing heinous crimes against innocent people and the state should be treated as such and in accordance with the law, it stated. Troops of 7 Brigade and 8 Task Force Division of Nigerian Army have killed seven Boko Haram terrorists in clearance operations at Gratte in Kukawa Local Council of Borno State on Wednesday night. Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, disclosed this yesterday in a statement issued to newsmen in Maiduguri. The troops also recovered two vehicles, seven motorcycles and an AK 47 rifle, two Boko Haram terrorists hoisted flags, three vehicle tyres, a vulcanising machine, a solar panel and bundles of chewing sticks (Aswaki), which the terrorists believed have spiritual and medicinal values while waging jihads in any part of the world, the statement read in part. The soldiers also killed a notorious Boko Haram kingpin, popularly known as the Albani of Monguno, operating in the northern part of Borno State. A mother decided to give her baby a unique name after giving birth aboard a flight on an Asian airline. The 6-pound, 7-ounce baby boy was given the name Saw Jet Star after being delivered on a Jetstar Asia Airways flight. Were most pleased to announce that a baby boy, named Saw Jet Star, was delivered safely onboard 3K583 by a team of doctors and the crew after the flight landed in Yangon, the airline wrote. Both the mother and the newborn child were said to be in good condition following the birth. The airline also noted that the baby was the first ever born on one of their planes and pledged to provide approximately $750 worth of baby supplies to the family. UPI. The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appealed to members contemplating leaving the party to rethink their decision. The BoT acting chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, made the appeal Thursday against the backdrop of threats by some chieftains of the party in the South-west to resign from the party if the position of national chairman is zoned to the North. Jibrin said that leaving the party for another was not the solution to rebuilding the PDP, stressing now is the time for all members to unite and work towards rebuilding the party. Many of us who are founding members of PDP will not leave the PDP and the PDP will never die. We will continue to be in PDP. Whatever mistake that is there in the party, we must be there to correct it and make our contribution, leaving PDP is not the answer. I will like to appeal to everyone who intends to leave PDP to stop that, we must unite and all work together in order to build PDP. PDP is within a very good marking and I do not think I see anything wrong with PDP. Every party has its own problems and we should use our own problems positively. Am sure soon, the whole problem in PDP will be resolved, Jibrin said in Abuja at the partys 70th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. He stressed the need to use the NEC meetings positively in a way that would benefit the party. We are very aware of various meetings everywhere. I have decided that I will not attend any meeting apart from the properly organised meetings because we have to be very careful in the way we hold meetings these days, Jibrin added. In his remarks, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, said that as the May 21 national convention date approaches, it was expected that there would be disagreements. Ekweremadu, however, stressed the need for members of the party to resolve such disagreements, saying that is the resilience that PDP is known for. So I like to appeal to our party men and women that we must find a way of resolving our differences in the best interest of our party. PDP is the only party in Nigeria which we can say belongs to everybody and to nobody. The time is now for us to make sacrifices and to show compromise so that the party will remain strong. It is also a time for us to show alternative to what is going on in the country currently, so that Nigerians can trust us again with governance in 2019, the deputy Senate president said. Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, who spoke for the PDP Governors Forum, pledged the loyalty of the forum to the decision of the NEC of the party. As a party and democrat, we are bound to have disagreement and agreement on issues. Once the party takes position, we are bound to follow the decision of the party, Dankwambo said. A British couple and their son were brutally attacked because one of them accidentally spilled a drink. The couple Lewis & Rosemary Owen and their 43-year-old son, John believed to be from Scotland were punched to the ground, kicked and battered as they tried to celebrate Thai New Year after a night out in the beach resort of Hua Hin located 250km from the capital of Bangkok. The attack started when the son accidentally bumped into one of the Thai men and spilled his drink. The drunk Thai man who was visibly angry was approached by his fellow thugs. In a bid to avoid trouble, the trio, all wearing shorts and sandals, appeared to be trying to reason with the men when suddenly, a Thai struck 68 year old Lewis Owen in the head. The incident quickly developed into a full-blown attack which left the family battered. When 65 year old Rosemary tried to sit up after her family was laying on the ground, one of the thugs immediately knocked her unconscious by a horrific kick to the jaw, which snapped her head backwards. An eyewitness, witnessed the attack and was also beaten for trying to intervene, wrote online: Within 20/30 meters of leaving the bar the Thais were punching the 65-year-old old lady in the face. The elderly gentleman was down on the floor, and their son was beaten very badly. At this point I caught up to the scene and pushed one of the youths away from the woman. I got severely punched and kicked for my troubles, but felt the need to protect this frail lady. Another person, who claims to have witnessed the assault, claimed that certain thugs attack foreigners when they can. The Family was later taken to the hospital. While father & son Lewis and John sustained head injuries which required stitches, Rose Owen, suffered a brain injury and is still in hospital. She suffered a build-up of fluid in her brain which had to be removed by surgeons. Thai police have reportedly arrested three men and charged them with grievous bodily harm. The suspects, who were paraded by police in front of the media, after their arrest are due in court next week. A statement released concerning the incident reads, An investigation is in process and the suspects will soon be under the jurisdiction of the court. If found guilty, the perpetrators will face full justice under Thai law. Source: UK Mirror The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ondo State command has arrested a 34 years old pastor of Christ Apostolic Church Dangunro, Moses Abiodun who hails from Esa Oke in Osun state for burying fetish items in his Church located along Ijare road before Ikota Junction in Ifedore local government area of the State. According to a statement released by NSCDC spokesperson, Kayode Balogun today April 28th, the pastor who is a founder of the CAC Dagunro was arrested on Wednesday evening April 27th following a tip-off that he was suspected to have buried something suspected to be human head inside his church. The men of NSCDC quickly swung into action, went straight to the church and he was asked to dig some spots inside the Church where various items suspected to be charms such as cow head, pigeon head tied with Kolanut, big clay pot wrapped with white clothes and other numerous fetish items were exhumed from the ground both at the entrance and inside the church. Time Naija. FBN Holdings Plc, the parent company of First bank Limited said it would cut jobs and focus less on providing loans to the oil industry, following last years 82 percent slump in profit. Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Adesola Adeduntan, FirstBank Limited disclosed this in an interview with Reuters. The bank plans to boost its return on equity, a key measure of profitability, to between 11 percent and 14 percent in 2016 from last years really bad figure of 3 percent. The bank is also targeting a cost-to-income ratio of 55 per cent in two years time from 59 percent, he said. ROE will be much better than last year, Adeduntan said. At a minimum, we should triple it. We do not shy away from taking difficult decisions. We used to have above 8,000 people. Well push it down, gradually, to 7,000. FBN Holdings Net profit fell to N15 billion from N84 billion naira in 2014, as impairments soared and economy slowed amid a crash in the price of crude, the biggest source of government revenue and export earnings. First Banks non-performing loans ratio stood at 22 percent at the end of March, compared with 3.8 percent a year earlier. Reducing that figure is the number one priority, said Adeduntan. The bank will do that by reducing the proportion of its lending to the oil and gas sector, currently at about 39 percent of total loans, and focusing more on blue-chip companies in other industries, he said. Big finish. The celebratory exchange of standing applause between young immigrants and senators who successfully overrode the governor's veto of legislation clearing a pathway for them to pursue their professions in Nebraska was a rare, if not unprecedented, moment on the last day of the 2016 legislative session. Normally, outbursts of applause or other noise from the gallery are swiftly gaveled into silence and senators do not respond. This moment was allowed to unfold. And it was a memorable moment. Curtain call. These were the so-called DACA youth, brought to the United States illegally by their parents when they were children, granted lawful presence to remain here by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive action taken by President Obama. The bill would allow them to acquire professional and commercial licenses to work in Nebraska, where most of them have grown up and gone to school. This is the place that most of them know as home. So, it was quite a moment for them and for the senators who voted to support them. During a presidential election year in which anti-immigrant rhetoric has turned ugly, and at time hateful, 31 of the 49 senators stood with the bill. And 18 of them were senators who are Republicans. They joined the dozen senators who are Democrats and Ernie Chambers, the only independent. All 13 votes to sustain the veto were cast by senators who are Republicans; five senators who are Republicans declined to vote. So the split among Republicans was 18-18. Four times in recent years, the nonpartisan Legislature has overriden gubernatorial vetoes impacting undocumented immigrants, two cast by Gov. Pete Ricketts and two by Gov. Dave Heineman. They impacted bills to grant the young immigrants in-state university and college tuition rates, allow them to acquire driver's licenses and now work in Nebraska in the professions they have chosen. Also overriden was Heineman's veto of legislation providing prenatal care for illegal immigrant women and their babies in Nebraska. Only 10 of 49 legislative districts count more registered Democrats than Republicans. And they're all located in Lincoln and Omaha. Those figures demonstrate what a daunting task it is for Democrats to win statewide elections in Nebraska. It also tells you why Democratic candidates fare well in Lincoln and Omaha election contests. The nonpartisan aspect of the Legislature opens some opportunities for Democrats outside the cities. Most overwhelming voter registration dominance: Omaha's 11th District (Sen. Ernie Chambers): Democrats, 14,057; Republicans, 1,940; independents, 3,556. Most competitive battleground: Lincoln's 26th District (Sen. Matt Hansen): Democrats, 9,443; Republicans, 9,359; independents, 5,295. Not far behind: Lincoln's 27th District (Sen. Colby Coash): Democrats, 8,229; Republicans, 7,807; independents, 4,845 independents. Those two narrow divides in Lincoln districts -- and there are other competitive legislative districts in the state -- demonstrate the significance of redistricting decisions that will be made in 2021 and why the vetoed redistricting reform legislation stirred political passions on both sides. Those districts -- and others -- can be shaped to benefit either Republicans or Democrats. Sponsors of the redistricting reform bill wanted to place a bipartisan citizens commission in charge of devising the map-making proposals that would be submitted to the Legislature for its approval or disapproval. Opponents wanted to keep the whole process in the hands of state senators. In reality, the reformers argue, there are other hands on that process before senators make the final decision. Instead of a citizens commission, those hands belong to governors, congressmen and party officials, the reformers contend. Chuck Hagel and Bob Kerrey co-authored an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal last week making the case for global trade and diplomacy in the midst of nationalistic and anti-trade rhetoric during this year's presidential campaign. "Beware the simple applause line or bumper-sticker slogan or tweet from political candidates," they wrote. "Beware those who seem to think that diplomacy and compromise are not essential ingredients of a lasting peace. "The statesmen who built the new economic and political order following World War II, and who sustained the nation's long and expensive containment of the Soviet Union, insisted that global trade and multilateral institutions were critical parts of securing global peace and prosperity." The May 10 Nebraska primary election could be Ted Cruz's last stand if he loses Indiana on May 3 following what is likely to be a tough day for him in the Northeast on Tuesday. Look for him to show up here. Will Donald Trump swoop in for an appearance or two? Who knows? Although Bernie Sanders already has won the Democratic presidential caucus that allocated Nebraska's delegates to the national convention, Democratic voters will choose between Sanders and Hillary Clinton in the primary, determining the winner of the popular vote. The pro-secession group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has accused governors of states in the South East geo-political zone and politicians of trading off Ndigbo for personal and selfish political interest. Specifically, IPOB said that by romancing the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government, the governors were doing so at the detriment of their Igbo brothers and sisters. IPOB made this known Thursday in a statement by its Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful. The group alleged that South East governors and politicians, members and non-members of APC had so much compromised themselves or kept quiet for one political favour or the other, making them to turn blind to the killings in Igbo land by Fulani herdsmen. The statement said: The first attack by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu state that resulted to the arrest of over 76 persons who were searching for the whereabouts of their loved ones after the attack, and their subsequent arrest by the security agents, particularly the police and detaining them at Police Zone 9 Umuahia and subsequently arraignment was not condemned by the South East governors and politicians, and that emboldened them for the next attack in the state of Ukpabi Nimbo community in the state. IPOB worldwide therefore is constrained to raise accusing fingers on the Governors and politicians in the South East over the killing of our people. The Governors and the politicians used the life of their brothers and subjects to play game of politics, trading them off to the APC government for crumbs they are expecting from the government that has nothing to offer Nigerians let alone Igbo Governors and politicians. If that is not the case, how do you explain a situation communities were attacked and instead of the people that attacked them being arrested, the relations and victims of the attacked were arrested and detained by a government that claim to be responsible. Yet, the state Chief executives and their politicians kept quiet and were clapping and praising the government that is humiliating their people. IPOB, other Biafra actualization agitating groups expected these politicians, the governors, the National Assembly members and other South East political appointees and others close to the corridors of power to stoutly react against the injustice, but they never did. Today, we are talking about another attack that claimed the lives of over 40 persons in the same state and nothing is being done to assuage the pains of the people, while a blatant lie by the Department of State Service, DSS, that five Fulani herdsmen were killed and buried in Abia State. This unsettled the country, and the South East governors, and politicians were never moved by the killing of over 20 and arrest of their over 76, and now the recent killing of over 40 people at Nimbo. As the menace of Fulani herdsmen continue to elicit concern across the nation, indications emerged on Thursday that the military high command in the country might come up with a joint operation involving the various security agencies to tackle the emerging security threat. The Defence Headquarters spokesman, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, on Thursday said that the expected operation would not be restricted to a single service of the Armed Forces. He said that the operation against the herdsmen would be similar to the ones formed to battle the insurgency in the North-East, militancy in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country. President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday gave marching orders to the top echelon of the military and the police to stop the recurrent killing of defenseless villagers by marauding Fulani militia. The president gave the directive in the wake of the massacre of 50 people at Ukpabi Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday. Abubakar noted that the issue of the threat posed by the herdsmen would be given the deserved attention by the military just as he said the presidential directive would receive effective compliance. The ideas of joint operation will always be there because it is a common knowledge that it is not a one service business. It must involve all other security agencies. Each and every one of us has a role to play: physical security, giving information, synergising with other stakeholders. That is what we are doing in the North-East and the Niger Delta and other parts. It would involve not only the military. The current resurgence of this issue of herdsmen is something which must be given a priority now that there is a glaring security threats to lives and property which the Armed Forces and other security agencies cannot close their eyes to. All efforts are now on towards ensuring that there is security of lives and property in the general area where such activities of herdsmen are being carried out. Just of recent, the President has given us a directive and it is something which we must comply with and in other cases, we deploy our men through operations such as the one against cattle rustling, Operation Sharandaji, which is to ensure that no herdsmen involved in criminal activities are spared. A two-year-old boy has accidentally shot and killed his mother in the US city of Milwaukee after finding a gun in the back of their car. The woman, Patrice Price, had been driving a car owned by her security guard boyfriend who had left his gun in the car, her father Andre said. Milwaukee police said she was shot once in the back while driving on a local highway on Tuesday morning. Also in the car were Prices mother and her other son aged one. Mr Price said she also had an older daughter, and described Patrice as hardworking. Now I dont have her no more. My chest has been hurting, Mr Price told Milwaukee station WISN. I have a knot in my chest. They wont even let me see my daughter. I wanted to hold my daughter for one last time. Last month, a four-year-old boy in Florida shot his mother, Jamie Gilt, in similar circumstances. A gun had slid from underneath the front seat of the car to the back and he unbuckled himself to get it. Ms Gilt survived the shooting. BBC. North Korea has sentenced a US man to 10 years of hard labour for spying. Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old naturalised US citizen born in South Korea, was arrested last October. Kim had made an apparent confession in Pyongyang last month in front of reporters, saying he was paid by South Korean intelligence officers. The US has previously accused North Korea of using its citizens as pawns in a diplomatic game. Pyongyang denies the accusations. At the time of Kims arrest, the US State Department had said it would not be commenting on the case as speaking publicly about detained Americans can complicate the process of getting them released. In March, US student Otto Frederick Warmbier was jailed for 15 years for stealing a propaganda sign and crimes against the state. North Korea has previously said Kim had a USB stick containing military and nuclear secrets on him when he was arrested in the special economic zone of Rason. Kim, who used to live in Virginia, had said he was introduced to South Korean spies by US intelligence officers. Forced public confessions by foreign prisoners are common in North Korea. Kims imprisonment comes amid a period of high tensions. North Korea has recently conducted a series of missile tests following its fourth nuclear test in January, both of which break UN sanctions. BBC The House of Representatives has ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, to immediately release the President of Nigerian Youth Council, Mr. Ugochinyere Michael, or charge him to court, if it has any case against him. The House also asked the DSS to make public the offences allegedly committed by Mr. Michael. It would be recalled that the family of the incarcerated youth leader on Wednesday raised the alarm that Michael has not eaten any food since his arrest three days ago. According to the family, Michael has refused any food or water brought to him by the DSS, claiming the secret police also denied them from taking food or water to their son, a development they said is taking a toll on his health. Leading debate on his motion raised under matters of urgent public importance, Goodluck Opiah (PDP, Imo) expressed worries that the arrest of the youth leader was alleged to be because of a view he (Ugochinyere) expressed in a television interview on the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. He said: The House is worried that he has been harassed and intimidated for supporting the Senate President and taking the Minister of Youth and Sport to court in protection of his office as President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria. Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the freedom of opinion of all Nigerians, including Mr. Ugochinyere Michael. Section 35 further guarantees the right to personal liberty of Mr. Ugochinyere and we are worried that he has been held for more than 48 hours by the men of the DSS. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has announced the recovery of about N1 billion by the Rivers Government in its ongoing staff verification. Speaking at the first Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Business Luncheon in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Thursday, Wike said the recovery was achieved through the thoroughness of the verification. Represented by his deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry, the governor described the recovery as a good omen for the state, especially in the face of dwindling revenues. He said that the government had also reduced its overhead expenditure to about 40 per cent as a way of adapting to the prevailing economic reality. Wike further said that efforts were being made to enable the government to generate enough funds to address infrastructural challenges. We are working to generate internal funds so that we can effectively tackle infrastructural challenges in the areas of roads, hospitals and schools. Such move is in keeping with our promises of ensuring adequate social services and good governance for the people of the state, he said. Earlier, the President of the chamber, Dr Emi Membere-Otaji, described the countrys economy as over stressed due to over dependence on oil. Membere-Otaji said that there was need for governments at all levels to carry out massive investor-enlightenment to open up alternative areas of the economy. The over-dependence on oil and gas has taken the nation backward and left the citizenry impoverished. The time to act is now; the citizenry and the investing public must have the enabling environment to venture into other investible areas, he said. The 18-year old teenager who set a family of five ablaze in Abuja and eventually surrendered himself to the police, says he is restless as memories of the people he killed were haunting him. It had been reported by the Punch that the teenager, Oluwaseyi Babatola, killed his parents landlady, her daughter and three grandchildren at Tudun-Fulani, in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, last weekend. Babatola, who works as a mobile phone technician, was said to have locked the deceased in their apartment after they had slept in the night, sprayed the house with petrol and set it ablaze. He watched as the fire gutted the building and when he was sure that the victims were trapped, he reportedly headed for the Bwari Police Division. According to reports, prior to the incident, the teenager had an unsettled disagreement with the landlady and her family members and he had reportedly threatened to deal with them. Also, there had been an alleged mutual relationship between the landladys daughter and Sunday, which broke up recently. The embattled teenager, who was also injured during the inferno caused by him, has opened up, following alleged torture from the spirits of the dead. After he reported himself to the police after committing the crime, he was detained by the FCT Special Anti-Robbery Squad. The victims, according to the mobile phone technician, were Janet Isuawa; her sons, Samuel and Osaze; her cousin, Taphael; and Janets mother. He noted that he had wanted to commit suicide after setting the family on fire, but was dissuaded by his younger brother, James, who asked him to report the incident to the police. Explaining what led to the tragedy, the suspect said he started dating Janet, a divorcee, sometime ago, adding that he supported her and the children financially. According to him, the relationship developed problems after he demanded sex, noting that each time he asked for sex, Janet would turn him down and taunt him. Babatola said matters came to a head on April 12 when Janet informed him that his mother had told her that he suffered from hernia and therefore could not date him. He said, Janet said my mother told her that I suffer from hernia, and that she could not date me; she called me a mugu (fool), and said she had chopped my money. So, I went to where she was charging the phone I bought for her and took it. She attacked me and bit my chest, and as I struggled to free myself from her grip, her cousin, Taphael, came in and pushed me down and held me there while she beat me with her fists. After I left the house, Janets younger sister called me on the telephone and abused me, saying they would deal with me if I come to the house again, Babatola added. On the night of April 15, around 11pm, I went to the house and found that the gate was locked. I scaled the fence into the compound. I went towards Janets room and saw her sleeping, as the window was opened because there was no power supply. I went to the bathroom, where she kept a gallon of fuel and poured it into the room through the window; the room caught fire from a lighted lantern. I headed for the bush to hang myself, but my phone suddenly rang and my brother told me that our house just got burnt; I told him I did it and that I was about to commit suicide. He said I should not, and persuaded me to report to the police, Babatola added. Every night, I remember how I used to relate with Janets two sons; I have not been able to erase their memories from my mind; I cant get them off my mind, they haunt me every time. I thought it was only Janet that was in the room, I didnt know the children were there. I thought they had gone for a vigil with their grandmother who attended vigil every Thursday. I did not know that I had killed all the family members, until I saw their charred corpses the next morning, he added. The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, who had earlier confirmed the incident, noted that the commissioner of police, FCT, directed that the suspect be transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation. The PPRO said the suspect would be charged to court upon the completion of the investigation. Source:Dailypost On this day in 2006: A car bombing in the Nigerian oil city of Warri destroyed at least five tanker trucks The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which demands more local control over the southern deltas oil wealth, said it had used a mobile phone to detonate 30 kg (66 lb) of dynamite in the bombing. The group, following a string of Boko Haram bombings in Nigeria in the 2010s, and many attacks against Christian targets, threatened to bomb mosques and assassinate Muslim clerics. MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo said a campaign will start on 31 May to save Christianity in Nigeria from annihilation. The bombings of mosques, haj camps, Islamic institutions, large congregations in Islamic events and assassinations of clerics that propagate doctrines of hate will form the core mission of this crusade. However, Operation Barbarossa would be called off if Christian organisations and the Henry Okah intervene; it further called on Boko Haram to stop attacking Christians and churches. It then announced a suspension of the plans after calls from religious groups and prominent citizens such as Henry Okah Two journalists in Turkey have been sentenced to two years in jail for insulting religious values after they reprinted a controversial cover from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo above their columns. An Istanbul court on Thursday sentenced Ceyda Karan and Hikmet Cetinkaya to two years behind bars for illustrating their columns with a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad published by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. The two journalists were sentenced to two years each in jail, said Bulent Utku, lawyer for Hikmet Cetinkaya and Ceyda Karan. We will appeal the ruling at the appeals court, Utku told AFP news agency following a hearing at Istanbuls criminal court. Writing on her Twitter account @ceydak, Karan lashed out at the Turkish government, saying: Let our two-year sentence be a gift for our liberal fascists #JeSuisCharlie. Muslim Turkeys constitution strictly separates state and religion, but its penal code makes it a crime to insult religion. On January 14, 2015, Cumhuriyet published a four-page Charlie Hebdo pullout translated into Turkish marking the French satirical weeklys first issue since a deadly attack on its Paris offices by gunmen earlier that month. The edition included a smaller version of the cartoon twice inside the newspaper to illustrate columns on the subject by Karan and Cetinkaya. Most other media in Turkey had refrained from publishing the cover. The All Progressives Congress, APC, Bauchi State chapter yesterday said that immediate past Governor of the state, Malam Isa Yuguda must follow due processes if he wants to join the party. Mr. Yuguda announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last week with speculations surrounding his next political move. The Bauchi APC spokesman, Awwalu Jalla, who spoke during a chat with newsmen in Gombe Thursday, however, said Yugudas joining the APC would not have much relevance. The party is aware of who really he is, and how the then ANPP uplifted him from the grass to grace but he later betrayed it, he said. APC as a party is not desperate in welcoming him. The party has a constitution whereby no executive member is allowed to accept any individual to the folds of the party without following due process. One must go to his APC ward executives with an application to be cleared and approved before becoming a member, Jalla added. The party spokesman also debunked the rumour that state executives of the APC had asked Yuguda to join them. The public should disregard any information regarding the party welcoming Yuguda. There is a committee that handles issues relating to defections, he said. The FCC is about to let the third-largest cable company in the United States buy the second-largest -- and there's actually a silver lining in that news for consumers. Charter will become the second-largest broadband provider, behind Comcast, once its merger with Time Warner and a related purchase of Bright House Networks are complete. [ Read 'em and weep: 5 ways your ISP is screwing you | Cut to the key news in technology trends and IT breakthroughs with the InfoWorld Daily newsletter, our summary of the top tech happenings. ] While it's hard to cheer further consolidation in the cable industry -- some reports claim that New Charter and Comcast together will control access to 70 to 90 percent of the high-speed broadband connections in the country -- the conditions applied to the deal are the next best thing to the FCC actually writing new rules. When approving last year's merger of AT&T and DirecTV, the FCC focused on the build-out of broadband services. This time around, its conditions emphasize the growth of streaming services. No data caps A ban on usage caps is probably the biggest condition placed on the merger. Charter has agreed not to impose data caps or usage-based billing on customers for at least seven years. This is a win for the FCC and consumers as Charter originally offered to abstain for only three years. While the company does not currently use caps -- Time Warner offers lower-price optional plans with data limits of 5GB or 30GB a month -- the practice is catching on in a big way. "Companies like Comcast have used the same approach seen in the boiling frog metaphor to slowly expand its usage cap 'trials' and hope nobody notices," TechDirt writes. "But people are definitely noticing the rising temperatures," An FOIA request filed with the FCC found consumer complaints about caps skyrocketed last year, going from 863 in the first half of 2015 to 7,904 in the second half. Data caps are yet another example of profit padding in an industry that lacks real competition. The FCC agreed to forebear from rate regulation when it reclassified broadband as a utility, but by forcing New Charter to forgo this revenue stream, the agency has signaled that "it recognizes the growing threat usage caps are posing to the future of innovative services," TechDirt writes. Comcast seems to have gotten the message about the FCC looking askance at ISPs erecting roadblocks to streaming. Days after the merger conditions were revealed, Comcast announced it was raising its cap to a terabyte's worth of data per month. The bad news is Comcast will soon be extending data caps nationwide. No antistreaming shenanigans In addition to vetoing profiteering on consumers' streaming habits, the FCC signaled it doesn't want cable companies bullying TV networks into withholding content from streaming providers like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. The merger condition banning antistreaming provisions in contracts is important: Dish in December complained that Charter was trying to derail Sling TV by discouraging TV networks from licensing content to the streaming service. New Charter will not be allowed to retaliate against programmers that license video to online services. There are many who say a temporary ban on data caps and antistreaming provisions is not enough. But TechHive observes: While the government's merger conditions aren't permanent, seven years is a long time in the tech world. Netflix, for reference, had only just started streaming video seven years ago, Hulu was barely a year old, and Amazon Prime video didn't even exist.... The hope is that in seven years, streaming video will be the norm, and a company like Charter will have a hard time turning on the meter. No interconnect fees Streaming services -- and their viewers -- scored another victory with the ban on interconnect fees. Content providers like Netflix previously had to pay Time Warner for better access to its networks. This merger condition guarantees free interconnection for providers that deliver large volumes of Internet traffic to broadband customers. Expanded broadband The FCC also carved out the merest sliver of a victory for increased broadband competition. Not only did the agency stipulate that Charter must expand its services to 2 million new households, half of that build-out must be in regions where Charter currently doesn't offer service and where there's already at least one broadband provider. This merger condition dangles the prospect of new competition in an industry that has avoided head-to-head competition by carving up territories. One million fewer consumers will be locked in to a single carrier -- a fraction of the population, but progress nonetheless. Is it enough? Advocacy group Public Knowledge grudgingly acknowledged the FCC's efforts to police the New Charter behemoth. "It is hard to cheer for further media and broadband consolidation, regardless of what conditions the FCC or DOJ might adopt," said John Bergmayer, senior staff attorney at Public Knowledge. "However, there is some solace that, if rigorously enforced, these conditions should eliminate the more egregious harms this merger could cause while creating a baseline for acceptable industry behavior." But consumer group Free Press argues that in uncompetitive markets, the debt Charter has incurred with the merger will be passed on to customers: The wasted expense of this merger is staggering. For the money Charter spent to make this happen [$27 billion debt load] it could have built new competitive broadband options for tens of millions of people. Now these billions of dollars will do little more than line the pockets of Time Warner Cable's shareholders and executives. CEO Rob Marcus will walk away with a $100 million golden parachute. Others chided Chairman Tom Wheeler for being too far-reaching. "At first blush, it appears that the Commission may have operated well outside the four corners of the merger application to pursue unrelated matters and policies," Republican FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly said in a statement. Indeed, Chairman Wheeler has shown more backbone than his predecessors in dealing with an anticompetitive industry. "The FCC doesn't have the clear authority to act on those concerns -- not unless cable operators tee up a merger like Charter-Time Warner Cable," the Los Angeles Times writes. "As much as consumer activists complain about consolidation in the media industry, here's one case where it seems to be working in their favor." Applying conditions to proposed mergers receives far less scrutiny than producing actual FCC rules that apply to the whole industry -- particularly when a hostile Congress, urged on by heavy lobbying from telecoms, opposes new rules that would affect the industry as a whole. "The Charter deal is proof that the agency has to make some uncomfortable deals to get what it wants," The Verge writes. Healthcare tech giant Philips scraps 4,000 staff worldwide AP - 1 hour ago THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Dutch healthcare technology giant Philips is scrapping 4,000 staff worldwide amid the fallout from a recall of sleep apnea machines and economic headwinds, the company announced... $SPX : 3,713.22 (+1.29%) $DOWI : 31,082.56 (+2.47%) $IUXX : 11,310.33 (+2.39%) Wheat (ZW) Gives Up Half of Aug-Sep Bounce Tradable Patterns - Mon Oct 24, 1:04AM CDT Wheat (ZWZ22) is looking wobbly to start the week, remaining vulnerable to a deeper consolidation this week towards descending wedge support (on the 4hr chart). Odds are moderately high for a lower... ZWZ22 : 843-0 (-0.91%) WEAT : 8.79 (+0.89%) China's economic growth accelerates but weak amid shutdowns AP - Sun Oct 23, 11:20PM CDT BEIJING (AP) China's economic growth accelerated in the latest quarter but still was among the weakest in decades as the ruling Communist Party tries to reverse a downturn while enforcing anti-virus... $SPX : 3,713.22 (+1.29%) $DOWI : 31,082.56 (+2.47%) $IUXX : 11,310.33 (+2.39%) Lean Hogs Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 23, 3:11PM CDT The uptrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading above support level 89.150, which will be followed by reaching resistance level 93.025. Feeder Cattle Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 23, 3:10PM CDT The uptrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading above support level 178.550, which will be followed by reaching resistance level 183.550 and 188.250. Live Cattle Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 23, 3:09PM CDT The uptrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading above support level 151.775, which will be followed by reaching resistance level 156.475. Soybean Oil Weekly Forecast Kolhanov.com - Sun Oct 23, 3:08PM CDT The downtrend may be expected to continue, while market is trading below resistance level 73.75, which will be followed by reaching support level 68.16 and if it keeps on moving down below that level,... Boardwalk Development Group LLC (BDG), a self-storage acquisition and development company, has purchased its first self-storage property, Friendship Storage in Cumming, Ga. The facility at 2178 Canton Highway has been rebranded as Boardwalk Storage. It includes 37,600 square feet of storage space as well as 23,400 square feet of open and covered vehicle parking. Renovations are underway, including the addition of a two-story facade to the management office, intended to improve the sites visibility and overall curb appeal, according to a company press release. The office interior will be redesigned to improve the customer experience and enhance retail sales. In addition, two of the parking areas will be converted to 15,000 square feet of climate-controlled, single-story storage buildings. BDG has launched a $10 million equity-investment fund called Boardwalk Storage Fund I LLC, which the company intends to leverage to purchase $50 million in self-storage properties. The fund will focus on properties between $2 million and $8 million in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Headquartered in Johns Creek, Ga., BDG is led by CEO Rajen J. Sheth, who previously launched the ValueSpace Storage Fund I in 2008. The brand was sold last year to SecurCare Self Storage, one of seven participating regional operators of National Storage Affiliates Trust, a self-administered and -managed real estate investment trust headquartered in Greenwood, Colo. Update 6/23/16 Plaza waived his court arraignment on June 21. Hes facing two felony charges of theft by deception, according to the source. Court documents show he allegedly used deceptive practices for the past six years while manager of Riverside to steal nearly $106,000 from the business, which is owned by F.W. Webb Co., a wholesale distributor. He was fired last fall for alleged internal violations. Self-storage tenants told police that Plaza would ask them to pay for their units in cash or, if paying by check, to leave the payable to field blank, according to court documents filed at the 9th Circuit Court, Nashua District Division. Police allege Plaza would rent units for cash without recording them, and then pocket the money. Hes also accused of deducting late fees for customers who paid in cash and manually advancing the due date in the computer so the customer didnt appear late. He would then write off the amount and keep the money, police said. After reviewing the numbers, it is clear that the amount of cash coming into F.W. Webb from Riverside Self Storage dropped significantly while Plaza was in charge, Detective Joseph Rousseau of the Nashua Police Department wrote in the court affidavit. Plaza worked for F.W. Webb for 20 years and began managing Riverside Self Storage in 2008. Although he has no criminal history, he was disciplined by the company 15 years ago for stealing money, the source reported. F.W. Webb plans to seek compensation for the theft, according to Justin Costello, a store manager for the company. Company officials will also examine how Plaza operated the storage facility. Plaza declined to speak with police after his arrest and asked for an attorney. Hes currently out on a $50,000 bail. The court has ordered him not to have any contact with his former employer. Plaza has a probable-cause hearing on July 12. F.W. Webb is a family-owned business founded in 1866. In addition to owning Riverside Self Storage, the company offers products and services in 15 specialty businesses. Headquartered in Bedford, Mass., it has more than 80 locations in nine states throughout the Northeast. The manager of Riverside Self Storage in Nashua, N.H., was arrested this week for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from the business. John Plaza, 60, of Manchester, N.H., has been charged with felony theft. Hes being held on a $50,000 bail pending a June 21 arraignment, according to the source. Police launched an investigation into the missing funds on March 9, the source reported. Plaza was identified as the prime suspect and arrested on April 26. Riverside Self Storage at 7 Redmond St. offers drive-up and climate-controlled self-storage as well as U-Haul truck rentals. Iqbal Khan has a mission. Raised Muslim in Aligarh, India, his faith wasnt shaken at age 5 when tensions with the Hindu majority erupted in a violent riot and his mother dressed him in his finest clothes to give him a better shot at adoption if he were orphaned that day. Nor did he grow bitter after the mob torched the family home. Instead Khan took up arms against what he saw as the true culprit: income inequality that drives young men to kill and call it Gods work. In 2009 Khan founded Fajr Capital, a private equity shop built on Islamic principles that aims to make a buck while making a difference in the Muslim world. To fight the extremism, we must broaden and deepen the educated Muslim middle class, the 59-year-old tells Institutional Investor in a telephone interview from his office in Dubai. We need to make sure that there are people who are well-educated, live in societies that have good infrastructure that connects them to the rest of the world, and that we have young people who can look forward to getting married and owning homes and businesses without compromising their faith. Fajr Arabic for dawn, to symbolize hope has a modest $700 million in capital, but its founding shareholders have much deeper pockets. Three sovereign wealth funds the $111 billion Abu Dhabi Investment Council, Brunei Investment Agency, the sovereign fund of the oil-rich Southeast Asian sultanate, and Malaysias $35 billion Khazanah Nasional joined forces with Mohammed Alsubeaei & Sons Investments Co. (MASIC),the family office of a prominent Saudi banker, to create and nurture the young firm. Fajr is a union of institutions that have high credibility and share the same values, says Ihsan Bafakih, CEO of MASIC. According to a 2015 report published by Spains ESADE business school, the 36 sovereign wealth funds based in Muslim countries account for 46 percent of the estimated $7 trillion in global sovereign wealth assets. Roughly three quarters of those funds intend to ramp up allocations to Islamic finance, which complies with sharia bans on things like levying interest, making unsecured loans and investing in goods or services related to alcohol, the report found. Typically, those sovereigns have taken stakes in Islamic banks, which account for some 80 percent of the industrys $2 trillion in assets. But ADIC, BIA, Khazanah and MASIC envisioned a platform that would bridge the gap between the Islamic finance hubs in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, which are very distinct markets with few direct links. We wanted people to look at Fajr as a partner of choice in the region, says MASICs Bafakih. Fajr, which targets a return of over 20 percent, partnered with the Bruneian government in 2011 to clinch its first investment: taking ownership of about 30 percent in Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam. In 2012 Fajr snapped up stakes in Dubai-based fund manager MENA Infrastructure and U.K.-based renewable power company Tamar Energy. Khans 30-strong team has since exhausted nearly all of its committed capital though it can still access funds from shareholders with five deals, as well as follow-on investments, with a taste for demographic-driven growth sectors like education, food and manufacturing. Fajr is an up and coming firm in the region, says Hani Ramadan, head of private equity for the $2.7 billion Abu Dhabi asset manager Waha Capital. Waha joined a Fajr-led consortium that bought Dubai-based oilfield service provider National Petroleum Services for over $500 million in 2014. They went on a buying spree in the last couple years, but well see how they do exiting those investments. So far, so good. The $300 million MENA Infrastructure Fund, which also counts Waha and HSBC Group as sponsors, serves as Fajrs platform for tapping the regions high-growth transportation, power and water sectors. Fajr bought in at a discount in 2012, when founding sponsor Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of sovereign wealth fund Dubai Holding, was strapped for cash and forced to sell. The fund scored double-digit returns, beating expectations, when it sold Egypts Alexandria International Container Terminals in February and the United Power Co. in Oman in March. With two investments left another power company in Oman and one in Saudi Arabia MENA Infrastructure is working to raise $500 million for a second fund, which will target a 15 percent internal rate of return. Fajr will be the sole sponsor. MENA Infrastructure CEO Jeronimo Roura estimates that Khan has sourced 80 percent of the prospective investors namely pensions and sovereign wealth funds in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and in Southeast Asia. Iqbal and Fajr Capital have a network of connections that is unparalleled, says Roura. I dont know anyone who has the same level of access across so many government entities. As the founding CEO of HSBCs Islamic branch, HSBC Amanah, from 1998 2006, Khan made powerful friends, including Khazanah CEO Azman Mokhtar. In 2008, with the financial crisis in full swing, Azman wanted to put some muscle behind Islamic finance and connect the Middle East with his country of Malaysia. He and Khan drew up some blueprints with the help of Dr. Amin Abdullah, then head of the Brunei Investment Agency, and Abdulaziz Alsubeaei, a director at MASIC. The Abu Dhabi Investment Council was quick to join, and the founding shareholders launched Fajr Capital in 2009. Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar was one of the leading advocates of connecting the Middle East together with East Asia and bringing authenticity and integrity to the Islamic finance proposition by focusing on principal investments and asset management in the real economy, says Khan. Khazanah bought a 25 percent stake for $150 million. Malaysias sovereign investors have come under the microscope because of a scandal surrounding the state development fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and its ties to the Gulf. The fund, set up by Prime Minister Najib Razak, owed $3.5 billion to an Abu Dhabi state fund, International Petroleum Investment Co., but IPIC announced last month that it had never received payment from 1MDB. Market participants insist theres no politics at play in Fajr Capital. What Fajr Capital brings to the table is institutional talent, says Amit Pandey, a Singapore-based credit analyst for Standard & Poors Ratings Services. Pandey covers Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam, the largest financial institution in the smallest country on Borneo, and has been following Fajr since Brunei enlisted Khans team in 2011 to build the regional champion (with a 55 percent domestic market share and $5.7 billion in assets) into a global contender. The Brunei Ministry of Finance and the sultans charitable foundation, the banks other shareholders, gave Fajr its stake in BIBD and management responsibilities for about $200 million. Since taking control, Fajr has improved the banks product suite, service quality, risk management and logo, says Pandey. In November BIBD reported a 40.5 percent increase in 2014 net profit after zakat (alms-giving in accordance with the Koran) and taxation for the bank and a 17.9 percent increase for the wider group, which includes brokerage services, takaful (sharia-compliant insurance) and other activities. The bank plans to open an office in Dubai to focus on corporate finance in the GCC. We intend to become a trade corridor from the Middle East to here, says Mubashar Khokhar, a managing director at Fajr and BIBDs managing director since January. In 2014, Fajr Capital grabbed headlines, leading a deal with private equity juggernaut Blackstone Group and $11 billion sovereign wealth fund Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Co. to invest over $300 million in GEMS Education, a Dubai-based company that operates 84 K-12 schools in 14 countries. The company is primed for growth as rising domestic and expatriate populations and a burgeoning middle class drive higher enrollment rates in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, its core markets. It ticks all the boxes from a variety of perspectives, says Mumtalakats chief investment officer, Zulfe Ali. The deal was Blackstones first investment in the Middle East, and the firm felt comfortable in Fajrs hands. After forging the deal together, they act as our local partner, spending a lot of time with the company and working with us on our investment, says Andrea Valeri, a London-based senior managing director in Blackstones $10 billion tactical opportunities group. GEMS had plenty of suitors to choose from, but founder Sunny Varkey and his family-owned business wanted a partner with values and, most importantly, patience. Education is social infrastructure and, like any infrastructure, requires you to have a long-term mindset to truly be successful, both commercially and educationally, but also to have an impact, says group executive director Dino Varkey. Fajr and Mumtalakat offered patient capital while Blackstone knew a thing or two about preparing family businesses for the auction block. In 2014 the gang recruited Sir Michael Peat, former principal private secretary to Prince Charles, to chair the board of directors, and in 2015 they poached the headmaster of the renowned English boarding school Eton College, Tony Little, to become chief education officer. The capital injection was earmarked for the Middle East, North Africa and Asia segment of the business, and through Fajr and Mumtalakat, the company has unbeatable access to those markets. In the past year, GEMS has scouted locations in Malaysia, Brunei and Bahrain. For Khan, its all part of making the world a better place. My father said the purpose of education was to free us of our prejudices and help us do good in society, he says. Khan attributes much of his early successes to a sort of karmic return on good deeds. Apart from making impactful investments, Fajr Capital established a charity with contributions from management, shareholders and profits that aims to promote human capital and economic development in the Muslim world and support research on Islamic finance. We want to democratize philanthropy and migrate some of the best practices and ideas from the West to the East and vice versa, says Noman Tahir, Fajr Capitals head of business development and communications, who oversees the Fajr Capital Foundation. The foundation recently partnered with MyBnk to train four BIBD staff members in the British charitys curriculum for educating young people about personal finance and entrepreneurship. They have opened three pilot schools in Brunei with 300 students and aim to roll the programs out to all of the countrys schoolchildren. When we give back we become richer in a way which is more satisfying than dollars and cents, says Khan. Theres a blessing that comes beyond measure. Follow Jess Delaney on Twitter at @jdelaney_NYC. This content is from: Culture People investing in ESG funds want their money to have an impact. They just dont have a way to ask for that information, says Jason Saul of the Center for Impact Sciences. The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that it does not have jurisdiction in a case brought by an injured nurse that challenged the constitutionality of the entire Florida Workers Compensation system. In the case of Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital, the Court said After further consideration and hearing oral argument in this case, we have determined that we should exercise our discretion and discharge jurisdiction. Accordingly, we dismiss review. On April 6, 2016, Mark Zientz, the attorney for injured worker Daniel Stahl, argued before the court that since the law was first enacted, the legislature has so eroded the available benefits that the law no longer passes constitutional muster. Things have gotten so bad, according to Zientz, that the present law no longer represents the fair exchange intended by the original grand bargain in which workers gave up their right to sue in civil court in exchange for guaranteed benefits. But judging by the questions asked during oral argument by Justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince and James Perry and to a lesser extent by Justice Fred Lewis the Supreme Court seemed to be struggling with whether the court should be hearing the case at all. The Court seemed receptive to the arguments made by their former colleague and current attorney for the defendants, Kenneth Bell, who served on the Court from 2003 through 2008. As the attorney for the employer (Hialeah Hospital) and their insurance company (Sedgewick Claims Management Services), Bell raised a procedural defense highlighting the legal path the Stahl case took to get before the Court. Bell argued that the only route to challenge the entire statute (a facial challenge, as opposed to an as applied challenge) was to seek a declaratory judgment in circuit court. In support of his argument, Bell noted that the Stahl case was on appeal from a lower administrative judge, and the record for review was only about 20 pages. Bell argued that Stahls challenge could only have been made in circuit court. He also maintained that it would be improper for the Court to rule on the constitutionality of such a significant legislative scheme on the basis of such a minimal record. In addition, Bell argued that the 2003 amendments to Floridas Workers Compensations scheme were enacted in response to an insurance crisis in the State of Florida at a time when premiums were the highest in the country. He said there was no evidence that the legislature had acted arbitrarily, capriciously or without a reasonable basis. On behalf of the injured worker, Zientz argued that the exclusivity clause (a provision that prevents injured workers from bringing civil suits against their employers except in very limited situations) is no longer constitutionally permissible because of cumulative reduction in medical and indemnity benefits. Zientz argued that the system has been so diluted over time that workers were no longer getting a fair deal. Specifically, he said that the injured worker no longer has a right to full medical benefits and he pointed to the requirement that after an injured worker reached maximum medical improvement, he was required to make a $10.00 co-pay in order to see a doctor. He also noted that the system allows for apportionment (or carving out a portion of medical benefits related to preexisting conditions), although he conceded that his case did not involve a preexisting condition. The entire categories of wage loss benefits, he said, had been eliminated over the years. Zientz comprehensive argument was dismissed by Bell as being a kitchen sink argument. Nevertheless, several of the justices seemed to be sympathetic to the argument. Justice Pariente stated in her questioning that the inadequacies of the system had been pointed out before specifically mentioning the changes regarding attorneys fees and doctors being chosen by the insurance company and went on to conclude it looks like it has become a very meager amount of compensation for an injured worker . . . and its hard to deny that whats happened over the last 50 years has not been a diminution in workers compensation benefits. The Stahl case is not the only workers compensation case currently pending before the Florida Supreme Court at this time. There are two other cases Castellanos v. Next Door Co., et. al, and Westphal v. City of St. Petersburg that involve constitutional challenges to the workers compensation law, although Stahl is the only one of the three which presents a challenge to the entire statute. The Florida Supreme Court heard Westphal in June of 2014 and Castellanos in November of that same year, yet no decision has been rendered on either case. The workers compensation law was originally enacted in 1935 as part of the grand bargain in which injured workers gave up the right to civil lawsuits in exchange for a no fault system where they receive medical care and wage loss benefits with a goal of returning them to work. In recent years, the Republican-dominated Legislature has focused on keeping insurance premiums down for businesses, while balancing cost-cutting measures with increased efficiencies and anti-fraud measures. Bell argued that the policy concerns raised by the Stahl case were more appropriately resolved by the Legislature, and not the Court. Four justices asked no questions whatsoever, which could indicate they agree with Bell on this point. In his rebuttal, Zientz concluded This is an important issue. This is something that involves tens of thousands of people who are hurt every day, not hurt on the job, but hurt by the system. And this is the court that has to make that decision as to whether or not they continue to get hurt or on whether or not we can stop that. Related: Topics Florida Workers' Compensation A pair of California trucking company owners were arrested for cheating their workers compensation insurer out of millions of dollars. Alvin Shin Chen, 54, and Fiona Xilin Chen, 46, both of La Canada Flintridge, Calif., were arrested this week at their home by detectives from the California Department of Insurance and charged with multiple felony counts, including workers comp insurance premium fraud for allegedly cheating their carrier. The Chens, owners of Metro Worldwide Inc. and Pacific Coast Distribution, operate a trucking company in Long Beach and are accused of attempting to reduce their workers comp premiums by providing fraudulent information to their insurer regarding the number of their employees and what work those employees performed. CDI detectives reportedly luncovered evidence indicating the Chens paid cash to employee truck drivers to avoid reporting them to the insurer and reduce their payroll tax obligation. Audits of the Chens records show they underreported their payroll by more than $4.7 million. As a result, the Chens allegedly cheated their insurer out of more than $1.6 million in workers comp premium. Employers that cheat the system through premium fraud and tax evasion create an illegal marketplace advantage that costs Californias economy billions, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said in a statement. The Chens were booked into the Century Station in Los Angeles and are held on $950,000 bail each. Arraignment is scheduled for April 29 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Los Angeles District Attorney is prosecuting this case. Topics Carriers California Workers' Compensation Trucking If youre a conservative Republican, theres a decent chance that you believe in climate change. Compared with two years ago that is. Dont tell this to Rush Limbaugh or presidential hopeful Donald Trump. Although he seems to have warmed a tad to the idea of a changing climate lately, Trump has been known for poking fun at believers in myriad tweets, including one in 2012 stating: The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. A poll out this week from the Yale Program and Climate Change Communication states that conservative Republicans have experienced the largest shift in climate change believership of any political group with an increase of 19 percentage points over the past two years. Forty-seven percent of conservative Republicans think global warming is happening, up from 28 percent two years ago, the poll shows. More American voters understand that global warming is real, including conservative Republicans. The COP21 agreement (the carbon reduction agreement last year in Paris), the unusually warm winter, and media coverage have likely contributed to growing public awareness, lead-researcher on the poll Anthony Leiserowitz, a Yale University professor, said in a statement. Our studies also find that Pope Francis, with his call for climate action, has had an impact on the American climate change conversation. On the opposite side of the spectrum, nearly all liberal Democrats (95 percent) think global warming is happening, the poll shows. Could this mean that feelings on climate change will impact the upcoming election? The poll shows that voters are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who strongly supports taking action to reduce global warming, with registered voters three times more likely to vote for (43 percent) than against (14 percent) such a candidate. MmmmBacon And my vote for best climate change-related headline in recent memory is: How bacon sandwiches could help fight climate change. An editorial report on the U.K. news website Independent addresses a Danish proposal for a red meat tax. The Danish Council of Ethics wants food to be taxed in proportion to its impact on climate change. So that would put a greater premium on cattle, for example, which are responsible for an estimated 10 percent of all global greenhouse emissions, with other meats to follow, the report states. If nothing else the proposal is a reminder that climate change remains the greatest long-term threat to human prosperity and security and we need policies that take it seriously, the report states. Want a fun read on the impact of livestock on climate change? Check out the report embedded below. Anti-Dirty Dozen Twelve major corporations based or operating in the U.S. are voicing strong support for the Paris agreement. The companies endorsing a statement organized by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, which encourages governments to hurry up and formally join the agreement, are: Berkshire Hathaway Energy; Calpine; HP; Intel; LafargeHolcim; Microsoft.; National Grid; PG&E; Rio Tinto; Schneider Electric; Shell; Siemens. The statement, issued last week, reads in part: The Paris Agreement on climate change is a landmark achievement it establishes an inclusive, pragmatic and, hopefully, durable framework for progressively strengthening efforts globally to address the causes and consequences of climate change. We recognize the rising environmental, social, economic, and security risks posed by climate change. As businesses concerned about the well-being of our investors, our customers, our communities and our planet, we are committed to working on our own and in partnership with governments to mobilize the technology, investment and innovation needed to transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy. The statement says the Paris agreement will help facilitate and strengthen the role of the private sector in the transition by: providing long-term direction; promoting transparency; addressing competitiveness; facilitating carbon. Hurricanes Not that anyone heres saying climate change is causing more, or fewer, hurricanes, but recent statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau highlight just how many people and properties are exposed along Americas coastlines. The North Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30. The Census breakdown features factoids first by number and then an explanation of that number similar to what youll see in the pages of Insurance Journal in the Declarations and Figures section. 185: The number of coastline counties along the Atlantic (129 counties) and Gulf of Mexico (56 counties) most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes. 59.2 million: The population as of July 1, 2015, of coastline counties stretching from Maine to Texas. In 2006 the population of these counties was 54.6 million, an increase of nearly 5 million in less than 10 years. 3,700: The number of miles of coastline from Maine to Texas. 3.3 million: The number of business establishments in 2013 in the coastal states stretching from Maine to Texas. 51.5: The percentage of U.S. homes that have an emergency evacuation kit. Roughly seven-in-10 households in the Miami and Tampa, Fla. metro areas had emergency supplies readily available in the event of an evacuation, while the Austin, Texas metro area had among the lowest rate of homes with an emergency preparedness kit. 18.3: The percentage of single-family homes that have a generator. 11: The number of years since the U.S. was struck by a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher). The last one was Hurricane Wilma in October 2005 over southwest Florida. Ok deniers, have fun with that last fact in the comment section. Past columns: Livestock and Climate Change Topics USA Texas Hurricane Agribusiness Climate Change Maine Politics Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart has fined insurance companies a total of $83,300 during the first quarter of 2016 for violating state insurance regulations. Fines generally result from a market conduct examination of a companys practices performed by the Department of Insurance (DOI), or from DOIs participation in a multi-state examination conducted by several jurisdictions. Details of the fines levied against insurers during the 2016 first quarter are as follows: 21st Century was fined $27,500 on Jan. 21 for failing to properly notify insureds at least 10 days in advance of the effective date of a surcharge. Teachers Insurance Co. was fined $25,000 on Feb. 4 for failing to properly file disclosures associated with rate changes and for providing inaccurate information to policyholders, and for failing to properly notify policyholders of imposed surcharges. Homesite Insurance Co. was fined $15,000 on March 10 for charging and collecting cancellation fees that were not specified in its policies filed with DOI, and for failing to deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of loss statements had been completed. Jackson National Life Insurance Co. was fined $3,800 on March 22 for certain notice violations. Progressive Direct was fined $5,000 on March 3 and Progressive Northern was fined $7,000 on March 4, both for improperly applying a surcharge that exceeded the pro rata amount of the total amount of the claim paid. In addition, regulators also announced in early January that penalties assessed against Aetna and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware for various violations totaled $483,000. Topics Carriers New York state will soon require health insurers to cover depression screening for pregnant women and new mothers. The move follows a recommendation from a federal panel that insurers cover maternal depression screening without a co-pay or deductible. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the change will ensure that more pregnant and postpartum women can get the treatment they need. The states Department of Financial Services wrote to insurers about the change in a letter on April 25. The department says insurers should begin providing the coverage as soon as they can, but no later than within six months. American Psychiatric Association President Renee Binder praised the states action, saying women struggling with maternal depression deserve screening and care for what is an all-too-common health condition. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Carriers New York The New Hampshire Insurance Department has created a lost life policy locator service to assist Granite State residents and their families in locating life policies and annuity contracts that have been purchased in the state. We developed this service to help those who have lost a loved one and suspect that he or she may have purchased an annuity contract or life insurance policy in the state, said New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny. We know that during this difficult time, tracking down a policy is often the last thing someone wants to think about. The New Hampshire Insurance Department can help, Sevigny said. The New Hampshire Insurance Department said it is working with 312 licensed life insurance companies to make the search seamless for residents. The departments website features a request form, which New Hampshire residents may download and fill out (www.nh.gov/insurance/lah/lost-life-policy-locator.htm ). The form contains instructions on what information to include and how to return it to the department. Topics New Hampshire The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that the states mandatory attorneys fee schedule for workers compensation cases is unconstitutional under both Floridas and the U.S. constitution as a violation of due process. The states top court also declined to rule in another case challenging the very constitutionality of the states reformed workers compensation system. The attorneys fee schedule ruling came in the case of Marvin Castellanos, an injured employee who sued his employer Next Door Co. and its insurer, Amerisure. The high court noted that the issue has been raised in as many as 18 lower court cases. The Castellanos court ruling said that the schedule, passed in 2009, is invalid because it eliminates the right of a claimant to get a reasonable attorneys fee, a right it says is a critical feature of the workers compensation law. The court said the statute violates due process by installing an irrebuttable presumption that whatever fee the schedule comes up with is reasonable and by not providing any way for a claimant to refute the fee. In the Castellanos case, the attorney fee calculated under the mandatory sliding scale turned out to be $1.53 per hour for 107.2 hours. The claimants attorney had sought a fee of $350 an hour. The ruling upends a lower court ruling and a finding by a Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) that both upheld the schedule and the fee in the case. The high court said that while the Legislature has said it intends the workers compensation system to deliver benefits to injured workers efficiently and quickly, in reality the system has become increasingly complex to the detriment of the claimant, who depends on the assistance of a competent attorney to navigate the thicket. The court said that it is undeniable that without the right to an attorney with a reasonable fee, the workers compensation law can no longer assure the quick and efficient delivery of disability and medical benefits to an injured worker. The court said it found the irrebuttable presumption, or inability of any claimant to challenge the fee, and not the particular fee, to be unconstitutional. Stahl Case The Castellanos ruling came down the same day that the Florida Supreme Court changed its mind and decided it does not have jurisdiction in another closely-watched workers compensation case brought by an injured nurse. The court had earlier said it would rule in the Stahl case that challenged the constitutionality of the entire Florida workers compensation system. The plaintiff questioned whether the workers compensation system has provided an adequate alternative for injured workers since its major overhaul in 2003. More specifically, the case asked if the elimination of a type of partial disability benefits by lawmakers was legal. In the case of Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital, the court today said simply, After further consideration and hearing oral argument in this case, we have determined that we should exercise our discretion and discharge jurisdiction. Accordingly, we dismiss review. The high courts decision to pass on Stahl means the First District Court of Appeals opinion in this matter, which upheld other elements of the workers compensation law, stands, according to state officials. Complete Frustration In the Castellanos decision, the court said the right of an injured worker to recover a reasonable prevailing party attorneys fee has been a key feature of the states workers compensation law since 1941. Through the 2009 enactment of a mandatory fee schedule, however, the Legislature has created an irrebuttable presumption that every fee calculated in accordance with the fee schedule will be reasonable to compensate the attorney for his or her services, the court said. The $1.53 hourly rate in this case clearly demonstrates that not to be true. The court said that it did not view the absolute limitation from the point of view of the attorneys rights because the attorney always has the option to refuse representation. Rather, it viewed the conclusive irrebuttable presumption in the context of the complete frustration of the entire workers compensation scheme designed to provide workers with full medical care and wage-loss payments for total or partial disability regardless of fault and without the delay and uncertainty of tort litigation.' The high court remanded the case to the JCC for entry of a reasonable attorneys fee. According to the Office of Insurance Regulation, until the legislature addresses this decision, attorney fees will be evaluated under the reasonable award standard articulated in the Murray v. Mariner Health decision. Topics Florida Legislation Workers' Compensation Zurich Canada has appointed Patrick Healey as senior vice president, Distribution and Regional Management. Healey will be responsible for leading and managing broker relationships and supporting market-facing underwriting colleagues towards the goal of continuing to make Zurich more customer focused, the company said in a statement. His appointment takes effect May 1, and he will be based in Toronto. Healey will work with members of the Canadian senior management team, led by Zurich Canada CEO and Chief Agent Patrick Lundy. As a Zurich employee for the past five years, Patrick has delivered strong results for the company, said Randall Clouser, head of Marketing, Distribution and Regional Management for Zurich North America. He has demonstrated the ability to successfully communicate Zurichs strengths and market differentiators to our brokers and how we help our customers understand and protect themselves from risk. Prior to this appointment, Healey served as vice president and national segment head for Zurich North Americas Commercial Markets business unit, based in Schaumburg, Ill. His ability to understand customer needs and build strong relationships with brokers helped him drive significant profitable growth in the Real Estate segment, the company said. And prior to that role, he did similar work building Zurichs international business among middle-market customers in the United States. Patrick will be a strong addition to Zurich Canadas senior management team, said Patrick Lundy, president and CEO of Zurich Canada. The results he has achieved with Zurich show that he is well-suited to the task of strengthening relationships with our key distribution partners so that brokers are well informed about all the ways that Zurich is a global leader in managing risk. Source: Zurich Insurance Group Topics Agencies Canada Hackers are likely to get away with about $70 million of Bangladeshs foreign reserves after a brazen cyber-attack against the South Asian nation, according to Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith. The Philippines where most of the funds ended up will probably recover as much as $10 million of the $81 million stolen in February from Bangladeshs account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Muhith said. The rest is hard to track, he said. The way it has been lost, its very difficult to identify the beneficiaries, Muhith said by phone from Dhaka on Friday. It has gone largely into casinos and casino accounts. The attempted theft of almost $1 billion has prompted central banks around the globe to review defenses against hackers looking to loot bountiful foreign reserve accounts. While the Fed blocked most of the transfers, about $81 million ended up in the Philippines. Another $20 million sent to a bank in Sri Lanka was returned. The Philippines is investigating the heist. Muhith said Bangladesh is also conducting a probe, adding that definitely some of our people mustve been involved. He declined to disclose further details. NY Fed Muhith repeated criticism of the NY Feds handling of the money transfers, saying it allowed four transactions to go through without confirmation. That way they become liable for that part of the fraud, Muhith said, referring to the NY Fed. There have been security lapses and the Federal Reserve cannot be excused for some blame in this trouble. The Fed said last month that instructions to make the payments from the account of Bangladeshs central bank followed standard protocols and were authenticated by the SWIFT message system used by financial institutions. Bangladeshs security systems are very vulnerable and consultants are working on improving defenses, Muhith said. A detailed report on the investigation will be completed in about six weeks, he said. Bangladeshs foreign reserves climbed to a record $29 billion this year as a weaker yuan cut the cost of raw materials used in its garment industry. Exports are holding up despite the drop in global demand, Muhith said. He called the crime a very unusual event, adding that the world hasnt seen anything like it in recent memory. Its a large sum of money for Bangladesh, Muhith said. This is a very good warning, a signal to the world to take proper security measures in respect to money transfers. Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber New York A 20-year-old northern Illinois volunteer firefighter accused of starting five fires allegedly tossed lit cigarettes to spark at least two of the blazes, according to court documents. Kenneth Grabow of Orangeville was scheduled to appear in court on April 28 for a preliminary hearing on arson and criminal damage to property charges. He remained in the Stephenson County Jail on $250,000 bond morning. Stephenson County Public Defender Byron Sloan hasnt been able to review the evidence in the case, but he told The (Freeport) Journal-Standard that he intends to vigorously defend Grabow in hopes that the volunteer firefighter will receive a fair trial. Grabow is accused of setting fires at three barns, a shed and an abandoned home in the Orangeville area between April 14 and 19. He allegedly tossed lit cigarettes onto a paper refuse in the abandoned house on April 14 and onto a hay or straw bale in one of the barns on April 16, court records show. The criminal complaint estimates that each fire caused more than $10,000 in damage. Meanwhile, the Orangeville Fire Protection District issued a statement, denouncing arson by firefighters. Any intentional action of one of our firefighters does not represent this department or the fire service as a whole, Assistant Chief Pat Widolff said in the news release. Firefighters are held to a higher standard of conduct and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for this act. In August, Grabow joined the volunteer fire department, which has fewer than 30 firefighters. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Illinois A growing number of insurance companies envision a large, robust insurance market for liability and property coverage associated with drone use. However, many insurers currently are proceeding with caution in light of uncertainty about how the drones will be used and regulated and the related risks they represent for owners and operators. According to a white paper prepared by Assurex Global with insurance brokerage Shaw Sabey & Associates and managing general agent Plus Underwriting Managers, businesses and government entities relying on drones face potential liability exposures that may not be covered under standard commercial general liability (CGL) insurance policies. Meanwhile, insurance companies are becoming increasingly concerned about aviation risks the proliferation of drones represents. Indeed, the potential property and liability exposures for drone operators range from theft of the drone and its related equipment to property damage and bodily injury caused by drones, as well as premises liability at sites used for scheduled flights, malicious damage, system hacking and contractual liability. Insurers Cautious According to Assurex Global, larger insurers operating in the U.S. generally have been reluctant to offer specific coverage for drones as they wait for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to finalize and implement the regulatory framework it proposed in 2015. In the interim, several specialty insurers, including many based outside the U.S., have begun offering liability insurance and other commercial coverages for drone-related risks. The FAAs proposed regulations allow routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems in todays aviation system, while maintaining flexibility to accommodate future technological innovations. The proposed rules address such issues as height restrictions, operator certification and operational limits. The final rules should be announced soon. Last June, a senior FAA official said the agency expects to finalize regulations within the next 12 months. The rule will be in place within a year, FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker said in testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Hopefully before June 17, 2016, he added. The FAA has estimated that as many as 30,000 commercial and civil drones could be in the skies in the U.S. by 2020. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) estimates that between 2015 and 2025, the drone industry will create 100,000 jobs and contribute $82 billion to the U.S. economy. A 2015 Munich Re survey of risk managers found that the use of drones could become common practice for almost 40 percent of businesses in fewer than five years. Insurance Market Since last June, insurers have had ISO forms they can use to tailor drone coverage. The ISO options modify coverage under ISOs Commercial General Liability and Commercial Liability Umbrella/Excess programs. Six core options are available under each program (three optional exclusions and three limited-coverage endorsements) and can be used to address a number of potential exposures with respect to bodily injury, property damage, and other potential liability related to drones. According to the Assurex Global paper, the market for drones might expand significantly early on and attract many new insurers; however, it could contract dramatically following any large losses. In the event of such a scenario, underwriters already specializing in aviation risk may have the most staying power on the basis of their experience with these types of exposures. Last June global insurance broker Marsh said that insurance capacity for unmanned aircraft operations is plentiful as insurers seek to to secure an early foothold in the sector, while acknowledging that regulatory uncertainty remains the biggest obstacle to the market reaching its full potential. Meanwhile insurers are doing what they can, according to John Hanslip, senior vice president, Marshs Aviation and Aerospace Practice. Insurers are using their extensive experience of manned aircraft to assess the risks associated with drones and are providing insurance coverage based on size, uses, and values of the aircraft, he said. :Traditional policies for manned aircraft are being brought up to date and many only need tweaks to be usable for drone technology and deployment. Why Buy Insurance As the commercial insurance market for drones evolves, businesses and government entities planning to use drones or to expand their deployment should assess their risks and evaluate available insurance coverage, said Jeffrey McCann, vice president, digital strategy for Shaw Sabey & Associates, a member of The Vertical Insurance Group. The paper by Assurex Global, which is a partnership among commercial insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerages, cites some reasons drone operators should purchase insurance:partnerships Existing policy exclusions. Most insurance company commercial general liability (CGL) policies contain exclusions for aviation exposures, which are likely to apply to drones. Most insurance company commercial general liability (CGL) policies contain exclusions for aviation exposures, which are likely to apply to drones. Contractual requirements. Business customers eventually may require liability insurance as a condition of doing business. Business customers eventually may require liability insurance as a condition of doing business. Legal environment. The plaintiffs bar may be gearing up to bring suits against companies whose drones cause property damage or bodily injury. The plaintiffs bar may be gearing up to bring suits against companies whose drones cause property damage or bodily injury. Reputation. Drone insurance signals prospective customers that the insured firm is professional, thorough and reputable. The Assurex Global authors note that businesses applying for insurance coverage should be prepared to provide extensive details of their drone utilization, including: standard operating procedures; drone operators experience, training and certification; flight and maintenance logs; FAA approval or exemption from regulatory requirements for manned aircraft; flight conditions, including travel routes and times (day or night); and accident history. Related Topics Carriers USA Trends Legislation Aviation Property Market A former Oklahoma volunteer sheriffs deputy who said he mistook his handgun for his stun gun when he fatally shot an unarmed suspect last year has been convicted of second-degree manslaughter. Jurors handed down the verdict in the case of 74-year-old Robert Bates, a wealthy insurance executive accused of fatally shooting Eric Harris while working with Tulsa County sheriffs deputies last year during an illegal gun sales sting. Harris, who had run from deputies, was restrained and unarmed when he was shot. The shooting which was caught on video sparked several investigations that, among other things, revealed an internal 2009 memo questioning Bates qualifications as a volunteer deputy and showed that Bates, a close friend of the sheriffs, had donated thousands of dollars in cash, vehicles and equipment to the agency. The jury recommended a four-year prison term, the maximum, and Bates was handcuffed and taken into custody pending formal sentencing at a later date. Bates defense attorneys argued at trial that methamphetamine found in Harris system, along with his cardiac health, caused his death. Defense attorneys called the killing an excusable homicide. But prosecutors told jurors that Bates was guilty of culpable negligence when he shot Harris. One deputy testified that Bates apparently dozed off minutes before Harris fled from deputies. Following the shooting, an outside consultant hired to review the sheriffs office determined that it suffered from a system-wide failure of leadership and supervision and had been in a perceptible decline for more than a decade. The reserve deputy program was later suspended. Weeks after Harris was killed, an internal sheriffs office memo from 2009 was released by an attorney for Harris family that alleged superiors knew Bates didnt have enough training but pressured others to look the other way because of his relationship with the sheriff and the agency. A grand jury also investigated the agency and indicted the longtime sheriff, Stanley Glanz, in September, accusing him of failing to release the 2009 memo. He resigned on Nov. 1. The new sheriff, who was sworn into office earlier this month, has detailed plans to reform and revive the reserve deputy program. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Oklahoma Texas Mutual Insurance Co. announced it has awarded a combined $600,000 in grants to College of the Mainland in Texas City, Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, El Paso Community College, Kilgore College, Midland College and Amarillo College. The grants fund workplace safety courses for employers, workers and the general public through the colleges risk management institutes. Since 1999, Texas Mutual, a workers compensation insurance provider, has awarded $4.6 million in safety education grants, and approximately 30,000 students have attended free safety courses in Corpus Christi, Kilgore, Midland and Texas City throughout the past 17 years. This year was the first year Texas Mutual awarded grants to El Paso Community College and Amarillo College to establish risk management programs. Courses at the safety institutes include general topics, such as driver safety, ergonomic safety and OSHA standards, as well as courses tailored to the dominant industries in the Houston, Midland, Kilgore, El Paso, Corpus Christi and Amarillo areas. Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Co. Topics Texas Education Training Development Universities The Florida Supreme Courts ruling that the states current attorney fee limits are unconstitutional will have serious ramifications on the workers compensation market in the state, according to Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and other workers compensation experts. Those ramifications will include and are not limited to a significant amount of new litigation concerning old workers comp cases. McCarty also said he expects insurers will seek a significant rate increase because of the ruling. Obviously we are deeply concerned, McCarty said shortly after the ruling was announced. Limiting attorneys fees was an important part of the cost containment reforms that were passed [in 2003]. This decision will have a destabilizing effect on the workers comp market. Court Ruling The states high court ruled on Wednesday that the fee schedule passed in 2009 is unconstitutional under both Floridas and the U.S. Constitution as a violation of due process. It ruled in the case of Marvin Castellanos, an injured employee who sued his employer Next Door Co. and its insurer, Amerisure. The high court noted that the issue has also been raised in as many as 18 lower court cases. The Castellanos court ruling said the current schedule eliminates the right of a claimant to get a reasonable attorneys fees a critical feature of the workers compensation law. The court said the statute violates due process by installing an irrebuttable presumption that whatever fee the schedule comes up with is reasonable and by not providing any way for a claimant to refute the fee. McCarty, whose last day in office may be next week, said the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) will start work immediately with the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) to evaluate the impact this decision could have on policyholders. He said he expects NCCI will submit a rate filing with a significant rate increase because of the ruling. He also expects Florida lawmakers to call an emergency session to develop a legislative remedy to counteract the courts decision and its repercussions. This ruling could lead to more cases of litigation, McCarty said. It could also affect a critical part of the economy as businesses look at the cost of workers comp in the state. McCarty said OIR will work on finding a solution that works for everybody, but the answer, he said, is not within the judicial system. We need to look at what specifically the court felt was flawed about attorneys fees and see if there is any reasonable way to address that, or what we can do to address injured workers seeking attorneys in the first place, he said. If the burden to assist them lies on the judiciary system, that will be prohibitively expensive for businesses and prohibitively expensive for the system. New Litigation Allison Hartnett, senior partner with Walton Lantaff Schroeder & Carson in Miami said the ruling will open the floodgates to new litigation. The court did emphasize that only in cases where the claimant can demonstrate that the fee schedule results in an unreasonable fee, will the claimants attorney then be entitled to a fee that deviates from the statutory fee schedule, she said. Any claim with any date of accident will be subject to this ruling. Kimberly Fernandes, partner in the Tallahassee office of the law firm Kelley Kronenberg, said the decision takes the workers comp market full circle back to 2008 when the Florida Supreme Court opened up attorneys fees to an hourly option in the Murray v. Mariner Health case. In that instance, she said, the Legislature quickly reversed the decision by amending the statute to require a statutory calculation dependent only upon the amount of benefits obtained. Time will tell if the Legislature desires to repeat history by amending the statute again, she said. Regardless, we are sure to see a revival of attorney fee litigation right now, as claimants attorneys dust off their old but viable claims and start seeking hourly fees instead of the statutorily calculated fees on benefits that were obtained for their clients ages ago. Pre-2003 Reform McCarty said before workers comp reforms were passed in 2003, Florida was among the highest for litigated workers comp cases in the country. Addressing the attorneys fees was just one of the changes that was made to enhance the workers comp system overall. This ruling could derail all of those efforts by undermining the current system and driving costs back up. When you have a system where your administrative system is working, then you arent as reliant on a judicial system and attorneys to administer benefits, he said. According to the OIR, until the legislature addresses this decision, attorney fees will be evaluated under the reasonable award standard articulated in the Murray v. Mariner Health decision. Other Cases On the same day that the attorneys fee schedule was struck down, the workers compensation system may have dodged a bullet as the same court declined to rule in another closely-watched case brought by an injured nurse that challenged the constitutionality of the states entire workers compensation system. In the case of Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital, the Supreme Court said simply, After further consideration and hearing oral argument in this case, we have determined that we should exercise our discretion and discharge jurisdiction. Accordingly, we dismiss review. Meanwhile, there is another case in the court system that challenges the constitutionality of the 104-week limitation on injured workers temporary benefits. Topics Lawsuits Florida Legislation Workers' Compensation Pricing Trends Talent A pain clinic doctor in Beckley, West Virginia, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for illegally prescribing a controlled substance and submitting false health care claims. Dr. Jose Gordinho was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Beckley. He also was fined $15,000 and ordered to pay more than $48,000 in restitution to Medicare and Medicaid. Under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Gordinho will no longer be allowed to prescribe controlled substances. Gordinho was indicted in November on 21 counts of distributing controlled substances that were not for legitimate medical purposes. His guilty plea involved prescribing hydrocodone. He also admitted to submitting false claims for services that were not medically necessary. Topics Fraud Virginia Drugs Florida-based Universal Insurance Holdings Inc. has raised an additional $10 million in capital by selling shares to one of its reinsurers. Universal said it sold 583,771 shares of common stock to RenaissanceRe Ventures Ltd., a subsidiary of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. for total consideration of $10 million. I am extremely pleased to have RenaissanceRe, one of our core reinsurance partners, make this investment in our company, said Sean P. Downes, Universals chairman and chief executive officer. This additional equity capital further strengthens our balance sheet and positions us for continued, profitable growth. The holding companys subsidiary, Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co., is a leading writers of homeowners insurance in Florida. It has also begun selling in North Carolina, South Carolina, Hawaii, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Michigan. RenaissanceRe is a global provider of catastrophe and specialty reinsurance and insurance. Topics Florida Funding Henderson, Nev., police say officers looking for distracted drivers during a three-week enforcement blitz ticketed 75 motorists for infractions like texting, checking emails, accessing the Internet or talking on cellphones. Police spokeswoman Kathleen Richards says officers reported making 605 traffic stops, and issued a total of 710 citations during the effort, with help from North Las Vegas, Mesquite, Boulder City and Las Vegas police. More than 300 tickets were for speeding, 89 were for registration and insurance violations, and 58 were for running a red light. The April 1-20 Joining Forces program was backed by a $200,000 federal grant, through the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Law Enforcement Personal Auto Terrore nella stazione della metropolitana di Brooklyn, a New York, dove 29 persone, secondo quanto riportato dai media locali citando fonti della polizia, sono state ferite quando sono stati esplosi degli spari, intorno alle 8:30 del mattino (ora locale). E partita la caccia alluomo del presunto autore del gesto, non ancora identificato, pare dileguatosi vestito da dipendente della metropolitana, e si cerca un furgoncino con la targa dello stato dellArizona. Ignoto ancora il movente, mentre lFbi e arrivato sulla scena dellincidente. La sicurezza e stata rafforzata e in particolare a Washington, dove al momento pero non ce nessuna credibile minaccia, e il ministero dei Trasporti americano ha aumentato il numero degli agenti e le misure di sicurezza in metro, stazioni e aeroporti in tutti gli Stati Uniti. I rilievi Non ci sono dispositivi esplosivi nella metropolitana. Lo afferma la polizia di New York nel corso della conferenza stampa sulla sparatoria avvenuta a Sunset Park alle otto e trenta di questa mattina. Mentre sarebbero state rinvenute dalla polizia diverse armi ad alta capacita, riporta Cnn citando alcune fonti. Alcuni testimoni avrebbero detto che lautore della sparatoria nella metropolitana avrebbe lanciato un ordigno prima di esplodere i colpi. Le ricerche La polizia sta cercando il presunto autore del gesto, un uomo afroamericano, alto circa un metro e 65 centimetri, non ancora identificato, vestito come un dipendente della metropolitana e con indosso una maschera antigas e un furgoncino U-Haul con la targa dellArizona, riferiscono fonti della polizia alla Cnn avvertendo che lautista alla guida potrebbe essere pericoloso. Non si conosce ancora il movente ma non escludiamo nulla, aveva precedentemente affermato. Elicotteri in volo su New York dopo la sparatoria alla stazione della metropolitana di Brooklyn. Larea di Sunset Park, vicino alla metro e completamente bloccata e la polizia ha messo a disposizione un numero per possibili informazioni sullincidente, soprattutto per la condivisione di video che potrebbero aiutare a identificare il sospetto. Il panico alla stazione La sparatoria e iniziata allinterno del vagone della metropolitana, afferma la polizia. Delle immagini ritraggono il panico nella stazione, con persone insanguinate sulla banchi e i soccorsi in arrivo. Persone stese a terra sulla banchina, vigili ma ferite e altre che cercano di tamponare il sangue con magliette e camicie. Sono le prime immagini della sparatoria nella metro di New York che stanno comparendo sui media americani. Le immagini mostrano anche lunghe scie di sangue sul pavimento della stazione proprio di fronte a un vagone della metropolitana fermo. Secondo Cnbc, nel momento in cui la sparatoria e iniziata alcuni feriti si sono lanciati in un treno che stava passando per scappare. Le immagini Le immagini riprese da uno dei passeggeri a bordo della metropolitana di New York, Yav Montano, pochi minuti dopo la sparatoria, trasmesse dalla Cnn, mostrano tanto fumo e persone accalcate che cercano di coprirsi la bocca. Non sono riusciti a vedere nulla di quello che accadeva sulla banchina, solo tanto fumo, ha raccontato il passeggero. Sembravano fuochi dartificio, avevamo difficolta a respirare, ha detto ancora. Le persone sulla metro erano molto agitate, un uomo accanto a me mi ha detto di mettere via il telefono e tenermi pronto perche non sapevamo cosa potesse succedere, ha aggiunto. Il travestimento Il sospettato della sparatoria nella metropolitana di New York era vestito come un dipendente della Metropolitan Transportation Authority, riportano i media locali citando alcune fonti, secondo le quali il travestimento gli ha consentito di mimetizzarsi fra la folla e scappare. Il tweet di Biden Io e Jill preghiamo per i feriti della sparatoria nella metropolitana di New York. Siamo grati ai soccorritori e ai civili che hanno agito con rapidita. La mia squadra e in contatto con le autorita della citta e stiamo lavorando a sostegno degli sforzi sul terreno, twitta il presidente degli Stati Uniti Joe Biden. Getting married changes your financial life in profound ways. Its not just that youre living together or sharing expensesyou dont need marriage to do that. Its that your legal and tax statuses change. And while your credit score remains individual, your future choices could be changed by what your spouse brings into the financial picture. Whether youre getting hitched for the first time or remarrying after a divorce or death, its smart to sit down with your partner well before the wedding to talk about these issues and do some financial planning. Granted, its not the most thrilling premarital activity. But the decisions that you and your future spouse make about how to handle money will have long-term repercussions for younot just as individuals, but as a couple, whether you choose to combine your finances completely or keep certain things separate. Your choices will have not only financial implications but also emotional and legal ones. A little preparation now will pay off handsomely later. Key Takeaways Partners should fully disclose their assets, liabilities, and credit reports to each other before marriage. Financial decisions around wedding budgets will affect couples for yearsfor better or for worse. Marriage can have major financial benefits, especially if you understand the best way to file your taxes as a couple. Learn your states laws regarding marital property, and understand how assets and liabilities acquired before and after marriage will be shared. Before You Say I Do Before you exchange vows, its important that you and your partner each disclose your full financial circumstances to each other. Because marriage is a legal and financial decisionthe government couldnt care less how in love you areyou need to know what risks you are taking by binding yourself to another person. Disclose all assets and liabilities (including those from a previous marriage, if applicable, or responsibilities that you have for members of your immediate or extended family). Both of you should obtain your credit reports and credit scores from all three credit bureaus. Sit down and review each others balance sheets together and discuss any concerns. Once you know what youre dealing with, you can decide how youll handle your finances in marriage. If one partner has considerably more assets or earning power than the other, then a prenuptial agreement may be in order. These contracts can protect premarital assets and provide for children from previous marriages. They can also establish responsibility for debts acquired before marriage and prearrange spousal support in case of divorce. If either or both of you carry considerable debt, its time to make a plan for paying it off. One spouses premarital debt does not automatically become the others upon signing a marriage license, but that debt can still affect you after marriage, as it affects your joint finances. While marriage in and of itself has no impact on credit scores, common practices of married couplesseeking joint car loans or mortgages, opening joint credit card accounts, or adding a spouse as a cardholder on individual accountscan affect both spouses future credit. So, if either of you has poor credit, come up with a plan for improving it. You can be co-borrowers and use both of your assets to qualify if you ever apply for an automobile loan or a mortgage together. When spouses borrow jointly but one has poor credit, a lender may charge higher interest and fees than the spouse with good credit could have been eligible for on their own. Setting Joint Financial Goals Even before you set up house together, create a household budget that will help you achieve your financial goals. Now is the time to think about your answers to questions like these: What are your top priorities in life, and how do finances factor into those priorities? What are your long-term career prospects and goals? Will either of you need financial support for additional education or time out of the workforce to work toward your goals? Will one spouse stay at home full time or part time to care for children? Do either of you have children from a previous relationship, and if so, what kind of financial responsibilities will you have for them? Do either of you expect to be called on to support other relatives, such as aging parents? At what age do you hope to retire, and what kind of retirement do you envision? Do you have different attitudes toward saving and spending? How will you manage those differences? Even if you dont know all the answers, its helpful to get a sense of where your partner stands and evaluate what you each might need to think about or research further. Planning Your Wedding How much you will spend on the wedding and who will pay for it are two of the first big financial questions that engaged couples need to answer together. Your decisions can have a major effect on how the marriage starts off, which can set the tone for your partnership. Who pays? Traditionally, the father of the bride pays for the entire wedding. But sometimes theres no bride, sometimes theres no father, and sometimes neither of the engaged couples families has the financial means to contribute to the wedding. When youre paying for the wedding yourselves as a couple, especially if youre a young couple with little money saved up and many unmet goals, its imperative to establish an affordable wedding budget and adhere to it. Even if you stick to your budget, be aware of how expensive they can be. According to a 2021 Brides and Investopedia survey, nine out of 10 respondents said they've put off at least one major financial priority, like saving for a house, starting a family, or saving for retirement, in order to pay for their wedding. Sticking to a wedding budget can be harder than it sounds. Once you start researching wedding costs and talking to vendors, you might learn that the magical event youve envisioned costs double or even triple what you expected or can afford. You then have to choose whether to go into debt, scale back your expectations, or get creativeor do a bit of all three. Does the wedding have to be on a Saturday? Do you really need to have 300 guests? If youre crafty, can you make your own centerpieces instead of paying for them? Ring decisions Decisions about what to spend on wedding and engagement rings are also important. Ultimately, wearing a band on your ring finger is a symbol of commitment. A simple band can be had for as little as $10or you can spend $10,000 or more; $5,500 is close to the national average for engagement rings. And those rings, depending on the jewels, can be way pricier. You can have a family heirloom ring resized or reset, opt for traditional gold and diamonds or a modern alternative, shop at a major jewelry store, or use an independent jeweler who does custom work. Couples who opt for pricey rings should make sure they have enough insurance to replace the jewelry if its lost or stolen. Handling Your Money After Youve Tied the Knot Getting married has not only emotional benefits but also a lot of financial ones. The financial benefits can include reduced housing costs, savings on health insurance, and lower car insurance premiums. These savings, in turn, can increase short- and long-term financial stability by providing cash for emergencies and the means to save for retirement. In fact, married couples often have an easier time saving for retirement not only because they share incomes and expenses but also because a higher-earning spouse can contribute to a lower-earning spouses traditional or Roth IRA. Married couples often establish new joint checking and savings accounts and may want to add their new spouse as a joint owner on existing accounts. Some use a combination of strategies. Its important to decide which strategy for managing money as a couple feels the most comfortable to you. Shortly after the wedding is also a good time to update account beneficiaries. Because of the legal and financial ties that marriage creates, financial openness and honesty in your relationship are more important than ever. If one partner blows the household budget, for instance, then owning up to it, not hiding it, is the best way to move forwardas hard as that may be to do. Honesty will allow you, as a couple, to discuss the circumstances that led to the situation, the best strategy for damage control, and how a similar issue can be prevented going forward. A spouse who tends to overspend, for example, might need a monthly allowance that theyre accountable for sticking to. Sharing financial responsibilities In a marriage, its common for one partner to handle budgeting and bill paying and another to handle all the investments, or for one partner to do all the financial tasks. There are dangers in these lopsided approaches. What happens if one spouse becomes too sick or injured to handle their usual tasksor even dies suddenly? Because we do so many of our financial tasks online these days, the other spouse may have no idea which accounts exist, what bills need to be paid, or what the passwords are to log in to each account. Its better to do financial tasks together at least some of the time or to trade off each month so both spouses can access every account and know how to manage the households money. A joint approach to finances also makes it harder for one spouse to hide income or overspending from the other. If neither of you is particularly money-savvy, it may make sense to consult a financial planner to get on good financial footing from the get-go. 41% Percentage of respondents to a Northwestern Mutual personal finance study who said financial anxieties have an impact on relationships with spouses/partners at least some of the time. One-fifth reported financial fights with their partners at least once a month. The Legal Side of Marriage State law determines who owns what in a marriage. The law might not seem important when you first get married, but it will become a huge factor when one spouse dies or if you get divorced. Its better to understand how things work now than to be unpleasantly surprised later. Most states are common law property states. If you live in such a state, it means that property and assets belong to the person whose name is on them, and that person can leave their property to anyone they want. You can own assets jointly or individually, but the type of title that you hold affects whether either joint property becomes entirely your spouses or you can leave your share to someone else upon your death. In community property states, assets and debts acquired during a marriage belong equally to both spouses. However, assets that one spouse owned before the marriageor that one spouse inherits or receives as a gift at any pointbelong only to that spouse. Similarly, debts incurred by only one spouse before the marriage are not the other spouses responsibility. There are nine community property states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you didnt sign a prenup but wish you had, you and your spouse can create and sign a postmarital agreement or postnuptial agreement (postnup), a legal document that lays out how assets will be divided should the marriage end. Similar to a prenup, it can simplify issues of inheritance and asset division and can eliminate the need for divorce proceedings. Marriage also increases the importance of establishing wills for each of youor changing your wills to incorporate the fact that you are marriedas well as adding payable on death designations for all of your accounts so that your money can go to your spouse or another named beneficiary within days of your death. How the law handles your assets after your death may not be the way that you would like them handled. This also seems like a very-far-in-the-future issue (you hope), but why not take care of it while youre organizing everything else? Marriage and Taxes Married couples can file joint or separate tax returns. Using tax software to run both scenarios can simplify the decision of how to file to pay the least in taxes. Filing jointly is often the way to go for financial reasons, but each couples circumstances are unique. A couple might prefer to file separately if they dont want to be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of each others returns or if, for example, one spouse wants to maintain complete separation from the other spouses business. Medical deductions for one spouseif that spouse earns significantly less income than their partnerare another reason why it can pay to file separately in some years. On the other hand, certain deductions and exemptions are only available to couples who file jointly. If one or both spouses have student loans, deciding whether to file joint or separate tax returns can affect the size of student loan payments. For borrowers on income-based repayment plans, filing a joint tax return means that both spouses incomes will be used to calculate student loan payments, potentially resulting in a higher payment than if they file separately. But the key word here is potentiallyit depends on the repayment plan in question, the income discrepancy between the spouses, each spouses student loan debt, the difference in taxes owed depending on filing status, and other factors. One tax benefit of marriage is the unlimited marital deduction, a provision that lets married couples transfer an uncapped amount of assets between each other during life and upon death without owing any gift or estate taxes. The Bottom Line On the surface, marriage might seem to be all about love and companionship. On a deeper level, its much more than an emotional commitmentits also a financial and legal one. Because of how state and federal laws are written, tying the knot can have significant consequences for your money. Its important to make sure that you and your partner are on the same page about the assets and liabilities that you are bringing into the marriage, and about how youll handle money as a couple. Getting these important conversations out of the way before the wedding means that youll start your marriage on the right foot, with no ugly surprises lying in wait. It will also set you up to have ongoing discussions about your finances over the years. These talks will help you stay on track to meet your goals and reduce or eliminate the fear and stress that couples can experience about discussing money matters with each other. With your finances in order, youll have the peace of mind to focus on taking the next step in your relationship, enjoying this special time, and building a life together. Billionaires play an outsized role in shaping the global economy, politics, and philanthropy. Forbes puts the number of billionaires in the world at 2,668 in 2022. The wealthiest among them belong to an even more exclusive club and wield still more power. Many of these billionaires are founders of technology giants, with much of their wealth still invested in the companies they started. They can, however, still borrow against that wealth to avoid selling stock, deferring (or eliminating for heirs) taxes on unrealized capital gains in the process. Multi-billionaires can also take advantage of a panoply of tax deductions to offset reported income, leaving some on this list paying no income tax in recent years. With so much of their wealth in publicly traded stocks, the net worth of the richest can fluctuate with market valuations. For example, Elon Musk, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Tesla (TSLA) and the richest person in the world, saw his net worth surge in 2021 thanks to the increase in the share price of Tesla Tesla shares rose nearly 50% in 2021. He currently owns 16% of the company. His net worth as of September 2022 was $241 billion. In contrast, Meta Platforms (META) founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg fell out of the top 10 in February 2022, when the company's share price plunged after a disappointing earnings report. Zuckerberg's net worth was reported to be $59.7 billion in September 2022. Below are the 10 wealthiest people on the planet as of the same date, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. All figures are current as of Oct. 4, 2022, unless otherwise stated. Key Takeaways Elon Musk, the co-founder and CEO of Tesla, is the richest person in the world with a net worth of $241 billion. Behind Musk is the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, with an estimated net worth of $151 billion. Billionaires with the largest increases in their wealth in 2021 included Musk, LVMH Chair and CEO Bernard Arnault, and Google co-founder Larry Page. Six of the top 10 billionaires made their fortunes in technology, with Arnault, Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, Adani Group founder Gautam Adani, and Reliance Industry's Mukesh Ambani being the exceptions. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg dropped off the top 10 list in February 2022. 1. Elon Musk Age: 51 51 Residence: Texas Texas Co-founder and CEO: Tesla Tesla Net Worth: $228 billion $228 billion Tesla Ownership Stake: 15% ($99.3 billion) 15% ($99.3 billion) Other Assets: Space Exploration Technologies ($46.9 billion private asset), The Boring Company ($3.33 billion private asset), Twitter ($3.8 billion public asset), $17.8 billion in cash Elon Musk was born in South Africa and attended a university in Canada before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned bachelor's degrees in physics and economics. Two days after enrolling in a graduate physics program at Stanford University, Musk deferred attendance to launch Zip2, one of the earliest online navigation services. He reinvested a portion of the proceeds from this startup to create X.com, the online payment system that was sold to eBay (EBAY) and ultimately became PayPal Holdings (PYPL). In 2004, Musk became a major funder of Tesla Motors (now Tesla), which led to his current position as CEO of the electric vehicle company. In addition to its line of electric automobiles, Tesla produces energy storage devices, automobile accessories, and, through its acquisition of SolarCity in 2016, solar power systems. Musk is also CEO and chief engineer of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), a developer of space launch rockets. In 2020, Tesla shares soared 740% to propel Musk up the wealth rankings. In December 2020, Tesla joined the S&P 500, becoming the largest company added. In January 2021, Musk became the richest person in the worlda title he's held since then. Image courtesy Getty Images/Saul Martinez. In a Nov. 6, 2021 tweet, Musk asked his Twitter (TWTR) audience whether he should sell 10% of his Tesla stock, framing the issue as a response to criticism of unrealized capital gains as a means of avoiding taxes. He proceeded to sell shares worth $16.4 billion over the remainder of 2021. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, cited a media report that Musk paid no income tax for 2018 to argue for the adoption of a wealth tax. "And if you opened your eyes for 2 seconds, you would realize I will pay more taxes than any American in history this year," Musk responded on Twitter. Thanks to the surge in Tesla shares in 2021 and private transactions boosting the reported valuation of SpaceX, Musk's lead in the global wealth rankings has continued to grow. His net worth hit a high of $340 billion in November 2021. In April 2022, Musk began a campaign to take Twitter private, which culminated in a $44 billion buyout. Musk planned to fund the deal with $21 billion of his own capital. In the run-up to the buyout announcement, Musk sold 9.6 million shares of Tesla, valued at roughly $8.5 billion. In July 2022, Musk decided to back out of the Twitter buyout. Twitter filed a lawsuit against Musk to force the buyout to go through. Musk countersued the company but then reversed course and, in October 2022, declared he was willing to buy Twitter after all. 2. Jeff Bezos Age: 58 58 Residence: Washington Washington Founder and Executive Chair: Amazon (AMZN) Amazon (AMZN) Net Worth: $144 billion $144 billion Amazon Ownership Stake: 10% ($121 billion) 10% ($121 billion) Other Assets: Blue Origin ($9.15 billion private asset), The Washington Post ($250 million private asset), and $14.1 billion in cash In 1994, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon.com in a garage in Seattle, shortly after he resigned from the hedge fund giant D.E. Shaw. He had originally pitched the idea of an online bookstore to his former boss David E. Shaw, who wasnt interested. Though Amazon originally started out selling books, it has since morphed into a one-stop shop for everything under the sun and is expected to overtake Walmart as the worlds largest retailer by 2024. Amazon's pattern of constant diversification is evident in some of its unexpected expansions, which include acquiring Whole Foods in 2017 and entering the pharmacy business the same year. Bezos owned as much as 16% of Amazon in 2019 before transferring 4% to his former wife MacKenzie Scott as part of their divorce proceedings. In 2020, Amazons share price jumped 76% on the heightened demand for online shopping amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 5, 2021, Bezos stepped down as CEO of the e-commerce giant, becoming its executive chair. Image courtesy Getty Images/Alex Wong. Bezos originally took Amazon public in 1997 and went on to become the first man since Bill Gates in 1999 to achieve a net worth of more than $100 billion. Bezos other projects include aerospace company Blue Origin, The Washington Post (which he purchased in 2013), and the 10,000-year clockalso known as the Long Now. On July 20, 2021, Bezos, his brother Mark, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, and Dutch student Oliver Daemen completed Blue Origin's first successful crewed flight, reaching an altitude of more than 66 miles before landing safely. Bezos' wealth peaked at $211 billion in the same month. 3. Bernard Arnault Age: 73 73 Residence: Paris Paris CEO and Chair: LVMH (LVMUY) LVMH (LVMUY) Net Worth: $141 billion $141 billion Christian Dior Ownership Stake: 97.5% ($111 billion total) 97.5% ($111 billion total) Other Assets: Moelis & Company equity ($21.3 billion public asset), Hermes equity (undisclosed stake), and $8.9 billion in cash French national Bernard Arnault is the chair and CEO of LVMH, the worlds largest luxury goods company. LVMH brands include Louis Vuitton, Hennessey, Marc Jacobs, and Sephora. Most of Arnault's wealth comes from his massive stake in Christian Dior SE, the holding company that controls 41.2% of LVMH. His shares in Christian Dior SE, plus an additional 6.2% in LVMH, are held through his family-owned holding company, Groupe Familial Arnault. An engineer by training, Arnault first showed his business acumen while working for his fathers construction firm, Ferret-Savinel, taking charge of the company in 1971. He converted Ferret-Savinel to a real estate company named Ferinel Inc. in 1979. Image courtesy Getty/Christophe Morin. Arnault remained Ferinel's chair for another six years, until he acquired and reorganized luxury goods maker Financiere Agache in 1984, eventually selling all its holdings other than Christian Dior and Le Bon Marche. He was invited to invest in LVMH in 1987 and became the majority shareholder, chair of the board, and CEO of the company two years later. 4. Gautam Adani Age: 60 60 Residence: Gurgaon, India Gurgaon, India Founder and Chair: Adani Group Adani Group Net Worth: $125 billion $125 billion Adani Enterprises, Power. and Transmissions Ownership Stakes: 75% each ($72.4 billion) 75% each ($72.4 billion) Other Assets: 65% of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone ($12.2 billion public asset), 61% of Adani Green Energy ($24.5 billion public asset), 37% of Adani Total Gas ($16.2 billion public asset) Gautam Adani, the founder of Adani Group, surpassed Mukesh Ambani in March 2022 as the richest person in Asia. Adani, via his ownership of Adani Group, owns major stakes in six key Indian companies, including a 75% stake in Adani Enterprises, Adani Power, and Adani Transmissions, as well as a 65% stake in Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone, 61% stake in Adani Green Energy, and 37% stake in Adani Total Gas. The combined market capitalization of companies owned by the Adani Group is $238.4 billion (as of Sept. 6, 2022). Adani entered the power generation market in 2009 with Adani Power. Adani created Adani Enterprises in 1988 to import and export commodities. In 1994, his company was granted approval to develop a harbor facility at Mundra Port, which is now the largest private port in India. Adani dropped out of college and previously worked in the diamond trade. Now, Adani has the largest port operator, closely-held thermal coal producer, and coal trader in India. In 2020, he purchased a 74% stake in Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India's second-busiest airport. The billionaire was kidnapped and held for ransom in 1997. Adani was also in Mumbais Taj hotel during the 2008 terrorist attack. 5. Bill Gates Age: 66 66 Residence: Washington Washington Co-founder: Microsoft (MSFT) Microsoft (MSFT) Net Worth: $111 billion $111 billion Microsoft Ownership Stake: 1.3% ($25.6 billion) 1.3% ($25.6 billion) Other Assets: Cascade Investment LLC ($51.8 billion public assets), $52.4 billion in cash While attending Harvard University in 1975, Bill Gates went to work alongside his childhood friend Paul Allen to develop new software for the original microcomputers. Following this projects success, Gates dropped out of Harvard during his junior year and founded Microsoft with Allen. The largest software company in the world, Microsoft also produces a line of personal computers, provides email services through its Exchange server, and sells video game systems and associated game devices. It has recently invested heavily in cloud services. Gates shifted from the company's CEO to the role of board chair in 2008. He joined Berkshire Hathaways board in 2004. He stepped down from both boards on March 13, 2020. Bill Gates has much of his net worth in Cascade Investment LLC. Cascade is a privately-held investment vehicle that owns a variety of stocks including Canadian National Railway (CNR), Deere (DE), and Republic Services (RSG), as well as private investments in real estate and energy. Image courtesy Getty Images/Jack Taylor. In 2000, Gates' two philanthropic organizationsthe William H. Gates Foundation and the Gates Learning Foundationmerged to create the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, still co-chaired by Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates. Through the foundation, they have spent billions to fight polio and malaria. The foundation pledged $50 million in 2014 to help fight Ebola. As of 2021, the foundation had spent more than $1.9 billion to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2010, alongside Warren Buffett, Bill Gates launched the Giving Pledge, a campaign encouraging the wealthy to commit to donating most of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Bill and Melinda French Gates divorced on Aug. 2, 2021. With the divorce, roughly $5 billion in equities was transferred to French Gates. Bill Gates is the largest private owner of farmland in the U.S. with over 268,000 acres. 6. Warren Buffett Age: 92 92 Residence: Nebraska Nebraska CEO: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) Net Worth: $98.2 billion $98.2 billion Berkshire Hathaway Ownership Stake: 16% ($97.1 billion) 16% ($97.1 billion) Other Assets: $1.03 billion in cash The most famous living value investor, Warren Buffett filed his first tax return in 1944 at age 14, declaring earnings from his boyhood paper route. He first bought shares in a textile company called Berkshire Hathaway in 1962, becoming the majority shareholder by 1965. Buffett expanded the company's holdings to insurance and other investments in 1967. Berkshire Hathaway is now a $705 billion-dollar market cap company, with a single share of stock (Class A shares) trading at more than $439,000 as of Aug. 5, 2022. Widely known as the Oracle of Omaha, Buffett is a buy-and-hold investor who built his fortune by acquiring undervalued companies. More recently, Berkshire Hathaway has invested in large, well-known companies. Its portfolio of wholly owned subsidiaries includes interests in insurance, energy distribution, and railroads as well as consumer products. Buffett is a notable Bitcoin skeptic. Image courtesy Getty Images/Alex Wong. Buffett has dedicated much of his wealth to philanthropy. Between 2006 and 2020, he gave away $41 billionmostly to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and his childrens charities. Buffett launched the Giving Pledge alongside Bill Gates in 2010. Now 92 years old, Buffett still serves as CEO, but in 2021 he hinted that his successor might be Gregory Abel, head of Berkshires non-insurance operations. 7. Larry Page Age: 49 49 Residence: California California Co-founder and Board Member: Alphabet (GOOG) Alphabet (GOOG) Net Worth: $93.6 billion $93.6 billion Alphabet Ownership Stake: 6% ($79.5 billion total) 6% ($79.5 billion total) Other Assets: $14.1 billion in cash Like several of the tech billionaires on this list, Larry Page embarked on his path to fame and fortune in a college dorm room. While attending Stanford University in 1995, Page and his friend Sergey Brin came up with the idea of improving internet data extraction. The duo devised a new search engine technology they dubbed Backrub after its ability to assess links to a page. From there, Page and Brin went on to found Google in 1998, with Page serving as CEO of the company until 2001, and again between 2011 and 2019. Google is the world's dominant internet search engine, accounting for more than 92% of global search requests. In 2006, the company purchased YouTube, the top platform for user-submitted videos. After acquiring Android in 2005, Google released the Android mobile phone operating system in 2008. Google reorganized in 2015, becoming a subsidiary of Alphabet, a holding company. Image courtesy Getty Images/Justin Sullivan. Page was among early investors in Planetary Resources, a space exploration and asteroid-mining company. Established in 2009, the company was acquired by blockchain firm ConsenSys in 2018 amid funding problems. He has also shown an interest in flying car companies, investing in both Kitty Hawk and Opener. Shares of Google soared almost 50% in 2021, moving Page and Brin up the billionaire list. Page's net worth went from just below $52 billion in March 2020 to the current $98.7 billion. 8. Sergey Brin Age: 49 49 Residence: California California Co-founder and Board Member: Alphabet (GOOG) Alphabet (GOOG) Net Worth: $89.6 billion $89.6 billion Alphabet Ownership Stake: 6% ($75.4 billion total) 6% ($75.4 billion total) Other Assets: $14.2 billion in cash Sergey Brin was born in Moscow, Russia, moving to the U.S. with his family when he was six in 1979. After co-founding Google with Larry Page in 1998, Brin became Google's president of technology when Eric Schmidt took over as CEO in 2001. He held the same post at the Alphabet holding company after it was established in 2015, stepping down in 2019 when Sundar Pichai took over as CEO. In addition to its dominant internet search engine, Google offers a suite of online tools and services known as Google Workspace, which includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Meet, Google Chat, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and more. Google also offers a variety of electronic devices, including Pixel smartphones, computers, and tablets, Nest smart home devices, and Stadia gaming platform. Image courtesy Getty Images/Tim Mosenfelder. Brin spent much of 2019 focusing on X, Alphabets research laboratory responsible for innovative technologies like Waymo self-driving cars and Google Glass smart glasses. He has donated millions of dollars to Parkinsons disease research, partnering with The Michael J. Fox Foundation. 9. Steve Ballmer Age: 66 66 Residence: Washington Washington Owner: Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Clippers Net Worth: $88.4 billion $88.4 billion Microsoft Ownership Stake: 4% ($79.4 billion total) 4% ($79.4 billion total) Other Assets: Los Angeles Clippers ($3.16 billion private asset), $5.8 billion in cash Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 after Bill Gates convinced him to drop out of Stanford University's MBA program. He was Microsoft's 30th employee. Ballmer went on to succeed Gates as Microsoft CEO in 2000. He held the position until stepping down in 2014. Ballmer oversaw Microsoft's 2011 purchase of Skype for $8.5 billion. Ballmer owns an estimated 4% of Microsoft, making him the software giant's largest individual shareholder. In 2014, shortly after stepping down as Microsoft CEO, Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for $2 billion. Image courtesy Getty Images/Steven Ferdman. Ballmer lived in the same dorm and on the same floor as Bill Gates while the two attended Harvard University. The brotherly relationship between the two became strained when Ballmer started pushing the tech company into hardware, such as the Surface tablet and the Windows mobile phone, during his tenure as CEO. 10. Mukesh Ambani Age: 65 65 Residence: Mumbai, India Mumbai, India Owner: Reliance Industries Reliance Industries Net Worth: $83.7 billion $83.7 billion Reliance Ownership Stake: 42% ($84.2 billion total) 42% ($84.2 billion total) Other Assets: $410 million in real estate Mukesh Ambani is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, the world's largest oil refiner and one of the world's most valuable companies. The conglomerate was founded by Ambani's father, Dhirubhai Ambani in 1966 as a textiles company and is now one of the leading segments of India's economy. Reliance's operations include oil and gas, petrochemicals, refining, retail, and media. About half of Ambani's wealth is derived from his stake in Reliance, which amounts to 42% of the public company. He owns Antilia, a real estate complex in Mumbai that's worth $410 million. Ambani also owns the Mumbai Indians, a professional cricket team. In 2016, Ambani launched a 4G phone network across India, netting more than 420 million subscribers, and is planning to launch 5G services. The Bottom Line If you want to get a little closer to making the richest billionaires rankings, you might need to become a technological innovator or luxury retail mastermind. Or you could keep it simple and focus on value investing. It also wouldnt hurt to have been born to wealth. However, the greatest fortunes on this list started as good ideas that people with creativity, drive, and connections used to build some of the world's largest companies. Imagine getting into your car, typingor, better yet speakinga location into your vehicles interface, then letting it drive you to your destination while you read a book, surf the web, or nap. Self-driving vehiclesthe stuff of science fiction since the first roads were pavedare coming, and theyre going to radically change what its like to get from point A to point B. In 2009, Google started the self-driving car project with the goal of driving autonomously over ten uninterrupted 100-mile routes. In 2016, Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company, became a subsidiary of Alphabet, and Google's self-driving project became Waymo. Since then, Waymo has invited the public to join the first public trial of autonomous vehicles operated by the Waymo Driver and introduced its first fully autonomous vehicles operated by the Waymo Driver on public roads without anyone in the drivers seat. Key Takeaways The hype around driverless cars has grown rapidly over the past several years, with many big technology companies getting behind the concept. Google launched its Waymo division to develop and market consumer-ready driverless vehicles around the globe. The company, along with several others in the tech and auto industries, is betting that driverless cars will soon change the way we get around in a major way. Among the revolutionary changes will be safer roads, fewer fossil fuels, and lower transportation costs. Basic Technology Already In Use Advanced driver assistance technology includes front-crash prevention systems, blind-spot detection, lane departure prevention as well as rear crash prevention systems. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "systems with forward collision warning and automatic braking cut rear-end crashes in half, while forward collision warning alone reduces them by 27%. The autobrake systems also greatly reduce rear-end crashes involving injury." These systems were quickly followed by technology that allows cars to self-park by sizing up a free spot and automatically steering into it, with the driver only controlling the accelerator and brake pedals. Mercedes-Benz took autonomous driving even further when they introduced Drive Pilot, which allows the driver to hand over direct control of steering and speed in certain circumstances, while still supervising the overall operation of the car. In 2018, Waymo announced that they would be partnering with Jaguar to make self-driving cars available by 2020. Thanks to some extraordinary advancements, in the year 2021, self-driving cars are being rolled out in San Francisco. The current technology on the market is limited to cars that will automatically brake for you if they anticipate a collision, cars that help keep you in your lane, and cars that can mostly handle highway driving. The idea behind self-driving cars is fairly simple: build a car with cameras that can track all the objects around it. The car should react if its about to steer into one. And once in-car computers know all driving rules, they should be able to navigate to their destination. In the end, you might say that the execution of these ideas has been more complicated than was anticipated. Waymo's cars, the leader in self-driving technology, use high-resolution cameras and lidar (light detection and ranging, which is a way of estimating the distance to another object by bouncing light and sound off things). This technology helps the self-driving car identify where other cars, cyclists, pedestrians, and obstacles are and where theyre moving. A Drastic Change With the adoption of any new revolutionary technology, it is predicted there will be problems for businesses that dont adjust fast enough to future developments in self-driving car technology. Futurists estimate that hundreds of billions of dollars (if not trillions) will be lost by automakers, suppliers, dealers, insurers, parking companies, and many other car-related enterprises. And think of the lost revenue for governments via licensing fees, taxes and tolls, and by personal injury lawyers. Who needs a car made with heavier-gauge steel and eight airbags (not to mention a body shop) if accidents are so rare? Who needs a parking spot close to work if your car can drive you there, park itself miles away, only to pick you up later? Who needs to buy a flight from Boston to Cleveland when you can leave in the evening, sleep much of the way, and arrive in the morning? Indeed, one of Googles goals is to facilitate car-sharing. That means fewer cars on the road. Fewer cars, period. Who needs to own a car when you can just order a shared one and itll drive up minutes later, ready to take you wherever you want? Automated ride-sharing is expected to dramatically reduce the number of cars on the road, especially considering 75.9% of people commute to work alone. Transportation is the second biggest household expense in 2020 at 16% almost $10,000 a yearfor an asset that they only drove for an hour a day, on average. In 2050, self-driving cars are expected to create approximately $800 billion worth of opportunities for automakers and technology developers, said a report by Securing Americas Future Energy (SAFE). Software developers stand to win big. A Manufacturing Revolution If youre an autonomous vehicle maker, you could see an initial surge in the $600 billion in annual new and used car sales globally. But as soon as the technology takes hold, sales could fall off significantly as sharing popularizes. Cars will always need steel, glass, an interior, a drivetrain, and some form of human interface (even if that interface is little more than a wireless connection to your smartphone). But much of everything else could change. As an example, take front-facing seats; they could become an option, not a requirement. Automakers that see the changes comingsuch as how the big profits are secured downstream by car servicers, insurers, and moreare focusing on services as much as on what and how they manufacture. Infrastructure Transformation With fewer cars around, parking lots and spaces that cover roughly one-third of the land area of many U.S. cities can be repurposed. That could mean temporary downward pressure on real estate values as supply increases. It could also mean greener urban areas and revitalized suburbs if longer commutes become more palatable. And if fewer cars are on the road, federal, state, and local government agencies may be able to reallocate a good portion of the roughly $203 billion spent annually on highways and roads. Changing Oil Demand If youre in the business of finding, extracting, refining, and marketing hydrocarbons, such as Exxon Mobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), or BP (BP), you could see your business fluctuate as use changes. These vehicles should practice very efficient eco-driving practices, which is typically about 20% better than the average driver, said Robin Chase, the founder and former CEO of Buzzcar, a peer-to-peer car-sharing service, and co-founder and former CEO of Zipcar. "the leading car-sharing network." On the other hand, if these cars are owned by individuals, I see a huge rise in the number of trips, and vehicle miles traveled. People will send out their car to run errands they would never do if they had to be in the car and waste their own time. If the autonomous cars are shared vehicles and people pay for each trip, I think this will reduce demand, and thus (vehicle miles traveled). Safety Dividend Autonomous vehicles are also expected to be safer. These cars won't get drunk or high, drive too fast, or take unnecessary risksthings people do all the time, Chase said. Over 90% of accidents today are caused by driver error, said Professor Robert W. Peterson of the Center for Insurance Law and Regulation at Santa Clara University School of Law. There is every reason to believe that self-driving cars will reduce the frequency and severity of accidents, so insurance costs should fall, perhaps dramatically. Cars can still get flooded, damaged, or stolen, notes Michael Barry, vice president of media relations at the Insurance Information Institute. But this technology will have a dramatic impact on underwriting. A lot of traditional underwriting criteria will be upended. Barry said its too early to quantify exactly how self-driving vehicles will affect rates, but added that injured parties in a crash involving a self-driving car may choose to sue the vehicles manufacturer or the software company that designed the autonomous capability. Initially, insurers such as State Farm Insurance, Allstate Corp. (ALL), Liberty Mutual Group, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.s (BRK-A) GEICO, Citigroup Inc.s (C) Travelers Group could see a huge benefit from lower accident liabilities. But they may wind up losing a big portion of the over $315 billion in personal auto premiums they write every year as fewer cars take to the road. Some experts have even speculated that mandatory insurance for cars could be dropped. And as long as were talking about financial services, what about the multitude of banks and creditors that lend buyers money, a total of $1.37 trillion for 2020, for car purchases if sales volume falls? According to a University of Texas report, if only 10% of the cars on U.S. roads were autonomous, approximately $25.3 billion of savings could be realized via less wasted time and fuel, as well as fewer injuries and deaths. At 90%, the benefit rises to $189 billion a year. Closer to Home Self-driving cars could have a substantial impact on the taxi and limousine industries and could potentially create new ones. Chase noted that they could be used to share specific trips, as a kind of pay-as-you-go small-scale public transportationfor example, taking a disparate bunch of Manhattanites to the same beach in the Hamptons in one trip. A 2018 study suggests a fleet of 7,000 driverless taxis serving Manhattan would only cost about $0.29-$0.63 per revenue mile compared to taxis that charge at least $5 for a mile. According to New York Motor Insurance, there are licenses for over 13,000 taxis in New York City. Self-driving cars may also challenge train lines. A self-driving car offers much of the convenience of rail service with the added convenience that the service is portal-to-portal rather than station-to-station, Peterson said. On the other hand, a fleet of self-driving cars available at the station may make rail service more palatable. The technology has already been adopted in closed systems, such as campuses, air terminals, and mining, Peterson noted. European countries are also experimenting with the platooning of automated trucks. For example, in February 2021, Scania, a Swedish trucking company, stated "it will be the first company in Europe to operate self-driving trucks delivering products on the E4 highway between Sodertalje and Jonkoping in Sweden." Risks and Hurdles There are regulatory and legislative obstacles to the widespread use of self-driving cars and substantial concerns about privacy. (Who will have access to any driving information these vehicles store?) Theres also the question of security, as hackers could theoretically take control of these vehicles, and are not known for their restraint or civic-mindedness. The Future of Waymo In March 2018, Waymo Via, the trucking division of Waymo, was officially launched. Since 2017, Waymo Driver had been learning to drive large Class 8 trucks in the same way that it had learned how to drive passenger vehicles. After testing its fleet of trucks in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, Waymo launched a pilot program in 2021 for autonomous-rider-only service in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Waymo has partnerships with multiple vehicle manufacturers to integrate its technology. In October 2020, Waymo and Daimler Trucks partnered to create an autonomous version of the Freightliner Cascadia truck. This is Waymo's first foray into the freight industry. Daimler's trucks will be equipped with autonomous technology that allows them to drive without a human but only in pre-defined areas. Googles Self-Driving Car FAQs Is Google Making a Car? Google has made it clear that it has no plans to build cars itself. Waymo is a self-driving technology company; it does not intend to manufacture and sell its own line of vehicles. What Year Will There Be Self-Driving Cars? Early estimates about self-driving cars being the norm by 2020 have turned into having a few research vehicles on the road by 2020. Even if the technology is not developing as fast as expected, computer-processing capabilities and sophisticated artificial intelligence systems are becoming more advanced and more affordable every year. It's not clear when all the pieces will truly fall into place to allow for driverless technologies to safely navigate public roads among traditional cars. While experts agree that there will be a time in the future when this is true, they disagree on the timeline. How Much Does the Google Car Cost? Google does not manufacture or sell its own cars. However, you can purchase a semi-autonomous Honda Civic that comes with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that control the steering, lane changing, acceleration, and braking while the car is cruising on the highway. You can also purchase a Tesla Motors vehicle that comes equipped with its semi-autonomous Autopilot feature. The Bottom Line However it plays out, these vehicles are comingand fast. Their full adoption will take decades, but their convenience, cost, safety, and other factors will make them ubiquitous and indispensable. Such as with any technological revolution, the companies that plan ahead, adjust the fastest, and imagine the biggest will survive and thrive. And companies invested in old technology and practices will need to evolve or risk dying. The beer industry is made up of companies specializing in the production of beer, although many of them also produce other alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Some of the big names in the industry include Netherlands-based SABMiller International B.V.which is now part of fellow big name Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A./N.V. as well as Japan-based Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. Demand for beer historically has remained stable throughout economic cycles. As a result, the beer industry is part of the much broader consumer staples sector. According to a report by Technavio, the beer industry in 2022 is seeing increasing demand for premium beers, which continue to drive market growth. The beer industry is expected to continue growing at a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.45% between 2020 and through 2025. Beer stocks, represented by the broad S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector Index, have outperformed the broader market. The index has provided a total return of 1.8% over the past 12 months, above the -13.1% total return of the Russell 1000 Index. Note that the consumer staples sector is much broader than beer stocks as a category, so the sector's performance compared with beer stocks specifically may diverge. These market performance numbers and the statistics in the tables below are as of Sept. 15, 2022. Here are the top three beer stocks with the best value, the fastest growth, and the best performance. These are the beer stocks with the lowest 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Because profits can be returned to shareholders in the form of dividends and buybacks, a low P/E ratio shows that youre paying less for each dollar of profit generated. Whats in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, Juliet once pined to her Romeo, but are there certain names that will automatically boost the attractiveness of those lucky enough to have them as their own? According to Buzzfeed, there are, and their list of the top 100 sexiest male names spells great news for Irish men because one of our national favorites steals the top spot. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! Subscribe to IrishCentral It may come as no surprise, what with the fine examples we have with our own Liam Neeson and Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, but Liam has been named as the male name most likely to be worn by an attractive man. via GIPHY Liam is a shortened form of Uilliam, the Irish form of William, a Germanic name made of two words meaning desire and protection. But it wasnt the only name of Irish origin to make the top 100. It was also joined by Caden (#41), Sean (#22), Logan (#20) and Aiden (#8). Aidan is an anglicization of Aodhan, meaning little fire while Caden may also be an anglicization of the Irish surname MacAodhain, or possibly a name from the Irish name Cathan, meaning "battle." Logan has its roots in the Irish surname OLoughan and Sean is an Irish borrowing of the Norman French name Jean. As it happens, many of the names that featured highly on the top 100 list are also among the most popular baby names to have been used in the US in the past few years. According to data released earlier this year by the Department of Social Security, Aidan was the second most popular baby boy name in 2015 with Liam coming straight after in third. Caden and Logan followed in eighth and ninth place respectively. Last year showed a slight increase in the use of Irish names in the US which had been on the decline in 2014. In 2014, Jackson, Aiden, and Liam were ranked as the top three boy names (and in 2013 also) but no other Irish boy name appeared in the top ten. At the other end of the Top 100 sexiest male names list comes some slightly more old-fashioned names including Lenny, Carl, Marvin, Arthur, and Larry (sorry, guys). * Originally published in 2017, updated in October 2020. The decision by the Norths Public Prosecution Service and the PSNI , Northern Ireland's police force, to seek the taped interviews of Anthony McIntyre, who carried out the interviews for most of the Boston College oral history project, is a sinister one. The Boston College taped recordings with former paramilitaries on both sides in the North included an interview that McIntyre gave about his own paramilitary past. He served 18 years for the killing of a UVF member in 1976. Why precisely McIntyre is being targeted for what the subpoena calls an investigation into attempted murder, the possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to cause an explosion, possession of an imitation firearm, and membership of a proscribed organization is obvious. The PSNI previously tried to nail Gerry Adams based on the Boston tapes but failed abjectly in what was a clear case of a wild goose chase set up to embarrass the Sinn Fein leader. The handover of the tapes of Dolours Price, an Adams opponent, after a subpoena turned the Boston College project into a nightmare. Paramilitaries who gave interviews under the impression that the tapes would be sealed until their deaths suddenly had very good reason to fear they could be prosecuted. Their suspicions were borne out in 2013 when detectives investigating the Jean McConville murder secured Price's tapes. There are literally hundreds of people who could be arrested for what they did during The Troubles. Chief among them are former RUC police officers, the forerunners of the PSNI, whose policies included shoot-to-kill and collusion in murder and mayhem carried out by paid assassins from Loyalist ranks. Read more: Sinn Feins warped reality provides hollow laughs In the worst incident of The Troubles the British conspired with Loyalists to set off bombs in Dublin and Monaghan on May 17, 1974, killing 33 and an unborn child. The names of those who took part have been widely known, yet the British refuse to hand over the evidence. "I have spent almost two decades in jail and the British authorities are looking for me about 1970s stuff. Not one police officer has spent a day in jail for the torture of people in Castlereagh in the seventies and eighties, torture that has been proven by numerous human rights organizations, McIntyre said. "The state is busy covering up their role in murder in the dirty war, yet they are portraying themselves as the good guys. Justice was always completely one-sided, from massacres in Derry to killings in Dublin and targeted assassinations of nationalist leaders like lawyer Pat Finucane. All remain unsolved murders. It seems in the post-Troubles period, the extreme bias is continuing. The Boston College oral history project has damaged the name of the college immeasurably in the eyes of the Irish. This will only further cause injury to its reputation. The subpoena for McIntyre's taped interview was served under the U.S.-U.K. Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. Boston College was ordered to appear before a Boston court on May 6 to deliver the recording and any other material relating to it. The Boston College project is the gift that keeps on giving to anti-peace process securocrats. It also means the British are doing a splendid job keeping the focus on the other side and not their own dark deeds. Read more: Northern Ireland police launch new legal bid for IRA Boston Tapes One of the 1916 Easter Rising's stranger episodes. Thomas Kent did not go out to fight. The British came to him, looking for trouble. Ireland's 1916 Easter Rising took place over the course of five days in Dublin and forever changed the course of Irish history. To commemorate the historic event, writer and historian Dermot McEvoy has produced 16 profiles of the Irish Rebel leaders who were executed one hundred years ago and who, gradually, have come to be seen as heroes. Thomas Kent The story of Thomas Kent is one of the stranger episodes that happened after the rebellion in Dublin had been quelled. Unlike the Dublin rebels, Kent did not go out to fight. In fact, the British came to him, looking for trouble. Read more On This Day: 1916 Easter Rising executions continue to the shock of many Irish people Thomas Kent was born in Castlelyons, County Cork in 1865. After spending some time in Boston he returned to Ireland because of poor health. He was active in the Land League, Sinn Fein and the radical Irish Republican Brotherhood. With the launch of the Irish Volunteers in 1913, he was prominent with another legendary Cork manTerence MacSwineyin organizing and training the recruits. Because of confusion about orders and the loss of the Auds cargo of guns, Kent did not go out to fight at Easter. The rebellion went on in Dublin, but everything was very quiet in Cork. After the surrender of the rebel forces in Dublin, the British decided it would be a good idea to round up prominent nationalists around the country. In Cork, they decided to go after men like Thomas Kent. On May 2 at 3:45 a.m. seven members of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), under the command of Head Constable Rowe, came to arrest Kent and his brothers William, David, and Richard. Told to come out, the Kent brothers supposedly responded: We will not surrender. We will leave some of you dead. In the ensuing gunplay, Constable Rowe was hit in the head by gunfire and died instantly. A four-hour holdout ensued until the British military responded to support the RIC. William and Thomas surrendered and were followed by their mentally disturbed brother Richard, who panicked, ran, and was gunned down. Brother David was also wounded but recovered. On May 4 Thomas and William were court-martialed. William, who was not political, was found innocent but Thomas was found guilty in the death of Constable Rowe. Most legal observers would have looked at this as a case of ordinary murder, but the British were out for blood and indicted Kent with the same charge that they were charging the Dublin rebels with: Did an act to wit did take part in an armed rebellion and in the waging of war against His Majesty the King, such act being of such a nature as to be calculated to be prejudicial to the Defence to the Realm and being done with the intention and for the purpose of assisting the enemy. Read more On this day in 1916, the executions of the Easter Rising leaders began Kents statement: On May 2, 1916, during the night I was awakened by the sound of firearms and I immediately went into my mothers room, where my brother William was. They were standing on the bed in the corner of the room. I immediately went into the corner where they were, where the three of us remains till the military officers arrived when we immediately surrendered. I never fired or had arms in my hand. Kent was found guilty and his death sentence was confirmed by General Maxwell. I have done my duty as a soldier of Ireland, said Kent just before being taken out, and in a few moments I hope to see the face of God. He was executed in the early morning hours on May 9. According to one of the servicemen present, Kent died very bravely. Not a feather out of him. When news of the execution reached John Dillon of the Irish Parliamentary Party on May 11 he got up in the House of Commons on and let loose: I have received word that a man named Kent has been executed in Fermoy, which is the first execution that has taken place outside Dublin. The fact is one that will create a very grave shock in Ireland. Because it looks like a roving commission to carry these horrible executions all over the country. This, I say, was the first execution outside the city of Dublin. In a district where there have been no serious disturbances. Dillon then turned his wrath on General Maxwell: Would not any sensible statesman think he had enough to do in Dublin and the other centers where disturbance broke out without doing everything possible to raise disturbance and spread disaffection over the whole country? Dillon then dug into the Prime Minister, Asquith: You are letting loose a river of blood and make no mistake about it, between two races who, after three hundred years of hatred and of strife, we have nearly succeeded in bringing together. Dillons tirade served to put the focus on the British government and the cruelty and thoughtlessness of their executions. It would not save Sean MacDiarmada and James Connolly, who died the following day in Dublin (nor Roger Casement three months later), but it would save Kents brother, David, whose trial would be in the open and whose execution would be stayed. And the story of Thomas Kent does not end in 1916. There was some closure for the Kent family in 2015. Thomas Kents body was disinterred from the Military Detention (now Collins) Barracks and identified by DNA. His funeral was attended by the President of Ireland, the Taoiseach, and the British and American ambassadors. Read more State funeral for forgotten 1916 rebel after DNA testing confirms identity This strange and unusual set of circumstances were forged by the tragic events of 99 years ago, said William Crean, the Bishop of Cloyne, told the congregation, when Thomas chose to give his life in the cause of freedom. He and others thereby sowed the seeds of the flowering of a new political dispensation which would become the Republic of Ireland, of which we are all beneficiaries. Commandant Gerry White of the Irish Army delivered the funeral eulogy: Today, because of the recent discovery of his remains, Thomas Kent has once again become someone who is very much in the present. Today, members of Oglaigh na hEireann, the Irish Defence Forces, will render the military honors that were denied him 99 years ago. Today, he will no longer be the Forgotten Volunteer. Today, after 99 years, Thomas Kent is finally coming home. ~~~~~~~~~~ Dermot McEvoy is the author of"The 13th Apostle: A Novel of a Dublin Family, Michael Collins, and the Irish Uprising and Irish Miscellany" (Skyhorse Publishing). He may be reached at dermotmcevoy50@gmail.com. Follow him at www.dermotmcevoy.com. Follow The 13th Apostle on Facebook here. * Originally published in 2016. Chinese imports for the 12 months to February rose 6%, versus a 1% gain in the year to January. Low Chinese imports and the Russian import ban are among the principal factors cited by many dairy co-ops for the ongoing sector price deflation. Our feeling is the extreme excess we saw a year or so ago in stockpiles in China has been coming out. If that is true youd expect import demand would start matching domestic demand again, Bank of New Zealand economist Doug Steel told Reuters. Update 7.40pm: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail both released statements following a provisional deal finally agreed for a minority government at Trinity College Dublin tonight, writes Juno McEnroe and Elaine Loughlin of the Irish Examiner. Enda Kennys party said that a parliamentary party meeting would be held where the outline of the minority government agreement would be discussed. This could take place on Tuesday, say party sources. A statement read: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have reached a political agreement to facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority government. Both Party Leaders are now being briefed, extensive drafting has to be done and then Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will hold separate parliamentary party meetings to outline the details of the confidence and supply arrangement. Fianna Fail released a similar statement, after party figures broke from the talks saying their side were happy with the Dail. Negotiator and Cork South Central TD Michael McGrath said the party would produce a final draft document, which would be done as quickly as possible. He described the talks as a torturous, long and difficult process. Fianna Fails own meeting though might be held over the weekend, he said. The document could possibly be a blueprint for future minority governments. It was now up to Fine Gael to continue its own minority government formation talks with Independents, who would be needed to support Mr Kenny, the party said. Update 6.47pm: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have finally agreed a minority government deal after weeks of negotiations, paving the way now potentially for a vote for Taoiseach for next week, writes Irish Examiner political correspondent Juno McEnroe. Acting Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said the texts of the agreement needed to be worked on but that the talks at Trinity College Dublin had finally completed. The texts will go to the leaders of the two parties and then before the parliamentary parties. Minister Donohoe insisted that the deal would reflect and include the demands of the Fine Gael party. Speaking at Trinity College: I am certain that those people who voted for us at the General Election, the values of our party, the achievement over the last number of years, will be clear. A meeting between Fine Gael and Independents is currently underway in Leinster House, at which they are expected to be briefed on the outcome of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail deal. We do have an agreement between the negotiation teams on an array of matters but the important thing now is that we end up with an agreed text at the end of this, added the minister. Update 5.48pm: Fianna Fail have returned to government formation talks this evening warning that a deal may not be completed until their demands on resources to tackle homelessness and housing are addressed, writes Irish Examiner political reporter Juno McEnroe. Their stance comes amid a warning that the scheduled closure of hostels for homeless people in Dublin city will make the situation worse. Fianna Fail's Jim O'Callaghan said at the talks venue at Trinity College Dublin this evening said that a deal, which had been expected, cannot be guaranteed and that the party will not give in on the issues of housing or rent supplement. Fianna Fail also said they were going back into discuss homelessness. However, the disagreement is expected to be overcome and a deal agreed tonight. Asked about a deal though, Mr O'Callaghan said: "I don't know about that, I can't guarantee that." Fianna Fail want demand for increases in rent supplement addressed. Earlier, there had been signs that negotiations between the two parties for a minority government may be coming to an end whereby the draft pact would be passed to Independent TDs for approval. However, it is also the case that the deal will have to go before the parliamentary parties of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail before finally being approved. Independent TDs are this evening also meeting Fine Gael whereby a schedule of talks over the weekend is being worked on, as those deputies examine the two-party deal. Independents have a number of concerns including broadband and housing which they want addressed. Fianna Fail have said Enda Kenny must get the support of at least 58 TDs if Fine Gael want their support. Mr Kenny got 52 votes earlier this month but must secure more support from members of the Independent Alliance and rural TDs to win the vote. Earlier: Fine Gael has said there are now only "one or two" issues left to be agreed with Fianna Fail. Members of the negotiating team have said there is "substantial agreement on almost all matters". Fine Gael are now hoping to be able to finalise a deal with Fianna Fail this afternoon. Simon Coveney has said almost every point of dispute between the parties, has been resolved: Its literally down to one or two issues to be finalised and agreed at this stage. But I think the expectation is now that we will be able to conclude this afternoon, subject to drafting and finalising documents and bringing it to parliamentary party meetings early next week. Fianna Fail however has said it is disappointed that a deal on housing supports has NOT yet been agreed. Charlie McConalogue has said there will not be a final deal unless it includes measures for the housing sector: Its something we believe needs to be addressed, as part of the agreement and the negotiations that we are engaged in. We will be seeking a conclusion, as soon as we can but it has to be satisfactory and it has to address the key issues in the country at the moment and housing undoubtedly is the number one issue facing many people. Update 5.04pm: The search operation launched after a helicopter crashed off the coast of western Norway has been called off and all 13 people on board are presumed dead, rescue officials said. Boerge Galta, of the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, said "we do not believe anyone can be found alive". The operation was called off at 5pm local time on Friday after 11 bodies were found. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority said it is immediately banning helicopters of the same type as the one that crashed - Airbus Helicopters EC225LP - from flying in the Scandinavian country or near Norwegian offshore facilities. The government agency said its decision is "due to the fatal accident", and the ban "would remain in force until revoked" Update 2.30pm: Eleven bodies have been found after a helicopter crashed on an island off the coast of western Norway, according to a rescue official. Jon Sjursoe, a spokesman for Norway's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, said 11 Norwegian nationals, one Briton and one Italian were on board the Eurocopter EC-225 helicopter that crashed Friday, but he did not know which were among the confirmed victims. Two people are still missing. Norwegian broadcaster NRK said 11 of the 13 people on board were employed by Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil ASA. The company did not immediately return calls seeking comment. The helicopter was on its way from the Gullfaks B oil field in the North Sea to Bergen, 120 kilometres (74 miles) away on the Norwegian mainland. Earlier: A helicopter carrying at least 14 people has crashed near the Norwegian city of Bergen. Police spokesman Morten Kronen said the helicopter "has crashed, it is totally smashed". He added that there were "reports of an explosion and thick smoke" and that there were people in the sea. Mr Kronen said the crash took place on the island of Turoey, near Bergen, and did not explain why people had ended up in the water. He could not say what kind of helicopter was involved. Norwegian media posted photos of huge billows of smoke. Eyewitness Rebecca Andersen told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang that the helicopter's "rotor blades came rushing toward us". "Then we heard a violent explosion," Ms Andersen was quoted as saying. The Stavanger Aftenblad daily said the helicopter was on its way to an offshore oil field in the North Sea, some 120 kilometres (74 miles) north-west of Bergen. Revenue reached 1.19bn, matching the median analyst estimate. Sales rose 6.2%, excluding currency fluctuations. The shares gained up to 2.7% in Paris. The biggest and most profitable luxury-goods division saved the day, wrote Rogerio Fujimori, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. France was surprisingly resilient, which probably was driven by its loyal local clientele, he said. Hermess Parisian stores are still suffering from the fallout of last years terror attacks, as well as the recent bombings in Brussels, chief executive Axel Dumas said on a call with reporters. While store visits in London and Milan are back to normal levels, Paris has yet to recover, he said. Leather-goods and saddlery revenue rose 15% after it boosted production facilities in France last year, boosting supplies. The companys 15th leather workshop opened this month and investments in another are continuing, Hermes said. Sales of every other major product line dropped. Hermes has served fewer customers in the Middle East due to a drop in tourism and the plunging price of oil, Mr Dumas said. n Bloomberg Farmers are negotiating with factories, with some finishers are securing a base of 4.05/kg on steers and 4.15/kg base on heifers. Mr Woods said official Department of Agriculture prices are showing the price increases with the R3 steer price across the country at 4.05/kg. The heifer price is up 4c/kg in a week averaging 4.21/kg. The resolution to boost CEO Albert Manifolds bonus from 150% of salary to 225% and up a share plan from 250% of salary to 365%, was passed by 59% of shareholders and opposed by 41%. The move could result in the CEO landing an annual bonus of over 8m. Last year, Mr Manifold received total remuneration of 5.5m and has already seen his basic salary for this year rise by 8.5% to 1.4m. The Dublin-based building materials giant has spent much of the past 12 months sounding out institutional investors who hold more than 1% of shares, on plans to alter its executive remuneration model to bring it into line with industry peers and other Ftse-50 companies; and to better illustrate the enlarged nature of the group following its 6.5bn takeover of assets from merged European peers Holcim and Lafarge last year. The company said the new bonus structure is performance based and not linked to acquisitions, adding there is no financial incentive in place for executives to carry out deals. Speaking after the agm, Mr Manifold defended policy by saying: I recognise that I am well paid. But, the reality of life at CRH is that it is a Frse-50 company in a highly- competitive sector and there are very demanding criteria for companies that operate in that sector. He added that 80% of what I could potentially earn is based on variable performance. If I were to achieve a large portion of that potential compensation it would only be in the case whereby shareholders would, themselves, achieve superior returns on their investment in CRH. CRHs share price was down yesterday by around 1% in Dublin, at just under 26. Shareholder pay revolts remain rare in Ireland, but have been faced in the past by the likes of Michael Smurfit and, more recently, former Aer Lingus chief Christoph Mueller. CRH also came under fire from the floor yesterday regarding the use of a Luxembourg-based financing firm. Chairman Nicky Hartery told shareholders the company employs a legitimate tax structure. He added that CRH last year paid an effective tax rate of around 30% and that its tax structure is entirely legal. Mr Manifold also stressed that management is focused more on cash generation, earnings growth and debt repayment this year rather than making further sizeable acquisitions. If we saw and its a very big if something of such compelling value as to make it wrong to walk away from, then wed have a look. But the chances of that are less than 1%, he told reporters after the meeting. Smaller bolt-on deals are still expected, however. Indeed, the group spent 85m on acquisitions and investments in the first quarter of this year. Earlier this week, CRH gave an upbeat outlook for the remainder of this year based largely on a 9% year-on-year increase in group revenue for the first quarter, driven by continued strong momentum in its Americas division. First half earnings are expected to grow to around 1bn, while continued earnings progress is likely in the more significant second half. The Cork-headquartered group which owns the SuperValu, Centra, and Daybreak retail grocery brands yesterday, via its annual report, reported a pre-tax profit of 67.5m for 2015 and sales of 4.4bn. When the loss-making UK business Musgrave completed the sale of its Budgens brand, there last September is excluded, turnover amounted to 3.7bn, with pre-tax profits coming in at 52.8m. Musgrave last posted an annual net profit, of around 61m, in 2012. Since then it has been heavily loss-making. In 2013, total losses amounted to almost 95m, underlying gains being dragged down by costs associated with the integration of the Superquinn business and 141m of exceptional costs relating to its UK business. A year later, the group was still in the red, but losses reduced to 13m after some recovery was seen in Britain. Speaking yesterday, group chief executive Chris Martin, said the business is at an exciting juncture and that 2015 was the year during which it was positioned on a path to growth. In recent years, against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions, we have invested in our brands and consolidated the Musgrave business as Irelands number one food retailer and wholesaler, feeding one-in-three people. We are successfully delivering a transformation programme and we are now focused on a growth agenda for the business, he added. Musgrave spent around 80m in the last 12 months, including the acquisitions of distribution firm Allied Logistics and Wexford-based foodservice company CJ OLoughlin. Mr Martin said a similar amount will be invested this year. The group is open to more acquisition opportunities but much of the investment will go on refurbishing existing SuperValu and Centra stores, some new openings, and enhancing its digital/online and loyalty card offerings. Mr Martin said SuperValus recent regaining of its market-leading position and strong sales growth over the Easter period shows that its offering is resonating with customers. He said management is confident of another profitable year, based on the progress made in the first quarter. However, he warned that a Brexit could make the Irish grocery market more challenging in that it could alter consumer confidence and affect tourism spend. He added that it would be foolhardy for Britain to leave the EU. The jobless rate increased to 21% in the first quarter, as the number of Spaniards without a job rose by 11,900 to 4.8m in what is typically a challenging quarter given the labour markets seasonal dynamics, which sees firms shedding staff as tourist activity drops. Despite yesterdays data, the Spanish economy has added 574,800 new jobs over the past 12 months as the recovery gained momentum. Separate data out of Germany yesterday showed its jobless rate was steady at 6.2%. The latest health check on the Spanish economy comes as voters prepare for a second general election in six months after King Felipe called to a halt efforts to piece together a governing coalition on April 26. The election will be officially called on May 3, and the ballot is expected to take place on June 26 with no candidate seen winning a majority. While the political scenario remains unclear, the caretaker government led by Mariano Rajoy expects the economy to grow 2.7% in 2016 down from a previous estimate of 3% and 2.4% next year. Spain grew 3.2% in 2015, the fastest expansion in eight years. The government sees unemployment falling to 19.9% this year and reaching 17.9% in 2017. Banco Santander chief financial officer Jose Antonio Garcia Cantera said earlier this week the Spanish economy is thriving despite the political uncertainty with mortgage lending and retail sales accelerating. Meanwhile, German joblessness extended its decline, underscoring the strength of the labour market as Europes largest economy seeks to absorb a wave of refugees, according to figures also released yesterday. The number of people out of work fell by a seasonally adjusted 16,000 to just over 2.7m in April, marking the seventh consecutive drop. The jobless rate stayed at 6.2%, the lowest level since German reunification. The reading signals German economic growth is strong enough to prompt companies to tap into a pool of potential workers that is rising after the country admitted more than one million migrants in 2015. The labour market has been a cornerstone of the countrys recovery, supporting domestic demand as exports waver in the face of a global slowdown. Despite the recent drop in exports to China and other emerging markets, Germany continues to create ever more jobs, Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, said. Domestic demand looks set to remain a pillar of strength at the core of Europe, helping the eurozone to leave its current soft patch behind and return to trend growth of around 1.6% by mid-2016, he said. * Bloomberg The payments work out at an average of 36,858. According to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, some 807 applications have been received under the Magdalene Laundries Restorative Justice Ex-Gratia Scheme. She said 103 applications were refused, as the women had not been admitted to one of the 12 specified institutions. Ms Fitzgerald said 11 applications were received from women who are now resident in the US. Eight of these women have received their lump- sum payments and the other three applications were refused as the women had not been admitted to a relevant institution, Ms Fitzgerald said. A number of women who claim they were used as forced labour in High Park Magdalene laundry in Dublin, but who have been excluded from the redress scheme, launched a High Court challenge to the decision last year. The basis for excluding the women was that, although it was accepted they worked at the High Park Magdalene laundry, they were not admitted to it. They had been admitted to An Grianan Institution, which was on the grounds of the convent laundry. The case followed revelations in the Irish Examiner that evidence that An Grianan and High Park Magdalene Laundry were one and the same thing was uncovered by the HSE in 2012. The revelation was contained in a memo sent from the then assistant director of the Children and Family Services, Phil Garland, to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs representative on the McAleese committee, Denis OSullivan, and Gordon Jeyes, the national director of the Children and Family Services at the HSE, on June 26, 2012, while the HSE was examining the laundries issue as part of the McAleese inquiry. Mr Garland points out that the HSE had uncovered evidence that showed quite categorically that An Grianan and High Park Magdalene Laundry were one and the same thing. However, despite the revelation, Ms Fitzgerald reiterated the view that An Grianan served a different purpose to High Park Magdalene laundry, and stated it had already been included Residential Institutions Redress Board Scheme. Two other institutions not previously considered laundries St Marys Training Centres in Stanhope St, Dublin; and Summerhill in Wexford were included in the redress scheme. Justice for Magdalene Research has pointed out that not all residents knew they were entitled to compensation under the previous redress scheme and has accused the Government of denying justice to victims of forced labour. The group has also been extremely critical of the legislation brought in last year to provide survivors with access to a range of primary and community health services free of charge as recommended in the Magdalen Commission Report by retired High Court Judge and president of the Law Reform Commission, Mr Justice John Quirke. Justice for Magdalene Research has said that the provisions do not provide the women with the same range of drugs and services made available to Health (Amendment) Act cardholders as promised. Legal aid was yesterday assigned to Mr Murphy in relation to his trial on charges of falsely imprisoning Ms Burton at a water charges protest in late 2014. A trial date has not yet been fixed for Mr Murphy, aged 32, of The Copse, Woodpark, Ballinteer. The Dublin South West TD, under an agreement with the AAA, takes only an average industrial wage and donates the remainder of his salary to help fund party activities. The most recent chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, John McGuinness, said the decision to assign legal aid is unacceptable. He gets well paid, as do we all. What he decides to do with it is up to him, said Mr McGuinness. He has a duty to the taxpayer, as someone who gets a high salary, to represent himself in court and not be relying on the State. At a time when the free legal aid system is as stretched as it is there are huge queues in many cases it is not acceptable. He has an income, he is not on the breadline. I dont think the free legal aid system was developed with that in mind. As far as defending himself, he should be paying it himself. It is pretty clear cut for me. Mr Murphy was sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on two charges of false imprisonment of Ms Burton and of aide Karen OConnell at Fortunestown Rd, Jobstown, on November 15, 2014. Yesterday, his solicitor said he was making an application for legal aid and handed in a statement of means. He said the State was on notice and had no objection, and that the trial could last four to six weeks. The State solicitor confirmed there was no Garda objection based on the figures in the documentation. Judge Melanie Greally said that, based on the average weekly income in the documentation, she would assign legal aid. The figures in the documentation were not disclosed in open court. Ms Burton and her entourage had left an event at An Cosan Education Centre at Jobstown, Tallaght, when a demonstration was held which delayed her for about two hours on November 15, 2014. She and her team had been attempting to travel by car to St Thomas Church for the rest of the ceremony when the alleged incident occurred. Mr Murphys case will be mentioned in court again next Tuesday. When contacted by the Irish Examiner, Mr Murphy said he could not comment on legal advice. The taxpayer looks set to be hit with a legal bill of almost 100,000 should the trial last the six weeks. According to a solicitor for the Residential Tenancies Board and landlords Michael Carroll and Albert Connaughton, he is now nowhere to be found. Una Cassidy, counsel for the board, was yesterday granted an order by Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Circuit Civil Court, allowing the board to serve Mr Barry with debt recovery proceedings by way of email and through his Twitter and Facebook accounts. Deborah Gilroy, a lawyer with Eversheds Solicitors, told the court in an affidavit that summons servers had been unable to serve Mr Barry at former addresses at The Laurels, Dalkey Avenue, Co Dublin, and Knockduff, Kinsale, Co Cork. Ms Gilroy stated that following investigations, her legal firm believed Mr Barry now moved addresses on a regular basis, dividing himself between the UK and Ireland. She said proceedings against Mr Barry had been allocated a hearing date for December 18, 2015, and he had provided the board with a new address for service at Dalkey Avenue. A summons sent through registered post had been returned undelivered. Ms Gilroy said that in November, Mr Barry had been heard giving a radio interview to Newstalk FM on his book which records his time as a Dubliner spent in the North as a soldier in the British Army during the 1980s. He was promoting his new book Salesman with an AK47, and had indicated he was currently living in Kinsale, Co Cork, Ms Gilroy told the court. She said that after Eversheds had been informed that Mr Barry drives a blue Jaguar with an English registration, a company of summons servers had been instructed to carry out investigations about his whereabouts so he could be served with the debt recovery proceedings. It had been believed he lived in Knockduff, Kinsale, but three attempts to serve him at Knockduff had failed. Neighbours confirmed he resided there on an intermittent basis. Ms Gilroy said that on April 20, Eversheds had received a letter from Kane Tuohy, Solicitors, indicating that they acted on behalf of an Anna Sorensen, another landlord whose premises had been abandoned by Mr Barry in or around late December 2015 or early January. The court was told Barry had a number of email addresses. His website and his Twitter account, as well as his Facebook account, contained photographs and information confirming him as the author and respondent in the proceedings. Ms Gilroy told Judge Linnane the only way in which the proceedings could be brought to Mr Barrys attention was by an order for substituted service through his online accounts. In one case, it is alleged Mr Barry owed, at a date last year, 19,519 to one landlord. He was not represented in court today as the application had been brought in his absence. Judge Linnane granted the order to substitute service by way of email, Twitter, and Facebook. The apology was read as part of settlement of Jude Mileys action with an interim payment of 3.5m over the next two years. Counsel for the hospital, Emily Egan, turned to face Judes parents and read out the statement in which the hospital offered an unequivocal, unreserved, and heartfelt apology to Jude and his family for what had happened. It said it appreciated and greatly regretted the huge trauma suffered. Jude was six months old when a suture used in an operation to release his diaphragm and help his breathing remained untrimmed, causing damage to the heart muscle. Two days later, he had a heart attack and had to be rushed to theatre for emergency surgery which saved his life. Jude, of Holywell, Upper Kilmacud Rd, Dundrum, Dublin, had sued the hospital through his father Greville Miley. Counsel Liam Reidy said Anne-Louise Miley, who was a public health nurse, had raised concerns about her son after his operation but these were dismissed. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross praised the Mileys for the care they had given their son. In a statement outside court, the Mileys said their concerns after their sons operation had been dismissed as those of fussy parents, but their son had sustained permanent and catastrophic brain damage. They criticised the lack of honesty and frankness on the part of the hospital and said they had been lead to believe what had happened was simply an unfortunate complication of the operation. We were told it was just one of those things. We later learned this was certainly not the case, they said. We are so lucky in this country that we have a court system capable of recalibrating the inequality that exists between the injured patients and the powerful medical profession. We were stone-walled. Only for the legal system, we dont believe we would have achieved what has been accomplished here. A lot of people criticise the legal system but we cant compliment it enough. It has worked for Jude. What didnt work for Jude, however, was the failure of the hospital to engage with us and the legal system in an honest open and integral fashion. If they had done so, our journey would have been so much easier and Jude rehabilitated far sooner. In two years time, Judes case will come back before the court when his future care needs will be assessed. The details came as Independent TD Mick Wallace yesterday claimed that there are many people here willing to take in minors who were refugees, including himself. The Wexford TD made an emotional speech in which he described meeting refugees in Calais, north France, last week. The only people making money out of the situation are smugglers, he said, who charge families 20,000 to get from Dunkirk to Britain. Mr Wallace said Ireland should take in more refugee minors and that many Irish are willing to, including himself. He described meeting a boy who had lost his family in Afghanistan but now wanted to come to Ireland: Somebody from the government should go out to Calais to see what is happening. "We are blessed in Ireland with opportunities. We are not afraid of bombs falling on us at night while we sleep. Generally speaking, we are not worried about where we will find our next bite of food; we are not dying of hunger. "We seem to forget that these are not even economic migrants, which all of the Irish who left Ireland were. There are millions of Irish people all over the planet. Imagine if they were as unwelcome as the Afghans, Kurds and Syrians are in Ireland." Ahead of a rise in the numbers of refugees who may attempt dangerous crossings in the Mediterranean during the summer, Defence Minister Simon Coveney announced that the LE Roisin will leave Cork this weekend to assist Italian authorities in any rescue missions. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the remaining half of the 520 people selected to move here under the EU resettlement programme would come from Lebanon by the end of September. As part of a separate pledge to relocate 2,600 migrants here under the EU relocation programme, only a Syrian family of 10 had arrived so far in January. But she added: An additional 31 people have completed all checks, including security checks, and are expected to be relocated from Greece in the coming weeks. A pledge has been made to take in another 40. Members of the Union of Students in Ireland and the Mental Health Reform organisation outside Leinster House in Dublin yesterday, protesting against the diversion of 12m from the mental health budget and demanding that mental health is a priority for the next government. Picture: RollingNews.ie Meanwhile, hundreds of people held a demonstration outside Leinster House against the Governments cut of 12m earmarked for mental health services this year. The demonstration was organised by the Mental Health Reform coalition and the Union of Students in Ireland. Health Minister Leo Varadkar has defended the move, saying the money could not be spent as extra staff could not be hired on time. Mr Varadkar claims the money will be spent next year. Mental Health Reform director Shari McDaid said funding for the sector must remain. USI president Kevin Donoghue said there are lengthy waiting lists for counselling services in colleges throughout the State. TDs from Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats, and some Independents attended the rally. The court heard earlier that the accused, David Mahon, had voiced the possibility that Dean Fitzpatrick had walked into the knife he was holding on purpose. Mr Mahon, aged 45, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering the father of one on May 26, 2013, a day after the deceased interfered with his bicycle to annoy him. The 23-year-old received a stab wound to the abdomen outside the apartment that his mother shared with Mr Mahon at Burnell Square, Northern Cross, Dublin. Detective Sergeant Eddie Carroll testified yesterday that the gardai had acquired Mr Fitzpatricks file from North Dublin Mental Health Services after hearing Mr Mahons account of his relationship with his stepson. Det Sgt Carroll said Mr Fitzpatrick had told medical personnel that his substance abuse began when he was 11 and included the abuse of hash, cocaine, and tablets. He reported in 2010 he had had a death wish and admitted himself to St Itas Hospital, Portrane in 2011. He was discharged in weeks. He reported the next year that he had self-harmed or attempted to do so by cutting himself. He was prescribed an anti-psychotic. Under cross-examination by the defence, Det Carroll confirmed the death wish Mr Fitzpatrick had expressed was over feelings of guilt he had over his missing sister, and that he reported gaining release from cutting himself. Detective Garda Brendan Mears testified he interviewed Mr Mahon after his arrest on May 26. He was asked if he had seen a solicitor and he said he had. They said not to say anything but, look, Ive nothing to hide. Its my fault. I cant believe it. What will Audrey say? 23 years of age. Jesus Christ, he said. He was referring to his then partner, now wife, and Deans mother, Audrey Fitzpatrick. The prosecution has now closed its case. The trial continues before Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan. The Prison Officers Association said management needed to adopt a strategy to remove and isolate gang bosses from the general prison population. The association also said prison officers who are assaulted and unable to return to work on the advice of State doctors have had their pay cut and are left on the breadline. Speaking at the associations annual conference in Athlone, Co Westmeath, deputy general secretary Jim Mitchell said the Kinahan-Hutch feud was a reality within prisons before it exploded on the streets. It was a thing here in prison before it became a feud on the outside, he said. While not naming the person attacked, he was referring to a vicious assault on Hutch gang member Derek Hutch in Mountjoy Prison last December. In Mountjoy, one individual gang member was nearly savaged to death by two other inmates and, only for the quick and brave reactions of prison officers, he might not be alive, Mr Mitchell said. He said much of the feud violence on the streets was authorised or condoned by gang leaders in prison. Mr Mitchell said a range of inmates are getting involved. You have young criminals looking to make a name for themselves to get in with one of the gangs; you have prisoners under threat from gang bosses to carry out an attack or else; and you have existing members of the gangs looking to climb the ladder, said Mr Mitchell. The associations general secretary, John Clinton, said prison officers have been seriously assaulted and unable to return to work, but had their pay cut. In the past year, several prison officers who were seriously injured and unable to return to work on the advice of the chief medical officer had their pay cut and consequently were unable to pay their household or medical bills, he said. Neither the Accommodations Policy nor the Serious Physical Assault Scheme were equipped to deal with the situation these officers found themselves in through no fault whatever of the individuals involved. Mr Clinton said official figures show there were 91 assaults on prisoners and prison staff last year. Somewhere in the white noise that has become public opinion, and this opinion is at its most strident within the Irish Prison Service, it seems that it is okay to only punch a prison officer, he said. No State employee should end up on the breadline because they have been viciously assaulted at work and are unable to return in the short term. This is a disgraceful situation. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) told city coroner Myra Cullinane yesterday it is preparing separate files for the DPP as part of its investigation into the death of Donal Scanlan following a welding incident in East Cork last November; and also as part of its probe into the death of Peter Downey in a cherrypicker incident in the citys main bus depot just days later. Mr Scanlan, 21, from Claddagh, Co Waterford, was seriously injured in an explosion while welding at a metal fabricators in an industrial estate in Youghal on the morning of November 18, 2015. He was airlifted in a critical condition to Cork University Hospital and pronounced dead there the next day. Assistant State pathologist Margot Bolster told the coroner yesterday that a post- mortem concluded that he died from traumatic brain injury due to a penetrating head injury. A HSA spokesman told Dr Cullinane its investigation into this incident is complex and will take time to complete. Dr Cullinane granted his application for an adjournment of the inquest for up to six months to allow time for the investigation to conclude, and for the DPP to consider the file. The coroner then opened the inquest into the death of Mr Downey, aged 59, a well-known GAA referee from Inniscarra, Co Cork. Mr Downey died in Cork University Hospital on November 27, 2015, several days after the cherrypicker he was working on toppled over while he was working at the Bus Eireann Capwell depot. Dr Bolster said a post- mortem found the cause of death was traumatic brain injury due to a fall from a height. This inquest was also adjourned for six months to allow the HSA complete its probe. Meanwhile, in the third workplace fatality case opened at the coroners court yesterday, the HSA confirmed that it has completed its investigation into the death of David Purcell, 72, from Macroom, Co Cork. Mr Purcell died from a skull fracture and internal bleeding after an incident on his farm on December 12 last. The HSA said that Mr Purcell was the main duty holder and that, because he is deceased, no further action is required, clearing the inquest for full hearing in July. Separately, an inquest into the death of an inmate at Cork Prison has been further adjourned because a man has been charged with his murder. Graham Johnson, aged 41, from Bandon, Co Cork, died from a single stab wound to the chest during an altercation with another inmate in the former prisons kitchen last May. Sergeant Fergus Twomey told Dr Cullinane that the man charged in February with Mr Johnsons murder, Brian Veale, with an address at Dominic St near Shandon, and originally from Dungarvan, has been sent forward for trial to Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The coroner granted his application for an adjournment of the inquest pending completion of criminal proceedings. No inquest after manslaughter verdict Criminal proceedings may be considered in relation to the deaths of two men in separate workplace accidents within days of each other in Cork, it has emerged. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) told city coroner Myra Cullinane yesterday it is preparing separate files for the DPP as part of its investigation into the death of Donal Scanlan following a welding incident in East Cork last November; and also as part of its probe into the death of Peter Downey in a cherrypicker incident in the citys main bus depot just days later. Mr Scanlan, 21, from Claddagh, Co Waterford, was seriously injured in an explosion while welding at a metal fabricators in an industrial estate in Youghal on the morning of November 18, 2015. He was airlifted in a critical condition to Cork University Hospital and pronounced dead there the next day. Assistant State pathologist Margot Bolster told the coroner yesterday that a post- mortem concluded that he died from traumatic brain injury due to a penetrating head injury. A HSA spokesman told Dr Cullinane its investigation into this incident is complex and will take time to complete. Dr Cullinane granted his application for an adjournment of the inquest for up to six months to allow time for the investigation to conclude, and for the DPP to consider the file. The coroner then opened the inquest into the death of Mr Downey, aged 59, a well-known GAA referee from Inniscarra, Co Cork. Mr Downey died in Cork University Hospital on November 27, 2015, several days after the cherrypicker he was working on toppled over while he was working at the Bus Eireann Capwell depot. Dr Bolster said a post- mortem found the cause of death was traumatic brain injury due to a fall from a height. This inquest was also adjourned for six months to allow the HSA complete its probe. Meanwhile, in the third workplace fatality case opened at the coroners court yesterday, the HSA confirmed that it has completed its investigation into the death of David Purcell, 72, from Macroom, Co Cork. Mr Purcell died from a skull fracture and internal bleeding after an incident on his farm on December 12 last. The HSA said that Mr Purcell was the main duty holder and that, because he is deceased, no further action is required, clearing the inquest for full hearing in July. Separately, an inquest into the death of an inmate at Cork Prison has been further adjourned because a man has been charged with his murder. Graham Johnson, aged 41, from Bandon, Co Cork, died from a single stab wound to the chest during an altercation with another inmate in the former prisons kitchen last May. Sergeant Fergus Twomey told Dr Cullinane that the man charged in February with Mr Johnsons murder, Brian Veale, with an address at Dominic St near Shandon, and originally from Dungarvan, has been sent forward for trial to Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The coroner granted his application for an adjournment of the inquest pending completion of criminal proceedings. Water charges are widely expected to be suspended for the foreseeable future. And given the uncertainty over whether those who have not paid will be pursued over outstanding bills, questions are now being asked as to what refund, if any, will be granted to those who have paid their dues to date. However, a little-known banking rule can provide a way for some Irish Water customers who paid their bills to retrieve their money provided they paid by direct debit and made the payment within the last eight weeks. A spokesperson for AIB said operational reasons precluded the bank from revealing how many customers have availed of the loophole, but highlighted the Banking and Payments Federation Irelands (BPFI) advice on direct debit refunds. The BPFI states that under the Single European Payments Area (SEPA) Direct Debit Core Scheme Rules and SEPA Regulation 260-2012, consumers can request a refund for any direct debit within eight weeks from the date on which the direct debit was debited from their account. The refund request must be made to the customers bank. Within the eight-week period, their bank must refund on a no-questions asked basis, the BPFI advises. Bank of Ireland said it does not comment in relation to customer transactions. A spokesperson for Irish Water declined to reveal how many of the utilitys customers have availed of this rule to date, and would not say how many of its customers pay bills via direct debit. No final policy change resulting from current political talks has been conveyed to Irish Water, it said. When we are informed by government of any policy decisions that affect Irish Water or water charges we will assess the implications of those decisions for our customers, our operations and for our staff. Irish Water does not provide breakdowns of methods used by customers to pay their bills, it said. While the number of those who have paid their water charges is not known, Environment Minister Alan Kelly this week told the Dail that he believed it was nearly seven out of 10 customers. Irish Water reported to me that during the general election the payment rate actually increased and while not all of the data were collected, a payment rate of just under 70% was likely, Mr Kelly said. At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan imposed the fine on Kevin Farry of Newhall Estate outside Ennis, and also declined a State application for costs against Mr Farry. Mr Farry pleaded guilty to the illegal felling that occurred in February of last year. The State stated that the fine that applied in the case totalled 18,793. However, Judge Durcan opted not to impose the substantial fine having previously pointed out to the court that a heavy fine would achieve absolutely nothing and add another burden to the sinking of a very important property. The estate is the former seat of an MP and more recently the home of a Second World War flying hero. Forest service inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Kevin Keary, said that around 296 ash trees between 40 and 80 years old were knocked down for commercial gain for the production of hurley butts. Mr Farry was required to carry out a bat survey for a tree felling licence for the area and this was not carried out. Judge Durcan said: It seems to me that the main interest here is the bats, not the Newhall estate, not the house itself, not the forestry surrounding it. In reply, Mr Keary said: We are not interested in the bats I am interested in what is the summons which is 296 trees that is the only reason why I am here. Imposing the 100 fine, Judge Durcan said that overshadowing the case is the law of Europe which is the law of the land and the necessity to protect bats which of course is a legal obligation. Judge Durcan said: I acknowledge that the duty exists and we employ a great cohort of civil servants to discharge that duty because that is the obligation imposed on us by virtue of our relationship with the EU. He said: On the other hand, the defendant, Kevin Farry, comes in here, he pleads guilty to the matter before the court. He very honestly and fulsomely outlines the difficulties he has in protecting, preserving, and attempting to enhance the Newhall estate. I have great sympathy for him and I have admiration for him in what he is attempting to do. The same man had 73 bags of heroin in his cell at Limerick Prison nine years ago. Gary Campion, aged 32, from Moyross, is serving two life sentences for the 2002 murder of nightclub security doorman Brian Fitzgerald, and the 2006 gangland murder of Frank Fat Frankie Ryan. Campion was rushed by ambulance to the Mater Hospital from his cell at Mountjoy yesterday morning. Investigations will be launched into the circumstances that led to Campion falling ill by the gardai and by prison officials. A source in the prison service said he was under special observation at the time he lost consciousness. We believe he received a package earlier in the week, possibly Tuesday, on a visit. It was either hidden about his person or he ingested it internally, said a prison source. He could have used [the drugs] or a bag may have burst inside him. We wont know the exact details until a report is prepared. The source revealed that Campion, who has more than 40 previous convictions, was being held in a close supervision cell. Campion, who was the first person in Ireland to be convicted of two gangland murders in the State, is in a critical condition in hospital. Until his incarceration for murder, Campion was a hired hitman for feuding criminal gangs in Limerick. He was found guilty of murdering nightclub doorman Brian Fitzgerald on November 15, 2007, and he received another life sentence on May 28, 2009, for the murder of Frank Ryan. He began an appeal against both convictions last year. As talks edged to an agreement yesterday, a row broke out between the parties over comments made by Health Minister Leo Varadkar. He was accused of making self-serving comments by Michael McGrath after he said it was ridiculous and surreal that Fianna Fail had almost caused a second election on the issue of Irish Water. The fact that they went to the wire and threatened an election and threatened not to facilitate a new government on water, I think, is ridiculous, said Mr Varadkar. He said Fine Gael still believes water charges should be retained and would be fighting for this in the Dail, despite the fact the party agreed to suspend charges as part of a deal with Fianna Fail. Mr McGrath, who is part of Fianna Fails negotiating team, accused Mr Varadkar of acting purely in his own political interest. He claimed Fine Gael is experiencing internal upheaval and that Mr Varadkar, in making the statements, may have been positioning himself for a future leadership bid. Mr Varadkars comments were deeply unhelpful, inaccurate, misleading, and self-serving, said Mr McGrath. The reality here is it has taken two weeks of talks with Fine Gael for them to accept the principal that the question of water charges would ultimately be decided by the democratically elected TDs of Dail Eireann. It does beg the question, does somebody who makes comments like that while negotiations are under way really want to achieve an agreement? It does raise the question as to whats really going on there in the background with Fine Gael. I think the comments are certainly in the context of whats going on internally with Fine Gael, thats clearly our view of the issue. Speaking on RTE radio, Mr Varadkar said Fianna Fail could have chosen any number of issues to focus on, adding that he found the concentration on Irish Water quite frankly, to be a bit surreal. It was all down to water charges that cost 3 a week and the worst thing is and you know water charges are being suspended, they are not being abolished but its the wrong thing to do, said Mr Varadkar. Its not in the public interest to do this. Although both negotiation teams were said to be in constant contact, with papers exchanged throughout the day yesterday, much of the attention was focused on Mr Varadkars comments. Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher tweeted: If Fianna Fail/Fine Gael deal is so ridiculous Minister Varadkar will surely request not to be appointed to government, otherwise his hypocrisy scales new heights. Mr Varadkar reiterated his comments yesterday: There were a lot of issues in the election two months ago and certainly my experience was that water was an issue but it certainly wasnt the biggest one on the doors. The temerity of them. Mr Varadkar, taking a leaf out of the book of Alan I am not angry Kelly, vented his fury at the deal, which will see water charges suspended for at least nine months, but in reality for much longer. He said suspending water charges was the wrong thing to do and was not in the public interest. He revealed that he found Fianna Fails focus on Irish Water during government negotiations a bit surreal. Varadkar said there were many issues on which Fianna Fail could have threatened a new election, such as the restoration of public service pay or insistence that a national health service be developed. Water charges are being suspended, theyre not being abolished, said Mr Varadkar. But its the wrong thing to do. Its not in the public interest to do this. He said he has always been in favour of water charges and he stood by that, because a dedicated stream of income was needed to upgrade and maintain the water system while also promoting conservation. There was a collective dropping of jaws at his no-nonsense comments, particularly the timing of them, when a deal with Fianna Fail is not yet finalised. To many, his comments came across as petulant, given he is part of the Fine Gael team negotiating the very deal he was bemoaning. To others, it seemed like his opening audition for the looming leadership in Fine Gael. Predictably, the Fianna Failers were not happy. The ever-impressive and level-headed Michael McGrath described Mr Varadkars comments as unhelpful, inaccurate, and self-serving. He said that if a minority government is to have any prospect of succeeding, there must be goodwill, trust, and mutual respect between the parties. He added that Mr Varadkars comments raise questions over whether he wants a deal to be done. Things appeared to be delayed as the teams could not agree on terms of legislation that would see the suspension of charges enacted. Fianna Fail wanted it included that only a Dail vote could reintroduce charges. Fine Gael, rightly, was reluctant to back this because it believes no Dail will ever vote to reintroduce charges. Negotiating teams were set to meet late last night. Barry Cowen was said to be most eager to see Mr Varadkar and respond to his earlier diatribe. Elsewhere, there was much bemusement at the decision of Anti-Austerity TD Paul Murphy to seek legal aid to fight his upcoming trial for his role in the Jobstown protest in late 2014. Mr Murphy, who donates portions of his 87,000 salary to his party, takes home the average industrial wage. It was on this basis that he applied for legal aid, though it is his decision to give away portions of his salary. Many were left asking was it for this the legal aid system was established. A year after his body was exhumed from an unmarked plot in Cork prison and interred in the family grave in Castlelyons, Co Cork, commemoration events in memory of Kent have been organised in his native village, nearby Fermoy and Cork city. The commemorations will get underway on May 1 when the bridge crossing the River Blackwater in Fermoy is officially named in Thomas Kents honour. The bridge is the place where he was famously pictured under armed guard. The Defence Forces has organised a private family service for Kents relatives in Collins Barracks on May 9 which will be followed by an open-day featuring presentations and exhibitions and the premier of Tom Kent Lament, commissioned by Castlelyons Pipe Band and composed by Barry Murphy of Carrigaline. On May 15 a parade including UN veterans, Army 1 Brigade Band, community groups, and sporting organisations will march from Castlelyons Community Centre to Fr Ferris Community Field for the unveiling of a large black granite monument honouring Kent and other local volunteers. For regular updates on news and features (as well as twitter action action as it may have happened 100 years ago) to mark the revolutionary period follow @theirishrev HERE The monument will feature the photograph of Kent and his brother, William, being marched over the bridge in Fermoy after they had unsuccessfully defended their home Bawnard House, Castlelyons, on May 2, 1916, against a force of RIC and military. Another brother, Richard, died two days later from his wounds while Thomas was executed in Cork Prison on May 9. The monument will include poetry written by and about the Kent Brothers and the Proclamation in full. Its also fitted with an embedded quick response (QR) code. This can be scanned by smartphones using a free app and provides instant access to a website with all the history related to the 1916 Rising. The parade will include youth groups carrying the four provincial flags and flags of the 32 counties. Recollecting the 1916-era, a Model T and armoured car will be included in the parade and people attending are being encouraged to dress in period costume, while Mna na hEireann attire will be worn by Claire Cullinane and the Cobh Animation Group. Others taking part in the parade will be dressed as RIC, British soldiers, and Volunteers. The monument will be unveiled by Mayor of County Cork, John Paul OShea. An oration will be given by renowned military historian company quartermaster Sgt Gerry White. Enjoyed this? Then check out our dedicated micro-site, developed in collaboration with UCC, to mark the revolutionary period HERE Mr Coghlan initially appeared to have lost his seat as the ballot boxes opened but revived to secure his seat on the last count. The Killarney-based politician last night told the Irish Examiner of his deep relief and delight in securing another term, saying he thought he was gone. I thought it was all over, I really did, he said. But then, the transfers kept coming in dribs and drabs. I didnt get to bed until 3.30am. I retired with some tea and toast, as I had not eaten since 1pm. Mr Coghlan put his difficult election down to the fact that Fine Gael had lost 105 council seats in 2014, as well as 25 TDs, which impacted on his first preference votes. There were further Fine Gael casualties in the Seanad election. Ex-junior minister Paudie Coffey and sitting senators Tom Sheahan and Eamonn Coughlan were among the unsuccessful. However, there was good news for the ravaged Labour Party, securing a fifth seat with the election of ex-junior minister Kevin Humphreys on the Administration Panel. Mr Humphreys said he was delighted to have the chance to rebuild the party from the Seanad. Labour Party leader Joan Burton congratulated her new senators Mr Humphreys, Ivana Bacik, Denis Landy, Ged Nash, and Aodhan O Riordain. The fact we achieved a clean sweep, with all our vocational panel candidates winning seats, is testament to the work put in by our new senators and director of elections Joe Costello, she said. Fianna Fails mixed Seanad campaign continued, with Stillorgan councillor Gerry Horkan getting in, while Mary Fitzpatrick missed out. Planning permission has been granted for the new 650m hospital to be built at the St Jamess Hospital site in Dublin. Construction is due to start in the summer and is expected to take four years. An Bord Pleanala attached 17 conditions to the 10-year permission for the 473-bed hospital but did not seek any major changes to the original planning application. Mr Varadkar said he was conscious there were now young adults in Ireland who would have been babies when a single tertiary paediatric hospital based in Dublin was first proposed. In 1993, the faculty of paediatrics at the Royal College of Physicians put forward a plan for the construction of a national childrens hospital on an adult hospital site. It is a great regret and a great tragedy for the country that this took so long, said Mr Varadkar, adding, however, that it is now important that everyone got behind the building of the new hospital. Hopefully, people who are in their 20s now will have the benefit of it for their children, should they need it, he said. Mr Varadkar said the granting of planning permission was a massive milestone for children, young people, and families in Ireland. It would be the single biggest capital project in the history of Irish healthcare. Speaking on RTE radio, he claimed people could not challenge the project on planning grounds. There had been oral hearings held over two weeks when everyone made their case and cross-examined each other. They may try to do so on a point of law, he said. But I really hope that everyone will come behind this decision and allow us to begin the enabling works in July and have the whole thing under construction by the end of the year. The childrens hospital will bring together, on one single site, Our Ladys Childrens Hospital Crumlin, Temple Street Childrens University Hospital, and the National Childrens Hospital at Tallaght Hospital. The hospital will also operate satellite centres in Blanchardstown and Tallaght, to open in 2018. The national childrens hospital is expected to open in 2020. Mr Varadkar said he understands people have traffic concerns but there is never going to be a perfect site and there is never going to be unanimity on where the best site is. He pointed out that planning permission would have to be sought for the construction of the Coombe Womens and Infants University Hospital on the St Jamess site. There is suitable space reserved on the site that was all part of the planning process, said Mr Varadkar but construction cannot start until the childrens hospital is constructed or almost finished. Over 20 years in the making A new national childrens hospital has been on the cards for more than 20 years. Here are some of the milestones and stumbling blocks along the way: 1993: After growing concerns in the 1980s about the state of facilities in the three childrens hospitals in Dublin, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland recommends building a single hospital in the city, preferably on the grounds of an existing adult hospital. Instead, plans are made to move the Adelaide & Meath Hospital to Tallaght and a proposal is considered to rebuild Temple St on the nearby Mater Hospital grounds. 1997: The need to overhaul paediatric hospital services is highlighted when a dispute erupts between the three existing hospitals, Crumlin, Temple St, and the Adelaide & Meath (then in the process of moving to Tallaght), over which can lay claim to a new permanent surgical post about to be filled. Comhairle na nOspideal sets up a committee to review the situation. 1998: The committee finds paediatricians unanimous in wanting one paediatric surgical centre in Dublin... providing a specialist surgical service for the whole country as well as general paediatric services to Dublin and the east. However, they also accepted they would have to compromise because of the absence of a green-field situation and the institutional aspirations of the three existing hospitals. That compromise meant maintaining all three but centralising complex care in one, namely Crumlin. And so it was until: 2001: Then health minister Micheal Martin publishes a major health policy document which includes the promise of a national review of paediatric services. 2004: Despite this promise, planning is sought and, in 2005, granted for the rebuilding of Temple St alongside a new Mater. 2005: The newly established HSE commissions an independent study of paediatric hospital services. Consultants McKinsey are given the task. The new Temple St is put on hold. 2006, February: Its groundhog day. The McKinsey Report recommends one major hospital in Dublin providing specialist care for the whole country as well as non-complex care for the greater Dublin area, preferably co-located with an existing adult hospital. A HSE task force is set up to decide the location. 2006 June: The task force recommends the Mater site. The recommendation is endorsed by the HSE and Department of Health and a transition group is set up to oversee the merger of the three existing hospitals. All three are represented in the group but Tallaght and Crumlin signal unhappiness, and the first questions about why a greenfield site has not been considered are asked. 2007: Then health minister Mary Harney is forced to defend the selection of the Mater site amid media reports casting doubt on the thoroughness of the process. Crumlin withdraw from the transition group. Harney appoints a National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and appoints consultants RKW to start drawing up plans for the merger and creation of new hospital. 2009: Crumlin return to the fold, joining the development board, and a design team is appointment to draw up physical plans for the new hospital which is to be built by 2014. Divisions over the location continue with growing concerns about the space restrictions and poor access at the Mater site. 2010: The chair of the development board resigns, citing significant differences with Harney, but the board begins talks with An Bord Pleanala about submitting an application. 2011: Election time. Fine Gaels election manifesto states it will review the entire project if elected. Another board chairman resigns. FG are elected, a review takes place, it endorses the Mater site, and a planning application is made. 2012: An Bord Pleanala refuse planning permission and another review group is set up. Following review, health minister James Reilly announces Cabinet have now opted to build on the grounds of St Jamess Hospital. 2013: A new development board is appointed for the hospital, now expected to be built by 2016. 2014: Another groundhog day. Medics, planners, parents and local residents voice concerns about the space restrictions and access problems at the site. 2015: A planning application is submitted for the hospital, now expected to open in 2019. Oral hearings held at which all the above concerns are aired. 2016: Planning is approved. Health Minister Leo Varadkar says it will cost 650m and will built by 2020, with satellite centres at Tallaght and Blanchardstown providing first-stage emergency care to open in 2018. Caroline ODoherty The submission was made by a student from Colaiste Muire, Cobh, on behalf of his fellow schoolmates, who won a standing ovation from the public gallery as they argued passionately against locating the incinerator near their school. On day eight of An Bord Pleanalas hearing into the proposed incinerator, the students, aged from 13 to 17, were joined by board of management members and teachers, arguing that the disproportionate rate of cancer in Cobhs recent history was reason enough for the State planning authority to reject the proposal. First year student Euan Laffan said the proposal gave him flashes of Mr Burns nuclear power plant in The Simpsons and that made him fear Cobh could be turned into the Springfield of the south a reference to the US city where the Simpsons live. Green Schools committee member Scott Fitzgerald, aged 17, said that the incinerator would be an eyesore from the schools view over the harbour, arguing that Ireland should follow the lead of New Zealand in its zero-waste approach. An incinerator would be a quick fix, he said. My generation is increasing its awareness, said Scott. Yet adults are considering the lazy way out. First year student Jason Morey said it seemed to him that the Environmental Protection Agency was not doing its job. He added: Why are adults trying to destroy the environment when students are trying to preserve it? Second year student Stefano Gerasole said two beloved teachers in the school had succumbed to cancer and that Cobh had cancer levels 43% higher than the national average. He added that Indaver was not welcome and that the community was still united after 15 years of fighting against an incinerator. You would not let a three-year-old smoke a cigarette. Why would you let a child breathe this? Stefano asked. Transition year student and vice-chair of the student council, Matthew McCarthy, said Cobh was tainted by the scars of previous generations. We are beginning to sort the mess out, he said. This would be yet another wound in our harbour. Second year student Caitlin Durnan said that if there was an explosion at an Indaver facility in Belgium, which occurred in February, then it could happen in Cobh. Can Indaver guarantee the safety of students? Can they exit safely?, she asked. If it happened in Belgium, then it most definitely can happen here. Laura Stafford left the public gallery in hushed silence as she broke down wondering what her life would be like as she started a family in Cobh in the future. The people of my area have suffered enough. We dont want to live in fear. I love Cobh and dont want to be forced to move away, she said through tears. Teacher Mary White said she had worked in a poverty-stricken area of Africa for two years, yet the incidence of cancer did not even come close. An incinerator would laugh in the face of hope of the students and defy all logic, she said. A spokesperson for Indaver said: Indaver is confident that modern incineration is a well-proven technology, suitable for its site in Ringaskiddy and which will have no negative impact on the environment. Currently, there are more than 450 incinerators operating safely throughout Europe, many of which are located in busy, urban areas including Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, and London. The hearing, chaired by An Bord Pleanala inspector Derek Daly, continues next week at the Carrigaline Court Hotel. PAT KIERNAN is a forward-looking kind of guy. As the artistic director of Corcadorca theatre company, he has to be. Its always about planning the next show, he says, and every time you go into it, youre going into something for the first time. Theres always the same anxiety, the same excitement. The next next show is Sacrifice at Easter, a work in collaboration with Pat McCabe and Mel Mercier that will take an eclectic look across the last 100 years, using the present centenary as its starting point. Were talking over pints in a Dublin bar at the end of Kiernans first day of auditions for the show. But, were also trying to get him to cast a rare backward glance, because Kiernan has been looking forward now as Corcadorcas main man for 25 year s a significant milestone on a long road marked by some classic productions.Well, were looking at the 100 years since 1916, he says, and to think Corcadorca has been in existence for a quarter of that thats kind of scary. Twenty-five years ago, Kiernan and Conor Lovett (now half of the Paris-based Gare St Lazare Players, renowned interpreters of Samuel Beckett) founded the company so that they could, as Kiernan says, continue to do work after graduating from UCC and leaving its dramatic society behind them. This simple imperative led to the foundation of a company whose ambition, achievement and impact have been without equal or precedent in Cork theatre. From the international success of Disco Pigs, to a run of spectacular summer shows that came almost to define the cultural year in the city, Corcadorca has left an indelible mark on its home town. And, whether coincidental or not, Kiernans own decision to largely pursue site-specific work has overcome the notorious reluctance of Cork audiences to put bums on seats. Instead, Kiernan and Corcadorca have animated sites in and around the city industrial buildings old and new, the Elizabeth Fort, Sir Henrys nightclub, the city courthouse, Cork City Gaol, Haulbowline Island, Patricks Hill turned into Calvary winning a loyal audience in doing so. DISCO PIGS Walsh and Kiernan Yet it was a small stage play, Disco Pigs, that first gained the company a big reputation. Its writer, Enda Walsh, moved to Cork from Dublin in the 1990s and fell in with Kiernan and Corcadorca, becoming joint artistic director for several years. Walsh, speaking on the phone from his home in London, remembers an energy about the city in those years. We were all in our mid-20s or younger and that has its own energy, he says. But the city at that time, between the bars, the music, there was something going on. I dont know what its like now, but there just seemed to be a shitload of people in their 20s who were trying to do work and make stuff. Walsh recalls, with the harshness of an artist, a terrible, terrible production of Animal Farm just before he wrote Disco Pigs. It was really shit actually, he says, warming to the theme. A mess. I felt it was the end of the company, this really boring middle-of-the-road stuff, then I said to Pat, I had a dream about two pigs walking around Cork city eating the buildings. Pat said maybe write it. So I wrote it and it turned out the way it did and we said, OK, we wont close the company, well do that and see how it goes. What everyone found out with Disco Pigs was the strength of Pat as a director. He really made that piece. The small scale of the piece, says Kiernan, meant you needed creativity and energy. I remember during one of the first performances, a woman who shall remain nameless, a theatre practitioner, when it started and the music came on, she left her seat and came up and said Its way too loud. But we said, no no, this is the way we want it to sound. She thought she was doing us a favour! But that energy was what we wanted. After an awards-laden international tour, Corcadorca returned to Cork in 1998 with another artistic success, Phaedras Love, a version of Sarah Kanes provocative take on Greek tragedy. The production, in an old quayside building, was inspired. But, as Kiernan recalls, nobody came to see it. After all the hype, we realised, actually, if youre a company based in a city you have to mind your audience there. They dont give a fuck if youve won awards. That was a huge realisation for us: your relationship is with the Cork audience. In that goal lay a parting of ways with Walshs own vision. Yes, says the playwright, I could have stayed there, but it was really important for me to go away and isolate myself and try to figure things out. I was in awe of Pat and how he directed, but as we went on we became sort of combustible. I could see that Pat had a clearer direction than I did you. He was going, Right, I want everyone in Cork city to know who this company is. And that didnt even dawn on me, the site-specific pieces and getting out and showing the work in that way. I was some artist in his bedroom going Jesus, what am I doing? He had a bigger scope and outlook compared to my singular, artist-driving arseholery. It was, nonetheless, a tough decision, says Walsh. It was like a band breaking up. We did fall out, agrees Kiernan. Yeah. And it was silly. I suppose it was invariably going to happen because I had the ambition to keep the company in Cork whereas Enda had different ambitions. But it was a great couple of years. And the great thing about the company is that there have been so many phases over the 25 years. BIG AMBITIONS Mick Heffernan on Patricks Hill, Cork, for The Trial Of Jesus in 2000 For Corcadorca and Kiernan, the next few years saw the company use Cork literally as a stage for some of their most ambitious and successful works: The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, Woyzeck. That period ended abruptly after The Hairy Ape. Ironically, a critique of capitalism was the last large-scale work mounted by the company before a global recession saw swingeing cuts for the arts. It was an awful time for everyone, says Kiernan, but we were depending on dwindling public money, and there was the fear of being cut at any time. So what did unfortunately happen to me was that I started asking what should we be doing, rather than what do we want to do. That was an uneasy couple of years, says Kiernan. We did go back into theatres its a lot cheaper to make work in a theatre and it was interesting, but the relationship between the audience and the material wasnt as vibrant. The lesson for Kiernan was clear: to stick to his vision of off-site work, even if in a smaller scale. But, significantly, Sacrifice at Easter will be a production of pre-2008 proportions, set in Corks Elizabeth Fort. Perhaps we are entering a new period where Kiernan will have more resources to back his ambition. WORKING WITH BOWIE Murphy and Kiernan with company manager Fin OFlynn in 2005. For Enda Walsh, the move to London in 2003 was the beginning of an illustrious period, with plays including Ballyturk and The Walworth Farce, and also work on Broadway including Once, which led him to work with David Bowie on Lazarus. It was a year and a half of wonderful, open collaboration, says Walsh of working with Bowie. He was an extremely generous, a very funny man. [Lazarus] was a really personal piece for him, so to be involved in writing with him was a ridiculous honour. Walsh knew from the beginning how grave Bowies illness was, but, he says, He was very present all the way through. He was in and out of rehearsals, we were chatting on the phone. He came to previews and the opening night, but at that stage he was very, very sick. So it was really sad. In recent years, Kiernan and Walsh have been working together again. Kiernan directed How These Dead Men Talk in 2014 and staged Gentrification last year; a new play by Walsh for the company is planned for later this year. You go back and you think, there is just so much more to be got out of the relationship, says Walsh, now that weve both gone and created all this other stuff. I still feel very connected to that city and with what Pat is trying to do. Kiernan agrees: There are memories there that cant be just forgotten. We were living in each others pockets for a long time. Its very exciting to work with a writer who you know like that, to read the work and know where its coming from. Corcadorca will host an anniversary party at the Triskel Arts Centre on May 14, the date of the opening night of the first ever Corcadorca production, Leonce and Lena, staged in 1991 FIVE OF THE BEST: Some of Corcadorcas most memorable productions Disco Pigs (1996) An explosive, electrifying cult hit in Cork city that went off to conquer Edinburgh, Melbourne and a host of other international festivals, as well as launching the careers of Eileen Walsh and Cillian Murphy. Not bad for a portable two-hander on two chairs the very antithesis of the large-scale shows more typically associated with Corcadorca. But, it did have energy, attitude and integrity of a kind that became a Corcadorca stamp in the years that followed. A Midsummer Nights Dream (2001) The dexterous use of so many spaces provided endless moments of surprise for audiences led from scene to scene through Fitzgerald Park as summer dusk descended. It was also a shape of things to come, with Pat Kiernans direction maintaining a narrative clarity in balance with the many charms and clever twists in the setting. The Merchant of Venice (2005) Its tempting to think of the run of ambitious large-scale site-specific works as a golden age for the company, but there are signs, with Sacrifice at Easter, that the conditions necessary for this kind of scale of work are returning. That said, the breadth and sweep of this production remain unmatched. A triumphant vindication for Corcadorca and the highlight of Corks year as City of Culture. Woyzeck (2007) Setting off from the quays of Cobh for Haulbowline Island was an unforgettable way to start a night of theatre, if that word could be applied to such an all-encompassing experience. David Pearse lived up to the enviable ask of making his Woyzeck large enough for this larger-than-life production full of sound and fury, carried along by Mel Merciers score and a sequence of stunning set pieces. The Hairy Ape (2008) Eugene ONeills angry play was elevated to epic proportions by Paul Keogans design, turning the old Southern Fruit company warehouse into an inferno of righteous anger. And Pat Kiernans expressionistic style married to the setting perfectly to deliver a message not only from the play but also of Corcadorcas own artistic manifesto. My grandaunt, Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh (Mary Walker) was a founder actress of the Abbey Theatre and its first leading lady. On its opening night in 1904, she played Kathleen Ni Houlihan while four other members of her family were either acting or working in the theatre. The Walkers were committed nationalists and saw the Abbey as the route to an even greater drama: Pearses Passion Play. Ive just published her memoirs, The Splendid Years. Its her first-hand account of some of the events and people that shaped Irish history. Maires beauty and talent captivated audiences and critics at home and abroad, and her admirers included the Pearse brothers, Countess Markievicz, Maud Gonne, Synge, Plunkett, MacDonagh, and John B. Yeats. The closing section of the book tells of her role as Cumann na mBan leader in Jacobs during the Rising. On the day she fell in, her father, Matthew (69), was entering the GPO to offer his services to his IRB comrade, Pearse. He spent the week printing the Irish War News with my granduncle Charlie and his son-in-law Joe Stanley. After the Rising, Matt delivered Pearses farewell letter to his mum. Meanwhile, my granny, Gipsy, was carrying despatches for Charlie Burgess (Cathal Brugha). Maire arrived at Tom MacDonaghs garrison just as the barricades were going up. Here is an abridged version of her account of the surrender. My God Its Maire Walker! How did you get in? Tom MacDonagh lowered his head and shook it from side to side. A typical gesture. He seemed very much at ease. He was standing just inside the door of Jacobs in the full uniform, cloak, cap and accoutrements of a commandant. He was talking to his second-in-command, Major MacBride, who was still in civilian clothes. The next most senior officer was Michael OHanrahan, the quartermaster, who was executed within a day of his commandant. We were childhood friends from Carlow and when Michael was concussed during the fighting, I took extra care of him. Within an hour all the interior defences had been built up. Sacks of flour lay waist-high across the windows, loop-holed at convenient points. Figures crouched behind these, peering down silently into the streets. There was an eeriness about the place; a feeling of being cut off from the outside world. That first day, we had nothing to make a hot drink of. Eventually we found some slabs of cooking-chocolate which we stewed in a boiler. I recall bringing a mug of this syrup up to one of the roof-towers and handing it to a sniper. He took it and gave me his rifle. I raised it into the air, looked along its sights and fired a round. My God, Miss Walker, he said. If youre going to fire my gun, at least aim it at somebody. I smiled at him and said: Ive always wanted to fire a shot in an Irish rebellion, but Ive never wanted to kill anyone. He was bemused by this. When darkness settled, a group of Volunteers entered the bakeroom with candles which they set about the room in empty biscuit boxes. The boxes formed a huge circle; intensifying the darkness beyond. The whole garrison, with the exception of sentries, gathered inside the circle and knelt. Someone started the Rosary. Soon the whole building vibrated with the rise and fall of mumbled voices. Now and then you could hear the noise of firing, through the prayers; a strange background sound you could never, never forget. I saw Tom MacDonagh often during this first day, and throughout the week. Tom was an excellent leader, hiding his worries behind his good humour, and never allowing anyone to think other than that the fighting was going well. For regular updates on news and features (as well as twitter action action as it may have happened 100 years ago) to mark the revolutionary period follow @theirishrev HERE The great spirit of the revolutionary age was all around us in Jacobs. You never thought much about what the result of it all would be. What might happen if we lost meant nothing: life or death, freedom or imprisonment, these things did not enter into it. The great thing was that an insurrection had taken place, and you were actually participating in it. The pity was that it ended so soon. The news of the surrender, when it came, was heartbreaking. On Saturday, the sound of artillery pounding the GPO gradually died down. Pearse had surrendered. On Sunday, a messenger arrived with the news. MacDonagh at first refused to accept her despatch, maintaining that he would not take orders from Pearse as a prisoner. After some persuasion he agreed to meet General Lowe at St Patricks Park. Inside Jacobs there was now much speculation. Everybody waited for Tom to come back. After his return he went straight to the Staff Room. A few minutes later all officers were ordered to report to him. They were gone a long time. Then he sent for me. When I went in, he was standing beside Major MacBride. He said, very simply: We are going to surrender. His voice was quiet, disillusioned. I want you to thank all the girls for what they have done. Tell them I am issuing an order that they are to go home. Ill see that you are all safely conducted out of the building. I started to protest, but he turned away. One could never imagine him looking so sad. Her wedding to Eamonn Price, who was also in Jacobs Biscuit Factory during Easter 1916 I went downstairs and into the bakeroom. I will never forget that scene. Almost everyone in the building had assembled on the ground floor. The announcement of surrender had not been taken well. There were shouts of, Dont give in we cant give in now! Everyone was talking at once. I saw a man throw down his rifle and put his hands over his face. Another was smashing the butt of a gun against a wall. Some of the men seemed confused, as though they could not believe it. The officers were calling for order and trying to explain why surrender was necessary. MacDonagh came in. He climbed onto a table and held up his hand. The noise died away at once. We have to give in, he said. Those of you who are in civilian clothes, go home. Those in uniform stay on. You cannot leave if you are in uniform. He stepped down. A Volunteer officer, Thomas Hunter, pushed his way through the crowd and climbed on to a bench. He held up his arms and shouted: All I say is, any of you who go home now ought to be ashamed of yourselves! Stand your ground like men! There was a murmur of approval. No one moved. I gave the girls MacDonaghs order. They did not want to leave. I could understand their feelings. They were my own; I did not want to go, myself. Tom thought the sight of the girls being arrested might upset the men he wanted everything to go as quietly as possible. He pushed through the crowd to me and asked, Will you go now, please? I dont know, Tom. All the girls insist on staying. Major MacBride intervened. It would be better for you to go, he said. As we shook hands, he asked that a message be taken to some friends at Glasthule. Tell them that we had a good week of it, he added. I recognised a young Volunteer officer entering the building: Captain Eamonn Price. He was instructed by MacDonagh to marshall the garrison for the surrender. He would go on to become a Major General and Director of Organisation for the IRA, fighting alongside Michael Collins. Nine years later, surrounded by the ghosts of dead friends and comrades, we were married. I left Jacobs feeling confused, disappointed and very tired. Along Camden Street the shop windows were shuttered. Everything looked strange, even the street was different. It was as though I had never seen it before. Despite what was going on inside, Jacobs looked dark, very empty. Dublin seemed unnaturally still. Abridged from The Splendid Years - Memoirs of an Abbey Actress and 1916 Rebel, Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh with Edward Kenny. Edited by David Kenny, New Island, 15.95. Enjoyed this? Then check out our dedicated micro-site, developed in collaboration with UCC, to mark the revolutionary period HERE THE only Corkman to die during the Easter Rising in Dublin once worked as a clerk in Harrods in London. Sean Hurley, who was from Maulagow, Drinagh, was educated at the local national school and later in Clonakilty. He was a friend of Michael Collins, fought with the Four Courts Garrison during the Rising, and was fatally wounded at a barricade in Church St. Tell my mother I died for Ireland, were among the last words of the 29- year-old Hurley, who was anointed at a first-aid post by the patriotic priest Fr Augustine Hayden, shortly before he was taken to the Richmond Hospital, where he died. Fr Augustine, who attended to many of the leaders, including Padraig Pearse, later wrote to Hurleys parents to tell them of the brave and Catholic death of your dear boy, whom I had the happiness and privilege of attending at the last. The letter sent to Sean Hurleys mother informing them of his death in 1916. Picture: Eddie OHare Sean Hurley and Michael Collins were brothers-in-law. But the men were also close friends since their days at school in Clonakilty and as comrades in London, where they worked in the civil service. Collins recalled those times when they joined the Irish Volunteers and were members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. We have walked Londons streets on many a night, silently, because our thinking was elsewhere. I appreciate him because his mind seems compact, whereas mine fritters away hours in idle thought. For regular updates on news and features (as well as twitter action action as it may have happened 100 years ago) to mark the revolutionary period follow @theirishrev HERE The Drinagh man, who stood over 6ft tall, an athlete, and Gaelic League member, went to work in Harrods as a clerk in 1914 in pursuit of a career in business. But, along with Collins and others, he was called back to Dublin by Sean MacDiarmada as plans for the Rising went ahead. David Hurley, Ballinhassig, with his granduncle Sean Hurleys 1916 medal. Picture: Eddie OHare During heavy fighting on Saturday, April 29, 1916, Hurley, who was attached to F Company of the 1st Dublin Battalion, rushed to a barricade in Church St and was fatally wounded. His battalion commander was Edward (Ned) Daly, a brother-in-law of Tom Clarke, the Fenian who was first to sign the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. Both men were executed. Standing next to Sean Hurley at the barricade was his company captain, Fionan Lynch, a native of Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, and a future TD, government minister, barrister, and Circuit Court judge. Lynch later described Hurley, with whom he had many conversations during the fighting, as cool and determined. He proved himself every inch a man while fighting as a member of F Company all during Easter Week, he said Enjoyed this? Then check out our dedicated micro-site, developed in collaboration with UCC, to mark the revolutionary period HERE During the golden jubilee celebrations of the Easter Rebellion in 1966, there was a story circulating in Dublin that Eamon de Valera had essentially abandoned his men at Bolands Mills and surrendered separately in 1916. Dick Walsh, who was covering Aras an Uachtarain for The Irish Times, was told the story, but the newspaper did not publish it. Indeed, Ronan Fanning also overlooked it in his recent biography of de Valera. Realising that the situation was hopeless on the fifth day of the Rebellion, Padraig Pearse sent nurse Elizabeth OFarrell of Cumann na mBan to seek terms from the British commander, Brigadier General William Lowe, who demanded an immediate unconditional surrender. Pearse duly agreed after consulting with his available colleagues. OFarrell was then asked to deliver the surrender order to the other commandants in the city. There was still some sporadic shooting the next day, around midday, when she delivered the order to de Valera in the Grand Canal St dispensary near Bolands Mills. I think he considered the thing a ruse, she noted, but by the time some of my volunteer friends came in, he realised I was to be trusted. I will not take any orders except from my immediate superior officer, Commandant MacDonagh, de Valera told her. She was therefore asked to get Thomas MacDonagh to countersign the surrender document. MacDonagh insisted on talking to both General Lowe and Eamonn Ceannt before endorsing the document. By then, OFarrell learned that de Valera had already surrendered. After she had left, he realised the shelling had stopped and the shooting had almost died out. He and vice-commandant Joseph OConnor therefore concluded the surrender message was genuine. Having heard stories of surrendering soldiers being shot at the battlefront in France, de Valera decided to approach the British personally. While OConnor was getting the men ready to march to the surrender point, de Valera decided to tell the British that he had been ordered to surrender. For regular updates on news and features (as well as twitter action action as it may have happened 100 years ago) to mark the revolutionary period follow @theirishrev HERE He asked Sean Byrne, a first-aid worker in the dispensary, to organise a stick with a white flag. George F Mackay, an 18-year-old British Army cadet from Mitchelstown, Co Cork, was given the choice of staying in the dispensary or accompanying de Valera and Byrne. MacKay who had been taken prisoner in uniform on Tuesday when the train on which he was travelling was stopped on the nearby tracks feared he might be considered a traitor by the British if he remained in the dispensary. He therefore agreed to accompany them. De Valera handed over his Browning automatic pistol and asked MacKay to give it to his eldest son, Vivion. With Byrne waving the white flag, they left the dispensary and crossed the road to Sir Patrick Duns Hospital. Captain Edo Hitzen of the Lincolnshire Regiment was notified at 96 Mount St. I went over and, seeing the man, covered him with my revolver, Hitzen noted. I asked him if his men were prepared to surrender, and he said hed come for that purpose. De Valera was gaunt, unshaven, curt but courteous, recalled Hitzen 50 years later. His first words to me were: Do what you will with me but treat my men as prisoners of war. Byrne was sent back to have the men in Bolands Mills march out into Grattan St. The men were already assembled in the bakery. We all marched out into Grattan St where we halted, Byrne said. I was still carrying the white flag. At a signal the men were ordered to ground arms. At that point, de Valera rejoined his men. In his book, De Valera: Englands Greatest Spy, John Turi contended that there was no evidence de Valera was ever actually tried. But Hitzen was quite definite that he gave evidence at de Valeras trial on May 8, 1916. The Long Fellow was one of 90 people sentenced to death, but he was also one of the 75 whose sentence was commuted. Did his gesture in handing over Cadet Mackay actually influence the commutation? David T Dwanes related the story in The Early Life of Eamon de Valera, published in Dublin by the Talbot Press in 1922. The Irish Press actually published the story in 1966 in a purported extract from the official biography being prepared by Lord Longford and Thomas ONeill, but when that book was published four years later in 1970, all mention of his surrender at the hospital had been excised. Why? Was de Valera afraid that some people might think he did not wish to die for Ireland, leaving his pregnant wife and three young children behind? If he actually thought that, surely it would have said more about his estimation of Irish people than anything else. Enjoyed this? Then check out our dedicated micro-site, developed in collaboration with UCC, to mark the revolutionary period HERE The contested city is one of the main battlegrounds of the countrys devastating civil war, with a ceasefire that has collapsed and peace talks in Geneva stalled. At least 27 people died as a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) and nearby buildings were hit overnight in the rebel-held part of Aleppo. The United Nations warned that the situation in Aleppo has become catastrophic. The UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, told reporters in Geneva that Syrias nationwide cessation of hostilities is under serious threat of collapse, and that a humanitarian disaster is unfolding as violence increases in Aleppo and three other locations. US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the attack and pointed a finger of blame at the Syrian government. Air strikes in residential areas in the rebel-held part of the city killed at least 20 people while state media reported at least 1,000 mortars and rockets were fired at government-held areas of Aleppo, killing at least 14 civilians. Chief Syrian opposition negotiator Mohammed Alloush blamed the government of president Bashar Assad for the violence. He said it shows the environment is not conducive to any political action. Around 200 civilians have been killed in the past week, nearly half of them around Aleppo. There has also been shelling in Damascus, along with a car bombing both rarities for the capital. The ICRC said the fighting, including the destruction of the hospital, is putting millions at grave risk. With peace talks in Geneva completely deadlocked, Syrians are regarding the escalating bloodshed with dread, fearing that Aleppo is likely to be the focus of the next phase of the war. Rebel commanders said government forces have been mobilising soldiers, equipment, and ammunition in preparation for a military action in Aleppo. The al-Quds hospital, supported by Doctors Without Borders and ICRC and located in the rebel-held district of Sukkari, was hit shortly before midnight on Wednesday, according to opposition activists and rescue workers. Six hospital staff and three children were among the 27 who died there. News Group Newspapers (NGN), which has previously settled a large number of cases brought against the now-defunct News of the World, has always said there was no hacking activity at its sister tabloid. But in London, Mr Justice Mann allowed the claims to proceed. The judge said four claimants could amend their cases to include the daily newspaper for the first time in the proceedings. Two of those claims are among a number scheduled for a trial in July. Up to 50 new claims against NGN, many of which will now include allegations of hacking at The Sun, are soon to be issued. At the heart of NGNs case is that the two publications were two different newspapers, which were separately run and did not share journalistic resources. With the third round of the long-running litigation under way, about 1,000 claims have been settled so far some within a compensation arbitration scheme set up by the group. One of the new claims which includes The Sun and which the judge refused to strike out has been brought by Simon Clegg, the former chief executive of the British Olympic Association. Others now suing NGN include EastEnders actors Christopher Parker and Brooke Kinsella, Coronation Street actor Kym Marsh, designer Pearl Lowe and her musician husband Danny Goffey, and Leslie Heseltine, who is better known as actor and comedian Les Dennis. Apart from Mr Clegg, it is reported that the other three who allege hacking at The Sun are Mr Dennis, Ian Cotton Liverpool FCs ex- director of communications and James Mullard, the former manager of Pete Dohertys band Babyshambles. The move comes as concerns grow over the deterioration of two of the countrys nuclear plants. Such is the worry, the government has ordered that everyone living within a 100km radius of the plants be issued with iodine pills. Almost the entire population lives near nuclear plants. Until now only residents within a 20km radius receive the pills but Health Minister Maggie De Block argued the existing legislation is inadequate. The head of Belgiums Green party, Jean-Marc Nollet urged caution. Just because everyone will get these pills doesnt mean there is no longer any nuclear risk, he said. Neighbouring countries have continually expressed concern over the safety of the Tihange and Doel nuclear plants due to their close proximity to Belgiums borders. Last year a fire broke out at the Tihange plant and its nuclear reactor was subsequently shut down. It also had to be evacuated following the deadly terror attacks in Brussels. About 11m people will receive iodine pills which help reduce radiation build-up in the thyroid gland. Last week Germany asked that the 40-year-old Tihange 2 and Doel 3 reactors be turned off until the resolution of outstanding security issues. Belgiums official nuclear safety agency AFCN rejected the German request, saying the two plants respond to the strictest possible safety requirements. Milan prosecutor, Maurizio Romanelli, said investigators intercepted the communication from within Islamic State territory, which ordered attacks in Italy, with particular attention to the city of Rome and focusing on the ongoing Holy Year pilgrimage. There was no indication any attacks were imminent, and Mr Romanelli said authorities acted quickly to close the investigation, arresting four people and issuing arrest warrants for two others believed to be in IS territory. He said: This is a new profile, because it was not a generic indication, but an indication given to a specific person, who was invited to act within the territory of the Italian state. Authorities arrested the Moroccan-born man, identified as Abderrahim Moutahrrick, and his wife, Salma Bencharki, who were allegedly planning on travelling from their home, in Lecco, north of Milan, to IS territory, with their children, aged two and four. Mr Romanelli said Moutahrrick had taken Italian citizenship and was an accomplished boxer. Another Moroccan man who was planning to travel with them, identified as Abderrahmane Khachia, 23, was arrested in the northern city of Varese, prosecutors said. Prosecutors also issued arrest warrants for an Italian-Moroccan couple, who left to join IS last year with three small children. Mr Romanelli said that man, identified as Mohamed Koraichi, had become an IS fighter and had communicated the orders to carry out attacks in Italy, while making arrangements for the other family to join IS. The fourth arrest was of Koraichis sister, prosecutors said. The monk, Fu Hou, died in 2012 aged 94, after spending most of his life at the Chongfu Temple on a hill in the city of Quanzhou, southeastern China, according to the temples abbot, Li Ren. The temple decided to mummify Fu Hou to commemorate his devotion to Buddhism he started practicing at age 17 and to serve as an inspiration for followers of the religion. Police started an investigation after finding the message that included the cipher associated with the serial killer responsible for several unsolved murders in northern California in the late 1960s and early 70s. The message near a student apartment complex stated: Im alive and well and Im going to start killing again. Police stepped up patrols and eventually discovered it was done for an English class project. Students were told to write a message in a public forum and take a picture of it. Tallahassee police spokesman David Northway called it a class project gone wrong. Postie in feline furore ENGLAND: A couple have been told to restrain their cat or face having their post deliveries suspended. Matthew Sampson was notified by Royal Mail of a potential hazard at his home in Patchway, near Bristol, which was affecting deliveries. According to the Royal Mail, four-year-old Bella is a threat to staff and has been putting fingers at risk of injury. In the letter, Royal Mail says it has been experiencing difficulties in delivering mail... because of the actions of a cat. It said the couples postman had reported that when he pushes mail through their letterbox, their black and white cat snatches the mail and puts his fingers at risk of injury. I could do better than that USA: An oral surgeon made a Rhode Island tourism advert and paid for it to air on television following the botched rollout of the states own tourism campaign that featured an image of Iceland. A tourism video that Rhode Island released in March was quickly pulled after being mocked for showing footage of a Reykjavik concert hall. Surgeon Stephen Skoly said he saw the states mistake and thought, We could do a lot better. Skoly, who owns a production company, created his own 30-second video featuring local footage with the tagline, Sea Rhode Island. He said it cost about $575 (506) to make and $3,000 to air locally on CNN and elsewhere. We did it for a small amount of money and I think its better than what they spent an awful lot of money on, he said. That was my little, subtle protest of how theyre reckless with our capital, to the point that it does frustrate the taxpayers. The state also dropped its poorly received marketing slogan, Cooler & Warmer. The state chief marketing officer resigned. Skoly said he wants more transparency and oversight. When asked about Skolys ad, Kayla Rosen, a spokesman for the states economic development agency, said the next phase of the tourism campaign is all about public engagement and were excited to see everyone contribute. Cats to nap later JAPAN: Felines at Japans cat cafes are now officially allowed to stay up until 10pm to interact with customers. The environment departments animal rights panel said the cats will be allowed to hang out for two more hours than officially allowed under the new rules. Under the 2012 guidelines, cats and other animals at pet shops are prohibited from being displayed after 8pm. Cat cafes, however, were allowed to have felines out until 10pm, but only while experts studied the impact of nightlife on the cats health. Experts concluded the extra hours made no notable difference on cats stress levels. Racing rhymes USA: An Indiana University student who is a poet and a performer has been named the Indianapolis 500s first official poet since the early 20th century. Adam Henze of Bloomington beat out more than 200 others who submitted Indy 500-themed poems for the contest co-sponsored by Indiana Humanities. The competition revives an Indy 500 tradition from the 1920s, when an official poem was included in the raceday programme. Henze is an educator and a doctoral candidate at Indiana University . He receives a $1,000 (880) cash prize and two tickets to the 100th running of the race on May 29. His poem is titled For Those Who Love Fast, Loud Things. It will appear in the official race programme. Henze will also read his poem at the Speedway during qualification weekend. No easy pass on EZ tolls USA: Authorities say a New Jersey man who owes $12,000 (10,500) in unpaid EZ Pass tolls has had his black Mercedes Benz impounded and is facing charges. Oscar Sanchez was pulled over by agency police because the car didnt have a front licence plate. The officer discovered Sanchez had an expired drivers licence and more than 200 counts of missed EZ Pass toll payments amounting to about $12,000. Climate change, nuclear war, and natural disasters, such as super-volcanoes and asteroids, could also be deadly to mankind. It may sound like the stuff of sci-fi films, but experts say these apocalyptic threats are more likely than many people realise. The report, Global Catastrophic Risks, ranks dangers that could wipe out 10% or more of humans. The report was compiled by Oxford University, the Global Challenges Foundation, and the Global Priorities Project. Catastrophes do occur, though most generations never experience them. For example, the 1918 Spanish flu wiped out millions. Sebastian Farquhar, director at the Global Priorities Project, said: There are some things that are on the horizon, things that probably wont happen in any one year, but could happen, which could completely reshape our world, and do so in a really devastating and disastrous way. History teaches us that many of these things are more likely than we intuitively think. Many of these risks are changing and growing, as technologies change and grow and reshape our world. But there are also things we can do about the risks. In the next five years, asteroids, super-volcanic eruptions, and unknown risks are ranked as the biggest threat to humanity. In the longer term, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has been listed alongside catastrophic climate change, nuclear war, and pandemics, as a threat. Mr Farquhar said: There is really no particular reason to think that humans are the pinnacle of creation and the best thing that is possible to have in the world. It seems conceivable that some AI systems might, at some point in the future, be able to systematically out-compete humans in a bunch of different domains, and if you have a sufficiently powerful form of that kind of artificially intelligent system, then it might be the case that, if its goals dont match with what humanitys values are, then there might be some sort of adverse consequences. So, this doesnt depend on it becoming conscious. The biggest long-term threats are natural and engineered pandemics, and nuclear war, according to the report. Asia China Passes Law Tightening Controls on Foreign Nonprofits China passes a law tightening controls over foreign non-governmental organizations by subjecting them to close police supervision. BEIJING China passed a law Thursday tightening controls over foreign non-governmental organizations by subjecting them to close police supervision, a move officials say will help the groups but critics charge is the latest attempt by authorities to clamp down on perceived threats to the ruling Communist Partys control. The law, adopted by the national legislature, states that foreign NGOs must not endanger Chinas national security and ethnic unity. It grants police the power to question NGO administrators, search residences and facilities and seize files and equipment. The move to pass such a law has drawn criticism from US and European officials and business and academic organizations. They are concerned it will severely restrict the operations of a wide range of groups, further limiting the growth of civil society in China and hindering exchanges between China and the rest of the world. The law includes a clause that allows police to blacklist unwelcome groups and prevent them from operating in the country. Groups can be blacklisted if they commit violations ranging from illegally obtaining unspecified state secrets to spreading rumors, slandering or otherwise expressing or disseminating harmful information that endangers state security. The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders denounced the law as draconian, saying it allows police to exercise daily supervision and monitoring of foreign NGOs. The law will have a profoundly detrimental impact on civil society in China, it said. The group said the most alarming aspects include the ability of police to end foreign NGO-organized activities that they deem to endanger national security, a term that is not clearly defined. Police will also be able to more closely monitor foreign organizations funding sources and expenses, which has the chilling effect of intimidation, the group said. The law appears to be an effort to utilize of the resources and expertise of foreign NGOs as China struggles with problems including environmental pollution and mental health, while preventing them from competing with the Communist Party for hearts and minds. Still, the final version of the law eased many of the restrictions included in an earlier draft, including exempting foreign schools, medical facilities, and academic and research groups in natural sciences and engineering technology. It also allows foreign NGOs to set up multiple representative offices in China, removes restrictions on hiring volunteers and staff, and eliminates a requirement that they reapply for permission to operate in China every five years. However, in an apparent attempt to limit their influence, the law bans foreign groups from setting up regional chapters, recruiting members from among the public at large or raising funds within China. It also subjects them to closer financial scrutiny, requiring that they submit annual reports detailing their sources of financing, spending activities and changes in personnel. You are here to do deeds, not to build up your troops, Guo Linmao, a legal inspector for the legislature, said at a news conference following the laws passage. Guo sought to offer words of assurance, saying the law aims primarily to welcome foreign non-governmental groups, help promote their activities and protect their lawful interests while filtering out those few organizations that may hurt Chinas national security and interests in the name of NGO work. And, despite a relentless crackdown on domestic legal aid and civic society groups, Guo said international organizations working on human rights issues are welcome in China, as long as they comply with Chinese laws. He said the law shifted the authority to register and supervise foreign groups from civil affairs bureaus to the police under the Ministry of Public Security in part because Chinese police already have responsibility for managing and overseeing foreign nationals. US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a congressional hearing Thursday that sent a terrible signal to NGOs that are acting for the benefit of China and its people. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement he was deeply concerned that the law would hurt people-to-people ties between the United States and China by creating a highly uncertain and potentially hostile environment for such groups. Many overseas organizations have partnered with Chinese academic and social groups, but still operate in a legal gray area that leaves them vulnerable to crackdowns by security forces. In one recent example, China in January deported a Swedish man it accused of training and funding unlicensed lawyers in the country. Asia Tuna Giant Thai Union Scraps Worker Fees to Tackle Labor Abuses Thai Union will eliminate recruitment fees for its workers to prevent them from racking up debts to job brokers and from being exploited and abused. SINGAPORE The worlds largest canned tuna company, Thai Union Group PCL ,announced on Thursday it would eliminate recruitment fees for its workersa move that will prevent workers from racking up debts to job brokers and from being exploited and abused. The vast majority of migrant laborers in Asia have to pay sizeable fees to brokers and agencies to land jobs abroad, often borrowing money and starting their new jobs deep in debt. When they start work, they are often not paid for six months to a year as their salaries go towards paying those debts, leaving them vulnerable to trafficking and broker exploitation. The zero recruitment fees policy of Thai Unionwith brands such as Chicken of the Sea, John West and Petit Naviretakes effect immediately for future recruitment of all workers in its factories and processing plantsmost of them from Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia, the company said in a statement. Thats something that Thai Union sees as essential to make sure that workers arent in debt bondage before they start work, Darian McBain, Thai Unions global director of sustainable development, said at Trust Forum Asia, a slavery and trafficking forum in Singapore hosted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Well cover the costs of all the agency fees, so that people arent burdened with the debt that they can sometimes build up on the way to coming to employment in Thailand, she said in a panel discussion on tackling slavery in supply chains. Activists commended the policy and said they hoped other companies would follow suit. 100 percent of the costs of recruitment is falling on workers. This is completely unacceptable. Companies should be paying to recruit workers, or at least they should be taking a very fair share of the burden, said rights activist Andy Hall, an advisor to the non-profit Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN). Its the main issue leading to human trafficking, debt bondage and slavery these days, he said, adding that Thai Union has realized that its their responsibility to ensure that their recruitment supply chainto get the workers into the factoryis clean. Thailands multibillion-dollar seafood industry has come under fire in recent years after numerous investigations by journalists and rights groups showed widespread slavery, trafficking and violence on fishing boats and in onshore food processing factories. Thai Union, with annual sales exceeding US$3.5 billion and more than 46,000 employees worldwide, has been working with MWRN and Hall to strengthen relationships with recruitment agents in Cambodia and Burma, and map out recruitment processes in order to reduce costs and complexities, the company said. McBain, an expert on sustainable supply chains who joined Thai Union last July, said the company once viewed NGOs as outsiders that raised issues and caused alarm, but now sees local organizations in particular as a vital part of our work. Thai Union is also working closely with the non-profit Issara Institute, which started a multilingual hotline for the companys workers to raise concerns and give them a voice. Issara Institute is now developing a helpline app for mobile phones, McBain said. We found out 93 percent of workers in our factories have a smartphone, so that is enormous potential for how they can access these remedy situations, she said. The company can provide the app to workers on shore, as well as at sea on vessels equipped with satellite or Wi-Fi connectivity so workers can have access to a voice at sea as well. Burma Burma Bans Lucrative Logging in Bid to Preserve Forests Burma has banned lucrative logging operations as the newly elected National League for Democracy government steps up a battle on deforestation, an environment official says. RANGOON Burma has banned lucrative logging operations as the newly elected government of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi steps up a battle on deforestation, an environment official said on Thursday. Burmas rich forests are among its most valuable natural resources, but they have been plundered by logging that helped fund the former military regime that ran the country for 49 years, before reforms began in 2011. In April 2014, Burma banned export of raw timber logs to slow deforestation and boost its own production. By 2010, forest cover had shrunk to 47 percent of land area from 58 percent in 1990, Forestry Ministry data show. Despite the ban, illegal logging has thrived in northeast Burma, where valuable teak and rosewood are smuggled over the border to neighboring China, forest watchdog the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has said. We have been reducing timber extraction, and now we have decided to stop logging completely, said John Swe Ba, a managing director at Burmas Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. This measure will cover teak and other hardwoods all across the country, he added. Legal logging has also played a major role in ravaging the environment. State-owned Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE), overseen by Swe Bas ministry, has a monopoly on the formal timber sector, but subcontracts work to numerous companies. That body was targeted by United States sanctions until 2014, when the Treasury Department gave it an initial one-year waiver to work with the US-based International Wood Products Association, extended in July 2015 for two more years. Methods of over-harvesting include felling a greater number of logs of a particular tree species and extracting logs smaller in diameter than recommended, said the EIA, which is based in Britain. As such, the legal forest sector practices in Myanmar are a significant contributor to deforestation and forest degradation, the watchdog added in its 2015 report. Measures are needed to save the jobs of more than 17,000 employees in government departments working on timber production, Swe Ba added, without saying what they might be. We cant afford to let them be out of jobs overnight, he said. Burma Interfaith Leaders Call For Legal Action Against Hate Speech Over 100 community leaders participate in a forum on Interfaith Understanding and Peace Advocacy to reduce interreligious tension in Burma. RANGOON Over 100 community leaders from different religions nationwide participated in a three-day forum on Interfaith Understanding and Peace Advocacy in Rangoon this week to reduce interreligious tension in Burma. One of the forums organizers, Aung Naing Win of the Metta Setwaing Organization, told The Irrawaddy today that in the meeting, held from April 26-28, community and religious leaders discussed how to better fight hate speech. We intend to work together with civil society groups in our own communities, Aung Naing Win said. We want to work with law enforcement to take action against those who use hate speech, and we want to empower our community through education to positively engage for peace. Burma has a new democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD). Religious and community leaders at the forum expressed a readiness to work with this government in order to address interreligious conflict in the country. Our idea is that our religious leaders, civil society leaders, lawyers and the government will work together to create a law [on the issue], Aung Naing Win added. According to leaders who attended the forum, the cause of this type of conflict in Burma is the political manipulation of religion. To combat this, trust must be built so that peace at the community level cannot be easily destroyed, they said. Burma has a sizeable Buddhist majority, and Animist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim minorities. In 2012, ethnoreligious conflict broke out in Arakan State and spread throughout the country as Buddhist nationalists targeted Muslims with violence. Myint Thein, a Christian community leader who gave an opening speech at the interfaith forum, said that he believes interreligious conflict will continue as long as no legal action is taken against those who ignite tensions. It was easy to create problems around this issue. It was a sensitive issue, he said, but also reminded participants that they had stayed together for a long time, and we did not have problems in the past. Burma Leaders Respond to Suu Kyis Call for Second Panglong Conference The Irrawaddy spoke to a diverse selection of leaders about the possibility of another Panglong Conference and their expectations for the talks. RANGOON Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmas state counselor and de facto leader of the new National League for Democracy (NLD) government, met with the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee on Wednesday, calling for the convening of a Panglong-style peace conference within two months and encouraging all stakeholders to help make the suggestion a reality. Of ethnic armed organizations that opted out of signing the so-called nationwide ceasefire [NCA] in 2015, Suu Kyi said that even though they are not yet included, we will try to include them. There is no reason that we cant make it work if there is sincere empathy, she added. The Panglong Conference was convened in southern Shan State in 1947 by Suu Kyis father, Gen Aung San, and leaders from some of the countrys ethnic nationalities, in preparation for independence from Britain. It led to the signing of the famed agreement by the same name, which has been widely praised for the spirit of inclusiveness and cooperation that it fostered between the dominant Burman majority and ethnic minorities at the time. The Irrawaddys Nang Seng Nom spoke to a diverse selection of leaders about Suu Kyis call for a second Panglong Conference, the likelihood of these talks occurring, and their expectations for them; their responses are below. Khun Htun Oo, Chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) Will all the stakeholders will be included if [a second Panglong Conference] is held? It will take time. To hold a second Panglong Conference, [the NLD government] has to negotiate with the military. Who will take part and when it will be held is also important. There must be harmony between the military and Daw Aung Suu Kyi [for the conference to happen]. If not, it is just wasting time and effort. [Suu Kyi] must make concessions with the militaryit is a must. What shall we do if the military does not agree [to our demands], even if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi agrees? This is just the beginning. It may or may not work out. Brig-Gen Tarr Jode Jar, Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) I dont know if [a Panglong-style Conference] will truly happen. It depends on the extent of cooperation between the military [and the NLD]. We are ready to participate. For it to happen, a ceasefire must be done first before anything else. Clashes are going on even nowwe need to stop the fighting first. We have lots of things to consider. The Panglong Conference may run into difficulties regarding military affairs, or it may work. No one knows. Mya Aye, 88 Generation Student and Current Political Monitor I think [they would] attend a peace and political dialogue, which is also the part of the peace process initiated by the previous government. If the new government is capable of convincing the non-signatories to sign the NCA, the peace and political dialogue is certain to happen. And maybe, that could be called Panglong if they wanted. The ongoing clashes between ethnic armed groups and the military are the big obstacle to peace negotiations. How can a ceasefire accord be signed while clashes are going on? Clashes are big hurdles in Myanmars peace process. Khaing Thu, Spokesperson for the Arakan Army (AA) We have yet to wait and see if a Panglong-style conference could be held within one or two months. We welcome the peace process being led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Inequality between ethnicities, especially between the Bamar and other ethnic groups, is the cause of civil war in Myanmar. So, we want a true federal Union, defined by the ethnic groups themselves. If negotiations are held based on that, with goodwill toward the country, peace can be achieved. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must negotiate with Myanmar military. It depends on how much control President U Htin Kyaw has over the Myanmar military. Col Wunna Aung, Spokesperson for the Burma Army, member of the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) We will cooperate. Well form committees and continue engaging in the peace process. It is too early to say when [a second Panglong conference can be held]. We still cant say, as we have not yet prepared. We are no longer fighting with the eight groups with which we have signed the ceasefire. As we are an organization dedicated to peace, we will give a hand to the peace process. Translated by Thet Ko Ko. Burma Muslim IDPs in Arakan State Seek Safer Boating Option Muslims at an Arakan State IDP camp are asking the chief minister to grant them safer transport options after over 20 people died at sea. RANGOON Muslims sheltering at the Sin Tet Maw camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Arakan State are asking the states chief minister to allow them to use a suitable jetty in the capital Sittwe instead of the more hazardous route currently taken by boats, one of which sank earlier this month, killing more than 20 people. Kyaw Hla Chay, who is head of the Sin Tet Maw camp in Pauktaw Township, sent a request letter to Chief Minister Nyi Pu on Wednesday, via authorities responsible for the Thae Chaung IDP camp outside of Sittwe. The camp leader wants permission to use a jetty so that IDPs can more safely make short trips to the state capital to purchase commodities, or alternatively receive emergency medical treatment at hospital if need be. Explaining the reason for the appeal, he said the current point of disembarkation for the Sin Tet Maw to Sittwe journey by boat was a shoreline near the Thae Chaung IDP, and that the route was dangerous for boats. Vessels would be especially imperilled during the coming rainy season, when choppy seas increase the risk of boats capsizing. On April 19, 23 people died when their boat sunk near the Thae Chaung camp. Its passengers had boarded the vessel from the Sin Tet Maw IDP camp, about 20 miles to the northeast. As you know, weeks ago a boat capsized and many people died, Kyaw Hla Chay told The Irrawaddy. If we use that fishing port in the rainy season, there are going to be troubles. Kyaw Hla Chay is an ethnic Kaman Muslim, one of 135 ethnicities officially recognized as eligible for Burmese citizenship. The large majority in the camp he heads are Rohingya Muslims, however, a stateless minority that bore the brunt of violence between Buddhists and Muslims that tore through Arakan State in 2012 and drove more than 100,000 people into IDP camps like Sin Tet Maw. All camp residents movements are restricted, but the Rohingyas stateless status could weigh on prospects for their request for jetty access being approved, given the history of discrimination that the group has faced since the 2012 unrest. While that discrimination took place under the previous military-backed government, the new National League for Democracy (NLD) administration has given little indication of how it intends to handle the issue of Rohingya IDPs, and security authorities that have a say in their movement remain under military control. Kyan Chay, also an ethnic Kaman who lives in the Thae Chaung IDP camp, said they had not yet received a response from local authorities. Both Kyaw Hla Chay and Kyan Chay said they were originally from Kyaukphyu Township, where they were forced to flee in 2012. Kyaw Hla Chay acknowledged that not many ethnic Kaman people remained in the camp, with some having moved to Rangoon and others leaving the country for Malaysia. He put the total Kaman population still residing in the camp at around 100, and estimated its total population to be 2,000, with Rohingya presumably making up the remainder. The Kaman National Progressive Partys (KNPP) vice chairman, Hla Toe, said he did not know how many Kaman were left in the IDP camp, but estimated that the total did not exceed 100. Burma Sagaing Workers March to Naypyidaw to Protest for Labor Rights Dozens of workers from a plywood factory in Sagaing Industrial Zone march to Naypyidaw to protest for labor rights, after a dispute over working hours. MANDALAY Dozens of workers from a plywood factory in Sagaing Industrial Zone began marching to Naypyidaw on Friday to demand labor rights. The workers said their rights had been abused and the authorities had neglected their complaints, so they decided to march to Naypyidaw to meet with President Htin Kyaw. Weve asked factory owners, local authorities, and even our leader Aung San Suu Kyi, to solve the problem; but, we were neglected, said Khaing Min, who is leading the march. According to the protestors, eight workers from Myanmar Veneer & Plywood Private Ltd.s factory in Sagaing Industrial Zone were fired in July 2015 after a dispute over working hours. An Indian national owns the factory, and tensions between Indian administrators and Burmese workers have been reported in the past. The workers said the factory told them to work 12 hours a day. They negotiated an eight-hour workday, but the factory did not accept that. Since the eight workers, including me, worked eight hours a day instead of 12, the factory fired us, said Khaing Min. Moreover, they didnt give us the salary or overtime payments specified in our contracts. According to the workers, they have staged protests in front of the factory since July, and began a sit-in in March. It has been 60 days and the factory authorities never showed up to talk to us, Khaing Min explained. During the first protest in 2015, they said they would negotiate with us but it never happened. Instead, they fired eight workers. What we want is respect for our rights, and for factory authorities to talk and negotiate with us, he added. On the way to Naypyidaw, local police in Sagaing and Mandalay attempted to halt the protestors on Sagaing Bridge, but they continued on. According to Sagaing divisional police, a case against the protestors has been opened under the 2011 Peaceful Assembly Law, because the workers did not seek permission to protest in advance. Business Rangoons Strand Hotel to Close for Major Facelift Rangoons iconic colonial-era hotel closes for six months on May 1 to undergo extensive renovations, the first in more than 20 years. RANGOON The Strand Hotel, one of the more iconic architectural vestiges of Rangoons colonial era, will soon be shuttered for six months to undergo major renovations. The hotel will close May 1 and will reopen in early November, according to Olivier Trinquand, vice president of the Strand. We will not build new structures. We will just make interior renovations, to keep the soul of the hotel. Well make it feel like the hotel has been reborn, Trinquand told the press on Thursday. The renovation will be the first in more than 20 years, since its last renovation in 1993. When we renovate, we will mainly stick to Burmese architectural style, said the hotel operations manager. The hotel has informed customers and business associates about its closure, he added. Currently, the hotel has 31 suites and employs 141 staff members. The renovation plan will not include the addition of any new suites. The Strand Hotel opened in 1901 and is the longest-running historical hotel in Rangoon. The five-star institution also boasts that it is one of the few grand colonial hotels still operating in Southeast Asia. Located on the eponymous river road in downtown Rangoon, the Strand has hosted a number of high-profile guests over the decades, including the writer Rudyard Kipling and Mick Jagger of Rolling Stones fame. Business Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Steps Down In a surprise move, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission submitted a letter of resignation on Thursday to step down from his current post. RANGOON In a surprise move, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission submitted a letter of resignation on Thursday to step down from his current post. Also Burmas former deputy Finance minister, Maung Maung Thein has played an integral part in the Ministry of Finance for the past three years amid a series of initiatives aimed at modernizing the countrys economy. Maung Maung Thein, who had also previously been the general manager of Myanmar Insurance, is known for having introduced private insurance businesses across Burma and for helping create the countrys first stock market. Some 10 private insurance companies now play a key role in the industry since their launch in 2013. I submitted the resignation letter myself to the Ministry of Finance on Thursday. It will take effect May 1, Maung Maung Thein told The Irrawaddy. I want to give other people a chance [to participate in the work of the commission]. Thats why I resigned. I dont know who will take over my role. That decision will be made by the National Finance and Planning minister, he added. Maung Maung Thein was referring to Kyaw Win, who garnered criticism for listing a doctorate from a fake university on his resume, a fact brought to light after it was announced that he would take up the finance and planning portfolio. Whatever they say, I wont be back, Maung Maung Thein said. Culture In Rangoon Buildings Restoration, Heritage and Homes Coexist Renovation of a 100-year-old building in Rangoon marks a major accomplishment for cultural and architectural heritage protection efforts, despite the encroachment of developers. RANGOON A 100-year-old building in downtown Rangoon is undergoing a complete renovation, inside and out, due to the efforts of two heritage preservation groups and the cooperation of its residents, representatives from the NGOs said at a press conference on Friday. The building, which is now 90 percent finished, will be open for public viewing for three months starting on Saturday. The innovative project was spearheaded by the Afghanistan-based NGO Turquoise Mountain and the local Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT), in partnership with the Prince of Wales Foundation and Global Affairs Canada. The building, located at 491-501 Merchant Street, houses 12 families80 people in totalwho represent the diverse mix of ethnicities and religions that lends Rangoon its distinct character. It was also home to famous Burmese journalist Ludu Sein Win when he died in 2012. Renovation began in July 2015, but a year before that, residents had already begun petitioning YHT for help in improving the building. Turquoise Mountain oversaw all of the construction work, while YHT helped liaise among the foreign NGO, the local residents and the Yangon City Development Committee. Unlike many restoration ventures in cities around the world, which result in the gentrification of their project zones, the YHT and Turquoise Mountain initiative seeks to retain the families who live in the building and the community around it to allow for a sustainable future, according to a joint statement issued by Turquoise Mountain and YHT on Friday. The project aims to raise awareness and appreciation of the value of Yangons heritage among local people, authorities and the government, and to link with and help inform wider urban planning initiatives, the statement said. The approach also encourages community participation in the planning of the restoration projects. Shoshana Stewart, the chief executive officer of Turquoise Mountain, told The Irrawaddy that she felt excited to see people appreciating the buildings renovation. When we walk people through the building and we tell them about it, they smile and they nod their heads they like it, she said. Thats the most important thing. If people dont want this, its totally irrelevant. Its not going to happen. The most important thing is that people are excited about heritage buildings. People live in them. People walk by and see them, Stewart added. She also said that her organization is interested in doing similar conservation projects for bigger buildings in Rangoons downtown area and would be initiating an example of economically sustainable building projects with commercial partners so that the buildings could benefit the economy. YHT founder Thant Myint-U said he saw the project as an important step toward the proper restoration of downtown Rangoon. We need a moratorium on any further destruction of old buildings, he said in a joint statement. [We need] new policies, regulations and schemes that will integrate economic development and conservation with public outreach and consultation. Khin Win Maw, 60, was born in the building in the 1950s and said that it was full of intimate childhood memories. She moved to a newer building in Rangoons Mayangone Township in 2007, however, because the old building was in such a state of disrepair it was difficult to live in. I grew up in this building, and inherited my apartment from my parents, she said. I feel so proud that my home has now been preserved as part of the citys historical heritage. Since YHT was founded in 2012, much progress has been made in preserving Rangoons architectural heritage, but with the recent surge in economic growth, real estate developers have demolished many old buildings to make way for higher-capacity apartment buildings and even more have been put on the chopping block. [gallery type="square" ids="110115,110116,110117,110118,110119,110120,110121,110122,110123"] AUNG BAN, Shan State Shan States upland areas are typically cooler than the arid regions of central and lower Burma, although this year, it, much like the rest of Burma, has suffered from an unusually powerful El Nino weather pattern. In southern Shan State, springs and lakes used by local communities to store rain water for domestic as well as farming purposes have been dry since February, leaving many villagers facing water shortages that are even more dire than those in previous years. The lake near our village dried up two months ago. Last year, we were able to use water from there until March, said Tun Kyi, the head of Kalaw Townships Le Gaung Village. To tackle water scarcity, some local charities, such as the Brighter Future Myanmar Foundation, have started to distribute drinking water to villages. The foundation, the only in Shan State digging wells in hard-hit areas, has been collaborating with Burmas government since 2014, receiving machines to drill into the mainly limestone Shan plateau. The foundation says that it has recently spent US$1.5 million to buy their own new drilling equipment and that they have dug over 100 wells in Shan State to date. Terre Haute, IN (47809) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 79F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 62F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Comcast gives up tight usage caps and increases broadband data limits. According to ZDNet, the U.S. cable provider is tripling data limits in the aftermath of customer anger over surcharges and caps. The Internet service provider was facing severe backlash over surcharges and data limit caps on household use. Now the U.S. cable giant has decided to remove 300GB monthly caps and increase the limit to 1TB by June 1. The measure will apply in those areas where broadband usage caps are currently being strictly enforced. The Wall Street Journal reports that Comcast made this move after the publication exposed the broadband limitations customers have to accept in certain markets. For instance, households that replaced paid television contracts with online streaming are stranded by data usage caps. Comcast's limit is technically the same for all customers. However, this rule has not been enforced since 2012. Around 2.8 million Comcast customers across the Southern states have been recently included in a trial experimenting with different subscription plans and different charges on homes based on usage. Executive Vice President at Consumer Services Comcast Cable, Marcien Jenckes, stated on company's website that less than one percent of subscribers come close to 1TB usage and the average Comcast customer only uses approximately 60GB of data per month. But as the Internet evolves and the world changes, after customer feedback based on usage caps and surcharges, Comcast is willing to shift to a new data plan with fewer restrictions on data usage. According to Tech Times, Comcast will also offer an "unlimited" plan for customers who wish to use more than 1TB a month. The unlimited plan costs $50 extra per month. For $10 are offered an additional 50GB of data. Comcast's new cap equates to 12,000 online gaming hours per month, 700 hours of high-definition video and 60,000 high-resolution images. However, not all Comcast customers will have access to this new cap. Researchers have captured the way the meaning of language is organized across the brain by monitoring the neural activity of human subjects while listening stories. According to The Globe And Mail, the result of this study could help understanding how people can bounce back from brain-related injuries that affect language, such as strokes. The research also shows more broadly how mental processes in virtually every region of the brain are engaged by our capacity to understand speech. Alex Huth, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, said that this for the first time a team of scientists was able to create this type of "semantic map" of the human cerebral cortex. The mind map is showing where different concepts are represented. The new study was published in the scientific journal Nature. Previous studies have already shown that particular ideas or words light up certain brain areas. But the new map goes much further by showing that many words are associated with multiple regions and presenting in detail the activity within these regions. Data from seven individuals who each spent about 6 hours listening to real-life stories from a public radio program called "The Moth Radio Hour" was used by the research team to create the map. The researchers monitored the brain responses to the stories using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This is a technique that subdivides the brain into "voxels," many thousands of tiny compartments. The blood oxygen levels in each one of these "voxels" are monitored and used as a measure on how hard the brain cells located within each of the compartments are working. A map of the brain was created in order to help researchers decode people's inner thoughts. The "semantic atlas" shows in multiple dimensions and vivid colors how the human brain organizes language. According to Science Daily, study senior author Jack Gallant, a UC Berkeley neuroscientist, explained that these brain maps are broadly consistent across individuals, but "there are also substantial individual differences." In order to map these individual differences in detail, scientists will need to conduct further studies across a larger and more diverse sample of people. Google has released a new iOS application that enables using an iPad or iPhone to control an Android TV. According to MacRumors, the migration of Google's app to iOS means that now the smart TV Google platform will be possible to be controlled by Apple mobile device owners in the same mode as their Android mobile-owning counterparts. This is possible as long as both iOS device and television share the same wireless network. Google's iOS application features a D-pad in the center of the screen. The D-pad can be used for standard remote control operation. Users can also perform voice search or input text via Google Now. For many users, these both alternatives could be more convenient than using a standard remote handset to input to an onscreen keyboard. Users can link to an Android TV multiple remotes. This is useful for those owners of the Google iOS device who wish to also take part in multiplayer games, playing alongside gamers who use standard gamepad controllers. For some tech experts, it is surprising that Google decided to release an iOS app that allows iPad and iPhone owners to use a non-Android mobile device to control an Android TV. However, the idea might enjoy some popularity. Technically, one does not really need a smartphone to control an Android TV. Many of these come already with at least a remote control or even a gamepad. But that makes an additional accessory one will have to hold and it might also get lost. Since a smartphone or iPhone is almost always in the user's hands, this might make a more convenient way to control the Android TV. Lately, Google has been increasingly offering support for Apple's devices, according to Slash Gear. Before the Android TV app, Google has made available the Android Wear app for iOS as well. Those who want to download the Android TV app for iPhone and iPad can do so for free from the App Store. Referring to social media speculation in regard to an alleged data breach, it is QNB Group policy not to comment on reports circulated via social media. QNB would like to take this opportunity to assure all concerned that there is no financial impact on our clients or the Bank. QNB Group places the highest priority on data security and deploying the strongest measures possible to ensure the integrity of our customers' information. QNB is further investigating this matter in coordination with all concerned parties. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. QNB Groups presence through its subsidiaries and associate companies extends to more than 27 countries across three continents providing a comprehensive range of advanced products and services. It employs more than 15,300 staff in 640 locations, with an ATM network of more than 1,400 machines. But the IBTimes UK says the online leak of the data points to a hacktivist using 'SQL injection' to exfiltrate sensitive financial information from the bank's database. Doha News reports that the leaked files mostly recorded details of Al Jazeera staff. However, other folders in the dump include information purporting to be about members of the Qatari royal family, the police, government employees, defence and police, spies, and Qatar's intelligence service, Mukhabarat. Al Jazeera staff have confirmed to Doha News that the information about them appears to be correct. A folder marked 'backup' first alerted security researcher Omar Benbouazza to the possibility that an SQL attack could have been used to extract the bank's database content. "According to the logs shared, the breach was done by one of the most common attacks, an SQL injection to the backend Oracle database server, using the 'sqlmap' tool," he said. "The attacker was extracting all the information and storing it in different 'CSV' and 'TXT' files, sorting by folder with a thorough order. A known web shell, openDoc.jsp, was probably used to gain access to the host and control it - escalating privileges as User5, mainly to extract information." A user hiding behind the anonymity of a Twitter account claimed to IBTimes UK that they were responsible for hacking the QNB website. They posted images of the alleged SQL injection alongside a slideshow-style video featuring images from the data dump and a selection of credit card data. However, this could have easily been uncovered online without perpetrating the hack. Matt Middleton-Leal, Regional Director UK and Ireland, CyberArk said it was still unknown how the data was leaked, and the speculations are ranging from human error, cyberattack or an inside job. Qatar National Bank and other similar institutions are trusted with a monumental amount of sensitive information. Organisations need to work harder to keep the vault secure, so to speak. As, once again, a breached organization is scrambling to try and find the cause of this data loss, it is important to highlight - for both banks and the wider business community - the central importance of having visibility into your network to know if something suspicious is happening. Whether an outside attacker or a malicious insider is active, or simple human error is the issue, having the right tools in place means breaches can be limited or even stopped in its tracks, because sensitive data becomes much harder to get to. How many data losses have to happen before the proper security focus is adopted by organisations? If you have not heard yet CeBIT, Australias largest and longest running business technology event in the region is on next week Monday May 2 to Wednesday May 4 at Sydney Olympic Park. CeBIT Australia will run ten conferences across all three days including, StartUp, Big Data & Analytics, FinTech, eGovernment, eHealth, Cyber Security, Cloud, Digital Marketing and Internet of Things. The program is finalised and as a public service we thought you might like to know when and what public service pollies are speaking you just have to be there (please no jokes about being caught in traffic). Day 1 Monday, 2 May 2016 Plenary and Keynote Opening 9:00am The Hon. Mike Baird, Premier of New South Wales, New South Wales Government Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, City of Sydney Big Data and Analytics 10:45am The Hon. Victor Dominello, Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation (NSW) will be speaking about transforming public policy and government decision making through data analytics FinTech 10:45am The Hon. Anthony Roberts, Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy (NSW) Day 2 Tuesday, 3 May 2016 eGovernment 9:00am The Hon. Dominic Perrottet, Minister for Finance, Services and Property (NSW) will be opening the eGovernment conference eHealth 9:00am The Hon. Jillian Skinner, Minister for Health will be speaking about improving eHealth in NSW in the 21st century Day 3 Wednesday, 4 May 2015 CeBIT start up 9:00am The Hon. John Barilaro, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Skills, Minister for Small Business. Register for CeBIT Australia here: iTWire will host a live stream portal you can access it here. The 2016 Markie Awards represent Oracle Marketing Clouds biggest award campaign in its 10-year history with 350 submissions highlighting modern marketing success. Oracle has announced the winners of the 2016 Markie Awards designed to promote best practices and celebrate the accomplishments of modern marketers around the world, The annual Markie Awards recognise the top companies and leaders for creative, innovative, and effective modern marketing campaigns that delivered increased engagement, conversation, and ROI. Past winners include notable companies such as The Dow Chemical Company, Intel, Marriott Rewards, DocuSign, Twitter and Rockwell Automation. The 2016 Markie Awards featured 19 categories that reflect the evolving marketing landscape. The 10th anniversary of the Markie Awards represents a decade of marketing excellence from top companies and leaders around the world, said Kevin Akeroyd, senior vice president and general manager, Oracle Marketing Cloud. This years winners have gone above and beyond, fully leveraging the most innovative marketing technologies to create campaigns that put the customer at the heart of their programs, which delivered outstanding results. Winners of the 2016 Markie Awards are: Best Use of Audience Data: Dell, Inc. Best Digital Marketing Ecosystem: Lenovo Best Email Marketing Campaign: Jetstar Best International Campaign: Tomtom Best Mobile Experience: Zalora Best Social Campaign: Family Share Network / Deseret Digital Content is King: Wine.com.br Best Customer Retention or Loyalty Program: Cetera Financial Group Best Use of Data Analytics and Insights: Thomson Reuters (Mark Monitor) Best Integrated Consumer Marketing Program: AGA Rapid Transformation: BT Global Services Best Sales and Marketing Alignment: Sierra Best Testing and Optimization of the Customer Experience: YOTEL Best Lead Management Program: Juniper Best Emerging Company Marketing Program: Mobovida Modern Marketing Leader of the Year: Blake Cahill, Royal Phillips Best Web or Commerce Experience: SunPower Most Creative Marketing Campaign: Eaton Peoples Choice Markie Award - Best Video: Cisco Systems At Oracle, we strive to put the customer at the forefront of everything we do, said Catherine Blackmore, group vice president, customer success, Oracle Marketing Cloud. Therefore, we believe the best Modern Marketers are all about the customer, too. Oracle is proud to recognise and honour these winners for their customer-centric campaigns, outstanding achievements, and their dedication to Modern Marketing. The 2016 Markie Awards were presented on Tuesday, April 26th, during Oracle Modern Marketing Experience in Las Vegas, Nevada. And a note on the Aussie Jetstar win. Jetstar is the budget arm of Qantas. It took out the Best Email Marketing Campaign category. Jetstar won the award for its design and development of the Asia-Pacific Regions first kinetic Email campaign which was implemented to promote Jetstars End of Financial Year Sale (EOFY), one of its most anticipated each year and one of the highest revenue-generating of all its email campaigns. This interactive campaign allowed Jetstar to revolutionise the inbox and interact with its customers through their inboxes on mobile, tablet and other devices, with engaging and exciting content. This led to a boost in customer engagement and outstanding results for its EOFY campaign. Compared to previous years, the Click Rate was up by 21%, the Conversion Rate by 19% and Revenue per Email up by 20%. The total ROI on the campaign was calculated to be 1900% which was an outstanding result. Kinetic email rises above traditional HTML and CSS driven email the lowest common denominator and fall back to ensure email can be viewed on all devices. With the widespread adoption of iPhone, Android and now Windows 10 supporting HTML 5 and CSS3 it allows emails to be more dynamic and interactive via time triggered display, video and animated gifs, voting/survey tools, and tailored content. You can read more about kinetic email here. The service has now been launched following trialling by 200 homes in regional and remote areas which the nbn says delivered speeds of up to 25/5Mbps for end users. But, the nbn cautions that these faster speeds were achieved by end users in the context of a trial and are not necessarily reflective of the speeds that will be experienced by end users. The service was launched on Friday following the delivery into space at a height of 36,000 kilometres - in October last year of the Sky Muster satellite, and after extensive testing and monitoring of the satellite and 10 nbn ground stations, including end-user trials. nbn Chief Customer Officer John Simon said the state-of-the-art Sky Muster satellite is designed to provide access to fast broadband for many areas that have never had it before.The nbn Sky Muster satellite service will make a truly transformational difference to rural and remote Australians as we offer some of the worlds fastest and largest consumer satellite broadband plans to remote and isolated areas of Australia.Broadband is essential for modern living. People in remote and isolated parts of the country will be better able to run their businesses, learn, stay in touch with friends and family and access new telehealth services online. Australia is a uniquely vast country, making online connections increasingly critical.Simon said nbn had teamed up with its delivery partners and now has a field force of over 600 trained technicians ready to connect homes around the country.Simon cites a report - Satellite Broadband: A Global Comparison - from global analyst firm Ovum finding that when measured in terms of data allowance, download speed, upload speed and affordability that selected plans on the nbn Sky Muster service are world leading for satellite broadband services.He says Ovum examined 18 retail service providers internationally that offer satellite broadband services and found that selected plans based on nbns Sky Muster service delivered outstanding results across all service requirements, establishing itself as a world leader that will deliver a great service for regional and remote Australians.On a performance basis, the plans reviewed by Ovum which were based on nbns satellite broadband service were equal to the worlds best in terms of download speed and peak monthly data allowance, the report says.On an affordability basis, Australian retail plans based on nbns Sky Muster service are available at close to the best global pricing on a price per GB basis across the benchmarked operators, Ovum concluded.Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Jack Archer welcomed the launch of the Sky Muster service, commenting that many of the places Sky Muster will connect to have virtually no access to broadband right now. To go from nothing to a high speed service will be a game changer for these places and the people that live there.And Kim Webber, CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance said alliance hopes that Sky Muster will lead to a reliable and faster internet connection for all rural and remote Australians as promised. Such progress will now allow us to revolutionise our approach to health service delivery for isolated people. With this platform for communication we can start to link rural health professionals and patients with city services for support and health care.Launching the service on Friday at installation provider, Skybridges Tullamarine warehouse and training facilities in Victoria, the Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield and Minister for Regional Communications Fiona Nash said the Government has invested $2 billion in two advanced Ka-band satellites and a network of ground stations that make up the Sky Muster service.The Ministers said equal priority will be given to new customers and current nbn Interim Satellite Service users migrating to Sky Muster, with around 5,000 users per month connected in the early months of the rollout before scaling up to 10,000 installations per month later this year. Do you understand the opportunities and risks unleashed by the IoT ecosystem of ecosystems? And what is a brontobyte if not a very big dinosaur nip? The Internet of Things (IoT) enables everyday objects to connect virtually to multiply the power of people, processes, and machines by orders of magnitude, unleashing levels of performance never seen before. Roger Lawrence, Chief Technologist for Innovation, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, Asia-Pacific and Japan; and David Fox, Senior Director and General Manager, Enterprise Security Services, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, Asia-Pacific, and Japan; have penned and article that explores The Internet of Things and Security: Is Your Enterprise Protected? Finding smarter and more efficient ways of managing data overload is now dominating Australia and New Zealand technology investment decisions. The digital universe is experiencing an unprecedented 40% data growth per year - data storage demand has never been more intense. The IoT the data stream can fast become a flood. Certainly that has value, e.g. smarter homes and buildings, better health, power reduction, improved crisis management and even increased public safety. All those benefits come with associated risks: misunderstood threats to privacy and physical security, new features that trigger unwanted and unwarranted surveillance, new attack vectors with major ripple effects and data that never shuts up, to name a few. IoT introduces a network of networks we can't yet size, with untold breakpoints and vulnerabilities added every day. This complexity itself provides an emergent value to data that we cannot yet define. How do we protect these emergent properties? In our race to capitalise on the next big thing, we are creating the next big problem. A large-scale network with giant-sized problems Part of the problem is that the infrastructure of the Internet that underpins the IoT is designed to trust without verifying the credibility of data sources. Think about that for a moment. If all devices natively trust each other, and consequently share data, then how can we know when a device is lying? Not only that but how can we protect a device among billions from compromise? Yielding to the unknown is dangerous in any network, but especially for a network composed of billions of nodes. If all devices natively trust each other, and consequently share data, then how can we know when a device is lying? A privacy breach in IoT could unleash brontobytes of sensitive data into the world, compromising not just privacy but also public safety. The financial liability could be in the billions. 1024 Terabytes = 1 Petabyte 1024 Petabytes = 1 Exabyte 1024 Exabytes = 1 Zettabyte 1024 Zettabytes = 1 Yottabyte 1024 Yottabytes = 1 Brontobyte (and after that Geopbyte). As an industry, we need to come to terms with professional and ethical shared control of IoT. We need a universal open source model for connected devices that addresses the proprietary endpoint wireless infrastructures of today, with open standards for interface protocols, software, firmware and systems on chips and hardware, including security standards. We cant pretend weve learned nothing from the cyber insecurity we already have! So what can we do to improve security in this massive new network? Lets start with these three things: Build security and privacy into the network. IoT is a risk management game at all levels sensors, devices, firmware, applications and data. Its critical to build security at every point to create the IoT version of defense in depth. Where really low-powered devices are involved, it's necessary to create mechanisms for process flow security and privacy interventions. Introduce analytics to make operational adjustments. In the IoT ecosystem of ecosystems, large-scale analytics will yield insights and trends regarding overall network operations, from clusters of nodes down to devices. Take advantage of these trend analyses to scan for changes and alert first responders when risks are exposed. Build new, specialised systems to control the noise. Personal choice is being buried by the push for connectivity and ubiquity. Push back. Be proactive in how you manage your own privacy. Someday, there will be a market for personal supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for controlling the noise of IoT for real people like us. Loose lips still sink ships We are quickly creating and adopting the future promise of IoT. We are quickly retiring non-smart devices as a class of interim devices grows smart enough to plug into wider networks. Infrastructure is adapting to handle the vast numbers and diversity of devices that IoT involves. IoT presents exponential potential exposure that needs more than a multitude of linear security solutions. Tighter control, better analytics, and specialised systems will help, but this is a human challenge as much as it is a technology challenge. As people, we need to demand a balance of privacy that suits our sometimes extroverted, sometimes introverted, selves. Being always on, constantly firing data into IoT, threatens more than we care to acknowledge. The results of IDCs latest Q1, 2016 worldwide quarterly mobile phone sales tracker has left many gobsmacked. While year-over-year Samsung stayed on par, iPhone lost 16.3%, Huawei gained 58.4%, and the real winners were BBK owned siblings OPPO at 153.2% increase and VIVO at 123.8%. I am going to reiterate some personal opinions that I have formed over the past few years to set the scene for the remainder of this report. Android is a cesspool, and the hardest thing is differentiate enough to crawl out of the primordial ooze. Congratulations to Samsung (on maintaining market share via a great range of models), Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo for producing quality and features that people want at various price points they are prepared to pay. and the hardest thing is differentiate enough to crawl out of the primordial ooze. Congratulations to Samsung (on maintaining market share via a great range of models), Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo for producing quality and features that people want at various price points they are prepared to pay. The flagship market comprises less than 10% of total sales. The halcyon days of flagship prices all hovering around +/- A$1000 are unsustainable as evidenced by a 44% drop in iPhone sales in Q2 (iTWire article here). Growth is in the mid-market where value and features are the main drivers The world is over needing brands and is prepared to give the Asian Tigers a go . . Android is now as secure as iOS as long as you use a paid anti-virus/malware app. Disruption comes from being lean, agile and changing business models. OPPO has set out to bring near Flagship models like the R7, R7 Plus, R9 and R9 Plus to market at mid market prices from A$449 to $699 and mass-market models like the F1 from $199. Even its new flagship Find series (yet to be released) will sit somewhere between $700-$800 for what looks to be one of the most technologically advanced phones yet. Top Five Smartphone Vendors, Shipments, Market Share and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q1 2016 Preliminary Data (Units in Millions) Vendor 1Q16 Shipment Volumes 1Q16 Market Share 1Q15 Shipment Volumes 1Q15 Market Share Year-Over-Year Change Samsung 81.9 24.5% 82.4 24.6% -0.6% Apple 51.2 15.3% 61.2 18.3% -16.3% Huawei 27.5 8.2% 17.4 5.2% 58.4% OPPO 18.5 5.5% 7.3 2.2% 153.2% vivo 14.3 4.3% 6.4 1.9% 123.8% Others 141.5 42.3% 159.8 47.8% -11.4% Total 334.9 100.0% 334.4 100.0% 0.2% Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, April 27, 2016. Were thrilled that OPPOs devices and user experience continue to delight people around the world, said Sky Li, OPPO Vice President and Managing Director of International Mobile Business. Savvy consumers are increasingly aware of the innovative features and craftsmanship that OPPO commits to providing, and as we continue to grow, we hold onto the values that brought us this far listening to users closely so that we can bring them products theyll love. The first quarter of 2016 saw the release of OPPOs latest devices, the R9, and R9 Plus. In Australia, the R9 will go on sale through JB Hi-Fi stores from May 9th, with the R9 Plus following in June. OPPO Australia, CMO, Michael Tran believes recent developments will mean OPPO can follow suit in locally. Whats interesting about the research is that the size of the market has remained relatively stable, but OPPOs market share has more than doubled, said Tran. Locally weve just secured a national retail agreement with JB Hi-Fi and will soon be introducing the R9, so were confident of growing market share locally. The R9 improves on all of the strengths of previous entries in the R series, featuring powerful hardware, eye-catching design, and OPPOs patented, industry-leading low-voltage VOOC Flash Charge technology. Similar on specs to many flagship devices, the OPPO R9 will retail at a fraction of the price, $599. 2015 saw OPPO break into the top-ten global smartphone brands for the first time. At the close of the year, in which OPPO sold 50 million units, the company was ranked number eight globally. Its growth was propelled by devices offering unique, industry-leading features, such as VOOC Flash Charge and a superb photography experience, as well as OPPOs renowned build quality and design. ITWire has been following OPPOs Australian ambitions and IDCs news of its fourth placing globally is not surprising. As previously mentioned OPPO and VIVO (and One Plus) are owned by BBK - if you combine these brands unit market share the company has well exceeded Huawei and is nipping very closely at Apples heels. Microsoft on Thursday began blocking rival browsers and search providers from using Windows 10's Cortana search box, the operating system's prime search real estate. "To ensure we can deliver the integrated search experience designed for Windows 10, Microsoft Edge will be the only browser that will launch when you search from the Cortana box," said Ryan Gavin, general manager of search marketing, in a post to a Microsoft company blog. The Cortana search box -- at the lower left of the Windows 10 desktop -- relies on Microsoft's Bing search engine. Gavin defended the move by saying that "some software programs circumvent the design of Windows 10 and redirect you to search providers that were not designed to work with Cortana." When that happens, Gavin said, users get a "compromised experience that is less reliable and predictable." While Gavin didn't name names, Mozilla's Firefox modified Windows 10 so that when that browser was made the operating system's default, Firefox's selected search provider generated results from in-Cortana queries, with the ensuing pages appearing in Firefox, not Edge. Other browsers, such as Google's Chrome, did not go that far, but third-party extensions available in the Chrome Web Store did. The changes won't affect the basic functionality of non-Microsoft browsers, Gavin pledged: Chrome, Firefox, Opera and others will continue to work as before and will still default to their set search providers when queries are made from within those browsers. But the Cortana search box is now Bing-and-Edge-only territory. Microsoft has good reason for staking out Cortana as its exclusive turf, and not simply because of the disruption to Cortana's delivery of personalized results that Gavin mentioned. The Redmond, Wash., company has bet that Windows 10 will generate revenue outside the traditional licensing fees that OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) pay. Not only does Microsoft want to push users toward Edge as much as possible, but it's expecting new revenue from increased use of Bing, which is tightly integrated with Windows 10. The Cortana-Bing scenarios that Gavin cited -- buying concert tickets, clothes and pizzas -- presumably produce revenue for Microsoft. Nor was this the first time that Microsoft has emphasized its own properties in Windows 10. When users upgrade from an older version of Windows, for example, Edge is made the default, even if those users had set another browser as preferred in Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. The timing of the change -- it's unclear why this wasn't established at Windows 10's debut or why, unlike virtually all other changes, it wasn't previewed in the Insider beta builds -- also meshed with Microsoft's strategy of steadily ratcheting up pressure to adopt, and thus use, Windows 10, whether the repeated nag notices to upgrade that appear on older PCs to support limitations on selected hardware. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. National League success at last but it's Such a shame for Peter Essex Cricket round-up with David Jackman IT took long enough coming, but once Essex finally ended their run of home defeats in the National League, the performance was worth the wait. However against a weak-looking Middlesex line-up, it is not yet clear just how to gauge Sunday's victory. After 11 successive home defeats in the 45-over competition, Essex returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 60-run success in a match reduced to 23 overs per side because of rain. Essex's 143 all out relied solely on the fourth wicket partnership of 65 in 48 balls between Nasser Hussain and Danny Law. Their dismissals came as Essex lost their last seven wickets for just 19 runs in the space of only 25 deliveries. But the crowd could not have dreamed of what was to follow as Mark Ilott and Ronnie Irani finished with three wickets apiece as Middlesex crashed from 9 for 0 to an incredible 16 for 7 in 24 balls ? and were in grave danger of 'bettering' the lowest ever total, currently 23, in the competition's history. However some wayward bowling enabled David Nash and James Hewitt to add 53 for the eighth wicket, with 22 of the runs coming in extras. This Sunday, Essex take on Nottinghamshire at the County Ground, having by then completed their first ppp healthcare Division Two county championship match, against the same opposition. Early successes ? especially while Nasser Hussain is playing for his club ? could prove crucial later in the season when promotion places will be up for grabs. In the meantime, many Essex supporters will be asking the question: 'What has Peter Such done wrong?' Not named in the squads for any of the Benson and Hedges Cup group matches, he must have expected a place in the squad for the first championship match which started yesterday (Wednesday). But no. England spinner one season, not even playing for his county the next. I thought they said football was 'a funny old game'. Coming up with a common time to hold an office meeting can be a daunting task, especially if you are going to have to meet with several key people in your company. Thankfully, Google Calendar understood this kind of problem and came up with a new feature that would enable the meeting host to "Find a Time" that is common to everyone. The Google Calendar is being added with a new feature that will analyse the schedules of people involved for a meeting and then find a common time for everyone to hold the said meeting. If no common time is found, the closest time where everyone can possibly meet will be chosen. On the other hand, if there ae several common times, then all of these will come up and you get to pick one. But, here's the catch, according to The Verge, "since all of this depends on people keeping their calendars up to date, Find a Time is only available to everyone using Google Apps for Work or Google Apps for Education." Mashable further states that the "Find a Time" feature is only accessible if you set up that said office meeting through Google Calendar. Of course, the application will just take into consideration schedules of individuals that are noted or recorded in the Calendar. Another added bonus to this feature is that it works for all time zones. Meaning to say, it analyzes the schedules based on the individual's local time. The feature, according to Google, "only makes suggestions, and will not override your previous meeting plans if you don't approve the changes." It seems like Google has been busy coming up with new features that will lighten up loads of several individuals. Just earlier this month, the giant company also announced a different feature to Calendar: Goals. "Goals assist users in finding slots of time where they can devote themselves to things like working out, learning a new language, or whatever other repeating tasks they've been meaning to dive into," The Verge reported. So, at present, Google Calendar is now equipped with features that analyze your overall daily schedule and comes up with time slots where you can insert an office meeting or that you can devote to self-improvement tactics. The feature is only currently available for Android users. iOS and desktop browser versions will be coming soon. "The Second Unit of Fast 8 is requesting submissions for local crew and vendors for its upcoming Cleveland shoot" as they are in need of 380 people to fill in vacant positions during the local filming dates set between May and June. As Fast and Furious continues with the filming of the eighth installment, both fans and local residents who are looking for a job can look forward to something interesting and rewarding. During the filming dates, it is expected that local hotels will be jump-packed as the film crews are expected to book at least 8,200 room nights. Ohio has received at least $400 million and more than 1,700 full-time jobs from movie filming since 2009, according to WKYC. "We are very excited to welcome "Fast 8" to Cleveland," said President Ivan Schwarz, president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. "This is yet another example of what an attractive production destination Cleveland has become. We'd like to thank the State of Ohio, the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County for working with us and the production to make this happen." The expected release date of the eighth installment is on April 14, 2017; however, shooting has taken place in three different locations already: Atlanta, Cuba, and Iceland. Cleveland will be the fourth. The filming that will take place in Cleveland will involve mostly action scenes and less dialogue. "Those interested may contact the production by email only at fast82u@gmail.com," a blog post stated. Meanwhile, MTV reported that on April 27, director F. Gary Grey and franchise star Vin Diesel had officially announced that the filming in Cuba has commenced. Welcome to Cuba - #F8 is now in production!https://t.co/0aneIVMhJm Fast & Furious (@FastFurious) April 28, 2016 "Given the exotic locale, fans can expect plenty of high-octane action, street racing, and beautiful girls in bikinis. After all, as Diesel reminded fans in a behind-the-scenes video from the sunny set, Cuba is where 'the Torettos started.'" Does this mean the trilogy is all about the Toretto family? We will soon find out. A recent report from Auto Extremist indicates that the self-driving car division of Google is close to inking a deal with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Negotiations between the two parties started shortly after the Las Vegas CES conference in January. The deal "would offer advanced technology partnership" to the car manufacturer which is developing its own self- autonomous car. According to the tech blog site, the Mountain View, CA-based company has been working on this technology for six years. However, both the FCA and Google declined to comment on the matter. "We don't comment on rumors and speculation," said a spokesperson for the tech giant. The Operations CEO of Google's Self-Driving Cars, John Krafcik, is in the process of finalizing talks for the past three weeks, the blog site added. It was only in January that Krafcik was hired by the search giant from Truecar, an auto sales website. He was also formerly connected with Hyundai. The talks between Google and FCA include the development of an autonomous version of Fiat's all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan. Fiat has lagged behind other global car makers in investing and supporting autonomous vehicles and alternative powertrains. This is in stark contrast to Google which has already built its own fleet of self-autonomous cars that have already driven around 1.3 million miles. Auto Extremist have described the possible tie-up as "a puzzling development as FCA is the least technically savvy company in the car business by far." However, the blog site hinted that it might just be what Krafcik wants. "Though the deal in the short term is said to include development of an autonomous version of FCA's new Pacifica minivan, it's the longer-term prospects that are of particular interest to Krafcik," stated the blog. "It means that Google will have access to manufacturing capability and an existing dealer network for the distribution of its future vehicles, something the tech icon has clearly lacked," the blog added. SpaceX, Elon Musk's commercial space company, has just bagged a coveted contract amounting to $83 million that requires sending a U.S. Air Force satellite into space. This contract effectively breaks the stronghold that Boeing and Lockheed have in military launches for many years. Elon Musk can now look forward to a very lucrative revenue stream opened up by this contract to launch the U.S. Air Force's next generation GPS satellite. The project is attractive to the U.S military complex since SpaceX allows the re-use of its first stage rockets to keep costs down. In addition, this deal will prove that the U.S. military have additional options in launching sensitive space missions. Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Air Force Executive Officer for Space said that giving the contract to SpaceX "achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions." This new development came just right after Musk announced that he is planning to send man to Mars by 2025. In preparation for this event, his commercial space exploration company is planning to put an unmanned spacecraft on the Red Planet "as soon as 2018." Musk tweeted that he plans to make good on a mission that was proposed last year. And that is to send a modified version of Red Dragon, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. Its purpose is to survey the terrain on Mars and possibly collect some soil samples. Musk's contract with the U.S. Air Force is not without competitors. He is competing with United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed. These two companies have been monopolizing U.S. military launches for so long. However, ULA opted to drop out of the bidding process last year. Musk's competitors chose not to pursue their bids due to the deteriorating relations of the United States with Russia that led Congress to limit the use of Russian made rocket engines for military launches. Victoria's Secret may be evolving. The premium lingerie retailer is no longer pushing for their push-up bras. Business Insider reported that the company is now heavily promoting its bralettes. These new pieces are essentially bras without padding. Victoria's Secret has long been known for its push-up bras. The publication noted that "the company's advertising made it seem like the ample padding could give customers the chest shape of its iconic Angels." Currently, ads for these padding-less bras are posted all over VS's Facebook and Instagram pages. It seems like the company is going for a more natural aesthetic. "So many bralettes, all the possibilities," the company posted on its Instagram account. The caption was accompanied by an image of bralettes hanging on a tree branch. However, the company's shift in focus may have been a bad move. This is because the bralette category is all the rage nowadays, which means that there is a lot of competition in the market. "The bralette is the hot piece of intimate apparel right now, and it puts Victoria's Secret in an unfortunate position because it takes absolutely minimal design and know-how to manufacture a bralette... [so] there's a lot more competition," abriella Santaniello, analyst and founder of A-Line Partners, told the publication. "You can go to Urban Outfitters, Express, American Eagle - a lot of other retailers are introducing [the] bralette." Several lingerie startups have also started to offer their own version of the bralette. Moreover, Victoria's Secret is not the only designer that has moved toward the bralette from padded bras. "Push-up bras ... they're slipping a little bit out of favor," Cora Harrington, lingerie expert and founder of The Lingerie Addict, said last March. "People are wanting less padding and breezier materials and all that." In another report by Business Insider, it was revealed that Victoria's Secret will no longer be selling swimwear after this year. Apparently, the brand believes that their swimwear space would be better utilized for their activewear line, VS Sport. Comcast announced that it has plans to increase its 300 GB monthly cap the company is implementing in trial markets to 1 TB. This move addresses the issues and complaints that ensued in its initial rollout with another data cap. The cable company stated that it has 23 million internet subscribers with 99 percent of them using a mere 60 GB per month. This shows that just 1 percent of its subscribers are actually power users who require more than 300 GB. That means the typical subscribers of the telecom company seldom reach their data limits, and perhaps even more so if they are provided with 1 TB caps. This initiative of Comcast has received praise in some quarters one of them is Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix. In a tweet he posted on Thursday, Hasting wrote: "Now, I'll never be able to watch enough to hit my cap." Hastings heaped his praises just a few hours after Comcast announced its move to a terabyte plan in all its test markets beginning in June 1. When that day comes, all subscribers who participated in the test market will be given the option to buy additional caps of 50 GB of data at $10 each, should they exceed their limit. Or they could chose to buy a new unlimited data plan and pay an additional $50 every month. These good words from the Netflix CEO are quite unexpected. He is very vocal against usage-based broadband regulations since they are potential threats to his streaming business. With 1 TB, the telecom company said subscribers will be provided with 700 hours of HD video, 60,000 high-resolution images and 12,000 hours of online gaming. "We have created a new data plan that is so high that most of our customers will never have to think about how much data they use," said Marcien Jenckes, Comcast executive VP of consumer services. Email Links to our top local news stories of the day, Monday through Saturday. The burden of meeting higher investor expectations was weighing this spring on Hanesbrands Inc. The Winston-Salem apparel manufacturer was experiencing a what have you done for me lately? vibe from investors accustomed to major domestic and international acquisitions since Hanesbrands spun out of Sara Lee Corp. in September 2006. Hanesbrands had spent $1.58 billion on six major purchases: $585 million for Maidenform Brands Inc.; $528 million for Parisian manufacturer DBApparel; $55 million and assumption of $170 million in debt for GearCo Inc.; $200 million for Knights Apparel; $30 million for the rights to Champion in Japan; and $9 million for Australian apparel distributor TNF Apparel. Yet, since the Knights Apparel deal was completed in April 2015, the companys share price reflected investors grumbling, sliding to a 52-week low of $23.25 earlier this year. Hanesbrands has answered the rumblings in stunning fashion with plans to use all three pillars that bolster shareholder value: acquisitions, share repurchases and dividends. On Wednesday, Hanesbrands announced plans to purchase Pacific Brands Ltd. of Melbourne, Australia, for $800 million in cash its largest deal ever. That follows up on Hanesbrands April 7 announcement that it plans to spend $228 million in cash on Champion Europe, which would fulfill its strategy of regaining the global rights to its top athletics-apparel brand. Also Wednesday, Hanesbrands board of directors approved a share-purchase authorization for up to 40 million shares or 10.6 percent of its 377.5 million outstanding shares at a cost likely to exceed $1 billion. The program has no expiration date. A company typically buys back its shares from the marketplace to reduce the number of outstanding shares. Because there are fewer outstanding shares, those remaining can become more valuable. Companies also buy back shares when they believe the shares are undervalued. Hanesbrands 52-week share price range is $23.25 to $34.78. The board also declared a first-quarter dividend of 11 cents a share, worth $41.53 million. Weve only begun Its been a remarkable display of capital expenditures, particularly given that Hanesbrands spent much of its first seven years in existence aggressively reducing its debt levels. The company didnt offer its first quarterly dividend until April 2013. A four-for-one stock split in January 2015 expanded the number of outstanding shares to 400 million, making share repurchases more feasible. The first major share buyback occurred in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. The company projects that spending on share repurchases in 2016 will be similar to the $352 million it spent to buy back 12 million shares in 2015. Hanesbrands management said the three-prong strategy derives foremost from its innovate-to-elevate production and supply-chain strategies, which emphasize value-added products that can be made at a lower cost primarily through in-house global production and then sold at a higher price. Pacific Brands is a natural addition to the Hanesbrands portfolio with its strong market-leading brands that will be complemented by our global supply chain, Richard Noll, Hanesbrands chairman and chief executive, said in a statement. Pacific is best known for the Bonds and Berlei brands, as well as the Sheridan line of luxury linens, towels, bedding accessories, loungewear and babywear in retail and wholesale channels. Noll said Pacific squarely hits on all four of our acquisition criteria: Its in our core categories, it provides complementary revenue growth opportunities, it is justifiable based solely on cost synergies, and its quickly accretive. Hanesbrands strategy came with a decided cost to the workforce, both locally and statewide. The company had 4,900 employees in Forsyth County and 8,600 in North Carolina at the time of the spinoff from Sara Lee. While the current Forsyth workforce of 2,230 represents 29 percent of its U.S. workforce of 7,735, it is just 3.7 percent of its global workforce of 59,500. The company also has 305 employees at its Mount Airy sock-manufacturing plant. In 2010, there were only five countries where we held the No. 1 or No. 2 market position. We had roughly $4 billion in sales, only 11 percent of which came from outside the U.S., Hanesbrands said in an investors question-and answer submission. Once the Champion Europe and Pacific deals are completed and fully integrated, Hanesbrands projects being No. 1 or No. 2 in 11 industrialized countries and more than 30 percent of its $7 billion in sales coming globally. Thats a remarkable change, the company said. But the reality is, weve only begun to hit our stride. Given the scalability of our business model and the potential of our acquisition pipeline, there is ample opportunity to continue to create value for many years to come, it said. No alarm bells Conducting acquisitions, share buybacks and dividend increases simultaneously may bring additional scrutiny to Hanesbrands even though it had record net sales of $5.73 billion in fiscal 2015, as well as record adjusted net income of $669.6 million, up 15.9 percent. Yet, analysts appear to be supportive of the Pacific offer, said Peter Tourtellot, managing director for corporate turnaround firm Anderson Bauman Tourtellot Vos of Greensboro. If (the Pacific deal) was going to be a financial strain, the alarm bells would be ringing, Tourtellot said. No alarm bells and the stock price is on the increase, all good signs for this deal. I believe they can handle the deal, dividends and buybacks. They are authorized to buy back, as opposed to they must buy back. What that means is they can slow down the buyback if necessary, he said. However, it would appear to me they can do that as well as the other capital expenditures. Tourtellot said the Pacific deal appears to add positive results to Hanesbrands almost immediately stretching into the next fiscal year. Hanesbrands projects that within three years Pacific will produce $100 million a year toward its adjusted profit, representing 25 cents in adjusted earnings per share. This acquisition not only drives manufacturing synergies on its own, it also creates incremental synergy benefits for prior acquisitions, which underscores the power of our companyowned supply chain, the company said. A good fit Stifel analyst Jim Duffy said he applauds opportunities to add scale in core categories and sees the Pacific Brands acquisition as a good strategic fit for Hanesbrands and offers ample opportunity for synergies. Although Hanesbrands is paying a 22 percent premium for Pacific, that was expected by analysts, given the global competition for apparel acquisition. Pending solid integration execution, we expect this justified over time through synergies, Duffy said. Goldman Sachs analyst Taposh Bari said that because Hanesbrands has executed on all three pillars, we continue to view it as an advantaged acquirer given its operational expertise in basic apparel and global/vertical supply chain. Hanesbrands said it plans to pay for the all-cash Pacific and Champion Europe deals with debt. The company said it feels comfortable with that decision given that we are within our targeted net debttoEBITDA range of two to three times. EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. It is a common way for analysts and investors to evaluate the financial health of a corporation. As of yearend 2015, our net debttoEBITDA was roughly 2.3 times, the company said. Even using debt to fund these acquisitions, we expect to end the year at roughly 2.8 times estimated pro forma EBITDA. We expect to access multiple debt markets to provide funding for these two acquisitions, as well as to optimize our capital structure to ensure we have adequate capacity to continue to drive our acquisition strategy going forward. We will not take on more integration and business risk than we believe the organization can handle. SHARE By of the The Apple store at Mayfair Mall is planning to move into a larger space closer to the middle of the mall. Apple has applied for a building permit with the City of Wauwatosa to renovate space between Brighton Collectibles and Athleta, a new location that would give it more than twice the mall exposure it now has in the north corridor of Mayfair. The space currently is blocked off by a black wall. A spokeswoman for Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple would not confirm the move or its timing, saying in a statement, "We haven't made any announcements about that store." General Growth Properties Inc., the owner of Mayfair, has said it is not in a position to say which business would move into the blocked-off space. However, several nearby merchants in the mall also have said they have been told that the site is where Apple would relocate. Apple has two stores in Wisconsin in addition to the Mayfair location: Bayshore Town Center in Glendale and West Towne in Madison. The Mayfair location, the first Apple store in the state, opened in 2002. SHARE By of the Ionic, a Madison company that makes tools to help developers build mobile apps, has raised $8.5 million of funding in a round led by a nationally known venture capital firm. General Catalyst, whose portfolio companies include airbnb and Kayak, led Ionic's funding round. Existing investors Lightbank, Arthur Ventures and Founder Collective also participated in the deal. "This is an internationally recognized technology start-up that's receiving validation from some of the tier one venture capital firms across the country," said Joe Kirgues, co-founder of gener8tor, a start-up accelerator. A large funding event like this is called a Series A round and signifies that a company is doing well enough to attract the interest of big venture capital firms. It is the second such funding in the state in as many months. Understory, a weather technology start-up, in February raised $7.5 million in a funding round led by 4490 Ventures, Madison, and Monsanto Growth Ventures, the venture capital arm of the agriculture company. Four million developers around the world have built 2 million apps using Ionic's open source platform, said Max Lynch, co-founder and chief executive officer. They have built apps for consumers like Sworkit and Untappd as well as industrial apps to do such things as help companies track equipment. "The trend is these companies are getting used to the idea of building mobile apps in house for their own business needs," Lynch said. "Ionic basically gives them the means to build these apps in house with the developers they have." Ionic, which has 20 employees, will use the funding to build additional tools in areas like data security and encryption for large enterprise users, Lynch said. Marquette University student Abby Cole, majoring in public relations and digital media, will graduate in May. The best job market since 2008 awaits the college graduate class of 2016. Credit: Mike De Sisti SHARE By , The transition from college to an accounting career will be an easy one for Marquette University senior Robert Houle. Houle was offered a position at the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers after completing an internship with the company in August. After graduation, he will begin a full-time position as a tax associate in the firm's Milwaukee office. "It's not impossible to find something," Houle said. "There are plenty of resources out there, and they can lead to something good if you know how to use them." While Houle and other business, science and engineering majors tend to be consistently in high demand, college graduates of all majors are entering a job market with the most positive outlook since the Great Recession, according to recent surveys. Before 2009, the U.S. unemployment rate for recent college graduates was around 5.5%. That rate nearly doubled in 2010, but gradually dropped. It dipped to 8% for 2014 graduates and 5.6% for 2015 graduates. The National Association of Colleges and Employers, an organization that tracks college hiring, reported that U.S. employers expect to hire 5.2% more recent graduates this year than in 2015. A survey by the Harris Poll for the job website CareerBuilder found that 67% of surveyed employers said they plan to hire new college grads this year. That is up two percentage points from last year, and the highest reported number since 2007. The poll also reported that 37% of companies plan to offer higher starting salaries than last year. In other words, things are looking up for the class of 2016. "The hiring outlook is good," said Jean Salzer, director of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's career planning and resource center. According to Salzer, the following majors are typically in highest demand: Business: accounting, economics, supply chain management. Technology: engineering (especially in areas focused on biomedical advances), information technology (particularly web design, software development, database administration). Health: nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, actuarial sciences, mental health counselors. Salzer added that Wisconsin has a particularly strong need for teachers. "We are currently in a crisis within our state (with) a lack of educators," she said. "Political turmoil has made it less and less popular, and the retirement rate is currently outpacing the rate of new teachers graduating." Salzer explained that certain majors are in higher demand because of the special certifications or degrees they require. Current job markets are not always the best predictor of what demand may look like in four to five years, according to Salzer. She encourages students entering college this fall to consider larger life goals rather than the push-and-pull of the market. "Don't pick a major based on the job market unless it is something that actually interests you and you have the skills to do it," Salzer said. "You can get a degree and determine a career path that will pay the bills and still be happy." Regardless of whether a student choosing to chase happiness or market demand, securing a career after graduation does not always happen right away. Abby Cole, a senior studying public relations at Marquette, has been on the job hunt since February. Cole said she has applied for nine jobs and internships at communications agencies in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas. Despite three rejections, she is not deterred by a lack of immediate success. "The job search is different in every industry," Cole said. "Some of my friends in other colleges know that they will be teachers, doctors or lawyers, all of which have pretty concrete plans. My major isn't quite laid out like that." According to graduate exit surveys conducted by the university, around 64% of students with majors in Marquette's Diederich College of Communication landed full-time jobs after graduation in 2015, up 6 percentage points from the year before, while 14% were seeking employment and 8% were enrolled in graduate school. By comparison, students graduating from the colleges of business and engineering had full-time placement rates of 81% and 76%, respectively. Cole remains optimistic about the opportunities available with her degree. "I could end up being anything from a PR coordinator to a marketing specialist. I just don't know yet," she said. "A lot of agencies operate on a project-based hiring schedule, so if demand isn't there, I might be out of luck for the time being." She added, "But I actually got a call from an agency yesterday about interviewing for a position, so I'm crossing my fingers that it goes well." SHARE Reasons to Stay Alive. By Matt Haig. Penguin. 272 pages. $15. By of the Matt Haig suffered months of depression and anxiety so crippling that he stood on the edge of a cliff, trying to summon the wherewithal to throw himself off. "The weird thing about depression," Haig writes in "Reasons to Stay Alive," is "the fear of death remains the same. The only difference is that the pain of life has rapidly increased." Somehow, Haig inched his way back from that cliff. Over time, with love and support from his wife, Andrea, and other family members, he got better. "I think life always provides reasons to not die, if we listen hard enough," he writes. In "Reasons to Stay Alive," he shares his experience, strength and hope with others who might be standing on their own cliffs. A recent study published by the National Center for Health Statistics reported the alarming news that the age-adjusted suicide rate in the United States has increased 24% since 1999, with the pace of increase greater since 2006. Suicide rates are higher for both males and females in all age groups under 75. No public health official would argue that depression doesn't play a role in that sobering trend. Haig's book offers no magic pill for mental illness; in fact, he's leery of medication himself without denying its value for others. But in writing about his own journey, he offers comfort, handholds and something of a road map for others. A British writer for youth and adults whose novels include "The Humans" and "The Radleys," Haig writes with a direct but gentle voice in "Reasons to Stay Alive." His arc is hopeful but realistic; he never minimizes his struggles. In fact, I'd say his ability to observe himself realistically is one of the strengths that has helped him recover. Haig also has a sense of humor. Still feeling shaky emotionally, he went with Andrea on a brief trip to Paris, where "I felt more normal than I did at home, because here my general anxious awkwardness could pass quite easily for general awkward Britishness." Chapters are both short and focused, making this a book that would be easier for a restless or anxious person to read in short bursts. I dog-eared 45 pages in Haig's compact book where he wrote profound or poignant things. I could have easily marked more of them: "Adding anxiety to depression is a bit like adding cocaine to alcohol. It presses fast-forward on the whole experience." "During my breakdown, living back with my parents, I used to imagine reaching into my own skull and taking out the parts of it that were making me feel bad." "The whole idea of 'mental health,' as something separate to physical health can be misleading, in some ways. So much of what you feel with anxiety and depression happens elsewhere. The heart palpitations, the aching limbs, the sweaty palms, the tingling sensations...." "Minds have their own weather systems. You are in a hurricane. Hurricanes run out of energy eventually. Hold on." Things that have and continue to help him include slow breathing, running, sleep, mindfulness, reading and writing, and the support of people he loves. One of his fictional touchstones is Graham Greene's gloomy masterpiece, "The Power and The Glory." Haig also offers suggestions to the family and friends of a severely depressed/anxious person, such as this: "Never say 'pull yourself together' or 'cheer up' unless you're also going to provide detailed, foolproof instructions. (Tough love doesn't work. Turns out that just good old 'love' is enough.)" Reading "Reasons to Stay Alive" brought me back to Jennifer Michael Hecht's powerful book "Stay: A History of Suicide and the Philosophies Against It" (2013), in which she makes the sustained argument she wishes she could have made to two friends who killed themselves. These books are two candles standing against the darkness that curses so many people. Obama trip comes as Dems try to energize young voters, voters of color Compared with the last Wisconsin midterm election, enthusiasm for voting is lagging among voters under 30 and non-white voters, according to polling. Editor's note:History in the Eating is a monthly feature that digs back into the flavors of Wisconsin, exploring how the foods we know and love have found their place in our state's heritage. Ah, the Friday night fish fry. (You just felt a little surge of anticipation, didn't you?) In Wisconsin, a fish fry conjures up warm feelings of family memories, continuity and tradition, in addition to the warm feeling that a hearty meal provides in its own right. While there are fish fries in states other than Wisconsin, no other state is synonymous with fish fries in the deep-down, deep-fried way Wisconsin is. But how did the tradition of Friday fish fries become so ingrained in Wisconsin culture? Wisconsin's proximity to lakes and abundant fish has played a big part, but our cultural heritage has also had an impact. A tradition takes hold Thousands of Roman Catholic families emigrated from Europe to Wisconsin in the 1800s, and the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays made fish a popular (and economical) Friday dinner choice. The fish fry "really started during the early 20th century when Lake Michigan-caught perch was abundant and very cheap to serve," said Ron Faiola, who produced the 2009 documentary "Fish Fry Night Milwaukee," which chronicles the fish fry's enduring popularity in Wisconsin. "Some places would even offer free fried fish with a purchase of a beer." During the Prohibition era of the 1920s and early 1930s, sales of fish on Fridays helped taverns to stay afloat. This period of time helped to cement the connection between fish fries and beer. In the 1940s and '50s, Louis and Ruth Hirschinger, then managers of the South Shore Yacht Club and later Tanner-Paull Bar and Restaurant, introduced the concept of the all-you-can-eat family-style fish fry to the Milwaukee area, starting a statewide tradition that continues today. They modeled the concept off an all-you-can-eat chicken dinner they encountered while traveling. Soon restaurants all over Milwaukee were offering a similar deal. The price for a fish fry back then? An ad in the Rhinelander Daily News on March 31, 1950, promotes a 35-cent fish fry, highlighting "boneless pike" and "smelts." With the Second Vatican Council in 1966, Pope Paul VI reduced Friday fasting for Catholics from year-round to only during the 40 days of Lent, but in Wisconsin, Friday fish fries remained popular at all times of the year. "In Milwaukee, fish fries are a way of life, not dogma," wrote Richard Vonier in a June 21, 1970, column for the Milwaukee Journal. The article mentions how St. Sebastian Catholic Parish feeds 1,300 people the first Friday of every month with the help of 100 volunteers. The fish fry today The popularity of the Friday fish fry has remained steadfast for decades. "The Friday fish fry is something Wisconsinites enjoy year-round, not just during Lent," said Faiola. "A Friday night fish fry signifies the end of the workweek where we get together with friends and family to enjoy an inexpensive, tasty and filling meal." St. Sebastian's monthly Friday fish fry is still going strong. American Serb Hall began its Friday fish fry in 1967 and today remains a famous fish fry hot spot, serving about 2,000 pounds of fish each Friday. The Friday fish fry remains a hallmark of Milwaukee church festivals, according to Faiola, who released a documentary last year on that topic. "Every festival has a Friday fish fry that is one of the biggest draws for them," he said. On contemporary fish fry menus, traditional fish like perch, bluegill and walleye are joined by cod, smelt, catfish and haddock. The breaded (or often beer-battered) fish are often still served with the traditional side dishes of potatoes usually French fries or potato pancakes, but sometimes mashed or baked and coleslaw, sometimes rye bread and, quite often, accompanied by beer. "Fish fries used to be all-you-can-eat, but you don't see that as much anymore," said Faiola. "One of the reasons is that we are importing fish instead of getting it from Lake Michigan. Even lake perch comes from the Canadian side of Lake Erie." No matter the variety of fish or the time of year, if it's Friday night in Wisconsin, you know you can count on one thing on the menu. "The types of fish and sides may vary, but you'll find them everywhere in Wisconsin, from taverns to supper clubs," said Faiola. More History in the Eating:Maple syrup, pickled herring SHARE By of the Milwaukee police continued searching Friday for a 17-year-old Vincent High School student who is accused of hitting a school employee. Officers were called to Vincent High School, 7501 N Granville Road, about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a male student pushing and hitting a 51-year-old male employee, who was then taken to a hospital, according to a police news release. The incident was captured on video, which seemed to show the employee pushing the student away and the student then hitting him. The footage then shows the two falling to the ground and the student punching the man. The staff member, Mark Jones, told WTMJ-TV he suffered a bruised knee, injured shoulder and has experienced headaches. An MPS spokesman said the district is also investigating the incident. It's the second time in a week that a video showing an altercation between a school employee and a student has circulated widely online. Last week, a Bay View High School teachers aide accused of physically attacking a student was fired and charged with child abuse. SHARE By of the Milwaukee police are investigating a fatal shooting Thursday afternoon in the 2500 block of N. 38th St. Officers were called to the scene around 5:15 p.m. to find a 25-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at the scene, despite the life-saving efforts of police and fire department personnel, the Milwaukee Police Department said. Police did not release the man's name, any information on a suspect or motive. SHARE By of the A survey of African-American and Latino communities found most believe addressing gun violence can lead to improved police-community relations and reduced rates of incarceration, according to a new report. The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the Urban Institute and the Joyce Foundation commissioned the study, which was based on a national survey of 1,200 African-American and Latino likely voters and four focus groups in Atlanta and Milwaukee. "I think people are coming to grips that we can't address these issues in isolation," said Reggie Moore, director of Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention. He also referenced the survey's finding of perceptions of 57% of African-Americans who "felt like the country did not care about the gun violence in urban communities." "When we think about Sandy Hook and we think about other instances of mass shootings and the outpouring that happens, there's a deafening silence and almost expectation like this is a norm in cities across American," Moore said. "It should never be a norm, and it's not accepted by the people who live there," he said. Among the study's findings: 74% of African-Americans and Latinos believe that keeping guns out of "the wrong hands" will help lower the prison population, not increase it. 61% of African-Americans and 59% of Latinos say fewer guns on the street would improve the relationship between police and the communities they serve. More than 80% of African-Americans and 65% of Hispanics agree they "frequently worry about interactions between the police and young men of color" even though a majority (62% of African-Americans and 80% of Hispanics) say the police make their communities safer. The study also includes a "Road Map" report informed by meetings convened in Milwaukee, Richmond, Va., and Stockton, Calif. The recommendations include reducing high-risk people's access to firearms, building better trust between police and communities of color, and investing in social services like job training, youth programming, and mental health and substance abuse counseling. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn, who is quoted in the report, said the research reinforces local surveys that show a majority of African-Americans and Latinos here support police in their crime-control efforts. "African-Americans and Latinos are painfully aware of the fact that they bear the brunt of violent crime in America," Flynn said in an interview. "I would urge self-styled activists and politicians to listen to their constituents." Protesters head into the Legislative building for a sit-in against House Bill 2 in Raleigh, N.C., on Monday. While demonstrations circled North Carolinas statehouse for and against a Republican-backed law curtailing protections for LGBT people and limiting public bathroom access for transgender people, House Democrats filed a repeal bill that stands little chance of passing. Credit: Associated Press It's apparently not enough that transgender people already are disproportionately the targets of violence and discrimination in this country. Conservative lawmakers looking to score political points have decided that their very right to use public restrooms to pee in peace also should come under attack. Wisconsin's own Rep. Jesse Kremer took time out of his busy schedule to add misdirection and ridicule to the fire when he issued a release decrying Target for its corporate policy of inclusion, and talking up his own (so far failed) efforts to introduce legislation that would codify transphobia into state law. Perhaps Kremer is trying to ride the dirty coattails of Ted Cruz, a struggling Republican candidate for president. Cruz, in response to Donald Trump's own flip-flopping on the topic, has made several statements in favor of North Carolina's recently passed "bathroom bill" that forces people to use bathrooms based on their sex assigned at birth. There are at least 29 anti-transgender bathroom bills under consideration across the country. It's a backlash against recent strides made for LGBTQ rights that is as horrifying as it is sadly predictable. With the focus having been so heavily on marriage equality, many of us either lost sight of or never saw to begin with the struggles of the most vulnerable members of our community. Extremists looking to claw out space for their backward and dangerous views, however, saw the opportunity clearly. We're now paying a price for that failure to plan and fully support the trans and gender nonconforming members of the community. Trans LifeLine, a suicide prevention hotline for transgender people, has seen its call volume nearly double since North Carolina's HB2 was enacted. Greta Gustava Martela, co-founder of the hotline, points to recent waves of legislative attacks on the trans community, adding that people might be feeling discouraged about future prospects: "If I had to guess what's being impacted I think (it's) probably people's hope for the future." Barring people from using the public restroom that aligns with their sense of self is not merely an inconvenience. It's a dehumanizing tactic similar to the Jim Crow era laws that forced African-Americans to use segregated drinking fountains, bathrooms, entrances. Now as then, the motivation behind the rules had nothing to do with safety. These are tactics of intimidation and fear, meant to establish a bigoted hierarchy of who's considered worthy of rights and respect. Kremer takes the same, ignorant tack as Cruz and others who champion discrimination: He claims that it's all about "protecting women and girls" from predators, taking a sudden interest in the emotional and physical well-being of women that is otherwise absent from his political record. Putting aside the deeply patriarchal implications that women need protection both by and from men, of course, this isn't really about safety. Transgender women are not "men pretending to be women." They are women. Trans men are men. Biology is not destiny. Even if you can't understand the whys and hows of transgender identity, there's no reason to use that as an excuse to actively target and discriminate against transgender people. Furthermore, how are such laws to be enforced? Who gets to stand guard at the doors checking people's birth certificates or under their clothes? How is that not the far greater invasion of privacy and safety? How do you, just by looking, determine who should be stopped and who can go in? I'll use myself as an example: I'm female assigned at birth, and identify as female (a.k.a. "cisgender," not trans) but I've received plenty of comments from readers of this column alone who seem genuinely agitated that pictures of me don't look like how they think a woman should look. I've been physically and verbally harassed for using the women's restroom since I was a child, by people who thought I was a man in the "wrong" room. I'm not about to drop my pants or carry around a copy of my birth certificate in order to prove anything to these people. That is not the country I want to live in, nor should it be one you want to live in. Transgender people face too much danger simply for living honest, open lives. There's no risk in the rest of us choosing to be decent humans. Emily Mills is a freelance writer who lives in Madison. Twitter: @millbot; Email: emily.mills@outlook.com SHARE By of the Madison State Appeals Judge Mark Gundrum and Dane County Circuit Judge Jim Troupis said Friday they plan to apply for an upcoming vacancy on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, but some other potential candidates so far are remaining mum. "It's a great opportunity to serve the citizens of the state in interpreting the law for them," Gundrum said. A seat on the high court is coming open because Justice David Prosser announced Wednesday he would retire in July. GOP Gov. Scott Walker will name his replacement, who will stand for election in 2020. Both Gundrum and Troupis said if they were appointed they would run for a full 10-year term in 2020. Gundrum, 46, was elected to the Assembly in 1998 as a Republican, and he served alongside Walker in that chamber. He was elected to the Waukesha County Circuit Court in 2010, and Walker appointed him to the District 2 Court of Appeals in Waukesha in 2011. A judge advocate in the U.S. Army Reserves, he was deployed in 2007 and 2008 to advise Iraq on the rule of law. Troupis, 62, has long been a go-to attorney for Republicans and served as Prosser's counsel during his 2011 election recount. Walker appointed him to the Dane County bench last year. He did not run for a full term in April, and his judgeship will end this summer. Troupis applied last year for a seat on the high court after Justice N. Patrick Crooks died. Walker instead appointed then-Appeals Judge Rebecca Bradley, who won a full term on the court in April. Meanwhile, former Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said he would not apply for the post. Van Hollen had been talked about in recent days as a possible candidate for the job. Other potential applicants for the Supreme Court opening include Appeals Judge Brian Hagedorn and Reserve Judge Michael Brennan, who chairs the panel that advises Walker on filling judgeships. Those two did not respond to interview requests. Prosser is part of the Supreme Court's 5-2 conservative majority. Walker's appointment is expected to preserve the court's ideological makeup. SHARE By of the Madison Gov. Scott Walker's campaign and a supposedly independent conservative group were "one and the same," prosecutors told the U.S. Supreme Court in a filing this week seeking to reopen a probe of the governor's campaign that state courts shut down. The Wisconsin Supreme Court last year halted the investigation in a ruling that concluded candidates and political groups can freely work together. That ruling "is the very undoing of campaign disclosure requirements," Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and two other prosecutors wrote in their filing. "This petition presents the opportunity to plainly state candidate-controlled issue ads are not truly 'independent' and not worthy of First Amendment strict scrutiny protection," they wrote. "Expenditures for such ads must be disclosed as 'disguised contributions.'" Spokesmen for Walker's campaign did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Attorneys for others involved in the now-ended investigation also did not comment on the effort to revive the probe. The prosecutors also argued two Wisconsin justices should not have participated in the case because they benefited from heavy spending by some of the groups being investigated. For instance, the groups laid out $3.3 million in 2011 to re-elect Wisconsin Justice David Prosser, who announced this week he will retire in July. Chisholm in 2012 launched the probe of the Republican governor's campaign and brought in other district attorneys as the investigation spread to people and groups based in other counties. The probe was halted in January 2014 when the judge overseeing it found the activities in question were legal. Last year, the state Supreme Court sided with that judge in a 4-2 ruling that found groups and candidates can work together. The prosecutors this week asked the nation's high court to review that ruling, saying they did not get a fair hearing before the state justices and arguing there is no First Amendment right for candidates and groups to work closely. They argued such coordination would allow candidates to get around donation limits and disclosure requirements designed to let the public know who is influencing elections. The petition was filed by Chisholm, Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne and Iowa County District Attorney Larry Nelson. All three are Democrats. Their filing contends Walker's campaign "in effect owned and controlled" the Wisconsin Club for Growth because advisers R.J. Johnson and Deb Jordahl performed work for both the campaign and the club. Through those advisers, Walker's campaign spent the club's money for Walker's benefit, the prosecutors argued. The filing did not name those entities and individuals, instead referring to them with titles such as "unnamed movant No. 1" (in the case of Walker's campaign). The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has identified who the unnamed parties are through reporting and reviewing other court documents. Large sections of the briefs are blacked out, which is unusual for filings with the U.S. Supreme Court. The portions were not made available because the original probe was supposed to be conducted in secret. Walker and others caught up in the probe contend the investigation was a partisan witch hunt designed to silence them. Prosecutors have denied that. "This petition affords an unprecedented opportunity, not likely to recur, to address First Amendment issues presented by coordination conduct in the form of direct control between a candidate committee and a third party during an election campaign," the prosecutors wrote. They also argued Prosser and Wisconsin Justice Michael Gableman should not have heard the case because groups at the center of the probe helped put or keep them on the court. For instance, they contended Johnson and Jordahl were involved in Prosser's 2011 campaign, citing an email discussing his fundraising. Prosser last year acknowledged such help in a letter explaining why he stayed on the case. He noted the activity happened four years ago, at a time when there was no reason to expect people and groups assisting him would appear before him in court. The U.S. Supreme Court takes only a small set of cases a year, and this one comes when the court is short one member because of the death in February of Justice Antonin Scalia. "Who knows what this 4-4 Court will do with a hot potato such as this case?" election law expert Rick Hasen wrote in an online post about the filing. SHARE By , More than three dozen firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized by a SWAT team Wednesday from a Dodge County residence. Kirk Lupton, 56, was arrested for possessing firearms as a felon, and Richard Nutter, 34, was arrested on a probation violation, according to Sheriff Dale Schmidt. The home where the stockpile was found is on County Highway J in Lowell. Beside the guns and ammo, an ordinance device was found in the home. As a precaution, the Milwaukee County Bomb Squad was requested to assist the Dodge County Sheriff's Office and determined it to be inert. "We have taken a very dangerous individual with an extensive criminal history off the streets today and removed a large arsenal from him that was not legal for him to possess," Schmidt said. The Sheriff said it isn't unusual to find that many guns in a home. "We live in Wisconsin where there are a lot of people with that amount of guns. This is different because he is a felon and doesn't have the right to own them," he said. The search warrant was the culmination of a lengthy joint investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. The SWAT Team was part of the sheriff's office. Schmidt said Lupton's criminal history is recorded under several different aliases. Investigations continue into other related criminal activity, Schmidt said. Reddit Email 0 Shares TeleSur | During a public event on Tuesday, renowned professor Noam Chomsky took time to reflect on the political impact of the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. Internationally renowned professor Noam Chomsky discussed the political impact of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Tuesday, saying that his policy proposals reflect the positions of the majority of the American population. Chomsky said Sanders has mobilized a large number of young people who are saying, Look, were not going to consent anymore. If that turns into a continuing, organized, mobilized force, that could change the countrymaybe not for this election, but in the longer term. An interesting aspect of Sanderss positions is that theyre quite strongly supported by the general public, and have been for a long time, Chomsky stated during a live event hosted by the Brooklyn Public Library. Chomsky went on to classify Sanders as more of a New Deal Democrat rather than a radical extremist, as some have described him, which he argued is indicative of how far the (political) spectrum has shifted to the right over the last several decades. According to the revered academic, Sanders campaign platform would not have been considered controversial in previous moments of U.S. history, instead highlighting the fact that U.S. political sentiment has moved so far to the right the contemporary Democrats are pretty much what used to be called moderate Republicans. Via TeleSur Related video added by Juan Cole: Democracy Now: Noam Chomsky: Young Bernie Sanders Supporters are a Mobilized Force That Could Change the Country Reddit Email 0 Shares By Celine Hagbard | (IMEMC) | Updated. On Monday, an Israeli court indicted seven Israelis, including two sons of a leading rabbi, a soldier, and two minor teens, for participating in dozens of attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Hebron area, in the southern part of the West Bank. The Israeli court prosecutor asked that three of the suspects be held in prison, with the others held under house arrest. The men and boys involved in the terror cell have confessed to numerous attacks, some dating back as far as 2008. A group of six youths, three of whom are the sons of the head Rabbi in an illegal Israeli settlement, have admitted to a series of attacks against Palestinians dating from 2008 to the present. The Israeli security service Shin Bet announced Wednesday that the six youth are being investigated for a number of attacks, but have not yet been charged with any crimes, despite their admissions of guilt. No harsh interrogation tactics or physical coercion were used against the six young men, according to the Shin Bet. Palestinian detainees of the same age range are subjected to torture and abuse in up to 90% of the cases, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Society. The suspects have been identified as Pinchas Sandorfi, 22, Itamar Ben Aharon, 20, Michael Kaplan, 20, two boys aged 16 and 17, and an unnamed Israeli soldier. All of the suspects are from an Israeli settlement colony in the Binyamin bloc. Lawyers for the six suspects complained to Israeli authorities that they had been prevented from meeting with their clients prior to their interrogations by Israeli authorities. One of the lawyers also complained that because most of their crimes did not end up hurting anyone, they should not face charges. The Israeli terror cell has allegedly been carrying out attacks for years these attacks included the beating attack of a Palestinian in July 2015, and an attack on a Palestinian home in December 2015 in which the perpetrators threw tear gas canisters into a home in which a family was sleeping. The family, including a nine month old baby who was asleep in the home, were able to escape without injury. The other attacks admitted by the group include firebombing vehicles and homes, writing graffiti and hate speech on Palestinian businesses and homes, and attempting to burn a Palestinian family alive (unsuccessfully) in Mazraa al-Qibliya village this past November. No charges have yet been levied against the men and teens involved in these attacks. Police say the suspects are still under investigation. Via IMEMC Related video added by Juan Cole: New China TV: Jewish extremist convicted for killing palestinian teen Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Syrias largest city, Aleppo has seen a worrying outbreak of violence in the past week that could fatally undermine the cessation of hostilities that had held between most Free Syrian Army units and the Syrian Arab Army. The ceasefire did not extend to al-Qaeda or Daesh (ISIS, ISIL), however, and it appears to be al-Qaeda that led the renewed fighting south of the city and mortar strikes from the rebel-held east on the Government-held west. Also, the Syrian Arab Army and Shiite militias advanced into rebel-held territory north of the city and continued an effort to surround and cut off the rebel-held Western neighborhoods. The pro-regime BeirutPress reports that there have been repeated mortar and sniping attacks on the government-controlled West of the city from guerrillas in the east. These attacks have left 18 dead and 50 wounded since Tuesday. At the same time, what appear to have been Syrian government air strikes with barrel bombs repeatedly hit a hospital supported by Doctors without Borders, killing at least 50 persons, including the citys last pediatric surgeon. The Syrian government denied the strikes, but only the Syrian air force had been using aerial barrel bombs. Russia and the US also denied dropping bombs onto a hospital. Some 60 fighters of al-Qaeda and its ally, the Freemen of Syria, were killed by the Kurdish Peoples protection Units north of the city on Wednesday. Ordinarily the two might have been ranged against Daesh or the regime in a de facto battlefield alliance, but in this instance they both wanted the same territory. - Related video: Euronews: Fatal airstrikes destroy hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 28, 2016) - Teranga Gold Corporation ("Teranga" or the "Company") (TSX:TGZ)(ASX:TGZ) is pleased to announce that it is strengthening its management team and increasing its focus on exploration with the appointments of Paul Chawrun to Chief Operating Officer and David Mallo to Vice President, Exploration. "These management changes underscore our commitment to achieving operational excellence and exploration success on our large and highly prospective land position on one of the best emerging gold belts in the world," stated Richard Young, President & Chief Executive Officer of Teranga. "Paul and David are senior mining professionals and each has a long track record of success. Together, they will both play a critical role in the growth of our Company in the coming years." Paul Chawrun - Chief Operating Officer Paul Chawrun has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer and will be focused on achieving operational excellence at the Company's Sabodala gold mine in Senegal, West Africa. Mr. Chawrun has served as Teranga's Vice President, Technical Services, playing a fundamental role in steering the Company's successful acquisition and integration of the Oromin Joint Venture Group ("OJVG") property, the development of the high-grade Gora satellite deposit, and driving several high-return organic growth initiatives including a plant expansion and heap leaching. Prior to Teranga, Mr. Chawrun held a number of senior management, project development and operations positions at Detour Gold, Dynatec Mining, Suncor Energy and Fording Coal (now part of Teck Resources). Mr. Chawrun holds a B.Sc. Mining Engineering from Queen's University, a B.Sc. Geology from McMaster University, and an MBA from Athabasca University. David Mallo - Vice President, Exploration Since its initial public offering in 2010, Teranga has increased its reserve base, through exploration and acquisition, net of production by more than 1 million ounces, or 80 percent. Currently the Company has 2.6 million ounces in reserves with a 13.5-year mine life. Moving forward the Company is channeling more resources into exploring its large and prospective land package. Leading Teranga's exploration team will be David Mallo, who has been appointed to the newly created position of Vice President, Exploration. "It is a wonderful opportunity to be back exploring this high potential property on a world-class gold belt," stated David Mallo. "I was thrilled when Teranga asked me to do some consulting work starting earlier this year and I am even more excited to join the team on a full-time basis. While I have only been back a short time, I am very encouraged by what I am seeing both on the expanded mine license and on the large regional land package." Added Mr. Young, "With his intimate knowledge of our property, David Mallo is the natural choice to lead our exploration team." Mr. Mallo holds a Bachelor of Science (Specialist) degree from Brandon University and has over 35 years of mineral exploration experience predominantly in project evaluation and management of exploration programs. As Manager-Advanced Projects with Prime Explorations Ltd., Mr. Mallo was an integral part of the acquisition, discovery, and exploration management team at the world-class Eskay Creek gold deposit in northern British Columbia. As Executive Vice President of Exploration for Adrian Resources Ltd., Mr. Mallo managed all aspects of the extensive exploration programs through feasibility at the world-class Petaquilla copper-gold property in Panama. More recently, Mr. Mallo was the Vice President of Exploration for Oromin Explorations Ltd. at the OJVG Gold Project in Senegal, West Africa. In this capacity, he was responsible for designing, implementing and managing all aspects of the advanced exploration campaigns from the 2004 inception of the OJVG Gold Project through feasibility and merger with Teranga in 2013. While managing the exploration programs for Oromin, the OJVG Gold Project progressed from a grassroots property to a viable multi-million-ounce gold property hosting numerous gold deposit discoveries, including Teranga's currently operating Masato and Golouma deposits. About Teranga Gold Teranga is a Canadian-based gold company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:TGZ) and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TGZ). Teranga is principally engaged in the production and sale of gold, as well as related activities such as exploration and mine development in Senegal, West Africa. Teranga's mission is to create value for all of its stakeholders through responsible mining. Its vision is to explore, discover and develop gold mines in Senegal and West Africa, in accordance with the highest international standards, and to be a catalyst for sustainable economic, environmental and community development. All of its actions from exploration, through development, operations and closure will be based on the best available techniques. For more information, please refer to www.terangagold.com. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - Columbus Gold Corp. (TSX:CGT)(OTCQX:CBGDF) ("Columbus") is pleased to report results of the first ten 2016 drill holes and of new geological work completed at its 100% owned Eastside gold project in Nevada. Highlights of the 2016 drilling include: ES-96 with 35.1 m of 4.1 g/t gold (including 19.8 m of 6.91 g/t gold and 97.3 g/t silver) ES-90 with 13.4 m of 4.06 g/t gold (including 1.38 m of 34.9 g/t gold and 213 g/t silver) ES-91 with 19.7 m of 1.74 g/t gold ES-89 with 39.2 m of 0.69 g/t gold ES-94 with 59.5 m of 0.47 g/t gold A table with averages of all 2016 drilling gold and silver intercepts* that are at least 0.12 g/t gold and 7 g/t silver, is available at the following link: www.columbusgold.com/i/nr/2016-04-29-table.pdf The 2016 drilling employs one reverse circulation rotary rig and one core drill. Columbus has completed over 1,800 meters of core drilling and 4,850 meters of rotary drilling in the 2016 program, with assays pending on many samples. Drilling is ongoing and additional results will be reported after they are received and analyzed. In order to gain a better understanding of where to locate the best grades at the large Eastside property, the current drilling is widely dispersed over a broad area of about 12,500 meters long and 700 meters wide. A map indicating the position of all drill holes is available at the following link: www.columbusgold.com/i/nr/2016-04-29-map.pdf The 2016 drilling has multiple purposes including: 1) deeper drilling in areas where many previous holes bottomed in significant gold and silver values; 2) extension of the deposit laterally into undrilled areas; and 3) obtaining mineralized core from different host rock and alteration types, and at different grades, for metallurgical studies and specific gravity. Preliminary metallurgy indicates that gold at Eastside is amenable to cyanide leaching, whether oxide or sulfide. Recent mapping, mineralogical analyses, and interpretation of core and rotary cuttings indicate that Eastside is a partially eroded, fossil geothermal/hydrothermal system, associated with a 7.2-million-year-old, rhyolite dome field. During gold/silver mineralization the area was overlain by steam-heated ground characterized by advanced argillic alteration (opal, kaolinite, and alunite), which is barren of gold and silver. Underlying the surficial alteration is a zone 45-150 meters thick where alteration is mostly replacement by chalcedonic silica and kaolinite. This zone contains what has been referred to in previous Eastside press releases as "cloud" gold mineralization, which can be thick and extensive but is irregular in distribution. Better-grade gold and silver underlies the "cloud", and is associated with rhyolite domes and their margins. Alteration in the better grade zones is quartz, illite and adularia, occurring as broad replacements and also in at least five generations of cross-cutting veins and veinlets. On a regional basis, Eastside gold mineralization occurs in a discrete package of overlapping, rhyolite flow dome complexes which were emplaced and/or erupted 7.2 million years ago. These flow dome complexes are confined to an outcrop belt about 3.2 km (2 miles) wide and 11.2 km (7 miles) long which is completely enclosed in Columbus Gold's claim block. Detailed mapping and sampling of the entire claim block by Columbus geologists has yielded numerous additional targets outside of the area of the current drilling. The Eastside project has outstanding infrastructure for mining and processing, is 32 km (20 miles) west of Tonopah, Nevada, and lies 9.7 km (6 miles) north of paved highway US 95, the main road route from Las Vegas to Reno. A good County-maintained, gravel road from the highway, along with a major power transmission line both pass through the claim block. The current drilling area is on the east flank of the Monte Cristo Range and a portion of the claim block extends well into the adjacent flats, which would provide excellent operating sites. The valley is known to have shallow water available in the same aquifer, which provided water for milling the Tonopah ores in the early 1900's. The area is high desert with sparse vegetation, and year-round drilling is possible. QA/QC and Qualified Person Gold and silver assays for 2016 drilling were performed by American Assay Labs in Sparks, Nevada. American inserts blinds and standards in the drill-hole assay string-generally 7% of all assays performed are of standards or blinds. For 2016 drilling, gold analyses are by fire assay with atomic absorption finish. Silver assays are by fire assay with gravimetric finish. In addition, Columbus Gold also inserts blank samples and also standard samples of known gold and silver assay values in the drill assay string for quality control. Additional check sampling is ongoing and, if material differences occur, those will be reported. All 2016 holes were surveyed downhole by IDS. Andy Wallace is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) with the American Institute of Professional Geologists and is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release. Mr. Wallace is the principal of Cordilleran Exploration Company (Cordex), which is conducting exploration and project generation activities for Columbus Gold on an exclusive basis. * Potential grades are conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Robert F. Giustra, Chairman & CEO This release contains forward-looking information and statements, as defined by law including without limitation Canadian securities laws and the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("forward-looking statements"), respecting Carnavale's intended plans for its drilling program and its expected exploration results. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: the ability to acquire necessary permits and other authorizations; environmental compliance; cost increases; availability of qualified workers and drill equipment; competition for mining properties; risks associated with exploration projects including, without limitation, the accuracy of interpretations; mineral reserve and resource estimates (including the risk of assumption and methodology errors and ability to complete the intended drilling program); dependence on third parties for services; non-performance by contractual counterparties; title risks; and general economic conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including without limitation assumptions about: market prices, exploitation and exploration success; that the design of the drill plan is appropriate for the site; general business and economic conditions; the timing and receipt of required approvals; continued availability of capital and financing; power prices; ability to procure equipment and supplies including, without limitation, drill rigs; and ongoing relations with employees, partners, optionees and joint venturers. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and Columbus undertakes no obligation to update any of the foregoing except as required by law. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 28, 2016) - (In United States dollars, except where noted otherwise) First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company") (TSX:FM)(LSE:FQM) today announced comparative earnings1 of $63 million ($0.09 per share) and cash flows from continuing operating activities2 of $254 million ($0.37 per share1) for the three months ended March 31, 2016. FIRST QUARTER 2016 HIGHLIGHTS2 Achieved the highest quarterly copper production and sales for our continuing operations of 119,287 tonnes and 131,267 tonnes, respectively: Progressively higher production at Sentinel each quarter since start-up in Q1 2015 combined with continued strong operations at all the mines. Increased throughput at the Kansanshi smelter by 7% over Q4 2015 and achieved an average copper recovery of 98%. C1, All-in sustaining ("AISC") and C3 cost per pound 3 for both copper and nickel all substantially below Q1 2015: Copper Q1 2016: C1 cash cost = $1.03; AISC = $1.36; C3 total cost = $1.86 Nickel Q1 2016: C1 cash cost = $4.48; AISC = $4.93; C3 total cost = $6.00 for both copper and nickel all substantially below Q1 2015: Realized average price for copper of $2.38 per pound exceeded the average LME price of $2.11 primarily on account of the Company's copper sales hedge program. As previously disclosed on March 10, 2016, the Company and Boliden entered into a share purchase agreement for the Kevitsa mine for cash consideration of $712 million subject to requisite competition approvals and other typical closing conditions. As at today's date, all required competition authority approvals have now been received and the transaction is expected to close on or before June 1, 2016. Advanced other strategic initiatives aimed at further strengthening the balance sheet and improving the capital structure. Among these initiatives is the process to put in place up to $2.5 billion of project financing for Cobre Panama. The Company has requested the cancellation of admission of its shares to the standard segment of the UK Listing Authority's Official List and of trading in its shares on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities. Pursuant to UK Listing Rule 5.2.8, the cancellation notice period has now commenced and cancellation is expected to take effect from 8:00 am (BST) on May 31, 2016. At quarter end, the Company was in full compliance with all financial covenants with unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $269 million in addition to $1,800 million of committed undrawn facilities. The material uncertainty regarding the Company's ability to meet the Net Debt to EBITDA ratio covenant under the debt financing agreements, previously noted in the year-end 2015 financial statements, has been removed as current forecasts do not indicate a breach of the covenant over the next 12 months. This development reflects the agreed sale of Kevitsa, the advanced stages in the project financing and other strategic initiatives processes and ongoing effectiveness of cost improvement and copper sales hedge programs. The development of Cobre Panama continues with priority given to the power station and associated infrastructure and expenditures being managed to suit market conditions. Changes to the Zambian mining tax regime, including the reduction of the royalty rate for open pit mines from 9% to a sliding scale of between 4% to 6%, based on the copper LME price and the repeal of the variable profits tax, have been presented to the country's Parliament with the intention of having them passed in the current sitting. Updates to guidance for year 2016 are reductions for C1 and AISC cost per pound for copper to reflect the sustainable cost improvements achieved and an increase to the gold production estimate. 1 Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company have been adjusted to exclude items which are not reflective of underlying performance to arrive at comparative earnings. Comparative earnings, comparative earnings per share and cash flows per share are not measures recognized under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company has disclosed these measures to assist with the understanding of results and to provide further financial information about the results to investors. Refer to the "Regulatory Disclosures" section in the MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, for further information. 2 Operating performance measures exclude the Kevitsa mine. 3 C1, AISC and C3 cost per pound are not recognized under IFRS. Refer to the "Regulatory Disclosures" section in the MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, for further information. CEO'S COMMENTS "It was a strong start to the year for every aspect of the Company. The momentum generated in 2015 with the excellent performance of the Kansanshi copper smelter and successful cost savings and expenditure programs, continued into 2016. For four successive quarters, our mines have delivered progressively higher copper output and lower unit cost of production," noted Philip Pascall, Chairman and CEO. "On the corporate development front, the agreed sale of Kevitsa is a major step towards our objective of further strengthening the balance sheet. Other strategic initiatives are now well advanced and we expect them to be finalized within the next twelve months. "Company-wide, we remain vigilant on cost savings and cash outlays and to opportunities to maximize profitability and cash flow. The delisting of our common shares from the London Stock Exchange is a natural consequence. After 15 years of being on the exchange, the trading volume has remained very low and as such, the significant associated cost and administration required to maintain the listing cannot be justified. Existing and potential shareholders are not expected to be affected by this change as the overwhelming majority of transactions in the shares is being conducted on the Toronto Stock Exchange and alternative trading systems in Canada and the United States." OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS - CONTINUING OPERATIONS1 Three months ended March 31 (U.S. dollars where applicable) 2016 2015 COPPER Production (tonnes) 2,3 119,287 91,910 Sales (tonnes)2 131,267 91,082 Cash cost of production (C1) (per lb)4 $ 1.03 $ 1.41 All-in sustaining cost (AISC) (per lb)4 $ 1.36 $ 2.22 Total cost of production (C3) (per lb)4 $ 1.86 $ 2.39 Realized price (per lb) $ 2.38 $ 2.58 NICKEL Production (contained tonnes) 7,106 4,238 Sales (contained tonnes) 8,940 3,732 Cash cost of production (C1) (per lb)4 $ 4.48 $ 4.66 All-in sustaining cost (AISC) (per lb)4 $ 4.93 $ 5.56 Total cost of production (C3) (per lb)4 $ 6.00 $ 6.28 Realized price (per payable lb) $ 3.88 $ 6.53 GOLD Production (ounces) 56,191 49,780 Sales (ounces) 63,141 47,269 1 Operating metrics exclude the Kevitsa mine. 2 Copper production includes production at Sentinel of 20,902 tonnes for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Copper sales includes sales at Sentinel of 18,796 tonnes for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Production and sales at Sentinel are pre-commercial and therefore excluded from earnings. 3 Production is presented on a copper concentrate basis (mine production only), and does not include output from the Kansanshi smelter. 4 C1 cash cost, AISC and C3 total cost are not recognized under IFRS. Refer to the "Regulatory Disclosures" section in the MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, for further information. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS1 Three months ended March 31 (U.S. dollars millions, except where noted otherwise) 2016 2015 Sales revenues 720 602 Gross profit 105 23 Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of the Company 49 (78 ) Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations 48 (90 ) Net loss from discontinued operation (Kevitsa) (266 ) (4 ) Basic and diluted loss per share ($0.32 ) ($0.14 ) Comparative earnings (loss)2 63 (12 ) Comparative earnings (loss) per share2 $0.09 ($0.02 ) Comparative EBITDA2 269 106 Cash flows from continuing operating activities 254 134 1 Financial metrics, other than Net loss from discontinued operation, exclude the Kevitsa mine. 2 Net earnings (loss) attributable to shareholders of the Company and EBITDA have been adjusted to exclude items which are not reflective of underlying performance to arrive at comparative earnings and comparative EBITDA. Comparative earnings, comparative earnings per share and comparative EBITDA are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company has disclosed these measures to assist with the understanding of results and to provide further financial information about the results to investors. Refer to "Regulatory Disclosures" section in the MD&A for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, for a reconciliation of comparative EBITDA and comparative earnings. CONFERENCE CALL & WEBCAST The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on Friday April 29, 2016. Date: April 29, 2016 Time: 9:00 am (EDT); 2:00 pm (BST); 6:00 am (PDT) Webcast: www.first-quantum.com Dial in: North America: (toll free) 1 877 291 4570 North America and international: 1 647 788 4919 United Kingdom: (toll free) 0 800 051 7107 Replay: North America and international: 1 416 621 4642 North America: (toll free) 1 800 585 8367 Passcode: 88320654 The conference call replay will be available from noon (EDT) until 11:59 pm (EDT) on May 6, 2016. COMPLETE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS The complete unaudited consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 are available at www.first-quantum.com and should be read in conjunction with this news release. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. G. Clive Newall, President 12g3-2b-82-4461 Listed in Standard and Poor's For further information visit our website at www.first-quantum.com. Cautionary statement on forward-looking information Certain statements and information herein, including all statements that are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements include estimates, forecasts and statements as to the Company's expectations of production and sales volumes, commissioning and reaching commercial production at Sentinel and expected timing of completion of project development at Enterprise and Cobre Panama and are subject to the impact of ore grades on future production, the potential of production disruptions, capital expenditure and mine production costs, the outcome of mine permitting, the outcome of legal proceedings which involve the Company, information with respect to the future price of copper, gold, cobalt, nickel, zinc, pyrite, PGE, and sulphuric acid, estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, First Quantum's exploration and development program, estimated future expenses, exploration and development capital requirements, the Company's hedging policy, and goals and strategies. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, the Company has made numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about continuing production at all operating facilities, the price of copper, gold, nickel, zinc, pyrite, PGE, cobalt and sulphuric acid, anticipated costs and expenditures and the ability to achieve the Company's goals. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to, future production volumes and costs, the temporary or permanent closure of uneconomic operations, costs for inputs such as oil, power and sulphur, political stability in Zambia, Peru, Mauritania, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Australia, adverse weather conditions in Zambia, Finland, Spain, Turkey and Mauritania, labour disruptions, power supply, mechanical failures, water supply, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations, and the production of off-spec material. See the Company's Annual Information Form for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actual results, performances, achievements or events not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of these factors are beyond First Quantum's control. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. A brutal exercise Friday in the West Shore School District tested reactions of students, staff, and first responders. The district and police teamed up to train for an active shooter situation. Even though this was only a drill, the situation at times was intense. A normal day was thrown into chaos: Two actors, their guns loaded with blanks, stormed the front office of Red Land High School, immediately popping off several shots at the staff inside. A faculty member called a fake number for the police and reported what she saw. Thats when it turned into a real exercise for responders. We kind of had a game plan in mind, but we didnt over-script it, so it kind of developed as it went along, Fairview Township police Chief Jason Loper said. What script they did have quickly fell apart. After unloading several shots in the front office, the two shooters continued into the cafeteria where a class was staged and waiting. Students were supposed to overpower one shooter there and hold him until police arrived. They did not, so both actors continued through the school. Fighting back is option three in the school districts strategy for dealing with active shooters: Run if possible, then hide, and fight if the previous two are not possible. We want staff and students to have a situational awareness about whats going on around them and then make decisions about what is safe and what is best for them, superintendent Todd Stoltz said. Those who could escape did so, running out of the building and across the schools parking lots. Others barricaded themselves in classrooms, locking doors, turning off the lights, and stacking desks and chairs in front of the entrances as about 60 cops swarmed the school. If something like this happened, we would have probably double the number of cops here today that we have, Loper said. Eventually, one actor was arrested on the second floor and the other took his own life in the library. Then the triage began, with at least a dozen agencies involved, while officers evacuated the school room-by-room. Buses took students to Cedar Cliff High School, where they met up with their parents, and the district went through the careful reunification process they would use in a real situation. I was very happy with how I saw the officers responding inside the school, how they were interacting with students and teachers that were locked inside their rooms, and how we got them out safely, Loper said. Its too early to know all that went right or wrong, he added, but police and the district say this will help ensure they dont make the same mistakes if next time its not a drill. Lets learn what works and lets learn what we can change and do better, Loper said. (Note: Abc27 News was given exclusive access to follow both the shooters and first responders as they completed the drill inside the school.) NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Drinks Daily News The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Drinks Weekly News A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Drinks Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter Bishop Ronald Gainer of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg was released from a hospital on Friday. A statement from the diocese said Gainers physical condition is much improved. He will be taking some time to rest and recuperate before returning to his normal schedule. A diocese spokesman said Gainer is expected to make a complete recovery from a digestive disorder. Bishop Gainer was admitted to the hospital on April 22 after he reported he was not feeling well and doctors suggested routine tests and rest. Gainer, 68, a native of Pottsville, was appointed the 11th Bishop of Harrisburg in January 2014, succeeding Bishop Joseph McFadden, who died in 2013. Ganier was installed as bishop two months later. He previously had been bishop in Lexington, Ky., The second oldest town west of the Susquehanna River got its name from the wealthy merchant and friend of William Penn who occasionally stayed at the home at 52 W. King St. in Shippensburg. In early 1737, Penn granted Edward Shippen III of Lancaster land patents in the Cumberland Valley totaling 1,312 acres. The territory included a small village first settled by 12 families back in June 1730. Penn was motivated by the need to establish a settlement as far down the valley and as close to the Maryland border as possible. The founder of Pennsylvania wanted to protect the land claims of this colony. Shippen laid out the town that now bears his name around 1741, according to a National Register of Historic Places nomination form on file at the Cumberland County Historical Society. He started to build the original section of the Shippen House around 1750 living in it periodically on visits to his trading companies. Legend has it the building at 52 W. King St. served as a storehouse for supplies destined for the ill-fated expedition named for Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock who commanded all British troops in North America during the early stages of the French and Indian War. It is more likely, however, the supplies were kept in Shippens fur storehouse which stood nearby, according to the nomination form. Braddock had set out to dislodge the enemy from Fort Duquesne near present-day Pittsburgh but was attacked on July 9, 1755 by a smaller force of French and Indians. Braddock was killed and his men were routed leaving the whole of western Pennsylvania including Shippensburg open to the ravages of rampaging Indians. The nomination form mentioned how the exterior decoration of the original Shippen House was particularly elegant from a frontier town. The house was expanded in 1785 and again in 1935 when a major restoration project was started by Dr. Alexander Stewart and his wife. The Shippen House even though altered and enlarged still maintains much of its original architectural appearance, the form reads. The house is a good example of colonial architecture and has interior and exterior woodwork of a sophistication unseen in the area at that time. From its construction the house has been a local landmark. The Shippen House was placed on the National Register in 1975. It is currently the home of the Shippensburg Historical Society. Judge Robert Woodside outlined for the audience a hypothetical scenario involving Dickinson College, the Red Scare and the legal interpretation of the Bill of Rights. Suppose we have a professor who 10 to 15 years ago was a member of the Communist party, the college trustee told a dinner crowd gathered at the West Shore Country Club. Maybe he did not believe or realize the party was a conspiracy to overthrow the government, Woodside added. Suppose he never resigned but drifted away and lost contact with the party. Does he now have the right to invoke the Fifth Amendment? It was early May 1956 and the nation was in the midst of widespread paranoia. Citizens from all walks of life were being called to answer questions before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Two months had gone by since economics professor Laurent LaVallee had invoked the Fifth Amendment during a committee hearing in Washington D.C. United Press stories from March 1956 mentioned how the Dickinson College professor was being questioned for alleged Communist activities while he was a member of the War Labor Board in Denver from 1942 to 1944. The day after the March 1 hearing Dickinson College President William Edel held closed-door meetings with faculty groups and top administrators on what to do about the professor. On March 19, Edel suspended LaVallee from the faculty but promised the professor a follow-up hearing before the executive committee of the college board of trustees. Both men testified at a hearing held on April 20 in Harrisburg. Communist menace Though the committee did not disclose its recommendation to the full board, Robert Woodside made his position clear on May 3 when he offered his legal opinion during the Harrisburg Dickinson College Club dinner. Any employee who invokes the Fifth Amendment can be fairly and justly relieved of his job, said Woodside, a state Superior Court judge. Such action has been upheld at every state in which the question has arisen and by the U.S. Supreme Court. He added the Fifth Amendment was only meant to be used to avoid self-incrimination in criminal cases, not to save a reputation or to shield another person from prosecution. Though the privilege ... has no special relationship to Communism or subversive activity, its extensive use during the Congressional investigations has given it a relationship in the minds of the people, Woodside said. I would not want a Communist to teach at Dickinson, he told the audience. The real menace of Communism in college is not their teaching or even their influence but their opportunity to advise the Soviets of prospects to be enlisted later in subversive activity. A 1926 Dickinson College graduate, Woodside was among the trustees who pushed to have the suspended professor completely removed from the payroll effective June 30, 1956. That decision was handed down by a resolution approved by the full board on June 1. The resolution read in part: Where Communism conquers, the first casualty is the free mind, for the mind of the Communist is not free but is instead a captive mind, a condition reflex that follows not truth but the devious involution of the party line. When such a captive mind enters a classroom or laboratory the result may well be the subversion of education itself and the negation of academic freedom ... For this reason the trustees of Dickinson College record their unswerving opposition to the employment or retention in any position of trust of Communists, Communist supporters or Communist sympathizers, and express their lack of confidence in any persons or organizations supporting the retention of Communists in positions of trust in educational institutions ... Academic backlash In its June 1 edition, The Sentinel reported how the Dickinson College faculty committee on academic freedom and tenure had called on the trustees to reinstate LaVallee as an assistant economics professor. They recommended the board grant LaVallee a one-year contract instead of the customary three-year pact offered to faculty of his rank. Upon its review of the case, this committee found nothing to substantiate claims by college president Edel that LaVallee was insubordinate, incompetent or disloyal. LaVallee issued a statement on June 2 calling the decision by the trustees completely unjustified and a severe blow to the freedom of education in the United States and in particular to the reputation of Dickinson College. The trustees had issued their decision on the grounds that he had failed to disclose information to Edel and that he had acted evasive when questioned by the executive committee. As to the first point, Edel himself admitted during the (April 20) hearing that there was no question that he asked that I did not answer, LaVallee said. The second place, it is the responsibility of a teacher in these times to resist any infringement of his privacy that may lead to the establishment of academic restrictions. Though the faculty committee had exonerated him of the charges made by Edel, the trustees chose to ignore those findings in favor of dismissing him from the faculty for exercising his right to invoke the Fifth Amendment, LaVallee said. A Massachusetts native, LaVallee joined the Dickinson College faculty in September 1955. He appealed the boards decision to the American Association of University Professors that voted to censure the administration of Dickinson College on April 25, 1958. The organization charged the college with failure to observe academic due process and the wrongful termination of LaVallee. The censure was removed in April 1963, at which time the AAUP was satisfied the college had made sufficient improvements to faculty-administrator relations and governance procedures, according to information available online at www.archives.dickinson.edu. Cumberland County residents are urged to get rid of unneeded prescription medications this weekend as part of the National Take-Back Initiative sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Area medical professionals say there are plenty of reasons why outdated or leftover medications should be eliminated from household medicine cabinets and other home areas. We have a crisis amount of heroin use and overdose deaths. Most of our overdose deaths are from heroin. Ninety-five percent of heroin users start off with prescription drug use. The main source of prescription drugs for these people is their parents medicine cabinet, said John Goldman, a PinnacleHealth infectious disease specialist in Harrisburg and a member of the PinnacleHealth Medical Group Opiate Task Force. On Saturday, Pennsylvania State Police Troop H Headquarters at 1538 Commerce Ave., Carlisle, is accepting old prescription medications from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Medication drop off locations also are available Monday-Friday throughout Cumberland County as listed: Camp Hill Police Department, 2199 Walnut St., 7:30 a.m.to 3:30 p.m. Carlisle Borough Police Department, 240 Lincoln St., 7 a.m.to 11 p.m. Cumberland County Courthouse, One Courthouse Square, Carlisle, 8 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Cumberland County Human Services Building, 16 W. High St., Carlisle, 8 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Cumberland County Old Prison, 37 E. High St., Carlisle, 8 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Dickinson College Department of Public Safety (Kauffman Building), 400 W. North St., Carlisle, 24 hours. East Pennsboro Township Police Department, 98 S. Enola Drive, 8:30 a.m.to 3 p.m. Lower Allen Township Police Department, 2233 Gettysburg Road, 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. North Middleton Police Department, 2051 Spring Road, 7 a.m.to 4 p.m. Middlesex Township Police Department, 350 N. Middlesex Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lester Himmelreich, secretary/treasurer of the Cumberland County Medical Society, noted that having old medications on hand may pose the risk of a consumer mistaking it for a current prescription. Also, theres the potent risk of someone taking it and enjoying it, added Himmelreich, an internal medical specialist based in Carlisle. Pills that are no longer needed shouldnt sit around the house or apartment, said Mongomery County physician Scott Shapiro, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Protect yourself and loved ones by keeping pills safe, which includes getting rid of pills you dont take. The state Medical Society offers these tips for disposing of prescription medications: Clean out all outdated or leftover medications from your medicine cabinets and other locations around your house or apartment; Keep leftover medications in original bottles; Use a black marker to remove all personal information from the bottle label while keeping all medication information legible; Finally, play it safe. Ask a trusted friend to accompany you to a drop off location if youre uncomfortable transporting medication by yourself. Using an opaque transport bag will keep wrongdoers from noticing medications slated for disposal. Dont expect to see a new Sheetz on Walnut Bottom Road in South Middleton Township anytime soon. On Thursday night, South Middleton Township Supervisors unanimously rejected a conditional use request and three waivers for a proposed Sheetz convenience store and gasoline sales at the former Bonanza Steakhouse site at Walnut Bottom and Alexander Spring roads. The rejection comes after a total of nine hours of testimony for a conditional use hearing for a proposed 4,056-square convenience store at 909 Walnut Bottom Road that spread over three previous sessions held on Feb. 11 and 25 and March 31. Sworn witnesses included several Sheetz representatives and Todd Taylor, owner of Gulf gas and convenience store located at 920 Walnut Bottom Road. Supervisor Chairman Brian Gembusia commented that Sheetzs conditional use request was incomplete and didnt comply with the townships wellhead protection ordinance. Gembusia had previously stated that he was very nervous about placing another gas station over a well aquifer area. The Sheetz plan would have included eight gas pumps on four service islands. The existing Gulf station at 920 Walnut Bottom Road was built before current township zoning laws were in effect. Sheetzs conditional use application requested waivers of the townships sidewalk requirements, the use of bushes over trees given the location of utilities, and requirements for access to the property to allow for less distance between entrances and exits off Alexander Spring Road. Board Vice Chairman Tom Faley said he was against the plan because he believes it would have added to traffic congestion and vehicle accidents in the area. As I stated during the hearing, I am very concerned about the two entrances/exits (proposed) on Alexander Spring Road, Faley said. It was my understanding that Sheetz wanted two exits to assist in preventing congestion on their property, but in doing so, it moves the traffic congestion issue to Alexander Spring Road with its higher speed limit compared to the slower moving traffic on the Sheetz property. Sheetz attorney Ron Lucas said that he had no comment after township supervisors rejected the plan. Gembusia said that Sheetz officials now have the option of appealing the supervisors decision in the Court of Common Pleas. In other news, South Middleton Supervisors unanimously agreed on Thursday to issue a letter of support to the Trust for Public Land, a nationwide organization that states a mission is to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come, on its website. The organization is seeking the townships support in applying for a Community Partnership Program grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for purchasing a 116-tract of land in the township. The tract is located near state routes 34 and 94 on the edge of the Michaux State Forest and is already zoned as a woodland conservation district by the township. Trust for Public Land representative Gregory Socha, who is based in New Jersey, told township officials that the organization would purchase the land with DCNR grant money to preserve it for future generations, Supervisor Vice Chairman Tom Faley said. Weve already done our part with the land. It would be wonderful if the Trust for Public Land can get this grant and preserve the land not only for our children, but for our childrens children and so on, Faley said. Despite repeated pummelings four more losses Tuesday night, including a blowout in Pennsylvania Bernie Sanders still cant find the high road on his mental GPS. Hes still steamed that Democrats have the temerity to run Democrats-only primaries (hes not even a Democrat), says hes gonna win in irrelevant West Virginia on May 10 and continue to battle at the convention to the bitter end. Perhaps, if Bernie is at all interested in losing with grace and class, in uniting with his victorious foe for the most existential crusade of our erapreventing an unhinged racist demagogue from owning the nuclear codes he will take a moment to read what Hillary Clinton said to her disappointed followers on June 7, 2008. The primary season had ended four days earlier. She had virtually split the nationwide popular vote with Barack Obama, but she fatally trailed in the delegate count. Her delegate deficit was actually far smaller than Bernies current deficit, but did she whine about rigged primaries? Nope. Did she have the gall to insist, as Bernie did on Monday, that her victorious foe surrender to her issue agenda? Nope. Heres a small sampling of what she said: The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand, is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States. Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me. Thats the way to do it. You face reality, and eat humble pie for the greater good. The big question is not whether Bernie is toastthats been obvious for weeks (hes losing the national popular vote by 57 to 43 percent, which in electoral parlance is known as a landslide). The real question is whether Bernie will stand down in a graceful manner. Were still six weeks away from the final contest, so theres time. Right now, however, were getting mixed signals. Tad Devine, a strategist in the Bernie camp, signaled the press early Tuesday that his candidate is prepared to reassess. But on the same day the Bernie camp sought new donations by emailing a photo of the Clintons at Trumps wedding. The candidate himself said Tuesday night hes proud of winning minuscule Rhode Island, the one state with an open primary. Hes stoked for the 14 contests to come and is vowing to fight at the July convention for the issue agenda thats losing decisively at the ballot box. (Heres what I mean by decisive: In the Pennsylvania exit polls, 52 percent said the nominee should continue Obamas policies. Only 32 percent said the nominee should change to more liberal policies.) So well see which way Bernie plays it. As an outsider, a western European-style socialist who merely caucuses with the Democrats, hes comfortable with defiance. On TV the other night, he insisted that its incumbent upon Hillary to make the first move toward winning over his fans. Which is quite cheeky, given the fact that shes the winner and hes the loser. On the other hand, Bernie has been an inside-the Beltway politician for the past quarter century. If the Democrats win back the Senate this fall, presumably he would very much like to chair the Senate Budget Committee next year. Despite all his self-righteous thunder, he knows how to do deals. He hinted as much the other night, on MSNBC, when he said, I will do everything in my power to make sure that no Republican gets into the White House in this election cycle. If he wants to stay in the race through California, fine. And if he stops trashing Clinton on the stump, and hoses down Tim Robbins and his other celebrity dilettantes thats when well truly begin to know whether hes doing everything in his power to kill the Trump poison before it fatally infects this country. Dick Polman is the national political columnist at NewsWorks/WHYY in Philadelphia and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania. Email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com. : , Among taxpayers in District 38, property tax issues dominate every conversation. All property owners have seen their total property tax bill increase dramatically over the past decade. Agricultural landowners have seen year after year of double-digit increases in their assessed valuations, creating a shift of the overall tax burden disproportionately to farmers and ranchers. Residential and commercial property owners have also seen an increase in their taxes, creating pressure on family budgets and the financial viability of small businesses. Despite property taxes consistently ranking as the top tax policy concern among voters, organized resistance to significant changes to property tax policies remains strong. Taxpayer frustration over the speed and magnitude of property tax reform is high, while the taxing entities see every reform proposal as draconian, using your tax dollars to pay lobbyists to oppose tax relief. Property tax discussions are complicated because the revenue they generate fund those government functions that are most personal to us. Our local schools, city services, county roads, groundwater management, and community colleges are the up-close aspects of government that impact our lives every day. Spending choices and tax levy rate decisions are made by our friends and neighbors on local boards. They determine the salary for our local teachers, the park and recreational facilities in our communities, the access to vocational education opportunities locally, and the maintenance of local roads. Taxpayers are reluctant to address specific spending with their city council or county supervisors, because potholes or bridges need to be fixed. Community college and Natural Resource District budgets have more than doubled in a decade, yet workforce development and water sustainability remain top priorities with no immediate resolution in sight. Taxpayers dont show up to budget hearings, yet meeting rooms are packed anytime cuts to services are suggested or new infrastructure is debated. We all make a cost/benefit analysis of our personal spending decisions and expenditures in our businesses. We separate what we need for housing, food and transportation with what we want vacations, entertainment, and the latest gadget. Our personal incomes are limited, and we prioritize accordingly. Local governments must do the same. Successful resolution of the property tax issue requires collaboration among taxpayers, local taxing authorities, and state policy makers. Local citizens must be clear on what services they need and which they want, and understand who pays for those choices. Shifting the burden of funding to other taxpayers is not responsible. Local boards must establish clear spending goals and live within those means, prioritizing spending choices. While citizens paying the bills continue to call for greater and faster reform, groups representing governments spending the revenue aggressively resist any limitations on spending, budget growth, or their taxing authority. The League of Municipalities, Association of County Officials, Community College Association, Natural Resources District Association and school organizations lobby hard against reforms. They use your tax dollars to oppose tax relief, costing you more tax dollars. Sen. John Kuehn of Heartwell represents District 38 in the Nebraska Legislature. The district encompasses southwest Buffalo County and all of Clay, Franklin, Kearney, Nuckolls, Phelps and Webster counties. @JohnKuehnDVM Army Gen. Joseph Votel, Commander of U.S. Central Command, briefs reporters on the release of the investigation into the U.S. airstrike on the Doctors With Borders trauma center in Kunduz, Afghanistan, Friday, April 29, 2016, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Molly Riley) How can we take care of patients we have never seen? 33 Shares Share Of course, patients are entitled to medical care around the clock. You would not expect to show up at 2 a.m. at an emergency room to find a closed sign. If you are having chest pain on a weekend, and you call your doctors office, you should expect a prompt response from a living and breathing medical doctor. Patients are aware that when they call the doctor at night, that they are unlikely to reach their own doctor. Similarly, when a patient is admitted to the hospital, they will likely be attended to by a hospitalist, not the primary care physician. Such is the reality of medical practice today. Here are three types of after hour calls that merit mentioning. 1. One of my partners patients calls me because the diarrhea is still not better and its been more than three months. While I completely understand the frustrated patients rationale for calling, theres not much I can do in these circumstances. It is not helpful to call a doctor at night to discuss chronic medical complaints, as you will likely not reach your own physician. For example, if you have been having nausea for months, and have had several diagnostic tests and tried different medications, it is doubtful that a covering physician on the phone at night who does not know you will crack the case. 2. The radiology department calls me at night to give a reading. Heres how this works when one of my partners patients undergoes an evening radiologic test. Dr. Kirsch, a patient you have never heard of who left the hospital a half hour ago had a CT scan of the abdomen. The radiologist suspects mild diverticulitis. Good luck, doctor and have a nice evening! What this means, of course, is that the radiology department has checked off a box that I have been notified and is now in the clear. It is now my responsibility at 11 pm to sort through this. When I call the patient and cant reach him, how well do you think I sIeep that night? I dont have a solution here, but clearly, this is not ideal medical care. 3. A hospital nurse calls me at night to approve a patients discharge. This is always a killer. Its generally one of my partners patients whom I have never seen. He may have had a complicated hospital course that involved multiple consultants. There is an extensive medication list. The patient still has stomach pain, which the medical team cant explain. If I give the nurse the green light on sending the patient home, then I am accepting full responsibility for this decision even though I have never laid a hand on him. How you would suggest I respond to the nurse in this situation? Yes, our practice is available to our patients at every hour. But, some hours are more equal than others. Its challenging enough to take care of patients we know well. How can we take care of patients we have never seen? Michael Kirsch is a gastroenterologist who blogs at MD Whistleblower. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 517 Shares Share I have a lot of ER stories that involve drug addiction and drug seeking behavior. I knew a patient who intentionally dislocated his shoulder three times in one day to receive pain medication. Another had a friend who stole an entire dirty needle box in order to rummage through it for injectable drugs. I have been told by patients that pain pills were eaten by dogs, stolen by neighbors, lost in car crashes, accidentally flushed down toilets and all the rest. People have pleaded with me because their normal doctor was out of the country. One individual (call him Bob) came to me and was denied narcotics, then returned two hours later with a womans ID and saying he was she (call her Carol). You arent Carol, I just saw you. Yes I am, Im Carol and Im in pain. Get out, says I. The list goes on and on and every physician has a few of his or her favorites. In the annals of American medicine, it turns out this was all rather new territory, at least in scope. My career began in the early 1990s when there were (for various reasons, corporate and otherwise) powerful initiatives encouraging us to treat pain with more narcotic pain medications such as Lortab, Vicodin, Percocet and others. We were regularly scolded for being cruel and insensitive about peoples pain when we, young and innocent as we were, expressed discomfort with this practice. I remember being explicitly told, more than once, You cant create an addict in the ER. We were told that pain was the fifth vital sign and were taught to use a pain scale, which youll hear to this day whenever you interact with the health care system. Whats your pain on a scale of zero to ten with zero being no pain and ten the worst pain of your life. Most nurses can say this in their sleep. We developed smiley face scales for small children to use. We learned to give narcotics regularly for various types of pain, when they had been previously reserved for cancer, long bone fractures or significant surgeries. Medical boards were encouraged to discipline doctors who were reported to under-treat pain. And hospital administrators, ever in love with the customer satisfaction model, pressured physicians whose patients complained about receiving inadequate pain treatment. (High patient satisfaction scores have been studied and associated with poor outcomes, by the way.) Although its difficult to quantify because physicians feared for their jobs, Ive spoken to many physicians over the course of my medical and writing career who were told by their employers to give narcotics when requested or risk loss of income or of employment. This happened even in the face of staff who knew the abusers. We used to keep files so that even new physicians could tell who the problem patients were. Eventually, we were told to stop. It was a kind of profiling and it was unacceptable. Always assume theyre telling the truth, we were told. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. Since 1999, prescription narcotic overdoses soared, quadrupling over the period to 2014 according to the CDC. Over that period, there were 165,000 deaths from prescription opioids, most commonly hydrocodone, oxycodone, and methadone. In 2014, more than 14,000 people died from those drugs. Now, the move is from condemning our insensitivity to questioning our judgment. Prescription drug abuse is a high priority for state and federal law enforcement, state medical boards, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (which recently released new, more conservative guidelines for chronic pain treatment). States are using online prescription monitoring programs and many hospitals are putting policies in place to give as few narcotics as possible in emergency departments. Its a Catch-22 of course, as some patients with legitimate pain are told to find pain specialists or family doctors, when they either have no money to do so or have no physicians in the area taking patients. Thus, they circle back to the ER where we try our best to remain both diligent and sympathetic. Physicians and hospitals are now engaged in a constant battle to combat drug abuse, to save lives and help empower the families of those struggling with addiction who are desperate to help their sons, daughters, husbands and wives. I hope we maintain our compassion. But I also hope that it keeps getting harder to walk into an office or ER and get addictive, lethal prescriptions. Because its time for this nightmare to stop. Edwin Leap is an emergency physician who blogs at edwinleap.com and is the author of the Practice Test and Life in Emergistan. This article originally appeared in the Greenville News. Image credit: Shutterstock.com The Conservation Federation of Missouri recently honored State Rep. Linda Black as the 2015 Conservation Legislator of the Year. Black received the award because of her commitment to promoting and preserving Missouris bird, fish, game, wildlife and forestry resources. Black was honored during the annual Conservation Day at the Missouri State Capitol that took place April 19. Black received the award from the Conservation Federation of Missouri Executive Director Brandon Butler. Black has made it a legislative priority to work with the conservation community to preserve Missouris conservation system and natural resources for future generations of Missourians. She sponsored legislation during the 2015 session to require a two-thirds vote, rather than a simple majority, to amend the Missouri Constitution on issues related to bird, fish, game, wildlife, or forestry resources. During the 2016 session, Black has sponsored legislation to deter Missouris growing poaching problem by creating tougher civil penalties for poachers. As someone who grew up in a rural area and has always loved the outdoors, it has been a wonderful experience being able to work with like-minded folks who have a similar passion for preserving our natural resources, said Black, R-Park Hills. I want to thank the Conservation Federation for giving me this honor and for working with me to pursue our common interest of ensuring the conservation traditions of our state will be preserved for future generations. The Conservation Federation of Missouri is a broad-based citizen conservation group representing more than 100,000 individuals and 80 affiliate groups from hunters and anglers to birdwatchers. On Saturday, May 7, thousands of people will take part in the Kilkenny Darkness Into Light walk/jog, bringing with them, a message of hope. And from (today) Friday, you can register and get your bright yellow T-shirt from Carrigan's (formerly Xtravision) beside City Hall, High Street. Or you can register online at dil.pieta.ie and collect your T-shirt. The shop will be open all day Friday and Saturday of this week and again the following Thursday and Friday before the event. Darkness Into Light chairperson in Kilkenny, Kathryn Hutchinson thanked JJ Carrigan for the use of the premises to assist such a worthwhile charity. The five kilometre event begins and ends at James Stephens Military Barracks and goes around the city centre. The beneficiary is Pieta House, which runs a number of suicide and self-harm crisis centres, many of them used by Kilkenny people. And in a few weeks time a new Pieta House centre will open in Waterford city, less than a half an hour's drive from Kilkenny city. The importance of the Pieta Houses, is that it provides a professional, face-to-face, free of charge, therapeutic service for people in the acute stages of distress. Since 2013, a total of 307 people from the Kilkenny area have been assisted directly on a one-to-one basis by Pieta House with many others receiving different types of assistance. Last year Pieta delivered almost 50,000 hours of therapy which included Family Support. The number of clients in 2015 was 5,466. The unique clinically-based model developed by Pieta House is used across all its centres spread around the country and on a number of third level campuses. Pieta Houses primary aim is to reduce suicide by helping people get through that critical phase when suicide becomes a plan rather than just an idea. As in other years, Pieta House is asking those taking part to connect with others at the event. Walkers/runners are encouraged to speak to the person beside them, tell a story or simply say hello to acknowledge one another. Pieta House provides a professional, one-to-one therapeutic service for those who feel suicidal or are engaging in self-harm. A doctors referral or psychiatric report is not required and the service is completely free of charge. Pieta Houses vision is to have a centre within 100 kilometres of everyone in Ireland and with the opening of a new house shortly in Waterford it will be even easier for Kilkenny people to get in touch. Register on-line @ dil.pieta.ie Kiplinger 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. Youve finally booked a long-awaited Mediterranean cruise. Before cracking open your guidebook, make one more purchase to ensure that your dream vacation goes smoothly: travel insurance. Nearly one-fourth of Americans had to cancel, delay or interrupt travel plans between spring 2013 and fall 2014, reports the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, mainly because of illness, severe weather or transportation delays. A comprehensive travel insurance policy includes coverage for those problems and others that might derail your trip, both before and during your vacation. As insurance goes, its relatively inexpensivetypically 5% of the cost of your trip. You can generally lock in coverage up to 24 hours before your departure. But the sooner you buy, the more key, time-sensitive benefits you get, including coverage for preexisting conditions. Good reasons to buy. Most insurers package plans will reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if you have to cancel or interrupt your travels because of a close family members death or illness, storm damage that makes your destination uninhabitable, or a layoff from work. They also typically reimburse you if your flight is delayed or your bags are lost or stolen. And you should get 24-hour phone support. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up If you fall ill or injure yourself abroad, the medical and medevac component will pay for emergency medical care, as well as medically equipped flights to a hospital or, in extreme circumstances, back home. When you travel abroad and rely on your own health insurance, you typically have to pay out of pocket and submit a claim when you returnif your policy provides coverage at all. Medicare pays for treatment abroad only in rare circumstances. But even comprehensive policies have plenty of limitations and gapsand hoops you have to jump through to claim a benefit. For example, if your bag was stolen, youll need proof, such as a police report. And the coverage probably wont pay to replace your most expensive itemsat full value or at allso you may do better to add a camera or iPhone as a scheduled item on your homeowners policy. Damian Tysdal, founder of TravelInsuranceReview.net (opens in new tab), says that one of his clients most common regrets is not buying a policy sooner because they lose out on valuable perks. For example, preexisting medical conditions are normally excluded from travel insurance. But this exclusion can be waived if you buy your policy within about 10 to 30 days after you put down your first deposit toward your trip and satisfy a few other conditions. Usually, you can also add a cancel for any reason rider if you buy insurance within 10 to 21 days of spending money on your vacation, but such a rider is rarely a good value. Terrorist attacks and disease outbreaks, such as Zika, are high on the list of travelers concerns this year, but you may pay a lot more to cover these perils. What about weather-related problems or disasters? If you buy a policy with hurricane and weather coverage well in advance and theres storm damage to your destination that forces you to cancel, you are eligible for coverage. But your flight may have to be significantly delayed (say, between 12 and 48 hours), your accommodations ruined or the area evacuated. Once a hurricane is named, its too late to buy coverage. Dont rely on travel insurance sold by airlines, cruise companies or travel-aggregator sites. Its one plan, no choice, says Tysdal. Even if you recognize the name of the insurer, it may have trimmed-down benefits to make the plan more affordable. For example, searching a weeklong trip to Peru on Delta.com produced a trip insurance add-on for $50. But it limits medical coverage to $10,000 and evacuation to $50,000, and will reimburse cancellation expenses for fewer reasons (and only up to the cost of the $668 plane ticket). Searching for a policy on comparison site Squaremouth.com (opens in new tab) for the same itinerary produced similarly priced plans with broader coverage, including ones with at least $50,000 in medical coverage and $100,000 for evacuation. With a cruise-protection plan, you might receive a refund as credit toward a future cruise rather than as cash. Your credit card may offer trip-protection benefits, but the gaps are even more notable, especially for medical care. If you dont think youll need trip insuranceor you think the hassle of making a claim would be more trouble than its worthat least consider a stand-alone medical and medevac policy. Emergency evacuation can run six figures, which your travel insurer will coordinate and pay on your behalf. As above, look for about $50,000 in medical coverage and $100,000 for medevac coverage. Shop around. The best way to shop for a policy is to use a comparison site, such as www.insuremytrip.com (opens in new tab) or www.squaremouth.com. (Policies are priced the same whether you buy them through a site or directly from the provider.) First, jot down your concerns or nonnegotiable items: Is your beachfront resort in hurricane territory? Look for a policy that allows you to cancel if a hurricane warning is issued within 24 to 36 hours of your departure. Are you participating in any hazardous activities, such as scuba diving? You may need to purchase an additional rider or dive only to a specified depth. Next, enter into the quote box your trip dates, some personal details and the sum of all prepaid, nonrefundable portions of your trip that you dont want to forfeit. Once the search engine has generated a list of plans, sort them from least to most expensive, then work your way down until you find a policy that meets your needs at a reasonable price. Getting reimbursed can be a hassle, and failing to submit proper documentation, such as proof of payment for claimed expenses, can delay or rule out a refund. For example, you will need a physicians note declaring you unfit to travel in order to cancel for medical reasons, or a report from the airline confirming your suitcase is delayed. Meals and accommodations may be covered while youre waiting out a flight delay, but you will need to keep your receipts. And if you recoup trip costs another waysay, your airline offers you credit for a missed flightyou cant accept the credit and apply for reimbursement. Look for travel insurance plans with primary medical care, rather than secondary, to speed up the claims process. In all situations, call your provider as soon as you encounter a problem to confirm youre following the correct steps. Cancel for any reason? Spooked vacationers are increasingly looking to travel insurance to soothe their worries about terrorist attacks and diseases such as Zika. But even if your policy includes terrorism coverage, youll typically be compensated for canceling your trip only if the attack occurs in or near a city on your itinerary (not just anywhere in the country), within 30 to seven days of your departure, and if it is deemed a terrorist attack by the State Department. The same goes for travelers who are anxious about traveling to Zika-prone countries. Government or CDC warnings related to disease outbreaks are not considered valid reasons to suspend your trip. However, youll still be eligible for medical coverage if you contract the virus during your travels. To assuage your fears, you would need a cancel for any reason rider, but these upgrades are not a great value. The rider typically increases the price of your policy by 50% and will reimburse you for only about 75% of trip costs. We dont recommend it unless travelers come to us with very specific concerns we know wont be covered, says Megan Singh, project management director at Squaremouth.com. Plus, you must still cancel two or three days before your trip is scheduled to begin. Editors Note: With the U.S. elections just half a year away, it is important for investors to now start considering how each presidential candidate could potentially affect their portfolio, particularly their gold investments. Kitco News continues its new series Gold-Ocracy that asks veteran industry experts how they think Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, and of course, Donald Trump could affect the global economy. Stay tuned every Friday as a new expert opinion is unveiled and as they share who they think would be best for gold and stock markets, as well as who they think the Federal Reserve fears most at the White House. (Kitco News) - This week, we get thoughts from longtime economist and founder of one of the biggest libertarian conferences Freedom Fest, Mark Skousen. After winning in the Northeastern states, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump remain the likely candidates to receive their respective parties nomination; and, according to Skousen, both candidates could be positive for the gold market. You can also catchup on previous articles: Week 1 of the series included comments from famed financial commentator Dennis Gartman. of the series included comments from famed financial commentator Dennis Gartman. Week 2 had comments from 25-year veteran commodities trader Vince Lanci. had comments from 25-year veteran commodities trader Vince Lanci. Week 3 included insights from famed libertarian and contrarian investor Doug Casey. included insights from famed libertarian and contrarian investor Doug Casey. Week 4 had longtime trend forecaster Gerald Celente saying Wall Street would be delighted with Clinton in the White House had longtime trend forecaster Gerald Celente saying Wall Street would be delighted with Clinton in the White House Week 6 check out market visionary Keith Fitz-Gerald comments on the U.S. presidential candidates and why he thinks the U.S. central bank may not be too happy about Trump's lead. check out market visionary Keith Fitz-Gerald comments on the U.S. presidential candidates and why he thinks the U.S. central bank may not be too happy about Trump's lead. Week 7 read now to find out why veteran market watcher Rick Rule thinks Trump & Clinton would both help gold. read now to find out why veteran market watcher Rick Rule thinks Trump & Clinton would both help gold. Week 8 read now to find out why Dundees chief economist Martin Murenbeeld thinks Trump would likely hurt the dollar, and thus gold. Expert: Mark Skousen Claim to Fame: Editor of Forecasts & Strategies, presidential fellow at Chapman University & producer of Freedom Fest. Which presidential candidate would be best for gold? Why? Skousen said both Clinton and Trump will help the gold market. But, for very different reasons. Hillary is no Bill, and she is likely to push through more government programs and interventionist policies, he stated. Trump is likely to create a lot havoc by making our military stronger and creating enemies abroad. His anti-foreign trade policy will make goods more expensive in the US, raising price inflation and the cost of living. And he refuses to touch Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, Medicaid, and other government programs that are growing out of control (unfunded liabilities). Who would be best for U.S. economy and the dollar? Why? To answer this question, Skousen brought libertarian Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson into the mix. Ted Cruz or Gary Johnson, the libertarian candidate, he answered. They both sharply lower tax rates and deregulation, which would boost productivity. Higher economic growth would be bullish for the dollar. Who would be best for stock markets? Why? Skousen said he expects Cruz, Trump and Johnson to boost equity markets because they all favor lowering capital gains taxes. Clinton and Sanders want to raise taxes even more on investors, which would hurt the stock market and capital investment (and therefore long-term growth rates), he added. Who do you think the Fed wouldnt want in the White House? Why? Sanders, Cruz, Trump, or Johnson because all four have been critical of the Fed and would make major changes, he said. However, he continued, Clinton would be the most acceptable candidate for the Fed officials, and least likely to rock the boat. Of the candidates running now, who would be your best pick? Gary Johnson is my favorite, Skousen said. He has experience as a 2-time governor of New Mexico. His libertarian policies are not too radical, and he would bring sound thinking to Washington. By Sarah Benali of Kitco News; sbenali@kitco.com Follow @SdBenali Lt. Barry Doll and his wife, Debbie, are recognized during the Heroesa Welcome ceremony for individual augmentees at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor on Friday. Doll, a Navy Reservist, served as a contracting officer for a year near Kabul, Afghanistan. SHARE Capt. Thomas Zwolfer presents Lt. Lauren Schuetz with a certificate of appreciation. Capt.. Maureen Pennington, the executive officer at Naval Hospital Bremerton who previously served as an individual augmentee, talks about her experiences. Capt. Thomas Zwolfer shakes hands with Jerian Trejo, 7, as her brother Julian, 6, and parents Jose and Jeriemay look on. Jose Trejo, a Navy individual augmentee, was among those honored at the Heroesa Welcome 2013 Honor Ceremony at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor on Friday. By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun Navy Reservist Barry Doll left his family and insurance business this year to serve in Afghanistan. The lieutenant was among 147 sailors from Kitsap County who worked overseas as individual augmentees. Thirty of them attended the seventh annual Heroes Welcome ceremony put on by Navy Region Fleet and Family Support Center on Friday at the Bangor chapel. Navy individual augmnetees provide manpower to the Army and Marine Corps one person at a time, an effort in place for about a decade. It can be difficult for a sailor (alone and with just a few weeks training) to function as part of a unit from another military service, then, a year later, return home and reintegrate into a family and community that have learned to get along without them. Its even tougher on a reservists, who dont have the support the Navy provides active-duty sailors. Doll tried to manage the company and be a father of three teenagers from Camp Vose, in Kabul province, where as a contracting officer he was responsible for assuring seven forward operating bases were built to specifications. It was impossible. One of the manager challenges I found was learning to let go from afar, Doll said in a vignette as images of his deployment flashed on a screen. (Wife and business partner) Debbie knows the business and she was the one still at home. Personally, I had anxiety departing and going to a war zone, but I also felt very capable with her and the staff at our business. Debbie knew the business, but she missed the support network she had when Barry was on active duty and deployed on the fast combat support ship USS Sacramento. This one-year IA was completely different than anything we had ever done, she said. With the Sacramento, there was a ships wives club she could go to, but as the spouse of a reservist, there was nobody here going through what she was. With no family in the area and no real connection to the active-duty military community, she relied on her church and community organizations. The Dolls stepped up to the challenge of their new roles and succeeded both at home and abroad. Guest speaker Capt. Maureen Pennington, executive officer at Naval Hospital Bremerton, has grown with the IA system. She got the spouses perspective when, as a young officer, she stayed home with a young son while her Navy SEAL husband deployed. Both parents were deployed when she served on the hospital ship USNS Comfort. Fortunately, her parents were able to keep their son for eight months. By the time she deployed with the Marines to Iraq, the services had realized the benefits of training together first. When you go into a situation like that, you have to know what youre doing, said Pennington, who said on that deployment she became a leader who needed to take care of everybody she worked with. Her third deployment was a year in Afghanistan with the Army. While there, her daughters best friend was killed in an accident. She needed her mom. I couldnt go home, Pennington said. Its something that would bother me my whole life, but thats our mission, thats why we wear these uniforms. The 30 individual augmentees at Fridays ceremony, including 16 from the hospital, received certificates of appreciation, spouses got letters of appreciation and families were given American Hero quilts and other gifts. SHARE By Kitsap Sun Staff SEATTLE Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound fined a Freeland man $100,000 Tuesday for striking the Washington State Ferry Tokiate with a high-powered blue laser Oct. 22. Investigators determined that Mark Raden was aboard the ferry Kitsap, traveling between Mukilteo and Clinton, when he pointed the laser at the pilot house of the Tokitae, which was crossing in the other direction. The action resulted in eye injuries to the master and chief mate. Coast Guard officials are also seeking civil penalties for violating a safety and security zone, and interference with the safe operation of the Tokitae. The final penalty amount will be determined by a Coast Guard hearing officer in Arlington, Virginia. "Firing a laser at a vessel is extremely dangerous and directly interferes with the safe movement of commercial vessels and the Coast Guard's ability to conduct search-and-rescue operations," said Capt. Joe Raymond, Captain of the Port, Sector Puget Sound. "I encourage individuals who witness laser attacks on commercial vessels and Coast Guard small boats and aircraft to call 911." Laser strikes on state ferries and Coast Guard helicopters and rescue boats in Puget Sound have continued to increase over the past few years. They can affect the Coast Guard's ability to respond to distress calls, provide medical care of a rescued person and cause physical injury to anybody who is struck. SHARE The sudden appearance of Donald Trump on the political horizon last year may have been surprising, but not nearly as surprising as seeing some conservatives supporting him. Does Trump have conservative principles? Does he have any principles at all, other than promoting Donald Trump? A smorgasbord of political positions none of them indicating any serious thought about complicated issues is not a principle. Nor is cheering for himself and boasting about all the great things he is going to do as President. Haven't we seen this movie before? Wasn't Barack Obama going to heal the racial divide, end the partisan bickering in Washington, have the most transparent administration ever, lower the cost of health care and let you keep your own doctor? Had he actually done all those things, walking on water as an encore would have been an anticlimax. But instead, he did the opposite of all those things. There was absolutely nothing in Obama's track record that should have led anyone to think that he would even try to do any of the things he declared he was going to do. But why spoil a great vision, and soaring rhetoric, by checking track records? It was bad enough for the voters to make the colossal mistake of being taken in by appearances and ignoring realities. But to repeat that very same mistake with Trump, immediately after the Obama administration, is truly staggering. How many Pied Pipers are we going to follow off to parts unknown? At this late date, there is no point itemizing the many things that demonstrate Trump's gross inadequacies for being President of the United States. Trump himself has demonstrated those gross inadequacies repeatedly, at least weekly and sometimes daily. Those who do not believe their own eyes and ears are certainly not going to believe any words of mine, or of anyone else. What William James called "the will to believe" is still as powerful today as it was when he coined the phrase more than a century ago. But what is there about Donald Trump that taps into that powerful current of credulity? The many betrayals of the voters by the Republican establishment, year after year, no doubt set the stage. And Trump is a great theatrical performer on any stage. But is that enough? It has been enough politically to put some of the great demagogues of history in power, especially after the existing establishment has discredited itself. The discredited Weimar Republic in Germany was vulnerable to the verbal attacks by Adolf Hitler that brought him to power. Now we know, too late, that Hitler turned out to be a bigger catastrophe for Germany and the world than the Weimar Republic. Donald Trump is not an evil man like Hitler. But his headstrong shallowness and fecklessness make him a dangerous man to have in the White House, with our enemies around the world on the march, and developing intercontinental missiles that can deliver nuclear bombs. A President of the United States has many heavy responsibilities beyond building a wall and fighting the Republican establishment. Just the thought of Trump appointing justices of the Supreme Court, who will have lifetime tenure and make decisions, for decades, that will determine whether we will still be a free people, should sober up all who have not been irretrievably hypnotized by rhetoric or so embittered by the betrayals of the Republican establishment that they can see little else, including life and death issues. For conservatives especially, there is finally a real choice for a change and a sharp contrast with Donald Trump. Senator Ted Cruz has a track record that leaves no doubt as to his adherence to conservative principles. And he is as thoroughly versed in the issues facing this country as anyone who has run for President since Ronald Reagan. Has Senator Cruz been flawless? Certainly not, and this column has more than once pointed out some of those flaws. But he has both the principles and the intellect for the job. Given the alternatives Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton that should be more than enough this election year. The outcome of this Tuesday's primaries may tell us whether the voters want to vent their feelings or to choose someone to lead the nation in a time of dangers, at home and abroad. Stuff reports: Bad tenants are being unfairly let off the hook for property damage after a court decision, landlords say. The Court of Appeal ruled last week that tenants who caused a fire by leaving oil unattended on a stove in 2009 could not be held financially liable. The Residential Tenancies Act states tenants can be made to pay for damage caused by neglect or carelessness. The Property Law Act says they are not liable for damage from perils beyond their control such as fire, storm, earthquake or volcanic eruption. Leaving oil unattended on a stove seems pretty careless to me. Landlords and property managers say that while last weeks appeal court decision may have been fair, the ruling opens the floodgates for tenants being excused for severe negligence and deliberate damage. One Christchurch property manager, who did not want his business identified for fear of jeopardising live Tenancy Tribunal claims, said they had lost two applications in the last few days seeking orders for tenants to pay landlords insurance excesses after damage. The harm included carpets covered in drink stains and cigarette burns, damaged walls, and ignored plumbing leaks which led to water damage, he said. The Tenancy Tribunal said they had made their ruling because of the Appeal Court ruling. They definitely used that as an excuse to exonerate tenants for any damage, the property manager said. So what is the possible impact: The property manager said the rulings would lead to higher insurance premiums pushing up rents, or landlords excluding risky tenants such as families with children. Insurance companies could also insist landlords take only insured tenants, he said. The good tenants will have to pay the price for what the bad ones do. Requiring tenants to be insured could well be the outcome. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Once again, the Orthodox bishops of Aleppo ventured into the dangerous maze of checkpoints manned by competing forces along Syria's border with Turkey. The goal, three years ago, was for Metropolitan Paul Yazigi of the Antiochian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Church to help negotiate the release of two priests who had been kidnapped weeks earlier. Then, west of Aleppo, a pack of unidentified armed men attacked. The bishops' driver was killed in the gunfire. A fourth passenger escaped and then testified consistent with other reports that the kidnappers did not speak Arabic and appeared to be from Chechnya. The bishops simply vanished. According to a new World Council of Arameans report: "No one has ever claimed responsibility for the abduction, neither has there been a clear sign of life of the bishops since April 22, 2013." Later reports were "all based on unverified rumors, hearsay and false reports which often contradicted each other." This kidnapping never inspired global news coverage. For some reason, tweeting out #BringBackOurBishops never caught on with hashtag activists inside the Washington Beltway or in Hollywood. But millions of Eastern Orthodox Christians especially those with Syrian and Lebanese roots are praying for the bishops of Aleppo. These prayers escalated with the three-year anniversary of the kidnappings and then, this week, with the sobering rites of Holy Week leading to Good Friday, Holy Saturday and, finally, Pascha Easter this Sunday (following the ancient Julian calendar). On April 21, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, Patriarch John X, and the corresponding Syriac Orthodox leader, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, released a joint statement that urged their flocks not to lose hope. "If the intention of the kidnapping event (was) to intimidate us, however, we, Christians, are the descendants of those who, two thousand years ago, put on the name of Christ in this particular land," they wrote. "We mold our bread from this land, and from the strength of our belonging to it. Thus, we preserve our identity as Antiochian Easterners, through whatever difficulties or tribulations. ... "We shall continue to live in this East, ringing our bells, building our churches and lifting up our Crosses." This kidnapping has, from the beginning, created a whirlwind of unanswered questions. Who kidnapped the bishops? Were the kidnappers linked, as would seem logical, to radical Islamists? If so, what group? What were their motives, since there have been no confirmed ransom demands? Are the bishops alive and, if so, where are they? What about the reports that one has been killed? If undercover agents with governments linked to the fighting have answers, they have not been communicating with the Orthodox. Some of the most disturbing news came early, noted the World Council of Arameans report, since multiple sources say the kidnappers were associated with "the al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaida branch in Syria. This terrorist-listed group has been identified more than once as the perpetrator behind Christian massacres such as in the ancient Aramean town of Sadad locals testified that al-Nusra cooperated with the Western-backed rebel group of the Free Syrian Army." Christians in this battered region have been distressed by the silence surrounding this case, stressed the statement by the two patriarchs. But they said their flocks have been even more troubled by the assumption that it's time to flee their homes and ancient altars to risk "perilous sea travel and ship wreckage" abroad. "We remain in this land. ... We were not a minority, and will never be," proclaimed Patriarch John X and Patriarch Aphrem II. "We appreciate every humanitarian effort of governments or organizations. However, let us put it bluntly: We cannot be protected through facilitating the migration of refugees. We are not petitioning for protection. Rather, we are seeking peace." Thus, they appealed once again for the release of the bishops of Aleppo. "This land of the East is now bleeding, but shall, without doubt, rise again. ... Our prayer goes to the Lord of the Resurrection and the Master of Lights to surround with His comforting Light and divine protection all those who are defending their land, and give eternal rest to all the martyrs, and to bring back all the abducted people safe to their beloved ones." Terry Mattingly is the editor of GetReligion.org and Senior Fellow for Media and Religion at The King's College in New York City. He lives in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Alia Shawkat, center, and Anton Yelchin play members of a punk band who end up fighting for their survival in "Green Room." SHARE By Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service In writer-director Jeremy Saulnier's "Blue Ruin," which put him on the map in 2013, the tension is controlled, measured; it follows an intentional plan of violence in a story of long overdue revenge. In his follow-up, "Green Room," Saulnier takes the opposite approach, in a horror story of the chaos and random chance of violence set in the world of hardcore punk shows. While "Blue Ruin" was openly emotional, burrowing into deep interfamilial rifts, "Green Room" throws strangers together to see how they fare in extreme situations, adding a touch of dry, morbid humor to the gruesome proceedings. This switch up is a kind of revelation for Saulnier, injecting a stream of purest punk smack right into the vein. "Green Room" just might be the kind of punk horror movie you never knew you always wanted, catalyzing disparate elements into a heady, bloody, loud stew of horror macerated with hardcore. "Green Room" falls into the genre of thrillers where something goes very wrong and everyone involved subsequently makes poor choices, leading to an even worse situation. In this case, a young DIY hardcore band, Ain't Rights, find themselves at a backwoods Virginia compound that's just a shade too neo-Nazi for their taste. They're only there to play a show in order to make enough gas money to get home to D.C. in their wretched van. After their set, Pat (Anton Yelchin) goes to grab Sam's (Alia Shawkat) phone from their dressing room and becomes a witness to a horrendous crime in the process. Thinking fast, security (Eric Edelstein) and the club manager (Macon Blair) barricade the band in the room, along with punk girl Amber (Imogen Poots), to keep them from calling 911 or going to the police. Soon, their boss (Patrick Stewart) shows up to contain the situation, with dogs and weapons and young men called Red Laces in tow. The film wants to explore both the mayhem of violence and the banality of pure evil when multiple murder is treated like mopping the floor and taking out the trash, a chore, a task. One of the scariest elements of the film is the nonchalant way in which the neo-Nazi movement becomes just another community outpost, just another club to join, with Stewart as a beleaguered leader. These aren't goose-stepping, spittle-flying fascists these are far more insidious because they seem normal, and they're very organized. Poots and Yelchin carry the film as innocent-faced strangers who band together to use their smarts and resourcefulness to combat the forces against them. In this film, brains faces brawn, and it's never clear which one is going to prevail. The violence comes in bursts a quick buckshot spatter of maiming or death. The pacing follows a fast-fast-slow pattern, with violence followed by long periods of introspection to ponder how one step, one choice changes the course of life. Saulnier captures the atmosphere of the hazy, grimy, damp club, as well as rituals of hardcore culture down to the nuts and bolts, down to the haircuts and jackets and shoes everything means something, everything has significance. Though the film expresses chaotic energy in music and violence, nothing about the filmmaking is random. Each detail is meticulously placed, threads stitched together to create the larger whole of a horror film that is just about perfect. A still from "April and the Extraordinary World." SHARE A still from "April and the Extraordinary World." By Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times Though its output is at times overshadowed by work from other countries, French animation is a force to be reckoned with, and never more so than in the strangely wonderful, wonderfully strange "April and the Extraordinary World." With Marion Cotillard voicing the title character in both the original French and the English dubbed version, "April" is ambitious in scale and often gorgeous to look at. Directed by Christian Desmares and Franck Ekinci, it benefits most of all from the work of much-admired veteran French graphic novelist Jacques Tardi. Tardi, best known for bringing the intrepid heroine Adele Blanc-Sec to life, is credited here for "creation & graphic universe," which means he came up with the world April and her friends move in. And extraordinary is an excellent way to describe it. Part science fiction cosmos, part alternate reality steampunk universe and all adventure all the time, the cosmos Tardi has visualized and screenwriters Ekinci and Benjamin Legrand have written is imaginative in a way that by intention is both familiar and out of this world. "April" begins with a brief but crucial prologue, set in July 1870, with Napoleon III ruling France and the country headed into the Franco-Prussian War. On the eve of the conflagration, Napoleon III and his top general make a clandestine nighttime visit to the lab of visionary inventor Gustave Franklin. Gustave has been working on a top secret project, a serum that (shades of "Captain America") will make French soldiers invulnerable. But that serum had unexpected results on the animals Gustave tested it on, and in the chaos that follows that revelation, the emperor expires, the Franco-Prussian War never happens, and history finds itself going down a wormhole to terra incognita. For reasons that are revealed much later, what also happens is a worldwide wave of disappearances of top scientists. With no one to invent things, nothing is invented, not radio, not television, not even electricity. What results is a classic steampunk world where all transportation relies on outdated steam power. That means massive use of first coal and then charcoal to power things, wars with North America for control of forests, and a Paris that is a visual marvel. Created in rich but muted colors, as befits a city that has to deal with the pollution aftereffects of all that steam power, "April's" Paris features not one but twin Eiffel Towers and intricately imagined machines like a cable car that can go from Paris to Berlin in a swift 82 hours. In this world our first stop is 1931, 60 years later, where Gustave's by now aged son Prosper, aka Pops (voiced by the venerable Jean Rochefort in French), his son Paul (Olivier Gourmet) and Paul's wife, Annette (Macha Grenon), are still on the hunt for Gustave's invention, now called the Ultimate Serum. On the hunt for the family is an agent of the law, Inspector Pizoni (Bouli Lanners), as implacable as Inspector Javert of "Les Miserables" but much funnier, who is determined to claim the serum for the state. The great bulk of "April and the Extraordinary World" takes place 10 years later, in 1941, with Paul and Annette's by now teenage daughter April taking center stage, living in an enormous hollowed-out military statue and searching for the serum as desperately as her parents. April's reasons, however, are strictly personal. Darwin, the family cat (voiced by Philippe Katerine), who an early injection had given the power of sophisticated speech, has been felled by all the pollution and is in danger of losing his life. While April toils away, Pizoni has not given up the chase, now employing a young thief named Julius (Marc-Andre Grondin) to track down the young woman or else. Complicated as this sounds, it only sets the stage for "April's" main action, which involves unusual animals, secret labs, even an ambulatory house that plays like a tribute to Hayao Miyazaki's "Howl's Moving Castle." This is one grand adventure, and, animated or not, those are always welcome. By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel A former senior TVA manager has admitted he was paid by the Chinese government for nuclear technological information while working for the utility, court records unsealed Friday show. Ching Ning Guey has struck a deal to plead guilty to a charge of development of special nuclear material outside the U.S. The case, kept under seal for more than a year, is tied to an indictment announced earlier this month against a Chinese nuclear engineer and a Chinese-owned nuclear power plant alleging nuclear espionage. Plea agreement for Ching Ning Guey in nuclear spying case Guey worked as a senior manager for the probabilistic risk assessment division of the Tennessee Valley Authority from 2010 to 2014. According to a plea agreement filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Atchley, Guey had access through his job to tightly-controlled information about the development and production of special nuclear material. "The defendant received warnings and guidance on the restrictions and controls that pertain to the prohibitions against the distribution and sharing of this information with restricted countries," Atchley wrote. But in November 2013, Guey was invited to travel to China at the request of a nuclear power company owned by the People's Republic of China. The trip was financed by the Chinese government, and Guey was paid by the Chinese government for three key Electric Power Research Institute reports that China was barred from accessing, Atchley wrote. All three reports provided key information about light-water and heavy-water nuclear reactors and are regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Nonproliferation and International Security. Guey, who was born in Taiwan but became a naturalized citizen in 1990, was recruited as far back as 2004 to provide the Chinese government with nuclear information, court records show. That relationship came as a result of Guey's meeting in the early 1990s with Chinese nuclear engineer Szuhsiung "Allen" Ho at a Chinese American Nuclear Technology Association event. The payments to Guey included a check sent by Ho to a Chattanooga address totaling $15,555 for services in 2013 and 2014, according to court records. Ho was arrested earlier this month in Atlanta on a federal indictment charging him, his firm, Energy Technology International, and China General Nuclear Power with conspiracy to commit espionage. He arrived in Knoxville this week, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Guyton on Tuesday set a June 27 trial date. That date is expected to change. Atchley sought to keep Ho locked up pending trial, and Ho did not resist the move. Atlanta attorney W. Carl Lietz III has filed paperwork to represent Ho. Subscribe to our newsletters. Get headlines in your inbox. Prosecutors allege Ho conspired to lure nuclear experts in the U.S. into providing information to allow China to develop and produce nuclear material based on American technology and under the radar of the U.S. government. The indictment consists of one count of conspiracy to illegally engage and participate in the production and development of special nuclear material outside the U.S. and one count of conspiracy to act in the U.S. as an agent of a foreign government. Six unidentified American co-conspirators were listed in the indictment. Guey was among them, although not identified by name. Court records unsealed Friday show Guey has been cooperating in the investigation of Ho and the Chinese government. Ho's indictment lists incidents of Guey providing Ho and the Chinese-operated nuclear power plants technological information in addition to the one for which Guey is pleading guilty. Their allegiance dates back to at least 2004, when Guey worked for Florida Power & Light nuclear plant and provided "information regarding nuclear power plant outage times" for use at China General's Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant and provided consulting services to Daya Bay during that time, the Ho indictment stated. Guey's plea deal includes a provision granting him immunity from prosecution for the other offenses outlined in the Ho indictment as part of his cooperation agreement. Such immunity deals, although not the norm, are not unusual when a defendant acts as a key witness against a co-conspirator higher up on the crime food chain. Guey has a team of lawyers: Ann Short and Donald A. Bosch as current Knoxville counsel and veteran Nashville attorney Ed Yarbrough and his partner, Joseph Alexander Little IV, who negotiated the plea deal and immunity agreement. Guey is free pending sentencing, although a date for that has not yet been set. JaJuan Hubert Latham (Facebook) Gangs task force revamped, gets help from FBI, TBI and other agencies By Megan Boehnke of the Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville police have arrested "persons of interest" in the April 16 death of a 12-year-old boy killed at a Mechanicsville park, but the charges are not related to the drive-by shooting, Police Chief David Rausch said Thursday. No one has been charged with JaJuan Latham's death, and the investigation is continuing, he said. Rausch declined to comment further on the arrests, but said they were the result of a revamped gang task force that was launched four months ago after the Dec. 17 shooting death of a 15-year-old boy in Lonsdale. Now called the "violence reduction team," the task force has fewer members this time around down to 17 full-time officers from its original 30 but has a "much more targeted" objective and new state and federal partners. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have all joined the effort, Rausch said. "Before, it was more intelligence-gathering and addressing kind of those immediate issues," Rausch said. "This time it's actually got more of a focus of, as I have stated, eradicating this issue of gangs in our community." The task force will target "criminal organizations that are profiting from violence," he said. Rausch was mum on exactly how the task force will go about targeting those syndicates, however, citing concerns it could "jeopardize the mission." Rausch launched the task force in early January following seven fatal shootings over two months. Police believed many of those shootings were gang-related, including that of Fulton High School sophomore Zaevion Dobson, who died while shielding two friends from a barrage of gunfire. Dobson's sacrifice drew public praise from President Barack Obama and brought a renewed attention to gun violence in the city. At the time, Rausch told the News Sentinel the team worked mostly at night, concentrating on "high-incident areas" for gun violence and gang activity. The gang task force drew criticism from a group of residents, some of whom spoke out during the public forum portion of City Council meetings. Rausch, however, dismissed the complaints as coming from "a vocal few" with an "anti-police" agenda. "The community I talk to, which is the ones who live in the community, those who care about the community, they have a totally different take on what we're doing, and they appreciate what we're doing," he said. "They're the ones who have patted us on the back and given us the thumbs-up and said, 'Keep up the good work.'" While Rausch said in February that the task force had netted 50 felony arrests and dozens of contacts with known gang members, the effort was eventually scaled back because of competing priorities, such as patrolling parks and greenways. After JaJuan died from a gunshot to the head while sitting in his father's Chevy Tahoe at Danny Mayfield Park, Rausch pledged to renew the task force. The intelligence gathered during the first iteration of the task force has been useful as the team regroups under its new strategy, Rausch said Thursday. "The last time was really about determining what the level (of gang activity) was, so it was a lot of intelligence gathering," he said. "We got a lot of very good information that really plays to where we're at now." The new task force includes 17 full-time officers along with overtime positions being filled on a nightly-basis, he said. The task force was larger in January because Rausch was able to pull in officers who normally patrol greenways and parks during the summer. But, he said, the task force will grow again over the summer when school resource officers will become available. "They'll be either joining with the group I have put together, or they will be assigned to positions where I can pull others to join," he said. Eli Seals eats a snack during an open house at the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee on Thursday. Along the wall is The Clothesline Project, shirts made by victims of sexual assault. Eli attended the event with mother Sara Seals of CEASE, a domestic abuse and sexual assault center in Morristown. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen speaks with former District Attorney Randy Nichols during the Shatter the Silence Event and open house at the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee on Thursday. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) Guests attend the open house for the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee on Thursday. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) By Kristi L. Nelson of the Knoxville News Sentinel In the silent room, the shirts spoke loudly. "Don't ignore us," one read. "You are not alone," read another. A third, addressing "my rapists," read, "I do not forgive you, but I forgive myself. I am not broken; I am whole. My voice was taken from me, but it is mine again. And I will never be silenced. I can never unknow these traumas. But I can become the person who would have saved the younger me." They are the words of survivors of sexual assault, painted on T-shirts and displayed on a clothesline at the Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee, part of the worldwide Clothesline Project. On Thursday, the nonprofit, operated by Helen Ross McNabb Center, had an event to "Shatter the Silence" to make the public aware of the impact of sexual crimes on the community, as well as the services the center offers. "There is a lot of silence around this topic," said Catherine Oakes, services coordinator for the center. "It's uncomfortable to talk about." And so center staff read aloud an essay penned by a sexual assault survivor about his experience, before offering tours of the center, which moved to a house on the John Tarleton Campus, off Sutherland Avenue, about 18 months ago. In the renovated building, which formerly housed teens in one of McNabb Center's independent living programs, is the center's 24-hour Crisis Center, where a phone call can bring in a forensic nurse to sensitively collect evidence after someone has been assaulted. It includes an exam room, so the process can be done there, although the nurses, who are trained in evidence collection and can testify in court, also will meet victims at area hospital emergency rooms if they choose. The 24-hour Crisis Center hotline number is 865-522-7273. There's also a location in Johnson City. Therapists who specialize in counseling survivors of sexual assault as well as child sexual abuse keep offices in the building, and it's also a meeting place for support groups and advocates who train to support those who have been assaulted. The center also provides a "personal safety" curriculum for elementary-age schoolchildren as well as other types of training. Founded in 1973 as the Rape Crisis Center, the Sexual Assault Center was a small, independent nonprofit before its January 2014 merger with McNabb Center. Through that merger, the facility receives some state and federal funding, but it also depends on local grants and private donations. In April, which is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the center launched a "Light the Way" campaign urging people to donate money to help the center provide clothing, hygiene products, transportation and therapy tools, among other items, for clients. Emily Scheuneman, the center's community relations director, said the campaign has raised $1,000 of its $5,000 goal. Gov. Bill Haslam (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig) SHARE Kimberly Riddle Seraya Glasper Zykia Burns James Davenport By Gerald Witt of the Knoxville News Sentinel The school bus crash that took three lives in Knoxville helped bring a new law banning use of electronic devices by school bus drivers. "It makes me feel ... at peace," said Sharon Glasper of the new law. Her 7-year-old daughter, Seraya, died in the Dec. 2, 2014 Knox County Schools bus crash that killed another student and a teacher's assistant. Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law Thursday the bill that increases the fine 20-fold and added jail time for texting while driving a school bus with students on board. "Texting and driving is a very serious matter," Glasper said Friday. James Davenport, 48, of Mascot, was hauling 22 children on a bus from Chilhowee Intermediate School on that day in 2014 that Seraya died. Knoxville police said Davenport, who has since died, was texting while driving. Davenport's bus 44 veered across multiple lanes of traffic and slammed into bus 57 that carried 18 Sunnyview Primary School students and a teacher's aide. The impact ripped open the front of Davenport's bus and toppled bus 57 onto its side. Zykia Burns, 6, and teacher's aide Kimberly Riddle, 46, also died in the crash. "We put our kids in other people's hands, riding the school bus," Glasper said. "You wouldn't ever imagine that your kid won't come back." Previously, using an electronic device while driving a school bus with children brought a $50 fine. The new law raises the fine to $1,000 and adds a 30-day jail sentence for convictions. "We hope this could be effective," Glasper said. District Attorney General Charme P. Allen worked with bill sponsors including 6th District Tennessee state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, and 13th District Tennessee state Rep. Eddie Smith, R-Knoxville, to support the bill's passage, according to a news release from Allen's office. In the months following the crash, according to the release, it became apparent current Tennessee law did not go far enough to prohibit distracted driving by those who transport children on school buses. Massey and Smith guided the bill through the Legislature with nearly unanimous support, according to Allen. Her proposal was also widely supported by prosecutors across the state through the District Attorneys General Conference, she said. "There are simply too many ways for drivers to distract themselves on our roadways," Massey said in the release. "With child safety in mind, we have dramatically broadened and strengthened the law to ensure that our school bus drivers are keeping their focus where it should be." Effective July 1, 2016, it will be illegal for a school bus driver to use any electronic device while the bus is moving with children onboard or while the bus is stopped to load or unload children. The law has exceptions for electronic devices used to communicate with central dispatch or for emergency purposes. The law reclassifies the violation from a Class C to a Class A misdemeanor. Anyone convicted under the new law also will be prohibited permanently from operating a school bus in Tennessee. "Following the events of December 2014, I vowed to do everything within my power to make sure that nothing like this happened in Tennessee again," Allen said in the release. "Thanks to a statewide effort, Tennessee now has the strongest law in the nation when it comes to distracted school bus drivers." Glasper said her daughter's passing still stings. "I'm still Sharon, I wake up every day with a smile," she said. "It hurts, it does, but I'm getting through these days one day at a time." She said she talked with Smith as the bill was going through the Legislature. "This was a vital step to protect our children from unnecessary danger on their way to and from school," Smith said in the release. "The strengthened penalties should make it very clear that the safety of our children is our number one priority." Glasper's family was in Nashville when the bill was heard in session. Even with it being signed into law, Glasper wants all drivers to stop texting behind the wheel. "Focus on the road. Focus on everyone you have in the car with you," she said. "Just let it wait. Do not text and drive." Stopping texting while driving is one of her missions, now. "If I could I would talk every day, all day, on that matter," Glasper said. "It not only affected me, it affected the whole community of Knoxville." SHARE A spring fashion show to benefit Carson-Newman University students is Saturday. The "Stepping into Spring 2016" fashion show is 2:30 p.m. at Standard Kitchen and Bath, 8719 Kingston Pike, in Knoxville. The show features clothes for women and children from area boutiques and is organized by the Carson-Newman Women of Vision Organization. Included in the show are items for Twig Children's Boutique and Janice Ann's Fashions in Knoxville as well as from Azlinn Hope Fashion Boutique in Jefferson City. Attendees can eat appetizers and enter to win door prizes as they view the spring fashions. Proceeds from the show will go to campus projects by Women of Vision to benefit students at Carson-Newman. The Women of Vision philanthropic organization is in its fifth year. The group works to "enhance areas of the university that benefit students and the college experience," for the more than 2,500 students at Carson-Newman, according to a news release. Members of the organization focus on using their faith, skills, resources and energies to aid academic excellence at Carson-Newman. There are more than 400 members of Women of Vision, and the group volunteers and raises funds for projects. Every year, the organization sponsors "Back to the Creek Week," where members volunteer on campus, typically during July. Last year, the group worked on updates to the student lounge and map room in one building and expanding a classroom in another building. Tickets to the show are $25 and can be purchased by calling 865-471-4164. News Sentinel Staff By News Sentinel Staff The superintendent of Mountain View Youth Development Center in Dandridge was fired on Friday. State Department of Children's Services spokesman Rob Johnson said Tommy Francis, who had been under probe, "did not resign." "A series of recent developments and events at the facility and not any single allegation or investigation prompted the department to make today's change," Johnson wrote in a Friday news release. Johnson had said the day before Francis was under investigation after a claim that he directed a racial epithet toward one of the inmates at the center, which houses juvenile offenders. Francis became the superintendent of Mountain View in February. He previously served as the membership director of the Tennessee State Employees Association and in various roles at the Morgan County Correctional Complex, including as unit manager, correctional sergeant and health administrator. On Friday, a team of DCS staff arrived to take over the center, according to the release. The department will also begin an immediate search for a new superintendent. Mountain View currently has 48 inmates in custody, many of whom have committed serious crimes. More details as they develop online and in Saturday's News Sentinel. Greg Johnson, News Sentinel columnist. The hate speech will surely not stop and may even intensify now that Gov. Bill Haslam has signed into law a bill protecting the religious liberty of Tennessee counselors. Opponents of the measure will still lament, lambast and vilify, showing zero tolerance in demeaning those with whom they differ. Haslam signed HB 1840, which the American Counseling Association and multiple gay rights groups called "Hate Bill 1840" in earlier denunciations of legislation that allows therapists to refer clients to other counselors when the patient's goals and desired outcomes conflict with the therapist's "sincerely held principles." Mainstream media, whether unconsciously or intentionally, molded to the message of "hate." The Huffington Post wrote "Tennessee Passes Anti-LGBT Counseling Bill." The Hollywood Reporter headlined a story "Tennessee Governor Signs Anti-LGBT Counseling Bill Into Law." NPR, of course, accepted the language of the left: "Tennessee Enacts Law Letting Therapists Refuse Patients On Religious Grounds." Notice a pattern? Some very few outlets, to their credit, noted the law contains protections for both counselors and clients. "First, the bill clearly states that it 'shall not apply to a counselor or therapist when an individual seeking or undergoing counseling is in imminent danger of harming themselves or others," Haslam said. "Secondly, the bill requires that any counselor or therapist who feels they cannot serve a client due to the counselor's sincerely held principles must coordinate a referral of the client to another counselor or therapist who will provide the counseling or therapy." Those provisions will not stop the acrimony, the hate-filled dogma and totalitarian-tinged verbal assaults of gay rights activists and their defenders in the mainstream media. But here's what is not being reported with any depth, empathy or understanding: Counselors who, after all, chose a helping profession will be able to keep their convictions while finding the best fit for patients in need of care. But why do counselors need statutory protection? In Colorado this week, the state Supreme Court ordered a baker to bake wedding cakes for gay couples after one gay couple came to his shop in 2012, then filed suit when he refused their order. In Oregon, another baker was ordered to pay $136,000 to a lesbian couple refusing to make their cake on religious grounds. In Illinois, a Christian couple who declined to host a gay wedding at their bed-and-breakfast had to pay a court-ordered $80,000. In Kentucky, the owner of a T-shirt shop is still in court after he refused to print "gay pride" shirts in 2012. Last week, a gay Texas pastor called a press conference to announce his lawsuit against Whole Foods, alleging the store put a gay slur on his cake. Whole Foods noted the employee who made the cake is a member of the LGBT community, cited video evidence and said, essentially, the pastor doctored the cake. In an ironic turnabout, Whole Foods is countersuing. Notice a pattern? And that's why Tennessee counselors need legal protection. To stop the hate. The Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) From the Not-So-Farfetched File: The helicopter hovered over the 50-yard-line at Neyland Stadium. University of Tennessee physics professor Miles Down and state Rep. Roger Kane were secured in harnesses near the open cargo door. Down yelled over the rotor din, "Mr. Kane, you introduced the Heavier Things Fall Faster Bill in the Legislature." "Yup," yelled Kane, "that just makes common sense, something lacking on this campus." "Well," continued Down, "we're going to replicate a legendary experiment. Here are two spheres, same shape to equalize friction and wind resistance. One is 10 pounds; one is 2 pounds." Down simultaneously drops both balls. A ground-based camera recorded them hitting the field at the same time. "That's nothin'," said Kane hurling a bowling ball and a feather toward the ground. "See, that proves my point." "No, it doesn't," declared Down, "the law of gravity works as I demonstrated." "Sorry, fella," chuckled Kane, "but we state legislators are the law here in Tennessee. Now, you'll teach it my way or we'll do to you what we did to the Office for Diversity and Inclusion." Elsewhere on campus, history professor Learned Styles was meeting with state Reps. Martin Daniel, Eddie Smith and Jason Zachary. "I think what concerns me most is the digital manipulation of this classic image," said Styles. "It's an 1863 photograph of an escaped Louisiana slave, his back revealing the scars of gruesome whippings. You've removed the scars and inserted what looks like a yellow happy-face decal." "We had to," declared Daniel. "Our constituents don't want all this negativity. Besides, we've had a black president, so diversity is no longer an issue. What more do you people want?" "There's just too much emphasis on the past," interjected Zachary. "It's a history class!" exclaimed Styles. "We're going to lose accreditation if you persist in this crusade." "Oh, I'm glad you mentioned the Crusades," said Smith. "Instead of Crusaders, now you must use the phrase 'God's Warriors.' " Styles buried his face in his hands and muttered, "I can't participate in this." "You must," insisted Daniel, "That's the heart of the Legislature Knows Best, University of Tennessee Micromanagement Bill." Over at a biology classroom, professor Darwin Veracity was deep into a slide show about fish. "This is Metaspriggina walcotti. The fossil is from the Burgess Shale in British Columbia, making this early fish about 518 million years old." "Hold on there," interrupted state Rep. Bill Dunn. "Here in Tennessee we know the Bible says the Earth is much younger than that, and we don't accept any Canadian rocks telling us anything different." "I'm sorry, but it remains empirically valid regardless of what you believe," responded Veracity. "That's where you're wrong, professor," boomed Dunn. "I've introduced the God Said It Bill. It requires you to add this sticker to the textbook. Put an asterisk next to that fishy paragraph." Dunn forced a sticker into Veracity's hand. The sticker read, "*Remember, the Earth is just a few thousand years old. Carbon dating is a devil tool to test our faith." "You wrote this big asterisk?" inquired Veracity. "I am this big asterisk," beamed Dunn. "Well, that's close to the wording I was pondering," said the professor. SHARE It would be a tremendous honor to name a new Navy ship the USS Chattanooga in memory of the five servicemen killed in a terrorist attack in that city last summer. Lawmakers from the Volunteer State and Georgia have written to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus requesting that "an appropriate naval vessel" be named for the city to honor the servicemen's sacrifice. The Navy has responded that it is open to the possibility as "a worthy recommendation." Capt. Patrick McNally, a special assistant in the Navy's public affairs office, said the request "will receive every consideration when names are chosen for future ships." McNally's comments were in a letter to Tennessee U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, whose Third District includes Chattanooga. Other Tennessee lawmakers writing to the Navy secretary include both of the state's U.S. senators, Bob Corker, a former mayor of Chattanooga, and Lamar Alexander. The Georgia representative is Tom Graves, whose district is just across the state line from Chattanooga. In addition, the city of Chattanooga and the Tennessee General Assembly have passed separate resolutions backing the naming of the next eligible ship the USS Chattanooga. Naming the ship the USS Chattanooga is not merely a nice gesture. It is a deserved recognition for the victims of a terrorist attack on military personnel last summer. The dead are Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Lance Cpl. Squire "Skip" Wells and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith. They were killed when a lone gunman opened fire last July at a military recruiting station and the Navy and Marine Corps Operational Support Center in Chattanooga. Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, identified as the attacker, was killed by police in a gunfight. In December, the five victims were awarded the Purple Heart, an honor normally reserved for being wounded in a combat zone. The men qualified for the medal because it was determined that the attacker was inspired by propaganda from a foreign terrorist organization. Choosing the appropriate ship and assigning a name might take some time possibly years. Rules for naming ships have changed, according to an updated report from the Congressional Research Service. Chattanooga might fit into a class of littoral combat ships, smaller surface vessels that operate close to shore. These vessels were once named for mid-level cities and smaller towns. The rules have been adjusted so the vessels can carry the names of regionally important U.S. cities. Chattanooga, it would seem, could still qualify. Several Navy ships will come on line in the next few years, and names have not been chosen. That task, ultimately the province of the Navy secretary, is usually announced shortly before the ship's christening, according to the congressional report. Chattanooga's healing process can take a major step forward if a new Navy ship bears the city's name. Thus, this "worthy recommendation" should get a full hearing and every possible consideration from the Navy. SHARE Judge Kevin Sharp has set the stage for a constitutional mess in Tennessee. He has insisted on inserting himself and the federal court into an issue that legally belongs in state court. Sharp recently ordered a recount of votes cast for anti-abortion Amendment 1 in 2014. He has ordered that the ballot of any Amendment 1 voter who did not vote in the governor's race be thrown out. Although there were three other proposed amendments on the ballot, Sharp declared that the passage of only one measure was "fundamentally unfair." At risk are the estimated 80,000 ballots of Amendment 1 voters (for and against) who, for whatever reason, didn't vote in the governor's race. Amendment 1, as well as all other amendments to our state constitution since 1953, have gone through the exact same process to get on the ballot, and the exact same procedure was used to determine passage a majority of the number of votes cast in the governor's race. No other voter-approved amendment has run into legal problems until Planned Parenthood and its cohorts lost their fight against Amendment 1, and suddenly a federal judge decides there are problems with the state process of amending the state constitution. Sharp would have been better off recusing himself from this baseless suit as did three of his colleagues when presented the case. Now he finds himself at odds with the state court and faced with appeals at the federal level, where his poorly written decision filled with typos and errors will be scrutinized by his peers. Sharp attempted to use the bench to defend his ideological position for abortion, and it has landed us all in a mess. Stacy Dunn, Knoxville SHARE Regarding your article on the visit by Secretary of State John Kerry to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the proposed visit and possible apology for the atomic bomb by President Barack Obama next month, such an undertaking would be an unforgivable affront to the United States and, more important, the millions of Americans who fought, suffered and died in this great conflict. The primary question that needs to be asked is "an apology for what?" At the time of the weapons use, Japan was in the final throes of defeat and planning a Gotterdammerung defense that would have reduced that nation to utter and final destruction. The use of these weapons, although causing hundreds of thousands of deaths, prevented the total destruction of Japan and the deaths of untold millions. The decision of President Harry Truman to deploy these weapons was the ultimate act of military, political and personal courage, and neither he nor any of his successors should ever consider an apology for the actions that ended further barbaric conflict. On the other hand, if the United States should not apologize for ending the war, should Japan apologize for starting it? Why has Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not stood before the USS Arizona Memorial and apologized for the naked aggression of his nation? Indeed Pearl Harbor is only a single point in a decade-long history of atrocities by Japan against other nations, their people and the basic concept of humanity. Perhaps he also should remember and apologize for the brutal 1937 massacre of Nanking, the infamous Unit 731's research and human experimentation in chemical and biological warfare, the horrors of Korean comfort women or the deaths from malnutrition or slave labor of over 40 percent of American prisoners of war. An apology? Absolutely, but let it come from the perpetrator of the crime. Franklin L. Greene, Loudon Tennessee Watercolor Society juried exhibition at Emporium Center His Life in a Song by Brenda Mills. Image courtesy of the artist. The Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville is hosting the 35th Juried Exhibition of the Tennessee Watercolor Society. The event will be held from May 20 to June 24, 2016. Entrance is free. The Society represents the finest artists in Tennessee. The 2016 Exhibition will showcase 55 watermedia paintings. The paintings were chosen from nearly 200 entries by distinguished juror John T. Salminen. Salminen has won more than 220 national and international awards. His work is included in permanent collections in Asia, Europe and the United States. Salminen will be conducting a workshop from May 16 through 20 at the Emporium which will focus on abstraction. Only those registered may attend. He will also do a realism demonstration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Knoxville at 3:30 pm on May 21. There is an 8:30 11:30 am demo of new products by vendors at Jerry's Artarama on the same date plus a social event on Friday evening May 20 from 7 to 9 pm at The Art Market Gallery on Gay Street. For more information and to sign up, visit tnws.org. Don't Let Life Just Pass You By" by Max Robinson. Image courtesy of the artist. Following the demos, an Awards Banquet will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 6 pm. Tickets to this event may be purchased for $37 per person. Awards totaling $10,000 have been provided by national merchants, local businesses, and individuals dedicated to the support of fine art and the talented persons who produce it. Visit the Tennessee Watercolor Society's web page at tnws.org for more information and to purchase tickets. Space is limited, and there is a deadline of April 30 for this as well as all events. Thank God for the Bananas by Kate McCullough. Image courtesy of the artist. As part of a generous grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation of Chattanooga, TN, a juried collection of 30 paintings from the Exhibition will travel across the state to six locations for public and visual arts outreach. Those locations include Memphis, Humboldt, Columbia, Chattanooga, Elizabethton, and Clarksville, Tennessee. The exhibit will travel into January of 2017. UBS Financial Services of Knoxville is helping to sponsor publication of a catalog of the exhibition. The catalog will be available at each venue. Published April 29, 2016 By Choi Sung-jin Steel, automobiles and semiconductors have been included in the nation's 10 major export products for the past 39 years, according to the Korea International Trade Association. Most other top-10 export items, such as general machinery, vessels, optical equipment and plastics, also have been there for more than a decade. The ongoing industrial restructuring shows the time has come for businesses that have remained complacent with the status quo to seek changes, experts say. The realignment of the shipping and shipbuilding sectors should be an occasion for Korean businesses to realize the need to shift to a "two-track" strategy, they say. There is no future for the Korean economy if the nation repeats plunging a scalpel into ailing industries after waiting for them to fester. Instead, business groups have to realign their core sectors under the long-term plan of developing new growth engines, they say. "There have been warnings since as early as 2010 that shipping operators and shipbuilders could fall into serious crises, but most businesses involved dismissed calls for realignment as premature, until their sales began to fall steeply," said Chang Seok-in, senior fellow at the Korea Institute of Industrial Economic and Trade. "This was in part because people interpret restructuring as withdrawal from core sectors." Another expert agreed. "The businesses in trouble, once branded as unhealthy companies' by the government, cannot get reasonable prices here or abroad," said Kim Yun-kyeong, assistant researcher at the Korea Economic Research Institute (KIET). "It is necessary for businesses to select new growth engines in the long term before the current one loses its momentum, and try to realign other businesses through permanent restructuring." He cited Samsung SDI as an example. In February, the Samsung Group affiliate and a total energy solution provider divided its chemical business department from it as SDI Chemical, and plans to sell 90 percent of it to Lotte Chemical within the first half of this year, and the other 10 percent in three years. Samsung SDI will receive about 2.58 trillion won ($2.25 billion) and invest it into expanding its battery manufacturing plants in Korea and China, as well as building new ones in Europe. In a two-track strategy, the company will have spun off its chemical business and focused on the battery business. An industry executive said other companies, such as POSCO, GS and Hyundai Heavy, industries engaged in "vulnerable industries" as categorized by the government, should no longer adhere to previous growth engines but shift their focus to next-generation industries. Already, global corporate giants have realigned their business portfolios and entered into new industries. General Electric, for instance, took over Alstom's electric and energy business for 9.7 billion euro (12.58 trillion won). Siemens acquired CD-Adapco to enhance its competitive edge in electrification, automation and digitalization. Korea's competitiveness in new industries remains low. According to a report by KIET that compared major countries' competitiveness in the four areas of smart cars, convergence-integration material, fusion biotechnology-health-care and Internet of Things, Korea's stood at only 68.3 if that of the U.S. was 100 in 2015. It was higher than China's 55.9 but far lower than Japan's 81.5. If Korea wants to improve the situation, the government should first ease regulations, businesspeople and academics say. Specifically, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry has asked the government to do away with the "triangle" of regulations: the approval system in which would-be entrants in new industries have to win the government's go-ahead; positive regulations that disallow all activities except those already allowed by the government, and lack of certifying criteria that keeps businesses from releasing newly developed products on time. "Trying to develop new industries under the government's initiatives is an old story," said Professor Cho Seong-hun of Yonsei University. "It is most urgent for the government to abolish regulations so that companies can conduct business activities freely." Another KIET researcher agreed. "During the development era, the government could select strategic industries and businesses and focus support on them," said Choi Yun-hee, head of the future industry research team at the state think tank. "That formula can no longer work today, when the industrial environment has become more complicated and diversified. The government should limit its role to creating the market." Other experts took issue with the government's incentive system that expands tax breaks for large businesses but provides no additional benefits to small and medium enterprises, which will widen further the already serious gap between them. This can hardly be called "industrial innovation," doing nothing about big businesses' excessive internal reserves and the gulf between large and small companies, a critic said. "There should be a difference between the national economy's future course and the government's role in it," said Kim Jin-bang, an Inha University professor. "Reducing taxes for large companies jumping into new industries is but another special favor." By Lee Hyo-sik The government-initiated rescue of struggling shippers and shipbuilders could spark an all-out trade dispute with Europe, China, Japan and other countries that fiercely compete with Korea in the global market, trade analysts said Friday. They say the government and state-run banks should take a more cautious approach to supporting debt-ridden shipping and shipbuilding firms, and not prompt competing nations to file complaints with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the moves. Countries could argue that the Korean government's extension of financial support to its shipping and shipbuilding industries through state-run banks violates WTO rules, according to the analysts. The Geneva-based intergovernmental organization, which regulates international trade, forbids member states from providing subsidies to enable specific industries to increase exports at the expense of their rivals. People walk down a street flanked by mom-and-pop stores near Hyundai Heavy Industries in Dong-gu, Ulsan, Thursday. The region's economy is in a slump as business conditions for shipbuilders clustered in the region have slowed down and they are having to conduct massive restructuring. / Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo State-run banks are being squeezed to reserve more funds for potential losses, as the winds of massive restructuring sweep through the shipping and shipbuilding industries, Two state-run banks, EximBank Korea and the Korea Development Bank (KDB), are confident they can cover potential losses from loans to the two major shipping firms -- Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Hanjin Shipping. But they said they are worried about loans to the shipbuilders. Earlier this week, KDB Senior Executive Director Lee Dai-hyun said: "If it is just for the shipping firms only, we don't need a capital increase, but more capital will be needed if there is a massive and rapid restructuring of the shipbuilding companies." EximBank is in a similar position. "Shipping is more a concern of the KDB," said an official at the bank. "What we care about is shipbuilding." According to the banks, HMM owes 1.2 trillion won to the KDB, while Hanjin owes 700 billion won to the KDB and 50 billion won to EximBank. The banks lent greater amounts to shipbuilders. KDB's loans to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) stand at 4 trillion won and to STX Offshore and Shipbuilding 1.9 trillion won. EximBank lent 9 trillion won to DSME, 1.4 trillion won to STX and 2.3 trillion won to Sungdong Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. The banks' reserve allowances are based on the collectability of loans. If a loan is classified as substandard, banks must prepare more than 20 percent of the loan as a reserve. For doubtful loans, they should have at least 50 percent, and 100 percent for those estimated to be a loss. If those companies fall into court receivership, banks should classify the loans as doubtful or losses and come up with significant reserves. This would lead to a drop in their BIS ratio, a measure of capital soundness. "It depends on how we classify loans to shipbuilders," said the EximBank official. "And the current situation is somewhat uncertain. Some shipyards to whom we extended loans are diligently repaying them back and we cannot classify those loans as substandard or doubtful and say we need capital increases to appropriate more allowances and raise the BIS ratio.'" The BIS ratio of the KDB is 14.16 percent and that of EximBank 10.11 percent, lower than the average 14.85 percent for commercial lenders. Should the banks increase their allowances for loans to shipbuilders, however, their net profit will decrease and the ratio will naturally follow. A BIS ratio below 8 percent is subject to the financial authorities' action. "EximBank's low BIS ratio is not because of the slump in the shipbuilding industry," the official said. "However, when the industry's situation gets aggravated, we may need some action to prevent our BIS ratio from falling to 8 percent. The KDB is active in securing more capital. On Wednesday, it said it will increase the deposits' share of its overall financing to 30 percent to stabilize its financing. It is a move to increase the capital needed for restructuring shipbuilders. There is heated political debate over reserves for bad debts and whether the Bank of Korea (BOK) should enact a "Korean version" of quantitative easing and inject capital to the banks. On Friday, BOK Deputy Governor Yoon Myun-shik told reporters the government should take its responsibility before depending on the BOK. "If there is a necessity to secure capital for state-run banks to support corporate restructuring, state finance should be engaged in first," Yoon said. The BOK can inject capital into EximBank, but it is banned from purchasing bonds from the KDB or injecting capital. To do so, The Bank of Korea Act and the Korea Development Bank Act need to be revised. "No matter how the restructuring goes, it is urgent, and I believe there should be national consensus before that," Yoon said, adding that the National Assembly's revision of the banking acts could be seen as part of the consensus. Police said Friday they have arrested a Ghanaian man on suspicion of arranging for 12 African people to enter South Korea illegally through a loophole in the country's refugee application system. The Ghanaian broker, 46, has since December 2013 helped the illegal entry of two Ghanaians and 10 Nigerians in collusion with four South Korean business executives involved in exports, according to the International Crime Investigation Unit at the Seoul Police Agency. The 12 illegal entrants and the four South Koreans have been booked without physical detention. The unidentified broker had the businesspeople send false invitations to the 12 so that they could come to South Korea on a C-3 visa, which allows foreigners to enter the country for tourism, transit, visiting relatives or similar reasons and to stay here for up to three months. Around the time the C-3 visas expired, all 12 of them applied for refugee status to stay illegally. They took advantage of the law under which refugee status seekers are not forcibly deported for a period of three to five years, when their refugee applications are screened, police said. The Ghanian broker coaxed the four businesspeople including freight forwarders into issuing the false invitations in return for giving them deals to ship freight for the 12 people's family members in their home countries, they said. Police said they will investigate further into the case to see whether there are more people who came here illegally through the Ghanian's help as the four owned up to writing about 100 false invitations. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyo-jin Kim Chong-in Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) interim leader Kim Chong-in's recent remarks on diplomatic and unification issues that contradict long-standing party policies are creating in-house complaints, according to officials, Friday. At first, Kim's opinions were accepted as part of the party's understanding that such comments were aimed at appealing to centrists, but the leader's behavior is now igniting concern that it may hurt the party's winning vibe from the April 13 general election. The MPK has become the largest party in the National Assembly with 123 seats, followed by the ruling Saenuri Party with 122. The latest controversy was Kim's remark calling for a swift implantation of the "comfort women" deal during a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koro Bessho, Tuesday. Korea and Japan reached a verbal agreement Dec. 28 to end their decade-long dispute over the issue, but the MPK as well as Korean victims and civic groups have urged the government to renegotiate the deal, denouncing it as humiliating. Amid growing criticism, spokesman Rep. Park Kwang-on explained there is no change in the party's stance that the deal is unacceptable. Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said Friday he will raise an official question over Kim's remarks during a general meeting of lawmakers-elect scheduled for next week. "It was wrong to bring up a sensitive diplomatic issue in front of the Japanese ambassador to Korea without clarifying that it was his personal opinion," he said. "If he had the intention to change the MPK's stance on the issue, he should have discussed this with the party beforehand. He just ignored the process." Kim was also embroiled in a controversy over his reference to the possibility of a North Korean regime collapse, hinting at his doubt over the former liberal administrations' Sunshine Policy that supported inter-Korean dialogue and exchanges. Amid mounting controversy over his political orientation, some party members took a cautious stance, viewing it as an attempt to draw more support from centrist or center-right voters. With the party's aim to expand its range of supporters, ideological disagreement between Kim and the mainstream party members had been muted during the run-up to the April 13 general election. But the atmosphere has drastically changed after the election, party officials said. "With a strong tendency to work on issues unilaterally, Kim kept ignoring the party rules and procedures. I'm concerned that his uncoordinated remarks could sabotage the party's image," said a lawmaker who wished to remain anonymous. Anger toward Kim has become more expressive among the mainstreamers aligned with former Chairman Moon Jae-in while the party engages in a blame game over the crushing defeat in its traditional strongholds, the North and South Jeolla provinces. With 28 parliamentary posts up for grabs in the election, the MPK managed to capture just three. Lawmakers pointed the finger mostly at Kim during a discussion arranged to analyze the defeat in the region by Reps. Kang Gi-jung and Hong Jong-haak and the party's think tank, the Institute for Democracy and Policies, Thursday. "Kim made voters turn their back on the party while putting himself high on the list of proportional representative candidates," said Rep. Kim Sung-ju, who failed to secure the parliamentary seat in North Jeolla Province. Oh Seung-yong, a professor at Chonnam National University who participated in the session noted, "Voters from the Jeolla provinces viewed the MPK as nothing different from the Saenuri Party through a series of messages delivered by the party since Kim was recruited." Analysts perceive that the in-house discord was aggravated due to the rivalry between Kim and the mainstreamers surrounding the party's leadership, as well as their fundamental differences in ideological preferences. "When the opposition party has a tendency to retain its identity by taking opposing stances to the government and the ruling party, its members can't help feeling uneasy about Kim's conservative views," said Hwang Tae-soon, a senior analyst at Wisdom Center. "They will question whether Kim's presence will be helpful in the run-up to the 2017 presidential election." Shin Yul, a professor at Myongji University, said, "The mainstreamers aligned with Moon are reclaiming the party leadership now that the risky stage has passed. Tension between Kim and Moon's followers are inevitable in the process of forming a new leadership after the election." By Lee Kyung-min Almost half of the workplaces in Korea have failed to set up daycare centers for employees' children, government data showed, Friday. They may face fines of up to 200 million won ($162,000) per year if they keep failing to provide daycare. Under the law, businesses that have more than 500 workers or 300 female workers are required to either set up daycare facilities, or pay nearby centers that take care of their workers' children. Violators can face a fine of 100 million won, up to twice per year, starting this year. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 605 out of the 1,143 establishments subject to the regulation, or 52.9 percent, had daycare centers as of December. Of the rest, 360 said they were setting up facilities or in the process of signing contracts with nearby centers, while 178 failed to submit plans to abide by the law. The ministry disclosed the names and addresses of the violators on its website, which includes some local government offices such as Yeongju City in North Gyeongsang Province; Sogang, Sungkyunkwan, Hansung, and Kwangwoon universities; public and private companies such as Seoul Metro, Nexen, Mirae Asset Securities and Ssangyong Motor; and accounting firms including Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG Samjong. Regarding the reason for not setting up daycare centers, 25 percent cited lack of space, followed by a lack of workers who are expected to use the facilities, 24.4 percent. Some 20 percent said the working environment was not proper for a childcare facility, and 13.8 percent and 12.9 percent cited the burden of operational costs and the expense of construction, respectively. "The regulation was introduced to address the concerns by many working women who quit their jobs due to difficulties in finding reliable and affordable daycare," a ministry official said. "But only half of the required workplaces are following the rule." To relieve the financial burden, the ministry plans to provide a total of 97.6 billion won to establishments for construction or operational costs this year, up to 1.5 billion won to each. The official said what is more important than imposing fines is changing the companies' mindsets. "We are trying to encourage companies to voluntarily set up and maintain childcare facilities. They need to realize that increasing satisfaction for working mothers and parents would result in better performance, thus contributing to company profit," she added. By Jun Ji-hye President Park Geun-hye will seek to gain cooperation in resolving North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs as she embarks on a three-day historic tour to Iran Sunday, according to officials. In addition to her summit with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Park's office is also pushing to arrange a meeting between her and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a former president and considered the country's most powerful figure. North Korea and Iran have allegedly maintained close relations, especially in the development of nuclear materials. Iran has agreed not to develop nuclear weapons, and so international sanctions on the country were lifted Jan. 16. From the government's point of view, it will gain considerably if Park manages to elicit expressions of concern over Pyongyang's nuclear programs from the Iranian leaders during her visit the first by a Korean president since Seoul and Teheran established diplomatic ties in 1962. Such expectation comes as China, the North's traditionally ally, has already expressed concern over the North's programs and cooperated in harsher sanctions imposed on the isolated state by the United Nations Security Council in March. The government believes that Iran's cooperation will maximize the pressure on the North. President Park has called on Pyongyang to follow in Tehran's footstep to avoid further international isolation. Commenting on the trip, Robert Einhorn, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former special adviser on nonproliferation and arms control to the U.S. secretary of state, said that there are several messages the President needs to convey to the Islamic republic. "Park should urge Iranians to show restraint in the ballistic missile activity area," he said, calling Iran's missile tests "destabilizing." Einhorn, who also served as a U.S. negotiator on the Iranian nuclear issue, said that Park should emphasize to the Iranian leadership that South Korea's security would be adversely affected by collaboration between North Korea and Iran on either nuclear or missile technologies. But Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, stressed that the government should also take cautious attitude in dealing with the North Korean issue in Iran, saying that a number of complicated issues and interests are involved. "It won't be easy for Park to find a breakthrough in just one visit," he said. "A message like denuclearization through dialogue could possibly be produced." The foreign ministers of Russia and China on Friday expressed concern about the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile-defense shield in South Korea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, after holding their bilateral talks in Beijing, also called for an early resumption of the long-stalled talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Russia and China have long voiced opposition to the possible deployment of the advanced U.S. missile shield or a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) unit, in South Korea. South Korea and the U.S. have repeatedly assured that the missile system is aimed only at better defending South Korea against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. (Yonhap) By Javier Solana MADRID The European Union has a dangerous case of nostalgia. Not only is a yearning for the "good old days" before the EU supposedly impinged on national sovereignty fueling the rise of nationalist political parties; European leaders continue to try to apply yesterday's solutions to today's problems. Everyone was supposed to benefit from European integration. Whenever a new country joined, it received financial aid, while existing members gained access to a new market. The advantages, it was expected, would be apparent not just from aggregate data, but also from individual citizens' own experience. But reality has been less clear-cut. In the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, the EU's weaker economies faced skyrocketing unemployment, especially among young people, while its stronger economies felt pressure to "show solidarity" by bailing out countries in distress. When the stronger economies provided those bailouts, they included demands for austerity that impeded the recipients' economic recovery. Few were satisfied, and many blamed European integration. In this context, political parties and movements criticizing or opposing the EU have gained considerable traction, particularly in Western Europe. While these movements are nothing new, support for them has grown at alarming rates during the crisis-induced turmoil. Indeed, with every failed policy to aid economic recovery, Europeans have felt increasingly disenchanted, fueling populist sentiment and demands for a return to national sovereignty. The political leaders channeling these demands do not just want to reassert national control in all areas; they are also spreading a message of indifference to, and even outright rejection of, foreigners, reflected in their response to Europe's influx of refugees. According to them, each country should defend its own by any means, even if the rule of law is tested along the way. But, while the economic pain that many Europeans feel is certainly real, the nationalists' diagnosis of its source is false. The reality is that the EU can be criticized for the way it handled the crisis; but it cannot be blamed for the global economic imbalances that have fueled economic strife since 2008. Those imbalances reflect a much broader phenomenon: globalization. This does not mean that globalization is a bad thing. Opening up societies and economies to the world obviously entails significant uncertainty; but it also provides abundant opportunities. Not long ago, Europe was the world leader in openness. In fact, the European project is, at its core, a mirror of the opening that is an inextricable consequence of living in today's globalized world. In 2004, when the EU formally welcomed eight formerly communist countries as member states, European openness reached its pinnacle. A new age seemed to be dawning in Europe, in which the rule of law, democracy, and individual rights were unassailable. Yet, just as West European countries have begun to resist openness, so have their Central and East European counterparts. Indeed, in some countries particularly Poland and Hungary nationalism and anti-EU sentiment have surged. Unfortunately, this has led to erosion of the rule of law. Poland is the largest recipient of European funds and the only EU country that avoided recession during the crisis; indeed, it has experienced 23 years of uninterrupted growth. Moreover, the Polish public has been broadly supportive of the EU since becoming members. Even the latest Eurobarometer indicates that 55 percent of Poles view the EU positively. Yet Poland's government, led by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, is aiming to change that, by portraying European policies as a threat to Polish national identity. Instead of discussing how to adapt specific policies to Poland's national interests or amplify the country's voice at the European level, PiS writes off all European measures and decisions as a direct challenge to what makes Poland Poland. These claims, to some extent, echo those of the Hungarian government, led by the right-wing Fidesz party. The constitutional reforms implemented in 2013, among other things, expanded the executive's authority and created a new state council, stacked with Fidesz members, to regulate the media. Some say that if Hungary sought admission to the EU today, it would be refused entry. As for Poland, the European Commission has launched an unprecedented inquiry in response to recent legislation that, under the pretense of "protecting national sovereignty," concentrates more power in the government's hands. This represents a disappointing reversal. In my former professional roles, I witnessed as few others did the entry of Poland and Hungary into the Euroatlantic institutions. I saw firsthand the eagerness and hope of their peoples at that momentous time. That is why it is so hard for me to understand their position today. Of course, it is not unreasonable that Poland and Hungary, whose sovereignty was largely usurped by the Soviet Union, are particularly sensitive to external efforts to shape their decision-making and have a stronger sense of national identity than other EU countries. But rejecting the EU will not insulate them from the uncertainty resulting from globalization. On the contrary, it will leave them far more vulnerable to the phenomenon's myriad risks. Some have used disenchanting experiences with globalization as an excuse for a return to protectionism and the supposedly halcyon days of strong national borders. Others, wistfully recalling a nation-state that never really existed, cling to national sovereignty as a reason to refuse further European integration. Both groups question the foundations of the European project. But their memory fails them, and their yearnings mislead them. Javier Solana was EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary-General of NATO, and Foreign Minister of Spain. He is currently President of the ESADE Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics and Distinguished Fellow at the Brookings InstitutionCopyright belongs to Project Syndicate. North Korea has heightened surveillance along its border with China and beefed up monitoring of its people ahead of the ruling party's congress next week, a source familiar with North Korea affairs said Friday. With the North's rare party congress a week away, the country has moved to restrict the entry of people into its capital city of Pyongyang, according to the source, who declined to be identified. It has also ordered North Koreans not to conduct even key ceremonial events, such as weddings and funerals, the insider said, adding that the government is keeping closer tabs on its people. "North Korea has set a 'special surveillance period' by limiting entry into the capital and increasing vigilance along the border area with China," the source said. The move appears to be aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear ahead of the party event as the North's regime is seeking to prevent its people from fleeing the nation. The measures can help clamp down on crime. The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) plans to open its first party congress in more than three decades next Friday. It is widely expected to help North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirm his tight grip on power. It will be the first party congress since October 1980 and also the first under the regime of leader Kim who assumed power in late 2011 following the sudden death of his father Kim Jong-il. The source said that the country is imposing stronger punishments on those who refuse to follow orders by police during the surveillance period. "As security officials can take higher bribes during the crackdown, they are excessively monitoring ordinary North Koreans in a heavy-handed manner," he said. South Korea's unification ministry said that the North appears to have tightened border control and heightened surveillance of its people as the repressive regime has done so far whenever major party events are held. "North Korea seems to have increased its vigilance in areas, including Pyongyang," Jeong Joon-hee, a ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing. "The move appears to be aimed at raising security for smooth preparation of the upcoming party congress." The party congress, the WPK's highest-level political guidance body, comes amid nagging concerns about advances in North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs. North Korea has been mobilizing ordinary citizens to prepare for the congress under the "70-day campaign of loyalty" and forced them to offer money to authorities, inviting growing discontent from North Koreans. Using the alias Kim Sung-woo, a 66-year-old North Korean defector told Yonhap News Agency that the North had conducted rigorous medical checkups on those who joined the sixth party congress back in 1980. Kim, a former North Korean military official, participated in the party event at that time. He said that the North was worried about athlete's foot on soldiers' hands over concerns that Kim Il-sung, the North's founder, and his son Kim Jong-il could be infected when they shook hands with participating soldiers. "North Korean soldiers with low social status pulled out their fingernails that had athlete's foot with pincers to take part in the key party event," the defector said. The defector added that the party congress was regarded by low-ranking military officials as the best chance for promotion through a meeting with the Kims. (Yonhap) By Lee Jin-a North Korea is again the worst country for press freedom, according to Freedom House, an international human rights organization. The state scored 97 points in the "Freedom of Press 2016 report" that surveys 199 countries. The closer the figure is to the full score of 100, the harsher the government is on press freedom. North Korea has topped the list for 36 years. According to the report, released this week, North Korea uses its domestic press for propaganda and puts strong sanctions on news media that publish articles that are not censored by the state. Freedom House examines the legal, political and economic environment of each country for its annual press reports. By Oh Young-jin Few in this country, a victim of Japan's brutal colonial rule, would be happy to see U.S. President Barack Obama visit Hiroshima, the first of two Japanese cities the second being Nagasaki that were devastated by nuclear bombs, during World War II. As a matter of fact, The Korea Times published an editorial opposing such a visit. Vernacular newspapers hit a similar note of opposition through editorials or columns. Although I could find myself in agreement with them for their stated reasons; I beg to differ from them for another reason, believing in Obama's effort to end all nuclear horrors for mankind. Definitely, I share the same concerns with my colleagues about Japan under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He has strengthened his country's military, being ready to unshackle it from its pacifist Constitution so as to regain its right to wage a war against other countries. As part of his attempt to make his country "normal" again, he declared that his country wouldn't apologize for its war atrocities. By any rate, Korea and China have every reason to be suspicious of Abe's intentions. Millions of people were killed by Tokyo's efforts to conquer Asia, but Abe, a descendant of Imperial Japan, has said "enough is enough," telling the victims including a dwindling group of former sex slaves, who were forced to serve several tens of Japanese soldiers per day, to forget about the suffering they endured. It is not necessarily paranoia, if Abe's vow to stop apologizing for these victims sounds as if he is willing to repeat his grandfather's war crimes. Still, I have to agree with Obama going to Hiroshima because the aim is the bigger cause of protecting humans from the threat of complete annihilation by nuclear weapons. We Koreans both in the North and South would be the biggest beneficiaries in a world where nuclear threats are removed. The North, led by the young dictator Kim Jong-un, is preparing the second detonation of a nuclear device this year even as you read this column, allocating the scarce resources available to his destitute nation to making inter-continental ballistic missiles. The North will likely press on until it is accepted as a nuclear weapons state. Obama has made a nuclear-free world his priority since he took office. The Nuclear Security Summit, the fourth and most recently held in Washington, was Obama's brainchild. The South hosted the second in Seoul in 2012. His Hiroshima visit is expected to serve as denouement to his eight-year effort toward a nuclear-free world, passing the torch to his successors. In that sense, I feel overwhelmed by his cause and can't easily find a reason to object to his visit because it will benefit us and our children. Of course, the worry is the lack of trust in Abe's Japan. As pointed out by my colleagues, the Japanese premier could use the Obama visit to market an idea that Japan was not just an aggressor in World War II but also a victim as well. Tens of thousands of people immediately perished in the two cities from the nuclear blasts, with survivors and their offspring having lived a long suffering life from exposure to radioactivity. No matter how the nationalist Japanese may twirl the facts, it should be noted that the use of the nuclear weapons helped bring an early end to the war and saved tens of thousands of lives, as Tokyo had no intention of surrendering, even when defeat was certain. In an extreme situation such as war, bartering a small number for a big number, even in terms of human lives, was something inevitable, however inhuman it may sound. Still, there is no way of changing the fact that Japan was the aggressor. If they wanted to be portrayed as victims, they were nothing but victims of their own actions. In that sense, the Obama visit may well serve two purposes at the same time: Resolving the victim countries' woes about Japan and future concerns about nuclear war. That can be achieved if Obama reaffirms a commitment to the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, while more broadly, taking up the condemnation of war as a barbaric and inhumane act. Oh Young-jin is The Korea Times' chief editorial writer and can be contacted at foolsdie@gmail.com. As a footnote, I hope that President Obama will make his visit a peace tour. The U.S. and China are locked in a hegemonic struggle with the Korean Peninsula and South China Sea emerging as a proving ground. Adding to tension is North Korea, the international pariah and rogue state that is trying to hold the entire region hostage. Perhaps, he can emulate John F. Kennedy's challenge to the Soviet Union to a race not through weapons, but to find out who would be better in promoting peace. I think that Obama still owes us half of the Nobel Peace Prize. By Choi Shi-yong The other day, I happened to overhear two foreigners speaking to each other in Korean in the street. One was American and the other Filipino. As their Korean was so fluent and natural, they struck me as special. On the other hand, I wondered what made them converse in Korean, which is not their mother tongue. A Russian friend who is a coordinator at the office of international affairs in Chonnam National University exerts himself to improve his Korean. As his coworkers are Korean, he must speak Korean well to socialize with them. When I meet him to hang out sometimes, we communicate in Korean despite his good command of English. While he feels frustrations with his second language, he is determined to use Korean. What I can do for him is correct his mistakes in Korean with pleasure so he can practice his favorite language. I am sure that he is becoming an excellent Korean speaker thanks to his constant and assiduous efforts. A South African friend who came to Korea two months ago impresses me. When I teach him basic Korean expressions, he attentively listens to what I say. He never hesitates to ask me when he wants to express his thoughts and feelings in Korean. He never leaves a restaurant without greeting the owner at the counter in Korean. Now I realize that his Korean is beyond expectation, considering his short stay. His enthusiasm for learning Korean and advancing it is praiseworthy. An American student attending Columbia University in New York studies Korean Buddhism. He visited Korea a few years ago to join the Templestay program looking for deeper understanding of Korean philosophy. His curiosity about Korean culture during his stay pushed him to start learning Korean. A Mexican university student is deeply fascinated by gugak, or traditional Korean music. She stresses that its lyrics can express various emotions, adding that she comes to know the genuine Korea through Korean. Experts say that hallyu, or the Korean wave, is resulting in a growing interest to learn Korean in foreign countries. The number of foreigners who take the Test of Proficiency in Korea (TOPIK) has rapidly increased these days. Further, foreign universities that are willing to teach Korean are steadily on the rise. Korea used to be known to the outside world as a country of war and poverty. Now it is gaining a global reputation as a country of sophisticated culture and language. The writer lives in Gwangju. Reach him at freddd@hanmail.net. Prosecutors are wrong to rule out murder charges against the makers and suppliers of disinfectants for humidifiers that killed and injured hundreds of people. In a recent media briefing, a spokesman at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated, "In order to apply murder charges, the accused companies should be proven to have manufactured or sold products for the specific purpose of killing people." The prosecution spokesman added that he sympathized with the victims and their families in their demand for murder charges but it wasn't plausible. First, it was not appropriate for the prosecution, which is investigating the case that has caused the deaths of at least 100 infants and pregnant women among others, to preclude murder charges in advance even as suspects are brought in for questioning. It's not hard to infer that the prosecution is ready to settle for manslaughter charges that carry far lighter penalties. This may be a tactic by the prosecutors to lower expectations for the victims, who are hoping that justice will, however belatedly, finally prevail, as the investigation is finally getting to an earnest start after the cases were first brought to the fore five years ago. Stakeholders to ponder on rogue state after rogue's gone There has never been greater consensus about North Korea among key stakeholders South Korea, the United States and China that this rogue state should be separated from its nuclear weapons. Now is the time this momentum should be carried to the next stage so the stakeholder nations can and will start planning how to deal with the North after its dictatorship is removed, an increasingly likely scenario because Kim Jong-un, the third-generation heir of the Kim dynasty, is obsessed with continuing on the path toward becoming a nuclear state at whatever cost. This three-party dialogue should put top priority on the unification of the two Koreas to undo the separation of convenience dictated by the big powers, including the U.S., at the end of World War II and make Korea one country to act as the linchpin of peace in the increasingly volatile region. First, here is how the three stakeholder nations are united on the North. Xi Jinping, president of China, the erstwhile only benefactor of the North, Thursday said that he would not allow war or chaos on the Korean Peninsula. Although his remark may sound hegemonic, the fact that he said it amid speculation over the North's impending fifth nuclear test to the audience of Asian foreign ministers in a Beijing-led security forum must have sent an unequivocal message to Pyongyang. President Park Geun-hye was also quite adamant, saying, "There will be no future for the North if it presses ahead with this nuclear test." In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama made a rare reference to the North as he said that his country could destroy the North but refrained from doing so because of human costs. His remarks came when the North threatened to turn Washington into a bowl of fire. Ironically, the North test-fired three Musudan intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBM), two on Thursday and one two weeks ago, but all three proved to be failures. Since the Musudan is an IRBM that is fired from mobile or submarine platforms, with a range of 3,000 kilometers, these consecutive failures may likely mean the North's missile threat is quite exaggerated. It is strongly speculated that these failures may force the North to conduct another nuclear test for the purpose of heightening the celebratory mood before the Workers' Party convention next week. But rather, the test runs the risk of adding to the list of failures, raising more questions about the North Korean leader's ability to govern as his nation is already hit by an international trade embargo. For a country like North Korea that knows only the reign of terror, any questions about its leader could only reveal weaknesses he cannot afford to show if he wants to cling to power. Already people in Pyongyang, now cordoned off for the coming event, may be whispering about their doubts that the young dictator may be as scary as his father and grandfather. This makes plausible a scenario that the rogue state may lose its rogue. As Xi warned against chaos and war on the Korean Peninsula, the three stakeholder countries should waste no time starting how best to deal with such a power vacuum and usher in the era of the united Korea that meets the best of their interests. Now is never too early for embarking on such tri-party dialogue. By Donald Kirk Russian documentary filmmaker Vitaly Mansky has managed to bamboozle his North Korean hosts in a confidence game that's one of the greater journalistic coups ever scored against the regime. Mansky, having given the North Koreans the clear impression that he wanted to collaborate fully with them, totally deceived them in his portrayal of a little girl as she was groomed for her role in minutely scripted rehearsals for the anniversary two years ago of the late "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il's birth. Far from churning out propaganda similar to a British team's production in 2004 of the documentary "A State of Mind" on a pair of girl gymnasts, Mansky's "Under the Sun" focuses on an eight-year-old as she's ordered around by her handlers. So doing, he presents images that are shocking and amusing, wrenching and sardonic, in a 146-minute record of the girl, Zin Mi, mimicking the lines fed her over a family dinner, at a rehearsal for a dance, at her induction into the "Young Pioneers," at a speech that she has to declaim before rows of people. How did he do it? He and his two cameramen let their cameras keep running as the girl's handlers were priming her. He also had a soundman whom he had hired for his skills as a Korean speaker. His hosts never saw through the subterfuge. The deal called for the North Koreans to review all footage at the end of each day, but Mansky gave them only what he wanted them to see the same kind of stuff in "State of Mind" about the two gymnasts. From the outset he had in mind a documentary that would cast the regime as a cruel dictatorship. The result is a revelation of how the North Koreans exercise mind control, how they brainwash a child, turning her into a robot whose every word and deed is dedicated to the greater glory of the Kim dynasty. The film has immediate relevance as North Korea prepares to stage its first Workers' Party Congress in 36 years next week. The whole point is to venerate the achievements of Kim Jong-un since he took over after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in December 2011. The North Koreans have left no stone unturned in the drive to make the Congress a celebration of Kim Jong-un's rule, the affirmation of the pervasive authority of the regime, and the intimidation of all citizens as they struggle to survive. In microcosm, Zin Mi symbolizes a country bowing in unison to a leader with the power of life and death over every one of its people. There is no trace of conflict or disagreement in the film. Neither she nor her parents question the lines they are told to repeat. There is no give-and-take, no discussion. Yet inner feelings come out in the shots the North Koreans never realized were being recorded. Zin Mi silently sheds tears as her handler forces her again and again to master a plie the tiring dance step in which the dancer's feet turn outward during what looks like a deep-knee bend. Not easy. And she weeps again as she's remembering the lines to recite to her audience tears springing from the tension and the bullying she's enduring. The camera focuses on one girl as she can hardly keep her eyes open during a propaganda lecture. The upcoming Party Congress is going to be the same, all lines scripted and rehearsed, all the cheers and smiles artificial, all shots of Pyongyang and the Congress looking beautiful and omnipotent. There will be no debate, no questions, no second thoughts as Kim Jong-un and his aides make certain the Congress displays the munificence of his dictatorship. The North Koreans, though, don't always succeed in such nonsense. In the case of Mansky's "Under the Sun," they did not realize until he was done and gone that he was not producing a film like "A State of Mind," so much to their liking that it won a couple of prizes at the Pyongyang International Film Festival a dozen years ago. Instead a North Korean official had to write a letter of protest to the Russian foreign ministry, demanding destruction of all prints of the film and punishment for Mansky. The Russians responded by blocking it from being shown in Russia, but it's won prizes at film festivals elsewhere. Now Mansky, not charged with anything, plans to sue in a Russian court demanding the right to have the film shown in his country. The North Koreans are inviting members of the international media for the Congress. It will be interesting to see if they capture the hypocrisy and duplicity of an event that's sure to be one huge show. Mansky's film exemplifies the reporting that's needed to reveal what's going on as omnipresent minders shield visitors from disquieting realities. Donald Kirk, www.donaldkirk.com, has been covering the conflict of forces on the Korean peninsula for decades. He's at kirkdon4343@gmail.com. The U.N. Security Council discussed North Korea's latest missile launches Thursday and plans to issue a statement condemning the launches, diplomatic sources said. The United States requested the informal consultations after the North launched two intermediate-range Musudan ballistic missiles earlier Thursday in violation of U.N. resolutions. Members of the council agreed to adopt a press statement denouncing the launches and urging the North to cease additional provocations, but the actual issuance of the statement is expected to come Thursday night or Friday morning as China asked for more time to consult with their government back home, the sources said. Earlier, the U.S. State Department strongly denounced the North's launches as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, and said it would "raise our concerns at the U.N. to ensure that international resolve remains firm in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions." U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric also denounced the launches. "These types of actions by the DPRK are extremely troubling and we would yet again encourage the DPRK to cease any further provocative actions and return to full compliance of its international obligations," he said during a regular press briefing. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the North launched one Musudan missile off its east coast early Thursday, but the missile crashed seconds after launch. The North fired another Musudan later in the afternoon, but it exploded mid-air after flying several kilometers. It was the North's second and third attempts to test the mobile missile after the first attempt earlier this month. The U.S. also confirmed the launches, saying that U.S. Strategic Command systems detected and tracked the Musudan missiles launched from the North's eastern coast city of Wonsan, and that "initial indications reveal the tests were not successful." The launches were the latest in a series of provocative acts Pyongyang has undertaken to defy international pressure over its nuclear and missile program and assert the leadership of Kim Jong-un in the lead-up to next week's key meeting of the ruling Workers' Party. (Yonhap) LG Display Vice Chairman and CEO Han Sang-beom, center, with North Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kwan-yong, left, and Gumi Mayor Nam Yoo-chin after signing a memorandum of understanding for investment in the organic light-emitting diode display panel plant in Gumi, at the provincial government office in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. / Courtesy of LG Display By Yoon Sung-won LG Display will invest 450 billion won in its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel plants in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. Based on the investment, which will mainly aim at flexible OLED panels and lighting OLED units, the world's largest display maker said Friday it will extend its technological know-how in smartphone and wearable device displays to foldable and automotive products. "In the global display industry, the shift toward OLED is a new challenge and an opportunity for all businesses," LG Display Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Han Sang-beom said. "LG Display will retain leadership in the growing OLED market through timely investments and maximized investment efficiency." LG Display said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the regional governments of North Gyeongsang Province and Gumi for the investment and administrative support. North Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kwan-yong, Gumi Mayor Nam Yoo-chin and lawmakers-elect Baek Seung-joo and Jang Seok-choon of the Saenuri Party participated in the signing ceremony with the LG Display CEO. The company said the 450 billion won includes a 310 billion won upfront investment for the sixth-generation flexible OLED manufacturing line and 140 billion won for the line producing the world's first fifth-generation lighting OLED units. The fifth-generation lighting OLED line will be able to produce 15,000 panels a month, the largest production scale in the world. The line will start mass production by the first half of 2017, the company said. In July 2015, the company decided on a 1.05 trillion won investment for its E5 sixth-generation flexible OLED production facilities. The 310 billion won investment now scheduled will enable the line to make 7,500 flexible OLED panels a month, it said. LG Display also expects the investment will give it a foothold in foldable and large-size automotive display products that have been considered a major new growth area in the display industry. Changes aimed for paradigm shift to OLEDs with Apple By Kim Yoo-chul Samsung is accelerating it efforts to offset weaknesses in the group's consumer electronics business by offering more authority to its component business. On Friday, Samsung Display said in a statement that it had replaced Park Dong-geun with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun to lead the display affiliate. The move was approved by Samsung Display's board and shareholders. "Samsung hopes the management change will create more synergy in the component business," the statement said. The change had been expected because Samsung is seeking to offset growing weakness in memory chips with the growth in its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) business with Apple. Kwon, one of the co-CEOs with Yoon Boo-keun and mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun at Samsung Electronics, was the CEO at Samsung Display after the group spun off its liquid crystal display (LCD) unit to establish Samsung Display. Some said the shift was due to outgoing CEO Park being held responsible for the dismal performance of the group's display unit. Samsung Display reported 270 billion won in operating losses in the first quarter on 6.04 trillion won in sales, down 12 percent year-on-year. This is in contrast to the performance of Samsung's memory chip business which generated 11.15 trillion won in sales and 2.63 trillion won in operating profit. Further structural changes are expected to follow. Samsung Electronics has an 84.8 percent stake in Samsung Display, while Samsung SDI holds 15.2 percent. "For additional synergy in the group's component business, discussions to combine Samsung SDI and Samsung Electro-Mechanics will continue and chances are high that this will take place," an official said. Taking bullish steps for Apple business The management change came as Samsung Display focuses on OLEDs it will supply to Apple, according to officials. While Samsung Display is the world's dominant supplier in OLED panels, it is heavily reliant on Samsung Electronics. As the conventional LCD market is being commoditized due to the rapid rise of Chinese suppliers, Samsung has been urged to "do something" to maintain its leadership in the display sector. The officials said Apple's plan to use OLEDs on its flagship devices will be a boon for Samsung. "Display results were weak reporting a loss due to LCD oversupply. OLEDs, however, remain very strong with outlook particularly optimistic given the highly anticipated move by Apple," Bernstein Research's managing director Mark C. Newman said in a report to clients. "The outlook for OLEDs is strong with external customers ramping up output from next year led by Apple. Samsung specifically said that overall investment this year could be up in 2016 from last year depending on this decision. Samsung refrained from confirming the Apple business, we expect it will happen and will drive a meaningful upside to 2017 and 2018 display profits," said Newman. He added the changes will help Samsung offset some of the weakness in its logic-chip business. RBC Capital Market's analyst Amit Daryanani expects OLED demand will be strong. Samsung is said to have signed an agreement with Apple to supply OLEDs for an upcoming iPhone, expected to be released in the fall of 2017. According to sources who are directly involved with the issue, Samsung Display will solely supply the first-batch of OLEDs to Apple. "Apple plans to put a new form factor to its next iPhones amid slowing momentum. If Apple adopts OLEDs, then this could be a win-win game given on-time delivery, output commitment and better pricing by Samsung," an official told The Korea Times. Samsung is a long-time partner with Apple, supplying it with A-Series mobile processors. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Scientists conduct liquid biopsy testing in this file photo. Merck said the new liquid biopsy biomarker test it is developing with Sysmex Inostics for clinical practices for cancer has been approved globally. / Courtesy of Merck By Kim Yoo-chul Merck, a global leader in electronic materials and chemical components, said Friday that it has received global approval for a test for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patents. In a statement, the company stressed that the test will help guide physicians to select the effective treatment for mCRC patients in a timely manner. Merck teamed up with Sysmex Inostics to win the "CE Mark approval." This test will be made widely accessible for patients with mCRC in Europe, Asia and Australia, said the statement. The testing technology can be used to determine which patients would benefit from anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapies, such as cetuximab, as demonstrated by recent data, it added. "In keeping with our philosophy of patient focus, we strive to evaluate all aspects of the patient journey, to focus our efforts on projects that improve treatment experience and outcomes for the patients," Rehan Verjee, chief marketing and strategy officer of the company's biopharma business, said in the statement. "Together with Merck, we are advancing biomarker testing in metastatic colorectal cancer, and we are already seeing strong acceptance and uptake of the test in pilot centers, with clinicians globally recognizing the clinical value of a blood-based test," Sysmex Inostics CEO Fernando Andreu said in the statement co-signed with Merck. The liquid biopsy biomarker test is a comprehensive 34-mutation panel that is based on the beads, emulsion, amplification and magnetic (BEMing) technology. The test requires a small blood sample, rather than a tissue biopsy, helping the test to provide mutation status results within days, which can help guide quicker treatment decisions. Merck and Sysmex Inostics entered into an agreement to co-develop and commercialize the liquid biopsy test, last year. They opened the first test center for research use in Spain. SK Broadband CEO Lee In-chan talks about the company's plan to takeover CJ HelloVision during a forum at SK Telecom headquarters in Euljiro, Seoul, Feb. 17. / Courtesy of SK Telecom LG Uplus, KT clam the deal against fairness By Yoon Sung-won, Kim Yoo-chul SK Telecom denied Friday the possibility of voluntarily dropping its bid to buy CJ HelloVision (CJH), saying it will proceed as planned. "SK Telecom doesn't think the government will block the proposed takeover or nullify the deal," the company said in a conference call to investors to announce its first quarter earnings results. The leading carrier urged the government to approve its plan as early as possible to boost the local telecom, content and broadcasting industries. SK Telecom controls 50 percent of the local telecom market, while CJH also has a controlling stake in the local pay-TV market. The SK plan is still being reviewed by the Fair Trade Commission, the Korea Communications Commission and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. It had been expected that the government agencies will announce their decision by April; however, the process has been delayed. "Yes, the process is being delayed, but we believe the government will make a reasonable decision according to the related law and regulations," the company told investors. On Friday, SK Telecom stressed that the vitalization of high quality content and smart media sectors is in line with the government's industrial policy. "The merged business with financial capability, network infrastructure and subscriber base will benefit the entire media ecosystem here," a company spokesman said. "Though there was a huge change in the political landscape during the general election, we think that will not have a significant effect on the private, industrial sector," the spokesman added. LG Uplus, which has teamed up with KT to oppose the deal, said it has a serious possibility of limiting competition in the telecom industry here. "After the deal, SK Telecom will monopolize mobile, high-speed Internet and paid television services. The plan should not be approved to prevent such evil consequences," said an LG Uplus official. KT, the country's dominant fixed-line operator and the runner-up of SK Telecom in the mobile market, said it hasn't reviewed the possibility of the merger's approval and its conditions. "We are concerned about serious limitation on competition and degradation of the broadcasting and telecom market here should the merger plan gets approval," KT said. "Considering that the approval may also lead to controversies about special favors and have a negative impact on vitalizing the government's economic keynote of creative economy, we will try to persuade the government to disapprove of the plan," it added. Lawmakers returned to the statehouse this week with a whole new set of budget problems after finding out Kansas has more than a $200 million dollar shortfall. Ending the business tax exemption has been a hot topic of conversation at the statehouse for about three years. Many Kansans blame for the state's budget problems on the tax exemption. So has the time finally come to end it? Well, it is an election year. "To be blunt, the loophole in my opinion is a losing hand politically," said businessman Jim Esteridge on Thursday. "And come 2016 and 2018 in statewide elections the republican party is likely to reap that whirlwind.' Esteridge spoke in favor of a bill that would partially repeal the controversial 2012 small business tax exemption. He said what many were already thinking - making tax changes this session is as much about politics as it is about taxes. "All due respect to the majority of this committee, our members aren't concerned with the re-election efforts of the republican party, they're concerned with keeping their doors open," said Dan Murray with the small business association, NFIB. The republican majority in Topeka has spent much of this session rushing through, trying to finish early to make up for last year's record long overtime session. While on break, the news broke that Kansas has more than a $200 million budget shortfall. This week, some of the same old arguments returned to Topeka to end the business tax loophole to fix the budget problems. "I want to be really clear about this. The republicans seem to be throwing out this idea that if we just fix this LLC thing, hings will be fiscally sound and they won't," said Sen. Tom Holland (D) of Baldwin City. Another stance - it's not a tax problem, it's a spending problem. "The people that talk about Kansas having too much government, that's absolutely correct. On the other hand we do a lot of things for people and no one wants to give up their benefits. No one." said Sen. Les Donovan (R) of Wichita. It's also now a political problem for some and the solution could be, passing the problem to someone else. There are two bills now that would repeal the current small business tax exemption. Both have had hearings but are still sitting in committee, waiting on a vote. The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Clover POS systems are a great solution if you want to streamline your internal services and want to replace an old kit like cash registers, payment terminals and other equipment. Clovers point of sale solution allows you to get rid of all that and replace it with a more integrated system with state of the PRESS RELEASE Virginia State Senator Dick Black in Syria; He Aims To Change U.S Syria Policy April 28, 2016 (EIRNS)Today Irans Press TV prominently featured Virginia State Sen. Dick Blacks meeting with Syrian President Assad and his advisors in Damascus. During the television clips of his meeting with President Assad, Sen. Black emphasized that what is happening in Syria is far from the disinformation being spread by some parties in the U.S. administration. Syrian President Assad, for his part, said that terrorism knows no borders, and the fight against terror requires a joint international effort that is not limited to the military level, and includes battling Wahhabism, which is widely promoted by Saudi clerics. Sen. Black also held meetings with other Syrian government officials, where he stressed his resolve to advocate better Damascus-Washington ties. "I will be Syrias voice," the official SANA Syrian news agency quoted Black as saying. Prior to his trip, Black said in a letter that he was traveling to Syria "in an attempt to restore peace and prevent the slaughter of Christians and other minorities" in the conflict-ridden Arab country. On his Twitter account, Black wrote that he supported Assad because he was fighting the growth of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group. "If Assad falls, ISIS (Daesh) will secure Syria and march on Europe," Blacks tweet said. Syria has greater womens rights and religious freedom than any nation in the Arab world," Black pointed out. Yet, "[the U.S.] is allied with two of the most vile nations on earth, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which are intent on imposing a [Wahhabi] fundamentalist government on the Syrian people." AP and The Washington Post also carried lengthy articles marked by incredulous ridicule of Senator Blacks Syria trip yesterday, apparently amazed that an American legislator could act like a citizen of the worldespecially toward a country not approved by popular opinion. PRESS RELEASE Bolivia Prioritizes Its Alliance With BRICS Nations To Ensure Real Development April 28, 2016 (EIRNS)Against the backdrop of tumultuous developments in Ibero-Americaefforts to impeach Brazils Dilma Rousseff, and increasing chaos in VenezuelaBolivias Planning Minister Rene Orellana told the Cuban news agency Prensa Latina in an interview published April 27, that his country has prioritized its alliance with the BRICS "alternative economic center" to guarantee economic progress. Bolivia, Orellana said, recognizes the importance of a multipolar world, and through its cooperation with BRICS nations, has planned or begun impressive infrastructure projects that will benefit the nation and the region. He underscored the importance of the "brotherly" relationship with Brazil, for example, with which Bolivias Evo Morales government is cooperating on building a transcontinental railroad. Russias nuclear energy agency, Rosatom, is helping to build a state-of-the-art Nuclear Technology Research and Development Center in El Alto, near La Paz; and China has established a long-term alliance with Bolivia to cooperate in science and technology, energy, finances, and training of personnel, among many other areas. Yesterday, the government signed a contract with the Beijing Urban Construction Group Co. for the design and construction of a $1 billion airport in the industrial city of Santa Cruz, intended to be a regional hub, and for which Chinas Eximbank is expected to provide part of the financing. Orellana noted that Bolivias relations with India are less developed, but that there is great interest on both sides in expanding them. On April 26 in La Paz, the National Chamber of Commerce sponsored a seminar on "Doing Business with India," attended by representatives of Indian and Bolivian private and public sector companies, government ministries, as well as Indian Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty, Prensa Latina reported. Chakravorty said his government is interested in participating in Bolivian infrastructure and technology projects and in training personnel. The transcontinental railway project is also of great interest to India, he added, pointing out that India has great experience in the area of railway construction. PRESS RELEASE Frances National Assembly Votes To Lift Russian Sanctions April 28, 2016 (EIRNS)Frances National Assembly voted yesterday for a non-binding resolution against extending the European Union's economic sanctions against Moscow, which were imposed after the coup against the elected Ukraine government. A total of 101 lawmakers in Frances lower legislative chamber voted: 55 in favor of the resolution to lift the sanctions; 44 against, and two abstentions, Sputnik News reported today. "It is a miracle and a great victory," Nicolas Dhuicq, a member of the French National Assemblys Defense Commission told Sputnik. The resolution, calling on the French government to protest extension of EU sanctions against Russia, was submitted by 85 French Members of Parliament. Thierry Mariani, a member of the center-right Republican party, who initiated the parliamentary debate, says the document "calls on the French government not to extend the restrictive measures and economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union." Mariani said this is the first time a debate on canceling sanctions has been held at the National Assembly, RT reported. "We are demanding that the sanctions be lifted because they are totally ineffective, and they are dangerous for our economy," Mariani told the Assembly. "I have seen our Minister of Agriculture standing in front of our farmers and saying, We have to lift the sanctions. Ive seen the Minister of Finance reiterate the same thing. And all they do is say We cant do anything; Europe is to blame," the MP told RT, saying that while he is "part of the opposition," regarding this matter he wants "to help the government." "France is constantly saying that its the birthplace of human rights; that the peoples will should always be respected. So now Im waiting for France to accept the will of the parliament and demand the lifting of the sanctions during the next talks," Mariani said after the vote. The next EU meeting where lifting the sanctions could be voted on is June 23, 2016. PRESS RELEASE Sen. Bob Graham: FBI Lied on the 28 Pages April 28, 2016 (EIRNS)Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham stated that the FBI lied to Congress about 9/11, and called for the reopening of the 9/11 investigation, on NPRs "Morning Edition" in an interview with Lourdes Garcia-Navarro today. "Morning Edition" is the number-one morning "drive time" program in the United States. Here is the transcript of the interview: LGN: Families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks are awaiting a White House decision whether to declassify 28 pages of documents from the 9/11 Report. They hope these pages will support allegations of Saudi involvement with the hijackers. This matters right now because there is a bill before Congress that could allow the families to sue the Saudi government (Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, S. 2040). Former Sen. Bob Graham co-chaired the Joint Congressional Inquiry into 9/11. Sen. Graham: The reason why the 28 pages are so important is that they were the conclusion of the Congressional Inquiry into 9/11; as to how was that plot financed; who paid for it, and while I cant discuss the details of that chapter, they point a strong finger at Saudi Arabia. LGN: What kinds of connections are we talking about? Sen. Graham: What we do know publicly was that there were agents of the Saudi government who assisted at least two of the hijackers who lived in San Diego; provided them with financial support; with anonymity; with a place to live, and with flight lessons, and protected themin one case, for over a year. The FBI has turned over to a Federal court, through a FOIA case, 80,000 pages involving an investigation that took place in Sarasota, Florida of the relationship between Mohammed Atta, the leader of the 19 hijackers and two of his henchmen, and a prominent Saudi family which had lived in Sarasota for six years. Two weeks before 9/11 they left, under what were described as urgent conditions to return to Saudi Arabia, creating the inference that they were tipped off and decided that they would be better off someplace else than in Sarasota when 9/11 occurred. LGN: Another investigation, thoughthe 9/11 Commission found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution individually funded any of the 9/11 attackers. Sen. Graham: It was a very crafted sentence, that said something to the effect that there was no evidence the senior leadership of Saudi Arabia was involved. LGN: Thats the Royal Family? Sen. Graham: Yes.involved, and that leaves a lot of range for other representatives of the Saudi government to have played a role. Saudi Arabia uses the principle of sovereign immunitythat you cant sue the king, because the king can do no wrongto apply to virtually every entity within Saudi Arabia. LGN:Do you believe consecutive Administrations have been protecting the Saudi royal family against the interests of United States citizens? Sen. Graham: Yes, and I think it has been more than a coverup. I think it has been what I call aggressive deception. There are instances in which the FBI has publicly released statements which I know from personal experience were untrue: They stated in this Sarasota situation that they had completed this investigation; that the investigation determined that there were no connections between the hijackers and the prominent Saudi family; and that they had turned over all this information to both the Congressional Inquiry and the 9/11 Citizens Commission. I know for a fact that none of these three statements are true. LGN: Let me get this right, sirYou are alleging that the FBI deliberately lied about this issue, and there has been a coverup... Sen. Graham (interrupting): Its more than a coverup. The FBI has misstated what is in their own records relative to the situation in Sarasota. LGN: What do you think needs to happen? Sen. Graham: I think we need to have a general reopening of the investigation into 9/11. Both the Congressional investigation and the 9/11 Commission Investigation acted under tight time restraints which precluded the full inquiry that needs to be held when the 9/11 issue is reopened. LGN: Thank you, Sen. Graham. A San Diego trade group seeking to boost the Southern California biotech industry is now setting up shop in downtown Los Angeles, a northward shift that could step on the toes of L.A.'s own homegrown biotech association. Biocom, established in San Diego in the early 1990s, plans to open its office here in June. Joe Panetta, the groups chief executive, said he sees the expansion as a chance to add more members and unite the two regions biotech industries. Its an opportunity to bring together the life-science entities in Los Angeles and bring that group together with the community in San Diego, he said. It will help us bring together something weve been talking about for 10 years: a unified Southern California life-sciences community that extends from Santa Barbara to across the Mexican border. Advertisement Though Biocom is a not-for-profit organization, Panetta said the group which counts more than 750 members, including biotechs, law firms and consultants needs to continue to grow. A bigger organization can put on better events, draw bigger investors to its members and more effectively lobby in Sacramento and on Capitol Hill, he said. The power of the membership is what allows us to advocate more effectively, to attract capital, to do the successful networking events and conferences we hold, Panetta said. The more members we can bring in to Biocom, the more successful Biocom is in doing what we set out to do. Biocom has already been active in Los Angeles. Its one of a handful of groups working with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. on a plan to build up L.A. Countys biotech industry by attracting companies to the region and helping them expand. Dina Lozofsky, who worked at UC Santa Barbara as an associate director for licensing and business development, has been hired as executive director of Biocoms new L.A. office. For now, shes working out of the LAEDCs offices, but Biocom plans to lease an office of its own in the same building, the Citigroup Center at 5th and Flower streets beginning June 1. Biocoms expansion here could come at the expense of the smaller Southern California Biomedical Council, a trade group formed in 1995 to serve L.A.'s biotech industry, which has been overshadowed for years by more robust industry hubs in San Diego and Northern California. The Biomedical Council counts fewer than 350 members. That difference in size reflects the relative strength of the regions biotech industries. The L.A. area is home to a large number of biotech firms, including industry giant Amgen, but the industry here has grown more slowly than in San Diego and the Bay Area. From 2001 to 2010, biotech employment grew nearly 12% in Los Angeles County, while growth in the other two regions topped 20%, according to a 2014 report commissioned by the county. Ahmed Enany, the biomedical councils executive director, said he sees Biocoms push into Los Angeles as part of that groups attempt to compete with a larger trade group based in San Francisco. In 2015, the Northern California trade group Bay Area Bioscience Assn. merged with La Jolla group California Healthcare Institute, creating the statewide California Life Sciences Assn. Before the combination, Biocom and the Healthcare Institute had preliminary conversations about a merger of their own. Enany said he was not concerned about losing members to Biocom but he believes that trade groups focused on the states individual industry clusters L.A., San Diego and the Bay Area can be more effective than larger groups. Each cluster has its own history and requirements. Trying to manage California with one group would be unwise, he said. Is it going to create distractions? It might, but as far as were concerned, well stay the course. Biocom CEO Panetta said he doesnt see Enanys group as a competitor. Many of the functions of SoCal Bio are complementary to what were doing at Biocom, he said. Theres a lot of life-science industry to be served, and we want to work with everybody. Its a big sandbox. Still, there is some overlap. For instance, both groups have purchasing programs that give members access to discounts and bulk pricing, and both put on events and networking sessions. There are other areas in which the groups provide different services. The Biomedical Council, for instance, helps biotech firms find office and lab space, a service that requires a local network and knowledge. David Meyer, chief executive of LA BioMed, a not-for-profit research institute on the Harbor-UCLA medical center campus and a member of both trade groups said the two should not find themselves in direct competition. Both organizations are sufficiently different to coexist, he said. Is Biocom taking over the state? No, theyre just moving a little farther north. They realized theres potential here. james.koren@latimes.com Even Cracker Jack is trying to go digital. The baseball game snack staple will no longer have a physical toy in the box, opting instead for a prize sticker with a QR code that can be scanned to play one of four mobile games. "The new Prize Inside allows families to enjoy their favorite baseball moments through a new one-of-a-kind mobile experience," Haston Lewis, senior director of marketing at Frito-Lay, said in a statement last week. "With this redesign and new mobile game experience, the Cracker Jack brand embraces a modernized, young-at-heart attitude while keeping that treasured feeling of childhood wistfulness." See the most-read stories this hour >> Cracker Jack's branding will also get a makeover with a redesigned logo and packaging, Frito-Lay said. This isn't the first time that the Cracker Jack toys have changed. Since they were introduced in 1912, prizes have ranged from tiny books to decoder rings, temporary tattoos and baseball cards. And there are even enthusiast organizations, like the Cracker Jack Collectors Assn., that are dedicated to collecting the prizes from the boxes. But not everyone was pleased about these most recent changes. But some didn't seem to mind the change. SIGN UP for the free California Inc. business newsletter >> For more business news, follow @smasunaga. MORE BUSINESS NEWS Exxon Mobil profit plunges on lower oil prices Consumer spending growth slows despite jump in income Digital TV company Rovi is buying TiVo in $1.1 billion deal Imagine if you had to pay extra to not have anchovies on your pizza. Or to not have flames painted on the sides of your car. Crazy, right? Yet the telecom industry for years has charged landline customers a monthly fee to not have their names listed in phone directories a recurring fee for a service that isnt being provided and will continue to not be provided at the customers request. Its hard to imagine a more brazen consumer rip-off, especially at a time when most people struggle to reduce the volume of telemarketers and robocalls reaching their home. Advertisement Thats why state lawmakers need to get behind AB 2795, a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Patty Lopez (D-San Fernando). It would prohibit phone service providers in California from charging a fee for unlisted numbers. Lopez told me her common-sense bill is intended to protect consumers from being charged an outdated fee that is a financial burden for Californias low-income residents and seniors living on a fixed income. While some consumers continue to pay such fees to safeguard themselves from identity theft, for others it is much more than a matter of privacy, she said. For individuals who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, keeping their contact information unlisted is vital to their personal safety. AT&T charges customers $1.75 a month to keep their number under wraps. Before Verizon sold its California landlines to Frontier Communications this month, it charged $2.25. Frontier now charges $2.50. Time Warner Cable charges $1.99. There was a time when compiling phone books remember those? was a fairly laborious task and phone companies could make a case for charging a modest fee to maintain customer records. A decade ago, AT&T charged 28 cents a month for customers to keep their numbers out of the phone book. Its fair to assume that the company lost no money at that rate. Since Californias phone market was deregulated in 2006, AT&Ts monthly charge for an unlisted number has risen 525%. Thats right: 525%, even though steady improvements in technology have all but eliminated the need for human involvement in record keeping. Phone listings and directory assistance are now almost entirely automated. While mobile phones are gradually replacing landlines, millions of households statewide still use wired phone service because of its greater reliability. Its estimated that 40% of Californians pay extra for unlisted numbers. Its absolutely outrageous, said Mindy Spatt, a spokeswoman for the advocacy group TURN. Its just an opportunity to gouge customers. The unlisted-number fee also flies in the face of each companys blood oath to protect customers privacy. Our privacy commitments are fundamental to the way we do business every day, declares AT&T in its privacy policy. Says Verizon: We are committed to maintaining strong and meaningful privacy protections for customers. At Frontier, says Frontier, we take your privacy seriously. Clearly none of thats true. Otherwise each of these companies would charge nothing for customers to safeguard their privacy. At the very least, they wouldnt charge the same month after month for the one-time-only act of registering a customers privacy preference. When phone companies say that your privacy is of utmost importance to them, what they mean is that your privacy is of utmost importance to them as a profit stream. Mindy Spatt, spokeswoman for advocacy group TURN When phone companies say that your privacy is of utmost importance to them, what they mean is that your privacy is of utmost importance to them as a profit stream, said Spatt. Id love to say that telecom companies make a reasonable case for why they need to charge customers more than $20 a year for an unlisted number. But they dont. AT&T and Frontier declined to even try, despite my repeated requests this week for an explanation of why the unlisted-number fee needs to be charged on a recurring basis. Time Warner Cable was the only company with the chutzpah to defend the practice. A spokesman said that the fee reflects the cost of employees whose job is to constantly administer and monitor the process of ensuring customers unlisted numbers stay that way. As for AB 2795, Im not holding my breath. For years, well-meaning Sacramento lawmakers have been introducing bills that would outlaw unlisted-number fees, and for years telecom lobbyists have succeeded in killing those bills off. In the past, phone companies defended the fee as being necessary to help pay for White Pages phone books, which they were required by state law to publish. But guess what? Thats no longer the case. In 2011, Verizon was granted permission by the California Public Utilities Commission to only provide White Pages to customers who ask for a printed directory, which hardly anyone ever does. A year later, the commission granted the same freedom to all other phone service providers. These companies still have to offer access to directory assistance, but, as I noted, such services are now automated. And of course, most phone companies charge an additional fee for directory assistance, usually about $2. The simple fact is that theres no justification for an unlisted-number fee except to pad the pockets of telecom companies to the tune of millions of dollars a year. To which their customers say: Privacy is not a profit center. David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. he also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com. MORE FROM DAVID LAZARUS Robocalls driving you nuts? A proposed law offers a remedy Frontier admits California outages are worse than previously thought Switch to Frontier causes glitches for some former Verizon customers Ed Moses 90th birthday dinner, a private party for close friends and family at the William Turner Gallery on Thursday night, was a festive affair -- though one tinged with concern: Moses himself was missing. The artist fell in his living room a few days earlier and injured his leg. His son Andy, a painter who also shows at the gallery, said his father is expected to be released from Cedars Sinai Medical Center on Saturday. Still, the tone of the evening was upbeat. More than 50 years of the artists abstract paintings and works on paper livened the gallerys walls as his friends, some going back six decades, mingled over cocktails and affectionately ribbed one another. Advertisement How long have we been friends, now? Robert Wilhite asked Tony Berlant, clinking the ice in his drink. Oh, looong time! Berlant said, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated manner. Among those present were Moses wife, Avilda, and sons Cedd and Andy. Art world figures included Richard Koshalek, who was director of L.A.s Museum of Contemporary Art during the Moses retrospective in 1996, as well as L.A. County Museum of Art curator Leslie Jones and collector Dallas Price-Van Breda. Moses Ferus Gallery contemporary from the 50s, Billy Al Bengston, was there with longtime artist pals including Peter Alexander, Charles Arnoldi, Laddie John Dill, Peter Shelton and Doug Wheeler, the last of whom flew in from Santa Fe, N.M. Whats miraculous to me is the sheer volume of works hes produced since the 70s, the variety and the experimentation, Andy Moses said. A survey show exhibiting many of these works opens Saturday. Berlant said he met Moses in 1963 at Berlants graduate art show at UCLA. He looked around and said this was better than the [stuff] he was doing, and that was the start of the friendship. But thats Ed -- hes such a force. Hes also such a champion of other artists. Bengston, who met Moses in 1958 at Ferus, recalled the crews gallery openings in the 60s. There was a gallon of wine, people got into fights -- it was fun, he joked, wearing a bright Hawaiian print shirt and straw hat. We had some raucous times. About Moses exhibition, he added: Its fantastic, just glorious -- well done. But now Im going home to bed! Alexander echoed Bengstons sentiments about the rollicking early days, but said it was complemented by artistic support. We were this group that used to feed off each other, Billy, Larry [Bell], Craig [Kauffman] and Ed, who brought in Frank Gehry. Someone would do something and youd look at it and go Whoa! Thats pretty good. Then: I can do better than that! The jovial competition spurred the artists on, Alexander said. And Moses influenced him personally, as well. Just his lifestyle -- hes Ed, Alexander said. I couldnt describe it, wouldnt want to -- but it was unique, all his own. Later in the evening, William Turner addressed the crowd over a candlelight dinner in the former Santa Monica Museum of Art space. Moses works flanked the tables: His vibrant 70s color block paintings and more recent Navajo blanket-inspired paintings on one side of the room, his black lava paintings from the early 2000s and recent craquelure paintings on the other. Installing an exhibit with Ed is a special process, Turner said of the still-prolific Moses. Yesterday Ed called and said: Im sending my guys over with 25 new paintings! And we figured out a way to show some of them. You cant approach Ed with a set idea in mind. You have to get in the flow, be in the moment -- like he is. Then Turner raised his glass, toasting the works on display and wishing Moses a swift recovery. To Ed! he said. Youre here in spirit because were surrounded by your work. To Ed! roared the crowd, glasses raised in the air. Follow me on Twitter: @debvankin Betye Saar is an artist whose lifes work has consisted of creating careful arrangements of objects. So it should come as no surprise that her Laurel Canyon studio is also a careful arrangement. Vintage clocks of all shapes and sizes line its walls. One table holds a graceful cluster of antique bird cages. Another is filled with masks and locks and colored glass in various shades of red reminiscent of the all-red environmental installations shes created in recent years. For the record: A previous version of this article stated that Betye Saars 2016 solo show at Milans Prada Foundation opens in October. It opens in September. But at the heart of Saars sunny space sits a tidy collection of bric-a-brac that jolts with its unseemliness: a shameful harvest of ceramic mammies, tin renderings of pickaninnies and leering, thick-lipped figurines clutching pieces of watermelon. Advertisement See more of Entertainments top stories on Facebook >> In Saars hands, however, these notorious artifacts become something mighty. For more than 40 years, shes acquired debasing kitsch objects at flea markets and garage sales, and then transformed them. It began in 1972, with a breakthrough work titled The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, a small, shoe box-size assemblage in which she took a stereotypical mammy figurine and armed her with a rifle and a grenade. Just three months shy of her 90th birthday, Los Angeles artist Betye Saar gives a tour of her studio and explains what keeps her inspired. Its like they abolished slavery but they kept black people in the kitchen as mammy jars, Saar says of what drove her to make the piece. I had this Aunt Jemima, and I wanted to put a rifle and a grenade under her skirts. I wanted to empower her. I wanted to make her a warrior. I wanted people to know that black people wouldnt be enslaved by that. Over her career, Saar has quietly and firmly built a body of work that touches on the magical, the personal and the political something she continues to do to this day. In fact, just three months shy of her 90th birthday, Saar is busy. This week, she wraps up a sprawling survey of her work at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Arizona, a traveling exhibition previously at the Museum het Domein in the Netherlands her first solo show in Europe. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >> In September, she will have a pair of concurrent shows at her Culver City gallery, Roberts & Tilton, one of which will consist of an entirely new body of work. In September, she debuts an exhibition at the buzzy Prada Foundation in Milan, which will present work from various stages of her career. And good luck trying to get on her calendar in 2017. Saar already has an exhibition planned at L.A.'s Craft & Folk Art Museum for the spring and will have works featured in important group shows at the Brooklyn Museum in New York and the Tate Modern in London. She is almost 90 and still making work, says Sara Cochran, director of the Scottsdale museum, who helped organize Still Tickin, Saars museum survey. There is a tenacity and grit there. 1 / 6 Vintage clocks of all shapes and sizes can be found in Betye Saars Laurel Canyon studio. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 6 The Edge of Ethics, foreground, and Seated Shadow With Bird Cages are part of retrospective at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Arizona. ((Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times)) 3 / 6 At the heart of Saars studio sits a collection of ceramic mammies, notorious artifacts that she transforms into something mighty. ((Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)) 4 / 6 Alpha & Omega, in the Arizona show, conveys visions of otherworldly passages. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 6 A detail from Saars installation Red Time, from the retrospective Still Tickin. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 6 Artist Betye Saar in her Laurel Canyon studio in Los Angeles. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Curiously, the one place Saar isnt showing is in L.A.'s major museums. Other than a single piece of assemblage on view in the Museum of Contemporary Arts exhibition The Art of Our Time, her hometown institutions have been rather aloof. Saar is too preoccupied to let this bother her. Shes got several assemblages in various states of completion inside her studio. And in her spare time, she is working on a catalogue raisonne of her lifes work: More than six decades of production covering themes of family, spirituality and those recesses of American history having to do with race. Despite a serious case of jet lag shes just returned from a site visit in Italy at the Prada Foundation with curator Elvira Dyangani Ose Saar is bubbly and charming, gamely sitting down for an interview in her studio. I could use a nap, she confesses, as she eases her petite frame onto a Space Age exercise ball chair. But there is too much to do. Its this work ethic that has led to her prolific output. The exhibition in Scottsdale alone, a fraction of her output, features 135 works that survey the breadth of her techniques, which include print-making, collage and assemblage. This includes a series of family portraits from the 70s rendered as collages on vintage handkerchiefs and transformed into ghostly mementos. Deft arrangements of African effigies and elements of tarot become enchanted-looking assemblages that explore the mystical. And, of course, there are the political works, which take symbols of racism statuettes of crows (for Jim Crow), the derogatory black memorabilia and organize them into totems that channel humor and outrage. Saar has even produced room-size environments. Alpha & Omega, on view in Scottsdale, features sculptures in chilly hues of blue, sitting below the hovering skeleton of a neon canoe a dream-like scenario that conveys visions of otherworldly passages. Something I admire about Betye is that she deals with grief, says Cochran. We are a society that does not deal with grief. She gives gravitas to emotions that we just arent used to giving much attention to. Something I admire about Betye is that she deals with grief ... She gives gravitas to emotions that we just arent used to giving much attention to. Sara Cochran, director of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art An artists beginnings Saar was born Betye Brown in Los Angeles on July 30, 1926, the daughter of mixed-raced parents from Iowa and Louisiana. Her father died in his 30s, leaving Betye, then about 5, and her two younger siblings in their mothers care. At that point, the family relocated to Pasadena to live with relatives, the city where the artist would spend the rest of her youth. After graduating from high school, Saar spent two years at Pasadena City College before moving on to UCLA in 1947 which, at the time, she says, was like this small, little rustic canyon. There, she majored in design, with the idea of becoming an interior decorator. Being from a minority family, I never thought about being an artist, recalls Saar. But I could tell people how to buy curtains. After she graduated, she developed her own greeting card line. She also successfully teamed with fellow designer Curtis Tann to form Brown and Tann, an enamelware company that sold jewelry and other popular decorative objects out of Tanns living room. Their work drew the attention of Ebony magazine, which featured the pair in its pages in fall 1951. During this period, she met ceramist Richard Saar, the two married in 1952. and had three girls: Lezley and Alison, who are respected artists in their own right, and Tracye, a writer. Saars entry into art was a bit of a happy accident. In the late 1950s, she enrolled at Cal State Long Beach. I thought Id get my masters and teach, she recalls. Then one day I walked past the print workshop and I was like, Heyyy! The Edge of Ethics, foreground, and Seated Shadow With Bird Cages are part of retrospective at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Arizona. (Carolina A. Miranda / Los Angeles Times) Saar never got the degree. She focused on printing instead. I loved making prints, she remembers. The move into fine art, it was liberating. It gave me the freedom to experiment. But the move into three dimensions took a serious turn around 1967, when Saar visited an exhibition of the works of Joseph Cornell at the Pasadena Art Museum (now the Norton Simon). Cornell was known for producing intimate box assemblages that used scavenged objects in moody and surreal ways. I immediately started collecting stuff after I saw that show, Saar says. I started going to yard sales and estate sales. Two other important journeys would also make their mark on her work: A trip to Chicagos Field Museum, whose extensive collection turned her on to the power of African art, followed by a trip to Haiti in the early 1970s. I said, If its Haiti and they have voodoo, they will be working with magic, she says, and I want to be in a place with living magic. Saar was less interested in actual magic than in the visual ways in which magic could be conveyed. After these journeys, she began to replace European symbols with African ones, and she sought out used objects including personal mementos specifically because they were charged with previous life. She was also affected by the spirit of the times. In 1962, she relocated with her family to the Laurel Canyon home where she still lives and works. We lived here in the hippie time, Saar recalls fondly. Down the road was Frank Zappa. There werent that many houses. We had the long skirts and long hair, and it was very casual. Youd go to a love-in or a concert. Cannabis plants were growing all over the canyon, she adds. I ask if she may have put those plants there to begin with. Im not going to say, she replies with a laugh. We were as hippie-ish as hippie could be, she adds, with some seriousness, while still being responsible. By the end of the decade, Saar and her husband had divorced. She remained in Laurel Canyon with the children and took on a series of part-time jobs that would allow her to continue to make work and manage the family. For a time, she designed costumes for the Inner City Cultural Center, among other places. She also taught first at Cal State Long Beach, then at the Otis College of Art and Design. In the 1970s, as the Black Power movement was ascendant, she observed it in her art increasingly employing symbols tied to the African American struggle, from the cruel schematics of slave ships to the hackneyed images of black memorabilia shed begun collecting. If you are a mom with three kids, you cant go to a march, says Saar, but you can make work that deals with your anger. If you are a mom with three kids, you cant go to a march, but you can make work that deals with your anger. Betye Saar, artist Artistic profile A key player in myriad artist movements from assemblage to feminist art to the Black Arts Movement of the 60s and 70s Saars work now resides in the permanent collections of more than 60 international museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the L.A. County Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. But while her international profile has grown and is bound to get even bigger after her exhibition at the Prada Foundation, local recognition has been slow to materialize. Her last solo museum show in Los Angeles was at the California African American Museum in 2011 and featured roughly two dozen recent works. Before that, she exhibited the installation Limbo at the Santa Monica Museum of Art in 1994. Her most recent solo exhibition at one of the citys major museums was at MOCA in 1990. That show, Sanctified Visions, paid tribute to writer Zora Neale Hurston and received positive critical notice. Given Saars central role in the L.A. art scene since the 1970s, the lack of recognition she has received here is inexplicable, says Steven Nelson, a professor of African and African American art history at UCLA. L.A. is ever so slowly giving black artists their due. However, that attention is almost exclusively directed at male artists. MOCA chief curator Helen Molesworth, who included an assemblage by Saar in Art of Our Time, says part of the artists low institutional profile may be partly attributable to the nature of her work: Small and intensely personal at a time when the art world has been moving toward the big, the heroic and the ever more conceptual. And to be in the crosshairs of both racism and sexism is no easy place, she adds. She exists in those crosshairs. At the heart of Saars studio sits a collection of ceramic mammies, notorious artifacts that she transforms into something mighty. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Saars show at the Craft & Folk Art Museum will provide a small corrective, but that exhibition featuring fewer than two dozen of her washboard assemblages hardly makes up for a full-blown, scholarly retrospective. Dont bother asking her about these deficiencies. Ive always done what I did and never felt I was competing with what was going on, she says frankly. In reviewing the decades worth of works that went into the exhibition that traveled from the Netherlands to Scottsdale, she said she felt satisfied: I said to myself, You were a good artist then, you are a good artist now. She claps her hands and lets out a boisterous laugh. Theres no time to dwell on the past. Betye Saar has too much future to think about. carolina.miranda@latimes.com Twitter: @cmonstah ------------ FOR THE RECORD May 2, 10:06 a.m.: An earlier version of this article stated that Betye Saars solo show at Milans Prada Foundation opens in October. It opens in September. ------------ Theres a lot of pop culture to sort through week after week. Times staff writer Chris Barton offers his take on whats up and whats down in music, movies, television and just about anything else out there that is worth considering. UNDERRATED Autoluxs Pussys Dead: One of those L.A. indie-rock bands that became a critical darling in the early aughts on the strength of off-kilter songs like Turnstile Blues, Autolux performed with PJ Harvey, Portishead and Thom Yorke but never rose above cult status. Now with its first new music in six years, Autolux sounds as strong yet experimental-minded as ever with an album released on Danger Mouses label and produced by Beyonce collaborator Boots. The songs are shaded with fuzzy guitar and electronics, but the internal drive remains strong thanks to the bands powerhouse drummer, Carla Azar (just ask Jack White). Advertisement Man Up (2015): One of those unexpected, unfortunately titled pleasures that suddenly appears among Netflixs usual new-release deluge of limited appeal, this British film proves that even an otherwise middling romcom from overseas is always two or three times as satisfying as anything Hollywood generates. Girded by the chemistry of endearing comic leads Simon Pegg and Lake Bell, who puts the limber vocal chops seen in her film In a World to good use, Man Up succeeds with its ability to lightly twist the usual formula with a generous helping of occasionally dark, absurdist humor. Overrated/Underrated: Pop cultures best and worst >> OVERRATED A mural honoring Prince adorns a building in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. (Jim Mone / AP) 2016: As if it werent already marked for a level of dread for its standing as an election year in a media climate thats more voracious for viewers than ever, 2016 has already seen more than its share of unexpected and overall unfair losses in David Bowie, Garry Shandling, Alan Rickman, Glenn Frey, Merle Haggard and, most recently, Prince. This sort of thing is inevitably part of the march of time and will only continue thats how time works, after all but failing the ability to seal our great artists in a plastic bubble going forward, may we suggest fast-forwarding to 2017 as soon as possible? Crimson Peak (2015): Benefiting from the inevitable grading on a curve that occurs among fans when a filmmaker of real vision creates something immediately recognizable as a bit too familiar, Guillermo del Toros latest is a pure-hearted homage to vintage gothic horror all the way up and over its Victorian high collars. But for all its striking costuming and set design, there are precious few scares or lingering impressions, which is close to criminal considering a cast that includes Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain was paired with the filmmaker who gave us Pans Labyrinth. chris.barton@latimes.com Ryan Reynolds has written a moving Facebook tribute to a young "Deadpool" fan who died of cancer this week. The actor, who put a decade of his life into playing the foul-mouthed superhero, wrote about how the Make-A-Wish Foundation put him in touch with superfan Connor McGrath. Reynolds wrote that he traveled to McGrath's hospital bedside in Edmonton, Canada, to personally show the 13-year-old a rough cut of the movie before it premiered in theaters. Wade Wilson (a.k.a. "Deadpool") has cancer, so Connor had a natural connection to him. "Because of his wish, Connor was the first person to see Deadpool. There were still huge sections with wires we hadn't yet painted out, jokes which weren't working (and still aren't) and green screens," Reynolds wrote in a post Thursday. Then he quipped: "Before you jump down my throat for showing a 13 year old an R-Rated film, please know this kid knew more swear words than a British chef." McGrath, who Reynolds said "drop-kicked cancer" for three years, died earlier this week. "We met because he loved Deadpool. In a certain sense he WAS Deadpool," Reynolds wrote. "Or, at least everything Deadpool aspires to be; balancing pain, fearlessness, love and a filthy (filthy!) sense of humor in one body. I wish he could've stuck around a lot longer." This isn't the first time a movie studio has staged a special showing for a cancer patient: Last year, a man with lung cancer got to see "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in a private viewing before it came out. He died a few days later. In 2009, Disney sent a DVD of "Up" to the bedside of a girl who was too sick to leave the hospital. She died of vascular cancer just hours after watching it. Top officials at 20th Century Fox confirmed earlier this month that a Deadpool sequel is in the works. Also getting a sequel: Ryan Reynolds' daughter, James. He and Blake Lively announced this month that they're expecting their second child. "Deadpool" is available for digital download now and comes out on Blu-ray and DVD May 10. Twitter: @jessica_roy MORE: Angry while female: Why it matters that Beyonce, Kelly Ripa and Samantha Bee won't hide their outrage Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are expecting a second baby, reports say Ryan Reynolds, sexiest dad alive, gushes about baby daughter James Ads for the new film Keanu, which combines kitten cuteness and gangster hardness, proclaim it as coming from the visionary minds of Key and Peele. That would be Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, stars of Comedy Centrals sketch television show Key & Peele, which concluded its fifth and final season in 2015 after having grown to have an unexpected cultural impact that garnered fans including President Obama for their on-point sketches on masculinity, identity and race. But it is also from the mind of Peter Atencio, who directed both Keanu and virtually every sketch in every episode of the show (except for some in the final season), making him a key but often overlooked component in the teams success. Though he admits he can sometimes be sensitive about the relative lack of recognition for his contributions, he also knows that the work is very much the creation of the two performers who had their names in the title. Our complete summer movie guide > Advertisement Its not a concrete role, said Atencio of his part in the creative dynamic. Ive always been like, let me service what you guys do and kind of stay out of the way as much as I can. I think there is potential for directing in comedy to overstep its bounds and hurt the comedy to some degree, so Ive always tried to do what I can to just make the whole thing work. In Keanu, Rell (Peele) becomes extremely attached to a stray kitten he takes in after his girlfriend leaves him. The cat, whom he names Keanu, is snatched by drug-dealing gangsters, and Rell enlists his cousin Clarence (Key) to help get him back. Soon the two meek Angelinos are passing themselves off as violent hitmen as they infiltrate the criminal underworld to rescue Keanu. On Key & Peele, the nature of the show was such that the style changed from sketch to sketch, with Atencio proving himself particularly adept at mimicking the look and style of certain film and television genres, placing the characters created by Key and Peele into worlds that seemed appropriate and believable. In Keanu, he credibly drops two schlubs essentially into the world of an action movie. Peter always said he wanted the sketches to feel like the five funniest minutes of the best set pieces in a feature-length film, Key said. And that seemed a great way to describe the aesthetic. So in making the movie, it wasnt a big deal. He was large and in charge and knew exactly how he wanted it to look and how he wanted it to feel. Atencio, 33, stands well over 6 feet, with a broad build. He is given to wearing ballcaps and bulky jackets. In an article on Key and Peele in the New Yorker, writer Zadie Smith said Atencio looked like a visiting weed dealer. (He now includes that in his Twitter bio.) Originally from Colorado, Atencio had already directed two low-budget features before joining the Key & Peele crew. One, 2005s Night of the Dog, was co-directed with fellow employees at the ArcLight Cinemas movie theater in Hollywood, his first job in L.A. (The April 27 premiere of Keanu was held at the Cinerama Dome, and Atencio introduced the film by saying that this isnt the first time hes stood before an ArcLight audience holding a microphone.) Atencio first met Key, who then introduced him to Peele, as the pair were first pulling together their show. Atencio lobbied hard with executives at Comedy Central to direct every sketch as well as the stand-up segments in-between. Everyone was like, This is a really bad idea, Atencio said. It took the first season for them to be like, This isnt totally crazy. For me, it was great being able to play with style, play with genre. In retrospect, the through line of having Atencio do everything was a risk that paid off as the shows cohesive feel aided its success. And Atencios adeptness at the fast-moving versatility needed by the show initially presented itself as a challenge while preparing for the movie. Choosing a style that was going to be consistent and was going to guide the whole more was probably more nerve-racking than anything else, Atencio said. I had to pick something visual and live with it, to decide what fit the story and character arcs that lasted 90 minutes rather than four minutes. And its something I really prefer doing, Oh, right, this is really fun, and I like it. That initial disconnect between a tough-guy crime thriller and the cuddliness of a kitten, as well as the changing behaviors of Rell and Clarence as they shift from timidity to mock bravado to actual toughness is actually right in line with what Peele and Key were exploring on the television show. Its sort of a symbol for the comedy that Keegan and I have done on our show, the duality about what we put forth in the work versus whats really going on inside of us, said Peele, who co-wrote the screenplay along with Alex Rubens. You dont even have to intellectualize it to get it. Theres something simple and iconic in it that would sum up everything about the Key and Peele voice. The cat served a practical purpose in storytelling too. Peele said the initial cat-less idea for the film was Three Amigos meets New Jack City, but in the writing there was a struggle with why the two characters would remain misplaced in the criminal underworld. Adding the cat gave them that reason and allowed Atencio to play with the contrast of an adorable kitten amid scenes of wanton mayhem. Ultimately, seven cats were used during principal photography in part because the kittens would grow quickly and change size with another used for pickup shots done later in Los Angeles. I definitely knew from the beginning I wanted everything to be done real with the cats, Atencio said. I think part of being a director is asking for stuff that people tell you is impossible, and youre like, We really have to figure this out and then we all figure it out. After Keanu, the Atencio, Peele and Key partnership is being put on indefinite pause. Though they are now eager to branch out to do projects of their own Atencio is directing the pilot for the Amazon comedy John-Claude Van Johnson, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme they are also all leaving the door open to work again in the future. It feels like the end of a chapter in what we hope will be a very, very long book, Key said. I can guarantee we will never be out of each others lives. Key paused and folded back into the self-awareness that marked the work of Key and Peele and Atencio by adding, That book thing sounded real poetic. Put that quote in. Follow on Twitter: @IndieFocus MORE: How Key and Peele got Keanu Reeves to voice a cat in Keanu Your summer movie guide: Captain America, Ghostbusters, Money Monster and all the other films you should see Out-weird Kanye and Bieber? The Lonely Island trio tries in their parody Popstar Upset about an all-female Ghostbusters? Screenwriter Katie Dippold makes no apologies We expect our comedies to be hit-and-miss. Theyre different from action movies, which in recent years have become numbingly relentless hit-and-never-miss, unless youre third thug from the left and swarthy, and your job is to shoot and then die. Now we have the strange case of Keanu, starring two extremely funny people, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, just off their five-season sketch comedy TV run, in their first theatrical showcase as a comedy duo. Written by Peele and Key & Peele alum Alex Rubens and directed by fellow Key & Peele veteran Peter Atencio, the movie is hit-and-miss in an unusually clear-cut way. Its funny for 45 to 50 minutes. Then its strained and abrasive and entirely too devoted to action-movie tropes for 45 to 50 minutes, minus end credits. I can recommend the first half. Advertisement Check out our complete summer movie guide >> Keanu is recommendable if only for the bit where Peele and Key, who play L.A. cousins, one a sad-sack stoner, the other a tightly wound minivan owner and family man in salmon-colored shorts, are sitting in a car, arguing. The cousins are about to become mixed up in a drug war and the pursuit of a very popular kitten. Theyre in the car, debating, and in expertly varied degrees of subtlety, both actors refuse to let the other have the last word. The bit keeps going, and its fantastic completely off-plot (who cares about plot with a movie like this?), daringly extended but, in the end, just right. You cant force comic chemistry, in case you hadnt noticed. You can, however, make the mistake of forcing your stars into settling for weaker material than they deserve. We meet the kitty star of Keanu in the prologue, when the prized pet of a ruthless drug lord escapes a gangland slaughter and ends up on the doorstep of Rell (Peele), whose girlfriend has recently bailed on the relationship. She said my life wasnt going anywhere, Rell says, weeping in bed while lighting up a bong. The cat changes everything, and the light comes back into Rells eyes. But then Rells place is ransacked one night and Keanu is cat-napped. The rest of the movie follows Rell and Clarence (Key) on an odyssey of feline retrieval that puts them in direct conflict with drug lord Cheddar (Method Man); his crew, dominated by Hi-C (Tiffany Haddish); the notorious Allentown killers (Key and Peele in cameos), who had the cat before them; and an increasingly violent and wearying script. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >> Movies generally do not collapse within a specific scene, but Keanu does, or did for me, at least. In a key drug-deal sequence, to assert their street cred and recover the cat, our pretend-thug heroes accompany Cheddars crew as they deliver a nasty new recreational hallucinogen to the Hollywood home of Scary Movie regular Anna Faris (convincing as herself). While Clarence turns his newfound colleagues on to the musical glories of George Michael in the minivan outside, Rell and company navigate an escalating situation inside. The scene plods on, offering a few stray laughs but no momentum. And before you know it, Keanu is in trouble. The second half relies on bug-eyed panic and screaming and blood squibs and the obvious, in all the obvious directions. The actors nearly get lost in their own movie. On the other hand, people love these guys so much, for such evident and entertaining reasons, that Keanu may find its audience after all. I prefer my comedies funny throughout, but I suppose thats crazy talk. Michael Phillips is a Tribune Newspapers critic. mjphillips@tribpub.com Twitter: @phillipstribune ------------ Keanu MPAA rating: R, for violence, language throughout, drug use and sexuality/nudity Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes Playing: In general release The story of self-taught mathematical wizard Srinavasa Ramanujan who in 1913 traveled from colonial India to the halls of Cambridge in Britain, shattering stereotypes with his theoretical ingenuity before dying tragically young at 32 has already inspired a number of books, plays and films. The latest cinematic treatment, writer-director Matthew Browns The Man Who Knew Infinity, is a reverent portrait starring ever-earnest Dev Patel as Ramanujan and Jeremy Irons as his supportive professor, G.H. Hardy. But the movie, a real-life Good Will Hunting of sorts, suffers from being nothing like the cultural outlier Ramanujan was: Its one more respectable British biopic following a formula. Early scenes in Madras show the twentysomething wunderkind as a shipping clerk with a young wife (Devika Bhise), filling books and writing equations in chalk on temple floors but with nobody to impress. When Trinity College shows interest, Ramanujan makes the journey, only to be met with skepticism and institutional prejudice outside the deep bond formed with the admiring, disciplined Hardy, who pushes for proofs that will show his inspirations to be merit worthy. Though Brown is on to something in dramatizing Ramanujan and Hardy as hot and cold opposites on a blind academic date, he settles too often for cliched lines (I was told you love numbers more than people) and never gels the swirl of prejudice, war and brilliant minds into a charged whole the way The Imitation Game did depicting Alan Turing, another beleaguered brainiac. Advertisement Even more regrettable is that the poetry in the mens line of study remains enigmatic as a manifest art, so the movie perhaps fearful of boring audiences substitutes actor-gestured intelligence for any attempt to illuminate the math. Irons makes it work, turning in a lived-in portrait of an educated man on an emotional learning curve, but Patel sticks to underdog shorthand and suffers for it. Then again, theres little else he can do but work a continually pained expression considering the itemized ills in the screenplays second half, namely a worsening case of tuberculosis. If The Man Who Knew Infinity had been more concerned with the soul of a raw talent instead of the learn-and-earn ethos of so much accomplishment cinema, it might have produced something soulful rather than something institutional. ------------ The Man Who Knew Infinity Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes MPAA rating: PG-13, for some thematic elements and smoking Playing: Arclight Hollywood and the Landmark, West Los Angeles calendar@latimes.com A psychological connection forms between two women around an unspoken secret in LAttesa (The Wait), the feature debut of director Piero Messina. Jeanne (Lou de Laage), on a trip to visit her estranged boyfriend, Giuseppe, at his home in Italy, unknowingly wanders into an oppressively stifling atmosphere of grief, though no one is being quite truthful with her. She waits for Giuseppe to arrive, even as his mother, Anna (Juliette Binoche), mourns someone her brother, she claims. The untruths become a game of psychological cat and mouse between the women, with Jeanne leaving Giuseppe voicemails wondering where he is, and the women beginning to bond under the Sicilian sun. SIGN UP for the free Indie Focus movies newsletter >> Advertisement The film starts interminably heavy and slow beneath a somber, dark cloak that begins to lift when Jeanne arrives with a sense of youthful energy and sensuality that brighten the dark and heavy rooms of the house. Her presence as a creature that needs tending brings an immediacy to the moment, and Anna begins to indulge in corporeal pleasures, like cooking, to entertain her guest. The women offer each other a bit of a reprieve from a reality that is never entirely made clear and differs for each of them. Only the houseman, Pietro (Giorgio Colangeli), stands for the truth. The film is a moody and lyrical contemplation of grief and the connections that can be found within the void of loss. ------------- LAttesa (The Wait) In French and Italian with English subtitlesNot rated Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes Playing: Laemmle Royal, West Los Angeles The biopic Papa: Hemingway in Cuba has some real bona fides behind it. With an autobiographical script written by journalist Denne Bart Petitclerc, the film depicts the relationship between Ernest Hemingway and a young Miami Herald reporter in the late 1950s, here named Ed Myers (Giovanni Ribisi). Though Petitclerc died in 2006, director Bob Yari revived the dormant script and, with warmer relations between the U.S. and Cuba, was able to shoot on location on the island the first Hollywood film to be shot there since 1959 at Hemingways estate. With a rich and colorful true story and the gorgeous, pristine setting, things should have been golden, but Papa is closer to tin. The film suffers from serious biopic problems: The compelling figure at the center is refracted through the perspective of another, less interesting person; the script is too committed to details that might be historically accurate but that dont serve the story; the characters frequently articulate subtext that would have been better left unsaid. SIGN UP for the free Indie Focus movies newsletter >> Advertisement Goddamn war, Hemingway bellows, slamming down a glass of rum after witnessing the killing of rebel fighters. I hate it. He also bellows about writers block and suicide, in case you werent sure you were watching a movie about Hemingway. The titular novelist is played by stage and screen actor Adrian Sparks, and his over-the-top delivery feels decidedly theatrical. As do the explosive fights with his wife, Mary (Joely Richardson). The film manages to be exceedingly dull, perhaps because its too enamored of its own design, concept and location to bother with a captivating story. ------------- Papa: Hemingway in Cuba MPAA rating: R for language, sexuality, some violence and nudity Running time: 1 hour 49 minutes Playing: In general release. Business news devotees may recall the Massachusetts-based supermarket chain Market Basket being hit by a devastating employee strike and customer boycott in 2014, after beloved CEO Arthur T. Demoulas was effectively fired by his cousin Arthur S. Demoulas. Tommy Reids documentary We the People: The Market Basket Effect now adds useful context to that story, even though the movie is ultimately too short and too slanted to cover it properly. Massachusetts native Michael Chiklis narrates, describing the Demoulas familys origins in the grocery business and explaining how founder Athanasios Demoulas built loyalty by extending credit to customers struggling through the Great Depression. His sons then carried on that tradition, by instituting a generous employee benefits plan. SIGN UP for the free Indie Focus movies newsletter >> Advertisement Arthur T. has apparently followed in his fathers, uncles and grandfathers footsteps, making sure his clientele and his staff are treated right even at the risk of diminished shareholder earnings. As suggested by the title, We the People doesnt just dig into the particulars of one high-profile family feud; it directly advocates for the Arthur T. Demoulas way of doing business. But with no family members willing (or perhaps able) to go on the record, Reid relies on transcripts of meetings and testimonials from Arthur T. supporters. After a while, the limitations of that approach starts to work against the complexity of boardroom politics. There are good lessons to be learned from the Market Basket saga. We the People doesnt trust the audience to figure them out for themselves. ------------- We the People: The Market Basket Effect Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 16 minutes Playing: Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills. Also available VOD on May 18 Much of the pre-release chatter around Mothers Day, the latest holiday-themed group therapy session from director Garry Marshall (Valentines Day, New Years Eve), has focused on the subject of Julia Roberts hair specifically, the strawberry-blond Anna Wintour bob that her character wears throughout. As the diligent investigators at People recently confirmed, Roberts donned the exact same wig 17 years ago for a brief scene in Notting Hill, in which she played an actress playing an astronaut in an outer-space thriller called Helix. For some fans, all this hair talk may trigger a flood of nostalgia for the 90s, when Roberts long, almost Samsonian curls seen to especially voluminous effect in Pretty Woman, her first collaboration with Marshall signaled a star at the height of her cultural and commercial supremacy. But the Helix flashback also serves another purpose, which is to identify the genre to which Mothers Day properly belongs. Its not a romantic dramedy; its science fiction. Our complete summer movie guide > Advertisement The setting is a well-furnished, comfortably upper-middle-class planet that vaguely resembles our own, albeit with conspicuously more flowers, swimming pools and exercise equipment. For all the on-screen laughter and tears, the air feels strained, sinister and charged with desperation. There are a few nonwhite actors in the cast Aasif Mandvi plays a frazzled dad, and Anoush NeVart shows up as his saucy, sari-wearing mother but they are generally treated as comic anomalies to be identified and eliminated as quickly as possible, sort of like the replicants in Blade Runner. Meanwhile, even the ensembles native English speakers approach their dialogue in the stilted, uncomprehending manner of people behaving under the possible influence of nerve gas. And what they mainly chatter about with a monotony that wears perilously thin over the course of almost two hours is Mothers Day, Mothers Day, Mothers Day, and all the attendant pressures and anxieties that are stirred up in its annual wake. Youre really doing whats best for the kids. I have abandonment issues. No matter whats happened between us, youre always my mother. I was adopted. I came from a sperm donor. And finally: This is all so stupid. Quite so. From awkward start to merciful finish, Mothers Day is a grim, listless affair that may leave you pining for the relative pep and coherence of its predecessors (both of which were scripted by Katherine Fugate), or at least a few of their incidental pleasures. Theres no one here as memorably off-key as Taylor Swift in Valentines Day, and the blooper reel doesnt have a single throwaway gag as charming as Zac Efron and Michelle Pfeiffer tearing up the dance floor in New Years Eve. What the movie does have is a new trio of screenwriters (Anya Kochoff Romano, Matthew Walker and Tom Hines) who have duly reproduced the Fugate formula of serving up five or six pedestrian movies for the price of one. Roberts plays Miranda Collins, whose name suggests a combination fashion-magazine editor and trash-romance novelist; instead, shes a home-shopping-network celebrity who hawks a line of crystal mood pendants while keeping her own emotions tightly under wraps. At the opposite end of the social spectrum is Kristin (Britt Robertson, Tomorrowland), who has a baby with her British bartender boyfriend, Zack (Jack Whitehall), but keeps turning down his marriage proposals. You almost understand why after enduring a few of Zacks stand-up comedy routines, which occasion some of the least persuasive laugh-track accompaniment in recent memory. The closest thing to a fully developed character falls to the ever-appealing Jennifer Aniston as an interior decorator named Sandy, who fears losing her two boys when her ex-husband (Timothy Olyphant) marries a twentysomething bombshell (Shay Mitchell). Meanwhile, Sandy carries on an awkward semi-flirtation with Bradley (Jason Sudeikis), a gym owner whos having trouble raising his two daughters nearly a year after their mother (Jennifer Garner) died in military service overseas. The plight of Americas troops abroad has long been a fixture of this franchise Roberts played a soldier in Valentines Day, as did Common in New Years Eve and its not the only respect in which Mothers Day tries to cultivate a heartland-specific appeal. Tellingly, this is the first movie in the series set not in Los Angeles or New York, but in Atlanta (not that youd necessarily know it from Marshalls flat, generic visuals). That geographical shift introduces some stereotypical Southern prejudice in the form of a subplot involving Jesse (Kate Hudson), who has a child with her Indian American husband (Mandvi), and her sister, Gabi (Sarah Chalke), who has a kid with her lesbian partner (Cameron Esposito). Somehow, the two siblings have managed to avoid sharing any news of their life choices with their distant, ultra-conservative Texan parents (Margo Martindale and Robert Pine), who are clearly in for, well, the mother of all surprises. The ritual of squabbling and reconciliation that ensues may well be Marshalls attempt to reach across the political aisle, though he lacks the finesse to distinguish between humor that mocks racist, homophobic attitudes and humor that is itself mildly racist and homophobic. The lurching incoherence of Mothers Day is that it crudely solicits your amusement one minute, then expects you to tear up at a series of shameless third-act twists involving a cemetery visit, an asthma attack and an impromptu wedding. Have I said too much? Hardly. If youve seen any of these movies, you know how this one ends not a minute too soon. ------------ Mothers Day MPAA rating: PG-13, for language and some suggestive material Running time: 1 hour, 52 minutes Playing: In general release justin.chang@latimes.com Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early. Mostly clear with gusty winds developing late. Low near 50F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. One of the earliest and grisliest scenes in Tale of Tales, a fitfully entrancing English-language fantasy from the Italian writer-director Matteo Garrone, is what you might call an offal sight: A queen (played by a severe-looking Salma Hayek) sits in an all-white room, devouring the heart of a freshly slain sea monster. The queen may be clad in funereal black, as befits her status as a new widow, but any suggestion of grief is refuted by the smear of blood on her face and the fierce, almost sexual hunger with which she tears into the creatures flesh. There is no shortage of such creatures in Tale of Tales here be ogres and witches, deep-sea behemoths and giant insects but Garrone leaves little doubt about who the real monsters are. Its surely no coincidence that each of the films three loosely entwined narratives plucked from a book of 50 fairy tales collected by the 17th century Neapolitan poet and courtier Giambattista Basile is set in motion by the whims of a cruel, self-deluding and very human monarch. SIGN UP for the free Indie Focus movies newsletter >> Advertisement In another yarn, set in the neighboring realm of Highhills, a foolish king (Toby Jones) ignores his bright and beautiful daughter, Violet (Bebe Cave), and nurtures an unhealthy attachment to his pet flea, which soon swells to enormous proportions. Meanwhile, the lascivious king of Strongcliff (Vincent Cassel) falls for what he thinks is a fair maiden, seduced by her lovely singing voice. She turns out to be an old crone named Dora (Hayley Carmichael), who schemes with her more naive sister, Imma (Shirley Henderson), to make the most of this rare opportunity. But the most ruthless ruler of them all is Hayeks queen, coldly sacrificing everything her soul, her husband (played briefly by John C. Reilly) and certainly her table manners so as to conceive the child that has long eluded her. (An elaborate recipe for childbirth is not the only respect in which the film suggests a Baroque spin on Into the Woods.) Sixteen years later, however, the queens teenage son, Elias (Christian Lees), will continue to elude her still demonstrating, quite conclusively, how dangerous it can be to get what you wish for. The steep price of enchantment is one of the crucial lessons of Tale of Tales, albeit not in quite the way its makers intended. Diverting but rarely transporting, unpredictable yet strangely overdetermined, Garrones film never conjures the sustained, enveloping magic promised by its extravagant design and its agreeably unhinged story sense. You cant always tell whats coming next, but nearly everything that does happen bizarre transformations, elaborate ruses, startling acts of betrayal seems to arise from, and confirm, a reflexively cruel and pranksterish worldview. That sensibility is of course endemic to any number of fairy tales, including the works of the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault, who borrowed and adapted some of their most famous stories from Basiles collection. But the pessimism at the heart of Tale of Tales also gives it a connection with Garrones earlier work including his best-known picture, the ferociously gritty gangster drama Gomorrah, which envisioned crime-riddled Naples as a seething hell on earth. He followed that up with the more sentimental Reality, an amusing if overstretched comic fable about a Neapolitan fishermans obsessive quest for Big Brother fame. Both films announced Garrone as a gifted if erratic cinematic moralist, for whom the modern world is marked by a great spiritual absence a place where the trappings of religion, whether superficially present or entirely absent, have been eclipsed by a secular creed of greed, materialism and celebrity. And so while Tale of Tales may seem a fantastical retreat from, well, Reality, its foray into pagan folklore actually suggests a logical progression. Each story here follows a trail of human lusts and desires to a brutally violent end, in the process reaffirming a series of lessons about the corruptions of power and the folly of pursuing youth and beauty for their own sake. Garrone recognizes that the tropes and themes of fantasy storytelling, far from being childs play, can teach us much about the venality of human nature. And he seems fascinated by the forms potential for both realism and artifice, as evidenced by his reliance on practical effects rather than CGI (the giant flea in particular has a pleasingly rubbery appearance) and also in the somewhat flat, matted look of the movies Italian locations, many of which were deliberately chosen for their resemblance to studio sets. Which is not to suggest that Tale of Tales sumptuously outfitted by production designer Dimitri Capuani and filmed in lustrous widescreen images by cinematographer Peter Suschitzky is without its visual wonders. The most striking images have an eerie, suspended-in-time lyricism: Reillys king walking across the ocean floor in a clanging metal diving suit, or a scarlet-haired damsel (Stacy Martin) wandering naked in the woods. Garrone, who has a touch of Fellini in his blood, turns the screen into a carnival of flesh: He has a sensualists eye for the female form but also a vulgarians appreciation for the unloveliness of mottled skin and sagging limbs. The director invests his filmmaking with so much bawdy, darkly comic energy that its all the more perplexing that Tale of Tales never quite stirs to life. Garrone, one of four credited screenwriters, braids his three stories together in an arbitrary, pass-the-baton style that continually stalls the films momentum. The international cast, though marvelously oddball, never quite shakes off the feeling of having been assembled with starry commercial prospects rather than dramatic coherence in mind. The strongest performances come from Jones, at once maddening and endearing in his cluelessness, and Cave, a gifted newcomer who suggests a winsome cross between Zoe Kazan and a younger Emma Thompson; together they give their characters father-daughter rapport a poignant sting. The worst acting (though not the least enjoyable) comes from Cassel, panting and heaving as though the mere presence of the camera were a powerful aphrodisiac. He teeters on the brink of self-parody throughout, never more so than when he kisses and suckles a womans finger through a keyhole. Salma Hayek, eat your heart out. justin.chang@latimes.com ------------ Tale of Tales Not rated Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes Playing: In limited release Investigators are looking into whether Prince died from a drug overdose and whether a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before he was found dead at his home in suburban Minneapolis, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press on Thursday. The official said that among the things investigators are looking at is whether a doctor was on a plane carrying the entertainer when it made an emergency landing in Illinois less than a week before Prince died. The law enforcement official has been briefed on the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Advertisement The official said investigators are also looking into what kind of drugs were on the plane and at Princes house in suburban Minneapolis. The official also confirmed some details that have previously been reported by other media outlets, including TMZ. Princes plane made an emergency stop in Moline, in western Illinois, on April 15 and he was found unconscious on the plane, the official said. The person said first responders gave Prince a shot of Narcan, which is used in suspected opioid overdoses. The official said the shot was given when the plane was on the runway in Moline, as Prince returned to Minneapolis following a performance in Atlanta. The official said investigators are looking at whether Prince overdosed on the plane and whether an overdose killed him, and at what kind of drugs were involved. One possibility is the powerful painkiller Percocet or something similar, the official said. Narcan can be used on people even if an overdose isnt confirmed because it wouldnt necessarily be harmful. A second law enforcement official told the AP that prescription drugs were discovered at Princes home when the musician was found dead. That official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation into Princes death. The official did not elaborate. Prince died April 21. An autopsy has been performed, but results werent expected for three to four weeks. The search warrant for Princes Paisley Park home and studio carried out the day of his death was filed Thursday under seal at the request of investigators, who said it would hamper their investigation if contents were public. The filing, signed by Carver County (Minn.) Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud, also warned that disclosing details in the warrant could cause the search or related searches to be unsuccessful and risk injury to innocent people. Kamerud declined to comment Thursday on the reports of drugs found at Paisley Park, and told the AP that he strongly disputed reports by several media outlets that investigators had asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help in the case. We have not asked them for help, or asked them to be a part of the investigation, Kamerud said. We might contact them to help us, but that hasnt happened. We dont have the medical examiners report yet. We dont know to what extent pharmaceuticals could be a part of this. Leo Hawkins, a DEA spokesman in Chicago, said he had no comment. Princes death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasnt feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city. Prince was scheduled to perform two shows in St. Louis but canceled them shortly before his death due to health concerns. Longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels. ALSO Princes estate to be temporarily managed by trust company Beyonce live in Miami: Prince tributes, Boycott Beyonce T-shirts and so much more Prince backing band the Revolution will reunite Public memorial for Prince set for May 6 at L.A. City Hall Popular peer-to-peer payment service Venmo is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission in connection with possible unfair and deceptive practices. Its the latest sign of increased regulatory scrutiny of emerging financial technology firms, and at least the second time Venmo may have run afoul of regulators. Venmos parent, San Jose payments giant PayPal Holdings Inc., disclosed the investigation Thursday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Advertisement The FTC, which enforces consumer protection and antitrust laws, in March demanded documents and other information from PayPal to determine whether we, through our Venmo service, have been or are engaged in deceptive or unfair practices in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the company reported. FTC spokesman Jay Mayfield confirmed the company is under investigation but declined to provide additional details. PayPal spokeswoman Amanda Miller said the company is cooperating with the commission. We are completely aligned with regulators in their efforts to ensure that consumers have positive experiences when using our services, Miller said in an emailed statement. We consult and collaborate with regulators and work hard to comply with laws and regulations in the markets where we do business, around the world. The Federal Trade Commission Act generally prohibits unfair and deceptive practices across a wide range of industries. Often, violations of the act amount to a lack of disclosure about fees or other practices. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> In the case of Venmo, theres little indication of what the commission could be looking for. The service, which allows users to send money to each other using a smartphone app, is free for users who link their Venmo accounts to bank accounts or most debit cards. Venmo charges a 3% fee to transfer money from credit cards and some debit cards. The investigation comes as California and federal regulators, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which oversees banks, have taken a more active interest in financial technology firms. Though much of regulators focus so far has been on online lenders, Venmo has attracted regulatory scrutiny before. In 2014, the company was reprimanded by the California Department of Business Oversight in connection with consumer privacy issues and fraud-prevention practices. SIGN UP for the free California Inc. business newsletter >> Venmo is one of PayPals fastest-growing business lines, with the volume of money transferred through the service hitting $3.2 billion in the first three months of this year -- up more than 150% from the same period in 2015. But PayPal brings in relatively little revenue from Venmo, given that many users pay no fees. The company reported that the FTC investigation could lead to substantial costs in the form of legal fees, fines and other expenses. Twitter: @jrkoren james.koren@latimes.com MORE BUSINESS NEWS Consumer spending growth slows despite jump in income L.A. developer to build nations largest rooftop solar project that feeds a city grid Valeant files overdue financial report, ending debt default, but its troubles arent over Is being older still the new black? It certainly appears that way as fashion and beauty companies continue to tap women of a certain age to star in brand promotions. Sixty-nine-year-old Susan Sarandon is the latest international brand ambassador for LOreal Paris, while 70-year-old Bette Midler mugs in the spring Marc Jacobs ad campaign. They join a growing list of mature women featured in brand campaigns: 81-year-old Joan Didion sat for a Celine ad in 2015, 65-year-old Pat Cleveland appeared in a 2015 Barneys New York ad campaign, and 94-year-old Iris Apfel posed last year for Kate Spade and Alexis Bitter ads and was the subject of an exhibition this year at Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche department store in Paris. That's where San Diego native Ari Seth Cohen, who photographs flamboyant 60-plus-year-olds on global streets for his blog Advanced Style (as well as for a 2012 book and 2014 film of the same title), comes in. He's often credited with inspiring a movement to break through the glass ceiling of ageism. British department store chain Selfridges collaborated with Cohen on a 2010 forever shop dedicated to timeless style and, in 2012, Marc Jacobs credited Cohen's blog as an inspiration for his fall collection. Since then, senior It girls have been fronting major brand campaigns. Roberta Haze photographed by Ari Seth Cohen for Cohens new book, Advanced Style: Older and Wiser. (Ari Seth Cohen / powerHouse Books) (Test) After seven years in New York, Cohen relocated to Los Angeles in July 2015. His second book, Advanced Style: Older and Wiser (powerHouse Books, 272 pages), which includes about 20 stylish L.A. seniors, arrived this week. Cohen is scheduled to have book signings at the Museum of Contemporary Art store in downtown Los Angeles on April 30 and Book Soup in West Hollywood on May 4, and several subjects from the book will make those appearances with him. Art of dressing Like his subjects in his new book, the 34-year-old dresses with devil-may-care confidence. He ambles up a sidewalk in Los Feliz donning double leopard prints (a coat layered over a tuxedo jacket), Maison Margiela tuxedo pants, Gucci horsebit loafers, his grandmothers buckle-style engagement ring, along with a smattering of oversize turquoise rings, a bow-shaped bolo tie and bold gold glasses by L.A. Eyeworks. The majority of Cohens look consists of finds cobbled together from his favorite neighborhood thrift shops, Squaresville and Paper Moon Vintage. I really love a personal sense of style, says Cohen. I think thats what the [people] I photograph have in common. Making fashion fun. The joy of dressing in an artful way. And because they were born at a certain time, theyre used to things being a little more original. There wasnt this mass-produced look of everyone having the same outfit. Theyre still searching for things that are unique, that stand out.Seventy-five-year-old artist and philanthropist Valerie von Sobel, who graces the new books cover in a structural Celine dress and an ethereal hat by local designer Aliona Kononova, agrees. I really love a personal sense of style. I think thats what the [people] I photograph have in common. Making fashion fun. The joy of dressing in an artful way. And because they were born at a certain time, theyre used to things being a little more original. There wasnt this mass-produced look of everyone having the same outfit. Ari Seth Cohen Aris interest is in women who are vital and who dont fade into the sunset willingly, says Von Sobel, who lives in West Hollywood. They tend to be colorful ladies with hundreds of bracelets and bakelite jewelry who are vibrant and very noticeable. They are not about being chic at all. I am not either. I am more about unusualness, a take-no-prisoners, quirky kind of style. To me, fashion is not frivolous. It keeps creativity alive, in the designer and in the wearer. It speaks of you before you open your mouth. Senior influences Cohen attributes a close affinity to his grandparents for his focus on the senior set. My [paternal] grandmother Helen was sort of a style icon in San Diego. Everyone thought she was a movie star wherever wed go, he says. And Bluma [his maternal grandmother] was a librarian, who retired after I was born and was a second mother to me. So the way I thought about aging was based on this incredible woman, who was my best friend. She taught me about art and fashion and encouraged me to move to New York because she had gone to Columbia University. See the most-read in Life & Style this hour >> Another early inspiration was British fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, 75, who resides part-time in Del Mar and is known for her unconventional style and fuchsia hair. While Cohens first book only featured women, 41 men are showcased in his forthcoming tome. He notes that his immaculately dressed paternal grandfather, Hal, who had an affinity for cashmere sweaters, argyle socks, and Italian brands such as Brioni, had the nickname Mr. Perfect and that in high school Cohen himself often wore hats, shirts and jackets from the 1950s from his other grandfather, Jacob. Bliss photographed by Ari Seth Cohen (Ari Seth Cohen / powerHouse Books) (Test) Aging redefined Cohen says he started photographing stylish older people in 2008 when he borrowed his roommates camera after meeting the late actress Mimi Weddell, then 93, and other swank, spirited New York women in their 60s and older who were painting the town. I wondered why these werent the women who we were looking to for inspiration, wisdom, style advice, life advice, Cohen says. You look at magazines and television, and [the focus] is on really young girls who havent even fully formed their style yet.When aging comes up, its all about anti-aging, which doesnt make people feel good about themselves. Theres a prevailing idea that aging is all about decline. Its all negative, and theres so much fear around it. Its so important to fight ageism. Were all going to get old. One woman told me, Never retire. Just retread your tires, he continues. I thought that was great. Reinvent yourself. Always have something to do. And I think gratitude is a huge thing. Women in their 80s and 90s tell me they wake up every day feeling grateful so they make the most of their time. People can complain about getting older, but youre lucky to have another day, another year. And what's next for Cohen? He says he's working on a series of videos about advanced love that features older couples. Mario Trillo photography by Ari Seth Cohen (Ari Seth Cohen / powerHouse Books) (Test) Valerie von Sobel, who is on the cover of the book Advanced Style: Older and Wiser, is photographed at her home in West Hollywood. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) (Test) More about Valerie von Sobel In the book Advanced Style: Older Wiser, cover model and West Hollywood resident Valerie von Sobel mixes pieces by Celine, Etro and Charles Anastase and local designers Aliona Kononova and Jerell Scott with Lawrence Vrba statement necklaces and vintage hats (a favorite source is Recess on North La Brea Avenue) or turbans she fashions from vintage fabrics. Her other beloved Los Angeles boutiques include Mameg, Just One Eye, Opening Ceremony, the Way We Wore and Golyester. Von Sobel in her own words I think of everything happily and I see no reason whatsoever to whine about anything. Style is very much like an automobile; you can drive a 57 Chevy or you can drive a new Bentley. I have vital curiosity about everything, from bugs to hairpins. image@latimes.com I recently packed my favorite writing pen, sketchbook and camera for a solo trip to Newport, Ore., which was a study in contrasts at every turn. Newport is on the Oregon coast, about halfway between California and Washington, and has two distinct areas: the Bayfront, a working port with fishing boats docked alongside walkable piers, and Nye Beach, an artsy village with fine-dining choices, boutique shopping and long stretches of sandy beaches. The tab: $242, including taxes and fees, for two nights at the Sylvia Beach Hotel, $32 at Local Ocean Seafoods, $36 at Nanas Irish Pub and an undisclosed amount for irresistible finds in the eclectic shops. The bed Advertisement Sylvia Beach Hotel (267 N.W. Cliff St., Newport; [541] 265-5428, www.sylviabeachhotel.com) lured me with its seductive offer of quiet (no Wi-Fi or TV) as well as its oceanfront views that include Yaquina Head lighthouse. Its also a bibliophiles delight. Rooms are named after and decorated for such authors as Mark Twain, J.K. Rowling, Ernest Hemingway, Amy Tan, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Herman Melville and Jane Austen, among others. See the most-read in Life & Style this hour >> The rooms are also categorized by genre: Bestsellers are oceanfront and are most expensive; classics are moderately priced with ocean views, fireplaces and decks; and novels are the least expensive with no ocean views but still charming. A freshly cooked breakfast, included in the price, is served in the Tables of Content room. The hotels library takes up the entire west side of the third floor and is outfitted with deep, comfy chairs, small couches, stacks of books, writing desks, a wood-burning fireplace and a coffee room. The large windows encourage watching a sunset over the Pacific and whales spouting in March and October. The meal Local Ocean Seafoods (213 S.E. Bay Blvd., Newport; [541] 574-7959, www.localocean.net), with its upscale design, sits in striking juxtaposition to the rustic, colorful fishing boats in the harbor across the street. A more intimate dining room has been added upstairs and offers panoramic views from the Pacific Ocean to the Coast Range. Although known for its fish tacos and fresh crab (the wait staff can tell you the name of the boat that pulled in each seafood item), I chose two small plates: scallops on a bed of Israeli couscous and grilled calamari with roasted fennel. The second night I ate at Nanas Irish Pub (613 N.W. 3rd St., Newport; [541] 574-8787, www.nanasirishpub.com) where I enjoyed an Oregon grass-fed beef Dublin burger with blue cheese, a Bitburger German beer and traditional Irish bread pudding with a cup of coffee. The find The Nye Beach Writers Series meets the third Saturday of each month, except in December, at the Newport Visual Arts Center (777 N.W. Beach Drive, www.writersontheedge.org; $8 admission) across the street from the Sylvia Beach Hotel. It hosts an author to read from his or her current work, followed by an open mike session. The lesson learned Although this was a delightful solo trip, I would return with girlfriends, split the cost of the Ken Kesey room at the Sylvia Beach Hotel with its four twin beds or the Steinbeck room with its two twin beds and linger in that sumptuous library, conversing late into the night. travel@latimes.com Trump wall: In the April 27 California section, a column about discussions at Loyola Marymount University about illegal immigration said that student Diana Delgado was eligible to attend college because of the Dream Act. She was eligible because of a federal program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. San Diego State University officials are assessing how to move forward after a protest late Wednesday that involved dozens of students surrounding President Elliot Hirshman and preventing him from leaving campus for about two hours. The protest was in response to an email Hirshman and Vice President of Student Affairs Eric Rivera sent out the day before, addressing fliers on campus that identified certain students as supporters of terrorism. Critics said the administration response was inadequate. The protest eventually was diffused after Hirshman said he was sorry if he had inadvertently upset or hurt people. University spokesman Greg Block said a staff meeting Thursday included a discussion about how the incident was handled. Hirshman also talked about having future meetings with student leaders, Block said. Advertisement Another protest is likely on campus next Thursday, when conservative activist David Horowitz is scheduled to appear as a guest of the San Diego State College Republicans. The website for the David Horowitz Freedom Center appeared at the bottom of the fliers, which surfaced two weeks ago. The posters named seven students and claimed that they had allied themselves with Palestinian terrorists to perpetrate hatred against Jewish students on campus. Similar fliers have been posted at UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz and UCLA. Osama Alkhawaja, 22, was among the students named on the fliers at San Diego State. We wanted the president to come to our defense as students, Alkhawaja said during the protest Wednesday. In their statement, Hirshman and Rivera said that the university supported free speech, but it questioned whether naming students who were against a certain viewpoint could discourage them from taking part in political discussions. We raise these issues to strengthen our tradition of vibrant discourse about ideas and issues and encourage all members of our community to participate in these discussions, the statement read in part. Wednesdays incident began with a silent protest during the swearing-in ceremony for new student government officers. Hirshman left the ceremony with a campus police officer who escorted him to a police car that would carry him to his own vehicle. Several students surrounded the police car once Hirshman was inside. My friends are not terrorists, and if their names are being posted around campus thats an issue of security, said Jeanette Corona, a 23-year-old student who participated in the protest. No student should be demonized.... Its [Hirshmans] job to ensure the safety of all students on this campus. Corona was among the first who surrounded the police vehicle and prevented it from leaving. I stood in front of the car people were standing on the side and I told everyone, Join me. Please dont leave me alone, she said. As Hirshman sat in the car, students chanted, Hirshman, Hirshman, come on out. We have something to talk about. After nearly an hour, the president got out of the car and talked with some students. Members of the administration offered to set up a meeting between several students and Hirshman. We said, Listen, theres no way all these students are gonna leave just because youre gonna meet with me. The only thing that will get these students to leave is a public admission that youre sorry for the way that youve treated them, Alkhawaja said. The students eventually got what many wanted. If we have done things inadvertently that have upset or hurt people, we are sorry for that, Hirshman told students. It definitely feels like a victory, Alkhawaja said. Alkhawaja said she and the other students named in the posters were targeted for supporting the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, which calls for divestment from Israel. Jordan Dennison, chairman of the College Republicans, said some students are passionate about certain issues, but overall the campus atmosphere is cordial. A member from the SSI (Students Supporting Israel) can walk past someone from SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine), and its not a big thing, said Dennison, 21. Jackie Tolley, director of the Jewish student group Hillel of San Diego, also described the campus atmosphere as peaceful. Thats not to say, however, that there arent times when tensions get to be very heated, she said. gary.warth@sduniontribune.com david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com lindsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com Warth, Hernandez and Winkley write for the San Diego Union-Tribune. She was one of roughly 300 people who were considered to become chancellor of UC Davis. But in one powerful interview, Linda Katehi shot to the top of the list at least for Linda Bisson, a three-decade Davis professor who headed the faculty search subcommittee in 2009. She was brilliant, accomplished and poised, Bisson recalled. Katehi, 62, is a renowned scholar in electrical and computer engineering with vast administrative experience who holds several patents in electric circuit design. Most of all, Bisson said, Katehi had done her homework, demonstrating a deep knowledge of Davis and offering a vision to solve real-world problems rather than simply engage in esoteric academic research. And Katehi has delivered, raising $1 billion for student scholarships and other campus needs, exciting the faculty with big research ideas and money to fund them, bringing more diversity to campus and hiring top talent to propel Davis to even greater heights. Advertisement What set her apart was that she already had made an emotional connection to Davis, said Bisson, a professor of enology. And shes lived up to my expectations, which were pretty high. A former UC Davis police officer who gained global notoriety for pepper-spraying campus protesters two years ago will receive more than $38,000 in workers compensation, claiming he suffered depression and anxiety. Suddenly, however, Katehi was gone abruptly placed on administrative leave late Wednesday by UC President Janet Napolitano. Napolitano ordered an outside investigation into serious questions over Katehis involvement in jobs for family members, possible misuse of student funds and material misstatements about her role in the hiring of social media firms to bury negative publicity about a campus police pepper-spraying of peaceful student protesters in 2011. If proven, Napolitano said, the actions may violate university policies on conflicts-of-interest, ethical conduct and use of student fees. Katehis attorney has called the allegations entirely unjustified, while the chancellor told faculty members on Wednesday morning that she was 100% committed to staying at Davis. On Thursday, the campus was abuzz with a central, perplexing question: How could such a brilliant woman stumble so badly with a string of such questionable decisions? The latest issues raised follow weeks of controversy over Katehis decision to take two paid board positions one with a textbook publisher, the other with a for-profit firm, DeVry Education Group, which is being investigated by state and local authorities for allegedly deceiving students over job and income prospects. Katehi failed to receive Napolitanos approval for that job, as is required under UC policy, resigned without receiving the $70,000 annual compensation and apologized. Her mixed record of accomplishments and missteps have sharply divided the campus, with some calling for her resignation and others stoutly defending her despite Napolitanos actions. Dozens of students debated the chancellors fate as they walked their bicycles, laid out their laptops and ate lunch in the broad, tree-lined green quad. Brandi Lohr, a 33-year-old senior from Chicago, said she admired Katehis background as a woman who overcame obstacles to become an engineer and then consistently advocated for women and people of color in the sciences. Davis was named this year as the nations best campus for women in STEM fields by Forbes magazine. I think its sad that someone who came here with a great start tarnished her reputation so badly, Lohr said. Especially as a college student, you want to believe that your leaders have your best interests at heart and are not just looking out for themselves. Emily Smith, a 22-year-old senior from the Central Valley, said the perspectives of protesters were overblown. I think its easy to pin a lot of stuff on her, Smith said. I definitely dont think shes a terrible person. Jasdeep Singh, a 29-year-old senior from Fresno, was one of the students who spent a month protesting outside Katehis office. He was disappointed that when he arrived on campus many students werent aware of the 2011 pepper-spray incident and it took the more recent issues to galvanize opposition against her. I was already coming in with the perspective that she was not an ally for the students, Singh said. The feeling of disapproval was always there. The UC Student Assn. has called for Katehis resignation, expressing outrage over reports of lucrative moonlighting while students financially struggled and her efforts to cleanse the Internet of references to the pepper-spraying incident. But UC Davis student association President Alex Lee said students also appreciated her. Among other things, Katehis billion-dollar fundraising campaign provided $162.5 million for student support, including nearly 1,500 scholarships, fellowships and awards. She has launched new efforts to help African American, Latino, Native American and undocumented students academically succeed and graduate. Davis also has led the 10-campus UC system in admitting California students a touchy issue as criticism has mounted that UC has given preferential treatment to applicants from outside the state because they pay higher tuition. In addition, Lee said, Katehi hired a new campus police chief following the pepper-spraying incident who has worked well with students. Students are divided over what they think should happen to the chancellor, he said. They do understand that shes done a lot of great things and shes a rare breed: shes repentant. But the pepper-spraying incident left a deep scar on the campus. Katehi has also drawn mixed reviews from faculty, with some calling for her resignation. As rumors swirled Wednesday that Napolitano had asked Katehi to resign, more than 400 faculty members signed a petition opposing the UC presidents intervening without consulting the campus Academic Senate and other administrators. Some faculty members also wrote to Napolitano earlier this week protesting that Katehi was being singled out for criticism because she is a woman. UC encourages chancellors to join boards, while her reforms with campus police after the pepper-spray incident have won praise, her supporters noted. Suad Joseph, a professor of anthropology and gender, sexuality and gender studies, said she continued to back Katehi. She called on an external task force to review the treatment of all top UC administrators to address concerns of a systemwide bias against women. Bisson, however, said the latest issues raised by Napolitano needed to be thoroughly examined. Among other things, Napolitano said that Katehis daughter-in-law had received promotions and $50,000 in raises over 21/2 years while being supervised by one of the chancellors staff members; the daughter-in-law was also made supervisor over an academic program that had hired Katehis son for graduate research. Katehis son, Erik Tseregounis, earned $23,500 as a graduate student researcher while her daughter-in-law, Emily Prieto-Tseregounis, earned $114,939 last year, according to UC data. Tseregounis is a second-year graduate student in epidemiology who works at the campus Center for Transnational Health, according to his website profile. His wife, Prieto-Tseregounis, is chief of staff for Adela de la Torre, vice chancellor of student affairs. Napolitano said it did not appear that appropriate steps were taken to address or approve Katehis son working for her daughter-in-law, who was supervised by one of her direct reports. Asked if she remained pro-Katehi, Bisson said she would withhold judgment until the investigation was completed. Im pro-facts. Im pro-transparency, she said. Then we go forward. Watanabe reported from Los Angeles, Dillon from Davis. Staff writer Jason Song contributed to this report. teresa.watanabe@latimes.com Twitter: @teresawatanabe liam.dillon@latimes.com Twitter: @dillonliam ALSO Hiltzik: How free college tuition would become a giveaway to the rich Protesters slam San Diego States response to Palestinian terrorists fliers Offensive emails from a top official put L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell on the spot Walter Kohn, a UC Santa Barbara physicist who shared a Nobel Prize for a widely used theory in materials science and who warned that science is both a wonderful and terrible force in our world died April 19. He was 93. Kohns health had declined in recent months after he broke his hip in a fall, his daughter Ingrid Paymar said. A Holocaust survivor who became founding director of what is now the Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara, Kohn helped make it possible to calculate more accurately how electrons flowed through materials. Decades later, other scientists, including British-born John A. Pople, used his theories in computer modeling of complex molecules. Advertisement Physics isnt what I do; it is what I am, Kohn once said. His wife, Mara Kohn, called theoretical physics his great joy in life. Yet Kohn also had wide-ranging intellectual and humanitarian interests, and questioned where scientific advancement was taking the world. He was a prominent critic of the University of Californias nuclear weapons research laboratories. Throughout his adult life, Kohn opposed unbridled militarism and was very, very concerned about nuclear proliferation, Paymar said. In 2001, three years after he was awarded the Nobel, he told the Santa Barbara Independent that science had instilled in him a sense of awe, a sense of reverence and a sense of great mystery but that it could not, of itself, solve all problems. He said he differed with colleagues who saw science as a process of revealing what would prove an entirely predictable and mechanistic universe like a car! A big car! he joked. For example, Kohn said, science does not have anything to say about the meaning of suffering. ------------ FOR THE RECORD: Walter Kohn: In the April 29 California section, the obituary of Nobel laureate Walter Kohn gave his middle name as Samuel Gerst. Kohn had no middle name. ------------ Walter Samuel Gerst Kohn was born March 9, 1923, in Vienna to Salomon and Gittel Kohn. The Kohns had a family business commissioning, publishing and selling art postcards. In 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany. Kohns father was brutalized by Kristallnacht attackers, who also smashed the family apartment. Walking home from school, Kohn was seized and held in a police courtyard for hours, then released because his captors considered him too young by a few months. Kohn and his sister both escaped Austria; his parents did not. Kohn, 15, made it to England. He worked on a farm at first but was soon sent to an internment camp on the Isle of Man by British wartime authorities. He was transferred to a camp in Quebec, Canada. A Canadian family took him in and helped him enroll at the University of Toronto, where he earned his bachelors and masters degrees. He received his PhD from Harvard in 1948. Kohns parents were killed at Auschwitz. For the rest of his life, their deaths remained very painful for him and difficult to talk about, his wife said. He would occasionally speak of his mother, she said. Kohn worked at Bell Laboratories in the early 1950s and taught at Carnegie Mellon University. He became a U.S. citizen in 1957. In the early 1960s, Kohn began the decades-long work that would lead to the Nobel. Working with colleague Pierre Hohenberg and with Lu Sham of UC San Diego, Kohn delved into the problem of how to predict, with better precision than was then possible, how different materials hold together and conduct electrical forces. The problem is vaguely akin to forecasting the outcome of a billiard game played with 13 billion billiard balls, said UCLA physics and chemistry professor Robijn Bruinsma. Kohns ideas called density functional theory brought together what could be surmised about the density of electrons in a given material, as well as the interaction between an atom and an electron, to yield very good approximations of the electrical properties of materials such as semiconductors. Elegant shortcuts, as one colleague summarized it. At the time, Kohns interest was in the fundamental physics of the world, not building the technology of the future, said longtime UC Santa Barbara colleague James Langer, a professor emeritus of physics. Decades later, Northwestern University professor Pople, who had known Kohn at Carnegie Mellon, realized that with advances in computing power, Kohns ideas could be applied to efforts to model the attributes of large molecules. Kohns tool made these new computer models quite accurate. Pople and Kohn shared the 1998 Nobel in chemistry. The burgeoning field of quantum chemistry would find abundant use for Kohns ideas in batteries, solar cells and other applications. But Kohns work also shed light on the kinds of universal principles that fascinate physicists. He was not just looking for a convenient way to do these calculations, Langer said. He sought the truth of the situation. Such work exemplifies how fundamental science is necessary to make progress in applied problems, Bruinsma said. While at Santa Barbara, Kohn kept developing density functional theory. With fellow laureate Alan Heeger, he produced a documentary video on solar power narrated by John Cleese. He was interested in history, literature and classical music. He liked people and was active he broke his wrist roller-blading at the age of 75, said his daughter Rosalind Dimenstein. He took a deep interest in the social responsibility of science and spoke of the danger of excessive reliance on science alone to solve problems that have essential non-scientific components. In this, he told the Santa Barbara Independent, he was influenced by his experience under the Nazis. The fact that so many people, ordinary people whom one would like to assume were good people, decided nevertheless to look the other way, to not get involved, to not take risks, and let events take their course this applies also to institutions this is very much present in my mind, he said. He is survived by his wife, whom he married in 1978; his daughters Ingrid and Rosalind and a third, Marilyn Kohn, all from his first marriage; and three grandchildren. jill.leovy@latimes.com Apparently the warnings worked. When crews fired up a hydraulic excavator and sank its heavy, fanged bucket into the carcass of a gray whale on San Onofre State Beach Thursday morning, few people came to witness the spectacle. Just one day earlier, a state parks official warned the curious to stay away, as the whales removal was likely to be very messy and disturbing -- especially to young children. Funky weather and last nights rain must have persuaded people against coming today, said Ed Schlegel, a 44-year Capistrano Beach resident who had made a three-mile hike to the famed Lower Trestles surf spot to witness the scene. Advertisement I wouldnt have missed it, Schlegel said. All week long, spectators from around the state, even foreign tourists, had swarmed the beach to glimpse the 40-foot cetacean, describing it in social media as a splendor on the shore and wondering if humans could better protect the species. On Thursday however, crews erected a barricade some 1,000 feet from the speckled, rotting body before they began tearing it into chunks and loading them into dump trucks. Officials at the scene said they wanted to keep the public at a distance because methane could build up inside the rotting whales abdomen and cause it to explode, creating a biohazard. Schlegel and friend Steve Netherby were allowed to bypass the cordon and get a closer peek however, as they are members of the San Onofre Parks Foundation. Why arent they using chainsaws? Wouldnt that make this go faster? asked Netherby, a senior advisor to the foundations board. The men, who came equipped with cameras and a pair of binoculars, had heard that marine biologists used knives to cut samples from the whales hide for study in the lab. And to witness this scene, these are things to tell the grandchildren, Netherby mused. It never gets old. The whale carcass has been rotting on the beach since Sunday, so Schlegel and Netherby said they were thankful a steady Northwest wind was keeping the horrific stench from their nostrils. They wondered how the workers could handle it. The answer to that question came from truck driver Ron Schultz, who said he relied on liberal amounts of Vicks Vapor Rub to ward off the odor. Schultz confessed to a woozy feeling in his stomach when he learned what his job would be Thursday -- hauling chopped pieces of whale to a landfill somewhere in San Diego. Whos used to watching things being shredded, Schultz asked. You wouldnt be a human being if you didnt react. Schultz, who works for Perrault Corp. of Bonsall, drove one of three dump trucks that were lined up and waiting to be filled. In the distance the excavator and other heavy equipment looked like Tonka toys toiling away on the beach. Its kind of a trip, but really, I think its sad, Schultz said. Theres no joy in watching this happen. Officials expect the removal work to take one-to-three days. Among the challenges are the sheer weight -- the tail alone weighs 5,000 pounds -- and the steady softening of the carcass as it ages. (By lunchtime Thursday, the work had caused the excavator to blow a hydraulic line.) Among those folks who ventured onto the scene were joggers Carla McAlister and Azin Baird, both of San Clemente. How did whales end up here? Baird asked as a bulldoze dragged away a chunk of whale. Whats affecting them? Weve gotta help them. Since the whale washed up at Trestles, a second dead whale has been spotted bobbing offshore attracting great white sharks. Residents and officials are hoping that it too doesnt become beached. As the morning sun rose steadily higher Thursday, Netherby and Schlegel remembered that they had yet to eat breakfast. They took one last look at the blubbery spectacle on the beach and then began the long trek back to their cars. From there, they planned to drive to one of their favorite diners in San Clemente. Eggs Benedict sounds good, dont you think Netherby asked. Its not every day you have an event like this. This is important for scientific reasons, for educational reasons. How magnificent is that animal out there. And how exciting that we have other whales swimming by in our backyard. anh.do@latimes.com Twitter: @newsterrier ALSO Drunk driving suspect killed after short pursuit with LAPD Wind-driven brush fire forces evacuation of drug treatment center in Ventura FBI arrests brother of San Bernardino terrorist and 2 others on marriage fraud charges The protests outside Donald Trumps rally in Costa Mesa on Thursday night pose political questions for both demonstration organizers and the presidential candidate as the California primary nears. Hundreds of demonstrators filled the streets outside the Orange County amphitheater where Trump held a rally Thursday night, stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and forcefully declaring their opposition to the Republican presidential candidate. At least 17 were arrested. The scene dramatically called attention to complaints by Latino activists about Trumps rhetoric on immigration. But it could also help Trump shore up support in his conservative base. Advertisement Onstage inside the OC Fair and Event Center, Trump had surrounded himself with people carrying images of family members killed by immigrants who were in the country illegally. When Trump vowed to make Mexico pay for a wall along its border with the United States, thousands of supporters erupted in cheers. Were going to stop drugs from coming in, Trump told them. The drugs are poisoning our youth and a lot of other people. While the billionaire businessman has faced protests elsewhere, California could prove to be potent ground for opponents because of its large Latino population and Trumps negative comments about immigrants. Several days earlier, pro- and anti-Trump protesters clashed outside Anaheim City Hall, where the council considered a resolution condemning Trump. Activists predict that Trump would continue to evoke angry protests in California, while the presence of the Mexican flag could cause confusion among those observing from afar. David B. Villanueva, 23, of Chicanos Unidos in Santa Ana, a group that was part of the anti-Trump demonstrations Thursday, said the presence of the Mexican flag at rallies and other gatherings is often misunderstood. While many may see it as un-American, the Mexican flag is actually used to express diversity within the United States, especially in California, where many are of Mexican heritage, the activist said. Protesters chose to bring out the Mexican flag to demonstrate their culture and not their nationality, Villanueva said. In this election year, I find the fact that people are waving Mexican flags more important than people waving American flags because of the diversity within our own American culture. Villanueva said the disorder and rioting seen Thursday night was a result of the last-minute nature of the news about Trumps arrival, which didnt give civil rights leaders much time to organize the community. Southern Californias Latino community has a long history of street protests, dating back to the famous Chicano Moratorium march against the Vietnam War in 1970. A decade ago, roughly half a million immigrants and their supporters took to the streets of Los Angeles decrying federal bills that would criminalize providing food or medical services to immigrants in the country illegally and build a wall along the Southern border of the U.S. See the most-read stories this hour >> A USC/Times poll found that 77% of Latinos in California have a negative view of Trump. Yet among Republicans, Trump is ahead in that poll and several others. Trump faced protests at other events in California several months ago, but nothing of the size of the Costa Mesa event. 1 / 8 A Donald Trump protester swings from a traffic light post over the intersection of Fair Drive and Fairview Road as protesters take over the intersection near the Orange County Fairgrounds on Thursday in Costa Mesa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 8 Donald Trump protesters burn tires to create smoke and incite people at the intersection of Fair Drive and Fairview Road near the Orange County Fairgrounds on Thursday in Costa Mesa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 8 Protests erupted along the street surrounding the Orange County Fairgrounds where Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, held a rally Thursday. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 8 A Donald Trump supporter, right, yells at a Trump protester at a rally in Costa Mesa. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles TImes) 5 / 8 Milagros Vizcaino, 13, of Los Angeles heads home after participating in a May Day march in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday for immigrants rights to protest tough new immigration law in Arizona. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 8 Thousands of protesters converged on City Hall in downtown Los Angeles on March 25, 2006. They were protesting the House-passed HR 4437, an anti-immigration bill that opponents said would criminalize millions of immigrant families and anyone who comes into contact with them. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 8 Students from Belmont High wave flags and yell from the steps of City Hall in 1996 after they walked out of school and marched through downtown Los Angeles to protest Proposition 187. (Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 8 Students from various Oxnard high schools skip classes in 1996 and gather in Plaza Park in Oxnard to protest Proposition 187. (Bruce K. Huff / Los Angeles Times) Traffic came to a halt as protesters walked in the roadway, some waving American and Mexican flags. Protesters smashed a window on at least one police cruiser, punctured the tires of a police sport utility vehicle and at one point, tried to flip a police car. Video footage showed some demonstrators hurling debris at a passing pickup truck. One group carried benches and blocked the entrance to the 55 Freeway along Newport Boulevard, with some tossing rocks at motorists near the on-ramp. The protests followed Trump up the coast Friday to Burlingame, south of San Francisco, where he was greeted by activists attempting to disrupt his scheduled address to the California Republican Party convention. All Burlingame police officers available for duty were ordered to patrol the area in case the protests grew out of control, authorities said. Protests heated up before the Republican front-runners noon address, with some activists linking arms to block roadways while others held signs that read Stop Trump and dangled Trump pinatas. Many waved Mexican flags and draped them around their shoulders. Its hard to predict how such protests will affect the GOP race. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier), chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said there was no doubt that Trumps candidacy had made the Latino community a target for hateful rhetoric, and in some cases physical violence. But destroying public property, she said, plays into the very hands of people like Donald Trump. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | April 26 primary election results | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter Some conservatives pointed with outrage to the use of the Mexican flag during the Costa Mesa protest. Observers said that during the anti-Proposition 187 rallies of 1994, the flying of the Mexican flag may have increased support for the initiative, which would have denied public services to immigrants here illegally. It was passed by voters but overturned by the courts. 1 / 28 An anti-Trump demonstrator lies at the intersection of Fair Drive and Fairview Road near the Pacific Amphitheatre, where the candidate made his first appearance of his California campaign. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 28 Protesters try to overturn a police car at the Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 28 Chaos on the streets outside the rally. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 28 Protesters outside the rally. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 28 Protesters in the streets. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 28 Police try to quell a protest against Donald Trump on the streets outside the Orange County Fairgrounds. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 28 Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves to the crowd during a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 28 Protesters outside the Donald Trump rally. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 28 Law enforcement authorities line the street where protesters had gathered. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 28 Anti-Trump protesters take over an intersection near the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 28 A protester waves a flag before a phalanx of police officers in riot gear. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 28 A protester and law enforcement officers amid the raucous scene. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 28 Guadalupe Verdugo in front of a police line outside the Orange County Fairgrounds. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 28 A protestor, second from right, is escorted out of the amphitheatre before a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 28 A wall of police and sheriffs deputies opposite demonstrators in Costa Mesa. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 28 Donald Trump with supporters at the rally. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 28 Donald Trump greets supporters at the rally. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 28 Donald Trump onstage in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 28 Donald Trump speaks at the rally. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 28 A Trump supporter yells build that wall before the start of a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 28 A protester clings to a traffic signal at the intersection of Fairview Road and Fair Drive, which was taken over by anti-Trump demonstrators. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 28 Orange County sheriffs deputies separate protesters from supporters at Donald Trumps rally in Costa Mesa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 28 A protester outside the Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 28 A Trump supporter at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 28 Trump supporters grab signs before a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 28 Esvin Rivers waves a flag as he waits in line to attend the rally. (Barbara Davidson/ Los Angeles Times) 27 / 28 Sheriffs deputies patrol between the rival groups at the Trump rally. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 28 A Trump supporter, right, confronts a protester outside the event. (Barbara Davidson/ Los Angeles Times) Protesters carrying Mexican flags during the 2006 protests also sparked debate, though as those protests continued, there were fewer Mexican flags and more American flags. That happened in part because Spanish-language DJs who promoted the demonstration during their radio shows urged participants to carry American flags to show their patriotism. If we want to live here, we want to demonstrate that we love this country and we love the American flag, DJ Eddie El Piolin Sotelo said at the time. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> Although Orange County was once a white, conservative bastion, its demographics have changed in recent decades. Its still reliably Republican, but GOP registration has declined significantly. The countys population has diversified, with an influx of Asian and Latino residents slowly diminishing the political clout of white voters. This is the anger people have against Trump, said Jose Cruz, 21, as he pointed to the protesters running in the middle of the street. Luis Serrano, an organizer with California Immigration Youth Justice Alliance, said young Latino activists would keep attacking Trumps rhetoric and actions. Were going to keep showing up and standing against the actions and the hate Donald Trump is creating. We are going to continue to just show up in numbers and stand together against hate, he said. I think its going to get worse if he gets the nomination and is the front-runner. I think its going to escalate. Staff writers Michael Finnegan and Matt Pearce contributed to this report. ALSO Clash between supporters, protesters heat up ahead of Donald Trumps rally Donald Trump and his supporters wonder how much being presidential matters Donald Trump says illegal immigration is at a record high. Hes wrong A dead body wrapped in dark plastic was found Thursday near railroad tracks in Burbank, prompting a police investigation. A citizen called police shortly after 12:30 p.m. to report the discovery of the body, which was located in an open field near the tracks behind Stock Building Supply on the 600 block of North Victory Boulevard, Burbank police Sgt. Claudio Losacco said. The victims bare feet were exposed, but investigators could not tell the persons age or gender. Advertisement No other personal belongings were located near the body. Representatives from the Los Angeles County coroners office and a throng of Burbank police officers responded to the scene, located near two rusted train cars. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. For breaking news in California, follow @atchek. Alene Tchekmedyian is a staff writer for Times Community News. ALSO Drunk driving suspect killed after short pursuit with LAPD Dead whale (pieces) hauled away from San Onofre State Beach Man found dead at Apple headquarters is identified as a 25-year-old employee The highest ranking Navy officer charged in the sprawling Fat Leonard bribery and contracting fraud scheme was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison on Friday, the longest term handed down so far in the scandal. Cmdr. Michael Vannak Khiem Misiewicz, 48, pleaded guilty earlier to one charge of conspiracy and one charge of bribery. Prosecutors said that for nearly two years, he accepted gifts, travel, stays at fancy hotels and the services of prostitutes all paid for by Leonard Glenn Fat Leonard Francis, the owner of a port servicing company that supplied Navy ships across the Pacific. In exchange, Misiewicz gave Francis confidential information on ship schedules for the U.S. 7th Fleet, for which he served as deputy operations officer in 2011 and 2012. He also used his influence to try to steer ships to ports in Asia that were controlled by Francis company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, prosecutors said. Advertisement In court Friday, prosecutors said Misiewicz also passed Francis classified information related to the Navys ballistic missile defense operations in the Pacific. In court and in a three-page letter submitted to U.S. District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino, Misiewicz said he was ashamed of his actions. He tearfully apologized to his family seated in court. He is one of 10 people charged so far in the scheme, and his sentence exceeded the 71 months prosecutors had sought. Sammartino, while acknowledging Misiewiczs sterling 28-year Navy career, said his actions were a betrayal to your country and your shipmates. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Francis spent years bribing key Navy officers and civilian officials so they would use their influence to get him contracts and send ships to his preferred ports. Once there, he routinely defrauded the Navy by overcharging for services he had contracted to provide, such as fuel, fresh water and shore transportation. Sammartino also ordered Misiewicz to pay $95,000 in restitution to the government and fined him $100,000. So far, nine of the 10 people charged have pleaded guilty. greg.moran@sduniontribune.com Moran writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. ALSO Electric vehicle firm pays back wages to three workers after city investigation May Day, Trump, Sanders: LAPD braces for weekend of political protest Judge slams gay sex stings by Long Beach police, calling them discriminatory A Los Angeles County judge on Friday strongly criticized the Long Beach Police Departments practice of conducting sting operations against gay men cruising for companionship, saying the departments tactics were tantamount to discrimination. Superior Court Judge Halim Dhanidina made the remarks in Long Beach while invalidating the 2014 arrest of Rory Moroney for lewd conduct and indecent exposure. Moroney was ensnared by an undercover vice team that had set up a sting operation in a mens bathroom at Recreation Park in October 2014. After receiving what he believed to be flirtatious signals from an undercover detective, Moroney was arrested for exposing himself, said Bruce Nickerson, his attorney. Advertisement The decision in the closely watched case was celebrated by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights activists across Los Angeles County. Many said they were troubled by Long Beachs tactics. West Hollywood Councilman John Duran, an attorney who is openly gay and served as an expert witness in the case, said the police actions came out of the era when homosexuality was criminal; this is kind of a leftover from the last century. Moroney began sobbing as soon as the judge finished reading his decision, dabbing his eyes with a tissue before hugging one of his attorneys. It was really hard to ... come out and be the voice, but I had to do it because I believe that Long Beach is discriminating against gay men, he said outside court. Moroney, 50, of Long Beach, would have been required to register as a sex offender if convicted. It was unclear whether there would be an appeal, or if the ruling would prompt changes to Long Beach police practices. City Prosecutor Doug Haubert said in a statement that his office would review the ruling before commenting. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, the citys first openly gay elected official, was not available for comment Friday. In a statement, the Long Beach Police Department called the ruling unexpected, but said the agency would evaluate its response to complaints of lewd conduct in the future. The department said its vice unit mostly focuses on human trafficking investigations rather than lewd conduct stings, and does not engage in biased policing. The Police Department actively engages with our LGBTQ community and collaborates with community leaders to provide ongoing training to LBPD employees, Police Chief Robert Luna said. We are 100% committed to civil rights and equality for all people, including the LGBTQ community ... and our department has many openly gay and lesbian employees who are a critical part of our team. Dhanidina said Long Beachs vice tactics are discriminatory because the squad uses only male officers as undercover decoys in lewd conduct stings. Several officers who testified at an evidentiary hearing this month all said they had arrested only male suspects for lewd conduct while working as vice officers, the judge said. The judge agreed with Nickersons argument that the detective smiled and nodded at Moroney several times during their exchange, and Moroney had reason to believe the detective was making a sexual advance The presence and tactics of the decoy officers actually caused the crimes to occur, Dhanidina said. Dhanidina also rejected prosecutors arguments that Long Beach based its policing tactics on citizen complaints about lewd conduct, saying the agency provided little to no evidence of such complaints at mens public restrooms where the bulk of the stings took place. The department intentionally targeted men who engaged in homosexual sex, Dhanidina said. Nickerson, a longtime civil rights attorney who is openly gay and has won similar cases throughout California, said Fridays ruling should send a message to police in the rest of California not to do these kinds of ridiculous, silly, sting operations. Stephanie Loftin, who is also representing Moroney, described Long Beach as one of the last bastions using undercover decoy tactics to arrest gay men. Many police agencies in California have stopped using such tactics in the face of lawsuits and public backlash, she said. Scores of gay men have been forced to register as sex offenders in California after they were convicted of lewd conduct under similar circumstances, a practice that ruins lives and unfairly lumps such men in with convicted rapists and child molesters, activists said. Those officers and detectives arent saving lives, said Jim Key, a spokesman for the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Theyre destroying them by branding innocent men as sex offenders. Follow @JamesQueallyLAT and @haileybranson for more Southern California news. ALSO 31 indicted following undercover drug operation in San Diego Sons charged with murder in parents clumsy killing in San Jose Trump protesters, Mexican flag-wavers could bring unintended consequences for GOP race Hundreds of demonstrators filled the street outside the Orange County amphitheater where Donald Trump held a rally Thursday night, stomping on cars, hurling rocks at motorists and forcefully declaring their opposition to the Republican presidential candidate. Traffic came to a halt as a boisterous crowd walked in the roadway, some waving American and Mexican flags. Protesters smashed a window on at least one police cruiser, punctured the tires of a police sport utility vehicle, and at one point tried to flip a police car. One Costa Mesa police officer was struck in the head by a rock thrown by a protestor, authorities said. The officer wasnt injured because he was protected from by his riot helmet. Advertisement About five police cars were damaged in total, police said, adding that some will require thousands of dollars worth of repairs. Dump the Trump, one sign read. Another protester scrawled anti-Trump messages on Costa Mesa police cars. Donald Trumps rally in Costa Mesa attracted throngs of supporters and detractors. Im protesting because I want equal rights for everybody, and I want peaceful protest, said 19-year-old Daniel Lujan, one of hundreds in a crowd that appeared to be mostly Latinos in their late teens and 20s. I knew this was going to happen, Lujan added. It was going to be a riot. He deserves what he gets. Video footage showed some anti-Trump demonstrators hurling debris at a passing pickup truck. One group of protesters carried benches and blocked the entrance to the 55 Freeway along Newport Boulevard, with some tossing rocks at motorists near the on-ramp. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | April 26 primary election results | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter By 10:15 p.m., the bedlam had largely subsided and Lt. Mark Stichter of the Orange County sheriffs department said no major injuries were reported. Costa Mesa police confirmed that 17 people -- 10 males and seven females -- were arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly. Details on the ages and names of those arrested were not released. The violent demonstration was underway after Trump concluded his speech before a crowd of thousands. Donald Trump speaks at the rally. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) This is the anger people have against Trump, said Jose Cruz, 21, as he pointed to the protesters running in the middle of the street. Its not because hes white -- its because of what hes said. Several echoed the comments, saying they were drawn to the streets to counter Trumps stated policies on immigration and his inflammatory remarks about Mexicans. The billionaire developer has drawn fierce criticism by claiming Mexico was sending rapists over the border. Later, he called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier), chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said there is no doubt Trumps candidacy has made the Latino community a target for hateful rhetoric, and in some cases physical violence. But destroying public property, she said, is not the answer. When we resort to violence, were playing into the very hands of people like Donald Trump, Sanchez said in a statement released Friday. I believe the solution must be peaceful protest and more importantly, directing our energy towards shifting our voter registration efforts into high gear. The county is a major target for Republicans and remains Californias biggest GOP stronghold, though it is less conservative than when it anchored the careers of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Since then, Orange Countys population has diversified, with an influx of Asian and Latino residents slowly diminishing the political clout of white voters. A protester waves a flag before a phalanx of police officers in riot gear. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Along Newport Boulevard outside the fairgrounds where Trump spoke, a line of officers clad in riot gear and mounted on horseback slowly pushed the crowd down the street as helicopters circled overhead. Watching the chaos unfold, Colby Nicholson, 30, who described himself as a Trump supporter who traveled to the rally from San Diego, wore a Make America Great Again hat. These people are stupid, but Americans are not stupid in general, Nicholson said. These are all underage Mexican high-schoolers who have nothing to do. Holding a Mexican flag, Juan Carlos, 16, said his parents came to the U.S. from Mexico and that he was protesting to support others like him. Donald Trump is worthless, Carlos said. There wont be no United States without Mexicans. Costa Mesa resident Cornell Iliescu got into an argument with another anti-Trump protester who was displaying a Mexican flag outside the Pacific Amphitheater box office. Crowds with cameras and smartphones surrounded the two as they debated. Iliescu told the Daily Pilot that he asked the man why he was proudly displaying a Mexican flag while being in the United States. If you come over here, you are welcome, but from now on, you are part of this country, Iliescu recalled telling him. Law enforcement agencies had deployed additional forces, including 50 Orange County sheriffs deputies and a dozen Costa Mesa police officers to prepare for the nights crowds. See the most-read stories this hour >> Costa Mesa officials also set up an emergency operations center across the street from the fairgrounds, city spokesman Tony Dodero said. Were prepared for the worst, he said earlier Thursday. But as the hundreds of protesters overwhelmed the streets, it was apparent to some that the sizable police presence was wrestling with a larger crowd than expected. It definitely got out of control, said Megan Iyall, 20, who was visiting from Seattle. I shouldnt feel this unsafe. Thank you Costa Mesa, California! 31,000 people tonight with thousands turned away. I will be back! #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/4P0tzvZn0e Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 29, 2016 David Villanueva attributed the disorder to the last-minute news about Trumps arrival, which he said didnt give civil rights leaders much time to organize the community. When community organizers have time to plan, he said, protesters are more likely to protest peacefully. Rallies that take to the streets are usually led by a group, and are not wild and all over the place like tonight, said Villanueva, a member of Chicanos Unidos in Santa Ana, an organization that was part of the anti-Trump demonstrations. Thursdays rally also drew a throng of faithful supporters who proudly showed their allegiance to the GOP front-runner. One man waved a Gays for Trump sign while other supporters swapped high-fives as they carried homemade signs reading, Latinos for Trump. Another sign said, Black Christian Women for Trump. In the crowd was Brent Fisher, 65, a retired carpenter, who drove from Apple Valley to attend the rally and hear the Republican presidential candidate speak. I love Trump, Fisher said. Hell stand up and fight and do the things hes talking about. William Pages, 19, agreed, praising the candidate as an energetic outsider who says what needs to be said. Some Trump supporters who had reserved tickets were turned away. Back window has been smashed out of a Costa Mesa police cruiser. Protester: "I think Donald Trump did it!" pic.twitter.com/FTj4JoiAdN Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) April 29, 2016 Im very disappointed, said Jan Strahl, 66 a Tustin resident who had reserved a ticket but could not get inside the amphitheater to hear Trump. Those left outside stood facing the horde of anti-Trump protesters, each side taunting the other while police helicopters circled above. As the sun set, the crowd grew more hostile and eventually turned violent. To Arianna Perez, 19, the flaring of tempers over Trump were a necessary reaction to the inflammatory rhetoric of his campaign. We could be peaceful and do things different, she said, but if we did, we wouldnt get our voice heard. For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno. Times staff writers Sarah Parvini and Cindy Carcamo and Times Community News writer Bradley Zint contributed to this report. ALSO Clash between supporters, protesters heat up ahead of Donald Trumps rally Donald Trump and his supporters wonder how much being presidential matters Donald Trump says illegal immigration is at a record high. Hes wrong A man found dead in a room at Apples Cupertino, Calif., headquarters was identified Thursday as a 25-year-old employee of the tech giant, authorities said. Investigators also determined that Edward Mackowiak took his own life and died from a gunshot to the head, said Sgt. Andrea Urena of the Santa Clara County sheriffs office. Mackowiaks body was found Wednesday in a conference room with a gun nearby, Bay Area television station KGO-TV reported. Advertisement Paramedics had been dispatched to the campus about 8:35 a.m. after a report of a man with a head wound, but were called off before going into the building, Santa Clara County Fire Department spokeswoman Stephanie Stuehler said. Urena had previously told The Times that investigators did not believe foul play was involved in Mackowiaks death and that no other individuals were involved. This appeared to be an isolated incident and no employees or members of the public are at risk, Urena said in an email. In a statement, reported by the Associated Press, Apple said: We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented coworker. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends, including the many people he worked with here at Apple. For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno. ALSO Carl Icahn dumps all his Apple shares and makes $2 billion Dead whale (pieces) hauled away from San Onofre State Beach Offensive emails from a top official put L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell on the spot The Los Angeles Police Department is bracing for a long weekend of political demonstrations following the California arrival of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump and boisterous protests in Orange County. In the aftermath of clashes at an appearance by Trump in Costa Mesa on Thursday evening, thousands of unionized janitors took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Friday afternoon to demand higher wages and expanded rights. See the most-read stories this hour >> Advertisement The janitors, whose contract expires Saturday, began their rally at Grand Park at noon. Janitors say they could strike as early as next week against what they say are unfair labor practices by major janitorial companies. On Saturday, supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders are expected to converge on downtown L.A. for a march and rally tied to International Workers Day, or May Day, on Sunday. But the largest crowds are expected to gather downtown Sunday to demand equality for immigrants and protest Trumps controversial statements about people from Mexico and Muslims. We have a very active three days with the Janitors for Justice today at midday, Bernie Sanders on Saturday and May Day march Sunday, said LAPD Assistant Chief Michel Moore. Well be using the play book that we have successfully used for a number of years. The janitors march is unpermitted and may disrupt the citys downtown core, but police will accommodate the protest, Moore said. Demonstrations in Costa Mesa on Thursday resulted in 17 arrests and damage to several police cars as large crowds of Latino protesters vented outrage at Trumps claim that Mexico was sending rapists over the border. On Friday, Moore said he believed the Los Angeles demonstrations would be far more calm, but noted that the images from Costa Mesa were alarming. It is disturbing to law enforcement as much as all Americans its almost the 60s again, he said. To prepare for the May Day rally, Moore said, police have been meeting with organizers for several months to ensure a smooth march. We expect May Day to be peaceful, Moore said. We are always prepared for any eventuality were anything to happen. But we have nothing to suggest that will be the case. Typically, he said, problems come from outside agitators and not the organized marchers. As for Saturdays Sanders event, Moore said the candidate wont be present. During the janitors rally Friday, participants held signs reading Justice for Janitors and chanted, Si se puede. An estimated 3,500 people swarmed Grand Avenue demanding justice and fair contracts and called for an end to racism and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Humberto Lara, 62, of South Los Angeles said he has been working as a janitor for Wells Fargo Bank in downtown L.A. for five years, but under the current contract he doesnt make enough to support his family. We want more benefits, he said. The amount we have are not enough and the pay is not enough. The Sanders march will begin at 3 p.m. on Main Street between Olympic Boulevard and 11th Street, then head north and arrive in front of City Hall at 4. A rally will begin at 6 p.m. and last til about 7:30. Sundays May Day event will start at 1 p.m. at 11th and Figueroa streets. From there, participants are expected to march through downtown L.A. and arrive at La Placita on Olvera Street at 3. For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Judge slams gay sex stings by Long Beach police, calling them discriminatory Protests rage outside Trump rally in Orange County; 17 arrested, police car smashed UC Davis chancellors troubles raise a question: How could such a brilliant woman stumble so badly? An electric vehicle company that snagged government money to help open its Los Angeles headquarters broke city rules by underpaying three of its workers, a city investigation found. Build Your Dreams, known as BYD, has since repaid more than $1,300 in back wages and health benefits to the three workers to come into compliance with the city rules, according to city officials. Labor activists said last year that they believed that BYD had failed to pay a living wage to employees downtown. L.A. currently requires city contractors to pay their workers at least $12.42 an hour without health benefits. Advertisement Jobs to Move America, a coalition of labor and community groups, said the company fell under those rules because Los Angeles had agreed to provide $1.6 million in federal funding to help the Chinese-owned firm open its Figueroa Street offices. When the allegations first arose, BYD defended its pay levels and argued that labor activists were targeting the company because it was locked in a dispute over the possible unionizing of workers at its Lancaster and L.A. facilities. The company also said it was exempt from the living wage rules, pointing out that a Community Development Department staffer had designated the agreement as a construction contract that wouldnt be subject to the requirements. But a different city department that oversees such agreements the Bureau of Contract Administration disagreed and launched an investigation. It focused on the period between August and late December of last year, when the company was fully informed that it fell under the wage rules, bureau spokeswoman Elena Stern said. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Micheal Austin, BYD America vice president, said the company promptly paid the employees once the city determined what was owed. Two of the workers were summer interns who had left the company and a third was a recent hire whose pay had since increased, Austin said. The company was also required to update its rules to provide paid and unpaid days off to its part-time employees, according to Stern. Austin said that now there are no outstanding questions or concerns. The city review showed that there were only three instances where BYD employees had been paid below the living wage, Austin said. Jobs to Move America Executive Director Madeline Janis said the coalition was glad to see that BYD has accepted its responsibility to provide their workers in downtown with a living wage and paid sick leave. When taxpayers give a huge corporation like BYD nearly $2 million to create jobs, we have a right to expect at a minimum that the company follow the law, Janis said in a written statement. Mayor Eric Garcetti also said he was pleased that the matter was resolved. Our Living Wage Ordinance is only as good as employers compliance with the law, he said. The company has battled accusations that it underpaid workers in the past: Three years ago, the California labor commissioner alleged that BYD had failed to pay the minimum wage to several Chinese nationals working in California. But those wage citations were dropped after the state commissioner said additional documents showed that money distributed in China appeared to meet the pay requirements. Twitter: @LATimesemily ALSO May Day, Trump, Sanders: LAPD braces for weekend of political protest Drink up! Mesa Water District relaxes outdoor watering rules starting Sunday Too good to be true? More food companies settling over questionable advertising claims Donald Trump put his roughest edges on display Thursday night in Costa Mesa as he opened his California primary campaign with a raw performance highlighting his hard-line views on illegal immigration and torture while trashing an array of rivals. The front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination surrounded himself onstage with people carrying banners with photos of family members killed by immigrants in the country illegally. More than 8,000 supporters erupted in a thunder of cheers as Trump vowed to make Mexico pay for a wall along its border with the United States to keep such criminals from harming Americans. Advertisement Were going to stop drugs from coming in, Trump told them. The drugs are poisoning our youth and a lot of other people. Donald Trumps rally in Costa Mesa attracted throngs of supporters and detractors. Outside the packed Pacific Amphitheater, hundreds of protesters grew unruly after the rally, taking over nearby intersections, throwing debris at bystanders, smashing the windshield of a police vehicle, and shouting profanities against Trump. Dozens of officers in riot gear ordered protesters swarming the streets near the 55 Freeway to disperse; at least one person was arrested. After weeks of toying with efforts to tone down his rhetoric, Trumps kickoff rally for Californias June 7 primary was more in line with the initial declaration of his candidacy last June, when he accused Mexico of sending rapists and drug dealers into the United States. As the crowds rapturous reaction attested, its still an approach with strong appeal to a large segment of Republican voters in California. But its also the kind of politics that has badly damaged the partys standing in a state where the Latino and Asian population has risen steadily for decades. Trump also played to fears of terrorism, blasting President Obama for allowing Middle Eastern war refugees into the United States. Were putting them all over the country by the thousands, and we have no idea what the hell is going to happen, he said. Trump repeated a story discredited by historians about U.S. Army Gen. John Joseph Pershing dipping 50 bullets in pig blood and using them to execute 49 Muslim terrorists around the time of the Philippine-American War of 1899-1902. The crowd applauded. Trump said Pershing gave the 50th suspect the remaining bullet to show to his people, and it deterred terrorism for 42 years up from 25 years in an earlier telling. Trump went on to criticize Republican rival Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas for not embracing the waterboarding of terrorism suspects. Hes actually a very weak person, so he didnt like it, Trump said. Id go many steps further than waterboarding many, many steps further. His torture comments generated another huge burst of cheers. Trump was in maximum showmanship mode, with hand gestures up, down, sideways and in circles to complement his one-liners, along with a vast range of facial expressions for comic effect. Reacting to onetime rival and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush renewing his criticism of Trump on Thursday, the New York real estate mogul said: Hes a low-energy person. We dont need low-energy people. Just remember that. We need high-energy. We need strength. You know Hillary, Hillary Crooked Hillary, right? The crowds cheering nearly drowned out Trump. 1 / 28 An anti-Trump demonstrator lies at the intersection of Fair Drive and Fairview Road near the Pacific Amphitheatre, where the candidate made his first appearance of his California campaign. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 28 Protesters try to overturn a police car at the Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 28 Chaos on the streets outside the rally. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 28 Protesters outside the rally. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 28 Protesters in the streets. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 28 Police try to quell a protest against Donald Trump on the streets outside the Orange County Fairgrounds. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 28 Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves to the crowd during a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 28 Protesters outside the Donald Trump rally. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 28 Law enforcement authorities line the street where protesters had gathered. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 28 Anti-Trump protesters take over an intersection near the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 28 A protester waves a flag before a phalanx of police officers in riot gear. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 28 A protester and law enforcement officers amid the raucous scene. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 28 Guadalupe Verdugo in front of a police line outside the Orange County Fairgrounds. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 28 A protestor, second from right, is escorted out of the amphitheatre before a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 28 A wall of police and sheriffs deputies opposite demonstrators in Costa Mesa. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 28 Donald Trump with supporters at the rally. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 28 Donald Trump greets supporters at the rally. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 28 Donald Trump onstage in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 28 Donald Trump speaks at the rally. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 28 A Trump supporter yells build that wall before the start of a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 28 A protester clings to a traffic signal at the intersection of Fairview Road and Fair Drive, which was taken over by anti-Trump demonstrators. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 28 Orange County sheriffs deputies separate protesters from supporters at Donald Trumps rally in Costa Mesa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 28 A protester outside the Donald Trump rally in Costa Mesa. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 28 A Trump supporter at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 28 Trump supporters grab signs before a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 28 Esvin Rivers waves a flag as he waits in line to attend the rally. (Barbara Davidson/ Los Angeles Times) 27 / 28 Sheriffs deputies patrol between the rival groups at the Trump rally. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 28 A Trump supporter, right, confronts a protester outside the event. (Barbara Davidson/ Los Angeles Times) The scene outside the rally was tense even before the event started, with demonstrators and Trump supporters taunting one another. Sheriffs deputies on horseback tried to keep the two sides apart as four helicopters circled overhead. Trump supporters booed a man wearing a Mexican flag as he approached. Build the wall! they chanted. Retired carpenter Brent Fisher, 65, drove from his Apple Valley home. He said he was tired of politicians saying they will secure the Mexican border, then failing to do it. I love Trump, he said. Hell stand up and fight and do the things hes talking about. Costa Mesa protester Jessica Mendoza-Amin, 34, didnt see it that way. Trumps remarks about women, Muslims and immigrants divide the country, she said. I dont want to live in a country where people are not down with diversity, she said. At the back of the outdoor amphitheater, police in green fatigues scanned the crowd for troublemakers. The audience shouted Trump! Trump! Trump! as security officers removed a man holding a camera. He filmed them as they escorted him outside. Trumps California visit, his first since he started winning primaries in February, comes just over five weeks before the states primary. He is counting on California to get him to the 1,237 delegates he needs to clinch the GOP nomination before the partys July convention in Cleveland. Orange County is a major target for Republicans. It remains the states biggest GOP stronghold, but its less conservative than it was in the days when it anchored the careers of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Orange Countys population has diversified, with an influx of Asian and Latino residents slowly diminishing the political clout of whites. A decade ago, Republicans were 48% of Orange Countys registered voters; now they are 40%. Democrats have risen from 30% to 32%, while nonpartisans grew from 18% to 24%. Twitter: @finneganLAT @LATvives @mattdpearce Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report. ALSO Protests rage outside Trump rally in Orange County; 17 arrested, police car smashed Rage at Donald Trump sparks unrest in Costa Mesa: Dispatches from the streets Donald Trump and his supporters wonder how much being presidential matters The Supreme Court has refused for now to block a strict voter identification law in Texas that critics say will make it harder for as many as 600,000 registered voters who lack drivers licenses to cast a ballot this year. The justices turned down an appeal from civil rights lawyers who said the court should put on hold the requirement for showing a drivers license or U.S. passport. They cited three separate rulings in which a federal judge and two appeals court panels said the Texas law violated the Voting Rights Act because it has a discriminatory effect on blacks and Latinos. Advertisement But the law has remained in force while the full U.S. 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans weighs the states appeal. In Fridays order, the high court said it would be open to considering another emergency appeal if the 5th Circuit has not ruled by July 20. The Court recognizes the time constraints the parties confront in light of the scheduled elections in November 2016, the justices said. If, on or before July 20, 2016, the court of appeals has neither issued an opinion on the merits of the case nor issued an order vacating or modifying the current stay order, an aggrieved party may seek interim relief from this court by filing an appropriate application. The order reads like a compromise between the justices who think the Texas rule should be blocked and those who would uphold it. Despite the courts decision, a lawyer who filed the appeal said he was pleased with the deadline set by the justices. Were very encouraged that the U.S. Supreme Court recognizes the time constraints involved in this case, said Gerry Hebert, executive director of the Campaign Legal Center. We believe the 5th Circuit has set up a schedule that may well foreclose the ability to obtain relief in time for the presidential election. This order gives us the opportunity to protect Texas voters if the 5th Circuit fails to rule in time. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> The Texas voter ID law is one of several voting-rights challenges that are likely to be appealed to the high court prior to the election. Last week, a judge in North Carolina upheld that states new limits on registrations and early voting, but civil rights lawyers said they would appeal. Prior to 2011, Texas required its registered voters to show proof of their identify when they visited a polling place. But that year, the Republican-controlled Legislature tightened the law by limiting the types of identify cards that would be accepted. Voters who had a valid Texas drivers license, a U.S. passport or a concealed handgun permit could cast a ballot. Those who had other types of identification, including local, state or federal employee or student IDs, would not be allowed to vote. Civil rights lawyers sued, alleging that more than 600,000 of the states registered voters, or about 4.5%, did not drive a car or have a passport and would have a hard time obtaining one. The Texas law requires these voters go a state motor vehicles bureau office with a copy of their birth certificate. For many, doing so would require a trip of more than 100 miles, opponents said. On Twitter: @DavidGSavage ALSO Whitey Bulgers girlfriend gets 21 more months in prison Alabama city targets transgender people with bathroom ordinance Lawmakers say theyre fixing roads and fighting drugs and diseases. They just wont pay for it. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. More children are growing up godless than at any other time in our nations history. They are the offspring of an expanding secular population that includes a relatively new and burgeoning category of Americans called the Nones, so nicknamed because they identified themselves as believing in nothing in particular in a 2012 study by the Pew Research Center. The number of American children raised without religion has grown significantly since the 1950s, when fewer than 4% of Americans reported growing up in a nonreligious household, according to several recent national studies. That figure entered the double digits when a 2012 study showed that 11% of people born after 1970 said they had been raised in secular homes. This may help explain why 23% of adults in the U.S. claim to have no religion, and more than 30% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 say the same. So how does the raising of upstanding, moral children work without prayers at mealtimes and morality lessons at Sunday school? Quite well, it seems. Advertisement Far from being dysfunctional, nihilistic and rudderless without the security and rectitude of religion, secular households provide a sound and solid foundation for children, according to Vern Bengston, a USC professor of gerontology and sociology. ------------ FOR THE RECORD The name of the USC sociologist and gerontologist who oversees the Longitudinal Study of Generations is Vern Bengtson not Bengston. ------------ For nearly 40 years, Bengston has overseen the Longitudinal Study of Generations, which has become the largest study of religion and family life conducted across several generational cohorts in the United States. When Bengston noticed the growth of nonreligious Americans becoming increasingly pronounced, he decided in 2013 to add secular families to his study in an attempt to understand how family life and intergenerational influences play out among the religionless. He was surprised by what he found: High levels of family solidarity and emotional closeness between parents and nonreligious youth, and strong ethical standards and moral values that had been clearly articulated as they were imparted to the next generation. Many nonreligious parents were more coherent and passionate about their ethical principles than some of the religious parents in our study, Bengston told me. The vast majority appeared to live goal-filled lives characterized by moral direction and sense of life having a purpose. My own ongoing research among secular Americans as well as that of a handful of other social scientists who have only recently turned their gaze on secular culture confirms that nonreligious family life is replete with its own sustaining moral values and enriching ethical precepts. Chief among those: rational problem solving, personal autonomy, independence of thought, avoidance of corporal punishment, a spirit of questioning everything and, far above all, empathy. For secular people, morality is predicated on one simple principle: empathetic reciprocity, widely known as the Golden Rule. Treating other people as you would like to be treated. It is an ancient, universal ethical imperative. And it requires no supernatural beliefs. As one atheist mom who wanted to be identified only as Debbie told me: The way we teach them what is right and what is wrong is by trying to instill a sense of empathy ... how other people feel. You know, just trying to give them that sense of what its like to be on the other end of their actions. And I dont see any need for God in that. ... If your morality is all tied in with God, she continued, what if you at some point start to question the existence of God? Does that mean your moral sense suddenly crumbles? The way we are teaching our children no matter what they choose to believe later in life, even if they become religious or whatever, they are still going to have that system. The results of such secular child-rearing are encouraging. Studies have found that secular teenagers are far less likely to care what the cool kids think, or express a need to fit in with them, than their religious peers. When these teens mature into godless adults, they exhibit less racism than their religious counterparts, according to a 2010 Duke University study. Many psychological studies show that secular grownups tend to be less vengeful, less nationalistic, less militaristic, less authoritarian and more tolerant, on average, than religious adults. Recent research also has shown that children raised without religion tend to remain irreligious as they grow older and are perhaps more accepting. Secular adults are more likely to understand and accept the science concerning global warming, and to support womens equality and gay rights. One telling fact from the criminology field: Atheists were almost absent from our prison population as of the late 1990s, comprising less than half of 1% of those behind bars, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons statistics. This echoes what the criminology field has documented for more than a century the unaffiliated and the nonreligious engage in far fewer crimes. Another meaningful related fact: Democratic countries with the lowest levels of religious faith and participation today such as Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Belgium and New Zealand have among the lowest violent crime rates in the world and enjoy remarkably high levels of societal well-being. If secular people couldnt raise well-functioning, moral children, then a preponderance of them in a given society would spell societal disaster. Yet quite the opposite is the case. Being a secular parent and something of an expert on secular culture, I know well the angst many secular Americans experience when they cant help but wonder: Could I possibly be making a mistake by raising my children without religion? The unequivocal answer is no. Children raised without religion have no shortage of positive traits and virtues, and they ought to be warmly welcomed as a growing American demographic. Phil Zuckerman is a professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College and author of Living the Secular Life: New Answers to Old Questions. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion MORE FROM OPINION: How not to say the wrong thing Will having kids soon be out of reach economically for many American families? Part none, part Jewish, all teenager -- and leery about anti-Semitism in Europe A friend of the white man accused of fatally shooting nine black parishioners in Charleston last year pleaded guilty Friday to lying to federal authorities during their investigation. He also revealed that the suspect told him he planned to kill himself after the slayings, which he had planned for months. The plea by Joey Meek, 21, marked the first conviction in the mass killing that stunned the country, reignited discussions about race relations and led to the removal of a Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina Statehouse. Dylann Roof, who is charged with the slayings, previously posed for photos shown on social media with a rebel flag. Meek signed a deal with prosecutors under which he agreed to plead guilty to lying to authorities and failure to report a crime. He could face up to eight years in prison when sentenced, although prosecutors say they will argue he deserves less time if hes helpful in their ongoing case. Advertisement Meek admitted to key points of the governments case against him, saying Roof had told him he had planned for more than six months to shoot people at a black church in Charleston on a Wednesday night during Bible study. Meek also said that Roof told him he had a gun and a fanny pack to carry extra ammunition and that he intended to start a race war with the killings. He also said Roof told him he had planned to kill himself after the church slayings. Authorities have said Meek failed to tell investigators all he knew about Roofs plans to shoot the parishioners at Emanuel AME Church last June. Roof, 22, is charged with nine counts of murder in state court and with hate crimes and other charges in federal court. A lawyer for Meek told reporters after the hearing that her client feels remorse for his role in the slayings. Debbie Barbier said Meek hopes relatives of those killed will forgive him, but he understands they likely wont. State prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in Roofs trial, which has been delayed until next year. Federal authorities havent said whether they too will seek a death sentence for Roof. No trial date has been set on those charges. Roofs attorneys in both cases have previously said hes prepared to plead guilty in return for life sentences. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Before Meek was charged last fall, he had long been a part of the story of Roof and his arrest. A day after the massacre, Meek, who had hung out with Roof off and on in the weeks before the June 17 shooting, told the Associated Press that Roof had drunkenly complained to him that blacks were taking over the world and someone needed to do something about it for the white race. Meek also told the AP he called the FBI after recognizing Roof in surveillance footage from the church, down to the stained sweatshirt he had worn while playing Xbox videogames in Meeks home the morning of the attack. He also said Roof told him he used birthday money from his parents to buy a .45-caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun. But authorities asserted that Meek knew more, saying in an indictment he knowingly lied to an FBI agent when he said he did not know specifics of Dylann Roofs plan to shoot individuals on a Wednesday, during Bible Study, at an AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Roofs federal defense team had no comment on Meeks guilty plea. The Associated Press left messages with his attorneys in the state case seeking comment. Debra Gammons, a former prosecutor who now teaches at Charleston School of Law, said that Meeks cooperation will be important to both state and federal prosecutors. To prove murder in South Carolina, one must show premeditation. As far as the prosecution goes, you now have this other person saying this is what the plan was, she said. Its good evidence from the states perspective and the federal governments perspective. But Gammons said much will turn on specifically what Meek has to say. If its as vague as what I saw earlier that Roof said he wanted to start a race war, thats pretty vague, she said. But if he said, Yeah, Im going down to Charleston; I know where this church is, and this is what Im going to do, thats more direct. Under the plea agreement, Meek must testify truthfully and also provide any books, papers or documents of evidentiary value to the investigation. ALSO Puerto Rico reports first U.S. Zika-related death amid outbreak President Obama announces new common-sense steps to curb gun violence Baltimore police charge 25-year-old who strode into TV station wearing animal costume An Army Green Beret will stay in uniform after an extraordinarily public fight to save his career following an incident in which he violated military policy by beating up an Afghan police commander who was reportedly sexually abusing a boy. The Army said late Thursday that Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland would not be discharged. Its a reversal from an earlier decision that raised ire in some corners including from lawmakers such as Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), who introduced legislation on the soldiers behalf, the group Veterans of Foreign Wars, and online petitioners who gathered thousands of supporting signatures. Martlands backers accused the U.S. government of tolerating and even inadvertently condoning the rape and sexual slavery of boys in exchange for alliances with military and police commanders who help oppose the Taliban and insurgents. Advertisement Called bacha bazi, or boy play, such abuse is a longtime custom in parts of Afghanistan and in Iraq and other Middle Eastern places where American troops have served for more than a decade, analysts have said. The Army Board for Correction of Military Records determination modified a portion of one of SFC Martlands evaluation reports and removed him from the [Qualitative Management Program] list, which will allow him to remain in the Army, an Army spokesman said in an email to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Hunter, who is widely credited as leading the congressional campaign to save Martlands career, praised the about-face by military leaders. They did the right thing. We finally kind of broke through the bureaucratic ... barrier that theyve created, he said in a phone interview. This lets me know that there are people in the Army and the Defense Department and [acting Army Secretary] Patrick Murphy they understand warfare. Its not a game, Hunter said. At issue was a 2011 altercation that Martland and a Green Beret officer had with the Afghan police commander, who was said to be sexually abusing a boy and chaining the child to his bed. Martland has written to Hunter saying that after the commander laughed off the soldiers concerns about his alleged conduct, they threw him to the ground, then kicked and body slammed him until he ran away. Scholars and Middle Eastern cultural experts have said such abuse is a product of sexual repression in some highly conservative cultures and of poverty, as it is poor children who are usually preyed upon. The U.S. Army designated Martland for involuntary separation because of his role in the assault, which happened in Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, where American soldiers were working alongside the Afghan army and police units. The other Green Beret, Capt. Daniel Quinn, was relieved of his command and later left the Army. The Pentagon has said its policy is to report crimes to local authorities. Martland couldnt be reached Thursday for comment about the Armys reversal. Hunter said he had spoken to the soldier. Hes stoked, the congressman said. This is his life. Quinn, Martlands former commanding officer, said Thursday that he was just really happy the sergeant could continue his career. The odds were certainly stacked against us, but Charles has never backed down from a fight, said Quinn, who lives in New York and works for what he described as a small family business. The Army is undoubtedly better for him still being in it, Quinn added. As for the larger issue of Defense Department policy toward child abuse in countries where U.S. troops have footholds, Quinn says he hopes to see change. We should be able to intervene on behalf of these children, the former captain said. Its not something their entire culture is supportive of. Its just a small minority who are doing this. Among the notable figures lending their voice to Martlands cause was Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, who wrote to the Army on the soldiers behalf. The VFW, at the national and local levels, also pushed for him to stay in the service. A VFW official said Thursday that his organization was happy with the outcome. Martland is an outstanding soldier who did the right thing for the right reasons, and we are very pleased that Army leadership agreed, said Joe Davis, the groups national spokesman. Quinn singled out Hunter for shining light on Martlands plight. If he hadnt intervened, Charles would have been discharged from the service and struggling to support his family and wife, who is pregnant with twins, Quinn said. jeanette.steele@sduniontribune.com Steele writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. ALSO After sentencing, Robert Durst tells The Times: I didnt kill Susan Berman Jury convicts ex-Oklahoma reserve deputy in shooting of restrained suspect Protests rage outside Trump rally in Orange County: roads closed, police car smashed by crowd Im Davan Maharaj, editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. Here are some story lines I dont want you to miss today. TOP STORIES Donald Trump with supporters at the rally. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement Trump Takes the O.C. In the symbolic bastion of California conservatism and on the same fairgrounds where Arnold Schwarzenegger once dropped a wrecking ball on an auto to protest the car tax Donald Trump held one of his trademark raucous rallies in Costa Mesa. Outside, protests turned violent; inside, Trump delivered his America first pitch and gave a shout-out to Latinos for Trump, I love that! It was the opening salvo in the battle for the Golden State, which will be instrumental in whether Trump can clinch the nomination ahead of the GOP convention. Complete coverage is here. An anti-Trump demonstrator lies at the intersection of Fair Drive and Fairview Road near the Pacific Amphitheatre, where the candidate made his first appearance of his California campaign. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) More on the GOP Race -- Trump leads in the polls in California, but Ted Cruz has a network that could pay off in delegates. -- John Boehner says Cruz is Lucifer in the flesh and that hed support Trump if hes the GOP nominee. -- Our live blog of the California Republican convention, which runs today through Sunday. Anatomy of a Marriage The investigation into the San Bernardino terrorist attack has taken another turn, this time with the arrest of three people charged with conspiring to create a sham marriage along with Enrique Marquez Jr., who was already accused of providing weapons to the terrorists. Now his wife, Mariya Chernykh; her sister, Tatiana Farook; and the older brother of one of the shooters, Syed Raheel Farook, are in legal trouble, though prosecutors have not alleged that the trio had any previous knowledge of the attack. Read more about what theyre facing, along with the federal complaint against them. A Cut Above, Now Under Fire, at UC Davis Linda Katehi is a renowned scholar with wide administrative experience. As chancellor of UC Davis, she oversaw the raising of $1 billion and hired top talent. But this week, she was placed on leave amid questions over her involvement in jobs for family members, possible misuse of student funds and material misstatements about her role in trying to scrub the Internet of bad publicity. Read on to see how faculty and students are debating her fate. Hear Her Roar Beyonce. Kelly Ripa. Samantha Bee. As Times senior culture editor Mary McNamara writes, These women are angry, and they are no longer afraid to show it. Read on to see how they join a growing group rejecting the idea that women must swallow or hide their anger to avoid being characterized as hysterical or crazy. Take Me to Your Supreme Leader When you look like North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, you could be depressed or you could roll with it. Kim Minyong decided to do the latter. The 25-year-old South Korean bought a black suit, poses for pictures and is using the resemblance to promote his English academy. I make people smile, he says. As opposed to turning Seoul into a sea of fire. CALIFORNIA -- Lt. Gov. Newsom says he has enough signatures for a gun safety initiative to qualify on the ballot. -- Offensive emails from a top official are putting L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell on the spot. -- Two brothers have been arrested after their parents bodies were found next to a note: Sorry, my first kill was clumsy. -- Removing a whale carcass from the beach at Trestles isnt for the faint of heart. NATION-WORLD -- After a nine-month vacancy, the Senate confirms a new U.S. ambassador to Mexico. -- The Pentagon has disciplined 16 service members for a deadly attack on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan, but none will face criminal charges. -- Why the worlds biggest exporter of crude is trying to wean itself off oil. -- After years of anger, guilt, shame and fear, a victim finally confronts Dennis Hastert. HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS -- The inside story of how the Comcast-DreamWorks deal came together so fast. -- A $400-million payday awaits DreamWorks Animation founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. -- Concerns over piracy prompt 20th Century Fox to skip San Diego Comic-Con this year. -- Movie review: Keanu will be catnip for Key & Peele fans, but for the rest of the world ... meh. -- Investigators are looking at a possible overdose in Princes death. -- Conservatives are less than thrilled by reports of Will Ferrell playing Ronald Reagan with dementia on film. BUSINESS -- A lawsuit accuses Jessica Albas Honest Co. of falsely labeling infant formula. -- David Lazarus: Phone companies unlisted-numbers fees are unjustifiable. -- Why Carl Icahn dumped all of his Apple stock. SPORTS -- The Rams got their man with the first pick in the NFL draft: quarterback Jared Goff. -- What will $500 million get you in Vegas? Raiders owner Mark Davis hopes its a home for his team. OPINION -- I was verbally assaulted with an anti-gay slur. At first I was angry, then I felt relief. -- Why is the White House having such difficulty gathering data on police violence? -- David Horsey: The Cruz-Fiorina pairing is a stunt worthy of House of Cards. WHAT OUR EDITORS ARE READING -- A Middle East correspondent reflects on being back in the U.S. (Lenny) -- What are the legal ramifications when a robot kills? Murder or product liability? (Slate) -- A look at whats billed as the worlds largest collection of Chinese restaurant menus. (Minnesota Public Radio) ONLY IN L.A. Pershing Square has been called an urban planning nightmare and much worse. Now, four proposals are under consideration to remake the 5-acre square, which has existed as a public park in a variety of forms since 1866. Take a look at some images of the four finalists here. Please send comments and ideas to Davan Maharaj. In 1930, the public believed that crime was climbing dramatically around the country. But was it? No one knew for sure. So the federal government began collecting crime data from local law enforcement agencies. In the end, it took decades to persuade all the police departments in the nation to provide information in a uniform way. Today, the process is easier, with computers and the Internet to help. So it is disappointing that the first year of the White Houses Police Data Initiative has produced so few solid results. Only 53 police departments out of about 18,000 nationwide have agreed to share data beyond the typical crime statistics already collected by the FBI. The bureau is looking to include use of force incidents, traffic stops and citations issued, among other things. Twelve of the 53 departments committed to the police data project are in California, including those in the states four largest cities and in its largest county. Advertisement As of now, it is up to the departments themselves to decide what information to share. And how to share it. Because departments dont necessarily use the same language or metrics to describe incidents, data sets that look similar might in fact be wildly divergent. What one police department considers a use of force, for example, may be an unremarkable handcuffing at another department. This is a problem because without common standards and definitions, and without reliable data, it will remain impossible answer the basic questions that precipitated White House initiative: Are police too quick to arrest, harm, shoot and kill unarmed African-American men? The police data project was recommended by a task force created by President Obama in 2014 to address of high-profile officer-involved shootings from Ferguson, Mo. to Los Angeles The concept was to establish a virtual platform where the nations police departments would share data so that it could be studied and compared by researchers, mined by commercial data scientists, plugged into apps by tech companies and viewed by anyone interested in how police interact with the public. This is just a first step of an enormous undertaking, and the feds are relying on a collaborative approach since they lack the authority to force local police to participate. But the public cant wait another 50 years to get the answer to these questions. Nor is there any good reason why they should. Tools that didnt exist in 1930 now make reporting data to the government as uncomplicated as e-filing income tax returns. And those standards arent going to set themselves. Rather than hoping standards develop organically, an approach the leaders of this initiative favor, they must develop clear standards describing exactly what data should be reported and how. There is a silver lining to this disappointing beginning. Twelve of the 53 departments committed to the police data project are in California, including those in the states four largest cities and in its largest county. Thats a hopeful sign for the entire effort; California has led other states in the collection and reporting of data such as the number of people killed by police each year (though it hasnt been all that forthcoming about sharing it with the public until recently). And perhaps the example of the California Attorney Generals office, which took less than a year to launch its data project, Open Justice will rub off on the White House. The police data project marks its one year anniversary in May. If the project is to survive its infancy, it must do a better job in its second year by persuading more departments to participate and setting clear standards for how they do so. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Recently I returned to my high school in Pittsburgh for a reunion of its storied speech and debate society (officially known as the Central Catholic Forensic Society, which sounds as if its training teenage crime scene investigators). Reminiscing about my debating days reminded me of a distinction that seems relevant to the debates over voter suppression a term I place in quotation marks because its used to refer to different things. Everyone agrees that it was voter suppression for Southern states to require that African Americans pass a literacy test in order to vote. But the term is also used, at least by Democrats and editorial writers, to describe photo ID requirements and the rollback of procedures that made voting more convenient, such as early voting and Sunday voting. Advertisement The debate over voter suppression which is in the news this week with a federal judges decision to uphold what some call a voter-suppression law in North Carolina would benefit from a distinction drawn by high school debaters between two arguments. In competitive debate, the Affirmative team supports some resolution about public policy such as Resoled: The Military Draft Should Be Reinstituted. In making its case, the Affirmative can take one of two approaches. Option 1 is to point to harms in the status quo that approval of the resolution would alleviate (say, crimes committed by teenage gangsters who would be taken off the street and whipped into shape by drill sergeants). Option 2 is to offer a comparative advantages case, one that says that, while things might not be all that bad now, wed be much better off if the debate resolution were adopted. (A draft would bring young people of different socioeconomic backgrounds together to fight the enemy, or at least peel potatoes.) The 1965 Voting Rights Act was clearly inspired by a harms analysis: Racial minorities were being frustrated in exercising the right to vote by laws and procedures that violated the letter and the spirit of the 15th Amendment, which banned racial discrimination in voting. In time, as the Voting Rights Act was extended and amended, the harm was conceived more broadly to include the dilution of minority voting strength through redistricting and procedures that had the effect of undermining minority voting even if that wasnt their intent. Recent voting-rights litigation is couched in terms of harms, as it must be. But reading Judge Thomas D. Schroeders decision in the North Carolina case, it strikes me that some of the objections to supposed voter-suppression laws are more plausibly viewed as comparative advantage arguments. Schroeder rejected the claim that minority voters were illegally disadvantaged by a law that required photo ID (except for voters who could cite a reasonable impediment) and rolled back some provisions that made voting more convenient. For example, the law reduced the number of early voting days from 17 to 10, although the numbers of hours the polls must open didnt change. The plaintiffs disagree with the judges conclusion and are appealing. Fair enough. But its possible that reducing the number of early voting days is both bad policy and not a violation of the Voting Rights Act or the Constitution. Instead of reducing the number of early voting days from 17 to 10, perhaps North Carolinas Legislature should have increased the number to 20 or 30 or even 50. Even if more early voting days wouldnt appreciably increase turnout, they would make voting more convenient. Likewise, it may be a good idea to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register for elections in which they can participate once they turn 18 as they could under a previous North Carolina law. But that would be true regardless of whether abolishing such preregistration meets the legal test for discrimination because it has a racially disparate effect. Even if Congress votes to reconstitute the Voting Rights Act and set new standards for preclearance, some election regulations will be upheld by the courts regardless of whether they are bad policy (or politically motivated) and make voting more difficult. Maybe voting-rights activists should talk less about debatable legal harms and more about the comparative advantages of voter-friendly election laws. Follow Michael McGough on Twitter @MichaelMcGough3 To the editor: Danny Danon, Israels ambassador to the United Nations, writes that the modern history of Israeli-Arab peace-making has taught us that only direct negotiations between the two sides can actually achieve results. (Israels U.N. ambassador: Direct diplomacy is the only way to peace, Opinion, April 25) Exactly the opposite is true. Past peace processes have resulted in Israel confiscating even more Palestinian land. Nothing positive has ever happened for Palestinians. Yes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended himself in his pursuit of direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, but he has also said that he would never allow a Palestinian state. So what is the point of negotiations except to pretend that something positive is being done? Advertisement Palestinians would be insane to subject themselves to yet another peace process. Their only hope appears to be with the United Nations and the success of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) initiative. And why does Danon refer to Israeli-Arab negotiations instead of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations? Palestinians are, for the most part, an Arab people, but they are a separate people who have inhabited Palestine for many centuries and have hopes and aspirations of their own apart from other Arab countries. Doris Rausch, Columbia, Md. .. To the editor: Danon blames Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for the failure to hold more peace talks. But he curiously neglects to mention the rapid growth in Jewish-only, illegal settlements under Netanyahu. When Israel carves out more and more land from the West Bank for Jewish-only developments, how can anyone believe its government is serious about allowing for a Palestinian state? No wonder Abbas and supporters of Palestinian rights have turned to the BDS movement to pressure Israel to abide by international law. Mandy Erickson, San Mateo, Calif. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: The desire to return to pre-drought landscape water usage is short-sighted. Penalizing community residents for not maintaining a heavily watered lawn is a step backward from the progress made in rediscovering landscapes that truly belong in Californias varied climates. (This gated community insists Californias drought is over, wants green lawns again, April 26) In complying with Assembly Bill 1, which prohibits municipalities from fining residents who let their lawns go brown, and taking advantage of lawn removal rebates, many Californians have awakened to the beauty of our regional native plants and environment. Episodic El Nino winters are as much an integral part of the California climate as sporadic droughts. True California landscapes are neither instant nor static; rather, they ebb and flow with the amount of rainfall. Its essential that we accept this variability and build resiliency into our landscapes, so they can perform well no matter how much it rains. Advertisement Samantha Harris, Los Angeles The writer is a landscape architect. .. To the editor: Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. Lets not make the same mistake Gov. Jerry Brown made five years ago when he declared the drought to be over. Mother Nature didnt listen to him. The western part of the United States could be in a state of drought for the rest of the century, if not longer. And the population in California is only going to increase. We need to double down on water restrictions and limit use even further. The green lawn is fine in England and the eastern part of the United States, but it is inappropriate for western climate zones. Daniel Fink, Beverly Hills The writer is a former member of the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants board of directors. .. To the editor: Incredible. Have the people in wealthy communities agitating for unlimited water use looked at the California drought map? Almost 75% of the state California is in a severe drought or worse. Were not in an emergency really? This is unmitigated greed and narcissism because of affluence. Gregg Ferry, Carlsbad Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Union steelworker Doug Fuller came here for a rally to protest plans to close a Carrier Corp. plant here and move jobs to Mexico. But Fuller has his own troubles: His plant in Granite City, Ill., has been temporarily shut down by U.S. Steel because of a bad market, idling more than 2,000 workers. Its coming back, is what theyre saying, said Fuller, 58, the doubt showing in his voice. He and hundreds of other union workers gathered at the statehouse steps Friday to hear from union leaders and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who has tried to win over labors rank-and-file with his attacks on trade deals and calls to return a bigger share of income to workers. Advertisement But Fuller isnt sure. I like what he says, but can he do anything? Fuller said, noting that union leaders have said the Carrier employees will be replaced by Mexican workers making about $3 an hour. You cant compete with that, he said. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter The plans to close the Carrier plant here, costing 1,400 jobs, became notorious when a video of the plant closing announcement went viral. This is strictly a business decision, a company executive says, to jeers from the crowd of workers, explaining that the move is the best way to stay competitive. The Carrier plant closing has since become a hot issue in the presidential election, a symbol of the long decline of American manufacturing and the argument by some that trade deals like NAFTA have badly hurt American workers. At Fridays rally, Sanders called Carriers decision the kind of corporate behavior that is destroying the middle class of this country. Sanders, hoping to upset Hillary Clinton in Tuesdays primary in Indiana and keep his fight for income inequality relevant in the presidential race, called out the high salaries for executives of United Technologies, Carriers parent company. He said the company should lose all its defense contracts if they dont reverse the decision and keep the jobs in Indiana. The Carrier plant closing also has been a favorite theme for Donald Trump, who began criticizing the company at the first GOP debate in August and has kept it up since, saying he would impose a 35% tax on goods the company imports into the U.S. Trump even made a campaign ad incorporating the plant video with excerpts from his speeches. See the most-read stories this hour >> There have to be consequences when they leave, and there are no consequences, Trump said at a rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds last week. The rally pointed out the split in the labors ranks during this primary, in which Clinton is piling up delegates and endorsements but has failed to excite a lot of workers on the factory floors. One longtime union member and Sanders supporter said thats because many unions believe Democrats take them for granted and dont fight for their cause. They say enough to get our money, said Chuck Deppert, former president of the state AFL-CIO. I dont think they trust the Clintons. Some of those disaffected workers will end up supporting Trump, he acknowledged. Hes just transferring what the guys on the shop floor are saying, he said. They dont take a worldview. Theyre worried about their jobs. One of those Carrier workers, 57-year-old Robert James, has worked at the plant 18 years and now makes $22.53 an hour, working the second shift. When he started, he said, he made half that. Im not getting rich, but I can pay my bills and support my family, he said. His wife suffers from pulmonary disease, and requires an oxygen supply, he said: I have a need for healthcare, and Im going to lose it. One 17-year Carrier worker, Richard Gorbett, said he wanted to hear from Sanders but hasnt made up his mind whom to support. He and his co-workers are still angry. When he heard the announcement about the plant closing, he said, I kind of wanted to fight somebody, but I didnt know who. Twitter: @jtanfani ALSO: Trump begins California campaign with raw performance in O.C.; protesters take to the streets Indiana looms large, but Republican candidates keep an eye on the grand prize: California The delegate chase: How the presidential nomination process really works Trump to be greeted by protesters during his California visit A large contingent of protestors is expected to greet GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump when he addresses the California Republican Party convention in Burlingame on Friday. One group, the ANSWER Coalition, plans to protest outside of the hotel during Trumps luncheon speech and then hold a rally in the evening in San Francisco, where they plan to smash a Trump pinata. The Trump campaign poses an imminent danger to the most oppressed and vulnerable sectors of society and all working people and must be protested and shut down anywhere that he is given a platform to speak, the group wrote on its website. Another loosely knit group has set up a Facebook page inviting people to protest Trumps appearance. So far, it has received 2,400 RSVPs, with thousands more expressing interest in attending. lets show him a real Bay Area welcome by peacefully protesting outside, the page says. Trump has seen varying levels of protests throughout this campaign, often handfuls of individuals who attend his events, start chanting and then get escorted outside by security. Some of these incidents have turned into violent confrontations with Trump supporters. Larger protests outside of his events have the potential to be particularly flammable. One in Chicago earlier this year grew so unwieldy that his speech was canceled out of safety precautions. At a rally outside of Phoenix, protesters blocked the main road into one of his events, forcing some attendees to walk three miles to the event. The night before he addresses the state GOP convention, Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Costa Mesa. The Democratic Party of Orange County and Orange County Young Democrats have announced that they plan to protest the event at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Its unclear how large that gathering might be. But additional protests would not be surprising, given the altercations that took place Tuesday between Trump supporters and opponents in nearby Anaheim. Shortly before the Anaheim City Council considered a resolution to formally denounce Trump, protests turned violent with demonstrators on either side hurling obscenities and firing pepper spray, and at least one Trump supporter trying to Taser an opponent. The council ultimately voted to take no action on the resolution. Kasich concedes path to GOP presidential nomination is a steep climb Ohio Gov. John Kasich presented himself Friday as the sole candidate in the GOP presidential race with an optimistic vision for how to fix the nation, drawing a sharp contrast with GOP front-runner Donald Trump. We dont want to divide, we dont want to polarize, we want to be the party of hope, Kasich told a couple hundred supporters at the California Republican Partys convention. Not hope from pie in the sky, unrealistic dreams, but a party that will remember it is the people the people, who can make a difference. Kasich spoke hours after Trump addressed the convention. Kasich did not mention Trump by name, but clearly alluded to him. Ive chosen in this campaign not to live on the dark side of human nature, Kasich said. I know people are angry, I know theyre anxious. I know they have doubts. Leaders have two options to prey upon that fear or acknowledge the problems while also seeking solutions, Kasich said. Im worried about a divided, polarized country and it does not have to be that way, he said. We can solve these problems and bring people together and give them hope again. Kasich described his upbringing and his experience as a former congressman and as the current Ohio governor. He praised traditional GOP ideals limited government, greater power in the states, reducing the nations debt. But he also spoke sympathetically about the need to care for the mentally ill, the drug addicted and others who are in need. Its a message that has failed to resonate in the presidential campaign, with Kasich winning only one state to date his home state of Ohio. He badly trails Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in votes and delegates, and is counting on a contested convention where he emerges as the consensus choice to take on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the general election. Speaking to reporters before the speech, Kasich acknowledged that its a steep climb. I didnt fall off the turnip truck on the way to California, he said. I know its tough. So what. Ive been in tough fights before and Im just going to keep on moving forward because I think its critical this country has a choice. The races to the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations are now in the home stretch, with candidates on both sides increasingly focused on the final day of the contest, June 7, and its big prize, California. On the Democratic side, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has pretty much stopped arguing that he can actually win the nomination and is instead hoping that a high-profile win in California could strengthen his hand in negotiations with Hillary Clinton over the Democratic Party platform. The race remains more real on the Republican side, where opponents of Donald Trump dont have much to show for their efforts of the last couple of weeks. Their last hope is now to beat Trump in enough California congressional districts to keep him from winning a majority of the delegates to the Republican National Convention in July. Good afternoon, Im David Lauter, Washington bureau chief. Welcome to the Friday edition of our Essential Politics newsletter, in which we look at the events of the week in the presidential campaign and highlight some particularly insightful stories. Advertisement THE GOPS CALIFORNIA WEEKEND The week began with a focus on Pennsylvania and four other mid-Atlantic and New England states that held primaries on Tuesday. But after Trump and Clinton dominated the night, the focus quickly moved west. Thats particularly true on the Republican side. As Phil Willon and Javier Panzar noted, this weekends California Republican Convention had been expected to be a drowsy affair. Then, all three GOP candidates announced they would be showing up. Suddenly, Burlingame has become the most important place in GOP politics, at least for a few days. Our reporters will be there throughout the proceedings, starting today. Keep track of all the latest news and analysis throughout the weekend. Before heading to the convention, Trump held a rally in Costa Mesa. As Michael Finnegan, Ruben Vives and Matt Pearce reported, it was a raw and boisterous performance, heavy on the themes that have formed the core of Trumps appeal to his most loyal followers -- the evils of illegal immigration, the need for a border wall, support for using torture against terror suspects and references to Crooked Hillary. The tone contrasted sharply with Trumps foreign policy speech earlier in the week in which he sought to create a more sober image. The contrast points to an unresolved question about Trumps campaign, which Kate Linthicum looked at: For Trump, how much does appearing presidential actually matter? To gain a majority of the delegates to the GOP convention, Trump will need to win a majority of Californias delegates -- how big a majority will depend on what else he wins over the next five weeks. But as Finnegan wrote, Trump faces a lot of challenges in California. Voting by mail starts May 9, and Trump is far behind Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in organizing in the fight for delegates in each of the states 53 congressional districts. Meanwhile, one important group of California Republicans appears to have largely stopped paying attention to the presidential race -- the partys big-dollar donors. As Seema Mehta, Kurtis Lee and Anthony Pesce reported, many of Californias biggest GOP contributors have decided theyve had enough of presidential politics this year and are directing their money elsewhere. NEXT UP, INDIANA Even as they descend on California, Trump and his rivals are preparing for Indianas primary on Tuesday. Indiana is particularly crucial for Cruz, who hopes that if he can beat Trump there, hell be able to revive a campaign that enjoyed a moment of triumph in Wisconsin on April 5, but has flagged for most of the rest of the month. The need to win Indiana caused the Texas senator to reach a deal with John Kasich in which the Ohio governor agreed not to campaign in Indiana in return for Cruz giving him a free path in Oregon and New Mexico. Indiana is also where Cruz unveiled his putative running mate, former Hewlett-Packard chief Carly Fiorina. Will all that frantic activity put Cruz over the top? Indiana hasnt had a lot of polling, but the surveys that have been taken show Trump ahead. If he wins on Tuesday, hell still need to prevail in California, but his road will be much less steep. Tuesday night, well bring you all the results and analysis of the primary on Trail Guide and on our Politics page. And as the race unfolds, keep watch on the delegates in both parties with our Delegate Tracker, which shows where each candidate stands and where each has won support. Do you have questions about how convention delegates are selected and elected? Check out this explanation of how the delegate process works, by Melanie Mason. THE DEMOCRATS LOOK FOR A PATH TOWARD UNITY Over on the Democratic side, Sanders spent tens of millions of dollars in failed efforts to defeat Clinton, first in New York and then in Pennsylvania. In both states, he heavily outspent her but lost badly. Now Sanders is laying off campaign workers and focusing his remaining resources on California. Meantime, in a long-distance sort of way, the two rival camps have begun the dance that ends -- almost always -- with the defeated candidate announcing his support for the winner. At issue, always, are the terms of surrender. The losing campaign tries to extract concessions in return for its support. There have been no formal talks between the campaigns yet, but each side has begun to publicly signal what its looking for. Look for that process to intensify over the next few weeks. Some defeated candidates want help retiring their campaign debt -- not an issue for Sanders. Others angle for the vice presidential spot -- also not something that appears to be at issue. Sanders seems most focused on putting his stamp on the partys platform and on winning changes in the rules for future nominating contests; he opposes closed primaries, for example, which dont allow independents to have a say on the Democratic nominee. Clinton, for her part, wants Sanders to actively work to persuade his backers to support her, much as she did for then-Sen. Barack Obama eight years ago. In that quest, she has a powerful ally -- Trump, whose every utterance reminds most Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents of how badly they want to win the November election. That could be particularly important with younger voters, who have formed the core of Sanders support and dont seem particularly enthusiastic about Clinton, but are deeply at odds with Trump and his beliefs. A new poll from Harvards Institute of Politics, which has been tracking millennial generation voters for several years, shows those younger voters moving toward the Democrats and away from Trump. A general election matchup between Trump and Clinton would feature two candidates who start the race disliked by unusually high percentages of voters. In Trumps case, the negative level is unprecedented. As Cathy Decker explained, both candidates are trying to improve their images, but they are so well-known, and operating in such a polarized political environment, that their efforts may only serve to tinker around the edges. In Trumps case, at least, his efforts to improve his image keep running up against his tendency to sabotage his own cause. The latest incident came this week when Trump declared that if Hillary Clinton were a man, I dont think shed get 5% of the vote. As Decker noted, Trumps unpopularity with women runs both very broad and very deep. Trump backers that they believe that his problems with women can be offset by a large number of white, mostly male, working-class voters who could be attracted to him. Lisa Mascaro took a look at some of those so-called Trump Democrats in Pennsylvania, one of the key states in which voters of that sort could be important, if enough of them exist. WHAT WERE READING Young versus old, female versus male, minority versus white -- all elections turn heavily on key demographics. Whats distinctive about this election, Ron Brownstein and Leah Askarinam write in the Atlantic, is how early the demographics patterns took shape and how consistent they have stayed. IF YOU LIKE THIS NEWSLETTER, TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO SIGN UP That wraps up this week. My colleague Christina Bellantoni will be back Monday with the weekday edition of Essential Politics. Until then, keep track of all the developments in the 2016 campaign with our Trail Guide at our politics page and on Twitter at latimespolitics. Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction, recently announced that El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools are at the top of the class when it comes to preparing students for college and future careers. The California Department of Education selected the two Laguna Beach Unified School District campuses among 772 statewide as Gold Ribbon schools. Education officials created the Gold Ribbon honor in place of the California Distinguished Schools program as the state creates new assessment and accountability systems to jibe with the Common Core standards. Common Core places greater emphasis on expository writing and critical thinking across multiple subjects. Advertisement Join the conversation on Facebook >> School leaders apply for the award based on a model program or practice that other schools could replicate. El Morro presented its 21st century writing program, which has helped students hone argumentative and narrative writing styles. Students are now able to cite evidence and better support their opinions and positions on any topic, according to a district news release. Top of the World highlighted its multi-tiered support model for academic, emotional and behavioral assistance. The districts board honored both schools at its meeting Tuesday, and the Department of Education will recognize the campuses at a ceremony May 10. -- Bryce Alderton, bryce.alderton@latimes.com Twitter: @AldertonBryce Hong Kong has been rocked by a new generation of activists who stake their future in the former British colony turned semiautonomous Chinese territory. Known as the localists, the activists bristle at Beijings meddling and what they see as their government prioritizing Communist Chinese Party mandates over local concerns. They have emerged as a social and political force in recent months, ending a police crackdown on street food vendors and taking 13% of the vote in a recent race for a seat in Hong Kongs legislature. Advertisement When people hear were localists, they immediately think were troublemakers, said Kwong Po-yin, an emergency room doctor, local politician and member of the recently formed political party Youngspiration. Of course we aim to rock the boat because we want to make our society better. Who are the localists? Some are preservationists who rally against the destruction of colonial British heritage sites. Others are environmentalists who defend dying villages against the juggernaut of developers. A few are legislators who have shored up their base on the platform that the interests of locals come first. Many more are pro-democracy agitators who hope the populist banner would help broaden support for their cause. Politically, they span a wide spectrum from legislators from the so-called pan-democratic camp who condemn the use of violence to militant secessionists who vow to advance their agenda by any means necessary. What they share is a vision of the future in which Hong Kong parts ways with mainland China. Most attribute Hong Kongs social woes to the lack of a fully democratic government. Unlike their parents, few harbor hopes for a democratic China, so they increasingly see separation as the only feasible way out. What are the localists demands? Localists of varying stripes all say they take aim at government policies that serve the interests of Beijing rather than Hong Kong. Many of their causes including the rule of law and the protection of civil liberties resonate with a population that sees Hong Kongs core values as being under threat. Although localists say they welcome anybody who adapts to the culture of Hong Kong where 38% of the 7.3 million residents are immigrants some accuse newcomers from the mainland of depleting scarce resources. Localists have heckled mainland tourists and protested against the teaching of Mandarin in grade schools. Mandarin is spoken on the mainland while Cantonese is spoken in Hong Kong. At the very least they believe in their right to self-determination. Some advocate for independence. We think independence affords the best protection for our freedoms, said Marcus Lau, a University of Hong Kong sophomore who last month edited a campus magazine issue devoted to the territorys prospects as an autonomous state. Why do the localists think they have a case for self-determination, or even independence? Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule 19 years ago under a provisional framework known as one country, two systems, in which the territory was promised a high degree of autonomy until 2047, when it is to be governed under one system: communism. The localists have reached into history and learned what they were never taught in school: In 1960, the United Nations passed a resolution that included Hong Kong on a list of dependent territories entitled to self-determination and independence. It was removed from the list in 1972 under pressure from China, which had just gained recognition as a member nation. Why are the localists gaining strength? Two years ago, the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement failed to win the right for Hong Kong residents to elect a leader who did not have to answer to Beijing. The appeal of the localists has been spreading since. They have created a kind of Hong Kong nationalism to counteract the nationalism that Beijing has tried to impose on Hong Kongers, said Alan Tse, a Chinese University of Hong Kong researcher who has studied the rise of localism. Some localists believe that one way to change the government is to join it. Several are gearing up for the Legislative Council race this fall. How has Beijing responded? Communist Chinese officials have condemned militant localists as separatists, a label typically reserved for enemies of the state. At a public address in Hong Kong in March, an official from Chinas Foreign Ministry said some radical groups are making waves under the localist banner and planning to organize themselves into political parties. The separatism idea is metastasizing. Beijing is feeling the pinch, and the dilemma, said Dixon Ming Sing, a political scientist at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It wants to nip [independence] in the bud, yet Hong Kongs system affords the freedom of speech to broach the subject. This is a very delicate and potentially dangerous situation, he said. Law is a special correspondent. Normally close allies Japan and Taiwan are locked in a dispute over fishing rights off a small rocky outcropping in the Pacific Ocean, a rare disagreement that is being cast as a final foreign policy test for Taiwans outgoing president. The Foreign Ministry in Taipei says Japan had no reason to detain a Taiwan-registered fishing boat Monday as it worked the Pacific Ocean southeast of Okinotori, an outcropping more than 1,075 miles south of Tokyo and 975 miles east of Taipei. Okinotori has just about 100 square feet of rock above sea level -- no more than the size of a bedroom. Taiwan says Okinotori is a reef, not an island, and that Japan cannot claim an exclusive economic zone around it. Waters outside such zones are high seas, open to all. Advertisement But Japan calls Okinotori a true island, worthy of a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, and says the Taiwanese fishing boat was 150 nautical miles off the disputed outcropping. Japans coast guard detained the captain and nine crew members aboard the Tung Sheng Chi No. 16 and towed the fishing boat to Iwo Jima. The captain and crew were released Monday afternoon once the vessels owner paid a $54,400 security deposit with the Taiwanese governments help. The payment obligates those detained to show up for a court hearing in Japan, but does not mean Taiwan accepts Japans maritime claim, Taiwans Foreign Ministry said. Taiwan has called for the two sides to negotiate the dispute according to international law or settle it peacefully with help from international organizations. Japan is refusing to hold talks, a spokesman for Tokyos de facto embassy in Taipei said. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Because we cannot accept Taiwans position, we find it impossible to hold talks, said the spokesman, Shinichiro Misawa. After being dogged for years by perceptions of a weak foreign policy, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who has less than a month left in office, is trying to use the incident to show strength and to stand up for fishing interests loyal to his political party, analysts say. Ma was elected in 2008 and must step down in May due to term limits. He made a name in office mostly for strengthening relations with China, expanding trade and tourism ties, but that effort met a public opinion backlash starting in 2014. China still hopes to unify with Taiwan despite opinion surveys in Taiwan that show a majority of people oppose that idea. Taiwans foreign minister summoned Japans representative in Taipei for an hour Friday to lodge a protest over the fishing rights dispute. A few dozen fishermen had protested at the de facto Japanese embassy Wednesday, some hurling eggs. Japan is keeping quiet because it believes that president-elect Tsai Ing-wen will be friendlier to Tokyo and that the two sides will be able to revisit matters once she assumes office in a few weeks, analysts say. Ma doesnt have anything to lose, only one month left, and this will be the last chance to show hes the protector of Taiwans national dignity, said Alex Chiang, an international relations professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. I think Japan will hold on and talk to the new government because most people believe it will be more friendly to Japan. This year, Ma also questioned the Philippines over its decision to challenge China in an international court in the Hague over claims in the South China Sea. A ruling in Manilas favor would also weaken Taiwans claims in the area as well. Mas stance on territorial issues is one differentiating point for his Nationalist Party, or KMT, vis-a-vis Tsais Democratic Progressive Party, said Lin Chong-pin, a retired strategic studies professor in Taiwan. The Democratic Progressive Party has not indicated how Tsais administration plans to defend Taiwans maritime claims. The president-elects party advised in a statement Friday that the government should proactively communicate with Japan to prevent new incidents. One of the reasons [for Ma to challenge Japan] is to distinguish the KMT from the Democratic Progressive Party, which is soft on Japan, Lin said. Japan has previously shown a willingness to accommodate Taiwan on fishing issues. In 2013, the two sides signed a deal giving Taiwanese fishing boats access to 1,400 square nautical miles near the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands -- a jab at China, which also claims the islands them and calls them the Diaoyus. Jennings is a special correspondent. ALSO A growing political force in Hong Kong: the localists Bangladesh may be the next proving ground for global jihadist groups North Korea sentences American to 10 years of hard labor on spying charges North Koreas Supreme Court on Friday sentenced a 62-year-old Korean American, Tong Chul Kim, to 10 years of hard labor after finding him guilty of trying to overthrow the government and spying for South Korea, the Norths state-run news agency said. Kim confessed to all crimes he had committed, the Korean Central News Agency said. Prosecutors asked for a 15-year sentence, the agency reported, while the defense counsel asked the court to commute the demanded penalty, arguing that the crimes by the accused are very serious but [Kim] is old and may repent of his faults, witnessing for himself the true picture of the prospering country. Kim was arrested in October. His detention was not publicized until January, when North Korean officials invited a CNN crew to interview him in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. Advertisement The trial and sentencing comes just a week ahead of a major political gathering in North Korea called the Workers Party Congress. The event is expected to draw international attention, with Pyongyang inviting numerous foreign journalists into the country to cover the proceedings. In March, North Korea sentenced a University of Virginia student, Otto Warmbier, to 15 years of hard labor after officials said he tried to steal a propaganda poster from the Yanggakdo Hotel in Pyongyang in January while he was on a group tour. It was unclear whether North Korean authorities were trying to use the two trials to entice a high-profile U.S. emissary to travel to North Korea to secure the mens release. In the past, figures including former President Clinton and director of national intelligence James R. Clapper have gone to North Korea to bring home detained Americans. Kims trial came a day after North Korea conducted two test launches of intermediate-range Musudan ballistic missiles, although South Korean intelligence officials said both appeared to have failed. Tensions have been mounting on the peninsula since early this year, following a North Korean nuclear test and a series of missile tests and a launch of a low-Earth-orbit satellite. During Kims interview with CNN in January, he spoke Korean and told the TV journalists he used to live in Fairfax, Va. He said that he moved to Yanji, China, a city near the North Korean border, in 2001. From there, he said, he would travel daily across the border to Rason, a special North Korean economic zone. North Korean officials showed CNN what appeared to be Kims U.S. passport. Kim told CNN he served as president of a company involved in international trade and hotel services, and claimed he spied on behalf of South Korean conservative elements and was tasked with taking photos of military secrets and scandalous scenes. He said he bribed local people to gather important material. He stated that he was arrested as he was rendezvousing with a 35-year-old former North Korean solider, who was giving him a USB stick and camera containing military secrets. That man was also arrested, Kim said. Previous detainees who have made similar statements have said after their release that they were coerced into doing so. Kim told CNN he had a wife and two daughters in China. He said he was being held in a hotel in Pyongyang. Kim spoke with CNN on Jan. 11, less than a week after North Korea carried out the nuclear test, which later led to intensified international sanctions on the country. In his conversation with the TV network, which was observed by North Korean officials, Kim said it was time for the U.S. government to drop its hostile policies against North Korea. Seeing that this H-bomb test has succeeded, now is the time to abandon hostile policies and work to help North Korea, he added, saying, the U.S. needs to find a way to reconcile with North Korea. Warmbier also appeared before cameras ahead of his trial. He cried and said, somewhat incoherently, that he was induced to commit the hostile act by a member of a Methodist Church near Cincinnati, as well as the CIA and an underground group at his college. The church and the university group have denied any connection to the incident. Follow @JulieMakLAT for news from Asia ALSO UCLAs Myles Jack falls out of NFL drafts first round FBI arrests brother of San Bernardino terrorist and 2 others on marriage fraud charges Protests rage outside Trump rally in Orange County; 17 arrested, police car smashed The Pentagon has disciplined 16 service members for mistakes that led to the deadly airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in northern Afghanistan last fall, but no one will face criminal charges, The Times has learned. One officer was suspended from command and ordered out of Afghanistan. The others were given lesser punishments: Six were sent to counseling, seven were issued letters of reprimand, and two were ordered to retraining courses. The punishments follow a six-month Pentagon investigation of the disastrous Oct. 3 attack, which killed 42 medical workers, patients and other Afghans and wounded dozens more at the international humanitarian aid groups trauma center in Kunduz. Advertisement The 16 found at fault include a two-star general, the crew of an Air Force AC-130 gunship, and Army special forces personnel, according to U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal investigation. Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, is expected to announce the administrative actions Friday at the Pentagon. He will not release names of the 16 because some are overseas or in units that are regularly deployed. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, will post more than 3,000 pages of a redacted investigative report on its website after Votel appears. Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF for its French name, Medecins Sans Frontieres, is based in Geneva and has won the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in war zones and during epidemics. It has described the attack on the clearly marked medical facility as a likely war crime. The incident generated an outcry from international aid groups, some of which demanded criminal prosecution. The gravity of harm caused by the reported failures to follow protocol in Kunduz appears to constitute gross negligence that warrants active pursuit of criminal liability, Donna McKay, executive director of the nonprofit Physicians for Human Rights, wrote in a letter to the White House and Pentagon on Monday. In a statement Thursday, Amnesty International said it had serious concerns about the Pentagons questionable track record of policing itself. It called for an independent investigation to determine what happened and to assess potential criminal wrongdoing. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday that he doesnt think President Obama has been told the results of the Pentagon investigation. Earnest said he would not prejudge the outcome but accountability is important and thats something that was communicated to the military leadership. The Pentagon has acknowledged that Doctors Without Borders representatives had reminded U.S. and Afghan officials of the hospitals precise location repeatedly before the airstrike because of fighting in the area. The facility was on the militarys list of prohibited targets. Officials said last fall that the AC-130 gunship crew believed they were targeting a building about 300 yards away where several Taliban fighters were supposedly hiding. Less clear is why they continued to strafe the hospital for nearly an hour while aid officials in Kabul and Washington made frantic attempts to call them off. At least 15 calls and text messages were exchanged with U.S., Afghan, United Nations and Red Cross officials, records show. The attack destroyed the hospitals main building, including an emergency room, intensive care unit and operating theater. The dead consisted of 24 patients, 14 staff members and four caretakers. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Survivors described earth-shaking explosions that engulfed the building in flames. Some patients burned to death in their beds. Gen. John F. Campbell, then-commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said in November that the cause of this tragedy was avoidable human error, compounded by process and equipment failures. Campbell said decisions on whether to prosecute anyone would be made by him and the U.S. Special Operations Command, where Votel was commander before he was assigned to Central Command. Campbell, who retired last month, ordered discipline for 12 of the 16 personnel involved. He suspended an officer, issued three letters of reprimand, ordered six into counseling and sent two to retraining courses. Votel issued four letters of reprimand and suspended the AC-130 aircrew from performing flight operations until they passed a flight evaluation board, which will determine when they can return to service. The attack was launched as U.S. warplanes, backed by special operations troops, were assisting Afghan forces fighting to retake Kunduz from the Taliban, which had captured the city five days earlier. Aid officials have said that no gunfire was coming from the hospital compound and that although firefights had occurred nearby earlier in the day, no fighting was underway when the airstrike occurred. Tim Shenk, a spokesman for Doctors Without Borders, said Wednesday that the aid organization would not comment on the punishments until the military publicly released its investigation. The Pentagon is expected to brief the group before Votel speaks to the news media on Friday. Shortly after he replaced Campbell as commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John W. Nicholson met with representatives of Doctors Without Borders, family members of victims and community leaders in Kunduz on March 23 and offered a personal apology. As commander, I wanted to come to Kunduz personally and stand before the families and people of Kunduz to deeply apologize for the events which destroyed the hospital and caused the deaths of the hospital staff, patients and family members, he said. I grieve with you for your loss and suffering, and humbly and respectfully ask for your forgiveness. ALSO Biden arrives for unannounced visit to Iraq to help shore up wobbly government Bangladesh may be the next proving ground for global jihadist groups Scores killed in new Syria violence; deadly airstrike hits hospital aided by Doctors Without Borders A few months after Vice President Joe Bidens eldest son died of an aggressive form of brain cancer, he traveled to Philadelphia to see off Pope Francis after his first U.S. visit. Before he took off, the pope privately met, and mourned, with Biden and his extended family. I wish every grieving parent, brother or sister, mother or father would have had the benefit of his words, his prayers, his presence, Biden recalled Friday. Advertisement Within weeks, Biden would announce the end of his long-running presidential ambitions and devote himself to the moonshot effort he said was needed to cure the disease that claimed his son. The anti-cancer initiative has become a driving focus for the vice president in his final year in office, and it brought him here Friday to a conference at the seat of the Catholic Church calling for a decades worth of progress fighting cancer in half as long, a goal that Biden described as a quantum leap. More than at any point in human history, we have a genuine opportunity to help more people all across the world than ever before, Biden said. And thats our obligation. Pope Francis spoke after Biden, declaring that the globalization of indifference must be countered by the globalization of empathy. His comments echoed Bidens, as Francis called for increased funding and legislation to promote research for cures for rare diseases. The centrality of the human person will be rediscovered thanks to the coordinated efforts on various levels and in different sectors to find solutions to the sufferings which inflict our sick brothers and sisters, he said, touching on the themes of humanity and compassion that have been hallmarks of his message as pope. The cancer initiative is not only a personal cause for Biden at the twilight of his career, but something hes said may be the best use of his decades of experience as a Washington dealmaker. He aims not only to bring more federal resources to cancer research but also break down often self-imposed barriers toward greater collaboration in the medical field. Bidens visit to the Vatican served as an opportunity to plum an unexpected channel of support for his anti-cancer effort: foreign governments. While he has traveled to leading research centers throughout the U.S. this year, he said it has been a surprising topic of conversation abroad as well. The number of world leaders that have contacted me who want to collaborate and work together they sense exactly what we sense: the enormous possibilities, he said. Biden used his address at the Vatican to outline the principles for such international cooperation, beginning with addressing preventable forms of cancer, particularly in the Third World. The vice president also called for more government-funded cancer research to back up the administrations proposed $1 billion increase. On Capitol Hill, Republicans and Democrats have expressed support for that expanded federal investment in cancer research. Last year, Congress backed a budget deal to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health, even at a time when other federal agencies are struggling with flat budgets. Senior lawmakers from both parties have also been cooperating on major legislation to speed approval of drugs and medical devices and boost funding for medical research. The House overwhelmingly passed a version of the legislation last summer the 21st Century Cures Act, which would commit $8.75 billion to the initiative. And the Senate health committee has been working on a package of its own bills. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> The congressional effort complements Bidens initiative, according to senior administration officials as well as House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), one of the architects of the House bill. There is a good probability that well be able to marry the two together, he said, noting congressional leaders and the administration have had a lot of very productive discussions. Last month, Biden met with Upton as well as other senior lawmakers working on the medical research initiative, including Senate health committee chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and the committees ranking Democratic, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). But funding for the effort remains a major hurdle, particularly among conservative Republicans who have committed to slash federal spending. Scientific and cancer research should be a national priority, said House Budget Committee chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.). Sadly, we have an administration which refuses to prioritize. It simply wants more and more tax dollars and borrowed money to be spent, without regard for the fiscal consequences. The White House has asked for more than $750 million in new funding to support medical research next year, though it is unclear how that would be paid for. Also controversial on the Hill is the presidents request that the new funding be made mandatory, which would exempt it from the appropriations process that Congress is supposed to use every year to fund the federal government. Administration officials have argued that Congress budgeting has been so dysfunctional in recent years that it would threaten scientific research, which depends on more stable funding. But many Republicans, already furious over their inability to control mandatory spending in other parts of the federal budget, such as the Affordable Care Act, reject this out of hand. Its not realistic. And I cant believe anyone at the White House thinks its realistic, said Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who chairs the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees health spending. Its very disappointing that the president is pushing something on cancer that they know cant happen. Alexander and Murray are working in the Senate health committee on a funding compromise to support the cancer research effort. But it remains unclear whether, and when, a deal may be struck. Some believe it may not happen until the lame-duck session after the November elections, when Congress may be forced to cobble together a government funding bill. Congressional Democrats have strongly backed the presidents call for new spending on medical research and have been pushing in talks with Republicans for mandatory spending. Strong mandatory investments in medical research at the NIH are a key priority, said Murray. Our negotiations are continuing, and I remain hopeful that well be able to work toward a bipartisan agreement. Biden said in another major speech on his cancer effort last week that when he first suggested the idea of ending cancer last fall as he announced he would not run for president, it was a wistful notion. But he has committed himself fully, even knowing the steep challenge with the science, and the politics. Ive never quite seen the political situation as dysfunctional as it is today, he said. I have a reputation of being able to get along with both sides of the aisle, because I have enormous respect for the House and Senate. But this may be the one subject and one of the reasons I picked it where there is absolute, unlimited bipartisan support. Memoli reported from Vatican City and Levey from Washington. Twitter: @mikememoli, @noamlevey ALSO Granted a new life by the pope, refugees speak of horrors that drove them from Syria Biden makes unannounced visit to Iraq to help shore up wobbly government Trump begins California campaign with raw performance in O.C.; protesters take to the streets Syrian state media said Friday that rebels shelled a mosque in a government-held area of the northern city of Aleppo, killing at least 15 people and wounding 30. State TV said several rockets hit the mosque and its surroundings as worshipers were leaving after Friday prayers. It said the attack struck the Malla Khan mosque in the Bab al-Faraj neighborhood. The shelling comes after government airstrikes on rebel-held parts of Aleppo were reported shortly after a morning lull had engulfed the contested city, following days of violence that killed scores. Advertisement ALSO UCLAs Myles Jack falls out of NFL drafts first round UC Davis campus divided amid new questions on chancellors performance Protests rage outside Trump rally in Orange County; 17 arrested, police car smashed For years, the question has lingered: Should the U.S. apologize for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima? The opportunity could present itself if President Obama visits the city while attending the G7 Summit in Japan next month. No sitting U.S. president has visited the city since it was largely destroyed in an atomic blast during World War II. Secretary of State John Kerry may have foreshadowed whats to come when he visited Hiroshima this month and called the experience gut-wrenching. Yet he stopped short of offering an apology to his hosts. Advertisement Apologizing for a wartime act generations ago would be as welcome to Japanese political leaders as a cloud of mosquitoes. Heres why: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry appears at a news conference following the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Hiroshima. (Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP/Getty Images) Does Japan even want an apology? Likely not. A secret 2009 state department cable published by Wikileaks in 2011 indicated Japan was cool to the idea and worried that it would only serve to energize anti-nuclear activists in the country. Hasnt this come up before? It has. In 2007, during Shinzo Abes first term as prime minister, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma referred to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as something that couldnt be helped. While opposition leaders took issue with that position, the governments official stance was that it would be more meaningful for the U.S. and Japan to aim for a peaceful and safe world without nuclear weapons. The atomic bomb dome is seen through the altar of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. (Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP/Getty Images) An apology could trigger unneeded political fallout Devin Stewart, a noted expert on Japan, and senior program director at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, suggests that an apology could open a can of worms on many, many issues. Theres concern, for instance, it might undermine Abes initiative to give Japan a more nimble, capable military and clear the way for troops to fight overseas, something that hasnt happened since the end of World War II. Abes primary goal, Stewart says, is to strengthen the military and everything else, including his economic platform of Abenomics, is a means to achieve that goal. An apology also could harden the opposition to using nuclear power in Japan, a sentiment that blossomed after the meltdown at Fukushima. The administration has made nuclear power a major part of its energy policy. Overemphasizing the inhuman nature of the nuclear weapons used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki goes against what the current government of Japan has been working on so hard for decades removing allergic reaction against nuclear weapons and nuclear power. In short, let the sleeping dogs lie, Koichi Nakano, a professor of Japanese politics at Sophia University, said. Officials place wreaths as they prepare for a visit by the Group of Seven foreign ministers at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. (Mari Yamaguchi / AP) It could set off a chain reaction of apologies Prime Minister Abes speech on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II was a classic non-apology apology, and this administration allegedly hates to apologize. Why doesnt the Japanese government want Mr. Obama to apologize? Because it tears the scab off a much bigger wound that Japan wants healed, says Grant Newsham, a senior research fellow with Japan Forum for Strategic Studies and former U.S. diplomat with over 20 years experience in Japan. If Obama apologizes at Hiroshima, it draws attention to Japanese behavior elsewhere in Asia during the 30s and 40s. It might even be demanded that the Japanese government and emperor go to Singapore and apologize for slaughtering 25,000 Chinese there in 1942. Or to Australia to apologize for how they treated their POWs. Or to the Philippines (to apologize) for a few hundred thousand murders by the Imperial Japanese Army as well. See the most-read stories this hour >> Beyond launching a new round of hand-wringing over wartime atrocities, Nakano says an Obama apology could raise fresh questions about Japans own attempts to build an atomic bomb. Even the right wing journalist and ultra-nationalist Hiroyuki Fujita says that an apology is not necessary and I dont think the Japanese people want it. It will create a ceaseless round of apologies. However, I think the American people should know that not only the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but the firebombing of Tokyo in which thousands died, were illegal acts against humanity. They were civilian massacres. What about the survivors in Hiroshima? The survivors those who remain are largely out of sight and out of mind, and theres little political capital in digging up memories of the bombing, Stewart notes. Many people in the center of power in Tokyo would rather not talk about such touchy issues, he says. The Japanese government has long fought to limit the number of people seeking official recognition as atomic-bomb survivors eligible for special assistance, and survivors who feel they suffered from radiation exposure but werent recognized as victims have filed numerous lawsuits. When Abe was prime minister from 2006 to 2007, he refused to meet with the plaintiffs. Last year, in a break from tradition, Abe failed to include a pledge to observe the countrys three nonnuclear principles in the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony speech. Tourists visit the Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and the nearby Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. (Carl Court / Getty Images) What does the public think? A 2015 opinion poll by a Russian news agency found that 60% of the Japanese public wanted an apology for the bombing. But what the Japanese government and the public want arent always the same. Adelstein is a special correspondent. ALSO Pentagon modifies training and targeting after deadly U.S. attack on hospital An islet the size of your bedroom has Japan and Taiwan fighting North Korea sentences American to 10 years of hard labor on spying charges Ending a long standoff mired in presidential campaign politics, the Senate moved Thursday to confirm veteran diplomat Roberta Jacobson as U.S. ambassador to Mexico, filling a crucial diplomatic post that has been vacant for nine months. Jacobson, assistant secretary of State for Western Hemispheric affairs, is expected to take up the position immediately in Mexico City. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said the U.S. was sending one of our finest diplomats to advance this important relationship. Advertisement I have long relied on Robertas wise counsel and good cheer, and I am confident that as ambassador, she will bring her extensive experience and judgment to this critical post, Kerry said in a statement. Mexicos Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Jacobsons confirmation demonstrates the importance of a bilateral relationship which, given its maturity, transcends internal situations. Ambassador Jacobson will give a new impetus to our bilateral relations and will contribute to consolidating a new institutional structure, lending more certainty and solidity to this relationship, the statement said. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a former Republican presidential candidate, had blocked Jacobsons nomination for months chiefly because of her role in the Obama administrations push to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. But following negotiations this week, Rubio agreed to withdraw his hold. The confirmation then sailed through the Senate as part of a procedural motion known as unanimous consent. No recorded roll-call vote takes place under such procedures. Jacobson is widely respected in Mexico and in U.S. diplomatic circles because of her knowledge of Latin America, her fluency in Spanish and her deft handling of cross-border trade negotiations. Mexico is the United States third-largest trading partner and is a crucial export market for California and other Southwestern states. It shares a 2,000-mile border with the U.S., whose officials seek its cooperation with drug interdiction and stopping illegal immigration. In an interview with The Times late last year, Jacobson, 55, lamented leaving the ambassadors post vacant at a time when Mexico seemed to be opening its potentially rich economy. There are huge opportunities for Americans thanks to structural economic reforms in Mexico, especially in the energy and telecommunications industries, she said. The advocacy, support and visibility of a U.S. ambassador to help promote American businesses ... makes a difference, Jacobson said. Jacobson will take her post at a particularly difficult time in Mexicos relationship with the world, however. The government this week appeared to dismiss a damning report by independent investigators into the disappearance and likely massacre of 43 Mexican college students from the state of Guerrero in the fall of 2014. The report found the government had been negligent and obstructionist in its own investigation. Some officials are believed to be responsible for the disappearances. Jacobsons supporters in the Senate had tried to bypass Rubios hold on her nomination. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) told his colleagues on Tuesday it was incomprehensible that such a vital diplomatic post remained vacant. The longer the United States goes without having an ambassador to Mexico, the more the relationship will suffer, he said on the Senate floor when he tried, unsuccessfully, to push Jacobsons confirmation through. She enjoys overwhelming support. There is no reason not to move forward. Rubio rose to renew his objections, saying he had serious questions about some of Jacobsons actions in the past. The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio has previously accused Jacobson and the White House of failing to ensure that Cuba improved human rights before restoring diplomatic ties, and of glossing over the Castro governments penchant for stifling dissent. He also faulted U.S. policies in Mexico. Jacobson was not the architect of the administrations Cuba policy, but she was its most visible shepherd. After Obama announced his decision in December 2014 to renew diplomatic ties with Havana, she led talks with the government of President Raul Castro. On Thursday, according to Senate sources, Rubio agreed to step aside after sanctions on another Latin American leftist country, Venezuela, were extended. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier Thursday voted to extend sanctions that target specific Venezuelan officials accused of human rights abuses until 2019. Obama nominated Jacobson to replace Ambassador Tony Wayne, who retired on July 15. She received approval from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in November. Though long overdue, Im pleased that the Senate has confirmed an individual as qualified and capable as Roberta Jacobson to serve as U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Flake said Thursday night in a statement. ALSO Donald Trump and his supporters wonder how much being presidential matters Murder of acclaimed activist has U.S. questioning massive Central American aid package New report raises chilling possibility that mystery of 43 Mexican students disappearance will never be solved All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced. 19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc. On 28 April the former governor of Colombias north-westernmost department of Choco, Patrocinio Sanchez Montes de Oca (2008-2010), confirmed that the insurgent Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), the countrys second largest leftist guerrilla group, had not unconditionally released him earlier this month after three years in captivity but only in exchange for his brother Odin, a former deputy in the lower chamber of the national congress. End of preview - This article contains approximately 356 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On Thursday, Comcast announced they were acquiring the major studio Dreamworks Animation. The acquisition came at a price of $3.8 billion and some analysts point that it could be bigger than Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm and Marvel. This is a huge announcement as Dreamworks will be working alongside Universal animation. Prior to the acquisition, Dreamworks had its films being released by Fox and before that by Paramount. With this new dea, Disney could see a major rival. Disney vs. Dreamworks Ever since Dreamworks animation launched in 1994, the company has been giving Disney a run for its money with franchises like Shrek and Ice Age. The company has produced 32 films and has continued to grow in size and quality. The company generally releases two to three films a year and this year already "Kung Fu Panda 3" was a success that is likely to bring another sequel. In the meantime, Disney shows no signs of stopping its animation branch. Disney still has a superior lead on Dreamworks as its brand has been around since the 1940s and the marketing behind it has been all about family. Disney's quality lagged for some time before pulling back when John Lasseter took over in 2007. The company has since made a number of Oscar winning films. It is also important to know that aside from Disney animation, Disney owns Pixar, making that branch yet another strong point. Television While Dreamworks is still newer than Disney, it has quickly built a television presence on important networks including Nickelodeon and the streaming platform Netflix. Disney of course has the Disney Channel and also has a deal with Netflix but the fact that Comcast is such an important cable company and has multiple streaming platforms will allow more exposure to Dreamworks' films and television shows. In this respect, Dreamworks could build a bigger television audience geared towards children. Short films Disney also has a long history of short films that have become classics and have also won Oscars. Meanwhile, Dreamworks has 23 and as they continue to produce films, they are aiming at putting short films in front of their feature animated films. This will of course follow the modo of Disney. Overall, however, where Dreamworks will definitely benefit is having a stable studio and company that will nurture the content they released. Universal also has a small branch of animation known as Universal animation. Now together with Dreamworks, Universal's animation content can expand and it can focus on not only event films and indie films but will also get to compete in the animation branch. The deal is set to to close by the end of the year. The U.S. Senate has confirmed Roberta S. Jacobson as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. After months of political wrangling, Jacobson was installed to a post that has long remained vacant, drawing the gleeful approval of Secretary of State John Kerry. "I am pleased the U.S. Senate has finally confirmed Roberta S. Jacobson, our Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Mexico," Kerry said in a statement. "Nine months after her nomination, I'm pleased to say we are sending one of our finest diplomats to advance this important relationship." U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Support Jacobson Kerry's sentiments were echoed by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), the largest Latino business organization in the country. "The USHCC is thrilled that Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson has been confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico," the organization said in a statement. "Our association is proud to have staunchly advocated for Ms. Jacobson's confirmation over the past few months while others have chosen to remain silent." As the USHCC noted, for nearly the last century, the U.S. and Mexico have stood as allies with shared diplomatic interests. Currently, Mexico reigns as America's third largest trading partner, with the U.S. conducting over $530 billion in bilateral trade there. In addition, more then six million U.S. jobs are reported to depend on the country's aforementioned bilateral trading and over million American citizens currently reside in Mexico. "As a neighbor, our relationship with Mexico is unique," added Kerry. "Hundreds of thousands of Mexican and U.S. citizens as well as $1.6 billion in trade flow across our 2,000 mile border every day." He later added, "Together, the United States and Mexico confront energy, border, and security challenges that demand the expertise of a talented diplomat like the one we are sending to Mexico City." Jacobson Instrumental in Reestablishing Ties With Cuba A career civil servant, the 52-year-old Jacobson has also previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for North America, and Director of Mexican Affairs. She is also credited with playing a critical role in the U.S. reestablishing diplomatic ties with Cuba after more than five decades. Back in January, as assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, she became the highest ranking U.S. official to attend formal talks in Cuba in more than 30 years. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) immediately joined the chorus of those championing her rise. "LULAC congratulated Roberta Jacobson on her confirmation," President Roger C. Rocha Jr. said in a statement. "As a career civil servant, Jacobson's well respected and extensive background makes her the most qualified individual for the position." Rocha added LULAC is confident the move will help bolster economic opportunities for both countries as well as focus "security concerns on those who pose real national security threats." In the technologically escalating battle between drug smugglers and law enforcement, U.S. agents are looking to Israel's "underground Iron Dome" for a new tool to gain the upper hand. Technological Arms Race Drug smugglers have been very resourceful when it comes to the technologies they've developed and used to get their illegal product across the U.S. border. From mobile car ramps that span up and across the border fence to ultra-light aircraft, to makeshift submarines -- even marijuana-firing cannons and catapults -- the technological arms race at the border has exploded with a certain type of innovation over the last few years. But one tried-and-true, go-to tool for smugglers has always been tunnels, which with technological advancements have become quite sophisticated, hard to detect, and longer than ever. Last week, a drug smuggling tunnel was discovered along the California-Mexico border that set the record for the longest cross-border tunnel ever discovered in Southern California. According to the Department of Justice's accounting, the tunnel was estimated to span 800 yards, and likely a lot longer due to its "zig-zagging" route, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Salel put it. "It stretches from a house in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico to an outdoor fenced-in commercial lot in an Otay Mesa industrial park, about 500 yards north of the international border," said Salel. "It is equipped with rail and ventilation systems, lights and a sophisticated large elevator leading from the tunnel into a closet inside the Tijuana residence," he added. "It is one of the narrowest tunnels found to date, with a diameter of just three feet for most of the length of the passageway." Finding Tunnels The Old Fashioned Way Federal officials only found the tunnel after following suspects to the tunnel's hidden exit, underneath a dumpster. "On the surface, few would ever suspect that traffickers were moving multi-ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana worth tens of millions of dollars in such an unassuming way, through this rabbit hole in the ground, in full view of the world around it," said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. Most smuggling tunnels are only found through old techniques -- tips from informants or tailing suspects as they pick up an underground shipment at an exit point -- according to drug trade analyst Sylvia Longmire, who spoke with Fox News Latino. But what if authorities could detect tunnels along the border from the surface? Underground Iron Dome That's the hope that has the U.S. government earmarking $120 million over the next three years and partnering with Israel to help develop a new tunnel detector. Current detection technology is mostly limited to finding dense or metal-laden objects close to the surface, like land mines, or discovering huge geological anomalies deep below, like natural gas deposits and sinkholes. More sensitive, sophisticated techniques are needed to find tunnels, which exist between those two extremes of size and depth. The Israeli government, under threat from tunneling terrorists like Hamas, has been developing such a system for at least the past five years. Codenamed project "Hourglass," Israel has already invested the U.S. dollar equivalent of more than $60 million in the system, involving help from more than 100 technology, defense, and engineering companies. First shrouded in secrecy, the tunnel detector hit public awareness after it was successfully used by Israel Defense Forces to uncover a very sophisticated concrete tunnel used by Hamas -- it was over twice as long as the record-breaking tunnel discovered in California last week. Israeli media has been describing the technology as the underground equivalent of the country's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. The Iron Dome, of course, was also an Israeli technological breakthrough that the U.S. decided to help fund and develop. How Does It Work? So far, we don't know exactly what the tunnel detecting system entails. Publicly known details of the tunnel detection system have been, unsurprisingly, scarce. But according to the Financial Times' first report on the U.S. government's decision to get involved with funding and development, experts believe the system involves planting sensors in the ground and using algorithms to interpret the data. Detecting tunnels under construction through vibration could be one aspect, but an easier task than finding them after they're already built. For the latter situation, the system might even involve using controlled explosions to detect hidden geological anomalies, much like the way the oil industry uses to find new pockets of crude. Never-Ending Escalation Nevertheless, experts in smuggling expect that even if U.S. authorities successfully develop ways of detecting drug tunnels, the technological arms race will just escalate. As Nelson Balido, CEO of the Border Commerce and Security Council, told Fox News Latino, there's already a new innovation in smuggling technology that authorities are on the lookout for: drones. "As these tunnels become more prevalent and the systems to detect them gets better, drug traffickers are going to be using newer methods," said Balido. "The biggest problem for authorities when it comes to drones is that you can't detect them because they're so small." Time to start developing a drone detector. Leading US lawmakers expressed worries regarding Obama government's decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan as these could be used against India and not to fight terrorism. For the meantime, the US Senate has put a hold on Obama administration's decision to provide eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan at an estimated cost of $700 million. They also persuade them to reconsider their decision in this regard, as reported by MSN. "Many members of Congress, including me, seriously question the judgment and timing of such a sale. Additionally, Indo-Pak tensions remain elevated and some question whether the F-16s could ultimately be used against India or other regional powers, rather than the terrorists as Pakistan as asserted," Congressman Matt Salmon said during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday. According to International Business Times report, Salmon asked Obama administration's decision to sell more arms to Pakistan, which didn't succeed in fighting terrorism originating in the country despite getting "huge amounts" of support. "Despite giving Pakistan enormous amounts of counter-terror assistance over the years, over USD25 billion since 9/11, terrorist organizations continue to operate with impunity in Pakistan. Pakistan has used terror as a tool of statecraft and terrorist proxy groups, for the Pakistani military have carried out fatal attacks inside India," he said. Disagreement is always raised against the decision of selling the fighter jets to Pakistan not just by India and US lawmakers but also by a former Pakistani diplomat. Hussain Haqqani, former Pakistani Ambassador to the US warned against the move whose raised concern is the same to that of the US lawmakers. India Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar had raised the issue of US F-16 fighter jets sale to Pakistan after talks with visiting US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. India previously protested the sale of these combat aircraft to Pakistan stating that they do not agree with reason that weapons transfers help fight terrorism, based on the NDTV report. It was in February that United States revealed its plans of supplying Pakistan with eight F-16 fighter jets amounting to $700 million. More than half of the exports are destined for South Africa, where Mahindra already sells a range of products, including the new Scorpio and XUV500. Mahindra & Mahindra has commenced exports of its 'micro-SUV', the KUV100. Reports indicate that the automaker has exported over 400 units of the car to right-hand-drive markets such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa. More than half of the exports are destined for South Africa, where Mahindra already sells a range of products, including the new Scorpio and XUV500. A quick glance through the list of exports reveals that the automaker is exporting the K4+, K6+ and the K8 variants with both, the petrol and diesel engines to the African country. The KUV100 has been doing phenomenally well in the domestic market. It received twenty-one thousand bookings within a month and also featured in the top five best-selling cars in its class. You can check our March sales report to see how it fared against its rivals. With 14,210 units sold till March 2016, the KUV100 is the second best selling Mahindra, month-on-month, after the Bolero. The little Mahindra became quite the rage when launched, thanks to its aggressive starting price of Rs. 4.42 lakhs. It also brought in a lot of features for the money, such as an integrated music system, Bluetooth connectivity, steering mounted controls and most importantly, an optional six-seater layout. The exports will go a long way in contributing to Mahindra's annual target of selling eighty to ninety thousand units of the KUV100. At current levels, the automaker might just be able to achieve that number. We have already driven the diesel and the petrol avatars of the KUV100, don't forget to check the review. Source: CarDekho.com Surfing. Sunshine. Sharks. Lotion. Beach. It seemed as if the Freedom High School students' improv riff on summer was dying out Thursday morning. That was until student Anthony Tumminello hit play on his iPad. "Hot guys," offered up student Creily Torres. "Hotel," the iPad chimed in. And that was when Jennifer Wescoe's advanced theater class lost it. Tumminello, 19, of Bethlehem Township, beamed, happily returning all the congratulatory fist bumps his classmates offered. "I like it when I can make someone smile," he said. The teen has a mitochondrial disorder that affects his muscles, making it difficult to speak. But that doesn't prevent him from getting on stage and acting. "Anthony's hilarious. He is amazing at improvisation," Wescoe, Freedom's drama director, said. "A lot of people underestimate him." Much of his life, people have assumed that Tumminello couldn't understand what was said to him or occurring around him. While the iPad finally gave him a voice, he didn't like to use it. It sounded too robotic. Tumminello's life, as well as student Adam Recke's experiences living with the genetic neurodegenerative Niemann-Pick Type C disease, inspired them to write a 10-minute play that will be performed Sunday at SteelStacks as part of Freedom's first theater showcase at the venue. The play, "Communication 101," tackles the ways that technology impedes true connections and can obscure our true selves. Recke, Tumminello, Wescoe and even their teacher aides have roles in the play that will be performed during the showcase at 6 p.m. on Sunday. It is the first student-produced and -presented program in SteelStacks' history. The show includes scripted and improvised sketches over two acts by Freedom students. The class has given Tumminello and Recke a voice, cheerleaders and, most importantly, friends. It's helped their peers see how they're similar, instead of their differences. "I feel bad for anyone that doesn't know Adam and Anthony," said Kayla Starace, a sophomore. "They are just the brightest spirits." It's given Tumminello confidence to use his iPad to speak and jump into the improv foray. The class came up with the idea of "say it, play it, say it," when Tumminello speaks, plays what he is saying on his iPad and repeats it. As a friend of Tumminello's sister, Starace has known him for years but in theater class she's learned to communicate with him and watch him grow. This is Recke's fourth time taking Wescoe's theater class. His father, Sean Recke, said it motivates his son to come to school each day. "My dad and my mom motivate me to get up every morning, their heart," the 17-year-old said, causing his dad to tear up. Wescoe lovingly calls Recke her teaching assistant, who she admits she relies on when her own motivation lags. Recke's involved in a grueling clinical trial that involves bi-weekly lumbar punctures and can lead to seizures. But he still shows up for class each day ready to do the same things physically that his classmates do. Tumminello looks after Recke, making sure he has a desk to sit at, and the two have a routine called bump and blow it up -- a fist bump paired with a blow-up gesture. Acting in such a supporting environment brings people out of their shells, Recke said. "She (Wescoe) brings out the best in her students that's for sure," his father Sean Recke agreed. And it gives the students a new confidence, many of Wescoe's students said. "People realize that I am funny and smart," Tumminello said. "... I want to be treated like everyone else." For student Declan Coleman, it's reminded him of the things his autistic brother struggles with daily and it inspires him. "Even though they both have challenges, they both tend to keep such an upbeat and happy attitude," Coleman said. Beth Giovarelli has been Tumminello's one-on-one aide since he was in third grade. She's watched him blossom in the class. "It's such a close class and the kids really have embraced Adam and Anthony," Giovarelli said. "They love these two." Both Tumminello and Recke know what it is like to pass through the halls of their school and feel invisible. "People don't say hi and it feels upsetting," Recke said. "(My classmates) they talk to me and say hi to me and make me feel good." The friendships are real and extend outside the walls of Freedom's black box theater. "Their so full of life and they're underestimated," Starace said. "They deserve so much credit they don't get." The overarching lesson of the play and the semester has been: We're all more alike than different, the class agrees. "It's not that Anthony moves too slow, it's that everyone else moves too fast," Wescoe said, quoting "Communication 101." Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The Bethlehem Police Department unveiled a new program on Friday to help families with special needs children and those with family members with dementia. Chief Mark DiLuzio said SNAP, the Special Needs Assistance Program, will provide families with information on community services as well as electronic tracking devices to eligible families. The program will include a designated SNAP officer as a direct contact person for the families, to help develop a relationship before a person goes missing, DiLuzio said. "The first and primary job of every police officer is the preservation of human life," the chief said on Friday. DiLuzio made the announcement at an autism recognition and response training session for first responders at Northampton Community College Fowler Family Southside Center. Police officers, school resource officers and early intervention workers participated. The college announced the money from the training session fees would be donated to Lehigh Valley-based Live Learn & Play for autism awareness. Live Learn & Play is a nonprofit dedicated to helping families with autism and special needs children, and organizes the Superhero 5K at SteelStacks. "Learning about autism keeps the greater community safe," Jill VanKuren, president of Live Learn & Play, said of Bethlehem police's new SNAP officer. Having one contact person allows the families and kids to get to know the officer, and the officer gets to learn about the child outside of a crisis situation. "They can develop a rapport with that child," VanKuren said. The college has also donated TrackR bravo devices, that can be attached to a person's clothing and then tracked by cellphone, DiLuzio said. Kerri Miller, a forensic case manager for Lehigh County and the mother of an autistic child, led part of the training session. Miller said unfortunately more and more deaths of autistic children, like that of Allentown 5-year-old Jayliel Vega Batista at the beginning of the year, are making the training a priority. Jayliel slipped out of an Allentown home unnoticed on New Year's Eve and was later found dead. Police learn about triggers for autistic children, and how to respond in crisis situations, so there's "a positive outcome for the officer, and a positive outcome for the person with autism and their family," Miller said. Miller said Bethlehem appointing an officer as a contact point provides a humanizing aspect for the families' relationship with police. VanKuren said Jayliel's passing increased the conversation in the community about autism and she had residents reach out to her with questions. "It's awesome to see the community being more curious and wanting to be involved," she said. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. LAWRENCEVILLE -- Ever have an unpleasant experience at the state's motor vehicle department that could have been improved by a more friendly face behind the counter offering a more helping hand? If yes, then Gov. Chris Christie has your back. The governor announced this week he will initiate a statewide program to require all Motor Vehicle Commission employees to undergo mandatory customer service training at least once a year. Christie said the goal is to "ensure that MVC consumers receive the best consumer service we can provide." Flanked by the head of the agency, Commissioner Raymond Martinez, for the announcement at a Lawrenceville DMV office, the governor assured New Jerseyans the standards will be applied for every MVC employee. "While the MVC already has set the bar high for service, increased training can only make for a better experience for our residents," he said. "MVC would immediately require all employees, from Ray on down, to undergo thorough customer service training during the course of the next year. Currently, customer service training courses are offered every two weeks, but are only mandated for new employees. Christie took up the cause to improve MVC a week after he visited the South Plainfield office and made good on his offer to help a Bound Brook teen who'd run into difficulty replacing his damaged learner's permit from state motor vehicles offices. On his monthly radio show Wednesday night, the governor heard from Stacey Pilato, the wife of former Bound Brook mayor Carey Pilato and the mother of 17-year-old Isaac "Ike" Pilato. She told him of her fruitless four-month, seven-visit slog to various state MVC locations to replace Ike's learner's permit after it was damaged in the wash. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook. Follow NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Northampton County Judge Paula Roscioli said she'll never forget Thomas Ceraul. The 46-year-old Wind Gap man met a 13-year-old girl online through a profile his son created. He groomed her for months to gain her trust. Then he tied her up with computer wire, gagged her with a bandana and sexually assaulted her in a Pen Argyl apartment. "As if that weren't enough, you did it again on at least three more occasions," the judge told Ceraul in court Friday. The crimes were in 2009 and 2010. Roscioli presided over Ceraul's trial in 2013 and sentenced him to 65 years and four months to 132 years in prison. He was back Friday because the Pennsylvania Superior Court threw out a law requiring a mandatory 10- to 20-year sentence for the crime of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse when the victim is under 16. State law required Roscioli to give Ceraul's case a second look. She sentenced him Friday to 48 years and 10 months to 166 years, a lower minimum sentence but a longer maximum one. The judge said some cases are so offensive, disturbing and memorable that they stand out over her 12-plus years on the bench. "This is one of them," she told Ceraul. "I will never forget the facts of this case. I will never forget your name." Ceraul's trial attorney argued in 2013 that the sentence was too long, but that appeal was rejected. Defense attorney James Madsen argued Ceraul doesn't deserve what amounts to a life sentence for his crimes. Roscioli said she wishes she could tack on more time. "I didn't think it was enough then," she said. She said Ceraul took advantage of the victim, then tried to blame the crimes on her, calling her the aggressor. "What she was was a deeply disturbed young girl who had no self esteem," she said. Ceraul received probation for a previous sex offense. His probation was revoked after he refused to participate in sex offender treatment. When asked about counseling, Ceraul said he didn't need it, adding, "I didn't do anything," the judge said. "You have no accountability, no remorse for your actions," she said. Assistant District Attorney Anthony Casola said attempts to rehabilitate people like Ceraul don't usually work. "I think it's extremely appropriate to remove him from society for the rest of his life," he said. The judge agreed. "You are an extreme danger to society," the judge told Ceraul. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha on Friday told the Lok Sabha that 50 per cent of the smaller firms are not paying taxes. Hyderabad/New Delhi: Its official. India has a huge parallel unaccounted economy as the newly released tax data by the government indicates that just 2.88 crore people have filed returns in FY12-13 2.27 per cent of Indias population. Of this, a small percentage actually pays income-tax as 89 lakh of salaried people and 1.4 crore of business people reported less than Rs 5 lakh income. As per income-tax rules, an individual cannot escape from paying income-tax if he earns more than Rs 5 lakh (after basic threshold and claiming deductions for HRA/Section 24, Section 80C, 80D, 80CCF). If the tax data is considered along with the tax threshold post-deductions, it shows that an unbelievable number of over 98 per cent of Indians earn less than Rs 5 lakh a year or little less than Rs 45,000 a month. Of this, only 8.74 lakh people have reported business income of over Rs 5 lakh a number which is most difficult to believe as there are lakhs of small businesses with a fairly decent income. The number of those who filed returns is much less than the number of people who have PAN. According to the government, nearly 4.86 crore individuals have PAN cards. However, only 47 per cent of them have filed income-tax returns, while 63 per cent have skipped it. Minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha on Friday told the Lok Sabha that 50 per cent of the smaller firms are not paying taxes and the government has taken revolutionary steps to ensure there is no tax evasion. After the criticising by famous French economist Thomas Piketty, the government has made public data related to taxpayers such as total number of taxpayers, income disclosed in returns by various categories of taxpayers and the number of PAN holders. Mr Piketty had raised the debate on unequal wealth distribution in the world with his best-seller Capital in the Twenty-First Century. However, Mr Piketty was not impressed with the amount of data released on Friday. They (India) released detailed data by income range for one year only (2012-2013). For the entire period 2000-2015, the only data that was released is at the aggregate level, total numbers of taxpayers, total tax revenue, etc. In order to study the evolution of income distribution we would need to have the detailed data by income range for all years, he said. The Air Corps pilot who flew a plane from which a Drumshanbo Cadet ejected, has died. Jerry O'Connor, originally from Co Kerry, was the first Air Corps officer to attain the rank of General and the first Air Corps pilot to fly a jet aircraft in Ireland, the De Havilland Vampire. This was also the first aircraft in the Irish Air Corps equipped with Martin-Baker ejection seats and O'Connor was the pilot in 1961 during the first ever ejection from a military aircraft in Ireland. The Cadet and co-pilot in question was Ronald McPartland from Drumshanbo. Her was ordered by O'Connor to eject after a training flight went wrong on May 5, 1961. At 10.45 that morning, the Vampire jet took off from Baldonnel Airbase, to carry out introductory pilot training on spins and spin recovery in the Mullagh-Kingscourt area of Co Cavan. In command was Comdt. Jeremiah B. OConnor, Officer Commanding Fighter Squadron. His student pilot was 20 year old Cadet Ron McPartland, from Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, who had 15 months service with the Air Corps. The Vampire climbed to 30,000 feet and Comdt. OConnor prepared the aircraft for the spinning exercise. He reduced the speed to the point of stall and applied harsh right rudder to force the aircraft into a series of slow horizontal gyrations before the nose of the aircraft dropped below the horizon and the aircraft locked into a steep descending spiral with huge centrifugal forces. After counting a number of spins or revolutions about the axis of the aircraft, Comdt. OConnor initiated standard recovery action of applying opposite rudder to stop the near-vertical spinning but the aircraft failed to respond and continued in a steep vortex towards the ground. Recognising that the standard recovery action was not having any effect Comdt. OConnor reversed the procedure and applied opposite rudder which again had no effect on the spinning aircraft. The descent was rapid and at approximately 20,000 feet OConnor reached forward to the centre of the instrument panel and pulled the canopy release handle to unlock the canopy which was jettisoned with a deafening roar as the full blast of the air was felt by both pilots. Cadet McPartland ejected and found himself spinning and descending like a dervish for what seemed an eternity until his parachute opened and he landed near Mullagh, Co Cavan. O'Connor decided not to eject and regained control about 5,000 feet above ground and headed back to Baldonnell. McPartland eventually got assistance and made his way back to Baldonnel, both men living to tell the tale. Besides, 16 companies have filed compounding applications against prosecutions for offence relating to non-appointment of women directors. New Delhi: A total of 307 companies have complied with the mandate of nominating women to the board of directors, aimed at ensuring gender diversity in boardrooms. All listed firms were required to have at least one woman director on board from April 1, 2015, as per a SEBI directive, as also under the Companies Act, 2013. "There are 307 companies who have complied with the mandate of law of nominating women to the board of directors," Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. He further noted that prosecution has been launched against 169 companies for failing to comply with the mandate. Besides, 16 companies have filed compounding applications against prosecutions for offence relating to non-appointment of women directors. To a query on details of investors in electronic media including prominent news channels, Jaitley said this information is "not available" with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. "Industrial activity wise classification of companies do not include 'electronic media' as a specific activity. However, number of active companies covered under television activities as on March 24 stood at 364 with total paid up capital of around Rs 4,044 crore," he added. STA Travel in London is offering 49 return flights to Thailand; the crazily cheap tickets are due to go on sale in two days. The word has already caught the interested of some holidaymakers who are queuing outside the shop in London two days before the tickets are released. The company offered 49 return flight tickets to Bangkok with Qatar Airways. Only two branches of STA host the flash sale yesterday: London and Birmingham, and the 49 tickets can only be bought in person. Travelers began queuing outside the London branch on Tuesday. Last year, STA Travel did a similar promotion to New Zealand, offering 75 flights. STA plan to release a further more 49 tickets at the exclusive price of 299 in both stores, deposit of 49. THIS October, Limerick will pass Go as city and county landmarks will be immortalised on a unique Monopoly board, it was announced this week. Adjudicators from the Monopoly company held a beauty contest during the year to find the most ideal city and town in Ireland that would be featured on the board. Launching the initiative on top of King Johns Castle on Tuesday morning, which is set to be the main landmark on the board, games promoter Graham Barnes said that Limerick was selected because of its tourist magnet landmarks. Even though the Monopoly people adjudicated this, we talked to a number of people on the ground, and the factors that we decided on were the pride in ones region, natural landmarks, and beauty, he said. As the famous London streets are to be replaced by Limerick locations, it is believed that the Limerick Leader and the Limerick Chronicle will be taking over the original Fleet Street position. Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Liam Galvin welcomed the new project. I'm a huge Monopoly fan and I can't wait to see our local landmarks and internationally renowned tourist attractions feature in this special Limerick edition, which will showcase our wonderful city as we enter the closing stages to become European Capital of Culture. I have no doubt that it will be incredibly popular and that it will fly off the shelves and be sent all around the world as it will launch just in time for the Christmas market. Deputy Mayor, Cllr Gerald Mitchell said that he was delighted to be part of the launch, joined by members of Shannon Heritage. It is one of those great initiatives that puts Limerick on the international scale. I am delighted to be here to launch it this morning, and I think its a fantastic initiative. And Monopoly is so renowned, it is well-recognised and has international status, he enthused. Shannon Heritage chief executive, John Ruddle welcomed the idea that Limerick would have its own Monopoly board. Monopoly is a global brand, and for Limerick to have been chosen to have its own official board is a great boost to the region, and one we are sure will be universally welcomed. Games executive, Jake Houghton commended Limerick for its beauty, vibrancy and great landmarks which he said will fill the board. Organisations that wish to be placed on the Limerick board can contact board game makers, Winning Moves UK, at jake.houghton@winningmoves.co.uk, and the deadline is May 31. A BUSINESSMAN who claims staff from a neighbouring company are disrespectful towards him was acquitted of criminal damage charges. Martin OConnor, aged 39, of Bruachlan, Westbury was prosecuted following an incident at a laneway off William Street on November 28, 2014. During a contested hearing, Limerick District Court was told the charge related to damage which was caused to a car belonging to Nora Shine. Ms Shine, the assistant manager at Easons, OConnell Street said she had parked her car in the laneway shortly before she began work at 7.45am. Less than an hour later she was alerted by a colleague who was unloading pallets of stock which had been delivered to the laneway earlier in the morning. Ms Shine said boxes had been thrown all over the place and that the side of her car had been damaged by one of the pallets. CCTV footage played in court shows what appears to be a cardboard box being thrown into the air less than a minute after Mr OConnor can be seen entering the laneway. However, the footage does not show who throws the box or who caused the damage. When approached by gardai later in the morning, Mr OConnor, who owns a camera and photo centre on William Street, admitted he had pushed the pallet out of the way. However, he denied hitting Ms Shines car with the pallet. I pushed the pallet out of the way of our door, he told gardai. Under caution, he said he had complained to Limerick City and County Council about rubbish being left in the laneway by staff at Easons and he stated: There is no cooperation from Easons whatsoever, they are disrespectful. Following an application from solicitor Caitriona Carmody, Judge McCarthy dismissed the charge saying the State had not established its case beyond a reasonable doubt. SIX exceptional Irish figures have been awarded honorary doctorates by UL in one of the biggest ceremonies of its kind at the university. Those being conferred on Thursday were Clarina woman and chairperson of the Policing Authority, Josephine Feehily; internationally-renowned dancer and choreographer Michael Flatley; former UL chancellor and former chairperson of the National Roads Authority Peter Malone; activist and humanitarian Ali Hewson; Chernobyl Childrens Project International founder Adi Roche; and professor of law, John Cleland Watson Wylie. UL president Professor Don Barry said the ceremony was a very special event. It is the day when we get the opportunity to honour those who have inspired, who have led with courage and passion and who have made great contributions in their fields of endeavour. Today we bestowed upon these outstanding individuals the University of Limericks highest honour and invite them to take their place in the history of this institution. Its a special occasion and they are a very special people to honour. This year, we are celebrating 100 years of the 1916 Rising, which led to the successful War of Independence, culminating in our independence, and this university is the first to be founded since the establishment of the State. He said the honorees would inspire past students and todays students to pursue that self-enriching path to the future. We need leaders who can demonstrate what can be done. Ms Feehily, formerly of Ferrybridge and the first female chairperson of the Revenue Commission-ers, said she was absolutely privileged and thrilled with the unexpected honour, saying it was doubly appreciated because this is my hometown. Its nice to be getting an honour in Limerick, as a Limerick child. Speaking before the ceremony, an honoured Michael Flatley, praised the Irish World Academy for its great energy and great atmosphere. The Committee also noticed that the airfares are exorbitant during the peak tourist seasons which are also causing hindrance to passenger flow in the country. New Delhi: A parliamentary panel on April 29 recommended for fixing of an upper limit for the economy class airfares to curb the "exorbitant" air fares during the peak tourist seasons. The panel, headed by Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Kanwar Deep Singh, also recommended to the ministry to ensure that airlines pass on the benefit of the 50 per cent reduction in jet fuel price to the consumers by way of slashing fares. "The Committee also noticed that the airfares are exorbitant during the peak tourist seasons which are also causing hindrance to passenger flow in the country... "The Committee also recommends that, in view of the predatory charges levied by the airlines during peak times, the Government should fix an upper limit especially in the economy class of airfares so that there should not be unhealthy practice of raising fares exorbitantly by the airliners," the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture said in its 231st report, tabled in Parliament on April 29. Suggesting the Government for launching more flight to the Middle East (where a large number of Indian expats live) especially during the summer holidays to accommodate the peak season demand, the panel said that "The Prime Minister in one of his visits to Middle East has already asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to do something about such prices." Prime Minister had last August expressed "concern" over predatory pricing by the domestic carriers after he reportedly received a representation that airfares are high during the Onam festival that is celebrated in Kerala. The Committee received numerous complaints about high air fares and high charges levied by airlines and airports operators making it very expensive for the air travelers, the report said. "The Committee received comments from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in this matter...Predatory pricing of airfare is hurting not only the individual passenger but country's economy as well. The explanation given by the Ministry of Civil Aviation is purely technical suggesting that they are unable to do anything under existing laws," it said. Postmaster Brennans tough first year, story behind recovered Jenny Invert: Weeks Most Read Apr 29, 2016, 4 AM The week's top story focused on the tough first year for Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan, who became the U.S. Postal Service's chief executive in February 2015. Its time to catch up on the week that was in stamp-collecting insights and news. Linns Stamp News is looking back at its five most-read stories of the week. Click the links to read the stories. 5. Dr. McCoy joins Canadas Star Trek crew: The fifth permanent-rate stamp revealed in Canada Posts upcoming Star Trek set honors another star from the well-known 1966-69 space adventure television series. 4. National Parks set wraps up with Yellowstone National Park: Two bison in the early morning sun at Yellowstone National Park are shown on the 16th and final stamp design revealed in the United States Postal Services upcoming National Parks set. 3. Mary-Anne Penner permanently appointed as USPS director of stamp services: A year after she was placed in charge of the United States Postal Services stamp program, Mary-Anne Penner is no longer the acting director of stamp services. 2. The story behind the Jenny Invert from McCoy block recovered in New York: One of the two missing 1918 United States Jenny Invert airmail error stamps from the famed McCoy block of four that was stolen in 1955 was recovered in early April. 1. A tough first year for Postmaster General Megan Brennan: Since taking office in February 2015, Megan J. Brennan has endured setback after setback in her attempts to right the troubled United States Postal Service. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Apr 29, 2016, 9 AM An 1854 folded letter from Honolulu to Charlestown, Mass., carried aboard the schooner Restless, sold for $27,600 in the Schuyler Rumsey auction in San Francisco. The clipper ship Spitfire, on its only trip to the Hawaiian Islands, carried this 1855 letter from France, which sold at the Schuyler Rumsey auction for $24,650. Mailed from Samoa in 1855, this stampless cover traveled through Hawaii on its way to Massachusetts. It sold for $13,225 during the March 18 Schuyler Rumsey auction of Hawaii. A unique used line pair of the 1914 imperforate 2 Washington rotary-press coil stamp sold during the Rumsey Gems auction for $48,875. Franked with the only known strip of three of the St. Louis Bears postmasters provisional issue, this 1846 cover sold for $71,875 at Rumseys recent Gems of Philately auction. The unusual doubled surcharge on this 1919 $2-on-$1 stamp of the U.S. Postal Agency in China attracted a final selling price of $10,350 at the Schuyler Rumsey auction. By Matthew Healey, New York Correspondent Schuyler Rumsey offered the Gary Peters collection of Hawaii on March 18 and Gems of Philately sale March 19, both at the firms offices in San Francisco. The two sales were previewed in Linns issue of March 14. The Peters collection was called one of the finest collections of Hawaiian stamps and postal history to come on the market in several years. It spanned the long history of that country, from pre-stamp postal history documenting the early years of mail to and from the islands, to various town postmarks across the islands, advertising covers, royal autographs, and lastly the stamps, beginning with the King Kamehameha III issues of 1853-61. One remarkable stampless cover told the story of its long journey from Samoa, in the south Pacific, all the way to Massachusetts, via Hawaii, San Francisco, Panama, and New York. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The letter left Samoa, then called the Navigator Islands, on July 12, 1855, and was carried privately via Tahiti to Honolulu, arriving on Nov. 12. There, a forwarding agent named H.T. Fitch & Co. stamped the letter and transferred it in another agents mailbag to a barque, or three-masted sailing ship, called the Francis Palmer. That ships straight-line marking (barque is spelled bark) appears in red at the top. The letter arrived a month later in California, where it was backstamped with an octagonal Forwarded by G.B. Post & Co. San Francisco and entered the United States mails. On Dec. 20, it was postmarked and put on a ship for Central America, reaching Panama on Jan. 3, 1856, and crossing the isthmus shortly after. It left Aspinwall on Jan. 15 and arrived safely on Jan. 24 in New York. The postal charge was 12: 10 for the journey from San Francisco to Massachusetts and 2 for the ship fee. The cover sold for $13,225, including the 15 percent buyers premium added by Rumsey to all lots. An immaculate 1854 blue folded letter with the same octagonal G.B. Post marking, this time going from Honolulu to Charlestown, Mass., was described as the earliest cover from that forwarder to bear a directional marking for a specific ship, in this case the schooner Restless. This letter traveled via Nicaragua, as attested by an oval marking, and the pair of 3 Washington stamps (Scott 11A) was canceled on arrival in New York exactly two months after the leaving Hawaii. It went for $27,600. A third G.B. Post-forwarded cover in the sale was an 1855 letter from France addressed to the French consul in Honolulu, Iles Sandwich, as Hawaii was once called. The letter was carried privately as far as San Francisco, and then placed in the mails and sent Per Spitfire, an American clipper ship that made precisely one sailing to Hawaii, remaining just one day before continuing to China, never to return. The cover sold for $26,450. Among stamps, a fresh-looking unused 1859 1 light blue Numeral (Scott 12) was offered in what was termed a condition rarity, with wide margins and completely sound. It fetched $13,800. In Rumseys Gems sale, an 1846 cover from St. Louis to Philadelphia, franked with an uncanceled strip of three of the 10 St. Louis Bears postmasters provisional, brought $71,875. The stamps, though clearly used, are the only uncanceled strip of three of any denomination of the St. Louis provisional. An extraordinary example of the imperforate U.S. 1 issue of 1851, with detailed characteristics of the scrollwork in the design that mark it as the scarce type 1a (Scott 6), was offered with the statement that it is considered to be the finest used example of this stamp. Graded Superb-98 by the Professional Stamp Experts firm, the stamp sold for $60,375. Moving on to 20th-century rarities, the sale included a unique line pair of the 1914 imperforate, rotary-press 2 Washington coil stamp (Scott 459). The Post Office Department provided the U.S. Automatic Vending Machine Company a special order of imperforate coils in June of that year. No notice was given that these were made from rotary press, rather than flat-plate printings, and so the variety went unnoticed for three years. This pair, with very light December 1914 duplex cancels, represents the earliest-known use of the first rotary-press coil stamp. Called a phenomenal U.S. philatelic rarity, it sold for $48,875. A nifty-looking 1919 $2-on-$1 U.S. Postal Agency in China stamp with the red surcharge doubled (Scott K16a), complemented by a socked-on-the-nose U.S. Pos. Service Shanghai China marking, went for $10,350. Related Articles: 5, 13 Hawaii Missionaries go for almost $53,000 in Harmer-Schau sale Tip of the week: Hawaii 1894 SS Arawa pictorial definitive Stamp Market Tips: An affordable stamp from Hawaii Apr 29, 2016, 9 AM A 13 blue Hawaiian Missionary stamp, Crocker type II on piece, was offered in the Daniel F. Kelleher March 21-24 Flagship series sale. It sold for $34,220. This imperforate error block of 15 of the United States 1923 2 black Harding Memorial issue with the identifying plate number 14870 was sold at the Kelleher Flagship auction in March for $21,240. A 13 blue Hawaiian Missionary stamp, Crocker type II on piece, was offered in the Daniel F. Kelleher March 21-24 Flagship series sale. It sold for $34,220. The compound perforations on this used 2 Washington stamp make it a desirable variety. At the Kelleher Flagship series sale, the stamp sold for $18,290. A used example of the United States 1901 1 Pan-American invert, reperforated at top, sold for $7,080 in the Kelleher Flagship sale. By Matthew Healey, New York Correspondent The firm of Daniel F. Kelleher held a four-day Flagship sale March 21-24 at its headquarters in Danbury, Conn., featuring U.S., British and worldwide stamps from a variety of consignors collections. The highlight was a Hawaiian Missionary stamp, the 1852 13 of the second type, reading H.I. & U.S. Postage (Scott 4). It is on piece, tied at lower left by a partial red San Francisco postmark and obliterated by a seven-bar circular cancel. The Missionary stamps were printed on fragile, pelure paper and are notoriously plagued by faults. This example, perhaps because it is still attached to a small piece of an envelope, was described on two different certificates as being free from defects. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter It sold for $34,220, including the 18 percent buyers premium Kelleher adds to all lots. A trio of 1901 Pan-American inverts were also offered: two 1 Fast Lake Navigation with the steamship upside-down, and a 4 Electric Auto with said vehicle topsy-turvy. The 1 invert (Scott 294a) is known both unused and used; the Kelleher sale contained one of each. The unused, lightly hinged example, with a tiny thin spot, sold for $5,605. The used example had been reperforated at top and has a small crease and a couple of tiny scuffs. Handsome nonetheless, and accompanied by a Philatelic Foundation certificate, it went for $7,080. Considering just 51 are known, that seemed to be an affordable way for someone to pick up this popular and visually striking rarity. The 4 Pan-Am invert (Scott 296a), unlike the 1 and 2, was not issued postally; rather, it was a special printing. The example in the Kelleher sale, reperforated at top and with a tiny tear, sold for $11,800. A perfectly ordinary-looking 2 stamp of the 1912-14 Washington-Franklin series was offered with an estimate of $7,500 to $10,000. The reason: Its perforations, rather than being the same gauge on all sides, measure 12 at top and bottom but 10 on the sides. The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers explains that far from being errors, small quantities of the 1, 2 and 5 definitives were normally produced this way in the course of a transition from perf 12 machines to perf 10 machines. The 2 perf 12 by 10 (Scott 423B, formerly 425d), exists as one unused and 31 used singles. The example offered by Kelleher, with wide margins and a clean duplex cancel and described as the quintessential example of this stamp, exceeded its estimate as well as its Scott value to sell for $18,290. The 2 Harding Memorial issue of 1923 was issued perforated as well as imperforate. A plate block of six of the former is valued in the Scott catalog at $30, while the latter is $75. However, imperforate error panes surfaced in a post office supply of the perforated stamps before the imperforates were issued. This error is indistinguishable from the regularly released imperf stamps, but for one detail: Stamps with this plate number, 14870, were never issued imperforate. An impressive block of 15 of the error with plate number 14870 at top, one of just three error plate blocks known to exist and the only one with the number at top, brought $21,240. Related Articles: Gary Peters Hawaii collection shines at Rumsey sale South Atlantic 1821 letters bring $37,650 in Argyll Etkin sale in London Strip of 10 Small Queens sells for $29,600 in Brigham auction in Toronto May 3, 2021, 12 AM Three 1821 letters from the South Shetlands to Boston, among the earliest known from the region, were offered by Argyll Etkin in London in March. The full lot of seven letters sold for about $37,650 well above the estimate. From the John Dahl collection, these blocks of the 1891 Rook bogus issue of Nyassa were offered by Argyll Etkin in March. The full lot of 58 stamps sold for $685. Once thought a forgery but vindicated by new scholarship, this surcharged and overprinted Persian stamp used in Bushire under British occupation in 1915 (Iran Scott 537) sold for $9,400 at Argyll Etkins sale in March. By Matthew Healey, New York Correspondent Argyll Etkin held an auction of worldwide stamps and postal history in London March 4, featuring material from a specialized collection of the Portuguese colony of Nyassa. The top lot was a correspondence of seven letters, including three of the earliest-known letters from the bottom of the world. Sent in 1821 by the captain of a New England sealing ship to his father in Boston, they are datelined at Livingston Island in the South Shetlands, in what would later be called the Falkland Island Dependencies. The South Atlantic archipelago is now included in the British Antarctic Territory. Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter The South Shetlands had only just been discovered or perhaps rediscovered in 1819 by British and American naval excursions, meaning the letters offered in the Etkin sale were written within two years of the islands first documented sighting by Europeans. It is remarkable how fast the adventurers swooped in to try to get rich. The sender, Capt. Charles Winship, wrote: fishing oil, hair and fur-skins will I grasp at. I have 11,500 skins the most beautiful ever seen. He went on to describe the scene: This country is subject to volcanoes, some which we have discerned in all its brilliancy Seals and Sea Elephants are the only monsters to be found In fact the whole country is covered in ice, some perpendicular 1,000 high. Estimated at 16,000 to 18,000, the lot sold for 25,850, or about $37,650, including the 17.5 percent buyers premium Argyll Etkin adds to all lots. A stamp described as a key rarity of Bushire and one of just four examples produced has been the subject of some controversy in recent years. British forces occupied the Persian seaport of Bushire (modern-day Bushehr, Iran) in August 1915 and held it for two months. During their time in the city, once a key maritime stopover on the route from Suez to India, the British issued two lengthy sets of definitives, consisting of Persian stamps overprinted Bushire under British Occupation. One of the stamps to which the overprint was applied was the 1-chahi on 5ch surcharge of the Ahmad Shah Qajar issue of 1915 (Iran Scott 537). This stamp is mentioned in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue in a footnote after Bushire Scott N14 as being considered a forgery. A similar footnote existed in past editions of the Stanley Gibbons catalog, where the stamp had once been listed as Bushire Stanley Gibbons 30. Gibbons has since reinstated the stamp on the strength of new scholarship, and the example in the Argyll Etkin sale received a British Philatelic Association certificate of authenticity in 2015. It sold for $9,400. A spokesman for the auction house said the consignor was a specialist in Iranian philately who is now in his 90s and dispersing his collection because of failing eyesight. The following lot consisted not of stamps or postal history, but an extensive and detailed file of reference notes from the same collector, with good photocopies identifying the Bushire overprints as well as the underlying Iranian stamps by plate position. Estimated at 100 to 150, the sheaf sold for 10 times that more than $2,200 after spirited bidding from several overseas collectors and at least one expertizing group. The Argyll Etkin sale also included stamps and postal history from the John Dahl collection of Portuguese Nyassa, a former colony on the southeast coast of Africa that is now part of Mozambique. One of the more intriguing lots was a set of six bogus stamps, both perforated and imperforate in singles, pairs or blocks of four, including some with surcharges and Provisorio overprints, that were issued in 1891 by the London office of the Nyassa Co. but later disavowed by the Portuguese government. The stamps, known as the Rook issue, depict a castle turret surrounded by a value and the words Companhia do Nyassa, with Cabo Delgado above and Provincia de Mocambique below. The Etkin sale catalog includes an intriguing note, The famous Tapling collection, bequeathed to the British Library in 1891, contains only these stamps for Portuguese Nyassa. After the Portuguese government declared the stamps invalid, many collectors apparently returned the stamps to the London office of the Nyassa Co. for a refund, and only a small number were saved. The lot in the Argyll Etkin sale, containing a total of 58 stamps, brought $685. The first authorized issues of Nyassa appeared in 1898. The Dahl collection contained extensive studies of the attractive set of bicolor pictorials that appeared in 1901. These became popular with collectors and went through several printings throughout the 1920s, despite seeing limited postal use. Further stamps from the Dahl collection will be offered in September. Related Article: Portugal's 1924 Camoens set of 31 stamps failed as a fundraiser: Classic Stamps of the World Pandey explained how Aadhar is being used for various subsidy programmes and is saving a lot of money to the government. Washington: Impressed by the success of Aadhar, the World Bank is looking at ways to use this experience to advice other countries in framing similar strategies, a top Indian official said. "People here (in the World Bank) are very appreciative of Aadhar. They want to use this experience to advise other countries in framing their strategies," Dr Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Director General of the Unique Identification Authority of India told PTI. Pandey was here for a series of meetings with World Bank officials wherein he made a presentation before it and interacted with officials especially invited from other countries who are interested in emulating Aadhar. In his presentation, Pandey explained how Aadhar is being used for various subsidy programmes and is saving a lot of money to the government. Under Aadhar now more than one billion people have their online identity, he said, adding that the cost of issuing one Aadhar ID was less than USD 1. Since it can be authenticated anywhere any time, token- less, Aadhar has multiple uses. Observing that it enables banking at doorsteps and direct transfer of subsidies, Pandey said the Indian Government has saved billions of dollars. This is one of the key attraction from many African countries which wants to adopt a similar model of issuing an id card to its citizens. In this way they would be able to save money and effectively target their subsidy programmes, Pandey said. People now enrolled in Aadhar and gradually moving towards the goal of paperless, presence less and cashless transactions, he said. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Mumbai: Saif Ali Khans fans are quite well aware with the actors humour quotient and on-point comic timing. In many films, we have seen Saif charming audiences with his light humour. The actor, who is currently busy shooting for a period drama, will yet again be seen with his funny hat on. According to recent buzz, Saif Ali Khan will get his quirk on for Anushka Sharma next production. The actress has three films lined up this year. This film will be directed by Delhi Belly writer Akshat Verma. As reported by a daily, the film in question has been in the pipeline for more than two years. After a lot of work, the makers have found their films leading man, Saif Ali Khan. The makers were impressed by the actors comic timing. The untitled film will see Saif Ali Khan in a whole new different avatar. Apart from this film, the actress also has two more films lined up; Phillauri is one of them. After the success of their dark thriller 'NH10', brother-sister duo Karnesh Sharma and Anushka Sharma are back with their second production 'Phillauri'. The film, that has Anushka and Diljit Dosanjh in playing the leading pair, is a romantic comedy with a lot of drama and craziness. Directed by Anshai Lal and produced by Anushka- Karneshs Clean Slate Films Phillauri is set against the backdrop of a Punjabi marriage. The film also stars 'Life Of Pie' actor Suraj Sharma. We had told you how Ram Gopal Varma was to make a sequel to Viveks debut vehicle, Company and call it Government. Vivek Oberoi was to play a part in it and also produce the film. Turns out the project has been put on hold, but Vivek and RGV have already collaborated on another film Rai a biopic on underworld don Muthappa Rai. It will be made in three languages, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu and shot at five different locations Mumbai, Dubai, London, Mangalore and Bengaluru. A source close to the development confirmed, RGV has started shooting for the biopic with Vivek and the first look will be released on May 1, which also happens to be Rais birthday. Companys sequel Government has been put on hold as of now. After completing Rai, RGV will take up Sarkar 3, depending on Amitabh Bachchans dates and then turn his attention to Government again. RGV apparently couldnt find actors to fit the roles for Government and Vivek was the only actor on board. It was reported that Abhishek Bachchan was approached for the film too. The film was earlier going to be produced by another producer, but when he backed out, Vivek offered to do it instead. Rating: Cast: Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor, Sudheer Babu, Sunil Grover, Shifuji Shaurya Bharadwaj Director: Sabbir Khan Tiger Shroff, s/o Jackie Shroff, was launched in Heropanti (2014). That film did decent business, so now hes here to stay. The director-producer team that launched him has brought him back, in a similar dhishum-dhishum avatar, but in a film thats much, much worse. Baaghi is a typical Bollywood showcase film thats trying, yet again, to coax a star bachcha into stardom. Thus, its an action-love story which has a bit of everything. The films thin storyline is about a boy with long, curly hair who doesnt look like a baaghi (rebel) at all. He seems rather sweet with his toothy, dimpled smile. Hes also kind. So kind, in fact, that he stops to eavesdrop on a girl standing at the door of a moving train and shouting at the rain. Normal people like you and I will not feel endeared to a kooky mumbler. Well quickly dash to our seats to tell our co-passengers that theres a mental case on board. But not Ronnie (Tiger Shroff). He is smitten, immediately. And proceeds to maaro line and throw smiles. Sia (Shraddha Kapoor) being a coy Indian girl, smiles slyly to us, but wears a disapproving frown for his consumption. What was slightly interesting and distracting was the fact that the entire cast of the film barring one Guruswami (commando trainer Shifuji Shaurya Bharadwaj himself) and one Yong in a very wrong kind of wig were on board this train. Hero and heroine, of course. But also Sias father, P.K. Khurrana (Sunil Grover aka Gutthi), and chief villain Raghav (Sudheer Babu) with his minions. Ronnie is on his way to meet Guruswami who runs the very aesthetic and picturesque Kalaripayattu Academy of Martial Arts somewhere in Kerala. Hes carrying a letter from his father for Guruswami. Its more like a plea: Kindly note that the bearer of this letter is my son who is a baaghi because he does not follow any rules. Tumhein meri dosti ka vasta, please turn him into a useful human being. Raghav is also on his way to meet Guruswami, i.e. his father. Two things are most be noted here: During the platform, three-step cham, cham dance, Raghav saw Sia and fell in love with her. Madly. Raghav is a Bangkok-based, red-meat eating bad guy who organises Deadliest Armed Fights where people obviously die. He himself is a killer fight machine, his daddy dears best student. So now, two boys, one bird. Guruswamis Kalaripayattu school runs on the lines of the Shaolin schools that Jackie Chan attended many years ago, but he painstakingly explains that his desi version of martial arts is the original one, and those Chinese ones copies. Its hard to believe him because though he can go upside-down to stand on two fingers, he does so wearing a black silk night-suit with red detailing. Hes also stern and not fun like the Drunken Master. In between some Shaolin-type household chores that amount to martial art training, Ronnie and Sia are conducting a full-blown affair. But Sias father is a greedy man and Raghav is a rich and evil man. Soon Raghav confronts Ronnie with his love philosophy: Aurat sirf taqat se pyaar karti hai. This line brought back very painful memories of that misogynistic vomit, Kambakkht Ishq (2009), hurled at us by the same director, Sabbir Khan. Incidentally, all these bits about Ronnies romance and training and confrontation with Raghav come to us as flashback. In the here and now Ronnie has taken on the assignment to rescue and return Sia to her father from a penthouse in Bangkok. The whole premise of Baaghi is built on the promise of action. And it is there, especially in the climax. But to get there we must first suffer the damp squib love story between two actors who have zero chemistry. Sabbir Khans Baaghi isnt pure bile. In fact, if it were tighter, faster, shorter, more focused, it would have been an okay film. Sadly, in its current unwieldy expanse, with too many songs, a thakela comic routine, boring romance and fights that are too few and far between, its tough to sit through. Though cinematographer Binod Pradhan captures Kerala beautifully, the way in which Sabbir Khan simulates reality is hysterical (in a bad way). To show that we are in a Thai hospital or mall or street, he makes people from the Northeast walk around aimlessly. Sudheer Babu and Shifuji Shaurya Bharadwaj lend some credibility to the film by acting and staying in character, but thats not enough reason to watch this film. Tiger Shroff, with Turkish, Belgian, Bengali and Gujarati blood, is interesting looking. But how many times must we watch him throw a 360 helicopter kick? Many times, I fear, because the boy cant act. At all. He can fight. The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE. London: Scientists have found tooth-marks on a 500,000-year-old hominin bone which indicate that large carnivores, likely hyenas, may have consumed early humans. During the Middle Pleistocene, early humans likely competed for space and resources with large carnivores, who occupied many of the same areas, researchers said. However, to date, little evidence for direct interaction between them in this period has been found. The researchers from the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) in France examined the shaft of a femur from the skeleton of a 500,000-year-old hominin, found in "Grotte a Hominides" cave near Morocco. The examination of the bone fragment showed various fractures and tooth marks indicative of carnivore chewing, including tooth pits as well as other scores and notches. These were clustered at the two ends of the femur, the softer parts of the bone being completely crushed. The marks were covered with sediment, suggesting that they were very old. While the appearance of the marks indicated that they were most likely made by hyenas shortly after death, it was not possible to conclude whether the bone had been eaten as a result of predation on the hominin or had been scavenged soon after death. Nonetheless, this is the first evidence that humans were a resource for carnivores during the Middle Pleistocene in this part of Morocco, and contrasts with evidence from nearby sites that humans themselves hunted and ate carnivores. The researchers suggest that depending on circumstances, hominins at this time could have both acted as hunter or scavenger, and been targeted as carrion or prey. "Although encounters and confrontations between archaic humans and large predators of this time period in North Africa must have been common, the discovery is one of the few examples where hominin consumption by carnivores is proven," said Camille Daujeard, from MNHN. The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE. Siddhartha (Image credit: Photo by Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Bazira (also called Vajirasthana) in the Swat Valley in Pakistan have uncovered highly detailed ancient sculptures. They date back more than 1,700 years. This particular sculpture illustrates an ancient Buddhist story. It shows a prince named Siddhartha departing a palace atop a horse named Kanthaka. The prince gives up his wealth in order to seek enlightenment. To the left of Siddhartha, a goddess holds her hands in veneration. Behind Siddhartha a man waves a scarf-like garment called an uttariya. Below Kanthaka's hooves are two spirits called yakshas, helping the horse. The carving is 33.5 centimeters (13 inches) in width and 28.5 centimeters (11 inches) in height. Click on for images of the gorgeous artifacts unearthed in Bazira. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] Yaksha Spirit (Image credit: Photo Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission ) A close-up of one of the two yakshas that are helping the horse Kanthaka. The sculptures were discovered in the ruins of an ancient shrine and its courtyard. Today, the ruins of Bazira are located near the modern-day village of Barikot. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] Waving a Uttariya (Image credit: Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) The man standing behind Siddhartha in the sculpture is holding his left hand to his face while he waves a scarf-like garment called an uttariya with his right hand. Researchers say that this man could be a deity. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] Kanthaka horse (Image credit: Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) Here, a close-up of Kanthaka, showing the details of the horse's adornments. This sculpture, carved in green schist, likely form part of the shrine's decoration some 1,700 years ago. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] Seeking Enlightenment (Image credit: Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) This close-up shows Siddhartha; the prince lived in a palace in Kapilavastu, which is in modern-day Nepal, until one day he ventures out only to see the suffering of the common people. Siddhartha decides to leave his wealth behind to become a poor man so he can find enlightenment. He eventually becomes the Gautama Buddha. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] In the Ruins (Image credit: L.M. Olivieri, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) This sculpture is one of several discovered in a shrine and courtyard that the archaeologists excavated. The remains of the shrine and court can be seen in this image. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] Lions on Top (Image credit: Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) This sculpture shows a stupa, or a place of meditation. A platform called a harmika can be seen near the top of the image. This platform is decorated with a rosette design. Above the harmika, there are three parasol-shaped structures called chattras that reach toward the sky. Two columns are built beside the stupa, each of which has a lion on top. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] Stupa Model (Image credit: Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) Stupas similar to the one seen in the carving have been discovered before in the Swat Valley. This image shows a model of one excavated in the 1960s and 1970s. The model is in the Swat Museum and was created by F. Martore. Its scale is 1:20. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] Wine and Goat's Head (Image credit: Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) One of the carvings found within the ruins of the ancient shrine and court showed an unknown deity sitting on a throne. He holds a wine goblet in his right hand and a goat's head in his left. Wine was widely produced in the Swat Valley and the goat was an ancient symbol seen in the area's rock art. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] Shaken Ruins (Image credit: Orthophoto F. Genchi, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission ) Bazira suffered a series of earthquakes around 1,700 years ago. At the same time the Kushan Empire, the empire that controlled Bazira, began to decline. These events meant that Bazira fell into ruin and was abandoned by the end of the third century A.D. This photo shows the ruins of the shrine's courtyard and an adjacent corridor. During the final phase of the city's existence, the courtyard became a kitchen area serving nearby homes, while the shrine was rebuilt using perishable materials, likely wooden poles. [Read full story on the ancient shrine discoveries] This sculpture, uncovered in the ancient city of Bazira, tells a Buddhist story involving Siddhartha, who later became the Gautama Buddha. Sculptures and carvings dating back more than 1,700 years have been discovered in the remains of a shrine and its courtyard in the ancient city of Bazira. The sculptures illustrate the religious life of the city, telling tales from Buddhism and other ancient religions. Also called Vajirasthana, Bazira is located the in the Swat Valley in Pakistan. It was first constructed as a small town, during the second century B.C., and eventually developed into a city located within the Kushan Empire. At its peak, this empire ruled territory extending from modern-day India to central Asia. The Kushan Empire declined during the third century A.D., at the same time that a series of earthquakes ravaged Bazira. The damage caused by the earthquakes and the financial problems brought about by the decline of the Kushan Empire meant that Bazira gradually fell into ruin, with the city abandoned by the end of the third century. Today, the ruins of Bazira are located near the modern-day village of Barikot. The Italian Archaeological Mission has been excavating Bazira since 1978, gradually unearthing remains of the ancient city. [See Photos of the Ancient City Ruins and Sculptures] The great departure One of the sculptures, carved in green schist, depicts a prince named Siddhartha leaving a palace on a horse named Kanthaka. The sculpture likely form part of the shrine's decoration, the archaeologists said. According to ancient Buddhist stories, Siddhartha was a wealthy prince who lived in a palace in Kapilavastu, which is in modern-day Nepal. He lived a cloistered life, but one day he ventured outside his palace and encountered the suffering faced by common people. After this experience, he decided to leave his palace to live as a poor man in order to seek enlightenment. He later became the Gautama Buddha. [In Photos: An Ancient Buddhist Monastery] In the carved scene, two spirits known as yakshas support Kanthaka's hooves, wrote archaeologist Luca Olivieri, who directs excavations at Bazira, in the Journal of Inner Asian Art and Archaeology. Meanwhile, the town goddess of Kapilavastu, who is shown wearing a crown, holds her hands together in a sign of veneration. An unknown man maybe a deity, Olivieri said stands behind Kanthaka, with his left hand to his mouth and his right hand waving a scarf-like garment called an uttariya. Goat's head and wine A carving found in Bazira shows an unknown deity with a wine goblet in one hand and a goat's head in the other. (Image credit: Aurangzeib Khan, Courtesy ACT/Italian Archaeological Mission) In the courtyard, archaeologists found another carving, this one dating to a time after an earthquake had damaged the shrine. The shrine had been rebuilt using perishable materials, likely wooden posts, the archaeologists said. Also at around this time, the courtyard was converted into a kitchen area that serviced nearby homes. The carving "pictures an unknown deity, an aged male figure sitting on a throne, with long, curled hair, holding a wine goblet and a severed goat head in his hands," Olivieri told Live Science, adding that the figure looks a bit like images of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. Wine was widely produced in the Swat Valley, and some people in the area, even monastic Buddhists, had issues with drinking alcohol, Olivieri said. "We found dozens of ancient winepresses and vats in the countryside," Olivieri said. From "texts, it seems that Buddhist schools tried their best to curb the habit of consuming wine and other 'intoxicating drinks' even amongst the monastic community," he added. The goat's head in the carving also symbolizes a local passion, Olivieri said. "The goat is an animal associated to the mountains in the cultures of Hindu Kush, the local region," Olivieri said, adding that it was used as an icon in ancient rock art. Stupa with lions Another beautiful carving that once decorated the shrine depicts a stupa, a structure shaped like a mound that is used for meditation. Near the top of the stupa is a platform known as a harmika, which is decorated with a rosette design. Above the harmika, there are three parasol-like structures called chattrasthat face up toward the sky. Two columns, with lions on top, are carved next to the stupa. The lions peer down at the stupa (which is at the same height as the columns), as if they are watching over it. This scene could be based off of a real, ancient stupa that existed in the Swat Valley, Olivieri said. "Real stupas with four columns topped by crouching lions' statuesat the corners of the lower podium have been documented in Swat," Olivieri told Live Science. One stupa like this was excavated in the 1960s and 1970s. Archaeologists found that it was used between the first and fourth centuries A.D., the same time that Bazira flourished. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. An outbreak of mumps at Harvard University continues to grow, and experts say the close living spaces in college dorms may make people particularly susceptible to the virus, even if they've been vaccinated. This week, the Cambridge Public Health Department confirmed that more than 40 people at the university have been sickened with the mumps virus. The outbreak began in late February, when two students contracted the disease. Mumps infections are fairly uncommon in the United States, with usually a couple hundred to a couple thousand cases occurring each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Outbreaks typically don't happen in the general population, but instead are more likely to occur among people who live in close quarters, such as college dorms, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious-disease specialist and a senior associate at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Center for Health Security. [9 Ways Going to College Affects Your Health] That's because people in college dorms often share living spaces with dozens of people, giving them more opportunities to be exposed to the virus, either on surfaces or through contact with other people, Adalja said. Although being vaccinated against mumps can prevent a person from getting sick if he or she has been exposed to lower levels of the virus, for people living in dorms, vaccination may not be enough to ward off an infection, he said. "The exposure that they have to mumps is so high in these situations that it overcomes the ability of the vaccine to protect them," Adalja told Live Science. "It may be that, in these special situations, a much higher level of antibodies [against mumps] is needed to keep the virus at bay," Adalja said. People typically receive two doses of the mumps vaccine (which is part of the measles, mumps and rubella shot) in childhood, and the vaccine is up to 88 percent effective at preventing the disease. Adalja noted that in some past mumps outbreaks, colleges have given students an extra, third dose of the mumps vaccine, which was enough to quell these outbreaks. According to The Boston Globe, all of the infected students at Harvard were vaccinated against mumps. (The University has not suggested that people receive a third dose of the vaccine.) Mumps causes swelling of the salivary glands, leading to puffy cheeks. It can also cause fever, headache, fatigue and loss of appetite, according to the CDC. Most people completely recover from the virus in a few weeks. The virus is spread through saliva, and people can be contagious for up to two days before they show symptoms. The Cambridge Public Health Department is advising students with mumps to refrain from public activities for five days after they become ill. Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. 8-month-old baby Habilen and his sister Pallavi, the donor for a liver transplant from Mauritius, during a press meet at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru Bengaluru: Three years after losing their 12- year -old son, Mauritian couple, Murugessan and Malegay became proud parents of a baby boy again. But fate proved cruel again as they learnt their five month old son, Habilen, was suffering from a rare live condition, Progressive Familial Intre-Hepartic Cholestasis (PFIC). Flying to Bengaluru to consult doctors here, they are now smiling once again as Habilen, who is now eight months old, has undergone a rare liver transplant using a piece of his 19- year- old sister, Nogunys liver, at the Manipal Hospital here. PFIC is a condition in which the bilirubin produced by the liver is not excreted and instead accumulates, damaging it. Habilens liver was seriously damaged (cirrhosis) in less than a year and the only option was to do a living donor liver transplant. Luckily for him, his sister volunteered to be the donor. A portion of the liver weighing around 250 grams was taken from the girl and implanted in the baby after carefully removing the diseased liver. The surgery lasted for eight hours and was performed with the help of a special microscope to suture the blood vessels. Dr. Sudarshan Ballal, chairman, Manipal Hospitals says baby Habilens case was not only rare and complicated but heartwarming as well as his sister came forward to donate a part of her liver to save him. "Interestingly after a portion of the liver is resected it grows back to almost 90 per cent of its original size. In this case the donor has recovered well and will lead a normal life soon, he assures. A grateful Mr Murugessen says the doctors were very helpful., We were very stressed out as we had already lost a son. The legal formalities to change my daughters tourist visa to a medical one took time. We would like to thank all the doctors and the entire team, he adds. Our prayers were answered. Both our children are healthy and safe and we are all set to fly back to our country, says his wife Malegay. The surgery was done by a team of transplant surgeons led by Dr. Ravichand, chief liver transplant surgeon of the hospital and included Dr. Magnus Mansard, liver transplant surgeon and specialist liver anaesthetist Dr. Navneethan. The family of an 80-year-old pensioner have claimed their grandmother has been let down by local politicians who last month called for the removal of her caravan from a Longford town housing estate. A number of local representatives urged local authority chiefs to step in at its April meeting after a white caravan was spotted parked in the towns Annaly Car Park. Leading that charge was Cllr Seamus Butler who bemoaned the millions which the Council has already spent on improving Traveller accommodation at Willow Park. This is in a residential area where the good residents of Annaly Park are trying to make their way and yet this caravan is present there in a public car park, he said. That is not acceptable. We (Council) have spent millions on a halting site in Willow Park in Longford and the recent refurbishment cost 1.3m so there is capacity for caravans in Longford. Cllr Gerry Warnock who said the present situation facing Annaly Park residents was simply not good enough. That prompted a hostile reaction from Danny Stokes, the grandson of Mary Stokes, the alleged occupier of the caravan. Open letter In an open letter addressed to both councillors on Facebook, Mr Stokes hit out at what he claimed was an out of sight, out of mind approach directed against his grandmother. For more on this story, see this weeks Longford Leader. Family & Parenting, School & Education, Nature & Weather, Local News, Health & Wellness, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: April 29 2016 U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that his new legislation, which would help school districts across New York State test their drinking water for potential lead contamination, has been included in the must-pass Water ... Long Island, NY - April 28, 2016 - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that his new legislation, which would help school districts across New York State test their drinking water for potential lead contamination, has been included in the must-pass Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) that is currently being debated in Congress. Schumer said this bill would establish a new $20 million federal grant program for schools that choose to test for lead. Schumer pointed to the recently revealed high levels of lead found in more than 60 samples taken at two Ithaca schools, as evidence that lead is a potentially significant problem in New York. Schumer explained that toxic lead-based pipes were not banned until 1986 and, as a result, schools whose water is supplied by pipes made before 1986 could contain lead. Schumer said our first priority should be keeping New York State childrens drinking water safe when they are at school. Schumer therefore called this legislation a critical first step and vowed to fight for more funding to address lead contamination in school drinking water. Earlier this year, Schumer visited Long Island to push his legislation alongside the Superintendent and Board Members of Long Beach School District and Nassau BOCES. Right now, when it comes to the place kids spend the most time school there is a yawning gap in our lead-testing protocols, and the recently discovered lead contamination in Ithaca only underscores this concern. At the federal level, we do not require or support lead testing in schools. Giving our schools the resources they need to test the quality of our kids drinking water is the right and safe thing to do because, while lead poisoning is irreversible, it is first and foremost preventable, said Schumer. This legislation would create a $20 million grant program and take the critical first step in allowing schools that want to test their water, to do just that. And I will continue fighting for additional federal funding so we can expand this program and ensure that every drop of water that comes from a schools faucet or fountain is pure, clean and safe. Schumer said the Ithaca situation in Upstate New York has made it clear that lead pipes could still be contaminating the water that runs from both independent and public water sources and, therefore, potentially tainting the water that New York State schoolchildren are drinking. Specifically, higher levels of lead were found in more than 50 samples taken at the Caroline Elementary School, and in 11 samples taken at the Enfield Elementary School. The lead-water levels were found to be over 15 parts per billion (PPB), which is considered to be actionable by the federal EPA. These two Ithaca-area schools were able to detect this lead in a timely manner because they have been required to test for lead every three years; this is a requirement of districts serviced by private well water. However, because the other 10 school buildings within the district are serviced by a public municipal water source, they were never required to complete this kind of lead testing. Schumer said this discrepancy means other schools across the state may be slipping through the cracks and therefore contain lead as well. As a result, in March, Schumer announced he would be introducing new legislation aimed at providing grants to schools to test their water for lead contamination. Schumer said more resources and financial incentives must be provided to states like New York so communities can better protect their children and workers when they are at school. Specifically, Schumer said this legislation will create a new $20 million federal grant program through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would help school districts across New York State test their drinking water for potential lead contamination. Schumer said that while he pushed for $100 million and was included in his original proposal this initial $20 million is a critical first step to get the program up and running. He vowed to fight for more funding on the federal level to further address this lead crisis. Schumer said that with more than 100,000 schools across the U.S., including more than 700 school districts which encapsulate more than 13,000 individual schools across the State of New York alone, it is critical educational institutions are able to test for lead if they wish to. This grant program was originally part of a 1988 bill called the Lead Contamination Control Act, but the legislative text outlining the program was struck down by the courts due to a drafting error. Schumer said an annual grant program would encourage schools to apply for federal funding year-in and year-out: if a school district did not apply for or receive funding to test for lead in that particular year, they could apply the following year. Schumer said this legislation would allow the federal government do more for schools that want to test for lead contamination and ensure the water that children drink in New York State schools is safe for consumption. Schumer said that, despite successful work over the past decade to reduce the number of children with blood-lead levels of at least 10 micrograms per deciliter across NY, there is still a large number of children now known to have blood-lead levels between 5-9 micrograms per deciliter. Since 2012, the CDC has used a reference level of 5 micrograms per deciliter to identify children who have blood-lead levels that are much higher than most other children and are considered dangerous. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), lead is much more harmful to children than adults because it can affect childrens developing nerves and brains. According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, childhood exposure to lead has lifelong consequences, including decreased IQ and cognitive function, developmental delays and behavioral problems. Very high levels of lead exposure can cause seizures, coma and even death. Some health organizations, like the National Center for Environmental Health in a 2012 study, argue that no safe blood-lead threshold in children has yet been identified. For this reason, Schumer said it is disturbing that many schools across NY could contain lead pipes because they were built before 1986 when these particular pipes were banned. In addition, at the time, lead free was defined as having solder and flux with no more than 8 percent lead in pipes. Many pipes and plumbing fixtures, such as spigots and faucets, were allowed to be manufactured with lead levels above 8 percent before 2014. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 10-20 percent of the lead that poisons children comes from tap water. Schumer said the severity of this situation has become more and more evident in New York as of late, particularly with the recent discovery of elevated levels of lead in the Ithaca City School district. Following the discovery, Schumer pushed the EPA to have lead experts assist the City of Ithaca. Following Schumers push, the EPA recently announced that it would provide assistance to the Ithaca City School District, in order to help it determine the extent of the problem and how these high levels of lead can be mitigated. In this photo taken March 16, 2016, a man takes a photo of the mummified body of revered Buddhist monk Fu Hou in Quanzhou city in southeastern China's Fujian province. The monk, who died in 2012 at the age of 94, was prepared for mummification by his temple to commemorate his devotion to Buddhism. The mummifed remains were then treated and covered in gold leaf, a practice reserved for holy men in some areas with strong Buddhist traditions. (Photo: AP) Beijing: A revered Buddhist monk in China has been mummified and covered in gold leaf, a practice reserved for holy men in some areas with strong Buddhist traditions. The monk, Fu Hou, who died in 2012 at age 94 after spending most of his life at the Chongfu Temple on a hill in the city of Quanzhou, in southeastern China, according to the temple's abbot, Li Ren. (Photo: AP) The temple decided to mummify Fu Hou to commemorate his devotion to Buddhism he started practicing at age 17 and to serve as an inspiration for followers of the religion that was brought from the Indian subcontinent roughly 2,000 years ago. Immediately following his death, the monk's body was washed, treated by two mummification experts, and sealed inside a large pottery jar in a sitting position, the abbot said. (Photo: AP) When the jar was opened three years later, the monk's body was found intact and sitting upright with little sign of deterioration apart from the skin having dried out, Li Ren said. The body was then washed with alcohol and covered in layers of gauze, lacquer and finally gold leaf. (Photo: AP) It was also robed, and a local media report said a glass case had been ordered for the statue, which will be protected with an anti-theft device. The local Buddhist belief is that only a truly virtuous monk's body would remain intact after being mummified, local media reports said. (Photo: AP) "Monk Fu Hou is now being placed on the mountain for people to worship," Li Ren said. Pets & Animal, Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: April 29 2016 Suffolk County Police have arrested a woman for abandoning animals in her South Huntington apartment. Melissa Buchanan, 27, of South Huntington was arrested after abandoning her animals in her apartment for several days. One dog was found dead. South Huntington, NY - April 29, 2016 - Suffolk County Police have arrested a woman for abandoning animals in her South Huntington apartment. The landlord at 214 Beverly Road called police after hearing a dog bark excessively, and realizing she had not seen her tenant for a few days. Upon arrival police found two Miniature Australian Shepherd dogs, two lizards and a cat that had not been cared for. One of the dogs was deceased. While at the scene, the tenant, Melissa Buchanan returned and admitted to police she had not been home for several days. Second Squad detectives in cooperation with Suffolk County SPCA charged Buchanan with six counts of Animal Cruelty under the New York State Agricultural Law. The Town of Huntington Animal Control responded and took possession of the surviving dog and cat. Suffolk County SPCA has made arrangements for the care of the remaining animals. Buchanan, 27, will be held overnight at the 4th Precinct and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on April 29. A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com Columnists Press Releases Bengaluru: A 41-year-old Tamil Nadu-based builder was conned by an escort girl, who made away with his gold chain, cash and an iPad from a star hotel on Old Airport Road last weekend. The builder, Vasanth Raj, had gone to fetch liquor from the hotels bar for the woman when she managed to sneak away with his belongings. A complaint was lodged on April 25 at the Jeevanbima Nagar police station by the builders friend in the city, Ritvik Shetty, the police said. Ritvik is the chairman of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) in Chamrajnagar District. The police said he lied to them that Vasanth Raj was a former minister. Vasanth Raj was staying with another friend Rajan and the suite was booked by Shetty. The incident happened on April 23 at Leela Palace when the former called up the escort girl to the hotel. After entering the room, the girl asked for liquor, following which Raj went to the bar to fetch liquor when she made away with the builders belongings. Vasanth Raj returned to the suite with the liquor, but found the girl missing with his valuables. He immediately called Ritvik and narrated the incident. Ritvikh went to the police two days later and lodged a complaint on April 25 after the two realtors went away from the city, the police said. To ensure that the police acted on the complaint, Ritvik had lied to the police that Vasanth Raj was a former minister of Tamil Nadu. However, during the investigation, the police found out that Vasanth Raj is a builder from Chennai. The police have now launched manhunt for the escort girl, who is on the run. We have ascertained the identity of the girl from the hotel CCTV footage. She had written in the visitors register at the hotel desk that she was from Hyderabad, said a senior police officer. The most recent such major incident occurred on February 3 this year when a huge wall of frost and snow crashed in, smothering a vast area which also had an Army camp and killing as many as ten soldiers including a junior commissioned officer. (Representational image) Srinagar: As many as 41 Army jawans have died in weather-related incidents in Siachen glacier in eastern Ladakh from 2013 till March 31 this year, an Army official said on Friday. Siachen at a height of 19, 600 feet is the worlds highest battleground, where India and Pakistan have fought intermittently since April 1984 but which has also been the scene of many natural disasters. The most recent such major incident occurred on February 3 this year when a huge wall of frost and snow crashed in, smothering a vast area which also had an Army camp and killing as many as ten soldiers including a junior commissioned officer. Colonel S.D. Goswami, spokesman at Armys Udhampur-based Northern Command, in a statement said that ten soldiers died in 2013, eight in 2014 and nine in 2015 at the Siachen glacier. Another 14 soldiers lost their lives till March 31 this year, he said. Troops being posted in high altitude areas are trained in basic and advance skills in mountains and snow bound areas, he said adding that those posted in avalanche prone areas are subjected to series of training in the field formation area. He also said that medical equipment exists in all posts to cater for emergencies and that best quality of winter clothing and equipment is procured to prevent weather related casualties. Modern means of conveyance like snow scooters are utilized to ensure timely reaction to any eventuality and reduce fatigue and a number of specialized equipment have also been deployed in the avalanche prone areas. The spokesman said that weather conditions prevailing in the sector are closely monitored by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment stations at Sasoma and Srinagar. The weather warnings issued are religiously followed in terms of restrictions on operation and administration related movement, he said. However despite all these precautionary and post-disaster measures, many soldiers have died or lost their limbs while serving in Siachen and other high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The spokesman said that adequate compensation is being provided to soldiers and other defence personnel deployed at difficult terrain in border areas in the form of salaries and compensatory allowances in the form of special Siachen allowance. Highly active field area allowance, field area allowance, modified field area Allowance and high altitude (uncongenial climate) allowance depending upon the classification of area concerned are giving to them and these allowance are in addition to the Military Services Pay (MSP) being paid to defence services personnel, he said. He clarified that salaries paid to the defence personnel do not depend upon area of deployment and that these are same as per rank and structure. However, certain allowances vary as per area of deployment and are also revised from time to time, he said. Colonel Goswami also said that there been no instances of incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory and reiterated that there is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. There are areas along the border including areas in Ladakh where India and China have differing perception of LAC. Due to both sides undertaking patrolling up to their perception of the LAC, transgressions do occur, he said. On construction activities in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), he said the government has seen such reports and has conveyed its concerns to China about their activities and asked them to cease such activities. He added that the government regularly takes up any transgression along LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms including flag meetings, border personnel meetings, meetings of working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs and diplomatic channels. The spokesman said that as many as 118 attempted and 33 successful infiltration bids were made along the borders with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir in 2015. However, this year till March 31, only 24 attempted and 18 successful infiltrations incidents were reported, he said. The spokesman reiterated the government stand that the issues relating to abetting infiltration along India-Pakistan border are taken up with the military authorities in Islamabad at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of flag meetings and weekly talks between the Directorate Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both the countries. Government is fully seized of the security needs of the country. Necessary steps, as required, are taken to ensure that the national security concerns are adequately addressed through capability and infrastructural development. This is a continuous process, he said on behalf of the government. Craig said this during a meeting with Chief Minister Kalikho Pul while referring to the oft repeated claims of China over Arunachal Pradesh territory (Photo: DC File) Itanagar: US Consul General in Kolkata Craig L Hall on Thursday said the US government is very clear that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. Craig said this during a meeting with Chief Minister Kalikho Pul while referring to the oft repeated claims of China over Arunachal Pradesh territory, an official release said. Through Craig, Pul also asked the United States government to help rectify Google Maps wherein China has indicated Arunachal and some parts of Assam as a part of its territory. Craig said India's Act East Policy could be strengthened if road connectivity in the region is developed well, as Arunachal is located in a strategically important position having international borders with China, Myanmar and Bhutan, it said. Private companies of the United States are looking for ways, though difficult it seems, for more connectivity in the region so that pace of developmental activities can be accelerated, he said. "In fact, the US government is working with the Indian counterpart to promote business relations with NE India," he said, adding that the state has potential in hydro-power and tourism sectors. He put forward his opinion to the chief minister for global tendering of the hydro-power and infrastructure developments projects of the state, so that the advertisement could be sent to the companies in the US, the release said. Seeking US support in developing road connectivity and harnessing hydropower of the state, the Chief Minister said Western investors should feel free to invest in Arunachal. The chief minister also sought the help of the US for capacity building, particularly in training, support and equipment for dealing with natural disasters. Pul further sought the assistance of the United States in getting loans from Asian Development Bank and other institutions for various development projects in the state, the release added. Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday ordered the the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to demolish the Adarsh Society building in Colaba area of South Mumbai and sought criminal proceedings against politicians and bureaucrats for "misuse" of powers. However, on a plea made by the Adarsh Housing Society, a division bench stayed its order for 12 weeks to enable it to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, despite opposition by the Maharashtra government. The demolition should be carried out at the expense of petitioners (Adarsh Society), ruled the court. The society, originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and war widows, was converted into a 100-metre-tall building and several politicians, bureaucrats and civilians illegally procured flats there. Read: Ex-Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan to be prosecuted in Adarsh scam The court also asked the Centre and Maharashtra Government to consider initiating civil and criminal proceedings against bureaucrats, ministers and politicians, if not already done, for various offences in acquiring the plot on which Adarsh Society stands and also for misuse and abuse of powers. However, it noted that the courts concerned shall decide the cases on the basis of evidence on record and in accordance with law, undeterred by the observations or findings made by the high court in this judgement. The order was delivered in an open court by a bench of Justices R V More and R G Ketkar on a bunch of petitions filed by Adarsh Society challenging the demolition order of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and a title suit filed by the Defence Ministry claiming that it owned the land on which the 31-storey society building was constructed. The court further asked the Centre and state government to consider taking departmental proceedings in accordance with law against bureaucrats. "The disciplinary authority shall take decision in accordance with law without being influenced by the findings of the high court," said the bench. The bench placed on record its appreciation for the complainant Simpreet Singh, a member of National Alliance of People's Movement. "But for this intervention, perhaps the gross violation by the petitioners (Adarsh Society) would have been detected," said the Judges. The court also asked the Adarsh Society to pay Rs one lakh as cost to each of the six respondents including Bharat Bhushan, Director of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Nalini Bhat, Advisor and Competent Authority, MoEF, Sitaram Kunte, former Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and three others. One of the big faces accused in the scam is Ashok Chavan, a Lok Sabha member from Nanded and MPCC president. He had to step down as Chief Minister after the scam surfaced in 2010. He was among 12 persons chargesheeted by the CBI in connection with the case. CBI had alleged that Chavan suggested inclusion of civilian members in Adarsh Housing Society, meant for war veterans and widows of defence personnel, to secure flats for his relatives in the plush complex situated at Colaba in south Mumbai. The transportation of the donor heart between Vashi and Mulund was done in 16 minutes, covering a distance of 18 km. (Representational image) Thane: An 18-km green corridor was created between Vashi and Mulund to transport the heart of a brain dead woman in 16 minutes which was transplanted in a 62-year-old man today, giving him a new lease of life. This was the second heart transplant at the private hospital in suburban Mulund in the last 48 hours, Fortis Hospital the multi-speciality healthcare facility said in a release here. The recipient, suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), has been on waiting list for over a month. DCM is a condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is decreased as its main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged and weakened. "The transplant became possible when a 50-year-old female patient was declared brain dead at MGM Hospital, Vashi, following a collapse at home that caused subdural acute haemorrhage. The transportation of the donor heart between Vashi and Mulund was done in 16 minutes, covering a distance of 18 km," the Fortis release said. After the woman's kin decided to donate her organs her heart and liver were harvested last night. Anvay Mulay, Head of Cardiac Transplant Team, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, retrieved the heart from the donor. Police and Traffic personnel immediately swung into action, laying out the green corridor between Vashi and Mulund for quick transfer of the preserved heart. The harvested heart was taken from Navi Mumbai around 12.20 am and travelled via Thane-Belapur-Airoli to reach Fortis Hospital, Mulund at 12.36 am. Mulay conducted the transplant surgery on the recipient who was subsequently moved to the ICU, the release said. "The surgery was successful and the patient has been moved to the ICU and will be kept under observation for the next 48-72 hours," he said. "It has been very encouraging to see so many people opting to donate organs of their kin. Such success stories encourage more end-stage cardiac failure patients to come forth and seek aid. Need of the hour is to bring communities together to help drive the cause of organ donation," Mulay said. Our Back Pages Issue 83 Issue Date: July 1988 Editor: Constance Rooke Pages: 199 Number of contributors: 19 Buy Issue 83: Print Edition As I stare at the cover of this particular issue of The Malahat Review, three smiling faces greet me, welcoming me to the realm of their works. These women, Paulette Jiles, Diana Hartog, and Sharon Thesen, are the focus of this issue, with a generous selection of their poetry and with a preceding interview by editor Constance Rooke. Getting into Heaven: An Interview with Diana Hartog, Paulette Jiles, and Sharon Thesen anticipates the poetic works to come, exploring each writers creative and imaginative processes including ways in which they contrive titles, approach difficult or painful subject matter (personal or otherwise), as well as their thoughts on poetic authority and audience. I was drawn to the discussion of writing as both empowerment and vulnerability, how they became interested in writing, how they began their careers, and which writers most influenced their own work. While reading poetry was never a strong suit of mine, I did enjoy this collection, each of these women having contributed a wonderfully diverse selection.Twenty-one poems are by Thesen; Jiles contributes Ragtime, an eight-part poem, and Hartog follows with seven poems. After each poets collection, two critical analyses (a total of six) explore themes such as intertextuality, anti-authoritarianism, and love. These contributions are provided by Phyllis Webb, Stephen Scobie, Aritha Van Herk, Dennis Cooley, Smaro Kamboureli, and Brian Edwards. Thus, the issue concludes with reviews of fiction, poetry, and a cookbook. While I have not read any of the books reviewed in this issue (a true tragedy that literature can be lost to time), I did find Constance Rookes review of David Adams Richards Nights Below Station Street interesting. The novel focuses on connections to community and family dynamics, and Rooke notes that the novel itself is as funny as it is painful. The novel went on to win the 1988 Governor Generals Award in fiction.Since this issues publication, two of the reviewers of poetry and fiction have passed way. Bronwen Wallace (1945-1989) was a Canadian-born poet and short-fiction writer whose first collection of short stories, People Youd Trust Your Life To, was published posthumously. Mike Matthews (1937-2012) was born in Aklavik, N.W.T., taught English and theatre courses at Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina College), and was a long-time reviewer with The Malahat Review. Miranda Marini About Our Back Pages New Delhi: The Central Information Commission on Friday directed the universities of Delhi and Gujarat to provide proper responses to RTI applications seeking details of education qualifications of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu directed the Prime Minister's Office to make available details such as roll number, degree number of the Prime Minister to the Delhi University so that it can search the records and facilitate disclosure of information to RTI applicants. Delhi University had claimed that unless the roll number of a student is provided, it would be difficult to search the records. Read: Kejriwal asks CIC to make public info on Modi's education degree The CIC is the final appellate authority in the matter pertaining to RTI. However, the decision can be challenged through a writ petition before any high court in the country. The CIC's order came a day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to Acharyulu saying he does not object to government records about him being made public and wondered why the Commission wants to "hide" information on Modi's educational degree. "There are allegations that Narendra Modi does not have any degree. The people of the country want to know the truth. Despite that you have refused to make records regarding his degree public. Why did you do this? This is wrong," Kejriwal had said in his letter. Ahmedabad: Under pressure due to Patel quota agitation, BJP government in Gujarat on Friday announced 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward among upper castes, which include Patidars, with a family income cap of Rs 6 lakh a year to avail the benefit. The decision, taken in the state party's core group meeting in which BJP national president Amit Shah was also present, comes after the recent reverses in the civic polls left the party jittery in the state where Assembly election are due next year. The reservation limit of 50 per cent set by the apex court will be breached with this decision, but the state government said it is "serious" on the issue and will "fight it" out legally. State BJP president Vijay Rupani, flanked by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and senior minister Nitin Patel, made the announcement of 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward in the general category. "Our core group meeting, headed by national president Amit Shah, has decided to give 10 per cent reservation for economically backward among general category," Rupani told reporters. "A notification will be issued on the Gujarat state formation day on May 1, and EBCs among general category will be able to take the benefit of the reservation in education and jobs from the next academic year," he said. "Families having an annual income of Rs 6 lakh or below will be eligible to avail the reservation. That means a family having an income upto Rs 50,000 per month can take the benefit of the scheme," he said. The reservation announced by the government will be over and above the cap of 50 per cent reservation set by the Supreme Court, and may face legal hurdles. The state government already provides 50 per cent reservation to SC/STs and OBCs. Asked if the new move will stand legal scrutiny, Rupani said, "We are very serious about this and we will fight it up to the apex court for reservation of economically backward among the general category." The BJP government has been facing violent protests led by Hardik Patel and Lalji Patel from the numerically and socially strong Patel community which is seeking reservation in education and government jobs under the OBC category. The BJP had suffered heavy losses in the rural local bodies polls recently, which were blamed on the Patel quota stir. China's State Council will soon issue a draft of the country's first ECommerce Law for public comment. Provisions of this proposed law may offer new tools for protecting trade marks and other IP rights online. Meanwhile, there are indications that Alibaba which dominates China's domestic e-commerce with more than 80% of the market will soon introduce a range of new reforms to support cooperation with trade mark owners in addressing online infringements. Details of Alibaba's initiatives and the draft E-Commerce Law remain undisclosed at present. But both are expected to address public concerns over the continuing high levels of fake and shoddy goods offered through online marketplaces. The precise scope of such counterfeiting remains unclear. Nevertheless, recent surveys by the China Consumer Association and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce suggest that over 37% of goods sold online in China may be fake. Best practices The impending E-Commerce Law and Alibaba initiatives are unlikely to end all online counterfeiting soon. Brand owners should therefore consider a range of best practices as they establish and tweak their online enforcement programs. Cooperation with platforms Over the past few years, Chinese e-commerce platforms, including Alibaba, have increased the use of filters and other measures to prevent the appearance of ads for fakes. They have also devoted greater resources to investigation and enforcement, including referrals of suspected criminal cases to Chinese police. To maximize access to these benefits, brand owners should provide accurate and detailed data of potential infringements, and quickly follow up on any requests for further assistance from platforms or authorities. IP owners should also take the initiative to offer detailed survey data and other relevant information to illustrate the limited impact of standard take-down remedies for fakes of their products. The more detailed the data, the greater the chance of obtaining more tailored and effective support. Approaching trade platforms directly, rather than only through service providers, can also improve the level of attention and support that brands get. Online monitoring and prioritisation When surveying online markets for potential infringements, the employees or service providers doing the monitoring should prioritise targets based on established criteria, including: targets using trade marks as the name of their online shop; repeat offenders; sellers that show up in the first few pages of search results; sellers that indicate higher levels of sales or stocks; sellers that have gathered a high number of customer reviews; sellers that offer multiple brands of fakes. Social media Increasingly, monitoring and enforcement work must be extended to new forms of social media. In China, the main outlets for monitoring will typically include the Weixin (WeChat) online messenger app and the Weibo microblogging platform. Pirates are increasingly using these media to distribute ads for fakes, with payments easily deposited directly to the pirate account through online payment services such as Alipay. Ambiguous ads More and more experienced counterfeiters are taking steps to reducing the risk of being detected by refraining from using language, images or pricing that provide a clear basis for requesting take-downs. Sophisticated infringers also often use this strategy to mislead consumers into believing their goods are genuine/parallel products. The ambiguity discourages many brand owners from requesting take-downs, fearing counter-notices from the sellers demonstrating that the goods offered are genuine and fearing this would undermine cooperation with trade platforms' enforcement teams and consume resources. Although this trend is on the rise, brand owners and their service providers can hone in on infringers by looking for less obvious indicators and conducting random purchases from vendors sharing particular characteristics (same location, similar product images, promotional language, etc). Consideration can also be given to presenting the available data to trade platforms and asking them to revert to vendors for evidence their goods are genuine. Responding to counter-notices Counterfeiters will often file counter-notices to challenge take-down requests and strap brand owners with unforeseen costs and hassle, even if the goods are fake. If the goods are obviously fake, such counter-notices can easily be ignored. However, when the counter-notices raise substantial issues, it is advisable to provide the trade platform with a quick, thorough explanation of why the goods are fake. If the goods cannot be proven to be fake, the vendor should be quickly investigated, for example by purchasing samples from it, or trying to get the vendor to admit via email or social media that they offer fake goods. Where there is no evidence that the goods are fake, it is sometimes best to quickly withdraw the complaints. Doing so may help to ensure that relations with the trade platform's enforcement teams remain positive. Meanwhile, if there are doubts that the vendor is indeed dealing in fakes, they should be closely monitored in the future, with consideration also given to making test purchases to verify their goods. Coordinating bricks and mortar and online enforcement Trade mark owners should ensure that their teams responsible for supervising online and bricks and mortar enforcement programmes coordinate their efforts, mainly to ensure that intelligence on counterfeiters is shared and that enforcement actions by one team do not interfere with investigations by the other. Regional focus For many industries, producers/traders of online fakes are based in a particular city. For example, IT counterfeiters are generally based in or near Shenzhen. Fashion industry fakes are often based in Guangzhou, Hangzhou or Yiwu. Consideration should therefore be given to focusing additional resources in key cities to generate leads, conduct investigations and liaise with local authorities. Cooperation with other victim brands Sharing data on infringers with other brands that are victims can help to more quickly identify repeat offenders. Armed with such data and complaints from multiple brands, trade platforms are more likely to terminate the trading accounts of infringing vendors. Victim brands can generate significant return-on-investment by sharing costs of monitoring/investigating larger online infringers. Filing complaints in tandem can also maximise the chances of success in persuading police to pursue criminal investigations. Resources Monitoring, investigating and enforcing trade mark rights against online traders poses enormous challenges that should not be under-estimated. IP owners facing significant levels of infringement should not hesitate to invest significantly more in manpower and funding of countermeasures. It is also highly advisable to keep current on new technologies, tactics and service providers, and to routinely exchange know-how in this regard with other rights holders. Where the stakes are high, companies should also seek external service providers that bring "big data" solutions to the table. Meanwhile, rights holders, large and small, should identify brand protection firms that can quickly and cost-effectively conduct investigations into online counterfeiting rings. Joe Simone SIPS Hong KongLockhart Road No 3Wanchai, Hong KongChinamail@sips.asiaTel: +852 2866 6400Fax: +852 2866 6408 On December 23 2015, the Official Journal of the European Union published the Directive (EU) 2015/2436 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The aim of this Directive is to reach a further harmonisation of provisions of substantive and procedural laws relating to the trade mark systems at national and EU level. The new EU Trade Mark Regulation adopted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office applies from March 23 2016. Member states are bound to adapt their national laws to transpose this new Directive by January 14 2019, except for Article 45, concerning the procedure for revocation or declaration of invalidity, which will enter into force from January 15 2023. As regards those amendments that represent substantive changes, as compared with the current Spanish regulations, three of them deserve special attention. The first one concerns the new concept of a trade mark, where the requirement of graphic representation disappears. The requirement the new definition embraces is that signs must be represented in a manner that allows the competent authorities and the public to determine, clearly and precisely, the subject matter of the protection. Therefore, it will be required to provide for new appropriate ways of representation. The second change has to do with the opposition procedure. Spanish trade mark law already provides for an administrative opposition procedure. Thus, the challenge lies in putting into practice a system embracing non-use of the prior sign as a defence. Therefore, at the request of the applicant, the opposing party will have to demonstrate that the prior sign has been in use, within a five-year period preceding the filing date or priority date of the later trade mark. If the opponent fails to provide evidence of use, the opposition will be rejected, unless there are proper reasons for non-use. The third amendment refers to providing for an administrative procedure for revocation or declaration of invalidity of a trade mark. At present, parties are compelled to appeal to the courts. These reforms lead to the following conclusions. First, the new concept of trade mark will facilitate the registration of non-traditional signs. Second, proving the genuine use of a prior sign will be inevitably to exercise the rights arising from its registration, as oppose to the present Spanish regulation. Finally, administrative procedures for revocation or declaration of invalidity will involve a significant change in the Spanish trade mark system to invalidate a trade mark where there is some ground for refusal. Carmen Urrea PONS IPGlorieta Ruben Dario, 428010 Madrid SpainTel: +34 917007600Fax: +34 913086103clientes@pons.eswww.ponsip.com Gandhinagar: Facing the heat over Patel quota agitation, the BJP government in Gujarat on Friday announced 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward among upper castes up to an annual family income of Rs 6 lakh, but the Hardik Patel-led outfit rejected it. The decision, which came in the wake of reverses suffered by the BJP in the civic polls and in view of the Assembly elections due next year, however, breaches the reservation limit of 50 per cent set by the apex court. The state government already provides 50 per cent quota to SC/STs and OBCs. Read: Gujarat announces 10 per cent quota for economically backward sections The Opposition Congress said the announcement of 10 per cent quota for EBCs was "deceptive" and meant to assuage the Patel community. The crucial decision was taken at the state BJP unit's core group meeting which was also attended by national president Amit Shah. It set a family income cap of Rs 6 lakh a year to avail the benefit for education and jobs. In its initial reaction, quota agitation leader Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti rejected the move as another "lollipop" extended by the BJP and the state government to "mislead" their community. However, another quota agitation body Sardar Patel Group (SPG) welcomed the government's move, but said they will assess how it will help the community and upto what extent. "Our core group meeting, headed by national president Amit Shah, has decided to give 10 per cent reservation for economically backward among general category," state BJP president Vijay Rupani, flanked by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and senior minister Nitin Patel, told reporters. "A notification will be issued on the Gujarat state formation day on May 1, and EBCs among general category will be able to take the benefit of the reservation in education and jobs from the next academic year," he said. "Families having an annual income of Rs 6 lakh or below will be eligible to avail the reservation. That means a family having an income upto Rs 50,000 per month can take the benefit of the scheme," he said. The reservation announced by the government will be over and above the cap of 50 per cent reservation set by the Supreme Court, and may face legal hurdles. Asked if the move will stand legal scrutiny, Rupani said, "We are very serious about this and we will fight it up to the apex court for reservation of economically backward among the general category." "We have not touched the quota given to SC, STs and OBCs. Their quota is intact," Rupani said, seeking to assuage the OBC community, which had launched a counter agitation against giving reservation to Patels. When asked if this reservation scheme comes on the recommendations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "The decision was taken in a core group meeting in which national party president Amit Shah was present. So, it has got green signal from everybody in national party." Kerala Labour Minister Shibu Baby John was immediately rushed to a private hospital and was later discharged. (Photo: Screengrab) Kollam: Kerala Labour Minister Shibu Baby John and a Left candidate were injured as violence erupted during an election debate organised by a television channel, with irate people pelting stones and hurling chairs. Baby, who is contesting the May 16 assembly polls from Chavara seat, suffered injuries on his right hand in the incident that occurred at Chavara on Thursday. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital and was later discharged. LDF candidate Vijayan Pillai, who was also participating in the debate, too was injured and has been hospitalised. As the debate over drinking water shortage heated up, the participants got agitated after the Minister's response and started hurling stones and chairs. Police said two cases have been registered against UDF and LDF supporters for rioting and under sect 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC. Shibu Baby John of the RSP is Congress-UDF candidate. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced the availability of $5 million in Federal funding to expand marine highway service by creating new or expanding existing services along designated Marine Highway Routes. A Marine Highway Project is a planned service, or expansion of an existing service, on a designated Marine Highway Route, that provides new modal choices to shippers of cargo, reduces transportation costs and provides public benefits including reduced air emissions, reduced road maintenance costs and improved safety and resiliency, MARAD said. Eligible applicants must be sponsors of Marine Highway Projects formally designated by the Secretary of Transportation. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd reported a 5.6 percent rise in quarterly revenue, helped by higher passenger ticket revenue and onboard spending, sending the company's shares up 4 percent in premarket trading. Royal Caribbean also raised its full-year earnings forecast to $6.15-$6.35 per share from $5.90 to $6.10. The company said net revenue per available berth, or net yields, rose 7 percent on a constant-currency basis in the first quarter ended March 31. Passenger ticket revenue rose 5.5 percent, while onboard revenue rose 6 percent. Net income attributable to the company jumped to $99.1 million, or 46 cents per share, from $45.2 million, or 20 cents per share, a year earlier. The company's total revenue rose to $1.92 billion from $1.82 billion. Royal Caribbean's shares were at $79.50 before the bell on Friday after closing at $76.02 on Thursday. Reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan An Indian-flagged oil tanker is returning to Libya, the North African country's rival oil corporation said on Thursday, after its failed first attempt to export crude oil led to the ship being blacklisted by the United Nations Security Council. The Distya Ameya tanker is heading to the western Libyan port of Zawiya, said Nagi al-Maghrabi, chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) set up by Libya's rival eastern government in parallel to the Tripoli-based NOC. The Tripoli NOC is recognized internationally as the legitimate seller of Libyan oil. Magrabi told Reuters he would continue to fight for the right of the eastern NOC to export crude, describing the situation as "a legal issue and we will work on it." The Tripoli NOC and its international backers say that if the eastern government succeeds in its long-held aim of selling oil independently, it would undermine a U.N.-backed unity government that arrived in Tripoli last month and put the political and economic future of Libya at risk. The U.N. Security Council Libya sanctions committee blacklisted the Distya Ameya on Wednesday after receiving a request from the Libyan U.N. ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi. This requires states to ban it from entering any port. The ship left Libya's Marsa el-Hariga port late on Monday carrying 650,000 barrels of crude and was currently near Malta. A source close to the situation said the cargo was to be offloaded at Zawiya and processed for use within the country. Deepak Shetty, director general of shipping with India's Ministry of Shipping, said he had told the vessel's operator and the charterer to instruct the captain not to discharge the cargo "at all, anywhere." "They will follow the U.N. guidance which will come to them through us," Shetty said. "They are now staying put ... no oil will be discharged even if the charterer wants them to. They will wait for the U.N. to tell us where the vessel will have to go." However, the U.N. spokesman's office in New York said the U.N. Libya mission was not involved in the issue at all. Under U.N. Security Council resolutions adopted since 2014 on the illicit export of Libyan oil, it is up to states - not the United Nations - to direct designated vessels "to take appropriate actions to return the crude oil, with the consent of and in coordination with the Government of Libya, to Libya." (By Ahmad Ghaddar; Additional reporting by Nidhi Verma, Libby George, Michelle Nichols, Louis Charbonneau and Aidan Lewis, writing by Jonathan Saul and Michelle Nichols, editing by Dale Hudson and Marguerita Choy) Seaspan joined Harjit S. Sajjan, Canadas Minister of National Defense, at an official ceremony today to celebrate the completion of the Halifax-Class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension (HCM/FELEX) Refit Program on the West Coast, and transfer of the HMCS Regina from Seaspans Victoria Shipyards (VSL) to the Department of National Defense (DND) Dockyard. HMCS Regina is the fifth and final frigate to undergo modernization on the West Coast for the $4.3 billion HCM/FELEX Program. VSL has served as Canadas capability partner on the West Coast under HCM/FELEX since 2008, providing mid-life maintenance activities, machinery control and combat equipment upgrades for the HMCS Calgary, HMCS Winnipeg, HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Ottawa and HMCS Regina. Over the course of the HCM/FELEX Program, VSL has provided mid-life modernization activities worth an estimated $500 million, creating employment for more than 450 workers. HCM/FELEX has remained on-budget, and program close-out activities are expected to be completed by 2018. The European Commission said on Friday it had cleared French shipping group CMA CGM's $2.4 billion takeover of Neptune Orient Lines on condition that NOL pulls out from a rival shipping alliance. The announcement confirms a Reuters report on April 21 about the impending approval. CMA CGM, the world's third-biggest container shipping company, is looking to strengthen its position against bigger rivals Maersk Line and Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC). The European Commission said in a statement that its approval was conditional on CMA CGM's commitment to withdraw NOL from the G6 alliance, which competes with its own Ocean Three alliance. "Container line shipping plays a central role in global trade, so competition in this sector is essential for businesses and consumers in the EU," EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said. Shipping alliances, which involve sharing vessels and routes to save costs, are seen as crucial to helping the industry deal with a severe market downturn. The concession is similar to that offered by German container shipping company Hapag Lloyd HLAG.DE and Chilean peer Compania Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV) two years ago in return for the EU approving their tie-up. Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop At a meeting of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPCF) this week, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has strongly criticised the judgement of the Spanish Supreme Court in the Prestige Case. This judgement (in January 2016, but discussed by the IOPC Funds this week) overturned that of a lower Spanish Court, in La Coruna in 2013, instead finding the Master criminally liable for damages to the environment and sentencing him to two years imprisonment (albeit likely to be suspended). It further held that the misconduct deprived the shipowner of the right to limit liability for pollution damage under the 1992 Civil Liability Convention (the CLC). The lower court, after hearing evidence including evidence from the Master had previously acquitted him of all charges of criminal damage. It had also acquitted the Spanish civil servant who had been involved in the decision not to allow the ship into a place of refuge. The lower Court did not therefore award any compensation to the claimants, which included the Spanish Government. But the Supreme Courts judgement was reached after just one day, without hearing any new evidence and in the absence of the Master. At the same time, the Supreme Court confirmed the acquittal of the Spanish civil servant. In a formal statement to governments which oversee the global oil pollution compensation regime via the IOPCF, ICS stressed its immediate concern was the implications of the Supreme Courts decision for the unwarranted criminalisation of seafarers. But ICS also noted that this decision may now be deployed to break the shipowners right to limit its financial liability under the CLC. The Supreme Courts decision was extremely surprising in that it overturned a lower courts acquittal of the Master, in his absence, and without hearing any new evidence as to his knowledge about the condition of the ship. This raises fundamental questions as to whether it was a fair trial. said the ICS statement. ICS also told the IOPCF meeting This decision appears to be highly unusual and has been reached through a somewhat contorted application of law to facts which were found to be correct by the lower court. The decision also seems entirely unbalanced, applying different standards when assessing the blameworthiness of the Master to those applied to government officials on shore, whose decisions were exonerated by the Supreme Court. It is of great concern to ICS that this decision may be used to support a claim to break the shipowners right to limit liability and that the amounts then claimed would far outstrip those limits. These limits of liability are the essential quid pro quo for shipowners for agreeing a strict liability under the CLC regime. However, under the CLC the right to the limits may be broken if it can be shown that the shipowner acted recklessly and with knowledge that the damage would probably result. ICS says that the actions by the Spanish government to pursue its claims against the shipowner, for what are expected to be enormous amounts in excess of the shipowners limits of liability, could seriously undermine the system of shared liability that has been agreed under the CLC/Fund liability and compensation regime. ICS therefore appealed to all Member States of the IOPC Funds to do their utmost to protect and support the system which has worked very well over the past decades, and which should not be sacrificed for the interests of individual countries. The whole regime is based on co-operation and trust between the shipping industry, the oil industry and governments said ICS it its statement to the IOPCF. But ICS now fears that that the entire system of efficient compensation for oil spills could be put in serious jeopardy because of unsound decisions being made by national courts. On Earth Day, Pacific leaders queued among 175 countries to sign the Paris Agreement in New York. Earlier that day in London, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)s sister UN specialized agency, met to discuss shippings fair share in reducing greenhouse gases in a far less publicized and not nearly as successful climate change debate. Pacific and European nations have been pressing the IMO since before Paris to join the coalition of higher ambition. In the lead up to Earth Day the IMO stumbled but didnt quite fall. It has agreed to reopen the debate at their next meeting in October. Introducing the Pacifics submission, Ambassador Moses Mose of Solomon Islands, said, The same countries that celebrated in Paris must now follow through on that commitment, and demonstrate their conviction through action at IMO . . . On the topic of GHG, the shipping sector is at the start of its own journey. But unlike the UNFCCC with its clear and scientifically derived destination well below 2 degrees, aiming for 1.5 we are concerned that with shipping, we currently risk not knowing where we are going. Today, in this room, we have the opportunity to demonstrate that the IMO is the competent organization to control shippings GHG, and that our signatures in New York this week are not just ceremonial, but equate to meaningful action, Mose continued. Today, we can demonstrate that we have understood the message and that we are willing to act upon our responsibility. If shipping were a country it would contribute as much GHG as Germany or Japan. But it is the projected rate of increase that is of greatest concern. Without strong leadership to decarbonize, ship emissions could increase by 50-250 percent by 2050, according to IMO 3rd GHG report 2014. It simply makes efforts by other sectors to stay within 1.50C mission impossible. Last week the Solomon Islands led a determined Pacific voice including the Marshall Islands, Fiji, PNG and Vanuatu in a coalition with much of Europe, and other developing states led by Mexico and Liberia with the industrys support, for IMO to agree on a plan to work out what shippings fair share should be. Strong opposition came from BRICs (the grouping composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), Saudi Arabia and several South American countries concerned about the negative impacts of any commitment to mitigate shippings GHG emissions. In a compromise, the IMO agreed to table a further debate to its long-term objectives and response to the Paris Climate Agreement but not until October. Across the Atlantic, leaders of the same countries pledged to work tirelessly and collectively to see the Paris Agreement implemented. Yet the world had failed to be so progressive in London. While progress is being made in the IMO, it has come at a much slower rate. However, there is now a global spotlight being played, not least because of the determination of Pacific countries. President Heine of the Republic of Marshall Islands, reminded her colleagues in her address in New York on the need for sustained action by the IMO. The next IMO meeting in October will be heavily attended and watched by many. The strongest opposition to control of shipping emissions came from one of the smallest Pacific countries the Cook Islands, in complete reversal of their position on climate change in Paris, and in opposition to many other Pacific Island countries at the IMO. Knowing the position of the Cook Islands on climate change and their strong engagement at COP21 in Paris, both in the negotiations and at side-events, this appears a contradiction as if their representatives in London were disconnected from the climate negotiations and the Paris Agreement, said PIDFs Secretary General Francois Martel. The Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) has long supported the Pacifics lead in the IMO. The Suva Declaration on Climate Change, signed by Pacific leaders at the 3rd PIDF summit in 2015, called on all UN bodies to take decisive action on shipping emissions. University of the South Pacific researchers have coordinated a full team of technical support for the coalition in conjunction with leading international universities. We can be confident we have access to the best available science on this issue, Martel said. France joined Fiji and RMI in speaking strongly for the IMO to take a progressive approach and told the IMO that We must put together a plan and timeframe for GHG reduction. Or be judged as impotent. The incoming Secretary General of the IMO has called climate change the central issue for the IMO to address. He pushed hard for this not to be thrown out at this stage, suggesting it is unwise to kill the thinking/idea Throughout the day, IMOs commitment and contribution in relation to the Paris Agreement was widely recognized by the majority of the delegations. Many also emphasized that IMO was the place to undertake a debate on shippings GHG emissions. But they were seemingly oblivious to the contradiction this posed with the position taken by several states to indefinitely delay further debate of GHG. The progressive Coalition dalignement (in French) led by Solomon Islands and RMI included the EU, many in industry and many vulnerable states. Two of the three biggest flags (Liberia and Marshall Islands) and seven of the 10 biggest flags (except Panama, Hong Kong and China) were in support. The United States didnt come out in support of the progressive coalition, preferring their existing energy efficiency approach, but did not obstruct either. The Pacific nations actions in London on Earth Day keep alive the hope that shipping can play its part in delivering the Paris Agreement. The next debate will be in October, where it will be essential for shipping to determine its fair share of the climate change burden and act now. It is essential the Pacific find a united voice on this matter. Three months after Paris, IMO failed the first test. In October will come its opportunity to pass the re-sit while the world is watching. Propulsion and steering systems manufacturer SCHOTTEL has unveiled its new EcoPeller (SRE), which it said offers improved efficiency and robustness. Playing a key role here is the new HTG (High Torque Gear) gearbox technology developed and patented by SCHOTTEL. According to SCHOTTEL, HTG is a highly-efficient, robust and reliable gearbox with an ideal gearing geometry. It features low maintenance requirements, reduces servicing costs and also allows streamlined housings for improved hydrodynamic properties. The HTG enables bevel gears of the same dimensions to transmit up to 15 percent higher drive torque with the same safety margins required by the classification societies, SCHOTTEL said. For the same drive torque, it is possible to achieve more streamlined underwater gearbox housings, thereby increasing the hydrodynamic propulsion efficiency. In addition to the increased efficiency, customers can expect high reliability and minimized gearbox damage, the manufacturer said. According to SCHOTTEL, the design engineers have designed the gearbox in such a way that the risk of flank fracture or scuffing is reduced, increasing the service life and reliability while reducing servicing costs. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court was on Friday informed that the mortal remains of a 27-year-old man from Jharkhand, who was allegedly killed by his employers in Saudi Arabia last year, would be brought to India tomorrow. Justice J R Midha was apprised by the counsel appearing for the petitioner, Naushaba Bano, wife of deceased Mohammed Afsar Ansari, that the authorities in Saudi Arabia would dispatch the body and it would reach Delhi tomorrow. "They (authorities in Saudi Arabia) are going to send the body and it will arrive here tomorrow," the counsel said after which the court disposed of the plea. The Centre had on April 22 informed the bench that Ansari's body was likely to be brought to India from Saudi Arabia within a week. The government had said that the Indian embassy in Riyadh has taken all steps to dispatch the body and all the formalities have been completed. Ansari, hailing from Jharkhand, was allegedly killed last year by his employers in Saudi Arabia apparently after he wanted to return to India. The government's submission had came on a plea by Bano who sought contempt proceedings against the officials concerned, claiming there was a delay on their part in transporting her husband's body to India as directed by the court earlier. Her counsel had earlier told the court that Ansari's kin feared that since the Indian Embassy had issued a no objection certificate (NoC) to the employers, they may bury the body in Saudi Arabia itself. In its status report filed in the court, the Indian Embassy had said its officials had visited the Bureau of Investigation in Saudi Arabia this month and had got a clearance from them to release the mortal remains of Ansari. The embassy had also said that it had prepared the NoC in the name of Ansari's brother but as it was not collected by him, it was prepared in favour of an employer. European shipowners believe that the three priority areas of the new EU Arctic Policy Communication published by the Commission this week address all topical Arctic matters. Climate change and environment, sustainable development and international cooperation in the Arctic are equally important. We appreciate the focus of the EU to the Arctic matters by developing this more coherent framework for EU action and funding programmes in the Arctic. In all follow-up actions the Arctic States should continue to be consulted by the EU, said ECSA Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven. Shipowners encounter challenges in polar shipping such as poor charts, lack of infrastructure and navigation control systems and low search-and-rescue capability. ECSA is pleased that these topics among others are addressed in the Commissions communication and that the EU supports the efforts to implement the International Polar Code. It is the first decisive step for safe navigation in the Arctic adopted by the primary shipping regulator, the International Maritime Organisation. Instead of establishing additional forums however, we believe that it is more efficient to stimulate the existing ones to better coordinate action in the Arctic. We believe that this approach reduces overlapping and leads to better ocean governance. With this in mind, we anticipate the full implementation of the EU observes status in the Arctic Council, he added. ECSA welcomes the fact that the EU is expected to maintain its current funding levels for Arctic research. European shipowners believe that not only a proper regulatory framework should be in place but investment should be focused on improved infrastructure, satellite observation and search and rescue capabilities. In this context, the resources of European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on maritime surveillance and vessel traffic monitoring could be expanded also in the arctic waters. We endorse all initiatives that will concretely improve the polar shipping conditions. We find that enhancing the safety of navigation in the Arctic is essential. We also see an EU added value on Arctic research and therefore we warmly welcome any initiatives that increase our knowledge of the seabed of the Arctic waters, concluded Patrick Verhoeven. Approximately 121 pounds of heroin and eight pounds of cocaine were discovered in a shipping container of vegetables that was moving from Ecuador to Miami, Fla. through the Red Hook Container Terminal in Brooklyn, N.Y. During a routine container inspection on January 7, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) K-9 officers discovered 257 boxes that contained a combined 970 packages that contained a light brown powdery substance. A field test of the substance proved positive for heroin. CBP officers also discovered 58 packages containing a white powder that tested positive for cocaine. In total, the seized heroin was worth an estimated street value of more than $3.5 million, and the cocaine an estimated $135,000. The illicit drugs were seized and turned over to agents from Homeland Security Investigations. No arrests have been made, and the investigation will continue. An outbreak of the norovirus stomach bug has sickened 160 people aboard a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines ship docked at Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. health officials and the company said on Friday. The norovirus outbreak took place aboard the Britain-based line's Balmoral during a transatlantic cruise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement. The CDC said 153 passengers and six crew members had fallen ill from norovirus, whose symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. The CDC said that the cruise line and the ship's crew had increased cleaning and disinfection and collected stool specimens. The company also sent a corporate sanitation manager to oversee handling of the outbreak. CDC health officers and an epidemiologist plan to board the Balmoral when it arrives in Baltimore this weekend, the CDC said. Fred. Olsen said in a statement that the vessel had docked at Norfolk and seven passengers were in isolation. Most of the passengers were from Britain, it said. Norovirus is the most common cause of U.S. food-borne disease outbreaks. Infections usually occur in places such as hospitals, cruise ships and universities, where people eat and live in close quarters. Two norovirus outbreaks were reported last year at the Massachusetts and California outlets of burrito chain operator Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. About 19 million to 21 million norovirus cases, with 570 to 800 related deaths, are reported in the United States each year, according to the CDC. (Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by David Gregorio) LNG shipowners will have to wait until 2018 for earnings to improve, when the majority of new US plants are expected to come online, according to the latest edition of the LNG Forecaster report published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. The first quarter of 2016 was no better than the previous quarter for LNG shipowners as spot rates remained low at around $30,000pd. Two new liquefaction plants, Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) in Australia and Sabine Pass LNG in the US, began operations in the first quarter of 2016. But freight rates for LNG carriers remain low despite the new liquefaction trains coming online. The ramping up of Australian LNG exports will not bring any respite to LNG shipowners given the short-haul voyage distance between Oceania and Asian markets. Inflated fleet growth over the last few years has led to a supply glut, which will keep the rates under pressure until 2017. Moreover, the recent commencement of exports from Train 1 at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in the US is not expected to increase LNG shipping demand as the cost economics of importing LNG into Asia from the US are so unfavourable. The chart below shows the landed cost of US LNG to the Far East under three Henry-Hub price scenarios. The landed cost of US LNG, without mark-up, at current Henry-Hub and bunker prices is around $6.00 per MMBtu, while the spot price in Asia is currently between $4.00 and $5.00 per MMBtu. Based on the above considerations, we believe that the majority of the cargo from Train 1 will land up in either Europe or Latin America, for two reasons. First, demand from Far East Asian countries is weak, and second, in the current low-price environment it does not make much sense to import from the US. Thus, if this happens, tonne-mile demand will be one-third of what it would be if exports went to Asia, said Shresth Sharma, Drewrys lead LNG shipping analyst. All in all, the additional export volume is not expected to have any major effect on LNG shipping rates as this is being matched by vessel deliveries. Therefore, our outlook is that the market must wait till 2018 for more US plants to come online, as only large production capacity will consume inflated vessel supply, added Sharma. South Koreas shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), the worlds third-largest shipbuilder, has received a contract termination for three floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) units from oil and gas giant Royal Dutch Shell Plc. The deal for the three vessels, worth a total of KRW 5.3 trillion (USD 4.6 billion), was signed between the companies in June 2015. The contract fromShellwas voided because of the current difficult market conditions, the Sungnam, South Korea-based company said in a regulatory filing. The three FLNGs were expected to join their owner by the end of November 2023. With the slump in the shipbuilding market post the global economic crisis SHI had set its sights on offshore accounting for 70% of orderbook in the long term. Samsung Heavy is currently building two other floating LNG facilities for Shell and Petroliam Nasional Bhd. of Malaysia. The first project is expected to complete work at the shipyard in the second half of this year, the company said. Conquest Offshore was contracted by Allseas to remove a 300-ton crane and transport and install a 850-ton Huisman crane on board of one of the largest pipe-lay vessels in the world, Allseas Solitaire. The 397-meter vessel MV Solitaire is the largest ship ever to have passed IJmuidens massive sea lock after which the ship was berthed at Dutch Offshore Base in Amsterdam. The pipe-laying vessel is used for the construction of natural gas pipeline systems and oil pipelines. Before the vessel is scheduled to return to sea in summer 2016, the 300 ton SPC (special Purpose Crane) was replaced by a 850-ton Huisman SPC by Conquest MB1. We believe that Conquest MB 1 heavy lift barge is the right tool for all kinds of challenging jobs. Looking at the time schedule, dimensions and weight of the installed components it certainly was a challenge. Especially as we were also preparing for departure for the next job. Conquest MB1 is now underway to Mexico for a salvage job in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Port congestion eases at Basra and Chinese ports; tanker demand set to expand on lower oil prices. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs), hurt by slower-than-usual release of cargo, could slip further next week as more tonnage becomes available with the easing of recent tanker traffic jams in China, ship brokers said on Friday. Charter rates from the Middle East to Japan slipped to a six-month low on Thursday, falling by 12 Worldscale points or almost $14,000 since April 21. There are talks of a VLCC from Basra to Asia being fixed for a rate of W45, a Singapore-based supertanker broker said. This could not be confirmed, but if true, the rate would be the lowest since Sept. 2, according to data on the Thomson Reuters Eikon terminal. "I don't believe we're at the bottom yet, but we should be close," the broker said. "Rates are under pressure. The delays in China have come off and a lot more ships have come available as a result of that," the broker added. Delays in loading and unloading oil at Basra in Iraq and ports in China, particularly in Qingdao, led to massive queues of tankers, with vessels waiting up to a month. Iraq, which typically cuts Basra exports whenever there is a backlog of ships waiting to load at its port, is seen shipping 3.085 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, versus 3.28 million bpd in April, trade sources said. "Cargo has just been trickling out. A reasonable amount of business is being done but it's not enough to mop up the tonnage. There are plenty of ships to choose from," the Singapore broker said. Owners are now waiting for charterers to release fixtures next week for loading in the middle of May. Owners may look "for West African cargoes because of the light Basra program for the remainder of May," Norwegian ship broker said in a note this week. VLCC rates from the Middle East to Japan fell to about W48 on Thursday, down from around W60.25 the same day last week. Rates for VLCCs from West Africa to China dropped to about W55.50 on Thursday, against W64.25 last Thursday. There was more optimism about the tanker market for the rest of the year after European tanker owner Euronav posted its strongest first-quarter results in eight years, with a net profit of $113.5 million on revenue of $214.9 million. "Demand continues to expand, stimulated by a lower-for-longer oil price," Euronav Chief Executive Paddy Rodgers said in an earnings statement. Tanker demand has been fuelled by Middle East oil producers unable or unwilling to restrict output, coupled with rising imports to the United States and demand from China's so-called teapot refineries, said Ralph Leszczynski, head of research at ship broker Banchero Costa in Singapore. The International Energy Agency is forecasting crude oil demand growth of 1.2 million barrels per day for every year until 2020, the Euronav statement said. Rates for an 80,000-dwt Aframax tanker from Southeast Asia to East Coast Australia fell below W99 on Thursday, the lowest since Nov 17, from W110 last week on sluggish demand, brokers said. Reporting by Keith Wallis A new shipping company has established itself in Vancouver as the Vancouver International Maritime Centre (VIMC) completes its Asia tour, launching in Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong. Greystoke Marine Management Ltd. is the latest company to choose Vancouver for its base of operations. The company focuses on assisting global shipping investors and international owners with optimally managing their portfolio of assets. Greystokes founders Robert Hedley, Mads Meldgaard and Roy Spires are all former shipping executives with one of the world's largest energy transportation providers, Teekay Corp. Greystoke is a great supporter of the Vancouver International Maritime Centre initiative and Vancouver was an obvious location to start our new company, said Co-CEO Robert Hedley. The City's focus on expanding shipping businesses through such initiatives will continue to draw a lot of attention to Vancouver from around the world. We see this as a major opportunity for Greystoke as well as the international shipping community. Greystoke executives initially connected with the VIMC when it launched in London last September, during London International Shipping Week. This month the VIMC expanded its outreach to Asia where it hosted more than 100 shipping industry representatives in Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong. Our mission to Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong builds on last years events in London and Athens. We cant expect the global shipping industry to come to us, we have to actively reach out and explain the advantages that Vancouver and Canada have to offer, said Graham Clarke, VIMC Chairman and CEO. The future of global shipping is tied to Asias resource demands and Vancouver offers the closest and most diversified port in the North American market, said Kaity Arsoniadis-Stein, VIMC Executive Director. Canadas economic and political stability, rule of law, as well as its high quality lifestyle and clean air, make Vancouver one of the most attractive maritime hubs on the planet. Some companies have already made the move. Last September, Singapore-based AAL Shipping announced the opening of its Vancouver office. AAL is a leading global ocean transport operator. Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to address a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 8, Speaker of the US House of Representative Paul Ryan said on Friday. "The friendship between the United States and India is a pillar of stability in an important region of the world," Mr Ryan told reporters during his weekly press conference. "This address presents a special opportunity to hear from the elected leader of the world's most populous democracy on how our two nations can work together to promote our shared values and to increase prosperity. We look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to the US Capitol on June 8," he said. PM Modi, who was invited by President Barack Obama for a bilateral visit when he was in Washington for the nuclear summit, will be the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since 2005. Earlier, Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh (July 19, 2005), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (September 14, 2000), PV Narasimha Rao (May 18, 1994) and Rajiv Gandhi (July 13, 1985) addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress. The tradition of foreign leaders and dignitaries addressing Congress began with the Marquis de Lafayette of France, who spoke in the House chamber on December 10, 1824. Ronak D Desai, a Fellow at New America and an Affiliate at the Belfer Center's India and South Asia Program at Harvard University, said, "an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress is significant, given past US policy towards Modi during his time as Chief Minister of Gujarat." PM Modi's visit is likely to be the last official meeting between the two leaders during President Obama's final year in office. A blanketing hush fell on the audience when the lone U.S. Marine bugler played Last Post, the Australian and New Zealand version of Taps. The ceremony held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 25, 2016 served to remind the audience of the impact of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or ANZAC, at the Battle of Gallipoli, where approximately 9,000 Australians and 3,000 New Zealanders made the ultimate sacrifice. The U.S. Marine Corps studied the Battle of Gallipoli extensively, especially the withdrawal from the peninsula, allowing them to develop and enhance their amphibious doctrine during major battles in World War II. The ANZAC spirit emerged after the war back home as a result of the courageous efforts of the ANZAC soldiers, which ultimately consolidated into the modern-day Australian and New Zealand ethos and identity. "Gallipoli marks the first time that people really thought of themselves as New Zealanders and Australians where two nations were forged in the mud and blood of Gallipoli," said Sir Jim McLay, New Zealand Consulate-General. "So it is every year at ANZAC Day where we acknowledge that it was them at Gallipoli who had attributes of bravery, tenacity, practicality, ingenuity, and personal loyalty that helped define our countries." ANZAC Day ceremonies take place all over the world; this was the 44th year the Marine Corps supported the ceremony in Hawaii, honoring the long-lasting friendship between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. This multilateral commemoration compelled the audience to reflect on what it means for military members to sacrifice their lives for something greater than themselves. "It is particularly poignant that we gather here at this beautiful but solemn sad place and too many other places like it around the world where the remains of thousands of heroic souls lie in often unfamiliar foreign soil, but always in the embrace of a grateful nation," said Jeff Robinson, Australian Consulate-General. "Those men and women surrounded in these fields here, those individuals -- ordinary people -- called upon to do the extraordinary: gave their lives, their futures serving a bigger purpose for us." ANZAC Day is about honoring and supporting the legacy and tradition those men and service members from all over who sacrificed their lives passed on to future generations. Members from the Polynesian Cultural Center performed a "Haka," which is an ancestral war chant from the indigenous Maori tribe from New Zealand. The ANZAC story speaks to us of pride and our respective country of who we are as Australians and New Zealanders of a quiet confidence born out of sacrifice, said Brigadier John Boswell, Assistant Chief of Strategic Commitments and Engagements of New Zealand Defence Force. It speaks to us of nations of ordinary people doing extraordinary actions for their friends, and it speaks to us of the horror of war and the need to build peace. More Media The Department of the Navy and Georgia Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, broke ground today on a large-scale solar facility at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany in Georgia. Expected to be one of the largest solar facilities in the state, the facility will have a production capacity of up to 44 megawatts of direct current power (31 MW alternating current). The facility will cover 150 acres of land with 138,000 solar panels, which will be able to power the equivalent of up to 5,000 homes. Georgia Power will build, own, operate and maintain the solar facility at MCLB Albany, which will generate electricity for its electric grid. The utility company anticipates the solar facility to be online and producing power within a year. Notable groundbreaking ceremony presenters and attendees included the Honorable Dennis V. McGinn, assistant secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment; Lt. Gen. Michael G. Dana, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps, Installations and Logistics; Col. James C. Carroll III, commanding officer, MCLB Albany; Kenneth E. Coleman, senior vice president of Marketing, Georgia Power; and Georgia Public Service Commissioner Vice-Chair Lauren Bubba McDonald Jr. This project, our second collaboration with Georgia Power, will help to enhance the energy security of MCLB Albany, said McGinn. It is these partnerships that have yielded such high value for the Department of the Navy, our installations and the surrounding communities. As we begin to tighten our focus on energy resiliency, these projects will be the foundation of energy security on our bases. "This project will generate solar energy as part of a diverse generation mix, while providing security for the base and a positive economic impact in the local community," said Coleman. "The projects we are developing on our state's military bases are great examples of renewable energy growth being driven by collaboration and innovative partnerships." The Marine Corps is known for implementing our Energy Ethos vision within our ranks. We know that making efficient use of our energy resources is critical to our mission readiness. This solar facility extends that ethos to energy resiliency, said Dana. We are excited for this and other energy projects on base aimed at making the installation more resilient. At MCLB Albany, we are fortunate to be collaborating with this group of military and private entities, said Carroll. We have all been working together toward the same goal to provide an unprecedented capacity for continuity of operations furthering grid stability. The Marine Corps and the Navy have been leaders in energy innovation, and deployment of renewable energy on DON installations continues to strengthen the DONs warfighting capabilities. The next step for the DON will be exploring the next level of energy technology advances such as battery storage, electrification, fuel cells and microgrids to further enhance the DON's energy security, operational capability, strategic flexibility and resource availability. If an artillery round explodes but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment hope to test that question as accurately as possible over the course of a quarterly exercise in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, next month. The exercise, called the Artillery Relocation and Training Program, is intended to ensure that the Marine Corps only forward-deployed battalion is ready to aid Japan and other regional U.S. allies if called upon. Simultaneously, it helps artillery in Okinawa adhere to obligations under the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Every year, safety measures are taken to ensure a successful ARTP. Safety rules are set in place that satisfy both Marine Corps standards and treaty conditions. We only fire during the scheduled hours so we dont unnecessarily disrupt people out in town, said Lt. Col. Neil J. Owens, the commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. We also are sure to adhere to all the safety procedures and measures that we have in place while we conduct ARTP. The Marines and Government of Japan understand the mutual benefits of having artillery assets in Japan. While the Marines take special care to avoid interrupting the flow of daily life during ARTP, Japan provides all funding for the exercise. This arrangement has existed since the Special Action Committee on Okinawa 1996 Agreement. ARTP is really the foundation of our combat readiness, said Lt. Col. Neil J. Owens, the commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 12th Marine Regiment. Its the training program under which the Japanese provide us with four live fire exercises annually across five different locations in Japan, and its fully funded by the Japanese government. They provide us with the transportation, they are responsible for the range scheduling, and they provide us with liaisons with the local communities as well. The upcoming ARTP will contain live fire, small arms fire, and all other types of training that typically occur during a regular artillery live fire exercise. Whats not typical for 3/12, however, is the great opportunity they have to advance community relations. Theyll have an opportunity to conduct community relations activities with the local community in the Sendai area, said Owens. The Sendai area is a very important area to the Marine Corps because of our involvement with Operation Tomodachi, which is where we assisted with relief efforts after the tsunami that devastated that area. The positive relationship between the battalion, Japanese government and local citizens is one of the reasons why ARTP is an enduring exercise. More Media Port Moresby: President Pranab Mukherjee today paid homage to soldiers, including many Indians, killed during World War-II while fighting along with the British forces and laid to rest at Bomana cemetery in Papua New Guinea. Mukherjee, the supreme commander of Indian armed forces, walked up to a pillar erected in memory of the troops and placed a wreath there. This was the second engagement of the Mukherjee, who arrived here yesterday on the first ever state visit from India to this largest island in the Pacific. Immediately after meeting the Governor General of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Sir Michael Ogio, President drove to the war cemetery, located 20-km from here. As he placed the wreath, a Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) band sounded the "Last Post," signifying the end of the troops' journey in life. A minutes' silence was observed in their memory after which Mukherjee went around the cemetery. The cemetery contains 3,824 Commonwealth burials of the second World War out of which 699 of them unidentified. Around 250 of the unidentified soldiers are from undivided India who were fighting along with the British and allied forces. Indian High Commissioner to PNG Nagendra Kumar Saxena has been extensively working on the role of Indians during the World War. During the banquet hosted by the Ogio in honour of the President last night, the Governor General also said the linkages between the two countries go back to the second World War in which Indian servicemen, some 615 brave sons who were part of the British Army and Allied Forces, fought and died in PNG. "Their mortal remains lie buried in war cemeteries throughout the country," he said. The troops were fighting the Japanese forces who had landed at Lae and Salamaua in March 1942 with Port Moresby as their chief objective. The Kiwanis Clubs Pancake Day did not "crepe" up on visitors who faithfully attend the event twice a year. Calling it the social event of the year, Annette Huckfeldt, Elizabeth Garcia, and Alfredo Garcia said they were most looking forward to eating pancakes, pancakes, and more pancakes. However, Brenda Hairston, whose family has gotten together for the past four years for the local all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, said that the meat was her top priority. "I come for the sausage," Hairston said. "Pancakes make me fat, but the sausage its perfect." Hairston explained that the sausage at this event had a certain spiciness to it, which she liked. However, having her family of nine with her including her daughter, Fatimah Shareef, and grandson, Marvell Shareef, who were visiting from Mt. Vernon, New York was Hairstons favorite part of the bi-annual event held in a parking lot of Broad and Church Streets in Uptown Martinsville. "When you cook the sausage on that iron grate grill, it smells so good, and you cant say no," said Martinsville Kiwanis Club President Jim Muehleck. "And you cant eat just one." Those few people arent the only ones who keep coming back for Pancake Day. Bobby Haskins swept Wanda Haskins off of her feet all over again by offering to take her out on a date to the Kiwanis Clubs event, a tradition the couple has kept for decades. "Its very romantic he planned supper!" Wanda Haskins said. Bobby Haskins said that he wanted to treat her to something special. "Shes my girlfriend," he said. "Shes been my wife for forty-two years, but shes my girlfriend, too." Some people enjoyed that the fundraiser took place long after typical breakfast hours ended. Vitalia Holland said this was her first Pancake Day, which she attended at lunch time. April Millner stated that her favorite thing about the event was "the fact that I can get pancakes at this time of day." Although the opportunity to mingle with the community and eat an unlimited amount of breakfast food draws crowds, the funds raised from the event went toward a great cause. Muehleck said that the sale of the food, made from 25 cases of pancake batter and nine hundred pounds of Gunnoes sausage, would go toward local needs, such as funding scholarships for Patrick Henry Community College students, funding camping scholarships, and to a toy library. All of the money raised at the event stays in the community. The next Kiwanis Clubs Pancake Day is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13. Environmental activists slapped Gov. Terry McAuliffe with a D+ grade in a report issued Thursday, citing in part his support for offshore drilling and new natural gas pipelines. The coalition of advocates seeking to raise the pressure on the Democratic governor described his tenure as a significant disappointment to date. But it added he could turn things around in their view by taking a strong stance on the states approach to the Clean Power Plan. We see the implementation of Virginias Clean Power Plan as a critical opportunity for the governor to truly lead, said Joelle Novey, director of Interfaith Power & Light, a faith-based climate change group and one of four organizations involved in the gubernatorial report card. Were calling on Gov. McAuliffe now to implement a strong Clean Power Plan in Virginia that maximizes reductions in heat-trapping climate pollution, she said. The Clean Power Plan is a federal mandate that sets a national goal of reducing carbon pollution from power plants by 32 percent, compared with 2005 levels, by 2030. Its currently entangled in the courts where more than two dozen states are arguing that the rules constitute an illegal federal power grab. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay halting implementation of the plan until the legal challenges are sorted out. McAuliffe, a supporter of the Clean Power Plan, has said Virginia should press on and continue planning its strategy to meet the emissions goals while the stay is in place. States were given broad leeway to determine how to meet the new pollution standards. Environmental activists are urging McAuliffe to opt for a comprehensive cap on total carbon emissions allowed from both existing and future power plants. The state could choose to focus on existing power plants only or adopt another approach that restricts the average rate of emissions per unit of electricity produced without capping the total amount of carbon emissions allowed. Dominion Power has so far favored the per-unit standard arguing in part it would help keep costs down for customers and give power generators more flexibility to meet rising demand as new development and growth comes to the state. But environmental advocates contend that approach wont bring true reform as the state could continue releasing rising levels of total carbon pollution. McAuliffe hasnt tipped his hand on the issue yet. His administration is currently reviewing how and if the states planning work will proceed. The Republican-led General Assembly added a provision to the new state budget to bar the Department of Environmental Quality from spending any more of its funding on the project unless the court stay is lifted. Thursdays coalition which also included the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Virginia Organizing and Virginia Student Environmental Coalition suggested the state could tap into other resources to continue the work. In an email, Brian Coy, spokesman for McAuliffe, said the governor is reviewing his options. He and his team are evaluating recent budget language with respect to the future of the Clean Power Plan, Coy wrote, but the Governor will take whatever steps he can to continue preparations to turn this policy into an environmental and economic win for Virginia. The environmental report card issued gave McAuliffe credit for his advocacy on coastal flooding concerns, efforts to expand renewable energy and role in continuing the state moratorium on uranium mining. But it contended most gains on clean-energy priorities have been modest, and would be overshadowed if proposals like offshore drilling or the Mountain Valley Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline came to fruition. Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, described McAuliffes stances as one step forward, two steps back. McAuliffe has been a vocal supporter of the proposed natural gas pipelines and maintained they can be built in a responsible way. He also backed federal discussions about allowing oil and gas drilling off the coast of Virginia, provided the state could share in the revenues. Federal authorities dropped the idea earlier this year. The wide-ranging report card suggested several ways that McAuliffe could boost his rating, but said the Clean Power Plan was the biggest opportunity for turnaround. Coy said the governor has been a strong supporter of clean energy and pollution reduction initiatives throughout his tenure. The Governor has made reducing carbon emissions and preparing for climate change a centerpiece of his administration and will continue to advocate for policies that will make Virginia a global leader in clean and low-carbon energy and technologies, he wrote. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com Kanpur: A case has been registered against a Samajwadi Party leader for allegedly assaulting and duping her husband following a direction from a court, police said here on Friday. Danish Sabir, husband of a SP leader Uzma Solanki here, has alleged she and her family members had assaulted and duped him, they said, adding a case has been registered against her father, brother and three other relatives also. According to the complainant, he was allegedly assaulted and threatened by his wife's father and brothers while they were on their way to Jajmua on February 22. He has alleged that the police had not lodged his complaint under the influence of his wife's family due to which he went a court to file the complaint. Police have registered a case under sections 147 (rioting), 388 (extortion), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 504 (intentional insult)and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC against the accused. No arrest has been made, they said. The first round of elections for President of the Republic shocked both the political caste and larger layers of society. The two candidates for parties of the current government (a social democrat-conservative grand coalition) together won just 23%, a huge fall when we consider that previously the combined vote for these parties had always been 80-90%. Politics in Austria is now entering a critical stage. Only candidates that stood against the establishment stood a chance in these elections. The winner was the far-right Norber Hofer, polling 35.1 %. The green-supported Van der Bellen came second with 21.3% of the vote. Irmgard Griss the ex-head of Higher Administrative Court, representing a liberal-catholic trend, took third place with 18.9%. Fourth was Rudolf Hundstorfer, ex-TUC President and standing minister of social affairs, polling 11.3 %; and in fifth we have Andreas Khol, an arch-conservative prominent figure of the Conservative party who won 11.1% of the vote. The last place went to a half senile building-tycoon and high-society figure, polling 2.4 %. 31.5 % of voters abstained, which is a historically high figure. Norbert Hofer is a leading figure of the far-right wing FPO and has won his partys highest ever percentage of the vote. Not only this, the FPO candidate has won more than 80% of the constituencies. The rest went to the Green candidate, some to Griss and only a handful to the SPO or OVP candidate. Out of 1474 polling stations in Vienna only three had a social democratic majority, all three in better off senior residences . The reasons for this collapse in voter support are to be found in the fear of marginalisation and boiling anger against the existing conditions and its representatives. Unemployment is standing at a record high of 10 % and is further increasing. Real wages have been stagnant for two decades now, and for some layers have been falling. Working contracts issued since the crisis of 2008/2009 offer 30 % wage cuts and worse conditions, especially on working hours. There have been no major direct attacks on the social systems, because of the fear of unrest. But ever since the crisis there is a permanent austerity regime, referred to as an efficiency-drive, and lower expenditure budgets. The effects of this policy are clearly visible in the conditions in hospitals, schools and services in general. Lack of housing, driven by the ending of public housing building in cities like Vienna is accompanied by an immobiliary speculation boom as rents annually increase by 10% or more. The uneasiness is not limited to the working class families alone. Farmers are suffering from falling prices of their products as a result of the capitalist crisis of over-production, but also because of the loss of the Russian export market due to the EU-embargo. Whilst anti-tax-evasion measures against small shop owners and bars infuriate the petit bourgeois. Added to all this the newspapers are full (or rather were full before the refugee crisis) of reports on corruption, tax evasion, bribery and banker bailouts which amounts now to 12 billion paid to the banksters, and we are not at the end yet. Needless to say that no prominent figure involved in this slashing of public money went behind bars. Everyone can understand that such a situation cannot last forever without expressions of discontent. The results of opinion polls, limited in itself, nevertheless give a clear indication of how people in the country feel about their conditions: 52 % of Austrians feel that the overall situation is getting worse, 68% say that are dissatisfied with government, and 75 % say they dont trust any political party. So the abysmal failure of the government candidates is not linked to their personal standing at all, this was a show of mistrust in the government. Out of 21 elections held since 2008, in all but two the ruling parties have lost voter support. The outcome of the latest is astonishing only by the margins. For 2 years already all the polls show that right-wing FPO has a clear lead, now standing at 10 percentage points higher than the traditional parties of the bourgeoisie and the working class. Class collaboration leads to the right-drift This is the result of the politics of the grand-coalition. It was supposed to be a broad alliance to deal with big reforms. But in the eyes of the bourgeoisie reforms now means nothing short of severe cuts. The involvement of the TUC in government puts a break to big counter-reforms, but it acts as a dispenser of the attacks. However, the trickle down of ever worsening conditions does not satisfy any class. The bourgeoisie wants hard attacks, especially on sanitation and pensions as it feels it is losing in all international economic rankings. Obviously the smashing of labour conditions in Southern Europe now is turning against the Austrian bourgeoisie who demanded it in first place. So their response is clear: the same that has been done in Greece, Spain and Italy needs to be done in Austria too. Only this way they can prop up their profitability. At the same time the sticking of the labour bureaucracy to the state is necessary as it neither desires nor is capable of standing up to the pressure of the employers in the factories. Their plan was to use their government involvement to give something to the working class without taking it from the employers. But this severely backfired. It led to several employers revolts against government-initiatives, destabilising it further. The party bureaucracy have no standing in society and no political ideas that are not derived directly from the bourgeoise. They even have a theory to this: it is impossible to rule against the financial markets, it is only possible to be independent of financial markets through self imposed austerity. Obviously this does not apply when the bankers are in need. In fact this coalition was the first in Europe to give its bank a full bail-out guarantee. And yes, we are paying to them. One Bank alone, the Hypo Alpen Adria takes an average yearly net income equal to that of the wage of every worker in the country. By trying to solve the crisis for the bankers, the social democratic mass organisations made the capitalist crisis their own crisis. All this year the FPO in the eyes of the masses stood as the most visible opposition to the system. Now their fruits are ripening. Polarisation The refugees coming to Austria polarised society in two camps. One is basing itself on human feelings of solidarity, the other one expresses frustrations of now even more limited resources for themselves. As Marxists we explained all these months that the pro-refugees activists need to adopt an anti-capitalist stance, linking the demands for the newly arrived poor to the living conditions of the people already living here. On the other side we explained, if you fall into the trap of racist demagogy, then you can be sure that your own living conditions will be attacked, as the working-class is unable to fight back if it is split along this line. In the first months the camp of solidarity prevailed. Tens of thousands joined in the movement to help refugees and also organised two huge demonstrations. But after the Paris attack and the sexual assaults in Koln at new year, the camp of sceptic people fell into the racist demagogy systematically being put forward by corporate media, right wing formations and even the government itself. Next stop: 22nd of May To become president the candidate needs an absolute majority. There are two candidates left to choose: the reactionary Norbert Hofer and the liberal Alexander Van der Bellen. The outcome is very unclear at the moment. Some words to the candidates: the front-runner, Norbert Hofer, is a reactionary individual, member of a so called Burschenschaft, which are student organisations dating back to the German unification movement of the early 19th century. Today these associations in Austria are an elite network of reactionary academics, some of those with a fascist ideology, but all of them reactionary to their very core. It is worth noting that in the first round Hofer did nothing to distance himself from this tradition. He did not even give a straight answer as to whether May 8th (Surrender day of Hitler army) is a day of joy or grief. Alexander Van der Bellen is a neoliberal Professor and ex-leader of the greens. He is in favour of austerity, banking bail-outs and European Union and has said that in politics lying is sometimes necessary to protect the interests of the ruling class. During the first round he found out that he is against TTIP. But he is also appealing to a more inclusive definition of homeland, including all the persons living here. Both stand clearly for one of the trends in bourgeoisie: the one who sees its interests best served in holding up capitalist integration, and the other one that is more inclined to nationalist manoeuvres to protect narrower capital interests. In the first joint debate after the first round both candidates fought a cotton bud-fight, as a journalist put it. Both were appealing to each other, and even jointly expressing that the rift in society should not be further enhanced. This is clearly not only an election strategy only, but an expression of the concern of the political and economic establishment on the political stability of the country. A victory for Hofer would signify the breakthrough of new reactionary movements, and Van der Bellens victory would mean continuing the conditions that breed the new reactionary movements. It is clear that Marxists cannot support either of these candidates. But it is not so simple in the eyes of the masses, as a vote for Van der Bellen is seen as a possibility to fight back or at least to stall the looming reactionary backlash until the next general election, scheduled for 2018. So Marxists have to patiently explain why a vote for Van der Bellen does not signify any solution to the real driving forces of the political and social crisis we are experiencing. Concretely we are involved in a left-wing coalition (Offensive gegen Rechts) to organise a rally against Hofer in the week before the election. This initiative is heavily criticised by the liberal-green establishment, including Van der Bellen himself. The green leadership, echoed by many honest people being dragged into politics by the polarisation, argue that further polarisation helps Hofer, who has a more clear anti-political-system connotation that Van der Bellen. But vacillation does not solve any problem. What is needed is a fighting alternative, not only against the most reactionary representatives of the system, but against the government also. We are convinced tjat tens of thousands of people are prepared to join a serious fight against reaction, the worsening conditions and the rigged system for the rich. Crisis of the political system But the coming election-contest in itself is not the to the only evidence of instability in the system. The traditional parties SPO and OVP are hanging on the ropes. For the bourgeois camp there has been instability for ten years now. Splits off of the conservative OVP and nationalist FPO are a frequent feature now. The lifespan of these formations has been short-lived up till now, even if they got parliament representation for a short period What is worrying now for the bourgeoisie is that the nationalist FPO is clearly leading the show now. Their social demagogy and their anti-EU rhetoric does not go down too well with the industrialists and bankers. Even if on the social policies they are a clear cut-them!-party. But in comparison with the conservatives they are not so familiar with the state institutions and the leading banks. All together the bourgeoisie wants them as the battering ram against the working class, not the leader of the orchestra. The second thing worrisome to the bourgeoisie is the fact that the conservative lacks a hard handed leader that holds together the conflicting entities of the party and gives them a clear lead. They have used up four party leaders in the last eight years, including their standing party head. But even worse is the situation of the social democratic organisations. The polarisation in society goes through the core of the party. This makes the leadership unable to go in any direction. Party functionaries are in open stress now. One side asks representatives of the other side to step down. All are united in the appraisal that the party leader is finished now, but as they cannot decide on another one, there is an unstable stand-still for the moment. Many party institutions are asking for a clear position on the refugees issue, but they are not saying what they are in favour of. The reason for this is easy: it is the political split in the party on one hand, but on the other hand they are waiting for the results of the May 22nd election. The social democracy, including the trade union leaders, are so involved in the state apparatus that they need to orientate towards the new political situation established on May 22nd. Last resort: racism and rule of emergency This is the reason why party leader and SPO-frontman Werner Faymann has announced a New Start for the government at the end of the coming month. Meanwhile both consisting parts of the government act as if nothing had happened. In an overnight act they broth a new asylum and border security law into the parliament. This law de facto stops the possibility to seek asylum in Austria and has a state emergency-clausula that allows the government to abolish the rule of law in the question of security matters concerning foreigners. This law infuriates the SPO-left. It is against EU-rules, against democracy, anti-humanitarian and has a severe historical implication: the rule of emergency, which led to the institutional takeover of fascism in Austria in 1933 is re-established as a political feature. FPO Hofer stands against this law as he demagogically wants to protect the rule of parliament. Furthermore, 2 billion euros ,on top of the regular budget-plan, are to be given to the police and the military in order to increase the capacity for repression by the state. At the same time th 550 million euros are missing from the schools budget. This new law and order policy was established overnight in January. The government agreed not to take any more than 35,750 refugees this year. As the number is now approaching 20,000. The government is planning to close down borders, probably in the summer. They have been busy building fences, camps and control infrastructure at all the borders in the east and south of the country. Military recruits are being educated in push-back actions, impeding people crossing the borders. This is not only a question of abandoning humanity and democratic rights, but also so a problem for the free flows of goods and as such against basic laws of the EU. But in the panic of losing any ground in society this is of less concern to the provincial figures of politics in Austria: racism is the last resort these puppets of capital feel they can lean on in order to have a foothold in society. Four SPO-MPs voted against this law. This is of minor concern for the party leaders, but the most right wing exponents of the SPO are boiling over. They want these utopians to shut up and a clear positioning of the SPO in the middle of society, by which they mean a nationalist-protectionist stance and also a lowering of social benefits, as they feel the income difference between a wage-earner and social-benefit-receiver is too low. Obviously these policies include a future government of FPO and SPO, as is already established in one region. Top party insiders report that they feel the conflicts are so deep that they cannot be bridged. Interregnum All in all it is very unclear if there will be any new-start for the government. At the top the standstill agreement amongst the coalition partners is holding, every minister praises the renewed joint effort to make the country work. Also in public the TUC and regional party leaders are agreeing to freeze the situation for the moment. But reality is going much faster than these empty slogans. Anything is possible: new splits, new leaders, new elections and new coalitions. A bourgeois commentator has described the situation as the beginning of an interregnum of instability. The working class for the moment is only a spectator in this situation. The majority of the class is voting for the FPO, even amongst the trade union members. Many have felt forced by the regime of austerity, low wages and lack of resistance to the bosses attacks from their leaders. Voting for the FPO in these layers of society is based on an anti-establishment attitude without any affection to the party. Many of the young workers spreading FPO propaganda these days were the most radical and willing to fight the bosses on the wage front. But even the metal workers have gave in to pressure of the bosses last Autumn after a year long conflict. The polarisation in society is not class against class. This is unfortunate, but understandable taking into account the permanent betrayal of the leaders of the working class and their involvement in state affairs over many years. The Marxists understand that the crumbling of the old institutions, parties and social systems is a necessary part of the crisis of capitalism which is global, and will not end any time soon. Just as unexpected as this crisis erupted in this seemingly stable northern European country will the working class one day step onto the scene of struggle along with its slogans and methods. The Marxists in Austria are keeping their banners clean and are ready to decisively intervene in these coming events Rachel's Table.jpg Peter Rovezzi, Country Bank regional business development officer, Carla Szymanski, Rachel's Table, and Debbie Keegan and Bonnie Trudeau-Wood of the Country Bank Employee Charitable Giving Committee. (Photo Provided) WARE-- Country Bank recently presented Rachel's Table with a donation of $2,800 as part of their Employee Charitable Giving Program. Country Bank's staff was able to raise $1,400 during the month of February as part of the bank's Casual Fridays, where employees donate money weekly to dress down. A local non-profit is voted on each month which is supported by the monies raised from dress down days. Country Bank matches all donations that their employees raise, according to a news release. The mission of Rachel's Table is to distribute donated and specially purchased foods, without charge, to agencies feeding hungry families and individuals in greater Worcester, Massachusetts and to reduce the waste of nourishing food. The Country Bank donation will be used specifically for the Children's Milk Fund which buys 715 gallons of milk each week for children at 21 food pantries, group homes, day programs, soup kitchens, and shelters in Worcester. For more information about Rachel's Table please visit rachelstable.org. Country Bank is a full-service mutual community bank serving central and western Massachusetts with 14 offices in Ware, Palmer, West Brookfield, Brimfield, Belchertown, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Leicester, Paxton, Charlton and Worcester. Country Bank is a member of FDIC, DIF and the SUM network. Country Bank can be reached at 800-322-8233 or online at countrybank.com. SPRINGFIELD -- Arianna Huffington is the afternoon keynote speaker at the Bay Path Women's Leadership Conference at Springfield's MassMutual Center. The full-day conference includes three keynote speakers starting with Marlee Matlin in the morning. Arianna Huffington is the afternoon keynote speaker. You can read MassLive's Q&A with Huffington from earlier this morning. Follow live coverage of her talk below. For the latest updates, hit refresh or click here. 4:35 p.m.: Arianna Huffington has exited the stage and our live coverage has ended. Thanks for joining us. 4:32 p.m.: A new mother spoke of both working and taking care of her infant child. Sometimes to relax at night, she told Huffington she will relax by having a glass of wine. A nightcap may help us disconnect to the day but it will wake a person up at night, Huffington said. She recommended trying to have a glass of tea or a bath instead to relax before bed. 4:28 p.m.: Huffington addressed a question regarding weight loss and its connection to sleep. "The worst thing you can do for weight loss is not get enough sleep," she said. "You hear that, you have full permission to sleep and skip the gym." 4:25 p.m.: She was asked a question from a mother with both teenagers and an 18-month-old of how to get a full night's sleep. "The good news is they do grow up, it's not going to be forever." Huffington told the mother. She recommended relying on support systems - a friend, a parent - to get a nap during the day when needed. 4:20 p.m.: She was asked of a decision to file Huffington Post articles on Donald Trump in the entertainment section during the early days of his campaign. "Donald Trump is both a buffoon and dangerous. A little bit like Kim Jong Un," Huffington said. The Huffington Post began filing articles on Donald Trump in the politics section after his campaign gained traction. She hopes the presidential candidate will "go away soon," she told the crowd. 4:15 p.m.: Asked of what she's most proud of, Huffington said her daughters. One of her daughters, Christina, was addicted to cocaine. She has been sober for four years, she told the crowd, and now is working for her website. She started the video series, "Talk to Me," featuring interviews between parents and children. She invited members of the crowd to share their family stories on the platform. 4:11 p.m.: She was asked if she supports a later start time for high school students. "We need to change the time that schools start," Huffington said. A lack of sleep is resulting in a higher diagnosis rate of ADHD. The symptoms are similar, she told the crowd, but the symptoms are not properly addressed with such a diagnosis. 4:10 p.m.: Huffington ended her speech by saying getting enough sleep allows people to be "grateful for the gift of life." She will now take questions from the crowd. 4:03 p.m.: "Sleep deprivation is the new smoking," Huffington told the crowd. We, as a society, need to stop accepting people working double-shifts or getting only a few hours of sleep per night. She said a culture-shift is not far off. She spoke of Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini paying employees $25 a night if they get seven or more hours of uninterrupted sleep for 20 nights in a row. 4:01 p.m.: People take better care of smartphones than they do themselves, Huffington said. People know much battery they have left on their phones but accept being exhausted as "the new normal," she said. "We are robbing ourselves of joy" when not fully present in one's day, Huffington said. "I cannot stand myself when I'm tired and sleep deprived." 3:54 p.m.: A transition into sleep is important, Huffington emphasized. Much like the process of putting a child to bed, adults need a wind down process as well, she said. She starts her process of going to bed by leaving her electronics in a hallway outside of her bedroom. Then, she draws herself a bath with epson salts. "The important thing is the ritual of the water," she said. Lastly, she thinks of what she is grateful for. She may be grateful for something as small as the soy cappuccino she drank that morning but she makes sure to be thankful for her life. 3:48 p.m.: "The brain is either alert and awake or asleep and cleaning up." Huffington told the crowd. For her latest book, "The Sleep Revolution," Huffington spoke with sleep experts across the globe about the benefits of shutting off technology and allowing one's brain and body to relax. Now that she gets at least eight hours of sleep per night she no longer needs an alarm clock in the morning, Huffington said. She recommends leaving ones electronics outside of the bedroom at night, including tablets, computers and smartphones. The darker the room, the better you sleep, she said. 3:40 p.m.: Huffington said she has a tenuous relationship with technology. In 2007, she collapsed from lack of sleep and broke her cheekbone. She calls it her wake-up call, a moment that convinced her that she doesn't need to be constantly be checking her phone and up-to-date with the latest news. "Arianna, you have modern civilization disease," Huffington said her doctor told her. Now, in addition to modifying her lifestyle, she's on a mission to change the lives of others. 3:36 p.m.: Huffington said she grew up with a very encouraging mother, one who reccomended she apply to attend college in Cambridge, where she eventually enrolled at the University of Cambridge. Huffington said her mother would say to her growing up, "Failure is not the opposite of success, it's a stepping stone to success." This is a mindset she told others to embrace as a means of achieving ones goals and not being discouraged by setbacks. 3:31 p.m.: Huffington started off by thanking organizers and spoke of her accent. It's real, she told the crowd, and it has taken years for her to feel comfortable speaking in America with it. She said she's like many women in that there's something she grew up disliking about herself. Before getting divorced, Huffington said her ex-husband hired a dialect quote to work with her for two weeks. By the end of the two weeks, she learned what she mispronounced when speaking, but she told the crowd, "I could not fix them so I decided this was the end of trying to fix my accent and the end of my marriage, though not for that reason." 3:29 p.m.: Thanks for joining us for live coverage. Arianna Huffington has taken the stage. SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield Innovation Center now taking shape inside what had been an abandoned building at 270-280 Bridge St. downtown could end up producing the next MassMutual Financial Group or the next Smith & Wesson. According to Jay Ash, Massachusetts secretary of Housing and Economic Development, that's just some of the potential success the center could breed. Ash spoke Friday at a ceremonial groundbreaking -- in reality they smashed plasterboard with a hammer -- for the Innovation Center facing Steiger Park. Ash joined MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and others for the groundbreaking. "The special sauce is already here," Ash said. "Sometimes we are working to develop big business. Sometimes we are working to develop small businesses and get them to expand. Here in Springfield, you have both and you have the political leadership. I'm excited to be here." The center, in what was once known as the Trinity Block, will be home to the Valley Venture Mentors business development organization, some rental offices and an innovation cafe. It could also have office space, a video and recording studio and possibly have a rooftop deck. DevelopSpringfield, the city's public-private property redevelopment agency, has $2.7 million for construction of the project that will cost in excess of $4 million including property acquisition. DevelopSpringfield received a $2.2 million grant from the state's MassWorks Infrastructure Program, state money that passes through MassDevelopment. It has received a $500,000 grant from MassMutual Financial Group and $30,000 from the Beveredge Family Foundation. DevelopSpringfield bought 270 Bridge St. for $10,000 in February 2015 from the city. It also bought 276-284 Bridge St. in September 2015 from private owners for $395,000. Sarno said the center and its tenants, including Valley Venture Mentors, will take the city back to its roots as "the city of firsts" and fit in well with the HitPoint Studios video game company and with Baystate Health's TechSpring health care technology accelerator. Both are now nearby. DevelopSpringfield's job, Sarno said, is to take on blighted pieces of property that hold too much risk for a private investor and then redevelop those properties into a productive use. Jay Minkarah, president and CEO of DevelopSpringfield, said he's talking with tenants for the third-floor office space and for the cafe space. The cafe will offer not just coffee but connectivity to the internet and audio-visual equipment for presentations. Valley Venture Mentors, now headquartered in temporary space at the Tower Square shopping mall, is doubling every year, said executive director Paul Silva. It has 100 startups now and hopes to grow to 200 within this calendar year. "We aren't going to be able to fit that in the space we have now," Silva said. What he's getting at the Innovation Center will be office space in the basement and on the second floor for startups, and auditorium / exhibition space and working and office space for VVM itself. The Trinity Block was built in 1922 as the Trinity Methodist Church when the congregation tore down its Bridge Street building and moved to the Forest Park neighborhood. Over the years it was also a bakery and a shoe store. What's now Steiger Park was the site of Steiger's department store for much of that time. Contractors N.L. Construction have been on the scene for two months already. They hope to complete renovations by November. Veteran meteorologist Nick Morganelli will no longer be part of the Western Mass News team. Morganelli, who has been a fixture on local airwaves for 20 years, is no longer with WGGB-TV, abc40 and FOX 6, and WSHM-TV, CBS 3 Springfield, according to the company's Human Resources department. Station manager John Hesslein declined to comment on Friday. Morganelli's bio page at the Western Mass News website has been taken down. On Morganelli's Facebook page, friends posted comments like "You'll be fine. Your good at what you do!!!" and "Head out to Boston or Hartford, they would be blessed to have you!" A graduate of Lyndon State College in Vermont, Morganelli has assisted NECN in Boston as their vacation relief meteorologist since 2006. He has taught at Holyoke Community College as an adjunct professor and at Community Christian School in Westfield. Running for public office in 2007, he served two terms as city councilor at-large in his hometown of Westfield. He also served on the board of directors for the American Lung Association of Massachusetts from 1998 to 2013. Attempts to reach Morganelli were unsuccessful. Western Mass News is the television partner of The Republican and MassLive. Lucknow: SP MLA Rampal Yadav was on Friday expelled from the party for his involvement in "illegal" activities and "maligning" its image, a party spokesman said. "Rampal Yadav has been expelled from the party by state President Akhilesh Yadav for maligning its image and his involvements in illegal activities and irregularities," party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said. The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) had razed the Sitapur MLA Rampal Yadav's "illegal" complex on Thursday and arrested him along with eight others including his relative former MLA Rajendra Yadav for allegedly attacking the LDA team. "The complex was demolished as it was illegal," District Magistrate Rajshekhar said. Rampal was sent to 14-day judicial custody by a local court after he was booked under various sections of IPC including 307 (attempt to murder) and 7 Criminal Law amendment act late last night. The MLA and his supporters on Thursday clashed with police and LDA team after which police used lathicharge to disperse the mob. Meanwhile in Sitapur, a part of the MLA's Sparsh Hotel, was also demolished on Friday as it was against norms, officials said. Rampal, who is SP MLA from Biswan seat of Sitapur, was suspended from the party during panchayat polls after he fielded his son Jitendra for the post of district panchayat chairman against his party's official candidate. Jitendra won the election. However, after elections, his suspension was revoked. New Delhi: BJP leader Subramanium Swamy on Friday sought a discussion in Rajya Sabha over reports that money was allegedly paid to middlemen for managing the Indian media to produce favourable news on the AgustaWestland deal. During the Zero Hour, the nominated member said the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 47th report laid on May 7, 2013 had dealt with the issue of 'paid news'. "Now the paid news has acquired the character of a cancer in our democracy. Recently in the AgustaWestland deal also. Perhaps one of the news channels had published a contract, which was signed between the middlemen and the company for managing the Indian media to produce favourable reports on the deal," he alleged. Read: Italian chopper firm had allotted Rs 50 crore to 'manage' media: BJP "I am rising here to request the House, through you (Deputy Chairman P J Kurien), that this is an important matter that should be discussed in short duration in the House," he said. Yesterday, the BJP had raised the AgustaWestland chopper deal issue in Lok Sabha, expressing concern over the reported misuse of media by the Italian company which had earmarked Rs 50 crore for the purpose to clinch the VVIP chopper deal. Meenakshi Lekhi had suggested that middleman Christian Michel had been given the amount to 'manage' the media. Reports had it that Christian Michel, a British businessman and an alleged middleman in the deal, was paid millions of dollars by AgustaWestland. Interpol had issued a red corner notice against Michel on India's request in December 2015. New Delhi: After cancelling Chinese dissident and Uyghur activist Dolkun Isas visa, India has now denied visas to Chinese dissidents Lu Jinghua from New York and Ray Wong from Hong Kong, who were to attend a conference in Dharamsala on China and democracy, in what is seen as a clear signal that it does not want to annoy Beijing. "I 100 per cent believe it's the Chinese government's pressure on India. I think China has given an economic business deal to India in exchange," Jinghua told NDTV. Read: India denies visa to two activists, says information not accurate Government sources, however, said the visas were denied due to inconsistencies in the documentation of the two dissidents, Lu Jinghua and Ray Wong. "Wrong application is a lie. I followed all directions. I was not given any reason," the activist said, adding, I thought India is a free country. No other country ever had a problem with me. I just wanted to meet the Dalai Lama and pay respect to him. "I always thought positively about the Indian government, which allows Tibetans in exile," she added. Read: Visa row: Dolkun Isa 'suppressed' facts, says India; denies entry to two others India is also keen not to annoy China at this juncture, with a visit by President Pranab Mukherjee to China likely in the near future. As far as Lu Jinghua is concerned, her documents were illegible and there was inconsistency with the purpose of her visit. As far as Ray Wong is concerned, there was data inconsistency in his documents. As such visas were not issued to both these individuals, so the question of revocation doesnt arise, sources said. Lu is a well-known Tiananmen activist, while Ray is a prominent Hong Kong dissident. Anxious to dispel the notion that India bowed to Chinese pressure on Dolkun Isa, India earlier defended its decision to cancel his visa, saying Isa had suppressed the fact that he would attend a conference while seeking a tourist visa, but admitted China had made its clear to New Delhi that it should honour the Interpol red corner notice against him. Read: India cancels visa of Chinese dissident Dolkun Isa Isa applied for a tourist visa under the electronic travel system. He was accordingly granted the visa. After obtaining the visa, Isa said publicly he was coming to attend a conference. A fact which was suppressed in the visa form and something that a tourist visa does not permit, MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said. Les memembres du gouvernement omt pris note que les autorites vont maintenir le Consumer Protection (Maximum Price of Essential Goods) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 sur sept priduits essientiels jusquau 30 juin 2020, que le prix maison va rester a Rs 2.60 mais que les boulangers auront un prix de Rs 108.85 le sac de 25 kilos de farine, des retombees de la visite officielle du Premier Ministre en Inde, de linroduction du Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2019 (Amendment) Bill au Parlment, de la preparation du Private Recruitment Agencies Bill en remplacment du Recruitment of Workers Act entre autres. 1. Cabinet has agreed to maintain the present provisions of the Consumer Protection (Maximum Price of Essential Goods) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 concerning the seven essential product categories namely canned fish, canned tomatoes, cheese, edible oil, margarine, milk powder and pulses, and to provide an additional subsidy of Rs150 million to allow consumers to purchase these products up to 30 June 2022 at the same prices fixed under the Consumer Protection (Maximum Price of Essential Goods) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. 2. Cabinet has agreed to grant additional subsidy to bakeries purchasing flour in 25 kg bags directly from the State Trading Corporation, in order to meet the double objective of maintaining the price of scheduled bread pain maison at Rs2.60 while not penalising bakeries for increases in their production costs. Consequently, the bakeries would purchase a 25 kg bag of flour at Rs108.85 instead of Rs155.50. 3. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Prime Minister to India from 18 to 23 April 2022. He was invited by Shri N. Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India to the Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine and the Inaugural Session of the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit. The laying of the foundation stone of the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was held on 19 April 2022 in Jamnagar, Gujarat, by Prime Minister Modi in the presence of Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, and the Prime Minister of Mauritius. The aim of the Centre is to bring together the use of modern technology and traditional medicine practices and therapy, build a solid evidence base for policies and standards on traditional medicines practices and products and help countries integrate same into their existing health systems. The Prime Minister of Mauritius intervened during the event and thanked both the Government of India and WHO for such a laudable initiative which would be the very first and only global outpost of the WHO traditional medicine. The Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit which was also inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi was held on 20 April 2022, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in the presence of the Director-General of WHO and the Prime Minister of Mauritius. One of the main objectives of the Summit was to attract investments in order to make India the preferred destination as a Global AYUSH Healing Centre in the world. The Prime Minister of Mauritius intervened on that occasion and emphasised that the knowledge of traditional medicine, treatments and practices should not only be respected but should be preserved and promoted. During his visit, the Prime Minister had a bilateral meeting with Shri N. Modi and they discussed ongoing and future development projects as well as partnership and cooperation in various sectors. He thanked the latter for the numerous infrastructural projects being financed by the Indian Government. The Prime Minister also had a meeting with the Director-General of the WHO and he seized the opportunity to thank the WHO for its valuable assistance provided to Mauritius in terms of supply of vaccines in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. He informed the Director General of the decision of Government to set up a pharmaceutical industry and a vaccination industry in Mauritius in order to ensure security of vaccines and medicines to the country and eventually the region. The Prime Minister met HE Dr S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India in New Delhi and briefed him on the possible avenues of further cooperation between the two countries. He, inter alia, discussed the possibility of the Indian authorities providing training to the staff of the Forensic Science Laboratory in order to improve service delivery, particularly in the field of forensic ballistics and explosive services. The Prime Minister had the opportunity to meet HE Bhupendrabhai Rajnikant Patel, the Chief Minister of Gujarat and Hon Smt Anandiben Mafatbhai Patel, the Governor of the State of Uttar Pradesh, as well as HE Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of the State of Uttar Pradesh. He briefed them on the various projects that the Government of India was currently financing as well as future projects. 4. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2019 (Amendment) Bill into the National Assembly. The Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2019 would soon be proclaimed but before same is done, there is need to amend the said Act with a view to curing some cross references with regard to Schedules in the Act. 5. Cabinet has agreed to drafting instructions being conveyed to the Attorney Generals Office to prepare the Private Recruitment Agencies Bill that would repeal and replace the existing Recruitment of Workers Act. The legislation would regulate the licensing and activities of private recruitment agencies in Mauritius. The Bill would incorporate ethical recruitment standards in line with the recommendations of the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration. It would also serve to increase the powers of the Licensing Authority to include suspension of a licence and increase the liabilities of private recruiting agents towards workers they place or persons to be placed. 6. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Cooperative College and the Cooperative Institute of Malaysia. The main objective of the Memorandum of Understanding is to further enhance the networking, strengthen the relationship and consolidate the synergetic efforts between the two institutions. It would also create opportunities to develop programmes for cooperation in training, education and other knowledge-based activities for mutual benefit. 7. Cabinet has agreed to the reopening of the southern part of the Pointe Jerome embarkation point and two delimited areas inside and outside the lagoon at Pointe dEsny as well as maintaining restriction over a radius of 300 metres from the wreck site off lagoon at Pointe dEsny in the aftermath of the MV Wakashio wreck removal operations. 8. Cabinet has agreed to the Road Development Authority implementing some temporary measures to relieve traffic congestion at the entrance of Vallee des Pretres, namely at the Abdool Razack Mohamed/Bernardin de St Pierre Junction. As a short term solution, the following measures have been proposed: (a) signalisation of existing junctions along the B32 Road; (b) provision of a right turning lane for vehicles heading towards Vallee des Pretres at the B32/B143 junction; and (c) construction of a dedicated slip lane which would connect B143 to the Military Road/Abdool Razack Mohamed Streets junction, for traffic coming from Vallee des Pretres, heading towards Plaine Verte. 9. Cabinet has taken note of the status regarding the implementation of the Premium Visa regime as at 31 March 2022. A total of 2,297 applications for Premium Visa has been received from December 2020 to 31 March 2022. Out of these applications, 239 have not been entertained for not fulfilling the required criteria, 382 applications were incomplete and awaiting missing documents, and 46 applications were set aside as applicants were no longer interested in the Premium Visa scheme. 10. Cabinet has taken note of the status of capital building projects implemented by different Ministries/Departments and which are being administered by the cluster teams of the Technical Sections of the Ministry of National Infrastructure and Community Development. As at date, some 271 projects have been registered for implementation in the Project Management Information System (PROMIS) which has been developed in-house, by the Ministry of National Infrastructure and Community Development for effective monitoring of the capital building projects. PROMIS is an interactive intelligent information system which allows the technical officers of that Ministry to administer and update progress on projects on a daily basis. The system is also accessible online to authorised officers, including focal points of Ministries/Departments who have been trained on the system, to view the status of their respective projects and also input relevant information as regards actions taken at their level. 11. Cabinet has taken note of the constitution of the National Tripartite Council with the Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection as Chairperson. The main functions of the Council are to make recommendations to Government on the following issues: (a) labour, industrial relations and health and safety; (b) social and economic policies in the light of changes in the world of work; (c) employment policies and job creation; (d) skills training and upgrading for greater employability; and (e) productivity, competitiveness and efficiency at the workplace. 12. Cabinet has taken note of progress achieved so far regarding the implementation of the Sandbox Framework, introduced in January 2021 to facilitate the development of proof of concepts and pilot exercises to test the possibilities of innovative technologies in Ministries/ Departments. The Ministry of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms has so far received 28 projects for consideration from 11 Ministries/Departments and seven projects from a private company geared towards improving quality of service of different Ministries/Departments under the Sandbox Framework. These projects have been assessed by a Technical Committee and 13 of them have been retained for implementation in view of their transformative impact on service delivery. 13. Cabinet has taken note that the Mauritius Revenue Authority would host the following three World Customs Organisation (WCO) Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) meetings in May 2022: (a) Regional Training Centre Heads Meeting from 5 to 6 May 2022; (b) 35th Regional Steering Group Meeting from 9 to 11 May 2022; and (c) 28th Governing Council Meeting from 12 to 13 May 2022. High level officials from the 24 Member Countries of ESA were expected to participate in the meetings which would be in hybrid format in compliance with the sanitary protocol. The 28th Governing Council Meeting would be attended by, amongst others, Dr K. Mikuriya, Secretary General of the WCO, the Vice-Chair of WCO ESA and Commissioner Generals from ten Member States. 14. Cabinet has taken note of the various observations made by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights following the review of the 9th and 10th Combined Periodic Report of the Republic of Mauritius on the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights held virtually on 07 August 2020. These observations were adopted at the 70th Ordinary Session of the Commission held in The Gambia, from 23 February to 09 March 2022. The State of Mauritius is expected to report on each of the recommendations made in its 11th Periodic Report, which is due in March 2024. The National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow Up would in the near future ventilate the observations made and ensure that remedial actions as appropriate are effected and policy decisions initiated, if warranted. Some of the recommendations made, have already been implemented. 15. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service to mark the International Firefighters Day on 04 May 2022 at the Coromandel Fire Station. The programme would start with the traditional Sound Off which reflects the commitment and sacrifices of firefighters worldwide in a truly poignant manner for emergency service workers. It would comprise a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial stele of firefighters and blood donation at the Coromandel Fire Station. A Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness Campaign for the year 2022 would also be launched on that day. The aim of the campaign is to ensure reduction in risk to the community, through a wide range of appropriate interventions and education programmes in areas such as Fire Safety, Disaster Preparedness, Road Safety, Rope Rescue/Basic Life Support Skills and Hazmat safety. 16. Cabinet has agreed to the Senior Citizens Council, which is an approved service, being governed by the Pay Research Bureau. 17. Cabinet has taken note of the activities that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare would organise in collaboration with the National Childrens Council, in the context of the Day of the African Child 2022 starting as from 01 June 2022 culminating with a Forum Debate on 16 June 2022. The African Union and its Member States commemorate the Day of the African Child on 16 June every year. The theme chosen by the African Union for this year is Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practice since 2013. A local theme has been retained. A Forum Debate on the role and importance of social media among the young generation would be held on 16 June 2022 at the National Women Development Centre, Phoenix. The target audience would be the youth from upper primary and secondary schools. The Ministry would also launch a 16 Days 16 Rights special campaign which would be based on Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children where the young generation would be sensitised on their rights for 16 days, one right per day and also their corresponding duties, responsibilities and obligations. 18. Cabinet has taken note of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic prevailing across the world. Some 511.8 million cases have been reported globally, of which 465.5 million persons have been successfully treated. With regard to Mauritius, as at 27 April 2022, there were 293 active cases of COVID-19, out of which 15 were admitted at the New ENT Hospital. Over the period 21 to 27 April 2022, three deaths were attributed to COVID-19. Cabinet has also taken note of progress in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, including the administration of the booster dose in the Republic of Mauritius. 19. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the second edition of the National Innovation Challenge organised by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council. One of the goals of the competition was to inculcate and nurture an innovation culture amongst the Mauritian population whilst finding practical innovative solutions to common life problems, thereby paving the way for a dynamic, proactive and progressive society. The three winners of the competition were rewarded, namely Ms Haadeeyah Oozeerally (first prize), the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (second prize) and Mr Bhooneswar Nunkoo (third prize). 20. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the following Council/Committees under the Clinical Trials Act: (a) Clinical Research Regulatory Council with Dr Marie France Lan Man Hiew Chan Sun, as Chairperson; (b) Ethics Committee with Mr Dinay Reetoo, as Chairperson; and (c) Pharmacovigilance Committee with Dr Teewaree Roupesh Jaggeshar, as Chairperson. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday summoned former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief S P Tyagi in connection with its money laundering probe in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal. They have asked him to appear before them on Monday. Tyagi has been accused of influencing the the 3,600-crore deal for VVIP helicopters in favour of Italy's AgustaWestland, during his tenure as the IAF chief. However, he has repeatedly denied the allegations against him and earlier this week had reiterated his innocence. "My first reaction is shock... How can anybody say this, on what basis?" Tyagi had said on Wednesday when asked whether he was involved in the VVIP chopper scam. Read: Why no CBI raids against Cong leaders, Kejriwal asks Narendra Modi "They have blamed me for corrupt practices in which I changed the height to assist AgustaWestland, although this decision was not against the public interest. But I was nevertheless being (called) corrupt," the former IAF chief said. "It would appear that the part of the loot came to me. I am shocked," he said. Referring to the case, he said, "This is not a new case. (It has been) going on for years. All the evidences were also presented to the court in Milan itself. The trial court in Milan gave judgement in which they said there was no case of corruption." Read: AgustaWestland deal: Amit Shah targets Sonia Gandhi , asks to come clean The Parliament today saw a high-voltage war of words on the VVIP chopper deal, with BJP and Congress sparring over the issue. The parties launched a privilege war in Parliament as Amit Shah attacked Sonia Gandhi again asking her to explain a "number of relaxations" given to tainted chopper manufacturer AugustaWestland that he said "compromised" nation's interests. Read: AgustaWestland deal: Why is your name on Italy list? BJP asks Sonia Targeting Gandhi, he raised questions telling Congress that instead of adopting an attitude of "thief scolding the cop" should feel "ashamed" and "come clean". Following up on his demand yesterday that Gandhi should name the bribe takers in the Rs.3,600 crore deal, Shah demanded that Gandhi should answer the questions to people of the nation regarding the deal. The Congress hit back and dared the government to come out with the truth in the deal in the next two months instead of issuing threats and launching a "malicious" campaign. "If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when the Monsoon session of Parliament will commence", Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters. Subramanian Swamy, who has needled Congress on the issue for the past two days, tabled a breach of privilege notice in the Rajya Sabha against Azad for his statement that the then UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the parent company of AugustaWestland. The Congress countered it by giving a similar notice against the defence ministry for making a statement on the deal outside the House when Parliament is in session. The new app is an effort to increase the voter turn out as at times voters in a bid to avoid ques don't turn up for voting. (Photo: PTI) Kolkata: Voters in all four constituencies of south Kolkata, which will go to the polls on Saturday, can plan their visit to polling booths with the help of a mobile app that shows the number of voters in queue. The app, 'Q4U', will facilitate electors by informing them how long the queue is. "We have asked the polling personnel to update us with data on queues every 40 minutes. As soon as we get the data it will be uploaded for anyone to see in the mobile app," Smita Pandey, district electoral officer, Kolkata South, said. The voter just needs to download the app from Google Playstore and enter the EPIC (voter ID card) details to know approximately how many voters are there in the queue at any given point of time. "This is part of our effort to ensure that voters do not get turned away due to long queues," officials said. Those who can't use the queue management app can send SMS to 7022192666 with their EPIC number and will get an SMS reply with queue information. A number of political heavyweights, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party candidates who were purportedly seen in the Narada sting operation footage, are in the fray for the crucial fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly poll on Saturday. Students at an AP Eamcet centre in Hyderabad on Friday. As many as 2,78,212 students took the exam in AP and TS. Teachers said the engineering exam was tougher than last year, but the medical test was comparatively easier. One question in the engineering test, No. 49 of Set A, was stated to be wrong. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: Both the TS and AP governments are likely to file review petitions in the Supreme Court seeking exemption from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical and dental colleges for this year. Telangana health minister C. Laxma Reddy said the state government would approach the apex court in view of the hardships medical and dental college aspirants would face if the central test was implemented from this year. We will seek permission from the Supreme Court to allow us go ahead with Eamcet this year, he said, adding that the state government would not mind reaching out to its Andhra Pradesh counterpart for clarity on the Presidential Order under Article 371D of the Constitution that bars students of other states from admission into medical and dental colleges in the two states. AP officials echoed the same sentiments. AP State Council for Higher Education chairman Prof. L. Venugopal Reddy said that the AP government was on the job and a decision on review petition would be taken soon. Telangana State Council for Higher Education chairman Prof. N. Papi Reddy said that provisions of Article 371D as well the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, with regard to admissions for students belonging to the students of both states for ten years, have to be addressed first. Each state needs to submit 15 per cent quota to the Central pool after joining Neet. The case is different for Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh. The 15 per cent quota is to be filled by students from other states, as per the Presi-dential Order. Students from other states could join Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh medical colleges only if an amendment is made to this order, Mr Papi Reddy said. Sources said the two state governments were waiting for copies of the Supreme Court before filing their petitions. Private medical colleges to hold tests The private medical and dental colleges in Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh will go ahead with their respective entrance tests to fill the management category seats despite the Supreme Court on Thursday mandating the National Eligibility Entrance Test for admissions to all medical and dental colleges nationwide. While the test is scheduled to be held on May 13 in Andhra Pradesh, it will be held on May 20 in Telangana. Telangana Private Medical and Dental Colle-ges Association president C. Lakshmi Nara-simha Rao said that members will go ahead and conduct the test this year. Thirty-five per cent of management quota seats in each of the private college will be filled based on the rank achieved in this separate test, he said. If Neet comes into effect, there will be no other medical test in the country and a separate test conducted by the private colleges in Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh will be no exception to that rule, Mr Narasimha Rao said. New HOPE of McDowell is gearing up for their sixth annual No Excuse for Abuse 5K. New HOPE of McDowell is the only local Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Agency in McDowell County and uses this annual event to raise money and awareness for the agency. Through this event and others, New HOPE has been able to provide services free of charge to those fleeing violent and abusive situations for over 30 years. A few of the services offered by New HOPE are emergency shelter, assistance with Domestic Violence Protective Orders, court advocacy, case management, a 24-hour crisis line, support groups, clothing vouchers, legal referrals, community education and much more. The 5K will be held on Saturday starting and finishing at the McDowell County Courthouse lawn. Early registered runners may pick up their race packets at New HOPEs office on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday, registration for runners will be from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. on the courthouse lawn. Pre-registered runners can also pick up their bags during this time if needed. The first 100 runners will receive a race bag filled with coupons, samples, a unique race shirt and other goodies. The race will begin at 9 am and will be followed by an awards ceremony with lots of amazing prizes from local businesses. The price of registration is $25 and can be paid by cash or check. Runners, walkers and jogging strollers are all welcome to participate. There is also the option to participate in a non-competitive school team at the 5K. This allows teachers, students and parents to represent their school while supporting an end to violence in families and relationships. These teams can wear their school colors and will all receive a participation metal at the awards ceremony following the race. New HOPE is a non-profit agency that depends on the community for the majority of its funding. By coming to participate in this event you are providing this agency with the support they rely on. We are so grateful for all of the runners, volunteers, staff members, and board members joining together to make this our most profitable 5K yet, said Brenna Shea, a client services advocate for New HOPE. Also, I want to thank the sponsors, donors, Finish Line Pros, and the Marion Police Department. Without them this event would not be possible. Your dedication to the success of our agency is what makes us thrive. New HOPE still needs volunteers for the event as well. If you are interested in helping out this agency you can also volunteer at one of their two Community Outreach Thrift Stores, donate monetarily, or donate food/household/clothing items for their residents and items to stock their thrift stores. If you are interested in volunteering, please call (828) 652-8538. New HOPE asks you to remember this theme: We run so they dont have to! The sponsors for this event are Nara Express, Boones Woodlawn Quarry, Hunters Liver Mush Company, Goldsmith, Goldsmith, and Dews P.A., East Marion UMC, Mission Hospital, Haldex, Tates Insurance, Jim Cook Chevrolet, RMA Karate, Columbia Carolina, and two funds in memory of Thurston Vettraino and Noah Woods. The donors are Tweetsie Railroad, Flat Rock Playhouse, Carowinds Cares, Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Fatz, Friends of the WNC Nature Center and BI-LO. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not cut any deal of any sort in the Agusta investigations, a furious Government said on Friday evening while lashing out at the Opposition fiercely adding that the central issue in the matter is corruption and that any other line of assumption, approach and effort, as is being attempted in some quarters, is misleading, tries to hide the wrong-doers and is driven by instincts of self preservation. The Government also termed attempts to link NSA Ajit Doval and Principal Secretary to PM Nripendra Mishra to one of the accused as a totally baseless assertion and indicative of malicious intent. Those who cannot see Prime Minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prime Minister Modi did not cut any deal of any sort. His only goal and priority is the development of comprehensive national power, and empowerment of our masses, the Government statement said. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi in connection with its money laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP copter deal case. This is the first time that the ex-Chief Of Staff of the Indian Air Force has been summoned by the central agency. Official sources said the summons to Tyagi have been issued under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. While the exact date when Tyagi is supposed to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case here has been kept under wraps, it is understood he has been asked to come in person in the next week. The CBI has questioned Tyagi earlier in the same case and he had then denied any wrongdoing. The CBI has also summoned former Air Marshal J.S. Gujaral, who had allegedly attended a crucial meeting pertaining to the contract in March 2005, on Saturday. The allegation against the former Air chief is that he allegedly reduced the height of the VVIP helicopters so that AgustaWestland could be included in the bids. 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. PC Gamer, Friday, April 29, 2016 10:10 AM Perhaps known best for its HDTVs and the Galaxy family of smartphones and tablets, Samsung is now building up its software offerings in its quest to stake out a presence in the living rooms, automobiles, and smart cities of the future. The Korean electronics giant unveiled an SDK for its smart TVs at its developers conference in San Francisco today, the latest addition to the company's campaign to bring developers into its Internet of Things ecosystem. The goal is to help Samsung achieve a "lion's share" of the estimated 20 billion Internet-connected devices that will be produced by 2020, according to company executives. Read the whole story at PC Gamer by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, April 29, 2016 From cat videos to vacation photos to recipes and back to cat pictures again, social media is all about sharing content but that core functionality may be interfering with our ability to learn and remember new information, according to a new study by researchers at Cornell University and Beijing University. In the study, published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, the researchers asked Chinese students to read posts from the Chinese social media site Weibo, a microblogging platform similar to Twitter, as well as a scientific article printed on paper. During the social media portion of the experiment, one group of students was also allowed to repost interesting content from Weibo if they chose, while the other group had no option for reposting. The researchers then tested the students for recall of the messages in the posts as well as the content of the printed article. Overall, the students who were allowed to repost material returned twice the number of wrong answers as the group which was not allowed to repost, and displayed lower comprehension of the original messages across the board but recall was especially poor for the messages that they had actually reposted. advertisement advertisement In the second part of the experiment, the researchers tested subjects on the content of the printed scientific article after allowing the students to use Weibo, again with one group allowed to repost and the other prohibited from doing so. Once again, students who were allowed to repost content on Weibo did significantly worse in comprehension and recall than students who only read the article. A questionnaire issued after the test on the article showed that the students who reposted were operating under more cognitive demands and fatigue, in what one of the researchers described as cognitive overload. Back in 2014 I wrote about another study whose results suggest social media makes us, well, dumb, by enabling a kind of cognitive copycat phenomenon, undermining our true analytical skills. In the study, titled Analytical Reasoning Task Reveals Limits of Social Learning in Networks, researchers at the University of Oregon grouped subjects into social networks structured to have different levels of connectivity, controlling the extent and frequency of interaction between subjects. The subjects were then given a series of challenging cognitive reflection tests, requiring the respondents to use their analytical skills to avoid arriving at the seemingly obvious (but incorrect) conclusion. Subjects first had to solve the problem themselves; then, as the experiment went on, they were allowed to see answers from other members of their social network before they gave their own. The researchers found that subjects in networks with high connectivity were able to give the correct answer more often when they were allowed to see their neighbors answers first. But when the subjects were then forced to solve three more problems without the benefit of their social networks, the error rate rose to the previous level. Thus, while the social networks had helped them get the right answer, they hadnt improved their ability to think through the problems independently. by Sara Guaglione , April 29, 2016 The New York Times Company announced today the hire of David Rubin as senior vice president and head of brand. He most recently served as head of global brand marketing at Pinterest. Rubin joined NYTCO on April 25 and is responsible for leading enterprise-wide brand strategy, development and execution. He reports to chief revenue officer, Meredith Kopit Levien. How we lead and tell the story of our brand in a digital era matters more than ever, Kopit Levien stated. The New York Times brand is a mighty, meaningful and sometimes-overlooked asset that will play a huge role in our success." Prior to Pinterest, Rubin was the marketing vice president of Unilevers US hair care brands, including Dove, Suave, Tresemme, Nexxus, Axe and Just for Me. Before hair care, Rubin led the launch of Axe bodyspray into North America in 2002. As Publishers Daily previously reported, NYTCO is said to be considering downsizing or closing its Paris office, possibly moving many positions to London. Closing the Paris office would consolidate the NYTs overseas operations in order to strengthen their branding. advertisement advertisement NYTCO rebranded the 126-year-old International Herald Tribune as the International New York Times in 2013, hoping to make its connection to the U.S. flagship more obvious and boost readership. Last week, NYTCO announced that it was investing $50 million in a new overseas news initiative, which will bring The New York Times content to new markets with local editions in major languages. Commenting on Rubin's appointment, Kopit Levien added that building The Times consumer brand reputation for the next generation has become even more important. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 29, 2016 The Federal Communications Commission has rejected the ad industry's request to extend the comment period on proposed privacy rules that would limit some forms of behavioral targeting. "An extension is not warranted in this instance," Matthew DelNero, chief of the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau, wrote in an order issued Friday. "A timely resolution of this proceeding will be beneficial for both consumers and industry alike, providing clarity and certainty going forward, and as such, an extension of the comment deadline is not in the public interest." The decision means that initial comments on the privacy proposal are still due by May 27. The move marks a defeat for industry groups like the Association of National Advertisers, Interactive Advertising Bureau and US Telecom, which sought more time to comment on proposed rules that would limit broadband providers' ability to engage in online behavioral advertising. (Ad industry groups asked for an additional 60 days, while the broadband industry requested an extra 45 days.) advertisement advertisement The ANA argued it needed more time to analyze the proposal, which would require broadband providers to obtain subscribers' explicit consent before using data about their Web-surfing activity to serve them targeted ads. The FCC's 147-page "notice of proposed rulemaking" also poses more than 500 questions, including whether certain forms of tracking technologies -- including "supercookies" and "deep packet inspection" -- should be banned. Advocacy groups opposed the request for an extension, arguing that the FCC signaled more than one year ago that it planned to propose broadband privacy rules. The FCC said it agreed with the advocates on that point. "The Commission put interested parties on notice more than a year ago that it would address broadband privacy issues through a separate proceeding," the order states. "We agree with the Opposition that the issues addressed by the Broadband Privacy NPRM are not unanticipated." KOZHIKODE: With the Assembly elections approaching, the areas notorious for bomb-making in the Nadapuram-Kuttiadi region of the district have become active with a series of bomb blasts. Four persons were injured in a blast on Wednesday night. There were a few bomb-throwing incidents also. The police have intensified the checks on abandoned houses and open areas, especially in the Thalassery-Chokli-Nadapuram belt. Rural SP Prateesh Kumar told DC that the four men who were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital and Government Hospital, Kuttiady, following the bomb blast would be interrogated as soon as the medical reports are ready. Linesh, 26, Vannathi Meethal, Chelakkad; Lineesh, 24, Narippatta; Vivek, 35, Thaniyullathil; and Vijesh, 31, Chembottummal, Theruvam Parambu were the injured. A DYFi worker Vishnu, Payanthong Poovullathil, who was in the area of blast, was taken into custody. A total of 11 steel bombs and bomb-making materials were seized from Theruvanparambu, near Kallachi, Nadapuram. Police confirmed that the blast occurred while making bombs. They are also checking whether more people were involved in the incident. The CPM district committee denied any connection with the blast and demanded a comprehensive probe. Locals say that it was the third time that big and small blasts were taking place in the region around Kummamkode after the elections were declared. However, police say that they were not bombs, but modified crackers. There are issues of bomb-making and bomb testing in the area. In some cases, the people belonging to opposite groups hurl modified crackers at each other while riding on bikes. We are intensifying the raids into abandoned areas and houses, especially the areas bordering Kannur, said Mr Prateesh. The bomb squad as well as the dog squad are involved in the raid in areas infamous for bomb-making. The bomb testing also has become common in the area during night, say locals. In Mudavanthery, a youngster, Samad, was allegedly injured while making bomb last week. In 2011, five Muslim Youth League workers were killed while making bombs in Narikkatteri. The Rural SP said that though party workers were involved sometimes, the blast was region-specific. by Jess Nelson , April 29, 2016 Luxury brands are behind on standardized best practices in email marketing and fail to offer customers a personalized experience, suggests a recent study by ContactLab and Exane BNP. Customer engagement specialist Contact Lab partnered with Exane BNP Paribas to evaluate how effective luxury brands were at email marketing. The report delved into the email strategy and proficiency of thirty luxury brands from both the American and Italian markets. Cartier and Burberry were distinguished as leaders in both email strategy and proficiency, but the report suggests that the luxury industry overall lacks integration between emails and ecommerce services. advertisement advertisement Only Cartier included a Book an Appointment option in its email marketing, while only Burberry included Collect in Store link. Considering emails known role in incentivizing consumers to shop in stores, a lack of cohesive strategy between in-store and email marketing could spell trouble for luxury brands. Furthermore, a majority of luxury brands studied in the report lack advanced segmentation and strategic planning. Some brands such as Dolce & Gabbana and Armani address customers by name or gender, but only a small minority asked customers for more detailed information for advanced targeting. Examples could include asking for a ZIP code for geotargeting capabilities or content preferences for more relevant advertising messages. Segmented and targeted emails generate 58% of all email revenue, according to the Direct Marketing Association. Campaign Monitor has also noted a direct correlation between revenue and segmented campaigns. Todays consumers are bombarded with information, and marketers are constantly looking for ways to cut through the noise and reach audiences, states Campaign Monitor in a blog post online. Relevancy is the marketers secret weapon, and the fastest path to revenue. Emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened and marketers have found a 760% increase in email revenue from segmented campaigns. The quest to find the fountain of eternal youth is probably as old as aging itself. New research, published in Current Biology, moves humanity another small step closer to the prize. A gene has been identified that plays a role in keeping people looking younger than their years. Share on Pinterest Comparing the face of an average 47-year-old (L), and 70-year-old (R). Image credit: Fan Liu Humans have an in-built, subconscious ability to make a snap decision based on someones face. This has served us well throughout evolutionary history; reading facial expressions could mean the difference between a friendly encounter and a battle to the death. Beyond facial expressions of anger and fear, we are also predisposed to judge people by their age. Someone younger might be perceived as a rival or be chosen as a potential mate over someone who looks less likely to be fertile. A research team from the Netherlands has, for the first time, identified a gene that is partly responsible for a more youthful appearance. Although one single gene on its own can not explain the intricacies of aging, its discovery may open doors to new avenues of research. The team, from Manfred Kayser of Erasmus Medical Center University Medical Center, Rotterdam, investigated more than 8,000,000 DNA variants as part of their search. The teams work is a landmark finding in the field of aging and genetics. Study could help physicians choose care path for some cancer patients. A new study led by researchers at the University of Minnesota and Nantes University Hospital in France shows that the bacteria in people's gut may predict their risk of life-threatening blood infections following high-dose chemotherapy. The study was published in Genome Medicine, a peer-reviewed open access journal. About 20,000 cancer patients receive high-dose chemotherapy each year in preparation for bone marrow or stem cell transplants. Typically about 20 to 40 percent develop blood infections following the chemotherapy. Sadly, about 15-30 percent of those patients die as a result of the infections. Bacteria are thought to enter the bloodstream through intestinal lesions due to chemotherapy-induced inflammation of the membrane lining the digestive tract. Once the infection begins, patients' own immune systems are depleted and are often unable to fight off the pathogens and antibiotics often don't work. There are currently no good ways to predict which patients will acquire a bloodstream infection. Antibiotic regimens vary widely between clinics. In some clinics, all patients are given preventative antibiotics throughout their chemotherapy. In other clinics, few patients are given preventative antibiotics because the antibiotics can lead to increased antibiotic resistance in the patients. In this study, the researchers set out to understand how the starting configuration of the gut bacteria, before the patient begins treatment, relates to risk of bloodstream infection. They collected fecal samples from 28 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma before the patients began chemotherapy. The researchers sequenced the bacterial DNA to measure the health of the bacterial ecosystem in each patient's gut. Eleven of the 28 subjects acquired a bloodstream infection following their chemotherapy, but interestingly the researchers found that those patients may have had more than bad luck going against them. They had significantly different mixtures of gut bacteria than the patients who did not get infections. Using computational tools, the researchers then created an algorithm that can learn which bacteria are good and bad from studying one set of patients, and can then predict whether a new patient it has not seen before will get an infection, with around 85 percent accuracy. "This method worked even better than we expected because we found a consistent difference between the gut bacteria in those who developed infections and those who did not," said the study's co-author Dan Knights, an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota's Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Biotechnology Institute. "This research is an early demonstration that we may be able to use the bugs in our gut to predict infections and possibly develop new prognostic models in other diseases," Knights added. While the predictive model used in this study was robust, the researchers caution that their findings are still based on a limited number of patients with a single type of chemotherapy at a single clinic. They say the next step is to validate their approach in a much larger cohort including patients with different cancer types, different treatment types, and from multiple treatment centers. "We still need to determine if these bacteria are playing any kind of causal role in the infections, or if they are simply acting as biomarkers for some other predisposing condition in the patient," said study co-author Emmanuel Montassier, a researcher at the Nantes University Hospital and former researcher at the University of Minnesota. The study was supported by Nantes University Hospital Grant (BRD/10/04-Q and the Robert Tournut award of the French National Society of Gastroenterology. Servier announced that the European Commission has granted a Marketing Authorisation for LONSURF (trifluridine/tipiracil), formerly known as TAS102, in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have been previously treated with, or are not considered candidates for, available therapies including fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin and irinotecanbased chemotherapies, antiVEGF agents, and antiEGFR agents.1 This follows the positive opinion received by the European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in February 2016, which recommended the licensing of trifluridine/tipiracil for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).3 The Marketing Authorisation is based on data from the international, doubleblind, placebocontrolled Phase III RECOURSE study, which investigated the efficacy and safety of trifluridine/tipiracil plus best supportive care (BSC) compared to placebo plus BSC in 800 patients with previously treated mCRC.2 The trial met the primary endpoint of a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS).2 The median OS improved from 5.3 months with placebo to 7.1 months with trifluridine/tipiracil, an improvement of 1.8 months.2 The hazard ratio for death in the trifluridine/tipiracil group versus the placebo group was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58 to 0.81; P<0.001).2 The most frequently observed side effects ( 30%) in patients receiving trifluridine/tipiracil were neutropenia, nausea, fatigue, anaemia and leucopenia.2 Dr Mark Saunders, lead Consultant Clinical Oncologist at The Christie's Colorectal and Peritoneal Oncology Centre said "From my own limited use of this product, and from the clinical trials, Lonsurf appears to be generally well tolerated and to extend the lives of patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Lonsurf's mechanism of action means that it is effective in patients regardless of their RAS status or resistance to previous treatments. This could be a valuable new drug and could give my patients some precious extra time." An updated analysis of OS was carried out on the RECOURSE population and was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology - Gastro Intestinal (ASCO GI) 2016 congress.4 As the updated analysis was conducted at a later time point, it included additional events; 89% of the study population had died at this point compared to 72% at the time of the original analysis.2,4 The results confirmed the clinically meaningful and, statistically significant, survival benefit of trifluridine/tipiracil, providing patients who have exhausted the other treatment options available to them with an improvement of around 2 months in OS (median).4 The median OS was 7.2 months for trifluridine/tipiracil (+BSC) vs 5.2 months for placebo (+ BSC) (HR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.81; p<0.0001), this translated into 1year survival rates of 27.1% and 16.6%, respectively.4 Trifluridine/tipiracil is now licensed for use in the 28 member countries of the European Union (EU), as well as Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway.1 Availability and funding of trifluridine/tipiracil for patients via the NHS is dependent upon a review by the relevant national Health Technology Appraisal bodies, which is expected to conclude later this year. A study to be published in the May 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) reports that use of certain antidepressants during pregnancy can result in offspring depression by early adolescence. Using national register data from Finland, researchers found that children exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during gestation had more chance of being diagnosed with depression after age 12, reaching a cumulative incidence of 8.2% by age 15. For children exposed to maternal psychiatric illness but no antidepressants, the incidence was 1.9%. Rates of anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses did not differ significantly between the two groups. Comparing SSRI-exposed children to children of mothers with neither antidepressant use nor psychiatric diagnosis, researchers found the rates were significantly elevated for each outcome. Animal studies already demonstrated that exposure to SSRIs during early brain development can result in depression-like behavior in adolescence; this is the first study that follows children beyond childhood to monitor the development of depressive disorders, which typically emerge after puberty has started. The increasing rate of SSRI prescriptions to pregnant women since their introduction 30 years ago makes the study of affected children particularly urgent. Today 6% of pregnant women in the US and 4% in Finland are on SSRIs at some stage of pregnancy. To investigate whether using SSRIs during pregnancy is associated with offspring psychiatric disorders, researchers from Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, and Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology joined forces with researchers from the University of Turku and Helsinki in Finland. They examined psychiatric diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, ASD, and ADHD, in the offspring of nearly 16,000 mothers who had used SSRIs during pregnancy between 1996 and 2010. Children in this cohort ranged in age from 0 to 15 years old. Because maternal psychiatric illness can affect offspring neurodevelopment in the absence of SSRIs, primary comparisons were made between offspring of the SSRI group and offspring of mothers with a psychiatric disorder diagnosis but no antidepressant use. "The results are in line with studies in rodents, suggesting that SSRI use during pregnancy increases the risk of offspring depression,'' Dr. Heli Malm, the first author of the study, said. "However, the oldest subjects had only just entered the age of risk for depression, and we know that mood disorders typically emerge after the onset of puberty. Further research is therefore urgently needed to follow these children as they get older to substantiate our findings. Until confirmed, these findings must be balanced against the adverse consequences of untreated maternal depression. While some women with mild to moderate depression may do well coming off antidepressants during pregnancy, severe depression when left untreated can lead to serious consequences in the mother and can have direct and indirect adverse effects on the pregnancy, the fetus, and the child." While it might seem reassuring that the results showed no elevated risk of ASD and ADHD for SSRI-exposed offspring, there may still be significant effects on offspring risk for depression. Dr. Andre Sourander, co-author of the study, added: "Further studies should determine whether the developing fetus is particularly sensitive to the effects of SSRIs in different trimesters, whether some medications may be safer than others for the fetus, and whether evidence-based psychotherapies could be better utilized to maximize maternal benefits while minimizing risk to the long-term health of the developing fetus." Gestational Exposure to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Offspring Psychiatric Disorders: A National Register-Based Study. Heli Malm, MD, PhD, Alan S. Brown, MD, Mika Gissler, PhD, David Gyllenberg, MD, PhD, Susanna Hinkka-Yli-Salomaki, PhLic, Ian W. McKeague, PhD, Myrna Weissman, PhD, Priya Wickramaratne, PhD, Miia Artama, PhD, Jay A. Gingrich, MD, Andre Sourander, MD, PhD. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. DOI:10.1016/j.jaac.2016.02.013. Published online March 02, 2016. Advertisement In the new study, senior author Axel Nimmerjahn, an assistant professor in Salk's Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, and his team improved upon the miniaturized microscopes they first described back in 2008. The researchers' new version--which features numerous hardware and software improvements--enabled them to visualize changes in cellular activity in awake, roaming mice."For a long time, researchers have dreamed of being able to record cellular activity patterns in the spinal cord of an awake animal. On top of that, we can now do this in a freely behaving animal, which is very exciting," says first author Kohei Sekiguchi, a Salk researcher and PhD student at the University of California, San Diego.In the new work, the group found that distinct stimuli--such as light touch or pressure--activate different subsets of spinal sensory neurons. They also found that certain features, like the intensity or duration of a given stimulus, are reflected in the activity of the neurons.To the team's surprise, astrocytes, traditionally thought to be passive support cells, also respond to stimuli (albeit differently than the neurons). Though the astrocytes cannot send electrical signals like neurons can, they generated their own chemical signals in a coordinated way during intense stimuli.Nimmerjahn is excited about this result because his group has a longstanding interest in understanding astrocytes and their roles in nervous system function and disease. These cells are increasingly appreciated as important players in how the nervous system develops and operates and could serve as promising new drug targets, he says."Not only can we now study normal sensory processing, but we can also look at disease contexts like spinal cord injury and how treatments actually affect the cells," says Nimmerjahn.The team is now working to simultaneously record touch or pain-related activity in the brain and spinal cord using additional iterations of the miniaturized microscopes, which allow them to monitor and manipulate multiple cell types at even higher resolutions.Source: Eurekalert Advertisement In a recent study by NASA Ames Research Center and other researchers, the garments saved 13 out of 14 patients in Pakistan who were in shock from extreme blood loss.In another study in Egypt and Nigeria, the garment reduced both blood loss and mortality from postpartum hemorrhage by 50 percent."In the field of maternal health, we generally don't see that kind of a reduction, and even more so when it's the result of a single, simple intervention," said Suellen Miller, founder of the Safe Motherhood Programme which aims to reduce pregnancy- and childbirth-related deaths and illnesses across the globe.By 2012, the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians both decided to officially recommend the device to treat postpartum hemorrhage.Since then, 20 countries have purchased a lower-cost version of the pressure garment called "LifeWrap", produced by a manufacturer founded by Safe Motherhood and the nonprofit PATH."We've determined that these suits can be used at least 70 times," Miller said. "So we're looking at a life-saving device that costs less than a dollar per use."LifeWrap is applied to a woman suffering from postpartum hemorrhage.More recently, Miller and her colleagues conducted training for Doctors Without Borders and the Canadian Red Cross so they could use the garment in Ebola-stricken countries in Africa."LifeWraps" have also been provided for ambulances in East Timor and are being used increasingly throughout rural Tanzania.Miller thanks the US space agency for the critical role it played in getting the technology to this point."We're taking this suit to the village, we're taking it to the hut, we're taking it to the poorest, most vulnerable, voiceless, powerless people grounded into the Earth, and making a difference for them," she said in a NASA statement.Miller also reported that some of the doctors and midwives she has met have voiced their own thanks for the garment, which has taken many names over the years: they like to call it the "miracle suit".Every year, at least 70,000 women die from obstetric hemorrhage - mostly in the world's least developed countries.Source: IANS Advertisement Kigerl's new assessment aims to give mental health examiners a way to prioritize patients for quicker evaluation and help determine who should be involuntarily committed. "If it's looking like someone is at an exceptionally high risk of committing a violent crime, the process should be expedited for the patient to receive an evaluation and even to be hospitalized," he said. "Less risky patients who are not likely to be a danger to other people can be put on a less restrictive alternative where they are in an outpatient setting and can receive treatment and visitations from mental health staff in a less oppressive environment."Kigerl and Hamilton prepared the assessment tool for the nonpartisan Washington State Institute for Public Policy, which the state legislature has asked to develop a risk-assessment instrument for patients with mental health issues. The researchers modified a tool used for offenders under state department of corrections supervision, called the Static Risk Assessment or SRA. "Static" characteristics refer to characteristics that can't be changed, like sex, age and prior offenses.The SRA only uses those items because they lend themselves to easy computation, saving the staff and evaluator time needed to manually assess dynamic factors like mental health and substance abuse, said Kigerl. The researchers adapted the SRA to create the SRA for Mental Health Patients, or SRA-MHP, using a sample of 16,289 involuntarily committed patients and 8,713 patients undergoing evaluation after being charged with a crime.The researchers developed their assessment using data from half the pool of patients, then tested its predictive power by comparing it against the other half. "The next step on this project would be to add dynamic characteristics - ones that can be changed - such as clinical variables about the patient, their mental health status, maybe chemical dependency, their employment and educational attainment and history," said Kigerl."If you look at a lot of literature on risk assessments, dynamic factors add slow but incremental improvement." The strength of the tool is measured by a figure called the "area under the curve," or AUC. An AUC of .5 would mean a tool is about as good a predictor as a coin flip. An AUC of 1.0 is perfect.The old evaluation method has an AUC of .79; the new SRA-MHP gave an AUC of .81."When we're talking about violent offenses, a little bit can go a long way," Kigerl said. The research is in keeping with WSU's Grand Challenges, research initiatives aimed at large societal problems. It is particularly relevant to the Sustaining Health challenge and its theme of promoting healthy communities, as well as the challenge Advancing Opportunity and Equity.Source: Eurekalert Eczema comes from the Greek word "ekzein", meaning "to boil". It is also known as dermatitis, literally meaning inflammation of the skin. It is a condition in which the skin becomes dry, scaly, extremely itchy, red, and crusty and may also bleed in extreme cases. The surface of the skin contains water and oil which gives it enough moisture to keep it hydrated at all times. When one is suffering from eczema, the normal moisture is lost allowing the skin to get exposed to irritants, bacteria and infection. Some of the daily substances like soap, washing liquid further rob the essential oils required for it to remain well-nourished, thus irritating the skin. The exact cause is unknown, but it is linked to genetic inheritance. Eczema can run in families, making their members much more prone to the condition. Persons with eczema are more prone to hay fever and asthma as there are underlying allergic processes that lead to eczema. The flare ups are caused by irritant substances like soap, detergent, hand wash, shampoo, disinfectants and even certain fruit juices, vegetables, nuts, soy products, dairy products, wheat, egg and meat can cause the acute inflammatory reaction. Advertisement Certain allergens like pollens, dust mite, microbes and pet dander/fur can trigger eczema in an individual. Extreme temperature, excessive sweat are also responsible. Stress is another major factor that is known to cause eczema. There are different types of eczema: Atopic Dermatitis- This refers to a familial tendency and genetic inheritance for eczema. It is an intolerance towards seemingly harmless substances like pollen, dust, wool, etc. This refers to a familial tendency and genetic inheritance for eczema. It is an intolerance towards seemingly harmless substances like pollen, dust, wool, etc. Contact Dermatitis- This is commonly the result of repeated exposure to an irritant substance like detergent, dye, chemicals, polish, soap, etc. This is commonly the result of repeated exposure to an irritant substance like detergent, dye, chemicals, polish, soap, etc. Adult Seborrheic Dermatitis- This affects hairy areas like the scalp, torso, and folds of the body like armpits, and groin. It produces a yellowish flaking skin. This affects hairy areas like the scalp, torso, and folds of the body like armpits, and groin. It produces a yellowish flaking skin. Infantile Seborrhoeic Dermatitis- This affects an infants scalp and is also called as Cradle Cap. It is similar to adult seborrheic dermatitis. This affects an infants scalp and is also called as Cradle Cap. It is similar to adult seborrheic dermatitis. Discoid Dermatitis- This produces coin shaped lesions of eczema on the skin. This produces coin shaped lesions of eczema on the skin. Pompholyx- This is a severe version of eczema that produces large blisters on hands and feet. This is a severe version of eczema that produces large blisters on hands and feet. Asteatotic Dermatitis- This affects adults over the age of 60 years and causes severe dryness. This affects adults over the age of 60 years and causes severe dryness. Varicose Eczema- This is common in legs of people having varicose, enlarged veins for long. Eczema symptoms vary from individual to individual, and people of all ages are affected, but eczema is commonly seen in children and young adults. Some of its prominent symptoms include: Sensitive and dry skin Severe itching Recurring red rashes Leathery rough patches with scaling of skin Oozing, crusting or bleeding may occur depending on the severity Inflamed red skin Intense itching is the hallmark of eczema, where the patient may scratch until it bleeds which further damages the skin and leads to more irritation. It is a cycle where itching forces one to scratch leading to skin damage and a tendency to restart an itch. The diagnosis is purely based on the physical appearance, clinical examination and analysis of personal and family history given by the patient. However, skin biopsy and allergy test are done to rule out other causes of similar skin conditions and to pin point the exact cause to treat difficult atopic dermatitis cases. Homeopathy is a holistic science and considers the whole person that is affected and not just the affected part. Every individual in the family is eating, breathing and wearing the same thing as the affected individual, but why does only one particular person suffer from otherwise harmless substances? As discussed earlier, eczema is often linked with other medical conditions and a detailed history, right from the time of pregnancy of the mother to the birth of the child and childhood history are all considered while evaluating a case in homeopathy. A patients physical history, mental history, past medical history, family history, habits, preferences, lifestyle and mental health are all taken into consideration. After taking the history and examining the patient, the homeopathic physician evaluates the case by analysing the symptoms obtained. After fully studying and applying his knowledge of various homeopathic remedies, the doctor may suggest remedies according to each individual. This is classical homeopathic practice. However, there are certain specific, emergency remedies which a homeopathic physician may use in cases of acute flare ups, if necessary. There are several remedies in homeopathy called as constitutional remedies that give the best results in the cases of chronic, stubborn eczema. Remedies like Alumina, Arsenicum album, Antimony crud, Apis mellifica, Belladonna, Calcarea carb, Calcarea sulph, Dulcamara, Graphites, Hepar sulph, Medorrhinum, Petroleum, Sulphur, Urtica urens, are commonly used for eczema treatment based on the different symptoms of the patients. Advertisement The 5 most common homeopathic remedies for eczema are as follows: Arsenicum album: It is a homeopathy remedy made from arsenic trioxide powder mixed with lactose. This mixture can relieve burning sensation caused by itchy eczema. It is a homeopathy remedy made from arsenic trioxide powder mixed with lactose. This mixture can relieve burning sensation caused by itchy eczema. Graphites: Prepared using powdered form of graphites, this mineral is prescribed extensively for curing eczema with immense crusting and oozing of yellow/honey-like discharges. Hard, rough skin with cracks and crusts, especially on the left hand side of the body responds beautifully to graphites. Cold compresses or rubs can be given to the patient as it improves their condition greatly. Prepared using powdered form of graphites, this mineral is prescribed extensively for curing eczema with immense crusting and oozing of yellow/honey-like discharges. Hard, rough skin with cracks and crusts, especially on the left hand side of the body responds beautifully to graphites. Cold compresses or rubs can be given to the patient as it improves their condition greatly. Medorrhinum: Persons affected with eczema are passionate with extreme tendencies. Being nervous, these persons often have eczema right from childhood, often along with asthma. Itching is intense to the point of bleeding. Patients complaints tend to improve by visiting sea shores. Persons affected with eczema are passionate with extreme tendencies. Being nervous, these persons often have eczema right from childhood, often along with asthma. Itching is intense to the point of bleeding. Patients complaints tend to improve by visiting sea shores. Sulphur: A most well known homeopathic remedy for skin troubles, sulphur relieves intense eczema with severe redness, itching, rawness, burning and dirty looking patches. Bathing, warm conditions and heat exposure can worsen the condition, but the patients may opt for cold water bath and staying in dry surroundings to neutralize its effects and heal faster. Psorinum: A remedy prepared from a nosode, intense chilliness, itching and bleeding characterize the eczema needing psorinum. Offensiveness of discharges and despair and depression are common accompaniments of the eczema that progresses to cure with psorinum doses. Other homeopathic remedies include Urtica Urens ointment, which can in some cases give relief to itchy eczema. Calendula ointment can help in broken and infected skin. It speeds up the healing process in cases of rawness and inflammation. Some people find the combination of its soothing property and the moisturizing effect of the oily base of the ointment extremely helpful. The protesters broke into a dance around the PWD officials in their office. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Buldhana: In a completely bizarre incident, residents of Buldhana in Maharashtra walked into the Public Works Department's (PWD) office and started performing Nagin dance to protest against the apathy of the officials. The PWD officials had allegedly refused to hear their grievances so the locals decided to stage this unique form of protest in their office. The protesters had brought garlands with them and started dancing around the PWD officials. The locals claimed that despite several complains against the poor condition of roads near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Market, the civic officials did not do anything. Sultan Shahin, formerly a journalist who has worked in India and the United Kingdom, is a leading Islamic reformer. He is currently the editor of NewAgeIslam.com, a reformist website which publishes articles on the struggle within Islam, especially with regard to radicalization in India. On February 3, Sultan Shahin delivered a speech at a counter-terrorism conference in the Indian city of Jaipur where he called for reform from within Islam. "Moderate, progressive Muslims must urgently evolve and propagate an alternative theology of peace and pluralism, human rights and gender justice," he said, adding: "Radicalization has not just happened overnight." Following are excerpts from his speech: "Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Has Attracted Over 30,000 Muslims From 100 Countries"; "But This Should Not Have Come As A Surprise To Us In India" "The ease and swiftness with which the so-called Islamic State and the self-declared khilafat [caliphate] of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has attracted over 30,000 Muslims from 100 countries around the globe in just one year has surprised many. But this should not have come as a surprise to us in India. From Indian Subcontinent alone, less than a hundred years ago, at least 18,000 Muslims had left their homes, even government jobs, and marched off to fight for the last Ottoman Khilafat. This was madness, pure and simple. Most ruined their lives and some died. But they are considered ghazis [fighter] and martyrs. Important clerics including Maulana Abul Kalam Azad [who later became the first education minister of India] issued fatwas calling for Jihad or Hijrat (emigration) from British India, which was considered Darul Harb (Land of conflict, ruled by infidels), as a religious duty. "So, for a large section of Muslims the lure of a Khilafat that would rule the world, eliminate all other religions, particularly all forms of idolatry, establish the truth of Islam, is nothing new. When Baghdadi announced his khilafat, it was welcomed in many Muslim newspapers in India. An influential cleric from Nadwatul Ulama [madrassa in the northern Indian city of Lucknow], went so far as to post a letter to the so-called Khalifa on his Facebook page, addressing him as Emir-ul- Momineen, spiritual leader of all Muslims. He faced no protest, not even from Nadwa or Darul Uloom Deoband. "With the so-called Islamic State proudly broadcasting its monstrous brutalities and inhuman practices like sex slavery, the community is embarrassed and support is now muted. But this can only be described as hypocrisy. India's most popular Islamic preacher and Ahl-e-Hadithi televangelist Zakir Naik has been saying for years, that 'Allah has made halal [permitted] for Muslims [to have] sex with slaves and women captured in war.' Muslim religious leaders have never protested. But when ISIS takes these fatwas and Wahhabi/Salafi teachings to their logical conclusion, actually kidnaps and makes Yazidi, Christian and Shia women sex slaves, the community is embarrassed and some clerics start saying Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. "[N]ot only does [the] Koran specifically forbid all violence against innocents and repeatedly warns against aggression, but the Prophet himself avoided violence as much as possible in the most trying times of Islam's infancy." "Global Muslim Missionary Organization Tablighi Jamaat... Which Has Up To 150 Million Adherents In Over 200 Countries Now, Focuses Entirely On Segregating Muslims From The Mainstream" "It is true that madrassas and mosques do not overtly preach violence and terrorism. But it is also true that textbooks in madrassas do preach supremacism, xenophobia, exclusivism and intolerance. Thus they do the groundwork for militant ideologies by instilling in their students a binary thinking of Muslim/Kafir [infidel] as opposites who cannot co-exist. As a result, some Muslims self-segregate and alienate themselves from the mainstream. A global Muslim missionary organization Tablighi Jamaat, for instance, which has up to 150 million adherents in over 200 countries now, focuses entirely on segregating Muslims from the mainstream, asking them to maintain a separate identity, and prohibiting them from following any customs they may have in common with the non-Muslim majority. This Wahhabi/Salafi organization was recently banned from university campuses in Pakistani Punjab but faces no such restriction in India. "Indeed, a Muslim is bombarded from all sides with sermons calling for Jihad; a Jihad, which is shorn of all its spiritual content and used simply as a synonym for qital, warfare. Even historical fiction written by 20th century Urdu novelist Nasim Hejazi, for instance, can be taken as a call for Jihad, far more effective than any overt Jihadi literature. In most popular Urdu fairy tales, Dastan-e-Amir Hamzah, for instance, the central character is fighting with demons who do not believe in oneness of God and are thus kafir. The devotional poetry a Muslim listens to at Sufi shrines contain lines like the following: 'Aaj bhi darte hain kafir Haidari Talwar se,' meaning, even today the kafirs are afraid of the sword of Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph. Even the first biographies of the Prophet written by Arabs called them 'Maghazi Rasulullah,' meaning battle accounts of the Prophet. "The first Muslims, the Arabs, could not celebrate his devotion to peace, moderation, Huqooqul Ibad (human rights) and mystical approach to religion. They could only hail him as a hero presenting him as a great warrior which he was not. He barely lifted a sword once or twice, 14 years after prophethood, at the age of 54, purely in defense. The prayer a Muslim has been hearing week after week in every Friday sermon for 1400 years is for victory over kuffar (infidels), establishment of the true religion of Islam, dominance over the whole world, elimination of idolatry from the planet, and so on, all generating supremacism, exclusivism, xenophobia and intolerance. "The idea of a permanent confrontation with the kafir, thus, runs through our veins. In verses often quoted by militant ideologues, God assures Muslims in two places in Koran (8:12 and 3: 151) that 'He will cast terror into the hearts of the Kuffars (Unbelievers).' This is a contextual verse, like some others, similarly militant and intolerant, revealed during the course of the existential wars waged by the Muslims in early Islam. Any rational Muslim would say today that these contextual war verses do not apply to us anymore. But you will not find even those moderate scholars seeking to refute terrorist ideologies saying that. In fact, the refutations go on to actually justify the core theology of terror and violence." "Apocalyptic Prophesies Are One Of The Chief Tools Used By ISIS To Attract Muslim Youth To Be Part Of An End-Time War" "A hundred thousand copies of an Arabic book titled 'Refuting ISIS' has recently been distributed in Syria and Iraq. It is also available online in English. The author Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi is, of course, sincere in his refutation. But he too quotes from the same set of end-time prophesies, seeking to prove that [ISIS leader] Baghdadi and his clique are idiots and should be fought, thus giving credibility to these same series of millenarian prophesies. So what he actually ends up doing amounts to strengthening ISIS' propaganda of the allegedly coming apocalypse. Unlike Al-Qaeda, which did not talk so much about apocalypse, ISIS vision is largely apocalyptic. They base the justification for their war as being the prophesied end-times war. They sacrificed many men capturing a militarily insignificant town called Dabiq (which is also the name of their mouthpiece) because the end-times prophecies refer to a war in this town. "Apocalyptic prophesies are one of the chief tools used by ISIS to attract Muslim youth to be part of an end-time war. These end-time prophesies can only by questioned fruitfully by questioning the credibility of narrations that were collected up to 300 years after the demise of the Prophet and attributed to him, not by calling them akin to revelation. Some of these prophesies also come from speculative readings of two allegorical verses in the Koran: 4:159 and 43:61. Muslims have been asked not to speculate about their meaning and leave them alone. But, of course, Muslims do, and the result is prophesied scenarios of apocalyptic wars. "Similarly, in its core theology even the 14,000-word fatwa issued recently (August 2015) by 120 scholars from around the world, agrees with the militant ideologies. Their 'Open Letter to Al-Baghdadi' also calls Hadith akin to revelation, knowing full well that all justifications of killings of innocent civilians come from a hadith attributing to the Prophet permission for killing of innocents in an attack at Taif by the use of catapult (manjaniq): (Sahih Muslim 19:4321 & Sahih Bukhari 4: 52:256). This hadith is also used by Al-Qaeda to justify use of weapons of mass destruction. "In point 16, Hudud (Punishment), the moderate fatwa establishes a general rule: 'Hudud punishments (death for apostasy, etc.) are fixed in the Koran and Hadith and are unquestionably obligatory in Islamic Law.' Having accepted the basic premise of the Baghdadi tribe [of ISIS] it goes on to criticize its implementation in the so-called Islamic State. But once moderate ulema [scholars] have accepted the basic premise of Hudud (Punishments) based on some verses of Koran and Seventh century Bedouin tribal Arab mores being 'unquestionably obligatory in Islamic Law,' what difference does actually remain between moderation and extremism? "In point 20 of the fatwa, the moderate ulema seem to be justifying the destruction of idols and Sufi shrines, by talking of the supposed Islamic obligation to destroy and remove all manifestations of shirk (idolatry), only opposing the destruction of graves of the prophets and their companion. "In point 22 of the Open Letter, titled 'The Caliphate,' the moderate ulema again concur with the basic proposition of the Baghdadi clique: 'There is agreement (ittifaq) among scholars that a caliphate is an obligation upon the Ummah. The Ummah has lacked a caliphate since 1924 CE.' "This moderate fatwa even expresses belief in the theory of abrogation, whereby terror ideologues debunk peaceful Meccan verses that came at the beginning of Islam. Thus, like Sheikh Yaqoobi's 'Refuting ISIS' this fatwa too strengthens the terrorist ideology, while criticizing its practice." "The Commonly Accepted Theology Of Most Muslims Agrees With The Following [Seven] Features Of The Jihadist Theology" - God As Implacable, Koran As Uncreated, Ahadith, Sharia, Jihad, Hijra, Caliphate "This is not surprising. The commonly accepted theology of most Muslims agrees with the following features of the Jihadist theology: "1. It regards God as an implacable, anthropomorphic figure permanently at war with those who do not believe in His uniqueness, as against the Sufi or Vedantic concept of God as universal consciousness or universal intelligence radiating His grace from every atom in the universe; "2. Koran as an uncreated aspect of God, a copy of the eternal Book lying in the Heavenly vault. Hence all its verses, in their literal meaning, have to be treated as an eternal guidance to Muslims without any reference to context; "3. Ahadith or so-called sayings of Prophet Muhammad... as akin to revelation, even though they were collected two to three hundred years after the demise of the Prophet; "4. Shari'a laws as divine, even though they were first codified 120 years after God announced the completion of the religion in one of the last verses in Koran; "5. Jihad in the sense of Qital (warfare) as the sixth pillar of Islam; "6. Hijra (migration to Darul Islam - abode of Islam - from Darul Harab - Land of disbelief and conflict) as a religious duty and an act of devotion; "7. A caliphate is an obligation upon the Ummah (global Muslim community)." "It Is Not Possible To Accept Classical Theologians And Reject Their Modern Militant Offshoots"; "No Surprise That Some Of Our Educated, 21st Century, Internet Generation Youth Choose To Rather Be Honest Terrorists Than Dishonest Hypocrites" "Twentieth century scholars like Syed Qutb (1906-1966) of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and Abul A'la Maududi (1903-1979), of India and later Pakistan, who founded Jamaat-e-Islami, are considered the two fathers of modern Islamist terrorism or Jihadism. More contemporary ideologues who have contributed enormously to the Jihadist discourse are Abdullah Yusuf Azzam (1941-89) and Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi (Born: 1959), etc. "Many Muslim scholars would distance themselves from these militant scholars today. But the reason Jihadism is so influential and attractive to so many is that the Jihadist theology is based on the popular theology propounded by major classical Arab theologians like Ibn Taimiyya (1263-1328), and Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab (1703-1792) or for that matter major Indian theologians like Mujaddid Alf-e-Saani Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi (1564 -1624) and Shah Waliullah Dehlavi (1703-1762). "For hundreds of years now, major Muslim theologians have been engaged in creating a coherent and comprehensive theology of supremacism, intolerance and violence in order to expand the Islamic reach. They have conclusively made the lower form of Jihad, i.e., warfare, compulsory for all able-bodied Muslims. Luminaries of Islam have established a theology which basically says that Islam must conquer the world and it is the religious duty of all Muslims to strive towards that goal and contribute to it in whatever way they can. All these theologians present in essence a supremacist, exclusivist, xenophobic and intolerant view of Islam and wield enormous influence on our clergy today. "It is not possible to accept classical theologians and reject their modern militant offshoots just as it is not possible to reject Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi and accept Zakir Naik simply because the latter is not actually having sex with sex slaves as Baghdadi is. Our radicalized youngsters can very well see the hypocrisy of those who on the one hand revere Taimiyya, Wahhab, Sirhindi and Waliullah and on the other hand claim to oppose Qutb, Maududi, Azzam and Maqdisi and their followers like Osama bin Laden and Abu-Bakr Al-Baghdadi. No surprise that some of our educated, 21st century, internet generation youth choose to rather be honest terrorists than dishonest hypocrites like their parents, community leaders, politicians, madrassa teachers, mosque imams, intellectuals, etc. who keep saying Islam is a religion of peace while also professing belief in the core theology of Jihadism, equating it with Islam." "The Idea Of Jihad Against Kuffar And Hijrat (Emigration) To The So-Called Islamic State As A Religious Duty Is Preposterous At A Time When Millions Of Arab Muslims Are Marching Almost Barefoot To Europe, The So-Called Darul Harb" "One of the key instructions of God was moderation in matters of religion (Koran: 4:171 and 5:80). This was repeated often by the Prophet 'Beware of extremism in religion, for it destroyed those before you.' (Sahih al-Jami' nos. 1851 & 3248, M.N. al-Albani, no. 2680, and & Al-Sahihah of M.N. Al-Albani, no. 1283.) But extremism has been endemic in Islam, present almost from the beginning of Islamic history. Muslims fought among themselves and quite vehemently even before the collection of Hadith which they now consider divine, and codification of Shari'a which they consider their religious duty to impose on the world. "Muslims have still not found an antidote to militant verses in the Koran. Considering all verses of Koran as providing eternal guidance undermines the universality of essential, foundational, constitutive, verses that were revealed largely in the initial years of Islam in Mecca. We received very good advice from Pope Francis recently (September 2015), which is consistent with several verses in the Koran. Describing the holy Koran has as a 'prophetic book of peace,' Pope Francis asked Muslims to seek 'an adequate interpretation.' The Koran also asks Muslims repeatedly to reflect upon the verses and find their best meaning, as in Chapter 39: verse 55; 39:18; 39:55; 38:29; 2:121; 47:24, etc. "Calling Hadith and Shari'a divinely inspired and fundamental elements of Islamic faith is irrational. Saying that it is a Muslim's primary religious duty to help establish God's sovereignty on earth and impose 'divine' Shari'a Laws on the globe is only a way to intensify extremism which goes against the basic tenets of Islam. The idea of Jihad against kuffar and hijrat (emigration) to the so-called Islamic State as a religious duty is preposterous at a time when millions of Arab Muslims are marching almost barefoot to Europe, the so-called Darul Harb, seeking refuge, a refuge that is denied to them by the so-called Darul Islam in the Arab world. "Muslims will just have to abandon the generally accepted current theology that leads to violence and supremacism. We will need to revisit all our literature, even popular fiction and romance, and explain to our youth that we are now living in a multicultural, multi-religious world where a binary thinking of Muslim/Kafir as opposites and permanent war with them or self-segregation is just not viable. Even Saudi Arabia, which teaches in its schools the worst forms of intolerance, xenophobia, supremacism and exclusivism, has to deal with all religious communities. "ISIS may be militarily defeated tomorrow and even go out of existence. But this will not solve the problem of Muslim radicalization. If our madrassas and educational institutions continue to prepare the ground for self-segregation and militancy, expounding the current theology, mixed with narratives of victimhood and marginalisation, Islam will continue to be hobbled, Muslims will continue to struggle to fit in the way of life in contemporary world. "Moderate, progressive Muslims must urgently evolve and propagate an alternative theology of peace and pluralism, human rights and gender justice, consistent in all respects with the teachings of Islam, and suitable for contemporary and future societies, while refuting the current theology of violence and supremacism. Unfortunately, as we have seen above, the task is not so easy. Radicalization has not just happened overnight. Jihadi theology has evolved over hundreds of years. Major theologians who have studied Islam independently have brought to us a political version of Islam, stripping the religion of all its spirituality. "While it is primarily the duty of Muslims to fight this ideological war within slam, this is no longer just a Muslim concern. The world too must confront Muslim scholars with the supremacism and extremism present in their theology and ask them to rethink Islam. Progressive Muslims should join the rest of the world to defeat extremism in Islamic theology." Source: NewAgeIslam.com (India), February 3, 2016. The original English of this piece has been lightly edited for clarity and standardization. On February 29, Pakistan executed Malik Mumtaz Qadri, an elite security commando who assassinated Punjab's liberal Governor Salman Taseer in January 2011 for advocating reforms in Pakistan's blasphemy laws. The title "Qadri" denotes a person's association with the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam, which approves of Sufism. After Qadri's execution, noted Islamic cleric Mufti Muhammad Tahir Makki wrote an article in Urdu daily Roznama Ummat titled "Malik Mumtaz - a Hero of Muslims But..." Makki dropped the surname Qadri from his article to enforce the argument that Malik Mumtaz Qadri is a hero for all Muslims, and therefore should not be identified with any one doctrinal sect of Islam. The cleric argued that the Pakistani government executed Malik Mumtaz Qadri because Islamic scholars are divided between various sects and the government estimated that the protests against his execution would be limited solely to Barelvi groups. Following is the text of the column: "Many Of Such National Heroes Of Ours [Like Malik Mumtaz Qadri] Have Been Hanged; And These Executions Will Not Lessen The Incidents Of This Type" "After meeting with the blasphemer [jailed Pakistani Christian woman] Aasia [Bibi], former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer declared at a press conference [stating] that [Pakistan's] law on the blasphemy of the Prophet is a 'Black Law' and should be quashed. After that his closest security guard 'Malik Mumtaz' shot him dead. It is extremely sad that this great mujahid and lover of the Prophet was hanged at 4:00am on the last morning of February at the Adiala jail [in Rawalpindi, on February 29]. The sadness is not about whether he experienced pain or not; he has reached the highest level of Jannat-ul-Firdaus [the highest level of paradise]. But [rather] that our government and our President [Mamnoon Hussain] poured salt on the [wounded] hearts of Muslims by rejecting the mercy appeal. Instead of the government accepting that its governor was guilty by uttering the words [about the blasphemy law], our hero was hanged. "Many such national heroes of ours have been hanged; and these executions will not lessen the incidents of this type, because the cruelty with which Ghazi Ilmuddin the martyr and other mujahideen were hanged [during the 1920s and 1930s for killing blasphemers] did not prevent subsequent occurrence of such incidents. After the execution of Malik Mumtaz, the nerve of the lovers of the Prophet will not weaken. "Salman Taseer experienced what the Supreme Court of Pakistan wrote in its remarks in 1993 after observing the blasphemous sentences of the Qadianis [pejorative term for Ahmadi Muslims]: 'The blasphemous content Mirza Qadiani has authored, after reading it, listening to it, witnessing it - if a Muslim cannot control himself, what can be said about it?' What to speak of Qadianis, if any person commits a direct or indirect blasphemy of the Prophet of Allah, then [any] Muslim will be outraged; this is the sign of his belief. This is what happened with Malik Mumtaz, because the Punjab governor described the law enacted to prevent the occurrence of blasphemy of the Prophet as a 'Black Law'; in other words, he indirectly declared that the law that prevents the blasphemy of Allah's Prophet is wrong. In other words, the blasphemy of Allah's Prophet can keep occurring - and there's no problem? How can a Muslim tolerate this? "When Ghazi Ilmuddin [who murdered a Lahore-based Hindu publisher for blasphemy in 1929] was kept in a dark lock-up at Mianwali [now in Pakistan], on the last night [before his hanging], a guard saw that the dark lock-up was suddenly filled up with light. He quickly went inside and the lock-up was filled with a pleasant fragrance but Ilmuddin was asleep. He woke Ilmuddin up, and after a prolonged debate and discussion, Ilmuddin replied: the person in whose name I am going to be sacrificed [i.e. be hanged], the Prophet Muhammad, the prophet of Allah peace be upon him, visited me [in my dream]... Anyway, I am certain that even if Malik Mumtaz did not tell anyone, nevertheless he had met with his dear beloved [Prophet Muhammad]." "I Have Been Saying And Have Also Condemned In Media Statements [The Fact] That Malik Mumtaz [Is] Called A 'Barelvi'; He Is A Muslim And A National Hero For All" "Hundreds of thousands of salutes to Malik Mumtaz. But with extreme sadness, I would like to convey to our Barelvi clerics: do not engage in [religious] doctrinal games on this issue. This will cause damage, in the future too. In other words, Malik Mumtaz [who was a member of Barelvi/Sufi movement known as Dawat-i-Islami] - it does not matter if he was Barelvi by hundreds of thousands of degrees, the place he has created in the hearts of Muslims is not due to Barelvism. "As a 'Lover of the Prophet,' it should have happened that a movement could have been launched at the national level by declaring Malik Mumtaz as national hero... Such a movement should have formally included: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, Aalami Majlis Khatme-e-Nabuwwat, Shaban Khatm-e-Nabuwwat, Majlis-e-Ahrar, Nawaz League [the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif], PP [i.e. Pakistan People's Party], Tehreek-e-Insaf [of Imran Khan], Wafaq-ul-Madaris, Millat-e-Jaaferia, and all big and small religious organizations. It could have issued a call to the nation: 'We do not know whether Malik Mumtaz is Deobandi or Barelvi, Shia or Sunni; only that he has assassinated a bad person and should be freed.' "Ever since Salman Taseer was killed [in January 2011], I have been saying and have also condemned in media statements [the fact] that Malik Mumtaz [is] called a 'Barelvi'; he is a Muslim and a national hero for all. However, it was not heard. I consider the [organizational] disagreements within the Muslim Ummah to be the cause of his execution. Wherever a protest was organized on the issue of Malik Mumtaz, only Barelvi scholars were there. It became obvious that the government understood that there will not be a big problem on his martyrdom [i.e. execution], and the protests will be carried out only by the Barelvi clerics. "It is extremely sad that when Malik Mumtaz was hanged, the Barelvi followers took up the flags of [Barelvi organization] Sunni Tahreek and came to the streets in my city [of Tando Adam to protest]; neither I nor any other important leader was informed. And they did not hold any discussion with anyone, nor invited other organizations to come with them to close shops [in order to protest]. The damage was such that many shopkeepers telephoned me to ask whether we should also observe hartal [protesting by shutting down businesses]. I told them: why not, it should be done. Then they said: well, isn't this a shutdown only by the Barelvis? I told them: whoever organizes, this is being organized for expressing unity with the lover of the prophet, this should happen. "The city was open [for business] just after an hour [meaning that the protests failed]. What is this? This is the result of not working with unity. For future reference, I urge all of my friends - whether they are Barelvis or Deobandis, Ahle Hadith or Shia - any issue on which all Muslims are united, no one should raise it alone in order to shine their organization's name. This is because the real power is not in Barelvism, Deobandism, Shi'ism, Ahle Hadithism; the real power is in Islam and in Muslims. So why should we not use that name that has the power? The Koran has said [3:169], 'those who were martyred in the path of Allah, do not even consider them dead, they are alive.'" Source: Roznama Ummat (Pakistan), March 3, 2016. Hyderabad: Industries minister K.T. Rama Rao who has been named the TRS in-charge for the Palair Assembly byelection, on Friday lambasted the Telugu Desam, a party that was founded on anti-Congress plank for supporting Congress party in the bypoll. Addressing TRS workers at Palair on Friday, Mr Rama Rao said, I was just reaching Palair via Kusumanchi where I have seen TD, YSR Congress flags along with Congress ones asking people to vote for the Congress. It is amazing how the TD, a party founded by a great personality like N.T. Rama Rao on the anti-Congress plank, has decided to support the Congress in Palair. It is rather disgraceful. It is an example of opportunistic politics. Reacting to the criticism from the Congress and TD over the TRS fielding its candidate in a bypoll and thus bypassing the tradition of not contesting against the family of a deceased MLA, Mr Rama Rao questioned the TD if it was so sincere in following tradition, why had it fielded a candidate in the recent Narayankhed bypoll. Meanwhile, a total of 16 nominations were filed for the Palair bypoll by Friday, the last day for filing papers. R&B minister Tummala Nageswara Rao (TRS) and R. Sucharitha Reddy, wife of late Ramreddy Venkata Reddy (Congress) filed their papers on Friday. CPM candidate Pothineni Sudarshan had already filed his papers. Except for these three candidates from mainstream political parties the other 13 are Independents. The TD, YSRC and BJP have not fielded their candidates. The TD and YSRC are supporting the Congress. The Supreme Court has ordered a common national entrance test for medical courses to be conducted in two phases, on May 1 and July 24, giving every aspiring doctor and dentist in India a chance to qualify and serve as a medical professional. The uncertainty over NEET was unequivocally cleared once again by one of the judges of a Constitution Bench on Friday. There had been fierce opposition to the ruling by some states on the grounds that it was too late to implement the order for this years admissions. But this was only on the grounds of logistics, which is probably the least thing to worry about. The court said it would anyway address the points expressed in the pleas for modifications to the blanket order on the conduct of Neet. There are far larger principles to be served in trying to define how the best brains can be drafted into an essential profession whose practitioners will have much to do with shaping how competently medical care is provided and how best the general health of the population can be raised. Most other arguments are defeated by the fact that all the top court is, at last, ordering is a proper, merit-based, all-India evaluation of aspirants, including those eligible for reserved seats. This should have happened a few years ago, and would indeed have if not for the order of a former CJI on the last day of his tenure. While meritorious students have little to fear from taking one competitive medical entrance test rather than several expensive ones there are said to be as many as 90 being held around the country those affected will be students of a system which has inured them to picking candidates based on their HSC marks, and not on the basis of an objective and analytical test. Reservation in Tamil Nadu this runs to 69 per cent will also be hit as quotas in the 52,000-plus seats will continue only for SC/ST students. The suspicion is even if states may genuinely wish not to see the rural students too disadvantaged in such competition, the private medical colleges are seen opposing the reforms only because they would lose control of the admission process as well as the huge capitation fee racket that runs regardless of it being expressly forbidden. If we want doctors to serve patients best, it stands to reason that the opportunity should be given to the brightest students to take up a crucial profession. In 1998, the world leaders attending a UN General Assembly special session on global drug policies proclaimed, A drug-free world We can do it! They vowed to rid the world of illegal narcotics by 2008, employing the zero-tolerance approach begun in the 1960s, of harshly punishing everyone from trafficking kingpins to casual smokers of pot. But last week, as their successors met in New York City for another special session on the issue, it was clear that this punitive approach had not only failed miserably but had led to unconscionable abuses. Globally, the war on drugs has not succeeded, said Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General who has served since 2011 on the blue-ribbon Global Commission on Drug Policy. In a bluntly worded commentary article, Mr Annan wrote that despite the $100 billion spent annually, Prohibition has had little impact on the supply of or demand for drugs When law enforcement succeeds in one area, drug production simply moves to another region or country, drug trafficking moves to another route and drug users switch to a different drug. Nor has prohibition significantly reduced use. Studies have consistently failed to establish the existence of a link between the harshness of a countrys drug laws and its levels of drug use. The widespread criminalisation and punishment of people who use drugs, the over-crowded prisons, mean that the war on drugs is, to a significant degree, a war on drug users a war on people. Tellingly, equally strong criticisms were voiced by other eminent figures as well as by numerous governments. An unlikely constellation of politicians, business leaders and activists including former Presidents of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Switzerland, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, and rock star Sting released a public letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying, The drug control regime that emerged during the last century has proven disastrous for global health, security and human rights. The government of Colombias official submission likened the continued faith in the war-on-drugs approach to Albert Einsteins definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The evidence of the harm done to millions by the war on drugs is incontestable. In the US, for decades the harshest drug-warrior, one in every five prisoners owes their incarceration to drug-related offences, generally minor in nature and selectively enforced against African-Americans. Executions for drug trafficking are commonplace in Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and two-dozen others in 2015, at least 685 people around the world were executed on drug-related charges. In several Latin American countries, the battle between drug cartels and government forces has led to levels of killings, violence, torture and rape akin to countries at war. In parallel, the war on drugs has had disastrous public health and environmental costs. Countless men and women who inject drugs have contracted HIV and Hepatitis C in the many nations, rich and poor alike, that prohibit essential harm reduction services, such as providing clean injection equipment, even though these have been hugely successful where used and have long been recommended by the World Health Organisation. In Colombia, herbicide aerial spraying to destroy coca undertaken at dictatorial American pressure has fuelled miscarriages and other health problems, destroyed food crops and caused lasting environmental damage. (The Colombian governments recent decision to halt aerial spraying earned it the ire of the Obama administration.) It is no wonder that Mr Annan writes despairingly, I believe that drugs have destroyed many lives, but wrong government policies have destroyed many more. Given this evidence of harm as well as the failure to curb drug use, any sensible observer would have bet that affected governments Indias included, faced with mounting drug use and a failed response would have used the UN summit last week to junk the war on drugs and instead to embrace rational approaches. A persuasive alternative had been laid out by Mr Annan and the other eminent members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, based on the experience of countries that are finally showing success in tackling drug use and its toll. The commissions roadmap involves measures aimed at both use and supply. A first is to decriminalise personal drug use, so that the harm done by drugs is tackled by the public health system and social services, not by the police and jails. A second so that drug supplies are no longer driven by the profit motive is sensible, finely tuned legal regulation, for instance by legalising the sale of cannabis (already widely underway in Europe and the Americas, by creating government monopolies to counter black-market sales, and by ensuring that risky hard drugs are available only by medical prescription to people already registered as dependent users. Third, to ensure that drugs cause the least possible harm to users, the commission recommends the expansion of both treatment services and harm reduction measures such as clean injecting equipment and supervised use. A final recommendation is to jettison the utopian goal of drug-free societies in favour of the reasonable one of achieving feasible reductions through higher taxes and public education campaigns, as commonly done with tobacco and alcohol (both drugs that, ironically, have been treated as legitimate despite being demonstrably physically addictive and more harmful than many banned substances). But, so vast are the failures of global policy-making that none of what was expected came to pass: the UN special session ended with the war on drugs approach intact. None of what Mr Annan and reformist governments urgently asked for made it into the roadmap agreed last week: not the end of criminalisation, incarceration and executions, nor the expansion of harm reduction, treatment and legalised regulation. The upshot is that reformist countries will have to chart their own course, breaking with the existing global conventions on narcotics. All this desperately needed progress was subverted by the cussedness of hardline governments and officials at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime an inept organisation dominated by drug-warriors Russia and the US. The world is left more dangerous and unfair as a consequence. A vicious attack was launched by BJP MP, Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha in Zero Hour on April 27 and in a section of the media on Indias Struggle for Independence, a book published in 1988, 28 years ago, by Bipan Chandra, K.N. Panikkar and the three of us. Deliberate misrepresentation of Bipan Chandras views on Bhagat Singh is being done by saying that he used the term revolutionary terrorism to denigrate the martyr. In fact, the first time the term revolutionary terrorism is used in the book is on Page 142. Chandra wrote two chapters on a term we use without any pejorative meaning and for want of a different term. In his later writings, Chandra himself stopped using this term as the word terrorism had acquired a very negative meaning in recent years. For example, in his introduction to Bhagat Singhs Why I am an Atheist, published in 2006, Chandra does not use the word terrorism and says, Bhagat Singh was not only one of Indias greatest freedom fighters and revolutionary socialists, but also one of its early Marxist thinkers and ideologues. Chandra added further, Unfortunately, this last aspect is relatively unknown with the result that all sorts of reactionaries, obscurantists and communalists have been wrongly and dishonestly trying to utilise for their own politics and ideologies, the name and fame of Bhagat Singh and his comrades such as Chandrasekhar Azad. (Quoted from The Writings of Bipan Chandra: The Making of Modern India, From Marx to Gandhi) He had also wanted to make the change in Indias Struggle for Independence and had said so publicly. However, due to ill health and failing eyesight he could not revise the book as he had planned before his death. The co-authors had planned that the volume in its revised version will use the formulation that Bipan Chandra himself made in his later writings. To attack a great scholar when he is no more, a scholar who did so much to bring Bhagat Singh to the centrestage, appears to be part of a larger design to silence critics. He was the person who first found and published in 1970 as a pamphlet at his own expense Bhagat Singhs now famous essay, Why I am an Atheist. His last public lecture was the Inaugural Lecture for the Bhagat Singh Chair at JNU in April 2011, in which he said that Bhagat Singh, if he had lived, would have been the Lenin of India, and his last (unfinished) book was a biography of Bhagat Singh. A completely unfounded attack on the book by a section of the media is that it valourises Jawaharlal Nehru to the exclusion of other leaders. In fact, a special feature of Indias Struggle for Independence is the balanced treatment of all political trends, from liberals to socialists and Communists, and of all movements, from 1857 to Ghadar to Indian National Army, Swadeshi to Quit India, peasant and trade union movements, anti-caste movements and states peoples movements, and of all leaders, from Dadabhai Naoroji to Birsa Munda, and Lokmanya Tilak, and from Gandhiji and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to Jayaprakash Narayan and Aruna Asaf Ali. Another completely baseless allegation made in the Lok Sabha is that while denigrating Bhagat Singh, the authors have praised Rahul Gandhi as a charismatic leader, an allegation that we strongly deny since none of the authors have written anything on Rahul Gandhi. Washington: Inspired by NASA research on inflated anti-gravity suit, 'miracle suits' are helping save new mothers around the world by preventing blood loss during or after childbirth, according to the US space agency. Every year at least 70,000 women die from obstetric hemorrhage - mostly in the world's least developed countries, where effective medications, blood transfusions and surgery can be hours or even days away - time a hemorrhaging woman just does not have. Previously, researchers at the NASA Ames Research Centre proposed applying pressure to a woman's entire lower body using an inflated anti-gravity suit, or G-suit, which prevents blood from pooling in the legs by using air-filled bladders. NASA has long relied on them to keep test pilots from blacking out during extreme acceleration and astronauts use them during re-entry to squeeze the arms and legs and push blood back towards the head as they readjust to the pull of Earth's gravity. Latest research at Ames has led to a better understanding of the physiology of G-suits and the realisation that even lower pressures could be used effectively to decrease bleeding and shift blood back to the heart and brain. California-based Zoex Corporation developed the first commercially available pressure garment suitable for treating shock and blood loss in the early 1990s. Since the pressure did not need to be as strong as in military and aviation cases, the company scrapped the old-style G-suits for a non-pneumatic version using simple elastic compression. In a 2004 study by Ames and other researchers, the garments saved 13 out of 14 patients in Pakistan who were in shock from extreme blood loss, NASA said in a statement. In another study in Egypt and Nigeria, published in 2007, the garment reduced both blood loss and mortality from postpartum hemorrhage by 50 per cent. Suellen Miller, the founder of the Safe Motherhood Programme, said the results were remarkable. "In the field of maternal health, we generally don't see that kind of a reduction, and even more so when it's the result of a single, simple intervention," she said. By 2012, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians both decided to officially recommend the device to treat postpartum hemorrhage, NASA said. Since then, 20 countries have purchased a lower-cost version of the pressure garment called LifeWrap, produced by a manufacturer founded by Safe Motherhood and nonprofit PATH. "We've determined that these suits can be used at least 70 times. So we are looking at a life-saving device that costs less than a dollar per use," said Miller. In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, which ravaged the Philippines in November 2013, the Safe Motherhood Programme donated garments to midwives working in disaster zones. More recently, Miller and colleagues conducted training for Doctors Without Borders and the Canadian Red Cross so they could use the garment in Ebola-stricken countries in Africa. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Sriharikota: India has realised the dream of having an indigenous navigation system. The successful launch of the PSLV-C33 rocket on Thursday placed the IRNSS-1G satellite into designated orbit. With this launch, Isro has completed the constellation of 7 satellites for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). The PSLV-C33 rocket lifted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 12.50 pm. Twenty minutes from the launch the rocket placed the 1,425 kg satellite into a designated sub Geosynchronous Transfer orbit. The PSLV marked yet another textbook launch and its 34th consecutive successful mission, reaffirming its dependability. The launch was precise and successful, Isro chairman A.S.Kiran Kumar said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who watched the launch live from New Delhi said, With this successful launch, we will determine our own paths powered by our technology. This is a great gift to people from scientists. The benefits from this new technology will benefit our people, our fishermen. This is an example of made in India and made for Indians. 125 crore Indians have got a new Navigation, he said. Our efforts will not only help India but we can help fellow SAARC nations as well, he added. After the injection into the preliminary orbit, the two solar panels of IRNSS-1G were automatically deployed in quick succession and Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan took control of the satellite. After the orbit raising manoeuvres the satellite will be placed in the geostationary orbit, Isro said. Like all other IRNSS satellites, IRNSS-1G also has two types of payloads, navigation payload and ranging payload. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1G will transmit navigation service signals to the users. IRNSS can be used for terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation. It can be integrated with the mobile phones. Like GPS, IRNSS too can be used in car navigation, aircraft, smartphones. It can also be used for vehicle tracking and fleet management. It will give visual and voice navigation for drivers. Besides the military purposes, it will be helpful in disaster management operations as well. If it is produced at the low cost it can replace the GPS in the region. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. An Apple spokesman declined to comment or say what Mackowiak did for the company, but a LinkedIn profile that has since been taken down listed him as a software engineer. (Photo: AP) California: An Apple Inc employee who was found dead at the company's California headquarters died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, police said on Thursday. "The Coroner's office has identified the decedent as Edward Thomas Mackowiak, age 25. The Medical Examiner determined the manner of death was suicide and the cause was a gunshot to the head," the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said in a written statement. Mackowiak's body was found Wednesday at Apple's campus in the Silicon Valley community of Cupertino. An Apple spokesman declined to comment or say what Mackowiak did for the company, but a LinkedIn profile that has since been taken down listed him as a software engineer. Apple's so-called Infinite Loop campus is the hub for the company's large workforce in Cupertino, which numbers 16,000 employees, according to a 2013 report on the company's economic impact. "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young and talented coworker. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends, including the many people he worked with here at Apple," the company said in a statement issued late on Wednesday. The suit in U.S. District Court accuses the government of conducting an inadequate search for the material and of groundlessly withholding some records on the basis of national security. Executive Order 10450 allowed broad categories of federal workers, including those with criminal records, drug addiction and "sexual perversion," to be singled out for scrutiny and termination as threats to national security. Suspicions of homosexuality led to between 7,000 and 10,000 workers losing their jobs in the 1950s alone, according to one estimate cited in a 2014 report from the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. "We want to know, and history needs to know, how this thing was administered and how it was enforced, and what was the dynamic inside the Justice Department and the FBI driving" it, said Charles Francis, president of the Mattachine Society. The gay rights research and education organization has sought to obtain the records since 2013. "This is an issue of public importance how your government treats people who work for it, how your government has historically targeted people based on their LGBT status and destroyed their lives," said Paul Thompson, a partner at McDermott Will and Emery LLP, the law firm that filed the Freedom of Information Act suit. "People are paying attention to this right now." Justice Department spokeswoman Nicole Navas declined to comment. Eisenhower's order came at a time of widespread anti-gay discrimination authorized at the highest levels of government, including a 1950 Senate subcommittee report that concluded that gays were unsuitable as federal employees. Under a "sex deviate program" put in place by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, agents were directed to "completely and fully" investigate anything about a prospective employee's sexual orientation developed during background checks. A May 1950 FBI bulletin to local police agencies told officers to make a notation on arrest fingerprint cards if anyone they arrested on suspicion of being a "sex deviate" worked for the federal government. The FBI collected copies of the fingerprint cards. "In other words, by the time of Eisenhower's election in November 1952, Hoover already was amassing a cache of information to use against homosexual employees of the federal government," the lawsuit states. "And he was using state and local police as his deputies to gather it." The executive order went a step further by effectively approving of the investigation and firing of federal workers believed to be gay. The government now makes it explicitly illegal to discriminate against federal employees on the basis of sexual orientation. President Barack Obama in 2014 signed an executive order to prohibit federal contractors from discriminating against gay workers, though he lamented that being gay can still be a fireable offense "in too many states and too many workplaces." While the government's position has changed dramatically since the 1950s, debate about the scope of LGBT rights persists in state legislatures and courthouses. Francis said the documents sought in the suit would help reveal early and overt anti-gay bias that lingers in some corners. "The evidentiary history is critical to see the roots of the animus," he said. Documents culled from the National Archives, libraries and other sources have shed light on the order, as have several hundred pages already disclosed by the Justice Department. But Francis' group believes hundreds of additional pages that have been withheld could help flesh out the portrait. "We put the puzzle together but we're still missing an ocean of material," he said. The organization requested documents in January 2013, including all correspondence involving Warren Burger, a senior Justice Department official tasked with helping enforce the order who later become chief justice of the Supreme Court. The FBI has invoked multiple exemptions to the public records law, including a provision that protects against the disclosure of classified information for national security reasons an assertion Thompson said he "particularly troubling" because national security was the rationale of the order in the first place. "What the lawsuit is for us is the final step in us saying, 'No, we really are serious'," Thompson said. "We are serious, and we're not going to stop until we feel like we have exhausted all possible avenues to obtain these records." The Oakland County sheriff's department says a first-degree murder warrant was authorized Thursday for Kevin Jermaine Wiley of Pontiac. Sheriff's officials say he was on parole for a manslaughter conviction and had cut off his electronic tether somewhere in Detroit. A $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest. The body of 30-year-old Marie Colburn was found the night of April 22 by her mother. Investigators say a notice from the Michigan Department of Corrections had been attached to the Pontiac apartment's front door in an effort to contact Wiley. Colburn car, missing from her home, was found in Detroit. No one was injured in Wednesday's fire at an unoccupied home in New Boston. WJBK-TV reports firefighters were forced to take a longer route to the house. Neighbors say that resulted in a delay of roughly 20 minutes in responding. The house was destroyed. Residents used cellphones to record video and take photos. Stephanie Layne, who lives near the home that burned, tells WXYZ-TV that she worries a 911 call for an injury or illness might see a similar delay. She says: "It makes me mad, it makes me very scared." Rufus Thames, who also lives nearby, says trains "sit there for hours at a time" blocking the route to their neighborhood. The administration has already transferred almost $600 million of unused Ebola funds and other money to fight Zika in the near term, but it says more is urgently needed to control the mosquitoes that spread the virus, manufacture vaccines once they are developed, and produce more accurate testing for the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said recently that no local mosquito-borne Zika virus disease cases have been reported in the U.S., but there have been 388 travel-associated cases. The Zika virus can cause microcephaly, a severe birth defect in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. It is spread by mosquitoes and sexual contact and is likely to spread more aggressively as mosquito season looms. Top Republicans in the House, where tea party lawmakers hold great sway, aren't convinced that more money is needed now and that it might be fine to wait until the fall. Not so, says the White House, where press secretary Josh Earnest complained on Wednesday that Republicans "have refused to do what is necessary to protect the country from a genuine public health emergency." Questions and answers on where the issue stands: _____ Q: Why are Republicans controlling the House reluctant to agree to the request? A: For starters, they contend that the White House has a tendency to pad the numbers on such budget requests. There's also additional leftover money from $5 billion approved in 2014 to fight Ebola. And if the White House won't use more of that money there's a desire to use other previously approved funds to offset the Zika request. Republicans don't want to add to the budget deficit, and many of them simply won't agree with any request from the president. Democrats counter that the threat is real. "This is not an Obama fantasy," warns Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. ____ Q: Isn't there a political cost if they don't act? A: You would think so, especially since they would open themselves up to political attacks while they're away from Washington on a seven-week summer vacation at the same time as the virus might spread during peak mosquito season. Obama also is more popular than Congress and has a much bigger megaphone than his GOP rivals on Capitol Hill. ____ Q: Why can't the White House use even more Ebola money to fight Zika? A: It can, but the administration says that would undermine agreements with poor nations to help them strengthen their health care systems to better respond to outbreaks and other threats. And the threat from Ebola hasn't gone away completely and the administration says it needs reserves in case it flares again. ____ Q: What about the Senate? A: Senior Senate Republicans have developed an approximately $1.1 billion proposal to partially fund Obama's request, and they've signaled they want to attach it to an upcoming spending bill rather than try to advance a stand-alone Zika bill as requested by the White House. Some Senate Democrats, like Mikulski and Patty Murray of Washington state, reacted positively to the overtures. The White House, however, seems to think it can win a bigger package, and more partisan Democratic leaders might be inclined to use the Zika issue to bash Republicans. ____ Q: So what's next? A: Both the House and Senate are on recess next week so nothing is happening for a while. When Congress returns the week of May 9, the pressure will be on since the White House has urged action by Memorial Day. If Senate Republicans succeed in bringing up another funding bill and successfully attach Zika funds to it, Democrats are likely to back it. What the GOP-controlled House would do with it is anybody's guess. Retired Military Officials Are Finding High-Paying Jobs With the Saudi Government and Can Make up up to 7-Figure Salaries Working for Other Foreign Governments Retired U.S. military personnel cannot receive consulting fees or jobs from foreign governments without expressed approval... The trio included Syed Raheel Farook, whose brother Syed Rizwan Farook and sister-in-law, Pakistan-born Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people in a rampage authorities have said was inspired by Islamist militants. Los Angeles: Three people linked to the couple responsible for December's mass shooting in San Bernardino, California were arrested on Thursday on conspiracy, marriage fraud and other charges unrelated to the massacre, US prosecutors said. The trio included Syed Raheel Farook, whose brother Syed Rizwan Farook and sister-in-law, Pakistan-born Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people in a rampage authorities have said was inspired by Islamist militants. All three pleaded not guilty and will be released on bond, Los Angeles US Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek said. Lawyers for the three did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Officials said the charges stemmed from an immigration-related investigation that came out of their probe into the massacre. US Navy veteran Syed Raheel Farook, 31, his wife, Tatiana Farook, 31, and her sister Mariya Chernykh, 26, were arrested after being charged with conspiracy to make a false statement to immigration officials while under oath, the attorney's office said. The investigation found that in 2014 Enrique Marquez, who had been a friend of Syed Rizwan Farook, allegedly agreed in return for payment to marry Chernykh, a Russian citizen, so she could apply for permanent US residency status, charging documents stated. Chernykh also was charged with fraud and two counts of making material false statements to federal agents. Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook, who like her sister is originally from Russia, staged photos of Marquez and Chernykh to make them look like a married couple and created a joint bank account for the two, according to the charging documents. The Farooks were arrested at their home in Corona while Chernykh was arrested in Ontario. "Today's arrests open a new phase in the process of bringing to justice all individuals who allegedly committed crimes that were uncovered during our exhaustive investigation," US Attorney Eileen Decker said in a statement. Marquez was charged on December 18 with conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook in 2011 and 2012 to support a militant attack in Southern California that was never carried out. He has pleaded not guilty. Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife died in a shootout with police hours after the December 2 San Bernardino attack. The alleged sham marriage first surfaced in December, when Marquez also was charged with defrauding immigration authorities. Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook, who are both US citizens, if convicted of conspiracy each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Chernykh faces up to 25 years, prosecutors said. Their trial is set to start on June 21. Under US law, Chernykh could also be deported to Russia if convicted. A lethal chain of mistakes by U.S. air and ground forces in the "fog of war" led to the relentless AC-130U gunship attack on the Kunduz hospital that killed at least 42 last October, but the tragic errors did not rise to the level of war crimes or court-martial offenses, U.S. Central Command said Friday. "They were trying to do the right thing," Army Gen. Joseph Votel, the CentCom commander, said of the U.S. Special Forces on the ground who called in the strike and the gunship crew, but a combination of human error and equipment failure resulted in their unleashing a 30-minute rain of cannon and gatling gun fire on the wrong target. At a Pentagon briefing summing up the 3,000-page CentCom investigation of the Oct. 3 incident, Votel said "the personnel involved did not know they were striking a medical facility," although the coordinates of the Medicins Sans Frontiere (Doctors Without Borders) Trauma Center in Kunduz were given to U.S. commanders well before the attack. MSF officials also frantically called and e-mailed U.S. commanders in Kabul and Washington pleading for the attack to be called off by the AC-130U "Spooky II" aircraft and its side-mounted .105mm and .40mm cannons. After consulting with legal advisers, Votel said he had concluded that "the fact that this was unintentional -- the unintentional action takes it out of the realm of being considered a war crime" or a potential court-martial offense. "The comprehensive investigation concluded that this tragic incident was caused by a combination of human errors, compounded by process and equipment failures," Votel said. Votel also noted that the Special Forces team on the ground been fighting for five days in support of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to repel Taliban fighters who had taken over north-central Kunduz -- the first time the Taliban had overrun a provincial Afghan capital. "This was an extreme situation we were dealing with," Votel said. The investigation report said that "fatigue and high operational tempo also contributed to the incident. These factors contributed to the 'fog of war' which is the uncertainty often encountered during combat operations." "The investigation found that this combination of factors caused both the ground force commander and the air crew to believe mistakenly that the air crew was firing on the intended target, an insurgent-controlled site approximately 400 meters away from the MSF Trauma Center," the CentCom report said. Army Gen. John Campbell, the U.S. Forces-Afghanistan commander at the time, found in November that "certain personnel failed to comply with the rules of engagement and the law of armed conflict," but the CentCom investigation "did not conclude that these failures amounted to a war crime." "The label 'war crime' is typically reserved for intentional acts" but "none of the personnel knew that they were striking a medical facility," the investigation said. Votel said that a total of 16 members of the ground and air personnel, and others up the chain of command, including a general officer, had been singled out for discipline. He said the names of the 16 were being withheld for security reasons. The general officer was believed to have been suspended and ordered out of Afghanistan. Six others were sent to counseling, seven were issued letters of reprimand, and two were ordered to retraining courses. Votel said that the disciplinary measures "can carry severe repercussions on careers," including "denial of promotion, advancement and possible separation from service." 'Condolence' payments President Obama last year apologized to the Afghan people for the attack and Votel said the U.S. has since made "condolence" payments totaling roughly $252,000 to the families of the 42 killed and the estimated 128 wounded -- $6,000 for those killed and $3,000 for those wounded. Votel also said the U.S. was prepared to devote $5.7 million to building a new hospital. Votel added that "senior U.S. representatives have spoken with MSF officials, including the MSF executive director, over two dozen times to express condolences, explain how the tragic incident occurred, and outline future steps." Campbell's successor, Gen. John Nicholson, met with families of the victims from the attack and issued a personal apology shortly after assuming command in March. "I grieve with you for your loss and suffering; and humbly and respectfully ask for your forgiveness. We mourn the death of any Afghan, but the death and wounding of innocent Afghans because of our mistake is extremely painful to us," he said at the time. In response to the investigation, MSF said "many questions remain outstanding seven months after the attack," and the humanitarian medical group renewed its call for an independent investigation by the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission. The commission, set up in 1991 under the Additional Protocols of the Geneva Conventions, can investigate only when all parties involved agree to abide by its findings, and the U.S. has not agreed. MSF officials said Votel had briefed them for two hours on Thursday on the results of the investigation, but they had not yet had time to review the full 3,000-page report. However, the Pentagon briefing by Votel "amounts to an admission of an uncontrolled military operation in a densely populated urban area, during which U.S. forces failed to follow the basic laws of war," Meinie Nicolai, president of MSF Belgium, said in a statement. "It is incomprehensible that, under the circumstances described by the U.S., the attack was not called off." The CentCom investigation was led by Army Maj. Gen. William Hickman, whose main assistants were Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Armfield and Army Brig. Gen. Sean Jenkins. "All three generals were brought in from outside Afghanistan in order to provide an objective perspective," the investigation said. The generals were assisted by more than a dozen experts from specialty fields. Inadequate preparation The initial request for an airstrike on a Taliban-occupied building came from the ANSF and was supported by the Special Forces team on the ground, which included a JTAC, or Joint Terminal Attack Controller to guide the AC-130U, the investigation said. The MSF Trauma Center was on a U.S. "no strike" list but, because of the urgency of the mission, the AC-130U took off 69 minutes earlier than planned and the crew did not have adequate preparation. "While en route to Kunduz, one of the AC-130's critical communications systems failed, resulting in an inability to receive updates from and transmit information to multiple command headquarters," the investigation said. Votel also said that while en route to Kunduz, the gunship came under fire from a shoulder-fired missile, forcing it to take evasive action that "degraded its ability to locate ground targets. These factors all contributed to the incident," the investigation said. In his response to the investigation, Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, "Our nation cannot alleviate the grief and sorrow of those who lost loved ones in this unspeakable tragedy, but we can and must do everything in our power to fully understand what happened and why, hold those responsible to account, and learn the lessons of our failures to better protect innocent life in the future." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@military.com. Fort Bragg Military Police are continuing a criminal investigation of the startling case of the 20-year-old civilian with a long arrest record who allegedly passed himself off as an explosives expert on secret assignment and lived at the 3rd Special Forces Group barracks for several months, a spokesman said Thursday. The review at the central North Carolina military post was separate from the just-concluded Army Special Operations investigation, which disclosed an embarrassing series of security failures that led to the individual making room assignments for soldiers and having his girlfriends make pizza and booze runs onto the post for him, said Thomas D. McCollum, a spokesman for the Fort Bragg Garrison. The suspect, tentatively identified as Triston Marquell Chase and now known on Bragg as the "3rd FSG Squatter," would be listed as AWOL if he had been a real soldier. He failed to appear Tuesday in Harnett County Court in Lillington, North Carolina, on six civilian felony charges, including a weapons charge, the Fayetteville Observer reported. The Harnett County Criminal Magistrate's office declined to comment to Millitary.com on whether a warrant had been issued for Chase's arrest, saying information could not be given over the phone. McCollum said the MP investigation began shortly after Chase was picked up by Provost Marshals for drunk driving last December and was aimed at finding "any possible criminal activity associated with the 3rd SFG squatter." He said "an investigation like this is standard whenever it is believed criminal activity has taken place." Despite the squatter appearing to have the run of the 3rd FSG barracks, McCollum said, "Our procedures for managing our barracks, approximately 17,000 bed spaces in more than 100 buildings, was reviewed by our Directorate of Public Works and it was determined to be sound." However, all units which "manage barracks spaces and buildings were advised to review their internal standard operating procedures for their barracks," he said in an e-mailed statement. In a separate response on the follow-up to the Army's own probe of the impostor incident, the Army's Special Operations public affairs office said, "Deficiencies identified during the investigation of the civilian living in the 3rd Special Forces Group Barracks have been corrected. "For example, a senior Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge has been designated and trained while a Charge Quarters Non-Commissioned Officer program has been instituted" to keep watch over access to the barracks, the statement said. "Additionally, barracks policy binders have been updated and placed in individuals' rooms" to let soldiers know who's authorized to be there, it said. A redacted version of the Army Special Ops investigation of the squatter, obtained by the Fayetteville Observer through a Freedom of Information request, concluded that Chase was a "con artist" who had picked up just enough military slang and knowledge to dupe others into believing that he belonged. The investigation disclosed significant safety and security issues in the management of the barracks, the newspaper reported. A soldier, who lived in the same barracks as the civilian and loaned the civilian his car, told the Army investigators, "The barracks are horrible. Security is non-existent in any way, shape or form. There literally is none at all. There is also zero accountability for anything. Zero for rooms, people, equipment, property, etc. "They're lucky that this guy seemed to be some sort of flake" and not a terrorist, said Lawrence Korb, a former assistant secretary of defense for personnel in the administration of former President Ronald Reagan. Korb, a military analyst with the Center for American Progress, noted that terror groups repeatedly cite U.S. military bases and personnel as potential targets. "This guy could have caused all sorts of damage," Korb said. He said the Army must be focused now on "how did this happen?" -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Syria and Russia denied responsibility Thursday for a devastating airstrike on a pediatric hospital in Aleppo supported by Doctors Without Borders that killed at least 50 and left the so-called "cessation of hostilities" in shreds. The strike Wednesday night against "yet another medical facility in Syria" destroyed a vital hospital in the northern city of Aleppo and "the main referral center for pediatric care in the area," said Muskilda Zancada, head of the Syria mission for the Medicins Sans Frontiere (Doctors Without Borders) medical group. Zancada asked, "Where is the outrage among those with the power and obligation to stop this carnage?" Pablo Marco, operations manager for MSF in the Middle East, told CNN that at least six of those killed were hospital staff -- two doctors, two nurses, one guard and one maintenance worker. The United Nations and humanitarian groups have estimated that more than 300,000 have been killed in the five-year-old Syrian civil war. In a statement, Secretary of State John Kerry blamed the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad for the airstrike that reportedly came from a missile launched by a warplane. "We are outraged by yesterday's airstrikes in Aleppo on the al Quds hospital supported by both Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which killed dozens of people, including children, patients and medical personnel," Kerry said. "It appears to have been a deliberate strike on a known medical facility and follows the Assad regime's appalling record of striking such facilities and first responders. These strikes have killed hundreds of innocent Syrians," Kerry said. Syria's state-run SANA news carried an official statement denying that Syrian government forces were involved and the Russian Defense Ministry also denied responsibility for the airstrike. The U.S. military has repeatedly said that its air campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, has not struck near Aleppo and has previously condemned "indiscriminate" bombing by the Russians. In attacks in early February, Russian airstrikes reportedly hit hospitals and schools, killing more than 50. Tim Shenk, a spokesman for MSF in New York, said at the time that the estimated death toll for an airstrike on one of the hospitals supported by the group in northern Syria had more than doubled to 25. World Health Organization spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told Turkey's Anadolu news agency that "since the beginning of the conflict, almost 700 health workers have been killed and an estimated 58 percent of public hospitals and 49 percent of primary health centers are either only partially functional or have closed." Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a Pentagon briefing from Baghdad at the time, "We know the Russians and Syrian regime frankly conducted strikes in areas where those hospitals and schools were hit." He also said that the Syrians were using "barrel bombs" dropped from helicopters. In late January, Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, won agreement from 17 nations, including the U.S., Iran and Russia, for a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria but the agreement has been falling apart amid stepped up attacks by the Syrians and Russians and the withdrawal from negotiations of a main rebel group. In Geneva Thursday, de Mistura said he hoped to begin another round of talks next month but said the ceasefire must be "revitalized" before then. He asked "How can you have substantial talks when you have only news about bombing and shelling?" -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. The family of a decorated special operations Marine killed in Afghanistan in 2011 received his Silver Star today after the U.S. Army took the unusual step of upgrading one of his prior medals. Staff Sgt. Nicholas Sprovtsoff, 28, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with MARSOC's 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion earned the Bronze Star with combat valor device in 2011 for working heroically to disarm a bomb in Afghanistan before an explosion left him fatally wounded. But a prior deployment to Afghanistan with an Army unit in 2007, Sprovtsoff had already distinguished himself as a hero. While serving as a sergeant with Marine Corps Embedded Training Team 5-1, attached to the Army's 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, Sprovtsoff had conducted himself with distinction during a 48-hour firefight. According to a medal citation obtained by Military.com, he fought with "disregard for his own safety and in spite of wounds sustained in combat," coordinating his unit's defense during the long fight. The medal was approved and awarded as a Bronze Star, but upgraded to a Silver Star last year, said Capt. Barry Morris, a spokesman for MARSOC. The news was first reported by Marine Corps Times Friday. "[Sprovstoff's] command at the time nominated him for a Bronze star with "V," Morris explained. "As it went up the chain, his actions were so heroic, the Army upgraded him to a Silver Star; but at the end of the day, when someone hit the approve button, it was approved as a Bronze Star, rather than a Silver Star." Morris said the Army ultimately caught the error and coordinated with the Marine Corps to upgrade the award. Calls from Military.com to the Army's awards branch, which oversaw the medal upgrade, were not returned Friday. The commander of MARSOC, Maj. Gen. Joseph Osterman, presented Sprovstoff's widow, Tasha, with the award in a ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colorado, according to Marine Corps Times. "[Sprovtsoff's] courage, dedication and sacrifice inspire us on a daily basis to help others, to cherish our freedom, and to try to make a positive difference in the world," Osterman said in a statement. "Also, the individual sacrifices [his] family have made is extremely important for MARSOC to recognize. We will always be inspired by the actions of our fellow Raiders and we will strive to operate at a level that honors them and their family." Sprovtsoff was killed Sept. 28, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan and buried in Arlington Cemetery Oct. 6 of the same year. According to his Bronze Star citation from that deployment, Sprovtsoff had fearlessly and safely led a team of Marines through a region filled with improvised explosive devices following an enemy ambush. His work during the deployment had led to the elimination of 40 IEDs. Sprovstoff and his wife Tasha are featured in Oliver North's 2013 book "American Heroes on the Homefront." While Sprovtsoff's award upgrade appears to be an outlier due to an administrative error, there could be more upgrades coming for American troops who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.The Pentagon announced in January that it would review all Silver Stars and service crosses awarded after Sept. 11, 2001 -- some 1,100 awards -- to determine whether a higher upgrade is warranted. The military services have until Sept. 30, 2017, to turn their recommendations in to the secretary of defense. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. The military has reportedly filed two new criminal charges Thursday against a former U.S. Naval Academy instructor who insisted he had been unfairly convicted of sexual misconduct with two female midshipmen. Marine Maj. Mark Thompson has now been charged with one count of making a false official statement and another of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, The Washington Post reported Thursday. If convicted of lying under oath, Thompson could face up to five years in prison, a dismissal from the service and a total loss of his retirement benefits, The Post reports. The Marine Corps will hold an Article 32 preliminary hearing next month to determine whether the case should proceed to a court-martial, according to the Post. Earlier this week, another U.S. Naval Academy instructor implicated in sexual misconduct was removed from his position, and the academy saids if it had known about a former student's sexual misconduct accusation against him, he would not have been allowed to teach. The school confirmed Tuesday to the Associated Press that Marine Maj. Michael Pretus, a history teacher since 2014, is no longer teaching. One student alleged Thompson assaulted her; another reported an ongoing sexual relationship. The second student also reported having sex with Thompson and Pretus, who wasn't then a teacher at the school. The Naval Academy says Pretus was an instructor from the summer of 2014 to April 2016 and that he is "no longer in a teaching status." The academy says he has orders for reassignment with an early May departure date. "The Naval Academy had no knowledge of any involvement in this case prior to his receipt of orders here. Under no circumstances would the Naval Academy have allowed for assignment on staff and faculty had there been disclosure of the circumstances and details of his involvement in that event," Naval Academy spokesman Cdr. John Schofield said in a statement. The Washington Post reports Pretus declined to comment on whether he had ever had sex with one of the two students involved in Thompson's case. The paper says under military law, an officer having sex with a midshipman is a crime, as is having sex with two people at the same time, something the former student alleged she, Thompson and Pretus did. -- The Associated Press contributed to this report. This week , not one, but two North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missiles exploded shortly after launch, a U.S. official briefed on the latest intelligence in the region told Fox News on Thursday. The first Musudan missile exploded at approximately 5:00 p.m. ET Wednesday. The second exploded early Thursday morning at 6:30 a.m. ET, according to the official. This is the third time North Korea's new Musudan missile, which has never been successfully tested, has failed to launch. On North Korea's "Founder's Day" on April 15, the first test of a Musudan missile with a range of 2,500 miles failed spectacularly in an embarrassing setback for the communist regime. North Korea now has had four missile launches fail in the past month. However, a U.S. official told Fox News the rogue nation successfully launched a short-range missile from a submarine on Saturday. Last month, a Nodong medium-range ballistic missile, based on the Soviet-era Scud-C missile, also exploded after launch. Another Nodong was successfully tested and landed in the Sea of Japan, concerning the U.S. military and allies in the region. Pentagon officials continue to monitor a potential fifth nuclear test by North Korea in the coming days. It would be the first such test since January. President Obama hit the secretive regime with new sanctions in March after North Korea's January test. North Korea claimed it detonates a hydrogen bomb, but defense officials tell Fox News they suspect it was a lower-grade nuclear test. On Super Bowl Sunday, North Korea successfully put a satellite into space. -- Lucas Tomlinson is the Pentagon and State Department producer for Fox News Channel. New York; Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India, but New Delhi has "signalled" it is only interested in talking about terrorism which does not bode well for the prospects of diplomatic progress between the two nations, Islamabad's envoy to the UN has said. Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN ambassador Maleeha Lodhi's remarks came just a day after Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met in New Delhi on April 26 on the sidelines of the 'Heart of Asia' regional conference. "While Islamabad has repeatedly urged Delhi to resume the broad based, comprehensive peace process, India has yet to agree and has instead signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism. This, she said, does not make the prospects of diplomatic progress too bright," she said. Lodhi addressed students and faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge on April 25 as part of 'South Asia Week' being held at the institution?and talked about Pakistan's role in regional stability. According to a press release issued by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN here, Lodhi said that Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India by finding political solutions to outstanding disputes. In their first formal bilateral meeting after the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January, the Foreign Secretaries focused on a range of issues including probe into the attack and Kashmir, which the Pakistani side has asserted was the "core issue". Lodhi said that Pakistans priorities included economic revival, defeating terrorism and elimination of violent extremism in and around Pakistan. Another priority for Pakistan is building regional peace and stability, which required an end to the conflict in Afghanistan, and normalisation of Pakistan-India relations on an equitable and durable basis, she said. On China, Lodhi said the country is a "cornerstone" of Pakistan's foreign policy and Islamabad?s relationship with Beijing is "strategic, historic, trouble free and pivotal to the country's foreign policy." Lodhi said that the strategic evolution of the Pakistan-China relationship has accorded the bilateral partnership added significance at a time of a "fundamental change in the global balance of power brought about by China's rise as a global economic powerhouse." In recent years, she said bilateral ties with China have broadened and diversified from the traditional focus on defence and military cooperation toward a greater economic and investment orientation. On how Pakistan will balance its relations with China as well as with the US, she said "to those who ascribe a zero-sum nature to Pakistan's relations with China and America, a recall of history would help to invalidate this flawed notion," according to the release. Citing Pakistan's "good relations" with the US and China from the time of the Cold War, she said "Pakistan intends to play the same role in the future and maintain good relations with both even as the two engage in global competition". GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- The following are recent business announcements, promotions, and other business news in Mid-Michigan: Dr. Karl Dunn, McLaren Flint Two new podiatrists, Karl Dunn and Rebecca Jolissaint, have joined the medical staff at McLaren Flint. They are both seeing patients at Flint Foot and Ankle, 2329 Stonebridge Drive in Flint. Dr. Dunn completed an Intensive Lower Extremity Fellowship at Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Center and completed his residency at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township. Dr. Jolissaint completed her residency at University Hospitals Richmond Medical Center, and Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine. Both Dr. Dunn and Dr. Jolissaint earned their medical degrees at Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. For more information, Dr. Rebecca Jolissaint, McLaren Flint visit mclaren.org/flint Volunteers from Security Credit Union will assist with the annual Flint River Trail Maintenance and Cleanup event on Saturday, April 30. The spring cleanup is hosted by the Friends of the Flint River Trail, and provides the community an opportunity to prepare the riverfront for summer. Security Credit Union volunteers will be raking, picking up debris, and beautifying the Flint River Trail near Security Credit Union corporate headquarters. Baker College of Flint is hosting the Michigan Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition's first Hackathon on Saturday, April 16. Cyber defense students from Baker College campuses in Flint and Jackson, as well as students from Davenport University and Jackson College will imitate computer hackers and attempt to hack a system defended by industry professionals, to learn about system defense. The event will take place at Baker College of Flint, 1050 W. Bristol Road. Security Credit Union has announced the re-election of four members to its board of directors, following the recent annual meeting on April 26. The re-elected members include Jessie Collins of Flint, Thomas Crooks of Lansing, Kennith Scott of Flushing, and Donald Sorensen of Flint. "This year's board of directors is complete with talented members of the community that are committed to serving our organization to the best of their abilities," said Christopher Estes, Security Credit Union president and chief executive officer. "We're privileged to have a devoted board leading the credit union on its path toward continued growth." Do you have a business announcement to share? Email Lynn Goff at lgoff@mlive.com. Calling all brides and grooms: next weekend's RockSugar event wants to help you take your sure-to-be amazing indie wedding to the next level. On Sunday, May 8 at The Rust Belt Market in Ferndale, the RockSugar bridal show will provide an alternative to traditional wedding expos by connecting soon-to-be-wed couples with local independent artists and crafters. The event is the brainchild of Angela Ficorelli, a graphic designer who makes custom letterpress wedding invitations but "felt really out of place" at the usual wedding shows. So in 2014 she hosted the first RockSugar (then called the Indie Detroit Wedding Ring) -- and the response was so great it's become an annual event. "We wanted to change the wedding show experience," Ficorelli said. "Our bridal show isn't like other bridal shows; the biggest difference is that our vendors are geared to a modern indie bride. They want to work with you one on one, so there's nothing 'big box' about it." The event will feature more than a dozen vendors, ranging from photographers to calligraphy artists to hair stylists. Other highlights include a photo booth from Mammoth Booth, a coffee bar, desserts, giveaways (including a voucher for a custom cake topper from Glass Action), and live music spun by vintage vinyl DJ Soul Deep. "Part of our mission is to support these types of independent vendors and to try to help them succeed in the wedding industry," Ficorelli said. "It's a really fun, creative, good market for crafters." Admission to RockSugar is free, though guests can register via the RSVP link on the event's website. THE DETAILS Where: The Rust Belt Market, 22801 Woodward Ave., Ferndale When: Sunday, May 8, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: Free More info: rocksugarevent.com, facebook.com/rocksugarevent Emily Bingham covers Michigan life and culture for MLive. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or contact her via email at ebingham@mlive.com. I don't know about you, but I have become increasingly angered by the political 'blame game' surrounding the Flint water tragedy. The Congressional hearings in Washington were largely despicable as members of both parties expended far too much hot air on grandstanding and accusation and exhibited far too little thoughtfulness and statesmanship in trying to determine what is being done to address the crisis and to ensure it won't happen again. While not ducking any of the responsibility the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) had for what has happened in Flint, DEQ Director Keith Creagh tells Greening of the Great Lakes that his agency is working very hard to meet the "fundamental expectation" that when you turn on the tap or faucet in Flint, "there is high quality, safe drinking water." Creagh, who assumed the DEQ helm in late December, said the DEQ is working very closely not only with water-related agencies in Flint, but also with a number of others focused on a wide array of areas ranging from food and nutrition to community health and human services. "As we look at best practices coming out of Flint--and very tough lessons learned," Creagh says, "how can we further benefit not only the citizens of Flint but others across the state to ensure safe water." "What is not acceptable is non-action, wasted effort and, at the end of the day, that we fail to deliver on our promises to the people of Flint." To that end, the DEQ is, among other actions, supporting a more stringent lead and copper rule which will apply statewide and require a very high level of "transparency and public disclosure" to ensure the new rules are well understood. With respect to Enbridge Line 5, the highly controversial oil and gas pipeline that runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac, recommendations of the Michigan Pipeline Task Force are operative, Creagh says. Proposals to conduct the additional recommended studies on pipeline safety were due in mid-April and announcements of the selected plans should be forthcoming. In addition, Creagh commended a recent study on Line 5 by the Water Center at the University of Michigan and NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. The research, he says, "provides, as we requested, the outer limits, the worst case scenarios" in the event of a rupture and "we need to know the worst case scenarios to ensure the Great Lakes are preserved for future generations." Creagh also discusses DEQ's push to improve the state's air quality, including a key effort to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions in Southwest Detroit. The DEQ also decided recently to maintain agency oversight of "any and all chemicals released into the air from new and modified facilities." For Creagh, the pressing issues regarding the safety and sustainability of Michigan's water, air and land also provide DEQ the opportunity to "perfect our public engagement model to ensure greater transparency and trust." If there is anything learned from Flint, it is the importance of seeking and thoughtfully considering public input at the earliest stages of problem emergence. Wasn't it Frank Lloyd Wright who suggested there is nothing more uncommon than common sense? Please click here to hear my conversation with Creagh. And please join me for Greening of the Great Lakes every Sunday evening at 7:00 on News/Talk 760 WJR. Raju Kosuri, 44, and his wife Smriti Jharia, 45, of Ashburn, along with four co-conspirators fraudulently applied for more than 800 illegal immigration benefits under the H-1B visa program. (Representational Image) Washington: An Indian-American couple has been convicted on charges of H-1B visa fraud and will face up to 30 years imprisonment, the Department of Justice said. Raju Kosuri, 44, and his wife Smriti Jharia, 45, of Ashburn, along with four co-conspirators fraudulently applied for more than 800 illegal immigration benefits under the H-1B visa program. The indictment alleges that Kosuri has set up a network of shell companies that he presents to immigration authorities as independent businesses in need of Indian workers, but which he in fact owns and controls. It alleged that Kosuri and his co-conspirators use these entities to file petitions for non-existent job vacancies at Kosuri's data center in Danville. The visa fraud scheme involves the forgery of numerous individuals' signatures on visa petitions and exhibits without their knowledge. The indictment alleges that Kosuri has generated gross proceeds of at least USD20 million over the life of the scheme, the Justice Department said. The indictment also alleged that Kosuri and Jharia conspired with a consultant named Raimondo Piluso to defraud the Small Business Administration, by submitting fraudulent HUBZone applications. Kosuri, Jharia, and Piluso are alleged to have concealed the true location, ownership, and employees of a business called EcomNets Federal Solutions in order to obtain federal loan and contract preferences, from which they have generated USD150,000 in loan proceeds and five contract awards. 2015 graduation rates.JPG The table shows the five-year difference in graduation rates for sub-groups of students, comparing Ann Arbor Public Schools to the state average. ((Provided by Ann Arbor Public Schools)) ANN ARBOR, MI -- Ann Arbor Public Schools' 2015 graduation rates showed improvement across the board compared to five years ago, with African American, special education and multi-ethnic students seeing the largest gains. Jane Landefeld, executive director of enrollment and student accounting, gave the board of education a presentation Wednesday on the graduation data, which was released by the Michigan Department of Education in March. The trustees focused on a five-year comparison, noting that AAPS' graduation rate went from 83.6 percent in 2011 to 88.6 percent in 2015. The statewide 2015 graduation rate was 80 percent and the national graduation rate was 82 percent. However, AAPS' 2015 graduation rate did drop slightly, by 0.7 percentage points, from its 2014 graduation rate. Particular points of pride for the district were gains made by African American students (a 13-percentage point improvement from 2011 to 2015), special education students (12-percentage point five-year improvement) and students who identify as two or more races (11-percentage point five-year improvement). "This has been a concerted, intense, intentional effort that this community has made in changing the outcomes for our students wherever they happen to fall on the achievement or economic or racial spectrum," said Deb Mexicotte, board president. Looking at each high school individually, Community High School's 2015 graduation rate was 96 percent, Huron High School and Pioneer High School both saw 94 percent graduation rates, Skyline High School's graduation rate was 95 percent, and the alternative school Pathways to Success had a 62 percent graduation rate. "I was very pleased to see that Community, Huron, Pioneer and Skyline are very close in their percentages," said trustee Patricia Manley, adding that she is especially proud of Huron because its graduation rate was lagging behind the other Ann Arbor high schools in 2011. Superintendent Jeanice Swift pointed out that 2011 was the first year the new Michigan Merit curriculum was implemented, which raised the graduation requirements for high school students across the state. To see a higher graduation rate five years after the new requirements were implemented is even more rewarding, she said. "We have achieved that 5 percent increase while climbing a steeper hill," Swift said. Here are the 2015 four-year graduation rates for every school district in Washtenaw County: Manchester, 95 percent; Chelsea, 94 percent; Saline, 94 percent; Dexter, 90 percent; Ann Arbor, 89 percent; Whitmore Lake, 85 percent; Milan, 82 percent; Lincoln, 77 percent; and Ypsilanti, 66 percent. Below is a breakdown of the 2015 four-year graduation rate for each sub-group of Ann Arbor Public Schools students, and whether that reflects an increase or decrease compared to 2014: White: 89.4 percent, dropped by 2.94 percentage points. Latino/Hispanic: 84.4 percent, dropped by 0.7 percentage points. African American: 83.75 percent, improved by 8.4 percentage points. Asian: greater than 95 percent, same as 2014 graduation rate. Multi-ethnic: 84.3 percent, improved by 1.5 percentage points. Economically disadvantaged: 70.3 percent, improved by 0.3 percentage points. Special education: 72.3 percent, improved by 3.5 percentage points. Total: 88.6 percent, dropped by 0.7 percentage points. Data is provided by the Michigan Department of Education. ANN ARBOR, MI -- Following reports of people carrying guns with them when they voted in schools for the primary election, Ann Arbor Public Schools is still exploring the legality of enforcing its no-weapon policy during elections. "We still have matters to work through with the city and legal folks," said board of education trustee Simone Lightfoot. "We're so limited in what we can do at this stage." Caught between the school's no-weapon policy and the need to protect voters' rights to cast their ballots free of interference or intimidation, the board of education felt its best option was to cancel classes during the May 3 special election to avoid putting students and staff in proximity of people who chose to carry guns with them when they vote. Other security concerns were a factor as well. "The primary discussion was our promise to keep students safe in the educational environment," said board vice president Christine Stead, referencing the board's March 30 study session where trustees voiced their begrudging support for the decision to close school for the May 3 election. "We had to really think carefully about our ability to do that when we're also polling sites in 22 of our buildings for voters. Voters have a right to vote, and we can't get in the way of that." The board was not able to guarantee students' safety with the confidence they would like because of open carry advocates, Stead said, so they felt they had to cancel classes. Many board members expressed their regret that students will not be able to observe the democratic process like they have in the past. State law says people with concealed pistol licenses may carry their firearms in gun-free zones, but they cannot conceal them. Joshua Wade was one of the people who openly carried a gun with him when he voted in an Ann Arbor school for the primary election. He said he knew of three other people who also carried guns with them to vote in school. School administration could not confirm that, citing a "wide variety of security concerns that were voiced by community members and staff, not any one issue that led to the decision to close schools on election day," district communications specialist Andrew Cluley said in an email. Wade said he was not treated any differently by school staff while wearing his pistol and waiting in line for about 30 minutes to vote that day. "It's a place I'm going to be, and I carry everywhere I go," Wade said of his decision to openly carry his gun with him when he voted in the primary. "It was a normal election, as it should be. ... It's a legal exercise of your rights. You shouldn't have to give up your right to defend yourself to exercise your right to vote." Guns in school is a complicated issue for Ann Arbor Public Schools. The district is involved in an ongoing lawsuit filed by the Michigan Gun Owners nonprofit after school staff called police when Wade carried a gun to a choir concert at Pioneer High School in March 2015. Wade is not involved in that lawsuit, which was dismissed by Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Carol Kuhnke, who said schools have the right to make firearms policies. Michigan Gun Owners appealed the decision, and the case is now pending with the Michigan Court of Appeals. "I'm surprised it took a lawful concealed pistol license holder legally carrying openly for the board of directors to realize maybe it's not a good idea to let hundreds of complete strangers through dozens of schools with students there on Election Day," Wade said. "It's not like there's a new security risk." A recommendation Superintendent Jeanice Swift brought to the board on March 30 says administrators plan to discuss with city officials whether AAPS schools will continue to be used as polling locations for future elections. The district typically schedules a professional development day where only teachers report to school during November elections, so the only time students would potentially be in school with voters would be for spring elections. "We're still considering all options in terms of what we're going to do in terms of voting going forward," Cluley said. City clerk Jacqueline Beaudry said she has not had any discussion with school administrators at this point about relocating the polls. "We have an agreement with Ann Arbor Public Schools to use the buildings for an election. There hasn't been any conversation that that would change," Beaudry said. The city clerk determines polling locations, and the county clerk coordinates and administers elections in Washtenaw County. Lawrence Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County clerk, says taking polling locations out of schools would be "devastating to the election process." There are not many other public buildings where polls could be located, he said, and schools are easily accessible for voters. "The idea of changing polling places based on the fear that someone somewhere might have a gun seems ridiculous to me," Kestenbaum said. "That's a giant over-reaction to a tiny problem." Kestenbaum believes AAPS could enforce its no-weapon policy during elections like it would any other day. He gave the example of court rooms used as polling locations that still prohibit weapons, adding that Washtenaw County does not have any precincts vote in courtrooms. "I would certainly support that if a school has a no-gun policy, it should apply at all times," he said. Jitender Singh stalked a woman for ten years after she refused to marry him. (Photo: Collin County District Attorneys Office) Washington: A 32-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 19 years of prison in the US for stalking a woman from New Delhi to Texas for nearly a decade. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced the sentence for Jitender Singh on Wednesday. The jury put an end to this victims decade-long stalking nightmare, Willis said in a statement. According to Willis, Singh first met his victim while they both attended college in Delhi. Singh asked the victim to marry him in 2006. Willis said the victim, whose identity wasnt released by authorities, refused the proposal, which sparked Singhs anger. Singh then began following the victim and threatened her with consequences. In 2007, she left India to study at a New York university. However, that didnt end Singhs obsession. Authorities say he continued the harassment and assaulted the womans father in India. Singh was convicted for the crimes in India, but made an appeal and agreement with authorities to stay away from the victim. Singh eventually travelled to New York, where he attempted to enrol at the same university as the victim. He was denied and ordered by the university to stay away from the campus. When the victim moved to California for an internship, he tracked down her address and followed. When she moved back to New York, Singh followed back. An information technology company hired the victim, and she moved to Plano in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Singh harassed the victim through phone calls and e-mails, Willis alleged. In 2014, Singh located the victims address in Plano by falsely creating a credit monitoring service account in her name. While the victim was away, Singh travelled to Plano and broke into her home by convincing a locksmith to unlock her door. Singh took her passport, social security card and other documents as well as several pieces of her jewellery. A suspicious neighbour called Plano police which located Singh in the parking lot of the victims apartment and arrested him. Washington: US President Barack Obama was "disappointed" at not being able to visit the iconic Taj Mahal during his trip to India last year, the White House has said. "The President was quite disappointed to not have an opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal on his last visit to India," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Thursday. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Obama had visited India in January last year to be the chief guest of at the annual Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. President Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama were scheduled to visit Agra but the trip was cut short as the US President decided to go to Saudi Arabia to pay condolence to the Royal family following death of King Abdullah. "That (a visit to the Taj) had originally been part of the itinerary, but the President had to cut short his visit to India because of the untimely death of the King of Saudi Arabia. So the President travelled to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects at that point," Mr Earnest said. "I think the President wishes I could promise that he would have an opportunity to visit Taj Mahal before the end of his presidency, but I'm not sure that will happen," the White House Press Secretary said indicating that this wish of President Obama would remain unfulfilled when he leaves his presidency on January 20 next year. Dozens of cars, including those of Trump supporters trying to leave were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. (Photo: AP) Costa Mesa: Raucous crowds of protesters took to the streets in California as Donald Trump brought his Republican presidential campaign to conservative Orange County after sweeping the Northeast GOP primaries. Dozens of protesters were mostly peaceful on Thursday as Trump gave his speech inside the Pacific Amphitheater. After the event, however, the demonstration grew rowdy late in the evening and spilled into the streets. At least four people were arrested and one Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the arena. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented in and other protests sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venue's marquee. Dozens of cars, including those of Trump supporters trying to leave were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the venue. There were no major injuries and police did not use any force.The crowd began dispersing about three hours after the speech ended. Earlier in the evening, a half-dozen anti-Trump protesters taunted those waiting to get into the venue. Trump supporters surrounded one man who waved a Mexican flag and shouted "Build that wall! Build that wall!" a reference to Trump's call to create a barrier between the United States and Mexico to stop illegal border crossings. At one point, seven women wearing no shirts and Bernie Sanders stickers over their breasts entered the square outside the amphitheater. They said they were protesting Trump's lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and women's rights. "I feel like he wants to make America great again, but certainly not for women, for the LBGTQ community or for the lower class," said one of the women, Tiernan Hebron. "He has, like, done nothing to help with gender equality or women's rights or reproductive rights or anything." Trump has drawn large crowds across the country as he has campaigned for the White House and some of his events have been marred by incidents both inside and outside these venues. Earlier this week, a Trump rally in nearby Anaheim, California turned contentious when his supporters and counter protestors clashed, leaving several people struck by pepper spray. Trump was not present. Trump has drawn large crowds to most of his campaign events, and Thursday was no exception. The Pacific Amphitheatre was filled to its capacity of about 18,000 and many hundreds more were turned away. Sugar traders continue to benefit from Myanmars strategic location as an Asian crossroads, with surplus Indian production feeding demand in China, though currency volatility is starting to cause some headaches. In late 2015 prices in China, the worlds largest sugar importer, rose well beyond world prices. Traders now estimate that around 100 trucks a day carry the sweetener across the Myanmar-China border. Chinas growing need for sugar imports is driven by falling domestic sugar production, after fields were given over to crops that were previously more competitive. Rice, bean and maize traders in Myanmar, inspired by the booming trade, started dealing in sugar at the end of last year when prices in China reached more than US$800 per tonne. This week the price of white sugar in India was $440 per tonne, the re-export price at Muse on Myanmars border with China was 4140 yuan ($637.5) per tonne and the price in landlocked Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province was 5400 yuan ($831.5) per tonne, said U Sein Tun of the Sugar Cane and Sugar-Related Products Merchants and Manufacturers Association. Sugar is mostly imported from India and taken through Myanmar to the Chinese border with permission from the Ministry of Commerce. From there it is typically smuggled across the border, as China does not formally allow sugar imports from Myanmar, though often turns a blind eye. Last November and December, the trading season, the industry boomed. Global sugar prices were high and the exchange rate favoured exports. But over the past few months the kyat has strengthened and China has tightened controls on sugar imports, meaning some traders have faced losses, said industry insider Ko Nyein Chan Htwe. U Sein Tun said that within three months, from January to March, 1.15 million tonnes of sugar was imported from India to Myanmar, but not all of this was re-exported to China. Daily sugar flow from India into Myanmar has been around 8000 to 9000 tonnes, he said, of which around 4000 tonnes is re-exported daily to China. Excess sugar in Myanmar will push prices lower, he said. A stronger kyat is also starting to hurt traders who have stored large quantities of the sweetener. The kyat has strengthened by almost 12 percent against the US dollar this year to K1168. Consumers will be happy with the excess supply, but traders may have to take care over storage, said Ko Nyein Chan Htwe of Shwe Nay Aung Chan Win trading company which distributes sugar. Their problems are mostly not related to seizures of sugar at the Myanmar-China border in Muse or too much sugar from India but to changes in the exchange rate. He said the countrys sugar traders must balance supply and demand, or may have to sell their stock at a loss. It would be much better if China allowed a quota for Myanmar re-exported sugar through a government-to-government agreement. I am not sure why China opens and closes its borders to trade. Maybe it is to do with politics, or demand, he said. For now, traders are still trying their luck. In the past the market was controlled by a handful of export-import companies, but since the November 2015 election, it has become easier to obtain licences, said Ko Nyi Lay, adding that rice, bean and maize traders have switched to the sugar industry. Others say the permit system still favours well-connected companies. Re-exporting sugar is good business for traders, but the permit system is unfair, said U Win Htay, deputy chair of the Sugar Cane and Sugar-Related Products Merchants and Manufacturers Association. Some companies have permission to export 50,000 to 100,000 tonnes of sugar, while ordinary traders can only get permits to export 2000 tonnes, he said. Low supply in the cane season later this year is likely to keep prices high, traders said. Sugar imports from Thailand to Myanmar are likely to fall by 30 percent, as yields drop due to drought and high temperatures brought on by one of the strongest El Nino weather patterns in more than six decades. Indian sugar production is also likely to be lower this year due to the weather pattern, they said. Sugar in Thailand costs more than Indian sugar but is also of better quality, said Ko Nyi Lay, a trader based on Tamu on the Myanmar-India border. Normal sugar trade across the Myawaddy border with Thailand has been disrupted due to higher prices, he said, and traders are starting to store Thai sugar until supply drops and demand rises. First Myanmar Investment (FMI) has increased its capital contribution to its subsidiary Yoma Bank by almost K9.6 billion, after accepting a loan facility from Bangkok Bank, said a company announcement yesterday. FMI, owned by businessperson Serge Pun, is the first and only company to list on the Yangon Stock Exchange and owns a 51 percent stake in Yoma Bank. Executive director U Tun Tun said the equity of the banks shareholders has risen to K67 billion from K48 billion, in an announcement filed to the stock exchange website. The company may carry out capital increases from time to time as necessary to reinforce the financial founding of its subsidiaries, it said. FMI focuses on financial services, real estate and healthcare. Share trading volume dropped below 10,000 on April 28, while FMIs share price was K30,000. YSX director U Thet Tun Oo said the capital injection to the bank will support the group of companies over the long-term, adding to investor interest. As the sole listed company, FMIs share value defines the success of the exchange. The share price will probably rise when the company holds its annual general meeting and announces shareholder dividends in the next few months, he said. YSX is trying to ensure shares are priced fairly by relying on the listing values and target prices suggested by securities companies. According to the Securities Exchange Commission of Myanmar, the first trading date for Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Limited (MTSH), the second company to list on the exchange, has been postponed to mid-May from late April. MTSH chair U Win Aung declined to give information about the companys IPO date. In yet another case of racial profiling, a Sikh man of Indian origin and a Pakistani-American man got arrested at gunpoint for discussing a bomb threat in Arabic in the US. Both of them were detained for 30 hours, according to reports. Daljeet Singh, who has been granted a parole to live and work in America, struck a conversation with fellow passenger Mohammed Chotri after the latter approached him while they were travelling on a Greyhond bus from Arizona to Indiana on February 20. The situation turned ugly when a white woman who was travelling on the same bus questioned both of them and accused them of 'acting strange'. Further, the fellow passengers didn't let the duo move till the police reached the spot. Both of them were released from immigration detention centres after a thorough investigation by the FBI and were relieved of all charges. The incident came to light earlier this month when a Sikh organisation filed a complaint against the white woman who accused the duo of speaking in Arabic. A new case of profiling against an innocent Sikh in America. This time in Texas. Learn more: https://t.co/VJdsagWu4c pic.twitter.com/y3RTWbhFOv Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) April 27, 2016 In his defence, Singh tweeted, I still cannot believe that this happened to me in America. Read: US programme The Daily Show raises the issue of Sikhs harassment This is not the first time Sikhs have faced the brunt of racial discrimination or have been mistaken for being Muslims in the US. The Daily Show, an American late-night talk and news satire television programme with Trevor Noah, recently aired a segment called Confused Islamophobes Target American Sikhs, featuring a humorous interview with New York-based Indian-American designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia while raising a sensitive issue of the lack of awareness in the American population as to who Sikhs are and briefly educating the audience on Sikh history and values. The show opens with a commentary by anchor Hasan Minhaj, saying: Islamophobia, in case you have a no risk, it still is a big problem in America. What about those people who look Muslim but are Sikh American like Waris Ahluwalia. A turban, which as a Sikh he wears everywhere, but for some reason it makes people uncomfortable. Ahluwalia, who is familiar with this type of prejudice, told The Daily Show that he was kept from boarding a plane because he refused to take off his turban, a symbol of his faith. He said it did not happen to him for the first time. Almost every time I fly back to the U.S., I get a secondary screening. And it is not just a problem at an airport; its not just a problem for me on the streets. More supply and fewer foreign renters have caused rental prices in the high-end expat Yangon property market to fall, according to real estate industry figures but a lack of data means the extent of the drop is hard to quantify. More landlords furnishing apartments to appeal to foreigner workers, the changing nature of the expat renting class and a drop in the number of foreigners looking for apartments were all listed as factors. Daw Moh Moh Aung, general secretary of the Myanmar Real Estate Services Association, estimated that prices are down some 20 percent compared to 2014, a view that was confirmed by local estate agents. Some condos on Kyun Taw Road in Sanchaung township would have rented for K2.2 million a month in 2014, but the price has dropped to K1.6 million, said Daw Nilar Kyaw, owner of Aye Yeik San Estate Agent. Foreign real estate firms operating in Yangon agreed that in the high-end market aimed at foreigners prices had come down. Weve definitely seen a drop in rental prices over the last 12 months, said Verity Ramsden, head of valuation and advisory services at Slade Property Services. Another foreign real estate firm felt 20pc was a reasonable estimate. But Richard Emerson, country manager of Savills Myanmar, said a lack of data on price movements made putting a percentage figure on the decline impossible. There has been quite a drop in prices across properties renting for $2000 a month and upward, he said. However, it would be wildly inaccurate to say that prices had fallen 20pc across the expat rental market, he added. There is no reliable source of price data on residential rental prices in Yangon. But even if there was, huge variance across that sector would mean that no single figure could usefully reflect the state of the market, Mr Emerson said. Rental prices in the high-end market that caters to foreigners differ hugely due to factors like location, furnishings and the renters preference, he said. The latter two factors mean the rental price for one apartment can be twice that of another with the same number of rooms in the same building, he added. Real estate industry figures did agree, however, that a larger number of available properties targeted to foreign workers had contributed to the price decline. This increase in supply is because landlords are more willing to spend money decorating and furnishing properties to make them appeal to expats, said Daw Nilar Kyaw. There are so many [more] properties on the market and foreigners can pick and choose as they like, she said. Thats why the rental prices are falling. Landlords have become more savvy in adapting properties to suit expat expectations, said Ms Ramsden, adding that with more expat friendly options available some tenants have even been able to renew leases at lower prices in recent months. Landlords have started to become flexible on payment terms. Some are now willing to accept bi-annual or even quarterly payments rather than the traditional 12 months up-front, Ms Ramsden said. But there was less consensus over whether fewer expats seeking rental properties had pushed down prices. Daw Moh Moh Aung said many foreign workers had returned home in 2015, and Daw Nilar Kyaw felt there were fewer expats looking for properties so far this year Mr Emerson said a considerable number of foreign workers left Yangon in 2015. Where they would be replaced under normal conditions, that probably didnt happen due to the election process, he said, referring to last Novembers election. He also noted a cycle where large international firms entering Myanmar train local staff using expats, who leave once training is complete. Ms Ramsden, however, said the drop in rental prices in the past 12 months was down to the increase in available properties, not fewer expats in the market. Although the willingness of landlords to compromise on payment terms could be partly due to a different type of expat tenant entering the market, she said. Previously, lots of expats were being sent to Myanmar by big companies, embassies and NGOs, with their whole housing allowance paid for and dealt with by their employers, she said, meaning they had no need to barter or negotiate terms. Together with a lack of supply this left the bargaining power with the landlord. But as suitable housing supply has increased, so too has the influx of expats from smaller firms and organisations that are responsible for their own housing costs. They have a direct interest in getting the best rent and rental terms possible, she said. As a result weve gone from a landlords market to something a bit more balanced. Translation by Khine Thazin Han On 19th Street in Yangons Mingalar Taung Nyunt township lies a nondescript apartment that appears normal from the outside. Set foot inside, however, and you are entering a world that could be described as either heaven or hell or earth, depending on ones personal opinion of the sort of animals that dwell within for the apartment is home to not one, not two, not five, not 15, but a full contingent of 25 cats. Upon entering, you might catch sight of only four or five long-haired Persian cats lounging about the living room. But give apartment owner Ma Ni Lar half a chance, and she will start shaking a bag of cat food and call out, La! La! La! La! La! (Come come come). A stampede of fur ensues as cats seem to emerge from every corner, nook and cranny in the apartment, their noses and tails in the air in anticipation of the feeding frenzy that inevitably occurs when Ma Ni Lar begins scattering cat food across the floor. She is happy to explain how her home became overrun with felines. Our whole family loves cats and dogs, but I love cats more. We started keeping cats when we lived in Mawlamyine [in Mon State]. At that time we only had Burmese cats, and when we moved to Yangon we brought one Burmese cat, which was my moms favourite. But a few months later he was attacked by outside cats, got an infection and died, she said. The saga continues: My mom suffered for days and days about it, but later my brother brought the first Persian cat to our house. That Persian died a few months later for the same reason as the first Burmese cat, so my brother brought more Persian cats. This time he brought one male and one female. That was more than five years ago. We started with two cats and they had children, and now we have a large number. Twenty of Ma Ni Lars cats are Persian, four are half Persian/half Burmese and one is a Burmese she rescued on the street. Of the 25, 22 cats are kids or grandkids of Garfield and Phyu Ma, the original pair that her brother bought. Ma Ni Lar has now brought the hitherto unbridled breeding program to a halt. All the male cats are neutered and all the female cats have contraceptive injections, Ma Ni Lar said. Meanwhile, keeping the apartment as free as possible from the smell of excrement and urine is nearly a full-time job. Every morning we clean and wash with disinfectant. We also hired a maid for cleaning up after the cats, feeding them and other duties only related with the cats. Some cats have good habits they defecate in the bathroom and in the litter box but some dont have good habits and they do their business everywhere in the apartment. With their long hair, Persians also need more grooming than Burmese cats. We give them at least one shower a month and some get two showers a month. Sometimes playful cats can get dirty at any time, so if we see that a cat is especially dirty we give him a shower right away, Ma Ni Lar said. She said the daily cost of feeding the animals is more than K5000. Every day we feed them cat food four times a day, and boiled chicken mixed with cooked rice two times a day. Sometime we feed them canned fish but the Persians like chicken more, said Ma Ni Lar. She is also careful to look after their health. When we see a cat get mopey or weak, we send them directly to the veterinary clinic. Each of the cats has its own personality. A pure white female Persian named Bote Sone Ma, for example, normally eats like the others but she is the only cat in the house who is partial to fried noodles. We have to set some food aside for her every time we cook fried noodles at home, Ma Nilar said. Tiger, a male half Persian/half Burmese, is playful and a bit of a bully. Hes playful and seems not to fear anything, but he is really afraid of strangers. Despite all the work involved in keeping the cats fed and the apartment clean, Ma Ni Lar said she feels charmed to be surrounded by her bevy of furry felines. I never feel unhappy or depressed about raising them, but sometimes one will disappear from the apartment and I cant sleep. I pray every night for them to come back safely when we cant find them around the neighbourhood. I really love every single one. They are like my children, she said. Eating out for dinner isnt too complicated if you are single, or if youre married but havent had any children yet. Sometimes I wonder whether I am lucky to have a husband who is always keen to go and try food at new restaurants, as well as a daughter who is very active and playful. Besides them, I have two nephews (10 and 15) who always want to join us whenever we eat out. So, whenever we make dining-out plans on weekends, my husband and I have to choose a place that fits our family requirements. Before we had our daughter, we could go to new, hip, noisy bars where drinks are often more important than the food. But now we have many more questions to answer before heading out: Is the food good for kids? Is it air-conditioned? Is the space big and clean? Does the restaurant have baby high-chairs? In Myanmar, the answer to the last question is almost always no. Last week, after my husband and I put our heads together for a few minutes to choose a suitable destination, we decided to try White Rice Chinese restaurant inside Kandawgyi Park on Nat Mauk Road, just opposite Yangon Eye Hospital. One thing Id like to mention is that we always put lots of effort into choosing restaurants, but were not lucky all the time. Sometimes we end up eating at places that can best be described as okay or, when were really unlucky, crap. White Rice, however, turned out to be a good choice for us. For years we have driven past, but we had only been there twice before and one of those times was for a friends wedding reception, and therefore not a true reflection of the restaurants normal atmosphere. Our 17-month-old daughter and two nephews were happy as soon as they started up the long stairway at the entrance, which was decorated with colourful lights. She almost lost control when we entered the restaurant itself because there were lots of interesting things for her to touch like big flower pots, nice couches and fairy lights. There were plenty of other guests, but it did not feel crowded at all. The well-designed hall is quite big with impressively high ceilings. And the air-conditioning our most important requirement for dinner was quite cold. So everything went smoothly from the start. The menu is very big and thick like most Chinese restaurants. Unusual foods like shark fin soup are included, but we stuck with simple fare that we had tried before and that we knew was safe for kids. So guess what we ordered? We started with roasted duck (K7500 for a half-duck). We had always thought Junior Duck restaurant served the best roasted duck in town, but we found White Rices to be just as good. The main difference is the sauce, which is dark-coloured and sweet it seemed to be made from tamarind sauce and honey. Other dishes we ordered were stir-fried chicken and cashew nuts (K7000), fried pork ribs (K6000) and stir-fried vegetables (K5000). You might be thinking that we could have ordered chicken and cashew nuts at just about restaurant in Yangon, so why would we go all the way to White Rice? The answer is that its our own family tradition to order it when we dont know what else to get. Its one of those dishes that is usually edible even at the worst restaurants. Its a safe option when all else fails. The chicken and cashew nuts was especially good at White Rice. It was delivered to our table looking like a colourful bed of flowers, with the brown chicken and cashews mixed with green peppers, orange carrots and red dried chillies. The smell was just as good as the appearance, as was the taste. The chicken was tender with absorbed cooking sauce. We did not leave a single piece of food on the plate. When the fried pork ribs arrived, we were surprised by the huge chunks of meat. The fried garlic on the top was quite nice too. But the pork was a bit dry when eaten together with steamed rice, and we realised it would be better as a snack or appetiser eaten along with drinks. The dish that got the least attention was the one that arrived last at the table the stir-fried vegetables. It wasnt great but it wasnt terrible, just somewhere in between. We were probably being picky because we were so full by the time we tried it. The drink menu was thick but the adults stuck with beer and the kids were happy with bottled water. Our bill was a bit more than K37,000 including tax and service charge a reasonable amount for a family meal with good food in a comfortable atmosphere. On the way home my husband and I mused about why we had not been to White Rice many times before, and the answer only became clear while I was writing this review: Until 17 months ago, we didnt have a little monkey to factor into our dinner-choice equation. White Rice Kandawgyi Park, Nat Mauk Street, Yangon Restaurant Rating: 4/5 stars Food: 8 Drink: 6 Service: 8 Value: 7 X-factor: 8 With a new government in office and the start of a new financial year, international non-government organisations (INGOs) are holding intense discussions over whether their well-paid expat staff should pay income tax in Myanmar. Some have been paying tax for years; others claim to have deals that exempt their foreign staff; and others would not say if their staff paid any tax at all. Excluding the generous benefits packages that most INGO staff receive covering repatriation flights, housing allowance and health insurance many INGO international staff are paid between US$1500 and $6000 a month, dwarfing the salaries of their local co-workers who pay income tax. Myanmar has what one 2015 Asian Development Bank working paper called one of the lowest levels of tax yield in the world, as well as a ballooning budget deficit. Although the income tax contribution from INGO staffers would be admittedly a smidgen in overall terms, the practical and moral debates taking place within the upmarket residences of Yangons plush Golden Valley district reflect wider discussions among the international community in Myanmar. A spokesperson for the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) told The Myanmar Times, According to Section 19(a) of the 2016 Union Tax Law, employees earning above K48 lakhs [$4000] a year have to pay up to 25pc at a progressive rate in 2016-17. This applies to anyone resident in the country for more than 183 days, and to any income derived inside and outside Myanmar, including benefits. Jean Loi, managing partner of the law firm VDB Loi, said, The law is very simple. If you derive a salary in Myanmar and are not exempted by an MoU with the government then you are eligible to pay tax. Each INGO has a bilateral MoU with the Relief and Resettlement Department (RRD), but not all have clauses exempting their expat staff. But the agreements are kept confidential, and they are poorly understood. The IRD said, There is no individual exemption allowed by the Income Tax Law, adding, If INGO staff want to be exempt from paying income tax on salaries, they must apply to hluttaw [parliament] every year. Its a complicated situation, said Paul Joicey, director of Oxfam, suggesting that the confusion could be partly down to the fact that an MoU must be in both English and Myanmar. We have been led to believe that this [current arrangement] is acceptable, he said. The Myanmar Times contacted several INGOs enquiring about their tax compliance, with responses varying significantly. ActionAid says all its staff have paid income tax in Myanmar for the past three years. Oxfam and Trocaire both say their MoU permits their expat staff to pay income tax in their home country. Welthungerhifle voted Germanys joint-most transparent organisation in 2014 said they had no clause in their MoU exempting their staff from paying income tax. Solidarites International said they respected the law, and Plan said they were compliant. Neither elaborated further. Christian Aid and the Finnish Refugee Council have not operated long enough in the country for their staff to be subject to income tax. Both said their lawyers and accountants were reviewing the situation, but declined to reveal if they intended to pay income tax. The issue of whether or not INGO expat staff should pay income tax in Myanmar has been deliberated unsuccessfully for years in the INGO Forum an arena to help clarify different policies among INGOs. Martha Kaszubska, the forums coordinator, told The Myanmar Times, Each organisation is following its own procedures and guidelines to comply with the law of Myanmar. However, the current situation is causing disquiet among INGO staff members. One source, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Myanmar Times, Theres a joint NGO meeting every few months, with all the NGOs based in Yangon. At the most recent one, they asked for a show of hands to see which NGOs pay taxes not a single hand went up. Action Aids country director, Shihab Uddin Ahmad, refused to comment on other INGOs positions, but did say, We dont have moral grounds to talk about the taxes of multinational companies unless we comply. We believe that when we demand rights from the government we also acknowledge the right of the government [to collect tax]. We take it for granted that every INGO staff member is conscious about their contribution to the society. Oxfam says it is keen to uphold the right of the state to collect tax, but maintains that its staff do not pay income tax because their salaries are not paid here. International staff are paid at headquarters, so their salary never comes into Myanmar, said Ghi Da Oo, Oxfams HR manager. They pay tax in their home countries. Mr Joicey also pointed to the difficulty in managing the affairs of a multinational staff, with each employee subject to different regulations in their home country. Yet the country director of Welthungerhifle, Peter Hinn, revealed that his organisation does not share this difficulty, despite having their wages and taxes handled by HR at headquarters level in Germany. The reluctance of some INGOs to disclose tax arrangements is surprising, given that many are either signatories of an INGO Accountability Charter or purport to be transparent. The Charters executive director, Karenina Schroder, said, Tax payments are not explicitly covered by the INGO Accountability Charter, but sound and responsible financial management is. The rationale is that payment of income tax can be problematic in cases like Sudan and Somalia when it is not clear who is the legitimate government. However, as Mr Ahmad said, Here there is no issue about the legitimacy or identity of the government. Neither Oxfam nor Trocaire could explain their reasons for including these clauses in the first place, or for not wanting to pay income tax in Myanmar. A variety of reasons were suggested by ActionAids director, ranging from disapproval at the use of tax revenue such as funding ongoing battles between the Tatmadaw and various ethnic groups, or allegedly lining the pockets of cronies to rejecting a system that effectively treats a taxpaying foreigner like a tourist who can be charged more than a citizen for local services. However he is clear about his position. I would prefer us to comply with the law and at the same time argue how we can make that law better, he said. Oxfams Mr Joicey said, It would be helpful for the new government to clarify the rules. Yet some aid workers are accusing INGOs of hiding behind the ongoing discussion within the INGO Forum and using that as an excuse for not paying. They say the arguments against paying income tax in Myanmar are weak and have grown weaker now that a democratically elected government is in power. Even the process of filing your own tax returns is not so hard, they add. Mr Ahmad said, Its one of the simplest tax payment procedures in Myanmar. With the state government unable to put an end to a dream-inspired monks stupa-building craze, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is taking over. The prominent sayadaw had been planting stupas around Kayin State, largely on compounds belonging to other religious groups, oblivious to their protestations and flouting government orders. Some have accused Myaing Kyee Ngu Sayadaw of trying to incite religious feuds. Union Minister of Religious Affairs Thura U Aung Ko instructed the Kayin State officials to hand over the case before it provokes violence. The state authorities submitted files to the ministry and to the Presidents Office on April 26. U Min Tin Win, the state religion minister, told The Myanmar Times that his officials had appealed to the township and state-level Sangha Maha Naryaka Committees to solve the issue, but the committees declined to provide assistance. We are very disappointed by the committees, he said. We dont want to solve these issues without any instructions from the Union government. If we try to deal with this issue, people might accuse us of being a Muslim government or a Christian government. So far, the Presidents Office has not replied yet. When The Myanmar Times called the Presidents Office, the president and state counsellors spokesperson U Zaw Htay declined to comment. Myaing Kyee Ngu Sayadaw has recently planted three stupas in Christian compounds and near a mosque. He has admitted that he plans to build more on other religious sites. The University Christian Work (Myanmar SCM) released a letter on April 26 asking Christian students to be patient with the new government and not be disappointed if they cannot solve the issue. We want to ask for your prayers and for all to avoid making disunity among the people, the letter said. The state government held a cabinet meeting yesterday over the stupa issue and a female donor who said she is close to the implicated sayadaw volunteered to help negotiate. Local residents have accused the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army of backing the stupa-building to foment discontent. But Colonel Saw San Aung of the DKBA told Radio Free Asia that the accusations were baseless, and accused Border Guard Forces of failing to control the Myaing Kyee Ngu area. We are not involved in this case. We think this issue just creates religious conflicts, he said. US business delegations will visit Myanmar next week to seek investment opportunities that will also promote the countrys economic growth, Scot Marciel, the newly arrived US ambassador, announced yesterday. Speaking to domestic media, Mr Marciel said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) would also come to Myanmar in a demonstration of support for the new government. I am very pleased the administrator of US Agency for International Development Gayle Smith will be visiting here. She is arriving this weekend and going up to Nay Pyi Taw for talks with the government to hear first-hand from the government about its priorities and where we can be helpful, the ambassador said. A large part of her trip is to hear from the government what the needs are, what the priorities are. That will help us not only immediately, but in the future to determine how best to use our assistance. Ms Smith, who became the head of USAID last December, is also a special assistant to the president and senior director at the National Security Council. This is her first visit to Myanmar. While the US eased sanctions after a quasi-civilian government led by former general U Thein Sein took office in 2011, restrictions remain in place against individuals and companies under the US Treasury Departments Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. Despite the removal of some people from the blacklist including Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce chair U Win Aung many so-called cronies remain on it, making it harder for US companies to find business partners in Myanmar. Mr Marciel said the US government is reviewing the remaining economic sanctions. We are trying to create incentives for all of the players here to contribute to the reform. Thats still the approach of our sanctions. We are reviewing this. We are also consulting with the current government so that we have a good idea of what they think would be most useful. We have not made any specific decisions on that yet, but we are reviewing it, he said. Individuals and companies on the SDN list can be removed by following certain procedures that would require convincing the US Treasury Department that their businesses are contributing to the political reform of Myanmar, the ambassador added. Mr Marciel said the US would continue its two-way approach to the civilian authority of Myanmar as well as its military establishment and that he had conveyed this message to President U Htin Kyaw and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. In terms of going forward, it will really depend a lot on what happens here, Mr Marciel said. A positive contribution of the military to the countrys democratic and political reform will speed up the US response, he added. To the extent that the country is able to move forward in a positive way and the military is able to contribute positively, that certainly makes it easier for us to do more with the military, he said, noting that military-to-military ties were limited to the civil-military relationship, human rights and rule of law. The US government would encourage US firms to invest and look for opportunities, he said, but certain reporting requirements would remain if requested by the new government. The reporting requirements, those exist particularly in certain sectors. We want to make sure that American investors here are not only making money, but contributing to the welfare and prosperity of this country. The reporting requirements are meant for them to show publicly how they are doing that, how they are investing in a healthy and positive way, he said. The US government is also working to encourage the development of Myanmars small and medium enterprises. We are also doing some small programs to help build capacity among small and medium-sized enterprises. Sometimes, what we can do there is also just try to help small programs where they can learn from other small and medium-sized enterprises in the United States. So, it is a very promising and important area that will continue to look at, the ambassador said. Aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres is demanding that drug companies cut the cost of pneumonia vaccines for poor children worldwide, a move that could greatly affect Myanmar. MSF has presented a petition with nearly 400,000 signatures to pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline asking that they drop the vaccine cost to US$5 per child in all developing countries and for humanitarian organisations. Pneumonia is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths in Myanmar. Recent UNICEF data shows pneumonia accounted for 16 percent of under-five deaths in 2015, with 7516 losing their lives because of the disease. Myanmar is due to introduce a new pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia in the coming months. The $20 million project, co-financed by the government and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), is slated to run from 2016 to 2020. A spokesperson for GAVI said they will be purchasing these vaccines from GSK, with each course costing around $9. But if MSFs cost-slashing request is successful, savings could amount to around $10 million. Dr Greg Elder, medical coordinator at MSFs Access Campaign said, After combined sales of more than $30 billion for the pneumonia vaccine alone, we think its pretty safe to say that Pfizer and GSK can afford to lower the price. Dr Andrea Incerti of MSF Myanmar said that the pneumonia vaccine, even at the lowest global price, is still much more expensive than almost any other vaccine. There are many tragedies that cost childrens lives that we cant do anything about, but today no child should be dying of a vaccine preventable disease like pneumonia, Dr Incerti said. Lowering vaccine costs is a move supported by multiple health actors that operate in Myanmar including many NGOs and United Nations agencies. Lowering vaccine costs is crucial to increase access [It] will enable the most marginalised and vulnerable children to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, thus reducing deaths among children under-five, said Maharajan Muthu, Maternal and Child Health Specialist at UNICEF Myanmar. But drug companies disagree with the suggested ease of lowering the fee. In a statement, drug company GSK said at current production we are able to just cover our costs and maintain our ability to supply the vaccine to these countries in the long-term. The organisation said it was committed to looking at ways to reduce production costs. MSF estimates that pneumonia kills almost 1 million children around the world annually. Last year, 193 governments at the World Health Assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding more affordable vaccines and increased transparency around vaccine prices. Several countries indicated at the event that they are not able to introduce the pneumonia vaccine because of its high price. Migrant workers detained in Malaysia are hopeful a homecoming may finally be on the horizon after a batch of returns began last week, but rights groups say the embassy has only further convoluted the lengthy process. Thousands of Myanmar workers languish in Malaysias notorious detention centres for months and even years awaiting citizenship documents from the Myanmar government. Some have overstayed their visa, while others immigrated without any documents to begin with. Stranded in the squalid facilities where they have little contact with the outside world, they must rely on civil society groups to help connect them with the embassy. The lengthy wait appears to be a Myanmar-specific quandary, as detainees from other countries stay in the facilities for at most a handful of weeks before being repatriated, according to groups assisting the Myanmar workers. Many hoped the new government might expedite the process. Last week, the floodgates briefly opened and 34 Myanmar workers were repatriated on April 22, according to the Yadana Setka Free Funeral Service Organization of Joho Township, which assists migrants in the Parka Narnat Camp. We helped 26 workers to get their citizen documents to go back home. We also helped fund 20 migrants who couldnt afford the travel fees to Myanmar or to their native towns, said Ko Kyaw Zay Lwin, chair of Johos Yadana Setka FFS. The other eight migrants in the repatriation group were assisted by the Myanmar Embassy. Another 300 Myanmar citizens stranded at Parka Narnat Camp are hoping they could be next. But after the recent successful returns, the camp administration suddenly made it more difficult for FFS to gain access. Now, we are not allowed to enter the camps, said Ko Kyaw Zay Lwin. The camps new officer told us we must first obtain a recommendation letter from the Myanmar embassy. We asked the embassy for the recommendation, but they told us to wait. If the embassy doesnt give us that letter, we will be unable to help our Myanmar migrants anymore. He fears the embassy is behind the blockade, angry that the civil society group is more effective in organising repatriations. Some embassy officers are jealous of us because we get on very well with the migrants and the detention camp officers, said Ko Kyaw Zay Lwin. He added that he had submitted a complaint letter to the embassy on April 25, pointing out that the delays are barring them from helping repatriate more workers. The embassy denied the allegation, and again asked for patience. In Malaysia, there are 11 detention centres throughout the country. Embassy workers only come once every 45 days to update the roll call. A migrant worker who returned home in January told The Myanmar Times that he had been stranded in the detention centre for five months, only to be released, re-arrested and detained for another seven months. He said he never got any help from embassy officials. Another repatriated worker, Ko Hla Khaing from Mandalay Region, returned from the Parka Nanat Camp with help from FFS. He said he owes his repatriation entirely to the organisation. The detention centres are expected to start seeing an influx after the Malaysian government started a scheme allowing companies to report any undocumented workers to the Department of Immigration without repercussions. The Myanmar ambassador to Malaysia could not be reached yesterday, as his phone was out of service. Illegal smuggling of cattle and natural resources must end, and alternative sources of income identified, said a Thabeikkyin township administrator. The Mandalay Region township is known for illegal mining of gold and other minerals, but township administrator U Aung Moe Oo wants to put an end to the rampant smuggling. He said more job opportunities should be created to provide an alternative to the illicit market. If we try to eradicate [illegal business], we need to consider what we can do for those who make their live from illegal trade, which may be the only opportunity available to them. Otherwise, illegal trade will never disappear. We have to create economic opportunities at the state-level, said U Aung Myo Oo. The preponderance of illegal trade has sapped the legitimate businesses of profits, he added. In Thabeikkyin township, selling cattle and goats can only be done with certificates from the township administration office. We are planning to form an organisation to arrest those who are importing and selling cattle illegally, he said. But the local government shouldnt be the only ones responsibility for cleaning up industry in the township, he said. For the initiative to be successful, citizens must also do business responsibly, by following the rules and regulations for licences and paying taxes on goods. Already, 748 illegally imported cattle have been seized and kept in the respective police stations in the township. After an investigation into the cases, the cattle will be sold, according to the administration department. The department has received several complaints related to illegal trade and hopes to be able to address the backlog. But cattle sellers who say they have done the right thing, and followed the rules to obtain all the required permits, say their businesses are suffering. Those who registered at the MCDC and pay tax to the government to sell cattle are facing losses, said U Thaung Khine, who has a trading permit. He and other sellers want stricter regulations and a more thorough clampdown on the smugglers. U Aung Naing, a Pyithu Hluttaw MP for Thabeikkyin township, said he planned to raise questions about the problem in parliament and submit a proposal about how to handle the illegal trade problem. Translation by Mee Mee Myint Thu Johnson has claimed that the business tycoon had raped her at 'sex parties' hosted by his paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo: AP) Washington: US Republican front-runner and billionaire Donald Trump has been the subject of many controversies in the past, but this time he is in the spotlight for a rape claim that dates back to 1994. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the alleged victim identified as Kate Johnson, has accused Trump of raping her at a sex party in 1994. Kate has claimed that the business tycoon had raped her at 'sex parties' hosted by his paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein. She also claimed that Trump and Epstein had kept her as a 'sex slave' for over four months. Accusing Trump of destroying her virginity, the alleged victim, in her legal lawsuit, said that she was forced to 'manually stimulate Trump with her hand on his penis till he got an orgasm'. Adding to her list of claims against Trump, Kate also alleged that when she met Trump for the second time at a sex party, she was forced to engage in oral sex with him. The lawsuit also states that the plaintiff was also forced to perform lesbian act with a 12-year-old for the business tycoon's pleasure. In her statement to the police, Kate also said that the accused had threatened to harm her along with her family if she disagreed to comply with them. However, Donald Trump refuted all her claims stating that it was an attempt to tarnish his image. He also added that the claims made by Johnson were 'disgusting' and were 'politically motivated.' Meanwhile, Johnson gave an interview to a number of media outlets and even sold her photographs for $25,000. Mandalay Region government is to spend billions bringing drinking water to more than 100 villages that they fear could run dry over the next few weeks. U Myo, deputy director of the regions Urban Development Department, told The Myanmar Times on April 22 that K172.45 billion provided by the Union government would go toward distribution, as well as repairing old wells and de-silting lakes over the next 100 days. Nyaung-U and Myingyan are the most in need of water. The main task is to dig out old wells and lakes, plus repair and maintenance of the necessary roads and bridges, he said, adding that delivery companies had already distributed 360,000 gallons to 12,376 houses, serving 65,652 people mainly in Tada-U, Myitthar, Taungtha, Yamethin, Pyawbwe and Nyaung-U townships. The 101 villages concerned are being serviced daily by water trucks. Although Nyaung-U city is short of water, the Taungzin River project allows us to deliver water to nearly 100 villages. We spent K39 billion on repairs and maintenance last fiscal year, and will spend a further K300 billion this year on repairs and maintenance of the river water project. Now were distributing water as well, he said. Mandalay Region Urban Development Department warned that the El Nino phenomenon could bring particularly dry weather this year, and that the department had made preparations to supply up to 231 villages facing water shortages in April and May. Over K216 million of the budget will be devoted to the Pyin Oo Lwin area where wells will be dug in order to ensure even the driest villages have a source of water, according to an official at the village development department. The department will also spend K534.55 billion on road and bridge repair and maintenance this year and K98.6 billion from the capital fund will be used for new projects in 22 places. Additional reporting by Si Thu Lwin, translation by Emoon and San Lay Wedged between a military unwilling to relinquish power and high expectations from its supporters, it has not been an easy first month for the NLD-led government as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi slowly embarks on her promised path to change. Even before U Thein Sein handed over the presidential symbols of office, the closed-door leanings of the National League for Democracy were apparent in the riddle-like pronouncements of party spokesperson relishing the tantalising of an increasingly impatient media. Finally, after months of speculation and tense negotiations with the military over unblocking constitutional barriers keeping Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the top job, her trusted aide U Htin Kyaw was elected president by parliament on March 10 and took office on March 30. Despite initial disappointment over the need for a proxy president, shirts carrying the new presidents photo with the word hope were soon on sale in Yangon, signalling that her supporters had accepted the outcome. Speculation then mounted over the role The Lady would take in the new government, perhaps as foreign minister or a post in the Presidents Office. In the end, she took both, plus two other ministries she soon relinquished. But the partys best-kept secret was the creation of a special state counsellor position for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her way of being above the president. After weeks of emphasising the need for cooperation with the military, the government simply rammed the legislation through parliament. The bill was passed on April 5 with military MPs rising in protest during the vote. Only three days later dozens of political prisoners were released in a presidential pardon, for which the NLD bypassed the military-dominated Defence and Security Council. More prisoners were freed in the following weeks. Their release fuelled popular support for the NLD just days before the Thingyan water festival. The partys subservient conduct during the transition appeared to be setting a cautious precedent for how the military-civilian political relationship would unfold in the years to come. The NLD deserves the highest praise for proving us wrong, Frontier Myanmar, an English-language weekly, opined after the pardons. It was the most significant effort of the new government which has been appreciated by all people, said U Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, adding that it was still early days to judge the administration. The decision by the NLD-led regional government in Yangon to ban giant commercial pandals over Thingyan also went down well with the public who welcomed what they felt was the real culture of the New Year festival. Decrees by the state counsellor aimed against corruption and nepotism among officials were also appreciated. Anecdotal evidence about officials from the tax department becoming more wary of taking bribes suggests the measures are having an impact. But the public may remain sceptical, after the government outed a media company for proffering a K5 million gift to an official but then took no further action against it. Cabinet appointments drew considerable criticism, however. The vetting process was ridiculed on social media after two ministers turned out to have fake university degrees. The appointment of Thura U Aung Ko, a perceived nationalist, as minister for religion and culture drew ire from civil society groups, while other ministers failed to inspire. Newly arrived US ambassador Scot Marciel says the new government will need time to grow into its new role. I think it is impressive how quickly they have moved, for example, to release political prisoners, some very positive and very important moves to try to tackle corruption and nepotism. So I give them a lot of credit, but I think it is only fair to give them time, he told reporters yesterday. This country and this government face a lot of challenges. Getting the economy growing so people have better lives, dealing with the peace process, dealing with certain religious tensions, those are all big challenges. And I think none are easy to solve quickly, he said. But a month after taking office, many policy gaps remain. A hesitant business community has been waiting for the clouds to clear since last Novembers elections and is still waiting for the government to lay out its economic priorities. The expectation of change which was an election pledge remains unrequited. The recently promised 100-day plan will hopefully provide some solace in this direction, said Peter Beynon, chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar. Voxpop: What do you think about the new government? Just as investors are hoping for fresh initiatives and closely watching government reviews of controversial infrastructure projects, the international community with its own chequebooks at the ready is waiting for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to lay out her plans for the stalled peace process. Meanwhile conflicts rumble on in three states. She gave her first indications on April 27, calling for a second Panglong after the example of her father who brokered the first such meeting of ethnic leaders in 1947. She reiterated that, unlike the military, she wanted all ethnic armed groups brought into the nationwide ceasefire and that she intends to lead a new National Reconciliation and Peace Centre. Perhaps the most sensitive issue of all that remains unaddressed is the humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State where more than 100,000 people mostly stateless Muslims languish in squalid displacement camps. What has clearly emerged from the past month, however, is the official blessing of a new cult. Media coverage of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi meeting union ministers, greeting scores of diplomats, visiting a hospital, attending peace talks etc but with scant attention paid to the president or his deputies leaves no doubt who is in charge. U Ye Htun, a former MP for the Shan National Development Party, suggested that instead of treating the president like a puppet she might like to devolve some responsibilities. If not she is likely to become a dictator. The previous government ruled as a dictatorship with military backing, he said. Frankly she seems like a dictator with the backing of the people, a so-called democratically elected dictator. But if the dictator does good things for the country, people will forgive the way she does it and continue to support her, U Ye Htun added Additional reporting by Lun Min, Clare Hammond and Guy Dinmore A crowd of nationalists swarmed the United States embassy in Yangon yesterday, denouncing the country for using the word Rohingya to refer to a Muslim group in Rakhine State in a recent statement. The protesters marched from Yangon University along University Avenue Road until reaching the gates of the embassy where they demanded officials revise a statement about a recent boat accident in Rakhine that killed over 20 people. The monks and nationalists said that anyone using the word Rohingya is an enemy of the state, and as long as the US uses the term, it is a fraud government. If they accept and support the illegal people, they are an illegal government. If they want to be so kind to them, the US government should take them into their country, said Ko Win Ko Ko Latt, chair of the Myanmar Nationalist Network, which helped to organise the rally along with the Patriotic Union and the Committee for the Protection of Nationality and Religion, as Ma Ba Tha is known in English. In a statement passed around to attendees at the protest, the Myanmar Nationalist Network said that by using the fake term Rohingya instead of the official term Bengali, the US government was committing an offence and breaching diplomatic ethics by failing to recognise the official ethnic groups. Out of respect, the statement said, the US should avoiding using the term in the future unless it wants to threaten the sovereignty of Myanmar. Today, the US government should show humanity and not hurt other countries or infringe on the boundaries of other nations. They should show they sympathise by conceding, said nationalist network member Ko Naung Taw Law. Outspoken monk U Wirathu also sent a letter to be delivered to the embassy, which took aim at others who propagated the fake term, including Yanghee Lee, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Magwe Sayaday warned that if the US government continues to use the term, the nationalists will bring a bigger crowd to demonstrate. The US should take care not to violate the human rights and sovereignty of other countries and nations, he said. The protesters demanded the US embassys statement which expressed condolences for a boat sinking incident on April 19 off the coast of Sittwe be revised to eliminate the offensive term. The US embassys statement referred to the victims of the accident as members of the Rohingya community, and said the US welcomed the Myanmar governments commitment to improving the lives of all people in Rakhine State to promote reconciliation, peace and stability. Talking to media yesteday, the new US ambassador Scot Marciel said that he hoped people would focus on the statements message, condolences, rather than the name used. He added, The normal US practice and the normal international practice is that communities anywhere have the ability to decide what they are going to be called. At the demonstration, U Win Win Ko Ko Latt presented a statement to a security officer at the US embassy. He said that it shall be conferred to the US ambassador and the US government who will respond by solving the issue, said Ko Win Ko Ko Latt. Yesterdays protest in front of the embassy compound, as well as the march from Yangon University, was not sanctioned by the township police office. Permission had only been granted for a rally at the Bo Sein Ground in Tarmwe township, which was what the organisers had applied for. As was our duty, I applied under the law for permission, said Ko Naung Taw Lay. When they granted permission [for the stadium] I asked them, Why would we play at a worthless place? So we did the protest as we wished. We will defend ourselves under the law if we are charged. Police Lieutenant Colonel U Kyaw Htut said that a case will be opened under section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, the same one used to charge and imprison dozens of student protesters a year ago. Social media users yesterday questioned why the new government stayed silent about the protest. Spokesperson for the Presidents Office and the State Counsellor U Zaw Htaw said the matter would be handled diplomatically. Although the government isnt releasing a statement on it, the matter is being taken care of by the foreign ministry using diplomatic channels, he said. Officially, Rohingya are not included among the 135 recognised ethnic groups and they were excluded from the 2014 census. Most live in Rakhine State, with over 100,000 still in internally displaced persons camps after sectarian violence in 2012. Last week an avoidable tragedy hit families in Rakhine when at least 21 people drowned after a boat carrying them to market capsized. Official figures of the exact number of dead have not been updated since April 20 when the UNs acting resident humanitarian coordinator Janet Jackson released a statement on the accident which happened the previous day. But it is clear that as is so often the case in humanitarian disasters whether natural or created by humans women and children were in the front line of danger. The number of passengers on board at the time of the incident was far from certain and many people are still officially missing the UN confirmed yesterday. According to initial reports the majority of those on board and who drowned were women and children. The UN statement confirmed at least nine children had perished. According to the UN the majority of the passengers on the boat were internally displaced people (IDPs) from Sin Tet Maw camp in Pauktaw township who were on an authorised day trip to Sittwe to make purchases at the market. Given that those travelling were reported by local police to be headed to market to buy food and medicine a task most usually carried out by women the reportedly high number of female passengers makes sense. Sin Tet Maw is a camp where stateless Muslim people who call themselves Rohingya and are referred to by Myanmar authorities as Bengali are held under apartheid conditions introduced in the aftermath of communal violence which broke out between Muslims and Buddhists in Rakhine in 2012. The reason the UN referred to the trip as authorised is that as most readers of this column no doubt know the majority of Rohingya people suffer severe human rights abuses in Myanmar and do not have freedom of movement. Update: "Rohingya" ferry victims not Rohingya Speaking to this newspaper at the time of the incident, Daw Ohmar Saw, a worker for Medecins Sans Frontieres in the area, said government restrictions forced the Rohingya IDPs to make the hazardous journey by sea when they are given official permission to travel rather than going by land. They do not have enough of anything in the camps, so they have no choice but to travel even when they know that is not safe, she said. With the rainy season fast approaching and travel set to become even more hazardous, reports said those on board were planning to stock up on supplies. Those who died then were not the bogey-men of encroaching Islamic terror and takeover too many people in this country conjure up when they hear the name Rohingya. Most it seems were mums trying their best to make sure their families would have enough to eat and basic medical supplies when the monsoons came. They were doing exactly the same thing that thousands of other mothers in rural communities across the country are doing right now and like so many mothers trying to juggle childcare and other household duties, they took their babies with them when they went shopping. And now they are dead. So far authorities appear to be blaming the tragedy on a big wave. But those who died were driven into the path of that big wave by people with power who have abandoned their duty to uphold the rights of others because of personal intolerance or moral cowardice in the face of mob demands. In her statement Ms Jackson said, This accident serves as a tragic reminder of the vulnerability that many communities and families face in this area of Rakhine where their only option is to use this mode of travel in order to access markets, livelihoods, and other basic services that are essential for a dignified life. The fact they had no other option because of deliberately imposed restrictions was not clearly stated. The real reasons for these deaths are not laid out in the cold hard words the victims deserve. Instead they are softly hinted at in terms of diplomatic avoidance that delicately draw a veil over the brutal and ugly policies that lead to drowned women and children. There is no question that the situation between the Buddhist and Muslim populations in northern Rakhine requires sensitive political approaches. Any international demands for overnight solutions from the new government are simplistic and unrealistic. But we should also be realistic when it comes to authorities forcing women and children to travel unnecessarily dangerous routes to access basic necessities and recognise it for what it is a deliberate act of abuse and endangerment of peoples lives. Dealing with the Rohingya issue sensitively does not mean tolerating women and children being driven into the arms of death. The new government and international organisations have a duty to act and speak out and ensure this does not happen again. [April 28, 2016] UnitedHealthcare Donates $200,000 to National Church Residences for New Medical Suite to Improve Access to Care for Pittsburgh-area Seniors UnitedHealthcare donated $200,000 to National Church Residences to create a new onsite medical suite that will serve residents of Parkside Manor, a 77-unit independent-living senior community located in Pittsburgh's Brookline suburb. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160428007052/en/ Allison Davenport, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania, presents a $200,000 check to National Church Residences to build a new medical suite at Parkside Manor Apartments in the Brookline neighborhood of Pittsburgh. L to R: Tracey Carns, regional manager, National Church Residences; Katie Colgan, vice president, Government Relations, National Church Residences; Jeff Wolf, senior vice president, Philanthropy, National Church Residences; Michelle Norris, president, National Church Residences Investment Corp.; Davenport of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan (Photo: Melissa Distel). The new medical suite will include a reception and waiting area, exam room, medical office, restrooms and an area for physical therapy. The stand-alone facility will be available for residents and can also be accessed by residents of the local community, allowing Parkside Manor to further support the community and help improve access to care. "This investment by UnitedHealthcare will bring important support services to the residents of Parkside Manor and the surrounding community," said Michelle Norris, president of National Church Residences Investment Corp. "The addition of an onsite medical suite brings a renewed focus to health and wellness that will improve access to care." The donation comes following the release of United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings Senior Report showing Pennsylvania dropped from 22nd to 25th in the nation for overall senior care, with a high prevalence of obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and preventable hospitalizations, among other measures. National Church Residences, an innovative leader in integrating housing, health care and other supportive services for seniors, families and others in need, owns and manages Parkside Manor, and is overseeing a major renovation project of the facility. The renovations mark Parkside Manor's first significant upgrade since it opened in 1982 and includes renovating all of the apartment units, and adding a fitness center, computer room, community kitchen, library and game room. The renovations and new medical suite will be completed in June. "United Healthcare's partnership with National Church Residences will help improve access to care for at-risk populations, particularly among seniors, who often face greater barriers to medical services," said State Representative Daniel Deasy, who participated in the announcement and hardhat tour. "I applaud the innovation and commitment to bring more support services to the Pittsburgh community." UnitedHealthcare's donation to National Church Residences aligns with its goal of providing seniors, low-income individuals and families with access to essential social, medical and behavioral services that can have a significant impact on health and quality of life. "We are honored to partner with National Church Residences to support this new medical suite that will improve access to care and improve services that will help make it easier for people to live healthier lives," said Allison Davenport, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania. UnitedHealthcare is part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), which has more than 5,300 employees in Pennsylvania and serves more than 1 million Pennsylvanians through UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored, Medicare, health exchange and Medicaid health benefit plans. About National Church Residences National Church Residences is committed to excellence that transforms the lives of the people it serves. The not-for-profit organization is an innovative leader in integrating housing, health care and supportive services, serving seniors of all income levels and families. With 340 communities in 28 states and Puerto Rico, National Church Residences is the nation's largest not-for-profit provider of affordable senior housing. It also operates full-service retirement communities in Ohio and Florida, as well as supportive housing for the formerly homeless and disabled in Ohio and Georgia. The National Church Residences model of person-centered care includes adult day health, assisted living, senior housing, skilled nursing homes, rehabilitation center, outpatient therapy, home health care and hospice. For more information, visit www.nationalchurchresidences.org. About UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter (News - Alert). Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160428007052/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] I was privileged to join Verizons Partner Solutions as a guest speaker this year in Phoenix. The partners included almost everyone you would think was a competitor, but the reality is that cooperation is real in telecom. It was a very nice location, with very nice meetings and I had the chance to listen to Eric Cevis, President of Verizon Partner Solutions. Cevis ran through the new marketing campaign called Better Matters, which is focused on Better Network, Better Relationships, Better Experience, and Better Offerings. Its nice marketing, which is easy to say, easy to relate to, and its certainly going to be reflected in future presentations. However, the real part that caught my ear was the pain-point of the partners he was addressing. Verizons partners are managing the migration of POTS. A giant piece of the puzzle is the entrance facility for business customers who have been laggards. They are not ready to give up the landline, and for them the use of FiOS, Ethernet or Wireless is hardly a lift. So the push is to sub-10 MB Ethernet and ATM (masked as NxDS1s); all of this while Verizon Wireless is delivering 50 MB solutions to fixed locations. Clearly we have a mature base that is slow to migrate. Yet we know they all have cell phones and probably have Wi-Fi at home. So the real question is, do we push them to migrate or accept the fact that they are not going to update anytime soon? In the conversations here I have seen lots of old friends, talking about switch companies that dont exist anymore. The carriers are moving to the new while the customer base still wants the old stuff. While technologically its worse than the move from Operators and Cord boards to Direct Dial and Stepper Switches, the customer transition should be easier; we are not introducing dial pads; in fact were reducing them. In this photo, Syrian refugees pass time in Aksaray neighbourhood in Istanbul (Photo: AP) Washington: President Barack Obama says the US can meet his goal of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees by September 30, the end of the federal budget year. Obama says the goal he set last year has been challenging, partly because of the need to assure the US public that refugees are being thoroughly checked out. He says processes are in place to speed up the resettlements. Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both called for blocking Muslims from being admitted to the US following terrorist attacks last year in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Obama says accepting Syrian refugees is "the right thing to do" because they are victims of terrorism, violence and suffering caused by Syrian President Bashar Assad. Obama commented at a news conference with college reporters. Few years ago, Agye Me Nkwa by Ewura Abena featuring Nacee was the number one song on the lips of every Gospel music lover in Ghana and beyond. Her debut album Kama Kama in 2009 had a good reception. After the release of Eye album in 2014 she went on the low to repackage herself properly for a major come back. You Reign and All I Say are two of the songs off her yet to be released third studio album titled All I Say she has been working on for the past two years. The songs produced by Davine Rythmz are some of the lead songs on the album that talks about God's supremacy. The songs were digitally released yesterday 28th April, 2016 via here soundcloud accounts for free streaming. Ewura Abena is still in the studio giving final touches to the album which will be release later this year. Link to the songs on Soundcloud The mortal remains of late veteran actor Nii Odoi Mensah will arrive in Ghana on Saturday. The body of the actor, Myjoyonline.com gathers, will arrive from China on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight. Nii Odoi Mensah, who was the former President of the Ghana Actors Guild, passed away Tuesday, April 12 in China where he had gone for a kidney transplant. Rumours that the family needed $68,000 to bring the mortal remains of the late actor back home have been dismissed by the family. President John Dramani Mahama promised to do whatever it takes to ensure that the body of the late former president of the Ghana Actors Guild is flown home for burial. The presidents intention was revealed by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare when she visited the family of the late actor. She was in the company of some members of the Ghana Actors Guild at late actors' Grada Estate residence in Accra, Monday. According to the minister, the President described Nii Odoi Mensah as a 'friend' and will do his best to help the family in their time of need. Myjoyonline.com gathers that the family of the late actor will be joined by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and members of the Ghana Actors Guild to welcome the body at the Kotoka International Airport. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Juba (AFP) - South Sudan's transitional unity government was sworn into office Friday, with President Salva Kiir sharing power with ex-rebels in a key step in a long-delayed peace process. Under terms of an August 2015 peace deal, the 30 ministerial posts are split between Kiir, former rebel chief turned first vice president Riek Machar, opposition and other parties. "We are going to work together," Kiir said after the ministers were sworn into office, and he shook hands with Machar. "We must learn how to forgive and we must learn how to apologise." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the naming of the ministers was an "important milestone" in the peace process, urging the parties "to cease immediately all hostilities". The transitional government is to remain in place until October 2018. Machar returned to the capital Juba on Tuesday and was immediately sworn into the post of vice president -- a position he was sacked from five months before war broke out. Fighting erupted in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup, claims he always denied. The conflict, which has torn open ethnic divisions, has been characterised by horrific rights abuses, including gang rapes, the wholesale burning of villages and cannibalism. "Cooperation is important," Machar told the new ministers, saying people were still fearful and that leaders needed to show them the peace deal would work. "If we act as groups in the cabinet, we will fail the people of South Sudan." - 'Children are dying' - Kiir loyalists remain in key positions, with Kuol Manyang staying on as defence minister and David Deng Athorbei as finance minster with the job of rebuilding an economy left in ruins by more than two years of war. The all-important petroleum portfolio was handed to Dak Duop Bichok. The foreign ministry goes to Deng Alor, a post he held under a united Sudan, before South Sudan won its independence in 2011. Alor belongs to a group of influential politicians known as the "former detainees", who were jailed at the outbreak of fighting but later released following regional pressure. Opposition leader and outspoken government critic Lam Akol becomes minister for agriculture and food security -- a crucial job in a country where five million are in need of aid, and some areas are on the brink of famine. Ensuring they work together in a unity government, and that the thousands of rival armed forces now in separate camps inside the capital keep their guns quiet, will be a major challenge. Both sides remain deeply suspicious, and fighting continues with multiple militia forces unleashed who now pay no heed to either Kiir or Machar. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million driven from their homes in the conflict, which has reignited ethnic divisions and been characterised by gross human rights abuses. - Political prisoners - Dozens of political prisoners remain in detention, although a former regional governor and a university professor held for months were released this week, Amnesty International said on Friday. Both Joseph Bakosoro, former governor of Western Equatoria state, and Professor Leonzio Angole Onek from Juba University, were arrested in December by the widely-feared National Security Service (NSS). Speaking after his release, Bakasoro said he hoped the new government would work towards peace. "I hope those who will be in the government will do the right thing -- not for themselves, but for the people of this country," he told reporters. "The common citizens are the ones suffering, women are suffering, children are dying." Amnesty said the release of the two men "represents a mere fraction of people being detained by NSS and other security forces such as the military" and called for 33 other prisoners to be charged or released. "Some have been beaten, especially during interrogation or as a form of punishment," Amnesty added, saying their treatment may "amount to torture". Atik Mohammed has called on the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the recent comments by former Transport Minister Dzifa Ativor. He expressed suspicion over the former Minister's fears that she will face a jail term should Ghanaians vote against the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). They should conduct a fresh investigation into this matterThe time has come for us to conduct fresh investigations into this and indeed if she's found culpable as she's hinting, she should face the full rigors of the law, the General Secretary of the People's National Convention (PNC) said. Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Atik Mohammed wondered why the Former Minister is afraid of a change of government and would believe that a different government will prosecute her. To him, her comment is a subtle way of admitting that she might have misconducted herself before her resignation as Minister of Transport. The former Transport Minister, who resigned after being cited in the bus rebranding scandal, contends that her luck will fall on the victory of the NDC. . Describing the NPP as tribal party bent on witchhunting Ewes, she can only be safe and not go to jail if the NDC wins the 2016 elections. When the NPP came to power in 2001, a lot of our people were sent to prison; Victor Selormey, Dan Abodakpui, and so on, was imprisoned. Was it because no other person committed crime in Ghana? But it was only Ewes that they jailed. I want to entreat you not to do anything for me and Fifi Kwetey to go to prison. It lies with you all to ensure that no Ewe person goes to prison. So I am pleading with you to work hard and deliver the 120 thousand votes target for the party in the constituency, she told about the record of the NPP government from the year 2001 to the year 2008. But in a quick riposte to the Former Minister, the PNC General Secretary believes she has indicted the governement for being unable to prosecute wrongdoers. To Atik Mohammed, Ativor's comment speaks volumes about the Mahama administration, saying you (Ativor) won't be taken to jail simply because there is a change of government. You have to do something beforeIf you haven't committed any crime, why would you be scared of jail and why would you say that it's a different government that will be able to jail you. This means you have admitted that you've done something wrong but for your government; they have no interest in jailing you but a different government will. -peacefmonline We are assuring you of our support and come 7th November you will be sworn in and you will be at the Flagstaff House. Our advice is that when you win power be sure to beckon the call of your people. These were the comments of Buglana-zachi Hanan Andani, Chairman of the Gbewaa Youth, a long time pro-NDC youth group in Changli, a suburb of Tamale when Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, NPP Vice-Presidential Candidate visited Changli on Sunday as part of a three-day tour of the four constituencies in Tamale. Other members of the group who took their turn to speak, all expressed happiness at the visit and signalled their willingness to be part of the train of Change. They also indicated that they look forward to more of such visits from the NPP, Dr. Barhama Ibrahim Anyass and Dr.Bawumia. We are very pleased with Dr.Bawumia's visit. This goes to show that we are all one people and that Politics isn't about disputes but who you follow to achieve a greater goal for the country.What the Northern region needs is development. We want to assure you that we have returned and that we will be part of the change and victory that is coming, members of the group said. Changli, which until recently was a no-go area for the NPP and one of the NDC's strongest support bases in Tamale, this time around wholeheartedly welcomed the NPP Running Mate and his team and requested that as a bond to establish the new relationship with the NPP, Dr.Bawumia should help the community to put up a wall around their KVIP (public toilet), when the NPP wins the upcoming elections and assumes the reins of government. Aside Changli, Dr.Bawumia visited Gumbihini and the Tamale Central Market. Dr.Bawumia Takes on NDC Record Greeted by large crowds everywhere he visited, Dr.Bawumia, interacted with residents of the Sagnarigu Constituency on Monday on the need to vote out the NDC government and bring in the NPP in the November election. Speaking at Sheshagu in the constituency, Dr.Bawumia stated that while elections are held to elect governments to develop the Nation and help alleviate the suffering of the people, the NDC government since 2009, had rather worsened the suffering of the Ghanaian people despite the unprecedented resources it had accumulated in taxes and loans. He noted that under the NPP, the party, despite the meagre resources available, accelerated development across the country and introduced various social intervention policies like the NHIS, School Feeding Programme, Metro Mass Transit Buses, Free Maternal Care for Pregnant Women, the Capitation Grant, among other policies which benefited the people of Tamale and the North greatly. . However, he observed that despite the NDC having access to ten times the resources the NPP had, the NDC had managed to virtually collapse most of these schemes and also placed unbearable suffering and hardships on the people through the incompetent management of the economy with sharp increases in utilities and other necessities and the unprecedented joblessness that affects the Ghanaian youth today. Bawumia Returns to Sakasaka to a massive welcome Among others, Dr.Bawumia also toured Jisonayili, Gurugu, Katariga and Malshegu, all in the Sagnarigu constituency; meeting the Chiefs, elders and people in each of these constituencies. Before rounding off the day, Dr.Bawumia addressed a mammoth Night Rally organized in Sakasaka in the Tamale Central Constituency. Dr.Bawumia reminded the people about the fact that he was born in Sakasaka and even attended the Sakasaka Primary School. Speaking to rapturous applauds during the charged rally, Dr.Bawumia took on the NDC record in the North and called on all in the North to ignore the NDC propaganda and vote out the government. We were told that the leader of the NDC was from the North and so we should support him. But it is under this leadership that most of the social intervention schemes, which benefitted most northerners have collapsed. The Teacher Trainee and Nursing Trainee Allowances which many Northern youth and Ghanaian youth in general benefitted from, has also been struck out, making it virtually impossible for youths from poor homes to become Teachers or Nurses. Dr.Bawumia also touched on the mismanaged SADA programme and expressed sadness at how millions of state resources had been pilfered in the name of Northern development. The government tells us that they allocated 200 million Ghana cedis to SADA. 200 million is not a small amount but do you feel the impact of the 200 million in your lives? a question which drew a loud No from the people. Continuing on SADA, Dr.Bawumia stated instead of investing this 200 million in activities that will alleviate the suffering of the people, like in dams for agriculture; a few people colluded to steal this money through schemes like Guinea Fowl rearing, which we were later told that the fowls had all migrated to Burkina Faso. Today there remains virtually no legacy of SADA after the expenditure of 200 million Ghana cedis. -peacefmonline Fitsum Abadi, Managing Director, Ethiopian Cargo Services receiving the award Ethiopian Airlines, the largest cargo operator in Africa, has been voted as the Best Cargo Airline of the Year from Africa at the Air Cargo News awards held at the Lancaster London Hotel, London. Air Cargo News is the world's leading air cargo publication which has produced the highest quality editorial content for the past 33 years. The awards are based on the voting results of more than 18,000 supply chain professionals over a two month period. Shippers, the beneficial owners of the goods, and their logistics partners, were asked to vote on the publication's website for the airline that provided the best overall customer experience and for the best service provider in each region. Ethiopian Airlines has been pioneering African cargo by introducing the latest technology and fostering the growth of air cargo transport by providing convenient cargo import and export. . Ethiopian was the first in Africa to receive and operate the B777-200 LR freighter, which has exceptional uplift, range and fuel efficiency, and is perfectly suited for the transport of Africa's growing import and export of freight. Roger Hailey, Editor of Air Cargo News: said Once again the air cargo industry has proven that innovation and customer service go hand in hand with efficient and secure global supply chains. Ethiopian Airlines is a worthy winner of this award, as recognised by peer group professionals who voted in recognition of its valuable contribution to African air cargo. Congratulations. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines said, We are very pleased to win such a distinguished award. This award encourages us to do more in our contribution towards the socio-economic development of Africa. A Business Desk report Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Gambian prosecutors charged opposition leader Ousaniou Darboe and 19 other activists arrested for unlawful assembly and rioting with a new charge of conspiracy to commit a felony. Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), and his 19 co-defendants, including a new accused Masanneh Lalo Jawla, all pleaded not guilty to the charge at the high court in Banjul. They had previously been charged with unlawful assembly, rioting and incitement to violence. Jawla was also charged with all the counts earlier levelled against his co-defendants. They are among 38 people arrested over demonstrations on April 14 and 16. Some of them were detained on April 14 after a rare opposition protest demanding political reforms while the others were arrested following a demonstration two days later against the death of UDP official Solo Sandeng, who is reported to have died suspiciously in custody, according to his party and human rights groups. The court adjourned the case to May 5 and did not rule on their bail application. On Wednesday, their lawyers told the court that the defendants had been denied adequate food, access to medical attention and family visits. Defence lawyer Hawa Sisay Sabally said her client Fanta Darboe had "sustained severe injuries" to her right hand and other parts of her body but had not yet received medical attention. Prosecutor Hadi Saleh Barkum rejected the allegations. The court had however ordered prison authorities to allow the defendants access to adequate food, care and visits from their relatives. The small west African nation is ruled with an iron fist by President Yahya Jammeh who came to power in a coup in 1994 and was first elected head of state in 1996. The 50-year-old is expected to seek a fifth mandate in a presidential poll in December. Deputy of Head of Mission of the Dutch Embassy in Ghana, Caecila Wijgers, has urged Ghana to carefully explore the opportunities the creative industry presents for economic growth. She says Ghana has many promising creative entrepreneurs who should be encouraged, adding that the Embassy is now turning its focus on developing young entrepreneurs. The creative industry is one of the sectors of the Netherlands I believe there is a lot of creativity here in Ghana, as there is in the Netherlands, she told JOY BUSINESS at a cultural and creative event as part of the Embassys Orange Week celebration. Young creative entrepreneurs in disciplines such as music, art, dance as well as fashion and spoken word were invited to showcase their works. Ms Wigjers also revealed that the Dutch Embassy was designing a mentorship programme expected to take off next year. It would help entrepreneurs develop their skills to enable them grow their businesses. Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Dzifa Gomashie who graced the occasion pledged governments support for entrepreneurs in the creative industry. As a ministry we have created the platform for creative entrepreneurs to come together and hold exhibitions, she said. The night was filled with various performances of music and dance and was concluded by a fashion show with young designers. Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama were scheduled to visit Agra but the trip was cut short as the US President decided to go to Saudi Arabia to pay condolence to the Royal family following death of King Abdullah. Washington: US President Barack Obama was disappointed at not being able to visit the iconic Taj Mahal during his trip to India last year, the White House has said. The President was quite disappointed to not have an opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal on his last visit to India, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Friday. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama had visited India in January last year to be the chief guest of at the annual Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama were scheduled to visit Agra but the trip was cut short as the US President decided to go to Saudi Arabia to pay condolence to the Royal family following death of King Abdullah. That (a visit to the Taj) had originally been part of the itinerary, but the President had to cut short his visit to India because of the untimely death of the King of Saudi Arabia. So the President travelled to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects at that point, Earnest said. I think the President wishes I could promise that he would have an opportunity to visit Taj Mahal before the end of his presidency, but Im not sure that will happen, the White House Press Secretary said indicating that this wish of Obama would remain unfulfilled when he leaves his presidency on January 20 next year. The Honourable Stephane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement: Canada welcomes the formation of South Sudan's Transitional Government of National Unity under the leadership of President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar. This is an important step toward national reconciliation in South Sudan. We urge the government to make genuine efforts toward addressing the challenges the country faces. Most urgently, every possible step must be made by the national leadership to put an end to persistent conflict across the country and to give humanitarian agencies unfettered access to those in dire need of assistance. If South Sudan is to avoid returning to a cycle of violence and impunity, it is crucial for the government and the legislature to move quickly to establish the accountability institutions called for in the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. Canada is committed to assisting the Transitional Government of National Unity as it sets out a new path for South Sudan. 29.04.2016 LISTEN Judgment debts have become a prominent topic for discussion in Ghana especially since Woyome was paid a huge judgment debt of GH 51Million a few years back. The debate has centered largely on whether payment of judgment debts has been tainted with fraud or not, with some citing payment of judgment debts as acts of corruption. To properly appreciate the issues at stake in the judgment debt debate, one would need to understand what constitutes a judgment debt. Judgment debts involve decisions of courts directing payments to be made to a party in a court case. In the case of Woyome for instance it was a court of Ghana that directed Government to pay Woyome the sum of GH51Million, because it had come to the conclusion that the Ghana government owed Woyome monies for services he had rendered in a construction contract awarded by the Kuffour Government. The genesis of the issues leading to payment of the judgment debt was therefore in actions or omissions of the Kuffour government that created room for Woyome to make his controversial claim for the judgment debt. Woyomes claim for payment thus originated with the Kuffour government and remained unresolved causing Woyome to demand interest payments on his debt running till date of payment of the debt by the Atta Mills Government. The other key issue that emerged in the Woyome judgment debt controversy was the role of the Attorney General in agreeing to settle Woyomes claim at GH51Million.Whereas some have read corruption into the governments decision to pay the GH51Million to Woyome, the Attorney General argued that it had saved the country huge sums of money because Woyomes original claim was in excess of GH100Million, due to accumulated interest on the original claim. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the whole saga was the Attorney Generals haste to settle the claim, though endorsed by a court decision - when they could have exercised the option to have the case fully tried in court so that the strength of Woyomes claim could be subjected to full proof. The government has moved to redress its earlier controversial decision to abide by the courts decision to pay the judgment debt, and have initiated court actions to have the Woyome judgment debt cancelled. Some key lessons are to be learnt from the Woyome judgment debt saga and other judgment debt cases that have emerged especially through the work of the Judgment Debt Commission.Firstly, the government should issue firm instructions to the Attorney Generals office to fully contest all claims beyond some monetary threshold. Secondly, the government should legislate into law monetary caps for all claims (including interest) against government and public institutions. This is especially necessary in view of the fact that Ghana is a third world country with limited resources. Therefore to leave the issue of monetary settlements in government cases solely to the discretion of courts is not prudent policy. Thirdly, government should legislate severe sanctions against claimants that submit fraudulent claims against government institutions. Unless such creative and drastic solutions are put in place by government, some unscrupulous elements in society would perceive judgment debts as an easy avenue to make money at the expense of the tax payer. There is absolutely no justification for a third world country like Ghana to be paying out huge sums of money in judgment debts against the background of limited resources for executing development projects. There is therefore no justification for a third world country like Ghana to recently pay out a judgment debt of USD$11Million to a leading member of the NPP as alleged under its current economic circumstances. If the logic is that payments of judgment debts constitute acts of corruption then the recent payment of a judgment debt to the leading NPP member should be investigated to determine whether it was justified, just as Woyomes claim was rightly subjected to scrutiny. Finally, public servants whose conduct in the exercise of their official duties results in the Government incurring judgment debts, should be investigated and sanctioned where their conduct are deemed to unjustifiably expose government to liability. They should appropriately be sanctioned and punished. God bless our Homeland Ghana. Report by: Mensah Dekportor (Hamburg Germany) Email: [email protected] The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ebo Barton-Odro, has called for action to end open defecation along beaches in the Central Region, following a warning by UNICEF that it would take Ghana about 500 years to end the problem. According to Barton-Odro, the country cannot make strides in improving tourism if it cannot keep its tourist sites, especially beaches, clean. The statistics from authorities indicate that Ghana placed second in cholera rankings in West Africa in 2015 with 28,944 cases and 204 deaths. It is even more worrying to hear that the unwillingness to stop pen defecation in areas like cape coast Elmina and so n which are designated tourist enclaves with grate potential for revenue generation is something that is very disturbing. He was speaking at an on-going capacity building organised by the Presidential Press Corps on the menace of open defecation in the Central Region. With summer around the corner, many holiday makers from Europe and the US may be looking at tourist destinations on offer so as to decide where to throw their budget, he said. "One crucial factor in determining to go is not only a safe destination but also a clean environment. The event is under the theme Open defecation A menace in Ghana, and is being sponsored by UNICEF. Ghanaians beware! The mediocrity of electing a baboonish government afflicted with a "trial and error" syndrome can only result in development in another country to your detriment. How can we sit unconcerned when the dirge of our demise is being written by a group of bandits in Power? How can we be silent over the pernicious strategy of John Mahama and his cronies to bring development to TOGO with our nation's money when our children go to school on an empty stomach right here in Ghana, and as close to the Presidency as the Flag Staff House. We told the whole nation that the NDC is constructing roads in Togo while those that lead to your houses within the peripheries of Ghana are as rough and the Bemaraha limestone hills of Madagascar. The NDC is constructing KVIP toilets, Clinics, and so on there, as well as extending electricity from the Volta to the Togolese villages. Meanwhile back home in Ghana, Ghanaians suffer to pay an increased tariff to use the toilet in the morning are at anytime. The KVIP toilet charges have gone up due to the economic constraints, yet John Mahama is providing this service free to Togolese. This announcement was made to take effect on May 1, 2016. Please, has John Mahama been made the President of Togo? Where is Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema? Has he abdicated the Togolese Presidency and handed Power over to John Mahama? When Ghanaians cannot afford a decent meal a day, John Mahama seems to be doling out wealth to Togolese in cash and kind. How can any explanation be accepted to justify this outrageous governance. He must have wanted to show all this benevolence to Ghanaians, but lost his way and treaded into Togo where our machines and money are helping foreigners scathe by at the expense of our survival. Kokoon Anyidaho, refused to refute these claims because you cannot lie when the scandalous truth is staring you in the face. This further cemented the fact that the NDC has been caught pants down masturbating their electoral dreams of winning another term in office. Ghanaians must sit up and say enough is enough! What is the meaning of this, Mr President? Baboonism is characteristic of the NDC and their government presided over by a master chef in corruption and good story telling. He is never bereft of stories to attempt an invidious justification of the unacceptable. John Mahama, instead of lying about the nursing jobs and bribing opinion leaders with TVs and other kind of enticements, please have a sober reflection and repeat to yourself, in honesty, the rhetoric that you slap Ghanaians with continually. You will be disgusted just thinking about how you have taken the good people of this country for granted. Dzifa Ativor 29.04.2016 LISTEN To err is human. But when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you should know that you are overdoing it (Jenkins) I woke up early morning on that fateful day, hoping for something really refreshing, in my life, in my business and above all in my motherland. The song Do something new in my life kept ringing umpteen times in my ears. I began to sing it aloud and for as many times as it repeatedly came back to me. My daughters (9 &11) came to see me together like a contingent. Dad isnt that silly? Why, I wondered? You keep repeating the same words over and over again. Its a prayer, I said. But you could have spent some of that time doing a lot of new things for yourself. They said it so innocently, dispassionately and with the dispatch of kids brought up in England. Thats why I feel the best ideas are not cloaked in any Latin or grammar. Nevertheless I still hoped for something new; anything that could nurture ones body, spirit and soul. Lo and behold in the course of the day, I saw something new was beginning to seize the motherlands well being. Not entirely new. Tribalism, a pre-existing condition, was beginning to take on a new dimension. The canker was now beginning to gain a pernicious and an incurable hold over our beloved country. Yes, most rational beings have feelings of some nostalgia, sometimes sheer sentiments and often a sense of misplaced belonging to hometown and tribe. However, for the Leaders of our country to now begin to plead with tribes to keep them in power in order to protect them from legitimate prosecution and punishment is near catastrophic. For a minute, Dzifa Ativors comments left me bereft of words I could not find appropriate words to describe the former ministers conduct. It should be noted that the President of the Republic set the pace. In the 2012 elections he brazenly showed a propensity for tribalism and invited people of the Northern Region to vote for him because he hailed from there. In the last few weeks he has been back and forth from the Volta Region. He went to tell fibs about his achievements in the Volta Region. Subsequently, he went there and unashamedly promised development projects in the context of the Region being their sure bankers in the upcoming elections. The context was wrong. It was completely unconstitutional. What is our beloved country coming to? In the 21st Century? Fellow Ghanaians, the bible says that, spare the rod and spoil the child. Ghanaians should do something really discerning in their lives for a real change. We should all have been up in arms over the statement of this former Minister of Transport, in that, Ewes were at risk of incarceration from the NPP in the event that they should vote against her own party. By her statement she suggests very seriously flawed practices by the main political parties. She suggests that NPP will selectively prosecute Ewes with or without fault and that under the NDC, even errant Ewe ministers or members of Government will not be prosecuted. She said this, knowing full well, that she had only recently been reeling under a scandal of sorts which should have been criminally investigated. Worse still, she relies on the past, successful prosecutions of Ewes in properly constituted Courts of Law in this our nascent, if not infant democracy. Dzifa Ativor was recently moved from her ministerial job over suspicions that a contract for the rebranding of state buses had been inflated; which under a properly functioning Government would have been punished as a criminal offence under our constitution. She could have either appropriated or caused Ghana a loss of $2 million dollars or more! Dzifa Ativor must be a very well educated and intelligent woman. She is not reported to have suffered any recent defect of the mind such that she could be held not to have understood the nature and potential impact of her remarks on the minds of her audience. She undoubtedly knew what she was doing, even if she rather intriguingly failed to anticipate the rather mature rebuttal by former President J. J. Rawlings. I also found her Partys dissociation from the statement as a very welcome development in our politics. Besides, the Peace Council has been prompt in its condemnation of Dzifas statement. When Nana Addos call for his partys followers not to be cowed or bullied by the opposition was interpreted as a call to violence, he apologized at the earliest opportunity. Has Mahama apologised for any of his ethnocentric remarks? He almost always engages Northern folks in his Government as if there are no other tribes left in the NDC party. Ghanaians, especially the Voltarians and folks from the Northern Region, who in the past, may have been spoken to in these terms, should learn from this and teach the NDC Government what to do with the Countrys funds. Nobody, irrespective of where he or she hails from is entitled to inflate Government contracts with the intention of making some 2 to 3 million dollar profits when some of the same Voltarian/Northern voters cannot even afford 3 square meals a day, save for election time and then for errant ministers invoke tribalism for fear they will be prosecuted. This is a palpable rape on Ghanaians. We for no sit down. Any fear of Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo is definitely not borne out of any extant tribal tendencies of the man but it is all about the fear of Nana Addos sense of propriety, of Justice, and of his incorruptibility. It is pretty outrageous that our brothers and sisters at the helm of affairs in Ghana today are so incorrigible. Madam Dzifas appeal to Ewes is simply criminal and rather contemptuous. For a woman of her stature and education to call on Ewes to exercise their franchise simply to protect those fleecing the Country of its meagre resources simply by virtue of their tribal origins, is damn ludicrous. It is time for Ghanaians to do something new with their God-given Franchise to ensure the fulfilment of Gods purpose for our motherland. It can never be part of Gods purpose to protect the despicable plundering of the Nations resources by a few, be they kinsmen or aliens. 29.04.2016 LISTEN Must We End Up Like This? Can We Develop With Tribal Sentiments Like This? We are scandalized on the attitude of some Ghanaians who have made it their stock in trade never to grow over and above the politics of division and ethnicity. It is regrettable, unacceptable and must be condemned in no uncertain terms that people who are supposed to know better are rather doing the worse. The comments of Dzifa Attivor presumably an educated woman are distasteful, unnecessary and smacks of absolute irresponsibility on the part of an adult. Every sound minded person will ask him or herself the question that how many of President Mahama's ministers have used GHc3.6million for rebranding of buses? Citing Tsatsu Tsikata, Victor Selormey, Dan Abodakpi and etc as an example, one must ask did those personalities get jailed because they were from a particular tribe or because of crimes like causing financial loss to the state, which in the sight of the judiciary and the legal framework of Ghana deserved incarceration? Is Dzifa Attivor trying to justify the create, loot and share brigade in the Mahama administration? Must we rule our country with fickle minded people who only see their wrong doing as reward for votes and punishment for wrong doing as a political vendetta on some tribes? We strongly believe that our nation must be ruled by people with sound mind, good reputation and character, respect for humanity, reasonable and above all fear of God. It is very abhorring, unacceptable and nauseating, for people and groups like the so called VOYA and its Convener Shadrack Fofo Ahiable to blindly support mischief, tribalism and shameful comments from people in authority all in the name of winning votes and power. We thought that after the public condemnation of the barbaric tribal statement of Attivor by the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev Prof Emmanuel Asante and former president Rawlings the matter should be put to rest. Unfortunately, that was not the case, but rather the woman is shamefully hiding behind gullible minded individuals and groups to justify that divisive comment. A simple message to all Ghanaians is that, WHEN GHANA IS PLUNGED INTO CHAOS AND MAYHEM people like Dzifa Attivor has already stolen enough money to cater for themselves and their families abroad, but the poor people who can hardly afford three square meals will suffer. We must begin to get serious as a nation and start placing premium on issue-based politics rather than pettiness which is an inextricable feature of colloquialism. Long Live mother Ghana SIGNED Moses Antwi (Email:[email protected]) Kofi Abrefa Afena. (Email:[email protected]) Adom Manas Kwabena (Email:[email protected]) Wole Soyinka 29.04.2016 LISTEN In the days leading to the nomination of retired General Mohammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), many Nigerians had a lot of misgivings about his candidacy based upon the records of the lanky looking born again politician. General Buhari is so described because he once toppled a democratically elected government in December 1983. It could be debated whether the overthrow is deserved or not, but that is what the record shows. The post nomination of retired General Buhari as the flag bearer of the APC witnessed never before told corralling of all and sundry to his corner. All the supposedly independent watchdog groups who ought to have remained neutral were in the corner of the APC and the then candidate Buhari. Revisionists took over to confuse the memories of those who lived through the tragedy of Buharis first coming in 1984/1985. Sons were made to denounce their fathers and daughters were forced to reject their mothers to be able to support candidate Buhari. Friends denied each other to be able to support Buhari. Wives fought their husbands to a standstill while husbands threatened their wives with second wives or divorce just to get on Buhari train. Even, some scions of eminently persecuted politicians during the Buharis first coming deodorized the experiences of their fathers in jail and raked up excuses to be able to support the candidacy of Buhari. Many men of principle were forced to compromise their principles. Those who had misgivings were caged in to abandon their good sense of judgments. Those who hesitated were lured with lucre. Cautions were thrown to the curb. Myths were manufactured to inflate the image of candidate Buhari. In that electoral war, truth, reason and caution became casualties. One of the victims of this sordid experience was our dearly beloved Kongi, Professor Wole Soyinka. Professor Soyinka has always represented the voice of the voiceless in Nigeria. He has always been the voice of reason. He has consistently for more than five decades represent the voice of wisdom. He has incorrigibly stood for reason in the midst of confusion. He had brought clarity when things became foggy. He advocated for fairness when it was lacking. He championed the course of justice when only very few had the courage to do so. He was one of the original Three Musketeers that comprised late Tai Solarin and Gani Fawehinmi. For his beliefs, Professor Soyinka went to jail just like these other moral icons of our society. The NADECO struggle against the General Sanni Abacha junta and June 12 battles caused the path of Professor Soyinka to cross that of some politicians. Some of these politicians were sincere fighters for democracy. Some of them were opportunists looking for ways to take advantage of the situation. But Kongi was friendly to all. It was a friendship that was later to be cemented by the Presidency of Anambra State born Olusegun Obasanjo-Onyejekwe who went about like a bull in the china shop breaking everything in sight. There were public face offs between Kongi and Obasanjo Onyejekwe. While the face off lasted, some opportunist politicians who wanted to be seen as populist took sides with Kongi and gained his confidence. They courted him and brought him into their fold using him to legitimize themselves while they committed egregious crimes against the people. The fact that they were opposing Obasanjo Onyejekwe deprived these opportunistic politicians the necessary klieg light to interrogate their stewardship. Even, the devil, if he had come around to fight Obasanjo Onyejekwe at that point in time would have found some followers. But in the course of his friendship with the politicians, Professor Soyinka has been a little careless. He has brought into his relationship with them, TRUST, a commodity that politicians dont value. As a result of his trusting his politician friends, he had allowed himself to be embarrassed on few occasions. He had allowed himself to be muddled in and with the mud by his politician friends. He had allowed them to stain his white garment of honour on several occasions. He had allowed them to put dents in the hard earned armour of his reputation. We do not need to go over the instances when this had occurred. But the most damaging in his relationship with his politician friends was his endorsement of the candidacy of Buhari. On the day of that endorsement, it was clear that Kongi was not himself. He appeared bereaved. He was tepid, hesitant and halfhearted. He seemed forlorn, jaded and sad. He was not his bright and electrifying self. Even, his statement on this occasion elucidated the fact that this was not our own WS. He was someone else on that day. He was chilly, cold and cool. He was frigid, frosty and icy. His facial construct was distant, apathetic and solitary. It was clear that Professor Soyinka was filled with a sort of premonition that he was making a serious mistake by endorsing Buhari. His attitude conveyed the impression that he was coerced. His reluctance to endorse was more than palpable. It was clear that someone had probably threatened him that he either endorse or else? It was evident that the constitution of Kongi was in active rebellion against that act of endorsement. His spirit was certainly in revolt and revulsion. Professor Soyinka was engaged in a seditious act against his own conscience. He was in mutiny against his own well considered personal counseling. It was an insurgency against everything that was WS. This dilemma would be better understood when juxtaposed against the background of Kongis earlier positions on candidate Buhari. It was like Kongi was made to lick up his vomits. Professor Soyinka had excoriated Buhari on human rights abuses during his first coming. He had expressed anger that Buhari was yet to be held accountable for his several sins. He had spoke about History as a guide to making judgment about the future. He had been vehement in opposing Buhari candidacy the first three times insisting that he (Buhari) be held accountable for his transgressions against Nigerians and Nigeria. Professor Soyinka had been very public and unapologetic about his stance on Buhari. He was convinced that Buhari was almost satanic if not luciferic. Anytime any issue relating to Buhari was raised, he instantaneously gets into a combative mood, becomes adversarial and antagonistic. He left anyone and everyone with no doubt that he detested Buhari, not as a person but for what he did to Nigeria and Nigerians during the dark years of 1984 and 1985. He was in always in his right elements every time he had to look back and review the psychological attack engaged in by Buhari against the dignity and self respect of Nigerians during his first coming. So, to now get him to endorse Buhari was a seismic shift. It was clearly an embarrassment he could not avoid. He was being loyal to his politician friends who have no shame; no respect for integrity; no qualms about lying; no scruples whatsoever; and above all no conscience. Yet, the values that have come to define our own WS include integrity, moral high ground, respect for truth, a life guided by conscience and principle. They are the values that have sold him to not just Nigerians but to the world. They are the kernels of what make our own WS thick. His Nobel prize for Literature only serves to further elucidate and attest to his originality, authenticity and integrity, as an academic and as a conscience of the nation. In the last year since President Buhari has been in the office, Professor Soyinka had been silent. He had been quiet, mostly. But few days ago, he had to say something about the menace of the Fulani herdsmen. He disclosed that his home had been invaded by them and called on Buhari to do something about the terrors being perpetuated by his Fulani kinsmen. Some are suggesting that Kongi has found his voice. Other are not so sure yet. Some believe that Kongi is mindful of his politician friends and would not want to offend them. That our own WS has called out President Buhari on his inaction on the menace of the Fulani herdsmen and the trail of tragedy they are leaving across Nigeria is very interesting. It is very interesting because his politician friends mainly in the Southwest are silent and cold towards the plight of their peoples. His APC friends were quiet while people were burnt alive in Ketu, Lagos. They have nothing to say to the countless farmers in their domain who have been murdered and or have their farms destroyed by the Fulani herdsmen. Since the fortunes of Nigerians turned sour under the Presidency of Buhari, every concerned citizen was waiting to hear from Professor Soyinka. The civil groups have been nowhere to be found either. Barrister Femi Falana has been lost to the politicians. The voiceless have become more voiceless. The poor people have been abandoned. The people they voted for have shown they do not care about them. All the governors are nowhere to be found. The Asiwaju has refused to be in the front of the struggle. But will Soyinka find his voice again? Will he be able to resolve the dilemma of his loyalty? Is he going to remain loyal to his dishonest politician friends and continue to keep quiet on Buharis travesty of an administration? Or will he revert back to being the conscience of the nation and the voice of the voiceless? Will he be able to remove the stains on his sainthood? Does he still have the will and the energy? Time will tell. In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility I welcome it. - John F. Kennedy, in his Inaugural Address January 20, 1961 Please follow me on twitter @OyeyemiRemi File Photo 29.04.2016 LISTEN Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes (coon,2001). A psychologist therefore refers to one who applies psychological theories and methodologies to solve psychological constructs such as daily life challenges,adjustment problems ,work stability and recruitment, etc. There also types of psychologists but there are only three of such in Ghana presently namely the clinical ,social and the industrial and organizational psychologists. These professionals have same background but a slight difference in practice. A first degree doesn't qualify one to be called a psychologist but a master's degree in the specialised field. "The work of the psychologist lacks recognition in Ghana because we do not know the value they can place on the development of our society ",professor S .Dankwah ,one of the founding fathers of the discipline in Africa maintained. With regards to the Ghana police service ,the clinical psychologist would be more preferable because they apply psychological theories and the methodologies through the process of a therapy to deal with maladaptive behaviours ,mental abnormalities ,stress,anger management and so on. These psychologists especially the clinical ought to be readily available and accessible to the entire citizenry but it is unfortunately not so in Ghana ;notwithstanding,the members of the Ghana police service compulsorily need them. The peace officers need socio -emotional experts who would restore their personal and private peace to them. We require these intellectuals who would bargain for the Junior officer on matters of leave and motivations . They would also be of grave importance to our psychological ineptitudes that arises from our families ,our social environment and adjustment in New places of work. The police officer has been taught to maintain courageous calm in the face of scorn ,danger or threat but I refute that this is practically Impossible with the officer languishing in a challenged mental state. I strongly believe that a detachment of clinical psychologists in the Ghana Police service would decrease the high frequency of alcohol consumption among members and reduce the high incidence of stress -related deaths. I suggest that these opiate experts should have a bureau in all the eleven police regions in Ghana . They should be well placed administratively so that they can be readily available and accessible to all members of the service . Psychologists doubles as research experts and can therefore act as catalysts to reforming the Ghana police service through their findings. Their counselling sessions should be extended to the least police post either by a face to face meeting or via circulars and published papers. Conclusively, Redeeming and Reforming the Ghana police service is a collective responsibility and all must endeavor. Let's therefore support the idea of employing psychologists especially the clinical to delve into the psychology of police officers with all empathy in accordance with the recommendations made by Dr. Raymond Atuguba in his IEA paper titled, "THE GHANA POLICE SERVICE:A PRACTICAL AGENDA FOR REFORM. " Thomas Akanyibah Bravo/Swat Accra Region [email protected] President John Dramani Mahama 29.04.2016 LISTEN A deceased uncle of mine once said that when you are lying calibrate your verbal incontinence, at least, to resemble the truth. And I think it makes a lot of sense. It is normal for writers to embellish the obvious, but yellow journalism is abhorrent to me even when it is applied against my mortal enemies. Just over a week ago an extremely provocative headline hit the electronic media written by Fadi Dabbousi Samih. This is the full title: John Mahama is Richer Than Ghana? Respond To the Panama Papers. It is a sort of headline that if you are also a rich picker in the President Mahama grapevine of corruption and incompetence you cannot help, but click on it. However, I was utterly disappointed that this writer did not offer any concrete evidence, but the Panama papers in passing without specific detail for his serious and, perhaps, destabilising claims. We all know the fishy deals Mr Fadi enumerated in his series in addition to the 10% cut on government contracts. But to suggest that President Mahama is worth $10 billion of investment around the globe is a belter. The Panama papers has caused a lot of waves on the high seas of global politics. The prime minister of Iceland had to resign when his name appeared in it. It has undoubtedly made some few politicians very uncomfortable. As a result, a lot of op-ed writers are having a field day; coming up with all sorts of falsehood in its wake, and its very unfortunate. Under normal circumstances I wouldnt do this, but for my fetish for the truth I think I have to jump to the defence of a president whom I want kicked out in November. Our nations democratic foundation is still work in progress, and the truth, I believe, should not be compromised especially in the interest of our children. The foundation is not yet solid rock; therefore, such brazen lies is without doubt going to undermine it. If I should have my way President John Dramani Mahama will be gone in a heartbeat, but wishes are not horses so I am obliged to have him as my president for the next eight months. I cannot definitively prove any solid evidence of corruption against the president. The only sliver of hope is circumstantial, which is very difficult to prove in a court of law. On the other hand, when it comes to incompetence I will not run out of ideas to write a best seller. The fact that some of us want to see his back does not mean that we have to concoct unsubstantiated spurious evidence to spread on the net. The internet is very difficult to police. Anybody at all can even use a cell phone to spread outlandish rumours from any corner of the globe. What most people rely on is our personal integrity. What Mr Fadi relied on is a publication by some strange organisation called Ghana Must Know Forum. There have been cases where the prestigious web encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, had some of its entries falsified, even here in Britain. You can literally get materials on the net to prove anything. There is even one pathetic guy in the United States who specialises in going through my archived articles and culling phrases out of context and making me appear to be subscribing to his wet dreams. There will always be irresponsible organisations and people like the one above. Mr Fadis series is a clear case of applying the tactics of Goebbels who said that the bigger the lie the more people will believe it. For President Mahama to grab even a billion dollars is a huge step. I am not even going to waste my time to write on the size of the economy nor the international grants and loans that flows into the country. We are talking about Mahama creaming off the wealth of the country for his private benefit. Ghana is not a banana republic like Mobutus Zaire that the president controls everything. There are branches of government with oversight responsibilities. Mahama, theoretically, does not have access to the treasury. There is the accountant general and the Governor of Bank of Ghana who manage the finance and reserves of the country. At least, for him to steal that outrageous amount he will have to be in collusion with the people named above, which means they will also have their cut. They cannot allow the president to get away with such mammoth sum and sulk in their offices. Lets assume that the ten billion include profit from the initial investment. So, at the lower end of it, we are talking about $6 billion being randomly misappropriated from the national kitty. I will suggest that 20% of the booty will be a respectable amount for the co-conspirators. Now, if the president alone gets away with $6 billion then the governor and accountant general taking part in the booty will have not less than a billion dollars in their foreign accounts. Besides, some of the junior officers will also have knowledge of this and will like to have their cut, and, of course, the circle widens for the comfort of the president. What about the Vice President and some of the powerful ministers? Do they also have their billions stashed in Dubai investments? We are not here talking about the small change of SADA, Woyome, bus rebranding etc., but billions of dollars. Does the end justify the means, Mr Fadi? After you have succeeded with this evil tactic what wake do you leave behind? Because we are still trying very hard to hold this fragile democracy together under extremely difficult circumstances. As I read all the series the story that kept coming to my mind is the events that led to the execution of Sir Thomas More, the English statesman who authored the famous fictional political and philosophical book called Utopia. The events were adapted and produced at the Globe Theatre in 1960 entitled A Man For All Seasons. In the play, there was a dialogue between Sir Thomas More and a vicious and ambitious prosecutor Roper. I am going to paraphrase to make it short. Sir More said, you would break the law to punish the devil? Then Roper shot back, I would cut down every law in England to destroy the devil. And More replied, and when the last law is down and the devil turned on you where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat. Mr Fadi has decided to destroy everything in his way to get to President Mahama. In this case the devil, Mahama, is not going to turn around to face him. The possibility still remains for Nana Addo to become the president. And this should have crossed the mind of Mr Fadi that when you set this precedence you dont expect your opponents to be saints when your time comes. The Akans will tell you that when you are devouring the finger of a monkey pause and look at your own. And for the embattled President Mahama, they say when you smell unscrupulous people will always spoil the air and blame you. Philip Kobina Baidoo Jnr London [email protected] The partner of former EastEnders actress Sian Blake has admitted killing her and their two children. Arthur Simpson-Kent's lawyer told the Old Bailey that the jury would be told this at his trial in October. He is yet to enter a formal plea. Ms Blake, 43, Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, were found at the family home in Erith, London, in January after being reported missing on 16 December. He was arrested at Heathrow Airport after being extradited from Ghana. Ms Blake played Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of EastEnders between 1996 and 1997. She had motor neurone disease before she died. Police said it will have to comply with the Federal Court's decision and an arrest warrant would be issued for Muhammad Riduan, formerly known as K Patmanathan. (Photo: Representational Image) Kuala Lumpur: A Malaysian court has ordered the police to issue an arrest warrant for an ethnic-Indian man who had converted to Islam and is locked in a legal battle with his former Hindu wife over the custody of their daughter, officials said on Friday. This follows a ruling by the Federal Court which ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, the Muslim convert, for refusing to hand over his youngest child to his ex-wife Indira Gandhi, who continues to remain a Hindu. Police said it will have to comply with the Federal Court's decision and an arrest warrant would be issued for Muhammad Riduan, formerly known as K Patmanathan. "The Federal Court is the highest court in the country's legal system. We have to abide with the law. Police will soon issue a warrant of arrest to the person involved," a senior police official said. Malaysia is a Muslim majority country with ethnic Indians, mostly Hindus, forming eight percent of its 28 million population. For fun seekers who reside in, or are visiting Lagos , there are several places to unwind in the city. Because when it comes to having a good time, Lagos leads with its vibrant nightlife. However, if you are a culture enthusiast who craves to have an encounter with history and you probably do not know where to go, Jovago.com, Africas No 1 hotel booking portal round up 5 places to experience art and culture in the centre of excellence. National Theatre Exterior shaped like a military hat, built by the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976 in preparation for the 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC), and it played a significant role in promoting Nigerian theatre. It has two 5,000 seater cinema halls. It is a hub for a perfect cultural and art experience! Freedom Park Freedom Park is the remnant of a British Prison located on Broad Street in the heart of Lagos. In order, to preserve this history and cultural heritage, the government upgraded the park. The Park for the past few years has become a one-stop centre to appreciate art, culture and have fun at the same time. It showcases the work of literary giant Prof. Wole Soyinka via the Kongis Harvest Art gallery, live music, spoken word, live drama, and hosts events like the Afropolitan vibes and Lagos Black Heritage Festival. National Museum Remember the 1976 assassination of former military Head of State Murtala Mohammed? If you want to relive what happened on that faithful day, visit the National Museum which is 150 metres Southeast of Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos and you will see the bullet-riddled car in which he was assassinated. Other attractions include brasses from Benin city, Nok Terracotta heads, carved ivories, royal crowns and much more. Mende Cane Village The Mende market may not readily appear on any to-do list or itinerary but it is a place worth visiting. The market is situated under the Odo-Iya Alaro bridge at Mende, Maryland. At the market, you find artisans carving various household materials like baskets, cots, bridal chairs, tables, and other items from bamboos. The expertise displayed by these persons who have eked out a living from carving these items is fascinating. Interestingly, these baskets are affordable and you can purchase one. Badagry Being an ex-slavery hub, everywhere you go in this pretty quiet town reflects its slave history and past. A days visit to Badagry is not enough to navigate this coastal town. Whispering Palms, Badagry Heritage Museum, Slave Museum, Slave Markets, Slave prisons (Baracoon), Slave Port, Gberefun Island, Point of No Return, 1st Primary School, 1st Church, 1st story building are a few of the many places. There so much cultural interaction and exchange in Badagry. Over forty students and five teachers from the Ablekuma 02 Circuit Schools were among participants who got the opportunity to participate in TEDxAccra held on Saturday 23rd April at the National Theatre. The pupils who are beneficiaries of Airtels Evolve with STEM initiative were sponsored by the Smartphone Network to attend and learn from the great ideas and experiences shared at the event. Speaking to Airtels decision to sponsor the children to TEDxAccra, Richard Ahiagble, Airtel Ghanas Head of Corporate Communications said as one of the most distinguished platforms for sharing breakthrough ideas, we wanted to give our young friends from the Mataheko school cluster an exposure to the transformation they can cause if they put their minds to it and challenge themselves. At Airtel Ghana, we believe in creating the environment for people to fully realise their potential especially young people. It was such a delight to see how they were fully engaged throughout the session as they listened to speaker after speaker. He continued The objective of the Evolve with STEM initiative is to inspire hope and transform the mindset of young people towards the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). STEM is empowering and instills problem-solving skills in young people. Since the launch of this initiative pupils from the beneficiary, schools have benefitted from monthly mentorship sessions with key personalities including our Managing Director Lucy Quist, actress and TV personality, Joselyn Dumas and STEM advocate and Entrepreneur Ethel Coffie. We have also been supported by partners such as the Exploratory and Ghana Robotics Academy Foundation to make STEM as practical as possible. These efforts are yielding positive results and we are excited about the impact we making with Evolve with STEM. Mr. Offei Dodoo, an ICT teacher who attended the event with the students expressed his gratitude to Airtel and the organisers of TEDxAccra for a great event. He said the talks were very educative, passion-filled and life-changing. The theme, Rethinking , was indeed a very thought-provoking one. It was also great having the students around, the event has broadened their perspective and positively impacted their outlook. Some female students under Airtels Evolve with STEM initiative also attended the maiden edition of Microsofts DigiGirlz Day on 16thApril, organized by Microsoft Ghana in collaboration with Airtel Ghana. They interacted with key female personalities such as media entrepreneur, TV & Radio host Anita Erskine, Founder of Nandi Mobile Anne Amuzu and Founder of Levers in Heels Larissa Bowen-Dodoo and Managing Director of Airtel, Lucy Quist. Aside the mentoring sessions with these personalities, the young participants were taught basic coding and computer programming in. Airtels Evolve with STEM initiative, since launch in December 2015 has impacted more than 1,000 pupils and inspired hundreds of individuals and companies into action to launch initiatives focused on STEM. MARCUS GARVEY & BOB MARLEY: REDEMPTION SONG There is so much the African world has to do to divest itself of ignorance, negative thoughts, dependency and inferiority complexes in order to forge ahead with its development and social solidarity. Here, Bob Marley, following the visionary lead of Marcus Garvey, perhaps one of Nkrumahs greatest influences, captured this advice in the song Redemption Song. This cathartic song borrows from a captivating Marcus Garvey speech, which we present here in part: We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others can free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is your only ruler, sovereign. The man who is not able to develop and use his mind is bound to be the slave of the other man who uses his mind This no-nonsense approach to the psychological emancipation of an entire race of people is more than welcome. Then also Carter G. Woodson, an American author, historian, and journalist, seemed to provide another justification for Garveys and Marleys philosophical vision by indirectly enunciating a subtle variant of their concept of psychological emancipation in one of his influential publications, titled The Mis-Education of the Negro. We quote him in part: When you can control a mans thinking you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do. If you make a man feel he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one This insightful synopsis captures the painful rhythm of the stagnant state of the African mindset. Perhaps, we need change and a positive transformation of our societies as preconditions for the effectuation of psychological emancipation, which, of course, are not the case in many parts of the African world. Late rapper Tupac expressed this sentiment on the track Changes thusly: Come on, come on; I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself, Is life worth living? Should I blast myself? Im tired of being poor and even worse Im blackIts time to fight backI got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere unless we share with each other. We gotta start making changesCome on, come on; thats the way it is, thingsll never be the same But, it turns out that we as a people are doing the exact opposite of what Tupac is prescribing for us here, a progressive philosophy which Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah initiated in the African world as part of his epistemic development of his unique Afrocentric model of African Personality and what he also called the African Genius. Then we also have rapper Coolio asking the following questions in the song Gangsters Paradise, a single on the soundtrack for the movie Dangerous Minds : Tell me, why are we so blind to see that the ones we hurt are you and me?...They say Ive got to learn but nobodys here to teach me. If they cant understand, how can they reach me? Coolios second question is just as important as the first and somehow also ties in with Tupacs political interrogations of society and social injustice and Nkrumahs overall progressive vision for the African world. We have refused to answer these questions sufficiently and convincinglyif at allsince Nkrumahs untimely passage from this life. In other words we are not learning as a people and so, we as a people, thus, need to learn in order to break free from the strangulating holds of superstition, ignorance, inferiority and dependency complexes, and so on. Among other strategies, we need to appropriate the tools of science and analytic, critical thinking for our development. We need to seriously and uncompromisingly question the basis of the theological and doctrinal dogmas and the teachings of all religions including Traditional African Religion. After all, there is nothing particularly wrong with questioning the basis of the Trinity or even the divinity of Christ; why Jews from around the world generally reject the divinity of Christ; why Paul, not Jesus, who founded Christianity (just like Buddha who did not found Buddhism and several others who have religions named after them though they did not found those religions associated with them); revealed religion; the divinely inspired prophetship of the influential founder of Islam, Prophet Muhammad, etc. Further, we could also question the basis of Jewish-American astrophysicist Michael H. Harts reasons for ranking Prophet Muhammad the most influential persons in history (see his book: The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. As a matter of fact, questioning these concepts is part of the responsibilities shrouded in the divine gift of free will which God invested with man. Some scholars, for instance, have drawn comparisons between the Ancient Egyptian ankh and the cross, the major symbol of Christianity, and the Osiris Myth (Horus-Isis-Horus) and the Trinity; the Ancient Egyptian statue of Isis and her son, Horus, and the so-called Black Madonna (Black Virgin) showing Jesus and Mary; why the Ark of the Covenant is believed to be in Ethiopia(see REFERENCES 2 for additional information). Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan, late, a prolific author, Egyptologist and historian, and a Falasha (Beta Israel), did reveal the historical antecedents of many iconographic concepts we associate with Judaism (see REFERENCES 3 for additional information). We need to question all these facts. Finally, and this is also an extremely important point which we will like our readers to take note of, psychological emancipation means an unconditional (outright) rejection of St. Pauls Colossians 3:22 (New Living Translation) whether it points to a literal or figurative import: Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. It also means the unconditional (outright) rejection of what Bob Marley referred to as devil philosophy. BOB MARLEY: RASTAFARIANISM VERSUS THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH There have been some speculations that the fearlessly militant Bob Marley converted from Rastafarianism to Christianity, that is, he was baptized and became a member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church on his sick birth. Other variants of the speculation however point to Emperor Haile Selassie, himself, personally sending an archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abuna Yesehaq, to convince Bob Marley that he [Selassie] was not the Messiah as Rastafarians preached. It has also been alleged that it was this same archbishop who would baptize and converted Bob Marley on his sick bed. All these speculations are hard to prove, though. On the other hand, we do not see Rastafarianism as a religion in the strictest sense of the word, but rather more as a political religion of sorts. We bring up this story just to tell our readers that Bob Marley, who hated social injustice and unfairness of any kind, fought corruption in the church head-on through his music. It may therefore seem an unresolved hypocriticalif moralcontradiction of his hating corruption in the church and the church itself and his being eventually converted into it. When all is said and done his beautiful song I Know captures the moments of his cancer-based suffering and an apocalyptic premonition of his imminent death from cancer. Rasta Man Chant, a deep Bob Marley roots reggae track with a complex syncopated Nyabinghi rhythm, tells the story of man after his days on this planet. And he predicted on the track Keeping On Moving that it shall eventually be well for his family. Today Bob Marley is ranked among the worlds most wealthiest and influential dead celebrities on the planet. His image alone sells. And he still heals the sick soul of the world from the depths of his grave. What an incomparable icon! Perhaps his greatest and memorable gifts to the world are his innocent and angelic voice, his charismatic personality, his generosity, his high intelligence and musical talents, his lovable image, and finally, the one true song the world should listen and listen and listen, One Love. Even so it is also being alleged that Jimmy Cliff has converted to Islam; Judy Mowatt, one of the I-Threes, has also converted from Rastafarianism to ChristianityThe stories are endless. EVEN IN DEATH BOB MARLEY TAKES THE BUSINESS OF PHILANTHROPY TO GHANA, AFRICA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD Rita Marley, Bob Marleys wife, has done well for herself, her family and the larger world. Her famous book No Woman, No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley, a warm and captivating autobiographical accounts of sorts, co-written with Hettie Jones, late poet Amiri Barakas first wife, provides some intimate details about her contributions to husbands [Bob Marleys] greatness, musical and otherwise, and his larger vision for the African world in terms of social justice, poverty eradication, decolonization, African unification, and so on. This is not widely known. But some of these ideas are hidden in the dense philosophical language of his music. One of Bob Marleys larger visions for the African included the business of philanthropy. This business of philanthropy is embodied in the appealing personality and industry of his wife, Rita. Ritas philanthropic work in Ghana, Ethiopia and other parts of Africa is commendable. Yet she was not and still is not a Christian. She is a devoted practitioner of Rastafarianism, a militant political religion partly based on African-centered humanist philosophy. What is the point? The point is that one does not have to be a Christian to love and appreciate humanity, and that such a person also does everything within his or her means to work towards the improvement of the human condition in whatever capacity, whether he or she is an atheist, Shintoist, deist, Eckist, freethinker, Buddhist, Bahai, agnostic, and so forth. That is, the basis for the business of philanthropy is not necessarily the province of Christocentric ethics perrather, it is humanism. She, Rita, has said her philanthropy work in Africa was approved by her husband, something he himself had always thought of or wanted to do himself prior to his untimely passing. We have also met one of Bob Marleys closest childhood friends in New York who assured us of his approval of Ritas philanthropic work in Africa. On other hand there are also some high-profile Jamaicans, some of whom we were fortunate to meet in New York, who claimed to disagree with Rita in the strongest of terms. One of these Jamaicans even went so far as to call Rita stupid for abandoning poor and disadvantaged Jamaicans, his primarily reason being that Rita was using Bob Marleys money to help the poor in Ghana and other places in Africa. Unfortunate! Of course, these critics may not have had the faintest of idea what the Bob Marley Foundation has been doing for the Jamaican/Caribbean poor and disadvantaged. We can clearly see that not all Ghanaian Christians are doing for the poor what the Rastafarian Rita has been doing for the Ghanaian poor. CONCLUSION In fine therefore, this concept of unified mutuality embodies the theocratic character of certain polities. We specifically have in mind the Persian Gulf States and the Vatican City State, the latter resembling more the Ancient Greek polis in some notable aspects of political governance and the actuation of geopolitical morality. The irony of it all, given our sweeping generalizations of major historical and philosophic imports, is that wealthy paternalistic clerical political entrepreneurs such as Duncan Williams and Otabil wade into secular politics at the least provocation, now and then, although they are also more likely to shield their members from the secular demands of nationalism and patriotism. Part of the reason for this line of thinking points to their self-serving apprehensiveness about the real and perceived danger of secularized corruption of the minds of their church members as well as about political perturbing of the business side (the bottom line) of corporate churchologytithing, offertory, and what have you. This is also why Duncan Williams has not ceased from nagging about some shadowy aggressive theological entrepreneurs trying so hard to steal some of his flock. One wonders why his God allows this to happen to him. The business side of corporate churchology therefore boils down to how numbers translate to strategic commercialization of the earthly Kingdom of Heaven, the church, in measurable quantum leaps of financial and non-financial assets. This is what the Catholic Church is doing now. These self-proclaimed Men of God have been contributing to Ghanas duopoly being turned into a brothel of political region. The church, itself, is a major contributory part of that huge stinking ball of rot called Ghana. Ghana, Oh Mother Ghana, a growing geopolitical stench of a morally cancerous body politic.Otabil, Duncan-Williams, Bishop Obinim, Kumchacha, Rev. Owusu-Bempah...are part and parcel of this stagant stinking ball of rot called Ghana. And we make no apologies. Oh yes, Cultures Joseph Hill was right when he sang Jah Alone A Christian: There is something wrong, you know Which not even parson can see Which Jah alone can understand There is something wrong, you know Which not even bishop cannot see Jah alone can understand So it's Jah, hey, Jah, a only Jah alone Jah alone a Christian So it's Jah, don't believe them Jah, a only Jah alone Jah alone a Christian If you think them a Christian Wait until them see a thousand dollars Them say no hair no grow in my palm And when the darkness come down Them mek some ridiculous move, which Jah alone can understand If you think them a Christian Wait until them feel sexy And catch sister Lorna in them car And then the emotional feelings Which encourages the devil, which Jah alone can understand REFERENCES 1 John Galbraith Simmons. The Scientific 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Scientists, Past and Present. Citadel Press (2000). Hnerietta Davis. Emancipate Yourself From Mental Slavery: The Origin And Meaning Behind Bob Marleys Redemption Song. Henrietta Vinton Davis Weblog. Did Rastafarian Spokesman Bob Marley Become A Christian On His Deathbed? Beliefnet: Inspire Your Everyday ( www.beliefnet.com ). Kwame Dawes. Judy Mowatt. BombArtists in Conversation (www.bobmagazine.com) REFERENCES 2 Ivan Van Sertima. African Presence in Early Europe. Ivan Van Sertima. African Presence in Early Asia. Cheikh Anta Diop. African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality. Reza Aslan. Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. Gerald Massey. Ancient Egypt: The Light of the World. Gerald Massey. The Natural Genesis. Gerald Massey. A Book of Beginnings. Yosef Ben-Jochannan. Africa: Mother of Western Civilization. George G. Jackson. Pagan Origins of the Christ Myth. George G. Jackson. The African Origin of Christianity. George G. Jackson. Krishna and Buddha: Black Gods of Asia in African Presence Early Asia. George G. Jackson. Christianity Before Christ. REFERENCES 3 Like It Is. Examining Egypt/Kemet With Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEQE30xfm0k Like It Is. Dr Yosef Ben Jochannan VS Rabbi Arthur Seltzer. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24KYINdqG-A Joseph Ade Coker 29.04.2016 LISTEN No matter the outcome of the court case between Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and Nii Armah Ashitey, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) will never lose the parliamentary seat in the Klottey Korle Constituency, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NDC, Joseph Ade Coker, has assured. Mr Ade Coker, who was a guest on the Executive Breakfast Show on Class FM Friday April 29, told the host Ekow Mensah-Shalders that: As for the seat, we will not lose it. Currently there are some challenges there and those challenges are being dealt with in the relevant areas. These are matters of law that we should allow the court to deal with, but on the ground we are working. Dr Agyeman-Rawlings won the NDC parliamentary primary in November last year, but her eligibility has been challenged. Ghanas electoral laws require that a parliamentary aspirant be a registered voter. Dr Rawlings main contender in the poll, incumbent Nii Armah Ashitey, has filed a suit praying the court to declare her unfit to run for parliament since she was not a registered voter at the time. The former Greater Accra Minister is backed by some other members of the NDC in the constituency. Mr Ashitey filed a joint suit with fellow defeated candidate Nii John Coleman at the Accra High Court, but Coleman later withdrew from the case, leaving Mr Ashitey as the only plaintiff. But Dr Agyeman-Rawlings later filed an application at the Supreme Court with her lawyers arguing that the High Court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case and that the case was premature as she had not filed with the Electoral Commission to be a parliamentary candidate yet. They are, therefore, seeking an order of prohibition directed to Justice Kwaku T. Ackah Boafo of the High Court, to stop the judge from hearing the case at the High Court. The case has been adjourned to 3 May 2016. But Mr Coker believes the case has not resulted in any divisions within the supporter base of the party in the constituency and unity will prevail after the final verdict of the case for them to focus on defeating their opponents. He said the party recently organised a forum where the parties involved in the case were present and other individuals within the constituency had the chance to voice out their grievances. He held the view that: Whoever emerges, we will close our ranks, and the margin there will go up this time [in the November 7 polls] and of all of them [party supporters] know that we must win the seat. One good aspect of NDC is how to close our ranks. At the end of the day we will come together to fight the enemy. The opposition New Patriotic Partys Philip Addison, Eva Lokko of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), and Valentino Nii Noi Nortey, who decided to go independent after losing to Mr Addison in the parliamentary re-run, are some of the aspirants who have expressed interest in contesting the seat on November 7, 2016. Fifty-nine years after Ghanas founding President Dr. Kwame Nkrumahs historic Ghana, your beloved country is free forever declaration, nonagerian and close Nkrumah ally Charles Heymann, who was there from the very beginning, tells MARTIN-LUTHER C. KING some progress has been made but regrets that the country still has a long way to achieving the economic liberation that Nkrumah envisioned at the dawn of political independence. Excerpts: May we meet you? I am Charles Heymann, one of Dr. Kwame Nkrumahs cadres. I started as one of the young students that were inspired by Nkrumahs arrival back in Ghana in December 1947. Before he arrived, we were very ardent supporters of Dr. J.B. Danquah. We used to organise rallies for him at the Palladium, merry villas and so forth. And he was our mentor in so many respects. And at that time we, as youths and young students, organised ourselves into the League of Ghana Patriots. In actual fact, we started as a club until Nkrumah arrived. When Nkrumah met us, he said, Your organisation cannot be a club, it must be a league; but it must transcend the borders of Ghana, to Nigeria to Kenya, to all over Africa. So it was Dr. Nkrumah that inspired us to change the name to the League of Ghana Patriots. And, the League of Ghana Patriots was very active when the historic meeting at Salt Pond took place after Nkrumah decided that he had to break off from the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and form the CPP (Convention Peoples Party). So, at Salt pond, the League was involved. What was the aim of the league? The aim was that with Nkrumahs arrival, we were roused to his call for a trans-African liberation movement. And so, the league was essentially for the liberation of Ghana, first, and then the whole of Africa. So it fitted in with Nkrumahs own concept. You were there on that historic eve of Ghanas independence. What was it like? Nkrumah was a visionary. At the same time, he was very pragmatic and practical. And his vision inspired us to such heights that, as youths were able to organise ourselves to support that vision he brought. For example, Nkrumah fired us up with such saying as across the parapet, I saw the vision of Ghana becoming a metropolis of science and industry and so on. That in every respect was something that was a novelty to Ghanaians political aspiration as at then. So we caught on to that. He, at a point, organised a committee of youth organisations. And our League of Ghana Patriots became part of committee. So we became an integral youth movement of the CPP when it was formed in June 1949. Before independence, we owed a lot to the leaders who pioneered the liberation movement, in Ghana first. But essentially, our gratitude must go to people like Nnamdi Azikiwe who formed the NCNC (National Congress of Nigeria and Cameroun). Azikiwe actually edited an important newspaper here, the African Morning Post, which inspired a lot of nationalism in Ghanaians. His article Has the blackman a God? incensed the then Gold Coast colonial authorities so much that they banned and deporting him from Ghana. We also had people like (Isaac Theophilus Akunna) Wallace-Johnson, from Sierra Leone, who was a former trade unionist. He inspired the labor movement whilst Nkrumah was organising the political front. But what were the hopes for Ghanas future on that eve of independence 59 years ago? Nkrumah made it clear that Ghanas independence was meaningless without the total liberation of Africa. That is one. And it meant that we needed to organise a movement that transcended our political narrow concept of nationalism in Ghana. And that was different from all others except that from the nascent period of political agitation in Ghana, we had people like (Joseph Ephraim) Casely Hayford, Arthur Awhuma and others who also pioneered the struggle. But Nkrumah made the difference because he took from Marcus Garvey that aspect of organising practically for those in the Diaspora to respond and organise themselves and then link up with the movement across the Atlantic. I think that made a big difference. What hopes back then were there of using political independence to quickly gain economic independence for Ghana? At its first post-formation congress at Ho, in the Volta Region the CPP declared, under Nkrumahs leadership, that it was going to build a socialist democracy in Ghana. And that aspect of socialism meant there will be a lot of government interventions in creating what we visualised at that time as a welfare state. But the concept developed initially from Nkrumahs association with the Fabian Society in Britain. And the Fabian ideology was not communist, but aimed at the gradual transformation of society, howbeit with the aim of creating a welfare state. That was Nkrumahs ideology. You were a member of the CPP? Yes. We started from the youth movement, the League of Ghana Patriots which became an integral part of the CPP from the foundation of the party. I joined the civil service where I served in the government transport department; and became a member of the labor movement. I later became elected as the first general secretary of the government transport workers union. That formed my basis, leading to my study at the Ruskin College, London. When I was fundamentally educated in labor matters, I joined the TUC (Trades Union Congress of Ghana) when it was re-organised under the new structure in 1968. You transited from youth leader to labor leader. How did that reflect on your membership and role in the CPP? We accelerated. First, those of us who were leaders of the League of Ghana Patriots accelerated the pace towards independence. Nkrumahs independence motion, the motion of destiny, aimed to set out the date, period and terms of our independence. There was a committee that was formed at that time by the colonial government called the Coussey Committee which was to decide the type of constitution that Ghana should have for take-off at independence. But it was badly compromised by the British colonial administration to the extent that they were openly involved in its work. For example, ex-officio members of the committee gave the governor the authority even to veto. So it was the League of Ghana Patriots, as a pressure group in the party, which was very instrumental to frustrating such designs. To that extent, we really played very important historical roles in transforming and accelerating the process towards Ghanas independence. What was Ghana like immediately after independence? Well, the CPP started as a mass party that emerged from the United Gold Coast Convention, which was a collaboration of all national forces: right, left and centre. And this included Dr. Danquah and others. But this national collaboration could not hold because at the point where we had to choose between independence now and independence gradually, or at the nearest possible time there emerged a cleavage; and, Nkrumah stood his ground that he wanted independence now. And that really broke the camels back, and CPP had to emerge in 1949. After independence, Nkrumah sought the transformation of the CPP from a mass amorphous combination of forces encompassing right, left and centre, including the bourgeoisie, to a vanguard party; a party that is revolutionary enough to liberate Africa. At that point, ideology came into play; and, we had to choose the best kind of ideology that would propel the new independent state. And, this ideology.. Id told you already that socialism was the basis for ideological transformation; but socialism also had diverse interpretations in actual, practical terms: democratic socialism, communism etc. we preferred democratic socialism. But at that time of the Cold War, just before we had independence, the word was divided into East and West. And, we realised that the Eastern countries were more sympathetic to colonial liberation, even as the colonial forces were trying to negate the pace toward independence. That gave us an option ideologically to lean a little more towards the east. And that brought a lot of problems for us in the process. Did independence make any difference in the peoples economic situation? Yes. Ghana being a colony was a colony of fragmented states. We had the colony proper, which was the coastal localities, including Elmina, Cape Coast up to Ga-Adangbe, Fante, of course; and, Volta region. Those made up the Crown colony. Then there was the Ashanti Protectorates which seemed to be under the British Crown but who, however, considered themselves more or less as a state within a state; perhaps because the British acknowledged the kingdom and kingship of the Asantehene, as holding the whole of the Ashante Kindom together. Then we had the Northern Territories which though directly under British rule was, however, quite different in terms of administration from the southern colonial domains. There was also the Trans-Volta Togoland which included the former territories of Germany parts of which were taken over by France and Britain after the Second World War. And so if you ask me that question, I will say that Ghana was not a nation in terms of actual practicality until independence in 1957. Therefore the immediate task the day after independence was one of nation-building, how to integrate all these nation-states, and build a national consciousness that outstrips tribalism, nepotism and all sorts of divisive national tendencies that frustrate national cohesion. After independence, you grew even closer to Dr. Nkrumah. How did that happen? After independence, the focus shifted from nationalism in the narrow concept of Ghanaian politics to African politics. And because we had other countries to liberate from colonial rule, we had to set up machinery that can really work out the strategy to actualise the independence of the entire continent of Africa. So Nkrumah created the African Affairs Department, of which the TUC created a counterpart which was the All-African Trade Union Federation. And, that brought us right into direct conflict with what I will call the forces that were against the liberation forces. I was in charge of the African Affairs Department of the labor movement, coordinating all the labor movements in Africa under the auspices of Nkrumahs African Affairs Department. There was also an African Affairs national committee under Nkrumah, of which I was a member. These efforts all crystallized in the formation of the All-African Peoples Conference in 1958. But as these were going on, labor unions of the western countries under the auspices of the ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions) were in conflict with the WFTU (World Federation of Trade Unions). And, while we sought our independence from both international labor movements through the formation of the All-Africa Trade Union movement, they also sought the formation of the African Trade Union Congress, under the leadership of Lawrence Borha of Nigeria. Exactly what did your work coordinating various labor movements in Africa entail? It entailed our sharing the same political agenda as Nkrumah which he also coordinated with heads of states who shared his vision for Africa, including (Guineas) Sekou Toure, (Malis) Modibbo Kaita, (Tanzanias) Julius Nyerere, (Kenyas) Jomo Kenyatta, (Algerias) Ben Bella and (Egypts) Gamel Abdel Nasser, among others. There was also Tom Mboya and others. What happened next? Well, after that the struggle became intense. Nkrumahs second agenda was to liberate South Africa and all the states in southern Africa; and, apartheid was at its height then. So we had to create a machinery not only for theoretical orientation but, indeed, for the physical or armed struggle. So it meant that we were in direct conflict which became heightened and intensified by the Congo conflict under Patrice Lumumba. And that also became another of Nkrumahs headaches. Nkrumah eventually appointed you Ghanas ambassador to Algeria, with concurrent responsibility as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. How did that happen? Algeria became independent in 1962. Before then, I was coordinating intelligence on labor for the whole of Africa for the Osagyefo at the African affairs secretariat. In that capacity, I visited Algeria several times to meet leaders there like Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was then in the army; Houari Boumedienne; and, on the labor side, Masoud bin Saddiq. Those trips helped me understand Algeria far ahead of time. Same also with Cairo, Egypt where I was with colleagues coordinating the labor forces in Ghana. During Nkrumahs time, people were not picked at random to become ambassadors. In fact, I had served for over ten years in active labor field and political movement before being appointed. Nkrumah saw that we formed the All-Africa Trade Union; and wanted (John) Tettegah, who was one of the icons of revolutionary labor movement in Africa, to join him in national affairs. But fortunately when we went for our congress in Bamako (Mali), Tettegah was chosen as the general secretary. So Nkrumah said to me, Ah, I thought youll be pushed to the head of the African labor movement, but John has taken it. But dont worry, you are already conversant with Algeria; you know all the right people; you were able to get our collaboration with the Algerian political and labor movement. So, go there; you know there already. That was how I became Ghanas ambassador to Algeria. You said you were coordinating intelligence for the African Affairs Committee. Was that committee an intelligence agency? It was partly an intelligence agency; and, was also practically involved in other exigencies that we had to deal with at that time that involved money, materiel, and training of cadres. We had people like (Zimbabwes) Robert Mugabe; even, Lumumba, was then in Ghana. We had people from Angola, as well as from all the liberation forces across Africa. Even in South Africa, we had two movements, the ANC (African National Congress) on one side and the Pan-African Congress (PAC) on the other. But Ghana was more involved with the PAC because they were intensely involved in the actual conflict with white apartheid government. We didnt really turn our back on the ANC, we were collaborating with them; but in terms of material support, I think the PAC had more support from us. Would you say the African Affairs Committee achieved Nkrumahs aim in setting it up? The labor leaders in Africa at that time, and I can list them: Tom Mboya, Siaka Stevens, (Rashidi Mfaume) Kawawa and others, including Lumumba, and dos Santos were the budding leaders at that time. All of them were labor leaders. So those of us who were pioneers in labor intelligence for African labor coordination had to really go round to convince these future African leaders to support African unity. So we held our first conference in 1961 in Casablanca (Morocco) under the auspices of the Moroccan labor movement, with bin Saddiq and others. King Mohammed IV (of Morocco) inaugurated the conference for us, and thereafter presented a villa in Rabat to Kwame Nkrumah. Back to current realities. Serially, workers in virtually all sectors of the economy are, or threatening to go, on strike. As a labor veteran, how can the trend be reversed? I warned this government from the beginning not to over-legalise workers-government-employerss collaboration. Because if you do that, if you ignore the human factor and what we call industrial psychology, youll be missing it. Theres a lot you can win from labor through negotiation than going through the law. If you give it to the labor machinery that you have created you just kill the spirit of give-and-take that is critically vital to labor relations. If you kill the spirit of give-and-take, labor will assert its right to go on strike. And you cant illegalise strike. Whatever you do, remember that no country has been able to illegalise strike, because that will rather bring social chaos. The small labor department we had which was dealing with industrial relations problems in terms of negotiations, collective bargaining negotiations, negotiations in terms of arbitration and so forth have been taken to the labor machinery they have created. So the labor movements grassroots connection is lost. With that kind of reality, there will be no rest in this country. Its not a question of labor, otherwise you wont find institutions teaching industrial psychology. If you ignore industrial psychology and you employ a purely legal framework in determining industrial relations matters, youll always have conflicts. In fact, I created the workers convocation song which I composed in 1958. Thats their song of solidarity; they still sing it. They sing it whenever the labor movement meets before they sing the national anthem. This is an election year for Ghana. What is your advice for the countrys leaders on maintaining peace before, during and after the elections? Looking at the right and the left, both the NDC and the NPP, when you look at their programmes, their manifestos, which show the practical aspects of managing the state and the economy, I dont see any major difference, apart from the fact that, in my opinion, the NDC is more human-centered as against the NPP. But the mistakes they (the NDC) are making undermine that very concept. I fear that if things are not righted and they introduce more stringent measures whose social effects are more damaging on the populace, you may have more protest votes against the NDC. But I, personally, prefer the devil I know to the angel that I dont know. Theres this school of thought that sees Ghanas discovery of oil as the main cause of the countrys recent problems. Is oil a cure or a blessing to Ghana? To answer that, I look at my big brothers in Nigeria. All over the world, wherever oil is discovered, it becomes an international issue. First there is the exploration concept of technical, scientific and big finance. The second aspect is the royalty in terms of whose law it is, our limitation in terms of exploration, and then our returns in terms of capital that we put into it. To me, he who explores the oil eventually becomes the owner; they only dish out something to you as compensation for as many years as it suits them. And since its a technical affair whereby you are digging into unknown areas of the earth, they know what is there. And Ghanas oil find runs down from Axim to Keta. And I understand that the Keta basin is more than what is being drilled now. The fact is that it is offshore, and of a little distance. And the rocks require a lot more work to get to the oil; and, that has delayed it. But at the moment, I think the politics of oil which has entered Ghana boils down to the fact that our leaders did not properly understand it before they started bargaining. They thought oil was a tool for propaganda, but did not know that oil has brought its own predicament. What we are in, I dont think well have the benefits of real oil ownership, I think, for the next fifty years. How would you advice whoever emerges Ghanas President in this years election on returning Ghana back to the paths of glory? After political independence, our next struggle is for economic liberation from neo-colonial forces that have vested interests in our resources. And we have compounded this by breaking down the foundations that were laid down by Nkrumah to give us a smooth take-off to economic independence. In the absence of that, any leadership that comes up now in Ghana, whatever manifesto they have, must necessarily bow down to the IMF (International Monetary Fund). Otherwise, you cannot exist. So your political agenda and everything must first recognise that you have forces waiting for you to swallow you if you misbehave. But then our politics becomes a politics of dependency. We must recognise that we have sacrificed a lot of nationalists; and if nationalism is sacrificed, then neo-colonialism is well entrenched. And, I can bet you, I dont know when a leader will come that will be bold enough to take us from the humdrum of this sort of economic subjugation. Is it a hopeless situation, then? There is hope. But hope will come from a national leader that recognises factors that can inspire the nation with the truth, which is like the gangrene, or the sore that has been festering and we ignored it for so many years. The fact is that we must know that after political independence, economic independence is the fiercest fight. And that is against the forces of what we call neo-colonialism. Which was why Nkrumah said, If you ignore it, that is your palaver. If you dont face the realities of the 21st century, because its become a battle of forces; if you ignore the fact that we cannot continue to produce raw materials for Europe before we can survive; if you fail to realise that when we establish our own self-dependent industries millions of workers will be on the streets in Europe and they will be unstable as any society that ever was; if you know that, then African political unions should face realities. We are only managing what is already there; creatively, nothing new is coming to Africa. ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is not working; the East African union is not working; all the groupings that we had in the past which we ignored because of our respective narrow nationalism have now been replaced by the present ones in terms of supporting foreign interests and monopolies. And so I only pray that the future be guided by a new vision which has courage enough to face the realities. Thank you Pa Heymann for your time. You are welcome! There is no scarcity of things to do in Nigeria . From visiting various landmarks and tourist sites to meeting the locals and trying the various street foods, everyone has enough activities to last them a lifetime. While these experiences are almost priceless, they are not always enough for thrill seekers who storm the country for ultimate heart-pounding moments. Adventurous travelers want their adrenaline pumping and they want to feel a certain high. Luckily, there are several other places for these kinds of travellers to achieve their goal in Nigeria. As long as you have the finances to get away for a few days, Jovago.com, Africas No.1 online hotel booking site has rounded up 5 incredible travel activities that will rock your world. Gear up and climb Chappal Waddi Also known as Gangirwal a.k.a Mountain of Death, the Chappal Waddi mountain is considered the highest peak in Nigeria at 2419 meters. It is located in the southern sector Gashaka Gumti National Park, on the border of Cameroon in Taraba State. Featuring a waterfall and the thickly forested slopes, it is surrounded by flowing riverswith mischievous monkeys and chimps lurking around. A climb will leave you breathless and ecstatically thrilled. Walk the Ancient Kano City Walls Although this great tourist attraction in the northern part of Nigeria was built between 1095 AD through 1134 AD and completed in the middle of the 14th century, it is still described as the most impressive monument in West Africa. Talk a walk along the ancient beauty and appreciate Kanos rugged topography while you are at it. There is no better way to explore the citys landscape. Tree climbing at Okomu forest reserve Aside from the wildlife and alluring landscape, the trees at the Okomu forest reserve provide opportunities for exciting and heart-pounding experiences for adventurous tree climbers. The last surviving rainforest area in the south-west of Nigeria, you can challenge yourself with a tree climbing task and afterwards, you can enjoy a host of other attractions, as well as engage in sport fishing, canoeing or crocodile viewing if you are up for it. 29.04.2016 LISTEN Folks, the needless controversy provoked by Ms. Dzifa Ativors damning of the Kufuor administration as anti-Ewe and her apprehension that an Akufo-Addo administration would target Ewes like her rages on. It has ruffled feathers well enough for us to know who sees reason or stupidity or danger in her utterance. So far, those quickly condemning her have hinged their apprehensions on her stoking tribal politics to endanger national well-being. Standing tall among them are the so-called Ghana Peace Council and the NPP. No one who knows the bent of these two camps need bat an eyelid at the angle from which they have done their criticism or how they have aimed their politically motivated blow. What at all has Ms. Ativors utterance revealed that we havent heard before? I am no stranger to this kind of situation. Our Ghanaian situation is replete with examples of how utterances of this sort have featured in national and local politics. Why this one by Ms. Ativor should be dreaded adds more to the conundrum that Ghanaian politics entails. In our time, we have ample evidence to prove that tribal politics is the in-thing!! Just one example from my own experiences as a public intellectual writing on contemporary Ghanaian politics. When Akufo-Addo was trounced at Election 2012 and chose to petition the Asantehene, I wrote an opinion piece to condemn that move. I also wrote a follow-up one to wonder whether the NPP was Asante or Asante NPP, only to be set upon by so-called personalities of Asante extraction in the academy who accused me of denigrating the Golden Stool. I stood my grounds in line with the arguments that I had advanced in those opinion pieces. I havent regretted doing so and will not ever!! Now, we are being shown the other side of the coin. The truth is that Ms. Ativor isnt being left in the lurch. Those who know the history behind partisan politics in Ghana are behind her. Of particular interest, though, is how the NDC camp has reacted to the matter. Those condemning her from within include the Volta Regional Chairman of the party (Gyampo), even if other voices in the NDC camp have swamped that line of action to suggest that Ms. Attivor spoke what they wanted to hear and should be left alone. She has come out to defend her stance and wont apologize in any way. Former President Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, have also waded into the controversy with Rawlings being reported as flaying Ms. Ativor. In his statement, Rawlings carved a wide arch to say that it was distasteful for the former Transport Minister to claim that the NPP has targeted Ewes and will be bent on jailing some key Ewes if it assumes power. He, consequently, urged the Ewes (and NDC members) to remove the logs from their eyes before making such unfortunate statements. (See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Rawlings-flays-Attivor-over-distasteful-comments-434253 ). We shall base this opinion piece on Rawlings reaction to Ms. Ativors utterance, especially his focus on the NPPs flagbearer, Akufo-Addo, and his stance regarding the tribal tagging of him. In his words Whatever Nana Addos shortcomings, tribalism is not one of them. Let me dismiss Rawlings on this score as either deceived or, at worst, politically misguided because he has now lost his bearings in pursuit of what will further detract from his own worth. We look back at what Rawlings had meant to his bitter enemies (not political opponents in this sense) constituting the NPP and why he can now be regarded as LOST!! Before then, lets acknowledge the fact that Ms. Ativor is not alone. She has been supported by many, including Twum Boafo (Executive Secretary of the Ghana Free Boards Zone, who was reported to have said that Ms. Ativor would not retract the comments today or tomorrow as it represents the truth. Besides, he said when worse things have been uttered by NPP followers, not as much as a whimper is heard from the likes of Rev. Asante of the Ghana Peace Council). (See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Twum-Boafo-backs-Attivor-s-tribal-comments-434301). The NDCs General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah is also reported to have said that Dzifa Ativor should not be attacked over what seems to be true. In his view, the one who should be attacked or questioned is the opposition NPP. According to him, the elephant family should rather come out to either deny or accept the claim.(See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Stop-attacking-Attivor-for-speaking-the-truth-Asiedu-Nketiah-434373 ). A group calling itself Volta Youth Alliance (VOYA) has backed Ms. Ativor, saying that there is nothing absolutely wrong with her assertions. (See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Absolutely-nothing-wrong-with-Attivor-comment-Volta-group-434211). The stage is now set for ratcheting the political game to a whole new level. But what does this needless reaction to Ms. Ativor reflect about our politics? Nothing but concentrated hypocrisy. If anything threatens Ghanas future, it is this concentrated hypocrisy, not the self-serving comments of Ms. Ativor. After all, she only put herself on the line. Those hypocritically assessing her utterance and using it to project their own self-righteousness are the problem to contend with. That is where it becomes difficult inserting the reaction of the Rawlingses. But we will attempt to do so to prove that the Rawlingses are their own enemies at this point. Having done everything to establish a legacy that the NDC upholds and having turned round to eat their own eggs by turning against the NDC, the future before Can they not see how their own daughter (Zanetor) is struggling to re-insert them into the NDC fold? Their kind of selective amnesia that crystallizes as obnoxious hypocrisy will do a lot of harm to Ghana if they insist that Ms. Ativors utterance is distasteful. Even when they were in power. they heard worse but chose not to react as they are doing now. Why so? And from the manner in which he reacted to Ms. Ativors utterance, Rawlings comes across as such. I wont bother my head over all that has made him what hes been all these years; but I just want to pick on a few instances of his own self-betrayal in terms of ethnic politics to poke him in the eye. He and his wife are in bed today with Akufo-Addo in the mistaken belief that all shall be well with them if the tide turns against President Mahama at Election 2016. They are busily working themselves to a feverish pitch, making utterances to create the impression that Ghana needs Akufo-Addo and not President Mahama. I pity them. Flashback: The Rawlingses are known for whatever bad-blood relationship that has existed between them and anything NPP (be it Kufuor or Akufo-Addo) hitherto. It dates back to the stiff opposition to Rawlings military regime and the abortive coup detats (Is J.H. Mensah still alive with his failed Nobistor Affair haunting him?). Those opponents were mostly of Akan extraction who derided his mixed-blood origin. How many times havent we heard disparaging remarks linked to his Ewe and Scottish origin? Or that he wasnt Ghanaian enough to rule Ghana? And those making those disparaging remarks knew here they were coming from, which we cant miss. It may be baffling why Rawlings would choose to undermine his own legacy in the NDC to be in bed with his arch nemesis. Talk about all that happened under Kufuor, principally to undermine Rawlings integrity, one of which was to divest him of diplomatic immunity or protocol benefits, which he (Rawlings) quickly blamed on Akufo-Addo at the time that he was suffering the pinch. At several times, he damned Akufo-Addo, insulting him as a wee addict. The records are available. His wife said worse things about Akufo-Addo. In an about-turn today, they have found in Akufo-Addo a worthy political ally. A jinx to tax and tire (or retire) them all the more in Ghanaian politics!! We remember very well the extent to which the Rawlingses went to paint the NPP black, especially at the time that they were in dire need of voter support to remain in office. All worked well for them because they managed to manipulate the situation to create the impression that the NDC under them was national in character and scope while the NPP was tribalistic in its origin, intents and purposes. We have the records. For all we may care to know, Ms. Dzifa Ativor may become the apostle of a kind of politics that will force us to examine the place and role of hypocrisy in Ghanaian politics. It is our bane to be confronted and neutralized if we want to make progress in pursuit of our Ghanaian identityone nation, one people, one common destiny. In that sense, then, she could easily come across as an apostle to be praised and not condemned. I will be the first to praise her for baring it all. Those condemning her still have the opportunity to examine their own political sentiments vis-a-vis Ghanas political history so they can come clean. Only when we all come clean can we chart the path toward national development that will place Ghana where it belongs. The sleeping giant awoken by Ms. Dzifa Ativor is staring at us for action. Enough for now, even as we continue to monitor how the Rawlingses morphwhether to slide into the Akufo-Addo camp to re-assert themselves and be consumed later or to push their daughter into the NDC fold to re-invent them. But they cant run away from the disturbing fact that Ghanaian politics (20 years of which they led in our time) is heavily invested with tribal politics. How to rid it of that element is everyones responsibility. Those who have survived the whirligig should be the first to lead the campaign against it and not bury their grisly heads in it. I shall return We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. business Base price for 700 MHz spectrum unviable: Telenor Telenor's India CEO Sharad Mehrotra tells CNBC-TV18's Prerna Baruah that the company is eagerly waiting for the spectrum guidelines to be announced by the government. you are here: Kim's sentencing comes on the heels of a 15-year sentence handed down on Otto Warmbier, an American university student who the North says was engaged in anti-state activities. (Representational Image) Pyongyang, North Korea: North Korea has sentenced an ethnic Korean citizen of the United States to 10 years in prison. Kim Dong Chul had been detained in the North on suspicion of engaging in spying and stealing state secrets. He was sentenced to prison after a brief trial in Pyongyang on Friday. Further details were not immediately available. Kim's sentencing comes on the heels of a 15-year sentence handed down on Otto Warmbier, an American university student who the North says was engaged in anti-state activities while visiting the country as a tourist earlier this year. business Saregama's download-to-pay ratio highest in industry: MD In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Vikram Mehra, MD, Saregama said that the music business contributes to 65 percent of companys revenue where the television business brings 35 percent. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More For Q4FY2016, Gateway Distriparks Ltd (GDL)s consolidated adjusted earnings after minority interest and associate income declined by 45.7% YoY to Rs26.5 crore. The consolidated revenues were affected by lower volumes in container freight station (CFS; down 6.6% YoY) and rail (down 14.6% YoY) divisions. The volume off-take was primarily affected by lower and imbalanced export-import trade, loss in volumes at Punjab conware and Chandra facilities, rise in competitive intensity at Vizag and no major benefit from double stack cost savings. Subsequently, the company witnessed over 700-BPS erosion in operating profit margin (OPM) for both CFS and rail divisions. Consequently, the operating profit for the quarter declined by 37.0% YoY to Rs49.0 crore.We believe, the headwinds in the companys CFS and rail divisions are expected to continue in the near term, affecting its financials. The improvement in trade environment and revival in operating profit margin (OPM) in its businesses will be the key monitorable going ahead. Although the structural growth story over the long term remains intact for GDL (owing to a range of services, leadership position in the CFS and rail businesses, and a healthy balance sheet), the near-term uncertainties is likely to weigh heavy on valuation. Consequently, we have downgraded the stock to Hold with a revised price target of Rs315. For all recommendations, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More business Bull's Eye: Buy Syngene, Dabur, Divis Lab, PFC; sell NMDC Manas Jaiswal of manasjaiswal.com is of the view that one can buy ILandFS Investment Managers with a target of Rs 20 and Piramal Enterprises with a target of Rs 1210. business Sell Hindalco Industries on rally, says Gaurang Shah Gaurang Shah of Geojit BNP Paribas Fin Services is of the view that one can sell Hindalco Industries on rally. At the request of the United States, the council held urgent closed-door consultations after North Korea's unsuccessful launch earlier in the day of two medium-range missiles. (Photo: AFP) United Nations, United States: UN Security Council diplomats on Thursday warned North Korea to expect a response after Pyongyang's repeated failed attempts to test-fire a powerful ballistic missile, the latest defiance of UN resolutions. At the request of the United States, the council held urgent closed-door consultations after North Korea's unsuccessful launch earlier in the day of two medium-range missiles, as fears grew that the secretive country was preparing to conduct a fifth nuclear test. North Korea has now made three bids in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan missile, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam. "We are looking at a response," China's Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who holds the Security Council presidency this month, told reporters. Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said Tokyo condemned the "grave and very clear violations" of UN resolutions that comprised a direct threat to Japan's national security. The 15-member council was unanimous in condemning the latest launches, Yoshikawa said. Current UN resolutions bar North Korea from developing any ballistic missile-related technology, and South Korea said it would push for fresh penalties to be slapped on Pyongyang. Diplomats said they expected the council to issue a statement on Friday after the Chinese delegation requested time to consult with officials in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday underscored Beijing's commitment to enforcing existing UN sanctions on North Korea and to preventing any instability on its doorstep. "As a close neighbor, we will never allow war or chaos on the (Korean) peninsula," he told a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Beijing. Failed launches South Korea said a first launch Thursday of what was understood to be a Musudan missile saw the rocket plunge back to earth seconds after take-off. A second attempt in the evening -- again of a Musudan -- also appeared to have failed, a defense ministry official said. An initial effort on April 15 -- the birthday of late founding leader Kim Il-Sung -- ended in what the Pentagon described as "fiery, catastrophic" failure, with the missile apparently exploding just after take-off. South Korean military officials say the North is desperate to register a successful launch ahead of next week's ruling party congress, at which leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to take credit for pushing the country's nuclear program to new heights. In recent months, the North has claimed a series of major technical breakthroughs in developing what it sees as the ultimate goal of its nuclear drive -- an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to targets across the continental United States. The achievements trumpeted by Pyongyang have included miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to fit on a missile, developing a warhead that can withstand atmospheric re-entry and building a solid-fuel missile engine. Last Saturday, it successfully tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile -- a move that was promptly condemned by the Security Council. Growing anxiety The Musudan is believed to have an estimated range of anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 kilometers (1,550 to 2,500 miles). The missile has never been successfully flight-tested. US President Barack Obama recently warned that North Korea is making dangerous progress, even when its efforts fall short of outright success. "Although more often than not they fail in many of these tests, they gain knowledge each time," Obama said. Anxiety has been high since Pyongyang conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and a rocket launch a month later that was widely seen as a disguised ballistic missile test. The council responded with its toughest sanctions to date, angering the North, which has since made repeated threats of attacks targeting Seoul and Washington. South Korea and the United States began wrapping up Friday their annual "Foal Eagle" military exercise, which was beefed up this year in response to the January nuclear test. North Korea regularly condemns the large-scale joint drills, which it insists are provocative rehearsals for invasion. Baby 'Saw Jet Star' made an unscheduled arrival during Jetstar Asia flight 3K583, but was delivered safely onboard thanks to the crew and three doctors who were also on the flight on April 22. (Photo: Facebook) Yangon: A Myanmarese woman who delivered a baby boy during a flight from Singapore to Yangon has paid tribute to the crew by naming him after the Singaporean budget airline. Baby 'Saw Jet Star' made an unscheduled arrival during Jetstar Asia flight 3K583, but was delivered safely onboard thanks to the crew and three doctors who were also on the flight on April 22. The airline shared news of its youngest ever passenger on Facebook this week, writing: "We're most pleased to announce that a baby boy, named Saw Jet Star, was delivered safely onboard 3K583 by a team of doctors and the crew after the flight landed in Yangon on Friday, 22 April 2016." The plane was commencing its landing when the pregnant woman started experiencing labour cramps, Straits Times reported. After the plane landed, they were preparing to move her when baby Jet Star decided he just could not delay his own arrival any longer. According to a Jet Star spokesperson, other passengers cheered when the boy, who weighed six pounds, seven ounces, was born. The mother was so relieved and delighted with her care, that she promptly named her son after the airline. "Our crew are trained to respond to all kinds of events on our aircraft, and we're proud of the way they assisted with the help of generous doctors onboard to ensure the safe delivery of our youngest ever passenger," the spokesperson said. The mom and baby were both doing well and had been discharged from hospital. The airline has also delivered 1,000 SGD (500 pounds) worth of baby supplies to the family, the report said. April 29, 2016 Open Thread 2016-17 (Sorry for not posting. A project I am involved has a hard end-of-month deadline and it will still take some effort to reach that. - b) News & views ... (Please keep the U.S. elections stuff to older threads.) Posted by b on April 29, 2016 at 13:08 UTC | Permalink Comments next page The Exploring Joara Foundation has planned hours of fun, archaeology-related activities for area residents at its Community Day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its living history village at Catawba Meadows Park. The day will feature primitive skills demonstrations by specialists from across western North Carolina such as basket-making, friction fire-making, hide tanning, pinch pot-making and tool-making with stone and bone material, according to a press release on the event. Children will get to participate in hands-on activities and games. Storyteller Keith Brown from the Catawba Indian Nation will tell tales of the old days. EJF staff will be on hand to answer questions and guide visitors in a special activity to help them experience how natives built their homes. We invite participants to get their hands dirty and help daub the exterior of the Phifer-Johnson house, one of our two native home replicas, said Marie Palacios, EJFs executive director. Palacios said the event was paid for by a grant from Unifour Foundation Endowment Fund of the Catawba Valley Community Foundation. She encouraged community members to come out to experience local history and have some fun. Enjoy this free opportunity to experience first-hand some of the cultural heritage that makes Morganton so special, Palacios said. For more information on the event or EJF, visit www.exploringjoara.org or contact 828-439-2463. Members of First Advent Christian Church welcomed nearly 40 law enforcement officials from the Morganton Department of Public Safety and the Burke County Sheriffs Office on April 22 to enjoy a meal provided in appreciation of their hard work and dedication in keeping residents safe. The church offered the officers barbequed ribs, fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn, rolls, salad and a variety of desserts. Officers had the option of either eating together at tables in the fellowship hall or taking a meal to go if they were in a hurry. We just wanted to show appreciation to law enforcement for all they do to protect us, said Ann Smith, one of the event organizers. Fellow organizer Susan Hendricks shared her thoughts. Our law enforcement officers are wonderful, Hendricks said. They serve us 24-7, and we just wanted to do something for them to let them know how we appreciate their service. Church member Phyllis Fox agreed. I think we need to support them as much as we can, Fox said. They do give us a great service, both city and county. The officers that attended spoke about how much they appreciated the churchs thoughtfulness and generosity. Im very happy and proud to be here, said Deputy Mike Church with the Burke County Sheriffs Office. These guys have done a great job, and it makes us feel good that were respected in the community. Clay Rudicill, a fire engineer with MDPS, agreed with Church. Were grateful that they think about us like this, and glad that people in the community appreciate it, Rudicill said. And we appreciate them. If it wasnt for them appreciating us, we couldnt work smoothly. Sheriff Steve Whisnant also expressed gratitude for the special recognition. We really appreciate this church, Whisnant said. They are just a light to this community. They invited law enforcement to say thank you for what law enforcement does, and its just a pleasure to be able to come and fellowship with these people. Weve enjoyed it and have looked forward to the opportunity to meet and just be out with the community. First Advent pastor Patrick Bradshaw said the church attempted to offer meals to law enforcement officers previously after Sunday worship, but that time did not work well with officers schedules. We thought that having a lunch on a normal work-day with open hours would increase the participants, and that proved to be the case, Bradshaw said. Im certainly hoping it will become an annual event and that the numbers will continue to increase. I think its extremely important that we recognize the men and women who put their lives on the line each day for our safety. Tammie Gercken can be reached at tgercken@morganton.com. Locals will soon have a chance to be included in a full-length feature indie film, The Sessions, that will be filmed nearby. Phillip Lehn, Julie Whitis and the Western Piedmont Community College filmmaking group Artivational will hold a casting call for actors on May 11 at the colleges theater. Its going to be a feature-length film, said Whitis, an instructor at WPCC. Its written by Phillip Lehn. Hes soon to be a graduate of Western Piedmont Community College. (The film) is about a man who has some childhood trauma and it has affected him throughout his life with being able to connect with people. Hopefully, well have a lot of local cast and crew that will be coming out and being involved in it. It will be shot in and around Morganton, as well. The film is looking for 19 total actors, including seven main speaking roles and 12 non-speaking or limited speaking roles. In the main roles, two males appearing 25-30 years old, four females appearing 25-30 years old and one male appearing 45-65 years old are sought. The other roles seven males and five females, appearing between 7-65 years old. For more specific details, email Lehn at p.lehn@hotmail.com. (Were looking for actors with) a positive attitude and lots of charisma, Lehn said. We want hard work, dedication and actors who are artists at heart. Whitis said that a wealth of prior acting experience was not necessarily a must. Were not really looking for really experienced actors, Whitis said. Little to no experience is OK, because well being doing a lot of practicing and rehearsing as well. Were pretty open to anybody. Lehn said he believes those who watch the movie will really be able to connect with the main character, especially if they experience similar troubles in social situations. I think that overall, the audience will see that its OK to be themselves and its OK to connect with others, Lehn said. Its a movie where (the main character) finds value and worth in himself. In return, he begins to realize that its OK to be himself. I think the audience might be able to align with the character, because self-worth is something a lot of people struggle with. I think seeing that there are other people out there who are just like that may be a nice level for the audience. For more information about the film or the casting call, email Lehn or call at 828-334-8443 or reach Whitis at whitisja@yahoo.com or 828-413-2517. Those who are interested can also visit the Artivational Facebook page at http://bit.ly/1SIuf9J. Justin Epley can be reached at jepley@morganton.com or 828-432-8943. The former sex worker had sought help from her alleged boyfriend to kill her fiance. (Representational Image) Melbourne: A 30-year-old former sex worker has been jailed in Australia for life for murdering her India-born fiance. The Brisbane Supreme Court jury last week found that Melissa Leigh Shaw was guilty of killing Shyam 'Sam' Dhody at his Gilston based residence in Gold Coast. Justice Peter Flanagan said Shaw had been involved in a cowardly act. Shaw will be eligible for parole in 20 years. The prosecution alleged that Shaw procured her infrequent lover Adam Gooley to kill Dhody, according to media reports. Further, the crown prosecutor Dennis Kinsella likened her to Helen of Troy, calling Shaw the face that planned the murder. The court was also informed that Shaw's relationship with Dhody, whom she met while working at a Molendinar brothel, was violent and had started to sour in March 2013. Dhody was shot 10 times in his head while he was lying in his bed at his home in July 2013. Shaw denied any knowledge of the murder plot. Shaw, the mother of two, was also convicted of assaulting Dhody for an earlier attack. Gooley, a mechanic, had pleaded guilty to the shooting and was also sentenced to life in prison. "Clearly she's disappointed with the result, as anyone would be in her circumstances, and it's come as a big, big shock to her," said Shaw's lawyer Jason Jacobson. President Pranab Mukherjee paying tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to University of Papa New Guinea in Port Moresby. (Photo: AP) Port Moresby: The teachings of Mahatma Gandhi are still relevant in a world vexed with "intolerance and extremism", President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday as he reminded the international community of the true values of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect. Addressing the students and faculty of the University of Papua New Guinea (PNG) here, Mukherjee said the vision and teachings of the father of the nation "remind humanity of the true values of harmonious co-existence and mutual respect and the need to work together for the equality and freedom of all individuals." "Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation continues, to this day, to be revered all over the world as a beacon of peace and apostle of non-violence in a world that is increasingly vexed by intolerance and extremism, the life and message of this great man remain an inspiring example of the power of truth and universal brotherhood," he said. Mukherjee, who is the first Indian President to visit PNG, called his trip "historic." The University campus also has a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, installed in 1997, to which the President paid his respects before making the speech. "Gandhiji had viewed education as an integrated approach to all round personality development. He was emphatic about the difference between learning and true education, knowledge and actual wisdom and between literacy and the real lessons that we learn from life. "We, in India, have tried to adhere to these principles as we pursue our goals in the education sector through our national planning and human resource development programmes," he said. Stating that India attaches "high value" to the close friendship that exists between it and the island countries of the Pacific ocean, he said PNG has a key role in India's extended "Act East" policy and views it as a gateway to closer cooperation with the Pacific Island countries. He recounted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation in Fiji in 2014, had announced a number of initiatives for assisting the Pacific Island countries. "These were aimed at supporting their efforts towards their developmental goals and aspirations and addressing their specific concerns related to climate change and sustainable development. "I am happy to note that my government has delivered on these through financial assistance, deputation of Indian experts to PNG, training of your citizens in India and simplifying the visa process which has been reciprocated by government of PNG on Thursday at the banquet hosted in my honour," he said. The President extended invitation to students from PNG to take advantage of the scholarships announced by the country for scholars of these countries and attend institutions of higher education and centres of excellence in India. The President extolled the historic ties between the two countries and desired that these would be strengthened and taken forward in the right earnest. "Our relationship is based on the strong foundation of our historical ties-forged by our cultural and economic exchanges over the centuries. These bonds have contributed to the mutual understanding between our governments and our peoples and are at the root of our shared desire to collaborate in areas of our common interest. "The cooperation between our two countries at the United Nations and other multi-lateral fora has also been close and fruitful. India appreciates PNG's steadfast support for India's candidature for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and also the reforms of this world body which was established after the World War-II," he said. Mukherjee said seven decades after the UN was created, the world has agreed on the urgent need for reform of its organs to make them relevant and effective in the significantly altered world of the 21st century. "We count on PNG's continued support and cooperation in the United Nations and other multilateral fora," he said. Mukherjee also committed all help from India to the country in various spheres. "India stands ready to share other knowledge and experience in the field of renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and best practices for increasing food productivity. There are many complementaries between India and PNG on which our bilateral cooperation must be based. "We are focused on skills development and innovation with special emphasis on simple and cost effective technologies that are easily adapted to be locally relevant, efficient and successful," he said. The President said Indian enterprises and private sector are keen to work with PNG in harnessing its mineral, marine and hydrocarbon resources. "As we identify the areas where we would both like to focus our joint efforts, I would say that in this area of cooperation the sky is the limit. We should waste no time in bringing the benefit of our cooperation to our peoples," he said. He also asked the students of the University to be the agents of "positive change." "Your dreams will come true if you pursue them with courage, never hesitate to be an agent of positive change, judge your success not by your personal achievements alone but by the harmony and advancement that it brings to the people around you," Mukherjee said. Leading emerging markets investors First State are bearish on China admitting they cannot remember the last time they were positive on the dragon economy. Speaking at a briefing hosted by the First State Stewart Asia team yesterday, Martin Lau of the Gold Rated First State Asia Equity Plus Fund said that the team has been dubious of Chinas economy growth for years, leading to a limited exposure to China in their portfolio. We have between 8-10% direct exposures to China, which is quite limited when compared to the 20% exposure in the benchmark, Lau said, insisting that they never look at the benchmark while adjusting their portfolios holdings. Instead, Lau is looking elsewhere in Asia; the fund has 20% of exposure in India, 15% of exposure in Taiwan and 13% of exposure in Hong Kong. China is Too Big to Achieve Greater Growth China has never been a compelling economy according to Lau: Its a structural problem, the country is too big. When China is already the second largest economy in the world, it simply cannot grow bigger by 6 to 8% every year. The shrinking population in China also threatens the economy; thanks to the one-child policy implemented three decades ago the country now has a rapidly ageing population. Alongside unsupportive demographics, there is also too much debt in the system, Lau added. Emerging market equity investor Mark Asquith shares the same view, saying previously to Morningstar that China businesses do not have a healthy industry landscape. Chinas corporate system is rigged to support the state-owned players which makes it very hard for private companies compete against them, especially in the small cap space, Asquith said, Valuations are better than they were, but fundamentally the businesses remain unattractive from a bottom-up perspective. Likewise, Lau said he holds a very firm stance of not owning banks and insurance companies in their portfolio, reflecting their negative view upon these sectors based on a bottom-up perspective. Whenever People Are Too Negative It Becomes Opportunity However, there are a few opportunities in China, said Lau, as whenever people are too negative it can become an opportunity, and especially with Asian stock markets are falling Lau and his team are currently deploying some cash into the Asian market. One of the opportunities in China was the outbound tourism which was fuelled by a rise of living standard in China. Last year, tourist spending outside China, depending on which country you are looking at, nearly doubled, Lau said. As a result, the Gold Rated investor purchased Shanghai International Airport (600009). Outbound tourism is a long term trend, and people need to go through airport unless they travel ferries and buses, Lau said. Another attractive sector in China that Lau believed it would do something different was long term trend towards automation. Currently the best automation companies are found in Japan but Lau believes China might be able to do something different with of their automation strategy, creating multi-decade investment opportunities. Laus First State Asia Equity Plus Fund has generated 11.8% return over the past 10 years and Morningstar analyst Germaine Share said that this outperformance came at notably lower volatility relative to both peers and the benchmark. The fund has an ongoing charge of 1.58%, which is 22 basis points cheaper than the Asia-Pacific ex-Japan equity Morningstar Category median, giving the fund an additional competitive edge. We are raising our fair value estimate for Anglo American (AAL) to 2.30 per share from 2, as the company received a more favourable sales price for its niobium and phosphate assets compared with our attributed value. Anglos financial leverage magnifies the impact of the incremental value on our residual equity fair value estimate. Still, with the rally in shares over the past two months from a low of 2.20 in January to more than 7.50 today, we believe Anglo American shares remain overvalued. We see considerable downside as cash flows from its iron ore, coal, and copper businesses continue to decline with commodity prices. Anglo American announced yesterday that it reached an agreement with China Molybdenum to sell the niobium and phosphate assets for $1.5 billion in cash. These assets had generated just $146 million of earnings before tax in the previous year, split approximately equally between the two businesses. The sales price implies a valuation multiple of approximately 10 times earnings before tax, higher than the 6 to 7 times we believe is the asset is worth. We value the niobium assets in line with Anglo American companywide cash flows at 5 times earnings before tax and the phosphate assets at 8 times EBITDA. This sale is one of the largest that Anglo American has done recently as it looks to divest noncore assets to focus on copper, diamonds, and platinum. The company continues to look to offload its coal and iron ore businesses Investment Thesis As China rebalances away from infrastructure and construction-led growth, long-lagging Anglo American will find itself better positioned than most diversified peers. The company has greater exposure to consumption-oriented commodities like platinum and diamonds, about 40% of revenue, which should enjoy better demand growth than investment-oriented commodities like iron ore and copper that prospered most in the past decade. Anglo's huge platinum business should benefit as rising household incomes bolster Chinese demand for automobiles and jewellery, categories that collectively account for 84% of platinum and palladium use in China. However, persistent problems related to labor, geology, and electricity in South Africa, which have weighed on profits in recent years, threaten to limit the upside. Januarys financial market turbulence turned into a veritable storm in the early days of February with extreme moves and volatility in all asset markets. Crude oil suffered its biggest two day plunge in seven years, bond yields collapsed and financial stocks led substantial falls in European equity markets. Although this partly reflects increasing investor uncertainty and anxieties over growth, oil and central bank policy, some speculative trades in far less liquid financial markets have amplified the volatility. Despite those headwinds, it is not all gloom. In fact, there is enough evidence to suggest cyclical forces are still supportive with unemployment falling at its fastest pace since 2007, auto sales are recovering, credit growth improving and consumers major purchase intentions are close to their highest level since early 2001. Moreover, the latest PMIs and regional and industrial country survey data all remain at solid levels. Morningstar analysts prefer to rate funds with a track record through a market cycle new funds have not had time to prove the managers strategy works. But savvy investors should an eye on the market for potential future investment ideas. New European Funds to Keep an Eye On It is worth highlighting that many of the newcomers are very small in size, with four funds under $40 million. Investors should also be aware a one year time frame is a short period to assess fund performance. SLI Continental European Equity Income is managed by Will James, who has run the UK-domiciled version of this fund, rated Bronze by Morningstar, since April 2009. James has been involved in developing this strategy since the start and has made good use of the resources available to him at Standard Life. All team members contribute actively to idea generation through their sector specialties. A common investment language is used throughout their analysis, with the goal being to identify non-consensus opportunities. The Guinness European Equity Income fund is managed by Ian Mortimer and Matthew Page, who also manage the global equity income strategy at Guinness Asset Management. The managers run a concentrated portfolio of around 30 stocks and seek companies that are able to provide a sustainable dividend stream, with a focus on firms that have a history of delivering a high return on capital. Old Mutual Europe ex UK Smaller Companies launched in late 2014 following the arrival of ex-Ignis fund manager, Ian Ormiston, at Old Mutual. Ormiston has over two decades experience in European equities and had spent seven years at Ignis running European equity money, specifically focusing on European smaller companies. The manager employs a unique approach and has stayed true to his style even through some tough market environments for small-caps. He looks for smaller companies with decent cash generation and balance sheets, and good earnings and dividend growth prospects. The Tihange nuclear power plant, near Huy. Germany had asked Belgium in April to temporarily shutter two ageing nuclear plants near their border over safety concerns. (Photo: AFP) Brussels: Belgium will provide iodine pills to its entire population of around 11 million people to protect against radioactivity in case of a nuclear accident, the health minister was quoted as saying on Thursday. The move comes as Belgium faces growing pressure from neighbouring Germany to shutter two ageing nuclear power plants near their border due to safety concerns. Iodine pills, which help reduce radiation build-up in the human thyroid gland, had previously only been given to people living within 20 kilometres (14 miles) of the Tihange and Doel nuclear plants. Health minister Maggie De Block was quoted by La Libre Belgique newspaper as telling Parliament that the range had now been expanded to 100 kilometres, effectively covering the whole country. The health ministry did not immediately respond to AFP when asked to comment. The head of Belgiums French-speaking Green party, Jean-Marc Nollet, backed the measures but added that just because everyone will get these pills doesnt mean there is no longer any nuclear risk, La Libre reported. Belgiums creaking nuclear plants have been causing safety concerns for some time after a series of problems ranging from leaks to cracks and an unsolved sabotage incident. Last week Germany asked that the 40-year-old Tihange 2 and Doel 3 reactors be turned off until the resolution of outstanding security issues. The reactor pressure vessels at both sites have shown signs of metal degradation, raising fears about their safety. They were temporarily closed but resumed service last December. Belgiums official nuclear safety agency (AFCN) rejected the German request, saying the two plants respond to the strictest possible safety requirements. Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive. To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research. Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process. An Australian bank has said it will no longer finance foreign-purchased homes, but such an initiative here would be un-Canadian, according to one leading broker.I would say its not true to Canadian values to exclude anybody. We tend to welcome people to our country. This is more a case of welcoming their money and not them, Dustan Woodhouse , a broker with Dominion Lending Centres Canadian Mortgage Experts, told MortgageBrokerNews.ca. And thats a finer distinction to make. Its a slippery slope: You start excluding one group, whats the next step?Australian-based bank Westpac announced it will no longer loan money to foreigners purchasing residential property.As of April 26, the bank and its subsidiaries no longer lends to non-residents and temporary visa holders. Westpac is the third major Aussie bank to make the move, following announcements from competitors ANZ and Commonwealth Bank earlier this month.Much has been made about the influence foreign money is having on Canadian real estate prices, and many may argue a similar ploy would help to naturally cool the red-hot market.However, Woodhouse argues a similar clampdown would have very little impact.The bottom line in my professional experience is the majority of foreign buyers dont require financing, Woodhouse said. Much like the Canadians who bought up a massive part of Arizona. Any Canadian who thinks foreign buyers should be cut out hopefully (haven't) bought a property in the U.S.The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation recently released a report on foreign ownership that estimated the influence of foreign money on two of the countrys hottest housing markets.The report found that foreign ownership is most prevalent in new condo buildings in Toronto and Vancouver.In Toronto about 10% of newer buildings (built after 2010), compared to 2% of those buildings built in the 1990s.A similar trend was found in Vancouver, where 6% of units in newer buildings are believed to be foreign-owned. A long-time analyst of Canadas real estate markets who is now contemplating a purchase in Toronto pointed at a crucial factor driving the affordability crisis in the city: the dearth of supply stemming from the lopsided buyer-seller ratio. The problem is that there are vastly more buyers than sellers, veteran housing observer Will Dunning wrote in an April 19 piece for The Globe and Mail. Every home thats caught our interest has gotten multiple offers and sold for more than we can afford (and sometimes for considerably more than my research tells me is their market value), he stated. Dunning, who has kept track of Canadian housing since 1982, warned that scarcity in Toronto is placing more and more homes out of reach of a larger fraction of prospective buyers. Data from the Toronto Real Estate Board and the Canadian Real Estate Association show that, over the past two decades, that ratio has averaged 61 per cent, meaning the market has been chronically undersupplied. The consequence is that during that same period, the average price for a resale home in Toronto rose by 5.9 per cent a year, the analyst said. Dunning added that if the latest numbers are any indication, the trend will not stop any time soon. The situation has gotten worse. In February of 2016, the ratio rose to 71 per cent and prices were up by 11.3 per cent from a year earlier, he wrote. Housing production has been far from adequate. The Ontario government needs to step up its market involvement and intervene as soon as possible, Dunning argued. First, it needs to acknowledge that there is a problem for low-rise housing. (It should not dodge this by pointing to the burgeoning supply of new condominium apartments most families expect to live on the ground, not in a tower.) Second, it needs to review its own policies and see what can be done to improve the supply situation. Third, it needs to engage with other key actors the municipalities, land owners, and home builders to find solutions, he said. Local hula group inspires global connections When the pandemic ushered everyone indoors, Moorpark resident and longtime dancer Lisa Rauschenberger decided to get people back outsidesocially distanced, of course. She began to hold weekly hula lessons at... Teens face high stakes in the Oval Office A press room befitting Americas commander in chief was set up inside the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. Journalists and others gathered inside. Ladies and gentlemen, I need you all... Tigers soon to prowl in new enclosure The brand-new Bengal tiger exhibit at Americas Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College is nearly complete, and some other animals hangouts are getting a makeover, too. Mara Rodriguez, zoo development coordinator,... India recently wrote to the British government seeking the deportation of Vijay Mallya who is now also the target of a non-bailable warrant in a money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. (Photo: PTI) London: Loans defaulter Vijay Mallya said he is in "forced exile" and has no plans to leave Britain. He also wants a "reasonable" settlement with banks he allegedly owes Rs 9,000 crores to, he said in an interview in London published by the Financial Times on Friday. "We have always been in dialogue with banks saying: 'We wish to settle'. But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before," Mallya told the newspaper in London. Read: ED seeks to recall exemption given to Vijay Mallya Mallya, 60, flew first class from Delhi to London on March 2 at a time when the government and a 17-bank consortium are trying to recover the money owed by his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. "By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money," the newspaper quoted him as saying. Read: Disclose asset details of Vijay Mallya, kin: Supreme Court India wrote to the British government on Thursday seeking the deportation of the liquor tycoon and Formula 1 motor racing boss, who is now also the target of a non-bailable warrant in a money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. Mallya has denied any wrongdoing. Read: India seeks liquor baron Vijay Mallyas deportation from UK "I am absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff like that," Mallya told the Financial Times. A spokesman for Mallya's UB Group said he had no further comment to make when contacted by Reuters. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The New Mexico State Land Office is suing a Midland-based oil company for years of overdue fees and recent environmental cleanup costs at a waste-water injection well used by various oil producers. Siana Operating was notified Thursday of the lawsuit in Santa Fe District Court seeking compensation, punitive damages and access to the companys accounting records. State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn says Siana continued to operate a salt-water injection well on state trust lands in southeastern New Mexico after its lease expired in 2011 while avoiding $114,000 in disposal fees. In all, the agency says it is owed $284,000 in fees, cleanup costs and penalties. A Santa Fe-based attorney for Siana, Robert Stranahan, said his client was reviewing the lawsuit and had no immediate comment. The lawsuit comes as New Mexico well regulators at the Oil Conservation Division struggle to hold the financially distressed company accountable for a string of spills of oil, salt water and other oil-field waste at a collection of wells outside the town of Eunice. Siana is a major provider of well-water disposal services in New Mexico, operating two disposal wells that injected over 13 million gallons underground in 2014, with relatively small-scale oil and natural gas extraction operations at nine wells. Wastewater from drilling operations is typically delivered by truck to disposal sites such as Sianas, where most oil is skimmed off before water is injected deep underground. Oil wells in southern New Mexico draw up large quantities of salt water from ancient aquifers as they extract oil and natural gas. Beyond New Mexico, a Texas-based bank has filed a lawsuit in against Siana Operating, affiliate Siana Oil & Gas and corporate owner Tom Ragsdale seeking to ensure recovery of nearly $13 million in debts after the companies defaulted on loan payments. Frost Bank asked a state district court in Texas to appoint a receiver to run the Siana companies. The bank alleges that the Siana businesses have defaulted on loan payments, while struggling to meet bonding requirements on Texas oil and gas leases and failing to pay vendors as lawsuits from creditors stack up. The lawsuit states that Siana Oil and Siana Operating have said in conversations with Frost (Bank) that they do not intend to pay their vendors and are simply waiting to negotiate their payables or be sued. Stanahan declined to comment that lawsuit. The Siana attorney said a possible settlement is under negotiation with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division. Division inspectors say Siana failed to report a spill of contaminated water and then significantly underestimated the spill after it was discovered by inspectors last year. Futher inspections at other wells turned up evidence of other unreported spills. The division is seeking authority to ensure compliance by Siana or declare its wells abandoned, plug them and access security bonds. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott announces Texanthropy initiative Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott launched a new initiative this month to promote volunteerism and service to others titled Texanthropy. This will be her primary focus as the First Lady of the state, according to a press release. I look forward to working with all Texans to bring together the two things that I am most passionate about - Texas and philanthropy, Abbott said. Through Texanthropy, I hope to inspire more Texans to get involved and help make a difference through service and volunteering. With your help, I know we can work together to help enrich the lives of all Texans through Texanthropy. The website, gov.texas.gov/texanthropy was also lauched and will feature information on agencies and server as a portal where Texans can find resources concerning organizations and volunteer opportunities. WTFB and Midland High School collaborate on CANtribute For a hands-on engineering and architecture project, Midland High School students will collaborate with the West Texas Food Bank for CANtribute. The program features monuments constructed of more than 9,000 cans, which will then be donated to the WTFB. Midland High School students enrolled in the problem-solving, architecture class will build their structure today from 9 a.m. to noon in the Midland Park Mall near Sears. The students will build three designs including a Sphinx, a coliseum and a helix out of 9,300 canned food items. We love this partnership and collaboration with the West Texas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, said Libby Campbell, executive director for the WTFB, in a press release. The fact that cans of food are used as a tool for students to learn and then donated to feed hungry Texans, makes it even more special. The project also features contributions by 9th graders from ECISD Falcon Early College High School at University of Texas at the Permian Basin. These students built their structures on April 22, and will be displayed until May 20. In other WTFB news, the food bank recently received 20,000 pounds of apples from The United Family as part of the Take a Bite Out of Hunger campaign. Casa de Amigos to receive Big Check at Natural Grocers Food Drive and Community Cookout On Mar. 25 Natural Grocers hosted the Eggcellent Adventure Easter Egg Hunt with the intention of donating five percent of sales that day to Casa de Amigos. This Saturday, the organization will receive a check commemorating the donation. They wanted to give to something representing the community, said Judith Motyka, communications relations manager. Were very excited and we love partnering with our vendors in the community. Its a good partnership. Theyre interested in giving back to the community. The organization will receive $1,035.15 from the fundraiser which will go toward the nonprofits various programs, Motyka added. The presentation is part of the Natural Grocers Food Drive and Free Community Cookout which starts at 12:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Perishable food items donated during the event will be given to the West Texas Food Bank. West Texans gear up for 30th Annual Polo on the Prairie Since 1986, West Texans have been trekking to Albany to play polo for a good cause, as more than 1,000 attendees are expected for the 30th Annual Polo on the Prairie. The longstanding fundraiser benefiting the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is set to kick off Saturday and will feature a performance by country musician Kevin Fowler. Were excited for everyone to get back on the polo field for a good cause, said Henry Musselman, a longtime member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, in a press release. When we started this event 30 years ago, we never imagined what a difference we could make. For the past three decades the fundraiser has been consistently successful, raising more than $5.4 million toward cancer research and patient programs at the facility. Gates open at 4 p.m. with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Fowlers concert. Individual tickets are $75, and are available at 866-262-9029 or at events@mdanderson.org. Tickets will not be available at the event. Midland Ministerial Alliance leads National Day of Prayer The Midland Ministerial Alliance will lead the local observance of the 65th Annual National Day of Prayer on May 5 at noon in the ClayDesta Atrium. The theme this year is Wake Up America. People are invited to join the MMA, sponsors of the event for the hour-long prayer session. Prayers will be led by Midlands pastors for national, state and local leaders, including military, civil servants and educators. A special prayer for the sick will also take place. For those interested to know more about the event, contact MMA president Rev. Larry Long, at 432-699-6068. Outnumber Hunger promotion to help local food banks The United Family announced the annual General Mills Outnumber Hunger promotion is underway in the company's local stores. Customers will enter codes online at outnumberhunger.com from specially-marked products found in stores in locations in West Texas. For every code entered by Jan. 31, 2017, General Mills will donate 45 cents to Feeding America, enough to secure five meals on behalf local food banks, according to United Familys press release. The maximum donation for the event is $1.2 million. The core of The United Familys mission is to give back to the communities we serve and by participating in Outnumber Hunger, our guests can make a direct impact on local food banks in their community, Mary Myers, United Family communications manager said in the release. As a result of purchasing everyday grocery items from General Mills, our guests can help feed the nearly 50 million food insecure people in America. MW Builders helps renovate Senior Link facilities This weekend, MW Builders is slated to contribute to remodeling efforts being made at the local Senior Link facility. The company has teamed with D&E Electric and First Service to enhance the infrastructure in the kitchen area, allowing it to better support new equipment. When we received the request to bid this job, we started taking a closer look and decided this was a great opportunity to donate our time and equipment for the betterment of our community, said Aaron Hoelscher, operations manager of MW Builders Midland office. Senior Link provides such great services and gives so much back to Midland that we are honored to be able to give back to them. International Rescue Committee opens Midland office The International Rescue Committee (IRC), which provides resources for international refugees fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries, opened a new office in Midland on Monday. Until then, the closest office was in Abilene, which has been supporting refugees in Midland since 2007. The Burmese Chin people fleeing from sectarian violence in Burma for their Christian faith account for approximately 94 percent of all refugees who have settled in Midland, according to previous Reporter-Telegram reports. We had a number of (Chin) refugees moving to Midland on their own so we started responding by helping with the family reunification cases because were the closest agency, Susanna Lubanga, resettlement director for the IRC office in Abilene, said in a phone interview. In the past five years weve seen the number of refugees increase in Midland, but (there hasnt been an) agency to provide assistance or community outreach or help network in the community. So were really coming as a response to the refugees who are already located in Midland. Conservative stalwart Allen West said Donald Trump as the Republican frontrunner breeds confusion as to what November will hold for the party. West, a former congressman from Florida, told those in attendance at Thursdays John Ben Shepperd Distinguished Lecture Series event that many voters are turning to outsider candidates like Trump and Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders this election because the electorate is upset. Trump is channeling that anger, West said. I believe we need to talk about policy and principle. We need to be moving away from discussion about party, and of course focusing on person. I cant explain this phenomenon other than the fact that we are focused on celebrity politics and there is an angst and an anger out there against political elitism and a quote-on-quote establishment class. West said during a previous visit to Midland that 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney lost the election because Christians stayed home. He said he was not sure how November would play out with Trump as the partys nominee. Trumps recent comments about raising taxes for the rich and allowing people to use any bathroom they want in response to North Carolinas controversial bathroom bill confuse conservatives, West said. Its just all over the place, West said. I dont know if its going to be so much about conservatives coming out to vote but I think its going to be about individuals somewhat turned off about things. ... When you have a populist like that, its hard to understand who is going to be coming out to vote but without a doubt hes done something (to win primaries). Joining West was Fox News personality Juan Williams, who said prior to the event that there was no question that Trump -- who has been in hot water this election cycle for negative remarks about Latinos and women -- will have a negative impact on the Republican ballot in November. He pointed to the billionaire Koch brothers decision to emerge from the sidelines to pump money into vulnerable Republican House and Senate races in typically Democrat seats. I think this worsens the odds for (those Republicans), in terms of winning reelections, and opens the door for Democrats re-taking the majority in the Senate, Williams said. I do not think (Democrats) will win the majority in the House. I do see, given the political dynamics at the top of the ticket and fractures in the party ... they will see a consequence. People dont typically switch party mid-year and as they vote, youre going to see more people going with the Democrats in those House races. Also on the panel were Texas Republican Party Chair Tom Mechler and Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa. Hinojosa condemned the un-presidential rhetoric by Trump and divisive rhetoric among candidates and leaders, such as former Speaker of the House John Boehners negative comments about Republican candidate Ted Cruz. He praised Sanders for making Clinton a stronger candidate and helping the Democratic Party to move much more in line to where Americans are. Theres been a healthy debate and issues have been spoken of instead of personalities and personal attacks that youve seen on the Republican side, Hinojosa said. He added that Clinton would be the Democrat with the closest ties to Texas since President Lyndon B. Johnson. Mechler spoke out against Clinton as a candidate who is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for suspected criminal activity over her private email server. Both party chairmen agreed that the Texas political system needed to reach out to the growing Hispanic population, although they disagreed on which party would ultimately win the Hispanic vote. Latinos are increasingly voting Republican. Why? Because their values dont align with Democrats, they align with Republicans, Mechler said. During the panel Election 2016: Are You Voting for a Party, Person or Principle, discussion pinged between public school funding, school choice, whether or not to make community college free, national security and how to take care of veterans. West, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, said that more must be done to take care of veterans and the military should be expanded in order to not have to send soldiers on five, six or seven overseas tours. Williams disagreed with sending more troops and advocated for drone strikes, which President Obama currently favors. The rhetoric thrown at Obama for his perceived anti-veteran and anti-military views is poisonous, corrupt and political theater, which is the reason why so many Americans view politics with disdain, Williams said. If it were true, that Obama doesnt care about veterans ... Democrats would say it, too, Williams said, explaining that the military is the number one institution that all Americans still respect regardless of political views. Republicans wont ever talk about sending major numbers of troops into the Middle East, and Congress wont authorize Obama to send troops. Even national security has been politicized to no good end. Follow Cassie on Twitter at @Cassie_Burton51 About 60 Vietnam veterans and their friends and family gathered Tuesday evening to have a wrong against them righted as best as could be done more than 50 years after they came home to a perceived unwelcoming nation. The Midland Vet Center hosted Midlands first Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Dinner and Ceremony at the Commemorative Air Force Museum Hangar to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The first 50th anniversary commemoration event took place at the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day in 2012. To acknowledge the length of the war -- and the extent of its aftermath on American society -- the commemoration officially extends from that day to Veterans Day 2025. The echoes of the mens and womens voices in the hangar slowly quieted as Alicia Lovelady, Readjustment counselor for the Midland Vet Center, took the podium. All military families endure the hardship of separation, uncertainty and fear, but families of Vietnam veterans also witnessed their (troops) return home to nation that was in turmoil, Lovelady said. They watched as the vast majority received no formal recognition for their service or welcome home ceremonies hosted by their communities. After the war ended in 1974, those who served tried to slip back into the lives they had left behind, but all were changed in some way. Like veterans who return from todays battlefields, those who served in Vietnam came back with both physical injuries and unseen injuries of war, Lovelady continued. Sadly, many of those unseen injuries suffered by our Vietnam Veterans went undiagnosed and were not readily understood by our medical community or the citizens of the United States the way that they are today and the families of those who didnt return experienced the painful loss of a loved one without the collective support of their nation. The Vietnam War is what spurred the creation of centers across the nation like the Midland Vet Center, which hosted the event. The Vet Center Program was established by Congress in 1979 out of the recognition that a significant number of Vietnam era vets were still experiencing readjustment problems. Today, veterans of all wars and the family members of those veterans are eligible for free counseling services at Vet Centers. For decades, many of the 9 million servicemen and women of the Vietnam era struggled alone, officials said. Chris Mattingly, who served in the U.S. Army and had multiple deployments to Afghanistan, was one of five Iraq-Afghanistan veterans who thanked their predecessors at the ceremony. My downward spiral began about six years ago, Mattingly told the crowd. When youre sitting there in the church and youre over medicated and undiagnosed, you have alcohol in your system, youre depressed, you havent been with your family, your family is so disconnected to what your reality is and the only people you have any connection with are the people who are sitting in this room. ... I just wanna say thank you so much for paving the way in providing us with this Vet Center and helping us get through some of these times weve had, embracing us with your love and your support because without that wed have so many more issues. At the end of the ceremony, each Vietnam veteran who attended was given a lapel pin to honor, recognize and thank them for their service. Row by row, they were called up and presented with the golden pin -- on the front, a laurel wreath was inscribed representing victory, integrity and strength. Behind it, stripes for the American flag and six stars representing the six allies of the Vietnam War. On the back, to be worn closest to the heart, there are the words a grateful national thanks and honors you. Weve got the opportunity to do what should have been done 50 years ago, Lovelady said. Welcome, our Vietnam veterans with honor and thank them and their families for their service and sacrifice. As the sun went down and the event came to a close, a golden light reflected on the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans Memorial located near the CAF. There are 225 names of Permian Basin Vietnam veterans etched on that wall. The welcome home never came for those soldiers who fought in Vietnam, but this week local veterans accepted with grace an acknowledgment more than 50 years after the fact. At a meeting of Michigan Technological Universitys Board of Trustees on Friday, April 29, 2016, the Board celebrated nearly 1,000 students who will be awarded degrees at Spring Commencement on Saturday, April 30, including more than 200 graduate students. Two New Graduate Programs At the meeting, the Board approved two new degree programs, a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and a PhD in Applied Physics. The MS in Cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary program involving faculty from the Departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering and from the School of Technology. The program is expected to broaden students opportunity for future career development. The PhD in Applied Physics is a spinoff of the Physics Departments current PhD in Engineering Physics. It will replace the Engineering Physics program, broadening the scope of that program to meet the needs of students focusing on interdisciplinary areas of engineering and science, including nanotechnology, photonics, plasmonics and biophysics. Operating Fund Budget The Board approved a general operating fund budget of $200,057,777 for the 2017 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2016. The operating budget is based on anticipated state appropriations of $48,854,700, approximately 4.3 percent more than last year. Included in the budget is an average 4.8 percent increase in tuition and fees meeting the requirements of the Governors proposed tuition cap. In-state tuition and fees for first-year students will increase by 2.4 percent, with the increase for upperclassmen totaling 6.9 percent. Graduate tuition will increase by 5 percent. The operating budget is based on anticipated state appropriations of $48,854,700, approximately $1.6 million more than last year. The Board authorized the University administration to revise the operating budget to reflect any change in anticipated state appropriations or tuition cap. If the state appropriations or tuition cap situations change, Michigan Tech will revise the budget and notify the Board, said President Glenn Mroz. Both Board Chair Julie Fream and Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz paid tribute to Dale Tahtinen, retiring vice president for governmental affairs and secretary to the Board of Trustees. Dale Tahtinen "We want to thank Dale for his 25 years of distinguished service," said Fream. "Dale's guiding influence, his gift in being able to size up a situation and provide sage advice, and his ability to diffuse most any situation have been tremendous assets to the Board. Mroz added: "We are so grateful to Dale for all that he has done for Michigan Tech through the years." Those present then gave Tahtinen a standing ovation. In other business, the Board: Approved emeritus rank for six faculty members who have retired: Donald Beck and Max Seel, Physics; Martin Jurgenson, Peter Laks and Rolf Peterson, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; and Christa Walck, School of Business and Economics. Approved appointments from associate professor with tenure to professor with tenure for: Guilan Tang, Biological Sciences; Qiuying Sha, Jiguang Sun and Fabrizio Zanello, Mathematical Sciences; Yu Wang, Materials Science and Engineering; Fernado Ponta, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics; Hao (Howard) Qi, School of Business and Economics; Oliver Gailing, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; Abdul Nasser Al araje, School of Technology; and Christopher Plummer, Visual and Performing Arts. Approved appointments from assistant professor without tenure to associate professor with tenure for: Xiaoqing Tang, Biological Sciences; Feng Zhao, Biomedical Engineering; Timothy Eisele, Chemical Engineering; Tarun Dam, Chemistry; Qingli Dai and Raymond Swartz, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Myounghoon Jeon, Cognitive and Learning Sciences; Laura Brown, Computer Science; Durdu Guney, Timothy Havens and Chee-Wooi Ten, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Ramon Fonkoue and Scott Marratto, Humanities; Qinghui Chen, Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology; Alexander Labovsky, Mathematical Sciences; Soonkwan Hong, School of Business and Economics; Molly Cavaleri, School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; and Steve Walton, Social Sciences. Promoted non-tenure track faculty members Sheila Milligan, School of Business and Economics, to Senior Lecturer and Ann Humes, Mathematical Sciences, to Principal Lecturer. Elected Terry Woychowski as Board chair and Linda Kennedy as vice chair. Named Roberta Dessellier as Board secretary, replacing Dale Tahtinen, who is retiring. Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigans flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. The teenager was sentenced to eight months behind bars in May 2015, when he was 14, for planning to bomb a Vienna train station in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group and given additional 16-month suspended sentence. (Representational Image) Vienna: An Austrian court on Friday jailed a 15-year-old Islamic extremist for a second time, handing down a 20-month sentence for sending banned propaganda material via mobile phone messaging service WhatsApp. The teenager was sentenced to eight months behind bars in May 2015, when he was 14, for planning to bomb a Vienna train station in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group and given additional 16-month suspended sentence. After being released to serve the suspended part of the sentence, he allegedly tried to recruit three people to join IS, sending one of them propaganda photos and videos by mobile phone. The court in Sankt-Poelten in northeast Austria found him guilty of sending the material but acquitted him on the charges of attempted recruitment to IS, which claimed responsibility for this year's Paris and Brussels attacks. "This is the last chance for you to gain a foothold in our society," presiding judge Markus Gruenberger said. The defendant, who emigrated as a young boy from Turkey in 2007, accepted the verdict. State prosecutors may yet appeal, however. Like other European countries, Austria has seen a steady flow of people leaving or attempting to leave the country in order to join IS, and police are on high-alert for homegrown extremists seeking to carry out attacks. ISIS terrorists have released a document which reveals the details of Mohammed Emwazi's route from Britain to Syria to join the terrorist group in Raqqa. London: ISIS has released a document detailing how slain British extremist Mohammed Emwazi fled the UK and passed through six countries to reach Syria and become the dreaded Jihadi John. ISIS terrorists have released a document which reveals the details of Mohammed Emwazi's route from Britain to Syria to join the terrorist group in Raqqa. Emwazi, dubbed Jihadi John after he murdered Western hostages, posed as a migrant to leave the UK. 'The Times' quotes ISIS' monthly magazine 'Dar al-Islam' as saying that Emwazi and another unnamed individual opted for a migrant route to leave the UK in the summer of 2012 and were smuggled out in the back of lorry to avoid checks and made their way across the English Channel. Emwazi was able to make the journey despite being on terrorism watch-lists. The 27-year-old was killed in a US-led drone strike last year. His unnamed companion said they travelled through six countries to reach the ISIS stronghold in Raqqa. He mocked UK intelligence services for not capturing him, and complained about mosquitoes along the way. The account, which uses Emwazi's assumed name Abu Muharib al-Muhajir, runs to almost 8,000 words, the newspaper reports. As Emwazi was known to British intelligence, he did not want to risk flying out of France. The duo got to Brussels in Belgium and bought flights to Albania "without fear that British services are alerted". The pair travelled on British passports but also carried two fake French passports and 30,000 euros in cash. They shaved their beards in Brussels, where they had breakfast in a cafe in a Muslim area. Emwazi went on to appear in a video in August 2014 in which he beheaded US journalist James Foley. He emerged again in other videos, including those in which the US reporter Steven Sotloff and the British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning were murdered. The cold shoulder being given by Russia to Pakistan is indicative of the underlying lack of trust between both sides, carried on from the days of the Cold War era. (Photo: AP) Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned down the invitation to visit Pakistan for inauguration of the North-South Pipeline Project with Moscow emphasising that there was not enough substance in this trip. This comes as the recent bonhomie between both sides has not lasted long despite Pakistan's plans to buy armament, including aircraft from Russia, and signing of a number of bilateral agreements and setting up of the high-level consultative mechanism between Islamabad and Moscow Strategic Dialogue between their respective Foreign Ministers, Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism. The high-level visits were being projected as demonstrating the new level of friendship and enhanced engagement between the two countries. The exchange of high-profile visits by leaders of the two nations that raised Pakistan's hopes of becoming a close ally of Russia did not persist. The assumption that Moscow was actively developing ties with Islamabad, particularly in trade and counter-terrorism, seems to have belied the general expectations. Over 100 Pakistani businessmen, who had visited Russia to participate in an exhibition, were detained earlier on March 26 by the Immigration Authorities in Moscow and subsequently deported back apparently due to visa issues. The Pakistani diplomats in Moscow had a very tough time in getting consular access to them. The cold shoulder being given by Russia to Pakistan is indicative of the underlying lack of trust between both sides, carried on from the days of the Cold War era. Before setting off the explosion, the two 16-year-old secondary school students unsuccessfully tried to break into the gurudwara through the entrance door. Berlin: Two secondary school students accused of carrying out a bomb attack on a Gurudwara in the German city of Essen nearly two weeks ago are radical Islamists and sympathisers of the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda, authorities said. The two allegedly detonated a fire extinguisher filled with explosives at the entrance of the Nanaksar Satsang Sabha Gurudwara on the evening of April 16. Before setting off the explosion, the two 16-year-old secondary school students unsuccessfully tried to break into the gurudwara through the entrance door, North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) Interior Minister Ralf Jaeger said on Friday in a report presented to the home affairs. Sonora Spring Festival View Photos The streets of downtown Sonora will be filled with pedestrians, arts, music and more this Saturday as the annual Sonora Spring Festival returns along Washington Street. Sheala Wilkenson, City of Sonora Events Coordinator, was Thursdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. This free event runs along both sides of Washington Street from the Red Church to the Opera Hall and includes several of the side streets in historic downtown Sonora. From 11 am to 4 pm, residents and visitors alike are invited to check out the various arts, crafts and vendors booths. There will be plenty of live outdoor music. Additionally, the public may find free ice cream, face painting, antique fire trucks, business specials, dance lessons, bounce houses, plant and flower shows and tri-tip sandwiches. Featured events will include open house tours of the Red Church, The Methodist Church, the Sonora Volunteer Fire Museum. The family event also includes a bug zoo and a petting zoo. Local merchants and retail stores will provide one-day specials. Click here for the event listing. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard each weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47 am. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir View Photos Sonora, CA A Tuolumne County judge has thrown out a suit filed by a group pushing for the emptying of Hetch Hetchy reservoir located in Yosemite National Park on the grounds its unconstitutional. The lawsuit had called for the reservoir, which supplies drinking water to more than 2 million San Francisco Bay Area residents, to be drained and the valley restored to its natural state. In his ruling on Thursday, Judge Kevin Seibert sided with San Francisco City officials who were opposed to removing the reservoirs water. Restore Hetch Hetcy, the group that sued the city had claimed that the reservoir violates the California Constitution. Seibert ruled against that argument stating that the groups interpretation of the state constitution was pre-empted by the 1913 federal law that authorized the dam and reservoir at Hetch Hetchy. The groups executive director has already vowed to appeal the ruling. However, he did not reveal when he would be filing that appeal. The logo of Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite news channel is seen in Doha. (Photo: AP) Baghdad: The Iraqi authorities have shut down the Al-Jazeera channels Baghdad office, accusing Qatars state-funded TV network of inciting violence and sectarianism. Iraqs Communications and Media Commission (CMC) sent the Al-Jazeera Media Network a letter informing it of a March 24 decision to withdraw the bureaus licence and close its office for one year. The letter cited your continuing violations and offences and persistent media discourse instigating violence and sectarianism. In a statement issued Wednesday, the Doha-based news network, one of the largest in the region, said that it had not violated regulations or deviated from professional and objective coverage. Al-Jazeera has repeatedly come under fire from the Iraqi authorities for coverage perceived as too friendly to the Islamic State jihadist group and hostile to the countrys Shiite majority. The networks foreign staff were already unable to enter Iraq because the authorities had made it difficult for them to obtain visas, the networks Iraqi bureau chief Walid Ibrahim told AFP. The CMCs decision contradicts the Iraqi governments commitment to guarantee freedom of expression, Al-Jazeera said. Ziad Ajili, from the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, condemned the move, saying that the CMC does not have direct authority to close media offices in Iraq. Iraqi leaders have accused Gulf monarchies of not doing enough to fight IS jihadists and in some cases of directly supporting them. Qatar is accused by many in Iraq of having intentionally sponsored hardline Sunni groups to counter the expanding influence of Iran and Shiite Islam in the region. Fishing in hundreds of lakes north of Baghdad generates millions of dollars a month, according to the report. Some owners fleeing the area abandoned their farms while others agreed to cooperate with ISIS to avoid being attacked. (Photo: Representational image) Baghdad: ISIS earns millions of dollars a month running car dealerships and fish farms in Iraq, making up for lower oil income after its battlefield losses, Iraqi judicial authorities said on Thursday. Security experts once estimated the ultra-radical Islamist group's annual income at $2.9 billion, much of it coming from oil and gas installations in Iraq and Syria. The US-led coalition has targeted ISIS's financial infrastructure, using air strikes to reduce its ability to extract, refine and transport oil and so forcing fighters to reportedly take significant pay cuts. Yet the terrorists, who seized a third of Iraq's territory and declared a caliphate in 2014, seem to be adapting again to this latest set of constraints, in some cases reviving previous profit-turning ventures like farming. "The terrorists' current financing mechanism has changed from what it was before the announcement of the caliphate nearly two years ago," a report by Iraq's central court of investigation said, quoting Judge Jabbar Abid al-Huchaimi. "After the armed forces took control of several oil fields Daesh was using to finance its operations, the organisation devised non-traditional ways of paying its fighters and financing its activities," the report added, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS. Fishing in hundreds of lakes north of Baghdad generates millions of dollars a month, according to the report. Some owners fleeing the area abandoned their farms while others agreed to cooperate with ISIS to avoid being attacked. "Daesh treats its northern Baghdad province as a financial centre; it is its primary source of financing in the capital in particular," Huchaimi said. ISIS carries out frequent bombings in Baghdad against security forces and Shia residents. Selling Cars, Running Factories Fish farms have supplied terrorists with income since 2007 when ISIS's al Qaeda predecessor fought US occupation forces but the mechanism only came to the authorities' attention this year, the report said. The terrorists also tax agricultural land and impose a 10 per cent levy on poultry and other duties on a range of imports into their territory, it added. "Recently there has been reliance on agricultural lands in areas outside the control of the (Iraqi) security forces through taxes imposed on farmers." New revenues are also being generated from car dealerships and factories once run by the Iraqi government in areas seized by the terrorists. Those have helped offset the losses from lower oil income, though perhaps only partially. The US-based analysis firm IHS said last week that ISIS revenues had fallen by around a third since last summer to around $56 million a month. "In the recent period, Daesh has gone back to using government factories in the areas it controls - like Mosul - for financial returns," Huchaimi said, but added that oil smuggling from Syrian refineries remains the group's primary source of international financing. The Iraqi report, based in part on the confessions of captured ISIS suspects, described how funds were funnelled to Bayt al-Mal, the group's finance ministry, in the northern city of Mosul and then distributed to its provinces. "The organisation distributes money to areas outside its control through hawala (transfer) offices first in Erbil and from there to Iraq's other provinces," Huchaimi said. The report said that in addition to salaries, ISIS fighters may receive rent allowances, financial rewards for up to four children and occasional bonuses like one worth $1,000 distributed after the terrorists captured Mosul in 2014. Neighbors are banding together in opposition to developments in rural east Orange County. They say there are problems that first need to be addressed. Save Orange County fights mega developments in east Orange County Group accuses county leaders of ignoring the will of the people Wants the county to deal with infrastructure issues before allowing growth Nearly 10,000 have signed a petition through the group Save Orange County, opposing mega-developments along Lake Pickett like the planned agrihood community called The Growth. What we dont like is that theres been poor planning and uncontrolled growth, all over the area, and now they want to do it out here, said Jimmy Hester, who has lived in east Orange County for the last 15 years. Hester said theyre concerned the dual housing projects will mean tens of thousands of cars clogging roads, and wildlife endangered in the process. We moved out here for a certain lifestyle, the rural lifestyle, he said. Once you cross over that Econ rural boundary, its like flipping a light switch into peace and tranquility. East Orange County is unique, dotted with few developments that stretch to the St. Johns River. Christmas began as a fort; Bithlo a lumber town in the early 1900s. But since then, development has stagnated. In addition to concerns over urban sprawl, neighbors said they continue to deal with on-going issues, from water quality to lack of infrastructure. Neighbors complain about a stench that drifts at night from an abandoned dump in Bithlo, closed for more than 20 years. While nearly $12 million is being poured into widening the State Road 50 bridges over the Econ River, Hester and others said its putting a band aid on a bigger problem in east Orange County. Orange County, our commissioner, the staff, has absolutely ignored the will of the people, he said. We want them to pump the brakes on development, do something compatible and consistent with the area. And for now, he said hell continue to fight the developments, gathering signatures as he goes. The problem is, the developer is paying for the appetizer, but the taxpayers are paying for the meal, said Hester. And we dont want to be left with that. We reached out to Orange County District 5 Commissioner Ted Edwards over the course of the past two days, but he did not opt to speak with us regarding the issues. Nearly 100 people filled a room to voice their concerns after four violent fights happened in one day at Leesburg High School. Uptick in violence at Leesburg High School Additional deputies patrolling the school Meeting in May to seek solutions The recent uptick in violence has caused more deputies to patrol the area and community members to come together. One of the fights happened during lunch time last week. Its violence one parent and her four kids are tired of seeing. I hate the fact that theyre having all the fights, said Schwanda Bryant. Bryant said her daughter was bullied at the high school. Her and her friends got jumped in the bathroom. This happened last year, said Bryant. Many parents like Bryant are calling on the school administration to control the violence. At the meeting, blame was also put on the lack of discipline at home. However, staff said theyre taking action and working with the Lake County Sheriffs Office. There are two that are stationed here at Leesburg High School. Since that incident, we have additional deputies on the campus to be there just as a precaution," said Sgt. Fred Jones with the Lake County Sheriff's Office. No solution came out of Thursdays meeting, however leaders hope it is the start of a much larger conversation. The group hopes to meet in May to discuss solutions instead of just putting the blame on one particular group. Syrians inspect the damage at the al Quds hospital building following reported airstrikes on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Sukkari in the northern city of Aleppo. (Photo: AFP) Aleppo, Syria: Doctors Without Borders condemned, on Thursday, the outrageous air strike on a hospital it was supporting in the war-torn northern Syrian city of Aleppo, where doctors were among those killed. Local rescue workers said the overnight strike on the al Quds hospital and a nearby residential building left 30 people dead. Among them was the only paediatrician operating in the rebel-controlled eastern parts of Aleppo city, they said. Doctors Without Borders, which is also known by the acronym MSF, said two doctors were among 14 people killed in the strike on the hospital. MSF categorically condemns this outrageous targeting of yet another medical facility in Syria, said in a statement Muskilda Zancada, the medical charitys head of mission in Syria. This devastating attack has destroyed a vital hospital in Aleppo, and the main referral centre for paediatric care in the area. Where is the outrage among those with the power and obligation to stop this carnage? MSF said it had been donating medical supplies since 2012 to the 34-bed al Quds hospital, where eight doctors and 28 nurses worked full time. Rescue workers on Thursday said 10 of the bodies they had recovered from the hospital and nearby building were unrecognisable. Nearly 200 civilians have been killed in the battered northern city of Aleppo in the past week as rebels have pounded government-held neighbourhoods with rocket and artillery and the regime has hit rebel areas with air raids. Miami and Orlando have the highest risk for Zika-carrying mosquitoes, according to a new risk assessment map created by NASA and public health officials. NASA map shows Miami and then Orlando have the highest risk for an abundance of the mosquito species known to carry Zika Public health officials will use this to help control the disease's spread Mosquito control officials say residents can help by limiting standing water around their home Red on the map means a high risk for an abundance of the Zika-carrying mosquito species Aedes Aegypti. Orlando comes just after Miami for the highest risk area in the U.S. NASA said they took key factors, like temperature, rainfall and socioeconomic factors that might contribute to the spread of the virus. Researchers said this new data can help public health officials effectively target resources to fight the disease. They said they need the publics help to control the spread. Weve got warm weather and lots of rain here, so we may have more potential for mosquitoes than other parts of the country, said Kelly Deutsch, the acting manager of Orange County Mosquito Control. Deutsch said they are constantly trying to control the mosquito population, but spraying insecticide is not effective for killing all mosquitos. The best control measure is actually to just remove the larval source the water altogether, Deutsch said. Mosquito larva resemble tiny tadpoles in water. Deutsche displayed a sample of mosquito larvae in a small cup of water, which resembled dozens of tiny tadpoles. They really, really only like tires and bird baths and overflowing flower pots, that kind of a thing, Deutsche said. Experts said if you cant drain all standing water, there are tablets from local home improvement stores that can be placed in the water to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. These little briquettes we can put in bird baths and other small bodies of water, Deutsche said. So if youve got a fountain, you could put something like this in the water and youre good for 30 days. Right now the only cases of Zika in the United States were contracted by people traveling outside of the US or in a few cases where it was sexually transmitted. They are currently 94 cases of Zika in Florida. We also asked mosquito control if our pets could be susceptible to contracting the Zika virus, and they said so far no evidence suggests that they could be affected. A standoff Thursday night shut down an Orlando roadway for hours after an armed robbery suspect refused to come out of his car, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Office. Leslie Gopher, 37, is accused of robbing a Circle K Part of University Boulevard was shut down after Gopher refused to come out of his vehicle Gopher surrendered 2 hours later and was arrested Leslie Gopher, 37, is accused of robbing a Circle K convenience store at 4600 Alafaya Trail at about 10:24 p.m. According to police, the store clerk took down the getaway car's license plate and passed it to law enforcement. Responding deputies said they spotted the suspects vehicle going west on University Boulevard. Deputies tried to stop Gopher, but he took off. Deputies said they performed a PIT maneuver near the intersection of University Boulevard and Quenita Drive, causing the vehicle to stop. Gopher refused to come out of his vehicle, deputies said. Hostage negotiators were brought in and talked to Gopher for nearly two hours. Part of University Boulevard was shut down while negotiators tried to get Gopher to come out of his vehicle. Negotiators were finally able to talk him out of the vehicle and he surrendered. Deputies said they found two weapons inside the vehicle. Gopher was arrested and charged with armed robbery and fleeing a law enforcement officer. He has a lengthy criminal record going back to 2006, when he served time for aggravated assault and robbery with a deadly weapon. Gopher was taken to the Orange County Jail, where he faces almost two dozen charges, including aggravated assault and robbery with a firearm. No injuries were reported at the Circle K. Due to light traffic, no other motorists were seriously affected by the University Boulevard closure, the Sheriffs Office said. A Cocoa man convicted of murder in the death of a woman buried alive a decade ago was sentenced to death Friday afternoon. Vahtiece Kirkman, 37, was convicted in the 2006 murder of Darice Knowles A jury recommended the death penalty Christopher Pratt, Kirkman's accomplice, is serving 10 years for murder A jury convicted Vahtiece Kirkman earlier this month for killing Darice Knowles 10 years ago in Cocoa. The Bahamian woman was taken to a wooded area, where she was bound and gagged. She was then thrown into a hole and covered in concrete. Knowles body was found four years later. During the trial, Christopher Pratt, Kirkmans accomplice, testified against him. Pratt said Kirkman was concerned that Knowles knew too much about a previous murder they had committed 17 days earlier. Pratt said thats why Kirkman ordered Knowles to be killed. Kirkman is already serving a life sentence for the murder. The jury in this case recommended 10 to 2 that Kirkman get the death penalty. Check back for updates on this developing story. A 2-year-old girl died Thursday night after she was pulled from the swimming pool at her grandparents' home in Port Orange, police said, the third to drown in Central Florida in a week. Girl was visiting grandparents with older brother 3rd 2-year-old girl to drown in Central Florida in a week Port Orange Police are investigating the drowning Port Orange Police responded at about 6:27 p.m. to a home along Sagewood Drive in reference to a child drowning. When officers arrived at the home, they found out that 2-year-old Trinity Fuson was pulled out of the swimming pool by her grandmother, Tabitha Roberts. Roberts was performing CPR with help from Volusia County dispatch over the phone prior to Port Orange Fire and Rescue crews taking over. Trinity Fuson was transported to Halifax Hospital in Port Orange, where she died. According to police, Trinity was put down for a nap, and detectives are investigating how she got out of the home and to the pool. Trinity and her 5-year-old brother arrived at their grandparents' home Wednesday from Ohio. The parents have been notified, and the investigation is ongoing. This is the third 2-year-old to drown in the past week in Central Florida. A 2-year-old girl died after she was pulled from a Palm Coast swimming pool last weekend. Another 2-year-old girl drowned in a canal in Groveland earlier this week. A Rockledge firefighter was arrested Friday after he was accused of stealing jewelry he found inside a city vehicle during a vehicle extraction training exercise, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in a news release. Rockledge battalion chief accused of stealing jewelry, selling it Jeffrey Hughey surrendered at Brevard County Jail FDLE began investigation in December Jeffrey Hughey, 54, of Rockledge, surrendered at the Brevard County Jail. He is a battalion chief with the Rockledge Fire Department. Hughey is accused of stealing more than $1,500 worth of jewelry he found inside a City of Rockledge vehicle during the training exercise, agents said. The FDLE began its investigation in December at the request of Rockledge Police Chief Joseph LaSata and Tim Matson, the chief of the Rockledge Fire Department, after they both received information about the theft. "We do not tolerate any criminal activity regardless of who breaks the law," LaSata said in a statement. "When these allegations were brought to our attention, we acted quickly, and the FDLE investigation resulted in this arrest. The Rockledge Police and Fire Departments work hard to establish trust in the community, and we will not allow anyone to compromise that." Hughey allegedly kept the jewelry for several months before selling it, agents said. Investigators think the jewelry was sold for $1,000 to $2,000. The Wayland Baptist University Board of Trustee voted unanimously to endorse the recommendation of Dr. Paul Armes to opt out of Senate Bill 11 which allows firearms to be carried on college campuses by licensed individuals. Wayland will continue with its current policy that prohibits individuals from carrying firearms on campus. It does, however, allow students, faculty and staff to store firearms in their vehicles or, for Plainview campus students, in a designated safe. Senate Bill 11, as passed by the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas, authorizes concealed handgun license or license to carry holders to carry a concealed handgun while on the campus of public or private colleges and universities. There is a provision that gives private universities three options based on the fact that private schools are located on private property, not state property. Private universities have the right to: 1. Accept and incorporate the law in its entirety 2. Restrict areas on campus in which concealed carry is permitted 3. Continue with current policies Armes said he and other members of the administration had polled, surveyed and/or conducted discussion sessions with faculty, staff and students at each of Waylands Texas campuses located in Plainview, Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls and San Antonio. He said while a small majority of traditional students on the Plainview campus were in favor of the new law, the overwhelming majority of non-traditional students, faculty and staff throughout the system were in favor of maintaining the current policy. Armes said he made his recommendation based on the survey and poll results as well as the notion that there are too many unknown variables and liabilities that may come into play. He said, however, that there may be opportunity in the future to revisit the policy. We dont have all the answers, Armes told the Board of Trustees. At some point in the future, if they will permit us to procure additional training for individuals who have licenses, you might look more favorably on some acceptance of the law. At this time the law doesnt allow us to do that. Naypyitaw: Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has made clear to foreign diplomats: It doesn't matter if they call her country Myanmar, or its old name, Burma. Suu Kyi gave her position Friday in a speech to the foreign diplomatic corps. She is the government's de facto leader in the specially created post of state counsellor, and also is foreign minister. Her National League for Democracy party took power from an army-backed government at the end of March. Democracy supporters in Burma balked when the then-ruling military renamed the country Myanmar in 1989. The military in turn was irritated when activists and their supporters abroad including many Western governments insisted on sticking with the old name. As she explained her policy of friendship and mutual benefit to the diplomats, Suu Kyi interrupted herself to say she should clear up the matter of what name to use for her country "because there are some members of the diplomatic corps who don't know quite which term to use." "So it is up to you, because there is nothing in the constitution of our country that says that you must use any term in particular," she said. "I use Burma very often because I am used to using it. But it does not mean that I require other people to do that as well. "And I'll make an effort to say Myanmar from time to time so you all feel comfortable," she told her audibly amused audience. "This is what diplomacy, I think, is all about. We have to learn to accommodate each other." The generals changed the country's name as a nationalistic gesture, spurning the name that was handed down from when the country was a British colony. The military sought to boost its patriotic credentials a year after its bloody suppression of mass pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988. It also changed the style of many place names, including the then-capital, Rangoon, which became Yangon. Its opponents sought to deny the army regime's legitimacy by rejecting the name changes. It was an argument fought mostly on the international stage, since the country's name remained the same in the national language, and the English versions, Burma and Myanmar, both derive from the same Burmese word. Suu Kyi is the country's most popular political figure but was unable to become president because of a clause in the military-imposed constitution that bars anyone with a foreign spouse or child from holding the job. Her two sons are British, as was her late husband. Image credit: Apple. Apple's struggling iPad family of tablets saw a significant decline in both revenue and units, with both falling 19% respectively over the results seen a year prior. The iPad and, indeed, the tablet market at large is being squeezed by thin-and-light personal computers on one side and by large-screen smartphones on the other. Now, in a bid to assuage investor fears around this product category, Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors that the company expects to enjoy the "best iPad revenue compare in over two years." This may seem as though Cook is signaling a fundamental improvement in the iPad business, but it's simply sleight of hand. Allow me to explain. iPad Pro 9.7-inch revenue ramping up in FQ3 Apple indicated that it didn't recognize any sales revenue in fiscal Q2 for the iPhone SE, which launched on March 24 and began shipping to customers on March 31, with initial shipments recognized in fiscal Q3. The iPad Pro launched at the same time, so revenues for that product probably weren't recognized in fiscal Q2, either. That means the initial "surge" of 9.7-inch iPad Pro sales will make a financial impact in fiscal Q3. How this makes the year-over-year comparison worthless In the year-ago quarter (Q3 of fiscal 2015), Apple didn't launch any new iPad products. Indeed, in the same quarter in 2015, Apple was well past the October 2014 launch of the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. So Apple is comparing a seasonally "peak" iPad quarter with a mid-product cycle quarter from a year ago. To further fuel the fire, Apple will surely benefit from having the 9.7-inch iPad Pro sell at higher prices than the previous-generation iPad Air 2 products that were available for sale in the year prior. And, of course, Apple should benefit from the fresh price reductions on the iPad Air 2, which could help drive incremental volume in the quarter. Yes, next quarter should be "as good as it gets" from a year-over-year comparison perspective, but that's much more a reflection of product launch timing dynamics than of fundamental demand trends. Apple still has a question to answer Apple has to find a way to get iPad sales to grow again on an apples-to-apples basis. It's not clear how the company will be able to achieve this goal, particularly given that -- at least with iPad -- the company doesn't have any real obvious "product issues." The iPad is far and away the best tablet on the market, in my view, sporting state-of-the-art hardware, a large selection of apps tailored for the iPad, and an excellent operating system. The problem is that people just aren't buying tablets like they used to. Perhaps Apple can introduce some fundamental game-changing innovations that will make the iPad a must-have, but even if it does, those features will shortly find their way into the iPhone -- the product category that Apple cares about the most -- and rightfully so. 3 companies poised to explode when cable dies Cable is dying. And there are 3 stocks that are poised to explode when this faltering $2.2 trillion industry finally bites the dust. Just like newspaper publishers, telephone utilities, stockbrokers, record companies, bookstores, travel agencies, and big box retailers did when the Internet swept away their business models. And when cable falters, you don't want to miss out on these 3 companies that are positioned to benefit. Click here for their names. Hint: They're not the ones you'd think! The article Dont Fall for Apple Inc.'s iPad Magic Trick originally appeared on Fool.com. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Genesee & Wyoming. On the surface, Genesee & Wyoming's first-quarter results looked strong, with both revenue and earnings up double digits. However, that growth is largely attributable to an acquisition the company completed over the past year. That created a pretty wide divergence between reported results and the company's underlying operations, which continue to be weighed down by weakness in certain parts of the global economy. Genesee & Wyoming results: The raw numbers Q1 2016 Actuals Q1 2015 Actuals Growth (YOY) Revenue $482.6 million $397.0 million 21.6% Income from operations $57.0 million $72.6 million -21.5% EPS $0.47 $0.42 11.9% Data source: Genesee & Wyoming. What happened with Genesee & Wyoming this quarter? Genesee & Wyoming's results weren't quite as good as the headline numbers indicated: While revenue growth looked robust at 21.6%, that's due primarily to the acquisition of Freightliner. Operating revenue at the company's North American railroads declined 5.6% to $299.8 million, while adjusted income from operations was flat at $70.7 million thanks to its cost reduction efforts. Weighing on revenue were very weak coal shipments, which were down 36% year over year due to cheap natural gas prices and a warm winter, as well as a 14% decline in agricultural products revenue due to low crop prices and a strong dollar. The company's Australian segment was even weaker, with operating revenue slumping 13.6% to $51.8 million to go along with a 36% plunge in adjusted operating income, which fell to $10.2 million. Genesee & Wyoming was affected by the bankruptcy of a key iron ore mining/steel manufacturing customer during the quarter. These weaknesses were completely offset by gains in the company's U.K./Europe segment, which saw revenue skyrocket from $19.5 million to $131 million due to the Freightliner acquisition. That being said, results in this segment were actually below expectations due to weak coal shipments and lower intermodal traffic. Genesee & Wyoming reported a 21.5% drop in income from operations partially due to taking $21.1 million in charges relating to the bankruptcy of an Australian customer. If we adjust for these one-time charges, income from operations would have only declined 8.2%. Meanwhile, earnings per share would have been much higher after adjustments, coming in at $0.77 per share. However, that adjusted number represented a 7.2% year-over-year decrease as opposed to the 11.9% increase in the reported number, which benefited from the lack of a loss on the settlement of foreign currency exchange contracts that had affected the prior period. What management had to say CEO Jack Hellmann, commenting on the company's results, said, "G&W's core financial results for the first quarter of 2016 were slightly better than our expectations, although our reported results were negatively affected by our last remaining iron ore customer in Australia entering voluntary administration. Effective management of operating costs in both North America and Australia more than offset weak results from our U.K./Europe Operations." As Hellmann noted, all things considered, the quarter wasn't too bad thanks to the company's cost-cutting efforts. Still, operating conditions are tough across the globe for rail operators. Union Pacific , for example, saw its coal revenue plummet 43% to go along with a 9% drop in intermodal revenue and a 6% drop in agricultural revenue. That's forcing Union Pacific to likewise focus on reducing costs to mitigate this weakness, with the company furloughing workers and placing locomotives in storage. Looking forward Those weak business conditions don't seem to be abating. Hellmann noted this by saying that, "As we look ahead to the remainder of 2016, our outlook for North America and the U.K./Europe is broadly unchanged" from its prior outlook. That outlook saw weakness in coal and steel segments in North America leading to a slight drop in Genesee & Wyoming's operating income to go with flat operating income in the U.K./Europe. However, he went on to say, "Our outlook for Australia is modestly weaker," which is ominous because the company already expected a decline in operating income due to issues with commodity producers in that country. Overall, this weak operating environment is expected to lead to a 12% decline in Genesee & Wyoming's adjusted earnings per share in 2016. However, thanks to its cost-cutting measures, free cash flow is expected to increase by 8%. Furthermore, that strong cash flow keeps the company in the position to continue to evaluate acquisition and investment opportunities in order to take advantage of the currently weak operating environment. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. The article Genesee & Wyoming Inc's Q1 Results Boosted by Acquisitions originally appeared on Fool.com. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Apple. After reporting a disappointing quarter and issuing dreadful guidance, Apple CEO Tim Cook offered some much-needed insight to investors around iPhone. In particular, Cook took the opportunity to go into detail into Apple's thinking around the iPhone business, which he characterized as "healthy and strong." Additionally, the executive explained that "iPhone sales come from three sources: customers who upgrade from previous iPhone models; customers who switch from Android and other operating systems; and customers who purchase a smartphone for the first time." Let's take a closer look at what Cook had to say. Weak upgrade cycle relative to iPhone 6 Addressing the upgrade portion first, Cook noted that during the first half of the company's current fiscal year, Apple saw an "upgrade rate for the iPhone 6s cycle" that's "slightly higher" than what the company saw with the iPhone 5s cycle, but "lower than the accelerated upgrade rate that [Apple] saw with iPhone 6." Though Cook declined to give specifics around the exact upgrade rates, he did characterize the iPhone 6s upgrade rate as "a lot lower" than the iPhone 6 upgrade rate. "If we would have the same rate on iPhone 6s that we did on iPhone 6, it would be time for a huge party," Cook added. "It would be a huge difference." No kidding. Perhaps Tim Cook and the marketing team at Apple may want to rethink the notion of 's' cycles and make big enough changes generation-over-generation to reaccelerate upgrade cycles. High "switcher" rate On a more positive note, Cook claimed that the company "continue[s] to see a very high level of customers switching to iPhone from Android and other operating systems." He further added that, over the last six months, Apple enjoyed an influx of "more switchers from Android and other platforms in the first half of this [fiscal] year than any other six-month period ever." I have to wonder, though: is this a statement about net Android switchers? If so, why hasn't this apparently significant share gain helped to soften the woes associated with the weaker upgrade activity? Why are companies like Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo still growing as Apple sees iPhone shipments contract? Still plenty of potential first-time buyers left Although it is commonly believed that the smartphone market has become "saturated," Cook claims that only 42% of the handset market has moved over to smartphones. "iPhone is still attracting millions of first-time smartphone buyers each quarter, especially from emerging markets," said Cook, citing 56% year-over-year growth in iPhone sales in the company's most recent quarter. It's worth noting, though, that Apple's smartphones are quite pricey, with even the "cheap" iPhone SE starting at $400 in the United States (it is likely much more expensive in other regions). This may make it tougher for the iDevice maker to gain traction in the areas of the world in which smartphones haven't already caught on. What's the investment takeaway? Cook makes a reasonable argument for why the future may be brighter for iPhone than it looks at this moment in time, but I don't think investors should take Cook's long-term view on faith. For example, it's clear that Apple wildly overestimated the demand that it expected to see for the iPhone 6s/6s Plus at the beginning of the cycle. Additionally, according to Cook last quarter, the fiscal second quarter was expected to be the "trough" for iPhone year-over-year comparisons -- something that, clearly, doesn't seem to be the case given the shockingly poor forward guidance. To me, it looks like Cook has a lot of very nice-sounding excuses, but the bottom line is that its core iPhone business is currently experiencing sharp year-over-year declines. This needs to be resolved, preferably sooner rather than later, before Apple stock becomes worthy of fresh investment capital again. 3 companies poised to explode when cable dies Cable is dying. And there are 3 stocks that are poised to explode when this faltering $2.2 trillion industry finally bites the dust. Just like newspaper publishers, telephone utilities, stockbrokers, record companies, bookstores, travel agencies, and big box retailers did when the Internet swept away their business models. And when cable falters, you don't want to miss out on these 3 companies that are positioned to benefit. Click here for their names. Hint: They're not the ones you'd think! The article Here's What Tim Cook Has to Say About the Apple Inc. iPhone Business originally appeared on Fool.com. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduces the Model X. Source: Tesla. I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably that. So we need to be very careful with artificial intelligence...With artificial intelligence, we're summoning the demon. You know those stories where there's the guy with the pentagram, and the holy water, and he's like -- Yeah, he's sure he can control the demon? Doesn't work out. -- Elon Musk (via TechCrunch) Famed entrepreneur Elon Musk has been a regular Chicken Little when it comes to artificial intelligence. The billionaire founder of both Tesla and SpaceX has spoken out about the dangers of the emerging technology on several occasions in recent years, warning that it could bring disastrous consequences for all of humanity. Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn't buying it. In an interview with Germany's Axel Springer (via Business Insider), the founder of the social network characterized Musk's warnings as "hysterical." While the discussion may seem somewhat nebulous, bordering on the realm of science fiction, artificial intelligence is one of Facebook's central prerogatives, and it could become fundamental to the company's business model in the years ahead. It's nothing to worry about Zuckerberg touched on several subjects in his conversation with Axel Springer's CEO Mathias Dopfner, but one of the more interesting points of the discussion centered on artificial intelligence. Dopfner: Can you understand the concerns that business magnate Elon Musk has expressed in that context? He seriously fears that artificial intelligence could one day dominate and take over the human brain, that the machine would be stronger than men. You think that is a valid fear or do you think it's hysterical? Zuckerberg: I think it is more hysterical. Dopfner: How can we make sure that computers and robots are serving people and not the other way around? Zuckerberg: I think that the default is that all the machines that we build serve humans so unless we really mess something up I think it should stay that way. ... Dopfner: So this is science fiction fantasy and is not going to happen in real life and we don't need to worry about the safety of human intelligence? Zuckerberg: I think that along the way, we will also figure out how to make it safe. The dialogue today kind of reminds me of someone in the 1800s sitting around and saying: one day we might have planes and they may crash. Nonetheless, people developed planes first and then took care of flight safety. If people were focused on safety first, no one would ever have built a plane. This fearful thinking might be standing in the way of real progress. Two different business models Musk's companies are pursuing a wide variety of interesting new technologies, but none center around artificial intelligence. Tesla, for example, remains committed to changing the automotive industry, slowly shifting the market from traditional internal combustion engines to electric cars. Tesla's challenges relate to its battery technology, its distribution network, and the world's long-entrenched addiction to fossil fuels. Better batteries and more favorable laws surrounding dealer networks would benefit the company. Tesla's autopilot software does, somewhat ironically, represent a form of artificial intelligence, but outside of it's self-driving aspirations, it's not clear how artificial intelligence would help drive Tesla's core business forward. Facebook, in contrast, is committed wholeheartedly. "Artificial intelligence is a long-term effort for us," Zuckerberg said on the company's most recent earnings call. "But we're already using it in lots of ways. Right now, our Moments app is using face recognition to help you share pictures with your friends. We're using AI to show the most relevant content in news feeds, filter spam and messaging, and even help blind people understand what's in their friends' photos by reading explanations of them aloud." AI also factors heavily into Facebook's bet on chatbots. Earlier this month at its F8 developer conference, Facebook announced an aggressive new effort to court businesses for its messenger platform. By leaning on the power of AI, businesses can create chat bots to interact with their customers. Zuckerberg touched on how AI could factor into Messenger's long-term future on the company's most recent earnings call. A lot of people every day in Facebook...are already messaging pages and businesses directly, and the businesses respond. But what we've actually also found is that through some of our AI research, we can look at the responses that businesses give to common questions and can confidently provide the right reply... For now, the differing views of Musk and Zuckerberg isn't having an effect on Facebook's business, but that may not always be the case. "I'm increasingly inclined to think that there should be some regulatory oversight [for artificial intelligence technology], maybe at the national and international level," Musk said. The last thing Facebook needs is government regulators clamping down on Messenger or Newsfeed. For now, Facebook's AI efforts remain relatively pedestrian, but the company's ambitions are much broader. For long-term Facebook shareholders, the discussion surrounding AI may be just as relevant as the company's most recent quarterly earnings report. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. The article Mark Zuckerberg Thinks Elon Musk is Wrong on AI originally appeared on Fool.com. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: BHE Renewables. Whether facing headwinds or riding tailwinds, Warren Buffett has proved the ability to prosper. Now he's looking to the wind to blow profits into Berkshire Hathaway's pockets. MidAmerican Energy, an operating business of Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE), has stated its goal of supplying customers in Iowa with 100% renewable energy. Recently requesting approval from the Iowa Utilities Board for a 1,000-turbine project, Wind XI, MidAmerican Energy is attempting to step $3.6 billion closer to that goal. Wind at its back MidAmerican Energy is hardly a novice in generating and distributing wind power; the company has already spent $6.7 billion on wind power over the past 12 years. The commitment to renewable energy is clear. Coal accounted for 70% and wind accounted for 0% of MidAmerican's generation capacity in 2004; however, at the end of 2015, 41% of generating capacity came from wind -- and 37% came from coal. Upon completion, the Wind XI project will add 2 GW of installed wind capacity to the company's portfolio. According to Bill Fehrman, CEO and president of MidAmerican Energy, "Once the project is complete, we will generate wind energy equal to 85% of our annual customer sales in Iowa, bringing us within striking distance of our 100% renewable vision." MidAmerican's actions reflect the efforts of BHE's overall commitment to renewable energy. According to the company's 2015 annual report, BHE has invested $16 billion in renewable energy and now accounts for 7% of the country's wind generation and 6% of the solar generation. A hawk's eye on the Hawkeye State Iowa utilities represent only one division of BHE's portfolio, but it's an important one. From 2014 to 2015, earnings from Iowa utilities have improved from $298 million to $314 million. Image Source: BHE Renewables. Should MidAmerican receive the go-ahead to proceed with the project, earnings will continue to climb much higher. The federal government renewed the production tax credit (PTC), at the end of 2015, which is worth 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour of wind-generated electricity supplied to the grid. Despite this improvement, renewable projects, as a whole, have failed to also report growth -- declining from $194 million in 2014 to $175 million in 2015. Although the declining revenue is unfavorable, it must be taken in context of the longer term, as renewable projects contributed only $50 million in earnings for BHE in 2013. The forecast: chance of gusty wind There is hardly a consensus that the wind industry's growth is clear, but the renewal of the PTC at the end of 2015 was a clear sign that the industry's growth is set to continue. Kyle Davis, BHE's Congressional relations director, affirmed this in response to the PTC renewal and that of the solar-friendly investment tax credit. He declared, "These policies will provide a critical level of certainty and continuity that will encourage ongoing private investments in wind and solar energy resources at lower costs for customers." Buffett reiterated this position and elaborated on it in the annual report, revealing that the company's interest in renewables is not just financially motivated: "BHE's long-established emphasis on efficiency -- even when the company didn't need it to attain authorized earnings -- leaves us particularly competitive in today's market (and, more important, in tomorrow's as well)." Some may be skeptical of his commitment, but the numbers don't lie. Here we see what each power source contributed to BHE Renewable's operating revenue for the following years: Business Activity 2015 2014 2013 Solar $383 $238 $73 Wind $99 $99 $121 Geothermal $165 $125 -- Hydro $23 $107 $129 Natural gas $58 $54 $32 All amounts in $USD millions. Data source: Berkshire Hathaway 10-K. Of all the power sources, wind doesn't blow anyone away. Rather, it's solar that outshines the other sources. Representing 52.6% of the $728 million in total operating revenue for 2015, solar has increased 325% since 2013. Wind has been less impressive. Declining 18.2% in operating revenue from 2013 to 2015, wind business activities have dropped from contributing 34.1% to total operating revenue in 2014 to only 13.6% in 2015. But it's easy to forget that the PTC -- much to the chagrin of the wind industry -- had expired in 2012, affecting operating revenue for 2013 and 2014. Although it was renewed at the end of 2014, it was retroactive for the year, and the damage had already been done. Some skepticism around the future of the PTC has been removed -- it has been renewed through 2021. Nonetheless, investors must always remember Buffett's commitment to the long term. Short-term hurdles such as seasonal variability won't dissuade him if he recognizes potential value on the horizon. Riding the tailwind? Though not specifically mentioned in the announcement, Siemens is probably excited at the prospect of the new MidAmerican wind farm, for the two companies have often partnered together in the past. In 2013, MidAmerican placed an order for 448 turbines -- to be placed in five Iowa projects -- from Siemens. Before that, Siemens had supplied MidAmerican with 510 turbines since 2008. But the partnership extends beyond the supplying of turbines. In October 2014, Siemens and MidAmerican signed a long-term service and maintenance agreement for 958 turbines at 12 projects throughout Iowa. At the time, it was, globally, the largest onshore service agreement to date for Siemens. The agreement extends to June 2024. The takeaway Often dismissed, wind power continues to prove itself as a viable option in America's energy mix as volatility in fossil fuel prices continues, bankruptcies in coal companies abound, and wind prices become more and more competitive. According to Bloomberg, the "average long-term contract price for wind power paid by utilities has dropped 60% since 2009." Reducing the reliance on coal and increasing the reliance on wind, Buffett's commitment is clear. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. The article Warren Buffett Just Revealed His Vision for America's Energy Future originally appeared on Fool.com. Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. She launched her NGO, Khwendo Jirga, or Sister's Council, a women-only Jirga where women meet weekly to discuss issues such as honour killings, acid attacks and swara. (Photo: dawn.com) Islamabad: Tabassum Adnan, a women's rights activist from Pakistan's troubled Swat valley has won the prestigious Nelson Mandela award, becoming the second woman from the restive region to gain international recognition after Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai. Adnan, 39, was bestowed on Thursday with the Nelson Mandela Graca Machel Innovation Award 2016 in Bogota, Colombia. She said that she dedicates her award to her country. "I am grateful to everyone in my country who supported me in my cause to fight for the rights of women. Today, being a Pakistani woman here I feel proud to have earned a good name for my country," she told the Dawn newspaper from Colombia soon after receiving her award. She won the award for the individual activist category on the concluding day of the International Civil Society Week (ICSW) held from April 25-28. Adnan was married at the age of 13. The marriage which was marked by frequent domestic abuse, ended after 20 years when she gathered the courage to divorce her abusive husband. From then on, she launched her NGO, Khwendo Jirga, or Sister's Council, a women-only Jirga where women meet weekly to discuss issues such as honour killings, acid attacks and swara, the practice of giving women as compensation for crimes, the Dawn reported. She has also received the 2015 Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award in recognition of her untiring efforts and services for women's rights. Tabassum is from Swat, once occupied by Taliban, but now known as ancestral place of Malala who was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, for standing up against Taliban by advocating the right of women for education. When it comes to buying a home, many factors are at play, such as square footage and price. And high up on that list is the school district the home resides in. We looked at the best school districts in the Houston metro area according to Niche.com and then checked the latest local home price survey (read it here on HoustonChronicle.com) to determine the median prices of homes sold in each school district in 2015. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Texas woman has sounded off on millennials around the world in a viral Facebook video, putting her foot down in defiance against what she believes is so wrong with our generation. Alexis Bloomer, 23, originally from Salado, laid the criticism on thick for her fellow millennials, stating the group doesnt call elders sir or maam, they dont hold open doors for women or elders, and they take advantage of opportunities given to them. RELATED: 'Unapologetically Southern' cowboy shares his grievances in viral YouTube video, goes on Fox News Dear Elders, I'm sorry. Sincerely, A Millennial #GenerationwhY #YouthToday #SorryElders #MyOpinion Posted by Alexis Bloomer on Friday, April 22, 2016 Dear Elders, Im sorry. Sincerely, A Millennial, Bloomer posted on Facebook along with the video of her discussion on issues with millennials. She shot the video while sitting in her car, where she listed off a bunch of things she believes millennials do that tick off other people. Were just existing, were not really contributing anything to society, she said in the video. RELATED: Texas teen 'Alex from Target' becomes overnight Internet superstar She also discusses millennials apparent love for explicit music that degrades women, the purported importance of social status based on the number of Twitter followers and the desire for free education without putting in the work. Bloomers video has more than 41.9 million views and has been shared more than 1 million times on Facebook. RELATED: Texas veterinarian who bragged on Facebook about killing cat with arrow could have license revoked Since posting the video on April 22, she has gone on Fox Business and other media outlets to discuss her stance on millennials, as well as the viral video. In an interview with mySA.com, Bloomer said she received a lot of negative responses from millennials regarding her video, with many of them reportedly proving her point. But she said not all millennials are bad. "I am surrounded by intelligent and proactive millennials daily, I wasn't talking to them," she said. "If you have a job and are trying your best, you're contributing to society." She said the fact that so many people shared her video shows that a lot of people agree with her viewpoint. "I gave a voice to people that didn't have the platform to do so, which makes it a very humbling experience," she said. She graduated from Sam Houston State University, where she studied at the Dan Rather School of Journalism, according to her website. [h/t Daily Mail] twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HAVANA, CUBA As relations between the United States and Cuba begin to thaw, Americans are beginning to step foot onto territory where most have been prohibited from entering for nearly 60 years to experience a tucked away world and all of its peculiarities. One of the most notable newcomers was President Barack Obama. His March visit with Cuba President Raul Castro grabbed headlines and marked an era of change though retired revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro, used his written words to express his disapproval. Days following the American president's visit, Fidel Castro published a 1,500-word screed titled "Brother Obama," in a Cuban newspaper, rallying against his visit, according to The Guardian. My humble suggestion is that he reflects [on the US role in South Africa and Cubas in Angola] and not now try to elaborate theories about Cuban politics, Castro said, according to the report. On April 19, the day I arrived in Havana, the former leader made a rare appearance at the closing ceremony of the seventh Cuban Communist Party in the city. The 89-year-old spoke of his impending death and the ideologies he began to officially implement when he took power in 1959, Reuters reported. "The ideas of Cuban Communists will remain," he said, according to the report. "As proof that on this planet, if you work hard and with dignity, you can produce the material and cultural goods human beings need." The current events opened a dialogue between myself and the Cubans I encountered that was sometimes strained. Older generations, for the most part, maintained a moral allegiance to their former leader and do not believe relations with the U.S. will fix issues. One taxi cab driver said those problems must be dealt with internally while others ignored my questions and attempts at conversation completely. On the other hand younger citizens, students who chatted on the street corners, spoke of a divide between their generation and their elders. In their perspectives, older counterparts are set in their ways while the younger Cubans entertained ideas of change one day being able to visit America and take advantage of any opportunities improved relations may bring. Being at the epicenter of a place where tense conversations pertaining to my own homeland swirled about felt peculiar in itself. The unfamiliar, edgy setting of it all added to the curiosity. Unlike other destinations, travelers to Cuba from America, like myself, enter a largely uncharted land. Visitors wander through the narrow streets of Old Havana without brochures or suggested itineraries from those who went before them, because few have. What they discover is a new, old world. A place where classic cars, in pristine conditions, outnumber modern vehicles and colonial architecture becomes a feast for the eyes. Click through the gallery above for 19 unique elements of the rich Cuban culture and life which may not be found in the United States. mmendoza@mysa.com Twitter: @MaddySkye When the head of the cruise line took the time to stop by and wish everyone well, we surmised this might not be an ordinary week on the water. CEO Dan Blanchard of Un-Cruise Adventures addressed 75 of us in a ballroom in the Baranof Hotel in downtown Juneau and made it clear this would be like no other Alaskan cruise because of its focus on freedom to explore. Our week-long journey aboard the 232-foot-long, 1,425-ton Safari Endeavour also would be without Internet connectivity, souvenir shopping, glitzy musical revues and midnight buffets. Instead, we would venture into wilderness nooks and crannies to experience the glories of wild Alaska. Anticipation intensified as my wife Shelley, 13-year-old daughter Beverly and yours truly along with 25 other family members and friends in our group boarded the Safari Endeavour on a drizzly mid-July afternoon. We located our compact-yet-comfortable cabins, unpacked our gear that included rain-repelling/warmth-conserving outerwear and rejoiced as the Safari Endeavour eased out of Juneau, bound for the Marble Islands and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Following a cruise overview in the ships cozy lounge, we went out on deck to see a half-dozen killer whales in search of their evening meal. Definitely a good sign of things to come, followed by a restful nights sleep in our bunks. En route to Glacier Bay in the morning mist, we glided by rocky coastline populated by husky Steller sea lions, much more imposing than their smaller and more common California sea lion cousins. After breakfast, we attended an orientation that detailed the tempting menu of daily outdoor activities including kayaking, forays by skiff in search of wildlife, beachcombing explorations and standup paddleboarding. Personable crew members with encyclopedic knowledge of Alaskan flora and fauna shared their expertise as well as kept their eyes on every adventurer to prevent any mishaps. Each day, we awoke in a different pristine inlet with low clouds interspersing the stands of tall evergreens that somehow clung to nearly vertical mountainsides. Saginaw Bay in the Tongass National Forest proved to be especially memorable because of a bushwhack, a challenging hike through seemingly impenetrable rain forest. A skiff put us ashore on a pebble-strewn beach at the edge of the dense forest, with countless downed trees to climb over and under, squishy moss underfoot and, in a few open areas, bogs filled with water and jet-black mud. Bear scat, or droppings, was everywhere, but no sightings or close encounters of the carnivore kind occurred during the all-afternoon-long bushwhack. For less-hardy explorers, a leisurely beach walk or even a no-exertion-at-all skiff ride were alternatives. As a result, every member of our group ranging in age from 2 to 82 found suitable adventures. Another magical moment happened one afternoon when 20 or more humpback whales frolicked in the chilly Chatham Strait. They splashed, slapped the water with their flippers, dove and breached in amazing displays of acrobatics. During one unbelievable instance, seven or eight whales breached simultaneously and created not just a huge splash but a tidal wave. Members of the crew whove traversed Alaskan waters for years claimed they had never seen something quite so spectacular. This summer, Un-Cruise Adventures will dispatch six small ships and yachts on seven different adventure-cruise itineraries lasting a week to 12 days. The itineraries have been arranged to allow travelers the option of combining up to three different weeklong cruises on the same vessel for voyages of 14 and 22 days. This will be Un-Cruise Adventures 20th year of plying Alaskan waters. When the summer cruise season ends up north, the scene shifts southward for adventure cruises in Costa Rica and Panama. Complete details about itineraries, amenities and costs can be found at www.Un-Cruise.com. On the last day of the cruise, the Safari Endeavour eased past icebergs of all sizes in Endicott Arm on the way toward impressive Dawes Glacier. We boarded a skiff to get a close-up look at the bluish wall of ice and marveled at the high mountain walls around Dawes, the calving (huge chunks of ice noisily falling down from the glaciers face) and other glaciers straddling nearby mountain peaks. We also observed thunderous waterfalls spilling innumerable gallons of melting snow into the carved-out fjord, seals lounging on icebergs and the Safari Endeavour circling the inlet because it was too deep to anchor. Nature guide Sarah warmed us up with hot chocolate infused with peppermint schnapps. Following a farewell dinner and remarks by Capt. Ron Short, everyone retired to the lounge for a 20-minute slide show of the weeks adventures. Then, as if on cue as the ship headed into Stephens Passage and north toward Juneau, several humpback whales showed up for a photo session at sunset. As Blanchard pointed out, We specialize in wilderness explorations, and each trip is different. Thats the benefit of expedition cruising. Flexibility is freedom to explore. Bob McCullough lives in the Hill Country and writes about travel as well as other timely topics. Gary Coronado /Houston Chronicle No new cases of the Zika virus were confirmed in Bexar County in the past week, according to an update released today by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. So far, the number of confirmed Zika cases in Bexar County stands at four, a statistic that hasnt changed since April 13. All four Bexar County patients who tested positive for the virus so far acquired the infection while traveling abroad. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Law enforcement officers in Atascosa County said Friday that 29 people have been indicted and 22 of them arrested in raids on Thursday on various charges that include prostituting minors. The indictments culminate a two-year investigation into an organized crime ring by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the office of District Attorney Rene Pena, he and others said at a news conference in Jourdanton. Law enforcement agencies in Wilson and Atascosa counties and federal marshals assisted with the arrests. RELATED: SAPD arrests 16 suspected 'johns' in undercover prostitution ring Four of those arrested are from Atascosa County, the rest from Bexar and Harris counties and throughout South Texas, Pena said. The crime ring includes members suspected of having ties to prison gangs who have aligned themselves with Mexican drug cartels, he said. More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday Officials said the ring was led by Juan Gordo Lopez Jr., who apparently split his time between homes he owns in San Antonio and Elmendorf. He, his wife and at least two daughters were arrested at the Elmendorf house. During the operation, law officers found seven undocumented immigrants and seized 46 cars, cash, ledgers and 25 firearms and armored vests. Pena said a Border Prosecution Unit he formed in 2009 has seen a trend: Criminal groups are using his multi-county district to smuggle immigrants, often extorting them or their families for more money, forcing them into slavery to work off the debts, or keeping women and teen girls for prostitution. Theyre staging in rural areas, Pena said. Its a high return for them with a relatively low risk. RELATED: The Texas Mexican Mafia, explained Details on the charges were scant Friday. Court documents that generally describe the crimes and evidence have yet to be filed, and indictments are being withheld until all suspects are caught, a court official said. Theres nothing more depraved than using people as a commodity, said DPS Director Steve McCraw. Nothing comes across (the border) without the cartels getting a piece of the action. Minors as young as 13 have been among those forced into prostitution by the group, Pena said. Indictments include charges of engaging in organized criminal activity with underlying offenses of human trafficking, human smuggling, sexual assault, theft of motor vehicles and money laundering. The criminals dont recognize boundaries, McCraw said, noting why the investigation stretched into various Texas towns and cities. Among the properties raided was a large home and an adjacent ranch in the 7000 block of Blue Myth in Elmendorf, where the alleged ringleader, Lopez, was arrested. During a reporters visit to the home, it appeared empty. Horses, goats and other farm animals could be seen on the property. They had a lot of cars there, and DPS troopers took about 20 cars, one neighbor said. Also raided or targeted were two homes in San Antonio. One included a home in the 3100 block of Beacon Avenue, near Blanco and Basse Roads. No one answered when a reporter stopped by Friday. Property records show the owner as Juan Lopez, and neighbors said there was often activity at the home, and the occupants sold cars from the home. Some of them were really nice cars, one neighbor said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO The Bexar County Sherriffs Office has made several large drug and weapon busts during the past 10 days, officials announced in a news release Friday. RELATED: Sheriff: 8 children rescued, woman arrested after 'horrific' abuse discovered at San Antonio home The string of incidents began April 21 in Leon Valley, when deputies seized five kilograms of cocaine in a drug raid. The criminal investigation for this case remains ongoing and no arrests have been made, according to the release. On April 26, deputies executed a warrant in the 4400 block of Horizon Hill, where they found and seized 3 kilos of "black tar heroin," a gun and $5,500 in cash. Jose Enriquez Ramirez Jr., 25, was taken into federal custody at the scene on drug and weapon charges, the release said. More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday RELATED: SAPD: Woman booked on drug charges won't face additional charges for fetus found in purse Later that day, during a traffic stop near Interstate Highway 10 and Gevers Street, on the East Side, more drugs and money were found. According to the release, a deputy and his K-9 partner searched the vehicle when the driver refused to comply. They discovered 8.6 kilograms of methamphetamine in the back seat and in a safe stowed away in the vehicles trunk, according to BCSO. mmendoza@mysa.com Twitter: @MaddySkye This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO Bexar County Sheriff's deputies said a woman arrested Friday in a "horrific" case of child abuse after discovering eight unattended children, including two crying toddlers tied and chained up in a backyard, at a home on the Northeast Side is pregnant. Porucha Phillips, 34, was charged with a third-degree felony count of injury to a child by omission resulting in bodily injury and another resulting in serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office confirmed Friday. Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesman James Keith confirmed late Friday that Phillips is in fact expecting another child. Saturday afternoon authorities released the booking photo of Phillips. Investigators believe Phillips is the mother of the six unattended children ranging in age from 10 months to 13 years old found inside the home at 8105 Chipping Drive. More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday MORE: Atascosa DA: 29 indicted, 22 arrested in South Texas crime ring bust Investigators allege Phillips was also responsible for the care of the 3-year-old girl who was found tied to a door with a leash and a 2-year-old boy who was chained up in the back yard, although the exact nature of their relationship is still unclear. Deputies were initially dispatched to the home after an area resident called around 11:45 p.m. Thursday to report possible child abuse, Keith said. The caller told deputies they could hear a child that had been crying in the home's backyard for some time, Keith said. Deputies arrived shortly after and knocked on the front door of the house, but no one answered. RELATED: Police: Man killed in apparent drive-by shooting near downtown San Antonio When the first responders grabbed a ladder to look into the backyard, they saw a 2-year-old boy chained to the ground, and a 3-year-old girl tied to a door with a dog leash. "It's sickening," Keith said. "To call this horrific would be an understatement. If it wasn't for our deputies and this caller who tipped us off, we know that this could have had an even worse outcome." Deputies went into the yard and freed the children, who were taken to an area hospital to be checked out. Keith said the girl had a broken arm and was taken to an intensive care unit. Authorities made their way into the home and found the six additional children inside. While investigators were still at the scene, Phillips and the father of the children showed up at the house and were detained by police. SEE ALSO: Video: Police chase smiling naked man near downtown San Antonio The father of the six children has not yet been charged. Keith said investigators believe the man was at work during the incident, and that he is still being questioned Thursday afternoon. Keith said investigators are actively searching for the parents of the two children bound in the back yard. All eight children are now in the care of Child Protective Services. The home is owned by Pho Han D Family Limited Partnership, which owns at least two dozen other properties in Bexar County, according to appraisal district records. Calls placed to numbers associated with the partnership and properties were either not answered or the line has been disconnected. The home is one of three side-by-side units that comprise a townhome and it has burglar bars covering the front windows and posters blocking views inside. On Friday, the scene was quiet. No police or crime-scene tape were visible around the house. "They didn't come out much," said area resident Chris Tippery. "They keep (the kids) in the house for the most part. "Sometimes you would see them outside in their diapers ... they seemed like all right people," he said. IN-DEPTH: Abused, neglected children have no place to go in Bexar County In fiscal year 2015, there were 4,941 confirmed child victims of abuse or neglect in Bexar County. Four children died from maltreatment. Deborah North, who heads the foster-adoption program for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, said 119 children were forced to sleep in DFPS offices across the state from March 2014 to March 2016, owing to a lack of foster homes. In the region that includes Bexar County, 17 children had to sleep in state offices during that time period, she said. Last year, more than 5,400 children were removed from their homes in the county the highest removal rate in Texas, said Anais Biera Miracle, a spokeswoman for the Children's Shelter in San Antonio. Last year, about 1,500 children entered foster care in Bexar County, fewer than 2014, when it was about 1,800. We will dedicate every ounce of energy to making sure that those responsible are held accountable and that these children are never harmed again, Keith said. Anyone with information on the children or their parents is asked to call the BCSO Tip Line at 210-335-TIPS. Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA Staff writers Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje and Jacob Beltran and news researchers Michael Knoop and Misty Harris contributed to this report. mdwilson@express-news.net Twitter: @MDWilsonSA In Australia in 2012, Clinton delivered remarks on the general topic of the U.S.-Australia relationship. Heres everything she said about the TPP in that address, with the "gold standard" comment in bold."So it's fair to say that our economies are entwined, and we need to keep upping our game both bilaterally and with partners across the region through agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP. Australia is a critical partner. This TPP sets the gold standard in trade agreements to open free, transparent, fair trade, the kind of environment that has the rule of law and a level playing field. And when negotiated, this agreement will cover 40 percent of the world's total trade and build in strong protections for workers and the environment."So it seems Clinton is saying the TPP does, definitevely set the gold standard -- as opposed to Clinton hoping it will.In other addresses around the same time, she expressed similar assuredness that the TPP would meet a high standard. In November 2012 remarks in Singapore, she encouraged all nations "willing to meet 21st century standards as embodied in the TPP" to join the deal."The so-called TPP will lower barriers, raise standards, and drive long-term growth across the region. It will cover 40 percent of the world's total trade and establish strong protections for workers and the environment. Better jobs with higher wages and safer working conditions, including for women, migrant workers and others too often in the past excluded from the formal economy will help build Asia's middle class and rebalance the global economy. Canada and Mexico have already joined the original TPP partners. We continue to consult with Japan. And we are offering to assist with capacity building, so that every country in ASEAN can eventually join. We welcome the interest of any nation willing to meet 21st century standards as embodied in the TPP, including China." A former local beauty queen was targeted by a man who allegedly slipped a tracking device into her purse at a lounge and then began harassing her, according to the San Antonio Police Department. According to report filed on April 22, Miss San Antonio USA 2013 Alexandra Ahmadi, 26, was celebrating her birthday with friends at a local lounge when she was approached by man who offered to by her party drinks. The 29-year-old man, whose name has been redacted from the official documents, then began asking for Ahmadis phone number and touching her. She told police when she declined to give her information and the mans advances. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An Austin man "grinded" on a woman at a bar before calling her a "the dumbest b****h [he] had ever met" and throwing a glass at her face, causing blood to "gush" from her face, police said. Christopher Taber Depolo, 29, has been charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony, in the April 17 incident. RELATED: Officials: New Mexico couple shot son with pellet gun, stomped on daughter's stomach The woman told Austin police that she was with friends at The Container Bar located in the popular Rainey Street bar district in downtown Austin when she felt a hand around her waist and someone "grinding" on her from behind, according to a criminal complaint filed in Travis County court on Thursday. More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday The woman told the man, later identified as Depolo, that he was acting inappropriately five times, she told police. Depolo responded by berating the woman in a mocking tone and blocked the doorway, according to the complaint. The 29-year-old then told the woman that she was "ugly" and the "dumbest b***h [he] had ever met," the complaint reads. RELATED: Sheriff: 8 children rescued after 'horrific' abuse discovered at San Antonio home When the woman tried to move away from Depolo, the suspect picked up her martini glass and allegedly threw the glass at her face, the complaint says. The woman then cried out, "My eye!" The woman told police she then saw blackness and blood began gushing down her face. One man told police that he approached Depolo after he allegedly attacked the woman, but Depolo kicked him in the groin, according to police. The woman suffered a litany of injuries, including a broken nose which also suffered cuts, cuts and blunt trauma to her eye, blood in her front eye chamber, a fractured tear duct, a torn iris, ocular trauma and broken blood vessels. RELATED: Texas man charged in death of wife whose body was found in lake, weighted with concrete Depolo is currently being held in Travis County Jail on a $75,000 bond. jfechter@mySA.com Twitter: @JFreports SAN ANTONIO Police say a woman who was arrested on Thursday night for drug possession will not face any additional charges related to a 2-inch fetus officers found while searching her purse. According to the San Antonio Police Department, officers stopped Bernadette Rivera, 32, for a park curfew violation in Cassiano Park around 11:30 p.m. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Police in Odessa are looking for a former Wal-Mart employee who was previously arrested and released for taking inappropriate photos of two young girls private parts at his work, according to a news release issued by Odessa police. Samuel Nabarrete, 24, was initially charged on Tuesday with one count of invasive visual recording, a state jail felony. On Thursday, after he posted bond on Wednesday, authorities filed 19 additional invasive visual recording charges against the suspect. RELATED: West Texas Wal-Mart employee accused of filming young girls intimate area with cellphone Following his initial arrest, authorities obtained a warrant for Nabarretes cellphone, where they allegedly found numerous invasive images, according to the news release. More for you NWS predicts isolated strong, severe storms possibly on Monday Odessa police officer initially started investigating Nabarrete after an incident at a Wal-Mart in January. Nabarrete allegedly used his phone to film a young girls private parts and the girls mother caught him in the act, according to a previous mySA.com report. During the investigation, authorities found intimate photos of another girl around the same age on his phone. Nabarrete also confessed to taking photos of the two girls, saying he allegedly videotaped one girls private parts but didnt know where the videos were located on his phone. RELATED: West Texas woman arrested on 7 felony charges after alleged sexual, drunken joyride with 3 kids Odessa Police spokesman Steve LeSueur told the Odessa American there are believed to be 20 current victims, but they are not ruling out the possibility for more. Nineteen of those victims were filmed inside Wal-Mart, and one of them was filmed inside of a vehicle. Some of the alleged victims were adults and others were young girls, according to the Odessa American. LeSueur also told the Odessa American that they werent aware of the other alleged victims when Nabarrete was released on bond. A Wal-Mart spokeswoman told the Odessa American that Nabarrete was quickly fired prior to his arrest after the accusations were made against him. RELATED: West Texas man accused of raping 6-year-old relative, videotaping the act The victims were filmed between September and January, according to a news release from the Odessa Police Department. Anyone with information Nabarretes location is asked to contact the Odessa Police Department at (432) 333-3641 or Odessa Crime Stoppers at (432) 333-8477. If convicted, Nabarrete faces up to two years in prison for each charge. twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Pennsylvania woman will see jail time after throwing racial slurs at neighbors and having "loud" sex that caused furniture in their daughters' room to shake, according to news reports. Amanda Marie Warfel faces charges of ethnic intimidation, harassment and disorderly conduct for allegedly calling her neighbor's 15-year-old daughter a "monkey" and another racial slur. RELATED: Officials: New Mexico couple shot son with pellet gun, stomped on daughter's stomach Warfel's neighbors called Red Lion police on March 21 after Warfel allegedly had sex loud enough to cause a bed and dresser in her daughters' bedroom to shake, according to court documents uploaded to Scribd. The neighbor told police that "Amanda Warfel, whose bedroom is separated by a common wall ... was loudly fornicating and banging around her bedroom to the degree that the victims' dresser and her own bed shook." The noises became louder after one of the girls banged on the wall and asked Warfel to quiet down because she had to wake up early for school, according to the court document. RELATED: Police: Austin man 'grinded' on woman at bar before throwing glass at her face Police had previously been dispatched to the residence on Feb. 17 because Warfel was banging on the common wall. Eleven days later, police returned to the residence after Warfel allegedly was yelling obscenities and racial slurs while banging on the shared wall. "She starts calling my children (racial slur) and monkeys, and offers them bananas," neighbor Tanya Saylor told the York Dispatch. "It was a daily thing until she went to prison (last month)." RELATED: Johnny Manziel spotted at Justin Bieber concert the same day he's indicted in domestic violence case The York Dispatch reported that a judge has sentenced Warfel to up to 90 days in York County Prison with credit for time served. Warfel was on probation for a felony assault charge, according to the newspaper. jfechter@mySA.com Twitter: @JFreports Castle Hills voters: As you decide the fate of VIA bus service in your city, please consider your neighbors. Although this vote is framed by concerns over money and resources eliminating bus service in favor of directing those funds to streets and drainage it is really about something else: people. VIA operates approximately 80 bus stops and seven bus routes within and along the city limits of Castle Hills. In 2015, VIA provided more than a half-million trips to or from those stops, a figure that averages about two rides a week for every Castle Hills resident. The passengers are workers, students, senior citizens and churchgoers who rely on VIA services. A vote against VIA is a vote against them. Consider this: 21 of your neighbors depend on VIAtrans, a service for disabled passengers, to attend medical appointments, visit family, buy groceries, etc. Far larger numbers use VIAtrans to take similar trips into Castle Hills. Losing VIAtrans makes Castle Hills unfriendly and inaccessible to disabled citizens. Picture yourself as one of the 21 VIAtrans riders who relies on public transportation. Then imagine that service disappearing. How would you vote? Losing VIA hurts other neighbors as well. Parishioners of Castle Hills First Baptist would lose stops in front of their church. Parents of students enrolled at Antonian High School or Castle Hills Elementary may be faced with steep barriers to engaging in their childs education. A no vote is also a vote against the businesses that employ or do business with VIA riders. Losing the bus stops would drastically limit access to the commercial corridors of West Avenue, Northwest Military Drive, and Jackson-Keller, Lockhill Selma and Blanco roads, keeping employees and customers from the small businesses that line those routes. A Castle Hills small-business owner told me this vote could cost his nine bus-riding employees their jobs. I have yet to hear a compelling argument to justify this kind of loss. The argument for ditching VIA is based on prioritizing cost: shifting the half-million dollars of VIAs sales tax revenue to funds for street and drainage infrastructure upgrades. But cutting VIA would hardly make a dent in the tens of millions of dollars reported to be needed for streets. As your state representative, I am committed to helping the city explore other ways to finance infrastructure. There are more appropriate funding avenues. Cutting VIA services makes no financial sense. It would take two years for the city budget to feel the slight boost from cutting VIA. And, as mandated by state code, Castle Hills would first owe VIA a reimbursement of $810,000 upon stoppage of service. VIA invests almost twice as much in Castle Hills as the taxpayers do. VIA provides almost $980,000 in free service systems each year. At least 21 residents receive priceless services for pennies. VIA is worth it. In divesting from VIA, Castle Hills would make an unprecedented and isolationist statement. No other small municipality inside Loop 410 has opted out of bus service. A vote against VIA is a vote to remove Castle Hills from the fabric of the community, abandoning residents who need alternate forms of transportation to remain connected. I stand with your mayor and your business leaders. Do what is neighborly. Do what is right. Vote to keep VIA in Castle Hills. State Rep. Diego Bernal represents District 123. Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn and New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer have introduced a bill that would allow Americans whose family members died in the 9/11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for its alleged role. Precisely what its role was is a matter of some dispute, but U.S. courts are quite accustomed to sorting out such conflicts in pursuit of justice. The bill, passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, should be approved. A congressional inquiry into the attacks concluded that no senior Saudi officials or the Saudi government as an institution were involved. But the U.S. government has kept pages from this report and other intelligence secret. They are said to be inconclusive and unvetted. President Barack Obama, who visited Saudi Arabia on a fence-mending visit recently, has said he hoped the classified material would be released soon. Meanwhile, the administration opposes the Cornyn/Schumer bill on the grounds that it could lead to the United States being sued overseas for its actions and because it threatens relations with a key ally. Generally, foreign governments are immune from actions in U.S. courts. This is spelled out in the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, amended a bit by other congressional action in 2008. But the immunity is not absolute. The key, we suspect, will depend on precisely what can be proven about the Saudi role and what constitutes a tortious act. Most of the 19 hijackers involved in the attacks were Saudi nationals. And while, officially, no investigation has found the Saudi government complicit, the families of 9/11 victims say this still leaves less senior officials and doesnt totally foreclose on a government role. The Saudis have said if the bill is passed they will be forced to sell some $750 billion in U.S. assets, mostly Treasury securities. But experts say this will hurt the Saudis more than roil U.S. financial markets. We find it incongruous that the Obama administration argues that U.S. courts are perfectly capable of trying foreign terrorists but that these courts are not capable of determining if sovereignty protects the Saudi government. Declassify the intelligence and approve this bill. Its a matter of accountability the kind that cant be exacted through diplomacy. The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a $90 million first-lot production contract for the next-generation Multi-Spectral Targeting System. The AN/DAS-4, the latest variant of the MTS family of sensors, incorporates greater fire control and target location accuracy technology delivering more accurate coordinates for higher precision weapon engagements. The new DAS-4 High Definition/Target Location Accuracy (HD/TLA) features incorporate several improvements including: four high definition cameras covering five spectral bands; a three-color diode pump laser designator/rangefinder; laser spot search and track capability; automated sensor and laser bore sight alignment; three mode target tracker; and built in provisions for future growth. These next generation capabilities give our warfighters an unfair advantage through more effective assessment of threats and engagement of targets, said Fred Darlington, vice president of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems at Raytheons Space and Airborne Systems. Combat-proven, with nearly three million operational flight hours, MTS sensors provide detailed intelligence data from the visual and infrared spectra. The new MTS variant allows mission commanders to use high definition data from an airborne tactical sensor to identify and engage targets with much greater accuracy, significantly improving overall mission effectiveness. Raytheon has delivered more than 3,000 MTS systems on a wide range of platforms, including: remotely piloted aircraft, helicopters and fixed-wing Aircraft. To date 44 variants of the MTS system were integrated on more than 20 rotary-wing, Unmanned Aerial System, and fixed-wing platforms including the MH-60 Blackhawk, the C-130 Hercules, the MQ-9C Reaper, the MQ-1 Predator, and the MQ-1C Gray Eagle. NEW YORK A major British medical organization is suggesting that smokers who want to stop should switch to electronic cigarettes, saying the devices are the best hope in generations for people addicted to tobacco cigarettes to quit, reports The New York Times. A report published this week by the Royal College of Physicians summarizes the growing body of science on e-cigarettes and finds that their benefits far outweigh the potential harms. It concludes resoundingly that, at least so far, the devices are helping people more than harming them, and that the worries about themincluding that using them will lead young people to eventually start smoking traditional cigaretteshave not come to pass, the NY Times writes. This is the first genuinely new way of helping people stop smoking that has come along in decades, John Britton, director of the U.K. Center for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies at the University of Nottingham, who led the committee that produced the report, told the news source. E-cigarettes, he continued, have the potential to help half or more of all smokers get off cigarettes. Thats a huge health benefit, bigger than just about any medical intervention. The medical groups findings may be controversial in the United States; the Food and Drug Administration is expected to release its final deeming e-cigarette regulations by the end of the month. The news source notes that some public health experts consider e-cigarettes as the first real chance in years for smokers to quit. However, the U.S. government, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has focused attention on potential dangers associated with the devices, such as being a gateway for children to take up cigarettes. (Editors note: In 2014, NACS issued a statement of position that encourages stores selling e-cigarettes to adopt, as a best practice, a policy of treating these products as age restricted and subjecting them to the same age-verification procedures as those applicable to tobacco products.) The news source notes that some public health experts consider e-cigarettes as the first real chance in years for smokers to quit. However, the U.S. government, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has focused attention on potential dangers associated with the devices, such as being a gateway for children to take up cigarettes. (Editors note: In 2014, NACS issued a statement of position that encourages stores selling e-cigarettes to adopt, as a best practice, a policy of treating these products as age restricted and subjecting them to the same age-verification procedures as those applicable to tobacco products.) Meanwhile, some American public health experts are applauding the British report, saying the recommendation that smokers try e-cigarettes could save lives. This is two countries taking pretty much diametrically opposed positions, Kenneth E. Warner, a professor of public health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, told the NY Times. One is focused exclusively on the hypothetical risks, none of which have been established. The other is focusing on potential benefits. The Royal College of Physicians report covers a decade of science and studies both in favor and not in favor of e-cigarettes. The report suggests that e-cigarettes are only 5% as harmful as traditional cigarettes, a conclusion that some American experts say has been lost in the United States in the rush to condemn e-cigarettes, notes the NY Times, adding, The report states bluntly that long-term effects of nicotine are likely to be minimal. The report notes that the emergence of e-cigarettes has generated a massive opportunity for a consumer as well as a health care-led revolution in the way that nicotine is used in society, adding that as the technology of e-cigarettes improves, so the vision of a society that is free from tobacco smoking, and the harm that smoking causes, becomes more realistic. The states Division of Consumer Protection said scammers have been phishing through emails for EMV credit card account information. ALBANY The New York State Department of States Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) has issued an alert to consumers about potential fraud associated with EMV chip cards. Although EMV chip cards offer better security than traditional magnetic strip credit cards, chip cards are still vulnerable to fraud. EMV cards that require a PIN to be entered at the point of sale to make a purchase are the most secure. NACS has been aggressively pushing for PIN with credit card transactions (see PrivatePIN.com). In a new phishing scam involving EMV cards, scammers, pretending to be credit card issuers, are sending fake emails targeting individuals who havent yet received their new EMV cards. The emails claim that that in order to issue a new card you need to update your account by providing personal information or clicking on a link to continue the process. By clicking on the link, malware can be installed on your computer or mobile device. The DCP offers the following tips for chip card users to protect themselves: Keeping Bees Safe: Its A Ruff Job, But This Doggy Detective Gets It Done NPR (David L) Banned pesticides not equally harmful to bees BBC (David L). The problem with this sort of analysis (and it applies to humans too) is that they look at the effect of toxins in isolation, and ignore how exposure to several in what appear to be sub-clinical amounts can have nasty effects (a new story on this IIRC a couple of years ago went out of the discourse after one news cycle). New Politics for Clean Energy Project Syndicate (David L) Gods Red Pencil? CRISPR and The Three Myths of Precise Genome Editing Counterpunch (Wat) Teen birthrate hits all-time low, led by 50 percent decline among Hispanics and blacks Washington Post (furzy). A rare improvement in an American social wellbeing indicator. An outbreak of a highly contagious disease is sweeping through Harvard Mic (furzy) Bank of Japan Finds It Cant Win Mohamed El-Erian Bloomberg Eurozone Economic Recovery Gathers Pace Wall Street Journal. 0.6% growth? This is desperate messaging. And both the WSJ and FT are touting how the Eurozone is doing better than the US. This is what the Japanese call a height competition among peanuts. Europe is a cesspool of deflationary forces Reuters (resilc) Refugee Crisis Brexit? Pro-Brexit economists dismiss trade fears Financial Times Ukraine/Russia Syraqistan Big Brother is Watching You Watch 2016 Obama is defending his record on Wall Street against Bernie Sanders Washington Post. Adrien: Obamas ego is getting picked by Sanderss pounding for the last 12 months. I may be dreaming but it would seem as though suddenly the administration is responding..by taken steps it can control and of course over promote small steps with maximum media coverage.. -Killing the Pfizer-Allergan merger with unexpected IRS tax rules against inversions -Issuing new rules regarding fiduciaries for asset managers -Accelerating issuance of new rules regarding Wall St comp -CFTC largest award to a whistleblower recently etc Colorado weighs replacing Obamas health policy with universal coverage Boston Globe (furzy) 40 Layoffs As Glenn Becks Blaze Empire Continues Its Decline and Fall Daily Beast (furzy) SA official says he was ordered to profile Somali-Americans Minneapolis StarTribune (martha r) BREAKING: Vermont Will Automatically Register Hundreds Of Thousands Of Voters ThinkProgress (furzy) Cal Fire blames PG&E for Butte Fire, will seek $90 million Sacramento Bee (martha r). What is with PG&E? Detroit Satanists mock anti-abortion protesters fetal idolatry by dressing as leather-clad babies Corrupt Michigan officials hid lead levels by gaming the sampling process to falsify results SOTT (Wat) Michael Moore on President Obamas Flint Visit: Unless Youre Bringing the U.S. ArmyStay Home Atlanta Black Star (furzy) Gunz rzy) Police State Watch QE4 is comingand it could fund the next Cold War: Analyst CNBC Banks raise prospect of court action over Fed dividend cuts Financial Times. I am partway through a good book on the Fed that is generally sympathetic to the institution but nevertheless makes clear that the Fed is clearly unconstitutional in the manner in which it is set up, but courts have consistently rejected Constitutional challenges. I have no idea whether defenders of the dividend cuts might be able to backdoor those arguments into a suit that does not assail the Fed head on. Why Digital Money Hasnt Killed Cash New Yorker Another weak quarter for U.S. GDP JamesHamilton, Econbrowser Class Warfare Antidote du jour: See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. These failures indicate the unreliability of Pyongyang's untested IRBM capability that seems to be rushed into service by the leader Kim Jong Un to support his nuclear weapon ambition North Korea failed yesterday twice in its attempt to launch a Musudan intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM). In the past two weeks Pyongyang failed three attempts to demonstrate the missiles capability, adding to the frustration of North Korea leadership. The first launch on April 14 ended few seconds after the rocket ignition in a catastrophic failure. Analysts expect North Korea could fire off more Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM) in the near future, or test a nuclear device, following their string of failed launches. The two launches were spotted yesterday by South Korean and US missile tracking networks. The missile, presumed to be a Musudan, was fired around 6:40 a.m. from the vicinity of Wonsan, few seconds after lift off the missile veered off course and crashed into the coastal area, a South Korean source told Yonhap news agency. The military said the second missile launched by North Korea on Thursday did manage to go up several kilometers, staying in the air for about a minute before exploding. 12 hours later North Korea made another attempt, launching a third Musudan missile on 7:26 p.m.; again, the missile exploded in mid-air after launch. The BM25 Musudan missile was first shown in public when 16 such missiles were displayed on the military parade in PyongYang in 2010. Since then North Korea is believed to have deployed 50 such missiles, without testing the missile in flight. According to US diplomatic sources leaked via Wikileaks, North Korea also delivered 19 of the missiles to Iran, but Tehran has not displayed those missiles in public. According to US diplomatic sources Russia doubted the transfer of missiles at the time. These repeated failures represent the countrys first-ever test-firing of these longer range missiles and indicate the unreliability of Pyongyangs untested IRBM capability. Musudan was unveiled in 2010, at the days of Uns father Kim Jong-il and seem to be rushed into service by his son Kim Jong Un, to support his nuclear weapon ambition. With a payload lift of 1,0001,250 kg and targeted range of 3,000-4,000 kilometers, Musudan is the only weapon that could potentially carry a nuclear warhead beyond the Korean Peninsula, to reach targets as far as Japan and Guam, where US military forces are stationed. A previous planned test of the Musudan missile was aborted in 2013. Prior to the April 14 launch two Musudan missile carriers were spotted near Wonsan on the North Korean east coast. The first missile that was fired on April 14, exploded a few seconds after liftoff, even before entering its flight phase, reportedly due to engine problems. The other one had since been on standby, before used for the first launch yesterday. It is not clear which launcher was used for the second (evening) test. After the first missile launch ended in failure on April 15, we thought they might take some time to fix the defects, but they seem to have decided to go out of their way to attempt a second launch within a short period of time, the official said. Yves here. This is more important than it might seem. One of the key benefits of the European Union has been the ease of movement of goods and people across borders. The refugee crisis has led to a resumption of border controls by quite a few states. This matters because, as this column confirms, the former friction-free borders produced economic gains for member states. Now that the EU is suffering stress on lots of fronts, not just refugee policy but also increasingly discordant economic relations, the border restrictions undo one of the key raisons detre for the entire exercise. And I suspect some of the glue is psychological, not just purely economic. For instance, if you are in the South of France, you can pop into Italy for a lunch or a day trip. With tougher border controls (mind you, this is a hypothetical at this point), the hassle and delay would probably cut into this practice severely. That doesnt just reduce commerce. It also increases the sense of separateness of neighboring countries. This post does some useful, granular analysis, examining the costs of tightening borders along refugee routes versus that of the end of the Schengen system, as well as who has the most to lose. By Gabriel Felbermayr, Director, Ifo Center for International Economics, Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich; Jasmin Groschl, Economist, ifo Center for International Economics; and Thomas Steinwachs, Junior Economist and Doctoral Student, Ifo Center for International Economics. Originally published at VoxEU Time and again, the Eurobarometer surveys show that a vast majority of Europeans view the free movement of people, goods and services across borders as the most important achievement of the EU. This is probably because the removal of identity checks at internal EU borders through the Schengen Agreement is a very tangible advantage of European integration. However, since autumn 2015, several EU member states have reintroduced border controls in a reaction to the refugee crisis and terrorist attacks. Schengen has facilitated travel within Europe. However, one motivation for Schengen always has been the promotion of cross-border trade in goods and services (Ademmer et al. 2015). The idea is that the removal of border waiting times reduces trade costs, thereby stimulating cross border exchange and the mobility of service providers and consumers. This should yield higher welfare for EU citizens. The reintroduction of controls puts these gains at risk. In this contribution, we ask: Has Schengen really promoted trade in goods and services, and if yes, by how much? Which EU member states benefit the most from it? What are the trade and welfare costs of the border controls currently notified to the Commission? And, what if the border controls were reinstated at all internal borders? To answer these questions, we draw on our recent research (Felbermayr et al 2016). More precisely, we apply an econometric gravity model to historical data (1995-2011) to measure the trade effects of the Schengen Agreement. We then turn to a simple counterfactual analysis based on the most recent data in which we impose border controls on certain intra-EU borders. Setup The Schengen Agreement, first enforced in 1995 amongst six countries (BENELUX, France, Germany, Italy), has grown over time and today includes about 400 million citizens in 26 countries (see Figure 1). Not all EU members are part of Schengen, but some non-EU countries are. All EZ countries are Schengen members, but they ratified the agreement at different times. From an econometric point of view, the often bemoaned variable geometry of Europe is an advantage. It allows us to use panel econometrics to disentangle the different effects of the EU, the Eurozone, and Schengen membership and of other trade agreements (e.g. EFTA, EEA, or pre-accession treaties). Figure 1. Overview of the Schengen Area as of April 2016 Source: Own representation. The trade effects of the Schengen Agreement have an obvious spatial dimension. A land-borne trade flow between two countries in Europe may cross only one internal border (e.g. France to Germany) or up to eight of them (e.g. Portugal to Finland). Hence, Schengen membership treats country pairs in a heterogeneous way. This feature is ignored in the small existing literature (e.g. Davis and Gift 2013). What is more, Schengen outsiders such as the UK or Turkey can also benefit from the agreement to the extent that their trade flows transit through Schengen space. To deal with this, we combine GIS data with information from Google Maps to count the number of Schengen borders crossed by truck (and ferry) along the shortest road distance between trading country pairs. This count variable is our measure of interest. Schengen Membership Has Promoted Trade in Goods and Services We carried out a gravity regression analysis on data from the World Input-Output Data (WIOD) project (Felbermayr et al. 2016). This allows the separation of services trade from goods trade, and international from intra-national trade flows. The data are available for 40 countries (including 27 EU members) and have been described by Escaith and Timmer (2012). The econometric model follows the recommendations in Head and Mayer (2015). Figure 2 shows that conditional on membership in the EU, in the Eurozone, or in any other regional trade agreement (and conditional on the usual gravity controls and a host of pair and time fixed effects) the removal of controls on one internal border is equivalent to a reduction of a tariff by 0.7 percentage points. This effect is precisely estimated for goods, but less so for services. Numerous robustness checks in our paper corroborate this general finding. EU membership is much more important than Schengen, though. The cumulated effects of the customs union and the single market are equivalent to a tariff reduction of almost 18 percentage points for goods and 7 percentage points for services. Other RTAs and the euro also yield larger trade cost reductions. Figure 2. Average treatment effects of European integration policies, expressed as reductions of ad valorem tariff equivalents (%) Source: Own calculations from a PPML gravity model, using estimates from Felbermayr et al (2016) and applying a trade elasticity of 5. 95% confidence intervals. RTAs are regional trade agreements such as the EU-Switzerland bilaterals, or EFTA. We find these effects plausible. Evidence from the US-Canadian border or from current external Schengen borders suggest waiting times that average 20 minutes (Ifo 2016). Bottom-up estimates yield much smaller costs, but are less comprehensive by construction. The estimates suggest that the tariff equivalents of 3% assumed in recent policy work (Aussilloux and Le Hir 2016, Bohmer et al. 2016) may be too high. When a trade route involves several internal borders, the cost savings accumulate a truck from Italy to Germany crosses two internal borders so that Schengen is equivalent to a trade cost saving of about 1.4%; a truck from Portugal to Poland crosses four internal borders so that Schengen saves about 2.8%. However, more than 80% of intracontinental trade in Europe crosses only one or two internal borders (see Figure 3). Figure 3. Total EU-28 trade in billion euros along the number of Schengen borders crossed, 2011 Source: Own calculations, based on data from the GTAP 9 database. RoW is rest of the world and shows intercontinental trade (e.g., with the US or China). but Some Countries Benefit More from Schengen than Others Clearly, different countries will be affected differently by Schengen, simply because geography, history, and specialisation patterns imply that countries are heterogeneous with respect to the average number of internal borders that trade flows cross. In other words, every country has its own breakdown analogous to Figure 3. Figure 4 shows average cost savings from Schengen for various countries. For example, across all intracontinental trade flows of Austria, Schengen amounts to trade cost savings of 0.81% for goods and 0.75% for services. Thus, the country occupies a middle ground. For countries at the periphery such as Portugal or Finland, Schengen matters more. It is equivalent to trade cost savings for goods of 1.28% and 1.59%, respectively. In contrast, Ireland, whose main trade partners are the Schengen outsiders UK and US, the savings amount to only 0.42%. Figure 4 also shows that Schengen outsiders such as Russia or Turkey benefit from the removal of internal border controls, too. Figure 4. Average trade costs savings from Schengen for various countries intracontinental trade, 2011 Source: Own calculations, based on Felbermayr et al (2016) and using data from the GTAP 9 data base. The Costs of Border Controls Along Refugee Routes: An Approximation As a reaction to the massive inflow of refugees, in September 2015, Germany introduced border controls at the Austrian border; in November, Sweden started ID checks at the Oresund Bridge; and Austria reinstated controls at its border with Slovenia and Italy. The terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015 led to border controls at French borders. Considering all border controls reported to the EU under Article 23 et seq. of the Schengen Borders Code since summer 2015, and applying our estimates, we find that overall goods and services trade of EU-28 countries declines, on average, by 1.3% compared to the status quo in 2011; this corresponds to an annual decline in trade volumes of 70.19 billion. Using a trade elasticity of 5 in the welfare formula of Arkolakis et al. (2012), this effect lowers aggregate real GDP of EU28 members by 12.51 billion, or 0.10% of GDP. However, there is a great degree of heterogeneity, as countries differ with respect to the importance of trade with partners in the southeast of Europe (see Figure 5). The Costs of a Complete Schengen Collapse What if identity checks were to be reinstated at all internal borders? In this scenario, our calculations suggest that overall goods and services trade of EU28 countries declines, on average, by 4.2%, relative to the status quo in 2011; this corresponds to an annual decline in trade volumes of 221.34 billion compared to a counterfactual situation without any border controls imposed within the Schengen area. The aggregate real GDP of EU28 members would fall by 0.31%; that is, by 39.3 billion. Figure 5. Welfare effects for selected countries (% of real GDP per capita) Source: Own calculations, based on Felbermayr et al (2016) and using data from the GTAP 9 data base. Again, our analysis suggests that peripheral and/or small countries are much more strongly affected than central and/or large ones. Interestingly, Schengen outsiders such as Turkey and the UK would feel the effect, too. New technique spots active motion in cells (Nanowerk News) Inside every living cell, internal structures are continuously moving about. Under a microscope, organelles such as the nucleus, mitochondria, transport vesicles, or even external flagella wobble and twitch. This may happen spontaneously as these tiny structures are passively jostled inside a cell. But thats not necessarily all there is to it. Often a cell invests extra energy into these motions to enhance cell functions in ways we dont yet understand. At the microscopic scale, particles in a fluid or a gas can move about in response to bombardment by the surrounding molecules. Such passive, thermally-induced motions are often very hard to distinguish from actively driven movements, and it can be impossible to tell just by looking whether particular motions inside a cell are simply thermal or pushed by some extra input of energy. Any system in thermodynamic equilibrium is known to satisfy perfectly balanced forward and backward transitions between any two states. It is therefore impossible, for instance, to drive a windmill to do work by using only thermal fluctuations. The new research shows how living systems violate this principle. Thus, even stochastic fluctuations in such living systems could be used to drive such a small-scale windmill. Now scientists at MIT, the University of Gottingen, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, the Free University Amsterdam, and Yale University have developed a noninvasive data analysis technique that can discern whether an objects random motion is actively or thermally driven. After tracking the conformations or locations that a structure within the cell or a particle passes through as it moves, and observing how the particle transitions back and forth between such states, the researchers apply a fundamental principle of statistical physics to determine whether the random motions are active or thermal. Nikta Fakhri, assistant professor in MITs Department of Physics, says the results will help scientists to uncover hidden active processes that drive a cells constituents to move in seemingly random ways. We want to see if particular dynamics in living systems be those cells or tissues or whole organisms that look at first glance like random thermal motion are indeed actively driven, says Fakhri, who is a first co-author on the paper. This is important because there must be a vital function connected with the process if the cell spends energy on it. Our work provides a practical experimental method to identify active, nonequilibrium processes in observations of biological systems. Fakhri and her colleagues have published their results today in the journal Science ("Nikta Fakhri"). Researchers at MIT and elsewhere have developed a noninvasive technique that distinguishes active from passive fluctuations inside cells. (Video: Melanie Gonick/MIT) Shaking things up Observations of the movements of microscopic particles date back to 1827, when Scottish botanist Robert Brown was looking through a microscope at pollen grains in water. He noticed that the grains contained tiny particles that jiggled vigorously, and at first glance believed that their motion meant the particles were somehow alive and moving on their own. Eventually, Brown retired this theory when he observed the same jiggling with inert particles from rocks, realizing that just seeing a particle moving doesnt necessarily mean it is alive. Scientists now know that such particles are being pushed around by even smaller water molecules, which themselves are jiggling. At elevated temperatures, water molecules possess kinetic energy and can remain forever restless. At microscopic scales, these tiny molecules and atoms can bombard other much larger particles. This phenomenon is now known as Brownian motion. Scientists today are so used to seeing Brownian motion that they often assume that a particle moving in a random fashion is likely to be at thermal equilibrium a state in which a system is not dissipating any energy, and therefore inanimate. In living cells, of course, many organelles or particles tend to move in a ballistic fashion, traveling across some distance, with a clearly directed or oscillatory trajectory. These types of motions, Fakhri says, represent an animated state that must be out of equilibrium, requiring a system to expend energy. What is interesting, however, are situations where particles jiggle randomly and seem to be in equilibrium, but in reality move actively. Frame by frame Fakhri and her colleagues set out to develop a statistical physics technique that would enable them to tell, just by imaging a particle, whether its random motions are thermal or active in nature. Using video microscopy, they studied, frame by frame, the oscillatory motion of the flagellum of a Chlamydomonas algae. They deconstructed the backbone of the flagellum into a series of shapes, thus creating a phase space of the states the flagellum passes through as it completes an oscillatory cycle. They then counted the transitions between states. In thermal equilibrium, the back-and-forth transitions between all states must be balanced. However, they observed a clear imbalance in these transitions, confirming the already known fact that the flagellum expends energy for this active oscillatory motion. Next, they analyzed the motions of a kidney cells cilium an antenna-like appendage that at first glance appears to be jiggling back and forth passively. By tracking the ciliums orientation and curvature, and counting transitions between states, they observed a slight imbalance in the transitions, pointing to an unexpected active process that drives the cilium, despite its passive appearance. This is a great paper, and somewhat a proof of principle, says Gavin Crooks, senior scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Their method has the potential to be applicable to lots of cellular processes we'll get deeper insights into the flow of information and energy through the cell, and what makes these molecule machines tick. You could imagine using these methods to examine if a piece of cellular machinery is working the way that it's meant to. Fakhri says the new method will help scientists to uncover new ways in which cells dissipate energy which, ultimately, is the key to sustaining life. After all, as the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrodinger noted, Living matter evades the decay to thermal equilibrium. Magnetic nanoparticles may reveal early traces of cancer (Nanowerk News) Nanoscale magnets offer a new way to find faint, early traces of cancer in patients, according to Rice University students working on a method to capitalize on the magnets properties. Three Rice computational and applied mathematics students are refining a program to analyze magnetic relaxometry signals from iron-oxide nanoparticles that find and attach themselves to cancerous cells. Rice seniors Brian Ho, Rachel Hoffman and Eric Sung have developed a novel way to analyze data for cancer researchers who hope to use magnetic nanoparticles to locate signs of cancer that X-rays would never spot. Rice engineering students are helping to maximize the promise of magnetic nanoparticles to find faint traces of cancer in patients. From left: Brian Ho, Eric Sung and Rachel Hoffman. All magnets (or materials prone to magnetism) have magnetic moments, like invisible needles that can move and react to magnetic fields, even if their physical hosts cant. These ghostly needles align when exposed to an external magnetic field; when the field is removed, they relax once again. Relaxometry measures this latter characteristic. It turns out the moments relax at a very different rate when they belong to nanoparticles that are bound to cancer cells. The students are working with Rice adviser Beatrice Riviere, the Noah G. Harding Chair and a professor of computational and applied mathematics, and doctors at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to develop computer programs that analyze traces of these moments as they relax. Albuquerque, N.M.,-based Senior Scientific, in collaboration with MD Anderson, is developing a commercial relaxometry platform for the early detection of cancer. The 25-nanometer superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles are enhanced with antibody proteins that target biomarker proteins produced by cancer cells, Sung said. Once they bind to the cells, their range of motion is severely restricted, and this restricted movement is pretty important, he said. Once you apply an external magnetic field, the particles dipoles will align to counteract the field. Once the dipoles face each other, then you have a magnetic field of essentially zero. But the interesting part to us is what comes after. The students and the MD Anderson team are working to quantify this relaxation phase because it marks the location of cancer cells in lab samples and in mice. Unbound nanoparticles will randomly reorient themselves in less than a millisecond, but because antibody-associated nanoparticle complexes that are bound to cancer cells are restricted in their movement, their magnetic relaxation is a lot slower up to a second, Sung said. Were figuring out exactly what that means. he said. The team noted todays best cancer detection methods only catch tumors with more than 10 million cancer cells. The new approach has the potential to detect tumors with as few as 20,000 cells. The students expect methods that rely on relaxometry will also be safer than current methods that expose patients to ionizing radiation. The students software addresses two problems that can corrupt relaxometry data. One is that physical motion like a patients breathing can displace the target signal and skew the results. The other is what the students call flux jumps, a recording artifact that causes a wholesale shift in the data. The flux jump has to do with the way its measured, Sung said. But weve figured out an algorithm to take care of both these things. And it looks pretty nice. Hoffman said the Rice team brought new perspective to the problem recognized by MD Andersons David Fuentes, an assistant professor in the Department of Imaging Physics, and his colleagues. They were looking at it very theoretically, whereas we look at it more pragmatically, she said. We researched what we can do with this particular data, as opposed to trying to develop an algorithm that could be applied to any data set. Indeed, the senior design teams contribution to motion correction and flux-jump detection will have a lasting impact and will be incorporated into future analysis pipelines, Fuentes said. Possible extragalactic source of high-energy neutrinos (Nanowerk News) Nearly 10 billion years ago in a galaxy known as PKS B1424-418, a dramatic explosion occurred. Light from this blast began arriving at Earth in 2012. Now, an international team of astronomers, led by Prof. Matthias Kadler, professor for astrophysics at the university of Wurzburg, and including other scientists from the new research cluster for astronomy and astroparticle physics at the universities of Wurzburg and Erlangen-Nurnberg, have shown that a record-breaking neutrino seen around the same time likely was born in the same event. The results are published in Nature Physics ("Coincidence of a high-fluence blazar outburst with a PeV-energy neutrino event"). Fermi LAT images showing the gamma-ray sky around the blazar PKS B1424-418. Brighter colors indicate greater numbers of gamma rays. The dashed arc marks part of the source region established by IceCube for the Big Bird neutrino (50-percent confidence level). Left: An average of LAT data centered on July 8, 2011 covering 300 days when the blazar was inactive. Right: An average of 300 active days centered on Feb. 27, 2013, when PKS B1424-418 was the brightest blazar in this part of the sky. (Image: NASA/DOE/LAT Collaboration) (click on image to enlarge) Neutrinos are the fastest, lightest, most unsociable and least understood fundamental particles, and scientists are just now capable of detecting high-energy ones arriving from deep space. The present work provides the first plausible association between a single extragalactic object and one of these cosmic neutrinos. Although neutrinos far outnumber all the atoms in the universe, they rarely interact with matter, which makes detecting them quite a challenge. But this same property lets neutrinos make a fast exit from places where light cannot easily escape such as the core of a collapsing star and zip across the universe almost completely unimpeded. Neutrinos can provide information about processes and environments that simply aren't available through a study of light alone. Recently, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole found first evidence for a flux of extraterrestrial neutrinos, which was named the Physics World breakthrough of the year 2013. To date, the science team of IceCube Neutrino has announced about a hundred very high-energy neutrinos and nicknamed the most extreme events after characters on the children's TV series "Sesame Street." On Dec. 4, 2012, IceCube detected an event known as Big Bird, a neutrino with an energy exceeding 2 quadrillion electron volts (PeV). To put that in perspective, it's more than a million million times greater than the energy of a dental X-ray packed into a single particle thought to possess less than a millionth the mass of an electron. Big Bird was the highest-energy neutrino ever detected at the time and still ranks second. Where did it come from? The best IceCube position only narrowed the source to a patch of the southern sky about 32 degrees across, equivalent to the apparent size of 64 full moons. Its like a crime scene investigation, says lead author Matthias Kadler, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Wurzburg in Germany, The case involves an explosion, a suspect, and various pieces of circumstantial evidence. Starting in the summer of 2012, NASAs Fermi satellite witnessed a dramatic brightening of PKS B1424-418, an active galaxy classified as a gamma-ray blazar. An active galaxy is an otherwise typical galaxy with a compact and unusually bright core. The excess luminosity of the central region is produced by matter falling toward a supermassive black hole weighing millions of times the mass of our sun. As it approaches the black hole, some of the material becomes channeled into particle jets moving outward in opposite directions at nearly the speed of light. In blazars one of these jets happens to point almost directly toward Earth. During the year-long outburst, PKS B1424-418 shone between 15 and 30 times brighter in gamma rays than its average before the eruption. The blazar is located within the Big Bird source region, but then so are many other active galaxies detected by Fermi. The scientists searching for the neutrino source then turned to data from a long-term observing program named TANAMI. Since 2007, TANAMI has routinely monitored nearly 100 active galaxies in the southern sky, including many flaring sources detected by Fermi. Three radio observations between 2011 and 2013 cover the period of the Fermi outburst. They reveal that the core of the galaxy's jet had been brightening by about four times. No other galaxy observed by TANAMI over the life of the program has exhibited such a dramatic change. These radio images from the TANAMI project reveal the 2012-2013 eruption of PKS B1424-418 at a radio frequency of 8.4 GHz. The core of the blazars jet brightened by four times, producing the most dramatic blazar outburst These radio images from the TANAMI project reveal the 2012-2013 eruption of PKS B1424-418 at a radio frequency of 8.4 GHz. The core of the blazars jet brightened by four times, producing the most dramatic blazar outburst TANAMI has observed to date. (Image: TANAMI) Within their jets, blazars are capable of accelerating protons to relativistic energies. Interactions of these protons with light in the central regions of the blazar can create pions. When these pions decay, both gamma rays and neutrinos are produced, explains Karl Mannheim, a coauthor of the study and astronomy professor in Wurzburg, Germany. "We combed through the field where Big Bird must have originated looking for astrophysical objects capable of producing high-energy particles and light," adds coauthor Felicia Krau, a doctoral student at the University of Erlangen-Nurnberg in Germany. "There was a moment of wonder and awe when we realized that the most dramatic outburst we had ever seen in a blazar happened in just the right place at just the right time." In a paper published Monday, April 18, in Nature Physics, the team suggests the PKS B1424-418 outburst and Big Bird are linked, calculating only a 5-percent probability the two events occurred by chance alone. Using data from Fermi, NASAs Swift and WISE satellites, the LBA and other facilities, the researchers determined how the energy of the eruption was distributed across the electromagnetic spectrum and showed that it was sufficiently powerful to produce a neutrino at PeV energies. "Taking into account all of the observations, the blazar seems to have had means, motive and opportunity to fire off the Big Bird neutrino, which makes it our prime suspect," explains Matthias Kadler. Francis Halzen, the principal investigator of IceCube at the University of WisconsinMadison, and not involved in this study, thinks the result is an exciting hint of things to come. "IceCube is about to send out real-time alerts when it records a neutrino that can be localized to an area a little more than half a degree across, or slightly larger than the apparent size of a full moon," he concludes. "We're slowly opening a neutrino window onto the cosmos." SHARE Phillip Barrera Hertz Global Holdings Inc. marked Earth Day at its world headquarters in Estero with a ceremony to recognize the receipt of the headquarters LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification by the United States Green Building Council. Deals Volunteer Collier, a volunteer matching program of the United Way of Collier County, and Greater Naples Leadership, a masters program that prepares proven leaders for service to the community, have joined forces to help make Volunteer Collier the single source for volunteer opportunities in Collier County. Events The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Networking 201 Panel Discussion at 3:30 p.m. May 12 at the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, 25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive. Information: www.BonitaSprings Chamber.com; 239-992- 2943; Breanne@Bonita SpringsChamber.com Appointments Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute said Michael Diaz, who serves on the executive board, has been named president of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology for a second consecutive term. Phillip Barrera has joined Spiro & Associates Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations & Brand Architecture as a senior art rirector. Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC said Matthew M. Jackson has joined the firm as senior counsel in the Naples office. Scott Wells has joined Stevens Construction as senior superintendent. To submit your business news directly online, go to naplesnews.com/BIZwire or email news@naplesnews.com. Pork Milanesa Sandwhich at Zorba's Mediterranean Grille & Bar. Maryann Batlle/Staff SHARE Saganaki (Melted Kefalograviera Flambe) at Zorba's Mediterranean Grille & Bar. Elysa Delcorto/Staff A Gyro lunch special with Greek Salad at Zorba's Mediterranean Grille & Bar. Patrick Riley/Staff Greek coffee and baklava at Zorba's Mediterranean Grille & Bar. Elysa Delcorto/Staff Tzatziki spread (yogurt with garlic, cucumber and dill) at Zorba's Mediterranean Grille & Bar. Elysa Delcorto/Staff By Patrick Riley of the Naples Daily News If you're anything like me, you go through certain phases with your workday lunch selections. For days at an end I will get myself some delicious Publix subs (usually Italian). Then I will go through numerous Trader Joe's prepackaged tomato and mozzarella salads. Then a stretch of nothing but Jimmy John's sandwiches may follow. All of those lunchtime scenarios have one thing in common: I consume them until I get tired of a particular option and switch to something else. In Miami, during my lunch breaks, I used to go to Gyroville, a Mediterranean-style eatery. The portions were huge. The prices were reasonable. And above all, the gyros were amazing. Perhaps most surprisingly, I simply would not get sick of it. I kept going and going and going. Fast forward to my time here in Southwest Florida: no Gyroville and I've been craving Greek food ever since I left Miami. Fortunately, my editor Elysa Delcorto knows of just the place to satisfy my hankering for some delicious gyros: Zorba's Mediterranean Grille & Bar. And so, on a recent sunny lunchbreak, Delcorto, my trusted lunch companion Maryann Batlle and I visited Zorba's to take our palates on a culinary road trip from the ruins of Athens to the top of Mt. Olympus. The first thing I notice as I walk through the doors of the cozy restaurant, tucked in between a hair salon and a martial arts academy on Bonita Beach Road, is the hearty welcome, as co-owner Sofia Vardoulias shows us to our booth. Paintings of Mediterranean churches, ruins, docks and idyllic seaside villages grace the beige walls while a number of archways divide the restaurant into a bar area with high-tops and a more formal dining area with booths and tables. "It's a nice ambiance," says Delcorto. "I like the art, it takes you to the place." I agree. Now hopefully the food will match the laidback atmosphere. First up: pita bread and for dipping purposes, tzatziki, which is made of Greek yoghurt mixed with cucumbers, lemon, dill and garlic; and a bowl of olive oil as a second option. "It's refreshing," Batlle remarks after scooping up some tzatziki with a pita bread triangle. She is right. The creamy sauce is light and fresh and the perfect starter paired with the fluffy pita bread. It doesn't take us long until we devour it all. Our tzatziki appetizer is soon followed by saganaki a traditional Greek dish Delcorto has been raving about. "Everybody have the camera ready," she tells us as lunchtime manager Elizabeth Lyristakis Shaffer brings out a skillet with a rectangle of cheese made from sheep's milk. Bracing herself for what's to come, Lyristakis Shaffer holds the dish far away from her body as she drizzles ouzo an anise-flavored traditional Greek aperitif over it and lights the whole skillet on fire. A darting flame rises up, before Lyristakis Shaffer puts it out by squeezing lemon over it. Holy smokes. That was quite a spectacle. She must have nerves of steel because I would have dropped the whole thing and ducked for cover. As Lyristakis Shaffer places the now extinguished dish on our table we examine it with great curiosity. Before even trying it, Batlle is sold. "You'll fry anything and I'll eat," she says. And really, the fried cheese is chewy deliciousness. The juxtaposition of the sharp sheep milk cheese and the hint of lemon is a treat for one's taste buds. "I think it's a good contrast," Delcorto tells us. Batlle agrees. "Usually when I think fried cheese I think mozzarella sticks," she says. "This is superior. "I mean you're gonna give me a piece of cheese that's on fire on a skillet, I'm gonna eat it." Amen. Soon that appetizer, too, is gone. For the main course all three of us go in widely different directions. Delcorto orders souvlaki skewers of chicken served on pita bread with onions, peppers, tomatoes, rice and tzatziki sauce. Batlle goes with the pork Milanese sandwich, which includes panko-breaded pork, sliced thin and served with arugula, red onion, tomatoes, lemon and olive oil. For myself, there is only one choice: a gyro. And all three dishes don't disappoint. Delcorto's chicken tastes fresh-off-the-backyard-grille delicious while Batlle raves about how her sandwich doesn't weigh you down. "You can tell that they use lean meat," she says. "It's not greasy. Which I think is my favorite part about it. My hand is not filled with grease when I'm holding it." My gyro meanwhile is its own culinary delight. Melt-in-your-mouth slices of lamb are stacked atop each other and wrapped in a soft blanket of pita bread. Then the whole thing is topped with fresh, tomatoes, onions and smothered in a creamy layer of rich tzatziki. I couldn't be any happier. My meal comes with a rather big portion of Greek salad (or fries if that's your thing). There are crisp green bell peppers and lettuce. There are generous clumps of snow-white feta cheese and dark olives that are bursting with flavor. And for good measure, we have fresh tomato, cucumber and onion slices. In short, the salad, too, can hold its own. It soon becomes evident that all three of us will need to-go boxes for the mighty portions. But we're not done yet. Before we go we take one last stab at the menu, this time the dessert section. The news that there is Turkish-style coffee is met with a collective "Ohhhh" by all three of us and Delcorto and Batlle quickly order some. We also get baklava, a rich pastry made of layers of phyllo that are filled with chopped nuts and held together by sweet honey. As the dessert dish arrives even Maryann, the only non-sweet tooth at the table, is impressed. "Wow, that's beautiful," she says. And it tastes even better than it looks. The crispy phyllo, flavorful walnuts, golden honey and hints of cinnamon combine for a tasting experience so delicious I literally close my eyes for a second. I kid you not. It's so good we even pressure Batlle into tasting it. "I like the mix of flavors," she says. Like all the dishes at Zorba's the baklava is made fresh and to order. "All the dishes here are traditional," Alex Salas, the nighttime manager tells me. "Everything's made from scratch here. So I think that's what sets us a little bit aside from the other restaurants here." Aside from the excellent food, the restaurant's welcoming atmosphere has drawn in customers since it opened in 1998. And it starts with Vardoulias, who owns the restaurant together with her husband Peter. "Everyone, even including customers and us, we all call her 'Mama,' 'Mama Sofia,' says Lyristakis Shaffer, 28. "She treats us like family." The family treatment even extends to customers, says Salas, 23. "Not a lot of restaurants (the customers) get greeted by the owner when they first come in," he says. "It's a mom and pop place." In their many years visiting the restaurant, Sue Ryan and Deb Post, both from Naples, said they have never had a bad experience. "It's fresh, it tastes good and it's always consistent," says Post, 61, who often comes to the restaurant from her nearby office to get lunch. "And you get it quickly and you can sit outside." Post's go-to is the Roka salad, a blend of arugula, toasted pistachio-crusted goat cheese, pear, dried figs and basil vinaigrette. Ryan, 60, went with my lunch selection that day. "I had one incredibly delicious gyro today," she says. "I've come before and I've had different things, but I had the gyro with French fries. Those were some good French fries." IF YOU GO Zorba's Mediterranean Grille & Bar When: Open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sunday. Where: 9106 Bonita Beach Road SE, Bonita Springs Happy Hour: Monday through Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; half-priced appetizers, 2$ domestic beers, $3 imported beers, $4 house wines, $5 specialty cocktails Information: Visit zorbasgrille.com or call 239-992-5005. Capt. Jesse Baker explains how his plane was intercepted by military F-15s on their mission Wednesday. The Marco Island squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will hold an open house on Saturday at their headquarters in the Marco Island Executive Airport on Mainsail Drive. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent SHARE An airport worker refuels a CAP aircraft after a mission Wednesday helping military pilots train. The Marco Island squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will hold an open house on Saturday at their headquarters in the Marco Island Executive Airport on Mainsail Drive. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent Lt. Col. Lee Henderson, former squadron commander, in the communications room. The Marco Island squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will hold an open house on Saturday at their headquarters in the Marco Island Executive Airport on Mainsail Drive. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent The Marco Island squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will hold an open house on Saturday at their headquarters in the Marco Island Executive Airport on Mainsail Drive. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent Mission pilot Capt. Bob MacNeill fills out debriefing forms after a mission Wednesday. The Marco Island squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will hold an open house on Saturday at their headquarters in the Marco Island Executive Airport on Mainsail Drive. Lance Shearer/Eagle Correspondent By Lance Shearer, Eagle Correspondent It's the closest thing to the military in the area, and they are opening their (hangar) doors to let the public see what they are all about. This Saturday, the Civil Air Patrol or CAP will host an open house at their headquarters at the Marco Island Executive Airport from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., partnering with several other emergency responder agencies to give people the chance to interact with those whose mission is to help keep them safe. The Collier Sheriff's Office, which is likely to show up with an airplane or helicopter of their own, the Greater Naples Fire-Rescue Department, the Marco Island Police Department, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Power Squadron, and the Sailing Association of Marco Island will all be on hand. And lunch is on the house the CAP will be cooking hot dogs and hamburgers for all visitors. The pride of the Marco CAP is the communications room, a setup that is "the envy of the entire Florida wing," said Squadron Commander and Maj. Bob Corriveau. They have multiple laptops, VHF marine radios with a repeater tower transmitting from atop the Progressive Auto building on Marco Island to extend their range, UHF radio to communicate with military aircraft, and single sideband shortwave radio for long range communication. For many Marco Islanders, they are most likely to have interactions with the CAP if they are out boating and have a breakdown or other mishap. The Civil Air Patrol coordinates with other agencies, notably the Coast Guard and the police and fire-rescue departments on Marco Island, to locate and get home safely boaters who get into trouble in area waters. They train on a regular basis to be prepared for real life missions when these arise. In addition to letting the public see how the CAP operates search and rescue missions, and inspect their aircraft and communications setup, the open house serves an additional function building liaison and cooperation with those partner agencies. They have to be prepared to work together closely and efficiently in case of a downed or missing airplane, a boater in distress or other emergency. The first thing you notice when you enter Civil Air Patrol headquarters at the Marco Island airport is that this is a military operation. Yes, it's the Civil Air Patrol, but it is emphatically not the "Civilian" Air Patrol. Keeping the skies over Southwest Florida safe is serious business, and the members of the Civil Air Patrol take it seriously. Indeed, explained Lee Henderson, a lieutenant colonel in the CAP and former commander of the Marco squadron, the Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary branch of the Air Force, "a military operation run by civilians." Many CAP members, including Col. Henderson, are former pilots in the armed forces. Henderson served four tours in the Navy, flying P-3 Orions off aircraft carriers in the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. He now serves as Operations Officer for all Southwest Florida, from Sarasota on down. On Wednesday morning, the Marco CAP squadron conducted a training exercise along with Air Force F-15 pilots, acting as the target in a simulated breach of U.S. airspace. The little CAP plane was intercepted by the powerful warbirds and, had this been a real incident, would have been directed and escorted to a safe landing spot or even shot down. Continual training is key, said Henderson, to making sure that aircrew and ground crew know and follow proper procedures in case of a real emergency. "In an actual mission, everyone's adrenaline is pumping," he said. "That's why we practice. There's more to a mission than just jumping in a plane." This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol, which was originally chartered Dec. 1, 1941, just one week before the Pearl Harbor attack. The Marco Squadron has taken the identity of the famed "Black Sheep Squadron" from the South Pacific Theater in World War II. Incidentally, if you do break down in your vessel, and you're looking for the classic "Sundown Patrol" to find you, you should realize that regular flight, now known as the Wilderness Waterway Coastal Patrol, has been cut back due to budget constraints, and flies only Saturday and Sunday, with the Naples and Marco Island squadrons sharing the duty. To contribute to the Marco Island Civil Air Patrol, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, send a check to PO Box 225, Marco Island, FL 34146, call 239-389-1273, or best of all, come to the Open House Saturday from 11 to 3 at 2003 Mainsail Drive, off Collier Blvd. at the Marco Island Executive Airport. By Harriet Howard Heithaus of the Naples Daily News It's a blessing that the magnetic power of steel plates hitting hard surfaces was discovered long before humanity became viewed as an income stream. People would be paying a penny every time a tap dancer clicked aluminum-clad feet on a stage floor. We would pay for it dearly but gladly in a musical like "Dames at Sea," a 1960s-built spoof of high-gloss 1930s musicals. TheatreZone opened its production Thursday, whipping up a froth of archly comic tunes and wound-up characters so vividly that theatergoers will either love it. Or love it. Giggle over the name-dropping lyrics full of retro vibe ("It isn't Aimee Semple/or even Shirley Temple/It's you, it's you, it's you") or '30s film stereotype hybrids such as Joan, a smoothie-blend of Butterfly McQueen, Lucille Ball and Carole Lombard. (Luckily, Dawn Lebrecht Fornara, the only one equal to it, has that role.) Or just thrill to the tapping, which clicks through "Dames at Sea" like a Morse code of dopamine. Karen Molnar Danni, who both directed and choreographed the show, demanded stars who could both dance and act. She bought the winning Florida Lottery ticket in her star-struck Ruby, Lindsey Bethea; Bethea would give Broadway's original, Bernadette Peters, a run for her money in Kewpie talk and wide-eyed wonder. She can inspire a happy hoofing number like "Star Tar" or rip her flame's Deco-shaped heart out with "It's You." In "Dames," even the villain has a streak of lovability. Cherie Price plays prima donna Mona with the confidence of a dictator and the grace of a cow; her antics trying to mount an upright piano to croon a love song are a priceless hint of her coming comic reunion with her old navy flame in "The Beguine." Anyone who can generate smoldering memories of Pensacola has my naval salute. It takes Tom Wallace, in dual roles as a Broadway troupe's luckless producer and the ship's captain, to partner her and drop her on the floor in his zeal for that number. While he's dramatically subdued as Hennessey, whose musical was set to open the day his theater is demolished, Wallace sparkles as the puckered, silver-spoon captain whose battleship becomes the Broadway musical's makeshift stage. Reality be hanged: The cast of "Dames at Sea" can lug 7 tons of props aboard a ship, an audience will make its way out to cheer from dinghies and sailors all know how to tap dance. And President Roosevelt will send Ruby flowers because he's gotten her letter within 24 hours effusing about the Navy and "The Sailor of My Dreams." The ensemble numbers, "Good Times Are Here to Stay," "Star Tar," and "Raining in My Heart," complete with umbrella acrobatics, are smartly styled and executed, thanks again to Molnar. And Joan and Lucky (done in the best Gene Kelly tradition by David Tanciar) do their own showstopper in "Choo Choo Honeymoon." As Dick, Ruby's bell-bottom heartthrob, Eric Rivas may occasionally croak out a sour note, but he's a perfect duet-dance partner and an appropriately conflicted boyfriend, yanked between his true love and his hope to sell his songs via Mona's connections. The sound system sometimes over-delivers on volume, shredding the clever George Haimsohn -Robert Miller lyrics, and on Thursday an improperly insert plug briefly set it humming. But other production values were shipshape: There are even clever moments in Anne Carncross's lighting design, sending the shadow of a wrecking ball into the wall in Act 1. Tlaloc Lopez-Watermann's sets take us to backstage Broadway and aboard a two-story destroyer, complete with gun turrets. It's a major logistics triumph in a theater that had to squeeze its capable seven-piece orchestra and music director Charles Fornara backstage as well. In short: For TheatreZone's "Dames at Sea," even aside from the shoes, everything clicks. If you go 'Dames at Sea' What: Tap dance and music tale from TheatreZone When: 8 p.m. through Saturday and May 5-7; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday and May 8 Where: G&L Theatre, Community School, 13275 Livingston Road, North Naples Tickets: $53 and $48 To buy: Phone 888-966-3352 or online at www.TheatreZone- Florida.com Mark Sievers listens to proceedings during a custody hearing in a Lee County courtroom on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, in downtown Fort Myers. (David Albers/Staff) By Ben Brasch, The News-Press Mark Sievers claimed Thursday that he can't afford a private attorney again after jostling lawyers since he was arrested in the slaying of his wife. Sievers, 48, claimed what is called "indigent status" right after he was arrested Feb. 26 after being accused of orchestrating the June 28 killing of Teresa Sievers. Sievers is leaving his second private attorney and is on his way to his third governmental agency helping him. His representation since March 28, Faga Law Group in Naples, was not immediately available for comment Thursday. The reason Sievers has to ask for indigent status again is because it's required by the new agency that will be representing him, the Justice Administrative Commission, according to court filings. The JAC's website reads: "When a criminal defendant retains private counsel, yet is determined indigent by the Court for purposes of costs associated with the defense, JAC reviews and audits bills sent by due process vendors, such as court reporters, investigators, and expert witnesses, for payment." In the original court filing, Sievers claimed two dependents. More than a month later, he is in the middle of a custody battle for his two daughters who have been with their maternal grandmother under court order since April 8. Sievers listed that he has $5,000 in bank accounts. Two Missouri men have been charged in the killing his childhood friend 47-year-old Curtis Wayne Wright Jr. and 25-year-old Jimmy Rodgers. Although Wright signed a 25-year plea deal in exchange for testifying against his friend, Sievers has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree homicide and conspiracy to commit second-degree homicide. RELATED STORIES: SHARE By Patrick Riley of the Naples Daily News With dwindling options for public access to Estero Bay within Bonita Springs' boundaries, one more waterside entryway appeared to slip away last fall. A development group that had once pitched to build a dry dock with parking on a bayside property in the city's northwest corner changed its mind. Instead, the property owners of the land, formerly known as the Weeks Fish Camp, said they wanted to build four high-rise condominiums and a private marina. The new proposal lacked the public water access the city coveted, City Manager Carl Schwing said. Then, as abruptly as the plans had changed, the owners of the 30-acre property made up of more than 50 parcels just north of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa off Coconut Road withdrew their new request April 13. Property owners are keeping mum about why they pulled the application. City officials said they gave no specific reasons. But public records obtained by the Daily News and interviews suggest that the city's insistence on public access to Estero Bay might have led the developer to reconsider making the Weeks Fish Camp marina private. "We've spent a significant amount of time speaking to the consultants and the landowners about concerns we had about the plan that was just withdrawn," Schwing said. "And that an absolute no negotiation an absolute is that they have to provide water access to the bay for the public. Now they may charge for it. But they have to provide the access in anything that they bring back." That does not mean the former Weeks Fish Camp property will remain vacant, though, Schwing said. The land is owned by three limited liability companies Estero Bay Marine, Sugar Mountain Development and Donavan all of which list Thomas Kretchik as their manager, according to state business records available online. A message left with Kretchik's wife was not returned. Randy Thibaut, owner and CEO of LandSolutions, a Fort Myers-based commercial real estate firm, said he represents the property owners. Thibaut declined to reveal why the owners withdrew their application or what their plans might be. "At this time we've got nothing to report or share," Thibaut said. Last fall the property owners filed for a planned development with the city and scrapped their previous proposal one praised by city officials that had included 72 wet boat slips, 150 dry boat slips, retail space, a boat club, a waterfront restaurant, parking and possibly a resort hotel or residential housing. In 2014, property owners of the former Weeks Fish Camp voluntarily annexed into the city and presented their plan for public access to the revamped marina. News of the change on the Weeks Fish Camp land reached residents last fall. They joined city officials in sharing disappointment over restricted access to the bay. A few residents emailed then-Mayor Ben Nelson. "There is currently very limited public water access which is already very congested and remote to the folks in this area," Carlos Hernandez wrote Nelson in November. "I recently bought a second home in this area close to coconut road (sic) with the expectation that the public marina was a done deal." Nelson, a big proponent of the original proposal, tried to assuage concerns. "I feel certain that staff, the public and council will not be interested in allowing a change in the historic use of the water front," Nelson replied. "It is too important to citizens from San Carlos Park, Estero and Bonita." The city's emphasis on public access to the water also shines through in email correspondence between community development officials and the developer's lawyer. "As we discussed, the plan your clients plan to resubmit will be essentially the same as that presented to Council after the annexation," John Dulmer, Bonita Springs director of community development, wrote to Neale Montgomery, the attorney representing the developer, on March 22. "This will be particularly important in how they address the idea of public access to both the marina and to other portions of the development." But that email is a moot point because the property owners decided to "willfully" withdraw their application, Dulmer said. The developers did not give any reason as to why they withdrew, but they were aware of the city's concerns, he said. "We're asking them to incorporate public access," Dulmer said. If the developers had continued with the revised proposal, they could have also missed out on public subsidies, such as road impact fee discounts, City Attorney Audrey Vance said. In Florida, impact fees are a one-time tax imposed on new developments by local governments to pay for the added use the project will have on infrastructure and services, such as roads and schools. Under the site's 2014 annexation agreement with the city, the developer would have been eligible for a 100 percent discount in road and parks impact fees for the hotel portion. That discount would have been in effect through 2019. The rest of the development would have been eligible for an 85 percent reduction in road and park impact fees. It would have ultimately been a City Council decision whether to still offer the impact fee discount to the developers under a revised agreement, Vance said. But she said she finds it "very difficult" to believe the city would have offered the discounts without the promise of public water access. Vance, too, said she has no knowledge of what the developer plans to bring back to the city, but she said the original proposal would be ideal. "That would be the perfect situation," she said. Community HU chant: Connect with the Divine by Singing HU is set for 10 a.m. Sunday in the ECK Center at 425 S.W. Madison Ave., Suite N, in Corvallis. You can learn more about the benefits of singing HU, an ancient love song to God, at www.miraclesinyourlife.org. The community HU chant is sponsored by Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God, and offered as a free service for people of all faiths, backgrounds and cultures. Information: www.eckankar-oregon.org. Methodist Women: The United Methodist Women will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Fireside Room of the church at 1115 28th Ave. S.W. in Albany. Hostesses Kirsten Allam and Mary Ann Sanker will serve brunch. Following this, Connie Kay, representing Collaborative Problem Solving, will describe the work of this group, which meets weekly at the church. Dorothy Davis will lead a short business meeting, and Allam will lead the group in devotions. Guests are always welcome. The board will meet beforehand at 9 a.m. There will be no regular meetings during the summer. Prayer observation: National Day of Prayer will be observed from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday on the steps of the Linn County Courthouse Steps, 300 Fourth Ave. S.W. in Albany. National Day of Prayer was established in 1952 as an annual event by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. This year participants will observe the 65th annual National Day of Prayer as an opportunity to see the Lords healing and renewing power made manifest as they call on citizens to humbly come before His throne. The 2016 theme is Wake Up, America, emphasizing the need for individuals to return to the God of the nations founders. SHARE By Patrick Riley of the Naples Daily News Faced with a looming legal battle, Estero Fire Rescue District officials decided to back off their controversial sprinkler ordinance. Immediately after an hourlong private session with their lawyer last week, the fire district's commissioners unanimously repealed their ordinance that required automatic fire sprinkler systems in new one- and two-family homes built in the district, Dick Schweers, the fire commission's chairman, said Thursday. Commissioners signed off on the ordinance in October and later delayed enacting it until July 31, following pushback from Lee County officials. The Lee Building Industry Association and the Florida Home Builders Association filed a joint lawsuit in Lee County Circuit Court in an attempt to stop the new ordinance. Schweers, who declined to reveal details from the closed-door executive session, said the builders' lawsuit played into the fire board's decision. Executive sessions are allowed under state law when public boards want to seek legal advice. A certified court reporter must record the session. Schweers said he would have liked to see the ordinance go through and that it "remains to be seen" whether the district will return with a tweaked version. "We'll always be looking for ways to improve (fire) protection," Schweers said. Chene Thompson, the lawyer representing the Lee builders, said the lawsuit has not been officially dismissed, but she said the "possibility is great" that it will. "They did what we asked them to do," Thompson said. Thompson said she found out about the district's decision earlier this week. In a 27-page complaint, builders said they had no way to challenge the fire district's sprinklers resolution, that the fire district's economic impact study of the ordinance is deficient and that the fire district exceeded its authority. The lawsuit also contends builders would have been "irreparably harmed" if the sprinkler ordinance had been enforced. Thompson said she plans to meet with the fire district's attorney. Then a voluntary dismissal of the suit could follow, she said. SHARE Roy Geigel, Naples When you wish... I just bought a $500, 52-inch Samsung television that was made in China with $1 per hour labor. If Donald Trump has his way he is going to put a 35 percent tariff on that television bringing the price to $675. But Trump is betting that as a result of the tariff China will cease exporting televisions to the United States and television manufacturing will return to the United States a very noble idea! The problem is that to keep the price at $500 American workers will have to work for $1 per hour very unlikely! At minimum wage, that same $500 television may cost $2,000; at $15 per hour it may cost $4,000. Under Trump, United States workers have a choice: work at Chinese wages and have inexpensive products or work at United States wages and have expensive products. "Be careful what you wish for!" Jennifer Ona COLORADO DENVER Mission Global, an affiliate of Mission Capital Advisors, said that Aaron Scott Taylor has joined the firm as compliance officer. In his new role, Taylor will provide insight on all consumer state and federal laws and regulations governing real estate lending. He will also serve as Mission Global's industry liaison, working with outside counsel and other industry groups. Prior to joining Mission Global, Taylor held similar positions at Clayton Holdings and Promontory Financial Group. FLORIDA WEST PALM BEACH Element Fundingsaid that Gary Tuorto has joined its West Palm Beach regional office as sales manager for the state of Florida and will focus on building strategic branch production centers throughout the state. Tuorto has nearly 20 years of experience in mortgage banking and consumer credit reporting. He joins Element Funding from Bank Star One, a regional community bank, where he was senior vice president of the mortgage division for the past eight years. KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE Tommy Adkins has joined Commonwealth Bank & Trust as its new warehouse lending sales manager. His role will be to help build and grow a national warehouse lending division. Adkins brings over 30 years of experience to the firm having previously held sales management positions with Homeowners Mortgage, Florida Capital and Homeside Lending/BancBoston Mortgage. NEW YORK NEW YORK The New York Mortgage Coalition, a nonprofit organization that helps families achieve responsible homeownership, has promoted Rebecca Senn to executive director. In her new role, Senn works with community-based organizations, financial institutions, private-sector institutions and consumers in providing the tools necessary for successful homeownership. She first joined NYMC in 2012, and in a previous role there she oversaw the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Counseling Grant Program. PENNSYLVANIA FORT WASHINGTON Ditech Financial has hired Marc VanBaalen as sales director of the correspondent lending division responsible for nondelegated lending in the Eastern region of the U.S. VanBaalen has more than 20 years of mortgage industry experience and joins Ditech from Pacific Union Financial, where he served as correspondent account executive. Prior to joining Pacific Union Financial, he served as an account executive for Stonegate Mortgage Corp. and JPMorgan Chase. PHILADELPHIA Weston Portfolio Group has named Rusty Johnson to its leadership team as director of surveillance and oversight. Johnson is a mortgage industry veteran with over 25 years of experience. Prior to joining WPG, he held a number of executive positions with companies such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Fannie Mae and Radian. PLYMOUTH MEETING New Penn Financial has appointed Jim Wyble as senior vice president of third-party originations. Wyble, who will be based in Des Moines, brings over 30 years of experience in financial services, including senior management roles in mortgage sales and operations, commercial lending, and mergers and acquisitions. He previously served with Pacific Union Financial, Capital One and Wells Fargo. Are you a mortgage professional who recently changed jobs? Let us know! Send your announcement and photo (if available) to Glenn McCullom at glenn.mccullom@sourcemedia.com. Four key positions in the Linn County Courthouse will be up for election on the May 17 ballot, but none of the candidates are running opposed. For County Assessor David Swartzlender and County Surveyor Chuck Gibbs, this is their general election, not a primary, per state rules. Positions 2 and 3 are up for election on the Linn County Board of Commissioners. ASSESSOR AND SURVEYOR Swartzlender, 54, has three years experience as the top man in the Assessors Office, but he spent 20 years as the chief appraiser and deputy assessor before Mark Noakes retired. He is also the county tax collector. Swartzlender was a property appraiser in Lincoln County for two years before coming to Linn County. Although computers have greatly aided his office work, there are also fewer people in the office than when he started. He said there were about 30 people in the early years and there are now 20, including Swartzlender. Linn County has a total assessed value of more than $9 billion, and Swartzlenders staff is responsible for keeping track of all property values. Swartzlender has a degree in business administration from Oregon State University. Gibbs, 63, has been the county surveyor since 2003. He is active with the Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors, including serving as president and past president. Gibbs graduated from Lebanon Union High School, studied forest technology at Central Oregon Community College and completed a program in asbestos removal at Northwest Envirocon. He has also studied at LBCC. In addition to traditional surveying responsibilities, the county surveyors office is also responsible for maintaining Public Land Corners. These were established by the Federal government in 1852 to encourage settlement of the Oregon Territory. Over time, the original markers were damaged or destroyed. But today, county surveyors are charged with locating and maintaining them. Gibbs said six people work in the office, including two field staffers. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Board chairman Roger Nyquist, 54, will seek his fifth four-year term in office. The 1979 West Albany High School graduate said he wants to see the numerous projects the board is involved with move forward, perhaps most specifically a $1.4 billion class-action lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Forestry. Linn County is leading the lawsuit, charging that the State of Oregon and specifically the ODF has not lived up to a decades-old contract that calls for increased timber harvesting on state lands within counties. In announcing the countys plan to file a lawsuit in January, Nyquist said the ODF has developed timber sale plans based on other issues such as water quality and recreation, which has led to reduced harvest and millions of dollars in annual payments to counties that rely on that income to provide services. Nyquist filed for office in October and said the good news is that the local economy appears to be improving slowly. He said that in addition to industrial improvement, such as expansion at Selmet, jobs in local health care sectors are growing. Samaritan Health Service projects in Lebanon and elsewhere continue and Linn-Benton Community College is adding a second building that will house health-care students. Will Tucker, 63, says serving on the Board of Commissioners is a tremendous opportunity to serve. He is seeking his third term on the board. Tucker is involved with numerous civic groups and projects across the county ranging from the annual Runaway Pumpkin fundraising race in Lebanon, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), United Way, the Salvation Army, Furniture Share and the Rural Advisory Committee of the Bureau of Land Management. Tucker has represented the Commissioners on the Santiam All-Lands Collaborative, which is developing a long-term, sustainable economic plan in east Linn County. Increasing timber harvests on state and federal lands is important, Tucker said, both for income for the county, but also as a job creation resource in rural communities like Lyons and Sweet Home. Tucker sees opportunity in the Sweet Home Economic Development Group taking over the former Morse Bros. rock quarry in Sweet Home. The long-term goal is to create a permanent venue for the Oregon Jamboree and other events. In addition to job creation, the board has also focused heavily on containing costs and keeping staffing in line with the countys economic level. Tucker said that while it may appear that the total number of county staff members is stable, several dozen positions are actually funded by grants, especially in the Public Health and Mental Health areas. Feb. 19, 1931 April 28, 2016 Barbara Simmonds, 85, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday. She was in residence at Lydias House at the Mennonite Village for dementia. She was the third of eight children. Barbara was born in Terra Bella, California to her parents, Leon and Ida (Cunningham) Helvie. In a short time the family moved to Dryad, Washington, where Barbara attended elementary school. She attended high school in Pe Ell, Washington. She married Charles Cerken on Oct. 23, 1946, and divorced in 1954. She lived in Olympia and worked for the State of Washington. She then married John Volesky on April 28, 1956. The couple divorced in 1979. Barbara was vice president in charge of apartment management for the Don Clark Corporation. She then became assistant administrator at Clover Park Fire Station in Tacoma. Barbara married Earl Larry Simmonds on Sept. 11, 1981, and became a homemaker. They lived in many different towns near Fort Lewis, where he worked. Upon his retirement in 1997, they took trips back east and to Arizona. She enjoyed spending the winters in Yuma. She spent many hours in those 13 years tutoring the Mexican-American school children at Precious Treasures Mission with English lessons. They moved to Lebanon in 2003 and then to the Mennonite Village in 2008. She enjoyed her church, family, cooking, quilt-making, camping and traveling by RV. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and a sister. She leaves behind her husband, Earl; sons John Volesky of Rainier, and Keith Volesky of Tacoma; stepdaughters Leslie Cleveland of Murrieta, California, Natalie (Lane) Taylor of Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Wendy Ploegman of Olympia, Washington; and grandchildren Kevin Volesky of Ranier, Spencer Taylor and Stephen Taylor, both of Pleasant Grove, Utah, and Amanda Ploegman of Olympia, Washington. She was a caring, loving, religious person who never had an unkind thing to say about anyone. Her harshest word was darn. Online condolences for the family may be posted online at www.fisherfuneralhome.com. A longtime Republican conservative emailed me after Donald Trump's Tuesday night romp through the "Acela corridor." "Is the GOP now the anti-trade, anti-immigrant party?" I don't think so, but take no comfort in the reason: Republicans haven't signed on to protectionism and nativism (or at least, only a minority has), but they seem to have lost all philosophical coherence. The lesson of the Ted Cruz campaign is that the party faithful are not nearly as conservative as some had thought. Even among "very conservative" voters in New York, Cruz carried only 27 percent. Were Empire State voters still smarting from Cruz's "New York values" snipe? Maybe, but Cruz won only 29 percent of "very conservatives" in Alabama, 31 percent in Virginia and 41 percent in Pennsylvania. Cruz has worked assiduously to showcase his conservative bona fides, and while purists might raise an eyebrow at some of his foreign policy stands and his flip-flopping on trade, he passes every other conservative litmus test with deep dye. Yet even among very conservative voters, he failed to close the deal. A lot of ink has been spilled analyzing why Trump was able to run away with Cruz's "evangelical" voters, but less to the vertigo-inducing reality that people who call themselves conservative, even "very" conservative, can vote for someone like Trump a liberal-leaning, Planned Parenthood-defending, Code Pink-echoing, flamboyantly ignorant swindler. Anger about immigration isn't it. I've always been a mushy moderate on immigration. At least with regard to Mexico, it's a problem on the way to solving itself. The "wall" would be the greatest waste of money since the feds created the Department of Education and threatening to dun Mexico for the cost is sheer flimflammery. Still, I was willing to entertain the idea that voters were really exercised about it as an explanation for the Trump rise until I looked at exit polls. Since Iowa, voters have been asked to rank issues by importance. In New Hampshire, only 15 percent of voters put immigration at the top of their list of concerns. Fifty-six percent favored a path to legalization for illegals living and working here. In South Carolina, even fewer (10 percent) ranked immigration first among issues of concern, and 53 percent favored that path to legalization. These results were replicated in nearly every state that has held a primary so far. Among Republicans in Pennsylvania, for example, fewer than 40 percent favored deportation of illegal immigrants, yet Trump won nearly 57 percent of the vote. The exception to this rule is the large number of voters who approve of Trump's proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from the U.S. a very new wrinkle on the old immigration issue. Trade has loomed large in a few states, such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, but has been more mixed elsewhere, with voters divided on whether it helps or hurts the economy. So the answer to my friend is that Republicans are not voting on issues; they are voting on personality and attitude, and thus revealing themselves to have fallen for one of the worst errors of the left: the progressive belief that all will be well provided the "right" people, the "best" people, if you will, are running the government. "This is the end of Reaganism," former Sen. Tom Coburn, a conservative hero, told me. The three-legged stool of strong defense, small government and conservatism on social issues has been smashed. Republicans, or at least a plurality of Republican primary voters, no longer distrust government per se; they simply distrust this government. They dislike Obama and the Republican leadership. But they're ready to believe that an outsider will be able to bring his annealing touch to the economy, to the culture and to national greatness. If a Republican politician today were to tell the joke about "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you" a reliable punch line in the Reagan repertoire he or she would be greeted by incomprehension. This is a signal victory for the left: the triumph of faith in the state. Trumpites are reprising Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" with a new lead. Republican politicians cannot rely on the healthy skepticism about government that was once woven into the fabric of the party. People used to know that bigger government enables more corruption; that the mediating institutions of society, such as family, church and community organizations, are better at nearly every task than bureaucracies; and that government undermines these institutions when it expands too much. "All kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out," explained Huck Finn, a good American constitutionalist. It's a lesson the Republican Party will have to relearn when this season passes. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Albanian President Bujar Nishani to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (28 April 2016) to discuss preparations for the Warsaw Summit. Speaking at a joint press conference with President Nishani, Mr. Stoltenberg praised Albania for its contributions to Allied security and for its role in strengthening stability in the Western Balkans. The Secretary General commended Albania for its continued contributions to NATO missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as its strong support to NATO partners, including Ukraine. He also welcomed Albanias contributions to the Global Coalition against ISIL, with equipment and Special Forces trainers to Iraq. Highlighting Albanias key role in the Western Balkans, the Secretary General added that Tiranas cooperation with its neighbours helps build stability closer to home. Mr. Stoltenberg also praised Albanias support for NATOs Open Door policy and the integration of the Western Balkans into the Euro-Atlantic family. He noted that the Alliance will take an important step next month, with the signature of the Accession Protocol for Montenegro. Albanias political and practical efforts help to keep NATO strong, as we face the most challenging security environment in a generation, Mr. Stoltenberg said. In their talks, President Nishani and the Secretary General addressed key issues on NATOs agenda ahead of the Warsaw Summit and progress on key capabilities, such as NATOs Ballistic Missile Defence. Mr. Stoltenberg also welcomed Albanias decision to increase defence spending this year. During his visit to Sweden (27 & 28 April), the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Pavel met with Swedish Minister of Defence, Mr. Peter Hultqvist and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, General Micael Byden to discuss regional security challenges and opportunities for enhanced military cooperation. The Chairman also had the opportunity to observe the Combined Joint Staff Exercise 2016 (CJSE 16) and visit the Life Guards Regiment, the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre and the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations. The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, General Petr Pavel and Swedish Minister of Defence, Mr. Peter Hultqvist focused on the evolving security environment with special emphasis on the Baltic Sea region, Sweden and NATO's adaption to face new challenges and NATO-EU cooperation. General Pavel underlined the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea region in terms of both economy and security and the key role of Sweden in this context. NATO and Sweden have strengthened their ties to boost situational awareness, increase defence against hybrid warfare, and do more joint training and exercises to support regional and international security. In his meeting with the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, General Micael Byden and his staff, General Pavel received an update on the Swedish Armed Forces, including bilateral and regional cooperation and prospects for further enhancement of NATO-Swedish military partnership activities. The Chairman commended the Swedish Armed Forces for being "both highly capable, professional and reliable as well as interoperable with Allied forces as a result of using NATO standards and exercising, training and fighting alongside NATO troops". Furthermore, General Pavel thanked General Byden for Swedens participation in NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, NATO Response Force and NATO exercises. General Pavel was invited to observe the Combined Joint Staff Exercise 2016 (CJSE 16) and delivered a speech to the exercise participants on NATO on the way to Warsaw. As part of his visit, the Chairman visited the Life Guards Regiment as well as the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre and the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations, both of which focus on education based on comprehensive approach principles in the multinational context. Since joining Partnership for Peace Programme in 1994, Sweden has played an active role in NATO peace and security operations and offered expertise to other partners and Allies, with a special focus on peacekeeping, civil emergency planning and civil-military cooperation, including gender. NATO and Sweden also have a high level of cooperation in areas such as education and training, and defence reform. Drug monopolies and 15,000-percent price increases He dared to heal without them (NaturalNews) In recent days, the Federal Trade Commission claimed another alternative medicine victim , as it fined Dr. Joseph Mercola, M.D., more than $5 million because he dared to sell a health treatment solution to the public that did not rely on the government's tainted and compromised medical approval.As reported by the, the FTC took issue with Mercola's sale of a UV device a he said was a safe alternative to traditional tanning beds. Backed by reams of research, Mercola explained in a column on his Mercola.com site why he had decided to settle with the FTC rather than fighting it out in court to prove that Americans are vitamin D-deficient, and that UV rays from a sunbed or the sun itself, in moderation, are actually beneficial.The medical industry and the government, however, have clung to the claim that all UV-light beds are the same, and that all cause cancer , something Mercola continues to refute. Nearly every vitamin D expert agrees the best source of vitamin D is the sun. Another source can be careful and limited use of UV lights," he wrote."UV light is essential but not always available based on your latitude and time of year. Studies published at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has shown artificial UV lights promote vitamin D production and deliver other health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health and a reduced risk of 16 different types of cancer, including breast cancer," he continued.The government was having none of that, however, and in a situation where Uncle Sam's venomous, shortsighted and predatory agencies make all the rules, well, there isn't much chance of winning.But, of course, when it comes to monopolizing medicine and healthcare in general, there is no bigger culprit than the federal government itself, which helps explain why its agencies get away with things no private citizen or company can even dream of.Asreported recently, even former Big Pharma executives are well aware of the drug monopolies that are routinely created by the Food and Drug Administration , the sole agency in charge of approving drugs, medical procedures and other health treatments."If you're the first company to get approved in a certain area and competitors can't get on the market, the FDA is now establishing monopolies. And that's certainly not their mandate," the then-outgoing chief executive officer of pharmaceutical giant Wyeth, Bob Essner, said in April 2008.He noted that the FDA was "establishing monopolies" by requiring that any new drug had to outperform similar drugs currently on the market.He also suggested that the FDA may have overstepped the bounds of its founding, legal mandate, which is only to determine whether drugs put before it are safe and effective, not better than existing products."It could well be legally challenged," said Essner. "Although that may not be a formal standard, it does appear to be a growing practice."Other Big Pharma officials agreed, including Dan Vasella, chief executive officer of Novartis."The discussion on what this [drug] brings over and above what's on the market is a question that's being asked," he said. "The FDA doesn't seem to trust the physicians any more." In 2011 , we reported that the FDA had granted a monopoly over a preterm labor drug and then the drug's price was increased by 15,000 percent.The FDA "arbitrarily decided to grant exclusive approval to KV Pharmaceutical to produce the one-and-only FDA-approved premature birth prevention drug -- which is really just a modified, patented version of the common hormone progesterone -- administered to women with a high risk of preterm delivery," we reported. "So what used to cost women as little as $10 to buy from their local compounding pharmacy will now cost $1,500, thanks to the FDA."Read more examples of the FDA's drug monopolization here . Collectively, these examples help explain why the FTC and FDA came down so hard on Dr. Mercola because he dared to treat and heal without them. New laws make it a hassle for parents to opt out of vaccines Not the first case of children being forcibly vaccinated (NaturalNews) If you choose not to vaccinate your children, you should know that the government can have you declared unfit and vaccinate them anyway at least if you happen to live in Michigan.A Michigan appeals court has ruled that a judge acted properly when ordering children to be vaccinated despite objections by their mother on religious grounds. Her requests were disregarded after she was deemed unfit by the state.According to, the mother was considered unfit on several grounds: lack of financial support for the children, unstable housing, lack of food for the children and mental health problems. The case was set in motion after a social worker asked a Kent County court to order the vaccinations . When the mother objected because of religious beliefs, the judge ordered their vaccinations. A subsequent appeal was held up.The appeals court's ruling reads in part: "We recognize that, were respondent a fit parent entitled to control and custody of her children, (state law) would undoubtedly allow her to forego the immunization of her children otherwise required by the Public Health Code on the grounds of religious objection."However, this provision is inapplicable on the present facts for the simple reason that the children are not being immunized as a result of provisions in the Public Health Code. That is, the trial court did not order the children's immunization under any provision of the Public Health Cole, rather... the court exercised its broad authority to enter dispositional orders for the health of a child under its jurisdiction, including the authority to enter dispositional orders regarding medical treatment."The laws in Michigan regarding vaccinations were recently changed to make it more difficult for parents to forgo vaccines. In the past, it was merely a matter of signing a paper at the school. Starting last January, however, parents of children who attend public schools were required to undergo an educational session about the benefits of vaccines and then sign the papers at the county health department.This ruling is likely to make a lot of people uncomfortable who are already concerned about vaccines being pushed on their children. Now it appears that a court can simply label parents unfit and vaccinate their children by force if they refuse to get on board, which is a very dangerous precedent.This is far from the only example of children being forcibly vaccinated. For example, in 2015, a Maine supreme court ruled that parents' statutory rights are terminable at will, even if there is not any clear evidence that such rights must be revoked to ensure the safety of a child. In that case, a child had been determined to be in danger because of her mother's boyfriend. Even though this had nothing to do with the child's vaccination status, a judge ordered the state's Health and Human Services Department to vaccinate the child against the mother's wishes. Her appeal was shot down by the Maine Supreme Court in a 41 ruling.This is particularly concerning because the government has directly admitted that vaccines can lead to injury and even death in a table that was published by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. According to this "Vaccine Injury Table," the tetanus shot has been linked to anaphylaxis, which can happen within just four hours of injection. The hepatitis B and MMR vaccines can also cause anaphylaxis, disability, injury and death. This admission flies in the face of the typical "all vaccines are safe" line that we are so often fed.As long as parents continue to stand up for their rights and oppose injecting their children with dangerous chemicals, Big Pharma and the government will keep trying to find ways to defame doctors who speak out about the dangers of vaccines, silence those who try to spread the truth such as the documentary VAXXED and force parents to comply, possibly putting their children at risk for autism and a host of other unpleasant outcomes. Racketeering cartel Eight others physicians have been named as part of the investigation as those who knew Fata was bilking the system. "One of the counts he plead to was conspiracy, and one person cannot be convicted of conspiracy. There has to be co-conspirators," said attorney Donna MacKenzie. "Who are those co-conspirators?" MacKenzie has a growing list of cases she's filed in Oakland County Circuit Court naming three hospitals: Crittenton, Karmanos and McLaren. The lawsuits are for medical malpractice resulting in death or other significant injuries. "What we would like to get to the bottom of is who else knew what was going on, what did they know, when did they know it, and what did they do about it?" MacKenzie said. All of the doctors named in the lawsuits are still practicing medicine. Killed innocent patients (NaturalNews) "As a public safety warning to all those seeking a breast cancer surgeon in the Detroit area, I'm offering the following warning in the public interest: Dr. David Gorski is a deranged, mentally ill cancer surgeon who is widely known as a pathological liar. His daily activities are conducted, and he operates with a total disregard for any principles of truth, honesty, ethics or even sanity."That's how Natural News editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger , began a recent column in which he detailed some of the medical shenanigans that Big Pharma troll and shill Gorski has been involved in.What's especially dangerous about him, however, is that he continues to practice, and at a facility known to have harbored one of the more vile criminal cancer frauds in recent memory: the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. Gorski's Kamanos colleague Dr. Farid Fata regularly committed cancer fraud against unwitting patients and the federal government, fleecing taxpayers for tens of millions of dollars while putting scores through needless, painful and harmful cancer treatments Currently preparing to serve a 45-year prison sentence , Fata is, thankfully at least, out of the way and being punished for what he's done. But, as reported by, there areregarding alleged malpractice by other cancer doctors at Kamanos and two other facilities.As the site reported further:Is Gorski one of the doctors under investigation? We don't know yet, but one thing is clear: He is involved in his own sort of racketeering cartel to defraud the public. He's engaged in conspiracy racketeering with other key individuals to exploit editorial privileges so he can spread false information about holistic cancer treatments and preventive measures in order to financially benefit himself as a highly paid conventional cancer surgeon.He's quite pathological as well, with Adams noting here that his demeanor is "irreconcilable with the professional demeanor of a clear-headed physician working in the interests of patients.""In my view, David Gorski's pathological hatred for holistic health advocates makes him a danger to his patients," Adams said in separate comments. "When he should be spending time educating cancer patients about ways to prevent cancer, he is instead trolling the internet with messages of hate, rallying nature-hating trolls to bully the very holistic doctors and activists who threaten the profits Dr. Gorski collects from a steady stream of insurance-carrying patients who are stricken with cancer."In his incredibly biasedentry for the recently released blockbuster documentary, which we are told he made under the pseudonym "MastCell," Gorski gave short shrift to the meat of the film the data, the scientific proof, the confirming research and the admission by Dr. William Thompson of the CDC that he and others with the agency suppressed a link between vaccines and autism. In fact, the entry goes out of its way to denigrate the film, using wording like "discredited" and "so-called 'CDC whistleblower.'" Also, Gorski even quotes himself in the entry, while giving much weight to "experts" who are obviously skeptical and dismissive of the film's contentions."When a physician becomes so preoccupied with the activities of spreading online hate and waging personal smear campaigns against whoever he names as enemies, he simply cannot function effectively as a responsible physician," Adams, author ofand featured speaker at The Truth About Cancer , noted further.In his letter to the Michigan Board of Medicine and the FBI, among others, Adams said he has "rational, evidence-based reason" to suspect that Dr. Fata was just one of several alleged fraudsters "who continue to place the public" in danger via medial malpractice and negligence."There is no doubt in my mind that Dr. David Gorski has killed innocent patients through his own medical negligence, and I believe that a careful review of Dr. Gorski's patient records at the Karmanos Cancer Center and other clinics would reveal inexcusable oversights that led to patient complications or death," Adams said separately. New rules in Ontario restrict neonicotinoid use Pesticide industry fights back, only to be stopped by Ontario's highest court (NaturalNews) In the winter of 2014, Canada's province of Ontario suffered an exponential loss of honeybees . An estimated 58 percent of the honeybee population vanished that year, frightening beekeepers. So many facets of a diverse agriculture system and healthy ecosystem depend on the bees' ability to stay healthy and pollinate.The biggest problem facing the bees all over the world right now is a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids . In Ontario, practically 100 percent of corn seeds and at least 60 percent of soybeans are treated with neonicotinoids, spanning four million acres of Ontario's agriculture. Honeybee populations are feeling the impact of the chemicals the most; neonics infiltrate pollen and ultimately disrupt and weaken the nervous systems of affected insects, including bees."The bee yards that are near corn and soy fields are at risk of being exposed, it's highly, highly toxic so it's a big issue," says Tibor Szabo of The Ontario Beekeepers Association. Szabo, beekeepers and environmental activists have been fighting tooth and nail to stop the pervasive use of neonics. The pesticide industry , unwilling to recognize the damage their neonics cause, refuse to give in to regulations, claiming that their pesticides are safe and supported by science. CropLife, one of the powers that lobby the government for perpetual, unrestricted use of neonics, continue to advocate that neonics be used liberally as if they are some kind of sweeping insurance policy against pests.But new rules put forth by the Ontario's Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change will strictly limit use of neonicotinoids in Ontario, cautioning farmers to use the pesticides only if they can "demonstrate continued need for their use."Ontario's Minister of the Environment, Glen Murray, led the effort to oppose the pesticide lobby, and to ban the chemicals through government regulation. Farmers will now be required to undergo soil tests and specialized training to confirm that they have a pest problem and that they are qualified to use neonicotinoids in a wiser, more productive manner.Murray says neonics have been "used on all corn seeds and most soy seeds whether or not the pests are there," as if the chemicals are some kind of insurance policy. This careless strategy to ensure the survival of corn and soy surely isn't ensuring the health of honeybees and the diverse agriculture they promote.When the new rules were laid out by the Ontario government, pesticide manufacturers and allied farmer's groups joined together to fight for unlimited access to neonics. "We are concerned that farmers won't have access to the tools they need to control pests because these regulations may handicap them," stated Mark Brock, chairman of the Grain Farmers of Ontario The fight was taken all the way to Ontario's top court. The Grain Farmers of Ontario challenged Ontario's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Even though more than half of honeybee hives died off between 2013 and 2014, the pesticide industry was determined to bring back neonicotinoids in full force. Represented by the Grain Farmer's of Ontario, the pesticide industry contended that the new rules were of little benefit to farmers who have to face the devastating reality of crop damage caused by invasive insects. The pro-pesticide group filed for an application for a lower court interpretation of the new rules. Their motion to stay the regulation was thrown out, and the case was taken to the province's top court.However, Ontario's highest court also dismissed the appeal of the pesticide industry. In a major victory for healthier, more sustainable and diverse agriculture, Ontario's high court sided with the beekeepers and bees! Now it is time for other nations to take a closer look at what these chemicals are doing to their environment and their agricultural economy. The herb that curbs pain killer addiction A possible alternative to opioids (NaturalNews) Opioids are being over prescribed in America, resulting in 47,000 deaths a year, mostly from pain prescription overdoses . The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that the US makes up 5 percent of the world's population but devours 75 percent of all prescription drugs. Considering all this, could marijuana help curb the country's opioid epidemic?Recent research suggests the answer is yes. In a study involving 185 patients from a dispensary in Ann Arbor, Michigan, participants reported experiencing fewer side effects and a 45 percent improvement in their quality of life after using cannabis to help manage their pain. Furthermore, patients using medical marijuana to manage chronic pain reported a 64 percent decrease in their use of widely prescribed pain medications like opioids. The results of the study were published online inHealth authorities are urging doctors to reduce the amount of prescriptions for painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin. The results of the recent study suggest medical marijuana may be a viable alternative for some people suffering from chronic pain "We're in the midst of an opioid epidemic and we need to figure out what to do about it," noted lead author of the study and doctoral student in the School of Public Health's Department of Environmental Health Sciences Kevin Boehnke, in a press release. "I'm hoping our research continues a conversation of cannabis as a potential alternative for opioids," he added.The team set out to determines if cannabis was an effective alternative for people with severe centralized chronic pain who did not always respond well to opioids. Surveys were conducted between November 2013 and February 2015."We hypothesized that cannabis might be particularly effective for the type of pain seen in conditions such as fibromyalgia, since there are many studies suggesting that synthetic cannabinoids work in these conditions," said study senior author Dr. Daniel Clauw, a Professor of Anesthesiology, Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. "We did not see this because the patients in this study rated cannabis to be equally effective for those with different pain severity," he continued.The researchers found that patients with less severe chronic pain reported a decrease in their use of painkillers and an increase in their quality of life."We would caution against rushing to change current clinical practice towards cannabis, but note that this study suggests that cannabis is an effective pain medication and agent to prevent opioid overuse," Boehnke added.The researchers said there was one limitation to the study, however. The people in the survey already believed in the medicinal benefits of marijuana. The participants were surveyed after they had been using cannabis, which may have skewed their recollections. The researchers intend to conduct additional research that examines the medicinal impact marijuana has on patients who have and have not used marijuana for pain management.Nevertheless, in states where medical marijuana is legal , population studies have shown a reduction in opioid use. The recent study is one of the first research projects to investigate individual patterns of use. A separate study released earlier this month from Israel followed people for six months and found a 44 percent decrease in their opioid use, according to the press release.Currently, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medicinal marijuana , and four states have legalized recreational marijuana.Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, underlining that sales of opioids have quadrupled since 1999.If you're interested in learning about more natural ways to help manage pain, bolster your health or improve your quality of life, make sure to sign up for the Natural Medicine, Healing & Wellness Summit Eleven underground aquifers in the midst of a drought Oh, we're on it now (NaturalNews) Surprise! The Environmental Protection Agency is not actually protecting underground drinking water supplies (one of its) from contamination by oil fields and, in a number of instances, has actually allowed companies to dump dirty wastewater into aquifers , according to a newly released report by the federal government's watchdog agency.According to the report from the Government Accountability Office, investigators singled out lax EPA oversight in California, where the dumping of wastewater into some drinking water aquifers was routinely permitted by local officials.In addition, the GAO examined EPA operations around the country, before coming to the conclusion that federal regulators have failed in their duty to collect paperwork and make on-site inspections that are necessary to make sure that states are following and enforcing provisions of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act , especially as it pertains to oilfield operations."The takeaway overall is that the EPA doesn't collect and states don't provide the information for the EPA to exercise the oversight that's its job," Kassie Siegel, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the environmental groups critical of state and federal regulation of oilfield waste and drinking water , told"It shows a massive failure to protect our drinking water," Siegel added, focusing on the failures in California.The GOA, in its report, noted:The review, which was released last month, made an example of California, which is the country's No. 3 oil-producing state, noting that federal and state regulators have acknowledged since at least 2014 that oilfield operations sanctioned by state officials were violating federal safe-drinking water rules.Included among the list of violations were instances where oilfield companies were dumping wastewater into at least 11 underground aquifers that were supposed to be under protection of federal laws, and were potential drinking water sources.The violations are even more impactful when you consider the state of drought California has been living under for the past four years.An AP analysis in 2015 "cited more than 2,000 permits California had given oil companies to inject into federally protected drinking water reserves," the newswire reported, adding that the analysis also discovered that the granting of those permits had sped up since 2011 under Gov. Jerry Brown, though state officials said that they thought the dates on the permit information were incorrect.In a statement, the EPA said that generally speaking, it agreed with the GAO findings, and would now be implementing measures to improve the collection of data as well as oversight. Kelly Zito, a spokeswoman for the agency, said that the recent resignation of EPA Regional Administration for California, Jared Blumenfeld, had nothing to do with the oilfield wastewater issues or the GAO's report The AP also noted that California's oil regulators said an overhaul of their enforcement of safe drinking water laws, as well as the oil and gas industry, was "well underway."Overall, "California is ahead in reforming its underground injection program compared to other states," Teresa Schilling, assistant director of the California Department of Conservation, said, as reported by the AP.Oilfield operations nationwide are of concern. The operations produce massive amounts of a briny fluid, as well as other waste, which is often disposed of by injecting it back underground. The problem is, it can obviously leach into drinking water aquifers."State and federal law regulate how the oil companies do that, with the goal of protecting naturally occurring underground water aquifers pure enough to potentially one day be tapped for drinking water or irrigation," the AP reported.Keep up with all of the EPA's failings at EPA Watch Anniversaries are worth celebrating, and thats particularly true for 150th anniversaries or, in the parlance we trot out for these events, sesquicentennials. (Sesqui, in the event that your Latin from high school has failed you, essentially means one-half more, so sesquicentennial means oh, never mind.) In any event, both Scio and Harrisburg celebrate their 150th anniversaries this year. The official date of incorporation for both communities is Oct. 24, 1866, and the communities already are gearing up to mark the occasion. Scio is getting a bit of a jump on the date, however: Officials and volunteers there are scheduling re-enactment camps and demonstrations of daily life in 1866 for May 13-15 at the Carol Bates Memorial Stage and Lamb Fair area, just off Main Street and Northeast First Avenue. The festivities will include demonstrations on making butter, spinning and weaving, crosscut sawing, blacksmithing and corn grinding. Among Scios early settlers was a large group of Czechoslovakian (Bohemian) families, and so a Czech-themed event with food and dance will be held at the ZCBJ Hall on Saturday, Aug. 13. And the official birthday party, with cake and more, will be at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23, at the ZCBJ Hall. Sesquicentennial envelopes also will be available, which can be canceled by a specially designed stamp on Monday, Oct. 24. Meanwhile, Harrisburg plans to mark its 150th birthday with activities on Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23, including a parade and demonstrations throughout town of pioneer-type activities by people in 1866 garb. The Harrisburg Fire Department plans to hold a barbecue lunch on both days, and a time capsule ceremony is being planned. (One word of advice: Make sure there are plenty of instructions for future Harrisburg residents as to where they can find the capsule when it comes time to dig it up.) The city also is planning on releasing a brochure featuring historic homes and other locales in Harrisburg, such as where the local ferry crossed the Willamette River. That brochure should be finished sometime in May, organizers said. Other details of the Harrisburg celebration are still being worked out by the town's Sesquicentennial Committee, which meets the second Thursday of each month at City Hall. Our guess is that the committee would welcome additional volunteers, and that brings up another reason why these celebrations can be valuable for communities. Of course, these events are terrific opportunities for communities to take stock of their pasts, and its always fascinating (and useful) to take a look back. But they also offer residents the opportunity to help lay the groundwork for the future of these communities, and that starts by engaging citizens; people who raise their hand to help their communities celebrate their pasts may find themselves more willing to help with the (sometimes more difficult) work of charting out their futures. This sort of volunteer muscle, of course, is particularly essential to the lives of our smaller communities. It would be terrific if these celebrations of the legacies and traditions and rich histories of these communities leads, in a very real sense, to recharging the volunteer spirit that has powered these towns for the last 150 years. In the meantime, we offer congratulations to both Harrisburg and Scio for hitting the 150-year mark. Heres hoping that their celebrations this year are smashing successes. And we wish them nothing but the best for the next 150 years, which will lead up to additional celebrations in 2166. No need to hit the dictionary for this one: Those festivities will be dubbed tricentennials. (mm) Rosememory Putting the pep in peppermint (NaturalNews) Rosemary has been prized for its medicinal benefits since ancient times. The herb was traditionally used to help ease muscle pain, enhance the immune system and boost memory. Evidence for the health benefits of rosemary isn't limited to ancient wisdom, however. In a recent study, scientists demonstrated that rosemary really is associated with a better memory.The researchers found that the smell of rosemary helped improve the memory of older adults. In particular, the team discovered that just being in a room with the aroma of rosemary increased memory test scores by 15 percent. The research was presented at the British Psychology Society's annual conference in Nottingham.While this boost in memory might not seem significant, researchers from the University of Northumbria claim it could mean the difference between remembering and forgetting to take a life-saving drug at a specific time.As reported by the UK's, Dr. Mark Moss, head of the department of psychology at Northumbria, said: "I think that received wisdom through the ages is based on naturalistic observations of behaviour."We once had herbalists in every village who would have handed out lavender to sleep or chamomile to calm and their effects would have been documented over centuries and millennia. So I think people in the past did realise that rosemary had an effect on memory."My working hypothesis is that when you inhale rosemary its compounds are absorbed in the blood through the lungs and then are sent to the brain where they can actually act on your brain chemistry."The researchers recruited 150 people over the age of 65 and placed them in a room with either the scent of rosemary or lavender or no smell. Once the participants were inside the room, they were asked to conduct a series of memory tests. These included remembering to pass a message at a particular time and to switch tasks at a specific time.These tasks helped the researchers gauge the time-based memory and event-based memory of the participants. Time-based memory consists of remembering to do a task at a specific time, such as watching a television program, whereas event-based memory consists of remembering do to something when cued by the appropriate information, such as remembering one needs to return a book upon passing a library.Participants in the rosemary room performed significantly better on the memory tasks than participants in the other two rooms. According to Lauren Bussey, a post-graduate student at Northumbria University, "This is the first time that similar effects have been demonstrated in the healthy over 65's. Further investigation is required to understand the potential benefits of these aromas throughout the life span."The researchers also investigated the impact that peppermint tea had on memory in a separate experiment. The team recruited 180 participants who were randomly assigned a drink of either peppermint tea, chamomile tea or hot water.Following 20 minutes of rest, the participants completed various tests that gauged their memory and other cognitive abilities. Prior to drinking the tea , the participants completed another questionnaire pertaining to their temperament.The results of the study showed that peppermint tea significantly improved long-term memory, working memory and alertness in comparison to both chamomile and hot water. Chamomile tea, on the other hand, was shown to slow down memory and attention speed, making it an excellent drink to consume before bedtime.Commenting on the results of the study, Dr. Moss said, "It's interesting to see the contrasting effects on mood and cognition of the two different herbal teas."The enhancing and arousing effects of peppermint and the calming/sedative effects of chamomile observed in this study are in keeping with the claimed properties of these herbs and suggest beneficial effects can be drawn from their use."If you want to learn more about how you can naturally improve your health and quality of life, be sure to check out the Natural Medicine, Healing & Wellness Summit Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more. Take Action: Support Natural News by linking to this article from your website Permalink to this article: https://www.naturalnews.com/053842_mumps_outbreak_vaccine_science_Harvard.html Embed article link: (copy HTML code below): Forty people contract mumps at Harvard ... all were vaccinated ... mumps vaccines based on scientific fraud Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. Follow Natural News on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Pinterest Yogurt giant Dannon is yet another Big Food company making clean label the new norm" with a pledge to further improve its sustainable agriculture practices for its milk supply, increase transparency for its portfolio of products and evolve to more natural and fewer ingredients for flagship brands. The move follows the clean-label lead of several other Big Food companies, including General Mills, Kellogg Co., Nestle, Kraft Foods, and Campbell Soup Company. Starting July 2016, the company will move to more natural ingredients which do not contain genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) for its flagship brandsOikos, Danimals and Dannonwhich represent 50 percent of the companys current volume. To ensure full transparency for consumers, Dannon also commits to declare by December 2017 nationwide on label the presence of GMO ingredients in its products. In the meantime, if one state implements a GMO labeling requirementsince Dannon does favor a nationwide labeling systemit will label the presence of GMOs nationwide according to the state requirements. The company also will work with its farmer partners to ensure the cows that supply Dannons milk for the flagship products will be fed non-GMO feed by the end of 2018. Dannon also pledged to offer products coming from a more sustainable agriculture by working with its dairy farmer partners and their suppliers to progressively implement the use of sustainable agriculture practices and technology that leads to better soil health, better water management, an increase in biodiversity, and a decrease in carbon emission. According to the company, the changes will enable consumers to make everyday choices for themselves, their family and children consistent with their wish for natural and sustainable eating options, choosing which agricultural and environmental model they favor. The company plans to evolve other brands in its portfolio over time. Download INSIDERs Clean-Label Bars," Clean-Label Beverage" and Keeping it Clean" Digital Issues to find out more about science-based ingredients and formulation strategies manufacturers are using to create clean-label products. The Honest Co., the consumer goods company cofounded by the actress Jessica Alba and whose products include infant formula, isnt so honest, according to a lawsuit recently filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The companys Organic Infant Formula contains synthetic ingredients that federal law and Californias Organic Products Act of 2003 do not permit in organic products, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) alleged in the April 6 lawsuit. Eleven of the 40 ingredients in the infant formula are synthetic substances that are not allowed in organic products, according to the complaint. None of the prohibited ingredients in The Honest Co.s infant formula appear on a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) list, which specifies non-agricultural ingredients that may be added to organic products, according to the lawsuit. OCA identified certain ingredients, such as sodium selenite, as hazardous, and alleged some have not even been assessed as safe for human foodsmuch less for infant formulas." According to the complaint, The Honest Co.s infant formula includes the following substances that are not allowed in organic products: sodium selenite, taurine, ascorbyl palmitate, calcium pantothenate, choline bitartrate, cholecalciferol, beta-carotene, biotin, dl-alpha tocopherol, inositol and phytonadione. The OCA, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group based in Finland, Minnesota, is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief for violations of Californias Organic Products Act of 2003. The Honest Co. responded to the complaint. "Our Organic Infant Formula is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration and meets all safety and nutritional standards," the company said in a statement. "It is also certified USDA Organic by an independent third party, in strict accordance with the National Organic Program. We are confident this lawsuit will be dismissed." The OCA also has filed a similar lawsuit against The Hain Celestial Group. The lawsuit, filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court, alleged the companys Earths Best brands, such as Organic Infant Formula and Organic Soy Infant Formula, are falsely labeled organic because they contain non-agricultural and non-organic ingredients. No one is more concerned about food labels and ingredients than new mothers responsible for feeding infants whose immune systems and brain development are so underdeveloped and vulnerable," said Ronnie Cummins, OCAs international director, in an April 23 press release announcing the lawsuits. As consumers, these mothers must rely on truthful labeling in order to make the best choices for feeding their infants and toddlers. Our job as a consumer advocacy group is to call out and hold accountable companies like The Honest Co. and Hain Celestial when they knowingly and intentionally mislead consumers." Hain Celestial Group expressed confidence that the lawsuit would be dismissed. Earths Best Organic infant formulas fully comply with the USDAs National Organic Program standards," the company said in a statement. An independent organic certifier, acting as an agent for the USDA, has certified that the formulas qualify as organic under federal law." Pictures of women from Prague (top) and Newcastle (bottom) show them when they are fertile (left) and when they're not (right). Credit: The Royal Society Women who make the room light up with their good looks may have a secret up their sleeve - it may be down to their menstrual cycle. Both men and women consider a woman's face to be at its most attractive when she is at the peak of her fertility, according to new research. Craig Roberts from the University of Newcastle and colleagues looked at how female facial attractiveness varies during their menstrual cycle, to see if that might convey the level of their fertility. Other animals have more obvious ways of letting their mates know when they are fertile: for example, female chimps' genital areas swell and turn pink. Roberts and his team selected about 50 women aged between 19 and 33 years in both Newcastle and Prague, the hometowns of two of the group members. They took two pictures of each subject. The first picture showed them when they were fertile, 8 to 14 days after the first day of their last menstruation. The second was taken 14 days later. Roughly 125 women and 125 men were then asked in which picture the women looked more attractive. The picture showing a fertile woman was chosen by 51-59% of each group - a statistically significant result, says Roberts. Interestingly, female viewers appeared to be more sensitive to the effect. Roberts does not yet know what hints people are extracting from the pictures in order to judge their attractiveness. The colour and condition of their skin may be important, he says. Previous studies have shown that skin tone becomes lighter during ovulation. "But there may be more factors; we have to look into that more," he says. Cover up A few women had changed their hairstyle between pictures, so Roberts wondered if that was playing a role in the viewers' decisions. The team covered up the hair and ears on the pictures and asked people to rate them again. Covering up the hair did not make much of a difference to a woman's looks as far as the men were concerned. But, while women still picked the picture of the fertile woman more often, they did so less reliably when the hair was disguised. The results indicate that men and women rely on different cues to judge another woman's attractiveness, says Roberts. Women in particular may have evolved to be sensitive to other women's cycles, adds Ian Penton-Voak, a psychologist at Stirling University, UK. This would let them assess their biggest competitor when vying for mates, he says. Other researchers have focused on how women rate men's looks during their cycle, says Penton-Voak; asking men about women instead is "really interesting", he says. Penton-Voak's own work has shown that women prefer masculine-looking men when they are ovulating. At other times, he says, they prefer softer features that are associated with more social and caring behaviour. The accepted community standard in structural biology is that authors of a paper describing a 3D macromolecular structure must submit model coordinates to the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and provide the accession code. A structure model, however, is just thatan investigator's interpretation of the experimental data. Although the PDB systematically performs some validation checks for model quality, the only way to ensure total transparency is to make the raw experimental data available. Access to raw data is also essential for training and testing new software tools for data processing and analysis, for developing metrics to assess the quality of results and for teaching the next generation of scientists. When raw data are available to peer reviewers, potentially embarrassing mistakes can often be caught before papers are published. Sharing raw data expedites scientific progress: other groups can reprocess raw data sets with new software tools to generate new insights, while avoiding the redundancy of generating data on the very same system. As editors, and as editors of a methods journal in particular, we commend the development of two new archives, now open to the structural biology community, hosting the raw data underlying 3D macromolecular structure models. The Structural Biology Data Grid (SBDG; https://data.sbgrid.org) is an archive mainly for X-ray diffraction image data (as well as for a few other data types) supporting structures in journal publications (Meyer et al., 2016). EMPIAR (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/emdb/empiar/), an archive for electron microscopy (EM) image data supporting structures in the Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB), is described on page 387 of this issue. Fundamentally, raw data sets from both X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM used for high-resolution macromolecular structure determination consist of series of 2D images. A typical X-ray diffraction data set is about 5 gigabytes, and a large cryo-EM data set could top out at an astounding 10 terabytes. It is only in the past few years, especially with the advent of inexpensive cloud storage systems, that hosting and sharing data sets of such enormity has even been technically realistic. But the advances are not just technical; they are also cultural, part of a movement across scientific fields to enhance transparency and reproducibility in research. As noted in our Method of the Year 2015 feature, many in the rapidly growing cryo-EM field, concerned about the quality of published work, have been calling for making raw data available. Nevertheless, given the competitive nature of this field, there are understandably dissenters on this position who worry about releasing their precious data sets into the wild to be potentially exploited by other groups that put no time, effort or money into their generation. For a raw data archive to be useful, submitting and retrieving data sets should be as painless as possible, and the archive must have the capacity for growth. EMPIAR, a project of the PDB in Europe (PDBe), aims to make uploading terabyte-sized EM data sets a single-click operation. Its present capacity is in the petabyte range, but its growth must be managed, according to the EMPIAR staff. Access to data sets in the SBDG is facilitated by the Data Access Alliance, a voluntary organization of data-storage providers with diverse funding sources. Data sets are replicated in centers located in the United States, Sweden, China and Uruguay, which helps minimize data loss and enables local access to large data sets that can be challenging to download. The hope is that this data-grid model will be more sustainable in the long term than a traditional repository. To ensure that these archives will be funded far into the future, they need support from the structural biology communitynot just through the deposition of raw data, but through demonstrations that show how such resources propel the field forward. EMPIAR and the SBDG join the established Biological Magnetic Resonance Data Bank (BMRB; http://www.bmrb.wisc.edu/), which for more than two decades has hosted biomolecular NMR spectral data, mostly in the form of machine-readable tables of chemical shifts (though it also has the capacity to host raw NMR spectra). Though it has been a decisively important resource for the NMR community, it has not been without funding challenges, as detailed in a 2012 special issue of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. Funders must devise long-term solutions for repositories with proven impact on scientific fields. A pregnant woman gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the middle of a Jetstar Asia flight from Singapore to Myanmar. Because of this, the mother decided to name her son after the airline company. In a news report by Singapore's Straits Times, it was stated that the mother was aboard flight 3K583 last Friday on a flight to Yangon, Myanmar. The plane was minutes from landing on their destination when the mother started experiencing cramps. Due to the obvious urgency, the lucky mother was immediately assisted by three doctors on board. According to the report, as the crew members and the doctors were preparing to move the mother, she gave birth to a baby boy. Inside Edition picked up on the story as well. According to their news report, the mother's family name is Star. So she aptly named her son, Saw Jet Star, as a tribute to the airline and the crew who assisted her and the baby during the delivery. Strait Times also said "According to a Jetstar spokesman, the boy's birth was met with a round of applause from the plane's passengers, who were mostly Myanmar nationals." "Our crew are trained to respond to all kinds of events on our aircraft, and we're proud of the way they assisted with the help of generous doctors onboard to ensure the safe delivery of our youngest ever passenger on a Jetstar Asia flight," said the spokesman in an interview. The six pounds seven ounce infant and the mother also recognized the crewman named Saw Ler Htu who, according to the airline's Facebook post, "exercised utmost care and concern for the passenger, calling for medical assistance on board the aircraft when required." Jetstar took the incident positively posting about Saw Jet Star on their Facebook page. Saw Jet was also reunited with the cabin crew who helped the doctors deliver him inside the plane. The reunion was posted on Jetstar's Facebook page as well. Being the first baby to be born mid-flight aboard Jetstar, they will donate $1,000 worth of baby products to Saw Jet Star and his family, and they will also issue travel vouchers to the doctors onboard who helped deliver the baby safely. Jetstar reminded expectant mothers that their policy allows women up to 40 weeks to travel on flights not more than four hours and expectant mothers who are more than 28 weeks pregnant are required to present a doctor's certificate allowing them to fly. Like Edie Orner (Mailbag, April 19), I too have been a longtime advocate of single-payer health care. However, I think it is a waste of time and money for Oregon to attempt to implement this system on the state level. If Oregon unilaterally initiates a system which provides health care to all citizens, with a progressive tax to pay for it, two things will undoubtedly happen: 1. Even with a waiting period, people in need of medical services from other states will move to Oregon; and 2. People and corporations with the money to pay the increased taxes will continue to leave the state. Single-payer health care needs to be a national health care initiative. Most of the advanced economies int he world have centrally run health systems and many of these countries have better health outcomes that the U.S. We have the same genes, same diseases and same health care issues as other countries (except we do shoot ourselves more). Let us as a country adopt the better aspects of their systems and incorporate them into a national single-payer system. Skip Throop Albany (April 21) Surely you've heard of the popular saying, "Spare the rod and spoil the child," but a new study reveals that you should think twice before spanking your child. Spanking is the most commonly accepted form of corporal punishment. It is a form of disciplining a child by hitting their buttocks or extremities with an open palm. It is said that there are times that a child may need a good beating to realize their mistakes, but researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan begs to differ. According to their 50-year long study published in the Journal of Family Psychology, spanking a child would not reach the outcome parents wanted to be, instead a child who experience spanking is more likely to be anti-social and aggressive. Spanking a child may also increase their risk of developing mental health problems and difficulties in their cognitive abilities. "We found that spanking was associated with unintended detrimental outcomes and was not associated with more immediate or long-term compliance, which are parents' intended outcomes when they discipline their children," said study author Elizabeth Gershoff, an associate professor of human development and family sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, in a statement. For the study, the researchers analyzed five decades worth of data following over 160,000 children. Researchers are careful to differentiate spanking from potential physical abuse. Over the course of the study, researchers found out that the more spanking a child experienced growing up, the more likely they were to exhibit anti-social behavior and mental health problems. The researchers have also discovered that parents who were spanked during their childhood tends to employ the same corporal punishment to their children, showing evidence that the attitude toward spanking can passed on from generation to generation. Another concerning that the study has revealed is that the spanking and physical abuse have nearly the same strength in having a detrimental effect in the child. Due to the potential negative effects of spanking to a child, researchers suggest that parents should use positive and non-punitive forms of discipline. A mother and daughter were arrested after dozens of cats living in their filthy minivan were found by police in Atlanta, Georgia. According to a report by Inside Edition, a concerned citizen contacted the Atlanta police on April 26 at around 2:30 a.m. and told them about a possibly homeless family living in a van parked in Kroger parking lot in Sandy Springs Circle. When they arrived at the scene, they discovered the blue Dodge Caravan was moreover filled with 38 cats, including newborn kittens stuffed in the cup holders. As the police arrived, Alexandria Wingate, 41, claimed she was waiting for her mother, Sharyn Ann Wingate, 70 who was out buying water in the grocery store. The incident report also indicated that Alexandra Wingate claimed they had so many cats because they worked with a local veterinary clinic to place the animals in homes. Furthermore, they also denied they were homeless. Sgt. Forrest Bohannon of Sandy Springs Police described the vehicle's condition as "deplorable,'" and it appeared that the women had been living in the vehicle with the animals. Further investigation led to the discovery that both also have active warrants for their arrest on cruelty to animals. Accoring to Fox 5, the women faced another charge of animal cruelty for a March incident where 20 cats were found in their Dunwoody home. Thus, they were taken to the Dekalb County Jail, where they both remain on $5,000 bond each, after allegedly violating their probation by owning animals. Meanwhile, Karen Hirsch, a spokeswoman for the LifeLine Animal Project, informed The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that 34 of the 38 cats are healthy and ready to be adopted. "Out of the four who aren't ready for adoption, one is pregnant, one is nursing kittens, one is FIV positive [feline immunodeficiency virus] and one has an upper respiratory infection," Hirsch said. After veterinary care, 38 cats will eventually be adopted through the Fulton County Animal Shelter. Anyone interested in adopting the cats can contact adoptions@fultonanimalservices.com or call 404-613-0357. British actress Emma Thompson, along with her sister Sophie, broke court injunction to protest against fracking on a Lancashire site. The Oscar winner and her sister, also an actress, staged a parody of the show "Great British Bake Off" on a land near Fylde which was leased for drilling. Aptly titled "The Frack Free Bake Off," the two actresses filmed an "episode" with the activist group Greenpeace to stand against any fracking activities by Cuadrilla, an oil and gas exploration company, as reported by The Guardian. The injunction, or authoritative order, has been placed in 2014, banning protesters from the area. However, this did not stop the team from shooting their satirical take on the bake off to speak against fracking. The sisters baked energy-themed cakes, showing wind turbines and solar power, and released a series of videos on their work. The full episode, which can be viewed below, has also been released. The "Nanny McPhee" actress said she has been made aware of the fracking issue with her involvement with Greenpeace. "It came to a head for me when David Cameron went to the Paris Climate Conference and signed on to the protocol," Emma said in the same report. "Then on the sly at Christmas, when nobody was looking, [he] gave the nod to 200 fracking sites in Britain." "It proved to me our government is saying one thing and doing the opposite," she added. However, not everyone is pleased with their action. The farmer who owns the land they trespassed on got "very upset," as reported by The Telegraph. Irate for not being able to continue his work on the field, he drove a muck spreader around the makeshift studio and the protesters, spraying raw sewage to crew members. The liquid poop, however, narrowly missed the Thompsons and their cakes. Police came to the area but made no arrests. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process used to extract natural gas by drilling deep into rock formations. While supporters say fracking can add to the world's energy supply, those who oppose it say that it can contaminate water. A study also revealed several US states are at high risk for earthquakes due to fracking, putting millions of American lives in danger. This is not the first time that Emma Thompson joined causes for the environment. The Guardian also reported that she joined a week-long protest last year at Shell's headquarters in London to protest Arctic drilling. Other celebrities who are also well-known advocates of environmental causes are Leonardo diCaprio, Robert Redford, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Daryl Hannah. Rosacea, the facial redness affecting millions of Americans, may be linked to a higher risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, suggests a study led by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. American Academy of Dermatologists defines rosacea as a common skin disease which begins with frequent redness that can slowly spread beyond the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin. An estimated 16 million Americans are currently diagnosed with the skin condition, National Rosacea Society notes. Led by Alexander Egeberg, MD, PhD, of University of Copenhagen, the researchers examined 5,591,718 individuals, including 82,439 patients with rosacea. It was found out later on that a total of 99,040 individuals developed dementia (any form) and of whom 29,193 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The risk was highest among older adults and those diagnosed by a hospital dermatologist. Wandtv notes that Patients with rosacea have elevated levels of certain proteins such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), that are also involved in neurogenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease and dementia. After Cox regression was used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios, it was found out that patients with rosacea had a 7 percent increased risk of dementia and a 25 percent increased risk of Alzheimer's disease compared with individuals without rosacea. Dr. Egeberg told Medscape.com that "While it is too early to suggest possible treatment options based on these findings, it will be interesting to see if treatment of rosacea may impact the dementia risk and vice versa." In addition, he also emphasized that being diagnosed with the skin disease does not necessarily mean that they will develop neurological disorders. While there is no cure for rosacea yet and the cause is unknown, medical therapy is available to manage the signs. Individuals who suspect they may have rosacea are urged to see a dermatologist. With the changing times, evolution is inevitable. Even with animals, they change and adapt to the environment in order to thrive. Sometimes these changes are baffling causing men to question why or how. Just like the changes in dolphin's skin color. Just like the pink dolphins who are once perceived as a mythical being. Just like the Botos of Amazon river, these dolphins that are perceived mythical beings at first because of their rare color. In a report by BBC, they said that the Amazon pink dolphins are real. These dolphins are rather quiet and according to experts, the adult males are the "pinkest". The bolo is one of the few remaining species of the freshwater dolphin, and they come in pink and grey. Vanessa Mintzer at the University of Florida said there's a "Colouration varies." There's a lot of theories which explain the pink color, Anthony Martin at the University of Dundee, and Vera da Silva of the National Research Institute of the Amazon in Brazil suggest that the color is due to extreme aggression with dolphins "Almost the entire body surface of adult males is often covered with multiple overlapping tooth-rake marks," While Tim Caro of the University of California said that "Pink is surely a way to match the particulate red mud that occurs in some of the rivers following heavy rains," Experts would want to further study the discoloration that takes effect but because of the rarity of pink dolphins it is proven to be a difficult task. A dolphin-dedicated organization said that pink dolphins are different from sea dolphin. They feed on crabs, catfish, small river fish and even small turtles and the largest population known are the botos of the Amazon. Although experts from the organization said they cannot fully explain yet why this happens, they said that dolphins turning pink can be attributed to the adaptation to the river life. The capillaries near the surface of the skin produce such enchanting color. They said the colors are enhanced when pink dolphins see human being, much like when people are blushing. In Taiwan, another specie of pink dolphin is deemed endangered, the Taiwanese humpback dolphin. According to the Environment News Service "the Taiwanese humpback dolphin is unusual because its skin color changes from grey to pink or white as it matures." Although there are no distinct reason yet as to why their color changes from grey to pink, conservationist are calling for help since there are only 75 of them left on earth. And if they vanish now, men won't truly understand the mystery that envelopes the Taiwanese humpback dolphin. The petitioners say that the U.S. Endangered Species Act can protect these dolphins from becoming extinct. Taylor Jones, endangered species advocate at WildEarth Guardians said in an interview that "The Service needs to actively combat the current extinction crisis by quickly protecting species like the Taiwanese humpback dolphin." Since there are more to the pink dolphins men are yet to discover, conservationists and locals in areas where they thrive should work together to protect these species. Not only because science would like to understand their fascinating colors, but because these species deserves to thrive and reproduce and to create their next generation just like humans. Police say a team of three robbers who terrorized Bay Area restaurant workers in 23 takeover-style robberies are under arrest. Kristoffer Jones, 18, of Albany, and two Oakland residents, 40-year-old Shawan Spragans and 46-year-old Merl Simpson, were arrested in connection with the series of takeover-style robberies since early March, according to police. The trio was arrested while allegedly attempting to rob a San Francisco bar on Friday. Nine of the robberies have been in Berkeley, police said. Businesses in San Francisco, San Leandro, Albany, Oakland and Hayward were also targeted during the spree. In one of the alleged robberies, Chris Nobbie faced two masked armed gunmen who stormed the Bernal Pizza in San Francisco. "He just kept screaming, 'Where is the rest of the money?' But it's a pizza paror, most of our stuff is in credit card transactions," Nobbie said. Berkeley police called it a "steadily evolving robbery series" in which restaurants were hit after closing time by the same suspects, who had a calm demeanor during the incidents. After the third Berkeley location was robbed, Berkeley police detectives began working jointly with other local police departments as well as the FBI on the investigation. It was when the suspects tried to rob a San Francisco bar that was under surveillance by the San Francisco Police Department early Friday morning that arrests were made in the case, police said. For victims, knowing the gunmen are off the street is a relief. "It's definitely a relief they caught them and we don't have to worry about them coming back," Nobbie said. Police are asking anyone who has additional information on the case to call 510-981-5900. NBC Bay Area's Jean Elle contributed to this report. A man accused of kidnapping a 3-year-old boy from the Milpitas library earlier this month is schizophrenic and believed he was helping the boy, his attorney said Monday. Police arrested 23-year-old Alfonso Edington on felony kidnapping charges. He and the boy he is accused of taking were spotted by an alert bus driver about an hour after the abduction, authorities said, but Edingtons defense attorney said her client believed he was helping the boy. He had just been diagnosed with schizophrenia and I dont believe he was medicated, said Santa Clara County Public Defender Nisreen Baroudi. At the time he thought he knew the little boy. He had no intention of harming the little boy." Baroudi said her client took the boy on a VTA bus to the BART station in Fremont because he planned to return the child to his mother in Antioch. The driver is credited with helping police arrest Edington. "Right now, we are pursuing felony kidnaping charges, said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Brandon Carrera. If something changes after a mental evaluation we may consider it at that time. Edington could face 11 years in state prison if convicted of felony kidnapping, but his defense attorney said there is a possibility Edington could plead not guilty by reason of insanity when he returns to court in two months. Court documents obtained by NBC Bay Area show Edington was arrested in downtown Los Gatos on February 25 for battery. Edington pleaded no contest to slugging a man in the face and was sentenced to two years of probation. Two brothers are charged with murdering their parents at their San Jose home this past weekend, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney, who also on Friday announced 17-year-old Omar Golamrabbi would be tried as an adult. The teen is also alleged to be one of the authors of chilling messages found near his parents' bodies, according to prosecutors. NBC Bay Area has not named the high school student until now, as he had been considered a minor. Like his brother, 22-year-old Hasib Golamrabbi was charged with the double murder of Golam and Shamima Rabbi, 59 and 57 respectively. They were found shot to death on Sunday in their Lucas Court home; prosecutors said Friday Golam Rabbi was shot more than a dozen times. The younger brother entered a not guilty plea and his older brother did not enter a plea at their arraignment, according to Omar Golamrabbi's alternative defender Jessica Delgado. The older brother wore a yellow jumpsuit reserved for those in the mental ward. He was represented by Andy Guitierrez. The younger brother was arraigned in the hallway, and shielded from public view. Their next court date is set for May 5. Prosecutors have not given a motive for the deaths. But they did indicate for the first time in court documents that there were two authors of black magic marker rants on the family's walls - and that the writing matched the handwriting of Omar Golamrabbi, who attended school on Monday as if nothing happened. The court documents do not state exactly what was written, only that there were "multiple sets of writing" that had been found in the home. Sources who witnessed the aftermath told NBC Bay Area they saw a message that read: "Sorry my first killing was clumsy." Prosecutors did not reveal who might have written the other messages. In addition, prosecutors allege that the younger brother told police Hasib Golamrabbi had killed both parents, and then closed the garage door before they left to attend an Oakland anime convention on Saturday "to make sure that blood was not seeping out from inside the garage where his father had been killed to outside the house." Apparently, there was a lot of blood. "Golam was shot more than a dozen times. Sharma was shot once in the head," Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Matt Braker said after the arraignment. For his part, Hasib Golamrabbi apparently admitted to shooting his father, but not his mother, court documents indicate. He also told police a stranger once assaulted him at the home and told him to commit the killing, court documents show. Omar Golamrabbi did not corroborate that with police. "There are some unanswered questions in the case," Braker said, adding investigators are also looking into the motive. The documents contradict the little bit that Hasib Golamrabbi told The Chronicle, in a jailhouse interview. NBC Bay Area also requested an interview with him, but he denied the television request, according to the sheriff's office. The best thing if anyone wants to know what happened is to wait for the trial, Hasib Golamrabbi told the newspaper on Thursday. I want everyone to know what happened, he told the Chronicle, but I cant say anything without a lawyer. Asked if his brother had anything to do with the brutal deaths, Hasib Golamrabbi told the paper: No, and thats all I can say. Hes innocent. While prosecutors and police have remained tight-lipped about why two brothers would have killed parents that many in the Bangladeshi community have described as "soft and gentle," sources have told NBC Bay Area that the Rabbi elders did not agree with Hasib Golamrabbis sexual orientation. Another, longer message written in marker near the parents' bodies, allegedly ended, "I cant be like you, telling a lie. I cant love someone without telling them," sources told NBC Bay Area. The court documents mention nothing about the older son's sexual orientation. At the same time the sons were being arraigned Friday afternoon, the funeral for both Rabbi parents was held. After the traditional Muslim juma'ah prayer, the burial for the Bangladeshi-born parents took place at the Five Pillars Farm Cemetery in Livermore. Vociferously chanting "Dump Trump," and "Run Trump Run," protesters trying to prevent Donald Trump from giving the kick-off speech at the California Republican Convention Friday blocked the entrance, jumped over bushes and faced off against police in riot gear. The mood was mostly peaceful in Burlingame Friday morning, but turned much more tense shortly before noon, when protesters tried to block the entrance to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Raucous crowds formed on Old Bayshore Highway and police were spotted from the NBC Bay Area chopper running after them in full riot clear. One protester was escorted out of the hotel by security after she sneaked into the main convention hall and chanted: "Dump Trump." [NATL-BAY] Images From California's GOP Convention in Burlingame Law enforcement officials told NBC Bay Area that five arrests had been made as of Friday afternoon. One minor injury was reported. Despite the protests, Trump arrived at the hotel shortly after noon, jumping with his entourage over a highway wall to make his way inside, where California Republican Chair Jim Brulte told luncheon guests Trump had arrived. "That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," Trump joked at the luncheon. "It felt like I was crossing the border." Protesters blocking the entrance to the Hyatt Hotel in Burlingame, California, forced Donald Trump to jump a wall behind the hotel in order to make a planned appearance at the California Republican Convention on Friday, April 29, 2016. "People who believe in free speech were trying to prevent Trump from coming to the convention, but the California Highway Patrol and Burlingame police are really, really good, Donald Trump has arrived and is in the hotel," Brulte said to applause from the crowd. Outside, protesters carrying the U.S. flag cheered when they heard that Trump had to take a back entrance to the hotel because of them, and had compared the experience to crossing the border. "The Bay Area's anti-racist communities are out here representing the real California," protesters carrying a poster reading "Sorry for your inconvenience, we're trying to change the world," said. Trump did have supporters outside the hotel, but the overall message was against the business mogul, who has called Mexicans rapists and whose platform includes building a wall on the border with Mexico to keep foreigners out. People outside the Hyatt held up signs that read Mr. Hate Leave Our State, and more explosive, expletive-laden comments. Dozens of anti-Trump protesters on Friday lined up in front of the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame ahead of presidential candidate Donald Trumps speech at the California Republican Convention kickoff lunch. Bob Redell reports We dont want him to be president, said Angelina Castro in a Facebook Live interview early Friday. Castro said she came to protest for her daughter. "We don't have a problem with Republicans," she said. "We have a problem with racism, sexism and hatred." Oscar Munoz, a military veteran with two college degrees, asked out loud: Why are you racist? Why are we targets of your hate? Munoz added, "He's a coward. I fought for my country. Did he fight for his country? I'm a vet not a rapist or murderer." Trump wasn't there for immediate comment, but one Republican attendee told NBC Bay Area: "This is America, this is great, as long as they keep the protests peaceful, it's great." Inside the GOP Convention Hall, Truman Jensen and his wife, Barbara, said they were voting for Trump because he has hired more people than Hillary Clinton. The Trump brouhaha in Silicon Valley comes after the violent scene that played out in Orange County on Thursday night outside the Pacific Amphitheatre, where 17 people were arrested during a raucous protest after Trump gave a speech. One man was seen jumping on top of a police car, and a second patrol car was shattered. Trumps speeches have garnered support from many across the United States. But the anti-Trump sentiment is arguably among the strongest in the left-leaning Bay Area, where diversity is high and minorities from all over the world choose to live. After his departure, protesters took over the Hyatt parking lot, protesters burned Trump effigies and in one instance, even the American flag. Another group of demonstrators chanted: "This is California, run Trump run." "Bay Area is anti-racism, Trump you're not welcome here," another group yelled. Video from the NBC Bay Area chopper over the scene outside the California Republican Convention in Burlingame shows two Donald Trump protesters being arrested. This weekend, Trump will be joined by Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz who will be speaking Saturday at noon and his newly-named running mate, former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who is slotted to keynote Saturday's dinner banquet. Gov. John Kacish, who has so far led a lackluster presidential campaign, will be speaking at Fridays dinner banquet. After blocking the road leading to the Burlingame Hyatt, site of the California Republican Convention, Donald Trump protesters began making their way to the entrance of the hotel. Party leaders hope that the Republicans' messages don't dissolve into a shouting match, or worse. "We've talked with everybody and we're confident that we have a good system in place," said Kaitlyn MacGregor, California Republican Party spokeswoman. "And if they don't behave, we have a system to handle that." NBC Bay Area's Bob Redell, Robert Handa and Michelle Roberts contributed to this report. Live to fly another day thats what the Solar Impulse 2 will have to do. The solar plane landed in Mountain View, California, late Saturday and instead of taking off Friday as planned, the 2.5-ton aircraft will rest and recharge inside an inflatable hanger until Monday because of poor weather conditions at its next destination. Crew member Elke Neumann said crosswinds at the next destination, Phoenix, are too high for the planes expansive 236-ft wingspan. "The plane is sensitive to turbulence, sensitive to crosswinds, and we need good weather to fly. But the advantage is when we fly, we fly forever," said pilot Bertrand Piccard, who flew 62 hours from Hawaii to the Bay Area. Piccard said it will be worth the wait to finally take off. "You have the tower of the airport say, 'Solar Impulse, you are clear to take off. You put full engines and you hear no noise," Piccard said. "In a way, its magic." Piccard and fellow Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg have been taking turns flying the plane on an around-the-world trip since taking off from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in March 2015. They made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China, Japan and Hawaii. The plane's ideal flight speed is about 28 mph, though that can double during the day when the sun's rays are strongest. The carbon-fiber aircraft weighs more than 5,000 pounds, or about as much as a midsize truck. The plane's wings, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. It runs on stored energy at night. Solar Impulse 2 will make three more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or Northern Africa, according to the website documenting the journey. The project, which began in 2002 and is estimated to cost more than $100 million, is meant to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. Donald Trump supporters of all age groups and from all parts of the Bay Area and beyond showed up at the California GOP Convention Friday in Burlingame to catch a glimpse of the man they are calling the "next president of America." But not everyone was lucky enough to snag a spot at the coveted "Lunch Kickoff" inside the Hyatt Regency Banquet Room where Trump was going to headline the convention. A sold-out crowd of roughly 600 people were led into the premises as California Dreaming and Hotel California played in the background. There was also some Led Zeppelin thrown in for good measure. "How can you not be crazy about a guy who plays Led Zeppelin before his speech," asked Mick from Sacramento, who described himself as the poster child for the Republican Party. Wearing Trump's trademark red "Make America Great Again" baseball cap and giving interviews to national and local media, Mick said that Republican voters were ready for a change. "They don't like what's going on in our nation's capital, and Mr. Trump has educated us to some things we don't like, so I guess in our own stubborn American way we are blowing it all up," he said. "We're doing a restart. We're bringing in the outsider, who used to be the insider, but now is the outsider, I think that's why we are here. We are angry, and we want to throw the bums out and we believe our next commander-in-chief is Mr. Trump." Luncheon guests didnt seem to mind the extra tight Secret Service security sweeps because it meant they would get them a little closer to their idol. Meanwhile, protesters blocked the Old Bayshore Highway off U.S. Highway 101 outside the hotel to prevent Trumps motorcade from entering the area, breaking through police barricades. Some started unfurling large banners as noon approached, while reports of protesters stripping naked on the streets also surfaced. One protester was even able to sneak inside the main convention hall wearing a Dump Trump, Stop Hate banner, and was promptly escorted outside by a smiling security officer. The banquet room itself was divided into two parts, with Trump supporters who paid $100 a ticket sitting at tables behind the ropes, and sponsors and GOP executive committee members getting a chance to sit closer to him. Liveried staff carried out plates of spring mix with pancetta, asparagus, pea tendrils and red wine vinaigrette, lemon herb chicken with saffron rice and sauteed green beans, and dessert strawberry bagatelle with fresh cream and sponge cake.[[377592241,C]] Barbara Jensen said she was voting for Trump because he created more jobs for women than Hillary Clinton. "We need a CEO instead of a politician in charge He has hired more women than Hillary Clinton and he pays women the same as he does men," she said. Outside in the Hyatt Regency hotel parking lot, protesters burned Trump effigies, and in one instance, even the American flag, chanting: "This is California, run Trump run." The crowd cheered when they heard that Trump had compared his experience of having to hop a freeway barrier to avoid protesters to "crossing the border." "Bay Area is anti-racism, Trump you're not welcome here," another group yelled. Many Republicans at the convention said they were eager to see a new Republican Party come out of the campaigning process. Many said they would vote for Trump because he would create jobs. I am here to support Mr. Trump, said Lela Terrazas Blankenberg who was there with her three children from Portola Valley. We are Hispanics and think its very exciting to be able to be here. I dont know why they are protesting. I am Republican and I would never protest at a Bernie Sanders rally. Her 22-year-old daughter Katie, who goes to Stanford University, said she supports Trump because she believes he will bring jobs back. "I want to ask him when can I start working for him," she said. "I believe that he's actually going to do what he says. He's a candidate I'm actually excited about. He's brought a lot of momentum back. Even though he is a multi-billionaire he can still relate to the middle class." Katie said that Trump is a very polarizing figure at Stanford. "I'm not really afraid to say what I think, which at Stanford might not be the best thing if you're a conservative" she said smiling. "It's really unfortunate that conservatives are silenced most of the time, especially when people are preaching to be tolerant and open-minded all the time."[[377660331,C]] Attorney General Lisa Madigan called on Illinois lawmakers Wednesday to eliminate the statute of limitations for felony criminal sexual assault and sexual abuse crimes against children. Madigan, along with the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, believes child victims of sexual assault and abuse should be given time to process and report abuses to authorities. Her appeal comes in the wake of former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert being sentenced to 15 months in prison for bank fraud Wednesday. He attempted to use hush money to cover up sexual abuse dating back to the 1970s, when he was a teacher at a Yorkville high school. Hastert was not convicted of any sex crimes as a result of the statute of limitations, although a handful of past victims came forward during the trial. "When a prosecutor cannot indict an offender for these heinous acts because the statute of limitations has run, it raises serious moral, legal and ethical questions, Madigan said. We have long supported extending the time period for prosecutors to file sexual assault and abuse charges, and we urge the Legislature to eliminate the statute of limitations on all sex crimes involving children." Madigan also told Ward Room Wednesday about her push to eliminate the statute of limitations in these cases. "There's no statute of limitations for murder," Madigan said. "In Illinois, there's no statute of limitations for the Consumer Fraud Act. There should not be a statute of limitations for sex crimes against children." In January of 2014, Illinois law shifted and the statute of limitations was done away with for sex crimes committed against minors. It does not apply to crimes committed before the law was passed. The previous statute of limitations came into effect in 2013 and gave a 20-year prosecution window, starting when victims turned 18. That move was part of a series of extensions that started in the 1980s, coming after Hasterts alleged crimes. "We should never be in a position where somebody's 40, 50, 60 years old and they come forward to tell what happened to them and they can't seek justice," Madigan told Ward Room. Madigans release did not mention Hastert by name. Barbara Blaine, the founder and president of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, told Ward Room that she supports Madigan's push. "I think it's time, Illinois can do better." Blaine said. "We should and we can make people like Dennis Hastert be indicted and not allow them to get away with their crimes." Gov. Bruce Rauner is pushing state lawmakers to pass a two-year budget and is considering funding special legislative sessions if a deal is not reached by the end of May. During a Wednesday trip to a Rockford High School, Rauner said he was hopeful that a grand compromise for a 2016 and 2017 state budget could be reached before the legislature adjourns. If not, he said his staff was looking into the possibility of him picking up the tab for additional special sessions. If we have to go into special sessions, well deal with that at the time, Rauner said. I dont want taxpayers to be charged for it. I would seriously consider, were discussing this within our administration, me paying for it personally, so the taxpayers dont have to if special sessions have to be called. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 31. After that date, a three-fifths supermajority is needed to pass bills. Nevertheless, Rauner remained confident that lawmakers could reach a deal without having to convene for special sessions. What Im strongly recommending, and Im hoping we do, is not break 16 and 17 apart but come up with a long-term solution and a grand compromise for both 16 and 17 simultaneously, Rauner said. Rauner previously served as the Chairman of private equity firm GTCR and later as Chairman of R8 Capital Partners, a self-financed venture firm. His wealth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The governor claims that several bipartisan groups are currently working on various deals, including proposals from his pro-business, union-weakening Turnaround Agenda. The state has been locked in a budget impasse since July of last year. The impasse has hinged on a battle between Rauner and the Democrat-controlled legislature over the governor's beleagured agenda. Illinois state Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant announced Thursday that she wants disgraced former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert stripped of all taxpayer-funded pensions in the wake of his recent criminal conviction for violating banking rules and lying to the FBI. I urge you to immediately revoke Hasterts pension, Bertino-Tarrant wrote in a letter to the General Assembly Retirement System. In light of what we now know about Hasterts abuse of children and misuse of the publics trust, the taxpayers should no longer be required to pay for his retirement benefits. Hastert was found guilty of bank fraud Wednesday and sentenced to 15 months in prison. He attempted to use hush money to cover up sexual abuse dating back to his time as a Yorkville teacher. Hastert served in the Illinois General Assembly and Congress. He was ultimately named Speaker of the House in 1999. Over Hasterts career, he earned pension benefits as a teacher, state legislator and congressman. Had the public known about Hasterts behavior he never would have been elected and therefore never would have received a pension, Bertino-Tarrant wrote. He does not deserve to continue receiving taxpayer-funded benefits for the time he served as a lawmaker. The Illinois Teachers Retirement canceled Hasterts pension Wednesday but the General Assembly has yet to. According to a release provided by Bertino-Tarrant, that pension is valued at roughly $28,000 annually. Masan Group Corporation achieved record sales and earnings in the first quarter of 2016, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rising 75.5 percent compared to the same period last year. According to a report issued by Masan on April 26, the group's EBITDA reached VND1.6 trillion (over $73 million) in the first quarter of 2016. One of Vietnams largest private company's revenue grew nearly 2.5 times over same period last year. The report showed first quarter net sales of VND8.8 trillion ($394 million), a leap of 144.6 percent compared with the first quarter of 2015. Masan hit record sales and earnings thanks to the Tet holiday. Photo by VnExpress Sales of branded food and beverages were flat due to an early Tet holiday, but they were offset by the company's beer business that delivered net sales growth of 163.7% compared to Q1 in 2015. Subsidiary Masan Resource achieved VND806 billion in net sales, similar to last year. Masan Resources delivered 31.3% growth in EBITDA, benefitting from increased production of its new tungsten chemical processing facility and improved operational efficiency. As of March 31, Masans cash, cash equivalent and interest bearing assets totaled VND12.6 trillion ($566 million). Including the upcoming balance of $450 million from Singhas equity investment into the food and beverage business, Masans consolidated cash position will grow to over $1 billion. This cash is expected to be supported by up to US$450 million in EBITDA this year. At its AGM on April 1, Masan Groups shareholders approved a record net sales target of US$2 billion for 2016, approximately 40 percent higher than 2015. Revenue growth forecast for 2016 comprises 20 percent annual growth on a like for like basis from the animal protein business, 50 percent growth in top line from the mineral resources and value-add processing platform, and 15-20 percent growth from branded food and beverage products, excluding any upside from the Singha partnership. Through an auction process for strategic investors in March 2016, Masans subsidiary ANCO secured the right to acquire 14 percent of VISSAN, Vietnams largest branded fresh and processed meat company, with 2015 net sales of VND3.8 trillion. Partnering with VISSAN is consistent with Masans strategic mission and is a critical step to transforming and consolidating the animal protein space through brands, distribution and best-in-class practices. Masan Group Corporation is one of Vietnams largest companies. The company is focused on the domestic consumption market and has built leading businesses in the branded food and beverage sector and in the animal nutrition value chain. The companys other businesses include Masan Resources, one of the worlds largest producers of tungsten and strategic industrial minerals, and an associate, Techcombank, a leading joint stock commercial bank in Vietnam. A new study on spanking has found the more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents. The study, authored by a team from the University of Michigan and the University of Texas at Austin, analyzed the outcomes associated with spanking, finding a link between spanking and anti-social behavior, aggression, mental health problems and cognitive disabilities. Published in Aprils Journal of Family Psychology, the study looked at five decades of research and more than 160,000 children. "Our analysis focuses on what most Americans would recognize as spanking and not on potentially abusive behaviors," said Elizabeth Gershoff of the University of Texas at Austin told TODAY.com. The study, which defined spanking as hitting a child on their buttocks or extremities using an open hand, determined there is a link between spanking and increased risk for detrimental child outcomes. "In childhood, parental use of spanking was associated with low moral internalization, aggression, antisocial behavior, externalizing behavior problems, internalizing behavior problems, mental health problems, negative parent- child relationships, impaired cognitive ability, low self-esteem, and risk of physical abuse from parents. In adulthood, prior experiences of parental use of spanking were significantly associated with adult antisocial behavior, adult mental health problems, and with positive attitudes about spanking," researchers wrote, according to TODAY.com. According to the study, the results for spanking did not substantially differ from those of physical abuse. They noted, however, that the effects are subtle and not every child who is spanked will develop behavioral or mental health problems. "Although the magnitude of the observed associations may be small, when extrapolated to the population in which 80 percent of children are being spanked, such small effects can translate into large societal impacts. Parents who use spanking, practitioners who recommend it, and policymakers who allow it might reconsider doing so given that there is no evidence that spanking does any good for children and all evidence points to the risk of it doing harm," the study read. Previous studies have come to similar conclusions before, with some also finding a link between spanking and lower IQs. Nineteen states still allow spanking in schools, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming. The American Psychological Association claims positive reinforcement is more effective in changing a childs behavior. The task is to help children change their behavior, and physical punishment is not needed to accomplish that, Alan E. Kazdin, professor of psychology at Yale University and director of Yale's Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic told the association in a 2010 interview. Developing positive opposite behaviors, i.e., the desired behaviors that the parent wants, is much more effective. The message is similar to the one from researchers of the latest study. "We hope that our study can help educate parents about the potential harms of spanking and prompt them to try positive and non-punitive forms of discipline," the team wrote. A purported gang member already awaiting trial for a murder has been charged in the deadly shooting that claimed the life of 7-year-old Amari Brown last July 4th weekend. Amari was killed after watching fireworks with his father on the sidewalk shortly before midnight in Humboldt Park. Jamal Joiner told someone that he and Rasheed Martin members of the Black Flag faction of the Four Corner Hustlers were aiming at a rival when a bullet pierced Amaris chest, Assistant Cook County States Attorney Jamie Santini told Judge Peggy Chiampas on Thursday. The gang members had been feuding for several months and had shootouts earlier that day as well as on April 17, 2015 and May 23, 2015, Santini said. Joiner already is being held without bail in Cook County Jail for another murder stemming from the April 17 incident. He admitted to his friend that he and Martin fired their guns on July 4 because a rival had shot at them earlier; Joiner also admitted that he knew Amari had been hit, Santini said. Martin was arrested for Amaris murder last summer after he fled to Wisconsin. The 21-year-old is being held without bail. A 27-year-old woman was also shot in the chest but survived, Santini said. A man in his 20s was also injured, prosecutors said last year. Witnesses saw Joiner and Martin firing their weapons before running a way from the scene, in the 1100 block of North Harding, Santini said. After Martin was arrested, he allegedly implicated himself and Joiner. Chiampas ordered Joiner, 21, held without bail for Amaris murder. In the other murder Joiner is charged with, 36-year-old Courtney Jackson was shot in the head while he was in a car in the 1000 block of North Springfield. Another man was also injured when prosecutors said Joiner walked up to them and starting shooting. That man survived. Joiner also has previous convictions for robbery and drug offenses. When Chicago teachers marched through the Loop in early April, they put Chicago Public Schools on notice that a strike before the end of the school year is a real possibility. Now, CPS is making plans on how to handle what could be a shortened semester, attempting to ensure in particular that seniors will be able to matriculate. "We have contingency plans in motion," CPS CEO Forrest Claypool said Thursday. "We are working closely with our principals to ensure that our children can graduate and that a strike would not prevent them from graduating." Both the school district and the teachers union continue to negotiate, and to look to Springfield. The Chicago Teachers Union is looking to revamp the school funding formula. "The District desperately needs sustainable, stable and increasing revenue to finance its operations," said CTU President Karen Lewis. Chicago Faith leaders met with Governor Bruce Rauner Thursday morning, seeking some kind of funding solution that would keep Chicago Schools open. "He listened and he talked, and we listened and we talked. It was a great dialogue," said Rev. Walter Turner of the New Spiritual Light Missionary Baptist Church. "We hope there is not a strike, and our intention is as always to get a deal and we are going to do everything possible to get a deal," Claypool added. The earliest that teachers could go on strike is May 16. A Verizon customer who thought she was trading in her broken iPhone for a new one, quickly learned the phone she received might not have been the authentic device she thought it was. The customer, Jes, who asked that her name not be used for privacy concerns, said her iPhone 5 stopped holding its charge, so the 23-year-old college student exchanged her defective device for a refurbished one---free of charge under her warranty plan. But she says she was later informed by an Apple employee that the device she received in the mail was not an authentic iPhone. The young customer had the phone for only 48 hours when an accidental drop left her screen completely shattered. No more than three feet and it just shattered, Jes said. I thought that was kind of weird because Ive had iPhones for years and theyve never cracked this bad, I dont think its like a normal iPhone. She took the phone to the Apple Store in Deer Park and says instead of a service repair, an Apple employee at the Genius Bar gave her a tutorial on why her device was full of unauthorized, third-party parts. He was like this isnt an Apple phone, I was like what do you mean its not an Apple phone? Jes told NBC5 Responds. Then hes like the whole case is just one piecethe Apple logo is not mirroredthe font is completely differentthe iPhone logo itself isnt bold this is a crappy matte finish parts have been glued on to make it look like an iPhone, like this isnt even real. Jes says the Apple employee then offered to put his findings in writing, which she took directly to a Verizon store, where she was instructed to call Verizon customer service. We talked to about eight or nine different reps about this, she says. After four frustrating hours, Jes says she was finally forwarded to a supervisor. All he says is, What we need to do is youll pay $150, well replace it with your insurance, and thats about it If not, were beating a dead horse and you can call it a day, she says. I was like Im not paying for your mistake. Jes says the supervisor also accused her of attaching the fake parts. And he was like this isnt our fault. I was like- then whose fault is it? Are you blaming your 23-year-old college student? I send you a real phone and in exchange you sent me a knockoff. After the call with Verizon ended, Jes reached out to NBC 5 Responds for help. After our inquiry to Verizon, Jes says she received tons and tons of apologies from Verizons executive office and that wasnt the only thing. I met with the district manager, and he went above and beyond and gave me a brand new phone from the store, Jes says. He comped the entire cost of the $780 phone. A spokesperson for Verizon later told NBC5 Responds the company examined the phone and found that the device was 100% compliant and bottom line: Apple made a mistake when sending that letter. The company says it is now working with Apple to retrain and reinforce its employees on what a Verizon refurbished phone looks like. In a statement, Verizon told NBC 5 Responds: Our examination has confirmed that the smartphone in question does contain 100 percent original Apple parts, in accordance with VZWs detailed refurbishment process. Verizon strives to provide the best customer experience for all our customers at every touch point. We sincerely apologize that did not happen in this situation and are happy to share that we resolved the issue to the customers satisfaction. Well continue training with both Apple and our own employees to help ensure that all our processes provide Verizon customers with complete confidence in a great experience. For its part, Apple echoed Verizons commitment to partnering between the two companies, but declined to comment on the letter given to Jes by its employee. A Safe Haven Baby Box where mothers can drop off unwanted newborns anonymously with emergency help moments away is now available in northeastern Indiana. The padded, climate-controlled container was dedicated Tuesday at the Woodburn Volunteer Fire Department about 15 miles east of Fort Wayne. It's on an exterior wall of the fire station. A second baby box is due to be dedicated Thursday in Michigan City. The boxes are equipped with a security system that notifies emergency personnel when a baby is dropped off. Emergency responders can get to the child within minutes. Indiana's safe haven law allows mothers to drop off newborns with no questions asked at police stations, fire stations and hospitals. A school bus was involved in an accident in the southwest suburbs Thursday afternoon. The accident occurred at the intersection of Cedar Rd and Victoria Crossing in southwest suburban Lockport at 3:23 p.m., according to the Lockport Police Department. District officials confirmed that the school bus was from the Homer Community Consolidated School District. Authorities said the bus was traveling southbound on Cedar Rd, when a car traveling eastbound on Victoria Crossing pulled in front of the bus, which had the right-of-way. The bus struck the car, police said. A total of six people were taken to area hospitals: the bus driver, three children on the bus, and the driver and passenger, both teenagers, in the vehicle. All injuries were reportedly non-life threatening, police said. Video from Sky5 showed people crowding around the bus, which appeared to have gone off the road, while as many as a dozen ambulances stood nearby. There were 20 students on the bus, according to the school district, and none sustained any serious injuries. Some parents were seen walking away with their children, though officials said each had to sign a waiver before the bus could be moved. Cedar Rd was reopened around 5 p.m., according to police. A woman who was charged, along with her boyfriend and father, in connection with the murder and dismemberment of a man at her Southwest Side home in 2013, was sentenced to 16 years in prison Thursday. Daisy Gutierrez, 21, pleaded guilty to dismembering a body before Judge William Hooks, according to Cook County court records. Prosecutors alleged a love triangle was at the center of the grisly murder at the home in the Ashburn neighborhood. Gutierrez told her family to leave their home in the 8300 block of South Scottsdale Avenue on May 21, 2013, and lured her former boyfriends brother, Jose Reyes, to her room, prosecutors said. She began to undress while her current boyfriend, 24-year-old Milton Miranda, lay in wait. Reyes, 28, had expressed interest in Gutierrez, so as she began undressing, Miranda kicked in the door and attacked Reyes with a pipe and knife, prosecutors said. He slit Reyes throat in front of Gutierrez and decapitated him. Her father, 58-year-old Salvador Gutierrez, came home and watched as Daisy Gutierrez and Martin Miranda dismembered Reyes and buried him in plastic bags in their backyard, authorities said. Reyes remains were found Oct. 4, 2013, and an autopsy determined his death was caused by multiple sharp force injuries and assault, authorities said. Daisy Gutierrez and her father were arrested in Chicago. Miranda was arrested in Morristown, New Jersey, and extradited to Chicago. Judge Hooks sentenced Daisy Gutierrez to 16 years in prison Thursday, according to court records. She will receive credit for 936 days served in the Cook County Jail. Salvador Gutierrez, who was also charged with concealing a homicide, was also scheduled to appear in court Thursday. Details about his hearing werent immediately available. Miranda, who is charged with first-degree murder, is next scheduled to appear in court May 12. Two brothers have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths of their parents, whose bodies were found in their San Jose home over the weekend near what sources said was a scrawled message apologizing for a "clumsy" killing. Police on Thursday announced the arrests of Hasib Bin Golamrabbi, 22, and his 17-year-old brother, who attends Evergreen High School. "Needless to say," Evergreen Islamic Center spokesman Faisal Yazadi said,"this is one of those tragedies nobody ever wants to be in. All we can do is pray." Golamrabbi had been missing until he was taken into custody Wednesday night. NBC Bay Area was the first to report, through sources, that Golamrabbi had been found near Tracy in the Central Valley. Jail records show Golamrabbi was booked Thursday morning and held without bail. The younger son who was in school Monday and whom police initially said was not a suspect was booked into juvenile hall. NBC Bay Area is not naming him because he is a minor. They have not yet been charged by the district attorney. The brothers' parents, 59-year-old Golam and 57-year-old Shamima Rabbi, both natives of Bangladesh, were found shot to death Sunday afternoon inside their Lucas Court home. Board members at the mosque where the couple attends said the Rabbi's bodies were released Wednesday afternoon to relatives and the funeral is being planned for Friday at the Five Pillars Farm Cemetery in Livermore. Police did not provide evidence or a motive in announcing the arrests but said "there are no outstanding suspects." Sources told NBC Bay Area the parents did not approve of the older son's sexual orientation. Cousin Nafees Hasan said his family had never discussed that matter, but if it were true, the "family wouldn't have accepted that." He added the parents were very strict about gender orientation. Sources who witnessed the crime scene before police arrived told NBC Bay Area chilling messages were written on the floor and wall near the bodies, including one that read: "Sorry my first killing was clumsy." Another, longer message, allegedly ended, "I cant be like you, telling a lie. I cant love someone without telling them." San Jose police have not confirmed the validity of the messages, and it is unclear who wrote them. Efforts to reach the brothers or find out if they had attorneys were unsuccessful. A cousin thought they might be looking into public defenders. When reached Thursday morning, several neighbors and mosque members said they knew nothing of the arrests until notified by NBC Bay Area. "I cant believe it," said mosque board member and family friend Hasan Rahim, who described both sons as "taciturn." While the father was very friendly, Rahim said, the boys were "not very communicative," Rahim said. As for the older son's sexual orientation, Rahim had never heard the father, with whom he was friends, talk about it. And even if it were true, Rahim is of the belief that the Silicon Valley Bangladeshi community is more tolerant of homosexuality, which is forbidden in Bangladesh. "Live and let live, Hasan said. The Pope said it most famously, Who am I to judge. " Donald Trump took his outsider campaign to the inner sanctum of California's Republican party on Friday, making his case directly to the GOP's state party convention even as angry demonstrators shadowed him outside in a possible harbinger of the controversy he will bring as the nominating process shifts toward the nation's most populous and diverse state. Trump spoke for about 30 minutes in a basement banquet hall in this town just outside San Francisco airport. It was the sort of small-scale interaction with party activists and donors that he has generally eschewed for grander rallies. Trump came to make his pitch as the nominating calendar moves toward its end-game in California, which with 172 delegates at stake on June 7 could decide the GOP presidential nomination. The billionaire front-runner told Republicans they needed to come together after their divisive primary but also delivered a warning. "There has to be unity in our party," Trump said. "Would I win -- can I win -- without it? I think so, to be honest with you, because they're going to be voting for me" -- and not the party, he added. Trump supporters snapped up tickets to the luncheon and cheered heartily for their candidate from a ring of tables around the perimeter of the ballroom. But Trump's speech got an icier reception from the party veterans and donors who sat just beneath the stage, separated from the rest of the room by a rope. "We all listened politely," said Gregory Gandrud, an activist and donor from Santa Barbara County who backs Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Kasich spoke to the convention Friday evening, and Sen Ted Cruz and his new vice presidential pick Carly Fiorina, address it on Saturday. All three candidates are looking to galvanize supporters, sway undecided party members or poach from rival campaigns at the convention. "It's going to be a free-for-all," predicted the state party vice chairman, Harmeet Dhillon. That label clearly applied to Trump's Orange County rally Thursday night, which filled the Pacific Amphitheatre to its capacity of about 8,000, with many hundreds more turned away. Protests that stayed mostly peaceful during the event grew in size and anger afterward. Police in riot gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the arena; one Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive away. One man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented, and other protesters sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venue's marquee. About 20 people were arrested, said the Orange County Sheriff's Department. On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators pushed to the front doors of the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame before being moved back by police in riot gear. Some protesters infiltrated the hotel building and hung a giant banner reading, "Stop Hate." The Secret Service led Trump in through a rear entrance to the hotel. Trump joked that as he crawled under a fence to get in he "felt like I was crossing the border." Hours later, Kasich framed the chaos as a warning sign to his party. "Did you see what happened today?" he said during a news conference. "People chaining themselves to a fence. Do you see what's happening?" Trump's remaining rivals can't beat him in what's left of the primary season. Their only hope is to deny him a majority of delegates heading into the July convention and wrestle for the prize in multiple ballots there. But questions persist in the party nationally and in California about Trump's electability in the fall and his conservative credentials. The demonstrations showed how polarizing Trump can be, especially in a state where Republicans have become marginalized because they failed to attract growing immigrant populations. Trump's viewed warily by two camps here -- those that want to grow the party and those who view some of Trump's positions betrayals of the conservative movement. The convention crowd defies expectation in a state known as a Democratic fortress. There have been pushes toward moderation, but the group tends toward conservative leanings and favors calls for free markets, tax cuts and shrinking the size of government. It's also socially conservative: The state party's platform defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and wants the Supreme Court's affirmation of abortion rights reversed. Trump has spoken favorably about Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services. He has warned against cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, often targets for conservatives who want to slow government spending. While he will likely spend much of the next month in the state, he's unlikely to be back during the general election, when California would return to its reliably Democratic status. Still, Trump was a popular draw at a brief VIP reception where he posed for pictures with party stalwarts. He later joked about having mud and dirt smeared all over him from his unorthodox entrance during the photo session, and many in the banquet hall laughed heartily. Henri Houdre was thrilled to see Trump live. "We see him as that alpha kid in high school with the leather jacket and slicked-back hair who everybody wants to be," said Houdre, an 18-year-old college student from San Francisco. Trump's call to unity resonated with some. "That's the thing every Republican needs to keep in mind, that we're the same team," said Kevin Krick, the Bay Area regional vice chairman for the party. Kersti Buchanan, 70, a retired translator and party activist from Mendocino County who backs Kasich, was shocked at all of Trump's supporters -- and by the candidate's speech itself. "He's probably the most narcissistic person I've ever listened to," Buchanan said. "It was fairly shocking to see this many people who are eating it all up." The California primary will award 172 delegates. Trump now has 996 delegates, Cruz has 565 and Kasich has 153, according to the AP's delegate count. It takes 1,237 to clinch the nomination. The city of Burlington, Vermont, is considering calling a debt collection agency on a billionaire: Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Mayor Miro Weinberger, a Democrat, said Trump is nearly three months late paying an $8,500 bill the city sent his campaign on Feb. 1 for police and fire overtime costs associated with a recent stop in Vermont's largest city. "We actually had the city attorneys looking into this; there's some complication on an issue like this," Weinberger said in response to an necn question about whether he would seek a collection agency's services. Weinberger added that the city should have a plan soon about how to address the unpaid bills. Trump held a rally Jan. 7 at Burlington's Flynn Center for the Performing Arts but issued thousands more tickets than there were seats. The city wanted extra personnel to handle the crowds and any potential problems, Weinberger said. "It could have been a much better-coordinated and organized event," Weinberger told necn. "And had it been, it would have been much easier for the city to accommodate." Weinberger said the city embraces the process of democracy, and he believes candidates should meet their constituents on the campaign trail. However, the mayor urged campaigns to coordinate more closely with municipalities in scheduling and planning visits like the one Trump made to Burlington. Weinberger made it clear the unpaid bills will not bankrupt Burlington or have any serious adverse effects. He said the citys police department has a more than $10 million annual budget, so the $7,200 portion of the bills for police costs are only a very small percentage of the overall picture. Still, Weinberger said the city could use the money for any host of purposes and would appreciate payment. The mayor noted that hometown candidate Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the Democrats' nomination for the White House, paid his bills on time for police and fire support, as well as other fees, following a campaign kickoff on the Burlington waterfront last May. Campaigns do have a history of skipping out on the check. Through a request to the South Burlington Police Department, necn obtained a July 2011 email chain between Chief Trevor Whipple and a New England representative of President Barack Obama's reelection effort. In the emails, the chief was looking for reimbursement for extra staffing costs for security and traffic control for a presidential campaign fundraiser. Trevor Whipple said Thursday he never heard back on that 2011 request. "It's frustrating," Whipple said. "Where it's discretionary, especially where it's fundraising, my expectation is [candidates] should bear the cost of that. They should be responsible for reimbursing the taxpayer for the cost of that additional service that would not have been necessitated were it not for this fundraising event." Whipple said if visits by dignitaries were for official business, he would not seek reimbursement. But he said he sees political fundraisers in particular as different, and the kind of event for which taxpayers deserve repayment. Necn reached out to a spokesperson for the Trump campaign regarding the city of Burlington's claims, but had not heard back at the time of publication. Vietnam is going to officially conduct public procurement on a lump sum basis this year, helping the country to save up to VND34 trillion ($1.5 billion), the Vietnam News Agency quoted a representative from the Ministry of Finance as saying. Former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved public procurement on a lump sum basis in November 2011. Under the regulation, Vietnamese ministries, state agencies and provincial departments are responsible for purchasing property as well as equipment on bulk scale and distribute it to local divisions. After a four-year trial, the country saved as much as VND500 billion (nearly $22.5 million). The former PM decided to officially apply the new form of public procurement on a national scale at the end of February this year. Nguyen Tan Thinh, deputy director of the Department of Public Property Management under the ministry, said at a meeting on April 28 that each year, Vietnam spends about VND200 trillion ($9 billion) on public procurement. The switch to lump sum procurement will save the country 10 to 17 percent of the sum, he added. Thinh said that the new type of public procurement will also help to stop wasteful spending and corruption. When the new method is working smoothly, we can cut the number of personnel working in public procurement, Thinh added. Under the new regulation, papers related to procurement need to clarify information about goods and suppliers, together with discounts and commissions, if available. Thinh said that money collected from discounts and commissions will go in to the state budget. Raucous protesters and supporters of Donald Trump took to the streets in California, leading to 17 arrests, as the Republican presidential contender brought his campaign to conservative Orange County after sweeping the Northeast GOP primaries. Dozens of protesters were mostly peaceful Thursday as Trump gave his speech inside the Pacific Amphitheatre. After the event, however, the demonstration grew rowdy late in the evening as hundreds of people swarmed Fair Drive and Fairview Road outside the grounds of the Orange County Fair & Event Center. Seventeen people were arrested, according to Costa Mesa police. One Trump supporter had his face bloodied in a scuffle as he tried to drive out of the arena. Another man jumped on a police car, leaving its front and rear windows smashed and the top dented in and other protests sprayed graffiti on a police car and the venue's marquee. A second patrol car's front window was shattered, according to Costa Mesa police. Dozens of cars including those of Trump supporters trying to leave were stuck in the street as several hundred demonstrators blocked the road, waved Mexican flags and posed for selfies. Police in protective gear and on horseback pushed the crowd back and away from the venue. There were no major injuries and police did not use any force. The crowd began dispersing about three hours after the speech ended. Earlier in the evening, a half-dozen anti-Trump protesters taunted those waiting to get into the venue. Trump supporters surrounded one man who waved a Mexican flag and shouted "Build that wall! Build that wall!" -- a reference to Trump's call to create a barrier between the United States and Mexico to stop illegal border crossings. At one point, seven women wearing no shirts and Bernie Sanders stickers over their breasts entered the square outside the amphitheater. They said they were protesting Trump's lack of engagement on issues of gender equality and women's rights. "I feel like he wants to make America great again, but certainly not for women, for the LBGTQ community or for the lower class," said one of the women, Tiernan Hebron. "He has, like, done nothing to help with gender equality or women's rights or reproductive rights or anything." Trump has drawn large crowds across the country as he has campaigned for the White House and some of his events have been marred by incidents both inside and outside these venues. Earlier this week, a Trump rally in nearby Anaheim, California, turned contentious when his supporters and protesters clashed, leaving several people struck by pepper spray. Trump was not present. Trump has drawn large crowds to most of his campaign events, and Thursday was no exception. The Pacific Amphitheatre was filled to its capacity of about 18,000 and many hundreds more were turned away. Ly Kou, 47, of Ontario, said she likes Trump because he has vowed to put the country first. "It's obvious that America loves Trump," said Kou, who is from Laos, as she pointed at the waiting throng. "This thing about him being racist? Look around the crowd." Trump was traveling from the rally site to the state's Republican convention in Burlington in the San Francisco Bay area. Fresh off a sweep of five Northeastern primaries, Trump hopes to lock up the nomination with California's June 7 primary. Stanford Daily cub reporter Ada Statler-Throckmorton, 20, has spoken with big names and tackled weighty topics in the past. The student from Prairie City, Kansas, has done a Q&A with Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey and covered the controversial fuel-free movement at the prestigious university in Palo Alto. But shes never broken a national news story like the one she did on Wednesday night at Stanford Universitys CEMEX Auditorium. Thats where she was the first to report to the world that former House Speaker John Boehner called fellow Republican and presidential hopeful Ted Cruz "Lucifer in the flesh." As far as she knows, she was the only reporter covering the speech, other than internal Stanford media. And when Boehner said those words, she knew it was big. But she didnt know just how big so big that her mother heard about it while listening to NPR early Thursday morning. Google News returned about 300 articles for a search of Boehner and "Lucifer in the flesh" Thursday afternoon, including all the major American political news sources, all of which cite Statler-Throckmorton's story. The Stanford Daily's original article has more than 1,000 comments and 8,000 shares on Facebook, amid what its managing editor told CNNMoney is record web traffic. I didnt realize it would go this viral and this fast, Statler-Throckmorton said, noting she isn't even a journalism student, but is majoring in Earth Systems and wants to go into environmental communications. Boehner didnt stop at comparing Cruz to the Devil, though, and Statler-Throckmorton wrote down what he said in a candid speech that was not broadcast or videotaped: I have Democrat friends and Republican. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life. The Stanford Daily was able to capture some audio of the now-hyped up talk. Later in the day and all thanks to the scrappy Stanford sophomore Cruz held court with reporters, taking aim at Boehner, saying the former speaker allowed his "inner Trump to come out." As for the "Lucifer" comment, Cruz said: "If John Boehner is calling me 'Lucifer,' hes not directing that at me. Hes directing that at you." Statler-Throckmorton has been sought after from major news outlets ranging from Fox to CNN to NBC News, which is all the more curious to her because the headline of her campus newspaper - John Boehner talks election, time in office - certainly does not sell the story the same way those outlets did. The Stanford Daily hadnt promoted the story by the time the first news organization latched onto it, and Statler-Throckmorton doesnt even have a Twitter account. She still doesnt know who first picked up her story. Victor Young Xu, the managing editor of news at the campus paper, told CNNMoney that on a typical day the entire site draws 11,000 to 13,000 page views. Xu told CNNMoney the Boehner story had already reached 169,220 page views as of 11:40 a.m. PT, which represented 94.5 percent of all visits to the site. To compare, the second most-viewed story published over the last year a satirical piece on Stanford's admissions rate drew a little over 40,000 views. Relishing in her 15 minutes of fame, Statler-Throckmorton said shes been trying to juggle all the media attention cast on her while paying attention to classes. As for her familys own political leanings, Statler-Throckmorton said were certainly not Republicans. But she added she certainly kept an open mind to what the former speaker of the House had to say. He was very interesting to listen to, she said. The budget presented by House and Senate Democrats they said closes a $922 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year. "This proposal is identical in bottom line to the one the governor put out recently and also to what the Republicans put out. It also puts in the next stage of negotiations with the governor," said Sen. Martin Looney the President Pro Tem in the Connecticut Senate. The budget cuts spending across the board by 6 percent, leaves intact the layoffs ordered by Governor Dannel Malloy that will approach 2,500, it increases spending for cities and towns, and provides near full funding for hospitals. The proposal also is based on increased health insurance co-pays and premiums for lawmakers and non-union state employees. Looney says that is meant to send a message to the 45,000 unionized state workers who have refused to open contract negotiations in order to find concessions. Sacrifices should be made across the board in this regard," Looney said. A spokesman for Malloy said now that there are proposals from both parties in the General Assembly, that negotiations can start and hopefully finish before the May 4 deadline. The governor will not rule out calling lawmakers back for a Special Session on the budget which would be the third such session in the past ten months. Malloy's spokesman Devon Puglia said the governor would not sign the Democrats spending plan in its current form, citing the one-time revenues relied upon, and the lack of "structural changes" included. Puglia described the budget proposal as "status quo" and "business as usual." Republicans were critical of the budget as well. They provided their own balanced spending plan on Monday that would have mainly been balanced due to hundreds of millions of cuts to higher education. Rep. Themis Klarides said of the Democrats' proposal, I dont know how many times were going to keep sticking gum in a hole and think things are going to change. Some customers who found repeated errors on their Frontier Communications bills had little luck in getting each charge resolved until nearly four months of trying. Of the many hours Jane Barszcz of Meriden has spent sorting through her cable bills, one scenario keeps coming back: The day a Frontier salesman pitched and sold her a new cable deal. He said, Ill give you a great bundle if you put all your stuff together, said Barszcz. Frontier offered a bundle at $120 a month, a quote cheaper than what she and her husband had paid their previous provider. Not one bill has even come close to what we should be paying, said Barszcz. Her first bill came in at $374. She called Frontier and says an agent agreed her bill had an error, told her to make a partial payment and seemed determined to fix it. That continued for four months. We really want this process to work, said Bill Spigener, another Frontier customer facing similar issues. Spigener and his wife Cathy expected a 16 dollar charge under Frontiers Stay Connected program for each of the three months they spent in Florida. When we returned back here to Connecticut, there was a bill waiting here for us, for three-hundred and some dollars, and a note saying they were going to shut off our television, said Spigener. Cathy Spigener estimates she has spent six hours on the phone with seven different Frontier agents. They were always pleasant, she said. They never fixed it, but they were always very pleasant to us. So you almost had nowhere to go. Both couples reached out to NBC Connecticut Responds, who then called Frontier on behalf of both Barszcz and the Spigeners. In both cases, the agent immediately corrected the mistake, which they say stems from the billing department not issuing the credits in time. In a written statement sent via email, Frontier said: We are pleased the billing issues have been resolved. Our first priority is always serving our customers. Our Frontier employees work diligently to improve the customer experience every day. Unfortunately errors can happen from time to time. As you know customer confidentiality prohibits me from discussing our customer accounts, but I can assure you Frontier is committed to resolving all such issues as quickly as possible. The 2016 National Teacher of the Year is one of Connecticuts ownJahana Hayes of Waterburys Kennedy High School and the school celebrated the news of Hayes award on Friday with a pep rally. Hayes, a Waterbury native and social studies teacher, has been at Kennedy for the last decade after spending two years teaching at New Havens Hillhouse High School. Hayes was named Connecticut teacher of the year last fall and beat out more than 50 teachers around the country to take the national award. She said shes excited for the opportunity to bring the national spotlight on her hometown for something positive. Big things are going to happen here. These kids have a charge. They know that every single one of them has something big coming, Hayes said. She attributes her success to relating to her students and being real. Im here to learn from you just like youre here to learn from me. There are no levels here. They get that, she said. As part of her award, Hayes will spend the next year out of the classroom, traveling around the country as an education advocate and spreading her teaching philosophy. The celebration of her award is just getting started. Next week Hayes heads to Washington, DC for a ceremony in her honor at the White House. Gov. Dannel Malloy was one of the people at the rally on Friday to say congratulations to Hayes. We live in one great country and you live in a great city that has produced Americas teacher of the year you should be proud of that, Malloy said. An Oakdale man is facing homicide charges after police said he didn't report the overdose of his neighborhood immediately. Michael J. Bedard, 55, is accused of criminally negligent homicide and cruelty to persons after state police said he invited his neighbor over to do "lines" and the man ended up overdosing. On Feb. 9, the victim was removed from Bedard's basement on Illinois Court in Oakdale, state police said. The victim's son told police he thought his father's death was suspicious and uncovered text messages from Bedard on his father's cellphone. Bedard allegedly texted the victim to come over and do "lines", the arrest warrant said. Police said when the victim became unconscious that Bedard waited almost an hour before trying to call EMS for assistance. Bedard told responding officers that he thought his friend had fallen asleep. The victim tested positive for opiates and despite medical employees best efforts, including using Narcan to reverse the effects of opiate overdose, the man died on Feb. 12. When Bedard was asked what his text messages meant, he said that the victim and him used to snort lines of Adderall but told another officer on a later date that he had invited the victim over for a few beers, according to state police. An occupant of Bedard's house told responding EMS that the victim had only used marijuana, the arrest warrant stated. Police arrested Bedard in connection to the victim's death on April 28 and he was released on the promise of appearing in court on May 12. Parents at the Gilbert School in Winchester have been looking for answers for months regarding where students slated to go there may end up in the fall or shortly thereafter. Now, state education officials tell NBC Connecticut they have been working on a contract negotiation with the Gilbert School to keep in place the current arrangement. "We are still working to get a good deal," said Kelly Donnelly, the Chief of Staff to Connecticut's Commissioner of the Department of Education. "We are working to keep Gilbert's deal intact." GIlbert is one of three private schools in Connecticut that has an agreement with its local public school system to take public school students, with the board of education footing the cost of tuition. It's been an arrangement that Tim O'Meara has utilized for years. His sons mark the fourth generation of his family to graduate from Gilbert. Its a thriving school, its a growing school, weve won awards, we have our principal of the year here. Our SAT scores have gone up every year," O'Meara said. Several months ago, O'Meara was outraged when the state receiver, charged with running the Winchester school system privately, and later publicly at a meeting in Granby floated the possibility of busing children from Winchester to Granby, Litchfield, and Torrington schools, thereby ending the arrangement with Gilbert that had been in place for more than 100 years. O'Meara said, "It was told at a meeting in Granby, without any parents there before the community knew what was going on. The state receiver, Robert Travaglini, then faced a firestorm of criticism and frustration from hundreds of parents who felt decisions were being made behind their backs by a state appointed official. The state took over Winchester Public Schools last year when the town faced rampant financial woes, and even lacked basic accounting procedures in some cases. Donnelly, with the Department of Education said Winchester's Town Council has to send a budget that includes funding for Gilbert to voters who then have to approve it in order for the state to move forward with a contract to keep the arrangement with Gilbert intact. "The state is still working to get a good deal," Donnelly reiterated. Gilbert's principal, Alan Strauss, who's the Connecticut Principal of the Year and a candidate for the National Principal of the Year, said if students are sent to new schools, that raises issues in both social and academic areas. One of the things that we firmly believe in is educating the whole child and I dont think a child can be educated in another community," he said. O'Meara said the only place he wants his kids enrolled is Gilbert and will ensure that happens. "I would pay to come to Gilbert if I had to," he said. Winchester residents will hear about the education spending plan at a meeting next Monday. The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters warned of scammers taking aim at employees w-2 forms in March, now it has happened again in Hartford. Officials warn employees that if they receive an email from their boss asking for personal information, confirm that the email is legit. Authorities said the so-called phishing scammers are carefully selecting their targets by researching companies online for the names of CEOs, the heads of human resources and even payroll. The scammers then pick people with access to w-2 forms before concocting phony emails from the boss and requesting that data. Detective Borkowski is with Major Crimes in Hartford, In an effort to please the bosses, it is usually quickly sent. This is exactly what happened, Hartford investigators said to the Girl Scouts of Connecticut last week. The police report stated a fake email was sent by scammers pretending to be the Girl Scouts CEO requesting w-2 information, along with tax and wage data of all employees--372 people altogether. Scammers were able to obtain names, addresses, yearly earnings, social security numbers and worker employee identification numbers. Detective Borkowski told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters, The employee was smart enough to encrypt it and then followed up with a password encrypted email and the scammers got the information that way. They did the right thing sending it to please the boss, but shouldve verified the email was actually who it was purported to be from. But if you dont know how to go behind the email and see whats in the full email headers, you cant tell by just looking at the email that its from the executive, Supervisory Special Agent Martin McBride with the FBI New Haven told NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters. McBride said theyve received other similar complaints too but the volume is slowing. Authorities urge employees to pick up the phone and verify these requests McBride added, Dont reply to the email because your email is going to go to the scammer. Detective Borkowski stated, The best way to stop it is to educate peoples and to encourage people to question whether theyre requesting that kind of info and to not be afraid to wait, verify the source of the email through actual person and ask questions if you think its suspicious. Last month the phishing scam in the parking company, Laz. The problem always been there because criminals are organizing/becoming way more sophisticated and education of public not keeping up with sophistication and evolution of scams so its harder to detect and more effective," McBride said. A spokesman for the Girl Scouts of Connecticut tells the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters, Since this is an ongoing investigation with HPD, we will let them speak to it. Obviously we are concerned, said Sharon Bellinger; Chief Marketing Officer. HPD investigators believe scammers may be selling the information retrieved on the Internet for tax purposes or possibly to open lines of credit or credit cards. Hartford police department has a real time crime center staffed with analysts to look up IP addresses of the emails received and sent to hopefully track the info. An eligibility worker for the Connecticut Department of Social Service was arrested recently, accused of stealing the SNAP benefits he oversees, and the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters investigated and found this was not an isolated case. Multiple employees have been investigated for fraud. A former DSS employee was arrested in April, accused of issuing himself E.B.T. cash benefit cards in other peoples names and stealing nearly $5,000 in government assistance. Reports the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters obtained said another DSS employee was fired in 2015 for allegedly authorizing cash and SNAP benefits to people she knew, duping the state out about $12,000 in benefits. The report said she was caught on camera using the benefit cards to withdrawing money from ATMs. Another DSS employee who was accused of creating benefit accounts and using them himself was fired in 2013. He was prosecuted and ordered to pay the state back more than $11,000. Although DSS officials said fraud doesnt happen often, when it does, it costs taxpayers big bucks. Over the past two years, state officials said $2.3 million was paid out to DSS recipients based on fraud and they are trying to recoup that money. However, this issue is separate from the DSS employee theft. DSS spokesperson David Dearborn declined to discuss the details of specific fraud cases and said they take all fraud seriously. The cases that you are reporting on are isolated cases they do not typify our employees. They do not typify state government or state employees, Dearborn said. But, this is not the first time the state has had problems with employees being accused of defrauding the system. In 2011, 97 state employees from various agencies were fired for fraudulently getting SNAP benefits after Hurricane Irene, even though they made well over the income requirements. All but three were able to get their jobs back. We asked Dearborn what protocols are in place to prevent and catch fraud by DSS workers and how many have been investigated for fraud. I dont have that information, Dearborn responded. We also asked how many per year to they look at to see if fraud occurred. I dont have that information either, Dearborn responded. Its always loopholes to something, a recent DSS employee explained. Its just you having the brains to figure it out. The woman asked us to conceal her identity, but told the Troubleshooters the Eligibility Service workers mostly work autonomously. When they a get a case, they approve and issue benefits themselves and dont need any approval from a supervisor to do it. But there are some checks and balances. We do have quality assurance investigators who monitor cases. That is correct, Dearborn explained. They do it on a random basis. We pressed for more specifics on what protocols are in place to prevent employee theft and Dearborn declined to elaborate. Dearborn said that overall, the Department of Social Services has conducted 5,000 fraud investigations involving clients over nearly two years. However, he did not say how many investigations were conducted on employees. Thea Kaiser, a SNAP benefit recipient who is unemployed and has small child to feed, said she desperately needs the food money she received applying to the Department of Social Services and it struck a nerve when she heard that a DSS employee was accused of stealing SNAP and cash assistance. Its not right because its cutting down on people that actually really need it, she said. An NBC 5 investigation uncovered documents that suggest some people illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border escaped capture because of a lack of coordination between the Texas National Guard and the United States Border Patrol. The state of Texas has spent millions of taxpayer dollars to send the Texas National Guard to help secure the Texas/Mexico border. In the summer of 2014, then-Gov. Rick Perry sent in the Texas National Guard saying if the feds couldnt make the border secure then Texas soldiers would as part of Operation Strong Safety. At Bastrop's Camp Swift in August 2014, Perry told National Guard members being deployed, You are now the tip of the spear, protecting Americans from these cartels and gangs. Until now the state has released little information about what the guards mission has accomplished. Through an open records request, NBC 5 Investigates obtained an incident log detailing what the guard has done. The database shows that from August 2014 through the end of June 2015, the guard detected more than 10,000 people crossing illegally in the first 10 months of the mission. But whats not clear is exactly how many of those people were caught. Records show about 1,700 people the guard spotted surrendered, and 600 turned back to Mexico after the guard spotted them, but what about the rest of the 10,000 people the guard detected? Records show some of those 10,000 were captured. But the records also suggest more of those people might have been caught if the guard worked more closely with the U.S. Border Patrol. The guard has no power to arrest anyone at the border, so when guard troops see people crossing illegally they often call the Border Patrol. But records show the Border Patrol doesnt always respond quickly. The records show one example where the National Guard reported nine undocumented people walking 200 meters from an observation post. The guard notified Border Patrol, who showed up an hour later and was unable to locate the people. By the time they respond -- many cases -- I'm sure these folks are going to be gone, said Ralph Basham, Former U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner and founding partner of Command Consulting Group, an international security consulting firm. Basham was in charge of the Border Patrol under President George W. Bush. He said the National Guard can be a great asset at the border, but because the guard cannot make arrests they are more effective when Border Patrol agents are positioned nearby in close coordination. It has to be coordinated. They have to train together. In my opinion, they have to be able to communicate. They need to be embedded so that coordination is effective, said Basham. But the incident reports often suggest poor coordination in South Texas. Many times records show the Border Patrol did not respond when the guard called or they simply say BP advised or BP notified. There's no indication if Border Patrol responded or not. "They detect it and there is no supporting entity to take action - what's the value of it? questioned David Aguilar, Former CBP Commissioner. David Aguilar was Chief of the Border Patrol under President George W. Bush, head of Customs and Border Protection under President Barack Obama and is a co-founder of Global Security and Innovative Strategies, a strategic security consulting firm in Washington, D.C. Aguilar said when the guard spots people and the Border Patrol is not positioned to respond rapidly, more people crossing illegally will get away. That knowledge may also embolden the drug cartels and human smugglers. That's a horrible message to be sent back into Mexico. Because all that will do is increase the criminal activity, said Aguilar. In many cases where we called in observations the Border Patrol did respond, said Texas National Guard Brig. Gen. Patrick Hamilton. Hamilton, who commands the Texas National Guard mission, told NBC 5 Investigates his troops work well with the Border Patrol on the ground, but he admits coordinating with the feds is not his top priority. I mean the reason we went down there was not, well we weren't there to directly support the Border Patrol, said Hamilton. Hamilton said his job is to support the hundreds of Department of Public Safety state troopers sent to the border along with the guard. We work for DPS. We are state active duty, state mission, state funded in Operation Strong Safety, said Hamilton. A mission that started because the state thought the Border Patrol didn't have enough staff to do the job. That's why the governor put us down there, said Hamilton. The Border Patrol declined an on-camera interview. In a statement, the agency said it, "values our relationships with federal, state, local and tribal partners, including the National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety." But in a letter to Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro last year, the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said his agency had "declined participation" in the state's border operation. Today there is still no formal agreement between the Texas National Guard and the Border Patrol to work together. Hamilton agreed it would make sense if more coordination was happening at the top levels, and said the state has tried to make that happen. I know that Gov. Perry tried to hand the president a plan on how to do that. I think you saw how that went, said Hamilton. Perry asked Obama to deploy troops under federal control but when the White House didn't do that the state chose to go it alone. In March, NBC 5 Investigates traveled to the Rio Grande Valley to see what many of the guard troops are doing. Many sit sitting in Humvees watching the border with spotting scopes. If they see something they call a command center that dispatches State Troopers or the Border Patrol. That often sends Border Patrol agents scrambling along the river or over tough terrain. Border Patrol officials say the rugged landscape and lack of roads can slow them down sometimes when the National Guard or other agencies call. Today, Brig. Gen. Hamilton said his troops are working better with the Border Patrol, putting people in a joint command center and trying to solve issues like the fact that the two agencies still can't talk to each other directly on their radios. The desire to work together to solve a problem on the Texas border has improved tremendously - and continues to improve - I think the challenges are more at the inside the beltway national level - that's my observation, said Hamilton. Under Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas has extended the Guard's mission, now known as Operation Secure Texas, where over time they will be replaced with more State Troopers. Still without better coordination some border security experts fear -- the state's mission may not help as much as it could. A lack of coordination will make everybody's job harder - not just the border patrol, said Aguilar. The Texas National Guard now says it made a mistake when it released incident logs to NBC 5 Investigates. The guard is now asking the Texas Attorney General to prevent NBC 5 from getting more recent reports requested earlier this year. A sample of that data can be seen below. The Texas Department of Public Safety is also fighting to keep NBC 5 Investigates from seeing records detailing what state troopers have done at the border. The Attorney General ruled the records should be released, but DPS is now suing to prevent that release. Sample Data Obtained by NBC 5 Investigates [[377502371,C]] Vietnam is one of the worlds largest rice exporters, but appears to be less competitive on the international market because it has failed to build a national rice brand name, said economist Vo Tong Xuan at a seminar on Thursday. Experts at the seminar agreed that a national brand would boost rice exports and help Vietnamese exporters gain more credibility in the international market. Vietnamese rice exporters are less competitive than their rivals, and normally offer lower prices due partly to the fact that Vietnamese rice has so far failed to differentiate itself on the world market. Professor Xuan said that Vietnamese farmers and rice exporters often have to make export deals at lower prices as international dealers often take the lack of origin guarantee into consideration. Vietnamese exporters used to mix various qualities of rice to be more competitive on price, but that actually backfired on the country's exports, said Tran Anh Tuan, chief executive of consulting company Pathfinder. He added that Vietnam lacked of a strategy to help export companies enter new markets. Vietnam seems focus more on quantity rather than quality, mainly exporting low-quality rice to less demanding markets at a price 40 60 percent lower than rice from India and Thailand. The government has recently approved a project to build a strong global brand name for Vietnamese rice by restructuring production, processing and distribution. Tanya Norris is in the battle of her life. The 44-year-old mother is fighting glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. "I'm just hoping that something will work, something will buy me a little time," Norris said. "So every day is a gift no matter what." And a gift is what a Flower Mound-based foundation is hoping to give Norris and her family. Ally's Wish, an organization founded by four friends, aims to help young mothers facing terminal illnesses by granting them a wish. The goal is to help make a memory that will last a lifetime. "We are all moms ourselves so we just want to help them create those memories with the kiddos, because for us that's what we decided we would want if we were put in this position as mom," said Missy Phipps, founder of Ally's Wish. Norris hopes to take her daughter, Paige, to visit Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. "I just I know how much Paige loves music and I just thought that was at the top of my list," Norris said. Ally's Wish is working on her plan now and hopes to have it finalized for a trip in June. "I'm excited about it, I think she'll really love it," Norris said. In two years, Ally's Wish has granted 18 wishes, and currently has requests for 9 others excluding Norris'. Ally's Wish funds 'wishes' through charitable donations, and is holding a gala to raise funds Saturday at Gilley's starting at 7 p.m. More information, along with tickets, can be found on the Ally's Wish website. A Dallas school bus driver was placed on administrative leave after a 7-year-old was left on the bus Thursday morning. The second grader at KIPP Destiny Elementary School had fallen asleep in her seat, according to her mother, and the driver did not notice her onboard. "Why was there not a head count from the school bus company and from the school? Can you explain that to me?" asked her mother, Trina White. White received a call from the school at about 8 a.m. explaining her daughter, Keymani, had accidentally been taken to the bus company's offices in Lancaster, approximately 15 minutes away. It wasn't until Keymani woke up in her seat that someone at the location noticed she was still onboard, at which point they notified the school. "There's no excuse for this," White said. "My baby has health issues. She's a sick child. Are you serious?" According to her mother, Keymani suffers from juvenile diabetes and asthma. Upon arrival to school in the mornings, her blood sugar is checked. The driver who found Keymani drove her directly back to school, according to White, without first checking on her condition. "I really, really wish that when they found her at that bus barn that they would have dialed 911," said White. "Let's get her checked out first." NBC 5 reached out to the school and bus company, Durham School Services. Both declined an interview. But this is not the first problem the school has had with the company. Following an incident in September, during which a driver dropped students off hours late to school, KIPP vowed to provide monitors on its buses. However, there was no monitor present on Keymani's bus. In a letter sent out to parents, the school's executive director, Michael Horne, said they only provide monitors for buses carrying solely elementary school students. According to Durham, there are seven monitors and 13 bus routes for the company. "Count your students to make sure all of these babies are on this bus because you don't know if you have left a child like this on a bus with serious health issues," said White. "It could have escalated to something else: death." One person has been arrested after Dallas police say someone was throwing rocks or bricks from a highway overpass onto traffic moving through downtown Dallas Friday morning.[[377579241,R]] Dallas police said that William Pettis was arrested Saturday and is in the Dallas County Jail with five charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Dallas police said several emergency calls were received shortly before 9 a.m. Friday that someone was throwing objects off an overpass near Interstate 30 and Caesar Chavez, west of Interstate 45/U.S. 75. Witnesses reported seeing a man on the bridge, throwing objects at vehicles as they passed. Five vehicles were hit and all suffered significant damage. From Chopper 5, one vehicle had a shattered windshield while the others vehicles had large dents in vehicle's hood or roof. No injuries were reported. Photos: Cars Hit by Objects Thrown from Highway Overpass Dallas police quickly located a person of interest in the case near Haskell Avenue and Second Avenue. The person was taken into custody and transferred to police headquarters to be interviewed. At this time no further information has been released. The drug cartel boss who ordered the murder of an attorney in Southlake three years ago once bragged that he was protected by the Mexican president, the U.S. governments star witness testified in a federal trial in Fort Worth on Friday. The witness also said that soon after his arrest in 2014, he offered to give information about people that would be of interest to the CIA and the Mexican government. Jesus Gerardo Ledezma Campano testified that a leader for the Beltran Leyva cartel known as El Gato ordered a hit squad to kill Juan Guerrero Chapa, who was once the personal attorney for the leader of the Gulf Cartel, Osiel Cardenas. Guerrero, 43, was gunned down on the Southlake Town Square in May 2013. Campano pleaded guilty in a deal with federal prosecutors, admitting he and two other family members stalked Guerrero for months using remote cameras and GPS trackers. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a charge of conspiracy to commit murder for hire. The gunmen and El Gato, whose name is Rodolfo Villareal Hernandez, have never been arrested. Villareal is purported to be the Beltran-Leyva boss in San Pedro Garza, a wealthy suburb of Monterrey. Ledezma Campano, 32, testified against his father, Jesus Gerardo Ledezma Cepeda and his fathers uncle, Jose Luis Cepeda. He appeared in an orange jail outfit and spoke in almost perfect English. Cepedas attorney, Robert Rogers of Dallas, asked Ledezma Campano whether El Gato had the protection of the president of Mexico. At some point he said that, Ledezma Campano answered. Did you believe him? the lawyer asked. I can tell, sir, the witness answered. The defendant did not say if he was referring to President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose term began in 2012, or a previous president. Ledezma Campano also said he was cooperating in ongoing investigations but did not elaborate after federal prosecutors objected. Ledezma Campano, a former police officer in San Pedro Garza, faces 25 years to life but his sentence could be reduced if he gives substantial cooperation in other cases. He said he was concerned about the safety of his family in Mexico and that they are in hiding. They came here to the U.S. but they have to keep changing the places they live, he said, wiping tears from his eyes. They are constantly running. Prosecutors have implicated Ledezma Campano and his father in 12 other murders in the Monterrey area. Defense attorneys have said Guerrero, who was shot once in the chest and nine times in the back, was the "de facto" leader of the Gulf Cartel after Cardenas' arrest. Guerrero also was a U.S. government informant. Cardenas is on the defense witness list but it is not clear if he will testify in the trial, which is expected to last about three weeks. Ledezma Campano testified that El Gato and Guerrero had had a rivalry since they were children. El Gato wanted Guerrero dead for killing his father years earlier, Ledezma Campano said. Dog lovers get your tissues out, this story of puppy love will tug at your heartstrings. Corporal Ray Hinojosa with the Euless Police Department lost his brother in blue, when Officer David Hofer when he was killed during a shootout in March. Hinojosa, who has been with Euless for 28 years, worked with Hofer for the last two years. Euless Officer Gets Dog Named Hofer Hinojosa was on the scene when Hofer was shot and killed. "It's truly tough on these officers to see a buddy die in front of their eyes," Hinojosa's wife Carol told us in an email. Recently a litter of dogs was born in Virginia and each puppy was named after a fallen officer. Hinojosa applied to adopt a dog named "Hofer" for his fallen colleague. Unfortunately, potential adopters were required to appear in Virginia in person to be approved for adoption. Hinojosa was heartbroken but moved on. Fast forward a few weeks and Kamilia Murphy found some golden retriever puppies abandoned by the side of the highway with just a bowl of food. Murphy and Hinojosa's daughter, Lauren, "schemed" and worked out a plan to get that puppy to Cpl. Hinojosa. Euless police Cpl. Ray Hinojosa got a heartwarming surprise at work. The pair took the golden retriever puppy to the vet for shots and worming, they even bought him a blue collar (back the blue) and a name tag that says "Hofer." And at 5 p.m. on Thursday, the pair surprised Hinojosa at work, handing over the golden bundle of joy named Hofer. Procession, Memorial for Euless Ofc. David Hofer "These officers have had such a tragic time dealing with the death of their friend, this little bit of happiness and tribute will bring some joy," said Carol Hinojosa. "It's been very tough on the whole department and especially those who were on the scene." #ForHofer indeed. More than 40 million people have student loan debt, and about 20 percent of them have defaulted on their loans. So the government wants to make it easier for people to pay off their debt. More than a year ago, President Barack Obama signed a Student Aid Bill of Rights which lets people pay less when they don't earn a lot, and more when they start making more money. But the General Accounting Office found most students in default don't even know about the program. "Your servicer should be enrolling you into a plan that you can pay a small percentage of your income," said Rohit Chopra with the Center for American Progress. "This will help you avoid ruining your credit and prevent a default. This is absolutely critical if you want to stay on top of paying your student loans." The federal government hopes to sign up two million more people with student debt into the pay-as-you-earn program by this time next year. To get help, check out this website. A 32-year-old Los Angeles man who stalked a Dallas woman for almost a decade after he met her in India has been sentenced to 17 years in prison. A Texas jury convicted Jitender Singh for breaking into her Dallas-area apartment and setting up a false credit tracking account to locate her. Attorneys for Singh told The Dallas Morning News they'll appeal this week's verdict from a Collin County jury. Prosecutors said Singh was arrested after breaking into the woman's Plano apartment in 2014 and stealing several items. Prosecutors said the two were college classmates in Delhi, India, that she refused a 2006 marriage proposal and that Singh assaulted her father in India. They say he followed her back to the U.S., to California, New York and then to Texas. A North Carolina woman will face charges in Texas for dismembering a woman five years ago. Media outlets reported that Amanda Hayes will go to Texas to face charges in the death of 27-year-old Laura Ackerson. AP said that Ackerson was last seen in Raleigh in July 2011. Her dismembered remains were found in a creek outside of Houston 11 days after she disappeared. Prosecutors said that Hayes and her ex-husband, Grant Ruffin Hayes, killed Ackerson at their Raleigh apartment during a custody dispute over Grants two oldest children. Grant Hayes was convicted of first-degree-murder and is serving a life sentence. The Associated Press reported that Hayes was convicted in 2014 of second-degree murder in Ackersons death. The new charges will deal with the disposal of the body. Jose Sanchez was counting on his tax refund. "That could be a week of groceries," explained Sanchez. "That's a car payment." But instead of his full refund, Sanchez received a letter from the California Franchise Tax Board informing him that the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) had seized $241 from his check. The letter claimed that he owed them money. "It's like, why are you going after me? I didn't do anything wrong," said Sanchez. LADOT told Sanchez he had an unpaid parking ticket on his record. So the department used a little-known government program, called the "Interagency Intercept Collection Program," that allows local agencies to seize people's tax refunds for delinquent debts. They got Jose Sanchez's money, but it turned out the City of Los Angeles actually had the wrong Sanchez. When Sanchez called the LADOT for an explanation, the customer service representative said the parking ticket was for a Volkswagen. But he doesn't own a Volkswagen. And he doesn't live in the City of Los Angeles. A Fontana resident, Sanchez said he hasn't been to Los Angeles in years. "I feel like it's been stolen from me," said Sanchez. "They don't care. That's the way I feel, they don't care." How does this happen? Agencies like the LADOT can ask the California Franchise Tax Board to intercept your income tax refund if they think you owe them money. It can be used for a variety of debts including property taxes, fines, parking tickets and court-order payments. But for the program to work correctly, the Franchise Tax Board needs to match the debt to the correct person. That didn't happen in Sanchez's case. When the NBC4 I-Team questioned Wayne Garcia, head of the LADOT's Parking Violations Bureau, about the error, he acknowledged the mistake. "We apologized to Mr. Sanchez," said Garcia. "And these errors to be honest with you they rarely happen." But is that true? When Sanchez asked the LADOT's own customer service representative if his case was an error, she told him that, "It happens all the time sir, yes." And, the I-Team has heard from others who've had their refunds wrongly intercepted by LADOT. Garcia said his agency accidently gave the Franchise Tax Board the social security number of the wrong Jose Sanchez. The unpaid parking ticket belonged to a different driver with the same name. NBC4 asked LADOT if there should be better checks and balances to make sure these mistakes don't happen. Garcia said that his agency is "trying to figure out how that might work." Los Angeles isn't the only city taking the wrong people's tax refunds. Michael Gardner of Sacramento planned on taking his wife to Disneyland with his tax refund. It's an annual tradition for the couple. But the City of Inglewood seized a portion of his refund for an unpaid parking ticket. "I've never been to Inglewood," said Gardner. "I did nothing wrong but yet I was accused." In an email to the I-Team, the City of Inglewood admitted that "an incorrect license plate was entered into the system." They say these mistakes are rare and quickly resolved. But Gardner had to reach out to the media before he got his money back. "It's just wrong to take money from somebody without knowing for sure who you are taking it from," said Gardner. Wayne Garcia at LADOT agreed. "If I was in his shoes, no, that's not really fair. I would've been upset as well," said Garcia. LADOT originally told Sanchez that it could take up to eight months to refund his money. But after the I-Team questioned LADOT, Sanchez received a refund within three weeks. "They need to develop a better system of not finding the wrong people," said Sanchez. The New Zealand Embassy announced today it will donate $50,000 to communities affected by drought and saltwater intrusion in Ben Tre province. The emergency relief will target people in the 15 worst affected communes in Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu districts. Up to 6,000 cow and goat farmers in these three districts will receive cash grants to buy food and water for their animals, which they depend on for their livelihoods. The assistance will be provided through an ongoing $4.0 million New Zealand government-funded project called Building Resilience to Disaster and Climate Risks of Men and Women in Ben Tre Province that is being implemented by Oxfam in Vietnam. New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam H.E Haike Manning, said: We recognize the serious impact that the drought and saltwater intrusion is having on communities in southern and central provinces of Viet Nam. This assistance is a modest, but practical contribution to the communities we are already working with through our existing project, and is an example of New Zealands ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable communities across Vietnam. New Zealand will continue sharing its experience and working closely with our partners, such as Oxfam, to assist local communities to deal with drought and saltwater intrusion and the effects of climate change in the Mekong Delta region. Oxfam Country Director Babeth Lefur said the drought and saltwater intrusion have affected hundreds of thousands of families, most of whom are already living under the poverty line. Vietnam is faced with the worst drought in almost a century, according to the United Nation, which has seriously affected about two million people living in the southern and central regions of the country. A joint rapid assessment carried out by the Vietnamese government, the UN and non-governmental organizations in March estimated that in the 18 most severely affected provinces in the country, as many as two million people have no access to clean water and 1.1 million are in need of food aid. In the southern Mekong Delta, the prolonged drought, accompanied by a decrease in groundwater levels, has resulted in the most extensive saltwater intrusion in 90 years. Thousands of janitors rallied in downtown Los Angeles Friday as their contract negotiations enter the final hours, threatening a potential strike over wages and working conditions. About 2,000 janitors turned out for a march and rally at noon at Grand Park. Labor unions say janitors are subject to a range of bad working conditions, including low wages, sexual assault and other unlawful practices. The looming strikes over alleged workplace complaints against several major service companies can include over 20,000 janitors statewide. At issue are proposed changes to health insurance, salary increases and sexual harassment policies, an issue that union organizers say is a persistent problem for female janitors. "We're talking about a workforce that works in the middle of the night, often alone," said Refugio Mata of the SEIU. "They're being the targets of harassment and assault and so they're all standing up today throughout the state and saying enough is enough." The union is asking building owners to train the janitors on how to report sexual harassment. "They are afraid to speak out and we're trying to stop that," said Orlando Molina, who has been a janitor for 15 years. "We're here to serve the people. We're here to serve the tenants but at the same time we need our benefits," he said. At a press conference on Thursday, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Los Angeles Labor County Federation of Labor announced their support for janitors if they decide to go on a strike. "Union members across Los Angeles County will not cross picket lines, and it could impact the flow of business," the SEIU United Service Workers West said in a press release. California janitors voted last week to authorize their bargaining committee to declare a strike. Worker-contract negotiations are set to expire on Saturday. If new labor agreements are not met, unions say a strike could happen as early as next week. The Los Angeles Rams are looking for a few good employees to work at games during the team's first season back in Southern California in two decades. A Rams Hiring Event kicked off Friday morning, when hundreds of people will be hired to work at concerts and sporting events. The event is at 3965 South Vermont Ave., where several applicants had already lined up Friday morning down the block. Akasia Moore was wrapped in a blanket and sitting on a folding chair as she waited for the event to kick off. "I'm cold, I'm tired, but I'm happy," said Moore. "It's a job. I'm just happy I have the opportunity to get a job." Later Friday morning, the line extended around the block. "We came out here and there was actually a line, so we went back home for some chairs," said Rhonda McGlory. "I didn't know it was going to be this big." The South LA WorkSource Center partnered with CSC, which provides event staffing services, to organize the hiring event. Applicants should bring identification. Those hired will work at sporting events, including the Rams, USC and UCLA and the Galaxy, plus concerts. Call 323-730-7900 ext. 227 for more information. The LA Rams will play their first preseason game on Aug. 13 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and open the regular season on Sept. 12 at Levi's Stadium against the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams will make their home regular season debut on Sept 18 against the Seattle Seahawks. A murder trial has begun for one of two brothers charged in the grisly 2009 slaying of a woman whose body was found dumped and burned in an Irvine parking lot - though the woman herself has yet to be identified. DNA evidence on the woman's fingernails led authorities to 30-year-old Zenaido Baldivia-Guzman and his 37-year-old brother, Gabino Baldivia-Guzman, both charged with murder, Orange County prosecutors said. On the night of Sept. 4, 2009, prosecutors said the men picked up the woman in their van in Santa Ana. When she began to panic and scream, Zenaido Baldivia-Guzman allegedly pulled her into the back of the van and began to beat her, hitting her in the face and neck, as she struggled to escape. He allegedly strangled her while his brother continued to drive. The men then allegedly drove to an industrial business parking lot in the 1800 block of Kettering in Irvine, where they dumped the body, doused it with gasoline from a canister in the van and set it ablaze. They grabbed her cellphone and took off. Workers at the complex discovered the remains. She had burns to more than 90 percent of her body, prosecutors said. Investigators have been unable to identify the victim - there were fingerprints, but no matches. Dental records were also checked, but again turned up blank. She was African American, with short curly brown hair and had a single piercing in each ear. In court, experts testified the 152 pound, 6-foot-tall victim was likely in her 20s. Pathologists say there was marijuana in her system at the time. Detectives thought they could trace her identity through the shoe she was wearing: a black, strappy high heel with a zipper and the brand name "Glaze." It was a 10. However, the shoe had hardly been worn. Nearly seven years after her death, she remains known as Jane Doe. The men are being tried separately. Gabino Baldivia-Guzman, who was allegedly behind the wheel of the van while the killing was taking place in the rear, will be tried at a later time. They are each charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder with sentencing enhancements for murder during the commission of a kidnapping. If convicted, they each face a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Los Angeles police and city leaders on Thursday said the arrests of more than two dozen alleged members of a drug ring that's plagued Skid Row for 30 years was the culmination of a months-long operation. In a sweeping pre-dawn raid Thursday, 20 search warrants were served simultaneously at multiple locations, netting cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, guns, $1.8 million and the arrest of the alleged ringleader, Derrick Turner. "Los Angeles will not tolerate anyone who preys on some of the most vulnerable people we have in this city," Mayor Eric Garcetti said. LAPD Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph has patrolled Skid Row for 18 years. He points to the $600,000 in one dollar bills in this case as proof the predators preyed on the weak. "You'll have an addict trying to benefit from a drug problem and sometimes you have the drug dealer outside or slipping inside the drug program, and the temptation to fail in Skid Row is too great," Joseph said. On Thursday, he said there's a different feeling on Skid Row, an optimism he says he hasn't seen in a long time. "It was wonderful to see many members of the community to come up to us, kissing us on the cheek and saying thank you," Joseph said. But cautious optimism from the chief, who says the arrests were only a small step of a bigger plan. "This by no means is the end of narcotics use on Skid Row, but it is the beginning of stopping it," Beck said. The mother of a Florida teen who vanished months ago on a fishing trip with a friend now suspects foul play may have been a factor, according to a lawsuit filed in connection with the case. Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, both 14, were lost at sea while fishing off the coast of Jupiter last July. New video was released Friday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, showing the boys leaving the inlet before they went missing. The boys were never found, although a pilot flying off the Georgia coast said he believes he saw one of the teens clinging to a pile of debris and waving his hands, according to a report released this week. By the time rescuers arrived, the person was gone. The teens' boat was recovered near Bermuda almost eight months later, along with Stephanos' iPhone, which the families hope will provide valuable insight into what went wrong. Stephanos' father, William Blu Stephanos, said earlier this week he was working with the phone's manufacturer and an IT professional to retrieve information from the waterlogged device. The phone, however, has become a source of contention, with Cohen's mother filing suit Monday when the FWC agreed to relinquish the device to Blu Stephanos. According to the suit, the FWC notified Pamela Cohen on April 22 "it did not intend to professionally examine the iPhone or extract the data" because the case was closed. Pamela Cohen has said the teens shared Austin Stephanos' phone because her son's was broken. The suit claims she "will continue to suffer irreparable harm if the iPhone is not properly handled as material evidence in a possible maritime crime or homicide." An investigative file dated Feb. 8 reveals the FBI has been involved in the case since September, when Austin Stephanos' stepfather told officials he believed the boys may have been abducted, NBC News reported. State investigators subpoenaed phone records in December as part of "an official investigation of a suspected felony," according to the document. FWC spokesman Rob Klepper declined to comment Friday on the Cohen family's suspicion of foul play. He said the agency would not be issuing any additional statements on the case. In a statement Tuesday, Pamela Cohen said she would withdraw her lawsuit if the Stephanos family submitted the phone for an independent forensics examination. "We will be withdrawing our lawsuit as soon as FWC receives the written consents it needs from both families to put the iPhone in the hands of the best impartial iPhone extraction experts available, in a proper legal chain of custody," Pamela Cohen said in the statement. During a hearing on the suit Friday afternoon, Pamela Cohen asked that the device be turned over to a third-party examiner. "The public has a right to know what happened to the boys, and what led up to the point of their disappearance," the lawsuit states. A judge said the phone will be shipped to Apple for forensic examination. "We're highly disappointed that the FWC turned the phone over to Mr. Stephanos, but we're pleased the judge ordered the phone be sent for thorough, transparent and truthful investigation for both families," Pamela Cohen expressed. FWC officials previously said there was no criminal element to the case. Ted Cruz's unconventional decision to tap Carly Fiorina on Wednesday as his running mate echoes Ronald Reagan's gambit heading into the 1976 convention, a history that offers cautionary notes for Cruz. Reagan finished the primaries as both a beloved conservative and party underdog, trailing incumbent President Gerald Ford by 100 delegates. On July 27, 1976, a few weeks before the GOP convention, Reagan held a press conference to announce he was picking Richard Schweiker, a liberal Republican from Pennsylvania, to be his running mate. "The people and the delegates have a right to know, in advance of the convention, who a nominee's vice presidential choice would be," Reagan said, explaining his logic for "departing from tradition" to announce the pick early. A Brooklyn man who was randomly punched at a Manhattan subway station by an attacker who told him it was "because you look exactly like Shia LaBeouf" received a message of sympathy and an offer of soup from the actor, according to reports. Mario Licato said that he had just gotten off a subway train Saturday afternoon at the Delancey Street-Essex Street subway station on the Lower East Side when he was clocked. "I didnt even see the guy," he told Gothamist. "I just see his fist coming toward me. It knocked me, and while I was falling down the stairs, all I hear was, 'This is because you look exactly like Shia LaBeouf!'" Licato, who told Gothamist he has been approached "at least 10 times" by people who said he resembles the actor, tumbled down the stairs and lost consciousness. He said a couple rushed to help him and called 911. The next day, he received a call from the real LaBeouf on his work phone, Licato told Cosmopolitan. He didn't notice the message until LaBeouf commented on one of his Instagram posts: "Hey, I left you a voicemail." "This is Shia LaBeouf, the guy you got hit for looking like," the voicemail allegedly said. In the message, LaBeouf "sounded bummed and genuinely really bad," Licato told Cosmopolitan, saying the actor apologized profusely. LaBeouf also allegedly said he wished he were in New York so he could bring him soup and "giggle over this." He gave Licato his phone number and signed off with, "Keep your head up, G," the magazine reports. Licato told Cosmopolitan the voicemail was about two minutes long and that he has listened to it about five times. Although Licato hasnt called LaBeouf yet, he told the magazine he will soon, likely over a glass of wine. He said he plans to ask why the guy who punched him hates LaBeouf so much. "What did you do to some random bro in New York that he needed to punch me for it? Did you steal his girlfriend? Maybe he just really hated you sitting in the movie theater for three days straight watching your own movies?" he said. The man who punched Licato has not been found. Top Tri-State News Photos Four girls who apparently ran away from a facility for foster children near Tampa were found safe as they tried to sneak back onto the same property, authorities said Friday. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said in an email that the girls, ages 13, 11, 10 and 4, were discovered just after 7 p.m. Friday trying to climb back over a fence near the rear of the property of A Kids Place. The girls were reported missing after a bed check just before midnight Thursday at the Brandon facility. "Preliminary information is that they originally ran away to a nearby park and then broke into an abandoned residence in the area by breaking a window," Carter said. "They stayed at the abandoned residence all day today and were attempting to return when they were discovered." The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has canceled an alert about missing children. Earlier Friday, Sheriff's Col. Donna Lusczynski said law enforcement officers spent the day going door-to-door, looking for the girls. They also made contact with every registered sexual predator in a 2 mile radius. The three younger children, 4-year-old Allison Nelson, 10-year-old Anabella Gonzalez and 11-year-old Heavenlynn Gonzalez, are sisters who have been at the facility since March. The 13-year-old, Ashlyn Smith, has lived there since February. Investigators interviewed all the children and staff at the facility and learned at least two of the girls had discussed running away with others, Lusczynski said. Lusczynski declined to give details about why the girls were at the home, citing privacy issues. She said many times children end up there because of abuse or abandonment. A Kids Place opened in 2009. It was described in local news reports as a $5.2-million, 60-bed facility that serves as a temporary shelter for children from birth to 17. The facility is where law enforcement brings children in the first traumatic hours after they are removed from their homes. Tucker, a German Shepherd who arrived at a Hollywood veterinary hospital severely emaciated and badly abused last week, is showing signs of improvement on his road to recovery. New photos of Tucker show that the sores on his skin are healing and that overall, he's coming along very well. Veterinarians with VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital are working to determine the best way to treat deep wounds to Tucker's hips. Miami-Dade Animals Services contacted Shepherd Help and Rescue Effort (SHARE) ealy last week after an owner surrender of the starving, sick dog. Officials called for an immediate rescue and SHARE picked Tucker up the next day. Miami-Dade Police informed SHARE that Tucker's case will be pursued as a felony animal cruelty case. Tucker came to the hospital suffering from inflammation in all four paws, skin that was cracked and bleeding, peridontal disease and two large open wounds on his hips, both of which are infected and will require intense wound care. Tucker is now on antibiotics, they've dressed his wounds and he's responding well. He's in good spirits, although his injuries were some of the worst these volunteers have ever seen. Despite his injuries, Tucker is said to have a sweet, calm demeanor which is noticed by everyone around him. "Everyone we ran into at [VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital] always comments on what a great, loving spirit he has considering what he has been through," says Cindy Newton, a volunteer with SHARE. "He's such a great dog." Vets are keeping Tucker for intensive treatment and observation, and they're hopeful he'll make a full recovery and soon be available for adoption. An online fundraiser has been established on YouCaring.com to help cover the cost of Tucker's medical care. As of Friday, the site had raised more than $9,500. NBC 6 South Florida continues to put the spotlight on local students who have SWAG: Students Working At Greatness. The weekly feature during the 6 p.m. newscast each Friday highlights students who rise against all odds and continue to succeed. From Sebastian Salas, a senior at Miami Lakes Educational Center, who is the youngest person to ever earn expert-level certification on Solid Works, a mechanical engineering design program; to Elena Lopez and Nadia Mazinani, seniors at Coral Reef High School, best friends who share the same passion: fighting breast cancer; to Juvens Pierre of Northeast High School in Oakland Park, who has overcome a troubled pass to thrive in class; all of these students have SWAG and inspire those around them. On Friday at 6 p.m., NBC 6 put the spotlight on Leslie Perez, a senior and trailblazer at Miami Springs High School. Perez is in her element, enjoying the company of kids with special needs, the ones who are ignored or even shunned by most high school students. "I wanted to be that person, to be bold enough to help these students that are really different from us," Perez said. Hear more about Perez and her Project Unify, which she launched after seeing how isolated the disabled kids were from the rest of the student body, by clicking here. "Leslie is truly an inspiration. She brings smiles to my students with intellectual disabilities to their faces every day and her energy is incredible," said Clo Creevay, teacher. Join us each week to see South Florida students who have SWAG and get inspired! To view more SWAG on 6 stories, click here. Local farmer Lo thi Bat who grows arrowroot to support her family with help from the project. Photo by ActionAid One day, Tieu, a Giay ethnic minority woman, stepped out of her house to visit a neighbor without asking for her husbands permission, her husband threatened to abandon her. She had never before dared to do that during two decades of marriage. This time, Tieu did it on purpose. "I wanted to see how my husband would react. I wanted freedom," said Tieu. Tieu was illiterate. Instead of going to school, Tieu had to work in the fields from a very early age.When I was a girl, I did what my parents told me. After I got married, I thought I must obey my husband, Tieu said. To Tieu, local authorities were yet another source of orders and instructions. Her job was to comply with their instructions and things like voting were just a hassle. I went to vote because I was told to, said Tieu. Tieu comes from Tam Duong district in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, where poverty, low literacy, gender inequality and child marriage still plague many people. The district is home to 12 different ethnic groups. Life used to be hard and harsh for vulnerable groups in the district, with women and children the main victims of gender inequality and human trafficking. Women like Tieu have been striving to find their voice, knowing that they not only fighting for themselves, but more importantly for their children and future generations. Tieu had to shoulder all the housework, take care of three children and farm the familys land to contribute to their main source of income. Despite her great responsibility, Tieu had no voice in the familys business. All decisions were made by her husband. That was her life at home. When Tieu stepped out of the house, the outside world was no better, if not scarier. Her nightmare became a reality every time she left the district by herself because she was unable to read signposts. She was scared of getting lost or of people laughing when she asked them to read the signs for her.I am petrified at the thought of being robbed or kidnapped, Tieu said. Several years ago, discrimination of ethnic minority groups was also a burden on her already difficult life. Kinh people (the majority Vietnamese ethnic group) in the district showed disrespect to me. They used to point at me and say: look, an ethnic minority girl, Tieu said. "People from different groups were not allowed to marry each other. But Tieu broke the rule. She married a man from the Lu ethnic minority group and moved in with her husband in an area occupied by Lu people. Here came the consequences for her violating the rule. It was hard for my children to make friends at school. Many locals called them the Giay kids to remind them their mother comes from a different group than the other villagers, Tieu said. At that time, Tieu did not know how to react or how to protect her children from the unkind words. Time for change In 2006, for the first time Tieu grasped the opportunity for change. She joined a 10-year development project launched by ActionAid, a non-governmental organization working against poverty and injustice worldwide, hoping that the knowledge she could gain would bring her the answers she was seeking to her problems. Tieu took part in a literacy class set up by the project after days of persuading her husband.My husband wanted me to stay home and do housework rather than spend time at the class where I couldn't earn any money, Tieu said. Luckily for me, the class was right next to my house. I told my husband I would come home immediately if he needed me, said Tieu. It was amazing when I was able to write down the names of my loved ones for the first time. When the class ended, Tieu joined a community development group where she has learned a wide range of issues, such as nutrition, balancing the familys spending, domestic violence, human trafficking and climate change adaptation. I love being a part of a group, a community. We share private stories things that I would have never discussed before. It turns out that despite coming from different ethnic groups, many of us face the same problems, Tieu said. "We make friends and treat each other equally." Tieu speaks confidently on a program filmed by Vietnam Television. Photo by Tuan Anh The knowledge Tieu gained paid off. One day my son was seriously ill. While my husband was out looking for the shaman to cure him, I quietly took my boy to the doctor. I knew the shaman could not cure the illness, Tieu said. Following the childs recovery, her husband gradually started to appreciate what she had learned. He started to trust me and listen to my advice, said Tieu. Like Tieu, Lo Thi Bun from the Lu ethnic group suffered from her husbands verbal abuse. I never thought of standing up to my husband before because I thought women did not have the right to disobey their husbands. The example set by other brave women in the group encouraged me, Bun said. Source: ActionAid, 2016 Taking the lead Women like Tieu now play a stronger role in their family businesses. Tieu is responsible for holding the purse strings and balancing the familys budget. I did not fight with my husband to take that power. I showed that I have the skills to do the job efficiently. My husband was bad with numbers and had no idea how to look after our finances, Tieu said. Time past, Tieu gradually gained trust from her husband. Now she makes the decisions on family matters when her husband is away. In a complete reversal, her husband now tells her when he is going out - something that never happened before. Lo Thi Bat cannot speak or read Vietnamese fluently, though she started attending literacy classes at the community development group in 2006.I have no talent for languages at all," she said. However, she quickly picked up farming techniques from the classes. It turns out that I can make as much money as men do, Bat said. For several years, Bat has grown arrowroot as her family's main source of main income. The project grouped households that earned their livelihoods by the same means together, each including poor, near-poor and middle-income families so that they could share experience. "It is the people who decide what they want to grow or farm. The project offers them advice, financial support and trains them in high-yielding farming techniques," said Vu Minh Duc, the program manager. To help locals stand on their own two feet, the project has gradually reduced funding over the years and each community development group has had to find a way of subsidizing their operations. At present, Tieu's group, with about 30 members, has about VND30 million ($1,300) in savings and 12 pigs to keep the program running. "Besides a better livelihood, domestic violence is on a sharp decrease in the district, with women enjoying more rights and men now shouldering more responsibility at home," said Vu Ngoc Hien, deputy head of the Supporting Development Program.Men who abuse their wives are shamed at public gatherings. Thats how we punish violators. "This contributes to the fight against human trafficking as domestic violence has forced many women to leave their homes, making it much easier for them to fall into the human trafficking trap, said Hien. Ethnic minority women have been thirsty for knowledge. Over 800 regular members taking part in 15 community development groups over the past ten years is clear proof. The project officially ended this month. Women like Tieu, Bun and Bat now have the ability to take the future into their own hands, and one of the first priorities will be to elect the right people to lead their district. In less than a month, Tieu will exercise her right to vote. This time, it is not just her duty as a citizen, but also her right. I will vote wisely, Tieu said. Prosecutors have dropped sexual battery charges against a North Miami man who was accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl. Clenol Jean, 23, was arrested last week on five counts of sexual battery on a minor and spent eight days behind bars before he was released Friday following a court hearing. "It feels good to be vindicated," Jean told reporters after the hearing. "My faith was never shaken, I'm a strong believer in God and I believe in true justice." The state dropped the charges after discovering there was not enough proof to establish guilt. Jean's attorney and family members had vehemently denied the charges after his arrest. Attorney Larry Handfield said he was glad Jean was vindicated but said the damage has already been done. "This is a perfect example to what happens when you rush to judgment," Handfield said. "You can't un-ring the bell, he spent eight days in jail without bond, he lost his job. He has his freedom now but his nightmare continues." Handfield thanked the state attorney's office for investigating the case but criticized the North Miami Police detective who investigated and made the arrest. "He should have never been arrested in the first place," Handfield said. Jean's mother said that as a favor, her family would take care of some kids from their church, including the alleged victim, a 4-year-old girl. The girl told her mother she was touched on her privates by Jean while attending an unlicensed daycare run by Jean's grandmother in the 1500 block of Northeast 142nd Street, according to a police report. The child said the incident happened five times, the report said. Jean denied touching the child in a sexual manner, the report said. Jean had been working at Renaissance Charter School at Plantation before his arrest but lost his job. He said he wants his job back. Handfield said they will be taking legal action in the case. A 1-year-old boy was pinned under a car that crashed into a day care center in Billerica, Massachusetts, Thursday, authorities said. Billerica police say a 38-year-old woman from Billerica suffered a medical issue and crashed into multiple cars before slamming into A Brighter Rainbow, a day care on Boston Road, just before 5:30 p.m. Witnesses described it going "airborne" on its way into the building. There were four children inside the building at the time of the crash. A 1-year-old boy was struck and pinned under the Subaru Outback, police said. At least three other children were outside the building at the time. Two of them were treated at the scene, according to police. Witnesses said the little boy had gashes on his head, but was conscious and crying. Police noted he was alert when the ambulance arrived to take him to Lahey Hospital in Burlington. The child is expected to survive. The driver was taken to Lahey Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officials say the building is not structurally sound after the crash. Crews pulled the vehicle from the building shortly before 7 p.m. There was heavy damage to the front end. Boston Road was temporarily closed in the area. When Alzheimer's patients wander and get lost, the fear can be overwhelming for their families. Rick Cashman of Babylon on Long Island recalled how a simple trip to the bank turned into a nightmare when his wife Beverly said she would wait in the car -- and then was gone by the time he returned. He said he immediately thought the worst: "That she will be lost, never found, or something tragic would happen like getting hit by a car." The Alzheimer's Association, a nonprofit advocacy organization, says six out of 10 people diagnosed with the disease wander at some point. More than 90 percent of those people are found within a mile and a half of where they were last seen. After 45 minutes of searching and a call to police, Beverly Cashman was found by a friend about a mile and a half from the bank, crossing a busy street. Police say that more than 30,000 people suffer from Alzheimer's in Nassau County alone. "They might visit a certain museum, a convenience store, a specific park," said detective Lt. Louis Monteleone of the Nassau Police Missing Persons Unit. "We are going to get officers ready to search these locations." Alzheimer's Association spokeswoman Kelsey LaPorte added: "(Researchers) say by 2050, the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's is going to triple." With the number on the rise, Nassau County has launched Project Lifesaver, which allows police to track patients who wear a locating device. Once alerted about the missing person, police would look up the person's individual frequency and set it on their frequency, according to Lt. Adam Scheiner of Nassau Police ESU. The I-Team tested the bracelet by going into the woods, with no clear direction. Within 10 minutes, the radar identified the signal pointing police to the I-Team's location. In New York City, searching is more complicated. The NYPD says they create a parameter to break down a search area into a grid, and then taking police to the complex transit network or by the water. Robert Koester, who has traveled the world to find missing people and has trained search crews to do the same, said the fatality rate for dementia cases is twice that of lost children. "There's a loss of peripheral vision so that's all you're going to see," said Koester. "A lot of people with dementia are actually looking down at the ground." Police and experts urge loved ones to takes a photo of the patient and register it with their local department; having a photo on file saves time once a search is initiated. Nassau County's REACH program uses those photos to immediately alert police to the missing person. "Without REACH, it could be 25 to 30 minutes before you can get a picture to a cop car," said detective Sgt. Patrick Ryder. "With the REACH program, it can be done in minutes to every single car and the media if needed." Patients can wear a tracker, but it they're too expensive, they can get a bracelet with their information engraved. That's what Beverly Cashman is now doing, in case she gets lost again. Her husband has also added new bolts to all of his doors to prevent her from leaving as he learns to live with her condition. "I am trying to make her the best quality of life that I can while she's still with us," Cashman said. A Long Island woman is facing animal cruelty charges after police discovered a dead dog and other animals, including lizards, at her apartment. Melissa Buchanan, 27, was arrested Thursday after police found two miniature Australian Shepherds, one of which was dead, and two lizards and a cat that had not been cared for at the South Huntington apartment. The womans landlord had alerted police after noticing that she had not been home for a few days and a dog inside the unit was barking excessively, Suffolk County police said. Buchanan arrived at the apartment while police were still there and said she had not been home for several days, according to police. Huntington Animal Control took control of the dog and cat. The Suffolk County SPCA made arrangements to care for the other animals. Buchanan was held overnight at the police precinct and was scheduled to be in court in Central Islip on Friday. She has been charged with six counts of animal cruelty. It was not immediately clear if she had an attorney. Four people were arrested as authorities seized drugs, weapons and cash amid an ongoing war on street level drug dealers in Long Island, police announced Friday. Authorities in Suffolk County carried out search warrants in Huntington Station, Bellport, and West Babylon, the latest raids in a crackdown that has yielded nearly 150 arrests, according to police. Authorities seized approximately 110 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, various drug packaging material, a cell phone and more than $3,500 in cash at a home on West 21st Street in Huntington Station Friday morning, police said. Two brothers who live at the residence were charged. Israel Perez, 23, was charged with second degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, two counts of third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds, police said. Gilmar Perez, 25, was charged with third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds, third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Their attorney information wasnt immediately available. A search at another home on Lowndes Avenue in Huntington Station Friday morning yielded approximately 3 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, drug packaging material, four cell phones and $139 in cash, police said. Ivan Oscar Martinez, 34, who lives at the location, was charged with second degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, third degree criminal sale controlled substance, two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in or near school grounds, fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Martinez's attorney information wasn't immediately available. Authorities said they also seized three grams of crack, drug packaging, $134 in cash, two scales, one phone and a pellet gun a home on Michigan Avenue in Bellport Friday morning. Gregory Jackson, 29, who lives at the location, was charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia. His attorney information wasnt immediately available. On Thursday, authorities executed a search warrant in West Babylon at 709 Herzel Boulevard, according to the release. Approximately 90 grams of cocaine, a scale, six cellphones and $235 in cash were recovered. Benjamin Lugo, 30, who lives at the address, is charged with two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, according to the release. Lugos attorney information wasnt immediately available. Lugo was set to be arraigned at First District Count in Central Islip Friday, according to the release. The other men arrested will be held overnight for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip Saturday, April 30. Since last December, 149 people have been arrested as 67 search warrants were executed in the crackdown on Long Island drug dealers, according to police. Since the police drug tip line was started, 239 tips have been phoned in to authorities. Authorities say the public is helping point investigators to the places where drugs are being sold. "It takes guns and drugs off the street and it sends a message to the community that we're not going to tolerate drug dealing in our residential areas," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy D. Sini said. "It's about the kids," said Jennifer Buqicchio, of West Babylon. "When it's about the kids it's different. I'd take a risk for a child." Sini added that the raids are meant to discourage people from committing drug crimes. "Our message is simple: if you're dealing drugs in Suffolk County, the Suffolk County Police Department is coming for you," Sini said. A Brooklyn woman went to pick up Chinese food a week ago and never returned has been found safe, police said. Destiny Dawson, 21, walked out of her apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant on April 20 to get Chinese food for dinner. She was found unharmed on Thursday, police said. Dawson's boyfriend said on Wednesday that he was uneasy about her disappearance and said that she has run away several times in the past as an adult and child. Along with foreign investors, local private companies made various proposals at a meeting today between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, government officials and thousands of local and foreign companies, which aimed to clear barriers and improve the country's business environment. Mai Kieu Lien, CEO of Vietnams listed largest dairy firm Vinamilk, asked the government to issue directions on the Law on Enterprises, continue administrative reforms, reduce the number of permits granted by ministries and sectors, explain the requirements for obtaining a permit, and coordinate ministries in the process of granting investment licenses and reviewing customs procedures. She also said she wanted the government to serve, not to manage enterprises, according to a statement on govenment's website. Vinamilk made a net profit of about $350 million in 2015, rising 28 percent year on year. Its total revenue last year hit $1.8 billion, up 14 percent against 2014. A representative from the Vietnam Textile and Garment Association asked the government to modify the masterplan for the development of Vietnams textile and garment industry as it is out of date. The development strategy must be in line with planning for industrial parks to ensure wastewater treatment conforms with regulations and the environment is protected. The association also said some existing environmental standards in the textile and garment industry should be changed as it is not necessary to apply strict environmental requirements for all plants in the industry. For example, a garment factory discharges less wastewater than a textile or dyeing plant. Exports of Vietnams textiles and garments hit $22.8 billion in 2015, up 9.1 percent from 2014, customs data showed. A representative from low-cost carrier VietJet asked the government to reduce prejudice against private carriers and create favorable conditions for private carriers to carry out administrative procedures and necessary services at airports. The Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises asked the government and the National Assembly to build and pass a law to support SMEs, set up a national start-up program and encourage investors to build warehouses for SMEs. The government should support SMEs by reducing taxes, re-financing interest, setting incentives for SMEs to take part in production lines and encouraging the development of well-established industrial parks, while accelerating administrative reforms and applying IT in government services. A representative from local retailer Saigon Co.op asked the government to safeguard domestic retailers in accordance with global practices, set up a strategy to develop Vietnams retail market, build a group of 20 competitive Vietnamese retailers, improve regulations on M&As and issue policies to support retailers. Students at a New Jersey high school were ordered to shelter in their classrooms, then sent home early after authorities said a pair of rowdy trespassers made their way onto campus. Hillsborough High School in Somerset County was put on lockdown Friday morning after two strangers somehow got into a common area at the school ahead of the opening bell. Students said that one was pushing around a chair as another sat on a table. "They were like sitting on tables in the commons," said student Cailin Dugan. "Everyone was pretty creeped out." It was not immediately clear what threat the two men, both in their 20s, posed to the school. Hillsborough police arrived on scene Friday morning and placed an officer outside every entrance of the school. Officers also searched the school for bombs or guns at the school, which dismissed early because of the scare. Hillsborough police say they're continuing to searching for the trespassers. NBC 4 New York has reached out to the school for comment. Authorities in New York and New Jersey say they've broken up a cocaine distribution ring, arresting 18 people. The New York State Police and prosecutors say multiple raids Thursday in Orange County in New York, Sussex County in New Jersey and surrounding counties netted two kilograms of cocaine, most of it in New Jersey. The raids came after a seven-month investigation. The suspects face a variety of charges, including narcotics trafficking and possession, conspiracy and money laundering. Four whaling paintings by the British artist J.M.W. Turner will be united for the first time in an upcoming exhibition in New York City. "Turner's Whaling Pictures" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens May 10 and runs through Aug. 7 The paintings were created toward the end of the artist's career. Seascapes and other marine subjects were among Turner's favorite subjects. The whaling paintings were exhibited in pairs at the Royal Academy in London in 1845 and 1846. One of the paintings at the Met comes from its own collection. The other three are from Tate Britain. The Met says the exhibition also will offer an opportunity to consider the paintings possible influence on Herman Melville's "Moby Dick." The classic tale was published months before Turner's death in 1851. Les Waas, the advertising legend behind the Mister Softee jingle heard in hundreds of ice cream trucks for more than half a century, has died. He was 94. Waas died April 19 at Abington Hospice in Warminster, according to Goldsteins' Rosenberg's Raphael-Sacks funeral home. The Mister Softee song, originally written in 1960 for the company started in his Philadelphia hometown just a few years earlier, played in the company's ice cream trucks as a way to signal their approach. Soon, the song became ubiquitous with ice cream, summer and fun as the opening notes became instantly recognizable to anyone within earshot sparking a craving they didn't realize existed. Both loved and loathed, the jingle remains a lasting part of the collective American childhood. The tune has also been used by competitors to lure children out of their homes and into the streets for frozen treats. During his advertising career, which spanned more than five decades, Waas wrote and produced more than 970 jingles for advertisers, according to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia where he served as president and chairman of the board. The Mister Softee song, officially titled "Jingle and Chimes," is his greatest legacy. Although most people know the notes of the twinkling, looping cadence, the song also has lyrics, including: "The creamiest dreamiest soft ice cream you get from Mister Softee" and "Listen for my store on wheels ding-a-ling down the street." Mister Softee has over 600 trucks and over 350 franchise dealers operating in 15 states plus China. Waas was also known for his sense of humor. University of Calgary psychology professor Piers Steel wrote in a 2011 "Psychology Today" article that in 1956, Waas and some of his fellow admen posted a sign in a Philadelphia hotel reading, "The procrastination's club meeting has been postponed." The sign drew attention from local press, prompting Waas to eventually hold the meeting the start of a long-running prank. Waas served as president of the Procrastinators Club of America, which even today claims thousands of members. Waas' wife, Sylvia, died in 2006. He is survived by his children, Sherri Waas Shunfenthal and Murry Waas. A teenager with just four fingers gained so much attention online for his talent on the piano that he was invited by a renowned international pianist to play at Manhattan's iconic Carnegie Hall. Darrius Simmons, a 15-year-old from Warren, Ohio, was born with three fingers on his right hand and one finger on his left, and no bones below both knees. He taught himself to play the piano at 10 years old when his grandfather introduced him to the instrument, he told NBC 4 New York, and learned to make his prosthetic legs press the right pedal. Recently, Simmons began posting videos of himself playing onto Facebook, and they got the attention of Korean pianist Yiruma, who was about to perform at Carnegie Hall on April 22 as part of his first North American tour, the boy said. "He saw it and invited me to play with him," Simmons told NBC 4 New York over the phone. Yiruma told Simmons during their first meeting, "All those determination and all that, I learn from you, really," reports Ohio news station WFMJ, which followed Simmons to New York for his performance. "I have so many things that can be learned from you." "It's just amazing. How can you do that? All those jumps, you must find it really difficult?" said Yiruma after watching the teen play in person. Simmons replied, "It's not that difficult to me, honestly." New York concertgoer Kirk Aleman told WFMJ that Simmons' performance "blew me out of the water." "It was very exciting," Simmons told NBC 4 New York of playing at the storied venue last Friday. Simmons said he learned to play the piano simply by listening to music and mimicking the notes on the keys. "I listen to a lot of songs repetitively, over and over, and I guess by doing that, I developed an ear. I can play a lot of music by ear," he said. His mother said her son has never been inhibited by not having 10 fingers. She said he's been playing instruments at home, at church and at school. Now that Yiruma has advised Simmons to start working on his own music, "I'm really going to take what he said to heart and compose my own stuff," he told WFMJ. Two separate planes made emergency landings one with smoke filling the plane at Philadelphia International Airport on Friday morning, forcing a brief ground stop as crews worked to clear the scene. Piedmont Air Flight 4801 operating for American Eagle made an emergency landing at PHL around 8:18 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration told NBC News. The Embraer ERJ-145 had taken off from Richmond, Virginia, with 50 passengers and four crew and landed at the airport after smoke turned up in the cockpit, according to the FAA. [[377565561, C]] "Passengers were not given many details on what happened, but the cabin filled with smoke, oxygen masks deployed and we were instructed on the emergency landing procedure," said passenger Damon Dossett. "After an abrupt landing, we climbed out off the wings and were greeted by firefighters and emergency personnel." [[377568241, C]] One passenger required evaluation by medical personnel at the airport but was released at the airport, said American Airlines spokeswoman Victoria Lupica. Philadelphia was the planes final destination and America said it would re-accommodate all passengers and crew on other connecting flights if needed. The Philadelphia Fire Department told NBC10 that the situation was under control. There was also a second, unrelated emergency landing at the airport Friday morning. A Republic Airlines jetliner from Toronto, Canada that had reported steering problems, said the FAA. In that incident, Airport spokeswoman Mary Flannery said the pilot was able to resolve the problem and the landing did not require any emergency activity. The 76 passengers from the Republic Flight operated as American Eagle Flight 4518 got off the plane normally after the flight, which was scheduled to land in Philly, taxied to the terminal. Just after 9 a.m., the FAA and the airport said that one runway had reopened but warned passengers to expect residual delays. [[377568581, C]] Flights were delayed by more than an hour through the morning. A woman jumped into a car with a noticeable problem and made her getaway with another man after she shot a 43-year-old man along a busy corridor in Philadelphias Frankford section overnight. Witnesses told investigators that the woman shot the man in his face, back and leg at Frankford Avenue and Margaret Street in the shadow of SEPTAs Market-Frankford El around 12:30 a.m., said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "Upon police arrival they found a 43-year-old male laying on the sidewalk," said Small. Medics rushed the shooting victim to Temple University Hospital where doctors listed him in stable condition. "He is expected to survive," said Small. After the shooting, the armed woman and a man in all dark clothing got into a gold or gray sedan with the drivers side window covered with a plastic bag. Witnesses told police that car sped off west on Arrott Street. Police poured over surveillance video as they searched for more clues. No word yet on what led to the shooting. Dawn Hanratty warned the group she was going to have a tough time as she slipped the microphone from a chrome stand in a Port Richmond high school cafeteria Thursday night. The mother wailed as she talked about the death of her 24-year-old daughter, Amber, from a heroin overdose. Police discovered her body in an overgrown abandoned lot in Kensington. She was hidden from view by tall grass. "My heart is so broke," the short blonde with a long braid said between sobs. "I cant move forward. Im so stuck in the moment of her dying." Hanratty was one of nearly two dozen people who attended a community meeting at Maritime Academy Charter High School organized by David Oh, an at-large city councilman. The fifth in a series of seven across Philadelphia, the forums are designed to let residents share the pains they confront from the expanding heroin and opioid crisis in the city. Oh, a former prosecutor and Cobbs Creek resident, is preparing for a May 20th hearing at City Hall on the epidemic. His goal is to come up with a citywide coordinated plan to fight back against the deadly issue and he wants a real picture of how neighborhoods are affected by the problem. "What I think often times has been missing is that we haven't purposefully and methodically gone out and talked to our communities," Oh said from the cafeteria's worn wooden stage. "If we dont bring everyone to the table, we will struggle." The meeting opened with a clip from NBC10s Generation Addicted project. The in-depth investigation explored the tragic world of heroin and opioid addiction in the Philadelphia area and highlighted new efforts aimed at helping stem the epidemic and help those suffering. The room was a microcosm of struggles endured daily by residents of the River Wards, the neighborhoods of Fishtown, Port Richmond, Bridesburg and parts of Kensington -- the East Coasts heroin capital. Homeowners looking to prevent drug dealing on their corners; Business owners frustrated how the drug market hurts their wallet; Mothers mourning their childrens suffering or death. Tears flowed out from behind Mary Quigleys black rimmed glasses as she talked about her 30-year-old daughters struggle with heroin addiction. Quigley feels helpless to get her daughter quality treatment. "Im trying to put her in the best place I could, but I dont have the money to do that and I just think shes so broken because shes just embarrassed," she said. Hanrattys been searching for a support group of parents whove lost their children to drug overdose. She knows more than 600 people died in Philadelphia last year, but she says no ones talking. "Where are all these people who lost their babies, because Im not the only one. Where are they?" she asked. The epidemics effects manifest in different ways for other community members. After raising their kids in the suburbs, Jerry Tannenbaum and his wife moved back into the city two years ago. Since then, theyve confronted drug dealers outside their Fishtown home. They used to be dealing from the couples stoop, he said, but hes since got them to move across the street. The squat man said hes reached out to the city and police about the issues via an email address advertised in the newspaper, but has never heard back from anyone. "As a citizen, were not un-compassionate, were willing to do something, but we dont know what to do," he said. A sharps container sits in the trunk of Kae Andersons car. Shes filled it with more than 200 needles picked up off the street in Kensington where she works as the commercial corridor coordinator at the New Kensington Community Development Corporation. She also bears personal scars from heroins scourge. "This year along Ive already lost two of my friends from heroin addiction," the young woman shared. Anderson asked Oh to tour the area with her and shared how community groups are working to form a coalition that could apply for grants to better the community. Don Gould, a lifelong resident of the area, lamented over slowly being forced to relocate his business east to get away from the crime brought on by the drug problem. "Councilman, we need more police. I dont know how you sweeten the pot. We need more police. Plain and simple," he concluded. Oh, while saying hes been looking at ways to bolster police across the city, differed with Goulds view saying arrests wont solve the problem. George Kappe, captain of Philadelphia Polices 26th District, and SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel listened to the communitys pain from the audience. Addressing the group later, Kappe asked people to take advantage of a new prescription pill drop-off box at the district headquarters. Nestel shared stories of his interactions with those suffering from the disease of addiction including a 15-year-old boy who described a heroin high like being "wrapped in a warm blanket." "What do I do with that?" Nestel asked. "I dont think the answer is with the police. I think we provide help and I think we save some lives, but were not the answer on this one." "I can tell you that we try...but its tough when were dealing with 'its like being wrapped in a warm blanket,'" he said. The emotional two hour meeting ended with Oh inviting the attendees to next months hearing reminding them that more community support can serve as a catalyst for change. As others walked out into the cold rain, Dawn Hanratty lingered in the school. She talked with Oh's staff about being connected with groups to help her cope with Amber's death. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out four worn photos of Amber, a petite girl with a big smile. One is of Amber squeezing her children -- a 6-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl. Two new casualties scarred by the crisis. Authorities say dozens of suspected drug dealers are behind bars after a massive drug sweep in west Philadelphia and its suburbs. Police fanned out on Thursday to serve more than 100 arrest warrants during a bust that police say is the culmination of a six-month investigation into dealers who sold drugs on Darby Borough's streets. Darby Borough Police Chief Robert Smythe says the drug sweep sends a message that police aren't going to tolerate drug sales on the borough's streets. Police say officers issued 248 arrest warrants and made nearly 200 undercover purchases of drugs during the investigation. More than $48,000 worth of drugs was seized during the probe. Police have no immediate plans to file charges in a Delaware high school bathroom brawl that left a teen dead, but the Wilmington police chief says the investigation is not over. Detectives determined no weapons were used in the April 21 fight at Howard High School of Technology, Chief Bobby Cummings said Friday afternoon. Amy Joyner-Francis, 16, fell unconscious after the brawl and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died. An autopsy was performed, but the results haven't been released because the investigation is ongoing, the coroner said. "These things take time," Cummings said of the investigation. "We are not at a position at this time to file charges." Three girls, considered persons of interest, were suspended by school officials this week. They have not been identified. NBC10/Family Photo Joyner-Francis complained of head and chest pain after the fight, involving at least two other girls, which took place in a first-floor women's room at the start of classes that day. A school resource officer called 911 and Joyner-Francis lost consciousness before medics arrived. CPR was performed as she was flown to a nearby children's hospital. The girl's death left the high school community reeling. Students held vigils and mourned their friend's death and parents flooded school officials with calls about student safety. The school held two nights of parent meetings to allay parent's fears. Cummings did not say when police may wrap up the investigation, but assured the community that it would be thorough. The Ministry of Science and Technology is to lead a team of scientists, including international experts if necessary, to quickly identify the cause of the mass fish deaths in Vietnam. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned specific responsibilities to government ministries at a meeting on April 28 to deal with the mass fish deaths along Vietnams central coast. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Central Propaganda Chief Vo Van Thuong and representatives from the ministries of natural resources and environment, agriculture and rural development, science and technology, information and communications and public security, as well as the Government Office. This is the first time Vietnam has experienced such a large scale and complicated sea disaster. Although government agencies have already intervened, the cause so far has not been identified, and this has disappointed and angered the public, said a statement released by the Government Office yesterday. The Ministry of Science and Technology will lead a team of scientists to investigate the cause of the mass fish deaths. The Ministry of Public Security will focus on collecting relevant evidence to prosecute any violations of the law. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs as well as peoples committees in the four affected provinces will estimate the damage caused and propose support policies for affected households. The Ministry of Health is responsible for coordinating the safe collection and treatment of dead fish, as well as providing safety instructions to seafood farmers. Transporting and trading dead seafood is prohibited. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is the communications point for the media on this issue, the Government Office said. The ministries of natural resources and environment, agriculture and rural development and public security, along with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the peoples committees of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces have been urged to follow the Prime Ministers previous orders. The mass fish deaths in central Vietnam were first reported in fish cages at sea near Ha Tinhs Vung Ang ward at the beginning of April. As of April 25, 70 tons of mostly demersal fish had died in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, according to official reports from the provinces. In Thua Thien-Hue alone, 35 tons of fish have died on commercial farms. According to a statement by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on April 27, there are two hypotheses to explain the mass fish deaths. One is toxic chemicals released by human activities. Another is an abnormal natural phenomenon that causes algae to rapidly bloom, commonly known as a red tide. The earth shook in western Pennsylvania Friday morning during a natural gas line explosion that could be felt up to 6 miles away, left a gaping hole in the ground and sent one man running for his life as the intense heat burned his body. The 36-inch gas line blew around 8:30 a.m. Friday in Salem Township, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County. The injured man, who was hospitalized for severe burns, lived in a home about 500 yards away. "He was in the home by himself. He heard a loud noise; he compared it to a tornado. And he started running up the roadway, and a passerby picked him up," said Fire Chief Bob Rossetti. "The heat was so intense it was burning him as he was running."[[377572801, C]] Some residents called for help, saying they thought an airplane had crashed, while others said it felt like an earthquake. "I didn't know if it was a plane or what," said Scott Filipiak, who was driving in the area. "It darn near blew me off the highway!"[[377576331, C]] First responders from Forbes Road Fire Department saw a massive fireball as they drove toward the scene, but the fire was so hot, Rossetti parked a quarter of a mile away, thankful the area is relatively remote. "Coming around the bend, and it looked like you were looking down into Hell," Rossetti said. His team doused a few houses with water to keep them from igniting. Some melted siding on a house that was nearly 1/2 mile from a gas line explosion in Salem Twp this morning. #WPXI pic.twitter.com/1ISoBrQ53P Paul Feiling (@WPXIpaul) April 29, 2016 The blast left a big hole in the ground with what appeared to be part of the pipeline, sticking out. The home closest to the explosion was destroyed. No one was there at the time. "It burned the telephone poles off. It looks like a bomb went off." Emergency responders evacuated businesses and homes within one mile of the explosion in the area where Routes 22 and 819 intersect, according to The Tribune-Review. Texas Eastern Transmission owns and operates the natural gas line, according to the Associated Press. Texas Eastern Transmission owns and operates the natural gas line, according to the Associated Press. The companys emergency response team, along with the states police fire marshal and investigators from the Department of Energy will assess damage and let people know when they can go back home. A memorial for Arcadia University student Kelly O'Brien, killed in a Pennsylvania Turnpike crash Monday, will be held May 3, according to her former employer. The ceremony will be at the Community House, Main Street, in Moorestown, Michael Babcock wrote in an email Thursday. Babcock said O'Brien had spent last summer working at Wing King on West Camden Avenue, Moorestown. He also said The Kelly O'Brien Memorial Trust Fund has been set up to help the family. O'Brien, 18, of Moorestown, died when a tractor-trailer fell onto her vehicle in the eastbound lanes of the Turnpike near Trevose Road around 2:50 p.m. Monday. She was driving in the left lane near mile-marker 350 when her 2006 Toyota and a big rig traveling in the center lane "made contact in a side swipe fashion," said Pennsylvania State Police. The entangled vehicles went off-road, partially up an embankment, where the trailer tipped onto the smaller vehicle, trapping O'Brien in her car, said police. Crews used a crane to lift the big rig off her car. [[377042751, C]] The big rig driver -- identified by state police as Matthew Bradley of Benton Harbor, Michigan -- was also injured in the crash and taken to Frankford Torresdale Hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials also say the 2016 Peterbilt truck, which had markings for Baltimore, Maryland-based Cowan Systems on the trailer, was carrying 20,000 pounds of either liquid detergent or soap. [[377062361, C]] @NBCPhiladelphia PA Turnpike just before exit 351. Car stuck under neath truck pic.twitter.com/3HJyM0kUIm Lincoln Riddle (@riddle_lincoln) April 25, 2016 Police closed all eastbound lanes of the Turnpike for hours as crews investigated. One lane reopened around 2 a.m. and all lanes reopened by 4 a.m., said Pennsylvania State Police. O'Brien was a freshman at Arcadia and majored in Communications. "Our condolences as well as our thoughts and prayers are with Kellys family, friends, and loved ones," wrote Arcadia University president Nicolette DeVille Christensen in a released statement. "We encourage any Arcadia community member who may want assistance or need to talk during this difficult time to visit Counseling Services on the ground floor of Heinz Hall or call the office at 215-572-2967. Walk-ins are available from 1 pm to 3 pm daily." A defense expert says a Pennsylvania college freshman who prosecutors say was beaten and strangled by her boyfriend in her dorm room actually died from a "massive nosebleed" caused by a previous fracture of her eye socket. The testimony of Dr. C. Peter Speth came Thursday in the Lancaster County trial of Gregorio Orrostieta. His attorney previously told jurors that Orrostieta of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania didn't mean to kill Millersville University student Karlie Hall and merely pushed her during a drunken argument in February 2015. Dr. Wayne Ross says the 18-year-old Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania woman was beaten and strangled. Ross is a pathologist who was called by prosecutors. But Speth says the nosebleed caused blood in Hall's lungs, which killed her. He says bruising was caused by blood clots settling in, not being beaten or strangled. A Philadelphia man threatened to chop up his parents with a samurai sword before getting into a confrontation with officers at his Juniata Park home, police said. Ivan Encarnacion, 40, allegedly started arguing with his elderly mother and father in the kitchen of their home along the 4300 block of K Street around 11 a.m. Thursday. The argument escalated to Encarnacion grabbing a bat before heading into the basement to get the sword, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. Encarnacion's 81-year-old mother told police that he charged at her and said "I am going to chop you into pieces." He allegedly grabbed his 78-year-old father by the neck and demanded cash. Police said the father gave him two $5 bills and Encarnacion threatened to chop up him as well before running outside. Attorney information for Encarnacion was not immediately available. The parents called police; officers arrived a short time later to find Encarnacion in front of the house with the sword in its sheath. When officers told him to drop the weapon, he instead unsheathed it and charged officers, police said. An officer fired his Taser, hitting the man. But he was able to pull the prongs from his chest and run back into the house, police said. The SWAT team was called in to negotiate with Encarnacion. After a short time, he surrendered to police. No one else was hurt. Encarnacion is charged with three counts of aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Attorney information for Encarnacion was not immediately available. HARRY'S IN THE HOUSE, or, rather, the theme park, and his robe-rocking, wand-wielding fans are making for Universal Studios Hollywood in happy droves. That's because The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a land brimming with enchanting shops, eats, and rides, debuted at the beginning of April 2016. And, as might be expected, wizards are broomsticking in from all manner of distant lands, which means they'll need a place to stow their Quidditch balls and Invisibility Cloaks for the night, as well as a spot with a comfy bed. In that sorcery-casting spirit, Universal Studios Hollywood has teamed up with over 20 hotels located around Los Angeles to create the Preferred Hotel program. AMENITIES AND EARLY HOURS: So what does it mean to be a Preferred Hotel with the theme park? You're an inn that's offering special amenities of some sort, whether it is a complimentary shuttle over to Universal Studios Hollywood or gratis parking at the hotel or something else as solid. Another big bonus? "When guests confirm their hotel package, which consists of hotel accomodations and tickets to the theme park, they will receive the added benefit of one hour early entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," reveals the site. Oh yeah; there's some magic at work there, for sure. THE HOTELS... participating in the program can be booked through a new section of the theme park's site. Peruse them all and ponder, as you go, what specific amenities you're hoping for and where exactly you'd like to be (super-close to Universal City, or somewhere further afield, perhaps on the way to the beach). The Garland, Mondrian Los Angeles, Sportsmen Lodge Hotel, and a bevy of other stay-overs are part of the Preferred Hotel slate. Best don your favorite Hogwarts uniform, summon your owl, and read all the details, fine print, and extra must-knows. A 69-year-old man already charged with murder in the shooting of his son was charged Thursday with fatally stabbing his wife at their North Hills home before the shooting, prosecutors said. The charges make him eligible for the death penalty. Shehada Khalil Issa now faces two counts of willful, deliberate and premeditated murder with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He's expected to be arraigned May 17. Issa is accused of killing his wife, Rabihah Shibi Issa, 68, with a knife sometime between March 27 and 29, prosecutors said. He also faces a special circumstances allegation that the he used a shotgun, which caused great bodily injury and death to his son, Amir Issa, 38, and a hate crime allegation. On March 29, police responding to the family's home allegedly discovered the body of Amir Issa outside of house. Rabihah Issa's body was found inside a bathroom, prosecutors said. Shehada Issa faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date. Amir Issa was convicted in 2011 of attacking a man in San Diego, according to court documents obtained by NBC San Diego. A large job fair in San Diego next week will include openings for about 1,000 positions, according to organizers. The Coast-to-Coast San Diego Career Fair is set for Tuesday (May 3) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Doubletree San Diego Hotel in Mission Valley (7450 Hazard Center Dr.). Organizers say more than 25 top, local employers will attend the event, making about 1,000 jobs available to qualified candidates. Job seekers will have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with hiring managers at the fair. Job seekers should get to the event early and bring at least 40 copies of their resume. Attendees can register for the career fair in advance online, and upload their resume digitally as well. The Coast-to-Coast Career Fair website also has tools to help candidates fine-tune their resumes, including resume templates and formatting. Detectives are searching for a young suspect accused of stabbing a man to death on the streets of National City three weeks ago. The National City Police Department (NCPD) said Thursday that detectives have identified Enrique Cruz Pompa, 19, in the slaying of Eduardo Ortega, 25. On April 9, Ortega was stabbed several times in the 200 block of North Highland Avenue. He was found unresponsive on the east sidewalk and died from his wounds a short time later, the NCPD said. Witnesses told police the victim was involved in some type of altercation with an unknown man before being stabbed. Now, detectives believe that man was Pompa a documented gang member who is considered armed and dangerous. Police said Pompa has a no bail, felony arrest warrant for homicide. The wanted fugitive is described by police as a Hispanic man who stands at 5-foot-8 and weighs approximately 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on Pompas whereabouts should call NCPD Detective V. Fernando at (619) 587-2140 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous. Not all of the major studios will be attending San Diego International Comic-Con this year, according to one report. 20th Century Fox will likely skip the popular fan fair as a result of piracy concerns, according to The L.A. Times. Last year, Foxs Comic-Con exclusive footage of Deadpool and X-Men: Apocalypse were leaked online shortly after being presented to fans. Warner Brothers Suicide Squad was also illegally leaked after the event last summer. NBC 7 San Diego reached out to Fox to confirm the report, but the studio said they would not be commenting. Nonetheless, it is not unheard of for a studio to miss Comic-Con. Marvel, Paramount and Sony did not attend the last convention and studios usually skip when they have less material to preview. However, fans still have much to look forward to as other movies like Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and the next Star Wars film Rogue One are expected to be teased. This is the third frigate that Vietnam has contracted the Zelenodolsk shipyard in Russia to build. Vietnam's first two Gepard-class 3.9 frigates and missile escort vessels Dinh Tien Hoang (HQ-011) and Ly Thai To (HQ-012) were dispatched to Vietnam in 2011 and 2012. The Anne Arundel County sheriff arrested this month after a domestic dispute asked the county police chief to return guns confiscated from him, according to news reports. Sheriff Ron Bateman asked Police Chief Timothy Altomare via text message for his shotguns so he could go hunting with his son, The Capital Gazette reported. The text messages were released by the Anne Arundel County Police Department. Altomare said he did not respond to the messages and he will not return the guns until the case is adjudicated. Batemans attorney, Peter ONeill, said Bateman was not seeking the return of his guns until the case was resolved. Bateman was arrested on a second-degree assault charge following a dispute with his wife on April 10. On April 20, Anne Arundel County officials released a recording of the 911 call that led to the arrest of the countys sheriff. In the recording, a woman who identified herself as Elsie Bateman, the sheriffs wife, says the sheriff is drunk and he just punched me in the eye. In several portions of the 911 call, the woman can be heard yelling, dont come near me and shut the door. Bateman said he and his wife argued that night but he did not assault her. Charging documents state that when Bateman's wife grabbed his money clip, he held her down on a bed and later pushed her to the floor. In the documents, Bateman said he did not hit her but held her down to get his money clip back. The Capital Gazette reported that Elsie Bateman released a statement saying "at no point did Ron punch or hit or kick me." County Executive Steve Schuh and other politicians issued a statement calling for Bateman to resign after the 911 call was released. Bateman returned to work in an administrative capacity. The sheriff told the Capital Gazette he would not resign following the release of the 911 call and is seeking re-election in 2018. Many high school seniors will have to select a college by Monday, and with "Decision Day" approaching, a Virginia teacher is expecting a new wardrobe of sweatshirts. Denise Wingfield, a biology teacher at Dominion High School in Sterling, Virginia, collects sweatshirts from the colleges her students attend. She has amassed at least 60 sweatshirts so far, and they each remind her of a student. "Theyre memories, theyre memories of kids. I have 20 years' worth of kids in this room," the Loudoun County teacher said as she browsed stacks of folded sweatshirts. Wingfield began to receive the sweatshirts years ago. "It started off as kind of a thank-you to her," said fellow teacher Emmy Joseph, who is a former student of Wingfield. Once youre one of her kids, youre one of her kids. And youll be one of her kids even when youre her colleague. Im still one of her kids," Joseph said. Wingfield also keeps a "hall of fame" list, writing on a whiteboard where every student will attend college. They know that Ive got something that will remind me of them," she said. Nearly a year after the gruesome deaths of a couple, their young son and their housekeeper inside a mansion in Northwest Washington, another housekeeper for the family says she still struggles with what happened and often wonders why she is still alive. Savvas Savopoulos, 46; his wife, Amy, 47; their 10-year-old son, Philip, and housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa, 57, were found dead inside the Savopoulos family's multi-million-dollar mansion last May. Nelly Gutierrez worked for the family for nearly two decades. The day of the murders, she received a text message from Amy, asking her not to come to the home. "I think about what happened that day, every single day," Gutierrez said. Darron Wint, 35, of Lanham, Maryland, is accused of holding the victims captive for roughly 18 hours between May 13 and 14. Wint allegedly extorted $40,000 from them, killed them and set fire to the house. Wint pleaded not guilty earlier this year to the 20 felony charges he's facing in the brutal crime. Police previously said they believed Wint had help from others, but no other suspects have been identified. Weeks before the murders, Gutierrez said Figueroa told her she often saw men watching the house. "That's what she told me. But I never paid too much attention, because I was busy," Gutierrez said. Gutierrez was busy in the days leading up to the murders because Amy asked her to help the family as they focused on opening a karate studio in Chantilly, Virginia. On May 13, Amy left a voicemail for Gutierrez, asking her if she could clean the studio before the grand opening the next day. "We're down to the wire," Amy said in the voicemail. Gutierrez agreed and asked Figueroa to help. But Figueroa opted to work at the Savopolos' homes instead of at the karate studio -- a decision investigators said may have cost her her life. Gutierrez says Savvas' assistant usually drove him around, but on May 13, Savvas drove himself to the karate studio in Amy's car, leaving his own vehicle in the driveway at home. Gutierrez believes the suspect may have seen Savvas' vehicle and thought he was home. At about 5 p.m. that evening, Savvas received a call from his wife, asking him to come home. "He said, 'I gotta go. Can you close my business?'," Gutierrez said. "That was the last time I talked to him." Gutierrez believes Wint was already inside the Savopoulos home when Amy made the call and before Figueroa got a chance to leave. Gutierrez still struggles with the fact that she could have also been trapped inside. "He knows, you know, what happened," she said. "Why I'm still here." Before their deaths, Savvas left a voicemail for Gutierrez, telling her to stay home because Amy was home sick. Savvas said Figueroa was staying with her and the couple was "going through some stuff with Philip." He asked that Gutierrez send a text message to confirm the voicemail was received. A final text message was sent to Gutierrez from Amy's phone on May 14."I am making sure you do not come today," the message said. That message may have saved her life. Hours later, the house went up in flames. "It's so painful. Sometimes its too hard for me," Gutierrez said. A Maryland man was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for killing a man during a robbery. A jury convicted Tavon Miles of Gaithersburg in the shooting death of 23-year-old Marc Taylor St. Aubin at his Olney home. St. Aubin was found dead in his driveway March 3, 2015. Miles was among a group of armed burglars who broke into a home that St. Aubin shared in the 15800 block of Laughlin Lane, police said. Other people inside the home at the time told detectives several armed people entered and a struggle ensued, during which gunshots were fired. Both St. Aubin and Miles were injured. Some witnesses attempted to take St. Aubin to a car in the driveway to take him to the hospital while others began to remove items from the house, including guns, a safe and suspected marijuana. Miles was dropped off at an area hospital in critical condition not long after police arrived at the house. A bullet recovered from his clothing during medical treatment matched bullets found inside St. Aubin's home, investigators said. All the recovered bullets were of the same caliber and had been fired from the same gun, authorities said. The victim had a gun of that caliber registered in Maryland, they said. His body was found with a holster along the small of his back, but the handgun was not recovered. Miles was also found guilty of first-degree burglary and armed robbery. UPDATE: Sex assault charges were dropped against Bishop Michael Turner on Sept. 28, 2016; the Prince George's State Attorney's Office said the victim no longer wanted to proceed with case. ORIGINAL STORY: A Maryland pastor accused of sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman at church has been charged with rape and assault in the past, News4 has learned. Bishop Michael C. Turner Sr., the senior pastor at The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland, has been charged with second-degree assault, fourth-degree sex offense and harassment, according to court documents. In the early 90s, Turner was charged with second and fourth-degree rape and assault and battery. The rape charges were dismissed and he was sentenced to three years for the assault charges. He served about six months in jail. A woman who started working at Turner's church in February has brought the latest charges against him and said Turner repeatedly harassed her and made unwarranted advances toward her in his office, in the copy room and in the elevator. "He would lock me into the back room or his office and touch me and get on top of me and say things to me," the woman said. "He told me not to be scared and not to say anything becaus I was a big girl." The victim's aunt is a minister who was ordained by Turner and is responsible for brining her family to the church more than 10 years ago. "That's a monster. She did not come here for that," said the aunt who did not want to be identified. "He needs to get some serious help," she said. "How can you preach from the pulpit after you've done these type of things." Turner's attorney, James Papirmeister, gave the following statement to News4: "Reverend Turner vehemently proclaims his innocence. He did not commit these offenses on this young lady. This is a citizen-initiated complaint. I want you to know, and the public to know, for better or worse, that Maryland's legal system allows any human being to go to a Commissioners Office, located throughout the state, 24 hours a day, and allege anything he or she wants against any other human being, whether or not true, or whether or not based on personal motives. Reverend Turner will make any required statement about the allegations only in court. He is not going to follow the initiation of this media blitz by relatives of the alleged victim by trying this case in the media. He is going to say what he has to say in court. He has devoted over 25 years of his life to founding and building this church in Prince George's County and he intends to continue doing so for the indefinite future. He is going to do his best to not let someone else's media infatuation distract him from his career, and his obligation to his parishioners and his community." Turner was arrested on Tuesday and was released after paying the $10,000 bond. Police believe they have found the body of a 36-year-old woman who has been missing for more than a week and are investigating her death as a homicide, Prince William County police say. Lizeth Yadira Lopez, of Alexandria, Virginia, was last known to have contact with someone on April 17, and her family reported her missing two days later. On Friday morning, a body was discovered near a drainage ditch in the area of Cotton Mill Drive and Griffith Avenue in Woodbridge, police said. The body is presumed to be that of Lopez because of tattoos found on the body, police said. "As of right now, we've preliminarily said that it's her. We normally wait for the medical examiner to confirm that 100 percent, but just due to what we know about her, we do have a strong believe that it is [her]," said Sgt. Jonathan Perok, with the Prince William County Police Department. Police said the body will be taken to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. Lopez was last seen entering a CVS store on Touchtone Circle in Woodbridge. She left the CVS at 9 p.m., about an hour before she last had contact with anyone, police said. The location where someone discovered the body is 1.4 miles away from the CVS. Lopez's car was found the day after she was reported missing at her job on Pond Run Drive in Woodbridge, police said. Her family said she graduated three weeks ago from the University of Maryland with a degree in criminal justice. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Solvers at 1 (866) 411-TIPS. Some college students bite their tongues in class to avoid offending classmates or avoid publicly supporting less popular opinions on campus, a new survey found. More than 300 students voiced their opinions on free speech on campus in a survey released Friday by a journalism class at American University. The class spent a semester investigating issues around free speech, political correctness and trigger warnings. Campuses nationwide have wrestled with issues around free speech ranging from threatening social media posts, which Halloween costumes are considered offensive and how administrators react -- or don't -- to the needs of marginalized students. The American project went further, delving into the establishment of safe spaces on campus and the impact of hateful speech in video games. The entire project, Voice-less, can be found online, including a video about the subject. Students are divided about the state of the campus climate, the survey found. About four in ten students said they sometimes kept quiet instead of voicing an opinion in class. And the majority of college students surveyed -- six in 10 -- said students are "somewhat" or "very" coddled. Most students did not feel strongly whether professors should or should not use trigger warnings, the survey found. Trigger warnings are statements before a lecture, reading or other activity that inform people of potentially sensitive material, such as depictions of violence. Almost 90 percent of students are familiar with the term, the survey found. Most students support trigger warnings: 61 percent of students surveyed said universities should provide them, and 55 percent said students who "dont maintain a safe space" should be disciplined, the survey found. Proponents say that trigger warnings help students with previous trauma, but critics, including one veteran profiled in the project, said the warnings shield students from reality. The survey was one part of the coverage by Americans Writing and Editing for Convergent Media class, taught by Amy Eisman. This year is the second that NBC Washington partnered with the class. The class last year covered mental health. Sophia Barnes was a member of last year's Convergent Media class. A Virginia fire chief blasted a local blog he says included lewd comments about one of his firefighters, who was found dead from suicide this month in Shenandoah National Park. I have initiated a very aggressive internal investigation into who made the lewd, horrible comments on the Fairfax Underground blog, Chief Richard Bowers said at a news conference Friday. Bowers called for Fairfax Underground to remove posts about firefighter Nicole Mittendorff. Im appealing to the person who hosts this site to take down the lewd comments and certainly consider shutting the site down, Bowers said. The posts were made before she was found dead; Bowers said he does not know if the posts had anything to do with her death. We need to clean up this blog, and people need to act right, Bowers said. He wants to find out if the comments were written by anyone in the department. He promised disciplinary action if they were, including the possibility of firing. Cary Wiedemann, the sites administrator, does not plan to shut it down and said he has not previously been asked to remove the comments. He doesnt plan to remove the comments unless, perhaps, Mittendorffs family requests it. It wouldnt do anyone any good at this point to censor the past, Wiedemann said. Wiedemann accused Bowers of trying to blame the site when he should be concerned about his own firefighters and the culture of the department. Virginia State Police said there is nothing criminal about Mittendorffs suicide. We have no evidence to suggest the blog posts were a motive for her death, police said. A Virginia man and woman face child porn charges after allegedly victimizing a 16-year-old last summer. Andre Alvarado, 26, and Angela Sourmany, 21, are charged with child pornography possession and production. Investigators said it happened at a house party in Fairfax near the county jail. Alvarado is in custody. Sourmany is custody in Frederick, Maryland, awaiting extradition to Virginia. News4 went to the Oakton home where authorities said Sourmany lives, but a man who opened the door only said she wasn't home. An incorrect photo was previously published with this story. That image has been removed. Police officers shot a man dressed in an animal suit who threatened the Fox45 television station in Baltimore with what looked like a bomb Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The supposed bomb, police revealed after the roughly four-hour incident was over, was found to be chocolate candy bars wrapped in aluminum foil with wires connecting each of them. "There was also a small motherboard and that motherboard has been described as something that you might see in a fire extinguisher that was also attached to this contraption," Baltimore Police Department spokesperson T.J. Smith The man, who police say is 25 years old, was shot at least three times by three police officers and lay wounded outside the station while a bomb squad robot attempted to pull his hand out of his pocket, according to the Baltimore Police Department. The man was wearing a full-body hedgehog "onesie," similar to one that can be bought online. He also was wearing a surgical mask and a red device that appeared to be a life preserver, police said. The candy bars were strapped to the red device. Police said at a news conference after the man was taken to a hospital, where he was in serious but stable condition, that the red device turned out to be concealed chocolate candy bars. But station employees and police didn't know the bomb was fake when the strangely dressed man entered the building about 1 p.m. and threatened to blow up the building. A security guard at Fox45 stalled the suspect for about 45 minutes as the rest of the building was evacuated, he said. Baltimore City Police Departments Director of Media Relations T.J. Smith addresses the media about the Fox45 bomb threat. Stalling the Suspect The security guard, Jourael Apostolides, said it was just a normal day until the man walked in and said he had a bomb and a message that he wanted to broadcast. Apostolides said he was able to push a button underneath a desk that rings upstairs and dials 911 without the man noticing. "I then proceeded to talk to the guy, try to keep him calm," Apostolides said. "Honestly, it seemed like he just wanted someone to talk to." The man allegedly said he had a message that he needed to get out and handed Apostolides a flash drive containing information about black holes and the sun. The man said the government is hiding information from the American people. Apostolides was able to leave the suspect in the lobby for a short time while he went to tell everyone to escape the building. "Honestly, it seemed like he just wanted someone to talk to," While that threat was ongoing, a vehicle burned in the parking lot. Police confirmed the vehicle fire was connected to the suspect, who has not been named. All employees were accounted for. News4s Tisha Thompson spoke with a security guard, Jourael Apostolides, at the Fox TV station in Baltimore where police say a man threatened to blow up the building. I then proceeded to talk to the guy, try to keep him calm, Apostolides said. Honestly, it seemed like he just wanted someone to talk to. Two-Hours in the Station "We've got a report of an intruder, someone who says he has a bomb, inside of our building," Fox45's Keith Daniels said in a video shot in the parking lot and posted to Twitter at 12:40 p.m. ET. According to FoxBaltimore.com, "Evacuating staff spotted a man standing in the vestibule attached to the station lobby. He appeared to be wearing a bulky suit of some kind." The man stayed inside the building for about two hours before apparently leaving on his own volition. Officers in protective gear followed as he walked through a parking area. Smith said police sent in the robot because the man was uncooperative and officers didn't know if the suspect had a real bomb. As a precaution, the robot removed the man's clothes, Smith said. A suspect who was shot outside the Fox45 TV station in Baltimore Thursday afternoon is wounded and lying outside the building as bomb squads work to determine whether the man still poses a threat, police said. "The suspect came out of the building, started to walk in advance across the street toward where officers were staged and officers were forced to fire upon him," Smith said. The suspect is now at the hospital and is in serious but stable condition, Smith said. He is expected to survive. Police believe the man is from Howard County, Maryland. He has not yet been charged. Bomb equipment arrives at Fox45. pic.twitter.com/FKGVru1e3K FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) April 28, 2016 The street in front of the building is closed. Stay with NBCWashington.com for more. A 1-year-old boy who was pinned under a car that crashed into a day care center in Billerica, Massachusetts, is recovering Friday. Billerica Police say a driver having a medical episode struck several cars and crashed through the wall of a daycare center, pinning a toddler beneath her vehicle. Deputy Police Chief Roy Frost says an SUV driven by a 38-year-old Billerica woman slammed into A Brighter Rainbow Learning Center around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. "I saw her car catch air, it came off the ground and landed and she still was slumped over," said Mark Chen, who was nearly hit by the car. New surveillance video shows the Subaru Outback careening down Boston Road in Billerica just moments before it crashed into this daycare, pinning the young boy beneath it. "I heard first a big bang and then I saw a lady hit a car and then there's a berm, she hit a berm and she caught air and then she bounced off a telephone pole and she was headed right for me," said Chen. Chen says he was pulling his pickup truck out of the parking lot when he realized the driver of the Subaru was not right. "She was just slumped over," said Chen, "she had no hands on the steering wheel, she wasn't awake she was passed out, I don't know what happened." Chen says he watched in horror as the car bounced off this fence, tore across this lawn, and jumped these rocks before smashing into the daycare. "There was someone screaming, he's under there, he's under there!" said neighbor Mike Madigan. Madigan rushed over to help, spotting the 22-month-old boy wedged under the car with blocks, glass and toys. "I didn't know if he was stuck under there or whatever, so I crawled underneath and got right up to his face and tried to make sure that nothing was pinning him in," said Madigan, "so I just grabbed him by his shoulders and was able to drag him out." Madigan says as a parent himself, it was a nightmare situation, but he was thrilled the injuries weren't worse. "He was pretty hysterical, he had glass on his face and I just tried to comfort him," said Madigan, "I'm just still amazed with all the debris and everything around him, he just walked away with glass on his face." Police said the child appeared to have mostly suffered facial injuries and is expected to be released from Tufts Friday or Saturday. Doctors were trying to determine what type of medical episode the 38-year-old Billerica woman driving the car had before the crash. Officials say the building is not structurally sound after the crash. The crash remains under investigation. The Burrillville, Rhode Island, Police Department has launched an investigation into the death of a 15-month-old boy in the northwest Rhode Island town earlier this week. Maj. Dennis Leahey says the boy was found unresponsive by his parents inside their home just after 9 a.m. Tuesday. The child was treated at the scene by members of the Pascoag and Harrisville fire departments. He was rushed to Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, where he was later pronounced dead. Leahey says it's routine for his department to probe any sudden deaths, regardless of the deceased's age. Police say the cause of death will be determined by an autopsy conducted by the state Medical Examiner's Office. Leahey declined to comment on whether the death is being considered suspicious. Fire officials say a blaze that broke out at a condominium complex in Springfield's Forest Park Heights section in Massachusetts displaced one person and caused $50,000 in damage. The Springfield Republican reports fire crews arrived to the scene on Longhill Street around 8:30 p.m. Thursday. A large crowd gathered to watch firefighters extinguish the blaze, which Springfield Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger says affected four different condos. The fire originated on the building's fourth floor and eventually burned through the roof. Leger says it appears that the fire's cause was electrical. One resident reportedly lost his home in the incident. Police in Seabrook, New Hampshire, have arrested a man they say exposed himself to a teen girl. The incident happened on April 25 around 7 p.m. at Tripoli Pizza at 418 Route 286. The girl was waiting for pizza with a friend when the man, later identified as Jeffrey Beaulieu, 32, of Bradford, Massachusetts, made gestures at her and exposed himself. He then left the restaurant. Beaulieu surrendered to police on May 3. He was released on $15,000 cash and $25,000 personal recognizance bail. He is set to be arraigned on June 8. Actor Will Ferrell is well known for his comic depiction of American presidents like George W. Bush. But when word got out that Ferrell was considering a script for a political comedy about President Ronald Reagan's struggle with Alzheimer's disease, many people were not laughing. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker's mother, Betty Baker, has been suffering from Alzheimer's for 10 years. "My mom was a vibrant, charming, wonderful, totally alive woman and it's just not funny, nothing funny about it," an emotional Baker said Friday. This is dismaying. Anyone who has family w/Alzheimer can tell you there is courage, but no humor here. None. https://t.co/hzft0uzZVY Charlie Baker (@CharlieBakerMA) April 29, 2016 Baker tweeted earlier Friday, "This is dismaying. Anyone who has family with Alzheimer's can tell you there is courage but no humor here None." President Reagan's son Michael was also tweeting. "Alzheimer's is not a comedy to the 5 million people who are suffering with the decease,it first robs you of your mind and then it kills you," he said. And from Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis, a blog post - an open letter to Farrell which read in part, "Perhaps you have managed to retain some ignorance about Alzheimers and other versions of dementia. Perhaps if you knew more, you would not find the subject humorous." By afternoon, Farrell responded to the New York Post's Page 6 through a spokesperson: "The Reagan script is one of a number of scripts that had been submitted to Will Ferrell which he had considered. While it is by no means a Alzheimers comedy as has been suggested, Mr. Ferrell is not pursuing this project. Baker was pleased to hear that Ferrell had changed his mind. "He heard from a lot of people that pointed out to him that this is a terrible disease that just beats the crap out of your family and your family member and I'm glad that he chose not to make it," the governor said. In recently-released footage from inside a medical marijuana dispensary in Sante Fe, New Mexico, you can see an employee open the lab door and then an explosion rock the room, forcing the second man to leap through a wall of fire to get out. You can get away with something nine times out of 10. But then on that tenth time it can be a devastating effect," said Michael Hazel, the fire chief in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. The men - who suffered serious burns - were making butane hash or honey oil, also known as BHO, butter, wax or shatter. It's a process that uses highly-flammable solvents to strip a marijuana plant of THC, the chemical that gets you high. The end result is a resin that's highly concentrated, giving users a high that is up to eight times more intense than loose leaf marijuana. "Folks that are making it are in it for one thing - and that's to make money," said Michael Ferguson, special agent in charge of the New England Office of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Ferguson calls the uptick in home labs here startling. According to the DEA there were 10 suspected BHO incidents in New England last year - a nine-fold increase from 2014. And if you're one of the more than 20,000 people who have a medical marijuana card in Massachusetts, extracting that oil is perfectly legal. It's just a recipe for disaster," Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael said. So is law enforcement prepared for this new and growing threat? No. Were not, Carmichael said. Home cooks can be set up anywhere and it doesn't take much for butane hanging in the air to ignite. Anything from somebody turning on a light switch, to turning on a stove, to a static spark. Static electricity could be enough," Hazel said. Ferguson is especially concerned about the potential for collateral damage, It's the neighbors. It's the innocent bystanders that are living in the apartments next door, they're at risk, he said. A renter's home-cook operation is blamed for a blast that sent three people to the hospital and destroyed a historic home in Tewksbury in 2014. "It was just a nightmare," said the 84-year-old homeowner, who asked not to be identified. From Vermont to Rhode Island, home labs are taking their toll on New England. One man died and another was severely burned in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, last year, and a 5-alarm fire in a clandestine lab swallowed a warehouse in Providence. It's an enormous problem and an enormous concern because of how dangerous it is," Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha said. He is prosecuting five men for reckless endangerment in the recent explosions in his state and Rhode Island's attorney general has also filed legislation to make it illegal for anyone to make hash oil using a flammable liquid. But Massachusetts is lagging behind with no such laws on the books. To ignore the activity, to assume that it's not out there I think is a huge mistake, Neronha said, And it can lead to some really tragic results. The DEA says the biggest jump in hash oil home lab fires is in states which have legalized recreational marijuana. In a single year, Colorado saw a 167 percent increase in explosions tied to suspected labs. As Massachusetts voters weigh legalization, public safety officials worry that without oversight, the threat from BHO will only increase. The worst case scenario is that people will die because of it," Carmichael said. The New England Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association has drafted language that would ban production of hash oil using a flammable solvent, but says it hasn't been able to find a legislator to back it. Two people stole a car and crashed it into four other cars on Storrow Drive in Boston on Friday afternoon. According to the Massachusetts State Police, a trooper noticed a white 2008 Hyundai Elantra traveling westbound on Storrow Drive that had been reported stolen earlier today out of Boston. The trooper attempted to stop the stolen car. The operator, a 17-year-old male, attempted to evade the trooper and as the operator tried to stop on Storrow Drive he crashed into several other vehicles, causing minor damage and one injury. The injured victim sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The operator and the passenger, also a 17-year-old male, exited the vehicle and ran into the Charles River. Troopers convinced the suspects to exit the water and placed them under arrest and transported them to the Boston barracks for booking. The suspect's names are not being released because they are considered juveniles. The operated was charged with Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Use of Motor Vehicle without Authority, and Failure to Stop for Police. The passenger was charged with Receiving Stolen Property. Both parties are expected to be arraigned at Boston Municipal Court on Friday afternoon. A federal appeals court has reinstated a $300,000 settlement that a woman raped by a former Lawrence police officer reached with the city. The Eagle-Tribune reports that the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the settlement entitled the woman to collect legal fees from the city on top of the money offered to drop her claim. The court's ruling reversed a decision by a district court judge who threw out the settlement on the grounds that the woman and the city disagreed on whether it included reimbursement for legal fees. Kevin Sledge was convicted in 2011 of rape for the 2008 assault. The woman's lawyer says she hopes the ruling ends her client's "eight years of hell." The city's attorney says he's still reviewing the decision. Narcan, the life-saving drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, will now be available in Maine without a prescription. Lawmakers voted to override a veto by Republican Gov. Paul LePage Friday, passing a law that eases access to the drug otherwise known as Naloxone. "The vote is really very simple," said Sen. Cathy Breen (D-Falmouth). "It's about saving the lives of Mainers who are struggling with addiction." The new law allows people to go to a pharmacy, such as CVS, and get Narcan from the pharmacist. "It will certainly make our jobs a lot easier," said Kenney Miller, who works with people struggling addiction through the Health Equity Alliance in Maine. "Rather than sending people to a physician, we can just send them down the street to their local CVS." LePage opposed the legislation because he said it normalized heroin use and provided a safety net that would encourage people to use. "Naloxone does not truly save lives, it merely extends them until the next overdose," said Gov. LePage in his veto message. "Creating a situation where an addict has a heroin needle in one hand and a shot of Naloxone in the other ... serves only to perpetuate the cycle of addiction." Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of overriding the veto. In the Senate, the vote was 29-5. In the House, it was 132-14. Republican Rep. Jeff Timberlake had initially voted against the bill, but Friday, decided to support the override. He said he wrestled with his decision, but ultimately thought it was the way to save the most lives. "I'm a pro-life person," he said. "How could I possibly take the chance for somebody to live away from them?" Similar laws have been passed in states all over the country, including every other New England state. The law in Maine should go into effect in 90 days. New assistant bishop appointed in Diocese of Norwich The Bishop of Maidstone, the Rt Revd Rod Thomas, is to become an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Norwich. Bishop Rod met a range of clergy and lay people at a special meeting set up by the Bishop of Norwich, Rt Rev Graham James, last week. A Diocese spokesperson said: Bishop Rod has been appointed by the Archbishops to offer extended pastoral and sacramental care to parishes and clergy who have a complementarian understanding of the ordained ministry. At the meeting on April 21, Bishop Graham reminded those who had gathered of the five guiding principles in the House of Bishops' Declaration on the ministry of bishops and priests made in May 2014. Those principles guide our life together and ensure the mutual flourishing of different traditions within our Church. In that spirit Bishop Graham has appointed Bishop Rod as an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese so that he is part of the diocesan family and given appropriate authority to minister here. During the final negotiations before the vote on the women-bishops legislation, the Church of England committed itself to appointing a "headship Evangelical" to the College of Bishops, to minister to any parish that could not accept a woman bishop and Bishop Rod was later appointed to the role. Complementarianism is a theological view held by some Christians that men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family life, religious leadership, and elsewhere. Pictured above is the Bishop of Maidstone, the Rt Revd Rod Thomas The entrepreneur and financier Peter Thiel likes to ask, What important truth do very few people agree with you on? Many significant breakthroughs in technology are driven by the hope and optimism of a few in the face of mass indifference and disbelief. Only after success has been achieved can the rest of us recognize the brilliance of the original vision. Which brings us to the and its foray into the 60GHz band with 802.11ad, known as WiGig. Years in the making, the WiGig certification should be launched by the end of 2016, and indeed some products are already available. As one might expect, there is a body of true believers who are certain that WiGig will transform communications, and there's a mass of skeptics doubting it will ever catch on. We should be able to see who is right by the end of 2017. In the meantime, its worth keeping an eye on WiGig. WiGig uses the upper protocol layers from Wi-Fi, which will help equipment designers, but wireless at 60GHz is rather different from todays 2.4GHz and 5GHz. RF channels are very wide, supporting rates in the 1Gbps or 2Gbps range. Thats a lot of throughput, and we should be able to find good uses for it. But the propagation losses at 60GHz are much worse than for 5GHz Wi-Fi. This forces designs that implement high-gain antenna systems, beamsteering and beamforming. Even with such antennas, usable range will likely be from 5 meters to 10 meters, line of sight, with minimal wall penetration. And the link is twitchy: if the devices move, or people move near the devices, the beams need to be re-optimized very quickly. Of course, WiGig proponents claim these issues are solved, and theres no doubting that some very clever technology has been developed. But until a range of WiGig products is available, with multiple devices from different vendors, doubts will remain about the stability and reliable range of a WiGig link. How will we use WiGig? Assuming the technology works well enough, what would we use it for? The obvious user of multi-Gigabit speeds is video, and not surprisingly most of WiGigs use cases involve carrying video signals. In the home, replacing HDMI cables between set-top boxes and TV monitors seems like a genuine opportunity. At work, screen-mirroring from PCs, tablets or phones to a monitor is another requirement without a satisfactory solution. The industry has managed to avoid Miracast, a perfectly good Wi-Fi standard and instead has many fragmented, proprietary attempts. Most of these interfere with the corporate WLAN, so getting the traffic out of 5GHz altogether seems like a winning notion. The only notable WiGig products available today are PC docking stations. These work well, by all accounts, but docking is not enough to drive the WiGig market. However, high-rate short-range communication could come into its own as part of a fully-wireless docking solution, including wireless power. The uses expand into high-speed wireless disk access, file sync and file transfer applications, even virtual reality headsets. Those all seem plausible but are not individually compelling. But the same arguments were aimed at Wi-Fi in the early days, and Wi-Fi turned out well in the end. WLAN companies and WiGig The WLAN access point companies have been considering WiGig for several years, and they will continue as chip companies ramp up their technology and marketing efforts through the remainder of 2016. A tri-band access point is an attractive concept. But WiGig is point to point, not really suited to the star-connected access point model. And the limited range and line-of-sight restrictions dont fit well with the current widely-spaced-in-the-ceiling topology. So, we may need to get more imaginative about packaging and mounting than just adding a radio to an existing access point design. Above all, until WiGig clients become part of the general device population there are too many unknowns for access point companies to make a decisive move. No one can predict today whether WiGig will see commercial success. The technical obstacles appear to be overcome in the lab, but we need to see proof in the field. Meanwhile the identified applications all seem niche-like or insufficiently defined, and none offers a large enough market to make a profit for the chip and device industries. On the other hand, there is much cause for optimism. The Wi-Fi chip industry is committed to WiGig, so we know there will be a range of products to try. High-rate wireless links must eventually find a use, even when limited to short distances. There is a long and successful history of cord-cutting, and WiGig can extend that trend. As WiGig products roll out through 2016 and 2017, we expect to see novelty applications from consumer and WLAN vendors, and novelties can blossom and grow into substantial markets. But for now, the skeptics probably have the balance. Either way, we should know by late 2017 whether WiGig will go into the history books as the vindication of a few pioneers vision and persistence or another worthy attempt that was always against the odds. The scourge of ransomware hit new highs in 2015 and 2016 is turning out to be no bargain particularly attacks against businesses as the payoffs are higher, the FBI said this week. Ransomware attacks are not only proliferating, theyre becoming more sophisticated, the FBI stated. +More on Network World: FBI warning puts car hacking on bigger radar screen+ Several years ago, ransomware was normally delivered through spam e-mails, but because e-mail systems got better at filtering out spam, cyber criminals turned to spear phishing e-mails targeting specific individuals, the FBI stated. And in newly identified instances of ransomware, some cyber criminals arent using e-mails at all. These criminals have evolved over time and now bypass the need for an individual to click on a link. They do this by seeding legitimate websites with malicious code, taking advantage of unpatched software on end-user computers, said FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director James Trainor in a statement. Ransomware has been in the news of late because of a series of extortions involving hospitals. CIO wrote recently that in fact ransomware has become a major threat to the U.S. healthcare industry this year. The high-profile attacks that involved Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles, MedStar Health in Washington, D.C., and other healthcare systems are just the tip of the iceberg. Over half of hospitals surveyed recently by HIMSS Analytics and Healthcare IT News said they had been hit by ransomware attacks in the past year. Another 25% were unsure whether such attacks had occurred. In the typical a ransomware attack, victimsupon seeing an e-mail addressed to themwill open it and may click on an attachment that appears legitimate, like an invoice or an electronic fax, but which actually contains the malicious ransomware code, the FBI stated . Or the e-mail might contain a legitimate-looking URL, but when a victim clicks on it, they are directed to a website that infects their computer with malicious software. One the infection is present, the malware begins encrypting files and folders on local drives, any attached drives, backup drives, and potentially other computers on the same network that the victim computer is attached to. Users and organizations are generally not aware they have been infected until they can no longer access their data or until they begin to see computer messages advising them of the attack and demands for a ransom payment in exchange for a decryption key. These messages include instructions on how to pay the ransom, usually with bitcoins because of the anonymity this virtual currency provides, the FBI said. +More on Network World: + An industry debate about ransomware centers on whether or not to pay the scammers. For its part the FBI doesnt support paying a ransom in response to a ransomware attack. Paying a ransom doesnt guarantee an organization that it will get its data backweve seen cases where organizations never got a decryption key after having paid the ransom. Paying a ransom not only emboldens current cyber criminals to target more organizations, it also offers an incentive for other criminals to get involved in this type of illegal activity. And finally, by paying a ransom, an organization might inadvertently be funding other illicit activity associated with criminals, Trainor said. Theres no one method or tool that will completely protect you or your organization from a ransomware attack, said Trainor. But contingency and remediation planning is crucial to business recovery and continuityand these plans should be tested regularly. The FBI says organizations in particular should focus on two main areas: Prevention effortsboth in both in terms of awareness training for employees and robust technical prevention controls and the creation of a solid business continuity plan in the event of a ransomware attack. Prevention Efforts Make sure employees are aware of ransomware and of their critical roles in protecting the organizations data. Patch operating system, software, and firmware on digital devices (which may be made easier through a centralized patch management system). Ensure antivirus and anti-malware solutions are set to automatically update and conduct regular scans. Manage the use of privileged accountsno users should be assigned administrative access unless absolutely needed, and only use administrator accounts when necessary. Configure access controls, including file, directory, and network share permissions appropriately. If users only need read specific information, they dont need write-access to those files or directories. Disable macro scripts from office files transmitted over e-mail. Implement software restriction policies or other controls to prevent programs from executing from common ransomware locations (e.g., temporary folders supporting popular Internet browsers, compression/decompression programs). Business Continuity Efforts More news, no ads Firefighters called to scene FIREFIGHTERS were called to a hairdressers in the wharf yesterday (Thurs) evening, due to a water leak. One pump from Newbury Fire Station was called at 6.15pm to Lush Hair Salon and Beauty, at Kendrick House, in Wharf Street, due to a leak from a flat above. Firefighters handed the incident over to the landlord, before departing after 20 minutes. The hairdressers remained open during the incident. Engineers working to restore power to homes in Speen, Donnington and Wickham MORE than 400 homes are still without electricity following a power cut this morning. Properties in Speen, Donnington and Wickham are being affected by a fault in the circuit that occurred just after 9.30am this morning. Engineers have been working since 9.45am and expect power to be restored to all homes by 2pm. Up to 3,000 homes were originally without power, but the number has now been reduced to 414. A spokesman for Southern Electric Power Distribution said: "We apologise to customers for any disruption or inconvenience caused. Engineers are working hard to resolve the issue." A source of pride amongst cowboys is knowin the lay of the land. And any poor fool that gets lost they figger aint much of a hand! They said, Well all meet at Bull Crick! Then looked at me like a trainee! Draw me a map and Ill find it! Columbus had nothin on me! Daylight broke into my windshield, headed south and loaded for bear. I turned at the Grasmere station I shoulda shot myself right there! Nothin was like they described it, no mailbox where it should be, No coyote hide on the fence post, now wheres Marys Crick sposed to be? Their map showed tourist attractions including, I swear, Noahs Ark! Little ol tricklin Sheep Creek was wider than Yellowstone Park! I crossed the Cow and the Horse Crick and cricks named for Nickels and Dimes Through Nit Crick, Louse Crick and Crab Crick, Crossed Willer Crick twenty-eight times! I drove demented and crazy! Achasin my tail like a dog! Coursing through desert and mountain, brush thicket and cattail bog! Fighting back panic, Im thinkin, I could die and never be found! Worse yet, Ill look like a gunsel who cant find his way outta town! Harold was the boss of the truckers. I figgered he might set me right. So, I called him up on the two-way and explained my desperate plight. He said, Describe yer surroundings. I looked for a landmark somewhere. Aint nothin but rocks and sagebrush! He said, Sonny, yer almost there! ELKO Elko County School Nurse Coordinator Bobbi Shanks has received a national award for her efforts in making immunization accessible to students in the county. Shanks received the CDC Childhood Champion award for her ability to help coordinate an effort to immunize students this school year despite the lack of public health services in the area. Shanks, and a few other school nurses, ended up performing many immunizations personally since the start of the school year. Shanks said a lot of the funding for the vaccines themselves came from state grants. We were able to get some funding through the Vaccines for Children Program. Its a federally funded program for uninsured or underinsured Native American or Alaskan natives, she said. We have also been successful with grant funding through Immunize Nevada. Shanks said funding for the programs only runs through September and the school district is looking at ways to fund more vaccines for next school year. One of the reasons vaccines can be difficult for children to get is the price and wait time for appointments. Since children cannon attend school before getting immunized the financial burden on parents can be difficult to handle. There are long appointment times so its a long time they have to miss school before they get vaccinated, she said. Sometimes its upwards of $200 to get your child vaccinated. When a family moves in with three kids, they dont always have an extra $600 to get the vaccine and get the kids in school. So, its tough. Shanks, who has four children of her own, said she had to make long trips to get her children the vaccines they needed to start school. Shanks was able to make it to Reno in time for the start of the school year for her childrens vaccines but said it can be challenging for families that are new in town. We did use public health in Reno sometimes, we didnt get them all here, she said. If youre a planner and you know that its going to take that long to get those visits, youll start getting that appointment in January, in April so youre ready to go to school in August. Shanks is still doing immunizations for children to get them ready to attend class late in this school year and hopes that the services she helps provide makes it easier for parents to send their children to school without missing significant class time. Thats why were here, she said. Theres research that links graduation rates to being in school on that first day. So we have to fill that gap where we need to and thats why we provide immunizations. ELKO The local Service Employees International Union is holding a town hall meeting Saturday to discuss the billing practices of Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital. A press release from the union expressed concerns over the costs of receiving treatment. SEIU asserts that NNRH has unaffordable prices compared with other hospitals that Elko patients have to choose from. The release cites childbirth as a particularly costly procedure that is found at lower costs outside of the Elko area. In 2014 the cost of childbirth without complications at NNRH was an average of $9,593 per day, according to the Nevada Hospital Association, the press release states. By comparison, the same procedure cost an average of $6,099 per day at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno and $5,485 per day at Humboldt General Hospital in Winnemucca. Public relations director for NNRH Hope Cripps said there will not be any representatives from the hospital present at the meeting because SIEU hasnt invited anyone from NNRH to attend. Were really unsure of the purpose of the conversation this week because we were not invited, which is OK, she said. We are always open to discussing any specific concerns that would be brought forward by the community. Cripps also pointed out the hospital is currently in negotiations with SEIU and didnt want to say anything that could potentially interfere with the negotiation process. We are in negotiations with the SEIU union and we want to respect the integrity and the confidential nature of the bargaining process, she said. I wont plan to comment publicly on any specific aspect of that negotiation. Cripps hopes if there is another community forum, similar to the one SIEU has organized, that members of the hospital will be able to contribute to the conversation as well. We would love to be able to have a seat at the table and be invited to those types of conversations, she said. Thats always our goal, to contribute to the conversation and help find a solution. The meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Northeastern Nevada Museum. Clark County DA Steve Wolfsons endorsement of Question 1, which would force all gun purchasers to submit to background checks, is extremely lamentable. This law is just another liberal attempt at gun control. Gun control laws arent designed to control guns, they are designed to control people, all people. This question, if passed, will further restrict law abiding citizens freedoms under the Second Amendment, and under Nevadas Constitutional guarantee of the right to keep and bear arms, which provides: Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms, for security and defense, and for lawful hunting and recreational purposes. (Art. I, Sec. 11.) Question 1 is just another attack on our right to defend ourselves, because it is a de facto gun registration law. Our State Legislature already got rid of forced gun registration in Clark County, but if everyone who purchases a firearm must undergo a background check, that information will be available to law enforcement, who will then know who has purchased a firearm. This law would be an unnecessary intrusion on our right to privacy, and the cost and hassle of these background checks would discourage honest citizens from obtaining a gun, which will increase the level of crime in Nevada. Thomas Jefferson understood why gun control laws like this are bad. He said, The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws that ... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes ... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. In his recent book, More Guns, Less Crime, Second Amendment expert John Lott shows that the more citizens who carry guns, the less that crime occurs. His book proves that yet another liberal policy is a cause of the very evil it purports to cure. He explodes the theory that laws restricting a citizens right to keep and bear arms somehow reduce crime. Instead, they increase crime by leaving the law abiding citizen without a gun to protect himself. His book shows that the vast majority of mass shootings which have occurred in America over the past 25 years have been in gun free zones, because these murderers know that no one there will be able to shoot back. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Criminals will get guns no matter what. No matter how many laws and restrictions there are, a criminal that wants to kill somebody is going to get his hands on a gun. Steve Wolfson should know this. There will always be plenty of ways for criminals to obtain firearms without going through legal channels. Question 1, if passed, will only increase the firearms black market, while intruding on the law abiding citizens right of privacy and right to protect themselves from criminals. Michael Bloombergs NYC propaganda may say this is a gun safety measure, but we all know that this measure has nothing to do with safety or addressing crime and would only impact law-abiding Nevadans. Its important that Nevadans stand up for their rights and not let New York City money influence the future of Nevada! The Independent American Party supports our right to keep and bear arms, and opposes Question 1. Ready For Early Voting Early voting at polling locations began Oct. 19. In the last midterm elections in 2018, about 7,800 people voted in Newport. For this upcoming election there are 13,115 eligible voters.... City to Open Driftway Shoreline Access The Newport City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Oct. 12 to keep the Chestnut and Walnut Street driftways in the Point Street neighborhood free from cars and maintain an... Reed Delivers $100K for Adult Learning Center The Aquidneck Island Adult Learning Center recently received a warm welcome at its new location on Americas Cup Avenue in the form of a $100,000 federal earmark courtesy of U.S.... Door is Open to More If Regionalization Passes The possible regionalization of Middletown and Newport schools has attracted interest from other communities that might want to jump on board somewhere down the line. Middletown Town Council President Paul... Local and state leaders this week express great concern over the rise in Nevadas wild horse population, after the BLM notified Elko County ranchers of potential grazing cuts on their allotments south of Wells. One might get the impression that the BLM is turning the southeast corner of our county into a monument for mustangs, just like the Mustang Monument recently opened there by Madeleine Pickens. Instead, it turns out her group is bucking mad at the BLM, too. She announced in February that the facility will not open this year because of permitting problems. A notice on her website blames the federal agency for losing paperwork needed for transferring her private horses across public land. The persecution of Madeleine and her ongoing battles for the benefit of these animals has this year bled into a thorough review of the operations at Mustang Monument with additional permitting requirements, states the notice. It looks like nobody can escape the bureaucracy of the federal government, not even the super-rich. Mustang Monument charges $1,400 a night for couples to sleep in a teepee, enjoy gourmet food, and ride to horse-viewing sites in a covered wagon. Eco-tourists who have stayed there praise the experience on Pickens website, which claims 3.4 million supporters. The idea of creating eco-sanctuaries for horses is controversial, even among advocacy groups. Many would prefer to give the animals full reign over the Wests public lands, citing the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The act laid the groundwork for the current program in which horses are rounded up and adopted out. Pickens got involved when the BLM began considering a change in the law that would have allowed for horses to once again be slaughtered for commercial purposes. There is a huge gulf between what opposing factions consider to be excess animals as cited in the act. Later legislation authorized the BLM to set forage levels. According to a release from Gov. Brian Sandovals office, horses are consuming more than three times their limit on the allotments in question, and more than twice the amount that cattle are using. Sandoval and NDOW Director Tony Wasley both expressed concerns about the impact on sage grouse. The governor called for legal action to adequately fund the BLMs horse management program. The problem is that the agency is already spending $75 million a year and still cannot keep pace. There are about 100,000 unclaimed horses in the U.S. and nearly half of them have already been placed in corals, where they are still unwanted. Contraceptives can slow down the reproduction rate but they, too, are costly and their effects are only temporary. Outrageous claims made by horse advocacy groups are thoroughly debunked on the BLMs website, but that only adds fuel to their false cry that horses are disappearing across the West. Elko Countys latest spike in the horse population proves otherwise, and ranchers should be fairly compensated for any losses until the BLM can restore balance. Dr. Maureen McMichael, head of the emergency and critical care service at the Small Animal Clinic, part of the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, talks about the recovery of Bear, the abused dog found abandoned in Ford Couny on April 20. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Cloudy and becoming windy. High 77F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Erundina Baamonde with her two-year-old grandson, Martin. Erundina Baamonde is a 69-year-old retired cleaner from Galicia who has lived in the Madrid suburb of Alcorcon since 1977. With the help of her husband, she looks after her two grandchildren while their parents, Cristina and Javier, are at work. Monday to Friday she gives Elena, 13, her lunch before she returns to school for afternoon classes and then takes care of two-year-old Martin from 4pm, the time he leaves nursery until his parents return home from work at 9pm. When Elena was little she also had her afternoon meal with us but now that shes older, she goes home and waits for her parents, Erundina explains. With Martin, his parents bring him here from the nursery and I give him something to eat; he plays all afternoon, we go to the park, I give him his supper A survey by Spains Ministry of Health in 2010 revealed that grandparents were often on duty for up to seven hours a day Erundina insists shes happy to help out. Im still fit, she says. Why wouldnt I help? Who else are they going to find to look after the little one in the evening? Thanks to the crisis and Spains overly long working hours, Erundinas is a story being played out across the country. According to a study by the Pfizer Foundation, 59% of grandparents are involved in the care of their grandchildren, whether its picking them up from nursery or school, taking them to the doctor, or giving them lunch. No one is forcing me to do this, says Erundina. My husband and I offered. Its true that weve had to forego certain things. If the Imserso [Spains state-run social services for the retired] has organized a trip, we cant always go on the dates we want, but we can go another time. And in summer, we almost always spend two months in Galicia, so its not like weve had to give up anything important. On the positive side, the Association of grandparents in Spain (ABUESPA) points out that grandparents involvement in family life ensures that traditional values survive. A sense of humor, strength of spirit, loyalty, generosity and many other values never go out of fashion, says an ABUESPA spokesperson. Theyre still around and theyre something we can pass on. But a survey by Spains Ministry of Health in 2010 revealed that grandparents were often on duty for up to seven hours a day. And though in many cases theyre happy to help out, in some instances the sheer volume of work triggers stress or depression, resulting in the so-called grandparent slave syndrome. And for fear of ruining their relationship with their children, theyre afraid to complain. The Association of grandparents in Spain (ABUESPA) points out that grandparents involvement in family life ensures that traditional values survive Sara Berbel, a doctor in social psychology and director of the Empowerment Hub, an organization that helps people reorient their careers, believes that Spains crisis has a lot to answer for, and that goes beyond returning grandparents to a parenting role. The crisis has accentuated the division of labor between the sexes, she says. As family incomes have shrunk, a lot of women have returned to being housewives and looking after the children or the elderly, who were previously cared for in nurseries or homes. Ana Eva Alameda, founder of Conciliatecuidando.es, adds that the measures Spain took in 2007 toward a better work-life balance have dwindled to zero after a decade of recession. Women have had to assume the responsibility of domestic care because the state has pulled out, which is obviously detrimental to the economy, she says. At the same time, the crisis has meant greater social inequality because outside care is now only available to those on higher incomes, giving the wealthy a better chance of balancing their work and family lives. The rest of society has to fall back on family members. Work-life balance has become a luxury. Little help from employers or the state Although there is now a stack of evidence proving that a better work-life balance increases productivity, prompting politicians across the spectrum to start addressing the issue, few companies are prepared to do much to help, according to Berbel. Consequently, many women balk at taking advantage of existing work-life policies for fear of harming their careers. Meanwhile, according to Pfizer, 83% of men admit that becoming a parent has scarcely affected their work, and only 12% of men surveyed had rejected a job offer or promotion on account of having children, a figure that rose to 39% among women. In Spanish companies its common to assume that more hours means more work, says Berbel. Your presence is what matters, not getting the job done. In other European countries, questions are asked when someone doesnt finish their work in the allotted time. There is also the assumption here that women will tend to domestic matters, hence work-life measures are generally aimed at them. Where does Spain rank in Europes work-life league? Spanish timetables are longer and less flexible than in more advanced countries, adds Berbel. We work 300 hours more a year than Germany and 200 hours more than Denmark or the Netherlands, but our productivity trails. At the same time, we have fewer care services, which affects how many women can enter the labor market. Countries such as Iceland, Sweden and Norway, which have non-transferable paternity leave, insist on shared parental responsibility for family care. In Spain, better work-life policies might encourage fathers to step up to the plate and take the pressure off their parents. Were talking about a generation of pensioners who are crucial to keeping their children afloat, says Alameda, noting that 33% of them are helping their children financially as well. They are performing a vital role for our economy and society but its unpaid, which means it has a price. What will happen in the future to these old people? If we keep ignoring the need for government care facilities but their children need to keep working, how are we ever going to achieve a balance? Its not a tenable situation. In Spain, where the fallout from the crisis will be felt for many years to come, an effective work-life policy is an obvious solution for family welfare. However, as Sara Berbel points out, the change has to be organic and come from within society, producing a demand and, finally, a response from employers. It is the only way equality between the sexes will be addressed and grandparents will be allowed to enjoy their retirement on their own terms. English version by Heather Galloway. Reporter/Columnist Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth). 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). NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. Prednisone (PRED-ni-sone) Consumer Medicine Information What is in this leaflet This leaflet answers some common questions about SONE (prednisone tablets). It does not contain all the available information about SONE tablets. It does not replace talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you or your child taking SONE against the benefits he or she expects it will have. If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again. What is SONE The name of your medicine is SONE and is available in 5 mg and 25 mg tablet strengths. The active ingredient is called prednisone. Prednisone belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are used to help reduce inflammation in your body or suppress your immune system, when a disease may be due to an auto-immune reaction (where your body fights against itself). What SONE is used for SONE is used to treat a number of medical conditions. Your doctor will be able to help decide if SONE is suitable for your condition. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why SONE has been prescribed for you. If you have any concerns, you should discuss this with your doctor. This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription. Before you take SONE When you must not take it Do not take SONE if you are allergic to: Prednisone or other cortisone type medications, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet including lactose monohydrate. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction to SONE may include urticaria and other skin rashes, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat or faintness. Do not take SONE if you: have a peptic ulcer suffer from osteoporosis (brittle bones) have severe disturbances in thoughts, feelings and behaviours (psychoneuroses) have tuberculosis. Do not take SONE if you are breastfeeding or plan to breast-feed. Do not take SONE if you know you have any infections, including mumps, measles or chickenpox. Do not use SONE after the expiry date (EXP.) printed on the pack. If you take it after the expiry date has passed, it may have no effect at all, or worse, there may be an entirely unexpected effect. Do not use SONE if the packaging is torn or shows any signs of tampering. Do not give it to children, unless your doctor has prescribed it. Before you start to take it You must tell your doctor if: 1. You are allergic to any other medicines or any foods, dyes or preservatives 2. You have or have had any other medical conditions or health problems, including: tuberculosis (TB) a stomach ulcer osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) myasthenia gravis congestive heart failure or have any other heart disease diabetes kidney failure an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) any infection (bacterial or fungal) including viral infections such as chicken pox 3. Scleroderma (also known as systemic sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder) because daily doses of 15 mg or more may increase the risk of a serious complication called scleroderma renal crisis. Signs of scleroderma renal crisis include increased blood pressure and decreased urine production. The doctor may advise that you have your blood pressure and urine regularly checked. 4. Take Typhoid Vaccine. Live or attenuated vaccines such as oral typhoid vaccine must not be taken with SONE. 5. You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. SONE like all medicines should not be used during pregnancy, unless your doctor tells you. 6. You are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. SONE is expelled in breast milk and therefore should only be taken if your doctor tells you. If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take any SONE. Taking other medicines Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with SONE. These include: medicines used to treat upset stomachs such as antacids medicines used for diabetes including insulin medicines used to treat tuberculosis such as rifampicin medicines used to treat fungal infections such as ketoconazole some medicines which have a high sodium content and also foods with a high sodium content - check with your pharmacist some fluid reducing tablets, also called diuretics barbiturates, medicine used to treat epilepsy high doses of aspirin potassium supplements growth hormones digoxin or digitalis glycosides course of vaccinations The above medicines may either reduce the effectiveness of SONE, reduce its own effectiveness and/or react with SONE resulting in untoward or sometimes dangerous side effects. Tell your doctor if you are taking SONE tablets before you undergo any laboratory test. SONE may interfere with laboratory tests to check your thyroid. Alcohol may interfere whilst you are taking SONE tablets. This list is not exhaustive. Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking SONE. How to take SONE How much to take Your doctor will decide the right dose for you. The dose you need depends on your medical condition, the treatment you are undergoing and your response to it. The recommended doses are for: Adults: 10 mg to 100 mg daily in divided doses. Children: 1 to 5 years: 2.5 mg to 10 mg twice daily. Children: 6 to 12 years: 5 mg to 20 mg twice daily. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully, if you need to reduce your dose of SONE. High doses of SONE should be reduced gradually. How to take it Swallow the medicine with water. If the dose is one-half tablet, there is a break-line on the tablet to help you divide it. When to take it Take SONE after meals at the time directed by your doctor. How long to take it Continue taking SONE as long as your doctor recommends it. If you forget to take it If your dosing schedule is one dose a day, take the missed dose as soon as possible, but not later than 4 hours before your next dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. If you are unsure about whether to take your next dose, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Do not try to make up for missed doses by taking more than one dose at a time. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect. If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints. If you take too much (overdose) Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much SONE. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Also report any other medicine or alcohol which has been taken. You may need urgent medical attention. Keep telephone numbers for these places handy. If you take too much SONE you may have the following symptoms: weakness, convulsions, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, menstrual irregularities, and symptoms associated with electrolyte and fluid depletion and high blood pressure (hypertension). While you are using SONE Things you must do Use SONE exactly as your doctor has prescribed. Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking SONE. Tell your doctor promptly if you become pregnant while you are taking SONE. Tell your doctor if you feel SONE is not helping your condition. Visit your doctor regularly. Your doctor needs to check your progress and see whether you need to keep taking SONE. Always discuss with your doctor any problems or difficulties during or after taking SONE. Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily. Keep enough SONE to last weekends and holidays. Things you must not do Do not take any other medicines while you are taking SONE without first telling your doctor. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how SONE affects you. SONE may cause dizziness in some people and therefore may affect alertness. Make sure you know how you react to SONE before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or have blurred vision. Do not take SONE for a longer time than your doctor has prescribed. Do not change your dose without first checking with your doctor. Do not stop taking SONE or lower the dose, without first checking with your doctor. Stopping this medicine suddenly on your own accord may cause some unwanted and dangerous effects, or your condition may reappear. Your doctor will advise you when you can stop taking SONE completely. Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to. Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours. Side effects Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking SONE. SONE helps most people with medical conditions listed in the beginning of this leaflet, but it may have unwanted side effects in some people. All medicines have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have. Short term use When Sone is taken for short periods of time it is unlikely to cause any problems. Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects and they worry you: mood changes nausea (feeling sick) vomiting increased appetite (which may result in weight gain) stomach bloating or irritation diarrhoea or constipation. Long term use When Sone is taken for long periods of time and in high doses the risk of side effects is greater. Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you: General changes to the body: bloating and rounding of the face (moon face) headache dizziness high blood pressure weight gain redistribution of body fat water retention leading to swollen legs and feet, high blood pressure or an irregular heart beat cramps or weakness in the muscles of the arms and legs slowed growth in children irregular menstrual periods. Changes to the skin: acne red or flushed face red or purple streaks easy bruising skin thinning increased sweating poor wound healing skin rashes. Changes to the immune system: an increased seriousness or frequency of infections. Changes in behaviour: excessive mood swings (such as changes in personality and loss of contact with reality) anxiety or nervousness depression euphoria restlessness trouble sleeping. Changes in eyes: decreased or blurred vision eyes sticking out too far cataracts. Side effects where the frequency is not known: Scleroderma renal crisis in patients already suffering from scleroderma (an autoimmune disorder). Signs of scleroderma renal crisis include increased blood pressure and decreased urine production. Slow heart rate Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following symptoms: severe stomach or intestinal pain epileptic fits sudden changes in your vision symptoms such as severe dizziness, fainting, weakness, chest pain or irregular heart beat psychiatric (mental) disturbances. These are all serious side effects of Sone. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. Some side effects can only be detected by your doctor. So it is important to visit your doctor for regular check-ups when Sone is taken for long periods of time. Such side effects can include: osteoporosis or other changes in bone which can result in an increased chance of fractures due to brittleness or softening of the bone changes in other hormone levels in your body changes in the body's ability to handle glucose (steroid diabetes) effects on the parathyroid and thyroid glands which control calcium and body metabolism increased amounts of cholesterol in the blood changes to your white blood cells changes to your nervous system which may affect the way your nerves work increased blood pressure increased pressure in the skull increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma) rare eye diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Some people may get other side effects while using SONE. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them Your doctor may lower the dose to help control serious side effects and decide on necessary tests to monitor any of the above problems. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking SONE, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet. After using SONE Storage Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines. Keep SONE in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30C and protect from light. Do not store it, or any other medicines, in a bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on windowsills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Do not take SONE if the tablets do not look quite right. Keep your tablets in the bottle they were provided in until it is time to take them. Disposal If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets or they have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any left over. Product description What it looks like SONE 5 mg tablet is a white round plain uncoated tablet, one side plain and the other scored. It comes in a bottle of 60 tablets. SONE 25 mg tablet is a white round plain uncoated tablet, one side plain and the other scored. It comes in a bottle of 30 tablets. Ingredients Each SONE 5 mg tablet contains 5 mg of the active ingredient, prednisone. The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate propyl hydroxybenzoate maize starch wheat starch gelatin magnesium stearate Each SONE 25 mg tablet contains 25 mg of the active ingredient, prednisone. The other ingredients are: lactose monohydrate propyl hydroxybenzoate maize starch wheat starch gelatin magnesium stearate SONE contains sugars as lactose and gluten but does not contain sucrose. Caregivers whose eyes wander during playtime -- due to distractions such as smartphones or other technology, for example -- may raise children with shorter attention spans, according to a new study by psychologists at Indiana University. The work, which appears online today in the journal Current Biology, is the first to show a direct connection between how long a caregiver looks at an object and how long an infant's attention remains focused on that same object. "The ability of children to sustain attention is known as a strong indicator for later success in areas such as language acquisition, problem-solving and other key cognitive development milestones," said Chen Yu, who led the study. "Caregivers who seem distracted or whose eyes wander a lot while their children play appear to negatively impact infants' burgeoning attention spans during a key stage of development." Yu is a professor in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Linda Smith, IU Distinguished Professor and Chancellor's Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, is co-author on the paper. "Historically, psychologists regarded attention as an property of individual development," Smith said. "Our study is one of the first to consider attention as impacted by social interaction. It really appears to be an activity performed by two social partners since our study shows one individual's attention significantly influence another's." Thanks to head-mounted cameras worn by both caregivers and infants in the study, IU scientists got a first-person point of view on parents and children playing together in an environment that closely resembled a typical play session at home or day care. The technology also allowed the parents and children to play with physical toys. A typical eye-tracking study of children would involve manipulating objects on a screen. Caregivers were given no instructions before engaging with children to ensure the psychologists got an unfiltered view of their interactions. Generally, Yu said, caregivers fell into two major groups: those who let the infants direct the course of their play and those who attempted to forcefully guide the infants' interest toward specific toys. "A lot of the parents were really trying too hard," he said. "They were trying to show off their parenting skills, holding out toys for their kids and naming the objects. But when you watch the camera footage, you can actually see the children's eyes wandering to the ceilings or over their parents' shoulders -- they're not paying attention at all." The caregivers who were most successful at sustaining the children's attention were those who "let the child lead." These caregivers waited until they saw the children express interest in a toy and then jumped in to expand that interest by naming the object and encouraging play. "The responsive parents were sensitive to their children's interests and then supported their attention," Yu said. "We found they didn't even really need to try to redirect where the children were looking." The gains in attention for children in this group were significant. In cases where infants and caregivers paid attention to the same object for over 3.6 seconds, the infant's attention lingered 2.3 seconds longer on average on the same object even after the caregiver's gaze turned away. This extra time works out to nearly four times longer compared to infants whose caregivers' attention strayed relatively quickly. The impact of a few seconds here and there may seem small. But when they are magnified over a play session -- and those play sessions occur over months of daily interaction during a critical stage in mental development -- the outcomes grow significantly, Yu said. A number of other studies tracking the influence of sustained attention in children from ages 1 through grade school show consistently that longer attention spans at an early age are a strong predictor of later achievement. "Showing that what a parent pays attention to minute by minute and second by second actually influences what a child is paying attention to may seem intuitive, but social influences on attention are potentially very important and ignored by most scientists," said Sam Wass, a research scientist at the University of Cambridge whose commentary on the study appears in the same journal. "Chen Yu and Linda Smith's work in this area in recent years has been hugely influential." The shortest attention spans in the study were observed in a third group, in which caregivers displayed extremely low engagement with children while playing. These distracted caregivers tended to sit back and not play along, or simply look elsewhere during the exercise. "When you've got a someone who isn't responsive to a child's behavior," Yu said, "it could be a real red flag for future problems." Specific regions of the brain are specialized in recognizing bodies of animals and human beings. By measuring the electrical activity per cell, scientists from KU Leuven, Belgium, and the University of Glasgow have shown that the individual brain cells in these areas do different things. Their response to specific contours or body shapes is very selective. Facial recognition has already been the subject of much research. But what happens when we cannot recognize an animal or a human being on the basis of a face, but only have other body parts to go on? The mechanism behind this recognition process is uncharted territory for neuroscientists, says Professor Rufin Vogels of the KU Leuven Laboratory for Neuro- and Psychophysiology. "Previous research in monkeys has shown that small areas in the temporal lobes - the parts of the brain near the temples - are activated when the monkeys look at bodies instead of objects or faces. Brain scans tell us that these regions of the brain correspond to the ones activated in human beings. But that only tells us which regions are active, not which information about bodies is passed on by their cells." The KU Leuven scientists measured the electrical activity of individual cells in one of the brain areas responsible for body recognition in rhesus monkeys. Vogels explains: "We showed the monkeys images of bodies of both animals and human beings, while covering up specific body parts. We usually left out the faces, because other brain cells are responsible for recognizing those. With a method developed at the University of Glasgow, we then examined each cell to see which body parts activated it." "We found that these individual cells in themselves are not body detectors: they respond to specific, frequently found characteristics of bodies, such as the curve of an elbow or a part of a leg. And they divide the work. Each cell has its own speciality and screens the incoming information for certain characteristics. The brain recognizes a body by combining all the pieces of the puzzle: all the bits of information registered by the different cells in a particular region of the brain. The brain cells, in other words, collaborate to solve the puzzle." In their next project, the scientists want to expand their study to include a number of other brain areas that are also active for body recognition. "If we improve our understanding of how our brains recognize bodies, we can use that knowledge for disorders whereby that particular mechanism is disrupted, such as autism, or for the development of facial-recognition software." Source: KU Leuven As a military professional my focus towards the basic personal weapon of the Indian Army and the Infantryman's mainstay was missing for almost thirteen years after I was commissioned. I was happy with the 7.62 mm Self Loading Rifle (SLR) as it was a far cry from the .303 that I had seen and fired as a youngster when my father was commanding our unit.The issue of personal weapons finally caught my fancy when I rejoined my unit in Op Pawan (Sri Lanka/IPKF). We had a few captured 7.62 mm AK 47s which were reserved for the Ghatak platoon and for a couple of scouts while we conducted jungle bashing.The captured AK series, worn and grimy from LTTE over use, carried a romantic aura about it. The greatest thing was that it could fire in automatic mode. Why is that important? In the jungle or urban terrain, response at close quarters is a recurring phenomenon. Automatic high rate of fire from a weapon with an enhanced capacity magazine has far greater chances of success, especially in the crucial two minutes of the first contact.Rifle 5.56 mm INSAS. (Courtesy: ofbindia.gov.in)In Op Pawan the Army's leadership was dynamic in response, even though resources were still of the socialist order. Since AK 47s were not easily available the Ordnance factories quickly gave us 7.62 mm SLR 1C, a modified rifle with a slightly shortened barrel and surgically intervened breach blocks to give a burst capability. My first success in an ambush was with this weapon which I found ingenuously outstanding given the resource position of those days. The only problem with Model 1C was that it overheated very early.By the Nineties I found myself attending meetings in Army Headquarters about the upcoming wonder, the 5.56 mm INSAS Rifle and family of small arms associated with it. It had artificial furniture and plastic see through magazines which looked very fancy. The feel appeared good and it was a novelty. I felt a change from the aging 7.62 mm SLR would be advantageous. Although I had an experience with 5.56 mm caliber, in the thick jungles of the Wani in Sri Lanka I continued to live by some dictums which I had learnt at the academy but never applied in my mind thereafter. In one instance I saw one of my 'bhullas' (Garhwali soldiers) peppered with six rounds fired by an LTTE cadre from an M-16 (5.56 mm) assault rifle. M-16s were popular in Sri Lanka; in fact anything could be popular after the 7.62 mm SLR. But this 'bhulla' was running around attending to casualties and least concerned with his injuries. Six bullets in his abdomen did not trouble him until I forced him to start acting like an actual casualty. That is the day I lost confidence in the 5.56 mm variety of small arms. It is true that the terminal effect is dependent on the range at which a bullet is fired and the amount of explosive content it contains. Yet, somehow a mindset seemed to grip me on this.Indian Army soldier with AK-47 rifles. (File Photo/Getty)Why am I discussing all this? The reason is simple; the INSAS family which never really matured is now on the way out. In J&K too it is the AK-47 which is depended upon. But the easing out can only happen once the leadership of the Indian Army can finally decide what family of small arms it wants as its next generation small arms weapon system. Reportedly, this issue will be discussed at the ongoing Army Commanders' Conference this week. It's been discussed before but a dilemma seems to be gripping the minds of the leadership. The higher leadership comes from my generation which was taught that in battle it is far advantageous to maim or injure your adversary rather than kill him. That forces the adversary to deploy men to tend to the casualty, carry him out to a safe place, evacuate him to the rear areas and thereafter perhaps care for him for life. All this is heavy in resources at all stages, and resource depletion of your adversary is what you always aim in conflict. However, conventional conflict it appears is passe; hybrid is in and it caters for both situations - conventional and sub conventional. I can hold my own in a debate to justify the return to 7.62 mm caliber with an appropriate architecture and composition of the ammunition. The 7.62 mm also has a psychological effect on the adversary when the nature of fatal inflicted injuries is observed. However, anyone who knows small arms also knows that the parameters in consideration have to be weight (of weapon and ammunition), the recoil effect (can't have a horse buck at the shoulder), the range, the comfort of carrying and firing (ergonomics) and the length of the barrel. Throw in a couple more such parameters and the designer has more issues than he can handle. For me, recoil is a very important factor. In burst mode one can't afford only the first bullet hitting the target and the rest going astray.I am not sure if there is a case for a compromise caliber such as 6.8 mm which some foreign analysts speak of. An examination of this would also be interesting. The Indian Army's dream personal weapon of twin caliber capability with changeable barrels to cater for different calibers has resulted in the acute delay in the final decision. There appear to be no takers for this variety which the General Staff had desired.AK-47 assault rifles. (File Photo/Getty)Many in the media are attempting to analyze the benefits of different calibers and other characteristics of small arms. This is interesting and a welcome change because the romance of military technology is usually associated with armour and artillery systems and not infantry weaponry. An issue which no one appears to have considered is the equipping of Infantry and other Combat Arms personnel with specialist small arms of a higher technical order than those of the personnel of other Arms. No doubt in conventional operations it is primarily infantry personnel who will require to use these weapons extensively in offensive/assault mode. Those away from frontlines would primarily be involved in defensive operations in rear areas. However, if the Hybrid variety of operations is considered there may be equally robust operations against well entrenched terrorists in rear areas. The issue to be considered should be the cost effectiveness of going in for one type of product across the board. No doubt uniformity in personal weapons contributes to the overall management of maintenance and logistics but this aspect need not be given undue consideration. The equipping of infantry units with a state of the art weapon which near about meets the dual parameters of both conventional warfare and hybrid operations would be the most recommended option.Some inexperienced analysts are speaking of 1000 meter range for infantry small arms; they also appear to be mixing all this with the need of sniping which is a completely different domain. Effective ranges for infantry small arms have almost always revolved around the 300 meter mark with increase to 500 meters with stabilization due to a bipod and some more due to tripod stabilization. A target acquisition device in the form of a latch on telescope and an accuracy enhancer in the form of laser assistance are almost mandatory in the modern world.The AK 47 type of options of burst rapid and controlled burst fire along with single shot continues to be the favourite. Indian infantrymen operate very largely in the mountains and jungle terrain and therefore the weight of the weapon and its ammunition must remain important considerations. A weapon upwards of 4 kg would not be acceptable. In fact sub 4 kg with all latch on accessories is the figure one would be satisfied with. 25-30 round magazines would be desirable when burst modes are adopted. The 20 round 7.62 mm SLR magazine was robust and less prone to malfunctioning; an improvement on that is what is looked for rather than the rather disappointing plastic magazines with conventional spring mechanism that the INSAS went in for.Whatever it be, the Indian Army has remained in various stages of self-doubt while equipped with the INSAS family. Let us hope that with renewed interest in a new family of weapons and slippages now causing virtual panic the senior hierarchy will finally come to a decision on a subject which should be considered as important as the acquisition of aircraft, tanks and guns. Our world is slowly turning more and more grey with every passing moment. Whether it is the smoggy horizons, or the concrete jungle skylines or just us in general. We need more colour in our lives. We need to be reminded that things can be beautiful, and we need just a little more hope and happiness. And no where is colour needed more than on the other side of a prison wall.Why would criminals need more colour and hope in their lives? Aren't they humans too. Don't they deserve an opportunity to rehabilitate? Such was the idea of Sunil Patil, a traveler and part of the World Economic Forum. It is, as a part of the latter, that he is a member of 'Global Shapers Community' in Hubli, Karnataka, and how he came upon the idea of beautifying this 'transit' city.Hubli is a city that falls on the routes leading to Mumbai, Pune, Goa and other cities, frequented by tourists and non-tourists alike. But does Hubli need to remain a random landmark or maybe a pit-stop? Of course not. And hence was conceived the idea of beautifying the city with art.Sunil was inspired by the Malaysian city of Penang which had covered itself with art and had turned into a tourist spot. And his inspiration took him to start an initiative called the 'Heartists', whose purpose is to beautify the city with vibrant street art. The name 'Heartists' comes from the idea of "art coming straight through the heart" and their first project was to paint the outer walls of the Hubli prison.The plan was all set to be executed when they encountered a snag. According to Indian Law, the outer walls of a jail cannot be painted in dark colours. This stipulation exists because it is easier to identify cracks or breaks in a wall which is light coloured, as opposed to dark ones.But the police force and the jail staff like the idea and they suggested a minor change. 'The Heartists would now paint the inside walls of the jail complex. And thus took place the beautification of a working prison, a first in the state of Karnataka.With the help of several artists from around the city, they transformed a once dull grey place, into a cornucopia of colours and motivation. These artists included full-time painters like Guru Mallapur, KV Shankar and MK Bhandari, as well as architects like Santosh Harapanahalli and Neeti Marji (the only woman in the Heartists squad), and tattoo artist Sudarshan GM.From abstract paintings to portraits of famous people like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Gautam Buddha, every bit of art was to motivate the inmates and give them a little hope to reform themselves. "At the end of the day they are human beings. People can change and we want to motivate them to change" says Sunil.Both the authorities and the inmates loved what they had managed to do and it opened doors to several other possible beautification projects. Sunil says he had no difficulty whatsoever while working with the authorities. In Fact they were very enthusiastic about the whole idea. Since the completion of this project, he has been approached by police officers from other police stations for making their jails creative and people-friendly.It may have started as an idea to beautify a city, but it ultimately led to something unique and wonderful all the same. Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias addressing Congress at the last session of the current legislature. Paco Campos (EFE) With just days to go before a repeat general election is called in Spain for June 26 and Congress dissolved, on Friday anti-austerity party Podemos presented three non-legislative motions. The motions will not be debated, and Podemos has released few details other than that one of the measures relates to the state-funded EFE news agency. The other two address use of the radio spectrum and the so-called third sector of the media: not-for-profit organizations. The party briefly outlined its proposals for EFE in February in the wake of the inconclusive December 20 elections, during talks to form a coalition government with the Socialist Party (PSOE). It presented a document entitled Political bases for a stable government with guarantees, calling for measures to end what it called government control over the news agency along the lines of those it wants to establish for state broadcaster RTVE to guarantee independence, participation and transparency. Podemos also wants transparent management of the radio spectrum on a par with European standards Podemos also wants transparent management of the radio spectrum, on a par with European standards for the adjudication of concessions based on pluralist criteria. The partys electoral program calls for a balanced division of the radio spectrum as a common good, avoiding media concentration. The party also presented an initiative dealing with community media, calling for compliance with current audiovisual legislation related to the third sector of the communication sector (not-for-profit community media), whose democratizing and galvanizing role should be encouraged and protected, as happens in the rest of Europe, following the recommendations outlined by UNESCO. English version by Nick Lyne. Itanagar: US Consul General in Kolkata Craig L Hall on Thursday said the US government is very clear that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. Craig said this during a meeting with Chief Minister Kalikho Pul while referring to the oft repeated claims of China over Arunachal Pradesh territory, an official release said. Through Craig, Pul also asked the United States government to help rectify Google Maps wherein China has indicated Arunachal and some parts of Assam as a part of its territory. Craig said India's Act East Policy could be strengthened if road connectivity in the region is developed well, as Arunachal is located in a strategically important position having international borders with China, Myanmar and Bhutan, it said. Private companies of the United States are looking for ways, though difficult it seems, for more connectivity in the region so that pace of developmental activities can be accelerated, he said. "In fact, the US government is working with the Indian counterpart to promote business relations with NE India," he said, adding that the state has potential in hydro-power and tourism sectors. He put forward his opinion to the chief minister for global tendering of the hydro-power and infrastructure developments projects of the state, so that the advertisement could be sent to the companies in the US, the release said. Seeking US support in developing road connectivity and harnessing hydropower of the state, the Chief Minister said Western investors should feel free to invest in Arunachal. The chief minister also sought the help of the US for capacity building, particularly in training, support and equipment for dealing with natural disasters. Pul further sought the assistance of the United States in getting loans from Asian Development Bank and other institutions for various development projects in the state, the release added. India's intellectual property (IP) regime has witnessed steady progress ever since the country became a signatory to the TRIPS agreement of the World Trade Organization, which entered into force in 1995. Post this, many laws have been amended/passed in India to support the process of economic development and balance national priorities with concerns of domestic and international companies wanting to invest in India. Prominent among these have been the Patent Amendment Act of 2002 & 2005, the Trademark Act of 1999 (amended in 2010), the Copyright Act (amended most recently in 2012), the Plant Varieties Act of 2001, the Geographic Indication of Goods Act, 1999 and the Design Act of 2000. Apart from the national acts, India is also now a signatory to many international treaties and conventions which showcase the country's commitment to IP. However, India is at the bottom of global indices like the Intellectual Property Rights Index of the US Chamber of Commerce. It is placed 37th out of 38 countries considered for the index in 2016. It has also been put on the United States Trade Representative's Special 301 report under 'priority watch list' for 2015 and has been there for a significant period. In spite of all the conventions, treaties, and national laws, enforcement remains a key challenge. The Modi government had, in its first year, instituted an IPR think tank and introduced the draft IP policy that is slated to be out in the final format anytime soon. It is aimed at strengthening the country's IP regime. However, a robust ecosystem for innovation can only get created when there is clarity on regulatory issues at the national level. There are many issues here which need resolution. For instance, take the recent case of Ericsson and other domestic mobile phone manufacturers in India, which have gone to different judicial forums like the Delhi High Court and The Competition Commission of India to resolve an ensuing patent. Also, DIPP has recently issued a White Paper on standard essential patents for public consultation which seeks stakeholder response to a set of 13 questions. There is a specific question about whether royalty rates should be decided by the government. Ideally, the government should stay away from royalty rates as these are best left to different standard setting organisations, individual parties, and courts to look at. The question also arises: How much of the IP is being produced domestically by companies in India? The answer is very little. Also, in the global value chain for handset markets, India adds very little value. The SSO (standard setting organisation) in the present case has already adopted an IP policy and addressed most of the issues that the DIPP paper seeks to resolve. Another key point is that there is an inverted duty structure in the market for handsets as printed circuit boards (PCBs) attract two percent duty while finished handsets attract 12 percent duty. This is to point out a person does not manufacture in India simply because he can import components like PCBs at a marginal rate from more competitive markets abroad. This de-incentivises the production capability for programmes like Make in India and emergence of clusters around ESDM (Electronic System Design & Manufacturing) sector. Another key point pertains to the issue of states and improving their innovation and creative class landscape. At present, India lacks a culture of protecting IP. Also, IPRs are not very strongly enforced. Often one sees people buying and watching pirated CDs and DVDs and even books being sold on the crossroads at a fraction of the original. States can be made partners in delivering programs in universities, colleges and even at vocational training institutions to look at the issues of IP and creation of a culture of IP for future generations. Capacity building around IP issues is a must for individual entrepreneurs and the MSME sector. Similarly, the states can formulate their own innovation policies which offer some protecting of IP of companies and entrepreneurs investing and looking at protecting their rights in India. A question which often arises is what is the need of making laws and systems such as the ones enumerated. The primary reason is that it helps in the attraction of capital investment and technology which contributes to helping the economy become globally competitive. In the longer time-frame, better IP protection helps companies and institutions gain future competitiveness. India should over the next few years try to strengthen the regime by capacity building and help streamline its trade policy to suit its overall objectives. It should also get out of the way where markets can function well in the absence of regulation. Southern Superstar Kamal Haasan is all set make a comeback in Hindi Cinema with 'Sabaash Kundu'. The actor sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN-News18 and discussed all about his new venture, GST, Skill India plans and more. The actor who has given Hindi Cinema gems like 'Sadma', 'Sagar' and 'Chachi 420' is back with 'Sabaash Kundu'. The film is a comedy drama to be shot in three languages, Hindi, Tamil and Telegu. Haasan would be seen portraying a RAW officer with a tremendous talent of getting into trouble. According to the actor, "Kundu is a combination of Inspector Clouseau and Hercule Poiro. It has the panache of Poirot and the bumble-footing ways of Clouseau." The 'Uttama Villain' star is banking on the abundant love shown by his fans to this character previously as Naidu. Commenting upon his production business and taxation the actor says, "We are looking into the exhibition and distributing aspects. Government needs to bring in GST and be kind about service taxes, in the film business." The actor feels that it is unfair that all actors are levied service tax, while theatre actors are not subjected to it. He says, " Khans, Haasans and Bachchans in the industry are limited. You can't use them as example to tax other actors. All of us trying to stay at our position as long as we can. This is not a permanent job" "Money laundering happens because of this" The 'Vishwaroopam' star appeals to the government to collect tax at the source and seal the bucket at one end. The actor has been pushing the concept of 'Skill India' for quite some time now. About the progression the actor says, " We are trying to meet a timeline for our Skill India plans. Skill-level tests have been done for 5,000 people, and our aim is to skill 40,000-50,000 people. It still has a long way off ." Under the plan more than 5,000 people has been skilled so far and the actor plans to open a a media school for lower-level technicians who can quickly skill themselves. The politically charged actor appealed his fans to go and do what they think is best, regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "I am not here to goat them to any particular party. They know they are responsible citizens." He further added, "Do not bring in ambitious businessperson to power. " The 'Shabaash Kundu' actor looks forward to receive more love and applause for his future projects and work for the country. New Delhi: The government on Friday rebutted allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had struck a deal with Italy on AgustaWestland case and said the central issue was corruption and any other effort to divert from it was "misleading". It also termed attempts to link NSA Ajit Doval and Principal Secretary to PM Nripendra Mishra to one of the accused as "totally baseless assertion and indicative of malicious intent". "Those who cannot see Prime Minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prime Minister Modi did not cut any deal of any sort," the government said in a statement. It added that a few have even sought to link one of the accused with Doval and Mishra. "This is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent. In reality, there is no such connection," it said. The statement said it is indeed tragic that a small section of the Indian polity has attempted, "unsuccessfully", to divert and defuse the public discourse on this matter. They question the speed of the government processes, especially the investigation but, they do not ask how the corrupt influenced the process of acquisition in the first place and bled the nation, it said. "They do not admit corruption; they instead boldly proclaim, 'catch us if you can'," it said adding that government has taken effective action to bring out the truth and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing all means to bring to justice the corrupt and the wrong-doers in this case. "The investigative agencies remain determined to bring to justice the key perpetrators of this misdeed, both inside and outside the country," it said. In the matter pertaining to acquisition of AgustaWestland helicopters, the undisputed central issue that stands out is corruption, especially bribery, the statement said. "Any other line of assumption, approach and effort, as is being attempted in some quarters, is misleading, tries to hide the wrong-doers and is driven by instincts of self preservation," it said. On opposition allegations about helicopters purchased by the governments of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the statement said the Centre has been proactive in seeking response. "They ask as to whey did Modi government not take any action against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Dr Raman Singh despite an indictment of Chhattisgarh government by CAG in purchase of AgustaWestland Helicopter, which led to loss to public exchequer (according to CAG) of Rs 65 lakh? "But, the government has been proactive in seeking response from the State governments also. As per the State Government of Chattisgarh, the Public Accounts Committee of the Chattisgarh Vidhan Sabha took cognizance of the CAG report regarding the acquisition that was done in 2007, and took the evidence of State Government officials. After analyzing the evidence of officials and the report of the State Government, the PAC closed the matter," the statement said. Similarly, as per the Rajasthan government, the alleged loss to public exchequer according to CAG was not on account of any irregularity in the procurement process, but due to the expenditure incurred on account of lack of planning and basic infrastructure prior to procurement, such as pilot training and maintenance, it said adding that in this case too, the acquisition was done in 2005. "The government appeals to the countrymen to recognize the nature and depth of corruption in AgustaWestland case. The investigative agencies will stay their course in unveiling the corrupt and holding them accountable to our public," it said. Seeking to counter Opposition allegation, the government said ever since it was given the responsibility to serve the people, it has acted with speed, drive and purpose to empower the country's masses. "It continues to relentlessly pursue fearless and transparent governance. One of the core goals of our governance has been to unearth and uproot corruption, and punish the corrupt," it said. New Delhi: The AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam seems to be blowing up into a major political issue. Now, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has stepped up the attack by calling for Congress president Sonia Gandhi's arrest in connection with the case. He also took on the Bharatiya Janata Party saying that he would have been dragged out of the house had he been in Sonia's position. "Why are they not arresting Sonia Gandhi? They would have dragged me out of my house. Why are they not arresting Robert Vadra? They now have proofs against Sonia and Robert Vadra, and they are in power," said Kejriwal. Meanwhile, BJP MP Subramianian Swamy demanded an enquiry over his remarks being expunged. He has also said that Sonia Gandhi is being protected. "Agusta was not blacklisted amd the fact that we removed them from list is also a lie. Expunging my statements was not done according to rules. A review should happen and I will ask the Rajya Sabha Chairman to hold enquiry. All this has been done to protect Sonia Gandhi," said Swamy. On Thursday, both Houses of Parliament saw heated exchanges with BJP and Congress trading blows at each other over the AgustaWestland issue. The Rajya Sabha saw high drama when Opposition leaders raised slogans and refused to let Swamy speak. Calling him the new gift of the BJP, the Congress accused Swamy of making objectionable statements in the House. "This new gift of BJP will not allow Parliament to function. It is his (Subramanian Swamy's) second day in Parliament and his words have been expunged twice. How many times will you expunge his remarks," asked Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad. Coming down heavily on the BJP MP, Azad said Swamy does not know the difference between street language and parliamentary words. "He does not allow his hair to grey so that he can learn and mature." Swamy, who took oath in Rajya Sabha on April 26, created uproar in the House by his remarks on the AgustaWestland scam. Sabir KhanTiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor, Sudheer Babu PosaniFirst introduced to us in the film doing a handstand, but using only his index finger and his thumb to lift the weight of his body, Tiger Shroff demonstrates why he was indispensable when it came to playing the lead in 'Baaghi'. As action films go, director Sabbir Khan's latest is a relentless punch-'em-upthat rare kind of movie that refreshingly relies not on guns and explosions, but on good ol' fashioned hand-to-hand sparring to deliver the thrills.Tiger, who possesses the flexibility of a gymnast yet routinely loses his shirt to reveal abs of steel, is perfectly cast as Ronnie, a rebellious drifter and martial arts enthusiast who lets his fists fly each time he's in a bind. The action scenes in 'Baaghi' are some of the best you've seen recently, a cocktail of traditional Indian and Asian martial arts that the film's leading man pulls off with remarkable ease.It's the plot of the film cobbled together from various sources including The Karate Kid and The Raid: Redemption that could've done with more work. Ronnie, who is packed off by his dying father to a kalaripayattu academy in Kerala, meets Sia (Shraddha Kapoor) on the train heading there, and pretty soon they are in love.Back at the academy, Ronnie is disciplined and rid of his cockiness by a Mr Miyagi-like trainer who polishes his rough edges. But when his guru's villainous son Raghav (Sudheer Babu) makes a play for Sia, Ronnie sets off to Bangkok and singlehandedly takes on an army of Raghav's henchmen.Packed into a frankly overlong 2 hours and 20 minutes, this flimsy plot makes room for way too many song situations squeezed between the impressive pow-wow scenes. Shraddha Kapoor, looking pretty and dancing well, is basically reduced to a damsel-in-distress caricature, aside from a few kicks and punches she's allowed to deliver herself. Sanjay Mishra shows up as a blind Bangkok cabbie in a comedy track that doesn't belong here. The film is powered purely by the sheer energy and the tireless spirit of its leading man Tiger Shroff, who's still raw when it comes to emoting but seizes your attention when he's flaying his arms and legs about the screen.I'm going with two-and-a-half out of five for 'Baaghi'. It's certainly an improvement on Tiger's debut film Heropanti, but script problems persist.2.5 / 5 Washington: US President Barack Obama was "disappointed" at not being able to visit the iconic Taj Mahal during his trip to India in 2015, the White House has said. "The President was quite disappointed to not have an opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal on his last visit to India," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Wednesday. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama had visited India in January 2015 to be the chief guest of at the annual Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama were scheduled to visit Agra but the trip was cut short as the US President decided to go to Saudi Arabia to pay condolence to the Royal family following death of King Abdullah. "That (a visit to the Taj) had originally been part of the itinerary, but the President had to cut short his visit to India because of the untimely death of the King of Saudi Arabia. So the President travelled to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects at that point," Earnest said. "I think the President wishes I could promise that he would have an opportunity to visit Taj Mahal before the end of his presidency, but I'm not sure that will happen," the White House Press Secretary said indicating that this wish of Obama would remain unfulfilled when he leaves his presidency on January 20, 2017. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy The Amherst County Sheriffs Office responded to three complaints about counterfeit money in a five-hour period Thursday and made one arrest, authorities said. Cleveland Winston Kilgore, 23, of Maryland was arrested after a brief foot pursuit with deputies, according to a news release. A complaint received at 3:58 p.m. led deputies to the Marathon Gas Station at 4664 S. Amherst Highway in Madison Heights. A clerk had refused to accept a counterfeit $20 bill. Deputies spotted Kilgore walking in the area of Woodvue Drive. He was taken into custody and charged with possession of marijuana, possessing counterfeit money and uttering counterfeit money, the release said. Kilgore was transported to Amherst Adult Detention Center, where he is being held on a $2,000 secure bond, the news release said. The sheriffs office is investigating other incidents to determine if they are connected. A counterfeit $50 bill was used at the Madison Heights Wendys drive-through by a black woman driving an older model green Ford Taurus, the news release said. Another incident occurred at the CVS in Madison Heights that involved counterfeit $20 bills. The suspects are described as two black men; one man was dressed in all black while the second man was wearing a black and white jacket with the letter C and khakis, the release said. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the Amherst County Sheriffs Office at (434) 946-9300. Seven trainees took turns scooping PVC piping poles with tiny shampoo bottles clamped to the ends into a frothy James River Thursday. The group led by Upper James Riverkeeper Pat Calvert and James River Association Community Conservationist Rob Campbell practiced testing at the site for a program collecting volunteer data from along the waterway to inform recreationists about river safety. The James River Watch website combines bacteria, temperature, and turbidity cloudiness tested by at least 80 volunteers along the waterway with JRA height and flow measurements to give an idea of water safety from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The James River Watch is aimed at people who are less experienced with the river and looking for guidance on whether or not its safe. It provides a quick snapshot as to what the conditions are in the water. You can take a quick peek so you know youre doing what you need to do, Campbell said. The website uses a stoplight color coding system. Swimming, paddling and fishing have separate systems. Green means all go. Yellow is a maybe. Red means dont go. The website is still in flux and in winter mode, Calvert said, but is expected to give people the ability to sign up for web updates when river conditions change. The interactive site and map is expected to be updated each week. Tests are expected to be taken from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on each Thursday with a goal of returning data to JRA for a Friday forecast. We want that fresh, hot-off-the-press data as soon as most people want to go out Saturday and Sunday, Campbell said. Volunteers will test for E. coli as an indicator for the general bacterial health. Volunteers tested the air and then the water using what looked like a meat thermometer. If the combined temperature equals more than 100 degrees, Campbell said, the weather is generally safe for aquatic recreation. The waters torpidity measures the materials, not the chemicals. When the water is thick red-brown after a hard rain, the torpidity measure will be higher. Along with the online stoplight indicator, people will be able to read further to learn about the conditions and why the spot received a rating. Hopefully well be able to get this information to folks when theyre making their plans on Friday to spend the weekend out on the river and it will be very relevant to them, they can understand what are the issues that affect the river and what we can do to improve some of those issues, Calvert said. Sue and Tim Coleman were among the trainees. They are also training as Central Virginia Master Naturalists, a group that requires volunteer work as a membership condition. Its important, and its useful, Tim Coleman said of why they learned to be water quality monitors. The former engineers chose citizen science to further their general interest in science, but also for the general good. Water is life, Sue Coleman said. More information Bienvenidos al universo ladies mexicano Not just anyone can be a good Lady. To earn this moniker in Mexico you need to achieve two things: believe you are above the law, and behave that way in front of a video camera. Driving while under the influence, insulting and striking a police officer, attempting to bribe the authorities with $6 or throwing trash where its prohibited are no longer just deplorable illegal actions. They may be a springboard to fame. The video of Daniela Aguirre or Lady 100 Pesos trying to bribe an officer after she was stopped for driving while intoxicated has beaten all kinds of records on social media. She is also about to make the cover of Playboy. Aguirre will also be signing autographs for fans this Sunday. Welcome to the world of Mexican ladies. The name is due to social prejudice and class resentment. They call them ladies because we associate the upper class with a lot of power, so its ironic, says Mariluz Garay, a lecturer on communication at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) who studies social media. Garay says the videos are successful because people take pleasure in seeing the rich who believe they are above the law acting stupid. The videos of these altercations trend for days on social media. The most well known of them all features the daughter of Humberto Benitez, director of the Federal Attorneys Office of the Consumer (PROFECO). Andrea Benitez, or Lady Profeco, entered a hip restaurant in Mexico City and demanded to be seated right away. She refused to wait her turn. Since she felt she had received terrible service she called on her fathers office for help and PROFECO officials shuttered the establishment. The incident provoked such outrage that the Mexican government had to open an investigation, which led to her fathers resignation. In 2011 two well-to-do women known as the Polanco Ladies insulted and struck an officer for arresting them after they had caused a car accident. You fucking shitty manwhore, fuck your mother you fucking wage-earner! one woman shouted. The video has received nearly one million views on YouTube. We all have a voyeuristic side and we like seeing someone in such a compromising situation. And even more so if it is a powerful person, says Raul Trejo, a professor of sociology at UNAM. Societys masses choose little idols, to whom they grant 15 minutes of fame and celebrate only because they are curious, extravagant, grotesque. But its ephemeral. Recently, Daniela Aguirre (Lady 100 Pesos) was driving an expensive car in Guanajuato when the police stopped her after she crashed into a series of other vehicles. She offered the officer 100 pesos ($6) to settle the issue. She was arrested and fined 1,500 pesos. Less than one week later, she landed a Playboy cover. Her video has received more than two million hits on YouTube and even inspired a Mexican ballad. And then there are the other ladies. On Wednesday, Olga Medrano won the gold medal at the European Girls Mathematical Olympiad. Twitter users used the hashtag LadyMatematicas to show their support for a different kind of achievement. Still, experts say the morbid curiosity we satisfy when we see a nice girl in a tough situation will never be overshadowed by our admiration for academic feats. English version by Dyane Jean Francois. Centra is calling last weeks proposed legislation to ensure hospitals are fairly reimbursed for their services by the federal government a welcome development. Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine introduced legislation to provide additional money for hospitals, especially those in underserved and economically struggling regions of Virginia. Hospitals in Bristol, Blacksburg-Christiansburg, Staunton-Waynesboro, Harrisonburg and Lynchburg would be eligible for the funding, if the bill is approved. The Fair Medicare Hospital Payments Act of 2016 corrects a formula that results in disproportionately low Medicare reimbursement payments to hospitals in rural and low-wage areas by establishing a national minimum area wage index. That index is based on the relative hospital wage level in the hospitals geographic area compared to the national average. The legislations focus on issues facing rural hospitals, including those in communities where economic and health disparities exist, is a welcome and appreciated development, Centra spokeswoman Diane Ludwig said in an email Wednesday. This policy proposal aims to assist health systems like Centra that are major employers, economic engines and vital health care providers. This legislation represents an important step forward in recognizing the financial burdens health systems like Centra face daily with dwindling government reimbursements. In a news release issued April 22, Warner said, Rural hospitals are a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Virginians, and are at the heart of many of our communities. However, hospitals in rural areas face unique challenges, and many struggle to stay afloat challenges that are exacerbated by the federal governments skewed payment system for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries at these hospitals. According to the Virginia Hospital Association, there are 29 hospitals in Virginia, including Centras Bedford Memorial Hospital, that would benefit from the proposed minimum area wage index. This legislation has been endorsed by the Virginia Hospital Association and the National Rural Health Association. Amy Trent contributed. Central Virginia Community College President John Capps promised reform of the schools pay practices Thursday, following a presentation by outside consultants he brought in who voiced concern the college had allowed salaries for full-time employees to cluster in the bottom half of state pay scales. The plea that I want to make to you is that you not give in to despair, Capps told about 60 employees during a town hall meeting Thursday afternoon. Now that we have the data we really can do something about this. Human resources consultants Mike Shelton and Brenda Xeroteres, who presented their findings Thursday, worked with Capps previously as staff at Western Virginia Community College before Capps came to CVCC in 2011. They conducted an analysis Capps said the college did not have the expertise to perform in-house. They began by looking at full-time employees, but CVCC also wants to have them analyze part-time employee salaries at some point. We embarked upon this process not having any idea what we are going to discover, Capps said. Your suspicions about salaries at CVCC have proven true; we have some work to do. Shelton began by saying salaries for state employees as a whole are significantly lagging behind other sectors of the economy. That, he said, is out of the control of the college to solve. Furthermore, the state sets the minimum and maximum salaries for community college staff, so those are outside the colleges control, too. On the other hand, he and Xeroteres pointed out what they called compression in salaries. Xeroteres said you can divide employees in an organization into competency levels based on factors like experience, responsibilities, performance and skills. Novice or contributing level employees ought to be making 80 to 95 percent of the salary scale midpoint, she said, while journey level workers should be making 96 percent of the midpoint, and expert level employees should be making 112 to 125 percent. Number of years at the college should be a major factor in pay. Instead, the consultants showed that faculty with greater than 10 years experience were only making 89 percent of the midpoint not much more than those with less than five years experience, who made 85 percent of the midpoint. Worse, among classified staff, people with five to 10 years of experience made 74 percent of the midpoint, which is less than the 79 percent made by people with less than five years experience. While this data is aggregate, and many complicated factors are involved, consultants suggested recent employees may have be being hired at reasonable rates, but longer-serving staff members still are feeling the effects of low-ball offers. Shelton said they "benchmarked" 151 full-time positions at CVCC for the study. Loretta Marshall, an HR analyst on CVCCs staff, was one of the employees who attended the town hall. She said shes been working for the college for six years, and said the sobering results bear out her long-standing suspicions. Its good to see that it wasnt just part of my imagination, she said. Stephanie Keener, a staff member of the Small Business Development Center associated with CVCC, said she appreciates the transparency of being able to see comparison information, including information about the private sector. Individual employees will get more detailed information related to their own salaries later, Capps said. During his introduction of the consultants, he briefly told the story of the road that led to the commissioning of the study and Thursdays meeting. This past summer, The Chronicle of Higher Education recognized CVCC as among 86 Great Colleges to Work For among 281 participating colleges. To make the Great Colleges to Work for list, CVCC needed to score within the top three or four community colleges in its size category in at least one of 11 categories surveyed. CVCC made it in two categories: collaborative governance and confidence in senior leadership. Other possible categories for recognition were compensation and benefits, diversity, job satisfaction, and teaching environment. Capps publicly celebrated the honor, but also got curious about what the college could do to get higher marks from its employees in other categories. The college organized committees to look into each of the criteria measured in the survey, and those committees shared recommendations at a meeting a couple months ago. Of course the topic that attracted the most attention is the topic we will be addressing at this town hall meeting: compensation, he said, after saying hed also heard calls for stronger communication, more professional development and training and greater financial transparency. In response to questions from staff, Capps said he hoped to be able to begin to make some targeted adjustments this year, but that the issues highlighted were decades in the making, and thus will take time to address. Finding money to support adjustments will be challenging, he said, but also a priority. 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 Google Ad 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 Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET 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 Enjoy the world on a plate Some of the countrys best street food specialists will be serving up delights as diverse as sushi and snow cone, crepes and coo coo, burgers and burritos, representing the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. As well as vendors, there will be live cooking demonstrations from top chefs and stalls from a number of food-related sponsors and producers. Expect tastings and giveaways all in a family-friendly atmosphere. The Queens Park Savannah, Port-of Spain, will be the venue for this celebration of flavours, creativity and entrepreneurship which is being staged by events management company Emag Caribbean. Ronald Brizan, the festivals director, said they have been getting overwhelmingly positive responses from the culinary community and general public. The word we keep hearing is innovative, he said, highlighting that a festival of this nature has not been done before and does food lovers a service You dont have to drive around Trinidad and Tobago to experience these food trucks. Asked why they decided to create the event, he said: We wanted to salute food trucks. They have now evolved into chefs and brands with unique locations, tastes and their own following. Because of the mobility and openness of the truck, owners adhere to proper hygiene; theyre competing with every other restaurant so they have to be tasty; they are dollar-conservative; and they are fast food so they have to be quick. You also have to respect the entrepreneurial spirit of these vendors who employ four or five people and probably tens more indirectly. Brizan said these factors were taken into account when the Emag team considered which food trucks to invite to participate in the festival. Everybody had a unique twist on how they were delivering their stuff so we wanted to bring them together, he added. As for the timing, falling as it does during a slump in the economy, he responded: A recession is a time where things have to be done differently. It creates a new cycle where new things have to done. While the focus of this inaugural edition will be trucks from Trinidad, Emag Caribbean plans to stage similar events later in the year in Tobago, San Fernando and Arima. For those heading to the Savannah tomorrow, the advice is come hungry. Pots will be ready at 2 pm so there is no need to be fashionably late, Brizan advised. The National Food Truck and Culinary Festival runs from 2 pm 10 pm. Entrance is free for children under 12-years. Borough queens compete in Point Vying for the title are: Jasenta Balchan, Celine Thomas, Tevene Cyrus-Tyson, Simone Lewis, Keda Pascall, Chantal Mc David, Kedisha Ohn and Teiana Robinson. Co-ordinator of this event, Denzil James said the theme of the pageant will be An appreciation of our culture. In keeping with the theme, each delegate will be required to do a two-minute performance relative to any cultural aspect of Trinidad and Tobago. James said designers and stylists associated with delegates are expected to be creative with their output by focusing on the theme. The performance of choice can be a pan solo, calypso, chutney or folk song, Indian or folk dance, robber talk or extempo. Sitar, guitar and pan music at SAPA Guitarist Roach won best Senior Guitar Solo at the National Music Festival 2008 and soon after this talented musician founded his own guitar school, Stefans Guitar Academy, teaching classical guitar and music theory. Chatelal who is known as a versatile vocalist won the Digicel Rising Star contest in 2010 becoming a star overnight. He also won the Children of Mastana competition and also Mastana Bahar. He is a past student of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, in vocals and classical music. He has toured India, the UK and the US. The Woodbrook-born Johann Chuckaree plays the tenor pan with Phase II Pan Groove and has toured with the band also. He collaborated with the legendary Len Boogsie Sharpe; played alongside Ray Holman, performed in Indiana, New York, Texas, California, London, and Germany and alongside Trini-born Grammy award-winning artiste Heather Headley at NAPA in 2011.Chuckaree has been playing the pan since the age of four attaining the Grade 8 Certificate of Distinction in Steelpan from the Creative Arts Centre, UWI. He has been featured on CDs with Sharpe and David Rudder and has released two of his own CDs to date, A Sweet Touch of Christmas and In De Yard Not so, Archbishop Harris Archbishop Harris has stated many of these prisoners are poor and could not afford bail, hence the reason they remain in jail for months and years awaiting the start of their trial. But in an interview yesterday, Maharaj pointed out that members of the IRO are totally opposed to this idea and instead believes that administrative issues, behind these delays, should be dealt with by the Judiciary. From my experience as a Justice of the Peace (JP), even if these people have committed petty crimes, they should have been granted bail. If they are granted bail, because if it is a petty crime you do not necessarily need a deed to post bail, there is a possibility some family member could stand their bail and if they dont, then that means you dont have a relationship with people who are supposed to be close to you, he said. We object to the idea of releasing these people based on mercy. We are saying this is an administrative problem and what we should do instead is probably have a meeting with the Chief Justice and let him designate whether its one or two judges and clear up these cases where people are serving many years in prison, Bro Harrypersad said. He also noted that no suggestions or concerns were being made about victims of crime who are awaiting justice and are also affected by these delays. What about the victims of crime? No one is talking about these victims, everyone is talking about those who are incarcerated but what about these victims who are also waiting some kind of judgement and some kind of physical, mental, emotional satisfaction to know that somebody who has committed a crime against them is dealt with and justice is served, he added. He suggested that JPs could be trained to deal with petty cases such as traffic and maintenance offences so as to free up the magistrates to deal with more serious crimes. Can you not train JPs so they can occupy a room at the court where people can come in and pay their fines instead of having to go in front of a magistrate so that they (magistrates) can then be free to deal with more serious issues. Efforts to reach Archbishop Harris for a comment yesterday proved futile. Imbert to investigate Clico, CL bail out Information in the public domain by the previous administration was in the sum of $24.5 billion, he said, referring to a sheet of paper, but this (Central Bank) document speaks to $19.5 billion. Announcing his intention to conduct the forensic audit at yesterdays post-Cabinet press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Anns Imbert said that he intends to clear up the confusion as to how much has been paid back and how much was still owed in an effort to recover as much money as possible. Noting that he has been getting weekly updates on the issues of Clico, CL Financial and its subsidiaries, Imbert said, a lot of the details of the agreements between them and Government have been virtually shrouded in secrecy over the last five years, or so, A number of variations to the original agreement exist, and there were 16 extensions to the United Shareholders Company agreement. Found among the records, and which was not properly disclosed by the former administration, he said, was a heads of agreement that was entered into on May 24, 2013 between then finance minister Larry Howai and Roger Duprey representing the United Shareholders Company with respect to an agreement for repayment on the disposal of all of the assets of the CL Financial companies. What was interesting about this heads of agreement which was kept secret since 2013, he said, was that it states that Government has advanced by way of financial support to the affected subsidiaries approximately $19.6 billion. In recent weeks, he said, he learnt of a disagreement between persons representing CL Financial (the United Shareholders group) and Government with respect to the amount of money Government had put into the bailout and how much was owed. This again is a matter that has not seen the light of day until today, he said. Noting that Government simply wants to recover monies owed to taxpayers, he said, We do not wish to run the companies like Angostura, Republic Bank and will be looking at different ways and means to do this. Clearing up confusion with Clico and CL Financial, he said, Clico was taken over by the Central Bank under emergency powers of the Central Bank Act in pursuant of disposing Clicos assets to recover its taxpayers monies used to bailout Clico, while CL Financial, a holding company, that owns shares in Clico, Angostura, Home Construction, CL Marine among others, was treated separately. My latest information, he said, is that Clico owed the Government of Trinidad and Tobago approximately $16.9 billion. To date, Government has been repaid $4 billion from the proceeds of the sale of the NHTL Methanol Company. Central Bank has presented him as Minister of Finance, he said, with a plan to recover the $12.9 billion. The plan will form the basis of a note he intends to submit to Cabinet in the next two to three weeks, he said. Once Cabinet agrees then Central Bank will be given the authority to proceed with its plan to recover the $12.9 billion, he said. Moonilal calls on Rowley to resign In a statement, Moonilal criticised Rowley for calling the names of police officers and imputed improper and even criminal conduct on the part of police officers, noting that this was done based on an, unsubstantiated statement. He said since the days of this countrys first Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams, police officers have been receiving public housing. He claimed that Rowley himself recommended many police officers for housing and granted homes to police officers. To suggest that as professionals, police officers who receive housing units will compromise their principles and ethics is ludicrous. As the former Housing Minister I can confirm that the allocation process used was the same as under the Manning regime, approved by Dr Rowleys former administration (Cabinet Minute No. 2730 of September 25, 2008), Moonilal said. Moonilal said all officers receiving homes qualified and obtained such units via a legal process. At a time when the Prime Minister should focus on escalating crime, the economic collapse and industrial accidents, he attacks the police. This is an all-time low even for Rowley. I dont think he will apologise. If the Prime Minister has information or evidence of any wrongdoing or criminal conduct, he has a duty to report such to the police or other relevant authorities...not to publicly scandalize officers and the service while on a political witch-hunt, Moonilal said. Install the Newser News app in two easy steps: 1. Tap in your navigation bar. 2. Tap to Add to Home Screen. Republican front-runner Donald Trump slams Hillary Clinton for "shouting" when she addressed female voters Tuesday night. He said that he had yet to "recover" from having heard her yells. He also mentioned her defense of playing her "woman's card" during her victory address. "I haven't quite recovered -- it's early in the morning -- from her shouting that message," Trump said early Wednesday on MSNBC, after sweeping all the five primary states that voted in Tuesday's polls. Clinton had said Tuesday night: "If fighting for women's health care and paid family leave and equal pay is 'playing the woman card,' then deal me in!" Trump agreed that he had used "gendered terms" when he talked about her shouting. "I know a lot of people would say you can't say that about a woman because of course a woman doesn't shout," Trump said. "But the way she shouted that message was not -- oh, I just -- that's the way she said it." "I guess I'll have to get used to a lot of that over the next four or five months," he added. He had slammed her use of the "woman's card" in her campaign. "I think the only card she has is the woman's card," the billionaire said from his headquarters at Trump Tower. "She has nothing else going. Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don't think she would get five percent of the vote." "The only thing she has got going is the woman's card," Trump said. "The beautiful thing is, women don't like her. Look how well I did with women tonight." Just behind him, Mary Pat Christie, wife of his New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, was caught looking disdainful by Twitter. In fact, last month, her husband Chris Christie was also captured "staring off into the distance" even as Trump essayed his victory speech. Christie looked so glazed, that a number of comments were spawned on social media, wondering whether the New Jersey governor was being "held hostage" by the whole campaign. Meanwhile, Trump was far off the mark on his charm with women. As one commentator put it: "Poll after poll has shown that female voters really don't like Trump. Gallup found this month that 70 percent of women have an unfavorable view of him. In March, Reuters and Ipsos found that half of American women have a "very unfavorable" view of Trump. Suffolk and USA Today recently found him at 66 percent unfavorable among women. (Unsurprisingly, he does better among Republican women than women overall.)" His remarks also work against him and give Clinton a bonus. Even if women don't exactly love her, they will vote for her because they hate her opponent more. And that is definitely a big woman's card in her favor. YouTube/MOXnews.com Washington: US President Barack Obama was disappointed at not being able to visit the iconic Taj Mahal during his trip to India last year, the White House has said. The President was quite disappointed to not have an opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal on his last visit to India, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters yesterday. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Obama had visited India in January last year to be the chief guest of at the annual Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama were scheduled to visit Agra but the trip was cut short as the US President decided to go to Saudi Arabia to pay condolence to the Royal family following death of King Abdullah. That (a visit to the Taj) had originally been part of the itinerary, but the President had to cut short his visit to India because of the untimely death of the King of Saudi Arabia. So the President travelled to Saudi Arabia to pay his respects at that point, Earnest said. I think the President wishes I could promise that he would have an opportunity to visit Taj Mahal before the end of his presidency, but Im not sure that will happen, the White House Press Secretary said indicating that this wish of Obama would remain unfulfilled when he leaves his presidency on January 20 next year. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New York: Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India, but New Delhi has signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism which does not bode well for the prospects of diplomatic progress between the two nations, Islamabads envoy to the UN has said. Pakistans permanent representative to the UN ambassador Maleeha Lodhis remarks came just a day before Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met in New Delhi on April 26 on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia regional conference. While Islamabad has repeatedly urged Delhi to resume the broad based, comprehensive peace process, India has yet to agree and has instead signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism. This, she said, does not make the prospects of diplomatic progress too bright, she said. Lodhi addressed students and faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge on April 25 as part of South Asia Week being held at the institution and talked about Pakistans role in regional stability. According to a press release issued by Pakistans Permanent Mission to the UN here, Lodhi said that Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India by finding political solutions to outstanding disputes. In their first formal bilateral meeting after the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January, the Foreign Secretaries focused on a range of issues including probe into the attack and Kashmir, which the Pakistani side has asserted was the core issue. Lodhi said that Pakistan's priorities included economic revival, defeating terrorism and elimination of violent extremism in and around Pakistan. Another priority for Pakistan is building regional peace and stability, which required an end to the conflict in Afghanistan, and normalisation of Pakistan-India relations on an equitable and durable basis, she said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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 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 Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET 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 Washington: In one of the bizarre cases, 32-year-old Jitender Singh has been sentenced to 19 years of prison in US for stalking a woman from New Delhi to Texas for nearly a decade. The woman was reportedly Singhs class fellow whom she stalked from India to US. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced the sentence for Jitender Singh on Wednesday. The jury put an end to this victims decade-long stalking nightmare, Willis said in a statement. According to Willis, Indian-origin Singh first met the anonymous woman while they both attended college in Delhi. Though merely classmates, Singh asked her to marry him in 2006. Willis said the victim, whose identity wasnt released by authorities, when refused the proposal, sparked Singhs anger. He then began following her and threatened her with violence until she graduated. In 2007, the victim left India to study at a New York university. That too didnt end Singhs obsession. Authorities say he continued his harassment and assaulted the womans father in India. Singh was convicted for the crimes in India, but made an appeal and agreement with authorities to stay away from the victim. Singh eventually travelled to New York, where he attempted to enrol at the same university as the victim. He was denied and ordered by the university to stay away from the campus. When the victim moved to California for an internship, he tracked her down there also by finding her address and followed. When the woman moved back to New York, Singh followed. An information technology company hired the victim, and she moved to Plano in 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, Singh harassed the victim through phone calls and other electronic means, Willis alleged. In 2014, Singh located the victims address in Plano by falsely creating a credit monitoring service account in her name. His obsession didnt end here as when the victim was away, Singh travelled to Plano and broke into her home by convincing a locksmith to unlock her door. He then took her passport, social security card and other documents as well as several pieces of her jewellery. Police caught him when a suspicious neighbour called Plano police which located Singh in the parking lot of the victims apartment and arrested him then and there. With inputs from PTI For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bogota: Colombias constitutional court has definitively legalised same-sex marriage in a ruling, the fourth South American country to allow it. The judges affirmed by a majority that marriage between people of the same sex does not violate constitutional order, presiding Judge Maria Victoria Calle told the court yesterday. The current definition of the institution of marriage in civil law applies to them in the same way as it does for couples of the same sex. Under previous rulings, gay couples could formalise their unions before notaries and judges but it had remained a legal gray area and appeals had been launched against it. The constitutional court had on April 7 dismissed a petition against equal marriage rights for heterosexual and homosexual couples. That paved the way for yesterdays ruling, which definitively establishes that such equality is guaranteed by the constitution, giving gay couples the legal right to marry. In July 2010, Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalise same-sex marriage, followed by Uruguay. Brazil has de facto authorised same-sex marriage since May 2013. In Mexico, gay marriage is legal in the capital and a handful of states. The Supreme Court there has also ruled that that it is unconstitutional for Mexican states to ban same-sex marriage. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. United Nations: UN Security Council diplomats have warned North Korea to expect a response after Pyongyangs repeated failed attempts to test-fire a powerful ballistic missile, the latest defiance of UN resolutions. At the request of the United States, the council held urgent closed-door consultations after North Koreas unsuccessful launch earlier in the day of two medium-range missiles, as fears grew that the secretive country was preparing to conduct a fifth nuclear test. North Korea has now made three bids in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan missile, which is capable of striking US bases on the Pacific island of Guam. We are looking at a response, Chinas Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who holds the Security Council presidency this month, told reporters. Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said Tokyo condemned the grave and very clear violations of UN resolutions that comprised a direct threat to Japans national security. The 15-member council was unanimous in condemning the latest launches, Yoshikawa said. Current UN resolutions bar North Korea from developing any ballistic missile-related technology, and South Korea said it would push for fresh penalties to be slapped on Pyongyang. Diplomats said they expected the council to issue a statement on Friday after the Chinese delegation requested time to consult with officials in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday underscored Beijings commitment to enforcing existing UN sanctions on North Korea and to preventing any instability on its doorstep. As a close neighbor, we will never allow war or chaos on the (Korean) peninsula, he told a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Beijing. South Korea said a first launch Thursday of what was understood to be a Musudan missile saw the rocket plunge back to earth seconds after take-off. A second attempt in the eveningagain of a Musudan also appeared to have failed, a defense ministry official said. An initial effort on April 15 -- the birthday of late founding leader Kim Il-Sungended in what the Pentagon described as fiery, catastrophic failure, with the missile apparently exploding just after take-off. South Korean military officials say the North is desperate to register a successful launch ahead of next weeks ruling party congress, at which leader Kim Jong-Un is expected to take credit for pushing the countrys nuclear program to new heights. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New York: Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India, but New Delhi has signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism which does not bode well for the prospects of diplomatic progress between the two nations, Islamabads envoy to the UN has said. Pakistans permanent representative to the UN ambassador Maleeha Lodhis remarks came just a day before Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met in New Delhi on April 26 on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia regional conference. While Islamabad has repeatedly urged Delhi to resume the broad based, comprehensive peace process, India has yet to agree and has instead signalled it is only interested in talking about terrorism. This, she said, does not make the prospects of diplomatic progress too bright, she said. Lodhi addressed students and faculty at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge on April 25 as part of South Asia Week being held at the institution and talked about Pakistans role in regional stability. According to a press release issued by Pakistans Permanent Mission to the UN here, Lodhi said that Pakistan seeks to normalise relations with India by finding political solutions to outstanding disputes. In their first formal bilateral meeting after the terror attack on the Pathankot air base in January, the Foreign Secretaries focused on a range of issues including probe into the attack and Kashmir, which the Pakistani side has asserted was the core issue. Lodhi said that Pakistans priorities included economic revival, defeating terrorism and elimination of violent extremism in and around Pakistan. Another priority for Pakistan is building regional peace and stability, which required an end to the conflict in Afghanistan, and normalisation of Pakistan-India relations on an equitable and durable basis, she said. On China, Lodhi said the country is a cornerstone of Pakistans foreign policy and Islamabads relationship with Beijing is strategic, historic, trouble free and pivotal to the countrys foreign policy. Lodhi said that the strategic evolution of the Pakistan-China relationship has accorded the bilateral partnership added significance at a time of a fundamental change in the global balance of power brought about by Chinas rise as a global economic powerhouse. In recent years, she said bilateral ties with China have broadened and diversified from the traditional focus on defence and military cooperation toward a greater economic and investment orientation. On how Pakistan will balance its relations with China as well as with the US, she said to those who ascribe a zero-sum nature to Pakistans relations with China and America, a recall of history would help to invalidate this flawed notion, according to the release. Citing Pakistans good relations with the US and China from the time of the Cold War, she said Pakistan intends to play the same role in the future and maintain good relations with both even as the two engage in global competition. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : The government tonight rebutted allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had struck a deal with Italy on AgustaWestland case and said the central issue was corruption and any other effort to divert from it was misleading. It also termed attempts to link NSA Ajit Doval and Principal Secretary to PM Nripendra Mishra to one of the accused as totally baseless assertion and indicative of malicious intent. Those who cannot see Prime Minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prime Minister Modi did not cut any deal of any sort, the government said in a late night statement. It added that a few have even sought to link one of the accused with Doval and Mishra. This is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent. In reality, there is no such connection, it said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former IAF chief S P Tyagi in connection with its money laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case. This is the first time that the ex-Chief Of Staff of the Indian Air Force has been summoned by the central agency. Official sources said the summons to Tyagi have been issued under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). While the exact date when Tyagi is supposed to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case here has been kept under wraps, it is understood he has been asked to come in person in the next week. CBI has questioned Tyagi earlier in the same case and he had then denied any wrongdoing. Sources indicated Tyagis questioning is necessary in the light of a recent judgement of a Milan (Italy) court which had sentenced Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanicas former chief Giuseppe Orsi and the former CEO of the firm Bruno Spagnolini on corruption charges in the sale of a dozen AgustaWestland helicopters to India for VVIP purposes. The allegation against the former Air chief is that he allegedly reduced the height of the VVIP helicopters so that AgustaWestland could be included in the bids. He took over as the Indian Air Force chief on December 31, 2005 and retired from service in 2007. ED had registered a PMLA case in this regard in 2014 and named 21 people including Tyagi in its money laundering FIR. It had also arrested Delhi-based businessman Gautam Khaitan and had also filed a charge sheet last year. ED is probing the case in which 70 million Euros (about Rs 360 crore) were allegedly paid as kickbacks. The agency had earlier submitted that Khaitan was on the board of Chandigarh-based company Aeromatrix which was allegedly a front firm for the financial dealings in the chopper deal. On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanicas British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force (IAF) over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal. In view of the corruption charges, India has also barred Finmeccanica and its group companies from participating in any new programme of the defence ministry. The central agency has also issued Letters Rogatory (judicial requests) to ten countries in this case. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Fourteen soldiers lost their lives while serving in Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, just in last four months, a number which is more than the deaths that occurred during each of the last three previous years. As per the data provided by the Armys Northern Command, 9 soliders lost their lives last year, 8 in 2014 and 10 in 2013. As many as 41 soldiers have died from 2013 till March 31, 2016, at the glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. Giving further details, Defence Ministry spokesman Col S D Goswami said Troops being posted in high altitude areas are trained in Basic & Advance skills in mountains and snow bound areas. Troops posted in Avalanche Prone Areas are subjected to series of training in the field formation area. He said medical equipment exists in all posts to cater for emergencies and best quality of winter clothing and equipment is procured to prevent weather related casualties. Modern means of conveyance like snow scooters are utilized to ensure timely reaction to any eventuality and reduce fatigue, he said, adding that a number of specialized equipment have also been deployed in the avalanche prone areas. The spokesman said weather conditions prevailing in the sector are closely monitored by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment stations at Sasoma and Srinagar. The weather warnings issued are religiously followed in terms of restrictions on operation and administration related movement, he said. Adequate compensation is being provided to defence personnel deployed at difficult terrain in border areas in the form of Salaries and Compensatory Allowances in the form of Siachen Allowance, Highly Active Field Area Allowance and Field Area Allowance and Modified Field Area Allowance and High Altitude (Uncongenial Climate) Allowance depending upon the classification of area concerned. These allowance are in addition to the Military Services Pay (MSP) being paid to Defence Services personnel, he said. Salaries paid to the Defence Personnel do not depend upon area of deployment and are same as per rank and structure, he said adding that however, certain allowances vary as per area of deployment and are also revised from time to time. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Aleppo: An air strike hit a clinic in a rebel-held district of Aleppo today, the civil defence said, the second time this week a medical facility in Syrias second city has been hit. The strike on the Al-Marja neighbourhood wounded several people, including at least one nurse, the civil defence, known as the White Helmets, said. The clinic had been providing dental services and treatment for chronic illnesses for about five years. Earlier this week, 30 people were killedincluding two doctorswhen air strikes hit the Al-Quds hospital and a nearby block of flats in the rebel-held Sukkari neighbourhood. The attack on the hospital, which is supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), has been roundly condemned by world leaders, including US Secretary of State John Kerry who said it appeared to be a deliberate strike. More than 200 civilians have been killed in Aleppo over the past week as rebels have pounded government-held neighbourhoods with rocket and artillery fire and the regime has hit rebel areas with air raids. On Friday, air strikes on rebel-held districts killed two civilians, one of them a child, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : CBI has called for questioning former Air chief S P Tyagi and former deputy Air chief J S Gujral in connection with its probe into the alleged corruption in Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. CBI sources said while Air Marshal (Retd) Gujral has been asked to appear for questioning tomorrow, Tyagi will be examined on Monday. Both have been questioned at length in 2013 but the fresh round of questioning was necessitated after April 7 order of an Italian court. The Milan Court of Appealsequivalent of Indian high courtshas given details of how alleged bribes were paid by helicopter maker Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland to Indian officials through middlemen to clinch the deal. The order mentions the name of Tyagi at several points. CBI which has received a copy of the Milan court order has now prepared a fresh set of questionnaire on the basis of the decision to put to Tyagi and Gujral. Tyagi has denied allegations against him and has claimed that the decision to reduce the ceiling was taken by a group of senior officials including Gujral, CBI has so far maintained that Gujral was questioned as a witness but remain tightlipped if he will still retain the same status. CBI had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the case. The allegation against the former Air chief was that he had reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from altitude ceiling requirement from 6,000m to 4,500m (15,000ft) so that AgustaWestland was included in the bids. However, this decision was taken in consultation with the officials of SPG and the Prime Ministers Office including the then NSA M K Narayanan. CBI has alleged reduction of the service ceilingmaximum height at which a helicopter can perform normallyallowed the UK-based firm to get into the fray as, otherwise, its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids. The agency had already questioned several bureaucrats including former cabinet secretary B K Chaturvedi and Comptroller and Auditor General Shashikant Sharma who was the then Defence Secretary, the then SPG chief B V Wanchoo and Narayanan who were all allegedly party to the decision to reduce the ceiling was allegedly finalised in 2005. The agency had also recorded statements of former Secretary (Security) at the cabinet secretariat Sudhir Kumar, former Inspector General, SPG N Ramachandran, who retired as DGP Meghalaya, and former Special Secretary (Acquisition) in the Defence Ministry H C Gupta. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai : The BJP and Shiv Sena today welcomed the Bombay High Courts order on scam-tainted Adarsh Housing Society in South Mumbai terming it as historic while the Congress, which was haunted by the multi-crore case leading to the resignation of Ashok Chavan as Maharashtra Chief Minister, said the ruling has nothing to do with the party or its leaders. This is a historic decision by the High Court. This is the first time the Court has ordered the demolition of the building, almost 30 years after Pratibha (a housing society off Warden Road) was demolished. This is a heavy blow to corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Now (ex-CM) Ashok Chavan will have to face and answer more tough questions as he had given the required sanctions to construct the (housing) society, BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said. However, Chavan, who had to step down as CM in 2010, in the wake of the controversy and is facing prosecution in the case, told PTI, I have not received the copy of the order. Unless I get it in my hand, I cannot comment on the issue. BJP leader Prem Shukla said, Adarsh tower was erected on the corruption culture which was rampant in the Congress and today High Court has stamped it. Also, it should not be forgotten that it was the Congress which appointed Ashok Chavan, who lost his Chief Ministership on account of Adarsh scam, as the partys state unit chief later. Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said the court order has exposed the cancer of corruption during the previous Congress-NCP regime. While in Opposition, we had raised this issue time and again in the State Legislature. The Commission set up by the previous government just before elections had tried to give them a clean chit against which we had raised our voice, Gore said. HC has been very clear in its decision. It reaffirms the irregularities and has exposed the cancer of corruption prevalent during the Congress-NCP government, she added. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said his party will continue with its legal battle to prove innocence of its leaders. The Congress party and our leaders have nothing to do with the demolishing of the building. The matter is between the petitioners and the High Court. As far as our leaders are concerned, we will fight the legal battle to prove we have not been involved in any wrongdoings, Sawant said. However, former Union Minister Milind Deora tweeted, Adarsh verdict sends a strong message to bureaucrats & ALL political parties: the days of profiting from government land are long gone. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Valery Permyakov: I am not an insane The trial in the case of a Russian soldier charged with the murders of an Armenian family continued in Gyumri on April 29. Today the court published the preliminary statements of the defendant at the bar - Valery Permyakov, a 20-year-old former conscript of Russian military base stationed in Gyumri. Permyakov has already pleaded guilty to all charges, including murders, robbery and an attempt to illegally cross the Armenian-Turkish frontier. The defendant's lawyer, Eduard Aghajanyan, asked him whether he had been pressured to confess or give testimony, Permyakov said he hadnt. The defendant accepted all charges against him and gave short replies to all questions I do not know, I do not remember, Yes or No. In reply to the prosecutors question if he heard that somebody had killed seven people, what he would think of that person, Permyakov said, I would say that he is an insane, but I am not. Valery Permyakov is charged with the murder of the seven-member Avetisyan family. In the morning of January 12, 2015, Permyakov entered the house of the Avetisyans and shot dead six members of the family, including a two-year-old girl. He also stabbed with the bayonet of his automatic rifle a six-month-old boy who succumbed to injuries in hospital a week later. Details can be found here FDA fast-tracks risky flu vaccine for seniors which was banned in Italy for causing 19 deaths Definitions are important. Like, for example, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), what does that really mean? Or the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Our societys increased disease rates and pharmacological drug pushing point to but one logical conclusion. The CDC is controlling the schedule for release of the next big disease. And the FDAs job is to ensure pharmaceutical concoctions are force fed from a Federal level. By the way, the word pharmaceutical comes from the Greek word or pharmakeia. In the book of Revelation, pharmakeia is defined as employment of drugs for any purpose: sorcery, magic, enchantment. Framing it from this context, why wouldnt the FDA fast track an experimental squalene adjuvanted flu vaccine named MF59 or Fluad for seniors over 65? So what if nineteen people died in Italy after taking the injection? Who cares if the Novartis shot was temporarily banned? Since genocide is the goal, maybe the Federal Death Administration were hoping for a higher kill rate. But what exactly does squalene adjuvanted mean? What are the added risks? Health activist and blogger Erin Elizabeth describes it this way: Science teaches that oil and water dont mix. However, the Food and Drug Administration just fast-tracked Novartis oil-in water, squalene adjuvant flu shot for approval in individuals 65 and older Adjuvants are added to vaccines to hyper-stimulate the immune system. They are designed to remain in the body for a prolonged reaction. New adjuvants are composed of phospholipids which are part of the membrane of every cell. When injected, these adjuvants cause the body to mount an autoimmune attack (i.e., antiphospholipid syndrome) against its own cells. Its a game of Russian Roulette resulting in unpredictable adverse side effects ranging from heart attacks, stroke, myelitis and blindness to cognitive disfunction, skin disorders, miscarriages and fetal death. Additionally, Ms. Elizabeth reminds us of the prior usage of squalene adjuvanted shots, including those experimental injections during the First Gulf War which led to devastation results: In 1991, the squalene adjuvanted anthrax vaccine was first experimentally given to tens of thousands of Gulf War soldiers which resulted in severe, permanent injuries. Squalene antibodies caused a cascade of autoimmune reactions known as Gulf War Syndrome (GWS). Symptoms included severe headaches, nausea, muscular pain, joint swelling, short term memory loss, night sweats, depression. Autoimmune conditions ranged from fibromyalgia, lymphadenopathy, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid disease, chronic fatigue syndrome to malar rashes, chronic headaches, non-healing skin lesions, musculoskeletal disorders (ALS), among others. More than twenty years later thousands of veterans are still ill. I have a friend who was encouraged by President Ford to get the swine flu shot in the 1970s. Within a few years, she was wheelchair bound after severe bouts with Gullain Barre Syndrome. She is not alone. You may have your own story; if you were betrayed my tears are with you and I pray you will be strengthened. For those looking to protect their loved ones from influenza, there are many powerful foods, herbs and methods to combat it. Remember, this particular flu shot was targeted to persons over 65. This means that your mom, dad, grandmother or grandfather and other older relatives are in their sights. Do all you can to educate them. If they have an appointment, try to go with them. Because one of the first questions theyll be asked is; Have you had your flu shot? Be like this group of nurses. Just say no. You can punctuate your remarks with this statement: Flu shots are conjured up by sorcerers. Sources: (Photo credit: brokelyn.com) BibleHub,com BibleStudyTools.com NVIC.org FierceVaccines.com HealthNutNews.com GBS-cidp.org YouTube.com HealingFoodReference.com Cassingram.com NaturalNews.com NaturalSociety.com NatureOfHealing.org Science.NaturalNews.com FoodForensics.com Submit a correction >> In the line of duty, firefighters sometimes risk their lives in dramatic fashion, rescuing victims from burning buildings and rushing into other dangerous situations. But they are also exposed to a less-known deadly hazard: toxic contaminants generated by fires that can lead to cancer, an illness not generally considered to be work-related. State lawmakers overwhelmingly approved this week a bill that would extend workers compensation benefits to firefighters diagnosed with certain types of cancer. It awaits Gov. Dan Malloys signature. The state Senate voted 35 to 1 to pass the bill on Tuesday, and the House approved it on a 141-0 vote last week. Sen. Rob Kane (R-Watertown) was the only legislator to oppose the legislation, a stark contrast from last year, when a similar bill passed the Senate with 11 no votes and then was killed in the House. Dropped from last years proposal was a controversial provision that would have extended workers compensation benefits to police officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, something that was proposed in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. And responding to opposition from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, which called it an unfunded mandate, legislators this year included an alternative funding source. Any new benefits extended under the legislation will be covered by a 1-cent diversion from the Enhanced 911 Telecommunications Funds monthly fee that shows up on consumers phone bills. The bill will benefit current and former members of municipal, state or volunteer fire departments who suffer from cancers known to result from exposure to heat, radiation or a known carcinogen as determined by federal health agencies. The toxic atmosphere that we work in on a daily basis holds hidden poisons ready to attack our bodies, long after the fire is out, Richard Hart, of the Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association of Connecticut, wrote in a letter to the state House of Representatives in support of the bill. A 2013 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that firefighters are more likely to develop certain types of cancer than the general U.S. population. Those in the study had a rate of mesothelioma two times greater than the rate in the U.S. population as a whole. The researchers said it was likely that the findings stem from exposure to asbestos, a known cause of mesothelioma. Firefighters are also exposed to combustion byproducts such as benzene and formaldehyde and materials in debris from older structures. New Milford Fire Marshal Brian Ohmen said he has known numerous firefighters who have had cancer or even died from it. Its a huge step forward, he said. Its comforting knowing that theres another level of protection down the road. Newtown Fire Marshal Bill Halstead agreed, noting that safety gear wont protect firefighters from everything. A lot of what we do is in hazardous conditions, he said. And more and more chemicals that we deal with today werent here years ago. The new account, funded by the E911 surcharge money, would be run by a five-member subcommittee of the Connecticut Firefighters Association, which would be charged with reviewing each claim, determining eligibility and deciding on the weekly amount to be paid to each applicant. The account would be created in February 2017, but firefighters would only be eligible for such benefits for up to two years starting in 2019. The maximum weekly payment must not exceed the average weekly earnings of all firefighters in the state. Staff writer Ken Dixon contributed to this report. noliveira@newstimes.com, 203-731-3411, @olivnelson Recently I went on Amazon to look up a book entitled Crazy Busy . The problem was that I couldnt remember the authors name and there were no fewer than eight different books with the same or similar titles. Without realizing it, what I was truly searching for was the latest phenomena of American culture. (The author I was looking for is actually Kevin DeYoung. Having read it, I do not necessarily recommend this book, however.) A number of years ago, the subject talked about was the age of anxiety and how our anxieties are rising to the point of needing medication, as the use of anxiety medications was increasing dramatically in America. Now we are seeing a spate of books on busyness, to the point of spellcheck accepting that as a word now - which it never did before. Our schedules are filled to the brim in this day and age. There is so much to do that you cannot possibly fit everything in. If you are a parent with school-age children, it is even worse. Added to this is the technology that allows many of us to bring our work not only home, but whereever we happen to be. This has created a crushing weight on our schedules that does not allow us time to truly sit back and relax. We are frantic and overwhelmed. For many of us this means that there is no idle time in which to be creative. There is only work, work, work. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, there is the whole concept of Sabbath. It is so important, it is actually included in the 10 Commandments: Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. The Sabbath was a day of rest, a day when a person could actually stop from the busyness of life and just breathe. It is a time when we can actually tap into our creative sides and think and plan and refresh. While many people like to multitask, studies are now showing that you cannot effectively multitask - our minds simply cannot do it. Perhaps thats why our forebears put so much stock into Sabbath rest. It was not just a day to pray and spend time with God and family, but a day to refresh our minds. The Jewish Sabbath day is Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, as proscribed by the Hebrew Scriptures. Christians observe the Sabbath every Sunday, to remember the Lords day of Resurrection. Many will remember a time when it was very difficult to buy even a quart of milk or a loaf of bread on a Sunday, let alone a pair of jeans, as all the stores were closed. Only very recently in Connecticut was a law passed to allow the purchase of liquor on Sundays. The so-called Blue Laws are slowly being stricken from the books. And yet, studies are showing that being crazy busy without a time for Sabbath rest is not healthy for us. God knew what God was doing in insisting that we rest on the seventh day, whichever day we decide that might be. For those of us who work on Sundays - including clergy - we must set aside another day as our Sabbath, our day of rest. This keeps the spirit of the commandment. Obviously, a part of the Sabbath was the worship of God. The day is considered holy and thus is sanctified by God. In turn, we participate in Gods sanctification by setting aside time to give God the glory - in worship. I believe God instituted Sabbath observance as a law for our benefit. Whatever our religious background, God wants us to be rested and refreshed. If at all possible, take time for your own Sabbath rest whenever you can find it. The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Krasinski is the Rector of St. James Episcopal Church, 25 West St., Danbury. He can be reached at joseph@saintjamesdanbury.org or 203-748-3561. DANBURY - Two students at Western Connecticut State University took a top award at a recent statewide business competition by presenting a product that transforms a dormitory bed into a study center. Students Rachael Karp and Helen Christie Roberts earned the Best Oral Presentation Award for their pitch at the Connecticut Business Plan Competition in New Haven, according to a WCSU release. Paruyr Hayrikyan: Russian-Turkish alliance has been working against Armenians for 100 years (video) Paruyr Hayrikyans Union for National Self-Determination (AIM) organized on Friday a protest against Russian imperialism. Greeting the ralliers, Paruyr Hayrikyan said it was yet another working rally. During the next main rally to be held at Liberty Square at 18: 00 pm, May 4, the AIM Leader will unveil their future steps. The indifference that is felt around us, the carelessness in which Armenians live, is dangerous because there are signs of a serious threat hanging over our heads. The Russian-Turkish alliance has been operating against Armenians for nearly 100 years. We have nothing to do with Russian imperialism which signed a treaty with Turks in 1921. This treaty targeted us, Armenians, Mr Hayrikyan stressed. We do not have a leader in our country. The president of Armenia serves the interests of other countries. How could he [Serzh Sargsyan] go to Argentina and say, rather unwillingly, that Armenia is displeased with Russias arms sale to Azerbaijan? How can you [Serzh Sargsyan] allow Russia to have a military base in your country, the same Russia that signed an anti-Armenian treaty with your enemy? the AIM leader said. Stock Symbol: AEM (NYSE and TSX) (All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted) TORONTO, April 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM, TSX:AEM) ("Agnico Eagle" or the "Company") today reported quarterly net income of $27.8 million, or $0.13 per share, for the first quarter of 2016. This result includes unrealized gains on financial instruments of $9.6 million ($0.04 per share), non-cash foreign currency translation gains on deferred tax liabilities of $8.0 million ($0.04 per share), non-cash foreign currency translation losses of $6.8 million ($0.03 per share), non-cash stock option expense of $5.9 million ($0.03 per share), non-recurring losses of $1.9 million ($0.01 per share) and various mark-to-market and other adjustment losses of $0.9 million (nil per share). Excluding these items would result in adjusted net income of $25.7 million or $0.12 per share for the first quarter of 2016. In the first quarter of 2015, the Company reported net income of $28.7 million or $0.13 per share. First quarter 2016 cash provided by operating activities was $145.7 million ($167.5 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital). This compares to cash provided by operating activities of $143.5 million in the first quarter of 2015 ($176.8 million before changes in non-cash components of working capital). The decrease in cash provided by operating activities before changes in working capital during the current period was largely due to higher exploration and corporate development expenditures (up 70%, period over period) which were partially offset by higher sales volumes. "The year is off to a good start with a more constructive gold price environment and continued strong operating performance from all of our mines. As a result of the strong operating results, we now expect to meet the top end of our production guidance for 2016," said Sean Boyd, Agnico Eagle's Chief Executive Officer. "At current margins, Agnico Eagle is generating sufficient cash flow to support its expanded exploration and development activities and potentially pay down additional debt," added Mr. Boyd. First Quarter 2016 highlights include: Quarterly gold production Payable gold production 1 in the first quarter of 2016 was 411,336 ounces of gold at total cash costs 2 per ounce on a by-product basis of $573 and all-in sustaining costs per ounce 3 ("AISC") on a by-product basis of $797 Payable gold production in the first quarter of 2016 was 411,336 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of and all-in sustaining costs per ounce ("AISC") on a by-product basis of Strong operational performance at Mexican operations - In the first quarter of 2016, payable gold production was 87,899 ounces at the Company's Mexican mines. Silver production was a new quarterly record of 752,000 ounces. Total cash costs per ounce of gold on a by-product basis averaged $364 - In the first quarter of 2016, payable gold production was 87,899 ounces at the Company's Mexican mines. Silver production was a new quarterly record of 752,000 ounces. Total cash costs per ounce of gold on a by-product basis averaged 2016 production now expected to reach high end of the guidance range Production for 2016 is now expected to meet the high end of the guidance range of approximately 1.525 to 1.565 million ounces of gold with total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of between $590 to $630 and AISC of approximately $850 to $890 per ounce Production for 2016 is now expected to meet the high end of the guidance range of approximately 1.525 to 1.565 million ounces of gold with total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of between and AISC of approximately per ounce Continued strong operating performance enhances financial flexibility - In the first quarter of 2016, $55 million was repaid under the Company's credit facility and net debt was reduced by approximately $89 million to $923 million at March 31 , 2016. For the sixth consecutive quarter, the Company has reduced net debt - In the first quarter of 2016, was repaid under the Company's credit facility and net debt was reduced by approximately to at , 2016. For the sixth consecutive quarter, the Company has reduced net debt Amaruq Project, Nunavut Further drilling refines the geometry of the Whale Tail Ore Shoot and IVR deposit Drilling resumed in January and results show that the Whale Tail Ore shoot is larger in the central area than previously interpreted and confirms that the IVR deposit extends to the East and to a depth of 230 metres Drilling resumed in January and results show that the Whale Tail Ore shoot is larger in the central area than previously interpreted and confirms that the IVR deposit extends to the East and to a depth of 230 metres Drilling at Barsele, in Sweden , extends the mineralization at depth and suggests the potential for a Goldex type deposit Highlights include: 2.01 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold (capped) over an estimated true width of 84.0 metres at a depth of approximately 310 metres in the Skirasen zone Highlights include: 2.01 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold (capped) over an estimated true width of 84.0 metres at a depth of approximately 310 metres in the Skirasen zone A quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share was declared ________________________________ 1 Payable production of a mineral means the quantity of mineral produced during a period contained in products that are sold by the Company whether such products are shipped during the period or held as inventory at the end of the period. 2 Total cash costs per ounce is a Non-GAAP measure. For a reconciliation to production costs, see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" below. Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is presented on both a by-product basis (deducting by-product metal revenues from production costs) and co-product basis (before by-product metal revenues). Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis is calculated by adjusting production costs as recorded in the consolidated statements of income (loss) for by-product revenues, unsold concentrate inventory production costs, smelting, refining and marketing charges and other adjustments, and then dividing by the number of ounces of gold produced. Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a co-product basis is calculated in the same manner as total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis except that no adjustment for by-product metal revenues is made. See "Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance". For information about the Company's total cash costs per ounce on a co-product basis please see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Performance Measures". 3 All-in-sustaining costs per ounce is a Non-GAAP measure and is used to show the full cost of gold production from current operations. For a reconciliation to production costs, see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures below. The Company calculates all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced as the aggregate of total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis, sustaining capital expenditures (including capitalized exploration), general and administrative expenses (including stock option expense) and reclamation expenses divided by the amount of gold produced. All-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced on a co-product basis is calculated in the same manner as all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis except that no adjustment for by-product metal revenues is made. For information about the Company's AISC on a co-product basis please see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Performance Measures". The Company's methodology for calculating all-in sustaining costs per ounce may not be similar to the methodology used by other producers that disclose all-in sustaining costs per ounce. See "Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance". The Company may change the methodology it uses to calculate all-in sustaining costs per ounce in the future, including in response to the adoption of formal industry guidance regarding this measure by the World Gold Council. First Quarter Financial and Production Highlights - Higher Gold Production and Lower Production Costs In the first quarter of 2016, strong operational performance continued at the Company's mines, which led to payable gold production of 411,336 ounces compared to 404,210 ounces in the first quarter of 2015. The higher level of production in the 2016 period was primarily due to higher grades and better recoveries at LaRonde, increased throughput at Goldex and Kittila and higher grades at Canadian Malartic. A detailed description of the production and cost performance of each mine is set out below. Total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis for the first quarter of 2016 were lower at $573 compared to $588 per ounce for the first quarter 2015. Total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis in the first quarter of 2016 were positively affected by higher production levels at LaRonde, Goldex, Canadian Malartic and La India compared to the first quarter of 2015, as well as weaker local currencies (the Canadian dollar was 9% lower and the Mexican peso was 17% lower when compared to the first quarter of 2015). AISC for the first quarter of 2016 were $797 per ounce on a by-product basis compared to $804 in the first quarter of 2015. The lower AISC is primarily due to lower total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis compared to the first quarter of 2015. Cash Position Remains Strong and Debt Levels Reduced Cash and cash equivalents and short term investments increased to $168.0 million at March 31, 2016 from the December 31, 2015 balance of $131.6 million. The outstanding balance on the Company's $1.2 billion credit facility was reduced from $265 million at December 31, 2015 to $210 million at March 31, 2016, resulting in current availability under the Company's credit lines of approximately $990 million, not including the $300 million accordion facility. Total capital expenditures (including sustaining) made by the Company in the first quarter of 2016 were $100.7 million, including $16.0 million at Pinos Altos, $15.2 million at Goldex, $15.1 million at Meliadine, $14.3 million at LaRonde, $14.1 million at Kittila, $11.5 million at Meadowbank, $10.5 million at Canadian Malartic, $1.7 million at La India and $1.3 million at Creston Mascota. Sustaining capital expenditures made by the Company in the first quarter of 2016 were $66.3 million, including $14.3 million at LaRonde, $11.7 million at Kittila, $11.5 million at Meadowbank, $10.8 million at Pinos Altos, $10.0 million at Canadian Malartic, $5.0 million at Goldex, $1.7 million at La India and $1.3 million at Creston Mascota. Dividend Record and Payment Dates for the Second Quarter of 2016 Agnico Eagle's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per common share, payable on June 15, 2016 to shareholders of record as of June 1, 2016. Agnico Eagle has declared a cash dividend every year since 1983. Other Expected Dividend and Record Dates for 2016 Record Date Payment Date September 1 September 15 December 1 December 15 Dividend Reinvestment Plan Please see the following link for information on the Company's dividend reinvestment plan: Dividend Reinvestment Plan First Quarter 2016 Results Conference Call and Webcast Tomorrow Agnico Eagle's senior management will host a conference call on Friday, April 29, 2016 at 8:30 AM (E.D.T.) to discuss the Company's financial and operating results. Via Webcast: A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's website at www.agnicoeagle.com. Via Telephone: For those preferring to listen by telephone, please dial 416-260-0113 or toll-free 1-800-524-8950. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. Replay archive: Please dial 1-647-436-0148 or toll-free 1-888-203-1112, access code 531498. The conference call replay will expire on May 30, 2016. The webcast, along with presentation slides, will be archived for 180 days on the Company's website. Annual and Special Meeting The Company will host its Annual and Special Meeting ("AGM") on Friday, April 29, 2016 at 11:00 am (E.D.T). The AGM will be held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel (Dominion Ballroom) - 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON. During the AGM, management will provide an overview of the Company's activities. For those unable to attend in person, the alternatives to participate are listed below. Via Webcast: A live audio webcast of the AGM will be available on the Company's website at www.agnicoeagle.com. Via Telephone: For those preferring to listen by telephone, please dial 1-416-260-0113 or toll-free 1-800-524-8950. To ensure your participation, please call approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the AGM. Replay archive: Please dial 1-647-436-0148 or toll-free 1-888-203-1112, access code 5039640. The conference call replay will expire on May 30, 2016. The webcast, along with presentation slides, will be archived for 180 days on the Company's website. NORTHERN BUSINESS OPERATING REVIEW ABITIBI REGION, QUEBEC Agnico Eagle is currently Quebec's largest gold producer with a 100% interest in three mines (LaRonde, Goldex and Lapa) and a 50% interest in the Canadian Malartic mine. These mines are located within 50 kilometres of each other, which provides operating synergies and allows for the sharing of technical expertise. LaRonde Mine Strong Operational Performance Driven by Increased Tonnage from the High-grade Mining Area (293 Pyramid) The 100% owned LaRonde mine in northwestern Quebec achieved commercial production in 1988. The LaRonde mill processed an average of 6,348 tonnes per day ("tpd") in the first quarter of 2016, compared with an average of 6,203 tpd in the corresponding period of 2015. Minesite costs per tonne4 were approximately C$103 in the first quarter of 2016, lower than the C$104 per tonne experienced in the first quarter of 2015. The decreased costs in the 2016 period were primarily due to strong performance from the underground mine resulting in higher throughput levels in the processing facility. LaRonde's total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis were $529 in the first quarter of 2016 on payable production of 75,337 ounces of gold. This compares with the first quarter of 2015 when total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis were $703 on production of 58,893 ounces of gold. The decrease in total cash costs per ounce in the 2016 period was largely due to higher production (due to higher throughput levels, higher gold grades from the lower mine area and improved recoveries from the CIP circuit). During the first quarter of 2016, ramp development reached a depth of three kilometres which will allow access to the higher grade ore as mining continues into the deeper portions of the mine. Studies are progressing to assess the potential to extend the mineral reserve base and carry out mining activities between the 311 and 371 levels at LaRonde. At present, the mineral reserve base extends to the 311 level, which is 3.1 kilometres below the surface. An infill drill program is continuing from the 311 to the 371 levels with a focus on the western portion of the deposit. Infill drilling will also be carried out on the eastern portion of the deposit as underground development extends into that area. During the quarter, the Company continued with an internal scoping study to evaluate the potential to develop and mine Bousquet Zone 5 on the adjoining Bousquet property. Previous property owners had partly exploited Bousquet Zone 5 by open pit and underground. The Company is evaluating the potential to initially mine Bousquet Zone 5 from a depth of 90 to 330 metres below surface using underground ramp access. The mining method is likely to be similar to that employed at Goldex and processing could utilize excess capacity from the Lapa circuit at LaRonde. Dewatering of the old pit is underway and a certificate of authorization from the Quebec government to permit collection of a bulk sample is expected to be issued before the end of the second quarter of 2016. An internal technical study is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. ___________________________ 4 Minesite costs per tonne is a non-GAAP measure. For a reconciliation of this measure to production costs as reported in the financial statements, see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures Reconciliation of Production Costs to Minesite Costs per Tonne by Mine" below. See also "Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance". Canadian Malartic Mine Record Quarterly Mill Performance During the Winter Season In June 2014, Agnico Eagle and Yamana Gold Inc. ("Yamana") acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Osisko Mining Corporation ("Osisko") and created the Canadian Malartic General Partnership (the "Partnership") that now owns and operates the Canadian Malartic mine in northwestern Quebec through a joint management committee. Each of Agnico Eagle and Yamana has an indirect 50% ownership interest in the Partnership. During the first quarter of 2016, the Canadian Malartic mill (on a 100% basis) processed an average of 52,314 tpd, compared with an average of 51,988 tpd in the corresponding period of 2015. This represents a record quarter during the winter season. Minesite costs per tonne were approximately C$24 (C$21.26 excluding royalties) compared to the C$23 (C$20.16 excluding royalties) per tonne experienced in the first quarter of 2015. In the 2016 period costs were higher primarily due to lower capitalized stripping. The average stripping ratio in the first quarter of 2016 was 2.01 to 1.0. For the first quarter of 2016, Agnico Eagle's 50% share of production at the Canadian Malartic mine was 73,613 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $557. This compares with the first quarter of 2015 when total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis were $632 on production of 67,893 ounces of gold. Production was higher in the 2016 period primarily due to higher throughput levels and higher gold grades. Costs in the 2016 period were lower due to lower costs for fuel and explosives and favourable foreign exchange rates. In February 2016, the Partnership announced that throughput levels for 2016 were forecast to be 53,000 tpd. Any increase in throughput above this 53,000 tpd level remains contingent upon updating the existing operating permits. Permitting activities for the Barnat Extension and deviation of Highway 117 are continuing. Having received answers to two series of questions, in April 2016, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change (Quebec) accepted the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") for the Barnat Extension as admissible. This was the trigger for the public hearings process to start and the first step was the release of the EIA to the public. This will be followed with a public presentation of the project in May and subsequent public hearings in June. During the quarter, drilling continued on the Odyssey North and South Zones and to date, 18 holes totaling 18,581 metres have been completed. Data from these holes are currently being compiled and integrated into the existing database. In 2016, approximately 60,000 metres of drilling has been proposed to infill and expand the known mineralized zones on the Odyssey property. The 2016 budget is C$8.0 million (on a 100% basis). Update of Activities on the Canadian Malartic Corporation Exploration Projects Canadian Malartic Corporation ("CMC"), a company in which each of Agnico Eagle and Yamana hold an indirect 50% interest, is exploring, among other things, a portfolio of properties in the Kirkland Lake area of Ontario and the Pandora property in the Abitibi region of Quebec. In the Kirkland Lake area, target generation studies are ongoing on the Upper Canada, Upper Beaver and Amalgamated Kirkland properties. Additional exploration work may be carried out after the data review is completed. Lapa Optimization of Historical Mining Areas Leads to Increased Underground Tonnage The 100% owned Lapa mine in northwestern Quebec achieved commercial production in May 2009. The Lapa circuit, located at the LaRonde mill, processed an average of 1,763 tpd in the first quarter of 2016. This compares with an average of 1,690 tpd in the first quarter of 2015. The higher throughput in the 2016 period was due to the recovery of residual ore from old production areas in the mine and additional feed from stockpiles. Minesite costs per tonne were C$121 in the first quarter of 2016, compared to the C$119 realized in the first quarter of 2015. Costs in the 2016 period were higher due to the processing of stockpiled ore compared to the same period in 2015. Payable production in the first quarter of 2015 was 21,709 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $668. This compares with the first quarter of 2015, when production was 25,920 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $568. In the 2016 period, production was lower and costs were higher due to lower gold grades and recoveries, partially offset by favourable foreign exchange rates. At Lapa, 2016 is the last full year of production based on the current life of mine plan. In the remainder of 2016, production is expected to exhibit a decline with full year expected to total 60,000 ounces of gold, as February 2016 guidance. Additional exploration drilling in the Zulapa 7 Up and 7 East Zones is underway which, if successful, could potentially extend the mine life. Goldex Continued Strong Underground Performance Leads to Increased Mill Throughput in the First Quarter of 2016 The 100% owned Goldex mine in northwestern Quebec began operation in 2008 but mining operations in the original Goldex Extension Zone ("GEZ") orebody were suspended in October 2011. In July 2012, the M and E satellite zones were approved for development. Mining operations at GEZ remain suspended. Mining operations on the M and E satellite zones commenced in September 2013. The Goldex mill processed an average of 6,991 tpd in the first quarter of 2016. This compares with an average of 6,294 tpd in the first quarter of 2015. The higher throughput in the 2016 period was due to continued strong underground performance (mining and ore hoisting) compared to the 2015 period. Minesite costs per tonne were approximately C$34 in the first quarter of 2016, the same as the C$34 per tonne experienced in the first quarter of 2015. Payable gold production in the first quarter of 2016 was 32,340 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $506. This compares with the first quarter of 2015, when production was 29,250 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $541. The decrease in total cash costs in the 2016 period was largely a result of increased production (due to higher throughput levels and higher grades from the M zone) and favourable foreign exchange rates. Development of the Deep 1 Zone remains on time and on budget. Work on the electrical substations commenced in March 2016 and the installation of the initial components of the underground conveyor system are underway. In January 2014, Agnico Eagle acquired the Akasaba West gold-copper deposit from Alexandria Minerals Corporation. Located less than 30 kilometres from Goldex, the Akasaba West deposit could potentially create flexibility and synergies for the Company's operations in the Abitibi region by using extra milling capacity at both Goldex and LaRonde, while reducing overall costs. The Akasaba West deposit currently hosts a mineral reserve of approximately 141,000 ounces of gold (4.8 million tonnes of ore grading 0.92 g/t gold and 0.52% copper). Following the submission of the environmental assessment for the Akasaba West deposit to the provincial government in August and to the federal government in September 2015, questions were received from both sets of regulators. Responses to provincial government questions were submitted in February and responses to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency were submitted in March 2016. Supplementary questions are expected from both levels of government in the second quarter of 2016. If public hearings are required they would likely take place in the first quarter of 2017. FINLAND AND SWEDEN Agnico Eagle's Kittila mine in Finland is the largest primary gold producer in Europe and hosts the Company's largest mineral reserves. Exploration activities continue to expand the mineral resources and studies are underway to evaluate the potential to cost-effectively increase production. Kittila Underground Access Ramp to the Sisar Zone Now Underway The 100% owned Kittila mine in northern Finland achieved commercial production in 2009. The Kittila mill processed an average of 4,749 tpd in the first quarter of 2016, compared to 3,836 tpd in the first quarter of 2015. The higher throughput in the 2016 period is a reflection of the ongoing optimization of the overall mill capacity. Minesite costs per tonne at Kittila were approximately 72 in the first quarter of 2016, compared to 77 in the first quarter of 2015. Minesite costs per tonne decreased in the first quarter of 2016 due to the increased throughput when compared with the 2015 period. First quarter 2016 payable gold production at Kittila was 48,127 ounces at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $726. In the first quarter of 2015, the mine produced 44,654 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $681. The higher production in the 2016 period is related to the increased mill capacity partially offset by lower than expected grades compared to the 2015 period. Total cash costs per ounce increased in the first quarter of 2016 primarily due to higher contractor costs which were partially offset by lower energy costs. The Kittila mine and mill has shown potential to operate in excess of 4,000 tpd and efforts are ongoing to assess the optimal throughput rate. Studies are also underway to optimize underground mining rates and fully integrate the upper and lower Rimpi zones and the newly discovered Sisar Zone in a new Kittila mine plan. Unit costs are expected to improve once steady state operations are achieved. Drilling is ongoing to infill and extend the mineralization in the Sisar Zone. Numerous holes have been completed and assay results are pending. In addition, underground ramp construction began in March to access the upper portion of the Sisar Zone, which is located approximately 200 metres from existing underground infrastructure. Barsele Project Drilling Extends the Central and Skirasen Zones and Suggests the Potential for a Goldex Type Deposit In June 2015, Agnico Eagle acquired a 55% interest in the Barsele project in Vasterbotten County, northern Sweden from Orex Minerals (Orex Minerals subsequently transferred its interest in the project to Barsele Minerals Corp.). The Company can earn an additional 15% interest in the project through the completion of a pre-feasibility study. The exploration program is being operated by Agnico Eagle. This is the first release of drill results on the property by Agnico Eagle since the acquisition of its interest in the 28,600-hectare property. The Barsele project is located at the intersection of the western end of the Proterozoic "Skellefte Trend," a prolific volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit belt with the "Gold Line" in northern Sweden. The Barsele property is known to contain intrusive-hosted gold mineralization (the Central, Avan and Skirasen zones) which appears to be similar to the Goldex deposit and gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide mineralization (the Norra Zone) which appears to be similar to the LaRonde deposit. The Avan, Central and Skirasen zones extend over a strike length of 2.6 kilometres within a highly fractured granodiorite that ranges in width from 200 to 500 metres over a strike length of more than eight kilometres. Gold occurs as native metal and is generally associated with arsenopyrite, with low base metal content. Drilling from October 2015 to early March 2016 (23 holes totalling 13,300 metres) focused on the Skirasen and Central zones. Recent intercepts and drill hole coordinates from this program are set out below and the drill hole pierce points are also shown on the Barsele composite longitudinal section. All intercepts reported for the Barsele project show capped grades over estimated true widths, based on a preliminary geological interpretation that is being updated as new information becomes available with further drilling. Recent exploration drill results from the Barsele project Drill hole Location From (metres) To (metres) Depth of midpoint below surface (metres) Estimated true width (metres) Gold grade (g/t) (uncapped) Gold grade (g/t) (capped)* CNT15-007 Central Zone 437.0 449.0 310 9.0 12.37 3.28 CNT15-009 Central Zone 106.0 168.0 90 46.5 1.12 1.12 and 383.0 432.0 300 36.8 1.15 1.15 CNT15-010 Central Zone 223.0 252.0 230 21.8 1.59 1.59 and 494.0 589.0 515 71.2 0.88 0.88 CNT15-013 Central Zone 473.5 492.0 370 13.9 3.00 3.00 and 519.2 526.0 400 5.1 5.02 5.02 CNT15-015 Central Zone 23.0 34.0 20 8.2 8.06 6.74 CNT15-016 Skirasen Zone 270.0 277.0 215 5.2 5.06 5.06 and 339.0 451.0 310 84.0 2.07 2.01 CNT15-017 Central Zone 623.0 632.0 540 6.8 1.72 1.72 SKI15-001 Skirasen Zone 323.0 384.0 260 45.8 1.94 1.61 and 405.0 434.0 310 21.8 1.42 1.42 SKI16-001 Skirasen Zone 101.0 108.0 75 5.2 4.85 4.85 and 120.0 140.0 95 15.0 3.92 3.23 and 276.0 312.1 210 27.1 3.06 2.40 SKI16-005 Skirasen Zone 193.0 213.0 170 15.0 1.19 1.19 and 399.0 504.0 370 78.8 1.25 1.25 and 593.0 609.0 485 12.0 1.86 1.86 *Holes at Barsele use a capping factor of 20 g/t gold. Barsele project exploration drill collar coordinates of selected holes Drill collar coordinates* Drill hole ID UTM North UTM East Elevation (metres above sea level) Azimuth Dip (degrees) Length (metres) CNT15-007 7214686 618733 321 360 -53 725 CNT15-009 7214671 618829 317 360 -57 701 CNT15-010 7215040 618808 291 180 -70 655 CNT15-013 7214613 619033 306 333 -55 597 CNT15-015 7214601 619133 296 360 -52 523 CNT15-016 7214525 619127 302 360 -55 664 CNT15-017 7214895 618859 293 290 -60 902 SKI15-001 7214598 619125 296 040 -48 580 SKI16-001 7214515 619222 300 040 -50 557 SKI16-005 7214516 619221 300 360 -57 645 * Coordinate System Sweref 99 Barsele Project - Composite Longitudinal Section Recent drilling has connected the Central Zone with the Skirasen Zone. The combined Central-Skirasen Zone has a strike length of approximately 1,400 metres, extends from surface to a depth of at least 540 metres and ranges in width from ten to 150 metres. Mineralization remains open at depth and along strike. Results include hole CNT15-016 that intersected the Skirasen Zone with two intercepts: 5.06 g/t gold over 5.2 metres at 215 metres depth, and 2.01 g/t gold over 84.0 metres at 310 metres depth. Almost 300 metres away at the southeast extent of the zone, hole SKI16-001 intersected the zone with three intercepts: 4.85 g/t gold over 5.2 metres at 75 metres depth, 3.23 g/t gold over 15.0 metres at 95 metres depth and 2.40 g/t gold over 27.1 metres at 210 metres depth. The deepest intercept to date in the Skirasen Zone is hole SKI16-005 that intersected 1.86 g/t gold over 12.0 metres at 485 metres depth, as well as two shallower intercepts. Recent drilling has extended the depth of the Central Zone to 540 metres. Highlights include hole CNT15-015 that intersected 6.74 g/t gold over 8.2 metres at 20 metres depth. Hole CNT15-013 intersected 3.00 g/t gold over 13.9 metres at 370 metres depth and 5.02 g/t gold over 5.1 metres at 400 metres depth. Hole CNT15-007 intersected 3.28 g/t gold over 9.0 metres at 310 metres depth. In 2016, the Company plans to spend approximately $4.9 million on exploration to further evaluate the mineral potential of the property. This planned expenditure includes 19,000 metres of diamond drilling, a Titan-24 induced polarization geophysical survey, till sampling and hyperspectral core scanning. A basic environmental assessment will be done, as well as ongoing community relations programs to engage the various stakeholders in the region. Drilling is expected to resume in late April after spring breakup. NUNAVUT REGION Agnico Eagle has identified Nunavut as a politically attractive and stable jurisdiction with enormous geological potential. With the Company's largest producing mine (Meadowbank), two significant development assets (Meliadine and Amaruq) and other exploration projects, Nunavut has the potential to be a strategic operating platform with the ability to generate strong production and cash flows over several decades. Meadowbank Reviewing Further Opportunities to Potentially Extend the Minelife Through Year-End 2018 The 100% owned Meadowbank mine in Nunavut, northern Canada, achieved commercial production in March 2010. The Meadowbank mill processed an average of 10,390 tpd in the first quarter of 2016, compared to 11,006 tpd in the first quarter of 2015. Period-over-period mill throughput was lower due to replacement of belts on the conveyor system feeding the SAG mill, an unscheduled shutdown of the secondary crushing circuit for maintenance in February and larger portion of ore from the Vault pit which has a higher hardness factor. Minesite costs per tonne were C$77 in the first quarter of 2016 compared to C$71 per tonne in the first quarter of 2015. The increase in costs per tonne was primarily due to lower throughput that resulted from the unscheduled shutdown. Payable production in the first quarter of 2016 was 72,311 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $788. This compares with the first quarter of 2015 when 88,523 ounces of gold were produced at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $655. The lower production and higher costs in the 2016 period compared to the 2015 period are primarily due to lower throughput levels and the processing of lower grade ore (down 14% period-over-period). Studies are currently underway to investigate additional opportunities to extend production at Meadowbank through year-end 2018. Potential opportunities include the development of the Phaser pit, which is located to the southwest of the Vault pit, and an additional pushback to access additional ore in the E3 pit at the Portage deposit. Amaruq Project Exploration Access Road Construction and Permitting The Company is actively exploring the Amaruq deposit (see below) with the goal of potentially developing the deposit as a satellite operation to Meadowbank. On March 14, 2016, the Company received confirmation from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that it was fully permitted to complete the construction of bridges, bridge abutments, embedded culverts and drainage culverts along the Amaruq Exploration Access Road. This concluded the permitting of the Amaruq Exploration Access Road and the Company now has all of the required permits, leases and authorizations to complete both the winter and summer construction of the road. Construction of the Amaruq Exploration Access Road commenced in the first quarter of 2016. Road construction is ongoing with nine kilometres completed to date of the expected total length of 62 kilometres. An application for an amendment to the Amaruq Exploration Type B Water License was submitted on March 31, 2016 to allow for the development of an exploration ramp and portal and the mining of a bulk sample. The permit approval process for the exploration ramp is expected to take approximately nine months. In order to mine the Whale Tail deposit, amendments are needed to the Meadowbank Project Certificate and Type A water license. The amendments are expected to be submitted by the end of June 2016. Amaruq Project Improved Understanding of Whale Tail Ore Shoot and IVR Deposit Agnico Eagle has a 100% interest in the Amaruq project. The large property consists of 116,717 hectares, located approximately 50 kilometres northwest of the Meadowbank mine. The most recent drill results from the Amaruq project were reported in the Company news release dated October 28, 2015. The inferred mineral resource estimate as of December 31, 2015 is 3.3 million ounces gold (16.9 million tonnes grading 6.05 g/t gold). The 2016 drill program began at the end of January. Drilling to the end of March has totalled 18,836 metres (84 holes) using up to eight rigs, part of an initial 75,000-metre drill program. The goals of the 2016 exploration program are to infill and expand the known mineral resource areas and to test other favourable targets with a focus on delineating a second source of open pit ore. Selected drill results and hole coordinates are set out in the tables below. Drill hole collars are also shown on the Amaruq Project Local Geology Map. All intercepts reported for the Amaruq project show capped grades over estimated true widths, based on a preliminary geological interpretation that is being updated as new information becomes available with further drilling. Recent exploration drill results from the Whale Tail (WT) deposit and the V Zone, Amaruq project Drill hole Location From (metres) To (metres) Depth of midpoint below surface (metres) Estimated true width (metres) Gold grade (g/t) (uncapped) Gold grade (g/t) (capped)* AMQ16-560 IVR Zone 276.7 283.5 230 6.3 38.3 6.2 including 276.7 280.5 230 3.5 66.1 8.7 AMQ16-570 WT Shoot 327.0 382.0 288 47.6 5.9 5.9 including 327.0 333.1 267 4.3 8.1 8.1 and including 354.0 378.0 297 20.8 9.3 9.3 AMQ16-601 WT Shoot 289.0 326.1 252 32.0 8.8 8.8 including 289.0 293.3 238 3.7 17.1 17.1 and including 303.0 326.1 258 20.0 10.8 10.8 AMQ16-605 IVR Zone 35.0 45.3 35 9.7 7.2 5.9 AMQ16-643 IVR Zone 91.3 108.4 98 16.1 42.9 11.0 including 92.0 97.5 94 5.2 36.4 21.6 AMQ16-654 IVR Zone 65.5 78.0 69 12.1 22.7 4.1 including 74.3 78.0 73 3.6 72.2 9.4 *Holes at Whale Tail deposit use a capping factor of 40 to 80 g/t gold. Holes at IVR Zone use a capping factor of 40 g/t gold. Amaruq project exploration drill collar coordinates of selected holes Drill collar coordinates* Drill hole ID UTM North UTM East Elevation (metres above sea level) Azimuth Dip (degrees) Length (metres) AMQ16-560 7256055 607123 153 323 -55 318 AMQ16-570 7255683 606741 153 144 -56 410 AMQ16-601 7255544 606559 153 144 -55 360 AMQ16-605 7256151 606616 164 322 -60 246 AMQ16-643 7256320 606986 157 323 -80 249 AMQ16-654 7256320 606909 156 315 -75 144 * Coordinate System UTM Nad 83 zone 14 Amaruq Project - Local Geology Map Two of the reported holes were drilled toward the southeast to increase the confidence in the true thickness and configuration of the Whale Tail ore shoot, which plunges about 30 degrees to the east from surface to at least 430 metres depth. The shoot appears to be thicker than previously interpreted in the Central area. Hole AMQ16-601 intersected 8.8 g/t gold over 32.0 metres, including 17.1 g/t gold over 3.7 metres at 238 metres depth and 10.8 g/t gold over 20.0 metres at 258 metres depth. Approximately 230 metres to the northeast, hole AMQ16-570 intersected 5.9 g/t gold over 47.6 metres, including 8.1 g/t gold over 4.3 metres at 267 metres depth and 9.3 g/t gold over 20.8 metres at 297 metres depth. A grouping of three drill holes investigated the widest horizon in the IVR Zone, which continues to yield high grades. Hole AMQ16-643 intersected 11.0 g/t gold over 16.1 metres at 98 metres depth, including 21.6 g/t gold over 5.2 metres. Approximately 80 metres to the west, hole AMQ16-654 intersected 4.1 g/t gold over 12.1 metres at 69 metres depth, including 9.4 g/t gold over 3.6 metres. Approximately 340 metres farther to the southwest, hole AMQ16-605 intersected 5.9 g/t gold over 9.7 metres at 35 metres depth. Hole AMQ16-560 was drilled in the area between the east end of Whale Tail and the southern part of IVR. The hole intersected what is believed to be the southernmost IVR Zone, and returned 6.2 g/t gold over 6.3 metres at 230 metres depth, including 8.7 g/t gold over 3.5 metres. This intersection has extended the depth of the IVR Zone by almost 100 metres, to 230 metres. Additional drilling is planned to further investigate the potential intersection of the IVR Zone and the Whale Tail deposit. Drilling is ongoing with nine rigs on the property. An updated Amaruq mineral resource is expected in the second half of 2016. Meliadine Type A Water License Permit Expected by the End of the Second Quarter of 2016 The Meliadine project was acquired in July 2010 and is the Company's largest advanced exploration/development project based on mineral reserves and mineral resources. The Company has a 100% interest in the 111,757 hectare property, which is linked to the town of Rankin Inlet in Nunavut by a 25 kilometre all-weather access road. The capital budget for 2016 is $96 million, with activities focused on further underground development (approximately 3,700 metres), detailed engineering and procurement, construction of essential surface infrastructure and the acquisition of a used camp facility. The goal of the 2016 capital program is to ensure that the project remains on track for a potential 2020 production start-up, which is approximately a one year delay from previous expectations. In the first quarter of 2016, approximately 1,103 metres of underground development was completed. Of this total, 442 metres of development were completed in March, making it the best month since the beginning of the project. On April 15, 2016, the Nunavut Water Board issued the Meliadine Project Type A Water Licence to the Federal Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada for approval. The standard approval timeframe for the minister is 45 days. Approval of the licence is therefore expected by the end of May 2016. The Type A Water Licence would allow for the construction and operation of the Meliadine project. Internal studies are continuing to evaluate the potential to extract additional gold from the Tiriganiaq and Wesmeg/Normeg deposits, which could potentially extend the mine life, increase annual production and improve project economics and the after-tax internal rate of return. These studies are expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The timing of future capital expenditures at the Meliadine project beyond 2016 and the determination of whether to build a mine at Meliadine are subject to approval by Agnico Eagle's Board of Directors, which will be based on, among other things, prevailing market conditions and outcomes of the various plans being evaluated. SOUTHERN BUSINESS OPERATING REVIEW Agnico Eagle's Southern Business operations are focused in Mexico. These operations have been the source of growing precious metals production (gold and silver), stable operating costs and strong free cash flow since 2009. In the first quarter of 2016, the Mexican operations had record quarterly silver production of approximately 752,000 ounces. Pinos Altos Shaft on Schedule for full Commissioning in the second quarter of 2016 The 100% owned Pinos Altos mine in northern Mexico achieved commercial production in November 2009. The Pinos Altos mill processed 4,932 tpd in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 5,661 tpd processed in the first quarter of 2015. Mill throughput in the 2016 period was negatively affected by clay encountered in the Cerro Colorado underground ore and freezing weather conditions. During the first quarter of 2016, approximately 53,200 tonnes of ore were stacked on the leach pad at Pinos Altos, compared to 74,300 tonnes in the comparable 2015 period. Minesite costs per tonne at Pinos Altos were $50 in the first quarter of 2016, higher than the $46 in the first quarter of 2015. The difference in minesite costs per tonne was largely attributable to lower thoughput levels and variations in the proportion of heap leach ore to milled ore and open pit ore to underground ore, currency variations and routine fluctuations in the waste to ore stripping ratio in the open pits. Payable production in the first quarter of 2016 was 48,117 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $343. This compares with production of 50,106 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $357 in the first quarter of 2015. Lower production in 2016 is largely due to lower tonnage processed over the comparable period in 2015. The decrease in the year over year total cash costs per ounce is largely due to favourable foreign exchange rates compared to the prior year period. The Pinos Altos shaft was commissioned for moving mine personnel and materials in the first quarter of 2016. The ore handling system is on schedule to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2016. When the shaft is fully commissioned, it will allow better matching of the mill capacity with the future mining capacity at Pinos Altos once the open pit mining operation begins to wind down as planned. Creston Mascota Deposit at Pinos Altos Exploration Commences on the Madrono Property Which Hosts Historical Gold-Silver Prospects The Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos has been operating as a satellite operation to the Pinos Altos mine since late 2010. Approximately 516,200 tonnes of ore were stacked on the Creston Mascota leach pad during the first quarter of 2016, compared to approximately 527,000 tonnes stacked in the first quarter of 2015. In the 2016 period, fewer tonnes were stacked due to freezing weather conditions encountered in January. Minesite costs per tonne at Creston Mascota were $12 in the first quarter of 2016, compared to $11 in the first quarter of 2015. Costs in the 2016 period were slightly higher due to the freezing conditions encountered early in the quarter. Payable gold production at Creston Mascota in the first quarter of 2016 was 11,551 ounces at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $460. This compares to 12,448 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $444 during the first quarter of 2015. Production was lower in the 2016 period due to fewer tonnes stacked and lower grades compared to the 2015 period. Lower production in the 2016 period resulted in higher cash costs, which were partially offset by favourable foreign exchange rates compared to the 2015 period. Rough earthworks are nearing completion on the Phase 4 heap leach pad at Creston Mascota. Installation of the clay under layer and synthetic liner is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2016. During the first quarter of 2016, an agreement was signed that allows access to the 51-hectare Madrono property for exploration and mining. The Madrono property is located in an area with good access and infrastructure between Pinos Altos and Creston Mascota, includes at least three gold-silver veins: Madrono, Santa Martha and La Curva. Previous mining in this area included small-scale bonanza production from underground mine development on three levels in the 1930s. Mapping, surface sampling and exploration planning for Madrono is underway. Exploration and infill drilling continues at the Bravo satellite target and around the Creston Mascota pit to increase the confidence in the block model and look for additional growth opportunities. La India Additional Ore Tonnes Encountered Outside the Block Model The La India mine property in Sonora, Mexico, located approximately 70 kilometres from the Company's Pinos Altos mine, was acquired in November 2011 through the purchase of Grayd Resources, which held a 56,000 hectare land position in the Mulatos Gold belt. Commissioning of the mine commenced ahead of schedule in the third quarter of 2013 and commercial production was declared as of February 1, 2014. Approximately 1,396,300 tonnes of ore were stacked on the La India leach pad during the first quarter of 2016, compared to approximately 1,378,500 tonnes stacked in the first quarter of 2015. Minesite costs per tonne at La India were $8 in the first quarter of 2016, compared to $9 in the first quarter of 2015. Tonnes stacked in the 2016 period were higher due to the mining of additional lower grade ore tonnes previously identified as waste in the block model. Costs were lower in the 2016 period primarily due to lower fuel consumption and less waste mined. Payable gold production at La India in the first quarter of 2016 was 28,231 ounces at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $360. Production in the first quarter of 2015 was 26,523 ounces of gold at total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis of $418. Production was higher in the 2016 period due to higher tonnage stacked and faster percolation rates from the new lifts on the phase 2 heap leach pad. Total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis in the 2016 period were favourably impacted by higher production volumes (for both gold and silver) and favourable foreign exchange rates. A land access agreement was signed in January 2016, allowing access for exploration and potential future mining on the El Realito claims. Surface sampling and target generation are underway at El Realito and favourable targets will then be drill-tested. Step-out drilling is also planned at the El Cochi and La India Este areas adjacent to the La India mine. An initial drill program is planned at the Kilometre 15 area which is located east and contiguous with the El Realito property. El Barqueno - Recent Drill Program Expands Known Deposits and Tests Other Target Areas Agnico Eagle acquired its 100% interest in the El Barqueno project in November 2014 with the acquisition of Cayden Resources Inc. The 32,840-hectare property is in the Guachinango gold-silver mining district of Jalisco State in west-central, Mexico, approximately 150 kilometres west of the state capital of Guadalajara. As of December 31, 2015, the El Barqueno project has an inferred mineral resource of 19.7 million tonnes grading 0.96 g/t gold and 5.78 g/t silver (containing 608,000 ounces of gold and 3.7 million ounces of silver) at the Azteca-Zapoteca, Angostura and Pena de Oro zones. This news release summarizes the results of exploration and in-fill drilling programs completed on the project to the end of March 2016. The El Barqueno project contains a number of known mineralized zones and several prospects. From January through March 2016, 156 holes (27,523 metres) were drilled using 14 drill rigs in order to complete infill drilling on the Azteca-Zapoteca Zone and to explore for additional mineralized structures and extensions of the other known zones. The Azteca-Zapoteca infill work represents 90% of the drilling completed to date in 2016. There are currently six drill rigs operating on the project testing other targets including Zapote-Mixteca, San Diego, Olmeca, Huichol and Tarasca. El Barqueno Project Local Geology Map Gold and silver grades of recent intercepts from the Azteca-Zapoteca and Angostura Zones are set out in the table below and the drill collars are located in the accompanying table as well as on the project geology map. All intercepts reported for the El Barqueno project show uncapped grades over estimated true widths, based on a preliminary geological interpretation that will be updated as new information becomes available with further drilling. Selected recent exploration drill results from the El Barqueno project Drill Hole Zone From (metres) To (metres) Depth of midpoint below surface (metres) Estimated true width (metres) Gold grade (g/t) (uncapped)* Silver grade (g/t) (uncapped) AZP16-212 Azteca-Zapoteca 90.0 98.0 62 4.8 1.63 8.8 AZP16-219 Azteca-Zapoteca 27.0 50.0 34 9.2 4.07 14.3 AZP16-243 Azteca-Zapoteca 46.0 53.0 38 5.6 22.39 24.3 and 63.0 71.0 52 6.4 1.07 2.9 AZP16-260 Azteca-Zapoteca 89.0 118.0 89 14.5 1.16 6.8 AZP16-272 Azteca-Zapoteca 166.0 176.0 136 4.0 1.07 3.2 AZP16-282 Azteca-Zapoteca 43.0 49.0 40 4.0 1.96 3.8 AZP16-294 Azteca-Zapoteca 41.0 49.0 42 6.4 1.66 3.2 AZP16-297 Azteca-Zapoteca 45.0 53.0 49 7.9 4.40 11.3 AZP16-300 Azteca-Zapoteca 13.0 22.0 12 7.2 6.93 12.2 AZP16-322 Azteca-Zapoteca 130.0 145.0 134 12.0 7.31 53.1 BRQ15-239 Angostura 153.0 162.0 161 8.3 0.33 83.4 BRQ15-245 Angostura 164.0 176.0 140 10.9 1.52 19.1 BRQ15-285 Angostura 316.0 322.0 192 5.5 0.69 24.4 BRQ15-288 Angostura 188.0 199.0 172 9.7 1.28 11.8 * Cut-off grade of 0.4 g/t gold; only intervals longer than 2.8 metres estimated true width were included El Barqueno project exploration drill hole collar coordinates Drill Hole Collar Coordinates* Drill Hole ID UTM North UTM East Elevation (metres above sea level) Azimuth Dip (degrees) Length (metres) (degrees) AZP16-212 555141 2279906 1,274 155 -60 172 AZP16-219 554248 2279658 1,257 335 -50 219 AZP16-243 554725 2279768 1,288 155 -60 108 AZP16-260 554953 2279847 1,286 155 -80 146 AZP16-272 554155 2279566 1,278 335 -50 336 AZP16-282 554531 2279724 1,285 155 -65 110 AZP16-294 554883 2279898 1,288 335 -80 70 AZP16-297 554438 2279816 1,248 335 -50 70 AZP16-300 555163 2279871 1,254 155 -45 61 AZP16-322 554239 2279765 1,234 335 -50 171 BRQ15-239 553971 2280155 1,175 335 -50 276 BRQ-15-245 553880 2280173 1,241 335 -50 265 BRQ-15-285 554164 2280106 1,214 335 -50 452 BRQ-15-288 554026 2280126 1,172 335 -50 421 * Coordinate System UTM WGS84 13N Zone Azteca-Zapoteca Zone To date, the Azteca-Zapoteca Zone has been defined over more than 1.4 kilometres of strike length along a northeasterly direction and has been intersected as deep as 300 metres. The Zone remains open at depth and along strike to the southwest. More than half of the exploration drilling and all the infill drilling planned for this year is completed. The steeply north-dipping Azteca structure and moderately south-dipping Zapoteca structure appear to coalesce at a depth of 100-150 metres below surface into a near-vertical structure with generally higher grades. The current results show higher grades in the shallow areas around and beneath former pits that were mined in the 1980s. Examples include hole AZP16-243 that yielded 22.39 g/t gold and 24.3 g/t silver over 5.6 metres at 38 metres depth, as well as hole AZP16-300 that intersected 6.93 g/t gold and 12.2 g/t silver over 7.2 metres at 12 metres depth. The gold grade tends to become progressively lower at depth, such as hole AZP16-260 that intersected 1.16 g/t gold and 6.8 g/t silver over 14.5 metres at 89 metres depth and hole AZP16-272 that intersected 1.07 g/t gold and 3.2 g/t silver over 4.0 metres at 136 metres depth. An exception of a higher grade intercept at depth is hole AZP16-322 that intersected 7.31 g/t gold and 53.1 g/t silver over 12.0 metres at 134 metres depth. This could represent a feeder structure with depth potential, however, additional drilling will be required to evaluate the full extent of the mineralization. Additional drilling is planned along strike to the southwest as well as in the footwall to the Zapoteca structure. The Company believes there is excellent potential for parallel mineralized structures between the Azteca-Zapoteca and Angostura mineral resource areas and two drills are currently testing this area as a follow-up to the recent detailed mapping and sampling completed in this area. Angostura Zone The Angostura Zone lies approximately 800 metres northwest of the Azteca-Zapoteca Zone. Angostura is defined over a strike length of more than 1,000 metres, and appears to plunge shallowly to the southwest. The structure is open along strike and at depth. Recent results include hole BRQ15-245 that intersected 1.52 g/t gold and 19.1 g/t silver over 10.9 metres at 140 metres depth. Approximately 150 metres to the west, hole BRQ15-288 intersected 1.28 g/t gold and 11.8 g/t silver over 9.7 metres at 172 metres depth. Drilling to date suggests Angostura could become part of a multi-pit operation along with a larger deposit at Azteca-Zapoteca. Additional drilling is planned along strike to the northeast and southwest searching for other potential shallowly-plunging shoots as well as testing the potential for parallel mineralized structures. Additional Work Drill permits have been received to test the northeastern strike extension as well as several mineralized areas identified from mapping to the north and east of the Pena de Oro Zone, in what is now referred to as the Pena Blanca area. Approximately 25,000 metres of additional drilling is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 at the El Barqueno project, principally at the Azteca-Zapoteca, Angostura, Pena de Oro, Pena Blanca, Zapote-Mixteca, San Diego, Olmeca, Huichol and Tarasca prospects. Exploration expenditures in 2016 are expected to total approximately $16 million. In addition to the drilling activities, studies are underway to evaluate potential development scenarios for the project. It is currently envisioned that the project's gold-silver deposits could potentially be developed into a series of open pits utilizing heap leach processing, similar to the Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos and the La India mines. About Agnico Eagle Agnico Eagle is a senior Canadian gold mining company that has produced precious metals since 1957. Its eight mines are located in Canada, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in each of these countries as well as in the United States and Sweden. The Company and its shareholders have full exposure to gold prices due to its long-standing policy of no forward gold sales. Agnico Eagle has declared a cash dividend every year since 1983. Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance This news release discloses certain measures, including ''total cash costs per ounce'', "all-in sustaining costs per ounce", ''minesite costs per tonne'' and "adjusted net income" that are not recognized measures under IFRS. These data may not be comparable to data reported by other gold producers. For a reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial information reported in the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and for an explanation of how management uses these measures, other than adjusted net income, see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" below. The total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is reported on both a by-product basis (deducting by-product metal revenues from production costs) and co-product basis (before by-product metal revenues). The total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis is calculated by adjusting production costs as recorded in the consolidated statements of income for by-product revenues, unsold concentrate inventory production costs, smelting, refining and marketing charges and other adjustments, and then dividing by the number of ounces of gold produced. The total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a co-product basis is calculated in the same manner as the total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis except that no adjustment is made for by-product metal revenues. Accordingly, the calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a co-product basis does not reflect a reduction in production costs or smelting, refining and marketing charges associated with the production and sale of by-product metals. The total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is intended to provide information about the cash-generating capabilities of the Company's mining operations. Management also uses these measures to monitor the performance of the Company's mining operations. As market prices for gold are quoted on a per ounce basis, using the total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis measure allows management to assess a mine's cash-generating capabilities at various gold prices. All-in sustaining costs per ounce is used to show the full cost of gold production from current operations. The Company calculates all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis as the aggregate of total cash costs per ounce on a by-product basis, sustaining capital expenditures (including capitalized exploration), general and administrative expenses (including stock options) and reclamation expenses divided by the amount of gold produced. The all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced on a co-product basis is calculated in the same manner as the all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis, except that the total cash costs per ounce on a co-product basis is used, meaning no adjustment is made for by-product metal revenues. The Company's methodology for calculating all-in sustaining costs per ounce may differ from to the methodology used by other producers that disclose all-in sustaining costs per ounce. The Company may change the methodology it uses to calculate all-in sustaining costs per ounce in the future, including in response to the adoption of formal industry guidance regarding this measure by the World Gold Council. Management is aware that these per ounce measures of performance can be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates and, in the case of total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a by-product basis, by-product metal prices. Management compensates for these inherent limitations by using these measures in conjunction with minesite costs per tonne (discussed below) as well as other data prepared in accordance with IFRS. Management also performs sensitivity analyses in order to quantify the effects of fluctuating exchange rates and metal prices. This news release also contains information as to estimated future total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce and minesite costs per tonne. The estimates are based upon the total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce and minesite costs per tonne that the Company expects to incur to mine gold at its mines and projects and, consistent with the reconciliation of these actual costs referred to above, do not include production costs attributable to accretion expense and other asset retirement costs, which will vary over time as each project is developed and mined. It is therefore not practicable to reconcile these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable IFRS measure. Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release has been prepared as at April 28, 2016. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "planned", "potential", "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, without limitation: the Company's forward-looking production guidance, including estimated ore grades, project timelines, drilling results, metal production, life of mine estimates, production, total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce, minesite costs per tonne and cash flows; the estimated timing and conclusions of technical reports and other studies; the methods by which ore will be extracted or processed; statements concerning expansion projects, recovery rates, mill throughput, optimization and projected exploration expenditures, including costs and other estimates upon which such projections are based; statements regarding timing and amounts of capital expenditures and other assumptions; estimates of future mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral production, optimization efforts and sales; estimates of mine life; estimates of future mining costs, total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce, minesite costs per tonne and other expenses; estimates of future capital expenditures and other cash needs, and expectations as to the funding thereof; statements as to the projected development of certain ore deposits, including estimates of exploration, development and production and other capital costs and estimates of the timing of such exploration, development and production or decisions with respect to such exploration, development and production; estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, and statements and information regarding anticipated future exploration; the anticipated timing of events with respect to the Company's mine sites and statements and information regarding the sufficiency of the Company's cash resources and other statements and information regarding anticipated trends with respect to the Company's operations, exploration and the funding thereof. Such statements and information reflect the Company's views as at the date of this news release and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico Eagle as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The material factors and assumptions used in the preparation of the forward looking statements contained herein, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the assumptions set forth herein and in management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") and the Company's Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with Canadian securities regulators and that are included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 ("Form 40-F") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as well as: that there are no significant disruptions affecting operations; that production, permitting, development and expansion at each of Agnico Eagle's properties proceeds on a basis consistent with current expectations and plans; that the relevant metal prices, exchange rates and prices for key mining and construction supplies will be consistent with Agnico Eagle's expectations; that Agnico Eagle's current estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and metal recovery are accurate; that there are no material delays in the timing for completion of ongoing growth projects; that the Company's current plans to optimize production are successful; and that there are no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environment. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the volatility of prices of gold and other metals; uncertainty of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; uncertainty of future production, project development, capital expenditures and other costs; exchange rate fluctuations; financing of additional capital requirements; cost of exploration and development programs; mining risks; community protests; risks associated with foreign operations; governmental and environmental regulation; the volatility of the Company's stock price; and risks associated with the Company's currency, fuel and by-product metal derivative strategies. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, see the AIF and MD&A filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and included in the Form 40-F filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, as well as the Company's other filings with the Canadian securities regulators and the SEC. Other than as required by law, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. Notes to Investors Regarding the Use of Mineral Resources Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources This news release uses the terms "measured mineral resources" and "indicated mineral resources". Investors are advised that while those terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize them. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. Cautionary Note to Investors Concerning Estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources This news release also uses the term "inferred mineral resources". Investors are advised that while this term is recognized and required by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize it. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. Scientific and Technical Data The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to Quebec operations has been approved by Christian Provencher, Eng., Vice-President, Canada; relating to Nunavut operations has been approved by Dominique Girard, Eng., Vice-President Technical Services and Nunavut Operations; relating to the Kittila operations has been approved by Francis Brunet, Eng., Corporate Director Mining; relating to Southern Business operations has been approved by Tim Haldane, P.Eng., Senior Vice-President, Operations USA and Latin America; and relating to exploration has been approved by Alain Blackburn, Eng., Senior Vice-President, Exploration and Guy Gosselin, Eng., Vice-President, Exploration. Each of them is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (''NI 43-101''). The scientific and technical information relating to Agnico Eagle's mineral reserves and mineral resources contained herein (other than the Canadian Malartic mine) has been approved by Daniel Doucet, Eng., Senior Corporate Director, Reserve Development; and relating to mineral reserves and mineral resources at the Canadian Malartic mine contained herein has been approved by Donald Gervais, P.Geo., Director of Technical Services at CMC. Each of them is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101. Cautionary Note To U.S. Investors - The SEC permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. Agnico Eagle reports mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Best Practice Guidelines for Exploration and for Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, in accordance with NI 43-101. These standards are similar to those used by the SEC's Industry Guide No. 7, as interpreted by Staff at the SEC ("Guide 7"). However, the definitions in NI 43-101 differ in certain respects from those under Guide 7. Accordingly, mineral reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. Under the requirements of the SEC, 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. A "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to meet the requirements to designate mineral reserves under Industry Guide 7. Agnico Eagle uses certain terms in this news release, such as "measured", "indicated", "inferred", and "resources" that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. In prior periods, mineral reserves and mineral resources for all properties were typically estimated using historic three-year average metals prices and foreign exchange rates in accordance with the SEC guidelines. These guidelines require the use of prices that reflect current economic conditions at the time of mineral reserve determination, which the Staff of the SEC has interpreted to mean historic three-year average prices. Given the current lower commodity price environment, Agnico Eagle has decided to use price assumptions that are below the three-year averages. The assumptions used for the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates at all mines and advanced projects as of December 31, 2015 (other than the Canadian Malartic mine), reported by the Company on February 10, 2016, were $1,100 per ounce gold, $16.00 per ounce silver, $0.90 per pound zinc, $2.50 per pound copper, and US$/C$, Euro/US$ and US$/MXP exchange rates for all mines and projects other than the Lapa, Meadowbank and Creston Mascota mines and Santo Nino open pit at Pinos Altos of 1.16, 1.20 and 14.00, respectively. Due to shorter mine life, the assumptions used for the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates at the shorter-life mines (the Lapa, Meadowbank and Creston Mascota mines and Santo Nino open pit) as of December 31, 2015, reported by the Company on February 10, 2016, included the same metal price assumptions, and US$/C$ and US$/MXP exchange rates of 1.30 and 16.00, respectively. The assumptions used for the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates at the Canadian Malartic mine as of December 31, 2015, reported by the Company on February 10, 2016, were $1,150 per ounce gold, a cut-off grade between 0.30 g/t and 0.33 g/t gold (depending on the deposit) and a US$/C$ exchange rate of 1.24. NI 43-101 requires mining companies to disclose mineral reserves and mineral resources using the subcategories of "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. A mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured and/or indicated mineral resource. It includes diluting materials and allowances for losses, which may occur when the material is mined or extracted and is defined by studies at pre-feasibility or feasibility level as appropriate that include application of modifying factors. Such studies demonstrate that, at the time of reporting, extraction could reasonably be justified. Modifying factors are considerations used to convert mineral resources to mineral reserves. These include, but are not restricted to, mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors. A proven mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured mineral resource. A proven mineral reserve implies a high degree of confidence in the modifying factors. A probable mineral reserve is the economically mineable part of an indicated and, in some circumstances, a measured mineral resource. The confidence in the modifying factors applying to a probable mineral reserve is lower than that applying to a proven mineral reserve. A mineral resource is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade or quality, continuity and other geological characteristics of a mineral resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge, including sampling. A measured mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the application of modifying factors to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to confirm geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. An indicated mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of modifying factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to assume geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. An inferred mineral resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. Investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. A feasibility study is a comprehensive technical and economic study of the selected development option for a mineral project that includes appropriately detailed assessments of applicable modifying factors together with any other relevant operational factors and detailed financial analysis that are necessary to demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that extraction is reasonably justified (economically mineable). The results of the study may reasonably serve as the basis for a final decision by a proponent or financial institution to proceed with, or finance, the development of the project. The confidence level of the study will be higher than that of a pre-feasibility study. AGNICO EAGLE MINES LIMITED SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (thousands of United States dollars, except where noted) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 Operating margin(i)by mine: Northern Business LaRonde mine $ 48,055 $ 30,015 Lapa mine 10,806 14,687 Goldex mine 22,184 19,253 Meadowbank mine 33,329 46,577 Canadian Malartic mine(ii) 41,740 34,718 Kittila mine 24,086 27,415 Southern Business Pinos Altos mine 35,820 34,652 Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos 8,989 8,409 La India mine 21,549 20,590 Total operating margin(i) 246,558 236,316 Amortization of property, plant and mine development 145,631 135,897 Exploration, corporate and other 73,730 43,706 Income before income and mining taxes 27,197 56,713 Income and mining taxes (recovery) expense (591) 27,970 Net income for the period $ 27,788 $ 28,743 Net income per share basic (US$) $ 0.13 $ 0.13 Net income per share diluted (US$) $ 0.13 $ 0.13 Cash flows: Cash provided by operating activities $ 145,704 $ 143,455 Cash used in investing activities $ (107,595) $ (53,892) Cash used in financing activities $ (1,588) $ (123,182) Realized prices (US$): Gold (per ounce) $ 1,192 $ 1,202 Silver (per ounce) $ 15.09 $ 17.02 Zinc (per tonne) $ 1,540 $ 2,072 Copper (per tonne) $ 4,297 $ 5,056 Payable production(iii): Gold (ounces): Northern Business LaRonde mine 75,337 58,893 Lapa mine 21,709 25,920 Goldex mine 32,340 29,250 Meadowbank mine 72,311 88,523 Canadian Malartic mine(ii) 73,613 67,893 Kittila mine 48,127 44,654 Southern Business Pinos Altos mine 48,117 50,106 Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos 11,551 12,448 La India mine 28,231 26,523 Total gold (ounces) 411,336 404,210 Silver (thousands of ounces): Northern Business LaRonde mine 247 198 Lapa mine 3 1 Meadowbank mine 43 96 Canadian Malartic mine(ii) 77 72 Kittila mine 3 2 Southern Business Pinos Altos mine 587 562 Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos 48 32 La India mine 117 69 Total silver (thousands of ounces) 1,125 1,032 Zinc (tonnes) 614 936 Copper (tonnes) 1,154 1,167 Payable metal sold: Gold (ounces): Northern Business LaRonde mine 75,257 60,943 Lapa mine 19,836 23,497 Goldex mine 31,955 27,907 Meadowbank mine 71,589 84,780 Canadian Malartic mine(ii)(iv) 65,085 59,261 Kittila mine 50,725 48,982 Southern Business Pinos Altos mine 43,224 41,433 Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos 11,845 11,399 La India mine 26,165 26,898 Total gold (ounces) 395,681 385,100 Silver (thousands of ounces): Northern Business LaRonde mine 232 205 Lapa mine 1 - Meadowbank mine 43 98 Canadian Malartic mine(ii)(iv) 73 54 Kittila mine 3 2 Southern Business Pinos Altos mine 530 446 Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos 48 20 La India mine 86 63 Total silver (thousands of ounces): 1,016 888 Zinc (tonnes) 605 1,264 Copper (tonnes) 1,156 1,160 Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced - co-product basis (US$)(v): Northern Business LaRonde mine $ 670 $ 892 Lapa mine 668 568 Goldex mine 506 542 Meadowbank mine 797 674 Canadian Malartic mine(ii) 572 649 Kittila mine 727 682 Southern Business Pinos Altos mine 530 548 Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos 527 488 La India mine 424 461 Weighted average total cash costs per ounce of gold produced $ 631 $ 651 Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced - by-product basis (US$)(v): Northern Business LaRonde mine $ 529 $ 703 Lapa mine 668 568 Goldex mine 506 541 Meadowbank mine 788 655 Canadian Malartic mine(ii) 557 632 Kittila mine 726 681 Southern Business Pinos Altos mine 343 357 Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos 460 444 La India mine 360 418 Weighted average total cash costs per ounce of gold produced $ 573 $ 588 Notes: (i) Operating margin is calculated as revenues from mining operations less production costs. (ii) On June 16, 2014, Agnico Eagle and Yamana jointly acquired 100.0% of Osisko by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement"). As a result of the Arrangement, Agnico Eagle and Yamana each indirectly own 50.0% of CMC and the Partnership, which now holds the Canadian Malartic mine. The information set out in this table reflects the Company's 50.0% interest in the Canadian Malartic mine. (iii) Payable production (a nonGAAP non-financial performance measure) is the quantity of mineral produced during a period contained in products that are or will be sold by the Company, whether such products are sold during the period or held as inventories at the end of the period. (iv) The Canadian Malartic mine's payable metal sold excludes the 5.0% net smelter royalty transferred to Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd., pursuant to the Arrangement. (v) Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is not a recognized measure under IFRS and this data may not be comparable to data reported by other gold producers. Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is reported on both a byproduct basis (deducting byproduct metal revenues from production costs) and coproduct basis (before byproduct metal revenues). Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a byproduct basis is calculated by adjusting production costs as recorded in the interim condensed consolidated statements of income for byproduct metal revenues, unsold concentrate inventory production costs, smelting, refining and marketing charges and other adjustments, and then dividing by the number of ounces of gold produced. Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a coproduct basis is calculated in the same manner as total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a byproduct basis except that no adjustment for byproduct metal revenues is made. The calculation of total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a coproduct basis does not reflect a reduction in production costs or smelting, refining and marketing charges associated with the production and sale of byproduct metals. The Company believes that these generally accepted industry measures provide a realistic indication of operating performance and provide useful comparison points between periods. Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced is intended to provide information about the cash generating capabilities of the Company's mining operations. Management also uses these measures to monitor the performance of the Company's mining operations. As market prices for gold are quoted on a per ounce basis, using the total cash costs per ounce of gold produced on a byproduct basis measure allows management to assess a mine's cash generating capabilities at various gold prices. Management is aware that these per ounce measures of performance can be affected by fluctuations in exchange rates and, in the case of total cash costs of gold produced on a byproduct basis, byproduct metal prices. Management compensates for these inherent limitations by using these measures in conjunction with minesite costs per tonne as well as other data prepared in accordance with IFRS. Management also performs sensitivity analyses in order to quantify the effects of fluctuating metal prices and exchange rates. AGNICO EAGLE MINES LIMITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (thousands of United States dollars, except share amounts, IFRS basis) (Unaudited) As at March 31, As at December 31, 2016 2015 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 162,746 $ 124,150 Short-term investments 5,209 7,444 Restricted cash 675 685 Trade receivables 5,641 7,714 Inventories 435,447 461,976 Income taxes recoverable 4,878 817 Available-for-sale securities 66,350 31,863 Fair value of derivative financial instruments 4,520 87 Other current assets 186,850 194,689 Total current assets 872,316 829,425 Non-current assets: Restricted cash 791 741 Goodwill 696,809 696,809 Property, plant and mine development 5,069,152 5,088,967 Other assets 77,496 67,238 Total assets $ 6,716,564 $ 6,683,180 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 202,158 $ 243,786 Reclamation provision 6,795 6,245 Interest payable 22,107 14,526 Income taxes payable 5,189 14,852 Finance lease obligations 8,567 9,589 Current portion of long-term debt 15,419 14,451 Fair value of derivative financial instruments 1,709 8,073 Total current liabilities 261,944 311,522 Non-current liabilities: Long-term debt 1,064,750 1,118,187 Reclamation provision 311,069 276,299 Deferred income and mining tax liabilities 789,437 802,114 Other liabilities 34,250 34,038 Total liabilities 2,461,450 2,542,160 EQUITY Common shares: Outstanding - 221,281,167common shares issued, less 802,915 shares held in trust 4,799,138 4,707,940 Stock options 203,582 216,232 Contributed surplus 37,254 37,254 Deficit (813,517) (823,734) Accumulated other comprehensive income 28,657 3,328 Total equity 4,255,114 4,141,020 Total liabilities and equity $ 6,716,564 $ 6,683,180 AGNICO EAGLE MINES LIMITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (thousands of United States dollars, except per share amounts, IFRS basis) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 REVENUES Revenues from mining operations $ 490,531 $ 483,596 COSTS, EXPENSES AND OTHER INCOME Production (i) 243,973 247,280 Exploration and corporate development 28,385 16,651 Amortization of property, plant and mine development 145,631 135,897 General and administrative 24,823 25,221 Impairment loss on available-for-sale securities - 685 Finance costs 17,801 19,712 (Gain) loss on derivative financial instruments (9,621) 8,576 Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities (119) (21,049) Environmental remediation 5,093 429 Foreign currency translation loss (gain) 6,770 (11,690) Other expenses 598 5,171 Income before income and mining taxes 27,197 56,713 Income and mining taxes (recovery) expense (591) 27,970 Net income for the period $ 27,788 $ 28,743 Net income per share - basic $ 0.13 $ 0.13 Net income per share - diluted $ 0.13 $ 0.13 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands): Basic 219,681 214,566 Diluted 221,906 215,692 Note: (i) Exclusive of amortization, which is shown separately. AGNICO EAGLE MINES LIMITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (thousands of United States dollars, IFRS basis) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 2015 OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income for the period $ 27,788 $ 28,743 Add (deduct) items not affecting cash: Amortization of property, plant and mine development 145,631 135,897 Deferred income and mining taxes (16,986) 19,300 Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities (119) (21,049) Stock-based compensation 9,786 11,718 Impairment loss on available-for-sale securities - 685 Foreign currency translation loss (gain) 6,770 (11,690) Other (4,159) 13,536 Adjustment for settlement of reclamation provision (1,232) (302) Changes in non-cash working capital balances: Trade receivables 2,073 (1,484) Income taxes (13,724) (24,063) Inventories 24,611 10,412 Other current assets 4,020 (4,837) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (46,336) (20,582) Interest payable 7,581 7,171 Cash provided by operating activities 145,704 143,455 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Additions to property, plant and mine development (100,694) (82,887) Acquisitions, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired - (7,000) Net sales (purchases) of short-term investments 2,235 (101) Net proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities and other investments 299 37,668 Purchase of available-for-sale securities and other investments (9,445) (5,275) Decrease in restricted cash 10 3,703 Cash used in investing activities (107,595) (53,892) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Dividends paid (14,846) (14,775) Repayment of finance lease obligations (2,514) (8,405) Proceeds from long-term debt 75,000 - Repayment of long-term debt (130,000) (100,000) Repurchase of common shares for stock-based compensation plans (14,895) (10,642) Proceeds on exercise of stock options 64,424 8,223 Common shares issued 21,243 2,417 Cash used in financing activities (1,588) (123,182) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 2,075 (5,912) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period 38,596 (39,531) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 124,150 177,537 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 162,746 $ 138,006 SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION Interest paid $ 8,880 $ 11,081 Income and mining taxes paid $ 53,317 $ 37,947 AGNICO EAGLE MINES LIMITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES (thousands of United States dollars, except where noted) (Unaudited) Total Production Costs by Mine Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 (thousands of United States dollars) LaRonde mine $ 45,854 $ 45,865 Lapa mine 12,784 13,985 Goldex mine 15,732 14,866 Meadowbank mine 52,210 57,096 Canadian Malartic mine(i) 40,814 41,186 Kittila mine 36,027 31,999 Pinos Altos mine 23,856 24,212 Creston Mascota deposit at Pinos Altos 5,781 5,606 La India mine 10,915 12,465 Production costs per the interim condensed consolidated statements of income $ 243,973 $ 247,280 Reconciliation of Production Costs to Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold Produced(ii)by Mine and Reconciliation of Production Costs to Minesite Costs per Tonne(iii)by Mine LaRonde Mine - Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold Produced(ii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 45,854 $ 45,865 Adjustments: Inventory and other adjustments(iv) 4,619 6,678 Cash operating costs (co-product basis) $ 50,473 $ 52,543 By-product metal revenues (10,646) (11,134) Cash operating costs (by-product basis) $ 39,827 $ 41,409 Gold production (ounces) 75,337 58,893 Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced ($ per ounce)(ii): Co-product basis $ 670 $ 892 By-product basis $ 529 $ 703 LaRonde Mine - Minesite Costs per Tonne(iii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 45,854 $ 45,865 Inventory and other adjustments(v) (2,357) 866 Minesite operating costs $ 43,497 $ 46,731 Minesite operating costs (thousands of C$) C$ 59,228 C$ 57,789 Tonnes of ore milled (thousands of tonnes) 577 558 Minesite costs per tonne (C$)(iii) C$ 103 C$ 104 Lapa Mine - Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold Produced(ii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 12,784 $ 13,985 Adjustments: Inventory and other adjustments(iv) 1,727 749 Cash operating costs (co-product basis) $ 14,511 $ 14,734 By-product metal revenues (13) (17) Cash operating costs (by-product basis) $ 14,498 $ 14,717 Gold production (ounces) 21,709 25,920 Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced ($ per ounce)(ii): Co-product basis $ 668 $ 568 By-product basis $ 668 $ 568 Lapa Mine - Minesite Costs per Tonne(iii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 12,784 $ 13,985 Inventory and other adjustments(v) 1,559 548 Minesite operating costs $ 14,343 $ 14,533 Minesite operating costs (thousands of C$) C$ 19,481 C$ 18,077 Tonnes of ore milled (thousands of tonnes) 161 152 Minesite costs per tonne (C$)(iii) C$ 121 C$ 119 Goldex Mine - Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold Produced(ii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 15,732 $ 14,866 Adjustments: Inventory and other adjustments(iv) 624 973 Cash operating costs (co-product basis) $ 16,356 $ 15,839 By-product metal revenues (6) (7) Cash operating costs (by-product basis) $ 16,350 $ 15,832 Gold production (ounces) 32,340 29,250 Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced ($ per ounce)(ii): Co-product basis $ 506 $ 542 By-product basis $ 506 $ 541 Goldex Mine - Minesite Costs per Tonne(iii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 15,732 $ 14,866 Inventory and other adjustments(v) 351 761 Minesite operating costs $ 16,083 $ 15,627 Minesite operating costs (thousands of C$) C$ 21,706 C$ 19,317 Tonnes of ore milled (thousands of tonnes) 636 566 Minesite costs per tonne (C$)(iii) C$ 34 C$ 34 Meadowbank Mine - Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold Produced(ii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 52,210 $ 57,096 Adjustments: Inventory and other adjustments(iv) 5,446 2,541 Cash operating costs (co-product basis) $ 57,656 $ 59,637 By-product metal revenues (659) (1,689) Cash operating costs (by-product basis) $ 56,997 $ 57,948 Gold production (ounces) 72,311 88,523 Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced ($ per ounce)(ii): Co-product basis $ 797 $ 674 By-product basis $ 788 $ 655 Meadowbank Mine - Minesite Costs per Tonne(iii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 52,210 $ 57,096 Inventory and other adjustments(v) 2,758 1,694 Minesite operating costs $ 54,968 $ 58,790 Minesite operating costs (thousands of C$) C$ 73,058 C$ 70,627 Tonnes of ore milled (thousands of tonnes) 946 990 Minesite costs per tonne (C$)(iii) C$ 77 C$ 71 Canadian Malartic Mine - Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold Produced(i)(ii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 40,814 $ 41,186 Adjustments: Inventory and other adjustments(iv) 1,309 2,851 Cash operating costs (co-product basis) $ 42,123 $ 44,037 By-product metal revenues (1,095) (1,142) Cash operating costs (by-product basis) $ 41,028 $ 42,895 Gold production (ounces) 73,613 67,893 Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced ($ per ounce)(ii): Co-product basis $ 572 $ 649 By-product basis $ 557 $ 632 Canadian Malartic Mine - Minesite Costs per Tonne(i)(iii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 40,814 $ 41,186 Inventory and other adjustments(v) 1,076 2,605 Minesite operating costs $ 41,890 $ 43,791 Minesite operating costs (thousands of C$) C$ 57,545 C$ 54,320 Tonnes of ore milled (thousands of tonnes) 2,380 2,339 Minesite costs per tonne (C$)(iii) C$ 24 C$ 23 Kittila Mine - Total Cash Costs per Ounce of Gold Produced(ii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 36,027 $ 31,999 Adjustments: Inventory and other adjustments(iv) (1,024) (1,543) Cash operating costs (co-product basis) $ 35,003 $ 30,456 By-product metal revenues (47) (35) Cash operating costs (by-product basis) $ 34,956 $ 30,421 Gold production (ounces) 48,127 44,654 Total cash costs per ounce of gold produced ($ per ounce)(ii): Co-product basis $ 727 $ 682 By-product basis $ 726 $ 681 Kittila Mine - Minesite Costs per Tonne(iii) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended (thousands of United States dollars, except as noted) March 31, 2016 March 31, 2015 Production costs $ 36,027 $ 31,999 Inventory and other adjustments(v) (1,197) ( OAKVILLE, ON, April 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. ("APUC") (TSX: AQN) today announced plans to release 2016 first quarter financial results on Thursday, May 12, 2016 after market close. APUC will hold an earnings conference call at 10:00 a.m. eastern time on Friday, May 13, 2016, hosted by Chief Executive Officer, Ian Robertson and Chief Financial Officer, David Bronicheski. Conference call details are as follows: Date: Friday, May 13, 2016 Start Time: 10:00 a.m. eastern time Phone Number: Toll free within North America: 1-888-243-4451 or International: 1-412-542-4135 Conference Access: please ask to join the Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. conference call Presentation Access: http://services.choruscall.com/links/aqn160513 For those unable to attend the live call, a digital recording will be available for replay two hours after the call by dialing 1-855-669-9658 or 1-412-317-0088, access code 10084758 from Friday, May 13, 2016 until May 27, 2016. About Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. APUC is a $5 billion North American diversified generation, transmission and distribution utility. The distribution business group provides rate regulated water, electricity and natural gas utility services to over 560,000 customers in the United States. The generation business group owns a portfolio of North American based contracted wind, solar, hydroelectric and natural gas powered generating facilities representing more than 1,100 MW of installed capacity. The transmission business group invests in rate regulated electric transmission and natural gas pipeline systems in the United States and Canada. APUC delivers continuing growth through an expanding pipeline of renewable energy development projects, organic growth within its regulated distribution and transmission businesses, and the pursuit of accretive acquisitions. Common shares, preferred shares, and Instalment Receipts are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQN.PR.A, AQN.PR.D, and AQN.IR. Visit APUC at www.AlgonquinPowerandUtilities.com and follow us on Twitter @AQN_Utilities. SOURCE Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. For further information: Additional information can be found on APUC's web site www.AlgonquinPowerandUtilities.com or by contacting Investor Relations. Ian Tharp, CFA, Vice President, Investor Relations, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., 354 Davis Road, Oakville, Ontario, L6J 2X1, E-mail: [email protected], Telephone: (905) 465-6770 TORONTO, April 29, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Media Guild (CMG) applied today to the Canada Industrial Relations Board for the right to represent employees at VICE Canada. "A strong majority of employees at VICE across Canada have signed a union card and we are delighted to welcome them into our union," says Carmel Smyth, national president of the CMG. "We look forward to supporting them to find their collective voice in the workplace and to negotiate the kinds of progressive working conditions and benefits that digital media workers expect in 2016." The workers seeking to form a union at VICE Canada work in the editorial, marketing and production/post-production departments. They create the innovative digital and television content that has made VICE a successful media company in Canada and around the world. Martin O'Hanlon, president of CWA Canada, the CMG's parent union, called it a "tremendous day for digital media workers in Canada." "We've heard from creative and digital media workers that they want fair pay, benefits, and sustainable working conditions," O'Hanlon said. "The decision by Vice Canada staff to unionize is a first step to a better life for them, and it is a beacon for others to follow." In the coming days, the labour board will organize a secret ballot vote of employees to confirm their right to form a union. Vice Canada joins a growing list of digital media companies where employees have unionized including Huffington Post, Gawker, Salon, and the Guardian's online service. Vice Media was founded in Montreal and is now based in Brooklyn, New York. It has Canadian offices in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. The Canadian Media Guild (CMG) is 6000 journalists, hosts producers, technicians, videographers, editors, librarians, programmers, sales reps, administrative staff and freelancers. A union at VICE: fast facts VICE brands itself as "world's leading youth media company", founded in Montreal as a magazine in 1994, now based in Brooklyn, New York . as a magazine in 1994, now based in . Has international network of digital channels, TV and film studio, magazine, record label, book publishing division. Launched VICE News in 2014. Revenue $915 million (US), assets $2.5 billion (US). 20% stake held by A & E (US), assets (US). 20% stake held by A & E Formed a partnership with Rogers to launch VICE Studio Canada in 2015; specialty TV network VICELAND was launched in Canada in February 2016 in Has operations in 35 countries including Canada , with offices in Toronto , Montreal and Vancouver , with offices in , and US editorial employees joined Writers Guild of America East in 2015, UK employees now seeking union recognition through the National Union Journalists Vice employees in the US who recently unionized just negotiated a 29% pay increase in 2015, UK employees now seeking union recognition through the National Union Journalists Vice employees in the US who recently unionized just negotiated a 29% pay increase Issues important to Canadian employees seeking representation by CMG: fair pay, sustainable hours of work and overtime, clear journalistic rules and policy, rights for people on contract Certifying the union: the CMG has applied to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) and must demonstrate that at least 40% of employees in the proposed Canada -wide bargaining unit have signed a card to apply for membership in the union. Given the 40% threshold has been met, the CIRB will hold a vote of employees in 12 days' time. SOURCE Canadian Media Guild For further information: For more information, visit http://cmg.ca/vice TORONTO, April 29, 2016 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada expresses grave concerns about the harassment of human rights lawyer Zhang Kai in China. Zhang Kai is a prominent Beijing human rights lawyer. On 25 August 2015, Zhang Kai was arrested in Wenzhou, Zheijiang Province, while advising a congregation faced with orders to remove the cross from their church. The arrest occurred just hours before Zhang Kai was due to meet an American State Department official to discuss religious freedom in China. After his arrest, Zhang Kai was placed under residential surveillance in an undisclosed location with an order to detain him for up to six months. Zhang Kai was not heard from again until 25 February 2016 when he appeared on state television in a taped confession. In the video, Zhang Kai expressed his remorse and admitted to conspiring with foreign groups in order to stir up religious unrest in China. He also claimed to have received payment from China Aid to defend churches and other Christian organizations. After the broadcast, Zhang Kai was charged with "endangering state secrets" and "gathering a crowd to disturb public order"; thereafter, Zhang Kai was transferred from residential surveillance to criminal detention. His parents were informed of the transfer on 28 February 2016. On 23 March 2016, Zhang Kai posted on WeChat and Weibo saying that he had been "safely returned to his hometown in Inner Mongolia." His comments on social media do not provide reasons for his sudden release. The Law Society of Upper Canada urges the government of China to comply with Articles 16 and 23 of the United Nations' Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. Article 16 states: Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics. Moreover, Article 23 states: Lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights and to join or form local, national or international organizations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organization. The Law Society urges the government of China to: a. Put an end to all acts of harassment against Zhang Kai as well as other human rights lawyers and defenders in China; b. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological safety and integrity of Zhang Kai; c. Guarantee all the procedural rights that should be accorded to Zhang Kai; and d. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments. *The Law Society of Upper Canada is the governing body for more than 49,000 lawyers and 7,900 paralegals in the province of Ontario, Canada. The Treasurer is the head of the Law Society. The mandate of the Law Society is to govern the legal profession in the public interest by upholding the independence, integrity and honour of the legal profession for the purpose of advancing the cause of justice and the rule of law. SOURCE The Law Society of Upper Canada For further information: Susan Tonkin, Communications Advisor - Media Relations, at 416-947-7605 or [email protected]; The Law Society of Upper Canada, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N6, www.lsuc.on.ca, Follow us on Twitter @LawsocietyLSUC According to fresh reports trickling in, the Oba of Benin, Omo nOba Erediauwa Akpolokpolo I, is dead. NigerinaEye gathered that a nati... gathered that a native chalk was broken within the palace to signify his passage to join his ancestors.His death was announced by the Prime Minister and Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, in company of other traditional Chiefs and Enigie (Dukes), with the traditional braking of native chalk at the entrance of the palace.While announcing his death, the Iyase said: Osorhue Bunrun. Oba Erediauwa of Benin Kingdom, the Prince if Peace, Ebo, Ayemwirhe, emini mini mini, has returned with his ancestors. May he find perfect peace with God.Following the breaking of the native chalk at the main entrance of the palace, all the chiefs and enigie broke doen in tears and wail for the departed monarch.In accordance with the Benin traditional mourning rites for a late Monarch, every male in the kingdom is expected to shave his head throughout the mourning period that may last for up to three months, while all markets in the kingdom are to remain closed for about seven days.The Benin Crown Prince and Edaiken of Benin, Eheneden Erediauwa, who arrived at the palace at about 1:10n from his Uselu resistance, was formally informed of the death of his father, before it was publicly announced.The late Monarch was crowned Oba of Benin in March, 1979.Reacting to the announcement of the transition of the Monarch, the Obadolagbonyi of Benin Kingdom, Chief Omon-Osagie Utetenegiabi, said:Yes, it is traditional. It is customary that when a sitting Oba becomes an ancestor, goes to a greater glory. The Oba of Benin does not die because he is an institution; he mainly transites to a high glory as an ancestor.The news is first broken to his eldest son and the immediate family which was done earlier today. And the Iyase of Benin, as the highest ranking Chief now breaks the news to the people of Benin Kingdom and the world. Iyase is the traditional Prime Minister and the bridge between the people and the royalty and that is what he has done today.From today until the expiration of Emwinekhua all Benin Chiefs, all chiefs that have been entitled by the Oba to wear the round bead round their necks, which is two, will now wear one. It is customary because when you see a Chief wears one bead, it shows that we are in a state of mourning. After today, we are awaiting further instructions on what to do.Oba Eredia uwa is the Oba of Peace, the Oba who brought prosperity to his people, the Oba who understands his people. He makes sure that no one was offended, the Oba who could sit in judgment and give judgment against his own son for a commoner. It is rare. Oba Erediauwa is the best that has happened to Benin Kingdom in the last 1,600 years.The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has also eulogised the departed Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa. The diminutive governor expressed his profound reverence for the departed Monarch in a press statement he issued and personally signed.Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo NOba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institution in Edo state and the country at large, Oshiomhole said. The EU and Nigeria will discuss a deal to send migrants back to Africas most populous country in order to curb migration flows into the u... The EU and Nigeria will discuss a deal to send migrants back to Africas most populous country in order to curb migration flows into the union.The readmission agreement was recently employed between the EU and Turkey, which has dramatically curbed migration flows from the Middle East.According to Financial Times, the readmission agreement would probably involve migrants from Nigeria being deported in exchange for EU economic aid for Abuja.In the past 16 months, over 25,000 Nigerians have migrated into Italy, one of the 28 countries in the EU, with some more in other European countries.Figures from the Italian interior ministry show the number of Nigerians arriving has increased 37 per cent this year compared with the same period in 2015.It would be the blocs first major return deal with a sub-Saharan African nation its only existing one is with tiny island nation Cape Verde.The EU and Nigeria agreed to take the necessary steps to launch negotiations for a deal after meetings in Brussels in March.The deal with Turkey, as signed earlier in the year, is one in which Ankara agreed to accept the return of migrants landing in Greece including Syrian refugees in exchange for benefits, including aid and visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.The deal with Turkey, saw the European Union give about $7 billion to the Turkish government, in a bid to return its people to their home country.Striking a deal with Nigeria has become a focus for EU diplomats after a jump in arrivals of people from the country to Europe since 2014.While the number of Nigerians entering into Europe are just a handful, in comparison to arrivals from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, the EU considers the flow of Africans as a long-term structural problem.Given the population growth trend not just in Nigeria but across west Africa, these pressures for migration are going to be huge, the EU diplomat said.Nigerians are said to arrive Italy via the central Mediterranean from Libya, seeking greener pasture through dangerous means, with many more expected in the days ahead as Nigerias population of more than 180m is expected to jump to 300m by 2030.Nigerias foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment over a potential deal with the EU, but Nigeria may look to the terms secured by Turkey, FT said. The Federal government will on June 2 launch the kick-off of Ogoni clean-up programme as contained in the United Nations Environment Progr... The Federal government will on June 2 launch the kick-off of Ogoni clean-up programme as contained in the United Nations Environment Programme Report, UNEP.The Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Muhammed, said this yesterday in Port Harcourt during a visit to Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers State.Represented by Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman said: The programme is expected to be launched on June 2. It has been designed to be driven by all stakeholders in the region. The essence of this is to ensure that the people of Ogoni and the region at large benefitted from the process. Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has eulogised the departed Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa. The diminutive governor expressed his pro... Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has eulogised the departed Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa. The diminutive governor expressed his profound reverence for the departed Monarch in a press statement he issued and personally signed.Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo nOba nEdo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo NOba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institution in Edo state and the country at large, Oshiomhole said.His carriage comes with an elan that was peculiar with the reverence of royalty. His uncommon courage was symbolic of the can-do spirit of the Edo mind. His unity of purpose was not in doubt even as he used his revered position to promote constructive engagement amongst all shades of opinion and culture in Edo state. As a thorough-bred bureaucrat, rising to the pinnacle of his career as a Federal Permanent Secretary, he understood the dynamics and intricacies of governance.He was the alternative voice to the many voiceless in our society, calling government attention to issues of development and transparent governance, without minding whose ox is gored. He was brave, fearless, punchy and instructive in his verbal and written messages.To us at the Edo state Government, he was our strongest supporter; both in his uncommon faith in our ability and his readiness to offer uncommon advice to sharpen public discourse in our shared commitment to transform Edo state. It gladdens our heart, therefore, that our revered Oba was alive to witness the positive transformation of Edo state under his reign, and for standing with us through thick and thin in the course of making the Edo economy a treasure to behold. Being part of that eloquent history of transformation before his reunion with his ancestors gives us further reassurance that he will occupy a special pride of place in the hereafter.We are enveloped with a deep sense of nostalgia that our great Oba, a great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle and iconoclastic royal father of exemplary carriage and conduct, who sustained the dignity of the average Edo mind, has joined his ancestors. We are, however, encouraged by the fact that another great son of the Great Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Edaiken NUselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, who is already showing manifest quintessential attributes of his great father, will step into his fathers big shoes.Edo people will miss our iconoclastic royal father of the great Benin Kingdom. Nigerians and Nigeria will miss this great exemplar of a Royal Father, an Oba of distinction and integrity. Adieu until we meet to part no more.Oba gha to kpere, ise. The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of unscrupulous persons involved in the hoardin... The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of unscrupulous persons involved in the hoarding and diverting of petroleum products.Arase in a statement issued by Olabisi Kolawole, spokesperson for the Nigerian police said those with genuine intention to use petroleum products were denied by these persons.Further to the Nigeria Police Force directives on the activities of unscrupulous elements who engage in illegal sale of petroleum products, there is need to make some clarification that the directive was specifically targeted at those who are involved in hoarding and diverting the petroleum products, Arase said.He then stated that Those with genuine intention to use the products for their legal and genuine business are allowed to purchase the products.The IGP emphasized that no stone will be left unturned by the Police to checkmate those with the attitude of causing discomfort to the innocent citizens in the country. Kingsley Okonkwo aka KCee, the erstwhile lead of Nigerias once exciting music duo KceePresh has added another feather to his Cap in ce... Kingsley Okonkwo aka KCee, the erstwhile lead of Nigerias once exciting music duo KceePresh has added another feather to his Cap in celebrity ranking having been honoured as a Hit Maker in the 3rd edition of Celebration of Hit makers and Legends (COHMAL) The monthly event is to be hosted in Class and style at The Baylounge Waterfront, Lekki phase 1 on the 29th of April 2016 by Nigerias finest music band, Sharpbandallstars. Red Carpet starts at 7pm and show kicks off at 8pm Speaking on the choice of KCee as COHMAL Hit Maker for the month of April 2016, the organizer of the event and CEO Sharpbandallstars, AnesiIvharue said that KCee has been selected based on proven track record in making trend setting music which translates into popular culture with great music videos. In his words: Obviously, KCee is a pioneer in Africas contemporary hip-hop. He has mastered his art and his every work reflects that signature chorography, sound and intense energy. I still see him very much relevant in the next ten to fifteen years and thats the kind of pedigree you need to become a legend, he says. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Friday, paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, where he lauded... Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Friday, paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, where he lauded the Presidents recent overseas trips aimed at attracting foreign direct investments into the country.Governor Ambode who spoke to State House Correspondents shortly after the visit expressed high optimism that the Presidents trips would in no short time begin to yield benefits in the interest of all Nigerians.The Governor specifically commended President Buhari for his purposeful leadership to restore the nations place in the comity of nations, saying his recent trip to China and the profitable discussions will go a long way move Nigeria forward, including Lagos.He said the investment pact signed with the Chinese Government will benefit the people of Lagos, especially with the coming of the Lagos-Kano Rail Project and the Lagos Metro-rail project expected to cost about $2.5billion.It would be recalled that President Buhari recently returned from a one week visit to China where Nigeria signed series of investment pact expected to yield about $6 billion investment for Nigeria and also expected to have positively huge impact on key sectors of the Nigerian economy including power, solid minerals, agriculture, housing and rail transportation.He said the visit was therefore to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his laudable plans for Nigeria and especially Lagos State. The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has condemned the South East governors and politicians of trading off Ndigbo course for personal a... The Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has condemned the South East governors and politicians of trading off Ndigbo course for personal and selfish political interest.The Group specifically, claimed that by hobnobbing with the All Progressives Congress, APC led Federal Government, the governors were doing so at the detriment of their Igbo brothers and sisters.IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful, alleged that South East governors and politicians, members and non members of APC had so much compromised themselves or kept quiet for one political favour or the other, making them to turn blind to the killings in Igbo land by Fulani herdsmen.According to the statement: The first attack by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu state that resulted to the arrest of over 76 persons who were searching for the whereabouts of their loved ones after the attack, and their subsequent arrest by the security agents, particularly the police and detaining them at Police Zone 9 Umuahia and subsequently arraignment was not condemned by the South East governors and politicians, and that emboldened them for the next attack in the state of Ukpabi Nimbo community in the state.IPOB also accuse the South East governors of using the life of their brothers and subjects to play game of politics, trading them off to the APC government for crumbs they are expecting from the government that has nothing to offer Nigerians let alone Igbo Governors and politicians. The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB,Friday,revealed that last Mondays slaughter of 46 Ukpabi,Nimbo... The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB,Friday,revealed that last Mondays slaughter of 46 Ukpabi,Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State was a grand plan,by the Islamic Arewa Army,ISAA,to conquer and actualize the Islamic, political, economical, social command of Othman Dan Fodio, Ahmadu Bello (Sarduana of Sokoto) using the minority North (Middle Belt) to fight against the Christian South.MASSOB also charged Ndigbo, to hold their governors responsible for any invasion of Igboland by foreigners.This came on a day the Youth wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, south-east geopolitical zone chapter,tasked all Igbos to stop buying cow from the Fulani herdsmen as a source of meat,adding that Ndigbo should rise to the occasion and patronize other sources of meat to frustrate their business.Rising from an emergency meeting of principal officials of MASSOB executives in Okwe, MASSOB headquarters, Leader, Uchenna Madu in communique made available to Saturday Vanguard which read in part:President Muhammad Buharis sudden,pressurized u-turn and presidential order against Fulanis herdsmen is a complete political jamboree which can never hold any water. It is a hypocritical exhibition meant to deceive the Igbo Christians in general.More coordinated military camouflaged pogroms is coming, it shall continue to be disguised as Fulanis herdsmen but the real men behind these pogroms are Islamic Arewa Army,ISAA, established to conquer, actualize the Islamic, political,economical,social command of Othman Dan Fodio, Ahmadu Bello (Sarduana of Sokoto) using the minority North (Middle Belt) to fight against the Christian South.MASSOB warns that Ndigbo should hold their governors much responsible for any invasion of our land by foreigners.Meantime,CAN,south-east youth wing in statement jointly signed and made available to Saturday Vanguard,by the Chairman,Rev. Fr. Clement Okonkwo, and Ogechukwu Nnamene on behalf of the executives,the group condemned the killing of 46 Nimbo natives while calling on Ndigbo to shun buying cow as a source to frustrate fulani herdsmen out of Igboland.Igbos should stop buying Cow from the fulani herdsmen as a source of meat,adding that Ndigbo should rise to the occasion and patronize other sources of meat to frustrate their business and force them out of Igboland.Traditional rulers,community leaders in the south-east should as a matter of urgency,constitute and arm Vigilante groups in their villages and resist any attempt by the fulani herdsmen to occupy their farmlands. NEWARK -- Hours after a lawyer for one of the defendants in the Bridgegate case said he wants a subpoena to force Gov. Chris Christie to turn over his cell phone for analysis, lawyers for the governor's office moved to stop the process. Lawyers for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, representing the office of the New Jersey governor, filed a motion Thursday to quash in part the subpoena it received last month from the defense lawyers. The attorneys are seeking a hearing June 6 to argue the question before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton. Wigenton in February approved filing a subpoena upon Gibson Dunn by lawyers for Bill Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's former deputy chief of staff. They are accused in a nine-count indictment of planning massive traffic jams in September 2013 in Fort Lee by reducing local traffic access to the George Washington Bridge as political retribution. The motion to quash in part the defendants' subpoena was filed Thursday, hours after defense lawyers and prosecutors argued before Wigenton over requests to dismiss the charges. Following the hearing, Baroni's lawyer, Michael Baldassare, said he expected his subpoena to get "everything" that Gibson Dunn reviewed related to its investigation of the lane-closure scheme. "I want the governor's phone," he said. But Gibson Dunn attorneys say the defense lawyers have gone too far. The defense lawyers said that in asking for the subpoena, they were looking to serve "the same subpoena the government served" on the governor's office during the federal criminal investigation, the filing says. However, the defense "brazenly" sought "new, sweeping demands" including "physical inspection of every electronic device Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP examined during its 2014 investigation," it says. The Gibson Dunn motion says the subpoena is an abuse of court rules and is an attempt to turn the case into a "sideshow" about Gibson Dunn's investigation. That investigation produced a report pinning the lane closure scheme largely on Kelly and former Port Authority official and Christie ally David Wildstein. In reply, Baldassare and partner Jennifer Mara issued a statement, saying, "Within hours of our demand for the Governor's cellphone, Gibson Dunn told the Court it will not turn it over. What are they hiding?" Kelly's attorney Michael Critchley said he hadn't seen the filing. The latest filing represents the second time Gibson Dunn asked the court to curtail the defendants' subpoena in the case. Wigenton in December agreed to quash a subpoena seeking Gibson Dunn's electronically stored information showing the times and parties connected in texts, emails and cell phone calls. Gibson Dunn's filing also says the firm is complying with the "authorized" demands of the subpoena, turning over "all materials... previously provided to the Government in compliance with the Grand Jury Subpoenas." The "unauthorized" demands, it says, exceed the court's orders, are irrelevant and not specific, violate the state constitution and invade protected information-sharing between the firm and its client. The legal jockeying could put pressure on the schedule for Baroni's and Kelly's trial, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 12. Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook. CHERRY HILL TWP. -- In the wake of TD Bank pulling its coin-counting "Penny Arcade" devices from service over accuracy concerns, a proposed consumer class-action lawsuit has been filed against the bank. The suit was filed Wednesday in the the U.S. District Court of New Jersey's Camden vicinage on behalf of New York woman Regina C. Filannino-Restifo. The Canadian-based operation has its banking headquarters in Cherry Hill. "She used the machine all the time," Marlton-based lawyer Stephen De Nittis said of Filannino-Restifo, adding he was brought on to the case both because of geography and his frequent handling of consumer fraud cases in New Jersey. The lawsuit cites an April 6 NBC report that found five Penny Arcades failed to correctly count less than $300 deposited into each. It further claims that TD Bank "deceptively short-changed consumers of their funds" and as a result can pursue the bank for damages. De Nittis, who is handling the case alongside Manhattan-based lawyer Jeffrey Smith, said the machines tested in that report were "off by a considerable amount." TD Bank declined to comment on the pending litigation, but did offer a statement that read in part, "We are disappointed with the experience that The Today Show had with our Penny Arcade coin counting machines. At TD Bank, we place a premium on the integrity of these machines, and that's why we clean and test them twice daily to confirm accuracy." The statement added that TD has since launched an "enhanced testing program" and that the Penny Arcade devices will be brought back into service once TD is satisfied "they meet our performance requirements." Filannino-Restifo "owns a number of coin-operated washing and drying machines and uses the Penny Arcade to count the coins from these machines on a regular basis," the suit states. De Nittis said that Filannino-Restifo was a TD Customer, so the 8 percent Penny Arcade usage fee did not apply to her. Per the suit, New Yorkers who used TD's Penny Arcade devices within the past six months could join the class action effort. Nationally, that time frame expands to those who used it within the past six years. The suit seeks repayment of actual damages or $50 per claim, whichever is greater, but not to exceed $1,000. Earlier this month, NJ Advance Media brought just under $90 in coins to three similar coin-counting devices. One returned slightly more, the other slightly less and the third gave us back the correct amount. The state division of weights and measures, which is tasked with testing the machines that are not located within banks, did not respond to a request for comment. Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook. CAMDEN -- A Camden County Police officer is being heralded by his department for using "de-escalation" techniques to get a man reportedly holding a pellet gun to drop the weapon, authorities said Friday. It was just before 1:45 a.m. Thursday when officer Matthew Greer was on patrol near the gas station along the 2200 block of Admiral Wilson Boulevard. At that time, police said Greer apparently spotted a man near the gas station's mini-mart while holding a black gun. Greer approached the man, identified by authorities at 26-year-old Philadelphia resident Anthony Garner, and used verbal de-escalation methods. As a result, police said Garner dropped the loaded Gamo PT-85 .177 Caliver gas-powered pellet gun. Garner, who police say was arrested without incident, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was sent to the Camden County Jail with bail set at $10,000 cash or bond. "The poise and restraint demonstrated by Officer Greer are indicative of ethical protector training officers on how to best manage situations such as these. His actions ensured that this potentially volatile incident was resolved peacefully," Camden County Police Department (CCPD) Chief J. Scott Thomson said in a news release. Last summer, retired U.S. Marine Corps officer Jack Hoban led a lesson on de-escalation techniques and taught CCPD officers how to use apply "community policing" practices and avoid bloodshed. Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Bridgeton fire.jpg Bridgeton Fire Department firefighters responded to a blaze at a house on Atlantic Street on Thursday, April 29, 2016. (Don E. Woods | For NJ.com) BRIDGETON -- Firefighters responded to a two-alarm blaze Thursday night at a city residence. Bridgeton Fire Department was dispatched to the 300 block of Atlantic Street at 9 p.m. Thursday, according to Battalion Chief Jack Justice. When engines arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from the residence and the bulk of the fire was in the basement. The homeowners were not at the home at the time, Justice said. Due to the heavy amount of smoke and fire, authorities called in a second alarm. The house was moderately damaged by the fire and the homeowners were displaced. Firefighters brought the blaze under control at 10:20 p.m. and the last unit left the scene at 1:40 a.m. Friday. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook. PISCATAWAY -- Rutgers University students who are graduating this semester have until Wednesday, May 4, to let the university know who they plan to bring to President Barack Obama's commencement speech, the university announced Friday. Each student who has registered for the commencement ceremony for Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences is guaranteed three guest tickets for the May 15 ceremony, according to the university. Students can register their guests online now and must provide their own Rutgers ID as well as the name, address and e-mail address for their guests. Tickets cannot be transferred because they will be barcoded, according to the university. Photo ID will be required at the gates to High Point Solutions Stadium, Rutgers said. Registration for guest tickets ends at 11:59 p.m. on May 4. "If you do not register for tickets by this deadline, you will not have an opportunity to do so afterward," the university announced. "There will be no exceptions." Rutgers put a cap on tickets to the commencement ceremony this year because of "extraordinary demand for seating," university spokesman EJ Miranda said. The three-guest limit has some students fuming, because graduating students from Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark will be given individual seats in the stadium's stands. However, the university has said that the stadium doesn't have enough room to give graduates a fourth guest ticket even if Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark graduates weren't invited. Rutgers invited the graduates from the other campuses so they can experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Miranda said. The stadium can fit more than 52,000 people for sporting events, but Rutgers traditionally closes off thousands of seats for commencement because they are behind the stage. The university projects the total capacity for commencement, including more than 12,000 chairs on the field for students, will be close to 52,000. Friends and family who do not have tickets for the Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences commencement ceremony will be able to watch live from the College Avenue, Busch and Livingston student centers, according the university. Commencement will also be live-streamed online and simulcast on RU-TV, Miranda said. While Obama will speak at the 12:30 p.m. ceremony, students will not receive their diplomas. They will have their name called and walk across the stage at smaller ceremonies hosted by each school. The School of Arts and Sciences ceremony will now start 30 minutes later than originally schedueld, at 3 p.m. on May 15. The change gives guests who were not in the stadium for Obama's speech more time to get seated, the university said. No tickets will be required for the School of Arts and Sciences ceremony, according to Rutgers. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. PISCATAWAY -- Students from Rutgers University's New Brunswick campus are clashing with Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden students on social media over tickets for the commencement ceremony where President Barack Obama will speak. The ceremony at High Point Solutions Stadium on May 15 is for undergraduate and graduate students who are earning a degree from Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. The university has invited graduating students from Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden to sit in the stands, and Rutgers-New Brunswick students are fuming on social media because they are limited to bringing three guests. However, even if Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden graduates were not invited to attend the ceremony, the stadium wouldn't have enough room to accommodate a fourth guest ticket for each Rutgers New-Brunswick graduate, according to the university. "Graduating students of Rutgers-New Brunswick and RBHS are not being deprived of a ticket because other graduating students are attending," spokesman EJ Miranda said. The university invited the graduates from its Camden and Newark campuses so they could be part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Miranda said. But that hasn't stopped students from debating the question of who should get first priority for a ticket: The fourth-invited guest of a Rutgers-New Brunswick student or a graduate from Rutgers-Newark or Rutgers-Camden? "I can't believe I can't take my whole immediate family because we're inviting the other campuses," Rutgers-New Brunswick student Emily Lopez wrote on the university's Facebook page. "I didn't realize the former University of Newark and College of South Jersey are celebrating 250 years too! This is so ridiculous." An online petition has emerged asking that Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark students not be allowed at commencement. But those students are fighting back. "Cue the violins for the privileged New Brunswick students who are complaining about their reduction in tickets," student Dianna Santiago wrote on the university's Facebook page. "Get over it, or don't go! More room for us!" Rutgers has said it expects about 52,000 people to fill the stadium, including more than 12,000 Rutgers-New Brunswick and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences graduates sitting on the field. Those students and their three allotted guests would account for about 48,000 seats, leaving insufficient space for each graduate to bring another friend or family member, according to Rutgers projected capacity. "While this limitation has understandably disappointed many students and their families, there was no other ticketing solution that would have accommodated every New Brunswick and RBHS graduating student and their families," Miranda said. Capacity has not been a major issue for prior graduations in the stadium. There have been empty seats both on the field and in the stands as some students skipped the main ceremony. The ticket limit is necessary this year because of "extraordinary demand for seating" following the announcement that Obama will be speaking, Miranda said. An unprecedented number of students have registered to attend the ceremony, he said. Friends and family without a ticket can watch the ceremony at the College Avenue, Busch and Livingston student centers, according the university. Commencement will also be live-streaved online and simulcast of RU-TV, Miranda said. Students receive their diplomas in separate ceremonies for their school. The ceremony for the Schools of Arts and Sciences, the largest at Rutgers-New Brunswick, is held in the stadium immediately after the main ceremony. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Pericles Press 2[1].jpg Kevin Mambo, Mary Testa and Ellen Harvey star as the Fishermen in Two River Theatre's eccentric new production of Shakespeare's "Pericles" (Photo by T. Charles Erickson) Late in his career, Shakespeare's style grew increasingly mystical, exotic and -- if truth be told -- strange. "The Tempest" gives us a magician on a deserted island who commands the seas in order to exact his revenge. "A Winter's Tale" features a ragingly jealous despot whose final lesson in humility precipitates the reincarnation of his wife from statue to woman. And in "Pericles," now receiving an imaginative if often baffling staging at Red Bank's Two River Theater, the title character spends years on the run, suffering a couple of shipwrecks, and losing touch with his daughter and the wife whose hand he won in a jousting tournament. The play complements these adventures with far-flung scenes of villainous pirates, lecherous brothel owners and eccentric Eastern kings. The Well-Made Play this is not. Nor of course does "Pericles" strive for a neat and tidy dramatic arc or believable circumstances. Shakespeare and his collaborator George Wilkins clearly prioritized mysticism above all, and succeeded wholeheartedly in that regard (they also succeeded commercially; the play was enormously popular in the 17th century). Until recently rarely performed, "Pericles" is enjoying something of a resurgence: the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey staged it in December 2013, and Brooklyn's Theatre for a New Audience completed its "Pericles" run in early April of this year. Two River's offering takes the play in directions drastically different than both of these predecessors. The productions in Madison (directed by Brian B. Crowe) and Brooklyn (directed by Trevor Nunn) met the play in its peculiar exotic world and sought to make accessible something that seems quite distant to contemporary audiences. Under the direction of David Schweizer, this "Pericles" accentuates all the campy strangeness of the play, bringing it into something that resembles our world, seemingly as a means of examining the voyage of a group of wandering souls. The idea is laudable -- no Shakespeare play is more apt for a staging far afield of text and expectations than this one -- but the execution disappoints. This "Pericles" gets lost in the folds of its overwrought concept, resulting in a disjointed, alienating evening of theater. The mysterious dive bar where the action of Two River Theatre's "Pericles" takes place. The production continues through May 8. (Photo by T. Charles Erickson) The production opens in a meticulously tacky dive bar (Caleb Wertenbaker's sets are striking), where a handful of denizens sit, separate and alone, before Gower (Rinde Eckert) storms through the door with a thunderclap. He slowly stomps through the bar as the others flash him something that seems like an ID card, and he then ascends the bandstand to sing a version of Shakespeare's preface. As Gower unfolds plot details, he assigns roles to each of the bar's inhabitants, who eagerly don makeshift costumes, rearrange the bar's furniture, and begin the play. Perhaps the ID card tells Gower that these folks are ready for whatever roles he asks them to play? That they are members of a strange club that can recite Shakespeare's lines and sing songs with very little prompting? Either of these options are certainly possible, but the production never makes it clear. As the play progresses, each of the six cast members rotates through a variety of roles, as musicians Ian Axness, Will Bernard, and Eckert set the mood with a variety of unique instruments including (but not limited to) a banjo-lele, pine flute, and kalimba. Along the way there are original songs by Eckert who, along with director Schweizer, boasts a long background in musical theater and opera. That pedigree shows, as many of the songs are operatic and expressive; but others, like the one by pirates singing about their piratical identity, are kitschy and intolerable. For the most part, the songs are a smooth and welcome addition to the play, but they also underscore the problems with this production. Individual moments are fun, like an endearing scene when a queen becomes pregnant, but the whole never coalesces. Lovely songs are followed quickly by far less expressive and jarring numbers; strong acting is regularly undercut by the demands of the concept; and we are never entirely sure who these people are or what they are up to in this particular dive bar. Ultimately, the production features two parallel stories: the mystical Shakespearean adventure of Pericles, and the odd adventure of the production's barflies. The strands rarely seem in unison. Pericles Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave, Red Bank, through May 8 Tickets available online or by phone (732) 345-1400. Patrick Maley may be reached at patrickjmaley@gmail.com. Find him on Twitter @PatrickJMaley. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook. 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